Xi says China, U.S. should keep up momentum in ties, move forward in right direction

Xinhua) 08:02, November 25, 2025

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China and the United States should keep up the momentum in ties, and keep moving forward in the right direction on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit.

Xi made the remarks while speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump on the phone.

Xi noted that he and Trump had a successful meeting in Busan last month, and reached many important common understandings.

They recalibrated the course of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations and provided more momentum for it to sail forward steadily, thus sending a positive message to the world, he said.

Since then, the China-U.S. relationship has generally maintained a steady and positive trajectory, and this is welcomed by the two countries and the broader international community, Xi said.

What has happened demonstrates yet again that the description of China-U.S. cooperation benefiting both sides and confrontation hurting both sides reflects a common sense that has been repeatedly proven by experience, and the vision of China and the United States helping each other succeed and prosper together is a tangible prospect within reach, Xi said.

He said that the two sides should lengthen the list of cooperation and shorten the list of problems, so as to make more positive progress, create new space for China-U.S. cooperation and bring more benefits to the people of both countries and the world.

Xi outlined China's principled position on the Taiwan question, underscoring that Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order.

Noting that China and the United States fought shoulder to shoulder against fascism and militarism, Xi said that given what is going on, it is even more important for the two sides to jointly safeguard the victory of World War II (WWII).

Trump noted that President Xi is a great leader, adding that he very much enjoyed his meeting with Xi in Busan, and fully shares Xi's comments about the two countries' relationship. He added that the two sides are implementing all elements of what the two leaders agreed to in Busan.

China was a big part of the victory of WWII, said Trump, stressing that the United States understands how important the Taiwan question is to China.

The two presidents also discussed the Ukraine crisis. Xi emphasized China's support for all efforts that are conducive to peace, and expressed the hope that the various sides would narrow their differences, reach a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement at an early date, and resolve the crisis at its root.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Du Mingming)
China, Russia agree on further cooperation between small, medium-sized enterprises

Xinhua) 09:38, November 25, 2025

Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and chairman of the Chinese side of the China-Russia Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development, meets with Nikolai Zhuravlev, deputy speaker of the Federation Council of Russia, and Boris Titov, chairman of the Russian side of the China-Russia Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development during the 6th China-Russia Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Forum in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Nov. 24, 2025. Li addressed the opening ceremony of the event here on Monday. (Xinhua/Dai Tianfang)

XI'AN, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with Russia to provide more convenient conditions and create a sound environment for cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises of both countries, Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said here on Monday.

Li, also chairman of the Chinese side of the China-Russia Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development, made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the 6th China-Russia Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Forum.

China will adhere to taking economic development as the central task, concentrate efforts on promoting high-quality development and unswervingly advancing high-level opening up, Li said, adding that China is willing to share development opportunities with all countries around the world, including Russia.

China will work together with Russia to take the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as the fundamental guideline, continuously optimize the cooperation mechanism, and provide more convenient conditions and create a sound environment for cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises of the two countries, Li added.

When addressing the ceremony, the Russian side said the two countries possess huge potential for cooperation in many fields, and expressed their willingness to work with China to bring more development dividends to the two peoples.

During the event, Li also met with Nikolai Zhuravlev, deputy speaker of the Federation Council of Russia, and Boris Titov, chairman of the Russian side of the China-Russia Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development.

Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and chairman of the Chinese side of the China-Russia Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development, addresses the opening ceremony of the 6th China-Russia Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Forum in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Dai Tianfang)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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What Rachel Reeves could do to pension tax at the Budget

With Labours second autumn Budget taking place today, speculation about further tax rises has grown rife.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves may need to find at least 22bn next month, pre-Budget research from the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found, as rising borrowing costs and weak growth forecasts drastically reduce her room for manoeuvre.

She has warned she will not be making easy choices at the fiscal event on 26 November, as No 10 looks appears less concrete on its commitment not to raise taxes on working people. This means no increase to the headline rates of income tax, VAT or national insurance contributions.

Should these three largest bases of tax revenue closed off, the chancellor has fewer places to look to raise revenue, making it more likely she will pick from a diverse range of taxation tweaks.

Changes to how property and capital gains are taxed have now been forecast by many economists, but some have also predicted that changes to pension policy could make an appearance.

Pre-Budget research has found that the chancellor may need to find at least 22bn next month (PA)

Speaking in September, pensions minister Torsten Bell appeared to push back against the idea, saying: We should always be looking ahead with pension policy.

If you ever find yourself tweaking a pension policy to try and fix a problem thats happening right now, then youre in the wrong business, the MP told the Social Market Foundations pensions conference.

However, the former Resolution Foundation chief  who is also part of the chancellors Treasury team  stopped short of ruling out any policies when asked by The Independent, instead refusing to comment on Budget speculation.

A major change to pension policy also featured in last years Budget, when it was announced that defined contribution pensions would be subject to inheritance tax for the first time from April 2027.

Budget uncertainty changes pension saver plans

The uncertainty around the future of the pensions landscape has now had a knock-on effect on savers, providers are warning, as many rush to change their plans to get ahead of speculated tweaks.

Data from the Financial Conduct Authority shows that pension withdrawals were up by 36 per cent in 2024/25, rising from 52.2bn to 70.9bn.

Pensions minister Torsten Bell appeared to push back against the idea, saying: We should always be looking ahead with pension policy (PA)

Investment platform AJ Bell agrees that it has seen pension savers adjusting their plans due to Budget speculation, and has launched a petition calling on the government to introduce a Pension Tax Lock  a commitment not to reduce the amount people can withdraw from their pension tax-free or the amount of tax relief given on pension contributions

Tom Selby, AJ Bells director of public policy, said: The constant speculation about the future of pension tax incentives damages peoples confidence in saving for retirement. Why should I lock my money up for decades if there is a risk the goalposts will be moved?

With the chancellors final decision remaining uncertain, here are the most likely options should she choose to take aim at pensions:

Cutting higher rates of tax relief

Pension tax relief effectively boosts savers contributions with a top-up from HMRC.

Savers who pay basic rate tax get a 20 per cent boost to their pension contributions, while higher rate taxpayers get 40 per cent, and additional rate earners get 45.

The scheme effectively ensures that no tax is paid on pension contributions. It is designed to encourage people to save more for retirement, as income that would be taxed as wages can instead go virtually untaxed as pension deposits.

Pension providers are warning that Budget speculation has caused some to change their plans (Getty)

The proposal would see this relief cut back for high earners, meaning everyone gets pension tax relief at a flat rate of 20 per cent, regardless of their income tax bracket.

A report from the IFS last year found that this would create 15bn more a year for the Exchequer, the vast majority of which would come from those who are in the top fifth of earners.

Abolish or cap 25 per cent tax-free lump sum

Under current rules, people take a quarter of their private pension tax-free, up to a maximum of 268,275.

The estimated annual cost of this is 5.5bn, with 70 per cent of the relief going to pensions accumulated by those in the top fifth of earners, the IFS has previously found.

This could be changed, the influential think tank added, with the amount capped closer to 100,000. This could pull back around 2bn a year, researchers found, with losses concentrated among the relatively wealthy.

Either of these options may wash well with the chancellor, who told The Guardian on Wednesday that tax rises on the wealthy would be part of the story at the Budget, after previously ruling out a mooted wealth tax.

However, pensions minister Steve Webb warned last month that both of these policy changes would adversely affect public sector workers and likely be very politically damaging.
Britains runaway infrastructure costs are a fiscal scandal. Rachel Reeves must wake up - WPA Pool/Getty

If you wanted a lesson in how not to handle public policy then Rachel Reeves has provided a masterclass ahead of her second Budget. Flags have been unfurled to see who salutes them only to be rapidly taken down when no-one has, as with breaking Labours solemn pledge not to raise income tax rates. Briefings have been offered about everything from hitting high-value homes and limiting ISAs to taxing milkshakes.

Whatever happened to the old convention of purdah whereby a Chancellor would disappear for a few months before popping up on Budget Day, a glass of whisky or some such by the Despatch Box, to surprise us all?

In fact this was scrupulously observed until about 30 years ago whereupon New Labour ditched such fuddy-duddy ways as a waste of a good opportunity to spin the narrative. But purdah prevented precisely the feeding frenzy that has generated the uncertainty and distrust in the entire process.

Andy Haldane, the former Bank of England chief economist, said months of speculation had caused paralysis in the economy, though Ms Reeves and her backers will presumably accuse him of misogyny for having the temerity to criticise her, as she told Labour MPs on Monday.

Time was when to breach Budget secrecy was a serious matter. In 1936 Jimmy Thomas, a Cabinet minister, was accused of leaking secrets to business associates for personal gain and forced from parliament. In 1947 Hugh Dalton had to resign just for telling a journalist on his way into the chamber the briefest outline of the package, thinking he would have delivered it before the papers were published. Unfortunately for Dalton the reporter managed to get it into his evening paper before he had got to his feet.

Clement Attlee, the then prime minister, was astonished. Talked to the press?, he said when his adviser told him what had happened. Why on Earth did he want to talk to the press? Fortunately for my trade, if not for the country at large, there is no compunction any longer about doing so. Indeed, it could be argued that a more open debate about budget priorities and planning is a good thing  or would be if it were done more formally and not by way of the pigs breakfast we have been served up.

It seems unlikely that there will be any surprises in this Budget though a Chancellor always likes to keep something back to lift what will otherwise be a pall of gloom hanging over her own backbenches. Tougher taxes on the wealthy and other class warfare measures should do the trick.

Ms Reeves will once again insist that her entire life is devoted to encouraging economic growth even if everything she has done since entering the Treasury has had the opposite effect. The Chancellor plans to spend billions more on welfare despite the countrys indebtedness, while giving some vague pledges about future benefits reform that will probably never materialise and will be vetoed by the partys MPs if it does.

So, is there anywhere that she could make a significant difference and save serious amounts of money? Let us hope the Chancellor has had the time between interviews to read a quite startling report from a taskforce set up by Sir Keir Starmer to look at the costs of delivering nuclear power. It found that it is more expensive to build a plant in this country than anywhere in the world.

The main problem is that regulators here insist upon mitigation measures that almost defy belief. More than 700m is being spent at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset on fish protection measures that are expected to save one salmon per year.

Hinkley Point C is billions of pounds over budget and years behind schedule

Housing developments are held up by the presence of newts, while roads have to be fitted with tunnels for toads. More than 100m was spent by HS2 on a bat protection scheme that valued each of the 300 creatures at 300,000.

This is not only absurd. It is a criminal waste of our money that the Chancellor proposes to tax more to pay for this madness. In the course of what will doubtless be a lengthy Budget speech, perhaps she can address the central question: why are infrastructure projects in this country so much more expensive than anywhere else in the world?

It is not something unique to Labour. These costs have been spiralling for decades without any proper grip being taken. Hinkley Point is billions of pounds over budget and years late. The next major plant to be built will follow suit without major changes to the way these schemes are handled. The environmental impact assessment for Sizewell C runs to 80,000 pages.

The Government has set aside 20bn for a new generation of small modular reactors, but why budget to spend so much? There are reactors coming onto the market that can be made for 600m, so even if we ordered 10 and the planning battles to install them were successful, that should cost 6bn at most. We will see the same overruns and delays, not least in getting local agreement to site them near a town.

The taskforce report blamed overly complex bureaucracy affecting the sector, though it affects all schemes from roads and rail to airport runways. Of course, nuclear power is potentially dangerous and stringent safety rules need to be followed. But the stultifying regulations introduced in this country and nowhere else  the so-called gold plating of rules that we saw during our EU membership  is hampering its development.

Nuclear is supposed to be a critical part of the Governments net zero agenda, with Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, recently extolling a golden age of new nuclear as we drive for energy sovereignty and abundance.

But the report renders such optimism fanciful along with much else of Mr Milibands utterances. The expert group says a radical reset is needed and outlines 47 recommendations to speed up building new nuclear projects at a lower cost and on time. The same discipline needs to be applied across the board.

If Ms Reeves wants to surprise us perhaps she can do something to reduce these infrastructure costs and save us a few billion in tax rises before slipping into the nether world inhabited by former Chancellors. Not that she thinks her days are numbered. In her defiant message to Labour MPs on Monday night she predicted: Ill be there next year and Ill be back the year after that. Yet another Treasury forecast that will prove to be wrong.
Author and historian Rutger Bregman has accused the BBC of censorship after the corporation removed a line about the US president from a broadcast of his Reith Lecture, A Time Of Monsters.

It comes in the wake of controversy at the corporation after Donald Trump threatened the BBC with a billion-dollar lawsuit over an edit that spliced parts of his January 6 2021 speech together in a Panorama episode from 2024.

I wish I didnt have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture. They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as the most openly corrupt president in American history. /1 pic.twitter.com/Z0oRPqX7RW  Rutger Bregman (@rcbregman) November 25, 2025

In posts to his social media platforms, Dutch academic Bregman, author of Utopia For Realists, said the corporation removed a line in which he described Mr Trump as the most openly corrupt president in American history.

The BBC said it removed the sentence from the lecture on legal advice, but Bregman said the sentence wasnt a baseless accusation.

Bregman, 37, delivered his lecture in full to a live audience in London last month and the BBC aired its edited recording of the lecture at 9am on Tuesday on BBC Radio 4.

Rutger Bregman accused the BBC of censorship (SOPA Images Limited/Alamy Live News/PA)

In a video shared by Bregman, he said: I have some really disappointing news to share, and honestly, I wish this wasnt true, but the BBC has decided to censor the opening lecture of a series they invited me to give.

They deleted the sentence in which I described Donald Trump as the most openly corrupt president in American history. That line is gone.

It has been removed from the version broadcast this morning on BBC Radio 4.

Last Wednesday, I was told the sentence was being discussed with US lawyers and at the highest levels inside the BBC.

For days, they couldnt give me an answer. Yesterday they finally did, and the irony could not be bigger, because this lecture, titled A Time Of Monsters, is exactly about the cowardice of todays elites, about universities, corporations, and yes, media networks, bending the knee to authoritarianism.

I find it hard to express how shocked I am at the BBCs decision.

He said the annual Reith Lectures, which have been going for more than 75 years, are about free expression and that this censorship should concern everyone.

Bregman also said the removed sentence was defensible and plausible and cited a major investigation from the New Yorker, published in August, which said the notion that Trump is making colossal sums off the presidency has become commonplace and offered a breakdown of estimated personal gains.

Bregman added: This decision by the leadership of the BBC is very serious. It isnt even about me. Its about something much bigger.

When institutions start censoring themselves because theyre scared of those in power, that is the moment we all need to pay attention.

Democracies dont collapse overnight. They gradually erode in acts of fear.

The Reith Lectures are named after the BBCs first director-general, Lord Reith, and sees the corporation invite a leading figure to deliver a series of lectures on radio about significant issues of the day.

Previous Reith lecturers have included theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, Wolf Hall author Dame Hilary Mantel and the father of the atomic bomb J Robert Oppenheimer.

A BBC spokesperson said: All of our programmes are required to comply with the BBCs editorial guidelines, and we made the decision to remove one sentence from the lecture on legal advice.

It comes after BBC board members were questioned about impartiality by MPs on Monday after BBC chair Samir Shah admitted the edited speech, given by Mr Trump ahead of the disorder at the US Capitol in 2021, gave the impression of a direct call for violent action.
Sir Richard Branson has announced the death of his wife Joan, paying tribute to his partner of 50 years as my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world.

The Virgin founder, 75, confirmed the news in an emotional statement shared on social media on Tuesday.

Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away, he wrote.

READ MORE: Richard Branson: 'Why I won't leave my billions to my children'

She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for. Love you forever, Joan x.

Richard Branson has announced the death of his wife Joan (pictured) (Getty Images)

Joan Branson, who turned 80 just four months ago, remained a quiet but hugely influential presence throughout her husbands career, often credited by him as the steadying force behind his business empire.

Branson frequently paid tribute to her steadfast support, marking her milestone birthday in July with a heartfelt message thanking her for standing by him through the highs, the lows, and all those quiet, content and peaceful moments in-between.

Born in Glasgow in 1945, Joan Templeman grew up in a working-class family and held a variety of jobs in her early adulthood, including running an antique shop.

She was previously married to musician Ronnie Leahy, from whom she divorced in 1978.

Her path crossed with Richard Bransons in 1976 at a shop in London where she worked.

He later recalled experiencing love at first sight when he saw what he described as a blonde-haired, down to earth, Scottish beauty who didnt suffer fools.

Joan was unlike any other women I had ever met.

Their relationship developed as Virgin Records was expanding rapidly, and two years after they met, Branson made a bold romantic gesture that would become part of the Branson family story.

Hearing that a remote island in the British Virgin Islands was up for sale, the entrepreneur put in an offer for Necker Island  despite having nowhere near the funds to buy it at the time. 

We were still in the early days of Virgin Records and I definitely did not have the cash, he admitted in a blog post. But try telling that to a fool in love.

Richard and Joan Branson pictured on their wedding day (PA Archive)

The couple married on Necker Island in 1989 and celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary ten years ago.

To mark the occasion, Branson wrote a romantic letter reflecting on their five decades together as partners, parents and grandparents, thanking Joan for grounding him throughout the turbulence of his career.

The couple shared three children  Holly, Sam and the late Clare, who tragically died shortly after birth  and multiple grandchildren.

Branson has long said that family has been the constant that shaped his life, and on Tuesday he told followers he would forever cherish every moment spent with Joan.
Period comedy-drama Rivals and mystery crime series Ludwig are among the UK productions that have won prizes at this years International Emmy Awards.

Anna Maxwell Martin triumphed in the best performance by an actress category for ITV true crime mini-series Until I Kill You, based on Delia Balmers autobiography about her relationship with a serial killer.

Disney+ series Rivals, adapted from Dame Jilly Coopers bonkbuster series, won best drama series, while BBC series Ludwig won best comedy.

Anna Maxwell Martin attending the 2025 Bafta Television Awards (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Peep Show actor David Mitchell plays John Ludwig Taylor in the series, a puzzle designer who takes on the identity of his twin brother James in order to unravel the mystery of his disappearance.

Martin, 48, also stars as Jamess wife, Lucy Betts-Taylor, who encourages John to help her find her missing husband.

Rivals, which centres on a group of wealthy media types in the 1980s, became a hit following its release in October 2024 and stars actors including David Tennant, Katherine Parkinson, Danny Dyer and Aidan Turner.

In August it was announced that the second series would star My Best Friends Wedding actor Rupert Everett and Agent Carters Hayley Atwell.

BBC Twos Hell Jumper, which featured first-person footage of a group of volunteers in Ukraine, was among the other British productions honoured, winning best documentary.

A UK production also won in the kids: live action category with Apple TV series Fallen, which follows 17-year-old Lucinda Luce Price as she is placed into a rehab facility along with a number of other young people.

The TV movie/mini series gong was won by the BBCs Lost Boys And Fairies which tells the story of a gay couple and their adoption journey.

Channel 4s Dispatches: Kill Zone: Inside Gaza, which looked at the lives of Palestinians amid Israels sustained bombing following the October 7 attacks in 2023, won in the current affairs category.
Daniel Driscoll, the US army secretary, held closed-door talks with Ukraine in Geneva this week - Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty

Sir Keir Starmer has demanded that Britain be allowed to send troops to Ukraine under any peace deal with Russia.

The Prime Minister urged other world leaders to step up planning to join the deployment, which he said was a vital part of security guarantees for Kyiv.

Our military planners have worked really hard in recent months and will continue to work on the readiness of that force, he told a virtual meeting of the coalition of the willing.

And I urge colleagues on the call this afternoon to firm up national commitments because we need to ensure weve got the most robust capability and the most robust plans on the table.

Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, dialled into the meeting for the first time. It was called as American and Ukrainian officials claimed they were nearing completion on a framework that could pave the way to ending almost four years of fighting with Russia.

Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, was reported to be planning an impromptu trip to hold talks with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he will be spending the Thanksgiving holiday.

However, Russia signalled on Tuesday that it may not sign up to a revised deal, suggesting Europe had blown its chances by rejecting an initial plan leaked last week that heavily favoured Moscow.

Analysts said Vladimir Putin shows little signs of a willingness to compromise on the key sticking points, such as his demand for more Ukrainian territory or allowing foreign troops to patrol its neighbouring frontier.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader, attended a wreath-laying ceremony in Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday - Alexander Kazakov/Pool via Reuters

Dan Driscoll, the US army secretary, was in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday night for talks with an unnamed Russian delegation and Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines military intelligence chief, who is rarely seen out of the country.

Mr Zelensky told his allies in the coalition that the US and Ukraine were ready to move forward with a 19-point plan drafted in Geneva last weekend.

During the meeting, Mr Zelensky did not commit to making a trip to the US, but Rustem Umerov, his national security adviser, said they would find the earliest suitable date in November to complete final steps.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details still needed to be hashed out by the US, Ukraine and Russia.

It is understood that the 19-point plan included placeholders for the most sensitive issues, including territorial concessions and decisions on Nato, to be filled in at a later date by Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump.

The latest plan was an amended version of an earlier 28-point strategy formulated by US officials after consultations between Steve Witkoff, the US presidents peace envoy, Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, and Russias Kirill Dmitriev, a back-channel communicator between the Kremlin and allies of Mr Trump.

The Russian-backed plan demanded that Ukraine surrender the remainder of the eastern Donbas region  including parts still under Kyivs control  slash its armed forces in half and agree to a ban on foreign troops on Ukrainian soil.

Ukrainian officials have suggested that Moscows most controversial demands have been removed from the latest version of the document.

Sir Keirs intervention could be perceived as a direct challenge to Putin to drop demands that rule out any Nato presence on Ukrainian soil after the war.

Weve got to show Russia were serious

The Prime Minister added: We must come back to this with a strong political guarantee to show Russia were serious about responding to any violation. And its only if Russia believes were seriously responding to a violation that this will underpin a lasting peace.

In his own remarks, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, argued an armed presence would deter Russia from mounting a future invasion.

Theres finally a chance to make real progress toward a good peace. But the absolute condition for a good peace is a set of very robust security guarantees, and not paper guarantees, he said.

Ukraine has had its share of promises that were shattered by successive Russian aggressions. And real rock-solid guarantees are a necessity.

Earlier on Tuesday Mr Macron said that the UK, France and Turkey were working on plans for a reassurance force that could be deployed to strategic areas, such as Kyiv or Odesa, as soon as a ceasefire comes into effect.

French, British and Turkish soldiers will be present when a peace is signed to conduct training and security operations, he told French broadcaster RTL. We never planned to be on the front line.

He also warning against an agreement that amounts to the capitulation of Ukraine and which encouraged Putin to go further towards other Europeans and puts all of our security in danger.

He also insisted that Kyiv should be the only country allowed to decide on territorial concessions and Europe should have the final say on the use of any frozen Russian assets held on the continent.

Britain and France are leading efforts to organise the deployment of thousands of troops to provide training and security as one of Ukraines main post-war security guarantees.

Under the plan, fighter jets will be stationed in neighbouring Poland to help the Ukrainian air force police its skies and ensure Russia does not breach any truce.

More than 20 countries are understood to have signed up to the scheme in the nine months since it was announced.

Andriy Yermak, Mr Zelenskys chief of staff, told the Axios news website that Ukraine was happy with the security guarantees being formulated.

I think it now looks very solid, he said. I think its a historical decision of president Trump and the United States to issue these strong security guarantees, which Ukraine never had before.

In previous versions of the peace deal, Ukraine was offered Article 5-like guarantees by the US and others, which would replicate Natos promise to come to the aid of an ally under armed attack.

Firefighters tackle a burning apartment block after a Russian drone attack on Kyiv on Monday night - Efrem Lukatsky/AP

But on Tuesday Russia suggested it was prepared to block any significant changes to the earlier proposal it had agreed with Washington.

Sergei Lavrov, Russias veteran foreign minister, said that the original 28-point strategy was welcomed by Moscow and suggested any changes to it would be swiftly rejected in talks with the US.

He said it had been drafted to reflect an agreement between Putin and Mr Trump during their peace summit in Alaska last August.

Mr Lavrov claimed that if the spirit and letter of Anchorage are erased from the key understandings we have documented, then, of course, the situation will be fundamentally different.

Russia showed no signs of slowing its war on Ukraine, unleashing a deadly barrage of drones and missiles on Kyiv, killing at least six people and injuring 13 others.

A spokesman for Sir Keir Starmer said the coalition was still planning for peacekeepers to be sent to Ukraine, despite the opposition from Moscow.
A 65-year-old Thai woman was discovered alive in her coffin just as cremation rituals were about to begin at a temple in Nonthaburi on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Temple workers at Wat Rat Prakongtham, which livestreams cremations as part of its community services, were preparing the body on Sunday when they noticed movement.

The workers opened the coffin and found the woman breathing and lightly tapping on the wooden interior. The abbot immediately halted the proceedings, and ordered that she be taken to hospital.

The woman was identified as Chonthirat Sakulkoo. She had been bedridden for about two years and her health had steadily declined during that time, her brother, Mongkol Sakulkoo, said.

Ive cared for my sister for three years. Officials told us she had died, he told The Bangkok Post. All the documents had been issued, so we placed her in a coffin and brought her to the temple for cremation.

Mr Mongkol said that he found his sister unresponsive at their home in Phitsanulok province last Saturday, leading relatives and village officials to believe she had died.

The village headman signed standard documentation for a coffin donation  a local practice allowing families to collect a coffin from charitable foundations.

However, these documents are not the same as an official death certificate, which Thai law requires before a hospital can accept a body for organ donation or for carrying out any formal procedures.

Honouring his sisters wish to donate her organs, Mr Mongkol left his home at about 3am and drove roughly 500km to Bangkok, arriving at the Chulalongkorn University Hospital by late morning.

Since no doctor had certified her death, the hospital refused to accept the body and instructed him to obtain an autopsy report. Police at Yannawa station then directed him to another location to file a report, further delaying the process.

An emergency response team transports Chonthirat Sakulkoo to hospital after she was found alive in her coffin in Nonthaburi, Thailand (AP)

Concerned about decomposition  the body had not been injected with formalin, a preservative used in Thailand to slow decay before funeral  Mr Mongkol decided instead to take his sister to Wat Rat Prakongtham, which provides free cremation services.

According to the temple treasurer Pairat Sudthup, staff were explaining to the family that they also needed an official death certificate before cremation could proceed.

As they spoke, a faint knocking sound came from the coffin. I was a bit surprised, so I asked them to open the coffin, and everyone was startled, he told the Associated Press.

I saw her opening her eyes slightly and knocking on the side of the coffin. She must have been knocking for quite some time.

Temple staff used basic equipment to assess Ms Chonthirats vital signs before arranging emergency transport to the Bang Yai Hospital.

Doctors there confirmed she showed no signs of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. Instead, she had suffered extreme hypoglycaemia, a critically low level of blood sugar that can cause deep unresponsiveness resembling death.

Her condition stabilised quickly after treatment.

By Sunday evening, staff told her family she was well enough to return home, although doctors ultimately decided she should remain under observation a little longer before travelling back to Phitsanulok.

The case has generated widespread public interest in Thailand, not only for its extraordinary nature but also because it highlights potential gaps in end-of-life procedures.

The family relied on local declarations of death and non-medical paperwork which were accepted as sufficient for transporting a presumed corpse, but not for formal hospital processes.

Mr Pairat, who has supervised thousands of cremations, said he had never witnessed anything like this.

This was the first time someone declared dead had regained consciousness, he was quoted as saying by the Thai Examiner.

Footage of the incident, filmed by temple staff, was posted on social media and verified by authorities.

Hospitals, police and temple officials have since confirmed the sequence of events, from the initial declaration of death to the hospital examination.

Ms Chonthirat remains in a stable condition as her family prepares for her return home.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage broke his silence on Monday over allegations that he targeted fellow pupils for racial and anti-semitic abuse. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Three more school contemporaries who claim to have witnessed Nigel Farages alleged teenage racism have rejected the Reform UK leaders suggestion that it was banter, describing it as targeted, persistent and nasty.

Related: Lack of apology for schoolboy banter speaks volumes about Nigel Farage

One former pupil, Stefan Benarroch, claimed that people emerging from a Jewish assembly at Dulwich college had been in the sights of Farage and others for taunts while a second, Cyrus Oshidar, described as rubbish the claim that the Reform leader did not act with intent to hurt.

Being called a Paki isnt hurtful? Oshidar asked. A third, Rickard Berg, told the Guardian: Hes now in a position where he shouldnt be denying this. Hes straight up lying.

The Guardian has spoken to more than 20 people who alleged racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage at school, including seven people who say they recall the targeted abuse of Peter Ettedgui, who is now an Emmy- and Bafta-winning director.

The alleged abuse spanned six years, from age 13 to 18.

On Monday night, Farage broke his silence over allegations that he had targeted fellow pupils for racial and antisemitic abuse, nearly a week after the Guardian published an investigation into his alleged conduct.

His aides previously said that the suggestion that Mr Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied.

In his broadcast interview, Farage changed tack and appeared to admit to saying things that could be construed as prejudiced today. But he denied any intent to inflict hurt on people due to their race or religion.

He said: Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter in a playground, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Yes.

He went on to admit that he probably had misspoken in my younger days and that he hoped he had not said anything that could be construed as racist but that his recollection was imperfect after more than four decades.

He denied directly abusing anyone, which he defined as taking it out on an individual on the basis of who they are or what they are.

He suggested that those who had spoken out were politically motivated and were not telling the truth.

In a further statement on Tuesday after the Guardian put fresh allegations to him, Farage appeared to change his stance again. I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published in the Guardian aged 13, nearly 50 years ago, he said.

He claimed the Guardian wanted to smear anybody who talks about the immigration issue.

Writing for the Guardian, Ettedgui, who alleges that Farage as a 13-year-old classmate would say Hitler was right or gas them to him, claimed: Well, he did directly target me and I can tell you that it did hurt. How did he think it would make me feel? How does he think those who were called Pakis or told to go home felt?

Benarroch, who is Jewish and was two years below Farage at school, said he did not get personally targeted by him but that he recalled the abuse allegedly meted out to Ettedgui.

He was such a gentle soul and Farage  Farage made his life a fucking nightmare, he said.

They could only identify us, because we had to go to this stupid Jewish service in the science labs school. I mean, none of us were remotely religious. They would hang out there. Farage would hang out with his minions. And then they would taunt us as we would leave.

Of Farages claim that those who had spoken out were not telling the truth, he believes this is the oldest of the antisemitic tropes.

He said he considered this was akin to claiming there is a worldwide Jewish global conspiracy, and in order to have a conspiracy, you have to lie. That is what Reform are accusing us of. It couldnt get more personal.

Berg, who was in the same year as Farage during O-levels, said he also recalled the abuse of Ettedgui as being direct and designed to hurt.

He said: He definitely had a go at Peter and there were a couple of others he would also have a go at. Me being foreign, because Im Swedish, he sort of made the point that I was foreign, but didnt have a go at me, because for a start, I stood up to him. The other guys didnt. Peter Ettedgui never reacted to him. Farage was a bully, typical, picked on the soft guys who wouldnt stand up, rise to the bait. Thats the way he worked.

He was nasty, there was no question. [The song] Gas em all, I heard him singing it to Ettedgui. I didnt get it at the time, because Peter didnt react. Back in the day, you thought it was for him to react.

Oshidar, who was in the same year as Farage, said he recalled the constant name calling, including the use of antisemitic and racial slurs. The same sort of noise that came out of him every day, he claimed, adding that he recognised that it was the language of that time.

He claimed: He wasnt the only one saying it. But he was the only one in Dulwich saying it regularly.

Responding to Farages denial that he abused anyone directly, he claimed: No, thats rubbish. I mean, thats absolutely rubbish. Theres no question that this happened  Because of who he is now and where he is he will try to deny it. But he cant. I mean, its undeniable.

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The 79th Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree has officially been felled and is on its way to London, continuing the tradition that connects the UK and Norway.

A Norwegian spruce has been given to the UK every year as an exchange between the two countries since 1947, an ongoing symbol of thanks for Britain's support during the Second World War.

On November 21, Westminster's Lord Mayor Paul Dimoldenberg and Oslo's Mayor Anne Lindboe both attended the felling ceremony in Norway.

Now, the tree is making its way to London ahead of the lights switch-on event, which both mayors will also attend.

The 20-metre-tall tree, named Ever Oslo and estimated to be 65 years old, was selected by a combination of expert advice and a social media poll.

However, the Christmas tree is yet to be illuminated. So when can we expect the lights to be switched on?

When will the Trafalgar Square tree be lit?

The lighting-up takes place on the first Thursday in December, which this year means it will happen on Thursday, December 4.

The tree will remain in place until January 5, or the twelfth day of Christmas, after which it will be responsibly recycled.

READ MORE: The ultimate sustainable gift guide for Christmas 2024: Top eco-friendly presents to shop

The lights switch-on will take place at 6pm, with the whole event concluding at 6.30pm.

Other festivities include the Choir of St-Martin-in-the-Fields singing Christmas carols, a poem to the Tree written and recited by local children, a display by the Corps of Drums from the Band of His Majestys Royal Marines Collingwood, and a performance from Det Norske Jentekor, The Norwegian Girls Choir.

Where is the Trafalgar Square tree from?

Traditionally, the tree is over 20 metres high and decorated with simple lights.

King Haakon VII sent the first tree in 1947. This was to say thank you for being given a home in the UK after he fled Norway when Nazi Germany invaded.

READ MORE: Best deals on Christmas turkey and joints to shop online

Since then, a tree gets felled every year in November and then sets out for London by sea and lorry.

While the tree is a symbolic gesture of friendship between nations, it has also faced some criticism. The BBC reported that the tree that arrived in 2019 was criticised for looking anaemic and droopy.

The trees appearance was defended last year by the British ambassador to Norway, the appropriately named Richard Wood, who pointed out: This is what 90-year-old, 25-metre trees in the wild look like. It is important to consider the symbolism of the tree rather than simply how many branches it has.

READ MORE: Five of the weirdest Christmas specials put to the test, from mince pie wraps to Yorkshire pudding pizza
Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG)

Alphabet shares gained 3% in pre-market trading and were on track to hit a historic $4tn (3tn) market valuation on Tuesday, powered by a year-long rally fuelled by the Google parent's sharpened focus on AI tools.

Shares of the company were up 4% at around $331 each ahead of the US opening bell, putting the tech giant on course to breach the key milestone at the open.

Google shares are being boosted by investor optimist around Gemini 3, which will be embedded across its core search products, the standalone Gemini app and its enterprise services. The release marks Googles most significant upgrade since the rollout of Gemini 2.5 about eight months ago, as the company steps up efforts to accelerate progress in generative AI.

Analysts at Bank of America Securities described Gemini 3 as another positive step for Google in closing any perceived LLM performance gap with rivals.

The analysts added that healthy adoption metrics for AI overviews and Gemini indicate Google is successfully funnelling users into its AI surfaces, despite growing competition, and should help ease concerns around potential search disruption, noting they maintain a buy rating on Alphabet. While still early to assess the full capabilities of the new model, a few early reviews were positive.

Read more: How changes in Rachel Reeves' budget could impact your finances

Googles push comes as competitive pressure intensifies. With Gemini 3, the company is aiming to narrow the lead of OpenAI, which ignited the generative-AI boom with the launch of ChatGPT in 2022 and now offers its GPT-5 model.

Broadcom (AVGO)

Broadcom shares rose 1% ahead of the US opening bell, extending momentum after an 11% surge in the previous session, as investors bet on strengthening demand for the companys AI microchips and processors.

The stock has been lifted by optimism surrounding Alphabets new Gemini 3 AI model. Broadcom is a key supplier of AI chips to the Google parent company, and expectations are building that the search group will increase its processor purchases as it accelerates Gemini 3 adoption.

Broadcoms custom AI chips have become increasingly important to Alphabet in the rollout of Gemini 3, which has been trained on tensor processing units (TPUs). Analysts say Alphabets years-long investment in custom chip development through Broadcom and other partners is now yielding strategic benefits and providing a competitive edge.

Market attention is sharpening around Broadcoms role as a core supplier for Alphabets AI infrastructure. The TPU partnership represents a key revenue stream for Broadcom as Google Cloud expands its AI capabilities.

In a note to clients, Melius Research wrote of Alphabets TPUs: Outside of the Nvidia (NVDA) GPU [graphics processing unit] for AI workloads, the TPU is the most proven AI chip out there  and now it has the most tangible momentum.

Zoom (ZM)

Zoom shares climbed 3% in pre-market trading after finishing flat in the previous session, as the company posted quarterly revenue ahead of analysts expectations.

Zooms third-quarter results came in ahead of Wall Streets forecasts, with adjusted earnings per share rising to $1.52 from $1.38 a year earlier, easily topping estimates. Revenue grew to $1.23bn (937m), beating predictions and marking a steady climb from last year.

Read more: UK announces billions more investment in AI ahead of budget

The company issued an upbeat outlook, projecting stronger fourth-quarter earnings and targeting full-year 2026 earnings per share of $5.97, both above analysts expectations. The guidance suggests that demand for video conferencing and digital collaboration tools remains strong, even as hybrid work models become more established.

Zoom chief executive Eric Yuan highlighted the growing adoption of the companys AI products, a key focus for investors heading into the results.

Zoom is continuing to build on our vision of an AIfirst platform that helps people connect and collaborate more seamlessly, Yuan said.

This quarter we announced AI Companion 3.0, and were thrilled to see AI Companion adoption grow meaningfully. Were also seeing strong momentum with Custom AI Companion and our AIfirst Customer Experience suite, which helped make this one of our best CX quarters, with broad AI adoption across major deals."

Novo Nordisk (NVO, NOVO-B.CO)

Shares in Novo Nordisk extended their decline in pre-market trading after dropping 5% on Monday, following the failure of its weight-loss pill to significantly slow the progression of Alzheimers disease in two major studies.

The company enrolled 3,808 adults with early-stage symptomatic Alzheimers disease in the trials, but the oral version of semaglutide did not outperform a placebo in reducing cognitive decline.

While treatment with semaglutide resulted in improvement of Alzheimer's disease-related biomarkers in both trials, this did not translate into a delay of disease progression, the company said in its news release. Novo Nordisk is cancelling a planned year-long extension study.

The group already sells injectable versions of semaglutide for obesity and type 2 diabetes and is nearing potential US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its pill version for weight loss.

In London, shares in easyJet were down as the carrier airline warned about economic pressures hitting profitability this winter even as it recorded a better-than-expected annual profit haul.

The Luton-based group posted a 9% rise in headline pre-tax profits to 665m for the year to 30 September, up from 610m in 2023-24 and higher than the 650m most analysts were expecting.

Its growing holidays business was the star performer, with annual earnings surging 32% to 250m, seeing the group meet its earnings target early.

This resulted in the group hiking the earnings target for it holidays arm to 450m by 2029-30.

But annual headline profits at its airline dropped to 415m from 420m the previous year, and it said the carriers performance has been more challenging to improve than previously hoped, particularly over winter.

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It said this was due to the pace of route maturity and the wider geopolitical, macro-economic and competitive environment in specific markets.

EasyJet cut seat capacity growth for its airline for the year ahead, to around 7%, down from 9% in 2024-25.

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said: The share price has not tended to reflect the progress which easyJet has been making, but these numbers are a reminder that the group means business."

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Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani attend a 9/11 memorial ceremony in New York on 11 September 2024. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

Donald Trump may have inadvertently pardoned any citizen who committed voter fraud in 2020 when he granted a pardon to Rudy Giuliani and other allies for their efforts to overturn the election, legal experts say.

The pardons of Giuliani and others who participated in the fake elector scheme earlier this month were largely symbolic since the federal government dismissed its criminal cases once Trump was elected. Many of those pardoned have faced criminal charges at the state level.

But, the federal pardon could wind up having a big effect on people like Matthew Alan Laiss, who is accused of voting in both Pennsylvania and Florida in the 2020 election. According to a federal indictment handed down in September, Laiss moved from Pennsylvania to Florida in August of 2020 and voted first with a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania and then in person in Florida on election day. Both votes were for Trump, Laisss lawyers wrote in court documents. He has pleaded not guilty.

The case is still in its early stages. Last week, Laisss lawyers, public defenders Katrina Young and Elizabeth Toplin, argued that the charges should be thrown out because Trump had pardoned him.

They argued that Trumps 7 November pardon was sweeping. It applies to any US citizen for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of presidential electors, whether or not recognized by any state or state official, in connection with the 2020 presidential election. And while it lists a number of people the pardon specifically applies to, it also says the pardon is not limited to those named.

That language is so broad, lawyers for Laiss wrote, it also applies to their client.

When Mr Laiss cast two votes in the general election for President Trump for the office of president of the United States in Pennsylvania and Florida, he support[ed], vot[ed for]  [and] advoca[ted] for [a] slate or proposed slate of presidential electors  in connection with the 2020 presidential election, they wrote. By its plain language, the pardon extends to Mr Laiss, and his motion to dismiss should therefore be granted.

That reading of the pardons text is believable, said Derek Muller, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame, who first wrote about the request Laisss lawyers were making.

Here youve got kind of a broad set of conduct and an undefined group of individuals who are protected, Muller said in an interview. Its quite plausible to read this and suggest that anyone involved in voting for slates of presidential electors in 2020 has now been pardoned.

Liz Oyer, who was fired as the justice departments pardon attorney earlier this year, said in an interview it was clear the pardon applied beyond the names listed in the document.

The language is not very precise, and so its hard to parse what would fall within it and what would fall outside it without looking at each case individually. That is going to create a lot of work for courts, she said. I believe this is the result of the administration not relying on experts in the office of the pardon attorney to draft pardon paperwork.

One of the core responsibilities of the pardon attorneys office is to ensure that the paperwork that is drafted is unambiguous, so questions do not arise about what the presidents intent was, she added.

Its unclear how many other people could be affected by the pardon. Voter fraud is extremely rare and the limited instances of crimes like voter impersonation or double voting are typically handled by local prosecutors, not federal ones. The rare voter fraud cases the justice department has prosecuted in recent years have typically involved non-citizens falsely claiming they are eligible to vote. Those cases are unaffected by Trumps pardon because the document makes clear it only applies to US citizens, Muller noted.

Justin Levitt, a law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, agreed that the federal pardon applied to citizens who may have committed voting crimes in 2020, though he noted they still could be subject to state prosecution. He added that Trumps pardon also appeared to cover election officials who oversaw voting in 2020. Some of those officials drew immense pressure and criticism from Trump as they defended the way elections were run.

I think this language gives election officials some much-needed ability to breathe just a bit earlier, taking sham federal prosecutions off the table for officials who ran the 2020 elections, Levitt wrote in a blogpost.

Federal prosecutors in the eastern district of Pennsylvania, which is handling the case, have not yet responded to the motion. The justice department did not reply to a request for comment.

A blanket pardon for all voter fraud in 2020 would be a paradoxical and somewhat embarrassing result for the Trump administration. Voter fraud is exceedingly rare, but Trump has nonetheless used the specter of it to champion restrictions on mail-in voting and to advocate for voter ID and same day registration.

An unintentional blanket pardon could also be embarrassing for Ed Martin, a Trump ally who was appointed the justice departments pardon attorney after he failed to get enough support to be the top federal prosecutor in the district of Columbia. Martin is also leading a justice department committee focused on punishing the presidents political rivals.

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Tulip Siddiq, who resigned from the UK government in January, is due to receive her verdict and sentence in absentia soon. Photograph: Sean Smith/The Guardian

The trial in Bangladesh of the former UK City minister Tulip Siddiq has been contrived and unfair, leading lawyers including a former Conservative justice secretary have told Bangladeshs ambassador before Thursdays verdict.

Siddiq, who resigned from the UK government in January, is due to receive her verdict and sentence in absentia, with the prosecution seeking a maximum life sentence term.

The Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate is the niece of Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, who was given a death sentence last week over charges of crimes against humanity relating to last years crackdown on student-led protests.

In a letter to Abida Islam, Bangladeshs high commissioner in the UK, a group of high-profile lawyers including Robert Buckland KC, who was justice secretary under Boris Johnson, and the former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve, suggest Siddiq has not enjoyed basic rights during her trial, including knowledge of the charges against her or access to legal representation.

The group of lawyers, which also includes Cherie Blair KC, Philippe Sands KC and Geoffrey Robertson KC, further claim that a lawyer she instructed to represent her was put under house arrest and faced threats to his daughter.

Such a process is artificial and a contrived and unfair way of pursuing a prosecution, they write.

Siddiq and tens of other individuals, including her aunt, mother, brother and sister, have been on trial in Dhaka since the start of August.

The Labour MP is accused of influencing Hasina, who was ousted as Bangladeshs prime minister last year, to secure a plot of land in a suburb of Dhaka for her mother, who is the sister of the former prime minister.

Related: Im collateral damage: ex-minister Tulip Siddiq on her Bangladesh corruption trial

Siddiq denies the allegations, which she says are politically motivated.

The lawyers write of their profound concern regarding the current criminal proceedings in Bangladesh at a time when the leader of the interim government, chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, has repeatedly espoused the importance of the rule of law and justice in Bangladesh.

They say of Siddiq: As she lives in the UK and is a UK national, she is plainly not a fugitive. She is an elected member of parliament, who can be contacted at the House of Commons, and indeed extradited to Bangladesh to face charges if there are proper grounds for seeking her extradition.

Not only has Ms Siddiq not been presented with the charges and evidence against her, she has also not been able to obtain legal representation.

A lawyer in Bangladesh she appointed to represent her was forced to stand down, reporting that he had been placed under house arrest, further informing Ms Siddiq that his daughter had been threatened.

This accords with reports of a pattern of interference and intimidation in the legal system since the interim government took office.

They go on to claim that the anti-corruption commission in Dhaka leading on the prosecution has joined Yunis in making repeated comments to the media about Ms Siddiqs culpability.

The UK lawyers say: We find it difficult to see how such widespread media engagement by those in power, accusing Ms Siddiq of criminal wrongdoing, can be consistent with a fair and impartial trial free from interference.

Given all of the circumstances, we have serious concerns that the trial of Ms Siddiq in absentia is unfair, that she does not have a proper opportunity of defending herself, or indeed any opportunity at all, that she is being tried in her absence without justification and that the proceedings fall far short of standards of fairness recognised internationally.

The lawyers call on the authorities in Bangladesh to rectify these concerns to allow a fair trial to proceed.

After the airing of suggestions in the media that she had improperly benefited from her aunts rule, Keir Starmers independent adviser on the ministerial code, Sir Laurie Magnus, cleared Siddiq of wrongdoing in January.

But Magnus had added that it was regrettable that she was not more alert to the potential reputational risks that arose from her familial ties and her Treasury role.

Siddiq resigned from her roles as economic secretary to the Treasury and City minister, saying the allegations from Bangladesh were proving a distraction for the government.

The Bangladeshi high commission has been contacted for comment.

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(ScaleUp Institute)

This week I had the pleasure of witnessing collision theory - that science-based theory that innovation and successful startups don't happen in isolation - unfold before my eyes.

Government ministers mingled with founders, bank bosses sat with regional entrepreneurship hubs, and chief investment officers chomped on ginger stem biscuits with those at the helm of Britains fastest-growing businesses at the ScaleUp Institutes annual review.

Change happens when the various factors of the ecosystem unite rather than point fingers.

Founders often say this countrys investment purse-strings are tightly sewn shut. Financial institutions can claim a paucity of investment opportunities. Policy-makers point to valuable exits to foreign sovereign wealth funds as evidence of this countrys flourishing scale-up environment. Innovation experts say its a disastrous route to talent (and tax revenue) exodus.

But rare is an opportunity where all parties get together, craft a to-do list for British policy-makers and funders - and leave ready to take action.

This unfolded against the backdrop of fresh, positive data from the ScaleUp Institutes annual review at the University of London, showing that the enduring narrative of talking Britain down is wrong.

Ahead of Wednesdays Budget, gloom pervades business headlines. This country, we are told, is losing out to the tax-free lure of Dubai, the slush of investment rolling around the US, and Chinas massive industrial growth.

But the data belies this view.

There are now over 44,000 scaleups in the UK - up from 26,985 in 2013. The UK is third in global scaleup rankings - with ScaleUp Institute chief executive Irene Graham pointing out that's up from 13th more than a decade ago. Some 9,000 scaleups are growing more than 60% per year.

While the UKs SMEs contribute 4.4 trillion to the countrys economy - but scaleups, while accounting for less than 1% of those firms, generate 2.19 trillion of that.

However, much is still to be done to build a frictionless UK scaleup economy for the long term  with a playbook that enables a truly sustainable scaleup nation, where businesses can start, grow and scale up whilst staying in the UK.

"We seem to be having a debate in Britain about whether we should back ourselves, Julia Hoggett, CEO of the LSE, said at the ScaleUp Institutes annual review. The trick is to turn the impetus of UK founders into flows of capital. We need to double down on the winners.

The UK, added Alex Depledge, serial founder and the Governments entrepreneurship advisor, has become an incubator economy, incredibly good at starting, turning IP into the early stages of commercialisation, but struggles to get past that growth stage: its the valley of death. She added: I dont like the idea of us underwriting Americas R&D.

British investors arent always domestically-minded, confirmed Stephen Welton, chair of the British Business Bank. Its not easy for UK pension funds to back high-growth companies that are pre-revenue, he said. They may lack the deep knowledge demanded to understand those sectors - which pervades in the US, where huge exits mean many investors are domain specialists too.

But we dont spend enough time talking about savers, who own pensions, Welton said. If we asked people, would you like your pension fund to be invested in your local area? we would get far more engagement - and that demand would be followed-up by trustees.

As things stand, British firms are doing the hard work in R&D, putting it on a plate, then someone else [a US buyer or foreign sovereign wealth funds] follow through on investment and grab the benefits.

Tom Adeyoola, executive chair of Innovate UK, rammed home this view. The UK needs to invest in the UKs future, to drive home that narrative of why someone with an ISA or pension should invest in breakthrough technology of tomorrow, he said.

Adeyoola recalled his dad, a bus driver, investing in British Gas after its Tell Sid campaign. Back then, the man on the street cared about investing in UK infrastructure and being a stakeholder of the economy. We need to be better at communicating the benefits that can accrue from this investment to the British public.

That would pull us out of our [current] flatlining productivity. International investors are coming in and seeing the potential of our companies, but it should be British money investing in those opportunities. Its critical for our own national success.

Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the Competition Markets Authority, said that her body too had a role in fostering ScaleUp growth through making sure competition helps boost opportunities for innovation and scaling including through open access to data, such as the role the CMA played in open banking, and through pro-competition procurement practices.

Data from the Review showed R&D public procurement is one of Governments biggest economic levers for scaleups, with deals worth 400 million a year. Scaling barriers are not all about funding, added Lucy Armstrong, chair of the Port of Tyne. Being part of a supply chain is a powerful way to drive growth, and is what the hub at the Port of Tyne is seeking to foster.

Larger firms convene and catalyse to grow value with management and culture, Armstrong added. Scaleups need to recognise that a founder might not be the best leader when it comes to growth. An inventor who holds IP but cant explain their idea in plain English wont thrive at growing the business. The UK does have structural issues around patient capital, but for a business with good plans, and good people, in an area which solves a problem, money tends to follow.

Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England, celebrated growth in the region, where almost 1000 scaleups contribute 29 billion to the economy: scaleups like to do things at pace and at the Combined Authority we are working to match that.

When the Chancellor Rachel Reeves asked serial entrepreneur Depledge, founder of Hassle and Resi, to work with her to put together a package for entrepreneurs, that was all she said: she then gave me autonomy to get on and work with her team on whats required.

So began Depledges candid lid-lift on her work behind the scenes at No. 11 Downing Street at the ScaleUp Institutes annual review. She told the Government: we need to tell entrepreneurs we love them, theyre needed, and well reward the risks that theyll take. To show them why the UK is a great place to start, to scale, to stay and to recycle those tax receipts and exit proceeds - to keep the talent in the country.

In the UK, Depledge said, theres a pervading view that deep tech and stuff that matters is too hard. Investors dont understand it, so Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and Americans buy our companies instead. Our talent goes, our tax receipts go, its a travesty for this country. I believe in British exceptionalism - we just need to get behind it properly.

Irene Graham added: Its clear the Chancellor is listening and seeking to act. Addressing the audience online the Chancellor reaffirmed that fostering scaleup ambition is at the heart of the Governments Growth Strategy, including implementing its Industrial, Trade and Business Strategies which 8 in 10 scaleup leaders are positive about, in terms of the actions planned.

Serial entrepreneur Ammar Mirza described the ScaleUp Institute as "the super glue that keeps this mission aligned. It's independent, data driven and demand-led body - an important source of insight bringing public and private sectors together and sets out clear recommendations for what must happen next.

Collective ambition to help scaling companies was clear at the event, which recognised that the ecosystem needed to join up even more to remove friction and address remaining challenges, whilst celebrating the achievements of entrepreneurs today.
Ukraine continues to suffer the swings and roundabouts of outrageous fortune at the hands of American negotiators but is learning how to survive the whirligig of the White House.

Donald Trump and his envoys are neither honest brokers nor even allies of Kyivs fight to defend itself against Russian invaders. But, for a little while, it seems that Ukraine has managed to swing them away from being outright enemies.

American officials have reportedly told US media that some kind of a deal has been struck in Abu Dhabi  after last weekends talks in Geneva  and that the prospects for peace in Ukraine are looking good.

The nature of that deal is key. And there is no clarity on what version of a plan that is, or even whether its a blueprint for peace or for just a ceasefire.

Kyiv rejected last weeks Trump administration plan for total capitulation by Ukraine. There have been red faces in the White House since it was published, after some linguistic analysis suggested that it may have originally been written in Russian.

Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, apparently had no idea the proposal was in the works. European leaders condemned it, Ukraine rejected it, and Moscow loved it.

Ukraine took the opening brouhaha as an opportunity to whisper its way through to Trumps people.

Over the weekend, Kyiv and European leaders took the US proposal that the Russians liked so much and turned it inside out.

Out went Trumps suggestion that Ukraine give Russia land it hasnt even captured yet, give America preferential profit deals on projects the US had not even funded, and out went the cap on Ukraines forces at 600,000. Out went a ban on Ukraines Nato membership and in came a demand for Russian reparations.

Volodymyr Zelensky meeting US army secretary Daniel Driscoll last week (AP)

Above all, Ukraine would get chapter five type security guarantees from the US and all other allies, which would trigger a military conflict with Moscow if Russia tried a new invasion.

Now, according to Ukraines head of the national security council, Rustem Umerov, America has signed up to some of what was agreed with Europe and Ukraine at the weekend.

Our delegations reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva. We now count on the support of our European partners in our further steps, he said.

In Kyiv, a Ukrainian official deeply involved with ceasefire negotiations said that the US appeared to have agreed to adopt Ukraines positions.

The official in president Volodymyr Zelenskys office said that if the deal was the framework from Geneva, were okay. Its not a bad framework to work further.

And Zelensky wrote on X: "Following the meetings in Geneva, we see many prospects that can make the path to peace real. There are solid results, and much work still lies ahead.

But it is not at all clear if the US has done a handbrake turn. Trump has consistently ruled out offering American forces as a guarantee for Ukraines future security.

Keir Starmer speaks to the Coalition of the Willing on Tuesday after talks in Geneva (PA)

The Geneva plan allows for progressive sanctions to be lifted on Russia and for Moscow to rejoin the G8 economic group of nations.

Trump wants to get back to business in Russia immediately.

Ukraine has said that US negotiators, led by Daniel Driscoll, had agreed to work within the terms of the new deal.

American officials, seldom given to clarity or veracity anyway, were more vague.

Over the past week, the United States has made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table, said Karoline Leavitt, Trumps press secretary.

There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

Russia doesnt like the way Kyiv has managed to get into the conversation over its own future, nor the way Zelenskys team have managed to manoeuvre the plan towards its side.

On Monday, Moscow had rejected the Ukrainian-European 28-point plan for peace outright as completely unconstructive.

And now Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff - fresh from briefing the Russians on how to flatter his boss - is being dispatched to Moscow next week to speak to Putin.

For Zelensky and his allies, efforts will focus on riding the Trump carousel of chaos long enough for him to agree to their proposals.

But it is Putin who Trump sees as the ringmaster and who will likely whip the US back towards the Russian line.
Ukraine and the United States appear to be edging closer to a peace deal over the war with Russia, in a potentially significant diplomatic shift following crunch talks in Switzerland.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Kyiv was ready to move forward with a framework to end the war with Russia.

In a day of fast-moving developments, Kyiv said it supported the essence of the Geneva plan while stressing there were still some sensitive issues that needed to be fixed.

US president Donald Trump, who last week imposed a deadline of this Thursday for Ukraine to accept, said he thought a deal was now very close.

Were going to get there, he told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. I think were getting very close to a deal  well find out ... I think were making progress.

On Tuesday night Mr Trump said his plan to end the war in Ukraine has been "fine-tuned" and that he is sending envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin and army secretary Dan Driscoll to meet Ukrainian officials in a bid to iron out a few remaining points of disagreement between the warring countries.

But Mr Trump also said he will only meet with Putin and Mr Zelensky in the "final stages" of the peace deal.

Ukraine said it had agreed to the framework for peace in principle following the talks over the weekend (AFP/Getty)

Mr Zelensky said: We worked with the Ukrainian negotiating team today [Tuesday] on the text of the document prepared with the United States in Geneva. The principles in this document can be developed into deeper agreements. It is in our shared interest that security is real.

I count on continued active cooperation with the American side and President Trump. Much depends on the United States because its America's strength that Russia takes most seriously. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine.

A Ukrainian official familiar with the ongoing negotiations said that the US appears to have agreed to a document set out by Europes allies in Geneva  but not the previously presented US plan.

The Swiss summit over the weekend gave Europe a brief window to present its own peace proposal, a revision of an earlier American draft seen to favour Russia without offering Ukraine any tangible security guarantees.

Ukraines security chief Rustem Umerov said that the delegations had now reached a common understanding on what he called the core terms of the Geneva agreement.

Sir Keir Starmer said changes proposed to the draft peace plan are constructive and could be accepted.

Speaking at the start of a meeting of Coalition of the Willing allies, the prime minister said: I welcome some of the developments that have now come forward.

It was a chance to ensure that the draft plan fully reflects Ukraines interests and lays the ground for a lasting peace.

Donald Trump said on Tuesday that a deal to end the war getting close (Reuters)

Theyve proposed some constructive changes, he continued. And of course some of our national security advisers were there in Geneva to support the talks.

So I do think were moving in a positive direction  and indications today that in large part the majority of the text looks as though, Volodymyr is indicating, could be accepted.

Ukraine will be seeking clear assurances that the US and Europe can uphold any peace deal with a dependable deterrent against any future invasion.

In a speech to the coalition, Mr Zelensky called on European leaders to put together a framework for a reassurance force in Ukraine, while continuing to support Kyiv if Russia shows no willingness to end the conflict.

French president Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that peace efforts are gathering momentum and are clearly at a crucial juncture.

Negotiations are getting a new impetus. And we should seize this momentum, he said during the allies video conference.

Ukraine now hopes to organise for Mr Zelensky to visit Washington by the end of November to speak to the US president, the second such visit in one month.

However, any deal agreed between the US and Ukraine would still require agreement from Russia.

Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine with drones and missiles throughout negotiations (AP)

The Kremlin said on Tuesday it was impossible to comment on the developments between the US and Ukraine amid an information frenzy.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the original framework presented by the US  widely condemned as a Russian wishlist  was the only substantive outline for peace.

Earlier, US Army secretary Daniel Driscoll, who only became part of the American negotiating team less than two weeks ago, met Russian officials for several hours in Abu Dhabi.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt hailed the latest development as a major step in the right direction.

Over the past week, the United States has made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table, she said in a statement on X (Twitter).

There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

The diplomatic developments came hours after Russia launched a wave of overnight attacks on Ukraines capital, Kyiv, with at least seven people killed in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure.

A Ukrainian attack on southern Russia killed three people and damaged homes, authorities said.
An Italian man schemed to disguise himself as his dead mother to claim on her pension.

The man, an unemployed former nurse, dressed up in a 1970s blouse and pearl necklace replete with lipstick, before heading to the Registry Office in his town of Borgo Virgilio in northern Italy.

He was attempting to renew the identity card of his mother, Graziella Dall'Oglio.

The real Graziella died three years ago, and her son had been claiming on her pension the entire time, totalling up to the vast sum of nearly 53,000 ($94,000), according to Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera.

It has been dubbed the "Mrs Doubtfire scandal" after the 1993 hit movie starring the late Robin Williams.

The late Graziella DallOglio (left) was impersonated by her son (right) (Facebook)

In a shocking turn of events, when the 56-year-old was busted by police and his house was searched, they found his deceased mothers mummified body.

Reports said that Dall'oglio had not been heard from for years.

The scam, which had been bringing in money for the fraudster for years, was exposed by a particularly sharp employee at the registry office who noticed something was off when Graziella came in to renew her identification, alerted the mayor and police.

The town's mayor, Francesco Aporti, told Corriere Della Sera: "[He was] wearing a suit with a long skirt, lipstick on his lips, nail polish on his hands, jewellery around his neck and hands, old-fashioned earrings."

"But that neck, upon closer inspection, was a bit too thick, and even the wrinkles were strange; the skin on his hands didn't look like the 85-year-old he claimed to be.

"And his voice, feminine yes, but occasionally a few masculine notes escaped."

The scheme has echoes of the iconic Robin Williams film Mrs Doubtfire (SNAP/REX/Shutterstock)

After photos of the real Graziella and her son were compared, investigators realised they had been duped and that her son had been filing regular tax returns.

Authorities promptly called the son and said Graziella needed to come in to the office to complete the identification process.

Once he arrived, dressed as his mother, he was taken down to the police station where he confessed to his scheme.

Police found the real Graziellas body in his home, with a statement from Italian police declaring the corpse had been wrapped in bedsheets and a sleeping bag.

The mayor explained: She probably died of natural causes, but that will be established by a postmortem.

It's a very, very sad story, certainly one of great loneliness.
Virginia Giuffre died without a formal will when she took her own life in April - Emily Michot/Getty Images

Virginia Giuffres family is readying for a courtroom showdown over her multimillion-dollar estate.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors sex abuse accuser took her own life in April but died intestate  without a formal will.

Her closest relatives are now preparing to contest her legacy, with a case management hearing scheduled at the Supreme Court of Western Australia in Perth on Friday.

Giuffre, who was 41, amassed a fortune through victim compensation funds and civil lawsuit settlements relating to the years of abuse she suffered at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein.

This includes the bulk of an estimated $12m (9m) payment she received from the former Duke of York to settle the claim brought against him in 2022. Andrew has always vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Up to $3m of the settlement paid by Andrew was ring-fenced for Ms Giuffres charity, Speak Out, Act, Reclaim - Nicholas Razzell

Under Australian law, her husband, Robert Giuffre, who filed for divorce two months before she died, could be entitled to up to a third of her estate.

But at about the same time that he began divorce proceedings, Ms Giuffre is said to have sent an email to her lawyer stating that she did not want him to have any of her money.

Her younger brother, Sky Roberts, and her half-brother Danny Wilson, have hired a lawyer to challenge his right to the funds.

Ms Giuffre with Sky Roberts, left, and Daniel Scott Wilson - Facebook

Ms Giuffres paternal aunt, Kimberley Roberts, told The Telegraph that the brothers were seeking a sizeable chunk of the estate.

We dont believe they have a right to it, she said. The estate should go to her children only.

The brothers are also said to want to assume control of Ms Giuffres charity, Speak Out, Act, Reclaim, which she did not manage to get off the ground before she died.

Up to $3m of the settlement paid by Andrew was ring-fenced for the charity and is still being held in an escrow account managed by a third party.

Sky Roberts, his wife Amanda Roberts, and Ms Giuffres other brother Danny Wilson - Caroline Gutman for NBC News

But other family members are against the brothers involvement and would rather it was run by experts in the charity sector.

In June, it emerged that Ms Giuffres two elder children, Christian, 19, and Noah, 18, who live with their father, had successfully applied to the court to be appointed administrators of the estate.

The pair published a public notice in the Western Australian Government Gazette calling for creditors to apply.

The split in the family ranks stretches to disagreement about how Ms Giuffre died, with sources on both sides expressing frustration over the tearful television interviews given by various family members seeking pity.

He wants the whole family to say its suicide

I know theyre trying to get as much press as they can get, one source said of Ms Giuffres brother, Sky.

Im not really happy about what hes doing, and Im not really happy about any of this stuff thats happening.

He wants the whole family to say its suicide, without question.

As well as the settlement from Andrew, Ms Giuffre received $500,000 from Epstein in 2009, when she settled her sex-trafficking and sexual abuse claims against him.

She also received an undisclosed payment after settling a civil case settlement with Ghislaine Maxwell in 2017. Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in December 2021 and is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence.

Ms Giuffre also owned four properties including a six-bedroom seafront home in Ocean Reef, Perth, and a ranch in the nearby town of Neergabby, where she died.

Giuffres property portfolio included a six-bedroom home in Perth

She met Mr Giuffre, a martial arts instructor, in Thailand in 2002, during a trip funded by Epstein to undergo professional massage training.

The pair married just 10 days later and she told Epstein she was not coming home, instead moving to Australia to start a family.

Giuffre had become estranged from her husband of 22 years - Instagram

But before she died, Ms Giuffre had become estranged from her husband of 22 years, who she alleged had become emotionally and physically controlling.

In January, Ms Giuffre was admitted to hospital following an alleged assault.

Her PR team said later that Mr Giuffre had brutally assaulted her.

But it was Mr Giuffre who was granted a restraining order and temporary custody of their two younger children, then aged 16 and 15, who Ms Giuffre was banned from seeing.

Her mental health deteriorated and she had been due to appear before a Perth magistrate for the alleged breach of the order.

In March, three weeks before she died, Ms Giuffre published a photograph of her bruised face on social media, saying that she had only days to live after her car was hit by a school bus.

Sky William Roberts, Giuffres father, has denied her claims against him

The local police said they were unable to locate any records of such a crash and many interpreted the post as a desperate plea for help.

In October, Ms Giuffres posthumous memoir was published describing years of sexual abuse by her father, Sky Roberts, and a family friend. In a note to Ms Giuffres collaborator, Sky Roberts strenuously denied the claims.
New research showing that women in Scotland are more likely than men to be at risk of being driven into poverty by public debt collection must be a wake-up call for decision-makers, a charity has said.

A report published on Tuesday by Glasgow University and commissioned by Aberlour Childrens Charity, One Parent Families Scotland, and Trussell, reveals women are more likely to face financial hardship because of how national agencies and local authorities recoup arrears.

Detailed analysis of the anonymised records of 71,000 people seeking debt advice in Scotland revealed 57% were women.

The report, titled The Gendered Impact Of Public Debt, also shows women owe the most in public debt, like council tax and rent.

The research suggests caring responsibilities can often mean reduced income, less financial resilience and greater risk of poverty, while deductions from benefits to pay arrears often makes difficult household budgets impossible.

Justina Murray, Aberlour chief executive, said public authorities should treat arrears as an emergency flare.

She said: We have known for some time how the pursuit and collection of public debt inflicts further financial harm on some of our poorest families.

This important research confirms that impact is felt most often by women and most often by those caring for children or other family members.

It is clearly embedded in the lives of low-income women, deepening the inequalities they already face.

Our public authorities should treat arrears as an emergency flare, a signal to intervene  not to make things worse.

There are far better, more humane, and less destructive ways to collect, or cancel, this kind of debt.

Aberlour said it fears deducting money from benefits to collect arrears is pushing many families into poverty.

The research revealed 221 million is deducted from payments for just one benefit, universal credit, each year in Scotland.

Professor Morag Treanor, of the University of Glasgow, said the work had been possible because of the depth and quality of the records kept by Citizens Advice Scotland and debt charity StepChange.

Trussell said nearly everyone referred to one of its food banks in Scotland faces arrears (PA)

She said: Public debt does not come in isolation but most often arrives alongside other hardships and inequalities.

Our understanding of its impact must become far stronger and shape effective policies to ease those inequalities. Looking at public debt in isolation does not reflect the reality of how its collection impacts lives.

This research confirms public debt is part of our countrys poverty crisis and can only be addressed as part of that crisis.

In Scotland, enforced payment of council tax arrears is fast-tracked and debt can be collected for 20 years compared to six in England and Wales.

Food insecurity charity Trussell said nearly everyone referred to one of its food banks is dealing with arrears.

Cara Hilton, senior policy manager for Scotland at Trussell, said: People across Scotland are being pushed deeper into hardship, left exhausted, isolated and without enough money for essentials.

Nearly everyone who is referred to a Trussell food bank in Scotland faces debt or arrears, with disabled families and single parent families at greatest risk.

Our new research reveals this burden of debt is falling disproportionately on women, undermining womens mental health and family wellbeing.

Our joint research must be a wake-up call for decision-makers at both Scottish and UK level. We must see bold action to end the spiral of public debt that traps so many women and their children in hunger and hardship.

The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
Wycliffe star Jack Shepherd has died at the age of 85.

The English actor died following a short illness, his family said in a statement shared with the PA news agency.

The Leeds-born TV star was best known for starring as Cornish detective Charles Wycliffe in the ITV series based on the WJ Burley novels.

The drama aired between 1993 and 1998 and starred Shepherd in the lead role as Wycliffe, who investigated murders in Cornwall alongside his colleagues DI Doug Kersey, played by Scottish actor Jimmy Yuill, and Helen Masters DI Lucy Lane.

A statement from agents Markham, Froggatt & Irwin said: It is with great sadness we can confirm that the celebrated actor Jack Shepherd passed away yesterday at the age of 85. He died peacefully in hospital after a short illness. His wife and family were with him.

They added: Markham, Froggatt & Irwin are very proud and honoured to have been part of Jacks illustrious career. His passing is a sad loss to us all. Jack is survived by his wife Ann Scott and children Jan, Jake, Victoria, Catherine and Ben.

After attending school in Leeds, he won a scholarship to Newcastle University to study fine art, later moving to London to study at The Central School for Speech and Drama.

In his 20s he became the leading light of Londons Royal Court theatre, with his TV break in the Seventies as rebellious Labour MP Bill Brand in the hit series titled Bill Brand.

The Trevor Griffiths series also earned him a Bafta nomination in the best actor category in 1977.

Alongside TV, Shepherd also acted on stage at the National Theatre.

He directed The Two Gentlemen Of Verona in 1996 at Shakespeares Globe and the show also went to Broadway.

Shepherd won multiple awards, including an Olivier award for the original production of Glengarry Glen Ross in 1983.

He also worked with director Bill Bryden on numerous theatre productions and was a playwright in his own right, as well as a saxophonist and jazz pianist.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena after commemorative ceremony for victims of the great famine in Kyiv. Photograph: AP

Ukraine has significantly amended the US peace plan to end the conflict, removing some of Russias maximalist demands, people familiar with the negotiations said, as European leaders warned on Monday that no deal could be reached quickly.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy may meet Donald Trump in the White House later this week, sources indicated, amid a flurry of calls between Kyiv and Washington. Ukraine is pressing for Europe to be involved in the talks.

The original 28-point US-Russian plan was drawn up last month by Kirill Dmitriev, Vladimir Putins special envoy, and Trumps representative Steve Witkoff. It calls on Ukraine to withdraw from cities it controls in the eastern Donbas region, limit the size of its army, and not join Nato.

During negotiations on Sunday in Switzerland  led by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and Zelenskyys chief of staff, Andriy Yermak  the plan was substantially revised. It now includes only 19 points. Kyiv and its European partners say the existing frontline has to be the starting point for territorial discussions.

They say there can be no recognition of land seized by Russia militarily, and that Kyiv should make its own decisions on whether to join the EU and Nato  something the Kremlin wants to veto or impose conditions on. Ukraines first deputy foreign minister, Sergiy Kyslytsya, told the Financial Times such issues had been placed in brackets for Trump and Zelenskyy to decide upon later.

On Monday, Zelenskyy said: As of now, after Geneva, there are fewer points, no longer 28, and many correct elements have been incorporated into this framework, adding that sensitive issues were to be discussed with Trump.

Rubio hailed Sundays talks as very very positive. Writing on Truth Social on Monday, Trump, who days earlier had accused Ukraines leadership of having zero gratitude, also struck a positive tone.

Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Dont believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA! he wrote.

Ukraines delegation briefed Zelenskyy about the talks on Monday after returning to Kyiv from Geneva. They described the latest version of the plan as more realistic. Separately, Zelenskyy spoke to the US vice-president, JD Vance, and urged him to involve European countries in the process. Vance reportedly agreed.

But in the clearest sign yet the original 28-point plan  widely seen as favourable to Moscow  still falls short of several key Kremlin demands, Putins top foreign policy aide on Monday said Moscow would seek to rework parts of it.

We were given some sort of draft  which will require further reworking, said Yuri Ushakov, adding that many provisions of the plan appeared acceptable to Russia, but others would require the most detailed discussions and review between the parties.

Underscoring the Kremlins hardline stance, Ushakov said Moscow would reject a European counter-proposal from the weekend, which, according to a copy seen by Reuters, changes the meaning and significance of key points concerning Nato membership and territory.

The European plan, at first glance  is completely unconstructive and does not work for us, he said.

As negotiators scrambled to revise a framework, Ukraine and Russia counted casualties on Tuesday morning after trading deadly overnight strikes.



Russias acting governor of Rostov region said at least three people were killed by Ukrainian strikes. Authorities in Kyiv said at least one person was killed and seven wounded in the capital, after a barrage of missiles and drones targeted the countrys energy sector.

The UK and EU were blind-sided last week when the original plan was leaked to US media. The army secretary, Dan Driscoll  Vances friend and university classmate  was sent to Kyiv with a military delegation to brief Zelenskyy on its contents.

Since then, European governments have sought to revise the document, which appears to have originally been written in Russian. EU leaders attending an EU-Africa summit in Angola welcomed a degree of progress, but said far more work remained to be done and insisted Europe must be fully involved and Russia must be present if talks were to advance substantively.

The European Council president, Antonio Costa, praised a new momentum, saying after talks on the sidelines of the summit that while issues remained, the direction is positive.

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, also called the refined peace framework agreed in Switzerland a solid basis for moving forward, but added: Work remains to be done.

Von der Leyen said the core principles the EU would always insist on were that Ukraines territory and sovereignty must be respected  only Ukraine, as a sovereign country, can make decisions regarding its armed forces.

The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said both Europe and Russia must be fully involved. The next step must be: Russia must come to the table, Merz said, while Europeans must be able to give their consent to issues that affect European interests and sovereignty.

Talks would be a long-lasting process and Merz said he did not expect a breakthrough this week. The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, said the talks were delicate because nobody wants to put off the Americans and President Trump from having the US on our side in this process.

Tusk also stressed that any peace settlement needed to strengthen, not weaken, our security and must not favour the aggressor. Swedens prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, said Russia must be forced to the negotiating table to see aggression  never pays.

Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, said there was more work to do but progress was being made. A group of countries supporting Ukraine  the coalition of the willing  would discuss the issue in a video call on Tuesday, he said.

The chairs of the parliamentary foreign affairs committees of 20 European countries, including France, Ireland, Poland, Spain and the UK, issued a rare joint statement saying just and lasting peace would not be achieved by yielding to the aggressor but must be grounded in international law and fully respect Ukraines territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty.

On Monday, the White House pushed back against criticism, including from within the Republican party, that Trump is favouring Russia.

The idea that the US is not engaging with both sides equally in this war to bring it to an end is a complete and total fallacy, the press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told reporters.

Zelenskyy is at his most vulnerable since the start of the war, after a corruption scandal led to two of his ministers being dismissed while Russia makes battlefield gains.
Prisoner 951 is BBC's newest Sunday night drama. (BBC) (CREDIT LINE:BBC/Dancing Ledge/Laurence Cendrowicz)

The true story of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been dramatised by the BBC for its new series Prisoner 951, which details the harrowing experience she faced.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe's unjust imprisonment in Iran was a topic that captured the world's attention from 2016, and her husband Richard's fight for justice is explored in the series. Joseph Fiennes takes on the role of Richard, while Narges Rashidi portrays Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

For those keen to learn the true story behind the drama, here is what you need to know.

What happened to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe?

A photo of Richard Ratcliffe and his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was unjustly arrested and imprisoned in Iran for plotting to overthrow the Iranian government. (PA) (John Stillwell, PA Images)

In 2016, British-Iranian national Zaghari-Ratcliffe travelled to Tehran to see her parents for Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, alongside her 22-month-old daughter Gabriella. When they were preparing to return home to the UK, Zaghari-Ratcliffe was taken into custody and her daughter's British passport revoked.

Her daughter's passport was later returned, and she was given into the care of her maternal grandparents so that she could visit her mother while she was in custody.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who had worked for the BBC World Service Trust and the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was accused of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government. She vehemently denied these allegations.

Narges Rashidi portrays Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in the TV series. (BBC) (CREDIT LINE:BBC/Dancing Ledge Productions)

She was placed in solitary confinement for 8.5 months, during which time she was denied access to a lawyer. At trial, Zaghari-Ratcliffe was sentenced to five years in prison.

Richard Ratcliffe fought for his wife's freedom, and said in 2021 that his wife was being held "hostage" due to the UK owing a 400 million debt to Iran over a failure to deliver Chieftain tanks ordered by the Shah of Iran before he was overthrown in 1979. Both the Iranian and UK governments denied that the debt was linked to Zaghari-Ratcliffe's imprisonment.

Richard Ratcliffe pictured during a vigil outside the Embassy of Iran in Kensington, London, during Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe six-year imprisonment. (PA) (Kirsty O'Connor, PA Images)

During the COVID pandemic, Zaghari-Ratcliffe was temporarily released but had to remain in her parents' home in Tehran and could only venture 300 metres away from it; she was also subject to electronic monitoring.

In March 2021, Zaghari-Ratcliffe's original sentence ended, but she was sentenced to a further year in prison after being found guilty of propaganda activities against the government. She was also placed under a one-year travel ban.

The BBC series explores Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's harrowing experience from both her point of view and her husband's. (BBC) (CREDIT LINE:BBC/Dancing Ledge Productions/Rekha Garton)

In November 2021, Ratcliffe went on a hunger strike to demand that then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson "deliver on his promises" to repay the debt incurred by the UK to Iran.

He told PA at the time: "The Iranian delegate needs to be asked about it. He promised to settle a debt and he hasnt, and now my wife is being held hostage. He needs to deliver on that promise.

"He needs to take responsibility for that and the consequences of his failings. I think if he does that, she will be protected."

Where is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe now?

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori arrive at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, after they were freed from detention by Iranian authorities in March 2022. (BBC) (CREDIT LINE:BBC/Leon Neal/Alamy)

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was finally freed from her unjust imprisonment in March 2022, whereupon she reunited with her family in the UK. She was released alongside fellow British-Iranian Anoosheh Ashoori, who had been detained in 2017 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for spying.

Their freedom was secured after months of negotiations. The UK government had also settled the debt in March 2022, but, per the BBC, then UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the debt and detainees Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Ashoori's imprisonment were "parallel issues in our bilateral relationship [with Iran]".

A spokesperson for the prime minister also said the payment was "not contingent on the release of any detainees", and that the government "never accepted our nationals being used as political leverage, including to try and secure the IMS debt repayment".

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her husband Richard Ratcliffe and daughter Gabriella after she was freed. (Getty Images) (Victoria Jones - PA Images via Getty Images)

Zaghari-Ratcliffe has since become a spokesperson for people wrongfully imprisoned. She said at a conference in November 2025 that the UK government was in denial about hostage taking by foreign states.

Per the Guardian, she said: The government has a moral duty of care for each and every citizen who is arbitrarily detained abroad. That duty should be fair. Unfortunately, the governments policy in such cases is discretionary. If you are not made a priority to them, you run the risk of being left behind.

Reflecting on how things should change, Zaghari-Ratcliffe added: "It is a still-neglected policy area. One of the recommendations was to establish a hostage envoy The foreign secretary personally met with us to explain how important it was to him.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is now an advocate for others, like her, who are unjustly imprisoned. (Getty Images) (BENJAMIN CREMEL via Getty Images)

"However, the hostage envoy has not yet been established. There has been no improvement in the UK government approach to deal with hostage taking. It feels we are still in the denial phase.

BBC's dramatisation of Zaghari-Ratcliffe's experience has been in the works for several years, with writer Stephen Butchard approached about the project while she was still in prison.

He said of the production: "Speaking to Richard, I thought he was a lovely and articulate guy. I felt there was a very human, but at the same time political, and global story there, one with many facets.

"Then things began to happen, and Nazanin was released, which was fantastic. I thought that was it, the best result, but the end of the project. However, after Nazanin had been released, we had her side of the story as well.

"She and Richard were keen to shine a light on the prisoners who are still held. It became a deeper and even richer emotional story. Its ordinary people coming up against something seemingly so immovable, but they keep on chipping away at it, finding a way of surviving."

Prisoner 951 continues airing on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday, 29 November, and is available to stream on iPlayer.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/where-is-nazanin-zaghari-ratcliffe-now-true-story-bbc-drama-prisoner-951-200023055.html
The festive season is supposed to be a time of joy and togetherness, but for some, it also brings a brutally awkward dilemma.

If a relationship has been wobbly for months, the question becomes unavoidable: Is it kinder to call things off before Christmas or wait until the holidays have passed? Both options come with emotional landmines, and neither feels especially merry.

For some, ending a relationship before Christmas seems like the more honest choice. After all, why go through the motions of gift-giving, family events, and cosy dinners for two when your heart is already halfway out the door? Yet pulling the plug in December risks casting a shadow over someone's holiday  and no one wants to be remembered as the person who ruined "the most wonderful time of the year."

On the flip side, waiting until January can feel like an act of compassion. It avoids the guilt of ruining someones holiday and offers a tidy, fresh start for both people involved. But delaying a breakup can also mean faking your feelings and creating false hope.

So, when is the kindest moment to call it quits? Three relationship experts have weighed in.

For some, ending a relationship before Christmas seems like the more honest choice. (Getty Images) (SDI Productions via Getty Images)

Don't prolong the decision

According to BACP-accredited counsellor, Georgina Sturmer, theres no right or wrong way or time to initiate a breakup.

"The reality is that the process can be painful for both parties  even for the person who is instigating the breakup," Sturmer explains.

"Christmas adds a layer of complexity if you're feeling as if its time to end things. Choose to end things early, and you risk feeling like you may have ruined the festive season, and be feeling lonely at a time when we are surrounded by images of love and togetherness."

However, if you choose to wait, youre potentially putting off the pain for even longer.

"So whats the best answer?" Sturmer continues. "Probably to initiate the breakup once youve made the decision. Prolonging the ending is likely to make things feel uncomfortable, as your partner is likely to pick up on the subconscious signs that youre giving off."

If you choose to wait, you could be putting off the pain for longer. (Getty Images) (svetikd via Getty Images)

Ask yourself if you're being honest

Breaking up with someone is difficult, regardless of the timing. However, once a thought has entered your mind, it becomes almost impossible to ignore it.

Sandhya Bhattacharya, a BACP-accredited relationship and family therapist, notes that this lingering feeling is often a sign that something important needs attention.

"While breaking up during any holiday period raises questions about loneliness and unhappiness at a sensitive time, I would ask myself: Am I being honest here?" she shares.

"If you were thinking about breaking up but pretending otherwise just to 'get through' the holiday period, you run the risk of being farcical about the relationship.

"Someone on the receiving end of a breakup after the holidays might wonder if their partner withheld information from them throughout the holiday season. This can bring up difficult questions about 'truth,' 'reality' and self-worth for both parties."

Bhattacharya tells us that tact and honesty show respect for both people involved, adding: "If the thought of ending a relationship has arrived, it might be futile to pretend it isn't there."

Delaying the decision could result in your partner questioning everything. (Getty Images) (urbazon via Getty Images)

It's time to rip off the band-aid

Debbie Keenan advises against waiting until the festive season has passed to end things with your partner. The BACP-registered couples psychotherapist warns that delaying a breakup rarely makes it any easier.

"In my opinion, it is definitely kinder to break up with someone before Christmas, as it demonstrates authenticity, compassion and emotional integrity," she explains.

"A breakup at any time can be difficult, but staying with someone out of guilt or holiday pressure is not being authentic and robs the person of the opportunity to grieve, process and eventually heal. They are left in limbo; this is just not fair.

"Christmas can be a time for social interactions and distractions, a breakup before this time allows a person to begin adjusting emotionally while life is busy, rather than the quieter, colder weeks that follow."

If you have children, consider not breaking up around Christmas. (Getty Images) (nazar_ab via Getty Images)

It's an exception if children are involved

Breakups in family units require additional sensitivity, Keenan says.

"Children associate Christmas with magic, love and security. As a relationship psychotherapist, I recommend that it may be more compassionate and gentler for everyone to wait until the festive period is over," she shares.

"Keeping the holiday period as a time of happiness, excitement and consistency would be a healthier choice, providing the delay does not expose anyone to emotional harm or a hostile environment."

If you need assistance with navigating divorce when you have children, there is help out there. You can see a BACP-registered therapist, or seek help from the following organisations:

Supports childrens welfare during family court cases, ensuring their voices are heard and advising on safe contact and living arrangements.

Specialises in relationship support, offering counselling for couples, families, and children to help manage conflict, improve communication, and navigate the emotional impact of separation.

Offers a Parents Helpline and practical advice to help you support your childs mental health and cope with the changes brought by separation or divorce.

Read more about relationships:
Nima Safaei, who runs a small Italian restaurant in Londons Soho, says he is losing about 600 a week from the fraud - Paul Grover

Forty Dean Street is something of an institution in Londons Soho. Nima Safaei and his sister have run the small Italian restaurant for over 15 years, and it is one of three restaurants they own in this bustling neighbourhood.

But the future of their business could be in doubt after the restaurant was hit by a fraud epidemic sweeping the hospitality industry. Safaei has lost 5,000 to fraudsters in the past three months alone.

We are a small family-run business and are losing hundreds every week. It is daylight robbery, says Safaei. In 15 years, I have never seen anything like this.

He adds: We are not expensive. The average bill is 60 to 100 for two people, but the charges keep coming  493 this week, 105 yesterday.

Safaei believes he is a victim of chargeback fraud. Sometimes referred to as friendly fraud, it is when a customer pays for goods or services  in this case, a meal  and later tells their bank that the transaction was fraudulent to get the money refunded.

But it is far from friendly: instead, Safaei has to pick up the bill.

At first, I thought it was a mistake, perhaps new staff making an error with the bill, but the mistakes were happening all the time. Soon we were losing about 600 a week, says Safaei. Im a small independent business. I work 14 hours a day, six days a week. This is not fair.

He adds: All independent businesses are struggling. We are on our knees. This is crippling us.

You are powerless

Ravneet Gill has also experienced chargeback fraud in a number of her businesses, including an online cookery school and recruitment service. But this month, she saw it for the first time at Gina Restaurant in Chingford, which she opened in June, when a group of six people who failed to show for their Saturday night table booking initiated a chargeback for the 120 no-show fee.

Pastry chef and restaurant owner Ravneet Gill says she has never won a single payment dispute

Ive seen dozens of payment disputes over the years and never won a single one, even though I always provide evidence, says Gill. I think it feels humanless; you dont have to think about the person it affects. As a business, if you get one of these, you are powerless.

Gill has friends in London who also run restaurants and are having the same experience. It has cost me hundreds of pounds and hours dealing with it, she said. Most people are honest, but there are some bad apples, and once they know how to do it, they keep doing it.

UK Hospitality, an industry body, previously said that a third of its survey respondents had experienced problems with customers refusing to pay for food. All of this is taking place in one of the worst periods for hospitality in memory.

Without a doubt, this has ramped up. Its just another version of pay and run, says Michael Kill, of the Night Time Industries Association. The industry is having bites taken out of it left and right.

How the fraud works

Chargeback was introduced to protect consumers, allowing them to claim the value of a purchase if the goods were not received, were faulty, or were the result of fraud.

Unlike Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, which protects purchases between 100 and 30,000 in the event of something going wrong, a chargeback is not a legal right; it is a voluntary scheme. It aims to provide extra protection to customers, to be used if they are unable to resolve the problem directly with the seller or if the company has ceased trading.

Now it is being abused.

When a chargeback claim is filed, the funds are automatically returned to the cardholders account. Crucially, it is up to the seller to provide evidence that the transaction was not fraudulent. The payment provider or the bank reviews this evidence, and a judgment is made on whether the chargeback is valid. If so, the cardholder keeps their refund. Otherwise, the funds are returned to the seller.

There are reasons someone might inadvertently commit chargeback fraud. For example, if they do not recognise the charge on their bank statement because the merchant appears with a different trading name from the place they bought from.

Other times, a chargeback may be initiated, including when a customer is unable to contact the seller directly or obtain a satisfactory resolution, or when a product is faulty or has not arrived.

The system is almost inadvertently enabling fraud, says Kill. There are hundreds of thousands of pounds coming back to customers who have found a loophole and are driving this trend. They are taking the product, service or food and then getting their money back at what is already a very fraught time for the industry.

Aite-Novarica, a market research firm, estimates that as many as 80pc of chargeback claims made are fraudulent. Cifas, the fraud prevention organisation, received 1,419 reports of chargeback fraud last year, up from 915 the year before.

The UK retail sector lost more than 11.3bn to payments-related fraud in 2023 alone, according to the latest figures from the Centre for Economic Business and Research.

Exacerbated by last years Budget

Hospitality businesses are already struggling with rising costs. In April, the minimum wage was raised to 12.21 an hour for workers aged 21 and over. Meanwhile, the rate at which companies pay National Insurance was increased to 15pc.

Businesses are 30pc to 40pc more expensive to operate than before the pandemic, and that has only been exacerbated by last years Budget, says Kill. Margins are being continually eroded, and the cost of daily living is a challenge. This is a very fraught time for the industry.

The cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks leapt by 37pc between January 2020 and July 2025, according to the Food and Drink Federation, and many businesses are also dealing with rising rents and energy costs.

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Safaei has disputed each chargeback claim with his payment provider, Elavon, but it has not found in his favour for any of them.

All we are told is that the customers say they havent received the goods. How can you come to a restaurant, enjoy the food and claim you didnt receive the goods? he says. We are given two weeks to supply evidence, but by the time you get that individual receipt back from the accountant, the case has been closed. This is crippling us.

Safaei has now stopped accepting contactless card payments at his restaurant. He accepts Chip and PIN or Apple and Google Pay, as they require a PIN code or biometric identification, making it harder for customers to claim they are fraudulent. He says he has spoken to the police but received little help, but has not yet reported the claims to Action Fraud.

Safaei has now stopped accepting contactless payments at his restaurant and instead uses systems requiring a PIN code - Paul Grover

He is not alone. A survey by the Federation of Small Businesses found that 37pc of small businesses had experienced fraud between January 2021 and January 2023, equivalent to almost 1.9 million companies.



Of those who had experienced a financial loss as a result of fraud, some 39pc of businesses said it cost them more than 1,000, and 8pc more than 10,000. But 20pc of those who had experienced a crime did not report it, saying they lacked confidence in the police or in Action Fraud to help.



There is almost an undertone of acceptance from restaurants, bars and event companies where they now factor in a proportion of losses through chargebacks, says Kill. I hear from companies saying that they feel no one is doing anything to stop this and that they just have to accommodate the losses.



Adam Scarrott, from UK Finance, an industry body, said: Chargebacks are an important consumer protection that helps maintain trust in payments. Unfortunately, there are cases where consumers make false claims. When the process is misused, it can cause real harm to businesses, particularly smaller firms.



Banks work closely with card schemes and payment providers to root out fraud and ensure disputes are handled fairly and consistently. Deliberately making a false claim is fraud and not a victimless act.



Elavon was approached for comment.
The Motability scheme buys cars from manufacturers and leases them to disabled drivers. Photograph: Andriy Popov/Alamy

The Motability scheme to provide disabled drivers with subsidised cars has said it will remove expensive cars such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz and aim to buy more British-built cars.

Motability said it hopes that 50% of the vehicles it offers will come from British factories by 2035. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said the changes to the scheme would support thousands of well-paid, skilled jobs, before the budget on Wednesday.

The Motability scheme has provided support for disabled drivers for decades to help with the extra costs caused by mobility issues. It buys cars from manufacturers and leases them to disabled drivers. Some are adapted to be accessible to wheelchairs.

Related: Motability cuts are a deeply cynical policy

The removal of the premium cars from the scheme comes despite the fact that those vehicles were available at no extra cost to the taxpayer, because disabled drivers paid more for them from their own pockets. Those premium brands only made up 40,000, or about 5%, of the 800,000 Motability cars.

Reeves has considered removing tax breaks for the scheme, under which disabled people are exempt from VAT and insurance premium tax. Disability Rights UK has previously said that charging VAT would add thousands of pounds to costs for disabled people, making travel harder.

Motability Operations, the company that runs the scheme, declined to comment on budget measures.

However, it said that premium-brand cars such as BMW and Mercedes will be removed immediately to focus on vehicles that meet disabled peoples needs and represent value and purpose.

The target of securing half of the cars from British factories could provide a significant boost to the UK car industry. The Japanese manufacturers Nissan and Toyota make cars in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, and Burnaston, Derbyshire, respectively. Mini, owned by BMW, could also benefit, giving the company a strong incentive to build paused electric versions at a factory in Oxford.

Motability Operations said that the decision opens the door to new investment into UK car manufacturing.

The scheme currently leases about 300,000 vehicles a year. Assuming it remains about the same size, that would mean 150,000 British-built vehicles being leased in 2035  up from 22,000 last year.

The prospect of more than 100,000 extra sales within the UK would be welcome for the British car industry after years of decline and factory closures. Production this year could slump below 700,000 cars, after a cyber-attack halted output from Jaguar Land Rover. None of the models currently made by Jaguar Land Rover would be eligible for the scheme.

Andrew Miller, the Motability Operations chief executive, said: Working with government and the automotive sector, we want to do even more to support the economy and our ambitious commitment should put British car manufacturing into top gear.

Nissan will be one of the earliest beneficiaries, with the number of UK-built vehicles bought by Motability doubling.

James Taylor, the managing director of Nissan GB, said: Nissan welcomes Motabilitys commitment to buy British-built cars and its support for UK manufacturing. As a longstanding partner, we recognise the crucial role the Motability scheme plays in helping disabled people remain mobile and independent. We look forward to working with Motability to deliver its ambitious goals.
Rachel Reeves has announced the introduction of a high value council tax surcharge. (Alamy) (Ruskin Photos)

Properties worth more than 2m will be subject to a so-called "mansion tax", Rachel Reeves has announced in her budget.

The "high-value council tax surcharge" will include four price bands, rising from 2,500 for a property valued between 2m to 2.5m, to 7,500 for a property valued at 5m or more, all uprated by inflation each year.

The measures are projected to raise 400m in 2029-30, and though the money will be collected via council tax, all the cash will go to central government rather than local authorities.

Here, Yahoo News explains how to check if you will be affected by this tax change and what it means for you.

Which council tax bands could be affected?

It has previously been reported that in order to facilitate any kind of "mansion tax", the government would revalue properties in the three highest council tax bands  F, G and H  to assess who is liable to pay the levy.

However, a Treasury document explaining the new council tax surcharge says a "targeted valuation exercise" will be conducted by the Valuation Office to identify properties above 2m  expected to be fewer than 1% of properties in England.

Revaluations will be conducted every five years.

Previous criticism of the council tax system has pointed out that current bands are based on rushed valuations carried out in 1991, and that growth of property prices has varied considerably across the UK since then, meaning that someone living in a valuable home in London could be paying less council tax than someone in a less expensive house in the North of England, depending on valuations carried out 34 years ago.

But while the surcharge won't be related to council tax bands, there are question marks over how the properties that fall into its brackets will be identified and it remains unclear exactly how these valuations will be undertaken accurately

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has criticised the tax, saying: When it comes to property, we now have a council tax system based on 1991 values, with a new complicated bolt-on for high-value houses based on what the house is worth today. Theres a reasonable case for levying more high-value homes, but the design of this tax leaves much to be desired."

Homes in London and the South East are expected to be impacted the most. (Alamy) (William Barton)

Ingrid McCleave, a partner and tax specialist at city law firm DMH Stallard, said: "The Valuation Office is going to be very busy identifying which properties will be caught by the new surcharge. Revaluations will be done every five years and will go up each year by the consumer price index.

"Trusts, companies, and partnerships are likely to be brought into the charge after consultation. This may have the effect of dampening house prices just below the four band thresholds of 2m, 2.5m, 3.5m and 5m."

What does this mean for homeowners?

The plans are expected to impact homeowners in London and the South East the most.

Just over 60% of homes worth over 2m are in London, while 20% are in the South East, according to analysis by Lucian Cook, director of residential research at agents Savills.

If your home is in council tax bands A to E, it's unlikely that you will be affected by the plans, though the surcharge isn't based on particular bands so it's not impossible.

But for those with properties around the 2m mark, the surcharge could bring uncertain times, according to experts.

Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank, said: Until the revaluations take place, buyers and sellers face years of uncertainty, especially around the 2m threshold. Even once completed, new valuations can be challenged, which would prolong the limbo."

But Savills' Cook said the surcharge is "the least worst outcome for owners of prime property".

He said in the long term the measures could act as an incentive for older home owners to downsize and, in some cases, heavily mortgaged owners of high value homes to move to a less valuable property, pushing some demand out of London into the commuter zone.

"However, this impact will be tempered by an ability to defer any charges until sale or death which should prevent a rush of stock coming to the market," he said.

"In the more domestic markets, it will temper the size of mortgage those using debt to fund a purchase would otherwise be able to secure. But in reality this will be more dependent on the pace and scale of future interest rate cuts."

Will it affect the property market?

Knight Frank's Bill said more properties would inevitably get "dragged into the mansion tax net, which means the proportion of terraced houses, flats and semi-detached homes will grow over the years, particularly in the capital."

"The term mansion tax will increasingly feel like a misnomer," he added.

Colleen Babcock, a property expert for Rightmove, cautioned over distortion at the top end of the market, saying: Sellers of homes priced very close to the 2m mark may need to ask for 1.99m to avoid putting off potential buyers.

And retired homeowners who benefited from house price inflation may face the difficult decision of whether they can afford the annual upkeep of a 2m home, she added.

Simon Bashorun, head of advice for wealth manager Rathbones Private Office, agreed that the tax risks creating price cliffs near the threshold, which could lead to fewer sales and prevent renovations.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to lift the two-child benefit cap. (Alamy) (Milo Chandler)

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has given the clearest sign yet that the two-child benefit cap could be scrapped, saying she is confident the government will do the right thing.

Phillipson said there is an urgency to lifting the limit - a move that will benefit 1.7 million children in the UK - and she will be arguing for change.

The controversial policy, introduced under the Conservatives in 2017, prevents a parent getting benefits support for more than two children.

Campaigners say removing the policy would be the most cost-effective way to lift children out of poverty. They warn that unless the two-child limit is removed, there will be more youngsters in poverty at the end of parliament than when Labour took office.

It has already been widely reported that chancellor Rachel Reeves will lift the cap in November's budget, and on Sunday, Phillipson she was clear what needs to happen next.

Appearing on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, on Sky News, she said: It was a Tory policy. We would not have introduced it. Im clear what needs to happen. Ill be in Cabinet arguing for that, and thats why Ive made tackling child poverty my number one priority during this campaign.

Asked if she is prepared to quit her ministerial role if the government does not abolish the limit, she told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: I am confident that we as a government will do the right thing by children growing up in poverty in our country."

With ongoing controversy around the policy, Yahoo News explores the three potential routes the government could take  and outlines the list of benefits that families with children could be entitled to.

1. Tapering universal credit for working parents

One of the options on the table is tapering universal credit.

A tapered system to replace the two-child benefit cap would mean families no longer face an absolute limit on how many children they could receive benefits for. Instead, the amount of financial support would gradually reduce for each additional child after the first two.

The tapering could be structured so the financial support decreases incrementally for the third child, fourth child, and so on, rather than cutting off entirely.

Universal credit child element can only be claimed for the first two children. (PA) (Martin Lee, Martin Lee)

This system would still aim to provide some support for larger families, but control the overall spending to address concerns about the high cost of scrapping the cap fully.

Another approach could involve tapering benefits only for certain groups, such as working parents on universal credit, to incentivise employment.

2. Capping benefits after the third or fourth child

As it stands, parents can only claim child tax credit or the child element of universal credit for their first two children born after 6 April 2017.

If the government decides to implement a cap after the third or fourth child, families would receive full child benefit payments for up to three or four children, rather than just two, as under the current two-child cap.

Beyond this new limit of a third or fourth child, no further child benefits or universal credit child elements would be paid.

3. Scrapping it entirely

This measure  widely supported by child poverty campaigners  is for the government to scrap the cap entirely.

This would mean families could receive full child-related benefits for all their children, regardless of number, without any financial limit applied after the second child.

By doing so, around 540,000 children would be lifted out of absolute poverty  a term which means a household has such low income it struggles to afford essentials like food, housing and heating.

However, some of the poorest families might face the household benefit cap, which limits the total benefits a family can receive regardless of child number, meaning around 70,000 households would still miss out.

The removal of the cap would cost around 3.4bn, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which might make it an unpalatable option for Reeves given the pressure she is under ahead of the November budget.

What benefits are children entitled to?

Child benefit

Parents can be entitled to benefits like child benefit, which provides regular payments for children under 16, or under 20 in approved education or training.

Universal credit (child element)

The universal credit child element is a financial payment within universal credit intended to help cover the costs of raising children.

It has replaced the legacy benefit, child tax credits.

It is paid each month to parents on a low income or who are out of work.

Disability living allowance

Disability living allowance, also known as DLA, is for disabled children.

It is a non-means-tested benefit to help with the extra care and supervision costs for children under 16 with disabilities or health conditions.

Healthy start scheme

This scheme helps parents cover the costs of healthy food and milk.

It's designed for parents who are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four.

If youre under 18 and more than 10 weeks pregnant, you can claim even if you do not receive any other benefits.

Free school meals

In the UK, children in year one and two automatically receive free school meals.

But older children can be eligible if you receive certain benefits like universal credit and have a low income.

Tax-free childcare

A government scheme can help working parents pay for approved childcare.

Parents can also be entitled to 15 or 30 hours of funded childcare per week.
Malaysia will ban social media use for children under 16 from next year, the government announced on Sunday, after Australia became the first country to impose a nationwide ban on teenagers using social media platforms.

Malaysias communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said the country needed to protect youths from online harms such as cyberbullying, financial scams, and child sexual abuse.

The government was reviewing mechanisms to impose age restrictions for using social media like other nations, he said.

"We hope by next year that social media platforms will comply with the government's decision to bar those under the age of 16 from opening user accounts," he told reporters.

The ban will be part of the new Online Safety Act 2025, which was passed by the parliament in December 2024 to enhance online safety by regulating harmful content on digital platforms and imposing responsibilities on online service providers.

Malaysia growing number of countries imposing age limits over escalating concerns about online safety.

The impact of social media on childrens mental health and safety has become a global concern, with TikTok, Snapchat, Google and Meta  the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp  all facing lawsuits in the United States over their role in fuelling a youth mental health crisis.

In Australia, social media platforms are poised to deactivate accounts registered to users under 16 next month, under a sweeping ban for teenagers that is being closely watched by regulators around the world. Platforms found to breach the law may face fines of up to $32.09mn (A$49.5mn).

A recent study revealed that daily social media use among young people in Australia has jumped from 26 per cent to 85 per cent in a span of just four years, while youth participation in almost every other enriching activity, such as sports, reading, music, and art, declined rapidly.

France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Greece are also jointly testing a template for an age verification app.

Indonesia, Malaysias neighbour, had signalled plans to introduce a minimum age for social media, but later settled on a milder regulation ordering platforms to filter harmful content and strengthen age checks.
TV writer and activist Graham Linehan said he is proud to have stood up to trans activist after he was cleared in court of harassment but convicted of criminal damage.

Linehan, 57, stood trial for criminal damage and harassment after a fracas with trans teenager Sophia Brooks outside a womens rights conference last October.

The writer of hit shows including Father Ted and Black Books was accused of sending abusive messages on social media site X about Ms Brooks before the conference, including calling her a domestic terrorist, and he was caught on camera branding her a groomer and an incel.

A series of clashes at the conference in Westminster culminated in him grabbing Ms Brooks phone and throwing it into the road.

At Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday, District Judge Briony Clarke cleared Linehan of harassment, finding Ms Brooks evidence had been not entirely truthful.

But she convicted him of criminal damage to the mobile phone, leading to a 500 fine.

Speaking outside court, Linehan focused on the acquittal on the harassment charge, telling reporters: I'm very pleased by today's verdict.

The judge found me and the women who gave evidence on my behalf to be credible, honest witnesses and said that my actions were not criminal and did not constitute harassment.

The judge commented that the complainant, a well-known trans activist, was not truthful.

There are a group of dangerous men who are determined to bully women and girls and to misuse the courts and police in furtherance of a misogynistic agenda.

I'm proud to have stood up to them and I will continue to do so.

Linehan thanked supporters in the Free Speech Union, and added that he believes his trial was part of a campaign by trans activists.

It's what (they) do, he said. We have a phrase - the punishment is a process. They like to put people through these kinds of experiences to make them frightened about standing up to them.

But I'm hoping that with this judgment, people in the future will be subject to that kind of those kind of tactics.

Asked if he has a message to Ms Brooks, Linehan called out: Leave women alone.

In her ruling, Judge Clarke said Linehans social media posts may have been annoying and were deeply unpleasant, insulting and even unnecessary, but they did not amount to oppressive conduct.

She said she did not believe Ms Brooks was as alarmed and distressed as they portrayed themself to be.

Turning to the criminal damage charge, the judge dismissed Linehans case that he had grabbed the handset and threw it away to prevent Ms Brooks committing a criminal offence, and said he could reasonably have known that it would be damaged.

He was angry and fed up, said the judge.

Judge Clarke sentenced Linehan to a 500 fine for the criminal damage, and concluded the incident was not a hate crime or based on hostility to Ms Brooks trans gender identity.

She said the crime was aggravated because Ms Brooks was 17-years-old at the time.

Linehan must pay costs of 650 and a court fee of 200, but did not order compensation as the damage phone had not been repaired. The judge also refused to make a restraining order.

Graham Linehan outside Westminster magistrates court (Ben Whitley/PA Wire)

Sarah Vine KC, representing Linehan, told the court she expects him to mount an appeal against his conviction.

At the outset of todays court hearing, the judge insisted it was not for this court to pick a side in any matters of public debate, and acknowledged the ongoing trans rights public discourse.

During the trial, an agreement was struck on use of language, so that Linehan could refer to his accuser as Mr and male, while Ms Brooks would refer to her trans identity and use female pronouns.

Linehan  a prominent anti-trans activist - had argued that the harassment charge against him should never have been brought to court. It was initially dropped by prosecutors, but was revived when trans activists mounted an appeal.

He bowed his head as the guilty verdict over criminal damage was delivered.

Ms Vine urged the judge not to impose a restraining order, saying: Mr Linehan is a journalist, and his journalism centres heavily on the conduct of trans activists, of which Ms Brooks is one.

She said he has faced enormous cost to his personal and professional life as a result of his activism.

Linehan was charged with harassment over X posts about Ms Brooks which were published before the conference at the Queen Elizabeth II centre in Westminster on October 19.

He called Ms Brooks - then 17 - Tarquin, branded her a domestic terrorist and a sociopath and repeatedly called her a man.

Ms Brooks told the court she feared a vigilante may act on the Tweets, by possibly stabbing me in the street or beating me up.

Prosecutor Julia Faure Walker argued Linehan had mocked her gender identity, and in one wrote: Does anyone know this man?

He also accused claimed she was one of a group of very dangerous men.

However Linehan told the court he had been attempting to destroy the anonymity of a trans activist who he claimed had been abusive online.

(Ben Whitley/PA Wire)

On the day of the conference, Ms Brooks attended and began filming speakers and audience members on her mobile phone.

Organisers attempted to intervene to stop the disruptive action, and eventually Ms Brooks was ejected from the conference.

Later in the day, Ms Brooks  while filming  approached Linehan and shouted questions at him.

The footage shows he called her a groomer and an incel, among other slurs.

As the conference was ending, Linehan came face-to-face again with Ms Brooks as he left the venue.

Linehan was said to have responded with extreme personal animosity, and was heard on the footage saying Go away groomer, Go away you disgusting incel, and calling her a sissy porn-watching scumbag.

The footage ends as Linehan reached out and grabbed the phone, which he then threw to the ground.

Linehan argued he had been provoked and said he grabbed the phone as a reflex.

Ms Brooks faced tough questions from his barrister, Sarah Vine KC, about her activities that day, as she was accused of harassing women and then harassing Linehan.

The Bafta-winning writer, who has sitcoms The IT Crowd, Father Ted, Black Books and Motherland in his catalogue of works, wore a T-shirt at his first court appearance in the case emblazoned with the words Trans women are not women in a reference to the landmark Supreme Court ruling earlier this year

Giving evidence, Linehan said his life was made hell by trans activists, and he called Ms Brooks a young soldier in the trans activist army.

The writer added: He was misogynistic, he was abusive, he was snide.

He depended on his anonymity to get close to people and hurt them, and I wanted to destroy that anonymity.

Asked about the impact on his personal life since his involvement in gender critical activism, Linehan replied: I lost my marriage. When I refused to stop talking about it, thats when they went after my wife.

They scared her to such an extent, and the police visit scared her to such an extent  I was losing all my income, finally the pressure drove us apart.

Linehan said his Wikipedia page has been basically defaced.

The writer said he had lived in Arizona, USA, for the last six months, having previously lived in Surrey Quays, London, and Norwich.

Linehan denied harassing Ms Brooks between October 11 and October 27 last year, and a charge of criminal damage of their mobile phone on October 19 last year.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was banned from Venice for 48 hours and fined 132 after she and fellow Extinction Rebellion activists dyed the Grand Canal green in a protest over the weekend.

Thirty-five other activists received the same punishment. The activists said they used an environmentally harmless dye to draw attention to the massive effects of climate collapse.

The protest took place to coincide with the conclusion of the Cop30 United Nations climate conference in Brazil.

The group also displayed a banner reading Stop Ecocide from the Rialto Bridge and staged a flash-mob in which protesters, dressed in red with veils over their faces, walked slowly through crowds of tourists.

People enjoy a gondola ride on the Grand Canal, where the canal's water was dyed green (Reuters)

Luca Zaia, governor of the Veneto region, criticised the action as a disrespectful act towards our city, its history and its fragility.

He added: Its a gesture that risks having consequences for the environment.

Some tourists, however, described the protest as legitimate and said it highlighted the failure of world leaders to tackle climate change effectively.

Extinction Rebellion said similar demonstrations had taken place in ten Italian cities, including dyeing fountains in Genoa and Padova and rivers in Turin, Bologna and Taranto.

The group criticised the Italian government, led by prime minister Giorgia Meloni, for opposing ambitious climate measures at Cop30.

Greta Thunberg has been fined by authorities in Italy (Reuters)

United Nations climate talks appeared to be nearing a conclusion after spilling into overtime, with a result likely to disappoint countries and advocates for stronger action to wean the world from the coal, oil and gas that is heating the planet.

Several observers told the Associated Press that the general framework of a deal is formed, but some sticking points still remain.

The deal informally is there from what we know, said former Philippines negotiator Jasper Inventor, now at Greenpeace International. Its a weak outcome.

Cop30 President Andre Correa do Lago told Amazonia Vox Saturday morning that there is a deal that will take a while to explain because so much is in it.

But a proposal for a road map to transition away from fossil fuels  which more than 80 countries called for, as did Brazil's president  will not be in there.

Instead, a fossil fuel transition plan will be in a separate proposal issued later by do Lago's team that won't carry the same weight as a deal accepted by nations at United Nations conference.
Sir Richard Branson with his wife Lady Branson in 2018 - Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Sir Richard Bransons wife has died aged 80.

Announcing her death on social media, the Virgin founder, 75, said he was heartbroken to share the news of Lady Bransons death.

He said: She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for.

She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world. Love you forever, Joan x.

Celebrities paid tribute to Lady Branson on social media. Penny Lancaster, model and TV personality who is married to Rod Stewart, said: Very heartbreaking. Rod and I are so saddened to hear this news and send all our prayers to you and your loved ones.

Television presenter Davina McCall commented: Ohno Richard, Im so sorry. Thinking of you and Holly and Sam xx.

Sir Richard and Lady Branson met in 1976 in the bric-a-brac shop she worked at in Westbourne Grove, London. The business tycoon said he fell in love with her at first sight.

They married in 1989 at Bransons Necker Island, his 74-acre private island in the British Virgin Islands.

Sir Richard and Lady Branson, with their children Holly and Sam, on their wedding day in 1989 on Necker Island

They have two children together, Holly Branson, 44, and Sam Branson, 40. They also had a third child, Clare Sarah, who died four days after birth after being three months premature.

Lady Branson was described as the most amazing mother to her children and a perfect grandmother to her five grandchildren, Etta, Artie, Lola, Eva-Deia and Bluey.

Lady Branson, born Joan Templeman in Glasgow, celebrated her 80th birthday in the summer.

Lady Branson was described as the most amazing mother to her children

Paying tribute to her on social media at the time, Sir Richard said: Thank you for being by my side through it all  the highs, the lows, and all those quiet, content and peaceful moments in between.

These are the moments I cherish most with you, I love you more and more each year.

The couple met in 1976 and were married for almost 50 years

In a love letter to his wife in 2016, Sir Richard said: I experienced love at first sight upon meeting a blonde-haired, down-to-earth, Scottish beauty named Joan, who just happened to be making a cup of tea.

I generally make up my mind about someone within 30 seconds of meeting them, and Joan won my heart instantly. She was unlike any other woman I had ever met.

She was beautiful. She was bright. She was witty. She was down to earth. She was fun. And she had eyes made of magic.
Auckland, New Zealand, 26 November 2025  Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited (NZX: FPH , ASX:FPH) has announced its results for the first half of the 2026 financial year, which ended 30 September 2025.

Total operating revenue was $1.09 billion, an increase of 14% over the first half of the prior financial year, or 12% in constant currency. Net profit after tax was $213.0 million, an increase of 39% over the first half of the prior financial year, or 28% in constant currency.

Our people have continued to work closely with clinicians, progress work on new products and deliver a range of efficiency improvements across the business, said Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Lewis Gradon.

This is a strong result against the backdrop of robust growth in the first half of last year. We saw broad-based strength across the Hospital consumables portfolio during a period of lower seasonal respiratory hospitalisations, and in Homecare, our latest range of masks for treating obstructive sleep apnea has performed well, he said.

For the Hospital product group, which includes humidification products used in respiratory, acute and surgical care, first-half revenue was $692.2 million, a 17% increase over the same period last year, or 15% in constant currency. Sales of hardware grew 21% in constant currency, and Hospital new applications consumables revenue increased 16% in constant currency.

For the Homecare product group, which includes products used in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and respiratory support in the home, first-half revenue was a $395.9 million, an increase of 10% on the first half of last year, or 8% in constant currency.

Continuous improvement activities and other efficiency gains contributed to gross margin amidst the recent impact of US tariffs on Hospital products sourced from New Zealand. During the first half, gross margin increased by 110 basis points, or 60 basis points in constant currency, compared to the same period in the previous financial year, resulting in gross margin of 63%.

The companys directors have approved an interim dividend of 19.0 cents per ordinary share, up from 18.5 cents per share in the first half of the prior year. The interim dividend, carrying full New Zealand imputation credit, will be paid on 16 December 2025 with a record date of 4 December 2025.

Looking ahead

The full-year guidance previously provided in August was for operating revenue to be in the range of approximately $2.15 billion to $2.25 billion and net profit after tax to be in the range of approximately $390 million to $440 million.

At 31 October exchange rates*, the company now expects full-year operating revenue in the range of approximately $2.17 billion to $2.27 billion and full-year net profit after tax in the range of approximately $410 million to $460 million.

Our second-half Hospital consumables growth can be influenced by year-on-year variations in the Northern Hemisphere winter respiratory season, and we dont have any additional insights into that impact at present, said Mr Gradon. Available data indicates that last winter was a historically strong season, and so a similar season this year would be pushing our result towards the top end of guidance.

This outlook continues to include an estimated 75-basis point impact to gross margin due to US tariffs. It also assumes current global tariff rates, policies and applications for the remainder of this financial year.

We would like to thank our people, customers, clinical partners, suppliers and shareholders. Your support makes it possible to keep doing what we do  creating innovative products and sharing the clinical evidence that demonstrates their impact for patients, concluded Mr Gradon.

*At 31 October 2025 exchange rates of NZD:USD 0.57, NZD:EUR 0.50, NZD:MXN 10.63.

Overview of key results for the first half of the 2026 financial year

 14% increase in operating revenue to $1.09 billion, 12% increase in constant currency.

 39% increase in net profit after tax to $213.0 million, 28% increase in constant currency.

 17% increase in Hospital operating revenue to $692.2 million, 15% increase in constant currency.

 16% increase in constant currency for new applications consumables (products used in noninvasive ventilation, Optiflow nasal high flow and surgical applications) accounting for 74% of Hospital consumables revenue.

 10% increase in Homecare operating revenue to $395.9 million, 8% increase in constant currency.

 6% increase in constant currency for OSA masks and accessories revenue.

 Investment in R&D was 10% of revenue, or $114.1 million.

 Increase in interim dividend to 19.0 cps (1H FY25: 18.5 cps).

About Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of products and systems for use in acute and chronic respiratory care, surgery and the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Our products are sold in more than 120 countries worldwide. For more information, visit our website www.fphcare.com.

Contacts

Media

Karen Knott

GM Corporate Communications

karen.knott@fphcare.co.nz

+64 (0) 21 713 911

Investors

Dan Adolph

Head of Investor Relations

daniel.adolph@fphcare.co.nz

+64 (0) 22 511 4050

Authorised by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limiteds Board of Directors.

Accompanying documents

Attached to this news release are the following additional documents:

 Results in Brief

 Interim Report 2026

 Investor Presentation

 NZX Results Announcement

 NZX Distribution Notice

Constant currency information

Constant currency information included within this news release is non-GAAP financial information, as defined by the NZ Financial Markets Authority, and has been provided to assist users of financial information to better understand and track the companys comparative financial performance without the impacts of spot foreign currency fluctuations and hedging results and has been prepared on a consistent basis each year. A constant currency analysis is included on page 11 of the companys Interim Report 2026, and the companys constant currency framework can be found on the companys website at www.fphcare.com/ccf.

Half year results conference call

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare will host a conference call on Wednesday, 26 November 2025 to discuss the half year result. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 10:00am NZDT, 8:00am AEDT (4:00pm USEST, Tuesday 25 November) and will be simultaneously broadcast online.

To listen to the webcast, access the companys website at www.fphcare.com/investor. An online archive of the event will be available approximately two hours after the webcast and will remain on the site for two weeks.

To listen and participate in the conference call via phone, please register via GlobalMeet by clicking this link. Once registered, click Call Me and you will receive a phone call connecting you through to the conference line.

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Ministers have given their blessing to Heathrows controversial 49bn expansion plan at the UKs busiest hub airport, including a third runway.

The resilient and efficient project could see flight movements grow by 57 per cent to more than 2,000 per day, with passenger numbers rising 79 per cent to 150 million.

The government says it will enable quicker, quieter, and greener flights to take off from a new runway by 2035.

The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: Heathrow is our only hub airport which supports trade, tourism and hundreds of thousands of jobs, underpinning prosperity not only in the southeast but across the UK.

Today is another important step to enable a third runway and build on these benefits, setting the direction for the remainder of our work to get the policy framework in place for airport expansion.

This will allow a decision on a third runway plan this parliament, which meets our key tests, including on the environment and economic growth.

Were acting swiftly and decisively to get this project off the ground so we can realise its transformational potential for passengers, businesses, and our economy sooner.

Motorway move: Heathrows map of the M25 diversion (Heathrow Airport)

The cost of the new 3,500m runway alone is estimated at 21bn  of which 1.5bn will be spent on diverting the M25 motorway to the west.

Read more: Everything you need to know about Heathrows expansion plans

Additional terminal infrastructure is projected to cost a further 12bn. With other work to expand the existing terminal capacity, the total bill is set at 49bn.

Airlines are concerned that the cost will be met by current passengers paying even higher charges to use what is already one of the most expensive airports in the world.

Carriers, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, had supported an alternative 25bn expansion proposal from hotel tycoon Surinder Arora. His Heathrow West plan involved a shorter runway that would not require moving the M25.

The government says the official Heathrow proposal offers the most deliverable option. Yet the door has been left open to the Arora Group to remain involved, with the possibility that his organisation, rather than Heathrow Airport Limited, could be the promoter to deliver the project.

The project could see flight movements grow by 57 per cent to more than 2,000 per day (Stuart Bailey/British Airways)

Mr Arora said: We welcome the government not having chosen a promoter for the scheme and that the option for a promoter other than Heathrow Airport Limited remains possible.

Its imperative there is a clear and transparent process for selecting a promoter to ensure it best serves the interests of consumers.

We have long argued that regulatory reform and the introduction of competition at Heathrow Airport is absolutely imperative to keep costs under control at the airport.

The chancellor Rachel Reeves said: Were taking action where previous governments hesitated, and moving forward with Heathrows third runway to drive economic growth, international investment and better connections for our country.

That means opening the door to new growth and opportunity with Heathrow expansion  creating over 100,000 jobs, boosting our economy, and giving businesses and communities the certainty they need to thrive.

The total bill for Heathrows expansion plans is set at 49bn (PA Archive)

Sir Howard Davies, whose Airports Commission recommended the same basic plan a decade ago, welcomed the decision  and said the issue of Londons orbital motorway could be managed.

He told Times Radio: The plans did look a little bit surprising when we first looked at them, but I think they are practical, and Heathrow have worked hard on a method of digging a parallel motorway to the M25, which would then switch over once the runways built over.

Environmentalists argue that any expansion would be a disaster. Paul McGuinness, chair of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said the plan would involve the demolition of several villages, the displacing of up to 15,000 residents and the decades-long construction disruption which even requires tunnelling over the M25s busiest junction.

He said: On behalf of the UK and its taxpayers, the government is not only being irresponsible in giving the go-ahead to this misguided project. It is committing an act of national self-harm.

The government is updating the Airports National Policy Statement in line with the latest plans. A development consent order must then be approved before work can begin. Ministers hope work can begin within the lifetime of the current parliament, which could run until the summer of 2030.

Read more: Heathrow on cards for easyJet if price is right says airline CEO
David Lammys reforms put him on a collision course with the legal profession - Paul Grover

David Lammy is set to scrap jury trials for most crimes despite previously arguing that they are fundamental to democracy.

In leaked documents, seen by The Telegraph, the Justice Secretary has proposed juries will only decide upon cases of murder, rape, manslaughter and other serious offences carrying sentences of more than five years.

The plans come as courts across Britain battle a record backlog of nearly 80,000 cases, with many victims of crime waiting years for justice. The documents warn that failure to ease the gridlock could lead to a wider collapse of the criminal justice system.

Mr Lammy set out the plans despite previously defending jury trials when they were under threat during the Covid pandemic, saying jury trials are a fundamental part of our democratic settlement.

Under the reforms, which require legislation next year, judges will preside alone over trials of other serious offences meriting prison sentences of up to five years, thus removing the right of thousands of defendants to be heard before a jury.

Magistrates powers are also to be increased by extending their remit from offences carrying a maximum sentence of one year to two years, further eroding the right to a jury trial.

Defendants charged with scores of offences, including burglary, affray, fraud, some sexual crimes and criminal damage up to 10,000, will be stripped of their right to elect trial by jury.

The plans go much further than recommendations by Sir Brian Leveson, a former High Court judge, in a report commissioned by Shabana Mahmood, Mr Lammys predecessor.

Sir Brian had proposed an intermediate court of a judge and two magistrates to hear cases of defendants facing up to three years in jail.

But the leaked document said Mr Lammy aimed to achieve maximum impact by going further. It said there was no right to a jury trial, even though it was enshrined in Magna Carta that no free man shall be seized or imprisoned except by the lawful judgment of his equals.

Five years ago Mr Lammy defended the right to a trial by jury. Writing for The Telegraph in 2020, he said jury service ensured fairness and representation in the criminal justice system and formed part of the bedrock of our democracy.

Credit: Channel 4 News

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: David Lammy once proudly defended jury trials, but now hes in office hes getting rid of them in virtually every case. Scrapping this pillar of our constitution because of the administrative failure to reduce the court backlog is a disgrace.

The reforms also put Mr Lammy on a collision course with the legal profession. Riel Karmy-Jones KC, chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, said removing jury trials undermined a fundamental feature of the British constitution, and the British justice system, for over 800 years.

Barbara Mills KC, the head of the Bar Council, which represents 18,000 barristers, said the criminal justice system was not in crisis because of jury trials. Untested judge-only courts would not significantly reduce the crown court backlog.

Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, said the right to a jury trial was an absolute cornerstone of the criminal justice system. To get rid of it requires a justification. The only justification is the fact that successive governments over 30 years neglected the criminal justice system so that its almost impossible to operate because of the backlogs.

That doesnt seem to be a good enough reason to remove something that involves the public and community in the administration of justice and something that I have seen as of great importance to this country.

Dame Alison Saunders, the former director of public prosecutions, said the plan was surprising and did not withstand real examination. To sweep away a fundamental principle of the system because of practicalities  is quite worrying, she said.

The document warned that with the court backlogs at nearly 80,000 cases, double what it was in 2019 and heading towards 100,000, failure to turn the tide  would mean a gradual gridlock in the criminal courts and possible wider system collapse.

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Some cases are now being scheduled for 2029, with defendants increasingly playing the system by pleading not guilty and choosing a jury trial in order to boost the chances of proceedings collapsing.

The changes will mean that as many as 75 per cent of trials will be heard by a judge alone instead of a jury. As well as offences with sentences of up to five years, judges will also sit alone to hear complex fraud, financial and cyber crime cases, ending the need for juries to give up a year or more of their lives.

Defendants will also lose their automatic right to appeal under the plans. Instead, it will be replaced with a requirement for permission to appeal.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: No final decision has been taken by the Government. We have been clear there is a crisis in the courts, causing pain and anguish to victims  with 78,000 cases in the backlog and rising  which will require bold action to put right.
Kevin Spacey has clarified his recent comments about literally [having] no home after he says his remarks were misconstrued.

The House of Cards actor, 66, made headlines last week when he opened up about living in hotels in an interview with The Telegraph, titled Kevin Spacey interview: Homeless, cancelled and crooning in Cyprus.

In a new video shared Sunday on X, Spacey addressed the false narrative that hes homeless.

I dont usually make it my business to correct the media. If I did, I wouldnt have time for much else, but in light of the recent articles claiming I am homeless, I feel the need to respond, he began. Not to the press, but to the thousands of people whove reached out over the past few days, offering me a place to stay or have just asked if Im ok.

Expressing his gratitude for the concern and generosity, he added, But I feel it would be disingenuous of me to allow you to believe that I am homeless in the colloquial sense.

Kevin Spacey's recent comments about having 'no home' made headlines (Getty Images)

In my conversation with Mick Brown, the wonderful journalist who wrote the story that was in The Telegraph, where this rumor first began, I said I was basically living in hotels and Airbnbs and going where the work is, he clarified.

And there are many people, as we all know, who are indeed actually living on the streets or in their cars or are in terrible financial situations  and my heart goes out to them, he added. But it is clear from the article itself that I am not one of them nor was I attempting to say that I was.

Which is why it was a shame that The Telegraph chose to undermine the work of their own journalist by selling him out with a knowingly misleading headline for the sake of clicks, Spacey said.

The Independent has contacted The Telegraph for comment.

In his interview with the British publication, the actor admitted that his financial situation is not great.

Yet, while he confirmed that he never had to file for bankruptcy, he revealed that he lost his house because the costs over these last seven years have been astronomical. Ive had very little coming in and everything going out.

Im living in hotels, Im living in Airbnbs, the two-time Oscar winner said. Im going where the work is. I literally have no home, thats what Im attempting to explain.

Spacey, who was exiled from mainstream Hollywood in 2017 after multiple men accused him of sexual misconduct, which he has consistently denied, is currently working on making a career comeback.

His latest project, 1780, which has yet to receive a release date, is directed by Dustin Fairbanks and follows a wounded Revolutionary War soldier who takes refuge with a trapper and his young son. Besides Spacey, the war drama stars DJ Qualls and P.J. Marshall.
A cold and frosty morning in Stroud, Gloucestershire on Wednesday. (Getty) (Gary Learmonth)

Most of the UK woke up on Wednesday to widespread frost and ice after temperatures plummeted to below -6C overnight.

Benson in Oxfordshire saw overnight temperatures hit -6.4C while both Exeter Airport in Devon and Topcliffe in North Yorkshire both reach -5.8C, according to data from the Met Office.

Frost and ice was the scene to greet Britons as they took to the roads on Wednesday morning  but by Thursday there will be a significant turnaround, with highs of 12C.

This nationwide change in temperature comes as the Met Office forecasts snow on high ground from the weekend and into next week.

A yellow weather warning for wind has been issued for north and north-east Scotland, including the Highlands, Orkney & Shetland and Strathclyde. The warning is in place from 4pm on Thursday until 11am on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Met Offices long-range forecast looking at the end of the month says that snow is expected, but that it will most likely be isolated to high ground in the north of the country.

Temperatures dropped to -3C in parts of the south west of England at 5am on Wednesday. (Met Office) (Met Office)

Looking at Sunday 30 November to Tuesday 9 December, the Met Office said: "Changeable and unsettled conditions are expected across the UK during this period.

"Low pressure systems will tend to dominate meaning showers or longer spells of rain for much of the UK. Some heavy rain or showers are expected, most often in the west, although with a risk some of this could spread to other areas at times. Snow will probably be confined to high ground in the north."

While there may be snow in high regions, temperatures will be around average or slightly above.

The Met Office previously played down reports that a large flurry of snow is forecast to hit the UK at the end of this month.

Citing data from online forecast compiler WXCharts, The Mirror reported that snow could fall on cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Leeds on Sunday 30 November.

Wednesday in Kidderminster saw a frosty, cold and misty start to the day. (Alamy) (Lee Hudson)

However, the Met Office told Yahoo News UK: "Different simulations produce different pictures of the weather forecast and one-off, single charts do not provide the broader forecasting picture.

"The actual forecast is developed using a mix of hundreds of computer model simulations. Our expert forecasters are aware of the intricacies of different weather simulations and, crucially, know which ones to refer to and when."

The Met Office issued a series of yellow weather warnings last week as much of the UK was covered in snow, with November's lowest temperature in 15 years of -12.6C recorded in Tomintoul in Moray, Scotland.

Why is it tricky to forecast snow accurately?

The Met Office said forecasters examine three factors when predicting snow - where the air has come from, very heavy precipitation, and when warm air meets cold air.

Because of this range of indicators, it says predicting snow in the UK "can be one of the trickier forecasts to do accurately".

The Met Office said: "Because of the UK's location, where the air comes from is incredibly important when it comes to determining if snow is possible.

A snow plough on the A169 between Pickering and Whitby on the North York Moors on 20 November. (PA) (Danny Lawson - PA Images via Getty Images)

"Being surrounded by water also adds another factor into predicting snow chances in the UK, it may not feel like it if you dip your toe in, but the water in the seas around the UK is well above freezing and that affects the temperature of the air close to the surface, which can determine how much snow is in the forecast."

Because of the need for all three factors to align, the Met Office needs a significant amount of data, which means it can only really predict snow a few days in the future.

This is because even if they're sure on two of the three factors happening a week in advance, one could still be uncertain and without all three the chance of snow would still be effectively unknown.

Yahoo breaks down what the weather will be like in the coming days for each region of the UK, according to the Met Office.

London and the South East

Wednesday

A largely fine day. Mostly clear and frosty to start. Breezier and gradually milder by the evening with spells of light rain possible. Maximum temperature 7C.

A early morning misty winter landscape view with clear blue sky in Richmond Park in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. (Getty Images) (Graham Prentice)

Thursday to Saturday

Breezier and remaining much milder through Thursday and Friday with spells of rain. Winds easing into Saturday but remaining unsettled and forecast confidence reduces.

South West

Wednesday

A cold and bright start to the day for most, but cloud soon building from the west with outbreaks of rain arriving by late afternoon. Turning breezy and milder in the west. Maximum temperature 10C.

A man walks along the Esplanade on a grey blustery wet day on 22 November in Ventnor, Isle of Wight. (Getty Images) (John Keeble via Getty Images)

Thursday to Saturday

Turning much milder and windier on Thursday further spells of rain. Remaining changeable towards the weekend with showers or longer spells of rain. Temperatures returning back to average.

Midlands

Wednesday

A cold, frosty and bright start. Cloud gradually building from the west with outbreaks of rain arriving into the evening accompanied by a strengthening wind. Maximum temperature 6C.

Thursday to Saturday

Turning much milder and windier on Thursday further spells of rain. Remaining changeable towards the weekend with showers or longer spells of rain. Temperatures returning back to average.

Making plans for the week ahead? 



Here's everything you need to know  pic.twitter.com/LiNRdS9gb7  Met Office (@metoffice) November 23, 2025

North East

Wednesday

Cloud and patchy rain spreads east after a frosty start. Breezier and milder by the late afternoon and evening with spells of light rain. Maximum temperature 5C.

Thursday to Saturday

Breezier and remaining much milder through Thursday and Friday with spells of rain. Winds easing into Saturday and likely turning drier but forecast confidence reduces.

Swans are treated to a golden sunset on a pool in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, on Sunday. (Alamy) (Lee Hudson)

North West

Wednesday

After a cold, frosty but dry start, it'll turn cloudier from the west with outbreaks of rain pushing in by the afternoon accompanied by a brisker breeze. Maximum temperature 8C.

Thursday to Saturday

Turning much milder and windier on Thursday further spells of rain. Remaining changeable towards the weekend with showers or longer spells of rain. Temperatures returning back to average.

Scotland

Wednesday

A dry but cloudy start, with outbreaks of rain spreading east through the morning. Staying cloudy and mostly dry in the afternoon with the odd spot of drizzle. Feeling milder. Maximum temperature 8C.

Thursday to Saturday

Cloudy and turning milder on Thursday, staying mostly dry in east with some rain in west. Mostly dry on Friday and Saturday, chance of some showers. Breezy Thursday and Friday.

Storm clouds over Fenland fields near Wisbech town, Cambridgeshire. (Getty Images) (Dave Porter)

Northern Ireland

Wednesday

Cloudy and windy as rain spreads east through the morning, heavy at times. Staying cloudy in the afternoon with patchy light drizzle, but winds easing. Milder than recent days. Maximum temperature 11C.

Thursday to Saturday

Cloudy and mild on Thursday with rain, heavy at times. Bright spells and showers on Friday and Saturday, heavy at times. Strong winds on Thursday and Friday.

Wales

Wednesday

A cold and bright start for most, but cloud soon building from the west with outbreaks of rain arriving by late afternoon. Turning breezy and milder in the west. Maximum temperature 8C.

Thursday to Saturday

Turning much milder and windier on Thursday further spells of rain. Remaining changeable towards the weekend with showers or longer spells of rain. Temperatures returning back to average.
Nigel Farage: I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Nigel Farage has broken his silence nearly a week after he was accused by about 20 people of racism and antisemitism as a teenager, by saying he never directly, really tried to go and hurt anybody.

His remarks came after the publication of a detailed investigation by the Guardian in which many of his school contemporaries claimed to be victims of, or witnesses to, repeated incidents of deeply offensive behaviour.

Related: Nigel Farages shifting answers on school-days racism claims  a timeline

The Reform party leaders aides emphatically denied the allegations, saying that any suggestion that Mr Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied.

In a broadcast interview on Monday, Farage appeared to give a more nuanced response when he was asked if he had racially abused fellow pupils at school.

He replied: No, this is 49 years ago by the way, 49 years ago. Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where theyre from? No.

The interviewer accused him of caveating his answer, and asked again if he categorically denied the claims.

I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way, Farage responded. Its 49 years ago. Its 49 years ago. I had just entered my teens. Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I cant. Have I ever been part of an extremist organisation or engaged in direct, unpleasant, personal abuse, genuine abuse, on that basis? No.

Challenged again about whether he had racially abused anyone, Farage responded: No, not with intent.

When the interviewer told Farage that he did not understand what he meant by not with intent, the Reform leader responded: You wouldnt.

Farage added: No. I have never directly, really tried to go and hurt anybody.

Last Tuesday, contemporaries accused Farage, 61, of racist behaviour at Dulwich college, including the targeting of minority ethnic children for abuse, singing a Gas em all song that referred to the killing of Jewish, black and south Asian people, and burning a school roll in a year when there were said to be more Patels than Smiths.

The alleged behaviour spanned a number of years until Farage was 18.

Among those who have accused of Farage of racist behaviour at Dulwich college was the Bafta and Emmy-winning director Peter Ettedgui, 61, who claimed Farage, when 13 and 14 years old, would sidle up to him and growl Hitler was right or Gas them.

Another minority ethnic pupil claimed that when he was around nine years old he was similarly targeted by a 17-year-old Farage.

He walked up to a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and spoke to anyone looking different, the pupil said. That included me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: Thats the way back, to wherever you replied you were from.

Farage had not personally responded to the claims until his interview on Monday.

His spokesperson had previously said the claims were without foundation, and questioned why some of those who had given testimony had not made the claims before.

If things like this happened a very, very long time ago, you cant necessarily recollect what happened, the spokesperson had said.

Our statement was very clear that these allegations date back 45 years. And I think that at any point in time, when Nigel was leader of Ukip, when he stood in the 2010 general election, the 2015 general election, during Brexit, maybe in the 2019 general election, you would have to ask yourself, why didnt this come up before?

Asked if Farage therefore believed those who made the allegations were inventing them, the spokesperson said: Im saying there is no primary evidence. Its one persons word against another.

Farages refusal to address the claims in public last week prompted Keir Starmer to call him spineless.

On a Today in Focus podcast last week, Ettedgui, whose credits as a director include Kinky Boots, McQueen and Super/Man: the Christopher Reeve Story, had spoken of his anger at the response from Reform.

He said: The easiest thing for him to have said when these allegations first came up would have been: Yes, I did say some extraordinarily upsetting things to people that were racist. And I unreservedly apologise to them for that. But I can assure them and the general public that this has nothing to do with my politics today. Hes never said that.

I mean, there was a statement that went out from someone from Reform, a spokesperson from Reform. He says theres no primary evidence, its one persons word against another. If things like this happened a very, very long time ago, you cant necessarily recollect what happened. I mean, that makes me really, really angry. Because of course you can, you know, of course I can.

Mike Katz, Labour peer and former chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said: Farage seems to think that you can racially abuse people without it being hurtful and insulting. Lets be crystal clear: you cant.



Farage refuses to discipline the racist views of his MPs and he wont take action on the toxic culture within his party. He should finally come clean on claims over his past and apologise to those who bravely spoke out. Failure to do so would be yet more evidence that Farage is simply unfit for office.

The Liberal Democrat president-elect, Josh Babarinde, said: The Reform leaders refusal to deny that hes said these racist remarks is unbecoming from someone who wants to be our next prime minister.



The British people deserve a straight answer. It looks like the mask has slipped and fact-of-the-matter Farage is turning into no-answers-Nigel.

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A London pub owner has blamed entitled parents for forcing him to restrict the hours children are allowed in, warning that more pubs may soon move towards becoming child-free.

Egil Johansen, who runs The Kenton in Hackney, would allow children in the pub until 7pm, up until three years ago, when it was changed to 5pm due to children being disruptive.

He told The Standard: Ive been running The Kenton for 17 years, and theres been a big rise in the number of entitled parents. They come in, sit down, drink, and they dont care what their kids are doing.

They are running around with no supervision at all and we have signage all over the pubs saying children need to be supervised and seated at all times.

It comes as Mr Johansen is now considering going child-free, while the William the Fourth pub in Leyton has introduced a 7pm ban on children from today in a bid to curb unruly behaviour, with staff also cracking down on daytime disruptions.

Egil Johansen has been running The Kenton for 17 years (Matt Writtle)

The Nags Head in Walthamstow is one such pub that has adopted a child-free policy, while many others have decided to introduce adult-only hours after 7pm or 8pm.

Mr Johansen said the issue has gradually worsened since 2015. While unsure of the exact cause, he noted that there now seems to be a reluctance among pubs to speak out or be firm with parents.

The landlord believes that unless parents change their behaviour, more pubs may eventually feel forced to restrict the hours during which children and families are allowed.

Back in the day, if you were a kid in a pub it was a privilege, you sat and had a packet of crisps and were quiet. Now, I think maybe pubs have become afraid of addressing it, of stepping on someones toes, he said.

The William the Fourth in Leyton announced the policy change on social media, saying the move was necessary to maintain a comfortable and enjoyable environment for everyone as it had recently come to resemble a creche.

The new rules came into force today, making the pub an adults-only space from 7pm onwards.

Children must remain seated at a table with their parents and be supervised at all times  a policy the pub said has always been in place. They will also not be allowed to run around, climb, or play inside the venue.

Some of the recent Google reviews mentioned badly behaved kids who bounce off the walls, babies crying constantly, and buggies blocking walkways.

The Kenton in Hackney (thekentonpub/Instagram)

In a statement, the pub said: Over the past few months, weve received feedback from customers regarding children in the pub. We want the William the Fourth to be welcoming to everyone, but there have been occasions where the pub has resembled a creche.

Unsupervised children can pose risks not only to themselves but also to other customers and our team.

We remain committed to being a family-friendly pub during the day, but to ensure a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable environment for all our guests, we are introducing the following rules regarding children.

From 7pm onwards, the pub will be an adults-only space, giving adults a child-free atmosphere in the evening while still offering families generous daytime hours. We will be opening from 3pm from next week so there are more daytime hours.

The move has proved somewhat controversial, with comments on the pubs social media announcement switched off.

Whether pubs should ban children has been a long-running debate. The issue resurfaced last year when The Lower Red Lion in St Albans, Hertfordshire, put up a sign declaring: Dog-friendly, child-free.

The William the Fourth pub in Leyton (williamthefourthleyton/Instagram)

The decision sparked national backlash, with some accusing the pub of fueling a culture where it is socially acceptable to hate children, while others claimed a pub is not a place for children.

Mr Johansen told The Standard that although The Kenton has adult-only hours after 7pm, enforcing this can be difficultespecially on Saturdays. He said some parents give us stick for reminding them that children are not supposed to be in the pub after 5pm.

Its almost impossible to get them out sometimes, he said. Its really rude and its entitled and I see this more and more in other pubs, not just ours. It seems to be a massive problem [...] it seems to be becoming a trend amongst pubs to serve adults only after 6/7pm.

Recalling one incident, Mr Johansen said that a few years ago a child fell into the pub cellar while staff were changing a barrel, and the parents blamed the pub despite not supervising their child.

Since posting about the issue on social media, he said he has been flooded with supportive messages from customers and other publicans asking how he enforces his 5pm curfew.

Im hoping this is the final push to raise awareness because it desperately needs addressing, he said.

Mr Johansen said he will monitor the situation over the coming weeks to see whether parents take heed.

If nothing changes, he added, the pub will consider becoming child-free.

In a statement, The Kenton said: Lately, a few have mistaken The Kenton for a creche.

Weve had kids running around unsupervised, a couple of accidents, and parents blaming the pub instead of keeping an eye on their little ones.

So, to be absolutely clear  children must be supervised and seated at all times.

This is a pub, not a playground.

Some parents even try to argue with us when we explain that we have a curfew for kids in the pub.

Our policy is simple and well advertised: kids are welcome until 5pm, provided theyre under control. After that, its adults only.

Were reviewing this policy thanks to a few repeat offenders, and wed rather not have to go fully child-free  but we will if needed.

So please, respect the rules and dont ruin it for everyone else.

When approached by The Standard, The William the Fourth said: As with many pubs, we have a policy that children are welcome during the day but not after 7pm.

The atmosphere in the evenings is busier and more adult-focused, and we believe this approach ensures a safe and comfortable environment for all our customers.

Families are very welcome earlier on, but after 7pm the pub naturally shifts to an adult setting, which is why this guideline is in place.
This is the moment a Palestine Action activist allegedly attacked a police officer with a sledgehammer and broke her spine.

Jurors at Woolwich Crown Court were shown body-worn footage of the alleged incident during which Samuel Corner stood over a screaming Sgt Kate Evans.

The clip shows Mr Corner, 23, wearing a red jumpsuit, a crash helmet and a black and white keffiyeh tied around his waist during an alleged break-in at an Israel-based defence firms site in Bristol.

During a scuffle on the floor between police and protesters, footage shows Mr Corner allegedly swinging the sledgehammer down onto Sgt Evans back. He is eventually restrained from behind by another officer.

Mr Corner is among six people accused of carrying out the break-in at Elbit Systems in August.

Charlotte Head, 29, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers 22 and Jordan Devlin , 31, all deny aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder in relation to the alleged break-in.

Footage allegedly shows the Palestine Action activists breaking into the factory - Court handout/PA

Mr Corner also denies a further charge of causing Sgt Evans grievous bodily harm.

Sgt Evans spine was fractured, leaving her unable to return to work for three months, jurors heard.

Giving evidence, she told the jury that the incident occurred as she arrested another activist. She said: I can remember struggling with the handcuffs. The ratchet bit got caught on the clothing, on her red boiler suit.

Then I remember looking up at my colleague  he just had this shocked face on him  then I just remember pain in my back. It was just a massive shock vibrating through my whole body, a thud on my back. It just extended through my whole body down to my legs. I felt frozen.

I was stunned to begin with. I didnt know what it was. I remember looking round and seeing the male with the sledgehammer behind me.

I can remember a million thoughts racing through my head. When I look back, it was almost like I was in a movie and everything happened really fast around me. My heads thinking my spine is shattered at this point.

Sledgehammers were allegedly used by the activists as weapons - Court handout/PA

Pc Peter Adams, a colleague of Sgt Evans, said he saw Mr Corner hit her on the back twice. He told the court: I remember her screaming in pain, and shes fallen to the floor on her back.

The court heard that Sgt Evans was left with a large bruise on her back and an X-ray showed there was a fracture to her lumbar spine.

One of the Palestine Action activists being detained - Court handout/PA

Pc Aaron Buxton also attended the incident and recalled the blond male who hit Sgt Evans swinging a sledgehammer at him moments before when he had tackled another activist to the floor.

He told the jury: I was laid on my back with the male with brown hair on top of me. The male with blond hair turned and walked back towards us. He has swung the sledgehammer multiple times towards me.

I dont know how many times he swung it, because in the moment I was scared. I believe it made contact with my right calf and my work radio. I had quite considerable pain down that area of my leg following it. Also I had slight bruising come up.

All six defendants were arrested at the Elbit Systems site in Bristol - Court handout/PA

All six defendants were arrested at the factory.

The court heard that Elbit Systems UK manufactures defence technology equipment and is a UK-registered company. Its parent company is based in Israel.

The trial continues.
A 3p per mile road tax could cost the average EV owner, driving about 10,000 miles a year, an extra 300 annually - Alamy

Chancellor Rachel Reeves seems set to announce pay-per-mile charging for electric vehicles (EVs) in tomorrows autumn Budget, first reported by The Telegraph earlier this month.

It is expected she plans to charge a 3p per mile tax on EVs (a bit less for petrol/electric hybrid vehicles), to come into effect in 2028.

A Treasury spokesperson refused to confirm the details, yet added credence to the leaked news by saying: Fuel duty covers petrol and diesel, but theres no equivalent for EVs.

We want a fairer system for all drivers whilst backing the transition to EVs, including grants to cut upfront costs by up to 3,750 per eligible vehicle.

The Chancellor is also expected to announce an extra 1.3bn funding towards these grants, which offer a discount of up to 3,750 on a new electric car.

Just as it is right to seek a tax system that fairly funds roads, infrastructure and public services, we will look at further support measures to make owning EVs more convenient and more affordable, said the Treasury spokesperson.

How might it work?

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation (a transport policy and research organisation), sees the introduction of pay-per-mile charging for EVs as a logical move given the Government is losing revenue from fuel duty as more and more drivers switch to electric propulsion.

EVs might not be imposing costs on society by tailpipe emissions, but they still contribute to congestion and pollutants such as brake dust and tyre wear, or be involved in crashes leading to human casualties, he says.

As to how a cars mileage data might be accessed to calculate a pay-per-mile charge, Gooding points to various models in New Zealand, Iceland and several US states, such as Oregon.

Due to the rise in electric vehicle ownership, the Government is losing revenue from fuel duty - Alamy

Moreover, he cites a document entitled Fuel Duty Decline published in 2022 by the RAC which argued: obtaining robust mileage data can already be done in many ways: either by accessing the vehicles on-board data directly from the vehicle maker, via an app or insurance dongle or, simpler still, by requiring an odometer reading.

In the UK, this could easily be built into the annual service for the first three years and thereafter into the MOT check.

Costs adding up

Yet, a lack of consultation by the Government and the likely effect on electric car drivers, as well as future EV sales, are real issues.

Trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is particularly aggrieved, stating: We recognise the need for a new approach to motoring taxes but at such a pivotal moment in the UKs EV transition this would be entirely the wrong measure at the wrong time.

Introducing such a complex, costly regime that targets the very vehicles manufacturers are challenged to sell would be a strategic mistake  deterring consumers and further undermining industrys ability to meet Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate targets.

The measure could impede the motoring industry from reducing emissions - Matt Cardy

Howard Cox, founder of pressure group FairFuelUK, is another passionate voice against this measure. He points out 3p per mile on top of existing road taxes could cost the average EV owner, driving about 10,000 miles a year, an extra 300 annually. This will come on top of the 195 road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty or VED) that was first levied on most EVs in April 2025.

That said, 300 is far less than the equivalent 534 fuel duty paid by the average petrol driver in fuel duty over the same mileage  even before 20 per cent VAT on fuel takes the tax burden to 641.

Gooding adds that the main risk is that it will put a further brake on the take-up of EVs, which would in turn affect the pace of movement towards achieving the governments carbon reduction commitments.

Pay-per-mile for all: the argument against

Cox fears that a system of pay-per-mile charging will eventually be extended to include internal combustion engines (ICE).

He argues: While it is accepted that EV drivers should, at last, contribute towards road usage, the proposed pay-per-mile charge is just another anti-motorist net-zero cash grab on its way to use this approach on fossil-fuel drivers.

It will particularly penalise rural residents and those who regularly travel long distances.

Critics see the proposed pay-per-mile charge as an anti-motorist net-zero cash grab - iStock Editorial

Introducing such a system will raise privacy concerns and add further layers of bureaucracy, especially if existing taxes such as fuel duty or VED are not abolished alongside the new charge.

Yet he doesnt think it likely that the Government will target all drivers. Fuel duty is already a distance charge  the more you drive, the more you pay.

Fuel duty has the lowest cost of collection of any tax ever invented and also has the advantage of targeting carbon. Why would you drop it for ICE cars rather than keep it but also introduce something similar for EVs?

Pay-per-mile for all: the argument for

Then there are those who would like pay-per-mile charging to be introduced for all drivers. Professor Karen Lucas at Manchester University thinks it very likely that this form of road pricing will be extended to other vehicles and would welcome it as long as it entirely replaced other forms of vehicle taxation.

The expert on transport poverty explains: If low-income households own cars at all, they own older diesel and petrol ones. This means they already pay road tax. Because they dont use their cars much due to the cost of fuel, they currently pay disproportionately more of their income on vehicle tax per mile than do richer ICE-owning households.

A per-mile road usage charge applied to all vehicles would get rid of this disparity.

Where would the revenue go?

If money raised from this tax were used exclusively to fund improvements in road and public transport, Lucas thinks it will be more likely to be acceptable to the general public, who are very suspicious of hidden tax levies and additional burdens.

Yet, how likely is that? Indeed, drivers of petrol and diesel cars might fear that it would provide an additional opportunity for the government to tax them more in order to provide funds for general spending.

Some motorists may see the tax as more acceptable if it is used to directly fund improvements in road and public transport

It could even be argued that cyclists and scooter riders should also contribute, as they use the same roads.

Indeed, the great unknown is how divisive and politically toxic this issue could become. Public opposition to divisive schemes such as the Ulez charge being expanded to cover the whole capital was profound, further fuelling the view that government is treating the motorist as a cash cow.

Gordon Brown famously scrapped road pricing proposals introduced under previous PM Tony Blair, after a then record 1.8m people signed a petition against it.

Were Sir Keir Starmer to go, a new PM from the same party could similarly feel the publics fury.
Simon Rietbergen recently helped set up a major project to advance the UNs Great Green Wall Initiative, which aims to combat deforestation in the Sahel region of Africa Photograph: none

My friend and former colleague Simon Rietbergen, who has died aged 65 from multiple brain tumours, was a forestry expert who worked extensively worldwide to protect endangered forests, but especially in Africa, from the Congo Basin to the degraded drylands of the Sahel.

Simon was deeply committed to developing progressive approaches to tropical forests that would not impinge negatively on the lives of people who live in and near them, and who depend on them for their livelihoods.

He was born in The Hague, in the Netherlands, to Elisabeth de Bruijn and Evert Rietbergen, a primary school teacher and headteacher respectively. After attending Dalton Den Haag, a bilingual international secondary school, he gained a BSc and MSc in tropical forestry at Wageningen University.

From 1986 he worked as a senior forestry research associate at the International Institute for Environment and Development in London, where in 1991 he met and married Jennifer McCracken, a researcher and writer on natural resource management issues in the global south.

Moving on to be a senior forestry research specialist at the World Bank in Washington DC (1992-97), he then became senior forest conservation programme officer at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (1997-2007) in Gland, Switzerland, where we worked together.

From 2007 to 2009 he was senior project manager at the Princes Rainforest Project in London, and finally he became senior forestry expert at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome from 2014 onwards.

Simons greatest contribution to protecting the worlds forests and their people turned out to be his outstanding leadership skills. He became a highly successful team leader on huge multi-level forestry projects, where good-humoured external policy engagement and internal team support were of equal importance. He will be remembered not only for the many successful changes he brought about, but also for his morale-boosting presence.

One of his final achievements, in July 2025, was the design of a $150m project to advance the African-led Great Green Wall initiative, which aims to combat deforestation by re-establishing vegetation along a band running 5,000 miles across the Sahel. The buildup to the launch of the project involved him leading and managing teams in eight countries in the Sahel over several years.

He is survived by Jennifer, their children, Emma, Sam and Lily, and his brothers, Evert Jan and Hans.
Kemi Badenoch has defended the Tory chair, Kevin Hollinrake, after a row erupted within her own party over his jibe comparing the logo of Nigel Farages Reform UK to a Nazi badge.

The clash was sparked after Mr Hollinrake posted a link to a Wikipedia entry about a badge handed out to members of Adolf Hitlers party in response to a social media post from Nigel Farage showing a Reform emblem.

Suella Braverman, the former Tory home secretary, hit out, saying, Comparing Reform and their supporters to Nazis is wrong, irresponsible and highly counter-productive... Kevin does not speak for me.

Reforms new logo and the Nazi badge (@reformparty_uk/X)

Ms Badenoch risked throwing fuel on the fire by highlighting the case last week of Nathan Gill, Reforms former leader in Wales, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail for accepting pro-Russia bribes.

After Mr Farage tweeted his partys new logo, with the caption coming soon, Mr Hollinrake appeared to liken it to the Golden Party Badge, which the Nazi Party gave to members as an award for long service.

Ms Braverman, whose husband recently quit Reform after an internal party row, said: I expect this from Labour, not the Conservatives. Lets raise the level of debate: criticise the policies, even challenge the people or their actions. But comparing Reform and their supporters to Nazis is wrong, irresponsible and highly counter-productive. Kevin does not speak for me.

Suella Braverman says comparing Reform to the Nazis is wrong, irresponsible and highly counter-productive (PA Archive)

Speaking to journalists at the Confederation of British Industry conference in London, Ms Badenoch defended her chairs actions, saying: Kevin Hollinrake made a joke. Reform spend a lot of time online abusing other politicians. I think they have much bigger problems. She also mentioned the case of Gill, adding that it was a much, much, much bigger issue than any tweet.

A key ally of Mr Farage finally broke Reform UKs silence over Gill on Sunday. Zia Yusuf, the former party chair and a key member of Reforms leadership, said it was unreasonable to link Gills crime with the softer stance that his party and Mr Farage have taken on Vladimir Putins Russia and their criticism of the Ukraine war.

Tory chair Kevin Hollinrake is at the centre of the row (PA Wire)

Mr Yusuf described Gill as treasonous, horrific, awful in an interview with Sir Trevor Phillips on his Sunday morning political show on Sky News.

At the Old Bailey on Friday, Gill was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison after previously pleading guilty to eight counts of bribery on dates between December 2018 and July 2019.

Ms Justice Cheema-Grubb handed down the sentence, saying the harm he had caused was profound and that he had fundamentally compromised the integrity of a legislative body for substantial financial gain.
November 25, 2025: Most people are not aware that the current war in Gaza is fought with the Israelis using automation, sensors and software together in a system which identifies what the enemy is about to do, and what Israeli airstrikes or ground combat actions will best defeat Hamas with minimal civilian casualties.

Another example occurred in 2024 when personnel from Unit 8200 trained an Artificial Intelligence/AI model to understand spoken Arabic. The model used the many telephone conversations and text messages obtained while electronically monitoring the Palestinian territories. Unit 8200 has been around since 1952 and specialize in signals intelligence, cyberwarfare, decryption, intelligence, clandestine operations, surveillance and keeping up with the latest technology to do their job. Unit 8200 is responsible for developing and monitoring the use of Israeli Algorithmic Counterinsurgency. These tools have been used by the Israelis in just about every counterinsurgency operation Israel has undertaken in the last seventy years.

For example Unit 8200 began building a model to create a sophisticated chatbot tool that could answer questions about monitored people by using massive quantities of data collected. Unit 8200 accelerated system development after the Hamas attack out of Gaza in October 2023.

Unit 8200 built a Large Language Model/LLM, a deep learning system based on all the Arab language material they had collected. Unit 8200s AI models knew what everyone in the West Bank was doing. This was done with large-scale retention of intercepted Palestinian telecommunications. That meant using AI to analyze communications, recognize patterns and make predictions.

In 2022 ChatGPT became available and Unit 8200 experts modified ChatGPT to use massive amounts of information to expertly handle complex requests. After the Hamas 2023 attacks Israel called up several hundred thousand reservists. These included personnel who knew how to create LLMs. These experts began building an LLM that understands written Arabic found in media broadcasts, literature and media. This was a problem because most of the collected data was spoken Arabic.

Unit 8200 collected all the spoken Arabic text they had and created a database of about a hundred billion words from groups that were hostile to Israel. Israelis also trained the model to understand specific terms used by anti-Israel groups. This massive collection of training data included large volumes of communications between Palestinians, which was just what the model needed to succeed.

Earlier machine learning models used by Unit 8200 made wide-scale surveillance of Palestinians effective as a form of control, particularly in the West Bank where they said it has contributed to a greater number of arrests. The model enabled Israeli intelligence specialists to automatically analyze intercepted phone conversations and identify Palestinians planning to attack soldiers or Israelis living in illegal settlements. When Israeli soldiers entered West Bank communities, the AI system detected people using words indicating hostile activity like throwing rocks or using firearms against soldiers.

When used to select targets for airstrikes, the AI sometimes makes mistakes when pilots are sent to attack innocent civilians instead of militants. The Israelis admit that mistakes are made but, in a war for survival, occasional mistakes are acceptable. Israel is fighting groups that want to destroy Israel and drive all surviving Jews from the region.

The Americans have also built similar systems, but for different purposes. Over a decade ago the U.S. Department of Defense finally realized, at the most senior levels, that the nature of and progress in this war was being poorly presented to the national leadership and the public. Actually, from the very beginning there was a reluctance to reveal the masses of data collected and how it was analyzed. Partly this was to prevent the enemy from realizing how much information on terrorist operations it possessed. But another reason was the fact that such a large mass of data could be interpreted many different ways, some of them unfavorable to the United States. Thus there was no body count or any other type of measure released by the Department of Defense. Internally, there were various metrics measurements presented to senior military and political leadership. The big problem was the use of aggregation combining a lot of data together that should not have been combined. That was a problem that slowly became ob

It's now recognized that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere, like Yemen, Somalia, North Africa, and so on were all somewhat different and that context for each of them was crucial if you were going to analyze them. For example, al Qaeda is more of an idea than a centralized organization. Thus the al Qaeda found in each country, or part of a country, usually has different means and motivations. The war in Iraq was actually several separate wars going on at the same time and occasionally interacting with other wars nearby. Same thing in Afghanistan and places like Somalia. Measuring progress is more accurate if you show the unique trends in all the different wars. Some of them ended early, some escalated, and some are still in progress, while others evolve into new kinds of conflicts. In other words, the military should use contextual assessment in reporting what is going on with guerilla conflict or irregular warfare in general.

What the Department of Defense did here was fix a problem it created. This happened during the Vietnam War, which the U.S. military establishment didn't really want any part of. The Pentagon in the 1960s was fixated on the conventional military threat the Soviet Union presented in Europe and elsewhere. But a new generation of technocrats had taken over in the Department of Defense and many of their new ideas were handed over to bureaucrats who didn't understand what they were doing. Generals who pointed out problems in these new methods tended to retire ahead of schedule.

Before long, it became conventional wisdom that the U.S. was incapable of handling irregular warfare. This was odd, as the United States had an enviable track record when it comes to defeating guerillas and irregular forces in general. Even Vietnam, which conventional wisdom counts as a defeat, wasn't. The conventional wisdom, as is often the case, is wrong. By the time the last U.S. combat units pulled out of South Vietnam in 1972, the local guerilla movement, the Viet Cong, was destroyed. North Vietnam came south three years later with a conventional invasion, sending tank and infantry divisions charging across the border and conquering their neighbor the old fashioned way.

When the United States first got involved with Vietnam in the late 1950s, there was good reason to believe American assistance would lead to the defeat of the communist guerilla movement in South Vietnam. That was because the communists had not been doing so well with their guerilla wars. In the previous two decades there had been twelve communist insurgencies, and 75 percent of them had been defeated. These included the Greek Civil War 1944-1949, Spanish Republican Insurgency 1944-1952, Iranian Communist Uprising 1945-1946, Philippine Huk War 1946-1954, Madagascan Nationalist Revolt 1947-1949, Korean Partisan War 1948-1953, Sarawak/Sabah Confrontation 1960-1966, Malayan Emergency 1948-1960, and the Kenyan Mau-Mau Rebellion 1952-1955. The communists won in the Cuban Revolution 1956-1958, the First Indochina War 1945-1954, and the Chinese Civil War 1945-1949. The communists went on to lose the guerilla phase of the Second Indochina War 1959-1970. Guerillas make great copy for journalists. You know, the little

The main problem with COIN/Counterinsurgency Warfare is that the American armed forces take it for granted. U.S. troops have been defeating guerilla movements for centuries. Through most of American history, COIN has been the most frequent form of warfare American troops were involved with. But COIN has always been viewed as a minor, secondary military role. It never got any respect. The generals preferred to prepare for a major war with a proper army, not playing cops and robbers with a bunch of poorly organized losers.

Even the U.S. Marine Corps, after half a century of COIN operations, were glad to put that behind them in the late 1930s. All that remained of that experience was a classic book, The Small Wars Manual, written by some marine officers on the eve of World War II. That book, which is still in print, contained timeless wisdom and techniques on how to deal with COIN operations and small wars in general. Every COIN book simply repeats the basic wisdom laid down in The Small Wars Manual.

The basic truth is that COIN tactics and techniques have not changed for thousands of years. What has also not changed is the professional soldiers' disdain for COIN operations. This sort of thing has never been considered real soldiering. But the U.S. Army and Marines have finally come to accept that COIN is a major job, something that U.S. troops have always been good at and something that you have to pay attention to.

So when you see more news stories about new COIN manuals or American ignorance of irregular warfare, keep in mind the history of that kind of warfare and how long, and successfully, Americans have been dealing with it.
Food-delivering robots could be coming to a front door near you in just a few weeks.

Uber Eats has promised to start rolling out the autonomous delivery bots in two major UK cities before the end of the year.

The food brand has partnered with robots company Starship Technologies, which will begin deploying the bots this year, before expanding into Europe in 2026 and the US in 2027.

This isnt the first time Starship has used robots  the firm says it has worked with other brands for over 9 million deliveries across seven countries.

The Uber Eats delivery robot (Starship/Uber Eats)

The partnership is preparing to start in Sheffield and Leeds as soon as possible.

Sarfraz Maredia, Ubers Global Head of Autonomous, said: Autonomous delivery is an exciting part of how we see the future of Uber Eats,

Together with Starship, were bringing this future to life across multiple continents.

Sarfraz added that the partnership would deliver efficient and affordable experiences for Uber users.

The first robots will arrive in Leeds in December 2025, which will operate at level 4 autonomy.

This means they can function independently without requiring continuous human supervision.

The company explained: Starship robots are 99% autonomous.

The Starship bots revolutionising the future of food delivery (Starship Technologies)

They learn with every journey  and theyve safely completed millions more deliveries than any competitor.

Our robots deliver hot food, groceries, and industrial supplies, using a combination of radars, cameras, sensors, and machine learning to identify objects and navigate the world around them.

Starship says the robots will be able to carry out deliveries in under 30 minutes and will be able to deliver to addresses as far as two miles away.

Starship CEO Ahti Heinla said: Together, were building the infrastructure that will define the next generation of urban logistics.

Uber Eats has built the worlds leading delivery platform, with the widest reach, trusted by millions across 10,000 cities. We bring scalable autonomous technology that works profitably at city scale.

If the initial launch in the UK is successful the food robots will be rolled out in Europe in 2026 and the US in 2027 (Matt Writtle)

Over 10 Uber-branded robots will start delivering food in Leeds to begin with.

Unlike normal Uber drivers, it wont be possible to tip Uber robots.

Starship robots are already running in the UK  the company has partnered with Co-op to offer deliveries in multiple cities already, including Milton Keynes.

Starship says its average delivery time from store to customer is 15 minutes, and has already worked with the following brands:

Bolt

Sodexo

Grubhub

Aramark

Co-op

S-kaupat

Alepa

Merck

Chartwells Higher Ed

The companys new robots will only make Uber Eats deliveries and will be branded with the companys logo.
The new policy will particularly affect homes in London and the South East of England. (Alamy) (RichardBaker)

Rachel Reeves has said a "high-value council tax surcharge" will be introduced on properties worth more than 2m.

The so-called "mansion tax" is expected to raise 0.4 billion in 2029-30, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility, (OBR) which revealed the chancellor's fiscal plans 45 minutes before her budget announcement.

It said there would be four price bands for the surcharge, rising from 2,500 for a property valued at 2-2.5m to 7,500 for a property valued in the highest band of 5m or more.

The changes will affect more than 100,000 properties, according to forecasts. Kate Steere, personal finance expert at Finder, told Yahoo News: "Uncertainty around a potential property tax has already contributed to a cooling market.

"My hope is that now the government has set out its plans  and given that the change wont take effect until 2028  well start to see some confidence return. However, many buyers will be disappointed that the stamp duty system has not had a much-needed overhaul."

Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank, said the move may raise less than expected and warned that buyers and sellers face years of uncertainty, especially around the 2m threshold, until revaluations can take place.

He said: "If opposition parties say they would scrap it, many homeowners will look at the opinion polls and wait it out. When you factor in the cost of carrying out the valuation and the potential lost stamp duty revenue from a stickier market, the sums raised could look like a rounding error for the Treasury.

More properties will inevitably get dragged into the mansion tax net, which means the proportion of terraced houses, flats and semi-detached homes will grow over the years, particularly in the capital. The term mansion tax will increasingly feel like a misnomer.

Overall, it feels like politics has trumped economics. One the one hand, the policy is designed to keep backbenchers happy and ensure the near-term survival of the chancellor and prime minister. On the other, it throws a spanner into the works of the housing market for not much money in return, which is important in the context of a budget where spending is front-loaded. The UK already pays the highest percentage of property taxes among OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development] countries.

What the chancellor announced in the budget

The high-value surcharge means that, from April 2028, owners of properties identified as being valued at over 2m (in 2026 prices) by the Valuation Office will be liable for a recurring annual charge in addition to existing council tax liability.

There will be four price bands rising from 2,500 for a property valued at 2-2.5m, to 7,500 for a property in the highest band of 5m or more, all uprated by CPI inflation each year, the OBR said.

Announcing the move in the Commons, Reeves said: "I am introducing the high-value council tax surcharge in England, an annual 2,500 charge for properties worth more than 2m, rising to 7,500 pounds for properties worth more than 5m.

"This will be collected alongside council tax levied on owners, and we will consult on options for support or deferral. This new surcharge will raise over 400m by 2031 and will be charged on less than the top 1% of properties."

The OBR said the revenues from the surcharge would flow to central government rather than remain with local government, as is the case for standard council tax.

It said: "We assume over time there will be full pass-through of the cost of the surcharge into the prices of the liable properties, as well as price bunching to just below each band boundary.

"This slightly reduces the estimated yield by reducing the number of properties in scope of the measure and moving properties into lower charging bands."

It added that its costing had assumed that some current council tax exemptions would apply and that there would be a deferral scheme for those unable to pay immediately.

Who will be affected?

The policy is expected to mainly affect homes in London and the South East, which are known for their high-value properties.

Band F to H properties account for around 15% of properties across both regions, according to government statistics, compared to around 5% of homes in the North West, and around 13% of homes in Wales.

While London and the South East do have a high proportion of these higher band properties, some experts have said the council tax system still has not been revised recently enough to reflect current prices.

Outdated and rushed council tax valuations mean someone living in a terraced house in the north of England could be paying as much as someone in a more luxurious home in London. (Alamy) (Clare Jackson)

"Property prices in England havent been revalued for council tax purposes since the system was introduced in 1991," said Sarah Coles, a personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown and Yahoo Finance UK's personal finance columnist.

She said earlier this month: "Price rises since then have been lumpy. In London theyre eight times higher than they were in 1991, whereas in the north of England theyre 3.5 times higher.

"This isnt reflected in the banding, so someone in a much more expensive home in the south has been paying the same tax as someone in a less expensive home in the north."

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Credit: Elystan Street/Instagram

A woman has been caught on camera allegedly stealing 300 worth of langoustines from a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Elystan Street restaurant posted a video of a woman taking the box of seafood from the porch of its Chelsea premises.

Video footage showed a woman dressed in jeans and what appear to be slippers take the box and walk off with her head down at about 8am on Tuesday morning.

Phil Howard, the restaurants owner, posted the clip to his own Instagram calling the thief who stole the precious langoustines a low-life scum bag.

He said: Caught stealing our precious langoustines this morning  you low-life scum bag. Hope you rot in hell with your other hard working mates.

The restaurant, owned by Phil Howard, has appealed for help on social media - Jeremy Rata

Becky McLaughlin, the restaurants manager, said she did not know why the shellfish was taken but joked that the woman would have a very lovely supper. The package contained langoustines worth around 300.

Posting the footage on Instagram, Elystan Street said: Our Elystan Street seafood delivery went missing this morning. The incident was captured on CCTV. If you recognise this woman or have any information, please get in touch.

Wed like to resolve this quickly and fairly. DMs open.

Ms McLaughlin told The Telegraph that she was going to report the incident to the police.

She said: We have absolutely no idea why she did it, thats why we reached out to social media to try and understand and help us a little bit.

We have reached out to local businesses as well to alert them in case the same thing happens to them. Its pretty wild.

She added: Its a cost that somebody just doesnt realise, where its now going to have to be swallowed. In these times its incredibly different for restaurants so things like this can be so damaging which people dont realise.

I dont know what theyll do with them but theyll have a very lovely supper.

You can tell in the footage that she can see whats written on the box, the contents of whats inside it, and if they were smart then they would know how much it was worth.

She was probably just walking past and chanced her luck.

The targeting of the restaurants is the latest in a spate of package thefts across the country, with thieves branded as porch pirates.

A record 666.5m worth of parcels were stolen across the UK in the 12 months to July, up from roughly 377m the year prior, according to data obtained from police forces.

Some 4.8 million homes suffered at least one stolen parcel over the period, representing a rise of almost a third.

Elystan Street is a one Michelin-starred restaurant, which serves contemporary takes on European dishes.

Mr Howard, a renowned chef, was trained under the Roux brothers and Marco Pierre White. The South-African born chef built up his revered reputation at Mayfairs The Square, the two Michelin-starred restaurant, which he owned for 25 years.

He opened Elystan Street in 2016, and runs it alongside his other restaurants The Ledbury, Kitchen W8, Church Road, Perilla and Lorne.

The Metropolitan Police was contacted for comment.
NAMIBIA-POLITICS-VOTE Image not from story(Photo by SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images)

A politician named Adolf Hitler is cruising toward another election win in Namibia.

Adolf Hitler Uunona, 59, will likely secure his fifth term as councillor for the Ompundja constituency in northern Namibia when voters head to the polls Wednesday, according to Jewish Telegraphic agency citing forecasts from Namibias electoral commission.

Uunona, a member of the South West Africa Peoples Organization, has represented the constituency since 2004. He won his 2020 race with 85% of the vote. The politician has long distanced himself from his notorious namesake.

My father gave me this name Adolf Hitler, but it does not mean I have Adolf Hitlers character or resemble that of Adolf Hitler of Germany, Uunona told The Namibian following his 2020 victory. Hitler was a controversial person who captured and killed people across the globe. I am not like him. (RELATED: South African Activist Comes To DC, Pleads: Let Afrikaners Govern Themselves)

Uunona said he didnt have a choice in his name.

The unusual moniker traces back to Namibias colonial history. Germany ruled the territory from 1884 to 1915, and Germanic first names remain common in the country today.

That colonial period left deep scars. From 1904 to 1908, German forces committed genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama people, killing roughly 70,000, Deseret News reported. Germany officially recognized the atrocity in 2021, and Namibian leaders continue pursuing reparations.

German influence persisted long after colonial rule ended. Some Nazis fled to Namibia after World War II, and a 1976 New York Times article documented German-Namibians still greeting each other with Heil Hitler.

Uunonas ruling party has governed Namibia since independence from South Africa in 1990.
FILE PHOTO: A sign on the wall of the U.S. Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 14, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo

By Andrew Goudsward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Lindsey Halligan, a close ally of President Donald Trump, went before a grand jury in late September seeking criminal charges against a high-profile target: former FBI Director James Comey.

Halligan had been appointed interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia only a few days prior after Trump publicly vented frustration with the lack of action against some of his top antagonists. She had no experience as a prosecutor and appeared before the grand jury alone after career staff in her office declined to sign on to the case.

She secured an indictment against Comey, but the case almost immediately ran into problems. Judges began tallying a cascade of legal errors that culminated on Monday with the dismissal of the charges against Comey and a second prosecution against New York Attorney General Letitia James, another top Trump target.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie was based on a procedural issue: that Halligans appointment violated a federal law limiting the tenures of interim U.S. attorneys. But it underscored growing pushback in the courts to Trumps demands that the Justice Department use its vast authority to pursue retribution against people who have criticized or investigated the president.

When Trumps bluster and revenge hits the reality of the courtroom, it tends to fall apart, said Randall Eliason, a law professor at George Washington University. When those cases are subjected to scrutiny, it turns out that a lot of other problems are revealed.

The department has vowed to appeal the ruling and can still seek new indictments against Comey and James. Prosecutors have disputed in court filings that Halligan committed legal errors or was motivated by partisan animosity.

I take umbrage at the idea that the work that our prosecutors are doing is weaponization, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told a conservative legal conference this month.

The facts of the indictments against Comey and James have not changed and this will not be the final word on this matter," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

The Justice Department declined to comment, referring to its court filings.

LEGAL ERRORS

The ruling also showed how the Justice Departments own missteps undermined cases Trump and his supporters have demanded.

Qualified prosecutors at the Justice Department "who understand, know and care about the rules are showing themselves unwilling" to carry out Trump's demands, said Kristy Parker, a counsel at Protect Democracy, an advocacy organization that filed several lawsuits against the Trump administration.

In the Comey case, the grand jury rejected the lead criminal count in the proposed indictment, forcing prosecutors to scramble to draft a new version. The magistrate judge who received the indictment expressed confusion as to why two different versions of the document were presented in court.

The trial judge, Michael Nachmanoff, later pressed prosecutors on whether the full grand jury had seen the final version of the indictment. A third judge found that Halligan may have made profound errors before the grand jury, including presenting evidence shielded by legal privileges and misinforming the panel about fundamental elements of the law.

Prosecutors denied in a court filing that any tainted evidence was presented and argued that the judges conclusions were based on assumptions and misinterpretations.

A fourth judge, Currie, found Halligan had no legal authority to bring the Comey and James cases because her appointment was defective. Currie rejected Bondis attempts to shore up the prosecutions by giving Halligan a second title, special U.S. attorney and personally ratifying both indictments weeks after they were brought.

It would mean the Government could send any private citizen off the street  attorney or not  into the grand jury room to secure an indictment so long as the Attorney General gives her approval after the fact, Currie wrote. That cannot be the law.

STUMBLING BLOCKS

Federal prosecutors have run into stumbling blocks in other cases important to Trump and his agenda.

Grand juries have declined to indict, and trial juries have refused to convict, some people who were charged as part of Trumps law enforcement surge in Washington over the summer.

A federal judge in Tennessee found that Kilmar Abrego, the Salvadoran migrant wrongly deported by the Trump administration, had made a preliminary showing that his criminal prosecution was retaliatory.

Last week, Reuters reported the Justice Department is scrutinizing the conduct of two Trump allies who have played a role in its probe of mortgage allegations against Democratic U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, another figure Trump has demanded face prosecution.

PROBES STILL PENDING

Mondays ruling is unlikely to stop the Justice Departments pursuit of Trumps critics and perceived adversaries.

The department has an ongoing case against Trumps former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who has become a persistent Trump critic, for allegedly sharing classified information. That case was brought with the support of career federal prosecutors in Maryland.

Bolton has pleaded not guilty and called the case an abuse of power.

Prosecutors are also continuing to scrutinize mortgage fraud claims against Schiff and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, whom Trump is seeking to fire. Neither has yet been charged and both have denied wrongdoing.

The FBI has requested interviews with six Democratic U.S. lawmakers who told members of the military they can legally refuse to carry out unlawful orders in a video message that enraged Trump.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Miami is scrutinizing the intelligence assessment that Russia aimed to aid Trump in the 2016 election, stoking speculation among Trump allies that prosecutors may try to bring cases involving a broad anti-Trump conspiracy.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell)
An Australian senator who has long campaigned for the Islamic women's garment known as the burqa to be banned in the country has been suspended from parliament for a week for her protest on Monday in which she wore the full body covering into the chamber and refused to remove it.

Pauline Hanson of the anti-immigration One Nation party was accused of racism by fellow lawmakers when she walked into the parliament wearing a burqa on Monday. Hanson called the move  which she has now done twice in a decade  a protest against her colleagues' refusal to allow her to introduce a bill that would ban burqas and other face coverings in public.

Once inside, Hanson refused to remove the burqa, leading the Senate to be suspended for the remainder of that day.

The protest was met by outrage by some of her fellow senators, with Australian Greens leader Larissa Waters calling it a "middle finger to people of faith."

"It is extremely racist and unsafe," Waters added.

Independent Senator Fatima Payman looks on as One Nation party leader Pauline Hanson wears a burqa in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Nov. 24, 2025. / Credit: AAP/Mick Tsikas/REUTERS

On Tuesday, the Senate voted 55 to five on a motion that condemned Hanson's actions as being "intended to vilify and mock people on the basis of their religion" and calling them "disrespectful to Muslim Australians."

Following the motion, Hanson was barred for seven consecutive Senate sitting days, which will mean her suspension will continue when parliament comes back into session in February of next year after its holiday break.

Speaking to Sky News Australia, Hanson rejected accusations that her protest had vilified or mocked Muslims.

"At the end of the day this is Australia. It is not the Australian cultural way of life. I just want equality for all Australians and I don't want to see the suppression or oppression of women in this country," she told the news channel.

Hanson previously wore a burqa to Parliament in 2017, but this week was the first time she was punished for it. When she did it in 2017, she said it was to highlight what she called security issues posed by the garment, which she linked to terrorism.

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One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson wears a burqa in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

MEBOURNE, Australia (AP)  An Australian senator who is campaigning for a national burqa ban was barred Tuesday from Parliament for the rest of the year for wearing the Muslim garment in the chamber.

Pauline Hanson, the 71-year-old leader of the anti-Muslim, anti-immigration One Nation minor party, was accused of performing a disrespectful stunt on Monday when she walked into the Senate shrouded in the head-to-ankle garment to protest fellow senators refusal to consider her bill that would ban the burqa and other full-face coverings in public places.

Senators suspended her for the rest of the day on Monday. In the absence of an apology, they passed a censure motion Tuesday that carried one of the harshest penalties against a senator in recent decades. She was barred from seven consecutive Senate sitting days.

The Senate arises for the year on Thursday and Hansons suspension will continue when Parliament resumes in February next year.

Hanson later told reporters she would be judged by voters at the next election in 2028, not by her Senate colleagues.

They didnt want to ban the burqa, yet they denied me the right to wear it on the floor of Parliament. There is no dress code on the floor of Parliament, yet Im not allowed to wear it. So to me, its been hypocritical, she said.

Hanson, who gave a speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida this month, created outrage in 2017 when she wore a burqa in the Senate in a similar protest. She wasnt punished on that occasion.

The government leader in the Senate, Malaysian-born Penny Wong, who is not Muslim, moved the censure motion on Tuesday.

Wong said by wearing the burqa, Hanson had mocked and vilified an entire faith that was observed by almost 1 million Australians among a population of 28 million.

Sen. Hansons hateful and shallow pageantry tears at our social fabric and I believe it makes Australia weaker, and it also has cruel consequences for many of our most vulnerable, including in our school yards, Wong told the Senate.

Pakistan-born Mehreen Faruqi said she and Afghanistan-born Fatima Payman were the only Muslims in the Senate. But when Hanson first wore the burqa in 2017, there were none.

Let this be the start of actually dealing with structural and systemic racism that pervades this country, Faruqi said of the censure motion.

Payman, who wears a hijab, did not speak in the Senate on Tuesday. But she told Hanson on Monday her use of the burqa was disgraceful and a shame.

A judge ruled last year that Hanson breached a racial anti-discrimination law by crudely telling Faruqi in a social media post to return to her homeland.

Hanson is appealing that ruling.

Rateb Jneid, president of the advocacy group Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said in a statement that Hanson wearing the burqa was part of a pattern of behavior that has repeatedly vilified Muslims, migrants and minorities.

Hanson has been known for her views on race since her first speech to Parliament in 1996, in which she said Australia was in danger of being swamped by Asians because of its non-discriminatory immigration policy.
Australias Parliament descended into turmoil Monday after right-wing populist Sen. Pauline Hanson entered the chamber wearing a burqa, triggering outrage from Muslim lawmakers and forcing proceedings to be suspended.

Hanson arrived in the full-face covering shortly after being denied permission to introduce her bill seeking to ban burqas and other face coverings in public. The move prompted shouting across the chamber as senators demanded she remove the garment. Senate leaders eventually halted the session when she refused to do so.

Leaders from both major parties condemned the stunt. Labor Senate leader and Foreign Minister Penny Wong described Hansons display as "not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate," according to Reuters, and moved to suspend her after she refused to comply with instructions to remove the covering. Opposition Deputy Senate Leader Anne Ruston also criticized the act.

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One Nation leader Pauline Hanson wears a burqa in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Nov. 24, 2025. AAP/Mick Tsikas via Reuters

Two muslim senators condemned Hanson's actions. Green party Sen. Mehreen Faruqi denounced the move. "This is a racist senator, displaying blatant racism." Independent Sen. Fatima Payman similarly denounced the act as "disgraceful" and "shame".

The incident marked the second time Hanson has worn a burqa inside Parliament. The 71-year-old senator first did so in 2017 as part of her longtime campaign against Islamic dress. Hanson has spent decades opposing immigration from Asia and criticizing Australias multicultural policies, positions that helped launch her political career in the 1990s.

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Her One Nation party currently holds four seats in the senate after gaining two in Mays national election, reflecting a rise in anti-immigration sentiment, according to Reuters.

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Following the uproar, Hanson released a statement on her verified Facebook page. She wrote: "Today I wore a burqa into the Senate after One Nation's bill to ban the burqa and face coverings in public was blocked from even being introduced. The usual hypocrites had an absolute freak out. The fact is more than 20 countries around the world have banned the burqa because they recognize it as a tool that oppresses women, poses a national security risk, encourages radical Islam and threatens social cohesion. If these hypocrites don't want me to wear a burqa, they can always support my ban."

Her statement continued, "So if Parliament won't ban it, I will display this oppressive, radical, nonreligious head garb that risks our national security and the ill treatment of women on the floor of our Parliament so that every Australian knows what's at stake. If they don't want me wearing it, ban the burqa."

France and 21 other countries, including Tunisia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Portugal, have already implemented burqa bans.

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Hanson left Parliament after losing her seat in 1998 and resigned as leader of One Nation in 2002. She was jailed in 2003 on electoral fraud charges, though the conviction was later overturned.

In 2010, she dropped plans to move to the United Kingdom, saying it was "overrun with immigrants and refugees." She returned to lead One Nation in 2014 and won election to the Senate in 2016. She used her first speech to warn that "Australia was in danger of being swamped by Muslims."

Reuters contributed to this report.





Original article source: Australian senator wears burqa after move to block her face-covering ban bill
A boat captain in the far northwest Pacific has been sentenced in an upscale human smuggling scheme that netted him tens of thousands to shuttle undocumented Chinese nationals to the United States territory of Guam.

The case underscores the high price tag that some foreign nationals are willing to pay to reach the shores of the U.S. and its territories. Federal prosecutors said the illegal operation made at least $80,000 for the trip that would lead to the seizure of the captain's vessel - and other transports were made.

Steven Villagomez Pangelinan, 58, was one of four men wholl be doing time in federal prison for their roles in the organized human smuggling operation that transported Chinese nationals between U.S. territories in the remote Pacific.

Each was found guilty of conspiracy to transport unauthorized aliens. Pangelinan, the leader of the mission, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release.

The defendants facilitated illegal migration and risked the lives of many for their own financial gain, said Shawn Anderson, U.S. Attorney for the districts of Guam and the Mariana Islands.

Ramona Manglona, chief judge for U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, issued the sentences on Nov. 19 and 20.

In an unrelated case earlier this year, a Chinese man received a three-month federal sentence after trying to smuggle undocumented Chinese immigrants to Guam, looking to exploit a loophole allowing Chinese visitors to visit the Northern Mariana Islands without a visa. Some migrants take advantage of the waiver and attempt to reach Guam, where a visa is required but where they can earn higher wages.

On June 22, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a release, Pangelinan led two vessels  a 25-foot Boston Whaler and an 18-foot McKee Craft  on an overnight journey from Saipan to Guam, one of numerous trips hed conducted as part of an ongoing human-smuggling enterprise.

Saipan, the largest island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or CNMI, is about 120 miles north of Guam. Both are separate U.S. territories.

Members of the Northern Mariana Islands delegation cast their votes during the Ceremonial Roll Call of States on the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago.

According to the justice department, Pangelinan owned both boats, one of which he captained on the run that would earn him $80,000, with each Chinese national paying about $4,500 apiece to avoid airport immigration checks by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Authorities in Guam spotted the vessels as they dropped off the passengers and alerted CNMI law enforcement, which intercepted the boats and the four-person crew upon their return.

William Cabrera Jr., 44, who the Justice Department described as Pangelinans primary accomplice on this and previous trips, captained the second boat, according to federal prosecutors. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison with three years of supervised release.

Boat mechanic Steven Chris Tomokane, 55, at whose residence Pangelinan stored vessels used in the enterprise, received a six-month sentence in addition to six months home detention and three years of supervised release.

Crew member Kenneth Hocog Pangelinan, 38, got a 37-day sentence with three years of supervised release. The justice department did not say whether he was related to Steven Pangelinan.

Flags of the United States and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, with flame trees in the background.

The two boats, along with a 31-foot Fountain powerboat also linked to the smuggling operation, will be forfeited to the federal government, the department said.

This sentencing underscores Homeland Security Investigations unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal networks that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit while undermining the integrity of our immigration system, said Lucia Cabral-DeArmas of the agency's Honolulu office. The defendants in this case endangered lives and violated the law.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Captain in the Pacific gets prison for maritime smuggling of Chinese nationals
A grocery store produce section with apples, peaches and other fresh items. Photo: Sarah Roderick-Fitch / The Center Square

(The Center Square) - CalFresh recipients can now get $60 more a month for fruit and vegetables as part of the relaunch of a pilot program, according to Assemblyman Alex Lees office.

Lee, D-Milpitas, chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee and a member of the Assembly Select Committee on CalFresh Enrollment and Nutrition, secured $36 million in funding to re-start the program, according to the legislator's office. The Legislature approved the funding as part of its 2025-26 budget and as part of the states general fund, according to the California Department of Social Services and Lees office.

The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program is a lifeline for those living paycheck to paycheck, Lee said in a press release issued earlier this year. EBT stands for Electronic Benefit Transfer and is used to deliver assistance.

With the Republican-led Congress making catastrophic cuts to our social safety nets, now is the time to double down on our efforts to fight poverty and food insecurity," Lee said. "By investing in the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program, we are taking an important step to ensuring that low-income Californians can afford fresh and healthy meals.

The program first launched in 2023 and allowed CalFresh recipients to get $1 back on their EBT card for every $1 they spent on fresh produce at participating grocery stores.

The program was restarted amid cuts to the federally-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is known as CalFresh in California. This will result in an estimated 6 billion to 9 billion meals that will be eliminated annually as a result of these cuts, according to Feed America, a national network of food banks, food pantries and local meal programs.

"The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program relaunched just in time for the holiday season, Lee said in an emailed statement to The Center Square. By putting real dollars back into peoples pockets, this program will help an estimated 230,000 Californians afford fresh and nutritious meals. It is a proven and scalable solution to reducing hunger, and Ill be working to secure additional funding so that families can continue to benefit from the program."

The re-launch of the program will make a difference for those who rely on CalFresh benefits, workers with participating grocery stores and retailers told The Center Square on Monday.

This program really helps neighborhoods that are especially rent-burdened or have a higher cost of living, Elise Dang, the senior operations manager for the Northeast L.A. Farmers Market, which is part of Food Access L.A., told The Center Square. It is kind of an instant rebate that they get on their EBT card and allow them to stretch their EBT further for the month.

Other participating grocery retailers in California, which includes Arteagas Food Center, Santa Fe Foods, Harvest Market and Mothers Nutritional Center, were not able to comment before press time on Monday.

The Center Square previously reported 41.7 million people received SNAP benefits each month in 2024. Federal SNAP funding cost $99.8 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the federal food stamp program. SNAP recipients nationwide got an average of $187.20 a month. A report from the California Legislative Analyst's Office states that administering CalFresh cost $2.1 billion during 2020-21, which was paid for by $1 billion of federal money, $740 million from Californias state general fund and $290 million in funds paid for by counties throughout the state.
November 25, 2025: Ukraine has a landmine and UXO/UneXplOded munitions problem. Over 140,000 square kilometers of Ukraine is contaminated with mines and UXO. These mines threaten agricultural production because the work of farmers and farming machinery is threatened by the mines. Farmers are killed and injured and their tractors and combines damaged by unseen landmines and UXO. Ukraine is asking for foreign aid in the form of demining teams, demining equipment and training for Ukrainian demining teams. Demining foreign aid in the form of cash is also welcome, The Ukrainian demining teams have to be paid and provided with medical insurance for Ukrainian demining casualties.

Three years ago the United States gave Ukraine $89 million for demining. Normally this means clearing landmines from what was once a combat zone. Ukraine is different. Few landmines were used but the Russians did leave many booby-traps behind when they retreated, they are still retreating, and that means more of these IETs/Improvised Explosive Traps are being placed in buildings, civilian vehicles, major appliances and under bodies of dead Ukrainians. There are also some naval mines to deal with in the Black Sea.

Even more numerous UXO munitions are out there because of the many Russian artillery shells and missiles that failed to detonate on impact. The percentage of Russian shells and missiles that become UXOs is much higher than for Ukrainian munitions. The Russians also use a lot more artillery and missile fire. Experience has shown that the fuzes of unexploded munitions sometimes function when anyone attempts to move them deliberately or accidentally, as in during construction or rubble clearance. Landmines are banned by the Ottawa Convention international treaty, but dud shells and improvised explosives UXO are not. Improvised explosive traps are a war crime and have always been. The hundred Ukrainian demining teams consist of local volunteers trained by Ukrainian and foreign experts with experience in landmine and UXO detection and removal. Current estimates are that nearly 160,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory are contaminated with mines and UXOs.

Finding and clearing landmines is relatively easy compared to non-landmine UXOs. These can be anywhere there was combat and have always been a more common problem. UXO from both World Wars and more recent conflicts are still a problem, requiring the maintenance of local emergency teams to handle old UXOs that are still being discovered. That will apply to parts of Ukraine for a long time. There are not many World War Two UXOs in Ukraine because there was not a lot of sustained combat on stationary fronts, and few aerial bombs compared to Germany, which was pounded for years by American and British heavy bombers. Currently about 160,000 square kilometers of Ukraine are contaminated, mainly with unexploded dud shells, rockets, hand grenades and some buried stockpiles of explosives. The longer the fighting goes on the more UXOs will be created.

Russia did not use landmines in Ukraine until the 2022 invasion and have since been using them in any territory they retreat from, if they have time. These landmines are recently manufactured models that usually work, rather than turn into UXOs as many older or improvised landmines do. Russia denies this but the landmines found are easily identified as Russian designs. Leaving behind landmines and IETs indicates the Russians dont believe they will reoccupy that territory anytime soon and dont care about local civilians killed or wounded by these devices.

Currently Russian landmines and IETs are being used in Kherson province north of Crimea. The mines tend to be anti-personnel and anti-vehicle models delivered by rocket launchers. Landmines, emplaced manually by troops or engineers, are older models, some dating back to the 1950s that have been kept in storage ever since. Many of these prove to be duds used to slow down the advancing Ukrainians, who expect Russian landmines and have troops trained to uncover them so they can be destroyed from a distance.

Russians and Ukrainians living in Crimea and parts of Donbas occupied since 2014 fear that Russia will leave behind landmines and IETs if the Ukrainians liberate these areas and that is making the locals nervous. Russians are leaving because of that, as well as the increasing Ukrainian partisan activity in Crimea and Donbas. Ukrainian collaborators are also leaving, even if they are tolerated but not really welcome in Russia. The partisans often attack the Ukrainian collaborators with IETs planted in automobiles or just use gunfire.

Some countries, especially the United States, believe the Ottawa Convention that banned landmines is largely a failure because landmines are still widely used. While 161 nations signed the Ottawa treaty, 36 did not, including Russia. Ukraine signed the treaty and is not believed to have used landmines. Other major military powers that did not sign the treaty include China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, the Palestinians, both Koreas, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. Most of these nations still see a pressing need for landmines, although many are trying to find replacement weapons.

While landmines were outlawed in 1999, most of the nations that rushed to sign the Ottawa Convention either didn't have landmines or didn't have any reason to use them. While landmine casualties have declined from about 20,000 a year when the Cold War ended in 1991 to about 4,000 now, that was largely due to the collapse of many communist governments, which were always the biggest landmine users, mainly to keep people from entering or leaving their territory. The fall of communism led to more open borders and a lot of mines were taken out of service. The treaty backers like to take credit for 87 countries destroying 46 million landmines. The reality was that most of those mines would have been destroyed anyway because of the collapse of the many communist governments which made most of those mines.

Despite the anti-landmine efforts, some countries still manufacture and use them. In the last few years Israel, Libya, Syria, North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar/Burma planted new mines. Some nations which still use landmines, like Israel, have taken the lead in developing new technology and techniques for quickly clearing landmines, especially old ones whose location was never recorded.

In addition India, Myanmar, and Pakistan are still manufacturing landmines. Arms dealers still provide large quantities of Russian and Chinese landmines, many of them Cold War surplus. China, Russia, and other communist nations were the major producers of landmines during the Cold War. The mines were produced not so much for use against potential enemies but to aid in keeping the borders closed and prevent citizens from leaving these unpleasant dictatorships.

There has been a growing list of outlaw organizations that are ignoring the 1999 ban. Until 2021 the Taliban in Afghanistan and the TTP in Pakistan were still manufacturing landmines in primitive workshops and using them against Pakistani, Afghan, and foreign soldiers, as well as civilians who refused to support Islamic terrorism. Rebels and gangsters did not sign the international agreement and find the mines a cheap way to control civilian populations and slow down the movements of the security forces. It takes more time, money, and effort to remove these mines than to place them.

Despite the 1999 treaty, landmines are still causing about 4,000 casualties a year worldwide. About 20 percent of the victims are killed and 90 percent of them are males. This is largely because men are more likely to be out in the bush or working farmlands that still contain mines. A third of the casualties are police and soldiers. This is because in many countries rebels and criminals are still using landmines, either factory made ones from countries that did not sign the Ottawa Convention or locally made models.

Landmines are simple to make and workshops are easily set up to do it. There's no shortage of mines out there, despite the fact that so many have been destroyed in the name of the 1999 Ottawa Convention. There are believed to be at least 100 million mines still in the ground and at least as many in military warehouses for future use.

The 1999 Ottawa Convention was supposed to have eliminated the threat of landmines. It hasn't worked because the owners of the largest landmine stockpiles, especially Russia and China, refused to sign. Chinese landmines are still available on the international arms black market. China is believed to have the largest stockpile, mostly of anti-personnel mines. The old ones are often sold before they become worthless. But even these mines, which go for $5-10 each, are too expensive for many of the criminal organizations that buy them. New land mines, competitive with the factory-built ones from China, can be built for less than $3 each. You can find all the technical data you need on the Internet.

Meanwhile, the most effective way to get the mine-clearing done is by training local volunteers to be part of the part-time mine-clearing teams. The government must provide training, pay that should be good by local standards, and health and life insurance. When a new bunch of mines are found usually by an animal coming across them, the team gets to work.

Landmines continue to be a nasty problem for many nations. This is especially true of countries in out-of-the-way places that rarely generate many headlines for any reason. A typical case is Tajikistan. One of the northern neighbors of Afghanistan, Tajikistan long had mines on its borders because of communist policies towards free movement. After becoming independent of Russia in the early 1990s, Tajikistan went through several years of civil war in which both sides planted thousands of Cold War surplus landmines. Russia helped settle that internal conflict and supplied peacekeepers, who also manned the Afghan border to try and keep the Afghan heroin and hashish out. This involved creating more new minefields along the Afghan border. There were also some mines planted on the new international borders with other former parts of the Soviet Union.

While Tajikistan got some foreign aid to help with clearing all those mines, only about a third of the known minefields have been cleared so far. Fortunately, the mines tend to be planted in thinly populated areas, so only about 350,000 people live near enough to the mined areas to be in any danger. Thus, since 1991, 20-30 people a year have been killed by the mines, with another 30-40 wounded. Civilians are the most frequent victims of landmines.

India and Pakistan continue to maintain extensive minefields along their 900-kilometer border. Both countries still manufacture mines. Same deal with the two Koreas and Israel on its Syrian border.

The United States believes it cannot ignore this vital tool in conventional warfare. This is especially true in an increasingly unstable strategic environment. The ethical problem is an important one. Unilateral disarmament is a fools errand when likely adversaries wont join in. Since 2016 the Americans have been developing landmines with a self-destruct and self-activation function. These landmines would be rendered harmless after a conflict. There are two approaches to the problem. First one aims to add additional sensors and connect smart mines into wireless networks supervised by a soldier who decides whether to detonate landmines or not. Meanwhile, the second way involves the addition of self-destruct and self-activate mechanisms that activate after a set time or when the battery power is exhausted.

There is still a problem because self-destruct mechanisms are not 100 percent reliable. International agreements allow a 10 percent dud rate. This could be higher due to the delivery method. The landmines are usually scattered by aircraft or artillery at a rate of thousands in a matter of minutes, with little precision. These are similar to cluster munitions, and some landmines might fail to arm or their self-destruct system is damaged. For example, Russia has used smart mines which are still dangerous in Chechnya many years after the conflict. Even more advanced networked minefields pose a serious danger for friendly forces passing through them when in off-mode as did dumb minefields during Gulf War of 1991.
Karina Movsesyan - Getty Images

If you're considering moving abroad, there can be a lot to daydream about and also a lot of practical steps to take to get there. As you think through all these possibilities, it's worth noting that purchasing property in certain countries can lead to residency and/or citizenship.

Citizenship by investment certainly isn't free, but some countries offer cheaper and easier access points than others. Whether you are looking to retired abroad or simply to immerse yourself in a different culture, there are several European countries and Caribbean islands that offer enticing investment programs. On a related note, did you know what some countries will even pay you to move there?



Before buying property abroad, go over these steps to make sure you're set up for success:

Do your research : Begin by reading about countries that fit your financial and personal goals. Be sure you look into residency programs, tax laws, property ownership laws, and what an overall lifestyle looks like there to see if it might be a good match for you.

Visit first : You'll learn the most about an area and if you might to live there by spending time there in person. Consider visiting multiple times at different times of year to get a better ideas of the culture, local vibe, and what living there practically looks like.

Consult the experts : Foreign property purchase isn't a simple transaction, so be sure to talk with real estate agents, immigration lawyers, and tax professionals who can assist you with how to navigate local rules and reduce any surprises further along in the process.

Think long-term: Even after doing all these other things, make sure you think long and hard about a commitment as big as this is and how it might impact your life in the future.

Ready to start that research? To inspire where you might potentially invest, we gathered information on seven countries that will give you citizenship for buying property.





Portugal

Lisbon, Porto, The Algarve, oh my! Portugal has been on a tourism hot streak for over a decade, climbing the ranks for popular countries to visit. Even better news? Their residence by investment program is super well-known. According to Henley & Partners, a global residence by investment firm, for as little as 250,000 in real estate expenditure, you may be able to access their coveted Golden Visa program. (This amount is generally for low-density areas; in tourist hot spots, you can expect to pay more.)

The visa allows for residency where Americans can live, work, and travel freely within the EU. After a five-year waiting period, you can begin the citizenship process. Portugal is attractive for its rich culture, deep history, convenient Western European locale, and great healthcare system, making it a prime target for residence by investment.

Juergen Sack - Getty Images





Antigua and Barbuda

For a dose of the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda can be an ideal pick. This multi island nation offers a Citizenship by Investment program that includes a real estate option. With a minimum investment of $300,000 in property, investors can eventually earn their citizenship.

This beachy locale also boasts a strong passport, with the opportunity for visa-free travel to over 150 countries. Beyond a welcoming, warm climate, advantageous taxes, and a favorable business environment all help Antigua and Barbuda stand out from the residence by real estate crowd.

SeanPavonePhoto - Getty Images





Malta

Another archipelago, Malta is a prime pick for expat property investment. Their Individual Investor Programme (IIP) might be the ideal choice and requires a real estate investment of at least $350,000. Beyond the initial investment, this program generally involves a contribution to the countrys National Development and Social Fund and a commitment to maintaining the property for several years.

Though the citizenship process can take a few years, Malta offers a high standard of living and education along with a prime location in the heart of the Mediterranean. From its golden capital city to its azure waters, its easy to see why this EU nation made our list.

Karina Movsesyan - Getty Images





Turkey

Turkeys Citizenship by Investment Program allows individuals to apply for citizenship after purchasing real estate worth $400,000 or more. This relatively low threshold for investment has made Turkey one of the most popular destinations for those seeking a second passport.

Turkeys unique location bridging Europe and Asia, rich culture, burgeoning food scene, and growing economy make it an extra appealing choice for expats. Also notable: This large Eurasian country has a fairly low cost of living, making it an even more attractive option for those looking to diversify their investments and citizenship.

Jean-Philippe Tournut - Getty Images





Dominica

The Caribbeans best kept secret is the so-called Nature Isle of Dominica. Nope, not the Dominican Republic; Dominica is its own independent nation with a Citizenship by Investment Program that's one of the most affordable in the region.

Although you can opt to contribute to a government fund, investing in real estate is also an option, with a minimum investment requirement of $200,000 in property. In exchange, you gain citizenship and access to visa-free travel to over 140 destinations.

Bob Krist - Getty Images





Greece

Greeces Golden Visa program is one of the most affordable residency-by-investment programs in Europe. For a minimum investment of about 250,000 in real estate, individuals and their families can obtain Greek residency, which offers the freedom to live and work in Greece and travel throughout Europe.

Although this program does not offer immediate citizenship, after seven years of residency (not full time), individuals may apply for citizenship. As long as other benchmarks are met, like a basic understanding of the language, real estate can be a viable road to Greek citizenship.

Francesco Riccardo Iacomino - Getty Images





St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts and Nevis has long been considered a reliable option for individuals seeking citizenship by investment. With a real estate investment of at least $325,000 for a condominium unit or $600,000 for a single family dwelling, investors can apply for citizenship.

The dual-island nation is known for its beautiful beaches, luxurious resorts, and a business-friendly environment that attracts international investors. The program also offers some of the most competitive tax benefits, such as no capital gains tax, no personal income tax, and no inheritance taxes.

tillsonburg - Getty Images

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Longquan: the Dragon Spring, The Convulsions and Wolf Grrrls will be joined by other buzzy titles such as Agrestes at this years Primer Test, an industry centerpiece at the REC Tarragona Film Festivals RECLab in Spain whose seven works in progress capture some ways how newest talent filmmaking is evolving in Spain.

Running parallel to the Festival, which unspools over Dec. 3-8, Primer Test, RECLabs works in progress competition, has proved a testing ground for key recent titles from Spain. After coming to RECLab the producers of 30 Souls found a sales agent and the film was selected for Berlin Panorama. Establiliz Urresolas 20,000 Species of Bees, the Berlin Festival 2023 best performance winner, was the first winner of RECLabs Screening Test, before its Berlin selection. How the film should end was decided after that Screening Test.

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Just how that international interface could play out on this years section remains to be seen, but several titles hit RECLab with notable momentum.

A memorable winner of Locarno Pros Spanish Previews work-in-progress award in August, Longquan: The Dragons Spring weighs in as a hybrid doc-fiction feature marking the feature debut of Catalan Adria Guxens and playing off a powerfully layered performance by lead actor Junyi.

A social drama and coming of age tale shot with a neo-doc realism and sluiced with great music, the juvenile detention-set Wolf Grrrls, from Claudia Estrada Tarascoi, won at the Atlantida-Mallorca Film Lab. the Filmin Prize granted by the upscale Spanish SVOD player.

Another coming of age tale, Agrestes, on which word of mouth is good, marks the first feature of Barbara Farre whose La ultima virgen scooped the Catalan Academys Gaudi Award for Best Fiction Short Film and the top Golden Biznaga at the Malaga Film Festival. It also has sturdy backing, a sign of market potential: A Contracorriente Films will release Agrestes in Spanish theaters; Filmin; 3Cat and Movistar Plus + have pre-bought TV rights.

Primer Tests pix in post are all first fiction features and sometimes the first feature of their producers. Scoring on Friday night Tallinns International Works in Progress Audience Award, David Gutierrez Camps The Convulsions morphs from family drama to what will be taken as symbolic fantasy.

That is itself is a sign of one way the newest Spanish cinema is evolving. The fiction/non-fiction play is still present, as well as the use of non-professional actors, but one of the main growth axes of Spanish cinema is the creation of special atmospheres and an opening up to genre. Our principal intention is to show international visitors the broad diversity of themes and styles which new Catalan and Spanish talent work with, Javier Garcia Puerto, director of Tarragonas REC Festival, told Variety.

RECLab also bears testimony to just how vibrant and still innovative Spains arthouse co-production scene is becoming, driven in by inter-regional, pan-regional alliance, international partners.

Combinations, even on these smaller films, can be intricate and innovative. The Convulsions, for example, is produced by Imy Productions in Toulouse, Montpelliers Bapla Films, Auca Films in Barcelona, Mallorcas Cinetica Produccions Mallorca and Timber Films in Seville, and is backed by Frances Ariege department of Occitanie, between Toulouse and the high Pyrenees and by the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion.

This is the first feature fiction ever co-produced in the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion, with Occitanie, Catalonia, and Balearic Islands production companies and talent. We would love to explore these territorial and cultural bridges far from the standard axis Paris-Madrid, producer Joan Carles Martorell told Variety.

The modern-day Spain of autonomous regions maps out distinctive regions which, if well used, gives us a scenario of almost co-production, leveraging the efforts and resources of each region and enriching projects. Its key for a films solid construction. Companies which manage to tie down an international co-production have taken a giant step forward to reaching the international circuit, which is where RECLab especially collaborates, said Garcia Puerto.

Theres been across-the-board growth in the films coming to RECLab, he argued. In early years, we made space for films which were much more indie, fiction-documentary hybrids. We were part of the Catalan new wave, welcoming first films by Elena Marti, Diana Toucedo, Meritxell Colell, Carla Simon, Liliana Torres, and so on. Little by little, weve diversified in themes and styles, drilling down on Spains deep creative diversity  from the most indie arthouse to creative docs and genre pics. From 2021, weve opened up to co-productions and are visited by talent from other countries.

A closer look at this years titles:

Agrestes, (Barbara Ferre, Spain)

Produced by Mimosa Produce, Sumendi Filmak, Lagrima Films, Kabak Films, Mamma Team.

Atenea, an orphan, is taken in by a family and everything seems to change. For the first time, she imagines herself belonging somewhere. But after the threat of a future that does not include her, she will do the unimaginable in order to stay forevermore. With Agrestes, I wanted to draw near to a moment: Your body shifts, awakens to unfamiliar sensations, but you still lack the language to name them, and you find yourself suspended in that in-between space  no longer a child, not yet a woman, Farre told Variety.

Anxo, (David Hernandez, Spain)

Produced by Adarme Visual, Colectivo Mu.

Anxo, a 58-year-old welder joins a Vigo steelworkers strike. As the days go by, tensions with the police grow and theres no end in sight to the strike. Shot in Galician, produced by a small team with few resources, this is a film mixing documentary and fiction. Its spare script evolved as the film shot and was edited, with a creative freedom encouraging improvisation and experimentation, Hernandez said.

The Convulsions, (Les eclats, David Gutierrez, France, Spain)

Produced by Imy Productions, Bapla Films, Auca Films, Cinetica Produccions, Timber Films

A psychological drama starring Ines Fehner (Midwives). In the Pyrenees, a couple try to live self-sufficiently in terms of food and energy. When one daughter suddenly suffers unexplained fainting spells, their choice is shaken. Then stranger events occur. It starts like a naturalistic tale of a family living in the mountains but evolves to reach a completely different territory, one where a character can magically disappear without leaving no trace, said director Gutierrez.

Longquan: The Dragon Spring, (Longquan: El Manantial del Dragon, Adria Guxens, Spain)

Produced by Pausa Dramatica Films and La Charito Films

In the New Year of the Dragon, Junyi, a young Catalan of Chinese descent, gets a call from his mom in China that his grandmother has suddenly fallen ill and wants to see him. Junyis trip to Longquan in deep China will transform his sense of roots and identity. Providing one of the emotional high points at Locarnos Spanish Previews, the production has been bulwarked recently by a pre-sale to national pubcaster RTVE and an ICAA Spanish film agency grant. With Longquan: The Dragon Spring, we wanted to open a space rarely explored in Spanish cinema: the search for identity of a young Catalan man of Chinese descent, said producer Olga Doganoc.

Mind Control, (Influjo Psiquico, Alejandra Cardona, Spain)

Produced by Zaragozas Milyuna Historias and to receive a market screening at the Zaragoza Film Festival on Nov. 27, doc-feature Mind Control explores the phenomenon of lawfare, the political weaponization of judicial systems, through the the unprecedented case of ex-Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa, convicted for psychic influence. I wanted to expose a Latin American reality still unknown to many: how the law can be turned into an instrument of political persecution. A conviction for mind control feels taken from fiction and echoes that thin line between the real and the impossible that we often associate with magical realism, Cardona told Variety.

Radio Pati, a Truly Meaningful Festival, (Radio Pati, un cicle de concert molt valuos, Pau Bacardit, Spain)

Produced by Debut Films, Vayolet Films.

From Barcelonas Debut, which focuses largely on LGBTQ films, and Vayolet, the label of Cannes Cinef winner Ian de la Rosa (Victor XX), a Veneno writer and director of Ivan & Hadoum, now in post. While Anna (30) receives radiotherapy after undergoing breast cancer surgery, her friend Elies hosts a series of concerts in her courtyard. The initiative captures the public imagination and broadens. In this film we reflect together about family, friendship, illness, and above all, the uncertainty of the future, but we try to do so from one of the things that has united us since we were children: music, said Bacardit.

Wolf Grrrls, (Salen Las Lobas, Claudia Estrada , Spain, Belgium)

Produced by Alba Sotorra SL, Novak Prod, Vampire Films

Luna, a misunderstood teenager is locked up in a juvenile detention center from which she plans to escape with her newfound friends to perform in a trap music contest. Director Estrada was inspired by the real-life case of her own sister. The film explores belonging. We all need to be part of a community that loves you for who we are, ever enterprising producer Sotorra noted at Tallinns International Works in Progress presentations last week.

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When 2-month-old daughter Nara's leg was swollen, Myranda Phillips did what most parents would: She took the infant to Riley Children's Health hospital in Indiana.

"It was warm to the touch," Myranda Phillips told IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network. "She wasn't fussy at all, but I was changing her diaper when I noticed. I was calling and asking other parents we know for advice, and ultimately decided to take her."

She and her husband, Grant Phillips, had no idea that decision would take them on a year-long emotional roller coaster with the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS). They'd be accused of abuse by both medical professionals and DCS case workers. Both of their daughters, who were under the age of three at the time, would be taken away.

The couple vehemently denies the allegations and says it was only after getting a medical diagnosis confirming their children have a genetic disorder that a judge would dismiss the case against the couple.

The parents are now suing DCS case managers and supervisors, along with two child abuse pediatric doctors with IU Health, which oversees Riley Health, in a federal lawsuit for wrongfully accusing them of child abuse.

"There was no proper investigation before they took our children," Grant Phillips told IndyStar. "And it was an uphill battle in getting them back. We did all the services DCS asked to be unified, but they wouldn't do it."

It would be 347 days before both of their girls, Odessa and Nara, were returned to the parents, who missed the multiple milestones of their youngest daughter's first year of life.

Odessa and Nara Phillips.

In a statement to IndyStar, DCS said it can't provide a comment on a current court proceeding involving a child.

"However, Indiana Department of Child Services family case managers are often put in challenging situations and must make difficult life or death decisions about child safety," DCS said in a statement. "We appreciate the complexity of the decisions they must make and support them in keeping Hoosier children safe.

The statement is identical to one provided to IndyStar after a lawsuit was filed in the death of 5-year-old Kinsley Welty. The family in that case alleges DCS failed on multiple occasions to notice her abuse and closed cases involving the girl without a thorough investigation.

IndyStar reached out to Riley Children's Health about the lawsuit, but did not hear back from the hospital.

Nara Phillips was taken to Riley Children's Health

In December 2022 the couple had just spent a few days with family for the holidays. Then, the day after Christmas, Myranda Phillips took Nara to Riley Children's Health over her swollen leg.

Medical staff diagnosed Nara as having fractures in her leg after taking x-rays, according to court documents, which also stated that personnel were concerned that the injuries were the result of abuse.

The lawsuit states that Riley took images of Nara, which showed multiple fractures at different stages of healing in her leg.

Staff contacted DCS, and a case worker came to the hospital to talk to Myranda Phillips. The mother explained that she and her husband had been with family the last few days and didn't know when Nara could've been hurt.

Grant and Myranda Phillips with their two daughters, Odessa and Nara captured in a family photo.

"I told them that she had been around different people since we were around a lot of family for the holidays," Myranda Phillips said. "I wouldn't suspect anyone in our family would harm our kids, but they were around more than just us."

The caseworker then spoke with two child abuse pediatric experts via phone, who the parents say never treated Nara in person.

While on the phone, one of the doctors said Nara had a fractured fibula. The doctor said that the fractures were "highly suspicious" of child abuse, and she had immediate concerns.

But according to the lawsuit, at no point in time did Nara have a fractured fibula.

"The only active break was the tibia, which was causing the symptoms," Grant Phillips said. "Our experts have since said that the others are more likely bony mineralization deposits and radiographic anomalies related to EDS and her iron deficiency. Meaning they misread the X-rays, misinterpreted them."

The child abuse pediatric expert told DCS that Nara had fibula fractures in both legs, according to the lawsuit.

They were later found not to exist, according to Phillips, who said they also stated his daughter had a clavicle fracture and a toe fracture.

"Altogether, they initially diagnosed nine fractures, and by the time we went to court, that number had dropped to four fractures," Phillips said. "With no explanation as to what happened to the other five or why they were removed from her record."

'This was no secret': Family of 5-year-old Kinsleigh Welty files lawsuits against DCS

The Riley Children's Health's Child Protection Program, which is central to the case, is a group of board-certified child abuse pediatricians who are consulted to examine a child to make a medical diagnosis for a bruise or injury. The team told IndyStar back in January that they oversee 6,000 potential cases of child abuse a year from across the state. That number is also spelled out in the lawsuit filed by the couple.

Independent testing by the family's doctors revealed Nara actually had a genetic disorder causing her injuries, the lawsuit says.

Doctors noticed Nara had blue sclera, a condition that causes the white part of her eyes to look blue. Sclera is often associated with disorders that have a predisposition to fragile bones and fractures, like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).

"They did testing on all of us, and we all have it," Myranda Phillips said of the genetic disorder.

While trying to learn about the cause of Nara's injuries, the family says DCS put obstacles in their path.

"We didn't lose our parental rights, although DCS tried to remove our access to medical records," Myranda Phillips said. "We could take her to our doctor, but DCS had to be present."

Grant and Myranda Phillips with their two daughters, Odessa and Nara captured in a family photo.

Indiana Senate bill: Should DCS, schools be able to keep information from parents? Indiana Senate bill says no

If the child abuse pediatric doctor had seen Nara, they would have noticed other signs of EDS, the lawsuit states.

The filed court documents state another child abuse pediatrics doctor examined Nara in January of 2023 and noticed her blue sclera, but didn't inform DCS personnel that the cause could have been genetics, and did not test the baby for EDS.

Instead, the lawsuit alleged that the doctor sent a report to DCS that Nara's injuries were consistent with "non-accidental trauma or inflicted injury," recommending that they take action for Nara's safety.

A fact-finding hearing by the end of 2023 found that DCS failed to prove the girls were abused or neglected, according to the lawsuit, yet DCS continued to keep their children, and substantiate allegations of abuse and neglect against the parents.

Grant and Myranda Phillips with their two daughters, Odessa and Nara captured in a family photo.

"The judge railed against DCS after she dismissed our case," Grant Phillips said. "She told them they were essentially 'grasping at straws.' They admitted during court proceedings that they were not making any efforts to unify our family. There was no accountability for this situation that came completely out of left field for us."

The couple also feels that DCS was "punishing" them for trying to find out the truth of what was going on with Nara.

"It was like DCS didn't want to believe anyone besides the Riley doctors," Grant Phillips said.

The couple feels that someone needs to answer for the actions that led to their children not only being taken away, but kept away.

"It's like they were focused on the potential guilt instead of the safety and well-being of our children," Myranda Phillips said.

Jade Jackson is a public safety reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Couple accused of child abuse suing Indiana DCS and doctors
President Trump Announces 2027 NFL Draft To Be Held On The National Mall (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Democratic Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will not run for a fourth term after overseeing the nations capital for over a decade, the Washington Post first reported Tuesday afternoon.

Bowser, 53, told the outlet the previous night she determined it was time to step aside, saying, weve accomplished what we set out to accomplish, in the heavily Democratic district. The mayors public Tuesday announcement comes on the heels of a turbulent few months in which President Donald Trump declared a public safety emergency, deployed National Guard troops to the city and federally took over the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). (RELATED: How Americas Capital Became Soft-On-Crime Haven)

It had been speculated Bowser would step down, and her absence from the campaign trail now opens up a highly competitive mayors race at a time when mass layoffs of federal employees combined with weakened consumer confidence create economic woes for the district.

Kenyan McDuffie, a Democratic-turned-independent at-large member of the D.C. council, told Axios in October he was considering a run, and his decision hinged on whether Bowser would leap into the race or not.

Janeese Lewis George, a Democratic socialist also serving on the D.C. council representing Ward 4, also confirmed in October she was considering a run.

Bowser did not say if she will end up endorsing a candidate to succeed her, saying D.C. voters will pick the right [candidate].

When asked for comment, a spokesperson for Bowser referred the DCNF to her Tuesday community letter.

For 10 years, you and I have worked together on an ambitious agenda to restore faith in our government and ensure that every DC resident gets the fair shot they deserve, the mayor wrote in her letter. To keep that promise we took big swings: keeping DC teams in DC, raising enrollment and graduation rates in our schools, and investing more money per capita in affordable housing than any other city or state.

Now, looking to the future, I know weve laid the groundwork for others to build upon, to reshape and grow DCs economy, establish DC as the 51st state, and protect our investments in affordable housing, transportation, public safety, and public schools, she added in her letter. And to build a world-class stadium, housing, recreation, and parks at RFK [Stadium].

Together, you and I have built a legacy of success of which I am intensely proud. My term will end on January 2, 2027, but until then, lets run through the tape and keep winning for DC, Bowsers letter concluded.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
Haley Nicole Hawkins, sister of Caden Hawkins, 23-year-old East Texan imprisoned in Mexico. His family is asking for help to have him released. With permission

(The Center Square)  Texas state Rep. Jay Dean, R-Longview, is calling on President Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn and others to demand that Mexican authorities release an East Texan languishing in a Mexican prison.

One of Dean's constituents, 23-year-old Caden Hawkins of Hallsville, was arrested by Mexican authorities after getting lost and crossing into Mexico just south of the New Mexico border. He is currently being held as a cash asset for a corrupt federal judge in Juarez, Mexico, Dean told The Center Square in an exclusive interview.

Cadens family members are true salt of the earth conservatives. They thought they could follow a legal process and relied on crooked attorneys they hired in Mexico to help Caden and have been milked ever since, Dean said. Were at a point in time where its going to take the highest level of government to make the Mexican government do the right thing and release this young man.

I want this kid home by Christmastime to be home with his family, he said.

Cadens family initially paid Mexican attorneys $25,000 to represent him and in April they didnt show up to his hearing, Dean told The Center Square. His family has been extorted for months, forced to pay more than $1,000 a week just for Caden to have hot water, toilet paper and 15-minute phone call home, he said. Crooked Mexican authorities are in no hurry to have a hearing scheduled, he said. A new attorney the family hired from Houston hasnt been effective, he added.

On March 2, Caden was driving 17 hours from a job site in Tempe, Arizona, to east Texas when his GPS redirected him south off of I-10 to Columbus, New Mexico. If he had kept going straight through Deming, he would have arrived in El Paso in an hour and a half. Instead, he drove south into Puerto Palomas de Villa, Mexico. The area is famous because of a 1916 attack by Mexican general Francisco Pancho Villa, which prompted the U.S. to send 10,000 troops there during the Mexican Expedition.

It's also famous because Mexican cartels control an illicit human and drug smuggling operation in the region where illegal entries increased after Texas border security efforts ramped up under Abbott, The Center Square reported.

Caden has overcome much in his life, including a traumatic brain injury from working in the oil fields, his family says. He chose to reenter the workforce rather than live off of government benefits, Dean explained. Extremely confused, disoriented and afraid, he found himself surrounded by seven Mexican Federales. They searched his truck, found 10 .308 cartridges he and his dad use for hog hunting and a loaded pistol, Dean said. He was arrested and remains in a prison in Juarez.

Jaurez is located in the Mexican state of Chihuahua whose governor, Maria Eugenia Campos Galvan, signed a memorandum of understanding with Abbott during the height of the border crisis in April 2022, The Center Square reported. Dean is hoping Abbott can use this relationship to help get Caden home.

Dean says the family sent Cadens firearms paperwork to his attorneys in Mexico to prove they were legally purchased in the U.S. They were unaware that noncitizens are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition in Mexico.

Only Mexican citizens can own small caliber handguns and only after they undergo a criminal background check, psychiatric test and complete a firearms course, according to the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA). They can only purchase firearms through SEDENA at one location in Mexico City, The Center Square reported.

Caden is not the first American to accidentally enter Mexico with firearms and be imprisoned. In March 2013, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Andrew Tahmooressi found himself in a similar situation. Tahmooressi, who served two combat tours in Afghanistan and had PTSD from his service, left San Diego and got turned around and accidentally entered Tijuana, Mexico, Sinaloa Cartel territory.

Mexican authorities found 400 rounds of ammunition and three loaded guns in his pickup truck that were all legally purchased in the U.S. (a .45 caliber handgun, 12-gauge shotgun and AR-15 style rifle). He was immediately arrested and imprisoned in Tijuana's La Mesa Prison. He was later moved to El Hongo Prison, in Tecate, where he unsuccessfully tried to escape.

At the time, CEO of Concerned Veterans for America Pete Hegseth, who is now the Secretary of War, called on Congress to act. Hegseth also expressed concerns about his deteriorating mental and physical condition. Congressional hearings followed and a group of bipartisan members of Congress and others demanded his release, which ultimately happened in October 2014, 214 days after his arrest.

On Dec. 2, Caden will have been imprisoned for 40 weeks, or 280 days, two months longer than Tahmooressi was.

He is a son, a brother, the best bubba ever to his nephew, a fiance, a grandson. He is our world. We want him home with us, his mother, April Thomas, said. Caden is the type of person that would help anyone out and he has done it many times. He is not a criminal and doesnt even have a criminal history. He is a good person and trusted his GPS. This has been our living hell for 9 months, 9 months too long.
The FBI is seeking to schedule interviews with the six Democratic lawmakers who, in a controversial video posted last week, urged service members and intelligence officials to disobey illegal orders.

The six  Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, and Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, Chris Deluzio, Jason Crow and Maggie Goodlander  were quickly attacked on Truth Social by President Donald Trump, who called them traitors and suggested they engaged in SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!

The FBI first reached out to the US Capitol Police about contacting the six offices, who directed the agency to the Senate and House sergeant-at-arms, who act as the chief law enforcement and protocol officers for each side of the Capitol, one law enforcement official told CNN. The lawmakers confirmed the contact in a joint statement condemning the move.

It marks an escalation from the Trump administration, which has painted the illegal orders video as a dangerous undermining of the presidents authority as commander in chief and vowed to take it seriously. The Democrats, meanwhile, have argued they were simply restating the law.

The lawmakers, in their joint statement, accused Trump of using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress.

We swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship, they said.

Elissa Slotkin, Mark Kelly, Chrissy Houlahan, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander and Jason Crow. - Getty Images/AP

Earlier this week, the Pentagon announced it will investigate Kelly, a retired US Navy Captain, for misconduct, and warned it may even recall him to active duty to face a court martial or administrative punishment for his part in the video.

The video made by the Seditious Six was despicable, reckless, and false. Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of good order and discipline. Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion  which only puts our warriors in danger, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said after news of the investigation.

For his part, Kelly said he would not be intimidated. Senator Kelly wont be silenced by President Trump and Secretary Hegseths attempt to intimidate him and keep him from doing his job as a U.S. Senator, his spokesperson told CNN on Tuesday.

Although the video released by the Democratic lawmakers didnt reference what orders service members might be receiving that would potentially be illegal, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have raised concerns repeatedly about the legality of US military strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and the US militarys deployment to cities over the protest of governors.

Service members are required to follow only lawful orders in accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Following an order that might violate the law could open service members up to prosecution, as legal precedent holds that receiving an order alone isnt a defense, colloquially known as the Nuremberg defense as it was deployed by senior members of Adolph Hitlers leadership team during legal proceedings after World War II.

CNNs Ellis Kim, Arlette Saenz, Natasha Bertrand and Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.

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Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) backed U.S. military intervention in Venezuela on Monday, arguing President Nicolas Maduro knows the U.S. is about to go in, resulting in a field day for American oil companies.

Salazar called Maduro the head of a terrorist organization on Fox Business the same day that the Trump administration designated Venezuelas Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist group. This puts Maduro right in the crosshairs  we can take him out and extradite him, she said.

So now that he has understood that hes on that very nefarious list of the terrorist organization, that the airspace above Venezuela has been closed off, and the commercial airlines from the United States are not flying, hes understanding that were about to go in, she told Fox host David Asman.

He understands that he is  he has been our enemy for the last 25 years, Salazar continued. Venezuela, for those Americans who do not understand why we need to go in, for three  basically, for three reasons.

The first reason, Salazar said, was that Venezuelas oil production would offer a field day for U.S. oil companies.

American companies can go in and fix all the oil pipe  the whole oil rigs and everything that has to do with the Venezuelan petroleum companies, or everything that has to do with oil and the derivatives, Salazar said.

She next said Venezuela has been a launching pad for Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, Cuba and other countries and terrorist groups that want to do harm to us and our young Americans. Thirdly, Salazar claimed Maduro was the leader of the Cartel de los Soles.

Asked what will happen if the Venezuelan people do not back regime change, she said the countrys people, including its military, do not support Maduro.

We know, maybe the top echelon of the military forces in Venezuela may be with Maduro, and theyre going to flee with him, she said. But the middle and lower ranks are with the opposition. This is going to be very similar to Panama.

Salazar, a former journalist who has denounced various Latin American leaders including Cubas former President Fidel Castro before his death, is a frequent critic of Maduros presidency and has repeatedly called for his ousting on social media.

Her interview comes as tensions escalate between the U.S. and Venezuela; Mondays announcement on the Cartel de los Soles will give the White House wider authority to impose sanctions and crack down on Maduros assets.

The Trump administration has accumulated a large military presence in the Caribbean, with airstrikes attacking alleged narco-terrorists on drug smuggling boats. Since September, more than 80 people have been killed in the strikes. The administration has said these strikes have been conducted to prevent drugs from reaching American shores.

But as tensions ramp up, most Americans say they do not want to see military action in Venezuela. A recent CBS News/YouGov shows that 70 percent said they were against the U.S. taking military action in Venezuela, while 30 percent said they were for it.

The Federal Aviation Administration also recently advised pilots to exercise caution when flying near Venezuela due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in and around the country.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., is in his first term as a senator after having served eight years as governor. (Andrew Harnik / Getty Images)

Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., agreed Monday to pay more than $5 million in back taxes after the Justice Department sued him over unpaid funds from more than 15 years ago.

The suit, filed Monday in the Southern District of West Virginia, said Justice and his wife had been contacted by the Treasury Department and were given notice of their 2009 debt but have neglected or refused to make full payment of those assessments to the United States.

The suit asked that the former billionaire and his wife pay the amount owed and any relief the court deems just and proper.

A filing later Monday said the Justice Department and the Justices had settled, with the couple agreeing to pay the full amount owed. A judge still needs to sign off on the agreement.

Justice's congressional office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday night.

Bloomberg Law first reported the lawsuit.

The IRS last month filed liens against Justice and his wife of more than $8 million on unpaid taxes dating to 2009. Separately, a judge last year ordered six of Justices family companies to be sold to satisfy outstanding debt.

Justices family owns the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, which narrowly avoided foreclosure last year after the family settled debts.

Speaking with local media in October, Justice said that his companies are complicated and complex and that his children are doing a magnificent job running them, while alleging that collection efforts against him are politically motivated, The Associated Press reported at the time.

Justice has been a senator since January, when he succeeded Joe Manchin, a Democrat. He was governor from 2017 to 2025. Before he was governor, he was known as the heir to the West Virginia coal company Bluestone.

Justice defeated his Democratic opponent last year by more than 40 percentage points, a margin similar to President Donald Trumps victory in the state that year.
Republican Lawmakers Work To Pass Trump's "One, Big, Beautiful Bill" On Capitol Hill (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Republican West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice and his wife Cathy Justice agreed to pay more than $5 million in unpaid income taxes stretching back to 2009, per the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The agreement was inked hours after attorneys for the Department of Justices (DOJ) Tax Division filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia for $5,164,739.75, according to Monday court filings. The debt Justice and his wife owe consists of federal income taxes, penalties, interest and statutory additions that have accrued from the 2009 tax period. (RELATED: They Think Its A Joke: Jim Justice Tears Into MSNBC Hosts Who Mocked Voters Concerned About Border)

WASHINGTON, DC  MARCH 04: Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) attends U.S. President Donald Trumps address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

All parties agreed to a joint motion which stated the full amount must be paid in addition to statutory interest, but failed to specify when the payments must be completed. The motion still needs a judges approval.

Despite having been sued by the Trump administrations DOJ, Justice is widely seen as a staunch political ally of President Donald Trump. The president won West Virginia by over 40 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.

Sen. Justices office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundations request for comment.

Justice, 74, inherited a coal mining business from his father and acquired a historic mountain resort before entering politics. He won election as West Virginia governor as a Democrat in 2016 before switching his party the following year. After serving two terms, he won the 2024 election in a landslide to replace longtime Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Joe Manchin in the U.S. Senate.

The Justices have been dogged by debt since at least 2016, according to the Washington Post. Unpaid bills and taxes as well as fines to coal suppliers and regulators began to build up, leading Forbes to estimate in January that the senators liabilities exceeded his assets. Also, the West Virginia Tax Division in August and September filed tax claims of over $1.3 million against the resort and sporting companies Justice owns.

The IRS last month filed notices of tax lien against Justice and his wife, stating they owed over $8 million, according to Politico. Justice appeared to wave off the debt, claiming at an October news briefing that the IRSs claims were more of a political move and its a scenario big companies deal with all the time.

At the end of the day, Justice said, Id say just let it be and see how it all plays out.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
Yellow police tape marks off a crime scene. Photo: kat wilcox / Pexels

Migrant youth allegedly murdered homeless Chicago man

Three juvenile Venezuelan migrants are part of a group that allegedly attacked, murdered, and robbed a homeless man in downtown Chicago early Sunday, according to prosecutors and a Chicago police report.

CWB Chicago reports that a 16-year-old boy and two 14-year-old boy are facing charges in connection with the fatal stabbing and robbery.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the victim remained unidentified.

Maternal mortality numbers update

According to the latest Maternal Mortality Data Report from the Illinois Department of Public Health, substance use disorders remain the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in Illinois.

The report said 116 women died while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy in 2021 and 103 women died during the same time frames in 2022.

IDPH said 43% of pregnancy-associated deaths were due to pregnancy-related causes.

Food safety guidelines

The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued food safety and hygiene reminders for Thanksgiving.

The recommendations include washing hands and utensils, separating raw meat from foods that wont be cooked, using a food thermometer and refrigerating food within two hours of serving.
Jared Kushner and Marco Rubio

The original 28-point plan for peace in Ukraine was drafted by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner after secret meetings with a Kremlin insider in Miami  and Secretary of State Marco Rubio only learned the full scope of the proposal once it was leaked, according to a report.

The plan, which has since been revised to 19 points, initially demanded Ukraine make heavy concessions  including giving up territory in the east, capping the size of its military and agreeing to never join NATO  while asking Russia to barely give up anything.

Kushner was fresh off of negotiating a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas when he was called upon to work on peace between Ukraine and Russia. Getty Images

Witkoff and Kushner started working on the document in October, after Trump tasked administration officials with hatching a plan to end the bloodiest fighting in Europe since World War II in the wake of brokering a peace deal in Gaza, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

The pair held secret meetings and dinners in Miami with Kirill Dmitriev, a financier and close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, while working out the details of the peace plan, according to the outlet.

They brought him to Miami the weekend before Halloween for what would be three days of intensive discussions over dinner and extended conversation at Witkoffs home, US officials and people familiar with the matter told the Journal.

Dmitriev demanded the controversial points on NATO membership and Ukrainian territorial concessions be included.

He also pushed for the Ukrainian troop cap and economic agreements between Washington and Moscow.

The Wall Street Journal noted that Witkoff, Kushner and Dmitriev had similar views on what the plan should look like.

The special envoy determined that the plan should be weighted more toward Moscows goals after concluding that Ukraine was in a weaker position than Russia, through discussions with US and foreign officials and reading intelligence reports.

The plan, with terms favorable for Moscow, shocked supporters of the Ukrainian war effort, including congressional lawmakers, when it leaked last week.

US officials, however, argued that it reflected a good-faith attempt by Witkoff and Kushner to gain the support of Putin without completely abandoning Ukraine.

Kushner and Witkoff dined with a top Putin ally in Miami has they drafted the Ukraine peace proposal. littleny  stock.adobe.com

Witkoff and Kushner held at least two phone calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as they drafted the document, officials said.

Ukraines national security adviser, Rustem Umerov, was also invited to Miami and bluntly told Witkoff and Kushner that the plan was better for Moscow than Kyiv.

The majority of the provision had been crafted prior to the meetings with the Ukrainian and Russian envoys, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Rubio was reportedly unaware of the full scope of the plan Witkoff and Kushner had been drafting. Xinhua/Shutterstock

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who spoke with concerned lawmakers and flew to Geneva over the weekend to make changes to the blueprint, was aware of the Witkoff-Kushner effort but didnt know the full scope of the draft plan until Nov. 18  the same day Axios reported that the Trump administration was secretly drafting new plan to end Ukraine war.

Rubio was reportedly handed a copy of the plan at the White House, during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans visit to Washington last week.

The latest version of the peace plan has been trimmed down to 19 points and is more palatable to Kyiv.

The controversial planks forcing Ukraine to give up territory in the Donbas and abandon its NATO membership ambitions have been removed, The Post previously reported.

On Sunday, Rubio referred to the initial proposal as a living, breathing document that has evolved.

The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to The Posts requests for comment.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gestures as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his speech during their visit to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington at the U.S. Navy's Yokosuka base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

TOKYO (AP)  Japans Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who recently triggered Chinas fury with a comment suggesting a Chinese move against Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response, said Tuesday that she received a call from U.S. President Donald Trump right after he spoke with Chinas leader.

Takaichi, a hard-line conservative, said Trump expressed his friendship to her in a call he made to her Tuesday after a phone conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

President Trump told me that he and I are extremely good friends and that I should call him any time, Takaichi said in brief remarks made to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo. Takaichi, however, did not say whether they discussed her Taiwan comment.

The White House on Tuesday confirmed the phone call but provided no detail.

Only weeks into her job as Japan's first female prime minister, Takaichi infuriated China by suggesting Japan could respond militarily if China were to try to seize control of Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing says must come under its rule.

The remark earlier this month broke with Japan's longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity. Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a survival-threatening situation for Japan requiring the use of force.

China responded with anger and by putting economic pressure on Japan. On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Takaichi crossed a red line. He said China would resolutely respond to Japans actions and that all countries have the responsibility to prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism.

Takaichi said Trump briefed her on his overnight phone call with China's Xi and the current state of U.S.-China relations. She said that she and Trump also discussed strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance and development and challenges that the Indo-Pacific region is faced with."

We confirmed the close coordination between Japan and the United States," she said.

She declined, however, to give any other details of her talks with Trump, citing diplomatic protocol.

Japan has sought to deescalate the spat with China, but Beijing has shown no signs of easing its fury and has canceled official meetings and private exchanges and advised its citizens against travel to Japan.

Japan has resisted China's demand that Takaichi retract the comment, repeating that its support for a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan Strait issue is unchanged.

The U.S. has taken no side on the sovereignty of the self-governed island but is opposed to the use of force to seize Taiwan. Trump has maintained strategic ambiguity about whether U.S. troops would be sent in case of a war in the Taiwan Strait.

Trump said nothing publicly about Taiwan, whereas a Chinese statement said Trump told Xi that the U.S. understands how important the Taiwan question is to China.

The dispute between the East Asian neighbors has spilled over to the international arena as Beijing has taken the spat with Japan to the United Nations, with both sides calling each other's accusations erroneous.
President Trump Takes Part In Swearing In Of US Ambassador To India (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Vice President J.D. Vance condemned establishment Republicans on Monday for appearing to care more about supporting foreign countries over addressing the needs of Americans.

Many establishment Republicans, including South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, have strongly opposed President Donald Trumps 28-point plan to end the war in Ukraine, claiming it would hurt the region. Vance shamed the establishment for their level of passion for Ukraine over addressing affordability and the illegal immigration crisis, as well as crime.

After four years of house prices doubling (and in some areas, tripling) many young people feel priced out of the American Dream of homeownership, Vance began. A welfare fraud scandal in Minnesota reveals that large numbers of new arrivals arent assimilating and are funneling our tax dollars to literal terrorist groups. An innocent woman was set on fire in Chicago as the mayor resists federal law enforcement resources to bring peace to one of our great cities. The Obamacare insurance system is buckling under its own weight. And the country is $38 trillion in debt.

The vice president then accused many of the beltway Republicans of being angry with the administration over their efforts to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. (RELATED: CNNs Harry Enten Says Trumps Approval On Foreign Policy Has Skyrocketed)

But you know what really fires up the beltway GOP? Not any of the above. Instead, the political class is really angry that the Trump administration may finally bring a four year conflict in Eastern Europe to a close  But the level of passion over this one issue when your own country has serious problems is bonkers. It disgusts me. Show some passion for your own country, Vance continued.

Trump stated on Monday that something good could be on the horizon in the Ukraine peace talk deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been presented with a 28-point plan put forth by the Trump administration that could bring an end to the war.

Some Republicans have publicly advised Ukraine to reject the plan put forth by Trump, including Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, who said on ABCs This Week on Sunday that Zelenskyy should not sign onto the deal unless more ironclad security guarantees are agreed upon. Along with Graham and McConnell, Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi also claimed the deal would be detrimental for Ukraine.

This so-called peace plan has real problems, and I am highly skeptical it will achieve peace. Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to one of the worlds most flagrant war criminals in Vladimir Putin. The size and disposition of Ukraines armed forces is a sovereign choice for its government and people. And any assurances provided to Putin should not reward his malign behavior or undermine the security of the United States or allies, Wicker said.

While many Republicans are raging about the peace deal, Vance pointed to the Somalian population in Minnesota who funneled state welfare money to the Islamic terrorist organization Al-Shabaab. He also mentioned the assault on Bethany MaGee, a 26-year-old train rider in Chicago who was set on fire by Lawrence Reed, who had 72 prior arrests.

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Bleeker Street Josh O'Connor and Lily LaTorre in 'Rebuilding'

NEED TO KNOW

Josh OConnor speaks to PEOPLE about his new movie Rebuilding, from filmmaker Max Walker-Silverman

He plays a divorced father and cowboy in the aftermath of Colorado wildfires destroying his ranch

That understanding that community is essential, is necessary, was something that I really learned from him, says OConnor of his character

Josh OConnor is always rebuilding himself after playing other people.

Very often it's like with characters, there's a sense that as an actor, you learn stuff from the roles you play, the British star, 35, tells PEOPLE exclusively. They have an impact on your own life.

Nowhere was that more true than with Rebuilding (in theaters now), in which OConnor plays Dusty, a cowboy coping with the aftermath of a wildfire destroying his Colorado ranch. Like many real-life survivors of fires, he moves to a FEMA camp, connecting with a community that includes his daughter (played by Lily LaTorre), ex-wife (Meghann Fahy), ex-mother-in-law (Amy Madigan) and itinerant neighbors (including Kali Reis, Binky Griptite and more).

That understanding that community is essential, is necessary, was something that I really learned from him, says the Challengers star of Dusty.

Bleeker Street Josh O'Connor in 'Rebuilding'

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Max Walker-Silverman, writer and director of Rebuilding, drew inspiration from his own upbringing in rural Colorado. Although the indie deals with life after the wildfires, says OConnor, he did plenty of research to immerse himself in the character, working with local ranchers and drawing from his previous experience playing a farmer in breakout Gods Own Country.

And while Dusty isnt based on a real person or influenced by a real person, it wasnt until after OConnor saw Rebuilding that he realized who hed been channeling. There are elements of Max Walker-Silverman in Dusty. And I think that happened accidentally, admits the Emmy winner. It was only when I saw it, I was like, Wait a minute!

Arturo Holmes/WireImage Josh O'Connor at the New York premiere of 'The History Of Sound' on Sept. 2

Dustys journey, he adds, is not unlike Dorothys in The Wizard of Oz. The answer for Dusty is all around him from the beginning. His arc, drawing strength from an unlikely community, is about allowing him the space and the time to realize what he's got.

OConnor has had a busy fall with the back-to-back releases of The History of Sound, The Mastermind and Rebuilding. Hell next co-lead Rian Johnsons upcoming Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (in select theaters Nov. 26 and streaming on Netflix Dec. 12) with Daniel Craig.

Following its 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere, Rebuilding is in theaters now.



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Steam rises from storage tanks at an oil refinery facility. Photo: Brett Sayles / Pexels

(The Center Square) - Louisiana regulators have reissued a permit on a liquefied natural gas plant in Cameron Parish after a court ruled that a previous environmental study had failed to adequately assess the projects impacts on local ecosystems.

In October, Judge Penelope Richard of the 38th Judicial District Court in Cameron Parish vacated a coastal use permit issued on the Commonwealth LNG export facility, which would be located on a 393-acre site less than a mile from the entrance to the Gulf on the west side of the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

The judge ruled on Oct. 23 that state authorities failed to adequately consider the projects secondary and cumulative environmental effects, specifically the impact on climate-related change in the coastal zone. Other large-scale export facilities located along the Calcasieu Ship Channel include Calcasieu LNG and Cameron LNG, and two more are under construction.

In an 86-page Revised Basis of Decision issued on Nov. 18, Office of Coastal Management staff wrote that the agency did not agree with the court's judgment but also noted the agency had revised and updated the environmental analysis of the project before reissuing the permit. State officials determined the benefits of this project outweigh the costs to the community.

Office of Coastal Management, an agency responsible for implementing the Louisiana Coastal Resources Program and regulating development activities within the state's coastal zone, first issued a permit on the Commonwealth LNG project in July 2024.

A permit decision was made only after a full and fair consideration of all the information, including balancing social, environmental, and economic factors. Therefore, OCM recommends issuance of this Coastal Use Permit with project specific conditions to bring the activity into full conformance with the Guidelines, staff wrote in the revised basis of decision.

The Department of Conservation and Energy, which includes the Office of Coastal Management, declined to comment when contacted by The Center Square.

In 2022 and 2023, when the project was initially reviewed, the Office of Coastal Management said it received and considered approximately 770 comments on it. Of those, 709 were made by private citizens opposed to the project, seven were made by federal agencies, and 26 were provided by state and local agencies, agency staff wrote.

Most comments focused on the consideration of alternative sites, the projects social and economic benefits, the beneficial use of material dredged at the site, evaluations of dredged materials and the floodwall/storm surge wall, agency staff wrote in in the revised basis of decision.

The Office of Coastal Management determined that Commonwealth's developer, Kimmeridge, met permit requirements through mitigation efforts that included specific conditions such as seasonal restrictions on habitat clearing, monitoring of hydrology and enhanced habitat planting.

Without conceding the correctness of the trial court judgment, nor in anyway limiting the OCMs rights to challenge the trial courts conclusion, and reserving all possible defenses and legal arguments in this matter and others, OCM determines that it being in the best interest of the State to not delay this matter further does here provide additional consideration of the record to specifically analyze the facilitys impact on climate-related change in the coastal zone, if any, in conjunction with the other LNG facilities in the area, as well as environmental justice issues., Office of Coastal Management staff wrote in the revised basis of decision.

The projects potential effects on commercial fishing in the Calcasieu River, Calcasieu Ship Channel, Calcasieu Lake and within the Gulf were addressed in comments made by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, which found no adverse impacts on habitat, staff wrote. The Office of Coastal Management concluded the project will have temporary but minor impacts on commercial fisheries.

All comments were given a full and fair consideration by OCM, the Office said in the decision. Furthermore, all comments were sufficiently discussed and addressed in the Review Process and Coastal Use Guidelines Analysis."

In performing a balanced review, the social and economic benefits to the public must outweigh the environmental impacts, Office of Coastal Management staff wrote. In this case, the proposed project will provide direct economic benefits to communities in Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes and the State of Louisiana."

Anne Rolfes, director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, which had called for the permit to be revoked, said the revised decision is a rubber stamp that puts corporations ahead of people.

The comments about the fishermen is a good example of how the agency is just not being serious in its approach, Rolfes said. Why don't they talk to the fishermen? If you spend 10 minutes with fishermen in Cameron, they will tell you that the gas export industry has decimated their business, and that adding Commonwealth LNG would make it worse."
Monterey County Sheriff's Office Facebook Rescue teams search for the missing man at Garrapata State Park in Monterey County, Calif.

NEED TO KNOW

A 35-year-old man remains missing after he was swept into the ocean at a California beach on Nov. 22

He has been identified by authorities as U.S. Army Spc. Amanpreet Thind of New Jersey

Just eight days before he disappeared, a father and his young daughter died after they were pulled into the water at the same beach

A missing man identified as a U.S. Army soldier was swept away at the same California beach where a father and his 7-year-old daughter were pulled from over a week earlier, authorities said.

On Monday, Nov. 24, officials revealed that the missing man is Amanpreet Thind, a U.S. Army Specialist from New Jersey, who first disappeared three days prior at Garrapata State Park in Monterey County. Thind is a student at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, the Monterey County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

As search and recovery operations continue, we hold out hope that Spc. Thind will be found, Col. Christy L. Whitfield, commandant at the institute, said in a statement.

We offer our deepest condolences to the Thind family during this difficult time, Whitfield continued. We are providing those impacted with every resource and support service available and extend our heartfelt gratitude to local, state, and national first responders working tirelessly to locate Spc. Thind.

The Monterey County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further comment.

On Nov. 22, around 3 p.m. local time, authorities said they received reports that a man, later identified as Thind, and two women had been swept from the rocks into the ocean at Soberanes Point. The unidentified women who were caught in the surf were able to self-rescue, and have since been released from the hospital with minor injuries, officials said. But Thind still hasnt been found.

After he was pulled into the Pacific Ocean, a multi-agency search involving helicopters and vessels was launched. By 4:24 p.m. local time, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter found what appeared to be a body in the water, but the dangerous surf conditions resulted in lost visual contact.

Search and rescue teams were not able to relocate the missing man, who was wearing a white turban and a black shirt, shorts and vest. Teams searched for Thing until 7:00 p.m. that evening, but had to stop because of the dark and bad conditions, authorities said.

The search began again on Sunday, Nov. 23, but strong winds and hazardous conditions impacted the operation, including divers looking for Thind under the water. Teams were out again on Monday morning, but by the afternoon, the water conditions were too dangerous to enter, the sheriffs office said.

Getty Garrapata State Park in California.

Conditions appear favorable for Wednesday, and a water search may begin depending on those conditions, authorities continued on Monday. Local officials urge the public not to enter the Soberanes Point area as the search is ongoing. A beach hazard warning remained in effect until late that night, and authorities said that rip currents and sneaker waves with breaks of 13 to 18 feet were possible.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Monterey County Sheriff's Office Facebook First responders have looked for the missing man since Saturday, Nov. 22.

The extreme conditions proved deadly just over a week ago, when a 7-year-old girl and her dad were swept into the ocean by 15-to-20-foot waves at Garrapata State Park. They both died, authorities said.

The public is asked to stay off rocks and back from the water's edge, the sheriffs office wrote. Ocean waves are unpredictable and pose a safety hazard to the public.



Read the original article on People
Illustration by Leah Abucayan/CNN/Getty

In the heart of Houston and its surrounding areas, the residents of Texas 18th Congressional District had long counted on one person to fight for them in Washington.

Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee represented the district for more than 30 years and set a precedent as a strong voice for Black Americans and someone intimately involved in the community and its issues.

Its a stark change from what the district has in representation now: No one.

Jackson Lees death in July 2024 set off a saga thats left roughly 800,000 people without a consistent voice in the US House ever since. The story involves different tides of national politics crashing into each other: the long-running Democratic debate over the age and health of the partys officeholders, the Republican imperative to protect a razor-thin House majority and a redistricting fight thats pitting candidates of the same party against each other.

By the time of a January 31 runoff election to fill the seat, the district will have been without a representative for 13 of the preceding 18 months. And the winner of that runoff could lose in a primary five weeks later.

The congressional 18th is being used like a pawn in a game, said Joetta Stevenson, the president of the Greater Fifth Ward super neighborhood.

We are historically an African American community. We have a huge population of Hispanics in this community. We have people in need, and without the federal representation, we are all going to suffer because of that, Stevenson said.

One by one, important votes in the House like the one that passed President Donald Trumps sweeping domestic agenda bill in July have gone by without a say from Texas 18th District, where there are more than 150,000 people enrolled in Medicaid and about 293,000 households receiving SNAP, or food stamp benefits. Both programs saw significant changes and cuts with the passage of the bill.

Having Sheila Jackson Lee as our representative all these years, I think we were spoiled, spoiled rotten, says Ken Rodgers, a Houston-area activist and president of the greater Third Ward super neighborhood. There were things that kind of got to my ear and on my table for concern and she was already on it, already doing it.

How did it come to this?

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee waits for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to arrive for a bill enrollment signing ceremony for the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on Capitol Hill, on June 17, 2021. - Joshua Roberts/Getty Images/File

July 2024: Jackson Lee dies

In June 2024, Jackson Lee announced she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The 74-year-old acknowledged she would be occasionally absent from Congress and admitted that the road ahead will not be easy.

I stand in faith that God will strengthen me, she said.

Just over a month later, Jackson Lee died. Up until that point, the district had not been without representation in 35 years, when former Democratic Rep. Mickey Leland died in a plane crash on a relief mission in Ethiopia and the seat was vacant for four months.

November 2024: Sylvester Turner is elected

Erica Lee Carter, Jackson Lees daughter, won the special election that November to serve out the remainder of her mothers term in Congress, which ended on January 3, 2025.

That same election night, Sylvester Turner, the former Houston mayor who also served 27 years as a state representative, won a separate vote to serve the next full term starting in January. He became the Democratic nominee by a narrow vote of party leaders in Harris County because Jackson Lee died within too tight a window to hold another primary.

Rep.-elect Sylvester Turner poses for a photograph after joining other congressional freshmen of the 119th Congress for a group photograph on the steps of the House of Representatives at the US Capitol on November 15, 2024. - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Turner had revealed in November 2022 that he had undergone treatment for bone cancer.

Bill Pesota, a retired attorney and a Harris County Democratic precinct chair, says he argued against Turner to other county Democrats.

I tried reasoning with the chairs who supported Sylvester Turner to say, look, you know, we just had one elderly cancer patient in office pass away. Do we really want to put another one there? And by a very slim majority, my side lost, Pesota said.

March 2025: Turner dies

Turner took office in January 2025.

He attended his first presidential joint address on the evening of March 4, just hours after the 70-year-old congressman apparently suffered a medical emergency in the basement of a Capitol office building earlier that day, according to NBC News. At the speech, he sat with his fellow Democrats and his guest of the night, a mother from Houston reliant on Medicaid for her daughters rare genetic disorder.

It was a shock to both his House colleagues and his constituents, then, when it was announced that Turner had passed away on the morning of March 5. It had only been 61 days since he had taken office.

Pesota rues having lost the vote to make Turner the nominee.

If that vote had gone the other way, if just two people had changed their votes  we would have a representative in Washington right now, he told CNN.

April 2025: Texas governor sets a special election seven months away

A month after Turners death, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott set the special primary election to fill the seat for November 4. The decision to wait seven months was widely panned by Democrats, some of whom accused the governor of delaying the election to help House Republicans.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a bill signing in the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on April 23, 2025. - Brandon Bell/Getty Images

House Republicans have a tiny majority. Each seat is important enough that another special election in Arizona  won by Rep. Adelita Grijalva to replace her father, the late Rep. Raul Grijalva  took on national importance because she provided the final signature on a discharge petition to force the successful vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files.

CNN reached out to the governors office for comment on why the elections were not scheduled sooner. Abbott has previously said the delay was to allow Harris County adequate time to operate a fair and accurate election, calling the countys ability to do so a repeat failure. Republicans have long accused the Democrat-led county of mishandling elections, allegations Harris County officials strongly deny.

November 2025: A special election leads to a January 2026 runoff and absolute confusion

The top two vote-getters on November 4 were former Houston City councilmember Amanda Edwards, who narrowly lost out on the 2024 party nomination to Turner, and Harris County attorney Christian Menefee. They advanced to a runoff that Abbott set on January 31.

Christian Menefee, left, and Amanda Edwards, during their respective election night watch parties for the open seat in the 18th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives, on November 4, 2025. - Getty Images

But things have gotten even more complicated.

In August, Abbott and Texas state House Republicans kicked off what ended up being the first domino in a nationwide mid-decade redistricting effort. Abbott eventually signed into law a new map that aimed to give Republicans at least five more House seats in 2026. The 18th District was made even more Democratic and absorbed much of the current 9th District, which became Republican leaning.

Then two members of a three-judge panel this month invalidated the new map, arguing ruling Texas Republicans had proven they wanted to aimed to discriminate by race in changing the district boundaries. The state has appealed to the US Supreme Court, which has paused the the panels ruling.

Its just absolute confusion and mayhem, Menefee said. A lot of my campaign isnt even to get people to vote for me, its to get people to understand what the hell is going on. And all of this is intentional by the governor. Its to throw our elections into a tailspin.

Edwards echoed the same concerns, emphasizing that the confusion will lead to voter fatigue and more voters opting out of election after election.

And I think that is, in fact, the intention is for people to stay at home, Edwards said. Its the plan. You get chaos involved, and you have too much chaos. People get overwhelmed. When they get overwhelmed, they disengage, and then they stay at home.

March 2026: Another primary and a potential Democratic fight

If the US Supreme Court steps in and allows the new map to go into place, whoever wins in January would be an incumbent for five weeks before running in the March primary against another stalwart of Houston politics: Rep. Al Green, who was first elected to Congress in 2004 and served alongside Sheila Jackson Lee. Greens home has been placed under the new map into the 18th District instead of his current 9th District.

It makes sense for me to run where my home is and where hundreds of thousands of people that I have been representing are, and I will be faithful to them in doing this, Green told CNN. I am not moving.

Rep. Al Green lifts his cane as he speaks during a rally held by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, after state voters approved the ballot measure Proposition 50, which would temporarily redraw California's congressional districts, in Houston, Texas, on November 8, 2025. - Adrees Latif/Reuters

A 78-year-old Green would be up against both Menefee, 37, and Edwards, 43, both of whom intend to file for the race. If no candidate wins over 50% of the vote in the primary, there would be yet another election, this time a runoff for the top two finishers.

I encourage people to run, Green said. Im not trying to push anybody out of a race. Let them run.

Green told CNN that he had not heard any concerns about his age from constituents, and that reports about concerns were a fiction of the press.

Among the community activists to voice those concerns was Fred Woods, a Democratic precinct chair.

We are so far behind because we didnt get a knowledge transfer from Sheila, Woods told CNN. We are so far behind because we didnt get a knowledge transfer from Sylvester Turner.

If we do not learn from history, we are failed to repeat it, he said.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Fred Woods name. It is Woods, not Wood.

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Mourners gather around the flag-draped coffins of unknown Iranian soldiers who were killed in the 1980-88 Iraq-Iran war whose remains were recently recovered from the battlefields, during the funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Mourners gathered Monday in Iran's capital to honor the unknown soldiers killed in the 198088 Iran-Iraq war, whose remains were recently recovered from former battlefields.

The ceremony paid tribute to 100 soldiers, with families, veterans, civilians and senior military officials participating. The remaining 200 bodies were reportedly buried simultaneously in other cities.

Processions through Tehran were filled with chanting, as mourners carried flowers and flags to honor the fallen. Military personnel stood by coffins draped in the Iranian colors, marking the return of soldiers who had been missing for decades.

The gathering allowed relatives and citizens to pay respects, acknowledge the losses of the long and devastating conflict, and finally lay to rest fighters who never returned home.

____

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
A Vote Here sign stands outside a polling place. Photo: Lorie Shaull / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

(The Center Square)  Former Sen. John Sununu has a lead over rival Scott Brown in the nationally watched Republican primary race to replace outgoing New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, according to a pair of new polls.

A University of New Hampshire poll, released Monday, found 42% of likely Republican voters favor Sununu versus 27% who would vote for Brown, the former Massachusetts U.S. senator, in a primary matchup. About 31% of those polled are still undecided.

Pollsters said a major reason for Sununu's early lead in the race is that "he remains somewhat better known and better liked than Brown" among those surveyed. Republican voters had a 42% favorable opinion of Sununu, while 37% of Republican voters had a favorable opinion of Brown, according to the poll.

Still, the latest poll from the Saint Anselm College Survey Center shows that even the U.S. Senate's Republican primary could be closer than observers expect. It shows Sununu has 39% support, Brown has 30%, and 31% undecided. Among conservatives, Brown leads Sununu 36%-35%, Anselm pollsters found.

The decision by Shaheen, a three-term Democrat and former New Hampshire governor, not to seek reelection next year has prompted a flurry of candidates in what is likely to be a competitive race that could help determine majority of the U.S. Senate in next year's midterms.

Brown, a former New Zealand ambassador who lost a New Hampshire Senate race against Shaheen in 2014, got into the race early by declaring his candidacy before Shaheen announced she would not be running for another term.

Sununu  defeated in his bid for reelection in 2008 by Shaheen  announced last month that he was making a comeback bid to reclaim the seat he lost to Democrats 17 years ago.

The veteran politician, whose lineage hails from one of New Hampshire's most storied political families, represented New Hampshire in the Senate from 2003 to 2008 after having served in the U.S. House of Representatives.

On the Democratic side, Rep. Chris Pappas holds a commanding lead  or 57%  over rivals also seeking the party's nomination to run for the U.S. Senate seat, according to the University of New Hampshire poll. Scientist Karishma Manzur had 8% and state Rep. Jared Sullivan had 5%. Another 30% were undecided, pollsters found.

In a potential general election matchup in November, Pappas is leading Brown 44%-36% with 20% undecided; while Sununu has a slight lead over Pappas still with 44%, Sununu at 41% and 16% of voters undecided, according to the Anselm College poll.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has listed the New Hampshire U.S. Senate seat as a toss-up race, saying internal polling shows Republicans with a slight edge over Democrats. The nonpartisan Cook political report rated the Senate seat as "leaning Democrat."

Republicans have a 53-45 edge over Democrats in the U.S. Senate, with two independents caucusing with the minority party. The independents were not consistent with Democrats on the most recent squabble to reopen the government.
The state Capitol building in Sacramento, Calif. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

In the eyes of many Americans, California is the quintessential blue state. The Golden State is frequently discussed as the Democratic counterpoint to Republican leadership in Washington, D.C., under President Trump. Current Gov. Gavin Newsom ranks toward the top of the list of potential Democratic presidential nominees in 2028.

Newsom will leave office in 2026 because of term limits. A number of high-profile Democrats have jumped into the race to be his replacement. But despite the states reputation, its not guaranteed that their party will maintain control of the governors mansion after next years election. Thanks to a crowded field of Democrats with no clear frontrunner and the states unique primary system, an outcome in which a Republican becomes Californias next governor isnt as far-fetched as it sounds.

Heres how it could happen.

A crowded field creates an opening

Rep. Eric Swalwell, who gained national attention as a key Democratic figure during Trumps second impeachment trial, formally declared his candidacy for governor late last week. In doing so, he added yet another name to a primary race that was already packed with recognizable Democrats.

Other candidates include former Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, ex-Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, billionaire activist Tom Steyer, California schools superintendent Tony Thurmond and California Democratic Party Chair Betty Yee. Rick Caruso, a wealthy former Republican who switched parties to run for mayor of Los Angeles in 2022, has said he is considering running for governor.

While all these Democrats carry a certain amount of clout in the state, none of them has the star power to be the clear favorite at this point in the race. The one Californian who likely would have been, former Vice President Kamala Harris, chose not to run.

While there are more than half a dozen serious candidates on the Democratic side, the GOP field is much more streamlined. Only two major Republicans  Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton  have joined the race.

Californias primary system makes it possible

In almost any other state, having a tight cluster of candidates with no clear frontrunner wouldnt be that big of a problem for Democrats. All those candidates would battle it out in the party primary, and whoever won would go on to face the winner of the Republican primary in the general election. Thats not how it works in California, however.

Rather than having separate primaries, with one victor from each party, California is one of just two states to use whats known as a top-two primary system for gubernatorial elections. In a top-two primary, all candidates are listed on the same ballot. The two candidates with the most votes, regardless of which party they belong to, move on to compete head-to-head in the general election.

California has held three elections for governor since switching to this system. Each time, a Democrat and a Republican finished first and second in the primary, then the Democrat coasted to victory in the general election. If that happens again next year, whichever Democrat emerges from the field would be a heavy favorite against either of the Republican candidates.

But there is a scenario in which Republicans could secure the governorship in the primary. If Democratic voters instead spread their votes out over several candidates, that could create just enough room for Bianco and Hilton to grab the top two spots in the primary. If that happened, a Republican would be guaranteed to be the next governor of California. Republicans consistently get 35%-40% of the vote in statewide races. If the two GOP candidates split that share relatively evenly, that could create a relatively high bar for a single Democrat to clear if theyre competing against five or more members of their own party.

The race could change dramatically before voters actually cast their ballots in June, but the most recent polls of the race suggest that Democrats nightmare scenario is, at the very minimum, plausible. Two respected polls that have come out over the past month have shown one Republican with the largest share of support and the other in third or tied for third. Porter finished second in both polls, but her support has slipped significantly in the wake of a tense exchange she had during a TV interview in October. Those polls were conducted before Swalwell announced his candidacy.

Democrats are aware of the risks that are inherent in the top-two system, of course. As the primary grows closer, low-ranking candidates would likely face pressure to drop out of the race to prevent their votes from becoming diluted. Nearly half of all respondents in the most recent poll said they were undecided, so its also possible that one Democrat will become the clear favorite as more voters make their choices in the coming months.

Endorsements could also prove to be a major factor. So far, the biggest names in California politics  including Newsom, Harris, and the states two Democratic senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla  have declined to come out in favor of a specific candidate. If they do, that could go a long way toward helping all of those undecided voters rally behind one of the many Democrats in the race.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump said Tuesday his plan to end the war in Ukraine has been fine-tuned and hes sending envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with Ukrainian officials.

Trump suggested he could eventually meet with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but not until further progress has been made in negotiations. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday evening aboard Air Force One, Trump said resolving the war was difficult, and described what had been a 28-point plan as a work in progress. That was not a plan  it was a concept, Trump said.

Trumps plan for ending the nearly four-year war emerged last week. It heavily favored Russia, prompting Zelenskyy to quickly engage with American negotiators. European leaders, fearing for their own future facing Russian aggression but apparently sidelined by Trump in drawing up the proposal, scrambled to steer the negotiations toward accommodating their concerns.

Trump said he believed Witkoff would be meeting with Putin next week in Moscow, with his son-in-law Jared Kushner potentially joining the meeting. People are starting to realize its a good deal for both parties, Trump said.

The president played down the element of his plan that would require Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, suggesting that Russian forces were already likely to seize the land they're seeking.

The way its going, if you look, its just moving in one direction," Trump said. "So eventually thats land that over the next couple of months might be gotten by Russia anyway.

At the center of Trumps plan is the call on Ukraine to concede the entirety of its eastern Donbas region, even though a vast swath of that land remains in Ukrainian control. Analysts at the independent Institute for the Study of War have estimated it would take several years for the Russian military to completely seize the territory, based on its current rate of advances.

Trump downplays transcript of Witkoff talks with Russian counterpart

Trump made his comments after Driscoll held talks late Monday and throughout Tuesday with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to discuss the emerging proposal.

The talks are going well and we remain optimistic, Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, spokesman for the Army secretary, said in a statement. Witkoff, a real estate developer turned diplomat, has been Trumps chief interlocutor with Putin, while Driscoll, who is close to Vance, has stepped up his involvement in the administrations peace push in recent days.

As the talks were taking place, Russia launched a wave of overnight attacks on Ukraines capital, Kyiv, with at least seven people killed in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure. A Ukrainian attack on southern Russia killed three people and damaged homes, authorities said.

Trump spoke to reporters after Bloomberg News published a transcript of an Oct. 14 call between Witkoff and Putins foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov where Witkoff coached his counterpart on how Putin should handle a call with Trump.

Trump downplayed Witkoffs reported approach as a very standard form of negotiation.

But U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican who has been critical of Trumps approach to Ukraine, said the transcript showed Witkoff favors the Russians. He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired, Bacon said on social media.

Bloomberg said it reviewed a recording of the call, but did not say how it obtained access to the recording. The Associated Press has not independently verified the transcript.

Latest phase of the talks

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that peace efforts are gathering momentum and are clearly at a crucial juncture.

He spoke after senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva on Sunday and a virtual coalition of the willing meeting of Ukraines European allies took place on Tuesday. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took part in both gatherings.

Negotiations are getting a new impetus. And we should seize this momentum, he said during the video conference meeting of countries, led by France and the U.K., that could help police any ceasefire with Russia.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said of the talks: I do think we are moving in a positive direction and indications today that in large part the majority of the text, (Zelenskyy) is indicating, can be accepted.

Oleksandr Bevz, one of the Ukrainian delegates at the Geneva talks, however, cautioned that it was very premature to say that something is agreed upon."

In an interview with The Associated Press in Kyiv late Tuesday, he declined to discuss the specifics of any amendments to Trump's plan, but said the U.S. was aware that the strength of security guarantees for Ukraine would define the sustainability of the deal and was the part making this deal real and enforceable.

Bevz earlier told the AP that the number of points in the proposed settlement was reduced, but he denied reports that the 28-point U.S. peace plan now consisted of 19 points.

(The document) is going to continue to change. We can confirm that it was reduced to take out points not relating to Ukraine, to exclude duplicates and for editing purposes," Bevz said, adding that some points relating solely to relations between Russia and the U.S. were excluded.

Long road to peace

Zelenskyy said late Monday that the list of necessary steps to end the war can become workable." He said he planned to discuss sensitive outstanding issues with Trump.

Rustem Umerov, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, posted on X on Tuesday that Zelenskyy hoped to finalize a deal with Trump at the earliest suitable date in November.

Russian officials have been reserved in their comments on the peace plan. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that Moscow is in touch with U.S. officials about peace efforts.

"We expect them to provide us with a version they consider an interim one in terms of completing the phase of coordinating this text with the Europeans and the Ukrainians, Lavrov said.

European leaders have cautioned that the road to peace will be long.

'Glass rained down'

Russia fired 22 missiles of various types and more than 460 drones at Ukraine overnight, Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. The strikes knocked out water, electricity and heat in parts of Kyiv. Images showed a large fire spreading in a nine-story residential building in Kyivs eastern Dniprovskyi district.

Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said 20 people were wounded in Kyiv. The Russian Defense Ministry said it targeted military-industrial facilities and energy assets. The strikes were a response to Ukrainian attacks on civilian objects in Russia, the ministry said.

Liubov Petrivna, a 90-year-old resident of a damaged building in the Dniprovskyi district, told the AP that absolutely everything in her apartment was shattered by the strike and glass rained down on her.

Petrivna said that she didn't believe in the peace plan now under discussion.

No one will ever do anything about it, she said. Russian President Vladimir Putin "wont stop until he finishes us off.

Large Ukrainian drone attack

The overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Russias southern region of Krasnodar was one of the longest and most massive and wounded six people, Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev said.

Russian air defenses destroyed 249 Ukrainian drones overnight above various Russian regions and the occupied Crimean Peninsula, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

Ukraine said that its drones and missiles struck an aviation repair plant and a drone production facility, as well as an oil refinery and an oil terminal.

It was the fourth-largest Ukrainian drone attack on Russia since the start of the war on Feb. 24, 2022, according to an AP tally.

___

Isobel Koshiw reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. John Leicester in Paris, Stephen McGrath in Leamington Spa, England, Chris Megerian in Washington and Josh Boak in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.
"Slender Man" stabbing assailant Morgan Geyser waived her right on Tuesday to an extradition hearing, clearing the way for Illinois authorities to bring her back to Wisconsin, where she allegedly cut off her ankle monitor and fled a group home over the weekend.

The 23-year-old Geyser's court appearance came a day after the Wisconsin district attorney, whose office prosecuted her in the high-profile 2014 stabbing case, called on the state Department of Health Services to send her back to a mental institution.

Posen Village Police Department - PHOTO: Morgan Geyser booking photo, Nv. 23, 2025.

During Tuesday's brief court appearance in Chicago, a judge told Geyser, who was in handcuffs and dressed in a blue jail jumpsuit, that authorities in Waukesha County have 30 days to transport her back to Wisconsin.

"Hopefully, it'll be much quicker than that, and you can get back there and get this matter resolved," the judge told Geyser.

A Wisconsin judge signed an order in September allowing Geyer a conditional release from a psychiatric facility, where she had been held for a decade, to a group home in Madison. At the time, prosecutors objected to her conditional release, alleging she had "violent" communication with a man outside the facility and had read a book in the facility with "themes of sexual sadism and murder."

As part of the conditions of her release, Geyser was ordered to wear an ankle monitoring device.

On Saturday night, Geyser allegedly cut off her monitoring device and bolted from her group home with a 43-year-old person she told authorities she met a couple of months ago at a church event, according to a criminal complaint.

Following a massive search, Geyser and her companion were captured on Sunday night at a Posen, Illinois, truck stop, more than 165 miles from Geyser's group home.

Geyser's companion, identified by the Posen Police Department as Chad Mecca of Madison, was charged with criminal trespassing and obstructing identification, police said. Mecca was released on a citation and notified to appear in court on Jan. 15.

Waukesha County District Attorney Lesli Boese, whose office prosecuted Geyser in the 2014 stabbing case, expressed her hope that the state Department of Health Services, which has custody of Geyser, will file a petition to revoke the conditional release she had been granted.

"When we learned of Morgan's escape over the weekend, it unfortunately validated the concerns we have raised from the very beginning," Boese said. "We have been consistently and adamantly opposed to her release because her conduct has repeatedly demonstrated she poses a risk to the community."

WLS - PHOTO: "Slender Man" stabbing assailant Morgan Geyser is escorted by police officers in handcuffs to a patrol car, November 24, 2025, in Posen, Illinois.

Boese added, "Her alleged actions this weekend only reinforce our position that a conditional release is unsafe and unacceptable."

But attorney Anthony Cotton, who represented Geyser in the stabbing case, told Juju Chang, co-anchor of ABC's "Nightline," on Monday that Geyser does not present a danger to her victim, the public, or to herself.

"The question becomes, going forward, is she still a risk to society? And I stand by every word of what I've said earlier. She is not a violent risk to others. I don't believe that she is. And that's why we found out that during her time out, she engaged in no violence whatsoever and had no weapons on her," Cotton said.

Cotton said he hopes Geyser will be allowed to go back to a community group home.

Slender Man stabbing assailant to be released from mental health facility

"It will certainly present complications because we're gonna have to go back to court eventually to try to get Morgan back into a community group home," Cotton said. "So definitely this is not a good development and something that's gonna have a negative impact on the work we do. It's a setback."

Geyser and another girl, Anissa Weier, were charged as adults and pleaded guilty to stabbing a classmate, Payton Leutner, 19 times in 2014, when they and the victim were 12 years old. Geyser and Weier, who were both prosecuted as adults, claimed they committed the attack on Leutner to appease "Slender Man," a faceless, fictional internet-based character that garnered a cult-like following.

'Slender Man' stabbing victim speaks publicly for first time: 'Without the whole situation, I wouldn't be who I am'

Geyser pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted intentional homicide and was sent to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in 2018. Geyser was later found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect and was sentenced to up to 40 years in a psychiatric institution.

Weier was also found not guilty by mental disease or defect after pleading guilty to a lesser charge. She was sentenced to up to 25 years in a psychiatric institution. In 2021, at the age of 19, Weier was granted supervised release.
Joanne Penney died after being shot at a block of flats in Talbot Green on 9 March [Family photo]

A drug dealer on trial for the murder of a woman who was shot dead in Talbot Green has told a jury he thought the plan was "to steal the drugs" - not to carry out any violence.

Joshua Gordon, 27, from Leicester, is one of five people on trial at Cardiff Crown Court - all of whom deny the charges against them.

Joanne Penney, 40, was shot dead on 9 March as she opened the door of a flat at Llys Illtyd, Talbot Green in Rhondda Cynon Taf, in a killing allegedly linked to a turf war between rival drug gangs.

Giving evidence, Mr Gordon said his "heart breaks" for Ms Penney and her family: "I wouldn't wish it on anyone," he told the jury.

The court heard Mr Gordon grew up in London, before moving to Leicester in 2019 where he met a number of his co-defendants.

He admitted selling drugs, telling the court he began as a "low-level" drug dealer but later sold larger quantities across different urban areas including Birmingham, Manchester, Coventry and Nottingham.

The jury heard he had started taking cannabis in 2020 and "sometimes indulged" in cocaine.

When asked about the events of 9 March this year, Mr Gordon said he had sent packages of drugs to Wales on four occasions earlier in the year, but that the day of the shooting was the first time he had travelled to Cardiff.

He acknowledged was in the car with co-defendants, Tony Porter, Melissa Quailey-Dashper and Jordan Mills-Smith, as they drove to Talbot Green on 9 March - but said he thought the intention was just to steal drugs.

Marcus Huntley, who has admitted murder, was also in the car at the time, but Mr Gordon told the court he did not know Huntley was carrying a gun.

Asked by his defence barrister Talbir Singh KC what the plan was that night, he said "to steal the drugs".

Joshua Gordon is one of five people on trial at Cardiff Crown Court for the murder of Joanne Penney [BBC]

When asked had he ever held a live, loaded gun, Mr Gordon denied it, but said he had seen "imitation ones" while operating in the drugs world.

He added that he had "never" spoken to Mr Huntley about a shotgun, or discussed purchasing one with him.

Mr Gordon also denied participating in the activities of an organised crime gang (OCG), telling the jury that his drug dealing was not confined to one area, and therefore he is "not OCG in Wales".

The court heard Mr Gordon had one previous conviction - for possessing a knife, relating to an incident in 2022 when he was found carrying Stanley knife blades.

The jury was also shown screenshots of quotes found on Mr Gordon's phone a few weeks before the shooting, including: "Sometimes you have to kill a fly with a sledgehammer and it's not just about that fly, but also about the other ones watching".

Mr Gordon and co-defendants Tony Porter, 68, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 40, Kristina Ginova, 21, all from Leicester, and Jordan Mills-Smith, 33, from Cardiff, all deny murder.

Mr Gordon, Ms Quailey-Dashper, Ms Ginova and Mr Porter also deny participating in the activities of an organised crime gang.

Marcus Huntley, 21, from St Mellons, Cardiff, has already admitted murder, with his DNA identified on the weapon and gloves.

The trial continues.
The Trump administration has ordered a review of all refugees already cleared to enter the U.S. during the Biden era and may require them to undergo a re-interview, according to a memo from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services obtained by USA TODAY.

All refugees admitted between Jan. 20, 2021, the day before former President Joe Biden took office, and Feb. 20, 2025 will have their applications re-reviewed even if they were already admitted entry to the U.S., according to the memo, which is dated Nov. 21. Refugees admitted outside that time frame could also be re-reviewed, the memo states.

Refugees who were already admitted also may need to submit to another interview to prove they face "past persecution or a well-founded fear," according to the memo. Refugees whose applications are rejected will have no pathway to appeal the decision, it reads.

First lady Melania Trump greets the White House Christmas Tree First lady Melania Trump welcomes the official 2025 White House Christmas Tree outside the North Portico of the White House on Nov. 24, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Named the National Christmas Tree Associations 2025 Grand Champions, Rex and Jessica Korson, of Korsons Tree Farms, grew the tree on their second-generation evergreen farm in Sidney, Michigan.

Almost 197,000 refugees were admitted to the U.S. from 2021 to 2024, an increase from the 118,000 admitted during Trump's first term, but still less than under any other president for the previous half-century, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

Trump indefinitely suspended the refugee program soon after he took office for the second time. His administration will cap refugees it allows into the U.S. at just 7,500, and most of those will be White South Africans, according to a notice published in the Federal Register in late October.

Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, said the Biden administration had "accelerated refugee admissions from terror and gang-prone countries, prioritizing sheer numbers over rigorous vetting and strict adherence to legal requirements."

"This reckless approach undermined the integrity of our immigration system and jeopardized the safety and security of the American people. Corrective action is now being taken to ensure those who are present in the United States deserve to be here," she said.

Refugee review a 'travesty'

News of the memo, first reported by Reuters, was met with alarm and indignation among humanitarian and refugee assistance organizations.

"Refugees who entered via the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program are already the most highly vetted immigrants in the United States," Sharif Aly, President of the International Refugee Assistance Project, said in a statement.

The Trump administration ordered a review of all refugees admitted during former President Joe Biden's administration.

"They have come here to find safety and stability after fleeing war, violence, and persecution  to threaten them like this is an insult not only to refugees but to all who have worked to maintain the integrity of this program for decades."

Jeremy Konyndyk, the president of Refugees International, called the review a "travesty."

"The administration knows that these refugees have been heavily vetted, so it is hard to see this as anything but a bad-faith attempt to revoke protection from those who need it," he told USA TODAY.

Shawn VanDiver, the president of AfghanEvac, an organization that resettles Afghan allies following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, said in a statement, "Families who survived war, persecution, and the chaos of Americas withdrawal now find themselves forced back into instability by their own government."

"These individuals have already passed the most exhaustive vetting processes in the world  multiple agencies, biometric checks, layered security reviews."

Naomi Steinberg, vice president of U.S. policy and advocacy at HIAS, a refugee aid society, said, This plan is shockingly ill-conceived."

It would retraumatize tens of thousands of vulnerable refugees who already went through years of security vetting prior to stepping on U.S. soil."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump admin orders refugees cleared under Biden to re-interview
President Donald Trump reviews documents in the Oval Office before a signing ceremony for S.1852, the GENIUS Act, at the White House in Washington, July 18, 2025. Photo: Daniel Torok / Official White House Photo via Flickr / United States Government Work

(The Center Square)  President Donald Trump on Monday issued an executive order to begin the process to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).

Trump did so one week after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) FTOs, The Center Square reported. Both groups have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islams mastership of the world," Abbott said. Their actions support terrorism across the globe and subvert our laws through violence, intimidation, and harassment  These radical extremists are not welcome in our state and are now prohibited from acquiring any real property interest in Texas.

Trumps order cites the Immigration and Nationality Act and International Emergency Economic Powers Act as legal authorities for issuing the order. It also amends a Sept. 23, 2001, executive order issued by former President George Bush after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks (Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism).

The Society of Muslim Brothers, known as Jama at al-Ikhwan al-Muslimin (Muslim Brotherhood) was founded in Egypt in 1928 with a stated commitment to Islamic jihad (fighting unbelievers) and imposing Sharia (Islamic) law worldwide. It has developed into a transnational network with chapters across the Middle East and beyond, Trumps proclamation states, including in Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. The chapters engage in or facilitate and support violence and destabilization campaigns that harm their own regions, United States citizens, and United States interests, the proclamation states.

It cites examples of chapter violence including a Lebanese chapter joining Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian factions to launch multiple rocket attacks against civilian and military targets in Israel after the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack against Israel. It also points to the leader of its Egyptian chapter calling for violent attacks against United States partners and interests; and its Jordanian chapter having long provided material support to the militant wing of Hamas. It states their actions threaten the security of Americans living in the Middle East and U.S. regional partners.

It directs the secretaries of state and treasury to consult with the attorney general and director of National Intelligence and submit a joint report on the Muslim Brotherhood FTO designation and its subchapters in Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. It also directs the secretaries of State and Treasury to take appropriate actions, including issuing the FTO status and relative associated financial sanctions.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, praised the presidents directive after hes called for the designation for years. I have been leading the fight in Congress to secure designations for my entire tenure in the Senate. The process will now advance purposefully within the administration under President Trump, and now is the time to build on todays decision in Congress, Cruz said, including passing a bill hes introduced for years.

Cruz has filed a bill multiple times over the past 10 years to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 to ban all Muslim Brotherhood members from the U.S., The Center Square reported.

U.S. Reps. Chip Roy and Keith Self, also Republicans from Texas, have filed a bill to ban Sharia law in the U.S. Theyve all done so as Texas officials continue to lead the charge to ban Sharia law in Texas and the U.S., The Center Square reported.

Cruz said the FTO designation is critical to American national security and to the safety of Americans. This battle has been over a decade in the making, and it faced fierce resistance from supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood abroad and from deeply embedded bureaucrats across the U.S. government. The Muslim Brotherhood and its branches encourage, facilitate, and provide resources for conducting jihadist terrorism across the world. They are committed to overthrowing the United States and the governments of our allies.

The designation also comes after Trump has been criticized for his pick for Ambassador to Kuwait, Amer Ghalib. Ghalib has previously publicly expressed support for the Muslim Brotherhood. When questioned by Cruz last month, he said the group was an ideology and the Kuwaiti government needed to do research on it. The brotherhood has been active in Kuwait since the 1930s and is represented by the Islamic Constitutional Movement, a minority political party in Kuwait. The Kuwaiti Brotherhood has direct ties to al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, the Counter Extremism Project explains.

The Muslim Brotherhood is banned in Egypt, Jordan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump said only a few "points of disagreement" remain on a possible deal to end Russia's war on Ukraine, and he's sending his top negotiator to Moscow to try to finalize an updated version of his administration's peace plan.

Trump said he'd directed special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, while Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll meets with the Ukrainian government.

"The original 28-Point Peace Plan, which was drafted by the United States, has been fine-tuned, with additional input from both sides, and there are only a few remaining points of disagreement," Trump declared in a Truth Social post.

The U.S. leader said he'd meet with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages." He said that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles would be part of future conversations.

What life looks like in Ukraine after more than three years of war with Russia A woman feeds pigeons on the street, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine Oct. 14, 2025.

Trump's comments seemed to rule out immediate negotiations between himself and Zelenskyy that the Ukrainians were seeking over points of contention in the U.S. plan that seeks to end nearly four years of war.

A top Ukrainian official said earlier in the day his country and the U.S. reached "a common understanding on the core terms" of an agreement, with final negotiations to take place between Zelenskyy and Trump by the weekend.

Ukraine's national security adviser Rustem Umerov said earlier in the day Zelenskyy was planning to visit the U.S. in the next few days to "complete final steps to make a deal" with the U.S. president. Trump set an initial deadline of this Thursday, Nov. 27 for an agreement to be reached, but the White House has since tweaked the timing to say it's trying to reach consensus as soon as possible.

A U.S. official confirmed that the core aspects of a deal had been reached but was not able to say what those were because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. The person said that technical details of the agreement still needed to be hammered out.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "Over the past week, the United States has made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table. There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States."

The latest movements toward peace came after Ukrainian, American and European officials gathered in Geneva on Nov. 23 to discuss a draft plan presented by Washington to end the conflict that began in 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The current version of the plan has not been made public and it would also have to be accepted by Russia. U.S. officials familiar with the discussion have declined to say what is in the working draft because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.

Driscoll was in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, discussing the plan with a Russian delegation. Ukraine also sent officials to the UAE, a U.S. official said. It was not immediately clear who participating in the talks for the two sides. The army secretary was the highest-ranking U.S. official to participate in the negotiations. He was added to the mix last week by Trump as an additional representative and presented a previous version of the proposal to Zelenskyy last week in Ukraine.

Driscoll also joined a call with Zelenskyy and Vance. The army secretary is a law school buddy of Vance's and his addition to the team represented a shake-up in negotiations, as Trump expressed public frustration with Putin and Zelenskyy over the war.

Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and a first-term Trump administration official who's been involved in recent peace talks, joined Driscoll, Rubio, Witkoff and Ukrainian negotiators last weekend in Geneva.

(L/R) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks as French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump listen during a meeting with European leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 18, 2025.

Rubio said after those talks that progress had been made, but a few issues remained: "I dont want to declare victory or finality here. Theres still some work to be done."

"Some of it is semantics or language; others require higher-level decisions and consultation; others, I think, just need more time to work through," said Rubio, who's also the acting national security adviser to Trump.

Kyiv and its allies in Europe had voiced alarm over a previous draft of the Trump-backed proposal that would have required Ukraine to concede territory to Russia and cap the size of its military.

"Our delegations reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva. We now count on the support of our European partners in our further steps," Umerov said on Nov. 25 post on X. "We look forward to organizing a visit of Ukraines President to the US at the earliest suitable date in November to complete final steps and make a deal with President Trump."

A White House official said no meeting has been scheduled between Zelenskyy and Trump, who's scheduled to leave Washington for Florida and remain there until the evening of Nov. 30.

Zelenskyy expressed his support for what he described as the "updated framework" that came out of the negotiations.

"The Ukrainian team returned from Geneva and provided a complete report along with an updated framework Communication with the American side continues, and I am grateful for all of Americas efforts and personally for President Trumps efforts," he wrote on Nov. 25 in a post on X.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the House of Commons on Nov. 25 that "theres still a long way to go and a tough road ahead" and that "matters about Ukraine and its future must be determined by Ukraine."

"Ukraine continues to hold the line. They continue to mount a fearless defense of their country and they deserve not just our respect, but our help and our support," Starmer said.

In a statement on Nov. 23, the White House said "meaningful progress toward aligning positions and identifying clear next steps" had been made with Ukraine.

"They reaffirmed that any future agreement must fully uphold Ukraines sovereignty and deliver a sustainable and just peace," the statement released by the White House said. "As a result of the discussions, the parties drafted an updated and refined peace framework."

Zelenskyy posted a video on X from the meeting in Geneva on Nov. 23 saying that while he was grateful for all the support, it was important to ensure that the steps taken to end the war are effective.

"Ukraine has never wanted war, and we will never be an obstacle to peace. Diplomacy has been reinvigorated  and this is good," he said. "We expect the outcome to deliver the right steps. And the first priority is a reliable peace, guaranteed security, respect for our people, and respect for everyone who gave their lives defending Ukraine from Russian aggression."

This story has been updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US will hold talks with Russia, Ukraine in hopes of finalizing peace plan
Ukraine said Tuesday that it was hoping to finalize a deal with President Donald Trump in the coming days, as the United States intensified its new push to end Russia's war.

Kyiv and its allies voiced optimism that talks with an American delegation had produced changes to the plan, which they initially viewed as granting the Kremlin its core demands at the expense of Ukraine and Europe.

Even as both warring sides exchanged deadly overnight strikes, a senior Ukrainian official said that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could soon fly to the U.S. and meet with Trump to reach a deal, though the White House had said there was no meeting scheduled.

Firefighters help an elderly woman evacuate from a damaged residential building in Kyiv on Tuesday. (Genya Savilov / AFP via Getty Images)

"We appreciate the productive and constructive meetings held in Geneva between the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations, as well as President Trumps steadfast efforts to end the war," Rustem Umerov, a top official in Zelenskyy's government, said in a post on X early Tuesday.

Umerov said the delegations reached "a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva."

He added: "We look forward to organizing a visit of Ukraines President to the US at the earliest suitable date in November to complete final steps and make a deal with President Trump."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that there was no meeting scheduled between Trump and Zelenskyy this week.

Ukraine is facing immense pressure from Trump to endorse a plan by Thanksgiving.

Zelenskyy mirrored optimism expressed by the U.S. after diplomatic talks in Geneva, saying late Monday that the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable.

Zelenskyy said there were now fewer points in the plan than the original 28 that were leaked to the media last week. And many of the right elements have been taken into account in this framework, he said, adding that he would discuss the most sensitive issues with Trump.

It was unclear how those changes may be viewed by the Kremlin, amid reports that a U.S. delegation was holding talks with Russian and Ukrainian officials in Abu Dhabi.

Moscow maintained that it had not been handed an official version of the peace plan.

We still have nothing to say, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday, asked about the meeting first reported by the Financial Times newspaper, which cited a U.S. official and two people familiar with the meeting.

NBC News has not confirmed the report.

Ukrainian air defense firing at Russian drones and missiles above Kyiv on Tuesday. (Sergei Supinsky / AFP via Getty Images)

We understand that the text that we unofficially received earlier has already undergone changes, but at some point, the time will probably come when we will also establish contacts with the Americans and we will officially receive some information. For now, we have no new information, Peskov said.

Meanwhile, civilian casualties were reported on each side early Tuesday as Russia pressed ahead with its war.

In Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said at least six people were killed and another 14 injured in a Russian attack that left damage and falling debris in 13 different areas of the capital.

Russian officials said three people were killed and 10 more injured in an overnight aerial attack they blamed on Ukraine in the city of Taganrog, in the border Rostov region.
Passengers were in the air for more than eight hours, data shows.

A flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to South Africa was forced to turn around over the Atlantic Ocean early Monday when a passenger suffered a medical emergency, according to the airline.

The 236 passengers and 14 crew members onboard the Cape Town-bound United Airlines flight spent more than eight hours in the air before the plane landed back in New Jersey.

Passengers were in the air for more than eight hours but ended up going nowhere, data show. FlightAware

The United Airlines flight was traveling from Newark, NJ, to Cape Town, South Africa. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post

Medical personnel met the plane as soon as it touched down, a United Airlines rep told The Post. The passengers condition was not immediately clear.

Data from the flight-tracking website FlightAware shows United Flight 1122 took off at 8:30 p.m. Sunday and turned around about four hours into the flight.

The plane landed back where it started just after 5 a.m., data show.

Customers were rebooked and sent on a different flight Monday, the airline said.
Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks at a Sports Council announcement in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, July 31, 2025. Photo: Julian Casciano / Official White House Photo via Flickr / United States Government Work

(The Center Square)  Vice President J.D. Vance will visit Fort Campbell in Kentucky ahead of Thanksgiving to celebrate with Army service members.

Vance, 41, and his family will visit the fort's 30,000 active duty military on the border of Kentucky and Tennessee near Nashville on Wednesday afternoon.

Fort Campbell is home to the 101st Airborne Division, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 5th Special Forces Group, and other Army units.

In addition to his family, the vice president will be joined by Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and his family.

Vance and his group will join servicemembers for a Thanksgiving meal at a Warrior Restaurant on post. After, Vance will speak to servicemembers.

President Donald Trump is expected to spend the holiday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Viola Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, died on Monday, Nov. 24, at the age of 111, the city's mayor said.

"Today, our city mourns the loss of Mother Viola Fletcher  a survivor of one of the darkest chapters in our city's history," Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols wrote on social media. "Mother Fletcher endured more than anyone should, yet she spent her life lighting a path forward with purpose."

Fletcher was born in Comanche, Oklahoma, just south of Oklahoma City, and moved to Tulsa with her family during her childhood, where she witnessed the atrocity of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921. A white mob killed an estimated 300 Black people during the tragedy and destroyed Greenwood, a thriving Black community in Tulsa.

Fletcher filled her days advocating for reparations for the massacre's victims and their descendants, and fiercely loved her family, Oklahoma state Rep. Ron Stewart said.

"Any time you would find Mother Fletcher, and she was surrounded by her family, her smile," Stewart remembered. "She had a beautiful smile."

She was one of the two last known living survivors of the race massacre. Lessie Benningfield Randle, the last known survivor, is 110 years old. Fletcher's brother, Hughes Van Ellis, who also survived the massacre, died in 2023 at the age of 102.

'She would not want her passing to be the end of the fight'

For nearly a century, the massacre was mostly forgotten. Fletcher helped to change that. She drew national attention to the massacre, supported a lawsuit for reparations, and published a memoir about her experience.

"Mother Fletcher was just, you know, we talk about 111 years of legacy and a living memorial, walking history is how she was revered, and she earned the title of Mother Fletcher," Stewart said.

Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons, who led an ultimately unsuccessful suit for reparations, called on Tulsans to continue Fletcher's fight.

Viola Fletcher pictured during the House General Government Committee meeting at the Oklahoma Capitol on Oct. 5, 2023.

"She would not want her passing to be the end of the fight," Solomon-Simmons said in a statement. "She would want it to light a fire under all of us."

No one ever faced any legal repercussions for the Tulsa Race Massacre.

The white mob at the time destroyed more than 35 city blocks and an estimated 191 buildings, and displaced about 10,000 Black people from their homes.

"Mother Fletcher endured more than anyone should, yet she spent her life lighting a path forward with purpose," Nichols said in his statement.

'I live through the massacre every day'

In 2021, during testimony before the U.S. Congress, Fletcher recalled the violence she witnessed the night of the attacks, saying she could still see bodies in the street and smell the smoke nearly 100 years later.

"I still see Black businesses being burned. I still hear airplanes flying overhead," she said. "I hear the screams. I live through the massacre every day."

Fletcher, Van Ellis, and Benningfield Randle sued Tulsa in 2020 for reparations, including a 99-year tax holiday for residents who are descendants of victims of the massacre. Oklahoma's Supreme Court dismissed the case.

In June, Tulsa announced a $105 million trust to address the enduring impacts of the massacre.

Former President Joe Biden met with Fletcher, Van Ellis, and Benningfield Randle during a 2021 visit to Tulsa to mark the 100th anniversary of the massacre.

"We should know the good, the bad, everything," Biden said in a speech during that visit. "That's what great nations do. They come to terms with their dark sides. And we're a great nation."

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tulsa Race Massacre survivor Viola Fletcher dies at 111
Food & Wine / Minuty SAS / Lang & Reed / PRATSCH

Rose is often typecast as a pale, pink, poolside wine from Provence meant for summer picnics and sunshine. But beyond that image lies a world of roses with real depth, texture, and structure  the kind that deserve a place on the holiday table.

Of course, theres nothing wrong with light, red-fruited versions (turkeys best friend is, after all, cranberry sauce), but this category of wine encompasses so much more. For bottlings that are not your everyday roses, and that will pair perfectly with this years feast, we suggest looking to the dark side.

Related: Darker Rose Is Having a Moment  Heres Why Youll Want a Bottle This Summer

A deeper shade of rose

For the most striking departure from the classic Provence style, reach for something dark pink, like the wines from Tavel, France.

Located in the southern Rhone just west of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Tavel uses similar grapes (mainly Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre). Its winemaking roots go back 2,000 years, and it was known as a lighter style than its neighbor, called a vin de plaisir  meaning quaffable or ready to drink right now. That was a valued quality in French gastronomy then and remains so for Thanksgiving. Its rich strawberry and cranberry flavors have just the right amount of tannins to complement turkey and stuffing.

Tavel became one of Frances very first AOCs  and notably, the only appellation dedicated exclusively to rose. Fun fact to share at the dinner table: The wines have been endorsed by French King Philippe le Bel, Pope Innocent VI during his Avignon papacy, and writer Ernest Hemingway.

Another source for interesting, deep roses is Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico. Because its a relatively young wine region without strict appellation rules, its roses are often experimental, texturally interesting, and food-friendly. Here, richly structured red grapes like Tempranillo and Nebbiolo are popular, adding depth and concentration to the wines. A similar thing happens in Rioja, Spain, where Tempranillo-based rosados offer a darker, fuller style.

Related: Pairing Steak With Rose Is the Pro Move You Should Try  Heres Why

Choose the saignee method

One of roses greatest strengths is its versatility  it can be made from any red grape in any region. If you love Cabernet Sauvignon, you can find rose versions from Cab-focused regions like Napa or the Columbia Valley. Many of these producers use the saignee method, which in French means to bleed. After a few hours of skin contact, winemakers drain off some of the juice. This not only produces a richer, more structured rose but also concentrates the remaining juice that will become red wine.

This approach is more common in regions known for powerful reds. In contrast, Provence rose is typically made with much shorter macerations, where the juice is pressed off quickly and finished like a white wine. Grapes like Cabernet or Syrah naturally have thicker skins, so their roses often feel more structured and substantial.

Related: Yes, You Can and Should Age Rose

Skin-contact wines

Producers are often looking to push the envelope and create something fresh and new. With the growing popularity of orange wine (where white wines are aged on their skins  not made from actual oranges), some rose producers are borrowing the technique to develop unique flavors and a slightly gritty, more tactile mouthfeel  possible since grape skins contain tannins, which create that astringent feeling in your mouth.

If you spot the term en tirage on a label, it means the wine has been aged in bottle on its lees  the natural sediment of spent yeast cells and grape solids that settle after fermentation. Lees aging builds creaminess and can add subtle brioche or pastry notes. Its most common in sparkling wines, especially methode ancestrale (or ancestral method), where lees are left in the bottle. Some still roses also use this technique.

Bottles to try

Here are some of the best versions of these rose styles, arranged from lightest to darkest, to try on Thanksgiving Day.

Chateau Minuty Cotes de Provence Rose et Or, France ($38)

Food & Wine / Minuty SAS

For classic Provence lovers, this is a delicious choice that still feels right for winter. Pale pink and beautifully fresh, it bursts with raspberry and strawberry fruit, with racy acidity that cuts straight through rich holiday gravy. Even though its delicate in style, the texture is silky, creamy, and decadent  pure celebration vibes.

Pratsch Niederosterreich Rose, Austria ($17)

Food & Wine / PRATSCH

This Austrian rose, made from organic Zweigelt grapes with minimal intervention, feels spritely on the tongue  almost lightly carbonated  and carries a subtle, funky edge reminiscent of dried rose and musk. The fruit leans more toward black cherry and black raspberry than red fruit, and its savory character makes it a perfect match for stuffing, mushroom dishes, or green bean casserole.

Gramercy Cellars Olsen Vineyard Rose, Washington State ($26)

Food & Wine / Gramercy Cellars

A blend of Cinsaut, Grenache, and Syrah from Washington, this is a woodsy, serious style of rose layered with blackberry bramble, pine needle, and a sprinkle of black pepper. It drinks like it was made for the holiday table, with a plush body  almost like vanilla cream  yet never heavy. Its an unexpectedly perfect match for sweet potatoes with marshmallows.

Lang & Reed Hawkbox Rose of Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard, California ($85 for 1.5L)

Food & Wine / Lang & Reed

This is for Pinot Noir lovers who want the flavor profile of a red with the freshness of a white. The cherry fruit carries a thyme- and garrigue-like spice, layered with savory notes of rhubarb and beet root. Its lifted acidity keeps everything bright and refreshing, even after that extra helping of turkey. And since it comes in a holiday-party-sized magnum, no one at the table will go thirsty.

Adobe Guadalupe Uriel Rose, Mexico ($30)

Food & Wine / Adobe Guadalupe

Grenache, Tempranillo, Cinsaut, Mourvedre, and Syrah come together in this dark-magenta rose  about as close to a red as pink wine gets. It carries a sense of its terroir with aromas of agave and prickly pear. Those notes carry onto the palate, mingling with deep cranberry flavors. The wine gives the illusion of sweetness while remaining fully dry, making it a versatile match for all the Thanksgiving fixings, from the turkey to the apple pie.



Read the original article on Food & Wine
Candace Owens said her show 'will be off the air this week.'Candace Owens/YouTube; MEGA

Candace Owens has made a shocking move to pull her show off the air in the wake of alleged assassination threats, RadarOnline.comcan reveal.

The conservative pundit took to X to confirm the update.

Why Did Candace Owens Cancel Her Show?

Candace Owens said, 'Emmanuel Macron attempted to organize my assassination.'Candace Owens/YouTube

Owens told her followers her show "will be off the air this week" before delving into an explanation of why.

"As an update, both the White House and our counterterrorism agencies have confirmed receipt of what I reported publicly: Emmanuel Macron attempted to organize my assassination, per a source close to the first couple," she boldly asserted.

The right-wing conspiracy theorist is currently embroiled in a legal battle with Emmanuel and his wife Brigitte after Owens insisted Brigitte was born a man.

She then made another staggering claim, writing, "Also, I will again state that the French legionnaires were involved in Charlie Kirks assassination but they did not act alone."

She ended with a message to those who "doubted her claims," instructing them to look to "the President of the United States and our intelligence communities to issue a statement to confirm whether I am telling the truth."

Candace Owens Called Out Over Her Statement on Canceling Her Show

A critic of Owens' insisted her claim about Emmanuel Macron trying to have her killed was not confirmed.MEGA

A critic of Owens' immediately took issue with what she had posted, telling her that the word "receipt" only means that "someone opened an email or logged an online report."

They added: "It does not confirm your claim, your source, or your interpretation. That is not how intelligence verification works, and you know it.

"If the President of the United States or any counterterrorism agency believed France had attempted to assassinate an American citizen, the response would not be silence from Washington and an Instagram story from you.

"It would be a diplomatic crisis, emergency briefings, and an immediate press conference from the State Department."

They continued to cast doubt on her claims, noting that there hasn't been "a single reputable source, journalist, agency, or government [that] has corroborated even one detail of the story youre repeating. Not one."

"You can ask the government to 'confirm' it, but you know they will not, because there is nothing to confirm," they concluded. "Repeating it does not make it real. And silence does not make it true."

Candace Owens Fires Back at a Critic

Candace Owens insisted she did 'not' make up her claim about Emmanuel Macron trying to have her assassinated.Candace Owens/YouTube

Owens fired back at the X user, asking them why they were "explaining English" to her like she's "not a native speaker."

"I said what I meant, they confirmed receipt of my claims," she asserted. "Obviously they will have to investigate it, and then inform the public as to whether or not I made it up. Which I did not."

Three days ago, Owens made her first accusation regarding the Macrons trying to have her killed, posting on X, "a high-ranking employee of the French government" had contacted her and told her "the Macrons have executed upon and paid for" her assassination.

She also shared she wasn't sure who could be "trusted" in the American government, as she insisted the insider told her "leaders are aware."

Candace Owens Offered an Update to Followers After Assassination Plot Allegations

Candace Owens previously claimed Brigitte Macron was born a man.MEGA

Yesterday, Owens updated her followers to inform them of what was going on since she made her initial allegations.

"I have informed people in the Federal government and the White House of the France and Israeli assassination plot and am willing to provide full details, as well as the name of the assassins and international accounts in France and Canada through which money was exchanged," she stated.

She also stated she "shared more information with the public" regarding her story on Brigitte that she was "investigating at the time of Charlies assassination."

"Thank you all for reaching out and praying for my family. ," she added.

To date, the government has not issued any statement on Owens' allegations about an assassination plot on her life.
On one hot June day in 1985, a 17-year-old Brian Halligan walked out to a Cape Cod road, scrawled Saratoga Springs on a piece of wood, and stuck out his thumb.

He and Eric Olson, a fellow high-school student and his partner in a painting company, had decided to follow a certain band on tour. Their car, a battered Subaru Brat with a broken starter, wasnt exactly road-trip-proof. So they thumbed rides from the eastern tip of Massachusetts to the Adirondack foothills, camped for a couple of nights near the venue, took in the tunes, and then hitchhiked home.

Halligan didnt know it yet, but that first show would turn him from a curious listener into a full-blown superfan of the Grateful Dead. And throughout his professional lifehe became a cofounder and CEO of HubSpot, which at its peak valuation in late 2024 had a market capitalization of about $38 billion; a partner at Sequoia Capital working with hot AI startups; and a senior lecturer at MIThe has carried the Deads ethos with him.

On Tuesday, hes releasing a new edition of his book, Marketing Lessons From the Grateful Dead. The book folds together his dual life, Deadhead kid hitchhiking to a concert and the scale-up CEO advising founders burning through growth curves never before seen in tech.

At first glance, it might seem like a bizarre pairing. But Halligan believes the Dead behaved like great founders long before Silicon Valley formalized the playbook. Traditional business school frameworks? A lot of this is bullsht, Halligan said.

He should know. In three years, Halligan and his cofounder, Dharmesh Shah, scaled HubSpot, a software platform for marketing, from revenues of $250,000 to $15 millionduring the 2008 financial crisis. And he said he was inspired by the Deads experimentation, user feedback, and unconventional strategies while building.

Take, for example, the bands taping culture. Rather than crack down on fans recording shows, as other artists at the time did, the Dead created designated taper sections, allowing people to tape multiple nights, pick the best performance, and trade copies on campuses.

Thats how they spread the music, Halligan said. Not radio. Not PR. It was the customers doing the work.

He calls it an early version of freemium business models, which is what helped propel HubSpot to success early on as they promoted their free SEO and Twitter tracker for companies.

Or take the Deads mail-order ticketing systemdisintermediation before Amazon, as he puts it. To get the best seats, fans mailed in handwritten index cards and postal money orders, in envelopes elaborately decorated with flowers, buses, and mushrooms. Scalpers were cut out entirely.

Fans with the most creativitynot the most moneyended up closest to the stage, Halligan recalled.

Dead concerts were also broadly built around participation: Fans showed up in homemade tie-dyes, face paint, wings, capes, mushroom hats, anything that signaled they were part of the scene rather than just spectators. Parking lots functioned as marketplaces, jam sessions, costume parades, and social networks all at once.

Everyone was part of the show, Halligan said, noting that this ethos came from the bands early days at Ken Keseys Acid Tests, where the expectation was that every attendee contributed to the experience.

Halligan sees a direct parallel to founders, like former Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos, who are obsessed with their customers today. Rather than being focused on going to market, and thus choosing slick, revenue-maximizing shortcuts, founders who are deeply interested in their consumers will choose the long, difficult, user-first path.

That sort of humility should also come through your hiring, Halligan advised; your team should be full of people who challenge and frustrate you with their differences, rather than carbon copies of yourself. The Deads makeupplayers of bluegrass, blues, avant-garde jazz, and countrywas what Halligan calls spiky, not smooth. Its the same advice he gives founders today: Build teams around people who dont resemble one another.

The most tempting thing is to hire people just like you, he said. But innovation comes from spiky teams, not uniform ones.

Jerry Garcia as the ultimate CEO

Halligan is not your average music fan. He started out that way: I kind of liked this stuff, the CEO remembered of Olson, his friend, blasting tapes from a boombox on job sites.

But by the time Halligan went off to college at the University of Vermont, he was fully immersed. This was Dead country, with cover bands constantly playing and Phish, founded by another UVM Deadhead out of the college town of Burlington, coming up through the local scene.

Halligan estimates he saw the Grateful Dead around 40 times while lead Jerry Garcia was alive, and hundreds more shows from various post-Garcia lineups after that.

I dont know the number  a lot, he said.

That teenage obsession never quite went away. Today, Halligan owns Wolf, Jerry Garcias famous custom guitar, despite not really knowing how to play the instrument. He bought it at an auction in 2018 and is very clear about how he sees his role: Im not really the owner, Im the steward, he said.

He lets serious players use it; John Mayer has played it onstage with Dead & Co.

I dont think [Garcia] would have wanted it sitting in my apartment or in a museum, he noted.

Halligan thinks a lot about Garcia; hes ran into his family several times at different events, he said. He sees Garcia, in particular, as having the personality of the perfect founder.

Halligan thinks CEOs too often model themselves on the loudest personalities in tech. Garcia, he argues, was the opposite of a front-man CEO: quiet, craft-driven, allergic to theatrics.

He wore the same black T-shirt. He didnt care about being a rock star, Halligan said. He cared about the music.

Those traits form the backbone of the framework Halligan now uses to evaluate young, eager founders, which he calls FLOCK: first-principles, lovable, obsessed, courageous, knowledgeable. By his own measure, Garcia scores a 10 on all of those.

Garcia ignored industry convention and built his own systems (first-principles), attracted fiercely loyal followers (lovable), practiced obsessively (hed take his guitar into the bathroom), took huge creative risks like the multimillion-dollar Wall of Sound (courageous), and surrounded himself with wildly different, deeply talented musicians (knowledgeable).

And the cherry on top, for Halligan: The Dead started in Palo Alto, playing pizza joints a few blocks from Stanford.

They grew out of this beat generationthe psychedelic generationand they were the original San Francisco, Silicon Valley startup that went through generations and exists today, Halligan said.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
London-based consulting firm Deloitte has come under fire for the second time this year after another foreign government-commissioned report contains potentially AI-generated errors. (J. David Ake/Getty Images)

A Canadian government-commissioned Deloitte health care report that cost one province nearly $1.6 million contains potentially AI-generated errors, marking the second country this year to allege the consulting firms fact-checking shortcomings.

The errorsfound in an investigation published Saturday by the Independent, a progressive Canadian news outlet covering the countrys easternmost province Newfoundland and Labradorappear in a 526-page report that was disseminated by its government in May.

The report advised the then Liberal-led governments Department of Health and Community Services on topics including virtual care, retention incentives, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care workers during a time when the provinces health care sector is facing nurse and doctor staffing shortages.

The Deloitte report contained false citations, pulled from made-up academic papers to draw conclusions for cost-effectiveness analyses, and cited real researchers on papers they hadnt worked on, the Independent found. It included fictional papers coauthored by researchers who said they had never worked together.

Deloitte Canada firmly stands behind the recommendations put forward in our report, a Deloitte Canada spokesperson told Fortune in a statement. We are revising the report to make a small number of citation corrections, which do not impact the report findings. AI was not used to write the report; it was selectively used to support a small number of research citations.

The lengthy report also cited an academic paper from the Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy, which is yet to be found when searching its database.

It sounds like if youre coming up with things like this, they may be pretty heavily using AI to generate work, Gail Tomblin Murphy, an adjunct professor in the School of Nursing at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, told the Independent. Tomblin Murphy was cited by Deloitte in an academic paper that does not exist. She added that she had worked with only three of the six other authors named in the false citation.

And I definitely think that theres many challenges with that. We have to be very careful to make sure that the evidence thats informing reports [is] the best evidence, that its validated evidence. And that, at the end of the day, these reportsnot just because they cost governments and they cost the public[are] accurate and evidence-informed and helpful to move things forward.

As of Monday, the report remains on the Canadian governments website.

The Canadian government spent just under $1.6 million on the report, paying in eight installments, according to an access to information request published in a blog post last Wednesday.

Tony Wakeham, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in the province and the provinces new premier, was sworn into office in late October. Newfoundland and Labradors Office of the Premier and the provinces Department of Health and Community Services did not immediately respond to Fortunes request for comment on the May report and has not publicly addressed the issue.

The revelation comes on the heels of news last month that Deloitte leveraged AI in a $290,000 report published in July to help the Australian government crack down on welfare. But a researcher flagged hallucinations in the 237-page study, which included references to nonexistent academic research papers and a fabricated quote from a federal court judgment.

In the revised study, which was quietly uploaded to the Australian governments website, the consulting firm admitted it had used the generative AI language system Azure OpenAI to help create the report.

The updates made in no way impact or affect the substantive content, findings, and recommendations in the report, Deloitte wrote in a section in the updated study.

Deloittes member firm in Australia was required to pay the government a partial refund for the report. No information has been made public yet in regards to a potential refund for Canadas report.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
What in the Britney Spears conservatorship is going on here, dude?

While many people call into The Ramsey Show seeking advice on things like buying a home or getting out of debt, some people call in sharing situations that arent exactly standard personal finance topics.

Take Eden, for example. Eden, who lives in Missouri, called in seeking help on an alarming situation: how do I stop my fiancees mother from stealing her student loans?

Must Read

According to Eden, his fiancees mother has been managing her daughters finances for years. In fact, Edens fiancees student loans have been going directly into her mothers checking account, and from there the mother has been transferring the student loan money into a savings account for her daughter.

But Edens fiancee doesnt control this savings account, and can only view the accounts balance with permission from her mother.

What in the Britney Spears conservatorship is going on here, dude? asked host George Kamel. Why does she have control of a grown womans finances?

Excellent question, replied a frustrated Eden.

Edens fiancee had recently transferred from university to community coverage in order to complete her nursing program. And while the couple confirmed that Edens fiancees student loan payments were being sent to the university, the couple isnt sure that the student loan funds are now making their way to the community college.

In fact, Eden says he and his fiancee noticed that money tends to go missing from time to time. Her mom was actually taking little amounts, said Eden.

Making matters worse, Edens future mother-in-law seems to dodge the question whenever he and his fiancee ask about the savings account. With this in mind, Kamel and co-host John Delony weighed in with what could be a hard truth for Edens fiancee to accept: this may not just be a case of an overbearing mother  it could be financial fraud.

I would not get married until we solve this

Shes essentially committed identity theft and fraud, said Kamel of Edens fiancees mother, assuming the accusations are true. And Delony agreed, calling the situation a huge red flag.

Kamel and Delonys advice was blunt: Edens fiancee needs to take control of her finances immediately. That starts with freezing her credit report to prevent new loans from being taken out in her name, pulling her credit history to review all current debts, and contacting the community college to confirm whether student loan funds were actually paid toward tuition.

Without these steps, Edens fiancee risks being on the hook for thousands of dollars in student loans that werent applied to the cost of her tuition.

The hosts also pointed out how this dynamic could impact Edens marriage. As Delony warned, if Edens fiancee cant stand up to her mother now, that lack of boundaries could spill into every aspect of Edens future with his fiancee, like raising kids and buying houses.

Its a big old red flag, Kamel added. I would not get married until we solve this.

Kamel and Delonys response touches on a broader issue that many people likely dont recognize: familial financial abuse. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, financial abuse occurs in 99% of domestic violence cases and can be hard to spot (2).

It often involves controlling a victims access to money, taking out loans in their name or closely monitoring spending. Even outside of physical abuse, this kind of control can trap someone by keeping them from building credit, saving money or making independent decisions.

Read more: 22 US states are already in a recession  protect your savings with these 10 essential money moves ASAP

How to navigate financial control and protect your money

Whether the suspected perpetrator is a parent, a partner or another family member, losing control of your finances due to familial financial abuse can create lasting damage to both your mental health and finances. However, there are steps you can take to protect yourself or a loved one from financial manipulation or fraud.

Open accounts in your name only

If someone else is a custodian or co-owner on your bank account, they may have legal access to your funds. Open new checking and savings accounts in your name only and redirect all deposits to these accounts. You may also want to consider opening accounts with different banks to avoid confusion.

Monitor your credit and freeze it if necessary

A credit freeze stops anyone, including family, from opening new accounts or taking out loans in your name.

You can freeze your credit for free either online, over the phone or by mail. However, keep in mind that youll have to freeze your credit with all three credit bureaus  Experian, TransUnion and Equifax  in order to completely protect your credit. If you decide to take out a loan later, you can easily pause the freeze to do so.

Review your credit report

Check your credit reports at least once a year, or more if you suspect unauthorized activity. When checking your credit reports, look for unfamiliar accounts and incorrect balances that could indicate someone has opened credit in your name.

If you find anything suspicious, file a dispute immediately and report the issue to your bank, as well as the Federal Trade Commission.

Get professional help

If you discover that a family member is misusing your money, contact your banks fraud department or local law enforcement. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also offers resources and complaint channels for financial abuse and identity theft.

Financial control may start out small  like a parent helping to manage your money, or a partner insisting on handling the shared bills  but it can quickly create a pattern of dependency and manipulation. If you think a family member is stealing your money or your identity to commit fraud, follow the steps outlined above to protect yourself.

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Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

The Ramsey Show Highlights (1); National Network to End Domestic Violence (2)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Hello and welcome to Eye on AI. In this edition.Gemini 3 puts Google at the top of the AI leaderboardsthe White House delays an Executive Order banning state level AI regulationTSMC sues a former exec now at IntelGoogle Research develops a new, post-Transformer AI architectureOpenAI is pushing user engagement despite growing evidence that some users develop harmful dependencies and delusions after prolonged chatbot interactions.



I spent last week at the Fortune Innovation Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where I moderated several panel discussions around AI and its impacts. Among the souvenirs that I came back from KL with was a newfound appreciation for the extent to which businesses outside the U.S. and Europe really want to build on open source AI models and the extent to which they are gravitating to open source models from China.



My colleague Bea Nolan wrote a bit about this phenomenon in this newsletter a few weeks ago, but being on the ground in Southeast Asia really brought the point home: the U.S., despite having the most capable AI models out there, could well lose the AI race. And the reason is, as Chan Yip Pang, the executive director at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India, said on a panel I moderated in KL, that the U.S. AI companies build for perfection while the Chinese AI companies build for diffusion.



One sometimes hears a U.S. executive, such as Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, willing to say that they like Chinese open source AI models because they offer good enough performance at a very affordable price. But that attitude remains, for now at least, unusual. Many of the U.S. and European executives I talk to say they prefer the performance advantages of proprietary models from OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google. For some tasks, even an 8% performance advantage (which is the current gap separating top proprietary models from Chinese open source models on key software development benchmarks) can mean the difference between an AI solution that meets the threshold for being deployed at scale and one that doesnt. These execs also say they have more confidence in the safety and security guardrails built around these proprietary models.

Asia is building AI applications on Chinese open source models

That viewpoint was completely different from what I heard from the executives I met in Asia. Here, the concern was much more about having control over both data and costs. On these metrics, open source models tended to win out. Jinhui Yuan, the cofounder and CEO of SiliconFlow, a leading Chinese AI cloud hosting service, said that his company had developed numerous techniques to run open source models more cost-effectively, meaning using them to accomplish a task was significantly cheaper than trying to do the same thing with proprietary AI models. Whats more, he said that most of his customers had found that if they fine-tuned an open source model on their own data for a specific use case, they could achieve performance levels that beat proprietary modelswithout any risk of leaking sensitive or competitive data.



That was a point that Vertexs Pang also emphasized. He cautioned that while proprietary model providers also offer companies services to fine-tune on their own data, usually with assurances that this data will not be used for wider training by the AI vendor, you never know what happens behind the scenes.



Using a proprietary model also means you are giving up control over a key cost. He says he tells the startups he is advising that if they are building an application that is fundamental to their competitive advantage or core product, they should build it on open source. If you are a startup building an AI native application and you are selling that as your main service, you better jolly well control the technology stack, and to be able to control it, open source would be the way to go, he said.



Cynthia Siantar, the CEO of Dyna.AI, which is based in Singapore and builds AI applications for financial services, also said she felt some of the Chinese open source models performed much better in local languages.

But what about the argument that open source AI is less secure? Cassandra Goh, the CEO of Silverlake Axis, a Malaysian company that provides technology solutions to financial services firms, said that models had to be secured within a systemfor instance, with screening tools applied to prompts to prevent jailbreaking and to outputs to filter out potential problems. This was true whether the underlying model was proprietary or open source, she said.

The conversation definitely made me think that OpenAI and Anthropic, both of which are rapidly trying to expand their global footprint, may run into headwinds, particularly in the middle income countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. It is further evidence that the U.S. probably needs to do far more to develop a more robust open source AI ecosystem beyond Meta, which has been the only significant American player in the open source frontier model space to date. (IBM has some open source foundation models but they are not as capable as the leading models from OpenAI and Anthropic.)

Should bridge countries band together?

And thats not the only way in which this trip to Asia proved eye-opening. It was also fascinating to see the plans to build out AI infrastructure throughout the region. The Malaysian state of Johor, in particular, is trying to position itself as the data center hub for not just nearby Singapore, but for much of Southeast Asia. (Discussions about a tie-up with nearby Indonesia to share data center capacity are already underway.)



Johor has plans to bring on 5.8 gigawatts of data center projects in the coming years, which would consume basically all of the states current electricity generation capacity. The stateand Malaysia as a wholehas plans to add significantly more electricity generation, from both gas-powered plants and big solar farms, by 2030. Yet concerns are growing about what this generation capacity expansion will mean for consumer electricity bills and whether the data centers will drink up too much of the regions fresh water. (Johor officials have told data center developers to pause development of new water-cooled facilities until 2027 amid concerns about water shortages.)

Exactly how important regional players will align in the growing geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China over AI technology is a hot topic. Many seem eager to find a path that would allow them to use technology from both superpowers, without having to choose a side or risk becoming a servant of either power. But whether they will be able to walk this tightrope is a big open question.

Earlier this week, a group of 30 policy experts from Mila (the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute founded by AI godfather and Turing Award winner Yoshua Bengio), the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative, and a number of other European, East Asian, and South Asian institutions jointly issued a white paper calling on a number of middle income countries (which they called bridge powers) to band together to develop and share AI capacity and models so that they could achieve a degree of independence from American and Chinese AI tech.

Whether such an alliancea kind of non-aligned movement of AIcan be achieved diplomatically and commercially, however, seems highly uncertain. But it is an idea that I am sure politicians in these bridge countries will be considering.

With that, heres the rest of todays AI news.

Jeremy Kahn

jeremy.kahn@fortune.com

@jeremyakahn

If you want to learn more about how AI can help your company to succeed and hear from industry leaders on where this technology is heading, I hope youll consider joining me at Fortune Brainstorm AI San Francisco on Dec. 89. Among the speakers confirmed to appear so far are Google Cloud chief Thomas Kurian, Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi, Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi, Glean CEO Arvind Jain, Amazons Panos Panay, and many more. Register now.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Dhruv Arora, founder and CEO of Syfe, speaking at the Fortune Innovation Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Nov. 18, 2025. (Fortune)

The fintech industry moved into the modern era from something deeper than just better technology. The Global Financial Crisis of 2008 triggered a crisis of trust. For millions of consumers and businesses, the crisis revealed a need for greater transparency. A new generation of financial services companiesfintechsstepped into the gap promoting not just efficiency and lower costs, but transparency and accessibility as well.

This approach has delivered real results: The International Monetary Fund finds that digital finance not only increases financial inclusion, but is also associated with higher GDP growth and, in turn, helps create a more equitable global financial system.

The fintech industry has now matured, as shown by successful industry forums like the Singapore Fintech Festival and Hong Kong Fintech Week. The question has changed: Its no longer whether fintech can disrupt; its whether fintech can build enough trust to manage and move the worlds money, and achieve the sectors full potential?

I believe were at a crucial inflection point. Fintechs potential

business, social and economicdepends entirely on earning peoples trust to bring more of them, and their finances, into the system.

Now is the greatest opportunity

Fintech is in the middle of a turbo-charged era: AI-driven efficiencies and personalization, instant decentralized settlements, and a fully digital wealth management experience, all unthinkable a decade ago, are now on the way.

Basic trust has already been established. One example: across age groups, new technologies have significantly reduced the need for physical cash, if not made it near-nonexistent, in many economies.

Yet its a substantial leap to go from trusting a platform to make a simple payment to trusting it to manage your retirement savings. As technologies grow more powerful and personal, trust is increasingly the gatekeeper to further adoption. The greater responsibility raises the bar for trust in complex financial systems and puts pressure on companies to demonstrate transparency.

As algorithms and technology become more sophisticated, customers must understand exactly how decisions are made, where their money is held, and how their data is used. If fintechs cannot bridge the gap between these rapid advancements and clear, jargon-free information and education, mass adoption will falter.

The limitation wont be the technology itself, but the lack of public trust, which ultimately constrains the industrys potential to improve financial health and inclusion.

After all, a crisis of confidence can erase decades of work in mere daysjust think back to 2023 and the Silicon Valley Bank crisis. Trust has to be consciously engineered into every platform layer.

Engineering trust into the business model

In an industry where relationships with users are largely digital, trust must be engineered through design. This requires modern fintech platforms to be built on three non-negotiable pillars:

First, fintechs must continue to open up access to their services. Platforms must lower traditional barriers to entryhigh minimums, complex processes, early redemption fees and the liketo ensure that no one is excluded from wealth creation.

Second, platforms must offer their users guidance. Financial confidence comes from clarity, not endless choice. Platforms must combine digital simplicity with human reassurance and expertise when needed.

At Syfe, weve tried to put human expertise front and center, such as by offering discretionary management by our in-house experts on Managed Portfolios, but scaling it with technology for maximum reach. The personalized stock updates, powered by AI, are a good example of that process in action.

Fintechs also need to build financial literacy, which remains a significant challenge even in advanced markets. Take Singapore: A Fidelity International found that just 22% of its residents felt confident about their ability to invest money. Education and jargon-free information are essential ingredients to empower people to build a better financial future.

Finally, fintech platforms must be affordable. It sends a clear signal: That they succeed only when their customers do. In an industry where hidden fees can erode confidence, cost efficiency ensures that technology can scale access without exploiting customers.

Putting trust at the center of a business is the only sustainable growth strategy, and not just a moral stance. Customers who feel empowered and secure are more likely to recommend a service to others, stay through market volatility, and continue to adopt new products.

The imperative over the next decade is clear. If fintech is to fulfil its promise of democratizing access to better financial outcomes, it must make trust the organizing principle of its business. This requires investment, patience, and the courage to trade short-term disruption for long-term credibility. Trust will be the hardest metric to win, but itll be the one that will matter most.

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.

Fortune just hosted the Fortune Innovation Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where business leaders and policymakers from around the region debated and discussed strategies for a world marked by AI, protectionism, and geopolitical tensions. Check out our mainstrage sessions here and our editorial coverage here!

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Warren Buffett raises his hands to the audience while Bill Gates lets out a short laugh.

This article adheres to strict editorial standards. Some or all links may be monetized.

Its common knowledge that Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are two of the most successful men in the world. Back in 1998, Buffett gave a lecture alongside Gates at the University of Washington, where they shared how crucial forming good habits early on was to their current success.

Buffetts company, Berkshire Hathaway, consistently outperforms the S&P 500 in returns. For instance, Berkshire Hathaways compounded annual gain over the last 60 years was 19.9%, almost doubling the S&P 500s 10.4% annual return in that same period, according to the companys 2024 annual report. (1)

Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with his friends, believing that chip technology would allow everyone to someday own a computer at home, and now we cant imagine our lives without a computer in our pocket at all times.

Its no surprise that their advice to students decades ago still resonates with investors today.

Warren Buffetts advice  build good habits from those you admire

Buffett was clear in his advice: IQ doesnt matter as much as you think it does when it comes to success.

Everybody in this room has more than enough IQ to do my job, Buffett said. The big thing is rationality. I always look at IQ and talent as sort of representing the horsepower of the motor.

In other words, you can be the smartest, most talented person in the room, but if your habits are poor, you wont get far:

In terms of the output  the efficiency with which the motor works  that depends on rationality because a lot of people start out with 400-horsepower motors and get 100-horsepower of output. Its way better to have a 200-horsepower motor and get it all into output.

Buffett reiterated that anyone in the room can achieve what he has in his career, but that some wont because youll get in your own way  it wont be because the world doesnt allow you to  itll be because you dont allow yourself.

He suggested the students take a look around the room and find the peer they respect the most, and write down the qualities they truly admire about that person.

He then suggested following that up by doing the opposite  find the person they can stand the least in the whole group and write down the qualities about that person that rub them the wrong way.

Once you know what those good qualities are, you can build up strong habits that bring those qualities forward in you, and put to rest the bad qualities within yourself that remind you of the person you dont want to emulate. This is how you convert all your horsepower into output.

So I just suggest that you look at the habits you admire in others, or the behavior you admire in others, and make those your own habits, Buffett said.

If Buffett is the investor you admire most, it could be wise to emulate his investing habits.

Buffetts favorite piece of retail investing advice is to invest as early and often as you can in a simple, low-cost index fund like the S&P 500, and hold it. (2) But many people struggle to start investing, as it can sometimes feel like you need a lot of money saved up before you begin.

In reality, even small investments can pay off thanks to compounding, so starting with a tiny amount of money each month can change your retirement trajectory.

Platforms like Acorns can make investing easy by automatically rounding up the price of your purchase to the nearest dollar and investing the extra change.

For example, if you purchase lunch for $15.30, Acorns will round the amount to $16.00 and invest the 70-cent difference for you. Throughout the year, all this extra change can add up to a significant amount of money invested.

The best part? If you sign up today with a recurring contribution, you can get a $20 bonus investment.

Buffett also famously said, Price is what you pay, value is what you get, and this is an important principle to keep in mind when assessing companies worth investing in. (3)

If youre looking to manage your investments on your own, it can be a time-consuming process to research price vs. value when there are thousands of companies you might want to invest in.

Moby can make this easier by helping you find undervalued companies without spending all day and night on research.

This cutting-edge platform lets you make smarter financial decisions by providing tailored insights and data-driven investment strategies. Moby offers a free top stock pick with a premium sign-up, a 30-day money-back guarantee, weekly write-ups and stock picks from their team of former hedge fund analysts.

Mobys technology integrates seamlessly with many financial tools, providing accurate recommendations, analysis, and financial planning assistance.

Bill Gates agrees  it takes incredible focus to be successful

When Buffett handed the audience to Bill Gates, he agreed that strong habits built early on were the key to Microsofts success.

He spoke about the early vision he had with friends, to get together as a team and see what kind of tool the information age could be.

And by pursuing that with a pretty incredible focus, and being there at the very beginning of the industry, we were able to build a company that has played a very central role in whats been a pretty big revolution, Gates said.

At the time, in 1998, computers were starting to enter homes, but they were not yet as ubiquitous as Gates had hoped theyd be when Microsoft began back in 1975.

Fortunately, the revolution is still at the beginning, he continued. It was 23 years ago when we started the company, but theres no doubt that taking the habits we formed and sticking with those  which would be hard to change  the next 23 years are gonna give us a lot more potential and maybe even get us pretty close to that original vision, which was a computer on every desk and in every home.

And his dream of having a computer on every desk and in every home came true long before 2021.

His good habits not only made computers the tool our lives now revolve around, but they also made him incredibly wealthy. Bill Gates was the richest man in the world for many years, though he has recently slipped to number 15 on that list. (4)

His investment habits are no secret.

Gates invests heavily in real estate, with massive properties in Seattle and Florida, as well as an island off the coast of Belize, according to Investopedia. (5)

If you want to invest in real estate like Gates does, Arrived can help you enter the homesharing market.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, so you can earn a passive income stream minus all the extra work that comes with being a landlord.

To get started, simply browse through their selection of properties, each vetted for appreciation and income generation potential. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning quarterly dividends.

Gates is also known for investing in fine art. Over the years, hes bought many valuable pieces, including Andrew Wyeth's "Distant Thunder" for $7 million, Winslow Homer's "Lost on The Grand Banks" for $36 million, George Bellow's "Polo Crowd" for $28 million, William Merritt Chase's "The Nursery" for $10 million and Frederick Childe Hassam's work "Room of Flowers" for $20 million, based on the same Investopedia report. (5)

While the price point for investing in fine art is not accessible for the average investor, Masterworks is changing that by allowing investors to buy fractional shares of works from artists like Picasso and Banksy.

Masterworks handles the process of finding, purchasing and storing the artwork for you.

When Masterworks sells the painting, you make a profit. Typically, this can take between three and ten years, but you can sell your shares yourself on the secondary market before then.

From 25 exits so far, Masterworks investors have realized representative annualized net returns like +14.6%, +17.6% and +17.8% among assets held for longer than one year.

See if you qualify with Masterworks today, and invest like the billionaires do.

Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Investing involves risk. See important Regulation A disclosures at Masterworks.com/cd.

Must Read

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

Berkshire Hathaway (1); CNBC (2); Scrum (3); Bloomberg (4); Investopedia (5)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is now stationed in the Caribbean Sea as part of a significant US military buildup in the region, in support of Operation Southern Spear.  US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Adkins

A growing number of international airlines have canceled flights to and from Venezuela after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a warning about increased military activity and threats in the countrys airspace.

The FAA issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on Friday, Nov. 21, urging pilots to exercise extreme caution in Venezuelan airspace due to a worsening security situation and heightened military activity.

The advisory, which comes amid a significant US military buildup in the Caribbean Sea, warned that the threats could pose risks to aircraft at all altitudes  including while planes are on the ground.

The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is now stationed in the Caribbean Sea as part of a significant US military buildup in the region, in support of Operation Southern Spear.

Since September 2025, the US military has conducted 11 strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, resulting in approximately 48 deaths in that specific location.

Across both the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the US has carried out a total of at least 21 strikes on 22 vessels, resulting in at least 83 people killed and two survivors.

While the FAA did not impose a direct ban, it now requires US operators to provide 72 hours' advance notice and flight details before flying in Venezuelan airspace. Direct flights between the US and Venezuela have already been barred since 2019.

Major international carriers responded quickly to the new warning. Spains Iberia, Portugals TAP Air, Colombias Avianca, Brazils GOL, Chiles LATAM, and Caribbean Airlines have all suspended their flights to Caracas indefinitely. Turkish Airlines announced it will temporarily halt service from Nov. 24 to 28.

Some airlines, including Copa Airlines, Wingo, Spains Air Europa, and PlusUltra, are still operating flights, according to the Venezuelan Airlines Association.

Flight-tracking data shows that many commercial planes in South America are now completely avoiding Venezuelan airspace. The cancellations further isolate Venezuela, which is already struggling with a deep political and economic crisis.

The US Department of State maintains a Do Not Travel advisory for Venezuela, citing crime, civil unrest, and dangerous security conditions. Travelers are urged to consult official government sources for the latest information.

The FAA is advising pilots to exercise extreme caution in and around Venezuela due to a worsening security situation and heightened military activity, the agency stated Friday.

Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
Commuters on Interstate 10 make their way toward San Bernardino on Interstate 215. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images)

A car crash on a Southern California freeway last year was a staged wreck to scam a ride-hail driver's insurance company, authorities said Monday.

On Nov. 23, 2024, a group of suspects ordered a ride-hail car that took them onto the 215 Freeway in San Bernardino, where John Murillo, 37, was driving another vehicle and intentionally collided with the ride-hail car, according to a California Department of Insurance news release.

The passengers inside the ride-hail vehicle, Ledontae Pope, 30, and Kalil Davis, 27, were allegedly in on the scam and claimed they were injured. The two were taken to a hospital by paramedics. The aim of the scam was to file a claim against the ride-hail driver and collect the insurance payout, state officials said.

The incident was reported to the California Highway Patrol as a hit-and-run, according to the release. But during the CHP's investigation into the crash, the ride-hail driver shared their suspicion that the crash may have been staged. The CHP then referred the incident to the Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Task Force.

On Jan. 27, the San Bernardino County district attorneys office charged Pope, Davis, and Deshawn Perater-Nickson, 26, with assault with a deadly weapon and insurance fraud. Perater-Nickson was identified as the owner of the vehicle that Murillo was driving during the crash.

As part of the investigation into Pope, Davis and Perater-Nickson, authorities executed search warrants that led them to Murillo as the driver and a fifth co-conspirator, Klydale Moses, 24, of Fontana. Authorities said Moses wasn't involved in the crash but played a role in their scheme.

Of the five defendants, all but Perater-Nickson have pleaded no contest in court in the last two months.

Pope, Davis and Moses were sentenced to jail time and probation. Murillo is awaiting sentencing but has agreed to spend two years in prison, state Department of Insurance officials said. Perater-Nickson faces multiple felonies, including false imprisonment, pimping and pandering. His case is pending in court.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
[Getty Images]

US President Donald Trump has ordered officials to examine whether to designate some chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorists groups, a move that would target the group with economic and travel sanctions.

His executive order on Monday calls for his top aides to produce a report investigating whether the branches in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan should be listed as foreign terrorist organisations and specially designated global terrorists.

The order cites the groups' alleged ties to Hamas, and "destabilization campaigns that harm their own regions, United States citizens, and United States interests".

The Muslim Brotherhood, founded almost 100 years ago, is banned in Jordan and Egypt.

The executive order directs US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to consult Attorney General Pam Bondi and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and to produce a report within 30 days.

It then gives the US officials 45 days to levy sanctions if they are determined to be warranted.

The designation, which Trump could order at any time, would make it illegal to provide support for the group. It would also lead to economic sanctions, and the banning of its members from entering the US.

"President Trump is confronting the Muslim Brotherhood's transnational network, which fuels terrorism and destabilization campaigns against US interests and allies in the Middle East," the White House said in a statement.

Last week, the governor of Texas declared the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organisation and transnational criminal organisation.

The Texas order also assigns the same status to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim advocacy group in the US, and prevents both groups from being able to purchase land in the state.

The Brotherhood was founded in Egypt almost 100 years ago and has local branches across the world. Each chapter varies in ideology, and one of its aims is to create a state ruled by Islamic law, or Sharia.

Trump considered designating the group a terrorist organisation during his first term after meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi. It is outlawed in Egypt and several Arab countries, whose governments see it as a threat.

In April, Jordan banned the group after arresting members on suspicion of planning rocket and drone attacks.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio | Dmitry Azarov/Kommersant Photo Agency/Newscom

Ever-shifting stipulations: While Ukrainian and American delegations made headway in Geneva, Switzerland, hammering out a peace deal with Russia to end Vladimir Putin's bombardment of Ukraine by the Thanksgiving deadline set by President Donald Trump, Russia bombed the crap out of Kyiv.

The plan keeps shifting. What was once a 28-point peace plan has now been shrunken to just 20 points; the Thanksgiving deadline, which was always overly ambitious, has been scrapped. The most important things to hammer outlimits on how large the Ukrainian military may be in the future, a ban on NATO troops inside Ukraine, where new territorial boundaries might be drawnhaven't really been focused on at this stage. But it seems Trump's top guysSecretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and oddly gifted diplomat slash son-in-law Jared Kushner"believed that the combination of Ukraine's unfolding corruption scandal and Russia's incremental battlefield gains put new pressure on [Ukraine] to cut a deal," per The New York Times. They ended up meeting, quite a few times, with Russian diplomats, and the deal that ultimately came together looked a lot more favorable to Russia than Ukraine.

"By any measure, the administration's rollout of the new plan was maladroit at best," argues The New York Times. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to downplay the planniness of the plan, calling it merely "a list of potential ideas" for how to broker peace.

The deal would have been one with "no punishment for Russia," per NPR's Eleanor Beardsley. "Russia would be welcomed back into the international fold, sanctions lifted, and there's a joint Russian-American Arctic exploration deal in this plan, so possible big business opportunities, rare earth minerals and all that." Ukraine, on the other hand, would have been expected to give up territory in the Donbas, and be limited from aspirations of ever joining NATO.

Now, Trump is trying to back Volodymyr Zelenskyy into a bit of a corner, saying if he refuses negotiations he'll be free "to fight his little heart out."

It might sorta be working: "Today our delegation returned from Geneva after negotiations with the American side and European partners," wrote Zelenskyy on X. "Now the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable. As of now, after Geneva, there are fewer pointsno longer 28and many of the right elements have been taken into account in this framework." If you say so, sir.

Scenes from New York: I hadn't realized bodega cats were illegal. (Torn between somewhat disliking cats and the fact that they're probably useful for rat control.)

QUICK HITS

"Unlike home birthbirth at home with a midwife in attendancefreebirth means giving birth without any medical support," report Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne for The Guardian. "FBS promotes a version widely seen as extreme, even among freebirth advocates: it is anti-ultrasound, which it falsely claims harms babies, downplays serious medical conditions and promotes wild pregnancy, meaning pregnancy without any prenatal care." Free Birth Society "is not, by any conventional definition, a cult. But former FBS members often use the language of high-control groups to describe the hold they say they felt the organization had over them, leading them to behave in ways they now find hard to understand." And the death rate for infants of mothers involved in FBS is extraordinarily high.

The "Department of Government Efficiency has disbanded with eight months left to its mandate, ending an initiative launched with fanfare as a symbol of Trump's pledge to slash the government's size but which critics say delivered few measurable savings," reports Reuters. "'That doesn't exist,' Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor told Reuters earlier this month when asked about DOGE's status.The OPM, the federal government's human resources office, has since taken over many of DOGE's functions, according to Kupor." And "at least two prominent DOGE employees are now involved with the National Design Studio, a new body created through an executive order signed by Trump in August. That body is headed by Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, and Trump's order directed him to beautify government websites."

"The White House expects to soon unveil a health policy framework that includes a two-year extension of Obamacare subsidies due to expire at the end of next month and new limits on eligibility, according to three people granted anonymity to discuss the unannounced plans," reports Politico.

"I might be the only American on X," writes River Page.

President Donald Trump plans on talking directly to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro soon, reports Axios. (Wow, two socialists in one month? He's on a roll.)

The post The Ukraine-Russia Deal That Wasn't appeared first on Reason.com.
China to provide cash assistance to flood-hit Vietnam

Xinhua) 09:48, November 25, 2025

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that China will provide cash assistance to flood-stricken Vietnam.

Spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that China has noticed that recently, many areas in Vietnam have suffered casualties and property losses due to typhoon and flood disasters.

Out of humanitarian considerations and in the spirit of friendship toward the Vietnamese people, China will provide cash assistance, Mao said.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the government of Vietnam, the people in the disaster-affected areas will surely overcome difficulties and rebuild their homes soon, Mao added.

"As far as we know, there are no reports of any casualties among Chinese nationals," the spokesperson added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
by Chiara Zappa

Ahead of the Pope's visit to Turkey, Monsignor Antuan Ilgt, the first native to lead the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia, speaks: I feel close to young people because of my life experience, he says. Our Church? It is a seed for the world.

Milan (AsiaNews) - We are heirs to the Nicene Creed, a legacy that we remind the whole world of from here. At the helm of the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia, Monsignor Antuan Ilgt claims the heritage of faith of Turkey, the Holy Land of the Church from which Christ's message set out to reach all peoples. Pope Leo XIV will visit here on his first apostolic journey, from 27 to 30 November, to celebrate with Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew the 1,700th anniversary of the Church's first ecumenical council, when representatives of the Christian community, not yet marked by the wound of division, drew up the common profession of faith that is still recited today during Mass.

Father Antuan, as he is known among the faithful who feel he is one of them, is the first Turkish bishop of the Latin rite to serve his land: his episcopal consecration on 25 November 2023 in the church of St. Antuan in Istanbul was also an intense moment of ecumenical unity: Among others, there were Bartholomew himself, the Armenian patriarch and some Syriac Orthodox metropolitans, he recalls. It was a historic occasion and one of great joy, but it was also the culmination of a long journey marked by pain and confusion. Because the vocation of Monsignor Ilgt, now apostolic administrator of the Vicariate based in Iskenderun, has passed through the folds of a difficult life. The 53-year-old Jesuit recounts it re-reading it, he explains, in the light of my encounter with the Lord, as St Ignatius suggests.

What was your childhood like?

I was born in 1972 in Hersbruck to poor parents from Cilicia. In Germany, our family, which also included my younger sister, experienced the difficulties of all immigrants: the struggle to integrate into a completely different country and culture, the language barrier... My father couldn't cope and became an alcoholic. So, when I was six, we returned to Turkey, to Mersin, where he found work as a fisherman. We had a hard life; when there was no fish, we didn't eat. But something changed for me when I met a literature teacher at school who opened up new horizons for me: I began to read, to imagine other opportunities, to dream of a career and of saving my family from the provinces. I was still a boy when my mother, who was only 35, was diagnosed with cancer. I wondered, Why does God allow this suffering?. I searched for meaning, but I couldn't find it. The Muslim faith I had grown up with did not give me answers. I remember an imam telling me, Everything that happens comes from God and you must accept it, but that was not enough for me.

And then?

I wanted to become a prefect, but my family did not have the means to send me to university. So, I wrote letters to local MPs asking them for a scholarship and in the end I was successful. I left Mersin for Ankara, where I would study Public Administration and Economics at university. In my final year, I moved to Istanbul for an internship and one day I entered St. Antuan's Church. They were celebrating Mass in Turkish and I stopped to listen. I was struck by this God who had become man, who had suffered and could therefore offer answers to human suffering. Once I returned to Mersin, I began the catechumenate journey. After military service, I was offered a career as an officer in the army. But I felt drawn to Jesus and wanted to become a priest so that I could bear witness to him. Even if it meant becoming a disgrace to my family.

He came to Italy for his formation, first with the Capuchins and then in the novitiate with the Jesuits. In 2010, he was ordained a priest.

In the following years, I continued my studies in Rome and then in the United States on bioethics and health ethics. On the one hand, my mother's illness had marked my vocation, and on the other, I wanted to deepen my knowledge of moral theology from an interreligious perspective, not starting from dogmas but from life, so that I could be a bridge between Islam and Christianity. Because all religions ask themselves the same questions. I was then sent to teach at the Seminary in Naples: a Turkish convert who became a trainer of seminarians! They renamed me the Neapolitan Turk.

This vocation to be a bridge between different worlds would prove to be fundamental in the subsequent stages of his journey.

I dreamed of returning to serve the Church in Turkey. It pained me that there were no local priests in my homeland to be close to the faithful. Then, on 5 February 2018, when President Erdogan met Pope Francis at the Vatican, I was called as the official interpreter. I had the opportunity to speak with the Holy Father, who listened to and shared my aspiration. He himself became convinced that it would be important to send me to help the Vicariate of Anatolia, and in the end my dream came true: in 2021 I returned to my homeland, where I immediately threw myself into pastoral work. I began to travel around the Vicariate, to be alongside young people, newcomers, and the different faces of the Turkish Church.

Who are these faces that the Pope will meet during his visit?

There are native Christians, refugees  Iraqis, Syrians, Iranians  who have tripled the numbers of the Church, and African students who have arrived thanks to scholarships. And then there are Muslims who choose to approach the Catholic faith: this year we have had many catechumens. Of course, baptism is not a point of arrival but a point of departure. We need to offer new believers adequate spiritual tools and support them as a community so that their faith matures and they do not become fickle. My personal history helps me to understand many situations: that of newcomers, because I was one myself, that of immigrants, because my family experienced migration. And then there are the young people. I feel particularly close to them. Together we participated in World Youth Day in Lisbon and in the Jubilee last August. For these young people, I am like a friend, because at their age, 15 or 20, I went through a turbulent period, so I understand their problems. Many aspects of my life, including drastic experiences of precariousness, have been transformed into tools of formation. It is the Lord's pedagogy.

What does it mean to be a Turkish bishop?

It means knowing the local language and mentality well, being part of the community in everything. I never thought I would become a bishop, but today I feel a strong duty to be with the people, as during the earthquake in February 2023, which also destroyed our cathedral. For weeks we worked, ate and slept together. As for relations with the civil authorities, they have always been good. A deputy minister was even present at my ordination. At first there was a certain curiosity, but today they say, Finally we have someone who understands us. Have I ever felt in danger? No, and in any case, risk is part of our choice. A Jesuit must find God in all things.

What is the role of the Christian community in Turkey?

To be a seed, because we have a very beautiful heritage, of which we must be authentic witnesses. The anniversary of the Council of Nicaea reminds us of this legacy, which has left its mark on the world. It reminds us and Europe, since Christianity is often very Eurocentric: instead, the centre must be Christ, and his message started from this land, so important for Christianity, once the seat of the patriarchate, and where today the Church almost does not exist... Why? It is up to us to ask ourselves: What is the Spirit that guides history asking of us?

What is your answer?

A central theme is undoubtedly unity among Christians. Here we experience a very intense ecumenism of life with the Orthodox community. It is important for witness among Muslims. And then there are the young people, who are the future but also the present of the Church, and who are trying to understand their role within it. Twice a year, I organise a meeting in which young people from all over the Vicariate prepare moments of discussion and activities that bring out their qualities. They are the ones who ask me to create other opportunities; they want to see the Church as a home. And then they want to make their voices heard in society; they need an opportunity, otherwise they will join the many who, even more so after the earthquake, decide to leave. That is why we offer scholarships and, when possible, employment opportunities. On the one hand, young people must experience the catholicity of the Church, as when they sang Christian songs along the road at World Youth Day; on the other hand, they must be able to contribute to the development of their country.
by Sumon Corraya

A Christian entrepreneur was forced to close her online business due to threats and offensive comments. A story shared by many others in the country, it goes beyond verbal abuse. According to the CSWC, 76 per cent of victims of online violence are women. Among the most vulnerable groups are female students, with the spread of deepfake images aimed at humiliating them.

Dhaka (AsiaNews)  The world today marked International Day for the Prevention of Violence against Women, a reminder of the growing threats women face, not only in the real world, but increasingly also in the digital world.

In Bangladesh, gender-based cyberbullying and sectarian harassment have emerged recently and alarmingly surged, silencing women's voices and undermining their development and social affirmation.

Swapna Gomes (name changed for her safety), a Christian entrepreneur, launched an online store, selling clothes. Her dream quickly turned into a nightmare when she became the target of relentless cyberbullying.

Threats and offensive comments flooded her social media pages, damaging her mental health and undermining customer trust. Despite reporting the abuse, the harassment continued, forcing her to close her business.

To help my husband, I wished to do online business, but I could not continue because of cyberbullying, she told AsiaNews.

Swapna's story reflects the fear many women in Bangladesh experience when venturing into online commerce. Experts warn that the problem goes beyond verbal abuse. Artificial intelligence is now being misused to create deepfake images aimed at humiliating women.

On 3 November, Shehreen Amin Bhuiyan, assistant professor at the University of Dhaka, filed a complaint with police after such images about herself were released, highlighting the seriousness of technology-fuelled gender-based violence.

The Cyber Support for Women and Children (CSWC) platform reports that 76 per cent of victims of online violence are women.

Founded in 2023, the NGO brings together 14 organisations committed to protecting digital rights. The harassment, experts explain, is so extreme that some victims took their own lives.

Cyberbullying is used to silence women who speak out online, said Samina Lutfa, sociology professor at Dhaka University. The abuse is so severe that many women withdraw from public life, she lamented.

Female students are particularly vulnerable. Nuzia Hasin Rasha, president of the Revolutionary Students Alliance at Dhaka University, reported that female candidates in student elections have been targeted with obscene comments and manipulated images.

The goal was clear  to block women's political rise, the student activist stressed, noting that complaints to authorities often go unanswered.

Human rights lawyer Salma Ali, a consultant for the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA), also noted the lack of awareness among many victims. Many women," she said, do not know how to respond to cyberbullying.

Rebeca Gomes, a Catholic lawyer who works at the Dhaka District and Sessions Court, told AsiaNews that women should use social media with caution.

More importantly, there needs to be a change in mindset. Every boy should learn from his family how to respect women. If they learn this, I believe cyberbullying can be stopped, she said.

This year's theme on violence prevention day, Say no to all forms of violence against women and girls, including cyber violence, ensure the advancement of women and girls, is a call to action.

As technology becomes a tool of oppression, stricter laws, digital literacy, and social transformation are essential to protect the dignity of women and ensure their participation in public life.
The Special Autonomous Region halted cultural initiatives following a diplomatic row between China and Japan. Chief Executive John Lee reiterated the need to support the central government's position. Although Hong Kongers have not scrapped trips to Japan, US President and Xi Jinping were caught up by the tensions today.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Hong Kong authorities cancelled several cultural events and exchange programmes with Japan due to tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.

The crisis was triggered by a series of statements by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who hinted at the possibility of Japanese military action in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

In Hong Kong, Chief Executive John Lee, speaking at a seminar held this morning to promote the message of the Fourth Plenum of the Communist Party of China, insisted that the Special Autonomous Region has to work in full harmony with Beijing.

For him, Prime Minister Takaichi's words significantly worsened the atmosphere for Sino-Japanese exchanges and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.

Reiterating its support for Chinas foreign policy, Hong Kongs Education Bureau also pulled out of the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS), a Japanese programme designed to promote exchanges between Asian students. Hong Kong joined it in 2008, and teachers and students were scheduled to travel to Japan next month.

The Bureau justified the decision by the need to "protect the safety" of participants, citing an alleged increase in attacks against Chinese nationals in Japan. The Japanese Foreign Ministry dismissed the claim, stating that there is no evidence of an increase in crimes against Chinese citizens.

In Japan, however, the situation is not much different; the governor of Tottori Prefecture, for example, cancelled a study trip to Hong Kong.

Meetings like this morning's, in which Lee was accompanied by figures sent by Beijing to promote its political propaganda, were rare before the imposition of the national security law in June 2020. Since then, Hong Kong has been gradually absorbed into mainland China.

Hong Kong residents, however, do not seem to be paying much attention to such political propaganda; travel agencies, for example, have not reported any cancellations, and trade between Japan and Hong Kong has not been impacted (at least for now).

Hong Kong remains the world's second-largest importer of Japanese agricultural and food products, a market that in the first nine months of the year reached 162 billion yen, just over a billion dollars.

Still, Sino-Japanese relations have not yet recovered; if anything, the crisis has further deepened.

US President Donald Trump today had a telephone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, after which he described relations with China as very solid. On the Truth Social platform, he did not mention any discussion about Taiwan with Xi.

Conversely, Xi reportedly told Trump that "Taiwan's return to China" is a central to Beijing's global vision of the post-World War II world order, i.e. central to maintaining peace.

Taiwan's premier, Cho Jung-tai, begs to differ, saying that "return" is not an option for the island's 23 million inhabitants.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi later said that Trump had contacted her after he spoke to Xi.

We then exchanged a wide range of views on strengthening the Japan-US alliance, as well as on the situation and various challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region, Takaichi said at the press conference.

President Trump mentioned that he and I are extremely good friends, and that he would be delighted to receive a call from me at any time, she added. As these are diplomatic exchanges, I will refrain from going into further detail about the contents of the discussion.

For Xi, it is important that the United States rein in its allies.
by Fady Noun

An Israeli air raid struck an apartment on the southern outskirts of Beirut. The target was Haytham Ali Tabataba'i, chief of staff of the pro-Iranian party. Washington and Tel Aviv are against the Lebanese leadership, which has not yet managed to disarm Hezbollah. The Pope's imminent visit rules out any immediate escalation, but fears for the future remain.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - Less than a week before Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lebanon (30 November-2 December) and on the eve of the first anniversary of the cessation of hostilities agreement between Israel and Hezbollah on 27 November 2024, a spectacular air raid by the Jewish state struck an apartment in Haret Hreik, on the southern outskirts of Beirut.

This is the first attack since last June on the Lebanese capital to hit targets linked to the pro-Iranian Shiite party, and it served as a reminder that this cessation of hostilities is only a step towards the total military elimination of the fighting group.

The truce agreement tacitly stipulated that Lebanon, with a new president, would complete what Israel had begun by disarming Hezbollah according to a process defined in UN Resolutions 1559 and 1701, starting with the regions south of the Litani River.

Lebanon has begun this process, but is encountering strong resistance from the Party of God. Does the raid on 23 November mean that the Jewish state has regained control of the situation? Is Hezbollah expected to respond? There is still no answer to these questions. The common opinion is that the pro-Iranian party is considering various options.

The attack claimed the lives of six men, including Haytham Ali Tabataba'i, a Lebanese man of Iranian descent who served as chief of staff of the pro-Iranian party. Tabataba'i was in charge of the Radwan Force, Hezbollah's elite unit, as well as the party's rearmament with short-range drones capable of reaching northern Israel.

His funeral, held yesterday in the southern suburbs of Beirut, confirmed the immense following that Hezbollah continues to have within the Shiite community and, consequently, the complexity of the Lebanese army's task of disarming this movement.

At the same time, the United States welcomed the elimination of a man whose head it had been seeking since 2016, in exchange for a 3.7 million reward, but assured that it had only been informed of the attack while the operation itself was underway. Through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Jewish state declared that it acts independently when it comes to matters concerning its own security.

Washington campaign

It should be noted, however, that the raid coincided with a campaign against the Lebanese government and army, which Washington and Tel Aviv accuse of lacking determination in the process of militarily neutralising Hezbollah.

In particular, Beirut's refusal to accept Israel's request to search private homes for weapons caches. This campaign led to the postponement of a visit to the United States by the army commander, General Rodolphe Haykal, who is close to President Joseph Aoun.

For the government, Washington's growing impatience reflects a total ignorance of the realities in Lebanon, as well as the difficulty of the task in terms of the resources and personnel available to the Lebanese army.

In response to Washington, from an army barracks in Tyre on 22 November, Lebanon's Independence Day, the head of state gave a speech in which he assured that the country is willing to sit down at the negotiating table to resolve the border dispute with Israel, in anticipation of the total disarmament of the pro-Iranian party.

Nevertheless, his reassurances have so far found no response from Israel or the United States. An Egyptian mission is also underway to bring the positions closer together, while France and Saudi Arabia are taking steps to break the isolation of the Lebanese leadership and, in particular, to accelerate the ongoing strengthening of its army.

No immediate escalation

Returning to Pope Leo XIV's visit, the Israeli attack does not seem to have caused much concern among the Lebanese, who rule out that it could be a prelude to an immediate escalation. Statements from the Jewish state are along these lines.

Furthermore, corroborating sources assure that, at the request of Washington, conveyed by Vice President J.D. Vance, Israel will not do anything that could compromise the Pope's visit, expected on Sunday 30 November in Lebanon.

This is also the prevailing opinion among travel agencies and operators in the sector, according to whom the attack on the southern suburbs has not caused any cancellations of bookings or flights to Beirut for the time being.

The prevailing sentiment among travellers is that there is little chance of a generalised worsening of the situation, at least until Pope Leo XIV's visit, Jean Abboud, president of the Lebanese Travel and Tourism Agencies Association (Attal), told AsiaNews.

For many Lebanese, beyond diplomatic protocol, the Pope's arrival represents the hope for a moment of national cohesion in a fragile country, but one deeply attached to interreligious coexistence as its profound identity.

However, the Lebanese are all aware that the truce they will enjoy will only be temporary and could be followed by an intensification of Israeli attacks in the context of a military escalation.

For the local Church, time is not on Lebanon's side; the constantly postponed hope for lasting stability only exacerbates the human exodus affecting the university elite and its youth in general. After all, despite all the critical issues, the theme of putting down roots in the East should be among those that the pontiff will address during his meeting with young people on 1 December in Bkerke.

GATEWAY TO THE EAST IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO THE MIDDLE EAST. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY TUESDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE.
Today's headlines: India and France to collaborate on missile production; Trump called the Japanese Prime Minister and Chinese President Xi Jinping but made no reference to Taiwan on social media; The United States wants to remove temporary protection for Burmese nationals, arguing that the country is now safe again following the elections.

PAKISTAN - AFGHANISTAN

At least nine children and one woman were killed in a Pakistani armed attack on Afghanistan, according to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. The provinces of L'host, Munari and Paktika were targeted. This is likely a response to a double suicide bombing in Peshawar in recent days.

INDIA - FRANCE

The Indian state-owned company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and the French company Safran Electronics and Defence (SED) have signed a joint venture agreement for the production of HAMMER air-to-surface missiles in India. The weapon systems will then be mounted on Rafael fighter jets already in service with the Indian Air Force and Navy.

CHINA - JAPAN - TAIWAN - USA

US President Donald Trump said he has accepted an invitation from his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to visit Beijing in April. The news was announced after a phone call between the two in which they discussed various topics, from fentanyl to tensions over Taiwan, which Trump did not mention in his post on the social media platform Truth. China has said that the island's return to Beijing's control is essential, while for the Taiwanese government it is not an option, the government reported. In this regard, Trump also called the Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, who had initially commented on the possibility of military intervention if China were to reclaim Taiwan.

USA - MYANMAR

The Trump administration has said it will end temporary protection for Myanmar citizens in the United States, arguing that they can safely return to their country, given that elections will be held in the coming months which, according to Washington, will lead to an improvement in the situation. In reality, these elections have been condemned as a sham by several international organisations.

NEPAL

Over 800,000 young men and women who have never participated in an election have registered to vote in Nepal's upcoming elections, which will be held on 5 March. These are the first elections since a large youth uprising in September deposed the government.

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia plans to open two new liquor stores, including one exclusively for non-Muslim foreign staff working for Aramco. Other stores, part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's efforts to open up the country, are expected to open in the eastern province of Dhahran and in Jeddah.

RUSSIA

The new State Russian Language Dictionary has been published in Russia and will be mandatory for all official documents, schools and all forms of expert assessment. The Moscow Patriarchate also collaborated in its drafting, and many terms have been introduced based on current political circumstances, such as the definition of democracy as a form of government in the interests of the ruling class.

ARMENIA

Two large shopping centres in Yerevan will open super-modern offices for migrant services and Interior Ministry checks, with self-service biometric data collection equipment, children's rooms and international service standards. This was announced by Minister Arpine Sarkisyan, who said, To turn the page on the outdated and ineffective structures of the passport system, we want to break stereotypes.
25 November 2025 16:43 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The trial of Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, who is accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other grave offenses under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, continued on November 25 at the Baku Military Court, Azernews reports.

The open hearing was chaired by Judge Zeynal Agayev, with Judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov (reserve judge Gunel Samedova) participating. The accused was provided with an interpreter in Russian  the language he understands  as well as a state-appointed defense lawyer.

At the start of the session, Judge Agayev introduced the court staff, state prosecutors, and interpreters to the victims and their legal heirs attending for the first time, explaining their rights and obligations under the law. The court then proceeded to hear victim testimonies.

Victim Samir Mammadov stated that he sustained a head injury after a mortar shell fired by Armenian forces exploded in Lachin, noting during questioning that Tural Isgandarov was also wounded in the incident.

Victim Ruslan Abbasov testified that he was injured as a result of enemy fire in Kalbajar, where two additional individuals were wounded.

Vugar Huseynov also confirmed he was injured by Armenian fire in Kalbajar.

Victim Togrul Aliyev said he received a shrapnel wound in Agdam from fire opened by remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups. His companions, Nazim Agayev and Murad Aliyev, were similarly injured.

Victim Samir Ibrahimov stated that he was injured in Khojaly due to fire from Armenian armed remnants.

Bayram Agjayev also reported an injury sustained in Kalbajar.

Rashad Guliyev testified that he was wounded by artillery shelling in Kalbajar.

Another victim, Kamal Abdullayev, told the court he was injured by sniper fire in Agdam from Armenian armed remnants, while Orkhan Musayev said he suffered an injury to his left eye under similar circumstances, noting that Bahruz Rzayev and Nizami Jabbarov were also hurt.

Victim Dilgam Hasanov testified that he was injured by artillery fire in Kalbajar, while Samir Khalilov stated he was wounded by rocket fire in Agdere. He noted that Ulvi Mikayilov was killed during that attack.

The hearing then continued with the examination of documents and other materials contained in the criminal case file. The next court session is scheduled for December 1.

Vardanyan faces an extensive list of charges, including:
25 November 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

As Azerbaijan accelerates efforts to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on hydrocarbons, a new World Bank report offers timely insights that closely align with the countrys strategic direction. The report, Waves of Change: Igniting Productivity Growth in Europe and Central Asia, argues that the regions economic slowdown since the 2008 financial crisis stems largely from stagnating productivity, a point that resonates strongly with Azerbaijans current development trajectory.

The World Bank notes that although many countries in Europe and Central Asia have continued to invest capital and expand their labor force, overall efficiency has declined. Productivity growth in the region has halved since the financial crisis, limiting the impact of investment flows. According to the report, even a 10 percent improvement in productivity could generate nearly 2 million new jobs, underscoring the direct connection between productivity, employment, and living standards. Had the region maintained its pre-crisis pace of productivity growth, its GDP today could be 62 percent higher. These findings highlight why improving efficiency, rather than expanding resources, is now central to sustainable economic development.

For Azerbaijan, the message is particularly relevant. The country has, in recent years, deepened its cooperation with the World Bank across a broad spectrum of sectors, including digital governance, education, agriculture, water management, transport, and green energy. These projects support Azerbaijans key long-term priorities, such as strengthening the non-oil sector, boosting human capital, expanding renewable energy, and promoting balanced regional development. In essence, the World Banks reform recommendations mirror the strategy that Baku has already set in motion.

At the core of the report is the TIDES model, which outlines targeted reforms in trade, investment, digitalization, efficiency, and skills. Although developed for a wide regional context, the model fits Azerbaijans circumstances almost exactly. In trade, Azerbaijan still has substantial untapped potential in non-oil exports, which could be unlocked through streamlined customs procedures, improved logistics, and alignment with international standards. In investment, the country has made progress in attracting foreign capital, yet further liberalization and predictable regulatory conditions would help channel investment into high-value sectors and deepen technological transfer.

Digital transformation, one of Azerbaijans strongest recent achievements, remains another pillar of the TIDES framework. Initiatives such as ASAN Service, myGov, and DOST have already demonstrated how digital governance can reduce costs and increase transparency. However, the next stage will require strengthening cybersecurity, expanding digital infrastructure across regions, and supporting the growth of the local startup ecosystem. These steps would not only modernize public administration but also enhance the competitiveness of the private sector.

Efficiency remains a critical area where Azerbaijan can significantly benefit. State-owned enterprises, energy systems, and agricultural production still face structural inefficiencies that limit output. Modern corporate governance standards, improved energy efficiency programs, and innovation incentives for SMEs could substantially increase productivity and reduce fiscal burdens. This is especially important in sectors where Azerbaijan aims to achieve export diversification.

Finally, the report emphasizes the importance of human capital, an area where Azerbaijan has already launched several reforms, particularly in education, vocational training, and youth employment. Strengthening the link between universities and industry, expanding technical and digital training and improving access to employment for women and young people will be crucial for building a workforce equipped for a modern economy.

The report also highlights an issue of particular importance for Azerbaijan, the prevalence of missing trade in the region. According to World Bank data, informal or unrecorded trade flows remain high across Europe and Central Asia, with some countries showing gaps that exceed half of their official trade volumes. Azerbaijan is included among the higher-risk group with an estimated rate of 58 percent. This places the country alongside several Central Asian economies, including Uzbekistan at 59 percent, Kyrgyzstan at 63 percent, and Tajikistan at 64 percent. The World Bank links these figures to a combination of strict trade regulations, informal customs practices, incomplete statistical reporting, and a notable share of intra-regional unregistered trade.

In Azerbaijan, enhanced customs digitalization, simplified procedures, and greater transparency in trade flows could help reduce these discrepancies and improve the accuracy of non-oil trade data.

Overall, the TIDES model offers a coherent framework that aligns closely with Azerbaijans own goals. The country already possesses several strategic advantages, including a strong digital governance base, substantial energy revenues that can be redirected into reforms, a favorable geographic position, and a non-oil sector with significant growth potential. Implementing productivity-centered reforms in line with the World Banks recommendations could therefore enable Azerbaijan to accelerate its transition to a more diversified, knowledge-based and resilient economy.
25 November 2025 17:21 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

At a time when the information war and the spread of deepfakes are gaining unprecedented momentum, it is regrettable that certain outlets in the international media, eager for cheap publicity, are fabricating absurd fantasies and outright falsehoods, which others then enthusiastically circulate without even realising it. This has become a habit for websites inclined towards provocation and lacking professional standards. That is one side of the problem, but the main issue concerns the blatant lie that has been circulating in recent days. One such fantasy that has been attempted to foist on the public is the allegation that "Azerbaijan secretly sold SU-22 aircraft to Ukraine."

First, let us note that the SU-22 is the export version of the SU-17. Although it was a prominent military platform in its time, it is now considered outdated and remains in the arsenals of only a handful of countries. As for Azerbaijan, according to some published sources, while there may have been a few SU-17 aircraft inherited from the Soviet era, there is no official or unofficial information confirming the presence of SU-22s in the countrys arsenal. Moreover, the SU-17 aircraft have long been decommissioned in Azerbaijan.

Beyond that, the question arises: how useful would such a weapon be to Ukraine? As is known, Russia is significantly more powerful than Ukraine in terms of its economy, population, natural resources, and military-technical capabilities. For the past three years, Ukraine has shown remarkable resilience against Russian aggression, relying primarily on a limited number of high-tech weapons to counterbalance Russias overwhelming advantages.

Recently, Ukraine has been negotiating with Sweden to acquire modern Gripen fighter jets and with France for Rafale aircraft. In this context, does a country like Ukraine really need outdated scrap-metal aircraft from the 1960s, models that even the original manufacturer, Russia, ceased producing in the 1990s and removed from its own arsenal? Can the SU-22 aircraft realistically shift the balance on the battlefield in Ukraines favour?

Considering the technical capabilities of the SU-22, it is safe to say that such scrap-metal aircraft would offer no benefit to Ukraine. On the contrary, they would be a burden in terms of maintenance and pilots` safety. In short, this claim is entirely absurd. Azerbaijan has not possessed SU-22 aircraft, and Kyiv has not lost its strategic judgment to the extent that it would spend money on obsolete scrap metals in a war where cutting-edge weaponry is decisive.

This leads to a more fundamental question: what is the purpose behind spreading such a story? The style of the original article spreading that news is telling. After reading the entire piece, one gets the impression that the outlet either lacks awareness of actual developments or is deliberately trying to create the unpleasant image of Azerbaijan. The article begins with a single sentence about the alleged sale of SU-22s, then devotes the rest of the text to Azerbaijan-Russia relations, evoking the phrase to create drama where there is none.

It seems to aim at driving a wedge between Azerbaijan and Russia, portraying Azerbaijan as a former ally drifting away from Moscow. Referring to Azerbaijan as Russias former ally is itself a puzzling expression. In reality, Azerbaijan was one of the first countries in the Caucasus, and one of only four former Soviet republics, alongside the Baltic states, to successfully remove Russian troops from its territory. Furthermore, unlike some other former Soviet republics, Azerbaijan never granted Russian the status of an official language after independence. Even during the Soviet era, Azerbaijani was the official state language.

Given all this, calling Azerbaijan a former ally of Russia is questionable at best. If the term ally refers to the 2022 Declaration on Allied Interaction signed in Moscow between Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, its worth noting that this agreement remains in force.

Let us not forget that Azerbaijan has a similar agreement with Turkiye. While not identical, comparable treaties exist with other countries as well. If someone were to conduct a street survey in Baku today asking, Who is Azerbaijans ally? the answers would likely vary. In Azerbaijan, the concept of alliance is understood as a relationship based on mutual respect, friendship, and brotherhood. This reflects the countrys longstanding foreign policy principle of neutrality, a tradition that dates back centuries.

Whether during the Caucasian Albanian era, when Javanshir manoeuvred diplomatically between the Khazar Khaganate, Persia, and the Arab Caliphate, or in the time of the Shirvanshahs, when Azerbaijan balanced relations among the Timurids, Golden Horde, Ottomans, and Iran, neutrality has been a consistent theme. Throughout history, Azerbaijan has prioritised neutrality in its foreign policy, and continues to do so today. This approach has enabled the country to preserve its national identity for millennia, despite invasions by powerful empires, and there is no intention to change this principle.

To put it another way, Azerbaijan has consistently recognised Ukraines territorial integrity, is aware of the military aggression it faces, and provides humanitarian aid whenever possible. In fact, among former Soviet republics, Azerbaijan is one of the top providers of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Accusing Azerbaijan of something it hasnt done, especially something so illogical, is, to put it mildly, slander.

Put simply, those who, despite knowing full well what Azerbaijan is, still deliberately seek to portray it as Russias outpost should understand that Baku has never bowed to the influence of great powers, never joined blocs of their making, and never conducted its foreign policy at the dictation of any state.
25 November 2025 12:03 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The hydrocarbon industry must fundamentally rethink how it approaches major projects if it is to meet the demands of the coming decades, bps Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkiye (AGT), Giovanni Cristofoli, said at the SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference in Baku, Azernews reports.

We cannot deliver the next 30 to 50 years of hydrocarbon projects the way we did the previous 30. Our methods must change. Comfort is not an option, Cristofoli stressed, noting that technical challenges are becoming more complex while supply chains grow increasingly demanding.

Cristofoli highlighted that bps operations rest on highly sophisticated technical processes, making expert collaboration indispensable.

Bringing together the industrys top technical talent is crucial for moving the sector forward. I am genuinely delighted to be part of this event, he added.

Speaking about the Caspian region, the bp executive pointed to its exceptional infrastructure but said two factors stand out even more: its people and its partnership culture.

This region has built a truly high-calibre workforcefrom technical specialists and engineers to commercial professionals. There is a strong base of talent that is curious, eager to learn, open to innovation and willing to push boundaries. This, to me, is the real foundation for the future, he noted.

He also emphasized the regions long-standing tradition of cooperation:Government collaboration is open and supportive from an investment standpoint. I see strong efforts to attract more capital to the regionsomething you dont find everywhere. Our partnership with SOCAR is particularly important, as is the excellent cooperation across the supply chain. This ability to form strong partnerships is part of the regions unique magic recipe.

Cristofoli stressed that the industrys primary challenge is evolving its mindset.

The key is not to rely on past approaches. The industry is changing, expectations are rising, and we must adapt to new realities, he said.

The SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference, bringing together leading engineers, experts and global energy companies, continues in Baku with discussions centered on innovation, digital transformation, decarbonization and the future of regional energy development.
25 November 2025 15:19 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijan and Pakistan have discussed ways to increase mutual investment flows, including in the oil and gas sector, economic officials said, Azernews reports, citing a post by Azerbaijans Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov on his official X account.

The post reads that during his visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Minister Jabbarov met with Lieutenant General Sarfaraz Ahmed, the National Coordinator of Pakistans Board of Investment.

The officials exchanged views on enhancing investment cooperation, promoting joint projects, and actively supporting collaboration between business communities of the two countries.
25 November 2025 16:59 (UTC+04:00)

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25 November 2025 23:23 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, has announced a ban on rice imports, citing the countrys abundant reserves and robust domestic output, Azernews reports.

Rice imports are prohibited, confirmed Indonesian Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Suleiman. He noted that Indonesia expects a production volume of 34.8 million tons in 2025, making imports unnecessary. The government also vows to block any attempts to bring in rice through illegal channels.

The minister added that the ban is already affecting global markets: prices of rice from Vietnam and Thailand have begun to decline in response to reduced demand from Indonesia, one of the worlds largest rice consumers.

Experts say the move not only reinforces Indonesias self-sufficiency in staple foods but could also shift regional trade dynamics, as neighboring countries adjust their export strategies to cope with changing demand.

Indonesias strong rice production is increasingly tied to advanced irrigation and high-yield seed programs, which could serve as a model for other rice-producing nations seeking both food security and export opportunities.
25 November 2025 11:20 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The Azerbaijan Culture Ministry's e-Culture strategy (2024-2026) is successfully advancing the digitalization of various clusters within the cultural sector, Azernews reports.

In this context, the Culture Ministry has moved a number of services related to the preservation of cultural heritage to electronic format, and applications are now being accepted through the Ministry's "MyCulture" unified personal cabinet.

The digitalization of services is of great importance in terms of simplifying processes, increasing efficiency, and improving user satisfaction by applying digital solutions.

Among the services being digitized are the approval of construction and landscaping works in protected areas and the protection zones of cultural monuments, granting permission for construction and other economic activities when immovable historical and cultural monuments are discovered, the approval of the sale of immovable historical and cultural monuments, granting permission to convert residential spaces of immovable historical and cultural monuments to non-residential or vice versa, granting permission to lease immovable historical and cultural monuments and related residential and non-residential spaces in private ownership, as well as the approval of projects for restoration, conservation, repair, reconstruction, regeneration, and other works on immovable historical and cultural monuments or their parts.

Applications for these services are submitted electronically through the "MyCulture" personal cabinet.

Users can create personal accounts by logging into their personal cabinet, use services in the cultural sector on a "one-stop-shop" basis, send applications and suggestions, view announcements, and track the status of their applications.

One of the services digitized is the "Approval for the Sale of Immovable Historical and Cultural Monuments."

According to Article 4 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the "Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments," the owner of a monument in private ownership must inform the State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Culture Ministry when selling the monument.

In the case of this service, the digitalization of processes related to the turnover (buying, selling, donation) of immovable historical and cultural monuments placed under state protection will ensure increased efficiency, allow for the electronic tracking of the process, prevent delays, and improve user satisfaction.
25 November 2025 17:47 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A magnificent concert celebrating the 90th anniversary of the eminent Azerbaijani composer Vasif Adigozalov has taken place at the State Academic Philharmonic Hall, Azernews reports.

The event was a truly unforgettable musical experience for the spectators.

Director of the National Museum of Azerbaijani Literature, Rafael Huseynov, took the stage to reflect on the impact of Vasif Adigozalov's work, noting his great role in shaping Azerbaijani music and promoting national and spiritual values through his compositions.

Conducted by Yalchin Adigozalov, the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra mesmerised the audience with Vasif Adigozalov's monumental works: his Symphony No. 3 and the epic oratorio "Odlar Yurdu".

The oratorio performance was brought to life by the Azerbaijan State Choir Chapel, led by artistic director Gulbaji Imanova, with standout solo performances from Selhan Fermor-Hesketh (soprano), Mahir Taghizade (baritone), and the powerful recitations of Elshan Rustamov.

Vasif Adigozalov was born on July 28, 1935, in Baku. He began his musical journey with early training in piano at a specialised music school. In 1953, he entered the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, where he studied composition, graduating in 1958, followed by a degree in piano in 1959.

During his student years, Vasif Adigozalov composed his first pieces, which were showcased at the first Congress of Composers of Azerbaijan in 1956. Between 1957 and 1959, he worked as the chief editor for the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Azerbaijan.

From 1959 to 1960, he taught at the Baku Music College named after Asaf Zeynally, and later became the chief music editor at the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic from 1960 to 1961.

From 1962 to 1968, Vasif Adigozalov served as the responsible secretary of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan, and between 1968 and 1978, he was the artistic director of the Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble. He also led the Baku Music College as its director from 1972 to 1983.

In 1972, Vasif Adigozalov began a long-standing association with the Baku Music Academy. As a teacher, associate professor, and later professor, he made significant contributions to the development of young musicians. From 1990 onward, he served as the first secretary of the Azerbaijan Composers' Union.

A key figure in Azerbaijani music, Vasif Adigozalov's compositions reflect the cultural and artistic pulse of his time. His work is recognised for blending contemporary styles with Azerbaijani musical traditions, especially the deep-rooted art of mugham.

His compositions span various genres, including symphonies, symphonic poems, concertos, oratorios, operas, and musical comedies, all of which earned him widespread acclaim. His pieces also contributed significantly to Azerbaijani film and theatre music.

Vasif Adigozalov played an instrumental role in the advancement of Azerbaijan's composer's school. He was deeply committed to the training of professional musicians and to the activities of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan. Known for his intellectual integrity, he consistently demonstrated a strong sense of civic responsibility in regard to the events shaping society.

His contributions to Azerbaijani music and culture have been highly praised. He was honored with many prestigious awards, including the "Glory" Order in 1995 and the "Istiglal" Order in 2005.

Vasif Adigozalov passed away on September 15, 2006, and was laid to rest in the Alley of Honor.
25 November 2025 15:37 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Five years ago, on September 27, the 44-day Patriotic War began, and thanks to the extraordinary courage shown by the Azerbaijani Army, Armenian forces were forced to withdraw from the Azerbaijani lands, Azernews reports.

Territories that had been under occupation for almost thirty years were liberated and returned to their rightful owner under the leadership of President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.

As a result of the Azerbaijani Army's glorious victory in this just war, Armenia was compelled to sign the capitulation agreement, and just five days after vacating Aghdam district, on November 25, it also withdrew from Kalbajar district.

Thus, Kalbajar was handed back to Azerbaijan without a single shot being fired. In line with the trilateral agreement, on November 25, 2020, Kalbajar city, along with 147 of its settlements, was freed from occupation.

By a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on July 31, 2023, titled "On the establishment of City Days for the liberated territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan," November 25 has officially been declared Kalbajar City Day.

To commemorate this day, a series of events will be held in Kalbajar, organized jointly by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Office of the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the region.

The day's activities will include a photo exhibition titled "Kalbajar  From the Lens to History," the "Memory" exhibition from the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, an art display called "The Palette of Kalbajar," painting master classes, and an exhibition of traditional crafts.

Moreover, Ganja State National Drama Theater will perform the musical play "Tik-Tik Khanum" by Abdullah Shaig for the audience in Kalbajar.

The celebrations will continue with a grand concert featuring various artists and will conclude with a fireworks display.
25 November 2025 13:05 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

bp, on behalf of its co-venturers in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Shah Deniz and South Caucasus Pipeline projects  SOCAR, TPAO, LUKOIL, SGC, NICO, MOL, INPEX, ExxonMobil, ITOCHU, ONGC Videsh, Eni, MVM, and TotalEnergies  today announced the successful completion of the second phase of a social investment initiative aimed at enhancing digital education in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The project has been carried out in collaboration with LANDAU Educational Technologies LLC. While its primary focus is to support students and teachers preparing for Grade 9 and Grade 11 English graduation exams, it also provides high-quality, accessible digital content suitable for all students from Grades 5 through 11. Overall, the materials are designed for use across all secondary grades, with the aim of enhancing learning outcomes and increasing classroom engagement.

This new phase builds on the success of previous efforts and introduces a comprehensive pack of resources, including 350 educational videos totaling 60 hours of instruction; a question bank of 14,000 quiz items tailored to exam preparation; 70 test paper sets to simulate exam conditions; lesson presentations and worksheets to support teachers in classroom delivery; and a digital platform enabling teachers to assign homework and monitor student progress.

The initiative is designed to bridge gaps in accessible learning materials and empower both students and educators across Azerbaijan. It aims to onboard 500 teachers and engage 10,000 students nationwide.

Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, bps vice president for the Caspian region, said: We are proud to continue supporting educational development in Azerbaijan through innovative digital resources and solutions. This project not only equips students with the tools they need to succeed in their English exams, but also strengthens the role of teachers by providing them with modern classroom resources. By investing in content for Azerbaijans schools, we hope to help enhance Azerbaijans educational capabilities and ensure that quality learning is within reach for every student.

The total cost of this second phase of the project is approximately 307,500 AZN ($180,882), of which bp and its co-venturers contributed 200,000 AZN ($117,647), and the remaining part was invested by LANDAU Educational Technologies LLC.

The one-year project was implemented by LANDAU Educational Technologies LLC, also known as Aspire Learning App.

All materials created as the outcome of this project are publicly available and designed to complement traditional instruction, offering flexible and inclusive learning opportunities for students regardless of their location or circumstances. The full content can be accessed via www.aspirelearning.app.
25 November 2025 17:16 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, during his official visit to Vatican City, Azernews reports citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed the steadily developing AzerbaijanVatican partnership, expressing satisfaction with the constructive dialogue built on mutual respect. They highlighted ongoing cooperation in promoting interfaith harmony, supporting cultural diplomacy, and advancing global peace initiatives.

The importance of continued high-level reciprocal visits was emphasized as a key element in strengthening political dialogue, expanding humanitarian and cultural ties, and broadening joint international initiatives. The sides also discussed the successful conservation and restoration projects in the Vatican supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, acknowledging their significant contribution to safeguarding global religious and cultural heritage.

The conversation additionally underlined Azerbaijans long-term commitment to protecting religious monuments and promoting multicultural values both at home and internationally.

The meeting also touched on the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process, focusing on the implementation of the Washington Summit agreements and the ongoing reconstruction efforts in Azerbaijans liberated territories.
25 November 2025 16:24 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

On November 25, the Embassy of Mexico in Azerbaijan, Azercell Telecom, and the Reliable Future Social Initiatives Public Union jointly held the presentation of the Womens Support Helpline Brochure translated into Spanish. The event took place under the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, aimed at raising awareness and strengthening support mechanisms for women in vulnerable situations, Azernews reports.

Speaking at the event, the Ambassador of the United Mexican States to Azerbaijan, Maria Victoria Romero Caballero, emphasised that gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls remain central to Mexicos national and foreign policy priorities. She stressed that Mexicos feminist foreign policy seeks to integrate a gender perspective across all areas of diplomatic work  consular, bilateral, and multilateral  with the objective of eliminating structural inequalities and promoting a more just and equitable society.

Ambassador Romero highlighted the shared vision between the Embassy and its partners in Azerbaijan:

When I met Ms Kamala many months ago and learned about her organisations mission, I immediately recognised our common priorities  not only in protecting women and girls in Mexico, but in standing with women everywhere. It is not a matter of nationality. We work for the well-being of our citizens, of course, but we believe in supporting any girl or woman who needs help.

She noted that Mexico has implemented numerous policies to ensure the safety and rights of women, and that the newly presented brochure aligns closely with these commitments and diplomatic obligations. The Ambassador also expressed gratitude to all partners and stakeholders, stressing that progress in womens rights can only be achieved through collective effort.

I am proud to represent a government where women stand at the centre of public life. As my President, Dr Claudia Sheinbaum, has said: This is the time for women, she added.

Romero called on institutions, civil society, and the international community to continue working together in support of women and girls, particularly those most in need. She thanked attendees for joining the event at the Pacific Alliance space and acknowledged the dedication of her colleagues who contributed to the project.

The event reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Embassy of Mexico and its Azerbaijani partners to strengthening gender equality, supporting survivors of violence, and enhancing access to assistance services.
25 November 2025 16:39 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to His Majesty Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Azernews reports.

''Your Majesty,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend to you, and through you to your entire people, my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Brunei Darussalam.

Over the past thirty years, the friendly relations established between our countries have created favorable opportunities for the development of cooperation in a number of areas of mutual interest.

We are determined to further expand our interstate relations with Brunei Darussalam and to enrich our cooperation with new content. I am confident that we will successfully continue our joint efforts to strengthen ties between Azerbaijan and Brunei Darussalam in the interests of our peoples, and to deepen our cooperation both bilaterally and within multilateral platforms.

Taking this opportunity, I wish you good health, happiness, and every success in your high state activities, as well as lasting prosperity and well-being to your friendly people,'' the letter reads.
25 November 2025 21:33 (UTC+04:00)

At the founding conference of the NGO Platform of the Member States of the Organization of Turkic States, held in Nakhchivan on November 25, a formal decision was adopted appointing Azr Allahveranov as the Platforms Secretary General.

Azernews reports that Allahveranov, a member of the Board of the National NGO Forum of Azerbaijan and a Member of the National Assembly, will lead the newly established platform, which unites civil society representatives from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Hungary, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

It was noted that although representatives from eight different countries participated, everyone is united by a shared Turkic identity, common culture and values, forming a single family in which all feel comfortable, safe and strong. The participants agreed that by acting together, more impactful and effective results can be achieved.

For the first time, representatives of civil society from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Hungary, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus signed a Joint Declaration and established the NGO Platform of the Member States of the Organization of Turkic States.

Azerbaijan was entrusted with the first chairmanship of the new NGO Platform. The Secretary General will rotate depending on which country holds the chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States, and will be selected from distinguished civil society representatives of that country. However, the permanent headquarters of the Platform will be located in Baku.

This represents a historic achievement and a new demonstration of the rapid development of Azerbaijani NGOs in recent years, whose initiatives have gained broad international support.

The announcement of the NGO Platform of the Member States of the Organization of Turkic States was welcomed with applause by representatives from all member countries.
25 November 2025 18:22 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Armenia will not participate in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit scheduled to take place in Bishkek on November 27, Azernews reports via TASS Agency.

The announcement was made by Yuri Ushakov, assistant to the President of Russia. Ushakov noted that although Armenia will not attend the summit, the country does not object to the adoption of documents previously agreed upon within the CSTO framework.

He also added that Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a traditional press briefing following the visit.

The summit is expected to be attended by the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, as well as the current chairman of the CSTO Collective Security Council, Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov.

Tensions between Armenia and the CSTO have escalated over the past two years. In early 2023, Yerevan refused to host CSTO military exercises. In February 2024, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia was freezing its participation in the organization, arguing that the CSTO failed to meet its security obligations to Armenia in 2021 and 2022.

In May 2024, Armenia halted funding for CSTO programs. Although the organization confirmed it was aware of the decision, it maintained that Armenia remains a CSTO member.

In June, Pashinyan publicly declared Armenias intention to withdraw from the CSTO, stating, There will be no turning back.

Armenia has intensified its political and security ties with the United States, signing a strategic partnership charter earlier this year and launching discussions on nuclear energy cooperation.

Relations between Yerevan and the Russian-led bloc have deteriorated significantly, with Armenia accusing the CSTO of failing to respond during the period when Russian peacekeepers were stationed in Garabagh and adjacent regions.
25 November 2025 22:45 (UTC+04:00)

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Has the City of Washington, NC been managed by their elected local government, and their bureaucrats, in a fiscally responsible manner to better serve the people who pay their ever advancing property taxes?

0% Yes, rising property taxes are a necessity to maintain a progressive city.100% No, excessive funding of a poorly managed government can become a shell game of corruption.0% I am afraid to say.
Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been cleared of harassing a transgender activist on social media but found guilty of criminal damage of their mobile phone outside a conference in London last year.
Council deeply saddened by theft of more than 600 items from museum collection
A Belfast man allegedly used a vulnerable young woman over a four-year period by providing her with drugs in exchange for sex, the High Court has heard.

Thomas Crossey, 56, also arranged to have up to 25 other men pay him to sleep with her at his flat in the city, it was claimed.
Stormonts Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said the DUP had failed to block her policy (Liam McBurney/PA)

Sinn Fein and DUP ministers have clashed following an Executive meeting over a decision to block trade talks with Israel.

The DUP was unable to overturn Sinn Fein Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibalds policy following a vote of ministers.

But DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly accused Ms Archibald of making politically-motivated trade policy and said the issue should come back to the powersharing Executive for approval before it is implemented.

DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly accused Ms Archibald of making politically-motivated trade policy (Liam McBurney/PA)

Last month the Economy Minister made a written statement to the Assembly after commissioning a review to establish if businesses in receipt of Invest NI grant funding had links to Israeli arms.

The minister announced a series of measures she said would eliminate any risk of public funds being used to support the manufacture of arms or components that are used for genocide.

The steps included a commitment that her department will not engage in the British Governments trade talks with Israel while it continues to illegally occupy and impose apartheid on Palestine.

The DUP then launched a move in the Assembly to have the matter referred to the wider Stormont Executive for discussion.

After their petition gathered more than 30 signatures, it was referred to the Executive where it was discussed by ministers on Tuesday.

The four Sinn Fein ministers were joined by the two Alliance ministers in supporting the decision taken by Ms Archibald.

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Archibald said: The DUP failed in their attempt to block my decision.

That decision was about ensuring there is no enabling of the genocide against the people of Gaza.

She added: As Economy Minister I am determined to do everything in my power to defend human rights, to uphold international law and support the defenceless people of Gaza and Palestine who are suffering the horrors of genocide and forced starvation.

No minister and no administration should be enabling genocide and I dont think that is something that should have to come to the Executive and that was the view of the majority in the Executive this morning.

However, Ms Little-Pengelly said the Executive discussion showed there was clear division over the issue.

She said: The challenge for the minister, in terms of trying to implement the policy she has set out, she needs to bring forward those matters to the Executive for consideration and agreement.

We cannot have a situation where our Economy Minister is setting down politically-motivated trade policy because Israel today, what next?

There are processes and safeguards there for this. This is a matter which of course should come to the Executive, I think it is absolutely inarguable that the issue is controversial, there is no doubt there is a potentially huge impact of this.

The deputy First Minister accused Ms Archibald of political grandstanding.

The Economy Minister is also facing a legal challenge over her bid to exclude Northern Ireland from any involvement in trade talks between the UK and Israel.

The pre-action protocol letter has been issued by pro-union think tank Unionist Voice Policy Studies (UVPS).

The group says that as international trade policy is not a devolved issue, Ms Archibald has no authority to act on the matter.
A Bill is seeking to rename Dublin airport after former taoiseach Sean Lemass (PA)

A Bill to rename Dublin airport after former taoiseach Sean Lemass is to be introduced in the Dail on Tuesday.

Put forward by Fianna Fails Malcom Byrne, it seeks to have the airport named Sean Lemass Dublin International Airport.

The TD for South Wicklow and North Wexford said in a statement the move was to recognise Mr Lemasss transformative contribution to modern Ireland.

He said: Dublin Airport is Irelands gateway to the world. It should bear the name of a leader who helped open that gateway in the first place.

Sean Lemass oversaw the development of our aviation sector, championed national infrastructure, and laid the foundations for the open, outward-looking Ireland we know today.

US President John F Kennedy with Taoiseach Sean Lemass at the American Embassy in Dublin in 1963 (PA)

A veteran of the 1916 rising, Civil War and War of Independence, the Fianna Fail politician represented constituencies in South Dublin for more than forty years.

He served as taoiseach between 1959 and 1966 and is recognised as opening Ireland to foreign trade in the 1950s and leading the country in its efforts to join the European Economic Community (EEC), a precursor to the European Union.

Mr Byrne has pointed to a number of other international airports named after high-profile leaders including: Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport in France, John F Kennedy International Airport in New York and Montreal Trudeau International Airport in Canada.

He added: Lemass stood for progress, ambition, and opportunity. Renaming the airport in his honour would reflect both our pride in his legacy and our confidence in Irelands future.
Woman set on fire as she answered door of Dublin home may not have been intended target

The woman is in a critical condition in hospital after suffering horrific burn injuries to her face and upper body

The man, aged in his 30s, was arrested and was charged on Tuesday morning, November 25, in connection with an investigation into a fatal assault which took place in the city in August. (stock image)

Ken Foy and Robin Schiller Tue 25 Nov 2025 at 22:30

Detectives believe a woman (43) who suffered serious burn injuries when she was set on fire as she answered the door to her home may not have been the primary target of the attack.
The far-right leader had been under house arrest since August (Luis Nova/AP)

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has started his 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt, to the surprise of many in the South American nation who doubted he would ever end up behind bars.

Supreme court justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has overseen the case, ruled Bolsonaro will remain in custody after being pre-emptively arrested on Saturday.

The far-right leader had been under house arrest since August and was taken to federal police headquarters on Saturday after trying to break his ankle monitor.

Bolsonaro blamed hallucinations, a claim that Justice de Moraes dismissed in his pre-emptive arrest order.

Bolsonaro will not have any contact with the few other inmates at the federal police headquarters. His 12-square-metre room has a bed, a private bathroom, air conditioning, a TV set and a desk, according to federal police.

The supreme court justice determined on Tuesday that Bolsonaros defence had exhausted all appeals of his conviction. His lawyers had requested house arrest due to his poor health, but the judge ruled against it.

The coup plot included plans to kill President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Misper Apawu/AP)

Brazils criminal law could also have allowed the 70-year-old to be transferred to a local prison or to a prison room in a military facility in the capital Brasilia.

The former president and several of his allies were convicted by a panel of supreme court justices for attempting to overthrow Brazils democracy following his 2022 election defeat.

The plot included plans to kill President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Justice de Moraes. The plan also involved encouraging an insurrection in early 2023.

The former president was also found guilty of charges including leading an armed criminal organisation and attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law.

Bolsonaro has always denied wrongdoing.

Two others convicted, Augusto Heleno and Paulo Sergio Nogueira, both army generals, were sent to a military facility in Brasilia to start serving their sentences. Former justice minister Anderson Torres is now imprisoned at the Papuda prison, also in Brazils capital.

Admiral Almir Garnier will serve his term at navy facilities in Brasilia.

Bolsonaros running mate and former defense minister Walter Braga Netto, another army general, will remain in prison at a military facility in Rio de Janeiro.

Justice de Moraes also confirmed that politician and former head of Brazils intelligence agency Alexandre Ramagem is on the loose in the US.

Bolsonaro remains a key figure in Brazilian politics, despite being ineligible to run for office until at least until 2030 after a separate ruling by Brazils top electoral court. Polls show he would be a competitive candidate in next years vote if allowed to run.

Jair Bolsonaro is an ally of US president Donald Trump (Evan Vucci/AP)

The former president is an ally of US president Donald Trump, who has called the trial of the former Brazilian leader a witch hunt.

Bolsonaro was mentioned in a July order by the US administration to raise tariffs on several Brazilian exports by 50%.

Relations between the two countries have improved since, with Mr Lula and Mr Trump meeting in Malaysia at the Asean summit in October. Most of those higher tariffs have been dropped.

The US also imposed sanctions on Justice de Moraes and other Brazilian officials.

The measures in support of Bolsonaro did not have their desired effect and the trial proceeded nevertheless.

Mr Lulas popularity was boosted by the perception that he was defending Brazilian sovereignty.

Bolsonaro is not the first former president to spend time behind bars.

His predecessor Michel Temer (2016-2018) and his successor Mr Lula have also been to prison.

Fernando Collor de Mello, who governed between 1990 and 1992, is currently under house arrest due to a corruption conviction.

Bolsonaro is the first to be convicted of attempting a coup.
European Union legislators voted on Tuesday to deepen integration of the blocs defence industry with Ukraine as US peace plan talks continue and Russias unconventional warfare operations rattle the 27-nation bloc.

Members of the European Parliament voted 457-148, with 33 abstentions, to approve a 1.5-billion euro (1.3 billion) programme, with 300 million euros (262 million) slated for the Ukraine Support Instrument.

Raphael Glucksmann, an EU politician from Frances S&D party, said the defence programme will enable us to build a more resilient and sovereign Europe through partnering with Ukraine to build a cutting-edge military industrial complex.

This is key to making sure we can protect our democracies effectively and autonomously, he said.

Ukrainian soldiers with the Kraken 1654 unit in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

Ukraines defence industry needs us, EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius told EU legislators before the vote in Strasbourg, France, without mentioning the ongoing peace negotiations to end the war.

But we need Ukraines defence innovations even more.

He said that allowing Ukrainian access to the EUs Defence Investment Programme makes it possible to procure defence equipment in, with and for Ukraine.

EU defence spending is expected to total around 392 billion euros (more than 342 billion) this year, almost double the amount of four years ago, before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24 2022.

The Trump administration has signalled that it is prioritising US security on its own domestic borders and in Asia. It has told Europeans that they must fend for themselves and Ukraine in the future.

Born out of the carnage of the two world wars, the EU started as a trading bloc designed to avert conflict. But Russias war in Ukraine has spurred a shift in the Brussels-based bloc, heightening its defence and security posture.

The European Commission, the EUs executive branch, believes that about 3.4 trillion euros (3 trillion) will probably be spent on defence over the next decade. To help, it intends to propose boosting the EUs long-term budget for defence and space to 131 billion euros (116 billion).

We shall be powerful geopolitically if we shall be strong in our defence, and we shall be strong in defence if we shall be strong in our defence industry, and if we shall be strong in our defence industry, we shall be industrially independent, autonomous and much less fragmented, Mr Kubilius said.

EU member countries are being urged to buy much of their military equipment within the bloc, working mostly with European suppliers  in some cases with EU help to cut prices and speed up orders.

Under the road map, EU nations should purchase equipment from abroad only when costs, performance or supply delays make it preferable.

Mr Kubilius said EU-based defence companies can apply for tax breaks and other financial incentives to fund so-called European defence projects of common interest that no member state can ever build alone, but that will protect the whole of Europe, such as Eastern Flank Watch, Drone Defence Initiative or Space Shield.

Permitting Ukrainian companies to participate in these projects allows us to inject Ukrainian military innovation in the European defence industry, he said.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, with European commissioner for defence and space Andrius Kubilius at EU headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday (Virginia Mayo/AP)

Last week, the European Commission rolled out a new defence package to allow tanks and troops to deploy more rapidly across Europe as well as the EU Defence Industry Transformation Roadmap, which aims to simplify and unify regulations on the EUs defence industry, and corral investment into domestic production of weapons, vehicles, satellites, shells and bullets.

Before the vote, Mr Kubilius said that the defence programme is meant to make sure big nations cannot seize territories of weaker nations.

My country Lithuania was really a victim of such previous policies prevailing in the European continent, he said, referring to the Soviet occupation of Lithuania for 50 years.

That is why I am for a strong Europe and a strong European defence industry.
Russia launched a wave of attacks on Ukraine on Tuesday, killing at least seven people in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure.

Water, electricity and heating were knocked out in parts of the capital, Kyiv. Video footage posted to Telegram showed a large fire spreading in a nine-storey residential building in Kyivs eastern district of Dniprovskyi.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were killed and five injured in Dniprovskyi and another residential building in the central Pechersk district was badly damaged.

In a subsequent wave of attacks, four people were killed and three were injured in a strike on a non-residential building in Kyivs western Svyatoshynyi district, according to the head of Kyiv city administration, Tymor Tkachenko.

Ukraines energy ministry also said infrastructure had been hit, without describing the extent of the damage. Ukraines emergency services said six people, including two children, were injured in a Russian attack on energy and port infrastructure in Odesa region.

Three people were killed and eight more were wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russias southern Rostov region overnight. The casualties occurred in the city of Taganrog not far from the border with Ukraine, governor Yuri Slyusar said.

Rescue workers carry a person from a residential building following a Russian attack in Kyiv (Dan Bashakov/AP)

The attack damaged private houses and multi-storey residential blocks, unspecified social facilities, a warehouse and a paint shop, Mr Slyusar said.

Russia fired 22 missiles of various types and over 460 drones at Ukraine overnight, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram, noting that four drones flew into Romania and Moldova.

Romania and Moldova reported that a handful of drones violated their airspace, with one each landing on the two countries soil.

Whats crucial now is for all partners to move toward diplomacy together, through joint efforts. Pressure on Russia must inevitably work, Mr Zelensky wrote.

He said that the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable and he planned to discuss sensitive outstanding issues with President Donald Trump.

Rustem Umerov, a senior adviser to Mr Zelensky, wrote on social platform X on Tuesday that the Ukrainian leader hoped to finalise a deal with Mr Trump at the earliest suitable date in November.

Russian air defences destroyed 249 Ukrainian drones overnight above various regions, including occupied Crimea, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. The majority of the drones  116  were shot down over the Black Sea, according to the defence ministry.

The attacks followed talks between US and Ukraine representatives in Geneva on Sunday about a US-Russia brokered peace plan.

People watch as emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kyiv (Dan Bashakov/AP)

Oleksandr Bevz, a delegate from the Ukrainian side, told The Associated Press the talks had been very constructive and the two sides were able to discuss most points.

He said the numbers of points in the proposed settlement was reduced but he denied reports the 28-point US peace plan now consisted of 19 points.

(The document) is going to continue to change. We can confirm that it was reduced to take out points not relating to Ukraine, to exclude duplicates and for editing purposes, Mr Bevz told The Associated Press, adding that some points relating solely to relations between Russia and the US were excluded.

Russian officials have been reserved in their comments on the peace plan. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow is in touch with US officials about peace efforts.

We expect them to provide us with a version they consider an interim one in terms of completing the phase of co-ordinating this text with the Europeans and the Ukrainians, Mr Lavrov said.

US army secretary Dan Driscoll met Russian officials for several hours in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday after the Trump administration jump-started negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, a US official confirmed to The Associated Press.

Mr Driscoll, who became part of the US negotiating team less than two weeks ago, is now heading up the latest phase of talks involving the terms of a possible peace plan with Russia.

The US official said the Ukrainians were aware of the meeting.

They would not offer details on how long the negotiations were expected to last or what topics were being discussed but noted all sides have indicated they wanted to reach a deal to halt the fighting as quickly as possible.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that the US-brokered peace plan goes in the right direction but also cautioned it must not be a capitulation enabling Russia to later renew hostilities.

The French head of state said any peace deal with Moscow must include robust security guarantees for Ukraine and, more widely, for Europe and he insisted the size of Ukraines armed forces should not be restricted so it can defend the country in peacetime.

We want peace but we dont want a peace that is, in fact, a capitulation. That is to say it puts Ukraine in an impossible position, that in the end gives Russia the freedom to keep going, to go further, Mr Macron said.

Peace proposals that Ukraine has been discussing with Trump administration envoys and European allies go in the right direction: peace but parts of it need to be improved, he said.

No one can replace the Ukrainians in saying which territorial concessions they are prepared to make, said the French leader, who sounded sceptical about the plans chances of success. Theres only one person who doesnt want peace  its Russia.
President Donald Trump and wife Melania, stand next to national Thanksgiving turkey Gobble during a pardoning ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

The president has pardoned two North Carolina turkeys, Gobble and Waddle  although Waddle was missing for the Rose Garden ceremony.

Gobble, I just want to tell you this  very important  you are hereby unconditionally pardoned, Mr Trump said, drawing applause from the crowd.

Who would want to harm this beautiful bird, Mr Trump was overheard saying. It was not initially clear what had happened to Waddle, the second turkey set for reprieve.

Waddle, by the way, is missing in action, but thats OK, well pretend Waddle is here, Mr Trump said.

Waddle, one of the Thanksgiving turkeys, stands in the White House press briefing room on Tuesday (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

Waddle was later pictured in the White House press briefing room.

As he was participating in the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon ceremony at the White House, Mr Trump claimed that former president Joe Biden had used an autopen for last years turkey pardon, which he claimed therefore made them totally invalid.

He went on to joke that Peach and Blossom, the turkeys pardoned by Mr Biden, were on their way to be processed, but that he was officially pardoning them along with this years birds.
The US presidents plan for ending the nearly four-year war emerged last week (Evan Vucci/AP)

US president Donald Trump said his plan to end the war in Ukraine has been fine-tuned and that he is sending envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin and army secretary Dan Driscoll to meet Ukrainian officials.

Mr Trump suggested he could eventually meet with Mr Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, but not until further progress had been made in negotiations.

I will be briefed on all progress made, along with vice president JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, secretary of war Pete Hegseth, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Mr Trump added in the social media posting.

I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelensky and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this war is FINAL or, in its final stages.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, left, met US secretary of the army Dan Driscoll in Kyiv last week (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Mr Trump spoke after Mr Driscoll held talks late on Monday and throughout Tuesday with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to discuss the emerging proposal.

The talks are going well and we remain optimistic, Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Tolbert, spokesman for the army secretary, said in a statement.

As the talks were taking place, Russia launched a wave of overnight attacks on Ukraines capital, Kyiv, with at least seven people killed in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure.

A Ukrainian attack on southern Russia killed three people and damaged homes, authorities said.

Still, Mr Trump expressed a measure of optimism that his administrations diplomatic efforts could soon lead to a breakthrough.

Vladimir Putins envoy Kirill Dmitriev, left, and Donald Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff pictured earlier this year (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Witkoff, a real estate developer turned diplomat, has been Mr Trumps chief interlocutor with Mr Putin, while Mr Driscoll, who is close to Mr Vance, has stepped up his involvement in the administrations peace push in recent days.

Mr Trumps plan for ending the nearly four-year war emerged last week. It heavily favoured Russia, prompting Mr Zelensky to quickly engage with American negotiators. European leaders, fearing for their own future facing Russian aggression but apparently sidelined by Mr Trump in drawing up the proposal, scrambled to steer the negotiations towards accommodating their concerns.

I think were getting very close to a deal. Well find out, Mr Trump said in an aside during the annual White House turkey pardon, a typically light-hearted annual event to mark the Thanksgiving holiday in the US.

He added: I thought that would have been an easier one, but I think were making progress.

French president Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that peace efforts were gathering momentum and are clearly at a crucial juncture.

He spoke after senior US and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva on Sunday and a virtual coalition-of-the-willing meeting of Ukraines European allies took place on Tuesday. Mr Rubio took part in both gatherings.

French president Emmanuel Macron, second left, took part in a virtual coalition-of-the-willing meeting on Tuesday (Teresa Saurez, Pool Photo via AP)

Negotiations are getting a new impetus. And we should seize this momentum, he said during the video-conference meeting of countries, led by France and the UK, that could help police any ceasefire with Russia.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said of the talks: I do think we are moving in a positive direction and indications today that in large part the majority of the text, (Mr Zelensky) is indicating, can be accepted.

But Oleksandr Bevz, one of the Ukrainian delegates at the Geneva talks, cautioned it was very premature to say that something is agreed upon.

In an interview with The Associated Press (AP) in Kyiv late on Tuesday, he declined to discuss the specifics of any amendments to Mr Trumps plan, but said the US was aware that the strength of security guarantees for Ukraine would define the sustainability of the deal and was the part making this deal real and enforceable.

Mr Bevz told the AP earlier that the number of points in the proposed settlement was reduced, but he denied reports that the 28-point US peace plan now consisted of 19 points.

(The document) is going to continue to change. We can confirm that it was reduced to take out points not relating to Ukraine, to exclude duplicates and for editing purposes, Mr Bevz said, adding that some points relating solely to relations between Russia and the US were excluded.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the coalition-of-the-willing meeting showed solid and encouraging progress on a peace deal in Ukraine, while criticising Moscows latest attack on Kyiv and drone incursions in Romania and Moldova.

Since pressure remains the only language Russia responds to, we will continue to increase it until there is a genuine willingness to engage on a credible path toward peace, she said.

A residential building was heavily damaged in a Russian strike on Kyiv overnight (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Mr Zelensky said late on Monday that the list of necessary steps to end the war can become workable.

He said he planned to discuss sensitive outstanding issues with Mr Trump.

Rustem Umerov, a senior adviser to Mr Zelensky, posted on X on Tuesday that the Ukrainian president hoped to finalise a deal with Mr Trump at the earliest suitable date in November.

Russian officials have been reserved in their comments on the peace plan.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow was in touch with US officials about peace efforts.

We expect them to provide us with a version they consider an interim one in terms of completing the phase of co-ordinating this text with the Europeans and the Ukrainians, Mr Lavrov said.

European leaders have cautioned that the road to peace will be long.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, shakes hands with US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll in Kyiv (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

A renewed US push to end the war between Russia and Ukraine is gathering momentum, although some of the key issues remain unresolved, officials said on Tuesday.

The update was issued hours after Russia launched a wave of overnight attacks on Ukraines capital, Kyiv, with at least seven people killed in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure.

A Ukrainian attack on southern Russia killed three people and damaged homes, authorities said.

Over the past week, the United States has made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X.

There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States.

US President Donald Trumps peace plan emerged last week (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

US President Donald Trumps plan for ending the nearly four-year war emerged last week. It heavily favoured Russia, prompting Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky to engage quickly with American negotiators.

European leaders, fearing for their own future amid Russian aggression but apparently sidelined by Mr Trump in drawing up the proposals, scrambled to steer the negotiations toward accommodating their concerns.

Senior US and Ukrainian officials said progress was made at talks in Geneva held on Sunday towards ending the war.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday peace efforts are gathering momentum and are clearly at a crucial juncture.

Negotiations are getting a new impetus. And we should seize this momentum, he said during a video conference meeting of countries, led by France and the UK, that could help police any ceasefire with Russia.

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Allies of Ukraine  the so-called coalition of the willing  have pledged to underwrite and guarantee any ceasefire.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said of the talks: I do think we are moving in a positive direction and indications today that in large part the majority of the text, (Zelensky) is indicating, can be accepted.

During the annual White House turkey pardon to mark the Thanksgiving holiday, Mr Trump said: I think were getting very close to a deal. Well find out.

He added: I thought that would have been an easier one, but I think were making progress.

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met Russian officials for several hours in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, a US official told The Associated Press.

Mr Driscoll, who became part of the American negotiating team less than two weeks ago, is heading up the latest phase of talks involving the terms of a possible peace settlement with Russia.

The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations, declined to give details on how long the negotiations would last or what topics were being discussed, but noted that the Ukrainians were aware of the meeting and all sides have indicated they wanted to reach a deal to halt the fighting as quickly as possible.

Oleksandr Bevz, one of the Ukrainian delegates at the Geneva talks, said that the numbers of points in the proposed settlement was reduced, but he denied reports that the 28-point US peace plan now consisted of 19 points.

(The document) is going to continue to change. We can confirm that it was reduced to take out points not relating to Ukraine, to exclude duplicates and for editing purposes, Mr Bevz told the AP, adding that some points relating solely to relations between Russia and the US were excluded.

Based on talks between Washington and Moscow, the 28-point plan presented to Ukraine called on it to cede its entire eastern Donbas region to Russia.

The plan would put a 600,000-person limit on Ukraines military and bar Ukraine or any other new member from Nato. It also would rule out Nato troops in Ukraine and does not commit the US or European nations to Ukraines defence if Russia attacks again.

For its part, Russia would commit to no more attacks on Ukraine, facing sanctions if it violates that.

Ukraine and its European allies have said the plan rewards Russian aggression.

The Europeans and the Ukrainians offered counterproposals aimed at shifting the balance toward Ukraine, such as lifting the cap on Ukraines military power, leaving open the question of future NATO membership and postponing discussions of territorial concessions until after a ceasefire.

Mr Zelensky said late on Monday that the list of necessary steps to end the war can become workable. He said that he planned to discuss sensitive outstanding issues with Mr Trump.

Rustem Umerov, a senior adviser to Mr Zelensky, posted on X on Tuesday that Mr Zelensky hoped to finalise a deal with Mr Trump at the earliest suitable date in November.

Russian officials have been reserved in their comments on the peace plan. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow is in touch with US officials about peace efforts.

We expect them to provide us with a version they consider an interim one in terms of completing the phase of co-ordinating this text with the Europeans and the Ukrainians, Mr Lavrov said.

European leaders have cautioned that the road to peace will be long.

Russia fired 22 missiles of various types and more than 460 drones at Ukraine overnight, Mr Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

The strikes knocked out water, electricity and heat in parts of Kyiv. Images showed a large fire spreading in a nine-story residential building in Kyivs eastern Dniprovskyi district.

People watch as emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kyiv (Dan Bashakov/AP)

Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said 20 people were wounded in Kyiv. The Russian Defence Ministry said that it targeted military-industrial facilities and energy assets. The strikes were a response to Ukrainian attacks on civilian objects in Russia, the ministry said.

Liubov Petrivna, a 90-year-old resident of a damaged building in the Dniprovskyi district, told the AP that absolutely everything in her apartment was shattered by the strike and glass rained down on her.

No one will ever do anything about it, she said. Russian President Vladimir Putin wont stop until he finishes us off.

The overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Russias southern region of Krasnodar was one of the longest and most massive and wounded six people, governor Veniamin Kondratyev said.

Russian air defences destroyed 249 Ukrainian drones overnight above various Russian regions and the occupied Crimean Peninsula, the Russian Defence Ministry said Tuesday.

Ukraine said that its drones and missiles struck an aviation repair plant and a drone production facility, as well as an oil refinery and an oil terminal.

It was the fourth-largest Ukrainian drone attack on Russia since the start of the war on February 24 2022, according to an AP tally.
Leesa Harker suffered string of knockbacks but now has multiple projects in pipeline

Award-winning writer and producer Leesa Harker contemplated working as a taxi driver after a series of knockbacks made her question her future.

The north Belfast woman, who created the hilarious Maggie Muff character and worked as a trainee script editor and writer on the BBCs Hope Street, applied to be an Uber driver at the start of last year, fearing her creative career had plateaued.
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BENNINGTON  A convicted habitual offender most recently charged with domestic assault in 2022, while already out on probation for a prior domestic assault charge in 2015, was released on supervision Tuesday following his sentencing hearing.

George Murphy, 54, was already out on furlough on a domestic assault dating back to 2015 when he re-offended again in 2022 by choking his domestic partner.

In a Bennington courtroom Tuesday morning, Murphy, who pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aggravated domestic assault, was officially sentenced after a plea deal was reached earlier this year. Murphy was sentenced, according to Department of Corrections calculations, to 166 days to 20 years behind bars. Since Murphy had been held without bail for at least that duration, Bennington Probation and Parole released him yet again on probation following the hearing.

The official sentence negotiated in the plea deal was a 6-year to 20-year prison sentence, but both the Department of Corrections and Bennington Parole and Probation control how any actual sentence will be served  whether in confinement or on probation. In all, Murphy was credited with 185 days behind bars since his arrest, enough time for an immediate release on supervision.

If Murphy breaks his conditions of probation again, he can be required to serve up to the remaining maximum sentence. That scenario could have technically happened when he broke his probation with the 2015 conviction by reoffending, but it did not. According to the Department of Corrections locator website, he is no longer in any correctional facility in Vermont.

Initially, our understanding was that, after sentencing, he would go back into corrections, Bennington Assistant States Attorney Jared Bianchi said, but there was some confusion between corrections and parole and probation on how they were going to treat this.

The Parole and Probation Board is an entirely separate entity, an independent body according to Bianchi. The Board can parole or furlough an individual despite the intentions of any plea deal or sentence, according to internal criteria based on minimum sentences and credit for any time served.

If he (Murphy) is in the community, thats the result of a decision that we do not control, Bianchi said. "They could have re-confined him if they chose, but thats not in the hands of prosecutors.

According to a court affidavit in the case, police arrived on Main Street in Bennington on December 8, 2022, after a 911 call recorded what sounded like a cellphone in an individuals pocket, which picked up some kind of argument. At one point, a female took the phone out and stated the Main Street address, then hung up the line.

Police arrived to find Murphy and a woman inside the apartment. When they asked Murphy if anyone had called 911, Murphy told police that no one had. As he was speaking with officers, a woman behind Murphy started shaking her head, yes, according to the affidavit. Police spoke separately with the woman, who told them that they needed to get her out of there, after Murphy had reportedly strangled her after drinking, accusing the woman of being unfaithful. The victim was grabbed by the throat and thrown to the ground, according to the affidavit. She stated she was in fear for her life. Murphy also reportedly told the victim that he would shoot her in the head and beat her. Officers noted red marks around her neck.

Murphy was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of domestic assault, aggravated domestic assault, and aggravated domestic assault with a prior conviction, all felonies. Murphy was charged as a habitual offender after having been convicted of at least three prior felonies in Vermont. He faced a possible life sentence if he were convicted on either of the two charges.

Murphy was convicted of aggravated assault in 2016. He was also convicted of aggravated domestic assault in 1995. He has 11 prior failures to appear violations and 37 violations of court-ordered conditions of release. As noted, Murphy was already under supervision when he re-offended in December 2022.

The case has a long, delay-riddled history over the past three years. At one point, Murphy requested a bench trial, giving up his right to a jury trial. Later, Murphy changed his mind and requested a jury trial, which was ultimately granted. He has also switched lawyers at least three times, further delaying the case. He was all set to go to a jury trial when he once again requested a continuance and ultimately agreed to the plea deal.

If Murphy re-offends while on furlough, he can, but will not be required to, serve his 20-year maximum sentence. That decision will rest with the DOC and the Department of Parole and Probation.
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Jennifer Huberdeau is the features editor at The Berkshire Eagle. She can be reached at jhuberdeau@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6229.
LANESBOROUGH  For years, the owners of the Berkshire Mall have complained about the taxes the owner pays to the Baker Hill Road District, a local taxing authority over the mall property.

Now, the owner, JMJ RE Holdings, has made an offer to the town: a $1.25 million loan to the town repayable as a tax incremental rebate over 10 years  in exchange for the dissolution of the Baker Hill Road District.

Established in 1989 through home rule petition, the Baker Hill Road District was formed to finish paying for the Berkshire Mall Connector Road. The district boundaries encompass the road and the eight parcels that make up the area owned by the Berkshire Mall and Target. The district collects taxes to pay for its own administrative expenses, the maintenance of the road and contracts with the town for public safety, public works and tax collection.

When it bought the mall in 2023, JMJ RE Holdings planned to operate an indoor grow facility for cannabis at the mall. Now, it plans to demolish most of the structure and replace it with a senior housing community that will also include retail.

The Baker Hill Road District is suing JMJ over nonpayment of taxes. And JMJ has made a detailed complaint to the Massachusetts inspector general over financial practices of the Baker Hill Road District.

Starved by the lack of income from the mall owner, the Baker Hill Road District plans to pay the town just $340,573.15 of its current fiscal year obligation of $468,010. To pay that amount, the district will dip into its reserves.

Tim Grogan, a consultant for JMJ RE Holdings, explained what the town wants if the Baker Hill Road District is dissolved.

They want to be as risk averse as possible, and essentially that means plugging the whole gap of what they imagine their budgetary shortfall is, Grogan said.

Whats the payoff for JMJ? Taxable value capped at $20.5 million for the 10 years of the tax incremental rebate, and something else.

We're not going to see a courtroom until probably the middle of 2027, which means there's going to be no development on the site, Grogan said. And I think there's this huge misconception that somehow us keeping the mall in this state is somehow, some sort of tax haven that we're making money off it now.

And it couldn't be farther from the truth, he said. It's a very simple thing; we can't make money, make this property profitable until we develop it.

He said the exact details of the length of the tax incremental financing have yet to be worked out, but that the initial payout of the loan would follow the Select Board's endorsement and a town meeting vote to dissolve the Baker Hill Road District, potentially next year.

The Select Board heard JMJ's proposal at its meeting on Monday  along with a proposal from Mark Siegars, attorney for the Baker Hill Road District, who said Target is willing to work with the town on a redevelopment plan for the mall provided the town takes the property by eminent domain. Siegars asked the board to establish a working group.

Select Board Chair Deborah Maynard made no commitment to Siegars and told Grogan she wouldn't approve a plan that would hold the taxable value of the mall property at $20.5 million for 10 years.

Select Board member Jason Breault said having input from Target would be needed prior to moving forward on any plan.

Select Board member Michael Murphy offered no commitment to either plan.

After the Baker Hill Road District warned the town that it would not meet its obligation, the Select Board appointed a working group to look at financial projections of how the town will operate without revenue from the district for the next five years under different scenarios.

Lyndon Moors, Finance Committee chair, served on that working group and projected scenarios.

I think it's a real inflection point for the town, Moors said. I think there's a lot of careful projection and goal setting and some long-term planning that has to be done.

The working group calculated a $1.16 million gap over three years if the state assumes maintenance of the Connector Road and the Baker Hill Road District were to be dissolved.

Moors said JMJ's made a proposal  a $700,000 upfront payment without a tax incremental rebate  that seemed on its face pretty unrealistic.

Having an upfront loan of $1.25 million might make a difference.

I think its in the ballpark, he said, adding that the details make a difference. It would give us some insurance over the next several fiscal years. It would avoid a catastrophic challenge to our budget on the income side.

Lanesboroughs current budget of $13.7 million depends on the Baker Hill Road District for support in the following ways this year:

 $322,825 for two fulltime police officers

 $40,000 toward the cost of a police cruiser

 $143,985 for the Department of Public Works toward the maintenance of the connector road

 $50,000 for the Fire Departments fire truck fund

 $1,200 for town collector services

In addition, Moors pointed out that the Baker Hill Road District has offered insulation to the town with maybe some out-of-town, less-than-motivated property owners that we've seen through our history.

He also pointed out that if the mall owner doesnt pay taxes, the Baker Hill Road District wont be able to contribute at the same level it is now.

If they are not funded, they will run out, he said. I think they've made a decision based on prudence at this point, and they made that level of commitment to the town for our current fiscal year, but of course, it puts everything in jeopardy for future fiscal years if they are not funded.

Maynard said she needed a meeting with Town Counsel Jeffrey Blake and the board in executive session to discuss options.
PITTSFIELD  Cacophony ruled in the library of Pittsfield High School on Tuesday evening.

Six drummers, rotating on three drum sets trading fours, while an equal number of keyboardists practiced comping, walking the bass line and soloing on top. Meanwhile, a circle of electric bassists plugged in taking turns on solos while the rest played rhythm.

Each of the students had a difficult role: They had to listen to the musicians within their group while tuning out what the musicians in other groups were doing.

Jazz was the language of the evening, as students from the University of Connecticut shared their knowledge with Berkshire County students ranging from sixth to 12th grade.

These workshops  which also included lessons on guitar, trombone, trumpet and woodwinds in other spaces at the school  came as a result of a collaboration between Berkshires Jazz and Ashley Paradis, band director at Pittsfield High School.

Students in public school jazz bands all over Berkshire County were invited to Tuesdays 90-minute workshop. Two more are scheduled in February and April.

Im a clarinetist, not a saxophonist, so having someone that plays your instrument can really affect how you can hear and change your sound, Paradis said.

At a broader level, Im really passionate about making sure students in Berkshire County are getting experiences because were kind of forgotten about out here, she said. Its kind of important that these students are getting these world-class experiences.

John Mastroianni, assistant professor in residence of jazz studies at the University of Connecticut, brought six of his students to lead classes on their instruments.

Already I have the utmost of respect for all of you, Mastroianni told all 40 students from three school districts  Lenox, Berkshire Hills and Pittsfield. Because youre giving of your time and youre giving of your talents to further develop yourself individually but also to perpetuate the beautiful art form  Americas only true art form  jazz.

His goal and the goal of his students  the master musicians in this setting was to help their younger counterparts develop their skill as individual players and within an ensemble. To that end, tone quality, breathing and exercises were part of the mix on Tuesday, but so were other skills specific to jazz.

What are the three most important elements of jazz? Mastroianni asked the group.

Improvisation, one student said.

Improvisation definitely is a biggie, Mastroianni said. Thats the key element of jazz.

Dynamics, said a second.

Being able to play off of each other, said a third.

Yep, these are all things were going to do, Mastroianni said. But he noted that no one mentioned rhythm.

Nothing means anything unless you play it with good rhythm and good time, he said. So I could take out my saxophone right now and play the coolest licks you ever heard in your life and I could make them sound like the worst thing ever because they wont be in rhythm.

Mastroianni then split the group into three sections. The first clapped on the first beat of a four-beat measure, the second on beat four.

You got the hard job, he told the group in the middle. Youre going to clap on the and of the second beat, referring to the last half of the second beat.

And that made the rhythm swing.

Keep it going. Feel it in your bones, he said, as the clapping continued. Very good. Fantastic. You might think thats really easy. I cant even tell you how many times I do that and it totally falls apart by like the second measure.

Sean Byington, a senior at UConn, was in constant motion, hopping among three drum sets, and occasionally playing along with students to reinforce rhythmic patterns.

He pulled out a page and told the students theres a lot of unwritten material in a jazz chart for a drummer.

Youre supposed to know it, he said. Im here to help you.

As the student drummers took turns playing improvised solos, he told them, I love the ideas; Im hearing such good things.

Afterward, he said different drummers had different levels of skill, but he tried to give each of them something.

I was just trying to get the most out of it for everyone, he said.

Elise Kenney, who plays drums and is a sophomore at Monument Mountain High School, called the workshop a great opportunity to see other students.

Theres not a lot of jazz opportunities, she said.

Jake Keplinger, director of band for Berkshire Hills Regional School District, said he hoped his students would meet other students in other districts, get some specific skills back, and just try to enjoy jazz more.

Ayden Jezak, a senior at Lenox High School, who plays drums, said, I learned a lot about different rudiments and patterns.

Sebastian Rodriguez, a senior at UConn, plans to play music for a living.

Make sure you listen to each other, Rodriguez told three keyboardists as they played together. Try to bounce off each other.

By having the keyboard players work in ensemble, he tried to convey to the students how free jazz can be compared to other forms of music like classical music.

Rodriguez said, In jazz, you can do anything.

Peter Lazes, a board member at Berkshires Jazz Inc., said it was important to him to extend the reach of his organization to the schools, partly because of the skills jazz requires: listening, problem solving and collaboration.

He also pointed to the legacy of jazz in the Berkshires, particularly at the Lenox Jazz School in the late 1950s through 1960, where Dizzy Gillespie, the Oscar Peterson Trio, John Lewis and the Modern Jazz Quartet all taught.

He was delighted to learn two days after the workshop that the Gilson Family Foundation will underwrite costs for this series with a $5,000 grant and is committed to keeping it going in future years. The grant pays for instruction by both Mastroianni and his students, bus transportation for the Berkshire County students and the costs of the musical charts.

I cant wait for the next one, Lazes said. It was moving.
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Jeff Robbins, a part-time resident of Stockbridge, is a former U.S. delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Council and a former assistant U.S. attorney and chief counsel for the Democrats on the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Reach him at Jeffrey.Robbins@saul.com.
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God is with us. It is a short sentence with a deep meaning. The long-awaited Messiah finally makes His entrance to earth in a little town called Bethlehem. He was called Emmanuel which means God with us. Jesus in full humanity came to earth fully man yet fully God.

It is a complex design for our human minds to comprehend. He was perfect. The only human that ever walked the earth with no sin. His coming didnt just rattle the generation of His time. It literally changed everything for eternity. No longer were animals needed to be slaughtered for sin. No longer was a high priest required in the holy of holies. With the death, burial, and resurrection of Emmanuel, the veil was torn from top to bottom and every person gained free access and ability to come to God through Jesus Christ. We gained a living hope who is with us  Emmanuel.

Today, we will unpack how Emmanuel, meaning God with us, changes everything.

1. God with Us from the Beginning

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God (John 1:1-2).

In John we find an interesting account of the Word being with God in the beginning. John was giving a clear message to the Jewish and Gentile audience that the Word was always there, had been there, and would be there.

The Word here is in reference to the Son of God. In ancient culture, God was often referred to as the Word of God, but here we find it as the Word being with God and the Word being God. This implies two separate beings yet the same. Equals yet distinct.

John was setting the stage to introduce the Messiah, Gods Son as Emmanuel, the one who would come to be with His people. This bold proclamation would have shook things up. Some would believe. Some would deny. Some would criticize. Some would crucify. This Word, Jesus, would change the course of life for everyone. Emmanuel was not an afterthought; He is the eternal plan of God made visible.

Photo credit: Getty Images/MKucova
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Pop star Ariana Grande has said acting has helped her heal her relationship to music and touring.

The 32-year old, known for her number one songs Problem, Thank U Next, and 7 Rings, portrays Glinda in the two-part film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Wicked alongside Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey.

After landing the acclaimed role, which has since earned her an Oscar nomination, Grande continued to produce music and released her fifth number one UK album, Eternal Sunshine, which she will tour later next year.

Ariana Grande arriving for the European premiere of Wicked: For Good, at Cineworld Leicester Square in London (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Speaking about the tour, Grande said in an interview with Hollywood star Nicole Kidman for Interview Magazine: I feel really grateful and excited about it in a way that feels so different to me.

Ive just been healing my relationship to music and touring over the past couple of years.

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I spent a lot of time redoing my system when it comes to making music. With Eternal Sunshine, that felt like a very different experience for me.

I think the time away from it helped me reclaim certain pieces of it and put certain feelings that maybe belonged to my relationship to fame, or the things that come with being an artist, in a box somewhere else, and say, OK, I dont have to let go of this thing that I love. I can just put those things over here, and not lose sight of my gifts.

Grande reprised the role of Glinda in the film sequel, Wicked: For Good, which follows the first film, released in November 2024, and sees Elphaba (Erivo) demonised by those in Oz and transformed into the Wicked Witch Of The West, as she is known in L Frank Baums novel about the fantastical world.

Alongside playing Glinda, Grande also stars in the Meet the Fockers sequel, Focker In-Law, alongside Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller.

Ariana Grande attending the MTV Video Music Awards 2025 in New York (Doug Peters/PA)

She said: Ive just been taking baby steps towards healing my relationship to music and touring, and I think my time with Glinda and with acting really helped me build the strength to be able to do that. But I cant express how grateful I am.

I think it just held some traumas for me before, and I feel those dissipating, and that is such an extraordinarily beautiful thing.

Grande rose to fame after starring in the hit Nickelodeon series, Victorious and its spin-off Sam and Cat with her music career taking off in 2013 following the release of her debut album, Yours Truly.

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She has won two Grammy awards and has had seven UK number one singles.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in sequel Wicked: For Good (Jonathan Brady/PA)

She said: There was a tricky adjustment period in the very beginning, when my pop career took off the way that it did.

And I hope this doesnt sound ungrateful, but its just a big adjustment when your life changes in that very drastic way.

The Eternal Sunshine tour will begin in June and take the pop star to venues mostly in North America including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago and Montreal in Canada before wrapping up with five shows at Londons O2 arena in August.

Grande released a deluxe version of the album along with a short film titled Brighter Days Ahead in March 2025.
Lindsey Halligan, a close ally of US president Donald Trump, went before a grand jury in late September seeking criminal charges against a high-profile target: former FBI director James Comey.

Ms Halligan had been appointed interim US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia only a few days prior after Mr Trump publicly vented frustration with the lack of action against some of his top antagonists.

She had no experience as a prosecutor and appeared before the grand jury alone after career staff in her office declined to sign on to the case. She secured an indictment against Mr Comey, but the case almost immediately ran into problems.

Judges began tallying a cascade of legal errors that culminated on Monday with the dismissal of the charges against Mr Comey and a second prosecution against New York attorney general Letitia James, another top Trump target.

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The ruling from US District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie was based on a procedural issue: that Ms Halligans appointment violated a federal law limiting the tenures of interim US attorneys. But it underscored growing pushback in the courts to Mr Trumps demands that the Justice Department use its vast authority to pursue retribution against people who have criticized or investigated the president.

When Trumps bluster and revenge hits the reality of the courtroom, it tends to fall apart, said Randall Eliason, a law professor at George Washington University. When those cases are subjected to scrutiny, it turns out that a lot of other problems are revealed.

The department has vowed to appeal the ruling and can still seek new indictments against Mr Comey and Ms James. Prosecutors have disputed in court filings that Halligan committed legal errors or was motivated by partisan animosity.

I take umbrage at the idea that the work that our prosecutors are doing is weaponisation, deputy attorney general Todd Blanche told a conservative legal conference this month.

The facts of the indictments against Comey and James have not changed and this will not be the final word on this matter," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

The Justice Department declined to comment, referring to its court filings.

Legal errors

The ruling also showed how the Justice Departments own missteps undermined cases Mr Trump and his supporters have demanded.

Qualified prosecutors at the Justice Department "who understand, know and care about the rules are showing themselves unwilling" to carry out Mr Trump's demands, said Kristy Parker, a counsel at Protect Democracy, an advocacy organization that filed several lawsuits against the Trump administration.

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In the Comey case, the grand jury rejected the lead criminal count in the proposed indictment, forcing prosecutors to scramble to draft a new version.

The magistrate judge who received the indictment expressed confusion as to why two different versions of the document were presented in court.

The trial judge, Michael Nachmanoff, later pressed prosecutors on whether the full grand jury had seen the final version of the indictment.

A third judge found that Ms Halligan may have made profound errors before the grand jury, including presenting evidence shielded by legal privileges and misinforming the panel about fundamental elements of the law.

Prosecutors denied in a court filing that any tainted evidence was presented and argued that the judges conclusions were based on assumptions and misinterpretations.

A fourth judge, Currie, found Ms Halligan had no legal authority to bring the Comey and James cases because her appointment was defective. Currie rejected Ms Bondis attempts to shore up the prosecutions by giving Ms Halligan a second title, special US attorney and personally ratifying both indictments weeks after they were brought.

It would mean the Government could send any private citizen off the street  attorney or not  into the grand jury room to secure an indictment so long as the Attorney General gives her approval after the fact, Currie wrote. That cannot be the law.

Stumbling blocks

Federal prosecutors have run into stumbling blocks in other cases important to Mr Trump and his agenda. Grand juries have declined to indict, and trial juries have refused to convict, some people who were charged as part of Mr Trumps law enforcement surge in Washington over the summer.

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A federal judge in Tennessee found that Kilmar Abrego, the Salvadoran migrant wrongly deported by the Trump administration, had made a preliminary showing that his criminal prosecution was retaliatory. Last week, Reuters reported the Justice Department is scrutinising the conduct of two Trump allies who have played a role in its probe of mortgage allegations against Democratic US senator Adam Schiff, another figure Mr Trump has demanded face prosecution.

Probes still pending

Mondays ruling is unlikely to stop the Justice Departments pursuit of Mr Trumps critics and perceived adversaries.

The department has an ongoing case against Mr Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton, who has become a persistent Trump critic, for allegedly sharing classified information. That case was brought with the support of career federal prosecutors in Maryland.

Mr Bolton has pleaded not guilty and called the case an abuse of power.

Prosecutors are also continuing to scrutinize mortgage fraud claims against Mr Schiff and Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, whom Mr Trump is seeking to fire.

Neither has yet been charged and both have denied wrongdoing. The FBI has requested interviews with six Democratic US lawmakers who told members of the military they can legally refuse to carry out unlawful orders in a video message that enraged Mr Trump.

The US Attorneys Office in Miami is scrutinising the intelligence assessment that Russia aimed to aid Mr Trump in the 2016 election, stoking speculation among Trump allies that prosecutors may try to bring cases involving a broad anti-Trump conspiracy.
Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has the flexibility and the incentive to offer crude oil cargoes, which the country mostly sells to China, as a bargaining chip if Venezuela were to hold negotiations with the United States.

US president Donald Trump's administration, which has boosted its military presence in the Caribbean, has said he is open to talks with Maduro, whose government has struggled to lure foreign investment in the country's oilfields amid US sanctions.

The US on Monday formally designated Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organization, increasing pressure on Maduro amid preparations to launch further operations in the coming days, according to sources.

Crude oil leverage

OPEC member Venezuela's oil production has stabilised around 1.1 million barrels per day this year, less than a third of its all-time high in the late 1990s. More than 80 per cent of exports were shipped to China between June and October, according to shipping data.

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Those cargoes, alongside possible operating licences for US companies, could be Maduro's best leverage in any talks, analysts say.

"Sending more oil to the US and protecting US investment in Venezuela is something Maduro can easily offer," said energy analyst Thomas O'Donnell. However, the offer "might not be enough now that Washington has the upper hand," he said, referring to the oil market's current stability and low prices.

Venezuela's oil minister Delcy Rodriguez said on Monday the US has targeted Venezuela because of its vast crude reserves.

"They want Venezuelas oil and gas reserves. For nothing, without paying," she said, having previously noted US Gulf refiners' demand for Venezuela's heavy crude grades. The US mainly produces light oil. Venezuelan oil exports to the US through a license to PDVSA's partner Chevron fell in the third quarter to half the volume of the first quarter.

Venezuela could divert cargoes

Most of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA's supply contracts were suspended when the US hit the country with sanctions in 2019, forcing PDVSA to sell almost all its oil on the spot market at large discounts.

Because PDVSA is no longer committed to long-term supply agreements, it could divert crude cargoes bound for Chinese independent refiners to the US and Europe under a fresh political agreement.

Venezuela's Oil Ministry, PDVSA, the White House, and the US State Department did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Washington has for years blocked cash payments to PDVSA, but the oil company has vast experience with oil swaps that allow it to exchange its crude for much-needed fuel imports.

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Venezuela's oil shipments to China have increased in the second half of 2025 to more than 80 per cent of total exports, mainly due to US policies preventing exports to other destinations, compared with 63 per cent all of last year, according to LSEG tanker movement data and internal PDVSA documents seen by Reuters. That leaves room for diversifying the destination of exports.

More flexible licences

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Maduro's administration could also focus on negotiating the reincorporation of US licences to foreign oil producers in the country, as some Venezuelan officials have asked, which would allow oil exports to the US and Europe to flow more freely.

Despite having the world's largest crude reserves, Maduro's administration has failed to allocate Venezuela's oilfields to experienced energy firms in recent years under a contract model he proposed, attracting only small investors that are not significantly contributing to the nation's output.

Most Western energy firms are not willing to invest following expropriations of foreign oil assets under former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and the US sanctions that followed, or to inject the massive capital required to revive Venezuela's aging energy industry. Such a revival effort would also be a huge challenge for the government's opposition, which is offering to reform Venezuela's oil industry if it takes office, as massive changes would be needed just to return to production levels of two decades ago.

Mr Trump's administration has been inconsistent on authorisations, granting temporary licences to some companies while freezing others.
A Dublin-based Chinese businessman has been jailed for seven years and nine months over a money laundering operation connected to an international 10 million zombie iPhone fraud.

Chengwen Guo (43), who was the Irish representative of a transnational crime organisation, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft and money laundering offences on dates between 2021 and 2022.

Guo of Ivy Exchange, Parnell Street, Dublin owned a number of mobile phone shops called Murray Mobile, which has eight stores in locations such as Blackrock, Dundrum, Sutton Cross, Ranelagh and Newbridge. Guo has one previous conviction for having a false passport at Gatwick Airport in the UK, for which he received a custodial sentence of 13 months, the court was told.

The court heard that three sums of money seized in January 2022 included 6,515 found in an Audi Q7 car registered to Guo; 143,245 at his home address; and 20,700 at Murray Mobiles on Main Street in Dundrum, Dublin 14.

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Three Rolex watches were also found when gardai searched his apartment in Dublin. His Audi has yet to be seized, the court heard.

Judge Martin Nolan described Guo as a very energetic man who had engaged in very substantial criminal misbehaviour.

This man deserves a severe custodial sentence, said Judge Nolan. The judge said it was white collar deviance. The judge said there was a gap there, and the situation was found out.

The court was told the fake or zombie phones from China were exchanged under warranty for genuine iPhones, which were then sent to countries outside of the EU for resale. The court heard that 10,158 phones provided to Guo were last active mostly outside Ireland. The total retail value of the Apple products was 10, 262,617.

Detective Sergeant Robert Madden of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau told the court that representatives from Apple Corporation were in court for the hearing.

The scheme operated on the basis of the Apple warranty on its phones. The fraud involved sending in fake iPhones for repair and then claiming a replacement under Apples one-year warranty scheme. These fake phone components would come from China and would be assigned the EMEI number of a genuine iPhone when sent for repair. The replacement genuine iPhones would then be sent to Hong Kong for resale to countries outside the EU.

The phones in this case would be sent to a repair company in south Dublin then they would be assigned an EMEI number of a genuine iPhone. Fonfix would deem the phone irreparable, and the phone would be replaced by Apple for a new one.

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The court heard Guo also sold counterfeit Apple products such as power chargers, charging cables and phone cases in his shops.

In July 2021, counterfeit Apple goods, including 15 damaged iPhones and sim trays were found after a package was sent to Ireland addressed to Johnny Cheng, which the court heard was a name he used in Ireland for its simplicity rather than his Chinese name, at Murray Mobile in Main Street, Dundrum.

Test purchases of counterfeit Apple goods, including power adaptors, were carried out at Murray Mobile stores in Frascati Centre in Blackrock and Newbridge. These had been manufactured in Asia and were purporting to be Apple, the court heard.

Gardai commenced an investigation and searches of all eight Murray Mobile shops took place on January 10th, 2022.

A significant quantity of products  the large majority being counterfeit - including power adaptors, wireless chargers, AirPods and phone cases were found. The number ran to the thousands and were worth in the region of 270,000 retail value if real. These were cheaper to buy in Asia, and Guo was not authorised to sell Apple products, Det Sgt Madden told the court.

Last month, his co-accused, who was an employee of Fonfix, a tech repair business in Sandyford, south Dublin, was jailed in the same court.

Lukasz Lupa (45) of Kukukcza, Wagrowiec, Poland was given a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of facilitating a criminal organisation on dates between June 5th, 2019 and September 3rd, 2021 under section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

Lupa had claimed he did not know what he was doing was illegal and received little financial benefit for his part in the warranty fraud.

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In sentencing last month, Judge Nolan noted that Lupa had to verify that there were defects in the phones. Apple were prepared to give replacement phones and there was an opportunity to abuse this scheme. Thousands of phones replaced by Apple in the region of 8,000 to 10,000, the judge noted. Apple lost considerably and others gained considerably, he said.

The court heard Lupa alerted his boss that two of the phones had the same serial number. Another text said we cannot send in two phones with the same EMEI.

The judge said Lupa spotted the difficulty in the fraudulent scheme and nothing was done. This man acquiesced and this scheme went on for a considerable period of time, the judge said.

Lupa received five bottles of wine, gift cards and other gifts for his part in the scheme but never received any money, the court was told.

Guo was assigned genuine EMEI numbers and then passed them on to Fonfix to get genuine devices under the Apple warranty scheme.

The court heard 9,744 repair events were created for Murray Mobile and were replaced with new phones from Apple.

The phones bearing those EMEI numbers that were also assigned to the zombie phones were showing recent download activity by their owners as they were legitimate. Of the 10,158 phones provided to Guo most of the phones were last active mostly outside Ireland. Most of the replacement phones were sold in Hong Kong but some were sold in the Russian market, the court heard.

Det Sgt Madden said Apple realised that the number of units Guo was sending in was unusually high.

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He told Eoin Lawlor SC, prosecuting, that the phones would not power on and a diagnostic could not be performed on them. The phones were submitted without proof of purchase in name of a company which runs a legitimate business and was not at fault, the court heard. Guo received brand new phones and was getting 30 to 40 per unit.

The court heard previously that 60 per cent of the phones had component parts and 55 per cent had been heavily modified.

Of those, 288 were sent for examination and it was determined they were counterfeit. An onsite audit by Apple in 2021 took place and gardai then determined of the 10, 677 devices being processed by Fonfix, only 133 had been originally purchased in Ireland, and 9,761 had serial numbers which had shown downloads were continuing on the app store.

These EMEI numbers were related to real iPhones and the zombie phones were not genuine iPhones because they would not be able to download apps.

All of the zombie phones had the same fault in that they did not power on and therefore could not go through diagnostics. Some of the phones were sent to the Czech Republic for screening and it was determined they were not Apple products.

Guo was arrested at his home on September 11th, 2024 and interviewed on nine occasions, where he accepted he was the owner of Murray Mobile. He said the cash taken from his shop was parents money. Guo said the money found in his home was his kids money and the cash in the Audi was belonging to his business.

Det Sgt Madden agreed with Diana Stuart SC, defending, that Guos co-accused Lupa left jurisdiction, but the garda said there was no extradition and he had come back to be interviewed.

He also agreed Guo fully co-operated with them and in May 2022 handed over the PIN to his phone to gardai.

His apartment in Parnell Street was the family home and was also searched. Guos family were there and fully co-operated with gardai and all of them handed over their passports, phones and PIN numbers. He further agreed Guo was in custody since September 11th, 2024.

Guo met his wife in Ireland 20 years ago. The court heard Fonua, an associated company of Fonfix, made a settlement with Apple Corporation for 2 million.

This man profited somewhat from his enterprise, Ms Stuart put it to the garda. Det Sgt Madden replied that Guo was a senior player in the Irish operation.

Ms Stuart told the court in mitigation that the Guo has four children. One is in boarding school in the UK and one is in boarding school in Ireland. He also has a child in university in Edinburgh. His wifes day-to-day living expenses are 1,000 a week, Ms Stuart told the court. A letter from her sets out her difficulty, she added.

Judge Nolan said the appropriate global sentence was one of seven years and nine months.

The judge said Guo had lapsed into criminality and used his stores to sell Apple products but they werent Apple products. Suspicions arose and further searches saw 164,000 found in criminal proceeds as well as Rolex watches.

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Further investigations showed Guo was involved in a criminal scheme to defraud Apple, the judge said. The judge noted 10,000 phones were given out in the warranty scheme with a value of 10 million.

Judge Nolan noted his co-accused Lupa was a company supervisor and had received a four-and-a-half year sentence. Judge Nolan said Guo brought the funds.

Any scheme that cannot be defrauded is a scheme you cannot use, said Judge Nolan. There is always going to be weaknesses in a scheme, he added.

The prosecution made applications for forfeiture of the cash sums involved and the Audi, which the court heard is in the possession of Guos wife, is also to be seized.
The President of the High Court has branded as disgraceful the attitude of a Cork solicitor who, in correspondence with a regulatory authority, said he had no intention of complying with directions, including the return of a fee to former clients.

Mr Justice David Barniville said it was disgraceful conduct and he had no hesitation in granting orders sought by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) against John Paul Hennessy, who previously practised as Hennessy & Co solicitors, Wolfe Tone Square, Bantry, Co Cork.

The judge ordered that Mr Hennessy, who has since retired, comply with directions of the LSRA and pay back 1,639 in fees to a couple, along with a further 2,085, which is to be transferred to another solicitor's firm dealing with the estate of a woman, the couples neighbour who died.

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Mr Justice Barniville said there was no substantive defence to the LSRA case brought and he had no hesitation in granting the orders sought.

Opening the application by the LSRA in the High Court, Claire Hogan BL said the couple were clients of Mr Hennessy for a period of time in relation to issues concerning the land of the deceased neighbour. The couple had rented and farmed the land.

The complaint made in February 2022 related to several alleged instances of delayed or no communication from the solicitor in relation to correspondence he had received from the solicitors acting for the administrators of the estate of the deceased neighbour.

Counsel told the court that one allegation related to the forwarding of a letter to the couple regarding the ongoing rental of the land at a time when it was too late for them to accept a proposed time-bound agreement.

Another aspect of the complaint related to 2085, which Counsel said the couple were given by the deceased and which they entrusted to the solicitor. It was claimed in court documents that Mr Hennessy allegedly misrepresented the couples position to the estate and allegedly sought to claim it was a deathbed gift to them.

Counsel said the couple were due a bequest of 10,000 from their neighbour, but they could not get it because of the alleged situation with the 2,085.

The LSRA Divisional Complaints Committee in January this year determined that the complaint against Mr Hennessy was upheld. It said he had failed to comprehensively respond to specific issues raised by it in correspondence regarding a complaint of inadequate legal services incurring financial and other costs to the complainants and the ongoing and practical reasons for the alleged retention of the 2,085, which had been entrusted by the couple to the solicitor in August 2019.

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The Committee considered the service provided to the couple to have been inadequate and directed Mr Hennessy to refund the 1,639 in fees and transfer the 2085 to another firm of solicitors.

Mr Justice Barniville said correspondence of the most unedifying kind  followed, which went on for an excessive length of time.

The judge referred to one letter from Mr Hennessy to the regulatory authority in May 2025, where Mr Hennessy indicated he was not willing to comply with the directions of the complaints committee.

He said the attitude of a legal practitioner who said he had no intention of complying with the LSRA directions is disgraceful.
A confidential government paper warned that rising numbers of people leaving direct provision and wider migration trends were among the most significant factors driving homelessness.



The six-page document  which the Department of Housing only released following an appeal under FOI laws  said that single adults exiting international protection accommodation were now the main reason for new presentations for emergency housing in Dublin.



It said non-Irish nationals were over-represented in homeless services when compared with their share of the overall population.



The paper said pressures on housing were rising due to the number of applicants being granted international protection.



It said this was a particular problem when it came to family reunification, with successful refugees allowed to bring spouses or kids to live in Ireland.



The research said: This has been reported by the local authorities as presenting challenges where family reunification is granted and no accommodation is available, frequently requiring the provision of emergency accommodation.



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As the numbers of people granted international protection increases, there is potential for increased pressures in this area.



At the time it was written, 46 per cent of the more than 10,000 adults in homeless accommodation were not Irish citizens.



Of those, around 25 per cent were from non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries and 22 per cent were from Europe or the UK.



In Dublin, the proportion of non-Irish adults was higher at 54 percent, the paper said.



The department warned that future social housing demand could rise further as thousands of beneficiaries of temporary protection, mainly Ukrainians, approach five years residence in the state.



It said that after that time, they may qualify for social housing if renewal of their permission to remain in Ireland continues.



At that stage, 110,000 people had been granted temporary protection, around 59,000 of whom were in state-supported accommodation.



The paper, which was prepared for the Department of the Taoiseach, said Irelands future population growth was very hard to project.



It said future housing demand would be highly dependent on how many new people came to Ireland and that county councils would need additional resources.



However, it said the benefits to Ireland of migration were clear, including higher labour force participation, especially in essential services like health and social care.



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The paper warned that continuing growth will need to be matched with more housing, improved homelessness supports, and infrastructure.



The Department of Housing had withheld the document for almost a year, saying it was prepared for the Taoiseachs department to help plan national policy and strategy.



During an appeal under FOI laws, they told the Information Commissioner (OIC) there was much public discourse around migration and that release of the draft document risks creating an incorrect or fragmented perception of the situation and the direction of public policy.



In its decision, the OIC said they could not see how the release of the document would damage the proper working of the Government and directed its release.
Detectives attached to a specialist national crime fighting agency carried out a dawn raid on the home of a Limerick Garda Superintendent, whom they suspected of disclosing sensitive information to a third party, a court heard on Tuesday.

The trial of retired Superintendent Edmond Eamon ONeill, and four serving gardai, denies 39 counts of engaging in conduct tending or intending to pervert the course of justice, in respect of alleged interference in road traffic prosecutions.

The trial being held at Limerick Circuit Court heard that, at 6:36am on May 16th, 2019, detectives attached to the Dublin-based Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) conducted a search of the home of Supt ONeill and his partner Sgt Anne Marie Hassetts home and their baby.

Supt ONeill was arrested at the scene by Chief Supt Walter OSullivan, GNBCI, and he was taken to Athlone Garda Station for questioning on suspicion of breaching Section 62 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005, which, the court heard, prohibits Garda members and staff from disclosing information obtained in the course of their duties that would likely have a harmful effect.

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Detective Garda Brian Reidy, GNBCI, gave evidence that he was instructed to search Supt ONeills house for mobile phones that were to be analysed.

He said Sgt Hassett was not a suspect in the section 62 probe, and that the search had nothing to do with the charges before the court that she, Mr ONeill, and three other serving gardai allegedly attempted to pervert the course of justice in respect of road traffic fixed charge penalty notices.

Det Sgt Reidy said he found two mobile phones charging in Supt ONeills master bedroom, one belonging to Mr ONeill, which was sent to London for analysis, and the other belonging to Sgt Hassett.

The witness said he seized a further six mobile phones in a safe at the house. An Apple iPad and charging lead, as well as a memory stick attached to a set of keys, were also seized.

A seventh phone was seized at a garda station where Eamon ONeill was working at the time.

Felix McEnroy, senior counsel for Mr ONeill asked Det Sgt Reidy if he had been aware of RTE television cameras being in Athlone where his client was being questioned by GNBCI that day.

Det Sgt Reidy said he did not know anything about RTE being in Athlone and he was not in contact with anyone in the media about the investigation.

The witness agreed, under cross-examination by James OMahony, senior counsel for Sgt Hassett, that his client handed over her mobile phone and PIN number to the GNBCI during the search.

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Detective Sgt Reidy also agreed with Mr OMahony that the search was part of a discreet investigation.

Mr OMahony suggested that at least ten GNBCI officers raiding his clients home, wearing raid jackets, would attract attention, and that the search and arrest of a superintendent was widely published by the media at the time.

Mr OMahony added that a criminal posted a video on social media about the Garda raid.

Detective Sergeant Maria Cassells, GNBCI, who managed the search operation at Mr ONeills house, said the Section 62 probe was led by her superior, Detective Inspector Michael McNulty.

Det Sgt Cassells said she received a briefing document signed by DI McNulty prior to the search, that included photos of Supt ONeill and his house.

Det Sgt Cassells said the GNBCI officers removed their garda raid jackets on request from Sgt Hassett.

The witness agreed with Sgt Hassetts counsel that Sgt Hassett was mortified that her neighbours, which included other gardai, would see the officers raiding the house.

Det Sgt Cassells agreed that no criminal charges arose against Supt ONeill nor any other garda in respect of the Section 62 probe.

Mr ONeill, along with Sergeant Hassett, Sergeant Michelle Leahy, and gardai Tom McGlinchey and Colm Geary, are on trial for allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice, in respect of road traffic prosecutions.

The five were arrested and charged in May 2021, arising out of a GNBCI investigation.

Its the States case that citizens contacted Supt ONeill about fixed charge penalty notices, and that Supt ONeill, in turn, allegedly contacted Garda colleagues for the purpose of terminating the FCPNs.

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Prosecuting senior counsel Carl Hanahoe earlier told the jury that, Mr ONeill was the common denominator in respect of all 39 charges.

What all the offences have in common is the interference or involvement of Eamon ONeill, Mr Hanahoe said.

Ireland Prison service to shut bakery costing 660,000 a year run by Mountjoy inmates Read more

Between them, Sgt Hassett, Garda McGlinchey and Garda Geary, are charged with a total of 10 counts that they did communicate with another garda or gardai for the purpose of terminating a potential or pending road traffic prosecution.

Sergeant Leahy is accused of two counts of carrying out her duties as a Court Presenter, with intent to pervert the course of justice, by applying to a district court to have a summons withdrawn, and a summons struck out, in respect of two road traffic prosecutions.

All five deny the charges.

The trial before a jury of eight men and four women continues on Wednesday.
A pensioner who imported over 280,000 of cocaine into Ireland has been jailed for two years and three months.

Joachim Ruckweld (70) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importation of cocaine for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on November 17th, 2024.

Garda Lee Jones gave evidence that Ruckweld arrived on a flight from Zurich and was seen acting suspiciously.

His luggage was x-rayed and an anomaly was detected. When his luggage was searched, 20 packages containing a total of 4kg of cocaine, valued at 280,250, were found.

Ruckweld, of Jagerstrasse, Korn, Germany said the luggage belonged to him, that he packed it himself and that it contained coffee beans.

He said he wasn't a drugs user and had been instructed to meet someone in Ireland. He said he got the bag in Brazil and that his travel and accommodation was arranged for him.

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Ruckweld told gardai he was a pensioner living between Germany, South America, and Florida. He said he didn't know what was in the suitcase but believed it was untoward. He denied that he was due to be paid and said he hadn't done it before.

Ruckweld has been in custody since his arrest and has no previous convictions.

Gda Jones agreed with a suggestion from Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, that his client was a bit naive. He also said he accepts Ruckweld's assertion that he hadn't made a trip like this before.

Mr Dwyer said there was no evidence that his client has a criminal record anywhere and asked the court to treat him as a person who was stupid and naive to become involved in this.

His client worked before his retirement and is doing well in custody.

Ireland 5,000 fine for gynaecologist found guilty of professional misconduct Read more

Judge Dara Hayes said it was slightly curious why a man of his age would engage in such behaviour at this stage of his life and that no explanation had been provided to the court.

He said while it may have been his [Ruckweld's] first trip, it is clear he knew what he was doing was wrong.

The judge said it was an aggravating feature that Ruckweld's offending was in assistance to serious criminal elements as well the negative impact that the drugs trade has on society and communities.

Having considered the mitigation, Judge Hayes imposed a sentence of two years and nine months with the final six months suspended on strict conditions, backdated to when Ruckweld went into custody.
Ryanair cabin staff gave no immediate assistance to a 14-year-old schoolboy whose right foot was scalded by a spillage of tea while he travelled to Greece for a holiday, a judge in the Circuit Civil Court heard on Tuesday.

Judge Sinead McMullan was told that Daniel Molloys father had to take him to a toilet and pour cold water on the burn.

Cabin staff eventually arrived to help the boy and produced a small cooling patch and left a small bottle of burn lotion with his mother, Laura Warde, who had also suffered tea burns on the flight at the same time as her son.

The 60,000 claim brought by Ms Warde on behalf of her son alleged that a call had been put out at her behest to see if any other passenger could provide medical assistance.

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Judge McMullan learned that the call had been put out as only qualified medical staff could access a second medical aid box, and as no passenger came forward to assist, neither Daniel nor his mum had been given a second cooling patch or extra burn lotion.

Ryanair had arranged for an ambulance to meet the family when they disembarked the plane in Greece. Daniel was taken to the emergency department of a local hospital in Greece, where his wound had been sprayed with saline solution and a cream was applied.

Daniel was unable to swim during the week-long holiday, Barrister Ciaran Mandal told Judge McMullan, which, he said, had been very upsetting to him.

Mr Mandal, who appeared with Coleman Legal Solicitors, said that when Daniel, who lives at Lavarna Road, Terenure, Dublin 6W, had arrived home from Zakynthos on June 14th, last year he was found by his local GP to have a healing second-degree burn to the top of his foot.

Ireland Ryanair boss denies price-gouging soccer fans ahead of World Cup play-offs in Prague Read more

Medical reports opened to Judge McMullan showed that Daniel had not been left with any scarring.

Mr Mandal said Ryanair had made a settlement offer of 20,000 to Daniel, which he was recommending to the court.

The enjoyment of Daniels holiday was adversely affected as he was unable to enjoy it to its fullest extent because of pain and having been unable to swim, Mr Mandal said.

Judge McMullan approved the 20,000 offer and said she considered it a good settlement. A 60,000 damages claim by Daniels mother against Ryanair was listed for hearing in October last but was struck out on consent.
There was pride, tears of joy and singing as Irish peacekeepers were embraced by their families after six months on a UN mission to southern Lebanon.

The soldiers children, partners and grandparents waved handmade signs and UN and Irish flags in the arrivals hall at Terminal 1 of Dublin Airport as they waited for their loved ones to appear.

More than 300 Irish troops have spent the last six months serving with the UN in southern Lebanon during a tense period for the Middle East.

Connie OMahony with his children, Faye and Jacob Fitzgerald, at Dublin Airport (Conor O Mearain/PA)

Tara Fitzgerald, from Glanmire in Co Cork, said her daughter Faye had counted down every day until her father Connie OMahony returned.

Kitted out in a camouflage costume and a teddy in a similar cap, uniform and boots, Faye held a tricolour sign she had made the previous day that said no more video calls, no more counting down the days.

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The start was hard, there was a lot more going on at the start, Ms Fitzgerald told the PA news agency.

Hes home now, thats the main thing. (It was) worrying, but they kept their heads down and everything was fine, thank God.

She said of her daughter: Shes counted down every single day since the very start, shes slept with that teddy bear every single night, and every morning shes rang him and counted down the days every single day.

Connie OMahony is embraced by his daughter, Faye Fitzgerald, as he arrives home at Dublin Airport (Conor O Mearain/PA)

She missed one day the other day, she was sick, I think there was five days to go, and it was the only day out of 186 that she didnt count down with him.

Faye ran to her father as soon as he came into view.

Theres nothing like being home, he said as he hugged his daughter and 14-year-old son Jacob, who wore the same camouflage costume as his sister five years ago when their father returned from a mission in Syria.

The family of Paddy ODonnell, who turned 21 on Sunday, sang Travelin Soldier as they waited for peacekeepers to land back in Dublin.

Chrissie Renehan greets her grandson, Paddy ODonnell, at Dublin Airport as Irish troops return from a six-month deployment to south Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force Lebanon (Conor O Mearain/PA)

His mother Marion Renehan, from Cappawhite in Co Tipperary, said the past six months have been difficult and that his siblings and little cousins have missed him.

His grandmother Chrissie was among the first people to embrace him as he arrived into view, and said she was proud of him and delighted to have him home.

Asked how the past six months had been, he said: Slow, very slow.

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It was tough (being away from family) but I could ring them, so its not too bad.

Sergeant Philip Conlon, from Sligo town, dropped to his knees to hug his daughter Zoe, who has been asking him to take her to the park.

I dont think Ill be getting away from her for the next couple of months, he said.

Zoe Conlon awaits the arrival of her father, Sergeant Philip Conlon, amid a sea of flags and handmade welcome signs at Dublin Airport (Conor O Mearain/PA)

He said families can be worried about what is happening in Lebanon, but that there is constant communication with the soldiers families.

Margaret Byrne said she left Enniscorthy in Co Wexford at 5:15am to see her son Robert OLeary, 28.

She said she was very nervous about his deployment to Lebanon, which was his first deployment abroad, but said she and Mr OLearys girlfriend Tara Rogers have been supporting and updating each other.

They said they were really proud of him and were excited for him to come home.

The WhatsApp messages, hes been sending me pictures of cats and so on because he knows I like cats and I have a cat at home. He says to me would you like this Lebanese cat?' Ms Byrne said.

Ms Rogers said she has been googling updates about Lebanon and has a lot more respect for it as a country.

She added: Its been really tough for me, Ive been hyper obsessed with all the details and googling how far away it is from Camp Shamrock and the outposts.

Im looking forward to that coming to an end.
A three-vehicle collision between a lorry, a bus and a car that left two dead in Co Meath is among the stories featured on Tuesday's front pages.

The Irish Times lead with the Kremlin rejecting European counterproposals to a controversial US peace plan for Ukraine that heavily favoured Russia, two drivers dying in a three-vehicle collision in Co Meath, and a new plan to charge asylum seekers for housing.

The Irish Examiner lead with extra gardai patrolling Cork city's streets, a crash that left two dead and two others seriously injured in Co Meath, and disability payment applications being rejected at a savage scale.

The Echo lead with a high-visibility policing plan coming into effect in Cork city, and a man being jailed for six years for rape.

The Irish Independent lead with the Government getting ready to introduce a law that would allow people to cancel their broadband, mobile or TV contracts if prices increase.

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The Irish Daily Star and The Herald lead with a man allegedly attacking a woman in Co Kildare before his body was found in a reservoir.

The Belfast Telegraph lead with a jailed cannabis farmer walking the streets less than a year into his three-year jail term.

The Irish Daily Mail lead with concerns over a spike in the number of learner drivers.

The Irish Daily Mirror lead with the crash between a lorry, a bus and a car in Co Meath on Monday morning that killed two.
Israel said Palestinian militants have handed over human remains believed to be of a hostage to the Red Cross, which will deliver them to the Israeli military.

It was not immediately clear if the remains were those of one of three hostages remaining in Gaza.

The remains are expected to be taken to Israel for forensic testing and identification.



The remains were handed to the Red Cross on Tuesday afternoon (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Palestinian Islamic Jihad announced it found the body earlier this week in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza.

Palestinian militants had released the bodies of 25 hostages since the US-brokered ceasefire started on October 10. Three were believed to still be in Gaza. The process has been slow, threatening the truce.

Hamas says it has not been able to reach all the remains because they are buried under rubble from Israels two-year offensive in the Palestinian territory. Israel has accused the militants of dragging their feet and threatened to resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if all remains are not returned.

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Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said in a statement on Tuesday that the delay amounted to a ceasefire violation.



Palestinians walk through a flooded temporary tent camp after heavy rainfall in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Israel has released the bodies of 330 Palestinians back to Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect.

Palestinian officials have struggled to identify the bodies without access to DNA kits. Only 95 have been identified, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, which is staffed by medical professionals. It maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by independent experts.

Israel has not provided details on their identities.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, children and families confronted the aftermath of heavy rains, which have left thousands once again displaced and exposed to the elements.

The war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. Almost all of the hostages or their remains have been returned in ceasefires or other deals.

Gazas Health Ministry says 69,775 Palestinians have been killed and 170,863 injured in Israels retaliatory offensive. The toll has gone up during the ceasefire, both from new Israeli strikes and from the recovery and identification of bodies of people killed earlier in the war.

The ministry reports 345 have been killed and, in total, 588 bodies recovered since the ceasefire began.

It does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures, but has said women and children make up a majority of those killed.

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On Tuesday, the health ministry in Gaza said Israeli forces killed three people east of Khan Younis.

The ministry said in a statement that the dead bodies were brought to hospitals along with 14 others recovered from under the rubble over the past 24 hours.

The new fatalities brought the death toll to 345 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect on October 11, the ministry said.

On Tuesday night, Israels military said it killed five militants emerging from a tunnel in Rafah in southern Gaza and killed a militant who crossed into an Israeli-held part of northern Gaza and approached troops.

The Catholic charity Caritas on Tuesday unveiled the late pope Franciss so-called popemobile in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. As per Franciss request, it has been transformed into a mobile health clinic and is supposed to be sent to Gaza to help care for children.

This vehicle stands as a testament. The world has not forgotten the children of Gaza, said Cardinal Anders Arborelius, the bishop of Stockholm, Sweden.
Japans Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who recently triggered Chinas fury with a comment about Taiwan, said she received a call from US President Donald Trump after he spoke to Chinas leader.

Ms Takaichi, a hard-line conservative, said Mr Trump expressed his friendship to her in a call he made to her on Tuesday after a phone conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

President Trump told me that he and I are extremely good friends and that I should call him any time, Ms Takaichi said in brief remarks made to reporters at the prime ministers office in Tokyo.

Ms Takaichi, however, did not say whether they discussed her Taiwan comment.

The White House on Tuesday confirmed the phone call but provided no detail.



Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea in October (Kyodo News via AP)

Only weeks into her job as Japans first female prime minister, Ms Takaichi infuriated China by suggesting Japan could respond militarily if China were to try to seize control of Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing says must come under its rule.

The remark earlier this month broke with Japans longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity. Ms Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a survival-threatening situation for Japan requiring the use of force.

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China responded with anger and by putting economic pressure on Japan. On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Ms Takaichi crossed a red line.

He said China would resolutely respond to Japans actions and that all countries have the responsibility to prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism.

Ms Takaichi said Mr Trump briefed her on his overnight phone call with Mr Xi and the current state of US-China relations. She said that she and Mr Trump also discussed strengthening the Japan-US alliance and development and challenges that the Indo-Pacific region is faced with.

We confirmed the close co-ordination between Japan and the United States, she said.

She declined, however, to give any other details of her talks with Mr Trump, citing diplomatic protocol.

Japan has sought to de-escalate the spat, but China has shown no signs of easing its fury and has cancelled official meetings and private exchanges and advised its citizens against travel to Japan.

Japan has resisted Chinas demand that Ms Takaichi retract the comment, repeating that its support for a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan Strait issue is unchanged.

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The US has taken no side on the sovereignty of the self-governed island but is opposed to the use of force to seize Taiwan. Mr Trump has maintained strategic ambiguity about whether US troops would be sent in case of a war in the Taiwan Strait.

Mr Trump said nothing publicly about Taiwan, whereas a Chinese statement said Mr Trump told Mr Xi that the US understands how important the Taiwan question is to China.

The dispute between the East Asian neighbours has spilled over to the international arena as Beijing has taken the spat with Japan to the United Nations, with both sides calling each others accusations erroneous.
Russia launched a wave of attacks on Ukraine on Tuesday, killing at least seven people in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure.

Water, electricity and heating were knocked out in parts of the capital, Kyiv. Video footage posted to Telegram showed a large fire spreading in a nine-storey residential building in Kyivs eastern district of Dniprovskyi.





Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were killed and five injured in Dniprovskyi and another residential building in the central Pechersk district was badly damaged.

In a subsequent wave of attacks, four people were killed and three were injured in a strike on a non-residential building in Kyivs western Svyatoshynyi district, according to the head of Kyiv city administration, Tymor Tkachenko.

Ukraines energy ministry also said infrastructure had been hit, without describing the extent of the damage. Ukraines emergency services said six people, including two children, were injured in a Russian attack on energy and port infrastructure in Odesa region.

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Three people were killed and eight more were wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russias southern Rostov region overnight. The casualties occurred in the city of Taganrog not far from the border with Ukraine, governor Yuri Slyusar said.



Rescue workers carry a person from a residential building following a Russian attack in Kyiv (Dan Bashakov/AP)

The attack damaged private houses and multi-storey residential blocks, unspecified social facilities, a warehouse and a paint shop, Mr Slyusar said.

Russia fired 22 missiles of various types and over 460 drones at Ukraine overnight, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram, noting that four drones flew into Romania and Moldova.

Romania and Moldova reported that a handful of drones violated their airspace, with one each landing on the two countries soil.

Whats crucial now is for all partners to move toward diplomacy together, through joint efforts. Pressure on Russia must inevitably work, Mr Zelensky wrote.

He said that the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable and he planned to discuss sensitive outstanding issues with President Donald Trump.

Rustem Umerov, a senior adviser to Mr Zelensky, wrote on social platform X on Tuesday that the Ukrainian leader hoped to finalise a deal with Mr Trump at the earliest suitable date in November.

Russian air defences destroyed 249 Ukrainian drones overnight above various regions, including occupied Crimea, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. The majority of the drones  116  were shot down over the Black Sea, according to the defence ministry.

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The attacks followed talks between US and Ukraine representatives in Geneva on Sunday about a US-Russia brokered peace plan.



People watch as emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kyiv (Dan Bashakov/AP)

Oleksandr Bevz, a delegate from the Ukrainian side, told The Associated Press the talks had been very constructive and the two sides were able to discuss most points.

He said the numbers of points in the proposed settlement was reduced but he denied reports the 28-point US peace plan now consisted of 19 points.

(The document) is going to continue to change. We can confirm that it was reduced to take out points not relating to Ukraine, to exclude duplicates and for editing purposes, Mr Bevz told The Associated Press, adding that some points relating solely to relations between Russia and the US were excluded.

Russian officials have been reserved in their comments on the peace plan. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow is in touch with US officials about peace efforts.

We expect them to provide us with a version they consider an interim one in terms of completing the phase of co-ordinating this text with the Europeans and the Ukrainians, Mr Lavrov said.

US army secretary Dan Driscoll met Russian officials for several hours in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday after the Trump administration jump-started negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, a US official confirmed to The Associated Press.

Mr Driscoll, who became part of the US negotiating team less than two weeks ago, is now heading up the latest phase of talks involving the terms of a possible peace plan with Russia.

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The US official said the Ukrainians were aware of the meeting.

We want peace but we dont want a peace that is, in fact, a capitulation Emmanuel Macron

They would not offer details on how long the negotiations were expected to last or what topics were being discussed but noted all sides have indicated they wanted to reach a deal to halt the fighting as quickly as possible.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that the US-brokered peace plan goes in the right direction but also cautioned it must not be a capitulation enabling Russia to later renew hostilities.

The French head of state said any peace deal with Moscow must include robust security guarantees for Ukraine and, more widely, for Europe and he insisted the size of Ukraines armed forces should not be restricted so it can defend the country in peacetime.

We want peace but we dont want a peace that is, in fact, a capitulation. That is to say it puts Ukraine in an impossible position, that in the end gives Russia the freedom to keep going, to go further, Mr Macron said.

Peace proposals that Ukraine has been discussing with Trump administration envoys and European allies go in the right direction: peace but parts of it need to be improved, he said.

No one can replace the Ukrainians in saying which territorial concessions they are prepared to make, said the French leader, who sounded sceptical about the plans chances of success. Theres only one person who doesnt want peace  its Russia.
US president Donald Trump said his plan to end the war in Ukraine has been fine-tuned and that he is sending envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin and army secretary Dan Driscoll to meet Ukrainian officials.

Mr Trump suggested he could eventually meet with Mr Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, but not until further progress had been made in negotiations.

I will be briefed on all progress made, along with vice president JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, secretary of war Pete Hegseth, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Mr Trump added in the social media posting.

I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelensky and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this war is FINAL or, in its final stages.



Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, left, met US secretary of the army Dan Driscoll in Kyiv last week (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Mr Trump spoke after Mr Driscoll held talks late on Monday and throughout Tuesday with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to discuss the emerging proposal.

The talks are going well and we remain optimistic, Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Tolbert, spokesman for the army secretary, said in a statement.

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As the talks were taking place, Russia launched a wave of overnight attacks on Ukraines capital, Kyiv, with at least seven people killed in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure.

A Ukrainian attack on southern Russia killed three people and damaged homes, authorities said.

Still, Mr Trump expressed a measure of optimism that his administrations diplomatic efforts could soon lead to a breakthrough.



Vladimir Putins envoy Kirill Dmitriev, left, and Donald Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff pictured earlier this year (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Witkoff, a real estate developer turned diplomat, has been Mr Trumps chief interlocutor with Mr Putin, while Mr Driscoll, who is close to Mr Vance, has stepped up his involvement in the administrations peace push in recent days.

Mr Trumps plan for ending the nearly four-year war emerged last week. It heavily favoured Russia, prompting Mr Zelensky to quickly engage with American negotiators. European leaders, fearing for their own future facing Russian aggression but apparently sidelined by Mr Trump in drawing up the proposal, scrambled to steer the negotiations towards accommodating their concerns.

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I think were getting very close to a deal. Well find out, Mr Trump said in an aside during the annual White House turkey pardon, a typically light-hearted annual event to mark the Thanksgiving holiday in the US.

He added: I thought that would have been an easier one, but I think were making progress.

French president Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that peace efforts were gathering momentum and are clearly at a crucial juncture.

He spoke after senior US and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva on Sunday and a virtual coalition-of-the-willing meeting of Ukraines European allies took place on Tuesday. Mr Rubio took part in both gatherings.



French president Emmanuel Macron, second left, took part in a virtual coalition-of-the-willing meeting on Tuesday (Teresa Saurez, Pool Photo via AP)

Negotiations are getting a new impetus. And we should seize this momentum, he said during the video-conference meeting of countries, led by France and the UK, that could help police any ceasefire with Russia.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said of the talks: I do think we are moving in a positive direction and indications today that in large part the majority of the text, (Mr Zelensky) is indicating, can be accepted.

But Oleksandr Bevz, one of the Ukrainian delegates at the Geneva talks, cautioned it was very premature to say that something is agreed upon.

In an interview with The Associated Press (AP) in Kyiv late on Tuesday, he declined to discuss the specifics of any amendments to Mr Trumps plan, but said the US was aware that the strength of security guarantees for Ukraine would define the sustainability of the deal and was the part making this deal real and enforceable.

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Mr Bevz told the AP earlier that the number of points in the proposed settlement was reduced, but he denied reports that the 28-point US peace plan now consisted of 19 points.

(The document) is going to continue to change. We can confirm that it was reduced to take out points not relating to Ukraine, to exclude duplicates and for editing purposes, Mr Bevz said, adding that some points relating solely to relations between Russia and the US were excluded.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the coalition-of-the-willing meeting showed solid and encouraging progress on a peace deal in Ukraine, while criticising Moscows latest attack on Kyiv and drone incursions in Romania and Moldova.

Since pressure remains the only language Russia responds to, we will continue to increase it until there is a genuine willingness to engage on a credible path toward peace, she said.



A residential building was heavily damaged in a Russian strike on Kyiv overnight (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Mr Zelensky said late on Monday that the list of necessary steps to end the war can become workable.

He said he planned to discuss sensitive outstanding issues with Mr Trump.

Rustem Umerov, a senior adviser to Mr Zelensky, posted on X on Tuesday that the Ukrainian president hoped to finalise a deal with Mr Trump at the earliest suitable date in November.

Russian officials have been reserved in their comments on the peace plan.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow was in touch with US officials about peace efforts.

We expect them to provide us with a version they consider an interim one in terms of completing the phase of co-ordinating this text with the Europeans and the Ukrainians, Mr Lavrov said.

European leaders have cautioned that the road to peace will be long.
A renewed US push to end the war between Russia and Ukraine is gathering momentum, although some of the key issues remain unresolved, officials said on Tuesday.

The update was issued hours after Russia launched a wave of overnight attacks on Ukraines capital, Kyiv, with at least seven people killed in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure.

A Ukrainian attack on southern Russia killed three people and damaged homes, authorities said.

Over the past week, the United States has made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X.

There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States.



US President Donald Trumps peace plan emerged last week (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

US President Donald Trumps plan for ending the nearly four-year war emerged last week. It heavily favoured Russia, prompting Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky to engage quickly with American negotiators.

European leaders, fearing for their own future amid Russian aggression but apparently sidelined by Mr Trump in drawing up the proposals, scrambled to steer the negotiations toward accommodating their concerns.

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Senior US and Ukrainian officials said progress was made at talks in Geneva held on Sunday towards ending the war.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday peace efforts are gathering momentum and are clearly at a crucial juncture.

Negotiations are getting a new impetus. And we should seize this momentum, he said during a video conference meeting of countries, led by France and the UK, that could help police any ceasefire with Russia.

Allies of Ukraine  the so-called coalition of the willing  have pledged to underwrite and guarantee any ceasefire.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said of the talks: I do think we are moving in a positive direction and indications today that in large part the majority of the text, (Zelensky) is indicating, can be accepted.

During the annual White House turkey pardon to mark the Thanksgiving holiday, Mr Trump said: I think were getting very close to a deal. Well find out.

He added: I thought that would have been an easier one, but I think were making progress.

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US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met Russian officials for several hours in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, a US official told The Associated Press.

Mr Driscoll, who became part of the American negotiating team less than two weeks ago, is heading up the latest phase of talks involving the terms of a possible peace settlement with Russia.

The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations, declined to give details on how long the negotiations would last or what topics were being discussed, but noted that the Ukrainians were aware of the meeting and all sides have indicated they wanted to reach a deal to halt the fighting as quickly as possible.

Oleksandr Bevz, one of the Ukrainian delegates at the Geneva talks, said that the numbers of points in the proposed settlement was reduced, but he denied reports that the 28-point US peace plan now consisted of 19 points.

(The document) is going to continue to change. We can confirm that it was reduced to take out points not relating to Ukraine, to exclude duplicates and for editing purposes, Mr Bevz told the AP, adding that some points relating solely to relations between Russia and the US were excluded.





Based on talks between Washington and Moscow, the 28-point plan presented to Ukraine called on it to cede its entire eastern Donbas region to Russia.

The plan would put a 600,000-person limit on Ukraines military and bar Ukraine or any other new member from Nato. It also would rule out Nato troops in Ukraine and does not commit the US or European nations to Ukraines defence if Russia attacks again.

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For its part, Russia would commit to no more attacks on Ukraine, facing sanctions if it violates that.

Ukraine and its European allies have said the plan rewards Russian aggression.

The Europeans and the Ukrainians offered counterproposals aimed at shifting the balance toward Ukraine, such as lifting the cap on Ukraines military power, leaving open the question of future NATO membership and postponing discussions of territorial concessions until after a ceasefire.

Mr Zelensky said late on Monday that the list of necessary steps to end the war can become workable. He said that he planned to discuss sensitive outstanding issues with Mr Trump.

Rustem Umerov, a senior adviser to Mr Zelensky, posted on X on Tuesday that Mr Zelensky hoped to finalise a deal with Mr Trump at the earliest suitable date in November.

Russian officials have been reserved in their comments on the peace plan. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow is in touch with US officials about peace efforts.

We expect them to provide us with a version they consider an interim one in terms of completing the phase of co-ordinating this text with the Europeans and the Ukrainians, Mr Lavrov said.

European leaders have cautioned that the road to peace will be long.

Russia fired 22 missiles of various types and more than 460 drones at Ukraine overnight, Mr Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

The strikes knocked out water, electricity and heat in parts of Kyiv. Images showed a large fire spreading in a nine-story residential building in Kyivs eastern Dniprovskyi district.



People watch as emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kyiv (Dan Bashakov/AP)

Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said 20 people were wounded in Kyiv. The Russian Defence Ministry said that it targeted military-industrial facilities and energy assets. The strikes were a response to Ukrainian attacks on civilian objects in Russia, the ministry said.

Liubov Petrivna, a 90-year-old resident of a damaged building in the Dniprovskyi district, told the AP that absolutely everything in her apartment was shattered by the strike and glass rained down on her.

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No one will ever do anything about it, she said. Russian President Vladimir Putin wont stop until he finishes us off.

The overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Russias southern region of Krasnodar was one of the longest and most massive and wounded six people, governor Veniamin Kondratyev said.

Russian air defences destroyed 249 Ukrainian drones overnight above various Russian regions and the occupied Crimean Peninsula, the Russian Defence Ministry said Tuesday.

Ukraine said that its drones and missiles struck an aviation repair plant and a drone production facility, as well as an oil refinery and an oil terminal.

It was the fourth-largest Ukrainian drone attack on Russia since the start of the war on February 24 2022, according to an AP tally.
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Analysis BusinessCompaniesMedia & marketing The two right-wing moguls usurping Murdoch on Fleet Street Calum Jaspan November 24, 2025  3:03pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

A billion-dollar deal threatens to push media mogul Rupert Murdochs News Corporation to the sidelines of British politics, as The Daily Mail seeks to buy out its more upmarket rival, The Telegraph, to consolidate its position as countrys most powerful right-wing publisher. The Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), owner of The Mail and a suite of other right-wing media assets in the United Kingdom, has emerged as the victor in a two-plus years process to buy Londons most conservative daily broadsheet for 500 million ($1.01bn). The sale process was put in motion to tackle debts in excess of 1 billion ($2.028 bn) owed by The Telegraphs owners, the billionaire Barclay twins, David and Frederick. Should the sale receive the backing of the UKs Labour government, it would be the biggest shake up to Fleet Street, the heartbeat of British news industry, since closure of Murdochs News of the World in 2011. The British press could soon be even more concentrated. Getty The sale further consolidates power and ownership of the British press, an industry dominated in its history by colourful barons and moguls. Now, there are two key figures with arguably greater influence than the once-dominant Rupert Murdoch, finding success with an ever more brash brand of right-wing journalism once pioneered by the Dirty Digger. The owner of the UKs most storied left-leaning paper, The Guardian, sold its Sunday paper, The Observer to Tortoise Media in late-2024.

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DMGT is currently owned and chaired by Lord Rothermere, the fourth Viscount Rothermere and a member of the House of Lords, the United Kingdoms upper house. His family has controlled The Daily Mail for more than a century, dating back to the First Viscount Rothermere, now also owning free-daily tabloid Metro and the i Paper. Rothermere bought out the remaining shares in the company in 2022, taking it private. Lord Rothermere, here with Lady Rothermere, is set to overtake Murdoch as the largest commercial publisher in the UK. Alamy Stock Photo The other is Sir Paul Marshall, a hedge fund manager and the co-owner of GB News, now the fourth-largest media brand in the country and Britains answer to Fox News. Last year, The Telegraphs stablemate, conservative magazine The Spectator was bought by Marshall for 100 million ($203m) in a forced sale. He also owns conservative website UnHerd. GB News and Spectator owner Paul Marshall. Bloomberg via Getty Images GB News is host to a number of shows regularly fronted by senior figures from the right-wing of politics, including Nigel Farage, who hosts his own nightly show. While it often courts controversy, has struggled financially and been propped by Marshall; GB News success has disrupted Britains media ecosystem, often out-rating Sky News in key timeslots. It also scuppered News UKs own attempts at a news channel, Talk TV, which lasted just two years on traditional television before becoming an online-only product in 2022.

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This purchase would solidify Lord Rothermere as the largest commercial publisher in the United Kingdom, with the Murdoch Familys media footprint watered down since the closure of News of the World following the phone hacking scandal, the decline of print newspapers and the sale of BSkyB to Comcast in 2018. While the publicly owned BBC still dominates British media, the Mail and Telegraph are the fourth and fifth most popular online news brands, according to the 2025 Reuters Institute Digital News Report. Donald Trump speaking with Nigel Farage in 2024 for Pau;l Marshalls GB News. GB News Unlike the Murdoch-owned titles, which have been known to endorse different sides of politics depending on the issues of the day, both The Telegraph and The Daily Mail have taken a more inflexible approach in their coverage and in the face of a General Election. In last years election, The Sun and The Sunday Times endorsed Sir Keir Starmer and Labour, while The Times and The Sun on Sunday (all News UK owned) did not offer an endorsement. Both The Mail and The Telegraph, as well as their Sunday editions backed the Conservative Party, which delivered its worst ever electoral result with just 121 seats.

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Alongside GB News overt support of the Reform party, The Mail and The Telegraph have now emerged as perhaps the most strident supporters of Farage and his party, which  also aided by positive coverage by The Sun  are currently leading British polling for the first time in its history, with immigration its central issue. Rupert Murdoch and the editor of the Times, Harold Evans, in 1981. AP Farage and Reforms rise the polls have caused a further shift in British politics to the right, despite the traditionally centre-left Labour Party in Government. Legislation introduced by new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood last week  curbing the ability for refugees to seek asylum in the United Kingdom  has received broad praise in conservative circles and been criticised harshly in more progressive outlets. Rothermeres interest in The Telegraph dates back to 2023, and Rupert Murdochs News UK was at one point interested in a joint bid, with the controversial sale process operated by temporary owners RedBird IMI. An offer from RedBird Capital fell over as recently as last week. Two bids had received public criticism for fear of foreign intervention, including from the Telegraphs newsroom and editor Chris Evans over the groups links to China and financial backing from Abu Dhabi.

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Fleet Street, while having a waning influence, remains largely dominated by right-leaning mastheads, known for their ferocious attacks and campaign-style reporting. Metro, also in the DMGT stable is the United Kingdoms largest print newspaper by circulation, of those whose figures are available. The Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday are the second and third largest respectively, while The Telegraph does not share its circulation figures. Just this month, the combined power of the right-wing press was on display, with shared interests in eroding their biggest competitor, the BBC. The Telegraph published a leaked internal BBC memo, which cited allegations the BBC had inappropriately edited Donald Trumps January 6 speech. Subsequent pressure and sustained coverage of the memo from The Telegraph, The Mail and the News UK titles led to the resignation of Tim Davies, director general and Deborah Turness, the BBCs News CEO. The DMGT said under its ownership, The Telegraph will retain its own editorial independence, and Rothermere added it will have the resources to invest in the newsroom under its current editor, Evans, who he praised in 2023 amid rumours he wanted to poach him to edit The Mail.

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Under our ownership, the Daily Telegraph will become a global brand, just as the Daily Mail has, Rothermere said. Daily Mail Australia is currently the sixth-biggest digital news brand in Australia, according to Ipsos. The Murdochs, both Rupert and Lachlan remain highly influential figures in British politics. At King Charles state banquet for Donald Trump in September, Murdoch was seated next to Sir Keir Starmers top aide, Morgan McSweeney, one of the most powerful figures in Westminster. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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BusinessCompaniesBillionaires Opinion War of the megaphones: Australian billionaires push their climate agendas Elizabeth Knight Business columnist November 25, 2025  3:00pm

November 25, 2025  3:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

For years one of the most hazardous places to stand was between mining billionaire Andrew Forrest and a microphone. These days the even-wealthier Gina Rinehart is challenging Forrest on visibility and hyperbole. Most have become very familiar with Forrest eulogising about the climate-induced end of the planet. At the other extreme, Rinehart is sermonising about the catastrophic effect that environmentalists and leftist watermelons are having on Australian industry, farmers and even schoolchildren. She believes kids are being fed garbage about climate and giant green incinerators are devouring taxpayer money. Billionaires Gina Rinehart and Andrew Forrest are on the opposite ends of the climate debate. Marija Ercegovac Watermelon isnt just a fruit, it is also a derogatory term for climate activists who are seen as having left-wing goals, meaning they are green on the outside (environmentalism) but red on the inside (socialism).

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Rinehart, whose views may be invigorated by having a like-minded Donald Trump in power, isnt taking any green prisoners. She used a rousing speech over the weekend (delivered by one of her managers from the helm of an iron ore tanker), to outline the perils of the slavish pursuit of net zero emissions and take a long-winded swipe at the government for paying disproportionate attention to decarbonisation with insufficient regard to the costs it imposes on business and those struggling with the cost of living. Rinehart has long occupied the ultra-conservative end of the political spectrum, so her politics on climate are not new. But the decibel level of her arguments and her preparedness to aim for a larger audience is what has put her in share of voice competition with her climate nemesis Forrest. Lets not forget that both have a voice thanks to the billions they have made extracting iron ore.

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Another perspective Blood Oil This should ring alarm bells: Twiggy Forrest demands an end to Russian oil loopholes in Australia Rinehart wants to whip up a frenzy from the large number of unheard Australians  encouraging them to use TikTok or Reddit, send letters or call radio shock jocks to pressure the government to abandon emissions reduction policies that she says are increasing our power bills and forcing pensioners to choose between rent and food or medical treatment. If government truly cared about its duty to Australians, they would stand up to the noisy watermelons and the far left, Rinehart wrote. We need to help them, dont we? Its fair to say Forrest has become a little quieter recently, coinciding with setbacks to his ambitious green hydrogen plans after questions about their financial viability. But he remains true to his cause and wont ever stop campaigning. His iron ore company Fortescue had committed $US6.2 billion ($9.6 billion) to renewables to reach its decarbonisation goals by 2030.

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So it was curious that Rineharts recent speech didnt single out Forrest or Fortescue (unless he is one of the watermelons to whom she refers). Instead, fellow iron ore miner and joint venture partner Rio Tinto received a reprimand, alongside BHP, for investing in climate abatement technologies. She wants the shareholders of these companies to think about the green of their money rather than the environment. Mum and dad shareholders, what happened to your most recent half-yearly dividends from BHP, Rio and others, lowest in the last seven or eight years? Your dividends are being sacrificed on the green altar, Rinehart wrote. How many billions are each of those public companies spending on net zero?

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Billionaires Prospecting for profits: Trumpette Gina Rineharts big tech spending spree Elizabeth Knight Business columnist Rio Tinto is looking at spending $US5 billion to $US6 billion over the eight years to 2030 and BHP is planning for about $US4 billion over seven years. These might sound like big numbers, but they are spread over several years and should be measured against BHPs 2025 revenue of $US51.3 billion and Rios revenue of $US26.9 billion for the first half of 2025. Billions and billions and billions of dollars of taxpayers money, and billions more of shareholders money, is being thrown into this transition, or what I call the huge green incinerator, Rinehart added in the speech. An incinerator gobbling up more taxpayers money for charging stations for EVs, hidden subsidies, luxe green gabfests for those enjoying the green trough, handouts for studying even dubious things if the green theme is included, and rescue packages for industries that can no longer afford the increased government burdens. Her passion for mining is now clearly matched by her hyperbolic disdain for the governments environmental policies. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon.
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Eating outEat and drink Perth The return of a meal and a deal? New tenant revealed for Cocos site in South Perth Cameron Myles November 25, 2025 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Long lunches with a view are returning to the South Perth foreshore, with the Meat & Wine Co revealed as the tenants for the old Cocos site. The restaurant, on the corner of Mends Street and the South Perth Esplanade, served Western Australias business and social scene for more than three decades, and became known as much for its clientele as its menu over the years. An artists rendering of the new Meat & Wine Co, which will take over the Cocos site in South Perth. COOOP.CO Rene Rivkin and Alan Bond were among the more colourful characters to dine at the riverside venue, while the citys mining executives regularly took up tables for lengthy meals where big deals were thrashed out  complete with plenty of wine. Now, a new era of power-lunching has dawned, as Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group  which also counts Hunter & Barrel, Ribs & Burgers 6HEAD among its stable  looks to make an impression in South Perth when the restaurant opens in December.

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Related Article Good Food hat 15 / 20 Review When a Perth butcher opens a restaurant next door, diners expect (and get) world-class steak WA state manager Laurie Thorpe said the company had its brands spread throughout Perth, and Cocos stood out as an opportunity to venture out from the CBD. I mean, its an iconic site there on the river, and we only really want our brands to go into iconic or landmark locations, he said. With news looming that Cocos would not be renewing its lease  which eventually happened at the start of the year  Thorpe got his foot in the door to set the wheels in motion for Meat & Wine Co to take its place. Thorpe hoped the tradition of long lunches would continue at Meat & Wine Co in South Perth.

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The Meat & Wine Co at the Palace Hotel [in Perths CBD] is a long lunch venue as well, it caters to the financial crowd and what have you in the city, so we understand that thats our market to a certain degree, and we want to continue it as best we can, he said. The restaurant is due to open in December. COOOP.CO Obviously, were not in the heyday of the 1980s, early 90s, but we think theres an opportunity to get guests over there. So we want to continue in that vein; we understand the legacy of Cocos and what that represents to the local people in South Perth. We understand the history of Cocos. We understand what it meant to people.

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The 200-seat restaurant will boast a menu in line with the Meat & Wine Cos theme of African-influenced dining, with a Safari Menu also to debut in South Perth. That menu will feature dishes South African-born head of culinary Sean Hall described as food from the home, including lamb curry with potato and spices served in a hollowed-out loaf. The food will be accompanied by a wine list boasting premium and limited drops from WA winemakers, including the iconic Vasse Felix, which will have its Tom Cullity Cabernet Malbec on the menu for a cool $520 a bottle. Meat & Wine Co South Perth is slated to open on December 12.
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The girlfriend of a teenager stabbed to death during a confrontation behind a high school in Sydneys north-west has left a heartbreaking tribute to her beautiful boy, as details of the alleged attack were revealed in court. The 17-year-old died despite the frantic resuscitation attempts of paramedics after he was stabbed in the leg at a park near Rouse Hill High School on Monday afternoon. A still from the tribute video to the 17-year-old boy allegedly stabbed in Rouse Hill. A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder and appeared in Parramatta Childrens Court on Tuesday. Posting online, the young girl said her boyfriend would always be remembered.

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I love you so much, and you will forever be in my heart. You dont deserve this and never did, she wrote alongside a video of the pair. I love you  I always will. Fly high, my beautiful boy. Mourners lay flowers where the 17-year-old boy died. Kate Geraghty The Herald has been in contact with the boys family. The 15-year-old alleged attacker did not apply for bail when he appeared briefly in court. He cannot be named for legal reasons.

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The court heard the teen was alleged to have set upon the deceased, unprovoked, and has stabbed him in the groin area. Magistrate James Viney said police alleged the 15-year-old had been identified by witnesses at the crime scene. Police believe the young person played a leading role, being the only person that used a knife to stab the deceased, Viney said. Loading Viney said police further allege the boy had admitted to stabbing the 17-year-old when he handed himself into police on Monday night. The court heard the 15-year-old was allegedly wearing a black balaclava and hood during the attack, and the victim had no criminal record and lived at home.

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Ive stabbed another boy in the leg, Viney said police were allegedly told. When asked who had been stabbed, the 15-year-old allegedly identified the victim, Viney said. The confession was allegedly captured on a police body-worn camera. Detectives and officers at the site of the stabbing in Rouse Hill. Edwina Pickles The court heard police had applied to obtain a sample of the boys DNA, via a self-administered swab, and to take photographs of parts of the boys body. Police believe forensic tests would also show the 17-year-olds DNA on the accused killers hands and under his fingernails.

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The 15-year-old was remanded in custody to face court on January 23. Locals laid flowers at the Bruce Purser Reserve on Tuesday morning, while detectives interviewed young people at the scene. Children at the nearby schools were escorted through the gates by staff. Several locals raised concerns about the increase in youth violence in the area. One resident, Tania, who asked that only her first name be used, said thered been an increase in crime as the area became more populous with the opening of the Metro. Loading Its a tragic event [but] Im not surprised. I walk through here on a weekly basis and see evidence of drugs and paraphernalia and that sort of thing, she said.

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Its an area where its secluded, close to the schools, a hangout for a lot of kids  I see them smoking, socialising. Ive heard some heated arguments here. Strike Force Crawton has been launched to investigate the boys death. Hills Police Area commander Superintendent Naomi Moore described the teenagers death as senseless. She said the victim and his friend were approached in the reserve on Caballo Street by a group of two to three young people before a knife was produced. Loading I have 17-year-olds at home. This has impacted the core of the community. I have no other words, but its a tragedy, and its senseless, she told media on Monday night.

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Moore said several female witnesses rendered aid to the 17-year-old during the horrifically confronting situation. NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was deeply saddened by the teens death, and extended his sincere condolences to his family and friends. It is an unimaginable loss, and the whole community will feel the impact, Minns said. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said she was deeply saddened to learn of the boys tragic death. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with the young boys family during this extremely difficult time, Rowland said in a statement.

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There is no place in our community for these acts of senseless violence, and I know this news will be particularly distressing for local families. The teenagers death comes after attempts to crack down on knife crime in NSW. The NSW government in June 2024 passed Jacks Law  named for 17-year-old Queenslander Jack Beasley, who was stabbed to death in December 2019. It allows police to stop and scan people with handheld metal-detecting wands in designated areas where violent offences involving weapons have occurred in the previous 12 months.

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Police began using those powers in December and scanned 13,422 people up to the end of June, finding 193 weapons and laying 222 charges, according to the forces annual report. More than 2000 of those scans took place at Mount Druitt in Sydneys west. Daily scans were conducted following the death of 19-year-old Zac McRae at a bus station in the suburb on August 27. Data from the states Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows how the number of youths charged with murder or assault involving a knife has fluctuated. Murders involving a knife where a person of interest was under 18 peaked in 2023-24, with 12, surpassing the 11 recorded in 2005-06. It dropped to three in 2024-25.

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The number of people under 18 charged with non-domestic assaults with a knife has risen in the past two years to 59, but remains below peaks in the 2009-10 (110) and 2020-21 (85) reporting years. Get alerts on breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.
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NationalQueenslandCrime Complex issues at play: Teen accused of killing Greg Josephson to see psychiatrist Cloe Read November 25, 2025  10:01am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

The teenager accused of killing Universal Store co-founder Greg Josephson will be assessed by a psychiatrist for the first time in the week before Christmas. The 58-year-old was found dead at his multimillion-dollar Brisbane home in June, during a Thursday-evening party attended by dozens of teenagers. He was found inside the house, and had suffered critical injuries. Paramedics were unable to save him. Greg Josephson, pictured with wife Tamra. Internet The death shocked the close-knit Clayfield community, with neighbours reporting hearing sirens as paramedics tried to gain entry into Josephsons property.

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A 15-year-old was charged with murder. Related Article Crime Inside the affluent streets and private schools entangled in the Clayfield stabbing Kris Jahnke, representing the teenager, told the Childrens Court in a hearing on Tuesday that a psychiatrist had been retained. There are a number of complex issues at play in this matter, he said. We are currently in the process of providing all relevant material to the psychiatrist to allow an assessment to be conducted and report prepared.

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Were providing all the material to the psychiatrist. He will conduct an assessment and prepare a report. He will start that process in early December. Josephson co-founded Universal Store, before selling the business for $100 million. Instagram Hell meet with [the accused] for the first time on the 18th of December. Realistically, he wont be in a position to provide us with an opinion until about the end of March next year, and thats a rough estimate. The court heard DNA in the case would be assessed in the US.

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Forensic testing in many court cases has been outsourced to laboratories overseas in a bid to address a significant backlog across Queensland. The teenager was remanded in custody, with his case adjourned to March next year. Josephson founded Universal Store in 1999 with his brother Michael. The company was sold for $100 million in 2018. Before his death, Josephson and his wife had been planning to sell their Clayfield property, worth about $5 million, while shifting their focus to business ventures on the Sunshine Coast. Josephson was farewelled by loved ones in July. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalWACourts Perth man jailed for prolonged, ferocious City Beach highway attack Heather McNeill and Jamie Freestone November 25, 2025  3:02pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Matthew Lawson, 26, hadnt slept for a week when he snapped at work and decided he was going to kill his colleague, leaving his demolition site armed with a claw hammer. Im gonna take him down with me, let me take him down with me, Lawson told his foreman, before jumping in his car, and heading to the City Beach demolition site where Trae Black, 31, was working. Victim Trae Black. 9News Perth In a drug-induced psychosis, Lawson ran at Black and swung the hammer at his head, only missing because his victim dodged. Black then fled to West Coast Highway and hid in bushes as Lawson circled the area seven times in his car for around 17 minutes.

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When Black thought he had left, he emerged from the bushes and began walking along West Coast Highway. Lawson, however, spotted him and sped at him, chasing him up a bank and hitting him with his car. He then got out the vehicle, laughing, and repeatedly struck Black to the head with a hammer. Loading Black was badly injured in the incident, with his right leg severed below the knee and his pelvis, skull and jaw fractured. When police arrested Lawson for assault, he replied: Nah, murder. Isnt he dead? If hes not dead, Im gonna go back and kill him.

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Blacks life was saved by passersby, including an off-duty doctor, who provided emergency aid on the side of the road while waiting for paramedics. He remained in a coma for 11 days and said the incident fundamentally changed the direction of his life. Matthew Lawson captured on CCTV before he ran over colleague Trae Black. 9 News Perth He suffers from chronic pain, wears a prosthetic leg, and can no longer work in a physical capacity, forcing him to be dependent on family and his partner. This did not just happen to me, it happened to all of us, he said in his victim impact statement.

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I grieve about the life I once had, and the life I imagined for myself  there are days when I feel depressed and overwhelmed. Related Article Updated

Police Man charged over bloodied City Beach attack During Lawsons sentencing in the Supreme Court of Western Australia on Tuesday, his defence lawyer David McCallum acknowledged that nothing could take away from the seriousness of the prolonged and ferocious attack Black endured. He claimed Lawson, who used methamphetamine regularly, was suffering from an acute paranoid psychotic episode at the time of the incident on July 29, 2024. He says Lawson had used drugs from a young age, sparked by the social isolation and limited job opportunities available to him due to suffering from a hearing impairment.

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Justice Natalie Whitby sentenced him to 14 years jail for attempting to murder Black. He will be eligible for parole in 2036, and was served a lifetime violence restraining order to never go within 50 metres of Black. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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PoliticsVictoriaCity life Melbournes grasslands face extinction without greater protection Adam Carey November 25, 2025  6:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

The last remnants of Victorias critically endangered native grasslands, which are home to several threatened plants and animals, are in declining ecological health, increasingly choked by weeds, blighted by illegal dumping and starved of funds for their protection. Experts have warned that the unique environment on Melbournes expanding outskirts faces extinction unless urgent action is taken. The Derrimut grassland, in Melbournes west, is protected under an agreement between the state and federal governments. Justin McManus The grasslands must be protected under environmental laws, but an official audit has found most of the vulnerable ecosystem is being neglected. The then Brumby government committed to create a 15,000-hectare reserve beyond Melbournes west 15 years ago in an agreement with the Rudd government to offset the erasure of grasslands habitat due to expanding the city limits.

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The Brumby government also committed to create 36 conservation areas within the enlarged urban growth boundary and a 1200-hectare grassy eucalypt woodland. But just 25.4 per cent of the land for the promised reserve has been secured, along with seven of 36 conservation areas, and none of the woodland, a report by the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability has found. Only three of nine native plant and animal species meant to be protected in the reserve are in good ecological health. Some of the healthiest remnants of grassland are in ecological decline due to a lack of weed control. Between 2019 and 2023, areas of weed management plunged from 1200 to 100 hectares.

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The report raises the alarm on the declining status of the golden sun moth, one of Victorias rarest insects. Urgent management intervention is required to improve the current declining trend, the report warns. The growling grass frog  often championed by developers as a creature that inhabits wetlands in Melbournes western and northern growth corridors  faces localised extinction without more protection, including the creation of habitat corridors so that fragmented populations can breed. The species population has been declining within the [urban growth boundary] due to disturbances, including urban expansion and diseases, the report says.

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The commissioners office also found that Parks Victoria had drastically reduced its management of the grasslands. In 2018, Parks Victoria completed land management for 2000 hectares of grassland reserve, but only 185 hectares by 2023. Parks Victoria told the commissioners office that this was because its funds only covered essential works on assigned land parcels, and prevented it from committing to medium-term works. Meanwhile, the condition of the grasslands degraded between 2013 and 2023, which worsens the outlook for species such as the striped legless lizard, matted flax-lily and spiny rice-flower. Professor Sarah Bekessy, of RMIT University and a lead councillor on the Biodiversity Council, said Victorias grasslands  which once stretched to South Australia  were in danger of disappearing before our eyes. Theres a fair chance we are going to see the extinction of that ecosystem in the near future, she said.

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Its a shocking indictment on this government that they have not had the courage to stand up for an ecosystem that is going extinct under their watch. And for what reason? To build housing. Grasslands expert Sarah Bekessy on the badly neglected Western Grassland Reserve. Paul Jeffers Bekessy said the grasslands were also culturally important to the Wurundjeri people and fundamental to the foundation of Melbourne, having lured graziers north from Tasmania in the 1830s. They are basically the reason Melbourne exists, she said. Interim Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability Helen Vaughan said in her foreword to the report that land acquisition, weed control and managing illegal waste dumping were key challenges to be overcome.

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The ongoing challenge of progressing these issues suggests that the natural value of the Western Grassland Reserve, grassy eucalypt woodland and the 36 conservation areas is not yet fully appreciated by local communities, Vaughan wrote. Related Article Exclusive

City life From grasslands to moonscape: Dismay, anger over illegal clearing in Melbournes west Illegal dumping  mainly refuse from housing demolitions  was on the rise, the report said. Most of the land earmarked for the reserve remains in private hands, with an acquisition overlay in place. Some landowners have entered into agreements to manage weeds on their properties, but the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action often has no data on this. Funding for acquiring the reserves comes from a levy imposed on developers, who make offset payments for clearing grasslands elsewhere in Melbourne.

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The department is reviewing the levy due to concerns it is too low to meet the cost of acquiring land. Dr Adrian Marshall, facilitator of the Grassy Plains Network, said the government should make an upfront purchase of all the Western Grassland Reserve land, conservation areas and the grassy eucalypt woodland reserve. Marshall said the Allan government was failing to uphold environmental laws and the Albanese government was missing in action despite signing off the plan. In the western and northern edges of Melbourne good patches of environment that could have benefited the whole community are cleared for developer profit, while weeds swamp supposedly protected grasslands and grassy woodlands, he said. A spokesperson said the government was creating one of the largest conservation areas on Melbournes doorstep, with more than a quarter of the grassland reserve permanently protected.

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To crack down on illegal dumpers weve created Victorias Illegal Dumping Taskforce, who will conduct enforcement activities to detect and respond to waste crimes in key locations, the spokesperson said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Updated WorldEuropeRussia-Ukraine war Leaked phone call shows Trumps special envoy coached Kremlin on Trump tactics Michael Koziol and David Crowe Updated November 26, 2025  3:58pm ,first published November 25, 2025  6:56pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 216 View all comments

Key points A recording of a phone call from October 14, 2025, between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Putins foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov was leaked to Bloomberg News.

Witkoff coached Ushakov on how Vladimir Putin should approach Donald Trump, advising Putin to flatter Trump by congratulating him on his Gaza peace plan.

Amid the revelations, Trump dispatched Witkoff to Moscow to meet Putin, with the goal of striking a peace deal, after European and American leaders hailed their progress in settling disputes over the terms of the latest proposal.

Washington/London: A US presidential envoy coached a Kremlin official on how Vladimir Putin should talk to Donald Trump about the Ukraine war, and suggested the two leaders speak before a critical White House visit by Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky, a leaked phone call recording has revealed. The extraordinary details were published by Bloomberg News as the envoy who was on the call  Steve Witkoff  prepares to meet Putin in Moscow next week on Trumps direction, as part of the latest US-led effort to reach a peace deal in the conflict. Steve Witkoff is set to travel to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin. Bloomberg The recording of the call, which Bloomberg reviewed and transcribed, shows that Witkoff advised Putins top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, to get the Russian leader to congratulate Trump on his Gaza peace plan and make a similar pitch regarding the Ukraine war. Zelensky is coming to the White House on Friday  I think if possible we have the call with your boss before that Friday meeting, Witkoff told Ushakov in the call on October 14.

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The Trump-Putin conversation then took place, and the two men had a very productive discussion, after which Trump cooled on the idea of selling Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv. According to the Bloomberg transcript, Witkoff also told Putins aide: Me to you, I know what its going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere. Steve Witkoff (left) and Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov (second right) join talks in Saudi Arabia in February. Evelyn Hockstein Scroll to the bottom to read the full transcript of Witkoffs phone call Nebraska congressman Don Bacon, a Republican who has been critical of Trumps approach to Ukraine, said the transcript showed Witkoff cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations.

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Would a Russian-paid agent do less than he? He should be fired, Bacon said on social media. But Trump defended Witkoff over the call. Hes got to sell this to Ukraine, hes got to sell Ukraine to Russia  thats what a dealmaker does, he said. I would imagine hes saying the same thing to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky; US President Donald Trump; and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Marija Ercegovac Amid the revelations, Trump dispatched Witkoff to Moscow to meet Putin as the next step in peace negotiations, after European and American leaders hailed their progress on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) in settling disputes over the terms of the latest proposal, floated by the White House last week. Trump, however, is resisting a potential visit from Zelensky to the United States. That meeting could have happened as early as this week, after the Ukrainian leader aired the idea to discuss sensitive points in the potential deal.

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He [Zelensky] would like to come, but I think we should get a deal done first, Trump said on board Air Force One as he left Washington on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) to spend the Thanksgiving holiday at his Florida club, Mar-a-Lago. Related Article Russia-Ukraine war Best meeting: The 28-point plan becomes 19 after emergency Ukraine talks Were having some talks with Russia. Ukraine is doing well, I think theyre pretty happy about it. We wont know for a little while, but were making progress. Trump said there were only a few remaining areas of disagreement with Ukraine and other nations after days of talks about the peace proposal, which began as a 28-point plan that was quickly dismissed by critics as too favourable to Russia. That was just a map. That was not a plan. It was a concept, Trump said of the initial document.

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Asked what concessions were now being asked of Russia, he said: Their big concession is they stop fighting, and they dont take any more land. Earlier, Trump announced that while Witkoff meets Putin in Moscow, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll would meet the Ukrainians. He said he wanted to meet Zelensky and Putin himself only when the deal to end this war is final or in its final stages. The negotiations have included talks in Geneva on Sunday between US and Ukrainian officials, along with European counterparts, followed by a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday between Russian officials and Driscoll. In the days since Witkoff and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev hammered out the proposed 28-point plan, Ukrainian and European officials have hurried to draft a counteroffer with far less favourable terms for Russia.

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The result is a winnowed-down 19-point proposal that pushes back on key elements of the US proposal, including the rapid removal of economic sanctions on Russia and a cap on the size of the Ukrainian military. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron convened an online meeting of the coalition of the willing on Tuesday in Europe (Wednesday morning AEDT) and asked Zelensky to address the leaders. Loading A good result from Geneva Zelensky aired the idea of a meeting with Trump and said he believed European leaders should also attend, while he warned that Russia continued to bombard Ukraine amid the discussions about peace.

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Now we have a good result from Geneva, he said of the negotiations. That framework is on the table, and we are ready to move forward together with the United States of America, with the personal engagement of President Trump, and with Europe, and with leaders. And Im ready to meet with President Trump. There are sensitive points to discuss; we have them still, and we think the presence of European leaders could be helpful. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey attend a meeting of the coalition of the willing via video conference from 10 Downing Street in London. Getty Images The coalition meeting included leaders from Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union and NATO. Australia was represented at the meeting by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. One of Ukraines key negotiators, Rustem Umerov, praised the work in Geneva and signalled support for the revised proposals without being specific about the terms.

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Blood Oil How Putins ghost ships put billions worth of blood oil into Australian cars We appreciate the productive and constructive meetings held in Geneva between the Ukrainian and US delegations, as well as President Trumps steadfast efforts to end the war, he said. Our delegations reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva. But there was no sign of Russian agreement, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made it clear that Moscow preferred the original US plan over the revised European offer. Our assessments remain valid in the sense that the key provisions of Trumps [original] plan are based on understandings reached in Anchorage at the Russian-American summit in August this year. And these principles are generally reflected in the plan, which we welcomed, Lavrov said.

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Meanwhile, Moscow and Kyiv exchanged fire overnight, with heavy air raids on Kyiv and assaults on southern Russian areas that left at least six people dead in the Ukrainian capital and three dead in Russias Rostov region, officials say. Ukraines air defences worked to shield the capital from combined missile and drone attacks, and loud explosions were heard, with authorities instructing residents to stay in shelters. Firefighters put out a blaze after a drone hit a residential building in Kyiv overnight. AP Separately, Romania scrambled fighter jets on Tuesday morning to monitor what it said were two intrusions into its airspace by drones in the east and south-east near the border with Ukraine, according to the Defence Ministry. Following the overnight strikes, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for continued pressure on Russia as well as unity among transatlantic allies to end the war. The latest attack was a terrorist response to the United States and President Trumps peace proposals, he said on the X platform.

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WorldNorth AmericaCrime Child-stabber who tried to kill friend to appease Slender Man back in custody November 24, 2025  3:55pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Madison, Wisconsin: It was the crime that gripped the world  two 12-year-olds turning on their friend after a sleepover, stabbing her multiple times in the woods to please an internet bogeyman. Now, 11 years later, one of them is back in custody after cutting off an ankle monitor bracelet and disappearing for 24 hours. Police in the United States say Morgan Geyser, now aged 23, cut off her ankle monitoring device and left a group home in Wisconsin at the weekend, where she had been placed on her release from a psychiatric facility. She was found and taken back into custody late on Sunday night (Monday AEDT), in neighbouring Illinois. Morgan Geyser was on the run after removing her ankle monitoring bracelet. Madison Police Department Geyser admitted to nearly killing her classmate, Payton Leutner, in a wooded part of a park near Milwaukee in 2014, in a frenzied attack aimed at pleasing the online horror character Slender Man  a tall, gangly faceless creature with a demon-like appearance. Geyser and another 12-year-old, Anissa Weier, told police at the time they had lured Leutner to the park after a sleepover and had tried to kill her to earn the right to be Slender Mans servants  they feared the character would harm their families if they didnt follow through with the crime. Geyser was reportedly obsessed with the character, while Leutner was terrified of him.

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Geyser stabbed her friend 19 times while Weier egged her on. Leutner barely survived, only doing so after she crawled to a nearby road where she was found by a passing cyclist. Geyser and Weier were arrested walking along a highway later that day, and were reportedly intending to walk to a Wisconsin national park, where they thought Slender Man lived. Slender Man was created online by Eric Knudsen in 2009 as a mysterious figure photo-edited into everyday images of children at play. He grew into a popular bogeyman, appearing in video games, online stories and a 2018 movie. Morgan Geyser (left) and Anissa Weier, aged 12 in 2014, when they tried to kill their classmate. The crime itself triggered widespread debate about the online world and its influence on children, and prompted a number of books and documentaries. Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in 2018 and was sent to a psychiatric facility as part of a plea deal to avoid prison. Weier pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide and was also sent to the psychiatric centre and granted release in 2021.

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Earlier on Sunday, Madison police issued an alert for Geyser, directing people to call emergency services if they saw her, adding that she had cut off a Department of Corrections monitoring bracelet. She was last seen about 8pm on Saturday, with an adult acquaintance, before being found in Illinois the next night. The internet character Slender Man inspired the stabbing. Before she was found, Geysers lawyer, Tony Cotton, said he did not know what had happened with his client and urged Geyser to turn herself in. He said it was unclear how she had managed to break out of the home, and who had helped her to do so. Its in her best interest for her to turn herself in immediately and not continue with this course of action, Cotton said in an Instagram video post where he addressed Geyser directly at times.

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FAO officials commend east China province's rural revitalization amid eco-conservation

Xinhua) 10:00, November 25, 2025

NANCHANG, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations praised China's coordinated efforts to enhance the rural economy while conserving the environment during their just-concluded field tour in the countryside of east China's Jiangxi Province.

From Nov. 17 to 23, officials from international organizations, including the FAO, alongside Chinese experts, participated in a field trip to Jiangxi to explore the coordinated development of ecological conservation and rural revitalization.

In Pohu Village of Yongxiu County in the city of Jiujiang, the delegation visited a wetland sewage treatment system, which plays a crucial role in protecting the ecology of Poyang Lake -- China's biggest freshwater lake and the largest wintering ground for migratory birds in Asia.

The system at Poyang Lake features a filter bed composed of soil, gravel and plants, which effectively removes pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus from discharged household sewage through physical, chemical and microbial processes.

"There are a lot of pollution problems when it comes to people living close to protected areas. So I think this is a good natural method for people to avoid pollution of the wetlands," remarked Ronnie Brathwaite, FAO senior agriculture officer. "It is something that can be scaled up."

The sewage treatment system was developed under a Global Environment Facility project on wetland protection in Jiangxi -- a joint initiative of the FAO and Jiangxi Province.

Thanks to the ecological conservation of Poyang Lake, bird-watching tourism along the shore of the lake began to flourish, bringing financial benefits to farmers. Fan Pingping, an owner of a tourist homestay business in Wucheng Township of Yongxiu County on the shore of Poyang Lake, is among them.

Her homestay now attracts a steady stream of tourists during bird-watching season. "I used to worry about how to make a living without fishing. Thanks to bird-watching tourism, my income has increased several times over," she said.

Poyang Lake hosts between 600,000 and 800,000 migratory birds each year, including 98 percent of the global population of Siberian cranes, 80 percent of the world's oriental white storks -- and a range of other rare bird species.

In Taihe County, in the city of Ji'an, the delegation met Huang Lili, a breeder of the geographically indicated Taihe black-bone chicken. The woman now raises nearly 2,000 black-bone chickens in her courtyard, which brings in an annual income of around 30,000 yuan (about 4,234 U.S. dollars). With this steady stream of income, Huang no longer has to leave her family behind to seek jobs in faraway coastal economic hubs.

Mohamed Manssouri, director of the FAO Investment Centre, noted that the model of "geographically indicated products + deep processing" provides farmers with a sustainable path to income growth.

Innovative agricultural practices also left a strong impression on the visiting delegates. These practices include installing solar-powered air-conditioned greenhouses and smart risk-management sheds for the production of local specialty mushrooms in Le'an County, in the city of Fuzhou in Jiangxi, and eco-friendly breeding models such as rice-crayfish and rice-crab co-culture in Jishui County, of the city of Ji'an.

Brathwaite expressed admiration for the local government's investment in agricultural infrastructure, noting that the FAO is willing to collaborate, provide technical support and help farmers adopt new technologies.

"It is very interesting to get to know the approach to rural revitalization," Manssouri noted, having acquired first-hand knowledge of various measures adopted in Jiangxi's countryside.

"People used to rely mostly on farming, and today they are relying on farming, processing, e-commerce and tourism -- activities for people to have a better income. But at the same time, there is a focus on environmental conservation, and it's very unique," Manssouri added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
CAREDOC staff are set to hold a lunchtime protest in Carlow tomorrow (Wednesday) as part of an escalating industrial dispute over an unpaid 8% wage increase agreed under a national Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) process in 2023.

Theres a danger that if a resolution hasnt been reached soon and the dispute moves to strike action that out-of-hours access to GPs will be heavily impacted in the midst of the festive season. The whole of the south east region will be impacted by the move.

The protest, organised jointly by SIPTU and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), will begin at 12 noon with members gathering at the Seven Oaks Hotel before marching to Caredocs head office at St Dympnas Hospital.

Staff have been told they can only attend while off duty.

The unions say the demonstration marks a new phase in what has become a nearly three-year standoff between employees and management. Caredoc employs around 350 staff across Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, south Tipperary and Sligo, making it one of the countrys largest out-of-hours GP providers.

The service was founded in Carlow in 2001 and was among Irelands first of its kind.

Speaking to The Nationalist, SIPTU organiser Ger McNally said staff are still waiting for the 8% uplift despite the unions understanding that funding was provided to Caredoc several months ago.

There was a WRC agreement which enabled an 8% uplift for our members, he said. We are of the understanding that the funding was made available to Caredoc and they still havent paid it out to our members. Mr McNally said Caredoc has cited a separate legal dispute with the HSE over Section 39 status but insisted that this is not our concern.

Our dispute is not with the HSE, it is with Caredoc and they are the employer, he explained. SIPTU has asked numerous times for meetings but theyre not engaging with us on it;eyve never come back with any reason. He added that the last meaningful engagement from management was earlier this year.

He continued: They havent been willing to meet or engage since March. Mr McNally said the protest is intended to send a clear message to management and the public.

Itll make the management know that were serious about our pursuit of our claim. It will highlight to the public whats going on, because the public wouldnt be aware of whats happening here, I imagine. He also warned that if strike action proceeds in December it could severely impact the service.

If were striking, there wont be access to 24-7 care, he said. Our A&Es are already flooded and overrun, but thats where people would end up having to go. Staff have been grappling with rising living costs, says Mr McNally, while their pay has remained unchanged.

There is a cost-of-living crisis our bills are getting higher, our food bills, our ESB bills, everythings getting higher, but our Caredoc members wages arent going up, he added. We have to try and protect our members. Caredoc was contacted for comment and the official response was: As this matter is the subject of impending legal mediation, it would be inappropriate to make any comment at this time.
By Bairbre Holmes, PA

A Bill to rename Dublin Airport after former taoiseach Sean Lemass is to be introduced in the Dail on Tuesday.

Put forward by Fianna Fails Malcom Byrne, it seeks to have the airport named Sean Lemass Dublin International Airport.

The TD for South Wicklow and North Wexford said in a statement that the move was to recognise Mr Lemasss transformative contribution to modern Ireland.

He said: Dublin Airport is Irelands gateway to the world. It should bear the name of a leader who helped open that gateway in the first place.

Sean Lemass oversaw the development of our aviation sector, championed national infrastructure, and laid the foundations for the open, outward-looking Ireland we know today.

US President John F Kennedy with Taoiseach Sean Lemass at the American Embassy in Dublin in 1963 (PA)

A veteran of the 1916 rising, Civil War and War of Independence, the Fianna Fail politician represented constituencies in South Dublin for more than forty years.

He served as taoiseach between 1959 and 1966 and is recognised as opening Ireland to foreign trade in the 1950s and leading the country in its efforts to join the European Economic Community (EEC), a precursor to the European Union.

Mr Byrne has pointed to a number of other international airports named after high-profile leaders, including Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport in France, John F Kennedy International Airport in New York and Montreal Trudeau International Airport in Canada.

He added, Lemass stood for progress, ambition, and opportunity. Renaming the airport in his honour would reflect both our pride in his legacy and our confidence in Irelands future.
Ellen O'Donoghue

Dublin City Council passed its budget on Monday night, voting to bring in controversial rent increases for council tenants next year.

A large number of representatives voted against its passage, over rent increases for council and HAP tenants, which will come into effect next year.

The rise will affect up to 40,000 households rented out by the local authority or containing HAP recipients.

Some tenants could face rises of up to 50 per cent, with the amount of additional rent being calculated on the basis of their income.

Dublin City Council officials have said the hikes are necessary to carry out much-needed maintenance on social housing properties.

Following a heated debate, councillors voted 31 to 30 in favour of the motion.

Lord Mayor Ray McAdam said the rise was necessary to make the system fairer and generate money for the council's ageing housing stock.

People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy proposed that instead of increasing rents, commercial rates should be increased by 15 per cent, The Irish Times reported.

He suggested a fund be set up to supplement this cost for businesses with rates bills under 100,000. His amendment was defeated by 31 votes to 28.

For the first time in 30 years, the council is changing how it calculates rents so higher earners pay more. Despite this, tenants of all incomes can expect increases.

The move follows an analysis of tenant incomes, which found more than a fifth of council households have an after-tax income of greater than 1,000 a week. These households pay heavily subsidised rents, with the average charge across the scheme 83 per week.

While the new system would result in increases across the board, it is envisaged that the lowest-income tenants will pay about 10 per cent more, with the rents of higher earners increasing at a greater rate, according to The Irish Times

The measures weve introduced focused on protecting those on the lowest incomes, Mick Mulhern, the councils head of housing, said.
By Grainne Ni Aodha and Bairbre Holmes, PA

Enoch Burke has been returned to prison on Tuesday on foot of a High Court order to imprison him for contempt.

A judge had decided on November 18th that he should be returned to prison for repeated and flagrant breaches of court orders directing him not to attend a Co Westmeath school where he used to teach.

Mr Burke and his family, who are Evangelical Christians from Co Mayo, are embroiled in a lengthy legal row with Wilsons Hospital School, where Mr Burke formerly worked as a teacher.

The row stems from incidents at the school over a request in 2022 from the schools then-principal that a student be addressed by a new name and pronoun.

Mr Justice Brian Cregan said that the court case before him was not about Mr Burkes views on trans issues, and was instead about his repeated breach of court orders directing him not to trespass on school property.

Mr Cregan said that as Mr Burke had not paid a euro of the thousands of euro worth of fines imposed by the courts, and as security guards at the school had not deterred him from attending, he said there was no other way to enforce the order other than to imprison Mr Burke.

Mr Burke said in court previously that he had spent around 500 days in prison.

The judge said that Mr Burke has the keys to his own prison and can be released if he purges his contempt.

He also said Mr Burke and his family had committed the most deliberate, sustained and concerted attack on the civil courts and the rule of law in Ireland in recent times.

He also asked the Attorney General to bring proceedings against Mr Burke, his mother Martina, his brother Isaac Burke, and his sister Ammi Burke for criminal contempt of court.

Days later on November 21st, a video was posted to Mr Burkes X account where he can be seen standing outside Wilsons Hospital School.

In a statement, An Garda Siochana said it had executed a High Court order in Mullingar, Co Westmeath this afternoon, Tuesday 25th November 2025.
Vivienne Clarke

The CEO of the Dignity4Patients organisation, Adrienne Reilly, has described a meeting with the Minister for Health to discuss a scoping inquiry into consultant Michael Shine as very positive.

Ms Reilly told RTE radios Morning Ireland that the organisation had been invited to meet with the Minister and officials to discuss the terms of reference for the scoping inquiry.

It is understood that a memorandum is to be brought to the Cabinet by the Minister for Health on Tuesday, which would include provisions for the scoping inquiry to run for 16 weeks, with a senior counsel to be appointed before Christmas. This could ultimately lead to a full statutory inquiry, for which victims' groups have been campaigning.

Michael Shine worked as a consultant at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, and was later found guilty of sexual assaults on nine boys.

Following the meeting, the Dignity4Patients organisation consulted with some of the 390 victims they represent.

Ms Reilly said that a number of issues with regard to information gathering and a victim-centred arrangement would form the foundation for some type of statutory inquiry.

Judging from the interactions we've had with the minister throughout the course of this year and in the meeting yesterday, we are entering all of this in very good faith," she said.

It was a very lovely and engaging and receptive meeting yesterday where we could actually discuss real things that were brought to the table on behalf of the victims, like we've always said, to look at the institutions that failed them, to look at how the abuse was allowed to go on for so long, and to address some of the issues like the Smith Review, why that remains locked up and can we get to look at some of the issues around that review."

Ms Reilly said there needed to be an in-depth review of what happened from 1977, when the first case of abuse against Michael Shine was reported.

We need to look at all the institutions that had legal obligations to actually protect children from sexual abuse and rape and sexual assault and where did they fail, what are the learnings from that? We also need for the victims to have a voice and for them to be believed, and that is the main thing, that they want people to know what happened to them, who failed them and who should have protected them."

All the details of a bespoke inquiry can be negotiated, she added. These things are all negotiable around the idea of a bespoke inquiry, and nobody has any interest in this running on for years .
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

There was pride, tears of joy and singing as Irish peacekeepers were embraced by their families after six months on a UN mission to southern Lebanon.

The soldiers children, partners and grandparents waved handmade signs and UN and Irish flags in the arrivals hall at Terminal 1 of Dublin Airport as they waited for their loved ones to appear.

More than 300 Irish troops have spent the last six months serving with the UN in southern Lebanon during a tense period for the Middle East.

Connie OMahony with his children, Faye and Jacob Fitzgerald, at Dublin Airport (Conor O Mearain/PA)

Tara Fitzgerald, from Glanmire in Co Cork, said her daughter Faye had counted down every day until her father Connie OMahony returned.

Kitted out in a camouflage costume and a teddy in a similar cap, uniform and boots, Faye held a tricolour sign she had made the previous day that said no more video calls, no more counting down the days.

The start was hard, there was a lot more going on at the start, Ms Fitzgerald told the PA news agency.

Hes home now, thats the main thing. (It was) worrying, but they kept their heads down and everything was fine, thank God.

She said of her daughter: Shes counted down every single day since the very start, shes slept with that teddy bear every single night, and every morning shes rang him and counted down the days every single day.

Connie OMahony is embraced by his daughter, Faye Fitzgerald, as he arrives home at Dublin Airport (Conor O Mearain/PA)

She missed one day the other day, she was sick, I think there was five days to go, and it was the only day out of 186 that she didnt count down with him.

Faye ran to her father as soon as he came into view.

Theres nothing like being home, he said as he hugged his daughter and 14-year-old son Jacob, who wore the same camouflage costume as his sister five years ago when their father returned from a mission in Syria.

The family of Paddy ODonnell, who turned 21 on Sunday, sang Travelin Soldier as they waited for peacekeepers to land back in Dublin.

Chrissie Renehan greets her grandson, Paddy ODonnell, at Dublin Airport as Irish troops return from a six-month deployment to south Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force Lebanon (Conor O Mearain/PA)

His mother Marion Renehan, from Cappawhite in Co Tipperary, said the past six months have been difficult and that his siblings and little cousins have missed him.

His grandmother Chrissie was among the first people to embrace him as he arrived into view, and said she was proud of him and delighted to have him home.

Asked how the past six months had been, he said: Slow, very slow.

It was tough (being away from family) but I could ring them, so its not too bad.

Sergeant Philip Conlon, from Sligo town, dropped to his knees to hug his daughter Zoe, who has been asking him to take her to the park.

I dont think Ill be getting away from her for the next couple of months, he said.

Zoe Conlon awaits the arrival of her father, Sergeant Philip Conlon, amid a sea of flags and handmade welcome signs at Dublin Airport (Conor O Mearain/PA)

He said families can be worried about what is happening in Lebanon, but that there is constant communication with the soldiers families.

Margaret Byrne said she left Enniscorthy in Co Wexford at 5:15am to see her son Robert OLeary, 28.

She said she was very nervous about his deployment to Lebanon, which was his first deployment abroad, but said she and Mr OLearys girlfriend Tara Rogers have been supporting and updating each other.

They said they were really proud of him and were excited for him to come home.

The WhatsApp messages, hes been sending me pictures of cats and so on because he knows I like cats and I have a cat at home. He says to me would you like this Lebanese cat?' Ms Byrne said.

Ms Rogers said she has been googling updates about Lebanon and has a lot more respect for it as a country.

She added: Its been really tough for me, Ive been hyper obsessed with all the details and googling how far away it is from Camp Shamrock and the outposts.

Im looking forward to that coming to an end.
As The Girl Who Cried Pearls continues its acclaimed festival journey, its a great time to revisit one of co-directors Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowskis past classics, the Oscar-nominated Madame Tutli-Putli.

Traveling alone on a night train, Madame Tutli-Putli becomes entangled in a desperate metaphysical adventure, adrift between real and imagined worlds.

An Academy Award nominee in 2007, this exhilarating, existential stop-motion odyssey is as fresh and compelling today as when it first dazzled audiences almost two decades ago.

The film received more than 45 awards and honors, including its Oscar nomination. Highlights include the Canal+ Grand Prize for Best Short Film at the Cannes Film Festival, a Golden Nica at Prix Ars Electronica, and the Grand Jury Prize for Animated Short at SXSW.

Madame Tutli-Putli marked the beginning of a remarkable creative journey for Lavis and Szczerbowski at the NFB, which has yielded five films to date, including their Maurice Sendak adaptation, Higglety Pigglety Pop!, and their latest, The Girl Who Cried Pearls.

A masterclass in craftsmanship and creativity, Madame Tutli-Putli introduced a bold innovation: integrating live-action eyes into puppets during post-production  a technique that drew the Academys attention.

Its story began with a single mood: a woman leaving something behind. To capture that feeling, the duo spent two weeks aboard a train north of Lake Superior, filming its spaces and interviewing passengers. It took two years to bring the story to life, as the directors built miniature sets and characters with painstaking detail.

As in all of Lavis and Szczerbowskis work, actors played a crucial role in shaping the puppets movements and personalities. For Madame Tutli-Putli, the human inspiration, actress Laurie Maher, profoundly influenced the essence of the main character.

That spirit of meticulous craft and bold experimentation has shaped every project from the acclaimed Montreal animation duo, culminating in their haunting new work, The Girl Who Cried Pearls.
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Disney has released a new action-packed trailer for Miraculous World: Tokyo Stellar Force, the upcoming anime-inspired globe-spanning special in the hit Miraculous franchise.

Interestingly, the trailer features both CG animation, familiar to Ladybug fans, and 2D anime-inspired sequences, suggesting a hybrid production.

Produced by Miraculous Corp, the one-hour event hits Disney Channel on November 29, with an additional airing on Disney XD the following evening. The special will then be rolled out internationally, with the special set to stream on Disney+ in the U.S. starting February 27 of next year, followed by releases in select countries after that.

Set in Tokyo, the special reunites Marinette and Kagami as they face Moddler, a mysterious villain who transforms civilians into massive kaiju. To counter the threat, Ladybug assembles a fractured lineup of Japanese heroes to form the Tokyo Stellar Force, an anime-inspired superteam powered by new abilities, advanced tech, and fusion-capable ships that combine into a towering mech.

The special also acts as a launchpad for the franchises first original spin-off, Miraculous Stellar Force, coming in 2027. The series follows a diverse group of students at an international school in Tokyo who inherit the ancient Stellar Matrix and must confront escalating cosmic threats, including the vengeful Moddler and an enigmatic force known as The Supreme.
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Cement dispatches in Vietnam increased by three per cent YoY to 6.417Mt in October 2025, according to the Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA). Of this total, VICEM delivered 1.769Mt, unchanged from October 2024, while other VNCA members saw a six per cent YoY increase to 1.128Mt. Non-members reported a three per cent YoY increase to 3.52Mt.

Export volumes jumped 28 per cent to 3.473Mt, with clinker exports up 102 per cent YoY to 1.43Mt, while cement exports increased two per cent YoY to 2.043Mt. VICEM members reported a strong increase in clinker exports to 135,015t and a 28 per cent YoY decline in cement exports to 264,290t. Other VNCA members reported no clinker exports in October and cement exports of 239,700t, down two per cent YoY. Clinker exports by non-members increased 94 per cent YoY to 1.295Mt, while cement exports increased 11 per cent YoY to 1.538Mt.

January-October 2025

In January-October 2025, cement dispatches in Vietnam rose 14 per cent YoY to 61.684Mt. VICEM saw a 15.2 per cent YoY rise in domestic sales to 16.688Mt, while other VNCA members reported a 20 per cent YoY increase to 10.790Mt. Domestic dispatches by non-members rose 14.7 per cent YoY to 34.205Mt.

Total exports increased by 18 per cent YoY to 29.910Mt in 10M25, with clinker exports up 44 per cent YoY to 12.059Mt and cement exports up five per cent YoY to 17.851Mt. VICEMs clinker exports dropped 29 per cent YoY to 580,475t and cement exports declined by 41 per cent to 1.469t. Other VNCA members reported clinker exports of 285,168t, down six per cent YoY, and cement exports of 2.428Mt, down seven per cent YoY. Non-members saw a 55 per cent YoY increase in clinker exports to 11.193Mt and an 18 per cent YoY increase in cement exports to 13.954Mt.

The USA and Philippines were the key cement export destinations in 10M25, accounting for around 4.15Mt each. Followed by Singapore with roughly 1.5Mt, South Africa, Honduras and Malaysia, with around 0.75Mt each. Bangladesh was the main clinker destination with roughly 5.15Mt, followed by Cote d'Ivoire at around 2.4Mt, the Philippines (1Mt), Taiwan (0.6Mt) and Malaysia (0.5Mt).
12/11/2025

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report. (If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com ) BEARD,CHRISTOPHER ... more
12/11/2025

Registration is now open for qualifying events for Tennessee Songwriters Week competition. The initial qualifying event at the Rhea County Courthouse will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 at ... more
Kay Moyer Huggins, born on November 10, 1956, passed away on November 21, 2025, at the age of 69.

She was a devoted and kind-hearted woman, known for her adventurous spirit and thoughtful nature. Kay was a compassionate and generous individual, always honest and inspirational to those around her.

Kay's career was marked by her adaptability and resilience. She began as a real estate professional, then spent 17 years as a board-certified music therapist. She concluded her career in promotional sales, selling products with company logo designs. In retirement, Kay enjoyed traveling, spending time with her grandchildren, riding horses, and participating in the SOS small group.

Kay is survived by her loving spouse of 35 years, Barry Huggins. She leaves behind her son, Michael (Morgan) Huggins, and cherished grandchildren, Elaina and Archie Huggins. Kay is also survived by her brother, Tom Moyer, and sister, Cheryl Chance. Her nephews, Matthew (Sherry) Moyer, Wesley (Lauren) Moyer, and Brad (Erica) Chance, niece, Amy (Cody) Maxwell, and great-nephews and nieces, Ryan, Isaac, Gracie, Hope, Mason, Melissa, Mackenzie, and Maisy, will remember her fondly.

Kay and Barry were active members of The Chapel in Cleveland, Tn., and she was deeply involved in her small group, SOS, Sisters of the Son. Her faith was a guiding light, and she was known for her ability to brighten any room and offer encouragement to those in need.

A visitation will be held at Chattanooga Funeral Home-East Chapel, 404 South Moore Road, East Ridge, on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at 1 p.m.

Kay believed in the power of connection and the strength it brings, as reflected in her favorite scripture, Proverbs 27:17: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Her legacy of faithfulness and encouragement will continue to inspire all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Kay's memory may be made to the Proverbs 31 Ministry or The Chapel in Cleveland.

Please share your thoughts and memories of Kay at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Road, East Ridge, Tn. 37412.
The Tennessee Aquariums new hub of education, the S.T.R.E.A.M. Learning Center, supported by Unum, houses three flexible classroom spaces, including a special STEM Classroom, supported by the American Water Charitable Foundation & Tennessee American Water.The donation was awarded through the American Water Charitable Foundations Workforce Readiness and STEM Education Grant Programs  a part of a larger program called Keep Communities Flowing.These grants focus on three pillars of giving: Water, People and Communities.Were proud to support the Tennessee Aquariums new learning center through the American Water Charitable Foundation, said Grant Evitts, president of Tennessee American Water.This STEM lab will spark curiosity, inspire future scientists, and strengthen educational opportunities for our community.Officials said, "The STEM Classroom meets these community and educational needs by providing an experiential learning space for visiting students, teachers and campers. The activities and workshops that will take place in this classroom aim to fuel passion in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. From hands-on learning with preserved fish found in the Tennessee River to identifying the ocean life on the floor-to-ceiling graphic mural, the classroom is an inviting space for the next generation to be invested in nature."The dynamic and multifunctional STEM Classroom is at the heart of both the Aquariums and the American Water Charitable Foundations goals to provide educational programming about water, wildlife and peoples interaction with them. Learning in this space will impact the community today and into the future."
Ian Wilson, majoring in biology at Middle Tennessee State University, has successfully defended his honors thesis. The defense marks the culmination of the Chattanooga resident's work in the Honors College, which challenges students to pursue advanced scholarship and original research."The Honors thesis is a significant academic achievement that reflects his dedication, intellectual curiosity and commitment to academic excellence," officials said. "Under the guidance of faculty mentors, honors students develop and present original research that makes a meaningful contribution to their field of study.""We are proud to recognize our students for reaching this important academic milestone," said Honors College Dean John Vile."Honors students exemplify the spirit of inquiry and scholarship that enriches every discipline."
Lee University will host the third annual Cleveland TUBACHRISTMAS in Pangle Hall on Lees campus on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. Members of the community, as well as middle schoolers, high schoolers and college students, are invited to participate.

We will bring together tuba and euphonium players of all ages to spread the Christmas spirit, said Dr. Jesse McConnell, director of the concert and instructor of tuba and euphonium at Lee. TUBACHRISTMAS offers a wonderful opportunity for tuba and euphonium education and fellowship, concluding with a fun and unique Christmas concert for all to enjoy.

The program will feature traditional Christmas music arranged by Alec Wilder, including songs such as Angels We Have Heard on High, Deck the Halls, Silent Night, Joy to the World, Jingle Bells, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

For those wishing to perform in the concert, registration will take place on Dec. 6, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Pangle Hall lobby, with rehearsal from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Participants will pay a $15 registration fee and a $20 fee for the TUBACHRISTMAS music book, which will be theirs to keep after the concert.

All performers are asked to bring their own instruments and dress in bright, festive colors. Those who have previously participated in a TUBACHRISTMAS performance are encouraged to bring their music book from that experience to avoid purchasing a new one.

This is the 52nd year of TUBACHRISTMAS concerts and events, which are presented throughout the world.

TUBACHRISTMAS concerts are presented with permission from the Harvey Phillips Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit foundation incorporated in the state of New York and dedicated to developing, expanding, and preserving the music arts. The foundation focuses special attention on musical instruments not ordinarily the object of other support, and it facilitates its goals by providing scholarship assistance to selected established institutions that offer academic and music performance training.

Admission to the concert is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. Pangle Hall is located at the corner of Church Street and Central Avenue.

For more information, email Dr. McConnell at jmcconnell@leeuniversity.edu or call (423) 614-8243.
Internationally known autism advocate and bestselling author Temple Grandin has endorsed Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom, calling it Essential reading for disability attorneys, autistic advocates, and people interested in autism.In her blurb, Dr. Grandin writes: A misunderstood, undiagnosed autistic man is accused of murder when his wife died due to epilepsy. His lawyer, McCracken Poston Jr., tells the gripping story of his trial to prove his innocence.Essential reading for disability attorneys, autistic advocates and people interested in autism.The endorsement comes as the book continues to gain national and international recognition, following media interest and response from readers across legal, true crime and neurodiversity communities. This week, the book was honored in the 2025 American Writing Awards, where it was named Winner of the General Nonfiction category and selected as one of the Top 3 nonfiction books of the year across all categories.A Story That Resonates Across Autism, Justice, and Public Understanding Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom recounts Postons defense of Alvin Ridley, a reclusive television repairman charged with murdering his wife after keeping her captive for decades. The trial demonstrated that Ridleys wife was reclusive by choice, kept a meticulous diary and had died of natural causes related to longstanding epilepsy. Over two decades after the verdict, Ridley was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, a discovery that helped explain his lifelong social isolation and the deep misunderstandings and misjudgments that shaped how he was perceived for most of his life, deemed suspicious about his wifes whereabouts and death, as well as the now legendary attorney/client conflict throughout the representation, as revealed in the story."Temple Grandins endorsement highlights the broader significance of Ridleys story for autism awareness, disability justice and the treatment of misunderstood individuals within the legal system," officials said.About Temple GrandinDr. Temple Grandin is one of the worlds most influential autistic thinkers and a longtime professor of animal science at Colorado State University. She became widely known after the 2010 HBO biopic Temple Grandin, starring Claire Danes, which won seven Emmy Awards and introduced millions to her life, her autism advocacy and her innovations in humane livestock handling. She is the bestselling author of The Autistic Mind and Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions.About the AuthorMcCracken Poston Jr. is a criminal defense attorney, former Georgia state legislator and speaker. His work on the Ridley case has drawn national and international media attention, and his book continues to resonate with readers interested in true crime, justice reform, neurodiversity and the human impact of compassionate lawyering.Book DetailsZenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom (Citadel 2024). Available wherever books are sold.
The mellow autumn came, and with it came the promised party, to enjoy its sweets. The corn is cut, the manor full of game; The pointer ranges, and the sportsman beats in russet jacket;lynx like is his aim; full grows his bag, and wonderful his feats. An, nut brown partridges! Brilliant pheasants! And ah, ye poachers!Tis no sport for peasants. - Lord Byron

The good folks up in Rhea County have managed to get themselves back in the local news media here lately.

They seem to have a penchant for such things up that way. This last time, most recently, started with trying to keep a big secret. Apparently its downright impossible now days due to trail cameras, social media and modern satellite powered telephones.

The last time this level of notoriety, for not being able to keep a decent secret got away from these fine people in the county, they wound up with a goofy nickname for Dayton, a world famous court battle, Hollywood made a movie depicting it all, and the annual reenactment of the trial includes a big street party.

The latest secret that got away from em involved a lonely visitor from another county that was quite exotic. Trying to keep a rag-horn elk on the down-low, ostensibly for his own protection, just proved completely impossible in the county of Rhea.

Theres actually no telling when the last free range elk roamed the beautiful wilds of this county.

Those that admired the lone bull wished him the best, and hoped hed stick around, prosper and grow, so one day hed grow up to be a healthy herd bull and sire a good many elk babies.

A dream which was held by many well-wishers, especially those who see elk restoration and sound wildlife management as a most worthy use of our hard earned tax dollars.

Sadly, it all didnt work out for this good old boy, and it didnt work out for all of us who were pulling for the young bull.

Tragically, he apparently failed the road test.

Some say he was poached. Poached and wasted. Wasted is far worse than poached in most books.

Poaching is a European invention of the royals. Kings, Lords, Dukes, Barrons and Earls managed, owned and rather jealously protected, THEIR WILDLIFE on THEIR vast forested estates, in order to keep THEIR downtrodden and striving peasants from stealing and consuming THEIR ROYAL game.

These greedy royals routinely went to great lengths to employ ruthless game keepers to hunt down peasant poachers and eliminate any and all threats to the royal property and holdings. Apparently it worked quite well, this form of human predator control.

When all the oppressed white trash fled Europes monarchies and landed in the new world, a new world without Kings and Dukes, a new world flush with wild game, poaching took on a new name.

We, the white trash hunters of the new colonies, invented market hunting. This new and clever invention was both good for economic stimulation of the new colonies, but it also added a secondary bit of goodness by effectively eliminating, through starvation, the indigenous people who had previously managed the new worlds wild game population as a sustainable food source. Students of wildlife management note that the natives had managed the continents wildlife quite successfully long before the white trash invasion.

The more successful the wild meat market, the more land could be stolen from native tribes.

It didnt take too awful long before the bears, the deer, the elk, the pigeons, the waterfowl and the buffalo were all sent off to the meat counters and the Indians tribes were pushed onto empty country.

Kings were made in the meat hunting market, Barrons in timber, the mines and rails, and they all referred to it as progress.

There are multiple levels of crime, from murder one, treason, on down to petty crimes and minor misdemeanors. And like other levels of criminal activity, poaching can be subdivided as well. Todays poachers, ranked from worse, to less than worse, if there is such a thing, may go something like this;

Trophy hunters who hunt trophy racks in places where no hunting is allowed. Think the Kings Yellowstone National Park, or Chickamauga Battlefield. These poachers are famous for leaving headless and edible bodies for someone else to deal with. These extremely wasteful poachers often stupidly frequent social media platforms with photographs of their current wasteful activity. Some criminal gangs accept money, large sums of money, to guide criminal inclined poachers on this sort of trophy quest. Second class poachers dont bother to purchase a hunting and fishing license and they dont check out their big game with state game and fish agencies who like to try to keep track of big game predation. This class of poachers do in fact pay some amount of taxation on their ammunition and other items taxed by the Pittman-Robertson Act, but TWRA misses out on most license fees, designed to foot the bill for the honest public to hunt and fish. (According to google, Tennessee received somewhere over $30,000,000.00 in a recent year from this Federal tax fund.) Theres an interesting side note on who pays TWRA to hunt around here and who doesnt. If you want to kill your deer on your land. Then its legal in this state to do so without buying a hunting license. Lets call it the Tennessee Dukes and Barrons exemption and good fortune law, for land owners in this great state. How this particular level of a sweetheart deal came to pass eludes me at this stage in the discussion. Just for the sake of not belaboring the poaching process with too awful much detail, theres the third low class of poachers who eats and sells what they poach. Practitioners of the old school of meat hunting, well call them. Now that weve got those three broad categories of criminal activity outlined, lets journey back to good old gossiping Rhea County, the county that couldnt keep a secret. But before we go there, wed be remiss if we didnt transgress for a second back to the laws of hunting in this state. Because most of us are not legal eagles like old C. Shark and John Shark, and wed never pass a state bar exam, most of us have to confess, under oath, that the rule book TWRA publishes each year, is best digested by a seasoned legal professional. Somehow Ive sadly overlooked the fact that if you deer hunt outside of those counties where TWRA is trying to grow an elk herd, its perfectly legal to shoot any elk, male of female. Who knew? Why does this make good elk management sense? Why, if state game managers are trying to populate and grow elk in East Tennessee, are they allowing us to kill elk in some counties and not in others? There are a couple of similar goofed up analogies that seem somewhat similar to present day TWRA logic;

Lets assume that the US Fish and Wildlife Service wants to bring back the Bald Eagle, Americas symbol. They outlaw Eagle hunting in Tennessee, but if you are duck hunting in Alabama, its legal to take one bald eagle per day. For you non-hunters who pay your taxes to fish in this state; When fishing in Rhea County for bass in the river, the legal size limit is15 inches. If you fish in the same river on the Hamilton County side you can keep any size bass you want.

How on earth did TWRA dream up this crap? What state did they copy this elk mis-management theory from? Who is responsible and accountable?

Theres probably a bus full of irate Rhea County elk lovers right now headed for Nashville to demand that elk hunting in Rhea County be outlawed. I can just hear em now;  And while yall are at it, outlaw all elk hunting in Hamilton County too! Them subdivision farmers in Sale Creek, Bakewell and Soddy are farming up new houses down that way faster than a Sand Mountain chicken farmer can clean out two chicken houses!

What possible logic is being passed around those TWRA desks in Nashville to allow elk killing in neighboring counties when they are supposedly trying to repopulate elk in all

East Tennessee? Apparently Im confused and Im not alone.

There are a bunch of unanswered questions coming out of Rhea over this latest tragic incident. Maybe another high profile court battle is in order. I dont think it would make much of a movie and I dont think Dayton would potentially get a funky new nickname, but who really knows now days?

If youve ever tried to throw a dead elk, guts and all, into the bed of a F 150, in any kind of a hurry, then youve got a good idea of how many folks it takes to make that lift.

If youve ever broken down an elk into manageable quarters you have a decent understanding of just how long that chore takes on the side of a busy county road.

If you stop and look closely at what the local liberal media is showing and telling us, its pretty easy to dredge up a whole list of probing and conspiratorial level questions.

Questions like;

Who did the forensic analysis of the rag-horn? Who found the elk and how long had it been dead? Who did the necropsy and what was the cause of death? Did the deceased animal get tested for Chronic Wasting Disease and if yes, what are the tests results? If no test was done, then Why? Was an actual bullet ever recovered? One picture shows what is purported to indicate an entry wound, but the photo does not show a blood pool where the bullet should have exited. Maybe there wasnt an exit, explaining the lack of blood in the photo, which leads us back to whether the bullet was found or not. Who disposed of the body and where? Is it a crime to leave a dead German Shepard on the side of a county road? Has a crime been committed if a dead deer is left to rot on the side of a county road? Does the picture of the dead elk look the least bit suspicious, like it maybe was hit by a Lexus, or a Subaru, and some well meaning soul put the stupid rag-horn out of its misery and they didnt know what else to do with it, because they were ignorant of the TWRA liberal elk hunting rules? Is there any legal and forensic precedent that proves any crime was committed beyond waste of 300 pounds of good eating? Why does this whole sad story make law abiding hunters look bad? Why do we immediately assume a hunter did this dastardly deed? Maybe self defense can be ruled out easily here, maybe not. Who will answer all these pressing unanswered questions? Is this simply another case like old Charlie Darwin, and monkeys, and continuing education in the state of Tennessee? Finally: Can TWRA law makers ever adequately explain themselves when it comes to sound elk herd management?

Ill bet my Social Security check somebody up in Rhea knows the answers, and it wont be long before those answers start to trickle south. Theres always hope. So far, nobody up that way has said jack about the Sasquatch prowling the Piney, that little mermaid on Moon Island (Im dead certain I think I actually saw her, years ago, on a foggy duck hunt), non-human intelligent entities swimming in Richland Creek, or that big black panther.

At least I havent seen any trail camera footageyet!

Is this the age of disclosure, or what?

WOMR Note; My editor, Bubbles, says she may want to move out of the house for a few days until this thing cools off a little. Do you know if TWRA flies black helicopters?

------

Send comments to whiteoakmtnranger@gmail.com
St Mary the Virgin Astley, North Warks, England. | Photo credit: Facebook/ The Church of England

The Church of England is pressing the Labour government to secure long-term funding for a major tax relief program, cautioning that hundreds of historic churches could deteriorate or close if the policy is allowed to lapse.

The Listed Places of Worship Grant Schemecreated to reimburse churches, mosques, and synagogues for value-added tax (VAT) paid on building repairsis scheduled to end in March 2026 unless renewed.

In January, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy extended the policy by only one year, reduced the annual budget from 42 million ($55 million) to 23 million ($30 million), and introduced a 25,000 ($32,600) cap on individual claims.

The Church of England, which oversees nearly half of the United Kingdoms Grade I listed buildings, maintains that the grant is indispensable to keeping many historic religious structures safe, open, and functional.

According to The Telegraph, church officials say the changescombined with the uncertainty surrounding long-term fundinghave already halted critical repair projects across the country and made planning nearly impossible.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell appealed directly to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, describing the program as a modest but vital investment in national heritage. For more than 20 years, [churches] have relied on the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme to give that crucial bit of extra help, he said. We urge the government to make the scheme permanent and lift the cap on claims.

Cottrell also warned that ending the scheme would severely impact churches community services, including winter warm spaces, food programs, and support shelters.

The Rev. Marcus Walker, rector of St. Bartholomew The Great in London, argued that the government benefits from voluntary church fundraising and should not impose additional tax burdens on historic places of worship.

To date, ministers have not clarified whether the scheme will continue after March 2026. The Treasury has stated that future tax policy decisions are announced only during fiscal events.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has defended the value of the current program but stopped short of committing to an extension, noting that other funding avenuessuch as the National Lottery Heritage Fundremain available.

In July, the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee also recommended that the government make the scheme permanent.

Church Times previously reported that the program has served as a lifeline since its introduction in 2001, quoting the archbishop of York as saying that only 27% of churches might remain open in five years if current policy trends continue.

Church House figures show that more than 100 Anglican churches and cathedrals are undertaking repairs exceeding the 25,000 claims cap. Of those, at least 38 projects are valued at over 2 million ($2.6 million), and 41 are multi-year restorations dependent on stable long-term funding.
Photo credit: Unsplahs/ Jon Flobrant

A single mother in Maine is contesting a custody ruling that bars her from taking her 12-year-old daughter to Calvary Chapel.

The lower court accepted a claim that the denomination is a cult, giving the childs father authority over her participation in religious activities.

The mother, Emily Bickford, is receiving legal support from Liberty Counsel as she challenges the December 2024 custody order before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

Calvary Chapel is not a cult. This custody order banning Emily Bickford from taking her child to a Christian church because of its biblical teachings violates the First Amendment, Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver said in a statement to The Christian Post.

Staver added that The breadth of this court order is breathtaking because it even prohibits contact with the Bible, religious literature, or religious philosophy, arguing that the ruling cannot prohibit Bickford from taking her daughter to church and warning that its implications pose a serious threat to religious freedom.

On Nov. 13, the states highest court heard oral arguments in the case, with Liberty Counsel contending that the district courts decision violated Bickfords First and 14th Amendment rights.

The district court claimed that it was not taking a position on any religious Principle, Bickfords attorneys argued. Balderdash.

They continued, The entire compelling interest discussion (and, really the entire order) does exactly that. The district court denigrated Bickfords religious beliefs as cultic and psychologically harmful, and then used that characterization to strip Bickford of her fundamental right to direct the religious upbringing of her daughter.

Under the lower courts ruling, the girls father, Matthew Bradeen, was granted the right and responsibility to make decisions regarding whether [Minor Child] attends any services, gatherings, or events associated with Calvary Chapel.

The district court further required both parents to research and discuss Calvary Chapel and evaluate whether their daughters involvement is in her best interests.

However, given Ms. Bickfords history of relinquishing her independent decision making to Calvary Chapel, Mr. Bradeen is awarded the right to make final decisions regarding [Minor Childs] participation in other churches and religious organizations in the event of a dispute between the parties, the ruling stated.

According to Liberty Counsels appellant brief, Bickford began attending Calvary Chapel Church in Portland in May 2021, which prompted Bradeen to investigate the churchs teachings online. He expressed concerns about messages such as the belief that people can only be saved by meeting [G]od on [G]ods terms.

Bradeen also objected to his daughter attending services because Calvary Chapel teaches biblical doctrines, including eternal damnation, fallen angels, demons and warfare.

Bickfords attorneys said the district court accepted testimony from a self-described cult expert who claimed Calvary Chapel sermons are filled with hateful rhetoric characterized by homophobia, disdain of science, and hatred of public schools.

Calvary Chapel is an association of hundreds of autonomous charismaticEvangelical churches worldwide, which began from Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in California during the 1960s. Smith was one of the leading figures of the "Jesus Movement" of the late '60s and early 1970s, which was the center of the 2023 film "Jesus Revolution."

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court will issue a decision after reviewing the full record of arguments and written briefs.
Home News Priest facing battery charge after scuffle with woman at donations table Physical fight ensues after woman told not to take political photos, attempts to take back donations

A Roman Catholic archdiocese has put a priest on administrative leave after he was arrested and accused of assaulting a woman during a donation drive.

The Archdiocese of Miami, Florida, released a statement on Monday in response to the arrest of 72-year-old Father Jesus Saldana earlier this month.

Father Jesus Saldana, pastor of St. Kevins Catholic Church, was arrested and charged with battery to a visitor stemming from an incident earlier this month in the parish parking lot near a bin collecting items for hurricane relief, stated the archdiocese.

So as not to give any appearance of interfering with the judicial process, the Archdiocese will have no further comment at this time other than to say that this incident has not interfered with the normal operations or safety of St. Kevins Parish and School.

The archdiocese went on to explain that, until there is a resolution of these charges, Saldana will be on administrative leave.

According to news outlet WPLG Local 10, Saldana was arrested on Nov. 6 following an incident at an event in which people were dropping off hurricane relief donations.

The Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office report noted that the incident began when a 65-year-old woman who had dropped off a donation wanted to take photos of the donations with a politically-inclined poster.

[Saldana] approached the victim and told her she was not allowed to take photographs and to leave the premises. The victim then asked for her donations back and a verbal argument ensued, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office report cited by WPLG.

Subsequently, the victim began to take photographs of [Saldana]. At that time, [he] lunged at the victim and a scuffle ensued.

Although bystanders had separated the two, Saldana reached inside her car for unknown reasons with the priest continuing to batter her while she was sitting in the drivers seat.

[Saldana] attempted to pull the victim out of her vehicle and during the struggle, he ripped off the vehicles rear view mirror. Additionally, [he] pulled the vehicles gear selector, causing it to malfunction, continued the police report.

According to authorities, the priest finally let go of the woman when she bit his wrist. While she was not visibly harmed, the alleged victim would later be hospitalized for cardiac issues.

Saldana was charged with burglary of an occupied conveyance, battery on a person aged 65 or older and misdemeanor criminal mischief. He denied the allegations when speaking with police.
Home News Christian street preacher acquitted of Islamophobia charge

A Christian preacher in the United Kingdom, accused of making anti-Muslim remarks during a sermon in a town center, has been found not guilty. A jury at Swindon Crown Court in southwest England returned the verdict after a six-day trial.

Shaun OSullivan, 36, was charged with religiously aggravated intentional harassment after allegedly shouting We love the Jews, Jew haters and Palestine lovers at a group of Muslims in Swindon on Sept. 15, 2024, according to the U.K.-based group Christian Concern.

The family involved said they felt targeted because they were wearing hijabs.

The incident was initially recorded as a hate crime following a 999 call from one of the complainants, who told the call handler, We just felt very unsafe  calling us Jew haters, Palestine lovers, the group claimed, according to a statement provided to The Christian Post.

The operator then responded, No, Ill put a hate claim on, without any corroborating evidence.

OSullivan, who was represented by lawyers from Christian Legal Centre, Christian Concerns legal arm, denied the claims.

The prosecutions case depended largely on witness accounts from the Muslim family. There was no audio or video evidence of the alleged remarks, and closed-circuit footage only showed a brief interaction between the preacher and the family, which was mostly obscured by nearby sculptures.

Witness testimonies contained inconsistencies, with conflicting details about whether a microphone was used and discrepancies in descriptions of OSullivans clothing.

Under cross-examination by defense lawyer Michael Phillips, the complainant admitted she had not heard the entire message and acknowledged that her account was influenced by her opinions on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

She also said she was upset that OSullivan had spoken directly to us.

The trial took place amid heightened tensions over the Israel-Gaza war, close to the anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. Swindon had seen frequent pro-Palestinian marches in recent weeks.

The defense argued that OSullivans preaching was a general religious and political message protected under the European Convention on Human Rights, which covers freedoms of speech, religion and assembly under Articles 9, 10 and 11. OSullivans remarks were presented in court as expressions of belief, not targeted abuse.

OSullivans personal history also emerged during the proceedings. Once involved in violent crime, he experienced a religious conversion that led him to Christianity. He has since dedicated himself to public preaching, often speaking in town centers and streets.

The jury also heard expert testimony from Martin Parsons, a theologian who provided a report describing street preaching as a historic and constitutionally protected practice in the U.K. He warned that prosecuting such speech could erode religious liberty and said the comments attributed to OSullivan could be seen as religious rather than hostile in nature.

In his report, Parsons pointed to content in Islamic scripture that he said could be interpreted as antisemitic, including references in the Quran and historical incidents from the life of Muhammad.

Following the verdict, OSullivan said, I was once lost, but Christ changed everything. My heart is to share the Good News and love all people. I never intended harm. This case shows how vital it is to protect freedom of speech and Christian freedom.

The trial, held at taxpayer expense, was estimated to cost 20,000 ($26,000).

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said the case was based solely on perception and lacked substantive evidence.

Shauns case highlights the dangers of policing hate incidents based on perception alone. We must ensure that robust public debate, especially on matters of Christian faith, is not silenced.

Williams said the decision to file a hate crime report based only on a single call exemplified overreach by police and contributed to a chilling effect on public speech. She said that OSullivan and other preachers must be able to speak publicly without fear of prosecution.

The case follows a similar legal dispute involving OSullivan in 2023.

He and fellow preacher John Dunn were arrested in Glastonbury for preaching against homosexuality and transgenderism, drawing charges of harassment and antisocial behavior.

That case was dismissed when the Crown Prosecution Service withdrew, citing insufficient evidence.

OSullivan and Dunn had been accused of violating Section 35 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 while preaching outside a shop promoting LGBT products. Their defense cited the same human rights protections, and the judge ordered the state to cover their legal costs.

Following that decision, OSullivan criticized what he described as a double standard in law enforcement.

The pair had also claimed police behavior during the arrest, including rainbow-colored lanyards, showed bias against their message.
Home News Conor McGregor claims Trinity appeared during psychedelic treatment: 'Absolutely eye opening'

Former UFC fighter Conor McGregor claimed over the weekend that he had a life-changing vision of the Trinity, the Virgin Mary and the archangels while undergoing trauma treatment with the psychoactive drug ibogaine in Mexico.

The 37-year-old former UFC featherweight, who revealed earlier this year that he has been on a "spiritual journey" that has compelled him to live a "life by God's Word," explained in an X post on Sunday that he traveled to Tijuana last week at the behest of doctors at Stanford University to partake of ibogaine treatment at AMBIO.

Clinics associated with AMBIO are dedicated to using the African plant to treat addiction, traumatic brain injury and other issues, according to its website.

McGregor, who has experienced traumatic brain injuries, claimed that during his time on the drug, he was given supernatural visions of his own death and the heavenly realm.

Hey guys, I am back. ??



I was blessed to meet the most forward thinking doctors from Stanford University and undergo a series of treatments to address trauma.



I travelled to Tijuana Mexico and underwent Ibogaine treatment at AMBIO.



Watch the @netflix documentary just  Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 23, 2025

"It was incredible, intense, and absolutely eye opening," McGregor wrote. "I was shown what would have been my death. How soon it was to be, and how it would have impacted my children. I was looking down on myself as it happened, and then I was looking out from the coffin."

"God then came to me in the Holy Trinity. He is MIGHTY!" he continued. "Jesus, his child. Mary, his Mother. The Archangels. All present in heaven. I was shown the light. Jesus descended from the white marble steps of heaven and anointed me with a crown. I was saved! My brain. My heart. My soul. Healed!"

McGregor maintained that the experience, which he described as "enchanting," lingered for 36 hours before he came back to his normal state of consciousness. He went on to advocate and thank God for the ibogaine treatment, which remains illegal in the United States.

"This treatment is worth its weight in GOLD! It is very, very tough, but it absolutely saved my life, and in turn saved my family," he said.

McGregor approvingly retweeted an X post Monday that showed footage of W. Bryan Hubbard, the CEO of Americans for Ibogaine, claiming that "many individuals who have an ibogaine experience come away with a concrete affirmation and knowledge that they are a spiritual being made in the image of an almighty Creator whose essence is pure and unconditional love for them."

Hubbard also warned that ibogaine poses potential cardiac risks if not administered properly.

Stanford researchers have found that ibogaine has safely led to improvements in depression, anxiety and functioning among veterans with traumatic brain injuries, though the plant remains a Schedule I controlled substance in the U.S., which means the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for any medical use and claims it has a high potential for abuse.

McGregor, who has not fought in the UFC since he broke his ankle during a rematch with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, has expressed interest in returning to competition during the UFC's planned White House card on June 14, 2026, part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.
Home News European Union urged to ban surrogacy following UN report

Experts urged the European Union last week to take steps toward banning surrogacy following its adoption of a resolution condemning the practice amid a United Nations report calling for its eradication worldwide.

A group of experts convened at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, last Wednesday to discuss human rights concerns surrounding the practice of surrogacy, which involves the artificial insemination of a woman so she can carry a baby for nine months, only to surrender the child to a third party upon giving birth. The event was titled "Surrogacy: An Ethical and Political Challenge for Europe," according to the conservative nonprofit legal organization ADF International.

Last week's event followed the European Parliament's approval of a Nov. 13 resolution on a Gender Equality Strategy. The European Parliament is one of two legislative bodies for the EU.

Specifically, the resolution "condemns the practice of surrogacy, which involves the reproductive exploitation and use of women's bodies for financial or other gain, in particular the case of especially vulnerable women in third countries." The resolution calls on the European Commission to "take measures to support ending this phenomenon."

"Surrogacy treats women and children as commodities," said ADF International Advocacy Officer Carmen Correas at Wednesday's event. "The European Union has taken an important step in acknowledging its inherent harms. We urge policymakers to move swiftly toward a clear, coordinated legal prohibition that protects the dignity and rights of all involved."

Paolo Inselvini, a member of the European Parliament from Italy who spoke at the meeting, reacted to what unfolded by stating, "Today it became clear that a determined European front exists, committed to stopping reproductive exploitation across the globe." He vowed that "We will therefore continue to fight so that Europe abandons all ambiguity and assumes a clear responsibility: surrogacy must be a universal crime."

The resolution comes after Reem Alsalem, the U.N.'s Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, issued a report earlier this year examining "the different manifestations of violence against women and girls in the context of surrogacy." The report maintains that "Unlike other forms of labour, surrogacy entails the direct and exploitative use of a woman's bodily and reproductive functions for the benefit of others, often resulting in long-lasting harm and in exploitative circumstances."

"Commercial surrogacy arrangements place monetary value on women's capacity to bear and give birth to healthy children, reinforcing harmful power imbalances in which individuals and entities with greater financial means exert control over the ability of females to become pregnant and give birth," the report added. Alsalem, whose report called on countries around the world to begin "eradicating surrogacy in all its forms," joined Correas and Inselvini as speakers at Wednesday's meeting.

According to the website Surrogacy 360, several countries have bans on surrogacy in place, including Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, China, Egypt, El Salvador, Indonesia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey and Turkmenistan.

Surrogacy is also banned in several member states of the European Union: Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Home News Fire at historic Canadian church investigated as arson amid spike in attacks

A fire that destroyed a historic Anglican church in Canada in the early hours before Sunday worship last year is now being investigated as arson. This comes as the nation grapples with a rise in church arson attacks.

St. Annes Church of Toronto, a congregation of the Anglican Church of Canada, was destroyed by a fire that completely engulfed the structure on June 9, 2024.

The Toronto Police Service announced Monday that authorities were now investigating the fire as a suspected arson.

In response to the news, the Anglican Diocese of Toronto and St. Annes released a joint statement expressing sadness while also thanking authorities for their work.

Bishop Kevin Robertson, a suffragan bishop of the Toronto diocese, was quoted in the statement saying that he was devastated to hear that the fire that destroyed the congregation of St. Annes building on Gladstone may have been deliberately set.

As this new reality sinks in, we pray for the congregation of St. Annes. May they continue to be a light to the community, providing hope and compassion to those in need, Robertson stated. We pray for the person or persons who may have perpetrated this act, that they might seek forgiveness and healing.

The Rev. Hannah Johnston, priest-in-charge of St. Annes, was quoted in the statement as saying that while the loss of the building has been devastating, the community is resilient.

Our faith tells us that there is hope even in the face of suffering and death, and that new life can spring from the ashes, she said. The church is the people who gather in worship and in service of others, and we look forward to worshipping and serving in this neighborhood for many more years to come.

St. Annes Church was built in 1908 in the Byzantine Revival style, with 10 local artists contributing various murals to the interior during the 1920s. The building was officially designated a national historic site in 1997.

In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of church buildings in Canada that have been the targets of violent attacks.

A major reason for this was a false speculation in 2021 that there had been mass graves with hundreds of bodies of indigenous children found at former Catholic-run residential schools.

Scholars later critiqued such claims, noting that, among other things, the sites were either part of official cemeteries that included adults or had no remains of any children after all.

Nevertheless, Catholic, Anglican and Eastern Orthodox churches across Canada were among those that were either vandalized or burned down soon after the allegations were released.

Last year, the Canadian independent media outlet True North reported that 96 church buildings had been desecrated, destroyed or vandalized after the false mass grave claims.
Home News Appeals court halts Cindy Clemishires defamation case until resolution of mandamus review

Texas' Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas has halted all trial court proceedings in child-sex abuse survivor Cindy Clemishire's defamation lawsuit against Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, the church's founder, Robert Morris, and its independent elders until a petition for a mandamus review is resolved.

"We GRANT relators' motion to the extent that we STAY all proceedings in the trial court between relators Gateway Church, John D. ('Tra') Willbanks, III, Kenneth W. Fambro, II, and Dane Minor and real parties in interest Cindy Clemishire and Jerry Lee Clemishire, pending resolution of this original proceeding," Dallas Appeals Court Justice Mike Lee wrote in his two-page order last Friday. "We request real parties in interest and respondent to file a response, if any, to the petition for writ of mandamus by December 29, 2025."

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

The petition for mandamus review was filed on Nov. 14 by attorneys for Gateway Church and their independent elders John D. "Tra" Willbanks, Kenneth W. Fambro II and Dane Minor. It came after Dallas County District Court Judge Emily Tobolowsky rejected a motion from the church and elders to dismiss the Clemishires' lawsuit, citing the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, which holds that courts lack jurisdiction over matters of religion.

On Nov. 11, Tobolowsky also granted the Clemishires' motion for continuance and limited discovery to oppose motions from Gateway Church and the elders to dismiss her lawsuit under the Texas Citizens Participation Act in open court. The TCPA is a 2011 law that protects citizens from lawsuits intended to stifle their First Amendment rights. Tobolowsky's discovery order prompted Gateway Church and the independent elders to ask the appeals court, in their writ of mandamus, to stay her Nov. 11 order granting the Clemishires' motion for a continuance and limited discovery.

Ron Breaux, a partner at Haynes Boone and counsel for Gateway Church, insisted in a statement to The Christian Post after proceedings in the case were stayed that Gateway Church should not be part of the Clemishires' defamation lawsuit.

"We are pleased that the Court of Appeals has granted our request to stay the case against Gateway and the Independent elders while it considers our strong legal arguments. Gateway and its leaders simply do not belong in this lawsuit, which asks a secular court to pass judgment on the church's statements and actions while investigating its former pastor's misconduct," Breaux said.

"As we've stated from the beginning, no one in Gateway's current leadership had knowledge of its former pastor's criminal behavior, and they have endeavored to lead the church with integrity and accountability during a difficult time. These actions  guided by faith, prayer and a steadfast commitment to the church community  are protected by the First Amendment from secular second-guessing."

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

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

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

Before Friday's appeals court ruling, Clemishire's attorneys argued in a response filed on Nov. 18 that if the appeals court granted a stay on the discovery, it should apply to the entire case until the mandamus review is resolved.

Gateway Church's attorneys argued against a stay of the entire case, but Lee appeared to be swayed by the Clemishires's attorneys' arguments. The Clemishires' attorneys also contended that Gateway Church and their independent elders "are unlikely to prevail on their request for mandamus relief."

"'Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy' that is only warranted if Relators show that the trial court 'abused its discretion and no adequate appellate remedy exists,'" they argue.

"Relators cannot satisfy that demanding standard, because the First Amendment  and by extension, the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine  does not bar either the Clemishires' lawsuit or the discovery that the Clemishires obtained from the trial court," they explain.

Despite arguments by Gateway Church and its independent elders, the Clemishires' attorneys state that her claims "do not implicate church governance, discipline, or matters of doctrine."

"Nowhere in the Clemishires' petition do they claim that Gateway Church failed to properly discipline Robert Morris or anyone else. Nor do they claim that Gateway failed to implement certain policies of church doctrine or discipline. Rather, the Clemishires' claims, at their core, constitute a simple allegation that Gateway and its leaders issued factual, defamatory statements about the Clemishires," the attorneys argue.

They also note that the Clemishires' discovery in the case is proper because it is specific and limited.

"Under the TCPA, a trial court may permit limited discovery that is relevant to the motion to dismiss," they argue.

"The discovery requests prepared by the Clemishires and ordered by the trial court are highly relevant to the issues raised by Relators in their TCPA motions. The specific and limited discovery will allow the Clemishires to investigate Relators' knowledge of what transpired at the relevant times, which is crucial for a defamation case," they explain.

"For example, one of the Relators, John D. Willbanks, III, specifically stated that there were individuals who 'knew without a doubt that Cindy Clemishire was twelve when the abuse began' and that there were individuals who 'knew of allegations of sexual abuse by Robert Morris, who had enough information that should have led them to ask more questions, but they did not.'

"At the same time, certain Relators claim that certain public statements were not reviewed or approved by them, even though the statements were attributed to them and later ratified and acknowledged by them. Discovery is appropriate to investigate these assertions and contradictions."
Home News Grace Community Church accused of aiding and abetting alleged child abuser: lawsuit

A new lawsuit alleges that Grace Community Church of Sun Valley, California, a prominent nondenominational church once led by John MacArthur, aided and abetted a child abuser.

A plaintiff identified as Jane Doe and three minors identified as J.J., A.J., and R.J. filed a complaint for damages against GCC and an individual named Clinton Jung in the Superior Court of the State of California in Sacramento County back in September.

According to the complaint, a copy of which was provided to The Christian Post on Nov. 17, Doe was married to Jung and had reported to Grace Community leaders in early 2021 that he had sexually abused their toddler-aged daughter.

Doe alleges that GCC leadership attempted to conceal Jungs abusive behavior despite being legally required to report such abuse to authorities and told her to submit to Jungs authority as he continued to abuse her and their children.

At numerous points, the Church colluded with Clinton to force Plaintiff to remain in the home with him and under his control despite knowing he had engaged in domestic violence and was likely to do it again in the future, the complaint claims.

Clinton was emboldened to repeatedly engage in his conduct, including by sexually abusing his toddler again and again  conduct that a single report by the Church to proper authorities, at any of the numerous points during which the Church became aware of suspected abuse, could have prevented.

Additionally, according to the suit, when Doe and her children finally left Jung, church leaders testified on his behalf in support of being allowed weekly supervised visitation.

On one of these weekly visits, Jung allegedly forced J.J. to touch his penis. While at another visit, he allegedly took J.J. to a hotel bathroom and forced her to look at his penis.

The complaint alleges childhood sexual abuse, negligence, domestic violence, and aiding and abetting domestic violence, and demands a jury trial for the proceedings.

Following what the complaint called a lengthy investigation, a district attorney could not file charges against Jung due to an inability to prove intent beyond a reasonable doubt.

The lawsuit also cites a 2023 letter from the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office to investigating officers, which involved rebuking the church over the alleged incident.

[T]he pastor and elders at Grace Community Church muddled what could have been helpful evidence as to [Clintons] intent, states the letter, which is quoted in the suit.

Their arrogance in attempting to handle such a delicate  and potentially criminal  matter, in house, and without the due diligence that certainly would have triggered their mandatory reporting edicts, hinders our ability to use the prior events to ascertain the suspects intent.

Shounak Dharap, an attorney and partner at the San Francisco, California-based Arns Davis Law, who is representing the plaintiffs, told CP in an interview on Friday that the complaint was in the process of being served to GCC.

The allegations in this case are about an ongoing pattern, said Dharap. My client Jane Doe and the kids allege that this was a pattern, an ongoing pattern for a long time.

Parents should be able to trust that houses of faith and worship protect our children from harm, not facilitate it and cover it up. And this case alleges that Grace Community Church did exactly the opposite, it alleges that they not only covered up sexual abuse and other abuse, but they facilitated it.

The Christian Post reached out to Grace Community Church of Sun Valley for this article; however, a spokesperson said that the church does not have a comment at this time.

Doe is not the first woman to accuse GCC of mistreatment after approaching church leaders with credible allegations of suffering domestic abuse.

In March 2022, The Roys Report published a piece alleging that MacArthur, the then-senior pastor, had publicly shamed and excommunicated a mother in 2002 for filing for separation from her husband, David Gray, a former teacher at GCC who was later convicted of child molestation.

When the woman reported Gray's behavior to church leaders, they allegedly never reported her allegations to authorities and even harassed her in an attempt to get her to change her mind about the separation.

Last year, a woman named Lorraine Zielinski accused GCC of disciplining her when she tried to get a separation from her husband, who had allegedly been abusive toward her.

In an email sent to GCC leaders in August 2024 that was forwarded to CP, Zielinski claimed that the church has sadly defamed me and subjected me to church discipline in an inappropriate way."

She said that when she and her husband underwent marriage counseling at Grace, she "often felt bullied and talked down to" and that "what I had said was not taken into consideration and was usually dismissed."

"I was so stressed by these meetings that my doctor, who has been treating me for brain lesions, advised me to the best of my ability and if it was in my power, to not enter into any stressful situations, including meetings such as these," wrote Zielinski.

"Sadly, every time I raised this point with the pastors, it was completely ignored and unaddressed in what seemed like a shocking display of lack of care for my physical health. I came to notice that this became a pattern of those I would be in counseling with."
Home News Another mass abduction in Nigeria: 50 students escape; 253 children still missing

Fifty Nigerian schoolchildren who were abducted last week from a Catholic school in Niger state have escaped from captivity and returned home, according to school authorities. The remaining 253 children and 12 teachers are still missing in one of the country's largest mass abductions.

The escapees, aged between 10 and 18, returned individually between Friday and Saturday, Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state and proprietor of the school, told the media in a statement Sunday.

The students had been taken during a Friday raid on St. Mary's School in the rural Papiri community, where heavily armed gunmen stormed the premises and seized students and staff members.

"We were able to ascertain this when we decided to contact and visit some parents," Yohanna said, according to CBS News. "As much as we receive the return of these 50 children that escaped with some sigh of relief, I urge you all to continue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims."

It is still unknown where the remaining hostages are being held, and Nigerian police and military officials have not disclosed details of the ongoing rescue operation. No group has claimed responsibility for the mass abduction.

The kidnappings prompted the Niger state government to close all schools beginning Saturday.

Pope Leo XIV addressed the incident during his Sunday mass in St. Peter's Square, expressing sorrow and calling for the immediate release of all hostages.

The attack in Niger state occurred just four days after 25 students were abducted in a similar fashion from Maga, a town in neighboring Kebbi state, about 106 miles away. Both incidents are part of a wave of school abductions in Nigeria's northern region, where kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative tool for armed groups that dominate remote areas with limited state presence.

President Bola Tinubu said in a statement that his administration remains committed to the safe return of every kidnapped individual. "Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety  and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people," he said.

The United States-based watchdog organization Open Doors reports that more than 20,000 people were abducted from 2019 to 2023 in Nigeria, warning that "[k]idnapping is big business, funding Islamist expansion and tied to active terrorist groups."

"Many of these bandits have been known to target anyone who will pay a price  but they have learned that Christians, and specifically religious leaders, can fetch a higher ransom," Open Doors wrote in an October report. "This makes the Christians and religious leaders specifically vulnerable targets."

Tens of thousands of Christians have been killed in Nigeria in the last decade, and thousands are killed each year, reports suggest. Open Doors has reported for several years that more Christians are murdered in Nigeria each year than in any other country combined.

Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., introduced a congressional resolution condemning what he called the violent persecution of Christians in Nigeria and urging strong U.S. action to hold perpetrators accountable. Backed by at least 20 House Republicans, the measure followed President Donald Trump's recent announcement designating Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" and demands that Nigerian authorities be pressed to end attacks by armed groups, including Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, and Fulani militants.

The resolution called for the repeal of blasphemy laws in Nigeria, the release of individuals imprisoned for religious offenses and the safe return of displaced Christians to their communities. It also advocated for humanitarian aid to be delivered directly to victims through faith-based and nongovernmental organizations.
Home News Over 13,000 attend Hearts on Fire conference; hundreds make decision to follow Jesus

More than 13,000 attended the Hearts on Fire Student Conference (HOF), with hundreds making decisions to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

The conference, which featured attendees from 20 states, was held on Nov. 2122 at the LeConte Center, a multipurpose gathering space located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Hearts on Fire founder Scott Carter told The Christian Post on Monday that 290 students made decisions for Christ, 260 re-committed their lives to Jesus, and 52 decided to be baptized.

There were many highlights, but my favorite is when I see students reaching out to Christ for a personal relationship, said Carter. That is the reason HOF exists; our goal is to evangelize the lost.

Carter recounted how, following the last evening session, he prayed with two male high school students who had invited a nonbelieving friend to the conference.

These two guys worked together and had been praying for months for their friend to be saved. They invited their friend to HOF, and God moved in his life, and he gave his heart to Christ, he shared.

In addition to the prayer and worship at the event, an offering was taken up among the attendees, in which over $19,000 was raised for the benefit of a Tennessee-based food bank.

Carter told CP that he attributed the high attendance at the conference to the fact that the gathering has been held since the 1980s, which helps to grow awareness.

We have many youth workers bringing their youth to the conference who attended when they were teenagers years ago, he said. I think having great communicators of the Gospel is a draw as well as dynamic praise and worship music.

The message of HOF never changes: Christ crucified, risen and coming again. We always share the love of Christ by sharing the Gospel. In comparison to previous conferences, [this] remains the common theme.

For those who made the decision to follow Christ at last weekend's event, Carter told CP that his ministry has a process to help disciple new believers as they continue their walk of faith.

Every person who makes a decision completes a duplicate form, Carter said. We keep a copy and the pastor they attended with is given the original for their follow-up when they get home.

Additionally, those who made decisions are given a tract by the Rev. Billy Graham titled Steps to Peace with God as well as a brochure from the Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board titled Welcome To The Family.

According to its website, Hearts on Fire held its first youth conference in 1987, with around 150 students in attendance. Over the years, it has featured such notable speakers as Louie Giglio, Tim Tebow, Kirk Cameron and Will Graham.
Home News The Skit Guys ministry ends after 30 years following co-founders moral failure

The longtime Christian sketch-comedy team The Skit Guys has ended its nearly three-decade partnership after co-founder Eddie James abruptly stepped down over what the ministry described as a moral failure.

The announcement was shared last week on SkitGuys.com and in a video message from co-founder Tommy Woodard. In its public statement, the ministry said simply that after almost 30 years of ministry together, The Skit Guys, as you know us  thats coming to an end.

We are not sharing specific details, other than to say that Eddie had to step away from our ministry after he revealed choices he had made leading to a violation of our ministrys standards and Gods requirements for marriage and ministry, it said.

Scripture is clear that leaders are called to live above reproach (1 Timothy 3:1-7), and we hold our ministry leaders to that high standard. We all fall short of Gods standards, and we have remained supportive of Eddie and his family and are respecting their privacy.

The ministry added that this has been a deeply painful season for James family, adding: We continue to pray for healing and God's grace over their family. We ask that you do the same and also respect their privacy.

In his video message, Woodard told viewers he plans to continue creating faith-based content under a new name, 231 Collective, and acknowledged that the transition was triggered by James sudden departure. Yeah, it caught me off guard, too, he said.

I would love to sit down with each of you and explain everything, but I cant, Woodard added, noting that he wished he could offer more information.

Woodard said some existing content featuring James has already been removed while the organization reviews its full catalog and stressed that the upheaval has not shaken his faith.

This did not catch God off guard, he said. In ways that I couldnt see, He has been carrying me through some of the most difficult days in life.

Founded in Oklahoma, The Skit Guys evolved from youth-group performers into one of the most prolific church-media producers in Evangelical circles. Their work gained even wider prominence during the COVID-19 shutdowns, when free programs like Bedtime Bible Stories and SGTV offered families a source of encouragement during months of isolation. The duo also released their first theatrical feature, "Family Camp," in 2022.

Woodard and James previously told The Christian Post that they believe humor should be an essential part of a Christians life, as it breaks down barriers and allows the truth to enter.

If you can get people to laugh, you can get people to listen, and then you have to have something good to say, Woodard said. We like to say were pastors more than pranksters, so at the end of the day, we get the local church, not just the big megachurch, but the local church, where theyre going there, day in and day out, and just trying to touch souls. We, for the past 30 years, have always been about them.

Weve always tried to figure out that line, where Christians can laugh at themselves and pop culture and still go, Those guys are for us; those guys arent against us. Theyre not making fun of us, so we can laugh at ourselves, he added. I really believe laughter can break down walls so God can enter in.

Woodard previously served as a pastor at Newchurch in Oklahoma City, while James previously spent seven years on staff at Saddleback Church in California before working with other Baptist-affiliated ministries.

In his video, Woodard explained that the new ministry name, 231 Collective, draws inspiration from Exodus 31, which describes Gods Spirit empowering the artisan Bezalel. This calling is not singular, he said. Its ours to answer together collectively.

Woodard said the new organization will pursue a broad range of creative projects and prioritize content that can be distributed at no cost. Our mission: cultivate stories that transform our vision, flood the world with art that disrupts, heals and points people to the truth, he said.

He outlined plans for childrens series, reality programming, books, films and other media, adding that the ministry hopes to build a $500,000 financial base to launch its next chapter. The shift, he noted, represents a major departure from previous years, when limited budgets often dictated what the team created.

We spent way too many years creating what we could afford to create, and then asking God to bless it, Woodard said. Going forward, he added, the goal is to ask instead, What can we create that blesses you?

Our motivation is revival and revelation, not revenue," he said.

On its website, the SkitGuys noted that the situation has taken an immeasurable toll" on the lifelong friendship" between James and Woodard, who in 2021 penned a book on friendship together, Smells Like Bacon: The Skit Guys Guide to Lifelong Friendships.

Both [James and Woodard] are processing this on their own terms and in their own ways, working their way along the path toward healing and forgiveness. Please pray for both of them as they heal.
Home News New Jersey spa must allow trans-identifying males into women-only nude spaces: judge

A New Jersey spa must allow male customers who identify as the opposite sex to access female-only areas where women are required to be nude, regardless of whether they've undergone a sex-change surgery, a judge has ruled.

In a consent order signed by Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Sarlo, the King Spa in Bergen County agreed to implement policies based on "sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression."

"It is unlawful and violates company policy to discriminate in any way against a client because of the client's actual or perceived gender identity," the consent order states, according to NJ Advance Media. "[E]ach person has a gender identity, which may or may not correspond to the sex that person was assigned at birth."

According to the order, which was signed in August but has only recently garnered media attention, the company policy's definition of gender identity refers to "a person's internal sense of being male, female or any other gender, regardless of physical characteristics or appearance."

The order comes after Alexandra "Allie" Goebert, a 35-year-old male who identifies as female, filed a discrimination lawsuit after visiting the King Spa in 2022, according to Reduxx. When Goebert visited the spa's Palisades Park location with a female companion, he received a wristband that granted him access to the men's locker room.

After Goebert complained to the staff that he identified as female and the state of New Jersey recognized him as a woman, a staff member granted him access to the women's area.

According to the King Spa's website, customers must be nude to use the baths, noting that the facility offers "distinct women and men sections." The spa offers customers the opportunity to experience "Korean sauna culture," which requires nudity in certain areas.

Upon entering the women's locker room, a locker room attendant noticed Goebert and called the manager, who asked the trans-identifying male if he had undergone a sex-change surgery.

The manager, Youn Park, asked Goebert if he still had "boy parts," according to Reduxx, and he replied by claiming he was a woman and that having male genitalia didn't necessarily mean he was a man. When the manager continued to press Goebert, however, the man admitted that he had not undergone any surgical interventions to remove his male body parts.

Park told him to use the men's spa, and when Goebert claimed that would make him uncomfortable, the manager agreed to let him use the women's spa if he wore a bathing suit. Goebert refused to wear a bathing suit, and the spa refunded his admission fee and asked him to leave.

The trans-identifying male later filed a lawsuit against the spa, alleging that the facility had discriminated against him.

Attorneys for the spa argued in court filings that the spa's staff recognized Goebert as a recurring male customer who had previously used the men's side of the spa, NJ Advance Media reported.

"They indicated that the individual could certainly use the facilities, but not in the female nude area," Paul Faugno, the spa's attorney, wrote in a position statement.

"This individual was not denied access to the use of the facility," the attorney argued. "He was only denied access to go into the nude female area when this individual by admission had male genitalia."

In a Friday statement to NJ Advance Media, Goebert said that he was not seeking "personal enrichment" by filing the lawsuit.

"I was seeking policy changes. That's all I wanted," Goebert said.

At the time of reporting, the spa's website stated: "You may use the locker room that matches the gender identity on your government- or state-issued photo ID."

The New Jersey-based spa is not the only facility to face a lawsuit over its sex-segregated spaces.

In February 2020, trans activist Haven Wilvich filed a complaint with the Washington State Human Rights Commission after the Olympus Spa in Seattle denied his membership application. The spa denied Wilvich's application on the basis that he had not undergone any surgical interventions to remove his male genitalia, which was still intact.

The family-owned spa, modeled after sex-segregated bathhouses in Korea, accepted male trans-identifying patrons who had undergone a sex-change operation; however, the WSHRC argued that this type of policy is discriminatory. The WSHRC claimed that the policy "focuses on the genitals of patrons" rather than "gender identity."

While the spa attempted to sue the WSHRC, in 2023, U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Jacobs Rothstein upheld the commission's order for the Olympus Spa to admit men who identify as women, even if they still have male body parts.

Last month, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that USA Powerlifting violated state discrimination law by not letting a male trans-identified athlete compete in its women's division. The majority opinion was authored by Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, who was appointed by former Democratic vice presidential hopeful Gov. Tim Walz.

"Although USA Powerlifting lacked a formal, written transgender participation policy at the time of its initial communication with Cooper, the record establishes  and the parties do not dispute  that USA Powerlifting's policy at the time of the decision was to categorically exclude transgender women from competing in the women's division," the decision states.
Home News Trump continues outrage over violence against Nigerian Christians: 'I'm really angry about it'

President Donald Trump recently reiterated his frustration regarding the violence against Christians in Nigeria as his administration pushes to work with the Nigerian government to deter Islamic terrorists in the West African country.

"I'm really angry about it," Trump said during an interview last Friday on Fox News Radio, alleging the Nigerian government has "done nothing" and that "what's happening in Nigeria is a disgrace."

The Trump administration is pressing Nigeria to stop the escalating attacks against Christian communities there by adopting a multi-pronged strategy that goes beyond unilateral U.S. military action, including the possible "guns-a-blazing" tactic intended "to wipe out the Islamic terrorists," which Trump threatened earlier this month, according to The Associated Press.

An official with the U.S. State Department who spoke to the outlet stressed the approach is comprehensive and includes the option of force and sanctions, but also enhanced intelligence sharing with the Nigerian government, as well as security assistance, policing support and economic programs.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who met with Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu earlier this month, "emphasized the need for Nigeria to demonstrate commitment and take both urgent and enduring action to stop violence against Christians," and expressed the U.S. desire to work with Nigerian authorities "to deter and degrade terrorists that threaten the United States," according to a Pentagon statement.

The push follows a string of brutal incidents that included the abduction of students from both a Catholic school and an institution in a Muslim-majority area. Another attack against a church left worshipers dead or kidnapped.

Though Trump has repeatedly accused the Nigerian government of inaction, it has insisted it is actively fighting the threats and has pushed back against claims of indifference.

Analysts who spoke to the AP warned that limited, high-profile U.S. airstrikes would do little to reverse decades-old instability in the country, and could backfire without a Nigerian partnership that would bolster local governance.

The situation in Nigeria has drawn increasing global attention, with rapper Nicki Minaj speaking out about it, saying "no group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion," and addressing a U.N. event organized by the U.S. earlier this month.

During a recent interview with The Christian Post, Lanre Williams-Ayedun, a Nigerian-born woman who serves as senior vice president of international programs at the nonprofit World Relief, explained the complexity of the situation in Nigeria, where both Christians and Muslims are murdered by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State of West Africa Province.

Williams-Ayedun suggested many outsiders might fail to realize the scale of the violence, which is concentrated mostly in the country's Middle Belt states, where herders from the Muslim-majority regions in the north increasingly clash with farmers in the Christian-majority south.

"When you hear about the numbers of people that have been displaced in sub-Saharan Africa because of religious persecution, I don't think people really understand that," she said.

"When you talk about persecution of Christians, people think, 'Oh, it must be these small numbers of people.' They don't realize the vast size that we're talking about."

Williams-Ayedun pinpointed economic challenges, poverty and government corruption as major factors driving conflict over diminishing environmental resources, which she said have exacerbated the long-simmering ethnic and religious divides of the country.
Home News Vatican releases doctrinal note defending monogamy, rejecting polygamy

The Roman Catholic Church is defending marriage as a union between one man and one woman amid concerns about polygamy and polyamory, and increased acceptance of same-sex relationships.

The Vaticans Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a Doctrinal Note on the Value of Marriage as an Exclusive Union and Mutual Belonging on Tuesday. The document, authored by the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez and approved by Pope Leo XIV, comes as the Catholic Churchs African bishops are seeking to stop the spread of polygamy on the continent.

The doctrinal note also expresses concerns about the rise of polyamory in Western countries, referring to non-marital relationships between more than two people.

Monogamy is not simply the opposite of polygamy, Fernandez wrote. It is much more, and its deepening allows us to conceive marriage in all its wealth and fecundity. The question is intimately linked to the unitive purpose of sexuality, which is not reduced to guaranteeing procreation, but helps the enrichment and strengthening of the single and exclusive union and the feeling of mutual belonging.

An endnote in the document notes that, in Africa, polygamy is a practice tolerated because of the needs of the life (absence of offspring, levirate, labor for survival, etc.).

The doctrinal note also attempts to refute the main justifications for polygamy by pointing to the biblical vision of marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

Polygamy, adultery or polyamory are based on [an] illusion that the intensity of the relationship can be found in the succession of faces. As the myth of Don Giovanni illustrates, the number dissolves the same: it disperses the unity of the amorous impulse. If Levinas showed that the face of the [] other summons to an infinite, unique and irreducible responsibility, multiplying faces in a so-called total union fragmenting the [] sense of marital love, Fernandez added.

The document includes several references to monogamy in Scripture, as well as teachings from Christian theologians and popes over the years. The doctrinal note, and its multiple descriptions of marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman, comes at a time of concern that the Catholic Church is seeking to soften its teaching on marriage.

Concerns about changes to the Catholic Churchs teaching on marriage grew in late 2023 when the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with Pope Francis approval, issued a declaration titled Fiducia Supplicans. The document authorized priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples while clarifying that one should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation.

Cardinal Gerhard Muller, who previously served as the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, condemned Fiducia Supplicans as self-contradictory because one can only accept that it is good to bless the unions, even in a pastoral way, if one believes that such unions are not objectively contrary to the law of God while on the other hand, as long as Pope Francis continues to affirm that homosexual unions are always contrary to Gods law, he is implicitly affirming that such blessings cannot be given.
Republicans Push Abortion Pill Mail Ban, North Dakota Upholds Restrictions, Palestinian Curriculum Faces Criticism

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:49 06:49

Top headlines for Tuesday, November 25, 2025

In this episode, most congressional Republicans push the Trump administration to end mail-order abortion pills, and the North Dakota Supreme Court narrowly upholds one of the nations strictest bans. Plus, we examine new research revealing that the Palestinian Authoritys 2025-2026 school curriculum still contains inciting and hateful content despite calls for reform.

00:11 175 lawmakers urge FDA to halt mail-order abortion drugs

01:03 Texas imam linked to illegal Islamic law court listed as chaplain

01:52 Marjorie Taylor Greene denies 2028 presidential run

02:38 North Dakota Supreme Court upholds state abortion ban

03:24 2819 Church fires Pastor Kenneth McFarland after arrest

04:11 Palestinian Authority textbooks continue to teach hatred of Jews

05:09 Michael Youssef to step down as pastor, focus on other ministry
Home Opinion The New Rights revolt is not really about Israel

For more than a generation, the American Right maintained a foreign-policy consensus that included unwavering support for Israel. From Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump, support for Israel was a connective tissue binding together a sometimes-loose coalition. Now, the consensus is breaking, though for reasons having little to do with Israel itself.

The new opposition to Israel by figures like Tucker Carlson, Matt Gaetz and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is not driven by theological dispute or reasoned critique. It is a byproduct of the New Right effort to redefine the conservative movement for the post-Trump era. Israel is simply a symbol of the old Republican order that the New Right hopes to displace.

For decades, the GOP rested on three pillars made up of Evangelical Christians, the Reagan-Bush foreign-policy establishment and free-market institutionalists. Support for Israel was the one position all three embraced. That consensus is the target.

The New Right  populist, isolationist, and led by personalities who know how to milk new political platforms for money and attention  has created its own incentives to challenge the pro-Israel consensus. Personal brands in the movement rely on always-escalating contrarianism toward Republican tradition. They are chasing a younger online generation of conservatives who are deeply skeptical of foreign entanglements, domestic institutions, and unmoved by the moral frameworks of the Old Right. They have even made hostility to conservative mega-donors central to their message, and Israel policy in the GOP has long been associated with donor commitment. This is resulting in a New Right definition of America First as America Only and based not on the evolution of traditional nationalist arguments, but on the demand for near-total disengagement from global commitments.

What they seek is a Republican Party less tied to Reagans legacy, less anchored by churches, less committed to alliances, and more defined by an online populism that elevates grievance over governance. They want to frame the Old Right as antiquated, backward-looking, traditionalists, while rebranding as relevant, post-truth and just asking questions. In their emerging worldview, support for Israel is a marker of the Old Right, while skepticism is a badge that shows membership in the New Right.

For the New Right, this realignment clarifies winners and losers. Politicians and influencers who thrive on attacking the GOP establishment are the winners. So are the isolationists and post-liberal nationalists who have long argued that Americas foreign interests should retract. The losers are evangelicals, traditional conservatives, national-security hawks, donor networks that shaped the partys priorities for decades, and yes, pro-Israel leaders and organizations.

The consequences will be visible in the coming GOP primary. Candidates the New Right promotes will increasingly embrace anti-aid and anti-interventionist platforms, and they will attack neocons, Evangelicals, and pro-Israel groups as relics of a dying establishment. Israels policy will function less as a foreign-policy debate and more as a proxy for the internal struggle over the partys identity.

President Trump complicates this picture. While he remains broadly pro-Israel and does not work to alienate Evangelical voters, the movement that formed around him is headed in a different direction. Rather than steering the ideological trajectory of the Right, he is being pulled along by it.

The shift is especially pronounced among younger conservative men. They are more secular, more anti-war, less institutionally attached and more shaped by TikTok, YouTube and algorithmic contrarianism than by the scars of 9/11 or the benefits of the Reagan era. Their skepticism of Israel is based on a broader rejection of alliances and institutions they associate with an older political generation, rather than an understanding of what the Old Right truly embraces: principles that transcend any political era and are always relevant because they are right and the keys to ordered liberty.

Unfortunately, the transformation is unlikely to reverse. Evangelical influence is waning, donor power is diminishing, and online platforms increasingly reward anti-establishment personalities. Support for Israel will remain a significant current within the GOP, but the consensus around Israel that once defined the party is gone. Going forward, Israel will be another dividing symbol in a movement that prefers to advance internal factions rather than shared values.

The new skepticism toward Israel is not primarily about the Middle East, American security, or even shared cultural heritage. It is about political power, influence, and who will lead the post-Trump GOP based on who builds the largest following. That means Israel is not the cause of the fractured GOP. It is the victim of a consensus that is no longer useful to the emerging leaders of the New Right.

The GOP conservative leaders need to intentionally call out the New Right and realign the party around God-ordained institutions  church, family, rightful civil government and American First (not America Only) foreign policy  if we want to have a movement strong enough to protect liberty and inspiring enough for a new generation.
Home Opinion To the Armenian gov't: Without the Armenian Church, there can be no Armenia

Armenia today stands at a precarious juncture, grappling with profound internal divisions that threaten its national security and very existence. While external threats from neighboring Azerbaijan and Turkey are ever-present, the current government, under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, has been widely criticized for policies and rhetoric that have exacerbated domestic polarization, transforming political disagreements into existential conflicts.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Pashinyans current persecution of the Armenian Apostolic Church through a concerted and coordinated campaign of public intimidation and attacks against Armenian priests and clergy. These recent developments have sparked debate and raised concerns among various groups both within and outside the country. While the Armenian government has stated its actions are aimed at ensuring secularism and combating corruption, many Armenians see these actions as politically motivated assaults that impact religious freedom and national stability.

What is more, these attacks only serve to divide Armenians and come straight out of the Turkish and Azerbaijani playbook, where government officials exploit and deepen internal societal divisions to cling onto power.

A major point of tension has been the Armenian Churchs criticism of government policies, particularly regarding the handling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and subsequent border negotiations. Some church leaders, including Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, have become involved in anti-government protests, expressing concerns shared by a large segment of the population. Galstanyan became a public face of mass protests earlier this year, demanding the resignation of Pashinyan when he led a protest march from his diocese in Tavush to the capital city of Yerevan. His movement, Tavush for the Homeland, was established in response to the governments decision to cede border villages to Azerbaijan.

Another sticking point for the Armenian Church is Azerbaijans ongoing campaign of cultural erasure of Armenian churches, monasteries, khachkars (cross-stone monuments), and other religious sites in Nagorno-Karabakh, which began immediately after Bakus takeover of the territory.

As the first nation to adopt Christianity in 301 AD, Armenias identity and culture have been closely defined by its Christian faith, which makes these historic symbols so important to the survival of the Armenian people. Christianity has sustained Armenians throughout their painful history, which has been marked by widespread persecution and mass suffering over hundreds of years. That history spans from the first genocide of the 20th century, when more than 1.5 million Armenians were systematically exterminated by the Ottoman Turks, right up to Azerbaijans ethnic cleansing of more than 120,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023.

During the Soviet era, the Armenian Church supported Armenian culture by preserving national identity through its spiritual leadership and its role as a cultural unifier. It navigated restrictions by ostensibly abiding by Soviet policies while secretly safeguarding its religious and cultural heritage. It did so by establishing institutions like museums and seminaries and maintaining ties with the Armenian diaspora, strategically keeping the Armenian faith and culture alive.

Through it all, the Armenian Church has defined the very existence and survival of the Armenian people. In many ways, the Armenian governments policy towards the Church today is a return to the Soviet blueprint of repression and state control.

In response to these criticisms and the Churchs involvement in protests, the governments crackdown has included various public statements critical of the clergy, arrests and investigations involving high-ranking priests and individuals associated with the Church, and discussions regarding the potential governance of the Church. By using allegations of corruption and immorality, Pashinyan is essentially attempting to discredit the Churchs leadership and diminish its influence in Armenia. It is part of a broader power struggle, with the government accusing the Church of being aligned with forces that are against any peace efforts with Azerbaijan.

While the Armenian Church certainly has its flaws, like any other large and influential religious institution, the governments actions are simply an unconstitutional assault on religious freedom and national identity.

Instead of fostering a climate of national cohesion in the face of these challenges, Pashinyan has adopted a take it or leave it political framing, labeling the Church as the corrupt past and an agent of foreign influence.

But what is needed right now is unity over fracture, and wisdom over anger. For Armenia to navigate its current existential threats and secure a stable future, it must move beyond the governments divisive rhetoric and actions and embrace inclusive dialogue with the Armenian Church and its leaders.

The Armenian Church holds immense cultural and social importance in Armenia. It is deeply tied to national heritage, spiritual continuity, and the preservation of the Armenian language and history. Attacking it plays right into the hands of Turkey and Azerbaijan, who want nothing more than to see a divided and weakened Armenia. Without the Armenian Church, there can be no Armenia. The sooner the Armenian government realizes that, the better off the nation will be.
Christian Aid

Christian Aid has reported a 14% decrease in its annual income as the international development charity undergoes a major restructure.

The charity recorded an operating deficit in the year to March 2025 as its income fell to 71.4m while its costs declined by a smaller margin to 77.0m, its accounts filed on Companies House this week show.

Its funding decline was driven by a more than 10m drop in institutional grants, including an around 6m fall in money from the United Nations World Food Programme (2.3m, down from 8.2m in 2023-24).

However, the charitys voluntary income was largely unchanged year-on-year, with 52.2m received through donations and legacies in 2024-25.

Meanwhile, the charitys total staff headcount fell by 91 year-on-year to 666, with overseas roles declining by 20% to 339.

The reports publication follows Christian Aids announcement in April that it aims to reduce its staff numbers to around 400 as part of an international restructure.

Its accounts read: The new model and organisation design was approved by the board in March 2025, and we expect it to be fully in place by the end of April 2026.

A dedicated transformation team has been established to support the transition to the new model and to guide us through this period of change in the most effective and supportive way possible, as we undertake a careful transition to a smaller staff.

60% voluntary income target

Partly due to the decrease in institutional funding, Christian Aid exceeded its target to generate 60% of its income from voluntary sources in 2024-25.

While the percentage aim was originally a strategic decision around the shape and type of organisation we wanted to become; it has set us up well to withstand the shocks of the recent downturn in institutional income, the charity said.

Christian Aid recorded a significant increase in new regular giving compared to previous years, but this source of income still trails pre-pandemic levels, with nearly 99.2m fundraised overall in 2019-20.

While we have met our income targets and made significant progress in voluntary income and private sector engagement, institutional income fell below budget, the accounts read.

This is partly the result of aid cuts, including the termination of USAID funding and unexpected contract losses.

A spokesperson for Christian Aid added: We are pleased that voluntary income from our generous individual supporters was strong, with legacies and regular gifts providing a critical foundation for our global work, but it was not enough to make up for the institutional decline.

Delayed recruitment of diversity lead

Christian Aid said it has taken further steps in 2024-25 to integrate decolonisation and anti-racism principles into its policies and practices, including increased diversity in its leadership and value-based behaviours introduced into its recruitment and performance management.

The charity made changes to its long-term fixed-term contracts to address inequalities in contracting arrangements and delivered power, privilege and anti-bias training in an effort to create a more inclusive workplace.

However, it said: Progress on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) initiatives has been slower than anticipated, as we delayed recruiting to the critical role of a DEIB lead to ensure that recruitment coincides with our transformation agenda.

More work is needed to embed our values consistently. Through our new organisational model, we will intentionally shift more power and resources to partners, with the goal of being more responsive and accountable to people living in poverty.

We are also taking steps to strengthen programme perspectives in our leadership team.

The charity previously employed Kamna Patel as its principal advisor on race and diversity in 2021, but she returned to University College London when her secondment ended in 2023.

A spokesperson for Christian Aid told Civil Society it appointed a DEIB lead recently, after the accounting period ended.

Editor's note: This article was updated on 27 November 2025 with further information from a Christian Aid spokesperson.

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Fundraising Regulator

The Fundraising Regulator has made changes to its board, with three members  Josephine Swinhoe, Ian Karet and Barbara Kasumu  set to join next year.

Swinhoe was the first woman to become executive director of income generation at NSPCC and has held senior roles at the Alzheimers Society.

Karet, a deputy High Court judge, served as a legal board member of the Charity Commission between 2019 and 2023.

Kasumu, currently serving as interim chief executive of King George & Queens Hospitals Charity, has also held prior board roles with the Youth Hostels Association.

Current board members Suzanne McCarthy and Margaret Moore will leave to make way for the fresh appointees at the end of 2025 and start of 2026, respectively.

Toby Harris, the regulators chair, said: We are delighted to welcome three new members to the Fundraising Regulators board.

The unique insights and perspectives of Jo Swinhoe, Ian Karet and Barbara Kasumu will be invaluable to our governance.

OSCR hires interim chief executive

Meanwhile, Scottish charity regulator OSCR has hired Quentin Fisher as interim chief executive from the countrys government.

OSCR yesterday announced that Fisher would serve as chief executive for an initial three months while permanent CEO Katriona Carmichael is on an extended period of absence.

Fisher has joined OSCR from the Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission, where he was head of the secretariat and previously deputy director for community justice.

He had joined the Scottish government in 1999 and spent most of his career in the Justice Directorate in various policy areas.

Marieke Dwarshuis, OSCR chair who had previously worked in roles at the regulator, including as head of policy and development, welcomed Fisher back.

Dwarshuis said: The board is delighted that Quentin will join OSCR to lead the organisation through both an exciting and challenging period.

OSCR has also reappointed chartered accountant Lynn Bradley, financial services professional Neil Mackay, and charity sector leader Robin Strang to its board.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, SNP cabinet secretary for social justice, announced the hires yesterday as board members until 31 March 2030.

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By MIND AND I, Adobe

The new Charities State of Recommended Practice (SORP) fails to address the fundamental issues facing charity accounting, charity experts have said.

Yesterday, Civil Society Media hosted a webinar on the new Charities SORP , which will apply to reporting periods starting on or after 1 January 2026.

Richard Bray, chair of the Charity Tax Group, told attendees that there has been a lot of tidying up to try to make the new SORP clearer, including its section on the natural classification of costs.

However, he said: All of those things, commendable as they are, are most probably marginal increases on a journey of always trying to improve the content of the Charities SORP.

My concern is that maybe some of the fundamental issues that face charity accounting at the moment havent been addressed, and theyll have to be addressed at some stage.

That includes the complexities that come from the new lease accounting and from having to follow the new requirements about income recognition.

Concerns over document length

Bray, who is also finance, regulatory and taxes manager at Cancer Research UK, pointed out that the new SORP is over 300 pages, up from around 200 in the previous version.

He said: If this is a direction of travel, were in serious problems. Its time to fundamentally look at some of the issues that form the envelope for the Charities SORP.

Also speaking at the event, Fiona Condron, national head of charities at accountancy and business advisory company BDO, said her firm had found about 5,300 changes between the new SORPs initial exposure draft and final version.

Now, thats everything from a full stop and comma to changes in wording, Condron told attendees.

But it gives me some confidence that the SORP-making body did take that feedback process seriously within the time frame they had to try and resolve some ambiguities and difficulties that we saw in the language of the exposure draft.

Condron added, however, that the SORP-making body could have gone further on things like legacy accounting to try and work out where the differences in accounting recognition could be harmonised.

There are some slight ambiguities there that charities are going to have to navigate around the types of investments that theyve got, whether theyre more on the charitable side, programme-related or on the mixed motive side, she said.

We now have a very long document which in itself doesnt give you all the answers.

There are lots and lots of references to please go back to FRS 102 in addition to your 300 pages. You need to sit with the similarly sized FRS 102 document to navigate some of these changes.

Lack of compliance could undermine trust in sector

The panellists were asked how the UK charity regulators would ensure that charities comply with the SORP.

Bray said the Charity Commission, Scottish Charity Regulator OSCR and Charity Commission for Northern Ireland dont necessarily have the resources to look at accounts in the way that ideally they should.

Itll be interesting to see what happens because some of the new requirements in regards to lease and income recognition are very complex, and I can imagine that therell be charities thatll hardly realise that theres been a change, and will be fundamentally incorrect in what they file with the commission, he said.

The concern is that very often, those accounts wont get picked up.

Bray said that while many charities are committed to best practice and want to get it right, others might simply ignore whats required, and there wont be the sanctions that there should be.

Thats an area which will be important because it also undermines our credibility as a sector if were not producing information that we should.

Condron highlighted the differences between Companies House using AI to check the compliance of company accounts and the Charity Commission, which she said were worlds apart.

Wed definitely encourage more resources from the Charity Commission to vet effectively the quality of accounts and professional advisors that have signed opinions on those accounts if issues are beginning to emerge, she said.

I completely agree that itll undermine transparency and trust in the wider sector if people dont embrace this and get it right.

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Sign up for the daily CJR newsletter.

In 1992, a writer named Douglas Rushkoff signed a contract for Cyberia, his book about the internet subcultures of the West Coast. The next year, his publisher canceled it, according to Rushkoffs recollection, on the grounds that by the time the book came out the internet was going to be over. (He later found a different publisher, and the book came out in 1994.) Rushkoff is our first guest on Journalism 2050, a new podcast series from the Tow Center for Digital Journalism and the Columbia Journalism Review, in which Heather Chaplin, the director of the New Schools Journalism + Design Lab, and I ask an eclectic group of guests to help figure out what the scenarios for our field are over the next quarter century.

Of course, thats no easy feat. Rushkoffs take underlines just how badly journalism and publishing have fared at prediction, particularly when it comes to our own existential risks. Rushkoff, often known as a futurist, prefers to call himself a presentistsince he thinks metabolizing what is happening at any given moment is a more profound task than looking ahead, making him an intermediary to the future. It is a role that carries with it the dual implication of both optimism and the possibility that, as Rushkoff puts it, the patient is dying.

What are the key inflection points from the past that might have changed the course of journalism had we acted differently? For Rushkoff, it was the Electronic Frontier Foundations John Perry Barlow and A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace calling for the internet to be unshackled from government control. What we didnt realize in that inflection point, Rushkoff said, was that if you get rid of government, you create a free space for corporations.

Other Journalism 2050 guests include Azmat Khan, a Pulitzer Prize winner who runs Columbias Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism, and Anya Schiffrin, a professor at the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs, where she serves as a codirector of the technology policy and innovation concentration. In a taping before a live audience, Khan and Schiffrin considered the rapid takeover of the internet by commercial and political entities whose interests are diametrically opposed to those of journalism. Take the war in Gaza, Khan said, which has, in so many ways, led to one of the most unprecedented assaults on freedom of the press, on journalists, and on freedom of speech. Israel, Khan observed, has outlined a playbook for excluding international press from regions in conflict, discrediting local reporters, and then targeting journalists physical safety. If you shut down independent voices, Shiffrin said, you can get away with murder under cover of darkness.

Were also joined by Ben Smith, whose career has been a relief map of digital progress and regression in journalism: from a local reporter to a blogger for Politico to running the iconic, ultimately doomed BuzzFeed newsroom to the New York Times to founding Semafor, where he is the editor in chief. One of Smiths inflection points was what Charlie Warzel has described as the greatest day on the internetwhich started with two escaped llamas and ended with a global argument about the color of a dress. Looking back on it, the reason the dress spread was that it was divisive in a literal sense, Smith recalled. And then: Arguments the platforms saw as engagement and amplified to everybody. The good-hearted and silly, he found, soon became a monetizable division of extremes.

Our guests fill in a vivid picture of how the development of the commercial Web, the rise of social platforms, and now the forced march of artificial intelligence have left us in a place where the next steps are decidedly human. What is the best path to the future? Candice Fortman and Sarah Alvarez, founders of a Detroit local news project called Outlier Media, identify a journalism of carewhich sounds soft, but entails the hard work of figuring out how to get the most important messages and information to people with the fewest resources. Tapping into local organizing, and bringing the community into the journalism process, they have learned, can endure where other models have failed. The future for journalism cannot be lashed to particular technologies or platforms. It must live in real space.

That applies broadly: the major lesson learned from Big Tech; authoritarianism; and financial, political, and economic pressure is the need for organization. Maria Bustillos, the founder of a journalism cooperative called Brickhouse Media, told us that the inflection point of one personPeter Thiel, who bankrolled the libel lawsuit that took down Gawkerwas that he didnt like certain coverage and could just spend a lot of money and deprive millions of people of reading whatever they wanted, and end livelihoods. Bustillos, who covered every day of the Gawker libel trial, has since made it her mission to increase and create opportunities for people to practice journalism in an atmosphere where that would not be possible.

Among the journalists, researchers, political scientists, and technologists weve been talking to, there was a remarkable consensus on the path forward: providing information, and connection, from the ground level. We will be releasing new episodes of Journalism 2050 every two weeksplease find us here, or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.
Elon Musks social media platform X has ended its lawsuit against elite law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz that sought to recover most of a $90 million fee the firm received for defeating Musks bid to walk away from his multibillion-dollar purchase of Twitter.

X told a state court in California in a filing last week that it was dismissing its lawsuit with prejudice, which means it cannot be refiled.

The filing did not provide details about the reasons for the dismissal of the case, which was filed in 2023. Musk changed Twitters name to X after he acquired the company in 2022. X and its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A Wachtell spokesperson in a statement said the firm is pleased that X has dismissed its meritless lawsuit with prejudice. There was no settlement.

Earlier, a judge ruled that the dispute must be considered in private arbitration. X and Wachtell were due to update the court at a hearing in early December.

The lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court said Wachtell, which represented Twitter in the buyout battle, had received an improper bonus payment in violation of its fiduciary and ethical obligations to its client.

Musk said in the lawsuit that Twitter executives in the lead-up to the close of the companys sale ran up the tab by designating tens of millions of dollars in handouts to the firms as success or project fees.

Wachtell, known for its Wall Street deal work, denied any wrongdoing. In court, the firm countered that Twitters board determined and approved the fee, which forced Musk to honor his merger agreement and ensure billions in value for Twitters stockholders.

In a court filing, Wachtell said about its Twitter deal work that after three-and-a-half months of round-the-clock litigation, Wachtell Lipton achieved complete success.

(Reporting by Scarcella; Editing by David Bario and David Gregorio)
Ohio utility regulators ordered Akron-based FirstEnergy to pay more than $250 million in fines and refunds as a result of its misconduct in a sweeping Statehouse bribery scandal whose fallout continues five years on.

The punishment meted out by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio includes nearly $187 million to be returned to FirstEnergy customers, as well as almost $180 million in penalties for failing to properly direct fees collected for grid modernization to their stated purpose.

The commission has remained steadfast in ensuring that we have followed the facts wherever they may lead, Commission Chair Jenifer French said about the unanimous vote. Our hope is the events underlying these proceedings will remain a cautionary lesson of accountability and honesty in utility regulatory matters.

Company spokesperson Lauren Siburkis said Wednesdays action closes a chapter tied to activities that do not represent the company we are today. Citing steps taken to improve the companys culture, compliance programs and oversight of its political and lobbying practices, she said, FirstEnergy is committed to accountability, transparency and rebuilding trust.

The orders concluded three separate regulatory investigations of FirstEnergy that had been delayed by a ongoing Justice Department probe that burst into public view on July 21, 2020. Thats when then-Republican Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, among the states most powerful politicians, and four associates were arrested and charged for their parts in an alleged $60 million racketeering scheme funded by FirstEnergy in exchange for a $1 billion nuclear plant bailout.

FirstEnergy later admitted to the bribes and agreed to pay $230 million to avoid prosecution. Householder was convicted by a jury in 2023 and sentenced to 20 years in prison, alongside lobbyist and former Ohio Republican Party Chair Matt Borges. Householder remains behind bars, while Borges was released last month to a halfway house in Cincinnati.

FirstEnergy also long ago fired several executives accused of involvement in the bribes, two of whom  former CEO Chuck Jones and Senior Vice President Michael Dowling  have been indicted and await trial. They have both pleaded not guilty. The energy giant also made significant strides in reforming its ethics policies and code of conduct in the wake of the scandal.

While praising those steps, utility commissioners said Wednesday that FirstEnergy must still face regulatory consequences for its actions.

The underlying activity and bribes represent an unnerving shadow of our regulatory responsibilities in this state and have harmed every consumer we are entrusted to protect in the proceedings before us, Commissioner Dennis Deters said.

Commissioner John Williams expressed deep disappointment in the electricity company.

Im hopeful the remedies we approved today will serve as a strong deterrent against similar misconduct in the future, he said. Our actions today should also stand as a clear reminder to FirstEnergy of the importance of continuing to reform its corporate culture and work diligently to rebuild the trust of the public.

Consumer and environmental advocates welcomed the orders.

In fining FirstEnergy over $250 million, the PUCO has sent a message to Ohios electric distribution utilities: corruption will not be tolerated, Karin Nordstrom, the Ohio Environmental Councils clean energy attorney, said in a statement. At a time when Ohioans electric bills are skyrocketing, the commission has finally acted to hold FE accountable for HB 6, forcing FirstEnergy to repay its customers for money it unduly collected.

Ohioans expect and deserve fair utility bills and utility companies that follow the law. Todays PUCO order requiring fines, restitution and refunds is an important milestone in fixing the harms FirstEnergy caused.

Ohio Consumers Counsel Maureen Willis  whose office had pushed for $544 million in FirstEnergy penalties, including about $467 million in customer refunds  said the orders were, nonetheless, an important milestone in fixing the harms FirstEnergy caused.

For five years, the Office of the Consumers Counsel and others pressed for accountability and relief on behalf of consumers, she said in a statement. Todays PUCO ruling reflects that Ohioans should never be made to pay for corporate misconduct.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A motorist in western North Carolina escaped injury when the carcass of a cat crashed into the passenger side of her front windshield along a highway near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

In a call to 911, the unidentified driver on U.S. Route 74 in Swain County, near Bryson City, told a dispatcher that a bald eagle dropped the cat. Bryson City is about 65 miles (104 kilometers) southwest of Asheville.

Its not clear if the feline slipped from the eagles talons Wednesday morning or was discarded simply because the big bird didnt have a taste for it.

You may not believe me, but I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield, the incredulous driver said on the recorded 911 call. It absolutely shattered my windshield.

Any reservations about calling in such a story were put to rest when the dispatcher calmly responded, OK. I do believe you, honestly, then laughed.

The driver relayed that another person also saw the cat drop, remarking, Hes like, That is the craziest thing Ive ever seen. Im like, Really?'

The dispatcher offered some assurance, saying, Oh my goodness. Lets see. Ive heard crazier.

Well, thats terrifying, the caller said, to which the dispatcher replied with more nervous laughter, Yeah.

After getting the drivers location, the dispatcher said she would send the Highway Patrol to do a report. Another question, the dispatcher asked. Is the cat still alive?

The caller said it wasnt, but noted that the cat was on the side of the road and not in her car.

Ok, I have to ask just to make sure, the dispatcher said.

Kendrick Weeks, Western Wildlife Diversity Program supervisor for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, said the cat dropped on the car could have been roadkill scavenged by the eagle.

But they can take animals the size of a cat, he said. It is much harder for them to take a live cat than a dead cat. They usually dont prey on something they dont find palatable. And, scavenging is a common behavior in bald eagles.

Eagles and other raptors can drop prey for several reasons, including having a poor grip or if the prey is struggling and the birds are trying to prevent injury to themselves, Weeks added.

Prey can also be dropped if a raptor is being harassed by another raptor or the prey becomes too heavy to continue carrying.

Bald eagles are native to North Carolina and most of North America.

Their populations have been increasing, and there are more than 200 nesting pairs in North Carolina. The birds can weigh anywhere from 6 1/2 to 13 1/2 pounds (3 kilograms to 6.3 kilograms) and have wingspans of 6 to 7 feet (1.8 meters to 2.1 meters), Weeks told The Associated Press.

Top photo: The windshield after the cat impact. (N.C. State Highway Patrol Public Information Office via AP)

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Binance Holdings Ltd. faces a lawsuit claiming the cryptocurrency platform knowingly facilitated crypto transactions by Hamas before the group attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.

More than 300 victims and family members of the Oct. 7 attack sued Binance, co-founder Changpeng Zhao, and top executive Guangying Chen under the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act provision of the Anti-Terrorism Act. They claim Binance enabled more than $1 billion in transactions by Hamas, Hezbollah, and other entities designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the US.

The lawsuit details how Binance knowingly facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars that helped those responsible for the atrocities of Oct. 7 attack, Lee Wolosky, an attorney for the victims, said in a statement. When a company chooses profit over even the most basic counter-terrorism obligations, it must be held accountable  and it will be.

The lawsuit, made public Monday in North Dakota federal court, details more alleged transactions with Hamas than those disclosed by the US in 2023, when Binance pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering laws and agreed to pay $4.3 billion in penalties. Zhao also pleaded guilty, stepped down as chief executive and served four months in prison. President Donald Trump pardoned him last month. Chen was not charged.

While Binance couldnt comment on pending litigation, a spokesperson said that we comply fully with internationally recognized sanctions laws, consistent with other financial institutions.

Zhao didnt respond to requests for comment.

Hamass October 2023 assault on Israel set off a brutal two-year war in Gaza that has killed some 69,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Other Iran-backed groups joined in the attack on Israel, including Lebanons Hezbollah and Yemens Houthis, creating a multi-front war. A shaky ceasefire has been in effect in Gaza since early October.

Venezuelan Gold Smuggling

Binance and Zhao now face four lawsuits in the US claiming it aided and abetted Hamas. But the 284-page complaint in North Dakota offers far more detail than the others about specific digital wallets allegedly linked to Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The company intentionally structured itself as a refuge for illicit activity, and knew full well that specific accounts controlled by terroristic organizations were among its customers, according to the complaint. Assets in those accounts could foreseeably be used to commit terrorist attacks, it claims. Some of the activity took place after Binance pleaded guilty, according to the lawsuit.

It alleges, for instance, that criminal organizations in Venezuela illicitly mined gold and smuggled it to Iran, where it was used to finance terror activities by Hamas and Hezbollah. It cites a 26-year-old Venezuelan woman who the victims claimed serves as a front for Hezbollahs gold smuggling network and received $177 million in crypto, withdrawing $43 million in cash.

When Binance pleaded guilty in 2023, it acknowledged in a blog post its responsibility for historical, criminal compliance violations, while also saying it has been systematically working to restructure our organization and personnel, upgrade our systems, and establish a new industry standard in compliance.

At the time, the Justice Department and the Treasury Departments Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, said many employees were aware of the consequences of allowing millions of illegal transactions.

New York Case

They said Binance was aware that the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, used Bitcoin transactions to raise money for the Iran-backed Islamist group. Binance also failed to file suspicious activity reports with the US about Hamas fundraising, according to FinCEN.

Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the US, European Union and other governments.

Under US law, Binance had a duty to prevent designated terrorist groups from accessing the US financial system by implementing an anti-money laundering program, performing due diligence on customers and filing suspicious activity reports. By intentionally evading those regulatory requirements, Binance created a system that allowed Hamas and other groups to move crypto freely, according to the North Dakota lawsuit.

The question of where victims can sue Binance, which is not based in the US, is the subject of legal dispute. Two cases are pending in New York and one in Alabama. The new complaint cites at least two transactions executed by IP addresses in Kindred, North Dakota.

In one New York case, US District Judge John Koeltl ruled on Feb. 25 that plaintiffs alleged plausibly that Binance knowingly and substantially assisted the Oct. 7 attacks, and they were generally aware that they were playing a role in Hamass and PIJs overall terrorist activities. He ordered fact-finding on the question of jurisdiction.

Binance disputed Koeltls ruling, saying he misapplied the law on aiding and abetting, and those who sued failed to show the companys connection to the attacks.

Binance is an exchange that offers its services to over 100 million users worldwide, its services have no definable nexus to any terrorist attack, and plaintiffs have not come close to identifying anything that could change that, its lawyers said in an April 11 court filing.

In the Alabama case, a judge denied Binances request to transfer the lawsuit to New York.

Under the Anti-Terrorism Act, a defendant can face treble damages liability for aiding and abetting an act of international terrorism if it provided substantial assistance to such acts. Those who sued in North Dakota include survivors of the attacks as well as family members and the estates of those who died.

They include the families of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage murdered by Hamas in Gaza; Itay Chen, an Israeli-American IDF soldier whose body was returned to Israel this month; Eyal Waldman, an Israeli philanthropist whose U.S.-born daughter, Danielle, was killed at the Nova music festival during the Oct. 7 attacks; and Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. whose son was a soldier killed by Hamas.

The case is Balva v. Binance Holdings, 25-cv-266, US District Court, District of North Dakota (Fargo).

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
The City of Brunswick has issued a stop-work order after a contractor for Frontier fiber installation performed unauthorized drilling on Jeanette Drive.

BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- Brunswick officials are getting serious about addressing private property issues related to a residential fiber installation project by Frontier Internet and its construction partner, MasTec Communications Group.

City Council discussed these concerns at the Nov. 24 committee-of-the whole meeting, with representatives from Frontier, MasTec and the citys project inspector, QCI Group, in attendance.

Community and Economic Development Director Grant Aungst said while installing fiber throughout the city is a large job, the city has fielded numerous complaints from residents since Frontier began the project.

The latest, Aungst said, being Frontiers right of entry (R.O.E) onto private property to access utility easements at the rear of some properties.

You are working in densely populated areas where people take a lot of pride in their properties, Aungst said.

Most of these (issues) have been resolved, but the R.O.Es are a (challenge).

He added that he feels the city should do more to hold responsible not only MasTec, but Frontier as well.

Justin Schrolucke, senior construction manager for Frontier, said his company wants to wrap up the Brunswick project sooner than later as well.

He noted that Frontier has completed installations in a dozen other places since starting in Brunswick, with only 45 percent of the work completed in Brunswick.

I want to work to get this done. I have been here three years, and its frustrating, he said, adding that the company hopes residents in the city ultimately become Frontier customers.

We have the right to be in the easement and we are trying to be as cooperative as we can, Schrolucke said.

That easement language is in the (property deed) document nobody reads. People argue with us all day long that we dont have the right, but people dont listen.

(Brunswick is) the only place in 48 states I have this problem.

In a Nov. 20 email to the city and Frontier officials, QCI Contract Administrator Terry Wise advised that a stop-work order was issued by the city due to the subcontractors second violation for performing a front-yard directional drill operation -- outside of the defined utility easement without obtaining a required R.O.E.

The violation occurred at 789 Jeanette Drive.

Wise went on to state that the first notice of work occurring outside the right-of-way was issued Nov. 18.

Wise said Frontier and MasTec representatives stated that this would not happen again.

In a follow-up email that same day, Sean Snyder, area manager for MasTec, stated, We will rectify this behavior with the subcontractor to ensure it does not happen again.

Can the city advise on the next steps to be able to continue work?

City Manager Carl DeForest replied to that email: I am tiring of the promise it wont happen again. This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

I need to know what specific steps will be taken to prevent these issues in the coming months before the stop-work order will be lifted.

I also will need to know who will be responsible when/if it happens again.

At the committee-of-the whole meeting, city Law Director Dennis Nevar said he understands the challenges Frontier and MasTec have faced trying to contact residents and obtain the right to come onto private properties.

(But) if you are outside that easement area, with equipment or workers, you are trespassing, Nevar said, adding that the charge would apply to both individuals and organizations.

We will send out our police and we will cite, he said.

Schrolucke said he humbly disagreed with Nevars legal opinion, citing Ohio Revised Code 4931.04, which states in part: A telephone company may enter upon any land held by an individual or a corporation, whether such land was acquired by purchase, appropriation or by virtue of any provision in its charter, for the purpose of making preliminary examination and surveys, with a view to the location and construction of telecommunications lines and facilities, and may appropriate so much of such land  as it deems necessary for the construction and maintenance of those lines and facilities, and the right of way in, through, over, across and under such lands and adjacent lands, sufficient to enable it to construct and repair the lines and facilities.

Nevar called this section of the ORC inapplicable in this instance, and invited Frontiers legal counsel to discuss the matter with him.

Council took no further action on the issue at the meeting.

Read more news from the Brunswick Sun.
Dan Butler, who played Bob Bulldog Briscoe on TV's "Frasier," is starring in Cleveland Play House's production of "A Christmas Story," playing at the Allen Theatre Nov. 30-Dec. 21. Photo provided by Cleveland Play House

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Christmas Story is back for another holiday run at Cleveland Play House. This time, the familiar tale comes with a familiar face.

Veteran stage, television and film actor Dan Butler, best known for his 11 seasons as Kelsey Grammers on-air nemesis Bob Bulldog Briscoe on TVs Frasier, stars as Ralph, the grown-up version of Ralphie Parker who serves as the shows narrator. The production runs Nov. 30-Dec. 21 at the Allen Theatre in Playhouse Square.

Its a gift, he said of the opportunity, which came from director Jackson Gay, a longtime friend.

Butler had never worked at Cleveland Play House before, nor had he ever been to the city until he arrived for rehearsals a few weeks ago. The timing, he said, felt right.

Parts and projects come at a certain time in your life to process something, he said. I grew up in northern Indiana, and the main character grew up in northern Indiana. So hearkening back to Christmas is there, and so is the theme of relooking at your parents and that time. Its very nourishing.

Butler has long been a fan of the movie, comparing it to holiday staples A Christmas Carol and Its a Wonderful Life. His role here is different. In the film, the narrator is heard but never seen. In the play, hes onstage watching his younger self tangle with the Old Man, Flick, Scut Farkas, kid brother Randy, etc. The added presence, he said, deepens the story.

The relationship between the narrator and the audience is really important in this version, Butler said. There are also bits from other short stories Jean Shepherd wrote.

Dont worry, those classic scenes  the tongue frozen to the flagpole, the leg lamp, the pink bunny suit  are all still there. Butler enjoys watching his younger co-stars, played by local middle schoolers, bring those moments to life.

The kids in this are committed and fun, he said. Its great watching them dive into it.

Hes also drawn to the way the story captures the emotional highs and lows of childhood, when the weight of a moment can flip without warning. The worst becomes the best and the best becomes the worst, he said. Im a sucker for those kinds of stories.

Clevelanders, of course, have long had a special connection to A Christmas Story. Much of the film was shot here in 1983, and now, 40-plus years later, theres a leg lamp in practically every window during the holidays. But Butler thinks the story continues to resonate in Northeast Ohio and beyond because Shepherd understood what it feels like to be a kid at Christmas.

Jean Shepherd is really good at becoming his kid self, he said. It harkens back to those times when things were really clear. You wanted this thing or you wanted to experience that, and it was life and death.

That specific feeling, he believes, is what audiences respond to, particularly now during what he describes as a time of upheaval for a lot of people. Its also what the stage version allows people to experience in real time, with adult Ralph guiding them through memories that feel both intimate and universal.

Butler knows something about that power of connection. He used to worry that his role on a sitcom might typecast him. He has since come to appreciate how much laughter can mean to people. Fans often tell him how Frasier helped them through tough times.

You should never, ever discount the power and wonder of laughter, he said.

Its that same sense of wonder and laughter, the kind that makes a Red Ryder BB gun feel essential and a pink bunny suit embarassing and hilarious, that keeps Clevelanders coming back to A Christmas Story, on stage or on television, time and time again.

The Cleveland Play Houses production of A Christmas Story runs Nov. 30-Dec. 21 at the Allen Theatre, 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Tickets start at $36 and are available at clevelandplayhouse.com
Whether you agree with or condemn his politics, everyone should be outraged that the Justice Department secretly obtained two years of Jim Jordan's phone records. Without clear evidence that Jordan was doing something criminal -- which the Justice Department does not have -- how can U.S. government operate like this? AP

Republican Congressman Jim Jordan disclosed last week that the Justice Department secretly obtained more than two years of his phone records during the January 6th investigationa disclosure that has Today in Ohio podcast hosts condemning the federal governments tactics.

During Mondays episode, Chris Quinn expressed rare agreement with the controversial congressman, calling the Justice Departments actions a ridiculous overreach that crosses a serious line.

Im stunned that our own investigators, federal investigators, went and got the phone records of Congress like this. Its just not right. Unless you can really go to a judge and say, look, heres all the evidence. This person was involved in a crime. (But) They clearly didnt have it, Quinn said. Something is seriously wrong with our Justice Department when theyre doing things like this.

The subpoena, issued as part of the Arctic Frost investigation that formed the basis of cases against former President Trump, requested comprehensive data including calls, text messages, voicemails, and location information beginning January 1, 2020more than a year before the Capitol riot. And prosecutors justified keeping Jordan in the dark with what podcast hosts said was the ridiculous claim that he might flee the country or destroy evidence.

Hes a member of Congress. He was a flight risk? Come on, thats preposterous, Quinn said. " Its an outrage that they did this."

For federal investigators to secretly monitor a sitting congressmans communications for years, they would typically need strong evidence of criminal activityevidence the podcast hosts believe clearly didnt exist.

According to Laura Johnston, another podcast host, documents show Jordan was just one of many targets: There were 197 subpoenas that Justice Committee documents show seeking records on about 430 Republican individuals and entities.

The scope of surveillance appears massive, with investigators seeking not just call logs but text messages, payment information, IP addresses, and precise location data.

While Quinn acknowledged his frequent disagreements with Jordans politicsparticularly regarding the congressmans selective outrage about weaponization of government when it targets Republicanshe said the investigation of Jordan raises serious constitutional concerns.

I hope this gets fully investigated, Quinn said. I think this crosses a line. The federal government, the Justice Department is out of control.

Listen to the discussion here.

Listen to full Today in Ohio episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.
Tanzanian publishers back introduction of Chinese language into curriculum

Xinhua) 10:55, November 25, 2025

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's decision to introduce Chinese as an optional subject in primary schools has sparked new momentum across the country's publishing industry.

The move is expected to nurture a future workforce capable of engaging more effectively in bilateral trade, tourism and cultural exchanges. In Dar es Salaam, the shift is already being felt.

Publishers and retailers are sourcing textbooks, storybooks, and beginner-friendly guides tailored to early learners. Several bookshops have seen a surge in inquiries from schools and parents, following the announcement that Chinese will become one of the optional language papers in national primary assessments.

The changing landscape was evident at the 32nd Tanzania International Book Fair, which opened on Nov. 21, where exhibitors and industry representatives described the reform as both an educational opportunity and a catalyst for the book industry.

"Adapting fast is a big thing," said Honest Valerian Thomas, marketing officer at Elite Bookshop.

Standing beside shelves of children's literature, Thomas said his chain is preparing to stock Chinese learning materials across its outlets. "Inquiries are increasing," he told Xinhua.

Thomas, who once studied the Chinese language at Baobab Secondary School, believes retailers must move quickly to match the emerging demand.

For publishers, the reform opens a new cultural and commercial space.

Mkuki Bgoya, managing director of Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, said the inclusion of Chinese in primary schools "is the opportunity we have been waiting for."

His publishing house has already collaborated with the Chinese embassy to translate some influential books in China into Kiswahili. "The Kiswahili edition can offer Tanzanian readers insights into China's development experiences," he noted.

Organizers of the fair emphasized that the growing interest in Chinese learning materials is part of a broader push to strengthen the country's literary ecosystem.

Hermes Damian, chairman of the Publishers Association of Tanzania, described books as "reservoirs of human achievements," noting that international collaborations, including those with China, bolster Tanzania's publishing capacity.

The Tanzania Library Services Board (TLSB), a key organizer, also pledged its commitment to supporting libraries as accessible spaces that connect readers with both print and digital resources.

TLSB Director General Mboni Ruzegea said the institution is working with publishers and educators to expand access to diverse learning materials, including those supporting the new language programs.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)


Response to yet another violation of Afghanistans territory by Pakistani forces

The airstrikes carried out last night by Pakistani forces in Afghanistans Paktika, Khost, and Kunar provinces constitute a direct assault on Afghanistans sovereignty

1/4

 Zabihullah (..   ) (@Zabehulah_M33) November 25, 2025

Afghanistan has warned Pakistan of retaliatory action after the latter carried out airstrikes on the night of November 24, killing at least 10 people.Spokesperson of Afghanistan's government, Zabihullah Mujahid, also said the actions by Pakistan increase tensions between the two countries and expose failures of Islamabad's military regime.He added that Pakistani airstrikes are a breach of international laws and Afghanistan's sovereignty."The airstrikes carried out last night by Pakistani forces in Afghanistans Paktika, Khost, and Kunar provinces constitute a direct assault on Afghanistans sovereignty and a clear breach of internationally recognised norms and principles by the Pakistani authorities," Afghanistan's Taliban government spokesperson said in a statement."These hostile actions by Pakistani forces achieve nothing; they only prove that operations driven by flawed intelligence inflame tensions and expose the ongoing failures of Pakistans military regime," it added.Afghanistan said that it condemns the act of aggression and will defend its citizens, territory and airspace."The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns this violation and act of aggression, and stresses that defending its airspace, territory, and citizens is its legitimate right," it said."A necessary response will be taken at the proper time," it added.Earlier in the morning of November, he said 10 people were killed in Pakistani airstrikes in the Khost region."Last night at around 12 oclock in the Gorbuz district of Khost province, in the Mughalgai area, the Pakistani invading forces bombed the house of a local civilian resident, Waliat Khan, son of Qazi Mir," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter)."As a result, nine children (five boys and four girls) and one woman were martyred, and his house was destroyed," he added, while sharing the photographs of the dead children.Air strikes also occurred in Kunar and Paktika, where four civilians were injured, his statement further read.Pakistan's airstrikes come after suicide bombers and gunmen attacked a paramilitary forces' headquarters in Peshawar on November 24, which killed three officials. The bombings took place in the morning, and Pakistani officials killed the gunmen who were trying to enter into the building, taking the total toll to six.While no group took the responsibility of the attack, Pakistan has been blaming the Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group for the action. It has accused Afghanistan of sheltering TTP members, due to which relations between the two countries have deteriorated in recent months.


Avoid all designated ash-affected areas and altitudes,



Rework flight routing, planning and fuel loads in real time,



Rigorously follow the Operations Manual  Volcanic Ash,



Monitor satellite data, volcanic ash advisories, NOTAMs and ASHTAMs around the clock.



When the Hayli Gubbi volcano in northern Ethiopia roared back to life  its first eruption in more than 10,000 years  scientists, pilots and regulators scrambled at the same time. What began as a sudden plume of ash in the Afar region travelled hundreds of kilometres across the Red Sea, dusted nearby villages, stranded tourists, and drifted all the way into Indian airspace , forcing airlines to reroute or cancel flights.In the village of Afdera, tucked near the Danakil desert, residents described hearing a loud boom and feeling a shock wave before ash rained over homes and grazing land. There were no reported casualties, but the fallout was immediate.While Ethiopia dealt with ash-covered land, Indias meteorological and aviation authorities suddenly found themselves tracking a fast-moving ash plume at high altitudes.According to Mritunjay Mohapatra, DGM, IMD, the volcanic ashes were travelling between 8.5 km and 15 km above the ground and moving at around 150 kmph."By Monday, the ash was already over Eastern and Central India," Mohapatra told CNBC-TV18, adding that the plume was drifting towards Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and the Northeastern states, before it would eventually continue eastward towards China.He stressed that the ash would leave India entirely between 7:30 pm and 8 pm on Tuesday, November 25 , and that it had no impact on surface weather or air quality, but would continue to disrupt aviation services Despite the mythology that surrounds them, volcanoes are simply vents in the Earths crust where molten rock, gases and ash escape from a magma chamber below the surface.An eruption can begin quietly, with gas-rich magma gathering near the surface, or violently, when rising magma meets groundwater or suddenly depressurises. In explosive eruptions  like Hayli Gubbis  trapped gases rip the magma apart and eject it as fine ash, hot fragments and towering columns of gas.Ash from such eruptions is incredibly light, easily carried into the stratosphere, and can travel thousands of kilometres. That is exactly what Hayli Gubbis plume did. Volcanic ash is not like smoke or dust, its made of microscopic, jagged rock and glass. Once sucked into a jet engine, it can melt, fuse, and coat engine components, causing power loss, blockages, or, in worst-case scenarios, engine failure.Cockpit windshields can be sandblasted to be opaque. Air-conditioning systems can pull ash into the cabin. Aircraft flying through ash clouds sometimes report the smell of smoke, reduced visibility, or engine anomalies.To make matters worse, ash clouds often dont appear on onboard weather radar, which means pilots rely heavily on ground advisories, satellite imagery, and pre-flight planning.With Hayli Gubbis ash drifting towards India, that risk became immediate.By Monday, the drifting ash cloud had reached Indian airspace. Citing "natural calamities linked to the volcanic eruption," Air India Express cancelled its KochiJeddah service, while IndiGo scrapped its DubaiKochiDubai flights as the routes lay in the projected ash path.In response, the DGCA issued a strict operational advisory to all Indian airlines. The regulator told carriers to:The directive also made it mandatory to conduct post-flight engine and airframe inspections for any aircraft operating near the affected zones. Airlines were asked to restrict, suspend or modify operations to any airport lying along the ash trajectory.An ASHTAM is one of the most urgent warnings aviation authorities issue.Unlike a regular NOTAM, which announces any change or hazard, an ASHTAM is reserved for times when volcanic ash directly threatens air operations. It includes precise coordinates, altitudes and movement forecasts of the ash cloud, information that allows airlines to draw invisible "no-fly corridors" in the sky.With the Hayli Gubbi plume still dispersing, the DGCA has said these restrictions will remain in force until further notice.
Afghanistan's Taliban government on Tuesday (November 25) accused Pakistan of launching overnight airstrikes in three eastern provinces, killing 10 civilians, including nine children, in a sign of worsening tensions between the two neighbours.Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesperson for the Afghan government, said on X that Pakistan bombed the home of a civilian in Khost province, killing nine children and a woman. He said additional strikes were carried out in the provinces of Kunar and Paktika, injuring four others.Pakistan's military and government did not immediately comment on the allegation, which comes more than a month after cross-border clashes erupted when the Afghan government claimed Pakistani drone strikes hit Kabul.The latest escalation follows a deadly attack a day earlier in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar, where two suicide bombers and a gunman stormed the headquarters of the Federal Constabulary. Three officers were killed, and 11 others were wounded in the Monday (November 24) morning attack.No group has claimed responsibility for the Peshawar attack, but suspicion quickly fell on the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.It is a separate group but closely allied with the Afghan Taliban, and many of its leaders are hiding in Afghanistan.Pakistan has repeatedly urged Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to prevent TTP militants from using Afghan territory to launch attacks. Kabul denies the accusation, but relations further deteriorated after Afghanistan blamed Pakistan for the October 9 drone strikes on its capital and threatened retaliation.The clashes that followed killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and militants before Qatar brokered a ceasefire on October 19.Two subsequent rounds of talks in Istanbul failed to resolve the dispute, when Pakistan said Afghanistan had refused to provide a written guarantee that TTP fighters would not operate from Afghan soil.The Afghan government, in recent years, has said that it does not allow anyone to its soil for attacks against any country, including Pakistan.
The White House on Monday announced a major new national AI initiative called the Genesis Mission, launching a Manhattan Project style effort led by the Department of Energy to unify Americas top supercomputers, scientific datasets and automated laboratories into a single platform that officials say will accelerate discovery, strengthen national security and keep the United States ahead in the global artificial intelligence race.The initiative marks one of the most sweeping federal science directives in recent years, signalling how central artificial intelligence has become to US geopolitical and technological strategy.According to experts, Washington now sees AI as the key battleground that will shape leadership in defence, energy, advanced manufacturing and future industries.Under the executive order signed by President Donald Trump, the Department of Energy will create an integrated national AI platform capable of dramatically speeding up scientific research.The DOE, which oversees the countrys most powerful supercomputers and national laboratories, has been placed at the core of this effort.The administration is directly comparing the Genesis Mission to the Manhattan Project.That wartime programme brought together the nations top scientists, secret research sites and industrial resources under one unified mission.Officials say a similar coordinated effort is required today to compete in AI-driven science, where countries including China are rapidly expanding their capabilities.The mission will connect federal high-performance computing systems, secure cloud AI environments, robotic and automated laboratories and decades of government scientific data into one secure, AI-enabled research platform.This system is intended to do more than analyse information.It will run experiments, test scientific ideas, simulate materials and energy systems, design new technologies and automate entire research workflows across fields such as fusion energy, biotechnology, semiconductors, quantum science and critical materials.The timelines set out in the executive order show how urgent the effort is.The Energy Department has 60 days to identify at least 20 national science and technology challenges where AI could deliver major breakthroughs.It must also produce, within 90 days, a full map of federal and partner computing, storage and networking resources that can support the platform.And within 270 days, the administration expects a working demonstration showing that AI can deliver scientific results that traditional methods cannot.To protect sensitive research, the order includes strict security requirements.Only approved partners, including national labs, universities and selected private companies will gain access to the platform.All participants must follow uniform cybersecurity, classification, privacy and export-control standards.The broader aim is to compress decades of scientific discovery into a much shorter time frame and reinforce Americas technological leadership.The statement by the White House says the Genesis Mission represents a significant reorganisation of the countrys research infrastructure around artificial intelligence and a clear sign of how seriously the United States is preparing for the global AI competition.
Tensions flared between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Tuesday (November 25) as the Taliban accused Pakistani forces of air strikes in eastern Afghanistan, which killed nine children and a woman, and injured four others.There was no immediate comment from Islamabad. The bombardment followed a series of recent attacks in Pakistan, in which Islamabad says the militants came from Afghanistan.Last month, dozens of people were killed in air strikes and ground fighting between the South Asian neighbours - their deadliest confrontation since the Afghan Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.Islamabad says that Pakistani militants are based in Afghanistan, from where they send attackers into Pakistan.A suicide bomber killed 12 people in Islamabad this month, the first time civilians had been targeted in the Pakistani capital for a decade. A day previously, another bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the main gate of a military school in South Waziristan district, near the Afghan border, killing three people.On Monday (November 24), three suicide bombers targeted the headquarters of a Pakistani paramilitary force in the city of Peshawar, killing three personnel and wounding at least five.The Taliban administration in Afghanistan deny the presence on Pakistani militants there and say that they do not allow Afghan soil to be used against other countries.Islamabad says that its patience snapped after an upsurge in attacks by militants in Pakistan that followed the 2021 Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.Pakistan carried out an air strike on the Afghan capital Kabul in October, which targeted the head of the Pakistani Taliban militant group, according to Pakistani security officials. It is not clear if he survived.In response, late on Oct 11, Taliban forces attacked Pakistani military posts along the length of the 2,600 km (1,600 miles) border, with Pakistani forces later retaliating. Pakistan said 23 of its soldiers died and the Taliban said nine of its men were killed, though both sides claimed to have inflicted far higher damage on the other.Both sides signed a ceasefire in Doha in October, but negotiations ended without a long-term deal after Kabul did not provide a written commitment to take action against militants sought by Islamabad. The Afghan Taliban says that it cannot be expected to guarantee security in Pakistan.In 2007, a number of jihadist outfits active in northwest Pakistan from the Pashtun ethnic group formed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban.The group was modelled on the Afghan Taliban, an ethnic Pashtun outfit that in the 1990s conquered Afghanistan before being ousted by a US-led invasion in 2001. But the TTP was more radical, taking its ideology from al Qaeda.Over the next few years, the TTP attacked markets, mosques, airports, military bases, police stations and also gained territory - mostly along the border with Afghanistan, but also deep inside Pakistan, including the Swat Valley, where they later shot schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai.They also fought alongside the Afghan Taliban in Afghanistan and hosted Afghan fighters in Pakistan, forming a close bond. Pakistan launched a series of military operations against the TTP on its own soil, with limited success.In recent years, the TTP's attacks have focused on security forces in Pakistan.Pakistan welcomed the return to power of the Taliban in 2021, with then Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying that Afghans had "broken the shackles of slavery". But Islamabad soon found that the Taliban's loyalties lay elsewhere.Islamabad says that the TTP's leadership and many of its fighters are based in Afghanistan. Pakistan also says that Baloch insurgents, a secular armed movement seeking independence for the western province of Balochistan, also use Afghanistan as a safe haven.Islamabad says India, its longstanding adversary, is working with Afghanistan to support the TTP and the Baloch militants against Pakistan. New Delhi denies the claim.
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A new episode of Brilliant Idiots addressed one of the biggest controversies of last week

This weeks episode of Brilliant Idiots, co-hosted by Andrew Schulz and Charlamagne Tha God, discussed an incident last week where President Donald Trump snapped at a female reporter aboard Air Force One, telling the woman to quiet, piggy.

That dominated headlinesthe White House immediately defended Trumps hateful comment, while the president faced immense criticism for it outside of the MAGA bubble. Schulz and Charlamagne The God seemed less concerned with the ethics of Trump snapping at the reporter and more concerned with whether it was a good joke.

What is her real name? Schulz asked about the reporter. For the record, the reporters name is Catherine Lucey.

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You are asking the wrong question, Charlamagne Tha God admonished. Why didn't they show us her? Who is she? LikeI need a description because the joke landed, but I need to see the visual of who the fuck was he talking to.

Off camera, a producer asked, "He's calling people a pig?

Piggy, Charlamagne clarified. Pig don't slap. Piggy. Pig don't slap. Calling somebody a pig isBut when you say piggy

They don't have mirrors in the White House? the producer asked off camera, clearly disgusted by Trumps words and lack of awareness regarding his own body type.

I mean, come on, man, Charlamagne the God said. I'm with you. It's all about who said it first.

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Thats not entirely true; Trump is not at Wild n Out, competing to get insults out the fastest. He was at the official presidential airport speaking to a journalist bound by professional ethics to ask the leader of the United States tough questions about his job. Trump didnt beat Lucey to the punch of delivering a sick burnhe violated the social contract by lobbing a rude and misogynistic comment in response to a question he didnt like.

What is her real name? Is her name Piglet? Schulz continued.

Another producer provided the name off-screen, before both Schulz and Charlamagne demanded pictures of the reporter. Images now, Charlemagne said. Look her up, Schulz echoed. Images now, Charlamagne repeated.

The first producer quietly begged: Dont do this.

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They do it. And it gets worse. As the pair waited for a photo of Lucey, Charlamagne continued.

He knew exactly what he was saying. He leaned in. He pointed the finger. He had a little glee in his eye. He knew exactly what the fuck he was doing. Charlamagne said. I need to see her now. I've been wanting to see her all week.

Schulz seemed to struggle with fully internalizing the insult, just repeating quiet, piggy, over and over while Charlemagne continued philosophizing about the efficacy of the insult.

And Piggy only works on a chunky woman. But if this girl's not chunky, why would he call her that? That's why we got to look and see, Charlamagne said. That's why we got to look and see. Piggy only works on chunky women. Y'all don't ever try that on a man. Piggy don't slap on a man.

At this point, a photo of Lucey finally appears. Charlemagne and Schulz expressed wonder. After saying it was only funny to call a larger-bodied woman piggy they were presented with a woman Schulz categorized as small.

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That's why I think there's something we're missing, Schulz said.

Thats gotta be old pictures or something, Charlamagne said.

Why are you guys contorting yourselves here? He said what he said, the first producer said.

Its a great question. But if the hosts of Brilliant Idiots are looking for some insults that do land on this score, Ive got one for Schulz and Charlamange: Sexist assholes.
Leanne Morgan is hitting a new peak of fame in her comedy career. Shes got two Netflix specials, asit-com, and a role in a Reese Witherspoon movie to boot. But the charming and funny southern woman isn't for everyone. In a new interview with Conan OBrien for the podcast Conan Needs a Friend, Morgan broke down how even her fairly straight edge comedy couldnt meet the Christian comedy circuit standards.

I was thinking I've watched a lot of your work and I love it, OBrien introduced the subject. It all feels to me that it would work fine in the Christian comedy circuit because I don't know how it would be limiting. It seems like you're able to talk about a lot of things that don't conflict with what someone who considers themselves a hardcore Christian would think is okay. You found it a little limiting, but I don't know what it is they'd be objecting to.

Morgan explained that it was a bad match in both directions; Christian comedy audiences werent meant for her, and she wasnt meant for them.

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Early on, I got invited to do, you know, shows in churches and it just did not feel right to me, Morgan said. It's just a different kind of standup. It's got a different pace. Some people that do that have an alter call and all that kind of stuff. Honey, I don't know anything about that.

There is an entire Christian comedy circuit, filled with comedians who deliver clean, faith-based material that promises not to ruffle feathers. There are even websites dedicated to Christian comics that you can reliably book for family Christian events. Michael Jr. is perhaps the most popular of the bunch. His stand-up sets on YouTube amass millions of views. But, thats not kind of material Morgan is interested to perform.

I love the Lord, Morgan explained. But I want to be able to talk about real stuff. I don't mean toI know I keep bringing up Johnny Cash, and I'm not comparing myself to him, but I remember him in an interview saying, I am a believer, but I want to be able to talk about Folsom Prison. And getting high in a cave and you know all that that he went through and and I like to talk about peeing in a bathing suit. You just don't know who's going to be upset.

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She then referenced a joke from her most recent stand-up special, Unspeakable Things, about her sex life with her husband Chuck Morgan. Ive had to prostitute myself to Chuck Morgan so these children have good shoes. I mean, and I know Jesus loves me and he knows that I've had to do it, and he has walked through it with me.

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OBrien followed up by remarking that those topics didnt seem so vulgar that they should preclude Morgan from succeeding in the Christian comedy scene. I'm being naive, but I don't think those thingsI think whatever your religion, you should be able to hear about those things, OBrien said. I'm not a prude, but when I watch a movie where every other word is the F-word or F-bombs are flying left and right, I think it's just lazy writing. But everything you talk about, peeing in a bathing suit, should be something a congregation can hear. Do you know what I mean?

And I think most of them can, Morgan replied. I just don't want to feel weird. It was more me. I Nobody ever said anything to me, but I just thought I don't think this is where I'm supposed to be. I want to be a mainstream comedian.

With the year shes had, Morgan accomplished that.
In Zohran Mamdanis interview with Adam Friedland for The Adam Friedland Show, the incoming New York City dished some crucial new details on his meeting with now-viral meeting with President Donald Trump on November 21.

Friedland inquired about what the whole shebang was like between the young, Muslim, Democratic Socialist and the far-right Republicanbut also asked the best specific question any journalist Mamdani has spoken to since the infamous Oval Office meet-up.

What was the weirdest thing he showed you? Friedland asked Mamdani.

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Um what's that weird thing? Mamdani said, stalling for time.

He had to have shown you something, one thing weird. Friedland pressed.

Mamdani, started with the boring answer: I mean he showed me the portraits of all the presidents in the cabinet room.

But then Mamdani gave the people what we really wanted to hear: one of the weird little details that only a man like Trump could deliver.

I sit down waiting for the time of the meeting and in front of me are like all these different coffee table books and one of them is UFC at the White House, Mamdani revealed.

Instantly Friedland and I, the audience, perked up at this information. Its no secret that Trump is obsessed with UFC. Just last week Dana White went on Flagrant, co-hosted by Andrew Schulz and Akaash Signh, to discuss the extensive plans the UFC card planned to take place on the White House lawn next summer.

Oh yeah, he's bringing it there, right? Friedland asked.

I had no idea but I wasYeah, the flipping flipping through that, Mamdani said.

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Friedland became the unexpected king of the follow up question and asked: So you saw guys fighting each other?

A quick Google reveals that such books do exist. UFC: A Visual History is the most popular UFC coffee table book, but theres also The Fight and UFC Encyclopedia. Which one made it to the White Houses Oval Office waiting room?

No, it was just a visualization, Mamdani clarified.

Oh, of the like what?

Yeah, what the octagon is going to look like, Mamdani said. The octagon hes referring to are the renderings of the fighting ring that will be constructed for the big fight next summer. What an insight into the presidents psyche; the man has a custom printed photobook of the UFC fighting ring he wants to build on the White House lawn. Its like a vision board that visiting politicians, ambassadors, and dignitaries will see while they wait to meet with Trump about matters like wars, trade deals, and domestic policy.

Are you going to go? Friedland asked.

No.

Nether are we. But we might buy the book for a goof.
If you want true political insight, you might need to diversify your news diet

Two days after Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump held a press conference in the Oval Office, the incoming New York Mayor told Meet The Presss Kristen Welker that he still believes Trump is a fascist. It was a major headline moment and maybe even a little surprising after such a chummy meeting where the president seemed totally enamored with the young Democratic Socialist.

But the next day, Mamdani gave an even more illuminating interviewbut it wasnt on any major news network like CNN or MS NOW. Instead it was on The Adam Friedland Show, with comedian Adam Friedland.

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Perhaps it was because no one was bound by the rigid formality of old school journalism ethics on the Friedland Show, but Mamdani got a different line of questioning than with Welker.

Did he give you a tour of the White House? Friedland asked.

He gave me a tour of the Oval Office and the cabinet room, Mamdani said.

Can I ask you a question? Like how did you not laugh when,how did you keep a straight face during the press conference? Cuz we were all dying and I'm like my boy Zoron was like just straight faced, Friedland continued. How did you keep that face?

It was, more than the questions about whether Mamdani thought Trump was a fascist, what everyone wanted to know. As countless memes of Trump looking admirably up at Mamdani circulated, capturing what was an almost incomprehensible moment of camaraderie between two political enemies, Mamdani kept his composure. Certainly he was aware of the oddity of the moment as it was happening?

Honestly, I was just thinking about New York City, Mamdani said first. I mean, it's like the whole time I was trying to think about the difference between if you have a White House that is working towards an affordability agenda or one that's making it harder to live in the city. That's kind of what kept coming to mind.

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Much of the remainder of Friedlands questions got mostly slick responses from Mamdanihedged by laughter that felt like an acknowledgement of some of Friedlands observations. When Friedland asked, Did you expect him to like you as much as he did? Mamdani gave the media trained answer: II was trying to prepare for a lot of different situations. But his facial expression and that little pause before he answered allowed us to infer that no, Mamdani did not expect Trump to love him.

Were Eric or Donald Jr. there? Friedland asked.

No. No. Mamdani said, cracking a grin.

Did you worry that, like to see that, was difficult for them? Friedland followed up

I wasn't thinking about that, Mamdani said with a laugh.

Mamdani wasnt thinking about it, maybe. But the rest of us were, and Friedland provided a form of service journalism that political journalists cant by asking these goofybut validquestions.
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Second Lady Usha Vance sent the ravenous DC whisper machine into overdrive last week when she stepped out on a visit to Camp Lejeune military base in North Carolina sans wedding band.

The Vances have been plagued by cruel breakup rumors lately, and the fixation may be pure fiction.

But knowing the way gossip has been trending, you'd think Usha and her team would be more vigilant to make sure the Second marriage appears more solid and buttoned up than ever.

The statement put out by her team did little to quell the silly speculation, as a flak relayed on Usha's behalf that she 'is a mother of three young children who does a lot of dishes, gives a lot of baths and forgets her ring sometimes.'

The spokeshole doth protest too much, methinks!

How much scrubbing of pots and pans does anyone really think Usha is forced to suffer at the well-staffed Naval Observatory, her official residence in DC?

What's more, pointing out the rigors of motherhood doesn't exactly scream to doubters, 'Everything's fine, guys!'

Second Lady Usha Vance (left) sent the ravenous DC whisper machine into overdrive last week when she stepped out on a visit to Camp Lejeune military base in North Carolina sans wedding band.

The Vances have been plagued by cruel breakup rumors lately. But knowing the way gossip has been trending, you'd think Usha and her team would be more vigilant to make sure the Second marriage appears more solid and buttoned up than ever.

We all know that political wives at Usha's level travel with teams of minders and fussbudgets who triple check every shade of lipstick, accessory and errant hair in need of spray. There's surely no way being ringless was a ditzy afterthought.

In fact, she was also without her ring on November 10  on a visit to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with her husband  so it's clearly becoming something of a habit.

Perhaps she's being counseled by First Lady Melania Trump, undisputed queen of sending sartorial messages to the jaw-jacking chorus of lookie-loos and gossip hounds who feast on people's perceived misery for sport and profit.

Melania, who joined Usha on the Camp Lejeune visit, famously wore that 'I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?' jacket on a visit to a migrant detention center back in 2018.

Now, a lot of people seem to care about Usha's bare hand, and maybe she's weaponized that to send a not-so-subtle fourth finger to her husband who has recently taken to publicly goading her into his Catholic faith.

'Hey bro,' Usha, who is a practicing Hindu, might as well have said. 'I have the power in this marriage, so stop humiliating me.'

Maybe she's sending a not-so-subtle fourth finger to her husband who has recently taken to publicly goading her into his Catholic faith.

Last month, the VP who was once an atheist told a Turning Point USA event, 'As I've told her, and I've said publicly, and I'll say now in front of 10,000 of my closest friends, do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church? Yeah, honestly, I do wish that because I believe in the Christian Gospel, and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way.'

Usha has now seen the uproar a tiny omission can stir. A little thing like a forgotten ring can go an awfully long way in reminding a clumsy husband how precious and irreplaceable his wife truly is.

I'm no theologian, but I'm pretty certain public humiliation is not the most efficient vehicle for the Holy Spirit to persuade someone to your faith.

Try a little tenderness, JD. And if that fails  who knows, perhaps the next message Usha sends will be a little less quiet and a lot more interesting.
Xi sends congratulatory message to 7th China-Russia Energy Business Forum

Xinhua) 13:03, November 25, 2025

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to the 7th China-Russia Energy Business Forum in Beijing.

Noting that China-Russia energy cooperation got off to an early start and has a solid foundation, Xi said it serves as a model of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides, playing a positive role in promoting the economic and social development of both countries and the well-being of the two peoples.

Xi said China is willing to cooperate with Russia to continuously consolidate the comprehensive energy partnership and jointly safeguard the stability and smooth flow of global energy industrial and supply chains.

He expressed China's readiness to work with Russia to promote the establishment of a more fair, just, balanced and inclusive global energy governance system, and inject greater stability into world energy security and the green and low-carbon transition.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a congratulatory letter to the forum.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Du Mingming)
Samir Shah, under-attack chairman of the even-more-in-the-mire BBC, tiptoed into the Commons culture committee. This natty, gnomic figure, dapper and discursive, speaks in a voice that is ever so slightly elusive, as if he hasn't put his teeth in right.

Everyone calls him 'Dr Shah'. He is not a medic, even if his fastidious manner calls to mind a posh chiropodist. Give him a bow tie and a pair of latex gloves and he could set up shop on Harley Street, cooing over the tootsies of Knightsbridge widows.

Encountering Dr Shah, one must resist the urge to whip off one's socks and ask for a second opinion on troublesome bunions.

The BBC is in trouble for ignoring hideous journalistic scandals. These led to the threat of a $5billion writ from D. Trump and saw daylight only when a memo from Michael Prescott, former external adviser to the BBC's editorial standards committee, was leaked to the Press.

Mr Prescott and one of his colleagues, a gluey ex-FT bluestocking called Caroline Daniel, spoke to MPs just before Dr Shah arrived for his consultation.

Ms Daniel, an almost perfect Establishment specimen, talked of 'challenging issues' and 'important pieces of work' and 'deep dives'.

We had 'deep dives' so often, she should have been in a Jacques Cousteau documentary. With her instinctive forgiveness of the Blob, she'll be governor of the Bank of England soon.

Encountering Dr Shah, one must resist the urge to whip off one's socks and ask for a second opinion on troublesome bunions, writes Quentin Letts

On Shah's other side sat Theresa May's former head of communications, Robbie Gibb, who is also on the BBC board and has been accused of arranging an attempted 'coup'

Mr Prescott was asked for his leanings. 'I'm a Centrist Dad,' he said. Indeed, he wore one of those thread bracelets, a swanky wristwatch, no tie and looked as if he was just back from a weekend in Tignes. The Labour-dominated committee had suspected him of being, basically, a Nigel Farage plant.

The man who told the truth about the Lefty BBC. Appalling!!! But here he was saying he was of the same political kidney as most of them.

Apretty pathetic committee was enlivened only by daft old Rupa Huq (Lab, Ealing C) and a shaven-headed Lib Dem from Tewkesbury, Cameron Thomas, who fancied himself a tough guy. His skull muscles twitched. If the furtive moustache and bitten fingernails lent him the air of a Bosnian-Serb desperado from 1914, that was spoiled by his habit of raising a hand in the air every time he wished to speak. A primary school assassin.

Mr Prescott, 'taking absolutely no pleasure' in the resignations of top Beeboids, said: 'I might go so far as to say that I love the BBC.' One of the committee's clerks gazed at the ceiling, laughing.

Damian Hinds (Con, East Hants) wondered if the BBC had 'a bigger truth problem'. Mr Prescott felt it merely had 'a curious management blindspot' about indefensible journalistic practices. Spot the difference.

Labour MPs complained that the scandal had been 'weaponised' by the Right. Politicians who use the verb 'weaponised' are themselves, by and large, being partisan.

Enter Dr Shah.

Once the committee had put its shoes back on, the little chap said he regretted the journalistic errors made. 'I don't think the DG should have resigned,' he murmured  of Tim Davie's exit as BBC director-general  with all the penetration of a podiatrist doubting some treatment for an unusually nasty case of athlete's foot.

He was so verbose that one started to wonder if he was a doctor of flummery. An obfuscationologist. He confessed that BBC corporate statements could be 'rather vanilla'. The Beeb's PR man looked delighted by this.

To one side of Shah sat Caroline Thomson, aka Lady Liddle and friend of Peter Mandelson, the senior BBC non-executive governor. She listened to the good doctor's windbaggery with eyes closed, as if savouring the work of a maestro.

On Shah's other side sat Theresa May's former head of communications, Robbie Gibb, who is also on the BBC board and has been accused of arranging an attempted 'coup' with his friend Prescott.

Ms Huq undermined Leftist attempts to portray this cosiness by trilling that she hadn't seen Dr Shah since some drinks party. 'And congratulations on your knighthood, Robbie,' she gassed.

If I were Trump, I'd ask for $15 billion.
Kim Kardashian's eldest daughter, North West, stepped out in New York City on Tuesday sporting her signature look  long, green-blue hair and black platform shoes  but it was her new body modification that is raising concerns among fans and physicians alike.

The 12-year-old was first spotted with at last one piercing on the top of her right-hand middle finger while touring Rome with her famous mother in August.

The silver jewelry  implanted between the knuckle at the base of her finger and the middle knuckle  appears to be a single piece with two entry points. Earlier this month, West shared pictures of the piercing process on TikTok, showing a needle running through her skin.

'As a physician, I find it my duty to advise anyone against such aggressive piercings, especially for minors,' Dr Tanya Kormeili, a Board-certified dermatologist in Santa Monica, California, told the Daily Mail.

'The hand is a very sensitive area, full of a dense network of sensory nerves, arteries and veins. The tendons run extremely close to the skin. This makes the chance of injury very high,' Dr Kormeili said.

Medical professionals point out that people are constantly using their hands for everyday tasks, increasing the risk of a finger piercing being accidentally caught on something potentially tearing the tissue of the finger. Any trauma to the piercing site may prolong the healing process and cause additional harm, like infection.

Adding to the potential peril, the hands are in constant contact with germs, doctors warn.

A piercing on the finger is repeatedly exposed to bacteria from doorknobs, food, phones and pets, heightening the infection risk. Additionally, minors are still developing proper hygiene habits, Dr Kormeil warned, and may be less diligent about washing their hands.

'There are risks of infection associated with this type of piercing,' Kormeili cautioned. 'Remember that you use your hands all the time to handle the outside world, from wiping yourself, to cleaning your house.'

Kim Kardashian's eldest daughter, North West stepped out in New York City on Tuesday sporting her signature look  long, green-blue hair and black platform shoes  but it was her new body modification that is raising concerns with fans and physicians alike

The 12-year-old trendsetter was first spotted in an eye-catching new look - long, green-blue hair and black platform combat boots - while touring Rome with her mother in August

The silver jewelry - implanted between the knuckle at the base of her finger and the middle knuckle - appears to be a single piece with two entry points

Infections in the hands can also be particularly serious because of what physicians call compartment syndrome.

'If you get a massive infection in your hand, it can swell - and the swelling stays in the hand compartment and can literally strangulate the other tissues due to poor perfusion [the process of delivering oxygenated blood from the circulatory system to tissues],' she explained.

In this way, compartment syndrome can also lead to severe, full-body infections or the transmission of blood-borne illnesses like hepatitis C, a dangerous and often hidden virus that attacks the liver.

The blood-borne disease hepatitis C can cause both short-term illness and a chronic infection that dramatically raises the risk of fatal liver cirrhosis and cancer.

'Given [the infection's] proximity to vascular tissue, infection can easily travel through the blood and cause sepsis,' Kormeili said.

'If you happen to have a heart condition, you are at risk of endocarditis [life-threatening infection of the heart's inner lining or valves.]'

Sepsis occurs when an infection at the piercing site enters the bloodstream, triggering an overwhelming inflammatory response throughout the entire body. Sepsis can lead to organ failure, septic shock and death if not treated immediately with powerful intravenous antibiotics and hospital care.

'As a physician, I find it my duty to advise anyone against such aggressive piercings, especially for minors,' said Dr Tanya Kormeili, a Board-certified dermatologist

Another potential consequence of this type of piercing is infection by Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), which is caused by toxins released by specific strains of bacteria, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus.

The bacteria can infiltrate the piercing site and release toxins into the bloodstream, causing a rapid onset of high fever, a sunburn-like rash, low blood pressure and multiple organ failure.

'Given such risk, why would anyone do this, especially at the age of 12?' Kormeili asked.

Finally, when the jewelry is implanted in an area of high movement and tension, like a finger, the body constantly works to push it out as it would a splinter in the foot.

It can take anywhere from about two months to several years for the body to accept the presence of a foreign object in such a sensitive area. And until that time, infection is a risk.

'We all want to be "cool" and be "noticed" and feel unique,' concluded Dr Kormeili, 'but as parents, we need protect our youth against fads and, simply put, bad ideas.'
To the outside world, Alex Gardella appeared to have it all.

The real estate broker was living on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her husband and three children.

She just given birth to her third child. Her twins, a boy and a girl, were at a private preschool in the neighborhood and a nanny came by regularly to help out.

But this picture-perfect life hid a dark secret.

The reality was that in 2020 Gardella was struggling severely with postpartum depression and anxiety - conditions that affect one in eight American women.

The only thing quieting her mind from the stress of her twins' pandemic-era hybrid school schedule and the constant needs of a newborn baby was a small bottle of white, chalky pills: oxycodone.

She had been prescribed the opioid for her pain after she suffered serious post-birth complications, but her addiction quickly spiraled out of control.

'I felt like I should be really happy and that I'm so blessed that I'm here and I have these three little kids,' Gardella, now 38, told the Daily Mail. 'I thought I should be really enjoying this moment with my newborn and feedings.'

'To be totally transparent, I hated every minute of it. I was gritting my teeth the whole time. So when I did get this prescription, it was like, oh, I actually feel enthusiastic about this day. I feel like I can do it.'

Alex Gardella (pictured), a 38-year-old real estate broker in New York City, had a picture-perfect life on the surface. But deeper within, she struggled with opioid addiction

Gardella had just given birth to her youngest son (pictured) in 2020 when she was prescribed oxycodone, one of the most addictive opioids that fueled a decades-long crisis in the US and abroad

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Following the birth of her third child, Gardella had suffered a retained placenta during her c-section.

This occurs when all or part of the placenta - an organ that develops during pregnancy to provide nutrients to a fetus - remains stuck in the uterus after birth and has to manually be removed.

After undergoing an emergency operation, doctors prescribed Gardella oxycodone, an opioid used to treat severe pain.

Sold under the brand name OxyContin, it is one of the most addictive drugs of its kind, driving a decades-long opioid epidemic linked to nearly one million deaths in the US alone.

And Gardella is just one of the millions of middle-class, seemingly perfect mothers who have ended up hooked on the pills.

Experts estimate that around 13 million Americans abuse opioid painkillers each year.

'It was the first time I had ever taken a medicine that provided not just physical pain relief but emotional, immediate relief from postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, underwater and having to care for these three little people that were solely dependent on me,' Gardella said.

'Now I can look back on it and say, 'Well no wonder I reached for the first thing that provided some relief.''

After several refills ran dry, Gardella estimates that she spent about $300 per week on pills from a dealer in the neighborhood who she found on Craigslist.

Just like her groceries, the drugs were delivered right to her door.

In March 2022, she underwent an unrelated surgery to remove a liposarcoma tumor, which develops from fat cells, from her stomach.

Doctors prescribed her a low dose of oxycodone, which she instantly knew was not going to be enough.

'That's really when things started to spiral for me,' she said.

A couple of weeks later her extended family noticed how 'off' she seemed, leading her husband to confront her about her addiction.

The couple called a psychiatrist who prescribed gabapentin, an anticonvulsant also used off-label for substance abuse, and naltrexone, which blocks the effects of opioids to reduce cravings.

Gardella (pictured with her three children) told the Daily Mail that opioids helped quiet her postpartum anxiety and depression

Gardella was told by her doctor that she must 'absolutely not' have any opioids in her system while taking naltrexone, as it forces any displaced opioids from the brain's receptors and triggers severe withdrawal.

'I was like, 'Whatever, I'm just going to do whatever makes everybody happy. I'll be fine,'' she said.

But after taking naltrexone with opioids still in her system, she became dangerously ill. She described how after bringing her children home from the park, she 'lost all control' and experienced severe vomiting while her body turned into an 'icicle' from chills.

'It kicked my body into a withdrawal that was so violent and physically taxing that I thought it was going to kill me,' she said.

'It was probably one of the worst days of my life, but at the same time, it really forced me to confront the issue.'

Gardella called an ambulance and was rushed to the hospital where she stayed for four days to detox. She then stayed sober for about nine months.

But in January 2023, she fell off the wagon and sought out her dealer for more pills.

She had taught Sunday School that morning and was on her way to meet a friend for lunch in downtown Manhattan. After lunch, she hopped into a cab and asked the driver for a phone charger.

'And that's it, that's all I remember,' Gardella said. 'Then I woke up in an ambulance outside my apartment building.'

When she overdosed on oxycodone pills that were likely laced with fentanyl, Gardella apologized to the paramedics who stabilized her. They told her: 'Apologize to your husband. Apologize to those three beautiful kids'

Gardella had overdosed on what she believes were oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than morphine that is often added to other drugs without a buyer - or dealer's - knowledge.

As little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly.

She remembers apologizing over and over again to the paramedics who stabilized her. She said the paramedics told her: 'Apologize to your husband. Apologize to those three beautiful kids.'

'That hit me like a ton of bricks,' Gardella said. 'I was ready [to get sober] at that point. That was the biggest wake-up call of all time.'

The following week, Gardella's addiction counselor started her on Vivitrol, a monthly injection of naltrexone, which she still takes nearly three years later to curb her opioid cravings.

She compared the drug to having a security system installed in her body. After nearly three years, the noise in her brain had quieted without oxycodone.

'I plan to be on [Vivitrol] for the rest of my life if I have to,' she said.

Gardella and her husband (pictured on their wedding day) both went through counseling and therapy to build back trust that had been lost during her addiction

Gardella (pictured) is now sober and taking Vivitrol to curb cravings

Gardella and her husband also went through counseling and therapy to build back trust that had been lost throughout her addiction.

The couple's children, now nine and five, are too young to remember their mother's addiction or overdose, though Gardella does plan to tell them about it one day.

For now, she hopes sharing her story and connecting with other former addicts will help dispel the misconception that the opioid epidemic only affects certain groups of people.

'My biggest hope - and this is what I would commit the rest of my life to doing - is really tackling this issue like an epidemic, like we did with HIV and AIDS,' Gardella said.

'If a medication like Vivitrol exists, imagine if we put our funding and our research efforts toward finding a cure, so to speak. Why aren't we doing that, if this is truly an epidemic?

'This is a disease, so let's treat it like a disease.'
A man has urged people to trust their intuition after an uneasy feeling about his recurring tonsillitis led him to discover a hidden cancerous tumour under his tongue.

Pawel Chmura, 32, a front of house co-ordinator for a marketing agency in London, first investigated his tonsillitis at the end of 2023.

'It all started from something entirely different. The year before I was diagnosed with mouth cancer, I was having issues with tonsils,' he said.

'Every time I came back from holiday I was suffering from tonsillitis, and there are only so many times you can take antibiotics before you start asking questions.'

Despite tests and swabs at the GP coming back with nothing, he continued to push for answers, seeing specialists through his Bupa health insurance.

He was eventually referred to an infectious disease expert at the start of 2024, who told him while his tonsils were 'fine' an MRI scan had revealed something suspicious.

Then after initially not being able to get a biopsy because of the location of the tumour, he found a specialist surgeon who removed it and sent it for a biopsy.

Just two weeks later, despite feeling 'very, very optimistic as always', a doctor sat him down and told him it was sadly cancer.

Pawel Chmura, 32, has told people to trust their intuition after an uneasy feeling about is recurring tonsillitis led him to discover a hidden cancerous tumour under his tongue

After a surgeon removed the tumour, a biopsy revealed it was cancerous, and Mr Chmura said the only thing on his mind was how he would tell his parents

Recalling being told, Mr Chmura said: 'I was invited to a follow-up appointment two weeks later and me being very, very optimistic as always, I thought it would be fine.

'But when I walked in saw the doctor and nurse, I felt something was off straight away.

'We sat down and they said listen, unfortunately it's a cancer.'

He described how the main thing on his mind was how he would share the devastating news with his parents.

'The only thing I focused on was how to tell my parents and how to organise them to fly over here from Poland.

'Obviously, you never want to hear over the phone that your only son has cancer.

'They were pretty devastated, but I reassured them that that I had the best care possible and that we just needed to hope for the best.'

Throughout his cancer journey his lead consultant was Dr Raf Niziol an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Mr Chmura when recalling his time recovering on the ICU described it as a 'blur'

After the major surgery he had to relearn how to use his tongue

While he returned to work three months after the operation, he still fears it coming back

The surgery, which Mr Chmura had at Cromwell Hospital in April 2024 involved removing the floor of the mouth, a neck resection, and a forearm tissue transplant.

But if this wasn't enough, he had to endure another procedure known as a tracheostomy to manage post-op swelling.

Of this time, he said: 'It's a very weird going back to the time I was in ICU [intensive care unit] because I was on so many painkillers that everything feels like a blur. But, at the same time, there are specific moments which I feel like I remember very well.'

'For example, the first night after the surgery, I was having trouble sleeping. As the anaesthesia was wearing off, I had these awful dreams and kept waking myself up.

'Laying there and hearing the beep, beep, beep in the hospital wasn't really nice, so I played the radio on the TV, as music is the thing which usually grounds me.'

After the main operation he had to relearn how to use his tongue. 'My tongue doesn't feel as flexible as it once was and I can no longer stick it out,' he said.

While he returned to work three months after surgery, he said that the fear the cancer returning still lingers.

'The type of cancer means that I need to have yearly test scans and in this particular case, there is quite a high chance of reoccurrence in the lungs,' he said. 'So, although the thought of that is not the centre of my mind, it's always there.'

The ordeal, he says, has changed his outlook on life, and now he wants to live it to the fullest

He flew to Barcelona to see Lady Gaga as part of his new approach to life

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But after the unexpected turbulence of 2024, Mr Chmura said his mindset has dramatically shifted, and he has been on a quest to live life to the fullest.

'I've named 2025 as the year of making dreams come true,' he said. 'I've put a lot of effort to enjoy this year, and I think that's my new life motto, to kind of do whatever I want.'

'I want to try and get as much out of life as I can, because I could possibly have been dead at 30 if the surgery went wrong.

'I have travelled a lot, I've seen Lady Gaga in Barcelona and ate a lot of nice food. So yeah, it was quite a busy time of year for me.'

He wanted to share his story to encourage others to keep pushing for answers if they feel like something is wrong with their health.

'If there is a worry about anything, just go and have it checked, because if I didnt push, god knows when we would have found it,' said Pawel.

Worryingly, mouth cancer is one of the UK's fastest-growing cancers, with cases up 38 per cent in the past decade, according to an Oral Health Foundation report.

Symptoms include mouth ulcers, red or white patches in the mouth, loose teeth, difficulty swallowing, hoarse voice, difficulty speaking and swelling or lumps in the mouth/around the jaw.
A key Alzheimer's gene has been implicated in a second, distinctive brain disorder, revealing a dual threat to cognitive health.

The APOE4 gene, a well-known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, has now been identified as an independent risk factor for delirium.

For each copy of this that a person carried, their risk of delirium increased by approximately 60 per cent.

This means someone with one copy had 1.6 times the risk, while someone with two copies faced a substantially higher risk, between 2.6 and three times that of someone with no APOE4 copies.

The study from the UK shows that delirium is more than just a side effect of existing dementia. It can be a major early warning sign that can actively speed up future mental decline, even in people who seem cognitively healthy.

Typically triggered by a severe infection or surgery, delirium causes sudden confusion and disorientation.

The inflammation from these events damages brain cells, which is the same process that drives dementia, creating a dangerous biological bridge between the two conditions.

The APOE4 gene makes the brain uniquely susceptible to these inflammatory assaults, a discovery that opens the door to targeted treatments that can intercept this process and prevent delirium from triggering permanent cognitive decline.

The APOE4 gene, a major risk factor for Alzheimer's, is now also confirmed as an independent risk factor for delirium. This means even adults without dementia are far more vulnerable to delirium if they carry this gene (stock)

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This dangerous feedback loop means that a single episode of delirium can permanently alter a patient's cognitive trajectory.

The acute brain inflammation from delirium not only causes temporary confusion. It actively fuels the same pathological processes that cause long-term neurodegenerative damage.

To determine the link between the Alzheimer's gene and delirium, researchers combined health and genetic data from over a million people across several large international biobanks, including the UK Biobank.

Using this vast dataset, they scanned millions of points in human DNA to identify specific genetic variants associated with a higher risk of delirium.

The team also analyzed blood samples from over 30,000 people, examining nearly 3,000 proteins years before any of them experienced delirium.

Using advanced machine learning and statistical techniques, they identified which proteins could predict future delirium risk and investigated whether future drugs could target them.

This risk of experiencing delirium is not just a byproduct of the gene's link to dementia.

Instead, APOE4 appears to directly weaken the brain's defenses, making it more susceptible to the inflammatory assaults like pneumonia that trigger delirium.

This graph shows the results of a genome-wide search for genes linked to delirium. Each point represents a single DNA change. The x-axis shows its location in the genome, while the y-axis shows the statistical significance of that link. The most significant finding was a spike on chromosome 19, annotated as the APOE gene, identifying it as the strongest genetic risk factor for delirium

Delirium often manifests as a sudden and noticeable shift in a person's mental state and abilities.

A person with the condition may become confused, disoriented and have severe difficulty focusing or following a conversation.

Their personality can change, making them withdrawn, agitated and suspicious, and they may say things that don't make sense or experience hallucinations.

They may struggle to make sense, say illogical things or even experience hallucinations.

A key sign is a marked decline in their ability to perform routine, everyday activities.

Delirium poses a massive challenge in healthcare for the elderly.

It strikes up to half of all seniors in the hospital, a number that soars to more than 70 per cent for those in the ICU and affects a significant portion, up to 60 per cent of people in nursing homes.

Vasilis Raptis, the main author of the study from the University of Edinburgh, said: The study provides the strongest evidence to date that delirium has a genetic component.

'Our next step is to understand how DNA modifications and changes in gene expression in brain cells can lead to delirium.

A separate, advanced analysis confirmed that a specific region on the 19th chromosome, home to the APOE gene, plays a central role in delirium.

It highlighted four specific genes in that area, APOE, TOMM40, PVRL2 and BCAM, as being critically involved in the disease process, solidifying this region as a prime focus for future research and therapeutic intervention.

Australian actor Chris Hemsworth took a hiatus in 2022 after learning that he had inherited two copies of APOE4, dubbed 'the Alzheimer's gene', from his parents. Studies show that having both copies increases the risk by 10 to 15 times. Having one copy can double a person's risk

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A brain affected by dementia is already in a fragile state, weakened by the cumulative damage of the disease.

Its neural networks are compromised and the brain has less backup capacity to cope with any new stressors.

When a major stressor, like an infection or surgery, occurs, the bodys immune system launches an aggressive assault that further damages the blood-brain barrier, stresses brain cells and can be directly toxic to neurons.

While delirium lasts between hours and a day or two, it causes lasting physical harm by destroying critical neural connections and actively accelerating the very disease processes the brain was already fighting, leading to further rapid decline.

The UK team's results were published in the journal Nature Aging.

The Alzheimer's Society's symptoms checker can help spot the signs of dementia.
Eighteen months after surgery to remove his cancerous prostate gland, Mark Roberts, 52, a former soldier, is incredibly grateful that the disease was picked up by a private wellness screening offered by his employer.

Although his cancer was caught early  it was stage two, meaning it hadnt spread beyond the prostate  it was affecting the whole of the right side of the gland.

He is, however, still struggling to come to terms with the side-effects of his treatment.

I havent managed to have sex with my wife yet as I cant maintain an erection, and I still have issues with incontinence if Ive been drinking beer, says Mark, a health and safety adviser, who is married to Karen, 49, a carer.

The couple, who live in Southport, Merseyside, have been together for 11 years and have five grown-up children between them from previous relationships.

It takes a lot to admit these side-effects publicly  theres still a big taboo about talking about them, says Mark.

I feel that men are sometimes unprepared for what can happen after the surgery and dont get enough support afterwards. Its been one hell of a shock for me.

Some days I havent felt like a man. It puts a lot of pressure on us  as a couple  mainly because at first I wouldnt talk about it to my wife. I felt too embarrassed and ashamed.

Mark Roberts says there's still a big taboo surrounding the side-effects of prostate cancer treatment, which includes erectile dysfunction

He says his surgeon mentioned the possibility of side-effects and he was given a leaflet.

But Im guessing, like most men in my position, I was more concerned with getting the cancer removed as quickly as possible than what came afterwards.

Mark would not want to put off anyone being treated  and acknowledges that in a sense he is one of the lucky ones because his cancer was spotted early.

The Daily Mail has long campaigned for a national prostate cancer screening programme, to detect a disease that now claims more lives each year than breast cancer (for which there is a screening programme).

Indeed, a major study last month found screening men for prostate cancer cuts their risk of dying from the disease by 13 per cent, with one such death prevented for every 456 men checked.

Together with the charity Prostate Cancer Research, the Daily Mail has been calling for screening initially to be targeted at men who are at greater risk (such as those with a family history of the disease or who are from certain ethnic backgrounds).

The campaign has been backed this week by former Prime Minister David Cameron, who has revealed that he was treated for prostate cancer last year. This comes as the UKs National Screening Committee is due to report on Thursday on its decision whether to roll out widespread screening.

Earlier detection of prostate cancer can mean men have more choice over which treatment they have, and some of these techniques have lower rates of erectile dysfunction and incontinence, says David James, director of patient projects and influencing at Prostate Cancer Research. There are also steps men can take to minimise the side-effects  if they know about them.

Prostate Cancer Research is now calling for more prehab and rehab support for men undergoing prostate surgery. This includes pelvic-floor exercise instruction before and after surgery, plus information on drugs and devices that can help with impotence  and counselling, if needed.

David James says: Pelvic-floor exercises, tailored fitness programmes, libido-boosting drugs [such as Viagra or Cialis], sexual-health devices for erectile problems and good emotional support can all make a real difference.

When it comes to training pelvic-floor muscles, men should be educated about this ideally four weeks before surgery, and immediately after catheter removal (usually seven to 14 days after the operation), under guidelines from the European Association of Urology and the American Urological Association.

Research supports its benefits: a 2023 study in the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology found that men who followed an exercise regimen three times a week for pelvic-floor muscles before surgery were less likely to suffer problems afterwards (more on this later).

The problems can occur because prostate surgery, while life-saving, can stretch, bruise, or compress nerves that control erections  or cause inflammation, which impairs nerve function. Scar tissue may also constrict nerves.

While nerve damage may last weeks or months, function can be gradually restored, but if nerves are completely severed it can take much longer to recover  if ever.

And because the prostate is close to nerves and muscles that control urination, the surgery can also damage bladder control  causing embarrassing leaks.

While nerve-sparing surgery (by a surgeon or a robot-assisted surgical system) is an option, its not available to  or suitable for  all men, especially if the cancer has spread or is more aggressive.

Similarly, radiotherapy, brachytherapy (where radioactive seeds are injected into the prostate to kill the cancer) and hormone treatments  usually for advanced prostate cancer  can also lead to impotence.

One way to avoid complications such as erectile dysfunction and incontinence is with focal therapy  an umbrella term for treatments that more precisely target areas with the most significant cancer rather than the whole prostate.

Doing this avoids damage to the surrounding tissue and reduces side-effects such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, says David James.

They arent suitable for every man with prostate cancer  if their cancer is more extensive and has spread, for instance  but wed like to see more men who are suitable for it given the choice.

The Daily Mail's campaign has been backed this week by former Prime Minister David Cameron, who has revealed that he was treated for prostate cancer last year

A major study last month found screening men for prostate cancer cuts their risk of dying from the disease by 13 per cent, with one such death prevented for every 456 men checked

Other forms of focal therapy include cryotherapy (where the cancer is destroyed by freezing), and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU, where high-frequency sound waves are used to kill the cancer).

Another technique, irreversible electroporation (IRE)  sometimes called Nanoknife  uses high-voltage electrical pulses to destroy tumour cells: needles are placed around the tumour to deliver the electrical pulses to destroy it. This is the treatment David Cameron had.

A study published in the British Journal of Urology in 2022 found that after five years, the survival rate (where the cancer hadnt returned) for men treated with Nanoknife was 98 per cent.

Meanwhile, just 2 per cent still suffered urinary incontinence, while the number of men who had erections sufficient for intercourse fell from 71 per cent before treatment to 58 per cent.

David Ralph, a professor of urology at University College London, says the risk of side-effects is lower with focal therapy because the treatments are targeted at the cancer  but there may be a risk that not all the cancer is caught. Thats why men often ask for the whole prostate to be removed, he adds.

Focal therapy is available on the NHS only in major prostate cancer centres  mostly in London and the South-East of England under arrangements set by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Side-effects are an issue that are likely to affect more men  around 63,000 a year in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and the number of prostatectomies is rising: in England alone its up from 7,477 in 2022 to 8,760 in 2023, compared to 5,000 a year back in 2010, according to the National Prostate Cancer Audit.

This is partly because of an increase in cases but also because of the development of robot-assisted and minimally invasive surgical techniques, which promise to reduce the risk of nerve damage.

Marks cancer was diagnosed after a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, a blood test for a protein produced by the prostate. High levels can indicate cancer, but can also point to an enlarged prostate, an infection or reflect recent ejaculation.

After two tests revealing his PSA levels were 14mcg/L and 14.9mcg/L (a normal level for a man of 50 is up to 3.5mcg/L), he had biopsies  these confirmed he had cancer in the entire right side of his prostate. He was given the option of a robotic radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy.

They said that with robotic surgery there was less chance of nerve damage and erectile dysfunction, says Mark. I was given leaflets and a website link  but I must admit I didnt spend much time researching it; I just wanted the cancer gone.

In my head I couldnt have prostate cancer if I didnt have a prostate. Five months after surgery I still couldnt have sex, even when using Viagra  which gave me headaches  and a penis pump, which didnt work for me.

I left it for months, but it really got to me. I didnt want to risk the embarrassment of not being able to get an erection again.

I didnt go back to the urologist and the follow-up calls from the nurses petered out after ten months. I had a check-up and phone calls from the nurses. They told me not to attempt to have sex for the first few months until all the wounds had healed, and then to see if I had any nerve damage. And that was about it  there was no rehab as such.

A study of 2,030 men who had a radical prostatectomy, published in the journal European Urology Open Science in 2024, found that as many as 83 per cent who could get erections without drugs or pumps prior to surgery, could not do so one year after the operation. And one in three men reported wearing pads for urine leakage after the procedure.

Professor Ralph says men need to be made fully aware of the impact a prostatectomy can have.

Treatment regret is a real issue, he says. Many men are not prepared for how much surgery or radiotherapy can affect their intimacy. Better pre-treatment counselling and rehabilitation could prevent a great deal of distress.

Men are often overlooked when it comes to recovery after prostate cancer. We focus, rightly, on curing the disease, but far less on how men live afterwards  and that includes their sexual function, confidence and relationships.

In other areas of medicine, rehab is seen as essential. If you had knee surgery, for instance, youd expect a structured rehab plan afterwards. When it comes to sexual function, too often men are left to cope alone  and that needs to change.

David James says studies have shown a good recovery rate over time after a prostatectomy.

I speak to a lot of men who have side-effects and of course they are frustrated by them, he says.

But when weighed up against the risk that the cancer might have spread to their bones and killed them, its not a sacrifice they happily want to make. They would rather spend time with their loved ones and still be alive.

Just how effective prehab and rehab can be is highlighted by the experience of Dr Peter Law, 79, a diabetes specialist who has treated men with erectile problems (which is common in men with diabetes, as high blood sugar can damage nerves and blood vessels involved in erections).

Dr Law (a pseudonym)  who was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year and underwent a prostatectomy nine months ago  used his medical knowledge and 15 years experience, to devise his own prehab and rehab plans.

I knew from treating hundreds of these men that incontinence and erectile dysfunction could be problems after prostatectomy, says Dr Law. I wanted to get rid of the tumour with the least consequences  the ability still to have sex and be continent was important to me.

Dr Law prepared for surgery by making sure he was fit as possible by walking 20,000 steps a day, swimming daily, twice-weekly yoga and gym sessions  and practising pelvic-floor exercises five times a day for a month.

I also took a long-acting PDE5 inhibitor drug [5mg Cialis] daily for a month before and after surgery, which was important as it encouraged night-time erections to come back, says Dr Law.

Generally, men need about 40-50 minutes of night-time erections. If you lose those then the smooth muscle in the penis gets replaced by collagen [a fibrous protein that provides structural support in the penis, but excessive amounts can impair erectile function].

Dr Law also used a vacuum device several times a week after the surgery to boost blood flow into the penis, which reduces penile shortening (by gently stretching tissue and preventing scarring) that sometimes happens after surgery.

He also used a handheld device called Vertica, which uses radiofrequency energy to gently restore blood flow and nerve function to the penis. The device, which is not available on the NHS, costs 1,275. It has to be self-administered for 30 minutes to the penis and 30 minutes to the perineum (the area between the rectum and the scrotum) three times a week.

Dr Law stopped using the vacuum device and Vertica after six months, when his erections returned to normal.

He says that, as a result of his regimen, he has experienced minimal side-effects after surgery, has been able to resume his sex life and doesnt have incontinence. He adds: I worry about men who dont get this information, because its awful  you dont feel like a man when it happens.

Professor Ralph adds: For years weve relied on pills and pumps  they can help, but they dont repair the underlying problem.

Whats exciting now is the development of technologies that may support genuine recovery rather than provide a quick fix. Vertica hasnt yet been trialled in men recovering from prostate surgery, but if studies show benefits, it could be revolutionary.

Meanwhile, Mark admits to sometimes wondering whether he should even have had the prostatectomy, especially as hed had no symptoms and it was only picked up by a private wellness screening. As his libido nose-dived, he worried about his marriage.

Sex was a big part of our relationship and suddenly it was gone  and I couldnt talk about it, he says. I thought my wife would be better off with someone else.

But the couple say they have grown closer after he finally admitted his feelings and he is now using Vertica to improve his condition. Mark says hes confident that their sex life will resume.

He says: Of course, ultimately, I dont regret my surgery  it cured my cancer. But I do wish Id been better prepared and supported for what came next.
Whilst almost anyone can do a crunch or a sit-up, for most of us the higher reps remain the preserve of avid gym-goers, Olympians and celebrities.

However, in reality, physiologists and personal trainers alike say crunches are an accessible exercise for any age group, with a plethora of health benefits.

They help build the core muscles, which work together to not only keep us upright, but are the foundation of good back health and posture which can help ward off back pain and prevent osteochondritiswhich causes cartilage to separate from the bones within a person's joints.

As we age, having good core strength helps us deal with wear and tear as our spine compresses and helps protects us from falls, with all functional movements, from sitting to walking, requiring core strength.

'Your core doesn't function in isolation. It works as an integrated system to stabilise your entire body during real-world movements,' British Army veteran turned physiotherapist Nell Mead says.

Therefore, focusing on exercises that target connection with deeper core muscles as well as the rectus abdominis, which sit closer to the surface, can help slash the risk of injury, especially in the lower back as it strengthens muscles and tissues in the spine region.

In fact, many physiologists say if your goal is to walk out of the gym with a chiseled six-pack, you're missing the pointthought this isn't entirely out of reach.

Rather, the abdominal muscles are just one of the major muscle groups that constitute the core; it also includes deep muscles in the spinal column, hips, pelvis and back as well as smaller muscles along the spine and diaphragm.

It' the holy grail of fitness - a toned midriff - but a strong core is crucial for stability and back health as you age

It is essentially the body's power sourcemeaning that one singular crunch isn't quite going to cut it.

How many crunches you should be able to do as you get older

According to Nico Schwandt, a physiologist specialising in pain and chronic conditions at Stone London gyms, 30-39 year olds should be able to perform 40 crunches at least two or three times a week .

As we age, this number slightly declines, but 50-59-year-olds should still be able to manage around 20 crunches a few times a week. And for 60-69-year olds, all is not lost, with the trainer recommending around 10 crunches for this age group.

'However, these numbers are markers to aim for,' he told The Telegraph, 'provided that you have the right technique and a reasonable level of fitness.

'Remember, Mike Tyson is 59 and can probably perform more crunches than most people at 29.'

However, according to personal trainer Ben Simpkins, it's not all about repsone critical component missing in most core routines is rotation and variation.

'Don't waste energy on endless crunchesinclude as many variations as possible that challenge to core in different ways to hep target the deeper muscles that wrap horizontally around your midsection.'

Many daily activities that we perform without thinking, like walking, stretching to reach the top shelf, and even unloading the dishwasher involve rotating the body, so it's a good idea to train the obliques to protect the spine.

Gymnastic-style exercises - which use body weight to build muscle - are also brilliant for abs, says personal trainer Liz Marsland

Back to basics: how to crunch correctly

For beginners, the most important thing is focusing on form, starting with lower reps performed perfectly before upping the load.

'The goal with a crunch is not to sit up, but to create controlled spinal flexion, shortening the distance between the rob cage and pelvis without the hips taking over,' Josh Silverman, head of education at Third Space, told the Telegraph.

1. Lie down on your back with your feet planted hip-width apart. The lower back should remain in contact with the floor at all times to maintain tension in the abdominal muscles which will help build strength.

2. Exhale and lift you upper body off the mat, vertebra by vertebra. The range should stop when your shoulder blades are no longer touching the floor.

3. Inhale and return back to the starting position, making sure not to drop your chin and strain your neck.

'This basic movement creates the foundation for strong abdominal muscles,' says London-based personal trainer Liz Marsland.

'Once you've built that base, core-specific exercises will be far more effective at developing defined, visible abs.'

The personal trainers suggests a number of variations that can help stabilise the spine and improve posture as we agewith some studies suggesting that even a high intensity run can activate the abdominal muscles as much as core exercises.

Balancing on one leg continuously for more than 40 seconds is a key sign of strength and mobility among 18 to 39-year-olds, the health service says

Research has also long shown that exercise can not only help protect your spine, but it reduces the risk of heart disease and other health conditions, including dementia.

Here we break down some of their favourite exercises that improve balance, strength and stability and should help you live healthier for longer...

A few exercises to supercharge your crunches

1. Dead bugs

Lie on your back with your legs in the air and knees bent in table top position. Raise your arms so they are pointing to the ceiling, and keeping your spine flush against the floor, extend your left leg and lower your right arm behind your head then return to the starting position.

Repeat with the opposite arm and leg.

2. Russian twists or twisting crunch

Unlike crunches and planks, Russian twists require you to use what's called a transverse range of motion, or rotation, toning an increased quantity of muscle in the abdominal area.

The exercise involves twisting your core while sitting on the floor and leaning back with your knees bent, to target the obliques and abductors on the side of the body as well as the deeper core muscles, experts say.

What's more, simply the act of holding yourself up at an angle requires a lot of core strength, which makes the movement useful for beginners too.

3. Weighted crunch

Lie flat on your back with your legs up and knees bent. Keeping the small of your back on the floor, twist opposite elbow to opposite knee controlling the movement as you go.

4. Side-lying crunch

Lie on the floor on your left side, with your legs bent and a pillow between your knees. Squeeze the pillow as you rotate your upper body until your left arm is reaching toward the ceiling and your right arm towards the opposite wall.

Lift your shoulders off the mat before lowering and returning to the starting position. Repeated five times on each side to work the external obliques.
Slimmers were today urged not to bank on Black Friday discounts to buy reduced weight loss injections.

The once-a-week jabs, made by pharma giants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, are offered on the NHS to help type 2 diabetes patients control their blood sugar levels.

Semaglutide and tirzepatide  the generic name for Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro  also trigger weight loss, earning them praise as a 'miracle' slimming injection.

But huge global demand has seen counterfeit versions flood the market in recent years.

Health officials have repeatedly warned Britons against buying the jabs on social media and to be aware of scam online retailers posing as pharmacies, over fears they may be selling contaminated versions of the blockbuster injections.

Doctors have also told how patients have suffered seizures and have even been left in life-threatening comas after taking fake versions.

Now, ahead of Black Friday, experts have urged people not to trust websites flogging the jabs with Black Friday discount codes, over concerns they could be counterfeit.

Figures suggest that bogus retail sites surge sharply around Black Friday with a 135 per cent rise in fake store domains.

Experts have repeatedly warned Britons against buying the jabs on social media and to be aware of scam online retailers posing as pharmacies, over fears they may be selling contaminated versions of the blockbuster injections

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It comes as separate survey data today also revealed that one in five Britons on the jabs have purchased from an unverified 'underground' source, including social media and unlicensed sellers.

Toby Nicol, CEO of private weight-loss jab provider CheqUp, said: 'Black Friday is a time for deals, but it's also a time when counterfeiters try to exploit consumers, especially in the weight loss injection market.

'Fake weight loss drugs often originate from unregulated manufacturing operations, where oversight is minimal and quality control can be non-existent.

'They are only interested in cash, not care.

'These counterfeit products frequently enter the market through unauthorised online pharmacies or social media marketplaces that bypass regulation and rules.

'There is a real concern that black and grey markets are going to try and exploit vulnerable and desperate patients.

'Go on any social media site and you can find cowboy operators in minutes  drug dealers, for all intents and purposes  taking advantage of confused patients who can no longer afford treatment but want to continue.

'As with most things in life, if it's too good to be true, it probably is.'

Karen McGonigal, 53, died days after she was illegally administered a dose of semaglutide  the powerful ingredient behind Ozempic and Wegovy  in May

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Under UK law, only pharmacies registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) can prescribe weight loss injections.

Without GPhC registration, a business is not legally able to dispense medication to patients.

Such businesses are often run by people with no medical training.

Mr Nicol also advised patients to check for a batch number and proper medical information leaflet to ensure their weight loss jab is legitimate.

Real injection pens typically have unique serial number, while fake products either won't have one that matches the manufacturer's records or won't have one at all.

It comes as research by online pharmacy MedExpress, found of the 2,000 weight loss jab patients surveyed, 21 per cent have purchased one from an unverified online or in-person source.

A further 31 per cent have considered it.

The poll also found men were substantially more likely to buy unverified weight loss drugs, with 27 per cent having bought them, compared to 16 per cent of women.

Ms McGonigal's three daughters said the 53-year-old (left) had become 'desperate' to lose weight after a long-term relationship ended, and a beautician had offered weight loss injections for 20 each (Pictured: Ms McGonigal with her three daughters)

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Reports of fake slimming jabs in the UK first emerged in August 2023.

Experts have repeatedly said many won't even contain semaglutide or tirzepatide and are often just insulin pens which have been repackaged to look like the real thing, fooling customers.

When patients inject themselves, this insulin surge causes a rapid drop in blood sugar  which can potentially be fatal.

Last year, tests on black-market versions of Mounjaro and Ozempic also found they were laced with rat poison and even cement.

In October, the heartbroken family of a mother of three revealed she died after being injected with a drug bought on the black market.

Karen McGonigal, 53, died days after she was illegally administered a dose of semaglutide  the powerful ingredient behind Ozempic and Wegovy  in May.

Her daughters said the 53-year-old had become 'desperate' to lose weight after a long-term relationship ended, and a beautician had offered weight loss injections for 20 each.

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.

While private prescribers aren't bound by this, they still need to follow general professional guidelines and consider national guidance to ensure only patients that need the drug get access to it.
People who recently purchased nasal spray from Walgreens are being warned that the product could be contaminated with a potentially dangerous bacteria.

The pharmacy giant has recalled 41,328 bottles of Walgreens Saline Nasal Spray with Xylitol, the FDA announced in a class II recall.

Class II indicates that the products may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems.

Samples of the spray were contaminated with Pseudomonas lactis, which is initially derived from cows milk and is commonly detected in hospital food, as well as moist environments including mops, hospital sinks and taps.

The FDA announcement did not specify where the bacteria came from or how it contaminated the nasal spray.

Scientists have not yet determined whether a direct route to the brain, as administration through the nasal passages would provide, would cause direct harm.

The exact way this bacterium causes infection is not yet known. A risk to anyone cannot be entirely ruled out but the severe disease threat is almost exclusively aimed at immunocompromised people, such as those taking immunosuppressant drugs after an organ transplant.

The scientific community also does not know for certain which antibiotics can effectively kill or stop these bacteria in humans. If an infection occurs, doctors would have no reliable treatment plan, creating a serious health risk.

Walgreens recalled its popular store-brand stuffy nose medicine, having found bacteria in samples of the products

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The recall status, according to the latest notice from the FDA, is listed as ongoing. The products were distributed nationwide and have the expiration dates February 28, 2027 and August 31, 2027, in lots #61409 and #71861, respectively.

Consumers who purchased the affected nasal spray should stop using it immediately and may return it to their place of purchase.

The nasal saline spray moisturizes, cleanses, and soothes nasal passages, while also helping wash away pollutants, such as bacteria like S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae, and preventing them from sticking to nasal tissues.

It is also safe and gentle enough for infants and can be used by pregnant and nursing mothers.

But when contaminated with certain bacteria, it can be deadly.

The nose is not a sterile environment, but it is a critical gateway to the body, allowing more deadly bacteria to penetrate.

The olfactory nerve in the nose provides a relatively direct pathway to the brain, a route known as olfactory neuroinvasion.

This is a known pathway for some viruses and bacteria to cause encephalitis or meningitis.

Walgreens has recalled 41,328 bottles of its nasal spray in two lots with expiration dates of Feb 28, 2027 and Aug 31, 2027, respectively

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a deadly pathogen that can reach the brain via the olfactory nerve. It can survive and even grow in distilled water, saline and some antiseptic solutions.

If introduced via a nasal spray, it could cause severe sinusitis. If inhaled into the lungs, especially in vulnerable people, it can cause a rapid, destructive pneumonia.

The affected nasal sprays Lot #61409  expires 2/28/2027 Lot #71861  expires 8/31/2027 Advertisement

Through the olfactory nerve, P. aeruginosa can also lead to meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and brain abscesses, a life-threatening collection of pus and other materials in the brain.

Burkholderia cepacia is another nightmare pathogen.

The bacteria can metabolize the preservatives used in many nasal sprays, mouthwashes and topical solutions.

Instead of killing the bacteria, the preservative becomes their food source, allowing them to thrive in the product.

While harmless to most healthy people, in vulnerable individuals, especially those with cystic fibrosis or chronic granulomatous disease, it can cause cepacia syndrome, a severe complication of bacterial pneumonia where lung tissue dies, leading to that tissue becoming liquified and leaving cavities.

Scientists have fewer answers than questions about Pseudomonas lactis, though.

The spray functions to hydrate and soothe the nasal lining while providing a cleansing action to help rinse away environmental pollutants and bacteria

One study in 2022 focused on poultry farms and investigated two specific bacteria, Pseudomonas lactis and Pseudomonas paralactis, found in chicken feces.

Researchers tested them against 12 different antibiotics and discovered that the vast majority were resistant to several essential drugs.

For instance, over 90 percent were resistant to azetronam and trimethoprim and many were also resistant to common penicillin and cephalosporin-type antibiotics.

Finally, the study checked if these bacteria had the potential to be dangerous. They found that a small but significant number of them produced enzymes that are known to help bacteria cause infections by breaking down host tissues.
Further to the below, we have been made aware of a continued erroneous publication of the video. This has now been removed, and we have agreed to meet Dr Mulhollands legal costs in recognition of the error and further apologise.

An article and YouTube video about Ann Kaplan Mulholland, who featured in Real Housewives, posted on social media in May, accused Dr Mulholland of being rude and arrogant to a waiter serving her in Cannes. The source of the allegations was a video published by a prominent social media influencer adding commentary on a video made by Dr Mulholland. That influencers video failed to take into account that Dr Mulhollands original video was a staged satirical video shot with the consent of all parties. It was therefore incorrect for us to report that Dr Mulholland had been rude and arrogant to a waiter, and we apologise to Dr Mulholland for the damage and distress caused.

To report an inaccuracy, please email corrections@mailonline.co.uk. To make a formal complaint under IPSO rules please go to www.mailonline.co.uk/readerseditor where you will find an easy-to-use complaints form. You can also write to Readers' Editor, Daily Mail, Northcliffe House, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or contact IPSO directly at ipso.co.uk
An American traveller has revealed the surprising things she experienced while visiting Australia for the first time.

Beth Mihailoff, from Adelaide, began compiling a video series about the amusing things her American friend Nat Cash noticed during her 10-day trip Down Under.

'I just thought it was the funniest thing ever,' Beth told Daily Mail.

'I was recording her recording random little experiences that we wouldn't think twice about and I shared the videos because I knew someone would appreciate them the way I did.'

In one of the now-viral videos, Nat couldn't believe how less intense and wholesome Australian TV news was compared to America's non-stop updates on shootings.

'There's nothing bad happening right now (in Australia),' Nat said.

'Everything about Australian news is about other countries. In Romania, someone died. In America, someone got shot. Nothing (bad) about Australia unless a kangaroo goes across the street. It's insane.'

She was stunned to learn that Aussie drivers pay for fuel after filling up their car with petrol. However, in the US, drivers are required to pay before filling up.

'It's crazy they trust you to pay,' Nat said.

Beth Mihailoff (left), from South Australia, began compiling a video series about the amusing things her American friend Nat Cash (right) noticed during her 10-day trip Down Under

Nat also tried a Tim Tam slam, a popular Aussie way of eating a Tim Tam biscuit by using it as a straw to slurp milk, tea or coffee through it, then eating it in one go.

'That's my favourite thing I've eaten here,' Nat said.

'I love that - it's so good. You guys have the best food. One million out of 10. This has been my favourite thing I've eaten here.'

At the petrol station, she found it random that there was a watering can next to the pumps, to which Beth explained it's for rinsing off any petrol she accidentally spills on her car.

'Nat said to me it's crazy that people in the 'gas station' get treated the same way a doctor would - and that blew me away and made me realise how freaking lucky we are to live here,' Beth told Daily Mail.

At the zoo, Nat was thrilled she got the opportunity to 'pat a koala and take a photo' with the native animal.

'What time is it? I need to know when this happened in my life. My best friend,' Nat said in excitement as she pressed her face against the koala's head.

Looking at a picture of herself hugging the koala, Nat broke down in tears, saying: 'This just makes me so happy.'

At the zoo, Nat was thrilled she got the opportunity to 'pat a koala and take a photo' with the native animal. Looking at a picture of herself hugging the koala, Nat broke down in tears, saying: 'This just makes me so happy'

While standing inside the kangaroo enclosure, she noticed a 'white kangaroo', known as an albino joey - a rare marsupial born with a genetic lack of pigmentation.

Nat spotted a jar full of mixed 'lollies', a term typically referred to as 'candy' in the US, while 'cotton candy' is known as 'fairy floss' in Australia.

She thought it was amusing that Aussies refer to the casino slot machines as 'pokies' while she saw an 18+ sign outside the gaming area even though the US gambling age is 21.

During a day out at a local pub, Nat was fascinated to see a pigeon casually loitering around the outdoor dining area.

The pair spent the evening at a beach, with Nat filming the spectacular views.

'The first time she saw our ocean and the way she was so blown away by how clean our beaches are and how clear the water was, she was constantly saying 'I can't believe everyone has such easy access to the ocean,' Beth told Daily Mail.

'She was also amazed by the respect we have towards each other and our wildlife.'

The video has been viewed more than 700,000 times - with many saying they are loving Nat's discoveries in Australia.

Other things Nat noticed Aussie news was less intense than America and the watering can next to the petrol station pumps, to which Beth explained it's for rinsing off any petrol she accidentally spills on her car

'Nothing warms the heart more than seeing someone cry tears of happiness. Welcome to Australia, don't forget to visit Queensland, I can guarantee more happy tears,' one shared.

'I love that she's having fun experiencing Australia rather than 'comparing' and 'criticising' like so many other US visitors,' another pointed out.

'My favourite thing is watching people from the US showing me my home country. I'm Australian and take so many things for granted,' one added.

'Absolutely loving her energy and how excited she is for everything Australia,' another revealed.

'Thank you showing me how lucky I am to live in this country - sometimes, we take it for granted,' one shared.

Nat saw an 18+ sign outside the gaming area even though the US gambling age is 21. She found Aussie beaches were stunning and so clean

Nat spotted a jar full of mixed 'lollies', a term typically referred to as 'candy' in the US, while 'cotton candy' is known as 'fairy floss' in Australia

Many Aussies were amazed to see how the little things in life made Nat so happy.

'Its weird seeing someone come to Adelaide and be this happy about the state that's always boring - glad you like it though,' one shared.

'Wow. This has been joyful to watch. Ive never seen someone happy to be here in my home that I take for granted,' another revealed.

'We need to keep this lady at all costs! She would be able to teach us Australians to be more appreciative of our own beautiful country,' one added.

Meanwhile, many agreed with Nat, particularly Australian news.

'I noticed this when I lived in Sydney. Grew up in Houston and there was a murder on the 5pm news EVERY DAY. In Sydney, when death did happen, it was a HUGE deal and people actually felt sad about it,' one shared.

'I am an American in Australia and literally thought the same thing. I found Aussie news so boring and fake because they were trying to blow up basically non issues,' another pointed out.

While one Aussie suggested: 'I never thought about how lucky we are to just have news about neighbourhood disputes.'
Anna Wintour has revealed how she really feels about Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' support as they were revealed as lead sponsors of The Met Gala last week.

In a new interview with CNN, Wintour, 76, responded to criticism surrounding their role as sponsors, telling the outlet that Sanchez is a 'great lover of costume and obviously of fashion.'

She said that she believes that Sanchez, 55, would be a 'wonderful asset to the museum and the event.'

'We're very grateful for her incredible generosity,' Wintour continued. 'So we're thrilled she's part of the night.'

Earlier this month, the Met Museum and Vogue announced that 'Costume Art' will be the theme of the spring 2026 exhibition at the Costume Institute, which means celebrities need to start planning their lavish designer ensembles accordingly.

The New York City museum will pair historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute for the exhibition, which will be loosely divided into three categories, including the classical body and the nude body, aging bodies and pregnant bodies, and the anatomical body.

This year's gala marks the first in Wintour's new role as Vogue's Global Creative Director and Chief Content Officer for Conde Nast, with Chloe Malle taking over as Head of Editorial Content for American Vogue.

Malle's parents are actress Candice Bergen and French filmmaker Louis Malle.

Anna Wintour has revealed how she really feels about Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' support as they were revealed as lead sponsors of The Met Gala last week

'We're very grateful for her incredible generosity,' Wintour continued. 'So we're thrilled she's part of the night'

Earlier this month, the Met Museum and Vogue announced that 'Costume Art' will be the theme of the spring 2026 exhibition at the Costume Institute, which means celebrities need to start planning their lavish designer ensembles accordingly

Wintour has famously been incredibly hands-on with the Met Gala over the years, and is credited with making it the splashy A-list affair it has become, beloved by celebrities like Rihanna, the Kardashians, Blake Lively, Zendaya and more.

In addition to Sanchez and Bezos, the other sponsors of this year's event are French designer brand Saint Laurent and Conde Nast, Vogue's publisher.

The decision comes just months after Sanchez appeared on the cover of Vogue's June 2025 digital issue, which was all about her lavish Venetian wedding to the Amazon tycoon.

The magazine spread showed behind-the-scenes photos of her wedding and dress fitting, which was designed for her by Dolce & Gabbana.

The long-sleeve, lace gown had a curve-hugging fit, complete with a dramatic flared hem and high neckline that took over 900 hours of atelier work.

She also wore an elegant lace veil that trailed behind her, before changing into an Oscar de la Renta cocktail dress for her reception.

'I'm very happy,' Sanchez told the outlet at the time.

'More than the dress, I'm happy that I'm getting married and I get to spend my life with my best friend, someone who sees me, someone who adores me, someone who I adore,' she said about Bezos.

The decision comes just months after Sanchez appeared on the cover of Vogue's June 2025 digital issue, which was all about her lavish Venetian wedding to the Amazon tycoon

This year's gala marks the first in Wintour's new role as Vogue's Global Creative Director and Chief Content Officer for Conde Nast, with Chloe Malle taking over as Head of Editorial Content for American Vogue

In addition to Sanchez and Bezos, the other sponsors of this year's event are French designer brand Saint Laurent and Conde Nast, Vogue's publisher

'I am the luckiest woman on the planet.'

In June, the couple - who got engaged in 2023 - tied the knot in Italy with an equally star-studded guest list, which included Ivanka Trump, Oprah and Kim Kardashian.

The estimated $20 million, multi-day event also included a foam party on Bezos' $500 million Koru yacht, a lavish pre-nuptial dinner and a post-wedding lunch at the iconic Harry's Bar.

Sanchez was previously married to businessman Patrick Whitesell from 2005 to 2019, with whom she shares shares son Evan, 19, as well as 17-year-old daughter Ella.

She also shares son Nikko Gonzalez, 24, with ex Tony Gonzalez.
The president of the Miss Universe Organization, Raul Rocha, is under fire for suggesting that Cote d'Ivoire's Olivia Yace didn't win the competition due to visa restrictions.

Rocha was speaking with Mexican journalist Adela Micha when he made the surprising statement.

In a clip shared to social media, Rocha insinuated that Cote d'Ivoire's Olivia Yace wasn't crowned because the West African country requires a visa to enter 175 countries.

'There are many things that are evaluated,' Rocha said in Spanish, as per the English translation of a clip shared online to Instagram by an account called missuupdates.

'The job is one year of Miss Universe, 175 countries ask for a visa for Cote d'Ivoire,' he continued.

'Well, then she is going to be Miss Universe who spent a whole year in an apartment,' he continued passionately.

'Of course we want her to be in the universe,' he said.

Rocha went on to add they want the woman 'with the most travel and the most contacts with people in the world' to be crowned.

Raul Rocha, is under fire for suggesting that Cote d'Ivoire's Olivia Yace (pictured) didn't win the competition due to West Africa's 'weak' visa

Rocha faced immediate backlash over his remarks, which were interpreted as suggesting a contestant's passport strength affects their likelihood of winning the competition.

Many fans in the comment section claimed that Yace also holds American citizenship and is the daughter of a diplomat, so theoretically is free to travel to many countries. Yace has not addressed these claims.

According to the Henley Passport Index, Cote dIvoire ranks 83rd on the database and can enter 58 countries without needing a visa.

The US passport ranks 11th on the Henley Passport Index and has visa-free access to 180 countries.

Yace, who was crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, rescinded her title in a statement issued on November 23, just two days after she was announced as the fourth runner-up.

'I witnessed firsthand that I was capable of accomplishing great things despite adversity,' Yace wrote on social media.

'But to continue on this path, I must remain true to my values: respect, dignity, excellence, and equal opportunity, the strongest pillars that guide me.'

The 2025 competition has been marred by controversy. Yace's resignation followed Miss Universe Estonia, Brigitta Schaback, who also rescinded her title, writing in a statement that her values and work ethic 'do not align with those of the National Director, Natalie Korneitsik.'

Yace (left) was was crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania. Mexicos Fatima Bosch (right) was crowned Miss Universe

The competition took place in Bangkok, Thailand with Bosch taking out the crown despite storming out of an event earlier in the month

'There are many things that are evaluated,' the Miss Universe Organization President Raul Rocha said in an interview in regarding who is crowned

Rocha faced immediate backlash over his remarks, which were interpreted as suggesting a contestant's passport strength affects their likelihood of winning the competition

During the competition, Miss Jamaica, Dr Gabrielle Henry, was hospitalized after a shock fall off the stage during the preliminary evening gown round.

Mexicos Fatima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe on November 21 in Bangkok, Thailand.

A week after her win, two judges resigned - including one who openly accused organizers of rigging the entire competition.

Judge Omar Harfouch alleged a secretive 'impromptu jury' had locked in finalists long before the show.

'An impromptu jury has been formed to select 30 finalists from among the 136 participating countries, without the presence of any of the real [eight] members of the jury, including me,' Harfouch wrote on Tuesday, adding that he had discovered this via social media.

The unofficial jury comprises 'individuals with a significant potential conflict of interest due to some personal relationships with some of the Miss Universe contestants', he claimed.

The musician did not elaborate on how this 'impromptu jury' would function, or how it would override the official jury's decision.

Miss Universe Organizers have strongly denied Harfouch's accusations, insisting 'no external group has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists.'

In 2023, Miss Universe CEO Anne Jakrajutatip was accused of rigging the beauty pageant so R'Bonney Gabriel from the United States could win.

However, organizers called the allegations 'false' and 'absurd,' adding that the claims 'distract' from Gabriel becoming the first Filipino American to be crowned as Miss Universe.

This year's winner, Bosch, 25, made headlines earlier this month after she stormed out of a key event after pageant organizer Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly berated her and called her 'dumb' in front of stunned competitors.

After she pushed back, he called in security and threatened to punish anyone siding with her - prompting Bosch to walk out as several contestants bravely followed.

'What your director did is not respectful: he called me dumb,' Bosch told reporters at the time.

'The world needs to see this because we are empowered women and this is a platform for our voice.'

While social media across Mexico were elated by her win, others were quick to suspect ulterior motives, with rumors that the crown may have been awarded to make up for the humiliation of Bosch earlier circulating online.
Melania Trump, 55, looked ready to get out of rainy Washington on Tuesday morning while she joined her husband, President Donald Trump, 79, as he granted ceremonial pardons on two turkeys - a White House tradition that has been happening for many decades.

Melania appeared hand-in-hand with her husband for the grand occasion, as she sported an oversized black bomber jacket with pocket detailing on the arms, paired with a brown, houndstooth-printed tweed skirt and turtleneck top.

The jacket appeared to be made by designer Anine Bing, which was complete with ruched detailing at the sleeves.

The designer coat retails at various department stores, like Bloomingdale's, for $400.

The First Lady wrapped her look together with a pair of brown, patent-leather heels, and her signature waved blowout.

For his part, the President wore a long black dress coat and a bright red tie.

President Trump pardoned turkeys Waddle and Gobble, marking his participating in the 78th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation.

After the pardon, Melania and her husband boarded Air Force One to Palm Beach, Florida, where they will be spending their Thanksgiving holiday this year.

Melania Trump looked ready to get out of rainy Washington on Tuesday morning while she joined her husband, President Donald Trump as he granted ceremonial pardons on two turkeys - a White House tradition that has been happening for many decades

Melania appeared hand-in-hand with her husband for the grand occasion, as she sported an oversized black bomber jacket with pocket detailing on the arms, paired with a brown, houndstooth-printed tweed skirt and turtleneck top

The First Lady wrapped her look together with a pair of brown, patent-leather heels, and her signature waved blowout

This year, only one of the turkeys will receive the pardon, but both will be spared.

According to CNN, the two turkeys were born last summer in North Carolina, and were transported to Washington.

The two stayed at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in order to get adjusted to city life before their big pardon.

After their big moment, the two turkeys will live the remainder of their life North Carolina State Universitys Prestage Department of Poultry Science in Raleigh, according to the outlet.

She seemingly remained in the festive spirit yesterday, too, as she welcomed the annual White House Christmas Tree to the property.

The tree came from Korson's Tree Farms in Michigan after it clinched top spot in the National Christmas Tree Association's contest back in July.

The tree delivered yesterday will now be displayed in the Blue Room of the White House.

Melania's appearance at the turkey pardoning comes just a few days after she made a joint visit with Second Lady Usha Vance at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

After their big moment, the two turkeys will live the remainder of their life North Carolina State Universitys Prestage Department of Poultry Science in Raleigh, according to the outlet

The jacket appeared to be made by designer Anine Bing, which was complete with ruched detailing at the sleeves

After the pardon, Melania and her husband boarded Air Force One to Palm Beach, Florida , where they will be spending their Thanksgiving holiday this year

She seemingly remained in the festive spirit yesterday, too, as she welcomed the annual White House Christmas Tree to the property

For his part, the President wore a long black dress coat and a bright red tie

Their appearance marked the first time that they have traveled together for a joint visit without their husbands.

They participated various engagements with families while also visiting Lejeune High School.

However, the visit caused a bit of a stir as Usha was not seen wearing her wedding band on the trip.

The image comes after weeks of social media users whispering about the state of the Vance marriage, which began in October with the Vice President's tight hug he gave to Erika Kirk during a memorial for her husband, the right wing activist Charlie Kirk.

The speculation about a possible rift between the Second Couple was fueled by the VP admitting that he has pleaded with his wife to convert from Hinduism: he is a Roman Catholic.

However, her spokesperson later told People that the Second Lady is 'a mother of three young children, who does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes.'

Melania, on the other hand, was dressed down for the visit in a pair of brown leather pants and a matching safari jacket.

Usha opted for a burgundy-colored, turtleneck dress with matching suede heels.

Melania's jacket appeared to be designed by Blaze Milano, featuring various pockets of different sizes and tortoise-shell button detailing.

The jacket is currently on sale for $950 on Net-a-Porter, but was originally priced at $1,900.

She paired the look with a pair of chestnut-colored, heeled Christian Louboutin booties that included buckle detailing on the front.

The First Lady tied everything together with a pair of brown aviator-style sunglasses and light-pink painted nails.
From riding a camel in the Sahara dessert to paragliding in the Swiss Alps, Cory Lee has not let his disability stop him from seeing the world.

Lee, 35, from Georgia, was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at age two, which is a degenerative disease that makes his muscles weaker over time.

He lost his ability to walk and started using a power wheelchair at age four - but he 'knew from an early age' that he wasn't going to let it slow him down.

'Many people have told me throughout my life that I couldnt do certain things because of my disability, but when they tell me that, I love proving them wrong,' he explained during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail.

He went on his first trip abroad to the Bahamas at age 15, and immediately caught the 'travel bug.'

'I was so excited to visit a new place, try new foods and meet the local people,' he said. 'The "travel bug" definitely bit me on that trip.'

Flash forward to now, two decades on, and he has visited 55 different countries and all seven continents - despite being wheelchair-bound.

He's trekked through the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, enjoyed an eight-day safari in Africa and visited the Taj Mahal in India.

From riding a camel in the Sahara dessert (l) to paragliding in the Swiss Alps (r), Cory Lee has not let his disability stop him from seeing the world

Lee, 35, from Georgia, was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at age two, he lost his ability to walk and started using a power wheelchair. He's seen as a kid

But it doesn't come without its challenges.

He explained to the Daily Mail that each trip takes immense planning and comes with its own set of risks.

'Its challenging, [I don't] know if something will actually truly be accessible for me until I get there, so I have to make a lot of phone calls and send many emails when planning a trip,' he dished.

'For international trips, I usually start planning six to 12 months in advance just so I have enough time to get all of those accessibility details I need.'

He admitted that he gets pretty 'nervous' before a trip because 'there are so many variables that could go wrong,' but added, 'In the end, when Im on the trip, its worth it, but it takes a lot of planning.'

He also confessed that he's experienced many 'travel mishaps' over the years, like his wheelchair being damaged during a flight or arriving to find his hotel wasn't accessible as promised.

'Ive had my wheelchair damaged during flight several times, so I had to worry about getting it repaired while on trips,' he shared.

He has visited 55 different countries and all seven continents - despite being wheelchair-bound. He's seen in Brazil

He's trekked through the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, enjoyed an eight-day safari in Africa and visited the Taj Mahal in India (seen)

Lee is pictured in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador

He explained to the Daily Mail that each trip takes immense planning and comes with its own set of risks. He's seen in Iceland

'On my first night ever in Europe, I was in Munich and tried to charge my wheelchair (with a converter) and the charger blew up.

'Immediately, I had to hunt down a wheelchair repair shop to purchase a new charger.'

He added that traveling as a wheelchair user is much 'more expensive' than regular travel.

'It's unfair. Accessible transportation, tours and hotels often cost more than non-accessible options,' he said. 'In the disability community, we call it the "disability tax."'

Lee documents his endeavors on his blog Curb Free with Cory Lee and on Instagram, where he's gained more than 57,000 followers.

And he is determined to show others that having a disability doesn't have to slow you down.

Lee is pictured in a marketplace in Morocco

Lee documents his endeavors on his blog Curb Free with Cory Lee and on Instagram, where he's gained more than 57,000 followers. He's seen in Costa Rica

He is determined to show others that having a disability doesn't have to slow you down. He's seen in Egypt

'Its absolutely incredible to be able to travel and show others, both people with and without disabilities, what is possible,' he gushed.

'I hope people with disabilities are inspired to break out of their comfort zone and try something new.

'And I hope people without disabilities realize that we can live awesome lives if accessibility is available.

'Disability is the one minority that anyone can join at any time, so by making something accessible, youre not just helping me now. Youre also potentially helping yourself in the future if you become disabled.'
Ina Garten revealed more about her decision not to have children, sharing why she can't imagine her life 'any other way.'

The Food Network star, 77, appeared on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast on Tuesday, and indulged in an hour-long conversation about cooking, marriage and more.

During the episode, as the pair talked about Ina's fraught relationship with her father, the topic of youngsters came up.

'We fetishize marriage, especially cis, straight marriage, but we also fetishize children, and people who have them, and you don't have children,' Poehler said.

'What is the best thing about not having children?' she asked.

'Not being responsible for them,' Ina, who is married to husband Jeffrey, said with a laugh. 'Not having teenagers.'

The comedian then noted that multiple studies show that married couples without children are the happiest.

'It's amazing to me that I made that decision so young, and that thank God, Jeffrey was okay with it, but I just can't imagine my life any other way,' Ina explained.

Ina Garten appeared on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast on Tuesday and indulged in an hour-long conversation about cooking, marriage and more

'It's amazing to me that I made that decision so young, and that thank God, Jeffrey was okay with it, but I just can't imagine my life any other way,' Ina explained

'I've done what I wanted to do, I've had a wonderful time,' she said.

Ina has been married to Jeffrey, 79, since 1968, and the couple have been together for more than 50 years.

They share a home in East Hampton, New York, where she shot her iconic Barefoot Contessa series.

The candid conversation about children comes as Ina discussed her childhood in her 2024 memoir, Be Ready When The Luck Happens.

She detailed that her father had been abusive towards her and her brother, Ken, and her difficult relationship with her mother.

In an interview with Hoda Kotb while promoting the memoir, she described her younger years as 'cold' and 'lonely,' and said she was 'so restricted' as a child by her parents, Charles and Florence Rosenberg.

When Hoda asked Ina what would happen if she 'scraped her knee' as a child, the author replied: 'No hugs and kisses in my family, it was a very cold, lonely existence,' before admitting she's 'not sure' that she even knew if her mother loved her.

'I don't know that she was capable. I was really so restricted as a child. I was always told, whatever I wanted to do wasn't a good idea, so I wasn't myself,' Ina explained, as Hoda touched upon the physical abuse inflicted by her father.

During the episode, as the two were talking about Ina's fraught relationship with her father, the topic of children came up

Ina and Jeffrey have been married since 1968, and have been together for more than 50 years

'I think I was terrified that he was going to kill me, and what I realize now is it astonishes me that I didn't have the courage as a child to fight back,' she said, before sharing that he told her: 'No one is ever going to love you.'

'Isn't that stunning? He was mad about something, I have no idea what. He said, "Nobody will ever love you." Do you know what I love? I love walking up Madison Avenue and someone leans in and says, "I love you." It is this great cosmic joke to me, it's like, "Oops, I guess he was wrong."'

Ina went on to confirm that her father did apologize to her much later in life, as she recalled: 'He just turned to me and said, "I don't know what I was thinking." And I thought, "Wow he's been torturing himself all this time." It meant he said, "I'm sorry." I thought that was an incredibly difficult thing for a father to say.'

However, she never had such a conversation with her mother, Florence, and said she's not even sure that she 'acknowledged' her career.
A popular and long-running Chinese restaurant will soon shut its doors for good - and Sydney foodies are devastated.

Chinese Noodle House, located on Thomas Street in Chinatown, has announced it will permanently close in late December.

A notice posted in the store's window and shared to their Instagram account confirmed the sad news.

'Due to the landlord's unilateral decision not to renew our lease, we are sadly forced to leave,' read part of the notice from the restaurant business owners.

'It has been our honour and pleasure to serve you, and we are deeply grateful for your companionship along the way,' it continued, before profusely expressing 'gratitude' to their loyal patrons.

Daily Mail contacted the family-owned restaurant, with family spokesperson Eric confirming the family had run the establishment for the past 10 years.

Prior to that, he said, the restaurant had been operated by the landlord.

'We feel very sad to leave this place and are sorry for all our customers, as we're no longer able to provide good food and good service to them,' Eric said.

Popular Chinatown eatery Chinese Noodle House announced it will be closing in December

A notice was shared to their @housechinesenoodles Instagram account confirming the upcoming restaurant closure

Notice of the restaurant closure was also shared via posters and signs on the shopfront window

However, in promising news, the closure notice hinted at plans to reopen Chinese Noodle House in a new location.

'We hope that in the near future we will once again have the opportunity to bring you delicious food and service,' the notice read.

A separate poster stuck to the venue window urged diners to follow @housechinesenoodles on Instagram 'for updates about our new location'.

When Daily Mail spoke to Eric, he said they were yet to find a new space to relocate the restaurant.

The Instagram post announcing the closure quickly attracted hundreds of comments from devastated diners. It was also re-shared by Sydney foodies on an online forum, sparking an outpouring of dismay.

'Farewell to an iconic Sydney institution,' read one reply to a Reddit post.

'This is a dark day for humanity' agreed another.

'End of an era,' declared one saddened Instagram user.

Chinese Noodle House is located on the ground floor of the Prince Centre on Thomas Street in Haymarket. Diners have the option to sit inside the small eatery or at outside tables under green umbrellas

'Sydney is so over,' lamented another.

Many replies latched onto the hope of a future reopening, with numerous loyal customers promising they'd visit.

'Please keep us updated if you move,' one woman urged.

'Wherever you go, we shall follow,' another added.

'This is the worst news ever. We'll follow you to the ends of the earth,' agreed a third.

Others were already planning to visit before shutdown for one last memorable meal.

'Omg no way, this place is an institution! Time to go get some braised eggplant for the last time,' one person posted.

In addition to their famed special braised eggplant dish, other signature Northern Chinese menu items included pan-fried dumplings and Xinjiang stir-fried noodles.

Chinese Noodle House (far right) also happens to be in the same eating precinct as similarly named establishment, Chinese Noodle Restaurant (far left). Daily Mail understands that Chinese Noodle Restaurant has been operating for well over 30 years, whereas Chinese Noodle House opened more recently, with the current owners operating it for the past 10 years

In addition to having similar names, both Chinese Noodle House (right) and Chinese Noodle Restaurant (left) offer similar Northern Chinese cuisine and even have similar outdoor tables with umbrellas

Alongside the disappointment, the online announcement also sparked confusion among Chinatown regulars.

In the very same Prince Centre precinct, just a few metres away on the opposite corner of the mall's ground level, sits the similarly named Chinese Noodle Restaurant.

Daily Mail ascertained that that venue - which also specialises in Northern Chinese cuisine - has operated in the same spot for well over 30 years.

As well as sharing similar menus and names, both restaurants have neighbouring outdoor seating areas under umbrellas. Chinese Noodle House patrons sit at the tables with green umbrellas, while Chinese Noodle Restaurant customers use the red ones.

As a result, several comments about the closure admitted to being 'confused' over which venue was actually closing.

'Which one is this?' one person asked.

One person replied to explain that although Chinese Noodle House has been there for years, it opened second 'to try and get the overflow from Chinese Noodle Restaurant'.

A separate reply agreed with the overflow theory, noting the original Chinese Noodle Restaurant venue was renowned for 'long lines'.

Chinese Noodle Restaurant is also in the same Prince Centre precinct on Thomas Street in Haymarket. Daily Mail understands it has operated successfully from this location for over 30 years and continues to remain popular

Chinese Noodle Restaurant also offers a Northern Chinese menu, including signature dishes pan-fried pork buns and Xinjiang stir-fried noodles

Someone else wondered aloud, 'Are the other outdoor seating restaurants adjacent owned by them as well, or are they competitors? I was never sure - their menus are kinda identical.'

Indeed, the two venues offer not only similar menus, but even some identical prices.

At both establishments, a plate of Xinjiang stir-fried noodles costs $16.80, and a serve of 10 pan-fried pork buns is also $16.80.

But while Chinese Noodle House is soon to close, Chinese Noodle Restaurant continues to thrive and remain open for business.
Dr Partha Nandi warned against the risks of using fabric softeners

A leading US doctor has issued a stark warning about one of the most common household scents - the 'fresh laundry smell' millions of Australians associate with cleanliness.

Dr Partha Nandi, a gastroenterologist, professor of medicine, and host of the Emmy awardwinning Dr. Nandi Show, said the fragrance left behind by fabric softeners isn't just a harmless scent - it can be a cocktail of toxic chemicals that pollute indoor air and potentially harm your health.

'Do you love the smell of freshly laundered clothes?' Dr Nandi asked on his website.

'That 'clean' scent might seem comforting, but it's not as harmless as it appears.'

According to the Michigan-based physician, many popular laundry softeners release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - gases emitted from liquids and household products that can irritate the lungs, trigger headaches, and accumulate in indoor air.

'Every time you breathe in that laundry smell, you could be exposing yourself to chemicals linked to respiratory issues, headaches, and even long-term health risks,' he said.

Dr Nandi explained that common VOCs found in some fabric softeners include acetaldehyde and benzene - compounds known to irritate the respiratory system and, in some cases, contribute to cancer risk.

'VOCs pose a significant health risk,' he said.

Dr Partha Nandi, a gastroenterologist and professor of medicine said the fragrance left behind by fabric softeners is a cocktail of toxic chemicals

Prolonged exposure may lead to respiratory problems, neurological effects, and long-term risks, including exposure to carcinogenic compounds.

He added that many fabric softeners often release VOCs through dryer vents, meaning the chemicals don't just linger inside your home - they also contribute to outdoor air pollution and smog.

Dr Nandi warned that the chemicals absorbed into clothes can cause irritation through inhalation and skin contact, leading to symptoms many people dismiss as everyday issues.

'Breathing in VOCs can irritate the respiratory system, causing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath,' he said.

'Exposure is known to cause dizziness, headaches and migraines. Contact with these chemicals can also lead to rashes and skin irritation.'

For those with asthma, eczema, or fragrance sensitivities, he said the impact can be immediate - and severe.

He added that long-term exposure has been linked with asthma flare-ups, hormone disruption, and exposure to carcinogenic compounds.

[Some] fabric softeners also contribute to environmental pollution, the doctor noted, with chemicals entering waterways and single-use packaging adding to landfill.

Dr Nandi warned that the chemicals absorbed into clothes can cause irritation through inhalation and skin contact, leading to symptoms many people dismiss as everyday issues

But Australians don't need to sacrifice soft, fresh-smelling laundry to avoid exposure. Instead, Dr Nandi recommends a few low-cost alternatives.

'Distilled white vinegar is an excellent fabric softener,' he said.

'Wool dryer balls help reduce static and drying time. Baking soda can soften clothes and neutralise odours. Homemade dryer sheets soaked in a natural solution are also a great option.'

He added that air-drying is the healthiest method, saying it 'eliminates the need for any softeners altogether'.

The doctor urged households to remain aware of the chemicals that accumulate indoors, especially in homes with children, pets, or people with chronic health conditions.

'A proactive approach is essential,' Dr Nandi wrote.

'Ventilate your home, choose natural products, and educate yourself on toxic ingredients. These small steps can create a safer, healthier environment.'

He also advised regularly replacing home air filters, wearing gloves when handling harsh chemicals, and reducing clutter that traps dust and pollutants.

The warning comes as more Australians search for ways to reduce synthetic fragrances in their home, amid rising concerns over indoor air pollution.

Many are now turning to fragrance-free detergents, natural cleaning methods, and reusable dryer aids.

But Dr Nandi said you don't need to overhaul your entire routine - even one simple switch can help.
A Sydney man has issued a warning about a potential house-sitting scam sweeping the country - and hundreds agree with him.

The lower north shore resident said he'd recently noticed an increase in online messages from people offering to house sit or pet sit for free while families are away over the holidays.

Sharing his theory in a local Facebook group, he wrote: 'I have seen a large number of people looking for places to "watch" or "house sit" for a few days over the Xmas period.'

He went on to say that he'd observed a formulaic element to these posts, with the person offering to house sit always explaining their willingness to do it at no cost is because they have their own family coming to stay at their house for a few days.

Continuing his cautionary message, the Sydney man explained that after looking deeper into the profiles of these would-be house sitters, he found reasons for concern.

'I have looked into several of the profiles and found some serious issues. For instance, most have only been members of the page for less than a month.'

'They are often profiles from overseas,' he said, adding that it made no sense why such individuals would have family visiting in Australia.

The man summed up his suspicions with a theory for fellow homeowners: 'Essentially what these people are doing is gathering information about which houses are empty during these periods. Then, while empty, they are robbed of valuables.'

A Sydney man took to his local area Facebook group to share a theory after spotting several online posts offering free house-sitting or pet-sitting over the Christmas holiday period

The Sydney lower north shore resident shared his suspicions that homeowners in the area were being targeted because it's a 'higher value area'

He added that scammers likely target certain Sydney suburbs because they are 'a higher value area'.

His final word of advice? 'My suggestion is DO NOT tell anyone online when you plan on being on holiday.'

The post quickly gathered hundreds of likes and many comments expressing agreement with his theory.

'Spot on!' read one reply. 'Have definitely noticed an increase in this sort of post.'

Another woman pointed out that if this happened, your insurance would also likely be void because you had permitted the thief into your house.

'Your insurance does not cover anyone you willingly let into your home who is thieving or damaging property, so I don't know why anyone would let someone other than a professional Sydney-based pet and house sitter with an ABN and police check look after the most important things in their life,' she explained.

Another local woman said she was stunned that anyone would allow an unvetted stranger to live in their home while they weren't there. 'It's just so creepy to me,' she said.

'Wouldn't you just get people you know to house sit (or even someone known by someone you trust)? What kind of benefit is there for the homeowner?' she wondered.

Many households require a house-sitter or pet-sitter to stay at their place while they are on holidays. Some online comments suggested that they would only ever allow a stranger to stay at their house if they had been vetted by an accredited house-sitting service, or had come by way of a trusted personal recommendation

Another lower north shore resident said they had encountered a similar ploy in the area, where people masquerade as meter readers to gain entry into homes

One woman shared her own horror stories of twice allowing complete strangers to pet sit while she was away.

'I had a stranger come and pet sit for me on two occasions,' she recalled. 'Once, my house was used as a location for a swingers' party without my knowledgemy neighbours later told me about the formal complaint.'

'The second time, they cracked my mirrored furniture worth thousands, which I couldn't claim on insurance.'

Her hard-learned advice? 'If you need pet sitting, go with a vetted professional or use services like Trusted Petsitters or Mad Paws.'

A separate comment from another local referenced a similar ploy that she had encountered in the area, where people masqueraded as meter readers to gain entry into homes.

'Thankfully, I was on my way out and didn't let them in,' she said. 'Unfortunately, two women down my street did. One of them was home alone with her kids when they were robbed during the Christmas period.'

However, one Sydney woman offered a devil's advocate view of the free house-sitting offer.

The Aussie woman explained that she and her teenage daughter are sometimes the strangers who accept free house-sitting or pet-sitting opportunities in waterside suburbs.

'I'm a mature single mum and it's a lovely way for me (and sometimes my teenager) to have a little holiday near the beach,' she explained.
The New Yorker magazine is catching flak for publishing what critics called a sympathetic profile of a convicted murderer who was deported by the Trump administration.

Orville Etoria, 62, originally from Jamaica, was detained in New York City during a routine ICE check-in in June and sent to Eswatini in southern Africa - a country he has no ties to.

Etoria was profiled by the magazine along with several others subjected to what the story slammed as 'secretive third-country removals.'

Etoria was convicted of second-degree murder after shooting a man in a Brooklyn leather-goods store in 1996. He was sentenced to twenty-five years to life.

The conditions of his 2021 release required him to check in annually with authorities in order to stay in the US.

Critics of the story took to to social media to blast its framing as needlessly sympathetic, months after a New York Times story about Etoria was ripped as 'disgraceful and disgusting' by the Department of Homeland Security.

Both pieces noted how Etoria served his time in prison.

'I think it is fine to deport people convicted of LITERAL MURDER,' one X user wrote, responding to a post from the New Yorker promoting the piece.

Orville Etoria, 62, originally from Jamaica, was detained in New York City during a routine ICE check-in in June and sent to Eswatini in southern Africa

X's community notes feature, which adds context from readers, was appended to the New Yorker's post

'There are so many sympathetic stories of people convicted of no crime who are sent to El Salvadoran gulags but of course the New Yorker had to write a long sob story about a f*****ng MURDERER,' the user added in a follow-up post.

X's community notes feature, which adds context from readers, was appended to the New Yorker's X post.

It noted that Etoria has been charged with multiple serious felonies while on American soil, including armed robbery, and murder.

The added context also noted that immigrants who obtain lawful permanent resident status 'can,' and in this case, 'was revoked' due to criminal convictions.

At the time of his detainment, Etoria had been living in New York for nearly 50 years.

'It helped me imagine how the slaves might have felt, going to another land in shackles and chains,' Etoria said of his subsequent deportation.

'The New Yorker is shameless,' one reader wrote on X. 'He was shackled for murder. It is an unbelievable dishonor to the millions of humans who suffered from slavery to give a platform to a murderer claiming common ground.'

Another scathed: 'A foreign man committed murder in the US. After serving his sentence he was removed from the US. Unbelievable framing at The New Yorker.'

Etorias aunt, Margaret McKen, told the New Yorker: 'Orville isnt a monster.'

A flood of critics chided the magazine for its sympathetic framing

A guard tower at Matsapha Correctional Complex near Mbabane, Eswatini, where Etoria was being held

An aerial view of Mbabane, the capital of Eswatini

McKen called the move to deport her nephew 'a political ploy, to keep us in line.'

The Daily Mail has contacted the New Yorker's parent company, Conde Nast, for comment.
Major companies including Vodafone and Diageo have called for Rachel Reeves to make it easier for staff to own shares in their employer in the upcoming Autumn Budget.

Employee share incentive plans offer employees the opportunity to invest in the company they work for, often offering shares at a discount to market value, and giving workers a stake in their employer.

More than 50 firms including the likes of Wickes, Experian and Pearson have urged the Chancellor to make changes that would make it simpler for workers to access the investment schemes.

It comes as the Government pushes savers to invest some of their cash instead in a bid to boost the flagging economy. Part of this plan reportedly includes reducing the cash Isa threshold from 20,000 to 12,000 in the Budget tomorrow.

The 50 companies called for a reduction in the mandatory holding period on employee share incentive plans to be cut from five to two years.

Currently, scheme participants must hold shares for five years in order to benefit from tax incentives, which include not paying income tax or National Insurance on them.

Slice of the pie: Introduced in 2000, share incentive schemes allow employees to benefit from tax relief on their shares, and gives them a stake in the success of the company they work for

What are Share Incentive Plans? Share Incentive Plans allow company employees to buy shares or be given shares in the company they work for and pay no income tax or National Insurance on them if they are held for more than five years. Employers can give workers up to 3,600 of free shares per year. Employees can buy up to 1,800 in shares out of their salary each year. Companies can also choose to match shares purchased by employees, up to two additional shares per share purchased. Dividends received from shares held in the plan can also be reinvested into new shares. Introduced in 2000, SIPs allow employees to benefit from tax relief on their shares, and gives them a stake in the success of the company they work for. Shares held in trust until the employee leaves the company or chooses to take the shares from their plan.

The firms said the current five-year holding period is a barrier to wider participation in these investing schemes among employees, and that millions more would participate if the limit was cut.

> Read more: The best stocks and shares Isas

More than a million people each year invest in tax-benefit schemes, either through share incentive plans or save as you earn schemes with their employer.

The Government says it wants to create a 'culture' of investing in the UK.

Kirsteen Sullivan, MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow, said: 'With the Government's ambitious agenda to support staff, back British business and encourage share investment, modernising employee share ownership plans has an essential role to play.'

The Government will set out its spending and tax plans on Wednesday in the Autumn Budget, with considerable speculation that this will include measures aimed at increasing investing among the UK public.

Sophie Altaf, head of lobby group ProShare which helped coordinate the letter said: 'In her Mansion House speech, the Chancellor made it clear that she wants to see an increase in ordinary, often first-time, investors in the stock market.

'Greater investment in employee share ownership plans would help achieve this.

'By reducing the holding period, the Chancellor can help unlock share ownership for many more working people, connect them more closely with their employers, and give British businesses a vital new tool for attracting and retaining top talent.'

She added that it could 'boost financial inclusion, transform saving habits, and create a workforce truly invested in the UK's economy.'
Farmers and family business owners have joined forces in a last-ditch bid to overturn an inheritance tax raid that threatens to destroy livelihoods as generations of hard work are laid to waste.

Campaigners have launched legal action against the Chancellor and HM Revenue & Customs over proposed changes that will land them with punishing death duties.

Lawyers in the case called on the court to make a decision quickly  warning 'time is running out' with the levy due to be introduced next year.

Under reforms announced by Rachel Reeves in last year's Budget, farms and family firms worth over 1million will have to pay inheritance tax of 20 per cent from April 2026.

The move has triggered outrage among farmers, who yesterday staged another go-slow tractor protest, with clogging up major routes up and down the country.

Family firms are now also making their voices heard amid fears they will be sold or broken up in order to cover the tax bill.

Rachel Reeves has launched an inheritance tax raid on farms and family businesses

Writing in the Daily Mail, hotelier Sir Rocoo Forte said: 'You would think a government that declares economic growth to be its number one priority would be doing all it can to support family firms.

'Not a bit of it. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has instead announced a shocking tax grab targeting these companies.'

He added: 'The Government's plans risk dismantling decades of stability for businesses across the country, and harming jobs and growth.

'We're talking about the loss of livelihoods, proud family legacies and profound damage to the regional economies that depend on them.'

Under the old regime, family businesses and farms could be passed down when the owner dies without any inheritance tax.

But reforms to so-called 'business property relief' (BPR) and 'agricultural property relief' (APR) mean that from April 2026 any assets worth over 1million will be hit with death duties of 20 per cent.

The Treasury claims the changes  dubbed the 'family farm tax' and 'family firm tax'  will raise around 520million a year.

But research by lobby group Family Business UK (FBUK) shows it will cost more than it raises as more than 200,000 jobs are lost and firms slam the brakes on investment to save money to cover the looming tax bill.

Sir Rocco Forte warns the tax raid will harm jobs and growth

Campaigners have applied to the High Court for a Judicial Review into the proposals  citing the Government's failure to consult on the changes.

'The claimants say that the Chancellor's decision failed to comply with her public law duties,' say papers lodged at the High Court.

James Austen, a partner at City law firm Collyer Bristow, which launched the legal claim, said: 'Farmers have been effective at branding these changes the 'Family Farm Tax', and for good reason, but it's not just farmers who will be affected by them. In overall economic terms, family-owned businesses will take the bigger hit.

'This Judicial Review claim brings farmers, entrepreneurs and business owners together to seek a proper consultation exercise on a policy that they say will damage the UK economy and cost far more than it generates in tax.'

And he called on the court to make a decision quickly.

'We are pressing the court to make a decision,' said Mr Austen. 'The delay is affecting the claimants' right to an effective remedy. Time is running out and they need a decision.'

Neil Davy, chief executive of FBUK, accused ministers of refusing to 'engage in meaningful consultation' with businesses in the firing line despite the damage the policy is set to cause.

'You do not have to look far to find evidence of what the Budget choices of the Government have achieved,' he said.

'Businesses have lost confidence. They are sitting on their hands. Growth is weak and the jobs market is the worst we have seen for years.'

He added: 'For a government elected on a promise of delivering growth you have to wonder why it has chosen to pursue a policy that actively undermines that ambition and the businesses that will deliver it?'

Nafeesa Hussain, at WSP Solicitors, said: 'Family business owners are increasingly asking themselves: 'What is the point of working tirelessly to build a business if there's nothing left to pass on?'

'These are businesses built over decades. The changes in inheritance tax are putting the future of thousands at risk.'

This tax grab will lead to the loss of livelihoods and proud family legacies - and MUST be stopped

By Sir Rocco Forte, chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels

Hospitality is in my blood. It all started with my grandfather, who came from a little village up in the hills in Italy to Scotland in 1911 to open an ice cream parlour.

Since then, the Forte family has lived and breathed hospitality  my sister Olga and my three children Lydia, Irene and Charles all work today in my business.

Being a family firm is what defines us. It's our name above the door so we care deeply about the service our guests are provided with in our hotels.

Our employees are part of our extended family and our establishments are cornerstones of their local communities.

Family firms like ours make up a startling 90 per cent of all businesses in the UK, and employ well over half of the entire workforce.

It is estimated that they paid 422 billion in tax in 2023  and contributed 985 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA)  nearly two-thirds of the entire contribution from the private sector.

So you would think a Government that declares economic growth to be its number one priority would be doing all it can to support family firms.

Not a bit of it. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has instead announced a shocking tax grab targeting these companies. In doing so, she is unpicking the work of her Labour predecessor Denis Healey, who introduced business property relief in 1976. Then, Labour wanted to recognise the special position of family companies in the economy and allow one generation to pass a successful company on safely to the next.

Under Ms Reeves' proposals, inheritance tax on any assets worth over 1million will increase from zero to 20 per cent from April 2026.

We've heard a lot about the impact on family farms, but less about the bigger hit to family firms.

Many ordinary medium-sized and large family businesses will be dragged into the tax next as a result. That will mean that the next generation of family businesspeople is hit with huge, unaffordable tax bills - in many cases running into the millions of pounds.

The only option for many will be to cut costs however they can, break up their firms or sell them altogether. These companies will be easy pickings for private equity or foreign owners operating in the UK  who won't be subject to UK inheritance tax. Other companies will have to borrow money and take on a lot of debt to create dividends, themselves taxable at 40 per cent, to pay up - restricting their growth and future prospects.

The Treasury insists this change will raise 500million. But Family Business UK is forecasting it will mean 208,000 job losses  which will result in an overall hit of 1.9billion to the public finances.

The Government's plans risk dismantling decades of stability for businesses across the country, and harming jobs and growth.

We're talking about the loss of livelihoods, proud family legacies and profound damage to the regional economies that depend on them.

It's not too late for the Government to change course.

All the family business sector is asking for is a proper review of the impact of these proposed changes. We are confident it will show that the sums simply don't add up.

If ministers are serious about growth, then they cannot afford to undermine the very businesses that anchor our communities, train our young people and reinvest their profits back into Britain.

Family firms are not faceless corporations run by fat cats; they are rooted in place, shaped by generations of care and commitment, and driven by the desire to build something lasting. Strip them of the ability to plan for the future - to pass on their life's work without punitive penalties - and you will rip out one of the quiet engines of national prosperity.
The boss of Gatwick has said a very concerning rise in business rates could lead to higher prices and fewer holiday routes for British tourists.

Business rates paid by airports are set to jump from 200million to 1billion following a review of how they are calculated by the Valuation Office Agency.

For Gatwick, its annual 40million bill will increase to as much as 160million.

Stewart Wingate, chief executive of the UKs second-busiest airport, said: Rates of this level will mean British airports are less competitive against other leading airports around the world and we risk routes and trade being lost, resulting in less choice for travellers and the sectors that rely on us to run their businesses.
Domino's Pizza Group boss Andrew Rennie is stepping down with immediate effect, marking the second executive departure the embattled fast-food firm has suffered in two months.

Analysts described Rennie's departure as unexpected and another blow to the US pizza giant's UK master franchise, which has seen its share price value halve over the last 12 months amid weaker consumer demand and higher costs.

London-listed Domino's told investors on Tuesday Rennie would be temporarily replaced by chief operations officer Nicola Frampton while the board searches for a replacement.

Chair Ian Bull said Rennie had overseen 'operational excellence and significant market share gains' during his tenure.

He added: 'We are focused on identifying the right CEO to lead the disciplined execution of that growth strategy, alongside our incoming CFO and the wider leadership team, and underpinned by a rigorous focus on shareholder returns.'

Rennie said in a short statement: 'We have collectively delivered strong market share growth through operational excellence, product innovation and a digital transformation.'

To go: Another Domino's executive departs

Rennie spent two decades with Sydney-listed Domino's Pizza Enterprises before joining the British firm in 2023.

Domino's Pizza Group shares fell 2.8 per cent to 166.1p in early trading

It follows the sudden departure of finance chief Edward Jamieson in September and a disagreement with shareholder and former director Usman Nabi, who has urged Domino's to abandon attempts to buy a secondary brand.

In efforts to improve its fortunes, Domino's has been ramping-up marketing efforts and has even launched a fried chicken business - CHICK'N'DIP.

Interim boss Frampton said: 'We have a number of ongoing growth and performance initiatives that we will be focused on executing at pace.

'These include the continued enhancement of our supply chain, delivering further product innovation including the system-wide launch of CHICK'N'DIP next year, and preparing for the rollout of our loyalty program in 2026.'

Commenting on Rennie's departure, analysts at Shore Capital said: 'This is unexpected and, in our view, and a loss to the business given the wealth of experience that Mr Rennie brought.

'The Group is now in a period of interim CFO and CEO.

This is clearly not an ideal situation ahead of the planned Capital Markets Day, and so it makes sense that this event will now be rescheduled (originally planned for 9 December).

'Furthermore, plans for a second brand acquisition is now unlikely until a new CEO is in place, and a review of the capital allocation priorities will be taken once [incoming CFO Andrea has joined.'
The boss of EasyJet has warned tax increases would deter Britons from booking holidays abroad, as the airline sector braces ahead of Wednesday's Budget.

Kenton Jarvis said he hopes Rachel Reeves freezes air passenger duty, adding 'taxes rise in this space that will naturally dampen demand'.

It comes after the boss of rival Jet2 last week warned that a tax raid could mean flying abroad becomes only for the rich and privileged if airlines are forced to hike prices.

Businesses are nervously waiting to hear from the Chancellor after she hit employers with a shock 25billion raid on National Insurance contributions last year.

There has been speculation that Reeves is likely to hike Air Passenger Duty (APD) - the tax paid on flights leaving the UK.

Jarvis said that he was hopeful for a freeze but not super optimistic and urged the Government to consider airports in its growth agenda.

Airlines have asked the Chancellor to freeze air passenger duty at the Budget

He said a potential increase doesn't feel very joined up if at the same time, you're trying to persuade airports to build new runways because they'll need to be customers there for the aircraft to take off.

The UKs largest airports - Heathrow and Gatwick - are both pursuing expansion plans worth billions of pounds of investment.

It has also been rumoured that Reeves could introduce a tourist tax where visitors are charged a levy for hotel and Airbnb stays.

But Jarvis warned that any increase in tax that impacts the competitiveness of the UKs visitor economy would not be a good thing.

His remarks came as shares in EasyJet dipped despite the group hailing its holiday business going from strength to strength.

Profits rose 9 per cent to 665million for the year to the end of September, thanks to booming business for its package holidays. Revenues rose 8.6 per cent to 10.1billion.

But shares were down 2.6 per cent in Tuesday afternoon trading, adding to a slump of 15 per cent this year.

The group said it had found profits harder to improve over the winter than originally anticipated due to a slower performance in its winter business.

We are not yet back in each month, in the winter, to the level of flying we did pre-pandemic, he said. Weve been restoring winter flying at a slower pace than summer flying, Jarvis said.

The airline said it was catering for demand for winter sun with new routes

The group has been impacted by the war in the Middle East due to limited flying into Tel Aviv and Jordan, which were previously popular winter sun destinations.

It has been adding more flights to further flung destinations, including Cape Verde and Egypt, to capture demand for winter sun.

Mark Crouch, market analyst for eToro said that shares had behaved as if someone left the air brakes on.

He added: Three years of earnings growth and falling energy prices should have created a powerful tailwind, one that may not blow forever.

'However, easyJet hasnt enjoyed the same post-Covid lift as Ryanair, the only one of Europes big three budget carriers to fly confidently out of the pandemic.

'Investors may simply be tired of waiting for valuation upside that never seems to leave the runway.
Labour has backed plans from Heathrow Airports owners that would see the M25 moved to make way for a third runway.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander rejected a rival proposal from Arora Group, claiming Heathrows own plans were 'the most credible and deliverable option'.

She added: 'We know we must provide as much clarity and certainty for communities affected by expansion at Heathrow as soon as possible.

'Whiles HAL's scheme requires more land, it would require the acquisition of fewer residential properties around the airport than HWL's scheme.'

The Heathrow proposals involve building a 3,500-metre runway and require a new M25 tunnel and bridges to be built 130 metres west of the existing motorway.

Heathrows expansion proposal is expected to cost 33billion. This includes 21billion for the runway, inclusive of 1.5billion for M25 works, plus 12billion for 'associated terminal infrastructure.'

Heathrow said that, regardless of the planning decision, it would also invest 15billion into the existing airport to modernise and upgrade its facilities.

Backed plans: Labour has backed plans from Heathrow Airports owners that would see the M25 moved to make way for a third runway

The proposed expansion would see Heathrows capacity increase to 756,000 flights and 150million passengers per year.

The government aims to make a decision on a planning application for Heathrows expansion by the next election, with the third runway becoming operational by 2035.

Arora's plan, put forward by a group led by hotel tycoon Surinder Arora, was for a shorter, 2,800-metre runway that would not require diverting the M25.

In a written statement to parliament on Tuesday, Ms Alexander said the proposal by Arora would still have 'a considerable impact' on the motorway and necessitate the compulsory purchase of more homes around the airport.

A Heathrow spokesperson said expending the airport 'will mean more connectivity, increased trade, improved passenger experience and a huge economic boost for the British businesses that will help design and build it'.

But the spokesperson added that 'further clarity' was needed on how the next phase of the project would be regulated, calling for 'definitive decisions' from Labour and the Civil Aviation Authority by mid-December.

Mr Arora said his group 'accepts todays announcement' and still hoped to be chosen as the 'promoter' of the third runway, rather than Heathrow, adding that competition was 'absolutely imperative to keep costs under control at the airport'.

Ms Alexander said Tuesdays decision would 'allow a decision on a third runway plan this Parliament which meets our key tests including on the environment and economic growth'.

She added: 'Were acting swiftly and decisively to get this project off the ground so we can realise its transformational potential for passengers, businesses and our economy sooner.'

Expansion: An image showing Heathrow Airport's plans for its expansion

Rejected: Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander rejected a rival proposal from Arora Group

The proposals will be subject to further consultation as the government overhauls the Airports National Policy Statement that governs planning decisions for airports.

The Transport Secretary has also pledged to consult the independent Climate Change Committee on the expansion to ensure it is consistent with the governments commitments to reduce carbon emissions.

Labour has already approved a string of other airport expansion plans, including a second runway at Gatwick Airport.

But, the Heathrow plans face opposition from local residents, environmental groups and politicians.

Tony Bosworth, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said the plan was 'virtually the equivalent of bolting an airport the size of Gatwick onto Heathrow.

'That would mean more noise and air pollution for local communities.

'Expanding Heathrow simply isn't compatible with our legally binding climate targets, even if the government meets its hugely optimistic assumptions for emerging technologies, such as sustainable aviation fuels.'
The boss of one of Britains top retailers has said Labour couldnt run a bath as business braces for further tax hikes at the Budget.

John Roberts, founder and chief executive of online electricals seller AO World, blasted Labour for a lack of conviction, a lack of courage and a lack of capability' as he said higher costs have made him move jobs abroad.

Roberts said Labours business policies were great for recruitment in South Africa, where his company has moved 100 roles in the past year due to increases in wages and National Insurance payments.

He became the latest major employer to cast doubt over Labours pledge to boost growth as retailers warn higher costs are hitting hiring and prices.

Roberts, a self-made millionaire who started his career as a kitchen salesman and went on to found his FTSE 250 group, said the Cabinet couldn't run a bath let alone a business.

They have no business experience or appreciation in this government, he said.

AO World boss John Roberts slammed the Government's business policies ahead of the Budget

Roberts was the latest retail boss to sound the alarm ahead of expected increases to taxes on Wednesday including the business rates paid on commercial properties.

Retailers have struggled in the wake of last years Budget, when Rachel Reeves hit shopkeepers with a total of 7billion in extra annual costs.

The chief executive also dubbed Labours workers rights bill madness.

And summing up his assessment of Labours handling of the economy, he said: The operation has been a complete success: the patient is firmly dead on the table.

Labour is proposing to introduce a slew of new rules that have been criticised by the retail and hospitality industries that rely on seasonable and flexible work.

This includes granting employees a host of day one rights that kick in on their first day of employment, as well as offering workers a number of minimum guaranteed hours.

The last thing business needs is a load more cost, complexity and removal of flexibility, he said.

And a cocktail of new regulations and high costs would exacerbate growing levels of youth unemployment, he said.

The Government has been accused by big bosses of being anti-business in its tax policies

If you think back, hospitality and retail would be two of the biggest areas for young people to get a start in their careers and a start in work experience, and all they're doing is making that more difficult, Roberts said.

He also said the Government should slash welfare spending instead of increasing business taxes, describing speculated proposals to scrap the two-child benefit cap as madness.

He said: Business is a force for good in the economy. It gets demonised in this Government and all it's seen as is a source of more and more tax that they can then blow on the welfare budget.
Newly minted NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane has called for the return of the baby bonus, warning Australia is in the grip of a 'baby recession.'

Sloane at the weekend said boosting birth rates must be a national priority, urging the federal government to revisit policies like Peter Costello's baby bonus.

''I'd love to see the federal government look at things like Peter Costello's baby bonus. We are in a baby recession. We need a baby boom,' Sloane said on Sky News on Sunday.

The baby bonus was a cash payment introduced by the Howard government in 2004 to encourage families to have more children.

Initially $3,000 per child, later rising to $5,000, it aimed to boost birth rates.

Australia's fertility rate leapt to 2.02 births per woman in 2008 after the baby bonus was introduced, marking a 30-year high.

Now, the rate has fallen to a record low of 1.48 babies per woman, far below the replacement level of 2.1.

Experts warn Australia may soon pass the point of no return, with projections indicating deaths will outnumber births by mid-2050.

Kellie Sloane (pictured) called for the federal government to bring back the baby bonus

Sloane says families are being left behind while big corporations offer financial incentives for women to freeze their eggs.

'This is where we've got to as a country. There has got to be a better way,' she said.

The Liberal leader also slammed the Minns Labor Government for scrapping the $2,000 IVF rebate that was introduced in 2022, claiming the move has made fertility treatments unaffordable for many couples.

'One in seven families in NSW has fertility struggles. If we're talking about cutting immigration, we need to boost our homegrown community,' Sloane said.

Australians are having children later than ever, with the median age for mothers now 32.1 and fathers 33.9, with skyrocketing cost of living and high housing prices forcing families to delay family planning.

Sloane's stance places her at odds with her federal counterparts, who have signalled they will not revive the baby bonus.

'We are reviewing our policies to develop an economic agenda that gives Australians choices about how they want to live their lives and fulfil their aspirations,' a spokesperson for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley told Daily Mail.

Sloane (pictured) also slammed the NSW Labor Government for cutting $2,000 IVF rebates. Above a stock image of a couple with a baby

'We have already committed to deliver substantial personal income tax cuts for working families.'

'The Leader is also committed to helping Gen Z and Millennials achieve financial security so they can make choices about how they want to live their lives, this includes starting a family or getting into their own home.'

Treasurer Jim Chalmers also hosed down calls to bring back the policy in August, saying the government instead would focus on 'more enduring' reform, including subsidised childcare and increasing paid parental leave.

In another break from the Federal Coalition line, the new NSW Liberal leader has also pledged to uphold the state's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, a policy reaffirmed by the party just last week before her appointment.
A woman accused of having a 'digital relationship' with Robert F. Kennedy Jr had a string of relationships with powerful men as she rose to the top of journalism, her jilted fiance has claimed.

Olivia Nuzzi, 32, a former journalist with New York Magazine, is said to have been involved in a scandalous 'online relationship' with Mr Kennedy, 71, which reportedly included the two writing explicit poetry to one another.

The allegations were revealed by Ms Nuzzi's ex-fiance Ryan Lizza, 51, in an explosive piece shared to his Substack on Saturday.

He has also accused her of cheating on him years earlier with former South Carolina Governor and 2020 presidential candidate Mark Sanford, 65.

Mr Lizza claimed he discovered Ms Nuzzi's alleged relationship with Mr Sanford when a love note she wrote for him fell out of her bag.

He said the letter was written in 2020 - the same year the couple were writing a book about the presidential candidates together.

Mr Lizza wrote: 'She [Ms Nuzzi] had crossed a journalistic red line.

'How could we write a book about the presidential campaign if Olivia had a sexual relationship with one of the candidates?'

Olivia Nuzzi's ex-fiance Ryan Lizza (seen together in 2023) shared a second bombshell Substack post on their doomed relationship on Saturday

Robert F. Kennedy Jr speaks during the Western Governors' Association meeting on Thursday

Meanwhile, it has also been alleged that Ms Nuzzi previously had a relationship with former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann before she dated her ex-fiance.

According to Mr Lizza, the 66-year-old 'paid for her to attend college, outfitted her in Tom Ford and Herve Leger dresses and some $15,000 worth of Cartier jewellery'.

Mr Lizza claimed Mr Olbermann also paid for Ms Nuzzi's rent and 'furnished her apartment in a doorman building' in Manhattan's swanky West Village.

He said: 'While Keith, who was 34 years older, was generous, there were strings attached.

'Olivia had concealed the relationship from me and other friends, but one day she told me everythingtoo much, actuallyand together we hatched a plan for her escape.'

In a post to his X on Monday, Mr Olbermann posted a animated GIF of Neo from the sci-fi movie The Matrix dodging bullets after sharing the article.

In a follow up on Tuesday, he added: 'Btw about this from Lizza's reply: Olivia and I lived together for 4+ years (4 b'days 4 Xmases 4 anniversaries).

'That's like $1250 of jewelry per celebration. And her apartment was a studio. And I made an f-ton then. What was I supposed to do? Get her gift certificates from Kmart?'

It is alleged that Ms Nuzzi and Mr Kennedy began an online relationship when she was covering his 2023 presidential campaign as an independent candidate.

Mr Lizza said Mr Kennedy, the nephew of former president John F Kennedy, sent Ms Nuzzi a slew of racy messages.

One reportedly read: 'Yr open mouth awaiting my harvest.'

Ms Nuzzi and Mr Kennedy allegedly began an online relationship when she was covering his 2023 presidential campaign as an independent candidate

Olbermann, seen here, previously admitted to being in a relationship with Nuzzi confirming they used to date

Ms Nuzzi has acknowledged that she had an 'emotional relationship' with Mr Kennedy, but has denied that it impacted her coverage of his campaign.

However, she was placed on leave by New York Magazine when details of the alleged digital relationship emerged.

Mr Kennedy, who is married, has denied that any relationship took place.

Meanwhile, it was in a Substack post last week, that Mr Lizza alleged that Ms Nuzzi had cheated on him years earlier with Mr Sanford, 65.

He said that he discovered Ms Nuzzi's alleged relationship with Mr Sanford when a love note she wrote for him fell out of her bag.

'If I swallowed every drop of water from the tower above your house, I would still thirst for you,' she allegedly wrote for Mr Sanford.

Mr Sanford captured national headlines in 2009 after he admitted to an extramarital affair, and finished his term in 2011 despite the scandal.

He then launched a longshot bid for the presidency in 2020, and although he never gained traction and dropped out of the race within two months, Ms Nuzzi profiled him for a New York Magazine feature story.

On her way back from a trip to interview Mr Sanford, Mr Lizza recalled discovering the note she had written to Mr Sanford after it had scattered from her backpack.

After looking through further pages, Mr Lizza said: 'My heart stopped when I realized who he was.'

Mr Lizza, a former Washington correspondent for Politico, describes feeling devastated over 'Olivia's betrayal' and worried that it would ruin a book the pair were writing together about the 2020 presidential campaign.

Lizza claims he discovered a love note Ms Nuzzi had written for former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (pictured) in 2020, after he launched a longshot bid for the presidency

He wrote that Ms Nuzzi told him she became 'infatuated' with Mr Sanford after covering him for New York Magazine, eventually sending him 'increasingly risque pictures and texts' and even 'secretly followed him on the campaign trail.'

He then alleges that Ms Nuzzi and Mr Sanford 'consummated' their relationship at the ex-governor's home 'one night after she went dark on me and made up a story about how she was dealing with a crisis concerning her sick mother.'

Mr Sanford has not commented on the recent allegations.

Ms Nuzzi now works for Vanity Fair after she left New York Magazine in October last year.

Mr Kennedy has denied having a relationship with the journalist and he has been married to actress Cheryl Hines for more than ten years.

His spokesperson said he only met Ms Nuzzi 'once in his life' for an interview that she had requested.

Mr Lizza, however, has said that some of the messages were too 'explicit to print' due to the sexual acts the pair were writing about.

One text allegedly said: 'I am a river. You are my canyon, I mean to flow through you. I mean to subdue and tame you. My Love.'

Mr Lizza said he published the poetry to counter a 'campaign of misinformation' by his former fiancee.

He added that Mr Kennedy was as 'one of the most consequential policymakers in America'.

The Daily Mail has contacted Olivia Nuzzi's representatives for comment.
A gang of scammers attempted to defraud an entire street in a brazen attempt to con their way into thousands of pounds.

People living on one small road in Warrington, Cheshire, were bombarded with letters and bank cards registered to their properties.

The deluge of correspondence, which continued for weeks, saw 12 addresses targeted as part of scam, with residents left fearing for their homes and livelihoods.

One of those targeted, Paul Harrison, revealed he was becoming 'increasingly worried' his identity was being stolen when mysterious letters and bank cards came flying through his letter box in January.

Mr Harrison, who has lived on the street for 22 years, said the letters that came to his home were addressed to a person neither him or his wife had ever heard of.

The first letter was from HSBC and 'clearly had a bank card in it', he said.

He took the suspicious post to his nearest HSBC branch and was told to return it to the sender.

However, another similar letter arrived at his house just a few days later which prompted him to contact the bank's fraud department.

After talking to them, he believed the issue had been resolved, but the letters continued to come.

His worries grew massively when seven letters, a bank card, a pin, overdraft limit warnings and a warning an outstanding debt might be referred to a credit reference agency were posted through his letterbox.

Mr Harrison then spoke to his neighbour Tracy Heaton who revealed she had also received similar post - eight letters addressed to two men who had never lived at her property.

Paul Harrison (pictured), from Warrington, grew 'increasingly worried' his identity was being stolen when mysterious letters and bank cards came flying through his letter box in January

Residents in Cheshire discovered their addresses were being used for fraud after scammers targeted their entire street

Ms Heaton worried her home address was being used by a fraudster, adding: 'I was very concerned about the implications on myself and credit rating.'

She contacted HSBC on multiple occasions, but said she felt 'fobbed off', claiming the bank was 'not taking the appropriate action to stop it'.

In a state of desperation, Ms Heaton reached out to BBC One's Rip Of Britain programme for help.

The show's team found at least 12 homes on the street had been targeted with bogus accounts which had all been set up on the same day using common Hungarian names.

The names could possibly belong to people who had their identities stolen or they may have been 'bought' by money laundering criminals which would allow the identities of those people to be used to open bank accounts under their names.

Money launderers are known to split large numbers of cash and transfer it to a handful of new bank accounts as a tactic to avoid law enforcement detection.

The sum of money involved in the operation on Mr Harrison and Ms Heaton's street is unknown and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing from them of any other residents.

Mr Harrison then spoke to his neighbour Tracy Heaton (pictured) who revealed she had also received similar post - eight letters addressed to two men who had never lived at her property

Mr Harrison, who has lived on the street for 22 years, said the letters that came to his home were addressed to a person neither him or his wife had ever heard of

Letters from HSBC with credit cards under unknown names inside were also sent to addresses on the street

A spokesperson for HSBC said it carries out 'physical and digital checks when an account application is received' and it always aims to investigate and take appropriate action in a timely manner when fraud is reported or suspected.

The bank apologised to Mr Harrison and Ms Heaton and said its response was not up to the standard 'customers should expect'.

It added it had performed a review and taken action to ensure this does not happen again.

HSBC also confirmed the fraudulent accounts on the Warrington street had all now been closed.

The bank also urged anyone who receives a letter addressed to someone who does not live at their property to return it by post or take it to a local branch or banking hub.
NHS spending on specialist equipment to cater for obese patients with heavy-duty kit has more than doubled in a single year, figures reveal.

Costs increased from 2.2 million in 2023 to nearly 5 million in 2024 - a rise of 123 per cent, according to new data.

It means a staggering 20.7million has been spent since 2020 on supersized ambulances as well as reinforced chairs and stretchers to transport those who are grossly overweight.

The demand for such equipment continues to rise with figures showing there have been at least 157,240 callouts for bariatric ambulances in the past five years.

Experts warn that the figures highlight that the cost of the nations obesity crisis will continue to grow unless definitive action is taken to get people to lose weight.

Obesity is already estimated to be costing the NHS 11.4 billion this year, almost double that of the cost in 2023 (6.5bn).

The data, compiled via freedom of information requests to all UK ambulance services by Chemist4U, shows the spiralling costs the health service is facing to obesity-proof equipment.

Of all years analysed, 2024 saw the highest spend, with authorities recording a total of 4.9 million splashed out on bariatric equipment and ambulances.

Spending on specialised ambulances and equipment, such as stretchers and chairs - made for grossly overweight Brits - rose by 123 per cent last year

The average combined increase in yearly spending from all authorities in the last five years is 66 per cent, the data shows.

From 2022-2024, East Midlands Ambulance Service saw a massive increase in spend of 1138.96 per cent.

From 2023-2024, the biggest increase in spending was seen by West Midlands Ambulance Service, at 386.37 per cent.

Obesity is estimated to be costing the NHS 11.4 billion this year, almost double that of the estimated cost in 2023 (6.5 billion). It is a leading cause of health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke.

Spend on bariatric ambulances and/or equipment in GBP (2020-2025) Authority Total Spend North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust 14,198,313 South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust 2,288,889 West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust 1,440,889 East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust 1,256,803 London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 1,162,538 East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust 191,519 Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust 75,529 Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 53,994 Isle of Wight NHS Trust 28,894 South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust 8,035 Total spend of all ambulance trusts 20,705,402.92

More than half of all ambulance services (57 per cent) use bariatric-capable fleets for non-bariatric call-outs.

Those services are the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, the Scottish Ambulance Trust, the North East Ambulance Trust, the Yorkshire Ambulance Trust, the East Midlands Ambulance Trust, the West Midlands Ambulance Trust and the North West Ambulance Service Trust.

Tam Fry, the chair of the National Obesity Forum, which has campaigned for decades to raise awareness on the issue, told the Daily Mail: 'The significant increase in spending should not surprise anybody.

'Although the latest spate of drugs have allowed thousands to lose considerable weight, they are not for millions who remain obese.

'Medication alone will not solve the UK's weight problem either: the country has yet to see a comprehensive strategy from any of our devolved governments.'

Jason Murphy, Head of Pharmacy and weight loss at Chemist4U, said: 'The 66 per cent increase in spending on bariatric ambulances and equipment highlights the growing impact of obesity and weight-related health issues across the UK.

'To help reduce this financial burden, we should focus on improving access to effective weight management support and services for those who need it.

'Simply expecting to solve the national obesity crisis by suggesting to people they should just eat less and move more is out of date thinking and not effective for so many.

'Instead, embracing new health developments like weight-loss injections as a tool to help combat this disease is the only way we are going to have a significant impact on the numbers of people who are unhealthily overweight.

'Reducing the number of obese people in the UK will not only cut spending on specialist equipment like bariatric ambulances but also on treating other diseases and conditions linked to obesity including heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

'Prevention and effective treatment are the best long-term solution for patient health, and NHS spending. With improved access to weight-loss medications we could be the generation that stops obesity in its tracks and helps protect the NHS for future generations.'

A South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) spokesman said they anticipate demand for obesity-specific equipment will increase as the nation gets fatter.

'When required, it can take additional time to get the equipment to the patient's location, and such callouts can also require additional manpower resources not just from SCAS, but also from other services, such as fire and rescue, for example, if getting the patient out of their location is challenging,' they said.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'Like all ambulance trusts, West Midlands Ambulance Service has a specialist bariatric capability for those patients that require it.

'All of our emergency ambulances are bariatric capable, but in addition, we have 15 vehicles - one for each hub - that come with additional capabilities. They are fitted with a specialist stretcher and are equipped with lifting and handling kit over and above that carried on our standard ambulance fleet.

'These vehicles are used within normal day to day operations and respond to any 999 call. In addition, our Hazardous Area Response Team also has a specialist bariatric capability should crews require additional support.'
The consequence was as quick as it was deadly. As a toxic cocktail poured out of the taps of 20,000 homes, one of Britain's worst mass poisonings was playing out in real time.

Residents living in Camelford, north Cornwall, reported a revolting black water coming from their taps and sticking to their skin - with one man describing how his hair was stuck together like glue after taking a bath.

But this was only the start. For thousands of locals were suddenly drinking and washing themselves with contaminated water after 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate were poured into the wrong tank at a nearby treatment plant.

Many frantically called the South West Water Authority (SWWA), describing symptoms of vomiting, rashes, mouth ulcers, skin burns, diarrhoea and aching joints. Their concerns were repeatedly dismissed.

It began with a confused relief delivery driver's mistake on July 6 1988. But what has followed is nearly three decades of searching for answers and accountability amid death, disease and accusations of a huge cover-up.

The water company was accused of 'gambling with as many as 20,000 lives' after not informing the public about the poisoning for 16 days.

The most high-profile case involved Carole Cross, who lived in Camelford when the aluminium sulphate was added to the wrong tank at Lowermoor treatment works, unleashing the chemical into the town's mains supply.

When Mrs Cross died aged 59 from a rare form of dementia in 2004, very high levels of aluminium were found in her brain. A coroner ruled that she was exposed to an 'excessive amount' of the chemical from the water and that while there was a 'very real possibility' it contributed to her death, there was 'only a slight possibility' it caused her death.

Some 37 years later, the Camelford scandal is still spoken about today and is at the centre of a BBC2 documentary, Poison Water, which will air at 9pm on Wednesday.

When Carole Cross (pictured) died aged 59 from a rare form of dementia in 2004, very high levels of aluminium were found in her brain

Her widower, environmental scientist Doug Cross (pictured) has long campaigned for justice

Richard Gibbons (pictured) asked his wife to have his brain tested because he believed the water poisoning affected him

The Lowermoor treatment works where 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate were poured into the wrong tank

'It would become known as Britain's biggest mass poisoning and has led to a decades-long search for truth, during which people's health has suffered and accusations of a cover-up have refused to go away,' a preview of the show says.

Family members of those affected have long campaigned for justice. Despite being inundated with nearly 1,000 complaints, SWWA insisted the water was safe and told customers to disguise the 'foul' taste by mixing it with orange juice.

The disaster began on July 6 1988 when driver John Stephens stepped in at the last minute to take over delivery of the aluminium sulphate to the Lowermoor plant, which supplied water to around 7,000 homes and businesses in and around Camelford.

Up against the clock, Stephens asked colleagues to phone ahead to say he would be running late but when he arrived at the plant, no one was there. At Mrs Cross's inquest, Stephens said he was told to put the delivery 'in a tank on the left'.

However, he was confused by the number of tanks and manhole covers and emptied the aluminium sulphate into the wrong one, sending contaminated water flushing through the main supply.

Soon, dozens of Camelford locals began calling SWWA with complaints about filthy water coming out of their taps, a burning sensation when drinking and the water clinging to their skin.

'I'm calling to report an issue with our tap water. My daughter's skin has come up with a rash and she's in a lot of pain,' one recorded call says.

Another local is heard saying: 'My daughter has been vomiting all day, really don't know what's going on.'

A third says: 'My whole mouth is covered in ulcers and I think it's something to do with the water.'

Susan Jones, who was on duty at the SWWA communications centre when the calls started coming in, told Mrs Cross's inquest: 'I realised something was seriously wrong when I got a call from a woman whose husband had got out of the bath and his hair was sticking together like Super Glue and I knew it was extremely serious.

'Calls were heightening in numbers. They were coming in at a fantastic rate, too fast to log them all. Water was sticking to people, curdling milk in tea and appearing absolutely black.'

Residents were told by SWWA that the water was safe to drink and use

Family members have vowed to fight for those who may have been affected by the poisioning

Admitting she felt her bosses were not listening to her, she added: 'I felt I was banging my head against a brick wall.

'Nobody seemed to be listening. I asked how I should answer people who wanted to know if it was safe and I was told it was safe to drink. I was told there was no health risk.'

The BBC doc will feature hard-hitting interviews from the Camelford residents whose lives were changed forever.

Among those to speak is the late Mrs Cross's widower, Doug Cross, a leading environmental scientist who has long campaigned for justice.

'I want those who were responsibly brought to justice, but when people try to talk about it they are silenced,' Mr Cross says.

Mr Cross has previously spoken of his anger that SWWA took two weeks to confirm a major contamination incident.

An early sign of the poisoning was the fact that a significant number of animals - including fish and livestock - were poisoned as well as the horrific symptoms humans began to suffer with.

'I could not believe that anybody would be so irresponsible as to allow that sort of accident to happen - with the damage we had seen to people and animals - and to keep it quiet for two weeks,' Mr Cross said.

Michael Howard (pictured) was minister for the environment at the time of the water pollution incident. Here, he tells people not to worry about investing in SWWA

The BBC doc features residents in tears as they stand outside the Lowermoor plant

'We have a right to be told what we are being exposed to. We have a right to protect our own health and these people took it away from us.'

Local resident Carole Wyatt, who was initially reluctant to do the BBC doc, said: 'People died unnecessarily. Before I die I want this truth to come out.'

Meanwhile, the daughter of a man who lived in Camelford during the poisoning, said: 'I want to speak up to be my dad's voice, I'm doing it because dad can't.'

As fears mounted over something clearly going wrong, Mr Cross began to collect evidence because he was qualified and knew what to do.

He explained: 'It was my responsibility to the community to collect what evidence I could and til I can find other people to join in. Let's get together to work out what the hell is happening.'

He added: 'Within the community, they were really terrified because they didn't know what had happened - and they could see whatever it was was serious.'

Mr Cross continued: 'I went to the pet shop and Bill the owner was in tears, he said all my animals are dead. Then farming friends said that there is something going wrong. Sheep, cows, then pigs  everything that drank that water  it had infected them and some of them had died.

'Then I started to ask around and people said 'yes I had some of this stuff and it made me feel sick.' These little anecdotes coming from here, there and everywhere.

'If you see animals dying at the same time that people were ill you begin to get concerned.'

Among those to speak is the late Mrs Cross's widower, Doug Cross (pictured), a leading environmental scientist who has long campaigned for justice

When his wife took a bath, a bar of soap immediately turned blue, signalling to Mr Cross that copper had infiltrated their water supply.

'The soap is very alkaline and with copper it turns bright blue,' he says.

'But if the copper was now in our water, it must've been coming from the inside of our water pipes and the only way that could happen is if the pipes were being dissolved by something very acidic in the water supply itself. And that is when I started to get really concerned because I knew the chemistry.'

Despite the concerns, John Lewis, the district manager for SWWA, went on TV and said it was perfectly safe to drink and use the water.

Years on, many are convinced their loved-ones premature days were caused by the mass poisoning.

As well as Mrs Cross's death, Richard Gibbons believed he was suffering from the effects of the contaminated water before he died aged 60 and asked his wife to have his brain examined.

In 2014, a coroner said his death was not caused by the water poisoning. However, Mr Gibbons, who lived in nearby Tintagel, was found to have four times the normal level of aluminium in his brain when he died.

The inquest heard how he was previously 'fit and healthy' but started deteriorating after the poisoning. He developed memory loss, ulcers, stomach pains, passed blood and had skin rashes.

By 2005, he was diagnosed with epilepsy and was having up to seven fits a day. A post-mortem concluded his cause of death to be aspiration of food due to epilepsy.

Although a link between epilepsy and the water poisoning could not be proven, experts said his brain had 'unusually high' levels of aluminium in his brain.

Diane Gibbons, who was seven at the time of the poisoning, says: 'My dad knew his health was deteriorating. He knew he was poisoned and he wanted answers. He had some blood sent off to a lab testing for aluminium concentrate in the blood.

'It was 20 times higher than normal and that was six weeks after the poisoning. What damage was done in that six weeks? Dad was told there was nothing wrong with you. This is proof it has happened.'

Diane Gibbons with her late father Richard. He believed his health had been compromised by the poisoning

The Camelford incident and the subsequent disclosure to the public came while Margaret Thatcher's Government was planning to privatise the water industry, leading to accusations of a deliberate cover-up.

A leaked Government memo later revealed fears among SWWA bosses that a police probe could spook the stock market and damage their potential sale price.

Michael Howard, the then environmental minister, warned at the time: 'I don't think it's something which need deter anyone who is contemplating investing in the shares of South West Water PLC.'

The World Health Organisation called for the local community to be monitored to see the impact of the poisoning, but no study ever took place.

Instead, a Government advisory group headed by Dame Barbara Clayton was set up. But her report concluded the incident presented no hazard to health and the symptoms were mild and short-lived - something locals disagree with.

Neil Ward, professor of analytical chemistry at Surrey University who took samples from the pigs, said: 'We found those particular pigs, the aluminium levels of their bone tissue were astronomical.

'We also found that there was some evidence of accumulated aluminium in the brain tissue which the government report said could not happen, that there was no way that aluminium could cross the body brain barrier. Using the pigs as an animal model we had clear evidence that yes it had.'

The SWWA was fined 10,000 with 25,000 in costs in 1991. And three years later, 148 victims were awarded civil damages totalling almost 400,000.

But while the families fought for justice, water company executives saw their salaries soar following the privatisations.

During the inquest of Mrs Cross, Coroner Michael Rose described the driver's mix-up as a 'mistake', adding: 'I don't think that Mr Stephens should be vilified. He struck me as a conscientious man who tried to use his initiative and had acted responsibly.'

He described it as an 'accident waiting to happen', adding: 'Clearly the safety devices to prevent this mistake causing further trouble were not in place.'

Mr Rose criticised the water authority for taking 16 days to inform the public - describing it as 'unacceptable'.

Summarising the incident, they said: 'What... transpired was that the 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate was put in the contact tank, and there it would be immediately released in the water going down to the reservoir and thence on to the town of Camelford.'

Poison Water, Wednesday 26th November at 9pm on BBC Two and iPlayer
A US Army specialist is feared to have drowned off the coast of Big Sur just one week after a father and daughter suffered the same fate.

Amanpreet Thind, a 35-year-old US Army specialist from New Jersey, was swept into the Pacific Ocean at Soberanes Point in northern California Saturday afternoon, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office announced.

He was with three other people visiting the beach when a powerful 'sneaker wave' pulled him and two women into the water, ABC 7 reports.

By around 3pm, a person called 911 to report that they 'heard people in the water yelling for help,' and search and rescue crews with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, California State Parks, California Highway Patrol and US Coast Guard rushed to the beach.

There, they found that the two women had been able to get back on shore, and first responders brought them to a local hospital, where they were treated and released for minor injuries.

Meanwhile, crews continued to search for Thind, who was last seen wearing a white turban, black shirt, black shorts and a black vest-style jacket.

There seemed to be some hope shortly before 4.30pm on Saturday, when a Coast Guard helicopter located 'what appeared to be a body in the water.'

But due to the dangerous surf conditions, 'visual contact was lost and the individual could not be relocated.'

Search and recovery teams are scouring the water around Soberanes Point in northern California for any sign of US Army Specialist Amanpreet Thind, 35

Photos shared by the Monterey County Sheriff's Office showing teams traversing rocky terrain and scanning the horizon with binoculars

By 7pm that night, as hazardous conditions and nightfall set in, the search was suspended.

Rescuers tried again on Sunday, with photos shared by the Monterey County Sheriff's Office showing teams traversing rocky terrain and scanning the horizon with binoculars.

Yet the search and recovery efforts were hindered by high winds and dangerous water conditions, which made it unsafe for divers to enter the water and difficult to fly drones.

Thind's body was still not recovered as of Monday.

'As search and recovery operations continue, we hope that Spc. Thind will be found,' Col. Christy L Whitfield, commandant of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, said in a statement.

'We offer our deepest condolences to the Thind family during this difficult time,' he continued.

He added that the the institute is 'providing those impacted with every resource and support service available, and extend our heartfelt gratitude to local, state and national first responders working tirelessly to locate Spc. Thind.'

The desperate search comes just one week after a father and his seven-year-old daughter visiting California from Canada were killed in the rough waters just about three miles north.

There seemed to be some hope shortly before 4.30pm on Saturday, when a Coast Guard helicopter located 'what appeared to be a body in the water. But due to the dangerous surf conditions, 'visual contact was lost and the individual could not be relocated'

Yuji Hu, 39, died on November 14 as he tried to rescue his daughter, Anzi, after she was swept off the shoreline at Garrapata State Beach by waves up to 20 feet high.

As the father and daughter were both sucked deeper into the current, Hu's wife tried to reach out to both Yuji and Anzi, but was also swept into the water as her husband held onto their little girl's hand.

Police said she made it back to shore and that another child, two, was 'unharmed.'

Hu was also rescued from the water by an off-duty California State Parks officer, who performed CPR on him before both parents were transported to a local hospital.

There, Hu was declared dead while his wife was treated for mild hypothermia and released.

One day later, Anzi's body was recovered by Juan Heredia, a Stockton diver who founded the Angel's Recovery Dive Team, about 100 yards off shore and about half a mile north of her last known location, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

'I found the child, she is back home today, thank you God,' Heredia said in a Facebook post.

Authorities are now urging the community to avoid the beaches in northern California

Search and recovery efforts to find Thind continued on Monday

Authorities are now urging the community to avoid the beaches in northern California, after the National Weather Service warned of hazardous beach conditions along the Pacific Coast from Cloverdale to Big Sur, with an increased risk of sneaker waves, rip currents and breaking waves up to 18 feet.

The warning was scheduled to remain in effect through 10pm Monday.

'Community members are strongly advised to stay off coastal rocks and to avoid entering the ocean under any circumstance,' the Monterey County Sheriff's Office announced.
A British mother was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after it transpired she had overstayed her visa in California.

Katie Paul, 33, was detained in San Diego in front of her husband and six-month-old baby boy.

She had arrived for a routine green card appointment at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services office, expecting to finalize paperwork needed for permanent residency.

But instead, she found herself at the center of an immigration raid when ICE agents placed her in handcuffs and arrested her on the spot.

She was taken into federal custody as her stunned American husband watched on.

'We see the ICE agents come around, and they say that they're arresting Katie,' her husband Stephen Paul, also 33, told NBC, describing the incident that has sent shockwaves through the family.

'She was just stunned. She kept asking what was wrong, what did we do? We'd done everything right.'

ICE confirmed her detention in a written statement.

The agency said: 'Individuals unlawfully present in the United States, including those out of status at federal sites such as USCIS offices, may face arrest, detention, and removal in accordance with US immigration law.'

Katie Paul, 33, left, was detained by ICE in front of her husband and six-month-old baby boy

Stephen Paul, 33, stopped working while his wife is detained in order to look after baby Alan

The couple admits that Katie had indeed overstayed her visa but the pair stressed their immigration lawyer said such transgressions are routinely forgiven when filing for a spousal green card.

On this occasion, ICE intercepted the appointment and took Katie directly into federal custody.

Stephen said the incident unfolded without any warning or explanation.

'We kept asking them if there was something we could do, if there was any way we could keep her from being separated from the family,' he said.

But officers would only say: 'I'm sorry. We've tried to not have to do it, but we've got direct orders.'

The arrest comes as the Trump administration expanded its second-term immigration sweeps into more cities, including Charlotte, North Carolina.

ICE said its operations are 'targeted' and focused on 'national security, public safety, and border security'.

The couple's six-month-old son, Alan, has been without his mother since the arrest.

'I had to take my baby, our baby, from his crying mother's arms,' Stephen said. 'It took almost three hours to get a hold of her because we had to fight just to find out where to go, to ask to see her.

Katie fell pregnant on a trip to the US. The pregnancy was deemed high-risk so she remained in the US with medical approval while the couple began the green-card process

Despite overstaying her visa, Katie was told it would very likely not be a problem during her green card application process

'Nobody wants this. Nobody wants to see families ripped apart,' Stephen added referring to his infant son. 'You can't look at him and think it's okay to take him from his mom'

The arrest comes as the Trump administration expanded its second-term immigration sweeps into more cities, including Charlotte, North Carolina

'My baby doesn't have his mom to hold him. I can't work right now because I need to take care of him,' he explained.

'I can't ask family to take care of him because I'm afraid if I don't have him to take care of, I'm going to just fall apart worrying about Katie.'

Stephen eventually reached her by phone. 'She said that she was scared. She was anxious, missed her baby. She just wants to come home,' he said.

According to the family, even ICE personnel at the holding facility questioned the operation.

Katie recounted that agents in the detention center told her she was 'not the sort of person we're supposed to be arresting'.

The new mom originally traveled from Surrey, England, to California in September 2024 to visit Stephen, then her long-distance partner.

Weeks later, the two married after discovering Katie was pregnant.

Because the pregnancy was high-risk, she remained in the US with medical approval while the couple began the green card process.

Katie's mother, Jules Peters, 55, said her daughter had been face-timing from the detention center, appearing exhausted and overwhelmed

The family is hoping for Katie to be released by Thanksgiving later this week

Federal agents arrest a man in an immigration enforcement operation in a parking lot in Florida earlier this month

Her mother, Jules Peters, 55, said she was blindsided when her daughter sent a frantic message: 'Mum, ICE are going to detain me.'

'We are in absolute pieces,' Jules said, from the UK. 'Katie is in shock; she just can't believe that this has even happened to her. She loves living in the US she just wants her life with her husband and baby.'

She said her daughter had been Facetiming her from the detention center, and appeared exhausted and overwhelmed.

'She has anxiety and is feeling really, really low; she just wants to be with her husband and baby.'

The family is hoping for her release by Thanksgiving.

'Nobody wants this. Nobody wants to see families ripped apart,' Stephen added. 'You can't look at him and think it's okay to take him from his mom.'
A quiet New York City neighborhood was terrorized by a mob of out-of-control motorists who stormed a residential block, beat local residents and torched a car as part of a 'street takeover.'

Distressed residents in Malba, Queens, watched on in horror as their usually secluded neighborhood was transformed into a crazed scene akin to the Mad Max films early on Sunday morning.

The violence exploded around 12.30am in the usually quiet waterfront suburb, when dozens of cars poured into South Drive & 141st Street.

The mob began ripping across lawns, spinning donuts in the middle of the streets and setting off fireworks in one of the most brazen takeovers the city has seen.

Neighbors said the block has recently become a magnet for dangerous late-night meetups - part of a national 'street takeover' trend that migrated from California - and has increasingly escalated into violence, vandalism, and brazen confrontations with civilians.

The first to push back against the anarchy was local resident Blake Ferrer, who stepped outside and tried to get the group off his property.

'When I came out, I said, 'Bro, you gotta get the f*** off my property,' Ferrer told The New York Post. 'And that's when it all started.'

Video then shows Ferrer being swarmed by a pack of attackers as he is kicked, stomped, and punched, while his wife is also struck.

A quiet corner of Queens, New York was transformed into a full-blown war zone akin to the film Mad Max early on Sunday when a mob of street-takeover drivers stormed a residential bloc

At least one car was set ablaze by the mob which ran riot through the streets

A local resident (dressed in blue and yellow) can be seen lying on the ground as the mob attacked

Ferrer was left with broken ribs and a broken nose.

Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, who represents the area, said Ferrer was 'lucky he wasn't killed.'

A second resident, a 41-year-old man, had objects thrown through his car windows when he tried to intervene, according to police.

Private security company owner Larry Rusch, 59, rushed outside after hearing engines screaming across front lawns. He described seeing about 40 cars involved.

Rusch tried to halt the mob by pulling a company vehicle into the intersection to block the stunt drivers.

'As soon as I did that, everyone started leaving,' he said. But two individuals broke off from the crowd. 'Somehow they threw some kind of firework or something and lit the car up.'

The vehicle burst into flames, captured in a video posted by Paladino as another car sped around the burning wreck in circles.

'It was a complete melee,' Rusch, who has lived in the area his whole life, said.

Dozens of cars gathered to make donuts around the blazing vehicle in scenes of chaos

Firefighters could be seen battling to put the fire out as the vehicle sat in the middle of the road

Gangs of young men wearing hoodies and facemasks made for a threatening presence

Rusch noted how stunt drivers occasionally pass through, but nothing close to what unfolded this weekend.

'It happens but not to this extent,' he explained.

Paladino was furious about both the violence and the city's response. She published a blistering statement saying residents who called 911 were told that a 'quality of life team and 311' should handle the situation.

'Unacceptable,' she wrote. 'In fact, these violent street takeovers should be met with maximum force by the police department.'

'This is a disgrace. They came with their cars and wreaked havoc on this very quiet area of my district.'

She warned that the repeated lack of consequences for those involves is pushing neighborhoods to the brink.

'There were multiple armed residents who exercised extreme restraint last night, however that level of restraint is not guaranteed,' she said. 'If the city refuses to do what's necessary, the people might.'

The NYPD said an officer who was initially dispatched to the call was diverted to a higher-priority emergency - but that once the takeover was upgraded, police responded quickly.

Two local residents were seen being attacked on the front lawn of their home

The couple could be seen being punched and kicked to the ground in a savage beating

Victim Blake Ferrer can be seen being knocked to the ground

The waterfront neaighborhood of Queens is usually a quiet part of the city

Councilwoman Vickie Paladino released a lengthy statement decrying the violence

'The precinct covers a large geographical area, and this was a busy Saturday night,' the NYPD told Fox News noting how officers were simultaneously dealing with a DWI arrest, an assault, a hospital transport, and an injury-causing collision.

But to residents, the explanation did little to quell the outrage.

'These incidents are happening citywide,' Paladino warned. 'And they're happening because there are no longer any real consequences to this kind of criminality.'

She added that residents in her district seeking concealed-carry or premises-permit applications are being offered assistance by her office.

The illegal 'street takeover' trend began in California and has since been spreading across the nation, involving large groups who meet at a designated location late at night to perform dangerous stunts in their cars.

Often footage of the dangerous moves go viral on social media sites like TikTok and Instagram.
Father Ted creator Graham Linehan said he will continue to stand up to trans activists after being found not guilty of harassment.

The 57-year-old said he was 'very pleased' to have been acquitted after 18-year-old Sophia Brooks said she was 'alarmed and distressed' by Linehan's social media posts about her.

But district judge Briony Clarke said that while Linehan's comments were 'deeply unpleasant and even unnecessary', they were not 'oppressive or unacceptable beyond merely unattractive, annoying or irritating'.

She also cast doubt on Ms Brooks's testimony in court, describing her as giving 'less than truthful evidence'.

Linehan was found guilty of criminal damage after throwing Ms Brooks's phone outside a conference in London a year ago, and was ordered to pay nearly 1,400 in fines and costs.

Speaking outside Westminster Magistrates' Court today, Linehan said he would appeal the criminal damage conviction, and said he hoped his acquittal for harassment would put an end to gender critical commentators such as himself being targeted by members of the trans community.

He said: 'I'm very pleased by today's verdict.

'There are a group of dangerous men who are determined to bully women and girls, and to misuse the courts and police in furtherance of a misogynistic agenda.

Graham Linehan, co-creator of Father Ted and other British sitcoms, denied harassing a young trans activist

Linehan, who now lives in Arizona, arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court wheeling a suitcase

'I'm proud to have stood up to them and I will continue to do so.'

He previously described how he lost his income and his marriage to the writer Helen Serafinowicz due to his involvement in gender critical activism.

He told reporters outside court: 'It's what trans activists do.

'We have a phrase, punishment is a process, and they like to put people through these kinds of experiences, to make them frightened about standing up to them.

'But I'm hoping that with this judgment, you know, people in future won't be subject to those kinds of tactics.'

Linehan underlined his determination to stand up for his beliefs by posting a video of Ms Brooks at a previous conference, describing the complainant as 'the creepy little thug who brought the action against me'.

Using the male pronouns to describe Ms Brooks, as he did throughout the three-day trial, Linehan added: 'With any luck he'll find it harder to abuse the system in future.'

Linehan has been outspoken on trans issues, and even found himself arrested by armed police as he arrived at Heathrow Airport for his harassment trial, accused of allegedly inciting violence in relation to three posts about trans issues unrelated to Ms Brooks.

Linehan (centre) gave a brief statement to reporters outside court today

Prosecutors later dropped the case against him.

And he was unrelenting in his defence of women's rights when he arrived for his harassment trial, donning a placard which read: 'Keep men out of women's sports'.

Prosecutor Julia Faure Walker said Linehan had posted about Ms Brooks 'relentlessly', and that his posts were 'oppressive'.

The court was told that Linehan and the activist met for the first time in person outside the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster on October 19 last year.

While filming outside the venue, Ms Brooks approached Linehan and asked: 'Why do you think it is acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists?'

The transgender activist told the court that Linehan had called them a 'sissy porn-watching scumbag', a 'groomer' and a 'disgusting incel' - meaning involuntarily celibate - with the complainant responding 'you're the incel, you're divorced'.

A video played to the court appeared to show Linehan grabbing the complainant's phone.

Asked why he threw the phone and did not return it, Linehan said: 'My adrenaline was up, I was angry. I guess that feels like surrender so I threw it away.'

Linehan queued outside the court ahead of the verdict

He said he did not accept that damage to Ms Brooks's phone was caused by him, and said he threw it to prevent himself being harassed.

The court previously heard that Linehan had posted on social media about someone with the name 'Tarquin', which prosecutor Ms Faure Walker said was the defendant's 'derogatory term' for the complainant.

Asked if he had any intention to incite any violent action, Linehan said: 'No, because the violence and toxicity in the trans debate comes from the trans side.'

He added: 'The nature of trans activism is that it is very male. It's abusive, it's sadistic.

'The police are basically working for trans activists these days.

'They don't understand the issue and they believe everything trans activists say to them. A lot of institutions have been captured by trans ideology.'

He added: 'I hate bullies and the bullies who bully women are the worst of all, so it got me very angry.'

Ms Brooks gave evidence to the trial, held over three days in September and October, in which she repeatedly described feeling 'alarmed and distressed' by Linehan's behaviour.

But district judge Clarke said she had 'concerns about the credibility of the complainant and the answers which they gave the court'.

She said: 'I am not prepared to say that they have given evidence which is entirely incapable of belief and in some aspects, accept that they were giving the court honest evidence.

'However, I am not prepared to find that they have given me entirely truthful evidence. There are a number of inconsistencies or areas of concern which leads me to this conclusion.'

Linehan denied one count of harassment and a further charge of criminal damage.
Senator Pauline Hanson has leaked a troubling email warning parliamentarians to take security precautions during a visit by Chinese officials to Parliament House.

The message, sent by the Department of Parliamentary Services on Monday morning, laid out the precise movements of Zhao Leji, China's third-most powerful official, during his two-day trip to Canberra.

It advised parliamentarians and staff to shut down mobile phones, laptops and iPads as Zhao and his delegation passed through sensitive areas of the building.

The email also flagged interruptions to Wi-Fi and urged staff to close blinds and office doors while the delegation moved through the corridors.

Despite the message being marked 'sensitive', and the department requesting recipients not distribute it any further, Hanson posted the entire email to social media.

Hanson said the extraordinary restrictions showed Zhao was 'not a guest, but a bonafide threat to our democracy'.

'Despite being asked not to distribute the email, I think all Australians have a right to know that the Chinese Communist Party cannot be trusted,' she added.

Zhao, chair of the National People's Congress, is one of President Xi Jinping's key power brokers and a senior figure inside Beijing's ruling inner circle.

Zhao Leji, China's third highest-ranking official is pictured with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday morning during Zhao's two-day trip to Canberra

Senator Pauline Hanson leaked a 'sensitive' government email warning parliamentarians to take precautions ahead of Zhao's visit, whom she described as a 'bonafide threat'

Pro-China demonstrators are pictured holding flags at Government House in Canberra on Monday ahead of the Chinese powerbroker's visit

His visit includes meetings with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Governor-General Sam Mostyn, and a formal dinner with Senate President Sue Lines and Speaker Milton Dick.

The DPS email did not give reasons for the strict instructions, but it noted the delegation would pass through the House of Representatives wing, the ministerial wing and the Prime Minister's courtyard across Monday evening and early Tuesday.

Parliamentarians and their staff were told to use alternative routes while Zhao was inside the building and warned that some offices might experience 'intermittent disruptions' to Wi-Fi.

It also urged staff to power down all internet-connected devices in certain areas and to switch off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth where shutdown was not possible.

Cybersecurity experts say the warnings reflect long-standing concerns about foreign intelligence gathering during official visits by senior Chinese figures.

Dr Nathan Attrill, senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told the Daily Mail the precautions were not surprising.

'When a senior Chinese official visits, agencies assume the delegation will be accompanied by technical specialists capable of wireless interception or device exploitation,' Dr Attrill said.

'Powering down electronics and disabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is simply about reducing the most accessible points of vulnerability.'

Hanson described Zhao as an 'imposter and a bonafide threat' to Australia's democracy

Parliamentarians and staff were asked to ensure the blinds and doors of offices in the path of the Chinese delegation (pictured) were closed for 'privacy' reasons

Zhao's visi includes meetings with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Governor-General Sam Mostyn (pictured) and a dinner with Senate President Sue Lines and Speaker Milton Dick

He said China had a 'long track record' of exploiting diplomatic travel to 'map networks, capture signals and collect whatever ambient data they can'.

'None of this means the delegation is doing anything improper, but Parliament House is one of the most targeted buildings in Australia and DPS is simply reducing risk,' he added.

The visit comes after ASIO director-general Mike Burgess warned of a surge in state-sponsored cyber-attacks targeting critical systems and government infrastructure.

ASIO has repeatedly warned that foreign intelligence services, including China-linked groups, view Australian politicians and their offices as potential targets for espionage.

Opposition cybersecurity spokeswoman Claire Chandler said the instructions given to staff showed the scale of the threat.

She said the idea that MPs had to shut down electronics 'just to protect our data' during a foreign visit should alarm all Australians.

'Its fair to expect all parliamentarians to be vigilant about their own cybersecurity, but the measures in place today go far beyond whats usually expected for a visiting delegation,' she said.

Daily Mail has contacted the Department of Parliamentary Services for comment.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may lose his special royal visa to enter the United States over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, according to an immigration expert.

The highest level clearance - described as a 'golden ticket' - allows holders to come and go as they please from America with minimal security checks and they receive special treatment at U.S. airports.

Mountbatten-Windsor, 65, is still entitled to such a visa because, despite being stripped of his titles over his association with the late pedophile, he remains eighth in line to the throne.

Removing the former prince and Duke of York from the succession would take an Act of Parliament.

His continuing status means he would be eligible for the A-1 'Head of State' visa which is reserved by the U.S. State Department for members of foreign royal families.

Those names are put forward by foreign governments and approved by the U.S. Secretary of State, currently Marco Rubio, and last for years.

However, Mounbatten-Windsor would be unlikely to get one in the wake of his 2022 out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, the late Epstein victim who committed suicide in April this year, immigration lawyer Melissa Chavin told the Daily Mail.

The former prince reached a multi-million dollar settlement with Giuffre after she sued him in a civil court in New York claiming he sexually abused her when she was 17.

He has always denied her claims and insists the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been stripped of his title but is still in line to the throne

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on his private aircraft

Earlier this month, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee in Congress requested that Mountbatten-Windsor sit for a transcribed interview as part of their sprawling investigation into Epstein.

They do not have the power to issue a subpoena to a foreign national like Mountbatten-Windsor.

If he still had an A-1 visa Mountbatten-Windsor could very easily travel to Washington to give evidence.

But Chavin said: 'After the February 2022 settlement, Andrew was likely taken off the diplomatic visa request rolls.'

She added: 'A-1 Head of State visas holders are subject to lower security standards. But they do require being put forward by the British Foreign Office on their diplomatic visa request lists.

'Here, Andrew breached a code of trust for those who use diplomatic visas.'

She said there appeared to be a 'one bite of the apple' policy' and a 'good diplomatic corps and foreign service will remove someone from their diplomatic visa request lists' if that is breached.

'The British Foreign Office is not likely to continue to recommend him to the U.S. State Department for a diplomatic visa,' she said.

The Epstein files are set to be released soon after President Donald Trump signed a bill authorizing it

An undated handout photo taken at an undisclosed location and released on August 9, 2021 by the United States District County for the Southern District of New York shows (L-R) the then Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell posing for a photo

A congressional committee has asked for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to give a transcribed interview

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio could block a royal visa if Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor tried to use one to enter America

If Mountbatten-Windsor applied for a visitor visa outside of the diplomatic context, he could be denied.

'He would have trouble getting most other visas due to the 2022 federal case settlement,' Chavin said.

Mountbatten-Windsor's office did not respond to a request for comment.

The Foreign Office declined to comment on an individual case.

Mountbatten-Windsor is not known to have visited the U.S. since 2010 when he infamously stayed at Epstein's New York mansion for days and was photographed with the pedophile in Central Park.

He ignored a deadline of November 20 set by the congressional committee to be interviewed as part of their investigation into Epstein.

Another way for him to travel and give evidence would be to use the 'parole' system.

'Andrew may sign an agreement to testify in person as a cooperating government witness,' Chavin said. 'In the agreement, he might be assured of not being prosecuted.

'He could then travel to the U.S. on a visa, or on a permission to travel called a parole, issued just for testifying in Congress.'

Parole requests are facilitated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and can be issued for expert witnesses.

The mechanics of organizing a visit for Mountbatten-Windsor to be interviewed would include ICE coordinating with the U.S. Embassy in London, and the witness would leave the U.S. immediately after giving their evidence.

Virginia Giuffre, who accused the former Prince Andrew, speaking in 2019

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his brother King Charles III

Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have been caught up in the Epstein scandal

American witnesses who have been subpoenaed include Bill Clinton, who traveled numerous times on Epstein's jet, and Hillary Clinton.

They are scheduled to give depositions next month.

In a November 6 letter to Mountbatten-Windsor, Democrat members of the committee said: 'It has been publicly reported that your friendship with Mr. Epstein began in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 conviction for procuring minors for prostitution.

'It has also been reported that you traveled with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queens residence at Balmoral, and to Mr Epsteins private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been accused of abusing minors.

'This close relationship with Mr. Epstein, coupled with the recently revealed 2011 email exchange, in which you wrote to him "we are in this together," further confirms our suspicion that you may have valuable information about the crimes committed by Mr. Epstein and his co-conspirators.

When the proposed deadline for the interview passed on November 20, Suhas Subramanyam, one of the Democratic members of the committee, accused Mountbatten-Windsor of 'hiding from us.'

He added: 'I think he will continue to try to hide from people doing meaningful investigations of this matter.'

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (then the Duke of York) and the Prince of Wales leave after a Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral, central London

Jeffrey Epstein and associate Ghislaine Maxwell with then-President Bill Clinton at the White House in 2001

Last week, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer heaped more pressure on Mountbatten-Windsor to give evidence about Epstein in the U.S.

Breaking the long-standing convention that Prime Ministers do not comment on royal matters, Sir Keir told reporters at the G20 summit in South Africa: Anybody who has got relevant information in relation to these kinds of cases should give evidence.

Sir Keir previously worked as one of the United Kingdom's most senior prosecutors, lending his words an extra sting.

The Epstein scandal is expected to explode again soon as a flood of new documents are released.

President Donald Trump recently signed legislation ordering his Justice Department to release documents from its long-running investigation.

The files have been eagerly sought by both his political opponents and members of his own party who have pressed for greater transparency in the case.

The material could shed more light on the activities of Epstein, who socialized with Trump and other notable figures.

In 2008 Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution.

A decade later, Epstein was charged with sex trafficking minors and committed suicide jail in New York while awaiting trial.

Giuffre publicly accused Mountbatten-Windsor of having sex with her on three occasions, including in New York.

Mountbatten-Windsor has always vehemently denied the allegations.

U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks during a press conference to discuss the Epstein Files

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal titles over the Epstein scandal

Giuffre died by suicide aged 41 in April and repeated the allegations in her posthumous book 'Nobody's Girl.'

Prince Harry is another rumored holder of the A-1 'Head of State' visa.

The nature of the Duke of Sussex's visa was the subject of a two-year legal saga in Washington D.C.

He had no involvement in the civil case in which the Heritage Foundation think tank was trying to obtain details of his visa under freedom of information laws.

In March, the drama appeared to have come to an end with the mystery at its heart still unsolved.

A court decided that it was a private matter.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 'Anybody who has got relevant information in relation to these kinds of cases should give evidence.'

A person poses for a photo with a copy of the book 'Nobody's Girl - A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice' by Virginia Roberts Giuffre

A flurry of relevant documents were released, but they were heavily redacted.

The convoluted case began in the wake of the publication of the Duke's explosive memoir 'Spare' in 2023, in which he admitted experimenting with cannabis, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms.

Taking drugs can be grounds for the U.S. government to reject a standard visa application.

The Heritage Foundation subsequently submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeking out his immigration records.

It argued there was a public interest in releasing them to see if the Duke had been given preferential treatment by Joe Biden's administration, in the form of a waiver over his drug admissions, when he moved to California with his American wife Meghan in 2020.

When the FOIA request was rejected the think tank took the DHS to court in a civil case.

But the March ruling by Judge Carl Nichols saw that attempt hit a roadblock.

Sources close to the Duke of Sussex have previously indicated he answered truthfully on his visa application.
Newly-released images show alleged assassin Luigi Mangione's final moments of freedom before he was taken into custody for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The now 27-year-old could be seen in the photos wearing a dark jacket and a brown beanie while sitting alone in the corner of a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania on December 9, 2024.

The images - which appear to be still frames from body camera footage- then shows a group of police officers confronting Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, prompting him to pull down his mask.

At the time, police nationwide had been searching for five days for the man who was caught on surveillance footage shooting 50-year-old Thompson at point-blank range in Midtown Manhattan, killing him before fleeing the scene.

After speaking with Mangione for a moment, the officers could be seen leading the suspect - who was then revealed to be wearing a tactical vest - out of the restaurant.

The images were released in court documents Friday, as Mangione's lawyers spar with federal prosecutors over whether to drop the death penalty in his case.

Mangione is facing two federal counts of stalking, one count of murder through the use of a firearm, and one firearms offense in connection with Thompson's murder.

But his attorneys last month asked Judge Margaret Garnett to suppress evidence collected during his arrest - claiming that officers in Altoona improperly seized evidence from his backpack and questioned him before reading him his rights.

Newly-released images show alleged assassin Luigi Mangione 's final moments of freedom before he was taken into custody for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

The now 27-year-old could be seen in the photos wearing a dark jacket and a brown beanie while sitting alone in the corner of a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania on December 9, 2024

He briefly pulled down his mask when he was confronted by police officers

But in the 121-page filing on Friday, prosecutors argued that because there was a multiday manhunt for a shooter accused of killing 'a complete stranger,' officers had been justified in searching Mangione's backpack to ensure it did not contain dangerous items before seizing it.

They noted that the contents of the backpack 'would have inevitably been discovered' during an inventory search anyway.

Inside the backpack were a 9mm handgun, ammunition inscribed with the words 'delay, deny, and depose' and a journal in which Mangione allegedly mused about his intent to 'wack' an insurance executive and wrote about rebelling against 'the deadly, greed fueled health insurance cartel.'

Prosecutors also argued in their filing that the only pre-Miranda statement they plan to use against Mangione is when he allegedly gave officers a fake name.

At that point, the government argued, 'no Miranda warnings were required.'

Much of the filing, though, rebuked Mangione's lawyers after they claimed that statements made by President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have irreparably prejudiced the case.

The defense accused Trump of repeatedly intervening in the case, pointing to a series of public comments and official actions they say connected Mangione to Antifa.

The lawyers cited Trump's September 25 proclamation, 'Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence,' which referenced 'the assassination of a senior healthcare executive' as part of a trend of politically motivated violence influenced by Antifa.

The proclamation did not name Mangione, but the defense argues it clearly referred to their client.

Police nationwide had been searching for five days for the man who was caught on surveillance footage shooting 50-year-old Thompson at point-blank range in Midtown Manhattan, killing him before fleeing the scene

The images released as part of court documents on Friday show officers leading Mangione - who appeared to be wearing a tactical vest - out of the McDonald's

Defense attorneys also cited a September 18 Fox News interview in which Trump said Mangione 'shot someone in the back as clear as you're looking at me' and called the act 'a sickness.'

The next day, White House-affiliated X account Rapid Response 47 shared the clip with its 1.2 million followers. According to the defense, the post was later reposted by Justice Department deputy public affairs director Chad Gilmartin, who wrote that Trump 'is absolutely right.'

'Mr. Mangione is one young man, alleged to have acted alone, fighting for his life in three separate cases, against the full force and might of the entirety of the United States Government that is actively and persistently using him as a pawn to further its political agenda,' Mangione's attorneys wrote in their plea to get the death penalty dropped last month.

'This is the very definition of prejudicial where the consequence is death.'

Federal prosecutors, however, told the court they had the posts removed after learning of them and argued the officials involved were not part of the prosecution team.

'They operate entirely outside the scope of the prosecution team, possess no operational role in the investigative or prosecutorial functions of the Mangione matter, and are not 'associated' with this litigation,' prosecutors said in a letter

Mangione's defense team previously asked a judge to dismiss the federal indictment arguing that comments from Trump have irreparably prejudiced the case

Mangione's attorneys also renewed allegations of political interference by Attorney General Pam Bondi (pictured), who in April directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty

Mangione's attorneys also renewed allegations of political interference by Bondi, who in April directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty, calling it part of 'President Trump's agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.'

In a Fox News interview that month, Bondi said, 'If there ever was a death [penalty] case, this is one.'

The defense argues Bondi's comments, along with Trump's public statements, have 'poisoned the jury pool' and violated Mangione's due process rights.

But in their filing, prosecutors argued that 'public rhetoric by the Attorney General or the President is not a proxy for proof of prejudicial effect,' citing precedent that 'in the absence of clear evidence to the contrary, courts will presume that prosecutors have discharged their duties properly.'

The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York further noted that 'publicity - even intense - is not novel in this district,' noting that 'high-visibility cases' were routinely tried there.

If the defense is worried about their client receiving a fair trial, prosecutors argued, they could create a jury questionnaire, make individual inquiries of prospective jurors and instruct jurors to avoid media exposure.

Mangione is now due back in court on December 1.
I am relieved to hear that David Cameron caught his prostate cancer early enough to receive successful treatment, and that his wife Samantha pushed him to get checked after hearing me banging on about early screening on the radio.

It was Samantha who persuaded her husband to ask his doctor for the simple prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test, which first raised the alarm.

After an MRI scan and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis, David underwent a minimally invasive new treatment, focal therapy, which uses needles delivering electric pulses to destroy cancerous cells. He is now cancer-free.

And this is the point: whether a man gets screened for prostate cancer shouldnt depend on overhearing a radio discussion or a former Prime Minister going public. Screening should be automatic once men reach a certain age.

I care deeply about prostate cancer screening because my life, too, was saved after tests found a large, aggressive tumour in my prostate in 2022.

The fact that it was discovered at all was pure luck: I had no symptoms and felt perfectly healthy. My PSA test was given routinely as part of my private healthcare, but the majority of men rely solely on the NHS.

Ever since my diagnosis and treatment, Ive tried to allay mens fears  including of impotence and incontinence, both side effects associated with old-fashioned prostate surgery.

Thanks to modern techniques, any problems I experienced were short-lived. But even if I had suffered longer-term issues I would still rather be alive.

Samantha Cameron persuaded her husband, David, to get tested after hearing Nick Jones (pictured with Sam) banging on about early screening on the radio

That is why I have been campaigning with the charity Prostate Cancer Research for screening, and why earlier this year I lent my name to the Daily Mails vital campaign for a nationwide prostate cancer-screening programme.

It is why I hope the UKs National Screening Committee (UK NSC) will this week decide to introduce screening that could revolutionise early detection and save thousands of lives.

More than 63,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year and more than 1,000 die of it every month. It is the second-biggest cancer killer after lung carcinoma, which itself is expected to become less common thanks to a newly introduced national screening programme.

The awful truth is that almost no man need die of prostate cancer. If caught early, survival is close to 100 per cent.

But undetected, it can spread to the bones and other organs. If it gets to that stage, less than half of men are alive after five years, and fewer than one in five survive a decade.

The last time the UK NSC examined screening, in 2020, it decided against it partly because the PSA test can produce false positives and negatives, leading to overdiagnosis, overtreatment and unnecessary anxiety.

Of course it is stressful to hear you have raised PSA levels.

Women also find cervical smears and mammograms stressful  but they cope with a degree of worry because they know that, overall, screening saves lives.

Those checks are now so routine that women talk openly about them, share experiences and support one another. Men would do the same if prostate checks became a routine part of their lives.

In any case, the idea that screening inevitably causes widespread overdiagnosis and overtreatment is simply out of date. The way we diagnose and treat prostate cancer has changed dramatically. It is far more accurate and far safer than it was just five years ago.

And the benefits of spotting prostate cancer early, when there are no symptoms, far outweigh the stress experienced by those who are ultimately given the all-clear.

Crucially, there have been significant medical advances since the UK NSC last reviewed the evidence. A raised PSA no longer necessarily leads to an invasive biopsy. The next step these days is an MRI scan.

Most scans will be negative. But if a tumour is visible, the MRI pinpoints its exact location, allowing a precise, targeted biopsy through the perineum  a far more accurate and safe approach than the old technique that involved going through the bowel wall.

If cancer is confirmed, the range of treatments is now far wider and with fewer side effects.

Because prostate tumours typically grow slowly, if caught early many men may be best managed with regular monitoring rather than immediate treatment. And if the cancer does start to grow, that regular monitoring ensures it is caught early enough to be treated before it spreads.

Quite apart from explaining how he came to get tested, David Cameron also spoke about the pioneering focal therapy he underwent.

Radiotherapy and other modern treatments are also improving rapidly. A radical prostatectomy, or total removal of the prostate gland, was once the default option but is now far from the only course of action. And even if a prostatectomy is required, that is now performed robotically.

Some worry about the cost of testing on a large scale. But modelling by Prostate Cancer Research and Deloitte has shown that there is a positive socioeconomic benefit if we start screening high-risk men now.

Moreover, early interventions are far less expensive  and far less traumatic  than treating thousands of men whose cancer has been allowed to reach Stage 4. Screening would not only save thousands of lives, it would be good for the economy.

The UK NSC is meeting on Thursday to decide whether it will recommend prostate cancer screening. If they do  and I hope with every fibre of my being they will  I suspect they will recommend targeted screening starting with men at highest risk, such as those with certain genetic markers, men of black ethnicity and men with a family history of prostate, breast or ovarian cancer.

It would be a great first step on our way to a screening programme for all men aged 50 and above  and it would save countless lives.

Ultimately, the decision on whether to go ahead with the programme rests with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and I urge him to act.

Too many men are dying needlessly while we leave the detection of this cancer to chance.

The true cost of prostate cancer is not only the years of painful, expensive treatment for men diagnosed too late. Nor is it only the 12,000 deaths each year. It is the devastation left behind  the wives, partners, children, grandchildren, friends and families who watch a slow, preventable decline and live with an irreplaceable loss. Worse still, they know it didnt have to be this way.

The only way to make sure it is caught early is to introduce a nationwide screening programme. It really is that simple.
A young disabled man terrorised by a gang of balaclava-clad, machete-wielding thugs has vowed never to return to his home in Melbourne's northeast.

The family of the young man, 23, said he was shaken and 'terrified' after the armed gang raided his Heidelberg West property on Saturday.

The disabled victim had been living at the property for the last 18 months, but his home has been targeted by thugs four times in the last three weeks.

The latest incident was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Doorbell camera footage captured the menacing gang swarming outside the disabled man's home while dressed in all-black clothing, wearing Nike Air Max, and covering their faces with balaclavas and masks.

The thugs used machetes to smash through a bedroom window before climbing inside the home.

Two of them, armed with large knives, left a trail of destruction as they rampaged through the house, tearing through rooms and emptying cupboards and wardrobes.

The victim's family believe the thugs may have been searching for expensive clothing and shoes.

The thugs used machetes to smash through a bedroom window before the gang climbed inside the home

The thugs smashed their way into the Heidelberg West home

The hoodlums trashed the man's home while rampaging through the home turning out cupboards and wardrobes

Video footage showed a thug fleeing with a cooler bag full of stolen items before stopping to smash the camera.

The lawless gang then fled the property.

'He's terrified. He's shaken. He can't sleep,' the disabled man's mother told 9News.

'He keeps crying. He keeps shaking. This is not acceptable in our community.'

The mum also said her son was not home during Saturday's incident, as he had luckily moved out a day earlier 'in fear of his safety' following several previous violent incidents at the property.

'I'm just thankful that he's alive and he didn't have to witness the machetes in his face or anything more horrific,' the mum added.

'These youth need to stop doing this to innocent, vulnerable people.'

The violent incident was one of several terrifying crimes committed in Melbourne over the weekend as the city's crime wave escalates.

A machete-wielding gang was captured on CCTV terrorising families in Melbourne's leafy inner-east during an early-morning crime spree

A machete-wielding gang was captured on CCTV terrorising families in Melbourne's leafy inner-east during an early-morning crime spree.

Police have made two arrests after three male intruders allegedly targeted homes in Camberwell, Mont Albert, and Surrey Hills during a 20-minute blitz of mayhem early Saturday.

The ordeal began at 1.55am when they allegedly stormed into a Camberwell home, where 21-year-old Aaron was in the kitchen with his mother.

'They asked where the keys were to the house and used one arm to sweep a lot of the stuff off the kitchen counter onto the floor,' Aaron told 7NEWS.

The intruders allegedly demanded the keys to a Mercedes parked in the driveway before Aaron chased them out.

The brave son then grabbed a knife and threatened the trio to 'cut you with this f***ing knife'.

'Just to scare them away,' Aaron added.

'I was trying to protect my family.'

Thugs stormed into a Camberwell home where 21-year-old Aaron (above) was in the kitchen with his mother

The intruders fled empty-handed but allegedly returned moments later to smash a window and damage the front door by throwing a scooter at it in a failed attempt to break in again.

Neither Aaron nor his mother were injured during the frightening ordeal as the trio fled in a getaway car.

Ten minutes later, the same trio allegedly attempted to break into a home in Mont Albert.

CCTV captured the hooded group lurking outside the home, armed with machetes.

The group was also captured attempting to break in via the front door before they targeted a bedroom window.

The couple inside yelled out to the would-be intruders and scared them off, as the trio fled to a waiting vehicle empty-handed.

The quick-moving trio jumped a fence and allegedly broke into a third home in nearby Surrey Hills as a family of five slept inside.

They allegedly stole the keys to a Mercedes B Class and Mazda CX3.

The thugs were chased away from the Camberwell property

The commotion woke up a 17-year-old girl, who alerted her parents.

Victoria Police traced one of the allegedly stolen cars to a Narre Warren home on Saturday.

Investigators executed a warrant at the home, where they arrested a 25-year-old Narre Warren man and a 17-year-old boy, both from the local Casey area.

The man was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and bailed to appear in Dandenong Court on April 30.

The teen was released without charge, pending further inquiries.

Police confirmed the investigation is ongoing as they seek to locate and identify the third offender.

In another early Saturday-morning incident in Melbourne's northeast, two 17-year-old boys allegedly tried to break into three homes in less than 90 minutes in Viewbank.

The teens allegedly attempted to smash into homes on Duff Parade about 3.25am, Graham Road at 5am and Kambea Crescent about 5.40am.

Police alleged the teens were disrupted by occupants of the first two homes they attempted to knock over.

The teens smashed a window at the third property, but they were caught in the act and chased off by a resident.

Police, assisted by the Dog Squad, snared the two teens on Martins Lane in Viewbank.

One boy was charged with three counts of attempted aggravated burglary and criminal damage and bailed to appear at a children's court.

The second teen was interviewed by police and released, but he is expected to be charged on summons.
The devastated family of a father who vanished in Panama along with his two children have slammed the government for not doing more to track him down.

Ghussan Iqbal, from Ontario, Canada, vanished alongside his seven-month-old son Musa and two-year-old daughter Nousaybah on May 21.

Weeks later, the body of little Musa was found in the nearby Changuinola River, but there has been no sign of Iqbal or his daughter.

He had left home without his phone, wallet, money or any food, authorities said.

Iqbal had relocated to Panama about a year ago with his wife, who was from there. According to his family, she claimed he 'ran away' with the two children and had been struggling with his mental health.

The family said he had historically battled some mental health issues, but appeared to be doing well before he vanished. They last spoke with him just two days prior to his disappearance.

According to Iqbal's brother Sulman Iqbal and his wife, Nagham Azzam Iqbal, police instructed them 'not to trust' the wife and her family in the early days of the investigation, CTV News reported.

The woman allegedly has up to 'four identities, lied about her education and ethnic background, and was even seen dressing in different ways from very modestly to wearing more revealing clothing,' the publication stated.

Ghussan Iqbal, from Ontario, Canada , vanished alongside his seven-month-old son Musa and two-year-old daughter Nousaybah on May 21

There has been no sign of Iqbal or his daughter, Nousaybah (pictured)

Sulman and Nagham traveled to Panama in the wake of their brother's disappearance in an effort to help in the search operation.

But after three weeks with no luck, they returned to Canada and retained a lawyer to help advocate for the search to continue.

They claim the support they have received from Global Affairs Canada has been subpar and that they've all but given up on communicating with Canadian authorities.

'We can only communicate with them through email and it takes days to respond. We don't even reach out anymore because it's not useful,' Nagham said.

She said the department had indicated that the onus to find Iqbal and his daughter was on Panama authorities.

'It's honestly very scary knowing that as a Canadian citizen you're basically out of luck if something happens to you abroad,' Sulman added.

But authorities in Panama, while well meaning, don't have the resources at their disposal to pour into the six-month-old case.

'In Panama, everything is a very slow process,' Sulman said.

He had left home without his phone, wallet, money or any food, authorities said

Iqbal had relocated to Panama about a year ago with his wife, who was from there. According to his family, she claimed he 'ran away' with the two children and had been struggling with his mental health

The body of little Musa was found in the nearby Changuinola River, but there has been no sign of Iqbal or his daughter

'(Ghussan and his children) literally disappeared off the face of the earth,' Nagham added.

The family said he had no wilderness experience and are suspicious that baby Musa was found exactly where Iqbal's wife had directed authorities to look.

They do not believe he simply 'ran away' with his children.

But without any indication about whether Iqbal and his daughter are still alive, the family are struggling to 'start the process of grieving.'

'The reality is we may never really get the full story as to what happened to my brother and niece, but we're still holding out hope. We're not giving up until we hear otherwise.'

The GAC confirmed it is 'aware of the case involving a Canadian citizen and two minor children in Panama.'

'Canada is deeply saddened by the death of one of the minor children and our thoughts are with the family,' a spokesperson said in a written statement.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is now among the top Republicans expected to land the party's 2028 presidential nomination.

Her odds to secure the nomination mushroomed on online prediction markets days after her shocking resignation announcement.

The Georgia Republican shook up Washington, D.C., late Friday after publishing a letter critiquing her party and announcing her last day in Congress will be on January 5, 2026.

The congresswoman shared that she would be resigning her seat with a year remaining on her current term, which ends in January 2027.

Her declaration came on the heels of a high-profile bashing from President Donald Trump, who denounced her as 'wacky' and a 'traitor,' among other insults.

Since her statement, Greene has been catapulted into the top tier of GOP political heavyweights expected to compete for the party's presidential nomination.

Currently, Greene is the third most likely candidate to secure the Republican Party's support for president in 2028.

The congresswoman has a six percent chance of getting the nod in 2028, according to prediction site Polymarket.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene announced in a video her resignation will be effective on January 5, 2026. Since then, prediction markets have exploded with speculation that she could win the GOP's 2028 presidential nomination

Though VP JD Vance is the clear frontrunner to get the 2028 GOP presidential nomination, Greene is in third place just behind Secretary of State Marco Rubio

The Georgia Republican's odds shot up after Trump repeatedly bashed her, calling her a 'lowlife' and 'traitor.' Greene had been one of the most outspoken defenders of the president until recently. Above the pair are shown embracing after Trump's address to Congress in March

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance is by far the most likely 2028 Republican presidential nominee, with a 55 percent chance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is the second most likely, with an eight percent chance, according to the site.

Nearly half a million dollars has been wagered on MTG's 2028 presidential prospects on Polymarket alone.

On Kalshi, another prediction site, Greene is the seventh most likely candidate to secure the 2028 presidential nomination according to Monday evening's data - behind Vance, Rubio, Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Though her stock is rising, Greene has denied that she plans to run for the White House.

'Im not running for President and never said I wanted to and have only laughed about it when anyone would mention it,' the congresswoman wrote on social media Sunday.

'Im not motivated by power and titles,' she added.

Previous reports had indicated that she was mulling a run, citing sources close to the lawmaker.

However, Greene still has options if she wants to remain in politics.

Greene smiles while in New York City to appear on ABC's 'The View' earlier this month

Greene campaign heavily for Trump during the 2024 election, above she is shown introducing the president at a rally in her Georgia congressional district

Georgia is having gubernatorial and US Senate elections in November 2026, though the congresswoman has not clearly indicated her interest in either contest.

Boasting millions of followers across her myriad social media followings, the Republican could also wade into the media world, either on her own platform or for one of the major TV networks that she has recently appeared on, like CNN or ABC.

Greene's office did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.
Pauline Hanson turning up to the Senate in a burqa, again, was wrong.

It was offensive to many Muslim Australians, it trivialised religious dress as a costume for a political point, and it dragged the chamber into yet another culture war tableau when there are plenty of real issues on the notice papers.

She was rightly suspended for the day - and later for the week - and condemned across the spectrum.

But lets not pretend the people lining up to denounce her are guardians of some long-lost era of parliamentary decorum.

A lot of the outrage is coming from politicians who have spent years turning the place into a stage for their own props, costumes, and choreographed walkouts.

Hypocrisy is thy name: people in very fragile glass houses furious that someone else is throwing stones.

Hansons latest effort is a rerun of her 2017 stunt, minus any originality. Back then she was denied leave to introduce a bill to ban full-face coverings.

Minutes later she walked back into the Senate wearing one, then ripped it off to make her case.

The Senate had to be shut down while everyone fought over how offended they were, and she was ultimately bundled out for the day.

During yesterdays rerun, Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi called it racist and Islamophobic.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson storms the Senate in a burqa again reigniting old culture wars and sparking fresh fury over a political stunt seen as Islamophobic and attention-seeking

Pauline Hansons political theatre returns: a burqa, a stunt, and a calculated bid to bait critics into boosting her profile

Fatima Payman said it was disrespectful to Muslims. Penny Wong lectured Hanson about the privilege of representing Australians of every faith.

But the sudden concerns about the dignity of parliament are a bit rich from a cohort that has treated the chamber as a venue for performance art whenever it suits them.

Only a few months ago, Sarah Hanson-Young marched into the Senate with a decapitated Tasmanian salmon in a plastic bag and waved it around to protest salmon farming laws.

The president ruled the fish out of order as a prop and ordered it removed.

The difference for Greens critical of what happened yesterday but supportive of what their colleague did earlier this year seems to be that they liked the message attached to the salmon stunt.

Faruqi herself has been formally sanctioned by the Senate this year for staging a Gaza protest in the middle of the Governor-Generals address, holding up a sign declaring Gaza is starving. Words wont feed them. Sanction Israel.

She refused to apologise, insisting she was being silenced for speaking out.

Many of the same Greens who now want Hanson crucified over a burqa were at that time defending the right to stunt-their-way through formal occasions if the cause was righteous enough.

If youre a Green, a prop is a sombre protest. If youre Pauline Hanson, however, its an intolerable breach of parliamentary norms.

In truth, none of the above is acceptable; all of it contributes to the lost respect modern politicians suffer from.

Then there is Lidia Thorpe, whose entire political persona in Canberra has been built around disrupting parliamentary rituals. She was one of Hansons loudest critics yesterday.

WA senator slams Hansons stunt as deeply disrespectful to Muslim Australians, warning it trivialises a religious garment for cheap political theatre

Thorpe previously altered the oath of allegiance to describe the late Queen as a coloniser, was told to do it again properly, and wore the rebuke as a badge of honour. She heckled King Charles in Parliament House, shouting you are not our king before being removed by security.

Now she is under AFP investigation after telling a pro-Palestine rally she would burn down Parliament House to make a point, later explaining it was just a metaphor, which it obviously was, but a spectacularly reckless one for a sitting senator to deliver.

If Hansons burqa is a costume stunt (and it is), then so is Thorpes carefully curated radicalism in the Great Hall, so is Hanson-Youngs fish, so is Faruqis sign.

The props change, the script doesnt, the hypocrisy of those in office comes to the fore.

What makes the reaction to Hansons latest effort so jarring is that Greens senators, in particular, are among the most frequent abusers of these same unwritten rules.

They have pioneered the tactic of turning every formal occasion into a visual protest. Now, because the symbol in question is one they find offensive and the politics are hostile to their own, we are told there must be a crackdown on stunts in the chamber.

Scott Morrisons lump of coal remains one of the most infamous pieces of parliamentary theatre of the modern era.

Lidia Thorpe, who has heckled the King, altered her oath, and joked about burning down Parliament House is one of Hanson's loudest critics

As treasurer, he happily paraded a large glossy chunk of coal around the House, reassuring MPs: This is coal. Dont be afraid.

It had been specially prepared by the Minerals Council so no one would get their hands dirty.

None of this gets Hanson off the hook; it just points to the hypocrisy of her critics. And there is an added layer of ugliness when the prop is a religious garment.

Hansons move was designed to bait Muslim Australians and then claim martyrdom when they and their supporters objected.

It will make life harder for women in burqas minding their business on suburban streets, who will now be reminded yet again that their clothing is a national political battleground.

But Hansons actions yesterday were also damaging to her own cause. Self-interest alone should have checked her.

One Nation is polling at levels that would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Recent Newspoll numbers have the party at a record 15 per cent of the primary vote, with other national polling putting it even higher.

That surge is coming straight out of the Coalitions hide, with the Coalitions primary vote now languishing in the mid to low 20s, with disaffected conservatives looking for alternatives to vote for on immigration, climate, and cultural issues.

In this environment, One Nation has a genuine chance to move from protest party to something approaching a mainstream force on the right.

It can credibly talk about picking off lower house seats in regional Queensland and northern NSW, not to mention picking up the balance of power in the Senate.

Nationals MPs are nervous enough that Barnaby Joyce has openly mused about a switch. He even shared a meal with Hanson after yesterdays stunt.

For that project to work, however, the party needs to look more like a serious (if hard-edged) political alternative, and less like a permanent fringe protest movement.

Voters flirting with One Nation as a vehicle to send a message, but who still want some basic stability, need reassurance that handing them their first preference vote wont be an act of madness.

Hansons burqa routine sends the opposite signal. It drags everyone back to the worst caricature of One Nation in the 1990s and her first burqa stunt in 2017: angry, divisive, obsessed with minority dress codes rather than cost-of-living pressures.

The sort of voter who is thrilled by yesterdays imagery is already rusted on. They were never going to park their vote with the Liberals or Nationals in the first place.

All this does is spook the more cautious conservatives now contemplating a shift away from the major parties.

If One Nation wants to be more than an angry punctuation mark in Australian politics, it has to grow outwards, not inwards.

That means fewer costumes and more serious policy. It means demonstrating that you can use your growing presence in the Senate responsibly, so that voters in regional seats can imagine you holding the balance of power in the House as well as the Senate, without flinching.

A senator turning up in a burqa for the cameras is the opposite of that.

Hansons critics are entitled to call out the stunt for what it is. But until they take a harder look at themselves, their moral outrage will continue to be tainted by hypocrisy.
As apologists for mass murderers go, Abdalmonim Alrabea comes across as a genial chap. When I call on him at his flat in a 1970s apartment block five minutes' drive from the centre of Sheffield, he shakes my hand with a smile when I introduce myself and invites me in.

I offer to take off my shoes in line with Muslim custom and he motions me to take a seat on one of the two sofas in his neat living room, where there's a vase of flowers on a table and flat-screen TV on one wall. He even offers me a cup of tea. So far, so very civilised.

But Alrabea, 44, is not what he seems. This former taxi driver is accused of playing a crucial behind-the-scenes role in the orgy of violence that is tearing apart his homeland of Sudan.

The father-of-two from the state of Darfur, who crossed the Channel into Britain illegally in 2008, has been using his online platform to drum up support for Sudan's bloodthirsty guerrilla group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The RSF has been engaged in a genocidal war against non-Arab, African ethnic communities in Sudan since 2023. It was the RSF's horrifying displays of savagery when it finally occupied the city of Al Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, that alerted the world to what was going on last month.

No atrocity attracted more revulsion than the sight of one of the RSF's most notorious fighters, Abu Lulu, and a group of his subordinates indiscriminately shooting healthcare workers and patients in cold blood at Al Fashir's Saudi Maternity Hospital.

In all, 460 people are reported to have been killed at the hospital, with the Sudan Doctors Network claiming the RSF 'killed everyone they found inside the hospital, including patients, their companions and anyone else present'.

It was this monster  whose actions were seen as so heinous that he was taken into custody by his own high command  that Alrabea allegedly hosted last month on his TikTok account, which boasted almost 250,000 followers before it was banned for 'violating policies on violent and criminal behaviour'.

Abdalmonim Alrabea, a former taxi driver and father of two, is accused of playing a crucial behind-the-scenes role in the orgy of violence that is tearing apart his homeland of Sudan

Alrabea posted photographs of himself standing on a tank in Sudan, which he visited shortly after the current civil war first erupted

Abu Lulu (pictured) and a group of his subordinates indiscriminately shooting healthcare workers and patients in cold blood at Al Fashir's Saudi Maternity Hospital

'Today I killed 2,000 people and then I lost count,' the man believed to be Abu Lulu said on the platform. 'I want to start again from zero.'

Alrabea, filming himself from the comfort of his car, as he often does, laughed, later saying he wants to 'f**k these "falangayat" up and down'  the word 'falangayat' being a racist and derogatory term the RSF use in reference to indigenous groups in Darfur.

In another video, from 2023, Alrabea claimed that 'if the [RSF] rape, it is not a problem'.

In November of that year, the former Amazon delivery driver, who says he is studying business and management remotely at Canterbury Christ Church University, visited Sudan shortly after the current civil war first erupted.

He posted photographs of himself standing on a tank and interviewed the RSF's deputy-commander, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, who had been sanctioned by the US two months earlier for human rights abuses, including the 'massacre of civilians, ethnic cleansing and use of sexual violence'.

Today, Alrabea stands accused of being one of the most high-profile propagandists and recruiters for the RSF. But while his social media pages are repeatedly taken down for violating community guidelines and he has been investigated by police in the UK, he remains free to spout his ideology online.

In a meeting with the Daily Mail last week, Alrabea remained unrepentant over his views despite mounting evidence that the RSF is committing war crimes.

Asked about reports of the RSF massacre at the maternity hospital in Al Fashir, he said: 'It's fake news.'

Claiming the reports may have been manufactured by artificial intelligence, he said that his TikTok video with Abu Lulu was 'only joking' and praised the RSF for fighting against the Sudanese government. He later claimed Abu Lulu was not in fact on the video and somebody else had been assuming his identity.

'Today I killed 2,000 people and then I lost count,' the man believed to be Abu Lulu said on TikTok

'I don't support the killing of any civilians or the people in Sudan,' he said. 'But I support the RSF because they are fighting against the Sudanese army.'

He said he was jailed in Sudan for railing against the government and arrived in the UK 'on a ship' over the Channel before being granted asylum, originally settling in Wakefield before moving to Sheffield. He has been a British citizen since 2017.

He claims the RSF is attempting to 'bring democracy' to Sudan and said the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist organisation, had corrupted his country's armed forces.

'We face hatred and blocks from people who want to shut our mouths and not speak for the sake of democracy in Sudan,' he claimed, before insisting again that the hospital massacre was 'a fabrication'.

'People have never committed these massacres as has been claimed,' he said. 'If I see evidence [of war crimes] I will speak loudly against any crime committed in Sudan.' Alrabea posts videos on an almost daily basis to a YouTube channel, which boasts more than 4,000 subscribers, with most of them featuring the former taxi driver in his car talking about the conflict in Sudan.

Online platform Sudan In The News, which has been monitoring Alrabea's output, has accused him of 'justifying the RSF's use of rape as a weapon of war from the very same taxi he uses to transport women'. He is understood to have stopped working as a taxi driver last year.

In Al Fashir, more than 2,000 people are thought to have been massacred by the RSF last month as they took control of the city.

It was under siege for more than a year, walled off from the rest of the country by the paramilitaries, with its inhabitants left to starve  reportedly surviving on animal feed and weeds.

Such was the scale of the slaughter, the blood-stained ground could allegedly be seen from space. Alrabea visited the city as recently as June, when parts were already under RSF control.

While Sudan has been in a state of civil war since 2023, the roots of the conflict date back to 2019, when president Omar al-Bashir  who came to power in a coup in 1989  was ousted.

A joint military-civilian government was established in 2021 with the head of the country's armed forces and the leader of the RSF initially working together. But they fell out and fighting between the two forces began in April 2023.

Unusually, the RSF's appalling actions are often broadcast on social media, with fighters such as Abu Lulu apparently seeing themselves as freedom-fighting celebrities.

In one video, RSF fighters could be seen laughing as they rode on the back of a pickup truck past a succession of dead bodies.

'Look at all this work,' one says. 'Look at this genocide. They will all die like this.'

Others portray the slaughter of captives with unflinching barbarity. In one such video starring the dread-locked Abu Lulu himself, a dozen petrified men sit on scorched desert sand, pleading for their lives.

What follows is merciless slaughter, with volleys of bullets ripping into the defenceless prisoners, their bodies jerking as each round hits home. The summary executions complete, Abu Lulu turns to the camera and smiles.

But Alrabea maintains that, while he supports the RSF for what he sees as attempting to bring democracy to Sudan, he is not an active 'recruiter' for the paramilitary group. 'My videos explain to people what is happening in Sudan,' he said. 'A lot of people don't know what is going on. The platforms are often controlled by the army.'

Alrabea's unrepentant support, from the country which gave him asylum, is at odds with the evidence in the public domain. Last year, Human Rights Watch published an 89-page report into sexual violence committed by the RSF in Khartoum, which revealed that children were being forced into marriage and women and girls were being held in conditions that could amount to 'sexual slavery'.

This evidence appears to have done nothing to undermine Alrabea's support.

Often breaking out into a smile, the softly-spoken activist simply claimed the mounting evidence is 'not true'. He disagreed that rape was being used as a weapon and claimed those left in Al Fashir after it was stormed by the RSF were not civilians.

On why he records so many videos, he said: 'I need to show the people what are facts, what is the truth. The Sudanese army are only sending fake news in the media. It doesn't give the people what are the facts.'

He said he couldn't accept reports of RSF atrocities, comparing it to the war in Gaza. He said: 'Some people say Hamas is firing, some people say Israel is killing. But if you can't go inside the country how can you know? I'm not going to say 100 per cent it [RSF massacres] didn't happen but we need to make investigation to know what is going on there.'

Abdallah Abnu Garda, chairman of the Darfur Diaspora Association, which campaigns for genocide survivors in the UK, told the Daily Mail that Alrabea was 'deliberately provoking genocide survivors who have made the United Kingdom their home' and 'exploiting this country's protections for freedom of expression to spread hate speech without accountability'.

Last Friday, he made a formal complaint about Alrabea's online postings to South Yorkshire Police after revelations about his conduct were first reported in the Guardian.

'Despite our repeated reports to the relevant authorities, no action has been taken to stop him,' he said. 'His conduct escalated to its peak when he hosted the killer known as "Abu Lulu" on his TikTok platform, the same individual who executed innocent civilians on a live stream.

'We believe British authorities have been slow to intervene, despite the gravity of his actions. This matter must be treated with the seriousness it warrants.

'We urge the authorities to immediately open a formal investigation into his activities, including his use of online platforms to disseminate harmful and potentially criminal content.

'Freedom of speech must never be used as a shield for hate speech or the incitement of violence.'

Meanwhile, as at least 13 million people are displaced from their homes in Sudan owing to the war, Alrabea, from his neat suburban living room continues to offer support to the rebels who are terrorising and massacring minority groups in the country from which he fled.
The billionaire philanthropist Gordon Getty privately suggested Donald Trump could be anything from a narcissist to a psychopath.

It was the latest revelation from 20,000 pages of documents released earlier this month by a congressional committee as part of its sprawling investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

Several of Getty's emails were included in the release by the House Oversight Committee because someone else on the chain linked in Epstein.

Getty, 91, a classical music composer with strong ties to Democratic California governor Gavin Newsom, has said little publicly about Trump.

But the emails, sent in 2018, revealed strong opinions, according to Forbes.

His comments were reportedly made in the context of general conversations about politics and economics.

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at the White House in Washington D.C.

Gordon Getty made private comments about Trump during his first term

He wrote: 'What prompted my first memo was a concern that we have a psychopath or sociopath or malignant narcissist or narcissist or Mach (Machiavellian) in the White House, whether or not those categories grade into a continuum.

'If I am right in fitting the president somewhere in the groups I listed, the nation faces a different and deeper crisis than many had thought.

'Its about fitness for office. The President is the worlds number one fiduciary. [...] Persons without empathy or remorse are not prudent choices.'

He also suggested that someone on the chain write a book to 'get the word out.'

The email group was given the name 'Gruterites,' but the reason was unclear.

According to FEC filings Getty has given given $4.5 million to Democrats and anti-Trump groups since 2015, Forbes reported.

That included the 'Need to Impeach' political action committee in 2018 during Trump's first term.

Gavin Newsom, the potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, is a close friend of the Getty family

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, left, Gordon Getty, center, and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, right, enjoy a pre-dinner glass of wine during a hospitality event of the Napa Valley Wine Auction at the PlumpJack Winery in Oakville, Calif., Thursday, June 3, 2004

Sophia Loren and Gordon Peter Getty during the European Cultural Award 'Taurus' ( Europaeischer Kulturpreis Taurus ) at Vienna State Opera on October 20, 2019 in Vienna, Austria

His only reported public comment criticizing Trump came in 2024 in an interview with a local magazine in San Francisco.

Asked what he would do with a magic wand, he reportedly said: 'I wish that Donald Trump would get a long lasting case of laryngitis. Thats the worst Ill do.'

Getty has a long friendship with Newsom, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate.

Newsom's father, William Newsom III, was a well-connected San Francisco lawyer who later became a judge - and then became the family lawyer for the Getty oil dynasty

The Gettys, one of America's richest dynasties, in turn helped provide Newsom with an entree into San Francisco's upper crust and politics.

American oil heir and arts patron Gordon Getty, son of oil tycoon John Paul Getty Jnr, walking with his wife, Ann, outdoors after the marriage of Barbara Collins, personal assistant to J. Paul Getty, Surrey, England in 1973

The PlumpJack winery in California started by Gavin Newsom and Gordon Getty

Later, Newsom and Getty founded a winery called PlumpJack in the Napa Valley.

Getty also composed an opera called Plump Jack.

The name is a reference to Shakespeare's character Sir John Falstaff in Henry IV.

Newsom attended the wedding of Gordon Getty's granddaughter, Ivy Getty, in 2021.

Gordon Getty is the son of J. Paul Getty, who founded Getty Oil in 1942.

In the 1980s Gordon Getty sold it to Texaco for $10 billion and has since been a prolific benefactor to the arts.
When South Australia Police confirmed on Monday they were returning this week to the scene of Gus Lamont's disappearance for a fifth time, I had a sinking feeling.

For two months, they have desperately searched for clues about the four-year-old's disappearance from his grandmothers' Outback property one Saturday afternoon.

The boy was last seen on September 27, playing in a sand pile outside the remote sheep station, 40km south of Yunta.

SAPOL confirmed STAR Group Officers and Taskforce Horizon will search six mineshafts near Oak Park Station, and insisted again there has been no evidence of foul play.

'The uncovered and unfenced shafts are located between 5.5km and 12km from the Oak Park homestead in areas not searched on foot by police,' they said in a media release.

'Police were not previously aware of the location of these sites.'

The mention of mine shafts sent a shiver down my spine.

On October 2, I reported that locals believed little Gus may have accidentally fallen into one of the many abandoned mine shafts from a bygone gold-rush era, or into an old stock well.

Four-year-old Gus has been missing since 5.30pm on September 27

Police on Tuesday returned to the area to search recently uncovered abandoned mineshafts - an example of which is seen here in a photo taken on a different property

At the time, a nearby station owner said residents of Yunta - a dusty speck on the map with two operational petrol stations, a post office and a pub serving just 60 locals - feared Gus might have vanished into one of the old mine shafts, which are often concealed by more than a century of red dust and saltbush.

'That's the talk [among locals],' he said at the time.

Police have not revealed why they are now scouring six mine shafts; however, locals suspect they might be acting on the results of infrared drone technology that was deployed during the initial days of the search.

At the time, police said it would take some weeks to analyse the data.

'We have used these highly technical drones that collect data from the landscape but that data has to be analysed through an IT system,' SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens previously said.

'I would expect that we will be deploying our investigators and our search experts up there as we process information that weve collected on previous visits.'

When Daily Mail asked why they had singled out this area almost two months after Gus vanished, and when they found out about the mines, police refused to comment.

Earlier this month, in an interview with this publication, private investigator Ken Gamble suggested police should use LiDAR technology - a laser-based mapping system that specialises in precise terrain imaging via drone technology.

Gus' grandparent Josie Murray was photographed recently in Jamestown

When he vanished, Gus was in the care of his maternal grandmother, Shannon Murray

Police will be searching six mineshafts between 5km and 12km from the Murray homestead

When Daily Mail asked police whether they had deployed LiDAR technology in the search for Gus, they would not comment.

Now, a local familiar with the case - which has attracted global attention and fevered internet speculation - has confirmed that police did, in fact, use LiDAR in their search for Gus, speculating that the data retrieved has revealed the location of the mines.

It is believed that some of those mines are outside the boundaries of Oak Park Station, which is owned by Gus' grandparents, Shannon and Josie Murray.

The property has been passed down through Shannon's maternal line for generations.

'Some of these mines may actually be on neighbouring stations,' a local source said.

While online sleuths have speculated that the Murrays would have known the location of some of these shafts, those who know the region like the back of their hand say many remain undetected.

One station owner, who wished to remain anonymous, has more than 30,000 acres of land that has been in his family for multiple generations, yet he still stumbles across disused shafts and wells.

'Most aren't on any maps. If [Gus' grandparents] have owned that property for a while, they might know where they are - although I'm still finding new spots on my property,' he said.

Many of these sinister shafts are invisible to an adult's naked eye - much less a meandering child's.

A mine shaft and a trommel used for finding gold was seen outside the Murray home

Several land, air and waterway searches have been conducted in the hunt for Gus

The source shared a picture of one of the mines he had recently discovered, which shows why they are so difficult to see.

The Yunta region has a rich history in both gold and copper mining.

In 1887, people hoping to strike it rich flocked to the area after a gold discovery north-east of the township, inspiring what was known as the King's Bluff Rush.

Hundreds of prospectors fossicked in the surrounding area.

According to the ABC, documents published on an SA government mining database refer to early copper mining about 'four miles south' of what appears to be the homestead on the station where Gus went missing.

Indeed, the Murray family themselves appear to be no strangers to the mining industry.

An aerial photograph of their homestead showed a trommel - a machine used for sorting earth and gold prospecting - as well as a mine shaft, right next to the sand pile on which Gus was playing before he disappeared.

That mine has no doubt been thoroughly searched by investigators given its proximity to Gus' last-known location.

Josie Murray, a transgender woman, was 10km north of the homestead when Gus vanished

Shannon Murray cradles daughter Jessica - Gus' mother - as an infant in this rare family photo

Gus' parents, Jessica and Joshua, are pictured at the 2018 SA Music Awards

Shannon Murray and her partner Josie - a transgender woman who transitioned some years ago - inherited the sprawling station from her mother's side of the family.

Shannon's parents, Clair and Vincent Pfeiffer, a WWII prisoner of war, died in the early 2000s, and handed it down to the Murrays through a family trust.

During their marriage, Shannon and Josie had one child together, daughter Jessica, who is the mother of Gus and his one-year-old brother Ronnie.

Gus and Ronnie's father, Joshua Lamont, lived a two-hour drive away in Belalie North, near Jamestown, in a farmhouse he purchased for $80,000 in 2021.

A friend previously said the couple had a 'commuter relationship', and suggested that Joshua and Josie did not see eye to eye.

The source claimed Josh felt that Oak Park, a working sheep station, was not the right place to raise children. A neighbour added that he was renovating his home in the hope of Jessica, Gus and Ronnie moving in with him.

On the night Gus vanished, he and brother Ronnie were in the care of Shannon while Josie and Jessica were searching for lost sheep 10km north of the homestead.

It is understood that Joshua learned of his son's disappearance when police woke him up late in the evening of September 27.

Cloth nappies hanging on the line suggest Jessica and Ronnie are still at the homestead

Oak Park is a 40km drive from the nearest paved road - the Barrier Highway

Joshua's parents, David and Christine Lamont, live rurally near Mt Gambier, in the state's south-east.

When Daily Mail approached them for comment recently, a family friend insisted they would never speak about their grandson's disappearance.

Shannon and Josie too have steadfastly refused media interviews - with Josie waving a shotgun when a Daily Mail reporter approached them at Oak Park last month.

In early November, the couple were pictured in public for the first time when they attended a business meeting at a cafe in Peterborough, and were later seen running errands in the crop-farming community of Jamestown.

Since Gus went missing, social media has been awash with theories about what happened to him.

Given the farm's incredibly remote location, abduction is highly unlikely.

And suggestions that he was taken by an animal may be wide of the mark, given there are few dingoes in the region.

Gus would have also been too heavy to be picked up by a bird of prey, and a wild-pig attack would have left evidence.

The family have consistently cooperated with police, and have been supported by a victim contact officer. There is no suggestion they were involved in the boy's disappearance.

Distraught Joshua is understood to be living in Adelaide and working as a tradie

A child's bikes could be seen at Josh's now-abandoned Belalie North farmhouse in October

Police, the SES, the ADF, AirPol and an Aboriginal tracker have scoured a 5.5km radius - or 95 sq km - surrounding the Murray homestead across several land and water searches.

The original search area extended well beyond this, with the use of the mounted operations unit and PolAir. This area has been estimated at 470 sq km, police have said.

A solitary footprint, which matched the shoes Gus was wearing, was discovered in the red dust in the early days of the hunt, but was later ruled unlikely to be relevant.

After the first week, police were forced to concede the child - who was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, pants, boots and a hat - was unlikely to have survived the harsh desert conditions.

Aboriginal tracker Ronald Boland joined the search in its early days

A solitary footprint in the dust is the only possible evidence found so far

Police deputy commissioner Linda Williams is determined to get closure for the family

In Yunta, overnight temperatures at that time of year can fall to near zero.

Last month, police drained a dam 600m from the property in the hope of finding Gus' remains tangled in the weeds after an accidental drowning, but came up with nothing.

SAPOL Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams said the new mineshaft searches were part of their determination to 'explore every avenue in an effort to locate Gus Lamont and provide some closure for his family'.

'These searches will either locate evidence or eliminate these locations from further investigation by the Task Force.'

New to DailyMail+? Get the full story on Gus Lamont

The missing piece: Gus Lamont's OTHER grandmother - the last to see him before he vanished - is pictured for the first time... as meeting sparks local rumours about family's next move

I uncovered the dark secret that explains the strange behaviour of missing boy Gus Lamont's family - and it still haunts them to this day: JONICA BRAY

Two little boys lost, two shattered families, two mysteries unsolved. But the eerie coincidences between Gus Lamont and William Tyrrell run even deeper - and darker

The missing pieces of Gus Lamont's elusive family: Four-year-old's mum and trans grandmother are pictured for the first time since the boy vanished in the Outback

A trans grandmother, a patriarch scarred by horrors of war, and two very unusual marriages: We reveal the deeply complicated world of Gus Lamont's Outback family

Forget the cruel theories about Gus Lamont. The truth of how the Outback swallowed this little boy is worse than you could ever imagine... even the police seem to have accepted his fate: KARLEIGH SMITH

Horrifying theory emerges for what happened to four-year-old boy Gus Lamont who vanished in the Outback
The Kremlin has rejected European counter proposals to try to end the conflict in Ukraine.

And as negotiations concluded in Geneva, Russia continued its aerial bombardment of Ukraine, killing four people in an air strike in Kharkiv.

Britain, Germany and France had proposed key changes to the contentious 28-point peace plan which was put together by White House and Kremlin officials last week.

These included ruling out Russia rejoining the G8 and raising the cap on Ukraine's army from 600,000 to 800,000.

In a bid to break the deadlock, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky had been expected to fly to Washington DC this week for talks with Donald Trump. But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday night that no meeting had been scheduled.

US and Ukrainian officials have also agreed a new 19-point peace plan, described as a 'refined peace framework'.

On Monday night, Ukraine's deputy foreign minister Sergiy Kyslytsya said 'very few things are left' from the original 28-point peace plan.

But it seems unlikely the new plan will be accepted by the Kremlin, which described these developments as 'completely unconstructive' and not working for Russia.

A girl reacts during a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on November 23

A father hugs his son as he reacts after his mother was killed during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine

A firefighter works at the site of a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv on November 23

On Monday President Trump had optimistically posted on social media that 'something good' was coming from the discussions in Geneva, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

And hopes of a breakthrough had been raised on Sunday, particularly after reports suggested European allies of Ukraine had agreed to let Russia return to the international fold following a ceasefire, including rejoining the G8  the country's membership was suspended following its annexation of Crimea in 2014.

But that plan was dead in the water on Monday as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was the only member that wanted Russia to rejoin.

Mr Trump remains committed to proposals included in the original plan that are red lines for the Ukrainians  such as sacrificing territory and pledging not to join NATO. But Ukrainian officials said that plan represented an unacceptable capitulation to Russia.

President Zelensky has met President Trump at the White House three times so far this year and on two of those occasions he has been shouted at by his host for refusing to accede to US demands.

He is also considered to be in his most vulnerable position since the conflict began due to a corruption scandal with ministers fleecing Ukrainian taxpayers of millions of pounds.

But in an apparent bid to appease President Trump, President Zelensky told allies in a video call: 'We all continue working with partners, especially the United States, to look for compromises that will strengthen not weaken us.'

President Zelensky has met President Trump at the White House three times so far this year and on two of those occasions he has been shouted at by his host for refusing to accede to US demands

On Monday President Trump had optimistically posted on social media that 'something good' was coming from the discussions in Geneva, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Mr Zelensky insisted Russia must pay for the war and urged European states to agree a strategy to use frozen Kremlin assets held by third-party states.

Russia is making gradual gains on the battlefield and destroying Ukraine's energy infrastructure just as the country faces extreme weather conditions.

And on Sunday night a Russian air strike on Ukraine's second largest city killed four people. Russian drones struck buildings in the centre of Kharkiv.

A Ukrainian counter-attack knocked out the power supplies in Moscow for tens of thousands of people.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to President Trump twice in recent days but failed to achieve a breakthrough. He is also expected to hold further talks with the Coalition of the Willing  the European nations expected to help police any future ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

The PM's spokesman said: 'As the US-Ukraine joint statement makes clear, yesterday's talks were a major step towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.'
An Australian woman living off-grid with her family in the Italian wilderness accidentally fed her family poisonous mushrooms picked by her young son, before her children were snatched by officials.

Daily Mail can reveal Melbourne woman Catherine Birmingham, 45, inadvertently fed her family the mushrooms after mistaking them for supplies delivered earlier by a mushroom supplier or those picked by her chef husband.

The innocent mistake saw Ms Birmingham, her English-born husband Nathan Trevallion, 51, and three children Utopia, 9, and twins Bluebell and Galorian, 5, all fall seriously ill.

The family became so sick they had to be airlifted to hospital from their ramshackle home in an Abruzzo forest in central Italy and took three days to recover.

But the incident sparked a social work investigation which led to a dramatic raid by four carloads of police to take the children into care with their mother at a church-run facility.

A source close to the family told Daily Mail the dangerous mushrooms were picked by one of Ms Birmingham's young children, who placed a pile of them in the kitchen.

Nathan, himself an experienced chef and forager, had also been known to pick mushrooms for consumption.

'They were always of the mind 'if we're going to live off-grid, we'll live off the land',' the source said.

Catherine Birmingham (left) believed mushrooms she found in the kitchen were picked by her chef husband Nathan Trevallion (right)

'So Nathan being a chef, he makes amazing food out of what they grow. And Catherine turned around and on the table was a bunch of mushrooms, which she thought Nathan had picked.'

But the mushrooms had actually been picked by her young son, Galorian.

'She put them in the food, and then the next minute they all started vomiting and she's like, 'what's going on?',' the source said.

The couple were stunned to learn of the mishap.

'They broke it down and realised that it was Galorian who had picked the mushrooms and put them on the table. It was just a mistake and he was four years old at the time.'

The mistake has since turned into a year-long nightmare that ended up in court and has embroiled Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her deputy Matteo Salvini.

A L'Aquila court found the family unit lived in 'housing hardship as the building had not been declared habitable'.

Nathan Trevallion and Catherine Birmingham had been living a peaceful life off-grid in Italy

'The members of the Trevallion family have no social interaction, no fixed income, the home has no toilet facilities, and the children do not attend school,' the order stated.

The case has now attracted global headlines and been dubbed 'Bimbi Nel Bosco' [the kids in the woods] by the Italian press.

But the Italian PM described the removal of the children as 'alarming', and called in the Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio over the case, according to her spokesman.

Her deputy also planned to visit the family home this week and branded the raid to snatch the kids as 'shameful'.

On Friday he slammed officials for being 'concerned with the private education and personal life choices of two parents who found Italy hospitable, yet it steals their children.'

Giuseppe Masciulli, the mayor of nearby Palmoli, also condemned the removal of the children.

'I'm a father myself, so I was deeply shocked by the situation,' he told CNN.

He said he believed the issue could be resolved if the family promised to meet certain requirements, including reinstalling running water and meeting with the local school on a weekly basis to assess the children's academic progress.

Father Nathan Trevallion has now told leading Italian newspaper La Repubblica that they are considering their options once the children are released from care

The children's father has now told leading Italian newspaper La Repubblica that they are considering their options once the children are released from care.

'My wife and our children could return to Australia,' he said.

'We live outside the system and they accuse us of this. They're ruining the life of a happy family.'

The couple had bought their rundown farmhouse on seven acres with no running water or electricity five years ago while Ms Birmingham was pregnant with their twins.

The property initially had no windows and no proper toilet, which saw the family live in a caravan while they renovated the old stone building.

The couple would go on to install compost and camp toilets, windows and a kitchen they claimed was good enough for an international chef.

The couple's lawyer Giovanni Angelucci has told reporters the family heats the home with fireplaces and uses solar panels for light and to charge their devices.

The family removed running water to avoid microplastics and instead draws fresh water from a well on the property.

Mr Angelucci said the couple would appeal against the removal of their children, claiming that the judge's report contained 'falsehoods', especially related to their schooling.

The family removed running water to avoid microplastics and instead draws fresh water from a well on the property

The family had been renovating this rundown Italian farmhouse when authorities swooped

Mr Trevallion described the children's removal as 'a great heartbreak'.

'It was the worst night of my life,' he told the local news site, Il Centro, the day after the children were taken away.

'They suffered. It's really hard to take children away from home so quickly, telling them they have to sleep tonight in a place they don't recognise.

'It's very hard. They were a little scared; I saw their faces; they were in shock.'

Mr Trevallion said his children were forced to sleep away from their mother at night.

'There's one thing I don't understand,' he added.

'They can't sleep together. She has to sleep separately, in an upstairs room, and the kids sleep downstairs. She can't stay with the kids while they sleep.

'That's the hardest thing. It's a terrible situation.'

Mr Trevallion insisted that despite the drama, the court had not branded them bad parents.

'They just don't like the way we do things,' he said. 'We're a bit outside the system, the children are growing up outside the system, and I think that's why we're being persecuted.

'We're not doing anything wrong. We live happily, with nature. Why do you want to take the children away from a family that is the happiest in the world?

'They're destroying the lives of five happy people.'
Labour's mansion tax will lead to a wave of homes being put on the market at '1.9999million' as owners try to avoid the property levy, Kirstie Allsopp warned yesterday.

The TV property guru described Rachel Reeves' proposal as 'performative' and a 'nice chunk of meat' for the Labour backbenchers.

And she warned that the levy would be 'incredibly damaging' to the top end of the housing market which she said is a 'huge economic driver'.

The Chancellor is expected to unveil plans to hit more than 100,000 properties with a surcharge worth around 4,500 in her Budget tomorrow.

Under the plans, 2.4million of the most valuable homes across bands F, G and H would be revalued  with those worth more than 2million likely to be hit by a new levy.

But Location, Location, Location star Ms Allsopp told Times Radio: 'There are going to be a lot more properties on the market valued at 1.9999 million. Because if you have these [tax] cliff edges, people will avoid them.

'And the OBR has said they believe that [there] will be alterations in behaviour, bunching up, and yes, it will affect the market.

'But then the market is already desperately in the doldrums because all this Budget speculation and this late Budget has caused real genuine damage, not just to the housing market, but across the economy.'

Property guru Kirstie Allsopp warned Labour's mansion tax will lead to a wave of homes being put on the market just below 2million

The threshold means Keir Starmer and Home Secretary David Lammy are likely to escape the tax

Ms Allsopp said the tax was 'completely performative' because Ms Reeves 'cannot get to grips with her backbenches'. She added: 'She wasn't able to get to grips with welfare spending at all. And she needs to hand a nice chunk of meat to her backbenches and say, look, I am bashing the wealthy.

'I am taking more money off them. And this is a perfect way of doing it. And the thing about it, it sort of wouldn't matter if it wasn't so incredibly damaging to the top end of the housing market, which is a huge economic driver. And this is the problem.'

She also criticised the 'constant chatter' about a mansion or wealth tax, saying it 'stops people being confident about what used to be the fiscally responsible thing to do, which was to buy a house and then better the house and invest in that property'.

Analysis by this newspaper found that any changes affecting bands F, G and H would disproportionately hit homes in the South East, London and the East of England.

The South East has around 645,000 homes in the top three council tax bands, compared to just 43,000 in the North East, according to official data.

The threshold means Keir Starmer and Home Secretary David Lammy  who own properties in north London worth between 1.5million and 2million  are likely to escape the tax.

But Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Attorney General Lord Hermer could be clobbered, because they each own homes with an estimated value of close to 4million, analysis suggests.
The economy has already 'paid a price' for Labour's 'chaotic' Budget preparations, economists warned yesterday  amid speculation that Rachel Reeves is preparing to unveil a series of 'badly designed' tax rises that will damage growth.

Experts warned that months of speculation fuelled by Treasury leaks and the Chancellor herself has 'flatlined growth', with investors, consumers and homebuyers all delaying key decisions.

And there are growing fears that, after backing away from a manifesto-busting hike in income tax, Ms Reeves will, in order to balance the books, be forced to reach for a string of damaging smaller tax rises when she delivers her Budget tomorrow.

The Chancellor is expected to announce a two-year freeze on tax thresholds, despite previously ruling it out, in a bid to raise 9 billion by stealth. She is also expected to unveil a pensions raid worth up to 4 billion by clamping down on popular salary-sacrifice schemes.

And Treasury figures have hinted at a string of smaller taxes on everything from gambling and taxis to mansions and milkshakes. But these do not come close to generating the 25 billion to 30 billion Ms Reeves is looking to raise. The much-publicised mansion tax, for example, may raise as little as 400 million.

Helen Miller, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), said Ms Reeves now risks 'increasing taxes that are bad for growth'.

She told Times Radio: 'If you do lots of small things, often our smaller taxes are particularly badly designed and therefore you can end up increasing taxes that are bad for growth.

'Investors will be nervous if they see a list of tax increases, but don't quite trust how much revenue it will bring in.' Ms Miller added the build-up to the Budget had been 'chaotic'.

Experts have warned that months of speculation fuelled by Treasury leaks and the Chancellor herself has 'flatlined growth'

Last night, there was growing speculation that Ms Reeves will end the 'temporary' 5p cut in fuel duty introduced when the Ukraine war triggered a sharp rise in petrol and diesel prices. But a Whitehall source said Ms Reeves could also be forced to take up a series of smaller tax proposals worked up by the Treasury over years but rejected by successive chancellors.

The source said: 'The Treasury has a long list of potential tax rises, most of which are rejected year after year because they are bad ideas. If she is reaching into that box, then you could end up with a repeat of the pasty tax, or worse.'

Economist Mohamed El-Erian yesterday said the 'chaotic' Budget preparations had already damaged the economy.

The former head of investment giant Pimco told the BBC: 'There are a number of data points that suggest the prolonged speculation has flatlined growth. You see this in the latest retail sales figures, which were the first decline since May. You see this in the decline of business confidence.

'The economy has paid a price for a process that has been delayed, has been full of speculation and that has seen the Government send conflicting signals. A Budget has a journey and a destination. If you make the journey complex, if it seems chaotic, then your destination becomes harder to reach...it has made hard choices even harder.'

The warning echoes comments at the weekend by former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane, who said the 'fiscal fandango' of the past months had caused 'paralysis' among businesses and consumers. 'We need a decisive action that puts to bed any notion of further tax rises,' he said.

Paul Johnson, former director at the IFS, told Sky News: 'You have seen thousands of people take money out of their pensions because they were worried about potential changes. You have had an effect on the housing market. There has been an effect on business investment. This is real-world damage.'
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy on Monday said she intends to pave the way for a 'timely' sale of the Daily Telegraph to the owner of the Daily Mail.

DMGT has struck a 500million deal to buy the prestigious newspaper which has endured a long period of uncertainty over its future. The merger will have to be approved by regulatory bodies and signed off by the Culture Secretary.

Ms Nandy told the House of Commons the Telegraph had been 'in limbo for a long time', and said: 'My intention is to build a constructive path toward a timely sale, without further delay, that is in the public interest.'

It was announced on Saturday that DMGT has signed an exclusivity agreement with RedBird IMI, an international consortium which stepped in to purchase the Telegraph more than two years ago and has since been looking for a buyer.

In a written statement, Ms Nandy said: 'Nineteen months have passed since RedBird IMI announced their intention to sell. A sale has still not happened and the situation has become unsustainable.

'My particular concerns are that the protracted uncertainty has been detrimental to the stability of the Telegraph and its staff and to the investment appeal of the sector as a whole.'

She said the next step was for DMGT and RedBird IMI to prepare the necessary request for securing her consent, adding: 'Given how much time has already elapsed in this case and the need for the period of uncertainty to be ended, I expect the submission of that request to take no longer than three weeks.'

If approved, the 170-year-old Daily Telegraph would join DMGT's diverse stable which also includes Metro, The i Paper and New Scientist.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy on Monday said she intends to pave the way for a 'timely' sale of the Daily Telegraph to the owner of the Daily Mail

It comes as the owner of the Daily Mail has struck a 500million deal to buy The Daily Telegraph

In a statement, the company said: 'Today's media landscape is unrecognisable from a decade ago.

'News publishers have to compete against both vast global online platforms and myriad digital and social media news sources, some of them highly unreliable.

'The role of trusted news media has never been more important, and requires news publishers with scale and experience to compete.'

DMGT Chairman Lord Rothermere has told of his admiration for the Daily Telegraph, saying: 'My family and I have an enduring love of newspapers and for the journalists who make them.

'The Daily Telegraph is Britain's largest and best quality broadsheet newspaper, and I have grown up respecting it. It has a remarkable history and has played a vital role in shaping Britain's national debate over many decades.'
Rachel Reeves is in the 'last-chance saloon' and is 'losing the room' with voters ahead of Wednesday's Budget, a leading pollster has warned.

The More In Common think-tank said Labour was running out of time to convince the public they are the right party to deal with the country's challenges.

Luke Tryl, its executive director, said Ms Reeves had to find a way of keeping the public 'on side' tomorrow, as he shared damning polling.

The Chancellor and Prime Minister have both hit an all-time-low in their net approval ratings, with Sir Keir Starmer down to -51 and Ms Reeves on -52.

Voters are also pessimistic about the state of the economy, with 57 per cent unsure of whether the cost-of-living crisis will ever end.

More than two thirds believe public services are in a bad state, while 73 per cent think the same about the Government's finances and British economy  all up since the last Budget.

Mr Tryl said: 'There is a risk... that this could be a last-chance saloon moment for the Government. If you look across that data, [Reeves] is losing the room.'
A Las Vegas teenager intentionally plowed into a line of cars at 100 miles per hour, killing his pregnant girlfriend and another driver in an alleged homicide, police claim.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said the evidence shows 19-year-old Jose Gutierrez 'made no attempts to brake' before slamming his Infiniti G37 into a dozen vehicles that were stopped at a red light.

'We believe based on all of the evidence to date, including a very descriptive video, that his actions were intentional, which gives rise to a charge of murder,' Wolfson said.

The crash killed Adilene Duran Rincon, 20, who was riding in the passenger seat and was pregnant, according to a GoFundMe page created by her family.

Edward Garcia, 38, who was sitting in one of the stopped vehicles, was also pronounced dead at the scene. A third victim suffered life-threatening injuries.

The violent crash happened at 3.30pm last Tuesday evening at the intersection of Cheyenne Avenue and Jones Boulevard.

Traffic was at a standstill when a traffic camera captured Gutierrez's silver Infiniti barreling down the road before smashing into the line of cars.

One vehicle spins out and bursts into flames, skidding through the intersection.

Adilene Duran Rincon, 20, who was pregnant, was riding in the passenger seat when Jose Gutierrez slammed his Infiniti G37 into a dozen vehicles that were stopped at a red light.

Photos taken by the Las Vegas Police show the devastation left in the wake of the crash

Jose Gutierrez, 19, has been charged with two counts of open murder, attempted murder, and battery with a deadly weapon

Investigators said Gutierrez had been speeding through a 45 mph zone, hitting triple-digit speeds in the seconds before the smash.

Despite finding a marijuana vape pen in his clothing and noting his 'bloodshot and watery' eyes, Wolfson said that Gutierrez was not under the influence at the time.

As Gutierrez was not deemed to have been impaired, it prompted prosecutors to elevate the charges to two counts of open murder, attempted murder, and battery with a deadly weapon.

The Infiniti belonged to Rincon's mother, police said. At the hospital, Gutierrez initially acknowledged he was the driver, then denied it, before admitting it again.

This was not Gutierrez's first encounter with law enforcement over reckless behavior.

Last month, he was cited for driving 52 mph in a 35 mph zone in the same car involved in the fatal crash.

The Infiniti belonged to Rincon's mother, police said

Footage from a traffic camera captured the moment Gutierrez's silver 4x4 barreling down the road before smashing into the line of cars

Gutierrez plowed into a line of around a dozen stationary cars waiting at traffic lights

Las Vegas Police are seen at the scene of the crash directing traffic in the hours afterwards

One of the other devastated vehicles following the deadly

Police officers are seen at the side of the collision following the crash

In September, court records say he ignored a stop sign and collided with an elderly woman.

In April, police arrested him after he allegedly threatened an officer responding to a domestic violence call, telling the cop: 'I'll f***ing shoot you' and 'I'll kill you.'

Before prosecutors upgraded the charges, Gutierrez was briefly freed on bail because his initial charges were reckless-driving offenses.

He was then re-arrested once the murder charges were filed and is now being held without bail with a court date scheduled for January 6 for his arraignment.
The heartbroken girlfriend of a teenager allegedly stabbed to death by another boy near a high school has shared her grief and pledged: 'I'll love you forever.'

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, allegedly suffered a stab wound to the leg at Bruce Purser Reserve, a grassy area behind Rouse Hill High School in Sydney's north-west, about 4.20pm on Monday.

Emergency services, including a CareFlight helicopter, rushed to the field but despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was declared dead at the scene.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested after he presented to Riverstone Police Station with a parent shortly before 7pm.

He has since been charged with murder and faced a children's court for the first time on Tuesday.

The Daily Mail understands the alleged victim's parents migrated to Australia from Europe more than 15 years ago before settling in the city's north-west, where the 17-year-old was active in the local sporting community.

Friends and loved ones have paid tribute to the teenager whose life was tragically cut short.

The boy's grieving girlfriend said he made the 'little things fun' and 'brought a smile' to her face 'every single day without fail'.

A teenage boy allegedly stabbed to death has been remembered as 'sweet' and 'genuine'

The 17-year-old's heartbroken girlfriend has led tributes online

'[Name redacted] you will be remembered by all,' she wrote online.

'I love you so much and you will be forever in my heart.

'You don't deserve this and never did, you are a strong boy and you deserve the world.

'I don't know what I'm going to do without you baby, but I know you would want me to live and stay strong, so I'll live for you ML [my love].'

One friend described him as a 'sweet, genuine boy', while others simply wrote 'fly high [name redacted]' and 'forever 17'.

'Gonna miss you bro,' another mate said.

A relative of one of the female paramedics who attended the scene on Monday said the emergency service worker had been traumatised by the tragic outcome.

'As much as she knows this is part of the job, she's understandably devastated that she couldn't save him,' the relative said.

A teenage boy was allegedly stabbed to death behind Rouse Hill High School (pictured, paramedics at the scene)

In court on Tuesday afternoon, the accused boy sat quietly, wearing a black hoodie and sporting a mullet haircut with shaved sides.

Police asked the court for an order to take forensic evidence from the teenager, including a DNA swab.

A court order is needed to take DNA evidence from an accused juvenile because they are not considered capable of giving informed consent.

The boy did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody for eight weeks, when the case returns to court.

The 17-year-old was wearing his school uniform and was with another boy when the pair were allegedly confronted by a separate group of two to three boys.

It is understood the 17-year-old was then allegedly stabbed before members of the separate group ran from the scene.

NSW Police received reports two people, believed to be teenagers, had been seen allegedly fleeing from the area.

One of them was also believed to be wearing a school uniform.

Police were looking for two suspects seen allegedly running from the area

It's understood the teenage boy was allegedly stabbed in the thigh (pictured, emergency services at the scene)

Hills Area Commander Superintendent Naomi Moore told reporters on Monday night that the incident was not linked to Rouse Hill High School.

She said investigations remain underway but detectives believe the alleged attack was not random.

A group of females who were in the park witnessed the alleged stabbing and gave aid to the injured boy before paramedics arrived.

'It would have been a horrifically confronting situation for those people and I can only praise them,' Superintendent Moore said.

Local Federal MP Michelle Rowland described the teenager's death as the 'tragic loss of a young life'.

'My thoughts and deepest condolences are with the young boy's family during this extremely difficult time,' she said.

'There is no place in our community for these [alleged] acts... and I know this news will be particularly distressing for local families.

'May he rest in peace.'
Trans people will now be able to officially change their gender for free in Victoria.

The Allan Government announced on Friday it had abolished fees for trans and gender diverse people who want to 'update their gender' on their birth certificate.

Victoria is the first state in Australia to implement this change.

Previously, trans people born in Victoria had to pay $140.40 for a new birth certificate, while those living outside the state were charged $122.

These costs have now been scrapped in a move the Allan Government says will ensure 'cost is never a barrier to a person having an identity document that reflects who they are'.

Government Services Minister Natalie Hutchins said the free service was part of updates to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act Regulations 2019.

'We're making sure money isn't an obstacle for trans and gender diverse people to have documents that reflect who they really are,' Ms Hutchins said.

The government also confirmed that 'certificate postage within Australia' will now be waived, in another win for trans and gender diverse Victorians.

Government Services minister Natalie Hutchins announced the change was part of updates to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act Regulations 2019

Victorians march for trans awareness

According to the government, birth certificates are an 'important identity document used when enrolling for study, opening bank accounts, applying for a drivers licence or passport, or accessing government services'.

'Yet only one third of trans and gender Victorians currently hold identity documents that reflect who they are,' the Allan Government said in a media release.

'By making it free, the government is making sure cost is never a barrier to a person having an identity document that reflects who they are.'

The government also said that the free service follows 2020 legal changes that meant 'Victorians do not need to undergo surgery to change the sex recorded on their birth certificate'.

The announcement follows Trans Awareness Week and Trans Day of Remembrance, which the Allan Government said acknowledged the 'achievements and challenges facing trans and gender diverse Australians'.

Minister for Equality Vicki Ward welcomed the move, calling it an 'empowering measure' for trans people.

'This is an important step forward for our trans and gender diverse communities,' Ms Ward said.

'It's an empowering measure that provides fair and proper legal recognition of their lived identity.'
The woman who kidnapped and held Elizabeth Smart hostage for months was seen grinning ear to ear in an updated mugshot following her arrest for violating the terms of her sex offender status.

Wanda Barzee, 80, who was a co-conspirator in the kidnapping that drew nationwide attention back in 2002, wore a pink sweater as she flashed an eerie smile for the updated photo for the Utah Sex Offender Registry.

Laugh lines were clearly visible on the convicted criminal's face, as were the wrinkles in her forehead, which was covered only slightly by her mop of messy white hair.

But this is not the first time Barzee looked happy at her arrest.

Her previous mugshot for the registry showed her wearing a black coat and once again beaming with her eyes wide.

It was a noticeable difference from her original mugshot back in 2003, when she stood with long, gray hair and an almost shocked look on her face.

At the time, Barzee and her husband Brian David Mitchell were imprisoned for kidnapping Smart for nine months when she was just 14-years-old.

She wound up serving just 15 years behind bars and was released from a Utah state prison in 2018 - at which point she was required to register as a sex offender.

Wanda Barzee, 80, was seen grinning ear to ear in a new mugshot following her arrest for violating the terms of her sex offender status

Smart was just 14-years-old when she was abducted from her home at knife point in 2002

Authorities say she violated the conditions of her sex offender status in May, when she visited two parks.

Under Utah state law, sex offenders are barred from entering or being near public places such as schools and parks.

By visiting the parks and violating the terms of her sex offender status, Barzee risked winding back up in jail.

Following the news of her recent arrest, Smart took to her foundation's Instagram page to share her thoughts.

She claimed that Barzee's justification for visiting the parks 'is that she was "commanded by the Lord," which unfortunately, is very familiar to me and is probably, the most concerning thing because that's how they justified kidnapping me.'

Smart went on to note that she has been vocal about her concerns since Barzee was released from custody - which she said at the time was 'incomprehensible' - 'and this incident confirms exactly why.'

But she also thanked officers for their swift response.

'When authorities take these situations, these violations seriously, it sends a very powerful message that survivor safety matters,' Smart told her followers.

Barzee served just 15 years behind bars and was released from a Utah state prison in 2018 - at which point she was required to register as a sex offender

Smart, now a married 37-year-old, was rescued after a couple recognized Barzee and Mitchell from America's Most Wanted

'I urge policymakers and justice officials to view this as a reminder that sex offender registries and release conditions exist for important reasons,' she continued.

Smart then concluded her message by saying she remembered her mother's advice after she was freed - which was to not let the nine months of captivity hold her back.

'Although this situation has arisen, I refuse to live my life in fear,' Smart said. 'I refuse to allow anyone to stop me from living.'

Smart was abducted as a teenager when Mitchell, a street preacher, climbed into her Salt Lake City room through an open window and held her at knife point.

She has told how Mitchell performed a mock wedding ceremony before raping her for the first time.

To keep her from escaping, she was tied up with steel cables in a dugout filled with mice and spiders.

Smart was forced to take drugs and drink alcohol, she testified in 2009, and was raped daily  as often as four times a day.

Meanwhile, Smart said, Barzee stood by while Mitchell raped her and even encouraged him to continue the heinous acts.

Smart has become an advocate for women and children's safety

Barzee and her husband Brian David Mitchell were taken into custody in 2003 for abducting Smart and holding her captive for nine months

The teenager was finally rescued after a couple recognized Mitchell and Barzee from an episode of America's Most Wanted as they walked down the street with her.

When she first returned home after the traumatic kidnapping, Elizabeth admitted she 'didn't want to speak about what happened with anyone.'

'I wanted to hide those nine months away, and pretend they didn't happen,' she shared.

But now aged 37, Smart has become an advocate for women and children's safety.

The married mom-of-three has written a book about the harrowing ordeal and helped make a Lifetime movie and documentary about the crime and her life.

She wrote that she knew in her head that the kidnapping was her fault.

'My heart still felt embarrassment and shame over the vast amounts of sexual abuse I experienced,' she admitted in the gut-wrenching post.

'At the time, I didn't know anyone else who openly shared they had been raped or violated, and no one took the time to explain to me that there is a difference between sexual abuse/rape versus enthusiastic consenting intimacy.'
Half a tonne of cocaine has been found floating offshore amid a failed attempt to smuggle more than $170million worth of the illicit drug into Australia.

Four men, including the chief officer of an international livestock carrier named the Al Kuwait, have been charged over their alleged roles in the crime plot, Western Australian Police say.

'A significant amount of cocaine has been taken out of the hands of criminal entities,' Assistant Commissioner State Crime Tony Longhorn said.

'We can confidently say it's (from) South America.

'The cartels are having a prolific impact on the production and distribution of illicit drugs worldwide.'

A fisherman alerted police on November 6 after finding large packages tied to floating drums about 30km off the coast north of Perth.

Officers seized the bundles, estimated to contain about 525 kilograms of cocaine, or more than 2.6million individual street deals, with a street value of more than $170 million.

The drugs were dropped into the ocean from a livestock carrier on its way to Fremantle Harbour between November 1 and 3, police said.

Four men have been charged over their alleged roles in the plot to smuggle cocaine into Australia

The livestock carrier Al Kuwait

Officers were already investigating the potential for criminal activity in the area after emergency services rescued two Sydney men, aged 19 and 36, on a boat taking on water off the same stretch of coast on November 3.

Local residents reported the men to police after spotting their 'incompetence'.

'It triggered the local community, people to be a little bit suspicious,' Mr Longhorn said.

'They know when people don't belong on a boat or in the ocean.'

One of the men was also aggressive towards his rescuers, resulting in police being called for that incident.

Investigators also identified a 52-year-old Perth man, who is also alleged to be part of the shore party.

Police allege the three men made several attempts to retrieve the cocaine from the ocean.

'One lot got horribly bogged on the beach in Lancelin trying to retrieve it, and the second lot forgot to put their bungs in their boat,' Mr Longhorn said.

Investigators believe the men may have successfully collected some cocaine.

They are also searching for a fifth man, who is also alleged to be part of the shore party.

Officers charged the livestock carrier's chief officer on November 7 with attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.

The 46-year-old Croatian national was remanded in custody to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on January 23.

During a search of the ship, investigators found a blue drum and ropes police will allege are similar to those found with the drugs.

'There was also some repaired railing, which looked as though it had been cut to enable the offloading of the commodity and then re-welded,' Mr Longhorn said.

The three other men have also been charged with various drug offences.

The two Sydney men were extradited to Western Australia and have appeared in court.
David Lammy has allegedly named sex pest Bill Cosby as his childhood role model.

In a video for civil servants marking International Men's Day, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Mr Lammy is believed to have been asked who he looked up to most when he was younger.

He placed former South African president Nelson Mandela at the top of his list but then included Cosby as a second option, The Sun reports.

Cosby has been accused of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment by more than 60 women, including several who have filed lawsuits under the Adult Survivors Act.

He faced his first sexual assault accusation in 2004 from Andrea Constand, with dozens more women later coming forward with similar claims.

He was convicted in 2018 and jailed, but walked free in 2021 after Pennsylvania's Supreme Court overturned the ruling, citing a prior deal that should have blocked his prosecution.

Cosby denies all allegations involving sex crimes.

The footage of Mr Lammy's gaffe allegedly had to be cut from the video package.

David Lammy, pictured this month, has allegedly named sex pest Bill Cosby as his childhood role model

Cosby, pictured in 2021, has been accused of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment by more than 60 women, including several who have filed lawsuits under the Adult Survivors Act

The Daily Mail has approached Mr Lammy for comment.

Cosby was the first celebrity tried and convicted in the #MeToo era and remains largely out of the public eye.

He continues to face numerous sexual assault allegations and lawsuits filed by other women in New York, Los Angeles, New Jersey and Nevada.

Last year, the entertainer was the subject of abuse claims from 10 more women after a judge in Las Vegas allowed their lawsuit to proceed.

They came after Nevada state lifted the statute of limitations for civil claims by survivors of sexual violence.

In 2023, a woman who worked as a stand-in at The Cosby Show in the 1980s said in a lawsuit that the comedian had drugged and sexually abused her after offering to mentor her in her acting career.

The lawsuit was filed against Cosby under New York's expiring Adult Survivors Act, which has given victims of sexual abuse a one-year window for claims that would otherwise be barred by time limits.

An unidentified actor on the show later expressed to her that Cosby 'could do whatever he wanted to do with impunity at 'The Cosby Show,' according to the lawsuit, which was seeking damages for battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment.

The Ministry of Justice declined to comment.

But a source close to Mr Lammy said: 'This is a distortion. Mr Lammy's view is that Cosby's crimes were abhorrent and he does not represent a role model for anyone in society.

'Mr Lammy has previously talked about Cosby being seen as a role model in the 1980s for many young black men, before his horrific crimes were known, in an era when positively portrayed black faces were few and far between on TV.'
An ABC radio presenter has come under fire after he mistakenly announced the death of Alan Jones instead of fellow radio titan John Laws.

James Findlay made the awkward fumble while fronting ABC Sydney's Nightlife program on November 9.

The unfortunate mix-up was then relived by Media Watch host Linton Besser during Monday night's episode, the last of the year.

'And broadcaster Alan Jones has died at the age of 90. The man nicknamed the golden tonsils...' Findlay said.

'I'm sorry. Who is that?' Besser chimed in.

Findlay then realised his error, saying: 'Sorry, gosh, can we dump?'

Besser inserted a sarcastic 'afraid not' before Findlay finally righted himself.

'Broadcaster Alan. Broadcaster John Laws has died at the age of 90,' he said.

Radio presenter James Findlay (pictured), while fronting ABC Sydney's Nightlife program on November 9, made an awkward mix-up live on air

Findlay was meant to announce the death of talkback titan John Laws (pictured) but mistakenly said the name of embattled radio host Alan Jones

Findlay shared Media Watch's segment about his error, saying it is a 'rite of passage'

The presenter was quick to downplay the gaffe in a post to Instagram on Tuesday.

Findlay posted a screenshot of the Media Watch segment with the caption: 'Apparently it's a rite of passage', with a monkey emoji covering its eyes.

Daily Mail has contacted the presenter for comment.

Talkback titan John Laws died peacefully aged 90 on November 9, after a mammoth radio career that included years at Sydney station 2UE.

Regarded as one of Australia's most powerful hosts, his career spanned seven decades and he rose to become one of the country's most well-known and highest-paid media personalities.

Meanwhile, fellow 2UE alum Alan Jones is facing 25 charges of indecent assault and two of sexual touching against nine alleged victims.

The 84-year-old former radio shock jock has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Jones was arrested in November 2024 after an eight-month police investigation.

Laws' fellow 2UE alum Alan Jones (pictured in December, 2024) is facing 25 charges of indecent assault and two of sexual touching against nine alleged victims

The charges, which he has claimed are 'all either baseless or they distort the truth', followed a hugely influential broadcasting career launched in 1985.

Jones became a feared interviewer who excelled at questioning leaders while dividing audiences with his outspoken views.

He worked with Sydney radio station 2UE before joining rival 2GB, where he was a long-time ratings juggernaut until 2020.
Sir Keir Starmer couldn't hide his smile as he performed a viral social media dance with school children just days before his Chancellor pummels Britain with her nightmare Budget.

The grinning Prime Minister executed the 6-7 trend alongside pupils at Welland Academy as he visited to meet youngsters who receive free meals.

The Labour leader was accompanied by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson as he toured the Peterborough school ahead of Wednesday's Budget.

Starmer, who in recent days has faced a vicious internal Labour briefing war that has raised questions about his future, delighted a classroom of year two children by doing the viral dance.

The rest of the class quickly followed his lead, waving their hands up and down.

The trend, where children nonsensically chant '6-7' as they flail their hands about, has infuriated teachers across the country.

The Prime Minister was swiftly reminded by the headteacher that 'children get into trouble for saying that at my school'.

Starmer is unlikely to be in similarly high spirits on Wednesday when Chancellor Rachel Reeves batters the country with her second Budget.

Ms Reeves is expected to introduce a string of new tax hikes despite pledging not to raise taxes or borrowing.

Sir Keir Starmer couldn't hide his smile as he performed a viral social media dance with school children

The grinning Prime Minister executed the 6-7 trend alongside pupils at Welland Academy

The Chancellor's preparations for her latest fiscal package have been branded a 'shambles' by economists.

When Ms Reeves finally delivers her Budget, she will end months of rumours and briefings about possible new levies.

The uncertainty caused by the speculation is judged to have choked off economic growth, by causing 'paralysis' among UK businesses and consumers.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has even mocked the 'hokey cokey' Budget process, following Ms Reeves' chaotic U-turn on income tax.

At the beginning of this month, the Chancellor laid the groundwork for a manifesto-busting hike to income tax rates.

But she was later revealed to have scrapped plans to increase income tax rates by 2p, while cutting National Insurance by the same amount.

She is instead expected to announce a 'smorgasbord' of other levy hikes as she scrambles to fill a multi-billion pound hole in the public finances.

These could include a mansion tax, a freeze on income tax thresholds, a raid on workplace pensions and a pay-per-mile tax for electric cars among other measures.

Scrapping the two-child benefit cap, a cut to the ISA limit, a taxi tax and a milkshake tax are also being touted alongside new gambling taxes and minimum wage rises.
Pauline Hanson's 'despicable' decision to wear a burqa in the Senate has been condemned by politicians across the divide, amid warnings the stunt will fuel abuse and harassment against Muslim girls and women.

The One Nation leader entered the upper house on Monday afternoon wearing the religious garment shortly after failing to move a bill banning the Islamic covering from public places.

Senator Hanson has been lashed by her parliamentary colleagues in the Greens, coalition and the crossbench, and on Tuesday was suspended from the Senate for seven days.

Independent senator Fatima Payman, who quit Labor over its stance on Palestine, said the behaviour left others feeling unsafe.

'This is ... an old trick that Pauline Hanson's pulled out of the bag. Very disrespectful, very unAustralian,' she told ABC News.

When asked what impact the stunt would have on Muslim women, Senator Payman, a Muslim, said it would most likely lead to schoolgirls and women wearing hijabs to be abused or assaulted.

'There is bound to be people out on the streets, young schoolgirls, who are probably yelled at or abused or assaulted, and it is just the division we do not want to see in society.'

Ali Kadri, chief executive of the Islamic College of Brisbane, said: 'Whenever Pauline Hanson does these stunts in the Parliament, it escalates and radicalises people even more where people think that it is OK to abuse a little Australian Muslim girl wearing a hijab.'

Fatima Payman (back row) was in the Senate when Pauline Hanson pulled her new burqa stunt on Monday

Senator Payman - the former Labor representative turned independent for WA - slammed Hanson during the stunt

Cabinet minister Tanya Plibersek pointed to the issue of growing right-wing extremism in Australia.

'I don't remember the last time someone in a burqa robbed a bank, but I do recall a couple of weeks ago that there was a queue of neo-Nazis standing outside NSW Parliament,' she told ABC radio.

'Senator Hanson's stunt yesterday is simply a guarantee that some schoolgirl wearing a headscarf is going to get bullied on the train on the way to school today. I don't see how it helps anyone.'

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the stunt weakened the controversial senator's case and cheapened the nation's parliament.

'This is a reminded of how brittle One Nation's politics are, they must resort to reheating desperate stunts,' she said.

'Australians deserve better and we will remain focused on fighting for them and holding the government to account.'

Monday's stunt was the second time Senator Hanson has worn the burqa inside the parliament.

After first attempting the stunt in the upper house in 2017, Senator Hanson was slammed by then attorney-general George Brandis, who labelled it an 'appalling thing to do'.

Speaking on the latest incident, Mr Brandis labelled it 'despicable'.

Monday's stunt (above) is the second time Hanson has worn a burqa into the Senate

Ali Kadri, chief executive of the Islamic College of Brisbane, said: 'Whenever Pauline Hason does these stunts in the Parliament, it escalates and radicalises people even more where people think that it is OK to abuse a little Australian Muslim girl wearing a hijab'

'Every once in a while, she dreams up a new stunt to try and make herself the centre of political attention and discussion,' he told ABC radio.

'It reminds people both that the One Nation party has absolutely nothing to offer the Australian people, but also that the kind of politics they practice are ugly and divisive politics.'

Asked about the increase in One Nation's popularity, Mr Brandis said he's 'not overly alarmed'.

Redbridge Group director and former Victorian Labor strategist Kos Samaras said the 'permanent problem for right-wing populist outfits is that protest is easy.'

'That only grows the base so much,' he wrote on X.

'Sooner or later you have to project a serious alternative, not just a rolling stunt show.'
The barn in Mississippi where 14-year-old Emmett Till was tortured and killed will open to the public as a 'sacred' memorial site by 2030 thanks to a generous donation from television producer and writer Shonda Rhimes.

The Emmett Till Interpretive Center disclosed late Sunday that it had purchased the barn located in a rural area outside the city of Drew, aided by a $1.5 million donation from the Greys Anatomy producer.

She had been moved to contribute to the fund after reading about the barn, telling Good Morning America: 'My hope is that this story never gets lost.'

It was around 2am on August 28, 1955 when JW Milam, his brother Roy Bryant and others abducted the teenager from his great-uncle's home and took him to the barn, where they beat and killed him for allegedly whistling at a white woman in a rural Mississippi grocery store.

His body was later found in the Tallahatchie River.

When police then questioned the brothers, they admitted to kidnapping Till, but claimed they released him unharmed.

One month later, they went on trial for murder, but an all-white jury acquitted them.

It was only months later that the brothers admitted in Look magazine that they had beaten and killed Till, but authorities were unable to prosecute the brothers again because of double jeopardy.

Emmett Till was beaten and lynched in rural Mississippi at the age of 14 in 1955

The barn where he was tortured and killed will now open to the public as a 'sacred' memorial site by 2030

That magazine article, though, also concealed the existence of the barn where the heinous crime was committed because it would implicate others involved in Till's murder, some of whom worked there, according to Dave Tell, author of 'Remembering Emmett Till.'

He told Mississippi Today the barn was 'written out of history by the very men who committed the crime there - erased from public memory as part of a broader effort to bury the truth and protect white perpetrators.

'Preserving it now is an intentional act of restoration,' Tell declared.

For Keith Beauchamp, producer of the film 'Till' and director-producer of 'The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till,' the barn's preservation brings mixed emotions.

'On one hand, it's significant that a physical site connected to Emmett Till's story will be preserved for future generations,' he said. 'On the other hand, it's also a place that represents deep pain and injustice.'

'Regardless, it is a part of American history that must be acknowledged rather than forgotten, because remembering helps us understand and avoid repeating past mistakes.'

Beauchamp went on to thank Rhimes for her 'generous gift to help preserve this history, especially during a time of debate over how our past should be remembered.'

He also praised Jeff Andrews, who bought the property that included the barn in 1994, for his care 'maintaining the barn and welcoming the public' and keeping the site 'meaningful long before any official preservation began.'

After learning its significance, Andrews began to let Till's surviving family and others spend time at the site.

Television producer Shonda Rhimes donated $1.5 million to help the Emmett Till Interpretive Center purchase the barn. She is pictured here at 92NY in October

Executives at the Emmett Till Interpretive Center wrote in an open letter on Monday that they were motivated to restore places of significance to the Emmett Till trial, which gained international attention, after a group of Tallahatchie County citizens publicly apologized outside the courthouse where Till's killers walked free in 2007.

'That act of honesty became a moral compass for our work,' the open letter read. 'Since then, we have restored the courthouse where justice failed, commemorated the riverbank where Emmett's body was found and replaced the signs that hatred tried to destroy.

'Every project has carried the same conviction: a nation does not grow stronger by forgetting; it grows stronger by telling the truth.

'The barn is the next chapter in that conviction.'

Under the Interpretive Center's plans for the barn, it will become a memorial by the 75th anniversary of Till's lynching in 2030.

'We did not save this place to dwell in grief,' executives wrote in the open letter. 'We saved it so that truth could keep shaping us.'

They added that the barn 'will exist in three tenses at once.

'In the past, it bears witness to what was done. In the present, it calls us to clarity and conscience. In the future, it will be a gathering place - a classroom for democracy, a space where art and dialogue and moral imagination help us practice repair.'

For Keith Beauchamp, producer of the film 'Till' and director-producer of 'The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till,' the barn's preservation brings mixed emotions

Executive Director Patrick Weems said he hopes opening the barn to the public will encourage people to ask questions about a dark chapter in American history

The center's Executive Director Patrick Weems said he hopes opening the barn to the public will encourage people to ask questions about a dark chapter in American history.

'Have we done enough? Is there justice yet? Has our society moved in the direction of human rights so that this sort of thing never happens?' Weems said.

The center will have the barn under 24-hour surveillance, and the property will be equipped with floodlights and security cameras, Weems said, calling those measures precautionary.

A historical marker, erected where Till's body was discovered, has been replaced three times after being vandalized.

The first marker was stolen and thrown into the river in 2008. The second was shot more than 100 times by 2014. It was replaced in 2018, and shot another 35 times.

Now the marker is the only bulletproof historical marker in the country, according to Weems.

He noted that Sunday, the day the barn was purchased, was the birthday of Till's mother, Mamie Till-Mobley.

Till's mother was a civil rights activist who famously insisted on an open casket at her young son's funeral so the public could see what had been done to him.

'The barn carries her same charge: to help the world see,' the open letter states.

'The barn is more than history - it is a reminder of what democracy requires of each of us: honesty, courage and the willingness to remember together.'
Australia's two biggest food delivery platforms have backed a sweeping reform plan that could dramatically lift pay and protections for gig workers.

Uber Eats and DoorDash have agreed to a landmark deal with the Transport Workers Union setting out minimum standards for tens of thousands of riders and drivers who have long worked without guaranteed hourly earnings.

Under the proposal, delivery workers would receive a 'safety net' pay rate of about $32 an hour, according to draft standards filed with the Fair Work Commission.

It would replace the current per-delivery model the union has claimed often leaves riders earning well below Australia's minimum wage.

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine described the minimum pay proposal as a 'life-changing' change for delivery workers, in a joint statement with the two companies.

The deal is being seen as a major win for the union, given that the food delivery giants previously railed against the imposition of minimum conditions.

Uber Eats and DoorDash had warned that new gig laws could raise prices, partly due to potential penalty rates, overtime, and other employment conditions.

The draft orders, however, exclude these measures and instead set a $31.30$32-per-hour safety net, averaged over 21 days and covering vehicle maintenance costs.

Delivery driver Utsav Bhattarai (left) is pictured alongside Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth, ACTU secretary Sally McManus, TWU national secretary Michael Keane and two other delivery drivers at a doorstop interview outside Parliament House on Tuesday

Uber Eats and DoorDash have agreed to a deal with the TWU setting out minimum standards for tens of thousands of riders and drivers

If approved by the Fair Work Commission, the standards would include new protections and rights for workers beyond pay.

Delivery riders would gain access to dispute-resolution processes, accident insurance, and the right to union representation.

Platforms would also be required to provide information about each delivery request, including distance and estimated time.

Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth welcomed the deal during a doorstop interview at Parliament House alongside Mr Kaine and ACTU secretary Sally McManus on Tuesday.

'This is what it looks like when there are cooperative workplaces where workers and companies and their unions sit down to discuss what is really important,' she said.

They were joined by food delivery drivers who described the gruelling conditions they had been subjected to in the industry.

Canberra delivery driver Utsav Bhattarai called the deal a 'really emotional moment,' reflecting on the relentless demands and pressures of the job.

'You're sick, you've got to go to work. There's a hail storm, there's rain, you've got to go to work. You can't stop,' he told reporters.

TWU national secretary Michael Keane described the minimum pay proposal as 'life-changing'

'You've worked 60 hours? Just keep going. You don't have enough to pay your bills. Your legs are shaking? Just keep going.

'Just one more order, one more hour, just need to keep going  that's the condition that these drivers were living under.'

The delivery giants welcomed the deal.

Ed Kitchen, managing director of Uber Eats Australia, which this week celebrated its one-billionth delivery in Australia, said it came after years of collaboration with the union.

'We believe fair standards and flexibility should not be mutually exclusive,' Mr Kitchen said.

'They are both essential to ensuring gig work continues to meet the expectations of Australians and reflects the important role delivery people play in their communities.'

DoorDash Asia-Pacific vice-president Simon Rossi said the proposal 'shows we can work together to lift standards and still enable the flexibility people rely on.'

The reform comes after competitors including Menulog, Foodora, and Deliveroo exited the Australian market, amid tough trading conditions.

The agreement came off the back of years of campaigning by gig workers, potentially serving as a template for future agreements across ride share and courier platforms.
Pam Bondi issued a blunt message about her beauty queen rival Lindsey Halligan after indictments against James Comey and Letitia James were thrown out by a federal judge.

Halligan - Donald Trump's former attorney - was hand-picked by the President to prosecute the cases because he believed Bondi wasn't moving fast enough.

But on Monday, Halligan was accused of 'prosecutorial misconduct' by Judge Cameron Currie, who called her 'a former White House aide' who was never eligible to serve.

'Shame on them for not wanting her in office,' Bondi said in a press conference following the decision.

'I'll tell you, Lindsay Halligan, I talked to all of our US attorneys, the majority of them around the country, and Lindsay Halligan is an excellent US attorney,' she said.

Previous reports suggested that Bondi and her Deputy Attorney, Todd Blanche, viewed the mortgage fraud case against James as weak.

'We have made Lindsay Halligan a special US attorney so she is in court, she can fight in court just like she was, and we believe we will be successful on appeal,' Bondi said.

Pam Bondi backed her beauty queen rival Lindsey Halligan's cases against James Comey and Letitia James after both of them were thrown out by a federal judge

Judge Cameron Currie accused the President's hand-picked attorney, Halligan, of 'prosecutorial misconduct' after she secured indictments against Comey and James

Bondi was reportedly blindsided when Halligan took an indictment against New York Attorney General James and former FBI Director Comey straight to a grand jury.

The former beauty queen, who took over Virginia's Eastern District in September, went completely rogue, ditching any coordination with the attorney general or her team, according to reports.

Bondi promised this wouldn't be the end for either of the two anti-Trump figures.

'We'll be taking all available legal action, including an immediate appeal, to hold Letitia James and James Comey accountable for their unlawful conduct,' Bondi said.

'I'm not worried about someone who has been charged with a very serious crime. His alleged actions were a betrayal of public trust.'

Currie ruled that a 120-day deadline on interim appointments expired during the previous prosecutor's tenure, meaning Pam Bondi did not have the authority to appoint Halligan - this was up to the district's federal judges.

'I conclude that all actions flowing from Ms Halligan's defective appointment, including securing and signing Mr Comey's indictment, constitute unlawful exercises of executive power and must be set aside,' wrote Currie, a Bill Clinton-appointed judge.

Comey was charged with making a false statement and obstruction of a congressional proceeding relating to his 2020 Senate testimony, where he denied authorizing FBI officials to leak information to the press

James was indicted on charges including bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution concerning information on mortgage applications that prosecutors alleged was falsified

Both Comey and James asked that their cases be dismissed and that the prosecutor be disqualified because of the manner of her appointment.

The defendants in the two separate cases asked that the indictments be dismissed with prejudice, which means the Justice Department would not be able to bring the same charges against them. But the judge dismissed with prejudice.

Comey was charged with making a false statement and obstruction of a congressional proceeding relating to his 2020 Senate testimony, where he denied authorizing FBI officials to leak information to the press.

James was indicted on charges including bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution concerning information on mortgage applications that prosecutors alleged was falsified.

Halligan was appointed interim US Attorney for Virginia in September.

Her predecessor, Erik Siebert, a different interim attorney, was forced out amid pressure from Trump to file charges against his political enemies.

Comey's lawyers argued that after Siebert was forced out, the judges should have had exclusive say over who would fill the vacancy.

But it was ultimately Trump who moved forward and nominated Halligan as he publicly pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey and James.

'JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!' the President wrote on Truth Social at the time.

Comey was indicted days later on charges of making a false statement and obstructing Congress, and James was charged soon after that in a mortgage fraud investigation.

In a statement, James said, 'I am heartened by today's victory and grateful for the prayers and support I have received from around the country.'

Lindsey Halligan reportedly blindsided Pam Bondi following her indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James

'I remain fearless in the face of these baseless charges as I continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day,' the Democrat said.

Judges have separately disqualified interim US attorneys in New Jersey, Los Angeles and Nevada, but have permitted cases brought under their watch to move forward.

But lawyers for Comey and James had argued that Currie's ruling needed to go even further because Halligan was the sole signer of the indictments and the driving force behind them.

Comey has for years been one of Trump's chief antagonists.

Appointed to the job in 2013 by President Barack Obama, Comey, at the time of Trump's 2016 election, was overseeing an investigation into whether his presidential campaign had conspired with Russia to sway the outcome of the race.

Furious over that investigation, the President fired Comey in May 2017 and the two officials have verbally sparred in the years since.

James has also been a frequent target of his ire, especially since she won a staggering judgment against him and the Trump Organization in a lawsuit alleging he defrauded banks by overstating the value of his real estate holdings on financial statements.

An appeals court overturned the fine, which had ballooned to more than $500 million with interest, but upheld a lower court's finding that Trump had committed fraud.
Donald Trump is set to install a new head of FEMA nicknamed 'The Terminator' in the latest attempt by his administration to dismantle the emergency aid agency.

Karen Evans will become the third person to serve as head of FEMA this year alone after the agency's former head, David Richardson, resigned amid criticism over the Texas floods response.

'Her nickname was the terminator, she was terminating grants, terminating contracts, terminating people,' an ex-senior official said of Evans.

Another former official told CNN that Evans - previously FEMA chief of staff and a former cybersecurity official - is ruthless in spotting government waste.

'She's the enforcer for DHS. Her job was to effectively grind FEMA to a halt.'

'Her intent was just to put out the least amount of money possible and not put any money into places or activities that didn't align, or even suggested may not align with their priorities,' added another former agent.

Some have praised Evans for being 'an effective force in DHS' push to improve efficiency, cut perceived waste and reshape FEMA to fit the president's priorities.'

However, her hunger for cleaning up government can often lead to unintended consequences.

Karen Evans (pictured) has become the new head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Donald Trump's new head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been nicknamed 'The Terminator' as she sets out to recycle massive amounts of bureaucratic waste

'She was going through, line by line, and disapproving things. She often didn't know what they meant or what would happen.'

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also kept a tight grip on FEMA programs and spending, requiring that she personally approve any agency expenditure over $100,000 which was criticized in the response to the deadly Texas floods earlier this year.

Evans has also gotten flack from liberals for allegedly pushing to stop Muslim organizations from getting grant funding.

The 'terminator' Evans apparently has some walking on eggshells when it comes to trying to get grants and aid out, per one senior FEMA official.

'We had to ensure we were being polite and respectful. We had to write proposals to say things like, 'We respectfully request your approval for ' and couldn't say things like, 'Without this there will be a significant problem' - as that was deemed 'threatening.'

Trump appointed a 12-member review council led by Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deliver recommendations on how to reform FEMA and push more responsibility to the states for disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

The council is expected to deliver its recommendations in December but some say Evans' hiring is just to have a puppet in place for the administration to do what it wants.

'Karen doesn't have any real power. Karen is there to do whatever she's told,' an ex-senior official said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also kept a tight grip on FEMA programs and spending, requiring that she personally approve any agency expenditure over $100,000

The agency's new policies came under fire after the deadly Texas floods earlier this year

Noem has long been a critic of FEMA and has even said she wants to 'clean house' and give more disaster relief power to the states.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.

The agency has undergone major upheaval since Trump returned to office in January promising to vastly overhaul if not eliminate the agency.

About 18 percent of the agencys permanent full-time employees had departed as of June, including 24 senior-level staffers, according to the Government Accountability Office.

The Trump administration also has slashed mitigation funding, placed requirements on preparedness grants that compel recipients to comply with Trumps immigration agenda, and denied several states requests for major disaster declaration requests .

Evans takes over for David Richardson, who in his brief term remained largely out of public sight, is leaving the post after he faced a wave of criticism for his handling of the deadly Texas floods earlier this year.

He replaced previous acting head Cameron Hamilton in May.

'The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security extend their sincere appreciation to the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator, David Richardson, for his dedicated service and wish him continued success in his return to the private sector,' a DHS spokesperson said.
Two burglars landed themselves in hot water when they were arrested by police after hiding in a hot tub.

The wet bandits were found with the assistance of a North Yorkshire police helicopter while a third accomplice was discovered in a nearby trailer.

Ryan Wilkinson, 25, Cyle Jenkins, 23, and Adrian Askin, 28, were responsible for targeting high-value Audi and Volkswagen vehicles and will now spend a combined total of almost 30 years in prison.

The footage in the video player above shows the dramatic moment in full.
A 15-year-old accused of killing a fellow teen allegedly confessed to the attack by telling a police officer: 'I stabbed another boy in the leg.'

The victim, a boy aged 17, died from stab wounds to his thigh after a confrontation at a park behind Rouse Hill High School in Sydney's northwest at about 4.20pm on Monday.

Three hours later, the younger boy arrived at a police station with a parent and was subsequently charged with murder.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, faced a children's court on Tuesday.

Magistrate James Viney read a police application for DNA samples in the courtroom, which contained sworn declarations from an officer.

'It is asserted in the affidavit the victim was a 17-year-old with no criminal charges,' he said.

'It is asserted the young person set upon the deceased unprovoked and stabbed him in the groin area.'

The court also heard the 15-year-old was on police body-worn camera footage telling an officer: 'I stabbed another boy in the leg.'

A teenage boy allegedly stabbed to death has been remembered as 'sweet' and 'genuine'

A teenage boy was allegedly stabbed to death behind Rouse Hill High School (pictured, paramedics at the scene)

When asked who he was admitting to stabbing, he allegedly gave police the name of the deceased.

Police allege witnesses described seeing the victim's attacker dressed in a balaclava, hoodie, shorts and running shoes, a description allegedly matching that of the 15-year-old.

They argued scrapings taken from under his fingernails would likely contain DNA evidence that matched the deceased.

A court order is needed to take DNA evidence from an accused juvenile because they are not considered capable of giving informed consent.

The 15-year-old sat quietly in the courtroom, wearing a black hoodie and sporting a mullet haircut with shaved sides.

The boy did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody for eight weeks, when the case returns to court.

The stabbing happened within sight of numerous people walking nearby.

The killed boy's heartbroken girlfriend shared her grief online and pledged: 'I'll love you forever.'

The 17-year-old's heartbroken girlfriend has led tributes online

Police said those involved in the confrontation were not from the nearby school and officers believe it was not a random attack

The Daily Mail understands the alleged victim's parents migrated to Australia from Europe more than 15 years ago before settling in the city's north-west, where the 17-year-old was active in the local sporting community.

The boy's girlfriend said he made the 'little things fun' and 'brought a smile' to her face 'every single day without fail'.

'[Name redacted] you will be remembered by all,' she wrote online.

'I love you so much and you will be forever in my heart.

'You don't deserve this and never did, you are a strong boy and you deserve the world.

'I don't know what I'm going to do without you baby, but I know you would want me to live and stay strong, so I'll live for you ML [my love].'

One friend described him as a 'sweet, genuine boy', while others simply wrote 'fly high [name redacted]' and 'forever 17'.

'Gonna miss you bro,' another mate said.

It's understood the teenage boy was allegedly stabbed in the thigh (pictured, emergency services at the scene)

Authorities remained at the scene on Tuesday as locals laid flowers in tribute to the slain teen.

Police said those involved in the confrontation were not from the nearby school and officers believe it was not a random attack.

Several female witnesses who were in the park at the time rushed over to help the victim.

Paramedics were called but the teen died soon after.

'It would have been a horrifically confronting situation for those people and I can only praise them for their efforts,' Detective Superintendent Naomi Moore told reporters on Monday evening.

'It was a potentially dangerous situation they were walking into, but they thought nothing of themselves to go in and render aid.'

NSW Premier Chris Minns sent his condolences to the teenage boy's family and friends.

'I am deeply saddened by the death of a teenage boy at Rouse Hill and extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends,' he said in a statement.

'It is an unimaginable loss, and the whole community will feel the impact.'

Local federal MP Michelle Rowland said she was deeply saddened by the incident.

'There is no place in our community for these acts of senseless violence, and I know this news will be particularly distressing for local families,' she said.

The accused murderer is scheduled to return to court on January 23.
A man accused of leaving his dog to die in a ute then concocting a story the vehicle was stolen, was allegedly found out after CCTV footage emerged of him in a brothel the night of the incident in the same cap he wore in a viral photo used to make a public appeal for the 'missing' pet.

Nathan McKeown, 43, told police his vehicle was taken from outside his mate's home in the Brisbane suburb of Wynnum, where he had parked it for the night on November 7 with his dog, Arnie, in the back.

His wife Louise reported the ute theft to police and the couple mounted a high-profile media campaign to find Arnie, which went viral online with a picture of the trio.

But 10 days later, on November 17, McKeown's ute was found parked outside a massage parlour in Amelia Street in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley nightlife hub.

On Thursday, police charged Irish-born McKeown with breaching the duty of care to an animal over Arnie's death.

And on Friday, the Daily Mail revealed police are investigating claims that McKeown had attended a brothel twice on the same night.

Now, footage seen by the Daily Mail has shed new light on McKeown's movements.

The footage - which has been viewed by the police - shows McKeown arriving at the brothel, almost 5km from where his ute was later found, on November 7.

Nathan McKeown is pictured alongside his wife Louise and dog Arnie in his camouflage-coloured hat as part of their viral campaign to find the missing dog. Police will allege Ms McKeown had no idea the car was not stolen

Arnie's disappearance and death touched the hearts of thousands of Australians who hoped for his safe return home

It is understood that on his first visit, he arrived at the business in his vehicle about 9.30pm and parked on the opposite side of the road to the premises.

He appeared on CCTV as he walked up the stairs wearing a coral T-shirt, beige cargo shorts, brown thongs and the same camouflage-coloured hat from the photograph widely seen in the media.

The footage also shows McKeown sporting his distinct earring studs while paying for his 45-minute service at the venue via a credit card.

The CCTV also then shows McKeown returning to the business around 2.30am, but the manager previously told the Daily Mail he left after female sex workers refused to take his booking.

It is understood he allegedly made the second trip to the venue in a taxi or rideshare vehicle.

The brothel manager previously told the Daily Mail that McKeown first visited the establishment between 11pm and 1am and again at 3.30am.

However, the timeline has been adjusted after further inspection of the establishment's security tape - and the revision now suggests McKeown allegedly drove to Amelia Street after his first visit to the brothel.

Police will allege McKeown drove his ute to Amelia Street at 10.30pm on November 7 and parked his car in front of a massage parlour, before leaving on foot while Arnie was still in the car.

Security footage tendered to police as part of the investigation shows McKeown at the brothel sporting a studded earring

McKeown allegedly left Arnie to die in the back of his ute (pictured)

Speaking to the Daily Mail last week, the manager of the brothel said one of their workers saw McKeown on the Today show during one of his public appeals.

They claimed to immediately recognise him as a customer from the night of November 7.

He was allegedly identified by staff by his camo trucker hat. The woman reported it to management, who filed a report with police on Thursday after McKeown's arrest.

'He came in and booked a lady and stayed with that lady,' the manager claimed.

'We found it difficult to remove him and all he could talk about was that he had lost his car, but there was no talk of his dog [being inside it].'

The brothel asked not to be named to avoid being associated with the tragedy.

The manager said McKeown eventually left of his own accord.

The Daily Mail has confirmed a report was lodged with Queensland Police Service and officers are working to substantiate it.

The ute was discovered by a member of the public in Amelia Street, Fortitude Valley, on November 17

Police have alleged that on November 8, McKeown allegedly told his wife that the ute had been stolen and she filed a police report.

Ms McKeown had no idea the vehicle had not actually been stolen, police say.

How the search was sparked

The frantic week-long search began after Arnie was reportedly stolen along with the ute from outside a home on Davidson St, at Wynnum, between 1.30am and 5am on November 8.

McKeown said he had the eight-year-old German shepherd with him when he dropped in to visit friends, but his mate's kelpie didn't get along with Arnie, so he put his dog in the back canopy of his black Toyota HiLux and gave him some water.

When McKeown went to leave several hours later, he said both his ute and Arnie were gone.

'I've been driving around, finding leads, chasing down CCTV, my phone has been hopping,' the father-of-one told the Daily Mail at the time.

'It was heart-wrenching. Just gutted. Arnie is a beautiful-natured dog. He's been in the family since he was eight weeks old.

'He's got a good, strong character. He even knew my wife was pregnant before my wife did.'

Police now allege the car was not stolen and Nathan McKeown left Arnie in the ute in Fortitude Valley

McKeown issued countless online community appeals as Queensland Police worked around the clock to locate Arnie and the stolen vehicle.

The search came to an end on Monday when a member of the public located the vehicle parked on Amelia Street with Arnie dead inside.

'Unfortunately there isn't a better outcome and Arnie was found... deceased, still in the back of the ute that was stolen,' the family posted on Tuesday.

'We are beyond devastated. He didn't deserve to go like this!! We had the best life with him and he is going to be so missed.

'We sincerely want to thank everyone for all your help over the past week in the search for our boy Arnie.

'Police are following up all CCTV footage and leads.'

Shock arrest

Following inquiries from Daily Mail on Thursday, Queensland Police revealed they will allege in court that the car was not stolen and the owner had left the dog in the ute in Fortitude Valley.

'The owner of the vehicle has assisted police with these investigations, and it has now been established that a criminal offence of unlawful use of (a) motor vehicle has not occurred,' a spokesperson said.

Queensland Police previously said that reports of 'Arnie' sightings took officers across the Brisbane region and surrounding districts, but they were 'unsubstantiated'.

As investigations remain ongoing, Queensland Police thanked the media and the public on Thursday for their extensive assistance throughout the investigation.

'Police are aware this has been a highly publicised case, and offences of this nature may cause distress and upset members of the public,' a spokesperson said.

'The Queensland Police Service requests that the public are respectful of the matter's progression through the courts.

'The QPS takes animal care seriously.'

McKeown has been charged with one count of 'breach of duty of care of animal by failing to provide under the Animal Protection Act'.

He is expected to appear before a Brisbane court next month.
A 'guerilla' group of liberal senators have formed a so-called 'Fight Club' in advance of the crucial midterm elections amid growing frustration with Chuck Schumer.

The rogue liberals are concerned that their party continues to back establishment candidates after the Democratic leader failed to endorse newcomer Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor.

The 'club' has already begun scheming against Schumer, sources said. The mutiny comes to light following an Oval Office meeting that insiders called an ingenious plot by President Donald Trump.

Trump's surprisingly cozy one-on-one with with the Big Apple's mayor-elect last week was dramatically warmer than many had expected given the months of hostilities.

But a veteran GOP operative who witnessed the spectacle unfold said the meeting was a political grenade lobbed directly into Democratic ranks.

'To be honest, I think this pours gasoline on the internal war within the Dems,' the source told The Hill's Julia Manchester. 'Further forces Dems to fully embrace Mamdani and his agenda.'

The 'political grenade' may have already exploded, as the 'guerrilla group' is now planning to challenge Schumer during primaries for the 2026 midterms, particularly in Maine, Michigan and Minnesota.

'I can think of no historical example that would compare to this level of internal caucus fear and dissension,' Josh Orton, a Democratic strategist, told The New York Times.

'To be essentially a guerrilla group of senators who are raising concerns not just about one bill or one decision, but questions of leaderships entire disposition toward politics and the Trump administration, feels unique.

Chuck Schumer's post-shutdown nightmare continues as he faces a mutiny from within his own party after he failed to endorse socialist Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayor's race

Schumer, who lives in Brooklyn, declined to endorse anyone in the race, leading some to suggest that after their surprisingly friendly meeting in the Oval Office, that 'Donald Trump endorsed Mamdani before Schumer'

The liberal group includes longtime progressive faces Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as Chris Van Hollen, Tina Smith and Chris Murphy, the Times reported.

While many of them lean closer to Sanders' brand of democratic socialism, reports suggest they want to the party to put up more of a fight against Trump, even referring to their meetings as 'Fight Club' in a reference to the 1999 film.

A spokesperson for Schumer denied any favoritism or complacency with candidates, claiming they only have one goal.

'Our North Star is winning the Senate majority in 2026 and any decision is made to achieve that goal,' the rep said.

The senators aren't alone in their frustration with Schumer, as progressive members of the House have also been critical in the wake of the shutdown failure.

Ro Khanna, a California progressive, told Politico: 'The question is what is the future of Democratic leadership. Who is going to be effective? And most Democrats around the country just don't think that person is Chuck Schumer.'

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most famous members of Congress and someone who many think could challenge Schumer for his Senate seat in 2028, was similarly critical.

'The Democratic Party cannot last much longer by denying the future, by trying to undercut our young, by trying to undercut a next generation of diverse and upcoming Democrats that the actual electorate and voters support,' she said.

The rebel Democrats aren't the only ones who see Schumer, who has led the party in the Senate since 2017, as weakened following the shutdown.

Bernie Sanders (pictured left) and Elizabeth Warren are two of the members of the rebel Senate group, which some have called a 'Fight Club'

In the House, both Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (pictured left) and Ro Khanna (pictured right) have heavily criticized the party's behavior in the mayoral race and on the shutdown

Trump openly bragged that Republicans 'broke' Schumer during brutal negotiations to end the longest government in US history.

'I think he made a mistake in going too far,' Trump told Fox News about the standoff in negotiations. 'He thought he could break the Republicans and the Republicans broke him.'

The US Senate voted to end the record-setting government shutdown by a 60-40 tally after a number of Democrats defected.

The seven Democrats and one Independent who caucused with the GOP were: Dick Durbin of Illinois, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Angus King (I) of Maine.

None of the members have been a part of any of these 'Fight Club' meetings with their fellow senators.

After weeks of negotiations, the moderate Senate Democrats agreed to reopen the government without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, angering many in their caucus who have demanded that Republicans negotiate with them on the Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire January 1.

Thune promised a mid-December vote on the subsidies, but there was no guarantee of success.

In a possible preview, the Senate voted 47-53 along party lines Monday not to extend the subsidies for a year. Majority Republicans allowed the vote as part of a separate deal with Democrats to speed up votes and send the legislation to the House.

The president said Schumer's status as a major party broker had withered as the lengthy shutdown dragged his beleaguered party into the abyss.

'I've never seen a politician change so much,' Trump admitted. 'He was a pretty talented guy. He's lost his talent.'

Donald Trump bragged that his Republican Party 'broke' Democrat leader Chuck Schumer in shutdown negotiations, as the New York Senator faces calls from his own party to quit

MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow also defended Schumer but with faint praise, suggesting that there were no Democrats who could do any better

He accused Schumer of having 'Trump derangement syndrome' and said the Democrat Party had been taken over by 'crazed lunatics.'

Progressive groups MoveOn and Our Revolution have also demanded that Schumer be removed as leader, citing liberal victories in off-year elections in early November showing a willingness for the public to wait out the shutdown.

'Americans showed a growing surge of support for Democrats who fought back - both at the ballot box last week and peacefully in the streets last month. Inexplicably, some Senate Democrats, under Leader Schumer's watch, decided to surrender,' said Katie Bethell, MoveOn's political action executive director

'It is time for Senator Schumer to step aside.'

While most Democrats have trashed the deal, some liberals have stepped up to back Schumer to continue.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries claimed that 'the overwhelming majority of Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, have waged a valiant fight over the last seven weeks, defeating the partisan Republican spending bill 14 or 15 different times, week after week after week.'

When asked if Schumer was effective as leader and should keep his job, Jeffries answered: 'Yes and yes.'

MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow also defended Schumer but with faint praise, suggesting that there were no Democrats who could do any better.

'There's nobody who is stepping up to take that job right now,' Maddow admitted.

'There is no more wasted breath at this particular moment in our governing than the question of Chuck Schumer's future. He has the vote of every Democratic member of the Senate. He will continue to have that,' added fellow MSNBC anchor Lawrence O'Donnell.

Schumer, in a speech to the Senate on Monday, said that Democrats succeeded in putting healthcare 'at the forefront of people's minds.'

'The American people will not forget Donald Trump's cruelty and heartlessness over the past six weeks,' he added.

Jon Cowan, president of the centrist think tank Third Way, said in an interview that the attacks on Schumer coming from the left will likely subside.

'Every Democrat and allied interest group is going to end their circular firing squad and aim all of their ammunition at Trump' and at congressional Republicans who are vulnerable to losing their seats in next year's elections, he said.

Schumer, who has held his seat since 1999, is up for re-election again in 2028.
Pauline Hanson has launched a blistering attack on Parliament after officials cancelled the screening of One Nation's new movie trailer, labelling it as 'censorship' and a 'betrayal of free speech'.

The trailer for 'A Super Progressive Movie' was due to be shown at Parliament House on Tuesday, but Hanson says the event was scrapped at the last minute because it 'might offend someone.'

The movie is based on Hanson's animated web series, which parodies federal politics and features caricatures of politicians including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe.

Hanson revealed the screening was cancelled with just a few hours notice.

'It was only on the day we were going to screen it that Parliament House cancelled the event,' she explained.

'I strongly suspect they left it until the last minute to maximise our inconvenience.'

Supporters had travelled from across Australia to Canberra for the screening, which had been booked since October 16, the outspoken senator said.

Hanson also accused Parliament of hypocrisy, and claimed the decision undermined democratic principles.

Pauline Hanson had planned to air the trailer for 'A Super Progressive Movie' on Tuesday

The cartoon film is a continuation of Hanson's web series, which spoofs Australian politics

'A Super Progressive Movie has been cancelled by a super-progressive Parliament House which  shockingly  doesn't understand one of the most basic principles of democracy,' Hanson claimed.

'Our movie may very well offend some people. Offending people is an inevitable consequence of free speech, a fundamental principle of Australian democracy. No-one has a right to be unoffended, contrary to what the 'super progressives' believe.'

While she accused Parliament of censoring her, she said she had moved the event offsite to another location and it would go ahead.

'This sort of censorship, based on the fear of free speech principles, is disgraceful. Luckily, Parliament House is powerless to stop us from screening the trailer elsewhere and we've secured an alternative venue,' she said.

'We won't allow Parliament's fear of free speech to stop us from exercising it.'

The cancellation comes on the heels of Hanson's latest controversy, which saw her suspended from Parliament for seven days after she entered the chamber wearing a burqa in a protest against Islamic dress.

The stunt was widely condemned by both sides of parliament, with Independent Senator Fatima Payman, who wears a hijab, saying the incident could lead to schoolgirls and women wearing hijabs to be abused or assaulted.

'There is bound to be people out on the streets, young schoolgirls, who are probably yelled at or abused or assaulted, and it is just the division we do not want to see in society,' she said.

Pauline Hanson accused the Parliament of censorship, after her event was cancelled

Pauline Hanson (pictured) was suspended from the Parliament for seven days over the stunt

Hanson seems unaffected by the backlash, with her party's popularity having surged ahead this year, largely due to the collapse of the Liberal vote.

Recent polls show One Nation holding around 15 to 20 per cent of the national vote, making it one of the most influential minor parties in Australia.

Hanson confirmed on Tuesday she would contest the next election, due in 2028.

It is rumoured that former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce could defect to One Nation as early as Friday.

The two on Tuesday shared a Parliament House lunch of steak prepared by Hanson on a sandwich press as they discussed the potential move.

Joyce has announced he would not contest his lower house seat of New England earlier this year, leaving the door open to a Senate run for One Nation.
A towering glass elevator set to give tourists easy access to a social media famous beach in Bali will be torn down mid-way through construction.

Bali's Governor Wayan Koster on Sunday announced the 182m Kelingking Glass Elevator Project will be demolished after major building violations were reported last month.

The structure has already caused irreversible damage to the famous cliffside at Kelingking Beach, one of Bali's pristine natural wonders, local outlet The Bali Sun reported.

Governor Koster has given the company behind the project, PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group, just six months to deconstruct the elevator.

Construction of the eyesore and an adjoining 64-metre bridge at Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida, an island south-east of Bali, began last year.

The US$1.4million project was designed to assist beachgoers in traversing the scenic cliffside, dubbed the 'T-Rex' for its unique shape, down to the beachfront.

Local officials previously raised concerns with the project, following claims appropriate permits may not have been obtained before works began.

Governor Koster on Sunday said an investigation had revealed five violations related to spatial issues, permits, environmental law, licensing and culture-based tourism.

Construction of a giant glass elevator at Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida has been ordered to stop

Authorities on Sunday ordered the elevator be completely demolished within six months

Pictures of the project had triggered outrage from local beachgoers - blaming tourism for spoiling yet another spectacular site.

'I can't (sic) no longer recommend a visit to Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida,' one Balinese local wrote on social media.

'Unfortunately, the breathtaking, pristine views that made this location famous are being compromised by the construction of a large, intrusive glass viewing lift.'

'Do we want to turn this island into just another commercial hub for investors?' another woman wrote.

'I still remember when this place felt wild - untouched, almost sacred,' Dutch expat Twan van Halm wrote on Instagram.

'When the climb down made your heart race and every step reminded you that beauty takes effort. Now it's all signs, selfies, shortcuts.'

Others questioned the need for the project to begin with, claiming the true dangers came from swimming off the beach rather than scaling its cliffs.

'Many tourists experience accidents because they go down,' local woman Made Sediana told the Bali Sun newspaper.

Locals earlier voiced concern the iconic beach could be permanently ruined by the massive construction project

The project was found to be violating several building laws

'If it were easier for guests to go down, it would be dangerous too.

'The coastline is narrow there, and big waves come suddenly. The best way to enjoy Kelingking Beach's beauty is from above.'

Only last month, a 32-year-old French tourist drowned after being swept away by strong currents off Kelingking Beach.

The project previously drew accusations the government is prioritising tourist infrastructure over the desires of locals.

Questions of overtourism surfaced following devastating floods in September, after planning experts suggested fast-tracked construction, including in tourist hotspots, had stripped the land of its natural flood resistance.

'There is so much tourist accommodation being built, and according to our records, much of it is built by violating coastal zones, river zones and often these developments are located in disaster-prone areas,' Walhi Bali executive director Krisna Dinata told the ABC.

He added: 'Even in the eyes of the world, Bali is seen as a case of overtourism.'

Bali placed as the number one destination not to visit in 2025 on Fodors Magazine's 'no list', with overtourism and 'unchecked development' as its key reasons.

'Once-pristine beaches like Kuta and Seminyak are now buried under piles of trash, with local waste management systems struggling to keep up,' it said.

Despite the backlash, Bali is expected to receive 6.5million foreign tourists this year, setting a new annual record and well exceeding its local population of 4.4million.
A hard-right Polish MP has declared that 'Poland is for Poles, not Jews' in a sickening and inflammatory speech outside Auschwitz.

Grzegorz Braun, the head of the Confederation of the Polish Crown party, compared promoting Jewish life in Poland to 'inviting Hannibal Lecter to move in next door',

The 58-year-old, who has long been accused of anti-Semitism, added: 'Jews want to be super-humans in Poland, entitled to a better status, and the Polish police dance to their tune'.

Braun spoke on Saturday at a press conference in the town of Oswiecim, the Polish town known for being the home of the memorial and museum of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

It was there that 1.1million people were executed, the vast majority of them being Jews.

Braun used the press conference to condemn the government's latest plans to adopt a new policy on combatting anti-Semitism and supporting Jewish life.

The plan is likely to be approved by the country's cabinet by December.

But Braun, who is also a member of the European parliament, said the plan 'singles out one particular group[for] special privileges[and] is tantamount to discrimination against all Polish citizens of non-Jewish descent'.

Grzegorz Braun (pictured, centre) compared promoting Jewish life in Poland to 'inviting Hannibal Lecter to move in next door'

In 2021, he gained infamy after he approached a public Hanukkah display in the country's Parliament building before extinguishing the hanukkiah

The comments were immediately condemned by Poland's justice minister, Waldemar Zurek, who said Braun's words 'dramatically harm the Polish state on the international stage, but also in our own country'.

He pledged to launch an investigation into Braun's 'scandalous and unacceptable' comments: 'We will not allow anyone to express such views with impunity. We will pursue them resolutely.

'It is truly shameful for Poles that someone like this, in the 21st century, after what happened in Poland during World War Two, is turning this place [Auschwitz] into some hideous political game'.

Braun has long been accused of being an anti-Semite.

In 2021, he gained infamy after he approached a public Hanukkah display in the country's Parliament building before extinguishing the hanukkiah, the candelabrum that holds the candles that represent each night of the holiday.

He called the Hanukkah display 'anti-Polish', and opposes restitution for Holocaust survivors.

Last year, Polish leaders condemned a series of arson attacks on a Warsaw synagogue that was left visibly scorched.

The Nozyk Synagogue, the only synagogue in the city to have survived the Holocaust, was hit with three firebombs last May.

Nobody was hurt and the damage appeared minimal, but the violence sparked concern from Jewish leaders, and prompted authorities to urge a 'strong and robust' response.

'If it (the bottle) had gone 15 centimetres to the left it would have reached the window and possibly inside the synagogue. There's a library there,' Poland's chief rabbi Michael Schudrich told reporters.

The fire ultimately burned itself out outside the building, according to Eliza Panek, vice president of the Jewish community in Warsaw.
United States officials are holding secret talks with Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi in an attempt to thrash out the peace deal to end the war.

After meeting with a Russian delegation last night, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to speak with Ukraines military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, on Tuesday.

The high-level meetings came as a devastating Ukrainian onslaught hit a major Russian aircraft manufacturing plant, triggering a 'glow like after a nuclear explosion'.

Initial reports indicate an experimental bulb-nosed A-60 aircraft  a carrier of laser weapons  was ablaze.

Three people were killed and at least 16 injured with residential buildings damaged in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and the cities of Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, Russian officials said.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that 249 Ukrainian drones were downed over regions overnight, including 116 over the Black Sea, 92 over the southern regions of Krasnodar and Rostov.

The attack on Taganrog came as Russian drones attacking Ukraines Odesa region flew over Romanian airspace. NATO scrambled four war planes in response.

Moscow triggered death and terror with new attacks on civilians in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv killing at least six, including an 86-year-old woman pensioner.

A Ukrainian onslaught hit a major Russian aircraft manufacturing plant, triggering a 'glow like after a nuclear explosion'

Three people were killed and at least 16 injured with residential buildings damaged in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and the cities of Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, Russian officials said

The Russian Defence Ministry said that 249 Ukrainian drones were downed over regions overnight

Residents were heard screaming for help after a Shahed drone strike ignited an inferno in a tower block, with two power plants supplying piped hot water heating to homes also destroyed.

A Russian drone penetrated some 50 miles inside independent state Moldova before ending up on the roof of a house in the village of Nizhnie Kugureshty.

The Gerbera unmanned plane was pictured by police in the West-leaning ex-Soviet state.

Reports say the unexploded drone was one of six that crossed into Moldovan airspace.

People were ordered not to touch any drones or debris that landed in Moldova.

Neighbouring Romania - a NATO state - was also hit by Russian drone incursions, leading to the scrambling of warplanes.

Separately, dramatic footage indicated a wonky Russian air defence missile struck a residential building in an horrific new friendly fire incident in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, where a wave of Ukrainian strikes also caused casualties.

The destructive strikes on both sides came as peace moves gathered pace in Abu Dhabi to follow up on this weekends talks between the U.S. and Ukraine in Geneva.

Driscoll and the Russians began talks on Monday night and he is expected to meet soon with Ukraine's Budanov - considered one of Russias most wanted men.

In a Truth Social post on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that 'something good is happening' amid his administration's efforts to broker peace between the warring sides.

He wrote: 'Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine???

'Dont believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday hailed 'important steps' after the Geneva summit, but said more was needed to end a nearly four-year war following the Russian invasion.

'In the steps we have coordinated with the side of the U.S., we've managed to keep extremely sensitive points,' Zelensky told a virtual conference in Sweden, but added that 'to achieve real peace, more is needed'.

A drone fell on a residential house in Moldova, in the village of Nizhnie Kugureshty

A Ukrainian drone set an experimental bulb-nosed A-60 aircraft  a carrier of laser weapons  ablaze

Moscow triggered death and terror with new attacks on civilians in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv killing at least six, including an 86-year-old woman pensioner

Residents were heard screaming for help after a Shahed drone strike ignited an inferno in a tower block, with two power plants supplying piped hot water heating to homes also destroyed

People take shelter at a metro station during an air attack in Kyiv on November 25, 2025

A broken window and a damaged residential building in the background following an air attack in Kyiv, November 25, 2025

Ukrainians take shelter during an air-raid at the site of a Russian strike on a nine-storey residential building, in Kyiv, Ukraine, November 25, 2025

In Geneva, U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators drew up an 'updated and refined peace framework' after a draft of Trump's 28-point peace plan leaked last week and caused uproar in Europe and Kyiv.

The controversial deal was viewed as offering huge concessions to the Kremlin, fulfilling many of Moscow's maximalist demands for territorial control while leaving Ukraine vulnerable and defenseless to future aggression.

The Ukrainian strike on Taganrog-Yuzhny airfield hit the Beriev aircraft manufacturing plant, amid indications an A-60 plane designed to carry laser weapons was burning on the tarmac.

Russia has only two such aircraft, based on the Il-76MD.

Unconfirmed reports said a hangar had been hit, believed to be housing a Tu-95MS strategic bomber aircraft undergoing 36 million modernisation, a key part of Vladimir Putins nuclear strike fleet.

A fire was seen close to the runway at the plant which is also used to maintain Putins Ilyushin Il-80 Maxdome Doomsday aircraft designed for use as a Flying Kremlin in the event of nuclear war.

Governor Veniamin Kondratyev called the night attack 'one of the longest and most massive' during the full-scale war.

Attacks were also recorded in Gelendzhik, where Putin owns a 1 billion private palace, and Tuapse.

In Kyiv, Russia hit two hot water power plants - CHP-5 and CHP-6, and a hydroelectric power station.

The city was plunged into power and water outages, as well as transport disruptions.

The attack was evidently aimed at pummelling Ukraine into agreeing an unfavourable peace plan.

Putin's foreign affairs aide Yuri Ushaskov said that British, EU and Ukrainian inspired changes to the original U.S. draft were 'unconstructive'.

On Saturday, leaders from Europe, Canada and Japan signed a joint statement at the G20 summit in South Africa, saying that the peace deal had elements 'essential for a just and lasting peace', but would 'require additional work', citing concerns over territory and limits on Ukraine's army.

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US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff (second from the left), and US Secretary of state Marco Rubio (right) at the beginning of talks with the Ukrainian delegation in Geneva

The EU submitted a modified version of the US's peace plan for Ukraine that pushed back on proposed limits to Kyiv's armed forces and territorial concessions.

The document, drafted by the so-called European E3 powers - Britain, France and Germany - proposes that Ukraine's military be capped at 800,000 'in peacetime' rather than a blanket cap of 600,000.

It also says 'negotiations on territorial swaps will start from the Line of Contact', rather than pre-determining that certain areas should be recognised as 'de facto Russian', as the U.S. plan suggests.

It proposes that Ukraine receive a security guarantee from the United States similar to NATO's Article 5 clause.

Russian strikes also hit Odesa region, with reports a Putin drone had overflown NATO state Romania in a major security breach, with another crossing Moldova.

A statement from the Romanian air force confirmed NATO fighters were scrambled.

'The radars of the Ministry of National Defence detected a target heading towards national airspace on the morning of November 25, in the vicinity of Tulcea County, and at 06.28, two German Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft were launched from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base to monitor the situation.

'The target crossed national airspace from the direction of Valcove (Ukraine), to the Chilia Veche area, Tulcea County.

'At 06.55, a Ro-Alert message was transmitted in the Tulcea County area.

'At 07.11, Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft reported radar contact with the target over the territory of Ukraine, outside Romanian airspace.

'At 07:37, two F16 Fighting Falcon aircraft were ordered to take off from the ground, from the 86th Air Base in Borcea, and at 07:48, Ro-Alert was also issued for Galati County.

'At 07:50, radar systems detected a second intrusion into national airspace, in the area of Galati County, and F-16 aircraft had radar contact with it.

'At the time of issuing the press release, the situation is being monitored by the Ministry of National Defence.'

The air force warned that it has the legal right to shoot down Russian drones in its airspace.
A 'woke' council has cancelled an exhibition featuring a reimagined union flag after concerns were expressed by minorities.

Artist Gil Mualem-Doron's New Union Flag was made using textiles from across a wide range ethnic communities to celebrate Britain's diversity.

After successful displays in the Tate Modern, Southbank Centre and Liverpool Museum it was due to go on show at a library in Brighton.

But the council decided to cancel the exhibition after minority groups expressed fears that 'displaying national flags could be taken out of their artistic context'.

The council has been branded 'a laughing stock' by residents, who accused council bosses of 'political posturing'.

A Stand Up to Racism spokesperson said: 'When a public library in a progressive city cannot host a flag celebrating diversity, we should be concerned.

'We all remember that it is silence, fear and complicity  and not hatred  that is often the greatest danger.'

Dr Mualem-Doron, who says he tries to create art with a social conscience, said: 'Two years ago, Brighton and Hove City Council commissioned New Union Flag works for a citywide public art initiative in bus stops across the city. Now the same city refuses to show it in a public library.'

Brighton council has cancelled an exhibition featuring this reimagined union flag over fears it may upset minorities

Artist Gil Mualem-Doron (pictured) who created the New Union Flag using textiles from across a wide range ethnic communities to celebrate Britain's diversity

Jonathan Dean, 55, said: 'You simply couldn't make it up. It is absolutely farcical. An anti-racist flag is cancelled because it is deemed to be racist. The council has got itself into a right twist with this one.

'The flag exhibition is celebrating the diversity. To cancel it suggests you don't believe in its message.'

Femi Adebayo said: 'I can't believe Brighton and Hove City Council used taxpayers' money to commission this exhibition only to later cancel it. How ridiculous.

'It is a perfect irony the work of this artist is too controversial to display in the city which wasted public money on it.'

Laura King said: 'The council says they cannot show the exhibition at the main library owing to public controversy and belatedly claim that libraries should be 'neutral spaces'.

'Well where was their neutrality when it came to deciding to spend taxpayers' money on tampering with our national flag?'

Felicity Rhodes said: 'The problem with this decision is I don't think anyone believes ethnic minorities are really going to be offended. It's just political posturing and a waste of our money.'

Another resident said: 'You literally can't do anything without someone taking offence. Now we're making decisions to cancel art exhibitions for an imagined future offence that has happened. Is this the society we want to live in?'

The flag (pictured) has already been shown in the Tate Modern, Southbank Centre and Liverpool Museum. It was due to go on show at a library in Brighton

The exhibition was previously held at Brighton Museum and the flag was emblazoned on posters at bus stops across the city.

Council leader Bella Sankey said: 'Our libraries have been recognised as Libraries of Sanctuary, something we are very proud of, and keen to maintain.

'Given the fears that minority communities have expressed to me in recent weeks and months, there are particular concerns that displaying national flags could be taken out of their artistic context.

'Customers who do not or cannot read the signage could see the artwork of the flags as a statement by the library and therefore the council.

'As council buildings, our libraries need to remain neutral spaces and a safe space for all our customers.'
A suspected terrorist accused of stabbing three people in Madrid before attacking police shouting 'Allahu Akbar' reportedly told his mum he was on a mission to 'kill Christians.'

The 18-year-old, a Spaniard of Moroccan origin, remains in hospital after being tasered and shot by anti-terror police when he holed himself up in a flat following the triple stabbing and violently resisted attempts to arrest him.

A judge at Spain's central criminal court is now investigating the incidents on Saturday afternoon as suspected Islamic terrorist crimes.

Cops had told the judge the teenager, who is currently under police guard at Madrid's Gregorio Maranon Hospital, had told his mother that his mission 'was to kill Christians' and that he had to 'cleanse himself', according to Spanish newspaper El Espanol.

Other reports said detectives were investigating whether the suspect, who has so far been identified only by his first name Mohammed, had consumed the synthetic drug Captago, which is known to have been used by ISIS fighters in Syria to make themselves feel invincible.

Footage published late yesterday showed the teenager being stretchered out of the property in the Madrid neighbourhood of Puente de Vallecas where he was taken into custody on Saturday afternoon.

As well as trying to attack officers with a large knife he was carrying, he is also said to have recited verses from the Quran before being overpowered.

The siege ended around 4.30pm on Saturday with the terror suspect being shot four times by police after their Taser guns failed to stop him, with one bullet perforating his lung and another hitting him in the kidney.

A suspected terrorist accused of stabbing three people in Madrid before attacking police shouting 'Allahu Akbar' reportedly told his mum he was on a mission to 'kill Christians' (file image of Madrid)

At around 2pm, police received reports that a man had stabbed three people, including an elderly woman, in the Puente de Vallecas neighbourhood in Madrid.

A couple of hours later the suspect's brother rang police to say he was holed up inside his home with a large knife and was acting very aggressively.

Cops categorised it as an 'Islamist terrorist incident' and sent officers from an elite unit specialising in demonstration and anti-terrorist operations to surround the property.

Police union JUPOL said afterwards: 'We want to show all our support to the companions who acted to neutralise a radicalised young man who had attacked three other people.

'It was an absolutely proportionate response.'

Although it is being probed as a suspected Islamic terrorist incident, the man held is known to have been under the influence of drugs.

Neighbours speaking to Spanish media have insisted they believe the drugs he had consumed led to him behaving the way he did and have ruled out the idea he is an Islamic extremist.

The stab victims received medical attention but none of their injuries have been described as life-threatening.
A man was held down and forced to watch as migrants who smashed into his car raped his 18-year-old fiancee in Italy, according to police in Rome.

The couple had parked in a quiet corner of Tor Tre Teste, a park in the eastern part of the capital, for privacy, minutes before they were surrounded by the group who attacked their vehicle.

Police said the attackers broke the window and first pulled the man, 24, from the car before forcing the woman out as she tried to cover herself with an item of clothing.

The man told cops he was restrained by two of the attackers as his fiancee was dragged a short distance away.

As she was sexually assaulted, he screamed for help, begged them to stop and even threatened revenge, but was unable to break free.

After the attack, all three perpetrators fled the scene. The couple, both Italian, then contacted the police and filed a report.

According to the authorities, the couple were terrified and confused. Cops also added that it was possible that there were up to five attackers involved.

Officers have since arrested three Moroccan men on charges of gang rape and robbery.

Two were traced by officers from Romes Flying Squad unit and detained only days after the October 25 attack, and a third was picked up in Verona a few days ago.

Investigators said the arrests were kept quiet while they continued gathering evidence.

A general view of the Tor Tre Teste, a park in the eastern part of the capital, where the attack took place

Italian police patrolling the streets of Rome. Investigators are probing after a man was forced to watch as migrants raped his 18-year-old fiancee

Fingerprints lifted from the shattered window match the men who have been arrested, according to investigators.

Officers also said the attack began as a robbery, as the couples belongings were taken during the assault. The attackers are believed to be known drug dealers.

Confirming that police are still looking into whether additional men were involved, a detective said that the 'investigation isn't closed'.

In November last year, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni linked migrants, particularly undocumented ones, to the country's increase in sexual violence and rape. Before she was elected, she posted a gruesome video of a woman being raped by a migrant on a pavement in Piacenza.

Recent gang-rape cases involving immigrants have led to public protests against illegal mass migration and violence against women.

In February 2024, a helpless 13-year-old girl was brutally raped for half an hour by a group of Egyptian migrants in Catania after she was dragged to a public bathroom.

She claimed two, both minors, sexually assaulted her as the rest of the gang restrained her.

In another case in October 2024, an asylum seeker was alleged to have impregnated a ten-year-old girl after he raped her. The 28-year-old migrant from Bangladesh is said to have attacked the girl at a migrant centre in Lombardy.

Italy is not the only European country experiencing an uptick in sexual violence by migrants. Last month, police arrested five Syrian men after a teenage girl was gang-raped and threatened with a taser in Germany.

In May this year, a pair of Algerian asylum seekers were jailed after they lured teenagers aged 14 and 15 into an abandoned building before plying them with ecstasy, holding them at gunpoint, and raping them in Austria.

The younger girl suffered such severe injuries that she had bruises along her ribs.

Back in 2019, Ali Basher, a failed Iraqi asylum seeker, was sentenced to life behind bars for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Germany.

In 2019, Ali Basher, whose asylum claim had been rejected, was jailed for raping and murdering a 14-year-old girl in Germany

The case outraged Germans and sparked a nationwide debate on the country's immigration policy.

Meanwhile, last week, politicians in Italy moved to expand the definition of sexual violence to include non-consensual acts. It removes the responsibility of the victim to show physical signs of abuse.

Advocates have hailed the amendment, saying it will make it easier for people to report such crimes.

It comes after the outcome of several rape cases sparked outrage.
The stepchildren of a veterinary tycoon who were branded 'entitled spoilt brats' have now won a court fight with his aides over the businessman's 8.2million fortune.

The case reached London's High Court after the death in 2018 of Graham Cheslyn-Curtis, boss of multinational Nottinghamshire-based medical supply company Millpledge.

He left, along with his will, a detailed letter hoping his partner's son and daughter - who he treated 'as his children' - would be groomed to take over running the multi-million-pound business.

Twice-married Mr Cheslyn-Curtis established a trust appointing his top aides to 'tutor and mentor' the siblings Leah-Jane Styring, 47, and 49-year-old Nathan Smith.

That was meant to bring them into the firm in senior roles and make them directors.

But relations between Nathan and Leah and trustees Malcolm Taylor and 70-year-old Paddy Campbell - who became chairman of the company board after Mr Cheslyn Curtis' death - were described as then 'comprehensively breaking down'.

The High Court was told the siblings had become disgruntled about the level of their payouts from Mr Cheslyn-Curtis' trust.

Those were controlled by the two trustees as well as Graham's sister Sarah Cheslyn-Curtis and their uncle Maldyn Stephen Henry Worsley-Tonks.

Veterinary medicine supplies tycoon Graham Cheslyn-Curtis is pictured with his stepdaughter Leah-Jane Styring who has just won in a ruling at London's High Court

Nathan and Leah ended up being removed from their roles in the business, with Mr Campbell complaining it was suffering through their involvement and criticising them as 'self-interested, entitled, complacent, acquisitive and greedy'.

The pair went on to sue, complaining that the trustees were unfairly prejudiced, having regarded them as 'entitled spoilt brats'.

The siblings have now succeeded in having Mr Taylor and Mr Campbell removed from their controlling roles in the trust.

Allowing their claim at the High Court, judge Deputy Master Andrew Holden said: 'This is a case which has gone beyond mere friction and hostility, and is a situation in which the hostile views about Leah and Nathan formed and expressed by Paddy could well have an adverse impact on the proper administration of the trust.'

He also went on to remove Mr Campbell, saying: 'Malcolm has explicitly agreed with the hostile remarks about the claimants made by Paddy.

'Ultimately, I consider that I ought to ensure that negative personal views about the claimants' character which have been formed by Paddy, and which appear to be shared by Malcolm, do not adversely affect the future administration of the trust.'

The court heard that Mr Cheslyn-Curtis, who by the time of his death was the sole owner of 6.8million animal meds suppliers Millpledge Group, left behind an 8.2million estate.

He died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 69 in his listed mansion home, Whinley's House in Clarborough, Nottinghamshire, following an 18-month illness.

Paddy Campbell (pictured), 70, became chairman of the firm Millpledge's board after Mr Cheslyn-Curtis' death - he has been removed as a controller of the late businessman's trust

While having a son from his first marriage, he had treated Nathan and Leah - the son and daughter of his partner of 30 years Suzanne Smith - 'as his children', the judge said.

In his will, he established a 'dynastic trust' for the benefit of Guy, his son from his first marriage, alongside Suzanne and her children.

Alongside instructions setting up the trust, he left a letter of wishes setting out how he hoped long-term his associates Mr Campbell and Mr Taylor could guide Leah and Nathan to eventually spearhead the business, while controlling the paying out of cash to them from the trust.

The court heard Mr Campbell - who became company chairman - was a business consultant who grew close to Mr Cheslyn-Curtis after they began working together in 2002 and was described by the company boss as his 'confidant for many years'.

Mr Taylor, who joined Millpledge in 2002 and worked there in finance until his retirement last year, was also described by the judge as one of Graham's 'trusted associates'.

Mr Holden said: 'What Graham wanted to happen was for Nathan and Leah to be directors of Millpledge.

'He wanted Paddy and Malcolm to "tutor and mentor" them in that role. He wanted much of the profit generated by the business to be re-invested into its future success.

'In particular, he wanted Nathan and Leah to consider re-investing their share of the profits paid to them as directors back into the business. He wanted the business to flourish in the longer term under the stewardship of Nathan and Leah, just as it had under his.

'Nathan and Leah would be made directors of the company and they would be paid at the market rate. Paddy and Malcolm would "tutor and mentor" them into becoming "professional and responsible corporate directors".'

The judge added, however, that in 2023 Ms Styring-Smith was removed as a director of the company, followed by her brother the following year - with Mr Holden saying: 'Unfortunately, Graham's worldview has not come to pass.

'On the contrary - since Graham's death there has been a comprehensive breakdown of relations, culminating in Nathan and Leah being removed as directors and dismissed as employees of Millpledge.

'Shortly after Nathan's dismissal, the claimants brought the present claim seeking to replace the trustees.

'One particular source of tension was a disagreement as to a cap which the trustees placed on "profit share" payments to the directors - including Nathan and Leah - of 1.5 times base salary.'

Although there was evidence that the limit was to conserve cash during the Covid-19 pandemic, 'it is apparent from contemporaneous emails that Nathan was very unhappy with the imposition of the "profit share" cap,' he continued.

During the trial, the siblings' barrister Paul Burton argued that the trustees had viewed Nathan and Leah as 'entitled spoilt brats' and had in reality set about to exclude them from receiving any benefit from the trust.

But in a statement to the court, Mr Campbell said they were not willing to favour the personal interests of any beneficiaries above others, nor to go against Graham's wishes.

He said: 'The claimants have grown frustrated at not getting their own way all of the time and this sense of entitlement is plain for all to see in their statements and in the way that they have continually placed their own individual interests ahead of the interests of others.

'The claimants have shown themselves to be entitled and greedy, with their sole focus being the acquisition of money and control. The claimants have refused to accept the structure of the trust and that they are not in control of Graham's estate and this has always been a source of extreme frustration to them.

'Nathan and Leah's sense of entitlement morphed into complacency where the company was concerned, and it is this complacency and their deep-rooted greed which drove Nathan to pursue an agenda against me as chairman, and against the board as a whole, and which ultimately resulted in Nathan's termination from the company as both a director and employee and Leah's termination as a director of the company too.

'Sadly, Nathan and Leah's complacency was jeopardising and disrupting the performance of the company and in turn, the performance of the trust. This being the case, the trustees were left with little option but to terminate Nathan and Leah as directors.'

But in his ruling, the judge said: 'In essence, Paddy has formed the view as a result of their company level battle that Nathan and Leah are self-interested, entitled, complacent, acquisitive and greedy.

'Paddy's view is that Nathan and Leah's actions have been driven by their complacency and, as he has called it, their 'deep-rooted greed.'

'The distinct impression that I am left with from his evidence is that he has formed a deeply negative view, not simply of the claimants' actions, but of their character as individuals. In my judgment, it is fair to say that the views he has expressed show outright hostility towards the claimants.

'Whatever the provocation, in my judgment the trenchant and deeply negative views expressed by Paddy about the claimants give rise to a reasonable concern that he will find it very difficult to carry out his duties as one of the trustees of the trust with the objectivity and impartiality required.

'For example, Paddy's view that the claimants are motivated by 'deep-rooted greed' could well adversely impact on his consideration of any request made by the claimants to receive a distribution from the trust.

'I have reached the conclusion that Paddy should be removed as a trustee of the trust.

'In his evidence, Malcolm has explicitly agreed with the hostile remarks about the claimants made by Paddy. Ultimately, I consider that I ought to ensure that negative personal views about the claimants' character which have been formed by Paddy, and which appear to be shared by Malcolm, do not adversely affect the future administration of the trust.

'I have therefore decided that Malcolm should also be removed as one of the trustees of the trust.'

The judge refused the siblings' bid to get the family trustees removed also, saying neither Sarah nor Maldyn had 'exhibited any animus towards the claimants'.

He continued: 'The retention of Sarah and Maldyn as trustees will also provide for a measure of continuity in the trusteeship.

'I therefore conclude that I ought to remove Paddy and Malcolm as trustees of the trust; and appoint a professional trustee to act as trustee of the trust together with Sarah and Maldyn as the continuing trustees.'

The judge said that, in a message before his death, Graham had described his attempt to 'rule from the grave' as a 'bloody awful prospect'.

Mr Holden added: 'In fact, what he wanted was a continuation of his life's work by members of his family under the guidance of his trusted advisors.

'There is nothing awful about that prospect and it is deeply regrettable for all concerned that it has not been fulfilled.'
A male Palestine Action activist attacked a female police sergeant with a sledgehammer and fractured her spine during a raid on an Israel-based defence firm's UK site, a trial has heard.

Six members of the group are accused of carrying out an attack at Elbit Systems in Bristol after breaking into the factory in an old prison van in the early hours of August 6 last year.

Wearing white hard hats and red and black jumpsuits to represent which 'team' they were on during their operation, they allegedly used sledgehammers, whips, fireworks, an axe and a paintball gun as weapons and carried angle grinders.

Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31, are charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder in relation to the alleged break-in.

Corner denies a further charge of causing Police Sergeant Kate Evans grievous bodily harm.

Dramatic footage shows members of Palestine Action, from the 'Red Team', inside the Elbit Systems building holding red smoke flares and wielding sledgehammers as they threateningly approached security guard Nigel Shaw.

Mr Shaw is seen to try and fight off the protesters with his umbrella as they menace him with the sledgehammers and shout: 'Get the f**k out.'

One female member shouts 'Over there right now!' at the guard.

Another clip shows the group breaking into the building by using an old prison van to ram through a large roll-up door leading to a loading dock.

When police arrive one officer manages to grab hold of one of the hammers and has a terrifying stand off with another protester who tells him he is going to lose his job in the morning.

When another protester is arrested she repeatedly moans that the officer is hurting her after she had threatened Mr Shaw with the sledgehammer just minutes before.

Members of the group can be seen walking with sledgehammers whilst shouting and swearing before one male overpowered the officer recording with a bodycam and got on top of them.

Palestine Action member Samuel Corner, 23, (pictured), attacked Police Sergeant Kate Evans with a sledgehammer and fractured her spine, the trial was told

From left: Jordan Devlin, Leona Kamio, Charlotte Head, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rodgers and Samuel Corner are charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder in relation to the alleged break-in

Footage allegedly shows Corner striking Police Sergeant Kate Evans on her back as she screams from the painful blow which fractured her lumbar spine

The most distressing footage allegedly shows Corner striking Police Sergeant Kate Evans on her back as she screams from the painful blow which fractured her lumbar spine, leaving her unable to return to work for three months.

The alleged attacker is then seen being taken down by police officers with a taser and a final clip shows one Palestine Action member being dragged out of the building by police after all six were arrested.

PS Evans told Woolwich Crown Court on Monday she thought her spine was 'shattered' when she was hit to her lower back while she was on her knees arresting a female activist.

Giving evidence, she told the jury: 'I can remember struggling with the handcuffs. The ratchet bit got caught on the clothing, on her red boiler suit.

'Then I remember looking up at my colleague - he just had this shocked face on him then I just remember pain in my back.

'It was just a massive shock vibrating through my whole body, a thud on my back. It just extended through my whole body down to my legs. I felt frozen.

'I was stunned to begin with. I didn't know what it was. I remember looking round and seeing the male with the sledgehammer behind me.'

She added: 'I can remember a million thoughts racing through my head. When I look back, it was almost like I was in a movie and everything happened really fast around me.

'My head's thinking my spine is shattered at this point.'

Dramatic footage shows members of Palestine Action, from the 'Red Team', inside the Elbit Systems building holding red smoke flares and wielding sledgehammers as they threateningly approached security guard Nigel Shaw

The attacker is then seen being taken down by police officers with a taser after he allegedly attacked PS Evans

Another clip shows the group breaking into the building by using an old prison van to ram through a large roll-up door leading to a loading dock

PS Evans told the trial she recalls only one blow, but her colleague Police Constable Peter Adams said he saw Corner hit her on her back twice.

PC Adams told the court: 'I remember her screaming in pain and she's fallen to the floor on her back.'

The court heard that PS Evans was left with a large bruise on her back and an X-ray showed there was a fracture to her lumbar spine, leaving her unable to return to work for three months.

Police Constable Aaron Buxton also attended the incident and recalled the 'blonde male', who hit PS Evans, swinging a sledgehammer at him moments before when he had tackled another activist to the floor.

He told the jury: 'I was laid on my back with the male with brown hair on top of me. The male with blonde hair turned and walked back towards us. He has swung the sledgehammer multiple times towards me.

'I don't know how many times he swung it because in the moment I was scared. I believe it made contact with my right calf and my work radio.

'I had quite considerable pain down that area of my leg following it. Also I had slight bruising come up.'

All six defendants were arrested at the factory.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC earlier told jurors: 'They were armed with a variety of weapons, including whips, hammers, axes, metal skewers, one of them at least had a paintball gun, smoke grenades, flares and fireworks which once they'd entered they proceeded to light and throw or fire across the car park at Nigel Shaw as he approached them carrying nothing more than his umbrella.

'Angelo Volante, another security guard, had been manning the front gate on the other side of the building, but sprinted round to the rear yard when he heard Nigel Shaw calling for help on the radio.

'As he got close to Mr Volante, Mr Shaw ran across and tackled him to the ground, striking him across the back of the legs with his brolly.

'As Mr Shaw tried to detain this particular member of the black team, this masked intruder said to Mr Shore: "We come in peace".

'The group then aggressively drove Shaw and Volante back cracking whips and throwing fireworks, screaming at them to 'F**k off' until Volante managed to grab a whip from one of them which he used in self-defence.

'Eventually, the black team turned and left, retreating across the car park, towards the perimeter fence where the hole had earlier been discovered.

'They climbed over the inner fence and disappeared into the undergrowth in the direction of the railway line.

'As a result of this encounter, Nigel Shaw suffered a 4cm laceration to his head and abrasions to his back, shoulders and knees.

'Caps on several of his front teeth, it seems, were also knocked out during the melee.

'In subsequent footage of the activities that followed, he appears, as you will see, apparently disorientated with blood pouring down his face.'

A final clip shows one Palestine Action member being dragged out of the building by police after all six were arrested

When police arrive one officer manages to grab hold of one of the hammers and has a terrifying stand off with another protester who tells him he is going to lose his job in the morning

Leona Kamio seen being overpowered and arrested by police in footage taken during the raid

The prosecutor said: 'The van was driven by Charlotte Head. Samuel Corner was the front passenger,' the prosecutor said.

'Leona Kamio, Fatema Zainab Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin were in the rear.

'They were all dressed in red jumpsuits.

'Their role was to cause as much damage as possible until they were forcibly stopped.'

Ms Heer told jurors: 'They used fire extinguishers filled with red paint to spray the walls and floor.

'They used crowbars and hammers to damage computer equipment and boxes of technical products, which they smashed apart.'

Corner of Rock Hill, Georgeham; Kamio, of Clifden Road, Hackney, east London; Rajwani, of Commonside East, Mitcham, south London; Rogers, of Selborne Road, Enfield, north west London; Devlin, of Stoke Newington High Street, north London and Head, of Upper Clapton Road, Hackney, all deny aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder.

Corner further denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent to PS Evans.

The court heard that Elbit Systems UK manufactures defence technology equipment and is a UK-registered company whose parent company is based in Israel.

The trial continues.
A notorious bare-knuckle fighter traded blows with a fellow Traveller, bringing a packed Christmas market to a standstill.

Crowds parted as Dougie Joyce, recently released from jail, and long-time foe Simon Simey McGinley brawled outside Manchesters high-end Selfridges department store  and a Porky Pig food stall.

The violence erupted in Exchange Square  with video footage showing the pair fighting before falling to the ground.

Joyce can be heard shouting 'get it up there son - who are you?' before aiming a number of blows at McGinley.

Others then move in to separate the pair, who then move into the crowd and out of view.

Following the scrap on Sunday late afternoon, businessman Joyce - an unlikely friend of Liz Truss - and McGinley each claimed victory and traded insults online.

In a later video, McGinley, who appeared to be on a train, said: Dougie Joyce, you came tonight to the Christmas market and you're acting now a bit of a blackguard.

He showed the camera close up of his face which and said 'there's nothing there - there's not a black eye'.

McGinley continued: But Dougie Joyce, I knocked you out on your a**e with two or three belts.

In the two-minute clip, McGinley suggests that Dougie recruits his cousin Tommy Joyce to be the referee in a re-match and to 'get the fight on' before calling his rival 'you dirty big knacker' and a 'country boy'.

Meanwhile, Joyce posted a six-minute rant against McGinley in which the traveller cannot be seen but can be heard as he appears to be driving away from Manchester city centre.

He claimed he knocked out his rival, who was left not knowing what day it was.

Joyce said he took his watch off 'as a fair chap', gave his phone 'to the missus' ahead of an encounter with someone else but that McGinley then appeared.

Laughing, Joyce went on: And this is the gospel truth and this is on me mommy's life, yeah. Simey walked up to me in front of him and there's no point lying about it, and he knows his own self, he hit me a headbutt... straight to the face.

The beating that I give Simey McGinley, and this is on my mommy's life, my sons' lives, my beautiful little girls' lives, he didn't know what day it was.

The fella with two pigs eyes got smashed and knocked out and didn't know what day it was. Simey, I bet you didn't think Dougie Joyce could hit like that did you?! Simey, Simey, Simey, you're an embarrassment mate."

He claimed his rival 'didn't know whether you were coming or going' and then 'all your brothers got stuck into me' but failed to floor him.

Joyce continued: "F*** you. You should be embarrassed in your life."

He claimed he knocked his rival 'spark out' and challenged him to another fight the following morning, adding: Simey, speak in the morning, no videos back and forth, all I want is a time in the morning, a location, my cousin Tommy or any of the boys, your uncle Jonnie or cousin Jonnie or whatever. Let's get it on. You got sparked. You got f***ed.... Did you realise, yeah, Dougie Joyce can bang!? You got f***ed!

He laughed as he called McGinley a 'dirty smelly bog man's b*****d'. He promised to publish CCTV of the fight and called McGinley a 'dirty smelly tramp's b*****d'.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers responded to reports of a disturbance in Exchange Square at 4.35pm on Sunday but incident appeared to be over when they arrived. Officers spoke to both men but 'neither would disclose anything' and no complaints were made.

The feud between the two men is believed to date back to at least 2016 when they were involved another war of words as they tried to organise another fight.

In June, Dougie Joyce posed with former Prime Minister Liz Truss to promote his new line of whisky. He posted a video on his Instagram page of the pair together at a table with Truss holding a bottle of Joyce's brand of Irish whisky.

Joyce hands her the bottle of whisky in the clip, saying 'just remember - Dougie Joyce loves ya', with Truss then adding 'Liz Truss loves you'. Joyce, one of the highest profile members of Manchester's Traveller community, has a long criminal history.

He saw his latest jail term come in March 2024 after a feud between the Joyce and Doherty traveller families turned violent in the Vine pub, in Collyhurst.

Dougie Joyce was jailed for 13 months for violent disorder after trouble broke out. The two families had attended the pub as part of a wake following the death of two young men who were part of the traveller community.

At the time of his sentencing, he was already in jail after he was imprisoned in November 2023 for attacking a widower in a pub in the city centre, after which police described him as an 'aggressive and violent man who intended to intimidate and inflict pain on a vulnerable 78-year-old'.

After being released from prison in July, an unrepentant Joyce, 35, said: I never regret anything I do in life. I regret being in that situation. But I don't regret anything I do because everything I do is for a reason.
As the world waits to see if Donald Trump will attack Venezuela, his top military adviser has visited the region where the US has gathered a huge military presence as pressure for Nicolas Maduro to quit reaches its highest point yet.

Warships, aircraft and thousands of personnel have been moved into position over recent months, forming a deployment not seen since the US sent troops into Panama in 1989.

The build-up has raised fears that Washington may be preparing for military action after hostilities with Caracas reached an all-time high in recent months.

Trump's government has accused Maduro of leading and protecting a criminal network known as the 'Cartel of the Suns' and has offered $50million for information leading to his arrest. The cartel was designated as a foreign terrorist organisation yesterday.

On Monday, Gen. Dan Caine, the US president's primary military adviser, visited troops in Puerto Rico, where the US has been amassing its large fleet - roughly 500 miles from Venezuela.

In a statement, Caine, who is also the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the purpose of his trip was to 'engage with service members and thank them for their outstanding support to regional missions.'

This marks the second time he has visited the region since the US began building its military might - in September, he went to Puerto Rico with defence secretary Pete Hegseth, who has been providing Trump with various options for military operations in Venezuela.

The shift in military posture has coincided with warnings from US officials that their operation is entering what they call a 'new phase.'

Their comments came shortly before several airlines cancelled services to Venezuela after the US Federal Aviation Administration told civilian pilots to 'exercise caution' because of the 'worsening security situation and heightened military activity' in and around the country.

In the past week, Navy vessels have been seen sailing increasingly closer to the South American nation.

The new wave of deployments began in August with the arrival of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group. In October, the US announced that the 1106ft USS Gerald R Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world, would also join the mission.

The carrier reached Caribbean waters on November 11 with more than four thousand sailors, fighter jets and support vessels, including the USS Thomas Hudner, USS Rampage, and USS Normandy.

The Ford brings with it F-35C stealth fighters, considered the world's most advanced fighter to operate from a carrier deck.

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The US Navy's Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, and supporting vessels sailing towards the Caribbean last week. The Ford is the largest aircraft carrier in the world

Ground crews work around US fighter jets in Puerto Rico as the army amasses a huge military presence around Venezuela

Gen Dan Caine, centre, with senior military personnel at the Jose Aponte Airfield in Puerto Rico during his visit on November 24

Additionally, there are 10 U.S. Marine Corps F-35s stationed in Puerto Rico, along with AV-8 Harrier jump jets and AH-1 attack helicopters.

Some of the warships come equipped with extremely powerful surveillance radars capable of detecting surface and aerial targets. They also have long-range missiles that can strike deep into Venezuela.

Roughly two thousand US troops were already in the region before the reinforcements arrived.

With the new arrivals, analysts estimate the total number of personnel at around 12,700.

However, some experts have stressed that this is far below what would be needed for a full invasion, which could require fifty thousand to one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers.

The United States also operates military bases in Puerto Rico, Honduras and Cuba, as well as surveillance hubs in El Salvador, Aruba and Curacao.

The sites in Aruba and Curacao are closest to the Venezuelan coastline, although their use would require approval from the Netherlands.

Satellite photos show that the old Roosevelt Roads naval station in Puerto Rico is being upgraded. The facility closed in 2004, but now has resurfaced taxiways, and US Marines have carried out exercises there since August.

There have also been joint military drills between the US and Trinidad and Tobago, which lies a short distance from Venezuela.

By mid-October, a mobile air traffic tower and communications equipment had been moved to Puerto Rico's Rafael Hernandez Airport. They have been noted to be used to control a surge of aircraft in war zones.

The increase in US military activity started in September, when American forces opened fire on a small boat they claimed was involved in drug trafficking, killing eleven people.

There is an increased pressure on Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro to resign. Donald Trump has set aside $50million for information that will lead to his capture

A screenshot from a video posted by US defence secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this month. The video showed a US strike on a boat it claimed was being operated by narcos

Since then, at least twenty-one more vessels have been destroyed in the Caribbean and Pacific, leaving 83 people dead.

The United Nations and humanitarian groups have said the killings amount to extrajudicial executions.

Mexico, Colombia, and some of the US's closest allies have spoken against the killings. Officials in the UK ceased sharing intelligence with the US about narco boats in the region.

The United States has not produced evidence that the boats were carrying drugs. Legal experts point out that even if they were, they did not pose a threat that would justify the attacks.

The two people who survived the strikes were returned to Ecuador and Colombia, and neither country pressed charges because the US did not hand over proof of drug trafficking.

Additionally, figures have indicated that only a small percentage of drugs are trafficked through boats that move between the Caribbean islands.

Venezuela is seen as a transit point for cocaine heading mostly to Europe, with the drugs typically coming from Colombia.

Many military observers think that if Trump gives his military the go-ahead for an attack, it would likely begin with targeted airstrikes on facilities linked to Maduro's government or criminal groups.

Naval ships in the region can turn off their tracking devices, so exact positions are often unclear, but data from MarineTraffic, sightings and US Navy statements show that American forces are operating close enough to strike any point inside Venezuela.

Maduro, however, has indicated that any US aggression would be met with a response from his own army. The Venezuelan military has 125,000 active personnel.

He is believed to be planning a 'prolonged resistance ' in the eventuality of a US strike.

Although Donald Trump has been vague about what his intentions for Venezuela are, his military advisers have been briefing him about options for operations

A US Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules taxis on the runway at an airport in Puerto Rico yesterday, adding to the military build-up

US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, seen preparing to land yesterday, is among the aircraft at a military base in Puerto Rico, roughly 500 miles away from Venezuela

These are said to include sabotage, guerrilla attacks, and the mobilisation of armed loyalist groups and pro-government gangs.

Maduro has long said he believes the US' actions have nothing to do with battling narcos. He has suggested Trump is using that front to topple his government.

The US leader has consistently branded Maduro's leadership as 'illegitimate' and said he believes the South American president's days are numbered.

Speaking directly to the Venezuelan Army in 2019, Trump told them to abandon their commander-in-chief. He said: 'You will find no safe harbour, no easy exit and no way out. You will lose everything.'

He also warned: 'We seek a peaceful transition of power, but all options are open'.

Maduro, 63, has been the president of Venezuela since 2013. He has been called a dictator who has presided over a corrupt government.

His premiership has also been dogged by electoral fraud allegations and human rights abuses.

Thousands of people have been subjected to extrajudicial killings under his watch, while millions of people have been forced to flee the country, according to rights groups.

Maduro also has the backing of Russia's Vladimir Putin, who has supplied Venezuela with billions of weapons. The two signed a strategic partnership treaty in May this year.

On Telegram, Venezuela's foreign minister, Yvan Gil, said the move to declare the Cartels of the Suns a terrorist organisation was a 'vile lie to justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela, under the classic U.S. regime change format.

He added: 'This new manoeuvre will meet the same fate as previous and recurrent aggressions against our country: failure.'
A South African church pastor who chopped off a suspected thief's hands with a machete to teach him 'thou shalt not steal' has been sentenced to life behind bars.

Apostle Solomon Mhalanga was enraged after his son Enock caught known thief Dumisani Mahalngu on church grounds in the village of Vosman last year.

The pastor arrived in his van and with the help of Enock, his wife Poppy and four other faithfuls, he marched Mr Mahalngu inside the church, where the group beat him up close to the altar.

Despite Mr Mahlangu pleading his innocence and insisting that he was just taking a shortcut through the graveyard, Pastor Mhalanga tied him up with rope.

The thief was then put in a station wagon and driven to woodland where his hands were held across a branch while the pastor unsheathed a machete.

He told the 'sinner' that he would teach him to 'never steal again' and with a single blow severed his victims hand at the wrist.

The Malahleni Regional Court in Mpumalanga Province heard that the screaming victim begged 'please leave me one hand' but the Pastor replied: 'Soldiers die in war!'

The machete came slicing down again and severed the screaming victims second hand in cold blood.

A South African church pastor who chopped off a suspected thief's hands with a machete to teach him 'thou shalt not steal' has been sentenced to life behind bars. Pictured: Dumisani Mahalngu, who had his hands chopped off

Holy pastor Apostle Solomon Mhalanga son Enoch, 20 have both been sentenced to life behind bars

Permanently crippled Mahalangu told the shocked court: 'My hands were on the ground flip-flopping as I realised that where my hands were I now had two bloody stumps'.

He lifted up his mutilated arms and showed his stumps to the court.

Magistrate JJ Combrink sentencing the trio said: 'No mercy was shown and when Mahlangu tried to get onto the station wagon he was told to get off as he was bleeding on it.

'He was only saved after being left in the woods because woodcutters found him.

'You have altered his life. How do you get along without hands? How do you eat? How do you dress or close your buttons. How do you go to the bathroom without hands?.

'I am going to send a clear message that vigilantism will not be tolerated' he said.

He sentenced Pastor Mhalanga and his son Enock to life imprisonment for kidnapping and attempted murder and his wife Poppy to three years in prison for kidnapping.

The trio had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Pictured: The machete used to cut Dumisani Mahalngu's hands off

Mahlangu admitted that he was a thief but that he had not robbed the church that day

Pastor Mhlanga was head of the Soteria Ministries Church in Malahleni and were watched by many of his flock as he and his son and his wife were led away to the cells.

Mahlangu told local media when the attack happened in March last year: 'My hands on the ground were still wriggling. It was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life.

'I lost so much blood and had to have six units in hospital to save me.

'I can still feel my hands are there but when I look there is nothing. I don't know what I am going to do. For the rest of my life it's now like this - no hands. Why do this to me?

'I can't wash or dress and even though I was out of work I had a chance to at least get work but with no hands who will give me a job? I am now dependent on others' he said.

Mahlangu admitted to the Sowetan paper after being released from hospital two weeks after the horrific attack that he was a thief but that he had not robbed the church that day.

His father Johannes, 67, said: 'Yes my son is a thief but he did not deserve to be disabled. How could a pastor do this to my child. Is he not supposed to preach peace?

'Now I have to brush his teeth, feed him, wash him, take him to the toilet' he said.

In South Africa a total over 2500 people are killed a year in mob justice attacks.
Villagers have been 'bombarded' with lorries after a Google Maps blunder turned their slice of countryside into a 'shortcut'.

Historic bridges, walls, Grade II homes and even cars in Lulligton have been damaged ever since lorries started driving through to reach nearby Frome.

The chaos started in July, according to locals, after Google Maps began suggesting their tiny Somerset village as a preferred route to the town instead of the main road.

And ever since, they have been 'bombarded' with lorries trying to get to and from the local creamery, sparking chaos and damage on the single-track lanes.

Signs warning drivers that there is 'no access for turning HGVs' and urging them not to 'follow [their] sat nav[s]' have also started to emerge.

Videos and pictures shared by locals show some lorries even getting stuck in the narrow lanes and trying to reverse backwards in a bid to escape the country lanes.

Gus Colquhoun, the chair of Lullington Parish Meeting, explained there had not been 'too much' of a problem in the past until Google began directing drivers their way.

'The trouble is that it is a single-track road, so if a lorry comes down, there is nowhere to go - they can't turn around, and they can't go back up,'

'They have to back all the way up through the village with a huge truck - and it is a disaster.'

(Pictured: Local Tonja Barefield) Villagers have been 'bombarded' with lorries after a Google Maps blunder turned their slice of countryside into a 'shortcut'

Historic bridges, walls, Grade II homes and even cars in Lulligton have been damaged ever since lorries started driving through to reach nearby Frome

The local parish council have put up signs to warn HGV drivers from driving through the village

An aerial view of the homes in Lullington, Somerset., where lorries are wreaking havoc

The bridge in Lullington has been damaged twice so far this year by lorries, Mr Colquhoun explained.

'It is not the fault of the lorry drivers because they are just following their sat nav,' he said. 'It is the fact that the council have done nothing about it.'

'All of the roads in and out of the village are single-track lanes, so there's no passing places, and there is certainly no way for a lorry that size to get through.'

Nicola Hall, who has lived in the village for 45 years, the blunder was 'random' and locals were left 'worrying' about their properties.

'There is a thatch property that when a lorry comes along, it actually can impact on the thatch - and it costs thousands,' the 74-year-old said.

'It happens under darkness, especially this time of the year, and there is no responsibility.

She added: 'The bridge is absolute mince meat now. I don't feel that either the lorry company or Google Maps take responsibility.

'They should. It is because of them that this is happening.'

Meanwhile, Tanja Barefield revealed a lorry would get stuck in the village on a weekly basis - with one taking an hour and a half to get unstuck.

Gus Colquhoun (pictured) , the chair of Lullington Parish Meeting, explained there had not been 'too much' of a problem in the past until Google began directing drivers their way

The chaos started in July, according to locals, after Google Maps began suggesting their tiny Somerset village as a preferred route to the town instead of the main road

The bridge in Lullington has been damaged twice so far this year by lorries, Mr Colquhoun explained

Nicola Hall, who has lived in the village for 45 years, the blunder was 'random' and locals were left 'worrying' about their properties

A car belonging to the 50-year-old nurse's husband was also damaged by a lorry amid the chaos.

'Both me and my husband work from home so it's been quite time consuming because you have to go out and move your cars,' she said.

'It is not their fault because they obviously don't know the area so they have been directed to this village through Google Maps.'

Adding how it was once a 'quiet' village, she divulged that lorries sometimes have come from as far afield as Bath or Bristol.

'It is only natural that you just follow the sat nav. It's horrible for them because when you get stuck if you accidentally just drive into a village you just can't get out.'

Residents have said lorries have not been coming into the village since the signage alerting HGVs was put up last week.

Mr Colquhoun said they have been put in touch with the owners of the lorry company who admitted it's their fault and are looking to repair the damaged walls.

Another local said: 'It seems like Google Maps has made us a short cut - and it's created all kind of chaos and damage'.

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: 'Somerset Council has been working collaboratively with Lullington Parish Council to address the inappropriate use of local roads by vehicles accessing nearby businesses.

'The route currently being used is not designated as part of the strategic road network, and it is believed that satellite navigation systems are a key factor in directing traffic through the Parish.

'To help mitigate this issue, additional positive lorry route signage will be installed in the coming weeks to guide drivers more appropriately.

'It is hoped that this measure will prove effective in reducing unsuitable vehicle movements through the area.'

The Daily Mail has approached Google for comment.
Nigel Farage last night denied engaging in racist behaviour 'with intent' while he attended a top private school.

The Reform UK leader directly responded to a newspaper report about his behaviour while a teenage pupil at Dulwich College in the 1970s.

The Guardian's report was based on allegations from more than a dozen school contemporaries of Mr Farage, 61, who recount alleged incidents of deeply offensive behaviour throughout his teenage years at the south London public school.

A spokesman for the Reform leader previously denied the claims on his behalf. But in an interview with broadcasters on Monday, Mr Farage engaged with the allegations directly.

Asked about the claims, the Reform leader replied: 'This is 49 years ago, by the way. Forty-nine years ago. Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where they're from? No.'

Asked to categorically rule out that he had engaged in racial abuse, Mr Farage said: 'I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way.'

As he continued to face questions about the allegations, he replied: 'I had just entered my teens. Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I can't.

'Have I ever been part of an extremist organisation or engaged in direct, unpleasant, personal abuse, genuine abuse on that basis? No.'

When asked again if he engaged in racial abuse at the school, Mr Farage replied: 'Not with intent.'

The Reform UK leader directly responded to a newspaper report about his behaviour while a teenage pupil at the 64,000-a-year Dulwich College.

The Guardian's report was based on allegations from more than a dozen school contemporaries of Mr Farage, 61, who recount alleged incidents of deeply offensive behaviour throughout his teenage years at the south London public school.

Mr Farage, who was in Llandudno, also responded to questions about what action he has taken since Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform in Wales, was sentenced to 10 and a half years for bribery over pro-Russian speeches.

Asked to elaborate, he replied: 'No, I have never directly, really tried to go and hurt anybody.'

Mr Farage added: 'Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter in a playground, that you can interpret in the modern light of day in some sort of way? Yes.'

Asked then if this meant he had abused people, Mr Farage replied: 'I've never directly racially abused anybody. No.'

Mr Farage also responded to questions about what action he has taken since Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform in Wales, was sentenced to 10 and a half years for bribery over pro-Russian speeches.

'We are not a police force,' he told broadcasters in Llandudno, when asked whether he planned to probe all his MPs about foreign influence.

The Reform leader then suggested a much wider investigation into the influence of other countries on British politics was necessary.

In response to Mr Farage's interview, Labour peer Lord Mike Katz said: 'Just when you thought Nigel Farage couldn't sink any lower, he is trying to say abhorrent racist comments, including vile antisemitic insults, doesn't matter.

'He seems to think that you can racially abuse people without it being hurtful and insulting. Let's be crystal clear: you can't.'

'Farage refuses to discipline the racist views of his MPs and he won't take action on the toxic culture within his party.

'He should finally come clean on claims over his past and apologise to those who bravely spoke out. Failure to do so would be yet more evidence that Farage is simply unfit for office.'

Labour also pointed to the fact that not long after his interview, Mr Farage appeared on the same stage as Laura Anne Jones, Reform's only Senedd member, at a rally in Llandudno.

The MS is currently suspended from the Senedd for making a racial slur.

Liberal Democrat president-elect Josh Babarinde said: 'The Reform leader's refusal to deny that he's said these racist remarks is unbecoming from someone who wants to be our next prime minister.

'The British people deserve a straight answer.

'It looks like the mask has slipped and fact-of-the-matter-Farage is turning into no-answers-Nigel.'

However, veteran political journalist Michael Crick, who wrote a biography of Nigel Farage, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: In researching my book, everybody I spoke to or nearly everybody, I would ask them youve known him, do you ever recall him saying anything racist?.

And a lot of these people were huge critics of Farage, people whod fallen out with him within Ukip, broadly agreed with his politics but had fallen out with him, disliked him. And there was the opportunity for them to say, yes hes a terrible racist.

But they werent willing to say to say that, they would say horrible things about him in other regards. And I came to the conclusion that in his adult life, he was not, certainly not overtly racist.

He concluded: I think overall I dont think you can say he is a racist.
A German traffic warden who spent years looting parking machines has secretly turned himself into a millionaire.

The 40-year-old, employed by the city of Kempten in the southern state of Bavaria to empty council-run parking meters, allegedly stole around 1million in loose change by skimming cash during hundreds of collections.

Detectives say he funnelled the coins into multiple bank accounts, triggering a major money-laundering alert when staff noticed the bizarre stream of cash deposits.

His 38-year-old wife, who also had access to the accounts, has been arrested on suspicion of helping him.

A judge has issued warrants covering 720 separate thefts, with investigators still counting.

The alleged racket only came to light in October  by which time the couple had been quietly draining public money for months, possibly years.

The city has since rushed to implement smartphone parking payments after realising its meters were being used like a personal cash machine.

But this is not the first rogue-employee scandal to hit Germany.

A German traffic warden quietly turned himself into a millionaire through loose change collections over the course of several years. File photo

The man was employed by the city of Kempten in the southern state of Bavaria to empty council-run parking meters

In Hamburg, an employee has been accused of pulling off one of the citys strangest workplace thefts after police uncovered more than two tonnes of stolen coffee.

The 31-year-old, who worked for a local coffee-trading company, was arrested when officers stopped his vehicle and found around 500 kilograms of freshly roasted coffee in one-kilo bags.

A search of his home and two rented garages exposed the full scale: over 1,900 kilograms more, plus 20,000 in cash and a luxury watch.

Detectives say the loot was taken directly from his employer and are treating the case as a particularly serious theft.
Two mountain climbers have died on Aoraki, New Zealand's tallest peak, and two others from the same group were rescued, authorities said on Tuesday.

The dead climbers' bodies have been found and specialist searchers were working to recover them 'in a challenging alpine environment', Police Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker said.

None of the climbers were publicly identified, but the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association said in a statement that one of those who died was a member of their organisation and the other was that guide's client.

Sgt Kevin McErlain told The Timaru Herald the pair had been connected by a rope when they fell near the summit of Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook.

Authorities learned late Monday night local time that four climbers needed help on the mountain, which is on New Zealand's South Island.

Two of the climbers were rescued by helicopter in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Walker said.

They were uninjured. Searchers in two helicopters looked throughout the night for the other climbers, who were found dead hours later.

Aoraki is 3,724m high and is part of the Southern Alps, the scenic and icy mountain range that runs the length of the South Island.

Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, is shown at sunset, March 30, 2014, in Twizel, New Zealand. (AP Photo/Carey J. Williams, File)

A settlement at its base is a popular destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

The peak is known among experienced climbers. Its terrain is technically difficult due to crevasses, avalanche risk, changeable weather and glacier movement.

Dozens of deaths have been recorded on the mountain and in the surrounding national park since 1900.

Many of those who died on the mountain have never been found.

This includes three men, two from the United States and one from Canada, who were believed to have died on Aoraki in December 2024.

The Americans - Kurt Blair, 56, from Colorado and Carlos Romero, 50, of California - were certified alpine guides.

The climbers were missing for five days before New Zealand authorities halted a search for them, saying discoveries of their belongings suggested the men had fallen to their deaths.
The BBC has stuck up an online advert for the position of Director-General following Tim Davie's dramatic resignation.

'Confident' candidates are invited to nominate themselves for the 'significant opportunity' - getting their applications in by the end of this year.

They should write a letter 'no more than two pages long' and send over an updated CV to Egon Zehnder.

Mr Davie stepped down from his role earlier this month alongside CEO of News Deborah Turness following the broadcast of a 12-second doctored Donald Trump speech on Panorama.

BBC bosses were quizzed yesterday by MPs over the corporation's misleading edit, with chairman Samir Shah, board member Sir Robbie Gibb and former editorial adviser Michael Prescott facing a series of questions on editorial standards.

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee had written to the organisation with concerns following the selective editing of a speech made by the President before the attack on the US Capitol in 2021.

Mr Shah previously apologised on behalf of the corporation over an 'error of judgment' and accepted the editing of the 2024 documentary gave 'the impression of a direct call for violent action'.

The advert for the BBC's top job went live yesterday, describing the role as one of 'the most important, high-profile public posts in the UK'.

Director-general Tim Davie (pictured) and news chief Deborah Turness resigned in the fallout

Chairman Samir Shah (pictured), board member Sir Robbie Gibb and former editorial adviser Michael Prescott faced a series of questions on editorial standards yesterday

It says the new director-general will have the opportunity to 'lead and shape a future vision for the organisation at a time of significant change'.

A statement adds: 'As the BBC seeks to evolve in a fast-changing media landscape, its mission and public purposes remain the same but the way the organisation delivers them must adapt over time.

'The BBC has always been at the forefront of change in the media industry but today it faces a unique set of challenges in an increasingly global market.'

Scrutiny of the corporation is said to remain 'intense' and the BBC 'needs to be able to respond to that scrutiny and engage stakeholders with a vision for the future of public service broadcasting'.

The right candidate must be 'purpose-driven with high integrity' and demonstrate 'courage and resilience'.

CEO or equivalent leadership is also required.

The announcement follows Mr Trump threatening a $5 billion lawsuit over the case.

The BBC has rejected his demands for compensation.

Donald Trump threatened to sue for $5billion after BBC Panorama doctored footage of his speech

Sir Robbie Gibb (pictured) was also be quizzed yesterday, alongside Chairman Samir Shah and Michael Prescott

The corporation has faced several other controversies this year, including over the airing of anti-Israeli military chants from punk duo Bob Vylan during the Glastonbury music festival.

BBC chair Samir Shah yesterday told a parliamentary committee that news chief Deborah Turness was right to resign over the 'error in her division'.

But he added he had spent 'a great deal of time' trying to convince Mr Davie not to quit.

'The board wished that the director general had not resigned. He had our full confidence throughout,' he said.

Mr Shah also said the broadcaster should have acted sooner to acknowledge its mistake after the error was disclosed in a leaked memo.

Mr Trump's legal team has said the edit gave a 'false, defamatory, malicious, disparaging, and inflammatory' impression of what he said in his speech outside the White House.

Michael Prescott, the author of the leaked memo, told MPs Mr Trump's reputation had 'probably not' been tarnished by the edit.

The BBC is funded in Britain by a licence fee payable by anyone who watches live television.
A major incident has been declared as a huge fire tears through a west London warehouse 'containing fireworks' - with 150 firefighters tackling the blaze.

London Fire Brigade were called to the incident at Middlesex Business Park on Bridge Road in Southall at 8.55am, with crews from Southall, Heston, Ealing and surrounding stations sent to the scene in 25 fire engines.

The inferno erupted in a two-storey building made up of a warehouse and retail space. It is situated across the road from Hortus Cemetery.

Around three-quarters of the structure was alight earlier, but it is now understood the entire building is 'fully alight, internally and externally'.

LFB suspects fireworks and cylinders were being stored inside the building.

A nearby school and block of flats have been evacuated as a safety precaution, it added.

Videos posted to social media show multiple explosions causing loud bangs inside building as it burns as terrified residents film from their homes.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown and the LFB confirmed there have been no injuries reported so far.

Are YOU at the scene? Email freya.barnes@dailymail.co.uk

Images show the building engulfed in flames as a giant plume of black smoke billows into the sky

London Fire Brigade were called to the incident at Middlesex Business Park on Bridge Road in Southall at 8.55am, with crews from Southall, Heston, Ealing and surrounding stations sent to the scene in 25 fire engines

The huge blaze erupted in a two-storey building made up of a warehouse and retail space

Images show the building engulfed in flames as a giant plume of black smoke billows into the sky.

Three of the Brigade turntable ladders have been deployed to scene, allowing crews to fight the fire from height, the LFB said.

Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, the Brigade's Incident Commander said: 'A major incident has been declared as firefighters tackle the fire on Bridge Street, Southall.

'This decision has been taken due to the suspected presence of fireworks and cylinders being stored within the structure. All firefighters have withdrawn to a safe distance and are now fighting the fire from a greater distance to ensure crew safety.

'Firefighters are working hard to bring this fire safely under control. The incident involves a mixed retail and warehouse space, with a significant part of the structure currently alight.

'Due to the complex nature of the site, and the size of the fire, this will be a protracted incident with crews continuing out firefighting operations through the day.

'We have helped evacuate a nearby school and block of flats, as a safety precaution.

'The fire is producing a large amount of smoke, with the plume visible across West London. Residents in the immediate area are advised to keep doors and windows closed as crews respond. Traffic in the local area will be heavily impacted, and people should avoid the area if possible.'

A giant plume of smoke towers into the air as the blaze tears through the warehouse

The cause of the fire is currently unknown and the LFB confirmed there have been no injuries reported so far

Around three-quarters of the structure was alight earlier, but it is now understood the entire building is 'fully alight, internally and externally'

It said earlier: 'We were called at 9am this morning (November 25) to reports of a fire in Bridge Road, Southall.

'We sent an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a fast response car, an incident response officer and our Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene.

'We are still at the scene alongside colleagues from the London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police Service. There have been no patients so far.'

LFB has scaled up its operation after originally deploying 70 firefighters, describing it as a 'protracted incident', adding crews would be 'carrying out firefighting operations throughout the day'.

Residents in the local area have been told to keep doors and windows closed due to the large amount of smoke being produced.

Traffic in the area will also be impacted with roads closed and buses being diverted.

LFB received over 50 calls reporting the fire, writing on X: 'Firefighters are working hard to bring the fire in #Southall under control.

'Control Officers have taken over 50 calls reporting the fire, with the smoke plume visible across West London.'
A wealthy Utah homebuilder beat and choked his wife at their $1.2 million home in front of two young children, charging documents alleged.

Cary Evan Blake, owner of C. Blake Homes, was arrested over the weekend after a SWAT standoff at his residence in Ivins, near the borders of Nevada and Arizona.

Blake, 56, and his wife Brenda were engaged in a verbal argument on Saturday before he allegedly struck the back of her head and attacked their son-in-law as he tried to intervene, according to court documents obtained by ABC 4.

He then placed his hands around Brenda's neck and started to choke her, the alleged victims reportedly told police.

The couple's son-in-law witnessed the alleged assault and rushed to Brenda's aid by pushing Blake away from her, the filings stated. Blake then struck him in the back, per the documents.

The alleged victims and two children, aged eight and 11, managed to escape the home and seek help from police.

Blake, however, refused to comply with officers' orders to exit the residence, resulting in an hours-long standoff that ended when the county SWAT team entered the home.

The builder was placed under arrest and faces multiple charges including assault, domestic violence and public intoxication.

Cary Evan Blake, (right) owner of C. Blake Homes, was arrested over the weekend for the alleged assault of his wife Brenda (left)

Blake and Brenda (pictured) were engaged in a verbal argument on Saturday that escalated when he allegedly struck the back of her head, according to court documents. He then placed his hands around Brenda's neck and started to choke her

Blake was arrested after a SWAT standoff at his $1.2 million residence in Ivins, Utah

Blake has been charged with two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child and one count each of aggravated assault, simple assault, interference with a police office, and public intoxication.

Police said that during communications with the SWAT and Hostage Negotiations team, Blake's speech was 'slurred' and appeared 'consistent with impairment'.

He also had an outstanding arrest warrant for not paying a traffic citation for failure to register or having expired vehicle registration, ABC 4 reported.

He appeared in court Monday and is now currently being held in Washington County Jail without bail.

His next court appearance is scheduled for December 4.

Blake and Brenda both worked for C. Blake Homes, a property building and interior design studio servicing the greater southwestern Utah area.

The company appears to specialize in creating luxurious dream homes in the desert region near the city of St George and Snow Canyon State Park.

Former clients have hailed Blake's high-quality craftsmanship and for being 'simply the best of the best' as a builder and contractor, according to testimonials shared on the company's website.

Blake (pictured with Brenda) has been charged with two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child and one count each of aggravated assault, simple assault, interference with a police office, and public intoxication

Blake and Brenda (pictured together) both worked for C. Blake Homes, a property building and interior design studio servicing the greater southwestern Utah area

Another client, who described working with Blake as a 'delight,' noted that Brenda is an essential part of the company's design process.

'She has been amazing to work with and her personal help with color selections, prices, discounts, and just knowing where the best retailers are located is invaluable. She too has been very helpful,' the client raved.

The company appears proud of its husband-wife leadership duo, with photos of both Blake and Cary being shared on the website and its social media accounts.

C. Blake Homes even paid tribute to Brenda on her birthday in March 2021, describing her as the 'Designer, CFO, the "Mothership," the glue that holds us all together!'
A beloved Texas woman tragically died after she was attacked by three pit bulls she had been looking after for a family friend.

Madison Hull, 23, was pet-sitting Friday in her home town of Tyler, about an hour-and-a-half outside Dallas, when an ordinary afternoon took a chilling turn.

Hull, who was just six months away from graduating college, went to the home to let the dogs inside after they had escaped. It was then that the animals suddenly turned on her, fatally mauling her, according to the Smith County Sheriffs Office.

A neighbor who heard the nearby commotion then called 911. When officials responded to the home they saw a female lying in the backyard, but when they went to approach her, the dogs immediately charged at an officer, Sergeant Larry Christian told the Daily Mail.

'He was able to shoot and kill one of the dogs causing the others to retreat into the home,' Christian said, adding that officers were then able to remove Hull from the backyard.

Christian said investigators assigned to the case are working with the Smith County District Attorneys Office to determine if the pet owner's, who were out of town at the time of the attack, will face charges.

On Wednesday, the dog's owner waived his right to a hearing and the two surviving pit bulls were 'released to the custody of Smith County Animal Control where they will be humanely destroyed,' Christian told the Daily Mail.

The horrific ordeal comes just after Hull expressed to her mother, Jennifer Hubbell, that she recently noticed a change in the dogs' demeanor.

'So she said that they hadn't always been that way. It was like a change in behavior,' Hubbell told CBS19.

Madison Hull, 23, was tragically mauled to death by three pit bulls while watching the dogs at a family friend's house in Tyler, Texas on Friday

Just before the tragic incident, Hull told her mother the animals demeanors had changed in recent days (Pictured: Stock image of pit bull)

Hubbell said her late daughter was also watching the dog owners' children over the past several weeks.

'Maddie was very hands-on with them, and they just really seemed to love her, and that's why she thought her looking after the dogs would be an okay situation,' her mother explained.

When asked if she is angry with the pet owners over what happened to her daughter, Hull's grieving mother said she just wants her child to be remembered as the 'amazing, loving, caring, compassionate person that she was.'

She added: 'If I give in to the anger I feel, it would be destructive, not just for me, but for them.'

Hubbell recalled the moment she learned her daughter had died in the vicious attack.

'I just, I just, just dropped to my knees. I couldn't even process what do you mean?' she said.

Hubbell said her daughter was set to earn her bachelors in early childhood education from the University of Texas at Tyler in May of next year, and that she chose that degree because of her younger brother who has autism.

'She wanted to better learn how to help him and help me help him,' Hubbell said of Hull. 'She lived for it. That is truly what she loved.'

Hull's mother, Jennifer Hubbell, said she just wants her child to remembered as the 'amazing, loving, caring, compassionate person that she was'

Hull was set to graduate with her in early childhood education from the University of Texas at Tyler in May of next year

Hubbell has gone on to create a GoFundMe page to help her and her family raise money to lay Hull to rest.

'Madi was love, she was light, she was kindness, she was laughter, she was fierce in the most beautiful and disarming way,' her mother wrote.

'She had a gift for making every child feel safe, special, and loved. Madisons heart was made for that work.'

As of Tuesday morning, more than $10,000 had been raised to help the family during this difficult time.

More of her loved ones have taken to social media to remember their beloved friend and family member.

'You truly had an impact on everyone you met. Not one memory do I have that you are not smiling, laughing, kind, supportive, friend, and sister,' one friend wrote on Facebook alongside photos of Hull.

Another wrote: 'Madi was such a loving, sweet, and kind girl - her presence would light up our home, and we'd have the best times together.'

Hubbell said her late daughter chose to study early childhood education because her brother and Hubbell's son has autism (Pictured: Hull with her mother and brother)

The latest pit bull attack comes just days after an Oklahoma couple was arrested after their family dog mauled and killed their toddler.

Jordan McGuire, 34, and Darci Lambert, 24, were arrested over the tragic death of their two-year-old Locklynn McGuire on November 18 according to KOCO.

Police were called to their Oklahoma City home over concerns that the girl had been 'eaten by something' just after 11.30pm that day.

Officers arrived to find Locklynn dead at the residence in the jaws of one of the family's four dogs, identified as a pit bull named Ella.

Oklahoma City Police Staff Sergeant Dillon Quirk told People that the little girl had been shut in a room with the canine. It was allegedly the second time she had been attacked by the same animal.
A co-founder of Nike has spent a staggering $3 million in a bid to boost Republican victories in Oregon.

Phil Knight, worth an estimated $34.4 billion, donated a sliver of his wealth last month into the Bring Balance to Salem PAC, which aims to curb Democratic dominance in state politics, according to the Willamette Week.

The political action committee, founded in 2021, spent nearly $5 million in 2022 - and slightly more again in 2024 - to support Republican candidates.

Democrats now dominate both legislative chambers, holding an 1812 majority in the Oregon state Senate and a 3723 majority in the House - a three-fifths margin in each - giving them the power to push through new or increased taxes without Republican votes.

Between 2022 and 2024, the 87-year-old businessman personally contributed $2 million to the cause.

Just weeks before Novembers election results that favored Democrats nationwide, Knight signed off on an eye-popping $3 million, breaking his own record for political spending.

The presidents party typically loses seats in the midterms. As a result, Democrats are expected to be the ones who benefit in 2026.

With his big-money bets, Knight is trying to defy the usual midterm pattern, yet analysts, including the Cook Political Report, foresee a solid 2026 for Democrats - though gains may be limited by the scarcity of competitive races.

Nike co-founder Phil Knight (pictured) donated $3 million in a bid to boost Republican victories in Oregon

Knight (pictured), worth an estimated $34.4 billion, broke his own record with political spending last month, donating to Bring Balance to Salem PAC which aims to curb Democratic dominance in state politics

In 2022, Knight poured $3.75 million into former state Senator Betsy Johnsons (pictured) independent bid

Knights donation has boosted the committees cash on hand to $3.93 million, fueling its push to chip away at Oregons Democratic majority.

His commitment to dish out big money hints that he could take an aggressive approach in the governors race as well.

In 2022, Knight poured $3.75 million into former state Senator Betsy Johnsons independent bid and $1.5 million into state Senator Christine Drazans Republican campaign.

Democrat Tina Kotek ultimately claimed victory in the 2022 governors race, and Christine Drazan has already announced she will run again in 2026.

The billionaire isnt the only high-profile donor. In August, the Kansas City Chiefs contributed $25,000 to Republican Missouri House candidates.

The donation, first reported by the Missouri Independent, came shortly after a $1.5 billion stadium funding plan was approved by the state legislature in hopes of convincing the Chiefs and MLB's Royals to remain in Missouri.

Last year, the Chiefs reportedly spent more than $3 million and the Royals contributed another $2.5 million to support a ballot measure extending sales taxes to fund renovations at Arrowhead Stadium and a new downtown Kansas City ballpark.

The contributions also came at a timely moment for team officials and representatives hoping to avoid the usual backlash over publicly funded stadium renovations and constructions.

In 2022, Knight also donated $1.5 million into state Senator Christine Drazans (pictured) Republican campaign. She has announced she will run again in 2026

The billionaire (pictured) isnt the only high-profile donor. In August, the Kansas City Chiefs contributed $25,000 to Republican Missouri House candidates

In August, Bill Gates (pictured) quietly stopped providing funds to a $77 billion foundation that supports woke causes and Democratic candidates

Also in August, Bill Gates quietly pulled funding from his $77 billion foundation to a group that supports nonprofits and philanthropic work.

The Gates Foundation decided in late June to stop funding grants to nonprofits that work with Washington DC-based Arabella Advisors, according to an internal foundation announcement obtained by the New York Times.

A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation claimed in an August statement to the Times that its move to cut ties with Arabella was 'a business decision that reflects our regular strategic assessments and partnerships.'

But the move followed growing scrutiny of Arabella for its 'dark money' funding of Democratic and progressive causes.

In recent months, the billionaire has become more concerned with protecting the Gates Foundation amid Trumps threats toward philanthropists tied to Democratic policies and the tax-exempt status of specific nonprofits.

He has already de-emphasized diversity, equity and inclusion causes to insulate his charity. The move suggested he was also trying to distance himself from Arabella Advisors as part of his efforts to insulate the foundation.

It was one of the earliest and largest backers of Arabella, dispersing or pledging about $450 million to its nonprofit funds over the last 16 years.

The funds then finance nonprofit organizations active in fields like gender equality and education, helping them run their back-office operations like payroll.

'We are proud of the work weve done and continue to do with the Gates Foundation and the impact weve helped support through their giving to the New Venture Fund,' a rep for Arabella told The Daily Mail in August.

'Arabella Advisors provides operational support to hundreds of philanthropic clients pursuing social change and we remain committed to providing this support. We do not have donors, make grants, or engage in political activity.'

Daily Mail has reached out to Knight, Bring Balance to Salem PAC and the Gates Foundation for comment.
University of Minnesota researchers have warned against what they describe as a 'whiteness pandemic' driving racism.

The prestigious university's Institute of Child Development (ICD) created a resource website for parents and educators, instructing them how to 'halt and reverse' what they perceive as the negative impacts of 'whiteness.'

According to the site, specifically created by the institute's Culture and Family Lab, the term 'refers to culture, not biology.'

'The centuries-old culture of whiteness features colorblindness, passivity, and white fragility, which are all covert expressions of racism common in the United States,' the researchers wrote.

'Naming the whiteness pandemic shifts our gaze from the victims and effects of racism onto the systems that perpetuate racism, starting with the family system.'

These resources are directed at Caucasian people, as the researchers claimed that children growing up in white families are 'socialized' into harmful racist ideologies.

But these sentiments have received backlash from Defending Education, a right-wing organization advocating for 'non-political education' and fighting against 'indoctrination in classrooms,' according to its website.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Defending Education's Senior Director of Communications, Erika Sanzi, described the 'white pandemic' as a 'denigration and vilification based on race.'

University of Minnesota students are seen walking to class. The university shared resources on how to combat the 'whiteness pandemic'

Dr Gail Ferguson was the lead author of the 2021 study, 'The whiteness pandemic behind the racism pandemic: Familial whiteness socialization in Minneapolis following #GeorgeFloyd's murder'

'This is a public university and taxpayers have a right to know what they are funding,' she continued.

'Referring to whiteness as a pandemic is dehumanizing, and while the academics will argue, they're not really talking about white people, 99 percent of people will understand it to mean that. It's grotesque.'

The UM researchers noted that anyone raised in the US has 'grown up in the whiteness pandemic.'

'Especially if you are white because of the power and privilege you hold in this racialized society,' the ICD website reads.

It also notes that it is 'not your fault' if you were brought up in 'the culture of whiteness,' but it is up to the individuals to take 'antiracist action' and 'develop a healthy, positive white identity.'

The site directs people to various videos, guides and articles outlining the issue and explaining how it can be presented to children.

For instance, links include a blog post called 'Talking to children about racism,' by UM psychologist Dr Katie Lingras and 'How to explain white privilege in terms simple enough for a child' by journalist Maressa Brown.

The resources and definition of the 'whiteness pandemic' are based on a paper titled 'The whiteness pandemic behind the racism pandemic: Familial whiteness socialization in Minneapolis following #GeorgeFloyd's murder.'

The project was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the ICD and fellowships from the state-funded university located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul.

The paper was written in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, one of the city's UM is located in

Culture and Family Lab Director and lead author Dr Gail Ferguson won a 2022 award for the article from the Society for General Psychology.

In 2021, when the paper was first published, Ferguson explained that it expanded on the sentiment expressed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director at the time, Dr Rochelle Walensky, who described racism as an 'epidemic.'

The paper concluded that racism in the US is the result of children being born into 'whiteness' culture, from surveying 392 participants.

Everyone surveyed was a white mother, all but a few from Minnesota, with an average income range of $125,000 to $149,999.

More than 90 percent of participants had a bachelor's degree and more than 60 percent of them described themselves as 'somewhat or very liberal' compared to the just 18 percent who were 'somewhat or very conservative.'

The paper's authors dedicated it to George Floyd, a black man killed by a police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020, sparking the global Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality and systemic racism.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, the University of Minnesota said: 'The University of Minnesota is steadfast in its commitment to the principles of academic freedom.'
A Canadian lawmaker battled a group of protestors and made a scathing remark after a controversial bill passed awarding landlords more power.

Doug Ford, the conservative leader of Ontario, snapped back at a protestor opposing the housing bill on Monday.

Members of ACORN Canada, a tenant advocacy group, chanted their main message, 'People over profits,' in the legislature building before they were escorted out.

'Go find a job, buddy,' Ford said to the protestor who had been taunting a guard that was trying to remove the man.

Ford was sworn-in as Ontario's premier in 2018. He is the brother of Rob Ford, the late former mayor of Toronto Rob Ford who made headlines globally when he was filmed smoking crack.

ACORN Co-chair Marc Davignon told CTV News that he wasn't aware of the minister's comment at the time, but added: 'Doug Ford hasn't had to go looking for a job in a while. He has no clue the difficulties that people are facing and if I had his family's connections, I probably wouldn't have had to look for one either.'

Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, would expediate approval processes for new housing, allowing developers to build more quickly. The bill, which was only announced weeks ago, also allows landlords to give an eviction notice to renters within seven days instead of the prior 14.

The bill also bars tenants from raising new issues at Landlord and Tenant Board hearings, and no longer requires landlords to offer compensation to a tenant if they want to utilize the property for themselves as long as they give 120 days notice.

Conservative lawmaker Doug Ford snapped back at a protestor: 'Go find a job, buddy,' after controversial Bill 60 was passed on Monday

Bill 60 passed on Monday at the Ontario Legislative Building in Queen's Park seen above looking onto the Ontario skyline

Protestors were outraged in the galleries and outside in Queen's Park as Bill 60 was passed

It is one of many bills that have been fast-tracked recently, skipping the committee stage completely, CBC reported.

'How can you bring forward legislation that's literally going to force more people to live on the streets and not talk to anyone who understands what tenants are going through?' Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner asked on Monday, CTV News reported.

'People simply cannot afford to live in Doug Ford's Ontario.'

Ford succeeded his younger brother Rob Ford, the former Toronto mayor who admitted to smoking crack cocaine in 2013. What followed was a display of erratic behavior from the former mayor, who had vowed to run again in 2018 before his death from cancer in 2016.

The elder Ford ran on a campaign similar to that of his late brother's, after spending four turbulent years from 2010 defending his brother over speculation of the then-mayor's drug and alcohol usage, the BBC reported.

Alejandra Ruiz-Vargas, president of ACORN Canada, told the outlet: 'This government has ignored public opinion and denied us a voice... Bill 60 will worsen homelessness, the mental-health crisis and despair across the province.'

The advocacy group said that the bill would expediate evictions and cause tenants to lose their ability to defend themselves.

However, Housing Minister Rob Flack said the bill restores balance to the landlord-tenant system. The legislation, according to Flack, simultaneously continues to protect tenants.

Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act , would expediate approval processes for new housing, allowing developers to build more quickly, and allow landlords more power

Thousands marched over the weekend in Ontario to protest Bill 60

ACORN co-chair Marc Davignon said in response to Ford's comment, that the lawmaker 'hasn't had to go looking for a job in a while' and has 'no clue the difficulties that people are facing'

Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner slammed the government's decision to fast-track the bill, forgoing the committee stage allowing public comment

'I don't agree with it because we're creating balance in the landlord-tenant system, and the bottom line is, we're creating more affordable units for people to buy because we are creating more supply,' Flack said in a report by CBC. 'With more supply comes lower rents.'

Flack added on Monday that 'not one protection is being altered in this bill' and will give landlords 'confidence needed to rent out their buildings.'

On Thursday, Ontario New Democratic Party leader Marit Stiles introduced an opposition motion to repeal the bill, CTV News reported.

'Ontario is facing a jobs disaster, but Doug Ford is more focused on attacking renters and making housing even more expensive,' Stiles added.

Kayla Andrade, founder of a residential landlord advocacy group Ontario Landlords Watch, said the bill was a huge step for small landlords and they had been calling for changes to protect small landlords and problematic tenants.

Arguments have been made that the bill gives landlords the upper hand when it comes to disputes.

Bill 60 also addresses the Highway Traffic Act, the Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, and the Building Transit Faster Act. The bill also removed a bylaw requiring buildings to install green roofs on new buildings, in an effort to reduce climate change, aiming to reduce costs.

Schreiner said on Monday that it would expose Toronto to billions of dollars of flooding damage in the future.

The Daily Mail reached out to ACORN Canada and the premier's office for comment.
A woman from Finland is facing deportation after allegedly throwing coffee on her neighbor, the neighbor's 11-month-old and their Dalmatian Ponce.

Nina Kristina Jaaskelainen, 54, is accused of hurling the coffee at the family in New Smyrna, northeast of Orlando, Florida on November 14.

The mother, Kelly Brisell, was walking her five-year-old Dalmatian, Ponce, off-leash near the Finnish woman's property, which is what sparked the confrontation.

Brisell told FOX35 Orlando: 'I walk him every day off-leash. All the neighbors know him. He's a friendly dog, but he was sniffing at her gate, and she didn't like that.'

Jaaskelainen demanded that the mother put her dog on a leash because her own dog could get agitated, but Brisell responded that she did not have one.

A police affidavit noted that although the dog was indeed off-leash, it was 'following closely alongside (the mother and son).'

The mother reported the alleged minor assault, and police arrested Jaaskelainen on charges of battery and domestic violence.

After the arrest, an investigation into Jaaskelainen determined that although she had no criminal background, she had been in the country illegally since 1999, when she came on a tourist visa and simply never left.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has since lodged an arrest detainer against Jaaskelainen and plans to deport her, according to Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

Brisell took a video with her phone immediately after the encounter. Jaaskelainen now faces deportation as she has been in the country illegally since 1999

Nina Kristina Jaaskelainen, 54, is accused of hurling coffee at a mom, her baby and dog in Florida earlier this month. She now faces deportation

In a statement on Monday, McLaughlin said: 'For over TWO DECADES, Jaaskelainen has been in our country illegally, skirting the law without consequence. Now, a baby, a mother, and a dog have been assaulted by her.

'President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow illegal aliens to terrorize American citizens.'

Brisell described the tense encounter with the Finnish woman to WESH 2 News: 'She started screaming at us.

'I ignored her. She kept saying it, and I said, 'I don't have a leash,' and kept walking. Then she looked at Ponce, walked up and threw her coffee on him.'

Brisell said the neighbor then threw the coffee on her and the baby: 'It was all over my clothes, and all over him. It was over his eyes, nose and temple. Thank God the coffee wasn't hot.'

Brisell took a video with her phone immediately after, in which Jaaskelainen can be seen holding a large - and now empty - coffee mug, and mocking the mother by pretending to cry after Brisell said: 'You just threw coffee on a child.'

The mother, Kelly Brisell, was walking her five-year-old Dalmatian, Ponce, off-leash near the Finnish woman's property, which is what sparked the confrontation

Brisell said the coffee was all over her baby's eyes, nose and temple. 'Thank God the coffee wasn't hot,' she said

A police affidavit noted that although the dog was indeed off-leash, it was 'following closely alongside (the mother and son)

Earlier in the video, Jaaskelainen said, 'It's too bad for him if its not on a leash because he already killed one dog,' as she motioned to her own dog next to her, which appeared to be a pit bull or similar breed.

She can also be heard asking Brisell, 'Why are you on my property?' to which the mother responded: 'I'm not in your property.'

Officers who responded to Brisell's call observed dry coffee on the mother, baby and Dalmatian when they arrived.

Jaaskelainen confirmed to them that she had thrown coffee on the dog, but denied intentionally throwing any on the mom or baby.

Jaaskelainen pleaded not guilty to her charges on November 19, with the reservation that a motion to dismiss may be filed at a later date.
A violent brawl erupted on Chicago's notorious Red Line stop amid increased scrutiny on public safety of the city's transit system, footage of the chaos shows.

The video, circulating on social media, appears to show a group of unruly passengers fighting with K-9 Unit security officers at the Roosevelt Red Line station.

Several punches are thrown between the passengers and officers, while some officers are detaining members of the group.

It is unclear when the altercation occurred, and Chicago Police told the Daily Mail they have no records of service calls to the Roosevelt stop.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) supplements police presence on the train system by hiring security guards.

The Daily Mail has contacted CTA for more information on the altercation captured on video.

The clip sparked renewed outrage over public safety on Chicago's transit system after a career criminal out on an ankle monitor allegedly set a woman on fire on the Blue Line.

'I thought the city was safe? Look at this. People fighting on the red line. A girl gets burned on the blue line. The city isnt safe at all. Do your job right,' one person wrote on X.

Video circulating on social media appears to show a group of unruly passengers fighting with K-9 Unit security officers at the Roosevelt Red Line station

Several punches are thrown between the passengers and officers, while some officers are detaining members of the group

'I want the National Guard here. I dont know how anyone else feels about it, but I am so sick of this,' added another.

'I'm shocked theres an actual presence of some form of authority. Im glad I can drive and dont have to rely on the CTA,' a third person wrote.

Bethany MaGee, 26, was doused in gasoline and set alight on the city's Blue Line last week, but managed to flee the train and survive.

The man police named her attacker as 50-year-old Lawrence Reed, a serial criminal with 72 prior arrests, freed months earlier by a judge after he allegedly attacked a social worker.

Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez allowed Reed to walk free in a separate case in August despite warnings that he posed a danger to the public.

Prosecutor Jerrilyn Gumila told the judge at the time that Reed needed to remain in custody and argued that electronic monitoring was 'wholly insufficient' to protect the public.

'It could not protect the victim or the community from another vicious, random, and spontaneous attacks,' she told the judge, according to CWB Chicago.

However, Molina-Gonzalez told the prosecutor, 'I can't keep everybody in jail because the state's attorney wants me to.'

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) supplements police presence on the train system by hiring security guards

The video sparked renewed outrage over public safety on Chicago's transit system after a career criminal out on an ankle monitor allegedly set a woman on fire on the Blue Line

Bethany MaGee (pictured), 26, was doused in gasoline and set alight on the city's Blue Line last week, but managed to flee the train and survive

Magee's alleged attacker Lawrence Reed has been arrested over 70 times and has had multiple felony convictions over the last three decades

Gumila's warnings allegedly proved true, as just weeks later, Reed allegedly doused Magee in gasoline and set her on fire.

Reed was subsequently ordered to be held without bail following the alleged attack on Magee, and he is facing charges including terrorism.

Earlier this year, a huge catfight erupted on the Red Line when a group of women started brawling on the notorious line on June 22 near the 47th Street Station.

In the horrifying clip, fellow passengers can be seen running away from the violence, as some can be heard calling out: 'No!', and 'break it up.'

Just weeks earlier, a Chicago police officer was attacked by subway riders while patrolling a station, also on the Red Line.

The unidentified officer was standing on the 69th subway station when three riders screamed at him before the confrontation turned violent.

One of the men swung at the officer, who managed to duck, but was knocked off his feet after taking a punch to the ribcage.

He was able to get up, but was immediately surrounded by the three men who swung at him multiple times.

The officer was hit again and was struck so hard that he fell against the stopped Red Line subway before hitting the concrete.

One of the officers managed to slip to safety while his comrades kept his attackers at bay until they walked away.

Other videos also emerged showing K9 units and their officers being attacked on the platform.
New photos have revealed the moment when the Slender Man stabber was caught by cops with her older 'lover' after escaping from her group home.

Morgan Geyser, 23, was arrested on Monday with Chad Mecca, 43, after a massive manhunt ensued when she ripped off her ankle monitor and fled the facility where she had been held on conditional release.

Geyser escaped the Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, group home on Saturday. Cops believe she took a bus to Illinois before walking 20 miles from Chicago to the small village of Posen.

The two were spotted at a truck stop, and an employee reported them to the police. Geyser and Mecca were found sleeping on a sidewalk and refused to give their names to officers.

'After continued attempts to identify her, she finally stated that she didnt want to tell officers who she was because she had done something really bad, and suggested that officers could just Google her name,' the Posen Police Department said.

Grim photos of their arrests revealed the two 'lovers' looking exhausted with their hands cuffed behind their backs.

Body cam footage of their arrests revealed the two huddling together and pleading for officers to let them go.

Eventually, police confirmed Geyser's identity, and she will face an extradition hearing on Tuesday.

Morgan Geyser, 23, was arrested on Monday after escaping from her group home on Saturday

Geyser was found in Illinois at a truck stop with a man believed to be her 'lover' named Chad Mecca, 43

Mecca told local news that he stands by his decision to run away with Geyser. Mecca faces charges of criminal trespass and obstruction of identification

Geyser and Anissa Weier said they committed the attack to appease a character called Slender Man

Mecca was charged with criminal trespass and obstruction of identification. He has been released from custody.

Mecca, who told local ABC affiliate, WKOW, that he goes by Charly, said the decision to escape was his.

'It was still my choice at the end of the day. I followed what I thought was right,' he told the outlet, adding that he stood by the decision.

Mecca revealed that the two met at church and hatched a plan to meet in the parking lot after Geyser escaped.

'She ran because of me,' Mecca added.

He explained that Geyser was worried she wouldn't be allowed to visit with Mecca, which motivated her to flee.

Geyser was arrested when she was just 12 years old for her involvement in the horrific Slender Man knife attack.

She and a friend, Anissa Weier, who was also 12 at the time, lured their classmate, Payton Leutner, into the woods and stabbed her 19 times.

Geyser, seen in surveillance footage released by police, ripped off her ankle monitor and fled the group home on Saturday, prompting a manhunt

Geyser was granted conditional release to the group home in September. She was previously confined to a psychiatric facility for stabbing a classmate when she was just 12

Leutner survived the attack and was found by a cyclist. The girls said they committed the chilling attack to appease a fictional horror character called Slender Man.

They believed that the sinister plot would prevent the fictional character from killing their families.

Slender Man was created in 2009 as a faceless figure who became synonymous with the shocking stabbing.

Investigators found that Geyser carried out the horrific attack while Weier egged her on.

Geyser and Weier were charged with first-degree attempted intentional homicide. Weier later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was found not guilty by mental disease or defect in 2017.

Geyser had pleaded guilty but was also found not guilty due to her diagnosis of schizophrenia.

A circuit judge ordered her to spend 40 years in a psychiatric hospital, but she was granted conditional release earlier this year and was sent to the group home in September.

Police said they found Geyser and Mecca sleeping on the sidewalk. They initially refused to give their names to authorities

Geyser was arrested and will attend an extradition hearing on Tuesday for escaping the group home

Police believe Geyser took a bus from Wisconsin to Chicago, Illinois, and walked to the small village of Posen

Three medical experts supported the terms of Geyser's conditional release, arguing that she was making progress with her diagnosis.

'I think either she was experiencing transient psychotic symptoms, which is to say psychotic symptoms that didn't persist and gradually went away,' Dr Kenneth Robbins explained.

'Or the intensity of her fantasies based on some of the trauma she had experienced were so intense that she believed them to be true.'

Dr Brooke Lundbohm also evaluated Geyser and concluded that she no longer had psychosis symptoms that played a role in the violent attack.

During the same hearing, Geyser also came out as transgender, but female pronouns have continued to be used for court consistency.

Geyser was granted conditional release earlier this year after medical experts testified that she was showing progress in her psychiatric recovery

Robbins said Geyser's symptoms aligned with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and autism.

Geyser had also claimed she was sexually abused by her father, which her medical team cited as a source of trauma.

Her father died in 2023 and reportedly had also been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Geyser's release was met with multiple obstacles, as she was turned away from numerous group homes.

One home that planned to take her sparked outrage from her victim's family because it was only eight miles away from Leutner.

Geyser and Weier were arrested after stabbing their classmate, Payton Leutner (pictured), in the woods. Leutner survived and was rescued by a cyclist

Prosecutors also fought against the release, citing a drawing she sent to a man named Jeffrey, who sold murder memorabilia.

The man had visited her at the facility, and she sent him a sketch of a decapitated body and a postcard saying she wanted to be intimate with him.

Waukesha County District Attorney Lesli Boese said her office would support a motion to revoke Geyser's conditional release.

The Department of Health Services must file the petition, since Geyser is under its custody.
A Georgia woman has been arrested for the murders of her two infant sons, killed just over three years apart, after investigators grew suspicious of her cold and heartless behavior, police say.

Dakota Taylor, 21, has been charged with malice murder, felony murder and cruelty to children for the deaths of her seven-month-old son, Micah, in September 2021 and her eight-month-old son, Caleb, in January 2025.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) launched a probe into Taylor after officers noted her chilling behavior at the scenes of her kids' deaths.

She was arrested on Thursday for her role in Caleb's death after investigators concluded she allegedly deprived him of oxygen by causing excessive physical and mental pain, according to an arrest warrant obtained by WRDW.

'[Taylor] unlawfully and with malice aforethought, deliberately caused the death of Caleb,' the document stated.

On the day of Caleb's death, investigators said Taylor brought him to a family member's house.

When the relative met them in the driveway, they claimed that Caleb's head was covered, and Taylor blocked them from seeing the baby.

Taylor brought Caleb inside in his car seat. When the relative removed the blanket covering him, they discovered that a diaper was partially covering his face, and his lips were blue, according to reports.

Dakota Taylor (pictured), 21, has been charged with malice murder, felony murder and cruelty to children for the deaths of her two infant sons

Her seven-month-old son Micah (left) died in September 2021 and her eight-month-old son Caleb (right) died in January 2025

He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Investigators claim Taylor suffocated her baby.

After Caleb's death, investigators learned it was not the first time that one of Taylor's young children had died.

She has also been charged in Jefferson County with Micah's death after police said she obstructed his airways 'with malice and forethought.'

In September 2021, Taylor and her son were living at a Georgia Department of Family and Children Services group home.

An employee at the group home told investigators that Taylor fed Micah a bottle, then bathed him.

After the bath, Taylor placed Micah in a swing, and the employee noticed that Micah was slumped over, so they began CPR and called 911; however, he did not survive.

Body camera footage obtained by WRDW showed that officers found Taylor's behavior to be unusual.

'I dont know if this has anything to do with anything, but the mother, didnt... She was very.. Like "alright, whatever." And I was like your baby is,' one officer said.

Body camera footage showed investigators were suspicious of Taylor's 'nonchalant' behavior at the scenes of her kids' deaths

It is unclear if she is currently being held in jail as of Tuesday. Her arraignment hearing is scheduled for February 11

Another officer said Taylor was acting 'nonchalant' when Micah was being carried out of the home.

GBI stated that she was being held at the McDuffie County Jail on Thursday; however, records indicate she has since been released.

It is unclear if she is currently being held as of Tuesday. Her arraignment hearing is scheduled for February 11.
A new trove of texts has revealed how two parents allegedly worked in unison to supply their daughter with drugs without her doctor or her husband knowing, while she obliviously suffered from a massive brain tumor that killed her.

Shahrzad 'Sherry' Naso, 37, died in April 2024, leaving her blue-collar police officer husband Scott Naso devastated - but his suspicions soon turned to her parents.

Naso launched serious accusations against Sherry's Rhode Island-based parents, retired pediatrician Dr. Siavash Ghoreishi and retired pathologist Dr. Jila Khorsand, who he claims downplayed their daughter's symptoms and piled her with other drugs.

The parents, accused of woeful medical negligence, have countersued Naso, who is currently withholding the grandparents' access to his daughter, four-year-old Laila.

The drugs Sherry was prescribed by her father included Zofran, drugs for diabetes, and medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, to deal with a series of complaints she had during her breast cancer treatment.

The shocking messages, unearthed for the first time in the year-long legal battle, also showed both doctor parents allegedly dismissing their daughter's concerning symptoms - when she was actually dying from undiagnosed terminal brain cancer.

A month before Sherry's death, her mom texted her 'there is nothing wrong with u,' and at her wake, Naso claims he saw the doctor grandparents shoot a syringe of a steroid down little Laila's throat.

Naso's in-laws reportedly never accepted him, and now the battle between the grieving family has reached boiling point, with a fight over visitations to see Laila.

Sherry and Scott Naso are pictured with their child, Laila. Sherry died in 2024 after finding out she had a cancerous tumor in her brain. Now, Scott is fighting her two doctor parents

Dr Jila Khorsand with Dr Siavash Ghoreish are accused of woeful medical negligence after supplying their dying daughter with drugs behind her doctor's back. They also downplayed her symptoms, when she actually had brain cancer

Sherry died in 2024 after her cancer spread to her brain. She relied on her parents to write medical scripts for drugs she wanted behind her oncologist's back

The father filed a complaint with the state medical board in January and refused to let his in-laws see his daughter after he found out they were prescribing the four-year-old medication behind his back.

Ghoreishi and Khorsand fought back against Scott's request and filed a lawsuit in Kent County Family Court in January seeking visitation with their granddaughter.

Scott also discovered shocking text messages from an old phone between Sherry and her parents, which he recently shared with The Boston Globe.

'Not only do I think this child isn't safe with these grandparents, I don't think any child is safe with these grandparents,' Scott's attorney, Veronica Assalone, told the publication.

The messages revealed that the two doctors discussed prescribing their daughter medications without consulting her oncology team.

Sherry was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, a year after she met Scott.

The two got married in 2020 after she recovered from the disease.

One message sent to Sherry from her mom in 2018 said that she and her husband were 'going to fix' her, according to the texts Scott shared with The Globe.

Sherry was reportedly insecure about her weight and had been suffering from nausea, weakness, bloating, and depression.

'Dad said he is going to find u meds that curbs ur appetite and you will lose your weight Moma Joon quickly,' Dr. Jila Khorsand told her daughter, referring to her as 'Moma Joon.'

'Dad will give you pills you will see. He is going to ask his doctor to write him for diabetes and give some to you,' she wrote, with winking emojis.

Other messages revealed that Sherry's parents prescribed her metformin, a diabetes prescription, even though she didn't have the disease.

She was also taking dextroamphetamine, a drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. One text with her mother revealed that she had been taking the medication since she was six years old.

Ghoreishi previously testified that he prescribed his daughter Zofran, a medication to combat nausea, after Sherry's medical team recommended an over-the-counter drug.

Text messages shared revealed that Ghoreishi (left) and Khorsand (right) discussed medications with their daughter without consenting with her medical team

Scott refused to allow his in-laws to see his daughter after he found records that they prescribed her medication without his consent

'We want you to have it before you get sick again dad is very upset,' one text message from Khorsand to Sherry read.

In another text exchange, Khosrand encouraged her daughter to stop taking a drug her doctor prescribed for anxiety called Effexor.

Khosrand said she didn't see any issue with stopping the medication, and instead encouraged her daughter to do yoga and breathing exercises.

Scott told The Globe that his in-laws kept the pills they prescribed to his wife in an armoire.

At some point, Sherry's cancer returned, but she only consulted her parents for medical advice, and the fatal tumor wasn't discovered until it was too late.

Khorsand chalked up her daughter's symptoms to withdrawal from Prozac at the time, but Sherry's cancer had spread to her brain.

Sherry eventually underwent surgery after a family friend, neurologist Dr. Thomas Morgan, sent her to urgent care.

Sherry (right) messaged her mom a month before she died that she was concerned her health was failing again

Scott first became suspicious of his in-laws after they forced a syringe of medication down her throat during a reception for his wife's service at their home (pictured)

Doctors removed a large brain tumor, but Sherry never recovered. Just a month before her death, she sent a message to her mom that she was concerned that her breast cancer had returned.

'There is nothing wrong with u and I would not see anyone until u are off the med [Prozac] completely!', Khorsand responded.

Scott obtained records after his wife's death, detailing dozens of medications prescribed to Sherry and Laila.

He previously told The Boston Globe, 'I think their [his in-laws] level of medical negligence and reckless behavior is the main reason she passed away when she did.'

Judge Felix Gill is presiding over the case. The next court hearing is scheduled for December 1.
A stunning number of voters in deep-blue Massachusetts approve of Trump-appointed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

A new Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll revealed that nearly one in three respondents approve or strongly approve of Kennedy's work.

The survey asked 500 registered voters their opinions on topics Kennedy has expressed controversial views on, including the COVID-19 vaccine and whether childhood vaccines are linked to autism.

A whopping one-third of respondents believe the COVID-19 shot is not worth the risks, and about 6 percent were undecided.

About 16 percent of voters polled oppose childhood vaccines, with some uncertain about the shots' risks.

The state has seen a surprising spike in the number of schoolchildren not being vaccinated.

Some school districts are even failing to meet the 80 percent vaccination rate needed to prevent the spread of polio, the Globe reported.

Terrence Bordenave, 32, of Brockton, told the Globe that he supports Kennedys vaccine skepticism, especially as it relates to autism.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces his candidacy for President of the United States in a speech at Boston Park Plaza on April 19, 2024

City of Boston and its skyline at dusk with Back bay, one-third poll respondents in the deep-blue state favor health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr 's contentious pillars

'My son hasnt been vaccinated and he doesnt have autism,' he told the publication.

'Whether thats a correlation or causation, thats not for me to say. But do I trust vaccines? I do not.'

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just updated its website last week to clarify points on vaccines and autism.

On the webpage titled 'Autism and Vaccines,' the agency added a bullet point directly beneath stating: 'The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.'

Another point adds: 'Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.'

And a third says: '[Health and Human Services] has launched a comprehensive assessment of the causes of autism, including investigations on plausible biologic mechanisms and potential causal links.'

The first section of the page is still titled 'Vaccines do not cause Autism.' Previously, the page read: 'Studies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing autism.'

Multiple leading public health experts and agencies have pushed back against claims that vaccines cause autism, saying they have been thoroughly debunked through more than 1,000 scientific studies.

Kennedy in Boston on April 19 2024, his Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just updated their website on Wednesday that contradicts his vaccine skepticism

Still, some Massachusetts residents have backed the health secretary's drive to increase studies on a potential link.

'I appreciate they are doing research in the first place about autism instead of it being status quo,' Rachel Muncy, 34, told the Globe.

Her children have received all vaccines except for the flu and Covid-19, because she doesn't believe they help.

'I think the discussions should be with the doctors,' she told the Globe.

'I dont think politics should get into it.'
A Saudi Arabian asylum seeker has appeared in court charged with groping a woman at a London Tube station.

Muslih Alotaibi, 39, is said to have carried out the sexual assault at Bank Underground station on April 13.

It is alleged he intentionally touched the passenger, who was over the age of 16, despite the fact she 'did not consent' and him 'not reasonably believing she was consenting'.

Alotaibi appeared at Inner London Crown Court wearing a grey and blue waterproof coat, assisted by an Arabic interpreter.

He was due to enter his plea but the hearing was adjourned until January 9 as he was unrepresented.

Judge Benedict Kelleher told Alotaibi: First of all, you are charged with, or are accused of sexual assault, which the prosecution say happened on a train at Bank Underground station.

I understand that you say its not true, so the case will go before a jury and you will have the chance to give evidence before a jury, and that trial will take place on 16 April next year.
China further extends safeguard investigation into beef imports

Xinhua) 16:16, November 25, 2025

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday that it has decided to further extend the deadline for the safeguard investigation of imported beef to Jan. 26, 2026, citing the complexity of the case.

The investigation was originally launched on Dec. 27, 2024. On Aug. 6, 2025, the ministry announced that the investigation period would be extended to Nov. 26, 2025.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Foreign officials have warned that they will take a tougher stance on the BBC after the broadcaster admitted to editing a speech Donald Trump made in 2021 on the day his supporters stormed the Capitol.

The US President is threatening a $5billion lawsuit after the BBC edit on its programme 'Panorama' made it look as though he had advocated violence.

While the BBC has apologised and its Director General Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness have quit, the organisation continues to face a barrage of criticism from foreign officials.

Not only has the White House called the broadcaster '100 per cent fake news' and a 'propaganda machine', an Indian official said that they would cite the Panorama incident the next time the country had a problem with the BBC.

'If they say that ethics and morals guide them to report impartially, we would say that they first need to wash away this episode from their history books before brandishing their standards to us,' the official said, declining to be named.

One diplomat from a G20 country that is normally hostile to the West told Reuters that it would now take a much tougher line with the BBC, saying that if an ally of Britain, like Trump, could sue, then so could they.

Russia, which is ranked 171st out of 180 countries by Reporters Without Borders for press freedom, said the BBC was nothing but a propaganda and disinformation tool.

Former BBC staff, media analysts and a historian of the corporation say the broadcaster can survive this crisis, but it cannot be seen to buckle in the face of pressure from Trump.

People stand outside BBC Broadcasting House, after Director General Tim Davie and CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness resigned on Sunday, November 9

US President Donald Trump during a meeting with Zohran Mamdani, mayor-elect of New York, not pictured, in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday, November 21, 2025

'If you look at the difficulties the BBC faces, its correspondents in Moscow, in China; if the BBC is seen to give in, then other bullies will emulate Donald Trump,' Roger Bolton, a former BBC editor and presenter who now produces a podcast on it, told Reuters.

BBC Chair Samir Shah has said it will fight any lawsuit, after US peers ABC News and the parent company of CBS settled lawsuits with Trump by donating to his presidential library. Before settling, the networks called the accusations meritless.

The BBC's failure hands ammunition to Trump and his supporters who accuse mainstream outlets like the BBC of bias, sucking it into a broader battle over journalistic standards and freedom to report.

The scandal also threatens the BBC's credibility as an organisation that has long sought to be a standard-bearer for impartial journalism.

Earlier this month, the BBC sent a personal apology to Trump but said there was no legal basis for him to sue the public broadcaster.

After the BBC refused the total capitulation demanded by the US President, Trump told GB News that he had an 'obligation' to take legal action in a fiery interview.

'I'm not looking to get into lawsuits, but I think I have an obligation to do it. This was so egregious', he told GB News' Bev Turner.

'If you don't do it, you don't stop it from happening again with other people'.
The Los Angeles mayor has come under fire over a seemingly misleading update about the first home to be rebuilt after the deadly Palisades Fire.

Karen Bass, 72, announced Friday that the city has issued its first certificate of occupancy for the reconstruction of a property in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood ravaged by fires last January.

She hailed the certificate as an 'important moment of hope' in a statement obtained by the Daily Mail, which heralded LA's commitment to 'expediting every aspect of the rebuilding process, until every family is back home.'

But Bass failed to note that the newly constructed home on Kagawa Street was not a rebuild from the blaze - as the demolition project began before the Palisades Fire erupted.

Thomas James Homes applied for a permit to demolish the one-story single-family home and its attached garage in November 2024, LA building and safety records revealed.

Although city records show the residence was impacted by the fire, the property was declared 'non-eligible' for the wildfire project.

Critics have now branded Bass a 'fraud' and 'incompetent failure' for neglecting to disclose when the builders applied for the permit in her statement. One even went as far as calling her the 'worst mayor in America'.

A resident-led watch group has also warned that the city's error may suggest LA leadership cannot 'manage the complexity of rebuilding an entire coastal town'.

The city of Los Angeles has issued its first certificate of occupancy to this rebuilt home on Kagawa Street in the Pacific Palisades

Photographs of the newly built property show a large two-story home surrounded by a slew of empty lots on Kagawa Street. The home features an attached garage and an in-ground pool

Photographs of the newly built property show a large two-story home surrounded by a slew of empty lots on Kagawa Street.

The new home features an attached garage and an in-ground swimming pool, a luxury that was once a staple in the once-ritzy Pacific Palisades neighborhood.

The residence has been outfitted with green grass and a large tree, while the neighboring properties still serve as a stark reminder of the more than 6,800 homes and buildings across southern California that were destroyed in the fire.

Bass's memo cites that there are currently '340 active construction sites' across the Pacific Palisades, which was hardest hit by the fire.

The memo also highlighted how rebuilding permits in the neighborhood are 'being approved nearly three times faster than typical single-family home projects before the wildfires.'

'The Palisades community has been through an unimaginable year, and my heart breaks for every family that won't be able to be home this holiday season. But today is an important moment of hope,' the mayor said Friday.

Jamie Mead, chief executive officer of Thomas James Homes, echoed the sentiment, adding: 'Rebuilding the Palisades has been a shared commitment from day one, and we are grateful for the City's leadership in accelerating this effort.

'Completing this first ground-up rebuild in approximately six months shows what is possible when public and private partners work with urgency and purpose. For Thomas James Homes, this is about one thing: helping families return home as quickly and safely as possible.'

Mayor Karen Bass (pictured in June) hailed the certificate of occupancy as an 'important moment of hope' after the deadly Palisades Fire but failed to mention a key fact about the property's building permit

Thomas James Homes applied for a permit to demolish the one-story single-family home and its attached garage in November 2024, records revealed - two months before the fires

The Pali Builds group has since posted a letter debunking the city's claims.

The group, founded by Pacific Palisades residents after the fires, blasted Bass for framing the certificate of occupancy as the first issued since the fire and for allegedly 'suggesting it was a fire-related rebuild.'

'This isn't about catching an error. It's about what the error reveals,' the group wrote.

'If the City can't verify whether a single home was or wasn't a fire rebuild  something anyone can check with one click  how can they possibly manage the complexity of rebuilding an entire coastal town?'

The group further criticized the count of active construction sites, alleging that although 340 may be 'technically accurate' the only valid number is the total of sites that are actually fire rebuilds.

That distinction is critical, the group continued. 'We want to give people hope. We want to show signs of life, progress, and momentum. But we also need to be truthful about where the City is still falling short - especially on the logistics needed to rebuild quickly and intelligently. And logistics will make or break this recovery.'

Social media users were also quick to slam the memo as a 'lie' and question whether the city can actually be trusted to handle the large-scale rebuild.

'Mayor of LA is completely incompetent and a failure,' one X user wrote.

'She's such a fraud,' echoed another.

The residence has been outfitted with green grass and a large tree, while the neighboring properties still serve as a stark reminder of the more than 6,800 homes and buildings across southern California that were destroyed in the fire

Pictured is a view of the newly constructed single-family home on Kagawa Street

Another added: 'Posting a house which got its permit almost a year before the fires. She's pathetic.'

Bass's office, in a statement to the Daily Mail, explained that Thomas James Homes first submitted a plan to construct a new single-family home on the residence in November last year.

However, the home was destroyed in the January 2025 blaze before the building plan was approved by the city.

'On April 1, 2025  nearly three months after the start of the Palisades Fire  the plan for 915 N Kagawa was approved by LADBS, and the permit was pulled by Thomas James Homes that same day,' the statement said.

'This property was not the first to have its plan approved by LADBS after the Palisades Fire.'

The Certificate of Occupancy was later issued on November 21.

The mayor's office did not respond to the allegations that Bass lied in her memo or critics calling her a failure, despite being directly asked by the Mail.

The public, however, has slammed Mayor Bass's memo as a 'lie' and are now questioning whether the city can actually be trusted to handle the large-scale rebuild

Federal officials have claimed that Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is responsible for starting the devastating Palisades Fire.

Rinderknecht allegedly started a small blaze on New Year's Day that smoldered underground before reigniting nearly a week later and roaring through coastal Pacific Palisades and Malibu.

The fire, which left 12 dead in the hillside neighborhoods, was one of two infernos that broke out on January 7, killing more than 30 people in all and destroying over 17,000 homes and buildings while burning for days in Los Angeles County.

Rinderknecht was arrested October 7 in Florida, where he was staying at his sister's house. He was brought to Los Angeles about two weeks later and pleaded not guilty in court.

A judge denied Rinderknecht's bond earlier this month, saying he must be kept in custody due to his mental health and the distress he caused his sister and her family.

A prosecutor said he had traits of an arsonist and his family had worried about his declining mental state. The prosecution also argued Rinderknecht was a flight risk because he had family in France and spoke French.

Rinderknecht's father testified in support of his release, denying that his son had mental health issues.
A Nigerian migrant who claims to be a 'model' in her home country is seeking asylum, insisting her 'celebrity status' puts her at risk of harm.

She made a human rights claim after arriving in Britain, claiming she is a 'well-known model and actress' who took part in political activism in Nigeria.

The woman, who was granted anonymity, argued that her fame would put her at more risk of harm if she were deported.

Despite initially being denied by the Home Office as she lied about her salary on her VISA application, an immigration judge has said that her case needs to be reheard as the facts were not analysed as a whole.

The Nigerian woman, known only as OO, made a protection and human rights claim in November 2021, which was refused by the Home Office in November 2023.

She claimed that because she coordinated and attended a demonstration hoping to end the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), she would be at risk upon returning home.

A judgment said: 'The essence of [her] protection claim... was that she has a well-founded fear of harm on return to Nigeria because she coordinated and attended a demonstration in October 2020 in support of the "End SARS Movement".

'The consequent risk to her safety is enhanced by the fact that she is a well-known model and actress in Nigeria and the daughter of a local politician.'

A Nigerian migrant made a human rights claim after arriving in Britain, claiming she is a 'well-known model and actress' who took part in political activism in her home country. (Stock image of the Home Office office)

The court heard of her claims that she had a 'celebrity status' in Nigeria, but her accounts of this were said to be 'vague and limited'.

However, it was found that she made false claims regarding her salary on her UK VISA application form.

Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge David Kelly accepted that she had failed to be classed as a vulnerable witness and that the previous judge may have failed to believe her testimony, but said these were not sufficient to overturn the decision.

There was, however, a lack of evidence on whether she would continue political action when she returned and therefore be at risk of persecution.

Questions were also raised about the way in which the evidence had been analysed as a whole, which was judged to be enough to be classed as an error in law.

The claim was therefore sent back to the First-Tier Tribunal to be reheard in front of a different judge.

Judge Kelly, sitting at the Upper Tribunal, said: 'It seems to me to be axiomatic that a fact-finder must not reach his or her conclusion before surveying all the evidence relevant thereto.

'Just as, if I may take a banal if alliterative example, one cannot make a cake with only one ingredient, so also frequently one cannot make a case, in the sense of establishing its truth, otherwise than by a combination of a number of pieces of evidence.

'Whilst it is true that the expert did not expressly comment upon the plausibility of [OO's] account of events by reference to the background country information, this did not relieve the judge of the obligation to do so.

'It may have been, for example, that having considered the detail of the external evidence concerning the End SARS protests, the judge would have concluded that material aspects of that evidence were inconsistent with [OO's] account of them, thereby undermining the overall credibility of her claim.

'On the other hand, the judge may have concluded that the details contained within the external evidence supported the plausibility of her account of events, thereby enhancing its overall credibility.

'Given that the judge did not conduct this exercise, it is impossible now to say that the error of law I have identified was immaterial to the outcome of the appeal.

'I have accordingly concluded that the judge's findings must be set aside in their entirety and the matter remitted for a complete rehearing.'
A primary school has cancelled its Christmas show after receiving 'racist and abusive messages' online.

Cauldeen Primary School in Inverness were set to stage version of Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, which featured a scene about refugee children in the Syrian conflict.

The show tells the tale of Santa's helpers working at the North Pole in a brand new 'hi-tech' set-up.

A portion of the play depicts St Nicholas showing two children the difficulties faced by a group of refugee youngsters.

But, Highland Council has since confirmed the festive play was cancelled due to 'negative feedback' with some 'abusive' and 'racist messages ' directed at staff.

Police Scotland said they have received a report of threatening and abusive online communications and are investigating.

Classes will now take part in other 'festive learning' opportunities instead of a nativity play.

It comes amid growing tensions in the city after the government announced plans to house 300 male asylum seekers at the military Cameron Barracks.

Cauldeen Primary School (pictured) in Inverness were set to portray a stage version of Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, which featured a scene about refugee children in the Syrian conflict

A Highland Council spokesperson said: 'Following negative feedback on social media, including racist and abusive messages - some of which were directed at the school and staff - the school has made the wellbeing of staff and pupils its main priority.

'Instead of a Christmas show, classes will enjoy other festive learning activities in school.

'Under devolved school management, decisions like this are an operational matter for the school.'

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'On the morning of Friday, November 21 2025, we received a report of threatening and abusive communications online.

'Enquiries are ongoing.'

The creators of Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Edge Productions, said they were 'shocked and saddened' to hear the school had been subjected to abuse.

Tolerance, friendship and peace are all part of the musical's themes, the production company explained.

A spokesperson said: 'The musical production in question was written and published in 2016, and contains a single scene and song about refugees caught up in the Syrian conflict and encamped on the Turkey-Syria border.

'This was international headline news at the time, and the world's sympathies were with those refugees.

'If some people have mistakenly inferred that this children's production has any content about the migrant situation, which has sparked debate in the UK some nine years later, then their reaction is misplaced.'

Meanwhile, the council's education chairman John Finlayson told the BBC that the abuse had impacted the health and well-being of school staff.

Describing the incident as 'unfortunate', he added the abuse had undermined the school's spirit in the run-up to the festive season.

Lib Democrat MP, Angus MacDonald, said he was 'saddened' by the news and hoped the children would be able to showcase their talents in some way.

'Here in Inverness, the community has been so welcoming to families from countries like Ukraine and Afghanistan,' he added.

'All of those posting appalling abuse online need to take a long, hard look at themselves. I hope the police will be pursuing this shocking behaviour with urgency.'

Previously, migrants from Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan were housed in that region of Scotland due to resettlement programmes.
Iran on Tuesday publicly executed a man after convicting him of raping two women in the northern province of Semnan.

The execution was carried out in the town of Bastam after the Supreme Court upheld the verdict, the judiciary's official outlet Mizan Online reported.

Mizan cited the head of the provincial judiciary, Mohammad Akbari, as saying the ruling had been 'confirmed and enforced after precise review by the Supreme Court'.

The provincial authority said the man had 'deceived two women and committed rape by force and coercion', adding that he used 'intimidation and threats' to instil fear of reputational harm in the victims.

The identity of the convict and the date of his sentencing were not immediately disclosed.

Iran usually carries out executions inside prisons, but the punishment came two weeks after the public hanging of a man convicted of murder.

The Islamic republic, which executes most convicts by hanging, is the world's second most prolific executioner after China, according to rights groups including Amnesty International.

Under the rule of Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the nation for the last 36 years, the number of women executed in Iran has dramatically soared.

A blindfolded man convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping and slaying of two policemen waits to be hanged in public in Tehran, Iran, on April 16, 2011

The catalyst for this, dissidents previously told the Daily Mail, is the increasing insecurity felt by the regime following mass protests against it in recent years.

The most notable of these were the Mahsa Amini uprisings, which were ignited across the nation in 2022 following the unlawful death of a young woman who allegedly wore her hijab 'improperly'.

Since then, the number of women executed in Iran each year has more than doubled.

In 2022, 15 women were executed. In the first nine months of 2025, 38 have been killed, according to the National Council of Resistance in Iran (NCRI). Between July 30 and September 30, the regime executed 14 women - equivalent to one every four days.

Executions are up across the board in Iran.

According to the NCRI, 578 people were executed in 2022. In the first nine months of 2025, nearly 1,200 have been executed.

The UN has said the staggering escalation violates international human rights law.

Experts said: 'The sheer scale of executions in Iran is staggering and represents a grave violation of the right to life.

'With an average of more than nine hangings per day in recent weeks, Iran appears to be conducting executions at an industrial scale that defies all accepted standards of human rights protection.'
Ukraine has agreed to Donald Trump's peace plan to end the war with Russia, according to a US official.

'The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal,' the official said. 'There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal.'

The new agreement has been revised from 28 points to a 19-point peace plan that no longer includes amnesty guarantees for atrocities committed during the war. Kyiv has agreed to cap its army at 800,000 men.

It is less favorable to Moscow, leaving it up to Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to decide the most sensitive terms, including territorial disputes and US security guarantees.

Vladimir Putin is expected to dismiss the new deal 'out of hand' - leading to longer drawn-out negotiations Trump has tried to avoid, sources in Washington said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned on Tuesday that if the plan 'erased ... key understandings' that Putin reached with Trump at the Alaska summit in August, the 'situation will be fundamentally different'.

That initial plan had permanently ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, capped its army at 600,000, proposed handing the rest of Donbas to Russia - albeit as a demilitarized zone - and mandated that Kyiv hold elections within 100 days.

All those clauses are reported to have since been amended or shelved for now.

Zelensky confirmed that talks with Washington were ongoing in a post on X, adding: 'I am grateful for all of America's efforts and personally for President Trump's efforts.'

The Ukrainian president is expected to travel to the US in the coming days to meet with Trump to finalize the agreement.

Trump's special envoy US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met with the Russian delegation in the United Arab Emirates on Monday for secret talks. The meeting came after Driscoll's weekend talks with Ukraine in Geneva that were aimed with pushing the peace forward, according to a US official.

Trump, galvanized by his success in Gaza, ratcheted pressure on Zelensky last week to end the war which has killed 300,000 people since Putin launched his invasion in February 2022.

The Russian delegation is likely to reject the revised peace plan agreed by US-Ukrainian officials on Tuesday

President Zelensky is expected to meet with Trump administration officials in the US

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America's European allies were reportedly left stunned that Trump had threatened to cut intelligence sharing and weapons supplies to press Zelensky into the deal.

The US put the peace plan to Kyiv at the end of last week and set a Thursday deadline for them to sign on the dotted line, sources claimed.

'Over the past week, the United States has made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

'There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.'

Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Tolbert, a US Army spokesman, said: 'Late Monday and throughout Tuesday, Secretary Driscoll and team have been in discussions with the Russian delegation to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine.

'The talks are going well and we remain optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronized with the White House and the US interagency as these talks progress.'

Driscoll was elevated by Trump to spearhead negotiations after the president had a private discussion with Vice President JD Vance two weeks ago. A secretary official representing the US military is typically not involved in diplomatic talks.

The ongoing negotiations occur amid the backdrop of brutal overnight bombings in Kyiv, with Russian missiles raining destruction down on residential buildings.

Moscow triggered death and terror with new attacks on civilians, killing at least six, including an 86-year-old woman.

Residents were heard screaming for help after an Iranian-designed Shahed drone ignited an inferno in a tower block, with two power plants supplying hot water to homes destroyed.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that 249 Ukrainian drones were downed over regions overnight

A Ukrainian onslaught hit a major Russian aircraft manufacturing plant, triggering a 'glow like after a nuclear explosion'

Three people were killed and at least 16 injured with residential buildings damaged in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and the cities of Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, Russian officials said

A Russian drone penetrated some 50 miles inside independent state Moldova before ending up on the roof of a house in the village of Nizhnie Kugureshty.

Ukraine, meanwhile, responded with their own barrage of aerial attacks on Russia.

Dramatic footage indicated a wayward Russian air defense missile struck a residential building in an horrific new friendly fire incident in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, where a wave of Ukrainian strikes also caused casualties.

Three people were killed and at least 16 injured with residential buildings damaged in Novorossiysk and the cities of Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, Russian officials said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that 249 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight, including 116 over the Black Sea, and 92 over the southern regions of Krasnodar and Rostov.

Russian drones attacking Ukraine's Odesa region flew over Romanian airspace, forcing NATO to scramble four warplanes in response.

In Kyiv, Russia hit two hot water power plants - CHP-5 and CHP-6, and a hydroelectric power station. The city was plunged into power and water outages, as well as transport disruptions.

The attack was evidently aimed at pummeling Ukraine into agreeing an unfavorable peace plan.

A broken window and a damaged residential building in the background following an air attack in Kyiv, November 25, 2025

Residents were heard screaming for help after a Shahed drone strike ignited an inferno in a tower block, with two power plants supplying piped hot water heating to homes also destroyed

Putin's foreign affairs aide Yuri Ushakov said that British, EU and Ukrainian inspired changes to the original US draft submitted over the weekend were 'unconstructive'.

On Saturday, leaders from Europe, Canada and Japan signed a joint statement at the G20 summit in South Africa, saying that the peace deal had elements 'essential for a just and lasting peace', but would 'require additional work', citing concerns over territory and limits on Ukraine's army.

The EU submitted a modified version of the US's peace plan for Ukraine that pushed back on proposed limits to Kyiv's armed forces and territorial concessions.

The document, drafted by the so-called European E3 powers - Britain, France and Germany - proposes that Ukraine's military be capped at 800,000 'in peacetime' rather than a blanket cap of 600,000.

It also says 'negotiations on territorial swaps will start from the Line of Contact', rather than pre-determining that certain areas should be recognized as 'de facto Russian', as the US plan suggests.

It proposes that Ukraine receive a security guarantee from the United States similar to NATO's Article 5 clause.
A 39-year-old man from Surrey has been arrested as part of the investigation into Britain's 'biggest ever' fly-tip.

The 20ft-high pile of hazardous rubbish was illegally dumped in a field next to the A34 and River Cherwell near Kidlington in Oxfordshire.

It is believed the waste was dumped in one go and it has since been described by an MP as 'threatening an environmental disaster'.

The dump was discovered last month by horrified anglers and contains plastic, foam and wood.

It is not known exactly when the mountain appeared, but the Environment Agency was alerted in July.

Today, it said co-operation between officers from its major investigation team and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit has led to the arrest of a 39-year-old man from the Guildford area.

Anna Burns, the Environment Agency's area director for the Thames, said: 'We have been working round the clock with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit to bring the perpetrators to justice and make them pay for this offence.

'Our investigative efforts have secured an arrest today, which will be the first step in delivering justice for residents and punishing those responsible.'

The 20ft-high pile of hazardous rubbish was illegally dumped in a field next to the A34 and River Cherwell near Kidlington in Oxfordshire

The 500ft-long dump has been described as one of the biggest fly-tips ever seen in Britain

Phil Davies, head of the joint unit for waste crime, said: 'The Environment Agency is working closely with other law enforcement partners to identify and hold those responsible for the horrendous illegal dumping of waste that has taken place in Kidlington.

'A number of active lines of investigation are being pursued by specialist officers.

'We would ask that the public and media do not speculate about the identity of any other individuals who may be connected with the offending at this location, or interfere with the waste on site as we continue to treat it as an active crime scene.'

Dramatic drone footage taken from above revealed the sheer enormity of the rubbish, located just metres from the River Cherwell.

Claire Robertson, Oxford Rivers Project Officer at environmental charity Thames21, told the Daily Mail: 'This is one of the most distressing cases of environmental neglect we've seen on the River Cherwell, if not in all of Oxfordshire.

'If this waste isn't contained, every storm and flood, will carry fragments of this plastic further downstream  poisoning wildlife, suffocating habitats, and leaving a legacy of pollution that could last thousands of years.

'We need swift, coordinated action now  before it's too late.'

It was hard to distinguish any particular bits of waste in the fly-tip as it appeared to have been shredded, with earth mixed in.

The site was first discovered by the Kidlington Angling Society, and has been described by activists as 'horrendous'.

The fly-tip was discovered last month by horrified anglers and contains plastic, foam and wood

Calum Miller, Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, raised the issue in Parliament.

Addressing MPs last Thursday, he said: 'Criminals have dumped a mountain of illegal plastic waste... weighing hundreds of tonnes, in my constituency on a floodplain adjacent to the River Cherwell.

'River levels are rising and heatmaps show that the waste is also heating up, raising the risk of fire.

'The Environment Agency said it has limited resources for enforcement, that the estimated cost of removal is greater than the entire annual budget of the local district council.'

Responding, environment minister Mary Creagh said Labour inherited a 'failing' waste system that has caused an 'epidemic of illegal fly-tipping'.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: 'Specialist officers are investigating waste dumped near the A34 at Kidlington. Their role will be to find who left the waste there and take appropriate action.

'We share the public's anger about incidents like this, which is why we take action against those responsible for waste crime. Anyone with information about this incident, or if they suspect waste crime elsewhere, can call the Environment Agency's 24-hour incident hotline: 0800 807060.'
Keir Starmer today refused to rule out allowing Vladimir Putin's Russia to rejoin the G7 if he ends the brutal war in Ukraine - but warned parts of Donald Trump's peace plan are 'unacceptable'.

The Prime Minister told MPs there is 'a tough road ahead' to end the war started by Russia, but that the UK is 'more committed than ever to this cause'.

But he did not rule out allowing Russia to rejoin the elite grouping. It was a member of the then G8 from 1997 to 2014, when it was expelled for a previous invasion of Ukraine that saw it annexe Crimea.

Mr Trump's draft 28-point plan for peace suggested allowing it to apply to rejoin as part of a reintegration into the global economy.

Under pressure from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who asked him to rule such a move out, the PM replied: 'The focus of the moment is on a ceasefire so anything along those lines is a long way off.

'But we have to remember that Putin is the aggressor here, he is the one who started this war.'

He had also told MPs the initial draft of the US' 28-point peace plan 'included points that were not acceptable, but also some very important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace'.

He told MPs: 'We're clear about the fundamental principles here, that Ukraine's sovereignty must be maintained, that Ukraine should be able to defend herself in future and that matters about Ukraine and its future must be determined by Ukraine.

The Prime Minister did not rule out allowing Russia to rejoin the elite grouping. It was a member of the then G8 from 1997 to 2014, when it was expelled for annexing Crimea.

Mr Trump's draft 28-point plan for peace suggested allowing it to apply to rejoin as part of a reintegration into the global economy.

'We are clear their voice must always be at the heart of the process and elements relating to Europe and Nato will need the consent of Europe and Nato members.

'So, there's still a long way to go and a tough road ahead, but we're more committed than ever to this cause and to keeping pushing forward on this process.'

His prevarication came hours after EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallis had refused to entertain the idea of Russia rejoining the G7.

She told BBC Radio Four's Today Programe: 'We can't go back to business as usual... how could you imagine that?'

Sir Keir and Volodymyr Zelensky discussed ongoing work by the so-called coalition of the willing to prepare for the deployment of a multinational force to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, Downing Street said.

The UK is still willing to put boots on the ground to protect Kyiv if there is a cessation of hostilities, the Prime Ministers official spokesman confirmed.
Hollywood legends are eyeing an underrated Texas city as the next booming film industry, but locals have spoken out about the downsides to having their home overtaken by sets.

Fort Worth, a suburb outside of Dallas, is quickly becoming a filming destination as Yellowstone creator, Taylor Sheridan, looks to bring his next big hit, Rio Paloma, to his hometown.

The slew of high-profile projects filmed in the city has already generated $1 billion in revenue and 50,000 jobs.

Local politicians have lobbied for Fort Worth's dominance in the industry, passing $1.5 billion in funding last month to incentivize directors to film in the city.

The massive funding legislation will provide $300 million to the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program every other year through 2035.

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker lobbied to pass the legislation, hailing film as the 'next great industry' in the city.

However, locals are skeptical of whether an increase in film, television, and commercial sets will change their beloved suburb.

'Its absurd that film crews are allowed to disrupt our lives for days on end,' resident Cherri Cetto told the Dallas Morning News.

Fort Worth, Texas has been dubbed the 'Hollywood of the South' as filmmakers increase production in the city

Although Texas legislators have praised the film incentive in Fort Worth, some locals are hesitant that it will ruin their hometown (Pictured: Taylor Sheridan filming an episode of Landman in Texas)

Shaboozey and Big XthaPlug filmed a music video for their song, Home, on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Texas

'I do get that Fort Worth needs business growth, but the city has to take into account how its impacting the residents,' Graham Brizendine, vice president of a local neighborhood association, added.

Locals have been forced to endure traffic jams and road closures due to the influx of sets.

In a Facebook group titled, I Love Fort Worth, locals sounded off on whether the film incentive was benefiting the city or just causing headaches for residents.

'That can be a great thing for Ft. Worth, but caution while the new growth is welcome, our lifelong residents hope our history and heritage of our city do not suffer as a result,' one comment read.

'I hope they dont California out Texas. Especially Fort Worth. Fort Worth is great as it is !!!!' another added.

'I think its already way congested here! We already dont have the infrastructure for the amount of people! Its impossible to get anywhere anymore. Ive lived here my entire life and its become miserable to leave your house,' wrote a third.

Yellowstone creator, Taylor Sheridan (left), is bringing other projects to Fort Worth, including Lioness, Landman, and Rio Paloma

Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman star in the series, Lioness, created by Taylor Sheridan, which is filmed in Fort Worth

However, others disagreed, arguing that the film industry would create more jobs and foster a diverse economy.

'Huge win. Lots of rentals and outside money coming in,' one local wrote.

'Its exciting. Something new,' another seconded.

Sheridan, the creator of Yellowstone and a Fort Worth native, has brought multiple projects to the city, including Lioness, Landman, and Rio Paloma.

The incentive also extends beyond film and television to commercials and even video game projects.

Music has also flourished in Fort Worth, with rapper Big XthaPlug and Shaboozey filming their music video for Home in the city.

Actor Billy Bob Thornton stars in the series Landman, which is filmed in Fort Worth and also created by Sheridan

Yellowstone (pictured), the smash hit series, inspired a spinoff called Rio Palo, which will be set in Fort Worth

The video features Texans waiting in traffic on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge before the two musicians get out of their cars and perform for the onlookers.

Although the video generated attention in Texas, locals were outraged that the bridge was closed on a weekday.

Production companies looking to film in Fort Worth can receive a grant rebate of up to 31 percent of in-state spending.

Companies must spend a percentage of their budget in Texas, meet a quota for in-state staff, and complete 60 percent of the project in the state to receive the incentive funding.
A secret drill to prepare for another pandemic saw ministers admitting they'd put schools into lockdwow

In a state drill carried out this autumn, ministers were asked to draft plans for what they would do in the event of another deadly new virus.

Exercise Pegasus, which concluded last month and involved all major government departments, simulated a real-life global emergency.

The imaginary virus, EV-D68, was described as particularly deadly for children  in contrast to Covid-19, which mostly affected the elderly.

It is understood ministers taking part decided the scenario would require schools to be closed again.

However, no real pupils were involved in the drill, and no real schools were closed.

The drill comes after the official Covid inquiry found school lockdowns brought ordinary childhood to a halt.

The made-up scenario involved a novel version of enterovirus, EV-D68, breaking out on a fictional Island in southeast Asia before spreading across the world.

EV-D68 was said to cause respiratory failure, brain swelling and  in rare cases  paralysis in infants, children and teenagers.

Schools across the UK were 'locked down' in a secret hypothetical scenario created by the Government in preparation for another pandemic (pictured: a Covid lockdown notice in Bristol in 2021)

Ministers involved in the drill decided the spread of the imagined virus would result in travel restrictions, school and business closures and mask wearing in the UK and around the world.

They also had to wargame dealing with fictional street protests over social distancing, it is understood.

Exercise Pegasus was designated a Tier 1 national emergency exercise, meaning it involved ministerial participation, all devolved nations and activation of COBRA, the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms.

It ran in three parts in September, October and November this year and imagined a novel version of EV-D68 had triggered a pandemic.

Its key purpose was to simulate a realistic pandemic scenario, and is the first of its kind in nearly a decade, according to an NHS briefing document uncovered by The Telegraph.

The imaginary virus was based on one which was first isolated in California in 1962.

As well as respiratory disease and meningitis, it can cause a polio-like paralysis in children known as acute flaccid paralysis.

Sir Peter Horby, Professor of Emerging Infections and Global Health at Oxford, told The Telegraph: The choice of an enterovirus is a good choice because it is a real possibility with real risks but is different from what we have seen before.

In a state drill carried out this autumn, ministers were asked to draft plans for what they would do in the event of another deadly new virus (pictured: former Prime Minister Boris Johnson facing press at the start of the first Covid lockdown in 2020)

The big question for me would be, has anything really changed since Covid?

Have the systems changed and were the responses different?

In Phase 1 of the Exercise Pegasus, participants were told an outbreak of a novel enterovirus had occurred on the fictional Island of Musiyana in southeast Asia and that it had already spread to Malaysia and Singapore.

The outbreak followed a local food festival, and a child had died on 17 September.

In Phase 2, the World Health Organization (WHO) formally declared a pandemic, schools were closed and hospitals started to come under pressure. Protests over social distancing also broke out.

In Phase 3, a national lockdown was declared and non-essential businesses ordered to close. There were also fears that the virus  thought to be carried in pigs  could also cause food shortages if UK herds became infected.

A Government spokesman said: 'Exercise Pegasus concluded this autumn and was the largest simulation of a pandemic in UK history, involving every government department, all four nations, and many government agencies.

'A fictional scenario was designed to test participants and improve public bodies ability to respond to a pandemic.

'Learnings will be taken to strengthen the UKs ability to protect the public, and findings will be published as part of the Governments commitment to transparency.'
The BBC was today forced to edit its flagship Reith lecture series to remove criticism of Donald Trump amid a new bias row.

Left-wing author Rutger Bregman claimed that a 'decision had been taken at the highest levels' of the BBC to remove his allegation that Mr Trump is 'the most openly corrupt president in American history'.

The lecture, broadcast this morning, was recorded in October  just before the U.S. President announced that he was intending to sue the corporation for 'anywhere between $1billion (760million) and $5billion (3.8billion)' over a Panorama episode which 'doctored' one of his speeches. The BBC has apologised to Mr Trump, but refused to pay him damages.

The Mail on Sunday revealed earlier this month that the White House had been enraged by the BBC's decision to commission Mr Bregman, who used the showpiece Reith Lectures to draw parallels between Trump's America and the rise of fascism in the 1930s. It branded Mr Bregman 'a rabid anti-Trump individual'.

In his first talk, entitled A Time Of Monsters, Mr Bregman - who has previously described opposition to Mr Trump in the US as a fight between 'good and evil'  likened the President, Nigel Farage and tech billionaires such as Elon Musk to fascists.

The decision to commission Mr Bregman fuelled ongoing accusations that the corporation has an institutional left-wing bias.

But now Mr Bregman has taken to X, formerly Twitter, to complain: 'I wish I didnt have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture. They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as "the most openly corrupt president in American history".'

Dutch author Rutger Bregman said that a 'decision had been taken at the highest levels' of the BBC to remove his reference to Trump as 'the most openly corrupt president in American history'

The Mail on Sunday revealed earlier this month that the White House had been enraged by the BBC's decision to commission Mr Bregman, who used the showpiece lectures to draw parallels between Donald Trump and fascism

He added: 'This sentence was taken out of a lecture they commissioned, reviewed through the full editorial process, and recorded four weeks ago in front of 500 people in the BBC Radio Theatre. I was told the decision came from the highest levels within the BBC. This has happened against my wishes, and I'm genuinely dismayed by it.'

A source present at the recording of the lecture said that the BBC had also deleted a section in which Bregman thanked the BBC team for helping him with the text.

The crisis over the doctoring of the Trump speech has already led to the resignation of BBC director-general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness.

Yesterday, the BBC chairman Samir Shah apologised for 'the mistakes that have been made and the impact that has had' in the bias row but said he is 'not someone who walks away'. He told a committee of MPs that he intended to 'fix' the problems.

When the BBC's Reith Lectures were first delivered in 1948, they represented one of the most prestigious intellectual platforms in British public life.

Named after the BBC's founding director-general Lord John Reith, right, the talks were intended to 'stimulate thought and contribute to knowledge'  and uphold Lord Reith's belief that broadcasting should enrich the nation.

Every year, in this spirit, a leading figure is invited to deliver a series of lectures on contemporary  and lofty  issues which are broadcast on Radio 4 and the World Service.

It is considered a huge honour to be invited. Previous lecturers include philosopher Bertrand Russell, who gave the first lectures, and physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer who spoke on quantum theory. More recently, Wolf Hall author Dame Hilary Mantel spoke in 2017 about history.

Yesterday, the BBC chairman Samir Shah apologised for 'the mistakes that have been made and the impact that has had' in the bias row when appearing before MPs

The speakers propose their own themes in consultation with the BBC. After his lecture, Mr Bregman, a 37-year-old Dutch vegan whose books include Utopia for Realists: How We Can Build the Ideal World, expanded on his anti-Trump themes over a post-lecture dinner for guests personally invited by Mr Davie in the council chamber in Broadcasting House.

Under the gaze of a portrait of Lord Reith, the guests, including Radio 4 executive Eleanor Garland and David Olusoga, the BBC historian and Celebrity Traitor, dined on venison carpaccio and herb-crusted lamb rump as Mr Bregman talked about the need to organise a 'resistance movement against populism'.

A BBC spokesperson said: 'All of our programmes are required to comply with the BBC's editorial guidelines, and we made the decision to remove one sentence from the lecture on legal advice.'
A tiny town in California wine country that has a ban on chain stores approved the opening of Little Caesars thanks to a clerical error.

Sebastopol, in Sonoma County, has just 7,000 residents and boasts 'bohemian vibes' and 'unique boutiques and cafes,' according to Visit Sebastopol Now.

In 2018, the historic northern California town banned businesses 'with 25 or more establishments in the U.S.' from their downtown area, according to the city website.

Little Caesars operates about 4,200 locations across the country.

The brand-new outpost miraculously slipped through the cracks, with the city council announcing the mistake in late October.

Councilors claimed that approval of the downtown chain had been made in error 'during the processing and issuance of permits.'

'Due to this error, permits were issued for a business that may not have otherwise been approved for this location under current zoning regulations,' they wrote.

City Council member Neysa Hinton told CBS News that Little Caesars 'took that approval and ran with it and started making improvements,' much to the chagrin of residents and business owners.

Sebastopol, in Sonoma County, has just 7,000 residents and boasts 'bohemian vibes'

In 2018, the historic northern California town banned businesses 'with 25 or more establishments in the U.S.' from their downtown area

'They had a vested interest by the time we realized our error. And we had to let them move forward,' Hinton told the outlet.

The council has already created new review protocols to ensure that it doesn't happen again, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

But it's too late to keep Little Caesars from its scheduled opening this week.

'Disappointing that a big mistake like this would go through,' Attico consignment shop owner Francesca Malerba-Locke told CBS News.

'It doesn't add to the charm of the [town].'

Malerba-Locke owns one of the many quaint business that populate the city's picturesque downtown.

Acre Pizza, HopMonk Tavern, and Screamin' Mimi's ice cream are just some of the dozens of locally owned business that make Sebastopol unique.

News of the downtown's newest arrival made its way to local Facebook groups and Reddit pages, earning mixed reactions.

The chain pizza restaurant was allotted a spot downtown thanks to a clerical issue from the city

The town sits in California's wine country

'Rubber stamping approvals instead of actually reading what they are voting on...,' one Facebook commenter shamed the council.

'This is a real slap in the face to this community,' another commenter on Reddit added.

However, some residents were excited that the affordable fast-food spot was making its home in the city.

'With food prices being what they are, it's a good option for those who want to treat their family,' one person said.

'Ceasers saved me as a single mom of a teen boy whose friends were always at my house. Im sure itll do a nice little business there,' another added.

'Affordable and actually quite tasty! Win for Sebastopol,' a third stated.

The franchise is owned by brothers Gurdip Singh and Harcanb Khehara from Modesto, California.

The pair owns other Little Caesars locations in Santa Rosa, Windor, and Rohnert Park, according to the Press Democrat.

The city council has already created new review protocols to ensure the accident doesn't occur again, but it's too late to keep Little Caesars from its scheduled opening this week

Many quaint business that populate the city's picturesque downtown

Whether the outpost stays in Sebastopol is ultimately up to the customers.

Hinton said that both McDonald's and Burger King went out of business due to a lack of local support.

As one social media commenter said: 'People will have to vote with their dollars.'

The Daily Mail contacted the Sebastopol City Council, Little Caesars, and local businesses for comment.
A software developer, who claimed he discovered a fraud cover-up, had his unfair dismissal case thrown out after he started eating during his own tribunal.

Artiom Borisov claims he was unfairly fired for 'aggressive behaviour' and 'not following instructions' by the multinational finance company American International Group (AIG).

He claimed he uncovered that company's government reinsurance scheme was fraudulent, as it was a misuse of public funds. He also alleged there were data breaches due to the scheme.

AIG investigated fraud and data-breach allegations, Mr Borisov says, before it was concluded there was no wrongdoing.

Mr Borisov said he 'did not agree with the conclusion and alleged cover-up'.

After his dismissal, he took his case to an employment tribunal, but midway through his case, he started eating a full meal, claiming, 'why should I trust the process, why should I trust the judge?'

Mr Borisov said he believed the judge was against him and thought the tribunal was a 'circus' and a 'scam'.

Employment Judge Richard Nicolle said that Mr Borisov showed a 'flagrant show of disrespect' during the hearing.

Artiom Borisov had his unfair dismissal case against American International Group (AIG) thrown out after he started eating during his own tribunal

Mr Borisov said he believed the judge was against him and thought the tribunal was a 'circus' and a 'scam'.

Judge Nicolle said he would have let him off if it had been a cup of coffee or a chocolate bar, but this was 'very blatant'.

The case was thrown out as Mr Borisov's manner was judged to be 'scandalous, unreasonable or vexatious'.

Mr Borisov previously also took insurance giant Zurich to an employment tribunal in 2019 after he claimed he 'exposed a multi-million-pound fraud' while working for the London branch of the company.

But after alerting the company's fraud prevention and investigations unit of his belief that their new IT project was a scam, he claims his allegations were not followed up on.

The software developer alleges his former employer intimidated him, cut him off from all IT systems and tried to cover up the fraud, eventually dismissing him in April 2019.

But Zurich says Mr Borisov was fired for ignoring management orders to not contact underwriters about the contested UW 360 IT project, which was due to replace the former system called Plum Z.

Zurich said an internal investigation that took more than 40 days found no evidence of fraud with the new IT project.

The case was also thrown out and Mr Borisov was ordered to pay 445.20.

In the most recent tribunal against AIG, Mr Borisov had continually described the proceedings as a 'circus' and the judge decided that continuing would be a 'waste of his time and the Tribunal's time'.

He claimed the company's government reinsurance scheme was fraudulent, as it was a misuse of public funds. He also alleged there were data breaches due to the scheme.

Judge Nicolle said: 'I had refused [Mr Borisov's] application for witness orders he very visibly and blatantly started to consume a meal during the hearing.

'This was despite the standard protocol given by a Tribunal clerk before a CVP hearing that there should be no drinking or eating during the hearing save for a glass of water.

'I would have been prepared to take a reasonably indulgent approach had [Mr Borisov] been consuming a cup of coffee or a bar of chocolate but he was eating a meal and when I asked him to desist he continued to eat in a very visible manner.

'It was a flagrant show of disrespect and a refusal to comply with my reasonable request for him to desist.

'He went on to say: "Why should I trust the process, why should I trust the judge?"

The judge added that the approach adopted by Mr Borisov was 'egregious, repeated and manifestly disrespectful to the tribunal, judicial process, me as the judge and other attending parties'.

He continued: 'He refused to accept my reasonable request to desist from eating and in my view showed utter contempt for the Tribunal process and those on the CVP hearing by eating in a very blatant and obvious way during the hearing despite my request for him to desist.

'He refused to answer a very basic and reasonable question as to whether he was recording the proceedings and it is relevant that there has been a past history in that respect.

'He made repeated and serious allegations as to the integrity of the Tribunal process and my role as a judge to include, but not limited to the process being a sham, a circus and a crime being committed.

'His multiple contentions were primarily because he disagreed with my decision to refuse his application for witness orders.

'He repeatedly asserted that he did not understand why I had made that decision.

'However I use my best endeavours, both orally and in writing, to ensure that he was aware of my reasons.

'Nevertheless he refused to accept that I had explained the reasons to him.'
The average earner will see almost 2,000 of their taxes go towards Britain's spiralling benefits bill this year, new analysis has found.

Workers paid the median salary nationwide will have more of their taxes spent on welfare - 1,970 - than any other item of public spending, as increasing numbers of people receive sickness benefits while Labour has abandoned proposed cuts.

Employees on wages of 39,039 will also contribute more than 1,000 towards the running of the National Health Service this year, according to a tax calculator developed by the Adam Smith Institute on the eve of the crucial Budget.

The think-tank estimates that another 659 of the average earner's income tax and National Insurance contributions will go on debt interest payments, along with 593 on education, 354 on defence and 234 on transport.

Just 143 of their money will be sent to the Home Office - covering policing, asylum and the security services  including 15 that will go towards controversial asylum hotels.

Another 80 will go to the Ministry of Justice to keep courts and prisons going, while 83 will go on environmental levies and 40 will be earmarked for the delayed and over-budget High Speed 2 railway.

The think-tank says its tax calculator shows the damage caused by Rachel Reeves at her last Budget, calculated under the 2025-26 tax code for England, and will update it after her statement to show how government spending and the tax burden will change next year.

A calculator developed by the Adam Smith Institute think-tank shows workers how much of their taxes will be spent by the Government on welfare, the NHS and debt interest

Ministers abandoned plans to cut 5billion from the benefits bill in June after a backbench rebellion by Labour MPs

Jasper Ostle, head of research of the ASI, said: 'The average worker is now handing over thousands a year just to fund Britain's sprawling welfare system.

'Our new tax calculator lays bare what Reeves won't: taxpayers are footing ever-larger bills while government spending continues to spiral out of control. Borrowing is climbing, services aren't improving, and households are being softened up for yet another punishing Budget.

'If ministers want to restore trust, they must stop treating taxpayers like bottomless piggy banks and cut spending. The ASI will continue tracking where every pound is being spent.'
Hotels and BnBs are set to be targeted with a new 'bed tax' under plans unveiled today - with Sadiq Khan in line for a 200million a year windfall.

Ministers are giving the go-ahead for mayors in England to impose the charges, heaping costs on stays for Britons as well as foreign tourists.

The level will be set locally, but is expected be around 2 a night.

It could raise hundreds of millions of pounds a year in total, with London by far the biggest beneficiary.

A slew of Labour mayors have reacted with jubilation at the prospect - although Tory Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has made clear he will shun the 'cash grab'.

The hospitality industry has accused the government of breaking a vow not to go ahead with the 'damaging policy, warning it will 'undermine investment'.

Supporters of the charge - understood to include the capital's Labour mayor - point out that other major global cities such as Paris have already implemented a similar policy

That could raise more than 500million a year - including potentially 200million for Sadiq Khan in London alone

Tory Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has made clear he will shun the 'cash grab'

Tory frontbencher Nigel Huddleston condemned the plans

Supporters of the charge - being put for consultation until February 18 - point out that other major global cities such as Paris have already implemented a similar policy, while Manchester has a 'business levy'.

Critics point out that British people spend hundreds of millions of nights at hotels and bed 'n breakfasts in England every year - and will have to pick up a bigger tab.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed said: 'Tourists travel from near and far to visit England's brilliant cities and regions.

'We're giving our mayors powers to harness this and put more money into local priorities, so they can keep driving growth and investing in these communities for years to come.'

The government said money raised could fund local projects that 'improve communities and enhance the experience of tourists'.

Officials insisted research suggested 'reasonable' fees have little impact on visitor numbers.

Seven Labour mayors hailed the decision, with Mr Khan saying it was 'great news for London'.

'The extra funding will directly support London's economy, and help cement our reputation as a global tourism and business destination. It also shows what can be done when ministers work closely with Mayors to devolve more powers to cities and regions,' he said.

'As part of developing our plans for the levy we will work closely with the hospitality and tourism sectors to ensure it delivers the maximum benefits for London and our brilliant businesses.'

Labour's Liverpool Metro mayor Steve Rotheram said: 'For too long, cities like ours have been expected to compete on a global stage without the basic tools that other places take for granted.

'Cities like Barcelona and Paris raise tens of millions each year through similar schemes  money that goes straight back into improving the visitor experience and supporting the local people who keep those destinations thriving.

'I'm pleased that the government has listened and acted  giving areas like ours the powers we need to support and grow our economies in a sustainable way.

'Our visitor economy is worth more than 6billion a year and supports over 55,000 local jobs.

'A modest levy is money that would stay local and be reinvested in the things that make our region stand out: our world-class culture, iconic events, vibrant public spaces and the infrastructure that ties it all together.'

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: 'It's great news that the Government is committing to giving regional mayors the powers to introduce a visitor levy  a measure we have long called for. Greater Manchester already has a thriving visitor economy, and a visitor levy will help us sustain good growth over the next decade.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham was jubilant at the move

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said visitors would be asked 'to pay a small fee to help drive growth'

'I'm proud that nearly two million people from all over the world choose to visit Greater Manchester every year...

'The levy will allow us to invest in the infrastructure these visitors need, like keeping our streets clean and enhancing our public transport system through later running buses and trams, making sure every experience is a positive and memorable one.'

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said visitors would be asked 'to pay a small fee to help drive growth'.

'This will allow us to invest more into making our regions even better places to visit, unlocking opportunities and help our businesses thrive,' she said.

'This is a further vote of confidence in devolution and shows the government is backing mayors to achieve our ambitions.'

Kate Nicholls, Chair of UKHospitality, said: 'The Government has gone back on its word and introduced a damaging holiday tax. This is the wrong way to make policy and the fastest way to undermine investment.

'It has blatantly disregarded the commitments it gave to the House of Commons just two months ago that it 'had no plans' to introduce this tax.

'This is a shocking U-turn that will only make life more expensive for working people. It could cost the public up to 518 million in additional tax when they travel in the UK and having knock-on impacts for the wider hospitality sector.

'It will effectively increase the rate of VAT to 27% for people who want to enjoy a holiday in the UK  making it one of the highest tax rates for consumers in Europe.

'Make no mistake  this cost will be passed directly onto consumers, drive inflation and undermine the Government's aim to reduce the cost of living.

'It's important that the Government has paused to consult. We will be working hard with the Chancellor's team to highlight the damage this will do to the cost of living.'
Driven Chinese moms are moving their families to the U.S. in hopes of increasing their children's chances of getting into prestigious Ivy League universities.

In China, students with ambitions of higher education face multiple barriers when applying, leading some parents to decamp for America to increase their kids' odds of landing in a top school.

Even with a population four times larger than the U.S., China has far fewer colleges where students can earn a bachelor's degree.

Aspiring university students in China face the gaokao, which translates to 'higher exam,' a grueling test that decides their admission to elite universities.

More than 10 million Chinese students take the high-pressure exam, and China has only about 500,000 available seats in its top 100 universities, according to Harvard University Press.

For many Chinese families, the dream is for their children to receive an 'Ivy-level' education, and some are immigrating to the U.S. to avoid the challenges of China's education system.

'From a purely mathematical perspective, students in the U.S. have far more opportunity to attain higher education than in China,' Joanna Gao, who came to the U.S. in 2018 with her husband and two middle-school-aged sons, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

'My goal was for my kids to enter brand-name schools.'

China had the second highest number of international students pursing higher education in the U.S. in 2023/2024 with 277,398 students, according to the Institute of International Education (stock photo)

An aerial view of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California

China had the second highest number of international students pursing higher education in the U.S. in 2023/2024 with 277,398 students, according to the Institute of International Education.

Prestigious California public schools have attracted immigrant families like Gaos, offering a cheaper way to boost their childrens chances of getting into Ivy League universities.

Before making the big move to California, Gao's friend recommended the Silicon Valley area, saying 'if your financial situation allows it, I suggest you live in Palo Alto.'

Palo Alto, home to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is home to two schools that regularly rank among Californias top 10 public schools.

About a dozen graduates from Palo Alto High School attend Stanford University each year, and Gunn High School sent almost two dozen students to the Ivy League college last year, according to the Chronicle.

The schools were so attractive that the mother-of-two completely uprooted her life to move for her children's academic future.

She left her high-paying job in the chemical trade in Shanghai to become a full-time mom, and has only worked at Bloomingdale's in the U.S. because her Chinese college diploma holds little value here.

Gao was well-off in China and had nannies to help at home, but in America she felt like 'a nobody.'

'In Shanghai, we were somebody and had resources to support our kids,' she told the Chronicle.

About a dozen graduates from Palo Alto High School attend Stanford University each year

An aerial of the Knight Management Center at the Stanford Graduate School of Business

Gao and her husband even transferred their sons to an international school in Shanghai to improve their English before making the move to Palo Alto.

Schools in Silicon Valley have seen a gradual increase of native Mandarin speakers over the last decade, according to state data.

Palo Alto Unified School District Superintendent Don Austin told the Chronicle that his is a 'destination district' and has been 'shaped by the tech industry and Stanford University.'

Chinese 'study mothers' and parent support groups have also been created in Palo Alto to support immigrant families in their adjustment to U.S. education.

Along with the support groups, Gao told the publication that it's mainly her sons supporting and teaching her.

They have helped her adopt a more 'American' approach, no longer seeing a prestigious university as the ultimate goal.

'In my heart of hearts, I believe my kids have surpassed me,' she said.
Gramma the Galapagos tortoise was a roughly 141-year-old icon for visitors to the San Diego Zoo.

After nearly a century of delighting guests, the zoo shared on social media this week that she died November 20.

Wildlife care specialists at the zoo were monitoring Gramma for a bone condition brought on by her age. When the disease came to be too much, she was euthanized, according to CBS News.

Zoo officials described the tortoise as 'sweet' and 'shy.'

'She quietly touched the lives of countless people over nearly a century in San Diego as an incredible ambassador for reptile conservation worldwide,' the zoo told the Daily Mail.

'It was a privilege to care for such a remarkable tortoise.'

Gramma was first brought from the Galapagos Islands to the Bronx Zoo as part of its first group of Galapagos tortoises.

Records suggest she made the journey from New York to San Diego in either 1928 or 1931.

Gramma the Galapagos tortoise was the oldest resident at the San Diego Zoo when she died at roughly 141 years old

The San Diego Zoo announced that the beloved tortoise had been euthanized following struggles with a bone condition

There, she became part of what would eventually be one of largest collections of rare and endangered animals in the world.

The 'Queen of the Zoo' survived more than 20 US presidents and both World Wars. She saw millions of guests over the years, many of whom she left a profound impact on.

Gramma even lived through the San Diego zoo's creation, already in her thirties by the time it was founded.

She became an important part of the zoo's history.

Several past visitors took to the comment section of the zoo's announcement to share special memories of the beloved reptile.

'As a child during the 60s, I actually rode on her shell in the childrens zoo-when such behavior was acceptable and promoted by SD Zoo. I remember crying when the "ride" was over,' one commenter shared.

'20 or so years ago my friend and I were the only ones watching the tortoises and a keeper came and asked if we wanted to feed Gramma some romaine lettuce,' another added.

'She was such a gentle soul and I'm so happy I got to spend that small quiet but crunchy moment with her. She had an extraordinary life and will be missed!'

Gramma was beloved by zoo-goers and employees alike

'We got to meet Gramma and feed her during my birthday VIP tour in January. Oh my heart just breaks!' a third added.

Galapagos tortoises have an average lifespan of more than 100 years and they weigh more than 550 pounds.

The endangered species contains 15 subspecies, three of which are extinct.

A conscious effort by zoos and conservatories have helped to repopulate tortoises on the Galapagos Islands since 1965, per the Galapagos Conservatory.

As a result of decades of captive rearing, thousands of tortoises have been released back onto their native islands.

While Gramma's age was impressive, Galapagos tortoises have lived even longer.

The Australia Zoo housed the oldest on record, Harriet, who lived to 175.

Despite her long life, Gramma was a simple tortoise.

She loved eating fruit and lettuce, playing in puddles, and basking in the sun

For almost a century, zoo-goers watched her enjoy sunshine, puddles, lettuce, and cactus fruit.

The zoo encouraged people to enjoy some of Gramma's favorite things to honor her memory.

'We invite you to enjoy a generous, fruit-filled salad, a special tribute for a very special tortoise,' they wrote.
Under fire BBC chairman Samir Shah was dealt a fresh blow as parliaments culture committee chief questioned his leadership.

Dame Caroline Dinenage criticised Mr Shahs performance in front of the Commons committee on Monday arguing it had been wishy-washy and he had not win the confidence of MPs.

She questioned whether the BBC board was in safe hands after his handling of the fallout over an internal BBC report on impartiality which resulted in the resignations of director-general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness.

Mr Shah, 73, told MPs he was going to steady the ship and put it on an even keel and insisted he would not walk away from the job.

But Ms Dinenage, the chairwoman of the culture committee, told the BBC's The World Tonight after the hearing she was concerned about chaos at the heart of the BBC board.

She added: I dont think as a committee we were wildly enthused that the board is in safe hands.

The MP said the committee had asked Mr Shah why it had taken so long for the BBC to apologise for Panoramas misleading edit of a Donald Trump speech, which has led to threats of a $5 billion lawsuit from the US president.

She said: It was quite difficult to get a straight answer to those questions.

Under fire BBC chairman Samir Shah was dealt a fresh blow as parliaments culture committee chief questioned his leadership

Asked if Mr Shah was the right person to grip the BBCs problems, Dame Caroline replied: Well, he didnt really have direct answers on the questions of to get the BBC to act quicker, to act more decisively.

Then there are more systemic issues beyond that and we were really looking for hard evidence that the BBC board were going to grip this. Im not entirely convinced that they can and that they will.

She was pressed further on his future and where it left the embattled chairman, she said: Its a very difficult position, isnt it, because the BBC cant be left without a director-general and without a chair. Someone needs to be there to lead the march to replace the leadership.

But equally I dont think, as a committee, we were wildly enthused that the board is in safe hands.

Were going to need to see a lot more robust answers to questions like the ones we were posing. Everything was very wishy-washy. There wasnt a huge sense that there was grip at the heart of BBC governance.

But she made clear that replacing Mr Shah following the appointment of a new director-general would be a matter for Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary.

Mr Shah, who was previously a television executive, was appointed as BBC chairman by Rishi Sunak's Conservative government in 2024 for a four-year term.

In his role, he receives a salary of 160,000 per year.

Yesterday, OfCom head Dame Melanie Dawes said there were serious issues recently with editorial decision making at the corporation. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, she said: The board has a lot to do to set that right.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, also criticised Mr Shahs performance. He said: The chairman of the board is straddling two peculiar stools: nothing to see, guv, and there are problems but no one was to blame.

He got a hard time from the committee and didnt emerge out of it as a chairman who was very in control. Hell have to think very hard about whether this is a job for him.

On Monday, the BBC chairman delivered an apology over the fiasco and said he was concentrating on the search for the next director-general.

Shah also defended outgoing director-general Tim Davie and said he should not have resigned

He also defended outgoing director-general Tim Davie and said he should not have resigned.

Mr Shah said he 'spent a great deal of time' trying to dissuade the BBC boss from quitting from the post after the corporation became engulfed in crisis over an edited Donald Trump speech.

An internal BBC memo showed how Panorama had edited a speech by the President to make it look like he had called for violence during the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol in Washington DC, but the BBC did not apologise for the error until the report was leaked.

Mr Trump has since threatened to sue the corporation for up to $5 billion (3.8 billion), and Mr Davie and Ms Turness resigned.

Mr Shah told MPs on Parliament's culture, media and sport committee he disagreed with Davie's decision to go. He said: 'I do not think the director-general should have resigned.

'I think that the act by the director of news was an honourable and proper act. I think she took responsibility. I do not think that that meant that the director-general had also to resign.'
Tucker Carlson shrugged off the concerns of a top Republican who told him that hosting Nick Fuentes on his popular show was a mistake, and now he's pushing back on the GOP entirely.

The former Fox News host was embroiled in controversy weeks ago when he had the antisemitic pundit on his podcast.

Fuentes has stated his goal is 'total Aryan victory,' and he has called for a 'holy war' against Jewish people, among making other vile jokes, like likening Holocaust victims to cookies baking in an oven.

Carlson's embrace of Fuentes began dialogues throughout the GOP about how closely the party should align itself with its dissident, and at times discriminatory, far-right flank.

Speaker Mike Johnson, a devout Christian, has left no room for debate when it comes to embracing unsavory voices, condemning Carlson for platforming Fuentes. Many other Republican establishment figures, like Carlson's rival Senator Ted Cruz, have also come out against the former Fox News host.

But Carlson seems unbothered by his GOP critics and has increasingly distanced himself from the party.

'The Republican Party is almost to the point where it's just useless and I'm gonna have to oppose it,' Carlson told podcaster Shawn Ryan. 'I hate them too much, because they're such betrayers.'

'You can't take my tax dollars and then refuse to do anything about child molestation,' Carlson continued.

Tucker Carlson received lots of criticism for hosting antisemite Nick Fuentes on his podcast

Speaker Mike Johnson said he spoke to Tucker Carlson about Nick Fuentes and told the former Fox News host that amplifying the antisemitic pundit was a 'big mistake'

Johnson didn't just keep his advice to himself, though.

'I spoke briefly with Tucker about that, and I think it's a responsibility. He has a lot of listeners, and I think giving Nick Fuentes that platform is a big mistake,' Johnson said this week in an interview with The Hill.

However, Carlson did not appear to care about the speaker's counsel.

'Well, obviously, I'm not sure if he agreed with me on that,' Johnson continued.

'But we have different views on Israel, and, you know, we've talked about that.'

A new concern for Johnson is the emergence of antisemitism on the right.

Fuentes and Carlson are both popular figures on the right, despite not having mainstream platforms.

Fuentes has roughly half a million followers on the streaming service Rumble, where he hosts his show. Each episode regularly pulls in several hundred thousand views.

Carlson has said that he has no regrets about hosting Fuentes

'You know, do your own interview the way that you want to do it. You're not my editor. Buzz off,' Carlson said to Megyn Kelly when she pressed him on hosting Fuentes

'WORLD JEWRY MEETING??? Shapiro and Bari Weiss Condemn Far Left and Far Right,' one of Fuentes's most recent episodes discussing Jewish media figures Ben Shapiro and Bari Weiss was titled. It garnered nearly a million views.

Facing critiques in a recent interview with Megyn Kelly, Carlson noted that he has no regrets about hosting the antisemite.

'You know, do your own interview the way that you want to do it. You're not my editor. Buzz off,' Carlson shared.

Meanwhile, Johnson doubled down on distancing the GOP from the controversial pundit.

'I was listening to a compilation of some of the worst things he said. It's vile, terrible stuff. I mean, it's not just antisemitic, it's openly racist, it's violent  things you can't even repeat on the House floor,' he told The Hill.

Still, speech is protected, no matter how ugly, the speaker noted.

'All speech is to be protected, cherished as part of the hallmark of America. So, Tucker and everyone else have their right to free speech, and Nick Fuentes has a right to free speech,' Johnson continued. 'What I'm saying is that we have a responsibility. With that freedom comes responsibility, and our responsibility is not to amplify that, not to give it a platform.'
A teenage boy has died after becoming unwell on a school bus.

Emergency services were called to the scene at the A92 Halbeath roundabout in Dunfermline, Fife, on Monday at 1.45pm.

Police said the 15-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene and staff at Beath High School, which he attended, have told of being 'devastated'.

Officers have said the death is being treated as unexplained, with investigations continuing.

Stephen Ross, headteacher at Beath High School, said support was being offered to the school community following the pupil's death.

He said: 'We are all devastated by this news and our thoughts are very much with the family and loved ones at this sensitive and difficult time.

'We are looking after our young people and arranging support across the school community providing space, time and help to those who need it.'

A 15-year-old schoolboy has died after falling ill on a bus near the A92 Halbeath roundabout in Dunfermline, Fife (pictured)

Police said the 15-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene and staff at Beath High School (pictured), which he attended, have told of being 'devastated'

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 1.45pm on Monday 24 November 2025, we received a report that a 15-year-old male had taken unwell on a bus at A92 Halbeath roundabout, Dunfermline.

'Emergency services attended and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

'His next of kin have been made aware.

'His death is being treated as unexplained and enquiries are ongoing.'
Army chiefs have been forced to halt the use of new Ajax armoured vehicles after troops told of vomiting and shaking so badly they struggled to control their bodies.

Vibration and hearing problems have also been reported after the 10million vehicles were put to the test on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.

Some 31 soldiers from the Household Cavalry and the Royal Lancers are said to have been hit by adverse effects after spending between 10 and 15 hours inside them.

Defence minister Luke Pollard recently took part in an unveiling that showcased the vehicles and described them as safe for operations.

But new alerts have been raised after an operation last weekend dubbed Iron Fist.

Now use of the Ajax vehicles has been put on hold and exercises involving them cancelled, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.

Similar noise and vibration issues are thought to have been previously reported following trials in the summer.

Complaints included headaches, loss of balance, motion problems and tinnitus, according to defence sources - with one saying: 'Soldiers are still being hurt.'

The Ajax vehicles were finally declared ready for deployment this month, eight years later than planned - but their use has now been put on hold

Two Army members were so badly affected that they were medically downgraded and barred from serving overseas, the Times reported.

And another three troops are set to be medically discharged from the military following problems last year.

Now a two-week pause has been imposed on use of the vehicles for training and exercises, pending further safety checks.

Mr Pollard earlier this month visited the General Dynamics plant in Wales producing the Ajax armoured vehicles.

He said at the time that any concerns surrounding the reconnaissance vehicles were 'firmly in the past'.

Mr Pollard told reporters: 'We would not be putting it in the hands of our armed forces if it were not safe.'

The Ajax vehicles had been finally declared ready for deployment on November 5, eight years later than planned.

The 6.3billion Ministry of Defence project to build 589 of the advanced vehicles has prompted plenty of criticism after lengthy delays.

Defence minister Luke Pollard only recently took part in an unveiling that showcased the new vehicles and described them as safe for operations

While the equipment was intended to enter service in 2017, the scheme has endured setbacks such as noise and vibration issues injuring soldiers testing the vehicles.

It emerged in December 2021 the tanks shook so violently that 310 people who had tested Ajax needed to have hearing assessments.

Seventeen individuals were undergoing specialist treatment for hearing loss, while some were forced to leave the army and paid compensation.

More than 165 of the vehicles have now been delivered, but full operating capability might not be reached for another four years.

Speaking earlier this month, Mr Pollard said: 'Ajax has overcome significant challenges, but importantly, we can say it has left its troubles behind.

'Ajax has proved itself in the field to be the most advanced medium-weight armoured fighting vehicle on the planet, and we have more than a full squadron ready to go, ready to fight, ready to win, with more in the pipeline.

'Our Ajax fleet has a key role as we move our nation to war-fighting readiness... We now live in a new era of threat, we live in a more dangerous world, and to respond to that, we need to renew our armed forces, retiring old equipment, and investing in new technologies.'

The six variants in the Ajax project, being developed by General Dynamics in Merthyr Tydfil, would be the first new armoured fighting vehicles to enter service with the British Army for almost 30 years.

The 6.3billion Ministry of Defence project to build 589 of the advanced vehicles has been criticised after a series of delays as well as safety concerns

Ajax replaces CVR(T) vehicles, which first entered service in 1971, and the new fleet was put through its paces by the Household Cavalry Regiment, based in Bulford, Wiltshire.

Mr Pollard said on November 5: 'It's a really important milestone today. This is a programme that did have significant problems, it was right that under the last government the trials were paused so the lessons could be learned around the vibration and noise issues.

'Those issues are firmly in the past. We would not be declaring IOC if it were not safe, we would not be putting it in the hands of our frontline forces if it were not safe, and I've been reassured from the top of the army down to the folks that work on the platform that it is safe.

'There are lots of lessons that we can learn from this.'

'We want to see huge improvements in the value for money for defence procurement, we want to see speeding up of those procurements, and we want to see more of an increased defence budget being directed at companies in Britain.'

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said on Tuesday afternoon: 'The safety of our personnel is our top priority. This weekend a small number of soldiers reported symptoms of noise and vibration, having taken part in an exercise involving the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle.

'The Army immediately stopped the exercise and proactively tested all personnel involved for symptoms. Upon testing, around 30 personnel presented noise and vibration symptoms.

'The vast majority of these have now been medically cleared and are continuing on duty. A small number of personnel continue to receive expert medical care.

'Out of an abundance of caution, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry has asked the Army to pause all use of Ajax for training and exercising for two weeks, while a safety investigation is carried out into the events this weekend.

'A small amount of testing of the vehicle will continue, in order to ensure that any issues can to identified and resolved.

'This pause underlines our absolute commitment to the safety of our personnel. As with any major equipment programme, we continue to test and refine the vehicle to ensure safety and performance.'
A Texas police officer has been fired after she allegedly struck her ex-boyfriend in the face in the parking lot of an indoor go-kart track.

Probationary officer Cora Crocker was terminated from her role with the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) just one day after the alleged assault.

Witnesses claim Crocker hit the alleged victim after another woman got inside his parked vehicle, according to an incident report obtained by KSAT.

Crocker, who was allegedly 'visibly intoxicated' at the time of the incident, and the other woman were both 'former significant others' of the man, the report said.

She was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury-family.

Her arraignment is scheduled for next month and her attorney has vowed to 'defend her vigorously.'

Crocker was the ninth SAPD officer to be arrested this year, an investigation by the news outlet has found.

Her termination came just days after fellow SAPD probationary officer Giselle Lopez-Chavez was ousted from the force over an alleged incident of public intoxication during a separate incident.

Probationary officer Cora Crocker (pictured) was terminated from her role with the San Antonio Police Department after she allegedly struck her ex-boyfriend in the face in the parking lot at an indoor go-kart track

SAPD probationary officer Giselle Lopez-Chavez was ousted from the force over an alleged incident of public intoxication at a downtown bar. She is pictured that night, outside the bar flipping the bird

Lopez-Chavez was terminated from the SAPD on October 27 after an alleged disturbance at a bar in downtown.

She and her boyfriend were detained on the ground and handcuffed in front of the bar.

Lopez-Chavez, who had been photographed outside the bar flipping the bird, allegedly told officers 'she was SAPD' as she was being detained.

She was taken to the city's sobering unit and her boyfriend was taken into custody on a warrant, according to records reviewed by the outlet.

It does not appear that she has been criminally charged over the alleged public intoxication incident.

The Daily Mail has approached the SAPD, Crocker and Lopez-Chavez for comment.
Sir Richard Branson has announced the death of Lady Joan, his beloved wife of 50 years.

Announcing her death aged 80 on social media on Tuesday, the Virgin boss wrote: 'Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away.

'She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for.

'She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world. Love you forever, Joan x'

Lady Joan, who shares two children with Sir Richard, has long been credited as the billionaire's 'rock' and 'source of wisdom'.

In a post last month, the Virgin tycoon posted a photograph, showing him kissing his wife's head and the words: 'Everyone needs a Joan in their life.'

Lady Joan was thought to be in good health when she celebrated her 80th birthday this summer, with Sir Richard paying tribute to her on his social media.

'Thank you for being by my side through it all  the highs, the lows, and all those quiet, content and peaceful moments in between. These are the moments I cherish most with you, I love you more and more each year,' he wrote on Facebook in July.

Sir Richard Branson today announced the death of Joan, his beloved wife of 50 years

In a post earlier this month, the Virgin tycoon posted a photograph, showing him kissing his wife's head

The couple on their wedding day on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands

The couple had been looking forward to celebrating their 50th anniversary in just a few months on February 7.

They met in 1976 at The Manor, a live-in recording studio for Virgin Records, where the business magnate said he 'fell in love' with her at first sight.

He has previously revealed how he was taken in by the 'beautiful, witty, down-to-earth' woman when she visited the studio in West London.

After finding out that she worked at a nearby, he recalls how he set about wooing her.

In a 2015 blog celebrating her 70th birthday, Sir Richard said: 'I fell in love with her from the first moment I saw her, while she worked in a bric-a-brac shop in Westbourne Grove, in London.

'A blonde-haired, down to earth, Scottish beauty who didn't suffer fools, Joan was unlike any other women I had ever met.

'To win her heart, I had to persistently hang around the shop and buy countless objects before we started courting.'

He signed off the blog: 'As the saying goes, behind every man there's a great woman.

'Joan you are the greatest woman of all. Happy birthday and thank you for choosing to come on this adventure with me.'

The earliest picture of Richard and Joan. Lady Joan, who shares two children with Sir Richard, has long been credited as the billionaire's 'rock'

Sir Richard shared this photo of Lady Joan on his social media accounts to announce his wife's death

Lady Joan was thought to be in good health when she celebrated her 80th birthday this summer

Sir Richard pictured with Lady Joan and their daughter Holly in 2003

The couple pictured in 1996 during a charity dinner at Harrods

Sir Richard and Lady Joan pictured at the engagement party of Holly Branson to Fred Andrews in 2011

The couple pictured in 1991. Their relationship spanned more than four decades

In a later blog in 2020, marking their wedding anniversary, he added: 'Far beyond record titles, I owe a lot to Joan.Joan has always been a steady source of wisdom and has played no small part in some of my better life decisions.'

The pair were wed 14 years after first meeting in 1989 on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands when their two children, Holly and Sam, were eight and four.

Lady Joan was from the beginning, despite her husband's fame, a very private person, keen to avoid the public eye and rarely gave an interview.

She was described as the 'most amazing mother' to her children as well as the 'perfect grandmother' to her five grandchildren, Etta, Artie, Lola, Eva-Deia and Bluey Rafe Richard.

Born Joan Templman in Glasgow, Scotland in 1945, she had hailed from humble beginnings with her father working as a ship carpenter to support her and her six siblings.

Sir Richard previously described how he met Joan on February 7, 1976, at the Virgin Records studio, the Manor, where he 'experienced love at first sight upon meeting a blonde-haired, down to earth, Scottish beauty named Joan, who just happened to be making a cup of tea'.

After finding out that she worked at a nearby bric-a-brac store on Westbourne Grove, he set about wooing her...by buying trinkets galore from the shop including a 'Now, that's what I call music' sign that would later inspire the record company's best-selling compilation records.

In a 2020 blog post, he wrote: 'I often make up my mind about someone within 30 seconds of meetings them, and I fell for Joan almost from the moment I saw her.

The proud parents pictured with Holly. The pair were wed in 1989 when their two children, Holly and Sam, were eight and four

Lady Joan and Sir Richard pictured at the Boodles Boxing Ball in 2013

In 2016, Sir Richard revealed how he only bought Necker Island in a bid to impress Joan

The couple share a kiss as Sir Richard is honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018

'Over the next few weeks, my visits to Joan amassed me an impressive collection of old hand painted tin signs, which advertised anything from Hovis bread to Woodbine cigarettes.'

Sir Richard described how the house boat he lived on at the time soon became cluttered with the wide variety of items he picked up from Joan's shop in a bid to win her affections.

He added: 'Far beyond record titles, I owe a lot to Joan. She's my wife of 31 years, partner of 45 years, the mother of our two wonderful children and my constant rock.

'Joan has always been a steady source of wisdom and has played no small part in some of my better life decisions.

'The very best was when Joan and I got married on Necker 11 years later and its still the place we call home.

'The day after our wedding Sam, who was seven-years-old, was invited to another wedding. What made me smile was his response: But dad they cant be getting married. They havent had any children yet!"

'If I cast my mind back to that day at The Manor 44 years ago, I never could have imagined what the next four and a half decades would bring, with a lifetime of love, wonderful children in Holly and Sam and our delightful grandchildren.'

In 2016, Sir Richard revealed how he had only bought Necker Island in a bid to impress Joan after he managed to wangle an all-expenses paid trip to see the idyllic retreat in the late '70s.

She was described as the 'most amazing mother' to her children as well as the 'perfect grandmother' to her five grandchildren, Etta, Artie, Lola, Eva-Deia and Bluey Rafe Richard

Lady Joan pictured on holiday with daughter Holly

The pair pictured on their wedding day in 1989 with their children, Holly and Sam

The couple pictured in 2024. In 2020, Sir Richard said: 'Joan has always been a steady source of wisdom and has played no small part in some of my better life decisions'

Writing in a love letter to his wife as the couple celebrated their 40th anniversary together almost a decade ago, the Virgin boss said he put an offer of $100,000 on the up-for-sale island in a bid to impress then girlfriend Joan - despite knowing Necker's owner expected much more for it.

After the couple began dating, Sir Richard said he heard that the island was for sale.

The estate agent selling it, impressed by Branson's record company-owning credentials, offered an all-expenses paid trip to see it.

Sir Richard managed to persuade them to let him take along a guest - Joan. He writes: 'Together we strolled around Necker Island and dreamed up plans for turning it into our home and a haven for musicians.

'Smitten with the unspoilt paradise, and keen to impress Joan, I offered the highest amount I could afford: $100,000.

'The realtor's 'discounted' asking price was $6 million, so you can imagine the response I got. There was no laid-on helicopter on our return trip, and we hitch-hiked back to the airport.'

Sir Richard's persistence paid off though in every sense; a year later he offered $180,000 after 'begging and borrowing' and the island was his.

He then married Joan there 11 years later and the island is now thought to be worth hundreds of millions.

The pair were wed in 1989 when their two children, Holly and Sam, were eight and four.

The couple had five grandchildren Artie, Etta (Holly's children) and Lola, born to Holly and husband Fred, and Eva-Deia and Bluey Rafe Richard, born to Sam and wife Isabella.
Two dogs have been abandoned in a Minnesota parking lot for several days, according to a concerned witness.

Destiny Weiland, a resident of Parkview Terrace in Moorehead, said the animals were afraid and covered in their own feces after she noticed them left locked in a car without food or water.

She made the unsettling discovery while leaving her apartment in below-freezing temperatures, according to Valley News Live.

Peeking into the dogs' owner's red car, she was dismayed by what she saw.

The animals were neglected in filth and had relieved themselves all over the car's backseat.

She noted the vehicle's windows were fogging, indicating how cold it was outside when the owner was nowhere to be found.

'It shows that it's cold enough for those dogs to produce body heat to fog up the windows at night, and then lick the windows for water,' she told the outlet.

Coming back four days in a row to check on the pets, she has not seen anyone come to feed or tend to them.

Destiny Weiland, a resident of Parkview Terrace in Moorehead, said the dogs have been in the car for at least four days in a row

The dogs were seen licking the condensation off the car's window for water

The animal-loving neighbor called the police twice to report the frightened animals, but she said police told her there was nothing they could do.

The owner allegedly told police that they take out the dogs at least once a day to walk around the park.

'Legally, theres nothing wrong with what theyre doing as long as theyre being taken out at least once a day,' Weiland told Valley News Live, recalling what cops told her.

As of Monday, the dogs remain trapped inside the car, and Weiland is worried about their well-being.

Under Minnesota law, a person cannot leave a pet unattended in a parked car if doing so endangers the pet's health or safety.

Moorehead Police Captain John Laddie Bata told Valley News Live: 'As it stands, unless the animals are showing clear signs of distress or are in danger - such as from extreme heat or cold - this situation would not be considered a violation of city code.'

When the news outlet approached the pets' owner for comment, they drove away.

Weiland is not the only bystander who has tried to jump in to save neglected pets.

In June, Suzanne Vella, noticed a puppy left alone in a parked car on a sweltering hot day in North Carolina.

The car's backseat has been covered in the dogs' feces because they have not been taken out, according to the concerned neighbor

When the news outlet approached the pets' owner for comment, they drove away

Panicked and concerned for its health, she tried opening the door - which happened to be unlocked - to give it water.

'I didn't want to wait any longer and ended up pulling open the door handle. It was actually unlocked, and I called 911.'

But her good deed almost landed her in trouble, as she claimed the cops actually sided with the man who left the animal when they arrived.

'What right do you think you had to open someone's door?' the policeman asked Vella.

'If there's a dog on a 90-degree day locked in the car panting, I'm going to give it water,' she clapped back.
A girl, 13, who is accused of stabbing a woman to death was not suffering from depression at the time of the killing, a court has heard.

The jury at Lincoln Crown Court was told that the teenager stabbed Marta Bednarczyk at least 143 times at a terraced house in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, in March this year.

Before the death of Ms Bednarczyk, the teenager searched on the internet for a forum featuring images of murder, torture and executions.

The defendant, who cannot be named because of her age, accepts that she unlawfully killed the 43-year-old but denies murder, claiming diminished responsibility.

Giving evidence to the court on Tuesday, Dr Tina Irani, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, said that, in her opinion, the defendant was not suffering from any recognised mental health issues at the time of the killing.

Asked why she did not believe the girl was suffering from depression, Dr Irani told the court: 'There wasn't information to corroborate that.

'The psychiatric team that saw her (after the killing) did not see any symptoms which meet the criteria.'

Dr Irani added that someone with severe depression would have minimal ability to speak and could appear withdrawn.

Police and forensic officers at the scene of the crime in Wellingborough in Northamptonshire in March this year. The jury at Lincoln Crown Court heard that the teenager stabbed Marta Bednarczyk at least 143 times at the home

Forensic officers following the alleged murder earlier this year. The defendant, who cannot be named because of her age, accepts that she unlawfully killed the 43-year-old but denies murder, claiming diminished responsibility

The Crown alleges that the 13-year-old planned the fatal stabbing, using more than one knife, and then tried to blame a third party.

At the start of the trial last week, prosecution KC Samuel Skinner claimed it was 'the sad truth' that what lay behind the killing may never be known - and that it had nothing to do with the girl's mental health.

Jurors were also given an agreed facts document on Tuesday, containing evidence accepted to be true by the defence and prosecution.

Details of WhatsApp messages and internet searches linked to the defendant were read to the court, including Google searches for: 'How do I know if I've got a mental illness?'; 'What age can you go to jail UK'; and: 'What happens when a 13-year-old murders?'

Psychiatric evidence in the trial will continue on Wednesday.
The British man accused of trying to drown the daughter-in-law who he was in a relationship with has been freed by a court in the US after admitting battery.

The Daily Mail can reveal that Mark Gibbon, who had been charged with attempted murder, admitted to one count of battery and paid $1,308.68 costs.

Court documents filed in Florida state that he has been given his passport back and will serve no jail time.

The matter was resolved on November 7th, meaning that Gibbon, 62, a wealthy lighting engineer from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, who has worked with Ed Sheeran, is likely already back in the UK.

The bizarre case dates back to August when Gibbon was reportedly in a relationship with Jasmine Wyld - the 33-year-old mother of his two grandchildren - when the pair became embroiled in a drunken row over his will in the pool at a luxury resort in Florida.

He allegedly pushed Ms Wyld's head under water multiple times and gave her scratches and bruises at the Solterra Resort in Davenport before her nine-year-old daughter intervened, according to police reports.

Gibbon was originally charged with second degree attempted murder but it was downgraded to battery by strangulation.

The British man accused of trying to drown the daughter-in-law who he was in a relationship with has been freed by a court in the US after admitting battery. Jasmine Wyld (left), 33, had been in a relationship with her father in law Mark Gibbon (right), 62, when he allegedly tried to murder her on holiday by drowning her in a hotel swimming pool

The Daily Mail can reveal that Mark Gibbon (pictured), who had been charged with attempted murder, admitted to one count of battery and paid $1,308.68 costs

The bizarre case dates back to August when Gibbon was reportedly in a relationship with Jasmine Wyld (pictured) - the 33-year-old mother of his two grandchildren - when the pair became embroiled in a drunken row over his will in the pool at a luxury resort in Florida

He was released on $25,000 bail which was waived upon the resolution of the case.

According to the plea form, Gibbon admitted the single count of battery as part of a plea deal arranged with prosecutors.

The charge is a misdemeanor as opposed to a more serious felony of battery by strangulation which he had been charged with.

The documents state: 'Passport to be released to defendant per court. Court directs (security) to release passport to defendant.'

The $1,308.68 of court costs is made up of $323 of standard criminal costs, $352 of criminal battery costs, $250 for the cost of prosecution and $383.68 for the cost of the investigation.

Had Gibbon's original case continued he could have faced up to 15 years in jail.

At the time the Polk County Sheriff's office said in a statement: 'Gibbon is accused of pushing and holding the victim's head underwater multiple times, preventing her from breathing.

'The victim's nine-year-old daughter jumped into the pool in an attempt to stop Gibbon from drowning her mother.'

He allegedly pushed Ms Wyld's head under water multiple times and gave her scratches and bruises at the Solterra Resort in Davenport before her nine-year-old daughter intervened, according to police reports

Ms Wyld (right) separated from Gibbon's son Alex (left),with whom she shares two young children, in 2021. Alex is estranged from his father and was jailed for trying to run him over

Ms Wyld and Gibbon (pictured together) have been holidaying together at various exotic foreign locations since their respective relationships broke down

Grady Judd, the County Sheriff, said: 'We expect vacationers to behave while they visit with us. Because Mr Gibbon couldn't control his anger, he may find himself spending a lot more time in Florida than he had anticipated.'

But the case was thrown into doubt during a hearing days later when Ms Wyld begged prosecutors to free her partner, calling him 'a good man' who 'adores his family'.

She said: 'I have complete trust in him. He's my best friend.'

Prosecutors told the Daily Mail that Ms Wyld, who would have been the key witness had the case gone to trial, wanted it dropped so Gibbon could be with her in the UK.

Officials from Polk County said that she reassured them that she 'had no fear of him', referring to Gibbon.

In a statement, prosecutors from Polk County said: 'The defendant in this case was charged with battery for repeatedly dunking the victim's head below water in a swimming pool during an argument.

'The victim was consulted regarding the resolution of this case. The victim informed our office that she felt the defendant had been punished enough and she desired that he be allowed to return to England and have contact with her and her daughter.

'She had no fear of him. The defendant completed and anger management course and was adjudicated guilty of battery.'

Ms Wyld's (pictured) nine-year-old daughter reportedly bravely jumped into the pool to try and save her mother when she witnessed her grandfather trying to plunge her under the water

Gibbon was on a luxury holiday with his family at the Solterra Resort in Davenport (pictured) when he got into an argument about his will, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office

Asked about the situation at home in the UK, she said news of their relationship had been made public 'to the entire world' and so had come to the attention of the authorities in Britain.

She told the court: 'Back here in England, what we call social services have contacted me and there will be involvement with the social services here in the UK.

'I don't know the rules as of yet as I've not met with the lady that's going to come round and talk to me.

'Obviously this case has hit England and it's been made public knowledge to pretty much the entire world.'

Ms Wyld had been engaged to Gibbons's son Alex, 34, but they split in 2021.

In February last year, Alex was sentenced to two years in prison after he drove a Porsche towards his father during an argument.

Sources have told the Daily Mail that Alex caught Ms Wyld in his father's bed while they were still together, sparking a 'massive row'.

As a result father and son no longer speak.

One source said 'There have been a number of issues within the family.

'He (Alex) feels an awful betrayal at how his dad has struck up a relationship with the mother of his two children.

'Mark and Jasmine do an awful lot together and they go away on holiday with the children a couple of times every year.

'She is always round at his house. She has a place of her own, but she's nearly always in Beaconsfield with Mark.

'I don't know for sure what happened on this holiday and why Mark has apparently tried to drown her. But I have been told that Jasmine was unhappy that they have been in a relationship for a few years and she is not named in his will.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Gibbon's US lawyer.
Kemi Badenoch has blasted Wes Streeting for taking the transgender argument back to square one with an experimental trial of puberty blockers on vulnerable children.

The Conservative leader has written to the Health Secretary calling on him to halt the trial before more damage is done as no child is born in the wrong body.

Mr Streeting announced an indefinite ban on puberty blockers for under-18s last December due to the unacceptable safety risk they pose.

The Health Secretary said the decision had been taken following the scandal of thousands of children being handed the powerful medication without proof it is safe.

But last weekend a new trial was announced that will see 226 children as young as 10 given the puberty-halting drugs if regulatory approval is granted.

In her letter to Mr Streeting, the Tory leader said that the trial is based on the discredited, yet still seemingly entrenched, belief in some quarters that a child can be born in the wrong body.

She added: Your job is to promote the health of the nation, not indulge an ideology that has permanently damaged so many children.

This trial continues the shameful habit of treating normal childhood challenges as illness, or that psychological conditions are signs to young people that their healthy bodies are somehow wrong and must be corrected with drugs or surgery.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch (pictured) has written to the Health Secretary calling on him to halt an an experimental trial of puberty blockers on vulnerable children before more damage is done

Health Secretary Wes Streeting (pictured) has said he was surprised by Ms Badenoch's letter as the Tory government had commissioned the Cass Review and accepted its recommendations in full

The number one rule of medicine is simple: do no harm. We call on the Government to honour that principle and stop this trial from going ahead before more damage is done to children who are too young to understand what they are doing to themselves.

The trial was among the recommendations made by Baroness Hilary Cass in her review into children questioning their gender, which found they had been 'let down by a lack of research' and 'remarkably weak' evidence on medical interventions.

The Cass Review advised extreme caution around the use of hormone treatment in under-18s and said that there should be a clear clinical rationale for not waiting until somebody reaches 18.

Following the trial's launch last weekend, Mr Streeting said it will provide better evidence for how the NHS can support and treat young people with gender incongruence.

In a written statement to Parliament on Monday, he acknowledged it is a challenging issue, where there are understandable concerns around safety, efficacy and consent, but said there is strict eligibility criteria in place - including clinical review and parental consent.

In response to Ms Badenochs letter, Mr Streeting posted on X that he was surprised as the Tory government had commissioned the Cass Review and accepted its recommendations in full.

He added: I did, too, and am implementing it. I'm keen to maintain a cross-party approach on such a sensitive issue.

Following the trial's launch, Baroness Cass said: Given that there are clinicians, children and families who believe passionately in the beneficial effects, a trial was the only way forward to make sense of this.

However in her letter Ms Badenoch pointed out that long-term data on puberty blocker use in children already exists, but those holding it refuse to release it.

She added: Instead of using that evidence, the Government has chosen to run a new experiment on a fresh group of physically healthy children.

The youngest patients in the study, being led by researchers at King's College London (KCL), will be ten to 11 years old for girls and 11 to 12 for boys. The maximum age will be 15 years and eleven months.

One group of 113 children will be given puberty blockers for two years, while the other half will be given the drugs after a one-year delay, meaning it will be four years before any results are published.

Researchers expect to see the first patients available for recruitment in the new year, and some young people could remain on the drugs beyond the trial if deemed clinically appropriate.
The husband of a dinner lady who won a 3 million dream Cornish home in the Omaze lottery has been jailed for a series of sex crimes against children.

But relatives of the victims were furious that Anthony Doyle was given just six years and three months for 10 offences, spanning 13 years.

Doyle, 67, pleaded guilty to the crimes which included four sexual assaults against girls aged seven to 12 years old.

At a sentencing hearing at Birmingham Crown Court, the former gas engineer was jailed for a total of six years and three months

His Honour Judge Peter Carr told him: 'Your victims will have to live with the effects of what you have done to them for far longer than this court will be able to sentence you to.'

But his sentence was blasted by relatives of his victims, who cannot be named.

The mother of one said: 'He is given less years in prison than what he spent abusing. The courts just don't seem able to deliver proper sentences.

'His victims will need counselling, it will affect them all their lives and change how they interact with men and yet he'll be out in a couple of years.

The husband of a dinner lady who won a 3 million dream Cornish home in the Omaze lottery has been jailed for a series of sex crimes against children. But relatives of the victims were furious that Anthony Doyle (pictured with wife Rose) was given just six years and three months for 10 offences, spanning 13 years

In April last year Rose Doyle, now 74, scooped a luxury home on the Cornish coast (pictured) along with 100,000 in cash in return for a 25 stake

The luxury property, which came mortgage free, has large windows offering stunning views over St Agnes

'I don't think that is a balanced sentence and we all wonder if there are more victims out there.'

Another said: 'The public rightly take these crimes very seriously. They talk about stigma but that is not reflected by the courts.

'He will be out when he's 70 and still have maybe 20 more years of life. His victims will live with what he's done for ever.'

Doyle, wearing spectacles and a turquoise tracksuit top, sat impassively in the dock throughout the hour-long hearing.

He never once looked to the public gallery which included two of his three victims and a number of their family members.

The court heard his offending covered a 12-year period and, as well as the sexual assaults, included two counts of voyeurism, one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of sexual activity with a child.

A final count was making indecent images of children.

The court heard that after his arrest in April of this year, police discovered 179 indecent pictures and 137 indecent videos featuring children. They were classed as Category C.

In mitigation, his defence counsel Harinderpaul Dhami, said, 'He wishes to apologise to the court and to the complainants.

'He was in a relationship with his wife for 47 years and divorce proceedings have now been started. He has destroyed everything he held so dear.'

In April last year Rose Doyle, now 74, scooped a luxury home on the Cornish coast along with 100,000 in cash in return for a 25 stake.

She and husband Tony were photographed kissing for the cameras as they toasted their win with champagne and spoke of their plans for retirement and spoiling their family.

But a year later, they were both under arrest for alleged sexual offences.

West Midlands Police confirmed that enquiries into Mrs Doyle had ceased with no further action.

But her husband now faces spending several years in prison for his attacks on children.

He will also be subject to a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order to limit any interaction with children.

A family member said, 'Rose is divorcing him. It should be finalised soon. She wants nothing more to do with him.'
The so-called 'Slender Man' stabber Morgan Geyser threw a tantrum and demanded she be allowed to 'say goodbye' to her transgender lover as the pair were arrested.

Geyser, 23, sparked a multi-state manhunt after she fled her care home in Wisconsin on Saturday night.

The killer was seen on bodycam footage refusing to give her name to officers who approached her in Posen, Illinois on Sunday.

Geyser was with her partner Chad 'Charly' Mecca, 43, when she was confronted and told police that Mecca had no clue about her criminal past.

Geyser was just 12-years-old when she brutally stabbed her classmate in a shocking crime that captured national headlines.

'She doesnt know what I did,' Geyser told cops, at one point telling officers to 'just Google me'.

'I did something really wrong,' she added as she begged officers to let her partner go.

One of the officers responded that 'it can't be that serious', without realizing Geyser was the person who shot to infamy as the 'Slender Man' stabber.

Bodycam footage captured the moment the 'Slender Man' stabber Morgan Geyser threw a tantrum as she was arrested with her transgender lover after cutting off her ankle monitor

Geyser, 23, was arrested after fleeing her group home in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday and sparking a multi-state manhunt

Geyser was found with her partner Chad 'Charly' Mecca, 43, who told cops that Geyser fled because her group home was preventing them from seeing each other

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Geyser earned the moniker in 2014 when she told investigators she and her friend Anissa Weier lured their sixth-grade classmate Payton Leutner into the woods and stabbed her 19 times to appease the fictional horror character.

She appeared afraid to tell the officers in Illinois her real identity because of the vicious crime, and after eventually giving her name, said of Mecca: 'I promise you she did not know.'

Geyser then went to try and speak to Mecca but when officers stopped her, the 23-year-old grew emotional as she said if she couldn't say goodbye, she 'will never see her again.'

As officer assured her she would see Mecca at the police station, she responded: 'No, I wont  because I did something bad. Let me say goodbye.'

Police said that when they got the pair to the station, Mecca told officers that Geyser cut off her ankle monitor and fled her group home because she facility was preventing them from seeing each other.

She reportedly told cops: 'The end of the day, I followed what I thought was right. I stand by it.'

Mecca was given a citation for criminal trespassing and obstructing identification, and was released.

Geyser was hauled back into court on Tuesday to sign extradition papers to return her to Wisconsin, and officials said she would lose her conditional release once there.

Geyser seen in the custody of Posen, Illinois police after her arrest over the weekend

Mecca was given a citation for criminal trespassing and obstructing identification and was released, telling officers she 'stood by' their escape attempt

Geyser was seen in the bodycam refusing to give her name to officers, and at one point telling them to 'just Google me' because of her shocking history

'Her alleged actions this past weekend only reinforce our position that a conditional release is not appropriate at this time,' Waukesha County District Attorney Lesli Boese told Spectrum News.

Geyser pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide in 2018, four years after the attack on Leutner, in a plea deal that spared her lengthy prison time.

The deal landed her in a Wisconsin psychiatric ward, but she served only a fraction of her 40-year sentence when she was controversially granted conditional release in July.

She was fitted with an ankle monitor, which Mecca said was cut off with scissors as the pair fled the group home and took a bus south.

They said they were intending to end up in Nashville, Tennessee, but their arrest came after locals in Posen called 911 to report them loitering outside a building.

Geyser has been in some form of custody since she was arrested aged 12 following the attack on Leutner, in which she and Weier hatched a plot to perform a ritualistic murder for the 'Slender Man.'

Geyser carried out the stabbing of their friend while Weier cheered on, police said at the time.

The sinister duo then abandoned Leutner - leaving her to die - but she miraculously survived. She managed to crawl out of the woods, where a cyclist found her.

The girls told detectives that they had to kill Leutner to become Slender Man's 'proxies', and said they thought the character would kill their families if they did not comply.

They were both charged in adult court with first-degree attempted intentional homicide.

Anissa Weier, pictured after the attack, cheered on Geyser as she stabbed their helpless victim

Geyser, pictured at age 12, stabbed her friend 19 times as a sacrifice to Slender Man

Weier pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of attempted second-degree intentional homicide as a party to a crime, but the jury found her to be not guilty by mental disease or defect in 2017.

Geyser, who has schizophrenia, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, but was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in 2018 as part of her plea deal.

Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren, who has since retired, sent her to a psychiatric hospital for 40 years before her release just 25 percent into the sentence.

Bohren went against the wishes of prosecutors in January when he ruled that Geyser could be released and placed in her group home, after three experts testified that she was making progress battling her mental illness.

During the same hearing, Geyser also came out as transgender, but female pronouns have continued to be used for court consistency, Dr Brooke Lundbohm, who psych-evaluated Geyser, explained.

At the time, Dr Kenneth Robbins claimed that Geyser no longer had the psychosis symptoms that played a significant role in the violent assault she committed.

Lundbohm's treatment team came to the same conclusion.

'I think either she was experiencing transient psychotic symptoms, which is to say psychotic symptoms that didn't persist and gradually went away,' Robbins explained.

'Or the intensity of her fantasies based on some of the trauma she had experienced were so intense that she believed them to be true.'

Geyser, seen in 2017, was placed in a psychiatric ward in 2018 when she struck a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid prison and in July she was released into the group home against warnings from prosecutors

In March, state health officials argued that Geyser was in no condition to walk free from the institution after evidence emerged of an unsettling correspondence she was having with an 'older man' called Jeffrey - including this sketch of a decapitated body and a postcard saying she wanted to be intimate with him

The trauma Robbins referred to was Geyser's claims of sexual abuse by her father, who died in 2023.

Geyser's father had also reportedly been diagnosed with schizophrenia, Stacie Leutner told ABC.

But Geyser's symptoms more closely align with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and autism, Robbins said at the hearing.

While Bohren agreed to Geyser's release to a group home - effectively slashing her sentence by about three decades - the plan had to be reworked several times.

The judge approved it in July, but the process to remove Geyser from the secure mental hospital was difficult, as multiple group homes had turned her away.

One plan also would have seen Geyser moved to a home just eight miles from Leutner, sparking outrage from her family.

In March, state health officials argued that Geyser was in no condition to walk free from the institution after evidence emerged of an unsettling correspondence she was having with an 'older man' called Jeffrey, who sold murder memorabilia.

The man first visited her in June 2023, and in their twisted correspondence, Geyser had sent him her own sketch of a decapitated body and a postcard saying she wanted to be intimate with him.

The drawings were described as 'horror' art. Jeffrey was reportedly selling the pieces that Geyser sent him.

The Madison Police Department said Sunday that it was not made aware that Geyser was missing until nearly 12 hours after she left the group home.

Authorities said 'Jeffrey' was not the same man that Geyser escaped her group home with over the weekend.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill will soon get a massive infusion of cash and a new mobile app to bolster their personal security amid fears of rampant political violence.

A new security program - slated to roll out next month - is meant to address lawmakers' fears for themselves and their families' safety.

The effort recently received $203 million in funding under the latest government spending bill, which reopened the government earlier this month.

Recent politically-inspired attacks, like the two attempted assassinations on President Donald Trump, the shootings of Charlie Kirk and hits on multiple Minnesota lawmakers, have left legislators shaken.

The attacks have been directly referenced as reasons for some representatives to leave office. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, for example, noted in her resignation announcement that her safety concerns played a factor in her choice to walk away from Capitol Hill.

Half a dozen Democratic lawmakers who called on US troops to defy orders last week have recently expressed concern for their safety following Trump's ominous Truth Social Post calling their actions seditious, an infraction that the Republican reminded his followers is 'punishable by death.'

Some of the lawmakers received death threats after the online skirmish with the president, and one noted how Capitol Police assigned them additional protection.

To alleviate the pressure felt by members, House Sergeant at Arms William McFarland, one of the top security professionals in Congress, announced a new $20,000 per month stipend for lawmakers to hire personal security, according to an email obtained by the Daily Mail.

Demonstrators gather near the U.S. Capitol building during a 'No Kings' protest against President Donald Trump's policies, in Washington, D.C., October 18, 2025

Members of Congress grew more concerned with their own safety after the politically-motivated assassination of conservative Charlie Kirk

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene noted in her resignation announcement how she has received countless death threats and personal attacks

'Beginning December 1, 2025, the Member Personal Security Program will provide each Member up to $20,000 per month to be used in a Member's district, state, or while traveling,' McFarland wrote to lawmakers on Monday.

Personal security is not allowed to operate in the Capitol complex or on Capitol Grounds, however, as the Capitol Police hold jurisdiction there.

Further, McFarland shared that a new mobile application, called the House Member Mobile Duress Program, will be launched.

When activated, the program gives real-time alerts to law enforcement in the immediate vicinity of the members, as well as tipping off Capitol Police and the Sergeant at Arms.

'The app can also be used to signal duress in a discreet manner for incidents where an overt call to law enforcement may not be possible,' the email states.

Also included in the enhanced security plan - which officially launches on December 1 - is a program to protect members' homes.

Under the rules, representatives could expense security enhancements like fences, gates, ballistic windows and security doors.

It also provides $350 per month stipend for 'security system monitoring and maintenance.'

US Capitol Police stand guard as Republican representatives gather for an outdoor news conference

Members of the House will soon be able to spend $20,000 a month on personal security

Earlier this year, Speaker Mike Johnson launched a security pilot program to address the rising safety concerns in the House.

The pilot was well-received and has served as a framework for the program beginning next week.
For Americans who haven't been following President Trump's tariff battles, the impact may still hit their wallets this holiday season.

Executives are already warning shoppers to brace for higher prices on artificial trees.

Mac Harman, the CEO of Balsam Hilla company known for its artificial Christmas trees and holiday decortold Politico's West Wing Playbook that he's had to increase prices by roughly 20 percent to keep up.

Harmanwhose company provides the National Christmas Tree displayed on the White House lawnsaid he has been in discussions with White House officials about easing tariffs to help bring down the cost of artificial Christmas trees.

The tariffs aren't just affecting holiday trees. They could make gift-giving pricier overall.

A Lending Tree analysis cautioned that the president's tariffs will push the average American to spend about $132 more on gifts this year compared with 2024.

Mark Mathews, who serves as chief economist and leads research at the National Retail Federation, noted that this year's holiday prices are causing some concern.

Speaking with West Wing Playbook, he explained that 'businesses have been eating the majority of tariffs up until this point,' adding that the practice can't go on forever and that 'we're going to have to see more transmission of increased prices onto the consumer.'

Roughly 85 percent of the 20 million Christmas trees sold annually in the US are artificial  and of those, nearly 90 percent are imported from China, according to Fortune.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai brushed off the worries about rising Christmas expenses, calling them 'endless doomsday fantasizing by the Fake News and Democrats.'

For Americans who haven't been following President Trump's tariff battles, the impact may still hit their wallets this holiday season

A LendingTree analysis cautioned that the president's tariffs will push the average American to spend about $132 more on gifts this year compared with 2024

Roughly 85 percent of the 20 million Christmas trees sold annually in the US are artificial  and of those, nearly 90 percent are imported from China, according to Fortune

The tariffs aren't just affecting holiday trees. They could make gift-giving pricier overall

On Monday, the First Lady welcomed its arrival in front of the press, shaking hands with the driver and inspecting the tree before departing

'We are optimistic that the president will save Christmas,' Harman said

'Hard data of robust consumer spending and retail sales have been clear. Real wages are rising under President Trump, and Americans' hard-earned money is going further than it did under [former President] Joe Biden,' he said.

Meanwhile, the natural Christmas tree market appears largely unaffected by the trade wars. It is dominated by US-grown trees, with most imports coming from Canada.

Canadian trees are not subject to tariffs thanks to a trade agreement made between the two nations.

The White House has already secured its holiday tree. On Monday, the First Lady welcomed its arrival in front of the press, shaking hands with the driver and inspecting the tree before departing.

'We are optimistic that the president will save Christmas,' Harman said.

With the rising cost of living weighing on everyday Americans, the economy remains top of mind across the countrya focus Trump has been returning to as the midterms approach.
A man has been warned he faces a lengthy jail term after chasing a police officer with a chainsaw and attempting to murder him.

Liridon Kastrati had been accused of ramming a car into a marked police vehicle and then brandishing a chainsaw at officers in Paisley in broad daylight on May 6, 2024.

The 32-year-old had denied a single charge of attempting to murder four police officers but, yesterday, he was convicted of an amended charge of attempted murder in relation to one person, PC Gary Cowan, following a trial at the High Court in Paisley.

The amended charge also removed reference to the car crash.

On Monday, Kastrati was acquitted of charges of breach of the peace, stealing a car and motoring offences when the prosecution withdrew those four charges, which he had denied.

Kastrati will be sentenced on December 19 and Judge Gallacher told him to expect a significant penalty.

Video footage of the terrifying incident emerged at the time showing Kastrati running up the road holding the chainsaw.

Giving evidence last week, PC Cowan told the court that, after the crash, the police cars airbags blew up and a man got out of the drivers side door of the VW, looked at the police car and began to run away.

Thug Liridon Kastrati was shouting f*** the police while chasing a police officer with a chainsaw

He said he approached the man with the intention of arresting him, but when he was about 10 metres away the man returned to his vehicle and got out a chainsaw before pursuing him, shouting, f*** the police.

PC Cowan said: I thought if I dont create distance, he is going to kill me.

The police officer, 35, said he believed Kastrati would saw my arms off, chop my head off, and that he was terrified.

The court previously heard that Kastrati was questioned on May 6 without either a solicitor or an Albanian interpreter present, and made reference repeatedly to the collision being a car accident when charges were read to him.

Kastrati has been remanded in custody since the crash.

Yesterday, John Scullion, KC, defending, told the jury: Mr Kastrati accepts he removes a chainsaw from the car, he swore, he injured PC Cowan, he brandished the chainsaw at other officers during this frightening and distressing incident.

'You must convict him of those parts.

However, Mr Scullion claimed the police investigation was flawed and lacked neutrality and objectivity.

The jury returned a verdict after three hours of deliberation.

Judge Gallacher told Kastrati: You have been convicted of a charge which is subject to a number of deletions but remains a very serious charge.

PC Gary Cowan said he had to create distance to save himself from Kastrati

The law requires I obtain more information upon you but you may take it the court will in due course impose a significant penalty in relation to this very dangerous incident.

Detective Inspector Jan MacColl said: The courage and determination shown by officers, simply doing their jobs and the member of the public to quickly stop Kastrati ensured that the dangerous threat he posed to the local community was contained at the scene. I hope his conviction brings some comfort.

Chief Superintendent Rhona Fraser added: I want to express my deepest thanks and gratitude to those involved for their bravery and professionalism when faced with such danger and hatred from Kastrati who clearly intended to harm.

Every officer has the fundamental right to come home from each shift unharmed. No-one should face this deplorable level of criminality and it will not be tolerated.

'This type of incident shows the unpredictable and dangerous situations police officers can face, while doing their utmost to keep people safe.

Kastrati has shown no remorse for his brutal actions and rightly now faces the consequences.
Farmers planning a huge Budget day demonstration against the family farm tax on Wednesday have been banned from bringing their tractors  prompting fury and accusations of two-tier policing.

At the 11th hour, the Metropolitan Police announced the protest against the ending of inheritance relief will be restricted to a small, designated area of Whitehall.

The gathering was intended by organisers to have been 'one of the most striking rural demonstrations in years' with hundreds of tractors taking part.

Police made the restriction on the grounds the tractor protest could 'result in serious disruption to the life of the community'.

The move against the demonstration - being organised by Berkshire Farmers but involving farmers from every corner of the country - was met with fury and accusations of 'two-tier policing'.

One farmer said: 'The event had permission and all previous events have been peaceful, tidy and with no arrests'.

He asked: 'Is this two-tier policing to avoid embarrassment to (Rachel) Reeves on budget day?'

Yorkshire farmer Jonathan Charlesworth, whose father John took his own life so he could pass on the farm before Ms Reeves' hated new policy comes in next April, said: 'All previous farmer protests have been peaceful and well organised; it is an awareness event to raise legitimate concerns farmers in the UK have about the dismal outlook for farming businesses in the UK.

Tractors line Whitehall during a previous farmers' protest against inheritance tax raid

'I don't believe any of the reasons given to cancel the tractor convoy have a basis, considering much more divisive marches have taken place including pro-Palestinian marches and the Tommy Robinson march combined with the Stand up to Racism March on the same day.

'It screams two-tier policing, to protect the government from further adverse publicity on another budget day that is likely to bring more hardship to working families from all walks of life not just farmers.'

Mr Charlesworth Sr, 78, was found hanged the day before budget day last October 29 having read rumours about the planned tax raid.

Tory MP Sir John Hayes, chairman of the backbench Common Sense group, said: 'It shouldn't be beyond the wit of the Metropolitan Police to allow activities of this kind.

'It seems bizarre that they allow so many demonstrations to go ahead by the most bizarre, extreme groups yet we can't allow the farmers who feed the nation.'

Clive Bailye, of The Farming Forum, who organised the first tractor protest against the inheritance tax raid last November, said: 'It does feel like two-tier policing. The feedback from the Met about our protest was that we were a pleasure to work with.

'The organisers of this protest were assured it could go ahead then were told at 2.30pm today (Tuesday) that it couldn't.'

Victoria Atkins MP, Shadow Environment Secretary, said: 'Farmers deserve answers. The police have changed their minds with less than 24hrs to go, having worked with farmers over the last 12 days to ensure a safe and effective protest over the vindictive Family Farm and Business Taxes.

'What has changed? It doesnt smell right, particularly when we think of the regular and frequent protests that are allowed in SW1 which inconvenience motorists, residents and businesses without consideration. Is this to save the Chancellor embarrassment ahead of her Budget of Broken Promises?'

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'We have had a number of conversations with the protest organisers to safely manage the event.

'While people will still be able to demonstrate, conditions have been put in place to prevent protesters from bringing vehicles, including tractors or other agricultural vehicles to the protest.

'This decision was taken due to the serious disruption they may cause to the local area, including businesses, emergency services and Londoners going about their day.'
An NHS doctor should be suspended over alleged anti-Semitic and pro-terrorism comments posted on her social media accounts to maintain 'public confidence' in her profession, a medical tribunal has heard.

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, 31, is being investigated by the General Medical Council (GMC) after concerns were raised about her fitness to practise.

It followed a series of posts on her X account in which she repeatedly talked of a 'Jewish supremacy', labelled Israelis 'worst than Nazis' and described Hamas operatives as 'oppressed resistance fighters, not terrorists'.

A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) interim orders tribunal (IOT) is considering whether restrictions should be placed on her registration while the investigation takes place.

Addressing the tribunal panel, Emma Gilsenan, for the GMC, called for the doctor to be handed an 18-month suspension, saying her online comments were 'most certainly anti-Semitic and supportive of terrorism and/or supportive of violence'.

She read out a series of comments on X, formerly Twitter, allegedly posted by the doctor.

One post made a 'monkery' of female Israeli hostages, saying they were 'falling in love with resistance fighters' and it was 'the first time they have seen real men'.

Another post called Israel supporters 'genocidal', adding: 'That includes 90% of Jews on Earth.'

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, 31 (pictured yesterday) is being investigated by the General Medical Council over alleged anti-Semitic and pro-terrorism comments posted on her social media

The Junior doctor wore a necklace, said to 'celebrate' the attacks, when she arrived at the hearing last month

Yesterday she again wore a necklace with the number seven on it

Others showed support for Hamas and the October 7 attacks on Israel.

'I don't condemn Hamas. I don't condemn October 7. I don't condemn armed resistance to occupation. I condemn the state of Israel,' one read.

Others labelled Britain's chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis 'Rabbi Genocide' and said the media attention on the Manchester synagogue attack, in which two men died and two others were injured, was an example of 'Jewish supremism'.

'Apparently, the lives of 4 Jews in Manchester are more significant than 53 lives of Muslims in Gaza,' the post read.

'This is racism and Jewish supremacism. This is Western civilisation.'

Ms Gilsenan also accused the doctor of making a 'throat-cutting' gesture to Jewish protestors during a counter-demonstration in June 2024.

The GMC was granted an application to include a letter from the Metropolitan Police relating to the doctor's arrest in October on suspicion of misusing a public communications network, sending malicious communications and stirring up racial hatred.

Ms Gilsenan said it detailed how one X post directed at Health Secretary Wes Streeting had 'referenced Jewish supremacy running in the UK'.

The Daily Mail's report of earlier hearing in October when she also wore the necklace

A previous IOT in September ruled not to impose any restrictions on Dr Aladwan, saying it did not believe the complaints against her were 'sufficient to establish that there may be a real risk to patients'.

It also found that her posts did not amount to 'bullying or harassment'.

It prompted Mr Streeting to say that 'sickening comments' had no place in the NHS 'and action needs to be taken to root the evil of racism out'.

He also promised to overhaul the way medical regulators investigate cases of antisemitism.

The General Medical Council (GMC) then re-referred Dr Aladwan's case back to the MPTS, with an initial hearing taking place last month.

Ms Gilsenan said: 'The GMC say there's an overwhelming 'yes' there's a risk her alleged comments undermine public confidence in her and her profession as a whole.'

She added that it was 'more likely than not' that the doctor would later face a misconduct hearing.

The tribunal panel previously rejected an application by Kevin Saunders, counsel for the doctor, to have proceedings stayed after he claimed an 'abuse of process' by the GMC and that the doctor wouldn't get a fair hearing.

A separate application for the MPTS panel to recuse itself on the grounds of 'apparent bias', but not 'actual bias' was also rejected.

Mr Saunders made a further application today for proceedings to be adjourned, saying it was the doctor's intention to apply to the High Court for an interim order to stay proceedings while a judicial review was sought.

'It's not an attempt to derail proceedings it's an attempt to give the registrant access to justice,' he said.

But this application was also rejected.

Mr Saunders is expected to make submissions before the panel decides whether to suspend Dr Aladwan or impose other restrictions on her registration.
Rapes or attempted rapes are reported to police every three hours in Scotland, shocking new figures reveal.

The number has risen by 11 per cent in the past year to more than 3,000  and is up by a quarter in the past four years.

Nearly 500,000 crimes have been reported overall, including a daily average of 200 violent offences, according to the Scottish Government.

The figures also show a 129 per cent rise in shoplifting in the past four years, prompting the Tories to warn shopworkers are under siege.

Last night Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: These deeply alarming figures are the direct result of the SNPs cuts to policing and their relentless weakening of the justice system.

Statistics released by the government show 3,043 reports of rapes and attempted rapes in the year to September, up from 2,746 the previous year.

Since the same period in 2021, the number of rape or attempted rape reports has increased by 25 per cent (from 2,436).

In the past year, the total number of reports of sexual crimes rose 7 per cent (from 14,651 to 15,704), including a 24 per cent rise in offences including indecent photos of children (from 756 to 936).

More than 3,000 rapes have been reported to police in a single year

Scottish Conservative Justice spokesman Liam Kerr called the figures 'deeply alarming'

Threatening to or disclosing intimate images  revenge porn  increased by 15 per cent compared with the previous year (from 753 to 869 crimes).

Responding to the figures, Rape Crisis Scotland chief executive Sandy Brindley said more must be done to stop rape before it happens, adding: It should be Scotlands biggest source of shame that we continue to see unprecedented levels of sexual violence against women and girls.

Scottish Lib Dem deputy leader  and a former police officer  Wendy Chamberlain said the increase in sex crime may be partly down to more reporting, which is only to be welcomed, but it still points to a very worrying trend.

Meanwhile, overall crimes rose by 2 per cent, from 484,220 to 494,944.

Violent crime jumped by 3 per cent in the past year, from 71,004 to 73,033 crimes  a daily average of just over 200.

Domestic abuse reports increased by 22 per cent compared with the previous year (from 2,313 to 2,817).

Shoplifting rose by 15 per cent (from 42,271 to 48,564 crimes), and has soared by 129 per cent since 2021. Drug supply offences also rose 15 per cent, from 4,392 to 5,041.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance insisted that Scotland continues to be a safe place to live, with recorded crime falling by half since 1991.

She added: I recognise that multiple factors will lie behind increases in sexual crime.

Scottish Police Federation general secretary David Kennedy said this is not a picture of a country whose policing needs are stable or decreasing  it is the opposite.

He said the statistics confirm what officers already know all too well: the gap between demand and resource is widening, and it is the public who ultimately pay the price.
An early morning fight over Pokemon cards broke out among adult men outside of a Costco in Canada, leaving bystanders stunned and forcing police to intervene.

The violent brawl kick-started around 7:15am Monday outside of the Costco store on the 4300 block of Strandherd Drive in Ottawa.

A shocked bystander captured the melee on video, reacting with horror as what seemed like a harmless exchange suddenly erupted into violence.

Footage showed a group of young men throwing punches and pulling one another to the ground.

At one point, a man in light blue jeans and a black coat could be seen punching another man on his knees.

The person recording is heard reacting to the altercation: 'Oh s***! Oh s***! Oh s***!

No violence, no violence, they later added. No more violence!

The Ottawa Police Service told the Daily Mail that two adult men in the fight had been arrested and charged with assault.

Ottawa police said fight took place around 7.15am Monday outside of the Costco store on Strandherd Drive

Police told the Daily Mail that the brawl happened in a line for Pokemon cards and started 'over a high-demand item'

Law enforcement confirmed the violent altercation took place while the men were in a line for Pokemon cards.

The brawl happened 'over a high-demand item,' according to police, who added that two people suffered minor injuries during the clash.

Cops urged residents to please be patient with others while shopping during sales and leading into the holidays.

It was only a matter of time before the clip went viral online, as social media users were quick to ridicule the group over the fight.

Over Pokemon cards is crazy, one person wrote, adding a crying with laughter emoji.

Is this over the Pokemon incident, another asked. Its amazing what grown adults will fight for. Society has become so shallow.

Police said that two people suffered minor injuries during the fight at Costco and urged locals to 'please be patient with others'

Two adult men in the brawl were arrested and charged with assault, according to the Ottawa Police Service

Pokemon trading cards, likes the one sold at Costco, can resell for hundreds or thousands of dollars

A third added, less succinctly: Tell the truth..it was 2 GROWN MEN FIGHTING OVER POKEMON CARDS AT COSTCO.

Pokemon trading cards have existed for nearly three decades after being introduced in Japan in 1996.

While many collect them for fun, others also collect them as an investment as rare cards can fetch up for hundreds to thousands of dollars.

The last release on November 14 was called Phantasmal Flames and featured more than 120 cards.

The most expensive card is listed at $5,000 in near-perfect condition, according to PriceCharting.

Its price drops to about $521 in its ungraded version, meaning that it has not been professionally evaluated for blemishes.

The cheapest card is listed at $0.02 ungraded and $30.10 at its best.
A second teenage boy has been charged with murder after a 17-year-old boy was allegedly stabbed to death near a high school.

The victim,died from stab wounds to his thigh after a confrontation at a park behind Rouse Hill High School in Sydney's northwest at about 4.20pm on Monday.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was arrested after he presented to Riverstone Police Station with a parent shortly before 7pm.

NSW Police then charged a second 15-year-old boy with murder after searching a home on Collins Circuit, in Rouse Hill, at about 9.45pm on Tuesday.

The second teenager, who also cannot be identified, was refused bail to appear before a children's court on Wednesday.

The first teenager faced a children's court on Tuesday, during which Magistrate James Viney read a police application for DNA samples in the courtroom, which contained sworn declarations from an officer.

'It is asserted in the affidavit the victim was a 17-year-old with no criminal charges,' he said.

'It is asserted the young person set upon the deceased unprovoked and stabbed him in the groin area.'

A teenage boy was allegedly stabbed to death behind Rouse Hill High School in Sydney's northwest about 4.20pm on Monday

Two 15-year-old boys have been charged with murder by police following the alleged incident (pictured, paramedics at the scene)

The court also heard the 15-year-old was on police body-worn camera footage telling an officer: 'I stabbed another boy in the leg.'

When asked who he was admitting to stabbing, he allegedly gave police the name of the deceased.

Police allege witnesses described seeing the victim's attacker dressed in a balaclava, hoodie, shorts and running shoes, a description allegedly matching that of the 15-year-old.

They argued scrapings taken from under his fingernails would likely contain DNA evidence matching the deceased.

A court order is needed to take DNA evidence from an accused juvenile because they are not considered capable of giving informed consent.

The 15-year-old sat quietly in the courtroom, wearing a black hoodie and sporting a mullet haircut with shaved sides.

The boy did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody for eight weeks, when the case returns to court.

The Daily Mail understands the victim's parents migrated to Australia from Europe more than 15 years ago, before settling in the city's northwest, where the 17-year-old was active in the local sporting community.

The 17-year-old's heartbroken girlfriend has led tributes online

His heartbroken girlfriend said he made the 'little things fun' and 'brought a smile' to her face 'every single day without fail'.

'[Name redacted] you will be remembered by all,' she wrote online.

'I love you so much and you will be forever in my heart.

'You don't deserve this and never did, you are a strong boy and you deserve the world.

'I don't know what I'm going to do without you baby, but I know you would want me to live and stay strong, so I'll live for you ML [my love].'

Police said those involved in the confrontation were not from the nearby school and officers believe it was not a random attack.

Several female witnesses who were in the park at the time rushed over to help the victim.

Paramedics were called but the teen died soon after.

It's understood the teenage boy was allegedly stabbed in the thigh (pictured, emergency services at the scene)

'It would have been a horrifically confronting situation for those people and I can only praise them for their efforts,' Detective Superintendent Naomi Moore told reporters on Monday evening.

'It was a potentially dangerous situation they were walking into, but they thought nothing of themselves to go in and render aid.'

NSW Premier Chris Minns sent his condolences to the teenage boy's family and friends.

'I am deeply saddened by the death of a teenage boy at Rouse Hill and extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends,' he said.

Local Member for the electorate of Kellyville, Ray Williams, has said he is concerned the area has become 'target practice' for young criminals.

'We've had homes being shot at. People wandering the streets with knives, thinking that's OK.

'And with the growth of this area, we are seeing crime go up. It's happening too frequently and in my backyard.'

He has urged NSW Government to introduce minimum sentences for those found guilty of carrying weapons in the state.

'We as leaders need to send the strongest possible message. You want to pick up a knife? Then we can lock you up,' he said.

'Have the guts to stand up and say enough is enough.'
When the Saudi Crown Prince visited Donald Trump in the Oval Office last week, the White House rolled out the red carpet and showered him with charm, but once the doors closed the two leaders had an intense showdown over Israel.

The president hoped his November 18 meeting with Mohammed bin Salman would normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

MBS stepped onto the red carpet on the west lawn of the White House as Trump greeted the Saudi leader with a flyover spectacle of American F-35 and F-15 fighter jets - a rare display reserved for America's closes allies.

When cameras joined the two in the Oval Office both praised each other and touted US-Saudi relations following the end of the Gaza war.

But the warmth soon evaporated when the media was locked out for their private meeting.

Trump demanded that MBS normalize relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and formally join the Abraham Accords, which were negotiated by the president's son-in-law and political confidant Jared Kushner.

The meeting became tense as MBS pushed back at Trump, sources told Axios. The Saudi prince told the president that he can't improve relations with Israel because public opinion in his kingdom is highly anti-Israel following the deadly Gaza war.

A source told Axios that the conversation was filled with 'disappointment and irritation.'

'The president really wants them to join the Abraham Accord. He tried very hard to talk him. It was an honest discussion. But MBS is a strong man. He stood his ground,' the source added.

Donald Trump and MBS had an intense standoff inside the Oval Office over normalizing relations with Israel

MBS told Trump that Saudi society is not ready for friendlier relations with Israel

Following the Gaza War, relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel have downgraded

Trump honored the Saudi ruler with a red carpet arrival and fighter jet flyover at the White House

MBS, moreover, told Trump that in order to secure a peace deal with his country, Israel would need to agree to 'an irreversible, credible and time-bound path' for the creation of a Palestinian state.

Netanyahu's government has ruled out any path for an official Palestinian state in Gaza.

Although the conversation between Trump and MBS was civil, one source familiar with the matter said it became tough at this point.

'MBS never said no to normalization. The door is open for doing it later. But the two-state solution is an issue,' a US official said.

A White House official told Axios that the president's Middle Eastern agenda is focused on convincing all countries in the region to join the Abraham Accords.

The Abraham Accords was the crown jewel of Trump's foreign policy achievements during his first-term in office.

The deal, which was put together by Kushner in 2020, normalizes relations between Israel and several Middle Eastern countries after decades of hostilities.

Later on during their joint remarks to the press, Trump told MBS he would sell America's advanced 5-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, despite reported pushback from Israel.

'Rubio referred them to the DOW, which has handled the issue of how the sale of the F-35 would proceed and would comply with the requirement of retaining Israel's Qualitative Military Advantage,' Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Daily Mail in a statement.
Trans activists are trying to force the National Library of Scotland to ban a feminist book for the SECOND time by claiming its return has made the building an unsafe and hostile space for staff.

The Mail has seen an open letter signed by publishers, academics, as well as book festival staff demanding that the library's board, who after a public outcry reinstated 'The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht', immediately 'change course'.

It states:' 'We stand in solidarity with queer and trans staff at the National Library of Scotland, who in recent months have been subject to harassment and bigotry in their workplace.

'We call upon the Library urgently to change course, to make a strong public commitment to ensuring that all staff and visitors are able to access the Library without fear.

'We condemn the series of decisions by the board and senior leadership that have led to a hostile environment for queer, trans, and allied staff of and visitors to the library.'

The bestseller, a series of essays by women's rights campaigners including JK Rowling and former MP Joanna Cherry and edited by Susan Dalgety and Lucy Hunter Blackburn was picked by the public to be included in the National Library's centenary exhibition.

But the book was removed and banned from public viewing earlier this year after several staff complained. In September, National Librarian Amina Shah was shamed into a U-turn after a furious public backlash.

A report last month concluded that the National Library should take disciplinary action against the staff who used 'threatening and inappropriate' behaviour to get the book withdrawn.

For Women Scotland in Scotland's National Library with the book 'The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht'

Members of the public at a women's rights demo outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh

Co-editor of the book Lucy Hunter Blackburn said: "This letter is an outrageous and unwarranted attack on a major cultural institution.

'It makes a number of bizarre and unsubstantiated claims about the effect of including the book in the exhibition and unfounded and insulting comments about the book and its writers more generally.

'This is no way for Scotland's cultural life to be conducted.

'Stifle the voices of people whose views you disagree with, or disapprove of, and you are left with a society where only a tiny, well-connected elite thrive.

'The signatories of this letter, who claim to be drawn from the academic, heritage, arts, literary and cultural sectors, should be the very people arguing against censorship. Instead, they try to justify it by claiming inclusivity for themselves.'

The letter has been handed to senior management before a board meeting on Thursday who are expected to discuss the fallout from the first book ban.

The whistleblower who came forward said an explanation for why this was happening was that staff criticised in the report for their conduct may be trying to create a climate in which the board will be nervous of ordering senior management to discipline them.

We can reveal that several of those who have put their names to the letter backing staff have had or are in receipt of public money from the troubled arts quango Creative Scotland, who are funded by the Scottish Government, overseen by Culture Secretary Angus Robertson.

A report last month concluded that the National Library should take disciplinary action against the staff who used 'threatening and inappropriate' behaviour to get the book withdrawn

They include a trans 'poet' who days after the Supreme Court ruling on single sex spaces was seen screaming through a megaphone at a protest and a board member of the Equality Network, which gets 600k in Scottish government funding.

Politicians hit out at the latest attempt on censorship.

Scottish Conservative deputy chairwoman Pam Gosal MSP said: 'This is yet another attempt to silence brave womens rights campaigners who have fought tooth and nail to defend their rights.

'As one of the authors of this book, I am proud that it is finally in the National Library of Scotland, after initially being outrageously excluded.

'Taxpayers will be shocked that some of the groups who signed this letter receive Creative Scotland funding. Recipients of public money shouldnt be trying to censor women who are just standing up for their rights.'

MSP Fergus Ewing said: 'The notion a library making a book available to the public is somehow dangerous making life unsafe is preposterous and simply laughable .

'How in earth can it pose a 'danger' ?

'Surely the serious problems arise only where governments ban or burn books - not when they rightly make them available. The former is called dictatorship. The latter democracy and freedom of speech and expression.

'The National Library CEO should have resigned earlier - and the chair had to intervene to see common sense prevail.

'The Scottish Government should intervene to halt this nonsense - but of course they wont. When it comes to halting the wacky whimsies of the woke brigade - Air Miles Angus -is asleep on the job.'

Co-Editor Susan Dalgety said: 'The description of the National Library as rendered unsafe by marauding hordes of aggressive women bears precisely zero resemblance to what we have seen on social media or in person since 5 September when the book went back into the exhibition.

'Just a steady trickle of women going to the Library, leaving polite thank-you notices in the comment section, and spending some money in the cafe and the shop. A few of them have started having a monthly meeting in the cafe to discuss books.

'We hope the Board and senior managers of the National Library of Scotland will see this for what it is, a form of McCarthyism which should not be indulged further and has no place in contemporary Scotland.'

The National Library confirmed they had received a copy of the letter but did not wish to comment.

A Creative Scotland spokesman said: 'Any decision to support a particular cause or campaign is a matter for each individual or organisation and independent of Creative Scotland.
An insurgent candidate for Florida governor has come out swinging, launching a seemingly racially charged epithet against black Republican candidate Byron Donalds.

James Fishback, 30, a former Wall Street financier and college dropout, officially launched his campaign to become Florida's next governor on Monday.

His primary opponent in the race is Congressman Byron Donalds, the front-running Republican who currently represents Florida's 19th Congressional District, encompassing Naples and Cape Coral.

Shortly after filing his paperwork to hop in the race on Monday, Fishback used some unsavory word choices to criticize Donalds, who is black.

'Byron Donalds is a slave. I'm sorry - he's a slave,' Fishback began.

'He is a slave to his donors. He is a slave to the corporate interests, to the tech bros that want to turn our state into his own words, a financial capital.'

His remarks quickly caught attention online, where some critics slammed the 30-year-old for employing racially charged language.

'Byron Donalds has spent his life as a strong, black, conservative voice defending President Trump and the America First Agenda, so he is used to and unfazed by racist Twitter trolls who attack him for that,' Ryan Smith, a spokesman for Donalds' campaign, told the Daily Mail in a statement.

Just after filing paperwork to run for governor in Florida, James Fishback called Congressman Byron Donalds, the frontrunner in the contest, a 'slave.' Fishback followed up, saying Donalds is a 'slave to his donors.' Donalds' team has called the remarks racist

Donalds has already been endorsed by President Donald Trum

In a statement given to the Daily Mail, Fishback tripled down on his attack: 'If Byron Donalds doesn't want to be called a slave, then he should stop being a slave to his corporate donors.'

'Hes taken $30 million in corporate money, which has compromised his judgment,' he continued.

Fishback, who has posted over half a dozen times on social media calling Donalds a slave, is now drawing backlash from conservatives, including the conspiratorially minded who see him as a distraction.

'Fishback is a chaos agent most likely in the race to peel votes from a serious challenge to Byron Donalds,' lamented Florida-based John Cardillo.

'Id advise against calling the Trump endorsed, black GOP Congressman running for Governor of Florida a slave,"' conservative pundit Laura Loomer wrote on X.

Fishback later responded to her, doubling down and once again referring to the congressman as a slave.

Despite his provocative, seemingly veiled racial attacks, Donalds is currently seen as the frontrunner in the race.

A new poll from American Promise shows that 43 percent of likely GOP voters back Donalds, while all other Republican candidates, including Fishback, failed to surpass even two percent support.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will be termed out after next year. He has yet to endorse a candidate

The congressman also has the much-coveted endorsement from President Donald Trump.

Though that may not concern Fishback, who has positioned himself as the heir to Governor Ron DeSantis' dynasty.

The 30-year-old investment firm CEO wrote in his announcement video that he wants to carry on DeSantis' legacy and keep DEI out of the Sunshine State while clamping down on H1-B foreign worker visas.

He also wants to abolish property taxes, a major DeSantis priority, and cancel AI data centers.

'Ill fight to preserve Governor DeSantis wins by keeping Florida free from DEI, radical transgenderism, Soros-backed prosecutors, child predators, voter fraud and the millions of illegals that invaded our country on Kamala Harris watch,' the 30-year-old candidate said.

Donalds, meanwhile, has been endorsed by President Donald Trump and is seen as the mainstream MAGA candidate in the competition.

DeSantis has yet to endorse a candidate in the race, though it is an open question whether he would back Donalds, who endorsed Trump in the 2024 presidential contest over the Florida governor.
Donald Trump has dispatched his trusted special envoy to Moscow for crunch talks with Vladimir Putin amid fears his Ukraine peace plan is unraveling.

Ukraine agreed to a new 19-point deal, a US official confirmed on Tuesday, but the terms are less favorable to the Kremlin, giving Washington and Kyiv the final say on sensitive territorial disputes and American security guarantees.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warned that if the plan 'erased ... key understandings' that Putin reached with Trump at the Alaska summit in August, the 'situation will be fundamentally different'.

The US leader posted on Truth Social this afternoon as anxious Washington insiders said that Putin will dismiss the new deal 'out of hand' over the major concessions to Ukraine.

Trump said: 'The original 28-point peace plan, which was drafted by the United States, has been fine-tuned, with additional input from both sides, and there are only a few remaining points of disagreement.'

He added that he had dispatched special envoy Steve Witkoff, the architect of the Gaza peace deal, to meet with Putin in Moscow.

'I look forward to hopefully meeting with president [Volodymyr] Zelensky and president Putin soon, but only when the deal to end this war is final,' Trump added.

Hopes that the bloody conflict might finally be brought to an end were buoyed by reports on Tuesday morning that the Ukrainian president had accepted the terms of the new deal. Skeptics have warned that Putin will refuse the new proposal.

The Russian delegation is likely to reject the revised peace plan agreed by US-Ukrainian officials on Tuesday; Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are seen meeting in August

President Zelensky is expected to meet with Trump administration officials in the US

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The deal no longer includes amnesty guarantees for atrocities committed during the war. Kyiv has agreed to cap its army at 800,000 men.

That initial plan had permanently ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, limited its army to 600,000, proposed handing the rest of Donbas to Russia - albeit as a demilitarized zone - and mandated that Kyiv hold elections within 100 days.

All those clauses are reported to have since been amended or shelved for now.

Zelensky confirmed that talks with Washington were ongoing in a post on X, adding: 'I am grateful for all of America's efforts and personally for President Trump's efforts.'

Trump's special envoy US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met with the Russian delegation in the United Arab Emirates on Monday for secret talks. The meeting came after Driscoll's weekend talks with Ukraine in Geneva that were aimed at pushing the peace forward, according to a US official.

Trump, galvanized by his success in Gaza, ratcheted pressure on Zelensky last week to end the war, which has killed 300,000 people since Putin launched his invasion in February 2022.

America's European allies were reportedly left stunned that Trump had threatened to cut intelligence sharing and weapons supplies to press Zelensky into the deal.

The US put the peace plan to Kyiv at the end of last week and set a Thursday deadline for them to sign on the dotted line, sources claimed.

'Over the past week, the United States has made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

'There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.'

Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Tolbert, a US Army spokesman, said: 'Late Monday and throughout Tuesday, Secretary Driscoll and team have been in discussions with the Russian delegation to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine.

'The talks are going well and we remain optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronized with the White House and the US interagency as these talks progress.'

The Russian Defense Ministry said that 249 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight

A Ukrainian onslaught hit a major Russian aircraft manufacturing plant, triggering a 'glow like after a nuclear explosion'

Three people were killed and at least 16 injured with residential buildings damaged in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and the cities of Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, Russian officials said

Driscoll was elevated by Trump to spearhead negotiations after the president had a private discussion with Vice-President JD Vance two weeks ago. A secretary official representing the US military is typically not involved in diplomatic talks.

The ongoing negotiations occur amid the backdrop of brutal overnight bombings in Kyiv, with Russian missiles raining destruction down on residential buildings.

Moscow triggered death and terror with new attacks on civilians, killing at least six, including an 86-year-old woman.

Residents were heard screaming for help after an Iranian-designed Shahed drone ignited an inferno in a tower block, with two power plants supplying hot water to homes destroyed.

A Russian drone penetrated some 50 miles inside the independent state of Moldova before ending up on the roof of a house in the village of Nizhnie Kugureshty.

Ukraine, meanwhile, responded with its own barrage of aerial attacks on Russia.

Dramatic footage indicated a wayward Russian air defense missile struck a residential building in a new friendly fire incident in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, where a wave of Ukrainian strikes also caused casualties.

Three people were killed, and at least 16 were injured, with residential buildings damaged in Novorossiysk and the cities of Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, Russian officials said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that 249 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight, including 116 over the Black Sea, and 92 over the southern regions of Krasnodar and Rostov.

Russian drones attacking Ukraine's Odesa region flew over Romanian airspace, forcing NATO to scramble four warplanes in response.

In Kyiv, Russia hit two hot water power plants - CHP-5 and CHP-6, and a hydroelectric power station. The city was plunged into power and water outages, as well as transport disruptions.

The attack was evidently aimed at forcing Ukraine to accept an unfavorable peace plan.

A broken window in front of a damaged residential building following an air attack in Kyiv today

Residents were heard screaming for help after a Shahed drone strike ignited an inferno in a tower block, with two power plants supplying piped hot water heating to homes also destroyed

Putin's foreign affairs aide Yuri Ushakov said that British, EU and Ukrainian-inspired changes to the original US draft submitted over the weekend were 'unconstructive'.

On Saturday, leaders from Europe, Canada and Japan signed a joint statement at the G20 summit in South Africa, saying that the peace deal had elements 'essential for a just and lasting peace', but would 'require additional work', citing concerns over territory and limits on Ukraine's army.

The EU submitted a modified version of the US's peace plan for Ukraine that pushed back on proposed limits to Kyiv's armed forces and territorial concessions.

The document, drafted by the so-called European E3 powers - Britain, France and Germany - proposes the capping of Ukraine's military at 800,000 'in peacetime' rather than a blanket cap of 600,000.

It also says 'negotiations on territorial swaps will start from the Line of Contact', rather than pre-determining that certain areas should be recognized as 'de facto Russian', as the US plan suggests.

It proposes that Ukraine receive a security guarantee from the United States similar to NATO's Article 5 clause.
A New Zealand mother who killed her two children and put their bodies in suitcases that were left inside a storage unit for four years has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Hakyung Lee, 43, faced the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday after she was found guilty in September of murdering her children.

The sentence comes more than seven years since the children died, and nearly three years after their bodies were discovered.

In June 2018, Lee gave eight-year-old Yuna Jo and six-year-old Minu Jo an overdose of prescription medicine.

She put their bodies into two suitcases, which she abandoned at a storage facility in Auckland.

The children's remains were found inside the luggage in August 2022.

Lee, who is a New Zealand citizen, travelled to South Korea and changed her name in 2018, shortly after the children are believed to have been killed.

Justice Geoffrey Venning sentenced Lee to life imprisonment on Wednesday, which will begin as a special patient under the Mental Health Act.

Hakyung Lee (pictured in the High Court in Auckland in September 2025) has been sentenced to life imprisonment

Lee was found guilty in September of killing her children in 2018 (pictured) and putting their bodies in suitcases which were left inside a storage unit for four years

During Lee's trial, the court heard both children were fully clothed and individually wrapped in multiple layers of plastic bags

Lee, who kept her head down during the hearing, her long hair covering her face, must serve a minimum of 17 years in jail before she is eligible for parole.

Justice Venning said that while Lee suffered from severe depression, the murders were 'deliberate and calculated', and she understood the moral wrongfulness of her actions.

He rejected Lee's claim that she acted impulsively, and said her organised actions, including changing her name, buying a suitcase, tidying up affairs and sitting a driver's test, were clear evidence of planning.

Lee's mother and brother-in-law gave victim impact statements during the sentencing hearing, New Zealand website Stuff reports.

Grieving grandmother Choon Ja Lee said she had been labelled the 'mother of a murderer' by members of her church.

She added that she 'deeply regretted' not taking her daughter to a counsellor after returning from a trip to Australia in 2017.

'If I had taken her at that time this tragedy might have been prevented,' Choon Ja Lee said.

'It felt like a pain that cut through my bones or as if someone was gouging out my chest. I wanted to be free from suffering but had no one to lean on.'

Lee was arrested in September 2022 in South Korea and extradited to New Zealand following a formal request she return to the country to face court

The bodies of the children were discovered after Lee stopped paying rental fees for the Auckland storage unit

In a separate statement, Sei Wook - Jimmy-Cho, described his sister-in-law's cruel deception and how it had devastated his family.

'We genuinely believed she was moving to start a fresh life away from New Zealand. Instead of a reassuring call... the truth shattered our family,' he said.

'I carry a heavy agonising guilt...I feel like I failed to look after my niece and nephew.'

The bodies of Yuna and Minu were discovered after Lee stopped paying rental fees for the Auckland storage unit when she ran into financial difficulties in 2022.

The locker's contents were auctioned online and, when the buyers took the suitcases home, they found the bodies inside.

The court heard both children were fully clothed and individually wrapped in multiple layers of plastic bags.

Evidence showed Lee changed her name, moved belongings into storage, including the suitcases, and fled to South Korea in 2018.

Cutting contact with friends and family, Lee was later found by her mother at a hospital after being admitted for mental health treatment in 2022.

The locker's contents were auctioned online and, when the buyers took the suitcases home, they found the bodies inside

She was arrested in September 2022 in South Korea and extradited to New Zealand following a formal request that she return to the country to face court.

During the subsequent trial, Lee's defence team argued the mother-of-two was afraid she would take her own life and her children would find her inside their home.

The trial hinged not on whether Lee had murdered her children - which she had confessed to - but whether she knew her actions were morally wrong.

Her lawyers had argued she was not guilty by reason of insanity and that the death of her husband in 2017 sent her into a depressive spiral.

Lee's husband, Ian Jo, died more than six months before Lee murdered their two children, following his cancer diagnosis in 2017.

After her husband's diagnosis and throughout his treatment, Lee told several people she would kill herself and her children if he died.

Lee's mother said her daughter stopped eating after his death and had 'no will to live'.

'I told her, "if you really want to follow your husband, go by yourself and I'll take the kids",' Choon Ja Lee told the court.

Lee's brother-in-law gave victim impact statement in which he described the deception and agony the family felt on realising his niece and nephew had been killed

'If she wanted to die, why didn't she die alone?.. Why did she take the innocent children with her?'

The defence argued Lee's mental health was fragile, which pushed her to 'descend into madness' and kill her children.

A forensic psychiatrist testified for the defence about Lee's mental state - describing depression, suicidal thoughts, guilt, and a belief that killing her children was the right thing to do.

However, Crown Prosecutor Natalie Walker told the court the steps Lee took after killing her children were consistent with wanting a new life on her own.

She said 'the thought of a life parenting her children alone' may have been too much for Lee.

Lee confessed that in April 2018 she dosed her children with nortriptyline by mixing it into their juice.

'Lee said she gave the children the medication,' Ms Walker said, referencing testimony by defence witness Yvette Kelly.

'The children drank the juice and then they became drowsy from the medication and they toddled off to their own beds  and went to sleep there and then.'

Her GP had prescribed the medication the year earlier when Lee reported problems with her sleep.

'The Crown suggests that when she gave her two young children nortriptyline, it was a selfish act to free herself from the burden of parenting alone,' Ms Walker said.

'It was not the altruistic act of a mother who had lost her mind and believed it was the right thing to do; it was the opposite.'

Following a more than two-week trial and about three hours of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict, and Lee was found guilty on both counts of murder.

On Wednesday, Ms Walker argued for a sentence of life imprisonment after saying there was no evidence of Lee's suicidal thoughts and attempts apart from her own reports.

'Her most likely diagnosis was that she suffered from a major depressive disorder or grief disorder,' she said.

Lawyers Lorraine Smith and Chris Wilkinson-Smith, who assisted Lee as she represented herself, claimed she lives in a world of shame in prison, which they claimed increased her suicide risk.

Mr Wilkinson-Smith argued against life imprisonment, requesting Lee be sentenced to some time in a secure facility initially to support her mental health.

'Now she is a convicted murderer the risk of suicide increases,' he said.

Justice Venning ruled in favour of the prosecution and rejected that Lee tried to kill herself.

'Your actions were organised and considered over a number of days,' he said.

From a starting point of 22 years, Justice Venning reduced the term by five years to account for her isolation and difficulties in prison.
The woman set alight by a lunatic on a Chicago metro train has a 'long road ahead of her' after suffering burns to 60 percent of her body, her family said.

Bethany MaGee, 26, was doused in gasoline and set alight on the city's Blue Line on November 17, but managed to flee the train and survive.

Her parents Greg and Emily, and two brothers Mark and John, gave an update on her condition through an online fundraiser on Tuesday.

'She is currently hospitalized with the severe burns she sustained, and she is receiving treatment under the excellent care of her medical team,' they wrote.

'Bethany is a beloved daughter, sister, sister-in-law, granddaughter, and aunt. She is a good friend. She is sensitive, caring, intelligent, and imaginative.

'She loves living in Chicago, and her gentle spirit makes her a favorite with every pet she meets.

'She enjoys playing tabletop and video games with her community, and she is quick to include others in conversations and make them feel welcome. She is kind.'

MaGee's medical expenses are mostly covered by her insurance and a victim's fund, but her family appealed for $24,000 to help her recovery.

'With such a long road ahead of her, the freedom from financial worries would be a tremendous blessing,' they wrote.

MaGee's family said she has a 'long road ahead of her' after suffering burns to 60 percent of her body

Bethany MaGee, 26, was doused in gasoline and set alight on Chicago's Blue Line on November 17, but managed to flee the train and survive

MaGee, from Upland in Indiana, is an animal lover and churchgoer who graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Her father Dr Gregory MaGee is a professor of Biblical studies at Taylor University, a Christian college in Indiana.

The man police named as her attacker, 50-year-old Lawrence Reed, is a serial criminal with 72 prior arrests freed months earlier by a judge after he allegedly attacked a social worker.

The attack drew comparisons to the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 22.

MaGee suffered the most serious burns on her left arm and hand, according to an update from her church community.

She had surgery last week and is expected to be in hospital for at least three months for treatment and rehabilitation.

Her theologian father wrote in his biography that MaGee and her family enjoy spending time with one another, 'hiking, being involved in their church, and playing games together'.

MaGee's father is also a Sunday school church teacher and has authored multiple books on Christian scriptures and teachings - including St Paul's letters.

Lawrence Reed is the suspect accused of setting MaGee alight. He has a slew of previous arrests and was branded a danger to society by prosecutors at his most recent court appearance on an assault charge in August

Surveillance footage shows the attack on MaGee. The attack drew comparisons to the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina

Reed was released on an ankle monitor after the August assault.

Surveillance footage showed MaGee sitting in the train car before Reed, a complete stranger, allegedly poured gasoline over her head and body.

In a horrifying chain of events, MaGee attempted to fight off her attacker while Reed allegedly tried to set her on fire.

Reed approached MaGee and repeatedly yelled 'burn alive b***h,' a criminal affidavit filed in federal court alleged.

Horrified locals now believe MaGee's ordeal could have been avoided, had a female Illinois not judge ignored a prosecutor's warnings about Reed.

Despite the prosecutor warning Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez that Reed had a lengthy rap sheet and his next crime would 'likely be violent,' she allowed him to walk free.

MaGee was seen running to the front of the train car to escape before her attacker allegedly ignited the bottle in his hand, according to the affidavit.

Reed then allegedly ran to the front of the train car and watched his victim as her body was 'engulfed in flames.'

MaGee's father, Dr Gregory MaGee, (pictured together) is a professor of Biblical studies at Taylor University, a Christian college in Indiana

MaGee with her mother Emily Willis MaGee, who is by her bedside along with her father and two brothers

Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, had her throat cut while traveling on a light rail train in August. Police say the man who killed her is DeCarlos Brown Jr - a serial criminal with a lengthy history

MaGee attempted to extinguish the flames by dropping to the ground, and fled the train car when it stopped at Clark and Lake.

The victim collapsed when she arrived at the station, and multiple witnesses attended to her while she waited for emergency responders.

Other commuters wrote harrowing accounts of witnessing the attack on MaGee and the aftermath.

'I was there and I took my coat off and smothered the flames with it. It was not ideal as it was synthetic fibers but it was what I had and it put the fire out,' one wrote.

'I had started to run inside the train when I saw her but then I snapped out of it and realized someone had to help her.

'There were a ton of people there but everyone was just standing around.

'After I got the flames out I sat with her and the other women... sat by her head and talked with her which was really important.'

MaGee, of Upland in Indiana, worked as an analyst for heavy goods giant Caterpillar

Bethany MaGee, pictured, was set alight while traveling on a Chicago metro train last Monday

Another said they were at the train station that MaGee got off at moments after she escaped from her attacker.

'Her upper body and head had severe, third-degree burns. The entire station smelled like burnt hair. It was horrific,' they wrote.

'What was even more saddening were the people taking videos and pictures. If you were there and one of the people doing it, well, I hope you find the humanity you were lacking in that moment.

'To the woman sitting with her, and comforting her, good on you. Thankfully, she was talking which is a good sign.'

The Trump Administration seized on the attack and Reed being out on bail to bolster its claim that the National Guard should be deployed to Chicago.

'As President Trump has long said, violent crime in Chicago is out of control,' White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Daily Mail.

'Local Democrat leaders, like (Illinois Governor JB) Pritzker, should spend their time addressing violent crime and welcoming the president's help on the issue instead of succumbing to their Trump Derangement Syndrome and letting violent crime run rampant.

'This tragic crime should have never happened and it sadly highlights the dangers of Democrat control.'

Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez (pictured) allowed Lawrence Reed, 50, to be released on an ankle monitor after he assaulted a social worker in August

Investigators said he attacked MaGee at random and obtained additional security footage of Reed allegedly filling a container with gasoline at a gas station 20 minutes before the attack

Reed was hit with a federal terrorism charge after investigators obtained security footage of Reed allegedly filling a container with gasoline at a gas station 20 minutes before the attack.

Reed has been arrested almost 50 times and has had multiple felony convictions over the past three decades.

As Judge Molina-Gonzalez released Reed in August, she said: 'I can't keep everybody in jail because the state's attorney wants me to', according to court transcripts.

US Attorney Andrew Boutros confirmed last Wednesday that the Chicago train attack was completely random.

'We've watched the video and different angles of the video. And what we could say is this young woman was on her phone, going through her phone, minding her business, when [Reed] approached her and began throwing gasoline on her,' he said.

'I've seen reports that there was an altercation or that there was some kind of disagreement or argument that took place. Those statements are inaccurate and false.'

Reed has been arrested almost 50 times and has had multiple felony convictions over the last three decades

He approached the victim, who has not been identified, and repeatedly yelled 'burn alive b***h,' according to a criminal affidavit

The victim ran to the front of the train car to escape before her attacker allegedly ignited the bottle in his hand

Reed was arrested on November 18 and appeared to be wearing the same clothes he was seen in on the night of the attack.

The complaint also alleged he had 'fire-related injuries' on his hand.

Reed is accused of setting fire to MaGee at 9.24pm on a Monday, which is outside of the hours he was allowed out of the house while wearing the ankle monitor.

Records showed Judge Ralph Meczyk increased the hours he was allowed out of the home in September, but Mondays were not included.

The Daily Mail contacted the judges and the Circuit Court of Cook County for comment.
Jury trials are to be scrapped for all but the most serious crimes under a bombshell plan, which lawyers say will destroy faith in justice and our democracy.

The Deputy Prime Minister faced a furious backlash on Tuesday after a leaked memo revealed the biggest shake-up in the criminal justice system for 800 years as Labour proposes to end jury trials for most offences, apart from murder, rape or manslaughter cases.

In an extraordinary U-turn after years of heralding the importance of jury trials, David Lammy announced in a briefing to all government departments that 'there is no right to a jury trial' in Britain and judges alone should handle the bulk of cases to cut the backlog in courts across the country.

The Justice Secretary wants to create a new tier of court with judges dealing with tens of thousands of criminal offences to reduce the backlog of almost 80,000 cases.

But the plans were immediately denounced by lawyers as a 'stitch-up' that will usher in secret justice, 'destroy justice as we know it' and could lead to civil disorder as prosecutions would be reduced to a 'bureaucratic formality', with decisions taken on legal reports submitted to a judge rather than evidence tested in open court.

Mr Lammy was also accused of rank hypocrisy after years of insisting 'jury trials are a fundamental part of our democratic settlement'.

The briefing document, headed 'sensitive and official' states that only rape, murder, manslaughter and public interest cases would continue to be heard by juries, with all other 'lower tier' offences being heard by a judge alone.

The proposals go much further than the recommendations of Sir Brian Leveson, whose review of the criminal courts suggested using an intermediate court for judge-only trials in 'serious and complex fraud' and other technically complex and lengthy cases.

The Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy (pictured at the Labour conference in September) announced in a briefing to all government departments that 'there is no right to a jury trial' in Britain and judges alone should handle the bulk of cases to cut the backlog in UK courts

Instead, Mr Lammy wants to send all cases where there is a possible sentence of up to five years to a lower-tier court, with the only exceptions being murder, rape, manslaughter or cases deemed to be in the 'public interest'.

It is anticipated that as many as 75 per cent of trials would be decided by a judge instead of a jury under the plans.

Under the reforms, magistrates would have their maximum sentencing powers increased from six months to 24 months so they could also deal with more cases.

The official document sent to senior civil servants in all government departments states: 'The Deputy Prime Minister has now taken his final decisions and is currently seeking collective agreement via write round.'

It suggested that the government is laying the groundwork to make the necessary changes, which would require primary legislation.

But last night as Mr Lammy faced fury from legal groups, the Ministry of Justice rushed out a statement saying: 'No final decision has been taken.'

Asked what Sir Keir Starmer's view is of the plan, given that when he was Director of Public Prosecutions he said 'the general and overriding presumption should be jury trial, with very, very limited exceptions', a spokesman for the Prime Minister told reporters: 'I'm not going to comment directly on the source of this story, but more broadly, jury trials will remain a cornerstone of our justice system for the most serious cases.

'No final decisions have been taken, but it is right that we ask whether there are cases that need not be heard by a jury.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (pictured) wants to create a new tier of court with judges dealing with tens of thousands of criminal offences to reduce the backlog of almost 80,000 cases

'I think we're slightly getting ahead of things.'

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick warned the plans would irreparably damage Britain's democracy: 'David Lammy once proudly defended jury trials, but now he's in office he's getting rid of them in virtually every case.

'Scrapping this pillar of our constitution because of the administrative failure to reduce the court backlog is a disgrace.

'Lammy should be getting the courts sitting around the clock, but as the Lady Chief Justice said on Wednesday the Government has turned down extra court sitting days. Instead of doing the hard yards of governing, Lammy is throwing away a fundamental part of our democracy and one of our country's greatest gifts to the world.

'For Keir Starmer, the rule of law simply equals rule by lawyers.'

Senior criminal justice figures described the plan as 'the biggest assault on our system of liberty in 800 years', saying it would bring Britain back to the days of the Star Chamber in the 15th century when judges handed out arbitrary rulings without any scrutiny.

One lawyer said: 'This is a stitch-up. It is the demise of the jury trial, a case that Labour has been building since they came to power.

'This will effectively usher in secret justice and when you erode faith in justice, you bring civil disorder one step closer.'

Former Attorney General Suella Braverman said: 'This is a serious assault on our liberty. Trial by your peers is a fundamental right in our democracy and goes to the core of who we are as a nation.'

Riel Karmy-Jones KC, the chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, said: 'This is beginning to smell like a co-ordinated campaign against public justice.

'What they propose simply won't work - it is not the magic pill that they promise.

'The consequences of their actions will be to destroy a criminal justice system that has been the pride of this country for centuries, and to destroy justice as we know it.

'Juries are not the cause of the backlog. The cause is the systematic underfunding and neglect that has been perpetrated by this government.

'The erosion of the right to jury trial will break the increasingly thin connection between the State and ordinary people, and risks undermining social cohesion and trust in the criminal justice system.

'Once that trust disappears, fears of tyrannical governments increase and the faith in justice evaporates for good.'

She pointed out Mr Lammy's hypocrisy after his 2017 review into racism in the criminal justice system concluded 'juries are a success story of our justice system'.

In 2020 Mr Lammy insisted: 'Juries are a fundamental part of our democratic settlement. Criminal trials without juries are a bad idea'.

Law Society of England and Wales President Mark Evans said the Government was 'resorting to extremes', adding: 'This is a fundamental change to how our criminal justice system operates and it goes too far.

'We have not seen any real evidence that expanding the types of cases heard by a single judge will work to reduce the backlogs.'

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'It is a short-term decision that risks fairness, undermines public trust, and erodes the very foundation of our justice system.'
It was New Years Eve 2022 and husband and wife Ana and Brian Walshe were ringing in 2023 with a group of friends at their home in Cohasset, Massachusetts.

That was the last time anyone saw Ana - a successful realtor and mom-of-three - alive. Her body has never been found.

Walshe - a conman convicted of art fraud for selling fake Andy Warhol paintings - claimed his wife had traveled to Washington DC for work on January 1. But there was no record of her catching a ride to the airport or boarding a plane, and she didn't show up for work that week.

When her coworkers reported her missing days later, Walshe quickly fell under suspicion. Surveillance footage captured him buying cleaning products and a knife from a Home Depot while multiple trash bags containing a hacksaw and bloody items were found in dumpsters near his mother's home, court documents show.

Investigators also allegedly uncovered his disturbing internet searches including 'How long before a body starts to smell?' and 'Can you be charged with murder without a body?'

Walshe quickly learned the answer to that last question.

In January 2023, he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, willfully conveying a human body in violation of state law and misleading police in the death of his wife.

Now, after almost three years and several delays - from a prison stabbing to a mental competence evaluation - Walshe is finally heading to trial. Jury selection was completed last week and opening statements are now set to begin December 1.

Brian Walshe is going on trial for the murder of his wife Ana Walshe (pictured together) on New Year's Day 2023

Surveillance footage captured Walshe buying several items from a Home Depot on January 1, 2023, including cleaning products and a utility knife

In a bombshell move, on the first day of jury selection, Walshe suddenly changed his plea to guilty on the counts of misleading police and hiding a body. He will now be tried only on the murder charge.

Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and president and co-founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers, has been following the case closely.

In this week's edition of The Crime Desk newsletter, Rahmani speaks to Daily Mail's Crime Correspondent Rachel Sharp about Walshes sudden change of plea - and gives his legal expertise on what to expect from the high-profile trial.

To get the full interview - and more - sign up here to The Crime Desk, the new newsletter from the Daily Mail delivered to your inbox on Wednesdays.

Each week, our team of investigative journalists takes you inside the cases shocking the world, from the crime scene to the courtroom and everywhere in between.

Delivered straight to your inbox, we bring you exclusive interviews with those close to the case, so you can hear firsthand from victims, investigators and experts.

Youll also learn about intriguing cold cases, get access to expert Q&As and all the latest Daily Mail podcasts and shows - and have the chance to ask the team questions and send in clues.

Sign up here for free - and join The Crime Desk on the case.
When a man identifying himself as Dan Cooper hijacked a Northwest Airlines flight on the eve of Thanksgiving 1971, he told a stewardess: I dont have a grudge against your airline, Miss. I just have a grudge.

Shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, he handed a note to an attendant claiming he had a bomb in his briefcase and demanding $200,000 in $20 bills and four parachutes in exchange for the lives of 42 passengers on board.

The ransom was delivered when the jet touched down in Seattle. Cooper then ordered the pilots to refuel and take off toward Mexico.

But at 10,000ft over southwest Washington, he lowered the aircrafts rear staircase and jumped with two parachutes and the money strapped to his waist. He was never seen again.

The last trace of Cooper emerged in 1980 when a child digging along the Columbia River unearthed $5,800 of his ransom buried in the sand. No more of the money has ever been recovered.

Who he was, or whether he survived his daring leap, remains a complete mystery more than 50 years later. Hundreds of suspects have been identified, but none have ever been proven.

The FBI closed the case in 2016, leaving a legion of sleuths to keep the legend alive.

One of them, an inventor and licensed pilot, told the Daily Mail he believes the key to unmasking Cooper lies in decoding the hijackers mysterious grudge. And this sleuth believes he has done exactly that.

The elusive D.B. Cooper hijacked a commercial airliner on Thanksgiving Eve 1971 shortly after taking off from Portland, Oregon. His identity remains a mystery to this day

A small amount of Cooper's ransom was recovered near a river in Washington in 1980. No other trace of the skyjacker has been yielded since

Could Cooper have been a grieving father and military veteran who hijacked Flight 305 to get back at the FBI for the death of his daughter, killed just weeks earlier in a skyjacking he believed the bureau had bungled?

And what does the suspects family make of their decorated father being linked to Americas most baffling unsolved crime?

Find out in this weeks edition of The Crime Desk newsletter, where the suspect is unmasked and the evidence against him laid bare.

To get the full inside story, sign up for The Crime Desk, the new Daily Mail newsletter delivering original reporting every Wednesday.

Each week, our investigative team brings exclusive interviews, expert Q&As and in-depth examinations of major cases and cold leads.

Its free. Delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now and join The Crime Desk on the case.
After nine years under the under the direction of Maria Grazia Chiuri, the iconic French fashion house Christian Dior has become the de facto playbook for the worlds leading consorts  royal and otherwise.

Dior has guided these women through the minefield of event dressing, ensuring they embody the elegance required of their public performance.

When Kate Middleton greeted the Macrons at the start of the French State visit in July, she chose a dusty pink Bar jacket and matching tulle skirt, both from the French label, in a masterclass of diplomatic dressing.

Meghan Markle felt that the brands custom couture was the only possible choice when it came to reappearing in Britain for her first public appearance at Queen Elizabeht IIs Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.

She might have been glared at by the congregation as she walked up the cathedral aisle but she still exuded sartorial confidence thanks to the five-figure sum  and more, perhaps - that she was standing up in.

It was a natural choice. Dior had seen her through two significant royal moments  her sons christening in 2019 where she wore a custom cream midi-dress  and a year earlier when in 2018 she stood alongside Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to mark the 100th birthday of the Royal Air Force.

Kate chose a dusty pink Bar jacket and matching tulle skirt, both from the French label, in a masterclass of diplomatic dressing

Meghan Markle exuded sartorial confidence thanks to the five-figure sum  and more, perhaps - that she was standing up in

Armani loving Lady Helen Taylor even wore Dior for the funeral of her mother, the Duchess of Kent

Meghans navy silk fit-flare dress with its matching tulle fascinator stood out in an otherwise sea of more conventional royal wear. Disappointed over her lack of a seat at the Sussexs royal wedding in 2018, euro-jet set royal Crown Princess Marie Chantal splurged and opted for a custom pink Dior midi dress by Grazia  hoping the multi-thousand pound spend would help make her mark on at least this royal guest list.

The normally British-branded Queen Camilla felt able to don a custom Dior cape-dress creation when it came time to attend a black-tie dinner at Versailles in 2023.

And the usually devoted Armani advocate, Lady Helen Taylor even turned to Diors single-breasted bar jacket and matching flare skirt as the only possible option for the funeral of her mother, the Duchess of Kent. And across the ocean, Melania Trump has made Dior a hallmark of her official wardrobe  donning the brand for some of her most significant public moments and leaning into its strengths as a showcase for the female silhouette.

But a brave new world now awaits this vast clientele of VIPs, royal and otherwise, who have come to rely on the brand for their most important moments on the media stage.

Restrained, tailored and razor-sharp chicness, the hallmarks for what many think of as the brands current creative strengths, were all thrown out the window when it came to Jonathan Andersons September 2025 debut collection for the house that he now presides over as Creative Director.

A deconstructed Dior gave us n jersey balloon dresses, double breasted Bar jackets shrunk to almost doll size that were worn thigh skimming mini-skirts, sleeveless satin dresses with basket weave skirts alongside oversized jersey that swathed the size 0 models.

While Shoreditch singles and West Village mavens may be thrilled  what will these royal women who have returned time and again to Dior as the go-to option wear now?

The answer might lie, as always, with that trailblazer of royal fashion, Princess Diana: embrace the new, but do so sparingly, with care and with confidence.

Melania Trump has made Dior a hallmark of her official wardrobe

Queen Camilla felt able to don a custom Dior cape-dress creation when it came time to attend a black-tie dinner at Versailles in 2023

Dianas slinky evening gown that might have been mistook for luxury lingerie made a bold post-divorce statement

Daring, dynamic and definitely not designed for a British princess was how the fashion press dubbed Diors shocking navy silk negligee-like evening gown that Princess Diana donned for what was even by her standards a glammed-up appearance in December 1996 at New Yorks famed Met Gala.

Less than five months after her divorce from Prince Charles, Diana turned to the famed French brand to launch a sartorial hand grenade to more than fifteen years of royal dressing. Arriving on the arm of Harpers Bazaar editor Liz Tilberis, Dianas slinky evening gown that might have been mistook for luxury lingerie made a bold post-divorce statement that neither she nor what she wore, needed to abide by the buttoned-up rules of her former in-laws.

The New York Times believed it a transformational moment for a princess who once more demonstrated the restorative powers of celebrity.

Loosely inspired by Gallianos first collection with the French luxury house, Diana had taken a big risk on a designer who albeit the talk of European fashion was creating silhouettes that felt to many an exaggerated departure from the understated elegance that had come to personify the iconic fashion house.

But for a woman seeking to redefine her footprint on an international media landscape whilst retaining the legacy of the brand that had positioned her there in the first place  nothing could have been more perfect than the choice of this newest iteration of Christian Dior.

Though not without its critics, the look personified the marriage between an old and new world. Choosing to wear her trademark royal sapphires alongside cutting edge couture, Diana demonstrated how effectively fashion could be repurposed for individual aims, even when it seems far outside the scope of determined dressing.

Whether or not there is a princess, Duchess, Queen (current or future) who can find the same harmony remains to be seen  but Dianas example leaves open tantalizing possibilities for the next chapter in royal Diors red-carpet runway.
Robert Hardman has dismissed claims the Blair government had to persuade Buckingham Palace to give Diana her 1997 Westminster Abbey funeral.

Speaking on the Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast, the royal biographer said he has since interviewed many of the key players involved in organising the ceremony - seeking to correct 'myths' about the week following the Princess's death in Paris.

Hardman revealed it was actually members of the Spencer family who initially wanted a smaller, private service, whilst the royal household 'to their credit' quickly realised a major public funeral was necessary.

He told co-host and historian Kate Williams that he has seen a memo from Lord Airlie, the Lord Chamberlain, issued on Sunday 31 August - the day Diana died - instructing officials to begin work on the funeral before anyone from the government attended a planning meeting.

This runs contrary to the version of events depicted in the 2006 film The Queen and later in Netflix's The Crown, where the government took the initiative in pushing for a large public ceremony.

Robert Hardman has dismissed claims the Blair government had to persuade Buckingham Palace to give Diana her Westminster Abbey funeral

Hardman said it was actually members of the Spencer family who initially wanted a smaller, private service

This runs contrary to the version of events depicted in the 2006 film The Queen, where the government took the initiative in pushing for a large public ceremony

On the latest instalment of the Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast, royal biographers Robert Hardman and Kate Williams chart the extraordinary life of Diana, Princess of Wales

Hardman told the Daily Mail podcast: 'I have interviewed all the people who were involved in this at length, including people in the Labour government - a lot of myths have arisen from that week.

'Lord Airlie and his team had already drawn up plans for the funeral at Westminster Abbey - Blair's aides weren't even on the case.

'I have seen the memo, written on the Sunday - the Blairites didn 't get into their first meeting till the Monday.

'Some of the Spencer family, very understandably, felt that as she's not royal anymore, let's have a nice, private service.

'Helped by Diana's brother-in-law, Robert Fellowes, who was the Queen's Private Secretary, the Palace knew this was going to be huge. That it had to be a proper funeral.

'Lord Airlie was a very wise man... his phrase was this has to be de novo, meaning from the start. This has got to be a uniquely Diana event.'

An estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide watched Diana's funeral on television, with more than a million lining the streets of London

Williams noted that Hardman's version of events contradicts numerous accounts suggesting it was Charles, not the Palace, who pushed for a major public funeral

An estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide watched Diana's funeral on television, with more than a million lining the streets of London.

The service at Westminster Abbey was attended by 2,000 guests including world leaders, celebrities, and representatives from the charities Diana supported.

The massive undertaking was coordinated by a planning committee that included representatives from the royal palaces, the Spencer family, Number 10, and the Metropolitan Police - all under the oversight of Lord Airlie.

Williams noted that Hardman's version of events contradicts numerous accounts suggesting it was Charles, not the Palace, who pushed for a major public funeral while the royal household initially resisted.

'A lot of accounts say it was really the royal household who were resisting,' Williams said.

'They wanted a private funeral - but it was Charles who said, I must go and collect her. She must lie in state. She must have a ceremonial funeral.'

'Your research suggests that actually, the Palace was accepting early on that this was going to be a huge funeral for Diana - right from the beginning.'

To listen to the final episode of The Diana Years, where Robert Hardman and Kate Williams chart the Princess's divorce, charity work and death, search for Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things now, wherever you get your podcasts - or watch on YouTube.
The Prince of Wales, 43, took a stroll down Colwyn Beach this morning

The Prince of Wales took a walk down memory lane today during a visit to North Wales to meet young people living in coastal communities.

William, 43, braved 8C temperatures for a stroll down Colwyn Beach this morning with members of the Marine Conservation Society's Youth Ocean Network.

Speaking to the young volunteers who gathered to greet the Prince, alongside Gareth Cunninham, the MCS's Director of Conservation, thanked them for raising awarenes s about the importance of Wales's beaches.

Today's visit will likely be a poignant one for the royal, as the region holds important significance for him.

Prince William worked as a Search and Rescue pilot at RAF Valley on Anglesey, off the north-west coast of Wales, between 2010 and 2013.

At the time, he and his wife Kate, who did not join him on his visit today following their Royal Variety Performance outing last week, lived in a rented cottage around 40 miles away from Colwyn Bay.

William left the armed forces in 2013, later serving as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, before he stepped down to focus on royal duties in 2017.

Today, William was hugged by Angela Jones from Conwy, a member of the public who had eagerly turned out to greet him.

The Prince of Wales took a walk on the beach today during a visit to North Wales to meet young people living in costal communities

Today, William was hugged by Angela Jones from Conwy, a member of the public who had eagerly turned out to greet him

Wearing a navy overcoat and brown jumper, the father-of-three took selfies with onlookers and learned about the Society's Hiraeth Yn Y Mor project, which concluded in March 2025.

Through the project, young people engaged with the coastal communities of Prestatyn, Rhyl, Kinmel Bay and Towyn to grow ocean literacy, improve the sustainable management of the local marine heritage, and promote the health and wellbeing benefits of connecting with our ocean.

The youth network is made up of a team of like-minded young people aged 13-25 who live both near the coast and inland and work with the Marine Conservation Society to help improve youth engagement in marine conservation across the UK.

After walking along a stretch of beach near the town centre, William visited a nearby restaurant and told the group from MCS: 'I know it's difficult to keep interest in marine things, well done for keeping going.'

Mr Cunningham said later about William: "There was proper engagement - you could see he was really passionate about the project and encouraging us to do more as well."

Speaking about the significance of the waters off Colwyn Bay, he added: "The whole bay here is globally important for sea birds, it is a really important bit of coastline, but it's about how we regenerate the sea, and how do we do that with people's engagement?

"So it's starting to bring back oysters and other species, that will clean up the water, but also doing it in a way that will help people's health, their engagement, their wellbeing and their livelihoods as well."

For his second visit of the day, His Royal Highness visited an organisation called Youth Shedz at its headquarters in Mochdre.

William was seen enjoying a round of the card game UNO and having a go at a game of pool.

The organisation co-creates safe spaces with young people who for some, may be experiencing complex challenges, such as school exclusion, bullying and other social issues like homelessness.

Founded in 2017, Youth Shedz works with children and young people who have faced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), making it challenging for them to cope with life and school.

Children and young people who visit the shed are able to receive support to navigate these challenges and join activities and workshops that allow them to build strong foundations for a fulfilling life.

The Prince toured the HQ and engaged with young service users, hearing how Youth Shedz has helped them build new skills, gain confidence and make a positive impact in their local community.

Prince William also attended a comedy workshop during his visit to North Wales, as the future King broke into laughter during the lighthearted event

The event was organised by Welsh comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean (right) in Llandudno

William was seen clapping and cheering for the comedy acts as he rounded out a day full of engagements in North Wales

Today's visit will likely be a poignant one for the royal, as the region holds important significance for him

William, 43, the Prince of Wales, visits Colwyn Bay, Wales today

The Network were involved in the Society's Hiraeth Yn Y Mor project, which concluded in March 2025

William greeted Angela, while on a beach walk with young people who are part of the Marine Conservation Society's Youth Ocean Network

Prince William plays pool during a visit to a Youth Shedz centre in Mochdre, near Colwyn Bay, Wales

He was seen laughing as he enjoyed playing a variety of card games, including UNO

William speaks to Scott Jenkinson, left, as he visits YouthShedz in Mochdre, Colwyn Bay

Founded in 2017, Youth Shedz works with children and young people who have faced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), making it challenging for them to cope with life and school

William also attempted 3D printing and gaming before seeing the Youth Shedzs outreach Bus 'Betsi', used to reach young people in the community.

Finally, the Prince attended a comedy workshop run by Welsh comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean, co-founder of a comedy school called Gwneud, Make, Do.

The school was created to open doors for people across the region, in order to allow them to develop their comedic talents and open up more arts opportunities for young people, particularly those living in isolated rural locations and those from low-income backgrounds.

At the workshop, William met aspiring comedians from across the local area and heard the challenges they face in accessing opportunities within the arts in remote coastal areas.

The visit highlights the importance of celebrating the Welsh arts and providing employment pathways for the next generation in the industry.

Last week, William and Kate, both 43, joined an array of stars like Jessie J, Matt Lucas and host Jason Manford at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the Royal Variety Performance, which senior members of the Royal Family take turns to support.

Among this year's cast was the world-famous Paddington, whom both Catherine and William were particularly taken with. The future King even remarked on the bear's 'yummy' sandwich.

Meanwhile Kate said George, Charlotte, and Louis will be jealous that she and William had a meet and greet with Britain's beloved bear.

Prince William worked as a Search and Rescue pilot at RAF Valley on Anglesey, off the north-west coast of Wales between 2010 and 2013 (pictured 2011)

The Prince of Wales takes a selfie with a woman while on a beach walk with young people who are part of the Marine Conservation Society's Youth Ocean Network

Despite chilly weather, William braved a walk along the beach despite the sea breeze

He learned about how to grow ocean literacy, improve the sustainable management of the local marine heritage, and promote the health and wellbeing benefits of connecting with our ocean

Wearing a navy coat and brown jumper, he appeared in good spirits for a walkabout

'Can I shake your hand? Your sandwich looks very nice,' William asked the bear. 'The way you were singing was totally incredible.' And as Paddington tipped his hat, William beamed, pointing to his sandwich and saying: 'It looks very yummy.'

Catherine told kids at the event: 'My kiddies will be very sad [to have missed the show], we are going to have to keep it a big secret.'

Bringing her finger to her lips, she added: 'They were very sad not to be joining us.'

The outing marked a rare joint 'black tie' evening for the royal couple, after William attended the Diplomatic Corps reception at Windsor Castle solo last Tuesday.

Last week, he also opened the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds, located at the Seacroft Hospital Site.

William paid a heartfelt tribute to the late star, telling his widow and children they should be 'so proud' of the 'incredibly brave and special' rugby player.
What a blabbermouth! Off with her head! The actress Su Pollard has broken the circle of trust upon meeting a royal and now? Well, all hell has broken loose.

It has been revealed by the Hi-de-Hi alumnus that when she met the Princess of Wales backstage at the Royal Variety Performance earlier this month, she brazenly made a very personal comment, viz: 'I like your hair, it looks a lot lighter,' Su commented. Catherine replied: 'It used to be brown, but it's gone light in the sunshine.'

Cue much guffawing and incredulity on social media.

'Umm, love Princess Kate, but that didn't come from the sun. And she's also wearing extensions,' one commenter wrote.

'There's no way on God's green earth the "sunshine" did that to her very dark tresses,' wrote another.

I imagine as soon as Catherine opened her mouth to reply she knew the comments, should her response be made public, would come thick and fast.

But we've all been surprised by an inappropriate question  'Are you on the [Ozempic] pen?' or 'When's it due?'; the cheekiest I've faced was from a man I'd never met before who asked, 'Have you had anything tightened down below?'  and so we blurt out the first thing that comes into our head.

Catherine would have perhaps not wanted to go into naming her hairdresser or the shade on the box. She might not have wanted to dampen a lovely evening with talk about how cancer can change your hair texture and colour. And so she replied with something bland and innocuous but, of course, these days proves to be anything but.

Catherine's hair is notably lighter, and in this social media age people will pick apart the finest details of her appearance

Traditionally, the Princess of Wales has been a darker brunette, but she should never have to justify altering her looks, argues Liz Jones

Kate should of course have replied with a simple thank you, followed by a smile before gracefully moving on. But even a dignified silence these days can spark accusations of 'she's so snooty!' and 'who on earth does she think she is?'.

The late Queen Elizabeth's mantra was, of course, never complain, never explain. It's unimaginable the late Queen would have faced probing comments about her appearance  but if she had, she would have given her quizzer the death stare.

Unfortunately for Kate, she is now the most famous woman in the world in the age of social media: every aspect of her appearance is pulled apart by online vivisectionists.

She attempted to quell what she saw as a distraction from her work by no longer disclosing details of her clothes, but of course unless she wears a burqa we can still take potshots at her make-up, discuss whether a choppy bob would suit her better (why are older women always told to cut our hair?) or debate whether she has had veneers and on and on. For the rest of her life. Because there is no age at which a woman's looks are no longer a crop to beat us with.

Most faced with her level of criticism would never leave the house but, unfortunately, appearing in public, photographed from every angle, is her job.

Her first official appearance after treatment  Trooping the Colour in 2024  was greeted by offensive comments along the lines of 'nobody looks ten years younger having had chemo', while fellow sufferers remarked, 'I'm clearly not doing cancer right'.

Kate was dealing with not only a potentially life-threatening disease, but being a mother to her three young children as well as her role as a public figure, and still her hair, face and figure are deemed fair game.

Kate, you are a powerful female figurehead: you need to stop justifying your choices: to do so only gives oxygen to the trolls. Diana opened the floodgates when she spoke of bulimia, depression and self-harm  but that was before social media. I doubt she'd have withstood the lack of empathy.

It might seem trivial, being criticised for your hair, but for most women our hair is our armour. We sometimes hide behind it, flaunt it, flick it, dye it, try out something new. The thought of losing our hair  through chemo, the menopause, stress  is our worst nightmare.

Accusing Kate of fibbing about her new, buttery and I think deeply flattering shade is misogynistic and cruel. In fact, she's proof you can become extraordinary through sheer force of will.

Kate, the simple truth is you don't owe us an explanation. The most important sovereignty is the one over your own body. Don't let anyone dull your shine.
Prince William admitted what every good woman knows today, saying: 'Behind every average man is an even better wife.'

The Prince of Wales, who celebrated his 14th wedding anniversary with wife Catherine this year, laughed and agreed 'this is it!' when told by a youth club leader how important his own partner's support had been.

He was speaking to Scott Jenkinson, 52, the founder of Youth Shedz, in Mochdre, North Wales, and his wife, Sian, about the importance of having a strong supporting figure by your side.

'Were you there with Scott when he turned his life around? ' he asked Sian, after hearing of Scott's previous challenges with homelessness and addiction. 'He has done well to turn his life around.'

Sian replied: 'He has, he really has.'

Scott said: 'With my wife behind me. You know that.'

William nodded and replied: 'This is it. Behind every average man there is an even better wife.'

Scott walked the Prince through different weekly group activities at the space, including cooking, gaming, podcasting and 3D printing.

The Prince of Wales walks with Scott Jenkinson, the founder of Youth Shedz during a visit to its headquarters in Conwy on Tuesday

WIlliam made the familiar remark saying behind an average man is a better wife. Pictured: The Prince and Princess of Wales during the the state visit to the UK of President of France in July

During the visit, William also spoke about family life and the importance of sitting down to eat together, saying children shouldn't be 'by screens or disappearing off elsewhere'.

The Prince had travelled to North Wales to spend time at a 'youth initiative space' aimed at young people who have faced complex life challenges, including homelessness and bullying.

At Youth Shedz's headquarters, in the Prince heard from children about how the project helps them navigate struggles with school and isolation.

The Prince also sat on the Youth Shedz outreach Bus 'Betsi' which is used to reach young people in the surrounding community.

He commented 'this is like a party bus' and joined the children who were making clay onboard.

Children spoke to William about overcoming shyness and explained how groups and forums on social media can help to bridge connections.

The Prince said: 'I always say, if you can start working with really good people in your community, then they will connect you and you can work your way up like that.

'You need a little bit of advice as to who to go to and when and that will help you.

'Foundations are really important. It is no good going straight up to the top.'

Scott said afterwards: 'One of our kids struggles with anger and The Prince asked him who he speaks to and he said no one.

'The Prince told him to talk to people, talk to Scott, talk to your teachers.

'The Prince really took the time to tell the children about foundations in life and how getting the right foundations when your young can then be built on in the future.'

William went on to watch children using the 3D printers and asked what exactly they found difficult about school.

The Prince, pictured on Tuesday, had travelled to North Wales to spend time at a 'youth initiative space'

The Prince of Wales even had time to play some pool during a visit to the youth centre in Mochdre in Wales

The Prince said: 'How does school make you feel? Does it make you anxious, angry, frustrated?'

He questioned multiple times if 'noise' or 'too many people in a classroom' were possible causes of difficulty.

Scott and Sian's daughter, Emily, als showed the Prince a glimpse into the cooking classes Youth Shedz runs for the children after school and gave him homemade earrings for Catherine.

Sian, a leader at Youth Shedz, explained to the Prince one of their key foundations for the children is learning how to build relationships through sitting down and eating at a table.

She said: 'A lot of families don't sit around a table and talk anymore.

We are trying to do what we can to make sitting down and chatting fun.'

The Prince agreed with the importance of this, adding that children shouldn't be 'by screens or disappearing off elsewhere'.

The Prince joked that the sugary homemade gifts he was given from the cookery display 'may never make it back' to his own children.

He also asked some school teachers in attendance if they ever felt 'isolated' or 'cut off' in this part of Wales.

They explained the power of community and the large role Youth Shedz played in this.

The Prince said: 'This space is amazing. It is useful and such an important part of the community, having a space like this to go to.'

Emily, a regular Youth Shedz attendee, said: 'The Prince has had a really positive impact on us here. He asked questions and he was really interested.'

Mr Jenkinson founded Youth Shedz in 2017 after struggling with a heroin addiction and experiencing homelessness in London.

He said: 'My vision is to have a Youth Shedz in every town, and one in the palace, could you imagine that?'
In Houston, Texas, massive office buildings that once buzzed with oil executives, engineers and energy traders now sit empty, with abandoned desks, computer screens and haunting silence.

The oil industry runs so deep in the heart of Texas that the series Landman, about roughnecks trying to get rich quick in the oil business, is a massive hit.

But in real life, a wave of big oil and natural gas consolidations in 2023, totaling more than $450 billion in deals, caused so many job cuts that offices were left deserted.

Of the 20 biggest US metro areas, Houston has the highest percentage of people working in the oil industry, according to Moody's Analytics.

After the mergers and job losses the housing market in the city also felt the pinch.

In early 2025, Houston's office vacancy rate soared to 27.9 percent, placing the metro behind only San Francisco, reports Bloomberg.

Now, sellers who can no longer afford to pay for a home are desperately trying to offload their properties.

So many homes are currently listed that in September, prices posted their biggest year-over-year decline since 2023, according to a report from CoStar.

Massive office buildings that once buzzed with oil executives now sit abandoned after mergers took away jobs

A wave of big oil and natural gas consolidations in 2023 totaling more than $450 billion in deals caused so many job cuts that offices were left deserted

The Taylor Sheridan series Landman, about roughnecks trying to get rich quick in the oil business, is a massive hit

The median Houston home price is $261,730, down 3.2 percent over the past year to September.

While this is good news for buyers, homes are still sitting on the market longer at an average of 44 days.

It's a shock for residents who saw Houston burst into a hot pandemic market. In May 2021, home prices in Houston surged by 11.9 percent year-over-year.

In 2022, homes were worth 16.6 percent higher than pre-pandemic.

'Prices are beginning to tick downward as the market shifts from a seller's market to a buyer's market,' Shae Cottar, chair of the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), told Newsweek.

As the consolidations turned downtown into a ghost town, the new, combined companies rushed to build more modern buildings outside of the city.

Houston, the fourth-largest US city, is trying to sort out how to repurpose the empty offices.

The 1980s-era buildings look and feel dated, relics of the last great oil boom. They make up more than half of Houston's office stock and are the hardest to fill.

Houston, the fourth-largest US city, is trying to sort out how to repurpose the offices that now sit empty downtown

Of the 20 biggest US metro areas, Houston has the highest percentage of people working in the oil industry, according to Moody's Analytics

The lack of zoning in sprawling Houston is also a problem, causing outward expansion to go so far that the city center has become less and less desirable. Plus, when oil prices do spike, most companies want to build brand-new towers, which is usually cheaper than renovating old ones.

In September, Devon Energy Corp. merged with Grayson Mill Energy and closed its enormous Houston office, according to Bloomberg.

Its employees moved to the company's Oklahoma City headquarters, Michelle Hindmarch, a company spokesperson, said in a statement at the time.

'This decision is rooted in our belief that in-person, co-located collaboration is essential to our ongoing performance and key to delivering exceptional results,' Hindmarch said.

Exxon Mobil Corp, a big employer in Houston, combined its Dallas and Houston offices to a new headquarters campus 30 minutes north of downtown Houston.

The vacated building was demolished in June after a fundraiser at a local shrimp and catfish festival auctioned off the right for someone to push the explosion button on the demo.

The company's official Facebook page promoted the contest, saying: 'We'll also be auctioning off the opportunity for one lucky person to symbolically "push the button" that will kick off the demolition.

'Join us at Rotary's Shrimp & Catfish Festival for a chance to be a part of history!'

The 1980s-era buildings look and feel dated, relics of the last great oil boom. They make up more than half of Houston's office stock and are the hardest to fill

The housing market across the city is struggling as a result of the abandoned offices and single-family homes and condos are not selling

The housing market across the city is struggling, and single-family homes and condos are not selling.

According to a recent Redfin report, prices of condos in Houston have dropped so much that the area is second to only Florida in the condo crisis.

'What that means is a seller can't just choose any price out of the sky, for their house. It has to be priced to the market,' Houston realtor Tim Surratt told Fox 26 Houston.

'Your house has to be ready to show, everything has to be in order or your house is going to sit on the market.

'A year ago, if the neighbor's house sold for $800,000, we'd ask for $840,000 for ours. Those days are gone.

'What your neighbor's house sold for, you have to price yours very similarly to that.'
The US military and other nations around the world allegedly used nuclear weapons to shoot down UFOs and harvest their technology from the crashed remains.

The shocking claims were made by filmmaker and director Dan Farah, who spent four years secretly interviewing high-level members of the US government and military regarding the existence of extraterrestrials.

While speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast on Friday, Farah said he had learned from unnamed sources responsible for the retrieval of these UFOs that nuclear testing carried out in the 1950s was often done to secretly disable alien craft.

'One of the realizations early on was that atomic weapon testing, nuclear weapon testing, has a ripple effect that can down these things,' Farah explained.

He added that the US military started setting off high altitude nuclear tests to essentially 'shoot fish in a barrel,' a practice that the Russians quickly followed to disable UFOs for their own experiments.

'Which is crazy on multiple levels. A, you could accidentally provoke a nuclear conflict with another party that doesn't know what you're doing. B, you're picking a fight with a more intelligent, superior species,' Farah warned.

The revelations come from his documentary, called The Age of Disclosure, released this month, that allegedly detailed the 80-year global cover-up of alien life and the technology humans have created using pieces of UFOs.

Despite the claims from a plethora of high-ranking government officials, the US government has said proof of alien life has never been found, and the military has added there's 'no verifiable evidence' they've ever recovered an alien spacecraft.

Nuclear testing in the Nevada desert in 1957. Filmmaker Dan Farah said these tests were secretly aimed at disabling UFOs

Dan Farah (Pictured) appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast to promote his new documentary 'The Age of Disclosure'

Farah said the nuclear explosions were deliberately carried out by elements of the US military intelligence community and their peers in foreign military intelligence communities, including the Soviet Union, to capture advanced technology.

However, the film's director and those who were interviewed for the documentary did not provide any physical evidence of extraterrestrial life or a government cover-up to back up their testimonies.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) said in an official report that America carried out 1,054 nuclear bomb tests between 1945 and 1992. Those included several high-altitude detonations, meaning they exploded over 31 miles above Earth.

The potentially catastrophic atomic detonations, many of which took place in the Nevada desert nearly 80 years ago, came after the US military spotted these strange craft appearing over nuclear weapons sites and bomber bases.

'Our defense capabilities and our nuclear progress essentially are being monitored,' Farah told Rogan during the podcast.

In addition to high-altitude atomic tests, the US and other nations detonated hundreds of nuclear weapons underwater during the Cold War, and Farah said this was directly linked to even more sightings of UFOs entering and exiting Earth's oceans.

According to the 2015 report from DOE, at least five of these atomic tests took place in the Pacific Ocean between 1946 and 1962.

'It's like throwing dynamite into the river. Fishing with dynamite. Oh my God, that's so crazy,' Rogan declared.

An atomic bomb explosion above Bikini Atoll in 1946. Nuclear detonations taking place in the ocean were allegedly done to target UFOs seen entering Earth's oceans

Government whistleblowers and members of Congress alleged that information about the recovery of alien spacecraft has been (Stock Image)

Both Farah and Rogan referenced recent claims made by Tennessee congressman Tim Burchett, who said US Navy personnel were aware of 'five or six' underwater UFO bases right off the US coast.

Burchett, a member of the House Oversight Committee overseeing UFO reports, has not produced any verifiable physical evidence, such as artifacts or clear footage of these underwater craft, to confirm the existence of alien bases.

Farah said that several US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) James Clapper, revealed the world was now locked in a Cold War to reengineer the alien technology recovered from these ships.

During his interviews, government officials admitted this new, secret Cold War would be far more consequential than the original nuclear arms race.

Members of Congress and the White House revealed in the documentary that the US, Russia, and China were all racing to be the first to fully weaponize non-human tech.

The director of 'The Age of Disclosure' added that certain UFO sightings in space and over sensitive areas are believed to be reverse-engineered human craft that have already been constructed and are still in the testing phase.

Joe Rogan (Pictured) was visibly stunned after Farah said the US military had alleedly used nuclear weapons to attack UFOs in the 1950s

According to Farah, Rubio was especially worried that China would beat the US in the race to unlock the secrets of alien technology recovered from all around the world.

'He literally says in the film, is If we don't get our act together and take this more seriously as a country, we're going to wake up one day, we're going to find out the hard way that China got there,' Farah recounted from his interview with Rubio.

'We won't know when or how, but to quote him, we will be screwed... His chin buckled when he said it. He was dead serious, and he was super concerned and you could feel it.'

Farah revealed that he had spoken to members of the Trump Administration, and the president has already ordered to current DNI Tulsi Gabbard to investigate the claims presented in the new documentary and find out what's being kept secret from him and former presidents.
A new study has shed light on incels, and exactly why some men are more likely to become women-hating recluses.

Psychologists in Spain conducted a review of scientific studies about incels  the growing online subculture of 'involuntarily celibates'.

They identified six key characteristics among this group  loneliness, rejection, low self-esteem, limited social support, and higher rates of anxiety and depression.

Such feelings can trigger anger, aggression and violence while driving males towards likeminded communities online on platforms like Reddit, X, YouTube and TikTok.

Researchers say it's essential to address mental health issues that may be driving inceldom, which was famously explored in the Netflix series Adolescence.

Study author Reyes Rodriguez, a psychologist at the University of Cordoba, said incels have a 'moral and emotional disconnection' that justifies hate speech.

'Incels are mostly heterosexual men from diverse ethnic backgrounds, generally estimated to be between 18 and 30 years old, although some may be younger,' she told the Daily Mail.

'They often hold misogynistic and racist beliefs rooted in hatred toward women, which they justify as a response to being rejected by women.'

Psychologists at the University of Cordoba in Spain conducted a review of scientific studies about incels  the growing online subculture of 'involuntary celibates' (file photo)

Rodriguez and colleagues reviewed 82 peer-reviewed scientific articles related to incel subculture written in English and Spanish.

All research papers were published between 2017 and 2023, but most were published in 2022 as 'incel' was becoming a mainstream term.

According to the review, incels can be defined by the language they use, their ideology, psychosocial traits and their tendency towards radicalisation (physical demonstrations such as rape and violence).

Incels claim to be rejected because they are unattractive, have mental health problems (anxiety, depression), are neurodivergent (autism), or are socially inept.

Young men and boys who identify as part of the incel subculture regard sex as a transactional act devoid of emotional ties, but also as a fundamental right that is denied to them as a result of feminism and female empowerment.

Incels blame women for their inability to have relationships and some even contend that the denial of sex by women is a punishable crime.

They also view heterosexuality as the normal or preferred sexual orientation and that only men who conform to 'heteronormative' standards of masculinity  such as strength, aggression and emotional stoicism  are considered attractive.

Another key part of the belief system is the 80/20 principle  the belief that 80 per cent of women are attracted to 20 per cent of men.

As Netflix series Adolescence (pictured) explained, incels believe in the 80/20 principle  the belief that 80 per cent of women are attracted to 20 per cent of men

The core feelings that can drive males to inceldom Loneliness Rejection Low self-esteem Limited social support Anxiety Depression Advertisement

The study also explains the terminology incels use  akin to speaking in an exclusive code because members of the general public don't generally understand it.

Women are commonly referred to as animals (as dangerous and dirty as pigs, cattle, snakes, and insects), food ('roast beef', inanimate objects ('sperm containers'), and androids, cyborgs or humanoids.

Incels use the term 'femoids' (female humanoids), to dehumanise them by turning them into a subhuman 'on which to legitimately apply violence', the study authors explain.

More specifically, attractive, sexually successful women are known by incels as 'Stacys', while 'Beckys' are supposed to be normal or relatively attractive women.

'Chads', physically attractive alpha male figures at the top of the male hierarchy, are also resented by incels and seen as part of the problem.

Ranking below this alpha male category are 'betas' (men of average appearance and with the ability to maintain a relationship) and incels (males too unattractive to achieve sexual success).

Incels believe that women take advantage of betas financially or for other reasons, and that betas end up being cheated on and used.

Terminology is also borrowed from sci-fi film The Matrix  namely the concept of taking the red pill (being introduced to the incel culture).

Members reach 'black pill' radicalisation where they become more extremist, developing a 'static ideology in which violence is advocated and condoned'.

What's bitterly ironic is that the term 'incel' wasn't originally a negative one.

It was coined in 1997 by a female university student in Toronto who'd created Alana's Involuntary Celibacy Project, a blog intended to provide support for individuals of all genders experiencing romantic and sexual exclusion.

It aimed to provide a stigma-free environment where people struggling with loneliness or difficulties in maintaining sexual or romantic relationships could share their feelings and find support from others in similar situations.

Alana's original project was inclusive, empathetic, avoided violent narratives and sought to eliminate stigmas such as those surrounding virginity.

However, after she relinquished ownership at the start of the 2000s, the forum gradually deviated, evolving into what it is today  a space dominated by men with a misogynistic ideology.

Today, incels glorify Elliot Rodger, a 22yearold who penned a 137-page incel manifesto before killing six people and injuring 14 others in California in 2014.

Four years later, 25yearold Toronto incel Alex Minassian carried out a deadly rampage that left 10 people dead and injured 16 others.

Shortly before carrying out the attack, he posted a message on social media that drew widespread attention: 'The Incel rebellion has begun.'

Are your children texting secret incel emojis? These are what the seemingly-innocent symbols actually mean

In 2021, British incel Jake Davidson went on a shooting spree in Plymouth, killing five people including a father and his 3-year-old daughter.

The new study, published in Aggression and Violent Behavior, says most incels don't engage in physical violence, but the 'normalization of misogynistic and aggressive rhetoric' online creates an environment where 'violent fantasies and actions are validated'.

The study identifies several priorities for future research, such as the role of mental health conditions like anxiety, depression and neurodivergence.

The team conclude: 'There is a need to examine the pathways and mechanisms of radicalization, as well as protective factors that could mitigate risks of violent behaviour.

'Understanding how mass attacks are glorified within incel communities and how these acts are interpreted as symbols of grievance is also critical for developing strategies to counteract such narratives.'
A comet has been predicted to strike the Earth by the end of the year, on what a controversial religious leader called 'the last day of this world.'

The doomsday warning came from the writings of Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi, a Pakistani spiritual leader and mystic, who claimed that God was sending a comet to collide with Earth because humanity had strayed too far from spiritual truths.

He founded several organizations to spread his teachings of 'divine love,' including the spiritual movement called Anjuman Serfaroshan-e-Islam and the Messiah Foundation International (MFI).

The prophecy, recorded in Gohar Shahis 2000 book 'The Religion of God,' states: 'A comet has been sent towards Earth for total destruction. The comet is expected to fall on Earth in the next 20-25 years. That will be the last day of this world.'

According to Gohar Shahi's followers in the MFI, the coming comet strike would unleash massive earthquakes, tsunamis, and widespread societal collapse, marking the end of the current world order.

This celestial judgment, the followers claimed, stems from humanity's moral decay, including endless wars fueled by nuclear weapons and the relentless destruction of one another over minor differences.

Despite the warning, NASA and other space agencies have not announced any objects that are projected to threaten Earth before the calendar turns to 2026.

Several comets and asteroids, including the infamous space rock Apophis, have recently been removed from NASA's list of objects that had a slim chance of striking the planet. However, none were projected to reach Earth anytime soon.

A mysterious religious leader from Pakistan has claimed that an unknown comet is about to strike Earth to punish humanity (Stock Image)

Gohar Shahi mysteriously disappeared just one year after the book's release while in London in September 2001.

However, his followers continue to maintain that the spiritual leader, who would be 84 today, is still alive and is currently in hiding from the world.

Over two decades ago, Gohar Shahi added that the signs of this doomsday comet had already been seen in the solar system, with part of the space rock allegedly striking our distant neighbor, Jupiter.

'A fragment of the comet had already fallen on Jupiter, two years ago. The scientists are aware of this, and they plan to settle on the Moon or any other planet before the comet falls,' he claimed in the book.

Despite his detailed account of the comet's path, the only significant collision to take place at Jupiter before the book's publication occurred in 1994, when Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 was torn apart and pulled in by the massive planet's gravity.

Meanwhile, the most noteworthy object currently traveling through our solar system in 2025 and 2026 is the interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS, which is projected to still be 170million miles away when it reaches its closest point to Earth on December 19.

Despite no obvious signs that Gohar Shahi's will be correct, a recent study did warn that Venus can potentially block our view of incoming asteroids, which have been hiding in the sun's glare, although there is no proof that it is happening right now.

The current leader of the MFI, Sufi Master Younus AlGohar, has said Gohar Shahi's timeline for the doomsday comet has likely shifted because of changing circumstances throughout the world, including Gohar Shahi's own disappearance.

Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi (Pictured) published the doomsday prediction before his disappearance in September 2001

At the heart of Gohar Shahi's teachings was the idea that true spirituality lies in divine love, a universal force uniting all religions.

He blended Sufism, a mystical dimension of Islam, and Islamic eschatology, the religious focus on end times and the final destiny of the soul.

Gohar Shahi blamed world leaders for squandering billions on the still-ongoing space races and lunar missions instead of alleviating poverty, arguing that such greed has severed ties with divine love and invited God's wrath.

'If they are making all these efforts for scientific research, what is the benefit to humanity even if they have reached the Moon and Jupiter? Have they discovered a breakthrough medicine which can prolong the ageing process, or a medicine that can defeat death?' the religious leader questioned in his book.

However, the alleged prophet sparked fierce controversy among orthodox Muslims by claiming to be the awaited Imam Mehdi, the Promised Messiah, and even the Hindu Kalki Avatar, which critics branded as blasphemous heresy.

In Pakistan, his claims, including that Jesus returned in 1997 and met with Gohar Shahi, led to blasphemy charges and a nationwide ban on his books and organizations in 2000.

The controversial religious leader's prophecy has resurfaced in the months following false claims that the biblical event known as the Rapture would take place on September 23.

The prediction by Pastor Joshua Mhlakela, a South African preacher, went viral and even influenced some believers to sell all of their belongings, thinking they were about to be instantly taken away from Earth to avoid Judgment Day.
Multiple ground stops and delays at America's busiest airports are beginning to upend the chaotic Thanksgiving travel week.

Due to thunderstorms from a coast-to-coast weather system moving across the US, all flights departing from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have been delayed by an average of 30 minutes.

The air traffic control tower was evacuated due to the storm, prompting a ground stop during the busy Thanksgiving rush at America's busiest travel hub.

As of 11.30am ET, more than 260 flights were delayed there.

Meanwhile, a potential ground stop was forecast at San Francisco International Airport lasting until midnight, but no official announcement or delays are in place at the moment.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also announced plans for ground stops at New York's John F Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports, and New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport Tuesday afternoon.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and Chicago O'Hare may see ground stops starting between 1pm and 5pm ET on Tuesday, according to the agency.

Approximately 82 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving, with Tuesday among the busiest days for Americans visiting family and friends this week.

The FAA issued a ground stop at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (Pictured) Tuesday morning, causing major delays for Thanksgiving travelers

The air traffic control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (pictured) was briefly evacuated due to strong thunderstorms in the area Tuesday morning

The list of potential disruptions or delays at these airports is based on FAA forecasts for problematic traffic, weather, staffing, or other operational factors.

The warnings are proactive alerts to help airlines, pilots, and travelers prepare for delays, but they are not guaranteed to occur.

The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston Tuesday morning due to both equipment outages and poor weather conditions.

Chicago Midway International Airport briefly halted flights because of 'low ceilings,' meaning low clouds have made it harder for pilots to take off and land safely.

Delays averaging around 30 minutes have been reported at nearby Chicago O'Hare International Airport for the same reason.

The travel chaos is expected to get even worse, with the FAA already warning of potential ground stops into the evening, including at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.

Meteorologists have noted that Tuesday will be the storm's busiest day, as it spreads heavy rain, gusty winds, and some thunderstorms across a huge stretch of the US, from the Gulf Coast and Southeast to the Midwest.

AccuWeather added that the worst headaches will likely cause hundreds of flight delays at major hubs like Chicago O'Hare, St Louis Lambert and MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport.

A major storm moving across the US is expected to cause travel delays throughout the Midwest and Southeast on Tuesday

Passengers wait in a long line to rebook their canceled flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. America's busiest travel hub was hit by delays on Tuesday (stock image)

As of 11.30am, more than 1,700 flights entering or departing from the US have been delayed, according to FlightAware.

Conditions for travelers in the Northeast and Great Lakes region are expected to deteriorate on Tuesday, with some areas seeing an 'all-out blizzard' by Thanksgiving.

AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said: 'As the storm in the north-central tier continues into the middle of the week, substantial blowing and drifting snow is forecast in portions of Minnesota and northern Michigan, with an all-out blizzard developing in the vicinity of Lake Superior.

'Wind gusts over 40 mph could cause airline delays in cities including Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland.'

By Wednesday, parts of the Dakotas, Wisconsin, and Michigan are predicted to see up to 12 inches of snow.

Meanwhile, dangerous wind gusts and continuous downpours on Tuesday night into Wednesday could impact flights in New York, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.
As many as 172 black bears are at risk of death in Florida after a judge approved the first hunt in a decade.

Leon County Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey rejected a request from Bear Warriors United, a Central Florida-based nonprofit, to halt this year's hunt, saying the group had failed to show a 'substantial likelihood of success on the merits' in its lawsuit.

The hunt is scheduled for December 6 through 28 on lands outside the wildlife management area system.

The commission issued 172 hunting permits, with each recipient allowed to kill one bear. Hunts will take place in four regions: the Apalachicola area west of Tallahassee, lands west of Jacksonville, a zone north of Orlando, and the Big Cypress area southwest of Lake Okeechobee.

Bear hunts in Florida began in the 1930s and ran until 1994, when the population dropped below 500. The hunt restarted in 2015 but was halted early after 304 bears were killed in just two days. This year's hunt has been designed with stricter limits to prevent a repeat of that outcome.

Dempsey said: 'That 2015 hunt was found constitutional under the rational basis test, and this hunt is significantly more conservative than that hunt in 2015, both in the number of bears that could be harvested, as well as the timing, when it's a little less likely for more female bears to be killed.'

Bear Warriors United, however, argues the commission approved the hunt in August using outdated data and without 'sound' science.

Thomas Crapps, an attorney for the group, said: 'FWC (the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) has made a decision here to go forward with a bear hunt, starting on Dec. 6, and has made its decision based on outdated and stale population information and models.'

The last black bear hunt was in 2015 (PICTURED). Officials paused the hunt when more than 300 bears were killed in just two days

This year's hunt is set for December 6 through 28. Pictured is a bear killed in 2015

A hunting license and a bear harvest permit are required to participate. Applicants must have been at least 18 years old by October 1, 2025.

Bear harvest permits are non-transferable and cost $100 for residents and $300 for nonresidents, plus handling fees. Only 10 percent of the permits are allocated to nonresidents.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said reopening the regulated bear hunt will allow officials to manage population growth while providing public access to the resource.

'Hunting allows the FWC to start managing population growth rates for the Bear Management Units, or BMUs, with the largest bear subpopulations,' the agency said.

'Slowing population growth will help balance population numbers with suitable habitat, and hunting is an important and effective tool that is used to manage wildlife populations across the world.'

The FWC cited the most recent scientifically valid population estimate from 2015, which indicated roughly 4,050 bears statewide.

Michael Orlando, the commission's bear program coordinator, told Judge Dempsey that bear population studies do not operate on a strict timeline.

'Those studies are good for quite a bit of time, based on female survival, birth rates, death rates, that sort of thing. So, no, all of that is the best available science that we have, and we make decisions based on that,' Orlando said.

He added that the hunt was planned conservatively to minimize impacts on female bears.

Hunts will take place in four regions: the Apalachicola area west of Tallahassee, lands west of Jacksonville, a zone north of Orlando, and the Big Cypress area southwest of Lake Okeechobee

The commission issued 172 hunting permits, with each recipient allowed to kill one bear. Pictured isa bear killed in 205

The hunt is to help control the black bear population that is more than 4,000 in Florida. Pictured is a bear killed in 2015

The FWC cited the most recent scientifically valid population estimate from 2015, which indicated roughly 4,050 bears statewide

'If all 172 bears were harvested, and they were all female, it would still not impact the population,' Orlando said.

Rhonda Parnell, the commission's acting deputy general counsel, countered that Bear Warriors United had not demonstrated any violation of constitutional due-process rights.

She noted that the group's members had opportunities to participate, attending public workshops and two official meetings where the bear hunt rules were established.

Parnell also highlighted that courts have consistently affirmed the commission's sole authority to regulate hunting in Florida.

'This becomes Bear Warriors whining about what they did not get,' Parnell said. 'They didn't get what they wanted, because they didn't want a bear hunt.'

The 2015 season was scheduled for a full week, allowing up to 320 black bears to be killed.

Soon after the hunt began early in the morning, hunters began arriving at check stations throughout the state so that their bears could be weighed and their deaths could be recorded by officials.
The opening date of Disneyland Paris' multi-billion euro refurbishment has been revealed in a spectacular Frozen-themed drone show over the French resort.

Walt Disney Studios Park will transform into Disney Adventure World, with a whole host of new attractions, on 29 March 2026.

The highlight of this expansion, the new World of Frozen, will fully immerse guests into the heart of the iconic films.

The Kingdom of Arendelle, recreated on a life-size scale, will feature a new family-friendly attraction and a daytime show.

You'll also be able to enjoy a royal encounter with queens Anna and Elsa.

A key feature will be a true-to-size Olaf, who walks and talks, made possible thanks to next-generation robotic figures.

During their visit, guests can participate in the Snowflower Festival, bringing the entire village of Arendelle to life.

The majestic 118-foot (36-metre) North Mountain, crowned by Elsa's Ice Palace, will be a stand-out feature.

The opening date of Disneyland Paris' multi-billion euro refurbishment has been revealed

The highlight of this expansion, the new World of Frozen, will fully immerse guests into the heart of the iconic films

You'll also be able to enjoy a royal encounter with queens Anna and Elsa, and a key highlight will be a true-to-size Olaf

At its base lies the fictional village of Arendelle, with its lively town square framed by colourful Nordic-inspired buildings and sparkling water spots.

Inspired by Scandinavian landscapes, the scenery will recreate the atmosphere of the animated films' settings.

At the heart of the village, beneath the Clock Tower, the Frozen Ever After attraction will take guests of all ages on a boat ride alongside Anna, Elsa, and other characters.

This journey will be punctuated by songs such as 'Do You Want to Build a Snowman?' and 'Let It Go'.

The ride will travel from the snowy forest to the Valley of the Trolls, through Elsa's dazzling Ice Palace, before ending with a spectacular finale in Arendelle Bay lit by snowflake-shaped fireworks.

Exclusively for the new World of Frozen, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the multi-award-winning songwriting duo, have composed new music especially for a show.

Natacha Rafalski, president of Disneyland Paris, explains: '29th March 2026 will mark a historic milestone for Disneyland Paris with the transformation of our second park into Disney Adventure World, and the opening of its spectacular new expansion, featuring World of Frozen.

'With this step, we're pursuing the most ambitious transformation in our resort's history, pushing the boundaries of storytelling and inviting guests to live their own adventures.'

The Kingdom of Arendelle, recreated on a life-size scale, will feature a new family-friendly attraction and a daytime show

Inspired by Scandinavian landscapes, the scenery will recreate the atmosphere of the animated films' settings

The majestic 118-foot (36-metre) North Mountain, crowned by Elsa's Ice Palace, will be the crowning glory

She added: 'This marks a new era for Europe's number one tourist destination, filled with deeper storytelling, stronger emotions, and unforgettable moments.

'Supported by our 2 billion investment plan, this expansion reflects a bold creative vision, made possible thanks to the talent of Walt Disney Imagineering and the passion of our Cast Members who bring our stories to life through their dedication and creativity.

'Together, we're reinventing how our guests experience Disney Animation, Pixar, and Marvel worlds, bringing to life the emotions that only Disney can inspire.'

Disneyland Paris' second park  now reimagined  will transport guests into the worlds inspired by Disney Animation, Pixar Animation Studios, and Marvel Studios films they love where they can experience unforgettable adventures.

It will welcome guests to three spectacular immersive lands: the new World of Frozen, the colourful Worlds of Pixar, and the epic Marvel Avengers Campus.

These will later be joined by a fourth world inspired by the classic Disney Animation film The Lion King.
Many Brits seek to escape the cold UK weather during the winter and book a holiday somewhere with a much warmer climate.

Or, they might want to jet off on a festive break where snow is guaranteed and they can really get into the Christmas spirit.

Either way, there are certain dates that are cheaper for that break, and travel experts from Expedia have revealed when.

Plenty of European destinations have seen an increase in interest, especially Wrocaw, Poland, which saw a 195 per cent surge in searches.

Meanwhile, Burcharest in Romania had a 115 per cent and Malta 115 per cent.

For holidaymakers hoping to jet off on an international flight for a winter break, the cheapest dates are December 4 and 5.

The most expensive dates, and perhaps the ones to avoid, are December 17 and 21.

Closer to home, trending spots in the UK include Fort William which has seen a 145 per cent surge in interest, Tenby has a 105 per cent increase and Canterbury 55 per cent.

Malta (pictured) proved to be a trending international destination for holidaymakers looking for a winter break, according to Expedia

The cheapest dates for domestic flights are February 3 and 26.

There are certain dates to avoid, too, if you're wanting to save money during your travels.

According to Expedia, the most expensive dates for domestic flights proved to be December 17 and January 3.

'The cheapest days to travel vary this winter, with the lowest international fares in early December and domestic bargains at the beginning and end of February,' said Melanie Fish, spokesperson for Expedia Group.

'Keep those time frames in mind to find the best deals, and don't forget to bundle your hotel and flight, and you could unlock more savings.'

Accommodation can vary in price during the cooler season, too.

For domestic stays, it can be cheaper to book on January 5 and 26, while international trips might be more affordably on January 16 and February 2.

It can be more expensive to stay in the UK on December 28 and 29.

For holidaymakers hoping to jet off on an international flight for a winter break, the cheapest dates are December 4 and 5

Meanwhile, accommodation costs abroad can add up on December 27 and February 14.

Expedia also shared tips for how to make the most of winter getaways and advises to take advantage of price alerts.

Holidaymakers can sign up for notifications to tell them when an airline drops ticket prices.

Sales, such as the Black Friday event, are also great ways to bag bargains.
With big brands pushing out independent retailers, a common complaint is that all high streets look the same.

While this can be useful for customers looking for specific items stocked by these trusted chains, many shoppers feel that their local high street has lost a sense of its individuality as local retailers make way for international giants.

However, it's not all doom and gloom.

When visiting a new city, the best way to experience its culture is to seek out local recommendations and look beyond the chains.

Take London, for example. There are plenty of high streets packed with chain retailers, but down the next street, you can find yourself next to a historic building or standing outside a family-run cafe that's been loved by locals for decades.

It comes as Time Out has compiled a ranking of the worlds coolest streets, ranking each street against criteria including food, drink, culture, fun and community spirit.

The best news is that two of the top spots are in the UK, meaning your next adventure could be on your doorstep.

Read on to find out which streets made the top 31.

1. Rua do Senado, Rio de Janeiro

Rua do Senado in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is known for its historic houses and traditional bars

When most people think of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, street carnivals are one of the first things that come to mind.

During the week-long Carnival festival, the streets are awash with music, dancers and themed floats.

In downtown Rio, Rua do Senado embraces this vibe with traditional bars hosting lively samba sessions and more modern venues providing regular lineups of DJs and live shows.

2. Orange Street, Osaka

The entrance to Orange Street in Osaka, Japan, is filled with fashion boutiques and lifestyle shops

In one of Japan's trendy shopping districts, old and new architecture are blended to create a unique neighbourhood known for its boutiques, cafes and vintage shops.

Also known as Tachibana-dori, Orange Street in Osaka was originally a furniture district but has since become a popular spot for locals and tourists alike to soak up the vibrant atmosphere without the crowds of larger shopping areas.

Visitors are encouraged to explore beyond the main street as many unique shops are hidden in the side alleys.

3. Rua do Bonjardim, Porto

In Porto, Portugal, Rua Do Bonjardim in the city center is known for its traditional Portuguese architecture with a distinctive curved facade and balconies

In Porto, Portugal, downtown Rua do Bonjardim (Bonjardim Street) takes third spot.

It is conveniently located close to major attractions like Bolhao Market and Avenida dos Aliados, in a part of the city thats popular with both tourists and locals.

New and old businesses mingle in this nearly one-kilometre-long street where you'll find old-school grocers and fun places to stay, such as Village by Boa and Torel Saboaria, a hotel that once housed a soap factory.

4. Fanghua Street, Chengdu

Fanghua Street in Chengdu, the capital of the Chinese province of Sichuan, is described as 'the citys go-to strip for people-watching, coffee sipping and boutique browsing'.

Strolling down the street, you will be met with low-rise apartments splashed with murals, coffee shops that turn into wine bars and studios selling handmade jewellery you can watch being crafted in real time.

5. Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal

Sherbrooke Street on the Island of Montreal is known for its historical charm, boutiques, restaurants, museums and art galleries

Claiming a spot within the top five, Sherbrooke Street is the second-longest street on the Island of Montreal, Canada.

Home to the city's aristocracy in the late 1800s, it is now home to a mixture of historic properties, museums, fashion boutiques and restaurants ranging from casual French and Italian to Southern BBQ and Indian.

6. Montague Road, Brisbane

In the West End neighborhood of Brisbane, Australia, there is no shortage of boutique art stores, plant nurseries and wellness spaces that stay open late

In Brisbane's West End, this riverside industrial strip is home to ballet and theatre houses that draw in crowds with big-ticket productions.

Between them, you will find boutique art stores, plant nurseries and wellness spaces that stay open late.

For food lovers, there are plenty of bars, Korean street food spots and the citys tiniest Japanese bar.

Montague Road leads to South Bank and QAGOMA, Brisbanes hub of contemporary art.

7. Maybachufer, Berlin

Berlin is known for its edgy clubbing scene, but if you venture to the canal side, you will find a 1.5km stretch in Reuterkiez that has traded its nineteenth-century industrial vibe for casual beers under willow trees.

A stall at the weekly market on Maybachufer, Berlin, is pictured

The long-running Neukollner Wochenmarkt  aka the Turkish Market  is one of Maybachufers main draws, with traders hollering deals over hot borek and herbs.

8. Olympou Street, Thessaloniki

In Greece, Thessaloniki, the capital of the north, is known for its laid-back atmosphere and foodie scene.

By day, on Olympou Street, you'll find stately buildings that house quirky vintage shops and art spaces, like To Pikap, a hybrid coffee bar, independent record label, exhibition space and web radio, attracting creative locals and curious visitors.

As night falls, the street transforms.

Outdoor tables line the streets as indie music plays. You'll find plenty of traditional taverns and craft beer bars to drink the night away.

9. Orchard Street, New York City

The Lower East Side Tenement Museum on Orchard Street in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, is pictured

It's the city that never sleeps.

Walking down Orchard Street, an eight-block stretch of the Lower East Side, you'll find thrift stores, leather shops, art galleries and low-rise brick buildings that house unique restaurants.

In the evening, the street is transformed as music begins spilling out of bars while restaurants drag tables into the street for al fresco dinners.

10. Vinh Khanh Street, Ho Chi Minh City

Pictured: Vinh Khanh Street in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

In Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is a water-bound island known for its narrow, walkable alleys and bustling nightlife

Walking along Vinh Khanh, a kilometre-long street, you'll find dozens of seafood grills, street sellers selling dried squid and buskers performing in the middle of the road as motorbikes zoom around them.

11. Rue de Flandre, Brussels

Rue de Flandre (also known as Vlaamsestraat) in Brussels, Belgium, is pictured

Just a short stroll from the central square of Brussels, Rue de Flandre is known for its cobbled streets, indie boutiques. cafes and a bustling art scene.

12. Nishihara Shotengai, Tokyo

Escape the crowds in Tokyo by visiting Nishihara, a stylish strip just north of Yoyogi-Uehara, which is packed with bakeries, cosy cafes and intimate bars.

Nishihara Shotengai street in the Nishihara neighborhood of Shibuya, Tokyo, has a local, authentic residential feel and is less crowded than central Shibuya

This calm, walkable pocket of Tokyo blends trends and tradition without the crowds or chaos.

13. Rue des Gravilliers, Paris

In the city of light, the former working-class neighbourhood of Marais is today the centre of trendy Paris, and Rue des Gravilliers is no exception.

Along the 13th-century narrow street youll find leather craftsmen, Asian canteens, art galleries and delicious cheeses and sourdough breads

Along the 13th-century narrow street youll find leather craftsmen, Asian canteens, art galleries and delicious cheeses and sourdough breads.

14. Joo Chiat Road, Singapore

Pictured: Historical buildings in Joo Chiat Road, Singapore

In Singapore's eastern Katong district, Joo Chiat Road is known for housing more than 800 colourful storefronts, housing everything from old-school eateries and hip cafes to indie boutiques.

15. Avenida Alvaro Obregon, Mexico City

Pictured: Avenida Alvaro Obregon in the fashionable Roma Norte neighborhood of Mexico City

In spot 15 is Avenida Alvaro Obregon in Mexico City, which was once lined with mansions and Art Nouveau decorations.

At the heart of the Roma neighbourhood, the street is filled with art galleries, restaurants, and cafes on every corner.

By day, you can find people walking their dogs, jogging and reading, and by night, you can find them lining up for restaurants and nightclubs.
A former Bali resident has revealed the dark side expats rarely disclose after settling into what looked like 'paradise from the outside.'

With its lush jungles, volcanic peaks, serene beaches and spiritual roots, Bali has long been glamourised as the ultimate destination for those in search of a wellness break.

Bali welcomed a staggering 16.4 million international and domestic visitors in 2024, and, as of 2025, is officially inhabited by 4.2 million residents.

But as the number of annual visitors continue to surge, along with the rapid growth of its expat community, some former residents say the reality of living on the island is much more complicated than the dream sold on social media.

Ainura Kalau, who lived for nine months in Canggu with her husband, shared her experience with VegOut, describing how frequent infrastructure problems, visa stress, pollution issues and fragmented connections were enough to drive the couple away.

Read on to discover eight downsides to Bali living shared by the former resident.

Visa renewal

According to Kalau, one of the first cracks in the dream appeared with the island's 'exhausting' visa system.

As Bali's annual visitor numbers continue to surge, former residents like Ainura Kalau say the reality of living on the island is much more complicated than it appears on social media

Kalau said the island's visa system can become 'exhausting' as renewals have to be done every few months

She noted most people arrive on a tourist visa that needs extending every month or two.

Even with the help of an agent, or alternatively embarking on visa runs to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur every few months, the process of regularly handing over one's passport becomes 'another thing to plan around.'

She added: 'The uncertainty gets to you. You're never fully settled because you know your time is technically limited, even if you keep renewing. It's hard to commit to anything long-term when your legal status feels temporary.'

Healthcare

While minor issues - such as a cold or a cut - are easily taken care of in expat hubs, Kalau warned more serious issues may require medical evacuation to Singapore or Bangkok.

Recounting a friend's appendicitis scare, she revealed the local hospital 'wasn't equipped' for the surgery she needed, which resulted in her insurance company arranging an emergency flight out.

She warned insurance covering such evacuations is 'expensive' - costs many younger expats try to avoid.

Pollution

Environmental issues are increasingly hard to ignore in Bali - from 'serious' trash problems to smoke caused by the burning of rubbish leading to health issues, according to Kalau

Despite Bali's reputation for remarkable natural beauty, Kalau says environmental challenges are increasingly hard to ignore.

She wrote: 'Bali has a serious trash problem. You'll see it along the roadsides, in the rivers, washing up on certain beaches during rainy season.'

Residents also have to deal with locals burning their rubbish in the evenings, which creates billows of smoke that settles over densely populated areas and reportedly causes health issues.

According to Kalau, her husband dealt with 'constant' sinus issues, while she herself developed a 'persistent' cough, which became especially bad during the dry season in Canggu and Seminyak.

Living in a bubble

Though Canggu, Seminyak and Ubud have established themselves as hubs for remote workers and wellness seekers, these areas have also formed their own 'weird' bubbles that, in Kalau's eyes, are far removed from the rest of Indonesia.

She claims that many cafes serve avocado toast and specialty coffee to customers who can get by without having to learn any Indonesian.

According to the former resident, the wealth gap is huge: the monthly rate to rent a villa is sometimes the average amount a local family lives on for 'six months or more.'

Areas like Canggu and Ubud have formed their own 'weird' bubbles that, in Kalau's eyes, are far removed from the rest of Indonesia

Fragmented friendships

While Bali is well-known for its social scene, including lively beach clubs and humbling wellness retreats, the constant turnover of residents often results in 'surface-level' connections.

Kalau wrote: ' Everyone's transient. Someone you get close to leaves in a month. New people cycle in constantly, and you end up having the same introductory conversations over and over.'

She also noticed a competitive edge to many friendships in terms of who's travelling to the 'coolest places,' or whose lifestyle looks most 'enviable' on social media, which she says eventually becomes 'tiring.'

According to Kalau, the constant turnover of residents and tourists in Bali often results in 'surface-level' connections

Infrastructure

For many digital nomads and expats who rely on working remotely, Kalau warns Bali's infrastructure can be a major obstacle.

She revealed power outages were a regular occurrence, which led to her and her husband paying for two different providers to avoid issues with the internet cutting out during important calls.

In addition, the couple had to deal with housing issues in their villa, such as mould issues, 'inconsistent water pressure,' slow responses from their landlord and after-effects of flooding brought on by heavy rain.

Bali's infrastructure, Kalau says, can lead to mould issues, inconsistent water pressure, power outages and aftereffects of flooding brought on by heavy rain

Traffic congestion and the risks of travelling by scooter also added to daily stress - and costs.

The cost of living large

Despite Bali's reputation for affordability, Kalau says most expats don't want to live cheaply - which only adds to the spiralling costs of living comfortably - and safely - there.

She said: 'You can live cheaply in Bali if you eat local food, rent in less touristy areas, and live like a local. But most expats don't do that. They want the nice villa, the Western food options, the co-working spaces with good Wi-Fi.'

Once Kalau factored in visas, reliable health insurance, return tickets back home and generally higher prices in expat areas, she found her savings began 'shrinking' considerably.

She also claims there's a 'hidden cost' in regularly having to replace items such as electronics and clothes, which both wear down easily as a result of humidity and mould.

Feeling stuck

The nail in the coffin for Kalau was the emotional toll of living between cultures and far from home.

Though she acknowledged she wasn't a tourist, she also felt she wasn't a 'true resident.'

During their time in Bali, she noted the couple missed out on important events, from family gatherings to weddings to baby showers - experiences 'you can't get back.'

She concluded: 'By month seven, I started feeling lonely in a way that had nothing to do with the number of people around me. I missed having roots somewhere. I missed being part of a community where I contributed something beyond tourist dollars.'
In Egypt, metro trains in Cairo and trams in Alexandria have reserved carriages just for women.

In Brazil, dedicated cars for women aim to decrease sexual harassment on the subway.

In Japan, women-only carriages were implemented years ago, and still exist in cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.

In these countries as well as others such as Malaysia, train compartments just for women have the purpose of making travel safer.

The same applies for such cities as Jakarta in Indonesia.

As for us here in the UK, 'ladies-only' train carriages are a thing of the past.

So, what could we learn from the designated pink compartments adopted around the world?

A travel writer from The Telegraph has shared her expert opinion on the matter.

In Japan, women-only carriages were implemented years ago, and still exist in cities such as Tokyo and Osaka

In these countries as well as others such as Malaysia, train comparments just for women have the purpose of creating a safer space to travel

There are great advantages to the system, The Telegraph reported. For one, it improves female solo travel.

With female-only cars staffed by female conductors on certain sleeper trains in Kazakhstan, for instance, the feeling of safety is much greater.

Travelling in women-only carriages could help both tourists and locals avoid any unwanted advances from men.

While they will not end sexual harassment altogether, they could be a great step forward.

Earlier this year, a 21-year-old UCL student launched a campaign calling for women-only carriages on the tube in London.

Camille Brown's petition urged Sadiq Khan and TfL to 'do more to protect women' after saying harassment on public transport has become a 'growing issue' in the capital.

With a petition signed by more than 12,000 people and the attention of the London Mayor, Camille asked that at least one dedicated women-only carriage be introduced on every tube line in an attempt to limit gender-based harassment on the underground.

The response was mixed, with some in support of the idea and others meeting the proposition with criticism - with many outraged, saying it increases segregation and is underutilised in some places.

The same applies for such cities as Jakarta in Indonesia

It comes after it was last week reported that a women's rights campaigner has rejected calls for female-only Tube carriages.

She instead said it should be men who are segregated in order to drive down harassment and sexual assault on the network.

Patsy Stevenson said a men-only carriage would be a better solution than segregating victims, because they constitute the 'majority' of offenders.

In the first six months of 2025, there were 907 sexual offences reported across all TfL services, an increase from 879 in the same period the previous year, the BBC reported.
When Wiktoria, 19, asked her father, Aleksander Sikora, 41, for a day out shopping in London, the plans unexpectedly changed.

Budget traveller Aleksander instead managed to fly them both out to Lanzarote.

The father-and-daughter pair, from Surrey, enjoyed a day on the beach and the retail employee trainer claims it was cheaper than a day in the capital.

Aleksander booked return flights with easyJet from London Gatwick to Lanzarote Airport just three days before the trip and paid 60.

The duo flew out on November 11 and had six hours to enjoy the coast and Wiktoria was able to explore the local fashion shops and markets.

At under 100 per person, it proved to be a bargain day out compared to what Aleksander might have spent in London.

He accounted for petrol to the airport which was 10 and parking at the hub for 15.

It also cost around 3 in total for them both to ride the bus from Lanzarote Airport to the centre.

When Wiktoria, 19, asked her father, Aleksander Sikora, 41, for a day out shopping in London , the plans unexpectedly changed

Budget traveller Aleksander instead managed to fly them both out to Lanzarote

While they were there, Aleksander tucked into a chow mien from a Chinese takeaway for 10.

The pair were home by midnight - and Aleksander said Wiktoria enjoyed it so much that she's keen to try another 'extreme day trip' in the future.

Aleksander said: 'My daughter said she wanted to go shopping - I said 'give me a day and let me check something on the internet'.

'I came back and offered her a day trip to Lanzarote to do her shopping at the markets instead - and she said 'why not?'.

'While she went off shopping, I listened to music and flew my drone on the beach - I enjoyed some peace and quiet time in the sun.

'It's not for everyone and people will say I'm crazy for the trip - but it was what I needed to calm my mind.'

Aleksander claimed a trip to London would be more expensive than a day in the sunshine abroad.

He said: 'If you spent a day in London it would cost more than I spent. In the present time, a lot is going on, the price of everything is increasing and everyone has work pressure. Sometimes you just need a few minutes to yourself, however you get it.'

When they arrived in Lanzarote, they got a 1.20 bus straight to Puerto Del Carmen where Aleksander parked himself on the beach while his daughter went off to shop.

At under 100 per person, it proved to be a bargain day out compared to what Aleksander might have spent in London

They packed light for the day trip, with Aleksander only bringing one small bag containing just a towel, his phone, passport, a powerbank, an empty water bottle, some headphones and his drone.

He relaxed in the sun for four hours, listening to music and flying his drone to take aerial photos of the coast. During the trip, he mostly drank water to save on costs.

He said: 'It was on a budget, I'm not talking champagne and all-inclusive drinks.

'I just spent time on the beach, listened to my music, flew my drone and enjoyed the sun. I just relaxed, it's like meditation, you don't need much more than that.'

After six hours in Lanzarote they caught a flight home and the trip proved to be a success. They landed back in the UK at around 10:30pm.
Imagine this: you're halfway through your plane journey, anxiously anticipating your arrival to whichever exciting holiday destination you've chosen.

The weather has taken a turn for the worse - and, all of a sudden, lightning strikes.

You'd be forgiven for feeling terrified.

But what really happens if a plane is hit by lightning?

Globetrotting flight attendant Mateusz Kowalewicz has revealed the highs and lows of life in the skies - from lightning strikes and brutal sleep deprivation to ticking off the world's greatest wonders.

Mateusz first caught the travel bug as a teenager after joining a school exchange with Israel - his very first trip abroad.

He soon began exploring Europe on the cheap, hitchhiking to save cash, before eventually deciding to become a flight attendant so he could get paid to do what he loved.

But it's not always smooth sailing. Mateusz recalled one flight he was on being struck by lightning.

Globetrotting flight attendant Mateusz Kowalewicz has revealed the highs and lows of life in the skies - from lightning strikes and brutal sleep deprivation to ticking off the world's greatest wonders

Mateusz first caught the travel bug as a teenager after joining a school exchange with Israel - his very first trip abroad

But it's not always smooth sailing. Mateusz recalled one flight being struck by lightning

'It felt like someone flashed a camera straight in my eyes. A moment later, we heard from the cockpit that we had to turn back to Warsaw.

'The aircraft was fine, but logically it's better to return and take another plane than risk finding out in Rome that the aircraft must be grounded.'

Mateusz, 29, grew up in Biaystok, Poland, and now lives in Warsaw, travelling the world for work.

He told Polish media: 'It's very hard to describe a typical month, because every single one is different.

'My airline operates three types of aircraft, which means it never gets boring, and the roster looks different every month.

'My biggest travel achievement is visiting all the 'New Seven Wonders of the World'. I owe a lot of that to my job - I visited four on layovers and flew to another using staff tickets.'

When asked what frustrates him most, he didn't hesitate: 'Not being able to fall asleep, especially in the East on long-haul layovers.

'I'm a heavy sleeper, so any unexpected wake-up in the middle of the night because of time zones is awful.'

He soon began exploring on the cheap, hitchhiking to save cash, before eventually deciding to become a flight attendant so he could get paid to do what he loved

Mateusz, 29, grew up in Biaystok, Poland, and now lives in Warsaw, travelling the world for work

His job has also allowed him to splurge on bucket-list adventures

What he loves most is the unpredictability.

'Sometimes you fly to Chicago on a layover and end up meeting a Polish priest who invites you to an American christening for nearly 200 people - and one of the guests is a passenger you met on a flight a few months earlier.

'Absolutely incredible!'

His job has also allowed him to splurge on bucket-list adventures such as skydiving in Dubai and taking a seaplane ride in Mauritius.

As for travel dreams still on the list: 'I'd like to climb Kilimanjaro, and I can see I'm being drawn towards Africa, which is the continent I've explored the least after Australia.'
Flights have been cancelled after a volcano in Ethiopia erupted for the first time in 12,000 years.

Volcanic ash from Hayli Gubbi, a long-dormant volcano, crossed the Red Sea through Oman and Yemen into India on Monday evening.

Air India cancelled 11 flights yesterday and today as a result, and other airlines were also affected, leading to travel chaos across the region.

Flights with Akasa Air to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi were also cancelled.

The FCDO has warned travellers to check their flights, to ensure they are still going ahead.

The GOV.UK website explains: 'An eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano, Afar region, took place on November 23, 2025.

'Travellers in the region should follow the advice of local authorities. Airspace can be affected during and following eruptions.

'If you are travelling during a period of heightened activity, check with your travel provider.'

Flights have been cancelled after a volcano in Ethiopia erupted for the first time in 12,000 years

Volcanic ash from Hayli Gubbi, a long-dormant volcano, crossed the Red Sea through Oman and Yemen into India on Monday evening

The Ministry of Civil Aviation in India said only a few flights were rerouted as a precaution.

It added that the airports authority had issued a notice to all affected planes.

The ash cloud is moving towards China and is expected to clear Indian skies this afternoon UK time, according to the India Meteorological Department.

In a statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said it has been working closely with Air Traffic Control, the India Meteorological Department, airlines and the Airports Authority of India after the eruption and the movement of the ash cloud.

Airline IndiGo wrote on X: 'Following the recent eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia, ash clouds are reported to be drifting towards parts of western India.

'We understand that such news may cause concern, and we want to reassure you that your safety remains our highest priority.

'Our teams are closely tracking the situation in coordination with international aviation bodies.'

It went on to say: 'We will continue to monitor the developments around the clock and keep you informed of any updates to help minimise inconvenience (if any).'

An eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano, Afar region, took place on November 23, 2025

The volcano in Ethiopia erupted for the first time on Sunday morning.

The eruption sent ash plumes up to 8.7 miles (14km) high, according to Reuters.

Some journeys have been cancelled, delayed or rerouted in India as a result, according to the BBC.

The country's aviation regulator has asked airlines to 'strictly avoid' affected areas.
An 'insanely sinister and eerily realistic' Netflix crime drama has rocketed up the charts as viewers raved over a string of twists that 'keep you guessing'.

The Crystal Cuckoo is a Spanish drama based on Javier Castillo's 2021 novel El cuco de cristal.

The six-part series landed on the popular streaming service on November 14, and follows the story of a young woman called Clara Merlo who travels to a fictional Spanish town called Yesques to find out more about her heart donor.

'Hoping to learn more about her heart donor, a young doctor arrives in a mountain town where decades of mysterious tragedies plague the small community,' Netflix's synopsis reads.

It stars the likes of Catalina Sopelana, 33, Alfons Nieto, Alex Garcia, 44, Itziar Ituno, 51, Tomas del Estal and Ivan Massague, 49.

The programme has received rave reviews and according to Metro, it had already managed to land in the top 10 of the global charts at number six last week.

An 'insanely sinister and eerily realistic' Netflix crime drama has rocketed up the charts as viewers have raved over the twists that 'keep you guessing'

The Crystal Cuckoo is a Spanish drama based on Javier Castillo's 2021 novel El cuco de cristal

Author of the book Javier also took to Instagram on November 16 to share that the series hit the top spot on Netlix.

'The Crystal Cuckoo is NOW the most viewed series on @netflix and I couldn't be happier,' he said.

Many have taken online to share their positive reviews about the show, with one from Heaven of Horror saying: 'It features an insanely sinister and eerily realistic serial killer story that feels like something you could just as easily have come across on the evening news.'

Meanwhile otherse rushed to IMDB to share their thoughts.

'The plot developed well as the present is illuminated by the past, unsolved mysteries slowly come to light and get resolved by the end of the series.

'The characters are well developed as their past lives come to light revealing the reasons for them being the people they are today. Overall, well written, well acted and well directed.'

'Quite underrated.'

'I liked this 6-episode miniseries; it goes by quickly and is quite intense and mysterious with disturbing crimes and moments of high tension.'

'Highly recommended.'

The six-part series landed on the popular streaming service on November 14, and follows the story of a young woman called Clara Merlo who travels to a fictional Spanish town called Yesques to find out more about her heart donor

Many have rushed online to share their rave reviews about the Spanish drama - with one saying that they 'highly recommend'

'I like Spanish TV series. The Crystal Cuckoo is also a Spanish series and takes place in a small town. Watching Itziar Ituno in this show is a great pleasure. It's a horror series, and the script is very well written.'

The directors of the drama are Laura Alvea and Juan Miguel del Castillo.

Meanwhile Jesus Mesas and Andres Roig adpated the novel for the big screen.

Protagonist Catalina Sopelana took to Instagram at the start of November to share some snaps from the show.

She wrote: 'This Friday we premiere: The Crystal Cuckoo adaptation of the novel from @netflix on @javiercordura.

'Here is a small part of the amazing team that made it possible.

'There are so many obvious ones left. Tremendously grateful for this opportunity and very eager to see what it looks like.'

Meanwhile author Javier took to his social media page to share his excitement with fans.

'Today El Cudo De Crystal arrives on Netflix and it's an incredible dream that one doesn't get used to,' he wrote.

'And that you are the ones who have brought it here, and hopefully now, much furhter.

'The truth is, it's a weekend plan, and we've organised ourselves to be able to celebrate and watch it together without sins.

'I hope this story steals your heart!!!'
I'm A Celebrity fans were left terrified by the latest Bushtucker Trial on Monday, but for once their fear wasn't due to the plethora of critters or dark and claustrophobic set.

After topping the public vote, Aitch took on Night Night Sleep Tight, which saw him being strapped to a bed under a fake spider with stars hanging from its legs, which he had to untie and secure in his bag for meals for camp.

But the rapper, 25, wasn't left alone for long as the show opted to take a page out of The Traitors playbook, with a number of scary 'ghouls' entering the trial area to drop snakes and creep crawlies on top of him.

At one point, a giant spider scurried up Aitch's face and landed on his mouth, causing hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly to cringe in shock.

However, viewers watching at home were left far more scared of the rangers bringing the critters into the room, who were dressed in long robes and scary masks.

They took to social media to voice their fear at the presence of the masked actors, while joke that they looked straight out of The Traitors or The Unknown from last year's infamous Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow.

I'm A Celebrity fans were left terrified by the latest Bushtucker Trial on Monday, but for once their fear wasn't due to the plethora of critters or dark and claustrophobic set

Aitch, 25, took on Night Night Sleep Tight, where a number of scary 'ghouls' entered the trial area to drop snakes and creep crawlies on top of him

However, viewers watching at home were left far more scared of the rangers bringing the critters into the room, who were dressed in long robes and scary masks

Fans tweeted: 'I dont know what is more terrifying the rangers in those scary masks or the cockroaches themselves!'; 'Nope that mask is enough for me to be out of there'.

'I didn't expect to see the banshees from the traitors to be here'; 'LIVE ACTORS ? OH NAH I'D BE OUT IMMEDIATELY'; 'ngl i'd be more scared of the actors than the snakes, insects, etc'.

'Good to see the unknown has found new employment since the Willy Wonka experience'; 'Nahh these people look like my sleep paralysis demons'; 'think id be more scared of the people dressed up than the snakes.'

'oh look its Claudia in her traitors cloak'; 'I actually think Id be more scared of the creepy actors theyve hired to stay in the rooms with Aitch, where did they find them lol'.

'Id be more scared of those blokes putting the snakes in the bed than the actual snakes'; 'Is that The Unknown putting snakes on Aitch?';

'Looks like theyve borrowed the banshees from #Traitors for this challenge!!'; 'The dressed up people are scarier than the creatures in this trial. They would freak me out!'

'Which Halloween sale did they get those costumes from then?'; 'Woah! The people carrying the snakes are scarier than the actual snakes'.

'Creepy crawlies and that crazy creepy characters in a dark space is defo my kind of nightmare'; 'Nice to see the Unknown back in work on #ImACeleb'; 'Im more scared of the people dressed up than the snakes'.

They took to social media to voice their fear at the presence of the masked actors, while joke that they looked straight out of The Traitors or The Unknown from last year's infamous Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow

'Those creepy actors are way scarier than the actual snakes'; 'I'd be more scared of those men then any of those critters'; '#imaceleb is that the unknown?'

'Looks like theyve borrowed the banshees from #Traitors for this challenge!!'; 'Why is Alan car putting snakes on aitch'; 'Sleep paralysis demons bringing in all the critters'.

But despite the vast array of creepy elements to the trial, Aitch remained unruffled and brought home an impressive 11 stars for camp.

However, the campmates received a nasty surprise when dinner came that evening, as they were told they'd lost one of the stars after bosses had learned there was contraband in camp.

The celebrities were told there would be an amnesty where they'd have an opportunity to surrender all contraband without further punishment, and only then would dinner be delivered.

It came after Alex Scott was caught using salt to season the vegetables and rice during dinner on Sunday's episode.

While cooking up their meal of crocodile feet with Jack Osbourne, she said: 'Jack you have fun with the crocodile toes and all of that section and just give me the mushrooms, potatoes and kale.'

Sneakily pulling of sachets of salt, she added: 'I'll add some flavours in. I know people are going to be happy.'

However, the campmates received a nasty surprise when dinner came that evening, as they were told they'd lost one of the stars after bosses had learned there was contraband in camp

It came after Alex Scott was caught using salt to season the vegetables and rice during dinner on Sunday's episode (seen)

After being caught on Monday, Alex owned up to having smuggled the packets of salt into the camp, while Shona McGarty also confessed to having a can of air freshener (seen)

But after watching the footage back, Ant accused: 'Was that a bit of seasoning added?'

And Dec teased punishments were in store as he replied: 'I think it was, I think it was contraband. What's going to happen? Watch this space.'

After being caught on Monday, Alex owned up to having smuggled the packets of salt into the camp, while Shona McGarty also confessed to having a can of air freshener.

But rather than cause tension or anger in the group, their fellow campmates acknowledged the two's rule-breaking had been in aid of helping the whole camp and were quick to forgive.
Civilisations: Rise And Fall (BBC2)

Rating:

The 1969 series of Civilisation is regarded as one of the high points of British television. Over 13 episodes, Sir Kenneth Clark gave a detailed account of the rise of Western culture.

Whatever you think of Sir Kenneth, he treated his viewers like adults.

BBC's successor series Civilisations seems to believe its core audience struggles with detail and has the attention span of a hyperactive squirrel.

This was one historian on the sack of Rome: 'Imagine what it must be like to have thousands of men pouring into your city and rushing into your house. The fear must have been extraordinary.'

Just in case we couldn't imagine, there was a dramatic reconstruction of barbarians putting Romans to the sword.

And here's how another expert explained the rise of Rome to become the world's greatest city: 'It has this history of emperors building things.'

To think that it took Edward Gibbon's The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire six volumes to explain that.

Rome's days as an imperial superpower came to a brutal end in AD410, when the city was sacked over three days by Alaric the Visigoth's army.

Rome's days as an imperial superpower came to a brutal end in AD410, when the city was sacked over three days by Alaric (played by Leander Vyvey)

Civilisations seems to believe its core audience struggles with detail and has the attention span of a hyperactive squirrel, writes Roland White

The Goths had lived in the area that is now Romania (and parts of Ukraine) but were displaced by the Huns. Around 100,000 refugees fled to the Roman border. Former International Development Secretary Baroness Amos was on hand to explain helpfully: '100,000 people is a lot of people'.

From this point, Civilisations turned into a lecture about immigration and equality. The real reason Rome collapsed, it suggested, was that the city had too many rich people, and immigrants weren't welcomed: 'It was a two-tier society that favoured the rich, while failing to solve the challenges of mass migration.'

There was even a dramatic reconstruction of Roman soldiers confiscating jewellery from refugees, a policy echoed just days ago by the Home Secretary.

All this might be true, but I can't help thinking that a power vacuum in Rome might have had more to do with its collapse. Emperor Honorius was young and inexperienced.

To hammer this message home, he was shown lolling about like a petulant teenager, probably refusing to tidy his room.

The power behind the throne was a half-barbarian general called Stilicho. When Honorius fell out with Stilicho and executed him, Alaric spotted his opportunity and invaded the city.

'The Roman Empire controlled a vast region for 400 years,' one of the experts concluded. 'One of the secrets is integrating people. You don't treat the people you've absorbed as barbarians.'

I can't help thinking that Civilisations might have been a great deal more interesting had it spent more time telling us about the history of Rome, and less time trying to lecture us about modern political problems.
A chilling true crime documentary branded a 'real life horror movie' has soared to top of the charts on Netflix.

Two-part series Manhunt: Chasing The Fox tells the story of sadistic sex attacker Malcolm Fairley.

It already reached number one on the streaming site's daily TV listings - despite being a recent arrival.

A synopsis for the show reads: 'England, 1984. A masked intruder plagues the countryside with a string of burglaries and sexual assaults. This documentary recalls the race to catch him.

Fairley, who died in prison in May 2024 of natural causes, was known by nickname The Fox.

A harrowing true crime documentary has soared in popularity on Netflix

Manhunt: Chasing The Fox originally aired on Channel 5 last year

This was due to creating makeshift 'dens' in his victims' homes while he lay in wait for them.

Fairley's behaviour included watching television, eating meals and collecting trophies before carrying out the attacks.

Last year, Channel 5 viewers were gripped on the harrowing real-life tale when it originally hit screens.

One wrote online: 'Just watched this, really good'.

Another shared: 'Maybe a daytime watch for me lol.'

At the time, Channel 5s commissioning editor Dan Louw said: 'Theres something primal about our fear that theres someone lurking in our homes  in our place of safety.

'This film is a real-life horror movie, and a tribute to the brave victims who survived Fairleys terror and the diligent cops who beat the odds to track him down.'

Prior to his arrest in September 1984, Fairley's sickening crimes led to one of the largest manhunts in British criminal history.

It came about after his car became linked to a crime scene via forensic evidence.

Fairley had committed 81 offences by the time of his arrest, while 200 officers were involved in the chase.

Earlier this month, fans hailed another chart-topping Netflix true crime documentary as a 'must-watch.'

Three-part docuseries Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia tracks the history of Philly's criminal underworld, which began soon after the arrest of the infamous Nicky Scarfo in 1986.

Meanwhile, the outcome saw a bloody war between mobsters and a new breed of criminal who had no respect for the Mafia's 'outdated' traditions.

Netflix released a chart-topping crime documentary which fans hailed as a 'must-watch'

The new series landed on the streaming giant on October 22 but soon soared to the number 1 spot on the chart

Sharing their reactions online, one viewer posted: 'I've been waiting for #MobWar on @NetflixUK for a while now, and it has not disappointed at all. It's yet another fantastic mob documentary from Netflix.'

Another commented: 'Philadelphia on Netflix is banging if anybody likes Mafia true crime stuff.'

A third wrote: 'This is a must for anyone who grew up in Philly during the 90s.'

People took it a step further on Reddit, with one saying: 'Excellent documentary on the Mafia in Philadelphia in the 1990s.'

Someone else wrote: 'As a 3rd generation native Philadelphian, I'd say very authentic description of the culture of South Philly and the FBI, with whom I've had the pleasure of being personally acquainted when they were investigating a business I was working for in the 80s. Definitely worth watching.'
Kelly Brook's husband, Jeremy Parisi, has declared that he will take Jack Osbourne 'Out for dinner' after the Jungle to make amends for the tension between the late Ozzy Osbournes son and his wife.

The Italian model, 40, touched down in Brisbane Airport in preparation to greet his wife of three years off the Im A Celebrity bridge when she is eventually voted off the show - evictions start on Friday.

It comes after the glamour model, 45, has experienced tensions with fellow campmate Jack Osbourne, 40, over cooking in the camp earlier this week, for which she apologised.

Jacks older sister, Kelly, took to Instagram and said: I dont think I like you Kelly Brook so performative, with all the gagging and the over-dramatics. You bring out my big-sister vibes where I want to attack you because I feel like youre a bit of a bully.

When asked about the comments by the late Ozzy Osbournes children, Jeremy told the Daily Mail: 'Theres no drama.

'I have no take on it because to be honest, people like to speak about drama that doesnt really exist.

Kelly Brook's husband, Jeremy Parisi , declares he will take Jack Osbourne 'Out for dinner' after the Jungle to make amends for the tension between the late Ozzy Osbourne s son and his wife

Jeremy tied the knot with Kelly in 2022 and has now landed Down Under

Viewers spotted Kelly and Jack Osbourne appearing to butt heads over cooking in camp

'Jack is a lovely guy, I love him and his family, I think they are amazing.'

On Kelly Osbournes comments in particular, he said: 'She said she think [Kellys a bully] so its not a problem at all and after the show, we will all go to dinner together, so dont worry about it, all good, theres no drama.'

It comes after Kelly Brooks family hit out at Kelly Osbourne and the actresss stepfather called the claims that she was a bully, 'A load of rubbish.'

Viewers noticed there was tension between the two on Wednesdays show, the second fiery exchange between the pair.

Jack had stepped in to help his campmate as she struggled to prepare dinner, politely asking: 'Would you like me to cut up the fish?'

Although the former Big Breakfast presenter accepted his offer, she later claimed to camera that Jack had 'elbowed' her aside, saying: 'I saw Jack's eyes light up, it was like Christmas to Jack, and he came running over and elbowed me out of the way to get to this fish like a caveman, and I was like, no, I'm going to do it.'

Addressing Kelly and Jack's "feud", Jeremy said, 'There's no drama'

Kelly insisted on chopping the fish herself but repeatedly gagged and retched at the smell, prompting Jacks elder sister to slam her behaviour as 'performative'.

Speaking on Instagram, the Osbourne daughter said: 'Kelly Brook I don't think I like you.

'Elbowing out of the way to get to the fish" you're so performative, with all the gagging and the overdramatics.

'You bring out my bigsister vibes where I want to attack you because I feel like you're a bit of a bully.'

Kelly and Jack have already clashed once before when Jack criticised her potato slicing while preparing a previous meal.
Cosmetics queen Shelley Sullivan let her hair down last week for a power lunch with a Who's Who of Sydney's well-heeled eastern suburbs.

The 51-year-old MCoBeauty entrepreneur - who this year sold her business to retail billionaire Dennis Bastas in a rumoured deal worth $500million - was seen chatting animatedly to her friend Daimon Downey, of dance group Sneaky Sound System, at Coogee hotspot Mimi's on Saturday.

The pair and the rest of their dining party - including P.E Nation co-founder and Ksubi creative director Pip Edwards and Downey's wife Georgia Gorman - were filmed gathering in a smoking area, where the conversation became quite lively.

In our exclusive photos and video, Downey is seen offering Shelley a supportive hug after their energetic chat with Edwards.

Edwards, whose fondness for a dart is no secret, was seen puffing away on a cigarette nearby before she stepped away to snap photos with the other socialites.

Later, as the group left the ritzy venue, Pip was spotted holding hands with interiors stylist Steve Cordony, who recently split from his husband Michael Booth.

Multimillionaire MCoBeauty founder Shelley Sullivan joined several eastern suburbs identities for a gathering at celebrity hotspot Mimi's in Coogee on Saturday

The MCoBeauty entrepreneur, who sold her company to retail billionaire Dennis Bastas in a rumoured deal worth $500million this year, was seen chatting animatedly to Daimon Downey

The pair and the rest of their dining party - including P.E Nation co-founder and Ksubi creative director Pip Edwards - gathered in a smoking area, where the conversation became quite lively

The lunch was actually a birthday celebration for Cordony, whom Shelley recently retained to style her harbourside mansion.

It follows a busy year for Shelley, who in addition to the eye-watering sale of her cosmetics business also separated from her husband Anthony Sullivan.

The founder and chief executive of hospitality advisory group Quantaco made headlines in August when he paid a staggering $41million in cash for a waterfront home in Kirribilli following their split.

That off-market sale eclipsed the previous suburb record held by Next Capital's John White, who paid $19.1million for a nearby waterfront property in 2022.

Mr Sullivan's new mansion was previously owned by Michael and Louise Tang, long-time locals and supermarket operators in Papua New Guinea.

Despite their multimillionaire status, Shelley and Anthony had previously rented rather than owned before their split - albeit in some of Sydney's most enviable postcodes.

In 2018, they lived next to Sydney's oldest lighthouse on the Vaucluse clifftops.

'We've been here for 18 months. It's heritage-listed, so we're not allowed to do much,' Shelley told the Sydney Morning Herald at the time.

Shelley showed off her trim figure for the lunch in a floral pink silk dress and gold heels

The pair were also joined by Pip Edwards, who was seen puffing away on a cigarette

Pip was spotted holding hands with Steve Cordony following his recent split from husband Michael Booth

The group embraced each other after the lunch

The sighting comes after Shelley's former husband Anthony Sullivan recently purchased a newly built waterfront home in Sydney's Kirribilli for a staggering $41million

'I don't have a lot of room for shoes  I gave up cupboard space for the grounds! But living here is a great experience  it's such a unique property.'

The pair later upgraded to Leura, a heritage-listed Bellevue Hill mansion commanding $11,000 a week in rent.

Daily Mail understands the then-couple was planning to buy a home in the eastern suburbs, and had a budget of $100million, before their marriage breakdown.

Shelley and Anthony parted ways in May 2024 after a heated row that prompted Anthony to leave for the U.S., while his wife moved into the InterContinental in Double Bay.

The high-society split, which came just seven years after the couple's opulent Point Piper wedding, stunned their well-heeled social circle in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

In the aftermath of the break-up, prominent Double Bay cosmetician Kristin Fisher came forward to deny 'unequivocally false' allegations she was linked to the separation, and it is not suggested otherwise.

It's understood the once-close friendship between Shelley and Ms Fisher has nonetheless cooled recently.

The two women were both guests at the Silver Party fundraiser for the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation in May.

Even though they were surrounded by mutual friends, including tracksuit mogul Edwards and interior designer Blainey North, there was apparently no interaction, not even a polite air kiss, between the former pals.

Prior to meeting the beauty boss, Anthony, a country boy from Cootamundra, led a modest life with his former wife and two young children in suburban Sydney.

The family lived in a three-bedroom home in Bilgola Plateau, 35km north of Sydney, which was sold in February last year for $2.3million.

Daily Mail understands that, a year on from the Sullivans' split, the former couple are on good terms and Shelley speaks highly of Anthony and how much he did for her.

The glamorous group made a beeline for a waiting SUV after their catch-up at Mimi's

MCoBeauty was launched by Shelley in 2020 and quickly gained fame for producing affordable 'dupes' of popular cosmetic and skincare products.

The company's rapid production cycle - bringing products to supermarkets and chemists within eight weeks - helped fuel a meteoric rise in sales.

Earlier this year, billionaire pharmaceutical magnate Dennis Bastas acquired MCoBeauty in a deal valuing the company at $1billion, after acquiring an initial 50 per cent stake in 2022.

The brand's extraordinary growth - with revenue soaring by 2400 per cent over four years - has been attributed in part to the cost-of-living pressures driving demand for affordable beauty alternatives.

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The animosity had been building for years when Oscar-winning Jaws actor Richard Dreyfuss sat down at a San Francisco restaurant for dinner with his third wife and two of his grown-up children in 2022.

The evening started badly and went downhill from there. Eldest son Ben, now 39, was, by his own admission, 'stoned and drunk' and already unhappy after his sister, Emily, crashed his car on the way to the restaurant.

Before long, a host of unresolved resentments had exploded into the open. It began with a row about nepotism. Then, according to Ben: 'We all started to scream at each other about a completely separate tangent over who is to blame for what.'

And just 'who is to blame for what' is, we now know, the canker at the heart of this once close family.

Last week, Ben tore the lid off the blame game that blew up at the dinner table that day.

He did so in a series of now deleted posts on X on November 13, followed one week later with a lengthy post on Substack in which he shared personal emails between himself and his father, including what he said was their last communication, back in January 2024.

In them, Ben explained how his family had been at war since November 2017.

That's when Ben took to his father's Twitter  an account he ran at the time  and posted a comment in support of a confessional article written by younger brother Harry and published on BuzzFeed.

Last week, Ben (left, with Dreyfuss, right, in 2013) tore the lid off the blame game that blew up at the dinner table that day

Under the headline, 'When I Was 18, Kevin Spacey Groped Me,' Harry claimed that the Usual Suspects actor placed his hand on his thigh at a London apartment. Harry was in the city visiting his father, who was appearing in a play Spacey was directing at the Old Vic.

'Centimeter by centimeter, Kevin crawled his hand from my thigh over toward my crotch,' Harry wrote. 'My mind went blank. Suddenly, he had completed his journey and now he had all of me in his hand.'

Spacey denied the allegations. He was found not liable in a 2022 harassment lawsuit in New York and was acquitted of sexual assault by a jury in London's High Court the following year.

But the message posted on Dreyfuss's account back in November 2017 read: 'I love my son @harrydreyfuss more than I could explain with all the words in the world. And I am so incredibly proud of him right now.'

It is not clear whether Ben consulted with his father before making this supporting statement. But according to Ben it 'prompted someone to MeToo,' his father.

That same month, writer Jessica Teich, accused Dreyfuss of exposing himself to her in his trailer in the mid-1980s.

At the time the actor denied any wrongdoing and said he was 'horrified and bewildered,' that he had misread what he claimed was 'a consensual seduction ritual.'

Publicly he appeared to have put it all behind him. Privately, according to Ben, it was a very different story. To this day, Ben said: 'He blames us for that. This led to years of acrimony.'

Digging into the discord, Ben also revealed that he and his siblings 'have no money from my dad' because 'my dad has no money. If he did, we wouldn't get it.'

Dreyfuss claimed poverty in a 2016 interview with the Daily Mail, without revealing how he lost his money.

Ben deleted his X posts out of 'self-loathing.' But if his father hoped that was the end of it, he was sorely disappointed.

Because just last week, on November 21, Ben attempted to explain his family's continued estrangement by his last email exchange with his father in that extensive Substack post.

'It's long and pathetic, and he comes off worse than I do, but I'm not exactly covered in glory either,' Ben wrote.

The initial email Ben sent to his father was a heart-rendering plea from a son for reconciliation with a father he clearly still loves and admires.

He apologized for hurtful things he has said to his father and implored him to put past tensions behind them: 'I'm your son. I don't get it. Don't you want to fix it? I desperately want to fix it with you.'

In his reply - written mostly in capital letters  Dreyfuss accused his son of being fixated on money and seemed to hold a deep grievance about that 2022 meal which descended into a public screaming match.

Ben also revealed that he and his siblings 'have no money from my dad' because 'my dad has no money. If he did, we wouldn't get it.' (Pictured: Dreyfuss with his children - Ben, Emily and Harry - and second wife, Janelle Lacey, right, in 2000)

In his reply - written entirely in capital letters  Dreyfuss accused his son of being fixated on money and seemed to hold a deep grievance about that 2022 meal which descended into a public screaming match

On November 21, Ben attempted to explain his family's continued estrangement by his last email exchange with his father in that extensive Substack post

He said Ben and Emily 'BOTH ADMITTED TO LYING TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU HATED ME FOR TEN YEARS' and criticized his son for writing to him 'WITHOUT ANY ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID ON THE LAST NIGHT AT THE RESTAURANT.'

The bilious tone is at odds with Dreyfuss' public persona.

In July 2022  a few months before the acrimonious dinner  Dreyfuss posted on X that Ben's birth was 'the most traumatic and emotional moment of my life' and he was 'incredibly proud of all my children.'

But according to Ben, this pride had turned to bitterness, underlined by the last line of his father's rancorous message: 'AT LEAST KEEP THIS ONE LETTER. IT'LL BE THE LAST ONE UNLESS YOU STOP BEING A COWARD. OR START BEING BETTER THAN YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER.'

Ben went onto share his reply to his father, in which he gave his account of why he behaved badly at the meal, and apologized. He said he never received a reply.

Soon after her brother's post, Emily, 42,  who works as the Culture Editor at The San Francisco Standard  confirmed her estrangement from her father on X: 'Ben and I have different experiences of this sadness, but I'm relieved it's finally out in the open now.'

Her posts too have since been deleted, and she did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

Dreyfuss has not commented on the veracity of the email exchange published by his son and attempts to contact him via his Dreyfuss Civics Initiative and personal merchandising website were unsuccessful.

But it's all a long fall from grace for the once swaggering actor who endured teasing about his weight, looks and acting skills from a grouchy Robert Shaw on the set of Jaws in 1974, only to emerge as the breakout star of the film, super-charging the 27-year-old's acting career.

He went on to work with Steven Spielberg again in 1977's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and in 1978 he won he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of an aspiring actor who falls in love with a young single mother in The Goodbye Girl.

His life went downhill in the 1980s when he became addicted to cocaine, and he was arrested in 1982 after crashing his car into a tree.

It's all a long fall from grace for the once swaggering actor (right) who endured teasing about his weight, looks and acting skills from a grouchy Robert Shaw on the set of Jaws in 1974

He went on to work with Steven Spielberg again in 1977's Close Encounters of the Third Kind

In May last year, a cinema in Massachusetts was forced to apologize after Dreyfuss appeared on stage in a dress and made sexist and transphobic remarks and insulted Barbra Streisand

Pictured: Dreyfuss and his third wife Svetlana Erokhin in 2023

He spent some time in rehab but emerged clean and continued to have a respected film career in the 1990s, albeit without the blockbuster smashes and Oscar success of his early career.

At the same time, he was raising a family: he married screenwriter Jeramie Rain in 1985, and they welcomed their children Emily in 1983, Ben in 1986, and Harry in 1990.

Dreyfuss and Rain divorced in 1994, but he continued to have a close relationship with his kids, telling an interviewer in 2011 that having children was 'profoundly affecting like on the top of the universe.'

Emily and Ben both went on to work in the media. Harry tried to follow in his father's footsteps and studied directing at Fordham University before moving in the same direction as his siblings and becoming a writer.

Today, the tragic details of a family tearing itself apart come as the 78-year-old Dreyfuss enters his twilight years beset by ill health, money problems and public disgrace.

Back in 2016, he told The Daily Mail he was accepting jobs just 'for the money.'

In May last year, a cinema in Massachusetts was forced to apologize after Dreyfuss appeared on stage in a dress and made sexist and transphobic remarks and insulted Barbra Streisand.

The actor has spoken publicly about his battle with bipolar disorder, and in July this year he contracted viral bronchitis. He shared a video on his Instagram account in which he looked visibly unwell as he apologized for not being able to attend a Jaws fan convention.

He still posts on Instagram, including shots with his third wife, Svetlana, but there are no longer social media messages in support of his children.

Instead, a career that began with one of the most fabled spats in cinema history, as he clashed with fellow actors on the set of Jaws, looks set to end with another, far more personal, estrangement.
JoJo Siwa's ex Kath Ebbs has made a bold statement on the AFLW Awards red carpet, stepping out hand-in-hand with their new girlfriend, Hawthorn star Tilly Lucas-Rodd.

Kath and Tilly are non-binary and use they/them pronouns.

Kath, 28, cut a striking figure in an oversized black blazer worn as a mini-dress, pairing the look with chunky platform shoes and black ankle socks.

Their blonde curls were styled in a tousled, edgy wave, and they kept their makeup minimal for a fresh, dewy finish.

Tilly, 29, who is the first AFLW player to undergo top surgery, opted for a charcoal pinstripe suit layered over a black tee and belt.

They finished the look with sleek leather shoes and a silver chain.

JoJo Siwa's ex Kath Ebbs has made a bold statement on the AFLW Awards red carpet, stepping out hand-in-hand with their new girlfriend, Hawthorn star Tilly Lucas-Rodd

Kath pictured with ex Jojo in February 2025

The footy star beamed beside Kath, with the couple barely taking their eyes off one another as they posed for photographers.

Their red carpet debut comes after Kath revealed the emotional toll of their high-profile split from pop star JoJo Siwa after the Celebrity Big Brother UK saga.

In April 2025, the Australian actor and content creator became the unlikely centre of a global media storm after JoJo formed an intense on-screen bond with housemate Chris Hughes.

While the storyline played out like a reality TV romance, Kath says the fallout behind the scenes was devastating.

'People kept saying to me, "Everyone's on your side, everyone can see this is messed up." And I just remember thinking  I don't feel safe. I felt like the ground was shifting under me,' they revealed.

When the series wrapped, Kath says they were blindsided when JoJo ended their relationship at the after-party, prompting them to post a raw 13-minute TikTok explaining the breakup before being asked to take it down.

'I was in shock, but I was clear. I just wanted people to understand me,' they said. 'And it didn't happen.'

Without their voice in the conversation, Kath says a false narrative quickly took hold online as fans clung to the TV edit rather than the real-life heartbreak.

Tilly, 29, who is the first AFLW player to undergo top surgery, opted for a charcoal pinstripe suit layered over a black tee and belt

'People fell in love with the storyline on the show. They didn't want the real version where someone gets hurt.'

The pressure was so overwhelming, Kath says they spiralled mentally.

'I was so anxious I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep,' they admitted.

'I remember sitting there on set, smiling and cracking jokes, and in my head I was thinking, "I think I'm going to kill myself when I get home." It felt like there was no way out of that pain.'

Kath has described feeling like 'the little guy from Australia' caught in a global narrative they couldn't control.

Now, months on, the star appears to have found a sense of peace as they move forward with Tilly  and their united red carpet appearance marks a bold new chapter.

The couple, who have been quietly spending time together in Melbourne and Sydney, looked completely at ease as they celebrated the AFLW season together, hand-in-hand and smiling for the cameras.

It's unknown when JoJo and Kath met, but it's likely they were introduced by mutual friends, Aussie musician G Flip and their wife Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause.

Kath hosts the podcast Call Me Kath and owns a health food store named The Smoothie Bowl Shack, located in the inner city suburb of Glebe.

They have also worked as a model, DJ and Nike ambassador, and made appearances in TV news segments as a queer activist.

JoJo and Kath, who is known as Abbie Chatfield's (left) best friend, have been drip-feeding their relationship to followers for months
Jade Brycki (nee Tunchy) has given birth to her second child.

The influencer, who already shares one-year-old son Fletcher with her husband, Lachi Brycki, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share the happy news.

'Officially a family of four,' the 30-year-old began the post.

'Harvey Brooks Brycki entered the world on 19.11.25, two weeks early.'

The mum-of-two went on to detail her labour, revealing she was 'reluctantly induced'.

'After four days of broken waters with no sign of showing up, mum was reluctantly induced but very pleasantly surprised by the outcome,' she wrote.

Jade Brycki has given birth to her second child. (Pictured with husband Lachie Brycki)

'Harvey Brooks Brycki entered the world on 19.11.25, two weeks early,' she shared to Instagram

She added: '9 mins of pushing was a bit better than previous record of 1.5 hours.'

Jade finished off the post admitting: 'We are absolutely smitten.'

Accompanied by the sweet caption were a carousel of pictures showing the new addition to the family.

One snap showed the happy brood out and about for a walk in the park, with Jade holding onto her partner while their newborn lay asleep in a pram and their eldest proudly stood beside him.

Other snaps showed the couple in hospital after welcoming their son and gently holding their fourth family member.

Fans and friends flooded the comments section with well wishes for the growing family.

'Congratulations, guys,' influencer Jacqui Alexander wrote.

Sopha Dopha simply penned: 'Omg'.

One snap showed the happy brood out and about for a walk in the park

'Congratulations. So thrilled for you all x,' chimed in stylist Lana Wilkinson.

Tammy Hembrow added: 'Oh my gosh congratssss.'

'Lil Harvey man,' Steph Claire Smith gushed, adding: 'Welcome to the world dude.'

Back in May, the Sydney-based influencer revealed that she was expecting her second child.

She shared the good news that she and her husband Lachie, 32, were about to become second time parents.

She wrote in an Instagram post: 'Lach, Fletch and I are overjoyed to share that our little family will be growing this December'.

The caption came along with a photo of the social media star and the personal trainer cuddled up with their son, Fletcher, while Jade showed off her bump.

Jade was at Australian Fashion Week the week before in Sydney where she concealed her growing belly under a layered outfit.

Just a glimpse of her bump could be seen under a sheer crochet top that she wore under a loose trench.
Actor Corey Feldman and his estranged wife Courtney Feldman have put their differences aside to settle their divorce.

In an announcement filed on November 20 that was obtained by the Daily Mail, the judge overseeing the case said the exes had reached a 'global settlement' financially in their prolonged split.

Feldman, 54, told Us Weekly that he was relieved that 'the most painful part' of the split had been behind the former couple.

I pray for everyone involved that we can move on with our lives and heal, the LA native  famed for films such as The Goonies, The Lost Boys and Stand by Me  told the magazine.

He continued: 'Please respect my wishes for privacy regarding this matter moving forward, as I have a very full slate of exciting things in the works for next year, and thats where my focus needs to be.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to reps for the actor for further comment.

Actor Corey Feldman and estranged wife Courtney Feldman have reached what a judge described on November 20 as a 'global settlement' in the divorce, according to documents obtained by the Daily Mail; Pictured together in 2019 in LA

Corey and Courtney, a model originally from Canada, exchanged vows in 2016 at Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Feldman and his estranged spouse announced their split in September of 2023, noting that they had separated on June 22 of that year.

'It is with great sadness that Courtney and I have made the decision to separate after many wonderful years together,' Feldman told Page Six in August of 2023. 'We have been through so much together and still have much love and respect for each other.

'There is no one to blame. This is a case of life becoming really hard, Courtney dealing with health issues, and two people who have grown apart and now find themselves at a crossroads.'

At the time of their split, Courtney indicated that her chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis had played a role in the dissolution of their marriage.

In a statement announcing the split, she said: 'It's been a long journey of dealing with my own chronic fatigue syndrome which makes it difficult to keep up with the high energy of touring.'

However, she said that she and Corey had 'shared some amazing times together both private and public, and I will always cherish these moments we've shared together. I love him dearly and I always will.'

The DJ concluded by expressing her gratitude towards Feldman, who remained by her side as she dealt with her health issues.

Feldman, 54, told Us Weekly that he was relieved that 'the most painful part' of the split had been behind the former couple; pictured in September in LA

'I am eternally thankful to my [husband] who has been so supportive of my [healing] process, I couldn't have done so without his love and support,' she said.

Feldman told NBC News at the time of the split, 'The facts are that I have been voluntarily paying spousal support to Courtney since the time of our separation.

'I will continue doing so for a reasonable time period regardless of a court ruling because I feel its the appropriate thing to do in these situations where adultery is not involved.'

Feldman told the outlet he had been 'leaving the door open for reconciliation.'

Feldman and his estranged spouse came to the accord last week after Courtney had asked the court to raise her spousal support amount earlier this month.

Courtney told the court that the $3,500 a month the actor was providing her with was not sufficient.

The sum had previously been increased from $2,000 a month in August 2023, according to the publication.

Courtney pointed to the disparity between their incomes in her request to the court, filed on November 11.

A rep for Feldman, who appeared on Dancing with The Stars last month, previously claimed to Us Weekly that the requests made by his-wife were 'unexpected and excessive'; pictured together in 2019 in NYC

Courtney told the court that her income reflects her work part-time as a barista and a Goodwill worker while the actor just fetched a six figure payday for appearing on Dancing with the Stars on ABC.

Courtney requested from the court a monthly supposed spousal support total of $7,226.

She also asked for $16,712 in retroactive dues, and $15,000 to cover her attorneys.

Feldman opened up about the prolonged court battle in a post on X/Twitter last week, admitting he had been an emotional distress over the messy situation.

Feldman said people had 'been wondering what pain [he's]d experiencing,' adding that 'pain isnt always physical.

Said Feldman: 'Many times, emotional and mental pain can b even more overwhelming than physical pain. I have many things happening that r painful, Ill survive.'

Samantha Waranch, a rep for Feldman earlier told US Weekly: 'I can say these requests are unexpected and excessive.

Waranch aid that 'Corey has continued to financially support Courtney for years' and 'has maintained her health insurance since the day she left.

'Corey has always worked incredibly hard for everything he has, and he hopes that everyone in his life chooses to build their own success rather than relying on his.'
As a tale of two brothers, the differences couldn't be more stark.

While movie A-lister Josh Brolin luxuriates in his $7.1 million Montecito compound, sibling Jess sits slumped on a bench waiting for a free trolley just 45 mins away  as revealed in exclusive Daily Mail pictures.

The sons of Hollywood royalty James Brolin, 85, who lives with third wife Barbra Streisand in a $20 million Malibu mansion, have so little in common it's even hard to spot the family resemblance.

With alarming red blotches on his legs and weighing an estimated 350lb, Jess cuts a forlorn figure as he scans his basic flip phone before hauling himself up for the arrival of a bus in Ojai, California.

The 53-year-old is believed to be still living in the town's three-star Topa Vista Hotel after dragging himself off the streets from where he descended after his trust fund ran out.

Dressed in what appear to be the same faded blue denim shorts as when he was last photographed by the Daily Mail, Jess was on his way to an event at a local school on Sunday.

While movie A-lister Josh Brolin luxuriates in his $7.1 million Montecito compound, sibling Jess (pictured) sits slumped on a bench waiting for a free trolley just 45 mins away.

With alarming red blotches on his legs and weighing an estimated 350lb, Jess cuts a forlorn figure as he scans his basic flip phone before hauling himself up for the arrival of a bus in Ojai, California

The 53-year-old is believed to be still living in the town's three-star Topa Vista Hotel after dragging himself off the streets from where he descended after his trust fund ran out

After a two-minute ride on the bus, Jess clambered off at the school, where he was met by a woman who escorted him inside.

The Daily Mail has previously revealed that the troubled Brolin sibling has been staying at the Topa Vista, which sits on a busy highway and is owned by LA nightclub mogul Steve Edelson.

However modest his home might be by Hollywood standards, it's still a considerable upgrade on his previous digs.

In 2011, he was living out of a battered 1981 Toyota truck after the trust fund he inherited from his and Josh's late mother Jane Agee ran out.

Three years later the truck fell apart and Jess was reduced to bedding down in the street. At one point he was photographed raiding a dumpster for food.

His mother, the first of dad James's three wives, was killed in a car crash in 1995, a decade after her divorce from the veteran actor.

While he was homeless, stepmom Streisand said the family had attempted to help but Jess had rejected their offers.

She said in a statement: 'We love him very much and want only the best for him.'

But as Jess was catching the free trolley this weekend, brother Josh was photographed surfing in Santa Barbara and sporting a huge tattoo on his back.

It is not known if the inked image of a lighthouse framed by topless mermaids is a real tat.

In June, Josh was spotted with eye-popping fake artwork on his toned physique while on the set of the forthcoming thriller Whalefall.

The brothers were brought up in the height of luxury on a ranch in Paso Robles and then a Santa Barbara mansion.

Meanwhile, his brother Josh was photographed surfing in Santa Barbara and sporting a huge tattoo on his back

The 57-year-old owns a $7.1 million Montecito compound nearby

The sons of Hollywood royalty James Brolin, 85, who lives with third wife Barbra Streisand (pictured) in a $20 million Malibu mansion, have so little in common it's even hard to spot the family resemblance

Yet while Josh went on to cement his pedigree in the Avengers and Men in Black franchises among other hit roles, his younger brother was in just two movies and became a studio runner for a while.

Josh's fame has bought him the mansion in Harry-and-Meghan town Montecito where he lives in splendor with wife Kathryn Boyd.

Yet despite his gilded background, like his brother he has had his share of drama to say the least.

The No Country for Old Men star revealed in his memoir From Under the Truck, published in November 2024, that he had an 'unconventional childhood'.

He also recounted struggles with addiction and sobriety that led him to be jailed a total of nine times, including twice before landing his breakout role in kids adventure movie The Goonies.

The three-times married star, once wed to actress Diane Lane, revealed he lost his best friend at an early age to suicide  and once went on a 12-hour acid trip as a teenager that turned bad.

Now sober for many years, he wrote that he spent his early teenage years juggling two identities. At night he was a cook in an Italian restaurant and by day he ran with a fast crowd.

He rode a motorcycle aged four, smoked weed at nine, lost his virginity at 11 and did acid at 13.

But while his fellow hell raisers crashed and burned, his lifeline was acting. Yet despite the breaks, he ended up in a flophouse in Portland, Oregon in 1990 and in a 'rented cell' in New York City two years later.

A career resurgence in 2007 with the Coen brothers' No Country set him on the path to an Academy Award nomination for Milk a year later and his transition into blockbuster franchises.

His memoir recounts how he is still haunted by 'the perpetual apparition of Jane,' the late mother who was a casting director turned wildlife activist. 'She refuses to not be a presence,' he wrote.

Maybe if she had survived, who knows where his troubled brother might be now.
Jeff Brazier has reportedly split from his wife Kate again following a difficult year with his youngest son Freddy - after the couple previously split in late 2022 before reconciling seven months later.

The 21-year-old son of the TV presenter, 46, and late Big Brother star Jade Goody recently patched things up with his father following a bitter family feud.

During this time, Jeff considered taking legal action to block access between his son and maternal grandmother Jackiey Budden, in a bid to 'keep him safe'.

Freddy, who is expecting his first child with on/off girlfriend Holly Swinburn, claimed Jackiey got him hooked on drugs, before appearing to reveal he had tragically 'tried to end it all' by 'crashing his car' in the middle of a 'manic episode'.

Now according to reports, PR guru Kate, 35, moved out of their marital home three weeks ago, with Jeff hinting on social media that his seven-year marriage was over.

He was said to have shared snaps from new countryside property as he detailed the 'transitional time' in his life and how he was 'living in calm'.

Jeff, who is also father to son Bobby, 22, was then seen without his wedding ring while reporting from Reykjavik on Monday's GMB, while Kate too reportedly ditched her band after heading to Las Vegas for the Grand Prix.

Jeff Brazier has reportedly split from his wife Kate again following a difficult year with his youngest son Freddy - after the couple previously split in late 2022 before reconciling seven months later (Pictured last year)

The 21-year-old son of the TV presenter, 46, and late Big Brother star Jade Goody recently reconciled with his father following a bitter family feud

Jeff, who is also father son Bobby, 22, was then seen without his wedding ring while reporting from Reykjavik on Monday's GMB (pictured)

According to The Sun Kate has returned to her flat in Hackney after growing apart from Jeff amid Freddy's struggles.

The Daily Mail has contacted Jeff's representatives for comment.

In June amid the family feud Freddy appeared to take a swipe at Kate as he listed things he hates with 'step parents' being one of them.

Last year the publicist admitted she 'felt like a failure' in her marriage to Jeff before realising every couple has their struggles, following their reconciliation.

She gave her thoughts on marriage after being asked by a follower for advice on how to get theirs back on track.

She replied: 'I think we are all guilty of portraying only the good bits on social media. Anyone who says marriage and raising kids is easy is lying in my opinion. I felt like such a failure until I realised everyone has their struggles.

'I would never share the details of our relationship, but the one thing I am grateful for is that my husband is just as willing to put the work into himself and the relationship as I am. You can't ask for anything more than that.'

Freddy revealed in August that he would be welcoming his first child and vowed to turn his life around and patch up his relationship with his father.

Freddy, who is expecting his first child with his on/off girlfriend, claimed grandmother Jackiey got him hooked on drugs before this weekend appearing to reveal he had tragically 'tried to end it all'

Now according to reports PR guru Kate moved out of the marital home three weeks ago with Jeff hinting on social media that his seven-year marriage was over (pictured earlier this year)

Kate too reportedly ditched her band after heading to Las Vegas for the Grand Prix (pictured 2024)

Kate shared clips from her Las Vegas trip to her Instagram Stories

The influencer sadly lost his mother, Jade, when he was just four years old after she died from cervical cancer on Mother's Day in 2009.

Jade's mother Jackiey helped raise Bobby and Freddy following Jade's death, but she and Jeff have clashed multiple times over the years.

More recently, Freddy confessed to starving himself and replacing food with 'green', which is a street name for the drug cannabis.

Alongside a photo of his grandmother Jackiey, he wrote: 'Prioritised my relationship with my mum's mum not knowing she has been lying to me for years!'

Freddy included a video of himself walking along a street in a dressing gown, following by a short clip of an ambulance with the caption: 'Had episode after episode. Til I got sectioned and spent my 18th in a psychiatric ward.'

Over the weekend, Freddy has appeared to reveal he tragically 'tried to end it all' over two years ago by 'crashing his car' in the middle of a 'manic episode'.

He took to TikTok to bravely share a video explaining his heartbreaking journey, with a generated voiceover sharing the extent of the model's mental health struggles.

In the video, Freddy told his followers that he spent his 18th birthday 'in a psychiatric ward,' but realised after that 'something needed to change'.

Freddy revealed in August that he would be welcoming his first child with on/off girlfriend Holly Swinburn and vowed to turn his life around (Freddy and Holly pictured together last month)

He recently wrote alongside a photo of his grandmother Jackiey: 'Prioritised my relationship with my mum's mum not knowing she has been lying to me for years!'

The influencer sadly lost his mother, Jade, when he was just four years old after she died from cervical cancer on Mother's Day in 2009 (pictured 2006)

The video began with a generated voiceover that said: '2.5 years ago after crashing a car in a manic episode in an attempt to end it all.'

He captioned the post: '2.5 years ago now, I'm f*****g proud of myself and I can't wait to tell my story.'

Showing how he realised he had to change his habits, he then wrote: 'Something clicked in my head needed to change! Started getting out more.'

He added that he then decided to start 'eating better,' and focused on his close circle of friends and prioritising 'self-love'.

The video then showed images of himself attending events, training in the gym and eating salads for lunch, along with the words: 'Eating better. Time away from London. Bit of training. Small circle. My doggo. Skincare and self love.'

Earlier this year, Jeff considered taking action in an attempt to legally block contact between his son Freddy and his grandmother, 'to keep him safe'.

However, the pair appear to have mended their relationship and Jeff publicly wished his son a Happy Birthday in September, stating he would always be there for him.

In a preview for his own Load Of Old Cobblers podcast, Freddy admitted: 'I've been smoking since I was 12, l've been to rehab, I've been sectioned, l've had manic episodes, l've been sectioned.

'There's been a real journey and it's been a tough one.'
Marlo Thomas has made a rare public appearance since the death of her husband Phil Donahue.

The That Girl star, 88, appeared on the Today show to unveil a brand new space at St. Jude's Research Center - her first television appearance since losing Donahue.

Donahue passed at age 88 in August 2024 and Thomas has only made one public appearance since then.

However she returned to small screens on Monday to showcase the hospital's new Family Commons - a space where their young patients can play, make art, music, and even get their hair and nails done.

The Hollywood icon is the daughter of St. Jude's founder Danny Thomas and has been serving as the hospital's National Outreach Director.

Thomas did a tour of the space, describing how they have filled the center with everything their young patients need to momentarily forget about their health battle and feel like a child again.

Marlo Thomas has unveiled a brand new space at St. Jude's Research Center in her first TV appearance since the death of her husband Phil Donahue

Thomas lost her husband, Phil Donahue, last year; pictured 2006

'It was actually thought of by the parents and the children,' she explained. 'What are they missing? A place to play, a place to do art, a place to play music. And even, we have a beauty salon!' she said. 'Because hair is very important to kids.'

'The children are so scheduled, what the art does in terms of healing, it gives them back control,' she explained. 'Anything they want,' she said.

'They can even paint on the walls!'

'Our main goal is to save a child's life. And after that, give them back a quality of life,' she said. 'We're trying to give them back their childhood.'

The space is also off-limits to doctors: 'There are no doctors here, no nurses, no medicine,' she said. 'This is playtime.'

While the Today appearance marks the first time she has appeared on small screens since the death of her spouse, she has slowly returned to the spotlight since then.

In May, she attended the Family Equality's Night at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City - her first appearance since Donahue's passing.

Donahue was surrounded by relatives, including his wife, when he died at home in August 2024.

Thomas returned to small screens on Monday to showcase the hospital's new Family Commons

The That Girl star is the daughter of St. Jude's founder Danny Thomas and has been serving as the hospital's National Outreach Director

At the time, Thomas wrote on Instagram: 'I'm sure by now you've heard the very sad news that I lost my sweetheart last night.

'I know you understand that I'll be stepping away from this page for a while to take care of myself and the many people who took care of Phil, and held him close to their hearts.

'But I didn't want to disappear without saying thank you for the beautiful messages of love and support that have been coming in all day,' the 86-year-old actress disclaimed.

'[A]nd for the wonderful and generous way that you've let Phil and me share our life adventure with you over the years.'

She continued: 'As a man who spent his career loving his audiences, Phil got such a kick out of our cozy little community [on social media], and I know he would be very touched by the heartwarming thoughts and memories you've been sharing.

'Until I return, I wish you good health and happy days in the company of family and friends, and I hope that you will continue to hold close those you cherish most, just as I was blessed to do with my beloved Phillip,' Donahue's second wife said.

'Love, Marlo,' she went on to sign, while sharing a vintage photo of the pair on a European holiday.

'P.S. This is one of my favorite photos of Phil and me,' she wrote. '[T]aken on vacation.'

Donahue was surrounded by relatives, including his wife, when he died at home in August 2024

Countless comments offering words of consolation ensued, for a woman who had been married to Donahue for the past 44 years.

The pair actually met on the set of his program back in 1977 - with Donahue the host and Thomas his guest.

The two would go on to wed just three years later, following 'instant chemistry' felt by Thomas with the TV talker, she revealed in a 2015 post to Gacebook.

'Phil and I met on his talk show, 'Donahue,' in 1977,' Thomas, who continues to act and produce to this day, wrote at the time.

'He flirted, I giggled, and his TV audience watched us fall in love.'

The couple would then marry in 1980.
The marriage between a 37-year-old former Home and Away actor and his much younger bride has sparked online backlash.

Jackson Heywood and his new wife, Miss Universe Australia finalist Anneliese Zanchetta, 25, were attacked by keyboard warriors after sharing a wedding day post on Monday.

One troll questioned the couple's large age gap and mocked the many celebrity friends who posted congratulations on the pair's Instagram, including Home and Away's Sophie Dillman.

Posting to a page on Facebook, the user uploaded a black-and-white photo of the couple on their wedding day and commented that they had 'the tea' on the pair.

After identifying Heywood's past in Summer Bay and Anneliese's role as a beauty queen, they said: 'I've worked out that she is around 25 or 26 and he is 37.

'Usually I stay way out of what's not my business, but I can't help finding it distasteful, and watching all these celebs congratulate them is kinda gross.'

Jackson Heywood, 37, and his new wife, Miss Universe Australia finalist Anneliese Zanchetta, 25, were attacked by keyboard warriors after sharing a wedding day post on Monday. Both pictured

One troll called into question the couple's large age gap. Pictured: Anneliese was a first runner-up in Miss Universe Australia in 2022

Another user weighed in on the age gap of the pair, who hard-launched their relationship back in 2020, commenting: 'Depends when they got together tbh.'

'If they met recently, they're two consenting adults.'

A third female user also criticised the couple's 12-year age gap.

'Yup, me too lol,' they began.

'I don't care what anyone says, I couldn't imagine being 37 and wanting to be with someone in their mid-20s, no matter how "mature" they are and I'm always gonna look at a dude doing this funny because of how dudes are.'

Not everyone on the same thread agreed.

'Age gaps can always be turned around to make it "creepy",' said one user.

'If they're both consenting adults, I don't see the issue.'

Another agreed, and replied to the original post: 'They're both consenting adults... Definitely overreacting lol.'

The happy couple showed off their wedding certificate

A third person said: 'Can we not make a problem where there isn't one? He wasn't with her when she was in primary school.'

Another woman messaged: 'Lmfao. My husband is 54 and I'm 37... mind ya business.'

Anneliese shared the news of her nuptials by posting several stunning wedding photos.

The dark-haired bride chose a classic white sleeveless dress with a long veil for her big day, while Jackson walked up the aisle in a dark wedding tux.

Several photos featured Jackson looking blissful as he held close his new bride.

Among the followers sending their congratulations was Aussie actor Nicholas Burton, who said: 'The best.'

Thor actress Heidi May messaged: 'We LOVE.'

Meanwhile, Home and Away's Sophie Dillman gushed. 'Heavenly couple, heavenly wedding.'

Jackson announced his romance with Anneliese online back in July 2022, when he was 32.

The Bloom star shared a black-and-white photo of himself and his then 21-year-old sweetheart looking cosy as they sat alongside each other in a restaurant.

Before dating Anneliese, the actor was in a long-term relationship with the late Robin Williams's daughter Zelda Williams.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Denise Richards just revealed her plans to undergo surgery next month, which will interrupt her bitter divorce battle against her estranged second husband Aaron Phypers.

The 54-year-old Bond Girl  who's rumored to have had a facelift in July  'will be unavailable for a large portion of' December, according to legal docs filed Friday which were obtained by Daily Mail.

Richards was responding to the unemployed 52-year-old's desperate filing last Thursday, which asked the judge for an expedited spousal support hearing within 15 days.

'I am in literal danger of being made homeless with no vehicle and no cell phone unless the hearing can be advanced to an earlier date and orders can be entered allowing me access to the substantial funds that are being controlled by [Richards],' Phypers (born Cameron) claimed.

'My financial situation gets worse by the day. My pickup truck, which is now my only vehicle, is subject to repossession. I am in danger of eviction at any time. I am begging friends for money to have food to eat. I now have criminal charges against me and I need to retain a defense attorney before my next hearing, which is in mid-December.'

The Canadian-American ex-CEO  who has 'no income'  asked the Wild Things producerstar to pay him $338,686 for unpaid bills relating to his truck, storage units, legal fees, as well as a leased Calabasas home 'in order to survive.'

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Denise Richards just revealed her plans to undergo surgery next month, which will interrupt her bitter divorce battle against her estranged second husband Aaron Phypers (pictured May 17)

The 54-year-old Bond Girl - who's rumored to have had a facelift in July - 'will be unavailable for a large portion of' December, according to legal docs filed Friday which were obtained by Daily Mail (pictured November 7)

When Phypers originally filed for divorce from Richards on July 7 after six years of marriage, he requested spousal support of around $105K/month.

But LA Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas denied the USC grad's request due to 'insufficient showing of exigency' and blamed 'court congestion' as well as Richards' attorney Brett Berman's packed schedule for the reason his hearing now won't be until January 7.

Berman asked Judge Juhas to fine Phypers $2,000 in sanctions for 'filing this unnecessary and frivolous ex parte application' and argued he was 'only inflaming the situation and causing attorney fees to escalate.'

Last week, Richards spoke out about her divorce for the first time since the judge granted her a five-year restraining order from the former Q360 Club owner.

'[I'm] good. It's a process. I have such a great support system. Thank you so much,' the Illinois-born beauty said during the Bravo2Bravo panel at BravoCon in Las Vegas.

'Being in the tabloids [is] very daunting. When you first have to deal with it, it's very hardit's different because on the reality shows, our personal life is out there. On reality, you can't pretend it's not happening.'

On November 7, Judge Juhas ordered Phypers to stay away from Richards, stop threatening/harassing her, stop sharing nude photos of her and surrender any firearms to police after she accused him of physical abuse.

Phypers has denied ever physically harming the Starship Troopers alum, but he was arrested on October 17 and charged with two felony counts of injuring a spouse (back in 2022) and two felony counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat.

Richards was responding to the unemployed 52-year-old's desperate filing last Thursday, which asked the judge for an expedited spousal support hearing within 15 days; Phypers is pictured on November 7 in LA

Phypers  who has 'no income'  asked the Wild Things producerstar to pay him $338,686 for unpaid bills relating to his truck, storage units, legal fees, as well as a leased Calabasas home 'in order to survive' (pictured April 8)

When the CanadianAmerican ex-CEO filed for divorce from Richards on July 7 after six years of marriage, he requested spousal support of around $105K/month (pictured in 2023)

But LA Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas denied Phypers' request due to 'insufficient showing of exigency' and blamed 'court congestion' as well as Richards' attorney Brett Berman's (2-L) packed schedule for the reason his hearing won't be until January 7

Berman (L) asked Judge Juhas to fine Phypers $2,000 in sanctions for 'filing this unnecessary and frivolous ex parte application' and argued he was 'only inflaming the situation and causing attorney fees to escalate'

Last week, Richards spoke out at BravoCon about her divorce for the first time since the judge granted her a five-year restraining order from the former Q360 Club owner: '[I'm] good. It's a process. I have such a great support system. Thank you so much'

Richards wants Phypers to pay her legal expenses and any expenses related to the alleged abuse, and she requested that he attend a 52-week batterer intervention program.

The ex-couple originally began dating in December 2017 before his divorce from Desperate Housewives alum Nicollette Sheridan was finalized in 2018.

Richards has two daughters  Sami, 21; and Lola, 20  from her two-year marriage to first ex-husband Charlie Sheen, which acrimoniously ended in 2006.

The Riff Raff executive producer adopted 14-year-old daughter Eloise Joni Richards in 2011 as a single parent.

Richards will next appear on the 15th season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which premieres December 4 on Bravo.

'I did a couple episodes coming up,' The Return to Wickensburg actress confirmed during the 'Bravo Bravo F'ing Bravo' Q&A last week.

'[It's] just an appearance, not even a "friend of."'

When asked if she was negotiating with execs to return to the franchise as a full-time Housewife, Richards teased: 'We're talking about things.'
Zoe Foster-Blake is closing her children's bathing and skincare range, Gro-To.

The journalist-turned-businesswoman, 45, made the announcement on her Instagram page on Tuesday.

'Were waving goodbye to Gro-To,' she said.

Zoe explained she launched the brand in 2019 after struggling to find products for her children's dry and itchy skin.

'So, we built a brand that appealed to kids and gave them a sense of ownership. Ultimately, though, Gro-To deserves better than we can give her,' she continued.

'Delivering three brands to the high standard our customers expect (and we expect of ourselves) is no longer sustainable as Go-To, our all-encompassing peach diva, gallops off in so many new categories, and with more still to come.'

Zoe Foster-Blake is closing her children's bathing and skincare range, Gro-To

The journalist-turned-businesswoman, 45, made the announcement on her Instagram page on Tuesday

Zoe said she will 'miss the brand' but it's a business decision she has had to make.

'We are privileged to have been part of so many bed and bath time rituals. Thank you for trusting us to help you soothe all those rashy tummies, nuclear hair knots and bad dreams,' she continued.

'To send off Gro-To, and make sure you can stock up on your favourites, we have LUDICROUS savings site-wide on all Gro-To products (while stocks last).'

Aside from the Gro-To range, Zoe also owns the skincare brand Go-To.

Last year, she bought back her stake in her brand after beauty company BWX went into administration.

The Australian author first sold her 51.5 per cent stake to the ASX-listed beauty conglomerate for $89 million in 2021.

But just two years later, Zoe and Go-To co-founder Paul Bates bought back their controlling stake in the business for a fraction of its original value at $21.8 million after BWX collapsed into administration in April 2023.

Zoe, who founded the brand in 2014, had continued as chief creative officer and director of Go-To after first selling her shares to BWX, and is now fully back to running her business.

Aside from the Gro-To range, Zoe also owns the skincare brand, Go-To

BWX suffered losses of $335 million in the 2021-2022 financial year, with mining magnate Andrew Forrest stepping in to bail the company out.

Go-To had distanced itself from BWX, saying it is operationally independent despite BWX owning 51 per cent of shares.

BWX revealed in February 2023 that it had lost another $100 million in the first half of the financial year with the company's chief executive Rory Gration stepping down.

In April that year, BWX was placed into voluntary administration. KPMG was appointed to handle its collapse.
Lara Worthington has never been shy about pushing fashion boundaries - and her latest social media post proves she's still very much in her bold-era.

On Tuesday, the 38-year-old model shared a striking selfie taken inside a public bathroom, with her iPhone strategically covering her face as she captured her outfit of the day.

Lara showcased her freshly cropped blonde bob, parted down the middle, as she wrapped herself in a plush faux fur jacket.

She teamed the look with sleek black pants and matching shoes, creating a clean, monochrome silhouette.

Adding a subtle pop of drama, her fingernails were painted a deep, stylish shade of dark purple - a small detail that elevated the ensemble even further.

It was a daring, confident look - and Lara absolutely nailed it.

Lara Worthington (pictured) has never been shy about pushing fashion boundaries - and her latest social media post proves shes still very much in her bold-era

Lara has been married to Australian actor Sam Worthington since 2014 and shares three sons with him.

While Lara was keen to flaunt her enviable figure, it was a similar story during her last public outing earlier this month.

Stepping out in Sydney, Lara ensured all eyes were on her as she slipped her lithe frame into $59,000 worth of designer clothes and accessories.

The centrepiece of her luxe ensemble was a $3,600 Miu Miu silk dress, which ended at her knee and featured a tailored bodice and sweet bow detail on the neckline.

She paired the chic frock with a $3,700 Alalia handbag and $1,650 Alalia kitten-heel sandals.

Lara accessorised with her Cartier Panthere watch, which retails for $48,900, and a couple of diamond rings.

Despite being known as one of Australia's most fashionable natives, Lara recently turned heads for all the wrong reasons at Paris Fashion Week after landing on the worst-dressed list.

She stepped out at the Louis Vuitton show last month, putting on an eye-catching display in a striking blue mini dress, distinguished by its unusual pockets positioned above the waist.

On Tuesday, the 38-year-old model shared a striking selfie taken inside a public bathroom, with her iPhone strategically covering her face as she captured her outfit of the day

Lara has been married to Australian actor Sam Worthington (right) since 2014 and shares three sons with him

The loose-fitting dress was cinched at the pleated waist with a blue canvas belt and was accented with an unusually placed buckle at the collarbone.

Showing off her trim and toned pins, Lara completed the look with a pair of black leather wedge boots.

She was in good company, though, with the likes of FKA Twigs, Hailey Bieber, and Cara Delevingne also making the list.

However, Lara would more than likely be unfazed by the lacklustre critique.

She has previously stated that she pays no mind to what others think of her frequently bold sartorial choices.

Speaking to Stellar in 2022, Lara admitted she has no regrets about her bolder style selections.

'I wear whatever I want... I don't care,' Lara said.
Married At First Sight groom Dave Hand has sparked romance rumours with a very glamorous American reality TV star, after being spotted with her at a restaurant in Los Angeles.

The 37-year-old MAFS star was recently seen dining out with Vanderpump Rules' Ally Lewber, 29, at the swanky SUR restaurant in West Hollywood.

The pair were all smiles as they posed for a photo at the venue, with Dave beaming from ear-to-ear as he enjoyed a night out with the stunning Ohio-born model.

Fans quickly took to social media to speculate on the nature of their relationship.

'WTF is Dave from MAFS doing at SUR with Ally? Am I in the Twilight Zone?' one stunned fan wrote.

'OMG, how random,' another person added.

MAFS groom Dave Hand (left) has sparked romance rumours with a very glamorous American reality TV star, after being spotted with her at a restaurant in LA. He was recently spotted dining out with Vanderpump Rules' Ally Lewber (right) at the swanky SUR restaurant

Lewber is a LA-based model who featured on the US reality series for several years, as the girlfriend of fellow cast member James Kennedy, a former bus boy at SUR.

She is currently single as the pair called time on their relationship in January.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Dave is taking another shot at love - this time on Netflix.

The tattooed Melbourne caulker joined the cast of Perfect Match season four, the streaming giant's hit crossover dating experiment that brings together reality stars from around the world.

According to production insiders, Dave will appear alongside a lineup of familiar faces including Ally Lewber and Too Hot To Handle stars Brianna Balram, Kayla Richart and Katherine LaPrell.

Love Is Blind personalities Marissa Rodriguez, Sophie Willett and Jimmy Presnell, and Love Island USA favourite Kassy Castillo are also tipped to appear, according to an insider.

A production insider told Daily Mail that Dave was a high-priority recruit for the series after his breakout season on MAFS earlier this year.

'Producers were thrilled when Dave said yes - they'd been watching his season closely and knew he'd bring great television,' the insider said.

Lewber is a LA-based model who featured on the US reality series for several years, as the girlfriend of fellow cast member James Kennedy, a former bus boy at SUR

Dave was paired with Jamie Marinos (right) on this year's series of MAFS but their heated relationship ended in March

'They actually wanted both Dave and his MAFS bride Jamie on the show together.

'The chemistry between them was undeniable... they thought it would make for explosive viewing.'

However, plans to reunite the former couple fell through at the last minute.

'Jamie was seriously considering it but pulled out just before contracts were finalised,' the source revealed.

'Producers were disappointed, but they're still very excited to see what Dave does on his own.

'He's outspoken, quick-witted and isn't afraid to call people out - exactly the type of personality that makes Perfect Match tick.'

Netflix has yet to officially confirm the line-up, but filming is understood to be underway, with the series expected to premiere globally in 2026.

Dave's appearance marks a major milestone for Australian reality TV, making him the first MAFS Australia groom to join the Perfect Match universe.

'It's a big deal,' the insider added.

'Netflix has been looking to diversify the cast with more international personalities, and Dave was the perfect choice. He's already proven he can handle the pressure - now it's about whether he can find love in a completely new arena.'

Perfect Match season four will premiere on Netflix next year.
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe rocked a bold outfit in the Senate in Canberra on Tuesday, which has been compared to an iconic Australian character.

The 52-year-old politician appeared in parliament in an eye-popping figure-hugging aqua-blue dress which looked absolutely radiant on her.

She completed the striking look with her hair styled in a sleek, perfectly straight fashion, a sharp fringe swept across her forehead and long brunette locks cascading to her shoulders, evoking Gina Riley's unmistakable style from Kath & Kim.

Her bold appearance caught the attention of Sky News reporter Rita Panahi, who roasted her online by sharing a photo of Thorpe alongside Gina Riley's renowned character.

'Senator Lidia Thorpe channelling Kim,' Panahi captioned the post.

The amusing post caught the attention of the outspoken senator, who shared it to her page with some hilarious words: 'I'm not a housewife, I'm a hornbag! Two staunch icons.

Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe rocked a bold outfit in the Senate on Tuesday, which has been compared to an iconic Australian character

Her bold appearance caught the attention of Sky News reporter Rita Panahi, who roasted her online by sharing a photo of Thorpe alongside Gina Riley's renowned character

'Thanks Rita Panahi, I'd usually say the Sky News mob are a pack of chunts, but you're getting something right for once!'

Social media users were supportive, with one person writing on X: 'This ain't the dunk you think it is lol. Kath and Kim are Aussie icons. It's an honour to be compared to them'.

'I'm not a fan of either the OP or the subject, but to be compared to an Aussie Icon like Kim should only ever be seen as a compliment,' another wrote.

One more said: 'I actually was impressed with her response.'

In January, the shock reason Kath & Kim star Gina Riley walked away from fame at the height of her career was revealed.

The Australian comedian, 64, told Nine in a resurfaced interview that she made the conscious decision to walk away from the spotlight so she could live a normal life.

'As I get older, I really don't want to be a public person, which sounds ridiculous with what I do. I'm totally boring in everyday life,' Gina began.

Gina added she and her Kath & Kim co-star Jane Turner, 64, were never comfortable with fame as they felt they did not fit in with that lifestyle.

Her striking look was compared to Gina Riley's beloved character from the iconic Aussie sitcom Kath & Kim (pictured)

The amusing post caught the attention of the outspoken senator, who shared it to her page with some hilarious words: 'I'm not a housewife, I'm a hornbag! Two staunch icons'

'We are more observers. We are not people who super belong,' she said.

The Melbourne-born performer worked consistently in film and television from 1983 - 2007, when the popular sitcom she created with Turner ended after four seasons.

Since then, Gina has only made occasional media appearances, including reprising her role as Kim Day in the 2012 movie Kath and Kimderella.

Gina is now focused on her family life and spends her time with her TV producer husband Rick McKenna.

Kath & Kim, which ran on the ABC and Channel Seven from 2002 to 2007, also starred Jane Turner, Glenn Robbins, Magda Szubanski and Peter Rowsthorn.

The sitcom produced two spin-off movies: Da Kath & Kim Code (2005) and Kath and Kimderella (2012).

The series was renowned for its hilarious cameos from world famous stars, including Shane Warne, Kylie Minogue and Michael Buble.

Kath & Kim has recently seen a resurgence in popularity after it was made available on the streaming service Netflix.
Eric Dane's guest appearance on Brilliant Minds proved especially poignant as he portrayed a heroic firefighter battling ALS amid his own struggle with the degenerative condition.

On Monday's episode, the Grey's Anatomy star, 53  who first revealed his devastating diagnosis in April  played Matthew, a veteran firefighter with ALS who's wrestling with how to reveal the diagnosis to his adult daughter and ex-wife.

Fans were left in 'tears' after the 'heartbreaking' episode aired, with many calling Dane's portrayal 'powerful' and 'touching.'

As Matthews breathing worsened, Dr. Oliver Wolf (Zachary Quinto) suggested that he should lean on his support system, but Matthew was against the idea, and even thought of skipping Thanksgiving dinner so as not to worry his family.

He also resisted the idea of using a voice-banking app, struggling to imagine a future in which he couldnt speak.

The scene that closed out the episode  Matthew's heart-wrenching message he ended up recording on the voice app  earned the actor a 10 minute standing ovation from the crew, according to Brilliant Minds showrunner Michael Grassi.

Eric Dane's, 53, guest appearance on Brilliant Minds proved especially poignant as he portrayed a firefighter battling ALS amid his own struggle with the degenerative condition

On Monday's episode, Dane  who first revealed his devastating diagnosis in April  played Matthew, a veteran firefighter wrestling with how to reveal the diagnosis to his family

After further sessions with Wolf and the interns, Matthew began to open up.

He discussed his ALS with loved ones over Thanksgiving dinner and received a heartfelt tribute from his New York Fire Department family.

After the episode many fans took to social media, with one writing, 'Eric Dane is breaking my heart.'

'Crying with eric dane in this series,' another added.

Another fan praised him for doing a 'Beautiful job.'

Marking his return to the medical drama world, Dane teamed up with Grassi to craft an episode showing what it's like for families to face a difficult ALS diagnosis.

'There's no right or wrong way, there's no rulebook on how to do it,' Grassi told NBC Insider.

'And, for the Thanksgiving episode, we just thought it would be interesting to see a family work through something that's not easy.'

Fans were left in 'tears' after the 'heartbreaking' episode aired, with many calling Dane's portrayal 'powerful' and 'touching'

As Matthews breathing worsened, Dr. Oliver Wolf (Zachary Quinto) suggested that he should lean on his support system, but Matthew was against the idea

He also resisted the idea of using a voice-banking app, struggling to imagine a future in which he couldnt speak

After further sessions with Wolf and the interns, Matthew began to open up

He discussed his ALS with loved ones over Thanksgiving dinner and received a heartfelt tribute from his New York Fire Department family

The scene that closed out the episode  Matthew's heart-wrenching message he ended up recording on the voice app  earned the actor a 10 minute standing ovation from the crew, according to Brilliant Minds showrunner Michael Grassi

After the episode many fans took to social media, with one writing, 'Eric Dane is breaking my heart'

'We love this idea of somebody who is a firefighter who has dedicated his entire life to helping others and in service, and that's who he is, that's his whole sense of self.'

'And then to have to, later in life, accept help after helping people your entire life, is not easy for somebody like Matthew... It's not a new thing that Matthew is not letting people in; it's been a lifelong struggle of his to let people help him. He's stubborn, and I love that about his character.'

Breaking from tradition, the episode closed not with Wolfs usual monologue but with Matthew's heart-wrenching message.

Matthew said: 'The act of rescue is often linked to things like heroism and bravery, but for guys like me, I've always looked at it as an act of caring. I guess I never thought of myself as the one who needed to be cared for. But I know now that even on my hardest of days, you and your mom will be there to save me from any fires that may come our way.'

'Sometimes the most heroic thing you can do is not running into a burning building. Sometimes, it's quieter, smaller, and in a way even harder, at least for me,' he continued, sharing that accepting help from his daughter and mom was one of the biggest challenges.

'For me, this is the bravest thing I've ever done, and it's scary as hell,' he concluded tearfully. 'But it is worth it if it means more time with you.'

Grassi told NBC Insider, 'That scene was so moving, and Eric's performance in it was so vulnerable and so beautiful.'

'After we called cut on that scene and wrapped that scene, the entire crew stood up and clapped Matthew out that day for about 10 minutes. They were just so moved by his incredible performance, and so that was a really special day.'

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, is a rare and incurable motor neuron disorder that affects around 5,000 Americans each year

Eric gained fame as Grey's Anatomy's Dr Mark Sloan

As well as his appearance on the NBC show, he is ploughing ahead with a third season of Euphoria.

In October, Dane appeared to struggle while speaking to a photographer at the Washington, DC airport, after he was asked, 'What would you say to your fans who are hoping everything is okay?'

Dane replied softly, 'Keep the faith, man.'

According to sources close to the actor, the beloved star has been grappling with his own mortality.

One insider told the Daily Mail: 'Nobody wants to think about or address their own mortality, but that is exactly what Eric is going through now.

'He knows his fate and is trying to figure out how he wants to enjoy life, how to be a beacon of hope and help others who are struggling themselves. He also wants to enjoy being with family and friends and actually take this time to live.'

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, is a rare and incurable motor neuron disorder that affects around 5,000 Americans each year.

Symptoms often progress rapidly and are difficult to detect in the early stages.

Dane first noticed weakness in his right hand in early 2024, assuming hed simply 'been texting too much or my hand was fatigued'.

After months of testing and multiple specialist visits, he received the official diagnosis in April.

By June, he had lost use of his right arm.

While life expectancy for ALS patients typically ranges from three to five years, Danes decline has been swift and painful.

Dane's ALS announcement came shortly after the star and his estranged wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart , 54, decided to call off their divorce after seven years apart; pictured in June 2017 with their daughters Bille and Georgia

Through it all, his ex-wife and longtime confidante, Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Rebecca Gayheart, has remained one of his strongest sources of support.

The couples story began in 2003 when Gayheart, then fresh from a long-term relationship with producer Brett Ratner and starring in Nip/Tuck, met Dane, who was still climbing the Hollywood ladder after small roles in Saved by the Bell, The Wonder Years, and Roseanne.

They shares two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13.

By 2018, his marriage to Gayheart had run its course, and she filed for divorce after 14 years together.

When Dane received his ALS diagnosis, Gayheart reportedly halted the divorce process and recommitted to being by his side.

We are best of friends. We are really close. We are great co-parents, she told E! on the eve of his announcement. We really figured out the formula to staying a family... I think our kids are benefiting greatly from it and we are as well.
Sally Dynevor underwent a 1,495 private full body scan over the weekend for peace of mind over potential health issues.

The Coronation Street star, 62, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 after finding a lump when she was 46.

At the time, her character on the soap, Sally Metcalfe, was involved in a storyline where she also had the disease.

The actress took six months off to have treatment and when the cancer spread to her lymph nodes, she had surgery to remove them, a lumpectomy and then chemotherapy.

In a health update, shared to Instagram, Sally uploaded some photos before going in for the scan and detailed her reasoning.

She wrote: 'After my journey with breast cancer Ive learned how powerful early detection is. Health isnt something to take for granted.'

Sally Dynevor underwent a 1,495 private full body scan for peace of mind over the weekend.

The Coronation Street star, 62, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 after finding a lump when she was 46

The actress added: 'Thats why I chose the @ezrainc full body MRI and CT scan, a powerful radiation-free way to detect potential health issues early.

'Prevention can be lifesaving, catching problems before symptoms appear. The Ezra scan is about knowledge and peace of mind.'

Health tech pioneer Ezra has launched its screening service in the UK, marking a major expansion beyond the US.

Sally is the latest in a string of celebrities who has undergone a full body check as she joins the likes of Holly Willoughby, Kim Kardashian and Cindy Crawford.

Cancer Research UK reports a 24 per cent increase in cancer diagnoses among people in their 40s and 50s since 1995.

Despite advances in treatment, nearly half of all cancer cases in the UK are still diagnosed at late stages, limiting treatment options and outcomes.

Ezra say their mission is to shift this dynamic by making AI-powered early screening more accessible to those who may benefit from proactive monitoring of the disease.

This includes those with a family history of cancer or who have other risk factors. With early detection, treatment can start earlier and prognosis improves dramatically.

Sally is the latest in a string of celebrities who has undergone a full body check as she joins the likes of Holly Willoughby (pictured), Kim Kardashian and Cindy Crawford

The MRI scan currently takes about an hour, but experts say this could soon be reduced to just 15 minutes with the help of AI

Scan results showing the brain, spine, pelvis and abdomen. Any abnormalities will be flagged to the patient, who can then take the scans to their GP for further investigation

Having witnessed the impact of late-stage cancer diagnosis in my own family, I understand the critical importance of early detection, said Emi Gal, CEO and founder of Ezra.

Our mission is to make comprehensive cancer screening fast, accurate and affordable.

Ezra's AI-powered scans currently last an hour and cover 13 organs, with the added option of an extra lung CT scan and heart disease screening.

The AI technology has already significantly reduced scan times to just one hour and provided a scoring system to help doctors prioritise findings.

A 13-organ full body scan currently costs 1,495, with an option to add the spine for 2,395 and a skeletal and neurological assessment for 5,495.

But as it continues to advance, the time could be reduced to just a quarter of an hour  and it could eventually cut the cost of a full-body checkup under 400.

What were really trying to do is were trying to help people find things before they have symptoms, Mr Gal told MailOnline.

Generally, if you have symptoms, its too late. So really what you want to do is you want to find cancer before its symptomatic when its at its earliest stages, because thats when its most curable.

All scans are analysed by an Ezra doctor, with the help of AI, and any issues discussed with patients which can then be brought up with their own GP.

So 6 per cent of our members have found possible cancer, and we have stories from members who found cancer, got treated and now theyre cancer-free, Mr Gal explained.

I think theres a future in which we have a 15-minute, $500 (379) scan available to everyone.

Holly is the latest in a string of celebrities who has undergone a full body check as she joins the likes of Kim Kardashian (pictured) and Cindy Crawford

Most experts only recommend routine, full-body scans for certain high-risk groups, such as people who have a heightened genetic risk of cancer (Cindy Crawford pictured)

Prenuvo, is one of a growing number of health startups offering $2,500 MRIs they say can detect cancer and other chronic diseases years before symptoms even begin.

It featured in a sponsored post on Kim's Instagram page, where she described it as 'lifesaving'.

Dr Daniel Durand, a radiologist and Prenuvo's chief medical officer, told AP: 'Were trying to give people the opportunity to be more proactive about their health.'

'The Prenuvo full-body scan has the ability to detect cancer and diseases such as aneurysms in its earliest stages, before symptoms arise,' she wrote on Instagram. 'It has really saved one of my friends [sic] lives and I just wanted to share.'

However, experts have cautioned that the technology isn't worth it for the average patient in good health with no symptoms.
Kathy Griffin has revealed she's on four different dating apps in a bid to find love - a year on from her divorce.

The comedian, 65, said she's looking for 'somebody to share a life with', a year on from her very public divorce from marketing executive Randy Bick, 47.

She told People: 'I'm on four freaking apps. It's just embarrassing. I've gone on three different dates so far. They were all nice guys, but I didn't really feel the connection.'

Kathy added she doesn't wish to date an A-Lister in showbiz like herself and wants to find someone 'regular'.

She said: 'I like a guy that's nice, that's smart, that can handle the fact that I'm like a ballsy comedian and not be threatened by that or whatever.

'And just somebody to share life with. Nothing wild. Not a Hollywood type of guy, just a regular guy.'

Kathy Griffin, 65, has opened up about dating a year after her divorce as the comedian revealed she's on four different apps in a bid to find love (pictured in November)

The star confessed she's looking for 'somebody to share a life with', a year on from her very public divorce from marketing executive Randy Bick, 47 (the pair pictured in 2018)

Her remarks come after she filed for divorce in December 2023 to her second husband, citing 'irreconcilable differences,' three years after the now-estranged couple tied the knot on New Years Day 2020.

She asked the court to enforce their prenuptial agreement, so neither can be awarded spousal support.

'Wellsh*t. This sucks,' wrote Kathy on X at the time.

Sources previously told the Daily Mail that Randy became a 'homebody' and lost his lust for life.

After 'growing apart,' Kathy reportedly felt divorce would be the only way she could ever feel like herself again.

'Kathy was in love and is still in love with her ex and as heartbroken she is with how this all has turned out, Kathy loves living life,' an insider said.

They added, 'She always wants to have fun. She wants to travel and do things with a man she loves who has the same aspirations.'

'Kathy is just over 60 but still feels in her thirties and wants to enjoy life and has a fun and focused outlook on life and Randy did share that with her.'

Kathy added she doesn't wish to date an A-Lister in showbiz like herself and wants to find someone 'regular' (pictured in 2016)

The comedian turned to her friend Jane Fonda, 87, for support in the wake of her split

The actress first met Randy - who is 18 years her junior - at a food and wine festival in 2011 before getting married in 2020 at a ceremony officiated by fellow comedian Lily Tomlin.

Kathy has previously been open about struggling with the split during, telling her social media followers that she had turned to friend, and actress, Jane Fonda, 87, for support.

Alongside a picture of the pair, she wrote of their warming exchange: 'My girlfriends are going to get me through this. Last night I had to use the bat phone.

'MeFonda, its Griffin. My heart is broken. I cant eat I cant sleep. JaneCome on over kid. Ill make you something. Youll eat and Ill listen.'

Over the years, Kathy and Ryan's relationship occasionally attracted mockery over the fact that he is nearly two decades her junior.

In 2016, she remarked to People magazine: 'Well you know I didnt think it would last [because] hes 18 years younger than I am!'

Although she initially pegged the marketing executive as a 'man-wh***,' assuming their romance would not progress far.

However she eventually discovered he was 'a real guy' rather than 'a Hollywood guy,' and a genuine connection developed between them.

Kathy filed for divorce from Randy in December 2023, just shy of their fourth anniversary (pictured in 2011)

The end of their union marked her second divorce - she was previously married to actor Matthew Moline, 54, from 2001 until 2005.

After her first marriage failed, she went on Larry King Live and sensationally accused the actor of having stolen $72,000 from her by swiping her ATM cards while she slept.

Even though the pair attempted to reconcile after their initial split, Griffin maintained that they were unable 'to get around the trust issue.'

Matthew issued a statement of his own, read by King on the air, that said: 'Since our divorce, I have not made any public comments about my ex-wife or our marriage.

'It saddens me that she would choose to make such accusations at this time. I have no intention of engaging in a public debate over private matters.'
Sian Welby has spoken out on the 'mad' timing when she found out she had landed her dream job on This Morning whilst pregnant.

The TV and radio star, who also presents the Capital Radio Breakfast Show, welcomed her daughter Ruby in June 2024, just months after ITV bosses trusted her to co-host This Morning, where she had previously fronted competitions and other items.

Sian, 39, has revealed that she felt she had to hide her pregnancy from ITV bosses because she wanted to focus on the job - her dream role since she was a child, explaining: 'I purposely didn't say anything because I thought I just want this week to be about whether or not I could do the job. I didn't want it to be "Sian's pregnant".'

She insisted that when she did eventually reveal her pregnancy to both ITV heads and her bosses at Capital, everyone was supportive but 'in my own head I'm an inconvenience.'

'You get a new job and you think "I can't tell them because now I'm I'm a totally inconvenience". I'm going to let everyone down,' she confessed on the Mum's The Word podcast with Georgia Jones and Kelsey Parker.

'I'm a double wage because they're paying somebody to cover while I'm off and all this kind of stuff.'

Sian Welby has spoken out on the 'mad' timing when she found out she had landed her dream job on This Morning whilst pregnant (pictured on the show last month)

The TV and radio star, who also presents the Capital Radio Breakfast Show, welcomed her daughter Ruby in June 2024, just months after ITV bosses trusted her to co-host This Morning

'And you think, God, the world needs to get a grip a little bit because there's not enough respect. Procreating is literally the thing we're here to do. And yet I still think there is stigma and it is treated like, "Oh, well, this is not good for the workplace."'

Sian eventually told her bosses after her 20 week scan but was reluctant to take focus away from her new role.

'I purposely didn't say anything because I thought I just want this week to be about whether or not I could do the job and if I did a good job. I didn't want it to be "Sian's pregnant".'

'I thought this is sod's law that all my jobs are coming to an absolute head here, we got a brand new breakfast show.'

After hiding her pregnancy for weeks, Sian also felt the pressure to return to work after giving birth.

The presenter, 39, revealed to the Daily Mail how she returned to work just three months after giving birth as the 'breadwinner' of the family - and her fear of the roles she worked 15 years for disappearing.

Sian wasn't prepared to take the risk of potentially losing roles she worked hard for, or being left behind by the constantly changing industry that many dream of working in.

She explained: 'I'm very realistic that I can't be sure what would happen if I took a full year off. I don't know many people in this industry that would take that much time out. You have to be very secure within your job and your role.

Sian, 39, has revealed that she felt she had to hide her pregnancy from ITV bosses because she wanted to focus on the job - her dream role since she was a child

'I have bills to pay. I have to provide for my family, and I had built this up, it was 15 years in the making, some of these jobs are finally there.

'People might know me now from This Morning or Capital. Those jobs took a long time to get, and I wasn't ready to potentially throw them away or let them, or the momentum slow down. I was also really loving the fact it was finally getting going.'

Sian has admitted the 'mad' timing of her pregnancy has changed her attitude and work/life balance for the better.

'It's got harder but it's given me boundaries. For years I was just a yes girl,' she explained.

Sian returned to her role on Capital after three months, followed by her showbiz news slot on This Morning a few months later.

Her fiance Jake Beckett, a producer who she met whilst working in radio, took Shared Parental Leave when she went back, with Sian praising their parenting dynamic.

Jake proposed to Sian during a romantic getaway in 2023 but as they 'tag team' parenting their 17-month-old daughter in between their schedules, Sian has revealed she can't consider planning her big day right now.

The presenter, 39, revealed to the Daily Mail how she returned to work just three months after giving birth as the 'breadwinner' of the family (pictured with her fiance Jake)

She recently told the Daily Mail: 'The fiance takes the back burner bless him, because both of you as a couple are trying to find time for the baby. And then you realise when are we gonna do a date night and bless us we have tried.

'We hit 8pm and we're closed out, we're like falling asleep on the Tube home and you realise how hard it is.

'Everyone says those first two years they're ill, they don't sleep, you're trying to adjust. You get through one phase and then they start another one.

'I think in general I'm in the trenches and so me and Jake have to just keep checking in with each other. You know, take it in turns to apologise.'
A Harry Potter actress has revealed she was 37 when she portrayed a 14-year-old ghost in the wizard film franchise.

The star, now 60, played the memorable character in the 2002 film Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets and reprised her role for 2005's Goblet Of Fire.

Moaning Myrtle was once a Hogwarts student until her untimely death and had haunted the second floor girl's bathroom ever since.

She became infatuated with wizard Harry who had shown kindness towards her.

However, the actress behind the character - Shirley Henderson - has now revealed she was 37 when she played the role, which was based on a 14-year-old teenager.

In a new interview, Shirley said how casting directors thought she was the right fit for the role and told her not to reveal her real age whilst auditioning.

A Harry Potter actress has revealed she was 37 when she portrayed a 14-year-old ghost in the wizard film franchise

Moaning Myrtle was once a Hogwarts student until her untimely death and had haunted the second floor girl's bathroom ever since

In a new interview, Shirley said how casting directors thought she was the right fit for the role and told her not to reveal her real age whilst auditioning

Shirley told The Independent: 'The casting director said, "Go for it  and don't mention your age".'

The actress continued: 'When I was first asked for an audition, I didnt know who Harry Potter was. But my sister, who was staying with me, had read the books.

'Still, I wasnt convinced I could play a 14-year-old girl because I was in my 30s at the time.'

When it came to meeting bosses, Shirley made sure she looked the part to give her the best chance at landing the part.

She explained: 'I went to the audition dressed as a schoolgirl  white shirt, black skirt, ponytail  thinking, "This is ridiculous".

'I did my wee bit for them and they thanked me. Months went by and I thought that was it, but then they phoned my agent, asked to see me again, and offered me the part Myrtle is an old person in a young persons body and because shes ghosty, theres a kind of mistiness. Youre not looking closely at my face, so we could get away with it.'

Before appearing in Harry Potter, Shirley was already an established and respected actress, appearing in Trainspotting, Bridget Jones's Diary and Topsy-Turvy.

She later went on to star in Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason, Marie Antionette and Meeks Cutoff.

Shirley was already an established actress before appearing in Harry Potter (pictured after winning the BAFTA Outstanding Contribution to Film & Television Award in 2023)

Her revelation comes as HBO bosses continue work on a brand new TV adaptation of J.K. Rowling's book series with lead stars Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout

Meanwhile, earlier this month Harry Potter fans were left furious as bosses made a major change to the upcoming HBO adaption.

It's been claimed the show, set to debut in 2027, will have a narrator for the wizardly action as Warner Bros lures in a new generation of Potterheads.

According to Collider, British actor Tom Turner, whose acting credits include Star Wars: Rogue One, will take on the job.

Fans were quick to complain about the possibility of a narrator, with many stating that the Harry Potter story simply does not need one.

News of the change comes after security was reportedly increased on the set of the upcoming new show.

This is the result of Harry Potter author JK Rowling's gender critical beliefs, which the child stars of the original films have said they do not agree with.

Now there are growing concerns that transgender activists are planning to sabotage the new project, according to reports.

Filming for the new wizarding TV series began this summer, but fears have been sparked after a recent alleged break-in by intruders to the show's set in Leavesden Studios, Watford, Hertfordshire.
Lorraine Stanley showed off her incredible weight-loss transformation on Monday to fans after revealing she's lost over six stone.

The former EastEnders actress, 49, looked worlds away from her Walford character Karen Taylor as she posed in a gorgeous gown that featured a plunging neckline.

She went braless for the satin piece, with the sleeveless frock revealing Lorraine's toned arms as she dressed up for a mental health gala.

Fans were in left in awe of her jaw-dropping transformation, including her former soap co-star Balvinder Sopal who simply commented: 'Holy moly.'

Lorraine recently opened up on her six-and-a-half-stone weight-loss, admitting she had a gastric sleeve fitted two years ago.

She had previously taken jabs, though became 'immune' to them before undergoing surgery at a London clinic.

Lorraine Stanley has showed off her incredible weight-loss transformation on Monday after revealing she's lost over six stone

The former EastEnders actress, 49, looked worlds away from her Walford character Karen Taylor as she posed in a gorgeous gown that featured a plunging neckline

Lorraine went braless for the satin piece, with the sleeveless frock revealing Lorraine's toned arms as she attended a mental health gala

Previously speaking about the procedure, Lorraine told New magazine said: 'I went to a London clinic, paid an awful lot of money and had it done.

'It's hands-down the best thing I've ever done  both for me and for my family.'

In July Lorraine revealed to fans she had given up booze as part of her health journey.

She said on social media: 'I'm five months sober and still had a good night dancing! #Sobriety.'

Lorraine has been on a lifestyle overhaul since she left EastEnders for good two years ago after her character was written out by bosses.

She recalled how she watched back an episode of the BBC soap and 'could barely look at myself'.

In August Lorraine tied the knot with her long-term partner at a picturesque country ceremony in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

Lorraine looked sensational in a white ruffled gown as she showed off her slimmer physique.

Lorraine had previously taken jabs, though became 'immune' to them before undergoing surgery at a London clinic

The soap star, who has also given up booze, recalled how she watched back an episode of EastEnders and 'could barely look at myself'

Lorraine has been on a lifestyle overhaul since she left EastEnders for good two years ago after her character was written out by bosses

Her dress boasted a boat neck and chic polka dot print which she teamed with a traditional veil and pearl jewellery, as she said 'I do'.

Groom Mark, who has been in a relationship with Lorraine for 12 years, could not wipe the smile off his face, looking dapper in a green three-piece suit paired with a crisp white shirt and gold tie.

Meanwhile their daughter Nancy, ten, looked lovely as their flower girl in a pale pink princess dress with flowers in her hair.

The sun-soaked nuptials were attended by family and friends as well as Lorraine's former on-screen son Danny Walters, who played Keanu before being killed off as part of an explosive Christmas storyline last year.
Gail Porter was one of the biggest pin-ups of the 90s along with the likes of Kelly Brook, Jodie Marsh and Katie Price.

She first made her name hosting shows such as Fully Booked and Top of the Pops, before becoming a favourite of the lads' mags during the late '90s.

The star, now 54, became known for her sex positive attitude and, most famously, for having her nude image projected onto the Houses of Parliament as part of FHM's 1999 '100 Sexiest Women' campaign - a moment that cemented her status as a household name.

But behind the glossy covers, her life told a different story and by 2005, things had begun to unravel.

She lost her home, her career and her confidence as she faced a long battle with mental health struggles, alopecia and bankruptcy.

So how did one of the most in-demand stars end up now spending Christmas alone?

Gail Porter was one of the biggest pin-ups of the 90s along with the likes of Kelly Brook , Jodie Marsh and Katie Price (pictured in 1999)

The star became known for speaking openly about orgasms and, most famously, for having her nude image projected onto the Houses of Parliament as part of FHM's 1999 '100 Sexiest Women' campaign - a moment that cemented her status as a household name

But behind the glossy covers, her life told a different story and by 2005, things had begun to unravel (pictured 2025)

Following the breakdown of her marriage to Toploader guitarist Dan Hipgrave, whom she shares daughter Honey, 23, with, Gail lost her hair to alopecia in 2005.

Alopecia is a chronic condition which causes the immune system to attack hair follicles.

It came out of nowhere and happened in just four weeks, while Gail was away from home filming in the US.

Her long blonde locks fell out in clumps on her pillow while she slept, along with her eyelashes and eyebrows.

She famously refused to wear wigs, saying she wanted to stay authentic  but job offers quickly dried up.

The presenter previously explained on the Sacrifice and Success podcast: 'My personality took a bit of a knock. Jobs just stopped, because you don't look the same.

''Would you wear a wig, would you mind wearing a wig?' No I don't want to wear a wig. This is how it is.'

After her TV career 'just stopped', she was left homeless and without money.

Following the breakdown of her marriage to Toploader guitarist Dan Hipgrave, whom she shares daughter Honey, 23, with, Gail lost her hair to alopecia in 2005 (pictured with ex-husband Dan in 2001)

It came out of nowhere and happened in just four weeks, while Gail was away from home filming in the US (pictured 2007)

Gail explained: 'I was going through a divorce, no money coming in. So eventually I had nowhere to stay. It just went from bad to worse.

'Things like, what do you do? Do I drink? I've got no clue whatsoever, I don't take drugs so'

Gail recalled that at one point, she also did not have enough credit on her phone to be able to get in contact with anyone.

'So there were a few times I didn't have enough money on my phone to call anybody.

'If I found a pound I was thinking, what do I do with a pound? I'll see if I can find another one and get a mini bottle of wine from the local off license or those little ones.

'Anything for comfort. I was freezing as well, because I was outside.'

In 2011, she was battling with an eating disorder, anorexia, post-natal depression and being diagnosed bipolar.

It resulted in Gail being bundled into the back of a police van and taken to a psychiatric unit where she would be sectioned and forcibly held for nearly a month.

In 2011, she was battling with an eating disorder, anorexia, post-natal depression and being diagnosed bipolar(pictured in 1999)

It resulted in Gail being bundled into the back of a police van and taken to a psychiatric unit where she would be sectioned and forcibly held for nearly a month (pictured in October 2024)

That same day she sent a text message to her boyfriend that read: 'I can't carry on. I feel suicidal.'

After being taken to the Royal Free Hospital in North London, Gail's mental welfare was deemed so unstable she was placed under a 28-day section order which forced her to remain as an in-patient at the Grove Clinic, alongside paranoid schizophrenics and violent patients on suicide watch.

Speaking about the her 'horrible' experience in a psychiatric unit, she claimed that doctors 'didn't know what to do with me.'

Appearing on Loose Women in 2022, she told the panel: 'When I was sectioned, they just didn't know what to do with me.

'Because I was so depressed, they medicated me in the morning and evening.

'They had me on watch, it was horrible. There was a lady talking to god down the toilet  it was very scary.'

Three weeks into her sectioning, Gail was told she would be allowed to go home after a third doctor assessed her and decided she could continue her treatment as a day patient at the Tavistock Centre, her local mental health centre.

She did for a few weeks until she felt her condition hadn't improved enough and she decided to fly to Thailand for a two-week rehabilitation programme at the Chiang Mai clinic.

However, after her struggles with depression, anorexia and self-harm, the presenter found herself at her lowest point in 2014 when an unforeseen tax demand left her financially devastated (pictured in 2020)

The clinic, which specialises in the treatment of addiction, offers counselling for 27 patients at a time and is set inside a luxury resort.

Gail said it was the process there that allowed her to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

On her return to the UK at the time, she said she felt better than at any period over those last two years.

'The treatment was focused on talking through our problems and looking towards the future. There was exercise every day and a programme of activities,' Gail said.

However, after her struggles with depression, anorexia and self-harm, the presenter found herself at her lowest point in 2014 when an unforeseen tax demand left her financially devastated.

'I was an idiot. I kept getting bills and instead of dealing with them, I would just put them under my pillow unopened,' Gail said on Loose Women in 2017.

'I ran away from everything and things got worse. They weren't huge bills.'

Gail spent time sofa surfing and even a brief spell rough sleeping in London's Hampstead Heath.

Gail spent time sofa surfing and even a brief spell rough sleeping in London's Hampstead Heath

She was forced to put all of her belongings into a storage facility, but was never able to get them back as she couldn't afford the payments.

'I watch that programme Storage Wars, just in case I see my stuff on the tele,' she said during an appearance on Good Morning Britain in 2024.

The memory of trying to keep her clothes clean while finding a roof over her head has stayed with her.

'If I got money I'd end up going to the laundrette and that was a good tenner gone,' she told Big Issue. 'I wanted my clothes to be clean and give myself a little bit of self-respect. But anything costs you money.'

Gail revealed she did not ask for help because she was embarrassed.

She explained on the Sacrifice and Success podcast: 'I had loads of great friends but it was getting embarrassing, because I'm in my forties. My daughter's staying at her dads.

'I've got no money, I've got no work, I'm sleeping on people's couches. It was like the Young Ones. I didn't think I was going to be like this at my age.

'This is why you don't take everything for granted. You must always remember how lucky you are and be extremely kind. '

She did eventually reach out to her family and friends for support and went on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015, managing to use the fee for a flat deposit.

The mother-of-one confirmed that she now lives off just 200 each month, after paying the rent on her flat in North West London.

She did eventually reach out to her family and friends for support and went on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015

Since then, Gail has managed to rebuild her life with the help of charity work, exercise, and a renewed sense of purpose.

She even picked up a BAFTA for her 2020 documentary Being Gail Porter.

These days, she's focused on supporting others through organisations like the Samaritans and Prince William's Homewards campaign, which aims to tackle homelessness across the UK.

Opening up about her work with Prince William, Gail said: 'I've got 100 percent in it because it's the most I've seen happen about homelessness since I was homeless.

'He's just been such a strong advocate and because of his position in our country and all of the world, I think other people from other countries are asking about Homewards,' she added.

'He works very hard and it's just an absolute pleasure.'

However, she still worries that she could find herself in that situation again.

She said Good Morning Britain in March: 'I'm very aware of it because it can happen to any of us, any time.

'I still have that fear that it can just take a bad turn and you haven't got enough savings. It can happen to anyone.'

Most recently, Gail shared a heartbreaking Instagram post earlier this month reflecting on her loneliness as the festive season approaches.

Most recently, Gail shared a heartbreaking Instagram post earlier this month reflecting on her loneliness as the festive season approaches

The TV star posted a selfie with a cap pulled down over her face as she admitted she was feeling deflated after missing out on a ticket to see her favourite band Radiohead.

'The Sunday face when a charity you work for offers a 'thank you' with a ticket to one of your favourites (clue in this post!)then messages to say oh sorry you can't have the ticket now. Our bad! Oh well. Lucky I don't cry too easily,' she wrote.

Gail followed the post with another in which she revealed that a friend had failed to invite her over for Christmas.

'And last moan. I promise,' she wrote. 'I did a job for free recently and they offered to donate money to a charity of my choice. Still waiting.

'And my friend asked what i was doing for Christmas. I said nothing planned she suggested i do charity work. Has she any idea what I dedicate half my life to? [sad emoji] Just a hug is all i really need!'

The posts were met with an outpouring of supportive comments from followers and fellow nineties TV star Sarah Cawood, 53, also reached out, telling her friend: 'Gail you are worth more than this! You do so much for charity; you need to do something for you.'

'And if you're on your own for Xmas, then come to me! It would be lovely to see you. No one spends Xmas alone on my watch xxx.'

For help call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
Heidi Klum flaunted her supermodel figure in a latex bodysuit as she posed up a storm for a racy shoot on Monday.

The German-American model, 52, looked sensational in the daring number, which featured a black frame print, as she struck a series of sultry poses in her dressing room mid-shoot.

Flaunting her long, toned legs, Heidi layered a black leather jacket over her shoulders as she sported one knee-high stiletto boot, with a matching black flame print.

Heidi completed the look with a pair of black oversized shades as she pranced around her dressing room.

For her second outfit change, Heidi slipped into another latex ensemble, consisting of a sexy red corset top with a peplum hem and skin-tight leggings.

Keeping with the festive colour scheme, the model added inches to her frame with pointed red heels, strutting towards the camera.

Heidi Klum flaunted her supermodel figure in a latex bodysuit as she posed up a storm for a racy shoot on Monday

The German-American model, 52, looked sensational in the daring number, which featured a black frame print, as she struck a series of sultry poses in her dressing room mid-shoot

In other sizzling snaps shared to Instagram, Heidi showcased her cleavage in a black satin triangle bra.

In another photo, the beauty donned a grey studded top as she posed for a stunning selfie.

The racy shoot comes after Heidi danced with her swimsuit-clad daughter Leni as they got ready together for Glamour's Women Of The Year awards in Berlin, Germany.

The supermodel and her 21-year-old daughter looked in good spirits as they danced to the latest social media trend to the 4 Non Blondes song, What's Up?

The mother-daughter duo both stood on a coffee table back-to-back as they took turns to lip sync to the lyrics.

Model Leni wowed in a black scoop neck swimsuit while Heidi showed off her amazing figure in a stunning sequin leopard print minidress.

Sharing a behind-the-scenes at the fun trend, the America's Got Talent star's team were seen circling the pair filming with a large light and a hairdryer, adding a windswept effect.

Later, the pair headed to the awards and posed side-by-side as they graced the red carpet at the glamorous Ritz Carlton.

Flaunting her long, toned legs, Heidi layered a black leather jacket over her shoulders as she sported one knee-high stiletto boot, with a matching black flame print

For her second outfit change, Heidi slipped into another latex ensemble, consisting of a sexy red corset top with a peplum hem and skin-tight leggings

Keeping with the festive colour scheme, the model added inches to her frame with pointed red heels, strutting towards the camera

Heidi and Leni flashed huge smiles for the camera and playfully air kissed each other, as they cuddled in close and wrapped their arms around each other.

It came as Heidi and Leni were recently blasted by fans who claimed their previous lingerie shoots were 'inappropriate' and 'weird'.

However, the pair appeared unfazed as they returned to work the camera, looking polished and perfectly coordinated.

Earlier this month, the duo posed for lingerie brand Intimissimi, showing off their incredible figures.

Heidi had first sparked disapproval from fans when she and Leni posed in 2023 as she rocked a lacy nude bra and matching panties while her offspring wore a fuchsia version.

The pair have previously hit back at backlash from fans, with Heidi telling PEOPLE: 'A lot of people are like, "Oh, I don't know about mom and daughter doing this together".

'But for us? I'm proud of my daughter. She's fine with me like that.'

Heidi also made it clear that body confidence runs in the family, noting that she's always been comfortable in her own skin.

In other sizzling snaps shared to Instagram, Heidi showcased her cleavage in a black satin triangle bra

In another photo, the beauty donned a grey studded top as she posed for a stunning selfie

The racy shoot comes after Heidi danced with her swimsuit-clad daughter Leni as they got ready together for Glamour's Women Of The Year awards in Berlin, Germany

The supermodel and her 21-year-old daughter looked in good spirits as they danced to the latest social media trend to the 4 Non Blondes song, What's Up?

'I've always been very open with my body,' she explained.

'When I'm suntanning in the backyard, I might not have a top on. I'm European my kids don't know me any other way.'

She added that their family doesn't view nudity through a hypersexualised lens.

Just last month, the pair posed for another shoot, which saw them wear matching cashmere knitwear.

They appeared in a video together as Heidi dressed in a pale cream jumper, while Leni opted for a dark brown shade.

Leni, Heidi's daughter with Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, was adopted by Seal during his marriage to Heidi.

Although Leni was offered modelling gigs throughout her childhood, Heidi held off on allowing her to enter the industry until she felt her daughter was ready.

Leni officially began modelling in 2020.

Heidi's decision to wait until Leni was 'old enough' was rooted in her desire to protect her daughter from the pressures of fame - though clearly, Leni has since caught the modelling bug.
Freddy Brazier has split from his pregnant on-off girlfriend Holly Swinburn, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.

The father-to-be, 21, previously admitted he is 'scared to be a dad' because he is a 'broken man' and said 'I'm not sure how much more I can take'.

Now, Freddy has told friends he has dumped Holly, who is pregnant with his child, and she reacted by trying to take his dog - a bully called Pablo - from him.

Sources close to model Freddy told the Daily Mail that he is struggling with the idea of co-parenting with Holly as things have become 'very difficult between them'.

'The pair have been arguing a lot recently. Having a baby so young is a lot to deal with. Both are quite flighty characters,' the insider shared.

'Freddy initially feared he was not the father, but has since done a paternity test which confirmed that he is the father.'

The news comes just hours after his father, Jeff Brazier, split from wife Kate again following a difficult year with his youngest son Freddy.

Freddy Brazier has split from his pregnant on-off girlfriend Holly Swinburn, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal

Holly reacted by trying to take Freddys dog - a bully called Pablo - from him, making him more upset

The couple previously split in late 2022 before reconciling seven months later.

Now, according to reports, PR guru Kate, 35, moved out of their marital home three weeks ago, with Jeff, 47, hinting on social media that his seven-year marriage was over.

He was said to have shared snaps from a new countryside property as he detailed the 'transitional time' in his life and how he was 'living in calm'.

Jeff was then seen without his wedding ring while reporting from Reykjavik on Monday's GMB, while Kate too reportedly ditched her band after heading to Las Vegas for the Grand Prix.

According to The Sun, Kate has returned to her flat in Hackney after growing apart from Jeff amid Freddy's struggles.

Freddy, who is the second son of the late reality star Jade Goody, revealed the news in August that he would be welcoming his first child.

Since then, he has vowed to turn his life around and has patched up his relationship with his father, Jeff.

The influencer sadly lost his mother, Jade, when he was just four years old after she died from cervical cancer on Mother's Day in 2009.

It comes just hours after his father Jeff Brazier split from his wife Kate again following a difficult year with his youngest son Freddy (Pictured last year)

Freddy, who is expecting his first child with Holly, claimed grandmother Jackiey got him hooked on drugs before this weekend, appearing to reveal he had tragically 'tried to end it all'

Since her death, Jeff has looked after Freddy and his older brother Bobby, 22.

Jade's mother Jackiey Budden, 68, helped raise Bobby and Freddy following Jade's death, but she and Jeff have clashed multiple times over the years.

Jeff considered taking legal action to block access between his son and maternal grandmother Jackiey in a bid to 'keep him safe'.

Freddy claimed Jackiey got him hooked on drugs, before appearing to reveal he had tragically 'tried to end it all' by 'crashing his car' in the middle of a 'manic episode'.

He took to TikTok to bravely share a video explaining his heartbreaking journey, with a generated voiceover in the video sharing the extent of the model's mental health struggles.

In the video, Freddy told his followers that he spent his 18th birthday 'in a psychiatric ward,' but realised after that 'something needed to change'.

The video began with a generated voiceover that said: '2.5 years ago after crashing a car in a manic episode in an attempt to end it all.'

He captioned the post: '2.5 years ago now, I'm f*****g proud of myself and I can't wait to tell my story.'

Showing how he realised he had to change his habits, he then wrote: 'Something clicked in my head needed to change! Started getting out more.'

The influencer sadly lost his mother, Jade, when he was just four years old after she died from cervical cancer on Mother's Day in 2009 (pictured 2006)

He added that he then decided to start 'eating better,' and focused on his close circle of friends and prioritising 'self-love'.

The video then showed images of himself attending events, training in the gym and eating salads for lunch, along with the words: 'Eating better. Time away from London. Bit of training. Small circle. My doggo. Skincare and self love.'

Elsewhere, Freddy hinted he was ready to split from Holly as he admitted his 'relationships are falling apart'.

Freddy took to Instagram with a heartbreaking post as he gathered his thoughts while on a late-night stroll around London on Sunday night.

Admitting he's been thinking about his mother - who passed away in 2009 following a battle with cervical cancer when he was just four years old - Freddy told his followers he's 'constantly questioning whether [he's] good enough'.

Sharing a picture of the London skyline on his podcast's social media page, he wrote: 'Head is so loud! Had to take myself on a late-night walk to clear my head. I've been thinking about my mum loads recently!

'I'm scared to be a dad as I'm a broken man. My relationships are all falling apart.

'I'm constantly questioning myself if I'm good enough. I'm trying to be healthy and stay away from green, but life is hard [right now] and I'm not sure how much more s**t I can take!'

The Daily Mail has contacted Freddys representatives for comment.
Lindy and Stella Klim turned heads as they made a striking mother-daughter entrance at Sydney's exclusive Omega VIP event in Coogee on Tuesday night.

The Balinese princess and her model daughter looked effortlessly chic and undeniably glamorous, setting the tone for an evening of high fashion.

Lindy, 46, turned heads in a daring light blue, figure-hugging dress that featured side-by-side cut-outs across the top, which helped showcase her ageless beauty.

She went braless, letting the bold design speak for itself, and completed her look with silver heels and a designer clutch.

Her sleek black hair was styled perfectly straight, framing her face as she posed with effortless confidence.

Meanwhile, her model daughter Stella, 19, matched her mother's glamour with a show-stopping white mini dress.

Lindy and Stella Klim turned heads as they made a striking mother-daughter entrance at Sydney 's exclusive Omega VIP event in Coogee on Tuesday night. Pictured: Lindy

Model Stella, 19, (pictured) matched her mother's glamour with a show-stopping white mini dress

Stella's structured, asymmetrical skirt added movement and modern flair, while the sheer long sleeves and bandeau-style bodice offered a chic contrast of covered and revealed

The structured, asymmetrical skirt added movement and modern flair, while the sheer long sleeves and bandeau-style bodice offered a chic contrast of covered and revealed.

A high mock neckline lent the look a contemporary edge, while her sleek high bun and metallic heels kept the outfit polished and camera-ready.

Also in attendance was celebrity chef Melissa Leong, who looked effortlessly elegant in a powder-blue frilled gown, featuring a fitted silhouette and tiered ruffle hem that added movement and subtle drama.

She kept accessories minimal, letting the dress take centre stage with understated glamour.

Margot Robbie's brother Cameron looked effortlessly sharp in a grey suit, keeping his look classic and polished.

The veteran Neighbours star's slick tailoring added a touch of modern sophistication.

Elsewhere, Emma McKeon looked effortlessly chic in a black slip dress with delicate ruffles and subtle lace panels, adding texture and movement to the sleek silhouette.

The Australian swim star kept accessories minimal, letting the dress and her natural glow do all the talking.

Lindy went braless, letting the bold design speak for itself, and completed her look with a designer clutch

Her sleek black hair was styled perfectly straight, framing her face as she posed with effortless confidence

A high mock neckline lent the look a contemporary edge, while Stella's sleek high bun and metallic heels kept the outfit polished and camera-ready

Melissa Leong (pictured) looked effortlessly elegant in a powder-blue frilled gown, featuring a fitted silhouette and tiered ruffle hem that added movement and subtle drama

She kept accessories minimal, letting the dress take centre stage with understated glamour

Margot Robbie's brother Cameron (pictured) looked effortlessly sharp in a grey suit, keeping his look classic and polished

Emma McKeon (pictured) looked effortlessly chic in a black slip dress with delicate ruffles and subtle lace panels, adding texture and movement to the sleek silhouette

The Omega VIP event proved to be a star-studded celebration of style, with each arrival bringing their own dose of glamour and sophistication.

The exclusive event was a masterclass in effortless red-carpet chic.

It follows reports that Stella Klim is the latest nepo baby taking social media by storm.

The influencer has now accumulated an even bigger following on TikTok than her model mother Lindy, as she engages her thousands of followers with beauty and makeup tips.

The Bali-based social media star revealed she now gives her model mother suggestions on how to better engage her followers online.

'She has taught me how to pose and hold myself in certain environments, but in terms of influencer stuff I'm definitely helping mum,' Stella recently told the Herald Sun.

'Stella has outgrown me,' a proud Lindy chipped in.

The duo also have a professional relationship, and recently returned to Australia to promote the women's clothing brand Effie Kats.

The stunner launched her modelling career in November 2022 at 16.
Gemma Ward keeps her life very private these days.

But the Australian supermodel made a rare public appearance on Tuesday as she stepped out for the Omega VIP Event in Sydney's Coogee.

The 38-year-old opted for a daring, sleeveless waistcoat with a deep V-neck that flaunted lots of bust.

She added a pair of tailored trousers with a navy blue satin panel and patent leather heels in a black tone.

Sporting lighter blonde locks, which she tucked under her top, and a high fashion silhouette, the model accessorised with a silver choker and matching bracelets.

For makeup, Gemma chose a clean look but for her smudged black eyeliner, adding a nude lipstick.

Gemma Ward (pictured) keeps her life very private these days

The Australian supermodel made a rare public appearance on Tuesday as she stepped out for the Omega VIP Event in Sydney 's Coogee

The 38-year-old opted for a daring, sleeveless waistcoat with a deep V-neck that flaunted lots of bust

Despite her global fame, Gemma has kept a relatively low profile in recent years, choosing to focus on her family and creative projects rather than the high-octane world of fashion.

She shares her children Naia, Jet, and Kirra with long-time partner David Letts and has spoken in the past about prioritising motherhood and a grounded lifestyle away from the limelight.

The sighting marks a rare public appearance for the Perth-born beauty, who now resides in Sydney and is known for her commitment to a private, beachside life.

Gemma, who became a household name in the early 2000s as part of the 'doll face' model era, has also dabbled in acting, appearing in films like The Great Gatsby and The Strangers.

However, her primary role these days appears to be that of devoted mum - and by the looks of her latest outing, she's thriving in it.

It comes after Gemma revealed some unexpected advice she once received from Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

Of all the words of wisdom the Australian model received from the industry veteran, the most surprising was: 'Never pay for anything.'

Bundchen has famously been romantically involved with wealthy superstars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Kelly Slater and Tom Brady.

She added a pair of tailored trousers with a navy blue satin panel

Sporting lighter blonde locks, which she tucked under her top, and a high fashion silhouette, the model accessorised with a silver choker and matching bracelets

For makeup, Gemma chose a clean look but for her smudged black eyeliner, adding a nude lipstick

Despite her global fame, Gemma has kept a relatively low profile in recent years, choosing to focus on her family and creative projects rather than the high-octane world of fashion. Pictured in 2019

Speaking with RUSSH, the actor revealed it wasn't the only advice the world's highest paid model gave her.

Gemma said the blonde beauty also spoke with to about how to style an 'off-duty model' look.

'I guess there are people who play with their own personal style and then there's the signature model off-duty look, like jeans and a t-shirt,' Gemma said.

'Gisele would tell me, "Only wear a T-shirt and jeans, and never pay for anything." But I've always loved to experiment with style.'

Gemma is considered one of Australia's most successful models and made her Australian Fashion Week debut at just age 15 in 2003.

After a short break from modelling, she returned to the industry in 2018.

She previously told Vogue about her return: 'I came back to modelling because I felt in a place where I was accepting of myself and ready to continue my journey and accept opportunities placed in my way.'
Ellie Goldstein's mum has recalled the awful comment a nurse made to her when doctor's diagnosed her daughter with Down's syndrome shortly after birth.

The model, 23, who was the first contestant with the genetic condition to appear on Strictly Come Dancing, lost her spot in the competition after two weeks ago.

She has defied all expectations since her birth in 2001, going on to make history as the first model with Down's syndrome to feature in major fashion campaigns and cover Vogue.

Reflecting on her daughter's difficult birth, her mum Yvonne, recalled how doctors broke the news about Ellie's Down syndrome diagnosis and asked if she wanted to leave her at the hospital.

Joining Paul C. Brunson on his podcast, We Need To Talk, she explained how a nurse shockingly said: 'The last mother who had one of these left it here. Do you want to do that?'

Yvonne recalled: 'I had my usual scans and everything, and it was about two weeks or so before the due date and something didn't feel right.'

Ellie Goldstein 's mum has recalled the awful comment a nurse made to her when doctor's diagnosed her daughter with Down's syndrome shortly after birth

Reflecting on her daughter's difficult birth, her mum Yvonne, recalled how doctors broke the news about Ellie's diagnosis and asked if she wanted to leave her at the hospital

She continued: 'I went for another scan and she was literally stuck across my stomach. So they decided I needed a caesarean.

'She came out and the glimpse I saw of her, she was completely purple, the cord was wrapped round her neck. But they sorted her that was all fine.

'They still hadn't brought her over to us. They said, "Theres a problem." But no one would talk to us. Then the midwife said, "We think she's got Down's syndrome."

'They said: "Do not feed her. Don't do anything." She was screaming for a bottle. Four hours went past before anyone came back to see us.

'It was very odd. Youre thinking the worst, obviously. Then a team of seven people came in. He scooped her out of the cot, held in the air like this in her little nappy. This is Ellie. She's got Downs syndrome. She will never walk, talk or go to university. University?"

'Shes just been born. My husband and I were like, What do we do? What are we meant to do?

'I said, "Can I feed her?" and they were like, "Well, she needs checking. She probably won't be able to drink." We gave her a bottle and she was fine.

'Then this other nurse came in and looked at Ellie said, "Oh, the last mother who had one of these left it here. Do you want to do that?".'

The model, 23, who was the first contestant with the genetic condition to appear on Strictly, lost her spot in the competition after two weeks ago and has defied all expectations birth

Yvonne said: 'This other nurse came in and looked at Ellie said, "Oh, the last mother who had one of these left it here. Do you want to do that?"'

Elsewhere in the chat, Ellie said she is still attending training sessions with professional dancer Vito, 33, as he teaches her all the dances 'she didn't get a chance to learn' on the show

Elsewhere in the chat, Ellie said she is still attending training sessions with professional dancer Vito, 33, as he teaches her all the dances 'she didn't get a chance to learn' on the show.

The duo share a close bond, with Ellie saying how her 'brother' Vito 'brightens up the room' and still leaves her a sweet voicenote every night.

Ellie exclaimed: 'Vito is the best guy in the world! I got voted off on Halloween week. Dont know why I got voted off. But its fine, Im grateful.

'Unfortunately, I was a bit too sad. But Vito said "Come on cheeky." We did our bye byes. We had a little dance. And he picked me up and hugged me and said: "I love you, my sister." That was the best.'

'When I got eliminated he said to me "are we ever going to dance again?". I went, "Yeah, lets keep dancing! I cant wait to dance with you again, Vito!'

Her mum, Yvonne, explained how they they are continuing to learn all the dances that she never got a chance to do on the show.

Ellie added: 'Ive done the jive. Now, its Foxtrot. Tomorrow we are going to learn more.

'We are brother and sister. When were going training, literally, he brightens up the room, thats how much. A lot of positivity, I cant wait to tell him what Ive done today.

'Every night, I get voice messages from him. It is so, so cute.'

Ellie added that despite having a hugely successful career as a model, actress and influencer, and becoming the first model with Down syndrome to grace the cover of British Vogue, speaking on Strictly was still better.

'Best, best feeling is easily Strictly,' she stated after discussing her successes.

Ellie has been flown to Sweden, Italy and Germany for photoshoots, and strutted her stuff on the catwalk at London Fashion Week.

The model won praise from learning disability charity Mencap, after her departure from Strictly Come Dancing with partner Vito.

She went head to head with Balvinder Sopal on a dance-off on November 3 however the EastEnders star survived her third dance-off and Ellie was sent home.

Following her departure, Jon Sparkes OBE, Chief Executive of Mencap said: 'We are so proud of our Mencap Myth Buster Ellie for her incredible journey on Strictly...

'Ellie has done a fantastic job of showing the nation what people with a learning disability can achieve when they're given the spotlight to shine.'

Ellie said: 'We are brother and sister. When were going training, literally, he brightens up the room, thats how much. A lot of positivity, I cant wait to tell him what Ive done today'

Vito left viewers in tears during their exit as he branded Ellie 'his perfect angel', while adding: 'I've never had a little sister but I always wanted one. Now, I have you and you're my little sister forever, and your big brother is always by your side.'

The spooktacular Strictly results show saw Ellie and Vito leave the competition after performing performed their Tango to Abracadabra by Lady Gaga in the dance off against Balvinder and Julian Caillon.

The judges were unanimous in their decision, with Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse all choosing to save Balvinder - who has already faced two dance-offs against Ross King and Chris Robshaw.

Head Judge Shirley Ballas - who this week was the judge with the casting vote  said that she would have also chosen to save Balvinder and Julian however added that she thought 'Ellie was also outstanding throughout the whole competition'.

When asked about how much she enjoyed dancing with Vito, Ellie said: 'I've enjoyed it so much! He is a kind person and all I wanted from day one.'

Vito responded with his incredible speech, saying: 'Honestly, there are no words I can use to describe how proud I am of you and you did really change my life so much. You made me such a better person.

'At the beginning of this year, I said to myself please, please, please can you send me a beautiful angel into my life? And now you arrived...

'I've never had a little sister but I always wanted one. Now, I have you and you're my little sister forever, and your big brother is always by your side.'
Jackiey Budden has let rip on Jeff Brazier's split from wife Kate Dwyer and says she blames HER for the much-publicised toxic family feud.

She accused TV presenter Jeff, 46, of putting 'his marriage ahead of his sons' and claimed the marriage to PR consultant Kate, 35, was 'the worst choice Jeff has ever made'.

Moreover, Ms Budden, 68, told Daily Mail on Tuesday that the couple's issues have caused wider rifts among both extended families.

Jeff and Kate are understood to have permanently separated with both moving into new homes separately in recent weeks.

Now Brazier's former mother-in-law, Jackiey - whose famous daughter Jade Goody died aged 29 in 2007 - has spoken about how his decision to marry Dwyer was the cause of a bitter rift that has seen him fall out with her and his sons.

Brazier and Ms Dwyer met in 2013 while working on the set of ITV's This Morning and married in Portugal five years later, with his two sons from his previous relationship, Bobby, 22, and Freddy, 21, serving as joint best men.

But their relationship had since been dogged by problems - leading them to separate for seven months in 2022 and to finally split for good this autumn.

Jackiey Budden has let rip on Jeff Brazier's split, blaming his wife Kate Dwyer for toxic family feud and claiming he put 'his marriage ahead of his sons'

The GMB presenter, 46, and Ms Dwyer are understood to have permanently separated with both moving into new homes separately in recent weeks

Ms Budden - whose former son-in-law had previously threatened legal action over her dealings with her grandsons - told the Daily Mail today that she was relieved his second marriage was over for good.

She said: 'I am pleased that his marriage is over because it shouldn't have happened in the first place. So, yes, I am genuinely pleased.

'Jeff chose to put his relationship with Kate Dwyer ahead of the one he had with his own sons.

'They're my grandsons after all.and that's the root of why Jeff and I don't really get on.

'When I tried to be involved in the boys' upbringing he wasn't interested.

'Maybe he thought that by marrying Kate that it would make things easier but I always felt that it would not work.

'I always knew that trouble was brewing there and I remember saying to Bobby: 'watch this space' because I knew their relationship couldn't last.

'And I was right: they have dated, split up, got back together, married, separated again.

Brazier and Ms Dwyer, 35, met in 2013 while working on the set of ITV's This Morning and married in Portugal five years later, with his two sons from his previous relationship, Bobby, 22, and Freddy, 21, serving as joint best men

'If this break is for good this time then he will be better off for it.

'Jeff will now have his life back. He will have his family again and the friends he no longer saw.

'Don't get me wrong I can't stand the man [Jeff] but I'm happy for him because he will have a completely different life now and a happier and healthier one.

'That second marriage was the worst choice he's ever made.'.

She said that Jeff had particularly riled her by not making Mother's Day all about his deceased ex-wife.

She said: 'Even on Mother's Day for goodness sake. That was supposed to be Jade's day.'

Ms Budden, who by her own admission has had substance abuse issues in the past, also claimed that a reported legal case against her had never amounted to anything, saying: 'That was a load of garbage. He's never served papers. He's full of sh*t.'

Jackiey said that Jeff had particularly riled her by not making Mother's Day all about his deceased ex-wife, her daughter Jade Goody (pictured with Bobby and Freddy in 2006)

The suggestion had been that Brazier was considering taking legal action to block access between his sons and their maternal grandmother in a bid to 'keep them safe'.

Freddy, who is expecting his first child with on/off girlfriend Holly Swinburn, claimed Jackiey got him hooked on drugs, before appearing to reveal he had tragically 'tried to end it all' by 'crashing his car' in the middle of a 'manic episode'.

Jeff recently shared snaps from a new countryside property as he detailed the 'transitional time' in his life and how he was 'living in calm'.

Jeff was seen without his wedding ring while reporting from Reykjavik on Monday's GMB, while Kate too reportedly ditched her band after heading to Las Vegas for the Grand Prix.

According to The Sun Kate has returned to her flat in Hackney after growing apart from Jeff amid Freddy's struggles.

The Daily Mail has contacted Jeff's representatives for comment.

In June amid the family feud Freddy appeared to take a swipe at Kate as he listed things he hates with 'step parents' being one of them.

Last year the publicist admitted she 'felt like a failure' in her marriage to Jeff before realising every couple has their struggles, following their reconciliation.

Jackiey said 'I am pleased that his marriage is over because it shouldn't have happened in the first place. Jeff chose to put his relationship ahead of the one he had with his own sons'

Jeff was seen without his wedding ring while reporting from Reykjavik on Monday's GMB (pictured)

She gave her thoughts on marriage after being asked by a follower for advice on how to get theirs back on track.

She replied: 'I think we are all guilty of portraying only the good bits on social media. Anyone who says marriage and raising kids is easy is lying in my opinion. I felt like such a failure until I realised everyone has their struggles.

'I would never share the details of our relationship, but the one thing I am grateful for is that my husband is just as willing to put the work into himself and the relationship as I am. You can't ask for anything more than that.'

Freddy revealed in August that he would be welcoming his first child and vowed to turn his life around and patch up his relationship with his father.

The influencer lost his mother, Jade, when he was just four years old after she died from cervical cancer on Mother's Day in 2009.

More recently, Freddy confessed to starving himself and replacing food with 'green', which is a street name for the drug cannabis.

Alongside a photo of his grandmother Jackiey, he wrote: 'Prioritised my relationship with my mum's mum not knowing she has been lying to me for years!'

Recently Jeff's son Freddy confessed to starving himself and replacing food with 'green', which is a street name for the drug cannabis

He recently wrote alongside a photo of his grandmother Jackiey: 'Prioritised my relationship with my mum's mum not knowing she has been lying to me for years!'

Freddy included a video of himself walking along a street in a dressing gown, following by a short clip of an ambulance with the caption: 'Had episode after episode. Til I got sectioned and spent my 18th in a psychiatric ward.'

Over the weekend, Freddy has appeared to reveal he tragically 'tried to end it all' over two years ago by 'crashing his car' in the middle of a 'manic episode'.

He took to TikTok to bravely share a video explaining his heartbreaking journey, with a generated voiceover sharing the extent of the model's mental health struggles.

In the video, Freddy told his followers that he spent his 18th birthday 'in a psychiatric ward,' but realised after that 'something needed to change'.
Brigitte Bardot has been rushed to hospital again as she battles a 'serious illness' after undergoing surgery.

The actress, 91, reportedly was transferred to Saint-Jean Hospital, a private clinic in Toulon, around ten days ago, where she is still receiving treatment.

Brigitte returned from hospital after minor surgery connected to an unspecified illness in early October.

She was back at her home in Saint-Tropez, on the Riviera, following the treatment over three weeks in the same Toulon private hospital.

A spokesperson for the French actress told the Daily Mail at the time: 'Madame Bardot has returned home and is now resting. She's fine.'

Now, French publication Nice Matin has reported that Brigitte was rushed back to hospital 10 days ago relating to the same illness.

Brigitte Bardot has been rushed to hospital again as she battles a 'serious illness' after undergoing surgery (Seen in 2007)

The actress, 91, reportedly was transferred to Saint-Jean Hospital, a private clinic in Toulon, around ten days ago, where she is still receiving treatment (Seen in the 1950s)

Last month, Brigitte was forced to release a statement confirming she is not dead following her recent hospital stay.

She was furious when Aqababe  a hugely popular influencer who specialises in celebrity news in his home country  said Brigitte had passed away in the South of France.

In posts on X and Instagram, Aqababe wrote: 'According to my exclusive information, Brigitte Bardot died today.

'Her coffin was ordered in Saint-Paul-de-Jarrat in the 09 (Ariege) department.'

Aqababe, whose real name is Aniss Zitouni, 27, added: 'An icon has passed away, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy and an eternal imprint on the hearts of the French'.

But a few hours later, Brigitte took to X to announce: 'I don't know who the idiot is who started this fake news about my disappearance this evening, but know that I am fine and that I have no intention of bowing out. A word to the wise'.

Elsewhere French media reported that Brigitte was in hospital suffering from a serious illness and had undergone surgery.

She was staying at her home in Saint-Tropez when she was admitted to a hospital in Toulon.

Last month, Brigitte was forced to release a statement confirming she is not dead following her recent hospital stay

The film star underwent surgery and is now said to be 'fine' according to a rep (pictured in 1970)

In July 2023, it was reported the star had suffered respiratory problems amid soaring temperatures in Saint-Tropez that summer.

She was attended to by medics at her home in the south of France, after she experienced some breathing difficulties.

Bernard d'Ormale, the actress's husband, told Var-Matin at the time: 'It was around 9am when Brigitte had trouble breathing' and described the health scare as a 'respiratory distraction'.

He said: '[Her breathing] was stronger than usual but she did not lose consciousness. Let's call it a moment of respiratory distraction.'

Brigitte was given oxygen by the medics and they 'stayed to watch her' for some time, before they left the actress's home.

Bernard shared: 'Like all people of a certain age, she can no longer bear the heat. It happens at 88 years old. She must not make useless efforts.'

The actress made her breakthrough in 1952 in the film The Girl In The Bikini and became one of the most famous French postwar film stars.

In 1956, Brigitte starred alongside her estranged husband Roger Vadim in And God Created Woman, which, despite the Hollywood censors' cuts, became the highest-grossing foreign film ever released in the US.

The Parisian wasn't a movie newbie, having already starred in several films and earned the nickname 'sex kitten'.

American theatre managers were arrested for showing her on-screen exploits, but the press outrage only enticed viewers. In 1957, priests in New York told people not to view Bardot's films. The Vatican, which six years later accused Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton of 'erotic vagrancy', condemned Bardot as 'evil'.

'There lies Brigitte,' one critic grumbled, 'stretched from end to end of the screen, bottoms up and bare as a censor's eyeball,' in a review meant to appeal to morality. The queues for tickets just grew longer.
Simon Baker has joined forces with South Australia's Liberal opposition party - and it's all for a good cause.

Baker is part of a push to fast-track plans to have the Great Australian Bight officially recognised with World Heritage status.

The Mentalist star, 56, appeared on the steps of South Australia's Parliament House on Tuesday, standing alongside members of the Great Australian Bight Alliance to push for long-delayed World Heritage recognition.

The veteran performer, who has become a vocal environmental advocate, said he had been deeply moved by both the community's fight for the Bight and the recent devastation caused by the toxic algal bloom.

The GAB spans both SA and Western Australia and is the massive, dramatic curve of coastline along Australia's southern edge, known for its towering cliffs and rich marine life.

Speaking to The Advertiser, Baker said it was 'promising' to see politicians on both sides finally working together.

Simon Baker (pictured) has joined forces with South Australia's Liberal opposition party in a push to fast-track plans to have the Great Australian Bight officially recognised with World Heritage status

'I watched with great enthusiasm the fight for the Bight, and then in the last 12 months I've watched the tragedy unfold of the algal bloom and the impacts that's had on the communities,' he said.

'I think it's beautiful if we turn our energy towards preservation and preserving something sacred.

'To be here and to see the leader of the opposition speak out in support of World Heritage listing. It's a very promising thing.'

Baker is currently in Adelaide for a special screening of Ocean, the new documentary narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

He also met privately with Premier Peter Malinauskas and members of the Alliance during his visit.

Liberal Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia and Member for Flinders Sam Telfer also attended Tuesday's event to support the push to secure the Bight's World Heritage listing.

Across his career, Baker has starred in a string of movies including The Devil Wears Prada, Breath, and L.A. Confidential.

He has also starred as the lead in CBS shows The Mentalist as Patrick Jane, and The Guardian as Nicholas Fallin.

In September 2024, Baker rekindled his romance with his secret Sydney girlfriend - who is younger than his own daughter.

The Mentalist star appeared on the steps of South Australia's Parliament House on Tuesday, standing alongside members of the Great Australian Bight Alliance to push for long-delayed World Heritage recognition

The veteran performer, who has become a vocal environmental advocate, said he had been deeply moved by both the community's fight for the Bight (pictured) and the recent devastation caused by the toxic algal bloom

Daily Mail revealed he hooked up again with lover Bridgette Clark, 31, after the couple took a brief break from their relationship.

The north Bondi local is several months younger than Bakers daughter, Stella, who turned 32 in August.

Baker's relationship with Clark began the year after announcing his divorce from Australian actress Rebecca Rigg, star of A Country Practice, Blue Heelers and L.A. Doctors.

Baker was with Rigg for 29 years, including 22 years of marriage, while they lived in Los Angeles from 1995 until 2015, before returning to Sydney and later announcing their divorce in January 2021.

'We remain close friends and our three children will always be the most important focus of our lives,' they said in a joint statement at the time.

The couple played love interests on the popular 1990s TV series E Street, although they actually met on a blind date in 1991.
Maura Higgins slipped into a racy cutaway gown as she celebrated her 35th birthday in style on a lavish girls' trip.

The Love Island star jetted off to Dubai this week with her pals, model Sophia Laura and photographer Liat Benezra.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Maura shared a sultry selfie showing off her birthday outfit.

She put on a daring display in a burgundy sheer wrap halterneck dress, with a huge cut-out at the bodice.

The night before, Maura enjoyed a lavish dinner spread at high-end Chinese restaurant Mott 32 Dubai.

For the dinner, Maura showed off her washboard abs in a skimpy white ruffled bardot crop top and low-rise white jeans.

Maura Higgins slipped into a racy cutaway gown as she celebrated her 35th birthday in style on a lavish girls' trip, sharing snaps on Instagram on Tuesday

The Love Island star jetted off to Dubai this week with her pals, model Sophia Laura and photographer Liat Benezra

Elsewhere Maura shared a snap of her bedroom at the hotel she was staying at, which had been decorated with pink Happy Birthday and heart balloons as well as a huge cake and bouquet of roses.

'My heart is so full,' she captioned the snap.

Her stunning display comes weeks after Maura admitted that she does in fact get Botox in a new Instagram post - after previously denying using the injectables.

She took to her socials to do a Q&A this weekend where she opened up about her beauty regime.

One fan asked her: 'Will you ever talk about skin treatments you have? You are glowing! Xx.'

She responded: 'When I first got perioral dermatitis I stop getting facials altogether, now it's just skincare and of course with the help of Botox from the best @drroshoffical.'

In the snap shared alongside she looked as radiant as ever as she showed off her smooth complexion.

The former ring girl spoke about if she'd had cosmetic work done soon after her appearance on the ITV2 reality dating show in 2021.

The night before, Maura enjoyed a lavish dinner spread at high-end Chinese restaurant Mott 32 Dubai

For the dinner, Maura showed off her washboard abs in a skimpy white ruffled bardot crop top and low-rise white jeans

Elsewhere Maura shared a snap of her bedroom at the hotel she was staying at, which had been decorated with pink Happy Birthday and heart balloons as well as a huge cake and bouquet of roses

She said: 'I got my lips done three months after coming out of Love Island, and lip fillers last five to six months. I haven't had anything done since then; I just let it dissolve.

'But people still assume I've had my lips done, Botox. People are even saying I've had my nose done when I've not actually had any work.'

She explained at the time: 'I had braces on for a long time, and since my teeth have moved, they've actually pushed my lips out slightly.

'I feel like I don't need it. If I were to get my lips done now with my straight teeth, it just wouldn't be a good look.'

It comes after Maura vowed to be at her confrontational best come January in a first look at her forthcoming appearance on The Celebrity Traitors USA.

Maura will add another string to her TV bow while battling it out to win a cash prize of $250,000 for her chosen charity after signing up for the second series of the hit show.

And a first look at the former Love Island star in action finds her dressed in a racy green latex outfit, her hair pulled into a tight bun as she offers the camera a smouldering look.

Wearing minimal cat eye makeup and a pair of silver earrings, Maura looks every inch the traitor in her first promotional pictures for the show - but her status won't be revealed until the Peacock show finally airs on January 8.

It comes after Maura admitted that she does in fact get Botox in a new Instagram post - after previously denying using the injectables

Teasing fans in an accompanying video, she said: 'If someone comes for me at the roundtable, god love them.'

Despite being filmed with a predominantly American cast, the show follows is filmed at Ardross castle in the Scottish Highlands - the same venue used by BBC producers for the British version.

However, Claudia Winkleman plays no part in the US variant, with hosting duties handled by Scottish actor Alan Cumming.

Higgins will be joined on the upcoming season by many other well-known faces including Jason and Travis Kelce's mother, Donna, 74.

Discussing her forthcoming appearance on the show, which will also be streamed on BBC iPlayer, the TV personality described the events of the upcoming season as 'chaos'.

She told The Playlist: 'In this new season, there is chaos again, once more. There is chaos and it's brutal. It's brutal.

'About halfway through, there is a scene in it that is the greatest moment in Traitors' history. Honestly, I just cannot wait for the world to see it. It's utter carnage and utter just mad. It's just brilliant!'
Dick Van Dyke will be celebrating his centennial birthday in a matter of weeks and the star got honest about his mortality.

The 99-year-old Hollywood legend - who recently broke his silence on the legendary role he regrets turning down - will turn 100 on December 13 and though many do not even want to think about life without him, the star talked openly about the matter.

'The end of my life is so much closer,' Van Dyke told People on Tuesday.

'When you expire, you expire. I dont have any fear of dearth for some reason. I cant explain that but I dont. Ive had such a wonderfully full and exciting life. That I cant complain.'

The A-lister also talked about how he feels going into his mega milestone birthday as he said: 'The fact that I made it.

'I feel really good for 100. Sometimes I have more energy than others  but I never wake up in a bad mood.'

Dick Van Dyke (pictured May 2021) will be celebrating his centennial birthday in a matter of weeks and the star got honest about his mortality as he told People: ''When you expire, you expire. I dont have any fear of dearth for some reason. I cant explain that but I dont. Ive had such a wonderfully full and exciting life. That I cant complain'

Van Dyke is pictured with Juile Andrews in 1964 classic Mary Poppins

One of his secrets to longevity has been to rely on his optimism and have an overall sunny outlook on life.

Van Dyke said: 'People say "What did you do right?" I dont know. Im rather lazy. Ive always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a persons insides  and hate.

'And I never really was able to work up a feeling of hate. I think that is one of the chief things that kept me going.'

He went on to say that there were things he didn't like and people he doesn't like and even disapproves of but he never let that consume him.

The Mary Poppins star explained: 'But I never really was able to do a white heat kind of hate. My father (Loren Van Dyke) was constantly upset by the state of things in his life and it did take him at 73 years old.'

Van Dyke also expressed his gratitude for his wife Arlene Silver, 54, as he has previously said that marrying her in 2012 was the only thing he did 'right.'

He revealed that she keeps him young at heart as he said: 'She's responsible for keeping me in the moment.

'She kept me happy every day of my life, every day. She's a joy. She can get me singing or dancing and she carries so much responsibility ... I'm just lucky.'

One of his secrets to longevity has been to rely on his optimism and have an overall sunny outlook on life; pictured in June 2024

Van Dyke also expressed his gratitude for his wife Arlene Silver, 54, as he has previously said that marrying her in 2012 was the only thing he did 'right' (they are seen together in December 2023

He revealed that she keeps him young at heart as he said: 'She's responsible for keeping me in the moment. 'She kept me happy every day of my life, every day. She's a joy. She can get me singing or dancing and she carries so much responsibility ... I'm just lucky' (they are seen together in November 2018)

He married Arlene in 2012  and earlier this year, he made a rare remark on their 46-year age gap as he opened up about how they 'get along so well.'

Meanwhile leading up to celebration, the silver screen legend showed off his still-sharp sense of humor while making an appearance at an event last month.

'That's right. I'm not officially 100 until December. Two months,' he said, according to People. 'It'd be funny if I didn't make it.'

He also reflected on his secret to living a long life but said he should have 'taken better care' of himself.

This comes after the Mary Poppins star opened up about the reality of living to be a nonagenarian.

'I brag sometimes about how I made it to a hundred and the truth is, if I had known I Was going to live this long, I would've taken better care of myself,' he said.

'And it is frustrating because I don't know what I did right. Other than her, I didn't do anything right.'

At the event, he also reportedly sang happy birthday for a six-year-old fan and performed Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from his same-name movie.

Meanwhile leading up to celebration, the silver screen legend showed off his still-sharp sense of humor while making an appearance at an event last month as he said: 'That's right. I'm not officially 100 until December. Two months,' he said. 'It'd be funny if I didn't make it'; pictured in May 2021

He also sang Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins as well as the theme from The Dick Van Dyke Show for his fans.

The High Tea event, which was produced by Chris Isaacson Events, comes after Rick Springfield shared a post with the movie star at the gym last month.

'Filming an episode of Men's Health and I went to the gym and who should be there but 99-year-old Dick Van Dyke working out on every machine,' he wrote in his caption alongside a photo of them posing together.

'I thought I was doing well at 76 but Dick got up from the chest press machine and did a little dance step before I left! Amazing!'

Earlier this year in January, the comedian opened up about his fitness regime during an episode of the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast.

'When you think... I go back to 1925, I'm almost 100. This is insane. I'm going to have a big party,' Van Dyke expressed.

'Somebody said, "To what do you attribute your age and physical condition?" And I said, "I've always exercised." Three days a week, we go to the gym, still. Three days a week.'

One of the podcast hosts Ted Danson also recalled seeing Van Dyke at a gym in Malibu.

'If I got there early enough, I would see you literally work out on some weight machine,' the Cheers alum said.

He also reflected on his secret to living a long life but said he should have 'taken better care' of himself. This comes after the Mary Poppins star opened up about the reality of living to be a nonagenarian; pictured in June 2024

'That would've been such fun, and we lost it. I've lost a lot of friends,' Van Dyke once said. His wife also said: 'He's outlived everybody. That's the curse of living to almost 100'; pictured in June 2024

The High Tea event, which was produced by Chris Isaacson Events, comes after Rick Springfield shared a post with the movie star at the gym last month. He revealed that he frequents the gym even at age 99 to stay healthy; pictured in June 2024

'Then, almost like you were doing circuit training, you would not walk to the next machine, but dance. You literally danced to the next machine and I watched that for a couple of weeks.'

Back in May, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star revealed what the 'curse' of living to almost 100 is during a Q&A at the Dick & Arlene Van Dyke Present Vandy Camp event.

At one point, the actor explained how both he and late friend Ed Asner had planned to do a remake of The Odd Couple before his passing in August 2021, per People.

'That would've been such fun, and we lost it. I've lost a lot of friends,' Van Dyke said.

His wife then cut in to add: 'He's outlived everybody. That's the curse of living to almost 100.'
Rami Malek was spotted enjoying a 'date' with designer Megan Bowman on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

The actor, 44, was snapped with costumer designer Megan as they went flower shopping together at Studio City Farmer's Market.

Rami sported a casual look for the outing, wearing a red sweatshirt and black trousers along with sunglasses to protect him from the sunrays.

Meanwhile, Megan looked chic wearing a sleeveless Dior tee and light blue denim jeans.

The pair left with quite the haul - as Megan was pictured with two bouquets of flowers while Rami held a blue tote bag over his shoulder.

Proving they're a good team, they both took a handle each of another large bag, sharing weight.

Rami Malek was spotted enjoying a 'bloom date' with Megan Bowman on Sunday in Los Angeles, California

The actor, 44, was snapped with costumer designer Megan as they went flower shopping together at Studio City Farmer's Market

The pair left with quite the haul - as Megan was pictured with two bouquets of flowers while Rami held a blue tote bag over his shoulder

Rami and Megan were previously linked to each other on past project, Hulu's A Murder At The End Of The World.

Daily Mail has approached a representative for Rami for comment.

In April The Mail on Sunday revealed how James Bond star Rami had quietly split from his partner Emma Corrin after two years together.

Sources said Emma, who found fame and won a Golden Globe after playing Princess Diana in The Crown, had been separated for some time from Rami.

The former couple have not commented on their separation and, despite several appearances together on the red carpet at premieres, they were notoriously private about their relationship.

In a magazine interview last May, Corrin even declined to speak about their relationship.

Meanwhile, in August, Emma enjoyed a romantic water taxi ride around Venice with their new actor boyfriend Zachary Hart.

The actor, 29, who uses they/them pronouns, was first seen with the up-and-coming star at the start of summer and they appear to be going from strength-to-strength.

Rami sported a casual look for the outing, wearing a red sweatshirt and black trousers along with sunglasses to protect him from the sunrays

Rami and Megan were previously linked to each other on past project, Hulu's A Murder At The End Of The World

In April The Mail on Sunday revealed how James Bond star Rami had quietly split from his partner Emma Corrin after two years together (pictured in August 2024 in Venice)

Rami was pictured in London earlier this month as he attended the premiere of his new movie Nuremberg alongside co-star Leo Woodall.

He looked effortlessly suave in a white blazer layered over a black shirt and tailored trousers.

The pair were joined by their co-stars, Michael Shannon and Richard E. Grant, execs Andrew Orr, Meghan Lyvers, Laura Grange, and director James Vanderbilt.

Also in attendance were Jenni Falconer, Georgia Meacham, Jasmine Mitchell and Camilla Rutherford, who all brought their own touch of glamour to the red carpet.
Influencer Lorna Luxe has revealed her husband John Andrews has undergone surgery to remove a tumour on his brain.

A month ago Lorna, 43, shared that John's adrenal cancer had shrunk but doctors had found it had spread to his lymph nodes and he needed further chemotherapy sessions. She added that 'what we didnt see coming was a new mass.'

Lorna was away in New York on a work trip when she heard that John, 64, had been taken ill with an excruciating migraine and was rushed to hospital, telling her followers about it on Instagram stories.

Doting Lorna dropped everything to rush back to him and was told the news that doctors had discovered a new 4cm tumour on his brain.

On Monday John underwent an operation to remove the tumour, with Lorna happily sharing that the surgery 'went really well.'

Posting a photo of her husband smiling in his hospital bed, the influencer revealed the snap was taken 'before he went in for surgery... he's out the other side now and back flirting with the nurses. I'm on cloud nine.'

Influencer Lorna Luxe has revealed her husband John Andrews has undergone surgery to remove a tumour on his brain

On Monday John underwent an operation to remove the new 4cm tumour, with Lorna happily sharing that the surgery 'went really well'

Speaking on Stories, Lorna beamed as she told her followers that she was staying in a London hotel near the hospital where John is recovering.

'They've removed a tumour which is brilliant because that's what you want, right?' she told fans in the update.

'You want it out, and I think if he does need any more treatment it'll probably be radiotherapy. I don't know what he'll need but he'll probably also carry on with his chemotherapy.'

Revealing the emotional rollercoaster she had been on, Lorna added: 'Yesterday he went in in the morning and I was in a bit of a frazzled mess if I'm honest, I was nervous.'

Her mind was put at rest as soon as she saw John after the surgery though as she revealed: 'I was expecting him to be completely out of it and just you know, a bit of a zombie. He was smiling, giggling with the nurses. I literally just walked into that hospital room and I burst into tears.'

'He's in good spirits. He's so relieved to have been able to have this surgery. You don't realise how lucky you get options like this.'

Lorna ended the chat by revealing the couple, who love a jet-set holiday will 'chill out' for a couple of weeks and then 'hopefully he'll be back to normal by Christmas'.

Speaking to Diana Vickers on Metro's Just Between Us podcast last month Lorna opened up about her long relationship with husband John, affectionately known as 'Mr Luxe', and how their 21-year age gap has never been an issue.

Lorna was away in New York on a work trip last month when she heard that John had been taken ill with an excruciating migraine and was rushed to hospital

Lorna, who has over 1.6 million followers on Instagram, is one of the UK's leading luxury lifestyle influencers.

She built her following by sharing her recovery from an eating disorder, later launching her own successful beauty brand, No 98 Beauty.

Husband John left his job at HSBC to help Lorna build her business and now regularly appears in her content. Lorna has used her platform to openly share updates on his illness.

In April 2023, John was diagnosed with stage three cancer and underwent chemo. He went into remission a year later in 2024.

In May 2024, Lorna revealed John's cancer had returned  moving to his brain as well as coming back in his adrenal gland.

The influencer said publicly documenting John's illness has helped her cope, with supportive messages from followers providing 'exactly what I needed' during difficult times.

'When the chips are down, you just want to see people getting behind you', Lorna explained. 'I haven't got brothers or sisters. I haven't got a massive family unit.'

'When John was in hospital, I would come home overnight, get myself a glass of wine and I would be sat there replying to all these messages. They were all just full of love, really nice  exactly what I needed at that time.'

Lorna, who has over 1.6 million followers on Instagram, is one of the UK's leading luxury lifestyle influencers and has used her platform to speak about John's illness

Lorna shared that she and John recently celebrated 16 years of marriage, saying the age gap between them has become less pronounced as they've grown older together.

While the couple don't have children, Lorna revealed she has become more 'curious' about starting a family since turning 40, despite never wanting kids before.

She said: 'I think when you're with someone a long time, you become a bit like them. So, the age gap doesn't feel as obvious.

'We talk the same language. We have the same opinions. Even our political opinions, it's grown and developed together.

'When we met, I was 26  26-year-old Lorna wasn't really fussed about a lot of things that 43-year-old Lorna is, right?

'For example, we don't have kids. Maybe I want to have kids now. I am definitely questioning my decisions over the last 15 years because I've always put everything off.'

To listen to the full interview, search for Metro's Just Between Us now, wherever you get your podcasts.
James Buckley remained tight-lipped when quizzed on the return of his hit show The Inbetweeners - and even joked his iconic character Jay has been killed off.

The actor, 38, rose to fame back in 2008 as Jay Cartwright in the E4 comedy series and two blockbuster films, alongside his co-stars Simon Bird, Blake Harrison and Joe Thomas.

It was reported last month that the hit sitcom is poised for a major comeback - with all four original cast members keen to reunite.

Creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley confirmed that plans were underway to bring back the iconic characters Will, Simon, Jay and Neil for a fresh chapter, after a signing the deal with production giant Banijay UK.

But James has appeared to pour cold water on fans' hopes, saying he has no knowledge of a revival.

He even quipped that as he's not heard anything, the team might be 'doing it without him' and joked his character has been killed off.

James Buckley remained tight-lipped when quizzed on the return of his hit show The Inbetweeners on Radio X on Tuesday - and even joked his iconic character Jay has been killed off

The actor, 38, rose to fame back in 2008 as Jay Cartwright in the E4 comedy series and two blockbuster films, alongside his co-stars Simon Bird , Blake Harrison and Joe Thomas

Appearing on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X, James said he didn't know when asked if the show was coming back.

'I always have to ask you all the time,' Chris said, as James added: 'I don't know. There was a bit that came out a couple of weeks ago.

'Every sort of couple of years, someone tells me it's coming back, and I only know as much as everyone else.

'I'm walking around at the moment just disappointing people because they're going, "Oh, it's so great it's coming back." And I go, "Is it?" If it is'

Co-host Dominic Byrne then asked: 'Youd do it though, wouldnt you, if it was coming back?'

James added: 'I don't know. I'd think about it. I'd have to think about it.'

He later added: 'But if they are doing it, maybe they're doing it without me!'

The Inbetweeners creator did however confirm a revival was in the works, saying in a statement last month: 'It's incredibly exciting to be plotting more adventures for our four favourite friends (ooh friends).'

But James has appeared to pour cold water on fans' hopes, saying he has no knowledge of a revival

It is said a new deal has been struck to revive the much-loved E4 comedy, which first aired in 2008 and the project could involve a new TV run, a film, or even a stage adaptation

It is thought the project could involve a new TV run, a film, or even a stage adaptation, with talks already underway about how to reboot the cult favourite.

Banijay's chief executive, Patrick Holland, told The Sun he was 'delighted to pick up the conversation about the future of The Inbetweeners with them'.

He added: 'They have an infectious creative vision for the brand which will resonate with audiences old and new.'

The company said the deal 'unlocks the rights and potential to bring The Inbetweeners back for new audiences across a range of platforms including film, tv and stage'.

Joe Thomas (who played awkward teen Simon), revealed last year that the cast - including Simon Bird (who played geeky Will McKenzie), James Buckley (who played loud mouth Jay) and Blake Harrison (who played dopey Neil Sutherland)- were eager to return.

He said the group had stayed close friends and would 'jump at the chance' to work together again.

Creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley confirmed that plans were underway to bring back the iconic characters Will, Simon, Jay and Neil for a fresh chapter

Speaking to a podcast he said: 'We're all still around. We're all still in each other's lives. We all still like each other.

'And if it was something that came up, I think we would want to do it.'

Also tipped to return is Emily Atack, who played fan-favourite Charlotte Hinchcliffe.

If the deal goes ahead, the reboot would mark the first time in more than a decade that the full cast have reunited on screen.

The Daily Mail contacted an E4 representative for comment at the time.

Please credit: Tune into The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X weekdays from 6:30am  10am and on Global Player*
Wycliffe star Jack Shepherd has died at the age of 85, his agents announced in a statement on Tuesday.

The Leeds-born actor, who was best known for starring as Cornish detective Charles Wycliffe in the ITV series based on the WJ Burley novels, died following a 'short illness'.

The drama aired between 1993 and 1998 and starred Shepherd in the lead role as Wycliffe, who investigated murders in Cornwall alongside his colleagues DI Doug Kersey, played by Scottish actor Jimmy Yuill, and Helen Masters' DI Lucy Lane.

Jack is survived by his wife Ann Scott and children Jan, Jake, Victoria, Catherine and Ben.

A statement from his agents Markham, Froggatt & Irwin announcing his death said: 'It is with great sadness we can confirm that the celebrated actor Jack Shepherd passed away yesterday at the age of 85.

'He died peacefully in hospital after a short illness. His wife and family were with him.'

Wycliffe star Jack Shepherd has died at the age of 85, his agents announced in a statement on Tuesday (Seen in 1994)

The Leeds-born actor, who was best known for starring as Cornish detective Charles Wycliffe in the ITV series based on the WJ Burley novels, died following a 'short illness'

They added: 'Markham, Froggatt & Irwin are very proud and honoured to have been part of Jack's illustrious career.

'His passing is a sad loss to us all.'

After attending school in Leeds, he won a scholarship to Newcastle University to study fine art, later moving to London to study at The Central School for Speech and Drama.

In his 20s he became the leading light of London's Royal Court theatre, with his TV break in the Seventies as rebellious Labour MP Bill Brand in the hit series titled Bill Brand.

The Trevor Griffiths series also earned him a Bafta nomination in the best actor category in 1977.

The drama (Pictured) aired between 1993 and 1998 and starred Shepherd in the lead role as Wycliffe, who investigated murders in Cornwall

Jack is survived by his wife Ann Scott and children Jan, Jake, Victoria, Catherine and Ben (Seen in 1976)

Alongside TV, Jack also acted on stage at the National Theatre.

He directed The Two Gentlemen Of Verona in 1996 at Shakespeare's Globe and the show also went to Broadway.

Jack won multiple awards, including an Olivier award for the original production of Glengarry Glen Ross in 1983.

He also worked with director Bill Bryden on numerous theatre productions and was a playwright in his own right, as well as a saxophonist and jazz pianist.
Machine Gun Kelly gave fans a glimpse into life as a dad with his 7-month-old daughter Saga, whom he shares with Megan Fox.

Kelly, 35, and Fox, 39, welcomed Saga in March after their split in November 2024, which reportedly came after Fox discovered he had been speaking to other women.

A source recently said Fox has been impressed by 'how hes stepped up for both her and the baby,' sparking speculation the pair might be on the mend.

On Tuesday, the rapper shared a day-in-the-life moment on Instagram, starting the clip with a close-up of his hands and Saga's tiny ones hitting a drum.

'Obviously its the best start to a day ever,' he narrated. 'My baby girl is practicing her frequencies.'

The sweet father-daughter moment comes hot on the heels of Kellys cheeky onstage remarks about his sex life at the F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas.

Machine Gun Kelly gave fans a glimpse into life as a dad with his 7-month-old daughter Saga, whom he shares with Megan Fox

On Tuesday, the rapper shared a day-in-the-life moment on Instagram, starting the clip with a close-up of his hands and Saga's tiny ones hitting a drum

'And just so you know, I'm not much far off from an F1 racer when I'm in the bedroom, because I'm very fast and it takes me a long time to get to the finish line,' he joked.

In September, he gushed about how his baby girl Saga Blade has a very close resemblance to his famous baby mama.

The rapper - who welcomed his second child and first with the actress back in March - opened up about co-parenting with his ex-fiancee during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show which aired that month.

The music artist is already dad to teen daughter Casie, 16, whom he welcomed with ex Emma Cannon.

Fox also shares three children with ex-husband Brian Austin Green: Noah, 12, Bodhi, 11, and Journey, nine.

'We go back and forth on who she looks like,' MGK explained to Hudson. 'Last month, she looked exactly like me and now she looks exactly like her.'

The Bad Things hitmaker then went on to call the Transformers star a 'phenomenal mom.'

He explained, 'I had it with a person who is the greatest partner, the greatest partner to have had a child with.'

Kelly, 35, and Fox, 39, welcomed Saga in March after their split in November 2024

A source recently said Fox has been impressed by 'how hes stepped up for both her and the baby,' sparking speculation the pair might be on the mend

MGK previously talked about the meaning behind Saga's name but further added to the host,

'So, my family is Norwegian and there's a Norwegian goddess called Saga and it means epic story. And so, we named her Saga because to get her on this Earth through highs and lows - it truly was an epic story of love, pain and a lot of magic.'

Earlier this year in March, MGK and Fox welcomed their first child together  after officially splitting in November 2024.

At the time, MGK jumped on social media to announce the little one had been born, writing, 'She's finally here!! our little celestial seed 3/27/25.'

The music artist also included a black-and-white video of the infant's tiny hand wrapping around one of his fingers.

The pair have since been navigating co-parenting the newborn after Fox separated from the rapper late last year.

MGK has given other small glimpses of Saga on his Instagram page, including a snap of him holding the little one taken through the reflection of a car window.

Last month in August, the music artist revealed the parenting comment that left Fox 'fuming.'

The sweet father-daughter moment comes hot on the heels of Kellys cheeky onstage remarks about his sex life at the F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas; (Megan Fox and MGK in 2024)

While stopping by Today With Jenna And Friends, he explained, 'Someone the other day was like, 'You're such a good dad!' just because I was holding the baby. And she was fuming. Like, 'No, no, no, no.''

The Rap Devil hitmaker added, 'I just play the guitar and hope and pray that the baby is happy. I want to detract any congrats to me, and just move it to Megan. Because she really does all the work.'

Saga lives with the actress, and the rapper will occasionally spend the night a few times each week to assist her.

Along with embracing fatherhood, MGK recently dropped his seventh studio album Lost Americana on August 8, which includes tracks such as Vampire Diaries and Miss Sunshine.
Joan Branson, who has died aged 80, acted as a supportive 'rock' to billionaire husband Sir Richard during their 49-year relationship - not just in their personal life but in the Virgin tycoon's business ventures.

Just this month, days before his beloved wife's death, the businessman posted a photograph, showing him kissing her head and the words: 'Everyone needs a Joan in their life.'

And Sir Richard had the 'beautiful, witty, down-to-earth' Scotswoman in his from the days when Virgin Records was a mere sapling, with just a few clients to its name.

The pair met in 1976 at The Manor, a live-in recording studio for the company, three years after Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells launched Virgin into the public consciousness, eventually selling around 15 million copies worldwide.

Still, the business remained a safe haven for niche progressive rock acts and would not branch out into more mainstream genres until it jumped on the punk train the following year with the signing of the Sex Pistols.

If Virgin's world remained settled, Sir Richard's had been turned upside down, the business magnate later admitting he 'fell in love' with Joan the moment he laid eyes on her in the studio as she made a cup of tea.

After finding out she worked at a nearby 'bric-a-brac shop' in Westbourne Grove, he set about wooing her, demonstrating the relentless persistence he has shown over the course of five decades in business.

In a 2015 blog celebrating her 70th birthday, Sir Richard said: 'A blonde-haired, down-to-earth, Scottish beauty who didn't suffer fools, Joan was unlike any other women I had ever met.

Joan Branson pictured with Sir Richard in 1991. She has died aged 80 after acting as a supportive 'rock' to the billionaire husband during their 49-year relationship

The earliest picture of Sir Richard and Joan. They met in 1976 at The Manor, a live-in recording studio for the company

'To win her heart, I had to persistently hang around the shop and buy countless objects before we started courting.'

Born Joan Templeman in Glasgow, Scotland in 1945, she had hailed from humble beginnings with her father working as a ship carpenter to support her and her six siblings.

From the beginning, despite her husband's fame, she remained a very private person, keen to avoid the public eye and rarely gave an interview.

Sir Richard would have his work cut out to win her affections and spent a small fortune in her shop before they became an item.

The haul included trinkets galore including a 'Now, that's what I call music' sign that would later inspire the record company's best-selling compilation records.

When struggling for a name for the special records, Sir Richard is said to have looked at his wall and spotted the slogan, at which point he knew he had struck gold.

In a 2020 blog post, he wrote: 'I often make up my mind about someone within 30 seconds of meeting them, and I fell for Joan almost from the moment I saw her.

'Over the next few weeks, my visits to Joan amassed me an impressive collection of old hand-painted tin signs, which advertised anything from Hovis bread to Woodbine cigarettes.'

The couple pictured with daughter Holly. After finding out she worked at a nearby 'bric-a-brac shop' in Westbourne Grove, he set about wooing her

The pair pictured on their wedding day on Necker Island in 1989 with their children, Holly and Sam

From the beginning, despite her husband's fame, she remained a very private person, keen to avoid the public eye and rarely gave an interview (pictured: Joan with Holly)

The mogul revealed he only bought Necker Island to wow Joan after he managed to wangle an all-expenses-paid trip to see the idyllic retreat in the late 70s

This was just the start. Once their relationship kicked off later that year, Sir Richard's quest to impress his Scottish beau led him to purchase an entire island.

The mogul revealed he had only bought Necker Island to wow Joan after he managed to wangle an all-expenses-paid trip to see the idyllic retreat in the late 70s.

If the couple flew over on helicopters and were greeted by a red carpet, they were sent 'hitch-hiking' back to the UK after Sir Richard's low-ball offer of just $100,000 was swiftly rejected.

Sir Richard's persistence paid off though in every sense; a year later he offered $180,000 after 'begging and borrowing' and the island was his.

He then married Joan there 11 years later and the island is now thought to be worth hundreds of millions.

The pair were wed in 1989 when their two children, Holly and Sam, were eight and four.

The couple had five grandchildren Artie, Etta (Holly's children) and Lola, born to Holly and husband Fred, and Eva-Deia and Bluey Rafe Richard, born to Sam and wife Isabella.

Joan has remained by Sir Richard's side as Virgin has shot from a promising record company to one of Britain's most successful multinational conglomerates.

Sir Richard most commonly praises her as a 'rock' and 'source of wisdom' (pictured: the couple in 2013)

Sir Richard pictured with Lady Joan and their daughter Holly in 2003

Joan has remained by Sir Richard's side as Virgin has shot from a promising record company to one of Britain's most successful multinational conglomerates

Marking the 45th anniversary of their meeting in west London in 2020, he said: 'Far beyond record titles, I owe a lot to Joan'

And this is no mere coincidence, with the billionaire frequently complimenting his wife for her business smarts as much as for her supportive traits as a wife.

Indeed, Sir Richard most commonly praises her as a 'rock' and 'source of wisdom'.

Marking the 45th anniversary of their meeting in west London in 2020, he said: 'Far beyond record titles, I owe a lot to Joan.Joan has always been a steady source of wisdom and has played no small part in some of my better life decisions.'

In 2015, he had said: 'As the saying goes, behind every man there's a great woman.

'Joan you are the greatest woman of all. Happy birthday and thank you for choosing to come on this adventure with me.'

Sir Richard summed up Joan's vital impact on both sides of his life in his emotional farewell post on Tuesday, saying: 'Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away.

'She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for.

'She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world. Love you forever, Joan x'
Shonee Bowtell has given birth to her second child.

The Australian Survivor star, who already shares son Vally with her fiance Matt Jamieson, welcomed her daughter Vera Mae last week, detailing her birth story in a sweet Instagram post on Tuesday.

In the caption, the 33-year-old revealed that she chose to do a water birth, adding that her second child arrived far quicker than her first, who was born after 16 hours of labour in December 2023.

'Once in the pool I was thinking great now I've probably got to push for about 2 hours. How verrryyy wrong I was,' she shared in the caption.

'I felt the 'ring of fire' and then something pop out! My midwife told me the head was out, and only needed one more push for the body!'

Shonee went on to say that she was 'shocked' when her daughter was passed to her 11 minutes after she had arrived at the hospital.

Shonee Bowtell (pictured) has given birth to her second child

The Survivor star (right), who already shares son Vally with her fiance Matt Jamieson (left), welcomed her daughter Vera Mae last week, detailing her birth story in a sweet Instagram post

In the caption, the 33-year-old revealed that she chose to do a water birth, adding that her second child came much quicker than her first, who she welcomed after 16 hours of labour in December 2023

'I couldn't believe our beautiful daughter was here,' she added.

'I literally wondered if I was being dramatic by going to the hospital so soon after it got intense, since with Vally I had laboured at home for the first 16 hours (about 12 of those hours were intense).

'Thank goodness Matt called the midwife when he did and that she has told us to leave.'

She gushed that she couldn't have asked yeah i for a better birth, calling it a 'wild experience'.

'It's absolutely crazy what you can go through and endure without even a Panadol!!!! I'm so lucky I had amazing support throughout my pregnancy and birth!'

The caption was accompanied by a carousel of sweet photos of Shonee, Matt, and their newborn, showing the family at the hospital and later at home.

Other pictures showed the TV star in the birthing pool, preparing for the arrival of her daughter.

Shonee has featured on Australian Survivor four times, with her last appearance being earlier this year during the Australia V World season.

The couple have remained tight-lipped about their wedding plans

Shonee and Matt, who runs his own rendering business in Queensland, got engaged in August this year after dating since 2023.

'Exactly one month ago!!!!! Life just gets better and better. I can't wait to marry the man of my actual DREAMS!!!! How lucky am I,' Shone gushed in an Instagram post at the time.

Her partner got down on one knee the month prior, and the pair announced the engagement with a black and white photo booth picture.

The couple have remained tight-lipped about their wedding plans.
Brian Austin Green gave rare insight into where he stands with ex-fiancee Vanessa Marcil while reflecting on their 'extremely tumultuous' split over 20 years earlier.

The 52-year-old actor - who recently enjoyed a reunion with Tiffani Thiessen 30 years after their breakup - opened up about the topic during Tuesday's episode of the Inside Of You podcast with host Michael Rosenbaum.

After first crossing paths on set of Beverly Hills, 90210, Green and Marcil were in a relationship from 1999 through 2003. The former couple also share son Kassius, 23.

At one point, Rosenbaum questioned the star if he 'gets along' with all of his exes - which prompted Green to simply respond with a laugh: 'No.'

He then talked about his split from Marcil and expressed, 'It was a very tumultuous separation because you have this thing in your head of like, you want to win.

'You want to be the smarter of the two. You want to be acknowledged for that. So you've got these unrealistic expectations and both of us did. So it was extremely tumultuous.'

Daily Mail has reached out to Marcil's rep for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Brian Austin Green, 52, gave rare insight into where he stands with ex-fiancee Vanessa Marcil while reflecting on their 'extremely tumultuous' split over 20 years earlier; seen in April in North Hollywood

He then talked about his split from Marcil and expressed, 'It was a very tumultuous separation because you have this thing in your head of like, you want to win'; former couple seen in 2000 in Beverly Hills

When it comes to the current relationships he has with his exes, Green added, 'I learned a lot from my previous relationship with Kassius' mom.'

Following their separation in 2003, both Green and the Las Vegas actress were notably involved in co-parenting drama and past legal disputes.

In 2004, the actor moved on with Megan Fox - whom he was married to from 2010 until their divorce was finalized in 2021. The pair also share three children: Noah, 13, Bodhi, 11, and Journey, nine.

Green is now engaged to professional dancer Sharna Burgess and they welcomed son Zane, three, back in 2022.

During the latest podcast episode, the actor also talked about how his co-parenting relationship with Fox was different after they split.

'We really made a decision at the point when we separated, we can't keep this from affecting our kids, but it's up to us how it affects our kids.'

He continued, 'It's going to no matter what. It sucks for kids when the parents separate and all that.'

Green later explained, 'Kass is 23 now and so the last thing I want to do is have him deal with any sort of s***.

When it comes to the current relationships he has with his exes, Green added, 'I learned a lot from my previous relationship with Kassius' mom'; Marcil seen with their son Kassius

During the latest podcast episode, the actor also talked about how his co-parenting relationship with Fox was different after they split; Green and Fox seen in 2013 in Beverly Hills

In 2004, the actor moved on with Megan Fox - whom he was married to from 2010 until their divorce in 2021. The pair also share three children: Noah, 13, Bodhi, 11, and Journey, nine; Green and Fox's three kids seen with the actor's son Zane he welcomed with Sharna Burgess

'So, I just stay as far away from that situation as I can with his mom and go, "We started something poorly that I don't think will ever fix itself. Let's just chalk it up to it was a learning lesson."'

Green also revealed that both he and Fox 'are great.'

The Transformers actress recently welcomed another child Saga with Machine Gun Kelly earlier this year in March.

However, the actor expressed that it took some time for him and Fox to reach the positive relationship they now have.

'We're not going to all of a sudden just be great friends as we're co-parenting,' Green said.

'We stopped being together because we didn't get along as well as we did when we first did, so let's take that expectation out of it and resign to the fact that, listen, I only care about the health and wellness of my kids.'

Green's comments come months after he labeled his past relationship with Marcil as 'toxic' on his Oldish podcast back in May.

Green and Marcil have been embroiled in co-parenting drama since their split and back in 2023, he made claims that the actress did not let him see their son Kassius at one point.

Green's comments come months after he labeled his past relationship with Marcil as 'toxic' on his Oldish podcast back in May; former couple seen in 2001

She also has alleged in 2018 that both Brian and then-wife Megan Fox had 'cut Kass out of their lives.' However, Vanessa later revealed that the Transformers actress apologized for her role in their family drama.

The actor recalled how his mother had 'smothered him' while growing up, and how that affected his own relationships in the future.

'If I'm looking for a woman, I want the complete opposite of that. I had some major missteps because of that,' he said on his podcast in May.

'I mean, the relationship that I had with Vanessa was very toxic in that way. Like, it wasn't a loving, caring relationship.'

He added of his mother, 'To a fault sometimes, just everything was about me. And then with Vanessa, it was not that at all, but it was masked in this is a relationship where that absolutely exists.

'So you start thinking like, "Oh, it's just kind of a new version. Like, oh, she loves me, but this is her way of loving me."'

Green explained that he initially believed Vanessa had being 'trying to help me' but just a couple years later, he didn't recognize himself.

'You're like, "Who am I at this point? There's not once piece of me that's left. My relationship with everyone around me has changed."'

She also has alleged in 2018 that both Brian and then-wife Megan Fox had 'cut Kass out of their lives.' However, Vanessa later revealed that the Transformers actress apologized for her role in their family drama

'I mean, the relationship that I had with Vanessa was very toxic in that way. Like, it wasn't a loving, caring relationship,' Green said; Marcil seen in 2015 in Hollywood

After their split, Brian began dating Fox which he called a 'breath of fresh air, coming out of what felt like Vietnam to me.'

The former couple started dating in 2004 after they crossed paths on set of Hope & Faith. At the time, she was 18-years-old and he was 30.

Last year, Marcil came to Fox's defense and shared that the beauty previously apologized for her involvement in their family drama.

In response to a fan on Instagram, Marcil penned: 'She has apologized to both me and our child. She stated she is "disgusted" by her behavior. However, it wasn't her job to keep a grown man/biological parent in his son's life. That's on him.'

She added, 'It's true as you said that it's painful to watch #sharnaburgess try to gaslight her followers, however I do feel for her too.

'Only difference is that she's not a child like Megan was. She's being conned and would have to give up her whole 'fairy tale' in order to stand up for the truth at this point.'

The star then added of Burgess, 'But trust me, in her gut, she knows that she's being lied to. I feel for her and her beautiful son. We [don't] really matter anymore. The kids do. One day we will all be gone and these siblings will all be together.

After their split, Brian began dating Fox which he called a 'breath of fresh air, coming out of what felt like Vietnam to me'; two stars seen in 2019 in L.A.

The star then added of Burgess, 'But trust me, in her gut, she knows that she's being lied to. I feel for her and her beautiful son'; Green and Burgess seen above

'My son is the oldest and he knows the real truth. He will protect them. Their safety and peace are all he cares about. The truth will always prevail in the end.'

Marcil expressed, 'It's good to be on the right side of history and to know I gave up everything to protect my son and stand up to the truth.'

And in 2023, Green claimed that Vanessa had kept their son Kassius out of his life amid his health struggles with vertigo.

Marcil has previously alleged that she raised Kassius all on her own. She also claimed that he had taken her to court for years and requested for child support - which Green denied.
Everybody Loves Raymond stars Madylin and Sullivan Sweeten have reflected on the death of their real-life brother and costar Sawyer Sweeten a decade after his suicide.

Sawyer tragically passed away in April 2015 just weeks ahead of what would have been his 20th birthday.

Madilyn, 34, and Sullivan, 30, appeared on the 30th anniversary reunion special for Everybody Loves Raymond which aired Monday on CBS.

Madilyn and her twin brothers Sawyer and Sullivan portrayed fictional siblings Ally, Jeffrey and Michael Barone on the sitcom which aired from 1996 to 2005.

Their TV dad Ray Romano mentioned the young actor on the special, saying, 'So Sawyer, of course, is no longer with us, and we miss him. He just, like you are, was just this bright energy, light.'

Sullivan bravely spoke about his twin brother's death as he explained, 'None of us really expected what happened. But I try to think about the good moments and often times thats here on the set.'

Everybody Loves Raymond stars Madylin and Sullivan Sweeten reflected on the death of their real-life brother and costar Sawyer Sweeten a decade after his suicide (the three siblings are pictured in September 2005)

Madilyn, 34, and Sullivan, 30, appeared on the 30th anniversary reunion special for Everybody Loves Raymond which aired Monday on CBS (pictured clockwise from left: Brad Garrett, Ray Romano, Sullivan Sweeten, Patricia Heaton, Monica Horan, and Madylin Sweeten)

Older sister Madilyn reflected on her brother's life and the impact his tragic death has had.

She said: 'I just think its so important in any conversation that were having about Sawyer. Were very passionate in our family about suicide prevention. It is the second leading cause of death between the ages of 18 to 25. But 90 percent of people who seek treatment are cured.

'So many of the messages that we get are people saying, Im so grateful to have heard about your brother. He saved my life.'

Sawyer was visiting family in Texas at the time of his death in 2015.

At the time, the cast and screw released statements about the young star's death including lead star Ray who was the first to pay tribute.

Ray worked with Sawyer for nine years starting from when he was just a 16-month-old baby and said he was 'terribly saddened, by the news'.

He added: 'He was a wonderful and sweet kid to be around. Just a great energy whenever he was there. My heart breaks for him, his family, and his friends during this very difficult time.'

Sawyer appeared in 139 episodes of the popular US sitcom playing Geoffrey Barone, while his twin brother played Michael. Their older sister Madylin also played their older sibling on the show, Ally.

Their TV dad Ray Romano mentioned the young actor on the special as he said: 'So Sawyer, of course, is no longer with us, and we miss him. He just, like you are, was just this bright energy, light' (the cast is seen in September 1996)

Sullivan bravely spoke about his twin brother's death as he said: 'None of us really expected what happened. But I try to think about the good moments and often times thats here on the set' (the siblings are seen in LA in April 2010)

Older sister Madilyn reflected on her brother's life as she talked about his impact since his tragic death as she said: 'I just think its so important in any conversation that were having about Sawyer. Were very passionate in our family about suicide prevention'

Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion is currently streaming on Paramount+ (the cast are seen in January 2005)

Madylin announced the news of her brother's death in a statement on the day it happened.

'This morning a terrible family tragedy has occurred. We are devastated to report that our beloved brother, son, and friend, Sawyer Sweeten, took his own life. He was weeks away from his 20th birthday,' she said at the time.

'At this sensitive time, our family requests privacy and we beg of you to reach out to the ones you love.'

Sawyer's Raymond costar Doris Roberts - who has also since passed in April 2016 - paid tribute to him on Facebook, writing; 'It is with great sadness that I learned the news that Sawyer Sweeten, who played my grandson Geoffrey Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond, died at his family's home in Texas.

'He was a very sweet young man who will be dearly missed. Make sure your loved ones know how much you care about them, and please check in with them if you haven't touched base with them for a while. It's very important to keep in touch.'

Patricia Heaton, his television mother, wrote; 'Sawyer Sweeten was a funny and exceptionally bright young man. He is gone from us far too soon.'
The latest tipping ask is getting an icy reception.

Americans are growing more frustrated by tipping expectations by the day.

In recent years, more and more businesses have began asking for service gratuity, when not a whole lot of service is involved.

The latest industry to spark outrage amongst customers is the frozen yogurt business.

Self-serve froyo spots, such as 16 Handles and Yogurtland, are an American staple. The fun of the dessert experience is that you can pick all your own flavors and toppings.

What's not so fun for customers is that now, after you have your froyo cup weighed and pay for your treat, employees are flipping the dreaded transaction screen and asking for a tip.

'For what?' furious froyo fans are asking.

Customers online have argued that, because the workers do not serve the frozen yogurt or scoop the toppings, there is no reason to tip them for their service.

The latest industry to spark outrage amongst customers is the frozen yogurt line of business

Self-serve froyo spots, such as 16 Handles and Yogurtland, are an American staple

The fun of the dessert experience is that you can pick all your own flavors and toppings

'I just had a criminal experience at 16 Handles,' TikTok user 'Bitez for Baddiez' said in a video.

The user went on to describe how she created her classic salted caramel froyo cup, complete with two toppings (salted caramel turtles and cookie dough), before heading to the till to weigh and pay.

'After I swipe my card, a tip screen appears... for the frozen yogurt I poured myself and the toppings I put on myself.'

'This is getting out of control guys,' she added.

Another TikToker, who goes by the name 'jonnyhuxe', described his own experience.

'Tipping culture has gotten way out of hand,' he began.

'I grabbed my own bowl from the counter... there's a guy at the counter, he's just standing in the middle,' he continued.

'So I go through the line and I pull the lever on each of the little froyo things to put the froyo in my bow, and I go to the topping section and put the popping boba on my thing, put the sprinkles on my thing, put the little waffle chips on there.'

What's not so fun for customers is that now, after you have your froyo cup weighed and pay for your treat, employees are flipping the dreaded transaction screen and asking for a tip

Customers online have argued that, because the workers do not serve the frozen yogurt or scoop the toppings, there is no reason to tip them

The TikTok user reported that, when he arrived at the counter and swiped his card to pay the worker had the 'audacity' to flip the screen around and say 'it's gonna ask you a little question'.

He was baffled. As someone who works at a restaurant himself, he said he has no problem tipping people when they deserve it. However, when he did all the work to make his own froyo bowl, he said he does not see what the tip is for.

A Reddit user posted his experience with self-serve frozen yogurt shop Froyoland on the r/AmItheA*****e subreddit.

The user said they visited the dessert spot for the first time in a while, only to see they had installed the iPad checkout system.

They chose not to tip, but then posted on the online forum to see if that was a cruel move.

'For one, I have no clue who I would be tipping, and for two, no one working there helped me do anything, so I do not see a reason to tip really.'

They continued: 'But on the other hand, I know some companies and restaurants are allowed to pay their workers less because they expect tips... I don't know if Froyoland is one of those places, and if by not tipping, I'm depriving the workers of their fair salaries.'

It comes as Americans are sharing their frustration at being asked to tip in an increasing number of situations.

Just a decade ago, 15 percent was considered the standard tip for average service. Now, that number has spiked to 20 percent  or often more

A Reddit user recently posted about how they had been horrified to be forced to tip after ordering a pizza for pickup.

After they picked up their pizza and reached the payment screen, they were hit with a message saying 'Don't forget a tip!' and given options of 15, 20 or 35 percent.

There was also a 'custom' box, but no option to leave nothing.

When the customer attempted to make the custom amount $0, the website wouldn't allow the order to move forward  displaying a bright red message: 'Please enter a valid tip amount'.

'How can it be a tip when I don't have a choice,' the customer asked on Reddit. 'Well I did have a choice and went elsewhere,' they wrote.

Savvy users of the online forum offered advice to others facing this dilemma.

'Try 0.001,' one comment read.

It comes as Americans are growing increasingly tired of tipping  an expectation that seems to ask more of customers every day.

When a customer ordered themselves a pizza for pick-up, they were horrified to find that they were being forced to tip

Tipping below 20 percent is seen as a huge cultural taboo, something foreign visitors are baffled by, but certainly a norm in the US

Just a decade ago, 15 percent was considered the standard tip for average service. Now, that number has spiked to 20 percent  or often more.

In fact, tipping below 20 percent is seen as a huge cultural taboo, something that foreign visitors are baffled by, but is certainly a norm in the US.

A survey last year found that three-quarters of Americans believed tipping culture has gone too far.

The research also found that two in three Americans often 'guilt tip'  where they feel forced into adding gratuity by prompts at check-out machines.

The findings come amid a widespread backlash against 'tipflation' which has seen tipping culture spill out from bars and restaurants and into stores, takeout chains and self-service machines.

Meanwhile, foreign visitors appear to think that tipping culture in the US is outrageous.

'What the hell is tipping? I don't get it. Tipping here, tipping this, tip tip tip. I've spent two months here and [it's] tip, tip tip. Can I get a tip? Why do I have to pay you?' a man from the UK who moved to the US said.

And the food industry isn't the only space seeing outrageous tipping asks. Hotels are also trying their luck.

Some Marriott and Hyatt properties have started asking for tips at the front desk during check-in  a move many find off-putting.

Traditionally, hotel guests might tip for services like luggage assistance or leave cash for housekeeping.

But now, places like Marriott's LaSalle Hotel in Bryan, Texas, and the Hyatt Centric Faneuil Hall in Boston have begun requesting a tip at check-in, View From The Wing reported.

'Needless to say, we ignored the tip request,' a guest asked to tip using a QR code at the Marriott LaSalle told the publication.
Expecting a congregation of doers, seekers, stoics and shapeshifters to arrive at a consensus based on collective wisdom is almost like believing in magic - good for a book on fantasy. The physical environment at COP30 was a contrast of sorts. If torrential rains damaged the ceiling of the main venue followed by a fire break out needing hurried evacuation, protests by indigenous people were doused by hearty cheers for Mutirao call of the President Andre Aranha Correa do Lago. But the psychological milieu was something else altogether  marked by frustration, disappointment and ennui as a result of Americas absence, Chinas measured responses, Europes trade stance and Petrostates public posture on Oil and Gas. The ideological contrast of course is the host itself  Brazil is now the nouveau oil producer and exporter, hosting a conference on fossil fuels phase out.

For a keen observer its quite clear that the relevance and importance of COP has taken a downturn. Compare it to the vibrant COP21 in France where almost all countries were represented by the Presidents and Prime Ministers to the COP30 where they were replaced by ministers and diplomats. At COP21 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were announced with aplomb and here at Belem even after 10 long years goal setting remained the goal of the conference.

Stoic silence on the quantum of funds and technology for transition, makes one wonder if the critics were right. The COP this time around is certainly a manifestation of a new geopolitical reality! A French man would conclude by saying Chacun pour soi and Diu pour tous each one for himself and god for all. Makes one wonder if Conference of Parties is a just an annual ritual of rhetoric or do the members have any real interest in protecting the earth? So what actually happened.

The two largest economies and historical emitters, the US and China, were conspicuous- one by its absence and the other by its lack of impact. By now the world knows that President Trump rejected climate contract and refused to send representatives while China focused more on its own interests in trade rather than stepping into to support whole heartedly. Trade and critical minerals being climate issues, Trade became a flashpoint creating tension in Belem as well. China and other countries voiced displeasure with the European Unions carbon levy.

At COP 30, countries agreed to set up a two-year programme to enable developing countries to mobilise at least $1.3 trillion every year by 2035  but with no clarity on who will contribute. The outcome of COP30 revealed deep fractures, particularly around on which countries should pay for adaptation and how to get the world off fossil fuels.

Indias Performance and Posturing

India has shown the world that development and environmental protection can advance together. The countrys emission intensity has declined by over 36 per cent since 2005, and its non-fossil energy capacity has reached 256 GW, now more than half of total installed power  an NDC target met five years early.

The countrys renewable energy grew at over three times the pace of electricity demand. Clean energy received 83 per cent of power sector investment, and renewable investments topped US$4.66 billion in the last quarter of 2024  a 91.5 per cent annual increase. India is also now home to a rapidly growing clean energy sector. Over the past decade, its solar capacity has risen from just 5.7 gigawatts to more than 125 gigawatts.

India knows that technically feasible climate solutions are cost-effective and could prevent 180,000 premature deaths and 19 million tonnes of crop losses each year. The country is working on affordable, accessible climate technologies, free from restrictive intellectual property barriers, to ensure an inclusive global transition. India is prioritising sectors where it has a natural advantage  hydrogen, geothermal energy, and biofuels.

As India chaired the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (Lead IT) as Co-Chair at theCOP30 Summit, the Nation informed the world that since its launch, Lead IT has grown to 18 member countries and 27 companies, successfully elevating industrial transition on the global climate agenda, supporting transition roadmaps, improving transparency in global decarbonisation efforts and building platforms for knowledge exchange.

As the global south looks to India, we are among 13 countries and a regional alliance of African countries that announced plans to set up a national platform for climate and nature finance in Belem, Brazil This would be coordinated through the Green Climate Fund (GCF), an institutional mechanism that has been at work since 2015, to fund projects in developing countries to adapt to unfolding climate change as well as to invest in clean energy. The new initiative will be guided by a steering committee with a majority of representatives from developing countries.

Indias Alchemy of Sorts

In a modern, figurative sense, the term "alchemy" refers to any impressive process that transforms something in a significant way. At both COP30 and G20, India's voice has become more crucial than ever as the United States, the world's largest historical emitter, steps back from its commitments. Indias global leadership is being followed closely. The countrys initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, Global Biofuel Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure especially the momentum created by the Nuclear Mission and Green Hydrogen Mission in advancing Indias path to Net Zero by 2070.

Though Indias silence on coal dependence and delay in announcing NDC.3, most countries acknowledge her commitment to climate change mitigation. Cut to G20 India launched a new trilateral framework for cooperation in critical technologies, AI, supply chains, and clean energy. Indias Proposals on Global Traditional Knowledge Repository, skills multiplier for Africa, global satellite data partnership, healthcare response team, and antidrug-terror nexus initiative were all endorsed and accepted.

At Johannesburg's G20 Summit, India navigated geopolitical tensions, forged partnerships, for developmental priorities of the Global South.

For India, the G20 summit validated its Friend of the World diplomatic strategy. By navigating geopolitical tensions while engaging both Western and emerging economies, India positioned itself as a beacon light in a polarized world. The launch of technology partnerships and counter terrorism initiatives demonstrates India's capability to shape new institutional frameworks serving its interests and that of the worlds. The new age alchemist under PM Modi.

The writer is an Independent Director of Engineers India Ltd; views are personal
The visit of Afghan Minister of Industry and Commerce Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi to India reflects the strong commitment of both sides to deepening bilateral engagement and cooperation in trade, economy and investments, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

Azizi visited India along with a trade delegation from November 19-25.

The visit reflects the strong commitment of both sides for deepening bilateral engagement and cooperation in trade, economy and investments. India remains committed to working closely with Afghanistan to advance this economic partnership in a manner that brings sustainable benefits to the people of both countries, the MEA said.

During the visit, Azizi met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Both the ministers discussed bilateral ties, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.

The Afghan minister also held delegation-level talks with the Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. They discussed a broad range of issues, including trade facilitation, market access, connectivity and capacity-building, the MEA said in a statement.

They announced the initiation of the air freight corridor on the Kabul-Delhi and Kabul-Amritsar sectors. Both ministers welcomed the reactivation of the Joint Working Group on Trade, Commerce and Investment, and agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration in mining and other high-value sectors, it said.

India and Afghanistan will depute commercial representatives at their respective embassies and will institutionalise a joint chamber of commerce and industry, the MEA said.

The Afghan minister also met Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada during his visit.

Azizi also visited the ongoing India International Trade Fair (IITF), where several Afghan traders have set up stalls. He interacted with various exhibitors and toured the cultural display at the trade fair.

His delegation held meetings with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), Manmade and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council (MATEXIL), PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), and Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL).

They discussed modalities for the long-term supply of agricultural products, medicines and other essential commodities to Afghanistan, the MEA said.

Interacting with reporters at the Afghan Embassy here on Monday, Azizi said a commercial attache from Afghanistan is expected to arrive in India in a months time, and asserted that Kabul wants to boost bilateral trade to much more than $1 billion.

Azizi said there is potential and a strong will from both sides when it comes to private investment. He also said that during his visit, several issues like visas, both for commerce and medical purposes, air and land corridors for trade transit, and the Chabahar port were discussed.

Arunachal an integral, inalienable part of India: MEA

New Delhi: India on Tuesday rejected Chinas response to the detention of an Indian national from Arunachal Pradesh at the Shanghai airport, and asserted that the border State is an integral part of the country.

Pema Wang Thongdok alleged that Chinese immigration officials at the airport detained her for 18 hours on November 21 during a transit halt after refusing to recognise her Indian passport as her birthplace was Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chinese foreign ministry on Tuesday rejected the allegations, saying the actions were in accordance with the regulations. It also reiterated Chinas claim over Arunachal Pradesh.

We have seen statements made by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the arbitrary detention of an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, who was holding a valid passport and was transiting through Shanghai International Airport on her onward travel to Japan, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality, he said.

Jaiswal said the issue of the detention of the Indian national has been taken up strongly with the Chinese side.

Chinese authorities have still not been able to explain their actions, which are in violation of several conventions governing international air travel, he said.

The actions by the Chinese authorities also violate their own regulations that allow visa-free transit up to 24 hours for nationals of all countries, he added.
Five people have been arrested for their involvement in vandalism and arson at Nepals Supreme Court building near Singhdurbar Secretariat complex in Kathmandu during the Gen Z protests in September, police said on Monday. Superintendent of Police Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, who is also the spokesperson for the Kathmandu District Police Circle, announced the arrest of suspects during a press conference . Those arrested include Raju Pariyar and Jyoti Thapa Ghatani, among others. Some other people are also involved in the arson, and their names would be made public as soon as the police identify them, he said. The apex court registered a complaint with the Nepal Police, seeking action against those involved in setting on fire the main building of the countrys highest judicial body.
Sudans top general rejected a ceasefire proposal provided by US-led mediators as the worst yet, in a blow to efforts to stop a devastating war that has gripped the African country for over 30 months. In video comments released by the military late Sunday, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan said the proposal was unacceptable, accusing the mediators of being biased in their efforts to end the war.

Sudan plunged into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere in the country. The devastating war has killed more than 40,000 people, according to UN figures, but aid groups say that is an undercount and the true number could be many times higher.

It created the worlds largest humanitarian crisis with over 14 million people forced to flee their homes, fueled disease outbreaks and pushed parts of the country into famine. Known as the Quad, the mediators have been trying for over two years to bring an end to the fighting and re-establish a path to democratic transition which was hampered by a military coup in 2021. They are comprised of the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

This month, President Donald Trump said that he plans to put greater attention on helping find an end to Sudans war after being urged to take action by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to the White House. On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire and for both the military and the RSF to negotiate a settlement.

Writing on X, he also called for a safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as an end to arms and fighters transfer to Sudan. We need peace in Sudan, Guterres said. Massad Boulos, a US adviser for African affairs, told this month that the latest proposal calls for a three-month humanitarian truce followed by a nine-month political process.

The RSF said it has agreed to the truce, following global outrage over the paramilitaries atrocities in the Darfur city of el-Fasher. Burhan, Sudans top general, said however that the proposal is considered the worst document yet, since it eliminates the Armed Forces, dissolves security agencies and keeps the militia where they are  referring to the RSF.If the mediation continues in this direction, we will consider it to be biased mediation, he said.

He lashed out at the US adviser and accused him of attempting to impose some conditions on us. We fear that Massad Boulos will be an obstacle to the peace that all the people of Sudan seek, Burhan said, without given further details about the plan. In his comments, Burhan also took aim at the UAE. He said that since the Quad includes the Gulf country as a member, the mediation group was not innocent of responsibility, especially since the entire world has witnessed the UAEs support for the rebels against the Sudanese State.
Three security personnel were killed and 12 people injured on Monday when three suicide bombers attacked the headquarters of a paramilitary force located in the heart of Peshawar, the capital of Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bordering Afghanistan. The suicide bombers, who attempted to storm the Federal Constabulary (FC) headquarters when dozens of troops were preparing for the morning parade, were also killed in counter-firing, Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mian Saeed Ahmad told reporters.

"Initially, three militants tried to attack the headquarters. One terrorist blew himself up at the main gate, while two others tried to enter the premises but were gunned down by FC personnel, he said. According to Dawn newspaper, the Jamat-ul Ahrar faction of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. The TTP, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was set up as an umbrella group of several militant outfits in 2007.

Citing spokesmen of the hospitals, it said that 11 injured people were brought to Lady Reading Hospital, while one injured person had been brought to Khyber Teaching Hospital. Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said that two suicide explosions took place inside the FC headquarters, one at the main gate and the other near the motorcycle stand located within the premises. The powerful blast at the main gate triggered panic in the surrounding residential and commercial areas, with the explosion heard from a considerable distance.

The headquarters of the force is located in a crowded area, close to a military cantonment. According to video footage, one of the suicide bombers approached the main gate of the FC Headquarters on foot. The attacker, draped in a shawl, detonated himself at the security checkpoint located at the main entrance. The initial findings stated that three FC personnel were killed on the spot due to the explosion. Immediately after the blast, two other attackers entered the FC Headquarters through the side gate. Both were armed with rifles and hand grenades.

The findings reveal that once inside, the attackers moved towards the motorcycle stand on the right side and opened fire. They were killed in the ensuing exchange of fire. It added that the attackers who managed to enter the premises were neutralised within 30 to 40 meters of the main gate. According to the police, the assailants intended to take hostages, as the headquarters houses senior officers and a large number of personnel. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack, saying that timely action taken by security forces saved us from major harm. He also vowed to crush any terrorist plots against Pakistan.

President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack, affirming that externally backed Fitna-al-Khawarij cannot weaken Pakistans unity, resilience or resolve. The Pakistan government last year notified the banned TTP as Fitna al-Khawarij, a reference to a group in earlier Islamic history which was involved in violence. Security has been tightened in Islamabad following the Peshawar attack, with police checking at all entry points of the city. The public transport passengers are also being checked, said a spokesperson of the Islamabad Police.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the FC soldiers, saying they foiled the attack by taking timely action. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the terrorist attack while reiterating that the provincial government "stands firmly" with the police and all law enforcement agencies. The civilian paramilitary force, originally called the Frontier Constabulary, was renamed by the government as Federal Constabulary in July. Security officials standing guard on a cordoned-off road after suicide bombers attacked the headquarters of the Federal Constabulary in Peshawar.

Pakistan strikes TTP leaders in Kabul

Islamabad: Pakistans retaliatory strikes targeting Tehreek-e-Talibans top leaders in Kabul last month were a signal of a new doctrine that Islamabad will act if the Afghan Taliban fails to take action against militants carrying out cross-border attacks from Afghanistan, according to a media report. The deadly strikes in the heart of Kabul was aimed at sending what officials described as an "unmistakable message" to the Taliban regime that Pakistan would no longer restrict its counterterrorism responses to its own soil, The Express Tribune newspaper reported on Monday, quoting official sources. "The Kabul strikes were not a one-off episode," said a senior source. "They were a signal of a new doctrine.

If the Taliban fail to act, Pakistan will act." The strike, widely interpreted as Pakistans most assertive move since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, targeted hideouts and facilitators responsible for orchestrating recent attacks inside Pakistan. Citing officials familiar with the assessment, the paper said the Kabul operation has had a "psychological impact" on the Afghan Talibans leadership and security apparatus."Since the Kabul strikes, there is a clear element of fear and caution within the Taliban ranks," one official said. "They now understand that Pakistan will chase the TTP or any other group wherever it finds them, even inside Kabul."

The official said that in the immediate aftermath of the recent terrorist attack in Islamabad, Afghan Taliban interlocutors privately reached out to Pakistani authorities with requests to de-escalate and conveyed that they had "no involvement" in the suicide attack outside the judicial complex. "This was a very unusual move," the official noted. "In previous incidents, they would either dismiss Pakistans concerns or shift blame towards TTP factions. This time, they pleaded behind the scenes, insisting they were not behind the attack." The reason was that the Taliban regime feared retribution from Pakistan. Kabul now understands that Islamabad has the reach and capacity to hit targets deep inside Afghanistan.

Authorities have observed a decline in the number of terrorist attacks following the Kabul strikes, officials said. While they caution that the threat has not disappeared, the reduction is being viewed as a direct consequence of the deterrence established by Pakistans willingness to hit high-value targets inside Afghanistan. "After Kabul, they know the cost," said an official. "For the first time in years, Pakistans message has been loud and clear: if you allow your soil to be used against us, there will be consequences and those consequences may be delivered inside Afghanistan." Officials also believe that the strikes disrupted certain TTP networks and forced the group into a defensive posture, limiting its ability to coordinate follow-up attacks.
NET Power Inc. (NYSE:NPWR  Get Free Report) major shareholder 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 132,837 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.60, for a total transaction of $345,376.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 3,117,163 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,104,623.80. This represents a 4.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

8 Rivers Capital, Llc also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, November 21st, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 17,163 shares of NET Power stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.50, for a total transaction of $42,907.50.

On Wednesday, November 19th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 250,000 shares of NET Power stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.57, for a total transaction of $642,500.00.

On Monday, November 17th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 338,653 shares of NET Power stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.81, for a total transaction of $951,614.93.

On Monday, November 3rd, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 8,477 shares of NET Power stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $4.00, for a total transaction of $33,908.00.

On Friday, October 31st, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 18,116 shares of NET Power stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $4.05, for a total value of $73,369.80.

On Tuesday, October 28th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 7,585 shares of NET Power stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.77, for a total value of $28,595.45.

On Thursday, October 30th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 107,754 shares of NET Power stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $4.04, for a total value of $435,326.16.

On Wednesday, October 29th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 786,832 shares of NET Power stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $4.12, for a total value of $3,241,747.84.

On Monday, October 27th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 200,000 shares of NET Power stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.77, for a total value of $754,000.00.

On Friday, October 24th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 32,583 shares of NET Power stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.70, for a total value of $120,557.10.

NET Power Stock Up 0.2%

NPWR stock traded up $0.01 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $2.50. 1,145,003 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,465,633. NET Power Inc. has a twelve month low of $1.48 and a twelve month high of $14.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $554.24 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.33 and a beta of 0.78. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $3.33 and a 200-day simple moving average of $2.76.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NET Power ( NYSE:NPWR Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported $5.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.16) by $6.00. Equities research analysts forecast that NET Power Inc. will post -0.4 EPS for the current year.

NPWR has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of NET Power from $6.00 to $4.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of NET Power in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Barclays raised NET Power from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and raised their target price for the company from $2.00 to $3.00 in a report on Friday, November 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $3.50.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on NPWR

Institutional Trading of NET Power

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of NPWR. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acquired a new position in shares of NET Power in the second quarter valued at $25,000. Invesco Ltd. acquired a new stake in NET Power during the second quarter worth $25,000. Sei Investments Co. bought a new stake in NET Power in the 2nd quarter valued at $32,000. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in shares of NET Power in the 3rd quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG raised its stake in shares of NET Power by 63.0% in the 1st quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 14,051 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 5,429 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.62% of the companys stock.

NET Power Company Profile

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NET Power Inc operates as a clean energy technology company. The company invents, develops, and licenses clean power generation technology. NET Power Inc was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina.

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Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD  Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report issued on Saturday morning.

APD has been the subject of a number of other reports. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $345.00 to $330.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $275.00 to $260.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 7th. Argus raised shares of Air Products and Chemicals from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, September 12th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $350.00 to $325.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $313.75.

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Air Products and Chemicals Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of APD opened at $256.43 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $261.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $277.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.90, a P/E/G ratio of 5.16 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.29. Air Products and Chemicals has a 52 week low of $235.55 and a 52 week high of $341.14.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The basic materials company reported $3.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.38 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $3.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.18 billion. Air Products and Chemicals had a return on equity of 15.11% and a net margin of 12.86%.The firms revenue for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $3.56 earnings per share. Air Products and Chemicals has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 2.950-3.100 EPS. FY 2026 guidance at 12.850-13.150 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Air Products and Chemicals will post 12.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Air Products and Chemicals Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be paid a dividend of $1.79 per share. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 2nd. Air Products and Chemicalss dividend payout ratio is currently -402.25%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Saudi Central Bank bought a new position in Air Products and Chemicals in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Traub Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Cheviot Value Management LLC acquired a new position in Air Products and Chemicals during the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Abound Wealth Management grew its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 292.3% during the 3rd quarter. Abound Wealth Management now owns 102 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. 81.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Air Products and Chemicals

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Air Products and Chemicals, Inc provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, equipment, and related services in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, and internationally. The company produces atmospheric gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, and argon; process gases, such as hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and syngas; and specialty gases for customers in various industries, including refining, chemical, manufacturing, electronics, energy production, medical, food, and metals.

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Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM  Free Report)  Research analysts at Zacks Research lowered their FY2027 EPS estimates for shares of Exxon Mobil in a report released on Friday, November 21st. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the oil and gas company will post earnings of $9.63 per share for the year, down from their prior forecast of $10.37. The consensus estimate for Exxon Mobils current full-year earnings is $7.43 per share.

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Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Exxon Mobil in a research note on Friday, October 17th. They issued an overweight rating and a $156.00 target price on the stock. Barclays dropped their price target on Exxon Mobil from $127.00 to $126.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Exxon Mobil from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, September 13th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Piper Sandler boosted their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $141.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Exxon Mobil has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $128.67.

Exxon Mobil Trading Down 0.9%

Shares of XOM stock opened at $116.02 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.25. The company has a market capitalization of $489.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.48, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.49. Exxon Mobil has a 52-week low of $97.80 and a 52-week high of $121.88. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $114.76 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $111.20.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, June 17th. The oil and gas company reported $0.65 EPS for the quarter. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 9.17% and a return on equity of 11.34%. The company had revenue of $57.55 billion during the quarter.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Exxon Mobil

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in XOM. Trust Investment Advisors boosted its position in Exxon Mobil by 1.4% during the third quarter. Trust Investment Advisors now owns 13,036 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,470,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares during the period. Manhattan West Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Manhattan West Asset Management LLC now owns 22,278 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,512,000 after buying an additional 349 shares in the last quarter. Greenfield Seitz Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Greenfield Seitz Capital Management LLC now owns 48,472 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,465,000 after buying an additional 321 shares during the period. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. purchased a new position in Exxon Mobil in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $67,907,000. Finally, Tcfg Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 32.5% during the 3rd quarter. Tcfg Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,300 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,612,000 after acquiring an additional 3,506 shares during the period. 61.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Exxon Mobil Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 14th will be paid a dividend of $1.03 per share. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 14th. This is a positive change from Exxon Mobils previous quarterly dividend of $0.99. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is currently 59.88%.

About Exxon Mobil

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Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas.

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Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of CION Investment (NYSE:CION  Free Report) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report released on Saturday morning.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on CION. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of CION Investment in a research report on Thursday. Zacks Research upgraded shares of CION Investment from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an underweight rating and set a $8.50 price target (down from $9.00) on shares of CION Investment in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $8.50.

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CION Investment Stock Performance

CION stock opened at $9.87 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $513.84 million, a P/E ratio of -51.92 and a beta of 1.08. The firms fifty day moving average is $9.56 and its 200 day moving average is $9.76. CION Investment has a 52 week low of $8.51 and a 52 week high of $12.71.

CION Investment (NYSE:CION  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.39. The business had revenue of $78.71 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $52.41 million. CION Investment had a negative net margin of 4.57% and a positive return on equity of 9.63%. As a group, analysts forecast that CION Investment will post 1.78 EPS for the current year.

CION Investment Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st will be issued a $0.36 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 1st. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 14.6%. CION Investments payout ratio is 282.35%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CION. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of CION Investment by 91.0% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 100,541 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,041,000 after purchasing an additional 47,909 shares in the last quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. boosted its position in CION Investment by 31.3% during the 1st quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 16,350 shares of the companys stock valued at $169,000 after acquiring an additional 3,900 shares in the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of CION Investment by 17.4% during the 1st quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 32,079 shares of the companys stock worth $332,000 after acquiring an additional 4,759 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of CION Investment during the 1st quarter worth approximately $271,000. Finally, LPL Financial LLC raised its position in shares of CION Investment by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 992,946 shares of the companys stock worth $10,277,000 after acquiring an additional 25,706 shares in the last quarter. 32.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

CION Investment Company Profile

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CION Investment Corporation is a business development company. It specializes in investments in senior secured loans, including unitranche loans, First Lien, second lien loans, long-term subordinated loans, and mezzanine loans; equity interests such as warrants or options; and corporate bonds; and other debt securities in middle-market companies.

Further Reading

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Barings Corporate Investors (NYSE:MCI  Get Free Report) and Affiliated Managers Group (NYSE:AMG  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, risk and institutional ownership.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Barings Corporate Investors and Affiliated Managers Groups gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Barings Corporate Investors N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Affiliated Managers Group $2.04 billion 3.62 $511.60 million $16.79 15.67

Analyst Recommendations

Affiliated Managers Group has higher revenue and earnings than Barings Corporate Investors.

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Barings Corporate Investors and Affiliated Managers Group, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Barings Corporate Investors 0 0 0 0 0.00 Affiliated Managers Group 0 0 7 1 3.13

Affiliated Managers Group has a consensus target price of $290.33, suggesting a potential upside of 10.37%. Given Affiliated Managers Groups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Affiliated Managers Group is more favorable than Barings Corporate Investors.

Profitability

This table compares Barings Corporate Investors and Affiliated Managers Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Barings Corporate Investors N/A N/A N/A Affiliated Managers Group 21.79% 16.11% 7.68%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

95.3% of Affiliated Managers Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.1% of Barings Corporate Investors shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 4.2% of Affiliated Managers Group shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

Barings Corporate Investors pays an annual dividend of $1.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.7%. Affiliated Managers Group pays an annual dividend of $0.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.0%. Affiliated Managers Group pays out 0.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Volatility and Risk

Barings Corporate Investors has a beta of 0.34, meaning that its share price is 66% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Affiliated Managers Group has a beta of 1.25, meaning that its share price is 25% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Affiliated Managers Group beats Barings Corporate Investors on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Barings Corporate Investors

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Babson Capital Corporate Investors trust is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Barings LLC. It invests in fixed income markets of the United States. The fund seeks to invest in securities of companies operating across diversified sectors. It primarily invests in a portfolio of privately placed, below-investment grade, long term corporate debt obligations. The fund also invests in marketable investment grade debt securities, other marketable debt securities, and marketable common stocks. It was formerly known as Babson Capital Corporate Investors. Babson Capital Corporate Investors trust was formed in 1971 and is domiciled in the United States.

About Affiliated Managers Group

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Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., through its affiliates, operates as an investment management company providing investment management services to mutual funds, institutional clients,retails and high net worth individuals in the United States. It provides advisory or sub-advisory services to mutual funds. These funds are distributed to retail, high net worth and institutional clients directly and through intermediaries, including independent investment advisors, retirement plan sponsors, broker-dealers, major fund marketplaces, and bank trust departments. The company also offers investment products in various investment styles in the institutional distribution channel, including small, small/mid, mid, and large capitalization value and growth equity, and emerging markets. In addition, it offers quantitative, alternative, and fixed income products, and manages assets for foundations and endowments, defined benefit, and defined contribution plans for corporations and municipalities. Affiliated Managers Group provides investment management or customized investment counseling and fiduciary services. Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. was formed in 1993 and is based in West Palm Beach, Florida with additional offices in Prides Crossing, Massachusetts; Stamford, Connecticut; London, United Kingdom; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Sydney, Australia; Hong Kong; Tokyo, Japan, Zurich, Switzerland and Delaware.

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Blackstone Mortgage Trust (NYSE:BXMT  Get Free Report) and Two Harbors Investments (NYSE:TWO  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, risk, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation and analyst recommendations.

Profitability

This table compares Blackstone Mortgage Trust and Two Harbors Investments net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Blackstone Mortgage Trust 7.53% 4.06% 0.75% Two Harbors Investments -44.10% 11.92% 1.32%

Volatility & Risk

Blackstone Mortgage Trust has a beta of 1.16, meaning that its share price is 16% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Two Harbors Investments has a beta of 1.3, meaning that its share price is 30% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Blackstone Mortgage Trust $507.96 million 6.19 -$204.09 million $0.62 30.23 Two Harbors Investments $394.99 million 2.56 $298.17 million ($2.50) -3.88

This table compares Blackstone Mortgage Trust and Two Harbors Investmentss revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Two Harbors Investments has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Blackstone Mortgage Trust. Two Harbors Investments is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Blackstone Mortgage Trust, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Blackstone Mortgage Trust and Two Harbors Investments, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Blackstone Mortgage Trust 0 4 2 0 2.33 Two Harbors Investments 1 5 3 1 2.40

Blackstone Mortgage Trust presently has a consensus target price of $20.00, suggesting a potential upside of 6.70%. Two Harbors Investments has a consensus target price of $12.36, suggesting a potential upside of 27.33%. Given Two Harbors Investments stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Two Harbors Investments is more favorable than Blackstone Mortgage Trust.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

64.2% of Blackstone Mortgage Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 64.2% of Two Harbors Investments shares are held by institutional investors. 1.0% of Blackstone Mortgage Trust shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Two Harbors Investments shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

Blackstone Mortgage Trust pays an annual dividend of $1.88 per share and has a dividend yield of 10.0%. Two Harbors Investments pays an annual dividend of $1.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 14.0%. Blackstone Mortgage Trust pays out 303.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Two Harbors Investments pays out -54.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Two Harbors Investments has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Two Harbors Investments is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Summary

Two Harbors Investments beats Blackstone Mortgage Trust on 12 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Blackstone Mortgage Trust

(Get Free Report)

Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc., a real estate finance company, originates senior loans collateralized by commercial properties in North America, Europe, and Australia. The company originates and acquires senior floating rate mortgage loans that are secured by a first-priority mortgage on commercial real estate assets. It operates as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes. The company was formerly known as Capital Trust, Inc. and changed its name to Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. in May 2013. Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

About Two Harbors Investments

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Two Harbors Investment Corp. invests in, finances, and manages mortgage servicing rights (MSRs), agency residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), and other financial assets through RoundPoint in the United States. The company target assets include agency RMBS collateralized by fixed rate mortgage loans, adjustable rate mortgage loans, hybrid mortgage loans, or derivatives; and other assets, such as financial and mortgage-related assets, including non-agency securities and non-hedging transactions. It qualifies as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, the company must distribute at least 90% of annual taxable income to its stockholders. Two Harbors Investment Corp. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

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Deere & Company (NYSE:DE  Get Free Report) is projected to announce its Q4 2025 results before the market opens on Wednesday, November 26th. Analysts expect Deere & Company to post earnings of $3.96 per share and revenue of $9.7652 billion for the quarter. Investors may review the information on the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earningreport for the latest details on the call scheduled for Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET.

Deere & Company Stock Performance

Shares of Deere & Company stock opened at $488.42 on Tuesday. Deere & Company has a 12 month low of $403.01 and a 12 month high of $533.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $132.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 1.04. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $466.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $491.04. The company has a current ratio of 2.19, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

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Deere & Company Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th were given a $1.62 dividend. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 30th. Deere & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 33.87%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently issued reports on DE. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Deere & Company in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. They issued an overweight rating and a $543.00 price target on the stock. Wolfe Research reduced their target price on Deere & Company from $550.00 to $520.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada started coverage on shares of Deere & Company in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. They issued an outperform rating and a $542.00 price target for the company. Oppenheimer lowered their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $566.00 to $512.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, September 18th. Finally, UBS Group restated a buy rating on shares of Deere & Company in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $519.85.

View Our Latest Report on Deere & Company

Institutional Trading of Deere & Company

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wealth Watch Advisors INC bought a new position in Deere & Company in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Deere & Company in the 2nd quarter valued at about $72,000. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in Deere & Company during the 2nd quarter worth $81,000. Turning Point Benefit Group Inc. bought a new position in Deere & Company during the 3rd quarter worth about $118,000. Finally, State of Wyoming purchased a new position in Deere & Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $190,000. Institutional investors own 68.58% of the companys stock.

About Deere & Company

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Deere & Co engages in the manufacture and distribution of equipment used in agriculture, construction, forestry, and turf care. It operates through the following segments: Agriculture and Turf, Construction and Forestry, and Financial Services. The Agriculture and Turf segment focuses on the distribution and manufacture of a full line of agriculture and turf equipment and related service parts.

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Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report)s share price rose 3.9% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $129.41 and last traded at $127.2870. Approximately 8,905,763 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 24% from the average daily volume of 7,196,223 shares. The stock had previously closed at $122.51.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Dell Technologies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, September 13th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $155.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Dell Technologies from $160.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Barclays raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $133.00 to $151.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $130.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Dell Technologies has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $160.85.

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Dell Technologies Trading Up 3.9%

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $143.60 and a 200 day simple moving average of $130.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $85.58 billion, a PE ratio of 18.72, a PEG ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.02.

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 5th. The technology company reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 4.73% and a negative return on equity of 236.21%. The firm had revenue of $26.43 billion for the quarter. Dell Technologies has set its FY24 guidance at $6.10-6.50 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Dell Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 21st were issued a dividend of $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 21st. Dell Technologiess dividend payout ratio is currently 30.88%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Lake Group L.L.C. Silver sold 6,617 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.63, for a total transaction of $1,003,335.71. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Ellen Jamison Kullman sold 79,806 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.56, for a total value of $12,255,009.36. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 65,662 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,083,056.72. This trade represents a 54.86% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 4,537,755 shares of company stock valued at $642,644,973 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 42.00% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dell Technologies

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of DELL. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Dell Technologies in the second quarter worth about $528,279,000. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in shares of Dell Technologies by 4,279.1% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,005,776 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $426,129,000 after purchasing an additional 2,937,137 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 82.3% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,855,154 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $688,315,000 after purchasing an additional 2,191,317 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in Dell Technologies by 541.9% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 1,996,557 shares of the technology companys stock worth $283,052,000 after purchasing an additional 1,685,529 shares during the period. Finally, Boston Partners lifted its position in Dell Technologies by 34.4% during the first quarter. Boston Partners now owns 5,132,877 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $466,418,000 after buying an additional 1,312,600 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 76.37% of the companys stock.

Dell Technologies Company Profile

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Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).

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Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Douglas Dynamics (NYSE:PLOW  Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Saturday.

A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. DA Davidson set a $39.00 price objective on shares of Douglas Dynamics in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Douglas Dynamics in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Douglas Dynamics currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $39.00.

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Douglas Dynamics Trading Up 2.1%

Shares of PLOW stock opened at $31.71 on Friday. Douglas Dynamics has a 1 year low of $21.30 and a 1 year high of $34.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 2.11 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $31.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $30.39. The company has a market cap of $730.70 million, a PE ratio of 11.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.30.

Douglas Dynamics (NYSE:PLOW  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The auto parts company reported $0.40 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $162.12 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $163.27 million. Douglas Dynamics had a return on equity of 15.16% and a net margin of 11.38%. Douglas Dynamics has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.850-2.250 EPS. Research analysts predict that Douglas Dynamics will post 1.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Douglas Dynamics Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 16th were given a dividend of $0.295 per share. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 16th. Douglas Dynamicss dividend payout ratio is presently 67.05%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Douglas Dynamics

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of PLOW. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Douglas Dynamics by 58.6% during the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 54,145 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,258,000 after purchasing an additional 19,997 shares in the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund grew its stake in Douglas Dynamics by 10.1% during the 1st quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 10,190 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $237,000 after buying an additional 938 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its stake in Douglas Dynamics by 24.2% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,400 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $125,000 after buying an additional 1,052 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its position in Douglas Dynamics by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 30,150 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $700,000 after buying an additional 850 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Douglas Dynamics by 2.0% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,317,898 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $30,615,000 after buying an additional 26,118 shares during the last quarter. 91.85% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Douglas Dynamics

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Douglas Dynamics, Inc operates as a manufacturer and upfitter of commercial work truck attachments and equipment in North America. It operates through two segments, Work Truck Attachments and Work Truck Solutions. The Work Truck Attachments segment manufactures and sells snow and ice control attachments, including snowplows, and sand and salt spreaders for light trucks and heavy duty trucks, as well as various related parts and accessories.

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Endesa S.A.  Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:ELEZY  Get Free Report)s share price was down 1.2% on Monday . The company traded as low as $17.65 and last traded at $17.68. Approximately 16,837 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 2% from the average daily volume of 17,096 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.8950.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on ELEZY shares. HSBC downgraded Endesa to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Morgan Stanley restated an underweight rating on shares of Endesa in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Hsbc Global Res lowered Endesa from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Endesa from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 17th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lowered shares of Endesa from a moderate buy rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Endesa has a consensus rating of Reduce.

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Endesa Stock Performance

About Endesa

The business has a 50-day moving average price of $17.11 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.95.

(Get Free Report)

Endesa, SA engages in the generation, distribution, and sale of electricity in Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Morocco, Italy, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and internationally. The company generates electricity from various energy sources, such as hydroelectric, nuclear, thermal, wind, and solar.

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Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Seabridge Gold (NYSE:SA  Free Report) (TSE:SEA) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note issued to investors on Saturday.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on SA. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of Seabridge Gold in a research report on Thursday. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Seabridge Gold to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Seabridge Gold has an average rating of Reduce.

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Seabridge Gold Trading Up 6.2%

Shares of NYSE:SA opened at $25.01 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $23.67 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $18.19. Seabridge Gold has a one year low of $9.40 and a one year high of $29.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 4.24 and a quick ratio of 4.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.61 billion, a PE ratio of -65.82 and a beta of 0.77.

Seabridge Gold (NYSE:SA  Get Free Report) (TSE:SEA) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The basic materials company reported ($0.23) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.03) by ($0.20).

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Advisory Services Network LLC bought a new stake in Seabridge Gold in the 3rd quarter valued at $164,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in Seabridge Gold by 3.7% during the third quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 83,097 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,007,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares during the period. Tidal Investments LLC increased its holdings in shares of Seabridge Gold by 12.4% in the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 3,071,781 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $74,184,000 after purchasing an additional 339,913 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its position in shares of Seabridge Gold by 57.4% in the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 34,906 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $843,000 after purchasing an additional 12,726 shares during the period. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. bought a new position in shares of Seabridge Gold in the third quarter valued at about $242,000. 34.85% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Seabridge Gold

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Seabridge Gold Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition and exploration of gold properties in North America. The company also explores for gold, copper, silver, and molybdenum deposits. The company was formerly known as Seabridge Resources Inc and changed its name to Seabridge Gold Inc in June 2002.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report)s stock price traded up 3.6% on Monday . The company traded as high as $285.06 and last traded at $284.85. 13,392,851 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 7% from the average session volume of 14,426,486 shares. The stock had previously closed at $275.06.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on TSM shares. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Friday, October 17th. Itau BBA Securities initiated coverage on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Barclays lifted their price target on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $330.00 to $355.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $360.00 target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $371.67.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Up 3.6%

The business has a 50-day moving average price of $288.31 and a 200-day moving average price of $247.04. The company has a market capitalization of $1.48 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a quick ratio of 2.15, a current ratio of 2.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 16th. The semiconductor company reported $2.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.59 by $0.33. The company had revenue of $32.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $951.89 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 36.06% and a net margin of 43.72%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 40.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.94 EPS. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has set its Q4 2025 guidance at EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be issued a $0.9678 dividend. This is an increase from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $3.87 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings payout ratio is 26.97%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC increased its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 16,500.0% during the 1st quarter. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC now owns 6,707,064 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,113,373,000 after purchasing an additional 6,666,660 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 55.6% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 17,306,108 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $2,872,814,000 after purchasing an additional 6,180,445 shares during the period. Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $482,676,000. Jennison Associates LLC boosted its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 26.7% during the second quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 12,046,792 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $2,728,478,000 after purchasing an additional 2,537,760 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 31.5% in the first quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 8,864,014 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,471,426,000 after acquiring an additional 2,121,758 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.51% of the companys stock.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Profile

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others.

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WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC  Free Report)  Equities research analysts at Zacks Research upped their FY2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of WEC Energy Group in a research report issued on Thursday, November 20th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the utilities provider will post earnings per share of $5.24 for the year, up from their prior estimate of $5.23. The consensus estimate for WEC Energy Groups current full-year earnings is $5.23 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for WEC Energy Groups Q4 2025 earnings at $1.38 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.83 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.99 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $1.48 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.96 EPS and Q3 2027 earnings at $1.11 EPS.

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Several other research firms have also issued reports on WEC. Cowen began coverage on shares of WEC Energy Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on WEC Energy Group in a report on Monday, October 27th. They issued an overweight rating and a $124.00 target price on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $131.00 target price on WEC Energy Group in a report on Monday, October 27th. BTIG Research upgraded WEC Energy Group to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of WEC Energy Group in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $120.21.

WEC Energy Group Stock Down 0.1%

NYSE WEC opened at $111.08 on Monday. WEC Energy Group has a 12 month low of $91.94 and a 12 month high of $118.18. The company has a market capitalization of $36.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.00, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.48. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $113.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $109.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 0.50 and a quick ratio of 0.33.

WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, September 2nd. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $2.28 billion during the quarter. WEC Energy Group had a return on equity of 12.60% and a net margin of 17.75%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On WEC Energy Group

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of WEC. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in WEC Energy Group by 0.8% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 40,280,324 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,615,722,000 after purchasing an additional 334,563 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of WEC Energy Group by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,594,608 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $892,020,000 after purchasing an additional 235,653 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of WEC Energy Group by 34.9% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,213,304 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $567,727,000 after buying an additional 1,349,522 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of WEC Energy Group by 16.6% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 5,103,604 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $556,191,000 after buying an additional 726,267 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 0.8% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 4,274,385 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $466,451,000 after buying an additional 33,810 shares during the last quarter. 77.20% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

WEC Energy Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th will be paid a $0.8925 dividend. This represents a $3.57 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 14th. WEC Energy Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 67.49%.

WEC Energy Group Company Profile

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WEC Energy Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. It operates through Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, and Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure segments.

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IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE:IDA  Free Report)  Stock analysts at Zacks Research decreased their Q3 2026 EPS estimates for IDACORP in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, November 20th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the energy company will earn $2.43 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $2.49. The consensus estimate for IDACORPs current full-year earnings is $5.81 per share.

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IDACORP (NYSE:IDA  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The energy company reported $2.26 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $524.42 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $663.09 million. IDACORP had a return on equity of 9.18% and a net margin of 16.96%.During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.12 EPS. IDACORP has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.800-5.900 EPS.

Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of IDACORP in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of IDACORP to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of IDACORP from $144.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Morgan Stanley set a $137.00 target price on shares of IDACORP in a research report on Thursday. Finally, BTIG Research raised shares of IDACORP to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $136.88.

View Our Latest Report on IDA

IDACORP Stock Up 1.0%

IDACORP stock opened at $129.20 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 1.12. IDACORP has a 1-year low of $104.74 and a 1-year high of $138.03. The company has a market cap of $6.98 billion, a PE ratio of 22.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.59. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $130.95 and its 200 day moving average price is $123.71.

IDACORP Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.88 per share. This is an increase from IDACORPs previous quarterly dividend of $0.86. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 5th. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. IDACORPs payout ratio is 60.48%.

Institutional Trading of IDACORP

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd increased its stake in shares of IDACORP by 630.0% during the 3rd quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 219 shares of the energy companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 189 shares in the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC acquired a new stake in IDACORP during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in IDACORP during the second quarter worth $28,000. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of IDACORP in the third quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of IDACORP in the second quarter worth $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.10% of the companys stock.

IDACORP Company Profile

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IDACORP, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, purchase, and sale of electric energy in the United States. The company operates 17 hydropower generating plants located in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon; three natural gas-fired plants in southern Idaho; and interests in two coal-fired steam electric generating plants located in Wyoming and Nevada.

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Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the eleven ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have assigned a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $111.00.

AFL has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Aflac in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on shares of Aflac from $110.00 to $111.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on shares of Aflac from $108.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Aflac from $113.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Aflac from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th.

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Insider Activity

Institutional Trading of Aflac

In other Aflac news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.00, for a total transaction of $114,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 23,615 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,692,110. The trade was a 4.06% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, EVP Frederic Jean Guy Simard sold 1,722 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total value of $193,725.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 1,364 shares in the company, valued at $153,450. The trade was a 55.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 22,822 shares of company stock valued at $2,571,002 over the last three months. Insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock.

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of AFL. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Aflac during the 2nd quarter valued at about $432,201,000. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in shares of Aflac in the first quarter worth approximately $140,746,000. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in Aflac by 1,184.5% during the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,264,090 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $141,199,000 after buying an additional 1,165,676 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its holdings in Aflac by 132.4% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 1,227,200 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $137,078,000 after buying an additional 699,080 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised its position in Aflac by 16.7% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,167,886 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $439,545,000 after acquiring an additional 594,971 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.44% of the companys stock.

Aflac Stock Down 0.7%

AFL stock opened at $110.19 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $110.10 and a 200 day moving average of $106.13. The firm has a market cap of $57.75 billion, a PE ratio of 24.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.83. Aflac has a twelve month low of $96.95 and a twelve month high of $115.83. The company has a quick ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter. Aflac had a return on equity of 15.08% and a net margin of 15.32%. On average, research analysts forecast that Aflac will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Aflac announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Tuesday, August 12th that authorizes the company to repurchase 100,000,000 shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be issued a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 18th. This is a positive change from Aflacs previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. Aflacs dividend payout ratio is 31.85%.

Aflac Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. The company operates through Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan.

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Amentum (NYSE:AMTM  Get Free Report) issued its earnings results on Monday. The company reported $0.63 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.04, Briefing.com reports. The firm had revenue of $3.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.61 billion. Amentum had a net margin of 0.41% and a return on equity of 10.90%. The businesss revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Amentum updated its FY 2026 guidance to EPS.

Amentum Price Performance

Shares of NYSE AMTM opened at $25.40 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $23.09 and a 200 day moving average price of $23.38. The firm has a market cap of $6.18 billion, a PE ratio of 65.14, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. Amentum has a 1-year low of $16.01 and a 1-year high of $26.63.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC raised its position in Amentum by 63.6% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 5,300 shares of the companys stock valued at $127,000 after buying an additional 2,061 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new position in Amentum during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $61,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Amentum during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,296,000. Verition Fund Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Amentum by 1,128.0% in the third quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 1,135,626 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,198,000 after purchasing an additional 1,043,145 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Amentum in the third quarter worth $1,301,000. 39.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and issued a $30.00 price target on shares of Amentum in a report on Monday, August 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Amentum from $21.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on Amentum in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. They issued a neutral rating and a $30.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on Amentum from $24.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Amentum from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, September 18th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $28.25.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Amentum

Amentum Company Profile

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Amentum Holdings, Inc provides engineering and technology solutions to address challenges in science, security, and sustainability. It serves various markets, such as energy and environment, space, intelligence, defense, civilian, commercial, and international markets. The company was incorporated in 2010 and is headquatered in Chantilly, Virginia.

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ASM International NV (OTCMKTS:ASMIY  Get Free Report) shares saw strong trading volume on Tuesday . 7,394 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 14% from the previous sessions volume of 8,606 shares.The stock last traded at $533.07 and had previously closed at $549.42.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Zacks Research raised shares of ASM International from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, September 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of ASM International in a research report on Wednesday, September 24th. Rothschild Redb cut ASM International from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of ASM International in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $561.00.

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ASM International Stock Down 1.5%

The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $611.46 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $568.17. The company has a market cap of $26.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.94 and a beta of 1.96.

ASM International (OTCMKTS:ASMIY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $4.90 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.74 by $0.16. ASM International had a net margin of 24.50% and a return on equity of 22.23%. The business had revenue of $932.68 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $814.93 million. ASM International has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at EPS. Analysts predict that ASM International NV will post 14.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About ASM International

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ASM International NV, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, manufacture, marketing, and servicing of equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices in Europe, the United States, and Asia. The companys products include wafer processing deposition systems for atomic layer deposition (ALD), epitaxy, silicon carbide, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and vertical furnace systems, including low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), diffusion, and oxidation products, as well as provides spare parts and support services.

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TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. lessened its stake in AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB  Free Report) by 79.9% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,048 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 4,164 shares during the quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc.s holdings in AvalonBay Communities were worth $213,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in AvalonBay Communities during the first quarter worth about $280,226,000. PGGM Investments boosted its stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 7,782.9% during the 2nd quarter. PGGM Investments now owns 478,966 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $97,470,000 after acquiring an additional 472,890 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 7.1% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 5,520,036 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,184,712,000 after acquiring an additional 367,853 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,814,430 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $818,653,000 after acquiring an additional 143,646 shares during the period. Finally, Strs Ohio purchased a new position in AvalonBay Communities in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $30,453,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.61% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AVB has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. BNP Paribas Exane downgraded AvalonBay Communities from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $199.00 to $191.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. BNP Paribas downgraded shares of AvalonBay Communities from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, September 29th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $213.00 to $193.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $225.00 to $222.50 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, AvalonBay Communities currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $207.73.

AvalonBay Communities Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE AVB opened at $180.30 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $184.70 and a 200-day simple moving average of $194.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.70. The company has a market cap of $25.53 billion, a PE ratio of 22.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.84. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. has a 12 month low of $166.73 and a 12 month high of $239.29.

AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.81 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $766.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $766.22 million. AvalonBay Communities had a net margin of 38.78% and a return on equity of 9.75%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.74 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. will post 11.48 earnings per share for the current year.

AvalonBay Communities Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be given a $1.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $7.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.9%. AvalonBay Communitiess payout ratio is currently 85.47%.

About AvalonBay Communities

(Free Report)

AvalonBay Communities, Inc is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the development, acquisition, ownership, and operation of multifamily communities. It operates through the following segments: Same Store, Other Stabilized, and Development or Redevelopment. The Same Store segment refers to the operating communities that were owned and had stabilized occupancy.

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Blackrock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust (NYSE:BCX  Get Free Report)s share price crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $10.01 and traded as low as $9.75. Blackrock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust shares last traded at $9.81, with a volume of 249,146 shares changing hands.

Blackrock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust Trading Up 0.8%

The companys 50-day moving average price is $10.01 and its 200-day moving average price is $9.74.

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Blackrock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th will be paid a $0.0697 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 14th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.5%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About Blackrock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Triumph Capital Management lifted its stake in Blackrock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 80,973 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $823,000 after acquiring an additional 5,388 shares in the last quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Blackrock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust in the third quarter valued at approximately $186,000. Moors & Cabot Inc. lifted its position in shares of Blackrock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust by 9.7% in the third quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 11,400 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $116,000 after purchasing an additional 1,005 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC acquired a new position in Blackrock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust during the third quarter worth $267,000. Finally, Citadel Advisors LLC bought a new position in Blackrock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust in the third quarter valued at $130,000.

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Blackrock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is co-managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC and BlackRock International Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating in the commodities or natural resources sectors.

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Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW  Get Free Report)s share price shot up 7.1% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $49.98 and last traded at $50.9490. 22,871 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 93% from the average session volume of 305,456 shares. The stock had previously closed at $47.58.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on BBW shares. Zacks Research lowered Build-A-Bear Workshop from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. DA Davidson lifted their price objective on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from $64.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, August 29th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen lowered Build-A-Bear Workshop from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, August 23rd. Finally, Northland Securities upped their price objective on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from $60.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, August 29th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $68.00.

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Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Up 10.0%

The company has a market cap of $687.13 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.72 and a beta of 0.88. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $58.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of $54.54.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, March 27th. The specialty retailer reported $1.59 earnings per share for the quarter. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 11.34% and a return on equity of 41.14%. The business had revenue of $150.45 million for the quarter. As a group, research analysts expect that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. will post 3.71 EPS for the current year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 26th will be given a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 26th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.7%. Build-A-Bear Workshops dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.73%.

Insider Activity

In other Build-A-Bear Workshop news, CFO Vojin Todorovic sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.25, for a total value of $732,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 67,991 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,980,340.75. This represents a 12.82% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Craig Leavitt sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, October 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.61, for a total transaction of $242,440.00. Following the sale, the director owned 64,142 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,887,646.62. The trade was a 5.87% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders sold 61,387 shares of company stock valued at $4,417,721. Corporate insiders own 5.80% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BBW. Ballentine Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in the second quarter valued at $263,000. Magnetar Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 1st quarter valued at $514,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 42.9% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 65,815 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $2,446,000 after purchasing an additional 19,743 shares during the last quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in Build-A-Bear Workshop in the 2nd quarter valued at $555,000. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 995,693 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $37,010,000 after purchasing an additional 13,713 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.30% of the companys stock.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop

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Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc operates as a multi-channel retailer of plush animals and related products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Direct-to-Consumer, Commercial, and International Franchising. Its merchandise comprises various styles of plush products to be stuffed, pre-stuffed plush products, and sounds and scents that can be added to the stuffed animals, as well as range of clothing, shoes and accessories, and other toy and novelty items, including family sleepwear.

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Carpenter Technology Corporation (NYSE:CRS  Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the eleven brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $371.1429.

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on CRS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Carpenter Technology from $305.00 to $388.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of Carpenter Technology in a research report on Friday, November 14th. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Carpenter Technology from $305.00 to $340.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. BTIG Research lifted their target price on shares of Carpenter Technology from $305.00 to $365.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $425.00 price target on shares of Carpenter Technology and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 24th.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on CRS

Carpenter Technology Stock Up 2.1%

Shares of NYSE CRS opened at $315.84 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.37, a current ratio of 4.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The company has a market cap of $15.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.47. Carpenter Technology has a 52 week low of $138.61 and a 52 week high of $342.11. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $278.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $261.79.

Carpenter Technology (NYSE:CRS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The basic materials company reported $2.43 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.13 by $0.30. Carpenter Technology had a net margin of 14.30% and a return on equity of 22.68%. The company had revenue of $733.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $741.18 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.73 earnings per share. Carpenter Technologys revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Carpenter Technology will post 6.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Carpenter Technology Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 4th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 21st will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 21st. Carpenter Technologys dividend payout ratio is currently 9.78%.

Insider Transactions at Carpenter Technology

In other Carpenter Technology news, Director Steven E. Karol sold 3,433 shares of Carpenter Technology stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.78, for a total transaction of $843,762.74. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 180,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $44,240,400. The trade was a 1.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 2.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Carpenter Technology

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. CWM LLC boosted its stake in Carpenter Technology by 23.0% in the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,130 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $386,000 after buying an additional 398 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Carpenter Technology by 40.3% in the 1st quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 22,408 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $4,060,000 after acquiring an additional 6,438 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc boosted its stake in shares of Carpenter Technology by 1,121.7% in the 1st quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 562 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $102,000 after purchasing an additional 516 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its holdings in shares of Carpenter Technology by 149.4% during the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 115,753 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $20,972,000 after purchasing an additional 69,336 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH grew its holdings in shares of Carpenter Technology by 22.7% during the 1st quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH now owns 61,886 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $11,213,000 after purchasing an additional 11,457 shares during the last quarter. 92.03% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Carpenter Technology Company Profile

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Carpenter Technology Corporation engages in the manufacture, fabrication, and distribution of specialty metals in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Mexico, Canada, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Specialty Alloys Operations and Performance Engineered Products. The company offers specialty alloys, including titanium alloys, powder metals, stainless steels, alloy steels, and tool steels, as well as additives, and metal powders and parts.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Get Free Report) VP Christopher Mead sold 1,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.74, for a total transaction of $313,425.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 17,327 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,344,571.98. The trade was a 6.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Stock Performance

AJG stock traded up $2.22 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $250.43. The company had a trading volume of 965,643 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,558,433. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $279.56 and a 200-day moving average price of $301.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.36, a current ratio of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The firm has a market cap of $64.31 billion, a PE ratio of 35.57 and a beta of 0.71. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a 1-year low of $239.47 and a 1-year high of $351.23.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.51 by ($0.19). Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a net margin of 14.54% and a return on equity of 13.17%. The company had revenue of $3.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.34 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.26 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 20.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 11.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Announces Dividend

Institutional Trading of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th will be paid a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 5th. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s payout ratio is currently 38.86%.

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 14.5% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 75,679 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,128,000 after acquiring an additional 9,568 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. lifted its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 87.4% in the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 29,014 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $10,017,000 after buying an additional 13,528 shares in the last quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ acquired a new stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 1st quarter valued at $6,352,000. HB Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 47.3% during the first quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 9,997 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,451,000 after buying an additional 3,211 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 14.6% in the first quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 54,118 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $18,684,000 after acquiring an additional 6,882 shares during the last quarter. 85.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on AJG shares. Barclays cut shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $328.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, November 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $361.00 to $315.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $340.00 to $295.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $315.00 to $275.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $316.33.

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About Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co engages in the provision of insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party claims settlement and administration services. It operates through the following segments: Brokerage, Risk Management, and Corporate. The Brokerage segment consists of retail and wholesale insurance brokerage operations.

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Close Brothers Group (LON:CBG  Get Free Report)s stock had its add rating restated by investment analysts at Peel Hunt in a research report issued on Tuesday,London Stock Exchange reports. They currently have a GBX 300 target price on the stock. Peel Hunts target price would indicate a potential downside of 27.47% from the companys previous close.

CBG has been the subject of a number of other research reports. UBS Group restated a neutral rating and issued a GBX 535 target price on shares of Close Brothers Group in a research note on Monday, September 15th. Shore Capital reissued a hold rating and set a GBX 510 price target on shares of Close Brothers Group in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Panmure Gordon restated a hold rating and issued a GBX 500 price objective on shares of Close Brothers Group in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price objective on Close Brothers Group from GBX 525 to GBX 500 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 400 target price on shares of Close Brothers Group in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Close Brothers Group currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 490.63.

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Close Brothers Group Price Performance

LON:CBG traded up GBX 20.80 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting GBX 413.60. The company had a trading volume of 325,291 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,516,391. Close Brothers Group has a 52 week low of GBX 201.82 and a 52 week high of GBX 563.50. The company has a market capitalization of 622.57 million, a PE ratio of -6.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 0.82. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 451.78 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 426.94.

Close Brothers Group (LON:CBG  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, September 30th. The company reported GBX 59.30 earnings per share for the quarter. Close Brothers Group had a net margin of 7.79% and a return on equity of 5.78%. Analysts anticipate that Close Brothers Group will post 66.0070671 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Close Brothers Group

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Close Brothers Group plc, a merchant banking company, engages in the provision of financial services to small businesses and individuals in the United Kingdom. It operates through five segments: Commercial, Retail, Property, Asset Management, and Securities. The company offers banking services comprising of debt factoring, invoice discounting, asset-based lending; financing for SMEs, residential housing, transport, industrial equipment, renewable energy, motorcycle, used car, and commercial vehicle financing; insurance, refurbishment, and bridging financing, savings products for individuals and corporates, hire purchase, lease, and loan related services.

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Columbia Bank boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 14.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 14,038 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after acquiring an additional 1,767 shares during the period. Columbia Banks holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $1,872,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 172,800,851 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $23,502,644,000 after purchasing an additional 2,977,715 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 3.8% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 38,293,067 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $5,184,589,000 after buying an additional 1,390,554 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 12.8% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 29,763,415 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $3,948,117,000 after buying an additional 3,371,113 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 29.2% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 15,985,797 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,120,516,000 after acquiring an additional 3,616,471 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 13,177,029 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,792,209,000 after acquiring an additional 68,613 shares during the last quarter. 75.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Abbott Laboratories Price Performance

NYSE:ABT opened at $127.44 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $221.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 1.82. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $129.87 and a 200 day moving average of $131.14. Abbott Laboratories has a 52-week low of $110.86 and a 52-week high of $141.23.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.30. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 17.78% and a net margin of 31.88%.The firm had revenue of $11.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.40 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.21 EPS. The companys revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Abbott Laboratories has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.120-5.180 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 15th were issued a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, October 15th. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is presently 29.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have commented on ABT. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $144.00 to $142.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $153.00 to $157.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Raymond James Financial increased their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $141.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $159.00 to $162.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $147.00.

View Our Latest Analysis on Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Laboratories Profile

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Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

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Columbia Bank lifted its stake in shares of Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK  Free Report) by 3.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,987 shares of the medical technology companys stock after buying an additional 177 shares during the quarter. Columbia Banks holdings in Stryker were worth $2,332,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Consolidated Portfolio Review Corp increased its stake in Stryker by 4.2% in the second quarter. Consolidated Portfolio Review Corp now owns 648 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $256,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Stryker by 16.9% in the 2nd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $71,000 after buying an additional 26 shares during the period. Sunflower Bank N.A. grew its stake in shares of Stryker by 4.0% in the 2nd quarter. Sunflower Bank N.A. now owns 696 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $275,000 after buying an additional 27 shares during the period. Pitti Group Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Stryker by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Pitti Group Wealth Management LLC now owns 861 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $341,000 after buying an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sachetta LLC raised its stake in Stryker by 58.7% during the 2nd quarter. Sachetta LLC now owns 73 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 27 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.09% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, CAO William E. Berry, Jr. sold 1,953 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $365.49, for a total transaction of $713,801.97. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 2,833 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,035,433.17. This trade represents a 40.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Preston Wendell Wells sold 165 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $365.88, for a total value of $60,370.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 6,694 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,449,200.72. This represents a 2.41% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 522,118 shares of company stock valued at $185,381,932 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 5.90% of the companys stock.

Stryker Stock Performance

Shares of SYK stock opened at $370.38 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.78 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $369.24 and a 200-day moving average of $380.59. Stryker Corporation has a one year low of $329.16 and a one year high of $406.19. The company has a market cap of $141.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.94.

Stryker (NYSE:SYK  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The medical technology company reported $3.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.13 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $6.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.04 billion. Stryker had a net margin of 12.25% and a return on equity of 23.94%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.87 EPS. Stryker has set its FY 2025 guidance at 13.500-13.600 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Stryker Corporation will post 13.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on SYK shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $435.00 price objective on shares of Stryker in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Stryker from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, October 18th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Stryker in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. UBS Group set a $408.00 price objective on shares of Stryker in a research note on Monday, October 13th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn initiated coverage on shares of Stryker in a research report on Thursday, September 18th. They set a neutral rating and a $420.00 target price for the company. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $434.37.

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Stryker Profile

(Free Report)

Stryker Corporation operates as a medical technology company. The company operates through two segments, MedSurg and Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics and Spine. The Orthopaedics and Spine segment provides implants for use in total joint replacements, such as hip, knee and shoulder, and trauma and extremities surgeries.

Further Reading

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Nu Skin Enterprises (NYSE:NUS  Get Free Report) and e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE:ELF  Get Free Report) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and risk.

Risk & Volatility

Nu Skin Enterprises has a beta of 0.97, meaning that its stock price is 3% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, e.l.f. Beauty has a beta of 1.61, meaning that its stock price is 61% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Nu Skin Enterprises and e.l.f. Beauty, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Nu Skin Enterprises 0 3 0 0 2.00 e.l.f. Beauty 1 6 10 1 2.61

Profitability

Nu Skin Enterprises currently has a consensus target price of $7.00, suggesting a potential downside of 30.05%. e.l.f. Beauty has a consensus target price of $126.80, suggesting a potential upside of 78.01%. Given e.l.f. Beautys stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe e.l.f. Beauty is more favorable than Nu Skin Enterprises.

This table compares Nu Skin Enterprises and e.l.f. Beautys net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Nu Skin Enterprises 6.20% 8.23% 4.05% e.l.f. Beauty 5.90% 13.77% 7.78%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Nu Skin Enterprises and e.l.f. Beautys revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Nu Skin Enterprises $1.56 billion 0.31 -$146.59 million $2.18 4.59 e.l.f. Beauty $1.31 billion 3.23 $112.09 million $1.42 50.16

e.l.f. Beauty has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Nu Skin Enterprises. Nu Skin Enterprises is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than e.l.f. Beauty, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

82.8% of Nu Skin Enterprises shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 92.4% of e.l.f. Beauty shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.0% of Nu Skin Enterprises shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 3.9% of e.l.f. Beauty shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

e.l.f. Beauty beats Nu Skin Enterprises on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Nu Skin Enterprises

(Get Free Report)

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development and distribution of various beauty and wellness products worldwide. It offers skin care devices, cosmetics, and other personal care products, including ageLOC LumiSpa and ageLOC LumiSpa iO; and nutricentials skin care products. The company also provides wellness products, such as LifePak nutritional supplements, ageLOC TR90 weight management system, and Beauty Focus Collagen+. In addition, it is involved in the research and product development of skin care products and nutritional supplements. The company sells its products under the Nu Skin, Pharmanex, and ageLOC brands through retail stores, website, digital platforms, and independent direct sellers and marketers, as well as a service center. Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Provo, Utah.

About e.l.f. Beauty

(Get Free Report)

e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of inclusive, accessible, clean, vegan and cruelty free cosmetics and skin care products. The company focuses on the e-commerce, national retailers and international business channels. Its brands include elf, elf skin, WELL People and KEYS soulcare. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Oakland, CA.

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Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE:CTRA  Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twenty-three research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $32.6667.

Several research firms have recently issued reports on CTRA. Scotiabank reduced their target price on Coterra Energy from $35.00 to $32.00 and set a sector outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Coterra Energy from $37.00 to $35.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Zacks Research cut shares of Coterra Energy from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Monday, October 13th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Coterra Energy in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on Coterra Energy from $30.00 to $29.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CTRA

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Coterra Energy

Coterra Energy Stock Up 1.9%

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CTRA. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Coterra Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,490,000. Oarsman Capital Inc. increased its position in Coterra Energy by 8.5% in the third quarter. Oarsman Capital Inc. now owns 35,796 shares of the companys stock worth $847,000 after purchasing an additional 2,817 shares during the last quarter. WBI Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Coterra Energy during the third quarter valued at $291,000. Danske Bank A S bought a new position in Coterra Energy during the third quarter valued at $2,824,000. Finally, Provident Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Coterra Energy by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Provident Investment Management Inc. now owns 31,055 shares of the companys stock worth $734,000 after buying an additional 1,075 shares in the last quarter. 87.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Shares of Coterra Energy stock opened at $26.24 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.13. Coterra Energy has a 52-week low of $22.33 and a 52-week high of $29.95. The companys 50 day moving average price is $24.33 and its 200-day moving average price is $24.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.56, a P/E/G ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 0.30.

Coterra Energy (NYSE:CTRA  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The company reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.43 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $1.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.83 billion. Coterra Energy had a net margin of 23.80% and a return on equity of 10.99%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 33.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.32 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Coterra Energy will post 1.54 EPS for the current year.

Coterra Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 13th. Coterra Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 40.55%.

Coterra Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Coterra Energy Inc, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the development, exploration, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The companys properties include the Marcellus Shale with approximately 186,000 net acres in the dry gas window of the play located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania; Permian Basin properties with approximately 296,000 net acres located in west Texas and southeast New Mexico; and Anadarko Basin properties with approximately 182,000 net acres located in Oklahoma.

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Shares of DHL Group Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:DHLGY  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the seven analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation, one has assigned a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company.

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of DHL Group in a research note on Friday. Zacks Research lowered DHL Group from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered shares of DHL Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of DHL Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, September 19th. Finally, Kepler Capital Markets cut shares of DHL Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, August 22nd.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on DHLGY

DHL Group Trading Up 1.7%

Shares of OTCMKTS:DHLGY opened at $50.31 on Thursday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $46.57 and its 200 day moving average is $46.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.90. DHL Group has a 1 year low of $33.89 and a 1 year high of $52.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $60.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.53, a P/E/G ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.21.

DHL Group (OTCMKTS:DHLGY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.13. DHL Group had a return on equity of 14.92% and a net margin of 4.11%.The business had revenue of $23.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.19 billion. On average, research analysts predict that DHL Group will post 3.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About DHL Group

(Get Free Report)

Deutsche Post AG operates as a mail and logistics company in Germany, rest of Europe, the Americas, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The company operates through five segments: Express; Global Forwarding, Freight; Supply Chain; eCommerce Solutions; and Post & Parcel Germany. The Express segment offers time-definite courier and express services to business and private customers.

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Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. reduced its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Free Report) by 33.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 203,078 shares of the companys stock after selling 101,420 shares during the period. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A.s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $16,076,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of MRK. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 141.7% during the first quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 377 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares in the last quarter. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. purchased a new stake in Merck & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth $43,000. Advantage Trust Co boosted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 57.1% in the second quarter. Advantage Trust Co now owns 550 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Chung Wu Investment Group LLC purchased a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 2nd quarter valued at $45,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.07% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Merck & Co., Inc.

In other news, EVP David Michael Williams sold 8,614 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.59, for a total transaction of $720,044.26. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 24,578 shares in the company, valued at $2,054,475.02. This trade represents a 25.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $110.00 to $111.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Berenberg Bank cut Merck & Co., Inc. from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price objective for the company from $100.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 17th. Scotiabank assumed coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Thursday, November 13th. They set a sector outperform rating and a $105.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Merck & Co., Inc. from $98.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $107.06.

Check Out Our Latest Report on MRK

Merck & Co., Inc. Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MRK opened at $100.50 on Tuesday. Merck & Co., Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $73.31 and a fifty-two week high of $105.07. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $86.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $83.01. The company has a market capitalization of $249.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.42.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $2.58 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.36 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $17.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 41.05% and a net margin of 25.79%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.57 EPS. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.930-8.980 EPS. Analysts expect that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 9.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a $0.85 dividend. This is an increase from Merck & Co., Inc.s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 15th. Merck & Co., Inc.s payout ratio is currently 44.91%.

About Merck & Co., Inc.

(Free Report)

Merck & Co, Inc is a health care company, which engages in the provision of health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceutical, Animal Health, and Other. The Pharmaceutical segment includes human health pharmaceutical and vaccine products.

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Eisler Capital Management Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE:KTB  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 21,771 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,430,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in Kontoor Brands by 69.3% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,553,092 shares of the companys stock worth $168,428,000 after acquiring an additional 1,044,921 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kontoor Brands during the first quarter worth about $19,837,000. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Kontoor Brands by 135.4% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 440,135 shares of the companys stock worth $28,226,000 after purchasing an additional 253,140 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Kontoor Brands by 639.3% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 242,915 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,578,000 after purchasing an additional 210,059 shares in the last quarter. Finally, T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Kontoor Brands by 64.0% during the 1st quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 396,553 shares of the companys stock worth $25,431,000 after buying an additional 154,753 shares during the period. 93.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Kontoor Brands Trading Up 0.5%

NYSE:KTB opened at $70.73 on Tuesday. Kontoor Brands, Inc. has a 1 year low of $50.00 and a 1 year high of $96.80. The stock has a market cap of $3.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.23 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 1.91. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $78.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $72.54.

Kontoor Brands Increases Dividend

Kontoor Brands ( NYSE:KTB Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The company reported $1.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $853.22 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $879.10 million. Kontoor Brands had a return on equity of 63.21% and a net margin of 7.68%.The firms revenue was up 27.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.37 earnings per share. Kontoor Brands has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.500-5.500 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 1.640-1.640 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Kontoor Brands, Inc. will post 4.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 8th will be issued a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 8th. This is a positive change from Kontoor Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. Kontoor Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.61%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on KTB shares. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Kontoor Brands from $114.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Barclays boosted their target price on Kontoor Brands from $91.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Kontoor Brands from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, September 11th. BTIG Research reissued a buy rating and set a $95.00 price objective on shares of Kontoor Brands in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Kontoor Brands from $73.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Kontoor Brands presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $96.00.

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Kontoor Brands Profile

(Free Report)

Kontoor Brands, Inc, a lifestyle apparel company, designs, produces, procures, markets, distributes, and licenses denim, apparel, footwear, and accessories, primarily under the Wrangler and Lee brands. The company operates through two segments: Wrangler and Lee. It licenses and sells apparel under the Rock & Republic brand name.

Further Reading

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Eisler Capital Management Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE:IDA  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 6,923 shares of the energy companys stock, valued at approximately $799,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in IDA. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of IDACORP in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd grew its holdings in IDACORP by 621.6% during the 1st quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 267 shares of the energy companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in IDACORP during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Riverview Trust Co purchased a new position in IDACORP during the 2nd quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its holdings in shares of IDACORP by 33.6% in the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 382 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.10% of the companys stock.

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IDACORP Stock Performance

Shares of IDA stock opened at $129.20 on Tuesday. IDACORP, Inc. has a one year low of $104.74 and a one year high of $138.03. The firms 50 day moving average price is $130.95 and its 200-day moving average price is $123.71. The firm has a market cap of $6.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.45.

IDACORP Increases Dividend

IDACORP ( NYSE:IDA Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The energy company reported $2.26 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $524.42 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $663.09 million. IDACORP had a return on equity of 9.18% and a net margin of 16.96%.During the same period last year, the business posted $2.12 EPS. IDACORP has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.800-5.900 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that IDACORP, Inc. will post 5.81 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 5th will be paid a $0.88 dividend. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 5th. This is a boost from IDACORPs previous quarterly dividend of $0.86. IDACORPs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 60.48%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on IDA. BTIG Research upgraded shares of IDACORP to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on IDACORP from $144.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Morgan Stanley set a $137.00 price target on IDACORP in a report on Thursday. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of IDACORP in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Mizuho raised their price objective on IDACORP from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, IDACORP has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $136.88.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on IDA

About IDACORP

(Free Report)

IDACORP, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, purchase, and sale of electric energy in the United States. The company operates 17 hydropower generating plants located in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon; three natural gas-fired plants in southern Idaho; and interests in two coal-fired steam electric generating plants located in Wyoming and Nevada.

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Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of BXP, Inc. (NYSE:BXP  Free Report) by 354.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 870,178 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 678,529 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. owned about 0.55% of BXP worth $58,711,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of BXP by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 24,470,390 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,651,017,000 after purchasing an additional 1,016,579 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners increased its holdings in BXP by 15.5% during the second quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,009,193 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $203,020,000 after buying an additional 403,090 shares during the period. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in BXP in the first quarter worth approximately $14,737,000. Analyst IMS Investment Management Services Ltd. lifted its holdings in BXP by 49.7% during the second quarter. Analyst IMS Investment Management Services Ltd. now owns 339,596 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $22,913,000 after buying an additional 112,760 shares during the period. Finally, Tredje AP fonden lifted its holdings in BXP by 801.4% during the first quarter. Tredje AP fonden now owns 107,921 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $7,251,000 after buying an additional 95,948 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.72% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Michael E. Labelle sold 13,422 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.34, for a total transaction of $970,947.48. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 9,223 shares of the companys stock, valued at $667,191.82. The trade was a 59.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP John J. Stroman sold 16,838 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.17, for a total value of $1,215,198.46. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 1.49% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised BXP from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $83.00 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on BXP from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 9th. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on shares of BXP from $77.00 to $76.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 14th. Scotiabank increased their price target on shares of BXP from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of BXP from $68.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 9th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $79.42.

View Our Latest Analysis on BXP

BXP Price Performance

Shares of BXP stock opened at $70.69 on Tuesday. BXP, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $54.22 and a fifty-two week high of $84.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -55.66, a PEG ratio of 7.35 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.26, a quick ratio of 3.76 and a current ratio of 4.50. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $72.62 and its 200-day simple moving average is $70.48.

BXP (NYSE:BXP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.74 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.72 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $871.51 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $860.88 million. BXP had a negative net margin of 5.82% and a positive return on equity of 1.35%. BXPs revenue was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.81 EPS. BXP has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.890-6.920 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that BXP, Inc. will post 6.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

BXP Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th were paid a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.0%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 30th. BXPs payout ratio is presently -220.47%.

About BXP

(Free Report)

Boston Properties, Inc (NYSE: BXP) (BXP or the Company) is the largest publicly traded developer, owner, and manager of premier workplaces in the United States, concentrated in six dynamic gateway markets  Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. BXP has delivered places that power progress for our clients and communities for more than 50 years.

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Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 15,234 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $3,486,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its holdings in Waste Management by 51.1% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,861 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,384,000 after purchasing an additional 2,320 shares during the period. Sprott Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Waste Management in the first quarter valued at approximately $325,000. Assetmark Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Waste Management by 4.6% in the first quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 2,233 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $517,000 after buying an additional 98 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc increased its stake in Waste Management by 17.0% during the 1st quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 271,832 shares of the business services providers stock worth $62,932,000 after acquiring an additional 39,458 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its holdings in Waste Management by 31.5% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 122,035 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $28,252,000 after acquiring an additional 29,261 shares in the last quarter. 80.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

WM has been the topic of several analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Waste Management from $245.00 to $248.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Tuesday, July 29th. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research report on Friday, November 14th. They issued an overweight rating and a $238.00 target price for the company. Oppenheimer reiterated an outperform rating and set a $262.00 price target on shares of Waste Management in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, CIBC lowered their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $235.00 to $231.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $248.62.

Waste Management Stock Down 2.2%

Shares of WM opened at $211.90 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.84. Waste Management, Inc. has a 52 week low of $194.11 and a 52 week high of $242.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $85.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.37, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.62. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $212.26 and a 200-day moving average of $223.44.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, October 27th. The business services provider reported $1.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.01 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.51 billion. Waste Management had a return on equity of 33.00% and a net margin of 10.35%.Waste Managements revenue for the quarter was up 14.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.96 EPS. Waste Management has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 19th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th will be issued a $0.825 dividend. This represents a $3.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 5th. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.97%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Waste Management news, SVP Rafael Carrasco sold 1,380 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.06, for a total transaction of $299,542.80. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 15,540 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,373,112.40. The trade was a 8.16% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Waste Management Profile

(Free Report)

Waste Management, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of environmental solutions to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in the United States and Canada. It offers collection services, including picking up and transporting waste and recyclable materials from where it was generated to a transfer station, material recovery facility (MRF), or disposal site; and owns and operates transfer stations, as well as owns, develops, and operates landfill facilities that produce landfill gas used as renewable natural gas for generating electricity.

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Institutional & Insider Ownership

50.0% of shares of all FIN  SVGS & LOAN companies are held by institutional investors. 20.0% of First Bancorp of Indiana shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 8.9% of shares of all FIN  SVGS & LOAN companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

First Bancorp of Indiana pays an annual dividend of $0.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.8%. First Bancorp of Indiana pays out 95.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, FIN  SVGS & LOAN companies pay a dividend yield of 2.8% and pay out 28.5% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. First Bancorp of Indiana lags its peers as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio.

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Earnings & Valuation

This table compares First Bancorp of Indiana and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio First Bancorp of Indiana N/A N/A 53.62 First Bancorp of Indiana Competitors $210.87 million $34.74 million 14.40

Profitability

First Bancorp of Indianas peers have higher revenue and earnings than First Bancorp of Indiana. First Bancorp of Indiana is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

This table compares First Bancorp of Indiana and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets First Bancorp of Indiana N/A N/A N/A First Bancorp of Indiana Competitors 12.22% 5.07% 0.78%

Risk and Volatility

First Bancorp of Indiana has a beta of 0.27, meaning that its share price is 73% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, First Bancorp of Indianas peers have a beta of 0.63, meaning that their average share price is 37% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

First Bancorp of Indiana peers beat First Bancorp of Indiana on 8 of the 10 factors compared.

First Bancorp of Indiana Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

First Bancorp of Indiana, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for First Federal Savings Bank, provides various banking products and services to individuals and business customers in the United States. The company accepts various deposits such as certificates of deposit, checking, health savings, individual retirement, money market, and savings accounts; loans include retail loan advisors, consumer loans, such as auto, motorcycle, boat, and recreational vehicle loans; mortgage and home equity loans; and current rates and secured deposits. It also accepts various business deposit accounts including commercial, business, small business, and community first checking accounts; lending services comprising relationship bankers; commercial real estate, equipment, owner occupied and investment real estate financing, as well as working capital line of credit, business loans, and small business administration. In addition, the company provides treasury management, online banking, merchant services, remote capture, and debit and credit card services. First Bancorp of Indiana, Inc. was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana.

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Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Get Free Report) and Lancer Orthodontics (OTCMKTS:LANZ  Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and profitability.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Becton, Dickinson and Company and Lancer Orthodonticss top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Becton, Dickinson and Company $21.84 billion 2.51 $1.71 billion $5.83 32.82 Lancer Orthodontics N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

Becton, Dickinson and Company has higher revenue and earnings than Lancer Orthodontics.

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Becton, Dickinson and Company and Lancer Orthodontics, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Becton, Dickinson and Company 0 9 3 0 2.25 Lancer Orthodontics 0 0 0 0 0.00

Becton, Dickinson and Company currently has a consensus price target of $203.27, indicating a potential upside of 6.25%. Given Becton, Dickinson and Companys stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Becton, Dickinson and Company is more favorable than Lancer Orthodontics.

Profitability

This table compares Becton, Dickinson and Company and Lancer Orthodontics net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Becton, Dickinson and Company 7.51% 16.23% 7.46% Lancer Orthodontics N/A N/A N/A

Risk & Volatility

Becton, Dickinson and Company has a beta of 0.25, meaning that its stock price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Lancer Orthodontics has a beta of 0.93, meaning that its stock price is 7% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

87.0% of Becton, Dickinson and Company shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.4% of Becton, Dickinson and Company shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 24.3% of Lancer Orthodontics shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Becton, Dickinson and Company beats Lancer Orthodontics on 8 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

(Get Free Report)

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional. The BD Medical segment provides peripheral intravenous (IV) and advanced peripheral catheters, central lines, acute dialysis catheters, vascular access technology, vascular care and preparation products, needle-free IV connectors and extensions sets, closed-system drug transfer devices, hazardous drug detections, hypodermic syringes and needles, anesthesia needles and trays, enteral syringes, and sharps disposal systems; IV medication safety and infusion therapy delivery systems, medication compounding workflow systems, automated medication dispensing and supply management systems, and medication inventory optimization and tracking systems; and prefillable drug delivery systems. The BD Life Sciences segment offers specimen and blood collection products; automated blood and tuberculosis culturing, molecular testing, microorganism identification and drug susceptibility, and liquid-based cytology systems, as well as rapid diagnostic assays, microbiology laboratory automation products, and plated media products; and fluorescence-activated cell sorters and analyzers, antibodies and kits, reagent systems, and solutions for single-cell gene expression analysis, as well as clinical oncology, immunological, and transplantation diagnostic/monitoring reagents and analyzers. The BD Interventional segment provides hernia and soft tissue repair, biological and bioresorbable grafts, biosurgery, and other surgical products; surgical infection prevention; peripheral intervention products; and urology and critical care products. The company was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

About Lancer Orthodontics

(Get Free Report)

Lancer Orthodontics, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets orthodontic products for orthodontists and dentists worldwide. It offers aesthetic brackets, brackets and buccal tubes, bands, adhesives, wires, elastomerics, intraoral and extraoral appliances, instruments, and miscellaneous products. The company was founded in 1967 and is based in Vista, California.

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Commonwealth Bank of Australia (OTCMKTS:CMWAY  Get Free Report) and National Australia Bank (OTCMKTS:NABZY  Get Free Report) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends and profitability.

Risk & Volatility

Commonwealth Bank of Australia has a beta of 1.35, suggesting that its stock price is 35% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, National Australia Bank has a beta of 1.25, suggesting that its stock price is 25% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Profitability

This table compares Commonwealth Bank of Australia and National Australia Banks net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Commonwealth Bank of Australia N/A N/A N/A National Australia Bank N/A N/A N/A

Institutional & Insider Ownership

Analyst Ratings

0.0% of Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Commonwealth Bank of Australia and National Australia Bank, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Commonwealth Bank of Australia 1 1 0 0 1.50 National Australia Bank 2 0 0 0 1.00

Commonwealth Bank of Australia currently has a consensus target price of $130.18, indicating a potential upside of 29.71%. National Australia Bank has a consensus target price of $38.00, indicating a potential upside of 188.75%. Given National Australia Banks higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe National Australia Bank is more favorable than Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Commonwealth Bank of Australia and National Australia Banks top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Commonwealth Bank of Australia $61.51 billion 2.73 $6.55 billion N/A N/A National Australia Bank $36.86 billion 2.19 $4.59 billion N/A N/A

Commonwealth Bank of Australia has higher revenue and earnings than National Australia Bank.

Dividends

Commonwealth Bank of Australia pays an annual dividend of $3.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. National Australia Bank pays an annual dividend of $0.51 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.9%.

Summary

Commonwealth Bank of Australia beats National Australia Bank on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Commonwealth Bank of Australia

(Get Free Report)

Commonwealth Bank of Australia provides financial services in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. It operates through Retail Banking Services, Business Banking, Institutional Banking and Markets, and New Zealand segments. The company offers transaction, savings, and foreign currency accounts; term deposits; personal and business loans; overdrafts; equipment finance; credit cards; international payment and trade; and private banking services, as well as home and car loans. It also provides institutional banking services; funds management, superannuation, and share broking products and services; home, car, health, life, income protection, and travel insurance products, as well as retail, premium, business, offshore services. In addition, the company offers advisory services for high-net-worth individuals; equities trading and margin lending services; debt capital, transaction banking, working capital, and risk management services; and international and foreign exchange services. Commonwealth Bank of Australia was founded in 1911 and is based in Sydney, Australia.

About National Australia Bank

(Get Free Report)

National Australia Bank Limited provides financial services to individuals and businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. The company operates through Business and Private Banking; Personal Banking; Corporate and Institutional Banking; New Zealand Banking; and Corporate Functions and Other segments. It accepts transaction accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, and term deposits; and specialized accounts, such as foreign currency, business interest, cash maximiser, farm management, community free saver, statutory trust, and project bank accounts, as well as farm management deposits. In addition, the company provides home loans, personal loans, and business loans; vehicle and equipment finance; and trade and invoice finance, as well as business overdrafts and bank guarantees. Further, it offers insurance products consisting of home and content, landlord, travel, car, caravan and trailer, life, and business insurance products; and pension, self-managed super funds, cash management, and financial planning and advisory services. Additionally, the company provides investment products; credit, debit, and business cards; payments and merchant services; online and internet banking services; small business services; international and foreign exchange solutions; and industry specific banking services. The company was founded in 1834 and is based in Melbourne, Australia.

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The European Smaller Companies Trust PLC (LON:ESCT  Get Free Report) insider Stuart Paterson purchased 48,587 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 203 per share, with a total value of 98,631.61.

The European Smaller Companies Trust Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of LON ESCT traded up GBX 0.50 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting GBX 204. The stock had a trading volume of 1,747,936 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,068,439. The European Smaller Companies Trust PLC has a 52 week low of GBX 155.45 and a 52 week high of GBX 223.50. The businesss 50 day moving average is GBX 211.17 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 209.17. The company has a market cap of 728.82 million, a P/E ratio of 8.49 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.04, a current ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.30.

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The European Smaller Companies Trust (LON:ESCT  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 21st. The company reported GBX 4.24 EPS for the quarter. The European Smaller Companies Trust had a return on equity of 10.91% and a net margin of 87.06%.

The European Smaller Companies Trust Company Profile

The Companys investment objective is to achieve capital growth by investing predominantly in smaller and medium sized companies in Europe. The Company maintains a diversified portfolio. The Company invests 7% of its total assets. The Company invests in equities and other investments for long term, so as to secure its investment objective.

Further Reading

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Insigneo Advisory Services LLC cut its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 3.1% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 13,223 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 426 shares during the period. Insigneo Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $1,798,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the first quarter worth about $1,658,180,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 29.2% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 15,985,797 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,120,516,000 after buying an additional 3,616,471 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 12.8% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 29,763,415 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $3,948,117,000 after acquiring an additional 3,371,113 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 172,800,851 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $23,502,644,000 after purchasing an additional 2,977,715 shares during the period. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 98.6% in the 2nd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 3,467,896 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $471,669,000 after purchasing an additional 1,721,523 shares in the last quarter. 75.18% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Abbott Laboratories Stock Down 0.5%

Shares of NYSE ABT opened at $127.44 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.82 and a quick ratio of 1.30. The firms 50-day moving average is $129.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $131.14. Abbott Laboratories has a 12-month low of $110.86 and a 12-month high of $141.23. The company has a market capitalization of $221.61 billion, a PE ratio of 15.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.68.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.30. The company had revenue of $11.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.40 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 17.78% and a net margin of 31.88%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.21 earnings per share. Abbott Laboratories has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.120-5.180 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 15th were given a dividend of $0.59 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 15th. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is 29.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ABT has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. William Blair upgraded shares of Abbott Laboratories to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $147.00 target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $142.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Raymond James Financial boosted their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $141.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $153.00 to $157.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $147.00.

Read Our Latest Report on ABT

About Abbott Laboratories

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

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Insigneo Advisory Services LLC cut its holdings in Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX  Free Report) by 5.6% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 13,816 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after selling 815 shares during the period. Insigneo Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $1,484,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of BSX. CreativeOne Wealth LLC increased its position in Boston Scientific by 65.0% during the second quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC now owns 12,667 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $1,361,000 after buying an additional 4,988 shares in the last quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management increased its position in Boston Scientific by 12.9% during the 2nd quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 332,369 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $35,700,000 after purchasing an additional 37,904 shares in the last quarter. Summit Global Investments raised its stake in Boston Scientific by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 19,377 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $2,081,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Boston Scientific by 110.7% in the 2nd quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 257,639 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $27,673,000 after purchasing an additional 135,361 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific during the 2nd quarter worth about $4,229,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.07% of the companys stock.

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Boston Scientific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BSX opened at $97.97 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $98.93 and a two-hundred day moving average of $102.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $145.23 billion, a PE ratio of 52.39, a P/E/G ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Boston Scientific Corporation has a 12 month low of $85.98 and a 12 month high of $109.50.

Insider Activity at Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific ( NYSE:BSX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The medical equipment provider reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $5.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.97 billion. Boston Scientific had a return on equity of 19.74% and a net margin of 14.43%.The companys revenue was up 20.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.63 EPS. Boston Scientific has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.020-3.040 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 0.770-0.790 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Boston Scientific Corporation will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current year.

In related news, Director Ellen M. Zane sold 12,891 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.28, for a total transaction of $1,266,927.48. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 24,134 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,371,889.52. This represents a 34.82% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Joseph Michael Fitzgerald sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.47, for a total value of $4,973,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 178,342 shares in the company, valued at $17,739,678.74. This trade represents a 21.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 175,782 shares of company stock valued at $17,742,314. 0.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on BSX. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Boston Scientific in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $125.00 price objective on shares of Boston Scientific in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Truist Financial increased their target price on Boston Scientific from $129.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and issued a $124.00 price target on shares of Boston Scientific in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Leerink Partners increased their price objective on shares of Boston Scientific from $127.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, October 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $123.77.

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Boston Scientific Company Profile

(Free Report)

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through two segments, MedSurg and Cardiovascular. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions, such as resolution clips, biliary stent systems, stents and electrocautery enhanced delivery systems, direct visualization systems, digital catheters, and single-use duodenoscopes; devices to treat urological conditions, including ureteral stents, catheters, baskets, guidewires, sheaths, balloons, single-use digital flexible ureteroscopes, holmium laser systems, artificial urinary sphincter, laser system, fiber, and hydrogel systems; and devices to treat neurological movement disorders and manage chronic pain, such as spinal cord stimulator system, proprietary programming software, radiofrequency generator, indirect decompression systems, practice optimization tools, and deep brain stimulation system.

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Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS  Get Free Report) was the recipient of some unusual options trading activity on Tuesday. Traders bought 105,358 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 525% compared to the average daily volume of 16,865 call options.

Las Vegas Sands Price Performance

NYSE LVS traded up $1.74 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $67.41. The company had a trading volume of 2,014,075 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,611,608. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.42, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 0.89. The firm has a market capitalization of $45.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.49, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.03. Las Vegas Sands has a 52 week low of $30.18 and a 52 week high of $68.15. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $56.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of $51.15.

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Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The casino operator reported $0.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.16. Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 12.69% and a return on equity of 73.14%. The firm had revenue of $3.33 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.04 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.44 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 24.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Las Vegas Sands will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current year.

Las Vegas Sands Announces Dividend

Insider Activity at Las Vegas Sands

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 12th. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 4th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 4th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.5%. Las Vegas Sandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.25%.

In related news, EVP D. Zachary Hudson sold 100,000 shares of Las Vegas Sands stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total transaction of $6,499,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 13,735 shares in the company, valued at approximately $892,637.65. This trade represents a 87.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Robert G. Goldstein sold 700,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.88, for a total value of $41,216,000.00. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders have sold 2,100,000 shares of company stock worth $126,218,200. Insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Las Vegas Sands

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 12.9% during the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 63,366 shares of the casino operators stock worth $2,448,000 after purchasing an additional 7,245 shares in the last quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH lifted its position in Las Vegas Sands by 61.6% during the first quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH now owns 129,729 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $5,011,000 after purchasing an additional 49,458 shares during the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 12.8% in the 1st quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 10,346 shares of the casino operators stock worth $400,000 after buying an additional 1,172 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 7.0% in the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 153,240 shares of the casino operators stock worth $5,920,000 after buying an additional 10,031 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HB Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 37.1% during the 1st quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,398 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $286,000 after buying an additional 2,002 shares in the last quarter. 39.16% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently issued reports on LVS. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Las Vegas Sands from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, September 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $57.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $59.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Las Vegas Sands in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Mizuho raised their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $56.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $64.60.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the Peoples Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

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iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF Common Class (TSE:FIE  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as C$9.63 and last traded at C$9.63, with a volume of 85915 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$9.55.

iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF Common Class Stock Up 0.8%

The firms 50 day moving average price is C$9.37 and its 200-day moving average price is C$8.97.

About iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF Common Class

(Get Free Report)

The investment objective of the Fund is to maximize total return for investors, consisting of distributions and capital appreciation. To achieve funds objective the investment strategy of the Fund is to invest its net assets, together with borrowings under its loan facility, in a portfolio consisting primarily of common shares, preferred shares, corporate bonds and income trust units of issuers in the Canadian financial sector.

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CreativeOne Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJH  Free Report) by 6.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 78,330 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,759 shares during the period. CreativeOne Wealth LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF were worth $4,858,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC increased its stake in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 77,674 shares of the companys stock worth $4,840,000 after buying an additional 3,155 shares during the period. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF during the first quarter worth about $317,000. Texas Yale Capital Corp. increased its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 11.2% during the first quarter. Texas Yale Capital Corp. now owns 15,436 shares of the companys stock worth $901,000 after acquiring an additional 1,559 shares during the last quarter. Shoker Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 0.6% in the first quarter. Shoker Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 471,416 shares of the companys stock worth $27,507,000 after acquiring an additional 2,591 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Galvin Gaustad & Stein LLC boosted its holdings in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 7.5% in the first quarter. Galvin Gaustad & Stein LLC now owns 227,876 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,297,000 after purchasing an additional 15,925 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 14.60% of the companys stock.

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iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Stock Up 1.0%

IJH stock opened at $64.40 on Tuesday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $64.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $63.50. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF has a 52-week low of $50.15 and a 52-week high of $68.33. The company has a market capitalization of $98.83 billion, a PE ratio of 19.00 and a beta of 1.07.

iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Company Profile

Ishares S&P Midcap 400 Index Fund, formerly The iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the United States mid-cap stocks, as represented by the Standard & Poors MidCap 400 (the Underlying Index).

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Shares of Japan Airlines Ltd (OTCMKTS:JAPSY  Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $9.50, but opened at $9.13. Japan Airlines shares last traded at $9.13, with a volume of 323 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Japan Airlines from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 8th. Zacks Research cut shares of Japan Airlines from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Japan Airlines presently has an average rating of Buy.

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Japan Airlines Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $9.71 and a 200-day simple moving average of $10.00. The firm has a market cap of $8.10 billion, a PE ratio of 9.77 and a beta of 0.42.

Japan Airlines (OTCMKTS:JAPSY  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $3.48 billion during the quarter. Japan Airlines had a return on equity of 12.66% and a net margin of 6.48%. Equities analysts anticipate that Japan Airlines Ltd will post 0.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Japan Airlines Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Japan Airlines Co, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services in Japan, Asia, Oceania, North America, and Europe. The company operates through Air Transportation and Other segments. It offers passenger, ground handling, cargo and mail handling, and maintenance services.

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Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) had its price target hoisted by equities research analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from C$173.00 to C$181.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday,BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has a hold rating on the banks stock. Jefferies Financial Groups target price suggests a potential upside of 3.75% from the companys previous close.

A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on BMO. Cibc World Mkts raised Bank of Montreal from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, September 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada downgraded Bank of Montreal from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and reduced their target price for the stock from C$168.00 to C$163.00 in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Barclays increased their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$157.00 to C$177.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday. CIBC boosted their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$180.00 to C$192.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, National Bankshares cut shares of Bank of Montreal from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and upped their price objective for the stock from C$173.00 to C$181.00 in a research report on Monday, November 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Bank of Montreal presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$173.54.

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Bank of Montreal Price Performance

Insider Activity

BMO stock traded up C$1.86 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting C$174.46. 943,489 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,786,058. Bank of Montreal has a 1-year low of C$121.31 and a 1-year high of C$182.90. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is C$176.58 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$161.96. The firm has a market cap of C$124.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.29, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.38.

In related news, insider Alan Tannenbaum sold 9,824 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$175.12, for a total transaction of C$1,720,408.35. Also, insider Steven Lloyd Tennyson sold 9,072 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$163.89, for a total transaction of C$1,486,782.86. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 21,866 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately C$3,583,553.14. The trade was a 29.32% decrease in their position. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 35,883 shares of company stock valued at $5,989,740. 0.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Bank of Montreal Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bank of Montreal is a diversified financial-services provider based in North America, operating four business segments: Canadian personal and commercial banking, U.S. P&C banking, wealth management, and capital markets.

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J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Free Report) by 15.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 128,165 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 17,143 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc.s holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $19,577,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. GFG Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the 2nd quarter valued at about $35,000. Stone House Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Johnson & Johnson during the first quarter worth approximately $47,000. 1248 Management LLC acquired a new position in Johnson & Johnson in the first quarter worth approximately $48,000. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the first quarter valued at $52,000. Finally, Pandora Wealth Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the 1st quarter valued at $65,000. Institutional investors own 69.55% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently commented on JNJ. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $185.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $209.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Friday, October 10th. HSBC raised their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $210.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, Loop Capital set a $190.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Johnson & Johnson has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $201.05.

Insider Transactions at Johnson & Johnson

In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 56,471 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $177.81, for a total value of $10,041,108.51. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 178,013 shares in the company, valued at $31,652,491.53. The trade was a 24.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.16% of the companys stock.

Johnson & Johnson Price Performance

Shares of JNJ opened at $206.07 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $188.83 and its 200-day moving average is $172.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The company has a market capitalization of $496.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.38. Johnson & Johnson has a fifty-two week low of $140.68 and a fifty-two week high of $206.94.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 30th. The company reported $2.26 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $24.02 billion during the quarter. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 27.26% and a return on equity of 32.73%. Equities research analysts expect that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 25th will be issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 25th. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 50.19%.

Johnson & Johnson Profile

(Free Report)

Johnson & Johnson is a holding company, which engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of products in the healthcare field. It operates through the Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments. The Innovative Medicine segment focuses on immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolism, and pulmonary hypertension.

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Kohls (NYSE:KSS  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities researchers at Gordon Haskett from an accumulate rating to a buy rating in a research note issued on Tuesday.

A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on KSS. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Kohls in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Kohls from $16.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, September 19th. BTIG Research assumed coverage on Kohls in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Kohls in a research note on Thursday, August 28th. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of Kohls from $8.00 to $13.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a report on Thursday, August 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and six have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average target price of $12.75.

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Kohls Price Performance

Kohls stock traded up $5.61 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $21.34. The stock had a trading volume of 21,686,325 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,723,786. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.58 and a beta of 1.78. Kohls has a 1-year low of $6.04 and a 1-year high of $21.39. The stocks fifty day moving average is $16.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $12.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 0.19.

Kohls (NYSE:KSS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 25th. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.19) by $0.29. The company had revenue of $3.41 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.37 billion. Kohls had a return on equity of 4.62% and a net margin of 1.31%.During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.20 earnings per share. Kohlss revenue was down 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Kohls has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.250-1.450 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Kohls will post 1.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Kohls

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Arizona State Retirement System raised its position in shares of Kohls by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 33,154 shares of the companys stock valued at $510,000 after buying an additional 666 shares in the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. grew its holdings in shares of Kohls by 2.9% during the third quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 30,638 shares of the companys stock worth $471,000 after purchasing an additional 868 shares during the last quarter. Viawealth LLC raised its position in Kohls by 7.2% during the 2nd quarter. Viawealth LLC now owns 12,998 shares of the companys stock worth $110,000 after purchasing an additional 873 shares during the last quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators boosted its stake in shares of Kohls by 46.4% in the 3rd quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 2,832 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 898 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Amalgamated Bank lifted its stake in Kohls by 3.2% in the third quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 32,887 shares of the companys stock valued at $505,000 after buying an additional 1,018 shares during the period. 98.04% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Kohls

(Get Free Report)

Kohls Corporation operates as an omnichannel retailer in the United States. It offers branded apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, and home products through its stores and website. The company provides its products primarily under the brand names of Croft & Barrow, Jumping Beans, SO, Sonoma Goods for Life, and Tek Gear, as well as Food Network, LC Lauren Conrad, Nine West, and Simply Vera Vera Wang.

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Lumen Technologies (NYSE:LUMN  Get Free Report) had its target price increased by equities researchers at Royal Bank Of Canada from $4.25 to $8.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a sector perform rating on the technology companys stock. Royal Bank Of Canadas target price would suggest a potential upside of 1.33% from the stocks current price.

Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on LUMN. Citigroup cut shares of Lumen Technologies from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $11.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Wall Street Zen upgraded Lumen Technologies from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, November 9th. Raymond James Financial raised their price objective on Lumen Technologies from $4.50 to $5.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Lumen Technologies from $4.10 to $4.60 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of Lumen Technologies in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $6.72.

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Lumen Technologies Price Performance

Shares of Lumen Technologies stock traded up $0.19 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $7.90. The stock had a trading volume of 3,686,128 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,377,360. The company has a current ratio of 2.13, a quick ratio of 2.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 59.98. Lumen Technologies has a 12 month low of $3.01 and a 12 month high of $11.95. The firm has a market cap of $8.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.73 and a beta of 1.45. The businesss 50-day moving average is $7.72 and its 200 day moving average is $5.56.

Lumen Technologies (NYSE:LUMN  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 27th. The technology company reported $0.49 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $4.05 billion for the quarter. Lumen Technologies had a negative return on equity of 158.40% and a negative net margin of 9.19%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Lumen Technologies will post -0.87 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lumen Technologies

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LUMN. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in shares of Lumen Technologies by 49.1% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 4,105 shares of the technology companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 1,351 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its position in Lumen Technologies by 132.3% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 5,954 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 3,391 shares in the last quarter. MRP Capital Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of Lumen Technologies by 160.0% in the second quarter. MRP Capital Investments LLC now owns 6,500 shares of the technology companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 4,000 shares during the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Lumen Technologies by 3,527.9% during the 2nd quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 6,639 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 6,456 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp raised its holdings in shares of Lumen Technologies by 24.5% during the third quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 5,343 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 1,051 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 66.19% of the companys stock.

Lumen Technologies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Lumen Technologies, Inc, a facilities-based technology and communications company, provides various integrated products and services to business and residential customers in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Business and Mass Markets. It offers dark fiber, edge cloud services, internet protocol, managed security, software-defined wide area networks, secure access service edge, unified communications and collaboration, and optical wavelengths services; ethernet and VPN data networks services; and legacy services to manage cash flow, including time division multiplexing voice, private line, and other legacy services, as well as sells communication equipment, and IT solutions.

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Magnetar Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 9,675 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $465,000.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Swiss National Bank increased its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 537,600 shares of the companys stock worth $25,853,000 after purchasing an additional 27,900 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLC increased its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 53.2% during the 2nd quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 25,109 shares of the companys stock worth $1,207,000 after purchasing an additional 8,718 shares in the last quarter. Traub Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Molson Coors Beverage in the 2nd quarter valued at $430,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 0.4% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,208,854 shares of the companys stock worth $1,019,934,000 after buying an additional 92,058 shares during the period. Finally, Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 0.9% during the second quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 61,496 shares of the companys stock worth $2,957,000 after purchasing an additional 538 shares during the period. 78.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Molson Coors Beverage Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of TAP stock opened at $46.21 on Tuesday. Molson Coors Beverage Company has a 52-week low of $42.94 and a 52-week high of $64.66. The stock has a market cap of $9.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.11, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.65. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $45.75 and a 200-day moving average of $49.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.95.

Molson Coors Beverage Dividend Announcement

Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $1.67 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.72 by ($0.05). Molson Coors Beverage had a return on equity of 8.61% and a net margin of 7.81%.The firm had revenue of $2.97 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.02 billion. Molson Coors Beverage has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.360-5.360 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Molson Coors Beverage Company will post 6.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 19th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th will be issued a $0.47 dividend. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 5th. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is currently -17.60%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

TAP has been the subject of several research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $67.00 to $57.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Molson Coors Beverage from $51.00 to $48.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $50.00 price target (down from $53.00) on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Needham & Company LLC dropped their target price on Molson Coors Beverage from $58.00 to $54.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their price target on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $52.00 to $50.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $53.59.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on TAP

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director David S. Coors acquired 2,245 shares of Molson Coors Beverage stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 5th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $44.47 per share, with a total value of $99,835.15. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 30,586 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,360,159.42. The trade was a 7.92% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Andrew Thomas Molson acquired 7,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 10th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $46.79 per share, for a total transaction of $350,925.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 22,654 shares in the company, valued at $1,059,980.66. This trade represents a 49.49% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. 2.71% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Molson Coors Beverage Profile

(Free Report)

Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, spirits and energy, and ready to drink beverages.

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Magnetar Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE:AI  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm bought 22,647 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $556,000.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in AI. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of C3.ai by 48.7% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 2,442 shares of the companys stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 800 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of C3.ai by 53.7% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,329 shares of the companys stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 814 shares during the last quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC increased its stake in C3.ai by 22.7% during the 2nd quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 2,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in C3.ai in the second quarter worth about $71,000. Finally, Family Legacy Financial Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of C3.ai in the second quarter worth $103,000. 38.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at C3.ai

In other C3.ai news, Chairman Thomas M. Siebel sold 566,125 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.23, for a total transaction of $9,754,333.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman owned 2,510,102 shares of the companys stock, valued at $43,249,057.46. This represents a 18.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Hitesh Lath sold 46,881 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.99, for a total value of $796,508.19. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 209,154 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,553,526.46. This represents a 18.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders have sold 2,318,679 shares of company stock valued at $39,674,373. 26.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on AI shares. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of C3.ai from $22.00 to $11.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. Northland Securities downgraded shares of C3.ai from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $17.00 target price for the company. in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of C3.ai in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their price objective on C3.ai from $28.00 to $16.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 5th. Finally, Northland Capmk lowered C3.ai from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, August 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and five have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $22.09.

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C3.ai Trading Down 0.8%

NYSE:AI opened at $13.52 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $17.02 and a 200-day simple moving average of $20.66. C3.ai, Inc. has a 12 month low of $12.59 and a 12 month high of $45.08. The company has a market capitalization of $1.86 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.20 and a beta of 1.96.

C3.ai (NYSE:AI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, September 3rd. The company reported ($0.86) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.21) by ($0.65). C3.ai had a negative net margin of 92.08% and a negative return on equity of 40.69%. The firm had revenue of $70.26 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $104.02 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.05) EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 19.4% on a year-over-year basis. C3.ai has set its Q2 2026 guidance at EPS. Equities analysts forecast that C3.ai, Inc. will post -2.44 EPS for the current year.

About C3.ai

(Free Report)

C3.ai, Inc operates as an enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) software company in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company provides C3 AI platform, an application development and runtime environment that enables customers to design, develop, and deploy enterprise AI applications; C3 AI Ex Machina for analysis-ready data; C3 AI CRM, an industry specific customer relationship management solution; and C3 Generative AI Product Suite that enables to locate, retrieve, and present information.

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Mufg Securities Americas Inc. raised its stake in Amcor PLC (NYSE:AMCR  Free Report) by 98.5% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 50,784 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 25,200 shares during the quarter. Mufg Securities Americas Inc.s holdings in Amcor were worth $467,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Amcor by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 20,689 shares of the companys stock valued at $190,000 after acquiring an additional 1,035 shares during the period. Rothschild Investment LLC grew its stake in Amcor by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 26,179 shares of the companys stock worth $241,000 after buying an additional 1,049 shares in the last quarter. South Dakota Investment Council increased its stake in Amcor by 6.6% in the second quarter. South Dakota Investment Council now owns 19,302 shares of the companys stock valued at $177,000 after acquiring an additional 1,202 shares during the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA increased its position in shares of Amcor by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 28,611 shares of the companys stock valued at $263,000 after purchasing an additional 1,310 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ORG Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Amcor by 17.2% during the second quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 10,262 shares of the companys stock worth $98,000 after acquiring an additional 1,506 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 45.14% of the companys stock.

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Amcor Price Performance

Shares of AMCR opened at $8.48 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $8.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $8.80. The firm has a market cap of $19.55 billion, a PE ratio of 23.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18. Amcor PLC has a 1-year low of $7.66 and a 1-year high of $10.70.

Amcor Increases Dividend

Amcor ( NYSE:AMCR Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.19. The firm had revenue of $5.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.77 billion. Amcor had a return on equity of 19.43% and a net margin of 3.40%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 71.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.16 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Amcor PLC will post 0.74 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 28th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.1%. This is an increase from Amcors previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. Amcors dividend payout ratio is presently 152.94%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Amcor in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Amcor from $11.00 to $9.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Amcor in a research report on Wednesday, September 10th. They set a buy rating for the company. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and issued a $11.50 price target on shares of Amcor in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on shares of Amcor from $11.00 to $10.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 15th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $10.91.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Amcor

Amcor Profile

(Free Report)

Amcor plc develops, produces, and sells packaging products in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, and the Asia Pacific regions. The company operates through two segments, Flexibles and Rigid Packaging. The Flexibles segment provides flexible and film packaging products in the food and beverage, medical and pharmaceutical, fresh produce, snack food, personal care, and other industries.

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Shares of National Bank of Canada (OTCMKTS:NTIOF  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $116.7801 and last traded at $116.7740, with a volume of 426 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $116.17.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NTIOF has been the subject of several research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a sector perform rating on shares of National Bank of Canada in a research report on Thursday, August 28th. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of National Bank of Canada in a report on Tuesday. Cibc World Mkts raised National Bank of Canada from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. National Bankshares raised National Bank of Canada from an underperform rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded National Bank of Canada from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, National Bank of Canada has an average rating of Hold.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on National Bank of Canada

National Bank of Canada Stock Performance

The firms 50 day simple moving average is $110.54 and its 200-day simple moving average is $104.98. The company has a market capitalization of $45.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.93 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.75.

National Bank of Canada (OTCMKTS:NTIOF  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.95 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $2.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.47 billion. National Bank of Canada had a net margin of 15.34% and a return on equity of 16.05%. Analysts expect that National Bank of Canada will post 7.63 EPS for the current year.

National Bank of Canada Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Saturday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th were given a $0.8531 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 313.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 29th. National Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio is 46.79%.

About National Bank of Canada

(Get Free Report)

National Bank of Canada provides financial services to individuals, businesses, institutional clients, and governments in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. The Personal and Commercial segment offers personal banking services, including transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, and savings and investment solutions; various insurance products; and commercial banking services, such as credit, and deposit, investment solutions, international trade, foreign exchange transactions, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transactions, and complimentary services.

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North Star Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW  Free Report) by 17.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 55,937 shares of the medical research companys stock after purchasing an additional 8,373 shares during the quarter. North Star Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $4,375,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 69,997,629 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $5,474,515,000 after buying an additional 798,801 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 0.4% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,722,416 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $990,074,000 after acquiring an additional 45,555 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC increased its position in Edwards Lifesciences by 15.7% during the second quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 11,670,991 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $912,788,000 after acquiring an additional 1,584,958 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences by 4.1% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 6,783,568 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $491,673,000 after acquiring an additional 264,311 shares during the period. Finally, Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in Edwards Lifesciences in the first quarter worth about $330,881,000. Institutional investors own 79.46% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 13,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.08, for a total transaction of $1,080,040.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 39,898 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,314,725.84. This trade represents a 24.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Daniel J. Lippis sold 1,020 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.55, for a total value of $84,201.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 22,002 shares in the company, valued at $1,816,265.10. This trade represents a 4.43% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Edwards Lifesciences Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:EW opened at $84.70 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $49.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.19, a P/E/G ratio of 3.97 and a beta of 1.03. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation has a 1-year low of $65.94 and a 1-year high of $87.21. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $78.97 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $78.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a current ratio of 4.68 and a quick ratio of 3.87.

Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The medical research company reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $1.55 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.49 billion. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 72.96% and a return on equity of 15.01%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.67 earnings per share. Edwards Lifesciences has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.560-2.620 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 0.580-0.640 EPS. Research analysts expect that Edwards Lifesciences Corporation will post 2.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a market perform rating and set a $90.00 target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group set a $98.00 price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Edwards Lifesciences has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $91.39.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Edwards Lifesciences

About Edwards Lifesciences

(Free Report)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names.

Further Reading

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One Charles Private Wealth Services LLC raised its stake in shares of RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX  Free Report) by 3.4% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 13,283 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 436 shares during the quarter. One Charles Private Wealth Services LLCs holdings in RTX were worth $1,940,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in shares of RTX in the first quarter worth about $916,739,000. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in RTX by 1.9% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 122,074,734 shares of the companys stock valued at $17,825,353,000 after buying an additional 2,238,247 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of RTX by 28.0% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 6,385,201 shares of the companys stock valued at $845,784,000 after buying an additional 1,394,918 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its position in RTX by 9.3% in the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 15,958,191 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,330,215,000 after buying an additional 1,361,071 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. increased its stake in shares of RTX by 1,178.2% in the first quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,212,353 shares of the companys stock worth $160,588,000 after acquiring an additional 1,117,506 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.50% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

RTX has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Bank of America increased their price target on RTX from $175.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of RTX from $151.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of RTX from $197.00 to $202.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating and set a $195.00 target price on shares of RTX in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane assumed coverage on RTX in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. They set an outperform rating and a $210.00 price objective for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, RTX has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $180.44.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Shane G. Eddy sold 25,968 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.79, for a total transaction of $4,149,426.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Neil G. Mitchill, Jr. sold 4,849 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $180.15, for a total value of $873,547.35. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 59,556 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,729,013.40. The trade was a 7.53% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.15% of the companys stock.

RTX Stock Performance

NYSE:RTX opened at $173.14 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. RTX Corporation has a twelve month low of $112.27 and a twelve month high of $181.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $232.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.55, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.64. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $169.03 and its 200 day simple moving average is $155.32.

RTX (NYSE:RTX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st. The company reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $22.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.26 billion. RTX had a net margin of 7.67% and a return on equity of 13.28%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.45 earnings per share. RTX has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.100-6.200 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that RTX Corporation will post 6.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

RTX Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.68 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 21st. This represents a $2.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. RTXs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 55.85%.

RTX Profile

(Free Report)

RTX Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for the commercial, military, and government customers in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. The Collins Aerospace Systems segment offers aerospace and defense products, and aftermarket service solutions for civil and military aircraft manufacturers and commercial airlines, as well as regional, business, and general aviation, defense, and commercial space operations.

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Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twelve analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, seven have issued a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $116.00.

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $125.00 price objective on shares of Ormat Technologies in a research report on Monday. Roth Capital restated a buy rating and set a $125.00 price target on shares of Ormat Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Oppenheimer reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $125.00 price objective on shares of Ormat Technologies in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Barclays raised their price objective on Ormat Technologies from $89.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Ormat Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Ormat Technologies

Insider Activity

Institutional Trading of Ormat Technologies

In other Ormat Technologies news, CFO Assi Ginzburg sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.72, for a total transaction of $2,254,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 4,482 shares in the company, valued at approximately $505,211.04. This trade represents a 81.69% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, Director Ravit Barniv sold 1,753 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.54, for a total transaction of $197,282.62. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure . Over the last three months, insiders sold 73,294 shares of company stock valued at $7,660,875. 0.56% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Curio Wealth LLC grew its position in Ormat Technologies by 29,200.0% in the 2nd quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 293 shares of the energy companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its position in Ormat Technologies by 43.8% during the third quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 371 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Ormat Technologies by 1,100.0% in the third quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 360 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 330 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Ormat Technologies by 251.0% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 523 shares of the energy companys stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 374 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AlphaQuest LLC grew its stake in shares of Ormat Technologies by 218.0% during the 3rd quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 547 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $53,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares during the period. 95.49% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Ormat Technologies Price Performance

Shares of ORA stock opened at $111.65 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.70. Ormat Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $61.58 and a fifty-two week high of $115.72. The firm has a market cap of $6.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.93, a P/E/G ratio of 4.84 and a beta of 0.77. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $104.56 and its 200-day moving average price is $91.69.

Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 3rd. The energy company reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.37 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $249.73 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $235.03 million. Ormat Technologies had a net margin of 14.49% and a return on equity of 5.47%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.36 EPS. Ormat Technologies has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Ormat Technologies will post 1.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Ormat Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 17th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. Ormat Technologiess payout ratio is presently 22.02%.

About Ormat Technologies

(Get Free Report)

Ormat Technologies, Inc engages in the geothermal and recovered energy power business in the United States, Indonesia, Kenya, Turkey, Chile, Guatemala, Guadeloupe, New Zealand, Honduras, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Electricity, Product, and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment develops, builds, owns, and operates geothermal, solar photovoltaic, and recovered energy-based power plants; and sells electricity.

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J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 97,465 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,863 shares during the quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $17,751,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in PM. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of Philip Morris International during the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Traub Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Philip Morris International in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Abound Wealth Management increased its position in Philip Morris International by 566.7% during the second quarter. Abound Wealth Management now owns 160 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Kelly Lawrence W & Associates Inc. CA purchased a new position in Philip Morris International during the first quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Briaud Financial Planning Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 266.7% in the 2nd quarter. Briaud Financial Planning Inc now owns 165 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.63% of the companys stock.

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Philip Morris International Trading Down 2.9%

PM opened at $150.75 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $156.20 and a 200 day simple moving average of $167.09. The firm has a market cap of $234.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.31, a PEG ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.43. Philip Morris International Inc. has a twelve month low of $116.12 and a twelve month high of $186.69.

Philip Morris International Increases Dividend

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 28th. The company reported $1.59 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $8.12 billion for the quarter. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 9.33% and a negative return on equity of 122.14%. On average, analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 20th. Investors of record on Friday, October 3rd were issued a $1.47 dividend. This is an increase from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.35. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 3rd. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 106.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

PM has been the topic of several research reports. Wall Street Zen raised Philip Morris International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $180.00 price target on Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Barclays cut their price objective on Philip Morris International from $220.00 to $180.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $177.00 to $166.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 5th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Philip Morris International presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $189.56.

View Our Latest Analysis on Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Prudential Financial Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE:GNW  Free Report) by 26.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,717,003 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,702,567 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. owned about 1.15% of Genworth Financial worth $36,698,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ethic Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Genworth Financial by 15.1% in the second quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 14,045 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $110,000 after buying an additional 1,847 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Genworth Financial by 29.5% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 11,770 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $92,000 after acquiring an additional 2,679 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Genworth Financial by 20.0% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 21,111 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $150,000 after purchasing an additional 3,521 shares during the period. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey boosted its stake in Genworth Financial by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 95,933 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $746,000 after purchasing an additional 3,736 shares during the period. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its position in Genworth Financial by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 106,408 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $828,000 after purchasing an additional 4,216 shares in the last quarter. 81.85% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Genworth Financial Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE:GNW opened at $8.61 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $8.65 and a two-hundred day moving average of $8.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. Genworth Financial, Inc. has a 12-month low of $5.99 and a 12-month high of $9.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.24 and a beta of 1.05.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Genworth Financial ( NYSE:GNW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The financial services provider reported $0.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.06 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $1.04 billion for the quarter. Genworth Financial had a return on equity of 1.56% and a net margin of 3.01%.

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Genworth Financial from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on Genworth Financial from $9.50 to $10.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Genworth Financial in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $10.00.

View Our Latest Stock Report on GNW

Insider Buying and Selling at Genworth Financial

In related news, CEO Rohit Gupta sold 86,406 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.68, for a total value of $750,004.08. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 794,630 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,897,388.40. This represents a 9.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 1.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Genworth Financial Profile

(Free Report)

Genworth Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides mortgage and long-term care insurance products in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Enact, Long-Term Care Insurance, and Life and Annuities. The Enact segment offers private mortgage insurance products primarily insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans; and pool mortgage insurance products.

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Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 8.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 155,743 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 12,670 shares during the quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. owned about 0.05% of Illinois Tool Works worth $38,507,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Modern Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 8.3% during the 1st quarter. Modern Wealth Management LLC now owns 848 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $210,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the period. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund grew its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 39.5% in the second quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 67,439 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $16,674,000 after acquiring an additional 19,102 shares during the period. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 17.3% during the second quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 17,987 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $4,447,000 after acquiring an additional 2,647 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 9.5% during the second quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 38,993 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $9,605,000 after purchasing an additional 3,388 shares during the period. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 12.3% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,797,055 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $938,822,000 after purchasing an additional 415,982 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.77% of the companys stock.

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Illinois Tool Works Trading Down 2.1%

NYSE:ITW opened at $242.47 on Tuesday. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52 week low of $214.66 and a 52 week high of $279.13. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $250.83 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $253.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.39, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.53. The firm has a market cap of $70.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.10 and a beta of 1.11.

Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement

Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $2.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.72 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $4.06 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.09 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 93.26% and a net margin of 19.05%.The companys revenue was up 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.91 EPS. Illinois Tool Works has set its FY 2025 guidance at 10.400-10.500 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $1.61 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $6.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 62.46%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have commented on ITW. Bank of America upgraded shares of Illinois Tool Works from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price target for the company from $220.00 to $255.00 in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $250.00 to $245.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Robert W. Baird set a $265.00 price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Truist Financial cut their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $298.00 to $275.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $258.00 price objective on Illinois Tool Works in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Illinois Tool Works has an average rating of Reduce and an average price target of $263.77.

View Our Latest Report on Illinois Tool Works

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Pamela B. Strobel sold 1,521 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $245.25, for a total value of $373,025.25. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 39,249 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,625,817.25. The trade was a 3.73% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 6,802 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $265.08, for a total transaction of $1,803,074.16. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 10,314 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,734,035.12. This trade represents a 39.74% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Company Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products.

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Rhumbline Advisers boosted its holdings in Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV  Free Report) by 30.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,406,652 shares of the airlines stock after buying an additional 325,030 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers owned approximately 0.27% of Southwest Airlines worth $45,632,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Mufg Securities Americas Inc. increased its position in Southwest Airlines by 20.4% during the second quarter. Mufg Securities Americas Inc. now owns 12,629 shares of the airlines stock worth $410,000 after acquiring an additional 2,138 shares during the period. AXQ Capital LP bought a new position in shares of Southwest Airlines during the 2nd quarter worth about $394,000. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Southwest Airlines by 3.8% during the second quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 371,414 shares of the airlines stock valued at $12,049,000 after buying an additional 13,602 shares during the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Southwest Airlines in the second quarter valued at about $1,783,000. Finally, Entropy Technologies LP grew its position in Southwest Airlines by 31.2% during the second quarter. Entropy Technologies LP now owns 86,803 shares of the airlines stock worth $2,816,000 after buying an additional 20,643 shares in the last quarter. 80.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

LUV has been the topic of several research reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded Southwest Airlines from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, October 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price objective on Southwest Airlines from $31.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Susquehanna raised their target price on Southwest Airlines from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. TD Cowen boosted their price target on shares of Southwest Airlines from $21.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Southwest Airlines in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $33.80.

Southwest Airlines Price Performance

Southwest Airlines stock opened at $33.30 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $32.27 and a 200 day simple moving average of $32.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.49 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The company has a market capitalization of $17.22 billion, a PE ratio of 51.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.23. Southwest Airlines Co. has a one year low of $23.82 and a one year high of $37.96.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The airline reported ($0.38) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $6.17 billion for the quarter. Southwest Airlines had a return on equity of 6.39% and a net margin of 1.38%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Southwest Airlines Co. will post 1.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Southwest Airlines Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 16th. Investors of record on Friday, December 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.18 per share. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 26th. Southwest Airliness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 110.77%.

About Southwest Airlines

(Free Report)

Southwest Airlines Co operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and near-international markets. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated a total fleet of 817 Boeing 737 aircraft; and served 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos.

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RiverFront Investment Group LLC increased its position in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 5.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 107,490 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 5,150 shares during the period. RiverFront Investment Group LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $8,612,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of WFC. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt lifted its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 2,735,254.3% during the 2nd quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 949,769,723 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $76,095,550,000 after acquiring an additional 949,735,001 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 0.4% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 302,092,955 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $24,203,688,000 after purchasing an additional 1,341,222 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 0.6% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 20,497,429 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,471,259,000 after purchasing an additional 128,207 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 54.9% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 16,635,681 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,332,851,000 after purchasing an additional 5,894,747 shares during the period. Finally, Pzena Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 10,371,812 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $830,990,000 after buying an additional 542,493 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.90% of the companys stock.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance

WFC stock opened at $84.62 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $84.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $80.42. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1-year low of $58.42 and a 1-year high of $88.64. The company has a market capitalization of $265.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.92, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.84.

Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $21.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.11 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 17.18% and a return on equity of 12.51%. Wells Fargo & Companys revenue was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.42 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 29.61%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently commented on WFC. Wall Street Zen raised Wells Fargo & Company from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, October 4th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 23rd. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. Finally, Cowen reiterated a hold rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $89.57.

Read Our Latest Report on WFC

Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management.

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Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. bought a new position in shares of Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO  Free Report) (TSE:ELD) during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor bought 93,326 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $1,898,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Candriam S.C.A. bought a new stake in shares of Eldorado Gold during the 1st quarter valued at about $27,281,000. L1 Capital Pty Ltd lifted its holdings in Eldorado Gold by 22.7% in the first quarter. L1 Capital Pty Ltd now owns 8,774,080 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $147,580,000 after acquiring an additional 1,621,173 shares during the last quarter. Invenomic Capital Management LP boosted its stake in Eldorado Gold by 127.2% in the first quarter. Invenomic Capital Management LP now owns 2,262,181 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $38,050,000 after acquiring an additional 1,266,329 shares during the period. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Eldorado Gold during the first quarter valued at approximately $16,815,000. Finally, Ruffer LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Eldorado Gold during the 1st quarter worth approximately $16,687,000. 69.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Eldorado Gold Trading Up 6.0%

NYSE:EGO opened at $28.77 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $5.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.46, a PEG ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 2.65 and a current ratio of 3.23. Eldorado Gold Corporation has a 1 year low of $13.29 and a 1 year high of $30.89. The business has a fifty day moving average of $27.65 and a 200-day moving average of $23.73.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Eldorado Gold ( NYSE:EGO Get Free Report ) (TSE:ELD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $436.44 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $422.25 million. Eldorado Gold had a net margin of 26.07% and a return on equity of 8.79%. Equities analysts predict that Eldorado Gold Corporation will post 1.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Several analysts recently issued reports on EGO shares. Canaccord Genuity Group raised Eldorado Gold from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. CIBC raised their target price on Eldorado Gold from $32.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an outperformer rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. National Bankshares reissued an outperform rating on shares of Eldorado Gold in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Eldorado Gold from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, October 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $31.00.

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Eldorado Gold Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eldorado Gold Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mining, exploration, development, and sale of mineral products primarily in Turkey, Canada, Greece, and Romania. The company primarily produces gold, as well as silver, lead, and zinc. It holds a 100% interest in the Kisladag and Efemcukuru mines located in Turkey; Lamaque complex located in Canada; and Olympias, Stratoni, Skouries, Perama Hill, and Sapes gold mines located in Greece, as well as the 80.5% interest in Certej development projects located in Romania.

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Rye Patch Gold Corp. (CVE:RPM  Get Free Report) shares crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$1.06 and traded as high as C$1.10. Rye Patch Gold shares last traded at C$1.06, with a volume of 58,513 shares traded.

Rye Patch Gold Trading Down 0.9%

The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of C$1.06 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$1.06.

Rye Patch Gold Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Rye Patch Gold Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Nevada, the United States. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. It owns a 100% interest in the Florida Canyon Mine covering an area of approximately 71.4 square kilometers located in Nevda.

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SG Americas Securities LLC reduced its stake in Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE:ALLY  Free Report) by 45.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 18,682 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 15,778 shares during the quarter. SG Americas Securities LLCs holdings in Ally Financial were worth $728,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Fulton Bank N.A. raised its position in shares of Ally Financial by 1.3% in the second quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 19,888 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $775,000 after purchasing an additional 260 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC grew its stake in Ally Financial by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 40,363 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,472,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Econ Financial Services Corp grew its stake in Ally Financial by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Econ Financial Services Corp now owns 59,993 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,337,000 after buying an additional 311 shares during the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank raised its holdings in Ally Financial by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 126,980 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,946,000 after acquiring an additional 344 shares during the period. Finally, Cidel Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Ally Financial by 6.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. now owns 6,044 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $235,000 after acquiring an additional 376 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.76% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Ally Financial

In other Ally Financial news, insider Kathleen L. Patterson sold 29,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.86, for a total transaction of $1,184,940.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 100,203 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,094,294.58. This represents a 22.45% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.56% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Ally Financial Stock Performance

NYSE:ALLY opened at $39.58 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. Ally Financial Inc. has a 1 year low of $29.52 and a 1 year high of $44.83. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $40.02 and a 200-day moving average of $38.88.

Ally Financial (NYSE:ALLY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 28th. The financial services provider reported $0.99 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $2.06 billion during the quarter. Ally Financial had a return on equity of 9.96% and a net margin of 8.10%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Ally Financial Inc. will post 3.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ally Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Investors of record on Friday, October 31st were given a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 31st. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. Ally Financials dividend payout ratio is 72.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. TD Cowen raised Ally Financial from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the company from $43.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Ally Financial from $47.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on Ally Financial from $56.00 to $51.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 1st. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Ally Financial in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Ally Financial from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $45.67.

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About Ally Financial

(Free Report)

Ally Financial Inc, a digital financial-services company, provides various digital financial products and services in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda. The company operates through Automotive Finance Operations, Insurance Operations, Mortgage Finance Operations, and Corporate Finance Operations segments.

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Champlain Investment Partners LLC raised its holdings in Shake Shack, Inc. (NYSE:SHAK  Free Report) by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 366,405 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 8,629 shares during the period. Champlain Investment Partners LLC owned approximately 0.86% of Shake Shack worth $51,517,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of SHAK. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Shake Shack in the second quarter valued at $31,000. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Shake Shack by 679.4% during the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 265 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Shake Shack in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S purchased a new position in shares of Shake Shack in the 1st quarter valued at about $48,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Shake Shack in the 1st quarter valued at about $57,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.07% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently weighed in on SHAK. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Shake Shack from $125.00 to $100.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of Shake Shack from $160.00 to $137.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on shares of Shake Shack from $110.00 to $105.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Truist Financial dropped their target price on Shake Shack from $162.00 to $156.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 29th. Finally, Bank of America restated an underperform rating and issued a $86.00 price target (down from $148.00) on shares of Shake Shack in a research note on Monday, October 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $120.52.

Shake Shack Trading Down 1.9%

NYSE SHAK opened at $86.56 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.84 and a quick ratio of 1.81. The firms fifty day moving average price is $92.73 and its 200 day moving average price is $111.26. The company has a market capitalization of $3.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 84.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.69. Shake Shack, Inc. has a 12 month low of $72.93 and a 12 month high of $144.65.

Shake Shack (NYSE:SHAK  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.05. Shake Shack had a net margin of 3.10% and a return on equity of 10.43%. The firm had revenue of $367.41 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $363.69 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.25 earnings per share. Shake Shacks quarterly revenue was up 15.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Shake Shack has set its Q4 2025 guidance at EPS. FY 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Shake Shack, Inc. will post 1.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Shake Shack

(Free Report)

Shake Shack Inc owns, operates, and licenses Shake Shack restaurants (Shacks) in the United States and internationally. Its Shacks offers hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs, crinkle cut fries, shakes, frozen custard, beer, wine, and other products. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

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Southeast Asset Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund acquired 2,636 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $211,000.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. boosted its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 10.4% during the first quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. now owns 758,376 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $54,471,000 after purchasing an additional 71,740 shares during the period. Three Bridge Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $364,000. Allianz SE grew its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 22.6% in the 1st quarter. Allianz SE now owns 212,335 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $15,244,000 after buying an additional 39,150 shares in the last quarter. NatWest Group plc raised its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 4.6% during the 1st quarter. NatWest Group plc now owns 180,418 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $12,952,000 after acquiring an additional 7,934 shares during the period. Finally, Board of the Pension Protection Fund purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the second quarter worth $40,000. 75.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Cfra Research upgraded Wells Fargo & Company to a moderate buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Wells Fargo & Company from a hold (c) rating to a buy (b) rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, September 30th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $89.57.

Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE:WFC opened at $84.86 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $266.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.22. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $84.06 and its 200-day moving average price is $80.42. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. Wells Fargo & Company has a 12-month low of $58.42 and a 12-month high of $88.64.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.73 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.18. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.51% and a net margin of 17.18%.The company had revenue of $21.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.42 EPS. Wells Fargo & Companys quarterly revenue was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 7th will be paid a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Companys payout ratio is presently 29.61%.

Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management.

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Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (CVE:SPA  Get Free Report)s share price traded up 13.8% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as C$0.17 and last traded at C$0.17. 1,865,751 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 295% from the average session volume of 472,836 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.15.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Atrium Research upgraded Spanish Mountain Gold to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, September 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Spanish Mountain Gold has an average rating of Strong Buy.

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Spanish Mountain Gold Stock Performance

Spanish Mountain Gold Company Profile

The companys 50-day moving average is C$0.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$0.15. The company has a quick ratio of 3.03, a current ratio of 5.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The company has a market cap of C$85.79 million, a P/E ratio of -17.50 and a beta of 1.09.

(Get Free Report)

Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd., an exploration stage resource company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. It holds a 100% interest in the Spanish Mountain gold project, which comprises approximately 50 contiguous mineral claims and 13 placer claims covering an area of approximately 10,414 hectares located in the Cariboo region of central British Columbia.

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Sun Communities (NYSE:SUI  Get Free Report) had its price objective cut by research analysts at Morgan Stanley from $139.00 to $135.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an equal weight rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. Morgan Stanleys price target would suggest a potential upside of 4.04% from the stocks previous close.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on SUI. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on shares of Sun Communities from $136.00 to $138.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a report on Monday, September 15th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Sun Communities from $141.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Sun Communities from $132.00 to $133.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $142.00 price target on Sun Communities and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Sun Communities from $142.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Sun Communities has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $137.42.

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Sun Communities Trading Up 0.7%

SUI traded up $0.94 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $129.76. 72,803 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 847,626. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 7.08 and a current ratio of 7.08. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $125.95 and a 200 day simple moving average of $125.51. The firm has a market cap of $16.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.26, a P/E/G ratio of 4.05 and a beta of 0.86. Sun Communities has a 1 year low of $109.22 and a 1 year high of $137.77.

Sun Communities (NYSE:SUI  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.18 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $697.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $713.32 million. Sun Communities had a negative return on equity of 4.51% and a net margin of 42.58%.The businesss revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.34 EPS. Sun Communities has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 1.310-1.390 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at 6.590-6.670 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Sun Communities will post 6.77 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Sun Communities

In other news, Director Clunet R. Lewis sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, November 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.24, for a total transaction of $504,960.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 26,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,282,240. The trade was a 13.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.77% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sun Communities

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Sun Communities in the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Fulcrum Asset Management LLP purchased a new position in shares of Sun Communities in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Twin Tree Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Sun Communities during the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in Sun Communities during the second quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Ransom Advisory Ltd purchased a new position in Sun Communities in the 1st quarter valued at about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.59% of the companys stock.

About Sun Communities

(Get Free Report)

Established in 1975, Sun Communities, Inc became a publicly owned corporation in December 1993. The Company is a fully integrated REIT listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: SUI. As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned, operated, or had an interest in a portfolio of 667 developed MH, RV and Marina properties comprising 179,310 developed sites and approximately 48,030 wet slips and dry storage spaces in the U.S., the UK and Canada.

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The Hartford Insurance Group (NYSE:HIG  Get Free Report) had its target price upped by stock analysts at Argus from $143.00 to $155.00 in a report issued on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the insurance providers stock. Argus target price points to a potential upside of 12.10% from the stocks current price.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on The Hartford Insurance Group from $142.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group from $133.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and set a $140.00 target price (up previously from $135.00) on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (a-) rating on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued an overweight rating and a $152.00 price target for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $143.13.

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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on HIG

The Hartford Insurance Group Trading Up 1.2%

NYSE HIG traded up $1.63 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $138.27. 219,303 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,590,323. The stock has a market cap of $38.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.31. The Hartford Insurance Group has a one year low of $104.93 and a one year high of $138.64. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $129.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $128.38.

The Hartford Insurance Group (NYSE:HIG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 27th. The insurance provider reported $3.78 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.02 by $0.76. The Hartford Insurance Group had a net margin of 12.75% and a return on equity of 21.07%. The business had revenue of $1.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.17 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.53 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that The Hartford Insurance Group will post 11.11 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at The Hartford Insurance Group

In other news, EVP Lori A. Rodden sold 7,841 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.41, for a total transaction of $959,816.81. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 18,400 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,252,344. The trade was a 29.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Donald Christian Hunt sold 2,124 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $133.87, for a total transaction of $284,339.88. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of The Hartford Insurance Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of The Hartford Insurance Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in The Hartford Insurance Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC lifted its stake in The Hartford Insurance Group by 707.7% during the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 210 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 184 shares in the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new position in The Hartford Insurance Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, United Financial Planning Group LLC purchased a new position in The Hartford Insurance Group during the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. 93.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

The Hartford Insurance Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, accident, health, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers.

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Timber Creek Capital Management LLC cut its stake in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report) by 5.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 34,785 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,947 shares during the period. Timber Creek Capital Management LLCs holdings in Novartis were worth $4,095,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of NVS. Essex Savings Bank lifted its position in Novartis by 1.9% in the second quarter. Essex Savings Bank now owns 4,611 shares of the companys stock worth $558,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Novartis by 5.8% during the 2nd quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 1,541 shares of the companys stock worth $186,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc. grew its holdings in Novartis by 4.4% during the 2nd quarter. Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 2,062 shares of the companys stock valued at $250,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP lifted its stake in Novartis by 0.4% in the second quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 24,607 shares of the companys stock worth $2,978,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC boosted its position in shares of Novartis by 1.2% during the second quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 7,749 shares of the companys stock valued at $938,000 after buying an additional 90 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 13.12% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on NVS shares. Cowen reiterated a hold rating on shares of Novartis in a report on Monday, November 10th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Novartis from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating on shares of Novartis in a report on Monday, October 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a sell rating and set a $118.00 price objective (down previously from $119.00) on shares of Novartis in a report on Friday, September 12th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $122.33.

Novartis Price Performance

NYSE NVS opened at $126.61 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $267.45 billion, a PE ratio of 17.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.60. The firms 50 day moving average price is $127.70 and its 200-day moving average price is $122.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.88. Novartis AG has a 52-week low of $96.06 and a 52-week high of $134.00.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $2.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.26 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $13.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.70 billion. Novartis had a return on equity of 41.21% and a net margin of 26.49%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.06 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 8.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Novartis Profile

(Free Report)

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.

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Verity & Verity LLC lowered its position in Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) by 91.5% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 15,633 shares of the companys stock after selling 168,126 shares during the period. Verity & Verity LLCs holdings in Archer Daniels Midland were worth $825,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in Archer Daniels Midland by 11.3% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 189,083 shares of the companys stock worth $9,078,000 after buying an additional 19,247 shares in the last quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ increased its stake in Archer Daniels Midland by 0.8% in the first quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 99,924 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,795,000 after acquiring an additional 800 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLC raised its position in Archer Daniels Midland by 2.8% in the first quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 18,902 shares of the companys stock worth $907,000 after purchasing an additional 523 shares in the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Archer Daniels Midland by 5.4% during the first quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,310 shares of the companys stock valued at $207,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Physicians Financial Services Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Archer Daniels Midland by 360.3% in the 1st quarter. Physicians Financial Services Inc. now owns 23,117 shares of the companys stock worth $1,110,000 after buying an additional 18,095 shares in the last quarter. 78.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently commented on ADM. Wall Street Zen raised Archer Daniels Midland from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Archer Daniels Midland from $47.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an underweight rating and issued a $59.00 target price (down previously from $61.00) on shares of Archer Daniels Midland in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Archer Daniels Midland in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Zacks Research cut shares of Archer Daniels Midland from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $55.25.

Archer Daniels Midland Price Performance

ADM stock opened at $58.93 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The stock has a market cap of $28.32 billion, a PE ratio of 26.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.78 and a beta of 0.70. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $60.43 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $56.82. Archer Daniels Midland Company has a 1 year low of $40.98 and a 1 year high of $65.00.

Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE:ADM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.89 by $0.03. Archer Daniels Midland had a net margin of 1.33% and a return on equity of 8.43%. The company had revenue of $20.37 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.96 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.09 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Archer Daniels Midland has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.250-3.500 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Archer Daniels Midland Company will post 4.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Archer Daniels Midland Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 19th will be issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 19th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. Archer Daniels Midlands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 83.27%.

Archer Daniels Midland Profile

(Free Report)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company engages in the procurement, transportation, storage, processing, and merchandising of agricultural commodities, ingredients, flavors, and solutions in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ADM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report).

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XTX Topco Ltd increased its position in Royal Bank Of Canada (NYSE:RY  Free Report) (TSE:RY) by 23.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 52,546 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 9,984 shares during the period. XTX Topco Ltds holdings in Royal Bank Of Canada were worth $6,912,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Royal Bank Of Canada in the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. Roxbury Financial LLC boosted its stake in Royal Bank Of Canada by 44.3% during the second quarter. Roxbury Financial LLC now owns 339 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its holdings in Royal Bank Of Canada by 2,170.0% in the first quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 454 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 434 shares during the period. Financial Management Professionals Inc. grew its holdings in Royal Bank Of Canada by 29.2% in the second quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 434 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the period. Finally, Banque Transatlantique SA bought a new position in shares of Royal Bank Of Canada during the first quarter valued at approximately $59,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 45.31% of the companys stock.

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Royal Bank Of Canada Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:RY opened at $149.79 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Royal Bank Of Canada has a 1 year low of $106.10 and a 1 year high of $150.85. The company has a market cap of $209.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.82, a PEG ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.86. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $146.84 and its 200-day moving average price is $137.49.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Royal Bank Of Canada ( NYSE:RY Get Free Report ) (TSE:RY) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 27th. The financial services provider reported $2.79 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.36 by $0.43. The company had revenue of $12.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.03 billion. Royal Bank Of Canada had a return on equity of 16.12% and a net margin of 14.03%.Royal Bank Of Canadas revenue for the quarter was up 16.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.26 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Royal Bank Of Canada will post 9.16 earnings per share for the current year.

RY has been the topic of several recent research reports. Cowen restated a hold rating on shares of Royal Bank Of Canada in a research note on Thursday, August 28th. Erste Group Bank raised Royal Bank Of Canada from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, September 22nd. CIBC downgraded Royal Bank Of Canada from a sector outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Friday, September 5th. Barclays reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Royal Bank Of Canada in a research note on Monday. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Royal Bank Of Canada in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $177.50.

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Royal Bank Of Canada Company Profile

(Free Report)

Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses.

Further Reading

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Beta Wealth Group Inc. trimmed its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Free Report) by 24.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 692 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 227 shares during the period. Beta Wealth Group Inc.s holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $201,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Harbor Asset Planning Inc. purchased a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the second quarter worth $26,000. MJT & Associates Financial Advisory Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. University of Illinois Foundation purchased a new position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the 1st quarter worth about $30,000. Ryan Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the 2nd quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc raised its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 212.0% in the 2nd quarter. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc now owns 156 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.55% of the companys stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

In related news, insider Robin Leopold sold 966 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $311.92, for a total transaction of $301,314.72. Following the sale, the insider owned 58,479 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,240,769.68. This trade represents a 1.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Linda Bammann sold 9,500 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $297.94, for a total value of $2,830,430.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 82,207 shares in the company, valued at $24,492,753.58. This trade represents a 10.36% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.47% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $366.00 price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. KGI Securities upped their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a buy rating and issued a $343.00 target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $330.00 to $342.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, JPMorgan Chase & Co. presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $326.38.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Stock Down 0.0%

NYSE:JPM opened at $297.93 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.88. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 1-year low of $202.16 and a 1-year high of $322.25. The company has a 50-day moving average of $307.20 and a 200 day moving average of $292.10. The firm has a market cap of $811.04 billion, a PE ratio of 14.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.14.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 14th. The financial services provider reported $5.07 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.83 by $0.24. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 20.90% and a return on equity of 17.18%. The business had revenue of $47.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $44.42 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $4.37 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 18.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 6th were given a dividend of $1.50 per share. This is a boost from JPMorgan Chase & Co.s previous quarterly dividend of $1.40. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 6th. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s payout ratio is 29.72%.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Profile

(Free Report)

JPMorgan Chase & Co is a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of financial and investment banking services. It focuses on investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. It operates through the following segments: Consumer and Community Banking (CCB), Commercial and Investment Bank (CIB), Asset and Wealth Management (AWM), and Corporate.

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Kidoz Inc. (OTCMKTS:KDOZF  Get Free Report)s stock price fell 6.4% on Monday . The stock traded as low as $0.2045 and last traded at $0.2045. 166 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 99% from the average session volume of 13,871 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.2185.

Kidoz Price Performance

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.20 and a 200-day simple moving average of $0.19.

About Kidoz

(Get Free Report)

Kidoz Inc develops and sells AdTech software products in Western Europe; Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe; North America; and internationally. The company also owns and develops mobile Kidoz safe ad network, the Kidoz kid-mode operating system, the Kidoz publisher SDK, the Rooplay edugames platform, and the Rooplay originals.

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Shares of TransAlta Renewables Inc. (OTCMKTS:TRSWF  Get Free Report) shot up 2.8% on Monday . The company traded as high as $9.21 and last traded at $9.15. 28,900 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 225% from the average session volume of 8,885 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.90.

TransAlta Renewables Stock Up 2.8%

The companys 50 day moving average price is $9.15 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $9.15.

About TransAlta Renewables

(Get Free Report)

TransAlta Renewables Inc owns, develops, and operates renewable and natural gas power generation facilities and other infrastructure assets in Canada, the United States, and Australia. The company operates through Canadian Wind, Canadian Hydro, Canadian Gas, US Wind and Solar, US Gas, and Australian Gas segments.

Further Reading

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Weatherford International plc (OTCMKTS:WFTLF  Get Free Report)s share price shot up 6.9% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $13.01 and last traded at $12.40. 452,600 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 242% from the average session volume of 132,486 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.60.

Weatherford International Stock Up 6.9%

The business has a 50 day moving average of $12.40 and a 200 day moving average of $12.40.

About Weatherford International

(Get Free Report)

Weatherford International plc, an oilfield service company, provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. It offers artificial lift systems, including reciprocating rod, progressing cavity pumping, gas, hydraulic, plunger, and hybrid lift systems, as well as related automation and control systems; pressure pumping and reservoir stimulation services, such as acidizing, fracturing and fluid systems, cementing, and coiled-tubing intervention; and drill stem test tools, surface well testing, and multiphase flow measurement services.

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Israel uses F-35 fighter jets as their primary source of bomb delivery on Gaza, over 20,000 children have been murdered by these bombs since 2023.

Through InvestNI, nearly 20 million has been handed to five companies in the North that supply parts for the F-35 program. Stormont has also given millions of pounds of rates relief to these very companies.

Mid Ulster IPSC spokesperson Padraig Mac Niocaill said: "Moyola Precision Engineering, boasted about their supply of F35 air frame parts until public pressure caused them to hide it from their site.
A new 43 million building at Ardnashee School and College has been officially opened, marking a significant investment in special educational provision for the local community.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by First Minister Michelle ONeill MLA and special guest Johnny McDaid. McDaid, a globally successful musician with Snow Patrol, is a proud Derry native who has strong roots and heritage in the city, making his involvement particularly meaningful for the local community

The Northland Road Academy features cutting-edge facilities designed to enhance learning and development opportunities for pupils with special educational needs, including a hydrotherapy pool, immersive suite, sensory spaces, and outdoor play areas.

The project, delivered by Woodvale Construction Ltd, recently won "Education Project of the Year" at the Construction Employers Federation Awards, with judges praising the "exceptional quality of finish" and noting that the project "not only delivers excellence in construction but transforms lives".

First Minister Michelle ONeill said: It was a privilege to be invited to open the ASC Northland Road Academy, and it was great to receive such a wonderful welcome from so many happy, smiling children.

This new school is a game-changer in terms of SEN provision in Derry and the North West. The state-of-the-art facilities will give children and young people  now and for generations to come  the best possible educational experiences, helping them to achieve their full potential.

I want to congratulate governors, staff, parents and everyone involved in this award-winning project, and I wish the school and its pupils every success for the future.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: Every child deserves a place where they can grow and thrive, and the official opening of Ardnashee School and College will transform special needs provision in Londonderry.

This fantastic school will be a safe and inclusive space, ensuring every child who comes through its door is understood, supported and equipped to achieve their goals in life. I have no doubt it will open many doors to a future of hope and opportunity for all its students, now and for many years to come. Congratulations to everyone who made this possible.

Dr Tomas Adell, Chief Transformation Officer  SEN, Education Authority, added: "This remarkable facility sets a new standard for special educational needs provision. The purpose-built spaces, from the hydrotherapy pool to the sensory rooms, will enable our dedicated staff to deliver truly personalised learning experiences.

It is testament to effective partnership working that this complex project was delivered with minimal disruption, and I am particularly pleased that it has already been recognised with the Construction Employers Federation's 'Education Project of the Year' award. This building will transform the educational experience for generations of pupils."

(L-R) Julie McDevitt, Pastoral Vice Principal of Ardnashee School and College, Raymond McFeeters, Acting Principal of Ardnashee School and College; First Minister Michelle ONeill MLA, special guest Mr Johnny McDaid and Sinead Crossan, Curriculum Vice Principal.

Raymond McFeeters, Acting Principal of Ardnashee School and College, commented: "Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our school community. Since moving into this beautiful building, we have witnessed a visible improvement in our children's attitude to school and in their parents' daily experiences.

The specialist facilities have opened up new possibilities for learning and development that we could only have dreamed of before. I want to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality  from the Education Authority and Woodvale Construction to our dedicated staff, governors, and most importantly, our wonderful pupils and their families who inspire us every day."

The new academy represents an exciting new chapter for Ardnashee School and College and the wider local community, providing modern, purpose-built facilities that will support the educational journey of pupils for years to come.
A new appeal for information has been made over the deaths of a father and son who were attacked by rioters in Belfast during the IRA hunger strikes more than 40 years ago.

Northern Irelands legacy body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), is investigating the deaths of Eric Guiney and his son Desmond on May 5 1981.

Following a request from the Guiney family, the Commission is now appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Eric Guiney was a 45-year-old milkman and father of four. Desmond was his 14-year-old son.

The ICRIR said they were travelling along the Antrim Road in Mr Guineys milk float when the vehicle was attacked with bricks and missiles.

It was reported at the time that rioting had broken out that morning following the death of Bobby Sands.

During the attack, the milk float collided with a concrete lamp post on the Antrim Road at its junction with Duncairn Avenue, opposite the New Lodge Road.

Desmond died of his injuries three days after the incident.

Mr Guiney died the day after his sons funeral on May 13.

Assistant commissioner Amanda Logan is urging anyone with information to come forward to help the Guiney family.

She said: The Commission is committed to delivering for all those who have come to us for help, and today the family of Eric and Desmond are uppermost in our thoughts.

Any information you may hold, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, could be of critical importance to uncovering the truth.

If you know anything about the circumstances that led to the deaths of Eric and Desmond, please share it with the Commission.

All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

She added: The Guiney family has waited more than four decades to learn the truth of what happened that day.

At the Commission we will help them in every way we can, and I appeal to the public to assist us in this work.

The ICRIR said its witness appeal will involve distributing posters and an organised leaflet drop in the area relating to the investigation.
Sinn Fein ministers are using UK Government austerity as an alibi for failing to deliver, Matthew OToole has told the Assembly.

The SDLP Opposition leader said one Stormont department had claimed in written answers more than 200 times that austerity had impacted on small and medium-sized projects.

Mr OToole used the final Opposition Day of the year at the Assembly to bring a motion calling for the Finance Minister John OToole to introduce a draft multi-year budget before December 9.

Mr ODowd told the Assembly that the multi-year budget was one of the most important decisions the Executive and Assembly would have to make in its current mandate and it was important to get it right.

Mr OToole said the Budget delivered at Westminster this week by Chancellor Rachel Reeves would have a huge impact on citizens in Northern Ireland.

He added: But none of that absolves us from using the power at our disposal to make real changes or to seek new fiscal powers to deliver for our people.

Mr OToole accused Mr ODowd of being pathologically cautious about acting on recommendations for new fiscal powers for the region.

He added: The term austerity has been shamefully turned into a cliche by politicians, particularly Sinn Fein ministers who have trivialised it by using it as an alibi for a bewildering array of delivery failures.

This is especially true of the ministers former department, infrastructure.

Since last February, according to written answers, austerity has been responsible for more than 200 small and medium sized things.

It has been responsible for, among other things, the failure to build a park and ride in Comber; that was austerity.

No Ballykelly bypass? That was austerity. Resurfacing the Crawfordsburn Road in Bangor? That was austerity too.

The dial-a-lift community transport service not working? That was austerity.

Just before I got to my feet I got an email answer from the Infrastructure Department telling me that a street in my constituency was not being resurfaced because of, you guessed it, austerity.

These are all victims of austerity apparently rather than ministerial choices and priorities.

Mr OToole said Sinn Fein was happy to let London or the DUP take the blame while this place struggles.

He added: The case for raising more local revenue and taking more fiscal powers locally is more than made, it is overwhelming.

The biggest obstacle, as well as the Treasury to doing it is cynicism from a public here which have lost all faith in the ability or willingness of local leaders to take responsibility.

Mr ODowd told MLAs he had consistently outlined his intention to bring forward a multi-year budget.

He said: As the motion rightly acknowledges, the Chancellors autumn Budget may have an impact on the Executives budget.

It is therefore only right and proper that I await the outcome of this before I bring the multi-year budget forward to the Executive.

He said the multi-year budget would be the first in Northern Ireland in a decade.

The minister added: Multi-year budgets will shape the future of our public services for years to come.

This will be one of the biggest decisions the Executive and this Assembly will make between now and the end of the mandate and it is important we get it right.
Sinn Fein and DUP ministers have clashed following an Executive meeting over a decision to block trade talks with Israel.

The DUP was unable to overturn Sinn Fein Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibalds policy following a vote of ministers.

But DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly accused Ms Archibald of making politically-motivated trade policy and said the issue should come back to the powersharing Executive for approval before it is implemented.

Last month the Economy Minister made a written statement to the Assembly after commissioning a review to establish if businesses in receipt of Invest NI grant funding had links to Israeli arms.

The minister announced a series of measures she said would eliminate any risk of public funds being used to support the manufacture of arms or components that are used for genocide.

The steps included a commitment that her department will not engage in the British Governments trade talks with Israel while it continues to illegally occupy and impose apartheid on Palestine.

The DUP then launched a move in the Assembly to have the matter referred to the wider Stormont Executive for discussion.

After their petition gathered more than 30 signatures, it was referred to the Executive where it was discussed by ministers on Tuesday.

The four Sinn Fein ministers were joined by the two Alliance ministers in supporting the decision taken by Ms Archibald.

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Archibald said: The DUP failed in their attempt to block my decision.

That decision was about ensuring there is no enabling of the genocide against the people of Gaza.

She added: As Economy Minister I am determined to do everything in my power to defend human rights, to uphold international law and support the defenceless people of Gaza and Palestine who are suffering the horrors of genocide and forced starvation.

No minister and no administration should be enabling genocide and I dont think that is something that should have to come to the Executive and that was the view of the majority in the Executive this morning.

However, Ms Little-Pengelly said the Executive discussion showed there was clear division over the issue.

She said: The challenge for the minister, in terms of trying to implement the policy she has set out, she needs to bring forward those matters to the Executive for consideration and agreement.

We cannot have a situation where our Economy Minister is setting down politically-motivated trade policy because Israel today, what next?

There are processes and safeguards there for this. This is a matter which of course should come to the Executive, I think it is absolutely inarguable that the issue is controversial, there is no doubt there is a potentially huge impact of this.

The deputy First Minister accused Ms Archibald of political grandstanding.

The Economy Minister is also facing a legal challenge over her bid to exclude Northern Ireland from any involvement in trade talks between the UK and Israel.

The pre-action protocol letter has been issued by pro-union think tank Unionist Voice Policy Studies (UVPS).

The group says that as international trade policy is not a devolved issue, Ms Archibald has no authority to act on the matter.
Northern Irelands Economy Minister has pledged to deliver a new Act to provide paid leave for workers dealing with domestic abuse.

Stormont passed the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Act in 2022 creating a right to 10 days paid leave each year that can be used to deal with issues arising from domestic abuse.

But the new law has not yet been brought into effect.

Trade unions raised the issue with a demonstration outside Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald joined the gathering, and received a letter calling for the Act to be passed.

She also gave a commitment that the new Act would be delivered in this mandate.

Jacqui White, chair of the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), thanked Ms Archibald, and described the Sinn Fein minister as an ally of the trade union movement.

She said violence against women and girls was a scourge on society, noting that its effects were felt more keenly in Northern Ireland.

We look at the reasons for this  legacy, history, social media  and it is indeed important to understand the origins in order to establish the solution, she said.

We also must take specific steps today, one is to raise awareness, bring it out of the dark and call it out, and that is exactly what each and every one of you are doing today.

But we also have to back this up with tangible legislation and robust policy.

ICTU equality officer Clare Moore said that the ability to take paid safe leave from work would make it easier for victims of domestic abuse to continue working and maintain vital economic independence.

Ms Archibald was urged to end the delay in her department, and bring the provisions of the Safe Leave Act into effect as soon as possible.

Responding, Ms Archibald said her department was working on the regulations and guidance for the Act.

On International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women unions hosted a rally @niassembly invited @Economy_NI @CArchibald_SF to receive a letter from @NIC_ICTU Jacquie White & Chair NIC ICTU Womens Committee Tina Creaney pic.twitter.com/1OHUH3N7ET  NIC ICTU (@NIC_ICTU) November 25, 2025

She said this work was happening alongside the Good Jobs Bill, which she described as the biggest upgrade to employment law since the Good Friday Agreement.

I completely understand your desire to see this law enacted, and my team is working hard to deliver on both pieces of legislation, she said.

I am determined that we get it delivered. Both pieces of legislation will be enacted as soon as we can, and certainly within this mandate.

My commitment to you is I will get this done as soon as possible but, importantly, as effectively as possible.
The former Stormont Speaker has been honoured with a portrait at Parliament Buildings.

Alex Maskey hailed political progress, but urged MLAs to lead by example, showing respect and civility to improve relations.

The Sinn Fein man was elected Speaker in January 2020 following the restoration of the Assembly.

His intended departure was delayed to 2024 when a political stand-off saw parties unable to agree to elect a new Speaker.

The portrait was painted in oil on canvas by Belfast artist Tony Bell, and will join those of former Speakers Lord Alderdice, Eileen Bell, Lord Hay, Mitchel McLaughlin and Robin Newton, in the Great Hall in Parliament Buildings.

First Minister Michelle ONeill and former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams were among those who attended the unveiling of the portrait at Stormont on Tuesday.

Mr Maskey, a former boxer who went on to become the first republican Lord Mayor of Belfast, thanked all those involved with the portrait and event, as well as all the staff who supported him as Speaker.

He said despite the political turbulence, he believes a lot was achieved, including the establishment of the persons with disabilities parliament and the passing of a considerable volume of legislation.

One aspect of the role which gave me great hope for the future was the substantial international interest and goodwill shown toward us collectively, he said.

Diplomatic friends from far and wide showed that their goodwill toward us is real and is deep, and in my view that goodwill still exists and should be grasped.

My main takeaway from my tenure was the excellent relationship with all of the parties, and this was the key to working together for the benefit of everyone.

Respect is a word only if we dont act upon it. Respect and civility will go a long way, and we should lead by example if we wish to serve our communities with integrity.

Current Speaker Edwin Poots paid tribute to Mr Maskey for holding the office through a difficult time, including the coronavirus pandemic and a politically fraught period when the Assembly was not sitting.

He also recalled their shared experiences, including both being elected in 1998, and both being involved in the infamous brawl in the hall at Stormont when a number of MLAs were involved in an incident of pushing and name-calling in 2001 during political tension.

Mr Poots also praised Mr Maskey for his conduct when the Queen died, acknowledging the challenge to him as a republican, but said he ensured the Assembly had the opportunity to pay its respects and be fully involved in mourning arrangements.

He said that demonstrated the measure of the man in that respect.

There is agreement across the Assembly that Alex brought impartiality, confidence and authority to the Office, he said.

I want to acknowledge that Alex is particularly well regarded amongst our Assembly staff, and thats always a good thing.
Northern Irelands vibrant television industry was celebrated in style at the 10th Royal Television Society (RTS) NI Awards, sponsored by Ka-Boom and hosted by Christine Lampard in the Titanic Belfast.

The coveted Brian Waddell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Industry was awarded to Louise Gallagher, founder of Gallagher Films which Derry girl Louise set up to champion bold, original voices.

Her debut feature, A Bump Along the Way, starring Bronagh Gallagher and Lola Petticrew won multiple awards, including Best Irish First Feature and her short film Rough won an IFTA. She is also the co-creator and executive producer behind the award winning Blue Lights and Hat Trick NIs Business Development Executive and part of the team which picked up the RTS NI Comedy Award for their short film Spinster.

Louise Gallagher said: I am delighted and really surprised to receive this honour. I would like to thank the RTS NI Committee for this prestigious award. I couldnt do what I do without the hugely talented teams I work with at Gallagher Films and Hat Trick NI who bring their passion and enthusiasm to make each project a success - creating great content which reflects modern life in all our communities.

Sarah McCaffrey, Chair of the RTS NI said It is a real pleasure to acknowledge the incredible talent of Louise Gallagher who is an amazing role model for women working in our industry and a passionate champion of emerging talent.

Her work reflects a commitment to both creative excellence and public value, making her a key figure in Northern Irelands screen sector evolution and a well-deserved winner of our Brian Waddell Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry.

This years outstanding nominees and winners reflect the strength and resilience of Northern Irelands screen industry. The RTS Northern Ireland is proud to continue its unwavering commitment to supporting, educating, a
Somewhere between the fluorescent hallways of corporate hospitals and the labyrinth of insurance paperwork, Indias healthcare system quietly crossed a milestone this year  and most of us missed it. I certainly would have, had I not walked into Raksha Summit in November 2025 and felt an odd sense of deja vu.

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Back in February, I had interviewed Medi Assists Satish Gidugu and Dhruv Rastogi  a conversation that began with fax machines and ended with AI models crunching 160 parameters to sniff out fraud. That story wasnt meant to be a standalone snapshot. It was a breadcrumb on a much longer trail, one thats now entering a significantly more ambitious chapter.

At Raksha Summit 2025, Medi Assist didnt just present random updates; to me it felt like it rolled out a full-blown AI strategy that feels less like incremental progress and more like a line in the sand. Together with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), theyre making the case  with data, urgency, and a surprisingly clear blueprint  for what Indias AI-enabled healthcare future must look like.

If you want to understand the slow but steady shift beneath Indias healthcare benefits ecosystem, here are the five takeaways that matter most.

1. Cashless is becoming the default of mediclaim in India

A year ago, Medi Assist was dabbling in predictive discharge tools. Today, according to Medi Assist, as much as 15% of all hospital discharges  over 4,00,000 members  walk out before the final bill is even generated. Its a workflow revolution that goes beyond just convenience to becoming the new norm.

Seventy percent of all claim value now moves through cashless. And 85% of those cashless claims are digitally submitted  a frictionless loop that once felt unimaginable in a sector infamous for paper trails and opaque approvals.

This isnt digitisation for the sake of it, according to Medi Assist, but a systemic re-engineering of time. And in healthcare, time is many things  and most importantly dignity where it matters most.

2. Fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) in Indian healthcare

The new BCGMedi Assist report puts a number on what insiders have whispered for years:

8,00010,000 crore is siphoned off annually through suspicious patterns, inflated bills, unnecessary procedures, and flat-out fraud.

But heres the crazy part of the report, that only 2% of claims are outright fraudulent. The real problem to solve is the murky 8% zone  where inefficiencies and abuse hide in plain sight. Thats where AI steps in, not as a detective but as a spotlight.

3. Medi Assists new AI stack: MAven Guard and MAgnum

If my February interview was Act I of Medi Assists tech story, Raksha Summit 2025 was Act II  bigger cast, deeper plot, and much sharper tools.

MAven Guard is a self-learning integrity engine that detects, prevents, and deters fraud, waste and abuse (FWA) in real-time. Think of it as an AI-powered lie detector for the health ecosystem, processing patterns no human auditor could spot in a lifetime.



is a self-learning integrity engine that detects, prevents, and deters fraud, waste and abuse (FWA) in real-time. Think of it as an AI-powered lie detector for the health ecosystem, processing patterns no human auditor could spot in a lifetime. MAgnum empowers hospitals to make the cashless experience painless for members. Its essentially a workflow-orchestrating companion: fewer phone calls, fewer delays, fewer were still checking with your insurer.

Together, theyre the infrastructure for what Medi Assist calls Sustainable Benefits and Effortless Experience  two phrases weve heard before but never with this level of operational backbone.

4. India needs a unified codebook for AI effectiveness

BCGs stance on this subject is as blunt as it can be, that Indias healthcare system leaks because it speaks too many dialects of data.

A unified national codebook, real-time data exchange (via ABDM and NHCX), and governed GenAI are the non-negotiables. Without standardisation, AI is just a fancy patch on a leaky bucket. This is the difference between using AI on the system versus building the system for AI, according to BCG.

5. Insurance for All depends on fixing the 8% FWA

According to BCG, cracking down on that middle 8% of FWA could accelerate the Indian governments Insurance for All target by five years.

Think about that for a second  a half-decade leap, unlocked not by new hospitals or new policies, but just by better data governance and AI-led transparency. And suddenly it starts to look less like a healthcare efficiency plan but more a nation-building one.

Of course, its easier said than done, we all know healthcare in India can be an infuriating experience at times. But it looks like, from what I saw at Raksha Summit 2025, that India finally has the tools and the semblance of a unified roadmap to fix the Indian healthcare industry.

Not with fax machines. Not with paperwork. But with intelligence  artificial, yes, but also intentional. And that might just be the breakthrough Indias healthcare system has been waiting for.
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Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan has expressed shock following a horrific attack on a woman in west Dublin.

The woman is being treated for burn injuries following the incident at a home in Clondalkin on Tuesday morning.

Gardai said they were investigating the incident.

I am shocked by this mornings horrific attack on a woman in Clondalkin. I have been briefed on the attack by the Gardai, and I join with them in appealing to anyone with information to come forward so that the perpetrator of this vicious attack can be brought to justice.  Jim O'Callaghan TD (@OCallaghanJim) November 25, 2025

A Garda spokesperson said the woman was taken to hospital to be treated for burn injuries which are believed to be serious, while a man was also taken to hospital to be treated for injuries believed to be non-life threatening.

The scene has been preserved pending a technical examination.

A senior investigating officer has been appointed and an incident room has been established at Clondalkin Garda Station.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses or anyone with video footage of the Oak Downs area of Clondalkin between 9.30am and 10.20am on Tuesday morning to contact them.

Mr OCallaghan echoed the Garda appeal for information.

I am shocked by this mornings horrific attack on a woman in Clondalkin, he said.

I have been briefed on the attack by the Gardai, and I join with them in appealing to anyone with information to come forward so that the perpetrator of this vicious attack can be brought to justice.
Enoch Burke has been returned to prison on Tuesday on foot of a High Court order to imprison him for contempt.

A judge had decided on November 18 that he should be returned to prison for repeated and flagrant breaches of court orders directing him not to attend a Co Westmeath school where he used to teach.

Mr Burke and his family, who are Evangelical Christians from Co Mayo, are embroiled in a lengthy legal row with Wilsons Hospital School, where Mr Burke formerly worked as a teacher.

The row stems from incidents at the school over a request in 2022 from the schools then-principal that a student be addressed by a new name and pronoun.

Mr Justice Brian Cregan said that the court case before him was not about Mr Burkes views on trans issues, and was instead about his repeated breach of court orders directing him not to trespass on school property.

Mr Cregan said that as Mr Burke had not paid a euro of the thousands of euro worth of fines imposed by the courts, and as security guards at the school had not deterred him from attending, he said there was no other way to enforce the order other than to imprison Mr Burke.

Mr Burke said in court previously that he had spent around 500 days in prison.

The judge said that Mr Burke has the keys to his own prison and can be released if he purges his contempt.

He also said Mr Burke and his family had committed the most deliberate, sustained and concerted attack on the civil courts and the rule of law in Ireland in recent times.

He also asked the Attorney General to bring proceedings against Mr Burke, his mother Martina, his brother Isaac Burke, and his sister Ammi Burke for criminal contempt of court.

Days later on November 21, a video was posted to Mr Burkes X account where he can be seen standing outside Wilsons Hospital School.

In a statement, An Garda Siochana said it had executed a High Court order in Mullingar, Co Westmeath this afternoon, Tuesday 25th November 2025.
New figures released this week by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley reveal that 1,340 young children in Louth have benefited from the Little Library initiative this year.

Each year, every child leaving pre-school and starting primary school are invited to visit their local library to pick up a free book bag and take the opportunity to join the library as part of the My Little Library initiative.

This annual initiative has again proved very popular in County Louth. So far 1,340 young children in County Louth have collected their bag and taken the opportunity to join the library if they werent already a member. This year nearly 20,000 children across Ireland will join the library because of this initiative.

The books and resources in the book bag, which is available in both English and as Gaeilge, support parents and their children in the transition to primary school.

Minister Foley said: I am really proud to support theMy Little Libraryinitiative for children and their families and welcome the high levels of participation in County Louth.

Read also: Dundalk residents invited to shape the future of the Long Walk

The gift of reading to and with children on a regular basis cannot be overestimated. It not only supports connection between parents and their children but also promotes early language and literacy development which is crucial for childrens success in their education journey.

"There is still a small number of Little Library book bags in libraires around the country for any five- and six-year-olds who have still to collect their bag. I encourage all remaining families to avail of this initiative and to join the library in the process.

Ireland has 330 public libraries, which are managed by the local authority in the area in which they are located. The focus of the My Little Library initiative is to build strong links between young children, their families and their local library.

Books in the My Little Library initiative are available in Irish and English. A glossary of the language in the Irish books is included.

A collection of resources and information is also provided in each bag. This includes a library social story card, First 5 Guidance for Parents of Children Moving from Pre-School to Primary School, Dyslexia and the Younger Child by Dyslexia Ireland and Bookshare Ireland by Vision Ireland.
With unprecedented longevity creating opportunities that previous generations could never have imagined, the question is not whether we will live longer, but how we will choose to use those additional years", according to Retirement Planning Council of Ireland, which as it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, is encouraging people in Louth to start planning for their own retirement.

Chief Executive at the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland, Laura Farrell said: The Retirement Planning Council is adapting and changing to offer retirement planning services to a modern workforce, whether thats low-income, self-employed, part-time, portfolio career or mid-career individuals.

"The change is supported and guided by 50 years of knowledge and experience behind it. Were delighted to offer our expertise to a wider group of people across Louth to help them start planning for their retirement.

Ms Farrell also outlined how attitudes towards retirement planning have changed from being viewed as a passive period at the end of ones life to supporting the idea that retirees are moving into the modern renaissance of later life where they might set up businesses or pursue higher or further education opportunities.

Read also: OBITUARY: Don Keating's family was his everything

In terms of overall attitudes to retirement, many course participants/retirees have changed their outlook on retirement with less anxiety about what lies ahead and positivity about the next stage of their lives.

Our Retirement Planning Courses use a holistic approach, so while many clients start off just thinking about the financial aspect of this new phase of their lives, course participation opens up conversations about areas such as social supports, physical and mental health and the potential need or indeed desire to continue working post-retirement.

Two-day retirement planning courses will take place in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Kilkenny, Waterford and Sligo throughout 2026 and information is available at https://www.rpc.ie/planning-for-retirement

Speaking about changes to when people are accessing advice on retirement, Ms Farrell continued; We have witnessed an extraordinary surge in demand for our mid-career programme, with professionals in their thirties, forties, and early fifties recognising that the key to a fulfilling later life lies in intentional planning that begins decades before traditional retirement age.

"They understand that the old model of working intensively for 40 years and then stopping abruptly is not only outdated but potentially harmful to their long-term wellbeing and fulfilment.

While men and women are sharing an increasingly positive outlook on life after retirement, the gender pension gap continues to leave women at a disadvantage due to career breaks and pay disparities. Our programme leaders and specialist speakers are supporting women to explore ways to reduce this gap.

To celebrate its fiftieth anniversary, the charity has also announced fifty free places on retirement planning course next year, to reach people across society who face greater challenges when forward planning for later life.

Retirement Planning Council of Ireland has partnered with social enterprises and organisations across Ireland, including Work Equal, Womens Aid and Longford Womens Link to support groups such as lone parents, adult learners, and newcomers who may not have considered retirement due to insecure work, the gender pension gap, or limited financial literacy.

For more information on retirement planning, contact communications@rpc.ie .
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) marked Science Week 2025 with its most ambitious programme to date, engaging learners across the North East and reinforcing the institutes leadership in STEM outreach, education, and public engagement.

This years expanded programme featured a mix of high-impact talks, hands-on workshops, career events, and national-level research representation, reaching primary, secondary, and adult audiences across Louth, Cavan, Monaghan and Dublin.

To kickstart the week, Dr Orla Sherlock and Mary Ellen Kelledy joined renowned science communicator Dr. Niamh Shaw at the Louth Science Festival in Dundalk Library to share career insights and encouraged students to explore pathways in science and engineering.

The duo then joined a live-streamed Women in STEM podcast at O Fiaich Institute, attracting over 400 in-person and online participants, highlighting opportunities for women in STEM in Ireland. The team also launched the annual DkIT Loves STEM Roadshow at Dundalk Grammar School, promoting local third-level pathways and raising awareness of STEM careers.

Read also: Creative Spark in Dundalk to hold Christmas Open Day and Repair Cafe

During the week, Dr. Sinead Loughran gave a compelling talk at the Cavan Monaghan Science Festival, discussing how viruses influence society and the role scientific advances play in responding to them.

Drawing on Irish data and real-world cases, she highlighted historical trends in childhood diseases and outlined how national immunisation programmes have affected those patterns. She also described the development of mRNA technologyassociated with Nobel Prize winners Kariko and Weissmanand its growing use in vaccine research.

As conversations around vaccination become more divided and illnesses such as measles reappear in some regions, she stressed the importance of evidence-based discussion, cooperation, and public trust in addressing global health challenges.

Dr. Loughran also gave a talk to a group of 50 TY students in St. Vincents Castleknock College, Dublin for an in-depth session on HPV, viruses, and vaccines, where students showed strong engagement and asked informed, insightful questions throughout.

Showcasing DkITs research excellence on a national stage, Dr. Loughran also represented the institute at the Oireachtas Posters in Parliament event.

Hands-on learning was another highlight of the week. Dr. Pilar Marcos delivered engaging microbiology sessions at Aston Village Educate Together in Drogheda, Beech Hill College in Monaghan, and Ardee Community School, introducing students to microbes and their roles in food science, health, and the environment.

Further outreach saw contributions from Mitchell Mercer, who presented to students at the Royal Belfast Academic Institution, and Dr. Bernard Drumm, who spoke at Ardee Community School.

Dr. Siobhan Jordan brought STEM to life for 145 pupils at St. Brigids NS, Laragh, Cavanfrom Junior Infants to 6th Class. Students became H2O Heroes, exploring environmental science by catching and identifying macroinvertebrates, experimented with physics using a Van de Graaff generator and lasers, learned veterinary skills, and discovered the importance of handwashing through Glo Germ and UV light demonstrations.

Recent TrailblazHER Award winners Dr. Caroline Gilleran and Dr. Suzanne Linnane hosted Cell Explorer and Fantastic DNA in a Box workshops, bringing biology to life at the Louth Science Festival and in classrooms across the region.

Reflecting on the success of Science Week, Dr. Orla Sherlock, DkIT STEM Outreach Coordinator, said: Science Week 2025 has set a new benchmark for outreach at DkIT, reinforcing our commitment to making STEM accessible, engaging, and relevant for learners of all ages.

She added: The excitement doesnt stop here. Due to overwhelming demand, DkIT has planned several additional STEM initiatives later this year, including Dr. Chiara Hanlon hosting the Pharma Lab, Dr. Fiona Hackett presenting Ex-Her-cisean innovative science and fitness workshopand the DkIT Loves STEM team partnering with iWISH for a campus-based STEM experience.

With its largest Science Week to date, DkIT continues to drive STEM engagement across the region, fostering curiosity, confidence, and ambition in the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers, and innovators.

Schools can book all upcoming events via the DkIT For Schools outreach website.
The High Court has ordered the surrender of a Louth born convicted murderer who is alleged to have gone on the run from prison in Northern Ireland twice in three years.



A search was launched for James Meehan (56) after he failed to return to Magilligan prison in Derry while being on day release in December 2024. He was arrested by gardai in August on foot of extradition warrants issued under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement.



At the High Court on Monday, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said there was ultimately no basis on which to refuse surrender and that he was obliged to order Meehan's extradition to the requested jurisdiction.



Meehan will remain on bail, with arrangements to be made with gardai in regard to his surrender.



Meehan, who previously had addresses in Derry City and Headfort Grove, Kells, Co Meath, was sentenced in 2009 to life imprisonment  with a minimum of 14 years to be served - for the murder of Derry man Jim McFadden in May 2007.

Read also: Motorist, with 160 previous convictions, fined for driving without insurance



The High Court previously heard that Meehan was born in Co Louth and raised in neighbouring Co Meath.



In addition to the warrant for Meehan to return to the North to serve his murder sentence, a second warrant was issued for him to be prosecuted in Northern Ireland for being unlawfully at large. A conviction under the Northern Irish legislation could carry a prison sentence of up to two years.



Defence counsel for Meehan, Brian Storan BL, previously asked the judge to delay surrendering his client back to the North so that authorities could consider transferring his sentence to the Republic.



He said that Meehan had applied to have his life sentence transferred from the North to the South in 2017.



Mr Storan said that Meehan got confirmation recently that the Northern Ireland authorities had withdrawn his transfer application back in 2022.



Counsel for the Minister for Justice, Leanora Frawley BL, told the court last month that Meehan was granted temporary unaccompanied leave from prison to meet family members on December 9 2024, but he never returned.



Ms Frawley said that this was not Meehans first rodeo when it comes to extradition matters and that a similar case concerning Meehan was before the courts around a year ago.



Mr Justice McDermott said that someone moving off their own bat south of the border and taking it on themselves to say here I am, I want to transfer is not the way the prison transfer process is envisaged to work.



Meehan was previously extradited to Northern Ireland less than two years ago, after he was described by the Prison Service there as being unlawfully at large.



He had argued that the punitive part of his sentence had been served and that he had actually been released from prison on licence when he came to live here in 2022.



However, the State argued that Meehan was sought in the North as he had instead been unlawfully at large from temporary release, which contained a condition that he not leave Northern Ireland.



In December 2023, the High Court found there was "clear evidence" that the terms of Meehan's release from prison had been breached and ordered his surrender to Northern Ireland.
ActionAid Ireland has called on the people of Louth to stand in solidarity with the millions of women and girls around the world who are victims of gender-based violence this Christmas.

The organisation is highlighting the global crisis of gender-based violence and femicide, which is women being killed because they are a woman, usually by their partners.

Launching its Christmas campaign, ActionAid Ireland said while the festive season is meant to be one of joy, with a woman being killed every ten minutes around the world, this Christmas will be about survival for millions, not celebration.

Speaking at the campaign launch ahead of the global16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, survivor Natasha O Brien, whose brutal assault in 2022 and subsequent suspended sentence for her attacker sparked nationwide conversations said: Gender-based violence is not a distant issue. It is happening in every community and every county in Ireland and globally. It is shocking to see the numbers of women are killed every year, just because they are a woman. Too many women live in fear, without adequate resources or access to justice."

She added: I know what it feels like to be silenced, dismissed, and made invisible. For years I believed that my voice didnt matter until I used it, and this country stood with me. But countless women never get that chance. They suffer in silence, in fear, and without support. Thats why this campaign matters. We cannot look away. We cannot stay silent.

Presenter Muireann OConnell also added her support to the ActionAid Ireland campaign through supporting an online video raising awareness of the issue. actionaid.ie/christmas-appeal- 2025/

ActionAid Ireland CEO, Karol Balfe, said: Femicide is a global problem, with rates in some countries increasing at an alarming rate. For example, the crisis is deepening in Kenya where there was a 79% increase in 2024, highlighting a national emergency of killing women. A report by the police in Kenya shows that one woman is killed every day. In Ireland since 1996, 277 women have been killed (as of November 19th), and in 9 out of 10 cases the killer was a man known to the victim. One in two women in Ireland experiences sexual violence in her lifetime.

She added: We owe a huge amount to women like Natasha OBrien, whose bravery in speaking out is an inspiration for women. This Christmas we are highlighting the epidemic of violence against women in Ireland and around the world and the amazing role that women and womens rights organisations play in creating better laws, policies and awareness. It is because of them that this issue gets attention.

As well as raising awareness around the issue of femicide ActionAid Irelands Christmas appeal will support womens empowerment in Kenya through groups such as Sauti ya Wanawake (Womens Voices). One woman whose life has been transformed through the group, and who features in ActionAid Irelands appeal, is mother of three Ann who almost lost her life when she was attacked with a machete by her husband. She has now begun rebuilding her life through counselling, medical care, and a small business grant.

Last year, ActionAid Ireland helped over 5,000 women in Kenya access safe spaces, counselling, medical care and legal aid. More than 1,200 women were able to take their first steps towards independence through leadership training, financial literacy, and livelihood opportunities such as farming, tailoring and small businesses.

This Christmas we are appealing to the people of Louth to support our appeal and give the gift of protection, dignity and hope. Money raised will help expand frontline services, strengthen protection mechanisms, and ensure more women like Ann can find safety, dignity, and hope. Every donation, no matter the size, helps a woman move from crisis to safety, from fear to freedom, said Karol Balfe.
People across Louth are being invited to nominate someone they know for the AXA Community Hero Awards. The awards are designed to recognise those who make a meaningful difference in their neighbourhood and have a total prize fund worth 80,000.

Four Community Heroes will be selected from around the country and the winners will receive 20,000 each to donate to their chosen charity. Previous winners have included Cork Cancer Connect and Community Connect, Galway. Heroes can be nominated in one of four categories:

Road Safety

Mental Health

Womens safety and wellbeing

Sustainability

AXAs judging panel will be looking to award the prizes to people who have demonstrated leadership, innovation and creativity to help others.

Read also: Little Library initiative in Louth sees over 1,300 young children benefit

Elizabeth Arnett, Chief Communications, Brand & Sustainability Officer at AXA Ireland says The AXA Community Hero Awards are designed to empower people that are actively working to deliver positive change in their localities.

"So many of us know someone who always goes the extra mile to help shape a better future for everyone in their community. AXA want to show them how much their efforts mean and give a real boost to causes close to their hearts.

Mick Comerford, Direct Retail Director at AXA Ireland said: The Community Hero Awards are a chance for us to give back to local areas, which is so important because were part of a wonderful community here.

"One of the best parts of our branch network is getting to know the people right at the heart of those vibrant communities and were looking forward to the chance to highlight the amazing work happening across Ireland.

To make a nomination, members of the public can use 150 words or less to explain how someone has positively impacted their community under one of the four categories, and why they should be recognised as a Community Hero. The nomination can be submitted online using the dedicated page at www.axa.ie.

Staff at AXAs Louth branch at 46-48 Laurence Street, Drogheda, or any of the AXA branches nationwide would be happy to answer any questions people might have about the process.

Nominations are open from now until 4pm Monday 5th January 2026. The AXA Community Heroes will be announced in January 2026.
The crossroads in the East Cork village of Mogeely, once populated by three lively pubs - The Sportsman, Fordes and The Imokilly Tavern - used to be fondly referred to as the Bermuda triangle.

If you landed into one of those pubs, all adjacent and not even a stones throw from each other, then it was said there was a fair chance you would roam between all three for an indefinite period of time. For eternity, possibly!

Today, only one of those pubs remains.

On the corner where the Killeagh road and Mogeely roads intersect, a blue two-storey building stands tall and defiant, The Imokilly Tavern.

The pub itself dates back to the early 1900s and has changed hands numerous times. At the helm today is Hilary Kelly.

She began leasing the pub a few years ago as covid restrictions were loosening. A brave move during a time when the trade was surrounded in uncertainty.

For Hilary, who has lived in Mogeely since 2005, a vital factor in her decision was the sight of older neighbours walking the roads with nowhere to gather and meet friends.

A village needs a pub. It needs a community place for people to gather, and a pub is one of those places where it can be good, she stated.

Seeing people walking the roads because there was nowhere to go, it just made me feel I had to step up.

Hilary had never owned a bar before, but she had spent much of her working life running some of Cork citys best-known and best-loved pubs, including the legendary Hi-B and Sin e, where she managed for years.

When she approached the owners of the Imokilly Tavern about taking over the lease, she found a property that had been kept alive not by commercial ambition, but by a sense of duty to the village.

The pub had originally been owned by Donal and Mary Sweetnam, who lived in the adjoining house and expanded the building in the early 1980s.

Their bar, once divided into the traditional lounge and public bar, was well known locally for its atmosphere and character.

When they eventually sold in 2006, a small group of local men stepped in to buy it, ensuring the village wouldnt lose its social anchor.

One of those men was Mogeely native Ricky Forest, whose father, Dick, is still remembered locally as a good employer. The other owners are Joe and Eamon Hickey and Pat Shanahan

We bought it 20 years ago, says Ricky. For some of us it was for the craic, and for others it was a commercial decision.

But, for me personally, I grew up in a village that had no shops and three pubs and a church. Ive sentimental value to it. It was about keeping the pub going, Ricky adds.

One of the owners of the Imokilly Tavern, Ricky Forest

When the pandemic hit, the previous tenants did not return after lockdown and the building fell idle.

The owners were not in receipt of the pandemic support payment because the pub wasnt open. The chance that it may never reopen loomed. It was felt throughout the community.

Enter Hilary Kelly, the Imokilly Taverns fifth tenant since 2006.

Hilary knew that there was life in the pub, yet.

Understanding the community; the mix of farming families, retirees, newcomers to the village, the wide age demographic, and being a resident herself, she felt confident that she could take the reins.

She started simply, by making it homely, cosy, and inviting.

I think a pub should be somewhere you want to go back to, she says.

Friendly, comfortable, warm. Thats always been my ethos.

She removed the large pool table dominating the centre of the floor and opened up the window seating.

The result, she says, was space, light, and conversation.

Her staff, all local, are the backbone of the place.

Rachel, who has worked in the village for 18 years, has seen the pub change hands multiple times. Hilary trusts her completely. Shes outstanding. And all the young people who work here are local, my own children included, she says

Since reopening, the pub has become a vibrant community hub and the go-to venue for christening, funerals, vintage days and tractor runs... everything.

Hilarys favourite so far has been the rise of the Vintage Ladies, a group of seven local women who cater for the villages tractor run entirely for free, preparing mountains of soup, sandwiches, tea, and treats.

Theyre the backbone of the place, she says. Amazing women.

If Hilary has brought anything to Mogeely, it has been a steady stream of music acts to perform at her pub.

Her years of booking acts for the Sin e in the city provided her with plenty of contacts, and she hasnt been shy about bringing new acts to rural East Cork.

In the beginning, they thought I was mad, she laughs.

All this music - ska bands, bluegrass, stuff theyd never heard. I threw lots of different people at them.

The turning point came with a ska band from Clare; a group she had booked many times in the city.

They loved them. Absolutely loved them. The place erupted. And from then on, they trusted me.

Hilary Kelly in the Imokilly Tavern. She took over the place after the pandemic and says: Seeing people with nowhere to go, it just made me want to step up. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Ever since, the pub has hosted regular music nights including a casual bluegrass session every second Monday, alongside regular gigs that draw crowds from Mogeely and the satellite villages around it - Castlemartyr, Killeagh, Dungourney - as well as even further afield.

What changes has Hilary noticed in the pub trade in recent years?

We sell so much more zero-alcohol stuff now, you have to. Younger couples dont go out as much because of mortgages. In midweek, my busy time is between 4.30 and 8pm, then theyre gone home.

And while many older customers slowly returned after covid, others never did.

There was an awful sense of fear and isolation. Some people are still afraid to come out.

Of Mogeelys original three pubs in that famed Bermuda triangle, The Sportsmans closed before lockdown and was replaced by housing. Fordes pub followed soon after. Their stories, told by the older customers at Hilarys bar, are hilarious.

We do miss them, she says. There was something nice about wandering from one to another. If you fell out with Joe, you could go across to John. Now its just us.

Another pub would actually support us, and we them, its not a competition that way.

How does Hilary wish to continue at The Imokilly Tavern?

I think a pub should be somewhere you want to go back to. If you can get somebody to come back, youre doing something right.
We all remember going to visit Santa when we were little. It was the highlight of the pre-Christmas season and memories were made of this.

Photographs taken with you on Santas knee were treasured for years afterwards, and still turn up in old albums that you bring out to show your grandchildren. While your dog sits at your knee, wondering what all the fuss is about...

Well, now there is no need for Beauregard or Belle, Tasha or Rover to feel left out of the preparations for The Big Mans annual visit.

Yes, you may currently be putting two packs of chews and one box of treats on their shopping list for Christmas Day, but wouldnt your beloved pet also like to visit Santa himself? Maybe even get dressed up, and have his photo taken with him?

Now he can!

Belrose Boarding Kennels & Cattery out at Upton is bringing back its super-successful SantaPaws event at the end of this month, in aid of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.

The late, much missed Lola wearing a Christmas tree, and Phoebe as Robin Hood, with Santa at Belrose

We started this special fundraiser last year in memory of our dear late friend Tim Kelly, to benefit Marymount Hospice, explains Catherine Neary.

We got such amazing support from everybody, and it was all so much fun, were bringing it back again this year, to benefit the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, which is such an important charity, and does so much.

Its not only a service for her regular clients who bring their dogs (and cats) to stay here when they are going away, but so many other visitors crowd in as well, delighted at the opportunity to have their pets pictures taken with Santa, and also to benefit charity.

But is he a friendly Santa, we demanded to know. Does he understand the canine mindset, and will he make his guests feel truly welcome, at ease, and loved?

Catherine peals with laughter.

Oh he does! Every single doggy guest is a delight to him. They get special pats and cuddles, and feel so safe and happy while getting their picture taken.

We have so many pictures from last year, you can see them on our Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/belroseboardingkennels/)

There are some really zany videos to be found on there too, with all the dogs pouring out of the waiting area and into Santas den with delight on every face.

Santas den is really the charming living room that has been set up within the boarding area at Belrose so that dogs can feel really at home when they stay.

Most pets, especially the smaller ones, are used to being in the living room at home, perhaps having an armchair or sofa to sit on, so we thought we would provide all that here for them too, and they love it, said Catherine.

Take a look at their website, and you will see dogs strolling around, taking a nap on the carpet, hopping up on to an armchair, or sharing a sofa with several new friends.

Its a really great idea, and would reassure any nervous pet owner that here at Belrose they really understand their guests.

It will be a chaotic couple of days for Catherine and Martin Neary, with more eager owners and their pets arriving every minute, all eager to capture that special moment when they meet Santa, and bring away a lovely photo memento.

They love every minute of it though, despite the hard work it involves, and the occasional crisis when a tiny Chihuahua or Jack Russell decides it doesnt like a huge Dobermann and is determined to tell him so to his face.

Fortunately, they are both experts in defusing such situations, and are well able to keep things calm.

This year has a poignant touch to it though for Catherine.

We sadly recently lost our beloved dachshund Lola, and well always cherish the photos we have of her from last years SantaPaws, she said.

This years event feels all the more meaningful as we remember our lovely Lola, who brought so much love and joy to everyone she met.

Catherine, anybody who has ever lost a pet will sympathise with your feelings. Happily, we believe there is now a very new furry baby in residence who will, in time, fill the empty space left by Lola.

They cant wait to see everybody at Belrose on Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30.

SantaPaws is such a special event, said Catherine. Its not only a chance to support a great cause like Guide Dogs for the Blind, but also a lovely opportunity to capture memories with your pets that youll treasure forever.

There will be all sorts of other things going on too  exciting raffles, and a special prize for the best-dressed pet!

Belrose Boarding Kennels & Cattery in Upton is bringing back its super-successful SantaPaws event at the end of this month, in aid of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Now who could resist bringing their dearest and closest furry friend along for such an experience?

The opening hours are Saturday, November 29 from noon to 6pm, and Sunday, November 30 from 11am to 4pm. No booking required  walk-ins only.

The charity donation: 20 for a digital photo of your pet with SantaPaws (either cash or via the handy link here). https://guidedogsie.enthuse.com/cf/santapaws-at-belrose-boarding-kennels-and-cattery

Catherine and Martin are already busy hanging the silver chains from the ceiling of The Dog House (really, we think that should be The Dog Drawing Room), and fastening the brightly-coloured Christmas stockings along the mantelpiece above the fireplace.

Thank-you all in advance for your kindness and support! they laugh. Heres hoping we really do some good for Guide Dogs for the Blind this year  and give a lot of pets and their owners some festive cheer!
Cork Craft and Design has officially launched a new campaign encouraging more conscious Christmas gifting ahead of Black Friday.

Cork Craft and Design, one of the largest collectives of multi-disciplinary craftmakers in the country, is urging shoppers to take a conscious step this Christmas to choose locally made, handcrafted gifts instead of commercial, mass-produced items.

The organisation, which represents more than 110 Cork-based makers, has launched the #ChooseCraftInstead campaign to inspire more mindful gifting this festive season.

Sustain

The initiative highlights how every handmade purchase helps sustain traditional skills, supports local jobs, and keeps Corks creative culture alive.

Michael Whyte, chairperson of Cork Craft and Design, and owner of Ro Og Wooden Toys, said the annual custom of Black Friday can make shopping feel fast, frantic, and disposable.

However, craft is the complete opposite of that, said Mr Whyte.

Every piece created by our makers carries with it time, care, and creativity.

When you buy something handmade, youre investing in a story, a skill, and a community.

Jade Hogan, operations manager at Cork Craft and Design, said theres something incredibly special about gifting something that was made by hand.

Every piece has its own personality and its own story to tell, said Ms Hogan.

For us as makers, every purchase is a validation of what we do.

Handcrafted

From hand-thrown ceramics and illustrated prints, to sustainable wooden toys, textiles, jewellery, and furniture, Cork Craft and Designs network of makers has more than 4,000 handcrafted gifts on offer this year.

All items are available for purchase online at corkcraftanddesign.ie and in-store at Douglas Court Shopping Centre and St Patricks Woollen Mills in Douglas.
Cork city is to see an increased garda presence from this week on, as 48 new gardai began a new high visibility policing plan yesterday in the city centre.

The Cork Business Association has said the move should help reduce antisocial behaviour, thefts and violence.

Following the recent allocation of 36 probationer gardai and transfers of additional gardai, An Garda Siochana in the Cork City Division has launched a permanent 'high visibility policing plan' to increase the visible policing presence in Cork city centre, effective immediately.

The Cork City Division recently gained an additional 48 gardai which will support the operation. This will lead to an increase in foot patrols in locations that were selected following feedback from communities and businesses in the city, as well as from garda crime location data.

Dave O'Brien, president of Cork Business Association (CBA), told The Echo: Were delighted with this. Weve had extra gardai on the street in the run-up to Christmas for a lot of the past few years, but they tend to go away again after  this is permanent.

Its a massive increase in visible gardai, and the fact that theyve looked at the areas and streets which need these services, and will be assigning gardai to those particular areas, is very welcome.

New Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly told the Oireachtas justice committee this month that the high-visibility initiative had been hugely successful in Dublin.

He said it has resulted in an 18% increase in detections of antisocial behaviour, 67% of drunkenness and 3% of drugs for sale or supply, while theft from a person was down 28%, robbery from an establishment down 9%, begging down 57%, and assaults causing harm down 17%.

Mr OBrien said the CBA anticipates these crimes will also decrease in Cork city, saying: Weve stressed to gardai over the years that there just wasnt a visible presence. With this amount of gardai, we fully expect these kind of issues to reduce accordingly. While

He said It will hopefully lead to a fall in retail thefts and improve the perception of safety in the city, likely leading to increased footfall, boosting businesses.

There was a perception in Cork city before that people werent feeling safe, which meant people were apprehensive. This visibility will encourage more people to come into town.

We see it during Christmas ever year and now it will be an all-year-round thing  businesses are delighted.

The CBA has been campaigning for this for years now.

Were in close contact with the gardai, so were really pleased this has come to fruition, we want to say well done to the new commissioner for making it happen and to the local gardai as well.

In total, 11 high-visibility posts/beats across the city have been selected, operating between 8am and 4am. Gardai will be at each of these posts at all times during the operating hours. A total of 23 gardai will be assigned to this operation every day, comprising 11 gardai during daytime hours and 12 gardai during the night.

The high-visibility policing presence in the city centre has an increased focus on policing public order offences, antisocial behaviour, drug dealing, aggressive begging, and shoplifting, with a pro-arrest policy for recidivist offenders.

Foot patrols will be supported by the Cork City Garda Roads Policing Unit, the Garda Public Order Unit, and both detective and plainclothes gardai.

Southern region Assistant Garda Commissioner Eileen Foster said the foot patrols increase garda visibility and offer public reassurance that public realms and amenities in Cork city centre are, and continue to be, safe places to live, visit, socialise, conduct business and enjoy.

Cork City Division Chief Superintendent Thomas Myers added: This is an acknowledgement that Cork city needed additional resources and we look forward to high-visibility patrols, particularly in the build-up to Christmas.
A 21-year-old man who was looking forward to his future suffered devastating consequences from a serious assault in Cork city centre from another young man, who had previously led a blameless life.

Yesterday, the accused was given a four-year suspended sentence.

Judge Dermot Sheehan said: The matter that has really troubled me about this is that, given the damage done to the young man, it may be  notwithstanding all the mitigation  that the accused should, at least in part, have a custodial sentence.

I have to think of general deterrence. Young men like the accused, late at night in the city centre, have to be deterred from punching people, because too often it leads to catastrophic consequences.

On the other hand, the accused was 20. I do not think that, in the end, society is going to benefit from the accused serving any period in custody.

The sentence of four years is suspended. It will have an effect on his ability to travel and on his employment. It does have a real consequence for a young man like the accused.

Louis Herdman, from Rivers Edge, Clash Rd, Cork, pleaded guilty to the charge that on February 8, 2024, at Grand Parade Cork, he intentionally or recklessly caused serious harm to James Dunford, contrary to Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Judge Sheehan said: I was concerned about the seriousness of the injury. The injured party was out that evening with his friends, and this occurred in the early hours of the morning.

Mr Dunford was unconscious and bleeding from his ears. An ambulance took him to Cork University Hospital, where he spent 15 days  some of it in an induced coma.

There was a traumatic skull fracture and facial fractures.

He seems to have had episodes, significant episodes, in terms of his recovery. It has not been simple or straight line. It has had ongoing and distressing consequences for him.

He was looking forward to his future. That has come to an abrupt end due to the actions of Mr Herdman.

His study life, his social life, and his sporting life have been seriously affected, which is a terrible thing for a young man.

Distressing to see that someone  through no fault of their own  is left in this condition due to the actions of Mr Herdman.

The accused was 20 years at the time. He told his parents. He came to the gardai the following day. He realised early on that what he had done had serious consequences.

He made full and frank admissions.

He entered a signed plea of guilty, which is very helpful.

The accused has shown remorse. He has brought to court 20,000. It will only be a drop in the ocean, if this was a High Court claim, but it is a considerable sum of money from the accuseds resources.

I take it as indicating genuine remorse.

His understanding of what he has done is apparent now. He realises how serious this is. He, too, is a student. Up to the time he did this, he led a blameless life. He will be marked by this. He shows a low risk of reoffending. He has the support of his family. He works hard to put himself through college.

He added: The probation officer says he is unlikely to be before the courts again.

The injured party, James Dunford, said: My life and future is now one of medical visits, financial, and general uncertainty. A lot of unknowns: My career, earning potential, my relationships, epilepsy, fear of certain environments. Im always going to have brain injury, and this is always going to affect me and everyone who loves me.

Judge Sheehan said: This is a very difficult matter, where the accused has struck the unfortunate victim with considerable force.

But notwithstanding the striking with considerable force, it is not that which causes us to be here. What really brings us here is the injury to the brain, which  from reading the reports  must have come from striking the ground. The consequences are desperate for Mr Dunford.
A process to look at building a new prison in Dublin is to begin next year but plans to open a second prison in Cork are still to go ahead, justice minister Jim OCallaghan has confirmed, as overcrowding figures in Cork creep close to record highs.

Cork Prison has a capacity of 296 but has been over this every day since 2023, reaching a record high of 403 in August. As of yesterday, there were 382 people incarcerated in the facility, representing 129% capacity.

Earlier this year, the Government announced plans to build a new prison alongside the current one, utilising the site of the old Cork prison, which was closed in 2016. This will be demolished and replaced with the new prison.

These plans are ongoing, though Cork TDs and councillors from many different parties have spoken out against the plan, saying a commitment was made to the neighbouring community that the old facility would not reopen as a prison.

Fine Gael councillor Shane OCallaghan previously told The Echo that the old prison should not be demolished due to its history and should instead be utilised as a heritage site, and that a larger prison at Thornton Hall in Dublin would make more sense.

The Government has confirmed that it intends to progress plans for new facilities in both Thornton Hall and Cork.

Mr OCallaghan said in the Dail last week that a record capital investment of 527m is being provided to the Irish Prison Service from 2026 to 2030, 495m of which is being provided for capital works to build 1,595 prison spaces by 2031.

It will include a new prison on the site of the old Cork prison, a new block in Wheatfield, an additional block extension at Midlands Prison, as well as additional spaces at Castlerea, Mountjoy, Cloverhill, Portlaoise, Limerick, and Dochas, he said.

Mr OCallaghan added: It will also fund planning and commencement of the construction of a new prison in north Co Dublin. A master plan for the Thornton site will be developed in 2026.
A Cork Active Retirement bowls team took home the top prize for the third year in succession at the annual national bowls competition.

The competition, now in its 13th year, took place across three days at the INEC Arena in Killarney, Co Kerry.

Throughout the competition, 64, four-person active retirement bowls teams, including eight from Cork, competed across the large and small bowls competitions.

This year saw members Breda Treacy, Denis Mulcahy, Dennis Heffernan and Liam Hickey of Midletons Magpies Active Retirement bowls team once again win the 2025 Large Bowls Cup.

The team were presented the award by Active Retirement Ireland national president, Mai Quaid and CEO, Fran Brennan at a special gala ball.

Other Cork teams that took part in the competition include the Superbowlers, Rebel Bowls, Owenacurra, Mardyke Rebels, Mardyke Giants, as well as Cathedral 1, and Cathedral 2.

Speaking at the awards presentation, Ms Brennan congratulated all the competition participants in this years event.

Well done to all teams who participated in this years National Bowls Competition and special congratulations to our finalists across the large and small bowls tournaments, said Ms Brennan.

This tournament is a celebration of older people and their right to live independent, full lives in which they can stay socially connected and be active participants in their communities.

The more than 450 competitors, volunteer officials, and spectators who have joined us in Killarney exemplify the drive and self-determination of older people to live their best life in later life.

We are all ageing, and it cannot be too much to ask that people in Ireland be supported to age well, with dignity, independence and equality.

For more information, visit: activeirl.ie.
Several dozen Bank of Ireland staff pension fund (BSPF) members protested outside the banks South Mall branch last week over reductions to their pensions.

Paul Harty, a member of the Justice for the BSPF group, explained that reductions were introduced in 2010 and again in 2013, and that BSPF members agreed these as a result of the dire financial state of the bank during the financial crash.

Mr Harty said: The BSPF members felt they had no option but to accept the draconian pension changes, based on the dire state of Bank of Irelands balance sheet at that time.

These changes were accepted by BSPF members, partly based on a commitment given by the bank in 2010 and 2013 to review the situation when circumstances improved, he said. However, there has been no review. The BSPF members are furious that Bank of Ireland senior management have not shown any willingness to address this issue.

Disgust

They protested outside 32 South Mall, Cork city, to demonstrate their disgust with BoI senior management for ignoring this issue, following a similar protest outside the banks Dublin headquarters in October.

Mr Harty said: Bank of Irelands senior managements intransigence is seriously impacting the income of its current, deferred, and future Bank of Ireland staff pension fund members.

A group of 80 pension members protested to show their frustration, and to demand that the pension changes be reversed in light of the huge profits that Bank of Ireland are reporting.

Clawback rules

The Dublin protest was organised by the retired members committee of the Financial Services Union, with chairperson Ciaran Mahon saying: Despite record profits, no increase was granted to pensioners in the Republic of Ireland for 2024, due to the existing clawback rules.

Cost-of-living expenses are continuously rising. Pensions have not kept pace with these increases over the years and, because of the clawback, have been eroded, with those on lower pensions being hardest hit.

The union noted that the banks operating profits now exceed pre-crash levels, and that the bank had stated that it had reviewed the scheme, but had not shared the contents of that review with the union and, to date, had refused to make any changes.

The Echo contacted Bank of Ireland for comment.
Eimear Dodd

A pensioner who imported over 280,000 of cocaine into Ireland has been jailed for two years and three months.

Joachim Ruckweld (70) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importation of cocaine for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on November 17th, 2024.

Garda Lee Jones gave evidence that Ruckweld arrived on a flight from Zurich and was seen acting suspiciously.

His luggage was x-rayed and an anomaly was detected. When his luggage was searched, 20 packages containing a total of 4kg of cocaine, valued at 280,250, were found.

Ruckweld, of Jagerstrasse, Korn, Germany said the luggage belonged to him, that he packed it himself and that it contained coffee beans.

He said he wasn't a drugs user and had been instructed to meet someone in Ireland. He said he got the bag in Brazil and that his travel and accommodation was arranged for him.

Ruckweld told gardai he was a pensioner living between Germany, South America, and Florida. He said he didn't know what was in the suitcase but believed it was untoward. He denied that he was due to be paid and said he hadn't done it before.

Ruckweld has been in custody since his arrest and has no previous convictions.

Gda Jones agreed with a suggestion from Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, that his client was a bit naive. He also said he accepts Ruckweld's assertion that he hadn't made a trip like this before.

Mr Dwyer said there was no evidence that his client has a criminal record anywhere and asked the court to treat him as a person who was stupid and naive to become involved in this.

His client worked before his retirement and is doing well in custody.

Judge Dara Hayes said it was slightly curious why a man of his age would engage in such behaviour at this stage of his life and that no explanation had been provided to the court.

He said while it may have been his [Ruckweld's] first trip, it is clear he knew what he was doing was wrong.

The judge said it was an aggravating feature that Ruckweld's offending was in assistance to serious criminal elements as well the negative impact that the drugs trade has on society and communities.

Having considered the mitigation, Judge Hayes imposed a sentence of two years and nine months with the final six months suspended on strict conditions, backdated to when Ruckweld went into custody.
Elizabeth City, N.C.  Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) has been awarded a $1,923,005 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund its TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program. This multi-year award will enhance ECSU's efforts to improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities.



The TRIO SSS program provides a comprehensive network of individualized support services, including academic tutoring, financial aid and scholarship guidance, career exploration, personal and academic counseling, and mentoring. These resources are designed to help students navigate barriers to success, stay on track academically, and graduate with minimal debt.



"This grant allows Elizabeth City State University to deepen our commitment to ensuring that all studentsregardless of their backgroundcan thrive both academically and personally," said Dr. Kimberly Stanley, Program Director for TRIO Student Support Services at ECSU. "SSS levels the playing field and empowers our students with the tools, support, and confidence they need to succeed and lead."



National data backs the impact of the SSS program. A 2019 U.S. Department of Education evaluation found that students participating in SSS were 48% more likely to earn an associate degree or transfer to a four-year institution (at two-year schools), and 18% more likely to earn a bachelor's degree (at four-year institutions), compared to peers not enrolled in the program.



Student Support Services is one of eight federal TRIO programs established under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Since its launch in 1968, SSS has helped millions of students access, persist, and succeed in postsecondary education, ultimately enriching their communities and contributing to the national economy. Notable SSS alumni include Michael Cashman, Town Supervisor of Plattsburgh, NY; former NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez; and Cheryl Johnson, 36th Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.



For more information about TRIO Student Support Services at Elizabeth City State University, visit https://ecsu.edu or contact Dr. Kimberly Stanley at kdstanley@ecsu.edu.



About Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City State University provides students with a high-quality, affordable education. A constituent member of the University of North Carolina System, ECSU develops courageous, resilient, and empowered leaders through excellent student-centered, experiential learning. ECSU offers baccalaureate, professional, and master's degrees across various disciplines. Come to Discover. Leave to Conquer. Visit www.ecsu.edu



About the Federal TRIO Programs

TRIO programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science, Veterans Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers, and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program) help students overcome academic, economic, and social barriers to higher education. TRIO services include assistance in choosing a college and tutoring; personal, financial, and career counseling; assistance in applying to college; workplace and college visits; special instruction in reading, writing, study skills, and mathematics; assistance in applying for financial aid; and academic assistance in high school or assistance to reenter high school or college.




WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press before departing the White House on Marine One in Washington, D.C., on November 22, 2025. (Photo by Allison Robbert/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press before departing the White House on Marine One in Washington, D.C., on November 22, 2025. (Photo by Allison Robbert/For The Washington Post via Getty Images) (The Washington Post via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump has issued a new Executive Order that launches the Genesis Mission, an AI-focused initiative that will be led by the Department of Energy. It will harness the current AI and advanced computing revolution to double the productivity and impact of American science and engineering within a decade, the DOE explained. One of the missions main goals is to build a centralized platform that will house a huge collection of datasets collected over decades of federal investments, as well as datasets from academic institutions and partners from the private sector.

Those datasets will then be used to train scientific foundation models and to create AI agents, automate research workflows and accelerate scientific breakthroughs, the administration said in its announcement. The platform will connect the worlds best supercomputers, AI systems, and next-generation quantum systems with the most advanced scientific instruments in the nation, the Energy department said.

Based on that statement, the platform will be linked to the two sovereign AI supercomputers the agency is building at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, its famous research and development center. The machines, to be built by Hewlett Packard Enterprises, are meant to be the Trump AI Action Plans flagship supercomputers. The DOE previously revealed that the machines will be powered by AMD chips and will help tackle the biggest challenges in energy, medicine, health and national security.

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The Genesis Mission marks a defining moment for the next era of American science. We are linking the nations most advanced facilities, data, and computing into one closed-loop system to create a scientific instrument for the ages, an engine for discovery that doubles R&D productivity and solves challenges once thought impossible, said Dr. Dario Gil, the Under Secretary for Science and Genesis Mission Director.

In the next four months, the Energy department must identify its initial set of data and model assets for the Genesis platform. The department must be able to demonstrate an initial operating capability of the platform for at least one of the national science and technology challenges the government has identified within nine months. While the list of challenges is pretty long, the Genesis Mission will focus on addressing three key challenges overall. First, it aims to accelerate nuclear and fusion energy, as well as to modernize the energy grid using AI. It also aims to power scientific discoveries for decades to come. Finally, it aims to create advanced AI technologies for the purpose of national security, such as systems that can ensure the reliability of Americas nuclear weapons and can accelerate the development of materials for defense.
Apple has laid off dozens of employees across its sales team to streamline the organization and eliminate overlapping roles., according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman. To connect with even more customers, we are making some changes in our sales team that affect a small number of roles, the company told Gurman, though it didnt say how many people were affected. Apple also said that its hiring for new sales roles and that laid off employees can apply for them. They have until January 20 to secure a new position within the company, or they will be let go with a severance package.

Some of the affected workers told Gurman that while Apples official internal reason was to streamline its organization, the layoffs were primarily driven by its plan to shift sales more towards third-party resellers. By relying on third-party channels further, Apple could lower costs like its spending for peoples salaries, especially since it eliminated longtime employees. They reportedly include managers and other staff members whove been with the company for 20 to 30 years.

Apples government sales team, which works with the Defense and Justice departments, was one of the biggest groups affected by the layoffs. Its not quite clear if it was a direct effect of the recent US government shutdown. As Gurman notes, the layoffs have taken place in the middle of a record-breaking period. After posting a $102.5 billion revenue for the quarter ending in September, its now on track to make $140 billion in sales for the quarter ending in December.
Yes, its Tuesday, but the Black Friday sale bonanza continues to start earlier (wielded by even more retailers) each year. Our team was, is and will be curating the best Black Friday tech deals for this years retail push and with less than a week to go, plenty of the best offers are already live.

One surprise: PlayStation 5 discounts, with $100 off all the versions of the console . That brings the PS5 Digital Edition down to $399, the standard PS5 to $449 and the new PS5 Pro to $649.

Its also a good year for home tech, whether youre looking for an air fryer upgrade or even a Dyson robot vacuum with $600 off. Its not the right season for it, but Ninjas ice cream maker is down to $180 too.

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In recent years, Black Friday sales have included even the most premium recent models, though the discounts are a little less remarkable. For example, the AirPods Pro 3 are currently on sale with a $29 discount on Amazon. Sadly, no discount for the iPhone Pocket.

 Mat Smith

The biggest stories on Engadget.com

Get the ad-supported plan for $3 per month for one year.

HBO Max has rolled out a limited-time one-year subscription for $3 per month, a total cost of $36 for a year. The deals Basic With Ads plan, which allows full HD streaming on two devices, costs $11 a month at full price.

The MasterClass Black Friday deal has up to 50 percent off subscriptions. Annual plans cost $120 to $240, so its a notable discount  and it works for returning users too.

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Meanwhile, Audible is offering three months for $3, with access to Audibles enormous library of published audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals. Sadly, itll then revert to the usual $15 a month.

More Black Friday deals on subscription services.

Deactivating Facebook may lessen depression, anxiety and loneliness.

Meta allegedly suspended internal research into the mental health effects of its products after it showed that people who stopped using Facebook experienced less depression, anxiety and loneliness. This comes from unredacted court filings in a lawsuit filed by multiple US school districts against major social media companies. According to Reuters, the filings also showed internal research staff expressing the findings had merit. One compared the findings to the tobacco industry doing research and knowing cigs were bad and then keeping that info to themselves.

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Yesterday, Malaysia announced it plans to ban social media for young people, like Denmark and Australia.

Continue reading.

Stylish to a fault.

Dell 16 TMA (Engadget)

Dells 16 Premium looks as beautiful as ever, but the companys usability issues from the XPS lineup remain. Its kept the invisible trackpad, and the keyboards function keys disappear under sunlight. Its gorgeous and fast, but as a premium device, we want more functionality, more battery life, more ports. Just more.

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United States President Donald Trump is reportedly pushing to bring back the "Rush Hour" action-comedy series with a fourth installment.

The Republican lawmaker has personally urged Larry Ellison, the major shareholder of Paramount, to greenlight the project and revive the buddy-cop movies that starred Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker.

The president has expressed his desire to bring back action films and comedies from the late 1980s and 1990s, and the "Rush Hour" franchise sits at the top of his revival list, according to the Los Angeles Times. Trump is said to have "personally pressed" Ellison on the matter as the media company continues discussions about potentially acquiring parts of Warner Bros. Discovery, which currently owns the "Rush Hour" brand through New Line Cinema.

The original "Rush Hour" movie came out in 1998, followed by sequels in 2001 and 2007. The trilogy earned a combined $850 million worldwide, with the films directed by Brett Ratner. The movies follow two cops from different backgrounds who team up to solve crimes, combining martial arts action with comedy and humor.

For years, there has been talk about making a fourth film. Jackie Chan confirmed in 2017 that he and Chris Tucker had finally agreed on a script, but the project never moved forward. More recently, in 2023, Chris Tucker said he would be willing to return to the franchise because he "loves working with Jackie." When asked about "Rush Hour 4" in 2025, Chan expressed frustration with the delays, joking that he and Tucker would be "100 years old" before the movie gets made if production doesn't start soon, the New York Magazine reported.

The connection between Trump and the franchise may be more personal than just enthusiasm for the films. Brett Ratner, the director of the original "Rush Hour" movies, recently directed a $40 million Melania Trump documentary for Amazon and MGM. Ratner has worked with Trump on other projects, including filming at Trump Tower for the movie "Tower Heist."

No official announcement has been made by Paramount, Jackie Chan, or Chris Tucker about whether "Rush Hour 4" will actually be made, as per Yahoo News. The studio has not confirmed whether Trump's push will result in greenlighting the project.
Erika Kirk is speaking out after a warm hug she shared with Vice President JD Vance sparked online criticism and rumors.

The moment happened on October 29 during a Turning Point USA event held in honor of her late husband, Charlie Kirk.

Many people online claimed the hug looked too intimate, but Erika says the scene was misunderstood.

During an appearance on "Megyn Kelly Live," Erika, 37, explained exactly what happened. She said that right before the hug, an emotional tribute video for Charlie played on the screen.

"My love language is touch, if you will," she said, adding that she began crying as she and the vice president walked toward each other, US Magazine reported.

According to Erika, Vance told her, "I'm so proud of you," and she replied, "God bless you," while she lightly placed her hand on the back of his heada gesture she says she gives to many people when offering comfort.

Kelly joked that critics acted "like you touched the back of his ass," which made Erika laugh.

She added that she likely wouldn't have received as much anger if that had been the case.

 ERIKA KIRK: ID GET LESS HATE IF I TOUCHED JD VANCES ASS



In her interview with Megyn Kelly, Erika Kirk finally addressed the viral hug clip and she didnt hold back.



Megyn says critics went to the weirdest places over a hug:



They were acting like you touched the pic.twitter.com/1eWUeOCbpZ  HustleBitch (@HustleBitch_) November 24, 2025

Erika Kirk Defends Hug With VP JD Vance

According to DailyMail, online reactions grew louder after photos showed Vance briefly resting his hands on her waist, but Erika insists it was simply a moment of shared grief.

Her explanation came as the vice president's wife, Usha Vance, faced her own round of attention after being photographed without her wedding ring.

A spokesperson clarified that Usha, a mother of three, often removes her ring when doing chores and simply forgot to put it back on.

Erika's hug with Vance took place shortly before she introduced him onstage. At the event, she said that no one could ever replace Charlie, but she saw small similarities between her husband and the vice president, especially in their compassion for others.

Since Charlie's death on September 10, Erika has taken over as CEO of Turning Point USA. Charlie, who was 31, was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University.

The suspect, Tyler Robinson, has pleaded not guilty to several charges, including aggravated murder.

Erika also shared that she and Charlie had hoped to grow their family. The couple has two children, and she said they once dreamed of having four. Now, she encourages young couples not to delay starting a family if it's important to them.
Farmers from every corner of the UK are gearing up for what could be one of the most striking rural demonstrations in years, as hundreds prepare to make their way to Whitehall in a demand for fairness and a future for British farming.

The protest, organised by Berkshire Farmers under the banner Farmers To London: Budget Day, has been deliberately timed to coincide with Chancellor Rachel Reeves autumn budget.

The demonstration was originally expected to see tractors entering central London from 9am on Wednesday (26 November), travelling via the A4 at Trafalgar Square. However, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed that agricultural vehicles will not be permitted at the protest.

In a statement issued ahead of the event, the Met said it had held a number of conversations with the protest organisers to safely manage the event, and that while the demonstration will still go ahead, conditions have been put in place to prevent protesters from bringing vehicles, including tractors or other agricultural vehicles.

The force said the decision was taken due to the serious disruption such vehicles could cause to businesses, emergency services and Londoners travelling through the area.

Under the conditions set by police, anyone taking part in the protest must remain in Richmond Terrace, Whitehall within the shaded area on the map provided by the Met.

Despite the new restrictions, organisers say the rally will continue to highlight mounting anger over inheritance tax reforms set for April 2026, along with broader concerns about the long-term survival of family farms.

Under the governments proposals, announced in the 2024 autumn budget, agricultural property relief will be capped at 1 million, with any value above that facing a 50% charge.

Many in the sector warn that the overhaul of agricultural and business property relief could saddle families with heavy tax burdens when passing on holdings, potentially forcing sales or the break-up of long-established farms.

Organisers say the surge in support reflects deepening unease across the countryside, fuelled by rising input costs, shifting support schemes and what many view as a lack of clear long-term strategy for British agriculture.

Wednesdays demonstration is scheduled to run from 9am to 4pm, drawing farmers, families and supporters into the heart of government in what is billed as a peaceful, community-led rally.

A programme of speeches will begin mid-morning. Between 10.30am and 11.30am, prominent opposition MPs are expected to address the crowd, followed by a Starmers Farm Live segment shortly before the chancellor delivers the Budget at 12.30pm. Further contributions from farmers and campaigners will take place throughout the afternoon.

The current inheritance tax system threatens family farms and rural livelihoods  its time for change, organisers said, describing the event as a peaceful, farmer-led protest  by the people, for the people who feed the nation.

They hope to reinforce the importance of protecting family farms, which have anchored rural communities for generations.

Speakers will emphasise safeguarding domestic food production, protecting rural jobs and securing the future of the next generation. One organiser said, Generations of hard work and stewardship are on the line, urging people to bring your tractor and stand to make a difference.

Although vehicles will now be barred from the area, the event remains free and open to all. Organisers are encouraging both farmers and the public to stand together at a moment when the budget is expected to set the tone for future rural policy. Lets stand together for farming families and a fair future, they added.
The National Pig Association has challenged the BBC over what it describes as a serious distortion of UK pig farming, after a widely shared clip from the Radical with Amol Rajan podcast was circulated online.

In a letter sent on behalf of its pig producer members, the NPA lodged a formal complaint, saying the segment portrays inaccurate information and risks misleading the public.

The clip, taken from a 24 November interview with writer and farmer James Rebanks, suggested that some British farms keep pig populations in the hundreds of thousands.

The NPA argues this claim is wholly unfounded, warning that Rebanks wrongly conflated pig ownership with the size of individual farms or holdings.

Government figures cited by the association show a very different picture. The most recent data places the average UK pig farm at 476 animals, rising to 938 when holdings of fewer than 10 pigs are excluded.

For breeding herds, the averages are 71 sows  or 154 when removing very small holdings  far from the industrial-scale numbers implied in the podcast.

The NPA also disputed the suggestion that pig and poultry units operate without strict oversight, stressing that both sectors are among the most tightly regulated in British agriculture.

Farms in England with 2,000 places for production pigs over 30kg, or 750 spaces for sows, are required to hold an environmental permit enforced by the Environment Agency, and must comply with enhanced regulatory standards.

The association noted that this level of permitting currently applies only to pig and poultry enterprises, underscoring the sectors high compliance demands.

The organisation criticised what it described as an editorial decision by BBC Radio 4 to isolate and promote the disputed portion of the conversation, a move it believes has amplified misinformation.

The clip has been viewed 100,000s of times across BBC social media channels, the NPA said, despite the inaccuracies it contains.

Concerned about the reach and impact of the claims, the association has asked the broadcaster to remove the clip and issue a correction to prevent the continued spread of misleading impressions about the industry.
Britains countryside is set for a major crackdown on organised criminal gangs as police unveil a new three-year strategy designed to tackle the growing threat to rural communities, farms and wildlife.

The plan introduces a stronger intelligence-led approach to rural crime, with forces set to use advanced data analytics and national crime-mapping to pinpoint hotspots and track offending patterns across the country.

Police chiefs say the shift will help target organised crime groups operating in remote areas more effectively and ensure resources are deployed where they are most needed.

Officers are also turning to new technology, including expanded drone use and other air-support tools, to help tackle wildlife crime in vast and difficult terrain.

The strategy coincides with new legislative powers in the Crime and Policing Bill, expected to gain Royal Assent next year, which will allow officers to recover stolen agricultural machinery more quickly and without a warrant.

National training programmes will also be rolled out to help forces investigate machinery theft, livestock crime and wildlife offences, with DNA analysis used to identify offenders and strengthen prosecutions.

Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison, the National Police Chiefs Council lead for Rural and Wildlife Crime, said officers across the country were already working tirelessly to protect rural areas.

The strategy 20252028 sets out clear priorities and help focus these efforts, he said. Rural crime is constantly evolving and by working with our communities and our stakeholders, we are best placed to meet this challenge with a response that is robust and effective.

"This is about more than just protecting animals and property; this is about confronting serious organised criminality that exploits our environment and undermines communities.

As police prepare to roll out the new strategy, recent figures suggest some progress is already being made. The financial toll of rural crime has fallen by more than 16%, according to NFU Mutuals latest report, with coordinated crackdowns and increased community vigilance credited for the improvement.

Agricultural vehicle theft  historically one of the most disruptive and costly crimes affecting farmers  dropped by 35% to an estimated 7 million. Quad bikes and ATVs remain prime targets, but losses fell by 16% to 2.7 million, highlighting the impact of better intelligence-sharing and more proactive policing.

Police leaders say the strategy will help build on this momentum and strengthen visible policing in rural areas, addressing longstanding concerns that isolated communities feel more vulnerable and less connected to local forces than those in urban areas.

Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said rural crime can wreak havoc on the livelihoods of farmers and countryside communities and welcomed the tougher approach.

She said the strategy, combined with new powers to target criminals stealing machinery, livestock and equipment, was a key part of efforts to deliver safer streets. Our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will also play a crucial role embedding visible policing back into neighbourhoods, including rural areas, she added.

Rural affairs minister Angela Eagle said rural crime inflicted multimillion-pound losses each year through stolen machinery, livestock and offences such as hare coursing. She said the combination of new powers, improved data sharing and increased collaboration would help forces make countryside communities safer.

The strategy sets out nine priority crime areas, including machinery and livestock theft, livestock worrying, illegal hunting, poaching and offences against protected species such as bats, badgers and birds of prey.

Police warn these crimes undermine both the economic and social stability of rural life and are increasingly carried out by organised groups bringing a level of sophistication and menace that demands a coordinated national response.

So far this year, rural policing teams have recovered more than 12.7 million worth of stolen machinery, including 825,500 traced from overseas, leading to 155 arrests.

The Home Office is providing funding for both the National Rural Crime Unit and the National Wildlife Crime Unit this financial year, alongside plans to enforce the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, which will require new all-terrain vehicles and GPS units to be properly marked and registered.

The strategy has been broadly welcomed across the rural sector. NFU vice-president Rachel Hallos said farmers had long called for a more joined-up approach.

For too long, criminal gangs have exploited the countryside, targeting machinery, livestock and land with devastating impacts on businesses and families, she said, adding that delivery on the ground would be crucial.

The National Rural Crime Network said the strategys focus on organised criminal networks, waste crime and fly-tipping, along with recognition of rural vulnerabilities such as isolation and mental-health pressures, was encouraging.

The organisation said it would work with law enforcement and government to help secure the funding and legislative changes needed to protect rural communities.

Country Land and Business Association president Gavin Lane also welcomed the strategy but urged urgent action, including embedding rural crime teams in every force and ensuring long-term funding, essential equipment and improved training for call handlers.

He said many rural communities were already struggling with isolation and had had enough of criminals and violent organised gangs targeting them.

The strategy will now be rolled out across police forces as preparations begin for its full implementation between 2025 and 2028.
European seed-breeding firm RAGT is set to significantly expand its malting barley breeding footprint after reaching an agreement to acquire Syngentas 2-row spring and winter malting barley seeds business.

The deal, announced jointly by both companies, will see RAGT take over Syngentas specialist malting barley operations, subject to standard approvals and employee consultation procedures.

The acquisition includes Syngentas Market Stainton site in Lincolnshire  a long-established centre of excellence for malting barley breeding  along with specific intellectual property, registrations and related assets.

The facility has been a major breeding hub since the late 1970s, carrying out year-round crossing of spring and winter 2-row barley, extensive field screening, seed multiplication and thousands of micromalt quality tests each year.

It plays a crucial role in developing new barley varieties for the UK and European brewing and distilling markets. Around 10 Syngenta employees dedicated to the malting barley programme will transfer to RAGT as part of the agreement.

RAGT already has a strong presence in the European barley market, and the addition of Syngentas portfolio will further strengthen its pipeline of spring and winter malting varieties.

The company said the deal would allow it to offer a broader and more competitive range of genetics to farmers, maltsters, brewers and distillers across multiple countries.

Damien Robert, managing director of RAGT Semences, said the acquisition marks an important milestone in advancing our growth strategy, aligned with the companys RAGT 2030 vision.

He said it strengthens our position in key European markets and creates clear synergies within our existing portfolio, with significant potential to accelerate technologies that will benefit growers across Europe.

Syngenta said the sale allows its malting barley genetics to continue developing under an organisation well known for its cereal breeding strengths.

Robert Hiles, seeds field crops marketing head at Syngenta Europe, said the deal would leverage the leading germplasm and growth potential of Syngentas malting barley business, adding that RAGT offers excellent prospects for the team and the wider supply chain. He expressed confidence in a smooth transition and continued high-quality service.

The malting barley sector is a cornerstone of the UK and European brewing and distilling industries, supplying malt for beer, whisky and spirits markets worth billions of pounds each year. Both companies say the agreement will help support long-term crop development in a competitive and rapidly evolving market.

RAGT and Syngenta will work together in the coming months to ensure an orderly handover and maintain strong customer support. Both organisations say the acquisition lays the groundwork for a more robust and innovative breeding pipeline serving growers and the malting supply chain well beyond 2025.

Completion of the agreement is expected by 30 December 2025. Financial details have not been disclosed.
Farmers and land managers across Scotland could see decades of collaborative deer management put at risk unless MSPs fix punitive and unclear elements of the Natural Environment Bill, Scottish Land & Estates has warned.

The Scotland-only Bill, which aims to strengthen nature restoration and reform wildlife management rules, is now at a crucial Stage 2 amendment phase.

But SLE says several proposals lack clarity and could have serious consequences for the people who work the land daily  including farmers, estate workers and professional stalkers  who deliver the bulk of Scotlands deer control.

Private land managers account for around 80% of the national cull, viewed as essential for balancing grazing pressure, protecting crops and supporting woodland regeneration.

Their concerns echo the RAI Committees Stage 1 findings, which noted concerns from the deer management sector about the lack of detail around how the new ground for intervention would be used and stressed the need to preserve trust between government and those managing the countryside. SLE says that trust will be impossible to maintain if such vague powers become law.

Ross Ewing, director of moorland & strategic projects at SLE, said the hardworking rural professionals who manage deer every day have made real progress through voluntary, evidence-led collaboration.

The Scottish government risks putting that at risk with punitive and unclear new powers which would allow Ministers to step into local deer management arrangements with very little in the way of safeguards, he said.

He warned that poorly drafted legislation would damage confidence, undermine trust and deter the very investment in deer management that Scotland needs.

Cross-party MSPs  including Beatrice Wishart, Tim Eagle and Emma Harper  have lodged amendments aimed at tightening ministerial intervention powers and making the proposals more workable for farmers, keepers and stalkers on the ground.

However, SLE says a separate amendment expanding the rights of occupiers and grazing committees to shoot deer raises significant safety concerns for rural workers.

As written, it could allow more than one person to shoot over the same ground at the same time, without knowing of each others presence  a scenario SLE warns is dangerous and unacceptable for people working on hillsides, crofts and farmland.

SLE backs an alternative amendment from Tim Eagle MSP that would require such rights to be exercised only under a NatureScot authorisation, with prior notification before any cull takes place. This, the organisation argues, would protect the strong safety culture that underpins deer stalking.

The group has also welcomed several constructive amendments which it says would genuinely support farmers and land managers, including proposals for a lowland deer management plan, clearer duties for local authorities, a training fund for essential deer management qualifications, and well-designed financial incentives.

Ross Ewing said there is a real opportunity for parliament to back the people actually delivering deer management on the ground. There is a real opportunity for the parliament and the Scottish government to move away from a purely punitive mindset and instead put in place the tools that will actually help deliver better deer management."

He added that MSPs must reject unsafe and unworkable measures, tighten up vague intervention powers and back constructive amendments to support those working in what are often difficult and remote conditions.
A major new research project will dig back 600 years into Britains farming past to shed light on todays fierce debate over whether UK agriculture can feed the nation, stay profitable and protect the natural environment.

The three-year, 1.4m initiative, led by the University of Exeter and funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, will combine business analysis, environmental science and historical research to examine how land was managed from the Middle Ages to the Victorian era.

Researchers say long-term evidence is essential because modern debates often focus only on recent decades, missing deeper patterns in how farming systems adapt to pressure.

The project comes at a time when UK agriculture faces intense questions over economic viability, food security, land-use change, and the drive for nature restoration. By analysing manorial records across six centuries, the team hopes the past can provide a clearer footing for future decisions.

Professor Alex Inman, project lead and a specialist in natural resource management, said the aim is to provide an independent evidence base that brings new perspective to current land-use discussions. 

This is an independent look at how our ancestors managed the land for food, for environment and biodiversity, and cultural benefits, he said. And from that, we will ask the question of whether there is anything we can learn that applies to the current debate around land management.

The team will examine 40 manorial holdings in Cornwall, Devon, Norfolk, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, drawing on extensive archival sources including tenancy agreements, crop yields, financial accounts, probate inventories, 19th-century tithe surveys and the 16th-century Valor Ecclesiasticus. Sustainability scores will be calculated for four key periods: 12501450, 14501650, 16501750 and 17501850.

These eras saw sweeping shifts in British agriculture, from early subsistence farming and the growth of local markets to enclosure, the expansion of landed estates, long-distance cattle trading, urbanisation, increased production, food imports and rapid technological change.

Professor James Clark, co-investigator in Exeters Department of Archaeology and History, said the project is designed to use the historical record as a platform for constructive engagement with modern stakeholders.

The goal of the project is to use insight from our research as a basis for constructive dialogue between stakeholders on possible future pathways and trade-offs, he said. The research, he added, will act as a test bed for ideas rather than an attempt to directly recreate a previous reality.

The projects final phase will bring farmers, policymakers, conservation organisations and other land-use groups together to discuss the findings and explore how examples of past sustainable land management might help shape future strategy.

Professor Henry French, a fellow co-investigator, said: If we can identify tangible examples of past sustainable land use, we have a chance to influence future policy and guidance. And if we can provide that historical context, maybe the legacy of this project will be a more harmonious dialogue between all parties.

Running over the next three years, the Past Harvests project aims to give the UKs fast-moving land-use debate something it often lacks: time-tested evidence to guide decisions about the countrysides future.
Privacy Policy

Your Privacy

Our goal at Farms.com Ltd, (FARMS.COM) is to be an essential partner to our global agriculture and food industry customers; by exceeding your expectations through value-added & integrated information-driven services and solutions enabled by technology. We aim to be a trusted, and objective source of information as you work in the agriculture and food industries, whether you work in the fields, or in an agribusiness. We invite you to make the most of our services and feel confident while you are accessing our information online. This privacy policy explains our policy regarding the circumstances in which we may gather your personally identifiable information, how we may use such information, and who may have access to that information. This privacy statement also tells you what choices you have about providing personally identifiable information and how to access, change, or delete any personally identifiable information that we may have already collected.

This privacy statement applies only to the FARMS.COM group of websites (including, but not limited to: Farms.com, AgCareers.com, Agriville.com, AgSearch.com, CareersInFood.com, CareersInGrocery.com, OntaAg.Farms.com, RealEstate.Farms.com, RiskManagement.Farms.com, USFarmer.com, Shop.USfarmer.com, TheBakeryNetwork.com, and YieldData.Farms.com, and all features on or downloadable from those websites (collectively, the "FARMS.COM Websites" or We).

Note that this privacy policy does not apply to any mobile applications that FARMS.COM may make available through a FARMS.COM Website or online app stores. In addition, this privacy statement cannot and does not apply to any other companies' or organizations' websites to which FARMS.COM Websites may link (third-party websites). Such third-party websites may have different or no privacy policies relating to their collection and use, if any, of personally identifiable information.



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From time to time, we may send promotional material to your postal mailing address that you have given us. You can request that we not provide your postal address to other companies by calling us at 888-248-4893.

Additionally, we may use cookies to generate composite or aggregate tracking information for traffic accounting and content analysis, which we may share with other companies for the purpose of documenting site use. Such aggregated statistical information is not directly linked to any personally identifiable information and cannot be used to identify you or any individual user of our Websites.



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As described above, you may choose to ask that we not send you promotional or advertising email messages on behalf of third-parties. Accordingly, you may "opt out" of such email messages at any time by sending a message to: info@farms.com directing us not to share such information for marketing purposes.



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Once you have registered with a FARMS.COM Website, we will store and maintain the personally identifiable information you have provided to us for so long as you remain a registered user and have not directed us otherwise, or for so long as we are required by law to retain such information. Our retention of your data allows us to continue to provide you with highly personalized services.



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FARMS.COM Websites take commercially reasonable precautions to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure to your personally identifiable information, to maintain data and information accuracy, and to facilitate the appropriate use of information. We have implemented a variety of encryption and security technologies and procedures to protect information stored in our computer systems from unauthorized access. We use physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to protect the personally identifiable information we collect online. We also maintain procedural safeguards that restrict access to personally identifiable information to employees (or people working on our behalf and under confidentiality agreements) who need to know such information in order to provide the products and services that you request. Further, encryption technology and tools are used when collecting or transferring sensitive information such as credit card numbers. Additional database content is protected either by means of a two key encryption algorithm Secure Socket Level ("SSL") encryption, and/or behind a firewall using security software.



If you have any questions about the security at FARMS.COM Websites, please contact us by email at: info@farms.com.



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FARMS.COM Websites aim to keep your personally identifiable information as accurate as possible. As an online user, you have the opportunity to access and change your information at any time. Simply go to the "My Profile" area of the logged in pages of FARMS.COM Website and modify your demographic information. By doing so, you may add, delete, or change individual fields of data in your personal profile. Should you at any time desire to remove your name from our list of FARMS.COM Website registrants, you may contact us at: info@farms.com and indicate you wish to remove your name. After receipt of such a request, we will remove your personally identifiable information from our records as soon as commercially reasonable.



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Online Discussions

FARMS.COM Websites may provide a forum for online Bulletin Board discussions. You are responsible for any personally identifiable information that you may post in any such discussion. FARMS.COM Websites specifically disclaim any or all responsibility for any subsequent use by any third-party or third-party websites of an email address or any other personally identifiable information that has been posted by any user in Bulletin Board Discussions on a FARMS.COM Website.



Our Policies Regarding Children

FARMS.COM Websites do not knowingly collect any personally identifiable information about any person under 13 years of age. We do not sell products for purchase by children. If you are under 18 years of age, please do not submit any information without the express consent and participation of a parent or guardian.



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By using the FARMS.COM Website, you consent to our collection and use of your personally identifiable information as set forth in this privacy statement. You also acknowledge and agree with our right to change our policy and our commitment to post any such changes on this page so that you are fully informed of the types of information we collect, how we may use such information, and under what circumstances, if any, such information may be disclosed.



Rights in Certain Jurisdictions

In certain jurisdictions, such as California or certain parts of Canada, you have certain rights regarding access to the information we have gathered about you. If you have registered with our site, you may obtain certain information about the types of personally identifiable information that we have shown with third parties for direct marketing purposes during the preceding calendar year. You may inquire by sending an email to: info@farms.com.



Give Us Your Feedback

We welcome any comments you may have on how we can improve our privacy policy so that we may better address and accommodate your needs and concerns. Please provide any comments relating to this privacy policy to: info@farms.com.



Please contact us at Farms.com if you have any concerns or questions. Thank you for visiting our site.



Denise Faguy | Denise.Faguy@Farms.com

888.248.4893
People who do things in a relationship just for the sake of doing them, not because they value your individuality but because they believe it is simply what one should do when dating, often create a facade of effort. These people now have a fitting adjective: performative.



We can all agree that our jaws dropped when we, along with Joanne, played by Kristen Bell from the romcom series Nobody Wants This (since 2024), realised that her hot rabbi boyfriend Noah, portrayed by Adam Brody, has been gifting the same Valentines present to all his girlfriends. Dude, we did not expect this from you.





Imagine you have been asked out and he or she takes you to the same place they take all their first dates. They get you the same hyacinth, crack the same jokes or ice breakers because they always worked before.



What if they do it all just to woo you or get in your pants or worse, treat you like a f**ing rebound without letting you second-guess it, and then flip the second they get whatever gratification they were after. It is, my dear, the scariest green-looking red flag to notice and call out as early as you can.





via GIPHY





Thank God somebody coined a term for this kind of person. Otherwise, it always took a whole lot of explaining about how they portrayed themselves a certain way, but never meant any of it. A performative boyfriend or girlfriend is honestly better to call out before they become your permanent partner.



Do we not all recall the terrible character of Nick Dunne, Ben Affleck played in the popular thriller mystery Gone Girl (2014)? Why do you think the main character, Rosamund Pikes Amy Elliott Dunne, lost her mind after finding out her husband was cheating and repeating the same gestures with his fling/student, taking her to the same places and making out in the same scenarios? Yes, he was frustrated and drained beyond what he could take. But let us remember something. He was the one who put on a persona to impress the leading lady with all those quirky moves until he started hating her guts.





I know, I know, it was just a movie. They literally did it for the plot. But we all know someone like this. Maybe many.

What Is The Root Problem?



Maybe there is this confidence of How would they know? How are they gonna know? You know the meme reference. They can be really good with their online footprint. Not using their name, not posting anything, having a finsta. And sure, sometimes people are just private, but babe, be aware, they come in all shapes and sizes.





Or maybe it is the core problem of this entire era, not just the generation. The reason behind so much of our misery. I once wrote about a conference where one of the speakers said something that made so much sense. Abundance. The problem with todays world is abundance. We have an abundance of everything. We have lost the ability to see things for their unique nature.





via GIPHY





In the romantic drama movie Before Sunset (2004), Celine, played by Julie Delpy, says, You can never replace anyone because everyone is made up of such beautiful, specific details. Is it because these performers of kindness and gentleness, wearing the veil of higher EQ, do not see people as unique as they are? Could be. We can only wonder from this end and hope to be cautious of people who can waste our emotions and time.

If You Find Yourself Performing



via GIPHY



There are two major drawbacks you should know, and they have nothing to do with the people you hurt. First, it will never help you find the one who aligns with your real, true self. Second, you will end up feeling empty and frustrated and might even grow resentment for the person you are performing for. In the end, you may face an identity crisis. You will not be able to tell what is real and what is just an act.





Lets all be cognisant of when our intuition says, Its a bit too good to be true this soon.



Image Source: IMDb



Also Read: How To Get Over The Fear Of Conflict With Your Partner
Veteran actor Dharmendra passed away yesterday at the age of 89. His passing marks the end of a golden era in Bollywood. The last rites for the beloved He-Man was conducted at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Mumbai yesterday. After the ceremony, many film fraternity members arrived at the Deol family residence to offer their condolences and support.

Saif Ali Khan and Karisma Kapoor were seen visiting the Deol family residence today to offer their support and condolences. Many other film stars have also visited the Deol home since the veteran actor's death yesterday including Kajol, Preity Zinta, Rekha, Farhan Akhtar among others. The entire industry expressed their mourning for the loss of the beloved actor, showing the respect he garnered amongst the film fraternity over these years.
Veteran actor Dharmendra passed away yesterday shortly before his 90th birthday. His demise has left the industry in grief, and the next month will be dedicated to honouring his remarkable legacy. December 8 will mark Dharmendra's 90th birth anniversary, followed by the re-release of his iconic film Sholay on December 12. Also, his final film, Sriram Raghavan's historical military drama Ikkis, is set for release on Christmas.

Pooja Ladha Surti, the film's editor and co-writer, has discussed how Sriram Raghavan and Dinesh Vijan plan to pay tribute to Dharmendra, one of Indian cinema's greatest legends. In a conversation with SCREEN, Pooja Ladha Surti shared, Yes, I am sure Sriram and Dinoo (Dinesh Vijan, producer) will do that. His final performance will speak more than any tribute from us, I feel.





Talking about Dharmendra, she added, I am so saddened that he left us before Ikkis release. He would have been thrilled. What a tremendous actor Dharam ji was, a superstar for the ages. And an amazing person, full of grace, warmth, enthusiasm, and a generosity of spirit that was singular, extraordinary.

Pooja continued by sharing that the late actor appeared somewhat frail on the sets of Ikkis but became quite energetic once filming began. She mentioned that Dharmendra was always very cooperative when asked to do retakes. She shared, He would happily shoot as many takes as required. For someone as experienced as him, he would be as eager or even more eager than newbies. I have seen this in Ikkis and even in Johnny Gaddaar.

Ikkis will release in theatres on December 25. In the film, Dharmendra plays the father of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the 21-year-old soldier who became one of Indias youngest Param Vir Chakra recipients after his extraordinary bravery during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The film also stars Agastya Nanda in the lead role.





Also Read: Dharmendras Poster From Agastya Nandas Ikkis Is Phenomenal






Critic's rating 4.0 /5

Arjunn Duttas Deep Fridge is one of those rare films that handles heartbreak not with spectacle but with a gentleness that feels earned. At first glance, it appears to be a story about endings, a divorced couple forced into emotional proximity for one long night but the brilliance of the film lies in how it sneaks up on you as a story equally about beginnings. It examines what remains after a relationship dissolves, and what quietly grows in its aftermath.

Swarnava (Abir Chatterjee) and Mili (Tnusree Chakraborty) have been separated for five years. Their marriage, once anchored in deep affection, had fractured under the weight of one impulsive mistake, an adulterous lapse on their wedding anniversary on Swarnavas part that neither of them could fully outrun. Now Swarnava has returned to his old home for a brief, necessary errand. Their child Tatati (Lakshya) has been unwell for almost a week and being a concerned father, Swarnava wants to check up on him personally. What begins as a visit gradually expands into an emotional excavation, juxtaposed almost absurdly, and yet poetically, to a malfunctioning refrigerator.Dutta builds the narrative in three movements: Ice Cube, Melting Point, and Defrost. Each section mirrors both the state of the refrigerator and the shifting temperature of the relationship. In Ice Cube, there is polite distance, brittle civility and the unmistakable chill of unresolved hurt. In Melting Point, cracks appear, the old rhythms slip back, tentative warmth creeps in, and they allow themselves the honesty they denied for years. And in Defrost, the thaw is complete: not a reconciliation, not even forgiveness as conventionally understood, but a release of bitterness that allows both of them to step forward with lighter hearts.The metaphor could have easily become heavy-handed, but Dutta employs it with surprising elegance. The fridge is not merely a prop; it stands in for the memories they preserved too long, the guilt they couldnt discard, and the affection that remained frozen, suspended between denial and longing. The director hasnt let his love for romance rule over realism. He shows how deeply ingrained patriarchy is by showing a woman lawyer, who is a family friend, beseeching Mili to forgive her husband's infidelity and give their marriage another chance. Its good that Mili is seen unwavering in her resolve towards separation.Yet Deep Fridge refuses to reduce its characters to their shared past. Swarnavas new life is not painted as a betrayal but as a pathway to growth. Ronja (Anuradha Mukherjee), the woman he initially slipped-up with and eventually marries, is not inserted as a narrative antagonist. She embodies the films motif of beginnings. Warm, level-headed and genuinely kind, a heavily-pregnant Ronjas bond with Swarnavas young son Tatai is depicted with remarkable sincerity. Tatai responds to her affection instinctively, their rapport suggesting that a new family can take shape not out of compensation but out of genuine connection. This relationship anchors Swarnava in the present, reminding him that love can regenerate in unexpected places.Mili, too, is not frozen in time. Her relationship with Asif (Shoaib Kabeer), who wishes to marry her, is portrayed without cliches. Asif represents stability, clarity and emotional maturity, qualities Mili once longed for and now must learn to accept. Her hesitation is not about Swarnava; it is about her own readiness to step out of the long emotional winter she has allowed herself to inhabit. This complexity gives her arc depth: healing is not instantaneous, and new beginnings often require the bravery to believe in oneself again.Duttas greatest strength is restraint. He rejects melodramatic confrontations in favour of quiet conversations, sidelong glances, hesitant gestures and the weight of unspoken truths. Abir Chatterjee and Tnusree Chakraborty have been brilliant in their respective roles and perform with exquisite understatement, capturing the ache of a love that didnt survive but didnt die either. The cinematography, steeped in cool tones that gradually warm, mirrors their thawing interiors. The pace is meditative, demanding patience, but rewarding it with emotional clarity. Anuradha Mukherjee too adds flair to her role of the second wife who nevertheless isnt overtly possessive.Deep Fridge earned the National Award for Best Bengali Feature Film, and rightly so. It is introspective, atmospheric, emotionally nuanced, and refreshingly humane. In choosing ambiguity over verdicts, and sensitivity over sensationalism, Arjunn Dutta delivers something rare: a story where endings and beginnings coexist, where love dissolves yet leaves space for renewal, and where the heart learns, slowly but surely, to defrost.Also Read: 71st National Film Awards: Shah Rukh Khan, Vikrant Massey Win Big
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - November 24, 2025) - (The Energy Circle by IN-VR) - The 5th Timor-Leste Energy, Mining & Business Forum 2025 opened today in Dili with unprecedented international participation and renewed commitment from the highest levels of government. More than 400 delegates joined the first day of the event, marking the largest attendance since the Forum's inception and underscores rising international interest following Timor-Leste's recent admission to ASEAN.

Delegations traveled from Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Brunei, India, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, Portugal, Spain, and Papua New Guinea, among others. Their presence underscores the strong international interest for opportunities emerging across Timor-Leste's energy and mineral sectors following the country's admission to ASEAN.

Government Leadership Outlines a Strategic Vision for Energy and Mining

Prime Minister H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao welcomed international delegates, describing the Forum as the principal national platform to update and share different insights on the development of the mining and energy industries in Timor-Leste. He added, "ASEAN membership puts Timor-Leste in a strategic position to become a major energy and mining hub in Southeast Asia."



His remarks set a strong tone for the Forum, calling on investors and industry leaders to play an active role in Timor-Leste's long-term economic transformation.

Strong Industry Representation Across Energy, Mining, and Finance

The first day gathered leading national institutions and international companies shaping Timor-Leste's evolving energy and mining landscape. Participating organizations included: Autoridade Nacional do Petroleo de Timor-Leste (ANP); Autoridade Nacional dos Minerais (ANM); Timor-GAP; Murak Rai Timor; BNCTL; Santos; Woodside; WestStar Gap Aviation; SLB; Iron Fortune; Sunda Energy; Vieira De Almeida; among many others.

Focus on Mining and Investment on Day 1

Day 1 centered on mining investment, and financing opportunities across the country's mineral value chain. Local institutions and global companies discussed priority areas for collaboration, from resource mapping and project development to capital mobilization for emerging ventures.

The sessions highlighted not only the commercial potential of Timor-Leste's mineral resources but also the increasing interest from international financial institutions exploring engagement in the country's transition and extraction industries.

A Strategic Start to the Region's Most Anticipated Investment Forum

With over 400 delegates, strong government presence, and high-level international engagement, Day 1 set the tone for an impactful week in Dili. Discussions throughout the opening day confirmed growing confidence in Timor-Leste as an investment-ready market undergoing transformation and offering frontier opportunities in mining, oil and gas, and energy transition.

Day 2 will continue with a strong focus on the oil & gas sector, with discussions on the Greater Sunrise development, as well as the Pualaca and Rarahana blocks among the most anticipated sessions of the programme. Senior government officials, project leaders, and global operators will contribute to these discussions, providing clarity on timelines, technical considerations, and investment frameworks.

About IN-VR

IN-VR is a leading global consultancy specializing in energy, mining, and investment promotion, bridging the gap between governments and the private sector. With a proven track record of delivering premier international summits, IN-VR facilitates high-impact investment opportunities and strategic collaborations worldwide.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275715

SOURCE: IN-VR Limited
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 24, 2025) - Bon Intelligence Inc. ("Bon") is providing an update regarding its previously disclosed licensing arrangement with INEO Solutions Inc. ("INEO"), a subsidiary of INEO Tech Corp. (TSXV: INEO) (OTCQB: INEOF).

As part of Bon's ongoing deployment planning for the INEO Welcoming System, several prospective and existing customers have recently made inquiries regarding the technical and certification documentation associated with certain Welcoming System hardware versions. These inquiries relate to standard information typically requested during procurement reviews, including confirmation of regulatory certifications and related technical materials.

In the ordinary course of business, Bon has requested from INEO a number of supporting documents to address these customer questions. Several of the requested materials remain outstanding. Until Bon has received and reviewed the information, Bon is temporarily pausing certain licensing-related activities, including aspects of product integration and deployment planning, while it continues to work constructively with INEO to complete the information exchange.

This procedural pause does not affect existing client installations, and Bon remains committed to collaborating with INEO to ensure that upcoming deployments proceed smoothly and in accordance with customer requirements.

Bon looks forward to continuing its work with INEO and expects to resume full licensing activities once the requested documentation has been received and reviewed as part of Bon's standard verification processes.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275813

SOURCE: Bon Intelligence Inc.
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 24, 2025) - Canamera Energy Metals Corp. (CSE: EMET) (OTCQB: EMETF) (FSE: 4LF0) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced (please see news releases dated October 15, October 20 and October 27, 2025) non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of approximately $2,473,570.35 (the "Private Placement").

The Private Placement consisted of two parts:

1,782,000 flow-through units ("FT Units") were issued at a price of $0.56 per FT Unit. Each FT Unit consists of one flow-through common share and one-half of one warrant, with each such whole warrant exercisable at a price of $0.65 to acquire, for a period of 36 months, one common share.

3,279,223 non-flow-through units ("NFT Units") were issued at a price of $0.45 per NFT Unit. Each NFT Unit consists of one flow-through common share and one-half of one warrants, with each such whole warrant exercisable at a price of $0.56 to acquire, for a period of 36 months, one common share.

The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Private Placement to advance its mineral projects, and for general working capital and corporate purposes, including investor relations. The proceeds from the sale of the FT Units will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company paid an aggregate of $22,153.20 in cash finder's fees and issued 46,560 finder's warrants to Research Capital Corporation ("RCC").

The securities issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day.

LIFE Offering

The Company is also pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced LIFE Offering (please see news releases dated October 15 and October 20, 2025) (the "LIFE Offering"), pursuant to which the Company issued 4,394,356 units ("LIFE Units"), at a price of $0.45 per LIFE Unit, for gross proceeds of approximately $1,977,460.20. Each LIFE Unit consists of one common share and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant, with each such warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $0.56 for a period of 36 months.

The LIFE Units were issued pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "LIFE Exemption") under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by the Canadian Securities Administrator's Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption. Accordingly, the Units will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

In connection with the LIFE Offering, the Company paid $65,078.10 in cash finder's fees and 144,618 finder's warrants to RCC.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the LIFE Offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, as more specifically described in the Offering Document.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Change of Auditor

The Company also wishes to announce that it has changed its auditor from Adam Sung Kim Ltd., (the "Predecessor Auditors") to DeVisser Gray LLP (the "Successor Auditors"), effective November 17, 2025.

At the request of the Company, the Predecessor Auditors resigned as auditor of the Company effective November 17, 2025, and the board of directors of the Company appointed the Successor Auditor as the Company's until the next Annual General Meeting of the Company.

There were no reservations in the Predecessor Auditor's reports in connection with the most recently completed fiscal year (April 2025) or for any period subsequent to the most recently completed period for which an audit report was issued preceding the date of the Predecessor Auditor's resignation. There are no "reportable events" (as that term is defined in National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations) between the Company and the Predecessor Auditor.

In accordance with National Instrument 51-102, the notice of change of auditor, together with the required letters from the Predecessor Auditor and the Successor Auditor, have been reviewed by the audit committee and the board of directors and have been filed on SEDAR+.

About Canamera Metals Corp.

Canamera is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of mineral resource projects, including the Mantle project in British Columbia, as well as high-quality REE (rare-earth elements) and critical metal assets in the Americas. The Company targets underexplored regions with district-scale potential, leveraging geochemical, geophysical and geological data to identify first-mover opportunities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "plans", "strategy", "opportunity", "positions" and similar expressions, or are those which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the intended use of proceeds from the Private Placement and LIFE Offering, as well as the Company's ability to advance its projects or to acquire new mineral properties.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including: the use of proceeds from the Private Placement or LIFE Offering being different than what is currently intended; the Company's inability to identify suitable staking targets; completion of satisfactory due diligence on potential projects; successful negotiation of acquisition terms; availability of financing; changes in commodity prices and market conditions for rare earth elements; regulatory or permitting delays; geopolitical developments affecting rare earth supply chains; and competition for rare earth properties in the United States. Additional risk factors can be found in the Company's public disclosure documents available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such statements, except as required by law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR

FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275824

SOURCE: Canamera Energy Metals Corp.
TOKYO, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TIER IV , the pioneering force behind open-source software for autonomous driving, and HORIBA MIRA , a UK-based provider of cutting-edge engineering, research and test services, are working together to accelerate the development of autonomous driving technologies in the UK and Europe. Through this collaboration, TIER IV will expand the deployment of its autonomous driving platforms in the region, with HORIBA MIRA providing access to its facilities and engineering expertise.

TIER IV will deliver software and hardware solutions - including its autonomous driving system, Minibus 2.0 electric vehicle, sensor packages, and operational support - while HORIBA MIRA will provide services for localization and safety validation of the software and hardware. HORIBA MIRA will also provide engineering support to ensure compliance with local regulatory and operational requirements.

The collaboration's first project will see the deployment of an autonomous bus on HORIBA MIRA's proving ground, laying the groundwork for future Level 4 operations at its UK technology hub.

With a strong track record of Level 4 autonomous vehicle deployments across Japan, TIER IV aims to share its technical expertise with municipalities, transport operators, and vehicle manufacturers throughout Europe. TIER IV's autonomous driving system supports a wide range of use cases, from off-road dump trucks to factory logistics, and regional partnerships will help extend deployments into new environments.

"We are delighted to join forces with HORIBA MIRA to accelerate the deployment of autonomous driving technologies across the UK and Europe," said TIER IV COO Ko Miyoshi. "By combining our advanced platforms with HORIBA MIRA's world-leading engineering and validation expertise, we aim to accelerate the realization of safe, reliable, and sustainable mobility solutions tailored to local needs. This collaboration marks an important step toward our shared vision of making autonomous driving accessible to all."

"At HORIBA MIRA, we've made significant investments in autonomous vehicle technologies over the past several years to help enable safe and scalable deployment across Europe," said Alastair Evanson, head of business development and commercial operations. "Collaborating with TIER IV on this project is a natural extension of our commitment to supporting innovation in the sector, and we're pleased to provide the engineering and testing expertise needed to help localize their technology for European environments."

About TIER IV

TIER IV stands at the forefront of deep-tech innovation, pioneering Autoware , open-source software for autonomous driving. With a comprehensive suite of platforms and services built around Autoware, TIER IV provides everything from software development and vehicle procurement to operational support. Through the Autoware ecosystem, TIER IV works with partners worldwide to shape the future of intelligent vehicles with open-source software, aiming to create mobility that is safer, more sustainable, and accessible to all.

About HORIBA MIRA

HORIBA MIRA is a global leader in advanced engineering, research, and testing services, with a proven track record in enabling the safe development and deployment of Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs). Based at its state-of-the-art Technology Park in the UK, HORIBA MIRA offers a comprehensive suite of capabilities including vehicle simulation, functional safety validation, cybersecurity assurance, and real-world testing across a range of autonomous platforms.

With over 100 million invested in infrastructure and innovation, HORIBA MIRA provides access to purpose-built proving grounds, autonomous-ready test environments, and a dedicated team of engineers and domain experts. The company plays a pivotal role in supporting industry, government, and academia to accelerate the adoption of autonomous mobility solutions, ensuring they meet rigorous safety, regulatory, and operational standards.

Media contact

pr@tier4.jp

Business inquires

sales@tier4.jp

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 24, 2025) - Powermax Minerals Inc. (CSE: PMAX) (the "Company" or "Powermax") announces, further to its news release dated October 15th, 2025, that it has amended the exercise period of the warrants ("Warrants") which comprise the non flow-through units ("Units") it is offering ("Private Placement") at a price of $0.76 per Unit. The Warrants will be exercisable to acquire one common share for a period of 36 months (previously 24 months) from their issue date at an exercise price of $0.95. All other terms of the Private Placement remain the same as announced on October 15, 2025.

The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction.

About Powermax Minerals Inc.

Powermax Minerals Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on advancing rare earth element projects. The Company holds an option to acquire the Cameron REE Property, comprising three mineral claims totaling approximately 2,984 hectares in British Columbia. Powermax also optioned to acquire the Atikokan REE Property, consisting of 455 unpatented mining claims in NW Ontario. Powermax also owns a 100% interest in the Ogden Bear Lodge Project, in Crook County, Wyoming.

For more information, investors should review the Company's filings available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release such as statements regarding the contemplated closing of the Private Placement, or whether it will close at all, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include but are not limited to the risks that the Private Placement may not complete as contemplated, or at all, that the Company may fail to obtain required regulatory approvals, and the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company.

Factors that could cause actual results to vary from forward-looking statements or may affect the operations, performance, development and results of the Company's business include, among other things, that mineral exploration is inherently uncertain and may be unsuccessful in achieving the desired results; that mineral exploration plans may change and be re-defined based on a number of factors, many of which are outside of the Company's control; the Company's ability to access sources of debt and equity capital; competitive factors, pricing pressures and supply and demand in the Company's industry. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in CSE policies) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275815

SOURCE: Powermax Minerals Inc.
Partnership formalises collaboration to deliver integrated technology and enhanced services across the Kingdom's real estate sector

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Land Sterling, a leading property management and advisory company, and Yardi, a global provider of cloud-based real estate technology, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on advancing digital transformation and elevating service delivery within Saudi Arabia's real estate market.

Under the MOU, Land Sterling will utilise Yardi's end-to-end, cloud-based real estate platform as part of its operational framework. The agreement formalises a shared commitment to enhancing efficiency, improving data transparency, and providing clients with deeper, real-time insights to support strategic decision-making.

This collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, supporting the Kingdom's drive toward sustainable growth, modernisation, and the adoption of innovative technologies across the real estate ecosystem.

"Saudi Arabia's real estate market is evolving rapidly, and strategic technology partnerships are essential to meet the evolving needs of investors and stakeholders," said Youcef Betraoui, founder & chairman of Land Sterling. "Partnering with Yardi enables us to offer our clients a seamless experience, combining our expertise with innovative tools that support smarter asset management and investment strategies."

"We're excited to partner with Land Sterling," said Neal Gemassmer, vice president & GM for Yardi. "Through the integration of our platform, Land Sterling will be positioned to drive greater operational efficiency and transparency, supporting the growth and modernisation of Saudi Arabia's real estate sector."

See how Yardi can help support your real estate growth with an end-to-end solution.

About Land Sterling

Land Sterling KSA is a trusted leader in real estate, combining global expertise with in-depth local insights to deliver tailored property solutions. The company specialises in property valuation, strategic advisory, and consultancy, providing innovative strategies to maximise value and drive success for its clients. For more information, visit landsterling.sa.

About Yardi

Yardi develops and supports industry-leading investment and property management software for all types and sizes of real estate companies. With over 10,000 employees, Yardi is working with clients globally to drive significant innovation in the real estate industry. For more information on how Yardi is Energised for Tomorrow, visit yardi.ae.

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EPIC Suisse AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results

EPIC Suisse releases high level Q3 2025 numbers in line with majority shareholder's reporting obligations



25-Nov-2025 / 06:45 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Media release - Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

Zurich, 25 November 2025

EPIC Suisse releases high level Q3 2025 numbers in line with majority shareholder's reporting obligations

EPIC Suisse AG (the "Company" and "EPIC", the consolidated group; SIX: EPIC), publishes today high-level figures1 for the period 1 January 2025 to 30 September 2025 in parallel with its indirect majority shareholder, Alrov Properties & Lodgings Ltd (the "Alrov Group"):

Fair value of the portfolio as at 30 September 2025 totals CHF 1'659 million split into Investment properties in operation at CHF 1'483 million (31 Dec 2024: CHF 1'465 million) and Investment properties under development / construction at CHF 176 million (31 Dec 2024: CHF 149 million)

Total income (defined as rental income and other income) for Investment properties in operation for the 9-month period 2025 amounts to CHF 51.1 million (9-months 2024: CHF 50.5 million). When including the recently completed developments, PULSE and Campus Leman Building C 2 , total income for the current reporting period amounts to CHF 52.0 million.

, total income for the current reporting period amounts to CHF 52.0 million. Total bank debt as at 30 September 2025 is CHF 678 million (31 Dec 2024: CHF 662 million)

The IFRS NAV stands at CHF 827 million as at 30 September 2025 (31 Dec 2024: CHF 820 million)

With regard to the PULSE site in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, EPIC has signed two additional rental contracts, bringing the property occupancy rate up to 37% of the previously communicated annual target rent of CHF 7.5 million. Further negotiations are ongoing.



1 In line with the Q3 / 9-month 2025 report published today by EPIC co-founder and indirect majority shareholder Alrov Group on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange.

2 PULSE and Campus Leman Building C will move to the segment Investment properties in operation at the end of the financial year.



Financial calendar

Annual Report 2025: 12 March 2026 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders 2026: 10 April 2026

Contact information

Valerie Scholtes, CFO, EPIC Suisse AG, Phone: +41 44 388 81 00, E-mail: investors@epic.ch

About EPIC Suisse AG

EPIC Suisse AG is a Swiss real estate company with a high-quality property portfolio of about CHF 1.7 billion in market value. It has a sizeable development pipeline and a strong track record in sourcing, acquiring, (re)developing and actively managing commercial properties in Switzerland. EPIC's investment properties are mainly located in Switzerland's major economic hubs, specifically the Lake Geneva Region and the Zurich Economic Area. Listed on SIX Swiss Exchange since May 2022 (SIX ticker symbol EPIC; Swiss Security Number (Valorennummer) 51613168; ISIN number CH0516131684). More information: www.epic.ch

Disclaimer

This publication may contain specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of EPIC Suisse AG and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties, readers should not rely on forward-looking statements. EPIC Suisse AG assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.
Fisher Investments was certified by global authority on workplace culture

LONDON, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fisher Investments UK and Fisher Investments Ireland-along with their US-based parent company, Fisher Investments-were certified by Great Place to Work, an independent, global authority on workplace culture and employee experience.

Great Place to Work certifies companies based on anonymous employee survey results across key factors including compensation, benefits, career advancement opportunities, competence of management and overall workplace atmosphere. Survey feedback revealed Fisher Investments' employees believe the company provides a fair, welcoming and service-focused work environment.

"We are incredibly proud of this recognition from Great Place to Work," said Fisher Investments' CEO Damian Ornani, adding, "This honour highlights our dedication to fostering a culture where employees feel valued, motivated and empowered to thrive. We know that by investing in our people and their growth, we create a stronger foundation to deliver exceptional service and help more clients reach their financial goals."

Fisher Investments and its affiliates are hiring for a variety of roles globally. Visit FisherCareers.com to learn more about career opportunities. For more details on the Great Place to Work certification process, please visit www.greatplacetowork.co.uk/our-methodology.

About Fisher Investments UK

Fisher Investments UK is the trading name of Fisher Investments Europe Limited and is part of the global group of Fisher companies. Fisher Investments UK is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA Number 191609) and is registered in England (Company Number 3850593). Fisher Investments UK's registered office is located at Level 18, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AX. For more information on Fisher Investments UK, please visit www.greatplacetowork.co.uk/methodology.

About Fisher Investments Ireland

Fisher Investments Ireland Limited is a private limited company incorporated in Ireland (Company Number 623847) and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Fisher Investments Ireland's registered address is 3rd floor, 24-26 City Quay, Dublin Docklands, Dublin, D02 NY19, Ireland. Fisher Asset Management, LLC, trading under the name "Fisher Investments" is the parent company of Fisher Investments Ireland Limited and is established in the USA (Delaware Secretary of State number 3936233) and regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC# 801-29362). For more information on Fisher Investments Ireland Limited, please visit https://www.fisherinvestments.ie .

About Fisher Investments

Founded in 1979, Fisher Investments is an independent, fee-only investment adviser. As of 30/09/2025, Fisher Investments and its subsidiaries manage over 269 billion (308 billion) across three principal businesses-Institutional, US Private Client and Private Client International. Founder and Executive Chairman Ken Fisher wrote the Forbes "Portfolio Strategy" column for over 32 years until 12/31/2016, making him the longest continuously running columnist in the magazine's history. He now writes monthly, native language columns in 27 major media organs around the world-including the Telegraph and the Irish Independent-spanning more countries and more languages in more total reach than any other, non-syndicated columnist of any type ever. Ken appears regularly on major TV news like Fox Business and News, BBC, Sky News, BNN Bloomberg and CNN International. Ken has written 11 investing and finance books, including four New York Times bestsellers. For more information about Fisher Investments, visit www.fisherinvestments.com.

Media Contacts

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Progress on share buyback programme

ING announced today that, as part of our 1.1 billion share buyback programme announced on 30 October 2025, in total 2,767,892 shares were repurchased during the week of 17 November up to and including 21 November 2025.

The shares were repurchased at an average price of 21.60 for a total amount of 59,777,931.11. For detailed information on the daily repurchased shares, individual share purchase transactions and weekly reports, see the ING website at share buyback programme.

In line with the purpose of the programme to reduce the share capital of ING, the total number of shares repurchased under this programme to date is 7,899,202 at an average price of 22.02 for a total consideration of 173,950,206.98. To date approximately 15.81% of the maximum total value of the share buyback programme has been completed.

Note for editors

For further information on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

Press enquiries Investor enquiries ING Group Media Relations ING Group Investor Relations +31 20 576 5000 +31 20 576 6396 media.relations@ing.com (mailto:media.relations@ing.com) Investor.Relations@ing.com (mailto:Investor.Relations@ing.com)



ING PROFILE

ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank's more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 100 countries.

ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING's ESG rating by MSCI has been upgraded from 'AA' to 'AAA' in October 2025. As of June 2025, in Sustainalytics' view, ING's management of ESG material risk is 'Strong' with an ESG risk rating of 18.0 (low risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that's not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION

Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 ('Market Abuse Regulation').

ING Group's annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ('IFRS- EU'). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2024 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to di?er materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may di?er materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation:

This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information. This document may also discuss one or more specific transactions and/or contain general statements about ING's ESG approach. The approach and criteria referred to in this document are intended to be applied in accordance with applicable law. Due to the fact that there may be different or even conflicting laws, the approach, criteria or the application thereof, could be different.

Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are "green" or "sustainable." Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING's control.

Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason.

This document does not constitute an o?er to sell, or a solicitation of an o?er to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

Attachment
SHANGHAI, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- W. L. Gore & Associates today announced the opening of its Battery Lab in Shanghai, China, expanding its global R&D capabilities to accelerate advanced battery materials development for customers worldwide. The lab is dedicated to the development, characterization, and rigorous testing of critical materials for battery cells and packs-spanning membranes, venting solutions, moisture and condensation management, explosion and thermal runaway mitigation, pressure equalization, and controlled gas release.

The lab delivers customized, integrated solutions for OEMs in EVs, energy storage, and consumer electronics-enabling faster iterations and a shorter path from prototype to market.

Advancing Materials Science to Empower the Battery Industry

As a global materials science company, Gore has long been committed to transforming deep materials science into a driving force for global sustainability. The launch of the Shanghai Battery Lab accelerates the commercialization of Gore's breakthrough technologies, including dry electrode, formation processes, and other technological innovations. Through advanced membrane materials and process innovation, Gore provides comprehensive solutions for lithium-ion batteries, including venting, explosion protection, condensation management, thermal runaway prevention, pressure equalization, and gas release - significantly enhancing battery safety and stability.

With decades of experience in the automotive industry, Gore is recognized as a pioneer and leader in venting and moisture management technologies. Its one-stop solutions are widely adopted in critical automotive components such as ADAS sensors, automotive electronics, powertrain, chassis, lighting, and battery systems. Backed by proven reliability and consistency, Gore precisely addresses industry pain points and enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to achieve breakthroughs in safety, durability, and system integration.

Building a Collaborative Innovation Ecosystem for Sustainable Battery Development

As performance and safety demands for batteries continue to rise across EVs, energy storage, and electronics, Gore's Shanghai Battery Lab serves as a vital hub connecting Gore's global technical resources with local customer needs. The lab offers end-to-end services from material development to testing and validation, while fostering a deep collaboration with OEMs to drive co-evolution in cell processes, pack design, and vehicle integration.

"By integrating global resources and strengthening local R&D capabilities, Gore delivers agile response and customized material solutions to empower Chinese customers to grow sustainably in global markets," said Yong Zhao, Automotive Vents Asia Pacific Business Leader of Gore's Performance Solutions.

Dr. Justin Skaife, CTO of Gore's Performance Solutions, added: "Gore's cross-industry experience in automotive and electronics enables us to develop future-ready solutions for next-generation battery systems. We look forward to working with customers in China and around the world to drive collaborative innovation and sustainable progress in battery technology."

Gore's Performance Solutions Division addresses complex product and process challenges in a variety of markets, including aerospace, automotive, industrial, electronics, semiconductor and more. By focusing on collaboration and innovation, Gore partners with customers to design their products and processes to be safer, cleaner, more productive, reliable, durable and efficient across a wide range of demanding environments.

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Not for dissemination in the United States or through U.S. newswires

--Drilling Reaches 400m Target Depth Testing IP Chargeability High

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Star Copper Corp. (CSE:STCU)(OTCQX:STCUF)(FWB:SOP) ("Star Copper" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce completion of the inaugural drill hole at its high-impact Star North target, located approximately one kilometer northeast of the Star Main zone, within the Company's 100%-owned Star Project, British Columbia.

The Star North target mirrors the Star Main target in its geophysical and geochemical signature. Star North boasts a 500m x 1,000m soil anomaly which was used as a vectoring tool for drilling. Target depth of 400 m was reached to test the edges of an induced polarization (IP) chargeability high. (see figure 1)

Figure 1-Star North Target Drill Hole SN-25-001 at 400m. Star Copper 2025

2025 Drill Hole SN-25-001

Drill hole SN-25-001 (collar: 340487?E, 6459084?N; elev. 1,163?m; azimuth 131; dip -45; total depth 402?m) was completed on 6 November 2025 and represents the 13th and final hole of the 2025 exploration program at the Star Project.

Star?North is defined by a ~500?m??1,000?m copper-in-soil anomaly that is coincident with a strong IP chargeability high and was the subject of 2025 fieldwork including detailed surface mapping and collection of 119 rock samples. Highlights from the surface campaign include sample AA002620 (17.6% Cu, 0.942?g/t?Au) and AA002628 (3.21% Cu) collected from semi-massive chalcopyrite in highly altered augite-plagioclase porphyry.

Geological?&?core logging observations

Core logging of SN-25-001 records a stratigraphy consistent with surface mapping at Star?North: volcanic host units intruded by a series of dykes typical of the target area, inter-spersed with multiple generations of fracturing, brecciation and quartz-sulphide veining. Alteration is variable, ranging from propylitic assemblages to zones showing patchy potassic (K-feldspar) alteration expressed in replacement and vein-halo textures. Chalcopyrite is present as fine disseminations and within quartz-sulphide veinlets/stringers, locally accompanied by pyrite and magnetite in areas of intensified veining. These observations are consistent with a transition from structurally prepared volcanic units into more intrusive porphyritic phases, where potassic alteration is most commonly developed across the Star property.

Implications & next steps

As the inaugural subsurface test of Star?North, SN-25-001 provides the first drill-hole look beneath compelling coincident geochemical and geophysical anomalies and will be integral to refining the 3-D mineralization model for follow-up drilling in 2026. In combination with the Phase?1 and Phase?2 results from Star?Main, and ongoing work at the Copper?Creek satellite target, the textures, alteration and chalcopyrite occurrences observed in SN-25-001 are encouraging indicators that Star?North may represent a second mineralized center within a broader porphyry cluster framework on the Star Project.

Assay results from SN-25-001 remain pending and will be disclosed once received and reviewed under the Company's QA/QC procedures.

Key Takeaways

Brand new lookalike target drilled 1.5 km northwest of Star Main with same geochemical footprint 500m x 1000m soil signature.

Assays pending from Star North, Copper Creek and Star Main Drilling, 11 holes pending.

3 D mineralization model follow up to expand drill targets and prepare for 2026

Flow Through Financing

The Company is also pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to C$2,500,000 from the sale of up to 2,118,644 "flow-through" units of the Company (each, a "FTUnit", and collectively, the "FT Units") at a price of C$1.18 per FT Unit (the "Offering").

Each FT Unit will consist of one "flow-through" common share of the Company (each, a "FT Share" and collectively, "FT Shares") and one "flow-through" common share purchase warrant (each a "FT Warrant" and collectively, "FT Warrants"), issued as "flow-through shares", as defined in subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"). Each FT Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one common share (each a "Warrant Share", and collectively, "Warrant Shares") at a price of $1.20 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from issuance. The Warrant Shares underlying the Warrants will not qualify as "flow-through shares" under the Tax Act.

The securities offered under the Offering will be subject to a statutory 4 month hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

The gross proceeds of the Offering will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" that are "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures", within the meaning of the Tax Act, on the Company's flagship Star Project.

The Company may pay finder's fees in connection with the Offering in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the CSE. Completion of the Offering is subject to customary conditions and the receipt of all necessary approvals.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

QA/QC Statement

Star Copper Corp. follows industry standard protocols for diamond drilling and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures in British Columbia. All drilling is carried out using HQ and NQ sized diamond drill core. Drill core is transported from the drill site to a secure core logging facility where it is logged, photographed, and sampled under the supervision of geologists. Core is cut in half using a diamond saw, with one half of the core placed in a sealed sample bag and sent for analysis, and the other half retained on site for reference and further studies.

Samples are shipped under chain-of-custody protocols to Bureau Veritas Laboratories, an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory. At Bureau Veritas, samples are dried, crushed, split, and pulverized to 85% passing 200 mesh. Analytical procedures include multi-element ICP-ES/MS following four-acid digestion, with gold and precious metals analyzed by fire assay with an atomic absorption or ICP finish.

Star Copper implements a robust QA/QC program, including the insertion of a minimum 5% certified reference materials (standards), blanks, and field duplicates at regular intervals into the sample stream to monitor analytical accuracy and precision. The performance on the blind standards, blanks and duplicates achieved high levels of accuracy and reproducibility and has been verified by Jeremy Hanson, a qualified person as defined by NI-43-101.

Qualified Person

Jeremy Hanson, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as that term is defined under NI 43-101, is an independent contractor of the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical aspects of this news release.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

~Darryl Jones~

Darryl Jones

CEO, President & Director

Star Copper Corp.

About Star Copper Corp. (CSE:STCU)(OTCQX:STCUF)(FWB:SOP / WKN A416ME)

Star Copper Corp. is an exploration and development company focused on developing high-potential copper projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions. The Company aims to advance its 100%-owned Star Project in British Columbia's prolific Golden Triangle (watch our videos https://starcopper.com/media/). The project hosts multiple copper-gold porphyry-style targets, including Star Main, Star North, and Copper Creek. Significant exploration including historical drilling has confirmed open mineralization at depth and in all directions. Star Copper's strategic plans include geological mapping and geophysical surveys to refine existing targets, diamond drilling programs to test high-priority zones, environmental baseline studies and permitting groundwork alongside data analysis and resource modeling to support a future resource estimate prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. The Company further plans to advance its Indata Project with follow-up drilling to expand on previous high-grade copper and gold intercepts, trenching and surface sampling to delineate mineralized zones, and infrastructure improvements for site accessibility and operations. With a commitment to sustainable development and value creation, Star Copper aims to position itself to support surging industrial demand to meet growing global electrification needs.

For more information visit: www.starcopper.com , watch our videos at https://starcopper.com/media/, and while you are there, sign up for free news alerts at https://starcopper.com/news/news-alerts/ or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) , Facebook or LinkedIn . More information regarding the project, including historical drilling, is available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and/or in the Company's February 26, 2025 technical report.

Investor Relations

Star Copper Corp.

Email: info@starcopper.com

Web: https://starcopper.com/

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Offering, exploration of the Company's flagship Star Project and the potential thereof, as well as the anticipated mineral resource estimate planned in respect of the Star Project. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, but are not limited to, the early-stage nature of the Star Project, the inherently unpredictable nature of resource exploration, market conditions and the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect, and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE: Star Copper Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/star-copper-advances-satellite-target-located-1.5-km-from-star-main-deposit-arran-1111799
LONDON, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On 10-11 February 2026, leading voices in domestic abuse prevention, child protection, family law, and social care will gather online for the European Coercive Control & Children Conference, hosted by the Safe & Together Institute via Zoom Events.

This two-day virtual event will bring together practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and advocates from across Europe to share learning, strengthen collaboration, and explore innovative practice to address coercive control and improve child and family safety.

The event marks the 20th anniversary of the Safe & Together Model-a framework that has revolutionised child protection and domestic abuse practice in more than a dozen countries. For two decades, the Model's child-centred, survivor-aligned, and perpetrator-focused approach has supported tens of thousands of professionals to keep children safe and families together while increasing accountability for those who choose to use violence.

This year's speakers include:

David Mandel , founder and CEO of the Safe & Together Institute, reflecting on two decades of global systems change and the Model's future focus on local collaboration, digital innovation, and leadership on men's behaviour, trauma, and perpetration.

, founder and CEO of the Safe & Together Institute, reflecting on two decades of global systems change and the Model's future focus on local collaboration, digital innovation, and leadership on men's behaviour, trauma, and perpetration. David Challen , renowned domestic abuse campaigner, sharing his lived experience as a child survivor and the lasting impact of coercive control on children and families.

, renowned domestic abuse campaigner, sharing his lived experience as a child survivor and the lasting impact of coercive control on children and families. Maya Badham , founder and CEO of Loop and The Centre for Animal Inclusive Safeguarding, discussing how perpetrators use companion animals as part of coercive control and why animal-inclusive safeguarding is vital to whole-family responses.

, founder and CEO of Loop and The Centre for Animal Inclusive Safeguarding, discussing how perpetrators use companion animals as part of coercive control and why animal-inclusive safeguarding is vital to whole-family responses. Rasha Hamid, Safe & Together Institute training consultant, leading a workshop on perpetrator visibility, systemic gaps, and improving multi-agency responses through better perpetrator data.

"Across Europe, agencies and practitioners are transforming their work through a perpetrator pattern-based lens," said Mandel. "This conference celebrates that progress while strengthening our shared commitment to collaboration and innovation."

The programme includes sessions focused on:

Domestic Abuse-Informed Practice: Tools to help practitioners assess risk, improve case planning, and embed perpetrator accountability in everyday practice.

Tools to help practitioners assess risk, improve case planning, and embed perpetrator accountability in everyday practice. Family Law: Reframing coercive control as a parenting and child safety issue to improve outcomes in courts and family services.

Reframing coercive control as a parenting and child safety issue to improve outcomes in courts and family services. Multi-Agency Teams: Moving from fragmented responses to integrated, trauma- and violence-informed systems grounded in behavioural analysis of harm.

To learn more and register, visit safeandtogetherinstitute.com/2026EUCCC .

About the Safe & Together Institute

The Safe & Together Institute is a global leader in domestic abuse-informed training, consulting, and implementation support. Founded in 2006, the Institute's mission is to create, nurture, and sustain a global network of professionals and organisations working to improve systems' responses to domestic violence when children are involved. The Safe & Together Model provides a framework for partnering with domestic abuse survivors and intervening with perpetrators to enhance the safety and well-being of children. The Institute has trained thousands of professionals across the globe, working with child welfare systems, family courts, advocates, and other stakeholders to develop domestic abuse-informed practices and policies. For more information, visit https://safeandtogetherinstitute.com .

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TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE) announces that its subsidiary TotalEnergies EP Nigeria (TEPNG) has completed the divestment of its 12.5% non-operated interest in the OML118 Production Sharing Contract (PSC) to Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (10%) and Nigerian Agip Exploration (2.5%) for an aggregated amount of USD 510 million.

About TotalEnergies in Nigeria

TotalEnergies has been present in Nigeria for more than 60 years and employs today more than 1,800 people across different business segments. Nigeria is one of the main contributing countries to TotalEnergies' hydrocarbon production with 209,000 boe/d produced in 2024. TotalEnergies also operates an extensive distribution network which includes about 540 service stations in the country. In all its operations, TotalEnergies is particularly attentive to the socio-economic development of the country and is committed to working with local communities.

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas, biogas and low-carbon hydrogen, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.

@TotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergies

Cautionary Note

The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251124305171/en/

Contacts:

TotalEnergies Contacts

Media Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR

Investor Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 46 l ir@totalenergies.com
FUZHOU, China, Nov. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 3rd Overseas Chinese Talent Conference for Development will be held from December 1 to 3, 2025 in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. Hosted by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC) and the Fujian Provincial People's Government, and organized by the Fujian Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the Fuzhou Municipal People's Government, the conference will feature multiple innovative outcomes.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the concept of "a holistic approach to overseas Chinese affairs". Centered on the permanent theme "Pooling the Wisdom of Overseas Chinese Talent to Fulfil the Chinese Dream" and the annual theme "Attracting Overseas Chinese Talents to Create a New Era of Innovation," the event will comprise five sections: the opening ceremony, awarding excellent contributions, gathering and nurturing overseas Chinese talent, attracting overseas Chinese talent, and the QIAOZHIHUI (Overseas Chinese Talent) Platform Achievements Release. These programs are designed to deepen the integration of science and technology, talent, and industry at home and abroad.

To advance the development of a "never-ending Overseas Chinese Talent Conference", the Office of the Organizing Committee is actively engaging in the establishment of Overseas Chinese Talent Hubs, which will serve as innovative platforms connecting the intellectual resources of overseas Chinese worldwide with local development needs - attracting overseas Chinese talents, fostering regional collaboration, and leveraging "small hubs" to drive "large-scale cooperation".

An online overseas talent service portal will also be launched during the conference. Focused on supporting Chinese talents returning to China for development, the portal will provide comprehensive assistance to overseas Chinese, students studying abroad, and patriotic compatriots, while forging strong links with high-quality domestic employers - including technology innovation enterprises, research institutions, and key industrial entities. It will establish a multidimensional talent service system that integrates policy guidance, technology empowerment, and professional services. The platform plans to introduce an innovative three-tier consultant model: overseas consultants to expand global talent outreach; domestic career consultants to provide end-to-end support, including policy consultation and customized job matching; and campus student consultants to offer localized onboarding assistance for newly returned talents - creating a trustworthy, efficient, and caring international talent hub.

Source: Office of the Organizing Committee of the 3rd Overseas Chinese Talent Conference for Development

Contact for media only: Contact person Mr. Lin, Tel: 86-10-63074558
BATH, England, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Method Grid has been named Small to Medium Enterprise of the Year at the APM Project Management Awards, recognising its growing influence in supporting consistent, confident project delivery across complex, safety-critical sectors.

The award celebrates organisations with fewer than 250 employees who demonstrate excellence in project delivery and outcomes. Method Grid was selected following a two-stage judging process involving a written submission and a presentation to a panel of industry experts.

The judges' feedback described Method Grid as:

"A small company making a big industry impact. Their playbook platform stood out as a brilliant fusion of technology and project management expertise. The panel praised their maturity, agility, and ability to deliver complex projects while continuously learning and evolving. Their use of AI and assurance tools reflects genuine foresight, and their commitment to professional growth and inclusive practice really shone through. A dynamic, passionate team who have made real impact."

The win reflects the company's values led culture. Method Grid has built a purpose-driven team that values continuous learning and shared ownership. This culture underpins the way the company works with clients and each other - empowering individuals and building an environment where expertise is developed, supported and celebrated. It is this focus on people, alongside technical innovation, that enables the company to deliver meaningful capability uplift across major programmes.

Method Grid's dual delivery model, combining expert consulting with a continually evolving SaaS platform, allows the team to support clients in strengthening capability, embedding consistent ways of working and improving programme assurance.

As a high-performing SME with outsized influence, Method Grid continues to help the profession advance.

About Method Grid

Method Grid helps organisations deliver complex processes and projects with consistency and confidence. The platform maps the full delivery lifecycle - from stages and deliverables to activities, controls, stage gates and approvals - into one intuitive, no-code playbook so teams always know what to do, when and how.

With embedded knowledge, templates and training, Method Grid is trusted by leading professional services firms and national infrastructure organisations across the infrastructure, energy and built environment sectors. It ensures ways of working are clearly articulated, universally understood and consistently followed.

Learn more at: https://methodgrid.com/

Contact:

Tom McFadyen

tom.mcfadyen@methodgrid.com

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WILMINGTON, Del., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Copper Alloy Connector Market By Application (Round Connector, Flat Connector, Power Connector, Power Connector, Bushings, Wires/Cables, Heat/Sink Exchangers, Resistors (Shunt, Chip), Heating Resistance, Injection Tooling/Mold, Casting Die, Braking System/Clutch Drum, Heating Cables, And Others), By Alloy (Copper Nickel Alloys, Beryllium Copper Alloys, Copper Magnesium Alloys, Pure Copper & Low Alloyed Copper, Copper Manganese Alloys, Copper Nickel Tin Spinodal Alloys, Copper Beryllium Alloys, Special & Standard Brass, Copper Nickel Silicon Alloys, Pure Nickel & Nickel-Based Alloys, Nickel Aluminum Bronzes, Nickel, Silver Alloys, And Tin-Bronzes), By Market (General Industry, Aerospace, Consumer & Professional Electronics, Automotive And E-Mobility, Oil & Gas, Luxury, Consumer Goods & Services, Health, Marine & Defense, Power, And Mining And Construction), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Lamea): Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2025-2033". According to the report, the "Copper Alloy Connector Market" was valued at $13.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $24.9 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2025 to 2033.

Download PDF Brochure:?https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A325891

The Shift Towards Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Automotive Electrification is one of the strongest drivers for the copper alloy connector market. With the rapid transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to hybrid and fully electric vehicles (EVs), there is an increasing demand for connectors that can withstand high voltages, deliver efficient power transmission, and maintain reliability under challenging operating conditions. Copper alloys are particularly well-suited for these requirements due to their unique balance of electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and mechanical strength. Unlike pure copper, which may be too soft for certain applications, copper alloys such as brass, phosphor bronze, and beryllium copper combine strength with high conductivity, ensuring efficient current flow while resisting wear and tear from frequent connections and disconnections. In April 2025, Horse Powertrain debuts a compact, fully integrated hybrid module at Auto Shanghai 2025, offering OEMs a drop-in alternative for existing EV platforms. Moreover, In September 2023, Volkswagen France created a fast-charging network under the "Electrify France" label, covering its distribution networks for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Audi, SEAT, CUPRA, and Skoda brands.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2025-2033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2024 $13.4 billion Market Size in 2033 $24.9 billion CAGR 6.5 % No. of Pages in Report 197 Segments Covered Application, Alloy, Market, And Region Drivers High Electrical Conductivity of Copper Alloy Rise in Demand for 5G and Data Center Opportunity Expansion of EV Charging Infrastructure Increase in Renewable Energy Offshore Projects Restraint Volatility in Copper Prices

Procure Complete Report (197 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @?https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/copper-alloy-connector-market

Increase in Smart Grids and Energy Transition

Smart Grids and the Energy Transition are creating significant opportunities for copper alloy connectors, as energy systems worldwide move toward renewable sources and more intelligent power distribution. Traditional grids were designed for one-way power flow from centralized plants to consumers, but smart grids are dynamic, decentralized, and involve bidirectional energy exchange between multiple sources, including solar panels, wind farms, energy storage systems, and electric vehicles. This transformation requires connectors that can ensure high efficiency, durability, and safety in power transmission and distribution. Copper alloys, with their superior conductivity, corrosion resistance, and mechanical strength, are uniquely positioned to meet these requirements. In June 2025, the UN, through UNOPS, is aiding Indonesia in upgrading its electricity system across Java, Madura, and Bali with a smart grid framework including an upgraded control centre (JAMALI) that incorporates renewable forecasting, real-time balancing, and large-scale battery storage. Completion of the main control centre is expected by end of 2025

Import Export Analysis of Copper Alloy Connector

Import Trends

The import of copper alloy connectors has been steadily growing in line with the rising demand for electronics, automotive electrification, and renewable energy infrastructure. According to UN Comtrade data, global imports of copper-based electrical connectors and related components surpassed $6 billion in 2023, reflecting an annual growth rate of around 5-6% over the past three years. The largest importers are industrialized economies such as the United States, Germany, Japan, and South Korea, where strong demand comes from the automotive, telecommunications, and consumer electronics industries. For example, the U.S. alone imported copper connectors worth over $1.2 billion in 2023, indicating its reliance on overseas manufacturing hubs, particularly from Asian countries like China, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

Export Trends

On the export side, China dominates the global market, accounting for nearly 40% of total exports of copper alloy connectors in 2023. Its position is strengthened by large-scale connector manufacturing clusters, cost-efficient labor, and strong backward integration with the copper refining and alloying industries. Other key exporters include Germany, Japan, and Mexico, which cater to advanced automotive and industrial applications. Germany's exports are more specialized, focusing on high-performance connectors for aerospace, automotive, and energy applications, contributing to nearly $700 million worth of exports in 2023. Mexico has also emerged as a strategic export hub for North America, with shipments exceeding $500 million annually, benefiting from nearshoring trends as U.S. companies diversify away from Asia.

Connect To Industry Expert: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/A325891

Key Players: -

Aviva Metals

PMX Industries Inc.

Materion Corporation

Cadi Company, Inc.

Electric Materials Company

IBC Advanced Alloys Corp.

JX Advanced Metals Corporation

Copper Alloys Australia Pty Ltd

Swissmetal Industries SA

KME Germany GmbH

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global Copper Alloy Connector Industry. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, and agreements to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to highlight the competitive scenario.

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About us:

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LONDON, 25 November 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BIGTXN, a leading provider of screening data solutions for pre- and post-trade monitoring, is pleased to announce a new partnership with LSEG Risk Intelligence. The partnership will focus on developing innovative products for financial services firms - particularly with regard to sanctions.

The partnership brings together two forward-thinking companies committed to leveraging their respective strengths to develop monitoring and sanctions screening data. By aligning strategic goals and combining technical expertise, BIGTXN and LSEG Risk Intelligence will collaborate on new product development and integration of services, utilising LSEG World-Check, a flagship solution within LSEG Risk Intelligence portfolio, which delivers comprehensive sanctions coverage, helping organisations meet regulatory obligations and manage financial crime risk with confidence.

"We're thrilled to join forces with LSEG Risk Intelligence" said Haider Mannan, CEO of BIGTXN. "This collaboration represents a major milestone in our growth strategy, and we believe it will unlock powerful opportunities to innovate faster and serve clients even better".

"By combining our deep expertise in sanctions intelligence with BIGTXN's proven strength in securities data, we're unlocking new opportunities to enhance risk screening capabilities. Together, we're empowering clients to make more informed decisions with greater precision and confidence", said Chris Moyser, Head of Strategy at LSEG Risk Intelligence.

About BIGTXN

BIGTXN provides monitoring and screening data solutions for pre- and post-trade processing. Using a specialised data management platform and matching algorithms, and as one of the largest processors of securities data BIGTXN delivers high quality financial information to meet demanding use cases for financial institutions worldwide.

Find out more at: https://www.bigtxn.com/

Contacts:

BIGTXN

Attn: Press Officer

hello@bigtxn.com

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LONDON, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Maya Pistola Agavepura, Asia's first aged 100% agave spirit, was awarded 'Spirit of the Year - India' at the USA Spirits Ratings 2025, the highest recognition awarded to an Indian brand this year. The milestone coincides with Pistola's official launch in the UK via The Whisky Exchange, marking a defining moment for Indian craft spirits globally.

With over 50 international accolades, solidifying their reputation, Pistola has, since its launch in 2022, been reshaping the agave landscape with refined ageing techniques and a bold sense of provenance to create an entirely new category of premium spirits: 'Agavepura'. This term and spirit category refers to the purity of the spirit, the fact that it is 100% agave, and produced using no additives.

The USA Spirits Ratings is among the world's most respected competitions, judged for Quality, Value, and Packaging. This international recognition comes just as Pistola reaches the UK - one of the world's most discerning markets. Four premium expressions, Anejo, Extra Anejo, Reposado and Joven, are available at all The Whisky Exchange London outlets and to order online for delivery across the UK.

Rakshay Dhariwal, Founder & Director of Maya Pistola Agavepura, said, "Winning 'Spirit of the Year - India' is a milestone not only for Pistola, but for the entire category of Agavepura that we are building. Launching in the UK at this exact moment makes it even more meaningful - it's proof that Indian craftsmanship is more than just whisky."

Product details:

Anejo: 700ml at 40% ABV, priced at 39.95

Extra Anejo: 700ml at 48% ABV, priced at 63.95

Reposado: 700ml at 40% ABV, priced at 34.95

Joven: 700ml at 38% ABV, priced at 31.95

About Maya Pistola Agavepura:

Maya Pistola Agavepura (Pistola) is Asia's first aged 100% Agave spirit made from the Wild Agave Americana that thrives on the highlands of India's Deccan plateau. Each small batch has been aged, blended and bottled in Goa to bring out the smooth flavours from oak while allowing the naturally occurring variation in minerality that can be expected from Wild Agave to shine. Made completely naturally with no use of artificial colours, the core value of Pistola is authenticity. Each bottle is unique, has its own character, and its own truth. Visit https://pistola.in/

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PORT VILA, Vanuatu, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantage, the leading multi-asset broker, is delighted to announce it has been awarded Best Mobile Trading App - APAC at the prestigious UF AWARDS APAC 2025, held during the iFX EXPO Asia 2025.

Now in its sixth edition, the UF Awards APAC recognise excellence across the Asia-Pacific region, celebrating the finest fintech and online trading brands that deliver outstanding products and services. This recognition was presented to the Vantage brand as part of the event's regional award categories.

The Best Mobile Trading App award honours Vantage's commitment to delivering a best-in-class mobile experience. With intuitive design, lightning-fast execution, and advanced features built for both new and experienced traders, Vantage's mobile platform offers the tools and performance needed to trade confidently.

Marc Despallieres, CEO of Vantage, stated: "We are honoured to receive this recognition from the industry. Winning Best Mobile Trading App in the APAC region underscores our dedication to developing technology that empowers traders. We will continue to innovate and deliver mobile solutions that make trading smarter and more accessible."

This accolade adds to Vantage's growing list of international honours and reinforces the brand's position as a leading mobile-first trading platform.

For more information about Vantage's mobile trading app and award-winning services, visit the Vantage website. Service availability varies by jurisdiction and entity.

About Vantage

Vantage Markets (or Vantage) is a multi-asset CFD broker offering clients access to a nimble and powerful service for trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) products, including Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, and Bonds.

With 16 years of market experience, Vantage goes beyond the role of broker, providing a reliable trading platform that provides clients access to trading opportunities.

trade smarter @vantage

RISK WARNING: CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Ensure you understand the risks before trading.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, an offer, or solicitation of any financial products or services. The content is not intended for residents of any jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation. The awards described are brand-level recognitions and do not indicate the licensing permissions of any specific Vantage entity. Readers are advised to seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions. Any reliance you place on the information presented is strictly at your own risk.

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DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aramco Ventures, the venture capital arm of Aramco, today announced plans to open a new office in Paris, France, in 2026. The expansion underscores Aramco's growing commitment to global innovation, as the company continues to invest in next-generation technologies that support its long-term strategy for business diversification and energy transformation.

With over $7 billion in allocated capital, Aramco Ventures plays a key role in identifying and investing in innovative startups and technology solutions across many sectors. The Paris office will serve as a key resource for accessing France and Europe's vibrant innovation ecosystem, recognized globally for its strengths in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, industrial digitization, and quantum computing.

Paris: A Strategic Choice for Innovation and Growth

France is fast emerging among the EU's leading hubs for AI, digital, and quantum innovation, driven by bold government initiatives and a maturing ecosystem of start-ups, universities, researchers, and investors. Notable efforts such as the National Quantum Strategy and national investments in AI have positioned France as a prime destination for global technology investment.

This innovation momentum is complemented by academic institutions such as Paris-Saclay University, ranked first in Europe for mathematics, physics, and engineering, and innovation platforms like Station F, the world's largest start-up campus.

Ahmad O. Al Khowaiter, Aramco Executive Vice President of Technology & Innovation and Aramco Ventures Chairman, said: "Aramco is harnessing advanced technologies that have potential to solve some of the world's toughest problems. Aramco Ventures, our global venture capital program, plays an important role in this by funding start-ups and high-growth companies at the forefront of innovation, in areas from sustainability to industrial AI. This supports Aramco's diversification and adds to its competitive edge. Through the new office in Paris, Aramco Ventures will extend its international footprint with a view to contributing further to exciting scientific and technology advances in France, one of the top three venture capital markets in Europe, as well as the broader European region."

Building on Existing Investment Success in France

Aramco is not new to the research ecosystem of France, as it has a fuel research center in Paris that concentrates on energy, transport, and the environment. Furthermore, Aramco's venturing programs have made two investments in French start-ups already: Pasqal, a quantum computing company; and Prophesee, a developer of a neuromorphic vision platform designed to improve the efficiency and intelligence of video processing systems. With its Paris office, Aramco Ventures will aim to deepen collaboration with founders, institutions, and investors in France, helping scale next-generation technologies across AI, quantum, deeptech, and sustainability domains.

About Aramco Ventures

Aramco Ventures is the corporate venturing arm of Aramco, one of the world's leading integrated energy and chemicals companies. Headquartered in Dhahran with offices in North America, Europe and Asia, Aramco Ventures' strategic venturing programs invest globally in start-up and high growth companies with technologies of strategic importance to its parent company, Aramco, primarily supporting its operational decarbonization, new lower-carbon fuels businesses, and digital transformation initiatives. Aramco Ventures also operates Prosperity7, the company's disruptive technologies investment program.

For more information, please visit www.aramcoventures.com.

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BELEM, Brazil, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 13, Tuya Smart (NYSE: TUYA; HKEX: 2391), a global AI cloud platform service provider, was invited to attend the official launch of the United Nations Solutions Hub (UNSH) and participated in multiple sessions in the Blue Zone at COP30. Through its open and neutral platform, Tuya drives global sustainability efforts by empowering partners to rapidly deploy AIoT solutions that power a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient energy future.

Officially launched at COP30, the United Nations Solutions Hub (UNSH) is a global digital platform designed to connect climate solutions, partners, and real-world implementation opportunities. Co-hosted by the UNFCCC, the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), and Tencent, the launch event brought together several key strategic partners, including Tuya Smart, to showcase practical digital use innovations that integrate technology with sustainability outcomes, including AI-powered energy optimization, smart manufacturing, and renewable energy projects.

At the inaugural thematic solutions showcase under the UNSH platform, Renan Antoniolli, Tuya's Regional Director of Smart Industry & Business for Latin America, delivered a speech, "Smart Energy and AI-driven Sustainability." He highlighted the widespread adoption of Tuya's AIoT technologies in energy management across homes, commercial buildings, and cities. By optimizing energy use through AI, connected devices help create an intelligent ecosystem where real-time data empowers individuals, organizations, and governments to make more informed decisions.

With a platform connecting over 3,000 product categories, Tuya demonstrated how AIoT drives urban efficiency and advances climate solutions through real-world deployments.

In France, Tuya's Home Energy Management System (HEMS) has been adopted by partners such as Xanlite, Mazda, and Thaleos. By monitoring energy use in real time and scheduling devices through AI algorithms and energy management apps, households can reduce electricity consumption by 25%-30%.

In Brazil, Tuya has partnered with WEG, a Brazilian multinational brand specializing in electric-engineering products and automation solutions, to create smart home apps that enable comprehensive device control and energy management, redefining low-carbon and high-quality living experiences.

Tuya has also collaborated with the smart home service provider, Hometree, to develop AI-powered, energy-saving whole-house solutions that enable motion-activated lighting, remote appliance shutoff, and real-time energy monitoring.

Beyond residential applications, Tuya supports civil and municipal street lighting projects by integrating AIoT into intelligent urban planning. The smart street light solutions enable cities to centrally manage and monitor energy use in real-time, adjust brightness dynamically, and cut energy consumption significantly.

At the "Turning Innovation into Impact" workshop, Antoniolli joined industry leaders from Gree, Huanghe Science and Technology University (HHSTU), LONGi, and Tencent to engage in in-depth discussions on data-driven solutions, open collaboration, and the role of education in advancing sustainable innovation.

"Sustainability is achieved by connecting devices, data, and intelligence," said Antoniolli during Tuya's presentation at COP30. "AI technology should not remain at the conceptual level, but should be transformed into quantifiable and replicable carbon reduction tools to eliminate 'invisible waste' and provide users with a more comfortable, safer and more controllable smart life."

Going forward, Tuya will leverage the UNSH platform to further demonstrate how innovation and partnerships among public, private, and international sectors can accelerate sustainable transformation, continuously contributing to a greener future through AIoT technologies.

About Tuya Smart

Tuya Inc. (NYSE: TUYA; HKEX: 2391) is a leading global AI cloud platform service provider dedicated to bringing AI into everyday life. Through its TuyaOpen open-source development framework and universal AI Agent engines, including the AI Agent development platform, Tuya integrates multimodal AI capabilities to lower barriers for AI development, efficiently advancing the realization of AI-driven lifestyles and accelerating AI integration with the physical world. Tuya offers innovative physical AI solutions for smart devices, commercial applications, and industry developers through its cloud computing and spatial intelligence capabilities. It also provides a complete, open, and neutral global AIoT ecosystem. This approach fosters a vibrant global developer community comprising brands, OEMs, AI agents, system integrators, and independent software vendors who collaborate to create smart solution ecosystems embodying the principles of sustainability, security, efficiency, agility, and openness. As of June 30, 2025, the Tuya AI Developer Platform had over 1,514,000 registered accounts from more than 200 countries and regions.

For more information: https://www.tuya.com/about

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Drill hole DDRCCC-25-099 intersected 310.0 m of 0.61 g/t Au , including 172.4 m of 0.90 g/t Au, 26.8 m of 1.04 g/t Au , and 33.4 m of 2.40 g/t Au further expanding the Blackjack Deposit.

Drill hole DDRCCC-25-102 intersected 191.8 m of 0.65 g/t Au including 119.9 m of 0.87 g/t Au and 24.3 m of 2.33 g/t Au southwest of the current Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") margin.

Drill hole DDRCCC-25-104 intersected 44.4 m of 1.33 g/t Au from surface further extending the known mineralization at Saddle Zone.

Drill hole DDRCCC-25-110 intersected 44.5 m of 0.70 g/t gold, including 8.8 m of 1.18 g/t gold, suggesting a new zone of mineralization at the Blackjack South target area, which lies approximately 300 m south of the Blackjack MRE limit and within the proposed Blackjack pit limits.

Additional results pending for 42 drill holes completed at Eiger, Pukelman, Contact, Rhosgobel, Bearpaw, and May-Qu.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Sitka Gold Corp. (TSXV: SIG) (FSE: 1RF) (OTCQB: SITKF) ("Sitka" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional analytical results from drilling completed at its 100% owned, road accessible RC Gold Project ("RC Gold" or the "Project") within the Yukon's prolific Tombstone Gold Belt. Drilling at the Blackjack area has expanded the known mineralized envelope at the Blackjack Gold Deposit, expanded the Saddle Zone gold mineralization, identified a deeper zone of strong gold mineralization at Saddle, and discovered a new area of gold mineralization at Blackjack South located approximately 300 metres south of the current Blackjack deposit and within the current proposed pit limits.

At the Blackjack Deposit, drill hole DDRCCC-25-099 intersected 310.0 m of 0.61 g/t gold, including 172.4 m of 0.90 g/t gold and 26.8 m of 1.04 g/t gold, and 33.4 m of 2.40 g/t gold at the edge of the current MRE extending the known mineralization further to the southwest (see Figure 1). DDRCCC-25-102 returned 191.8 metres of 0.65 g/t gold including 24.3 m of 2.33 g/t gold, highlighting the presence of strong gold mineralization outside the southwest margin of the current MRE (see Figure 1).

At the Saddle Zone DDRCCC-25-104 intersected 44.4 metres of 1.33 g/t gold from 4.6 metres extending the near surface mineralization at the Saddle Zone further to the west (see Figure 1). The Saddle Zone is within the pit limits of the Blackjack Deposit but is not included in the current MRE and drilling has extended the strike of mineralization at Saddle to approximately 300 metres. Drilling at Blackjack South (holes DDRCCC-25-105, -108, -110) has intersected a new quartz monzonite dyke within the proposed pit limits at Blackjack, adding a new mineralized target approximately 300 metres south of the current MRE boundary where drillhole DDRCCC-25-110 intersected 44.5 m of 0.70 g/t gold including 8.8 metres of 1.18 g/t gold. Mineralization at Blackjack south consists of sheeted quartz veins cutting the feldspar megacrystic quartz monzonite and adjacent metasediments.





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"Drilling at the Blackjack and Saddle zones continues to reinforce the potential for significant ounces to be added within the conceptual pit shell of our Blackjack gold deposit," stated Cor Coe, CEO and Director of Sitka Gold. "While the long, robust drill intercepts returned this season continue to expand the mineralized envelope at Blackjack, which remains open in all directions, we are quite excited with what we are seeing at Saddle, where results such as 44.4 metres of 1.33 g/t gold beginning at surface in hole 104 highlight the potential to add near surface higher-grade gold mineralization within the proposed pit limits. Furthermore, results such as the 4.0 metres of 3.90 g/t gold beginning at 142.0 metres in hole 098 suggest that a deeper zone of higher-grade mineralization is also beginning to emerge at Saddle. In addition, a new zone of gold mineralization has been discovered about 300 metres south of the Blackjack resource envelope where step out drilling has intercepted strong gold values such as 44.5 metres of 0.70 g/t gold in hole 110, which included 8.8 metres of 1.18 g/t gold and a separate interval of 2.0 metres of 4.07 g/t gold. We look forward to following up on these latest drill results as we continue to unlock the potential at the Blackjack deposit, which is just one of our many exciting targets within what is quickly becoming a district-scale, multi-deposit gold camp at RC Gold."

Figure 1: A drill plan map of the Blackjack and Saddle zones with the newly discovered Blackjack South area all within the conceptual pit outline for the Blackjack gold deposit.

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Figure 2: Examples of visible gold (VG) observed in drill core at the Blackjack Deposit (DDRCCC-25-099 and DDRCCC-25-102), the Saddle Zone (DDRCCC-25-104), and the Blackjack South Zone (DDRCCC-25-110). Click the following links to see additional images of VG from the BLACKJACK, BLACKJACK SOUTH and SADDLE zones.

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Figure 3a: Core from DDRCCC-25-099 of sheeted veins in metasediments (darker rock at top and middle of photo) and strongly altered and silicified megacrystic quartz monzonite showing the 10.2 m interval of 6.15 g/t Au from 499.9 m, including 1.6 m of 26.9 g/t Au from 505.0 m. These results continue to demonstrate the presence of significant gold mineralization in the metasedimentary rock within and adjacent to the megacrystic quartz monzonite.

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Figure 3b: Core from DDRCCC-25-104 of sheeted quartz veinlets in megacraystic quartz monzonite showing part of 44.4 m interval of 1.33 g/t Au from 4.6 m, including 10.m of 2.14 g/t Au from 20.0 m.

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Figure 3c: Drill core from DDRCCC-25-110 of sheeted quartz veins in strongly altered metasediments on the margins of a megacrystic quartz monzanite dyke (darker rock at the bottom right of the photo) showing the 44.5 m interval of 0.70 g/t Au from 152.0 m, including 8.8 m of 1.18 g/t gold from 152.0 m. This intersection also demonstrates the presence of gold mineralization in the metasediments adjacent to the intrusive megacrystic quartz monzonite.

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Blackjack Drilling

Drilling at Blackjack in 2025 which included 26 holes for approximately 10,494 m was successful in extending the known mineralization at the Blackjack deposit as well as extending the strike length of known mineralization at the Saddle zone, identifying new deeper mineralization at Saddle, and identifying new mineralization at Blackjack South. The three holes drilled at Blackjack South were successful at identifying a new zone of mineralization within the proposed Blackjack pit outline.

At the Saddle Zone, 11 holes for a total 2,918 meters have been completed in 2025. Received results continue to define the presence of dykes and sills with strong gold mineralization hosted both within the dykes and sills and the host metasedimentary rock. The near surface gold mineralization defined to date at the Saddle Zone is within the current proposed pit outline for the Blackjack Deposit resource, but is approximately 300 metres east of the current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) outline. This mineralization therefore has the potential to expand and add ounces to the current MRE. In addition, drill holes at Saddle have intersected a deeper zone of mineralization such as drillhole DDRCCC-25-086 which intersected a second deeper zone of 4.1 m of 1.45 g/t gold and DDRCCC-25-089 which intersected a second deeper zone of 4.0 m of 4.52 g/t gold from 236.0 m within mineralized dykes and sills (see news release dated September 4, 2025).

* While visible gold observations are very encouraging and confirm the presence of gold mineralization, they are not intended to imply potential gold grades. Gold assays will be published after they are received from the lab for mineralized intervals in which visible gold particles were noted.





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Figure 4: A plan map of the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex (CCIC) showing the updated resource areas at Blackjack and Eiger, along with the newly discovered Rhosgoble zone and several other high-priority drill targets and multiple exploration targets. . The map highlights the numerous drill targets that Sitka has outlined within the CCIC which all are connected by the road network on the project and occur in an area measuring five (5) km north-south and twelve (12) km east-west. Additional areas highlighted by strong gold in soil anomalies are being advanced to the drill ready stage with additional geological work in 2025.

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Figure 5*: A plan map of the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex (CCIC) showing the updated resource areas at Blackjack and Eiger, and the six additional areas that have drill targets indicated by the mauve hatched areas. The map highlights the numerous drill targets that Sitka has outlined within the CCIC which all are connected by the road network on the project and occur in an area measuring five (5) km north-south and twelve (12) km east-west. Additional areas highlighted by strong gold in soil anomalies are being advanced to the drill ready stage with additional geological work in 2025.

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* References for Figure 7 drilling intervals:

Rhosgobel Intervals: Sitka Gold News Release dated November 25, 2024

Pukelman Intervals: Sitka Gold News Release dated January 7, 2025

Contact Intervals: O'Brien, 2010; Assessment Report, 2010 Diamond Drilling Program, Clear Creek Property (Assessment report 095539)

Shutty, 2011; Assessment Report, 2011 Exploration Program, Clear Creek Property (Assessment Report 095984)

Bear Paw Intervals: Shutty, 2011; Assessment Report, 2011 Exploration Program, Clear Creek Property (Assessment Report 095984)

Figure 6: Regional map of the RC Gold Project located in the western portion of Yukon's prolific Tombstone Gold Belt.

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Quality Assurance/Quality Control

On receipt from the drill site, the HTW/NTW-sized drill core was systematically logged for geological attributes, photographed and sampled at Sitka's core logging facility. Sample lengths as small as 0.3 m were used to isolate features of interest, otherwise a default 2 m downhole sample length was used. Each sample is identified by a unique sample tag number which is placed in the bag containing the core to be assayed. Core was cut in half lengthwise along a predetermined line, with one-half (same half, consistently) collected for analysis and one-half stored as a record. Standard reference materials, blanks and duplicate samples were inserted by Sitka personnel at regular intervals into the sample stream. Bagged samples were placed in secure bins to ensure integrity during transport. They were delivered by Sitka personnel or a contract expeditor to ALS Laboratories' preparatory facility in Whitehorse, Yukon, with analyses completed in North Vancouver.

ALS is accredited to ISO 17025:2005 UKAS ref. 4028 for its laboratory analysis. Samples were crushed by ALS to over 70 per cent passing below two millimetres and split using a riffle splitter. One-thousand-gram splits were pulverized to over 85 per cent passing below 75 microns. Gold determinations are by fire assay with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-AES) finish on 50 g subsamples of the prepared pulp (ALS code: Au-ICP-22). Any sample returning over 10 g/t gold was re-analyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish on a 50 g subsample (ALS code: Au-GRA21). In addition, a 51-element analysis was performed on a 0.5 g subsample of the prepared pulps by an aqua regia digestion followed by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) finish (ALS code: ME-MS41).

About Sitka's Flagship RC Gold Project

Sitka's 100% owned RC Gold Project consists of a 431 square kilometre contiguous district-scale land package located in the heart of Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt. The project is located approximately 100 kilometres east of Dawson City, which has a 5,000 foot paved runway, and is accessed via a secondary gravel road from the Klondike Highway which is usable year-round and is an approximate 2 hour drive from Dawson City. It is the largest consolidated land package strategically positioned mid-way between the Eagle Gold Mine and the past producing Brewery Creek Gold Mine.

The RC Gold Project now has pit-constrained mineral resources that are contained in two zones: the Blackjack and Eiger gold deposits with 1,291,000 ounces of gold in 39,962,000 tonnes grading 1.01 g/t gold in an indicated category and 1,044,000 ounces of gold in 34,603,000 tonnes grading 0.94 g/t in an inferred category at Blackjack and 440,000 ounces of gold in 27,362,000 tonnes grading 0.50 g/t gold in an inferred category at Eiger. These resource estimate numbers are supported by the recently updated technical report for RC Gold, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 standards, entitled "Clear Creek Property, RC Gold Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Dawson Mining District, Yukon Territory", prepared by Ronald G. Simpson, P. Geo., of GeoSim Services Inc. with an effective date of January 21, 2025. This report is available on SEDAR+ (http://www.sedarplus.ca) and on the Company's website (www.sitkagoldcorp.com).

Both of these deposits begin at surface, are potentially open pit minable and Initial bottle roll metallurgical testing confirmed the non-refractory characteristics of the gold mineralization and returned gold extraction rates averaging around 85%. Further metallurgical testwork in 2024 returned recoveries ranging from 77.6 to 93% for gravity followed by cyanidation.

For the purposes of the current resource model, it is assumed that a likely mill flowsheet would consist of a gravimetric, flotation, and cyanidation circuit.

The company has now completed 165 diamond drill holes for a total of 59,770 metres across the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex (CCIC), and an additional 3 holes for 858 metres in the May-Qu Intrusion. Drilling continues to outline higher grade mineralization at all zones including hole DDRCCC-24-068 at Blackjack which intersected 678.1 metres of 1.04 g/t gold starting from surface (see news release dated October 21, 2024), and hole DDRCCC-25-075 which intersected 352.8 metres of 1.55 g/t gold including 108.9 metres of 3.27 g/t gold and 45.0 metres of 4.52 g/t gold (see news release dated April 22, 2025). Drilling in 2024/2025 has resulted in the discovery of a new higher grade zone at Rhosggobel including hole DDRCRG-25-010 at Rhosgobel which intersected 235.9 metres of 1.11 g/t gold, including 40.0 m of 2.01 g/t gold and 10.0 m of 5.29 g/t gold, from surface (see news release dated September 18, 2025).

RC Gold Deposit Model

Exploration on the Property has mainly focused on identifying an intrusion-related gold system ("IRGS"). The property is within the Tombstone Gold Belt which is the prominent host to IRGS deposits within the Tintina Gold Province in Yukon and Alaska. Notable deposits from the belt include: Fort Knox Mine in Alaska with current Proven and Probable Reserves of 230 million tonnes at 0.3 g/t Au (2.471 million ounces; Sims 2018)(1); Eagle Gold Mine with current Measured and Indicated Resources of 233 million tonnes at a grade of 0.57 g/t Au at the Eagle Main Zone (4.303 million ounces; Harvey et al, 2022)(2); the Brewery Creek deposit with current Indicated Mineral Resource of 22.2 million tonnes at a gold grade of 1.11 g/t (0.789 million ounces; Hulse et al. 2020)(3); the AurMac Project with an Indicated Mineral Resource of 112.5 million tonnes grading 0.63 gram per tonne gold (2.274 million ounces)(4) plus an Inferred resource of 280.6 million tonnes grading 0.60 g/t gold (5.454 million ounces)(4), the Valley Deposit, with a current Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 7.94 million oz gold at 1.21 g/t and an additional Inferred Mineral Resource of 0.89 million oz at 0.62 g/t gold(5), and the Raven deposit with an inferred mineral resource of 1.1 million oz (19.96 million tonnes at 1.67 g/t gold)(6). The QP has been unable to verify the information regarding the above resource estimations and the information is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the property that is the subject of the disclosure.

Sims J. Fort Knox Mine Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, USA National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report. June 11, 2018. https://s2.q4cdn.com/496390694/files/doc_downloads/2018/Fort-Knox-June-2018-Technical-Report.pdf Harvey N., Gray P., Winterton J., Jutras M., Levy M.,Technical Report for the Eagle Gold Mine, Yukon Territory, Canada. Victoria Gold Corp. December 31, 2022. https://vgcx.com/site/assets/files/6534/vgcx_-_2023_eagle_mine_technical_report_final.pdf Hulse D, Emanuel C, Cook C. NI 43-101 Technical Report on Mineral Resources. Gustavson Associates. May 31, 2020. https://minedocs.com/22/Brewery-Creek-PEA-01182022.pdf July 8, 2025,Banyan Gold Corp., News Release. https://banyangold.com/news-releases/2025/banyan-announces-first-indicated-mineral-resources-and-identifies-high-grade-continuous-zones-at-its-aurmac-project-yukon-canada/ https://snowlinegold.com/2025/05/15/snowline-gold-expands-measured-and-indicated-gold-ounces-by-96-in-updated-mineral-resource-estimate-at-its-valley-gold-deposit-yukon/ Jutras, M. 2022. Technical Report on the Raven Mineral Deposit, Mayo Mining District Yukon Territory, Canada, prepared for Victoria Gold Corp and filed on SEDAR (www.sedarplus.ca) with an effective date of September 15, 2022

About Sitka Gold Corp.

Sitka Gold Corp. is a well-funded mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada with over $43 million in its treasury and no debt. The Company is managed by a team of experienced industry professionals and is focused on exploring for economically viable mineral deposits with its primary emphasis on gold, silver and copper mineral properties of merit. Sitka is currently advancing its 100% owned, 431 square kilometre flagship RC Gold Project located within the Tombstone Gold Belt in the Yukon Territory. The Company is also advancing the Alpha Gold Project in Nevada and currently has drill permits for its Burro Creek Gold and Silver Project in Arizona and the Coppermine River Project in Nunavut, all of which are 100% owned by Sitka.

*For more detailed information on the Company's properties please visit our website at www.sitkagoldcorp.com

Upcoming Events

Sitka Gold will be attending and/or presenting at the following events*:

121 Mining Investment Conference: Dubai, UAE : November 26-27, 2025

Scotiabank Mining Conference: Toronto, Ontario : December 2-3, 2025

Metal Investors Forum (MIF): Vancouver, BC : January 23 - 24, 2026

Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC): Vancouver, BC: January 25 - 26, 2026

AME Roundup: Vancouver, BC: January 26 - 29, 2026

*All events are subject to change.

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Gilles Dessureau, P.Geo., V.P. Exploration of the Company, and a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

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 and Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions and the Company's anticipated work programs.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market uncertainty and the results of the Company's anticipated work programs.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275848

SOURCE: Sitka Gold Corp.
The aviation airbags market is primarily driven by the growing emphasis on passenger safety and regulatory mandates for in-flight safety systems. As air travel demand surges globally, airlines and aircraft manufacturers are increasingly integrating advanced safety features, including airbags, to enhance crash survivability. Technological advancements in seat-integrated airbag systems and rising commercial aircraft deliveries further support market growth. Additionally, increasing investments in cabin safety innovations and compliance with aviation safety standards are accelerating the adoption of airbags across new-generation aircraft.

WILMINGTON, Del., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Aviation Airbags Market by Type (Passenger Airbags, Aircraft Lifting Airbags), by Aircraft Type (Military Aircraft, Civil Aircraft, Commercial Aircraft, Others), by Application (Passenger Safety, Lifting Aircraft): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2025-2034". According to the report, the "aviation airbags market" was valued at $402.4 million in 2024, and is estimated to reach $854.2 million by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2025 to 2034.

Download Sample Pages of Research Overview: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/6083

The Aviation Airbags market is driven by increasing interplanetary exploration missions, advancements in AI and autonomous systems, and rising government and private sector investments in space exploration. Agencies like NASA, ESA, and private firms such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are fueling demand for sophisticated robotic systems for planetary rovers, landers, and satellite servicing. However, high development costs, technical complexities, and risks associated with space missions pose significant restraints. Additionally, strict regulatory frameworks and long mission timelines hinder market expansion. Nonetheless, emerging opportunities lie in in-space manufacturing, asteroid mining, and deep space habitat development. Growing international collaborations and advancements in AI-driven autonomous robotics further enhance the market potential, making aviation airbags a pivotal component of future space exploration.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2025-2034 Base Year 2024 Market Size in 2024 $402.4 million Market Size in 2034 $854.2 million CAGR 8.2 % No. of Pages in Report 300 Segments Covered Type, Aircraft Type, Application, and Region Drivers Surge in Global Air Passenger Traffic and Emphasis on In-Flight Safety Opportunities Growing Demand for Premium Cabin Safety in Emerging Markets Restraints High Retrofit Costs and Regulatory Approvals

Buy This Research Report (300 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures):

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/aviation-airbags-market/purchase-options

The Passenger Airbags segment to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period

Based on type, the passenger airbags segment dominated the global market in 2024, accounting for the largest share during the forecast period. This dominance is attributed to increasing demand for advanced in-seat safety solutions, especially in premium and business class cabins, as airlines prioritize passenger protection and regulatory compliance.

The Commercial Aircraft segment to maintain its lead throughout the forecast period

Based on aircraft type, the commercial aircraft segment dominated the global market in 2024, accounting for the largest share during the forecast period. The segment's growth is driven by the rising global air travel demand, fleet expansion by airlines, and regulatory pressure to implement enhanced in-flight safety mechanisms.

The Passenger Safety segment to maintain its lead position throughout the forecast period

Based on application, the passenger safety segment led the global market in 2024, accounting for the largest share during the forecast period. This is fueled by increased investments in cabin safety systems and growing awareness of passenger injury prevention during turbulence and emergency landings.

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North America to maintain its dominance by 2033

The North America region emerged as the leading market for aviation airbags in 2024. North America dominated the aviation airbags market in 2024 due to strong airline spending on cabin safety upgrades, favorable FAA safety mandates, and the presence of leading aerospace OEMs and interior system suppliers across the U.S. and Canada.

Leading Market Players: -

Maxar Technologies

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Honeybee Robotics

Astrobotic Technology

Altius Space Machines

Motiv Space Systems

Made In Space

Effective Space Solutions Limited

MDA

ispace Inc.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global aviation airbags market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, business expansion, partnerships, mergers, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Explore AMR's Extensive ongoing Coverage on Aerospace and Defense Domain:

Aircraft Cabin Lighting Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024 - 2033

Aircraft Lighting Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024 - 2033

Commercial Aircraft Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023 - 2033

Aircraft Windshield Wiper and Washer System Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030

Ultralight Aircraft Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031

Aircraft Window Frame Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021 - 2031

Aircraft Sensors Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021 - 2031

Aircraft Band Clamps Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021 - 2031

Aircraft Doors Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021 - 2031

Aircraft Electrical System Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022 - 2032

About us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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1bn pipeline in potential UK district heating networks announced by Veolia in new Ecothermal Grid offering for UK market

Ecothermal Grid 15M tons of potential carbon savings if the UK hits the Government's 2050 heat network target

Regulatory News:

Veolia (Paris:VIE) announces it has a 1bn pipeline of projects that are due to be awarded by 2030, as part of the UK deployment of a new "Ecothermal Grid" offering in the UKIt's in line with the company's ambitions to grow its district heating presence further in the UK, using a mix of different sources of energy to deliver carbon-neutral heating and cooling.

Currently in the UK heat in buildings (heating up space, industrial heating and providing hot water) makes up over a third (37%) of the UK's CO2 emissions and with the government's ambitious need to reduce carbon, innovative and green solutions to heat homes are critical.

As of 2024, only around 3% of UK heat demand is met by district heating networks, however the Government target is for this to reach 20% by the year 2050 to support national decarbonisation goals. With this target set, the UK's need for new district heating projects has never been stronger and the potential market value for district heating networks in the country is around 80bn.

Veolia is today calling for the UK Government to back a new wave of district heating and implement policies which it believes will benefit the market for low carbon heating.

A strong pipeline fuelling the growth

To respond to growing demand, Veolia is actively working on a project pipeline to be awarded by 2030 with a total value of 1bn for the Group, across the UK including Wiltshire, London, Bristol, Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire. This pipeline includes 210m of 2025 project wins already awarded in the UK.

In recent developments, Veolia has:

Completed Phase One of its "Southwark 2.0" District Heat Network (DHN) in south London. an extension to a DHN which currently provides over 2,500 homes with secure and sustainable long-term heat, which already saves around 8,000 tonnes of CO every year. Once finished, the DHN will supply nearly 7,000 homes in the capital with 'excess heat', generated from the "energy from waste" plant that Veolia operates in Southwark, saving an additional 14,000 tonnes of CO every year. Phase Two of the Southwark 2.0 project is due to begin in March 2026 subject to regulatory approvals and will see a further expansion of the DHN.

(DHN) in south London. Been selected by Wellcome Genome Campus as its preferred partner to design and build a 5th generation heating and cooling network, which will recover geothermal heat, alongside waste heat from a data centre facility. The Wellcome Genome Campus is expanding its campus in Cambridgeshire from 125 to 440 acres to deliver a global destination for world-leading institutes, businesses and talent in genomics, biodata, health data and data science.

as its preferred partner to design and build a 5th generation heating and cooling network, which will

Required regulatory support

This immense potential growth is why Veolia is driving investment into this sector as well as working closely with the UK Government to push to implement policies which it believes will benefit the market, the environment and the consumer. Policy changes needed now include:

Support for Heat Networks through the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS): Energy from Waste facilities should be incentivised to supply local networks through ETS allowance liability reductions for providing heat to communities, encouraging cleaner heat.

Energy from Waste facilities should be incentivised to supply local networks through ETS allowance liability reductions for providing heat to communities, encouraging cleaner heat. Long-term funding post-Green Heat Network Fund: Longer term funding mechanisms beyond existing grants need to be developed, so heat network projects continue to boom in the UK and can continue to provide cheap, low carbon heat to consumers.

Longer term funding mechanisms beyond existing grants need to be developed, so heat network projects continue to boom in the UK and can continue to provide cheap, low carbon heat to consumers. Mandation of the use of 'waste heat' from buildings on heat networks: New and certain existing buildings should be obligated to connect to and actually use local heat networks, ensuring stable demand for these systems once built.

Estelle Brachlianoff, Chief Executive Officer, Veolia, said: "Veolia's ambition is to be at the forefront of a new wave of heating networks across Europe, and ultimately to become the number one player in urban heating in Europe. In so doing, we will deliver a direct route to carbon-neutral heating and cooling, using a diverse range of energy sources and integrating AI-driven smart controls and energy storage technologies to create the most reliable and flexible networks. In order for this to happen, we need across Europe and in the UK funding mechanisms that provide certainty, and stable regulatory frameworks."

Gavin Graveson, Senior Executive Vice President, Northern Europe Zone, Veolia said: "Veolia is investing heavily in new and existing heating networks. To encourage further investment in decarbonised heat in line with its 2050 targets, the government could use the UK Emissions Trading System (ETS) to incentivise electricity producers to supply local heating networks. Once the infrastructure is in place, the networks must also be fully utilised to optimise their profitability and carbon efficiency. Mandatory connections would guarantee operators stable demand."

ABOUT VEOLIA

Veolia group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with 215,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2024, the Veolia group provided 111 million inhabitants with drinking water and 98 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and treated 65 million tonnes of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 44.7 billion euros in 2024. www.veolia.com

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Contacts:

VEOLIA

PRESS GROUP

Laurent Obadia Evgeniya Mazalova

Anna Beaubatie Aurelien Sarrosquy

Charline Bouchereau

Tel.+ 33 (0) 1 85 57 86 25

presse.groupe@veolia.com

INVESTORS ANALYSTS

Selma Bekhechi Ariane de Lamaze

+ 33 (0)1 85 57 84 76 84 80

investor-relations@veolia.com

VEOLIA UK

PRESS RELATIONS

Calum Warren-Piper

Florence Almond

Louis Blake

Tel.+44(0) 7721 238 278 33

pressenquiry.vesuk@veolia.com
New data show that adults are rejecting guilt this festive period amid appreciation of moderation over absolutes

As the festive season gets underway, new attitudinal research of more than 2,000 adults conducted by the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) shows that most adults in the UK and US are prepared to take a balanced, self-moderated approach to drinking this festive season and are increasingly weary of moralised messaging on alcohol consumptioni

While the festive season and New Year are traditionally seen as a time of indulgence, IARD's findings reveal that moderation, not excess, may now be more front of mind. Almost nine in ten adults (89% UK 81% US) agree that moderation is a responsible way to enjoy alcohol, while most (78% UK 71% US) see it as part of a balanced lifestyle. Awareness of risk is near universal, with 96% (UK) and 94% (US) of drinkers saying they understand the risks associated with alcohol.

Julian Braithwaite, CEO of IARD, said: "The data makes one thing clear: most adults recognise the value of drinking moderately and want to celebrate the good times and friends. People understand the risks, they know their limits, and they appreciate balance. What they don't want is to be stigmatised for enjoying a glass of something special during the holidays or a toast on New Year's Eve."

The new research also shows strong support for empowering, balanced communication over alarmist or absolutist messages. When asked to choose, majorities (51%) in both the UK and US said it's better to promote moderation than to focus on restriction recognising that many adults do choose to drink. Indeed, data shows that in England 78% of adults do not exceed the Chief Medical Officer's recommended lower risk guideline of 14 units per week, while nearly half (49%) of Americans said that they planned to drink less alcohol in 2025ii,iii

This preference for balance extends to expectations of policy. The majority of adults (88% UK 82% US) believe governments should focus on tackling the real harms of addiction, underage drinking, and drunk-driving not policing responsible adults who enjoy a drink. Despite this self-awareness, many feel that the joy of celebration has been clouded by guilt. Two-thirds (66% UK 61% US) say that drinking, even in moderation, is now judged more negatively than before.

"Public debate around drinking has become dominated by extremes," Julian Braithwaite added. "The evidence suggests that most adults sit comfortably in the middle drinking moderately, understanding the risks, and making responsible choices. It's time that conversation caught up with reality and recognised that enjoying a glass of something, particularly during the festive season, isn't a moral failure but part of a valid social experience."

The data shows this tension is felt most acutely by Gen Z, who are navigating what IARD has termed the 'Double Pressure Paradox': equal social pressure to drink and not to drink. Collectively across both geographies, half (50%) of Gen Z say they feel urged by health campaigns and media to cut back on alcohol consumption, compared to 24% of the over 60s. At the same time, 47% of Gen Z feel similar pressure from friends and family compared to just 10% of the older generation. However, Gen Z are more likely than the over 60s to say alcohol makes social occasions more enjoyable 85% to 70%, respectively and 60% of the younger generation say drinking alcohol is part of their culture and tradition compared to just 45% of the over 60s.

IARD is a standards raising not-for-profit organisation with the world's largest online database of peer-reviewed research on alcohol and health, alcohol policy and alcohol regulation. Its recent study of 23 meta-analyses examining the association between alcohol consumption and all-cause mortality found that across all, light-to-moderate consumption had the same or lower risk of death compared to no alcohol consumptioniv

At the same time, the most recent WHO data shows that of the WHO's 194 member states, 113 (or 62%) of those with available data are on track or have already met the harmful drinking reduction target according to at least one indicatorv. Crucially, the most notable progress was made in the two indicators that link directly to harm: global alcohol-attributable mortality rates fell by 20.2%, while morbidity rates by 17.4% between 2010 and 2019vi

Overall, this festive season IARD is calling for a more confident and realistic conversation about alcohol one that reflects and celebrates how the majority live: raising a glass, living in balance and aware of risks.

About IARD

The International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to reducing harmful drinking and promoting understanding of responsible drinking. We are supported by the leading global beer, wine, and spirits producers, who have come together for a common purpose: to be part of the solution in combating harmful drinking. To advance this shared mission, IARD works and partners with public sector, civil society, and private stakeholders. www.iard.org

IARD's members are AB InBev, Asahi, Bacardi, Brown-Forman, Carlsberg, Diageo, Heineken, Kirin, Moet Hennessy, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Pernod Ricard, Suntory Global Spirits, and William Grant Sons. Associate members: The Coca-Cola Company and LOTTE Chilsung Beverage.

Footnotes

i International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD). Online survey conducted from 11 to 16 October 2025 among 2,010 adults in the UK and the US. All respondents were of legal drinking age in the UK (18+) and the US (21+). The survey included 1,007 respondents in the UK and 1,004 in the US. Full data and methodological detail are available upon request.

ii NHS Digital. (2022). Health survey for England, 2021 part 1. Available at https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/health-survey-for-england/2021. (Accessed 21 November 2025)

iii NCSolutions (a Circana company). "Nearly Half of Americans Plan to Drink Less Alcohol in 2025, up 44% From 2023." Blog post, 21 January 2025. Available at: https://www.circana.com/post/americans-drinking-less-2025. (Accessed 20 November 2025).

iv World Health Organisation, "Global status report on alcohol and health and treatment of substance use disorders", 24 June 2024. Report. Available at https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240096745. (Accessed 20 November 2025).

v World Health Organization (WHO). (2011). NCD Global Monitoring Framework. Available at https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/ncd-surveillance-global-monitoring-framework (Accessed 21 November 2025) and World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Global alcohol action plan 2022-2030. Available at https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/alcohol-drugs-and-addictive-behaviours/alcohol/our-activities/towards-and-action-plan-on-alcohol (Accessed 21 November 2025)

vi International Alliance for Responsible Drinking, "Table: Meta-analyses on alcohol consumption and all-cause mortality 2000-2025". Available at https://iard.org/science-resources/detail/Table-MAs-AllCause-Mortality. (Accessed 21 November 2025).

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Contacts:

For media enquiries, please contact:

iardmedia@edelman.com and Rodrigo de Casas rdecasas@iard.org
School-based research in Pakistan and Egypt shows how AI and social media, guided by teachers, can improve learning outcomes and student wellbeing

87% of teachers reported AI resources were useful for planning differentiated lessons, resulting in measurable improvements in comprehension and engagement for students who previously struggled.



80% of students recognised the educational value of social media when used responsibly, enhancing focus and learning outcomes.



90% of students reported having learned something useful for school via social media, demonstrating increased autonomy and practical knowledge acquisition.



LONDON, Nov. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Technology is transforming education, yet teachers remain at the centre of learning. Through its Partner Schools programme, the British Council has supported 12 action research projects exploring how innovation can enhance teaching and learning. The studies in Pakistan and Egypt demonstrate how AI and digital tools can enrich classroom practice while keeping educators central. The findings offer practical insights to inform education policy and advance teacher development worldwide.

In Pakistan, Generative AI has been used to personalise lessons across subjects, helping teachers adapt instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners. Professional development in AI tools, ethical use, and prompt engineering ensures that teachers remain in full control. The results are compelling: 92% of teachers report that AI has improved lesson adaptability, 87% find AI-generated content valuable for planning differentiated instruction, and students who were previously underperforming have made measurable progress.

Meanwhile, in Egypt, a school-wide initiative addressed the responsible use of social media and AI in classrooms. Students learned to manage digital habits, while teachers integrated AI into lesson planning, with 90% reporting use of AI in their teaching. A digital policy guides the ethical use of technology, supporting both student wellbeing and engagement, turning potential distractions into structured learning opportunities.

The British Council highlights its global leadership in education through these initiatives. Through the Partner Schools programme, it provides structured training, ethical frameworks, and teacher agency, demonstrating how evidence-based research can transform classrooms and generate insights that can be applied at scale worldwide. Douglas Wood, Global Head of Educational Support Services at the British Council, said, "These projects demonstrate that AI and social media are powerful tools, but schools and teachers remain the guides. With proper training and clear governance, educators can lead innovations that benefit."

Both initiatives highlight leadership, showing how teachers and school communities drive meaningful change. AI and digital tools enhance lessons, foster critical thinking, and support student wellbeing - but always under the direction of educators.

Sara Ahmer, leading the project in Pakistan, explained, "We're using AI to help every student get the support they need, especially those who fall behind." In Egypt, Hala Tewfik, teacher Research Lead, added, "Students today don't disconnect from digital life when they walk into school - and neither should our teaching methods."

These projects offer practical lessons for schools globally: integrating technology responsibly, prioritising professional development, and aligning digital tools with local policies and student needs. Pakistan and Egypt are among 12 projects in the Action Research programme, supported by the British Council with input from international teams. They show that structured training, careful oversight, and teacher-led innovation are critical for meaningful classroom transformation. By combining local insight with rigorous research, the British Council advances inclusive and impactful approaches to education innovation worldwide.

All 12 projects from the 2025 edition will be presented by the researchers during the online event Action Research Now! on 11-12 December 2025.

Click here to register.

About British Council Partner Schools

About the British Council

Contact

mggarcia@atrevia.com | +34 629 535 434

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HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Results Highlights

In the first half of FY2026 ("1HFY2026"), the Group demonstrated remarkable resilience and delivered solid results, supported by an improvement in consumer sentiment and a revival in jewellery spending across the Group's key markets.

The Group made steady progress in brand transformation, as well as store and product optimisation during the period. These initiatives strengthened the Group's operational efficiency and financial resilience, reaffirming its commitment to quality growth. Same Store Sales ("SSS") turned positive in the Chinese Mainland (the "Mainland") as well as Hong Kong and Macau during the period, validating the Group's store optimisation strategy with a focus on store productivity.

Revenue remained stable at HK$38,986 million during the period. Gross profit margin was maintained above 30%, at a relatively high level in history, underpinned by an improved mix of higher-margin fixed-price jewellery and gold price appreciation Operating profit remained resilient with a year-on-year growth of 0.7% and the operating profit margin achieving a five-year record high with 30 basis points expansion to 17.5%, thanks to a lower cost ratio amid effective store optimisation and disciplined cost management.

Key fixed-price signature collections sustained strong sales momentum and achieved total sales of HK$3.4 billion during the period. The retail sales value ("RSV") contribution of fixed-price jewellery in the Mainland notably increased to 31.8% from 27.4% in the same period last year.In addition, the Group launched the first High Jewellery Collection "Timeless Harmony" in June, marking a pivotal milestone in brand transformation.

The Group further unveiled more new image stores in the Mainland and Macau during the period, targeting sophisticated affluent consumers with differentiated merchandise and a redefined retail experience. These premium stores have consistently delivered higher monthly sales than average stores in the same districts since their debut.

Financial Summary For the six months ended 30 September 2025

HK$ million 2024

HK$ million YoY Change Revenue 38,986 39,408 -1.1% Gross profit 11,908 12,378 -3.8% Gross profit margin 30.5% 31.4% Operating profit (1) 6,823 6,776 +0.7% Operating profit margin 17.5% 17.2% Profit attributable to shareholders of the Company 2,534 2,530 +0.1% Earnings per share (HK$) 0.26 0.25 +0.8% Interim dividend per share 2) (HK$) 0.22 0.20 N/A

(1) Aggregate of gross profit and other income, less selling and distribution costs and general and administrative expenses (2) The payout ratio for 1HFY2026 approximated 85.7%

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited ("Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group", the "Group" or the "Company" SEHK stock code: 1929), today announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2025 ("1HFY2026").

Solid Recovery Trajectory Underscored by Robust Margins and Strengthened Profitability

Despite a volatile macroeconomic environment and a gold price rise, consumer sentiment continued to improve in 1HFY2026, supporting jewellery spending revival across the Group's key markets and reflecting a solid trajectory of business recovery. The Group continued to make steady progress in its brand transformation, as well as product and store optimisation, supporting operational efficiency and financial resilience, reaffirming its commitment to delivering quality earnings.

The Group's total revenue remained stable at HK$38,986 million during the period (1HFY2025: HK$39,408 million). Gross profit margin maintained above 30% at a historically elevated level. Operating profit increased by 0.7% year-on-year to HK$6,823 million (1HFY2025:HK$6,776 million). The operating profit margin remained resilient and reached 17.5% in 1HFY2026, which marks a record five-year high level. These results affirm our ability to adapt swiftly to market dynamics and capitalise on emerging opportunities.

Profit attributable to shareholders stayed flat at HK$2,534 million in 1HFY2026. The Board has declared an interim dividend of HK$0.22 per share (1HFY2025: HK$0.20), representing a payout ratio of approximately 85.7%, reflecting the Group's commitment to sustainable value creation for all its stakeholders.

Dr Henry Cheng, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Chairman, said, "Chow Tai Fook Jewellery's century-long legacy, deeply rooted in the profound values of Chinese culture, forms the crucial foundation for our brand. Unwavering in our commitment to driving sustainable high-quality growth, we strive to strengthen our bond with a new generation as we embrace our shared future."

Brand Transformation Progress Fuelled Recovery and Strengthens Same Stores Sales Growth

FY2026 marks a meaningful step in the Group's continuing brand transformation, bringing it closer to its centennial celebration in 2029.SSS returned to positive growth across both the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macau during the period, thanks to the brand transformation initiatives, store optimisation efforts, as well as the improving trend in weight-based gold jewellery.

In the Mainland, the Group is encouraged by the continued improvement in same store performance during 1HFY2026, reaffirming the effectiveness of store optimisation. SSS of self-operated Points of Sales ("POS") in the Mainland increased by 2.6% during the period. Separately, sales of franchised POS calculated on a same store basis rose by 4.8% in the period.

In Hong Kong and Macau, SSS rose by 4.4% in the period, driven by an improved retail sentiment and foot traffic. SSS in Hong Kong was up by 1.8%, while in Macau grew by 13.7% during the period.

Differentiated Product Offerings Propelled Sales Growth

The Group continued to optimise the product portfolio in response to shifting consumer tastes and remained focused on strengthening its signature collections. These collections sustained strong sales momentum, which drove the growth of our higher-margin fixed-price jewellery. As a result, RSV contribution of fixed-price jewellery in the Mainland rose to 31.8%, up from 27.4% in the same period last year, lending support to gross profit margin.

The Chow Tai Fook Palace Museum Collection, alongside the CTF Rouge and CTF Joie collections, pay homage to historic traditions while reinterpreting them with a modern sensibility, creating exquisite pieces infused with cultural significance that bridge China's storied past with its vibrant present. These collections achieved total sales of HK$3.4 billion during 1HFY2026, representing an increase from HK$2.3 billion in the same period last year.

In June 2025, the Group launched its first High Jewellery Collection "Timeless Harmony," marking a pivotal milestone in its brand transformation. Designed by Nicholas Lieou, Creative Director of High Jewellery, and drawing inspiration from classical Chinese philosophy and architecture, the Collection strategically reinforced our position as a leading global jewellery brand with unrivalled capability. The Group is the first Chinese jewellery brand to appoint a Creative Director of High Jewellery, reflecting its commitment to elevating design and brand storytelling in its jewellery. At the launch event of High Jewellery Collection in Hangzhou, high net-worth clients demonstrated resilient demand, with nearly 200 jewellery pieces sold during the occasion.

During the period, the Group expanded its Fei Cui offerings with several new designs, including the unveiling of the Heaven and Earth Collection in September 2025 and the incorporation of Fei Cui into its IP collaborative collections with The Beijing Palace Museum and renowned streetwear brand CLOT as well as into CTF Joie and HUA collections. As a result, the Group's Fei Cui jewellery products maintained strong growth, with sales doubling year-on-year during 1HFY2026.

Effective Retail Network Management Elevating Brand Desirability and Store Productivity

With a clear priority on improving earnings quality and ensuring margin resilience, the Group's retail network management remained focused on sustaining market leadership and enhancing the overall financial health and resilience of its retail network by prioritising store productivity. In 1HFY2026, the Group continued to strategically expand into selected premium shopping malls and prime locations to accelerate its brand transformation and elevate brand desirability.

As an integral part of its brand transformation, the Group is actively reshaping the retail experience with the launch of new image stores. The Group unveiled three new image stores in Beijing, Shijiazhuang and Macau, targeting sophisticated affluent customers with differentiated merchandise and refined retail experience. As of 30 September 2025, the Group had a total of 8 new image stores. These premium stores have consistently delivered higher monthly sales than average stores in the same districts since their debut.

Accelerating Global Reach to Redefine Luxury Across Borders

International expansion is a key aspect of the Group's brand transformation, aligning with its direction to amplify brand desirability, drive product innovation, and showcase the beauty of China to the world through exquisite jewellery. The Group is entering a dynamic phase of international growth guided by a two-pronged expansion strategy. It revitalised key existing markets through optimising visual merchandising to enhance store productivity and product mix, while strengthening training for its storefront staff to elevate retail excellence. On the other hand, it proactively exploring new high potential territories for sustainable growth.

By June 2026, the Group will have unveiled 6 new stores in international markets, including new image stores. All these new stores are strategically located in prime retail areas known for high foot traffic, ensuring strong brand visibility and broad reach among both tourists and local shoppers. In Southeast Asia, the Group opened its first new image store at Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore in October, offering access to a rapidly growing affluent local middle class and a vibrant Chinese diaspora. In 2HFY2026, the Group plans to continue launching new image stores in international markets, focusing on select premium locations across Southeast Asia, Oceania and Canada. Over the next two years, the Group aims to further expand its presence into new markets, including the Middle East.

Well Positioned for Sustainable High-Quality Growth

The Group is encouraged by the continual improvement in consumer sentiment and reviving jewellery spending in 1HFY2026. SSS returned to positive in all key markets in which the Group operates.

Despite the recent short-term industry headwinds, the Group's quarter-to-date SSS performance remained solid. Together with its strategic transformation initiatives, the Group has strengthened operational and financial resilience, and remains confident in sustaining its recovery through 2HFY2026.

The Group shall remain agile, proactively refining its strategies to stay ahead in a dynamic environment. Rigorous financial discipline, coupled with prudent cost and capital management, will continue to underpin its pursuit of sustainable high-quality earnings and long-term shareholder value.

As the Group approaches its historic centenary, it remains resolutely committed to advancing its brand transformation agenda through strategic initiatives designed to deliver positive outcomes.

###

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (the "Group" SEHK stock code: 1929) was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011. The Group firmly upholds the vision: "To be the leading global jewellery brand that is a trusted lifetime partner for every generation", drawing on nearly a century of legacy and success.

Founded in 1929, the Group's iconic brand "CHOW TAI FOOK" has become an emblem of tradition, celebrated for its bold designs and an unwavering attention to detail. Building upon a rich heritage and a foundation of trust, the Group is not only widely recognised for honouring traditions but also for fostering deep, meaningful connections with a diverse customer base through its exquisite jewellery. The Group's long-standing commitment to innovation and craftsmanship has been integral to its success over time and has become synonymous with excellence, value and authenticity.

As a leading Chinese jeweller, the Group believes in blending contemporary cutting-edge designs with traditional techniques to create jewellery that can be passed down from generation to generation. Every collection is thoughtfully conceived and crafted to reflect the stories of our customers, celebrating the special moments in their lives. Committed to growing alongside our customers, the Group embraces a spirit that aspires to inspire and captivate generations to come, weaving the story of CHOW TAI FOOK into the fabric of their lives.

Offering a wide variety of products, services and channels, the Group's brand portfolio comprises the CHOW TAI FOOK flagship brand with curated retail experiences, and other individual brands including HEARTS ON FIRE, ENZO and MONOLOGUE.

The Group is committed to delivering sustainable long-term value creation for its stakeholders by enhancing the quality of earnings and driving higher value growth. We operate an extensive omni-channel retail ecosystem, with a retail network across China and multiple locations globally, complemented by a growing e-commerce business that further enhances our competitive edge.

Media Enquiries:

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited

Haide Ng

Associate Director, Corporate Communications

Tel: (852) 3115 4402

Email: haideng@chowtaifook.com

Acky Chan

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

Tel: (852) 3115 4403

Email: ackychan@chowtaifook.com

SOURCE: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/chow-tai-fook-jewellery-reports-solid-recovery-trajectory-in-1hfy2026-underpinned-1111833
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Jomla, the UAE's fastest-growing e-commerce marketplace and trusted destination for authentic, under-market-priced electronics, home appliances, toys, and lifestyle products, today announced the official launch of its full-scale operations in Saudi Arabia. After six years of delivering exceptional value to over 500,000 monthly active shoppers across the UAE and GCC through cross-border fulfillment, Jomla has established state-of-the-art operations centers in Jeddah with the capacity to process 10,000 orders daily, marking a landmark milestone in the Kingdom's digital retail transformation.

The expansion into Saudi Arabia, the largest e-commerce market in the MENA region, positions Jomla as a direct competitor to regional giants while reinforcing its commitment to genuine products, Sharia-compliant installment plans via Tabby and Tamara, and same-day delivery in major Saudi cities including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Al Khobar. With a catalog exceeding 200,000 SKUs across 45+ categories, Jomla is set to redefine online shopping in Saudi Arabia by combining hyper-local inventory, official brand partnerships, and unmatched affordability.

Saudi Arabia: The Next Frontier for Jomla's Vision 2030-Aligned Growth

The Kingdom's Vision 2030 has catalyzed a digital economy boom, with e-commerce penetration projected to reach 35% by 2027. Jomla's entry aligns perfectly with national initiatives to enhance digital infrastructure, empower SMEs, and increase consumer access to affordable, high-quality goods.

Jomla's Jeddah-based headquarters and fulfillment network represent a multi-million-dollar investment in local talent, technology, and logistics. The company is planning to onboard more than 200 Saudi nationals in roles spanning warehouse operations, customer experience, and digital marketing, with plans to triple its local workforce by Q3 2026.

"Saudi Arabia isn't just a market for us, it's home," said Rayan Ghurab - Jomla Country CEO. "We're here to stay, to grow with Saudi families, and to contribute to the Kingdom's digital leadership in the region."

Hyper-Local Fulfillment: 10,000 Daily Orders, Same-Day Delivery

Jomla's three fulfillment centers in Saudi Arabia are equipped with automated sorting systems, AI-powered demand prediction, and climate-controlled storage for electronics and perishables. Key operational highlights:

Daily Capacity : 10,000 orders (scalable to 25,000 by 2027)

: 10,000 orders (scalable to 25,000 by 2027) Same-Day Delivery : Available in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Al Khobar, and Medina

: Available in Next-Day Nationwide : Covering all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia

: Covering of Saudi Arabia Return Policy: 30-day hassle-free returns with free pickup

"Speed without quality is meaningless," said Ahmed Ibrahim, Head of Operations, KSA. "Our Saudi centers are designed not just to deliver fast, but to deliver perfectly, every box, every time."

Sharia-Compliant, Customer-Centric Payment Ecosystem

Understanding Saudi consumer preferences, Jomla offers a fully localized payment experience:

Tabby & Tamara : 0% interest BNPL plans

& : 0% interest BNPL plans Cash on Delivery (COD) : Available nationwide

: Available nationwide Apple Pay & STC Pay : For seamless mobile checkout

: For seamless mobile checkout Tamara: Extended plans for high-value purchases (up to SAR 20,000)

All installment plans are Sharia-compliant, with transparent terms and no hidden fees

Recognizing the growing demand for flexible financial solutions in the region, Jomla has optimized its platform to make premium electronics more accessible. Shoppers looking for an installment mobile in KSA can now take advantage of interest-free split payment plans on the latest smartphones and devices. This initiative allows customers across the Kingdom to purchase high-value technology without the immediate financial burden, ensuring that flagship devices are within reach for every budget.

Empowering Saudi SMEs and Vendors

Jomla is not just a retailer, it's a growth engine for Saudi entrepreneurs. The Jomla Seller Program enables local businesses to list products with zero upfront fees, access to Jomla's logistics network, and AI-driven marketing tools.

Onboarded Vendors : 300+ Saudi SMEs in first month

: 300+ Saudi SMEs in first month Training Academy: Free e-commerce workshops in Riyadh and Jeddah

About Jomla

Founded in Dubai in 2019, Jomla is the MENA region's leading authentic e-commerce retailer, known for genuine products, installment flexibility, and customer obsession. With over 200,000 products, official brand partnerships, and a mission to make premium shopping accessible, Jomla now serves Saudi Arabia, UAE, and all GCC countries.



Representative Name: Mohammad Al-zoubi, E-Commerce Manager

Representative Email: Mohammed@Jomla.ae

Phone / WhatsApp: +971526628213

Company: Jomla

Address: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Website:: https://jomla.sa/en/

Social Links: https://www.instagram.com/jomla.ksa/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/274494

SOURCE: AMRYTT MEDIA
TwentyFour Income Fund Limited - Issue of Equity

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 25

25 November 2025

TwentyFour Income Fund Limited

Re: Issue of Equity

TwentyFour Income Fund Limited (the "Company"), the FTSE 250 listed investment company targeting less liquid, higher yielding UK and European asset-backed securities is pleased to announce that, to satisfy market demand and to raise money for investment in accordance with the Company's investment policy, 1,000,000 ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the capital of the Company were yesterday issued at a price of 112.72 pence per share under its blocklisting facility, raising 1,127,200 (before costs and expenses).

Following the issue, the Company's issued share capital will comprise 807,055,296 ordinary shares. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

For further information, please contact:

Deutsche Numis:

Matt Goss +44 (0)20 7260 1000

Hugh Jonathan

TwentyFour Income Fund Limited:

Alistair Wilson +44 (0)20 7015 8900

The Company's LEI is: 549300CCEV00IH2SU369

About the Company:

The Company is a FTSE 250 listed investment company, which aims to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns, principally through income distributions, by investing in a diversified portfolio of UK and European asset-backed securities.

Visit the Company's website at www.twentyfourincomefund.com for more information.
Delta, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DAU) (FSE: QXR2) (OTCQB: DAUGF) ("Desert Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of its newly updated Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the Barani and Gourbassi deposits, located on its 100%-owned SMSZ Gold Project in western Mali.

The updated PEA outlines the open-pit oxide mining operation with the addition of the Gourbassi East Deposit with projected increase in production from 18,000 tonnes per month to approximately 36,000 tonnes per month (or 432,000 tonnes per annum at steady state) over a mine life of 10 years. The study was completed by Minxcon, with technical work and cost estimation exceeding the minimum standards typically required for a PEA and completed to a confidence level of 25% accuracy.

The PEA mine plan includes a total of 130,700 ounces of gold contained, with an estimated 113,100 ounces expected to be recovered through a simple, gravity and CIL processing flowsheet, based on an average metallurgical recovery of 87%. At a new base gold price of USD $2,850/oz, the project generates an after-tax Net Present Value (NPV) at a 10% discount rate of USD $61 million, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 57%, and a projected payback period of 2.5 years.

At the current spot gold price of USD $4,070 the project generates an after-tax Net Present Value (NPV) at a 10% discount rate of USD $124 million, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 101%, and a projected payback period of 2.1 years.

The mining plan is still designed to be broken out into two phases, starting with open-pit operations at Barani East before transitioning to the Gourbassi deposits. A modular gravity and CIL processing plant will be commissioned at Barani for the first phase of production and later moved to Gourbassi as operations shift. This staged approach helps keep initial capital costs low, avoids duplicating infrastructure, and allows the Company to unlock value from multiple oxide gold zones across the SMSZ Project in a flexible and cost-effective manner.

PEA Highlights:

After-tax NPV 10% of $61 million and after-tax IRR of 57% based on $2,850/oz gold

Doubling gold production from 18.3kt per month to 36kt per month

Addition of the Gourbassi East oxide and transition pit

Changing the baseline forecast from $2,500 to $2,850

Funding requirement increased from $16 million to $23 million to increase production

Updated mine life of 10 years

All in sustaining cost per oz ("AISC") of USD $1,137

After-tax payback of 30 months at base case of $2,850/oz gold

Cumulative cash-flow of $126 million after-tax over 10 years on base case assumptions

Total payable gold production of 113,100 ounces

Average strip ratio for the combined operations is estimated at 2.60:1

Company CEO Jared Scharf commented: "We are delighted to bolster our previous mine strategy. With less than 10% of the SMSZ Project's total gold resources incorporated into this study, there is substantial opportunity to enhance project economics and materially expand the operation over time. The mining approach has been deliberately designed to remain modular and flexible from a processing standpoint, giving us maximum operational optionality as the project advances. The inclusion of Gourbassi East into the current model, as well as, doubling production to 36 kilotons per month marks another important step in strengthening a quicker payback period as well advancing the mine life. Exploration will continue to be a key priority across Barani, Gourbassi, and Gourbassi East, where multiple near-mine targets provide clear potential for rapid additions to future mine plans. Coupled with numerous brownfield opportunities situated close to the Barani starter pit, management sees a strong likelihood of materially expanding this operation over time."

Table 1. Financial and Operating Metrics from the Preliminary Economic Assessment

*Note: This Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) is an early-stage study that includes Inferred Mineral Resources. These resources are considered too geologically uncertain to support economic evaluations that would allow them to be classified as Mineral Reserves. As such, this PEA is preliminary in nature and its results-including projected mine plans and economics-should not be relied upon as definitive. There is no certainty that the proposed development scenarios will be realized. Only Mineral Reserves have demonstrated economic viability under NI 43-101 guidelines.

1Sustaining costs also includes Mobilization and reinstalment of the modular processing facility from the Barani to the Gourbassi Deposit

2025 SMSZ Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) Highlights

(Barani & Gourbassi Combined) Production Mine Life (years) 10.0 Total Gold Production (oz) 130,700 Average Annual Gold production (oz) 11,400 Total mineralized mine (kt) 4,239 Total waste mined (kt) 11,040 Total material mined (kt) 15,278 Total waste-to mineralization ratio 2.60 Average gold grade (g/t) 0.96 Gold process recovery (%) 87 Average Process Plant Throughput (ktpm) 36 Operating Costs Mining costs per tonne (Total Material) $2.80 Mining cost per tonne (Mineralization) $2.96 Mining cost per tonne processed $10.10 G&A cost per tonne processed $5.80 Processing cost per tonne processed $13.90 Total Cash cost per tonne processed $29.70 Total Cash cost (per ounce sold) $1,114 Mine site all in sustaining cost (per ounce sold) $1,137 Capital Costs Initial Capital Expenditure (Initial Capex) $20.4 M Sustaining Capital Expenditures1 $15.8 M Net Reclamation costs (cost less salvage value) $0 Total Capital Expenditure - Life of Mine $36.5 M Total Capital Expenditure (per ounce sold)- life of mine $323/oz Base Case Economic Assessment: $2,850/oz Gold Price IRR (after tax) 57% NPV @0% Discount rate (millions, after tax) $126 M NPV @10% Discount Rate (millions, after tax) $61 M Payback (years) 2.50 Economic Assessment: $4,070/oz Gold Price (as of Nov.24, 2025) IRR (after tax) 101% NPV@0% Discount Rate (millions, after tax) 236 M NPV @10% Discount Rate (millions, after tax) 124 M

Financial Analysis and Sensitivities

The SMSZ Project is expected to generate a total after-tax free cash flow of $126 million, averaging about $12.6 million per year over the 10.0-year mine life. Cash flow is generally steady across the life of the project, with a slight dip expected during the transition between mining at Barani and Gourbassi. This reflects the planned relocation and commissioning of the modular processing plant and is already accounted for in the overall schedule and financials.

Figure 1: After-tax Cash Flow over Life of Mine for both Barani and Gourbassi West and East

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/275838_236c51367406ba69_001full.jpg

The SMSZ Project demonstrates strong leverage to gold price, as illustrated in the sensitivity analysis presented in Table 2. With the gold market on a continuously increasing, a new base case scenario of US$2,850 per ounce has been completed. The Project yields an after-tax NPV (10%) of US$61 million and an after-tax IRR of 57%. At a higher gold price of US$3,350 per ounce, the after-tax NPV increases to US$87 million with an IRR of 76%. These sensitivities are presented for illustrative purposes only and assume all other parameters remain constant.

Table 2: PEA Sensitivities to Gold Price, Operating Costs (OPEX) and Capital Costs (CAPEX)

*$4,070 is the spot gold price as of Nov. 24th, 2025

Gold Price Sensitivity Range Gold Price After Tax NPV (10%) ($M) IRR Payback (months) -18% $2,350 36 39% 44 -11% $2,550 46 46% 40 -4% $2,750 56 54% 31 0 $2,850 61 57% 30 4% $2,950 66 61% 30 11% $3,150 77 68% 29 18% $3,350 87 76% 28 43% $4,070* 124 101% 25 OPEX Sensitivity Range OPEX ($/t) After Tax NPV (10%) ($M) IRR Payback (months) -15% 25 70 64% 29 -10% 27 67 62% 30 -5% 28 64 60% 30 0 30 61 57% 30 5% 31 58 55% 31 10% 33 55 53% 32 15% 34 52 51% 32 CAPEX Sensitivity Range CAPEX ($) After Tax NPV (10%) ($M) IRR Payback (months) -15% 28.8 65 68% 29 -10% 30.5 64 64% 29 -5% 32.2 62 61% 30 0 33.9 61 57% 30 5% 35.6 60 55% 31 10% 37.3 59 52% 32 15% 39.0 58 50% 32

Gold Production

Average annual gold production over the life of mine is estimated at 11,300 ounces (or ~942 ounces per month), with total payable gold production projected at approximately 113,100 ounces across both the Barani and Gourbassi deposits.

Figure 2. Production Profile for both Barani and Gourbassi based on months

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/275838_236c51367406ba69_002full.jpg

Capital Costs

The initial capital cost is estimated at approximately $20 million, with sustaining capital over the life of mine projected at $16 million. Contingencies of 20% have been applied to the direct capital costs. These estimates are grounded in current pricing data, including vendor quotes from regional suppliers, and benchmarked against cost structures from comparable West African gold operations.

Initial capital is largely directed toward developing the Barani East deposit, including installation of the modular processing plant. Sustaining capital is allocated primarily to the relocation of that plant to the Gourbassi site during the second phase of mining. By utilizing a modular plant that can be redeployed rather than duplicated, Desert Gold has significantly reduced upfront capital costs. This staged approach helps control early expenditures and avoids unnecessary infrastructure overlap. A breakdown of the initial capital estimate, totaling US$20 million, is provided in Table 2.

Table 2. Summary of Initial and Sustaining Capital Costs

Initial Capital Item Cost ($USD) Process plant mobilization, construction, and relocation $4.6 million Tailings and water management facilities $3.5 million Power and Water infrastructure $3.2 million Site access, civil works, and mine establishment $1.2 million Fleet, camp, and support services $1.2 million Indirect Capital and Owner's costs $3.4 million Contingency (20%) $3.4 million Sustaining Capital Item Cost ($USD) Process plant mobilization, construction, and relocation $0.1 million Tailings and water management facilities $6.9 million Power and Water infrastructure $1 million Site access, civil works, and mine establishment $1.2 million Indirect Capital and Owner's costs $1.8 million Contingency (20%) $2.2 million Ongoing equipment maintenance and renewals $2.6 million

Cash Costs

Total cash costs for the SMSZ Project are estimated at $29.70 per tonne processed, or $1,114/oz of payable gold. The all-in sustaining cost (AISC) is estimated at $1,137/oz. These operating costs reflect the use of modular infrastructure, low strip ratios at Gourbassi, and owner-operated mining, which collectively contribute to lower per-tonne costs compared to regional peers. The all-in cost (including capital) is estimated at $1,437/oz of payable gold.

Cost estimates were derived from vendor quotations, current fuel and labor assumptions in Mali, and benchmarking against similar oxide gold operations across West Africa.

Table 3. Total Cash Costs for Both Barani and Gourbassi Deposits

Total Cash Costs Cost Item Cost ($USD) Mining Cost (per tonne processed) $10.10 Processing Cost (per tonne processed) $13.90 G&A Cost (per tonne processed) $5.80 Total Cost (per tonne processed) $29.70 Royalties and Other (per tonne processed) $0 Total Cash Cost (per ounce sold) $1,114

Mineral Resource Estimate

The current Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Desert Gold's SMSZ Project focuses exclusively on oxide and transitional mineralization within optimized open pits at the Barani East, Barani Gap, Gourbassi West, Gourbassi West North, and Gourbassi East deposits. These four zones collectively contribute approximately 130,700 ounces of gold to the mine plan (after mining modifying factors), with an average recovered grade of 0.96 g/t Au and a projected gold recovery of 87% via conventional CIL processing, equating to roughly 113,100 ounces of recoverable gold.

Importantly, the study excludes some of the smaller pits identified during the PEA which may offer additional upside in future technical work. Furthermore, the current cutoff grade for reporting the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) is 0.2 g/t Au.

The total Measured and Indicated (M&I) Resources now stand at 11.12 Mt grading 0.94 g/t Au for 336,800 ounces, while Inferred Resources total 27.16 Mt grading 1.01 g/t Au for 879,900 ounces. The total ounces reflect the oxide, transition and sulfide/fresh mineralization for the SMSZ Project. The PEA only focused on the oxide and transitional material and therefore the PEA pits were optimized on the oxide and transition material. The exclusion of the sulfides, which contribute ~45% to the MRE at Barani and Gourbassi, would also result in less oxide and transitional material being include in the PEA pits. The highlighted deposits in table 4: Gourbassi West, Gourbassi West North, Gourbassi East, Barani Gap, and Barani East, contribute ~ 648koz of oxide, transitional and fresh mineralized material to the MRE. The oxide and transitional mineralized material for these five areas is ~285,000 oz Au.

Key exploration targets such as Mogoyafara South, Linnguekoto West, and the Keniegoulou area were not included in the current PEA, though they collectively host substantial Inferred Resources and represent clear upside for future expansion. In total, over 1 million ounces of gold remain outside of the current PEA pit shells (resources which are deeper, narrower, or require higher strip ratios) and could be integrated into subsequent development scenarios pending additional drilling and studies.

Figure 3: Gourbassi East PEA pit design

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/275838_236c51367406ba69_003full.jpg

Table 4. Total Mineral Resource Update for SMSZ Project

**Only the highlighted resource blocks, specifically those within the Gourbassi West, Gourbassi West North, Gourbassi East, Barani Gap and Barani East oxide/transitional zones, are incorporated into the current PEA mine plan. All other resources, including sulfide material and smaller or deeper pits, are excluded from the economic analysis at this current stage.

Mineral

Resource

Category Project Project Sub Division Tonnes (In Situ) Gold Grade Gold Content Mt g/t kg oz Measured Gourbassi Gourbassi West 2.46 0.78 1,920 61,600 Barani Barani East 0.68 2 1,360 43,900 Total Measured 3.14 1.05 3,280 105,500 Indicated Gourbassi Gourbassi East 2.72 1.06 2,880 92,600 Gourbassi West 4.28 0.65 2,790 89,700 Barani Barani East 0.98 1.56 1,520 49,000 Total Indicated 7.98 0.9 7,190 231,300 Total M&I 11.12 0.94 10,470 336,800 Inferred Mogoyafara Mogoyafara South 14.33 0.97 13,920 447,500 Linnguekoto Linnguekoto West 1.47 1.42 2,080 67,000 Gourbassi Gourbassi East 2.22 1.21 2,670 86,000 Gourbassi West 3.46 0.75 2,610 83,800 Gourbassi West North 2.45 0.72 1,760 56,500 Barani Barani East 1.24 1.38 1,710 55,100 Barani Gap 1.07 0.88 940 30,200 Keniegoulou 0.46 2.4 1,090 35,200 KE 0.47 1.23 580 18,600 Total Inferred 27.16 1.01 27,370 879,900

Notes:

Cut off grade applied at 0.2 g/t No Geological loss has been applied This resource is redrived from the base case study using $2,850/oz Mineral Resources are stated inclusive of Mineral Reserves Mineral Resources are reported as total Mineral Resources and are not attributed Columns might not add up due to rounding Inferred Mineral Resources have a low level of confidence and while it would be reasonable to expect that the majority of the inferred Mineral Resources would upgrade to Indicated with continued exploration, due the uncertainty of the Inferred Mineral Resources, it should not be assumed that such upgrading will occur

Mining

The SMSZ Project is located within gently undulating terrain in southwestern Mali. The regional topography, semi-arid climate, and established infrastructure are well suited to conventional open-pit mining methods, with no underground mining planned at this stage. The current PEA targets shallow oxide and transitional material from the Barani East, Gourbassi West, Gourbassi West North, and Gourbassi East deposits. While deeper sulfide mineralization exists beneath these pits, it has not been considered in the current mine plan but may be evaluated in future technical studies.

Mining operations will consist of three independent open pits; each developed in pushback phases. Pit slopes are designed using a combination of 25 inter-ramp angles in saprolite and 44 angles in transition and fresh rock, based on geotechnical criteria and material strength observed in pit optimization work. Given the dominance of oxide and transition ore, significant portions of the material (especially in the upper benches) are expected to be free-digging, requiring minimal to no blasting.

To maintain mining selectivity and limit dilution, ore zones will be mined using 5 m high benches with a fleet of medium-sized hydraulic excavators (~5 m) and 35-40 t haul trucks. Waste rock and deeper transitional material will be mined on 10 m benches using larger drills and excavators, supported by conventional blast patterns where necessary. Mining will be conducted by owner-operated fleets, with supporting equipment such as dozers, water trucks, graders, and light vehicles deployed across each pit.

The open-pit operation is designed to deliver an average of 1,200 tonnes per day (tpd) of mineralized material, split between Barani and Gourbassi in two staged campaigns. Peak material movement across pits is expected to reach ~12,000 tpd total when accounting for waste rock at Barani and a maximum of ~5,400tpd at Gourbassi.

A total of approximately 11Mt of waste rock and 4.24 Mt of ore are planned to be mined over the 10-year mine life, yielding a life-of-mine strip ratio of 2.60:1. The mined ore has an average grade of 0.96 g/t Au, and metallurgical testing indicates a process recovery of 87%, resulting in an estimated 113,100 oz of recovered gold. (Subsequent to the application of mining conversion factors)

Ore will be either fed directly to the modular CIL process plant or temporarily stockpiled for blending. Waste rock will be transported to designated waste rock dumps or used in the construction of tailings embankments and haul roads as required.

The following table shows the Mineral Resources in the PEA pits. The Pits were only optimized on oxide and transitional mineralized material. Fresh mineralized material was excluded during the pit optimization process resulting in only 1% sulfide mineralized material in the Gourbassi PEA pits and none in the Barani PEA pits.

Table 6. Mineral Resources within the Barani and Gourbassi designed pits.

Pit Area Mineral Resource Classification Tonnage Grade Content kt (g/t) (koz) Barani Measured 148 2.42 11.5 Indicated 43 1.91 2.7 Inferred 339 1.58 17.3 Grand Total Total 530 1.84 31.4

Notes:

This is Mineral Resources only in the PEA designed pits No Mining Conversion factors have been applied to the tonnes, grade and content in this Table No Mineral Reserves is stated in the PEA

Pit Area Mineral Resource Classification Tonnage Grade Content kt (g/t) (koz) Gourbassi West &West North Measured 1,289 0.92 38.1 Indicated 377 0.86 10.4 Inferred 1,452 0.93 43.2 Grand Total Total 3,117 0.92 91.8

Notes:

This is Mineral Resources only in the PEA designed pits No Mining Conversion factors have been applied to the tonnes, grade and content in this Table No Mineral Reserves is stated in the PEA

Pit Area Mineral Resource Classification Tonnage Grade Content kt (g/t) (koz) Gourbassi East Measured - - - Indicated 291 1.13 10.6 Inferred 223 1.11 8.0 Grand Total Total 514 1.12 18.6

Notes:

This is Mineral Resources only in the PEA designed pits No Mining Conversion factors have been applied to the tonnes, grade and content in this Table No Mineral Reserves is stated in the PEA

Figure 4. Mining Site Layouts

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Figure 5. Gourbassi East Mining Site Layouts

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Figure 6. Gourbassi Layouts

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Metallurgy

The metallurgical test work conducted to date supports a conventional, low-risk processing flowsheet for the SMSZ Project. Testing has focused on near-surface oxide and transitional material from the Barani East, Gourbassi West, and Gourbassi West North deposits all of which demonstrate free-milling gold mineralization suitable for gravity recovery followed by carbon-in-leach (CIL) processing.

Preliminary bottle roll and gravity recovery tests, combined with regional analogues, indicate an average gold recovery of 87%, with localized recoveries reaching as high as 91% in Gourbassi West oxide material. Importantly, no significant refractory or preg-robbing behavior have been identified, and the ore is characterized by low abrasiveness and soft saprolitic textures, reducing both capital and operating costs associated with grinding.

The proposed modular process plant will initially operate at 36 kilo tonnes per month, beginning at Barani and later relocating to Gourbassi to support a staged development plan. The circuit will include:

Scrubbing and crushing

Gravity recovery (Knelson + CVD)

Secondary grinding of gravity tails

CIL leaching, elution, electrowinning, and smelting

Figure 7. PEA Processing Block Flow Diagram

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Access and Infrastructure

The SMSZ Project benefits from its location in a well-established mining district southwestern Mali, approximately 15 km from Kenieba and within trucking distance of multiple world-class gold operations. The region is serviced by a network of sealed roads and well-maintained dirt roads, enabling year-round access to site and direct logistical links to Bamako and Senegal.

Desert Gold has positioned the SMSZ Project for staged, capital-efficient development by leveraging existing road infrastructure, a low strip-ratio oxide resource base, and a modular plant design that will be relocated from Barani to Gourbassi during the mine life. This phased approach avoids duplicate infrastructure and significantly reduces upfront capital.

The current exploration camp is fully equipped to support field operations, with core logging and storage facilities, temporary accommodations, and logistical staging areas already in place. During production, key site infrastructure will include:

A 36 ktpm modular gravity + CIL processing plant (initially at Barani, then moved to Gourbassi)

Diesel-generated power (3.0 MVA installed capacity)

Water supply via pit dewatering and rainfall collection

Tailings storage and waste rock facilities at both pit areas

Service roads, maintenance facilities, and mobile support equipment

A staffed camp and offices for operations personnel

The site's gently rolling topography, soft oxide-hosted mineralization, and access to local labour pools further enhance the Project's suitability for rapid, low-cost development.

Next Steps

The Company is in advanced discussions with potential partners to secure funding to begin construction at Barani East as soon as possible. The company is evaluating a number of funding options and hopes to provide the market with material guidance on this subject in the near future. Certain pre-mining activities have already begun at the Barani site including the completion of construction of the security parameter fence around the Barani East starter pit.

Additional geotechnical work is being contemplated at the Barani East pit as management believes there could be an opportunity to further optimize the pit design with a primary goal of deepening the pit and reducing the stripping ratio from the existing PEA model.

At the Barani Small Mine Permit and Gourbassi West/West North and Gourbassi East deposits, new drill programs have been designed to test for extensions along strong strike and to depth of known gold zones with the aim of expanding exiting gold zones and incorporating new gold zones into the mine plan.

About Desert Gold Ventures

Desert Gold Ventures Inc. is a gold exploration gold company which controls properties in both Mali and Cote d'Ivoire. This includes the 440km2 SMSZ Project in Western Mali as well as the newly optioned 297 km2 Tiegba gold project in western Cote d'Ivoire within the prolific Birimian greenstone belt.

Qualified Person(s)

The Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and accompanying Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the SMSZ Project were completed by Minxcon Group and were prepared in accordance with the definitions and guidelines set out by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), as adopted by reference under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The estimates also adhere to the CIM Best Practice Guidelines for Mineral Resource Estimation (2019).

The technical content of this news release, including data verification and interpretation related to the PEA and MRE, was prepared and reviewed under the supervision of Mr. Daniel (Daan) van Heerden (B Eng (Min.), MCom (Bus. Admin.), MMC, Pr.Eng. (Reg. No. 20050318), FSAIMM (Reg. No. 37309), AMMSA), a Director with Minxcon who is a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by NI 43-101 and independent of Desert Gold Ventures Inc. The full NI 43-101 Technical Report for the SMSZ Project will be filed and available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) within 45 days of this news release.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been also reviewed and approved by Ty Magee (M.Sc., P. Geo), a Qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Magee is an advisor and consultant to Desert Gold Ventures and is considered independent of the Company.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275838

SOURCE: Desert Gold Ventures Inc.
The final cutover to the rich data standard occurred successfully on 22 November as the period of coexistence with the MT message format ended

ISO 20022 will elevate the customer experience in today's fiat currency systems and lay foundations for a digital currency future

Richer, structured data enabled by ISO 20022 lays the ground for expanded innovation across the international financial ecosystem boosting operational efficiency and compliance, deepening customer insights and taking the end-user experience to the next level

The global financial community has unleashed a new era for global payments innovation with universal adoption of ISO 20022 as the standard language for cross-border payments worldwide. The final switch happened on 22 November, with the end of coexistence with the traditional MT message format.

The move elevates customer experience in today's fiat currency system in support of the G20 goals for international payments, enabling faster, more efficient and data-driven payments.

The landmark achievement reflects years of coordinated work across financial institutions, payment market infrastructures, and the wider Swift community starting in 2018 when the financial community chose to adopt the standard for cross-border payments. Endorsed by the G20 and the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI), ISO 20022 is considered a key enabler of an enhanced cross-border payments experience. It elevates the payment experience, while its flexible and extensible format provides a strong foundation for digital transformation.

In March 2023, Swift began a period of coexistence with the MT format for cross-border payments and reporting (CBPR+) to enable a smooth transition for the community. That coexistence period ended over the weekend, and ISO 20022 is now required for all payment instructions.

Yesterday we observed 97% of payment instructions sent using ISO 20022. A conversion service is in place to automatically convert remaining MT instructions to the ISO 20022 format for a period to ensure the smooth flow of global payments.

Jerome Piens, Chief Operations Officer at Swift, said: "This has been a huge achievement for the global industry, and a collective effort in upgrading the global payments experience. ISO 20022's rich, structured data is foundational to the future of payments and a cornerstone of Swift's strategy to enable an instant, frictionless, interoperable, and inclusive future. This switch will both enhance risk and control capabilities to better support compliance requirements and lay the foundations for the next generation of payments.

"The new standard will power our strategic initiative to create a payment scheme to guarantee a consistently fast, predictable and transparent experience for retail customers worldwide, and will also enable the foundations for our blockchain-based shared ledger, to allow the trusted movement of tokenised value, thereby bringing together TradFi and DeFi for a fully interoperable financial ecosystem of the future."

Now that the community has successfully transitioned to ISO 20022, the focus can shift from format readiness to realising the value of structured data. Swift is continuing to work with the community to realise the full benefits of the new standard, providing guidance, tools, and analytics to help institutions measure, optimise and innovate using ISO 20022 data.

About Swift

Swift is a global member owned cooperative and the world's leading provider of secure financial messaging services. We provide our community with a platform for messaging and standards for communicating, and we offer products and services to facilitate access and integration, identification, analysis and regulatory compliance.

Our messaging platform, products and services connect more than 11,500 banking and securities organisations, market infrastructures and corporate customers in more than 200 countries and territories. While Swift does not hold funds or manage accounts on behalf of customers, we enable our global community of users to communicate securely, exchanging standardised financial messages in a reliable way, thereby supporting global and local financial flows, as well as trade and commerce all around the world.

As their trusted provider, we relentlessly pursue operational excellence; we support our community in addressing cyber threats; and we continually seek ways to lower costs, reduce risks and eliminate operational inefficiencies. Our products and services support our community's access and integration, business intelligence, reference data and financial crime compliance needs. Swift also brings the financial community together at global, regional and local levels to shape market practice, define standards and debate issues of mutual interest or concern.

Headquartered in Belgium, Swift's international governance and oversight reinforces the globally inclusive character of its cooperative structure. Swift's global office network ensures an active presence in all the major financial centres.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251125974589/en/

Contacts:

Press Contacts:

FGS Global

+32 (0)2655 3377

Swift@fgsglobal.com
AI is reshaping identity crime as attackers move from volume to precision, as illustrated in Sumsub's Identity Fraud Report 2025-2026

LONDON, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sumsub , a global leader in verification and fraud prevention, today released its latest Identity Fraud Report for 2025-2026.

This study of global* data analyses millions of verification checks and 4,000,000+ fraud attempts between 2024-2025*. The report blends international and regional dynamics with findings from Sumsub's Fraud Exposure Survey 2025, featuring responses from 300+ risk professionals and 1,200+ end users.

The study finds that sophisticated fraud - multi-step, coordinated attacks that combine several advanced techniques within a single verification attempt - has risen 180% globally in 2025. This is the Sophistication Shift: fraud operations are increasingly designed for higher success rates, higher financial impact and greater resistance to traditional controls, meaning that fraudsters now need far fewer attempts to carry out a successful attack.

Key 2025 findings

72% of EU companies expect more sophisticated attacks using AI, particularly involving deepfakes and AI-generated identity documents

particularly involving deepfakes and AI-generated identity documents Deepfake fraud attempts nearly doubled in the UK, rising 94% in 2025 - second only to France (96%), followed by Spain (84%) and Germany (53%)

rising 94% in 2025 - second only to France (96%), followed by Spain (84%) and Germany (53%) One in five fraudulent verification attempts in Europe in 2025 involved an edited or forged ID document

64% of European companies reported fraud-related financial losses , with 36% citing reputational damages

, with 36% citing reputational damages 87% of Europeans don't know or understand what money muling is, making them more vulnerable to scams designed to transfer illegally obtained funds

Scammers are taking advantage of Big Tech's race for AI realism to generate more effective fraud materials. Household name tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are now responsible for 2% of all falsified documents processed globally and anticipated to drive double-digit growth for this fraud in 2026.

Europe's fraud paradox

Total fraud rates in Europe are decreasing, yet Europeans are increasingly susceptible to greater damages from fraud. Complex regulatory systems give fraudsters more vectors for attack. Combined with a reliance on manual and external solutions, criminals are presented with the perfect environment to deploy realistic AI fraud.

Fewer attacks

Overall fraud decreased slightly by 0.4% but rates have remained largely even. By employing sophisticated fraud methods, attackers don't need to make as many attempts - and are less likely to be detected by legacy systems.

but rates have remained largely even. By employing sophisticated fraud methods, attackers don't need to make as many attempts - and are less likely to be detected by legacy systems. More victims

Despite this, over half of European businesses were fraud victims in 2025. Low digital literacy, coupled with fragmented national systems and cross-border financial flows, indicate that improved fraud awareness is not equating to readiness.

Low digital literacy, coupled with fragmented national systems and cross-border financial flows, indicate that improved fraud awareness is not equating to readiness. Outdated business procedures

37% of European businesses rely on manual fraud prevention processes: the region's mature digital identity programmes and strict regulatory regimes are not reflected in day-to-day digital infrastructure.

"The traditional measures of success in fraud prevention are quickly losing meaning," said Pavel Goldman-Kalaydin, Head of AI/ML at Sumsub. "The threat has shifted from quantity to quality, and resilience now depends on how quickly organisations can detect anomalies, analyse behavioural data and adapt their defences to emerging threats in real time."

Industry impact

The global professional services sector recorded a sharp 232% rise in identity-fraud attempts in 2025, as fraudsters target legal, consulting, and accounting firms for their sensitive client data and reliance on manual onboarding

in 2025, as fraudsters target legal, consulting, and accounting firms for their sensitive client data and reliance on manual onboarding Online media (social media, websites and blogs) is the UK's most exposed category with a 6.3% fraud rate, despite an 18% YoY decline - posing a threat to businesses reliant on online services

with a 6.3% fraud rate, despite an 18% YoY decline - posing a threat to businesses reliant on online services The internet dating sector saw a fraud rate of 6.3% - with romance scams driven by AI personas and deepfakes.

"Despite greater awareness, the gap between recognition and real-world application remains problematic," said Jacob Thompson, VP of Sales at Sumsub. "Nearly 3 in 5 European consumers were victims of fraud in 2025. For now, the most visible shift is not in how much fraud exists, but how efficiently it is executed."

Future outlook

Sophistication Shift: In 2026, total fraud rates are expected to decrease or remain steady. However, there will be a smaller number of criminals executing more damaging, higher-impact campaigns with more professionalised operations

Agentic fraud: professional fraud rings will increasingly use autonomous agents, systems increasingly able to execute sophisticated, end-to-end attacks with minimal human involvement.

Fraud industrialisation: automation will make cross-channel manipulation and orchestration more accessible. In turn, we will see synthetic identities and fraud-as-a-service toolkits enable attackers to deploy attacks involving multiple co-ordinated fake identities at scale.

Proactive compliance: Europe is already taking proactive measures to fight AI-enhanced fraud - the EU AI Act, Denmark's emerging deepfake legislation and even the UK's Online Safety Act are showing promising regulatory intent. But to effect real progress against rapidly advancing fraud, companies will need to work more closely with policymakers.

How the industry must react:

Compliance teams must evolve into consolidated risk intelligence units that integrate compliance, fraud detection, reporting and case management.

that integrate compliance, fraud detection, reporting and case management. Verification must move from isolated checks to continuous assessment that combine device telemetry, behavioural analytics and contextual intelligence into a single adaptive layer.

that combine device telemetry, behavioural analytics and contextual intelligence into a single adaptive layer. Agentic defence: As users continue to transact via AI agents, verification systems will involve their secure and traceable verification - potentially, by other AI agents

"AI reshapes both offence and defence," said Pavel Goldman-Kalaydin, Head of AI/ML at Sumsub. "Attackers gain deepfakes, synthetic IDs, and autonomous fraud agents; defenders gain behavior modeling, millisecond anomaly detection, and self-learning systems. The next frontier is verifying AI agents themselves - confirming not just who you are, but who acts on your behalf."

To explore the Sumsub Identity Fraud Report 2025-2026 in full detail, visit https://sumsub.com/fraud-report-2025/ .

* Note on Sumsub's research methodology

Sumsub Identity Fraud Report 2025-2026 compares internal identity verification and user activity data from 2024 and 2025, with added 2023 data to observe trends. All insights included are for countries with significant user activity on Sumsub's platform. The data has been aggregated and anonymized, with 4,000,000+ fraud attempts analyzed. All graphs and infographics are based on the data of consenting customers.

Sumsub conducted a Fraud Exposure Survey in August 2025. The survey included 1,200+ end-users from Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and 300+ fraud and risk professionals from companies of diverse sectors, including banking, crypto, payments, e-commerce, trading, and iGaming.

About Sumsub

Sumsub is a leading full-cycle verification platform that enables fraud-free, scalable compliance. Its adaptive, no-code solution covers everything from identity and business verification to ongoing monitoring - quickly adjusting to evolving risks, regulations, and market demands.

Recognised as a Leader by Gartner, Liminal, and KuppingerCole, Sumsub combines seamless integration with advanced fraud prevention to deliver industry-leading performance.

Over 4,000 clients-including Bitpanda, Wirex, Avis, Bybit, Vodafone, Duolingo, Kaizen Gaming, and TransferGo-trust Sumsub to streamline verification, prevent fraud, and drive growth. The platform's methodology follows leading global AML standards and regulations, and Sumsub has extensively engaged with leading research and public institutions like the UN, Statista, and INTERPOL.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Supreme Critical Metals Inc., (CSE:CRIT)(FWB:VR6)(OTC:VRCFF) ("Supreme" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Glen R. Watson is stepping into the role of President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Watson succeeds George Tsafalas, who has served as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer during the transitional period. Mr. Tsafalas will remain as a member of the Board of Directors.

The Company extends its sincere gratitude to Mr. Tsafalas for his leadership and guidance through this important stage of corporate development, helping to preserve strategic focus, strengthen governance, and position Supreme for its next phase of growth.

"We are very pleased to welcome Glen to the Supreme Critical Metals leadership team," said Gerald Tritt, a member of the Board of Directors. "His extensive capital-markets experience and strong understanding of growth in the resource sector will be instrumental as Supreme advances its exploration strategy. The Board also extends its appreciation to George for his steady leadership and support in guiding the Company through this important transition."

About Glen R. Watson

Glen R. Watson is a capital-markets and corporate-development executive with 30+ years of experience across the mining and energy sectors. He has held senior roles with multiple public companies, leading corporate finance, M&A, business development, and market-expansion initiatives. Glen's background spans investor relations, project finance, and capital-markets outreach, contributing to successful equity raises, strategic partnerships, and early-stage operational ramp-ups.

Previously, Glen served as President, CEO, and Director at junior exploration companies, leading corporate strategy and investor engagement. He brings deep expertise in junior-exploration dynamics, Canadian capital-markets practice, and regulatory compliance, along with strong relationships across institutional and retail investors. Known for disciplined governance and pragmatic execution, he is focused on advancing exploration programs and delivering shareholder value.

"I'm excited to join Supreme Critical Metals at such a pivotal time," said Glen R. Watson, Chief Executive Officer. "The Company holds a portfolio of highly prospective assets in top jurisdictions across Canada and the United States, and I look forward to advancing these opportunities with a strong focus on shareholder value and exploration excellence."

About Supreme Critical Metals Inc.

Supreme Critical Metals Inc. (CSE:CRIT)(FWB:VR6)(OTC:VRCFF) is a publicly traded, diversified exploration company advancing a portfolio of high-potential silver, copper, uranium, and gold properties across North America. The Company follows a disciplined, data-driven acquisition strategy focused on mining-friendly jurisdictions with established infrastructure, predictable permitting, and supportive regulatory frameworks.

Additional information about Supreme Critical Metals is available on the Company's website at www.supremecriticalmetals.com.

For further information, please contact:

George Tsafalas, Director

Phone: +1 (778) 373-8578

E-mail: info@supremecriticalmetals.com

www.supremecriticalmetals.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Forward-looking information in this release includes statements regarding the expected closing date of the Transaction, planned fieldwork, and future exploration programs. This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Such forward-looking information is provided to inform the Company's shareholders and potential investors about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "proposed", "estimates", "would", "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "will", and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking information contain these identifying words.

More particularly and without limitation, the forward-looking information in this news release includes expectations regarding the Company's business plans and operations. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions that have been used to develop such information, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the Company's current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs based on information currently available to the Company.

Whether actual results, performance, or achievements will conform to Supreme's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from Supreme's expectations. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals.

Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release.

SOURCE: Supreme Critical Metals Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/supreme-critical-metals-appoints-glen-r.-watson-as-chief-executive-officer-1111742
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Nexus Uranium Corp. (CSE: NEXU) (OTCQB: GIDMF) (FRA: 3H1) ("Nexus" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has become a member of the South Dakota Mineral Industries Association ("SDMIA"), the unified voice for the mineral industries in South Dakota.

The membership aligns with Nexus's expanding uranium exploration activities in South Dakota, where the Company controls two strategic uranium projects. These projects position Nexus as a significant stakeholder in South Dakota's uranium development sector.

"Joining SDMIA represents our commitment to responsible mineral development in South Dakota and our dedication to collaborative engagement with industry partners, local communities, and policymakers," said Jeremy Poirier, Chief Executive Officer of Nexus Uranium. "As we advance our South Dakota uranium projects, this membership provides an important platform for contributing to the state's mining heritage while ensuring best practices in environmental stewardship and community relations."

The membership comes at a pivotal time as the United States seeks to strengthen its domestic critical mineral supply chains, with uranium playing a crucial role in energy security and the nation's clean energy transition.

About SDMIA

The South Dakota Mineral Industries Association, established in 2022, serves as the state and national voice of the South Dakota mining industry. SDMIA's mission is to honor South Dakota's world-class mining heritage and natural resource partners by supporting safe, sustainable, and responsible mineral resource development through education, advocacy, and meaningful engagement with educators, local communities, policymakers, and the public. Notable existing members include encore Energy, Barrick, Dakota Gold and Solitario Resources.

About Nexus Uranium Corp.

Nexus Uranium is a Canadian uranium exploration company focused on mineral exploration and development in the green energy sector. The Company holds five uranium projects in the United States: Chord and Wolf Canyon in South Dakota; South Pass and Great Divide Basin in Wyoming; and Wray Mesa in Utah. These projects have seen extensive historical exploration and are located in prospective development areas. Nexus also holds the Mann Lake uranium project in the Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan, Canada.

Following the recent merger with Basin Uranium Corp., Nexus has consolidated a portfolio of advanced-stage uranium assets positioned to benefit from the growing demand for nuclear energy and domestic uranium production.

--

Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the Company's exploration and development plans, the potential for uranium mineralization, and the Company's future operations. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275719

SOURCE: Nexus Uranium Corp.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Powermax Minerals Inc. (CSE: PMAX) (OTCQB: PWMXF) (FSE: T23) ("Powermax" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful completion of its Phase 2 exploration field program at the Cameron Rare Earth Element (REE) Project, located in the Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia. The program followed up on encouraging Phase 1 results that confirmed the presence of light and heavy rare earth mineralization within the Monashee Group lithologies, including pegmatitic and gneissic units enriched in REE-bearing minerals such as monazite, allanite, and xenotime.

Figure 1: Cameron REE Property Location Map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Phase 2 Fieldwork Summary

The Phase 2 program included geological mapping, systematic rock sampling, and extensive geochemical surveys across priority areas delineated from prior reconnaissance and geophysical interpretation. A total of 100 soil samples, 100 stream sediment samples, and 29 rock samples were collected and submitted to Agat Laboratories in Calgary, Alberta, for sample preparation and analysis. The analytical work includes the 201-380 Metals Package for Rare Earth Elements (REE), two rock samples were selected for additional testing of gold by fire assay, and one sample for graphite.

Rock chip sampling focused on exposures of gneissic and pegmatitic rocks, with several samples taken from quartz-biotite gneiss, granitic outcrops, and carbonatite lenses containing abundant garnet. These lithologies are known to host both light and heavy REE minerals and represent key exploration targets for follow-up work.

Stream sediment samples were collected from active drainage systems, consisting of classified river gravels and fine sediments sieved through No.18 mesh (0.0394 inch), ensuring the capture of fine-grained material capable of reflecting upstream REE mineralization sources.

Soil samples were taken from B horizon mainly composed of silty to sandy soils (2-30 cm deep) with variable gravel content, covering both potential mineralized and background zones. The materials were generally light brown to greyish brown, typical of glacially derived surficial deposits overlying metamorphic bedrock.

All analytical work will be conducted by Agat Laboratories Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility. The laboratory maintains QA/QC protocols including the insertion of blanks, duplicates, and certified reference materials during sample preparation and analysis.

The data generated from this program will be integrated with previous geological and geophysical results to refine the geochemical model and delineate new priority drill targets for the next exploration phase.

CEO's Comment

Paul Gorman, CEO of Powermax Minerals Inc., commented:



"The completion of our Phase 2 fieldwork represents another important milestone for the Cameron Project. The range of lithologies sampled and the systematic coverage of soils and sediments will provide a comprehensive dataset to evaluate rare earth element distribution patterns across the property. We look forward to the upcoming analytical results, which will guide our follow-up exploration and potential drill targeting."

About the Cameron REE Project

The Cameron Rare Earth Element Project covers approximately 2,984 hectares in the Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia. The property lies within the Monashee Group, a metamorphic and granitic terrane known to host REE-bearing pegmatites, carbonatite zones, and altered gneisses. Rare earth mineralization is associated with shear zones and structurally controlled pegmatitic intrusions enriched in both light (LREE) and heavy (HREE) elements.

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Afzaal Pirzada, P.Geo., who is a director of the Company and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Powermax Minerals Inc.

Powermax Minerals Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on advancing rare earth element projects. The Company holds an option to acquire the Cameron REE Property, comprising three mineral claims totaling approximately 2,984 hectares in British Columbia. Powermax also optioned to acquire the Atikokan REE Property, consisting of 455 unpatented mining claims in NW Ontario. Powermax also owns a 100% interest in the Ogden Bear Lodge Project, in Crook County, Wyoming.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions of management and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding potential mineralization, exploration plans, timing of activities, and future exploration results. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Powermax Minerals Inc. disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in CSE policies) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275852

SOURCE: Powermax Minerals Inc.
Today, LuxExperience B.V. (NYSE:LUXE), the leading digital, multi-brand luxury group is delighted to announce the appointment of Francis Belin as new Chief Executive Officer of Mytheresa, effective January 1, 2026.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251121808426/en/

Francis Belin

Francis Belin brings extensive and diverse luxury experience and proven leadership in driving international growth. He also brings a deep understanding of high net worth individuals worldwide. Most recently, as President Asia Pacific and overlooking global Luxury and Asian Art at Christie's, Francis has achieved numerous milestones, cementing Christie's position as the global market leader. He has played a key role in securing some of the most important collections and works of Art. Francis has been pivotal in several important strategic initiatives, including acquisitions such as Gooding Company, a leading car auction house in California. Prior to that, he held various roles at Swarovski and Richemont, having started his career as a management consultant at McKinsey Company.

Francis Belin graduated from ESSEC in France and holds a diploma in International Management Psychology from the University of Mannheim in Germany.

Following the tenure of Michael Kliger, who over the last 10 years successfully transformed Mytheresa into the leading luxury multi-brand digital platform, Francis Belin will succeed him as Mytheresa CEO and drive Mytheresa's continued global expansion while delivering exceptional value for its customers and partners. Francis will report to Michael, who in his role as LuxExperience Group CEO, will continue to lead the overall strategy at Mytheresa, NET-A-PORTER, MR PORTER and YOOX. Francis will lead the current Mytheresa leadership team, including the Chief Commercial Officer, the Chief Growth Site Management Officer, the Chief Marketing Customer Officer, the Chief Buying Group Fashion Ventures Officer and the Chief Creative Officer, who will all continue with their current responsibilities.

Michael Kliger, Chief Executive Officer of LuxExperience, said, "I am extremely delighted to appoint Francis Belin as the new Mytheresa CEO. With Francis we have found an exceptional leader, who is renowned for his customer-centric focus, global mindset, delivery of excellent results and collaborative leadership style. I am looking forward to supporting Francis as he leads the next exciting chapter for the Mytheresa business."

Francis Belin adds, "I am truly honored to take on the lead of Mytheresa. I am deeply impressed by the robust business model and strong brand positioning that Mytheresa has established under Michael's leadership. I look forward to working alongside the talented team to unlock Mytheresa's next phase of global growth as an industry leader in the luxury market."

ABOUT MYTHERESA

Mytheresa is a leading luxury multi-brand digital platform. Founded as a boutique in 1987, Mytheresa launched online in 2006 and offers ready-to-wear, shoes, bags and accessories for womenswear, menswear, kidswear as well as lifestyle products and fine jewelry. The highly curated edit of up to 250 brands focuses on true luxury brands such as Bottega Veneta, Brunello Cucinelli, Dolce&Gabbana, Gucci, Loewe, Loro Piana, Moncler, Prada, Saint Laurent, The Row, Valentino, and many more. Mytheresa's unique digital experience is based on a sharp focus on high-end luxury shoppers, exclusive product and content offerings, leading technology and analytical platforms as well as high quality service operations. Mytheresa is part of LuxExperience, the leading digital, multi-brand luxury group and reported 988.5 million GMV in fiscal year 2025.

ABOUT LUXEXPERIENCE:

LuxExperience is the leading digital, multi-brand luxury group and the online shopping destination for luxury enthusiasts worldwide. LuxExperience operates a portfolio of some of the most distinguished store brands in digital luxury and creates communities for luxury enthusiasts with unique digital and physical experiences. Mytheresa, NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER, jointly comprising the luxury segments of LuxExperience, offer highly curated edits of the most prestigious luxury brands across the world, featuring womenswear, menswear, kidswear, fine jewelry watches, and lifestyle products. YOOX, which forms the off-price segment of LuxExperience, is the leading destination for multi-brand off-season online luxury shopping. The NYSE listed group operates worldwide.

For more information, please visit https://investors.luxexperience.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements relating to LuxExperience's current expectations and projections relating to the recently completed YNAP acquisition and the operation of the combined companies; our ability to execute our business model and our business strategy. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "ongoing," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release involve risks, uncertainties (many of which are beyond LuxExperience's control) and assumptions, and you should be aware that many factors could affect its actual operating and financial performance and cause its performance to differ materially from the performance anticipated in the forward-looking statements. LuxExperience believes these factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that the divestment of THE OUTNET requires significant time and energy from LuxExperience's management team or employees that distracts them from LuxExperience's other operations; the risk that unexpected obligations, liabilities or complications may arise in connection with the divestment, including as a result of the transition services agreement; the risk that problems may arise in successfully integrating the businesses of YNAP into LuxExperience, including with respect to realizing the technological synergies associated with the YOOX business, which may result in the combined company not operating as effectively and efficiently as expected; the risk that the combined company may be unable to achieve cost-cutting synergies or that it may take longer than expected to achieve those synergies. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of these assumptions prove incorrect, LuxExperience's actual operating and financial performance may vary in material respects from the performance projected in these forward-looking statements.

LuxExperience undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

The achievement or success of the matters covered by such forward-looking statements involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If any such risks or uncertainties materialize or if any of the assumptions prove incorrect, LuxExperience's results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements it makes. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements represent LuxExperience's management's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date such statements are made.

Further information on these and other factors that could affect LuxExperience's financial results is included in filings it makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") from time to time, including the section titled "Risk Factors" in its annual report on Form 20-F and on Form 6-K (reporting its quarterly results). These documents are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on the SEC Filings section of the Investor Relations section of our website at: https://investors.luxexperience.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251121808426/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations Contacts

LuxExperience B.V.

Stefanie Muenz

phone: +49 89 127695-1919

email: investors@luxexperience.com

Media Contacts for business press

LuxExperience B.V.

Lisa Schulz

mobile: +49 151 11216490

email: lisa.schulz@luxexperience.com
MILAN, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- H.I.G. Capital ("H.I.G."), a leading global alternative investment firm with $70 billion of capital under management, is pleased to announce that an affiliate has signed a definitive agreement to sell its portfolio company Project Informatica ("Project Informatica", "WeAreProject", or the "Group"), a leading operator in the Italian Information Technology market, to EMK Capital ("EMK"), a growth-focused private equity investor. The management team of Project Informatica and H.I.G. will reinvest in the Group alongside EMK to support it in the next phase of growth. The completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

Since its founding in 1990, Project Informatica has grown significantly by supporting its clients throughout their digital transformation journey. During H.I.G.'s investment period, WeAreProject completed seven acquisitions, forming the Group, quadrupled its revenues, and consolidated its position as a leading Italian provider of solutions and services for IT infrastructure. Among the services offered by the Group are cybersecurity services, managed services (including SOC and NOC), hybrid cloud & networking, and artificial intelligence. Today, the Group employs more than 700 people and generates revenues exceeding 450 million.

Raffaele Legnani, Managing Director and Head of H.I.G.'s Italy office, and Giovanni Guglielmi, Managing Director at H.I.G., said: "We are proud to have played an active role in Project Informatica's growth and in the creation of the Group, which has now become a benchmark player in Italy's ICT landscape. By consolidating its position in the sector, the Group is today a leading operator in its reference market. We are pleased with the outstanding financial return we have achieved for our investors, and we are equally excited to continue supporting the management team in the next phase of development."

Alberto Ghisleni, founder and CEO of Project Informatica, added: "The partnership with H.I.G. has been instrumental in accelerating Project Informatica's development in a rapidly consolidating and constantly evolving market. I would like to thank all the employees of the Group whose expertise and dedication have been key to achieving the highly ambitious growth plan designed together with H.I.G. I am pleased to welcome EMK as a majority investor and to enter a new phase in the Group's evolution."

Fabio Cadeddu, Partner, based in EMK's Milan office, commented: "We are delighted to invest in Project Informatica, a group that has demonstrated strong capabilities in growth and innovation. Consistent with EMK's investment approach, this was a deal, conducted on a partnership basis, in furtherance of our sub sector thesis concerning consolidation in Italian IT services markets. Together with the management team and H.I.G., we intend to support the company's next phase of development, further strengthening its leadership and expanding its range of technological services and solutions to better serve its clients."

About Project Informatica

Project Informatica has been active in the ICT sector for over 35 years. With the support of H.I.G. Capital, the Group embarked on an ambitious growth plan focused on acquisitions and capability-building, becoming today a leading technology innovation hub with more than 700 employees and over 450 million in revenues. WeAreProject guides its clients through their digitalisation journeys, aiming to enhance competitiveness by delivering the technological, organisational, and strategic changes required. WeAreProject operates across the full IT infrastructure stack, combining value added resale with managed services. This allows the Group to act as a single, trusted technology partner for SMEs and public sector clients. Among the services offered by the Group are Cybersecurity (including SOC and NOC), Hybrid Cloud & Networking, and Artificial Intelligence. Its breadth of vendor accreditations, nationwide reach and deep technical expertise enable the Group to deliver complex, multi-vendor solutions with speed, reliability and integration capabilities unmatched by local competitors. For further information, please visit weareproject.com.

About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. is a leading global alternative investment firm with $70 billion of capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Stamford in the United States, as well as international affiliate offices in Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Dubai, and Hong Kong. H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to middle market companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach:

H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses.

H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche, and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. also manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance.

H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices.

H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in the infrastructure sector.

Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 400 companies worldwide. The Firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $53 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at hig.com.

*Based on total capital raised by H.I.G. Capital and its affiliates.

About EMK

EMK Capital is a growth-focused private equity investor, with an exceptional track record of investing in European and international mid-market businesses. EMK invests in opportunities where there is unrecognised and/ or hard to realise value, identified through extensive work on sub sector theses, and where EMK can partner with outstanding management teams in executing transformative change. EMK operates from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan, Mumbai, Munich, New York, Oslo, Paris, and Singapore. For more information, please refer to the EMK website at emkcapital.com.

Contact:

Raffaele Legnani

Managing Director

rlegnani@hig.com

Giovanni Guglielmi

Managing Director

gguglielmi@hig.com

H.I.G. European Capital Partners Italy S.r.l.

Via Dei Mercanti 12

20121 Milan

Italy

P: +39 02 45 37 5200

hig.com

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BELIZE CITY, Belize, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial broker RoboForex has unveiled its upgraded Copy Trading Service, which evolved from the CopyFX platform and is now seamlessly integrated into the company's core ecosystem.

The revamped Copy Trading Service introduces a range of improvements designed to make it easier to discover, analyse, and share trading strategies, while maintaining all the functionality familiar to existing users. Key upgrades include a unified public strategy rating system spanning MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and R StocksTrader, along with an enhanced Copy Trading Partner Program. Together, these innovations mark a decisive step towards a more user-friendly and intuitive copy trading environment.

Public and unified strategy rating

The trading industry is known for its diverse platform landscape, often creating barriers for newcomers. The latest improvements by RoboForex are designed to strike a balance between user simplicity and the versatility of the platforms on which strategies are run.

The new public rating allows even unregistered users to explore and share strategies easily. This unified rating integrates all strategies from traders using MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or R StocksTrader platforms, enabling users to focus on performance and simplify strategy comparison and decision-making. The intuitive interface also offers a comprehensive range of parameters, allowing experienced users to make more informed decisions.

"At RoboForex, our mission has always been to simplify the complex," said Douglas Abreu, Regional Operations Manager at RoboForex. "Investors shouldn't waste time figuring out platforms - they should be able to find and follow the best-performing strategies instantly. With these updates, we aim to make every second of interaction with our service as efficient and effortless as possible."

Existing clients will retain all their current functionality while gaining access to new features that further enhance their trading experience.

Updated Copy Trading Partner Program

The updated Copy Trading Partner Program enables individuals to earn commissions by promoting a chosen trader's strategy and attracting new users - without needing to be traders themselves. Traders share a portion of their commission from investors with Copy Partners, thereby recognising their contribution to expanding the reach of their strategies among new investors.

As part of the enhanced Copy Partner Program, partners can attract clients to the copy strategies on both MT4 and MT5 - the industry's most widely used platforms. This makes the program more convenient and efficient to use, as it now supports both platforms. The addition of the Copy Partner Program for MT5 was a recent enhancement implemented in response to strong client demand.

About Copy Trading Service

The RoboForex Copy Trading Service is a powerful platform that connects successful traders with investors who wish to automatically replicate their strategies. Traders benefit by earning commissions from their subscribers' profits, while investors can easily browse a unified public strategy rating to find and instantly copy strategies aligned with their goals.

Initially launched in 2012 as CopyFX, the Copy Trading Service has grown into a trusted platform for millions of traders and investors. The key features that make RoboForex's Copy Trading Service especially attractive to clients include:

Unified public strategy rating - lets investors review trader performance across MT4, MT5, and R StocksTrader.

Cent accounts - allow traders to test more strategies and enable investors to start copying with lower thresholds.

Flexible commission system - offering a performance fee (up to 50%), a subscription fee, or even the option to share the strategy without any commission.

With these tools, RoboForex empowers users to trade and invest smarter - with simplicity, transparency, and confidence.

Learn more at roboforex.com/copy-trading/copy-top-strategies/ .

About RoboForex

RoboForex is a company that delivers brokerage services, providing traders in financial markets with access to its proprietary and industry-leading trading terminals. RoboForex Ltd operates under brokerage license number FSC 000138/32.

View more detailed information about the Company's products and activities on the official website roboforex.com .

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Xoriant, a ChrysCapital-owned global engineering and technology services company, announced the acquisition of TestDevLab, a Latvia-headquartered leader in software quality engineering. This is Xoriant's fourth acquisition in the last 3 years as the company rapidly scales globally with operations in 28 offices across India, the United States, and Europe. TestDevLab's Baltic and Macedonian delivery centers will further strengthen Xoriant's European presence with access to top engineering talent and EU innovation ecosystems.

As agentic systems scale across enterprises, quality frameworks must evolve to ensure safety, reliability, and probabilistic outcome validation. At the same time, AI creates new opportunities to transform traditional quality engineering practices, driving higher productivity, faster delivery, and more intelligent assurance. With TestDevLab's acquisition, Xoriant will offer industry- leading capabilities, both in AI for quality engineering as well as quality engineering for AI.

With a 14 year track record in specialized quality engineering across complex engineering domains such as test automation, performance testing, multimedia analysis, user experience and accessibility testing, TestDevLab has established itself as a leader in software quality engineering. Its 500+ engineers support some of the world's largest technology, consumer and financial services companies through its robust quality engineering ecosystem, including A/V UX testing, network simulation, energy-efficiency analysis, along with proprietary tools like Loadero and AI-driven Barko agent.

"With TestDevLab joining Xoriant, we're bringing intelligence and quality even closer together. It enhances our leadership in Quality Assurance for intelligent systems through model validation, fairness and bias testing, explainability, and safety evaluations across AI and language models," said Rohit Kedia, CEO, Xoriant. "This acquisition not only accelerates our vision of AI as Applied Intelligence, empowering clients to leverage the true power of Artificial Intelligence, but also fuels our growth journey towards becoming the most transformative AI-native digital engineering firm globally," he further added.

TestDevLab has been recognized globally as a top QA and software testing service provider across industries, including fintech, healthcare, communications, and IoT. The company works with clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies, testing products that more than 5 billion people use daily across the globe.

Ervins Grinfelds, Co-Founder of TestDevLab, said, "Clients today expect trusted partners who ensure excellence from code to customer experience. Xoriant's scale and Applied Intelligence approach will amplify our mission to help clients deliver products defined by reliability, performance, and innovation."

This acquisition follows Xoriant's earlier acquisitions of FEXLE Services (September 2024), MapleLabs (February 2024), and Thoucentric (August 2023). TestDevLab was advised by TH Global Capital on this transaction.

About Xoriant

Xoriant is a Sunnyvale, CA headquartered digital engineering firm with offices in the USA, Europe, and Asia. From startups to Fortune 100, we enable innovation, accelerate time to market and ensure client competitiveness across industries.

Across all our focus areas digital product platform engineering, data engineering, experience design and new business models every solution we develop benefits from our product engineering DNA and culture of innovation. It also includes successful methodologies, framework components, and accelerators for rapidly solving critical client challenges. For 30 years and counting, we have taken great pride in the long-lasting, deep relationships we have with our clients. For further information about Xoriant, please visit www.xoriant.com.

About TestDevLab

TestDevLab provides comprehensive software testing and QA services spanning automation, performance, audio-video, security, accessibility, UX, QA consulting, and continuous testing. Headquartered in Latvia with delivery across Northern Europe, TestDevLab helps global enterprises assure exceptional digital product quality. To know about TestDevLab, visit www.testdevlab.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251125214229/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Karthik Pillai

Deputy Marketing Manager

karthik.pillai@xoriant.com
Initial 50 megawatts received at Kamoa-Kakula; expected to increase to 100 megawatts by Q1 2026 as grid improvements are completed, and 150 megawatts by 2027

Over 10 years of partnership between Ivanhoe Mines and Societe Nationale d'Electricite (SNEL) in the refurbishment of 250 megawatts of renewable, hydropower capacity

Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and President and Chief Executive Officer Marna Cloete are delighted to announce that the first 50 megawatts (MW) of clean, hydroelectric power from the newly refurbished 178-MW Turbine #5 at the Inga II dam is now being received at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex. The feed of hydroelectric power, from Inga II to Kamoa Kakula, is expected to increase to 100 MW in Q1 2026 and then increase to 150 MW as grid improvements are completed.

Watch the video summarizing over 10 years of partnership with the DRC state utility, SNEL, in refurbishment and return to operation of 250 MW of clean, hydropower capacity: https://vimeo.com/1140019977/45383e1c1d?fl=pl&fe=sh

Initial 50 megawatts of clean, hydropower delivered to Kamoa-Kakula from newly refurbished 178-megawatt Turbine #5 at Inga II

Installation of replacement mechanical and electrical equipment at Turbine #5 at the Inga II hydroelectric facility was completed in Q3 2025, followed by synchronization and energization of Turbine #5 in early Q4 2025. The newly refurbished Turbine #5 has since ramped up to full capacity, delivering approximately 180 MW of clean, hydroelectric power into the DRC grid. Of the 180 MW being delivered into the grid, Kamoa-Kakula is currently receiving an initial 50 MW, bringing its total domestically sourced power to approximately 110 MW, as shown in Table 1. Hydroelectric power delivery to Kamoa-Kakula, from Turbine #5, is expected to increase to 100 MW in Q1 2026 and to 150 MW thereafter as grid upgrades are completed.

The grid improvement initiatives primarily focus on upgrades to substations at Inga (SCI) and Kolwezi (SCK). The first upgrade, consisting of resistor banks at the Inga substation, was completed in May 2025. Corresponding resistor upgrades at the Kolwezi substation are expected to be completed imminently, improving voltage stability to Kamoa-Kakula. In addition, the static compensator at the Kolwezi substation is scheduled to be completed in early Q1 2026, increasing the power delivery from Inga II to the Kamoa-Kakula up to 100 MW. The remaining workstreams to upgrade the filter banks at SCI and SCK will occur in phases over the next 18 months, ultimately increasing the total power received from Turbine #5 to 150 MW during H1 2027. As shown in Figure 1, by the end of 2027, total domestically-sourced, renewable grid-supplied power is expected to be approximately 210 MW.

Table 1. Kamoa-Kakula's projected power supply and demand balance from 2025 to 2028.



Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 TOTAL POWER DEMAND MW 208 271 292 347









SNEL (national grid) MW 110 180 210 210 Third-party purchases (Imports) MW 100 100 100 100 On-site solar MW - 60 60 60 TOTAL SUPPLIED POWER MW 210 340 370 370









On-site backup generators MW 178 214 214 214





The Inga II hydroelectric facility consists of eight turbines, with the potential to generate up to 1.4 gigawatts of clean, hydroelectric power. Inga II is located on the Congo River, the second-largest river in the world by discharge. The refurbishment of Turbine #5 commenced in 2022.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/275861_ivanhoe1en.jpg





Representatives from DRC state-owned power utility, Societe Nationale d'Electricite (SNEL), engineering and construction contractors Gruner Stucky AG and VOITH, and Kamoa Copper, standing on top of the recently refurbished Turbine #5, inside the turbine hall at the Inga II hydroelectric facility.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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(L-R) Kasper Badenhorst, Kamoa Copper, Construction Manager, and Papy Enona, Mechanical Engineer, Gruner Stucky AG, reviewing commissioning plans during the commissioning of Turbine #5

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Qualified Persons

Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Steve Amos, who is considered, by virtue of his education, experience, and professional association, a Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101. Mr. Amos is not considered independent under NI 43-101 as he is Ivanhoe Mines' Executive Vice President, Projects. Mr. Amos has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release.

Ivanhoe has prepared independent, NI 43-101-compliant technical report for the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, which is available on the company's website and under the company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca:

Kamoa-Kakula Integrated Development Plan 2023 Technical Report dated March 6, 2023, prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd.; China Nerin Engineering Co. Ltd.; DRA Global; Epoch Resources; Golder Associates Africa; Metso Outotec Oyj; Paterson and Cooke; SRK Consulting Ltd.; and The MSA Group.

The technical reports includes relevant information regarding the assumptions, parameters, and methods of the mineral resource estimates on the power demand balance at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex cited in this news release, as well as information regarding data verification, exploration procedures, and other matters relevant to the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release.

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal operations in Southern Africa; the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC, the ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC; and the tier-one Platreef platinum-palladium-nickel-rhodium-gold-copper mine in South Africa.

Ivanhoe Mines is exploring for copper in its highly prospective, 54-100% owned exploration licences in the Western Forelands, covering an area over six times larger than the adjacent Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, including the high-grade discoveries in the Makoko District. Ivanhoe is also exploring for new sedimentary copper discoveries in new horizons, including Angola, Kazakhstan, and Zambia.

Information contact



Follow Robert Friedland (@robert_ivanhoe) and Ivanhoe Mines (@IvanhoeMines_) on X.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified using words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events, or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

Such statements include, without limitation: (i) statements that hydroelectric power delivery from Turbine #5 is expected to increase to 100 MW in Q1 2026 and to 150 MW, by end of 2027, as grid upgrades are completed; and (ii) statements with respect to Kamoa-Kakula's projected power supply and demand balance from 2025 to 2028 as set out in Table 1.

Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether such results will be achieved. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to those discussed above and under the "Risk Factors" section in the company's MD&A for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, and its current annual information form, and elsewhere in this news release, as well as unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; changes in the rate of water ingress into underground workings; the continuation of seismic activity; the state of underground infrastructure; delays in securing underground access; changes to the mining methods required in the future; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

The company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors outlined in the "Risk Factors" section in the company's MD&A for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, and its current annual information form.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275861

SOURCE: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - AuMEGA Metals Ltd (ASX: AAM) (TSXV: AUM) (OTCQB: AUMMF) ("AuMEGA" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has mobilised a second diamond drill rig to expand the diamond drilling program on the Major Electromagnetic ("EM") anomaly at the Cape Ray Gold Project in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada (Figure 1).

The current diamond drill program is progressing well and is currently focused on a large, newly defined airborne electromagnetic ("EM") conductor located in the immediate hangingwall of the Central Zone - a proven high-grade gold system (Figure 2)1.

The conductor, measuring approximately 500 metres by 1,000 metres and open along strike, is located 500 metres southeast of the Company's high-grade Central Zone deposits, and yet has never been drill tested (Figure 2).

Figure 1: AuMEGA Metals Portfolio on the Cape Ray Shear Zone and Hermitage Flexure

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AuMEGA Metal's Managing Director and CEO, Sam Pazuki, commented:

"Our fully funded drill program is progressing well and we have made the decision to dispatch a second drill rig to support the drilling efforts. Our plan is to drill as much as we can for the next few weeks before the winter break. We are excited about drilling the first ever exploration holes into the hangingwall of the Cape Ray Shear Zone near Central Zone.

"Additionally, we have pending assay results from several exploration programs. These include Bunker Hill, Cape Ray, Isle aux Morts Granite and Hermitage surficial till geochemical surveys along with the associated mapping and sampling programs. The results from these programs are expected to generate several new drill-ready targets as we continue to systematically explore our district-scale land package to find the next series of major deposits."

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Company's Board of Directors.

To learn more about the Company, please visit www.aumegametals.com, or contact:

About the Company

AuMEGA Metals Ltd (ASX: AAM) (TSXV: AUM) (OTCQB: AUMMF) is utilising best-in-class exploration to explore on its district scale land package that spans 110 kilometers along the Cape Ray Shear Zone, a significant under-explored geological feature recognised as Newfoundland, Canada's largest identified gold structure. This zone currently hosts Equinox Gold's Valentine Gold Project, a multi-million-ounce deposit which is the region's largest gold project, along with AuMEGA's expanding Mineral Resource.

The Company is supported by a diverse shareholder registry of prominent global institutional investors, and strategic investment from B2Gold Corp, a significant, intermediate gold producer.

Additionally, AuMEGA holds a 27-kilometre stretch of the highly prospective Hermitage Flexure and has also secured an Option Agreement for the Blue Cove Copper Project in southeastern Newfoundland, which exhibits strong potential for copper and other base metals.

AuMEGA's Cape Ray Shear Zone hosts several dozen high potential targets along with its existing defined gold Mineral Resource of 6.2 million tonnes grading an average of 2.25 g/t, totaling 450,000 ounces of Indicated Resources, and 3.4 million tonnes grading an average of 1.44 g/t, totaling 160,000 ounces in Inferred Resources2.

AuMEGA acknowledges the financial support of the Junior Exploration Assistance Program, Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Reference to Previous Announcements

In relation to this news release, all data used to assess targets have been previously disclosed by the Company and referenced in previous JORC Table 1 releases. Please see announcements dated: 16 October 2025, 2 October 2025 and 30 May 2023 as well as Newfoundland and Labrador Mineral Assessment Report #011O/0326 submitted by Dolphin Exploration Ltd in 1988.

In relation to the Mineral Resource estimate announced on 30 May 2023, the Company confirms that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in that announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.

Competent Person's Statements

Geophysics

AuMEGA contracted Axiom Exploration Group Ltd. in conjunction with RPM Aerial Services and Breton Air to fly a TDEM survey using Axiom's proprietary 30Hz XciteTM TDEM system which collected both time domain electromagnetic and magnetic data simultaneously. Flight lines were spaced 100 metres apart at an orientation of 152-332 with tie lines spaced at 1000 metres at an orientation of 62-242. The survey covered a total area of 59.5 square kilometres.

Historic Results

Some data disclosed in this news release is related to historical sampling. The company has not independently analyzed the results to verify the results; however, the Company considers these historical results relevant as the Company is using this data as a guide to plan exploration programs. The full results of the historical work referenced in this release can be accessed online.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this press release was reviewed and approved by Shamus Duff, P. Geo., Project Geologist. Mr. Duff is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and a Professional Geologist registered with Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL). Mr. Duff consents to the publication of this press release and certifies that the information is provided fairly and accurately represents the scientific and technical information disclosed within it.

1 2 October 2025 & 30 May 2023 News Release

2 News release dated 30 May 2023

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275841

SOURCE: AuMEGA Metals Ltd.
The opening ceremony of "Blanc de Chine Dehua Porcelain": "The Way of White Porcelain From Dehua to Gubbio" Art Exhibition was grandly held at the Gubbio Museum on November 14. The event was jointly hosted by the People's Government of Dehua County and the Gubbio Municipal Government, organized by the Perugia Foundation and T.H.C. ART MUSEUM, with support from the Cultural Office of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Italy and the Pietro Vannucci Academy of Fine Arts. Wu Zhipu, mayor of Dehua County and Vittorio Fiorucci, mayor of Gubbio, attended the ceremony with other distinguished guests.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251124148194/en/

The opening ceremony

The opening ceremony was held in a lively and vibrant atmosphere, with approximately 200 guests from various sectors of Chinese and Italian gathering to witness this cross-cultural feast. In the exhibition hall, over 100 pieces/sets of exhibits created a fascinating dialogue: Dehua ceramics, blending ancient charm with contemporary vitality, demonstrated Eastern elegance through the gentle luster of 'Blanc de Chine', exquisite traditional techniques, and innovative designs. Italian ceramics, embodying the romance and exuberance of the Apennine Peninsula, interpreted Western aesthetics with their vibrant colors and unique textures. Visitors engaged in careful appreciation of the stylistic differences, discussed artistic commonalities, and experienced the beauty of cultural integration through this two-way dialogue. The exhibition runs through November 27, after which the featured ceramic works will tour multiple cities across Italy.

By combining physical displays with cultural context, the exhibition showcased the craftsmanship and deep cultural significance of Dehua ceramics. Through on-site explanations and interactions, Italian audiences gained a deeper understanding of 'Blanc de Chine' and experienced the charm of traditional Chinese culture, helping to bring Chinese and Western civilizations closer.

This exhibition marks a significant step by Dehua County to promote its ceramic culture globally. It provided an international showcase window for 'Blanc de Chine Dehua Porcelain', elevating its worldwide recognition. By using porcelain as a cultural bridge, it deepens mutual understanding and appreciation between China and Italy in the fields of culture and art. It lays the groundwork for future diversified collaboration, including ceramic industry cooperation and artist exchanges, writing a vivid chapter for mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251124148194/en/

Contacts:

Zhang Jing

thcartmuseum@163.com
Four additional poster presentations from the ongoing real-world FLEX Study highlight the value of real-world data in personalizing chemotherapy decisions and improving outcomes in early-stage breast cancer

Agendia, Inc., a leader in precision oncology for breast cancer, today announced that it will present new data demonstrating the utility of the MammaPrint 70-gene assay (MP) and BluePrint 80-gene assay (BP) genomic profiling in guiding the use of anthracycline chemotherapy in patients with hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative (HR+HER2-) early-breast cancer (EBC) at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). The company will also present four additional posters at SABCS, which takes place December 9-12 in San Antonio, Texas. The complete list of poster presentations can be found here.

The latest 3-year analysis from the prospective FLEX Study, in an update to data presented at ASCO 2024, confirms that patients with MP High 2 (H2), Luminal B, HR+HER2- EBC experience substantially improved invasive disease-free survival when treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy (AC-T) compared to a regimen without anthracycline (TC). While outcomes for High 1 (H1) patients were similar between patients matched for clinical features, H2 patients saw a striking absolute invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) benefit of 10.7% with AC-T, achieving 100% 3-year IDFS. These results provide the strongest real-world evidence to date that MP can help identify the subset of HR+HER2- patients most likely to benefit from anthracycline-based therapy. Together, these findings underscore the clinical value of genomic profiling in guiding more precise and effective adjuvant treatment decisions.

"With the addition of propensity score matching, these results demonstrate how the genomic information provided by MammaPrint and BluePrint can meaningfully support adjuvant treatment decisions and therapy selection for patients with HR+HER2- early breast cancer," said William Audeh, MD, MS, Chief Medical Officer at Agendia. "By distinguishing High 2 patients who derive substantial benefit from the addition of anthracycline to their chemotherapy regimen from those with High 1 disease, who do not, we can better tailor therapy to each patient's underlying tumor biology. These data further establish the value of real-world evidence and reinforces the power of precision genomics to guide more effective, individualized care and improve outcomes for patients with breast cancer."

Poster PS2-07-03 Dec. 10, 5:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Presenter: Joyce O'Shaughnessy

Improved 3-year IDFS with anthracycline-based therapy for patients with 70-gene signature High 2, Luminal B, HR+HER2- EBC

In this real-world cohort of 1,261 HR+/HER2- breast cancer patients with MP High Risk and BP Luminal B tumors from the FLEX Study, outcomes were evaluated in propensity-matched treatment groups with a median follow-up of 3.2 years. Patients with MP High Risk 2 tumors demonstrated a statistically significant improvement of 10.7% in invasive disease-free survival when treated with anthracycline-based therapy compared to TC-only regimens, while those with High 1 tumors saw no difference. These results provide real-world evidence that MP can identify the HR+/HER2- patients most likely to benefit from anthracycline-based therapy, underscoring the clinical value of genomic profiling in guiding more precise and effective adjuvant treatment decisions.

Agendia will present four additional abstracts that collectively highlight the broad clinical impact of MP and BP in optimizing treatment decisions and improving outcomes for patients with HR+/HER2- EBC, including a poster demonstrating that MP is more prognostic than histologic grade, as described below.

Poster PS5-04-19 Dec. 12, 12:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. Presenter:Erin Cobain

70-gene signature high risk classification provides stronger prognostic value than histologic grade in HR+HER2- EBC

In this real-world analysis of 1,407 HR+HER2- EBC patients enrolled in the FLEX Study, patients with MP High 2 tumors treated with chemotherapy had significantly worse five-year distant relapse-free survival compared to High 1 tumors (86.4% vs 93.1%; p 0.001), even after adjusting for clinicopathologic factors such as grade. Notably, grade lost independent prognostic value when corrected for MP score highlighting the limitations of relying on histology alone and establishing MP as a superior prognostic biomarker.

"The data being presented at SABCS continue to build on the growing body of evidence supporting the expanded clinical utility of MammaPrint and BluePrint," said Mark Straley, Chief Executive Officer. "Each study adds a new dimension to how our tests inform multiple treatment decisions across the care journey for patients with early-stage breast cancer helping more women receive the right care based on the unique biology of their tumor."

The complete list of presentations can be found here.

About Agendia

Agendia is a global leader in precision oncology focused on early-stage breast cancer. The company's genomic assays, MammaPrint and BluePrint, deliver essential biological insights to inform personalized treatment decisions for patients and their care teams. With operations in Amsterdam and Irvine, Agendia partners with academic and community oncology centers worldwide to generate real-world evidence through the landmark FLEX Study (NCT03053193), the largest whole-transcriptome registry of early-stage breast cancer.

About MammaPrint

MammaPrint is the only FDA-cleared gene expression profiling test that assesses a woman's risk of distant metastasis in early-stage breast cancer. By analyzing 70 key genes in a tumor, it stratifies risk into four categories UltraLow, Low, High 1, and High 2 - to help guide treatment planning, including chemotherapy benefits and de-escalation decisions.

About BluePrint

BluePrint is a molecular subtyping assay that reveals the functional biology driving tumor growth, classifying tumors as Luminal-type, HER2-type, or Basal-type. By defining intrinsic subtypes beyond traditional immunohistochemistry, BluePrint provides critical insights to optimize treatment selection and improve outcomes.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251125677896/en/

Contacts:

Media contact

marketing@agendia.com
LONDON, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a highly successful first vintage, Flashpoint completed a final close of its second Growth Debt Fund (the "Fund"), raising a total of US$67 million. A total of 58 Limited Partners, including international family offices and high-net-worth individuals, have committed to the Fund, including a large portion of investors in the first vintage.

The new fund is focused on VC-sponsored tech and tech-enabled post-series A companies in both Europe and abroad, with at least $3m in annualised revenue, year-on-year revenue growth of over 30%, and demonstrated product-market fit.

The Fund has already financed 6 companies, having committed over $30 million in funding, including BoB W , CropX , Whizz , Port , Charidy , and OneDay . The Fund is expected to ultimately have between 15 and 20 borrowers, and be fully drawn by the end of 2026.

Flashpoint's first Growth Debt Fund is now in its 6th year, and is expected to reach DPI of 1x by the end of 2025. It was launched in 2020, and supported such companies as Dispelix , Mercaux , Spotawheel , and Segmed , as well as Welcome Pickups , Omnipack , ByNext , iDeals and Clausematch , which have already repaid their loans in full.

Denis Mosolov, Managing Partner at Flashpoint Growth Debt, commented: "We are delighted to have reached final close of our second growth debt fund and to have further established our strong credentials in this segment. The success of this raise reflects the confidence displayed by our investors in Flashpoint's platform, and I would like to thank them sincerely for their trust. This closing also points to the growing importance of growth debt as an attractive option for founders, where we always try to provide flexibility and genuine partnership to founders and management teams. That's a real differentiator."

About Flashpoint

Flashpoint is an international tech investment firm with c. $600 million AUM focused on global tech companies originating from Europe and Israel. Flashpoint manages seven funds across 3 strategies: Venture Growth, Growth Debt, and Direct Secondary. The firm is headquartered in London and has offices in New York, and Tel-Aviv.

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AMX-883 shows synergistic efficacy in combination with venetoclax in vivo and prevents the emergence of resistance to venetoclax in vitro, addressing a major clinical challenge in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)

AMX-883 showed a significant survival benefit and reduced disease burden compared to control treatments, while being well tolerated in a murine pre-clinical experiment

Data provides compelling evidence of BRD9's critical role in AML and supports progression of AMX-883, as a karyotype-independent pro-differentiation agent, into clinical development, with the first trial planned for H2 2026





Cambridge, UK, 25 November 2025 - Amphista Therapeutics ("the Company" or "Amphista"), a leader in the discovery of next generation targeted protein degradation (TPD) medicines, today announces the presentation of new preclinical data with its lead Targeted Glue AMX-883, an orally bioavailable, potent and selective degrader of BRD9 at the upcoming 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, Florida, 6-9 December 2025, and provides a business progress update ahead of its leadership team attending the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, 12-15 January 2026.

The abstract reports:

AMX-883 time dependently increases the expression of key proteins associated with myeloid cell differentiation and maturation in vitro.

Using patient derived samples in disseminated xenograft models, AMX-883 significantly reduced leukemic burden in bone marrow and blood over the treatment period and resulted in a significant increase in survival compared to venetoclax.

The combination of AMX-883 with venetoclax resulted in synergistic efficacy in leukemic cell lines. AMX-883 co-dosed with venetoclax and azacitidine resulted in synergy with significant cell death at therapeutically relevant concentrations. Combination benefit was also observed with a range of other commonly used AML therapies in vitro.

A cell line co-cultured with venetoclax and AMX-883 did not develop resistance to venetoclax and had comparable sensitivity to cells on their first exposure to venetoclax. The venetoclax-resistant line exhibited a significant increase in the anti-apoptotic proteins MCL-1 and BCL-2, an effect that was prevented when AMX-883 was included during venetoclax treatment.

The data demonstrates the potent, selective BRD9 degrader AMX-883 induces significant differentiation and preclinical efficacy in AML cell lines and in primary AML cell lines.





"There is a critical unmet need for novel therapies that can augment the efficacy of anti-proliferative and cytotoxic agents in AML. The data to be presented at ASH demonstrates that AMX-883 prevented the development of resistance to venetoclax in vitro and AMX-883 delivered synergistic efficacy when combined with venetoclax, achieving significant cancer cell death at therapeutically relevant concentrations," said Martin Pass, Chief Development Officer at Amphista Therapeutics. "These compelling results provide further strong preclinical evidence supporting the advancement of AMX-883 into the clinic for AML patients."

"Amphista has made significant progress this year in advancing a new generation of targeted protein degraders designed to address serious diseases with high unmet need," said Antony Mattessich, Chief Executive Officer of Amphista Therapeutics. "This is exemplified by the key data to be presented at ASH, alongside the nomination of AMX-883 as our first clinical candidate and the unveiling of distinct mechanisms of action across BRD9, SMARCA2, and TEAD. We look forward to 2026 when we will advance AMX-883 into the clinic and nominate our next clinical candidates."

2025 business highlights:

Nominated AMX-883, an orally available Targeted Glue degrader of BRD9, as the Company's first clinical development candidate for the treatment of AML.

Amphista received additional funding as part of its Series B financing following AMX-883 nomination, supporting plans to initiate the Company's first clinical trial in H2 2026.

Disclosed a novel mechanism of action for TEAD degradation by selectively inducing its proximity to FBXO22 as a targeted molecular glue, resulting in strong and rapid degradation.

Reported first data from the SMARCA2 program, demonstrating exquisite selectivity of Amphista's bifunctional Targeted Glues for SMARCA2 over the closely related homolog, SMARCA4.

Achieved a discovery milestone under Amphista's exclusive research collaboration and license agreement with Merck KGaA.

Showcased Amphista's cryo-EM enabled Eclipsys platform at SLAS Europe 2025, highlighting its unique approach to constructing novel, orally bioavailable Targeted Glue degraders with mechanisms distinct from traditional cereblon (CRBN) or VHL approaches.

Presented a differentiated mechanism for BRD9 degradation distinct from CRBN- or VHL-based PROTACs using Amphista's Targeted Glue technology at the 2nd SMR Molecular Glues Meeting and the 5th Annual TPD and Induced Proximity Summit Europe.





Poster presentation details:

Title: AMX-883, a Potent and Selective Degrader of BRD9 Drives Differentiation in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and Shows Synergistic Efficacy in Combination with venetoclax In Vivo and Prevents the Emergence of Resistance to venetoclax In Vitro.

Speaker: Martin Pass

Session Name: 604. Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Resistance: Myeloid Neoplasms: Poster I

Session Date and Time: December 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Room: OCCC - West Halls B3-B4

Presentation ID: 1489

Abstract Number: abs25-2358

The online abstract is available on the ASH website here.

Ends

About BRD9 and Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is one of the most aggressive blood cancers and despite the availability of anti-proliferative treatments, patient survival rates remain alarmingly low. The disease is characterized by a differentiation block which prevents myeloid cell maturation and results in an accumulation of immature cells/AML blasts. Therapies which remove the differentiation block and allow maturation of these AML blasts including ATRA, FLT-3 inhibitors, and most recently Menin inhibitors have demonstrated clinical benefit in several sub-sets of AML. However, there is a pressing need for broader-acting treatments that can benefit patients regardless of their genetic profile.

BRD9 is a subunit of the non-canonical BAF complex where it plays a key structural and functional role, being linked to regulation of chromatin structure and maintaining genomic stability in AML. Degradation of BRD9 releases the differentiation block and leads to the differentiation and death of AML blasts

About Amphista Therapeutics

At Amphista Therapeutics, we are focused on transforming the lives of patients with severe diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, through the discovery of advanced, next generation targeted protein degradation

Amphista, Eclipsys, Targeted Glue, Targeted Glues and the Amphista logo are all trademarks or registered trademarks of Amphista Therapeutics Limited.

For more information please contact:

Amphista Therapeutics

John Goodall

Email: Info@amphista.com

ICR Healthcare

Amber Fennell, Namrata Taak

Emily Johnson

Email: Amphista@icrhealthcare.com

Tel: +44 (0)20 3709 5813
Houston, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Rena World, a pioneer in advanced pouch manufacturing, today announced the completion of a $5 million Pre-A funding round led by private equity groups and family offices. The capital will accelerate the build-out of Rena's advanced Texas manufacturing facility, enabling Phase 1 capacity of 40 million cans per year and a full build-out exceeding 100 million cans annually - setting a new benchmark for U.S. nicotine pouch production.

Rena World

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Founded in 2023, Rena World has rapidly emerged as a trailblazer in the nicotine pouch industry, leveraging innovation and precision manufacturing to deliver high-quality pouch products. The Texas plant will feature advanced automation, proprietary production technology, and the flexibility to manufacture both dry and moist pouches, positioning Rena among the few U.S. manufacturers capable of meeting a full spectrum of pouch formats and product specifications.

The U.S. nicotine pouch market has grown sharply in recent years, driven by increasing adult consumer demand for smoke-free, tobacco-free, and convenient alternatives. According to industry reports, the U.S. market was valued at approximately USD 4.09 billion in 2024 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 30% to exceed USD 19.8 billion by 2030. This rapid growth highlights an urgent need for domestic manufacturers capable of delivering consistent, high-quality products at scale-a demand Rena World is uniquely positioned to meet.

In addition to explosive market growth, nicotine pouches have rapidly emerged as one of the cleanest and most controlled nicotine delivery formats. Unlike combustible or vaporized products, pouches deliver nicotine without burning or aerosolizing any substance - completely eliminating exposure to tar, carbon monoxide, and other harmful combustion byproducts. Independent research suggests that nicotine pouches deliver among the lowest levels of toxicant exposure of any commercially available nicotine products, marking a significant step for harm-reduction innovation. With multiple products already authorized for sale by the U.S. FDA after rigorous scientific review, the category is now recognized as the leading smoke-free, tobacco-free alternative for adult nicotine users. This rapid shift underscores the need for domestic capacity that delivers pharmaceutical-grade quality, consistency, and regulatory compliance-a standard that Rena World is built to meet.

"Rena is committed to advancing pouch technology and manufacturing excellence," said Toby Chen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Rena World. "With our new facility, we will set the industry standard for quality, scalability, and innovation, ensuring U.S. consumers and brands have access to the best pouch products available."

Toby brings extensive experience as co-founder of SnowPlus, one of China's leading vape brands, which reached a peak valuation of $1.5 billion. Known for his sharp sense of product innovation and design, he has led multiple category-defining launches and product development programs that set new standards across global markets. At Rena, he is focused on developing next-generation pouch technologies and customized solutions for brand partners as the company expands its U.S. manufacturing footprint.

At Rena, Toby is joined by co-Founder Timothy Zhao, who drives the development and operations of Rena's manufacturing program. "Our mission is clear - to build the best-quality nicotine pouch manufacturing platform in North America," said Timothy. "The Texas facility is designed for absolute quality, full regulatory compliance, and unmatched execution speed-a new benchmark for operational excellence."

In line with this mission, Rena World adopts a pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing philosophy across every stage of production. Precise dosing and advanced granulation ensure uniform dispersion of nicotine and excipients for consistent formulation. Utilizing spray drying and lyophilization (freeze-drying), the process creates stable microparticle structures that significantly enhance absorption efficiency.

Depending on product form, Rena applies tailored forming technologies that carefully control temperature and pressure to prevent any degradation of active ingredients. Production is fully standardized yet customizable, with dosing and shaping precision engineered to pharmaceutical tolerances. Key process parameters - including mixing ratios, granulation temperature, and compression pressure - are held within 1%. A high-precision gravimetric feeding system keeps inter-batch material ratios at zero variance, enabling true reproducibility in pouch production. This meticulous control guarantees long-term product stability and makes every pouch identical in appearance and internal quality - setting a new benchmark for consistency and reliability in nicotine pouch manufacturing.

The newly secured funding will accelerate the build-out and launch of Rena's Texas facility, which is expected to become operational in the near term. Upon completion, Rena World will be positioned to serve major brands and distributors nationwide, catalyzing the transition to cleaner, compliant, and high-performance nicotine products.

About Rena World

Founded in 2023, Rena World is a technology-driven manufacturer specializing in high-quality nicotine pouch production. Headquartered in Texas, Rena develops and produces both dry and moist pouch formats for leading brands and partners across the United States. With a focus on innovation, precision, and product excellence, Rena World is dedicated to shaping the future of pouch manufacturing through cutting-edge technology and world-class quality standards.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275297

SOURCE: PRNews OU
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - London-based SalesRook has announced a strategic partnership with the Relocation Agent Network (RAN) to provide subsidised AI-powered lead qualification technology to over 90 member estate agencies across the UK. The partnership, formalised in November 2025, represents approximately 8,000 in annual value per member agency.





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The collaboration follows a pilot program with RAN member Michael Poole Estate Agents that demonstrated a tenfold increase in off-patch referrals, rising from 18 to 206 annually. The pilot also generated 97 total instructions worth 120,000 in commission revenue while processing over 3,000 monthly enquiries.

AI Technology Uncovers Hidden Revenue

SalesRook's platform uses artificial intelligence to respond to property enquiries from major UK portals like Rightmove and Zoopla within 30 seconds via WhatsApp, achieving up to 92% engagement rates. The technology operates continuously, identifying hidden opportunities including valuations and off-patch referrals.

"It was when Rich Poole told us about their old referral log, 18 manual entries for the entire year, scribbled down when someone remembered," said Richard Remington, Commercial Director at SalesRook. "Then we looked at what Elsie, their AI agent, had captured in the first few months: 52 off-patch opportunities, all with complete details. The information was always there in those conversations. We just built a system that never forgets to ask and never fails to log it."

Michael Poole Estate Agents processed hundreds of sales enquiries in October alone, discovering 53 valuation opportunities. Through RAN's referral network, when off-patch leads convert and exchange with another agent, Michael Poole receives 20% of the final commission, typically around 1,000 per completed sale based on a 5,000 average commission.

Accessible Pricing Model Removes Adoption Barriers

Under the partnership terms, RAN will cover setup fees and monthly subscriptions for all members. Members will only pay for actual usage through a token-based model, typically costing between 50p and 1.50 per processed enquiry.

This pricing structure creates a low-barrier entry point for agencies to adopt advanced technology while maintaining cost control based on actual utilisation. The approach addresses traditional resistance to technology adoption in the property sector by eliminating upfront financial risk.

Network Effects Transform Agent Collaboration

The partnership creates what industry observers are calling a "digital referral marketplace." When all 90+ RAN members deploy AI that captures off-patch opportunities systematically, every agency becomes a consistent lead generator for the other 89 members.

If each RAN member generates even 100 off-patch referrals annually, that represents 9,000 qualified valuation opportunities circulating through the network each year. At a 20% conversion rate, that translates to 1,800 instructions being shared among members, compared to the previous model where an agency like Michael Poole exchanged fewer than 20 referrals annually.

RAN has mapped UK postcodes to specific member agencies, so when SalesRook's AI captures a postcode from an off-patch lead, it automatically routes to the designated RAN member for that territory. The system provides instant, accurate routing without manual lookups or forgotten handoffs.

The partnership will be formally launched at the RAN Conference in London on 11 December 2025, where SalesRook will demonstrate the technology to attending members.

About SalesRook

SalesRook operates in the UK property sector, offering AI-powered lead management solutions for estate agents and mortgage brokers. The company's mission is to elevate the quality, ease, and speed of communication for life's biggest transactions. Founded in 2022 by Max Hardy and Richard Remington, SalesRook serves over 150 estate agent offices nationwide, processing 300,000+ property enquiry messages over WhatsApp monthly. The platform integrates with leading CRMs including Reapit, Street, Alto, Leadpro, AcquaintCRM and Homeflow.

Recently featured in: Business Insider, Yahoo! Finance, Associated Press

Learn more at www.salesrook.com | Book a demo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275704

SOURCE: Pressmaster DMCC
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - The Jewish Communal Fund (JCF), the largest and most active Jewish donor advised fund in the country, released the 2025 Impact Report today, featuring information about annual giving. In fiscal year 2025, Fundholders distributed more than $1 billion in charitable grants - marking the second consecutive year that JCF has surpassed the billion-dollar milestone.





JCF Impact Report Cover Image



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This record-setting year included over 95,000 grants to 11,500 nonprofit organizations, supporting a wide range of causes including education, health, human services, and Jewish communal life.

"We know how committed our Fundholders are to giving back, so surpassing $1 billion in grants was not a surprise, but it is meaningful to have this milestone two years in a row," said Rachel Schnoll, CEO of JCF. "Their continued generosity reflects a sustained commitment to philanthropy, even in the face of global and economic uncertainty."

Giving Highlights

Community organizations received the most funding, totaling $195 million .

received the most funding, totaling $195 million Education remained a top priority with $190 million in grants.

remained a top priority with $190 million in grants. Israel-focused giving rose to $160 million, supporting healthcare, agriculture, security, and emergency response.

rose to $160 million, supporting healthcare, agriculture, security, and emergency response. Health-related charities saw a $20 million increase over FY 2024.

saw a $20 million increase over FY 2024. Synagogues and Jewish day schools received an additional $9 million and $10 million, respectively.

"These numbers show not just generosity, but intentionality," said Andrea Markezin-Press, President of JCF. "Fundholders are directing meaningful support toward both urgent needs and long-term institutional strength."

Donor Advised Funds: A Tool for Stability and Impact

JCF's donor advised funds continue to serve as a reliable and flexible tool for charitable giving, especially in times of crisis. In FY 2025, Fundholders responded swiftly to emergencies ranging from wildfires in California to hurricanes in the Southeast.

"A donor advised fund can function like a philanthropic emergency fund," Schnoll explained. "It allows people to plan for the unexpected, giving them the ability to respond quickly while maintaining their long-term charitable goals."

Jewish Communal Impact

In FY 2025, 77% of all grants - totaling $471 million - were directed to Jewish organizations. JCF Fundholders granted:

$91 million to Jewish community organizations

to Jewish community organizations $69 million to Jewish educational institutions

to Jewish educational institutions 74,000 grants to Jewish organizations overall

JCF also distributed $3.2 million in discretionary grants through its Special Gifts Fund, including:

$2 million to UJA-Federation of NY's annual campaign

$500,000 to Ohel Children's Home and Family Services

$450,000 to The Jewish Education Project's Center for Jewish-Inclusive Learning

About Jewish Communal Fund

Founded in 1972, the Jewish Communal Fund enables individuals and families to simplify, organize, and maximize their charitable giving. With over $3.5 billion in assets under management, JCF continues to be a trusted platform for values-driven philanthropy. A portion of JCF's fees is reinvested into the Jewish community through grants to communal institutions and initiatives.

To learn more or open a fund, visit jcfny.org.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275703

SOURCE: Pressmaster DMCC
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / (TSXV:OGN)(OTC:OGNNF) Orogen Royalties Inc. (formerly 1537944 BC Ltd.) ("Orogen" or the "Company") is pleased to announce robust profitability and strong operating cash flow for the period ended September 30, 2025.

Q3-2025 Highlights

All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Net Income Before Tax : The Company reported net income before tax of $1.32 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, compared to $0.25 million in Q3-2024.

Net Comprehensive Income: After recording an income tax expense of $0.67 million (Q3-2024 - $0.61 million), the Company posted a net comprehensive income of $0.65 million (Q3-2024 - loss of $0.36 million).

Royalty Revenue: Royalty revenue totaled $2.3 million (Q3-2024 - $2.1 million), up 9% from the prior year, generated from the sale of 481 attributable gold equivalent ounces ("GEOs") (Q3-2024 - 614 GEOs) at an average realized price of US$3,456 per ounce (Q3-2024 - US$2,474). GEO's reflect a decrease of 28% year-over-year and an increase of 3% quarter-over-quarter.

G&A Expenses : General and administrative expenses were $1.37 million (Q3-2024 - $1.05 million), up 30% year-over-year. The increase reflects an unrealized foreign exchange loss and additional legal, regulatory, and corporate costs following the July 9, 2025, Plan of Arrangement with Triple Flag Precious Metals.

Cash flow : Year-to-date cash flow from operating activities was $2.19 million (Q3-2024 - $2.6 million). Excluding changes in non-cash working capital, operating cash flow was $3.2 million (Q3-2024 - $3.14 million), up 3% year-over-year.

Working Capital: As of September 30, 2025, the Company had working capital of $21.64 million, down from $26.8 million at the beginning of the fiscal year. The Company remains debt-free with no long-term liabilities.

"Year-to-date, we have executed more than six transactions, established five new royalties, and advanced four partner funded alliances, strengthening the foundation of our growth strategy. Our third-quarter results highlight the resilience and scalability of our business model. With a strong working capital position, we are well positioned to expand our royalty portfolio and pursue opportunities that drive sustainable, long-term value for shareholders." said, Paddy Nicol, CEO of Orogen Royalties.

For complete details of the Company's financial results, please refer to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements and MD&A for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2025, and 2024. The Company's filings are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on Orogen's website at www.orogenroyalties.com. Please also see non-IFRS Measures at the end of this news release.

Summary of Results

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statement of Income

(Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Unaudited - Three-Month Periods

Ended September 30, $'000 2025 2024 Income from Royalties $ 2,304 $ 2,118 Loss from Prospect Generation activities (427 ) (690 ) Interest income 26 138 Total income 1,903 1,566 G&A 1,375 1,054 Operating income before other adjustments $ 528 $ 512 Other income (loss) 216 (102 ) Gain (loss) on marketable securities fair value adjustment 582 (155 ) Net Income Before Deferred Tax $ 1,326 $ 255 Income tax expense 672 615 Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) $ 653 $ (360 ) Non-IFRS and Other Measures GEOs 481 614 Average realized gold price per GEO US$ 3,456 US$ 2,474 Cash flow from operating activities, excluding changes in non-cash working capital $ 949,668 $ 1,425,025

Ermitano Royalty - Sonora, Mexico

First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic") operates the Ermitano gold-silver Mine, where the Company holds a 2.0% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty. For the three-month period ended September 30, 2025, the Company recorded royalty revenue of $2.30 million, up from $2.12 million in the same period in 2024. This revenue reflects the sale of 481 GEOs, compared to 614 GEOs in Q3-2024. During the quarter, 277,858 tonnes of ore were processed, representing a 7% increase compared to Q3-2024. 1 Average head grades declined, with silver at 71 grams per tonne ("g/t") and gold at 2.56 g/t, an increase of 4% and a decrease of 27%, respectively, in line with First Majestic's mine plan. 1,2,3 Recovery rates remained consistently strong, with silver at 65% and gold at 92%, compared to 67% and 94%, respectively, in the prior year. 1

During the quarter, drilling and exploration costs increased by 33% from the same period in 2024, as First Majestic is working to continue to grow and define mineral deposits at Navidad to expand the Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves base for the Santa Elena operation. 2,3

Qualified Person Statement

All technical data, as disclosed in this press release, has been reviewed and approved by Laurence Pryer, Ph.D., P.Geo. VP Exploration for the Company. Dr. Pryer is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.

Certain technical disclosure in this release is a summary of previously released third-party information and the Company is relying on the interpretation provided. Additional information can be found on the links in the footnotes.

About Orogen Royalties Inc.

Orogen Royalties is focused on organic royalty creation and royalty acquisitions on precious and base metal discoveries in western North America. The Company's royalty portfolio includes the Ermitano gold and silver Mine in Sonora, Mexico (2.0% NSR royalty) operated by First Majestic Silver Corp. The Company is well financed with several projects actively being developed by joint venture partners.

On Behalf of the Board

OROGEN ROYALTIES INC.

Paddy Nicol

President & CEO

To find out more about Orogen, please contact Paddy Nicol, President & CEO at 604-248-8648, and Marco LoCascio, Vice President of Corporate Development at 604-248-8648. Visit our website at www.orogenroyalties.com.

Orogen Royalties Inc.

1015 - 789 West Pender Street

Vancouver, BC

Canada V6C 1H2

Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward looking statements". All statements in this presentation, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Orogen Royalties Inc. (the "Company") expect to occur, are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur.

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. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Except where otherwise stated, the disclosure in this news release relating to properties and operations in which Orogen holds a royalty are based on information publicly disclosed by the owners or operators of these properties and information/data available in the public domain as at the date hereof, and none of this information has been independently verified by Orogen. Specifically, as a royalty holder and prospect generator, the Company has limited, if any, access to properties on which it holds royalty or other interests in its asset portfolio. The Company may from time to time receive operating information from the owners and operators of the mining properties, which it is not permitted to disclose to the public. Orogen is dependent on, (i) the operators of the mining properties and their qualified persons to provide information to Orogen, or (ii) on publicly available information to prepare disclosure pertaining to properties and operations on the properties on which the Company holds royalty or other interests, and generally has limited or no ability to independently verify such information. Although the Company does not have any knowledge that such information may not be accurate, there can be no assurance that such third-party information is complete or accurate. Some reported public information in respect of a mining property may relate to a larger property area than the area covered by Orogen's royalty or other interest. Orogen's royalty or other interests may cover less than 100% of a specific mining property and may only apply to a portion of the publicly reported mineral reserves, mineral resources and or production from a mining property.

Non-IFRS Measures

The Company has included certain results in this news release that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") including, total GEOs sold, average realized gold price per GEO, working capital, and cash flow from operating activities excluding changes in non-cash working capital adjustments. The Company's royalty revenue is converted to a gold equivalent ounce by dividing the royalty revenue received during the period by the average gold price of the period. The Company uses certain non-IFRS financial measures, including working capital, calculated as current assets minus current liabilities, to assess short-term liquidity and operational efficiency. This measure does not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. The Company also uses operating cash flows excluding changes in non-cash working capital, calculated by adjusting cash provided by (used in) operating activities to exclude changes in non-cash working capital. This provides insight into cash flows from core operations.

References

https://www.firstmajestic.com/investors/news-releases/first-majestic-produces-7-7-million-ageq-ounces-in-q3-2025-consisting-of-a-record-3-9-million-silver-ounces-and-35681-gold-ounces https://www.firstmajestic.com/investors/news-releases/first-majestic-announces-financial-results-for-q3-2025-and--quarterly-dividend-payment https://www.firstmajestic.com/_resources/financials/2024-Q4-FS-MDA.pdf?v=081806

SOURCE: Orogen Royalties Inc

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/orogen-posts-profitable-financial-results-and-cash-flow-strength-in-q3-2025-1111735
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Searchlight Resources Inc. (TSXV: SCLT) (OTC Pink: SCLTF) ("Searchlight" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has contracted Axiom Exploration Group to prepare NI43-101 technical reports on the 100%-owned Bootleg Lake and Robinson Creek Gold properties, located within 15 kilometres of Creighton, Saskatchewan and Flin Flon, Manitoba.

Axiom Exploration Group has completed site visits to both projects, and the final reports should be available in early 2026. This will be the first Technical Report on the Robinson Creek project, and an update of the 2013 report on Bootleg Lake completed prior to Searchlight acquiring the project. The reports will compile all exploration data on the two projects and make recommendations for future exploration and development.

"This will provide Searchlight with a more thorough assessment of these two important gold projects in the Flin Flon Mining camp, at a time of near-record gold prices. The NI43-101 report is particularly important for the Robinson Creek Project with an Initial Exploration Target estimated between 77,000 and 154,000 oz gold, but with no prior report," stated Stephen Wallace, CEO. "The reports will assist the company with future exploration and development plans, including the possibility of combining Robinson Creek and the nearby brownfields Bootleg Lake Gold holdings."

Robinson Creek Highlights

Initial Exploration Target of 77,000 - 154,000 oz gold, open along strike and to depth.

2 - 3 million tonnes ore, with gold grades between 1.20 g/t and 1.60 g/t.

15 km west of Creighton, Saskatchewan and Flin Flon, Manitoba.

Compilation of over 70 historical drill holes from the 1940s and 1980s.

Historical drill holes and geophysics outline a zone of mineralization extending at least 1,000m along the Mosher Lake Shear Zone.

60 drill holes have gold intersections greater than 1.0 g/t gold.

45 gold intersections have greater than 2.0 g/t gold over at least one metre. Multiple wide gold intersections: 2.46 g/t gold over 57.60 m in DDH 81-2 7.59 g/t gold over 10.94 m in DDH HB-6 3.80 g/t gold over 21.00 m in DDH R07-1 2.15 g/t gold over 32.00 m in DDH 81-1

15 km from Bootleg Lake brownfield mine site, allowing for shared processing.

Bootleg Lake Highlights

Brownfields project with three past-producing high-grade gold mines.

Includes Rio Mine with 1,500 m of underground workings viable for reopening for exploration and future production.

Multiple drill-ready targets in addition to known deposits.

80 - 100 historic drill holes, plus 6 drill holes by Searchlight.

18 claims (49.4 sq km), with key claims in good standing until 2040.

20 km from the SSR Mining Laurel Lake Gold Deposit.

7 km from the Hudbay 777 copper, zinc, gold mine.

32 km by road from the Tartan Lake Gold Deposit owned by Canadian Gold Corp, which is a merger candidate with McEewn Mining?

7 km from Creighton, Saskatchewan & Flin Flon, Manitoba, with easy road access.

Map 1. Searchlight Resources Robinson Creek and Bootleg Lake Claims, Saskatchewan.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Compilation Disclaimer: Management cautions that the presented drill sample results are historical in nature, and Searchlight has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the previous exploration work to verify the results. Searchlight considers these sample results relevant, as the Company uses historical reports and sample results to evaluate and plan future exploration programs. All drill intercepts are drill-indicated lengths. Insufficient technical information exists to demonstrate the true widths of these intersections. The technical information is derived from public documents available through the Saskatchewan Government Ministry of Energy and Resources.

Initial Exploration Target Disclaimer: The potential quantity and grades are conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration drilling to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the Exploration Target being delineated as a mineral resource.

About Searchlight Resources Inc.

Searchlight Resources Inc. (TSXV: SCLT) (OTC Pink: SCLTF) is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on Saskatchewan, Canada, which has been ranked as the top location for mining investment in Canada by the Fraser Institute. Exploration focus is on gold in the Flin Flon camp, and critical minerals throughout the province.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Stephen Wallace"

Stephen Wallace, President, CEO and Director

SEARCHLIGHT RESOURCES INC.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275812

SOURCE: Searchlight Resources Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces the appointment of Mr. Vijay Kirpalani to its Board of Directors as an independent Director, effective immediately.

Mr. Kirpalani brings over two decades of finance, advisory, and corporate governance experience in the mining sector, including a distinguished record of leadership and value creation in Suriname. He has served on the Supervisory Board of Rosebel Gold Mines N.V. since 2002-initially under IAMGOLD and, since February 2023, under Zijin Mining-and was a Director of Reunion Gold from 2003 until Reunion's 2024 acquisition by G Mining Ventures. Mr. Kirpalani has also held board positions with TSX-listed Hope Bay Gold Corp. and Ariane Gold Corp. He holds a law degree from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname. Mr. Kirpalani's deep understanding of Suriname's regulatory framework and mining sector, combined with his strong local relationships, will be highly valuable as Founders continues to build value through ongoing exploration at Antino.

Colin Padget, President & CEO, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Vijay to our Board of Directors. His extensive experience in Suriname's mining sector, business and leadership capabilities, and demonstrated success in supporting mining development in the country make him an excellent addition to Founders' Board. As we advance the Antino Project, Vijay's expertise and insights into Suriname's mining community will strengthen our ability to create long-term value."

Founders Metals also announces that Mr. Kevin Vienneau will be stepping down from the Board of Directors. The Board and Management thank Mr. Vienneau for his contributions and commitment to the Company's development and wish him continued success in his future endeavours.

The Company has granted 250,000 stock options under Founders' Stock Option Plan. The Options have been granted at an exercise price of C$4.35 per common share, vest over a period of up to three years, and expire five years from the date granted.

About Founders Metals Inc.

Founders Metals is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on advancing the Antino Gold Project located in Suriname, South America, in the heart of the Guiana Shield. Antino is 56,000 hectares and has produced over 500,000 ounces of gold from historical surface and alluvial mining to date1. The Company is systematically advancing one of Suriname's most promising gold exploration and development opportunities with drill-confirmed, district-scale potential. Founders is committed to responsible exploration, community engagement, and delivering long-term value to shareholders through technical excellence and strategic growth in the Guiana Shield.

112022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrancois, BSc, P.Geo.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Per: "Colin Padget"

Colin Padget

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding long term value creation and Company's prospects. Forward-looking information can generally be identified by words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and reasonable assumptions but are subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including: general business and economic uncertainties; exploration results; mining industry risks; and other factors described in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. 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.

All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca.

12022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrancois, BSc, P.Geo.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275833

SOURCE: Founders Metals Inc.
Three units for demonstration within Verizon Innovation Labs

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / UniDoc Health Corp. (CSE:UDOC)(FRA:L7T)(OTCQB:UDOCF) ("UniDoc" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the sale of three Health Cubes to Verizon for demonstration within Verizon Innovation Labs. Two units have been delivered and installed - one at Verizon's Los Angeles Innovation Lab and one at the San Francisco Innovation Center. Verizon plans to use the systems to showcase UniDoc's clinician-assisted virtual care capabilities to enterprise visitors through its Innovation Labs program.

Key Features:

Two Health Cubes are live at Verizon Innovation Labs in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Third unit targeted for installation by year-end near Washington, D.C.

Verizon will showcase UniDoc's technology with Innovation Lab demonstrations.

"Demonstrating inside Verizon's Innovation Labs puts UniDoc in front of decision-makers who are building connected care programs," said Tony Baldassarre, President and CEO of UniDoc Health Corp. "These deployments create a practical venue to show how our Health Cube, NEIL Connect software and integrated Verizon connectivity can support clinician-assisted exams, remote monitoring and care coordination across pharmacies, clinics and community sites. It's an important step for our commercialization pipeline."

UniDoc Booth Installed at Verizon Innovation Lab

Demonstration Scope and Configuration

The deployments place UniDoc's virtual care platform inside Verizon's enterprise showcase environments. Each demonstration configuration integrates a Verizon connectivity solution within the Cube and includes medical instruments and components appropriate for clinician-assisted examinations, such as:

USB Electronic Stethoscope

Versa Scope

All-in-One Vital Signs Monitor (SpO2, Blood Pressure, Pulse Rate, Temperature, Scale)

IT & Communication Equipment

Software (including NEIL Connect)

ADA exterior platform with CCTV system

Blood analysis equipment

ECG/EKG with blood analyzer

Next Steps

The third Health Cube from the three-unit order is slated for installation by the end of 2025 at a Verizon site outside Washington, D.C. UniDoc will coordinate with Verizon on demonstration content and scheduling.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

~ Tony Baldassarre~

Antonio (Tony) Baldassarre

CEO, President & Director

UniDoc Health Corp.

About UniDoc Health Corp. (CSE:UDOC)(FRA:L7T)(OTCQB:UDOCF)

UniDoc is developing an eHealth solution which is being designed as a self-contained remote virtual clinic within a private kiosk for patients to undergo full consultations as if they were present in a physician's office. eHealth opens the doors to a large segment of the population challenged by access, experience or understanding of online computer technology. It is the Company's belief that physical accessibility is the key to its business proposition. UniDoc is dedicated to unlocking shareholder value by delivering an excellent product and sophisticated commercial network within an expedited timeframe. The UniDoc team encourages engagement, questions, and interest, so please stay in touch and invite anyone who might be interested in our story to visit our website at www.unidoctor.com and signup to receive the latest information with updates on our activities, events and progress.

For further information, please contact:

UniDoc Investor Relations

Tel: +1 778.383.6731

Email: info@unidoctor.com

Matt Chatterton, Director

Tel: +1 778.613.2082

Email: matt@unidoctor.com

Media Inquiries media@unidoctor.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding future plans, objectives, or economic performance, or the assumption underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "will be", "likely", "except", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook", or the negative thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, Verizon's plans to showcase UnicDoc's capabilities to enterprise visitors, through its Innovations Labs program, and a third unit being installed by Verizon at a location in Washington, D.C., and the timing thereof.

Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. The material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, key personnel and qualified employees continuing their involvement with the Company; the Company's ability to secure additional financing on reasonable terms; the competitive conditions of the industries in which the Company operates; and laws and any amendments thereto applicable to the Company.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks relating to the future business plans of the Company; risks that the Company will not be able to retain its key personnel; risks that the Company will not be able to secure financing on reasonable terms or at all; as well as all of the other risks as described in the Company's annual management discussion and analysis dated July 31, 2024 under the heading "Risks Factors." Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking information.

Further, any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company's management to predict all such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company's business 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 information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect information or events after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law, including securities laws.

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: UniDoc Health Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/unidoc-receives-order-for-health-cubes-1111703
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, will host the inaugural Development Finance Conference "MOMENTUM" from 9 to 11 December 2025 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center. The event is organized by the National Development Fund (NDF) under the theme "Where Development Finance Meets Action."

H.E. Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Development Fund, emphasized that the MOMENTUM Conference reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's comprehensive national transformation and serves as a strategic platform that unifies efforts and opens new horizons for national and international partnerships within the development finance landscape.

"MOMENTUM 2025 is more than a conference; it represents a new pathway for comprehensive and sustainable development. It aims to maximize developmental impact across society and the environment through a thriving and sustainable economy, while showcasing the Kingdom's position on the global stage as a leading destination for development transformation," H.E. Al-Tuwaijri said.

The high-level conference aims to advance the strategic directions of the NDF and its affiliated development funds and banks by enriching the development sector, enhancing ecosystem efficiency, and strengthening the sector's ability to meet national priorities. It also seeks to consolidate efforts and align objectives to ensure a sustainable developmental impact on society and the economy.

MOMENTUM stands as a strategic platform that reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to driving sustainable development. It is a pioneering national event that showcases the NDF's role in enabling comprehensive development transformation and enhancing integration among national development funds and banks. The conference provides a unique platform for knowledge exchange and dialogue on the future of global development finance and its role in advancing the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

MOMENTUM also highlights the pivotal role of the private sector and small and medium-sized enterprises within the development finance ecosystem, recognizing them as fundamental drivers of economic growth, job creation, and competitiveness, in line with Vision 2030.

The conference will bring together members of the royal family, high-ranking officials, CEOs, global thought leaders, development experts, and economists. It will feature more than 100 local and international speakers representing a distinguished group of economic and development leaders from over 120 local and international entities. This reflects the conference's role as a global forum aligned with the leadership's vision to build a financing ecosystem that contributes to driving sustainable development and enabling vital sectors.

Organizing MOMENTUM reflects the NDF's role as a key enabler of development in the Kingdom and as a strategic institution leading the development finance landscape through its 12 affiliated development funds and banks.

The conference contributes to strengthening coordination and integration among development funds, banks, and global development finance institutions, while fostering partnerships with leaders from both the public and private sectors to ensure optimal resource utilization in support of achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/momentum-2025-kicks-off-in-riyadh-on-9-december-302625640.html
New Payment Partnership Provides Brides, Wedding Parties, and Shoppers With More Ways to Navigate Budgets and Timelines Stress-Free

KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / David's Bridal , the largest AI-powered marketplace, media network and planning ecosystem for life's magical moments, today announced its partnership with Sezzle , a leader in the payments industry. Beginning today, shoppers can choose Sezzle at checkout in all David's Bridal stores , with online availability launching in the coming weeks. The partnership delivers meaningful financial flexibility at a time when couples and families are navigating rising costs, tighter timelines, and increasingly complex wedding planning journeys - doubling down on David's mission to expand its ecosystem to reduce friction and stress for every point of the wedding planning journey from planning to shopping to travel and more.

Together, the two brands are redefining the customer checkout experience in retail, combining David's digital-first, personalized shopping and planning experience with Sezzle's payment innovation and credit-building tools to give customers more customization and financial freedom at every step. From selecting the perfect dress to outfitting an entire bridal party, brides and shoppers often face unexpected expenses and stressful decisions throughout the planning process. David's Bridal and Sezzle together aim to reduce those friction points by offering clear, customizable payment options that give customers more control by helping them plan, purchase, and celebrate on their own terms.

"We know the bridal journey can be overwhelming - from managing budgets to coordinating dresses for the entire party," said Elina Vilk , President & Chief Business Officer at David's Bridal. "Our mission is to simplify that experience at every turn. Partnering with Sezzle allows us to give brides and shoppers more flexibility, less stress, and payment options that meet them where they are. It's one more way we're helping our guests feel supported from the moment they fall in love with the dress to the moment they say 'I do.'"

David's guests can now access Sezzle's suite of flexible payment options, designed to meet every budget and lifestyle. With Pay-in-Full, customers can complete their purchase instantly through Sezzle's seamless checkout experience or choose Pay-in-4 1 to split the cost into four interest-free payments over six weeks.

Wedding planning is known for its emotional highs, and today's couples juggle budgets, contracts, travel, attendants, and attire across multiple events, often while balancing careers, families, and other financial priorities. David's Bridal, with its expansive store network, digital planning tools, content ecosystem, and marketplace, has long championed ways to alleviate stress and streamline the experience from "yes" to "I do" - the addition of Sezzle deepens that commitment.

"Weddings and special celebrations should be joyful, not overwhelming," added Paul Paradis , President and Co-Founder of Sezzle. "David's Bridal understands that deeply, and their dedication to simplifying the journey aligns perfectly with our mission. Together, we're giving customers more clarity and ease at checkout, helping them navigate big decisions without the added pressure. It's about creating an experience where shoppers feel supported from the very start."

The partnership arrives just in time for the holiday shopping season, with exclusive Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers for David's Bridal customers:

Thanksgiving Day (Online Only): 20% off sitewide

Black Friday - Cyber Monday: Doorbuster deals in-store and online with up to 75% off dresses, bridal gowns and more - see online for more details.

Sezzle is available now at all David's Bridal locations ( find one closest to you and book your appointment today) and will launch online in the coming weeks at www.davidsbridal.com . To learn more about David's and shop the latest in bridal, bridesmaids, prom, mother of the bride/groom, special occasion, wedding guest and more, please visit davidsbridal.com and @davidsbridal on TikTok and Instagram.

For additional assets from David's Bridal, please see media kit here .

1 Pay in 4 and Pay in 2 loans are originated by WebBank except loans in Iowa and Puerto Rico.

About David's Bridal

With over 75 years of experience dressing people for all of life's special occasions, David's Bridal exists for magical moments. Since its "Aisle to Algorithm" strategic pivot, David's has evolved from iconic bridal retailer to wedding technology company, media powerhouse, and marketplace platform transforming how people plan, shop, and celebrate life's biggest moments. From assuming full production of Vera Wang Bride to launching Diamonds & Pearls, a curated couture boutique experience, David's entrance into this new era marks a pivotal moment for retailers going beyond traditional scopes and expanding into new categories.

At the center of David's technological and retail evolution is Pearl by David's, Pearl Planner and Pearl Media Network - the all-in-one digital wedding destination connecting consumers with everything from AI-powered planning tools, inspiration and vendor directories, expanded retail categories and leading content, while enabling brands to tap into David's unmatched market reach to authentically connect with consumers through media across the web, social, podcast, streaming, video, in-store and more.

Under the Pearl Media umbrella is Love Stories by David's, the top wedding media brand taking a digital-first approach to wedding content and inspiration with over 20M viewers per month across content platforms, including the wedding industry's sole podcast network, streaming TV and Snap Discover channels, and largest YouTube and TikTok channels, and a library of over 30,000 real wedding videos. Each video comes equipped with wedding data and details, contributing to a marketplace of over 60,000 wedding professionals to help couples better dream about, research and plan their big day.

With more than 190 stores across the U.S., Canada, and franchise locations in Mexico, David's Bridal offers the convenience of one-stop shopping for every magical event in her life, including weddings, Quinceaneras, graduations, proms, communions, or simply making the world her runway and beyond. To learn more about David's , sign up for Pearl Planner , and connect on social media through Instagram , YouTube , Pinterest , Facebook , X , TikTok , and LinkedIn .

About Sezzle Inc.

Sezzle is a forward-thinking fintech company committed to financially empowering the next generation. Through its purpose-driven payment platform, Sezzle enhances consumers' purchasing power by offering access to point-of-sale financing options and digital payment services - connecting millions of customers with its global network of merchants. Centered on transparency, inclusivity, and ease of use, Sezzle empowers consumers to manage spending responsibly, take charge of their finances, and achieve lasting financial independence.

For additional assets and news on Sezzle, please visit https://my.sezzle.com/news/ .

Follow Sezzle on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Media Contacts:

David's Bridal

mediarequests@dbi.com

Sezzle:

Erin Foran

Tel: (651) 403-2184

Email: erin.foran@sezzle.com

SOURCE: DAVID'S BRIDAL CORPORATE

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/consumer-and-retail-products/davids-bridal-partners-with-sezzle-to-offer-flexible-payment-options-f-1111796
Golar LNG Limited ("Golar") is pleased to announce that it has successfully closed and drawn a new $1.2 billion asset backed debt facility agreement with a consortium of banks including ABN AMRO, Citibank, DNB, Goldman Sachs and Standard Chartered Bank for the refinancing of FLNG Gimi. The new $1.2bn bank facility replaces an existing bank facility with an outstanding amount of $627 million as at Q3 2025.

The new debt facility has a 7-year tenor, 16-year amortization profile and will incur interest at SOFR plus a margin of 2.50% p.a. Golar's 70% share of the net liquidity released from the bank refinancing amounts to approximately $400 million after repayment of the existing Gimi debt facility and unwinding of the existing interest-rate swap.

Golar's CEO, Karl Fredrik Staubo commented: "We are pleased to see strong interest from leading international banks to provide attractive financing for the FLNG Gimi. The new facility has improved terms compared to Gimi's initial financing facility, which was put in place upon ordering of the FLNG Gimi. The new facility proves the bankability of Golar's FLNG assets once operational on their long-term FLNG contracts at ~5.5x debt to EBITDA ratio."

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS



This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) which reflect management's current expectations, estimates and projections about its operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities and events that will, should, could or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "could," "should," "would," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "forecast," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "propose," "potential," "continue," "subject to" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Golar LNG Limited undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.

Hamilton, Bermuda

November 25, 2025

Investor Questions: +44 207 063 7900

Karl Fredrik Staubo - CEO

Eduardo Maranhao - CFO

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act




Following the positive opinions of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the European Commission has granted marketing authorizations for Teva's biosimilars PONLIMSI and DEGEVMA expanding access to important bone health treatments across Europe

These approvals mark another significant milestone in Teva's strong biosimilars portfolio, in line with Teva's Pivot to Growth Strategy

The approvals underscore Teva's commitment to broadening access to biosimilars





TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teva Pharmaceuticals International GmbH, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: and TASE: TEVA) announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorizations for its two denosumab biosimilar candidates - PONLIMSI, a biosimilar to Prolia1 and DEGEVMA, a biosimilar to Xgeva, following the positive opinion of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) earlier this year.

These approvals mark another significant milestone in Teva's industry-leading biosimilars portfolio and its ongoing commitment to improving patient access to essential biologic therapies across Europe. Teva plans to launch both products in key European markets in the coming months.

The approval represents an important step in advancing Teva's Pivot to Growth strategy, reinforcing the company's dedication to broadening access to biosimilar medicines for patients.

Steffen Nock, SVP Head of Biosimilars & Chief Science Officer, said: "This approval represents an important step forward in increasing patient access to biosimilar therapies for serious bone conditions, underscoring our commitment to supporting better care for patients."

Michal Nitka, SVP Head Generics Europe & Global Head OTC, added: "Through product launches like these, we remain committed to providing additional treatment options for healthcare systems across Europe - especially in countries where access to biosimilars can still be improved."

About PONLIMSI

PONLIMSI (denosumab) is indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and men who are at increased risk of fractures, treatment of bone loss associated with hormone ablation in men with prostate cancer who are at increased risk of fractures or treatment of bone loss in adults who are on long-term treatment with systemic glucocorticoid.

The active substance, denosumab, is a human monoclonal IgG2 antibody that targets the protein RANKL, essential for the formation, function, and survival of osteoclasts - the cells responsible for bone resorption. By binding to RANKL with high affinity and specificity, denosumab prevents the interaction between RANKL and RANK, leading to a decrease in bone resorption in cortical and trabecular bone.



PONLIMSI will be available as a 60mg/1mL solution for injection in a pre-filled syringe.



PONLIMSI is a biosimilar medicinal product, similar to the reference medicine Prolia (denosumab), which was authorized in the EU on May 26, 2010.

Comprehensive analytical, preclinical, and clinical data demonstrate that PONLIMSI has comparable quality, safety, and efficacy to the reference product.

About DEGEVMA

DEGEVMA (denosumab) is indicated for the prevention of bone complications in adults with advanced cancer involving bone and for the treatment of adults and skeletally mature adolescents with giant cell tumor of bone.

The active substance, denosumab, is a human monoclonal IgG2 antibody that targets the protein RANKL, essential for the formation, function, and survival of osteoclasts - the cells responsible for bone resorption. By binding to RANKL with high affinity and specificity, denosumab prevents the interaction between RANKL and RANK, leading to a decrease in bone resorption in cortical and trabecular bone.



DEGEVMA will be available as a 120mg/1.7mL solution for injection in a vial.



DEGEVMA is a biosimilar medicinal product, similar to the reference product Xgeva (denosumab), which was authorized in the EU on July 13, 2011.

Comprehensive analytical, preclinical, and clinical data demonstrate that DEGEVMA has comparable quality, safety, and efficacy to the reference product.

About Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) is a leading innovative biopharmaceutical company, enabled by a world-class generics business. For over 120 years, Teva's commitment to bettering health has never wavered. From innovating in the fields of neuroscience and immunology to providing complex generic medicines, biosimilars and pharmacy brands worldwide, Teva is dedicated to addressing patients' needs, now and in the future. At Teva, We Are All In For Better Health.

To learn more about how, visit www.tevapharm.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based on management's current beliefs and expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from that expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "target," "may," "project," "guidance," "intend," "plan," "believe" and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to: our ability to successfully develop and commercialize PONLIMSI (denosumab) for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and men at increased risk of fractures; our ability to successfully develop and commercialize DEGEVMA (denosumab) for the prevention of bone complications in adults with advanced cancer involving bone and for the treatment of adults and skeletally mature adolescents with giant cell tumor of bone; our ability to successfully compete in the marketplace, including our ability to develop and commercialize additional pharmaceutical products; our ability to successfully execute our Pivot to Growth strategy, including to expand our innovative and biosimilar medicines pipeline and profitably commercialize the innovative medicines and biosimilar portfolio, whether organically or through business development; and other factors discussed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2025 and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, including in the section captioned "Risk Factors" and "Forward Looking Statements." Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Teva Media Inquiries

TevaCommunicationsNorthAmerica@tevapharm.com



Teva Investor Relations Inquiries

TevaIR@Tevapharm.com

________________________

1 Prolia and Xgeva are registered trademarks of Amgen, Inc.
The "Europe HVAC Market Industry Outlook Forecast 2025-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Europe HVAC Market to reach $99.27 billion by 2030 from $68.8 billion in 2024, Growing at a CAGR of 6.3%.

Several key factors are driving the surge in HVAC equipment sales across Europe. These include rising construction spending, a growing number of retail building projects, increased government investment in sustainable building development, ongoing industrial expansion, rapid urbanization, shifting climate conditions, and higher disposable incomes throughout the region.

Government regulations promoting eco-friendly refrigerants and energy-efficient, smart HVAC systems are also contributing to increased demand, especially in countries like Germany, the UK, France, and Italy, where construction activity is robust. Western Europe currently leads the market, holding over 56% of the regional share in 2024, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.60% over the forecast period.

From a product demand standpoint, air conditioning systems dominate the market in Western Europe. Rising temperatures driven by urbanization, pollution, and climate change are making cooling solutions more essential, particularly in urban areas. Companies operating in the HVAC industry, specifically in air conditioning, are seeing steady sales growth thanks to strong demand in this region. This is largely due to the concentration of commercial facilities, industrial operations, and higher consumer purchasing power compared to other parts of Europe.

Growing demand for HVAC systems in European domestic markets is driven by various climatic changes, tighter energy efficiency requirements, and growing consumer awareness. Extended heatwaves in South Europe, i.e., Italy, Spain, and Greece, are placing a high value on cooling systems, while the colder regions of the Nordics and Eastern Europe are witnessing growing demand for heat solutions due to cold winters. These climatic oscillations are prompting inhabitants to invest in sophisticated HVAC systems for comfort throughout the year and to support the Europe HVAC market growth. Besides, tough EU legislation like the Eco-design and Energy Labelling Framework is also prompting people towards energy-efficient alternatives, as a result of which householders are incorporating systems that decrease energy consumption and carbon emissions as well as lower utility costs.

In addition, awareness of IAQ post-pandemic is also the major driver for the Europe HVAC market with advanced air purifying technology like HEPA filters, UV-C disinfection, and DCV. It is extremely widespread in highly congested urban areas where people seek healthier indoor air for health and wellness. HVAC system technology advancement, including IoT-based climate control and smart functionalities, is also driving growth in the Europe HVAC market. These technologies facilitate remote control and optimization of HVAC devices by homeowners, which improve energy efficiency and reduce long-term expenses.

But the competitive Europe HVAC market is more than just offering green solutions. To be competitive in this rapidly evolving market, companies must focus on incorporating cutting-edge technology that not only meets environmental requirements but also maximizes operational performance. This includes features like smart connectivity, real-time energy monitoring, and automation, which maximize system efficiency and reduce long-term operating expenses for end-users. Firms that can merge sustainability with advanced technological offerings will be poised to lead the Europe HVAC market, delivering solutions that not only comply with strict environmental regulations but also provide superior comfort, affordability, and energy efficiency.

Generally, the Europe HVAC market is driven by a combination of government incentives, advancements in technology, and heightened concern for sustainability. Those suppliers who can navigate this complex area, both adopting green solutions and advanced technologies, will be the future leaders in the competitive marketplace. With the industry continuing to revolutionize itself, the demand for energy-saving, technology-based HVAC systems will continue to escalate, and therefore, the demand to meet ecological requirements as well as government and social expectations in the future.

IMPACT OF GLOBAL TARIFFS AND TRADE WARS

The recent escalation of trade tensions among the U.S., China, and the EU in 2024 and beyond into 2025 directly impacted HVAC manufacturers in as the issue has largely struck major components of HVAC units, such as compressors, heat exchangers, and electronic sensors, most of which are sourced from Asia.

Several companies have encountered higher procurement costs in Europe as a result of several new import tariffs and anti-dumping duties implemented by the European Commission on HVAC-related products imported from outside the EU, tightening margins and affecting project timelines.

These political and trade uncertainties across the globe coupled with increased tariffs on imports and regional protectionism, are resulting in increased costs of production, delays in projects, and barriers to entering the European market for new HVAC technology. While giant companies with local manufacturing are more able to absorb these shocks, smaller import-based firms and vendors are most vulnerable. The expansion in the European HVAC market, while steady, is tempered by these outside threats, and reinforces the demand for localized supply chains, proactive R&D partnerships, and agile operating strategies in 2025.

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

How big is the Europe HVAC market?

Which region dominates the Europe HVAC market share?

What are the significant trends in the Europe HVAC market?

What is the growth rate of the Europe HVAC market?

Who are the key players in the Europe HVAC market?

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 414 Forecast Period 2024 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $68.8 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $99.27 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.3% Regions Covered Europe

Market Opportunities Trends

Emergence of IoT and Product Innovations to Aid Replacements

Surge in Demand for Energy-Efficient Low-Carbon HVAC Systems

Shift Toward Modular Decentralized HVAC Solutions

Replacement of Existing Equipment With Energy-Efficient Ones

Climatic Conditions and Heat Waves Propel Demand for HVAC Systems

Market Growth Enablers

Rise in Commercial Construction and Projects

Increase in Demand for HVAC Systems in Coworking Spaces

Airport Modernization Driving Demand for Smart and Sustainable HVAC Solutions in Europe

Growth in Vrf Systems

Favorable Government Policies and Incentives

Demand for Low Gwp Refrigerant Solutions in Heating Equipment

Market Restraints

Turbulent Political and Trade Relations

High Installation and Upfront Costs

Lack of Skilled Labor

Stringent Regulations

Key Company Profiles

Aldes

Atlantic

Daikin

Johnson Controls

Mitsubishi Electric

Vaillant Group

Viessmann Group

Ostberg

Pentair

Robert Bosch

Rheem Manufacturing Company

Samsung

Siemens AG

Systemair

NIBE Group

Zehnder

Other Prominent Vendors

Alfa Laval

Carrier

Honeywell International Inc

LG

Panasonic

Midea

Regal

Raytheon Technologies

Flakt Group

Swegon

VTS Group

Nuaire

Nortek

Hitachi

LU-VE

Vent-Axia

Rosenberg

S P

Wolf

CIAT

AL-KO GROUP

Dynair

Danfoss

Lennox

Backer Springfield

Dunhambush

TCL

Trox GmbH

Stiebel Eltron

Uponor Corporation

Glen Dimplex

Ferroli

Elco Burners

BDR Thermea Group

Biddle Air Systems

Riello Group

Ingersoll Rand

Camfil

Segmentation by Equipment

Heating

Air Conditioning

Ventilation

Segmentation by Heating

Heat Pump

Boiler Unit

Furnace

Others

Segmentation by Air Conditioning

RAC

CAC

Chiller

Heat Exchanger

Others

Segmentation by Ventilation

Air Handling Unit (AHU)

Air filter

Humidifier Dehumidifier

Fan Coil Unit

Other Ventilation Equipment

Segmentation by End-user

Residential

Commercial

Others

Segmentation by Geography

Western Europe

Germany

France

UK

Italy

Netherlands

Spain

Belgium

Ireland

Portugal

Switzerland

Nordic

Norway

Denmark

Sweden

Finland

Central Eastern Europe (CEE)

Russia

Poland Austria

Hungary

Czech Republic

Greece

Slovakia

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nau24h

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251125231242/en/

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NORTH YORK, ON / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / ZTEST Electronics Inc. ("ZTEST" or the "Company") (CSE:ZTE) is pleased to announce that it has appointed Mr. Trevor Treweeke to the Board of Directors, sitting as an independent director, subject to regulatory approval.

Steve Smith, CEO of the Company stated "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to welcome Trevor to the board. Trevor's substantial expertise, in designing and executing significant capital market strategies, will be a valued asset to the Company."

Mr. Treweeke is a capital markets professional with more than 12 years of experience in advising early-stage and small-cap companies on growth, financing, and corporate strategies. He has been instrumental in over $40 million in capital raises and has provided senior level guidance in CPC formations, go-public transactions, and M&A activities. He additionally serves as a director of Cheelcare Inc. and Network Media Group and currently advises several issuers on capital markets strategy and corporate development.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Treweeke was an analyst with TMX Group, supporting transaction reviews for TSX Venture issuers. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Calgary.

About ZTEST Electronics Inc.

ZTEST Electronics Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary Permatech Electronics Corporation ("Permatech"), offers Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) to a wide range of customers. Permatech's offering includes Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Assembly, Materials Management and Testing services. Permatech operates from an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility in North York, Ontario, Canada. Permatech is a contract assembler of complex circuit boards, serving customers in the Medical, Power, Computer, Telecommunications, Wireless, Industrial, Trucking, Wearables and Consumer Electronics markets. It specializes in servicing customers who are looking for high yield and require high quality and rapid-turnaround on low and mid-volume production of high complexity products.

For more information contact: Steve Smith, CEO (604) 837-3751 email: steves@ztest.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.com).

SOURCE: ZTEST Electronics Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/ztest-appoints-trevor-treweeke-as-director-1111870
Goal: Raise $300,000 to Provide 210,000 Pairs of New Underwear This Holiday Season Every $1 Donated Becomes $3 Through a 2:1 Match

NATICK, MA / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Cocotree Kids is kicking off its annual Season of Giving campaign with an extraordinary opportunity for impact: an anonymous donor has pledged a $100,000 match, offering a 2:1 contribution for every dollar donated through December 31. That means every $1 given turns into $3 for Massachusetts children in need, up to $100,000.

More than 100,000 children ages 5-17 in Massachusetts live at or below the poverty level, and one in three experiences clothing insecurity. Many do not have consistent access to clean, properly fitting underwear. Cocotree Kids, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit, is working to change that by providing new underwear to underserved youth across the Commonwealth - offering a clean pair for each day of the week to support comfort, dignity, and confidence.

The 2025 campaign aims to raise $300,000, enough to distribute 210,000 pairs of underwear to 30,000 children statewide.

View this 30 second PSA from Cocotree Kids.

"Our primary focus is to donate to charities that involve kids," said the anonymous donor behind the match. "When we learned about Cocotree Kids' mission and their commitment to kids, we felt inspired and compelled to help. The thought of kids not attending school, not learning to read or write, or participating in activities because they had no access to underwear was heartbreaking. We all must give back."

Since its founding in 2021, Cocotree Kids has distributed 428,473 pairs of new underwear to 61,210 children across 12 counties in Massachusetts - a number that continues to grow each month.

"It's both heartbreaking and unacceptable that so many kids across our state lack even this most basic necessity," said Catherine Maloy, Founder and Executive Director of Cocotree Kids. "This extraordinary 2:1 match allows every gift to go three times as far. We are deeply grateful to our anonymous donor and to everyone who chooses to support us this holiday season."

Access to clean underwear is essential to a child's health, confidence, and academic participation. Underwear cannot be donated used for legal and hygienic reasons, making financial contributions the most effective way to meet this need. Cocotree Kids partners with schools, shelters, and community service organizations and currently serves approximately 2,300 children every month.

A gift of $10 outfits one child with a week's worth of new underwear, while a $250 donation provides 175 pairs, enough to support 25 children. To donate or learn more, visit www.cocotreekids.org.

# # #

For further information, contact:

Amy Riemer, Media Relations

978-502-4895

amy@riemercommunications.com

SOURCE: Cocotree Kids, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/cocotree-kids-launches-%22season-of-giving%22-campaign-with-100-000-1111709
MCLEAN, VA / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / CORAS, the only IL5-authorized Agentic AI Decision Intelligence platform in the Department of War (DoW), announced today that it has been awarded a contract with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to enhance and unify the Navy's leadership assessment and behavioral modeling capabilities through the Talent Management Nexus effort in support of Naval Personnel Command's Talent Management Center of Excellence.

This award expands CORAS's growing portfolio of U.S. Navy partnerships, following its successful deployment of the "Leader's Compass" application at the U.S. Naval Academy. Under the new ONR contract, CORAS will configure its secure, low-code platform to deliver a unified web application supporting leadership assessment, behavioral modeling, and performance tracking across the fleet.

"This CORAS collaboration will provide the U.S. Navy with a single, data-driven view of potential leadership and development across the force," said Dan Naselius, President and CTO of CORAS. "By combining IL5-secure Decision Intelligence with behavioral science, the Navy can modernize and optimize how it nurtures, identifies, develops, and deploys its future officers and leaders."

Through this effort, CORAS will enable ONR to orchestrate and integrate data across multiple Navy systems in real time, administering assessments, conducting automated analyses with built-in Agentic AI, natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning (ML), and visualizing Sailor performance through dynamic briefs. These features will allow the Navy to track leadership growth over time, refine behavioral models, challenge program efficiency and effectiveness, and continuously improve the development processes for all Sailors.

The CORAS platform, built on a FedRAMP High and IL5 environments, supports advanced security controls, multi-user access for administrators, panelists, and participants, and seamless integration with the Authoritative Data Environment (ADE) and other MyNavy HR data sources. As a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solution, CORAS is rapidly configured and deployed within days, providing immediate operational value to ONR and the Navy's Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education Information Sciences (MPTE-IS) portfolio.

"The ONR award underscores CORAS's expanding role as a trusted enabler of data-driven decision and readiness SaaS platform within the Department of War," said Moe Jafari, CEO of CORAS. "From the PMO to the Pentagon, CORAS empowers the U.S. Navy to harness its data, identify future leaders, and make faster, more informed decisions."

CORAS and its Agentic Agent GARY operate at IL5 and FedRAMP High in government environments including NIPR and SIPR, offering profound ROI and 50+x productivity. Agencies can acquire CORAS and GARY through GSA, NASA SEWP, SBIR Phase III, Tradewinds AI Marketplace, Carahsoft, and AWS partner channels. Learn more at www.coras.ai.

Contact Information:

Rebecca Churchill

Media & Marketing

v-rebecca.churchill@coras.ai

703-214-0076

SOURCE: CORAS

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/aerospace-and-defense/coras-awarded-contract-by-the-office-of-naval-research-to-advance-navy-leader-1111750
Carson City, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Surface Metals Inc. (CSE: SUR) (OTCQB: SURMF) ("Surface Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of a comprehensive historical drill database compilation and review for its Cimarron Gold Project in Nye County, Nevada. The study confirms substantial exploration upside, with multiple mineralized zones remaining open along strike and at depth.

The validated and digitized database includes 234 historical drill holes totaling approximately 18,066 metres. Nearly 30% of these primarily shallow holes terminate within mineralization, underscoring the potential for expansion through deeper drilling. Significant intercepts include 32.01 metres grading 2.23 g/t Au and 56.39 metres grading 0.52 g/t Au, outside the boundaries of the approximately 50,000 Oz gold resource estimate (*Non NI 43-101 compliant, Budge Mining Ltd., 1987). The limited drilling also shows the gold system is open directionally along strike, with indications that the 3 main isolated zones merge at depth.

The cross section below (Figure 1) illustrates the continuity of mineralization between the West and East Zones and highlights the open gold mineralization extending below the majority of the zones below the open pit resource estimate outline.

Figure 1: Cross-section through West and East Zones, Cimarron NV

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7776/275807_5e5f2a3d841d6b41_002full.jpg

"Our review demonstrates that the gold system at Cimarron has not been fully tested. The combination of shallow historical drilling and open trends presents a compelling opportunity to expand the known gold mineralization," stated Steve Hanson, President and CEO.

Surface Metals plans to initiate a maiden drill program in 2026 targeting high-priority zones identified in the 3D modelling of historical drilling. The objective of the program is to increase the historical resource estimate and advance Cimarron toward economic viability for an open-pit, heap-leach operation.

*The historical resource estimate is based on an internal report by Budge Mining Ltd. (1987), referenced in a 2013 Crestwell Resources news release. This estimate is not NI 43-101 compliant, has not been verified by Surface Metals, and should not be relied upon.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Douglas Murray, P.Geo. Mr. Murray is member of Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Surface Metals Inc.

Surface Metals Inc. (CSE: SUR) (OTCQB: SURMF) is a North American mineral exploration company focused on advancing a diversified portfolio of gold and lithium projects in Nevada, USA, and Manitoba, Canada. The Company's Cimarron Gold Project is located in Nye County, Nevada, in a historically productive gold district. Surface's Clayton Valley Lithium Brine Project hosts an inferred resource of approximately 302,900 tonnes LCE adjacent to Albemarle's Silver Peak Mine. Surface Metals is also advancing lithium projects in Fish Lake Valley, Nevada, and through a joint venture with Snow Lake Energy in southeastern Manitoba.

For more information, please visit: www.surfacemetals.com

Neither the CSE nor its regulations service providers accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release contains certain statements which may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur and in this news release include but are not limited to the attributes of, timing for and expected benefits to be derived from exploration, drilling or development at Surface's project properties. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling, sampling and other technical results may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. Surface's project location adjacent to or nearby other mineral projects does not guarantee exploration success or that mineral resources or reserves will be defined on Surface's properties. Exploration, development, and activities conducted by regional companies provide assistance and additional data for exploration work being completed by Surface. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's properties; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from the Company's operations and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Unless otherwise indicated, the market and industry data contained herein is based upon information from industry and other publications and the knowledge and experience of management. While we believe that this data is reliable, market and industry data is subject to variations and cannot be verified with complete certainty due to limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties inherent in any statistical survey. We have not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources referred to in this news release or ascertained the underlying assumptions relied upon by such sources. With regard to the Cimarron Project potential quantity and grade of mineralization described is conceptual in nature as there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in targets being delineated as a mineral resource. Surface Metals has not undertaken any independent verification of drill results from historical drilling not completed by Surface Metals. Surface Metals has not independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results and believes that the historical drill results may not all conform to the presently accepted industry standards and as such should not be relied upon by the reader. Surface Metals Inc. considers these historical drill results relevant as Surface Metals Inc. will use this data as a guide to plan future exploration programs. Surface Metals Inc. also considers the data to be reliable for these purposes, however, Surface Metal Inc.'s future exploration work will include verification of the data through drilling. All technical and scientific disclosure pertaining to our mineral property interests in this news release have been reviewed by a Qualified Person, meaning an individual who is an engineer or geoscientist with at least five years of experience in mineral exploration, mine development or operation or mineral project assessment, or any combination of these; has experience relevant to the subject matter of the mineral project and the technical report; and is a member or licensee in good standing of a professional association.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275807

SOURCE: Surface Metals Inc.
AECI Limited - Declaration of Cumulative 5.5 per cent Preference Share Dividend No. 175

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 25

AECI LIMITED

(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)

(Registration Number 1924/002590/06)

Tax reference number: 9000008608

Share code: AFE ISIN: ZAE000000230

Hybrid code: AFEP ISIN: ZAE000000238

Bond company code: AECI

LEI: 3789008641F1D3D90E85

(AECI or the Company)

DECLARATION OF CUMULATIVE 5.5 PER CENT PREFERENCE SHARE DIVIDEND NO. 175

Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, the board of directors of AECI (Board) declared a gross cash dividend, at the rate of 5.5 per cent per annum (equivalent to 2,75 pence sterling), for the six months ending Friday, 12 December 2025. The dividend is payable on Monday, 15 December 2025 to holders of preference shares recorded in the register of the Company at the close of business on the record date for receipt of the cash dividend, being Friday, 12 December 2025.

The last day to trade ' cum' dividend will be Tuesday, 9 December 2025 and shares will commence trading 'ex-dividend' as from the commencement of business on Wednesday, 10 December 2025.

The dividend is declared in pound sterling and payment will be made from the offices of the Transfer Secretaries in South Africa and the United Kingdom on Friday, 12 December 2025. Dividends payable from South Africa will be paid in South African currency at the rate of 62.37399 ZAR cents per share (gross dividend) in accordance with the exchange rate ruling on Tuesday, 25 November 2025 (1-pound sterling = ZAR 22.68145 ).

A South African dividend withholding tax of 20% will be applicable to all shareholders who are not either exempt or entitled to a reduction of the withholding tax rate in terms of a relevant Double Taxation Agreement resulting in a net dividend of 49.89919 ZAR cents per share payable to those shareholders who are not eligible for exemption or reduction. Application forms for exemption or reduction may be obtained from the Transfer Secretaries on Tel. +27 11 370 5000 or by email ZACSJHBDividendTaxQ@Computershare.co.za and must be returned to them on or before Tuesday, 9 December 2025.

Dividends payable from the United Kingdom office will be subject to such tax deductions as are prescribed by United Kingdom legislation unless a certificate exempting the shareholder concerned from such tax deduction is received before Tuesday, 9 December 2025.

The issued share capital of the Company at the declaration date is 105,517,780 listed ordinary shares and 3 000 000 listed cumulative preference shares. The dividend has been declared from the income reserves of the Company (and has therefore not been declared as a reduction in the Company's contributed tax capital).

Any change of address or dividend instruction must be received on or before Tuesday, 9 December 2025.

Shares may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between Wednesday, 10 December 2025 and Friday, 12 December 2025, both days inclusive.

By order of the Board

C Singh

Group Company Secretary

Woodmead, Sandton

25 November 2025

Transfer Secretaries

Computershare Investor Services Proprietary Limited

Rosebank Towers

15 Biermann Avenue

Rosebank

2196

and

Computershare Investor Services PLC

PO Box 82

The Pavilions

Bridgwater Road

Bristol BS99 7NH

England

Registered office

1 st Floor, AECI Place

24 The Woodlands

Woodlands Drive

Woodmead

Sandton

Equity sponsor

One Capital

Debt sponsor

Questco Proprietary Limited
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - CopAur Minerals Inc. (TSXV: CPAU) ("CopAur" or the "Company") announces that pursuant to the press release on November 24th, 2025, by Omega Pacific Resources Ltd (CSE: OMGA) ("Omega"), that CopAur and Omega (the "Parties") have completed an amendment of the Williams Property (the "Property") Option/Joint Venture Agreement (the "Option Agreement") to accelerate Omega's acquisition of a 100% interest in the Property.

On February 29, 2024, the Parties entered into an Option Agreement (see CopAur's March 1st, 2024, press release) whereby Omega could earn up to a 100% interest in the Williams Property. On April 24th, 2024, CopAur announced the receipt of $1 million in cash and 3 million Omega shares from Omega, which along with agreed upon exploration expenditures and other considerations, allowed Omega to earn a 51% interest in the Williams property. On November 12th, 2024, Omega exercised its option to acquire a 51% interest in the property.

On November 20th, 2025, the Parties entered into a second amendment to the Option Agreement whereby Omega has the option to acquire the remaining 49% interest in the Williams Property from CopAur on or before December 4th, 2025, by issuing to CopAur, 3.3 million common shares in the capital of Omega.

"CopAur is confident that the Williams Property, located in BC's re-emerging Toodoggone District and the Golden Horseshoe, which is widely regarded as a tier-one exploration region, holds tremendous, untapped mineral value as confirmed during Omega's 2024 drill program that returned values of 1.69 g/t Au over 104 metres and 2.16 g/t Au. over 96.9 metres. Omega has the requisite skill set to further develop this property, and this agreement allows CopAur to concentrate our efforts on our Nevada properties. We look forward to following developments at the Williams Property as a significant shareholder of Omega," commented Andrew Neale, CEO.

About CopAur

CopAur is a mine development company focused on projects within the emerging, mineral-rich gold mining regions of Nevada. The Company is backed by a dynamic and experienced team of resource professionals advancing its projects in Nevada with the flagship project being Kinsley Mountain Gold Project, a Carlin-style project located in the Kinsley Mountains in Eastern Nevada, approximately 80 km SSW of West Wendover.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF COPAUR MINERALS INC.

Andew Neale, Chief Executive Officer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All such statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to vary from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revised any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275831

SOURCE: CopAur Minerals Inc.
Evaluation based on 'Completeness of Vision' and 'Ability to Execute'.

Entrust enhances identity and access management with AI-driven biometrics, passkey support, and certificate-based authentication to combat phishing and MFA bypass.

Also named a Leader in the 2025 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Identity Verification in Financial Services.

Entrust, a global leader in identity-centric security solutions, today announced it has been recognized as a Challenger in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Access Management for the third consecutive year.

Download a complimentary copy of the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Access Management here.

Entrust provides intelligent identity and access management (IAM) solutions designed to empower organizations with a Zero Trust security framework through the Entrust IDaaS platform. The cloud-native platform enables secure user authentication, authorization, and access control, ensuring users can access the right resources securely anytime, anywhere. The platform supports a wide range of use cases, including consumer (B2C), workplace also known as business-to-employee (B2E), and government-to-citizen (G2C) use cases.

"In a year marked by targeted high-profile cyberattacks on industries such as retail and aviation, the need for resilient identity protection has never been more critical," said Tony Ball, President of Payments Identity and Incoming CEO at Entrust. "Entrust delivers high-assurance identity capabilities through AI-driven biometric authentication, Passkey support, and certificate-based methods to guard against account takeover attacks such as phishing and multi-factor authentication (MFA) bypass. Our managed risk engine continuously evaluates contextual signals, such as IP address, impossible travel, high-risk transactions, and behavioral biometrics, to intelligently adapt quickly to threats while maintaining a streamlined user experience."

Securing the Entire Identity Lifecycle

Entrust takes a comprehensive approach to identity security, protecting users across the entire identity lifecycle, from onboarding to authentication and authorization. The Entrust Identity Security Portfolio includes identity verification, identity and access management, digital signing, and PKI for machine identities. Entrust has recently been recognized as a Leader in the 2025 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Identity Verification in Financial Services, and a Visionary in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Identity Verification.

Download a complimentary copy of the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Access Management here.

Gartner, "Magic Quadrant for Access Management," Brian Guthrie, Nathan Harris, Yemi Davies, Steve Wessels, 11 November 2025. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark, and MAGIC QUADRANT is 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 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 Entrust:

Entrust fights fraud and cyber threats with identity-centric security that protects people, devices, and data. Our comprehensive solutions help organizations secure every step of the identity lifecycle, from verifying identity at onboarding to securing connections and fighting fraud in everyday transactions. Ongoing monitoring supports compliance and safeguards keys, secrets, and certificates. With a foundation of identity-centric security, our customers can transact and grow with confidence. Entrust has a global partner network and supports customers in over 150 countries. For more information, visit www.entrust.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251119214916/en/

Contacts:

Media contact: ken.kadet@entrust.com
Onlayer has raised USD 8.2 million with its new Series A funding. It will accelerate commercial expansion across the regions.

ANKARA, Turkiye, Nov. 25, 2025, a Turkiye-based regtech and end-to-end merchant management platform serving banks, payment service providers (PSPs) and enterprises, announced that it has raised USD 8.2 million in a Series A funding round. The new capital will be used to accelerate the company's expansion across the MENA, and Asia-Pacific, and to further enhance its AI-driven risk, compliance, and performance solutions.

The round was led by Oleka Capital, with participation from Deniz Ventures, Revo Capital, Turkiye Development Fund, and Sandeep Gomes as new investors. Future Impact Fund, managed in partnership with existing investors Vestel Ventures and Tacirler Portfolio Management, also participated in the round.

"Redefining global standards in merchant risk"

"In Onlayer's sixth year, we are proud to have evolved into a global player that helps redefine industry standards in merchant risk and compliance," said Kivanc Harputlu, Co-Founder and CEO of Onlayer. "With this investment, we will continue to work at full speed toward our goal of becoming the leading technology provider in our vertical worldwide."

"Onlayer is fundamentally changing how financial institutions work with their corporate and merchant customers," told Ilker Sozdinler, Managing Partner at Oleka Capital. "Onlayer stands out as one of the strongest examples of the TechFin vision, turning compliance from a pure obligation into a value layer that accelerates financial growth," commented Cenk Bayrakdar, Founding Partner and Managing Director at Revo Capital.

"Onlayer is an excellent example of how locally developed technology can create regional and global impact, particularly in financial infrastructure and risk management," stated Elif Emirli Altug, General Manager and Board Member at Turkiye Development Fund. "As Onlayer's first institutional investor, we believe it will move even faster and more confidently toward its global ambitions," said Selami Duz, Coordinator at Maxis Ventures.

Merchant onboarding, risk and compliance in one platform

Onlayer provides a unified platform that helps automate merchant onboarding, continuously monitor merchant portfolios, manage PCI-DSS compliance and unlock data-driven insights to mitigate risk and support growth. With offices in London, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, the company operates in 12 countries. Its platform brings together merchant acquisition, real-time monitoring, AML and fraud controls, PCI-DSS compliance workflows and ongoing merchant analytics in a single environment.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dcfd2728-479f-452f-861c-e63a0bd5cf1d

Contact: Nazli Tugrul Yuksel, nazli@natusiletisim.com
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telnyx, the full-stack communications platform powering global connectivity and Voice AI, today announced a strategic partnership with Yeastar, the world's leading provider of Unified Communications (UC) solutions. The integration empowers Yeastar channel partners to deliver higher-value deployments by pairing Yeastar's PBX and contact center solutions with Telnyx's global, direct-to-carrier SIP trunking. This ensures superior voice quality, unified omnichannel communication, and the infrastructure needed to support emerging AI-driven experiences.

The partnership enables Yeastar customers to connect directly to Telnyx's licensed global carrier network, with numbering resources in 145+ countries, ITSP certification in 10 markets and growing, and private backbone routing that ensures consistently high-quality, low-latency voice.

"Supporting partner success remains a key priority," said Arya Zhou, Head of Global Sales at Yeastar. "The interoperability strengthens how Yeastar and Telnyx partners deliver reliable voice deployments, streamline implementation, and respond to diverse customer requirements across different environments."

The verified integration ensures that Telnyx SIP trunks perform optimally across Yeastar's on-premises, cloud, and hybrid deployments. Yeastar has also completed compatibility work with Telnyx for SMS and eFax, enabling consistent delivery of messaging and fax services across its platforms. Together, these capabilities strengthen the overall interoperability between the two companies and deliver greater value to partners and end-users.

Key benefits for Yeastar partners and users include:

BYOC made simple : Native Telnyx SIP trunk integration for consistent global carrier control.

: Native Telnyx SIP trunk integration for consistent global carrier control. Optimized for hybrid work and contact centers : HD voice and private backbone routing for reliable, crystal-clear audio.

: HD voice and private backbone routing for reliable, crystal-clear audio. Global scalability and compliance : Numbering and carrier-grade coverage across 145+ countries with expanding ITSP certification.

: Numbering and carrier-grade coverage across 145+ countries with expanding ITSP certification. Partner-first enablement: 24/7 engineering support and simplified global provisioning.





"Yeastar's platform aligns perfectly with our vision of giving businesses more choice and control over their communications," said Darren Laurie, Head of Partner Sales at Telnyx. "Together, we're enabling partners to deliver unified voice, contact center, and collaboration experiences that are reliable today and ready for the next generation of intelligent communications."

With Telnyx's private global IP network, licensed carrier footprint, and full-stack infrastructure, the partnership ensures consistent call quality and performance for Yeastar users worldwide.

To learn more about how Yeastar and Telnyx are empowering partners and customers globally, visit telnyx.com and www.yeastar.com .

Media contact:

Elsa Giraudineau

marketing@telnyx.com
LINYI, CN / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / United in purpose and ready for a new chapter. From November 19 to 20, the SDLG Global Dealer Summit 2026 was successfully held in Hangzhou under the theme "New Chapter, New Initiatives, New Future." More than 300 dealer representatives from over 140 countries and regions gathered to discuss cooperation, explore growth opportunities and witness SDLG's global leadership.

Strategic Blueprint for the New Chapter

As the core segment of the summit, Lingong Group Chairman Wang Zhizhong delivered a keynote speech titled "New Chapter, New Initiatives, New Future." He reviewed the 19-year history of cooperation with Volvo CE and emphasized that this partnership not only brought technical and management support to SDLG, but also significantly enhanced SDLG's global recognition through independent operations and the implementation of a dual-brand strategy. Today, SDLG has established strengths in areas such as product technology and quality, enterprise quality management and lean manufacturing, artificial intelligence and digitalization.

Regarding the amicable separation between the two parties, Chairman Wang Zhizhong explained that it was a joint decision based on intensifying competition in the domestic market, restructuring within the global industry, changes in the geopolitical landscape, SDLG's own needs for accelerated global development, and Volvo CE's internal considerations. He noted that "independent operation is to better achieve long-term development." Concluding the partnership means SDLG will now have greater autonomy and a more efficient decision-making environment.

Looking ahead, Chairman Wang Zhizhong presented a clear blueprint for SDLG's next stage of global development. To accelerate high-quality independent growth, Lingong Group has launched a new development strategy along with the guiding principle of "securing domestic share and pursuing overseas growth." Based on this strategic direction, the Group has set an ambitious goal of surpassing RMB 100 billion in revenue by 2030 and becoming a leading global industrial group.

To achieve these goals, SDLG is advancing a series of significant strategic initiatives. Chairman Wang highlighted two priorities in particular. The first is the development and launch of the new internationalization strategy titled "Comprehensively Advance, Achieve Key Breakthroughs, and Build a New Landscape for SDLG's International Market". The comprehensively advance includes full-scope internationalization across marketing, after-sales service, parts supply, overseas manufacturing, talent development and financial systems. The key breakthroughs focus on the top 20 countries that account for 80% of the global market share, enabling rapid expansion through concentrated efforts. The second priority is the continued and well-paced expansion of product lines to enrich the overall product portfolio and strengthen dealers' market competitiveness.

Centered on the newly established internationalization strategy, Chairman Wang expressed his expectations to global dealers from several key dimensions, including strengthening confidence in development, enhancing service and aftermarket support systems, safeguarding the brand's reputation and keeping pace with electrification trends. He encouraged all partners to move forward together and create a successful future.

Outstanding Performance Demonstrates Strength, New Strategy Drives Global Expansion

As a leading player in global construction machinery, SDLG continues to shine with outstanding product quality, solid R&D capabilities, and an expanding global footprint. SDLG is setting new records in overseas markets, delivering "EXPERT FAST CARE" services worldwide and building a distinctive international path.

During the summit, SDLG General Manager Wen Degang delivered the report "Strengthen Foundations, Enhance Capabilities, Leapfrog Progress," analyzing global economic and construction machinery industry trends, reviewing SDLG's achievements over the past year, and outlining the five-year strategic roadmap. He highlighted that under Lingong Group's new development strategy and internationalization strategy, SDLG will implement eight major initiatives including organizational reform, overseas platform building, channel expansion, product enhancement, service upgrading, risk control, manufacturing management and global brand development. By strengthening foundations and enhancing capabilities, SDLG aims to fully develop reliable products, services and teams, achieving leapfrog progress.

For SDLG, 2025 marks a pivotal year of transformation. With strategic restructuring and a strong focus on global expansion, SDLG expects overseas revenue to grow by 30 percent year-on-year, with both sales volume and market share continuing to rise steadily.

Recognizing Excellence and Growing Together

To honor dealers with outstanding achievements in global expansion, customer service and management, the summit hosted the "Outstanding Overseas Dealer Award Ceremony 2025." The award-winning dealers all achieved remarkable sales performance and market presence over the past year, earning recognition and praise for their professional sales teams, efficient service support systems, and exceptional market development capabilities.

Afterward, dealer representatives from multiple countries and regions took the stage to share their experiences of cooperating with SDLG, reaffirming their deep trust in continuing to move forward together. The audience responded with enthusiastic applause, not only congratulating the outstanding dealers but also paying tribute to all partners who continue to progress side by side.

We are treating partners as close allies and pursuing mutual success. Dealers are an essential bridge connecting SDLG to global markets and an indispensable force in the company's globalization journey. This recognition not only honors past achievements but also represents expectations for future cooperation. It motivates all dealer partners to unite, overcome market challenges together, and share the results of growth and success.

Deep-dive discussions strengthen the foundation for cooperation. During the summit, SDLG held business forums focused on key topics such as the 2026 overseas product plan, global service assurance, differentiated product applications, financing and underwriting prospects and overseas marketing strategy. These specialized discussions provided both strategic insight and practical guidance, offering clear pathways and strong support for future cooperation.

A forward-looking and globally focused gathering has brought together a shared understanding of development between SDLG and its international partners. Moving ahead, SDLG will continue to uphold its brand philosophy, strengthen product and service quality, deepen collaboration with global partners of the global construction machinery industry.

Amid ongoing global development, SDLG is committed to working hand in hand with all partners, taking firm "New Initiatives" and moving together toward a "New Future" of shared success.

About SLDG:

Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (SDLG) established in 1972, is an international construction equipment manufacturer and service provider. SDLG is dedicated to the development and production of wheel loader, excavator, road machinery and its core components, SDLG products are presenting in more than 130 countries and regions after over 50 years development.

Media Contact

Organization: Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (SDLG)

Contact Person Name: Jin Zhang

Website: https://www.sdlg.com/

Email: jin.zhang@sdlg.com

City: Linyi City

Country: China

SOURCE: Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (SDLG)

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/sdlg-global-dealer-summit-2026-officially-opens-1111882
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Canada One Mining Corp. (TSXV: CONE) (OTC Pink: COMCF) (FSE: AU31) ("Canada One" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an exploration update following the Phase 2 exploration program conducted at its 100% owned Copper Dome Project, ("Copper Dome", "Project" or "Property"), Princeton B.C.

2025 FIELD PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Crews established 53 field stations with full metadata across the property, systematically documenting geological observations to contextualize mineral showings in relation to property-scale and regional geology.

A total of 29 rock samples were collected during the first phase of exploration and have been delivered to the laboratory for analysis.

Copper sulphides, including bornite and chalcopyrite, were observed in several rock samples. Assay results are pending.

Key alteration assemblages observed are indicative of proximity to porphyry centers.

Peter Berdusco, President and CEO of the Company commented: "We are thrilled with the Phase 2 exploration work, which identified numerous samples containing visible copper sulphide minerals. The Friday Creek zone emerged as a standout area of interest, and additional work is planned to further evaluate its mineralization footprint and potential within the broader Copper Dome system. Observing bornite in hand sample is a strong indicator of potential porphyry systems, and the project's proximity to the Copper Mountain Mine only strengthens the geological narrative. The visible copper mineralization and potassic alteration signatures observed in these samples provide Canada One with a solid foundation to advance exploration and refine its 2026 objectives at the Copper Dome project."

Exploration Summary

Crews completed the Phase 2 field program at the Copper Dome Project, with a primary focus on visiting historic MINFILE occurrences and applying modern exploration insight to reassess legacy data and descriptions. All documented MINFILE locations were successfully visited, and 53 field stations were collected with full metadata at each site. A total of 29 rock samples were submitted for analysis at ALS Geochemistry - Kamloops, and the Company expects an approximate four-week turn around on results. Historic workings and related infrastructure were mapped, documented, and georeferenced, with access conditions recorded for each location (See Figure 1).

The Company is encouraged by early field observations, which include chalcopyrite stringers, mineralized breccia cement, and bornite clots and stringers (see Figures 2-4).

Figure 1: Overview map of the Copper Dome project sowing sample and data stations as well as project infrastructure.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The Friday Creek Zone, located on the western portion of the claim block, hosts strong potassic alteration and visible chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization, commonly occurring with little to no pyrite. Alteration across the zone is similarly encouraging, with moderate to strong K-feldspar and biotite alteration commonly observed near the copper sulphides. This alteration and mineralization assemblage is a recognized indicator of prospective porphyry copper systems, suggesting that the outcrop may lie within the system's central potassic zone.

The discovery of in-situ bornite at the Friday Creek zone is extremely encouraging. Bornite is a copper-bearing sulphide mineral (chemical formula Cu5FeS4, containing ~63% copper by mass), and its presence is commonly associated with proximity to porphyry centers. Bornite was observed across an approximate 150 m by 150 m area, highlighting a meaningful footprint of a high-temperature potassic zone and demonstrating strong potential for a porphyry system near surface. At Friday Creek, alteration was mapped over a vertical extent of roughly 100 meters, extending downslope to the valley bottom, where the strongest alteration intensity was recorded.

Figure 2: Rock sample (2025JG0197), collected from the Friday Creek Zone, comprises a diorite intrusion exhibiting K-feldspar-biotite alteration and internal brecciation, hosting semi-massive bornite mineralization with associated stringers.



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Bornite at the Friday Creek Zone occurs in several styles. A diorite unit was observed with moderate intensity K-feldspar alteration surrounding bornite stringers exhibiting an internally brecciated texture. The K-feldspar may represent an alteration envelope around the chaotic bornite vein swarm (See Figure 2).

Figure 3: Rock sample (2025JG0001), collected from the Friday Creek Zone, shows a brecciated pegmatite with hydrothermal breccia infill composed of quartz-biotite-sulphide cement.



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Figure 4: Rock sample (2025PK0003) from the Friday Creek Zone showing moderate k-feldspar and biotite alteration with blebby bornite and chalcopyrite mineralization.

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The company intends to undertake a comprehensive interpretation of the initial field observations, integrating lithological, alteration, and mineralization data to refine the current geological setting.

A follow-up field program is scheduled to commence in Q2 2026, with objectives focused on delineating alteration zonation patterns, sulphide mineral distribution, and the structural controls on mineralization. Detailed petrographic and geochemical analyses will be employed to better constrain the relationship between the observed hydrothermal alteration assemblages and the inferred porphyry center at the Copper Dome Project. These efforts are expected to enhance the company's understanding of the system's geometry and vectoring potential, thereby guiding future drilling and exploration targeting.

All rock samples collected from the fall 2025 fieldwork program are pending and were submitted to ALS Geochemistry - Kamloops to be analysed for gold and platinum group elements (50 g fire assay), and multi-element geochemistry, including elements Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, and Ag (method ME-MS61).

About The Copper Dome Project

Copper Dome is located in the lower Quesnel Trough porphyry belt, one of British Columbia's most prolific mining districts. The Project directly adjoins Hudbay Minerals Inc.'s (TSX: HBM) producing Copper Mountain Mine to the north, which the company reports as having Proven and Probable Reserves of ~367 Mt at 0.25 % Cu, 0.12 g/t Au, and 0.69 g/t Ag (Hudbay Minerals Inc., 2023). Multiple mineralized zones have been identified across the Property, with historical drilling confirming high-grade copper associated with northeast-trending structures similar to those hosting mineralization at Copper Mountain.

The technical and scientific information regarding the adjacent Copper Mountain Mine is sourced from Hudbay Minerals Inc.'s published reports. Mineralization at Copper Mountain should not be considered indicative of the mineralization on the Copper Dome Project.

Reference:

Hudbay Minerals Inc. (2023). NI 43-101 Technical Report - Updated Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Estimate, Copper Mountain Mine, Princeton, British Columbia. Effective date: December 1, 2023. Qualified Person: Olivier Tavchandjian, Ph.D., P.Geo. Available on Sedar+.

The Copper Dome Project benefits from excellent infrastructure, enabling year-round access, cost-efficient exploration, and a stable, low-risk jurisdiction.

Historical Work Completed

Geophysics: 51 km of induced polarization (IP); airborne magnetic and electromagnetic (EM) coverage over ~50% of the Property

Sampling: 2,253 soils and 378 rocks collected

Drilling: 8,900+ m of diamond drilling

Trenching: Over 1 km excavated

With a five-year drill permit in place, the Company is focused on advancing the Project toward drill-ready target definition.

About Canada One

Canada One Mining Corp. is a Canadian junior exploration company focused on copper-the critical metal powering the global energy transition. The Company advances projects from discovery through resource definition with disciplined, data-driven exploration and responsible practices. Its flagship Copper Dome Project, near Princeton, British Columbia, targets a porphyry copper-gold system in a Tier-1 jurisdiction. Canada One aims to deliver sustainable growth and long-term value for shareholders and local communities.

Acknowledgement

Canada One acknowledges that the Copper Dome Project is located within the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Smelqmix People. We recognize and respect their cultural heritage and relationship to the land, honoring their past, present and future.

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ali Wasiliew, P.Geo., a "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Historical Sampling

The sampling was done to the standards of the time and is considered "historical" in nature and is not NI43-101 compliant and cannot be relied upon. The results are listed here to show why the Company is interested in this area. Future work and drilling may not repeat similar results.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

CANADA ONE MINING CORP.

Peter Berdusco

President

Chief Executive Officer

Interim Chief Financial Officer

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operating or financial performance of the Company, 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 press release relate to, among other things: statements relating to the anticipated timing thereof and the intended use of proceeds. Actual future results may differ materially. 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 the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, technical, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the timing, completion and delivery of the referenced assessments and analysis. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company 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 law.

TSX Venture Exchange Disclaimer

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/275866

SOURCE: Canada One Mining Corp.
Bountiful, Utah--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - OneMeta Inc. (OTCQB: ONEI), a leader in AI-driven multilingual communication technologies, today announced the appointment of Paul Jarman, former CEO of NICE CXone; Manoel Amorim, former CEO of Telefonica Brazil; and Bob Erickson, former CTO for Technology Strategy & Enterprise Data at U.S. Bank, as Strategic Advisors. All three have also become shareholders of OneMeta, underscoring their confidence in the company's mission and long-term strategic direction.

Enterprises worldwide are accelerating initiatives to support real-time multilingual customer interactions and global team coordination. OneMeta's Verbum Suite enables organizations to overcome language barriers instantly through AI-powered speech translation, transcription, and communication tools.

"Welcoming Paul Jarman, Manoel Amorim, and Bob Erickson supports our plans to scale responsibly and strengthen how we serve global enterprises with our Verbum Platform. They've each built and led multi-billion-dollar platforms, and their guidance contributes meaningfully to our strategic planning as demand for real-time multilingual communication continues to grow. Their insights elevate our execution, and I look forward to accelerating our global strategy together," said Saul Leal, Chief Executive Officer of OneMeta.

Advisor Biographies

Paul Jarman -

Paul Jarman is the former CEO of NICE CXone, one of the world's largest cloud customer experience platforms. He scaled the business globally through multiple technology integrations and enterprise deployments. Jarman has spent more than two decades guiding SaaS, cloud, and CX innovation across large-scale organizations.

Manoel Amorim -

Manoel Amorim served as CEO of Telefonica Brazil and Executive Chairman of Vivo, Latin America's largest mobile carrier. His executive career also includes leadership roles at AOL Brazil, Globex/Ponto Frio, and Abril Educacao, which he took public. He has served on numerous international boards across telecommunications, finance, and education, including member of the Board that led Mastercard International's initial public offering to the New York Stock Exchange.

Bob Erickson -

Bob Erickson is the former CTO of U.S. Bank for Technology Strategy & Enterprise Data, where he led enterprise architecture, data modernization, and cloud transformation initiatives. His experience spans global-scale financial infrastructure, cybersecurity, and large-platform technology strategy in highly regulated environments.

About OneMeta Inc.

OneMeta is an AI technology company specializing in real-time multilingual understanding. Its VerbumSuite enables instant speech-to-speech translation, live captioning, and multilingual communication across 150+ languages. OneMeta's mission is to make global communication fast, seamless, secure, and universally accessible.

# # #

OneMeta Inc.: We create a more understanding worldTM.

OneMeta, Verbum, and "We create a more understanding world" are each trademarks of OneMeta Inc. All other trademarks, if any, are the property of their respective owners.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275832

SOURCE: OneMeta Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Koulou Gold Corp. ("Koulou" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of drilling at its wholly owned Sakassou and Kouto projects.

Sakassou Project Drill Program

The 10,000-metre drill program at Sakassou, consisting of 5,000 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling and 5,000 metres of diamond drilling, is focused on expanding mineralization along the Bravo West trend and testing several parallel lenses across an additional 2.8 kilometres of strike (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Plan map of Auger results (left) and planned drilling areas with major structures, auger results and historical drilling results (right)

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The 5,000-metre diamond drill program will systematically test approximately 1.2 kilometres of strike length and up to 300 metres vertical depth beneath Bravo West (Figures 1 & 2). Drilling is designed to evaluate the geometry of mineralized shoots associated with measured fold hinges and to follow up on parallel lenses identified through prior drilling and auger results.

The 5,000-metre RC program will extend coverage a further 2.0 kilometres to the northeast, targeting new artisanal workings and mineralized sandstone lenses outlined by recent auger drilling. The program will also test a newly identified 50-metre-wide gold-in-saprolite anomaly south of Echo, representing a high-priority near-surface target (Figure 1).





Figure 2. Bravo West long section and 2025 drill plan. Red arrows show orientation of measured fold hinges tested as potential mineralized shoots

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Kouto Project Maiden Drill Program

The maiden drill program at Kouto is designed to systematically test key geological and structural features within a 10 by 5-kilometre gold-in-soil corridor. Priority targets include a 15-kilometre faulted contact between deep-water sediments and volcano-sedimentary rocks, and a parallel 12 kilometre sheared mafic intrusion, both of which appear to control mineralization across the project (Figure 3).

Phase 1 includes 6,600 metres of tip-to-tail fences across these corridors, guided by detailed airborne magnetics, ground IP surveys, surficial geochemistry, and artisanal exposures. A further 4,400 metres is planned for Phase 2, contingent on positive initial results. Follow-up lines will step out 200 metres on either side of the Phase 1 fences to expand testing of these mineralized trends.

Alex Ruggieri, CEO of Koulou Gold, stated, "This is our most aggressive step-out program at Sakassou, testing more than three times the depth and strike previously drilled. Our aim is to demonstrate scale by expanding Bravo West, evaluating parallel zones, and following up on the new saprolite anomaly at Echo. These results will be critical in defining the potential of this emerging gold discovery."

He added, "At Kouto, we are launching the first systematic drill test of a district-scale target in a highly endowed belt. The structural setting, geophysics, and geochemistry all point to a compelling discovery opportunity, and we're excited to begin unlocking its potential."

Figure 3. Kouto project geological map, soil sampling results, artisanal pits, and planned drilling targets

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Koulou Project Portfolio

Sakassou - Located in central Cote d'Ivoire the 396.9 km Sakassou permit lies within the Bouafle Greenstone Belt, approximately 35 kilometres northwest of Perseus Mining's ("Perseus") Yaoure mine (3.58 Moz Au resources inclusive of 1.44 Moz Au reserves)*. Sakassou hosts multiple targets defined by strong gold-in-soil anomalies, extensive artisanal workings, and drilling, including Koulou's Bravo West discovery where Koulou drilled 2.38 g/t Au over 33 metres (21BWRC-014) in 2021. Bravo remains open at depth and along strike to the northeast.

Kouto - Located in northwestern Cote d'Ivoire the 298.5 km Kouto permit lies within the highly endowed Boundiali-Syama Greenstone Belt, home to major deposits including Perseus' Sissingue mine (0.38 Moz Au resources exclusive of 0.24 Moz Au reserves)*, Resolute Mining's Syama mine (9.96 Moz Au resources inclusive of 4.13 Moz Au reserves)**, Montage Gold's Kone project (6.06 Moz Au resources inclusive of 4.01 Moz Au reserves)***, and Aurum Resources' recently discovered 2.41 Moz Au**** resource at its Boundiali project, contiguous to Kouto. Koulou has made a true grassroots discovery, starting with anomalous stream-sediment results that highlighted several prospective catchments. Follow-up soil sampling then defined a 10 by 5-kilometre gold-in-soil anomaly.

Assuefry - Located in northeastern Cote d'Ivoire the 335.9 km Assuefry permit is located within the same Tarkwaian-equivalent basin, volcanic sequences, and major structural corridor that host Endeavour's Assafou discovery (4.60 Moz Au resources inclusive of 4.12 Moz Au reserves)***** immediately adjacent to the permit boundary. Historical work has outlined a 15 by 3-kilometre gold-in-soil anomaly, representing a large-scale, untested target in a highly fertile geological setting.

Figure 4. Regional geology with significant gold deposits, and Koulou project locations

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*Perseus Mining Limited. (2025). Mineral Resources & Ore Reserves as at 30 June 2025.

**Resolute Mining Limited. (2025). Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource Statement at 31 December 2024.

***Montage Gold Corp. (2025). Kone Project - Reserves & Resources; Mid-Year Exploration Update.

****Aurum Resources Limited. (2025). Boundiali Gold Project, Cote d'Ivoire; ASX Addendum to the 2025 Annual Report - Mineral Resource Estimates.

*****Endeavour Mining plc. (2024). Assafou Project - Positive PFS Results.

Qualified Person

Mr. Arnaud Fontaine, P.Geo. (APGO no. 3570), PhD., consultant to the Company, a "Qualified Person" as defined under National Instrument NI43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

This news release may contain information about adjacent properties on which the Company does not have an interest. The Qualified Person has not verified the information, and it is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Company's properties.

About Koulou Gold Corp.

Koulou Gold Corp. is a private mineral exploration company incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia and headquartered in both Vancouver, Canada and Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. The Company is focused on gold exploration with a portfolio of ten exploration permits and applications, covering a total area of 3,492km in highly prospective regions of Cote d'Ivoire.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Alex Ruggieri, CFA

CEO and Director

Koulou Gold Corp.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. It is important to note that results on adjacent properties are not necessarily indicative of the results on Koulou's properties. Except where required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275810

SOURCE: Koulou Gold Corp.
emnify, a global leader in cloud-native IoT connectivity, is advancing its innovation leadership through participation in ORIGAMI (Optimized Resource Integration and Global Architecture for Mobile Infrastructure for 6G), an EU-funded research project developing the architectural foundations of next-generation mobile networks.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251125070142/en/

emnify Advances 6G Innovation Through EU-Funded ORIGAMI Project

As the industry looks toward the 6G era, ORIGAMI brings together leading European research institutions and technology companies including Telefonica Research, NEC Laboratories Europe, and the University of Wurzburg to design a more intelligent, global, and sustainable communications infrastructure. The project is funded by the European Commission under the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) within the Horizon Europe program.

Shaping the architecture of 6G

The ORIGAMI project aims to overcome the architectural limitations of current 5G systems by developing a Global Service-Based Architecture (GSBA), a Zero-Trust Exposure Layer (ZTL), and a Compute Continuum Layer (CCL). Together, these innovations will define a new blueprint for globally interoperable, secure, and efficient 6G networks -unlocking applications that demand ultra-low latency, massive scalability and seamless integration between terrestrial and satellite infrastructures.

Within the consortium, emnify serves as the use-case provider for global operator scenarios, leveraging its experience in cloud-native IoT connectivity. Through its work, emnify demonstrates how next-generation connectivity platforms can simplify global operations and make IoT communication more transparent, reliable and secure.

"At emnify, we believe that deep collaboration between industry and academia is key to shaping the networks of the future," said Martin Giess, Co-founder and founding CTO at emnify. "By contributing real-world IoT operator use cases to ORIGAMI, we're ensuring that 6G architectures evolve to better support global providers like us and ultimately, empower enterprises worldwide."

Driving innovation from Germany

In September this year, emnify hosted the ORIGAMI consortium meeting in Wurzburg, ahead of the project's mid-term review. During the review, emnify showcased an observability platform for globally distributed latency and availability monitoring of roaming partners, developed within the project. The demonstration highlighted how emnify's technology can enhance visibility and reliability in complex international network environments, a key capability for the success of future 6G systems.

"The insights we gain from ORIGAMI directly inform the evolution of our platform," said Artur Michalczyk, Chief Technology Officer at emnify. "We're not only preparing for the 6G era we're helping define how IoT devices will connect, communicate and stay secure on a global scale."

Expanding research with the University of Wurzburg

Building on the success of ORIGAMI, emnify has also received approval for a new research initiative, NaSA-OMI, funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. Conducted in collaboration with the University of Wurzburg, NaSA-OMI explores Network Intelligence and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), including the integration of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.

The project focuses on applying advanced AI techniques to detect network anomalies, improve security, and enhance reliability-further reinforcing emnify's leadership in intelligent IoT connectivity.

"Collaborations like NaSA-OMI enable us to look beyond current product capabilities and develop the building blocks for the next generation of IoT connectivity," said Prof. Tobias Hofeld, Chair of Communication Networks at the University of Wurzburg. "emnify's practical experience with a broad range of IoT use cases and device types brings invaluable insight to our research."

A commitment to innovation and collaboration

Through ORIGAMI and NaSA-OMI, emnify demonstrates its ongoing commitment to innovation, sustainability and cross-industry collaboration. By combining research and real-world expertise, emnify contributes to shaping a connected future that is more intelligent, accessible and secure.

Acknowledgements

The ORIGAMI project (Grant Agreement No. 101139270) is funded by the European Commission as part of the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) under the Horizon Europe program. The NaSA-OMI project is funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.

For more information about ORIGAMI, visit https://sns-origami.eu.

To learn more about emnify's innovation and research initiatives, visit emnify.com

About emnify

emnify is the world's leading provider of cloud-native cellular connectivity for modern IoT solutions. Its IoT SuperNetwork connects devices in over 190 countries with enterprise-grade security, real-time monitoring, and flexible eSIM profile provisioning -empowering businesses to scale without limitations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251125070142/en/

Contacts:

sara.debevec@emnify.com
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Cain Law announced that founder and managing attorney Monty L. Cain was featured on the Personal Injury Mastermind podcast by Rankings.io, where he discussed the firm's ongoing efforts to strengthen client communication and intake processes.





Cain Law Announces Founder and Managing Attorney Monty L. Cain's Interview on Rankings.io Podcast



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During the Rankings IO podcast, Cain shared how Cain Law has been refining its client intake system to enhance accessibility and response efficiency for individuals seeking representation. "I'm in the customer service business, that just happens to be practicing law," said Cain, who also explained the company's milestone in the interview.

"We've got to put the customers first, and they've always had that particular thought. Things started to snowball because the clients started referring."

Cain Law, widely recognized for its work as Trucking Lawyers in Oklahoma and Tulsa and Car Accident Lawyers in Oklahoma and Tulsa, focuses on cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, and traumatic brain injuries. The firm recently adjusted its intake system to include a dedicated team that manages new client inquiries, bilingual staff, and new data tools designed to monitor service quality and improve client engagement.

"We changed our intake a little over a year ago to where we had a dedicated team, and that's made a significant difference in how we connect with potential clients," Cain said. "It's about being available and responsive when people need help most."

In his interview, Cain also discussed the importance of in-depth consultations and consistent communication throughout the legal process. He emphasized that by asking detailed questions early in a case, attorneys can better identify potential injuries and ensure clients receive appropriate medical care.

Cain highlighted Cain Law's long-standing partnerships with personal injury clinics across Oklahoma, saying those relationships help clients access medical services while supporting continuity of care and better case management.

The discussion on Rankings.io explored how law firms can adapt to client expectations by combining operational structure with personalized service. Cain said this approach not only helps the firm operate more efficiently but also builds long-term trust with clients.

"It's not just about winning cases-it's about ensuring every person who calls us feels heard and supported," Cain said. "That's something we continue to work on improving every day."

The podcast appearance reflects Cain Law's participation in a broader industry conversation about evolving legal operations and the role of technology, communication, and service in client-centered law practice.

The full episode featuring Monty L. Cain is available on the Rankings.io platform:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisdreyerco/videos/this-week-im-excited-to-announce-a-new-episode-with-monty-cain-cain-law-monty-l-/1114647540104931/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chrisdreyerco_personalinjury-lawfirm-personalinjurylawyer-activity-7368689490422317056-T3PF

Apple Podcasts: https://hubs.li/Q03GS0r60

Spotify: https://hubs.li/Q03GS18F0

About Cain Law



Cain Law Injury Attorneys is a personal injury law firm based in Oklahoma City, with additional offices in Edmond and Tulsa. The firm represents clients in cases involving traumatic brain injuries, trucking accidents, car accidents, and product liability. Cain Law is recognized for its contributions to trucking litigation in Oklahoma and for its commitment to client-centered legal representation.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275723

SOURCE: Plentisoft
MUNICH, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Paulaner, one of Germany's most renowned traditional breweries, announced that it will transition its official distribution partnership in Korea from Hitejinro to Heineken Korea effective January 1, 2026. The Paulaner Brewery Group emphasized that the move is part of a broader strategic restructuring of its global distribution framework.

Paulaner has long been one of the strongest German beer brands in the Korean imported beer market. Despite an overall 3% decline in total beer imports last year, Paulaner recorded 2.2% growth, underscoring the brand's continued momentum and strong consumer appeal in Korea. Paulaner expressed deep appreciation for Hitejinro, which has played a key role for many years in building the brand's presence and market foundation in Korea. The Munich-based brewery praised Hitejinro's professionalism, market expertise, and long-term dedication, acknowledging their significant contribution to the brand's development.

"This was not an easy decision for us," said Jorg Biebernick, CEO of Paulaner Brewery. "We achieved a great deal together with Hitejinro. The change is not due to operational issues but is part of a long-term internal strategy. Paulaner Brewery Group has maintained a joint venture with Heineken for nearly 25 years, and this deeply rooted partnership will allow us to further develop Korean market by leveraging our internal set ups the best possible way."

Heineken Korea, the new distribution partner, brings extensive experience in the premium beverage sector and has a strong focus on the sales and marketing of imported beers. Within the framework of the existing joint venture, Paulaner plans to optimize its international distribution structures and enhance synergies to support sustainable growth in the Korean market. "We are proud to become Paulaner's new distribution partner in Korea. With our long-standing joint venture and strong expertise in premium imported beers, we look forward to supporting Paulaner's next phase of growth in the Korean market" said Heineken Korea General Manager Mika Vainio.

Biebernick added that "Korea remains one of our most important international markets," and expressed its commitment to continuing to deliver great value to Korean consumers through the new partnership.

Picture is available at AP

About the Paulaner brewery

'Gut, besser, Paulaner' ('Good, better, Paulaner') - the famous slogan of the Paulaner brewery is more than just an advertising slogan, because it also serves as a guiding principle for every single Paulaner employee. The name Paulaner has been synonymous with supreme quality and Munich beer culture since 1634. The Paulaner master brewers in Munich brew the diverse range of beers associated with a Bavarian brewery, from classics such as wheat beer and 'Helles' to specialities like Salvator and Oktoberfest beer, as well as new beer creations. Paulaner is a well-established family-run Munich business, which now exports to more than 70 countries around the world and has developed into a globally thinking, modern and successful branded company. More information on www.paulaner.de.

Johannes Rieger

Unternehmenskommunikation

Ohlmullerstr. 42

81541 Munchen

Tel.: +49 89 48005-380

Johannes.Rieger@paulaner.de

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Reinforces Eutelsat's role as a trusted partner in Latin America's media ecosystem

Agreement ensures the continued distribution of digital cinema and live content via EUTELSAT 65 West A

Strengthening Eutelsat's leadership in secure, large-scale content delivery for the region's cinema industry

Eutelsat (ISIN: FR0010221234 Euronext Paris London Stock Exchange: ETL) today announced the renewal of its long-standing partnership with Cinecolor Group, one of Latin America's premier media and cinema service providers.

Through this multi-year agreement, Cinecolor Group will continue to leverage the EUTELSAT 65 West A satellite to distribute feature films and live event content to theatres across Latin America. The renewed collaboration secures the continued use of C-band capacity, ensuring reliable, high-quality, and secure content delivery to hundreds of cinemas from Mexico to Brazil.

The partnership between Eutelsat and Cinecolor Group has played a central role in the development of the region's digital cinema distribution network, enabling studios, content owners, and exhibitors to modernize their delivery workflows through efficient, satellite-based solutions.

J. Ignacio Gonzalez-Nunez, RVP Americas Sales Eutelsat's Video Business Unit said, "This renewal with Cinecolor Group/Chile Films reflects a partnership built on reliability, trust, and innovation. Eutelsat continues to support the delivery of high-value cinema and live event content across Latin America, ensuring secure and seamless distribution through our EUTELSAT 65 West A satellite."

David Trejo, Commercial Director, Cinecolor Sat Division, Cinecolor Group said, "At the Cinecolor Group, we are pleased to renew our long-standing partnership with Eutelsat, a company that has consistently demonstrated technological excellence and operational reliability. This renewed agreement underscores our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, dependable, and secure content distribution across Latin America. We continue to rely on satellite as a critical pillar of our operations, as it provides the robustness, scalability, and content-security standards required to ensure that cinemas throughout the region receive timely, protected, and uninterrupted access to premier audiovisual content."

About Eutelsat

Eutelsat is a global leader in satellite communications, delivering connectivity and broadcast services worldwide. Eutelsat was formed through the combination of the Company and OneWeb in 2023, becoming the first fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator with a fleet of 34 Geostationary (GEO) satellites and a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation of more than 600 satellites. Eutelsat addresses the needs of customers in four key verticals of Video, where it distributes around 6,400 television channels, and the high-growth connectivity markets of Mobile Connectivity, Fixed Connectivity, and Government Services. Eutelsat's unique suite of in-orbit assets and ground infrastructure enables it to deliver integrated solutions to meet the needs of global customers. The Company is headquartered in Paris and Eutelsat employs more than 1,600 people across more than 75 countries. Eutelsat is committed to delivering safe, resilient, and environmentally sustainable connectivity to help bridge the digital divide. The Company is listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL) and the London Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL).

Find out more at www.eutelsat.com

DISCLAIMER

The forward-looking statements included herein are for illustrative purposes only and are based on management's views and assumptions as of the date of this document. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks. For illustrative purposes only, such risks include but are not limited to: risks related to the health crisis; operational risks related to satellite failures or impaired satellite performance, or failure to roll out the deployment plan as planned and within the expected timeframe; risks related to the trend in the satellite telecommunications market resulting from increased competition or technological changes affecting the market; risks related to the international dimension of the Group's customers and activities; risks related to the adoption of international rules on frequency coordination and financial risks related, inter alia, to the financial guarantee granted to the Intergovernmental Organization's closed pension fund, and foreign exchange risk. Eutelsat Communications expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any projections, forecasts or estimates contained in this document to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless so required by applicable law. The information contained in this document is not based on historical fact and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts or data mentioned will occur. This information is based on data, assumptions and estimates that the Group considers as reasonable.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251125498619/en/

Contacts:

Media enquiries

Joanna Darlington

Phone: +33 674 521 531

joanna.darlington@eutelsat.net

Anita Baltagi

Phone: +33 643 930 178

anita.baltagi@eutelsat.net

Katie Dowd

Phone: +1 202 271 2209

katie.dowd@eutelsat.net

Investors

Joanna Darlington

Phone: +33 674 521 531

joanna.darlington@eutelsat.net

Hugo Laurens Berge

Phone: +33 670 80 95 58

hugo.laurens-berge@eutelsat.net
The inaugural edition of MWC Doha brings together global leaders to accelerate investment, partnerships, and innovation across AI, 5G, and intelligent infrastructure

DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GSMA MWC25 Doha - held in partnership with Qatar's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) - is bringing together global leaders from government, technology, and industry to explore how the region's accelerating digital transformation can unlock $470 billion in economic value by 2030. The inaugural edition highlights the Gulf's growing leadership in advanced connectivity, offering an important platform for new partnerships, demonstrations, and collaboration across the wider region.

Under the esteemed patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, MWC Doha officially opened with H.E. the Prime Minister formally inaugurating the event, joined by the GSMA's Vivek Badrinath and John Hoffman onstage to welcome delegates to MENA's first-ever MWC.

Across MENA, governments and enterprises are accelerating the shift to intelligent networks and next-generation digital services spanning healthcare, mobility, logistics, financial services, and customer experience. At MWC Doha, expert-led sessions, summit discussions, and a dynamic show floor will bring together regional and global players to spotlight how key technologies - including AI, cloud computing, satellite connectivity, and data driven solutions - are driving economic transformation and reshaping industries.

Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, said: "MWC Doha represents a major moment for MENA and the global connectivity community. Across the region, we're seeing world-class investment in networks, AI and digital services, and this visible ambition is creating new opportunities for societies and economies. At the same time, large parts of the region remain offline, and closing that gap must be a shared priority. The conversations starting here in Doha can guide the next phase of progress and inspire many geographies. I look forward to working with partners across the region to help ensure the benefits of digital transformation reach everyone."

On this occasion, His Excellency Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of the State of Qatar, underscored the importance of the event for the region, stating: "The hosting of MWC25 Doha reaffirms the growing prominence of the Middle East and North Africa within the global telecommunications landscape. Bringing this international event to the region provides a wider platform for direct engagement with industry leaders, policymakers, and digital decision-makers worldwide, while enabling closer alignment with the latest advancements in communication networks and the development of new avenues for collaboration that strengthen the region's readiness for the next phase of connectivity. We value the confidence of our partners at the GSMA in selecting Doha to host the first regional edition of the MWC series."

Findings from flagship GSMA regional reports

Launched today, the GSMA Mobile Economy MENA 2025 Report reveals how growing digital adoption across the Gulf and North Africa is helping to expand access to vital services and unlock new opportunities. Also launched today, the GSMA's report, Accelerating digital industries in the GCC and wider MENA region, shows that Qatar ranks highest worldwide for enterprise use of AI, big data and private 5G. Insights from both reports have found that:

The mobile sector is set to contribute $470 billion to MENA's economy by 2030 , up from $350 billion in 2024.

, up from $350 billion in 2024. 5G adoption is accelerating rapidly across MENA, with 5G expected to rise from 7% of total connections in 2024 to 48% by 2030.

Mobile internet use continues to expand, with users set to rise from 308 million in 2024 to 378 million by 2030 , though progress varies across the region.

, though progress varies across the region. AI, mobile connectivity, and related devices will account for nearly 45% of all digital transformation spend across MENA through 2030.

Enterprise spending on digital transformation will average 9.8% of revenues across MENA between 2025 and 2030.

Supporting the Region's Inclusive Digital Future

While the Gulf continues to set the pace for digital transformation, MWC Doha also supports a shared responsibility to drive more inclusive digital growth across the wider region, with the benefits of progress reaching everyone. Over 340 million people across MENA remain offline despite having access to mobile broadband coverage, a gap that can be narrowed through collaborative investment in affordable devices, relevant digital content, and digital skills.

Through initiatives such as GSMA Mobile for Development, the GSMA is working with governments, donors, and industry partners to advance practical solutions that address these barriers. MWC Doha provides a valuable opportunity to share lessons from successful models, explore new partnerships, and support efforts to ensure the benefits of connectivity reach every community as the region's digital economy continues to take shape.

MWC Doha takes place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center on 25 and 26 November. Livestreamed and playback keynote sessions are available throughout the event on the website, with all press releases and media materials published in the MWC Doha press zone.

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today's biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.

We invite you to find out more at gsma.com

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - SORRENTO RESOURCES LTD. (CSE: SRS) (OTCQB: SRSLF) ("SORRENTO") (the "Company") announces that, further to its news release issued in the morning of November 25, 2025, the Company wishes to clarify that the services provided by Independent Trading Group (ITG), Inc. ("ITG") is for market making services and not media marketing, as originally announced. The market making services by ITG commence November 24, 2025, in consideration of CDN$5,500 per month.

ITG shall utilize commercially reasonable efforts to Enhance market depth and contribute to market liquidity, add stability and efficiency to the market and act as a liaison for the Company. ITG does not currently own any interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities. ITG's address is 33 Yonge Street, Suite 420, Toronto, ON, M5E 1G4 (phone: 416-583-2194, email: info@itg84.com). ITG and its directors and officers are arm's length from the Company.

About Sorrento Resources Ltd.

Sorrento is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral property assets in Canada. Sorrento's objective is to locate and develop economic precious, rare-earth element, gold, and base metal properties of merit in including the Bottom Brook REE Project, Rodgers Cove Gold, and the Harmsworth (VMS) project all located in Newfoundland.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275873

SOURCE: Sorrento Resources Inc.
Muscle Shoals, Alabama--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Price Heating & Air Conditioning is announcing its participation in the 2025 Salvation Army Angel Tree Program by hosting an Angel Tree at its Muscle Shoals office. This initiative provides a centralized location for community members to contribute gifts for local children during the holiday season.

The Angel Tree is now available at the company's office, located at 1102 Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661. Community participants can visit the location, choose an angel tag from the tree, and return unwrapped gifts based on the listed needs. Each tag represents a local child and includes age, gender, and a short wish list, which may include clothing, shoes, toys, or seasonal essentials.

To ensure timely distribution, all gifts must be returned by December 1, 2025. Once collected, gifts will be coordinated through the local Salvation Army for delivery to eligible families across the area.

The Angel Tree Program is a well-established initiative that connects donors with children facing economic hardship during the holiday season. Price Heating & Air Conditioning's role as a host location helps expand the program's reach by offering a convenient and accessible drop-off point for participants across the community.

This seasonal collaboration reflects the company's ongoing engagement with community-based efforts in Muscle Shoals. While best known for ac repair Muscle Shoals and comprehensive HVAC services, the company's involvement in the Angel Tree initiative showcases a commitment to contributing to broader social efforts during high-need times of the year.

The holiday giving initiative further demonstrates how Price Heating & Air Conditioning has grown as a company. Partnering with the Salvation Army represents the HVAC contractor's participation in coordinated charitable programs and its engagement with local nonprofit organizations.

The initiative also provides an opportunity for staff and customers to participate in seasonal giving. Employees have taken part in organizing and contributing to the Angel Tree program, further supporting the company's role in facilitating local outreach.

Price Heating & Air Conditioning has indicated that it will continue to support similar programs in the future, including partnerships with nonprofit groups and efforts that assist families during the holiday season.

About Price Heating & Air Conditioning:

Price Heating & Air Conditioning is a locally owned HVAC contractor based in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The company provides residential heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services, including system maintenance, repairs, and installations. Serving Muscle Shoals and surrounding communities, the company supports both routine and emergency service needs.

Media Contact





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SOURCE: GetFeatured
EBC Financial Group announces regulatory approval of its South African subsidiary, positioning the firm for future market access in South Africa's growing financial services sector.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Dec. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EBC Financial Group SA (Pty) Ltd has received approval from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority ("FSCA") as an Authorised Financial Service Provider, marking a strategic milestone in the firm's African expansion plans. This regulatory approval represents an essential first step as EBC Financial Group ("EBC") works toward establishing a presence in South Africa's rapidly growing fintech ecosystem.

David Barrett, CEO of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd., said, "The FSCA's approval represents an important milestone in our global expansion. This complements our existing licences, such as those from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd, and other entities within our group regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius (FSC). This acquisition positions us to serve one of the continent's most active trading markets while upholding the regulatory standards and transparency that define our operations worldwide."

Strategic Entry into South Africa's Financial Market

South Africa represents a compelling growth opportunity, with a population of 63 million and 76% internet penetration, creating a substantial digitally connected market. The country's fintech sector is projected to more than double from USD7.08 billion in 2023 to USD14.86 billion by 2033, reflecting the rapid digital transformation of financial services across the region. Within this expanding ecosystem, EBC observes that South Africa's trading community demonstrates strong participation across commodities, indices, and emerging digital assets, creating demand for reliable, regulated market access.

"South Africa's traders are sophisticated and globally minded, with three-quarters of the population connected online," Barrett continued. "This digital maturity, combined with the region's appetite for diversified trading opportunities, aligns closely with our offering. As we complete the integration process, we look forward to bringing our execution capabilities and comprehensive multi-asset market access to South African traders who seek reliable and transparent trading solutions."

Education and Empowerment: Core to the EBC Philosophy

Beyond market access, EBC continues to champion trader education as a cornerstone of responsible market participation. Over the past quarter, EBC has hosted more than 1,000 multilingual webinars. Its educational initiatives also include the Pulse 360 podcast series on Spotify, market insights, and trader education on EBC Trading Academy. EBC also collaborates with the Department of Economics at the University of Oxford to organise the 'What Economists Really Do' series. Its recent webinar, titled 'Think Like an Economist: Financial Literacy and Economic Understanding in an Age of Complexity' was held on 11 November 2025. EBC's digital-first educational initiatives are particularly well-suited to empower traders with the necessary facts, sound risk management practices, and financial literacy.

"Education and informed decision-making are fundamental to long-term trading success," Barrett noted. "Through our educational programmes, we aim to equip traders at all levels with the knowledge to navigate markets effectively, manage risk prudently, and adapt to evolving market conditions."

Guided by a Clear Mission

Beyond the regulatory milestone, this acquisition positions South African traders to access EBC's award-winning ecosystem that combines technological excellence with educational depth. EBC's infrastructure delivers execution speeds as low as 20ms alongside smart liquidity routing and expanded multilingual support. Proprietary tools, including the Trading Black Box and Private Room, enhance trader control over pricing and execution, supporting the platform's commitment to transparency and performance. This comprehensive approach has earned external validation through 3-year recognition from World Finance - including Most Trusted Broker and Best Trading Platform awards in 2025 - as well as the Best CFD Provider award at the 2025 Online Money Awards.

"This acquisition reflects our commitment to providing both technological excellence and educational support," Barrett added. "As we establish our presence in South Africa, we're bringing not just award-winning infrastructure, but a comprehensive approach to trading that prioritises transparency, execution quality, and continuous innovation to help traders rule the markets. Our commitment is to serve South African traders with the same standards that have earned us recognition globally."

For more information, visit: https://www.ebc.com/.

Disclaimer: This material is for information only and does not constitute a recommendation or advice from EBC Financial Group and all its entities ("EBC"). Trading Forex and Contracts for Difference (CFDs) on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Losses can exceed your deposits. Before trading, you should carefully consider your trading objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and consult an independent financial advisor if necessary. Statistics or past investment performance are not a guarantee of future performance. EBC is not liable for any damages arising from reliance on this information.

About EBC Financial Group

Founded in London, EBC Financial Group (EBC) is a global brand known for its expertise in financial brokerage and asset management. Through its regulated entities operating across major financial jurisdictions-including the UK, Australia, the Cayman Islands, Mauritius, and others-EBC enables retail, professional, and institutional investors to access global markets and trading opportunities, including currencies, commodities, CFDs and more.



Trusted by investors in over 100 countries and honoured with global awards including multiple year recognition from World Finance, EBC is widely regarded as one of the world's best brokers with titles including Best Trading Platform and Most Trusted Broker. With its strong regulatory standing and commitment to transparency, EBC has also been consistently ranked among the top brokers-trusted for its ability to deliver secure, innovative, and client-first trading solutions across competitive international markets.



EBC's subsidiaries are licensed and regulated within their respective jurisdictions. EBC Financial Group (UK) Limited is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited is regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA); EBC Financial Group (Australia) Pty Ltd, and EBC Asset Management Pty Ltd are regulated by Australia's Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); EBC Financial (MU) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission Mauritius (FSC).



At the core of EBC are a team of industry veterans with over 40 years of experience in major financial institutions. Having navigated key economic cycles from the Plaza Accord and 2015 Swiss franc crisis to the market upheavals of the COVID-19 pandemic. We foster a culture where integrity, respect, and client asset security are paramount, ensuring that every investor relationship is handled with the utmost seriousness it deserves.



EBC is a proud official foreign exchange partner of FC Barcelona and continues to drive impactful partnerships to empower communities - namely through the UN Foundation's United to Beat Malaria initiative, Oxford University's Department of Economics, and a diverse range of partners to champion initiatives in global health, economics, education, and sustainability.



https://www.ebc.com/

Media Contact:

Susindhraseghar Chandrasekar

Global Public Relations Executive

susindhra.c@ebc.com



Aldric Tinker

Global PR Lead

aldric.tinker@ebc.com

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Pediatric Vascular Access Market , valued at US$511.3 million in 2023, stood at US$543.0 million in 2024 and is projected to advance at a resilient CAGR of 7.4% from 2023 to 2030, culminating in a forecasted valuation of US$833. million by the end of the period. The major factors driving the market growth of the pediatric vascular access market include the increasing prevalence of preterm births, advancement in catheter materials in terms of safety and comfort, and growing NICU admissions. Preterm births are rising, which are linked to things like maternal health struggles, environmental stress, and better fertility tech. This surge means that more babies require delicate vascular tools designed specifically for their tiny bodies. Consequently, advancements in catheter materials are reducing risks such as tissue damage, enabling hospitals to adopt these tools faster.

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By type, the Pediatric Vascular Access market is segmented into catheters, implantable ports, port needles, catheter securement and stabilization, catheter caps & closures, vascular closure devices, IV connectors, syringes and needles, infusion pumps, IV sets & accessories, intraosseous infusion devices, anesthesia injection devices, guidance devices, and others. In 2024, the guidance devices segment accounted for the second-largest market share of the Pediatric Vascular Access market. Growth in this market segment can be attributed to the critical role in ensuring precise and safe vascular access for high-risk newborns. As neonatal care becomes increasingly reliant on precision medicine, guidance devices will remain a cornerstone of vascular interventions, solidifying their position as a key driver of innovation and growth in this specialized market.

By application, the pediatric vascular access market is divided into four segments based on application: drug administration, fluid and nutrition administration, blood transfusion, and diagnostics & testing.

The fluid and nutrition administration segment is expected to grow at the second-highest CAGR during the forecast period. This expansion is due to the escalating need for specialized vascular solutions to deliver essential fluids, electrolytes, and parenteral nutrition to high-risk neonates, particularly preterm infants. As the global prevalence of prematurity rises, accounting for approximately 15 million births annually, the demand for advanced vascular devices tailored to fragile neonatal vasculature continues to surge.

By geography, the pediatric vascular access market is segmented into five major regional segments, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America accounted for the largest market share in the pediatric vascular access market in 2024. The confluence of advanced healthcare infrastructure, clinical demand, and regulatory frameworks. The region's leadership stems from its high prevalence of preterm births, which drives significant demand for specialized vascular devices such as umbilical catheters, infusion pumps, and real-time monitoring systems. Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in North America are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that rely heavily on these devices to manage complex conditions such as respiratory distress syndrome, congenital anomalies, and sepsis. Regulatory support, including the FDA's Pediatric Medical Device Safety and Improvement Act, accelerates approvals for neonate-specific innovations, while comprehensive insurance coverage and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements ensure widespread adoption.

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Some of the prominent players operating in the market include Becton Dickinson and Company (US), Teleflex Incorporated (US), ICU Medical, Inc. (US), B. Braun SE (Germany), AngioDynamics, Inc. (US), Terumo Corporation (Japan), Nipro Medical Corporation (Japan), and Medtronic Plc (Ireland), among others.

BD

BD is a global leader in medical technology, operating in over 50 countries with core business segments in diagnostics, medication delivery, and vascular access solutions. Its product portfolio includes syringes, infusion systems, and catheters, serving hospitals, clinics, and research institutions worldwide. BD maintains manufacturing facilities in the US, Ireland, and Brazil.

Teleflex Incorporated

Teleflex Incorporated is a multinational medical device company specializing in vascular access, critical care, and surgical tools, with well-known brands such as Arrow and LMA. Operating globally, it serves hospitals and clinics through a network of manufacturing sites, though exact locations are unspecified in the provided sources.

For more information, Inquire Now!

Related Reports:

Peripheral Vascular Devices Market

Vascular Access Devices Market

Infusion Pump Market

Molecular Diagnostics Market

In Vitro Diagnostics Market

Get access to the latest updates on Pediatric Vascular Access Companies and Pediatric Vascular Access Market Size

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The Reports Focus on the Automotive, Aviation, Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical and Distribution Warehousing industries

BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / "I am excited about this year's BizCosts Benchmark Reports," says Boyd Co. Principal John Boyd, Jr. "They cover industries undergoing transformation amid new trade policies, changing regulatory landscapes, AI and robotics and the heightened consumer focus on affordability. " The five industries are:

Aviation: Historic advancements in supersonic travel, eVTOL and aerospace developments are shaping the sector. Dubai is a new benchmark city for 2026, hosting planned eVTOL air taxi services by Joby Aviation. Other U.S. expansions of eVTOL by Joby and Wisk Aero, a subsidiary of Boyd Co. client Boeing, include New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Houston.

Pharmaceuticals: Growth in biologics, gene therapies and cell-based treatments is driving operational efficiency. Drug manufacturers are targeting locations with favorable operating costs and access to talent amid growing pressures from government, the healthcare industry and consumers to lower drug costs.

Food & Beverage: Companies are responding to health-focused market forces and federal regulations, such as the FDA's Food Traceability Final Rule (FSMA 204) and new MAHA mandates on chemical use and transparency. Shifting supply chains and numerous state-specific rules are also creating new cost pressures.

Distribution Warehousing: Cost pressures from zoning delays, permitting and tariffs are influencing site decisions. Automation, Foreign Trade Zone designation and competition from data centers for sites and energy are also growing site selection factors.

Automotive: The industry continues transitioning toward hybrids and advanced combustion engines. New America First trade policies and access to affordable and dependable energy are also influencing site selection decisions.

The Changing Landscape of Corporate Site Selection

"The role of the corporate site selection consultant has changed dramatically over the past five decades since our firm was founded," says John Boyd, Jr. More companies are conducting site selection in-house leveraging AI, past relocation experience and specialists in engineering, real estate and legal and utilizing web-based research tools like BizCosts.com. Sophisticated economic development organizations are also playing a larger role, particularly during early-stage candidate city selection.

The BizCosts Benchmark Reports are available for download purchase here: https://bizcosts.com/benchmark-reports/

About BizCosts/About The Boyd Co.

BizCosts is the proprietary data bank of The Boyd Company, Inc., a corporate site consultancy founded in Princeton, NJ, and now based in Boca Raton, FL. BizCosts Reports provide site-seeking companies and real estate developers with industry and city-scaled comparative operating cost data. They also provide venture capitalists, hedge fund managers and Wall Street analysts with geographic cost differentials to assist in their benchmarking of a company's performance and financial metrics.

BizCosts is recognized as a trusted benchmark by corporations worldwide for business cost and business climate data. Since 1975, The Boyd Co. has guided billions of dollars in corporate investment and job creation, advising numerous Fortune 500 companies.

Contact: The Boyd Company - contact@theboydcompany.com

SOURCE: The Boyd Company, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/the-boyd-company-releases-new-2026-bizcosts.com-reports-for-corp-1106122
MELBOURNE, Fla., Nov. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN -- Branded Legacy, Inc. (OTC:BLEG), a leader in innovative addiction treatment and harm reduction solutions, today announced that its newly acquired subsidiary, Pau Hana, posted strong third quarter revenues of just over one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000.00). Branded Legacy intends to aggressively scale this division throughout 2026 and beyond through a targeted roll-up strategy of additional high-performing locations. Each future acquisition will follow the Pau Hana blueprint: integrating established, cash-flow-positive kava bars into the portfolio to immediately layer on new streams of daily retail revenue while leveraging centralized sourcing, branding, and operational efficiencies to boost margins. This repeatable acquisition model is designed to drive exponential, compounding revenue growth, positioning Branded Legacy as a dominant consolidator in the multi-billion-dollar sober-social and functional beverage movement.

Branded Legacy, Inc. has strategically diversified its portfolio with the strategic acquisition of Pau Hana, marking its bold entry into the fast-growing kava and wellness lounge sector. This milestone acquisition instantly unlocked daily, recurring revenue streams from Pau Hana's thriving retail operation in West Melbourne, Florida, a location that has consistently generated strong cash flow since its 2023 launch through premium kava sales, specialty mocktails, events, and merchandise. Unlike one-time product sales, Pau Hana delivers predictable, high-margin daily income from foot traffic, repeat clientele, and a loyal membership base, providing Branded Legacy with a stable new revenue pillar that significantly enhances overall financial performance and shareholder value.

As Pau Hana looks ahead to 2026, the team is channeling its explosive growth since opening in West Melbourne, Florida, in January 2023 into a bold expansion strategy designed to bring the island-inspired, alcohol-free relaxation revolution to new horizons. With a meticulously planned roadmap that includes opening three to five new locations across high-potential markets in Florida, targeting vibrant communities in and around Central Florida. The brand aims to scale its footprint by 150% within the year, capitalizing on the surging demand for wellness-focused social spaces. This organic growth will feature flagship venues that blend traditional kava rituals with modern amenities like expanded event programming and pet-friendly lounges, all while maintaining the core commitment to noble kava varieties that deliver anxiety-reducing calm and euphoric vibes without the regrets of traditional nightlife.

Branded Legacy intends to aggressively scale its kava bar division throughout 2026 and beyond through a targeted roll-up strategy of additional high-performing locations. Each future acquisition will follow the Pau Hana blueprint: integrating established, cash-flow-positive kava bars into the portfolio to immediately layer on new streams of daily retail revenue while leveraging centralized sourcing, branding, and operational efficiencies to boost margins. This repeatable acquisition model is designed to drive exponential, compounding revenue growth, positioning Branded Legacy as a dominant consolidator in the multi-billion-dollar sober-social and functional beverage movement.

Branded Legacy recognized the benefits of Kava and how Kava's appeal lies largely in its well-documented calming and mood-enhancing effects, which come primarily from active compounds called kavalactones. In recent years, kava bars have rapidly emerged as a popular social destination across the United States and beyond, evolving from a traditional Pacific Island ritual into a modern wellness and nightlife alternative. Cities like South Florida, Southern California, Colorado, and North Carolina now host dozens of dedicated kava bars. Unlike traditional bars, kava venues promote a relaxed, alcohol-free environment where patrons gather to drink "shells" of the earthy, tongue-numbing beverage while playing games, listening to live music, or simply unwinding. The trend has been fueled by growing interest in natural alternatives to alcohol, especially among younger adults seeking social spaces that don't revolve around drinking or late-night partying.

About Pau Hana.

Nestled at the vibrant intersection of U.S. Highway 192 and Wickham Road in West Melbourne, Florida, Pau Hana Kava Bar opened its doors in January 2023 as a welcoming haven for those seeking a mindful escape from the everyday hustle. Drawing inspiration from the Hawaiian phrase "Pau Hana," which celebrates the sweet relief of the workday's end, this pet-friendly spot embodies the spirit of community and relaxation in a sophisticated, alcohol-free environment. Founded with a passion for natural wellness, Pau Hana has quickly become a local favorite, offering a refreshing alternative to traditional bars where patrons can unwind without the haze of hangovers or regrets. Our commitment to quality shines through in every carefully crafted beverage, fostering connections among friends, families, and newcomers alike in a space designed for genuine, feel-good vibes. Please visit: https://pauhanakava.com/

Branded Legacy recently announced that it's subsidiary BioLegacy Evaluative Group Inc., has initiated engineering and development of a unitary device mold for its proprietary air-driven intranasal drug delivery platform. This milestone marks a significant step toward scalable production of its groundbreaking single-use device, designed to deliver rapid, consistent, and reliable therapeutics, including its flagship inhaled naloxone program.

About BioLegacy Evaluative Group, Inc.

BioLegacy Evaluative Group Inc. is a life sciences company dedicated to developing innovative therapies and devices addressing urgent global health challenges. With strategic partnerships at McMaster University and Stanford University, and a newly acquired GMP-compliant manufacturing facility, BioLegacy is positioned to deliver scalable, cost-effective solutions in areas of high unmet need.

About Pau Hana

Florida, Pau Hana Kava Bar opened its doors in January 2023 as a welcoming haven for those seeking a mindful escape from the everyday hustle. Drawing inspiration from the Hawaiian phrase "Pau Hana," which celebrates the sweet relief of the workday's end, this pet-friendly spot embodies the spirit of community and relaxation in a sophisticated, alcohol-free environment.

About Branded Legacy, Inc.

Branded Legacy, Inc. (OTC: BLEG ) is a forward-thinking holdings company dedicated to pioneering solutions in addiction treatment and harm reduction. Through its subsidiary, BioLegacy Evaluative Group, and strategic collaborations with leading institutions like McMaster University and Stanford University, the company drives transformative research and innovation. With a state-of-the-art GMP manufacturing facility in Vancouver, Branded Legacy leverages advanced production capabilities to deliver cutting-edge products, positioning itself as a leader in addressing critical public health challenges. For more information, visit www.brandedlegacy.com -

Investor Relations

Branded Legacy, Inc.

Email: info@brandedlegacy.com

Phone: 877-250-9077

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, including projections regarding market growth, revenue potential, and development timelines, are based on current expectations and beliefs and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Branded Legacy undertakes no obligation to update these statements except as required by law.
Dassault Aviation and cortAIx sign a strategic partnership for a sovereign AI serving the air combat of the future

(Meudon - Saint Cloud, 25/11/2025) - Dassault Aviation and Thales, through cortAIx, its artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator, have entered into a strategic partnership for the development of controlled and supervised AI for defence aeronautics. This partnership was signed on 18 November by Eric Trappier, Chairman & CEO of Dassault Aviation, and Patrice Caine, Chairman & CEO of Thales. The announcement was made on Tuesday 25 November at the Grand Palais in Paris, during the International Adopt AI Summit organised under the patronage of the French President.

Dassault Aviation, an architect of collaborative air combat systems, and cortAIx, Thales' trusted AI accelerator, are teaming up to develop sovereign AI solutions. These cover the functions for manned and unmanned aircraft, for observation, situation analysis, decision-making, planning and control during military operations.

"This partnership is reflected in research and innovation programmes dedicated to the collaborative air combat of the future, with a view to incorporating AI into aeronautical defence systems. It is the culmination of strategic discussions launched by Dassault Aviation and Thales' AI accelerator, cortAIx, and illustrates our shared commitment to trusted, sovereign and controlled artificial intelligence for the armed forces," says Pascale Lohat, Chief Technical Officer at Dassault Aviation.

Dassault Aviation and cortAIx are developing a lasting cooperation with a high-level, global ecosystem. Their work is carried out in accordance with national and European ethical principles and regulations (AI Act).

"cortAIx will bring to this strategic partnership with Dassault Aviation the best of Thales' technological heritage, enriched by decades of military experience, combined with the agility and dynamics of a powerful innovation accelerator. Present in France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore and soon in the United Arab Emirates, cortAIx relies on recognised technological partners to transform AI advances into concrete levers of sovereignty and efficiency," says Mickael Brossard, Vice-President of cortAIx Factory, Thales.

This partnership was presented on 25 November to the guests of the Adopt AI event, via a large-scale illustration of the ambitions of the research and innovation programmes and initiatives currently supported by the European Defence Fund. Dassault Aviation and Thales, through cortAIx, presented their strategy for a controlled, supervised, sovereign, secure and trustworthy AI in the service of humanity, in front of an audience of representatives from the main French and European institutional, academic and economic bodies participating in the event.

* * *

ABOUT DASSAULT AVIATION

With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, production, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets, military drones and space systems. In 2024, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of 6.2 billion. The company has 14,600 employees.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Corporate communications

Stephane Fort +33

Mathieu Durand +33

HD Photos: mediaprophoto.dassault-aviation.com

HD Videos: mediaprovideo.dassault-aviation.com

ABOUT THALES

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies in advanced for the Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group invests more than 4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.

Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of 20.6 billion.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Media relations, Thales

Marion Bonnet +33

Recent images of Thales and its activities in the fields of Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital are available in the Thales Media Library . For any specific request, please contact the Media Relations team.

Visit the Thales website: Thales Group

Attachment
Explore how factory leaders are driving real sustainability progress through data, innovation, and collaboration in Lee Green's latest blog.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Cascale

Our industry often leads with brand leadership, but the real transformation is happening where few cameras point: the factory floor.

While regulations like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) push companies toward accountability and disclosure, the real test is how those mandates ripple through global supply chains, and how factories respond.

Across sourcing regions like China, and APAC more broadly, a quiet revolution is taking place. In a series of Cascale country reports - spanning Bangladesh, Vietnam, and most recently China - we examined the role of factories in ushering in a greener economy. Factories are investing in renewables, adopting circular design principles, and harnessing digital tools to optimize energy and resource use. These are not incremental changes, they're innovative shifts in mindset. Factories, and the people that empower them, are starting to see sustainability not as a compliance cost, but as a competitive advantage.

Factories, a Data-Rich Story Engine

Factory leaders are proving that innovation and impact can coexist at the very heart of production. In our travelogues among other methods, we've documented global real-life examples of this innovation, visiting manufacturers such as Artistic Milliners and Diamond Fabrics (part of the Sapphire Group) - both respective leaders in their field.

This is just scratching the surface.

After more than two decades in communications, one truth stands out: brands cannot lead alone. Systems, standards, and shared metrics matter more than slogans. The real power lies in collective frameworks (the very essence of the Higg Index) that enable transparency, comparability, and trust. They give manufacturers and brands a common language for progress, and a way to prove that progress is real.

And this is where storytelling matters. Because the data tells us what's changing, but the story tells us why it matters. Translating measurement into meaning is how we move audiences, shift perception, and inspire action. The challenge for communicators today isn't just to celebrate impact, but to frame it in a way that's credible, grounded, and human. And in the crosshairs of AI, this couldn't be more important.

A Collective Role to Play

At Cascale, we're working to bridge that gap, and this recognition of the manufacturer's role is the foundation for the upcoming Cascale Forum: Colombo, an event built on collaboration and leadership in driving sustainability progress: connecting measurement with meaning, ensuring that data becomes a catalyst for transformation, not just a line in a report. Because when manufacturers lead and brands listen, the industry moves faster, further, and with more integrity.

So the next time someone asks where the future of sustainability lies, don't just point to the latest brand campaign. Point to the place where ambition meets action - the factory floor. If you are a brand marketer or sustainability practitioner, it's your responsibility to tell the whole story.

And if you are a manufacturer looking to craft genuine narratives that go beyond the green hype, we invite you to share your challenges openly and elevate your successes (by way of case studies or interviews on Source of Good). In every convening point, we will continue to ensure your voice is central to the conversation.

Have a story to share? Reach out.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cascale on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cascale

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cascale

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Cascale

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/what-if-the-real-leverage-point-for-sustainability-isnt-the-bran-1111978
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Robert Bartlett's is a story of incredible perseverance, proving that even when you think all hope is lost, strength and purpose can rise from the darkest moments.

Robert Bartlett pictured during his active-duty service and in his continued mission as a CACI employee.

Bartlett's family has served this country since its birth at Valley Forge. Deeply committed to the same spirit of service, he chose to join the Army through its Delayed Entry Program after the start of the War on Terror.

"At 30 years old, I enlisted in the Army to become a noncommissioned officer," he said. "Supporting my fellow soldiers was deeply fulfilling, but the greatest privilege was contributing to a mission larger than myself in defense of our nation."

Bartlett served in the Army as a cavalry scout sniper and deployed to Iraq soon after joining. There, he faced hardship and tragedy that would profoundly influence the path ahead.

"In 2005, an explosively formed penetrator bomb left me in critical condition," he said. "In the years that followed, I faced death three times - and was given just as many chances to keep living."

After four and a half years of surgery and treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bartlett medically retired as a staff sergeant in 2009. Through dedicated care and unwavering determination, he achieved a recovery few thought possible.

Though the road to recovery was long and painful, it placed him among people and experiences that would shape his future in ways he couldn't yet see. Those same connections at Walter Reed would eventually guide him to a career with CACI.

"While at Walter Reed, I made friends with a few leaders from CACI through a fly-fishing program," he said. "In 2014, they offered me a job with the company where I was given the opportunity to support my fellow servicemembers."

Today, Bartlett continues his mission with CACI as a talent acquisition veteran engagement specialist, educating and advocating for active military members, veterans, and their spouses to align their skills today with their ambitions for tomorrow.

"At CACI, I work with military-affiliated individuals to help them better understand the federal contracting landscape and ensure their resumes get the attention they deserve," he said. "With resources like these, it's no surprise that more than a third of our workforce represents the military community."

Bartlett works with a passionate team of talent acquisition professionals, and together they drive the company's military branding efforts, manage related awards and internal metrics, and represent the company at career fairs to attract top talent.

CACI has worked hard to foster an accessible, approachable culture where every team member feels supported. Bartlett embodies those same principles through his dedication to helping fellow veterans find new purpose after service.

"Integrity is about doing the right thing for those who once did the same for us," he said. "When we help those who risked their lives for our country, we give them a reason to keep moving forward. Sometimes, a new opportunity can change - or even save - a life."

CACI is committed to supporting members of the military community for the invaluable experience and perspective they bring to advancing national security. Continue your mission with CACI.

About CACI

CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI) is a national security company with 25,000 talented employees who are Ever Vigilant in expanding the limits of national security. We ensure our customers' success by delivering differentiated technology and distinctive expertise to accelerate innovation, drive speed and efficiency, and rapidly anticipate and eliminate threats. Our culture drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World's Most Admired Company. We are members of the Fortune 500, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information, visit us at caci.com.

# # #

Corporate Communications and Media:

Lauren Presti

Executive Director, Media Relations and Digital Communications

(703) 434-5037, lauren.presti@caci.com

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CACI on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CACI

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/caci

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CACI

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/veteran-employee-profile-spotlighting-robert-bartletts-journey-fr-1111961
Cafe Boulud at Maison BARNES retains its Michelin Star for a second consecutive year and is reaffirmed by La Liste among the 1,000 Best Restaurants in the World.

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Maison BARNES is honored to announce that Cafe Boulud at Maison BARNES has been awarded a prestigious Michelin Star by the Michelin Guide for the second consecutive year. This remarkable achievement not only celebrates culinary excellence but also cements Maison BARNES's unwavering commitment to the global "Art de Vivre" philosophy.

MAISON BARNES



This continued recognition by the Michelin Guide underscores the exceptional talent and dedication of our culinary and service teams. Maison BARNES extends its deepest gratitude to Chef Daniel Boulud for his visionary guidance, Executive Chef Romain Paumier, and every member of the kitchen and dining room staff whose combined expertise consistently shapes memorable experiences.

"Retaining our Michelin Star for the second consecutive year at Cafe Boulud within Maison BARNES is an immense honor" states Thibault de Saint Vincent, President of BARNES International. "It reflects not only the excellence of Chef Daniel Boulud and his team, but also the deeper ambition of Maison BARNES: to celebrate the Art de Vivre as a living, breathing experience. Here, we welcome our guests as we would in a family home - where gastronomy, culture, and hospitality meet to create moments that are both refined and profoundly human. This distinction confirms our belief that Maison BARNES is more than a destination: it is a place of beauty, generosity, and shared emotion".

In addition to its Michelin distinction, Maison BARNES and Cafe Boulud are once again honored by La Liste, the global reference for gastronomy. After receiving La Liste's "Best New Opening of the Year" last year, Cafe Boulud at Maison BARNES is reaffirmed among the "1,000 Best Restaurants in the World," underscoring our dedication to culinary artistry and the Art de Vivre.

Maison BARNES stands as an embassy of the Art de Vivre-a venue devoted to excellence, craftsmanship, and creativity. Bringing together leading French and international brands, it extends beyond haute cuisine to embrace the Art de la Table, architecture, fashion, design, fine arts, and viticulture. Every detail, from interior design to curated events, is crafted to offer an immersive hospitality experience.

Opened in 2024 on Park Avenue in New York, Maison BARNES is a pioneering extension of the BARNES universe into high-end hospitality. It offers a refined space where clients enjoy impeccable service, discover new passions, and join an exclusive community of connoisseurs.

These dual accolades from the Michelin Guide and La Liste reinforce Maison BARNES's promise to deliver the highest standards of gastronomy and hospitality, and its role as a global beacon for the celebration of the Art de Vivre.

About Maison BARNES: Maison BARNES, a distinctive extension of the BARNES brand, is an international ambassador of Art de Vivre, offering an exclusive "home away from home" for an international clientele. Bringing together hospitality, refined gastronomy, art, design, and cultural experiences, Maison BARNES curates an environment of excellence, craftsmanship, and creativity where every interaction elevates the art of living.

About BARNES: Founded in 1995, BARNES is a leading global luxury real estate company and a worldwide ambassador of the Art de Vivre. With over 1,700 collaborators across more than 100 destinations, BARNES offers services beyond real estate, including art consulting, private aviation, yachting, wine properties, and bespoke concierge services. Driven by a passion for excellence, BARNES delivers unique experiences and cultivates a community that cherishes the finest aspects of culture and lifestyle.

SOURCE: MAISON BARNES

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/food-and-beverage-products/maison-barnes-elevates-the-art-of-living-as-caf%c3%a9-boulud-earns-michelin-a-1111975
Award Underscores the Company's Leadership in Online Tire Retail and Customer Satisfaction

EL SEGUNDO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / The entire Tires Easy team is proud to announce that it has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Best Online Shops for 2026. This award highlights Tires Easy's trusted and convenient online tire-buying experience backed by top brands, competitive pricing and local installation options.

Now in its seventh year, Newsweek's America's Best Online Shops rankings identify leading e-commerce sites across industries through an in-depth evaluation of eight key dimensions (Traffic Growth, Likelihood of Purchase, Payment & Delivery, Technical Details, Service & Communication, Trust & Security and Structure & Usability). Tires Easy earned its place among the top e-commerce performers in the automotive sector by demonstrating solid growth and customer satisfaction.

"For years, we've been working toward making the online tire buying process as effortless and trustworthy as possible," said Brock Bowman, senior vice president of business development at Tires Easy. "From expanding our partnerships with national installers to improving site experience and fulfillment speed, everything we do is focused on helping customers feel confident every step of the way."

Since its founding in 2004, Tires Easy has sold more than 7 million tires nationwide and earned over 30,000 five-star reviews. The company offers more than 200 tire brands, giving customers access to a wide selection that includes premium, mid-tier and value options. Customers can choose to have tires shipped directly to their home or to one of Tires Easy's growing network of installer partners, including Pep Boys, Monro and TireChoice.

According to Newsweek's award site, "This year's ranking recognizes 500 leading online shops across 25 categories, evaluated through a rigorous multistep process based on 46 objective and subjective criteria. The evaluation combined site performance metrics encompassing trust and security, usability, delivery, payment, technical details and traffic growth with consumer input from an online panel survey of over 3,000 American shoppers. These shoppers assessed subjective factors such as homepage clarity, communication and overall likelihood of purchase, with dimensions weighted by what respondents indicated mattered most to them."

Newsweek's recognition follows a period of strong growth and innovation, including new digital integrations and national partnerships that make online tire shopping even more convenient. Bowman noted that the company's focus on customer trust and continuous improvement reflects broader trends in the $60 billion U.S. tire replacement market, where convenience, digital access and transparency are essential for consumers.

"Most drivers don't realize they can buy tires online, even though they're already used to shop for everything from groceries to cars, whether from the local grocery app or sites like Carvana and CarMax," Bowman said. "When people discover how easy it is, they love that they can compare brands, prices and reviews all in one place. Newsweek's recognition shows that our focus on combining smart technology with trusted brands and great local service really connects with customers. We're proud to make tire buying simpler, more transparent and a little more human."

About Tires Easy

Since 2004, Tires Easy has simplified tire shopping for drivers across the continental U.S. With over 7 million tires sold, 30,000+ five-star ratings and recognition in Newsweek's America's Best Online Shops for 2025 and 2026, the company has earned a reputation for trust and reliability. Tires Easy offers more than 200 tire brands and partners with national installers like Pep Boys, Monro and TireChoice to make tire buying fast, affordable and worry-free. Headquartered in El Segundo, California, Tires Easy proudly serves drivers nationwide.

Media Contacts:

Tammy Cancela

tammy@trizcom.com

972-898-8413

Jo Trizila

jo@trizcom.com

214-232-0078

SOURCE: Tires Easy

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/automotive/tires-easy-named-one-of-americas-best-online-shops-by-newsweek-for-2026-1111938
Consolidated revenue of 3.06 million at the end of September 2025

Cash position of 2.8 million as of September 30, 2025

Regulatory News:

ABIONYX PharmaFR0012616852 ABNX PEA PME eligible), , a next-generation biopharma company pioneering a new therapeutic era in sepsis and critical care through its proprietary apoA-I-based technology platform, today provided an update on business and cash flow for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025.

The business dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative therapies, particularly in sepsis and the rare diseases LCAT deficiency and Norum disease, which aim to improve or even save patients' lives, has not yet generated any revenue this quarter. ABIONYX Pharma continues to provide its bioproduct free of charge in response to compassionate use authorization (CUA) requests for Norum disease. The ABIONYX Pharma group recorded consolidated revenue of 3.06 million in the third quarter of 2025, which relates solely to its subsidiary IRIS Pharma's contract research organization (CRO) activity in ophthalmology. The group did not commission any studies from IRIS Pharma during this quarter.

As of September 30, 2025, ABIONYX Pharma's cash position stood at 2.81 million, including the reimbursement of R&D tax credits. The Company notes that it was selected for the France 2030 plan's "i-Demo" call for projects and has obtained 8.7 million in government support to combat sepsis, the third leading cause of death worldwide, of which 7 million is still to be received. On this basis, the Company's financial visibility extends to the second half of 2026.

The Company states that it is now engaged in advanced strategic discussions with IHU Sepsis and has just entered into an exclusive global partnership with SEBIA in the field of sepsis diagnostic testing.

Selected financial information (IFRS)

m Q3 2025 Q3 2024 Revenue from biotech activity 0.00 0.00 Revenue from IRIS Pharma 3.06 3.41 Total revenue 3.06 3.41 Other revenue 0.0 0.00 Total revenue income and revenue 3.06 3.41 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 2.81 4.06

About ABIONYX Pharma

ABIONYX Pharma is a next-generation biopharma company pioneering a new therapeutic era in sepsis and critical care through breakthrough biotherapies that address life-threatening conditions with no effective treatments. Leveraging its proprietary apoA-I-based technology platform, ABIONYX Pharma develops innovative biologics and HDL-derived vectors that target the immune and inflammatory dysregulation underlying sepsis and other severe diseases. With a strong scientific foundation and a growing network of global clinical partners, ABIONYX Pharma aims to redefine the standard of care in sepsis and to bring critical care solutions to patients worldwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251125254534/en/

Contacts:

ABIONYX Pharma

infos@abionyx.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Doubleview Gold Corp. (TSXV: DBG) (OTCQB: DBLVF) (FSE: A1W038) (FSE: 1D4) ("Doubleview" or the "Company") is pleased to announce positive first-phase pre-optimization results from its two-year, novel scandium-focused metallurgical test program. These results confirm the technical viability of recovering high-purity scandium oxide alongside copper, gold, cobalt, and other metals from the Company's 100%-owned flagship HAT polymetallic deposit in northern British Columbia.

This breakthrough development marks a global first: The successful recovery of scandium from copper porphyry flotation tailings to a scandium oxide product.

The primary objective of this extensive test program, conducted at SGS Canada Inc., was to establish a viable proprietary flowsheet enabling scandium to be included in the upcoming, updated mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment, potentially as measured, indicated, or inferred resources. The Company's maiden resource estimate (July 25, 2024) highlighted a scandium potential of 300 to 500 million tonnes grading approximately 40 ppm Sc2O3.

"The scandium resource potential is based on the drill holes on the property drilled for (July 25, 2024) maiden resource estimate for other metal content than scandium. The potential quantity and grade are conceptual in nature, there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource."

Early metallurgical test work demonstrated that scandium could be extracted from copper flotation tailings. Subsequently, through an innovative robust test work programme at SGS Canada Inc., it has been successfully demonstrated that scandium in flotation tailings can be recovered to a high purity di-scandium tri-oxide product (Sc2O3).

Key metallurgical results include:

Primary scandium extraction (leach): 82%

Overall scandium recovery to high-purity Sc2O3 product: 88%

Future work to advance the Hat project will focus on continuous pilot plant testing and further optimization to improve primary extraction and enhance final product purity.

Farshad Shirvani, President and CEO of Doubleview Gold Corp., stated:

"Today's results are a game-changer for the HAT project and potentially for the entire scandium industry on the world stage. World scandium supply is severely limited although there are several scandium projects currently being considered for development. Our metallurgy program shows that at HAT, we can recover high-value scandium directly from the tailings of a standard copper flotation circuit, using acid produced from internally generated pyrite. If the HAT project advances to production, scandium could become a high-margin bonus on top of a potential world-class copper-gold-cobalt operation.

Now that we've established the technical viability of scandium recovery, the next steps will focus on pushing extraction and overall recovery as high as possible through continued optimization and pilot-scale testing. I could not be more excited about what the future holds for Doubleview shareholders and all our stakeholders."

The pictures below show the first Scandium Oxide (Sc2O3) produced from the Hat Deposit in the lab. Doubleview now plans to continue its metallurgical optimization program to enhance the recovery of scandium and other metals, including copper, cobalt, gold, and silver, which are critical for the upcoming prefeasibility study.







Photo 1: Scandium Oxide (Sc2O3) from the Hat deposit

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8003/275884_4b60eef9a4ae6b97_001full.jpg







Photo2: Scandium Oxide (Sc2O3) from the Hat deposit

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8003/275884_4b60eef9a4ae6b97_002full.jpg

Qualified Person:

EUR ING Andrew Carter B.Sc., CEng., MIMMM (QMR), MSAIMM, SME, Doubleview's Qualified Person with respect to the HAT Project metallurgical studies as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release and is independent of the Company.

What is Scandium?

Scandium (Sc) , (atomic weight 45.10, density 2.5), a close relative of the Rare Earth elements, possesses exceptional properties when alloyed with other metals, particularly aluminum. It is lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and as an alloy is capable of dramatically improving strength, heat resistance, and weldability without adding significant weight. When combined with aluminum, scandium forms alloys that achieve the strength of steel while maintaining the light weight of aluminum, enabling revolutionary applications in transportation, aerospace, and clean energy. Scandium's scarcity, produced in limited quantities globally, primarily as a byproduct, makes it a high-value critical mineral, with prices often exceeding $5,000 per kilogram. Its applications span aerospace, defense, and increasingly, the clean energy sector, where it plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainable technologies. Global scandium resources are dominated by projects in Australia and northern Europe. Canadian deposits potentially can allow diversity of supply within a stable and mature mining jurisdiction.

About Doubleview Gold Corp

Doubleview Gold Corp (TSXV: DBG) (OTCQB: DBLVF) (FSE: 1D4) is a Canadian resource company advancing the 100%-owned Hat Polymetallic Project, located in the prolific Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia. The Hat hosts a large copper-gold-cobalt-scandium porphyry system with significant critical metal potential. Doubleview is dedicated to responsible exploration, Indigenous engagement, and sustainable development that benefits both shareholders and local communities.

Doubleview's success is deeply rooted in the unwavering support of its long-term shareholders, supporters, and institutional investors. Their ongoing commitment has been instrumental in advancing the company's strategic initiatives. Doubleview looks forward to further collaborative growth and development and continues to welcome active participation from its valued stakeholders as the company expands its portfolio and strengthens its position in the critical minerals sector.

For more information, please visit: www.doubleview.ca

About the Hat Polymetallic Deposit

The Hat Deposit, located in northwestern British Columbia, is a polymetallic porphyry project with major resources of copper, gold, cobalt, and the potential for scandium. As one of the region's significant sources of critical minerals, the Hat deposit has undergone targeted exploration and development. The 0.2% CuEq cut-off resource estimate, as of the recently completed Mineral Resource Estimate and the Company's July 25, 2024, news release, is summarized below:

Open

Pit

Model Hat



Average Grade Metal Content Resource Category Tonnage CuEq Cu Co Au Ag CuEq Cu Co Au Ag Mt % % % g/t g/t million

lb million

lb million

lb thousand

oz thousand

oz In Pit Indicated 150 0.408 0.221 0.008 0.19 0.42 1,353 733 28 929 2,045 Inferred 477 0.344 0.185 0.009 0.15 0.49 3,619 1,945 91 2,328 7,575

Scandium potential for the Hat Deposit is estimated to be 300 to 500 million tonnes at an average grade of 40 ppm (0.004%) Sc2O3.

For further details of the MRE, please refer to the Company's July 25, 2024 news release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Farshad Shirvani, President & 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.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives and assumptions made as of the date of this news release, including without limitation: the size of the Private Placement and other statements concerning the Private Placement; the anticipated use of proceeds from the Private Placement; the renunciation to the purchasers of FT Shares and timing thereof; the tax treatment of the FT Shares and the Company's plans regarding exploring its mineral exploration properties; anticipated results of geophysical drilling programs, geological interpretations and potential mineral recovery. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

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 funding on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to the gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty or reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law, to reflect new information, events or circumstances, or changes in management's estimates, projections or opinions. Actual events or results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements or from the Company's expectations or projections.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275884

SOURCE: Doubleview Gold Corp.
BH Macro Limited - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 25

BH Macro Limited (the "Company")

(a closed-ended collective investment scheme established as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 46235)

Transaction in Own Shares

25November 2025

BH Macro Limited (the Company) announces today it has purchased the following number of its ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange from J.P. Morgan Securities plc:

Ordinary Shares: - Share Class Sterling US Dollar Date of purchase: 25 November 2025 25 November 2025 Number of ordinary shares purchased: 92,473 2,000 Weighted average price (Sterling/US Dollars as applicable): 3.9766 4.0800

The Company intends to hold the purchased shares in treasury.

Following the above share transactions of the relevant US Dollar and/or Sterling Shares, the total number of shares in issue in each share class of the Company will be as follows:

Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding Treasury) Ordinary Shares held in Treasury 319,522,547 Sterling Shares 58,535,059 Sterling Shares 23,901,261 US Dollar Shares 211,496 US Dollar Shares

From 25 November 2025, the total number of voting rights in the Company (rounded up to the whole number) is 488,196,966.

Enquiries:

Company website: www.bhmacro.com

William Simmonds

JPMorgan Cazenove

Tel: 020 7588 2828

The Company Secretary

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

Tel: 01481 745001
WALLIX solutions to be enhanced from 2026 with AI-driven user behavior analysis

Strengthening of R&D teams with a specialized AI unit

A value-creating transaction that preserves the Group's financial strength

Paris, November 25, 2025 - WALLIX (Euronext ALLIX), a leader in cybersecurity solutions for access and identity protection in digital and industrial environments, today announces the acquisition of Malizen, a French company specializing in cybersecurity data analysis using artificial intelligence.

AI powering proactive cybersecurity

Based in Rennes, at the heart of the cyber excellence cluster which houses one of WALLIX's R&D centers, Malizen is a standout technological company that grew out of a spin-off from research conducted at the Inria center in Rennes (National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology) by its founder and CEO, Christopher Humphries, who holds a PhD in cybersecurity from the University of Rennes 1 in partnership with the French defense procurement agency (DGA).

The company specializes in user behavior analytics and plays a strategic role in cybersecurity by enabling organizations to proactively detect and anticipate threats. Using artificial intelligence, the solution analyzes user behavior to detect anomalies and anticipate cyber risks, providing increased visibility and enhanced preventive action capabilities.

Christopher Humphries has successfully brought together leading shareholders, including Inria and business angels recognized in the high-tech world, such as Eric Bantegnie (founder of Esterel Technologies) and the Tomcat, Hypade and Corocado funds, who will become shareholders of WALLIX as part of this transaction.

AI-driven enhancement of WALLIX solutions

The acquisition of Malizen accelerates WALLIX's AI roadmap and is fully in line with the Group's strategy to enhance and platformize its IAM-PAM solution.

WALLIX is gaining both a team of talented AI specialists who will strengthen its existing R&D teams, and new technology that will enhance its software suite from 2026 onwards. The integration of behavioral analysis of human and non-human users into WALLIX's solutions is a powerful commercial lever, particularly for key accounts, which are faced with very high access volumes (internal and external, within IT systems and industrial networks) and with the need to become more resilient by anticipating cyberattacks and human error:

Medium-sized organizations, which often lack the expertise to make the most of cyber solutions;

MSPs (managed service providers), which need to strengthen their large-scale analysis capabilities for their multi-sector clients with highly diverse needs;

Industrial companies for whom strategic autonomy is a key factor, as is the ability to anticipate human or IT risks on industrial automation systems or networks.

A transaction that creates value for shareholders

The transaction involves the acquisition of 100% of the shares comprising Malizen's share capital on the basis of an enterprise value of 1.6 million, including 0.2 million in net financial debt, under the following terms:

80% of the value of the shares (i.e. 1.1 million) paid immediately, including 0.2 million in cash and the balance through the allocation of 37,764 existing treasury shares of WALLIX[1] representing 0.56% of the share capital;

20% of the value of the shares (i.e. 0.3 million) conditional upon the achievement of technological and financial performance targets and paid in equal installments in September 2026 and September 2027, with 50% in cash and 50% in WALLIX shares.

All Malizen shareholders will thus become WALLIX shareholders and have undertaken to hold all the shares received for a minimum period of six months.

As of June 30, 2025, WALLIX had a solid financial position, with cash of 9.4 million and financial borrowings of 8.1 million. The transaction, which is non-equity-dilutive, preserves the Group's financial strength.

Jean-Noel de Galzain, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of WALLIX Group, said : "We are delighted to welcome Malizen to the WALLIX Group, along with the team led by Christopher Humphries. This targeted strategic transaction accelerates the deployment of AI in our PAM and IAM solutions to extend their ability to detect cyber risks for clients. We are also united by the roadmap we have built around AI and cybersecurity, as well as our ability to strike the right balance between innovation and ease of use. The integration of the Malizen team opens up tremendous opportunities to enrich our portfolio in the future, with even more AI-driven solutions capable of detecting anomalies, anticipating risky human behavior, machine risks and agentic risks, that is, the anticipation of non-human risks, which represents a market potential of USD 8 billion by 2030 compared to USD 1.8 billion in 2025[2]. Finally, this transaction confirms our desire to participate in the inevitable consolidation of the market in Europe and our ambition to offer an independent European solution to improve the resilience of companies' IT and OT environments."

Christopher Humphries, CEO of Malizen, said: "We are delighted to be joining WALLIX. This merger represents a key step in our development, enabling us to draw on recognized solutions and extensive marketing and sales resources."

Bruno Sportisse, Chairman and CEO of Inria, added: "It is a great source of pride to see a spinoff from Inria and public research, and supported by the Inria Startup Studio, join a company in the national cybersecurity sector. The consolidation by WALLIX will contribute to French and European technological dynamism and expertise in this strategic field."

Next publication: Full-year 2025 turnover, February 5, 2026

ABOUT WALLIX

WALLIX is a European leader in cybersecurity. WALLIX software has been protecting user identities and access (PAM - Privileged Access Management & IAM - Identity and Access Management) since 2003, enabling every organization, wherever it is based, to move freely and securely in a safer digital world.

The technological excellence of its solutions, as recognized by the most prestigious analyst firms, serves over 3,800 organizations across more than 100 countries with the mission of providing a simple and secure identified access service to enable users to operate securely in digital and industrial environments.

WALLIX affirms its digital responsibility and undertakes to help build a trusted European digital space.

The Company has been listed on Euronext (ALLIX) since 2015. The founders and directors are the major long-standing shareholders alongside investment structure TDH (Thierry Dassault Holding).

www.wallix.com | info@wallix.com

CONTACTS FINANCIAL COMMUNICATION

ACTUS finance & communication

Investors' relations - Helene de Watteville

00 33 1 53 67 36 33 / wallix@actus.fr

Press relations - Deborah Schwartz

00 33 6 27 09 05 73 / dschwartz@actus.fr

[1] Shares from the share buyback program carried out in 2023 and 2024 at a weighted average cost of 8.13 per share

[2] AI agentic market source

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Element One Hydrogen and Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: EONE) ("Element One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of its acquisition of the Hy Project and Shulaps Project from individual claim holders, as previously announced on September 24, 2025.

HY Project

The HY Project, located in the Omineca Mining District, consists of nine mineral tenures totaling 2,758 hectares. The property lies on paved road access within 5 kilometres of the village of Fort St. James, a long-standing industrial service town with a skilled workforce and established infrastructure located approximately 60 kilometres northwest of Prince George, which has been identified as an emerging hub for hydrogen development in British Columbia.

Geologically, the property is underlain by ultramafic rocks with potential to produce hydrogen through the stimulation and acceleration of the natural process of serpentinization. The project area is transected by major regional fault systems that may act as conduits to the subsurface, creating favourable conditions for the trapping and accumulation of natural hydrogen.

Shulaps Project

The Shulaps Project consists of three mineral claims covering 1,343 hectares, located in the southern Coast Mountains of British Columbia, approximately 48 kilometres northwest of Lillooet in the historic Bridge River mining district.

The claims are underlain by the Shulaps ultramafic complex, which has previously been explored for nickel, copper, and PGEs. The Shulaps complex is comprised of variably serpentinized ultramafic lithologies, which present opportunities for artificial (stimulated) hydrogen production through engineered serpentinization processes.

Transaction Details

The Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement dated September 23, 2025 with the arms-length Vendors pursuant to which the Vendors agreed to sell and the Company agreed to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of Shul-Hy Exploration Corp. Pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Company has paid the Vendors a one time payment of $10,000 and issued an aggregate of 1,250,000 shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.21 per share.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information on this news release has been reviewed and approved by Jeremy Hanson, P. Geo., an independent geologist to the Company who is a qualified person under the meaning of National Instrument NI 43-101.

About Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp.

Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: EONE) is a Canadian company focused on the exploration, development, and commercialization of geologic hydrogen and critical mineral resources, as well as breakthrough hydrogen-generation technologies. The company's projects include the Foggy Mountain critical minerals project as well as projects in Alaska and British Columbia that are prospective for hydrogen production through stimulation in the subsurface as well as critical and battery metals.

Stay connected by following us on;

X (formerly Twitter) at www.x.com/Element_One_H2

LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/element-one-h2

YouTube at www.youtube.com/@ElementOne Hydrogen

For further information visit our website at www.e1-h2.com or to connect directly, please reach out to Tim Johnson at tjohnson@e1-h2.com or 250.668.3161.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements with respect exploration and development plans, as anticipated or at all. The words "will", "anticipated", "plans" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this news release includes statements related to the Transaction, receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals to the Transaction, satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the Transaction, and related matters. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accept 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/275880

SOURCE: Element One Hydrogen and Critical Minerals
The new in-network contract further supports The Ridge RTC's commitment to affordable and accessible mental health care at its treatment programs in New Hampshire.

MILTON, NH / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / The Ridge RTC, a national leader in residential mental health care for teens, has expanded its partnership with Cigna to include in-network coverage at its New Hampshire location.

The Ridge RTC

The Ridge RTC

With the in-network Cigna partnership, The Ridge RTC aims to increase access to reliable mental health services for teens and young adults in and around New England. This includes evidence-based treatment for a wide range of mental and behavioral health conditions, including depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and co-occurring disorders.

The Ridge RTC operates three residential treatment centers: Ridge Lakehouse and Ridge Farmhouse (a part of The Ridge RTC Maine), and The Ridge RTC New Hampshire in Milton. Each has a distinct therapeutic environment designed to meet residents where they are in their recovery. Ridge Lakehouse and Ridge Farmhouse provide intensive residential treatment for teens by combining evidence-based therapy with experiential modalities like equine-assisted treatment to help adolescents build emotional awareness, strengthen relationships, and regain stability. Ridge New Hampshire, located on a 350-acre campus, supports both teens and emerging adults through structured residential care and individualized clinical programming. Its dedicated Emerging Adult Program (for ages 18-20) focuses on helping young adults build independence, develop life skills, and move toward lasting stability and self-sufficiency.

"Expanding our insurance partnerships has been a top priority," said Dustin Wagner, Chief Clinical Officer of The Ridge RTC. "Now, as an in-network provider with Cigna, we can help more individuals access needed care without facing steep, prohibitive out-of-pocket costs."

With Cigna coverage, patients and their families have one more viable option for obtaining high-quality residential mental healthcare. The Ridge RTC is also in-network with several other major insurance providers, but does not currently accept MaineCare, Medicaid, or Medicare plans at this time.

Admissions at each facility are ongoing, with personalized help for verifying insurance coverage and making a financial plan for treatment. Programs run 30-90 days and treat the root cause of conditions rather than just their symptoms. The admissions process will not be impacted by the new Cigna partnership.

For Ridge leadership, accessibility and affordability are always a top concern, with a dedicated goal of making residential mental health services available to all who need them. Completing an in-network contract with Cigna brings the treatment provider one step closer to this goal, with the potential to make a real and lasting difference for struggling teens and young adults.

Interested readers can learn more about insurance coverage options by visiting https://theridgertc.com/ or connecting with the admissions team.

About The Ridge RTC

At Ridge RTC, teens and emerging adults receive comprehensive mental health treatment in a residential setting that prioritizes safety, trust, and steady growth. The clinical team uses proven therapeutic approaches and individualized care plans to meet each resident where they are, helping them move toward recovery at a sustainable pace. Known across the country for its thoughtful, evidence-based programs, Ridge RTC remains dedicated to helping young people and their families build lasting change. More at www.theridgertc.com .

SOURCE: The Ridge RTC

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/the-ridge-rtc-announces-in-network-partnership-with-cigna-1112134
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Parvis Invest Inc. (TSXV: PVIS) ("Parvis" or "the Company"), a technology-enabled platform for private real estate and alternative investments, today reports a substantial increase in private REIT investment activity on the platform. Parvis transacted $2.84 million in private REIT allocations in October 2025, up from $410,421 in October 2024, demonstrating significant year-over-year growth and increasing investor appetite for professionally curated private market opportunities.

Public REIT performance has been pressured by interest-rate sensitivity, shifting valuations, and uneven leasing conditions. In response, more investors are seeking private real estate and alternative investments that allow them to select specific opportunities, gain greater transparency into underlying assets, and target stronger long-term returns.

Parvis meets this demand by combining institutional-grade diligence with a streamlined digital investment process, and the support of a national network of licensed Dealing Representatives. Experienced investors value the speed and efficiency of deploying capital through the platform, while those new to private markets turn to Parvis for education, guidance, and start-to-finish support.

"Many of our newest clients are making their first allocation to private markets," said Sadiq Alladina, Senior Investment Advisor at Parvis. "They come to us for access and stay for the confidence they gain in selecting quality deals and understanding how private real estate and alternatives can build long-term wealth. For seasoned investors, we provide the choice and efficiency they expect without sacrificing rigour or transparency."

With more than 18 REITs on the platform, alongside development, income, and alternative strategies, Parvis is positioned as the entry point for investors looking to diversify beyond public markets into curated, high-quality private investments.

To learn more about Parvis' cross-border investment offerings or explore how international assets can enhance your private market portfolio, visit www.parvisinvest.com.

About the Company

Parvis is a technology-driven investment platform dedicated to democratizing access to institutional-quality opportunities. Utilizing AI and blockchain technology, Parvis streamlines the investment process, making it more accessible and efficient. Headquartered in Vancouver, Parvis operates with experts in Toronto, Vancouver, Kelowna, and Montreal. For more information, visit www.parvisinvest.com and SEDAR+.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuer's business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuer's prospective financial performance or financial position. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding: execution and integration of the investment offerings; and the Company's business plans and role in the investment industry. To develop the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company made certain material assumptions, including but not limited to: prevailing market conditions; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the ability of the Company to execute and achieve its business objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: adverse market conditions; changes in general economic, business and political conditions; changes in applicable laws and regulations; compliance with extensive government regulation; reliance on key and qualified personnel; risks associated with the real estate, investment, and technology industries in general. The foregoing list of material risk factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this news release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation.

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @ParvisInvest

Facebook: ParvisInvest

LinkedIn: Parvis

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275890

SOURCE: Parvis Invest Inc.
BURNSVILLE, MN / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Dr. Hamid Abbasi, a US-based neurosurgeon and global leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, will travel to Dubai to participate in the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies WFNS meeting. Dr. Abbasi will conduct hands-on training sessions focused on two advanced techniques: the Oblique Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion OLLIF and Sacroiliac Joint SIJ fusion. These procedures are known for reduced surgical trauma, shorter hospital stays, and faster patient recovery.

Before arriving in Dubai, Dr. Abbasi will stop in Karachi, Pakistan, for a full clinical program with Professor Salman Sharif and his team at the Pakistan Society of Neurosurgeons. He will perform live surgery and lead a cadaveric lab for residents and fellows. The goal is practical exposure to precision-based minimally invasive techniques that are not widely taught in traditional programs.

Following his participation at WFNS, Dr. Abbasi will extend his stay in the UAE to collaborate with Dr. Munshi for an additional OLLIF and SIJ workshop. This extended session will deliver surgeon-level training and demonstrate the reproducibility of these techniques in high-volume surgical environments.

Dr. Abbasi has performed more than three thousand OLLIF cases and is regarded as one of the earliest pioneers of the TransKambin approach. His published outcomes show high fusion rates, low blood loss, and reduced operative time even in multilevel or revision cases. His international visits are focused on knowledge transfer and building regional competency centers capable of delivering advanced spine care to underserved populations.

Dr. Abbasi states: "We are proud to be in Pakistan and Dubai, and we are equally committed to transferring this technology to other countries around the world. The contents of this small bag are all we need to take care of half a dozen patients in Pakistan, with no need for expensive technologies such as a million dollar robot or navigation system. Our goal is to transfer knowledge and technology globally, and that is our commitment to our colleagues everywhere."

For media inquiries or to request meeting schedules, please contact

Inspired Spine administrative office at social1@islife.us or visit us at inspiredspine.com

Media Contact:

Inspired Spine

(952) 225-5266

SOURCE: Inspired Spine

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/dr.-hamid-abbasi-to-lead-international-spine-surgery-training-program-1112219
Investor Webcast: Wednesday, November 26th at 4:00pm ET / 1:00pm PT.

Register/View Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8617635107958/WN_Ka6aNlTZTLuCJPaetQoLuQ.

Please join/register at least 5 minutes prior to the call.

Questions emailed to info@mustgrow.ca will be addressed during the Q&A portion of the webcast.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - MustGrow Biologics Corp. (TSXV: MGRO) (OTCQB: MGROF) (FSE: 0C0) (the "Company" or "MustGrow"), a leading provider of biological and regenerative agriculture solutions, is pleased to announce its operating and financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2025. For complete details, please refer to the Q3-2025 Condensed Interim Financial Statements and associated Management's Discussion and Analysis, available on SEDAR+: www.sedarplus.ca or on the Company's website: www.mustgrow.ca.

Key Financial Highlights:

Sales revenue of $0.8 million was recorded in Q3-2025 vs. no revenue in Q3-2024

Gross profit of $180,555 equating to a 22.9% gross profit margin in Q3-2025 (up from 20.9% in Q2-2025) (1)

Cash and equivalents on hand as at September 30, 2025 was $3.3 million with inventory of $1.9 million

"The third calendar quarter is typically the lowest product revenue 'shoulder season' for Canadian agriculture as farmers are harvesting their crops rather than purchasing input products. MustGrow's gross profit margin improvement over the second quarter resulted from higher margin product sales through our Canadian sales and distribution division, NexusBioAg," stated Corey Giasson, President and CEO of MustGrow. "As mentioned in previous earnings calls, Q1 and Q4 are traditionally stronger sales periods, as Canadian farmers purchase crop inputs. We are looking forward to a strong finish to the year in Q4 and also Q1-2026 as farmers purchase products in preparation for the 2026 growing season."

The Company continues to focus on capital allocation that generates revenue growth of both its NexusBioAg Canadian sales and distribution business and TerraSanteTM biofertility product sales in the U.S.

Notes :

1) Gross margin is a non-IFRS financial measure. This ratio expresses gross profit as a percentage of revenue for a given period. It assists in explaining the Company's results from period to period and measuring profitability. This ratio is calculated by dividing gross profit for a period by the corresponding revenue for the period. There is no directly comparable IFRS measure.

About MustGrow

MustGrow Biologics Corp. is a fully-integrated provider of innovative biological and regenerative agriculture solutions designed to support sustainable farming. The Company's proprietary and third-party product lines offer eco-friendly alternatives to restricted or banned synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. In North America, MustGrow offers a portfolio of third-party crop nutrition solutions, including micronutrients, nitrogen stabilizers, biostimulants, adjuvants and foliar products. These products are synergistically distributed alongside MustGrow's wholly-owned proprietary products and technologies that are derived from mustard and developed into organic biocontrol and biofertility products to help replace banned or restricted synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. Outside of North America, MustGrow is focused on collaborating with agriculture companies, such as Bayer AG in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, to commercialize MustGrow's wholly-owned proprietary products and technologies. The Company is dedicated to driving shareholder value through the commercialization and expansion of its intellectual property portfolio of approximately 109 patents that are currently issued and pending, and the sales and distribution of its proprietary and third-party product lines through NexusBioAg. MustGrow is a publicly traded company (TSXV-MGRO) and has approximately 58.9 million common shares issued and outstanding and 69.1 million shares fully diluted. For further details, please visit www.mustgrow.ca.

MustGrow's Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the results, performance or achievements of MustGrow.

Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of MustGrow to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, MustGrow. Important factors that could cause MustGrow's actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include: those risks described in more detail in MustGrow's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other continuous disclosure documents filed by MustGrow with the applicable securities regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are referred to such documents for more detailed information about MustGrow, which is subject to the qualifications, assumptions and notes set forth therein.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, nor their Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), nor the OTC Markets has approved the contents of this release or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

 2025 MustGrow Biologics Corp. All rights reserved.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275899

SOURCE: MustGrow Biologics Corp.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scott Lendrum, CEO of Giga Metals Corp. (TSX-V: GIGA; OTCQB: GIGGF; FSE: BRR2) today announced receipt of results from the recent Magnetotelluric (MT) geophysical survey at Turnagain, interpreted by Matthew Penney, President of Hardrock Geophysics.

Highlights:

Geophysics program completed on underexplored Attic Zone

MT exploits resistivity contrast to map geometry of ultramafic intrusive complex

Data supports up-facing structural orientation, untested basal contact









Figure 1: The initial MT lines were positioned over the large copper-in-soils anomaly in the Attic Zone, which is also prospective for PGE mineralization.

"This is the first step of a methodical program exploring for copper, platinum and palladium in the Attic Zone of the Turnagain ultramafic complex," said Mr. Lendrum. "The MT worked well in this environment to define geometry and reveal previously unknown features."

"MT is the perfect tool to exploit the strong resistivity contrast between the ultramafic complex and the surrounding sedimentary rocks to a significant depth," said Dr. Stephen Beresford, who is advising on the exploration program. "We now have a high degree of confidence that the Turnagain intrusion geometry is in-place and up-facing, that the basal contact is untested, and the marginal contacts are untested to any significant depth."





Figure 2: 3D view of Line 1 with shallow penetrating airborne EM data draped on topography. This supports the interpretation that the intrusive is in its original, upright position. The basal contact is untested, and marginal contacts are mostly untested.





Figure 3: 3D view of Line 2 with shallow penetrating EM data draped on topography. The historic airborne EM did not penetrate deeply enough to register the previously unknown low resistivity anomaly, which will require further investigation.

"Dr. Beresford has recommended further MT lines to delineate the intrusive geometry to the northwest and southeast to constrain the search volume for further work," said Mr. Lendrum. "These will be followed by EM surveys to help prioritize the drill targets. Our recently completed financing will fund this geophysical program into the Spring of 2026."

About Giga Metals Corporation

Giga Metals Corporation's core asset is the Turnagain Project (https://gigametals.com/projects/turnagain-project/), located in northern British Columbia, which contains one of the few significant undeveloped sulphide nickel and cobalt resources in the world. Turnagain is held in Hard Creek Nickel, a subsidiary owned jointly by Giga Metals Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation. The Pre-Feasibility Study was released in October 2023.

The Turnagain ultramafic complex is also prospective for copper, platinum and palladium mineralization in the Attic Zone, an area adjacent to the known nickel resource.

Technical information herein has been reviewed and approved by Greg Ross, P.Geo. Mr. Ross is the Project Manager for Giga Metals and is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Giga Metals Corporation

"Scott Lendrum"



SCOTT LENDRUM,

CEO and Director

Contact Information

Office Phone: +1 (604) 681-2300

Investor Inquiries: info@gigametals.com (mailto:info@gigametals.com)

Company Website: www.gigametals.com (https://bit.ly/3Pzq01Z)

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.

Suite 604 - 700 West Pender St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1G8

Figures accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a21c9662-1f8e-45c0-b9cb-69db946d8a78 (https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a21c9662-1f8e-45c0-b9cb-69db946d8a78)

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/56ec933f-d050-41f9-bc1e-89549ff35833 (https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/56ec933f-d050-41f9-bc1e-89549ff35833)

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d63646c7-6e83-4bad-89f8-0c87737c98be (https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d63646c7-6e83-4bad-89f8-0c87737c98be)
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, BC / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Green Bridge Metals Corporation (CSE:GRBM)(OTCQB:GBMCF)(FWB:J48, WKN: A3EW4S) ("Green Bridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated July 14, 2025, it has completed the issuance of the initial share payment (the "Initial Share Consideration") pursuant to the terms of the definitive agreement dated May 8, 2025, with Encampment Minerals, Inc. (the "Definitive Agreement"), issuing 22,222,222 units (each, a "Unit") at a deemed price of $0.09 per Unit, representing an aggregate value of $2,000,000. Each Unit is comprised of one (1) common share (a "Share") and one-half of one (1/2) common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Share at a price of $0.15 for a period of three (3) years from the date of issuance.

The securities issued are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable securities laws, and are further subject to the terms of the voluntary escrow agreement entered into in connection with the Agreement, with 25% released upon the expiry of the statutory hold period, and an additional 25% released on each of the 6-month, 12-month and 18-month anniversaries of the issuance date.

About Green Bridge Metals

Green Bridge Metals Corporation is a Canadian based exploration company focused on acquiring 'critical mineral' rich assets and the development of the South Contact Zone (the "Property") along the basal contact of the Duluth Complex, north of Duluth, Minnesota. The South Contact Zone contains bulk-tonnage copper-nickel and titanium-vanadium in ilmenite hosted in ultramafic to oxide ultramafic intrusions. The Property has exploration targets for bulk-tonnage Ni mineralization, high grade Ni-Cu-PGE magmatic sulfide mineralization and titanium.

ON BEHALF OF GREEN BRIDGE METALS,

"David Suda"

President and Chief Executive Officer

For more information, please contact:

David Suda

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: 604.928-3101

investors@greenbridgemetals.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Information

Certain statements and information herein contain forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to: the proposed non-brokered private placement.

Although management of the Company believe that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the potential completion of the Private Placement, the expected completion date thereof, and the use of proceeds therefrom. It is noted, however, that the Private Placement may not close on the terms set forth herein, or at all.

The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Green Bridge Metals Corporation

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/green-bridge-metals-completes-initial-2m-share-payment-under-encampment-minerals-1112224
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Onco-Innovations Limited (CBOE CA:ONCO)(Frankfurt:W1H, WKN:A3EKSZ)(OTCQB:ONNVF) ("Onco" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it was invited to attend the University of Alberta's 2025 Innovation Awards in Edmonton, Alberta, which were held on November 21, 2025. The annual ceremony is meant to recognize outstanding research and innovation that can translate university discoveries into societal and commercial impact.

This year marked the first time the University of Alberta has included technology licensees, highlighting the institution's growing focus on industry collaboration and the advancement of technologies from lab to market. In 2024, Onco-Innovations licensed a portfolio of oncology-related technologies from the University, supporting the translation of university research into next-generation cancer therapeutics.

"We were honored to join the University of Alberta in a shared commitment to advancing oncology innovation. The University's decades of foundational research, combined with our mission to pursue and commercialize transformative cancer therapeutics, represent the very best of Canadian scientific collaboration," stated Thomas O'Shaughnessy, Chief Executive Officer of Onco-Innovations.

Onco-Innovations and the University of Alberta entered into an exclusive license agreement in 2024 granting Onco the right to develop and commercialize the PNKP Inhibitor Technology, a pioneering approach designed to enhance the effectiveness of DNA-damage-based cancer treatments. Developed through more than 15 years of research at the University of Alberta, the PNKP Inhibitor Technology has resulted in nine issued patents, representing a major advancement in targeting DNA repair mechanisms in cancer cells.

The PNKP Inhibitor Technology is designed to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiation by delaying DNA repair, thereby improving treatment outcomes. In both in-vitro and in-vivo studies, the technology has demonstrated strong potential across multiple cancer types. Through its collaboration with the University of Alberta, Onco-Innovations continues to advance preclinical development and IND-enabling studies, with the goal of progressing this innovative platform toward clinical evaluation.

"This recognition reflects the importance of translating strong academic science into real therapeutic application. As we advance this platform, the growing body of mechanistic and preclinical evidence continues to reinforce its potential to redefine how DNA repair pathways are targeted in cancer treatment," said Dr. Islam Mohamed, Chair of the Scientific & Clinical Advisory Board.

The Company also announces that its Board of Directors has approved the issuance of a total of 60,000 Restricted Share Units ("RSUs") to certain directors of the Company pursuant to its equity incentive plan (the "Plan").

About Onco-Innovations Limited

Onco-Innovations is a Canadian-based company dedicated to cancer research and treatment, focussed on oncology. Onco's mission is to pursue the prevention and treatment of cancer through pioneering research and innovative solutions. The Company has an exclusive license to patented technology that targets solid tumours.

ON BEHALF OF ONCO-INNOVATIONS LIMITED,

"Thomas O'Shaughnessy"

Chief Executive Officer

For more information, please contact:

Thomas O'Shaughnessy

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: + 1 888 261 8055

investors@oncoinnovations.com

Forward-Looking Statements Caution. This news release contains forward-looking statements, including in relation to the Company's business and plans, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "potential", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward- looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

SOURCE: Onco-Innovations Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/onco-innovations-attends-university-of-albertas-2025-innovation-award-1112284
TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Lahontan Gold Corp. (TSXV:LG)(OTCQB:LGCXF) (the "Company" or "Lahontan") announces that, further to its press release of October 29, 2025, it has closed a non-brokered private placement through the issuance of 16,665,868 units (each, a "Unit") in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of $2,499,880.20 (the "Offering"). Due to investor demand, the Company upsized the Offering from 13,333,333 Units to 16,665,868 Units.

Each Unit was comprised of one common share (each, a "Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one-half of one whole Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.25 per Common Share for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance, provided, however, that should the closing price at which the Common Shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (or any such other stock exchange in Canada as the Common Shares may trade at the applicable time) is equal to or exceeds CDN$0.35 for ten (10) consecutive trading days at any time following the date that is four months and one day after the date of issuance, the Company may accelerate the Warrant Term (the "Reduced Warrant Term") such that the Warrants shall expire on the date which is 30 business days following the date a press release is issued by the Company announcing the Reduced Warrant Term.

Gross proceeds raised from the Offering will be used for general working capital purposes and for exploration at the Company's Santa Fe Mine and West Santa Fe Projects. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid certain eligible finders cash commissions in the aggregate of $28,910.39 and issued 192,735 broker warrants (each, a "Broker Warrant"). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.25 per Common Share for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance, provided, however, that should the closing price at which the Common Shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (or any such other stock exchange in Canada as the Common Shares may trade at the applicable time) is equal to or exceeds CDN$0.35 for ten (10) consecutive trading days at any time following the date that is four months and one day after the date of issuance, the Company may accelerate the warrant term (the "Reduced Broker Warrant Term") such that the Broker Warrants shall expire on the date which is 30 business days following the date a press release is issued by the Company announcing the Reduced Broker Warrant Term.

The Offering constituted a related party transaction within the meaning of TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as an insider of the Company acquired 300,000 Units pursuant to the Offering. The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on a specified market and the fair market value of the participation in the Offering by the insider does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the of the Offering, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Offering in an expeditious manner.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons as defined under applicable United States securities laws unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Lahontan Gold Corp.

Lahontan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mine development and mineral exploration company that holds, through its US subsidiaries, four gold and silver exploration properties in the Walker Lane of mining friendly Nevada. Lahontan's flagship property, the 28.3 km2 Santa Fe Mine project, had past production of 359,202 ounces of gold and 702,067 ounces of silver between 1988 and 1995 from open pit mines utilizing heap-leach processing. The Santa Fe Mine has a Canadian National Instrument 43-101 compliant Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,539,000 oz Au Eq(48,393,000 tonnes grading 0.92 g/t Au and 7.18 g/t Ag, together grading 0.99 g/t Au Eq) and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 411,000 oz Au Eq (16,760,000 grading 0.74 g/t Au and 3.25 g/t Ag, together grading 0.76 g/t Au Eq), all pit constrained (Au Eq is inclusive of recovery, please see Santa Fe Project Technical Report and note below*). The Company plans to continue advancing the Santa Fe Mine project towards production, update the Santa Fe Preliminary Economic Assessment, and drill test its satellite West Santa Fe project during 2025. For more information, please visit our website: www.lahontangoldcorp.com

* Please see the "Preliminary Economic Assessment, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Santa Fe Project", Authors: Kenji Umeno, P. Eng., Thomas Dyer, PE, Kyle Murphy, PE, Trevor Rabb, P. Geo, Darcy Baker, PhD, P. Geo., and John M. Young, SME-RM; Effective Date: December 10, 2024, Report Date: January 24, 2025. The Technical Report is available on the Company's website and SEDAR+. Mineral resources are reported using a cut-off grade of 0.15 g/t AuEq for oxide resources and 0.60 g/t AuEq for non-oxide resources. AuEq for the purpose of cut-off grade and reporting the Mineral Resources is based on the following assumptions gold price of US$1,950/oz gold, silver price of US$23.50/oz silver, and oxide gold recoveries ranging from 28% to 79%, oxide silver recoveries ranging from 8% to 30%, and non-oxide gold and silver recoveries of 71%.

Qualified Person

Brian J. Maher, M.Sc., CPG-12342, is a "Qualified Person" as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release in respect of all technical disclosure other than the Mineral Resource Estimate as noted above.? Mr. Maher is Vice President-Exploration for Lahontan Gold and has verified the data disclosed in this news release, including the sampling, ??analytical and test data underlying the disclosure.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Kimberly Ann

Founder, CEO, President, and Director

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Lahontan Gold Corp.

Kimberly Ann

Founder, Chief Executive Officer, President, Director

Phone: 1-530-414-4400

Email: Kimberly.ann@lahontangoldcorp.com

Website: www.lahontangoldcorp.com

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. Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com

SOURCE: Lahontan Gold Corp

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/lahontan-announces-closing-of-upsized-private-placement-1112130
As part of a general fleet review launched by the U.S. Navy, aimed at transitioning towards a future model focused on technological excellence, manned and unmanned vessels, and long-term sustainability, Fincantieri and the U.S. Navy have reached a significant agreement that provides for reshaping the future of the Constellation-class Program, currently under construction at Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM), in Wisconsin. In this framework, Fincantieri is consolidating its strategic partnership with the Navy, confirming its role as a key player in defining the future of American maritime defense through advanced industrial capabilities and long-term investments.

Working closely with the U.S. Navy, the Group will help deliver new classes of vessels. Fincantieri is expected to receive new orders to deliver classes of vessels in segments that best serve the immediate interests of the nation and the renaissance of U.S. shipbuilding, such as amphibious, icebreaking and other special missions. Fincantieri is in fact ready to execute the contracts planned in coordination with the U.S. Navy. Entering the future and in alignment with the Group's industrial capabilities and potential, Fincantieri will support the U.S. Navy as it redefines strategic choices in the Small Surface Combatants segment, manned or unmanned.

Considering the above, the agreement encompasses the continuity of work for two Constellation-class frigates currently under construction and provides for the discontinuity of the contract for the four other Constellation-class frigates already under contract, reflecting the evolving strategic priorities of the U.S. Navy. On top of the aforementioned award of future orders, in order to cover the above, the agreement indemnifies Fincantieri Marine Group on existing economic commitments and industrial impacts through measures provided by the U.S. Navy, and as a result of the contractual decision made for its own convenience.

This new arrangement guarantees continuity and workload visibility for Fincantieri's personnel and the Wisconsin System of Yards a vital pillar of the U.S. maritime industrial base capitalizing on the investments and expertise developed to date. Over the past years, Fincantieri has invested more than $800 million in its four U.S. shipyards, including Marinette, Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, and Jacksonville with the aim of ensuring maximum production efficiency, flexibility, and technological innovation. These investments have enabled the consolidation of an advanced industrial supply chain, capable of meeting the U.S. Navy's new priorities, including rapid delivery, modularity, and scalability of naval platforms.

Fincantieri Marine Group currently employs approximately 3,750 highly skilled workers in the United States, having recently increased its workforce by 850 workers to meet demand and strengthen its industrial base. This significant expansion underscores the Group's commitment to supporting the local economy and the broader national maritime supply chain.

George Moutafis, CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group, commented: "The agreement reached with the U.S. Navy marks a new chapter in our strategic partnership, built on mutual trust, a shared vision and commitment to excellence. The path forward defined on the Constellation-class program provides for the necessary stability for our teams and the entire Wisconsin System of Yards, allowing us to continue investing in innovation and skills. As the Navy transitions to new vessel types, we stand ready to support their evolving needs, leveraging the strength of our American facilities and the expertise we have fostered. Our investments in the U.S. shipyards are a testament to our long-term vision: to be a cornerstone of the U.S. maritime industrial base and a driving force to sustain the momentum of the national shipbuilding renaissance the American shipbuilding renaissance."

In the future development model, Fincantieri positions itself as one of the reference shipyards for the U.S. Navy, confirming its strategic role in supporting the Navy's evolving needs. The Group is looking forward to working with all stakeholders in the supply chain on the execution of the new redefined path forward, further developing the skills and expertise cultivated in its American facilities and supporting the sustainable growth of the sector.

About Fincantieri

Fincantieri is one of the world's largest shipbuilding groups, the only player active in all high complexity marine industry sectors. The Group is a leader in the construction of cruise ships, naval and offshore vessels, and stands out for its extensive experience in the development of underwater solutions, thanks to its integrated industrial structure capable of managing and coordinating all activities related to the commercial, defense, and dual -use sectors. It holds a strong presence in key markets also thanks to the internalization of high value-added, distinctive technologies; it is also a leader in sustainable innovation and in the digital transformation of the shipbuilding sector. The company is active in the field of mechatronics, electronics, and digital naval systems, as well as in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and marine interiors solutions. It also offers a wide range of after-sales services, including logistic support and fleet assistance. With over 230 years of history and more than 7, 000 ships built, Fincantieri is a global player with a production network of 18 shipyards worldwide and over 23,000 employees. It maintains its know-how, expertise and management centers in Italy, where it directly employs over 12,000 workers and creates around 90,000 indirect jobs.

www.fincantieri.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251125561027/en/

Contacts:

Press Office

Tel. +39 040 3192111

press.office@fincantieri.it

Investor Relations

Tel. +39 040 3192111

investor.relations@fincantieri.it
TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Biomind Labs Inc. (the "Company") (CBOE:BMND)(OTC PINK:BMNDF)(FRA:3XI), announces that the Ontario Securities Commission (the "Commission") has revoked its cease trade order issued on April 4, 2025 (the "FFCTO") against the Company effective November 25, 2025. The Company was cease traded by the Commission for failure to file audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, corresponding management's discussion and analysis and officers' certificates, and the annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024. While the FFCTO remained in effect, the interim unaudited financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and officers certificates for the three-month period ending March 31, 2025, Form 51-102F6 - Statement of Executive Compensation, the interim unaudited financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and officers certificates for the six-month period ending June 30, 2025, and the interim unaudited financial statements, management's discussion & analysis and officers certificates for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2025, came due on May 15, 2025, May 20, 2025, August 14, 2025, and November 14, 2025, respectively.

The annual financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and officers certificates for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the interim unaudited financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and officers certificates for the three-month period ending March 31, 2025 and the six-month period ending June 30, 2025, and the nine-month period ending September 30, 2025, the annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024, and Form 51-102F6 - Statement of Executive Compensation (collectively, the "Continuous Disclosure Documents") have now been filed by the Company and are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Due to financial constraints, the Company's most recent Annual General and Special Meeting ("AGSM") was held on June 28, 2023. At the request of the Commission, the Company will hold an AGSM prior to February 25, 2026. Further details relating to the AGSM, including the record and meeting date for the 2026 AGSM will be announced in a future press release.

There have been no material changes to the Company's current and future business plans since the issuance of the FFCTO. The Continuous Disclosure Documents have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes the Company will continue its operations for the foreseeable future and be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company currently faces certain conditions that indicate a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on its ability to continue as a going concern. These conditions include ongoing operating losses and the need for additional financing. The Continuous Disclosure Documents do not include any adjustments that might result if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

For further information, please contact:

Biomind Labs Inc.

Alejandro Antalich

Chief Executive Officer

Email: future@biomindlabs.com

Tel: + 598 97 663166

About Biomind Labs Inc.

Biomind Labs is a biotech research and development company focused on transforming biomedical sciences knowledge into novel pharmaceutical drugs and innovative nanotech delivery systems for a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions. Through its acceleration platform, Biomind Labs is developing novel pharmaceutical formulations of key endogenous substances which are occurring in the human body and an organic compound that includes many neurotransmitters for treating a wide range of therapeutic indications. Biomind Labs is dedicated to providing patients with access to affordable and contemporary treatments.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this document include, among others, statements relating to the Company's ability to scientifically harness the medicinal power of certain molecules to treat patients suffering from neurological and psychiatric disorders, future research and development in various therapeutic areas, the anticipated results and potential of the Company's future trials, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals, the marketability of the Company's products, ability to source raw materials in the formulation of products, ability to raise capital, and the Company's plan to engineer proprietary drug development platforms, innovative drug delivery systems, novel formulation approaches and treatment regimens for mental health conditions.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: (a) the Company may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions acceptable; (b) compliance with extensive government regulation; (c) domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations; (d) fluctuations in securities markets; (e) adverse changes in the public perception of tryptamine-based treatments and phenethylamine-based therapies; (f) fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; (g) expectations regarding the size of the targeted market; (h) the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; (i) plans for growth; (j) political, social and environmental uncertainties; (k) employee relations; (l) the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions in the markets where the Company operates; and (m) the risk factors set out in the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024, which is available under the Company's Issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

The Company makes no medical, treatment or health benefit claims about the Company's proposed products. The United States Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada or other similar regulatory authorities have not evaluated claims regarding tryptamine-based treatments or phenethylamine-based therapies. The efficacy of such products has not been confirmed by approved research. There is no assurance that the use of tryptamines, tryptamine derivatives or phenethylamines, phenethylamine derivatives can diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Vigorous scientific research and clinical trials are needed. The Company has not yet completed commercial clinical trials for the use of its proposed products. Any references to quality, consistency, efficacy and safety of potential products do not imply that the Company verified such in commercial clinical trials or that the Company will complete such trials. If the Company cannot obtain the approvals or research necessary to commercialize its business, it may have a material adverse effect on the Company's performance and operations.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

The CBOE Exchange Inc. has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and is not responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the contents herein.

SOURCE: Biomind Labs Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/biotechnology/biomind-labs-announces-revocation-of-cease-trade-order-1112300
Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Magna Mining Inc. (TSXV: NICU) (OTCQX: MGMNF) (FSE: 8YD) (the "Company" or "Magna") is pleased to report third quarter 2025 financial results. Management will host a conference call tomorrow, November 26, 2025, at 8:00am EST to discuss the results. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Highlights

The three months ended September 30, 2025 ("Q3 2025") was Magna's second full quarter of production at the McCreedy West copper-precious metals Mine ("McCreedy West"), located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

Total ore processed in Q3 2025 was 75,215 tons from the 700 Footwall Copper Zone (see news release dated October 22, 2025) at a grade of 2.64% copper equivalent ("CuEq") 1 .

. Quarterly production of 2.7 million pounds ("lbs") CuEq at cash costs* of US$5.10/lb CuEq was impacted by the previously disclosed compressed air system failure and power related delays, which delayed access to higher grade stopes and has since been rectified.

Sustaining capital expenditures at McCreedy West totalled $4.1 million during the quarter, a 123% increase from Q2 of 2025, including $2.7 million towards critical capital development and $1.4 million in fixed and mobile machinery upgrades, focused on improving asset reliability moving forward.

Underground development during the quarter totalled 1,796 feet and continues to be prioritized in Q4 to provide increased production optionality and flexibility to support a more robust operating plan in 2026.

Ended Q3 2025 with a cash balance of $63.1 million and subsequent to September 30 the Company issued 14,933,518 common shares upon the exercise of warrants for proceeds of $6.0 million.

* Refer to the section entitled "Non-IFRS Performance Measures" for the reconciliation of these non-IFRS measurements to the financial statements.

Jason Jessup, CEO, commented "During the third quarter of 2025, Magna executed on our plan to focus on investing in the underground development, diamond drilling, equipment and site infrastructure at McCreedy West. The goal of this plan is to access new areas of the mine with higher grade stopes, build in consistency and flexibility to the mine plan and position the operation to execute profitable production in 2026. To this end, we had a successful quarter, and we will be starting to realize the benefits going into Q1 2026. Access to higher grade stopes was achieved in early November following the resolution of the operational issues which impacted Q3 2025 production. We are on track to meet the lower end of our quarterly ore sales guidance in Q4 2025 and continue to prioritize efforts to optimize McCreedy West operations in 2026. I am proud of the team that we have assembled at our McCreedy West Mine and I am confident in their abilities to deliver in the future. We are well-funded to complete this work as well as advance our other Sudbury projects, while continuing to aggressively explore for new copper and precious metals-rich footwall deposits following our recent brokered equity offering and from the exercise of warrants which expired in early November."

Table 1: Magna Mining Q3 2025 Tons Processed, Payable CuEq Pounds and Contained CuEq Grades







2025 Q3 Q2 Q1

(March only) Tons Processed 75,215 70,045 20,388 Cu Eq Grade (%)1

(contained) 2.64 3.26 3.01 Cu Eq lbs1

(payable) 2,735,000 3,053,000 790,000

1 Copper equivalent payable pounds and copper equivalent payable grade were calculated using the following US dollar prices:

Q3 2025: $4.44/lb Cu, $6.81/lb Ni, $15.90/lb Co, $1,383.49/oz Pt, $1,169.18/oz Pd, $3,455.50/oz Au, $39.38 Ag.

Q2 2025: $4.29/lb Cu, $6.88/lb Ni, $15.81/lb Co, $1,072.35/oz Pt, $990.29/oz Pd, $3,301.29/oz Au, $33.64 Ag.

Q1 2025: $4.40/lb Cu, $7.18/lb Ni, $15.38/lb Co, $944.31/oz Pt, $1,005.61/oz Pd, $3,135.60/oz Au, $34.61 Ag.

Table 2: McCreedy West 2025 Underground Development

2025 Development

(feet) Q1

(Jan & Feb Under Prior Operator) 568 Q2 1,444 Q3 1,796

Table 3: Q3 2025 Operating and Financial Highlights

In 000s, except per units and per share amounts Q3 2025 Q2 2025 Q1 2025 Q3 2024 Financial results







Net revenue from mining operations 16,282 18,466 4,453 - Cash margin1 (2,041) (1,191) 269 - Net income (loss) (10,642) (9,501) 29,098 (4,498) Adjusted net loss1 (10,410) (8,930) (5,442) (4,907) Operating cash flow (10,781) (11,560) (2,584) (3,635) Free cash flow1 (14,350) (10,718) (10,584) (3,635)









Per share information:







Net earnings (loss) (0.05) (0.05) 0.15 (0.03) Adjusted net loss1 (0.05) (0.04) (0.03) (0.03) Operating cash flow1 (0.05) (0.06) (0.01) (0.02) Free cash flow1 (0.07) (0.05) (0.05) (0.02)









Selected Financial Statement data:







Cash and cash equivalents 63,121 27,018 38,250 3,941 Working capital 70,393 31,914 39,330 871 Total assets 212,656 163,534 168,132 25,202 Total non-current liabilities 63,102 65,276 68,601 869









Operational results







Ore Processed (Dry tons)







700 Copper Zone 75,215 59,100 13,911 - Intermain Nickel Zone - 10,945 6,477 - Throughput 75,215 70,045 20,388 -









Copper equivalent grade (%)







700 Copper Zone2 2.64 3.35 3.04 - Intermain Nickel Zone2 - 2.77 2.96 -

2.64 3.26 3.01 -









Metals Payable







Copper (000s lbs) 1,949 1,629 552 - Nickel (000s lbs) 193 327 132 - Cobalt (000s lbs) 2 4 2 - Platinum (ozs) 479 1,156 - - Palladium (ozs) 641 1,218 13 - Gold (ozs) 55 284 - - Silver (ozs) 13,105 9,499 1,638 - Cu equivalent payable pounds (000s)2 2,735 3,053 790 -



















Average realized price (per lb Cu Eq payable)1 6.28 6.08 6.32 - Cash costs (per lb Cu Eq payable)1,2 7.03 6.47 5.98 - Cash margin (per lb Cu Eq payable)1 (0.75) (0.39) 0.34 - AISC (per lb Cu Eq payable)1,2 9.01 7.55 6.65 -









Production costs/ton processed1 200 219 194 -









Exchange Rates

















Average 1 USD -> CAD exchange rates 1.3773 1.3841 1.4359 1.3637 Cost Metrics (in USD)







Cash costs1,2 5.10 4.67 4.16 - AISC1,2 6.54 5.45 4.63 -











1 Refer to the section entitled "Non-IFRS Performance Measures" for the reconciliation of these non-IFRS measurements

to the financial statements.

2 Copper equivalent payable pounds for the purpose of copper equivalent payable grade, cash cost and AISC were

calculated using the following US dollar prices:

Q3 2025: $4.44/lb Cu, $6.81/lb Ni, $15.90/lb Co, $1,383.49/oz Pt, $1,169.18/oz Pd, $3,455.50/oz Au, $39.38 Ag.

Q2 2025: $4.29/lb Cu, $6.88/lb Ni, $15.81/lb Co, $1,072.35/oz Pt, $990.29/oz Pd, $3,301.29/oz Au, $33.64 Ag.

Q1 2025: $4.40/lb Cu, $7.18/lb Ni, $15.38/lb Co, $944.31/oz Pt, $1,005.61/oz Pd, $3,135.60/oz Au, $34.61 Ag.

Q3 Financial Highlights

Quarterly production of 2.7 million lbs CuEq, consisting of 1.95 million lbs copper, 0.2 million lbs nickel, 479 ounces platinum, 641 ounces palladium, 55 ounces gold, and 13,105 ounces silver.

Quarterly net revenue from mining operations was $16.3 million.

Mining and processing costs in the quarter were $15.0 million, for production costs of $200 per ton processed.

Q3 cash costs were $7.03/lb CuEq, or US$5.10/lb CuEq.

Q3 all in sustaining costs ("AISC") were $9.01/lb CuEq, or US$6.54/lb CuEq, which includes $4.1 million of sustaining mine capital development, equipment, and exploration, a 123% increase from the previous quarter.

Operating cash outflow in the quarter was $10.8 million or ($0.06) per share.

Free cash outflow in the quarter was $14.4 million or ($0.07) per share.

Adjusted net loss of $10.4 million or ($0.05) per share.

Ended Q3 2025 with a cash balance of $63.1 million and subsequent to September 30, 2025, the Company issued 14,933,518 common shares upon the exercise of warrants for proceeds of $6.0 million.

Further details regarding the calculation of production costs, cash margins and all in sustaining costs can be found in the quarterly MD&A.

Q3 2025 Quarterly Results Conference Call and Webcast

The company will be holding its Q3 results conference call and webcast on Wednesday November 26, 2025 at 8:00am EST. The conference call details are as follows:

To view the live Webcast in listen-only mode: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/xxh36742

To participate in the live conference call (obtain a dial-in number and unique PIN): https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIfc83dc419540403380a832570e704494

Qualified Person

The scientific or technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by David King, M.Sc., P.Geo. Mr. King is the Senior Vice President, Exploration and Geoscience for Magna Mining Inc. and is a qualified person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may", "might", "potential", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "could", "should", "would", "will", "continue", "intend", "plan", "forecast", "prospective", "significant" or other similar words or phrases or variations thereof. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market economic, technical and other 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, including risks and uncertainties relating to the failure of additional drilling to support assumptions, expectations or estimates of potential mineralization, metal tonnes or grade, such as the mineralization of the Morrison Deposit at the Levack mine, the failure of additional drilling to support expansion or delineation of currently estimated resources, the lack of availability of drill rigs or platforms to implement exploration or other programs or the failure to proceed as quickly as planned with additional exploration, production or other drilling, continued delays for assay results, the failure to proceed as quickly as planned with or to complete additional development work as anticipated, such as additional development at the McCreedy West mine to access new stopes or the development of a ramp from the surface of, or recommissioning of the hoisting plant at, Levack, the failure to proceed as quickly as planned with a restart of mining at Levack, assuming there will be any restart, the failure to realize anticipated or assumed production and operational improvements from current or planned optimization initiatives at McCreedy West, the failure to successfully realize on talent or technical expertise to unlock the long-term, sustainable potential of McCreedy West, Levack or other assets of the Company and other risks disclosed in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis, available on the SEDAR+ website (at: www.sedarplus.ca). Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties, contingencies and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements, there can be no certainty or assurance that the Company has accurately or adequately captured, accounted for or disclosed all such risks, uncertainties, contingencies or factors. Readers should place no reliance on forward-looking statements as actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Resource exploration and development, and mining operations, are highly speculative, characterized by several significant risks, which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge will not eliminate. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

About Magna Mining Inc.

Magna Mining Inc. is a producing mining company with a strong portfolio of copper, nickel, and platinum group metals (PGM) assets located in the world-class Sudbury mining district of Ontario, Canada. The Company's primary asset is the McCreedy West Mine, currently in production, supported by a pipeline of highly prospective past-producing properties including Levack, Crean Hill, Podolsky, and Shakespeare.

Magna Mining is strategically positioned to unlock long-term shareholder value through continued production, exploration upside, and near-term development opportunities across its asset base.

Additional corporate and project information is available at www.magnamining.com and through the Company's public filings on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

NON-IFRS PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Please see below for the reconciliation of non-IFRS measures referred to in this news release to the consolidated financial statements.

Average realized price per copper equivalent payable pound

Average realized price per copper equivalent payable pound is a non-IFRS Accounting Standards measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS Accounting Standards and does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS Accounting Standards. Average realized price per copper equivalent payable pound is calculated by dividing total metal proceeds received by the Company for the relevant period by the copper equivalent payable pounds. It may not be comparable to information in other issuers' reports and filings.

In 000s, except per unit amounts

Q3 2025



Q2 2025



Q1 2025





















Cost of sales per financial statements (a)

16,282



18,466



4,453

Treatment and refining charges

1,838



1,634



539

Recognition of deferred streaming revenue

(941 )

(1,550 )

-

Copper equivalent revenue from mining operations (a)

17,179



18,550



4,992















Copper equivalent pounds sold (000s) (b)

2,735



3,053



790















Average realized price copper equivalent sold CAD (c) = (a)  (b)

6.28



6.08



6.32















Average 1 USD -> CAD exchange rate (d)

1.3773



1.3841



1.4359















Average realized price copper equivalent sold USD (c)  (d)

4.56



4.39



4.40

















Cash costs per copper equivalent payable pound

Cash cost per copper equivalent payable pound is a non-IFRS Accounting Standards performance measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS Accounting Standards and does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS Accounting Standards, as well it may not be comparable to information in other issuers' reports and filings. The Company has included this non-IFRS Accounting Standards performance measure throughout this document as Magna believes that this generally accepted industry performance measure provides a useful indication of the Company's operational performance. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. The following table provides a reconciliation of total cash costs per copper equivalent payable pound to cost of sales per the financial statements for each of the last eight quarters:

In 000s, except per unit amounts

Q3 2025



Q2 2025



Q1 2025





















Cost of sales per financial statements

19,380



20,275



4,422

Smelting, treatment and refining charges

1,838



1,634



539

Depletion and depreciation

(1,998 )

(2,168 )

(238 ) Cash costs (a)

19,220



19,741



4,723















Copper equivalent payable pounds (000s) (b)

2,735



3,053



790















Cash costs per copper equivalent payable pound (c) = (a)  (b)

7.03



6.47



5.98















Average 1 USD -> CAD exchange rate (d)

1.3773



1.3841



1.4359















Cash costs per copper equivalent payable pound USD (c)  (d)

5.10



4.67



4.16

















Production costs per ton processed

Mine-site cost per ton processed is a non-IFRS Accounting Standards performance measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS Accounting Standards and does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS Accounting Standards, as well it may not be comparable to information in other issuers' reports and filings. As illustrated in the table below, this measure is calculated by adjusting cost of sales, as shown in the statements of income for non-cash depletion and depreciation, royalties and inventory level changes and then dividing by tons processed through the smelter. Management believes that mine-site cost per ton processed provides additional information regarding the performance of mining operations and allows Management to monitor operating costs on a more consistent basis as the per ton processed measure reduces the cost variability associated with varying production levels. Management also uses this measure to determine the economic viability of mining blocks. As each mining block is evaluated based on the net realizable value of each ton mined, the estimated revenue on a per ton basis must be in excess of the production cost per ton processed in order to be economically viable. Management is aware that this per ton processed measure is impacted by fluctuations in throughput and thus uses this evaluation tool in conjunction with production costs prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. This measure supplements production cost information prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards and allows investors to distinguish between changes in production costs resulting from changes in production versus changes in operating performance.

In 000s, except per unit amounts

Q3 2025



Q2 2025



Q1 2025





















Cost of sales per financial statements

19,380



20,275



4,422

Depletion and depreciation

(1,998 )

(2,168 )

(238 ) Royalties and streaming expense

(2,346 )

(2,772 )

(223 ) Mining and processing costs (a)

15,036



15,335



3,961















Ore processed (tons) (b)

75,214



70,045



20,388















Production costs per ton processed (a)  (b)

200



219



194

















Cash Margin

Cash margin is a non-IFRS Accounting Standards measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS Accounting Standards and does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS Accounting Standards, as well it may not be comparable to information in other issuers' reports and filings. It is calculated as the difference between total sales revenue, net of smelting, refining and treatment costs from mining operations and cash mine site operating costs (see Cash cost per ounce of gold sold under this Section above) per the Company's Financial Statements. The Company believes it illustrates the performance of the Company's operating mines and enables investors to better understand the Company's performance in comparison to other metal producers who present results on a similar basis.

In 000s, except per unit amounts

Q3 2025



Q2 2025



Q1 2025





















Copper equivalent revenue from mining operations (per above)

17,179



18,550



4,992

Cash costs (per above)

19,220



19,741



4,723

Cash margin

(2,041 )

(1,191 )

269















Per pound of copper equivalent payable (Canadian dollar):

























Average realized price (a)

6.28



6.08



6.32

Cash costs (b)

7.03



6.47



5.98

Cash margin (a) - (b)

(0.75 )

(0.39 )

0.34

















All-in Sustaining Costs

All-in sustaining costs ("AISC") include mine site operating costs incurred at Magna mining operations, sustaining mine capital and development expenditures, mine site exploration expenditures and equipment lease payments related to the mine operations and corporate administration expenses. The Company believes that this measure represents the total costs of producing copper equivalent payable pounds from current operations and provides Magna and other stakeholders with additional information that illustrates the Company's operational performance and ability to generate cash flow. This cost measure seeks to reflect the full cost of copper production from current operations on a per-pound basis of copper equivalent payable. New project and growth capital are not included.

In 000s, except per unit amounts

Q3 2025



Q2 2025



Q1 2025





















Cost of sales, per financial statements

19,380



20,275



4,422

Smelting, treatment and refining charges

1,838



1,634



539

Depletion and depreciation

(1,998 )

(2,168 )

(238 ) Cash costs

19,220



19,741



4,723

Sustaining mine exploration and development

2,780



468



-

Sustaining mine capital equipment

1,342



1,381



-

Corporate and general

1,576



2,191



997

Less: KGHM Integration costs

(285 )

(742 )

(465 ) All-in Sustaining costs (AISC) (a)

24,633



23,039



5,255















Pounds of copper equivalent payable (b)

2,735



3,053



790















AISC (c) = (a)  (b)

9.01



7.55



6.65















Average 1 USD -> CAD exchange rate (d)

1.3773



1.3841



1.4359















AISC USD (c)  (d)

6.54



5.45



4.63

















Free cash flow and operating and free cash flow per share

Free cash flow is calculated by taking net cash provided by operating activities less cash used in capital expenditures and lease payments as reported in the Company's financial statements. Free cash flow per share is calculated by dividing free cash flow by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period.

Operating cash flow per share is a non-IFRS Accounting Standards measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS Accounting Standards and does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS Accounting Standards. Operating cash flow per share is calculated by dividing cash flow from operating activities in the Company's Financial Statements by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for each year. It may not be comparable to information in other issuers' reports and filings.

In 000s, except per share amounts

Q3 2025



Q2 2025



Q1 2025





















Net cash provided by operating activities per financial statements (c)

(10,781 )

(11,560 )

(2,584 ) Sustaining mine exploration and development

(2,780 )

(468 )

-

Sustaining mine capital equipment

(1,342 )

(1,381 )

-

Purchase of Project Nikolas Company Inc.

-



-



(5,000 ) Site maintenance capital equipment

666



(231 )

-

Funds held against standby letters of credit

(113 )

2,926



(3,000 ) Interest on resticted funds





(4 )

-

Payment of lease liabilities





-



-

Free cash flows (a)

(14,350 )

(10,718 )

(10,584 )













Weighted number of shares (000s) (b)

211,308



203,647



197,739















Per Share data











Operating cash flow (c)  (b)

(0.05 )

(0.06 )

(0.01 ) Free cash flow (a)  (b)

(0.07 )

(0.05 )

(0.05 )















Adjusted net loss and Adjusted net loss per share

Adjusted net loss and adjusted net loss per share are non-IFRS Accounting Standards performance measures and do not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS Accounting Standards and do not have standardized meanings defined by IFRS Accounting Standards, as well both measures may not be comparable to information in other issuers' reports and filings. Adjusted net loss is calculated by removing the one-time gains and losses resulting from the disposition of non-core assets, non-recurring expenses and significant tax adjustments (mining tax recognition and exploration credit refunds) not related to current period's income, as detailed in the table below. Magna discloses this measure, which is based on its financial statements, to assist in the understanding of the Company's operating results and financial position.

In 000s, except per share amounts

Q3 2025



Q2 2025



Q1 2025





















Net income (loss) per financial statements

(10,642 )

(9,501 )

29,098















Adjustments for:











Gain on bargain purchase of KGHM assets

-



-



(57,227 ) Project Nikolas Company Inc. Integration costs

285



742



779

Transaction Costs

30



35



2,426

Flow-through premium income

-



-



-

Total adjustments

315



777



(54,022 ) Related income tax effect

(83 )

(206 )

10,236

Recognition of mining taxes

-



-



9,246





232



571



(34,540 ) Adjusted net loss (a)

(10,410 )

(8,930 )

(5,442 )













Weighted number of shares (000s) (b)

211,308



203,647



197,739















Per Share data











Adjusted net loss (a)  (b)

(0.05 )

(0.04 )

(0.03 )















To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275916

SOURCE: Magna Mining Inc.
North Berwick, Scotland--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - WESTERN GOLD EXPLORATION LTD. (TSXV: WGLD) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Lorne Resources Ltd. ("Lorne Resources"), has entered into a joint venture (the "JV") with Acrux Gold Limited ("Acrux Gold"), to explore for gold, silver, and critical minerals as part of the Caledonian Gold Project in central Scotland.

Speaking about the joint venture, Western Gold Exploration Chairman, Harry Dobson, confirmed that "The Company views this venture as a significant step forward in unlocking the broader gold potential of the Caledonian Belt in Scotland, leveraging both Lorne's exploration expertise and Acrux Gold's operational experience at Cononish."

Acrux Gold was chosen for this joint venture as it is operating on Scotland's only defined gold resource - as measured under the JORC Code (2012) - the Cononish Gold Project, located near Tyndrum, Perthshire, Scotland.

Under the new joint venture, all exploration and operational activities will be carried out by the JV company, Glen Lyon Limited ("Glen Lyon"). Glen Lyon has applied for two Crown Estate Mines Royal Option Agreements (exploration licences) covering a highly prospective area of approximately 500 km in central Scotland. The project areas for those exploration licences are adjacent to the Cononish Gold Project, which hosts a high-grade deposit and runs along the same mineralised suture zones known to host gold-bearing structures. A comprehensive review of historical geological and exploration data is currently underway, and further updates will be provided in due course.

In establishing the JV, Lorne Resources and Acrux Gold have entered into a shareholders' agreement dated November 25, 2025 for Glen Lyon. That agreement defines governance, funding, and operational frameworks, with Lorne Resources holding 90% and Acrux Gold 10%. Acrux Gold holds a free carried interest during the exploration phase, meaning it is not required to fund activities until completion of the first formal resource estimate on any prospect, after which future costs will be shared proportionately. The agreement also grants Acrux Gold rights to a termination, should Crown Estate Scotland issue a termination notice relating to any exploration licence granted to Glen Lyon.

About Western Gold Exploration

The Company is a mineral exploration company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "WGLD". The Company and its subsidiaries are focused on the exploration of mineral properties in Scotland and discovering new opportunities across the underexplored Caledonian-Appalachian belt in order to identify locations of gold and critical metal deposits. The Company's focus has expanded to include the Caledonian Gold Project in addition to its Lorne Project, which includes the Lagalochan copper gold porphyry property located in Argyll, Scotland (the "Lagalochan Property"), and the adjacent and nearby properties along the Lorne Fault Zone.

On 29 November 2022, the Company filed a National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects compliant, independent Technical Report (the "Technical Report") on the Lagalochan Property. The Technical Report and additional information about the Company are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company's profile and on the Company's website: www.westerngoldexploration.com.

For further information, please contact:

The reader is cautioned that mineralisation on adjacent properties is not necessarily indicative of what can or will be found within any projects upon which Glen Lyon may be granted exploration licences.

Review by Qualified Person, Quality Control and Reports

David Pym (CGeol), a consultant of the Company, is the Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101) who supervised, verified and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this press release on behalf of the Company.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to timing and successful grant of any exploration licences by Crown Estate Scotland to Glen Lyon, completion of any drilling and work programs on any prospects held by Glen Lyon, estimates of mineralisation from drilling, geological information projected from drilling results, potential for minerals and/or mineral resources, and statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company or Glen Lyon that may be described herein. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, accuracy of assay results, geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services, future operating costs, and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Management's Discussion and Analysis for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the period ended September 30, 2025 available at www.sedarplus.ca , many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275938

SOURCE: Western Gold Exploration Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - The Poirier Group (TPG), a management consulting firm specializing in healthcare and operational excellence, has issued a statement responding to the Ontario government's recent directive instructing hospitals to identify cost savings within their operations.

According to TPG's Healthcare Partner, Dale Schattenkirk, the directive presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Ontario's healthcare system

"History shows that when hospitals respond to financial pressure through service reductions, the short-term gains are outweighed by long-term impacts on access, quality, and staff morale," said Schattenkirk. "A sustainable solution lies not in cutting, but in redesigning how care is delivered."

Dale Schattenkirk (Healthcare Partner, The Poirier Group)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The Broader Context: A System Under Pressure

While healthcare spending in Canada has tripled per capita over the past twenty-five years, access to care and patient satisfaction have declined. Canada employs more physicians and nurses than ever before, yet hospitals continue to face rising wait times, staff burnout, and emergency department closures.

The Poirier Group's analysis wash shared in the recently published Healthcare Quarterly article "Are We Actually in the Biggest Healthcare Crisis Ever Seen?", authored by Schattenkirk. This article examines how operational inefficiencies, administrative complexity, and fragmented leadership structures have contributed to persistent challenges across Canada's healthcare landscape.

"This paradox suggests that the issue is not a lack of funding or talent," Schattenkirk explained. "It's how our systems are designed and managed. Administrative burden, disconnected processes, and outdated workflows consume valuable time that should be directed toward patient care."

Proven Solutions: Lean Process Improvement

The Poirier Group points to decades of evidence showing that operational reform-particularly through Lean process improvement methodologies-can achieve both financial and clinical results without sacrificing frontline services.

A recent example completed by The Poirier Group involved reducing Overall Average Length of Stay (OALoS) and emergency room wait times in a Caribbean country. The average hospital in Canada operates with a ratio of approximately ten staff per patient, while the hospital where The Poirier Group conducted the engagement had a ratio of 4.5 to one-starting from a significant staffing deficit by comparison. Over a twenty-week period, OALoS was reduced by two days, and emergency room wait times were cut by 50%, using the existing staffing complement. All reductions were achieved through process redesign without compromising the quality of care.

Lean principles, long proven in manufacturing and service sectors, have been successfully applied in several Canadian healthcare systems. Process mapping, staff engagement, and standardized workflows lead to reduced redundancies and improve patient flow by targeting non-value-added activities rather than reducing care availability.

Notable examples include:

Manitoba's Lean program , which achieved an annual reduction of approximately two million patient wait days through administrative streamlining.

Prince Edward Island's healthcare reform , which shortened hospital stays by an average of two days per patient.

Long-term care facilities in Ottawa, which reported significant reductions in infection rates and improved patient outcomes after adopting Lean-based process improvements.

Each of these initiatives, according to TPG's analysis, demonstrated that measurable savings and quality improvements are achievable when healthcare leadership remains committed to operational excellence over time.

"The most successful systems we've seen are those that invest in improving the working environment for staff rather than cutting frontline resources," said Schattenkirk. "Real savings come from eliminating rework, delays, and redundancy-not from reducing care."

Is Canada Really in the Worst Healthcare Crisis Ever?

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Leadership Commitment: The Key to Lasting Impact

The Poirier Group notes that the primary barrier to sustained improvement across Canada's healthcare sector has not been a lack of innovation, but rather a lack of consistent leadership commitment. Shifting political priorities, budget cycles, and executive turnover often disrupt long-term improvement initiatives before their benefits can fully materialize.

"When faced with fiscal constraints, it's tempting to look for immediate cost reductions," Schattenkirk added. "But the healthcare systems that thrive are those that maintain focus on continuous improvement and engage their workforce as partners in redesigning processes."

The firm emphasizes that Ontario hospitals now have an opportunity to set a national example by prioritizing systemic efficiency and staff engagement over service retrenchment.

"A bad system will beat a good person every time," Schattenkirk noted, quoting Dr. W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of quality management. "If Ontario's hospitals focus on improving the systems that support care delivery, they can protect both patients and providers while meeting fiscal goals."

A Call for Operational Excellence in Ontario

The Poirier Group's healthcare practice works with organizations across Canada to embed Lean and continuous improvement principles at the system level. Through structured problem-solving, leadership alignment, and data-driven decision-making, the firm supports healthcare institutions in building agile, sustainable operations that deliver better outcomes for patients and staff alike.

TPG's response highlights that Ontario's current fiscal directive does not have to translate into service cuts. Instead, it can serve as a catalyst for transformational change if hospitals focus on long-term operational excellence.

"Ontario has a chance to lead Canada in redefining what value-based healthcare truly means," said Schattenkirk. "By redesigning processes rather than reducing care, hospitals can achieve both financial accountability and improved patient outcomes." This is solvable!

The full analysis of Canada's healthcare system and operational reform strategies can be found in Healthcare Quarterly: "Are We Really in the Worst Healthcare Crisis Ever?"

The Poirier Group

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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About The Poirier Group

The Poirier Group is a North American management consulting firm specializing in business transformation and operational excellence. With deep expertise in healthcare, supply chain, advanced technology, and lean change management, TPG helps health systems improve performance, drive lasting change, and equip frontline teams with practical tools and methodologies that effect lasting change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275931

SOURCE: The Poirier Group
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2025) - Grit Metals (TSXV: FIN) (FSE: K9T) ("Grit" or the "Company") is pleased to report that it has entered into a debt settlement agreement with Vector Geological Solutions Inc., an arm's length party, to settle outstanding indebtedness (the "Debt Settlement"). Pursuant to the Debt Settlement, the Company will issue 625,000 common shares ("Shares") at a deemed price of $0.12 per Share in full satisfaction of the $75,000 owing for geological consulting services rendered to the Company. The board of directors has determined that completing the Debt Settlement is in the best interests of the Company as it will preserve cash for working capital purposes and strengthen the Company's balance sheet. The Debt Settlement remains subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. All shares issued will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from issuance.

About Grit Metals Corp.

Grit Metals Corp. is a junior mining company currently focussed on the Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum Finnish Pegmatite Project in central Finland. Governing bodies in Europe and Finland are legislating environmentally friendly and energy independent laws and policies. One of the key components is access to REE and, specifically, lithium. The company's exploration licenses are located within 1 kms of the Keliber mine and production complex, currently under construction and expected to begin production in H2 2025.

An estimated 600 million investment by Keliber's parent company Sibanye-Stillwater Limited in partnership with the Finnish Minerals Group (www.mineralsgroup.fi) is underway in the Kautinen Region and will see the development of open-pit and underground mining from several deposits, construction of a central spodumene concentrator plant and a lithium hydroxide chemical plant at tidewater in Kokkola. When completed, this complex will comprise a complete hard-rock spodumene pegmatite lithium supply chain (source: www.sibanyestillwater.com).

On behalf of the board of directors of the Company:

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

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is 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. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the approval of the Debt Settlement shares, obtaining approval from the TSXV for the Debt Settlement, the future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including the presence of lithium mineralization at, and the exploration and development potential of, the Finland Pegmatite Project. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. This information, however, 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include the costs of any anticipated work programs and the ability to fund such costs, required approvals in connection with any work programs and the ability to obtain such approvals, risks inherent in exploration as well as those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275874

SOURCE: Grit Metals Corp.
Films backed by Zoya Akhtar and Kiran Rao headline the programme, while celebrated actors Randeep Hooda, Richa Chadha, join as Goodwill Ambassadors, further strengthening the festivals purpose-driven advocacy

Indias largest film festival dedicated entirely to cinema for environmental change, the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF), is set to return with its fifth edition from December 414, 2025. With a strong mission to spotlight films rooted in environment, wildlife, sustainability, and climate action, the festival this year expands its scale, reach, and creative footprint like never before.

The 2025 edition marks a significant leap forward with acclaimed filmmakers and champions of sustainability coming together. Films backed by Zoya Akhtar and Kiran Rao headline the programme, while celebrated actors Randeep Hooda and Richa Chadha join as Goodwill Ambassadors, further strengthening the festivals purpose-driven advocacy.

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Now in its fifth year, ALT EFF has firmly established itself as Indias leading platform for climate-conscious cinema. It brings together filmmakers, activists, researchers, and audiences to explore the power of storytelling in driving environmental action. The 2025 edition introduces new programmes, collaborations, and impact initiatives, positioning ALT EFF not just as a festivalbut as a growing movement committed to creating tangible change.

Kunal Khanna, Founder & Festival Director, ALT EFF, said, ALT EFF was created with a simple conviction, that cinema can inspire people to think differently and act decisively. Over the last six years, films from across the globe have shown us time and again that audiences everywhere recognise one urgent reality: safeguarding the planet is no longer optional. With this edition, and with initiatives like our decentralised format and watch parties, were pushing that belief further by bringing these stories straight into communities where meaningful change begins.

Anaka Kaundinya, Programming Director, Every edition of the festival mirrors the shifting dialogue around our environment, from collective climate fears to the innovative solutions emerging worldwide. What makes the 2025 programme truly unique is the blend of international narratives and hyperlocal voices, offering a complete picture of how humans connect with the natural world. Were looking forward to witnessing how viewers respond to these films, whether theyre watching in cinemas, at community gatherings, or through our new watch-party experiences.

Key Highlights of ALT EFF 2025

Opening Night Film:

Turtle Walker, produced by Zoya Akhtar, will open the festival in Mumbai on December 4, marking the beginning of a 10-day showcase featuring 80+ films from India and across the globe.

Jury Panel:

Actorfilmmaker Shriya Pilgaonkar and National Award-winning filmmaker Pan Nalin headline the jury for 2025.

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New Goodwill Ambassadors:

Actors Richa Chadha, Randeep Hooda join ALT EFF as ambassadors, amplifying awareness around environmental sustainability.

40 Lakh Environmental Film Fund:

In a transformative step for the industry, ALT EFF announces Indias first dedicated environmental filmmaking fund, offering 40 lakh to nurture stories that address ecological concerns with creativity and urgency.

Key Events:

The festival launches with an opening-night curtain raiser in Mumbai on December 4 followed by a series of immersive talks, screenings, and community experiences through the weekend in Bengaluru.

Flagship Films of 2025:

Alongside Turtle Walker, the festival will screen impactful titles including:

Panha (produced by Dia Mirza)

Humans in The Loop (produced by Kiran Rao)

Some other key films that will be showcased at the festival includes the following (with their brief descriptions)

Turtle Waker (Produced by Zoya Akhtar)

In the late 1970s, Satish Bhaskar embarked on an epic journey along Indias coastlines and the spectacular Andaman and Nicobar islands, where he uncovered the vital nesting beaches of sea turtles. During his death-defying quest, he unravels mysteries surrounding these enigmatic ocean creatures  and sets out to save them from extinction. After a devastating tsunami strikes in 2004, Bhaskar grapples with a pressing question: What happens to sea turtles when their nesting beaches disappear?

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Panha (Produced by Dia Mirza)

In a quaint Maharashtrian village, a family faces losing their ancestral mango farm to the bullet train project. Through the tender eyes of Vithu (7), we witness their struggle to shield him from the truth. Baba (father) wishes to start anew in the city, while Kaka (uncle) clings to their farming roots . Aware of the irreparable rift , Vithu takes matters into his own hands. Days before eviction, he goes missing. A frantic search ensues. When found, they discover a tunnel dug by him to divert the train underground and save their farm. His innocent determination forces the family to confront their grief, dissolve barriers, and come together for a heartfelt surprise for Vithu.

Humans in The Loop (Produced by Kiran Rao)

Humans In The Loop essays the story of an indigenous woman who begins interacting with AI while working in a remote data centre in Jharkhand.

After enduring years of name-calling and taunts that echoed deep-rooted biases against her community, Nehma makes the difficult decision to separate from her partner. Seeking solace and a fresh start, she returns to her ancestral village with her children. To support her family, she takes on an unexpected role as a data labeller - training algorithms to recognize and differentiate between objects - with the same patience and precision as a parent guiding a child.

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As she delves deeper into her work, Nehma begins to uncover the subtle yet persistent human biases embedded within AI systems, prompting her to question whether technology can ever truly reflect an indigenous worldview.

Future Council (Australia, Netherlands)

Director Damon Gameau (2040, THAT SUGAR FILM) invites eight children on an epic adventure across Europe in a school bus powered by biofuel. Their mission is to better understand the planets predicament, explore solutions and, most importantly, take the conversation from the streets, into the boardrooms of some of the worlds largest polluters and most influential companies.

Snow Leopard Sisters (Nepal)

The film tells the inspiring story of an unlikely yet powerful friendship between two Indigenous women in one of the most isolated corners of the Himalayas. The film follows local snow leopard conservationist Tshiring Lhamu Lama as she mentors 17-year-old Tenzin Bhuti Gurung, who is desperate to escape a forced marriage. Together, they journey through the treacherous yet breathtaking landscape of the Himalayas in search of the last remaining endangered snow leopards.

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Farming The Revolution (India, France)

In November 2020, Gurbaz Sangha, a young farmer from Punjab, embarked on a remarkable journey. Riding his tractor 400 kilometres to Delhi, he joined forces with thousands, and later more than half a million, men and women from many parts of the country. Their united mission: to stand against the newly enacted farm laws. Amid a COVID lockdown, the farmers  representing over half of Indias workforce  vowed to remain at the borders until the laws were repealed. The protest cities that mushroomed outside Delhi created a parallel world where they redefined co-existence, with women emerging as equal political partners. The scale of these protests echoed the spirit of Indias independence movement, culminating in an unexpected, triumphant outcome.

Chasing Time (USA)

Over the course of the 15-year Extreme Ice Survey project, photographer James Balog and his team brought some of the worlds first and most compelling visual evidence of climate change to the global stage as he depicted the rapid melting of glaciers around the world. Thoughtfully helmed by acclaimed director Jeff Orlowski-Yang (Chasing Ice, Chasing Coral, The Social Dilemma) and first-time filmmaker Sarah Keo, Chasing Time is a meditative exploration of time and mortality, following James and his crew as they bring the decades-long project to a close, cataloging more than one million images in the process.

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Black Snow (USA)

When the residents of a remote Siberian city discover an old Soviet mine has caught fire beneath their neighborhood, they turn to Natalia Zubkova, a local homemaker-turned-journalist, for help. But after her news videos go viral, she suddenly finds herself the target of a massive government disinformation campaign.
Given the actor and his relentless spirit to contribute to Hindi cinema, he was the most vulnerable of the artists who blew the celluloid with his spectacularly vociferous and versatile performances

Dharmendra had an experience of over six decades in front of the camera. The moment the name appears or arrives or is even heard, we think of a solid man, the son of the soil, a man with fists of iron and heart of gold. And someone with a tough exterior. But given the actor and his relentless spirit to contribute to Hindi cinema, he was the most vulnerable of the artists who blew the celluloid with his spectacularly vociferous and versatile performances. Dharmendra was more than just An Action Hero.

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No state honour for Dharmendra?

The actor breathed his last on November 24 at 89. But despite a legacy that spanned for more than six glorious decades, he was not cremated with state honours, unlike Manoj Kumar, who passed away earlier this year in April.

The reason comes from the decision taken by the Deol family, who chose to go against it, and wanted to have a moment of privacy. This comes at a time when earlier this month, false reports around his demise surfaced on social media.

Hema Malini on Dharmendra

Dharmendra and Hema Malini have been married for 43 years. They tied the knot in the year 1980 and have acted in multiple films in their illustrious careers like Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta, Charas, Dream Girl, Razia Sultan, The Burning Train, Krodhi. In a throwback interview with Stardust, Malini spoke about Dharmendra, how they fight with each other, and her marriage with the star.

She revealed, We start each day with a fight. We are fighting all the time. It is he who normally gives in, and then we make up. Early in the morning, when he comes to see me, he asks, Why do you have a long face today, and why are you spoiling my mood early in the morning? As if I could help it, I was born with a face like this. Then we fight.
Dharmendra, who was widely considered one of the greatest, most handsome, and most commercially successful film stars in the history of Indian cinema, had a cinematic career spanning over six decades; he has worked in more than 300 films

Veteran Bollywood star Dharmendra, aged 89, passed away on November 24. The octogenarian on November 12 had got discharged from Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai and was said to be in a stable condition and recovering well at home.

At that time Dr. Rajiv Sharma from the hospital told IANS that the legendary star has gone home fully satisfied after receiving the required treatment.

Sharing an update on the actors health, he stated, Dharmendra ji has gone from the hospital with full satisfaction. His family has taken him home. Everything has been arranged for him.

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Tributes at IFFI 2025

As a mark of respect and tribute to the doyen of Hindi cinema, his iconic bike from the 1975 blockbuster Sholay was parked on the streets of Panaji:

#WATCH | Panaji, Goa: International Film Festival of India (IFFI) showcases the iconic 'Jai-Veeru' bike from the film Sholay, marking 50 years of 'Dosti' and 'Sholay'



Veteran actor and former Member of Parliament Dharmendra passed away today at the age of 89. pic.twitter.com/d9JV8Ae4H7  ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2025

The star was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai and sources close to IANS on November 10 had said that Dharmendra is critical and on life support.

On October 31, the actor, as per sources close to IANS, was kept under strict medical observation by top doctors at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.

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On the professional front, Dharmendra was last seen in the movie _Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya_ in 2024. The movie starred actors Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon. The actor is set to star next in the movie Ikkis, directed by ace director Sriram Raghavan.

Dharmendra, who was widely considered one of the greatest, most handsome, and most commercially successful film stars in the history of Indian cinema, had a cinematic career spanning over six decades; he has worked in more than 300 films.
The veteran actor got married at the age of 19 in the year 1954 to Prakash Kaur. They have four children together- Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and daughters Vijeta and Ajeeta.

Dharmendra, the legendary actor of Hindi cinema, passed away at the age of 89. Tributes and condolences are pouring in since late afternoon. Celebrities have arrived at his funeral. He shall never be forgotten.

The veteran actor got married at the age of 19 in the year 1954 to Prakash Kaur. They have four children together- Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and daughters Vijeta and Ajeeta.

While talking about Dharmendra in an interview, Kaur said, He is the first love and the last man in my life however far he may be from me, if I need him, I know hell be there. I have not lost my trust in him.

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Sunny Deol made his acting debut in 1983 with Rahul Rawails Betaab that came out in August. And at the ongoing IFFI in Goa, the veteran filmmaker recalled his memories of the He-Man of Hindi cinema and his passion for acting and love for his children.

Dharam ji used to come by the evening flight at 7.30 from Bombay. He would reach Delhi at 10 oclock at night. I would go to the airport to fetch him. He would come straight to the circus where we were shooting. He would shoot till 5 in the morning. And I would then take him back straight to the airport. He would get me to a flight. And he would come back to Bombay to shoot for Aadmi Aur Insaan for BR Chppra. Dharmendra did this for one month.

Rawail added, I dont think theres anybody else who would manage to do that thing. And Ive been very close with the family because I happened to direct Betaab, which was his sons first film, Sunny's first film. I remember at the shooting, we were shooting in Kashmir. And he came one day, he just reached there. And he said, Ill just say hello to everyone. And after three days, he said, I am going back. I asked why and he said, This shooting is so boring.

And there are lots of these things about him, these quips. And when Betaab released, theres a theatre in Bombay called Gaiety, which is just adjacent to my house. And every evening at six oclock, Dharamji would be there, seeing Betaab every day. And he was so excited, after the film. Every day, he would come over to my house, just sit and would talk about the film as though it was the first time hed seen it.

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His last rites are being held at the Pawanhans crematorium in Mumbai, with family members and members of the film fraternity gathered to pay their respects

Dharmendra, the legendary actor fondly known as Hindi cinemas original He-Man, passed away on November 24 at the age of 89. The veteran star, whose career spanned more than six decades, was remembered for his iconic roles, larger-than-life persona, and enduring contribution to Indian cinema.

His last rites are being held at the Pawanhans crematorium in Mumbai, with family members and members of the film fraternity gathered to pay their respects. The solemn occasion saw Bollywood heavyweights such as Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aamir Khan, and several other colleagues arriving to bid farewell to the cinematic legend.

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The best films of a veteran

Whats it about: Jai and Veeru, two ex-convicts, are hired by Thakur Baldev Singh, a retired policeman, to help him nab Gabbar Singh, a notorious dacoit, who has spread havoc in the village of Ramgarh.

Razia Sultan

Whats it about:

Razia Sultan, the first female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, lands in trouble and loses her kingdom when she falls in love with Jamal-ud-Din Yakut, an Abyssinian slave.

Dream Girl

Whats it about: Sapna, a beautiful young woman, cons rich people to fund an orphanage for children. When she meets Anupam, a rich man, she poses as a princess and they fall in love but soon, the truth comes out.

Chupke Chupke

Whats it about: Sulekha is in awe of her brother-in-law Raghavendra for his intelligence. Parimal, her husband, decides to take up the challenge of fooling Raghavendra and goes to work for him as a driver.

Jeevan Mrityu

Whats it about: An honest bank manager is arrested for embezzlement on the eve of his marriage. After his release, he seeks out his fiancee and decides to take revenge on his colleagues, who falsely implicated him.

Satyakam

Whats it about: An idealist meets a girl who was raped and marries her. But despite his idealism, he is unable to accept her or her child completely.

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A double digit opening is confirmed on the cards. This could go massive at the box-office if the content connects with the audience

As the AR Rahman album from Tere Ishk Mein continues to trend and the trailer garners massive applause, the buzz around the film is at an all-time peak. Fans cant stop talking about the crackling chemistry between Dhanush and Kriti, with their new pairing becoming a major highlight ahead of release.

Riding on this wave of excitement, Kriti opened up about her dynamic working experience with Dhanush, revealing the strong creative bond that shaped many of the films unforgettable moments.

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Also as per reports and trends, the film has sold 20,000 tickets so far that also includes national multiplex chains like PVR and Inox. A double digit opening is confirmed on the cards. This could go massive at the box-office if the content connects with the audience.

Speaking about her experience working with Dhanush, Kriti shares, I think Dhanush is an incredible actor, I have always been an admirer of his talent and his craft. I feel he has a very strong hold on his craft. Hes very nuanced; he also directed a lot of films, and comes from a lot of experience and understanding of scenes and how it will translate on the screen. He really brings out a lot of layers in his character and I was very excited to work with him. I knew Im going to have an actor who I can really feed off from that is exactly what happened. And we had not met before, and even Shankar and Mukti in the film at a point had not met before, so that worked out!

Adding further about their on-screen dynamic and the process of creating powerful performances, she continues, We have some really intense scenes, a lot of really long scenes that can, you know, translate when both of us feed off each other. Hes really collaborative as an actor and really helpful. I think together we have created some magical moments and felt it when the scene happened. Both of us would look at each other and we were like, That was a good scene! I have really enjoyed working with him and I hope we do a lot more work in the future.
Pem Wang Thongdok, an Indian-origin woman who lives in Britain, faced alleged harassment from Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Authorities declared her passport to be invalid, saying Arunachal Pradesh is part of China. Now, India has sent a strong demarche to Beijing, adding that such conduct introduces unnecessary hurdles in the broader effort to stabilise bilateral relations

A three-hour layover at Shanghai Pudong International Airport turned into an 18-hour nightmare for Pem Wang Thongdok. The reason? She originally hails from Arunachal Pradesh.

Thongdok, an Indian-origin woman who lives in Britain, faced harassment by Chinese immigration officials at the airport after they refused to accept her Indian passport, which mentions Arunachal Pradesh as her place of birth.

According to India Today reports, Thongdok said she was detained for 18 hours on November 21 and her passport was declared invalid by officials. One of the officials at the airport even told her, Arunachal Pradesh is part of China.'

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The row has now snowballed into a bigger row with India issuing a demarche as well as the Indian consulate in Shanghai taking up the matter.

Lets take a closer look at what exactly happened.

Passport confiscated, blocked and mocked

The incident occurred when Thongdok was travelling from London to Japan on November 21, with a three-hour transit in Shanghai.

The officers at the immigration counter declared her passport invalid as it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her place of birth.

Thongdok, in a post on the social media platform X, wrote: I was held at Shanghai Airport for over 18 hrs on 21st Nov 2025, on claims by China immigration and China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited. They called my Indian passport invalid, as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh, which they claimed is Chinese territory.

Speaking to India Today, she asserted, After immigration, I submitted my passport and was waiting at security. Just then, an official came and started screaming India, India with my name and singled me out. When I asked, she took me to the immigration desk and said, Arunachal, not a valid passport.

Thongdok told India Today that when she asked why, the official replied: Arunachal is a part of China. Your passport is invalid.

Thongdok claimed that immigration officers and China Eastern Airlines staff mocked her, suggesting that she should apply for a Chinese passport.

She also alleged that she was denied proper food, information and access to airport facilities, turning a short layover into a distressing 18-hour ordeal.

Despite holding a visa, she was prevented from boarding her onward flight to Japan and her passport was withheld.

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Thongdok told India Today that she managed to reach the Indian Consulate in Shanghai with the help of a friend in the UK. She said the Indian officials secured her release and helped her board a night flight out of China.

Her mother, Sang Chhom Thongdok, told news agency PTI that she had undergone a harrowing ordeal, but she is very smart and strong and didnt buckle under pressure.

After the issue cropped up, she first reached out to her late fathers friend in Delhi, who helped her get in touch with the Indian embassy authorities in China, and they, in turn, helped her travel out of China. She is currently in Bangkok, Thailand, said Pems mother to PTI.

Thongdok added that her daughter had studied in Delhi University and had then gone to the UK for higher studies. My daughter has been living in the UK for nearly 10 years, but she is an Indian citizen. She works for a financial firm and travels frequently, but had never faced such an issue at any airport before.

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Thongdok writes to PM Modi

Thongdok has now written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior officials in the government. She highlighted the kind of treatment she faced, calling it a direct insult to Indias sovereignty and to the citizens of Arunachal Pradesh.

She urged the Indian government to raise this matter with Beijing, seeking a detailed explanation of what happened. She has also sought accountability and disciplinary action against the immigration and airline staff involved, and pushed for compensation, the report noted.

India issues strong response to China

Following the incident, India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with China. A strong demarche was issued to Beijing simultaneously in the Chinese capital and in Delhi, on the very day of the incident, while the Indian Consulate in Shanghai intervened locally and provided assistance to the stranded passenger.

According to sources, India conveyed that the passenger had been detained on ludicrous grounds.

The demarche also stated that Arunachal Pradesh is indisputably Indian territory and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports.

India has also stated that the Chinese authorities had violated international civil aviation norms, including the Chicago and Montreal Conventions.

Government sources further added that such conduct introduces unnecessary hurdles in the broader effort to stabilise bilateral relations.

Chinas repeated claims on Arunachal Pradesh, Indias stand

China has time and again disputed Indias sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh. From referring to it as South Tibet to renaming certain places in Arunachal Pradesh, Beijing continues to harp on its claim.

The Indian government has repeatedly rejected Chinas claims as vain and preposterous. Reacting to the renaming move, New Delhi said, This will not alter the undeniable reality that the state was, is, and will always remain an integral part of India.

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However, the recently concluded SCO Summit 2025 in Tianjin signals a cautious thaw in IndiaChina relations.

With inputs from agencies
Australias far-right Senator Pauline Hanson triggered massive anger, as she wore a burqa in Parliament after a bill that sought to outlaw full head coverings in public places was blocked. The One Nation party leader has been accused of blatant racism

Hanson argued that she wore what she described as an 'oppressive, radical, non-religious' garment to highlight the mistreatment of women and raise concerns about national security. Image courtesy: AP

Australias Senate came to a halt for more than an hour on Monday after a far-right senator walked into the chamber wearing a burqa, triggering anger across Parliament.

Senator Pauline Hanson, who has pushed for years to introduce a national ban on burqas, was ultimately removed from the chamber for the rest of the day after she refused multiple requests to take off the face covering.

Her actions quickly drew criticism from many Muslim senators and other political leaders, who accused her of blatant racism and called the stunt disrespectful.

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So who is Pauline Hanson, and why is she fighting so hard against burqas? Heres a closer look at what happened and why it matters.

Who is Pauline Hanson?

Pauline Hanson has been a controversial figure in Australian politics for decades.

Her party, One Nation, currently holds four seats in the Senate, after winning two more in Mays general election. The partys rise has been linked to growing support for far-right, anti-immigration ideas.

Hanson has opposed burqas and advocated for a ban on them and other full-face coverings in public places across Australia. File image/ AFP

Hanson first became a national figure in the 1990s, largely because of her outspoken views against immigration from Asia. She had argued at the time that Australia was in danger of being swamped by Asians. She has also long criticised multiculturalism and pushed for stricter immigration controls.

She has also sparked controversy over indigenous issues, once declaring: theres no definition to an Aboriginal, and calling for a big debate on this.

For years, Hanson has opposed burqas and advocated for a ban on them and other full-face coverings in public places across Australia. She did the same act in 2017.

What did Hanson do in the Senate?

The latest controversy began after Hanson was blocked from introducing a bill that sought to outlaw burqas in public places.

Shortly after, she entered the Senate wearing a burqa herself, sparking immediate anger across the chamber. Senators protested, and the sitting was suspended when Hanson refused multiple requests to remove the garment.

A dress code might be a choice of the senators, but racism should not be the choice of the Senate. This is a racist senator, displaying blatant racism and Islamophobia, said Mehreen Faruqi, a Muslim Greens senator, in comments to Reuters.

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Pauline Hanson has worn a burqa into the Senate chamber on Monday afternoon, the second time in her parliamentary career she has performed the stunt.



Sadly, our Government didnt get the message last time Pauline stated her case to ban it.



Aussies do not feel safe around people pic.twitter.com/skuBphJdwA  Lozzy B  (@TruthFairy131) November 24, 2025

Fatima Payman, an independent senator from Western Australia, also criticised Hansons move, calling it disgraceful.

For her to wear the burka, walk in, and just not listen to the procedures or the ruling that was given before her is typical of her trying to stay relevant, she told ABC Radio.

She added: The fact that this is the last week of sitting for 2025 and the Senate is suspended  where are the priorities of the government and Pauline Hanson?

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Leaders from both major parties condemned the incident. Penny Wong, the Labor leader in the Senate, said Hansons behaviour was not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate and moved a motion to suspend her. Anne Ruston, the oppositions deputy Senate leader, also denounced the stunt.

What did Hanson say?

Hanson later issued a statement on Facebook, calling her actions a form of protest after her proposed bill was rejected.

She argued that she wore what she described as an oppressive, radical, non-religious garment to highlight the mistreatment of women and raise concerns about national security.

If they dont want me wearing it  ban the burqa, she wrote.

However, when asked by The Guardian to provide any specific examples of national security threats linked to face coverings such as the burqa, Hanson could not cite any. Can I suggest you call Asio? she responded.

Pressed again for details, she admitted: I cant answer you that question.

With input from agencies
Adolf Hitler Uunona is set to win re-election to the Ompundja constituency, which is in Namibias Oshana region in the north. But what do we know about the politician named after the German dictator and Nazi Party leader?

Adolf Hitler Uunona serves the Ompundja constituency, which is in Namibias Oshana region in the north. Image courtesy: X/@rawsalerts

The name Adolf Hitler is reviled the world over for good reason.

The German dictator and head of the Nazi Party killed millions of people, including Jews, through the Holocaust, and plunged nations across the world into a catastrophic war that it took decades to recover from.

However, a Namibian politician with the same name, Adolf Hitler Uunona, is now set to win re-election on 26 November (Wednesday).

But what do we know about Adolf Hitler Uunona?

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Lets take a closer look:

All about Adolf

Adolf was born in December 1965, in what was then South West Africa.

Adolf, 59, belongs to Namibias ruling centre-left South West Africa Peoples Organisation (Swapo). The party, which has ruled Namibia since its independence, has campaigned against colonial and white-minority rule.

Adolf serves the Ompundja constituency, which is in Namibias Oshana region in the north. The small constituency is home to fewer than 3,000 voters. Adolf is set to win his fourth term in this seat, which he also previously won in 2020, 2015 and 2004.

Adolf has garnered much of the support from the community and is known as a vociferous voice against apartheid, for engaging with the grassroots and focusing on development.

Adolf said his father probably named him after the German leader. He, however, added that he did not understand the significance of the name. He probably didnt understand what Adolf Hitler stood for. As a child, I saw it as a totally normal name.

A picture dated 1939 shows German Nazi Chancellor Adolf Hitler giving the Bazi salute during a rally next to Deputy Furhrer Rudolf Hess. File photo/AFP

Adolf previously won the Ompundja constituency in 2020 with 85 per cent of the vote, with 1,196 ballots to his opponents mere 213.

My father gave me this name Adolf Hitler, but it does not mean I have Adolf Hitlers character or resemble that of Adolf Hitler of Germany, Uunona told The Namibian at the time. Hitler was a controversial person who captured and killed people across the globe. I am not like him.

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Adolf also spoke of how he was unaware of the significance of the name growing up.

It wasnt until I was growing up that I realised: This man wanted to subjugate the whole world, Adolf told the BBC. Adolf has distanced himself from the man he was named after and from Nazi ideology. It wasnt until I was growing up that I realised: This man wanted to subjugate the whole world. I have nothing to do with any of these things, he said.

Adolf said he has no plans to change his name. He pointed out that his wife calls him Adolf and that he goes by the name in public and on official documents. He says it is too late to do anything about it. The fact I have this name does not mean I want to conquer Oshana. It doesnt mean Im striving for world domination.

The NamibianGerman connection

It must be pointed out here that Namibia was a former German colony between 1884 and 1915 called German South West Africa. During this time, Germany left its cultural imprint on the nation, including churches, languages and the government.

The German Empire killed thousands of people during a revolt between 1904 and 1908 by local Nama, Herero and San people  what some historians have dubbed the forgotten genocide. Around 70,000 people were said to have been killed during this revolt carried out under Kaiser Wilhelm II.

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Namibia, after being a German colony, was then ruled by South Africa. It only gained independence in 1990. Namibia still has several German-named towns and a small German-speaking contingent, which makes it no surprise that German names are not uncommon in the country.

According to reports, some Nazis fled to Namibia after the death of Hitler. A 1976 New York Times article claimed that German-Namibians continued to greet each other with the words Heil Hitler.

However, it seems that many of those who adopted such names had little understanding of the context and wider significance. The name once again highlights the lingering impact and legacy of colonialism in Africa.

Since Germany recognised the genocide in 2021, Namibia has been pushing for reparations. It previously rejected an offer by Germany for $12 million as recompense. The Swapo party, which has been in charge of Namibia since independence, has faltered recently over bribery allegations involving the fishing industry. In the previous national elections, it lost control of over two dozen towns and cities. However, in Ompundja, Adolf remains in charge.

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With inputs from agencies.
Bettina Anderson, the girlfriend of US President Donald Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr, has grabbed attention in India after videos of her dancing at a sangeet ceremony with Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh went viral. The couple were in Udaipur to attend Netra Mantena and Vamsi Gadirajus grand wedding. Anderson is a socialite, model, philanthropist, and influencer

During a sangeet ceremony in Udaipur, Donald Trump Jr's girlfriend, Bettina Anderson was seen dancing as Ranveer Singh invited them on stage during his performance on What Jhumka? Image courtesy: Instagram

Bettina Anderson, the girlfriend of US President Donald Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr, has suddenly become a talking point in India after videos of her dancing at a lavish Udaipur wedding went viral.

She and Trump Jr were in the city to attend the sangeet of Netra Mantena, daughter of US-based pharma billionaire Rama Raju Mantena, and Vamsi Gadiraju, co-founder and CTO of Superorder. The three-day celebrations began on November 21 in Udaipur, a favourite spot for big, luxurious destination weddings.

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So who exactly is Bettina Anderson? Heres a closer look.

Bettina sets the dance floor buzzing

At a grand sangeet in Udaipur, Bettina Anderson lit up the dance floor alongside Donald Trump Jr after Ranveer Singh called them on stage during his high-energy performance on the song What Jhumka? from Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani.

The sangeet, hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, saw a star-studded line-up with performances by Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Varun Dhawan.

Guests cheered as Ranveer encouraged the couple to join him, and a video of the moment has since gone viral, capturing the two dancing before the actor shifted to another hit track.

For the evening, Bettina wore a shimmering gold lehengacholi, while Ranveer kept it classic in a black suit. He continued entertaining the crowd with group dances to Aankh Maare and even sang Apna Time Aayega from Gully Boy.

The wedding celebrations drew around 600 guests across iconic venues like The Leela Palace, Zenana Mahal, and Jagmandir Island Palace. International stars Jennifer Lopez and Justin Bieber also performed during the multi-day festivities.

Who is Bettina Anderson?

Bettina Anderson was born in December 1986 and grew up in Palm Beach, Florida, where she still lives. Her father, Harry Loy Anderson Jr, was a well-known entrepreneur who became the youngest bank president in the US at 26 when he took charge of Worth Avenue National Bank.

Her mother, Inger Anderson, is a philanthropist. Together, they were active in civic life, including Harrys roles with the Historical Society of Palm Beach County and the American Red Cross. The family has six children, including Bettina.

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According to her LinkedIn, Bettina graduated from Columbia University in 2009 with a degree in art history, criticism, and conservation.

Bettina Anderson has worked as a business development professional as well as a model and influencer. File image/Reuters

She volunteers with the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County and is a young patron of The Everglades Foundation. Bettina has also modelled for cover of Quest magazine, and was featured in Palm Beach Illustrated in 2021, which described her as an ambassador of Palm Beach style and local it girl.

Shes also active in philanthropy. In 2021, she started Project Paradise Film Fund under The Paradise Fund, the nonprofit she founded to support disaster relief and environmental causes. The group released a short documentary titled The Water State, highlighting the vulnerability of Floridas freshwater springs.

One of the greatest focuses of my life is how I can be of service to others and be a steward of the environment, Anderson told Fashion Week Daily in a 2022 interview.

Her relationship with Donald Trump Jr

Donald Trump Jr was first linked to Bettina Anderson in August 2024, when the two were spotted having brunch in Palm Beach, Florida.

By December, their relationship appeared more visible, they were photographed holding hands during an evening walk in Palm Beach and later at her birthday dinner at Buccan.

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At the time, Trump Jr was still engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, his partner since 2018. In September 2024, People magazine reported that the couple had been spending less time together.

Bettina Anderson, wearing a red pantsuit, was seated behind Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at the Republican National Convention. File image/Reuters

A source told the outlet, Don and Kim are over but they are going to offer her some kind of administrative position so she will be happy.

Not long after Trump Jr was publicly seen with Anderson, Donald Trump Sr nominated Guilfoyle to serve as US ambassador to Greece, something insiders described as a political way out.

In December, Trump Jr didnt directly confirm the breakup but told Page Six that he and Guilfoyle will always keep a special bond and that he could not be more proud of her and the important role shell continue to play in my fathers administration as ambassador to Greece.

Bettina and Trump Jr later appeared together at Trumps inauguration, widely seen as their first major public outing as a couple.

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Her presence at Trump family events grew after that. She attended the Republican National Convention with Trump Jr in July 2024, seated just behind him and next to three of his children, only a few feet away from Guilfoyle. She was also photographed speaking with his ex-wife, Vanessa Trump.

With input from agencies
Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted after 12,000 years, sending ash clouds towards India. This volcanic eruption has resulted in several flights being cancelled or delayed. Forecasters also note that the plumes of ash will make the skies in Delhi, Haryana and parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan appear darker and hazier than usual and even cause temperatures to dip

Ash-tonishing! After 12,000 years, a volcano has erupted in Ethiopias north-eastern region, sending thick plumes of smoke across the Red Sea towards Yemen, Oman, India and parts of northern Pakistan.

And with thick plumes of volcanic ash coming our way, authorities in India are bracing potential disruption to air travel as well as air pollution levels spiking across parts of north India, which are already choking on toxic air.

So, how bad is the situation expected to be after the Hayli Gubbi volcano eruption? How will the volcano eruption in Ethiopia be felt in India?

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Dormant volcano erupts in Ethiopia after 12,000 years

On Sunday morning (November 23), a long-dormant volcano, the Hayli Gubbi, in northern Ethiopia erupted sending plumes of ash into the skies. Describing the moment the eruption took place, Ahmed Abdela, a resident of the Afar region, said it felt like a sudden bomb had been thrown. Many people who had been heading to the Danakil desert, a local tourist attraction, were left stranded in ash-covered Afdera on Monday, he said.

Fortunately, no casualties were recorded following the eruption. However, local official, Mohammed Seid said that the eruption could have economic implications for the local community of livestock herders. While no human lives and livestock have been lost so far, many villages have been covered in ash and as a result their animals have little to eat, he said.

Ash billows from an eruption of the long-dormant Hayli Gubbi Volcano in Ethiopias Afar region. Afar Government Communication Bureau/AP

Notably, this is the first time in 12,000 years that Hayli Gubbi has erupted with images showing towering plumes of ash emerging from the volcanos summit. Experts say that Hayli Gubbi is a shield volcano, like Hawaiis Mauna Loa. These volcanoes are known for oozing lava flows, not expelling giant columns of ash.

As Juliet Biggs, an earth scientist at the University of Bristol in England, told Scientific American: To see a big eruption column, like a big umbrella cloud, is really rare in this area.

Ethiopian volcano ash moves toward India

Following the eruption in Ethiopia, plumes of thick smoke began to move across the Red Sea and by Monday night, around 11 pm, reached Delhi, the capital of India. Forecasters had been tracking the cloud for a day, as it made its way to the Capital  travelling at 130 kmph.

Weather trackers said the plume first entered India over western Rajasthan. The ash cloud has now entered the Indian subcontinent from the JodhpurJaisalmer region and is moving northeast at 120130 kmph, the India Met Sky Weather alert said. Skies may look weird and funny for a while, but there is less to worry about as the ash lies between 25,000 and 45,000 feet.

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A satellite image shows ash rising from the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia as it drifts over the Red Sea. Nasa/Reuters

By late Monday evening, the plume had stretched over parts of Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Forecasters have noted that the volcanic ash will enter Gujarat this evening by 10 pm and then move to northwest Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab, and later it will impact the Himalayas and other regions.

This is between 15-25,000 up to 45,000 feet up in the sky and contains mostly volcanic ash, sulphur dioxide and some small particles of glass/rock which will make the sky appear darker and impact air traffic and air route which will bring delays and longer travel. The ash cloud is about to enter Gujarat (west side) and move towards Rajasthan NW, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab by 10 pm and later it will impact the Himalayas and other regions. It will make the sky appear darker and hazier than usual and people may send us pics of the sky if possible, wrote IndiaMetSky Weather on X.

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Flights affected by volcanic ash

With the volcanic ash drifting over north India, Indias aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), issued an advisory to airlines and airports to deal with possible disruptions caused by it. The DGCA in its advisory instructed airlines to strictly avoid published volcanic ash affected areas and flight levels, adjust flight planning, routing and fuel considerations based on the latest advisories.

It further stated that airlines have been instructed to immediately report any suspected ash encounter, including engine performance anomalies or cabin smoke/odour. The DGCA have asked the operators to ensure continuous monitoring of the situation related to the volcanic ash cloud and stay updated through satellite imagery and meteorological data, among other things.

In fact, the volcanic eruption has already led to significant air travel disruption. Akasa Air, IndiGo and KLM are among the airlines that have cancelled flights due to the volcanic ash issue.

Many flights in India have been delayed or cancelled as a result of the volcano ash that erupted in Ethiopia. File image/PTI

Akasa Air said its flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi scheduled for November 24 and 25 have been cancelled due to the ash plume. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have also cancelled its Amsterdam-Delhi service (KL 871) and the return Delhi-Amsterdam flight (KL 872) due to the ash cloud.

Meanwhile, IndiGo, in a post on X, said, Following the recent eruption of the #HayliGubbi volcano in Ethiopia, ash clouds are reported to be drifting towards parts of western India. We understand that such news may cause concern, and we want to reassure you that your safety remains our highest priority.

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As a result of the volcanic ash cloud, IndiGos Kannur-Abu Dhabi 6E 1433 diverted to Ahmedabad on Monday afternoon to avoid flying into the route of the plumes.

SpiceJet also noted on X, Due to a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, volcanic ash activity has been reported across parts of the Arabian Peninsula. This may impact flight operations for aircraft flying through these regions. As safety remains our top priority, our flight operations and safety teams are closely coordinating with aviation authorities and continuously monitoring ash cloud movement. Passengers travelling to/from Dubai (DXB) are advised to keep a check on their flight status, adding that safety teams are coordinating with aviation authorities. Passengers travelling to and from Dubai have been advised to check their flight status.

An aviation official was quoted as telling Hindustan Times that the ministry officials as well as the DGCA were keeping a close eye on the matter. If the ashes settle over Delhi and Jaipur by Tuesday, Indian aviation is expected to be impacted severely, he added.

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Air India also saw several of their flights cancelled on November 24 and November 25 as a result of the volcanic ash.

Impact of volcanic ash on air pollution

The Ethiopia volcano ash, which has made its way to India, has created a thin, hazy layer over parts of Delhi and Haryana, causing more concern of its impact on the already poor air pollution levels.

However, officials have noted that the volcanic plume is not expected to significantly affect Delhis pollution levels, as it is travelling at very high altitudes. IMD director general M Mohapatra was quoted as telling Hindustan Times that it was unclear whether it will impact air quality, but any significant impact is unlikely as it is at higher levels.

A school student wears a face mask while crossing a foot over bridge amidst morning smog in New Delhi. AP

He explained that the impact of the ash cloud would be mainly felt in aviation. He noted that since the plumes were in the upper levels, its effect near the surface would be limited. The skies will appear as hazy and cloudy, he further said, adding that cities may also see a marginal rise in the temperature as the ash mass behaves like cloud cover.

However, regardless of the volcanic eruption, Delhis air quality remains a concern. On Tuesday morning, thick smog blanketed areas around India Gate and Kartavya Path, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reading 328, categorised as very poor by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

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With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Ayodhya to attend the grand flag-hoisting ceremony atop the Ram Temple today. Paul Doyle, who is accused of driving a car into the crowds at Liverpools victory parade earlier this year, will go on trial at Liverpool Crown Court

PM Modi will be in Ayodhya to hoist the flag at Ram Temple. File image/PTI

It is set to be a busy Tuesday with several events lined up for the day.

Firstly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Ayodhya to lead the grand flag-hoisting ceremony atop the Ram Temple. Meanwhile, the trial of Paul Doyle, accused of driving a car into the crowds of Liverpools Premier League victory earlier this year, will go to trial from today.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to meet with his Belarusian counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov in Moscow today. The UN Security Council (UNSC) is scheduled to hold a meeting on North Korea-related sanctions.

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Heres all that is set to take place throughout the day.

PM Modi in Ayodhya for Ram temple flag-hoisting event

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Uttar Pradeshs Ayodhya for the grand flag-hoisting ceremony atop the newly completed Ram Temple today. This ceremony marks the completion of the temples architecture, and the Trust is already framing it historically. They view this final milestone as being the most important moment since the very first major event, the 2024 Pran Pratishtha.

A massive flag carrying the Sun symbol will be raised on the main spine which symbolises the temples completion from foundation to crown. The religious significance is immense, timed perfectly with Vivah Panchami, the holy day of Lord Ram and Sitas marriage. Just like last years Pran Patishtha, PM Modi will lead the rituals with key saints and trust members in attendance.

Liverpool victory parade incident trial to start

The trial for Paul Doyle, accused of driving a car into crowds during Liverpools Premier League victory parade on May 26 this year, will begin today at Liverpool Crown Court. The incident on Water Street left over 130 people injured, with victims ranging in age from six months to 77 years old. Police have stated the incident was isolated and not terror-related.

The 53-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all 31 charges against him, which were expanded from an initial seven. Some of the charges include 18 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent,

nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of wounding with intent, one count of dangerous driving and one count of affray.

Lavrov to meet Belarussian counterpart in Moscow

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to meet with his Belarusian counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov in Moscow today. The visit is part of the annual joint meeting of the collegiums of the two countries Foreign Ministries.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet his Belarusian counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov. File image/PTI

The joint meeting of the Collegiums of the Russian and Belarusian Foreign Ministries has been held alternately in each country since 2000 to coordinate their foreign policy efforts on the international stage. The meeting is set to focus on bilateral and international issues, including cooperation and countering Western pressure, among other things.

UNSC meeting

The UN Security Council will hold a meeting today related to North Koreas sanctions. The meeting will discuss the broader issues related to the DPRKs nuclear and ballistic missile programs, sanctions evasion, and the overall effectiveness of the sanctions regime will be expected topics for discussion.

The UNSCs agenda also includes a morning meeting on the International Criminal Court (ICC) situation in Libya and an afternoon meeting on the Libyan Maritime Authorisation.

With inputs from agencies
Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro passed away at the age of 90 on November 25, 2016. The leader had stepped down from power in 2008 due to failing health and handed the presidency to his brother Raul Castro, but still remained a force to reckon with in the political spheres. His death was quite anticlimactic as he had reportedly survived multiple assassination attempts by Americas CIA

One of the most famous leaders of the 20th century, Fidel Castro, passed away on November 25, 2016. The revolutionary leader reshaped Cuba and inspired the global leftist movement.

If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.

On this day in 1960, the assassination of the Mirabel sisters, namely Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa, took place. The sisters, collectively known as Las Mariposas (The Butterflies), were fierce opponents of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo.

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Here is all that took place on this day across the world.

Fidel Castro passed away

The revolutionary leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro, passed away on this day in 2016 at the age of 90. His death marked the end of an era for Cuba, Latin America, and the global leftist movement he helped inspire.

Castro had stepped down from power in 2008 due to failing health and handed the presidency to his brother Raul Castro. But stepping away from the presidency, even after he remained a symbolic force in Cuban politics. The country entered nine days of national mourning following the announcement of his death on state television. Public events were cancelled, music was silenced in restaurants and bars, and flags flew at half-mast as the country prepared for a series of memorials and a final funeral procession.

Pictures of Fidel Castro are seen beside his name made with flowers during a tribute ceremony, following the announcement of the death of the Cuban revolutionary leader, outside the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico. File image/Reuters

Born in 1926, Castro rose to prominence as the leader of the Cuban Revolution, overthrowing the US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959. He then established a one-party socialist state, aligning closely with the Soviet Union and playing a central role in Cold War geopolitics. Under Castro, Cuba developed universal healthcare and education systems that won international praise, but his rule was also marked by political repression, censorship, and economic hardships exacerbated by the long-standing US embargo.

Reactions to Castros death reflected his complex legacy. In Havana, many mourned a leader they saw as a defender of Cuban sovereignty and social welfare. Across Miami, where many Cuban exiles had fled his regime, crowds celebrated in the streets, calling him a dictator responsible for decades of suffering.

Global leaders issued sharply contrasting statements: some hailed Castro as a champion of anti-imperialism, while others condemned his human rights record. His ashes were eventually interred in Santiago de Cuba, near the cradle of the revolution he once led.

Assassination of the Mirabal Sisters

On this day in 1960, the assassination of the Mirabal sisters is one of the most shocking and symbolic acts of political violence in Latin American history. The Mirabal sisters, namely Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa, were born into a middle-class rural family but became politically active as they witnessed Trujillos pervasive oppression, censorship, torture, and corruption.

Minerva, the most outspoken, openly challenged the dictator, inspiring her sisters and many others to resist. Together with their husbands, the sisters joined the underground resistance group Movimiento 14 de Junio, which sought to overthrow Trujillo. Their activism made them national symbols of courage and prime targets for the regime.

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The mausoleum containing the remnants of the Mirabal Sisters Minerva, Patria and Maria Teresa, as well as Minervas husband Manolo. Wikimedia Commons

On November 25, the sisters were returning from visiting their imprisoned husbands when Trujillos secret police intercepted their Jeep on a mountain road. The women were brutally beaten and strangled before their bodies were placed back in the vehicle, which was pushed off a cliff to stage an accident. But Dominicans immediately knew the truth. The brutality of the murders sparked national outrage and eroded what remained of Trujillos legitimacy. Within six months, the dictator himself was assassinated.

The Mirabal sisters martyrdom became a rallying point for human rights and feminist movements worldwide. In 1999, the United Nations designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in their honour, cementing their legacy as global symbols of resistance to tyranny and gender-based violence.

This Day, That Year

Suriname gained its independence from the Netherlands in 1975.

On this day in 1936, Germany and Japan formed the Anti-Comintern Pact against the Soviet Union.

Nicholas III was elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church in 1277.

With inputs from agencies
Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed his long-pending trip to India yet again. The Israel PM earlier cancelled a day-long visit in September as well as in April, both times citing issues related to domestic political considerations and possible snap elections. The development comes ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putins slated arrival in India in the first week of December

Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed his trip to India yet again. This is the third time in 2025 that the Israeli Prime Minister has put off his long-awaited visit to India.

The development comes ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin slated to arrive in India in the first week of December.

But what happened? What do we know? How does political trouble at home keep affecting Netanyahus India plans?

Israeli media cites security concerns

Israeli media has reported that Netanyahus trip was cancelled in the wake of the Red Fort blast in which over a dozen were left dead and dozens injured.

Netanyahu, who last visited India in 2018 and was set to return for meetings with PM Modi, is now expected to seek a new date next year pending security assessments, i24NEWS, which quoted sources, reported.

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The Israeli Prime Ministers Office (PMO) has said that both nations are working on a new date for the visit. It added that Netanyahu has full confidence in Indias security under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Israels bond with India and between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very strong. The PM has full confidence in Indias security under PM Modi, and teams are already coordinating a new visit date, the official Office of the Prime Minister of Israel account wrote on X.

Netanyahu, after the 10 November incident, offered condolences to India and Modi.

Security personnel and members of the forensic team work at the site of the explosion near the historic Red Fort in the old quarters of Delhi, India. Reuters

To our dear friend Narendra Modi and to the brave people of India: Sara and I, and the people of Israel, send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Israel stands strong with you in sorrow and in strength in this time, Netanyahus statement read.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also extended condolences to the people of India, including the families of those killed in the blast, while reaffirming Israels support for India in its fight against terrorism.

I extend my and Israels deepest condolences to the People of India and especially to the families of the innocent victims killed in the blast at the heart of Delhi. Wishing speedy recovery to the wounded. Israel stands with India in its fight against terror, Saar posted on X.

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Netanyahu was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his trip scheduled for later this year. The Israeli Prime Minister last visited India in 2018. That six-day visit was just the second trip by an Israeli Prime Minister to India in history. It came in the aftermath of Prime Minister Narendra Modis historic visit to Israel in 2017.

How political trouble at home keeps affecting India plans

This isnt the first time Netanyahu has postponed his plans to visit India this year.

Netanyahu earlier cancelled a day-long visit to India in September as well as a visit scheduled for April. Domestic political considerations and the threat of snap elections were cited as the reasons for putting off the visit on both occasions.

In April, thousands of people had taken to the streets of Israel to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and to put pressure on the government to secure the release of the hostages. Demonstrators were also enraged over Netanyahus firing of the head of the internal Shin Bet security agency and the governments attempt to fire the attorney-general  widely viewed as part of the governments attempt to undermine state institutions. Netanyahu, for his part, had claimed that the leftist deep state was out to get him.

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Meanwhile, Netanyahus coalition was seemingly on the verge of fracturing over the direction of the war in Gaza, his attempts to remake the judiciary and over exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox. Polls showed a lack of trust in Netanyahu by the public and an increased interest in opposition figures such as Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid.

By September, Netanyahus coalition government had been weakened after the exit of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism and Shas parties, which reduced the coalition strength in the Knesset (Israels Parliament) to just around 50 seats.

This came after Netanyahus coalition had already faced a formal motion to dissolve the Knesset in June. However, Gideon Saars centrist New Hope party, which left the alliance in June 2024, rejoined the coalition, increasing Netanyahus majority to 68 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.

Israels Foreign Minister Gideon Saar speaks during an event in Jerusalem on May 26, 2025. Reuters File

Netanyahu hailed the move, which somewhat watered down the influence of the far-right parties in his coalition such as Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism, as a broad and stable government. Elections are due next in Israel by October 2026.

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Ironically, this isnt the first time that Netanyahu has cancelled a visit to India multiple times in a year. Netanyahus visit to India has been pending since 2019 due to political turmoil in Israel, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the war in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu in 2019 also postponed his visit to India twice due to Israel holding parliamentary elections.

Then, the pandemic hit and all thoughts of visits abroad were put to one side. Netanyahu isnt alone. In 2022, then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was set to visit India. However, just weeks ahead of the visit he tested positive for Covid-19, leading to the trip being called off.

Netanyahus visit to India was largely seen as an effort by the Israeli government to put him on an equal footing with other world leaders. In July, Netanyahus Likud party put up banners featuring Netanyahu with PM Modi, US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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IndiaIsrael launch FTA talks

The development came days after Commerce Minister Piyuysh Goyal met both Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem as talks for a free trade agreement (FTA), which have been ongoing since 2013, picked up steam.

India and Israel recently signed the terms of reference to launch FTA talks. Netanyahu, after the meeting with Goyal, wrote on X, Israel and India are strengthening our strategic partnership, more investments, more innovation, and a strong economic corridor from India through Israel to Europe. Together we are building economic power.

Meanwhile, Goyal wrote on the social media platform, Our discussions covered the full spectrum of our strategic partnership, including trade and investment, science & technology, innovation, and deeper economic engagement.

During 2024-25, Indias exports to Israel dipped 52 per cent to $2.14 billion (Rs 1.91 lakh crore) from $4.52 billion (Rs 4.03 lakh crore) in 2023-24. Imports, too, fell 26.2 per cent to $1.48 billion (Rs 1.32 lakh crore) last fiscal year. The bilateral trade stood at $3.62 billion (Rs 3.23 lakh crore).

India is Israels second-largest trading partner in Asia.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal with Minister of Economy and Industry of Israel Nir Barkat during signing of the Terms of Reference to guide the negotiations for a free trade agreement, in Israel, November 20. Image: @PiyushGoyal/X via PTI Photo

The FTA will open the doors for greater market access, flow of capital both in goods and services, remove obstacles in doing business, provide clarity and predictability to our economic engagement, Goyal said. He added that the FTA can help push trade to $30-40 billion (Rs 26.7535.67 lakh crore) over the next five years.

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In September, both countries inked a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA), under which India reduced the local remedies exhaustion period for Israeli investors to 3 years from 5 years. During April 2000 and June 2025, India received $337.77 million (Rs 3,012 crore) in foreign direct investment (FDI) from Israel.

With inputs from agencies
Indias indigenous defence production just received a boost. India and France will team up and jointly manufacture Hammer smart precision-guided air-to-ground weapons in the country. This French-made weapons system was widely used by the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor to dismantle Pakistans terror hubs

The Make in India defence plan has received a major boost after state-run Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and French firm Safran Electronics and Defence (SED) signed a joint venture cooperation agreement (JVCA) for the production of Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (Hammer) smart precision-guided air-to-ground weapon system, in India.

The development is significant because India previously ordered this weapon system through an emergency procurement route in 2020 during the standoff with China following the Galwan clash.

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As per the agreement signed between the two firms, The JVC shall be formed as a private limited company with 50:50 shareholding. It will localise the manufacturing, supply and maintenance of Hammer to meet the operational needs of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.

Interestingly, the Hammer weapons system showed its true potential during Indias Operation Sindoor when the Armed Forces destroyed terror camps across the border in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as well as parts of Pakistan.

What is the Hammer weapons system?

The Hammer is an air-to-surface weapon with a guidance and propulsion kit that turns munitions into precision-guided bombs capable of deep strikes and close-air-support missions.

Developed by Frances Safran Electronics & Defence, Hammer systems combine conventional bombs with GPS, INS and infrared/semi-active laser guidance kits. The Hammer system also supports multiple warhead configurations at 125 kilogrammes, 250 kg, 500 kg and 1,000 kg. Moreover, based on the variant, it boasts of a range of up to 70 kilometres.

HAMMER is a combat-proven, precision-guided weapon system known for its high accuracy and modular design. Image Courtesy: www.safran-group.com

The French firm behind the Hammer weapons system also notes that with its fire-and-forget ability, it can even engage moving targets and has 99 per cent successful strikes in combat. Moreover, as its name suggests, it can be launched from low altitude, over rough terrain.

Notably, the Hammer weapons system was first used in combat in Afghanistan in 2008 and has since been used in other combat operations in Mali, Libya and Syria. It has also been deployed by several Nato-aligned countries. Ukraine has received several hundred Hammer systems from France since early 2024 and has used them across multiple aircraft types.

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Has India used the Hammer weapons system?

In 2020 amid rising tensions over the clash of Indian and Chinese troops at Galwan along the Line of Actual Control, India made an emergency purchase of the Hammer weapons system from France. Notably, it was kept out of the 2016 contract for 36 Rafale fighter jets and the weapons package due to its cost, which would have inflated the price of the contract. At that time, India had chosen Israels Spice 2000 used in the Balakot strikes.

India then deployed the Hammer weapons system during Operation Sindoor earlier in May. The Indian Air Force carried out multiple strikes and raids against terror targets deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) using Hammer munitions launched from Rafale fighter jets as well as Scalp missiles.

Many defence experts noted that the Hammers ability to be fully autonomous and unaffected by jamming was the reason that India chose it for Operation Sindoor. Moreover, its ability to be launched at low altitude, made it the perfect choice to penetrate fortified structures, such as the terrorist targets such as Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, which is considered as the operational headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed, as well as the 200-acre Markaz Taiba, the Lashkar-e-Taibas compound.

So, whats in the new deal now between India and France?

On Monday (November 24), BEL and Safran signed a joint venture cooperation agreement to produce Hammer weapons system in the country. This agreement builds on the memorandum of understanding signed at Aero India on February 11, strengthening the two sides intent to establish a Joint Venture Company (JVC) in India with a 50:50 shareholding structure.

Indian and French officials sign a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) for the Hammer weapons system in India. Image Courtesy: PIB

As per the deal, the JVC shall be formed as a private limited company with 50:50 shareholding. As per the ministry, the deal will see localisation of manufacturing, supply and maintenance of Hammer weapons system in order to meet the operational needs of the Indian Air Force as well as the Indian Navy.

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Furthermore, the indigenisation will progressively increase to 60 per cent with key sub-assemblies, electronics and mechanical parts being manufactured locally. The transfer of production will happen in a phased manner with BEL leading final assembly, testing and quality assurance, the ministry added.

The new pact builds on a series of defence collaborations between Indian and French firms. Earlier this year, India and France formally signed a defence agreement for the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets, a deal valued at over Rs 63,000 crore.

In August, it was reported that New Delhi was also looking to seal the deal for the procurement of three Scorpene submarines, which will be jointly constructed by state-run Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and French defence major Naval Group.

Also, India reportedly is set to launch a landmark collaboration with France to co-develop and manufacture a powerful new jet engine for its indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

With inputs from agencies

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India and Afghanistan plan to soon launch cargo flights as Kabul seeks to counter Pakistans move to block trade by closing the border. New Delhi said this will significantly enhance connectivity and strengthen trade and commercial ties between the two nations. While India does not recognise the Taliban government, it has reset ties with Afghanistan in recent months

Afghan men sit in front of trucks carrying containers in Jalalabad, Afghanistan May 14, 2018. File Photo/Reuters

India and Afghanistan are set to resume cargo flights as the two countries upgrade ties and bypass Pakistan to expand trade. Pakistan shut its airspace for Indian airlines in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

Last month, Pakistan closed its border with Afghanistan for trade and civilian movement following deadly military clashes. Now, Kabul is seeking to increase trade with India and has urged New Delhi to open cargo hubs on Afghan soil.

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Lets take a closer look.

India and Afghanistan to launch cargo planes

Air cargo services between India and Afghanistan will be launched soon, a senior Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official announced on Friday (November 21).

The announcement came during the five-day visit of Afghan Commerce and Industry Minister Al-Haj Nooruddin Azizi to India.

I am pleased to announce that the air freight corridor on the Kabul-Delhi sector and Kabul-Amritsar routes have been activated and cargo flights on these sectors will commence very soon, Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary in the MEA, said, as per PTI.

He said the move will significantly enhance connectivity and strengthen trade and commercial ties between the two countries.

All formalities from our side are over. We are waiting for all the papers from their (Afghan) side  Once they complete them, the cargo flights will start, Prakash told Reuters on the sidelines of the India-Afghanistan business conference last week.

Azizi came to India seeking to boost trade ties, especially agricultural exports. Kabul is looking to expand market access for Afghan produce, and enhance Indian exports of medicines, machinery and textiles.

India and Afghanistan have also decided to appoint trade attaches to their respective embassies to oversee and facilitate bilateral commerce.

Bilateral trade stands at around one billion. However, there remains significant scope for further growth. In this context, we have decided to reactivate the joint working group on trade, commerce and investment. The active involvement of Indian and Afghan businesses will be essential to make this particular joint working group process more effective, Prakash said.

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EAM Dr S Jaishankar tweets, "Pleased to meet Industry and Commerce Minister of Afghanistan, Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi in New Delhi this evening. Discussed ways to strengthen our trade, connectivity and people to people ties. Reiterated Indias support for the development and welfare pic.twitter.com/ehhytHdU5f  ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2025

As per an Economic Times (ET) report, Afghanistans Taliban government is also keen on starting air courier services between New Delhi and Kandahar, and eventually between Kandahar and Amritsar. With this, Kabul is hoping to counter Pakistans effort at blocking supplies to Afghanistan by closing border trade.

The report said New Delhi is actively considering the proposal, which would allow Afghan airlines to operate air courier services from Kabul and Kandahar to both New Delhi and Amritsar.

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However, the inclusion of Kandahar, the destination of the IC814 hijack, is undergoing a detailed security review, sources told ET.

Is the progress slow?

Two high-profile Afghan ministers have visited India since last month. However, there has reportedly not yet been an official communication to start passenger or trade flights between the two countries.

Nothing has changed since [Afghanistan foreign minister] Amir Khan Muttaqis visit to India last month. Traders here had hoped for the fulfilment of the formalities and resumption of flights between Kabul and Amritsar, and the beginning of the trade, but nothing has happened so far, Charanjit Singh Batra, president of the Fruit and Vegetables Merchant Union, told Times of India (TOI).

Bhupinder Singh, director, Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport, Amritsar, also told the newspaper that the airport has not received any notification so far in connection with the resumption of the Amritsar-Kabul flight.

During his visit to India in October, Muttaqi had announced the resumption of direct flights between Amritsar and Afghanistan.

Why air cargo will benefit India-Afghanistan

While India does not recognise Afghanistan's Taliban government, it has moved quickly to reset ties in recent months.

Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqis visit to New Delhi last month was the first such trip to India by a Taliban leader since 2021. As the ties of both countries with their common neighbour, Pakistan, take a nosedive, New Delhi and Kabul are moving to expand their relationship.

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The two countries are seeking to bolster bilateral trade, both through the sea by leveraging Irans Chabahar port that bypasses Pakistan and by air.

During his visit, the Talibans commerce minister asked New Delhi to help set up scheduled shipping services to move Afghan goods through the Chabahar Port operated by India.

Afghanistan has rerouted more goods to Iran and Central Asia in recent months after border clashes with Pakistan led to the closure of key crossings.

As Pakistan has closed its airspace for Indian flights, Indian air operators cannot service Afghanistan. Pakistan has also shut border trade with Afghanistan, but it has not stopped overflight services.

Afghanistan relies on border trade with Pakistan for essential items through crossing and transit points such as Torkham and Chaman. During the attacks between the two countries last month, Afghan trucks were stranded with produce that had perished due to the border closure with Pakistan.

Both sides suffered losses exceeding $100 million, with the closure affecting up to 25,000 border workers, India Today reported, citing the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI).

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Cargo flight services on the Kabul-Delhi and Kabul-Amritsar sectors will ensure faster transport of perishable Afghan exports such as fresh fruits and medicinal herbs. These commodities are impacted due to delays in ground transit, as per India Today.

To counter Pakistan, Afghanistan wants to increase bilateral trade with India. New Delhi has increased engagement with the Taliban government. Cordial ties with Afghanistan also offer India an alternative access to Central Asian nations for energy and minerals trade.

Pakistan will eventually open its airspace for Indian carriers, given the business feasibility, RS Sachdeva, member of the managing committee, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), told TOI.

He also said that a PHDCCI delegation would visit Afghanistan in February to explore more business opportunities.

With inputs from agencies
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi today (November 25) led the first-ever official commemoration of Operation Pawan. Hundreds of troops lost their lives, and over 1,000 were injured during the mission that occurred between October 7, 1987 and October 27, 1987, against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka. Lets take a closer look

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi led the first-ever official commemoration of the operation that occurred in Sri Lanka in 1987. PTI

On Tuesday (November 25), the Indian Army Chief paid homage to the soldiers who died during Operation Pawan.

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi led the first-ever official commemoration of the operation that occurred in Sri Lanka in 1987. Hundreds were killed and over a thousand injured during the operation that occurred between October 7, 1987 and October 26, 1987.

Until now, only the families of those who had lost their kin and those who served in the operation themselves would privately mark the anniversary. Major R. Parameswaran, who received the Param Vir Chakra, was among those honoured by the Indian Army Chief today. Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh, Vice Chief of the Army, who himself served in Operation Pawan as a young officer, accompanied Dwivedi.

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But what do we know about Operation Pawan (Wind)?

Lets take a closer look.

The background

First, lets look at the background of events that led to Operation Pawan.

The action was launched by the then Rajiv Gandhi government in 1987. The government sent the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka. The operation came in the backdrop of Sri Lankas civil war between the minority Tamil population and the Sinhalese majority.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had emerged as a major group within the militant forces. The rebels wanted to carve out a separate homeland for Tamils within Sri Lanka.

For India, the issue of Tamil rights was an emotive one. New Delhi was also worried about the overflow of refugees.

The operation was launched by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi government. Reuters

New Delhi thus sought to try to resolve the conflict both diplomatically and militarily. Rajiv had signed the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord with then Sri Lankan President J.R Jayewardene on July 29, 1987. Under the terms of the agreement, Sri Lanka was to allow Tamil-majority areas more autonomy and power, while the rebel groups were to give up their arms. India, meanwhile, was to help keep the peace.

India then sent the IPKF to Sri Lanka. The peacekeeping force, which at its peak reached a strength of around 100,000, was tasked with disarming the rebel groups, including the LTTE  after which an Interim Administrative Council was to be established. However, many Tamil groups, including the LTTE, who had not been party to the talks, refused to disarm. This set the IPKF on a collision course with the LTTE.

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Operation Pawan decoded

Operation Pawan began on October 7, 1987. The operation was to be carried out against the LTTE on the Jaffna Peninsula. The idea was to neutralise the LTTEs top commanders.

The then Chief of Army Staff (COAS) ordered the IPKF to:

Finish or capture enemy communications networks such as TV and radio stations

Attack LTTE camps and checkpoints

Seize and interrogate top LTTE personnel

Increase the IPKFs gains in the region.

The Indian 91st Brigade, led by Brigadier J. Ralli, began advancing into Jaffna on October 10, 1987. On the intervening night of October 11, 1987, Indian troops began conducting an airborne assault on the LTTE headquarters in Jaffna. The idea was to decapitate the upper ranks of the LTTE.

Meanwhile, a number of infantry troops backed by helicopters and artillery marched towards the centre of the city. The LTTE, meanwhile, had settled into a defensive posture and prepared improvised explosive devices (IEDs), snipers, booby-trapped buildings and urban bunkers. The IPKF suffered a setback after the LTTE intercepted radio transmission. They were forced to abandon the mission, with particularly heavy losses to the Sikh Infantry.

However, that wasnt the end. Indian troops, using their numerical superiority, pushed forward. Along the way, they had to fight the LTTE, who resorted to guerrilla tactics, IEDs and landmines. Indian troops, despite suffering losses, kept pressing forward with support from air and artillery.

It took until October 26, 1987 for IPKF troops to capture the city of Jaffna. However, the LTTE melted away into the jungle and their leader V Prabhakaran eluded capture. So intense was the conflict that many bodies of personnel could not be recovered. India, during the operation, lost the lives of hundreds of troops.

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LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran slipped away.

This included Parameswaran, who was part of the 8 MAHAR Regiment. He was conducting a search operation on November 25, 1987, when his column was ambushed by militants.

Parameswaran, showing presence of mind under fire, manoeuvred his troops into a tactical advantage and led a counter-assault. Despite being shot in the chest during hand-to-hand combat, he wrestled the rifle back from his attacker and neutralised the militant.

Despite his injuries, Major Parameswaran continued to urge on his troops until he finally succumbed to his wounds. In all, five militants were killed during his search operation and weapons recovered. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for conspicuous gallantry. While numbers vary, it is safe to say that hundreds were killed and over 1,000 injured during the operation.

Aftermath of Operation Pawan

Despite the success of the operation, nationalist sentiment in Sri Lanka began to turn against India. Though some in Sri Lanka demanded that Indian forces withdraw, Rajiv refused to do so. It took the combination of Rajivs defeat in the 1989 parliamentary elections and the coming to power of President Ranasinghe Premadasa in Sri Lanka for India finally to withdraw its troops on March 24, 1990.

The Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

By now, India had lost over 1,000 troops and over 3,500 were injured. Back home, V.P Singh was in power. A little over a year later, Rajiv, the former prime minister, was killed by a woman suicide bomber from the LTTE.

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India would watch as the Sri Lankan civil war raged for another two decades. It ended with the surrender of the LTTE to the Sri Lankan government on May 18, 2009. While India had not formally marked Operation Pawan until now, that is not the case in Sri Lanka, where an IPKF memorial stands in Colombo. However, all that has changed as of today with the Indian Army finally recognising the sacrifices made by the troops during Operation Pawan.

With inputs from agencies
The banned group, Sikhs for Justice, held a Khalistan referendum in Ottawa over the weekend during which supporters chanted Kill India slogans and even desecrated the Indian flag. This is the seventh such unofficial vote that Canada has seen since September 2022. The timing of this event was significant  it came as Canadian PM Mark Carney met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg

A Khalistan referendum was held in Canada's Ottawa on Sunday during which supporters chanted 'Kill India' slogans and desecrated the Indian flag. Representational image/Reuters

Ties between India and Canada fell to an all-time low in 2023 after the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Now, after one-and-a-half year, relations between the two nations are on the mend with New Delhi and Ottawa resuming trade talks. However, a new development could hurt ties once again.

What are we talking about?

On Sunday (November 23), an unofficial Khalistan Referendum was held in Ottawa, which saw the participation of thousands of Canadian Sikhs reportedly shouting chants such as Kill India.

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Heres what we found out so far.

SFJ holds referendum for Khalistan in Ottawa

On Sunday (November 23), the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a group banned by India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for its subversive activities, held a referendum in Ottawa, as part of its campaign for an independent Sikh Punjab, called Khalistan.

According to CBC News, this is the seventh such referendum being held by the group in Canada since September 2022. The first such vote was held in Brampton, Ontario just days after a travel advisory from India warning of a rise in hate crimes, sectarian violence and anti-India activities in Canada and advising Indian nationals in the country, including students, to be on the alert.

There were then two rounds of voting in September and October 2023 in Surrey, BC. Organsers claimed a turnout of 200,000. Two more rounds followed in Mississauga, Ontario, in 2024, as well as a vote in Calgary.

And on Sunday, the SFJ claims that over 53,000 Sikhs from Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec queued for more than two kilometres to cast their ballots. From new-born children to seniors using walkers, families remained in line all day. Thousands were still waiting when the 3 pm closing time arrived, and voting continued to ensure they could cast their ballots, the group was quoted as saying.

In Ottawa, #Khalistani separatists held a referendum vote, with Inderjit Singh Gosal clearly seen chanting.

Gosal of Brampton, along with Jagdeep Singh and Arman Singh, was arrested on Sept. 19 in Whitby and charged with multiple firearms offences.

Gosal leads the Canadian https://t.co/eefFs5RiuS pic.twitter.com/Lefyd2u6Zb  Ethan  (@Ethan113554) November 25, 2025

Videos from the referendum circulating online show Khalistan supporters chanting kill slogans against India and its officials. Some also desecrated the Indian flag.

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Happening today in Ottawa Canada. Khalistani separatists from Ontario gather to vote in the referendum

They are yelling Kill India

Hello, you are in Canada. If you want to fight this battle, go back to where you came from. pic.twitter.com/0mwklRqktG  Ryan Gerritsen (@ryangerritsen) November 23, 2025

SFJs general counsel, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, designated a terrorist by India, addressed participants via satellite message during the event.

Indias response to Khalistan referendum

India has taken note of the referendum in Ottawa with Dinesh Patnaik, the Indian envoy to Canada, calling it farcical and an interference.

In an interview to CBC News, Patnaik said, Having a peaceful protest or asking for something is part of a political process. We have no problem with it. In India, there are political parties which ask for the formation of a Khalistani government.

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Dinesh Patnaik, @HCI_Ottawa @DineshKPatnaik Indian Envoy to Canada on the so-called Khalistani referendum: "It is a farcical referendum. It is a referendum by Canadians in Canada. Back home it is seen as Canadian interference in India"



Vdo Ctsy: CBC News pic.twitter.com/BnONSvM1uV  Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) November 24, 2025

You people know what a referendum is. You have done referendums in the past. You know how farcical this is. Referendums have a certain process. This is a referendum by Canadians done in Canada. If you want to do it, do it.

The problem that happens is that back home in India they see this as Canadian interference in India as Canadians see anything as Indian interference in Canada. Thats something Canada has to think about.

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Potential to disrupt India-Canada ties

What makes this Khalistan referendum notable is the timing of it. It was held on the same day that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

A supporter waves a pro-independence Khalistan flag during a protest outside Indias consulate in September 2023. File image/Reuters

When asked what message is being sent, Canadas Foreign Minister Anita Anand was quoted telling CBC News said that the meeting has been contemplated for some time and it happens to be falling on the Sunday without an intention to undermine or hurt any interest domestically.

And so I want to say at the forefront of every conversation is going to be the focus on the law enforcement matters, the law enforcement dialogue [and] the issues of public safety and security at home.

In the recent past, Canada has been taking steps to mend ties with India after they severely deteriorated during former PM Justin Trudeaus government. And the latest breakthrough was achieved on Sunday itself when India and Canada agreed to launch negotiations on a high-ambition Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa).

According to a statement issued by Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) late Sunday, both sides have committed to pursuing an ambitious trade pact aimed at doubling bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030. The renewed engagement also includes deepening longstanding civil nuclear cooperation and advancing discussions on long-term uranium supply arrangements, an area of shared strategic interest.

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This is a significant breakthrough in India-Canada ties. In the recent years, New Delhi has raised concerns about Khalistani elements thriving in Canada. Moreover, the allegations levelled by Justin Trudeau pertaining to Hardeep Singh Nijjars killing worsened the situation  resulting in a diplomatic spat and a freeze in trade talks.

With inputs from agencies
The Trump administration has launched a formal review to determine whether branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan should be placed on US terrorism lists. The directive orders set a strict timetable that could lead to major sanctions against the targeted chapters

Supporters of Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic Action Front party hold Palestinian flags and shout slogans during a rally to mark the 70th anniversary of Nakba in the Jordan Valley, Sweimeh, Jordan, May 11, 2018. File Image/Reuters

The Trump administration has begun the process of determining whether several branches of the Muslim Brotherhood  one of the most prominent Islamist movements in West Asia  should be formally placed on US terrorism lists.

This step revives an issue US President Donald Trump pursued during his first term.

Through an executive order signed on Monday, Trump instructed senior members of his administration to compile a detailed assessment of Brotherhood chapters in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan, with the intention of determining whether these individual branches meet the criteria for labelling them as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).

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A White House fact sheet describing the administrations intent stated that, The Orders ultimate aim is to eliminate the designated chapters capabilities and operations, deprive them of resources, and end any threat such chapters pose to US nationals and the national security of the United States.

The move delivers on longstanding demands from several Republican lawmakers as well as regional governments in the region that have spent years urging Washington to take a harder stance against the movement.

How Trumps order sets up the terror review process

The executive directive requires US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to prepare a unified report within 30 days.

If the recommendations support action, the order instructs the agencies to proceed within 45 days.

 President Donald J. Trump just signed an Executive Order directing @SecRubio and @SecScottBessent to begin the process of designating certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.



Here is the text of  Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 24, 2025

The order itself does not designate any group immediately. Instead, it initiates a structured, time-bound investigation into whether actions attributed to Brotherhood-linked networks  including alleged ties to Hamas, participation in violent confrontations involving Israeli forces, or activities affecting American partners  qualify for sanctions under US law.

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Before signing the order, Trump told the conservative outlet Just the News that the administration had already begun preparing final documents to start the designation process.

The move also mirrors discussions from his first term, when political advisers expressed contrasting views about whether branding the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation could alienate key US allies or increase radicalisation among Muslim communities globally.

Why these three chapters were flagged

Officials in the administration referenced incidents involving Brotherhood-associated actors in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan as justification for examining potential terror labels.

One element cited by the executive order relates to Lebanon, where fighters aligned with Brotherhood affiliates reportedly participated in clashes alongside Hezbollah that escalated into one of the most destructive confrontations in the country in decades.

The order also alleges that Jordans Brotherhood branch has long provided material support to the militant wing of Hamas.

Jordan banned the Muslim Brotherhood earlier this year, following years of recurring accusations from authorities regarding links to extremism and subversive activity.

In Egypt, the justification was more general. The order pointed to a statement by an unnamed senior Brotherhood figure who allegedly called for violent attacks on October 7, 2023  the date when Hamas launched its large-scale assault on Israel.

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However, the administration did not specify which leader made the statement or what exactly was said, leaving questions about the evidentiary basis.

This ambiguity has drawn attention, given that Egypt outlawed the movement more than a decade ago and continues to treat it as its most significant political threat.

Should the designations move forward, the consequences would be far-reaching. Any property held by designated entities in the United States would be frozen, and Americans would face criminal penalties for providing material support.

US institutions  from banks to charities to companies  would be barred from engaging with any individuals or entities affiliated with these chapters.

What we know of the Muslim Brotherhood

The Muslim Brotherhood has existed for nearly a century, tracing its roots back to 1928 when Egyptian educator Hassan al-Banna established the movement to promote a model of society grounded in Islamic values.

His vision emerged at a moment when post-Ottoman societies were grappling with colonial influence, national identity, and the rise of secular ideologies.

By appealing to cultural authenticity and political reform, the Brotherhood grew rapidly, building networks of supporters across Egypt and eventually throughout the Arab world.

What distinguishes the movement is its structure: local branches operate autonomously, often navigating different political environments and alliances.

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In some countries, Brotherhood-affiliated parties have participated openly in parliamentary politics. In others, they have been banned, driven underground or forced to adapt to clandestine activism.

The Brotherhood gained unprecedented political prominence in 2012 when its candidate, Mohammed Morsi, won Egypts presidency in the wake of the Arab Spring.

His tenure, however, was short-lived. In 2013, a military takeover led by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ousted Morsi, dissolved Brotherhood institutions, and launched a wide-ranging crackdown that continues to this day.

The Egyptian government has since aligned itself closely with Washington and regional powers opposed to the Brotherhood.

Across the region, the movement has had vastly different trajectories. In Tunisia, the Ennahda Party  ideologically inspired by the Brotherhood  entered electoral politics after the 2011 revolution.

However, ongoing political upheaval since 2021 has led to the detention of its leader, Rached Ghannouchi, and a collapse of its political standing.

In Jordan, the Brotherhood historically maintained significant grassroots influence and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front, is the countrys largest opposition bloc. But the groups legal status has progressively eroded, culminating in its ban earlier this year.

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Hamas, founded in Gaza in 1987, emerged as a Palestinian offshoot of the Brotherhood and has long been categorised as a terrorist organisation under US law.

This historical connection has played a central role in arguments from American conservatives who argue that Brotherhood movements across the region help foster militant groups or support anti-Western ideologies.

Countries that have already outlawed the Brotherhood

Several states in West Asia have gone much further than the United States to suppress the Muslim Brotherhood.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have officially labelled the movement a terrorist organisation.

These governments argue that Brotherhood ideology and activism challenge state authority, promote instability and sometimes overlap with militant organisations.

Jordan joined the list of states restricting the movement when it banned the Brotherhood in April 2025 after accusing it of involvement in a conspiracy against the monarchy.

Jordanian authorities subsequently shut down charities linked to the organisation, marking a significant turn in a country that historically tolerated its operations even after court rulings questioning its legality.

France has also shown increasing concern. In May 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron instructed his government to propose strategies to contain the influence of the Brotherhood and limit what he described as the spread of political Islam in French society.

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By contrast, Turkey and Qatar have maintained more open channels with Brotherhood-aligned groups.

Ankara has historically served as a political refuge for exiled Brotherhood members, particularly after Egypts crackdown. Doha has provided rhetorical support, though it restricts formal organisational operations on its soil.

How Washington reacted to the development

The decision to resurrect an aggressive stance toward the Brotherhood has been welcomed by conservative lawmakers and commentators.

US Senator Ted Cruz, who introduced legislation in July proposing that Washington officially classify the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, argued that the movements connections to Hamas and alleged activities targeting American regional allies justify a strong response.

He said the group works to destabilise and undermine governments such as Egypt and Jordan.

Bills in both chambers of Congress have sought to mandate the designation, although they have not progressed beyond committee stages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office released a statement applauding Trumps initiative, asserting that the organisation endangers stability throughout the Middle East and beyond the Middle East.

US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee echoed that sentiment, calling the decision the right call.

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Within the United States, Texas Governor Greg Abbott used state-level authority last week to classify the Brotherhood as a terrorist entity, signalling a growing trend of Republican-led jurisdictions taking independent action against the movement.

Public activists have also weighed in. Far-right commentator Laura Loomer, known for her anti-Islam rhetoric and informal advisory role to the Trump camp, has been pushing the administration to complete the designation.

How this fits into Trumps revised counterterrorism strategy

Once reserved primarily for ideological militant groups, the designation system has been applied to a broader array of organisations, including criminal syndicates and drug cartels in Latin America, during Trumps second terms.

These moves came after Trump issued an earlier executive order in January declaring certain foreign cartels as terrorist entities  a step the administration later used to justify military strikes on vessels in the Western Hemisphere, some of which resulted in civilian casualties.

By focusing on specific Brotherhood branches, Trump appears to be pursuing a more legally defensible course than his earlier attempt in 2019, when he sought to brand the entire movement a terrorist organisation at the request of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

At that time, critics argued the Brotherhoods decentralised structure and varied political roles made a blanket designation incompatible with US law.

Trumps earlier effort stalled over concerns that the move would alienate US allies such as Turkey.

The new order avoids the legal pitfalls of targeting the movement globally by isolating the review to specific branches alleged to have direct or indirect ties to violent acts.

With inputs from agencies
The Ukraine war peace push involving the United States, Europe and Russia has entered a critical phase. Despite revisions in Geneva, core disagreements persist  from territorial concessions to long-term security guarantees  leaving Kyiv and Washington weighing difficult decisions as battlefield attacks continue

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he arrives for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 17, 2025. File Image/Reuters

The peace push to end the war in Ukraine has entered a critical phase, as negotiators attempt to rewrite a controversial United States peace proposal that initially alarmed Kyiv and major European capitals.

What began as a 28-point draft presented by the Trump administration last week has now been condensed and adjusted in Geneva, with the disagreements including territory concessions, future security arrangements, Ukraines military structure, and the handling of Russian assets frozen abroad.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged on Monday that the document had undergone changes following deliberations in Switzerland, noting that the framework now includes correct aspects.

However, he pointed out that the most contentious elements would be addressed only in his upcoming discussions with US President Donald Trump.

What we know of the revised framework

After meetings in Geneva on Sunday, US and Ukrainian representatives announced the development of what they called a refined peace framework.

Although they refrained from sharing specifics, officials familiar with the process described efforts to reduce the number of points, streamline language, and incorporate feedback from Kyiv and European governments that had reacted sharply to the original American outline.

Zelenskyy said his team briefed him on Monday about the updated steps, calling the adjustments the right approach.

At the same time, the Ukrainian leader warned the public to be vigilant as Russian attacks were expected to continue.

As he put it, there must be no missiles, no massive strikes on Ukraine and our people if peace talks were to proceed, adding that preventing such attacks required the involvement of those who are strong in the world.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Dont believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening.

Later, from the White House podium, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that only a couple of points of disagreement remained unresolved and expressed confidence that both sides could overcome those differences.

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She made clear that while the administration wanted a swift deal, no meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy had yet been scheduled.

The American proposal has undergone shifting interpretations within Washington itself. Throughout the summer, US strategy appeared to pivot: Trumps sudden meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska had raised fears that Washington might be ready to accept several Russian positions.

Although that meeting ultimately led to firmer US pressure on Moscow, concerns resurfaced when the new peace outline emerged.

Several U.S. officials, as well as Ukrainian and European governments, were reportedly caught off guard by the degree to which the document resembled Russian preferences.

The unease intensified when the initial draft required Ukraine to relinquish land, accept restrictions on its military, and permanently renounce Nato membership  conditions Ukrainian authorities have long labelled unacceptable and which many European states view as destabilising for the continent.

How Europe framed its own counter-framework

Alarmed by the initial draft, European governments quickly assembled their own counter-framework.

According to a version reviewed by Reuters, their proposal called for halting fighting along the current lines of contact, postponing territorial issues for future negotiation, and establishing a US-led security guarantee analogous to Natos collective defence mechanisms.

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Moscow immediately refused the European approach, with Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov saying the plan is completely unconstructive and does not work for us.

While European leaders welcomed the fact that Ukraine and the United States had succeeded in narrowing some differences in Geneva, they stressed that the process remained fragile.

Germanys Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking from Luanda on the sidelines of an EU-African Union summit, described the results of the Geneva session as an interim result.

He said he believed Trump had shown willingness to consider a peace plan developed jointly with European states, but cautioned that peace in Ukraine wont happen overnight.

Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk said any agreement must avoid weakening Ukraine or Europe, adding that it was vital to keep the United States aligned with European aims rather than alienating the Trump administration.

Finlands president, Alexander Stubb, who spoke with Zelenskyy on Monday, wrote on X that although talks had moved forward, there are still major issues which remain to be resolved, stressing that any questions related to the EU or NATO would be handled separately by their member states.

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Some Ukrainian officials expect Zelenskyy to visit the United States soon to consult directly with Trump on the most contentious elements of the revised framework.

The disputes at the centre of the Ukraine peace push

Territorial concessions

The US proposal asks Ukraine to give up parts of the Donbas region that it still controls  approximately 11 per cent of the territory  including fortified locations that Russia has failed to capture after nearly four years of full-scale war.

According to the original US outline, the United States would recognise the surrendered areas as Russian territory, but they would be designated a demilitarised zone from which Russian troops would be excluded.

The remainder of the Russian-occupied Donbas would be recognised as Russian in practice.

For Ukraine, these conditions are profoundly difficult. On Monday, Zelenskyy said the major issue with the multi-point plan was Russias requirement for global legal recognition of the territory it seized.

He reiterated that allowing borders to change forcibly undermines foundational European principles.

Ukrainian officials insist that giving up land would enable Russia to launch fresh assaults later. European leaders have argued that any negotiations should begin with a cease-fire along current battle lines, rather than territorial concessions.

Russia, however, has signalled interest in the American plan. State media quoted Putin on Monday as saying that the US proposal, in their current form, could serve as the basis for an agreement.

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Ambiguous security guarantees & Nato restrictions

The American draft promises that if Russia launched new attacks, the US and several European governments would mount a decisive coordinated military response.

However, the document does not specify what form that response would take, nor the extent of US engagement. This vagueness has concerned Ukrainian and European officials, who worry that an guarantee might fail to deter Moscow.

The proposal also prohibits Ukraine from joining Nato and prevents Nato military personnel from being stationed in Ukraine.

While Kyiv acknowledges that Nato membership is unlikely in the immediate future, the countrys constitution still cites Nato accession as a long-term objective.

European negotiators are pushing for the text to include a provision enabling them to deploy a reassurance force to Ukraine after a peace arrangement is reached.

They maintain that any such force would neither operate under Nato command nor be present in Ukraine during peacetime  an attempt to navigate Russian sensitivities while enhancing deterrence. Moscow has opposed this idea.

Officials familiar with the Geneva discussions said that topics involving Nato and the EU had been set aside temporarily so that Ukrainian, American and European representatives could focus on areas where consensus might be achievable.

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Limits on Ukraines future military

The US draft sets a peacetime ceiling of 600,000 personnel, whereas the European proposal suggests a limit of 800,000.

Zelenskyy said in January that Ukraine had approximately 880,000 active-duty personnel, but maintaining such a large force after a peace settlement would require resources that Ukraines strained budget may not support without substantial external assistance.

The American plan does not include limitations on Russias military, a contrast that has drawn concern from Ukrainian officials. They argue that without comparable restrictions, any cap on Ukraines forces would leave it at a disadvantage.

Despite these concerns, some analysts note that the Ukrainian military was significantly smaller before 2022, and that sustaining an extremely large standing force during peacetime could burden the countrys finances.

Even so, Ukraine insists that any limits must be paired with credible long-term support from Western states.

Frozen Russian assets & reconstruction funding

The question of how to handle the nearly $300 billion in Russian state assets immobilised in 2022 remains unresolved.

The US wants to use the funds for two purposes: reconstruction in Ukraine and joint US-Russia investment projects. However, the majority of the assets are held within the European Union, whose sanctions regime dictates that major decisions must involve all member states.

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European governments prefer to devote the entirety of the frozen assets to Ukraine. They are working on a loan arrangement backed by the assets, intended to support Ukraines financial needs over the long term.

European officials stressed over the weekend that no decisions could be made without direct EU involvement.

Zelenskyy repeated on Monday that Europe should ensure that Russia pays for the damage caused by its invasion. Keep pressure on Russia, Russia is still killing people, he said, urging European institutions to act decisively.

What next

Events on the battlefield continue to overshadow diplomatic discussions. On Sunday, a significant drone strike hit Kharkiv, killing four people.

Across the border, Russia announced that it had shot down 10 Ukrainian drones en route to Moscow. A day earlier, a Ukrainian drone strike caused power outages for thousands near Moscow  an unusual reversal, as Russian strikes routinely inflict blackouts on millions of Ukrainians.

As peace efforts accelerate, high-level diplomatic movements have increased. According to the Financial Times, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday for discussions with the head of Ukraines military intelligence and a Russian delegation.

Driscoll and Russian representatives reportedly began their talks the same evening, indicating that negotiations are unfolding across multiple locations.

European, American and Ukrainian officials also held virtual and in-person meetings on Monday as they attempted to clarify the remaining points of disagreement.

Several EU leaders gathered on the margins of the summit in Luanda, while others joined remotely, reflecting the broad commitment to staying informed throughout the process.

For Zelenskyy, the quest for compromise remains central. Speaking via video link from a meeting of Ukraines allies in Sweden, he said, We all continue working with partners, especially the United States, to look for compromises that will strengthen but not weaken us.

With inputs from agencies
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (November 25) upheld the termination of a Christian officer from the Indian Army in 2021 after he objected to taking part in religious rituals at his regiments temple and gurdwara. Refusing to interfere with the Delhi High Courts May order that backed Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesans dismissal, the apex court labelled him a cantankerous man and a misfit. Heres why

The Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of a Christian officer from the Indian Army for allegedly refusing to participate in religious rituals at his regiments temple and gurdwara. Describing him as a misfit, the top court backed the Armys decision to terminate him in 2021.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi declined to interfere with the Delhi High Courts May order that had upheld the dismissal of Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesan. The officer had reportedly argued that participating in religious rituals went against his Christian beliefs.

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Lets take a closer look.

Why the Army removed a Christian officer

Commissioned in 2017, Samuel Kamalesan was posted with a Sikh squadron. As per a Bar and Bench report, he faced disciplinary proceedings for declining to enter the inner sanctum of the regiments Hindu temple and gurudwara during mandatory regimental parades.

Kamalesan claimed that his objection stemmed not only as a sign of respect for his Christian faith, but also out of respect for the sentiments of his troops, so as not to offend their religious sentiments with his non-participation in rituals.

He also argued that his troops did not take offence, nor did it impact his strong bond with them, reported Bar and Bench.

The Army, however, said the officer refused to change his stance even after counselling by senior officers and Christian clergy. He was eventually terminated in 2021.

The Army said the officers objection undermined unit cohesion and troop morale.

In its May 30 order, the Delhi High Court upheld Kamalesans termination, saying the officer had kept his religion above a lawful command from a superior, which was clearly an act of indiscipline.

It also noted that Section 41 of the Army Act makes disobeying the order of a superior officer an offence.

SC upholds Christian Army officers termination

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (November 25) upheld Kamalesans removal from the Indian Army.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymala Bagchi said the officers actions were the grossest kind of indiscipline by an army officer.

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who appeared for Kamalesan, argued that the officer had committed only a single infraction by refusing to enter the sanctum at his place of posting.

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This one place in Punjab did not have a sarv dharm sthal (i.e., a structure symbolising the unity of all religions). It had a gurdwara he told the court.

He is standing right outside the sanctorum. He told them, Everything else you want me to do outside, Ill do but entering the sanctorum is against my faith, Sankaranarayanan reportedly stated.

The advocate said only the commandant had a problem with Kamalesans refusal, not the other troops. Sankaranarayanan added that Kamalesan had no issue entering the Sarva Dharma Sthal.

Entering the sanctum sanctorum is a violation of my faith Its not that when you join the Army, you lose the vestiges of your faith, he said, adding, No one had a problem. Only one person.

However, the top court chided Kamalesans conduct.

What kind of message is he sending? Gross indiscipline by an Army officer. He should have been terminated. This kind of cantankerous person deserves to be in the military? the bench asked, as per NDTV. He may be an outstanding officer but he is a misfit for the Indian Army. The amount of responsibilities our forces have at this time this is not what we want to entertain, the court added.

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Supreme Court upholds dismissal of Christian Army officer for refusing to join regiment's religious rituals



Read here: https://t.co/lfzaMkz4Mn pic.twitter.com/BL4Si7REt5  Bar and Bench (@barandbench) November 25, 2025

Justice Bagchi noted that Kamalesan was counselled by a pastor who said there was no issue entering the sanctum sanctorum. But then also he has his own personal interpretation. If the pastor, the head of your faith, says it does not affect the essential features of your faith, will the personal understanding of the believer be unique, or will the pastors view override?

To this, Sankaranarayan said, The conversation with the pastor was limited to the Sarva Dharma Sthal, not temple or gurdwara.

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Thats the Sarva Dharma Sthal, Justice Bagchi argued, but Sankaranarayan denied, as per Indian Express.

CJI Kant said the leaders of troops must lead by example. You are the group leader. In your team, there are Sikh soldiers, and because of them, there is a Sikh gurudwara A gurudwara is one of the most secular places to visit. The tone and tenor and manner in which he is acting, is he not insulting his own soldiers? We are surprised he doesnt even follow the advice of the pastor, he said.

Justice Bagchi also observed that Kamalesan had, in his reply, admitted that other Christian officers said please do it, there is no difficulty. But your interpretation of your religious rights is I am not going to offer flowers or havan in a gurudwara. We understand that may be a sentiment of your understanding of your Christian faith. But that is not the essential features as appraised either by the pastor or other members of your faith.

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Breach of Article 25 needs to be seen from the angle of essential features of the religion, not every sentiment of a religion We have to definitely acknowledge and respect your essential features but you have to respect the collective faith of the majority of your command which you are commanding.

The Supreme Court said it did not see reason to interfere with the Delhi HCs verdict.

We have heard the counsel for the petitioner at considerable length. We see no reason to interfere with the impugned judgment of the High Court order. The SLP is dismissed, the bench was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

The apex court further said: Army [is] completely secular in approach. You may do well elsewhere.. any constitutional provision with a grey area, we will look into it. You are guilty of violating  [Army Rules]. You have hurt the feelings of the soldiers.

With inputs from agencies
The volcanic ash from the eruption of a long-dormant volcano in Ethiopia reached parts of India on Monday, entering Delhi last night. Experts warn that this volcanic ash, which is made up of pieces of broken rock, minerals and volcanic glass, could further worsen the citys already toxic air. Volcano ash and gases can also impact human health. Heres how

People watch ash billow from an eruption of the long-dormant Hayli Gubbi Volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region, November 23, 2025. Afar Government Communication Bureau via AP

A volcanic eruption in northern Ethiopia on Sunday (November 23) has led to health scares in parts of India. The long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano in the Afar region of Ethiopia erupted over the weekend, sending ash plumes up to 14 km high.

The volcanic ash crossed the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman and then travelled to parts of Pakistan and northern India. The ash cloud is moving towards China and is expected to leave Indian skies by 1400 GMT (7:30 PM IST) Tuesday (November 25).

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The ash cloud entered India late on Monday, raising fears of its impact on human health and air quality. Indias aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), also issued an advisory yesterday to all airlines to avoid areas affected by the volcanic ash.

We take a closer look.

What is volcanic ash?

Volcanic ash consists of pieces of broken rock, minerals and volcanic glass. It is hard, abrasive, and does not dissolve in water, as per National Geographic.

Wind can disperse particles of volcanic ash even thousands of kilometres away from the eruption site.

According to IndiaMetSky Weather, the ash from the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia is made up of sulphur dioxide, glass and fine rock particles.

The ash cloud is moving at speeds of up to 100-120 km/h over North India at altitudes between 15,000-45,000 feet.

Meteorological agencies reported that the ash cloud entered India via western Gujarat and then crossed into Rajasthan, north-west Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab by late Monday.

A satellite image shows ash rising from the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia as it drifts over the Red Sea, November 23, 2025. NASA/Handout via Reuters

How volcanic eruptions impact health

When a volcano erupts, it can release dangerous particles like volcanic gases and ash into the air.

Carbon dioxide and fluorine, which are toxic to human health, can collect in volcanic ash.

Other volcanic gases that can impact health are sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulfide, radon, hydrogen fluoride and sulfuric acid.

Inhaling these gases, many of which are odourless or invisible, can be harmful. As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breathing these volcanic gases can cause symptoms, such as irritation of the eyes, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, breathing issues and even death.

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Longer exposure to volcanic gases and ash could damage the lungs. Breathing large amounts of ash and volcanic gases could lead to suffocation, which is the most common cause of death from a volcano, as per National Geographic.

Abrasive particles in the ash can lead to skin irritation and inflammation.

Severe exposures to some volcanic gases can make a person unconscious within minutes and eventually cause death.

Asthma patients, children and people with chronic respiratory or cardiac conditions are highly vulnerable to volcanic gases and ash.

Experts have warned that as the volcanic ash passes over Delhis skies, it could further deteriorate the citys already toxic air.

The volcanic ash consists of dust, silica, rocky material, and other minerals and can be hazardous to health. Volcanic ash while passing over the air shed over Delhi may lead to a sudden spike in pollution levels, worsening the air quality further, Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst of think tank EnviroCatalysts, was quoted as saying by Times of India (TOI).

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How volcanic ash affects flights

Volcanic ash is dangerous to moving aircraft, even causing failure. The abrasive particles of rock and glass can damage parts of the aircrafts fuselage and cause sensor failures.

The DGCA on Monday directed all Indian airlines to adjust flight planning, routing, and fuel considerations as well as immediately report any suspected ash encounter, including engine performance anomalies or cabin smoke/odour.

Indias aviation regulator asked airlines to carry out post-flight engine and airframe inspections for flights operating near the affected areas.

If volcanic ash affects an airport, the operators (airlines) may advise immediate inspection of runways, taxiways, and aprons to be conducted, the DGCA advisory read. It added that airport operations may be restricted or suspended based on contamination, and cleaning procedures must be completed before resuming operations.

Air India and Akasa Air on Tuesday said they were cancelling some flights after ash plumes from the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia.

#ImportantAdvisory



The following Air India flights have been cancelled as we carry out precautionary checks on those aircraft which had flown over certain geographical locations after the Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption.



Our ground teams across the network are keeping passengers  Air India (@airindia) November 25, 2025

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Air India said it had cancelled 11 flights on Monday and Tuesday to make precautionary checks on aircraft that had flown over some volcanic ash-affected areas. Akasa Air said it cancelled scheduled flights to West Asia destinations, including those to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi.

With inputs from agencies
The landmark agreement, expected to be finalised soon, signals deeper civil nuclear cooperation between India and Canada, with fuel supply from Cameco Corp. over the next decade

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before a group photo during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on June 17, 2025. (AFP)

Canada is reportedly close to finalising a landmark US$2.8 billion deal to supply uranium to India over the next decade, strengthening nuclear energy cooperation between the two countries.

A source familiar with the negotiations told Hindustan Times, The agreement is at an advanced stage and we expect it to be finalised soon. Cameco Corp., Canadas key uranium producer, will supply the fuel to Indias nuclear plants.

The discussions follow a recent bilateral meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in Johannesburg. After the meeting, an official statement said, Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening civil nuclear cooperation, including long-term uranium supply agreements.

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Indian officials have previously indicated interest in small modular reactors, suggesting the deal could be part of a broader, strategic nuclear partnership. One official commented, This agreement is not just about uranium; it signals a strengthening of energy and technological collaboration between India and Canada.

If sealed, the deal would expand the framework established under the CanadaIndia Nuclear Cooperation Agreement of 2013, which would be a significant step in bilateral trade and energy relations.

What soured the India-Canada relationship?

In June 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh activist and a prominent figure in the Khalistan separatist movement (he led the banned Khalistan Tiger Force), was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.

Canadas then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later claimed there was credible intelligence suggesting that agents of the Indian government were involved in orchestrating the killing. This sparked a major diplomatic crisis between Ottawa and New Delhi.

India strongly denied any involvement. New Delhi called the allegations absurd and motivated, saying they were part of a smear campaign and accusing Canada of harbouring extremist elements.

However, a Canadian commission report released later concluded there was no definitive link between a foreign state (i.e., India) and Nijjars killing.
The unusual atmospheric event comes after the volcanodormant for thousands of yearserupted with explosive force, sending a towering plume of ash and gases high into the upper atmosphere

People watch ash billow from an eruption of the long-dormant Hayli Gubbi Volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region, November 23, 2025. Afar Government Communication Bureau via AP

Ash clouds from the massive eruption of the Hayli Gubbi Volcano in Ethiopia have now drifted as far as Delhi, with environmental experts confirming visible traces of volcanic fallout over several parts of India.

The unusual atmospheric event comes after the volcanodormant for thousands of yearserupted with explosive force, sending a towering plume of ash and gases high into the upper atmosphere.

 - Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi Volcano Awakens After 10,000 Years



In a stunning geological event, Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcanolong dormant in the remote Danakil Depression of the Afar Rifterupted explosively for the first time in recorded history on November 23, 2025.



The pic.twitter.com/bZby4sAuOC  The Informant (@theinformant_x) November 24, 2025

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According to environmentalist Vimlendu Jha, the drifting ash has already been sighted across western and northern states. The eruption of Ethopias volcano is enormous, and if you see it in the last 24 hours, whether we talk about Gujarat, Rajasthan or even in the last 12 hours, we can even see the ashes floating around Delhi, he told ANI, noting that satellite imagery and ground observations both confirm the plumes long-distance movement.

Delhi residents unlikely to feel any change in air quality

The arrival of ash clouds over India has triggered public concern, particularly in the capital, where persistent winter smog and rising pollution levels have already strained air quality.

But Jha stressed that residents in Delhi are unlikely to face an immediate deterioration of air conditions due to the volcanic debris. The overall impact of the eruption will be in the form of ash clouds and will not immediately affect the AQI in Delhi. The clouds are made of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and glass particles. Though it will not immediately affect the AQI, we need to monitor it, as the clouds are in the very upper atmosphere, he explained.

Atmospheric scientists say the volcanic plume has risen to altitudes where winds can transport particles across continents without allowing them to mix quickly with air near the surface.

Such high-level ash often travels thousands of kilometres before gradually descending, a process that can take days or even weeks depending on weather conditions.

Jha cautioned, however, that other regions could see effects sooner than Delhi. The impact of these clouds might be seen in the Himalayas, the Tarai region (a lowland region of flat, alluvial soil that forms a belt along the Nepal-India border) and even parts of China, he said, adding that elevated terrains and valleys often register early signs of atmospheric dust and ash deposition.

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Authorities in India are now closely tracking the plumes trajectory, coordinating with global atmospheric monitoring networks to assess whether the ash could influence regional weather patterns or contribute to long-term pollutant loads.
The worlds most populous country is no longer just a market; it is a gateway to Asia and potentially one of the most influential actors shaping the global economic order. Israels decision to fast-track the trade agreement talks reflects this recognition

Union Minister Piyush Goyal with Minister of Economy and Industry of Israel Nir Barkat during signing of the Terms of Reference to guide the negotiations for a free trade agreement, in Israel, November 20. Image: @PiyushGoyal/X via PTI Photo

Israels Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkats recent remarks in Tel Aviv, calling India a huge giant and an emerging great power, capture a reality the world has been gradually waking up to: India has moved from being a promising market to a decisive global player. The signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) to fast-track negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Israel is not just a bureaucratic milestone; it signals the sharpening of a partnership rooted in mutual strengths, complementary economies, and shared democratic values.

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Barkats statements, delivered after he met with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, were unusually candid. The India of tomorrow is a great power, he said, emphasising not only Indias demographic advantage but also its expanding role as a strategic gateway to Asia. For a country like Israel, known globally for cutting-edge innovation, technological prowess, and high-value research, aligning with India makes perfect sense. One offers scale and skill; the other offers innovation and agility. It is a textbook example of economic complementarity.

The chemistry between Goyal and Barkat, repeatedly highlighted by the Israeli minister, is not just diplomatic courtesy. Personal rapport often accelerates trade agreements, and in this case, it appears to have infused the process with optimism and urgency. Barkats description of India as a partner capable of helping Israel become stronger and better underscores a willingness in Tel Aviv to look beyond traditional markets and invest strategically in Asias rising power.

For India, the FTA is timely. As New Delhi seeks to expand its global footprint, forge resilient supply chains, and attract high-value investments, Israel represents a crucial partner. From defence technologies and cybersecurity to agriculture, water management, and healthcare, the potential for collaboration is immense. Indias skill base, combined with Israels innovation ecosystem, could unlock a new wave of co-developed solutions for global markets.

Goyals remarks during the signing ceremony reflect New Delhis clarity on the benefits of this partnership. An FTA that removes market barriers, enhances predictability, and simplifies business norms could dramatically boost bilateral trade. Currently hovering around $10 billion annually, the trade volume remains disproportionately low given the potential. A comprehensive FTA could change that, especially in sectors such as defence manufacturing, clean energy, start-up collaboration, pharmaceuticals, and high-tech solutions.

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One of the most significant points made by both sides is that India and Israel do not compete with each other in core sectors. This is an important strategic advantage. Many FTAs get bogged down because partner countries worry about flooding each others markets with competing goods. India and Israel, however, bring distinct strengths to the table. Israel excels in high-technology niches; India offers scale, manufacturing capacity, and a massive market hungry for innovation. This creates a natural synergy where both nations act as force multipliers rather than rivals.

Barkat also highlighted another crucial element: making Israeli entrepreneurs comfortable with doing business in India. This is often a barrier in Indo-foreign trade relationships. Many global investors acknowledge Indias market potential but hesitate due to regulatory complexity or unfamiliarity with local business ecosystems. The FTA could serve as a confidence-boosting mechanism, signalling long-term stability and predictability. Once Israeli start-ups and innovators embed themselves in the Indian market, the results could be transformational.

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At a geopolitical level, the timing is equally significant. With global supply chains shifting and major powers competing for influence in Asia and the Middle East, India and Israel have found greater strategic alignment. Their cooperation, once limited mostly to defence and agriculture, has now expanded into cutting-edge technology, energy security, and joint research. The FTA, therefore, must be understood not just as an economic instrument but as a pillar of a broader strategic partnership.

For India, being acknowledged as a great power by a technologically advanced nation like Israel reinforces its growing global stature. As Barkat rightly observed, the worlds most populous country is no longer just a market; it is a gateway to Asia and potentially one of the most influential actors shaping the global economic order. Israels decision to fast-track an FTA reflects this recognition.

The India-Israel partnership stands at a critical inflection point. With political goodwill, complementary strengths, and a shared desire for innovation-driven growth, the FTA could become a defining feature of 21st-century economic diplomacy. If concluded successfully, it may very well set a benchmark for how middle-power democracies collaborate to shape the global economy.

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(The writer is a techie, political analyst, and author. He pens national, geopolitical, and social issues. His social media handle is @prosenjitnth. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
The outcome a declining West fears most is one Asian power, China, being joined at the top by another Asian power, India. The Wests veto to prevent that outcome, however, has expired

Western powers led by the United States have held a vice-like grip on world affairs since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The US was the unchallenged global hegemon. Post-Soviet Russia was run by Boris Yeltsin and corrupt oligarchs. China was a dot in Americas rear-view mirror. Its GDP in 1991 was $0.83 trillion, a fraction of US GDP of $6.16 trillion that year.

Europe, Japan, South Korea and the Middle East were under Americas protective military umbrella. Indias foreign policy was stubbornly autonomous but its bankrupt economy in 1991 lay at the mercy of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), controlled by Washington.

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The world order in 2025 has been transformed in less than a generation. The US remains a global hegemon but it is no longer the only hegemon. China has caught up economically and in several industries surpassed the US technologically.

Europe has meanwhile slipped into sclerosis. Russia is resurgent. President Donald Trump is on the verge of handing Moscow, by diplomatic sleight of hand, the victory over Ukraine that Russia has failed to achieve militarily. If Trump succeeds in forcing Ukraine to accept the terms of his peace proposal that gives Russia over 20 per cent of Ukraines territory (including several regions it has failed to conquer), Western Europe will be distraught. The umbilical cord between Europe and America could snap.

Amid this global churn there is India. Since Independence in 1947, the Wests attitude towards India has been ambivalent. Bankrupted and exhausted by the Second World War, Britain was forced to grant India freedom. It has never quite forgiven its most resource-rich and heavily taxed colony for setting off a domino effect of decolonisation. Within 15 years of Indian independence, the British Empire across Asia and Africa unravelled.

Washington had backed Indias freedom movement. President Franklin D. Roosevelt frequently clashed with wartime ally Winston Churchill, Britains prime minister, over British hypocrisy in denying India freedom while fighting Hitlers fascism.

But Americas post-war interests were tied to Britains. The two countries collaborated in regime change and invasive wars. In 1953, Washington and London overthrew the democratically elected government of Mohammad Mossadegh in Iran in an operation codenamed Operation Ajax. American and British petroleum companies took control of Irans oil assets and installed the Shah of Iran as a Western puppet.

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In 2003, again, the US and Britain collaborated in the illegal invasion of Iraq on the false pretext of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

The rise of China has unsettled the Anglo-Saxon world order. In 1991, Britains GDP at $1.14 trillion was higher than Chinas GDP of $0.83 trillion. In 2025, Chinas $19 trillion economy dwarfs Britains $3.8 trillion economy.

While the West has been forced to accept Chinas rise as a fait accompli, India is another matter altogether. Britains resentment has not ebbed though it hides it expertly. The rise of Nigel Farages Reform Party is Britains version of Americas MAGA movement: anti-immigrant and racist.

Washington and London, fattened on the profits of colonialism and slavery over two centuries, have long controlled the levers of geopolitical power. China is an unwelcome intruder but is now too powerful to parry. India, however, can and must be kept firmly in its place. There is no room for a G3. A US-China G2 is barely tolerable for the West. A G3 with India is intolerable.

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Farsighted US and British thinkers have in recent years predicted that as ageing Chinas economy slows and the Wests multi-racial demography changes colour, Indias tortoise-like economy could actually win the race against a hobbled Chinese hare and a lumbering American bear.

All of this has been at the back of Western minds for decades but now occupies their full attention. How can Indias rise be slowed? Its demographics will be unbeatable till at least 2050. The attempt to encircle India with a hostile Pakistan and Bangladesh has failed.

The glimmer of hope for electoral change in India with a more pliable Opposition government has largely evaporated after the results of four recent assembly elections. The Wests outsourced attacks on the government through global NGOs have been unsuccessful.

The attempts, covert and overt, however continue. The West, sanctimonious about promoting global democracy, has been notably quiet about the death sentence passed on former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who continues to live in exile in a safe house in New Delhi.

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Washington has treated the interim government run by Muhammad Yunus with kid gloves despite its murderous assault on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. The US has doubled down on its defence alliance with Pakistan, knowing its military is aimed at India. British Prime Minister Keir Starmers government has meanwhile targeted immigrants with new legislation that will affect Indian migrants the most.

In the past, the thought that an impoverished ex-European colony could emerge as a Great Power was not taken seriously in the chanceries of the West. At every turn, the US and Britain supported Pakistan in its conflicts with India, most notably in the 1971 Bangladesh war.

With the geopolitical ground slipping from under its feet, the US-led West recalibrated its approach to India. New Delhi has been reluctantly co-opted as a security partner in the Indo-Pacific. But President Trump makes sure he keeps India off-balance with tariffs, befriending Pakistan, curtailing H-1B visas, and allowing his MAGA base to conduct an online hate campaign against Indians.

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The outcome a declining West fears most is one Asian power, China, being joined at the top by another Asian power, India. The Wests veto to prevent that outcome, however, has expired.

(The writer is an editor, author and publisher. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
Microsofts chief Pavan Davuluri reacted to a user after receiving criticism towards the latest Windows 11 update. He said that Microsoft hears the feedback and is committed to balancing innovation with reliability and control.

Microsofts Windows head Pavan Davaluri responded to intense backlash from users over his announcement that windows is evolving into an agentic OS, a vision centred on integrating artificial intelligence deeply into the operating system to enable autonomous, intelligent task automation.

The phrase means that the latest version of Windows will be heavily focused on AI tools. While the concept aims to connect devices, cloud, and AI to unlock intelligent productivity.

Davuluri faced criticism from Windows users who expressed frustration over AIs growing role, stability issues, and perceived departure from a reliable, user-controlled OS.

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The complaints grew so much that Davaluri was forced to turn off replies to his original post on X. Users wrote that this agentic operating system would allow AI agents to proactively curry out tasks such as managing files, sending emails, and performing background operations visible on the taskbar. The comment section was filled with negative feedback, accusing Microsoft of focusing too much on AI and cloud dependency at the expense of core functionality.

In response to the ongoing criticism, Davuluri emphasised that Microsoft hears the feedback and is committed to balancing innovation with reliability and control.

He acknowledged user concerns about everyday usability, inconsistent dialogs, and the developer experience, assuring that the team is working to improve those areas.

The team (and I) take in a ton of feedback. We balance what we see in our product feedback systems with what we hear directly. They dont always match, but both are important. Ive read through the comments and see focus on things like reliability, performance, ease of use and more, Davuluri wrote, replying to one comment.
India on Tuesday strongly rejected Chinas claim over Arunachal Pradesh following the detention of an Arunachal-born woman during a transit stop at Shanghai airport, saying, Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact

Hours after China repeated its claim that Arunachal Pradesh was a part of China amid a row over the harassment of an Arunachal-born woman by immigration officials during a transit halt at Shanghai airport, India on Tuesday sharply rejected Beijings claims, saying, Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact.

The comments came after a controversial statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry once again challenged Indias sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh.

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We have seen statements made by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the arbitrary detention of an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, who was holding a valid passport and was transiting through Shanghai International Airport on her onward travel to Japan, said MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality, he added.

Jaiswal said the issue of the detention has been taken up strongly with the Chinese side.

Chinese authorities have still not been able to explain their actions, which are in violation of several conventions governing international air travel. The actions by the Chinese authorities also violate their own regulations that allow visa free transit up to 24 hours for nationals of all countries, he said.

Detention over a birthplace

The passenger, Prema Wang Thongdok, who hails from Rupa in West Kameng district and currently resides in the UK, was travelling from London to Japan on November 21 with a scheduled three-hour layover in Shanghai. What should have been a routine transit turned into a harrowing ordeal.

Thongdok later took to X to describe the experience: I was held at Shanghai airport for over 18 hrs on 21st Nov, 2025 They called my Indian passport invalid as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh which they claimed is Chinese territory.

Despite carrying all valid travel documents, she was reportedly denied free passage, given conflicting instructions, and only released after prolonged questioning, during which she said her documents were repeatedly challenged and invalidated on political grounds.

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China denies harassment, repeats territorial claim

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the passenger was not subjected to any compulsory measures, detainment or harassment.

Mao added that airport officials acted according to laws and regulations, and claimed the airline had provided the passenger food, water, and a place to rest.

However, Maos comments escalated tensions by reiterating Beijings territorial claim:

Zangnan is Chinas territory. China never acknowledged the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India, she said.

The statement drew immediate criticism from India, which accused Beijing of distorting established facts and politicising a routine travel procedure.

Indias diplomatic pushback

According to NDTV, citing government, India issued a strong demarche in both capitals on the day of the incident. The Indian Consulate in Shanghai also intervened to assist the stranded passenger.

Officials described the detention as based on ludicrous grounds and said it undermined efforts by both nations to stabilise bilateral ties.

At a time when both sides are working on restoring normalcy, such actions by the Chinese side introduce unnecessary obstructions to the process, NDTV quoted sources as saying.

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With inputs from agencies
China has launched the Shenzhou 22 spacecraft on an emergency mission to restore a safe return option for astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station after a damaged vessel temporarily left them without a way home.

A Long March-2F rocket carrying the unmanned Shenzhou-22 spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province on November 25, 2025, beginning its mission to Chinas Tiangong space station. (Reuters)

China has launched the Shenzhou 22 spacecraft in an emergency mission to restore a safe return option for astronauts who were left temporarily stranded on the Tiangong space station after a damaged vessel disrupted their way back to Earth.

The unmanned craft lifted off on Tuesday atop a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre at 12:11 p.m., with the China Manned Space Agency confirming it successfully entered its planned orbit. It will be used in 2026 by the three astronauts who arrived at Tiangong on November 1.

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This launch follows an incident earlier in the month when astronauts from the Shenzhou 20 mission faced a nine day delay returning to Earth after their capsule window was cracked, with impact from space debris suspected. They were eventually brought back using the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, which had just delivered the replacement crew. While the trio landed safely, their successors were temporarily left without an emergency return vehicle. The damaged Shenzhou 20 craft remains in orbit and will later be brought down for assessment.

Emergency deployment restores safety at Tiangong

With Shenzhou 21 departing six months ahead of schedule, Tiangongs three astronauts were without a flightworthy vessel until the arrival of Shenzhou 22. Officials described the launch as Chinas first emergency deployment of this kind. The spacecraft carried spare parts for the space station, materials to repair the cracked window on Shenzhou 20, and supplies, including fresh produce. It will stay docked at Tiangong until around April 2026, when it will bring the Shenzhou 21 crew back to Earth.

Shenzhou missions have transported three-person crews to Tiangong for six-month rotations since 2021, with Chinese safety rules requiring a backup rocket and spacecraft to remain on standby. As Shenzhou 22 and its carrier rocket were already positioned at the launch site, it took 16 days to complete the emergency procedure.

China built Tiangong after being excluded from the International Space Station over US national security concerns. The station, which hosted its first crew in 2021, is smaller than the ISS. Beijings rapid response to this incident comes as China and the United States continue to examine each others spaceflight operations while both pursue plans to land astronauts on the moon before or by 2030.
The proposed alliance, called the international economic and trade co-operation initiative on green minerals, seeks to promote collaboration among countries that supply, process, or consume rare earths

Chinas Premier Li Qiang arrives for the second day of the G20 Leaders' Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on November 23, 2025. Reuters File

China is moving to consolidate its dominance over the global rare earths market by proposing an international alliance for rare earth development, with at least 19 countries already on board.

According to a Financial Times report, Chinese Premier Li Qiang unveiled the initiative at the G20 summit in South Africa, emphasising cooperation with resource-rich nations to control key supply chains.

Rare earths, essential for the production of modern technologies from smartphones to electric vehicles, have long been a source of strategic leverage for China.

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Western companies access to these minerals was a central issue during the trade tensions between Beijing and Washington, and the new alliance appears aimed at consolidating Chinas stronghold while fostering ties with mineral-rich partners.

The proposed initiative, called the international economic and trade co-operation initiative on green minerals, seeks to promote collaboration among countries that supply, process, or consume rare earths.

According to Li, the alliance will not only enhance supply chain security but also encourage sustainable development and green technology adoption.

Among the 19 countries involved are Cambodia, Nigeria, Myanmar, and Zimbabwe, along with the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which will provide support on technical and industrial fronts.

By bringing together producers and stakeholders, Beijing aims to create a structured framework that could challenge US influence in the sector.

The premier said he welcomed active participation from all parties but did not provide a dollar figure or many other specifics in the initiative, which comes as the US works to build its own alliances to secure critical mineral supply chains to counter China, reported Financial Times.

Beijing supported the distribution of benefits from the rare earth supply chain and better safeguarding the interests of developing countries, while also being prudent in its use for military and other purposes to prevent security risks, Li was quoted as saying.

Beijing pushed the US to a standstill in the trade war by implementing export licences with strict controls on rare earths. The US contends that, as part of the recent truce, China has agreed to issue general licences that would allow companies to import rare earths more freely, though the details are still under negotiation.

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China rationale behind alliance

Premier Li did not elaborate on the practical implications of the green mineral initiative.

Chinas commerce ministry issued a supporting document that offered few specifics, noting only that the development of critical mineral industries should comply with World Trade Organization rules.

However, the Communist Partys Study Times newspaper outlined Chinas rationale for international rare earth alliances in May.

The piece, authored by Hu Jun, head of a think tank under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, noted that President Xi has repeatedly called for international cooperation on green minerals  such as lithium, graphite, and rare earths  at global summits in recent years.

Hu wrote, The United States and other western countries are intent on reshaping the global green mineral resource supply chain to curb Chinas resource imports.

He added that these Western-led mineral alliances have gradually extended to include African countries such as Zambia and Angola.

As competition among major powers intensifies, Hu argued, China should promote international co-operation in green minerals and particularly further expand co-operation with developing countries.

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He also noted that Chinas domestic reserves of upstream minerals such as cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese account for less than 5 per cent of the global total, making imports essential to meet most of the countrys demand.

With inputs from agencies
Unemployment stands at nearly 10%, one of the highest rates in the European Union.

Harsh economic headwinds are weighing heavily on the worlds happiest nation. Finland is confronting economic stagnation, rising unemployment, and growing pressure on public finances, yet it has still secured the title of worlds happiest country for the eighth consecutive year in the annual World Happiness Report. Experts attribute this resilience largely to a generous welfare state, though ministers have begun trimming benefits as they grapple with the surging social costs of an ageing population.

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33-year-old Juho-Pekka Palomaa is determined not to let the countrys challenges erode his outlook. Palomaa, who marked his 1,000 days of unemployment with a bring-your-own-food protest on the steps of parliament, said he has been grateful for the safety net that has supported him financially. A former video producer, he has submitted numerous applications and completed 11 unsuccessful interviews, yet feels there is little he can do to change his circumstances. While unemployment benefits have been cut, he said pensions remain almost sacred in comparison.

A struggling economy and rising deficits

Finlands export-driven economy has been under strain since the collapse of Nokias phone business in 2014, after the company failed to keep pace with the transition to touch-screen smartphones. Sanctions on neighbouring Russia over its war in Ukraine have further dented exports and tourism, while uncertainty surrounding global trade and tariffs poses additional risks.

The Bank of Finland expects economic growth of 0.3% this year, down from 0.4% in 2024. Unemployment stands at nearly 10%, one of the highest rates in the European Union, and rises to 21.2% among people aged 15 to 24.

The European Commission is due to decide on Tuesday whether to propose placing Finland in an Excessive Deficit Procedure, after forecasting that the countrys budget deficit will remain above the 3% EU limit for the next three years. Finlands general government budgets have been in deficit every year since the 2009 global financial crisis. Last years deficit of 4.4% was the second largest in 25 years, surpassed only by the 5.5% shortfall recorded during the Covid pandemic.

These pressures have pushed the government to cut back elements of the welfare state, including unemployment and housing benefits and some medical facilities.

Hanna Taimio, 54, another unemployed Finn who joined Palomaas commemoration, said she fears she may never return to work, describing the wave of cutbacks as frightening for younger generations. The right-wing coalition government, in office since 2023, aims to strengthen public finances and bring rising debt under control. Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen called the jobless rate an awful situation but defended plans to ease dismissals in an effort to reduce hiring risks and improve employment levels.

Critics argue, however, that austerity measures have worsened economic challenges and dampened consumer confidence. Lauri Holappa, director of the Finnish Centre for New Economic Analysis, cited simulations suggesting the fiscal consolidation measures may even have increased the public debt rate.

Resilience underpins Finlands happiness

According to the World Happiness Reports founding editor, emeritus professor John Helliwell, national happiness is shaped more by resilience and the ability to work collaboratively in difficult times than by economic conditions alone. He said Finland performs strongly in these areas. Survey data for next year collected by Gallup and seen by Reuters shows no major shifts in Finns reported happiness, with assessments also reflecting indicators such as GDP per capita, social support and healthy life expectancy.

Despite the financial impact of his long jobless spell, Palomaa has found comfort in a free, volunteer-run community sauna by the Baltic Sea in Helsinki, a place he describes as socially equal. After asking his social media followers what he should do to mark his 1,000th day of unemployment, he received a million views and a stream of suggestions, prompting the bring-your-own-food event he held outside parliament. Sharing his home-made pastries in the misty rain, he said he never expected to commemorate such a milestone. Yet he decided that this was his moment and resolved to seize it.

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The Presidents remarks come as he prepares to unveil details later this week on a new, voluntary form of national service, which would replace the compulsory service scrapped in 1997

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that France must maintain a strong posture against the perceived threat from Russia, cautioning against any sign of weakness. However, he simultaneously sought to reassure the nation that there are no plans to dispatch French youth to fight in the war in Ukraine.

Speaking in an interview with RTL radio, President Macron emphasised that national self-preservation hinges on firmness.

We would be wrong to show weakness in the face of this threat, the President stated. If we want to protect ourselves, we Frenchwhich is my sole concernwe must demonstrate that we are not weak against the power that threatens us the most.

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New national service plan forthcoming

The Presidents remarks come as he prepares to unveil details later this week on a new, voluntary form of national service, which would replace the compulsory service scrapped in 1997.

Macron confirmed to RTL that he would be announcing a transformation of national service into a new form on Thursday. While specifics remain scarce, a source familiar with the matter told AFP on condition of anonymity that the initial plan aims to train 2,000 to 3,000 individuals in the first year, with an eventual goal of scaling up to 50,000 participants annually.

Despite the focus on readiness, President Macron was quick to address concerns about a potential direct military involvement in Ukraine, a fear recently heightened by comments from a top general.

It is absolutely necessary, at least immediately, to dispel any confused idea suggesting that we are going to send our young people to Ukraine, he stressed.

He addressed recent alarm caused by a top general who warned that the country must be ready to lose its children, saying the comments had been deformed and taken out of context.

Soldiers who sign up make sacrifices, but to tell all French people that they are going to be sacrificed, that makes no sense, Macron clarified.

The Presidents interview took place ahead of a scheduled video call with members of the coalition of the willing, a group of 30 nations supporting Kyiv. This coalition is reportedly preparing for potential post-ceasefire scenarios, with the goal of deploying a multinational force to deter any further Russian aggression following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday held a phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and reiterated Britains willingness to put boots on the ground in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, according to a report

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday held a phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and reiterated Britains willingness to put boots on the ground in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

According to a Guardian report, citing Downing Street, the leaders discussed ongoing preparations by the coalition of the willing to deploy a multinational force to Ukraine once hostilities end.

The UK remains ready to provide support to protect Kyiv if a cessation of fighting occurs, a Downing Street spokesperson confirmed, added the report, citing the PA news agency.

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In a readout of the call, Downing Street said the prime minister expressed condolences to Zelenskyy over overnight Russian attacks and praised the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people amid continued bloodshed.

The prime minister began by sharing his condolences with President Zelenskyy on the appalling Russian attacks overnight, paying tribute to the Ukrainian people who showed such courage and resilience in the face of daily hardship and bloodshed from Putins ongoing onslaught, The Guardian quoted from the read out.

The two leaders also reflected on recent diplomatic efforts, including talks in Geneva, stressing the importance of securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. Starmer assured Zelenskyy that Ukraine could continue to rely on UK support as international discussions progress.

The prime minister said Ukraine could rely on the UK support as discussions continued. Looking ahead to this afternoons coalition of the willing call, the leaders discussed the international unity that has been shown in support for Ukraine and underlined the importance of the continued work by coalition partners in preparation for deployment for multinational force following the cessation of hostilities, added the read out.

The call concluded with both leaders expressing their intention to speak again in the near future.

Russia has rejected any potential foreign military deployment in Ukraine, calling it unacceptable.

With inputs from agencies
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed his visit to India next month over security concerns after the Delhi blast, according to Israeli media.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, listens as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during their meeting at the King David hotel in Jerusalem, Wednesday, on July 5, 2017. (Photo: Sebastian Scheiner/AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed his visit to India over security concerns after the Delhi blast, according to Israels i24 News.

Netanyahu was supposed to visit India next month. A visit of the Prime Minister of Israel has been pending for over six years.

Diplomatic sources have confirmed to the outlet that Netanyahus visit was postponed after the suicide bombing near Red Fort in Delhi.

Netanyahu is now expected to visit India at a later day next year pending security assessments, according to the report.

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PM Netanyahus planned December visit to India postponed due to security concerns following deadly Delhi attack https://t.co/14dhxpJFJc  i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) November 24, 2025

Netanyahu first visited India in 2018 and was to make another visit the next year. But the visit was postponed twice that year as Israel held repeat parliamentary elections. The next year, the Covid-19 pandemic and put up a stop for all in-person diplomacy.

In 2022, then-PM Naftali Bennets visit to India was announced but he tested positive for Covid-19 just weeks ahead of the visit. By the time he recovered, Israel was in the grips of a political crisis again like in 2019 that did not allow him to make the visit. The next year, even though Netanyahu returned to power, the Hamas-led attack of October 7 ruled out any visit for the duration of the war.

But there has been a flurry of visits lately between the two sides.

Earlier this month, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saars visited India. The visit came around two months after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrichs visit to India. During that visit, India and Israel signed the India-Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA)  precursor to the broader trade deal.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz is expected to visit India in January or February 2026 and President Isaac Herzog is expected to visit in the first half of the year.
French President Emanuel Macron has said that France could not afford to be weak amid ongoing threats from Russia. He stressed that France had no intention of sending its youth to the fight in Ukraine currently.

Amid the continuing war in Ukraine, French President Emanuel Macron has asserted that France must not show weakness in the face of ongoing threats from Russia on Tuesday, stressing the critical need for strength and vigilance.

We would be wrong to show weakness in the face of this threat. If we want to protect ourselves, we French  which is my sole concern  we must demonstrate that we are not weak against the power that threatens us the most, he told RTL radio in an interview as quoted by AFP.

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Macron has repeatedly clarified that Russian aggression knows no borders, stating that if Russia achieves victory in Ukraine, the entire European continents credibility could be undermined.

France has been discussing their expansion in nuclear deterrence, underlining the seriousness.

Macron is expected to make an announcement later this week on a voluntary form of military service, after France scrapped compulsory service in 1997.

He told RTL he would be announcing a transformation of national service into a new form on Thursday, but did not provide further details.

Ongoing diplomatic efforts

As tension persists, Macron is coordinating with its allies and maintaining pressure on Russia through strategic deterrence and by rallying Europe to present a united front.

Currently no plan to send French troops

Macron however stressed that France had no intention of sending its youth to the fight in Ukraine, responding to involvement in the conflict.

It is absolutely necessary, at least immediately, to dispel any confused idea suggesting that we are going to send our young people to Ukraine, he said.

(With inputs from AFP)
Israel and India are coordinating a new date for Netanyahus visit after the delay over security concerns, with Israel reaffirming strong bilateral ties and expressing solidarity in the wake of the Delhi terror attack

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, listens as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during their meeting at the King David hotel in Jerusalem, Wednesday, on July 5, 2017. AP File

Hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed his visit to India over security concerns following the deadly terror attack in New Delhi two weeks ago, the Israeli Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said on Tuesday that both countries are working to coordinate a new date for the visit and that Netanyahu has full confidence in Indias security under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Israels bond with India and between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very strong. The PM has full confidence in Indias security under PM Modi, and teams are already coordinating a new visit date, the official account of the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel posted on X.

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Prime Minister's Office:



Israels bond with India and between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister @narendramodi is very strong. The PM has full confidence in Indias security under PM Modi, and teams are already coordinating a new visit date.  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) November 25, 2025

Reports in the Israeli media suggested that Netanyahu, who was scheduled to visit New Delhi in December in what would have been his first official trip to India since 2018, postponed the visit over security concerns following the deadly terror attack in the capital earlier this month.

According to those reports, he is now expected to seek a new date next year, pending security assessments.

On November 12, the Israeli prime minister offered his condolences to PM Modi and the people of India after the car blast near Delhis Red Fort, which claimed several lives and left dozens injured.

In a statement shared on X, Netanyahu described India and Israel as ancient civilisations that stand on eternal truths and stressed that terror attacks would not shake the strong resolve of their people.

To our dear friend Narendra Modi and to the brave people of India: Sara and I, and the people of Israel, send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Israel stands strong with you in sorrow and in strength in this time, the Israeli Prime Ministers Office posted on X.

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India and Israel are ancient civilizations that stand on eternal truths. Terror may strike our cities, but it will never shake our souls. The light of our nations will outshine the darkness of our enemies, it added.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also extended condolences to the people of India, including the families of those killed in the blast, while reaffirming Israels support for India in its fight against terrorism.

I extend my and Israels deepest condolences to the People of India and especially to the families of the innocent victims killed in the blast at the heart of Delhi. Wishing speedy recovery to the wounded. Israel stands with India in its fight against terror, Saar posted on X.

With inputs from agencies
China on Tuesday rejected allegations that an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was harassed by immigration officials during a transit halt at Shanghai airport, saying that all procedures were carried out according to the laws and regulations.

The national flags of India (L) and China are seen outside the Meijiang Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on August 31, 2025. AFP File

China on Tuesday rejected allegations that an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was harassed by immigration officials during a transit halt at Shanghai airport, saying that all procedures were carried out according to the laws and regulations.

The traveller, Pema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen en route from London to Japan on November 21, said her scheduled three-hour layover turned into an 18-hour ordeal after officials allegedly declared her passport invalid because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.

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She described the experience as traumatising in a series of social media posts.

Responding to questions on the incident, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning denied Thongdoks account.

Mao said the woman was not subjected to any compulsory measures, detainment or harassment as alleged by her, adding that the airline had provided her with a place to rest, as well as drink and food.

We learnt that Chinas border inspection authorities have gone through the whole process according to the laws and regulations and fully protected the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned, PTI quoted Mao as saying.

According to PTI, citing government sources in Delhi, India lodged a strong demarche with China in both Beijing and New Delhi on the day the incident took place.

The protest emphasised that Arunachal Pradesh is indisputably an Indian territory and that its residents are fully entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports.

The Indian Consulate in Shanghai also took up the case locally and provided fullest assistance to Thongdok after she contacted the mission through a friend in the UK, according to the report, citing officials.

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Consular staff later helped her board a late-night flight out of Shanghai.

Reacting to the incident, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said he was deeply shocked and called the treatment of Thongdok a violation of international norms and an affront to the dignity of Indian citizens.

Thongdok alleges she was held for 18 hours at the airport after immigration personnel insisted her passport was invalid due to her birthplace. She was eventually allowed to depart with consular intervention, it was learnt.

With inputs from agencies
Rattled by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichis stance on Taiwan, Chinese state media have called for nuclear bombs to be dropped on Japan that would render the nation deindustrialised and demilitarised for decades.

A Dongfeng-41 intercontinental strategic nuclear missiles group formation marches to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in Beijing, on October 1, 2019 (Photo: Shen Shi/Imagine China/Reuters)

Rattled by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichis stance on Taiwan, Chinese state media have urged President Xi Jinping to drop nuclear bombs on Japan.

China has deployed an all-hands-on-deck approach to undermine Takaichi after she said that Chinese threats to Taiwan also posed a threat to Japan and could involve a Japanese military response. A Chinese diplomat, Xue Jian, threatened to get her head chopped off.

That filthy neck that barged in on its own, Ive got no choice to cut it off without a moments hesitation. Are you prepared for that? said Xue Jian, the Chinese

Consul-General in Japans Osaka.

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But Gunacha, a website controlled by the Communist Party of China (CPC), went further to call for dropping nuclear bombs on the country to render it deindustrialised and demilitarised for decades.

More from World Takaichi unlikely to back down on Taiwan despite China's outrage: A look at Japan will tell us why

72 bombs to take out Japan

It would take 72 nuclear bombs to destroy Japan, according to Gunacha.

In a report published last week, the outlet said that the PLA Rocket Force fielded three brigades of intermediate-range missiles, each with a 200-kiloton warhead, according to Washington Times.

The publication had a graphic showing the ring of destruction caused by a 200-kiloton warhead exploding in the center of Tokyo. A caption said the blast could kill 500,000 people and injure over 1 million.

The report outlined three ways military, industrial, and infrastructure that Xi could attack Japan.

As per the plan, the first waves military targets would include the Defense Ministry headquarters, as well as airports and naval ports, including the US Yokota Air Base near Tokyo. At least six other military bases would be targeted.

The report did not identify missiles but photographs showed DF-21 missiles that can be armed with nuclear as well as conventional warheads.

In the second waves, Chinese nuclear strikes would hit industrial targets to destroy Japans military capabilities, such as facilities of Toyota, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nissan, Toshiba, East Japan Steel, Nippon Steel, and electronics factories of Sony and Panasonic. The report said the wave would use 32 warheads.

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In the third phase, China would use 20 warheads to strike ports, nuclear power plants, oil refineries, and dams, according to the report.

Once those 72 nuclear warheads are deployed, Japan can be completely deindustrialised and demilitarised and will be barred from any ambitions for decades to come. As for the resulting humanitarian disaster and abnormal population decline, one can only say that the Japanese peoples understanding is commensurate with their suffering, the report concluded.
The Trump administration officially declared a Venezuelan group called Cartel de los Soles a terrorist organisation on Monday, despite doubts over its existence

Reports of imminent action have intensified as US forces build up in the Caribbean amid rapidly deteriorating relations with Venezuela. (Photo: Reuters/AFP)

Venezuela has called the USs terrorist designation of an alleged drug cartel on its territory a ridiculous lie, aimed at paving the way for an illegitimate military intervention and a way of kicking President Nicolas Maduro out of power.

The Trump administration officially declared a Venezuelan group called Cartel de los Soles a terrorist organisation on Monday, despite doubts over its existence. The move was the latest in Washingtons efforts to combat the South American drug problem, which President Donald Trump claims is ruining the lives of Americans.

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Venezuelas foreign ministry has rejected what it called the new and ridiculous lie from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which it said aimed to justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela.

The US has deployed the worlds largest aircraft carrier and other military forces to waters near Venezuela as part of a stated campaign to dismantle Latin American drug trafficking routes.

The Trump administration claims that the Cartel of the Suns is a drug trafficking syndicate run by Maduro and has issued a $50 million reward for the presidents capture.

Europe concerned

The increasing military buildup in the Caribbean has raised alarm not only in Venezuela but also among European countries, with France and the Netherlands joining the UK in limiting intelligence sharing with Washington.

In an open letter, left-wing European politicians, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Greeces former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and Labour MP Richard Burgon, warned of the imminent threat of US military intervention in Venezuela.

If the US launches a military intervention in Venezuela, it would mark the first interstate war by the United States in South America, the group wrote.

Top US official to visit Trinidad and Tobago

On Tuesday, the top US military officer, Dan Caine, will visit the small Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, a US ally situated a few miles from Venezuela that recently hosted US troops for training exercises.

The US embassy said that the visit by the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff would focus on countering illicit trafficking and transnational criminal organizations.

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The visit is part of a months-long campaign of maximum pressure on Maduro, whose reelection last year was widely dismissed by the international community as fraudulent.

With inputs from agencies
Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu said Nato pilots nearly shot down the drone, which repeatedly entered the alliance members airspace, but refrained due to concerns about causing damage on the ground, according to a report

US Army troops near a CH-47 Chinook and a AH-64E attack helicopter at MK Airbase, in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Constanta county, Romania, on Tuesday. Reuters

Romanian and German Nato fighter jets were scrambled on Tuesday near Romanias border with Ukraine after a drone penetrated deeper into Romanian airspace than ever before, an incident Bucharest described as a Russian provocation.

According to a Reuters report, Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu said Nato pilots nearly shot down the drone, which repeatedly entered the alliance members airspace, but refrained due to concerns about causing damage on the ground.

Later, fragments of a drone without an explosive charge were recovered on Romanian territory.

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We are dealing with a new Russian provocation against Romania, a drone which the Romanian army and German Eurofighters have tried to shoot down, Reuters quoted Mosteanu as saying.

My assumption is that (the pilots) analysed the potential collateral damage and  chose not to engag, Mosteanu added.

Russian drones had struck Ukrainian ports overnight near the border with Romania, which lies across the Danube River.

Tuesdays breach was the 13th that Romania has reported into its airspace since Russias 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In addition to being the deepest, it was also the first to take place during daylight, rather than at night.

Drone tracked more than 100 km inland

The Romanian defence ministry said it initially scrambled two Eurofighters from a German air-policing mission in Romania, which tracked a drone in the southeastern county of Tulcea before it re-entered Ukraine.

The army later scrambled two Romanian F-16 fighter jets after radar showed a second airspace breach in the neighbouring county of Galati. Mosteanu said an additional two Eurofighters followed.

The ministry said the planes tracked the drone moving towards the county of Vrancea, which does not share a border with Ukraine and is more than 100 km inland.

Residents of all three counties were warned to take cover, a warning that was later lifted.

Romania shares a 650-km (400-mile) border with Ukraine.

On a visit to U.S. troops at Romanias Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, General Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, said a new capability able to shoot down drones will be deployed to Romania.

We have tested and it is in the final stages of being employed. Romanian soldiers and other alliance soldiers have been trained on this capability and I know youre going to see this capability in the (Danube) Delta very soon.

Romania has legislation in place enabling it to shoot down drones during peacetime if lives or property are at risk, but has not yet made full use of it.

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Tensions have mounted along Europes eastern flank in recent months after suspected Russian drones breached the airspace of several Nato states.

The latest breach comes as US and Ukrainian officials have been holding clutch talks to narrow the gaps between them over a plan to end the war, after agreeing to modify a US proposal that Kyiv and its European allies saw as a Kremlin wish list.

With inputs from agencies
Russia is unlikely to accept the newly revised US peace plan, now reduced from 28 points to 19, as negotiations with Ukraine and European partners continue

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi as the Trump administration stepped up its push to advance the peace plan. (Reuters)

Russia appears unlikely to accept the revised version of the US-proposed 28-point peace plan, now reduced to 19, which is currently undergoing significant changes as the United States, Ukraine, and European partners continue negotiations, according to reports.

The plan, first referenced publicly last week, is being amended after Washington and Kyiv stated that the draft is not final, with US President Donald Trump saying on November 22 that it is not his final offer to Ukraine.

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However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the proposed changes to the 28-point peace plan, saying that the list has become doable now.

The peace plan underwent significant changes during Sundays negotiations in Switzerland, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Zelenskyys chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, with the original 28 points trimmed down to 19.

US and Ukraine refine key security elements

US Special Envoy to Ukraine General Keith Kellogg said on November 23 that the proposal remains a work in progress and highlighted the need for an annexe detailing security guarantees for Ukraine. He stressed that the United States wants to avoid repeating arrangements such as the Budapest Memorandum and Minsk Agreements, both of which gave Ukraine limited protection and ultimately advantaged Russia. After meetings in Geneva on 23 November, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the peace plan as a living, breathing document that is changing with daily input. He added that the parties really moved forward in the latest discussions and noted that there is no fixed deadline for Ukraine to sign, although the United States aims to finalise the agreement as soon as possible.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a lot is changing following the Geneva talks, while Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak confirmed that Ukrainian, US and European delegations will continue negotiations to produce a joint proposal.

Western reporting also indicated that US officials regard the initial security guarantees in the plan as not strong enough yet, with discussions under way on whether to raise or remove the proposed 600,000-troop cap on Ukraines military or whether to supply Tomahawk long-range missiles should a settlement be reached. Reports also suggested that a ceasefire on strikes against energy infrastructure was proposed by Zelensky, but Russia dismissed the idea as a nonstarter.

European leaders have prepared a 24-point counterproposal ahead of the Geneva talks. The draft calls for an immediate ceasefire before territorial discussions, a cap of 800,000 troops for Ukraine in peacetime, US-level security guarantees similar to NATOs Article 5, the use of frozen Russian assets to reconstruct Ukraine, and conditions surrounding foreign troop presence and NATO membership. The Kremlin has previously rejected several of these elements, including the deployment of foreign guarantor troops.

Kremlin and ultranationalists reject compromise

Senior Russian officials and pro-war commentators have continued to dismiss any settlement that does not align with Russias longstanding aims. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on November 22 that Moscow cannot move away from President Vladimir Putins demands articulated at the Alaska summit in August 2025, again citing NATO expansion, weapon deployments in Eastern Europe, and alleged discrimination against Russian identity and the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine as the root causes of the conflict. Ryabkov added that Russia will act in its national interests regardless of sanctions, indicating continued commitment to the war effort.

State Duma members Alexei Zhuravlev and Alexei Chepa echoed this stance, characterising Western proposals as unacceptable and warning that security assistance to Ukraine contradicts Russias objective of demilitarisation. Belarusian commentator Vadim Gigin said Russia cannot agree to the plan due to mutual mistrust and the lack of a clear enforcement mechanism. Kremlin-linked military bloggers similarly argued that Russia should reject any peace agreement and continue its campaign, claiming that accepting a settlement now would forfeit opportunities for further territorial gains.

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These statements underscore the Kremlins unwillingness to compromise and its continued commitment to maximalist war aims, including demands extending to territories Russia claimed to annex in 2022. Russian commentators asserted that any acceptable peace plan must reflect all Russian demands, a position they have maintained since Western media first reported on the draft plan on 20 November.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has sought to amplify recent battlefield gains in an attempt to present its advance in Donetsk Oblast as inevitable. However, independent assessments show that Russian progress remains slow and confined to limited areas. Russia has advanced an average of 9.3 square kilometres per day since 15 August, a pace that would not secure full control of Donetsk Oblast until August 2027 even if current conditions persist. Seasonal weather advantages and the lack of major fortified cities along the present line of advance have contributed to the recent tempo, but these factors are expected to change.

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Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that a residential building was severely damaged and firefighters were battling multiple blazes in shops across the city

In a sharp escalation, Russia launched a heavy missile and drone strike on Kyiv early Tuesday, just hours after US President Donald Trump expressed hope that a ceasefire deal with Ukraine was within reach.

Ukraines air-defence systems were activated as explosions shook the capital. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that a residential building was severely damaged and firefighters were battling multiple blazes in shops across the city. Power and water cuts were also imposed in some districts, he said, with emergency workers scrambling to respond.

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In a separate blow, Russia also struck southern Russian regions overnight.

In the Krasnodar area, suspected drone attacks injured six people and damaged more than 20 homes across five municipalities, including the key port city of Novorossiysk. In the neighbouring Rostov region, a strike on Taganrog killed one person, injured three others, and damaged residential buildings, industrial sites, and even a kindergarten.

The strike on Kyiv followed Trumps recent comments on social media, in which he said big progress was being made on a peace proposal. He referenced a 28-point plan floated by Washington, which, after further talks with Ukrainian and European officials, has reportedly been whittled down to a 19-point version.

Russia, for its part, has rejected the revised peace framework as a non-starter.

Meanwhile, Ukraines Energy Ministry warned of a massive combined attack on its power infrastructure. It added that damage assessments and restoration efforts would begin as soon as the security situation allows.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking in his evening address, acknowledged that progress had been made in negotiations with US and European partners.

Still, he cautioned that much remains to be done and insisted that any deal must be pursued with dignity.
The highest court of EU stated that same sex marriages must be respected and are valid across the bloc and called out Poland for not recognising such marriages.

The EUs highest court ruled on Tuesday that same sex marriages must be respected throughout the bloc and rebuked Poland for refusing to recognise a marriage between two of its citizens that took place in Germany.

The court said Poland had been wrong in not recognising the marriage of the couple when they moved back to Poland, on the grounds that Polish law does not allow marriage between people of the same sex.

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It infringes not only the freedom to move and reside, but also the fundamental right to respect for private and family life, the court said.

Freedom to have normal family life

In predominantly Catholic Poland, the struggle for LGBT equality for years was branded by those in power as a dangerous foreign ideology. However, the current government has been working on a bill to regulate civil partnerhips, including same-sex unions.

The EU Court of Justice made the binding ruling at the request of a Polish court handling the case of the men who had contested the refusal to transcribe their German marriage certificate in the Polish registry.

The couple, who wed in Berlin in 2018, have been identified only by their initials in the case. A lawyer for the couple declined to comment on the ruling.

EU citizens have the freedom to move to other member states and to have a normal family life there and upon return to their country of origin, the court said.

When they create a family life in a host member state, in particular by virtue of marriage, they must have the certainty to be able to pursue that family life upon returning to their member state of origin."

The court said this did not require member states to allow marriage between people of the same sex in their national laws.

But they are not allowed to discriminate against same sex couples in the way they recognise foreign marriages, it added.

Prime Minister Donald Tusks pro-European coalition governments work on pushing through the bill on same sex unions has been held back by resistance from his conservative coalition partner.

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Polands nationalist President Karol Nawrocki has also said he would veto any bill that would undermine the constitutionally protected status of marriage.

(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping held a call at a time when China is entangled in geopolitical tensions on three fronts: the Russian war on Ukraine, the public spat with Japan, and the issue of Taiwan. Trump does not appear able to tone down Xis aggression.

US President Donald Trump (left) and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands as they leave after their talks at the Gimhae Air Base, located next to the Gimhae International Airport, in Busan, South Korea, on October 30, 2025. (Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Monday held a phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping that he described as very good. But it did not appear that the call made a difference to Chinas stance on the most pressing ongoing issues.

Trump and Xi held the call at a time when China is entangled in geopolitical tensions on three fronts: the Russian war on Ukraine, the public spat with Japan, and the issue of Taiwan. Trump did not mention Taiwan or Japan at all, but the Chinese readout was quick to do so.

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Xi told Trump that Taiwans return to China was an integral part of the post-war international order forged in the common Chinese and American fight against fascism and militarism, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

China considers the self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province and is committed to its merger with the mainland. It has not ruled out the use of force. Previously, the US intelligence community had assessed that Xi had told the Chinese military to prepare for the invasion and occupation of Taiwan by 2027.

Hours after the call with Xi, Trump held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi.

Trump wades through tough waters amid Taiwan tensions

Xi has ramped up aggression around Taiwan both directly and indirectly.

Directly, Xi has told Trump who has already been mum on Taiwan that China will occupy Taiwan come what may.

Indirectly, Xi has cracked down on Japan for offering support to Taiwan in case of aggression.

The ChinaJapan relationship unravelled earlier this month when Takaichi said that the threat to Taiwan was a survival-threatening situation for Japan that could force Japan to intervene militarily for the defence of the island. China responded by threatening to decapitate Takaichi, and state media called for dropping nuclear bombs on Japan.

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Takaichi said, The so-called Taiwan contingency has become so serious that we have to anticipate a worst-case scenario.

Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger the deployment of Japans military  formally self-defence forces, not armed forces  if the conflict posed an existential threat to Japan. For context, Japan is just 110 kilometres off the Taiwanese coast.

Even though Trump and Takaichi appear to have a warm relationship, there was no indication they discussed Taiwan. Takaichi told reporters that they held a wide-ranging exchange of views on strengthening the JapanUS alliance and the challenges and issues facing the Indo-Pacific region.

Moreover, China has reacted angrily to the US sale of air defence systems and approval of the sale of fighter plane components.

The Ukraine war  and Chinas hand

Even though Russia is waging the war, China is very much committed to the war on Ukraine. As Russias principal supporter, which has not just sustained its economy and fuelled its war machine, China has made it clear that it would not allow Russia to lose the war.

And Trumps latest outreach to Xi came at a time when he has been pushing Ukraine to accept a deal that would amount to a surrender in the war and an end to Ukrainian nationhood.

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In their call, Trump mentioned that they discussed the Russian war on Ukraine without going into specifics.
Taiwans Premier Cho Jung-tai firmly rejected Xi Jinpings renewed sovereignty claims, insisting that a return to China is not an option for the islands 23 million people

Xi told Trump on Monday that Taiwans return to China after World War Two was central to Beijings vision of the world order. (Reuters)

Amid mounting tensions, Taiwans Premier Cho Jung-tai said on Tuesday that a return to China is not an option for the islands 23 million people, responding to Chinese President Xi Jinpings renewed sovereignty claims during a call with United States President Donald Trump. Xi told Trump on Monday that Taiwans return to China at the end of World War Two formed a key part of Beijings vision for the world order, a stance firmly rejected by Taiwans democratically elected government.

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Cho, speaking to reporters outside parliament, stressed that the Republic of China, Taiwans formal name, is a fully sovereign and independent country. He added that for the islands 23 million citizens, return is not an option  this is very clear. In Taiwans political system, the premier oversees day-to-day government operations, while defence and foreign affairs are generally handled by the president.

War legacy disputes and rising regional tension

China has promoted a one country, two systems framework for Taiwan, which has no backing from any mainstream Taiwanese political party and has been rejected by President Lai Ching-te. Relations between Beijing and Tokyo have also deteriorated after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said earlier this month that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response. China maintains that Taiwan is its most important and sensitive diplomatic issue.

Following his conversation with Xi, Trump highlighted progress in trade talks and described relations with China as extremely strong in a post on Truth Social, without mentioning Taiwan. Taipei has repeatedly criticised Beijing for attempting to distort the legacy of World War Two, which ended 80 years ago, noting that Taiwan was placed under the Republic of China government at the end of the conflict. The Peoples Republic of China was not established until 1949, after Mao Zedongs communist forces defeated the Republic of China forces, which then retreated to Taiwan.

Taiwans Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei said Beijing continues to distort facts surrounding World War Two, citing United States comments in September on how China has used documents from that era to pressure and isolate Taiwan. He added that China has repeatedly attempted to intimidate and pressure neighbouring countries such as Taiwan and Japan in the region with its authoritarian expansionist nature.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the Peoples Republic of China became the legal successor to the Republic of China in 1949 and that Chinas sovereignty and inherent territorial integrity remained unchanged. Beijing has not renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and has increased military pressure around the island.

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On Tuesday, Taiwans defence ministry said it detected a single balloon from China crossing the sensitive Taiwan Strait the previous day. Taiwan has complained that such winter balloon flights form part of a pattern of harassment by Beijing. Chinas defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment, though Beijing has previously dismissed Taiwans concerns, saying the balloons serve meteorological purposes and should not be exaggerated for political reasons.
The row came up in Trumps discussions with Xi and Takaichi. The Chinese leader told Trump that Taiwans return to China is a key part of Beijings vision for the world order, while Potus touted progress in trade talks but made no mention of discussions on Taiwan

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a bilateral meeting at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a phone call with US President Donald Trump after he spoke to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This was the first discussion between Takaichi and Trump following a diplomatic spat between Japan and China over Taiwan.

The row came up in Trumps discussions with Xi and Takaichi. The Chinese leader told Trump that Taiwans return to China is a key part of Beijings vision for the world order, while Potus touted progress in trade talks but made no mention of discussions on Taiwan.

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President Trump gave a brief explanation of the recent state of US-China relations, Takaichi told reporters following her call with Trump on Tuesday, declining to go into further details.

More from World Takaichi unlikely to back down on Taiwan despite China's outrage: A look at Japan will tell us why

President Trump mentioned that he and I are extremely good friends, and that he would be delighted to receive a call from me at any time, she added.

Meanwhile, Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara has told reporters that the stability of US-China relations is extremely important for the international community, including Japan, but declined to comment on Xis reported remarks to Trump about Taiwan.

The development comes as a diplomatic row between China and Japan continues to simmer after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi commented on Taiwan, seen as an interference by China as it considers the island-nation part of its own territory.

China and Japan are key trading partners, but historical mistrust and friction over territorial rivalries and military spending often test those ties.

Takaichi, a conservative and China hawk, has toned down her rhetoric since assuming office last month.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung had earlier said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has used tactics such as economic coercion and military intimidation to bully other countries but urged Taiwanese to travel to Japan and buy Japanese products.

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With inputs from agencies
Afghanistan-Pakistan tension has escalated after Pakistani forces bombed civilian homes, killing 10 people. Taliban that rule Afghanistan vowed on Tuesday to respond at the right time.

Residents dig graves for the victims killed in an air strike by Pakistan, in Jige Mughalgai in Khost province on November 25, 2025. (AFP)

The Taliban in Afghanistan vowed on Tuesday to respond appropriately at the right time after Pakistani air strikes killed 10 people in the eastern provinces.

The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns this violation and crime and reiterates that defending its airspace, territory, and people is its legitimate right, and it will respond appropriately at the right time, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement on X.

Response to yet another violation of Afghanistans territory by Pakistani forces

The airstrikes carried out last night by Pakistani forces in Afghanistans Paktika, Khost, and Kunar provinces constitute a direct assault on Afghanistans sovereignty

1/4  Zabihullah (..   ) (@Zabehulah_M33) November 25, 2025

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Pakistan has carried out airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan, targeting what its government says are hideouts of the TehrikeTaliban Pakistan (TTP), said reports citing Pakistani officials and Taliban sources.

The Taliban in Kabul strongly condemned the strikes, calling them a reckless action and a clear breach of Afghan sovereignty.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes occurred at around 3 am and struck civilian homes in the Khost and Paktika provinces, killing women, children, and other non-combatants. He warned that such attacks could have very bad consequences which will be out of Pakistans control.

In response, the Pakistani Foreign Office defended the operation as intelligencebased antiterrorist operations  inside Afghanistan, asserting that it was targeting militants of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group and other TTP elements.

The violent exchange has escalated tensions along the already volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan border, raising fresh concerns about regional stability and cross-border militancy.

The bilateral ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have worsened in recent times, with Islamabad blaming Taliban for attacks carried out inside its territory by TTP or Pakistani Taliban. While Pakistan accused the Taliban of allowing TTP operatives to launch attacks from Afghan territory, Kabul has denied the accusation.

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Their relations have deteriorated after Taliban blamed Pakistan for the October 9 drone strikes on the Afghan capital and threatened retaliation. Military clashes followed, dozens of soldiers, civilians and militants before Qatar brokered a ceasefire on October 19.

They launched bilateral talks for a peace deal in Istanbul, Turkey. But two subsequent rounds of talks failed to resolve the dispute, with Pakistan alleging that the Taliban had refused to provide a written guarantee that TTP fighters would not operate from Afghan soil and insisting on the right to carry out strikes in Afghanistan.
A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James after ruling that the prosecutor who brought the charges was unlawfully appointed.

More than half of Americans now believe the Department of Justice brought unjustified criminal cases against President Trumps perceived political foes, a Marquette University Law School poll shows  a sentiment sharpened by a federal judges decision to throw out the prosecutions of former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, dealing a significant blow to Trumps efforts to pursue his political adversaries through the courts.

Marquettes survey shows 55% of Americans view the prosecutions of James Comey, Letitia James and John Bolton as unjustified, while 45% believe the cases were warranted.

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District Judge Cameron Currie ruled that the charges could not stand because the United States attorney appointed by Trump to bring them had been installed unlawfully. Comey, 64, had been charged in September with making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding, while James, 67, who previously secured a fraud conviction against Trump, was indicted the following month on one count of bank fraud and another of making false statements to a financial institution.

Judge cites defective appointment

Both indictments were issued by interim United States Attorney Lindsey Halligan, described by Currie as a former White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience. Currie held that Halligans appointment was invalid because top federal prosecutors require Senate confirmation, and United States law does not allow two consecutive interim appointments, noting that Halligans predecessor had also been serving in an acting capacity.

The judge stated that all actions arising from Halligans appointment, including the Comey indictment, were unlawful exercises of executive power and dismissed both cases without prejudice. This allows the possibility of refiling, though the statute of limitations in the Comey case may have elapsed.

The indictments followed the departure of interim United States Attorney Erik Siebert, who reportedly told Justice Department leaders there was insufficient evidence. Attorney General Pam Bondi replaced Siebert with Halligan, who went on to secure the charges. Comey and James had also argued that the prosecutions were vindictive, an issue considered by a different judge.

Comey reacts

Comey welcomed the dismissal in an Instagram post, saying the case was rooted in malevolence and incompetence and stressing that a president must not use the Department of Justice to target political opponents. He urged Americans to stand up for the rule of law. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Justice Department will appeal the rulings and suggested Comey should not celebrate prematurely. James also welcomed the dismissal and said she would remain fearless in the face of what she called baseless charges.

After Trump left office in 2021, James won a civil fraud case against him, alleging that he and his real estate company inflated his wealth and manipulated property values to secure favourable bank loans or insurance terms. Comey, appointed by president Barack Obama in 2013 and dismissed by Trump in 2017 amid an inquiry into potential links between Trump campaign members and Moscow, was charged shortly after Trump publicly urged Bondi to act against him and others he viewed as adversaries.

Since taking office in January, Trump has removed officials he considered disloyal, targeted law firms involved in previous cases against him, and withdrawn federal funding from universities. Another Trump critic, former national security advisor John Bolton, has been indicted for allegedly transmitting and retaining classified information. Separately, the Pentagon said it was considering a court-martial against Democratic senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly after he appeared in a video urging troops to refuse unlawful orders.

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Ukraine has agreed to a peace deal with Russia, with only minor details remaining to be finalised, according to a report, citing a US official, even as President Zelenskyy cautioned that further work was still needed

Ukraine has agreed to a peace deal with Russia, with only minor details remaining to be finalised, according to a CNN report, citing a US official, even as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned that further work was still needed.

The comments came as US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held meetings in Abu Dhabi with Russian officials regarding a proposal from the Trump administration.

The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal. There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal, CNN quoted the US official as saying.

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Meanwhile, the White House on Tuesday said the US has made tremendous progress toward a peace deal with Ukraine and Russia, but some sensitive details will require additional talks.

There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in an X post.

Ukraines national security secretary, Rustem Umerov, also posted on X that the delegations had reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva.

He added, We now count on the support of our European partners in our further steps, and noted that Ukraine looks forward to arranging a visit by Zelenskyy to the US to complete final steps and make a deal with President (Donald) Trump.

Earlier, Zelenskyy wrote on X, Following the meetings in Geneva, we see many prospects that can make the path to peace real. There are solid results, and much work still lies ahead.

Abu Dhabi talks going well

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, a spokesperson for Driscoll, said the US-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi are going well and we remain optimistic.

Late Monday and throughout Tuesday, Secretary Driscoll and team have been in discussions with the Russian delegation to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine. The talks are going well and we remain optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronized with the White Houseas these talks progress, said Lt. Col. Tolbert.

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The specifics of the discussions were not immediately clear, and the members of the Russian delegation have not been disclosed.

A US official said Driscoll, who has become a key figure in US diplomatic efforts on Ukraine, was also expected to meet with Ukrainian officials while in Abu Dhabi, reported Reuters.

Geneva talks

On Sunday, representatives from the US, Ukraine, and Europe met in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss ending the over three-and-a-half-year war.

On late Monday, Zelenskyy said the plan now has fewer points and many of the right elements following negotiations. He said hat there is still work to do to finalise the document.

The original draft reportedly required Ukraine to surrender additional territory to Russia, limit its military size, and abandon Nato membership.

The initial plan reportedly included a clause limiting the Ukrainian army to 600,000. However, following the Geneva meeting, Kyiv increased it to 800,000, the Financial Times reported, citing Ukrainian officials.

Officials also noted that the latest draft is less favourable for Russia and that sensitive issues such as territorial disputes and US security guarantees will be decided by US President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy.

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With inputs from agencies
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ran four food distribution centres in the region and was linked to death and chaos between May and October this year. It said that it will cease operations in Gaza after successfully completing its emergency mission

Palestinians recover a body from the rubble of a house destroyed in an overnight Israeli strike in Gaza City on October 29, 2025. (AFP file)

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the organisation backed by the US and Israel, which was at the centre of controversy surrounding the deaths of several Palestinians, has suspended operations in the region.

The GHF ran four food distribution centres in the region and was linked to death and chaos between May and October this year. It said that it will cease operations in Gaza after successfully completing its emergency mission.

The agency, supposedly owned privately by stakeholders in the US and Israel, was created as an alternative to the United Nations, which both the countries had accused of not doing an adequate job in providing relief to Gazans.

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GHF linked to deaths?

More than 1,000 Palestinians attempting to obtain aid from GHF sites were killed or injured by Israeli military forces guarding access points to the organisations distribution centres in central and southern Gaza, according to witnesses interviewed by the Guardian, as well as medical records and videos posted on social media.

Between 25 May and 19 June, the Red Cross clinic in Rafah treated 1,874 weapon-wounded patients, with the vast majority reporting they were hurt while trying to reach aid at GHF sites.

While the Israeli military has denied accusations, GHF has acknowledged that many Palestinians died while reaching to its centres on foot. Contractors working on site have reportedly said that US security guards fired live ammunition at aid seekers.

GHF shutters centres

John Acree, a former senior official at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), said that GHF would hand over its operations to the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), the new US-established body in Israel responsible for overseeing the ceasefire and coordinating aid delivery in Gaza.

GHF has been in talks with CMCC and international organisations now for weeks about the way forward and its clear they will be adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted, he said.

The agency has closed all of its centres in Gaza after the US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect last month. In a statement, GHF said that it distributed more than 187m meals directly to civilians living in Gaza, which it called a record humanitarian operation that ensured food aid reached Palestinian families safely and without diversion to Hamas or other entities.

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US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met Russian officials in Abu Dhabi as the Trump administration intensified efforts to broker a controversial peace plan for the Ukraine war.

The official added that Driscoll was also expected to meet Ukrainian officials while in Abu Dhabi. (Reuters)

U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on Monday, a U.S. official told Reuters, the latest effort by President Donald Trumps administration to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

The meeting comes after U.S. and Ukrainian officials sought to narrow the gaps between them over a plan to end the war in Ukraine, agreeing to modify a U.S. proposal that Kyiv and its European allies saw as a Kremlin wish list.

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The U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Driscolls talks would continue into Tuesday. It was unclear who would be in the Russian delegation.

The official added that Driscoll was also expected to meet Ukrainian officials while in Abu Dhabi.

The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

U.S. policy toward the war in Ukraine has zigzagged in recent months.

Trumps hastily arranged Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in August spurred worries Washington might accept many Russian demands, but ultimately resulted in more U.S. pressure on Russia.

The latest U.S. peace proposal, a 28-point plan, caught many in the U.S. government, Kyiv and Europe off-guard and prompted fresh concerns that the Trump administration might be willing to push Ukraine to sign a peace deal heavily tilted toward Moscow.

The plan would require Kyiv to cede more territory, accept curbs on its military and bar it from ever joining NATO, conditions Kyiv has long rejected as tantamount to surrender. It would also do nothing to allay broader European fears of further Russian aggression.

The sudden U.S. push raises the pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is now at his most vulnerable since the start of the war after a corruption scandal saw two of his ministers dismissed and as Russia makes battlefield gains.

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(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Amid outrage at the detention of Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh at Shanghai for 18 hours, China has said it never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India and declared it as Chinese Zangnan.

China on Tuesday repeated its claim that Arunachal Pradesh was a part of China.

At a press conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China had never recognised Arunachal Pradesh as part of India.

The development has come shortly after it emerged that Chinese officials harassed an Indian woman from Arunachal and detained her for 18 hours at Shanghai airport on November 21. The episode has caused outrage in India and led to India issuing a demarche to China.

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Zangnan is Chinas territory. The Chinese side has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India, said Ning.

Zangnan is the name that China uses for Arunachal Pradesh. It means southern Tibet. The practice is part of China's 'cartographic warfare' where China assigns Chinese names to places in other countries that it claims, such as calling Tibet Xizang and Pinnacle islands as Senkaku.

In the case of the womans detention, China said that officials handled the situation as per the law. But the woman as well as sources in the Indian government have said Chinese officials harassed her.

Prema Thongdok, a consultant working in the financial sector in London, told The Hindu that she was detained at the Shanghai airport for 18 hours and immigration and airlines staff were unprofessional and rude and mocked her. She said that officials said that Arunachal was a Chinese territory.

Thongdok said that she was told to apply for a Chinese passport as officials withheld her passport detained her for nearly 18 hours without food, support, or proper communication.

Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told The Hindu that such actions by the China at a time when both sides are working to improve ties introduce unnecessary obstructions to the process.
British military equipment and nuclear-related materials have been found in unexpected and troubling locations, raising urgent questions about arms export controls. Notably, UK-made military gear has surfaced with Sudans Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group accused of genocide, highlighting potential failings in oversight.

Concerns are growing over British military equipment and nuclear-related materials appearing in unauthorized locations, raising serious questions about arms export controls and regional conflicts. Recent reports have uncovered links between UK-made equipment and paramilitary groups involved in conflicts and alleged atrocities, prompting international scrutiny.

British military gear found with Sudans RSF

Investigations have revealed that military equipment from the UK, including components from the Centronic group based in Britain, is in the hands of Sudans Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF is a paramilitary group accused of committing acts of genocide in Sudans conflict zones. The presence of British military hardware among the RSF raises troubling questions about the UKs arms export regulations, especially concerning the weapons end users.

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UAEs role in weapons supply to paramilitaries

Further complicating the issue, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been accused of supplying weapons to the RSF, fueling the conflict. The UAE, a key recipient of British arms exports, has reportedly transferred these weapons either directly or indirectly to militias engaged in Sudans civil war. This has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and governments concerned about regional stability and violations of international law.

Tehran groups use of UK-linked equipment

A Tehran-based organization with military connections has also been noted for employing instruments that incorporate British technology supplied by Centronic. This has raised alarms about the potential diversion of sensitive military technology to areas and groups for which the UK never intended them. The misuse of such equipment adds to the global complexities of arms proliferation and enforcement of export controls.

Challenges in controlling arms exports

The discoveries highlight the difficulties nations face in ensuring that military equipment exported for legitimate defense purposes does not end up in conflict zones or with non-state actors accused of war crimes. Monitoring the transfer and use of these arms becomes increasingly arduous due to opaque supply chains, illicit transfers, and third-party brokers.

Calls for stricter oversight and accountability

Experts and international watchdogs urge the UK and other arms-exporting nations to tighten export controls, improve end-use monitoring, and hold export recipients accountable to prevent the misuse of military hardware. The ongoing situations in Sudan and other regions underscore the urgent need for more robust frameworks to manage the global circulation of weapons and related materials.

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Xi and Maduro have exchanged a series of letters with each other, where they highlighted their countries commitment to Venezuelas sovereignty, national security, and stability

Chinese President Xi Jinping has chosen his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, in his clash with US President Donald Trump. The US-Venezuela tensions over alleged drug cartels have spilt over into Maduros political reign in Caracas.

Xi and Maduro have exchanged a series of letters with each other, where they highlighted their countries commitment to Venezuelas sovereignty, national security, and stability. The letters were exchanged on the eve of Maduros birthday, which falls on November 23.

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In his letter, Xi referred to China and Venezuela as intimate friends, dear brothers, and good partners and denounced interference by external forces in Venezuelas internal affairs under any pretext. He pledged that Beijing would continue to resolutely support Venezuela in safeguarding its sovereignty and national security, national dignity, and social stability.

Meanwhile, Venezuela has called the USs terrorist designation of an alleged drug cartel on its territory a ridiculous lie, aimed at paving the way for an illegitimate military intervention and a way of kicking President Nicolas Maduro out of power.

The Trump administration officially declared a Venezuelan group called Cartel de los Soles a terrorist organisation on Monday, despite doubts over its existence. The move was the latest in Washingtons efforts to combat the South American drug problem, which President Donald Trump claims is ruining the lives of Americans.

Venezuelas foreign ministry has rejected what it called the new and ridiculous lie from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which it said aimed to justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela.

The US has deployed the worlds largest aircraft carrier and other military forces to waters near Venezuela as part of a stated campaign to dismantle Latin American drug trafficking routes.

The Trump administration claims that the Cartel of the Suns is a drug trafficking syndicate run by Maduro and has issued a $50 million reward for the presidents capture.
A report by the Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT) shows that China has raised prices on critical goods, especially on defence-related items that have a huge buyer base in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping greet each other in Tianjin, China. AP

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, an old friend, but a recent study has pointed to traits that their so-called friendship does not amount to concessions in business dealings.

A report by the Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT) shows that China has raised prices on critical goods, especially on defence-related items that have a huge buyer base in Russia.

Prices for export-controlled Chinese goods sent to Russia, many of them dual-use components essential to its defence sector, increased by an average of 87 per cent between 2021 and 2024, compared with just 9 per cent for similar items exported to other destinations.

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A senior Western sanctions official told the Financial Times that the hike in prices affects Moscows ability to get access to sensitive technology despite bypassing some sanctions.

China doesnt behave like an ally

Although bilateral trade climbed from $146.9 billion in 2021 to a record $254 billion in 2024, BOFIT noted that much of this growth was driven by higher prices rather than increased volumes.

For example, imports of Chinese ball bearings rose 76 per cent in dollar terms but declined 13 per cent in physical units.

The study also found that Turkey has sharply raised prices on sanctioned goods bound for Russia, charging Russian buyers 2555 per cent more than customers in other markets.

China does not behave like an ally. Sometimes it lets us down and stops payments, sometimes it takes advantage, sometimes its outright robbery, there is nothing allied about it, a Russian government source told Reuters.

An old friend

In September, Xi welcomed Putin to China during his official visit to the country, calling him an old friend, as the Russian president said their countries ties were at an unprecedented level.

China maintains that it is neutral in the Ukraine war, yet it has given Russia an economic lifeline by sustaining trade despite Western sanctions. Several Chinese companies have also been accused of supporting Russias military industry.
Ukraine has substantially amended the US-backed peace plan to end the war, stripping out several of Russias most maximalist demands

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the proposed changes to the 28-point peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war, saying that the list has become doable now.

Ukraine has substantially amended the US-backed peace plan to end the war, stripping out several of Russias most maximalist demands, according to a Guardian report, citing people familiar with the negotiations.

Today our delegation returned from Geneva after negotiations with the American side and European partners. Now the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable. As of now, after Geneva, there are fewer points  no longer 28  and many of the right elements have been taken into account in this framework, Zelenskyy said.

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Today our delegation returned from Geneva after negotiations with the American side and European partners. Now the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable. As of now, after Geneva, there are fewer points  no longer 28  and many of the right elements have been pic.twitter.com/bsaKyNXHQH  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 24, 2025

The peace plan was substantially revised during negotiations on Sunday in Switzerland, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Zelenskyys chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and reduced from 28 points to 19.

European leaders warned on Monday that no agreement is close, noting that Kyiv and its European partners insist the current front line must serve as the basis for any territorial discussions.

What has Zelenskyy said?

While Zelenskyy welcomed the amendments made to the peace plan, he highlighted that there is still a lot to do to finalise a document that will lay down plans to end the war.

He said, We appreciate that most of the world is ready to help us and that the American side is approaching this constructively. Practically the entire day yesterday was filled with meetings  and it was challenging, extremely thorough work.

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Our team has reported on the new draft of steps, and this is indeed the right approach  I will discuss the sensitive issues with President Trump. Ukraine will never be an obstacle to peace  this is our principle, a shared principle, and millions of Ukrainians are counting on, and deserve, a dignified peace. We will do everything for this, and we are ready to work as quickly as possible, Zelenskyy added.

Was Ukraine coerced into accepting the peace plan?

Meanwhile, a senior official told AFP that the US pressed Ukraine to accept its proposals to end the war with Russia during talks in Geneva despite Kyivs protests that the plan conceded too much to Moscow.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington did not directly threaten to cut off aid if Kyiv rejected its proposals, but that Ukraine understood this was a distinct possibility.

Although US pressure on Ukraine eased during the meeting in Geneva, overall pressure remained, a senior official briefed on the talks said.

The source said they did not understand why Washington was hurrying towards a deal, but that everyone was for an end to the war if there was a real opportunity to do so.

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With inputs from agencies
Cuzor, popular for its Mini UPS for Routers entered into GaN charger market recently with the launch of its Made in India 70W GaN charger with 2 x USB-C Ports so that you can charge a MacBooks and other laptops, iPhones, and other smartphones with PD, PPS and QC 3.0 support. Let us check out the review to find out what this has to offer.

Box Contents

Cuzor Pulse 70W Dual Port GaN charger in Black colour

Warranty information

User manual

Specifications

Dimensions in inches 6.5 x 4.5 x 4.5 Main Unit Weight 145g Input Voltage 90V AC  265V AC Warranty details 2-Year Replacement Output 70W Max One-Port Charging C1 or C2 70 Watt Max (5V-3A, 9V-3A, 12V  3A, 15V  3A, 20V  3.5A) Two-Port Charging Laptop C1  45 Watt (5V-3A, 9V-3A, 12V-3A, 15V-3A) Phone C2  25 Watt (5V-3A, 9V-2.7A, 12V-2.1A, 15V-1.7A, 20V-1.25A) Protocols PD 3.0, PPS 3.3-20V, QC 3.0 and QC 2.0 Power Density 11.97 Watts/cubic inch Protections Surge 2.5KV Overcurrent Protection Output short circuit protection Efficiency (230V 50Hz) @ 70Watt 91%

Design and build

Starting with the design, the charging charger has a small compact design, and there is a cuzor branding on both the sides. It has a plastic build, but comes with a matte finish so it doesnt attract fingerprints or smudges.

There are LED lights below the USB Type-C ports, which has laptop and phone logos. The light blinks fast when the device you have connected is charging at full speed, blinks slowly when the charge is almost full, and the steady light glows when the charging is complete.

The company says that the charger uses Navitas GaNSense Gen 4 IC and has 11.97 Watts/cubic inch, which is better than the Apple 70W single port charger, and it is the same as the CMF 65W charger.

You can see the specs on the bottom along with design and Made in India text.

Performance

The Type C Ports are PD 3.0 enabled to deliver up to 70W of power that lets you charge MacBooks, Surface tablets, and other laptops that charge over Type-C. This also supports 70W Type-C PD and PPS for phones, laptops and tablets, as well as iPads. You can also charge Samsung phones that support up to 45W PPS Fast charging, and latest iPhones with up to 40W fast charging.

To put the charger to test, we connected the Galaxy S25 FE, which pulled maximum 40W from the charger. Pixel 10 pulled 25W. We even tried MacBook Air M4, which pulled 66W.

When connected simultaneously, the MacBook charged at 45W and the Nothing Phone 3 connected to the other port charged at 25W. Latest phones come with PD/PPS charging support, and the OnePlus 15 pull 55W and the iQOO 15 pulled 65W, which is the maximum power mentioned by the companies. However, there is no support for OnePlus / OPPO / realmes VOOC or Super VOOC fast charging.

The charger has multiple safety protection including Low voltage, short circuit, overheating, output over-voltage, active voltage regulation, continuous temperature monitoring and the company said that the charger has been tested for 10,000+ insertions and removals when it comes to durability.

It also doesnt have any heating issues. The 1 W/mK silicone encapsulation plays a key role here, ensuring optimal thermal conductivity to effectively draw heat away from critical components during heavy loads.

Conclusion

The Cuzor Pulse 70W GaN charger is an impressive entry into the charger market for the Indian brand. By leveraging Navitas GaNSense Gen 4 technology, Cuzor has delivered a highly compact, Made in India accessory that rivals global competitors in power density and efficiency. Its ability to deliver up to 70W makes it a versatile travel companion capable of powering MacBooks, Ultrabooks, and flagship smartphones with ease.

The inclusion of smart LED indicators is a thoughtful touch that adds genuine utility, allowing users to gauge charging status at a glance. While the lack of a cable in the box is a minor inconvenience, the chargers robust build, excellent thermal management, and 2-year replacement warranty make it a reliable investment.

For users looking to declutter their travel bag by replacing separate laptop and phone bricks with a single, powerful unit, the Cuzor Pulse 70W is a solid recommendation.

Priced at Rs. 2,499, the Cuzor Pulse 70W GaN Charger can be purchased on Amazon.in, and comes with a two-year doorstep replacement warranty.
HUAWEI has officially launched the Mate 80 Series in China, comprising four models: Mate 80, Mate 80 Pro, Mate 80 Pro Max, and Mate 80 RS Ultimate Design.

HUAWEI Mate 80

The Mate 80 features a dual-ring design and is available in Spruce Green, Morning Gold, Snowy White, and Obsidian Black. Its construction combines second-generation Kunlun Glass with ultra-durable brocade fiber, providing enhanced drop and impact resistance, and IP68/IP69 ratings for water and dust protection.

Powered by the Kirin 9020 chipset and HarmonyOS 6, it achieves a 35% performance improvement through deep coordination across hardware, software, and cloud systems. The Outdoor Exploration Mode supports navigation with maps and compass tools, over 10,000 curated routes, emergency satellite communication, and peer-to-peer calls over 2.4 GHz up to 7 km.

The Mate 80 has a 6.75-inch OLED display (FHD+, 1120 Hz LTPO), 12/16 GB RAM, 256/512 GB storage, and a 5750 mAh battery with 66 W wired / 50 W wireless charging.

Camera System:

Rear: 50MP ultra-wide zoom, 40MP ultra-wide-angle, 12MP periscope telephoto, Red Maple TrueColor

Front: 13MP ultra-wide-angle, 3D Depth Sensing

Quick specifications

HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro

The Mate 80 Pro adopts a double-ring design with brocade-fiber material for durability. Available in the same colors, it features IP68/IP69 protection, second-generation Kunlun Glass, and the Xuanwu architecture.

Powered by Kirin 9030/9030 Pro, it delivers up to 42% performance improvement. Its Outdoor Exploration Mode supports up to 13 days of extreme battery life, detailed route tracking, and satellite messaging. High-speed 5A transmission ensures smooth video sharing even in weak or congested networks.

The Pro model has a 6.75-inch OLED display (FHD+, 1120 Hz LTPO), 12/16 GB RAM, 256/512 GB/1 TB storage, and a 5750 mAh battery with 100 W wired / 80 W wireless charging.

Camera System:

Rear: 50MP ultra-focusing, 40MP ultra-wide, 48MP macro telephoto, Red Maple TrueColor

Front: 13MP ultra-wide-angle, 3D Depth Sensing

Quick specifications

HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro Max

The Mate 80 Pro Max features a double-ring metallic design with engraved micro-textures. Colors include Polar Day Gold, Aurora Green, Polar Silver, and Polar Night Black. The model combines full-metal Xuanwu architecture with second-generation Kunlun Glass, offering enhanced drop, bend, and scratch resistance.

Equipped with Kirin 9030 Pro, it supports Extreme Power Saving Mode up to 14 days. Outdoor tools provide immersive maps, compass, automatic waypoint marking, satellite messaging via Tiantong and Beidou, and peer-to-peer calls.

It comes with a 6.9-inch dual-layer OLED display (FHD+, 1120 Hz LTPO), 16 GB RAM, 512 GB / 1 TB storage, and a 6000 mAh battery with 100 W wired / 80 W wireless charging.

Camera System:

Rear: 50MP main, 40MP ultra-wide, 50MP macro telephoto, 50MP super telephoto, Red Maple TrueColor

Front: 13MP ultra-wide-angle, 3D Depth Sensing

Quick specifications

HUAWEI Mate 80 RS ULTIMATE DESIGN

The RS Ultimate Design is the premium model with a star-diamond pattern, titanium Xuanwu mid-frame, and dual Kunlun Glass. Available in Jin Purple, Xuan Black, and Hao White, it combines durability, outdoor exploration, and HarmonyOS 6 AI tools.

Powered by Kirin 9030 Pro, it includes 20 GB RAM and supports up to 1 TB storage. Outdoor features and satellite communications match the Pro Max, while AI functions include dynamic portrait generation, emotion-aware themes, and the Xiaoyi assistant for task learning and repeat orders.

The RS model features a 6.9-inch dual-layer OLED display (FHD+, 1120 Hz LTPO, BT.2020 color gamut) and a 6000 mAh battery with 100 W wired / 80 W wireless charging.

Camera System:

Rear: 50MP ultra-high dynamic range, 40MP ultra-wide, 50MP macro telephoto, 50MP super telephoto, Red Maple TrueColor

Front: 13MP ultra-wide-angle, 3D Depth Sensing

Quick specifications

Connectivity and AI Features

All models support dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4/5 GHz, Wi-Fi 6/6E), Bluetooth 6.0 with high-quality codecs, NFC, and multi-frequency GPS systems. Satellite communication is available via Tiantong (RS Ultimate) and Beidou. USB Type-C and HUAWEI HiPlay provide wired and wireless audio streaming.

The devices run on HarmonyOS 6 and include AI features such as the Xiaoyi assistant, capable of task learning, repeat orders, cross-device file transfer, dynamic portrait generation, emotion-aware themes, AI subject tracking with gimbals, and AI one-click video creation. Users can interact with an animated character companion that responds to gestures and expressions.

Pricing and Availability

All models will go on sale from November 28 through: Huawei Mall, Authorized ecommerce platforms, Huawei Experience Stores.

HUAWEI Mate 80

12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage: 4,699 yuan (USD 661 / Rs. 59,025 approx.)

12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage: 5,199 yuan (USD 731 / Rs. 65,306 approx.)

16 GB RAM + 512 GB storage: 5,499 yuan (USD 774 / Rs. 69,074 approx.)

HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro

12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage: 5,999 yuan (USD 844 / Rs. 75,355 approx.)

12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage: 6,499 yuan (USD 914 / Rs. 81,635 approx.)

16 GB RAM + 512 GB storage: 6,999 yuan (USD 985 / Rs. 87,916 approx.)

16 GB RAM + 1 TB storage: 7,999 yuan (USD 1126 / Rs. 1,00,477 approx.)

HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro Max

16 GB RAM + 512 GB storage: 7,999 yuan (USD 1126 / Rs. 1,00,477 approx.)

16 GB RAM + 1 TB storage: 8,999 yuan (USD 1266 / Rs. 1,13,039 approx.)

HUAWEI Mate 80 RS Ultimate Design
China says Japan's deployment of offensive weapons near China's Taiwan region requires high vigilance from international community

Xinhua) 08:11, November 25, 2025

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- In response to a query regarding Japan's plan to deploy offensive weapons near China's Taiwan region, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday said this development is extremely dangerous, calling for heightened vigilance from neighboring countries and the international community.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily news briefing, noting that Japan's actions deliberately escalate regional tensions and provoke military confrontation.

Considering Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan, this is an extremely dangerous development and calls for heightened vigilance from neighboring countries and the international community, she added.

Mao said the Potsdam Proclamation explicitly stipulates that Japan shall not be permitted to "re-arm for war," adding that the Japanese Constitution, which enshrines pacifism, also established Japan's exclusively defense-oriented policy.

It is alarming, however, that in recent years, Japan has drastically readjusted its security and defense policy, increased defense budget year after year, relaxed restrictions on arms export, sought to develop offensive weapons, and planned to abandon its three non-nuclear principles, Mao added.

"Japan's right-wing provocateurs are trying every means to break free from the pacifist constitution, going further down the path of military buildup and leading Japan and the region to disastrous outcomes," she said.

Noting this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the recovery of Taiwan, Mao said China will never allow far-right forces in Japan to reverse the course of history, nor permit any external interference in the Taiwan region, or allow Japanese militarism to resurface.

The spokesperson also noted that China has the resolve and the ability to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
From Shared Priorities to Concrete Proposals

Held in Berlin in January 2025, the inaugural dialogue, involving Inria and Fraunhofer, brought together over 40 French and German stakeholders to align on strategic priorities  from trustworthy infrastructure and regulation to talent, energy, and investment. This joint momentum, opened to both ecosystems in a coalition of the willing, reflects a shared ambition to create the conditions for a more competitive and sovereign AI ecosystem by defining coordinated roadmaps across major industrial domains.

Since then, multi-stakeholder vertical workshops have been conducted across key sectors like energy, healthcare, manufacturing, robotics, agritech, media and telecommunications. Over 100 industry representatives discussed with AI suppliers and academia on key AI use cases in their domain. They developed joint project ideas for sovereign AI applications and identified major obstacles for implementation addressing politics, e.g. regulation.

The EU needs a clear, actionable, agile, and efficient process for the regulatory validation of AI-based medical devices. Sebastien Fricker, Vision and Perception Modeling team manager at Essilor Luxottica.

"Europe needs a strong, sovereign, and independent media ecosystemespecially in times when artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of digital competition. When international platforms use our journalistic content for their AI models without consent or compensation, it's not just about economic interests, but about the foundation of democratic public discourse."Carsten Schwecke, Chief Commercial Officer and responsible for all commercial, technological, and data- and AI-based activities at RTL Germany

The outcomes of these workshops have been consolidated outlining concrete proposals, success indicators plus potential investment pathways for strategic AI applications and R&D funding opportunities. These results are showcased this week at the Adopt AI Summit in Paris, where the initiative is featured through a joint booth hosted by Fraunhofer, Inria, and IMT (French-German Tech Lab Booth E2)  the latter being an active partner of the dialogue since July 2025.

A Roadmap Initiative Underway

These contributions inform the next stage: a joint roadmap, led by a coalition of the willing, to be formalised in the coming months. This initiative has gathered wide backing from major stakeholders. A second plenary dialogue is now scheduled for next year in Paris on March 9th 2026  with the aim to assess progress, to elaborate on existing project ideas resp. consortia and mobilize new commitments by widening and deepening the ecosystem.

Longstanding Franco-German Commitment

Inria, the French national institute for research in digital science and technology, brings its expertise in world-class research, innovation and startup creation. Inria also acts as the Digital Programs Agency on behalf of the French government.

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Germanys leading organization for applied research, plays a key role in transferring cutting-edge technologies to industry, combining public research with strong industrial partnerships to support economic and societal impact.

As a founding member of the German-French Academy for the Industry of the Future, IMT supports this dialogue as part of its commitment to fostering European technological sovereignty through joint research, innovation, and education.

As Europe strives to reconcile competitiveness with sovereignty in the age of AI, Franco-German leadership stands as a cornerstone for shaping the future.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Attorneys for former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters reiterated an ask for her to be released from custody last week, citing declining health and an alleged conflict with a corrections officer that landed Peters in solitary confinement.

Counsel again requests that Mrs. Peters be released on bond immediately because of the merits of her case, the unfair treatment she is receiving, the continuing deterioration of her health, and the danger she is in, a Nov. 21 court filing stated.

The document stated that Peters had been moved to solitary confinement in the La Vista Correctional Facility, where she is serving and eight year-nine month sentence.

At 6:45 p.m. on November 20, 2025, counsel John Case received a telephone call from Mrs. Peters. She sobbed. She said that she had been moved to solitary confinement in a concrete cell with no windows. The reason given was that Mrs. Peters had filed a grievance against a corrections officer, the filing stated.

Peters has since been transferred out of solitary confinement, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter, from an account associated with her case.

Tina has been moved out of solitary. We are grateful to the facility for performing an investigation quickly and moving Tina back to her normal cell quickly. There are still concerns for her safety but at least she is not in isolation, the post stated.

According to the federal court filing Peters said she was concerned that a corrections officer who teaches GED classes at the prison had been discussing her case, and another inmate screamed at Peters while she was asking the corrections officer not to talk about her case.

Mrs. Peters said that she intended to file a grievance against the corrections officer and the inmate, the document stated.

The document stated Peters attorney has attempted to schedule an appointment with the warden but has not heard back.

Mrs. Peters said that inmates applying for parole must complete the GED course and pass the GED exam, or their parole application will be postponed for another year, the document stated. Mrs. Peters said that many inmates were denied parole because GED classes had been canceled due to inadequate staffing. She said that it was not fair to the GED students for the corrections officer to use their class time to discuss Mrs. Peters legal case, instead of teaching GED material.

Peters was convicted of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, one count of official misconduct and one count of failure to comply with the secretary of state, and sentenced to eight years, nine months of incarceration in October 2024 after improperly allowing an unauthorized person to enter a secure area of the Mesa County Elections Division in May 2021 to make copies of computer hard drives in search of election fraud, and misleading officials in the process.

Peters has asked a federal court to release her on bail while her case is being appealed at the state level.

Peters has maintained she was simply doing her duty as the Mesa County elections official, and that her prosecution was politically motivated and violated her First Amendment rights by punishing her for statements she made about the validity of the 2020 elections.

President Donald Trump has said a number of times on social media that Peters should be released, although he does not have the power to pardon Peters because her convictions were at the state level.

The Department of Justice has asked the Colorado Department of Corrections to release Peters to federal custody. District Attorney Dan Rubinstein, a Republican who prosecuted Peters and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser both penned a letter to Colorado Governor Jared Polis asking for Peters to stay in state custody.

On Sunday morning, Trump posted the following on the social media site TruthSocial: FREE TINA PETERS, WHO SITS IN A COLORADO PRISON, DYING & OLD, FOR ATTEMPTING TO EXPOSE VOTER FRAUD IN THE RIGGED 2O20 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION!!!

Peters attorneys have expressed concerns about her health while in prison. Those concerns were reiterated in the Nov. 21 filing, which stated Peters complexion was pale and she had difficulty breathing.

Throughout our meeting, Mrs. Peters cognitive function was much slower than it had been prior to incarceration. She had difficulty finding words, and she repeated herself often, the document stated.
Venezuela - Covert Operations

US President Donald Trump confirmed on 15 October 2025 that he had authorized CIA operations on Venezuelan soil. The New York Times earlier reported that the decision would allow intelligence operatives to carry out lethal operations against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose government Trump has accused of running narco-terrorist cartels and flooding the US with cocaine and fentanyl.

Trump publicly confirmed that he had signed a presidential finding authorizing the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct lethal covert operations within Venezuela. This directive marked a significant escalation in the administrations strategy to oust Nicolas Maduro, moving the conflict into a shadow war phase. The authorization specifically granted the CIA the power to carry out sabotage, cyberwarfare, and targeted lethal actions against regime infrastructure and leadership figures, operating either unilaterally or in coordination with broader military efforts. Administration officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, justified the move as a necessary step to dismantle what they labeled a "narcoterrorist" state run by the Cartel de los Soles.

While the President opted for covert action as the primary mechanism for regime changeavoiding an immediate full-scale ground invasionthis decision was framed by an aggressive overt military campaign that had already begun weeks earlier. On September 2, 2025, Trump announced the first U.S. military strike on a Venezuelan vessel in the Caribbean, an attack that resulted in eleven deaths. The administration characterized the boat as a drug-smuggling vessel linked to the Maduro regime, setting a precedent for a series of maritime strikes that continued throughout the fall.

The military pressure intensified significantly in November 2025 with the formal commencement of "Operation Southern Spear." On November 13, 2025, the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group arrived in the Caribbean to support the operation, representing the largest U.S. military projection in the region since the invasion of Panama in 1989. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the deployment was intended to cut off the financial lifelines of the Maduro regime by physically interdicting drug routes in both the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific. This naval blockade effectively served as the anvil to the CIA's hammer, squeezing the Venezuelan government from the outside while covert operatives worked to destabilize it from within.

Despite the aggressive kinetic actions, the strategy also included a diplomatic off-ramp. On November 19, 2025, reports surfaced that the White House had reopened back-channel negotiations with Caracas. These discussions reportedly involved high-level intermediaries and centered on a proposal where Maduro would agree to step down following a transition period in exchange for security guarantees. This diplomatic track suggested that the lethal covert action and military posturing were largely designed as leverage to force a negotiated surrender rather than to commit the United States to a protracted conventional war in South America.

On October 15, 2025, a reporter asked Trump in the Oval Office, Why did you authorize the CIA to go into Venezuela? I authorized for two reasons, really. Number one, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America. They came in through the border. They came in because we had an open-border policy. And as soon as I heard that, I said, a lot of these countries They're not the only country, but they're the worst abuser. And they've allowed thousands and thousands of prisoners, people from mental institutions, insane asylums emptied out into the United States. We're bringing them back, but that's a really bad And they did it at a level that probably not Many, many countries have done it, but not like Venezuela. They were down and dirty. The other thing of drugs, we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela. And a lot of the Venezuelan drugs come in through the sea, so you get to see that. But we're going to stop them by land also. Trump declined to clarify whether the CIA is authorized to take out Maduro. I don't want to answer a question like that. That's a ridiculous question for me to be given. Not really a ridiculous question, but wouldn't it be a ridiculous question for me to answer? But I think Venezuela is feeling heat, but I think a lot of other countries are feeling heat too.

Trump imposed sweeping sanctions on Venezuela during his first term and has recently raised the bounty for information leading to Maduros arrest to $50 million. The US has deployed a naval armada to the eastern Caribbean, and since September has destroyed at least five boats allegedly smuggling drugs from Venezuela. Maduro has denied the allegations of aiding cartels and accused the US of seeking to topple him, adding that the Venezuelan military is ready to repel a potential invasion.

President Donald Trump's confirmation that his administration authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela marked an extraordinary public acknowledgment of classified intelligence activities. Speaking at a White House news conference on October 15, Trump stated that he greenlit the CIA operations for two primary reasons. First, he alleged that Venezuela had emptied its prisons and sent criminals into the United States through what he characterized as an open border. Second, he cited drug trafficking, claiming that significant quantities of narcotics were flowing from Venezuela through Caribbean sea routes, though his administration has yet to provide substantive evidence to support these assertions.

The CIA authorization represents a significant escalation in United States pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and comes alongside a broader military campaign in the Caribbean region. The intelligence directive reportedly grants the CIA lethal authority to conduct operations across the Caribbean and potentially inside Venezuelan territory itself. When pressed by reporters about whether the CIA had authority to target or remove Maduro directly, Trump deflected, calling it a question he wouldn't answer but adding that Venezuela was feeling the heat from American actions. The authorization was first reported by The New York Times, with officials indicating that regime change is the ultimate objective of the Trump administration's Venezuela strategy.

This covert action directive exists within a wider context of escalating military operations. Since early September, the United States military has conducted at least five publicly acknowledged strikes on boats in Caribbean waters, killing a total of twenty-seven people. Trump has characterized these vessels as drug-trafficking operations run by terrorist organizations, particularly pointing to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which his administration has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The first strike occurred on September 1, killing eleven people aboard a vessel that allegedly departed from the northeastern Venezuelan state of Sucre. Subsequent strikes followed on September 15, September 19, October 3, and October 14, each resulting in multiple fatalities.

The administration's legal justification for these operations rests on a controversial framework. In early October, Trump formally notified Congress that the United States considers itself to be in a non-international armed conflict with designated drug cartels, treating smugglers as unlawful combatants subject to military force under the law of armed conflict. This represents the first publicly acknowledged United States airstrikes in Central or South America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. However, serious questions have emerged about both the legal basis and the factual premises of these operations. The administration has not provided hard evidence to lawmakers that the targeted vessels actually contained narcotics, relying instead on unclassified video clips posted to social media by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The strikes have drawn criticism from legal experts and lawmakers across the political spectrum. International law scholars argue that the operations violate both the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the United Nations Charter, which require consent from sovereign states for law enforcement operations on their territory or cooperation mechanisms for maritime interdiction. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen warned that the authorization of covert CIA action, combined with lethal strikes on boats and hints at land operations, slides the United States closer to outright conflict with no transparency, oversight, or guardrails. Even some Republican lawmakers have expressed concern about the legal authority and strategic wisdom of the campaign, though others like Senator Jim Risch have defended Trump's approach.

The military buildup supporting these operations has been substantial. In August, the United States deployed more than four thousand Marines and sailors aboard the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group to waters around Latin America and the Caribbean. This naval presence, unprecedented in recent decades for the region, has been accompanied by increased fighter jets and military equipment at bases including those in Puerto Rico. Trump has indicated that if smugglers stop using sea routes, his administration would consider moving operations onto Venezuelan land, effectively threatening ground operations inside the sovereign territory of another nation.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has responded forcefully to these developments, characterizing them as an undeclared war and an attempt at regime change orchestrated by Washington. During a televised event with the National Council for Sovereignty and Peace, Maduro invoked historical CIA interventions in Latin America, referencing the thirty thousand disappeared during Argentina's military dictatorship and the 1973 coup in Chile. He specifically rejected what he called regime change operations reminiscent of failed interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. The Venezuelan government filed a formal complaint with the United Nations Security Council and Secretary General, asserting that American actions constitute serious violations of international law and the UN Charter. Maduro's administration argues that the true purpose of United States actions is to legitimize a regime change operation with the ultimate goal of seizing control of Venezuela's vast oil resources.

The Trump administration's Venezuela policy is being driven primarily by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, both of whom have long advocated for Maduro's removal from power. The administration has labeled Maduro a narcoterrorist and placed a fifty-million-dollar bounty on his head for drug trafficking charges. This strategy frames the Venezuelan government itself as essentially a criminal cartel operation, with Trump officials claiming that Maduro controls the Cartel of the Suns, a purported transnational drug organization. However, a classified United States intelligence report from April found no evidence of direct links between senior Maduro officials and the Tren de Aragua gang, though it noted that Venezuela's permissive environment enables criminal organizations to operate.

The factual basis for the administration's claims about Venezuelan drug trafficking has been challenged by multiple sources. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, approximately ninety percent of cocaine bound for the United States transits through the eastern Pacific and western Caribbean, not near Venezuela's coast. Most coca cultivation occurs in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, with main trafficking routes running through those countries rather than Venezuela. The Drug Enforcement Administration has reported that eighty-four percent of cocaine seized in the United States originates from Colombia and that fentanyl entering America is produced in Mexico using precursor chemicals from China, not Venezuela. These facts complicate the administration's narrative that Venezuela represents the primary drug threat justifying military action.

The covert CIA operations now authorized could take various forms based on historical patterns of American intelligence activities in Latin America. Such operations might involve working with opposition figures inside Venezuela to foment internal instability, gathering intelligence for targeted military strikes against regime figures, facilitating defections from the Venezuelan military or intelligence services, or supporting opposition movements with training, funding, and coordination. The CIA has extensive historical experience with regime change operations throughout Latin America, from Guatemala in 1954 through Nicaragua in the 1980s to attempted interventions in Cuba spanning decades. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, has publicly called for greater American support in what she describes as removing Maduro's criminal narco-terrorism structure, though her endorsement of foreign intervention has proven controversial.

The domestic political dimensions of this confrontation are complex. Maduro has used the American military pressure to rally nationalist sentiment and consolidate his domestic political base, portraying Venezuela as defending its sovereignty against imperial aggression. Political analysts note that Trump's public acknowledgment of CIA operations, while highly unusual, serves as political theater aimed at demonstrating toughness to his domestic audience regarding border security and drug trafficking issues. The Venezuelan government has responded by increasing internal surveillance mechanisms and preparing for potential military escalation, with Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announcing that 4.5 million militia members stand ready to defend Venezuelan territory.

International reaction has been mixed, with many Latin American governments expressing concern about unilateral American military action in the region. Critics warn that escalation could worsen Latin America's largest modern displacement crisis, as millions of Venezuelans have already fled the country's economic collapse and political repression. Human rights organizations have condemned the strikes as violations of the right to life and due process, noting that alleged drug traffickers targeted in international waters have been killed without trial or definitive proof of their activities. More than sixty United States-based human rights, faith, and policy groups sent a letter to Congress warning that Trump's expansion of military operations in the Caribbean could result in a full-blown limitless war with one or more countries in the region.

The strategic implications of openly authorizing CIA covert operations are significant. Historically, such activities remain classified precisely because public acknowledgment can undermine intelligence relationships, expose methods, and create diplomatic complications. Trump's decision to confirm the authorization breaks with decades of practice regarding intelligence operations. Some analysts suggest this reflects the administration's desire to project strength and send deterrent signals to Maduro, while others argue it represents reckless disregard for intelligence protocols and international norms. The authorization also raises questions about congressional oversight, as covert action findings typically require notification to congressional intelligence committees under the National Security Act, though the extent and nature of such notification in this case remains unclear.

The economic dimensions of the conflict cannot be ignored. Venezuela possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, and American policy toward the country has long been intertwined with energy security considerations. While the Trump administration frames its actions in terms of border security and counternarcotics, the Maduro government insists that control of Venezuelan oil resources represents the true American objective. Trump ended diplomatic talks with Maduro and has made regime change a central policy goal, contrasting with previous administrations that maintained channels for negotiation even while imposing sanctions. The complete breakdown of diplomatic engagement leaves military pressure as the primary tool of American policy.

Looking forward, the situation appears poised for further escalation. Trump's comments about potentially moving operations onto Venezuelan land suggest that airstrikes within Venezuela's borders could be forthcoming. The Pentagon is reportedly preparing multiple options for the president, including strikes on targets inside Venezuelan territory that the administration characterizes as part of narcoterrorist networks. Such operations would represent an even more dramatic violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and could trigger responses from Maduro that might include attacks on American interests in the region or increased cooperation with American adversaries like China and Russia, both of which have substantial investments in Venezuela. The risk of miscalculation or unintended escalation into broader military conflict remains significant, particularly given the lack of diplomatic channels for crisis management.

Covert Action Strategy: Venezuela Regime Change

A comprehensive strategy for a U.S.-led covert action campaign aimed at facilitating regime change in Venezuela would integrates military pressure, psychological operations, economic measures, and support for opposition elements while navigating complex legal authorities and significant risks of regional instability. The overarching objective is the removal of President Nicolas Maduro and his inner circle, replacing them with a U.S.-friendly government that can stabilize the country and align with Western interests.

Strategic Foundation

Primary Objectives

The campaign has three primary objectives:

Remove Nicolas Maduro and key regime figures from power

Establish a stable, democratic, and U.S.-friendly government

Counter Russian, Chinese, and Iranian influence in Venezuela and the broader region

Public Justification vs. Strategic Drivers

Publicly, the operation would be framed as necessary to address humanitarian concerns, restore democracy, and combat international drug trafficking. The strategic drivers, however, are primarily geopolitical, aimed at eliminating a hostile regime in America's backyard and countering extra-hemispheric powers' influence in the region.

Operational Framework Key Actors and Responsibilities Actor/Entity Primary Role & Responsibilities The President Authorizes the covert action via a Presidential Finding, defining its scope and legal parameters. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Lead agency for covert action execution including propaganda, political payments, cyber operations, and paramilitary support. Department of Defense Provides complementary overt military pressure and logistical support to covert operations. Department of State Coordinates diplomatic efforts, manages relationships with regional partners, and provides political guidance. Congressional Intelligence Committees Provide oversight and must be kept "fully and currently informed" of significant operations. Legal Authorities The operation would be conducted under the authority of a Presidential Finding as required by the National Security Act of 1947 and Intelligence Oversight Act. This finding would specify the operation's objectives, methods, and participants while establishing parameters to minimize collateral damage and ensure compliance with U.S. law.

Implementation Phases Phase I: Pressure and Destabilization (Months 1-6) This initial phase focuses on weakening the Maduro regime's foundations through coordinated pressure campaigns: Intensified economic sanctions targeting regime financial networks

Cyber operations against critical infrastructure and government communications

Information operations to erode military and public support for the regime

Covert support for peaceful protest movements Phase II: Supporting the Opposition (Months 7-12) This phase involves actively cultivating and supporting forces that could carry out regime change: Back-channel negotiations with potential regime defectors

Covert funding and training for vetted opposition groups

Intelligence sharing with opposition elements

Psychological operations targeting regime loyalty Phase III: Transition and Consolidation (Months 13-24+) The final phase manages the transition and stabilizes the new government: Support for an interim government structure

Security sector reform and military integration

Economic stabilization programs

International legitimacy building

Risk Assessment and Mitigation Primary Risks This operation carries significant risks that must be carefully managed: Mission Creep: The operation could expand beyond its original scope, leading to unintended long-term commitments.

The operation could expand beyond its original scope, leading to unintended long-term commitments. Blowback: Exposure of U.S. involvement could damage regional relationships and fuel anti-American sentiment.

Exposure of U.S. involvement could damage regional relationships and fuel anti-American sentiment. Instability: Removal of the current government could create a power vacuum leading to civil conflict.

Removal of the current government could create a power vacuum leading to civil conflict. International Backlash: The operation could violate international law norms, damaging U.S. standing globally. Mitigation Strategies Maintain strict operational security and plausible deniability where appropriate

Coordinate with regional partners to share burden and provide multilateral cover

Develop detailed post-regime transition plans before initiating action

Establish clear metrics for success and exit strategies

Conclusion A covert action strategy for regime change in Venezuela represents a high-risk, high-reward approach to addressing a significant national security concern. While potentially effective in removing a hostile regime, success would depend on careful execution, robust post-operation planning, and sustained diplomatic and economic support for a successor government. The ultimate test would be whether the replacement government could stabilize Venezuela and align with U.S. interests without creating new, unforeseen challenges in the region.

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Contracts

Contracts For Nov. 24, 2025

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Government Marketing and Procurement LLC,* Wimberley, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $100,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for radiology equipment, components and accessories. This is a competitive acquisition with 52 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. The ordering period end date is Nov. 24, 2030. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 through 2031 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D1-26-D-0001).

Pinnacle Petroleum Inc.,* Long Beach, California (SPE605-25-D-4503/P00003, $44,940,998); Merrimac Energy Group,* Long Beach, California (SPE605-25-D-4502/ P00005, $28,510,319) and Clipper Oil Inc.,* San Diego, California (SPE605-25-D-4505/P00003, $22,785,145), have each been awarded a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for additional fuel issued against solicitation SPE605-24-R-0211. Locations of performance are Arizona, California, and Nevada, with an Oct. 31, 2029, performance completion date. Using customers are War Department and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

SCI Technology, Huntsville, Alabama, has been awarded a maximum $42,591,163 firm-fixed-price contract for drive controllers. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. The performance completion date is July 31, 2030. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-26-C-0010).

Vinyl Technology LLC, Monrovia, California, has been awarded a maximum $16,655,720 modification (P00008) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract with three one-year option periods for advanced technology anti-gravity suits. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. The ordering period end date is Dec. 3, 2026. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 through 2027 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-25-D-0011).

NAVY

Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc., Houston, Texas, is awarded a $30,236,090 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification to a previously awarded contract (N62470-17-D-4007). This award brings the total cumulative value to $228,461,245. This modification provides a bridge to the terms of the contract for base operating support services at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Work will be performed in Bahrain, and is expected to be completed by December 2026. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2026 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds will be obligated on individual task orders, subject to the availability of funds. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Europe, Africa, Central, is the contracting activity.

Proferre Inc.,* Tumon, Guam, is awarded a $9,716,651 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification to a previously awarded contract (N40192-25-D-9000) for grounds maintenance and tree trimming services. This award brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $19,139,369. The contract modification is for the exercise of the first option period. Work will be performed at Naval Base Guam, and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and is expected to be completed by November 2029. No funds will be obligated at time of award. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Marianas, Guam, is the contracting activity.

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

CORRECTION: The $877,742,891 contract announced on Nov. 20, 2025, for The Boeing Co., Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, was announced with the wrong contract number. The correct number is W9121516G0001-H9224126FE001.

*Small business

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4341595/

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U.S. Africa Command completes first visit to Tunisia

U.S. Air Force (USAF) Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), and AFRICOM senior leaders visited Tunis, Tunisia, Nov.12 thru 14, 2025. In continuing a relationship of more than 200 years, the visit allowed the command an opportunity to engage Tunisian partners for discussions and demonstrations on how U.S.-Tunisia defense engagements have advanced Tunisia's military operational and capacity and contributions to regional security.

By Staff Sgt. Emely Eckels , U.S. Africa Command Tunisia Nov 24, 2025

U.S. Air Force (USAF) Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), and AFRICOM senior leaders visited Tunis, Tunisia, Nov.12 thru 14, 2025. In continuing a relationship of more than 200 years, the visit allowed the command an opportunity to engage Tunisian partners for discussions and demonstrations on how U.S.-Tunisia defense engagements have advanced Tunisia's military operational and capacity and contributions to regional security.

During the trip, Gen. Andersonaccompanied by U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Ben Snell, AFRICOM J2 director; USAF Gen. Justin Hoffman, AFRICOM J3 director; and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Roland McGinnis, Marine Forces Africa senior enlisted leadermet with the Tunisian Minister of Defense, Khaled Shili. This meeting later followed with further leadership discussions on priorities related to readiness, modernization, counterterrorism and cooperation between AFRICOM and the Tunisian Air Force, Navy, Army, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal units.

While in Tunis, the command met with the new U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia, Bill Bazzi, and embassy leadership on topics that addressed ongoing bilateral programs and efforts to support Tunisia's continued development as a regional security contributor. Discussions focused on sustaining momentum in joint training, exercises, and military-to-military cooperation.

Before departing from Tunis and in honor of paying homage to the American service members who gave their fall to defend the United States during World War II Gen. Anderson and Bazzi visited the North Africa American Cemetery (NAAC). The NAAC, established in 1948 and dedicated in 1960, stands as a lasting symbol of the enduring ties and shared history between our two nations.

Across each engagement, AFRICOM leaders reaffirmed the United States' commitment to providing limited, targeted support to our Tunisian partners to achieve shared security objectives and countering terrorist influence.

Africa remains a theater the U.S. cannot shift its focus on. It's an evolving and diverse theater with security efforts that transcends the African borders to support European and global security and stability - including the U.S. homeland.

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U.S. Army Reserve Integrates Critical Capabilities During Avenger Triad 25, Strengthening Allied Interoperability

By Maj. Aaron Smith November 24, 2025

GRAFENWOHR, Germany, Last month, U.S. Army Reserve units from the 7th Mission Support Command (MSC), 200th Military Police Command (MPC), 416th Theater Engineer Command (TEC), 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion (MI BN), and U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) (USACAPOC) participated in Avenger Triad 25, a large-scale, computer-assisted exercise led by U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF). Conducted in conjunction with NATO's Steadfast Duel from Oct. 22 to Nov. 2, the exercise validated concepts for large-scale combat operations at the corps level and above while strengthening Allied interoperability across the Euro-Atlantic theater.

Avenger Triad 25 involved USAREUR-AF commanding seven U.S. and NATO corps representing more than 100,000 Soldiers across Europe and focused on the Eastern Flank Deterrence Line concept. This concept is designed to blunt adversary aggression and enable decisive counterattack using traditional formations, unmanned systems, and AI-enabled command and control. Reserve Component forces were essential in testing and refining these approaches across multiple warfighting functions.

200th Military Police Command Enhances Detention and Security Operations

Last month, the 200th Military Police Command (MPC) deployed 65 Soldiers from multiple echelons, including command and brigade elements, to support Avenger Triad 25 from across the United States.

The 200th MPC has supported five USAREUR-AF command post exercises in the past three years, including three Avenger Triad iterations and two Austere Challenge events.

During the exercise, the 200th MPC focused on detention operations, area security, and mission command, providing Military National Detention Facilities to U.S. and Allied forces. Leaders emphasized that detention operations are often overlooked in planning, reducing maneuver effectiveness, and that including military police early mitigates international risks and protects critical assets.

"Everything that we do is focused on exercising our critical capabilities in a realistic scenario, that helps develop our warriors, leaders, and strategic thinkers to be able to adapt our home station training to the actual fight that we are likely to face," said Maj. Robert Burch, an exercise planner for the 200th MPC.

The exercise also allowed the unit to exercise division-level planning, staff coordination, and integration with Active Duty and Reserve partners, including V Corps, the 416th TEC, the 68th Theater Medical Command, and the 21st Theater Sustainment Command.

"It has been an incredibly valuable experience," said Maj. Burch. "The opportunity for collaboration, information sharing, and strategic planning has been invaluable to developing our capabilities and understanding how we fit into the large mission alongside our partners."

As the Army's theater subject matter expert for detainee operations, the 200th MPC ensures humane custody and care for enemy prisoners of war, while securing the theater rear area, maintaining freedom of movement, and enabling maneuver forces to concentrate combat power where needed.

416th Theater Engineer Command Enhances Engineer Readiness

The 416th Theater Engineer Command (TEC) mobilized 50 Soldiers, primarily from the Chicago, Illinois area, to support Avenger Triad 25 last month. This marked the third consecutive year the 416th TEC supported the exercise and the first time it operated its full contingency command post as a forward command and control element.

During the exercise, the 416th TEC demonstrated its role as the senior engineer headquarters, oversaw contingency engineering, and employed its contingency command post. Soldiers collaborated with active-duty forces, NATO partners, civilian agencies, and other Reserve units.

"The opportunity to train alongside NATO allies and exercise our contingency command post marks Avenger Triad as the pinnacle training event for our headquarters this year," said Col. Jeffrey Jones, contingency command post chief.

The experience will inform future training and readiness, validating battle drills and staff processes, while strengthening the Army Reserve's role in ensuring mission success during large-scale conflicts.

209th Theater Liaison Detachment Ensures Seamless Integration

The 7th MSC's 209th Theater Liaison Detachment (TLD) deployed to Betera, Spain, to link NATO's Rapid Deployable Corps-Spain and USAREUR-AF's Multi-Corps Land Component Command during Avenger Triad 25. Using command and control information systems, the detachment provided a shared operational picture and integrated into NRDC-Spain's staff, directly supporting the corps commander in shaping the warfighting environment.

"The 209th TLD's performance during Avenger Triad 25 demonstrated the critical value of theater liaison detachments in modern warfare," said Col. Michael Hiller, Commander of the 209th TLD. "Our Soldiers proved their ability to integrate seamlessly with a NATO corps, bridging the gap between U.S. and Allied forces and enhancing multinational interoperability. This exercise reinforces the importance of the art of human liaison, even as we leverage increasingly sophisticated technology."

The detachment's intelligence, fire support, operations, and logistics teams enabled the corps to maintain situational awareness, coordinate fires, sustain operations, and ensure timely decision-making during simulated large-scale combat operations.

The 209th Theater Liaison Detachment, part of the U.S. Army Reserve's 7th MSC, specializes in providing critical liaison capability between U.S. and NATO forces. The unit integrates directly into allied headquarters, leveraging advanced command and control systems to maintain a shared operational picture, advise on capabilities, and synchronize warfighting functions. By serving as a connective thread across intelligence, fires, maneuver, and sustainment, the 209th TLD ensures seamless multinational coordination and enhances interoperability in support of large-scale combat operations.

323rd Military Intelligence Battalion Strengthens Multinational Intelligence Integration

Last month, the 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion, 336th Expeditionary MI Brigade, Military Intelligence Readiness Command, supported USAREUR-AF's theater-level intelligence operations in Wiesbaden. The battalion worked alongside U.S. and NATO partners to synchronize intelligence above the corps level, with a multinational officer leading the Analysis Control Element (ACE).

"Having a truly multinational ACE and integration with all the corps was invaluable," said Spc. Kendal Ferguson, an intelligence analyst with the 323rd MI Battalion.

The battalion's participation highlights the Reserve Component's essential role in supporting theater-level intelligence operations and improving NATO's ability to operate as a cohesive, data-informed force.

The 323rd MIB is a U.S. Army Reserve unit that specializes in theater-level intelligence support. As part of MIRC, the battalion provides allsource analysis, intelligence synchronization, and mission command system expertise to support U.S. Army and Allied formations across the globe.

USACAPOC Shapes the Information Environment and Builds Civil-Military Understanding

USACAPOC support to Avenger Triad 25 included personnel embedded in the exercise control cell from the 2nd Psychological Operations Group (2nd POG), 308th Civil Affairs Brigade (308 CA BDE), and 353rd Civil Affairs Command (353 CACOM).

"We developed and executed simulated influence activities to support the exercise," said Lt. Col. Seth Lydem, a PSYOP officer assigned to the 2nd POG. "That includes building realistic narratives, shaping the information environment, and assessing how the training audience communicates during complex operations."

Civil affairs Soldiers analyzed population and resource control, civil considerations, and infrastructure resilience. The support provided to the exercise control cell enabled civil affairs, psychological operations and other information activities to achieve their training goals for AVenger Triad, and inform future theater-level command post exercises.

USACAPOC is a twostar Army Reserve headquarters that provides the majority of DoD civil affairs and psychological operations (PSYOP) capability. Its Soldiers combine regional and transregional expertise, politicalmilitary awareness, and crosscultural communication skills to conduct and support civil-military operations at strategic, operational, and tactical levels.

Looking Ahead

Avenger Triad 25 highlights how the Army Reserve strengthens the total Army and NATO by delivering specialized capabilities that enhance interoperability, readiness, and deterrence. Lessons learned from last month's exercise are already shaping future training, modernization efforts, and integration with Active Component and Allied partners.

The continued contributions of the 200th MPC, 416th TEC, 323rd MI BN, 7th MSC, and USACAPOC demonstrate the Reserve Component's critical role in maintaining a credible deterrent and ensuring combat readiness for U.S. Army and NATO Allied forces.

About the 7th MSC:

The 7th MSC provides operational, logistical, and liaison support to USAREUR-AF and NATO partners. Headquartered in Germany, the 7th MSC integrates Reserve forces into multinational exercises, operations, and theater-level planning, ensuring readiness and enhancing interoperability across the Euro-Atlantic region. The command's subordinate units, include specialized capabilities to strengthen U.S. and Allied warfighting effectiveness.

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November 24, 2025

Release

Readout of Assistant Secretary of War for International Security Affairs Daniel Zimmerman's High Level Defense Group Meeting With Polish Secretary of State, Ministry of National Defense, Pawel Zalewski

Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell provided the following readout:

On November 20, Assistant Secretary of War for International Security Affairs Daniel Zimmerman co-hosted the High-Level Defense Group with the Polish Secretary of State, Ministry of National Defense, Pawel Zalewski. Assistant Secretary Zimmerman and Minister Zalewski discussed how to advance the bilateral defense relationship and shared commitment to operationalizing NATO's 5% defense spending pledge. Mr. Zimmerman visited U.S. troops and thanked Poland for their outstanding host nation support. Poland continues to demonstrate leadership as a model ally in its pragmatic and grounded approach to deterrence and NATO support, while working with the United States on defense industrial base initiatives and seeking an enduring peace for Ukraine.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4341281/

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November 24, 2025

By Leslie Herlick, Army Aviation Center of Excellence

Army Aviation Soldiers Begin Training With Stalker UAS at Fort Rucker

Army aviation soldiers began training with the VXE30 Stalker uncrewed aircraft system at Fort Rucker, Alabama, Nov. 18, in preparation for equipment fielding next month.

This system incorporates observations from the modern battlefield, including reduced noise and visual signature, vertical takeoff capability and cost-saving munitions technology  underscoring the Army's push to integrate cutting-edge systems into training at Fort Rucker and Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

Army Maj. Wolf Amacker, UAS and Tactics Branch chief of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence's Training and Doctrine Directorate, said the event represented a milestone in training the Army's layered reconnaissance strategy.

"This is the first time in years that we will be utilizing a Group 2, almost Group 3 size UAS in support of an Army course at Fort Rucker, since before the Shadow was really employed," Amacker said.

The War Department categorizes UAS into Groups 1 through 5 based on weight, normal operating altitude and speed. Group 1 UAS are small, weighing 20 pounds or less, and operate below 1,200 feet above ground level at speeds of up to 100 knots. Group 2 UAS have a maximum takeoff weight between 21 and 55 pounds, operate below 3,500 feet above ground level and fly at speeds under 250 knots. Group 3 UAS, which included the Army's RQ7B Shadow, weigh between 56 and 320 pounds at takeoff, operate up to 18,000 feet above mean sea level and fly at speeds under 250 knots.

The Stalker aircraft is built on a modular open systems approach and can adapt to new sensors, payloads and technologies to support changing operational needs.

Amacker noted that the Army Aviation Center of Excellence's 1st Aviation Brigade identified the Stalker during the recent UAS summit. It moved quickly to acquire the system for training, ensuring students gain handson experience with the latest reconnaissance technology.

Army Maj. Rachel Martin, director of the Air Cavalry Leaders Course and Unmanned Advanced Lethality Course, emphasized the Stalker's flexibility compared to legacy systems.

"This system can take off and land vertically like a quadcopter, then transition to forward flight where it goes deadly silent," Martin said. "Its reduced visual and acoustic signature makes striking a target at 300 feet very likely, something that wasn't possible with louder systems, like the Shadow."

The system integrates into the Army's Common Lethality Integration Kit, allowing soldiers to select warheads at the user level and employ both newly designed payloads and existing munitions, such as 81 mm mortars.

"What's great about this is that it's modular and fits on multiple [uncrewed aircraft systems]," Martin said. "It's a cheaper solution that can be rapidly reproduced."

Martin noted the dramatic cost difference compared to traditional systems.

"Instead of a Hellfire missile costing $100,000 to $150,000 per round, this solution costs about $800," she said. "That disparity is significant, and it reflects lessons from the Ukrainian fight, where cheaper solutions are proving decisive."

Amacker added that the Army is exploring ways to print training rounds inhouse, further expanding opportunities for instruction while reducing reliance on traditional procurement systems.

"This is the Army thinking outside the box," Martin said. "We're leveraging commercial technology to meet immediate needs in a faster, more affordable way."

Training with the Stalker is scheduled to begin in December, ensuring instructors can incorporate the system into courses and prepare soldiers to employ it in tactical missions at the battalion and brigade levels.

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European Peace Facility: Council adopts assistance measures in support of the armed forces of Jordan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

24 November 2025 10:34

The Council adopted today a set of decisions establishing three assistance measures under the European Peace Facility (EPF) in support of Jordan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad.

Jordan

The Council adopted the third bilateral assistance measureunder the EPF worth 35 million to strengthen defence capacities and capabilities of the Jordanian Armed Forces. This measure brings the total amount of EPF support to Jordan to 55.25 million to date.

Today's decision signals the EU's growing engagement with Jordan, marked by the recent signature of the EU-Jordan Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership (SCP). The new EPF assistance measure will contribute to strengthening security and defence cooperation, one of the five key areas identified by the SCP and demonstrates the EU's continued commitment to supporting Jordan's stability and resilience.

The objective is to enhance the air defence capabilities, and therefore also to strengthen Jordan's contribution to regional security. Through the European Peace Facility measure, the EU will provide to the Jordanian Armed Forces short-range radars and a local command and control systemand, where needed, related supplies and services, including operational and maintenance training.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Council also adopted an EPF assistance measure amounting to 10 million to provide the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo - FARDC) with military equipment meeting their operational needs.

This is the second assistance measure in support of the FARDC. The first one was adopted in 2023 and aimed at supporting the 31st Rapid Reaction Brigade based in Kindu. In total, the European Peace Facility's support to the FARDC now amounts to 30 million.

The support foreseen under this second assistance measure will strengthen the FARDC's capacity to carry out their core tasks of protecting civilians and restoring state authority. It consists of the provision of non-lethal equipment to facilitate command and control, improve deployment conditions and medical support, and enable the conduct of surveillance patrols along river borders. Deliveries are expected to begin before the end of 2026.

The continued support provided under the EPF demonstrates the EU's ongoing commitment to security sector reform in the DRC, and the EU's commitment to the FARDC in the context of the peace process. It is part of a broader package of measures combining various instruments, including development aid.

Chad

The third EPF assistance measure adopted by the Council amounts to 14,5 million in support of the Armed Forces of Chad.

Under the EPF, Chad already benefits of EU support in the context of its participation in the Multi-National Task Force against Boko Haram and G5 Sahel Joint Force. In addition, this assistance measure marks the first bilateral support by the EU to Chad under the EPF.

The aim of the assistance measure is to strengthen the capacities of the Chadian National Army ("Armee nationale tchadienne", ANT) with a view to protecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Chad and its civilian population against internal and external aggression.

Under EPF support, the EU will contribute to the professionalisation of the ANT through the renovation and refurbishment of the Koundoul National Academy for non-commissioned officers (Ecole nationale des sous-officiers d'active de Koundoul- ENSOA-K). The support foreseen consists of infrastructure works, provision of educational equipment, and the redesign of the ENSOA-K's curricula, including on compliance with International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law), to adequately respond to the request by Chad.

Background

The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 for the financing of actions under the common foreign and security policy to prevent conflicts, preserve peace and strengthen international security and stability. In particular, the European Peace Facility allows the EU to finance actions designed to strengthen the capacities of third States and regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters.

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Iran's Larijani reacts to Israeli assassination of senior Hezbollah commander

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 24, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has reacted to the Israeli assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai.

In a post on his X account late on Sunday, Larijani said that senior Hezbollah commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai, along with several of his companions, was martyred by the criminal actions of the Zionists, coinciding with the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Fatemeh (SA).

He added, "These martyrs achieved their aspirations, but Netanyahu [Israeli Prime Minister] will continue his adventurism until everyone realizes that no option remains but to confront this fake regime".

Larijani also extended his condolences for this tragedy to the esteemed leader of Hezbollah and its fighters.

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah officially confirmed the martyrdom of its senior commander, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, in a devastating Israeli airstrike in the southern suburb of Beirut on Sunday.

Israel launched "a treacherous attack" on residential apartments in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh on Sunday that killed at least five people, including senior Hezbollah commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai and four resistance fighters. It also wounded 28 others, including women and children.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry expressed condolences to the families of the victims and paid tribute to Commander Tabatabai, praising his lifelong dedication to defending Lebanon against Israeli aggression.

3266**7129

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Iran condemns Israeli assassination of senior Hezbollah commander

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 24, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran has strongly condemned the terrorist crime of the Zionist regime targeting residential areas in Beirut and the assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai.

In a statement late on Sunday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry called the strike a "gross violation" of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement and a "brutal attack" on Lebanon's sovereignty.

The ministry emphasized the necessity of holding criminal Israeli leaders accountable for "terrorist acts" and war crimes.

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah officially confirmed the martyrdom of its senior commander, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, in a devastating Israeli airstrike in the southern suburb of Beirut on Sunday.

Israel launched "a treacherous attack" on residential apartments in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh on Sunday that killed at least five people, including senior Hezbollah commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai and four resistance fighters. It also wounded 28 others, including women and children.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry expressed condolences to the families of the victims and paid tribute to Commander Tabatabai, praising his lifelong dedication to defending Lebanon against Israeli aggression.

The ministry also criticized the United States for its support of Israel, suggesting that this backing is causing the repeated violations of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime.

The ministry also urged the United Nations and the international community to take decisive action against Israeli crimes, and called these military incursions threats to regional and global peace.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers the inaction and silence of the United Nations and its Security Council regarding the continuous aggressions and countless crimes of the Israeli regime against the Lebanese people as regrettable and unjustifiable," the statement said.

The ministry called for "serious action by the international community to confront organized terrorism and the Zionist regime's warmongering against Lebanon and other countries in the region."

"Without a doubt, the military adventures of the Zionist regime in the West Asian region are the greatest threat, not only to the peace and stability of this region, but also to international peace and security, and therefore confronting this threat is a global responsibility," the ministry concluded.

According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli attacks have killed nearly 4,000 people and displaced over 1.2 million residents across the country since October 2023.

3266**7129

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League mission observes second phase of Egypt's parliamentary elections 2025

League of Arab States

Date: 24/11/2025

The head of the League of Arab States' mission observing the 2025 Egyptian parliamentary elections, Ambassador Hussein Al-Hindawi, visited several polling stations and electoral committees in Port Said Governorate on Monday. Other League teams conducted field visits across various regions and governorates, monitoring the electoral process, which began at 9:00 a.m. on 24 November and will continue until the completion of the counting and tabulation process on the evening of 25 November.

The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, had directed the formation of a League mission, headed by Ambassador Hussein Al-Hindawi, Assistant Secretary-General of the League, to monitor the Egyptian parliamentary elections. This followed an invitation from Counsellor Hazem Badawi, Chairman of the National Elections Authority, and reflects the League's commitment to observing elections held in its member states, as well as its dedication to supporting and strengthening democracy, consolidating good governance, and ensuring the proper conduct of elections.

The mission, which includes a group of observers from the General Secretariat representing several Arab nationalities, has established an operations room responsible for coordination, communication, and gathering information on the course of the electoral process from mission members, in addition to monitoring media coverage of the electoral event.

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NATO Secretary General addresses Cloud Conference, urges accelerated digital innovation

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

24 November 2025

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke at the third NATO Cloud Conference in Brussels today (24 November 2025), emphasising the critical role of industry in bolstering the Alliance's digital defences. "There simply is no strong defence without a strong and also an innovative industry," he stated, linking the conference's focus on security, fog and edge computing, and innovation to NATO's broader security goals.

Speaking to 500 participants from governments, industry, and academia, from across NATO and a number of partner nations, Mr. Rutte highlighted the need for stronger cooperation amid growing threats from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. He warned that adversaries are advancing in AI and quantum computing. "We must accelerate cloud adoption - or we will fall behind," Rutte urged, calling for decisive implementation of NATO's Cloud and Edge Computing Policy and Allied Software for Cloud and Edge Services (Project ACE ) to enable seamless data sharing and faster decision-making.

Drawing lessons from Ukraine's rapid cloud migration to mitigate the impact of Russian attacks, Mr. Rutte pointed to decisions from the Summit in The Hague, including the commitment to spending 5% of GDP on defence by 2035, as providing the opportunity to fund investments in digital capabilities like cyber defence, AI, and cloud technologies.

The Secretary General addressed concerns over digital sovereignty, advocating a balance between national control and collective capabilities. He praised the benefits of cloud scalability and edge computing's speed for military applications, reinforcing NATO's push for resilient tools and increased cooperation among Allies.

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UN experts urge States to act as Israeli violations threaten fragile Gaza ceasefire

Press releases

Special Procedures

24 November 2025

GENEVA -- Israel's continuing violations of the ceasefire in Gaza are threatening the fragile truce, UN experts* warned today, urging all States to ensure attacks against civilians cease immediately and unhindered delivery of aid, including medical aid, is allowed into the area.

"Since the ceasefire was announced on 11 October, Israel has reportedly committed at least 393 violations, killing 339 Palestinians, including more than 70 children, and injuring over 871 others," the experts said. "The 28 October airstrikes marked the deadliest single night since the ceasefire began, with at least 104 Palestinians killed."

Attacks continued to be reported across all five governorates of Gaza despite the "ceasefire", with reports of gunfire, artillery shelling, and airstrikes.

"The ongoing Israeli attacks against the Palestinian population in Gaza constitute a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement," the experts said. They urged the international community to step up pressure to make the ceasefire effective and save lives.

Humanitarian access remains critically restricted with only two of six crossings being reopened. "The volume of aid trucks entering Gaza has never reached the agreed target of 600 per day and has frequently fallen below half that number," the experts said.

They noted that major hospitals are only partially functional and require restoration, equipment and supplies to reach full operational capacity.

"Continuing failure to ensure that the UN, through UNRWA and OCHA, directly manages aid delivery and distribution in Gaza, as mandated by international law, is unacceptable and cannot be justified," the experts said.

Violence in the occupied West Bank has also continued to escalate as armed Israeli settlers and soldiers intensify assaults on Palestinian civilians, land, and property. "In a move that would advance de jure annexation, which is absolutely prohibited, the Israeli Parliament is also advancing legislation to extend Israeli sovereignty to parts of the West Bank," the experts said.

"It is past time to fully implement the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion ordering the dismantlement of Israel's occupation and the system of racial segregation and apartheid it entails," they said.

While welcoming the ceasefire, the experts expressed concern that justice and accountability were absent from the current arrangement and the peace plan proposed by the United States. "There can be no lasting peace without accountability for the crimes committed since 7 October 2023," they said.

"We warned that so-called peace initiatives allowing one side to retain militarised control over Gaza would not end occupation but entrench it. Sadly, this is unfolding before our eyes," they said. "After two years of genocidal assault, this 'peace plan' risks adding insult to injury."

Over 58 per cent of Gaza reportedly remains under Israeli military control, with 40 active Israeli sites still operating beyond the agreed withdrawal line, in clear breach of the ceasefire terms.

The Security Council resolution on an "International Stabilization Force (ISF)" to coordinate with Israel and Egypt in border management, alongside newly trained Palestinian police, risks replicating - if not aggravating - the model of security coordination that has entrenched Israel's settler-colonial apartheid regime in the West Bank, the experts said.

The experts urged Member States to act decisively to end the pattern of systematic violations of international law and suffering in occupied Palestine and restore international peace and security.

They called for the following urgent measures:

Guaranteeing safe humanitarian access through UN-supervised land and naval corridors, including temporary housing before winter;

Opening humanitarian corridors toward the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel for the wounded, sick, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and children;

Imposing sanctions on Israel for continued violations of international law and illegal occupation;

A comprehensive arms embargo on Israel;

Full and free access to international media to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including throughout Gaza.

Ensuring that independent, international investigations are conducted into serious violations of international law, including the killing of civilians in the Gaza Strip, and that prosecutions are initiated under universal jurisdiction;

Considering a UN-led international intervention if attacks persist and the humanitarian situation deteriorates further.

*The experts:

Francesca Albanese : Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967;

: Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967; George Katrougalos, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order

Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order Ashwini K.P. , Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance Olivier De Schutter: Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights

Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions

Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Ben Saul , Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism Irene Khan , Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Paula Gaviria , Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons

, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

UN Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health Heba Hagrass , Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities

, Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education

Special Rapporteur on the right to education Michael Fakhri , Special Rapporteur on the right to food

, Special Rapporteur on the right to food Pedro Arrojo Agudo , Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation

, Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation Gina Romero , Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association

, Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Siobhan Mullally, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children

the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences

Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences Nicolas Levrat , Special Rapporteur on minority issues

, Special Rapporteur on minority issues Michelle Small (Chair-Rapporteur), Ravindran Daniel, Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito, Joana de Deus Pereira, Andres Macias Tolosa, Working Group on the use of mercenaries

Working Group on the use of mercenaries Carlos Duarte (Chair), Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas

Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas Ivana Krstic (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Haina Lu, and Laura Nyirinkindi, Working Group on discrimination against women and girls

Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.

Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/

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Cambodia: UN expert supports peace and confidence-building measures between Cambodia and Thailand

Press releases

Special Procedures

24 November 2025

GENEVA -- The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Vitit Muntarbhorn, today expressed his continued support for peace and confidence-building measures between Cambodia and Thailand.

"Any confidence-building measures that help build bridges between nations deserve our support," Muntarbhorn said. "Civilians affected by the situation at the border should be assisted according to human rights standards."

The Special Rapporteur welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached by the concerned parties in July 2025. "The effective implementation of that agreement, anchored on shared wisdom, dialogue and humanitarian practices, is essential. This must be accompanied by the de-escalation of tensions and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law," he said.

The expert called for measures to curb misinformation and disinformation to be maximised. He also noted the presence of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other agencies that could provide assistance.

Muntarbhorn expressed support for the Joint Declaration between Cambodia and Thailand in Kuala Lumpur in October 2025, affirming the earlier ceasefire and making commitments on a range of issues, including international humanitarian law protecting civilians and prisoners of war.

The Special Rapporteur stressed the importance of promoting human rights, peace, democracy and sustainable development in Cambodia, and reiterated his readiness to provide assistance.

Vitit Muntarbhorn is the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia

Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.

Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/

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Israel blocking aid as Gaza's humanitarian crisis worsens: UNRWA

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 7:18 PM

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has issued a stark warning about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement released on Monday, the agency said Israel is still blocking its international staff and restricting aid delivery to the besieged territory.

UNRWA reported that despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to prevent international staff from entering Gaza, leaving approximately 6,000 food trucks stranded at border crossings. Currently, only about 170 trucks are entering daily, far below the minimum needed to meet basic needs.

UNRWA is operating 100 shelters housing over 80,000 displaced Palestinians and providing distance learning for 300,000 students, alongside in-person classes for 50,000 students under challenging conditions.

Many children study in makeshift classrooms without proper seating, highlighting the urgent need for basic school furniture to foster a sense of stability and safety.

The agency stressed that "providing simple necessities such as desks and chairs is essential for rebuilding hope" among Gaza's children.

With hundreds of schools damaged or destroyed, UNRWA has transformed emergency shelters into temporary learning spaces. Its health network is also stretched to capacity, with clinics receiving 15,000 patients daily. Since October 7, total medical visits have exceeded 15 million.

The destruction by Israeli forces has caused a severe decline in the agency's operational capacity at a time when humanitarian needs are at their highest.

UNRWA reports that 380 staff members have been killed, and 90% of its facilities have been damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Additionally, the agency faces a $200 million budget deficit, worsened by the US halting its annual $360 million contribution.

Currently, over 90% of the population relies on aid, with many receiving only one meal a day. Malnutrition rates have surged to 90%, particularly among children.

UNRWA's warning emphasizes the deteriorating living conditions in Gaza and the immense challenges facing humanitarian operations, as civilians remain on the brink of collapse amid ongoing restrictions on aid.

The dire situation follows the "genocidal war waged by Israel beginning on October 7, 2023, which destroyed large parts of Gaza's educational infrastructure.

The first phase of the US-brokered deal is currently in effect, while negotiations on the second phase remain unresolved.

Western governments have largely supported Israel's war on Gaza since October 7, 2023, a campaign that has killed nearly 70,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. The bombardment has destroyed or damaged 83 percent of homes and buildings in Gaza, leaving more than 60 million tons of rubble behind.

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Assassination of Hezbollah commander exposes Israel's 'weakness' against resistance: IRGC

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 7:03 PM

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Israel's cowardly assassination of a senior Hezbollah commander exposes the regime's "weakness" in the face of the Resistance Axis.

The IRGC released a statement on Monday to strongly condemn Israel's assassination of Haytham Ali Tabatabai in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital of Beirut the previous day.

"The Zionist regime once again committed a clear terrorist crime by targeting one of the steadfast Hezbollah commanders," it said.

"This cowardly act, which took place during a supposed ceasefire that the Israelis have often broken, is not proof of strength but shows the enemy's weakness and helplessness against the will of regional nations and the Resistance Front."

The IRGC also expressed regret over the silence and inaction of international and human rights bodies in the face of Israel's genocide and acts of aggression, as well as the support that the usurping regime gets from the warmongering and terrornurturing rulers at the White House.

It further emphasized that the Resistance Axis is "alive and dynamic" and that the blood of the martyrs will ignite the flames of hope and determination in the hearts of freedom-seeking people and the faithful resistance fighters across the region.

"Undoubtedly, the Resistance Front and Lebanon's Hezbollah reserve the right to avenge the blood of the brave fighters of Islam. When the time comes, a crushing response will be given to the terrorist aggressor," the elite military force added.

On Sunday night, Hezbollah announced the martyrdom of Commander Tabatabai and four other resistance fighters in "a treacherous Israeli attack."

Tabatabai was the most senior Hezbollah commander to be killed by Israel since a November 2024 ceasefire with the resistance group.

Also in its statement, the IRGC said the Muslim Ummah regards the assassination as part of Israel's "psychological warfare" and "desperate attempt" to conceal its internal crises and repeated battlefield losses, warning that such acts will only bring more defeat and greater global anger and hatred toward the occupying regime.

The Resistance Front, through military, political, media, and popular efforts, will keep fighting until final victory over the occupiers of the holy land of Palestine and alQuds, it noted.

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Israel miscalculating if it thinks assassinations will deter Hezbollah: Official

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 5:03 PM

A senior Hezbollah official says all of Israel's calculations about the Lebanese resistance movement have failed, noting that the occupying regime wrongly believed that assassinations of the group's high-profile figures and military commanders could lead it to victory.

"The Israeli enemy's miscalculations and repeated failures are due to its lack of understanding and knowledge that targeted killings of Hezbollah commanders would not weaken it," Sheikh Ali Damoush, Head of the Executive Council of Hezbollah, said on Monday.

"Such killings only reinforce the movement's resolve and determination to confront the Israeli occupation," the official added as he addressed the funeral procession of senior military commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai, who was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on Harat Hreik in the southern suburbs of Beirut the previous day.

He paid tribute to Tabatabai, stressing that he was instrumental during Hezbollah's early battles. "The movement has lost a major strategist, whose contributions shaped key battles over more than three decades."

Sheikh Damoush stated that the fallen Hezbollah military commander spent over 35 years organising resistance operations, and was among the first military figures to plan and oversee "early decisive confrontations" that dealt heavy blows to Israeli ground forces.

He also pointed to Tabatabai's post-war role in the leadership, planning, and strategic development of Hezbollah.

The senior Hezbollah official described the Israeli assassination strike as a grave mistake for the regime, emphasising that the Zionist entity has to stay alert as the Lebanese resistance movement is weighing a response to the killing.

Sheikh Damoush also emphasised that all the concessions made by the Lebanese government have been futile and have not prevented Israeli acts of aggression.

He reaffirmed Hezbollah's firm commitment to the path of resistance and upholding martyrs' heroic legacies.

"We will complete what you started, and will remain in the field defending Lebanon and the nation," Sheikh Damoush stated.

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UN envoy calls for Iran's support in advancing Yemen peace efforts

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 3:01 PM

The United Nations' special envoy for Yemen has called on Iran to keep supporting the world body in its efforts towards advancing a peace process in Yemen.

Hans Grundberg made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in the Omani capital of Muscat on Monday.

Grundberg briefed Araghchi on Yemen's latest developments and called for the continuation of Tehran's support for the UN efforts aimed at improving conditions and pushing forward the peace process in the conflict-ridden country.

Araghchi, for his part, condemned Israel's acts of aggression against regional countries, along with the ongoing blockade and sanctions against Yemen.

He also warned that the Zionist regime's violations could lead to more insecurity and instability in the region.

For more than a decade, Yemen has been gripped by conflict involving the popular Ansarullah resistance movement, as well as militants supported separately by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Saudi Arabia waged a devastating war on Yemen in March 2015, but it failed to reinstall a Riyadh-friendly regime there. In 2022, the kingdom agreed to a ceasefire with Ansarullah, which has been running state affairs in the absence of a functional government in Sana'a.

Years of war plunged Yemen into a deep humanitarian crisis. The situation worsened further in the past two years after Israel and the US launched deadly aerial assaults across Yemen in flagrant breach of international law.

The attacks are meant to hamper the pro-Palestine campaign that Yemen launched in November 2023, a month after Israel unleashed a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Araghchi warns of US unilateralism

Additionally, on Monday, the top Iranian diplomat met in Muscat with David Harland, executive director of the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Geneva-based private diplomacy organization.

During the meeting, Araghchi referred to the tense global situation, including in West Asia, caused by the US's unilateralism and the Israeli attacks and crimes against regional nations.

Harland, in turn, underlined the importance of strengthening diplomacy as the only effective tool for peacebuilding and resolving disputes.

He further urged all governments and the international civil society to take action to protect peace, the rule of law, and the achievements of human civilization.

Meanwhile, the two sides discussed global developments, particularly the threats posed to peace and security amid flagrant violations of international law and the UN Charter.

Araghchi has travelled to the Omani capital to participate in the Muscat Forum and outline Iran's positions and views on regional issues.

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Ongoing Israeli violations will finally render Gaza truce 'null and void,' warns Hamas

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 2:44 PM

A Hamas spokesman has condemned the ongoing Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that these attacks threaten the ceasefire agreement established last month.

In a statement on Monday, Hazem Qassem warned that the continued Israeli aggression could lead to the collapse of the ceasefire deal between the resistance movement and the regime in Tel Aviv.

"The movement has honored what it was required to do and fulfilled its obligations despite continued breaches and attacks by Israeli occupation forces," Qassem said.

He cautioned that repeated violations could undermine the ceasefire, noting that "the mediators in Cairo have been clearly informed of these concerns."

"What is happening in the eastern and central flanks of the Gaza Strip is the continuation of genocide and full-scale ethnic cleansing," he said.

"The occupation forces have intensified their attacks against civilians outside the so-called yellow line and have killed four civilians since the early hours of the morning," Qassem pointed out.

He affirmed that the presence of the Hamas delegation in Cairo underscores the movement's commitment to cooperating with mediators and advancing to the next phase of the truce.

While acknowledging the complexities of the second phase, Qassem reiterated that Hamas remains committed to its obligations, even as the adversary continues to violate the ceasefire.

Regarding the role of international powers, Qassem stressed that their responsibility is to protect vulnerable civilians and ensure accountability for the occupation forces' continued aggression.

He further highlighted that violations continue every day in Gaza.

The remarks came as four Palestinians were killed and a fifth was injured by Israeli army fire in the Gaza Strip on Monday.

Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza said the bodies of two people were transferred to the facility following an Israeli drone strike in the town of Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Younis.

Two more people were shot dead by Israeli snipers in the al-Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, medical sources said.

A Palestinian was also injured by artillery fire near the so-called "yellow line" in the al-Shaaf area of al-Tuffah. The medical sources, however, did not provide any details about his condition.

Various international organizations, such as the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B'Tselem, and other human rights groups, have determined that the Israeli actions in Gaza constitute genocide.

In the attacks in Gaza since October 2023, Israel has killed at least 69,733 people, most of them women and children, and injured 170,863 others.

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Israeli airstrikes kill four Palestinians in Gaza in new wave of attacks despite truce

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 11:10 AM

At least four Palestinians have been killed and several others were injured in a wave of Israeli attacks on Gaza, according to the territory's hospitals, marking the latest breach of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Tel Aviv regime that came into effect last month.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that among the fatalities was a man killed by artillery shelling in the Shuja'iyya area near the Green Line in the al-Tuffah neighborhood east of Gaza City.

Another victim, identified as Alaa Mazen Abu Rida, was killed by Israeli drone fire in the Armida area east of Khan Younis. Two people were injured in the same strike as well.

Moreover, a Palestinian man died when an Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle struck the town of Bani Suheila, east of the southern city of Khan Younis, in an area beyond the so-called "yellow line."

The yellow line is a temporary demarcation boundary inside the Gaza Strip to which Israeli forces agreed to withdraw as part of the first phase of the truce deal. The areas beyond the line are under Israeli military control.

There are reports that Israeli forces are striking multiple locations in Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement.

In northern Gaza, Israeli air raids and artillery shelling hit Beit Lahiya beyond the yellow line.

In the south, Israeli air attacks and fire from tanks and helicopters were reported northeast of Rafah City, as well as air attacks and artillery shelling beyond the yellow line to the south and east of Khan Younis.

Local sources said Israeli drones are hovering extensively over Gaza City from the early hours of the morning.

The Gaza Government Media Office says the Israeli military has violated the Gaza ceasefire agreement at least 497 times in 44 days, killing hundreds of Palestinians and injuring many more ever since the truce took effect on October 10.

A statement released on Saturday revealed that 342 civilians have lost their lives and 875 others have sustained injuries in the attacks, with the majority of the victims being children, women, and the elderly.

Over the genocidal Gaza war, which began in October 2023, Israel has killed at least 69,756 people, most of them women and children, and injured 170,946 others.

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Air defence exercise in Lochtea north of Finland

Swedish Armed Forces

Air defence regiment - 24 November 2025 kl: 13.29

Mallet Strike is a multinational NATO air-defence exercise that brings more than a thousand troops for ground-based air-defense training and interoperability to the Finnish north.

The exercise includes a wide range of simulated air threats, including drones of various sizes, helicopters, and fighter aircraft.

Before sunrise, the launch of multiple drones is drowned out by the roar of NH90 helicopters lifting off. A thin layer of snow covers the coastline in northern Finland, the area hosting the large-scale Mallet Strike exercise.

Sweden participates for the second year as a NATO member, and the deployment to northern Finland also serves as a major logistical test involving the movement of personnel and vehicles from south of Sweden.

"Because of the situation in Ukraine, we have to train together. The Swedish and Finnish cultures are similar, which makes cooperation easysomething that is essential if we ever need to fight side by side", says Major Henrik Nihleen, commander of the Swedish unit.

Swedens contribution of several Fire Unit 98 IRIS-T systems and associated sensors, are intergraded with the command where swedish cadets are also working alongside finnish soldiers in the command post.

The exercise, held annually and first arranged in 1952, brings together over a thousand soldiers from multiple nations. This year, Swedish, Finnish, and British troops took part.

"It's a great opportunity to train together and to test our interoperability. The way we train and think is very similar. We are working to detect and engage targets at different altitudes and speed - and many at the same time", says Captain Jaakko Torppa, air-defence battalion commander.

For the Finnish soldiers, Mallet Strike is one of the major air-defence events of the year. The ten-day exercise has a long tradition and has been conducted twice a year since it began. And now as a NATO member, Sweden can contribute to that tradition.

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Dodik Announces Victory of Ruling Party Candidate in Republika Srpska Presidential Vote

Sputnik News

20251124

Milorad Dodik, leader of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), the ruling party in the Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RS BiH), announced the victory of his candidate, Sinisa Karan, in the snap presidential election.

"SNSD candidate Sinisa Karan won the elections, and I congratulate him on his victory," Dodik said at a briefing at the party's headquarters, noting that Karan had a 9,000-vote lead over his closest opponent.

According to members of the electoral commissions from the ruling party, after counting data from 95.61% of the polling stations, Karan received 208,988 votes, and Serbian Democratic Party (SDS) candidate Branko Blanusa received 200,558 votes.

Back in February, Bosnia's court convicted Dodik for defying the decisions of the UN's "high representative in BiH," Christian Schmidt. He was sentenced to one year in prison and banned from holding public office for six years.

 Sputnik

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The United Kingdom will continue to work with all partners to implement Resolution 2803 and to forge a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians, anchored in a two-state solution: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Speech

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Charge d'Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Gaza.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Kariuki CMG

Published 24 November 2025

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 24 November 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Last week, this Council adopted Resolution 2803, sending a powerful message of international support for President Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza, and the diplomatic efforts of Qatar, Turkiye and Egypt.

This marks a pivotal moment after two years of horrendous suffering. And is crucial to cementing the ceasefire and charting a course towards lasting peace.

We urge all parties to abide by the ceasefire and we reiterate that Hamas must locate and hand over the bodies of the remaining three deceased hostages.

I will make three points.

First, Resolution 2803 must be implemented fully, effectively and in accordance with international law.

We need an International Stabilisation Force and trained Palestinian police deployed quickly to support the ceasefire and avoid a vacuum that Hamas could exploit.

Hamas should uphold their commitments under the 20-point plan to disarm and end their governance over Gaza.

Transitional arrangements must respect Palestinian sovereignty and self-determination and pave the way for a reformed Palestinian Authority to resume governance in Gaza.

Palestine must be run by Palestinians.

We look forward to the urgent formation of a Palestinian Committee alongside the Board of Peace.

Second, Resolution 2803 underscores the importance of the full resumption of humanitarian aid in Gaza.

The humanitarian situation remains catastrophic.

Heavy rains have deepened the misery, worsening shelter needs as winter closes in.

The United Nations has confirmed that over 1.5 million people are in urgent need of emergency shelter, yet Israel continues to restrict lifesaving aid.

Every crossing and route must be opened without delay, and essential items including shelter kits and medical supplies allowed in.

Last winter, at least eight newborns died of hypothermia in fewer than three weeks. Those deaths were preventable.

Israel must allow aid in now, without delay, and permit the United Nations, including UNRWA, as well as international non-governmental organisations, to operate freely and effectively.

Third, while the ceasefire in Gaza offers hope, stability in the West Bank is essential to any sustainable peace.

Yet we have seen further appalling incidents of settler violence during the olive harvest.

Last month, OCHA recorded more than 260 Israeli settler attacks, resulting in Palestinian casualties or damage to property.

This month, we have witnessed horrific arson attacks, including on a mosque, in the West Bank.

These unacceptable incidents must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible held accountable.

We also urge Israel to end its stranglehold on the Palestinian economy by releasing withheld clearance revenues, protecting correspondent banking arrangements, and facilitating shekel transfers from Palestinian banks.

And we reiterate our call on Israel to halt the expansion of illegal settlements, including the E1 plans.

This is a pivotal moment for the future of the region.

The United Kingdom will continue to work with all partners to implement Resolution 2803 and to forge a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians, anchored in a two-state solution.

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Security Council must seize 'moment of renewed hope' in Gaza

24 November 2025 - The ceasefire in Gaza is largely holding but recent violence by Israel and Palestinian militants put the truce at risk, the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council on Monday.

Ramiz Alakbarov briefed on conditions in the battered enclave and the occupied West Bank, before touching on developments in Lebanon and Syria.

"Today we meet at a moment of renewed hope," he said, speaking from Jerusalem.

"While progress on the ground is fragile and deep uncertainty persists, we must seize the opportunity before us to chart a better future for Palestinians, Israelis and the wider region."

Fragile ceasefire at risk

Last month, Israel and Hamas reached agreement on the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage release following a plan put forward by United States President Donald Trump.

However, recent Israeli airstrikes on populated areas have caused numerous casualties and destruction, while Palestinian militant attacks on Israeli soldiers have resulted in fatalities.

"This violence is jeopardizing the fragile ceasefire," Mr. Alakbarov said, urging all parties "to exercise restraint and fulfill their commitments under the agreement."

'First glimmers of respite'

The Security Council "has also taken an important step in the consolidation of the ceasefire" with the adoption of resolution 2803 (2025), he added.

The text endorses the US plan and the deployment of a temporary international force for Gaza.

"While still facing unbearable living conditions and seemingly insurmountable destruction, the people in Gaza have experienced at least the first glimmers of respite from the near constant bombardment of the last two years," he said.

At the same time, Israeli families have been reunited with relatives who were held hostage.

Others have received the remains of their loved ones, although the bodies of three hostages have yet to be returned.

Displacement, damage and destruction

Mr. Alakbarov reported that "the UN has redoubled efforts to mobilize and scale up humanitarian assistance" in Gaza, but efforts must be expanded.

He highlighted the grim situation on the ground, including more than 1.7 million people still displaced and almost 80 per cent of buildings damaged or destroyed.

The senior official visited the shattered enclave last week, where "the picture remains bleak," stressing the "critical need to transition from emergency humanitarian assistance toward enabling communities to rebuild their lives and restore essential services."

Restore dignity and hope

He said that "the damage in Gaza - physically, economically and socially - is catastrophic." Therefore, the international community cannot only address immediate physical needs, but also psycho-social needs, social cohesion and justice issues.

"There must be a restoration of dignity and hope," he said. "These efforts must be anchored in a clear political horizon for resolving the conflict, ending the unlawful occupation, and realizing the two-State solution."

'Alarming' violence in the West Bank

Meanwhile, in the West Bank "settlement expansion, the proliferation of outposts, violence, including settler violence, displacement, and evictions continue to escalate at alarming levels," he reported.

Israeli military operations, particularly in the north, have resulted in deaths, destruction and continued displacement of thousands of Palestinians from refugee camps.

"Settler violence has reached emergency levels," he said. "In October, during the olive-harvest season, the UN recorded the highest number of settler attacks on Palestinians since UN monitoring began  an average of eight per day."

Additionally, arson attacks and the desecration of holy places by settlers have further heightened tensions, while attacks by Palestinians - including acts of terror, such as a recent ramming and stabbing attack south of Jerusalem - have occurred.

He insisted that all perpetrators of violence must be held accountable.

Concern for Lebanon and Syria

Turning to the wider region, he reiterated the UN Secretary-General's call for parties in Lebanon to uphold their obligations to maintain the cessation of hostilities.

The agreement, reached between Israel and Lebanon in November 2024, followed more than a year of fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, linked to the Gaza war.

The top official also echoed the Secretary-General's call for an immediate cessation of all violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Challenges require commitment

Returning to Gaza, Mr. Alakbarov said that decisions made now will determine whether the ceasefire endures or unravels.

He underscored that the first phase of the deal must be fully implemented, and the parties must urgently reach agreement on the modalities to carry out the next stages.

"The challenges remain immense, but the cost of failure is unimaginable. We have the tools to lay the foundations for success, but the work ahead demands an unwavering commitment from everyone," he said.

He said the UN "remains committed to seizing this critical opportunity to move from crisis management to conflict resolution," and all efforts "must be guided by the imperative of establishing a genuine political process that will resolve the Israeli - Palestinian conflict once and for all."

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Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Occupied Palestinian Territory

UN, partners help communities in Gaza prepare for winter

OCHA warns that hostilities continue to be reported in various parts of the Gaza Strip, causing destruction, displacement and casualties among civilians, including children. On Saturday, multiple Israeli strikes were reported in Gaza city, Deir al Balah and An Nuseirat. The strikes came after Israeli ground forces reportedly came under fire in Rafah.

The UN and its partners remain focused on preparing for the winter, as well as ensuring that the most vulnerable communities are able to receive essential assistance. Partners managing displacement sites note that living conditions are extremely dire across the Strip. The estimated 214,000 people living in coastal, flood-prone or structurally unsafe areas are among the most vulnerable.

The humanitarian community is working together to get aid to people safely, quickly and with dignity.

As part of the preparations ahead of winter, between Thursday and Saturday, partners reached 7,100 families with shelter assistance, including 900 tents, 5,100 tarps and 2,300 blankets. However, they note that they could only bring 32 trucks with shelter supplies into Gaza between Sunday and Wednesday last week, as NGO registration requirements continue to hamper partners' ability to bring in assistance.

Meanwhile, partners leading the malnutrition response in Gaza report that they continue to focus on early detection and treatment of acute cases. Last week, UNICEF dispatched 4,000 cartons of ready-to-use therapeutic food - enough to provide treatment for the current caseload of 10,000 patients for one month. Currently, total treatment stocks are sufficient to last through March of next year.

Work also continues on improving access to healthcare across Gaza. Partners leading the health response report that they managed to access the European Hospital in Rafah - which is not functional - in order to transfer vital equipment to functioning facilities in northern Gaza. This was the first successful attempt to access the hospital since October, as requests to reach it were repeatedly denied by the Israeli authorities.

To help people cope and supplement basic assistance, partners working on providing cash support note that since the ceasefire and as of last Wednesday, 93,000 families received cash distributions, with the support of more than a dozen partners.

Partners working on emergency telecommunications report that on Saturday, a team of technicians finally managed to access the area in northern Gaza near Erez crossing to repair a fibre optic cable that was severed in early November. Previous attempts to coordinate access to the site for repairs were denied by Israeli authorities.

OCHA continues to stress that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be protected. OCHA also calls for unimpeded, safe and sustained access throughout Gaza, to reach civilians in need wherever they are.*

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza and the West Bank with urgent support.

Ukraine

Deadly attacks imperil front-line communities, urban areas

OCHA says that hostilities in Ukraine continue to devastate front-line communities, harm civilians in major urban centres, and inflict further damage on energy infrastructure.

Authorities say that the cities of Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia came under attack over the weekend and this morning, with at least 20 civilians killed and more than 100 others injured, including children.

Humanitarians have also been impacted. On 23 November, a drone strike damaged the premises of a humanitarian organization in the city of Koriukivka, in the region of Chernihiv. No one was injured. Just a few days earlier, on 20 November, in the city of Zaporizhzhia, an aid worker from a national NGO was killed off duty in an air strike that claimed the lives of at least five civilians. According to partners, since September, three aid workers have been killed - including two in the line of duty - and 11 others have been injured.

Hostilities have also damaged critical services, and authorities report that rolling power outages continue nationwide due to cumulative damage to the energy infrastructure. Some parts of the Kharkiv region were left without electricity and water. The port and energy facilities in Odesa were also struck, including a ferry terminal on the border with Romania.

OCHA says that despite access and security challenges, humanitarian organizations continue to deliver assistance. On 21 November, OCHA coordinated a humanitarian convoy delivering winter supplies to the front-line community of Dariivska in the Kherson region, including dignity kits for older people, thermoses, solar lamps, a charging station, hygiene kits for people with disabilities and food.

This year, 27 inter-agency convoys delivered aid to some 30,000 people in front-line areas of the region.

Posted on 24 November 2025

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Amid New Hope in Gaza, Security Council Must Seize 'Fragile' Moment to Advance 20-Point Peace Plan, Chart Better Future for Israelis, Palestinians

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

10051st Meeting (AM)

SC/16231

24 November 2025

The Security Council met today to consider pathways for advancing to the second phase of implementing the "Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict", also known as the 20-point plan, announced by United States President Donald Trump in late September.

The Plan's first phase  agreed by Israel and Hamas  established the current ceasefire and outlined the release of remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees, a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a significant scale-up of humanitarian assistance.

The second phase envisions disarming Hamas; further withdrawals of Israeli forces; the gradual transfer of security responsibilities to an International Stabilization Force; and the establishment of an interim technocratic government overseen by a Board of Peace chaired by Mr. Trump. Ultimately, the Board would transfer governance to a reformed Palestinian Authority, opening a pathway towards Palestinian self-determination and statehood.

On 17 November, the Council adopted resolution 2803 (2025), endorsing the Plan and authorizing a temporary International Stabilization Force in Gaza (see Press Release SC/16225).

In today's meeting, the representative of the United States said that the Plan outlines a pathway to peace, security and long-term governance in Gaza. "Now, the international community must move quickly to deny Hamas any chance to reconstitute," she urged, inviting those Member States ready to act through the Board of Peace to "step up" and pledge personnel, equipment and funding for the Force.

"Stability will require burden-sharing," she said. The Force will help create a Gaza free from terrorist rule and safe for aid and investment by protecting civilians. Emphasizing that humanitarian assistance has "surged since the peace plan took effect", she said that her country supports the delivery of aid to Gaza with "robust safeguards preventing diversion by Hamas and other groups". And, while humanitarian assistance will address Gaza's immediate needs, investment will revive its economy. To that end, she welcomed commitments by the World Bank and partner countries to invest in Gaza's long-term redevelopment.

Calls to Build on Ceasefire Momentum

"We must seize the opportunity before us to chart a better future for Palestinians, Israelis and the wider region," said Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, as he briefed the Council via video link from Jerusalem on the wider situation in the Middle East.

He recognized the commitments by the parties and the exceptional efforts of the mediators  Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye and the United States  in sustaining a ceasefire, describing resolution 2803 (2025) as "an important step in the consolidation of the ceasefire".

Since coming into effect last month, the ceasefire has largely held in Gaza, he reported. However, recent Israeli air strikes on populated areas and continued sporadic attacks by Palestinian militants on Israeli soldiers are jeopardizing the fragile truce, he added, urging all parties to exercise restraint and fulfil their commitments under the agreement.

For its part, the United Nations has redoubled efforts to mobilize and scale up humanitarian aid  seizing the moment to reach the population wherever they are, he said. He called on Israel to expand crossing capacity and expedite the clearance of supplies, including UN supplies. The renewal of non-governmental organizations' registration is also essential, he added.

Several Council members weighed in on the need to advance to the Plan's second phase. The representative of the United Kingdom said: "We need an International Stabilization Force and trained Palestinian police deployed quickly to support the ceasefire and avoid a vacuum that Hamas can exploit." His counterpart from France agreed that the rapid deployment of an International Stabilization Force, in support of the Palestinian Authority's security forces, is essential to prevent a resumption of violence, ensure the safety of humanitarian operations and advance the disarmament of Hamas. For its part, Paris will bolster Palestinian security capacities by deploying nearly 100 police officers and will contribute 100 million to the humanitarian response in 2025.

'Gaza is Palestinian,' says Permanent Observer, as Israel Demands Hamas Disarm

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, said that Palestine  along with the region and the wider international community  welcomed President Trump's plan to end the war. However, Israel seeks to collapse the ceasefire by stalling the entry of humanitarian aid, resuming attacks and entrenching the ceasefire boundary or advancing beyond it.

Against this backdrop, the Council adopted resolution 2803 (2025) primarily to maintain the ceasefire and move to its second phase of the 20-point plan, rather than to advance the rights of the Palestinian people, he said, adding: Yet even the resolution's simple reference to Palestinian self-determination and statehood "drove the Israeli Government crazy".

"Gaza is Palestinian... Gaza is the bleeding heart of Palestine, just as Jerusalem is its beating heart," he declared, calling for peace grounded in the fulfilment of Palestinian rights rather than their continued denial and based on mutual recognition rather than negation.

The representative of Israel stressed that his country is "fully committed to meeting our obligations under this Plan". It has facilitated hundreds of trucks entering Gaza each day and released Palestinian "terrorists  not prisoners  as required", he said.

"Hamas, on the other hand, continues to blatantly violate the terms of the Plan," he stressed, as it failed to meet the 72-hour deadline to return the hostages, killed three soldiers during the ceasefire and repeatedly sent terrorists across Israeli lines. "There can be no peace, no stability and no future for Gaza while Hamas remains armed," he asserted, pressing the international community to prioritize this issue.

The Occupied Palestinian Territory remains a "theatre of bloodshed", said Algeria's delegate, citing Israel's blatant violations of arrangements. He called for "genuine" commitment to preserve the ceasefire, launch reconstruction, ensure accountability for the "thousands of documented Israeli crimes", end the occupation and enable Palestinians to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.

Timelines Needed for Israeli Withdrawal, Return of Palestinian Authority, Board of Peace Appointments

Several speakers pointed to ambiguity about the next steps. "When will the Palestinian Authority return to Gaza? When will Israel withdraw its troops from the Strip? How will Hamas be disarmed?" asked the representative of the Russian Federation, noting that resolution 2803 (2025) does not clarify these points. He stressed the need to establish clear timelines. Agreeing, his counterpart from Pakistan said: "Peace cannot be negotiated over the heads of the Palestinian people," calling for more clarity on various aspects of resolution 2803 (2025).

The representative of Sierra Leone, Council President for November, speaking in his national capacity, said that the Board of Peace has not been appointed despite the urgency of the situation. Its terms of reference are unknown and Palestinian participation is unclear, leaving a serious gap in governance and oversight of the transitional arrangements, he warned.

Despite these shortcomings, resolution 2803 (2025) "opens a real window of opportunity towards a path that is different from what has been experienced by the peoples of Israel and Palestine", said Panama's delegate. The challenge lies not only in maintaining the ceasefire, but in "transforming a fragile moment into an historic turning point for peace", he said.

The representative of Somalia reaffirmed the importance of initiating mechanisms authorized through resolution 2803 (2025). Adhering to resolutions, he said, is a cornerstone for achieving a comprehensive and just settlement that ends the suffering of the Palestinian people and paves the way for a political path towards reconstruction, peace and security in the region.

The situation in the West Bank was also raised. Slovenia's delegate condemned rising settler violence and urged that the ceasefire extend to the West Bank, where violence against Palestinians is rapidly spreading. The representative of Denmark described recent developments as "devastating" and warned that they could signal a fire threatening the prospects for peace. She urged the Council to send a clear message that "Gaza and the West Bank are not two stories, but one".

Gaza's Dire Humanitarian Needs Demand Urgent Lifting of Aid Restrictions

Several delegates underscored the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with the representative of Guyana expressing concern that "Palestinians' legitimate expectation for relief from hostilities in Gaza and for a surge in humanitarian assistance has not been fully met". Nutrition needs are also not being fully met. "With the plethora of needs in Gaza, it is critical for Israel to lift all remaining restrictions on the entry of a diversity of humanitarian assistance into Gaza," she said.

China's delegate said peace between Palestine and Israel is "far from being achieved" and urged the international community to "work harder" towards stability in the region. The speaker for Greece said Mr. Trump's plan  now supported by a Council resolution  provides strong momentum for accelerated regional integration and the creation of an inclusive regional security architecture. Looking ahead, the representative of the Republic of Korea summarized: "As new hope arises in Gaza, we must seize this opportunity to change the course regionally; from confrontation to harmony, and from a one-State reality to the realization of the two-State solution."

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Chinese envoy to UN calls on all parties, Israel in particular, to fully honor ceasefire agreement

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Nov 25, 2025 09:08 AM

China's Permanent Representative to the UN Fu Cong called on all parties, especially Israel, to fully comply with the requirements of the ceasefire agreement and work toward a truly comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, during the public meeting at the UN Security Council on Israel-Palestine issue on Monday local time.

We welcome the agreement reached on the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire. However, peace between Palestine and Israel is still far from being achieved, and the suffering of civilians continues. We call on the international community to work harder with the greatest sense of urgency and unwavering political will toward restoring peace in the region, Fu said.

We note with concern that violent clashes persist despite the ceasefire. Israel has reportedly committed over 400 violations of the agreement, resulting in more than 300 civilian deaths in Gaza, Fu said.

A ceasefire means the complete cessation of all attacks, and should be observed by all parties in good faith. Any incident causing civilian casualties is unacceptable and repeated attacks must not become the new normal in Gaza, Fu said, noting that China urges all relevant parties, Israel in particular, to fully honor the ceasefire agreement and work toward a truly comprehensive and lasting peace.

The Chinese envoy continued that the humanitarian situation remains dire, with severe shortages of essential supplies and medical equipment. Humanitarian access to Gaza continues to face multiple obstacles, and the aid that does reach Gaza falls far short of the quantity specified in the ceasefire agreement.

Israel is under obligation to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. China urges Israel to fully comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, open all crossing points, lift restrictions on humanitarian access, and ensure that UNRWA and other humanitarian agencies can carry out their relief operations, Fu said.

Moreover, the occupying power's continued settlement expansion and connivance of settler violence have further fueled the tensions in the West Bank, Fu said, urging Israel to cease all settlement activities, curb settler violence, and stop undermining the foundation of governance by the Palestinian Authority.

Fu also emphasized that implementing the two-State solution is the only way out. Both Gaza and the West Bank are inseparable parts of the Palestinian state.

Any future arrangements on Gaza should be guided by the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine and respect the will of the Palestinian people. The international community must redouble efforts to advance the two-State solution, oppose any unilateral actions that undermine its foundation, and support the early realization of independent Palestinian statehood and its full UN membership, Fu said.

Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in Gaza near the line demarcating areas of Israeli control on Monday, underlining the struggle to broaden a fragile ceasefire deal approved over six weeks ago to global acclaim, Reuters reported.

Palestinian medics said Monday's incidents involved an Israeli drone firing a missile at a group of people east of Khan Younis, killing two and wounding another, and a tank shell killing a person on the eastern side of Gaza City, according to Reuters.

UN experts also warned that Israel's continuing violations of the ceasefire in Gaza are threatening the fragile truce, urging all countries to ensure attacks against civilians cease immediately and unhindered delivery of aid, including medical aid, is allowed into the area, according to a statement on the UN website.

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Guinea-Bissau - Politics 2025

On 26 November 2025, military officers in Guinea-Bissau announced they had seized total control of the country in a coup d'etat, deposing President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and abruptly suspending the nation's electoral process. The takeover unfolded amidst a deeply contested presidential vote held just days earlier, on 23 November. The situation escalated when sustained gunfire erupted in the capital, Bissau, near key government installations including the presidential palace, the election commission, and the Interior Ministry, signaling the military's move against the civilian government.

The coup was formally declared by a group calling itself the "High Military Command for the Restoration of Order." The announcement was made on state television by General Denis N'Canha, the former head of the presidential military office, who positioned himself as the leader of the new military command. In his address, General N'Canha justified the military's actions as a necessary response to what he described as an ongoing plot by politicians and what he termed "national drug lords" to destabilize the country by manipulating the results of the electoral process. Following the announcement, the military junta took immediate and decisive measures to consolidate its power, including closing all land, air, and sea borders, imposing an indefinite overnight curfew, and suspending all media programming.

The political context for this military intervention was one of intense instability and a disputed democratic process. The coup occurred just one day before the official results of the 23 November presidential election were scheduled to be announced. The pre-emptive declarations of victory by both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and his main challenger, Fernando Dias, had created a volatile political stalemate. Furthermore, the credibility of the electoral process had been severely questioned after the country's Supreme Court barred the main opposition party, the PAIGC, from contesting the presidential election. This was not an isolated event in Guinea-Bissau's history but rather the ninth successful coup or attempted coup since the nation gained independence from Portugal in 1974. President Embalo's own tenure had been marked by similar instability, including his dissolution of the legislature in December 2023, which led him to rule by decree, and his claims of having survived several attempted coups, including one as recently as late October 2025.

In the aftermath of the takeover, several high-profile figures were arrested. Alongside President Embalo, those detained included the armed forces chief of staff, his deputy, the interior minister, opposition candidate Fernando Dias, and PAIGC leader Domingos Simoes Pereira. The international community responded with swift concern. The United Nations Secretary-General expressed deep alarm and appealed for restraint and respect for the rule of law. Portugal, the former colonial power, urged all parties to refrain from violence and to work towards restoring institutional functionality to allow for the completion of the electoral process. The events of 26 November 2025 thus represent another severe disruption to Guinea-Bissau's fragile democratic order, underscoring the persistent challenges of military involvement in politics and the difficulty of establishing stable governance in the country.

Denis N'Canha

On 26 November 2025, General Denis N'Canha emerged as the public face and leader of the military takeover in Guinea-Bissau. He is identified in reports as the head of the military household at the presidential palace and was the head of the presidential guard, a position tasked with the protection of the president. In a statement read on state television while surrounded by armed soldiers, he announced that the military had taken "total control" of the country.

General N'Canha [His name is also sometimes spelled Dinis Incanha or Dinis NTchama.] declared the formation of the "High Military Command for the Restoration of Order," a body composed of all branches of the armed forces that would lead the nation until further notice. He stated that the coup was launched in response to "the discovery of an ongoing plan" orchestrated by politicians and other figures, including a "well-known drug lord," which aimed to destabilize the country by manipulating the results of the presidential election held on 23 November 2025.

Following the seizure of power, General N'Canha announced a series of decisive measures on behalf of the new military command. He declared the deposition of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and ordered the immediate suspension of the entire electoral process, which was awaiting official results. He also announced the closure of all land, air, and sea borders, the suspension of all media programming, and the imposition of an indefinite overnight curfew. In his address, he urged the citizens of Guinea-Bissau to remain calm during the transition.

A significant aspect of this event is General N'Canha's previous role in close proximity to the ousted president. As the head of the presidential guard, he was the official responsible for President Embalo's security. Al Jazeera's reporting highlighted the irony of the situation, noting that "the man supposed to protect the president himself has put the president under arrest". President Embalo confirmed his own arrest and deposition in a phone call to France24.

Denis NCanha is a senior military officer in Revolutionary Armed Forces of the People (the national armed forces of Guinea-Bissau). In February 2021, he was appointed as head of the Military Office of the Presidency  in Portuguese, Chefe da Casa Militar da Presidencia  replacing his predecessor, General Antonio Abel. At that time, he held the rank of Colonel; subsequently, he was promoted to Brigadier General. From this position, NCanha was closely integrated into the seat of power, serving as the link between the presidency and the military apparatus. His role presumably gave him oversight and influence over the security of the presidency  a sensitive, high-stakes function in a country long plagued by instability.

Detailed personal information about General Denis N'Canha  such as his full biography, career history, and background  remained largely unavailable in public reports. Much remained unclear: there was no publicly available detailed biography of NCanha  his age, place of birth, early career, education, family background  are not widely documented. The exact composition of the new military command, its roadmap (if any) to restore civilian government, and how other power centers (civil society, opposition groups, international actors) will react are all uncertain.

The ascent of Denis NCanha to the helm of power in Guinea-Bissau is deeply consequential. First, it underscores the fragile relationship between civilian politics and the military in a country that has experienced repeated coups since independence from Portugal in 1974. Second, NCanhas takeover  only days after contested elections and amidst claims, counterclaims, and alleged plots  threatens to entrench a new period of military rule. The suspension of institutions, freeze on media and elections, and imposition of curfews could mark a regression in democratic governance, civil liberties, and rule-of-law norms.

Third, the method and timing of the coup may fuel deeper instability. Because neither opposition groups nor foreign governments have recognized the legitimacy of the takeover yet, there is a risk of internal unrest, external pressure, or fractured governance  especially in a country where the army has historically played a decisive role in politics. Finally, with NCanha now positioned as the de facto leader of Guinea-Bissau, the future of the country will depend heavily on the choices he and the new military command make  whether to restore civilian rule, negotiate with opposition forces, hold credible elections, or entrench military governance. The ripple effects  domestically and regionally  could be significant.

Scenario 1  Consolidation of Military Rule

The most likely short-term trajectory (024 months). In this scenario, NCanha and the High Military Command decide that the restoration of order mandate is open-ended. The suspension of political institutions, media, borders, and the electoral process becomes the new normal. Though the military initially frames the takeover as a corrective action against alleged electoral manipulation and national instability, it gradually settles into a pattern of governing through decrees, bypassing all civilian checks and balances.

Over time, the junta reorganizes the security structures around NCanha personally. Key loyal commanders are promoted, dissenting officers quietly purged, and new internal intelligence units are created under the justification of national security. The curfew might be relaxed, but only symbolically, while real political power remains firmly in military hands.

International reactions  condemnations, sanctions threats, suspension from regional bodies like ECOWAS  create diplomatic pressure, but not enough to force an immediate reversal. Instead, Guinea-Bissau drifts toward the model seen in Mali and Burkina Faso: the junta adopts a defensive posture, presenting itself as the only actor capable of stabilizing the nation in the face of foreign interference, political corruption, and organized crime.

Under this pathway, NCanha gradually evolves from a transitional military figure into a long-term strongman, centralizing authority in a system that increasingly resembles military-bureaucratic autocracy.

Scenario 2  Negotiated Transition With Civilians

Moderately likely, but dependent on internal and external pressure - In this scenario, the junta discovers that it cannot govern the country indefinitely without paying an economic and political price. International isolation begins to bite: frozen aid flows, suspended development programs, travel restrictions on senior officers, and growing tension with neighboring Senegal and Guinea create a strategic dilemma. Domestically, civil society groups  lawyers associations, clergy networks, student organizations, womens cooperatives  begin to push for clarity on a road map back to constitutional order.

Under increasing pressure, NCanha opts for a controlled, negotiated transition. He announces a timetable for constitutional reform, the reopening of political space, and eventual multiparty elections. A transitional charter is drafted. Civilian technocrats may be invited to join an interim cabinet, though the military retains final authority.

This kind of transition is rarely linear: there may be pauses, reversals, and attempts by the junta to influence the rules of the game. But the key difference from Scenario 1 is that the military accepts the principle  and in time, the reality  of stepping back. Such a transition typically takes between 18 months and 3 years, depending on internal stability and the ability of civilian groups to negotiate in a unified way. The end result: Guinea-Bissau returns to a constitutional government, but with the armed forces still holding informal power behind the scenes.

Scenario 3  Internal Fracture and Instability

Less likely immediately, but possible if the coalition behind NCanha splinters = This scenario is more dangerous and unpredictable. Guinea-Bissaus military has long been factionalized, with competing networks tied to political patrons, business interests, ethnic loyalties, and, historically, to elements of the transatlantic drug trade. If NCanha is unable to balance these factions  or if his crackdown on political and media institutions alienates key officers  the junta could fracture from within.

A rival commander might challenge the High Military Commands legitimacy, or sympathetic units could attempt a counter-coup claiming that NCanha exceeded his mandate. Civilian protests, if they grow large enough, could trigger repression that further weakens military cohesion. External actors might also play a role: neighboring governments, regional blocs, or even illicit networks could take sides in a struggle for influence.

In this scenario, the country enters a period of stop-start instability, with repeated attempted coups, contested authority, and a weakened state apparatus. NCanha may remain a dominant figure, but his control becomes tenuous, and the security situation deteriorates. This is the scenario with the highest risk to civilians and the lowest probability of orderly governance.

In Guinea-Bissau, 12 candidates were vying for the presidency on 23 November 2025, with incumbent Umaro Sissoco Embalo seeking a second term. However, the election has been marred by controversy following a Supreme Court ruling barring his main rival, Domingos Simoes Pereira of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, from running. The democracy of 29 years ago was no longer the model the country was experiencing, but rather model defined by a single person.

The poll was originally set for 2024 but was postponed by Embalo. It was the first time the PAIGC, the historic party that led the armed struggle for national liberation in 1973 will not be on the ballot. In an unprecedented move, the coalition led by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) had been excluded from the presidential and legislative elections. The countrys supreme court ruled that the PAIGC and its candidate Domingos Simoes Pereira had submitted their nomination too late.

The President is elected through majority vote to a renewable 5-year term. The President may not run for a third consecutive term and must wait 5 years after the second term before running for a third. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President with the consultation of the Peoples National Assembly. All 102 members of the Peoples National Assembly are elected through list proportional representation to a 4-year term.

Several senior military officers were arrested on 03 November 2025 on accusations of trying to stage a coup. The army said it had thwarted an attempt to subvert the constitutional order. This sad episode, which involves some general and senior officers of our Armed Forces, jeopardises the peace and stability so desired for socio-economic development and the attraction of foreign investment, the armed forces General Staff said in a statement. Guinea-Bissau had gone through four coup and 17 coup attempts since 1974.

As the West African nation prepared to hold parliamentary and presidential polls, the disqualification of major opposition figures left incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo in a strong position. President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, first elected in 2019, was running for a second term despite initially pledging to serve only one. Sissoco Embalo sought to remind voters how much he had done for the country: "I have given my all to give Guinea-Bissau a second chance at the future. Do you really want to hand the country over to someone who has no vision for the future?" he asked.

Sissoco Embalo has curated an international reputation over the past five years. He is said to have made more than 300 trips abroad, including 200 flights on a private jet for non-state visits, says Fransual Dias from the opposition party PRS. Pedro Jandim, a representative of Domingos Simoes Pereira's PAIGC party in Germany, told DW: "We have a president who doesn't care about the problems in his own country because he is constantly abroad. Our schools don't work, our hospitals don't work. Roads are not being built. Nothing works in Guinea-Bissau."

In 2023, he dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament after armed clashes which he described as an attempted coup. But critics saw this move as an effort to extend his mandate. "Although Embalo's official term ended in February 2025, he remained in office and spent the following months systematically sidelining the opposition," the journalist Bacar Camara told DW. Umaro Sissoco Embalo's five-year term as president officially expired on February 28, 2025. Technically, he is no longer Guinea-Bissau's leader, but he has not stepped down. Embalo has ruled the West African country by decree for over a year,and seems intent on stopping Domingos Simoes Pereira, who is accused of corruption, from ever being appointed prime minister.

Domingos Simoes Pereira, leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), insists Embalo must step down immediately. Pereira is a former prime minister and President Embalos foremost rival. Pereira leads a coalition that actually won the last parliamentary elections in 2023 with an absolute majority. But since then, Embalo has systematically prevented Pereira from forming a government.

The four-year term of the parliament had also expired, so Pereira wanted new presidential and parliamentary elections "within 90 days and not only on November 30, as the president has suggested." Pereira adds: "The constitution requires this. Before that, the parliament, which the president dissolved in December 2023, must be urgently reconvened." According to Pereira, this parliament must appoint the members of the National Election Commission and elect the president of the Constitutional Court, whose mandates have also expired. Most other political parties in the country, legal experts, and civil society representatives in Guinea-Bissau share this view.

It seems Embalo intends to remain president for the foreseeable future, and stop other political entities other than himself and his hand-picked cabinet from having any decision-making power. Embalo, a former brigadier general, served as Guinea-Bissau's prime minister between 2016 and 2018. Originally a member of the PAIGC, he joined the MADEM G15 group, a breakaway faction.

"The political situation in the country is very tense. The streets of Bissau are filled with soldiers, and the population is in panic and afraid of what might happen in the near future," says Bubacar Ture, the chairman of Guinea-Bissau's Human Rights League. For now, there are no large demonstrations. The visible presence of security forces and the start of Ramadan - which affects over half of Guinea Bissau's population - has discouraged protests, according to Ture.

Larger protests have so far been limited to the Bissau-Guinean expatriate communities, for instance in Portugal's capital, Lisbon. Demonstrators in downtown Lisbon shouted: "Sissoco, out! Sissoco, out! Long live democracy!" One protester told DW: "We demand respect for the constitution in our homeland, the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. The mandate of Umaro Sissoco Embalo has ended. We are here to demand respect for the law."

While the opposition was in uproar, there was increasing apathy from citizens buckling under a severe economic crisis. Nuno Nabiam, a former prime minister and leader of the second-largest opposition party, API, tells DW protest action is inevitable until constitutional order is restored. But Umaro Sissoco Embalo dismissed the opposition as "incompetent", before paying a friendly visit to Vladimir Putin in Moscow. At home, Interior Minister Botche Cande - one of Embalo's closest allies - threatened to "nip any demonstration in the bud." The Secretary of State for Public Order, Jose Carlos Macedo Monteiro, said security forces would not tolerate any action aimed at "disturbing public order in the country."

Of the 14 parties competing for 102 parliamentary seats, only the pro-government platform No Kumpu Guine (Together for Guinea-Bissau) appears to have a realistic chance at winning a majority. For the first time in the country's history, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), which led Guinea-Bissau to independence from Portugal in 1974, will not appear on the ballot.

The PAIGC-led coalition Pai Terra Ranka (Forward with Our Homeland), headed by Embalo's main rival Domingos Simoes Pereira, was disqualified by the Supreme Court in October. Officially, the reason was the late submission of election documents, though many observers view it as politically motivated. The only well-known alternative is independent candidate Fernando Dias, whose support stems in part from the PAIGC. Other candidates, such as Jose Mario Vaz and Baciro Dja, remain largely marginal.

Camara said the regime has used the judiciary to eliminate political opponents. "The two main opposition coalitions were simply disqualified on legal grounds that lack any credible basis," he said. He described the move as a "domino effect" seen in other African countries  a strategy to systematically weaken the opposition and consolidate power.

Lucia Bird, an expert at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, told the AFP news agency that Embalo is in a "strong position." "This is partly explained by the fact that he was able to conduct his campaign without restrictions, unlike the remaining opposition, which faced significant limitations," such as a lack of resources, she said.

Guery Gomes Lopes, spokesperson for the Guinean Human Rights League, criticized the lack of engagement from international organizations. Neither the West African trade bloc ECOWAS, nor the African Union, the European Union,or the United States have shown significant interest. "This is the first time that there is no international oversight of the elections. We don't know if the international organizations have not been invited or if they are not interested," Lopes told DW, adding that "we don't know what is going on with the international partners, like the European Union. This is not a free, just and transparent electoral process."

It is unclear which international observers had been invited, and domestic law does not allow local monitors. Some civil society groups plan to oversee the elections, but they have limited capacity. Independent media coverage was also restricted. Public Portuguese broadcasters RTP Africa and RDP Africa, as well as the news agency LUSA, were expelled from Guinea-Bissau in August. Bascar Camara told DW that while airtime is legally regulated, coverage is heavily skewed in favor of the government, leaving opposition voices marginalized.







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Honduras - Politics

On 30 November 2025 Honduras schedule general (presidential, legislative and municipal) elections for the eleventh time since its transition to democracy in the 1980s. These elections took place in the context of deep citizen distrust. For example, according to a March 2025 public opinion survey by the Reflection, Research and Communication Team (Equipo de Reflexion, Investigacion y Comuicacion, ERIC-SJ), only 23 percent of the population said they trusted electoral institutions.

The Honduran primary elections were held on Sunday, March 9 from approximately 7:00 am until 6:00 pm. the US expected a heavy police and military presence throughout Honduras on voting day, with activity concentrated at polling sites and voting centers that are often located in schools. Demonstrations or crowds could materialize with little advance notice. While demonstrations can occur anywhere, locations around government buildings and polling sites could be especially affected.

The National Institute of Statistics (INE) published a report 19 November 2025 showing that poverty in Honduras fell from 73.6% in 2021 to 60.1% in 2025. This 13.5-percentage-point drop in poverty levels coincides with the presidential term of Xiomara Castro, the first woman to hold that office in this Central American republic. Extreme poverty also declined by 15.4 percentage points, dropping from 53.7% in 2021 to 38.3% in 2025. INE Director Eugenio Sosa emphasized that the reduction in poverty is a consequence of economic growth during the Castro administration, which increased public investment to unprecedented levels. Over the past four years, accumulated public investment reached US$11.5 billion, which is 79% higher than the public investment carried out by the right-wing National Party governments over a 12-year period. In the labor market, the number of employed people grew from 3.7 million to 4 million between 2021 and 2025, a period in which the unemployment rate fell from 8.6% to 4.9%.

The lack of citizen confidence is, to a great degree, a function of longstanding political dynamics and trends stemming from the 2009 constitutional crisis that led to a coup detat. The 2009 crisis had long-term consequences, not only for Honduras political system, but also for the country's social fabric.

The 2009 elections, which took place in the immediate aftermath of the crisis, established a cycle of three consecutive National Party (Partido Nacional, PN) governments in Honduras, one under the leadership of Porfirio Lobo and two under Juan Orlando Hernandez. The latter became the object of substantial controversy after Honduras highest court paved the way for his reelection, and allegations of fraud in the subsequent November 2017 elections led to widespread protests and significant post-election violence, including the death of 22 protesters.

The current president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro of the Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libertad y Refundacion, LIBRE), won the 2021 elections by more than 14 percentage points, after forming a last-minute alliance with Salvador Nasralla, then candidate of the Savior of Honduras Party (Partido Salvador de Honduras, PSH). Yet, there were significant administrative challenges, largely due to the National Congress (Congreso Nacional, CN) failure to enact the new electoral law to implement 2019 reforms and approve the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral, CNEs) budget in a timely manner, which led to delays in preparations and key contracting processes, including for the Preliminary Election Results Transmission (Transmision de Resultados Electorales Preliminares, TREP) system.

When Xiomara Castro was elected president in 2021, many welcomed her as a voice of change. Unfortunately, the reality was di erent. She has instituted a government based on far-left political principles and has repeatedly expressed an a inity for Nicolas Maduro and Chavismo, which has destroyed Venezuela.

As the first months of her administration progressed, concerns grew regarding the direction of the new government, particularly following decisions interpreted as a shift toward more radical positions, such as the severing of relations with Taiwan and the establishment of ties with the Peoples Republic of China. Additionally, there were reports of pressure groups aligned with the administration, compared by some analysts to Venezuelas colectivos, which allegedly influenced episodes of institutional tension, including the controversial election of the authorities of the National Congress.

Statements by the high command of the Armed Forces, particularly General Roosevelt Hernandez, had been interpreted by some sectors as an attempt to involve themselves in areas beyond their constitutional authority, raising concerns about their impartiality. To add on to this, the ongoing security concerns related to the U.S. base at Palmerola include the possibility of risk posed by adversary actors.

Significant fraud has been a problem in many of Honduras past elections, most notably prior to, and during, the 2013 and 2017 elections of former President Juan Orlando Hernando who today sits in a U.S. prison. So, it is important that this election, like the election of Hernandez successor in 2021, is widely accepted as free, fair, and transparent and that the results are honored in and outside of Honduras. Hondurass electoral authority  the National Electoral Council, or CNE  implemented an updated system for transmitting election results. This is positive news, and it should reinforce public confidence in the CNEs commitment to the integrity of the elections. This new electoral transmission system is considered to be more effective and secure than the systems in place during previous elections, and it should help counter efforts  already reportedly underway  to undermine the fairness of the electoral process through legal and judicial maneuvers or to manufacture an excuse by some to challenge the results of the election if their candidate loses.

The Trump administration had been relatively silent and taken a largely transactional approach to the Castro government focused mainly on deportations. According to Human Rights Firsts ICE Flight Monitor, the United States from January to October 2025 carried out 353 deportation flights to Honduras, making it the second-highest deportation destination after Guatemala. The administration also pressured Honduras into signing Asylum Cooperative Agreements that allow the U.S. to send asylum seekers there without assessing their claims. The administrations termination of TPS for 72,000 Hondurans in September 2025 has further placed even more people at risk of removal.

President Castro failed to achieve her pledge to establish an international commission to combat corruption and impunity, and the lack of progress in bringing to justice those responsible for the murder of environmentalist Juan Lopez and others who lost their lives defending the land and water that Indigenous communities depend on. There is no doubt that part of the responsibility for the failure to establish the commission falls on the Honduran Congress, which was dominated by the National Party of former President Hernandez, whose government functioned as a criminal enterprise.

But President Castro insisted this was a priority, including during her campaign, and it is disappointing that she and her government did not do more to build public support to overcome opposition in the Congress. Honduras justice system has so far been largely incapable of bringing to justice those responsible for significant crimes of corruption and for ordering the killings of environmental defenders, other social activists, and journalists  including Indigenous environmental leader Berta Caceres and members of cooperatives in the Aguan Valley, where land rights defenders continue to be targeted with violence.

On 11 November 2025 the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) expressed its concerns with regards to recent developments in Honduras affecting the process of national elections. The General Secretariat reiterated the call made by the OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Honduras in its recent statement, that beyond the legitimate debate surrounding specific decisions and procedures of the electoral authorities, it is the responsibility of the State to guarantee the autonomy, continuity, and free exercise of these institutions.

Electoral authorities must be able to carry out their technical work in accordance with the law, free from interference and undue pressure of any political actor. Their independence and stability are essential pillars of democratic governance, particularly in the final weeks leading up to an election. Internal differences within collegiate bodies may reflect democratic pluralism, but they must not result in paralysis, undermine the electoral calendar, or affect public trust in the electoral process.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, sent a letter on 12 November 2025 to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in response to widespread concerns about potential electoral fraud or manipulation in Honduras upcoming presidential election. In the letter dated November 10th, Smith urged the top U.S. officials to publicly communicate that a productive and beneficial U.S.Honduran diplomatic relationship depends upon free and fair electionsand that any effort to subvert the will of the Honduran people will carry serious consequences for bilateral relations and regional stability.

Smith noted that Sec. Rubio and many others in the Trump administration have made it clear that the ruling party in Hondurasthe Liberty and Refoundation party (LIBRE)has an extremely poor record on democracy and the rule of law: Many Hondurans are concerned about the upcoming electionand they have reason to be, said Smith. The Trump administration, more than any other administration in U.S. history, has a more complete understanding of the numerous challenges facing Latin Americaand we really must thank Secretary Rubio for providing a renewed focus on Latin America in U.S. policy, as well as his savvy, principled commitment to human rights.

On 21 November 2025, Chairwoman Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) led the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere in a public hearing revealing alarming threats to Hondurass democracy, then held a press conference to warn that the nations upcoming elections are in jeopardy unless strong safeguards are enforced. Honduras must hold free, fair, and transparent elections. No intimidation, no colectivos, no stolen actas, and no foreign interference," said Chairwoman Salazar. "The voters of Honduras are at a crossroads. All I am saying is do not elect a communist. The eye of the United States is upon Honduras this November 30th.

During the hearing, Members heard testimony from Hon. Carlos Trujillo, former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS); Deborah Ullmer, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the National Democratic Institute (NDI); and Enrique Roig, Vice President of External Affairs at Human Rights First. The witnesses detailed mounting concerns over political interference, weakened democratic institutions, corruption, and external authoritarian influence, factors that could severely undermine the credibility of the countrys upcoming elections.

Chairwoman Salazar stressed that the United States must not remain silent as Honduras approaches a critical vote under growing pressure from anti-democratic forces. She emphasized that the integrity of these elections will shape the future of governance, stability, and security across Central America. Following the hearing, Chairwoman Salazar addressed the press, stating plainly that the Honduran government is actively dismantling democratic institutions, copying the authoritarian model of Cuba and Venezuela and pushing the country toward potentially fraudulent election. She reaffirmed that Congress stands firmly with the Honduran people in their fight for a free and fair vote.

Five parties participateed in the general elections on November 30, including LIBRE, the National Party, and the Liberal Party. The latter two parties alternated in power during the 20th century. In second place in the current presidential race is Nasry Asfura, a National Party candidate who on Saturday led a march and rally with thousands of her supporters, stating that she has no intention of forming alliances with other political forces. The elections, where Hondurans will elect a president, three vice presidents, 298 mayors, 128 legislators, and 20 members of the Central American Parliament, will be the twelfth since the country returned to constitutional order in 1980.

Hondurans went to the polls for general elections in which they would decide the continuation of the Refoundation project initiated by the left-wing LIBRE party in 2022. The presidential candidate of the LIBRE Party Rixi Moncada remained the favorite to win the presidential elections. The INM Director Wilson Paz pointed out that some candidates such as Nasralla Salum and Asfura Zablah do not genuinely represent Honduras, calling them puppets of economic sectors, while the lawyer Rixi Moncada has denounced the influence of 25 economic groups and 10 families in the countrys politics.

The 2025 contest was not merely a choice between competing candidates, but a definitive vote for or against a radical new model of the Honduran state, the Refoundation. This referendum status rests on three critical pillars:

Ideological Rupture: The Refoundation project, championed by LIBRE, represents a fundamental shift toward Democratic Socialism, directly challenging the neoliberal and oligarchic structures that governed the nation for decades. The election outcome will either consolidate this leftward path or force a return to pro-business, traditional governance.

Reversible High-Impact Policies: The current administration has implemented deep policies that are reversible, making them the central focus of the campaign. Key examples include the derogation of the ZEDEs (Employment and Economic Development Zones), which the opposition seeks to revive, and the long-delayed installation of the CICIH (anti-corruption commission), which a right-wing government could easily derail.

Extreme Polarization: The Honduran political landscape remains sharply divided between supporters of the Refoundation project, who view it as a crucial effort to rebuild a state long captured by corruption. And its detractors argue it threatens democratic balance and economic stability.

The political landscape was sharply polarized, currently split into three distinct, closely competing blocs according to recent national polling:

The Left (Libre/Rixi Moncada): Promoting continuity and the deepening of social reforms, this bloc is led by Rixi Moncada, a co-founder of Libre and a seasoned public servant. An attorney by profession, she has held critical posts including Minister of Finance (2022-2024), Minister of Defense, and previously served as a Councilor on the National Electoral Council (CNE). Her candidacy represents the establishments vision for consolidating Democratic Socialism and confronting the coup-supporting and plundering elite.

The Traditional Right (Partido Nacional/Nasry Asfura): Focused on restoring the status quo of pro-market pragmatism, public works, and legal certainty. Nasry Asfura, a civil engineer and successful businessman, is widely known as the former, popular Mayor of Tegucigalpa (2014-2022). Asfura remains heavily burdened by the legacy of high-level corruption and the conviction of former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, making the PNs credibility the central campaign challenge.

The Outsider Opposition (Partido Liberal/Salvador Nasralla): Attempting to occupy the anti-corruption center, Salvador Nasralla is a prominent political celebrity, TV host, and engineer. He has a long history as an outsider candidate (running in 2013 and 2017) and recently resigned from the current administration. His campaign is challenged by inconsistent alliances and perceived political instability, drawing attention with proposals like converting Honduras into a Free-Associated State of the U.S.

The integrity of the Honduras 2025 General Election faced serious threats stemming from allegations of systemic sabotage orchestrated by opposition figures. This climate of institutional mistrust jeopardizes any outcome. The most significant threat to the electoral integrity is contained within specific audio recordings known as the Wilson Case. These audios allegedly expose a detailed strategy by key National Party leaders, including Councilor Cossette Lopez and faction leader Tomas Zambrano, aimed at undermining the democratic process.

The purported plan focuses on three core elements: casting immediate doubt on the legitimacy of the entire election, manufacturing widespread claims of fraud post-election, and actively manipulating a crucial logistics tender at the National Electoral Council (CNE) to gain influence over the distribution of electoral materials. The oppositions counter-claim, that the audios are voice forgery via AI, underscores the dangerous depth of the current political crisis and the widespread sense of mistrust in both the electoral bodies and the justice system (CNE, TJE).

The fragility of these institutions is further amplified by technical paralysis, such as the CNEs inability to award crucial logistics contracts, and a concerning reduction in international observation, leaving the entire process vulnerable to internal challenges and legitimacy concerns.

A victory for LIBRE and Rixi Moncada would confirm the electorates desire to consolidate the Refoundation project. This scenario carries massive implications for social policy and the fight against impunity. The left central thesis rests on two non-negotiable pillars, backed by recent legislative action:

CICIH (International Commission Against Corruption and Impunity): A second Libre term would secure the final installation and reinforcement of the CICIH. The current administration has already demonstrated commitment to this fight by derogating several Pacts of Impunity, including the infamous Ley de Secretos and decrees that restricted anti-money laundering investigations, clearing the legal path for future corruption prosecutions.

Frontal Opposition to ZEDEs: The administration would maintain its frontal opposition to ZEDEs (Employment and Economic Development Zones), continuing the struggle against these special regimes, which are seen as a violation of national sovereignty and a threat to human rights. This political stance, however, risks further international litigation and tensions with foreign investors who cite trade agreements like CAFTA-DR.

While this path promised progress in social justice, it also risked intensifying political polarization, with the opposition potentially denouncing an increase in executive power, politicization, and nepotism. Should the traditional right (PN) or the liberal center (PL) prevail, Honduras would likely see a rapid shift back toward conservative economic and security models.

Pro-Market Economics: Emphasis would return to attracting private investment and guaranteeing legal stability, potentially attempting to mitigate the international backlash caused by the ZEDEs repeal.

Security Focus: A likely adoption of Iron Fist security models, potentially inspired by the Bukele Plan, to address violence and organized crime.

The Credibility Challenge: Any right-wing government must immediately grapple with the historical narco-state debate and the widespread public distrust stemming from past corruption scandals that culminated in a former presidents conviction.

The 2025 elections are marked by two critical realities: the absence of a second-round vote, which intensifies the first-round scramble, and the profound lack of institutional trust. The outcome, regardless of which bloc wins, the Refoundation or the Pro-Market Pragmatism, faces the extremely high risk of non-recognition of results and a potentially severe crisis of governability due to institutional fragility and the pre-election claims of fraud and boycott. Honduras was poised for a pivotal, yet unstable, democratic moment.







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AVIC 2025 Tiltrotor Aircraft Development

China has successfully flown its first crewed tiltrotor prototype, marking a significant advancement in its aviation capabilities and positioning the country among a select group of nations pursuing this advanced technology. The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has developed China's first crewed tiltrotor prototype, which completed its maiden flight. This development positions China among a select group of nations pursuing this advanced aviation technology.

The prototype was first unveiled as a model at the 2022 Zhuhai Airshow, demonstrating China's long-term investment in tiltrotor technology. The official designation for the new Chinese tiltrotor aircraft is currently unknown, with reports generally referring to it as the "HAIG tiltrotor" or "AVIC tiltrotor".

The developer is believed to be Hafei Aviation Industry, a subsidiary of Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG), which operates under the umbrella of AVIC. Some Chinese netizens have jokingly referred to it as a "turtle version" of the V-280, reflecting its similarity in appearance and technology.

Design Innovation: The Chinese tiltrotor uses newer generation technology where only the front portion of each nacelle rotates (similar to Bell V-280 Valor), rather than the entire nacelle rotating (like in V-22 Osprey).

The aircraft integrates the vertical takeoff and landing capabilities of a helicopter with the speed of a fixed-wing airplane. It appears relatively small, seemingly designed to carry six to twelve occupants in a pressurized cabin.

Its layout includes a T-tail, retractable tricycle landing gear, and a passenger cabin with multiple windows. The design of the Chinese prototype shows conceptual similarities to the American Bell V-280 Valor, featuring tilting rotors and fixed engines.

The prototype includes a straight wing with a drive shaft that allows both rotors to be powered by a single engine if one fails, enhancing safety and flight stability. Unlike some European designs that rely solely on propellers, the Chinese model incorporates a rudder for yaw control.

Fu Qianshao, a Chinese aviation expert, noted that the transport efficiency of a tiltrotor aircraft is about three times that of a helicopter. While conventional helicopters barely reach 300 kilometers per hour, a tiltrotor aircraft could exceed 600 kilometers per hour.

Strategic Significance

The successful flight of this prototype signifies that China's tiltrotor program has progressed from conceptual studies to active flight testing. This development signals China's ambition to enhance its expeditionary and amphibious assault capabilities and to counter or match advanced vertical lift platforms developed by other nations like the United States.

While initially presented with potential civilian applications, the tiltrotor is also seen as having significant military appeal for rapid deployment, amphibious assaults, and operations in remote or contested regions. Its configuration underscores Beijing's ambition to expand rapid transport and assault options for the People's Liberation Army.

This aircraft could support long-range missions, cargo delivery to remote outposts, and maritime operations, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. China's interest in tiltrotors reflects a shift from conventional helicopters to more versatile platforms, aligning with its broader strategy to assert control over disputed areas in the South China Sea.

Development Context

Photos show another airframe under assembly, suggesting more than one prototype is under evaluation. The appearance of multiple prototypes indicates parallel testing and iterative development of the aircraft.

Despite the advancements, the development of tiltrotor technology presents inherent mechanical complexities and challenges related to maintenance and safety, as exemplified by the experiences with the U.S. V-22 Osprey. China's program is still in its early stages and will likely require substantial testing and refinement before achieving operational service.

In addition to the manned prototype, China has also developed unmanned tiltrotor systems like the Lanying R6000, a 6-ton class tiltrotor drone capable of cargo and potentially other military or civilian applications, highlighting a broader commitment to advancing tiltrotor technology.

The Chinese design is expected to be considerably cheaper than the V-22 Osprey. The estimated cost of a single V-280 Valor helicopter is approximately $43 million.

Chinese Tiltrotor

Capacity: 6-12 passengers Technology: New generation tiltrotor Design: Only rotor pivots (not entire nacelle) Features: T-tail, retractable landing gear

V-280 Valor (USA)

Capacity: 14 troops + 4 crew Speed: 520 km/h cruise, 556 km/h max Range: 930-1,480 km combat Payload: 4,500 kg external

V-22 Osprey (USA)

Capacity: 24 troops + 4 crew Speed: 396 km/h cruise, 565 km/h max Range: 1,627 km combat Technology: Entire nacelle rotates

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Gipper Gone Gaga: Reagan's Cognitive Decline

The presidency of Ronald Wilson Reagan, a period mythologized for its resurgent American conservatism, its bold economic policies, and the dramatic final act of the Cold War, has been subjected to every form of historical scrutiny imaginable. Yet, beyond the well-trodden paths of political and ideological analysis, a more intimate, medically complex, and ethically fraught narrative has gradually emerged from the shadows of his legacy. This is the persistent question of whether the fortieth president exhibited significant signs of cognitive decline, specifically from the neurodegenerative Alzheimer's disease, while he still occupied the Oval Office and wielded the immense powers of the American presidency.

Analysis must move beyond mere speculation to the timeline of observable symptoms, the countervailing arguments of his defenders, the nature of Alzheimer's pathology, and the profound constitutional and historical implications of a potentially compromised commander-in-chief during one of the most critical junctures in modern world history. The story of Reagan's mind is not merely a medical footnote; it is a central, unsettling chapter in understanding the execution of power in the late twentieth century.

To understand the debate, one must first appreciate the meticulously crafted public persona of Ronald Reagan. He was the "Great Communicator," a leader whose authority was built not on detailed policy expertise but on charm, anecdotal wit, an unwavering optimism, and an almost intuitive connection with the American public. This very style, however, provided a perfect camouflage for early cognitive stumbles. During his first term, observers began noting occasional, and often puzzling, lapses. He would confuse the names of simple objects, refer to cabinet members with incorrect titles, or launch into well-worn anecdotes that were factually inaccurate in their details.

Other observers and commentators have noted how often Reagan confused films he'd made with political reality, including telling witnesses about concentration camps he'd helped to liberate in World War II, when the humbler truth was rather that he had made a movie or two about the topic. Perhaps most tellingly, he could appear disengaged, distant, or visibly struggling during complex national security briefings that required sustained concentration and nuanced understanding.

At the time, the official White House line, largely accepted by a sympathetic press corps, was to dismiss these episodes as the natural forgetfulness of an older manhe was, after all, the oldest president to have ever served at the timeor as the inevitable consequence of an overwhelmingly hectic schedule. The narrative of "Reagan being Reagan" sufficed to explain away a growing portfolio of concerning incidents. His team of skilled handlers, acutely aware of his strengths and vulnerabilities, became masters of stage management, carefully shielding him from prolonged, spontaneous, and unscripted interactions that might reveal a deepening vulnerability.

The texture and frequency of these episodes underwent a noticeable shift during his second term in office, becoming more difficult to attribute to simple aging or fatigue. The Iran-Contra affair, a sprawling political scandal that threatened to cripple his presidency, serves as a pivotal case study. During the subsequent investigations and throughout his own testimony, Reagan's grasp of the events seemed remarkably tenuous. His responses were characterized by a profound vagueness, a striking lack of specific recall regarding meetings and decisions, and a reliance on a general, detached management style as an explanation for his ignorance.

While he famously stated that "a few months ago I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions still tell me that's true, but the facts and the evidence tell me it is not," the statement also revealed a cognitive dissonance that went beyond politics. Contemporaneous accounts from aides, cabinet members, and even his own Vice President, George H.W. Bush, described a president who was increasingly passive in meetings, who napped frequently throughout the day, and who struggled to retain the details of complex policy papers that were presented to him.

The most potent public evidence came during the first 1984 presidential debate against Walter Mondale. Reagan, usually a master of the televised format, appeared confused, meandering, and at times visibly lost. His performance was so uncharacteristically weak that it ignited a firestorm of media speculation about his age and mental acuity, speculation he famously quelled in the next debate with a well-timed joke about his opponent's "youth and inexperience." Yet, the joke masked a genuine concern that had been laid bare for the nation to see.

A robust counter-argument, advanced by Reagan's loyalists, former aides, and some historians, rightly insists on maintaining a critical distinction between the normal aging process, the effects of profound fatigue, and the specific, degenerative pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Proponents of this view argue that Reagan's core political instincts, his strategic vision, and his fundamental ideological compass remained not only intact but highly effective throughout his eight years in office. They point to his landmark summits with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachevat Geneva, Reykjavik, Washington, and Moscowas irrefutable evidence of a functioning, indeed brilliant, strategic mind capable of navigating the most delicate and high-stakes diplomacy in the world.

In this narrative, Reagan's noted disengagement from bureaucratic minutiae was a deliberate and conscious managerial choice, a feature of his leadership style rather than a bug of cognitive deficit. They contend that he was always capable of rising to the occasion, demonstrating moments of great clarity, focus, and decisiveness when truly necessary, right up until his final day in the White House. The official diagnosis of Alzheimer's, delivered to the public in a moving handwritten letter in November 1994, nearly six years after he left office, is presented as the ultimate proof that the disease's debilitating effects manifested only in his post-presidential years, thereby exonerating his performance while in power.

Personal Physicians to President Reagan wrote "Over the past twelve months we began to notice from President Reagans test results symptoms indicating the possibility of early stage Alzheimers Disease. Additional testing and an extensive observation over the past few weeks have led us to conclude that President Reagan is entering the early stages of this disease. Although his health is otherwise good, it is expected that as the years go on it will begin to deteriorate. Unfortunately, at this time there is no cure for Alzheimers Disease and no effective treatment exists that arrest its progression."

However, this argument, while compelling on its face, runs counter to the modern medical understanding of Alzheimer's disease. Neurology has revealed that Alzheimer's is not a condition with an abrupt onset, like a switch being flipped, but rather a slow, insidious, and progressive neurodegenerative process that unfolds over many years, often a decade or more. The pathological hallmarks of the diseasethe accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brainbegin their destructive work long before the symptoms become severe enough to warrant a formal clinical diagnosis. Retrospective analyses of Reagan's linguistic patterns, comparing speeches from his governorship, his first term, and his second term, have revealed statistically significant trends consistent with early-stage cognitive decline.

In My Father at 100, Ron Reagan writes of a "growing sense of alarm over his father's mental condition." He recalls the presidential debate with Walter Mondale, October 1984, in which his father seemed lost and unable to articulate himself. In "Ronald Reagan had Alzheimer's while president, says son," a short piece on the fracas by the British Guardian, Ron Reagan is quoted as saying: "My heart sank as he floundered his way through his responses, fumbling with his notes, uncharacteristically lost for words. He looked tired and bewildered."

Researchers noted a marked increase in the use of vague, filler words, circular phrasing, and a substantial decrease in the complexity and uniqueness of his vocabulary during his second term. This linguistic decay is a recognized red flag in neurology, a subtle sign of the brain struggling to find words and formulate complex thoughts. This evidence strongly suggests that while President Reagan was certainly not profoundly demented in office, the pathological seeds of Alzheimer's were not only present but were actively and progressively impairing his higher cognitive functions, including memory, executive function, and verbal fluency, during his final years as president.

The implications of this possibility are not merely academic; they are profound and deeply unsettling for the American constitutional system. The President of the United States operates at the apex of a vast military and intelligence apparatus, with singular authority over the nation's nuclear arsenal. The period of Reagan's second term, from 1985 to 1989, represented the climax of the Cold War, a time of extreme geopolitical tension, delicate arms control negotiations, and world-altering diplomatic maneuvers. To consider that the individual at the helm of the ship of state during such a perilous passage may have been experiencing a measurable degradation of his cognitive faculties forces a series of uncomfortable questions. Was his famous intuition a substitute for a diminishing capacity for detailed analysis? Did his reliance on staff, while always part of his style, become a necessary crutch for an eroding ability to process complex information?

The American system of governance, with its extensive cabinet, national security council, and chief of staff structure, was designed as a buffer against presidential incapacity. However, this very reality raises fundamental ethical and practical concerns about transparency, accountability, and the de facto delegation of presidential power to an unelected staff when the elected president is cognitively compromised. The 25th Amendment provides a mechanism for dealing with presidential disability, but it is a political nuclear option, one that Reagan's aides would have had every incentive to avoid invoking, even if they privately harbored grave doubts.

The final, heartbreaking chapter of Ronald Reagan's life served to remove all doubt about the nature of his illness and provided a poignant, public-facing bookend to the private suspicions of his presidential years. Following his departure from the White House, his cognitive decline accelerated and became starkly, undeniably public. His 1994 letter to the American people, announcing his Alzheimer's diagnosis, was an act of profound courage and transparency that forever transformed the public conversation about the disease, destigmatizing it and bringing it into the open.

In the years that followed, the world watched as the vibrant, charismatic personality that was Ronald Reagan gradually faded away. Accounts from his wife, Nancy, and his close friends describe the long, slow goodbyea man who once negotiated with superpowers eventually unable to recognize his own past, his own friends, or even the monumental role he had played on the world stage. His final years stand as a somber and powerful contrast to the image of the vigorous leader, a human tragedy that highlighted the cruel and inexorable nature of Alzheimer's disease. This visible decline, while personally devastating, provided a critical, if tragic, context for re-evaluating his earlier years in office.

In conclusion, while a definitive, ironclad diagnosis for Reagan's cognitive state during his presidency remains medically impossible posthumously, the preponderance of available evidencepieced together from firsthand accounts, historical records, video footage, and sophisticated retrospective analysiscreates a compelling and, for many, convincing case that the early stages of Alzheimer's disease were actively affecting his cognitive faculties during his second term.

The pattern of lapses, the increasing passivity, the linguistic decay, and the timing all align with the known trajectory of the disease's pathology. Acknowledging this likelihood does not automatically negate the political achievements or the historical significance of his presidency; the Cold War still ended, the economy still recovered, and his political movement still reshaped the nation. However, it does cast these events in a dramatically different light, introducing a layer of profound medical tragedy into the heart of the political narrative. It suggests that a portion of his legacy was shaped not only by ideology and strategy but also by a hidden, biological foe. The case of Ronald Reagan thus serves as a critical and urgent precedent, forcing an ongoing and necessary national conversation about advanced age, neurological health, public transparency, and the immense, non-negotiable cognitive demands placed upon the individual who holds the most powerful office in the world.







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Russo-Ukraine War - 24 November 2025 - Day 1370

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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 the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential.

150 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of the day.

The Russian opponent made 29 air strikes, dropped 62 controlled air bombs. In addition, used 2,683 kamikaze drones and carried out 3,150 shelling of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions today, Russian forces carried out three attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders and 155 shells.

In the South Slobozhans komu direction, the Russian enemy attacked the positions of Ukrainian units in the area of Vovchansk, Sinelnikovoye and in the direction of Kolodyaznogo. Ukrainian units repelled five attacks.

Three attacks were repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Kupyansky direction in the areas of Pi any and Petropavlivka.

In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers stopped 10 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Shandrigolove, Novoselivka, Grekivka, Nadia, Zarichne and in the direction of Stavkiv. Three more clashes are still ongoing.

In the Slavic direction, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled 11 Russian attempts to advance in the areas in the areas of Dronivka, Viymki, Serebryanka, Siversk and in the direction of Zvanivka, Yampol, Zakitnogo. Another combat encounter is still going on.

In the Kramators komu direction the Russian opponent did not carry out offensive actions.

In the Konstantinivka direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders 19 times near Oleksandro-Shultiny, Ivanopilya, Kleban-Bik, Jablunivka, Pleshiyivka, Poltavka and towards Konstantynivka, Stepanivka and Sofiyivka. Defense forces have already repelled 15 Russian attacks, fighting continues.

In the Pokrovsky direction, the enemy committed 47 attacks. The Russian occupiers tried to advance near the settlements of Shahove, New Shahove, Rodinske, Chervony Lyman, Mirnograd, Pokrovsk, Kotline, Novosergiiivka, Novoekonomicne, Molodec ke, Philia, Dachne. The three clashes are still ongoing.

According to preliminary calculations, today in this direction, Ukrainian soldiers killed 50 Russian invaders and wounded 30; destroyed 21 unmanned aircraft and two personnel shelters; struck one vehicle, one artillery system and 11 enemy personnel shelters.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, Ukrainian units stopped 13 Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Stepovo, Krasnogirsk, Privilne, Pavlivka, Yegorivka, Zeleny Gorge, Vorone, Sosnivka and in the direction of Orestopol. The enemy launched an air strike on Velikomykhailivka.

In the Gulyaipil direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 15 Russian attacks near the settlements of Green Gorge, Zatishya, Solodke and towards Varvarivka and Dobropillya. Yet another battle is underway. Russian aviation struck the settlements of Gulyaipole and Zaliznychne.

In the Orihiv direction, the Defense Forces repelled one Russian attack in the Primorsky area.

In the Pridniprovsky direction, two Russian attacks in the direction of the Antonivsky Bridge ended for the occupiers to no avail.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on units of a mechanised brigade, an assault regiment of the AFU, two territorial defence brigades, and a national guard brigade near Miropolye, Yezdetskoye, Alekseyevka, Andreyevka, and Varachino (Sumy region).

In Kharkov direction, units of a motorised infantry brigade and an assault regiment have been hit near Nesternoye and Vilcha (Kharkov region).

The enemy has lost more than 135 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, two field artillery guns, including one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, and two ammunition and materiel depots.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. They inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades of the AFU, a territorial defence brigade, and a national guard brigade have been hit near Kucherovka, Glushkovka, Kurylovka, Boguslavka, Nechvolodovka, Novy Mir, Podoly (Kharkov region), Krasny Liman, Dibrova, and Drobyshevo (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 230 troops, two armoured personnel carriers, including one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, five armoured fighting vehicles, including three U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicles, 28 motor vehicles, two self-propelled artillery systems, one Romanian-made APR-40 MLRS launcher, and nine electronic warfare stations have been neutralised. Five ammunition depots were eliminated.

The Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops hit formations of three mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade of the AFU, and a territorial defence brigades near Krivaya Luka, Nikolayevka, Stepanovka, Kramatorsk, Vasyukovka, Ivanopolye, and Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost more than 235 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, and one artillery gun. Three depots of materiel and fuel were destroyed.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line. In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade, an airmobile brigade, two air assault brigades, a jaeger brigade, a special operations brigade, two assault regiments of the AFU and a marine brigade have been hit close to Artyomovka, Toretskoye, Dobropolye, Sergeyevka, Belitskoye, Rodinskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Novopavlovka, and Ivanovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

In Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic), assault groups of the 2nd Army have completely liberated the Gornyak and Shakhtersky microdistricts, and continue to mop up Rovnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian troops repelled eight attacks of the 82nd and the 95th air assault brigades and the 425th Assault Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Grishino (Donetsk People's Republic) launched to unblock an encircled group of the AFU.

In Dimitrov (Donetsk People's Republic), assault detachments of the 51st Army continue to push the enemy out of the Vostochny and Zapadny microdistricts, and southern part of the city. More than 148 buildings have been liberated.

Over the past 24 hours in Krasnoarmeysk direction, up to 250 troops, two armoured personnel carriers, one pickup truck, and two field artillery guns have been engaged.

In total, more than 425 troops, six armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicle, 10 motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M777 howitzer, have been neutralised in the Tsentr Group's area of responsibility.

As a result of active offensive actions, units of the Vostok Group of Forces liberated Zatishye (Zaporozhye region).

Russian troops inflicted losses on the formations of two assault brigades and two assault regiments of the AFU have been hit close to Malinovka, Gulyaipole, Vozdvizhevka, Dobropolye (Zaporozhye region) and Otradnoye (Dnepropetrovsk region).

Up to 245 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 11 motor vehicles, and one Israeli-made RADA radar station have been neutralised.

The Dnepr Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade, a coastal defence brigade of the AFU, and the territorial defence brigade near Novoandreyevka, Stepovoye, Stepnogorsk (Zaporozhye region), and Pridneprovskoye (Kherson region).

More than 70 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 21 motor vehicles, one field artillery gun, seven electronic warfare stations, and six ammunition, materiel, and fuel depots have been neutralised.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, missile troops, and artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have inflicted damage on Ukrainian energy, transport and port infrastructure, which are used in the interests of the AFU, ammunition depots, temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 152 areas.

Air defence systems shot down 345 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 668 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 98,278 unmanned aerial vehicles, 638 anti-aircraft missile systems, 26,216 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,619 MLRS combat vehicles, 31,510 field artillery guns and mortars, and 47,531 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.

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OSCE and CTED launch updated Trends Report on protecting critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks

OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

24 November 2025

On 18 November, the OSCE and the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) launched a trends report update onPhysical Protection of Critical Infrastructure against Terrorist Attacks, together with the Permanent Missions of the Kingdom of Norway and Republic of Kazakhstan to the UN in New York.

The updated report reviews developments since the 2017 adoption of the UN Security Council resolution 2341, which called on States to strengthen strategies for reducing risks to critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks.

It examines the current terrorist threat landscapeincluding the growing misuse of commercially available technologies such as unmanned aircraft systemsand highlights persistent challenges, emerging trends, and practices that have proven effective in safeguarding essential services. In the report, CTED and the OSCE propose several practical approaches that policymakers and critical infrastructure operators can take to respond to this dynamic field and safeguard their infrastructure.

Based on its long-standing work in this area, the OSCE contributed technical expertise to the publication. This work includes facilitating public-private partnerships between critical infrastructure owners, operators and government authorities, and offering them technical training to protect energy networks, transport systems, and other critical sites from terrorist attacks.

The report builds on the insights and good practices identified in a previous OSCE guide on physical security considerations for protecting critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks, released on 4 November.

The trends report was prepared with support from the OSCE's Project PROTECT, which is funded by the United States of America and Germany, and can be found here.

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DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD CHAPTERS AS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AND SPECIALLY DESIGNATED GLOBAL TERRORISTS

Presidential Actions

Executive Orders

November 24, 2025

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) (INA), and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose. This order sets in motion a process by which certain chapters or other subdivisions of the Muslim Brotherhood shall be considered for designation as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, consistent with section 219 of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1189) and specially designated global terrorists, consistent with IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702), and Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 (Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism), as amended.

The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, has developed into a transnational network with chapters across the Middle East and beyond. Relevant here, its chapters in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt engage in or facilitate and support violence and destabilization campaigns that harm their own regions, United States citizens, and United States interests. For example, in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel, the military wing of the Lebanese chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood joined Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian factions to launch multiple rocket attacks against both civilian and military targets within Israel. A senior leader of the Egyptian chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood, on October 7, 2023, called for violent attacks against United States partners and interests, and Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood leaders have long provided material support to the militant wing of Hamas. Such activities threaten the security of American civilians in the Levant and other parts of the Middle East, as well as the safety and stability of our regional partners.

Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to cooperate with its regional partners to eliminate the capabilities and operations of Muslim Brotherhood chapters designated as foreign terrorist organizations pursuant to section 3 of this order, deprive those chapters of resources, and thereby end any threat such chapters pose to United States nationals or the national security of the United States.

Sec. 3. Implementation. (a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit a joint report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, concerning the designation of any Muslim Brotherhood chapters or other subdivisions, including those in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, as foreign terrorist organizations consistent with 8 U.S.C. 1189, and specially designated global terrorists consistent with 50 U.S.C. 1702 and Executive Order 13224.

(b) Within 45 days of submitting the report required by subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of State or the Secretary of the Treasury, as applicable, shall take all appropriate action consistent with 8 U.S.C. 1189 or 50 U.S.C. 1702 and Executive Order 13224, as applicable, with regard to the designation of any Muslim Brotherhood chapters or other subdivisions described in section 1 of this order as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of State.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

November 24, 2025.

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Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Begins Process to Designate Certain Muslim Brotherhood Chapters as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists

Fact Sheets

The White House

November 24, 2025

SECURING AMERICA FROM EXTRAORDINARY THREATS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury to consider whether certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood should be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).

The Order directs the two aforementioned Secretaries, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence, to submit a report on whether to designate any Muslim Brotherhood chapters, such as those in Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan, as FTOs under 8 U.S.C. 1189 and SDGTs under with 50 U.S.C. 1702 and Executive Order 13224.

It mandates the Secretary of State and Secretary of Treasury take action within 45 days after the report to designate chapters as FTOs and SDGTs if appropriate.

The Order's ultimate aim is to eliminate the designated chapters' capabilities and operations, deprive them of resources, and end any threat such chapters pose to U.S. nationals and the national security of the United States.

COUNTERING TERRORIST THREATS: President Trump is confronting the Muslim Brotherhood's transnational network, which fuels terrorism and destabilization campaigns against U.S. interests and allies in the Middle East.

In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack, the military wing of the Lebanese chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood helped terror groups launch multiple rocket attacks against both civilian and military targets within Israel.

A senior Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leader encouraged violent attacks against U.S. partners and equities in the Middle East on the same day that Hamas perpetrated the October 7 attack.

Reports indicate Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood leaders have long provided material support to the militant wing of Hamas.

SAFEGUARDING AMERICAN SECURITY AND DEFENDING U.S. INTERESTS ABROAD: President Trump continues to prioritize robust counterterrorism measures to protect Americans and strengthen national security against foreign threats, while promoting peace and stability around the world.

In January, President Trump initiated the process to designate Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, as an FTO to ensure the safety and stability of our closest regional partners in the Middle East.

In February, President Trump's State Department designated eight cartels as FTOs and SDGTs, including Tren de Aragua and MS-13, to combat their violence and drug trafficking. This Administration has deported hundreds of terrorist gang members, and will never allow foreign terrorist enemies to operate on American soil and endanger our people.

In June, President Trump signed a Proclamation to restrict the entry of non-immigrants from countries with a history of terrorism or other lawlessness.

President Trump has repeatedly ordered lethal strikes against narcoterrorists to stop drugs from flooding into our country.

With today's Order, President Trump is once again taking steps to preserve international peace and stability and keep America safe.

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Exercise Malabar strengthens maritime partnerships

By Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior

24 November 2025

Australia joined India, Japan and the United States for Exercise Malabar, a key Indo-Pacific maritime activity designed to deepen interoperability among regional partners.

Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft participated in the exercise from November 10 to 18 in Guam and the West Pacific training area.

Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral Justin Jones said with regional security challenges evolving rapidly, partnerships and joint exercises are more important than ever.

"Australia and partner nations strengthen Indo-Pacific security through exercises like Malabar - tackling shared challenges, coordinating collective strength and closing gaps in global engagement," Vice Admiral Jones said.

"Through complex drills in anti-submarine and surface warfare, maritime interdiction and aviation operations, participating nations build the trust, interoperability and readiness needed to respond to our collective security challenges."

Commodore United States Destroyer Squadron 15 Captain Dave Huljack said the focus of Exercise Malabar was on working with allies and partners to increase interoperability and strengthen critical maritime partnerships.

"The world we see today is not without challenge, which is precisely why exercises such as Malabar are critical," Captain Huljack said.

"We cannot overstate the importance of preserving maritime security in the national commons - the work of our combined forces over the decades has directly contributed to our ability to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

"Through our continued cooperation, we are better prepared to preserve our shared values and deter competitors who wish to rewrite international norms.

"We must be ready in our resolve and meet challenges head-on, together."

Commanding Officer Ballarat Commander Dean Uren said Exercise Malabar provided an important opportunity for Australia to deepen military cooperation and people-to-people connections with three of its closest allies and partners.

"Training alongside our regional partners ensures our people and platforms remain prepared to meet any contingency and deter coercion in the Indo-Pacific," Commander Uren said.

"Exercise Malabar complements our ongoing bilateral and multilateral engagements and reaffirms the shared commitment of like-minded nations to a stable, secure, and prosperous region.

Conducted annually, Exercise Malabar was established as a bilateral training activity between India and the United States in 1992 - Australia and Japan first participated in 2007.

Exercise Malabar 25 is the fifth time all four nations comprising the Indo-Pacific Quad partnership have participated exclusively together.

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Budrys in Brussels: The EU must defend its member states, and the way to do that is to impose more sanctions on Belarus

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Updated 2025-11-24

On November 24, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kestutis Budrys is participating in the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) meeting in Brussels.

Ahead of the meeting, the head of Lithuania's diplomacy told reporters that he would inform his counterparts about the ongoing joint Belarusian attack on Lithuania, involving smuggler balloons and the seizure of Lithuanian trucks.

"The European Union, one of its member states, is under economic pressure. The EU must protect its members, their companies, and the property of those companies. And the way to do this is to impose more sanctions targeting the Belarusian economy, trade, and representatives of the regime," said Budrys.

Another key topic of today's meeting will be the transatlantic economic security agenda, which EU ministers will discuss with their U.S. counterparts in Brussels. According to Budrys, it is not possible to remain in the permanent phase of repairing relations - it is necessary to agree on steel and aluminum and to implement what was agreed in August. The Minister considers the need to agree on a strategy to counter China's aggressive policies as the most urgent priority.

"There is an urgent need for a strategy, solutions to counter China's aggressive economic policies, coercion policies, and its control over exports of rare earth metals and other goods needed by our industry," he said.

For the Minister's full statement, please click here: https://newsroom.consilium.europa.eu/events/20251124-foreign-affairs-council-trade-november-2025/151313-arrival-and-doorstep-lt-budrys-20251124

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PLA's newly debuted Z-20T helicopter participates in air assault training, official media report shows

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun and Liang Rui Published: Nov 24, 2025 04:53 PM

Having just made its official debut in September, the Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Z-20T helicopter recently participated in an air assault training and practiced semi-hover maneuvers, according to an official media report on Monday. An expert said this technique is particularly useful in vertical assault operations and urban warfare.

Recently, an army aviation brigade of the 71st Group Army jointly conducted air assault training with neighboring units. Through realistic combat drills and joint exercises, the training honed troops' coordination and battlefield deployment capabilities, the military channel of China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday.

According to the report, at a training ground in the eastern part of East China's Fujian Province, multiple helicopters rapidly ascended and formed into combat formations. Flying at low and ultra-low altitudes to avoid radar detection, they arrived at the designated pickup zone. The assault troops, concealed in the grass, swiftly embarked. The crew then piloted the helicopters toward the landing zone. Each helicopter landed with a single wheel on the ground for the air assault, allowing the troops to quickly disembark, establish a perimeter, and conduct observation and security. The helicopters immediately took off afterward and continued flying at low level to exit the area.

The CCTV report described this maneuver as "semi-hover."

Gu Jian, a member of the brigade, said in the report that "we employed the single-wheel hover method in this air assault training. This technique lowers the requirement for the flatness of the landing zone, making it better suited for the rugged field conditions in this exercise. It also more closely mirrors the practical demands of a real battlefield, thereby allowing the army aviation forces to more effectively take advantage of the inherent flexibility and mobility of vertical lift."

Zhang Xuefeng, a Chinese military affairs expert, said in the CCTV report that this method offers significant advantages in scenarios where the helicopter is heavily affected by terrain and obstacles, preventing a normal, direct landing in the landing zone.

The single-wheel hover landing technique could prove invaluable in vertical assault operations and urban warfare, Zhang said.

The entire operation, from embarkation to the air assault, was conducted in a field environment. During the flight to the objective, the helicopters skimmed over ground and sea surface, and navigating through complex terrains like mountain ridges and ravines, according to the CCTV report.

Participating in the training were Z-20 utility helicopters and Z-20T assault helicopters, the CCTV report footage shows.

Official media reports show that the Z-20T was first unveiled at China's V-Day military parade in Beijing on September 3. It then for the first time made flight demonstrations at the 7th China Helicopter Exposition held in North China's Tianjin in October.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times that the Z-20T's concentrated appearances are an indication that this new type of helicopter has reached technical maturity and is in active service with large numbers.

The Z-20T is an armed variant of the original Z-20, added with a set of small wings capable of carrying extra weapons, Wang said, noting that the combination of the two types could be a good option in armed airlift missions to locations such as plateaus, mountainous regions or islands.

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President Xi Jinping Speaks with U.S. President Donald J. Trump on the Phone

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: November 24, 2025 23:14

On the evening of November 24, 2025, President Xi Jinping spoke with U.S. President Donald J. Trump on the phone.

President Xi noted that we had a successful meeting in Busan last month, and reached many important common understandings. We recalibrated the course of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations and provided more momentum for it to sail forward steadily, thus sending a positive message to the world. Since then, the China-U.S. relationship has generally maintained a steady and positive trajectory, and this is welcomed by the two countries and the broader international community. What has happened demonstrates yet again that the description of China-U.S. cooperation benefiting both sides and confrontation hurting both sides reflects a common sense that has been repeatedly proven by experience, and the vision of China and the U.S. helping each other succeed and prospering together is a tangible prospect within reach. The two sides should keep up the momentum, keep moving forward in the right direction on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit, lengthen the list of cooperation and shorten the list of problems, so as to make more positive progress, create new space for China-U.S. cooperation and bring more benefits to the people of both countries and the world.

President Xi outlined China's principled position on the Taiwan question. He underscored that Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order. China and the U.S. fought shoulder to shoulder against fascism and militarism. Given what is going on, it is even more important for us to jointly safeguard the victory of WWII.

President Trump noted that President Xi is a great leader. I very much enjoyed our meeting in Busan, and fully share your comments about the China-U.S. relationship. The two sides are implementing all elements of what we agreed to in Busan. China was a big part of the victory of WWII. The U.S. understands how important the Taiwan question is to China.

The two presidents also discussed the Ukraine crisis. President Xi emphasized China's support for all efforts that are conducive to peace, and expressed the hope that the various sides would narrow their differences, reach a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement at an early date, and resolve the crisis at its root.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on November 24, 2025

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: November 24, 2025 18:13

Xinhua News Agency: Leaders of G20 attended the 20th G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The summit attracted wide attention amid growing concerns on whether G20 could continue its leading role in global multilateral governance. Could you share more information on China's participation?

Mao Ning: The summit is held under the theme of "solidarity, equality and sustainability." Premier Li Qiang attended and addressed the summit. He pointed out that over the past 20 years since the establishment of the G20, members of the group have come together to tackle challenges and promote global development and progress, and the key lies in the word "solidarity." Now, the world economy once again faces great challenges. Unilateralism and protectionism run rampant. The G20 should look for solutions and bring all parties back onto the right track of solidarity and coordination.

Premier Li Qiang stressed that the world economy is now deeply integrated, and no country can thrive alone. Only openness and cooperation can produce mutual benefit. The G20 should firmly uphold free trade and work for an open world economy. Differences should not become obstacles to solidarity, still less excuse for suppression. Legitimate concerns of all sides should be addressed through equal-footed consultation. The G20 should take the lead in upholding multilateralism, boost the voice of developing countries, and work for an international economic and trade order that is more fair and open. China stands ready to work with parties in solidarity to take concrete and persistent actions to play a bigger role in reforming and improving global governance and promoting economic growth and to create a bright and prosperous future.

CNR: It's reported that regarding China's letter to the UN Secretary-General on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan, the Japanese government spokesperson said to reporters during the G20 Summit that China's claims that Prime Minister Takaichi has altered Japan's position on Taiwan is "entirely baseless." The spokesperson said Japan has repeatedly explained to the Chinese side the gist of the remarks and Japan's consistent position, and added that Tokyo is "committed to dialogue" with its neighbor. What's China's response?

Mao Ning: China has articulated its position multiple times on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan. Those remarks seriously violate the principles laid down in the four political documents between China and Japan, and has fundamentally eroded the political foundation of China-Japan relations.

We've noted the Japanese side's reference to Japan's "consistent position" on the Taiwan question. But what exactly do they mean by this so-called "consistent position?" Can Japan articulate this "consistent position" in its entirety to the public? If Japan merely keeps repeating that its position has not changed without specifying what that position is and meanwhile keeps crossing the line, then this kind of repetition means nothing but empty words, and simply fudges and hollows out the one-China position.

The one-China principle is an unshakable prevailing consensus in the international community. If there has truly been no change to the Japanese government's position on the Taiwan question, Japan should unequivocally uphold the one-China principle, and abide by the spirit of the four political documents between the two countries and honor the commitments Japan has made, including what has been stated in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement that "the Government of Japan recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China," and "the Government of the People's Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China. The Government of Japan fully understands and respects this stand of the Government of the People's Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation." Why can't Japan fully and accurately reiterate this position?

China urges Japan to take seriously what it has heard from China, do serious soul-searching and correct its wrongdoing, act to honor its commitment to China, and stop pursuing its misguided course, still less say one thing but do another.

RT TV: At the recent Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas talked about the Ukraine peace plan and said that China and Russia are working together to overhaul the global economic and security order. What's China's comment?

Mao Ning: China and Russia grow bilateral relations, carry out practical cooperation and work for world peace and development under the principle of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party.

Reuters: I want to ask about the comments by the Japanese defense minister over the weekend who said about the deployment of the missile unit to the Yonaguni Island. He said that medium-range surface-to-air missile units were planned to deploy in Yonaguni to protect the island's safety. "We believe that having this unit in place will actually lower the chances of an armed attack against our country, so I don't agree with the argument that this deployment will increase tensions in the region." What's your comment to the remarks by Mr. Koizumi?

Mao Ning: Japan's deployment of offensive weapons in Southwest Islands close to China's Taiwan region is a deliberate move that breeds regional tensions and stokes military confrontation. Given Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan, this move is extremely dangerous and should put Japan's neighboring countries and the international community on high alert.

The Potsdam Proclamation explicitly stipulates that Japan shall not be permitted to "re-arm for war." The Japanese Constitution, which enshrines pacifism, also established Japan's exclusively defense-oriented policy. It is alarming, however, that in recent years, Japan has drastically readjusted its security and defense policy, increased defense budget year after year, relaxed restrictions on arms export, sought to develop offensive weapons, and planned to abandon its three non-nuclear principles. Japan's right-wing provocateurs are trying every means to break free from the pacifist constitution, going further down the path of military buildup and leading Japan and the region to disastrous outcomes.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the recovery of Taiwan. China will never allow Japan's right-wing provocateurs to turn back the wheel of history, never allow external forces to lay their hands on China's Taiwan region, and never allow the resurgence of Japan's militarism. China is resolved in and capable of defending national and territorial sovereignty.

China Daily: The recently concluded COP30 of the UNFCCC reached the Belem Political Package. Countries agreed to work together to accelerate climate action, consider barriers related to the role of trade, and urge developed country Parties to increase the trajectory of their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing country Parties. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also issued a statement commending the progress delivered at COP30. What is China's comment?

Mao Ning: COP30 of the UNFCCC was concluded in Belem, Brazil on November 22. After two weeks of strenuous negotiations, parties reached the Belem Political Package that is positive and balanced, displaying their determination to work in solidarity and cooperation on addressing climate change, and providing certainty for the implementation of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement in the next decade. It needs to be noted that, heeding the call of developing countries, the conference decided, for the first time, to hold a dialogue on climate change related trade-restrictive unilateral measures within the UNFCCC process, and develop a just transition mechanism, which is of milestone significance.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the conference. President Xi Jinping's Special Representative, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang attended and addressed the Belem Climate Summit. In his speech, he put forward three propositions, namely, keep to the right direction, translate climate commitments into action, and deepen openness and cooperation, setting a positive note for the conference. The Chinese delegation had full and in-depth participation in the negotiations and consultation on various agenda items, and worked for positive outcomes at the conference. "Striving to do better," which was proposed in the outcome document of COP30, has become the most important political message for global climate governance in the next ten years, and this was originally said by President Xi Jinping at the UN Climate Summit.

China will work with other parties to fully implement the outcomes of the conference, advance global cooperation on addressing climate change, and jointly build a clean and beautiful world.

NHK: Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi said after G20 Summit that she didn't have the chance to talk to Premier Li Qiang, and she also commented that Japan remains open to various dialogue with China. Could you tell us your comment on this?

Mao Ning: Japan should take China's concerns seriously, retract the erroneous remarks on Taiwan, and show Japan's sincerity for dialogue with concrete actions.

Beijing Daily: Torrential rain and flooding triggered by multiple typhoons have hit Viet Nam recently, causing casualties and loss of property. What's China's comment? Are there any Chinese people affected? Will China assist Viet Nam in disaster relief?

Mao Ning: We are aware that recent typhoons and flooding have caused casualties and economic loss in various parts of Viet Nam.

In a humanitarian spirit and out of friendship and goodwill towards the Vietnamese people, China is set to provide cash assistance to Viet Nam. We believe that under the leadership of the CPV and the Vietnamese government, those affected will recover from the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date. According to our information, so far there have been no Chinese casualties.

NHK: Some Japanese media reported yesterday that China has rejected Japan's proposal to hold a trilateral meeting with South Korea and Japan in January. Can the Foreign Ministry give us any comment on this?

Mao Ning: China, Japan and the ROK have not agreed on a date for the tenth trilateral summit meeting. The Japanese leader's erroneous remarks on Taiwan have damaged the foundation and atmosphere for China-Japan-ROK cooperation. Conditions are not right at the moment for a trilateral summit meeting.

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Xi says China, U.S. should keep up momentum in ties, move forward in right direction

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source Xinhuanet

EditorLin Congyi

Time2025-11-25 08:31:25

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China and the United States should keep up the momentum in ties, and keep moving forward in the right direction on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit.

Xi made the remarks while speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump on the phone.

Xi noted that he and Trump had a successful meeting in Busan last month, and reached many important common understandings.

They recalibrated the course of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations and provided more momentum for it to sail forward steadily, thus sending a positive message to the world, he said.

Since then, the China-U.S. relationship has generally maintained a steady and positive trajectory, and this is welcomed by the two countries and the broader international community, Xi said.

What has happened demonstrates yet again that the description of China-U.S. cooperation benefiting both sides and confrontation hurting both sides reflects a common sense that has been repeatedly proven by experience, and the vision of China and the United States helping each other succeed and prosper together is a tangible prospect within reach, Xi said.

He said that the two sides should lengthen the list of cooperation and shorten the list of problems, so as to make more positive progress, create new space for China-U.S. cooperation and bring more benefits to the people of both countries and the world.

Xi outlined China's principled position on the Taiwan question, underscoring that Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order.

Noting that China and the United States fought shoulder to shoulder against fascism and militarism, Xi said that given what is going on, it is even more important for the two sides to jointly safeguard the victory of World War II (WWII).

Trump noted that President Xi is a great leader, adding that he very much enjoyed his meeting with Xi in Busan, and fully shares Xi's comments about the two countries' relationship. He added that the two sides are implementing all elements of what the two leaders agreed to in Busan.

China was a big part of the victory of WWII, said Trump, stressing that the United States understands how important the Taiwan question is to China.

The two presidents also discussed the Ukraine crisis. Xi emphasized China's support for all efforts that are conducive to peace, and expressed the hope that the various sides would narrow their differences, reach a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement at an early date, and resolve the crisis at its root.

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More Iranian oil being shipped to China via Indonesia: Report

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 7:28 PM

A new report suggests that Iran has managed to export more oil to China via Indonesia, a tactic experts believe is used to evade US sanctions aimed at restricting Iranian oil shipments.

The Monday report by Reuters said Chinese buyers of Iranian crude have shifted to oil trans-shipped in waters off Indonesia rather than Malaysia, which was once the main hub for rebranding Iranian oil destined for China.

The report cited Chinese customs data showing that China's crude imports from Indonesia surged from less than 100,000 metric tons (mt) in 2024 to 9.81 million mt, equivalent to 235,570 barrels per day (bpd), in the year to October.

By contrast, China's oil imports from Malaysia have almost halved since July, dropping sharply from this year's peak of 8.5 million mt recorded in March.

Reuters reiterated claims from its earlier reporting that much of the crude China imports from certain South Asian countries is actually of Iranian origin. It said shipments are being rerouted through Indonesia due to increased scrutiny from banks over cargoes labeled as Malaysian.

Iranian authorities have never confirmed such claims or other reports alleging that the country uses tactics such as ship-to-ship transfers in South Asian waters to deliver oil to Chinese clients.

However, Iranian oil exports have consistently increased in recent years, and experts believe much of the crude ends up at private refineries in China, a country that has officially reported no Iranian crude imports since 2022.

Recent data from Kpler, an energy analytics firm, indicates that China imported an average of 1.37 million bpd of Iranian crude during the first ten months of this year.

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IRGC Ground Force busts Ansar al-Furqan terror team in Sistan and Baluchestan

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 5:57 PM

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has smashed a team of militants affiliated with the so-called Ansar al-Furqan terror outfit in the country's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, close to the border with Pakistan.

The IRGC Ground Force's Quds Base said in a statement on Monday that the team was detected and dismantled amid the large-scale "Martyrs of Security" drills in the region.

The statement added that a number of terrorists were captured in the anti-terror operation, which also resulted in the recovery of two explosive vests.

Sistan and Baluchestan province, bordering Pakistan, has faced frequent terrorist attacks targeting both civilians and security forces in recent years.

Terrorist groups carrying out attacks on Iranian interests in the southeastern and southwestern parts of the country are thought to have ties to foreign intelligence agencies.

On October 26 last year, a terrorist attack in the Gohar Kuh district of Taftan County claimed the lives of 10 members of Iran's law enforcement forces.

The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group took responsibility for the attack, which is marked as one of the most deadly incidents in the province in recent months.

The group has conducted numerous terrorist attacks across Iran, primarily focusing on the Sistan and Baluchestan region. Its methods include abducting border guards and launching assaults on civilians and police stations, aiming to incite chaos and disruption.

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New X Feature Exposes Who In Iran Is Bypassing State For Unblocked Internet

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda and Kian Sharifi November 24, 2025

The social media platform X rolled out a new 'About This Account' feature over the weekend that displays basic but key information, such as where an account is based and how it connects to the X app.

It's not a foolproof way to establish where a user is based since virtual private networks (VPNs) change a user's location. And with X being blocked in Iran since 2009, most Iranians are forced to use VPNs to access X. But a select few in Iran don't need a VPN.

The new feature has exposed accounts in Iran that access the platform using what Iranians call "white SIM cards," which allow unrestricted Internet access as part of the so-called "tiered Internet" system in Iran.

Filterwatch, a project by the Texas-based Miaan Group, describestiered Internet as "a concept that transforms Internet access from a universal right into a special privilege for a select group."

Once the feature went live, Iranians began inspecting various accounts, from those linked to officials to anonymous accounts with large followings that comment on political matters.

Amir Rashidi, director of Internet security and digital rights at the Miaan Group, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that a reliable way to figure out whether someone has access to unrestricted Internet is if their new "About This Account" page indicates that they are based in Iran and connecting via the Iran app store.

By law, some Iranian businesses, academics, and journalists can have access to unrestricted Internet. However, they're not the only ones. Various accounts that post in support of the Islamic republic and back Internet censorship appear to have access to unrestricted Internet in Iran.

Among those that appear to have unrestricted access to the world wide web are the Fars and Tasnim news agencies, which are both affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), as well as several hard-line lawmakers that support restricted Internet access.

"People can now see that while most have trouble accessing the Internet, there's a group that is benefiting from a discriminatory practice," Rashidi said.

The new feature can also help expose accounts linked to Iran's foreign influence operations, such as one called "Jessica" which had been posting high-engagement content in support of Scottish independence.

Once it became clear that the account operates out of Iran, it was deactivated. Iran has long been accused of funding online operations promoting Scottish independence and Brexit.

Rashidi said the tool is not without its flaws, but added that it helps with transparency, particularly among Persian-speakers where debates often get heated when politics is involved.

He said accessing this new information about various accounts "helps people identify whether users are expressing their genuine opinion or promoting an agenda" to undermine discussions.

Iranian authorities keep a fairly tight grip over access to the Internet, often limiting or completely blocking access to popular social media platforms such as Instagram, as well as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Telegram, and WhatsApp.

It has also outlawed the use of tools such as virtual private networks (VPNs) designed to bypass Internet censorship.

In its 2025 report on Iran, the DC-based Freedom House said Iranian authorities continued their "efforts to make access to the global Internet more cumbersome and expensive, and pressured users to confine themselves to a domestic version of the Internet where authorities could more effectively control content and monitor activity."

With reporting by Roya Karimi Majd

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-censorship- x-twitter-vpn/33602370.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Israel conducting military drills in Syria's occupied Golan Heights

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 2:24 PM

The Israeli army has launched a large-scale military exercise in the occupied Golan Heights, following the regime's assassination of a senior commander of Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah.

In a statement on Monday, the Israeli military announced that it had begun the two-day drills, claiming to prepare itself for "a range of scenarios."

According to the statement, the exercise, dubbed "Shield of Strength," started with "a Chief of Staff test as part of a headquarters exercise."

Amid the drill, the Israeli military's Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited "the 210th 'Bashan' Regional Division," which is responsible for the border between the occupied territories and Syria in the Golan Heights and the Mount Dov area on the border with Lebanon.

Zamir instructed Israeli forces to increase their level of alertness following the killing of Haytham Ali Tabatabai, a senior commander of Hezbollah, in an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburb of Beirut on Sunday.

The Lebanese resistance movement released a statement on Sunday night announcing the martyrdom of Commander Tabatabai and four other resistance fighters in "a treacherous Israeli attack."

Hezbollah stated that Tabatabai's martyrdom would inspire renewed hope and determination among resistance fighters, promising to continue the struggle against the "Zionist enemy and its patron, America."

The assassination comes amid intensifying Israeli strikes on Lebanon in violation of a ceasefire reached last year.

The military exercise in Syria also came following last week's visit by Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the buffer zone in southern Syria, which separates the occupied Golan Heights from the rest of the Arab country, where he met troops stationed on Syrian land Israel has occupied for months.

Israel has conducted repeated acts of aggression across the Syrian territory following the collapse of former President Bashar al-Assad's government last year. Netanyahu has ordered his forces to push deeper into Syrian territory and seize several strategic locations.

Instead of resistance to the ongoing Israeli military operations, the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-led regime's lack of action and its normalisation overtures to Tel Aviv appear to have given Israel greater leeway to expand its occupation and increase the intensity of its airstrikes.

Foreign-backed militants, led by HTS - a group that was previously affiliated with the al-Qaeda terrorist group, took control of Damascus and declared an end to President Bashar al-Assad's rule last December.

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Top Israeli military commanders fired over failures in preventing Hamas's October 7 operation

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 8:19 AM

Israel's military chief has announced the ouster of several top military officials and reprimand of others over the failures leading to the operation by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas on October 7, 2023.

In a statement on Sunday, the military said a number of military officers have been notified that they will be released from reserve duty and will no longer be part of the armed forces.

It added that some officers received formal reprimands, while one was informed that their service would be terminated. Additionally, another officer submitted their resignation.

Those notified of their release from reserve duty included the former heads of the intelligence directorate, operations directorate, and southern command that oversaw the Gaza war. These generals had earlier resigned from active duty but continued to serve in a reserve capacity.

Israel's military chief of staff Eyal Zamir said the Israeli regime "failed in its primary mission on October 7" to protect Israelis, adding, "This is a severe, resounding, systemic failure, relating to decisions and conduct on the eve of the event and during it."

He emphasized that "the lessons of that day are numerous and significant, and they must serve as our compass for the future" to lead the occupation forces.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration has defied calls for an investigation into the regime's failures in the face of the Hamas operation on October 7, 2023.

On Saturday night, thousands of demonstrators, along with opposition leaders, gathered in Tel Aviv to call for the establishment of a commission of inquiry.

Israel has launched a genocidal war on Gaza since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian resistance fighters waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against the Zionist entity in response to the regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

According to Israeli tallies, the assault by Hamas and other Palestinian resistance movements killed around 1,200 Israelis, while some 250 others were taken captive.

Under a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, which took effect on October 10, the occupying regime is required to immediately halt its genocidal war on Gaza and allow the entry of aid and food into the besieged territory in exchange for the return of its captives.

However, the Gaza Government Media Office said in a statement on Saturday that the Israeli military has violated the Gaza ceasefire agreement at least 497 times in 44 days, killing 342 Palestinian civilians and injuring 875 more, with the majority of the victims being children, women, and the elderly.

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H.E. General Fayyadh Bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, Chief of General Staff, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia called on General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, NI, NI (M), Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) at Joint Staff Headquarters, Rawalpindi.

Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan

Rawalpindi - November 24, 2025

No PR-375/2025-ISPR

H.E. General Fayyadh Bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, Chief of General Staff, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia called on General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, NI, NI (M), Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) at Joint Staff Headquarters, Rawalpindi.

During the meeting, both sides discussed evolving global and regional security environment. The dignitaries also explored concrete measures to deepen engagements between the Armed Forces of both countries and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen defence and security ties.

The CJCSC reiterated Pakistan's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and ensuring the protection of Harmain al-Sharifain.

The visiting dignitary praised the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.

H.E. General Fayyadh Bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili also commended the invaluable contributions of the CJCSC in strengthening and deepening the Pakistan-KSA strategic relationship.

Earlier, upon arrival at Joint Staff Headquarters, a smartly turned-out tri-services contingent presented 'Guard of Honour' to the visiting dignitary.

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H.E General Fayyadh Bin Hameed Al Rowaili, Chief of General Staff (CGS), Saudi Armed Forces, called on Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), at General Headquarters (GHQ) today.

Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan

Rawalpindi - November 24, 2025

No PR-374/2025-ISPR

H.E General Fayyadh Bin Hameed Al Rowaili, Chief of General Staff (CGS), Saudi Armed Forces, called on Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), at General Headquarters (GHQ) today.

During the meeting, both leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, with a particular focus on strengthening the longstanding and strategic military cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. They emphasized the importance of further enhancing defence collaboration, security cooperation, and counter-terrorism efforts, which continue to be pillars of the deep-rooted bilateral relationship.

The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan's cooperation in multiple fields with Saudi Armed Forces and reaffirmed his commitment to furthering the strong bonds of cooperation.

Upon arrival at GHQ, General Fayyadh Bin Hameed Al Rowaili, laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada and was presented a Guard of Honour by a smartly turned-out contingent of the Pakistan Army.

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Meeting with Murmansk Region Governor Andrei Chibis

The discussion revolved around developing the Arctic and other important regional matters.

November 24, 2025

14:15

The Kremlin, Moscow

Andrei Chibis reported that, in pursuance of the Presidential instruction that had been issued following the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk in March, the State Council Commission for the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic drafted proposals concerning the comprehensive development of the Arctic in cooperation with the Russian Maritime Board. The issue is about creating a single integrated project to develop the Arctic and the Trans-Arctic transport corridor, including the Northern Sea Route. The Governor noted that with only two percent of the population, the Arctic accounts for up to ten percent of the country's GDP. Russia is the undisputed leader in the Arctic region, accounting for 46 percent of GDP produced in the global Arctic.

The President suggested discussing issues that matter most from the perspective of the Murmansk Region. Andrei Chibis noted a serious challenge where the projects currently underway ensure growth in cargo traffic only until 2035. After that, there is a significant risk of a decline in cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route. The projects and deposits currently under development will be depleted by that time, and one of the key challenges now is to identify lucrative investment areas in order to keep the cargo flow up and running.

The discussion also covered the gas infrastructure development, which is, according to the Governor, a matter of critical importance, as it is important not only for the local households, but changes the structure of the Murmansk Region's economy as well. Processing locally what is produced locally is crucial. For example, apatite concentrate is produced locally but is then transported to a distant processing facility. It then gets back as fertiliser and exported through the ports. Processing locally would create added value, reduce costs, and increase tax revenue.

Andrei Chibis asked the President for support to ensure that gas prices for industrial consumers, following the region's gas supply programme, remain at the average level for the country's north-western regions. This measure would create competitive conditions for the development of new industrial capacity in the region. Vladimir Putin also drew the governor's attention to the fact that industrial growth will inevitably increase the scale of the waste problem, while the region has already accumulated a significant amount of waste. Mr Chibis reported that technical solutions and appropriate technologies were currently being developed, including for the decades-old waste sites. Work is underway to identify options for their processing and for extracting useful components that previously could not be recovered due to technological limitations.

The governor also noted that the region currently ranks second in the National Environmental Rating. Nevertheless, accumulated environmental damage in the Arctic does exist. There are issues related to industrial enterprises, an active volunteer movement, and, more broadly, a comprehensive commitment to preserving the Arctic environment while advancing industrial development.

The President further stressed that accumulated environmental damage, and environmental protection in general, is a public health issue. There are problems requiring special attention in this sphere, particularly given the rise in cancer and other neoplastic diseases in the Murmansk Region. Andrei Chibis reported that diagnostic rates had significantly improved and that construction of a new oncology centre wing was nearing completion; the facility is expected to be a cutting-edge medical institution. He also requested the President's support for the planned construction of a children's hospital, noting that the site, technical solutions, and medical and technical specifications are already prepared.

The President also highlighted the need to modernise children's social infrastructure such as schools and kindergartens, pointing out that more than 70 percent of such buildings in the region required major renovation. Mr Chibis assured the President that the regional administration was actively addressing this issue, with eight new kindergartens built in recent years. This year, a new, modern school - the Governor's Lyceum - was opened, equipped with advanced educational technologies. Its main areas of study include the Northern Sea Route, Arctic mineral resources and bioresources, providing students with early career orientation in these fields. These areas are also being developed at the regional university, where a world-class campus is currently under construction.

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Baiba Braze at the EU trade ministers' council: the EU must continue strengthening transatlantic trade relations with the US. The EU must use all instruments at its disposal to end trade with Russia and Belarus

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Published: 24.11.2025.

On 24 November 2025, at the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council in its Trade configuration, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, together with other EU Member State ministers discussed the EU-US and EU-China trade relations as well as other agreements and the EU's bilateral trade talks currently underway, with India in particular.

Foreign Minister Baiba Braze: "Together with EU ministers and the US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, and the US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, we had a discussion on EU-US trade relations, as well as cooperation in defence and the energy and technology sectors. The US is and will remain our strategic partner and a close ally; therefore, the EU must further strengthen the transatlantic trade relations and cooperation with the US."

Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden call on the Commission to put forward proposals on additional import tariffs on products coming from Russia and Belarus. "In international trade, the EU and its Member States must be able to ensure that national funds, as well as all taxpayers' funds, go only to those countries that respect international law and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, and not to aggressors. The EU must use all the instruments at its disposal to reduce dependence on trade with unreliable and hostile countries such as Russia and Belarus, because this money goes to the Russian budget and helps finance the war of aggression against Ukraine, which is unacceptable. This is a matter of security for Europe as a whole," Baiba Braze emphasized.

In a discussion on other EU agreements and the ongoing EU bilateral negotiations, Baiba Braze underlined: "In the current geopolitical situation, it is extremely important to use all the available EU instruments - trade agreements, new partnerships, market protection mechanisms and others, so that our entrepreneurs can successfully operate in new markets and obtain funds for defence financing. It is also important to ensure that EU businesses are not exposed to unfair competition."

Ministers welcomed the progress made by the European Commission in negotiations with India, Indonesia and Thailand. Baiba Braze stressed that the positive impact of the EU expanding the network of its trade agreements with trusted partners over the past two decades is clearly visible globally. For example, since the entry into force of EU free trade agreements, exports to Korea have increased almost tenfold (since 2011), to Canada, by 166% (since 2017) and to Japan, by 49% (since 2019).

Regarding the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement, Baiba Braze stated: "This is a strategic partnership with Latin American countries that will promote European and Latvian exports to new markets and create new jobs. With the agreement in place, the world's largest free trade area will be established, covering almost a quarter of global GDP, creating a market of more than 700 million people with enormous economic potential and enabling EU companies to save 4 billion euros in export duties annually. Entry into the South American market will be facilitated by lower or completely abolished customs duties and simpler customs procedures. For example, in the European Union, this agreement provides for a significant reduction in customs tariffs - up to 20% for machinery, cars and ICT products, and around 30% - for dairy products, wines and chocolate."

In a discussion on EU-China trade relations, ministers considered the need to continue implementing a risk mitigation strategy at the EU level, in particular, by diversifying trade and suppliers of critical raw materials.

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OFAC Imposes $4.7 Million Penalty on Real Estate Investor for Dealing in Blocked Russian's Property

U.S. Department of the Treasury

November 24, 2025

Sale of Blocked Residential Real Property Also Violated OFAC Cease-and-Desist Order

WASHINGTON  Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed a $4,677,552 penalty on an individual ("U.S. Person-1") for violating OFAC sanctions on Russia and failing to comply with an OFAC subpoena. This actionwhich imposes the statutory maximum penaltyhighlights the obligation of all U.S. persons, including individual investors and others in the real estate sector, to comply with OFAC's sanctions regulations and orders. It results from OFAC's proactive efforts to identify and prevent dealings in the blocked property of sanctioned individuals.

"Under President Trump's leadership, the United States has put in place strong sanctions against Russia," said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley. "Today's action makes clear that Treasury will continue to actively investigate and hold accountable those who violate U.S. sanctions."

Between April 2023 and March 2024, U.S. Person-1acting through and on behalf of the Atlanta, Georgia-based real estate investment company King Holdings LLCwillfully mortgaged, renovated, and sold to an unwitting third party real estate property owned by a person blocked under OFAC's Russia sanctions. The sale, which U.S. Person-1 concealed from OFAC, also violated the terms of a cease-and-desist order.

In March 2022, OFAC added a family member of a Russian oligarch to its sanctions list pursuant to Executive Order 14024, "Blocking Property With Respect To Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation." The family member owned residential real property in the Atlanta area directly and in their own name. At that time, all dealings in the property became prohibited, including its transfer, sale, or foreclosure, and any unauthorized transfer of the property would be null and void under OFAC's regulations.

At OFAC's request, Fulton County, Georgia authorities recorded a document detailing the restrictions on dealings with the property and made it available to the public. Nevertheless, the property went into foreclosure around this time, and King Holdings purchased it at public auction in January 2023. The property remained blocked, however, pursuant to OFAC's regulations. U.S. Person-1 had planned, through King Holdings, to renovate and sell the property, which they apparently did not realize was blocked at this time.

After OFAC discovered the foreclosure in April 2023, it immediately contacted U.S. Person-1 and explained that the property remained blocked and could not be dealt in without authorization. OFAC also informed U.S. Person-1 that they could apply for a license from OFAC. Instead of applying for a license, U.S. Person-1 willfully continued with their plan to renovate and sell the property through King Holdings without notifying or seeking approval from OFAC.

OFAC issued a cease-and-desist order to King Holdings instructing it to stop violating the applicable sanctions prohibitions, as well as a subpoena inquiring about its conduct, while the sale was pending. In replying, U.S. Person-1 certified the completeness of the subpoena response, which failed to mention the sale, and they soon thereafter closed on the sale in violation of the cease-and-desist order.

For more information, please read the Enforcement Release.

###

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Israeli military invades southwestern Syria, sets up checkpoint in Quneitra

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 6:18 AM

Israeli forces have pushed over the Syrian frontier, erecting a checkpoint and stopping vehicles in the southwestern city of Quneitra, in yet another breach of the Arab country's sovereignty.

The violation took place on Sunday, when the troops made their way across the border, setting up the outpost near the Ain al-Bayda junction in northern Quneitra, Syrian outlets reported.

According to the al-Ikhbariya paper, an Israeli detachment positioned itself at the junction, halting cars and conducting searches.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that three Israeli military vehicles then moved further into the northern countryside, deploying between the town of Jubata al-Khashab and the villages of Ofaniya and Ain al-Bayda. The agency added that a separate Israeli unit mounted a new incursion in the central region, approaching the villages of Umm Batina and al-Ajraf.

Residents said such activities have surged in recent months, pointing to Israeli advances onto farmland, leveling of extensive forested areas, arrests, and spread of mobile checkpoints.

The Israeli regime began markedly increasing its military aggression against Syria last year.

The escalation coincided with increasingly ferocious onslaughts throughout the country by the so-called Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Takfiri terrorist group, which the government of President Bashar al-Assad had confined to northwestern Syria. The HTS, however, managed to overthrow the government as the Israeli attacks would pummel the country's civilian and defensive infrastructure.

Various reports have shown that, during the escalation, the regime conducted more than 1,000 airstrikes on the Syrian territory and over 400 ground raids into the south.

Following the collapse of the Assad government, Tel Aviv also widened its grip over the occupied Golan Heights by taking control of a demilitarized buffer zone, in defiance of a 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Earlier this month, senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visited the buffer zone, prompting expressions of alarm on the part of the United Nations.

The United States, the regime's biggest ally, has, meanwhile, been fraternizing the HTS head Abu Mohammed al-Jolani amid the widely reported prospect of rapprochement with Tel Aviv.

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Ministry of National Defense Issues Press Release Regarding "Former Major Surnamed Yang Allegedly Violating the National Security Act"

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/11/18

Ministry of National Defense Press Release

Time: 1130 hours, November 18, 2025

The Ministry of National Defense stated today (November 18) that, during an internal screening operation conducted by the Political Warfare Bureau, suspicious behavior by a Major surnamed Yang was detected. In accordance with the national security joint defense mechanism, the case was immediately reported to the National Security Bureau, which coordinated with the Military Police Command, the Investigation Bureau, and other units for joint handling. Following rigorous evidence collection and damage control measures, the upstream illegal organization was traced and dismantled. The case was reported to the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, which directed the Taipei District Prosecutors Office to investigate. Major Yang, another active-duty service member surnamed Lu, and five other suspects surnamed Ding and others have been indicted for violations of the National Security Act and related offenses.

The Ministry of National Defense emphasized that, given the current security environment, the PRC's infiltration and aggressive operations against Taiwan have never ceased, and it actively continues to develop organizations in Taiwan. The Ministry strongly condemns the treasonous conduct of the small number of personnel who have betrayed their oath of loyalty. The Ministry has fully implemented security investigation mechanisms for personnel handling classified information and established classified access qualification certification procedures; it continues to deepen counterintelligence education to heighten personnel security awareness; and it closely collaborates through the national security joint defense mechanism to collectively safeguard national security.





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Legislative committee condemns China 'long-arm jurisdiction' efforts

ROC Central News Agency

11/24/2025 02:15 PM

Taipei, Nov. 24 (CNA)The Legislature's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on Monday passed a motion condemning China's "long-arm jurisdiction" over Taiwan citizens alleged to be military intelligence workers.

The motion, put forth by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, said that the recent action by China's provincial governments, which offered cash bounties for information leading to the arrest of alleged psychological operations officers in Taiwan, amounted to provocation and a serious violation of Taiwan's sovereignty.

China "has no jurisdiction" over the people of Taiwan, the motion said, stressing that Taiwan will never allow Beijing's attempts at "long-arm jurisdiction."

The motion was initiated by DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu (), convener of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, and endorsed by three other DPP lawmakers.

On Monday, the motion was passed unanimously by the six committee members who attended the session, while the seven members from the opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party did not show up.

During the session, the committee also unanimously passed another motion initiated by Wang, condemning China's distortion of United Nations Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, which Beijing has used as the basis for its sovereignty claim over Taiwan.

The motions stemmed from a notice issued on Oct. 11 by the public security bureau of China's Xiamen City, publicizing the names, photographs, and Taiwan identification card numbers of 18 people it alleged to be "core members" of a "psychological warfare unit" within the Taiwanese military.

In the public notice, the bureau offered a cash reward of 10,000 Chinese yuan (US$1,400) to anyone who could provide information that would lead to the arrest of the 18 Taiwanese wanted for "separatist activities."

On June 5, China also offered similar bounties for information that would help with the arrest of 20 Taiwanese it deemed to be "military hackers."

Taiwan's top intelligence chief last month said the notices issued by local authorities in China were part of that country's "cognitive warfare."

China's allegations are a "mixture of publicly available information and falsehoods," National Security Bureau (NSB) Director-General Tsai Ming-yen () said at the time. He did not confirm whether the persons listed by China were actually psychological operations officers within Taiwan's military.

On Nov. 19, the Legislature's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee passed a motion condemning a criminal investigation being carried out by China into DPP Legislator Puma Shen () on allegations of "secession-related" criminal activities deemed to be advocating Taiwan independence.

(By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/pc

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President Xi to Trump: Taiwan's 'return' to China key to post-WW2 order

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 6:48 PM

During a phone call with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed that Taiwan's "return to China" is a key part of the postwar international order.

"China and the United States once fought side by side against fascism and militarism, and should now work together to safeguard the outcomes of World War II," Xi was quoted as saying by state news agency Xinhua on Monday.

President Xi and Trump met on October 30 at the US-China summit meeting at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea, following months of trade tensions triggered by Trump's tariff policies.

After the meeting, Trump said he would cut tariffs on China, while Beijing agreed to allow the export of rare earth elements. Trump added that Beijing also agreed to buy American soybeans.

Referring to the improvement in Beijing-Washington ties, Xi warned that "confrontation hurts both."

"The facts again show that cooperation benefits both sides while confrontation hurts both," he told Trump, calling on the two countries to maintain positive momentum and promote cooperation.

The phone call comes after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said this month that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from his country, triggering mass protests in Tokyo.

Beijing has sovereignty over Taiwan, and under the "One China" policy, almost all countries recognize that sovereignty, meaning they do not establish diplomatic contact with the island's secessionist government.

The US, too, claims commitment to that principle, but in violation of its own stated policy, and in an attempt to antagonize Beijing, has courted the secessionist government in Taiwan, supporting its anti-China stance and supplying it with a large cache of weaponry.

Beijing has often emphasized that the issue of the self-ruled island is a red line for the government and people of China and must not be crossed.

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China warns Japan 'crossed a red line' with remarks about military intervention over Taiwan

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 6:59 AM

China's top diplomat blasted Japan over its new prime minister's remarks about the possibility of military intervention over Taiwan.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a statement on Sunday that remarks earlier this month by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that a Chinese naval blockade or other action against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response were "shocking."

"It is shocking that Japan's current leaders have publicly sent the wrong signal of attempting military intervention in the Taiwan issue, said things they shouldn't have said, and crossed a red line that should not have been touched," Wang added.

Wang noted that China must "resolutely respond" to Japan's actions and that all countries have the responsibility to "prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism."

The comment about Japan's military intervention in Taiwan triggered a backlash in Beijing that ultimately forced the prime minister to backpedal in later remarks.

Her earlier remarks about a possible attack by China on Taiwan had already escalated tensions between the two countries over the past few weeks.

On Friday, China's foreign ministry sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly criticizing Takaichi for her "grave violation of international law" and diplomatic norms.

"If Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention in the cross-Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression," China's UN Ambassador Fu Cong wrote in the letter.

"China will resolutely exercise its right of self-defense under the UN Charter and international law and firmly defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Taiwan is seen in Beijing as an inseparable part of the Chinese mainland, and the country's leaders are waiting for a chance to restore their full control over the self-governing island.

China objects to the involvement of other countries in Taiwan, notably the United States, which is the island's main supplier of weapons, as well as US allies in Asia, including Japan and the Philippines.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/11/24

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date

6 a.m. Nov. 23 (Sun.) to 6 a.m. Nov. 24 (Mon.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities

8 sorties of PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 out of 8 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1141124_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan [Open a new window]

1141124_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window]

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Telephone conversation with President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

November 24, 2025

15:25

The two leaders discussed a number of current issues related to the bilateral relationship, focusing on further expansion of trade and investment ties as well as the implementation of strategic projects in energy.

There was an exchange of views on the situation surrounding Ukraine, in particular in light of the recent US peace proposals. Vladimir Putin pointed out that these proposals, in the form that they were in when the Russian side reviewed them, were in line with what had been discussed during the Russia-United States summit in Alaska and could in principle serve as a basis for the final peace settlement. The Russian side has reaffirmed its interest in settling the Ukraine crisis via political and diplomatic means.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his intention to promote the negotiation process in every possible way and declared his willingness to keep Istanbul available as a platform for negotiations in the future. The two leaders agreed to intensify Russia-Turkiye contacts concerning Ukraine at various levels.

In addition, the President of Turkiye shared his thoughts in his trip to Johannesburg to attend the G20 summit and meet a number of member state leaders.

The two leaders agreed to maintain regular contacts.

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United Kingdom - Navy Multiband Terminals

NEWS | Nov. 24, 2025

Media/Public Contact: T_Outreach_PM@state.gov

Transmittal No. 25-95

WASHINGTON, November 24, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the United Kingdom of Navy Multiband Terminals and related equipment for an estimated cost of $200 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress.

The Government of the United Kingdom has requested to buy an additional six (6) Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) Navy Multiband Terminals (NMT) that will be added to a previously implemented case whose value was under the congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $41.02 million ($14.63 million in MDE), included two (2) AEHF NMTs. This notification is for a combined total of eight (8) AEHF NMTs. The following non-MDE items will also be included: KGV-136R communications security devices; communications equipment; submarine high data rate masts; ancillary equipment; containers; integration and test support; spare and repair parts; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $200 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a key NATO Ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.

The proposed sale will improve the United Kingdom's capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring communications interoperability. The United Kingdom will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The UK Royal Navy will install the NMT system aboard Dreadnought submarines to enable AEHF satellite communications to Royal Navy and Minister of Defence shore sites,

ships, and submarines in a non-contested threat environment.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located in Arlington, VA. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the United Kingdom.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Political-Military Affairs Outreach, at T_Outreach_PM@state.gov.

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'We see you': Armed forces on patrol around the UK in response to Russian activity

Press release

Royal Navy intercepts Russian warship and tanker in the Dover Strait and English Channel whilst RAF P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft deployed to Iceland to patrol North Atlantic.

From: Ministry of Defence

Published 24 November 2025

The UK Armed Forces are on patrol from the English Channel to the High North amid increased Russian activity threatening UK waters.

In the past fortnight, Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Severn intercepted Russian corvette RFN Stoikiy and tanker Yelnya off the UK coast, in a round-the-clock shadowing operation as the Russian vessels sailed through the Dover Strait and westward through the English Channel.

HMS Severn later handed over monitoring duties to a NATO ally off the coast of Brittany, but continued to observe from a distance and remained ready to respond to any unexpected activity.

Commander Grant Dalgleish, HMS Severn's Commanding Officer, said:

This tasking shows the value of our patrol ships and reinforces the Royal Navy's close liaison with our NATO allies in safeguarding the British people and protecting the internationally recognised waterways. I'm immensely proud of the way the ship's company reacted to this activation, especially coming so quickly after a demanding period of regeneration and operational training.

This comes as the UK has seen a 30% increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters in the past two years.

On Wednesday, the Defence Secretary confirmed that Russian spy ship Yantar - used for gathering intelligence and mapping undersea cables - was operating on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland. In a clear message to Putin, the Defence Secretary said: "We see you. We know what you are doing. And we are ready."

As Yantar lingered in UK's wider waters, its crew directed lasers at the RAF P-8 pilots tracking it in a reckless and dangerous act. While tracking Yantar, Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset and other civilian ships in the area experienced GPS jamming in a further demonstration of unprofessional behaviour, intended to be disruptive and a nuisance. HMS Somerset's combat capabilities were not affected.

The UK has a wide range of military options at its disposal to keep UK waters safe. Three RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft have deployed to Keflavik Air Base in Iceland in the largest overseas deployment of the RAF P-8 fleet so far.

The P-8s from 120 Squadron are conducting surveillance operations as part of NATO's collective defence, patrolling for Russian ships and submarines in the North Atlantic and Arctic.

While in Iceland, RAF crews are working closely with NATO allies including the US and Canada, reinforcing the UK's NATO-first approach and commitment to Euro-Atlantic security in this new era of threat.

These operations reaffirm the UK's unwavering commitment to national security and protecting critical undersea infrastructure, underpinning this Government's Plan for Change.

Wing Commander Higgins, Officer Commanding 120 Squadron, said:

This deployment to Iceland highlights the enduring importance of the North Atlantic and Arctic to the security of the Alliance. Operating the P-8A Poseidon, we continue that legacy by contributing to NATO's collective defence and ensuring the security of this strategically critical region.

The UK is stepping up on defence and security, backed by the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, including 4 billion on boosting our drone capabilities and over 1 billion on strengthening air and missile defence to protect the UK homeland.

These latest operations come less than a month after HMS Duncan tracked the movements of Russian destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov, and frigate HMS Iron Duke was dispatched to monitor Russian Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk.

Last month, two advanced RAF surveillance aircraft conducted a 12-hour mission along Russia's border to monitor NATO's eastern and northern flanks. A Rivet Joint electronic intelligence aircraft and a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, supported by a US Stratotanker, collectively flew 10,000 miles from the High North, past Belarus and Ukraine, and into the Black Sea.

Both aircraft use advanced sensors to detect Russian activity and deliver critical intelligence for analysis.

This increase in UK Armed Forces activity comes alongside new sanctions. Last week, the Foreign Secretary announced that the UK, US, and Australia are sanctioning Media Land - a Russian cyber crime group responsible for facilitating cyber-attacks on UK-based companies.

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Statement by President von der Leyen following the EU leaders' meeting on Ukraine

European Commission

Statement

Nov 24, 2025

Luanda

An efficient and coordinated European engagement as well as a strong European presence in Geneva has allowed us to make good progress in the negotiations for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. While work remains to be done, there is now a solid basis for moving forward. As we do, we must remain united and keep placing Ukraine's best interests at the centre of our efforts. This is about the security of our entire continent, now and in the future. Today's meeting in Luanda reaffirmed that we are united in our support of Ukraine.

These are our core European principles moving forward: Ukraine's territory and sovereignty must be respected. Only Ukraine, as a sovereign country can make decisions regarding their armed forces, the choice of their destiny is in their own hands.

I also want to emphasise Europe's centrality in the country's future. We will engage further tomorrow with our partners from the Coalition of the Willing.

Finally, today I raised again the plight of abducted and missing Ukrainian children. Each and every one of them must come home. I was glad to see this topic resonated with the leaders.

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Prime Minister Orpo: Ukraine peace plan is moving in the right direction

Finnish Government

Government Communications Department

Publication date 24.11.2025

Type:Press release

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is of the view that the negotiations between Ukraine and the United States in Geneva have moved the Ukraine peace plan in the right direction. On Monday 24 November, Prime Minister Orpo attended an informal meeting of EU leaders on the status of the peace negotiations.

"We discussed the current situation with regard to the Ukraine peace plan. The plan is progressing towards a just and lasting peace, but there is still a lot of work to be done. At the same time, I would like to stress that decisions concerning the European Union or NATO are so consequential for Finland, Europe, and of course, Ukraine that they must be considered and made with the EU and NATO countries' involvement," Orpo said.

"We also have to make sure that the frozen Russian assets are used in a way that is fair and that benefits Ukraine. I will be discussing this and other Ukraine issues with my European and African colleagues over the next few days," Orpo continued.

The EU leaders met remotely and on the ground in Luanda, the capital of Angola, where the seventh European Union-African Union Summit began today. Prime Minister Orpo attended the meeting remotely as his original flight to Luanda was cancelled. Prime Minister Orpo will attend the EU-AU Summit today and tomorrow and will continue on to South Africa for a trade mission.

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US, Ukraine claim 'meaningful progress' in Geneva talks as Europe voices concerns

Global Times

By Wang Qi Published: Nov 24, 2025 05:20 PM

The US and Ukraine made "meaningful progress toward aligning positions" on US President Donald Trump's proposed peace plan during their talks in Geneva, the White House said in a joint statement issued on its website on Sunday local time.

The White House said the consultations were "highly productive," and as a result of the discussions, the US and Ukraine drafted an "updated and refined" peace framework during talks in Geneva.

Both sides agreed to continue working on joint proposals in the coming days, the White House said. Final decisions under this framework will be made by the presidents of Ukraine and the US.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram that the delegates had "substantive conversations" that would continue, CBS reported.

Before the Geneva meeting on Sunday, the US administration has drafted a new 28-point plan and held quiet and deep consultations with Russia in a renewed push to restart peace talks aimed at ending the Ukraine crisis, according to US media reports.

US President Donald Trump on Friday set November 27 as the deadline for accepting the peace plan, media reports said.

Zhang Hong, research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the latest round of US-Ukraine talks is based on the new battlefield realities, Ukraine's domestic political situation, and the current US-Russia relations.

The expert mentioned that the Russian military's intensified offensive on the battlefield has caused Ukraine to lose even more territory, as well as the predicament of the Ukrainian government being plagued by recent corruption scandals.

According to Axios, as the Sunday talks taking place, Trump has accused Ukrainian leadership of being ungrateful for his efforts to end the war. Hours later, Zelensky thanked Trump in a statement on social media, saying "We are grateful for everything that America and President Trump are doing for security, and we keep working as constructively as possible."

Zhang believed that with the changing situation, the focus of the current negotiations has shifted from the previous demand of territorial concessions, to whether Ukraine can exchange territorial concessions for relatively secure safety and peace, which means that Ukraine's room for maneuver is becoming increasingly limited.

According to the Financial Times, the 28-point peace plan, which includes ceding territory, slashing the size of its army, blocking NATO accession, and give Washington a 50 percent share of reconstruction profits has triggered alarm in Kiev and across Europe.

In a joint statement released on Saturday, leaders of Britain, France, Germany and other countries urged revisions to the elements in the plan that Ukraine found most objectionable.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, reiterated Europe's stance on Sunday. She said that "borders cannot be changed by force," and "as a sovereign nation there cannot be limitations on Ukraine's armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack and thereby undermine European security."

Some Chinese analysts believe that if the Russia-Ukraine conflict ends with Ukraine paying an excruciatingly high price, Europe will be left to face direct security pressure from Russia on its own.

"Europe has been largely marginalized in the 28-point plan and the peace talks," Zhang said. "Europe lacks the hard power to sustain its vision, leaving US free to press Ukraine cede territory in exchange for peace."

After the US-Ukraine talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a news conference in Geneva that the role of the EU and NATO in resolving the Ukraine conflict had yet to be discussed. And the US agreed to put "items that involve both Europe and NATO" as part of "a separate track," Rubio specified.

Reuters on Sunday released the text of a European counter-proposal to the US' draft 28-point Ukraine peace plan, which includes provisions such as reconfirming Ukraine's sovereignty, a total and complete non-aggression agreement reached between Russia and Ukraine and NATO.

"If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a robust, coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be restored and any recognition for the new territory and all other benefits granted under this agreement will be withdrawn," reads the EU revision.

According to Zhang, the European revisions contain no explicit rejection of the US demand for Ukrainian territorial concessions, nor do they overturn any core element of Trump's 28-point plan. What they offer instead is mostly vague, diplomatic phrasingrevisions crafted more to signal participation and give the appearance of co-authorship than to mount any substantive challenge.

This, Zhang added, underscores Europe's predicament in the Ukraine crisis: plenty of will, but precious little power.

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Speech by Maria Malmer Stenergard at the Fourth Parlimentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform

Government Offices of Sweden

Speech by Maria Malmer Stenergard

Published 24 November 2025

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard at the Fourth Parlimentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform. 24 November 2025, Stockholm.

Check against delivery.

Honourable Speakers, Excellencies, Distinguished guests, it is an honour to address this summit.

First, let me say a few words about the intense diplomacy that we've seen in the last couple of days.

Ukraine has always shown that it is serious about achieving a just and lasting peace. Russia has not.

Ukraine has offered a full, unconditional ceasefire. Russia has not.

Ukraine has always been ready to negotiate. Russia has not.

Since Russia has not changed its position, neither has Sweden nor the EU.

Our position remains that to achieve a just and lasting peace, borders cannot be changed by force.

There cannot be limitations on Ukraine's armed forces that will invite further Russian aggression.

And there cannot be any limitations on the full, sovereign right of the Ukrainian people to choose their own path - which includes the path to EU membership.

An agreement that includes those main elements, that truly respects Ukraine's sovereignty, and that has the support of its people - such an agreement will also have our support.

But as long as the Russian aggression continues, Sweden has a clear two-point plan: to strengthen Ukraine and to weaken Russia. You can count on our support.

***

Let me also acknowledge that World Children's Day took place last week.

That made me think of the thousands of Ukrainian children that Russia has forcibly taken away from their homes.

That made me think of Sashko from Mariupol, who was separated from his mother - never to see her again.

That made me think of Yehven, a father who was detained while his children were sent to a Moscow boarding facility.

As a mother, I cannot even begin to imagine the horror of taking children away from their homes, putting them into camps, and indoctrinating them.

We cannot bring back the children who have already lost their lives in this war. But we can - and we must - do even more to bring all the deported Ukrainian children home.

***

This summit also allows us to once again establish some basic facts. Crimea is Ukraine. Donetsk is Ukraine. Luhansk is Ukraine. Kherson is Ukraine. Zaporizhzhia is Ukraine.

Let me be clear: Sweden will not recognise Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, or any other part of Ukraine's territory. We will not reward aggression.

We owe this to the Ukrainian people, especially those in the temporarily occupied territories. We owe this to the women and the men who bravely fight for their freedom - and for ours. We owe this to every person in Ukraine and beyond who believes in a world governed by rules, rather than force.

***

What we know about life under Russian occupation also shows why our support for a free and independent Ukraine must continue.

Because in the occupied territories, journalists are silenced. Families are separated. Children grow up under relentless propaganda. Crimean Tatars face harassment and imprisonment for speaking their language or for practicing their faith. Intimidation, fear, repression - this is life in the occupied territories.

***

Russia's war of aggression causes immense human suffering. Those responsible must be held to account. To secure justice for the victims, and to deter potential perpetrators in the future.

Since 2014, Sweden supports investigations and the documentation of suspected war crimes in Ukraine. We commend the work done by Ukrainian authorities and international mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court, the UN, the OSCE, and civil society organizations. Their efforts are crucial to end impunity.

This year, we have seen important landmarks for accountability.

In November, a court in Ukraine convicted a Russian soldier for murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment in Ukraine. This was the first ruling of its kind since Russia began its full-scale invasion.

The Swedish Government also strongly welcomes the progress that has been made towards establishing a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, and a claims commission for reparations. They must now begin their work as soon as possible.

***

As Russia's brutal war of aggression enters its fourth winter, I am urging international partners to help strengthen Ukraine by providing substantial military and civilian support.

Last week at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, I showed my colleagues a simple graph that showed how the EU's support to Ukraine is still smaller than the collective purchases of Russian oil and gas since the full-scale invasion.

This is nothing but a disgrace. This needs to change now.

The best way to fund Ukraine's needs now is to move forward with the reparations loan.

As the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said in her State of the Union speech earlier this year: "This is Russia's war, and Russia should be the one to pay."

Once again, let me assure you: Sweden will continue to stand with Ukraine, with those who uphold international law, and with those who seek a just and lasting peace.

Thank you, and Slava Ukraini.

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Capability for Demining marks its second anniversary: from the very first initiatives to tangible assistance on the frontline

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2025-11-24

International cooperation | Security and defense policy

In Kamianets-Podilskyi, the central fortress of Ukraine's engineer training, the Capability Coalition for Demining co-led by Lithuania and Iceland held the 17th meeting of 13 member states and 4 partner organisations represented by 38 envoys. Over the two years since the first steps in November 2023, the Demining Coalition has grown to become an important multinational platform that delivers humanitarian and combat demining assistance to Ukraine.

"A couple of days ago I returned from Ukraine where I had the pleasure of meeting the President's and prime Minister's teams. The Demining Coalition project is clearly very successful and plays a crucial role in neutralizing the ravage of war as much as possible shoulder to shoulder with other formats of assistance to Ukraine in the country that is still war-torn. This is an initiative we can take pride in," said Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas.

Ukraine is currently still the number one country in the world by mine contamination: one third of its territory is still planted with mines and unexploded ordnance. The lethal hazards endanger the civilians, prevent reconstruction of vital infrastructure and agriculture developers from restarting the work in some of the richest soil in Europe. Ukraine is needs badly to clear the vicinity of the frontline from mines to be able to continue the counteroffensive, as well as agricultural land, forests, rivers and industrial infrastructure.

The Capability Coalition for Demining includes 23 members, 5 observers and 12 partners. It is co-led by the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland. The Central Project Management Agency is the body responsible for acquisition of equipment, administration of finances and deliveries to Ukraine.

Members of the Coalition put in place the long-term Roadmap 2024-2034 for developing modern humanitarian and combat demining as well as engineer units that are independent and align with NATO standards.

The initial capabilities covering 8 trained battalions supplied with modern equipment are planned to be ready by the end of 2025 so that over 450 teams can successfully demine in complex battle circumstances. Besides, nearly 4 thousand specialists have already been trained thanks to the assistance of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine, U.S. Tetra Tech, Canada's Mriya Aid and Spanish aid.

Eight Coalition Members and Partners - Germany, Lithuania, Denmark, Slovakia, Finland, Iceland, Tetra Tech (U.S.), United Nations Office for Project Service (funded by the Netherlands) and Mriya Aid (of Canada) - have supplied equipment worth of over EUR 408 million. Also, Lithuania, Sweden, Germany, Iceland, Ireland and Denmark funded acquisition of different types of equipment worth of over EUR 111 million.

Lithuania has made the bulkiest contribution so far with deliveries of EUR 87 million worth of equipment and EUR 47 million financial contribution to the Coalition Fund for further procurement.

The Capability Coalition for Demining is effective and thanks to the sponsors is delivering thousands of items of equipment , vehicles and demining systems, tools to save thousands of lives and enable reconstruction of the country.

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Minister of National Defence R. Kaunas met with President of Ukraine HE V. Zelenskyy

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2025-11-24

International cooperation | Security and defense policy

Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his visit to Ukraine. They discussed Lithuania's support to Ukraine, current security challenges faced by the war-torn country, and other most relevant running issues.

Minister assured President Zelenskyy of enduring and steadfast Lithuania's commitment to Ukraine.

"It is symbolic that 12 years ago today, November 21, Maidan, or the Revolution of Dignity, was born in Ukraine. Ukraine is battling today to safeguard the dignity, sovereignty and lives of its peoples. Yes, they have internal issues, but it is the institutions of the sovereign Ukraine that pinpoint and resolve them. If we fall for some pretence to walk away from Ukraine, we will pay multifold. Russia is capable of not just replenishing but also further developing and modernizing its military capabilities. Ukraine is still showing a heroic will to resist. It is defence of our dignity a well. Of our right to live - safely and freely," said Minister of National Defence R. Kaunas.

Other topics discussed were cooperation in the area of defence industry and Lithuanian-Ukrainian experience exchange. Minister R. Kaunas pointed out the importance of the lessons learned from Ukraine and the necessity to learn from some of it.

Minister also familiarized President of Ukraine with the challenges Lithuania was faced with, including the disruptions caused by the smuggling balloons. They also addressed the potential peace deal, negotiations, and Ukraine's approach to this development.

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The President: The EU must actively participate in achieving a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine

President of the Republic of Lithuania

November 24, 2025

On Monday, President Gitanas Nauseda participated remotely in an extraordinary meeting of the European Council to discuss the latest proposals and talks on resolving the war launched by Russia against Ukraine.

The President expressed support for continued active EU assistance to Ukraine, pressure on Russia, and active involvement in decisions regarding a possible peace plan.

"Current discussions directly determine not only the future of Ukraine, but also the future of Europe. We must significantly strengthen Ukraine's negotiating position, actively participate, and put forward proposals that would allow us to reach a just and sustainable agreement," the President said.

According to Gitanas Nauseda, any agreement must include significant constraints on Russia so that it has neither the opportunity nor the incentive to launch new aggression in the future. During the negotiation process, the EU must increase pressure on Russia agree to an unconditional ceasefire as a prerequisite for peace negotiations. Therefore, the President expressed support for the fastest possible decision on a reparations loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, as well as for the adoption of the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia.

In the President's view, the EU must help Ukraine expand its defense capabilities and provide real security guarantees through the Coalition of the Willing format, as well as accelerate the start of Ukraine's negotiations on EU membership with the aim of completing them by 2030.

The President opposes any contractual restrictions on the capabilities of Ukraine's armed forces that would violate the country's sovereignty, as well as demands for urgent elections in Ukraine.

The President's Communication Group

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The Presidents of Lithuania and Ukraine discussed solutions to the war started by Russia

President of the Republic of Lithuania

November 24, 2025

On Monday, ahead of the emergency summit of the European Council (EC), President Gitanas Nauseda spoke by telephone with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

During the conversation, the leaders discussed the latest developments in efforts to end the war started by Russia. The President of Ukraine informed President Nauseda about his talks with U.S. representatives in Geneva.

President Nauseda reaffirmed Lithuania's strong support for Ukraine, its sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and expressed his support for accelerating negotiations on Ukraine's EU membership by 2030.



The President's Communication Group

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Ukrainian saboteurs mistakenly fire on each other, killing five: Russia

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 7:45 AM

Two Ukrainian sabotage units mistakenly opened fire on one another while attempting to infiltrate the strategic city of Kupyansk, in the Kharkov Region, leaving five soldiers dead, Russian security officials say.

"Near Kupyansk, two enemy sabotage groups shot each other by mistake, according to radio interceptions. It is known that they were tasked with destroying our forces in a city sector in order to break the defense," the security officials told TASS.

According to the officials, plans were also made to hoist Ukrainian flags to show that the city is allegedly partially under the control of Ukrainian troops.

They said the mishap left five Ukrainian soldiers dead and three injured. According to the Russian security officials, the incident happened because the units failed to coordinate, acted under pressure, and received poor instructions, reflecting inadequate training.

Earlier, Chief of the Russian General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov said in a report to President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces had liberated Kupyansk in the Kharkov Region.

This comes as Ukraine and its allies have opened discussions on a US-drafted peace proposal intended to end the war with Russia, now in its fourth year.

National security advisers from the UK, France, and Germany met with Ukrainian officials in Geneva to launch the first phase of the talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described these initial discussions with European advisers as "very constructive."

US officials are expected to join in the next stage of negotiations. US President Donald Trump has given Kyiv five days to respond to his 28-point peace plan.

President Putin has welcomed the initiative, saying it could form the basis for resolving the conflict.

The proposal requires Ukraine to give up territory, accept restrictions on its armed forces, and drop its pursuit of NATO membership.

Earlier rounds of Russia-Ukraine negotiations, including those held in Belarus, ended without progress.

Western European allies of Kyiv have already raised objections to the plan, saying they will push for changes to what they consider an agreement overly tilted in Moscow's favor.

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US Treasury Secretary admits EU sanctions against Russia have failed

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 November 2025 6:42 AM

US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent says the European Union's sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine conflict have proven ineffective and failed to weaken Russia as intended.

During an interview on Sunday, Bessent said, "The Europeans ... they tell me they are passing the 19th round of sanctions. In my view, if you have to repeat the same action 19 times, then you have failed."

On October 23, the EU unveiled its 19th package of measures against Russia, targeting banks, crypto platforms, Indian and Chinese companies purchasing Russian oil, as well as Moscow's diplomats.

Russia says Western attempts are futile and ultimately harmful to those imposing them, stressing that its economy has adapted while EU states face rising energy costs, internal strain, and declining strategic autonomy due to their dependence on Washington's directives.

The strategy has also revealed widening fractures within the bloc, with countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, urging Brussels to abandon its confrontational posture and instead pursue dialogue and realistic diplomacy.

His remarks reflected Washington's belief that Europe has failed to shape events on the ground or influence Moscow's decisions.

EU states are "the real laggards," Bessent said, recalling how European officials informed him of their latest sanctions plan while simultaneously worsening the situation by financing Ukraine's military operations.

Earlier this week, US Vice President J.D. Vance criticized the EU's handling of the Ukraine conflict, calling Brussels' expectations unrealistic.

"There is a fantasy that if we just give more money, more weapons, or more sanctions, victory is at hand," he said.

In mid-November, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted that America was "running out of things to sanction" in Russia after Washington blacklisted oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft, a move he said was carried out at the request of Kiev and its EU allies.

The conflict in Ukraine began in 2022 after years of Western political and military interference in Kiev that fostered regional instability along the Russian border and ultimately compelled Moscow to act to secure its interests.

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Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Delegation Leaving Geneva As Refining Of Peace Proposal Continues

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service November 24, 2025

Summary

Ukrainian negotiators leave Geneva talks on peace proposals with Russia, showing "meaningful progress" but no finalized deal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awaits a report on the talks and emphasized continued coordination with European and global partners.

The US peace plan faces criticism for favoring Russian demands, while an alternative European proposal avoids territorial concessions.

Ukrainian negotiators have left Geneva following talks on proposals to end the war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as questions linger over whether a deal could be struck by US President Donald Trump's Thanksgiving deadline.

"As of now, after Geneva, there are fewer points - no longer 28 - and many of the right elements have been taken into account in this framework," Zelenskyy said on social media on November 24.

"I will discuss the sensitive issues with President Trump. Ukraine will never be an obstacle to peace."

Zelenskyy didn't elaborate.

The two sides had said the talks in the Swiss city showed "meaningful progress" toward ending the war and led to an "updated and refined" framework that would "fully uphold" the war-torn country's sovereignty and deliver a just peace.

The November 23 statement out of Washington did not provide specifics or detail what changes had been made to a 28-point peace plan that was put forward by Trump and criticized by Kyiv's supporters as being too Russia-friendly.

"The talks were constructive, focused, and respectful, underscoring the shared commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace," the US-Ukraine joint statementsaid.

"They reaffirmed that any future agreement must fully uphold Ukraine's sovereignty and deliver a sustainable and just peace. As a result of the discussions, the parties drafted an updated and refined peace framework," it added, without elaborating.

Trump himself did not immediately comment on the substance of the talks, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz appeared to indicate after consultations with European Union leaders that a November 27 deadline set by Trump for Ukraine's acceptance of the plan was unlikely.

"It is a laborious process," Merz said after discussions on the sidelines of the European Union-African Union summit in the Angolan capital Luanda, adding that "at best, there will be minor steps forward this week."

"The next step must be: Russia must come to the table...And if this is possible, then every effort will have been worthwhile."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow on November 24 that Moscow has yet to receive any information from Washington on the talks.

"We haven't seen any plan yet. We've read the statement issued after the discussions in Geneva. Certain amendments have been made to the text we saw earlier. We're waiting. It seems the dialogue over there is continuing, some contacts will continue. Once again, for now, we have not received anything officially," Peskov said.

Along with Ukraine's European allies, many US lawmakers -- including some Republicans -- had assailed the original proposal, with some calling it a Kremlin "wish list."

The White House statement said the "Ukrainian delegation affirmed that all of their principal concerns -- security guarantees, long-term economic development, infrastructure protection, freedom of navigation, and political sovereignty -- were thoroughly addressed during the meeting."

A Zelenskyy-Trump Meeting?

Multiple Western news agencies cited unnamed sources as saying US and Ukrainian officials were discussing a potential visit by Zelenskyy to Washington -- as early as this week -- to discuss matters with Trump.

Reuters quoted one source as saying the talks would focus on the most sensitive issues in a 28-point peace plan put forward by Trump -- such as the possibility of Ukrainian territorial concessions to Russia.

The original plan was not officially disclosed, but it has been leaked and published by news outlets.

The terms required sweeping concessionsby Kyiv and appeared to mirror many of the Kremlin's demands -- including the surrender of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions -- known as the Donbas -- and Crimea, along with setting limits on the size of Ukraine's military.

Kyiv would also be required to set a constitutional prohibition on joining NATO, while restrictions would be put on the Western military alliance itself regarding the stationing of its troops. Financial sanctions on Moscow would also be eased under the plan.

In return, Ukraine would receive some form of "security guarantees," most notably from the United States, be allowed to join the European Union, and receive some financial benefits. Russia would also be required to withdraw from some Ukrainian areas it currently occupies.

Amid the pushback from US lawmakers and foreign allies, Trump has left open the possibility of changes being made to the plan.

Details Of European Plan

The German dpa news agency said an alternative European plan would not require Ukraine to cede any territory that it still controls and would set a higher cap on the size of its armed forces -- to 800,000 soldiers, instead of the 600,000 limit in the US proposal. Ukraine would also receive strong security guarantees.

Also, Ukraine's membership in NATO would not explicitly be ruled out, and Russia would not be granted a general amnesty for war crimes, dpa reported, without citing its sources.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would have a phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on November 24 to discuss peace efforts in Ukraine.

Multiple Casualties In Kharkiv

Meanwhile, as the talks were under way in Geneva, the killing continued in the full-scale war that is edging near the four-year mark.

Ukrainian officials said Russia had launched a "massive" drone attack on Kharkivon November 23, killing at least four people and injuring 17 others in a residential area.

Russia has conducted almost nightly missile and drone launches on Ukrainian residential, commercial, and infrastructure sites. The Kremlin denies targeting civilian areas despite widespread attacks on such areas.

Russian attacks on energy infrastructure have left millions of people without heating or power for many hours each day. A ground offensive in eastern Ukraine has also increased pressure on Kyiv as it looks to negotiate peace terms.

Ukraine has responded by sending drones against energy and other sites inside Russia that Kyiv says are used to launch attacks against Ukrainian cities.

Russia has also suffered power outages, and its economy has been severely damaged due to war expenditures and Western sanctions.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Reuters, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-ukraine-geneva-us-peace-proposal-russia-war/33602340.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Different Visions: Where The US And Europe Part Ways On Ukraine Peace

By Steve Gutterman November 24, 2025

Summary

European nations have created a counterproposal to a draft US peace plan for Ukraine, aiming to reduce apparent concessions to Russia.

Key differences between the proposals include territorial recognition, NATO membership, military size, and security guarantees.

In contrast with the US framework, the European plan removes an amnesty for war actions and emphasizes addressing victims' suffering.

After a controversial US draft plan for an end to Russia's war against Ukraine emerged abruptly last week, European nations scrambled to come up with a counterproposal that is easier on Kyiv and makes fewer concessions to Moscow.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent a team of negotiators to Geneva for weekend talks that the White House and Zelenskyy's office said led to an "updated and refined" framework that would deliver a just peace.

They said they would "continue intensive work on joint proposals in the coming days" and "remain in close contact with their European partners as the process advances."

Details of the adjusted US proposal were not immediately available. But from territorial and financial issues to the possibility of NATO membership for Ukraine and a sweeping amnesty, the initial US draft as leaked to media outlets and the European counterproposal, spearheaded by Britain, France, and Germany and reported by Reuters, contain crucial differences. Here they are.

Territorial Tension

Analysts say that seizing territory is not Moscow's main goal in the war: Russian President Vladimir Putin is bent on subjugating Ukraine. But with Russia occupying nearly one-fifth of Ukraine, control over territory is in fact one of the most critical matters for both Kyiv and the Kremlin in any potential peace deal.

It's also one of the main contrasts between the initial US draft and the European counterproposal.

Under the US draft, the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea regions would be "recognized as de facto Russian," and Ukraine would have to withdraw its forces from the portion of the Donetsk region that they still hold -- a massive concession that would essentially hand Russia land it has failed to take in years of grueling fighting.

At the same time, the draft also says that this portion of the region would be a "neutral demilitarized buffer zone" that would be "internationally recognized" as belonging to Russia but that Russian forces would also be barred from entering - an arrangement unlikely to please either side.

Kherson and Zaporizhzhya would be "frozen along the line of contact," with Russia receiving "de facto recognition" of the parts of these regions it holds.

That would solidify Moscow's control of a "land corridor" leading from the Russian border and along the Azov Sea coast to Crimea, the peninsula that juts into the Black Sea from Ukraine's mainland. Russia seized control of Crimea in 2014.

The much shorter section on territories in the European draft says nothing about recognition of any land as Russian or about a Ukrainian withdrawal in Donetsk.

"Negotiations on territorial swaps will start from the Line of Contact," it states - echoing calls by the Kyiv and the West for a cease-fire under which any change in territorial control on either side of the front line would be the subject of further negotiation.

Russia has rejected these calls since US President Donald Trump made the proposal last spring. Putin also has made clear he wants full Russian control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

"The key question, I am absolutely certain, is still related to territory," Kirill Martynov, editor-in-chief of the exiled Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europe, told Current Time.

"I am confident that the Russian side will insist on being handed the remaining free areas of the Donetsk region. I am sure that this demand is practically impossible and unacceptable for Ukraine."

NATO...

The US draft would require Ukraine to "enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO" and the alliance to codify a pledge that Ukraine will never be admitted. It also says it is "expected...that NATO will not expand further" at all, meaning that it would never admit any new member.

Putin has cited potential Ukrainian membership as one of the reasons for his decision to launch the full-scale invasion in February 2022, and a bar on Ukraine ever joining was among the demands Russia made in letters to the US and NATO in December 2021, as its forces gathered at the border ahead of the onslaught.

NATO declared in 2008 that Ukraine would eventually join, and Ukraine's constitution has committed the country to seeking entry since 2019.

But as Western officials have repeatedly tried to tell Russia, membership was unlikely anytime soon because there has been little appetite within the alliance itself for bringing in Ukraine.

The European counterproposal reflects that reality, saying that "Ukraine joining NATO depends on consensus of NATO members, which does not exist."

That would deprive Russia of a veto on the issue and preserve Kyiv's right to choose its partners - but it's unlikely to satisfy Moscow, which wants a binding bar on membership for Ukraine.

...And Its Forces

The US draft says that "NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine," full stop.

The European proposal says that "NATO agrees not to permanently station troops under its command in Ukraine in peacetime," wording that might avoid ruling out a potential plan by the largely European "Coalition of the Willing" to send forces to back up Ukrainian troops.

Military Size Matters

The drafts also differ when it comes to another issue of crucial importance to Ukraine: The size of its army. In previous negotiations, Russia has sought to limit Ukraine's military to numbers as low as 85,000 or even 50,000 personnel, a token force which Kyiv and its backers have said would leave Ukraine deeply vulnerable to further Russian attacks.

The US draft would cap the Ukrainian Armed Forces as 600,000 personnel, while the European counterproposal would raise that to 800,000 "in peacetime," meaning that it could be higher if Russia were to attack again.

Either way, Martynov said, "There will certainly be a lot of pressure from Moscow regarding this."

The Ukrainian military had about 250,000 personnel before the war and has 800,000-900,000 now, according to various estimates.

Security Guarantees

Ukraine has been adamant that it cannot agree to peace without strong Western security guarantees, particularly if NATO membership is off the table.

The draft US framework says that Ukraine "will receive reliable security guarantees" and mentions a "US guarantee" but provides few details. The European counterproposal replaces "reliable" with "robust" and calls for a US guarantee that "mirrors Article 5," under which an attack on one NATO country is considered an attack on all.

Additionally, the European draft seeks to ensure that Ukraine and Europe are not sidelined when it comes to matters of security and compliance with the peace deal, if it comes to pass.

While the US draft says that a "joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to promote and ensure compliance with all provisions of this agreement," the European proposal calls for a "joint Security taskforce...with the participation of [the] US, Ukraine, Russia, and the Europeans."

Follow The Money

The drafts also differ on the divisive issue of billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets. The US framework says that "$100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine," with the US receiving 50 percent of the "profits from this venture" and Europe adding $100 billion "to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraine's reconstruction."

The European proposal is less detailed and less focused on the US, saying that "Ukraine will be fully reconstructed and compensated financially, including through Russian sovereign assets that will remain frozen until Russia compensates damage to Ukraine."

Election Timing

'The US draft says Ukraine will hold elections "in 100 days," while the European plan says they will be held "as soon as possible after the signing of the peace agreement."

The second version gives Kyiv more leeway on a sensitive issue. Putin clearly wants Zelenskyy out of power and has repeatedly claimed that Zelenskyy is illegitimate because a presidential election was not held in 2024, when his five-year term - in peacetime - would have expired.

This assertion ignores the fact that Ukraine's constitution bars it from holding elections under martial law, which has been in place since the start of the full-scale invasion. Zelenskyy has voiced readiness for Ukraine to conduct elections once the war is over and martial law is lifted.

'Nazi Ideology'

Critics of the initial US framework say it echoes some of Russia's other narratives, such as the false assertion that Ukraine is run by or dominated by "nazis;" one of Russia's stated goals in the invasion is the "denazification" of Ukraine.

As reported by multiple media outlets, the US draft states, "All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited," while the European counterproposal makes no mention of "Nazi ideology."

Both drafts call for Ukraine to "adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities," but the US draft also says both countries "will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education."

The European proposal omits that wording, which hunts at Russian claims of discrimination that Kyiv says are overblown.

'Address The Suffering' Or Amnesty All?

Along with territorial control, one of the biggest gaps between the US draft framework and the European counterproposal is the issue of responsibility and justice.

"All parties involved in this conflict will receive full amnesty for their actions during the war and agree not to make any claims or consider any complaints in the future," reads point 26 of the US draft. In the European document, point 26 makes no mention of an amnesty, saying only: "Provision will be made to address the suffering of victims of the conflict."

The wording is vague and gives no indication of how the incalculable suffering wreaked on Ukrainians by Russia might be addressed. But as alleged atrocities mount and Ukraine gathers evidence that could be used in putative future war crimes trials, it's a gap that could be almost impossible to bridge.

In 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin, alleging he is responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.

Russian Rejection

The reaction from Russia, which has repeatedly accused European nations of seeking to undermine US peace efforts, was not surprising.

The European counterproposal is "completely unconstructive and does not suit us," Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said on November 24.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-europe-ukraine-russia-peace- plans/33603387.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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NATO Chief Rutte Tells RFE: 'Thoughtful Dialogue' Needed On Ukraine

By Rikard Jozwiak November 24, 2025

Summary

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte discusses with RFE/RL the 28-point US plan for ending the war in Ukraine, highlighting the alliance's role in fostering dialogue between Ukraine and Washington.

The plan proposes controversial measures, including capping Ukraine's army, ceding territory to Russia, and easing sanctions on Moscow, sparking concerns in Europe and Kyiv, which were not part of drawing up the initial proposal.

Rutte emphasized the importance of ensuring any peace deal prevents Russia from attacking Ukraine again and doesn't rule out future NATO membership for Kyiv.

BRUSSELS -- A US peace proposal has helped bring Kyiv and Washington closer together on the way toward ending Russia's war on Ukraine, Europe's biggest and deadliest conflict since World War II, NATO's chief said.

Speaking to RFE/RL from the alliance's headquarters in Brussels on November 24, Secretary-General Mark Rutte characterized weekend talks over the proposal -- which blindsided Kyiv and its European allies -- in Geneva between US and Ukrainian negotiators as "very successful."

"Well, obviously some of the elements have to be really thought through," Rutte said on the 28-point plan, adding that "clearly as a base it served its purpose yesterday to get the two parties to really dialogue."

The plan, leaked to several media including RFE/RL, late last week sent alarm bells ringing in several European capitals as well as in Kyiv with some calling it a Kremlin "wish list."

The terms required sweeping concessionsby Kyiv and appeared to mirror many of the Kremlin's demands -- including the surrender of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions -- known as the Donbas -- and Crimea, along with setting limits on the size of Ukraine's military.

The proposal also would allow Moscow back into the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations as well as gradually easing Western sanctions on the Kremlin.

As the proposal became public, European diplomats scrambled to draft a counterproposal that is easier on Kyiv.

The 58-year-old former Dutch prime minister said "elements more concerning the EU or NATO will be discussed separately."

US President Donald Trump initially gave Ukraine until November 27 to agree to the proposal, although he later softened that deadline.

There was no public statement on how a revised plan would handle issues such as how Ukraine's security would be safeguarded against future Russian threats or how to finance a reconstruction of post-war Ukraine.

Rutte confirmed that he had been in touch with both Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the weekend, and was reluctant to discuss the proposal line by line.

But he stressed that the "end state" of the talks "is a sovereign Ukraine going forward, a strong nation, and Russia never trying again to attack it."

"I know one thing about the Russians in general and Putin specifically. Whenever you make an agreement, you have to make sure it is in his interest to keep to it," Rutte said.

"So that's why it is so important that whenever a peace deal is reached on Ukraine, that he will never try again," he said. "And he will never try again when he knows that the consequences for him will be devastating if he tries to invade Ukraine again after a long term cease-fire or a preferably a peace deal."

NATO Membership For Ukraine?

Rutte commented on two aspects that the plan touches on with regard to the military alliance: future dialogue with Russia and potential membership in NATO for Ukraine.

The NATO chief, who took over as head of the alliance in October last year, said future discussions will not happen under the auspices of the NATO-Russia Council, which last met just before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, or through the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act, which codified relations between the 32-member military alliance and Moscow.

"These things are dead, these two institutions, the NATO-Russia Council and the NATO-Russia Founding Act are dead since Putin invaded Ukraine," Rutte said, adding that the Kremlin's invasion of its neighbor went "against all the fundamentals of our Western values and what the NATO-Russia Founding Act stood for and what the NATO Russian Council tried to achieve."

Similarly, he didn't completely rule out future NATO membership for Ukraine, even though the initial US proposal stated that the military alliance should not advance further.

Rutte was quick to add, however, that Kyiv's membership in NATO isn't in the cards right now.

"Every country in the realm of NATO -- so in the Euro Atlantic area who wants to become a member of NATO and this is the Washington Treaty of 1949 -- can apply for membership. But to become a member you need unanimity. And at the moment that unanimity is far off," he said.

"At the moment we have a couple of allies stating explicitly we are against Ukraine accessing to NATO," he said. "Of course we also have had the language from the Washington summit last year, which said there is this irreversible path into NATO. So that's one reality."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-europe-ukraine-russia-peace- plans/33603387.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US' Ukraine Plan Under Revision: Fewer Points, No Frozen-Asset Confiscation

Sputnik News

20251124

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, initially comprised of 28 points, has been reduced to 19 following recent discussions between American and Ukrainian officials in Geneva over the weekend, The Washington Post reported on Monday, citing officials in the know.

However, the exact number of points has not yet been finalized, and the discussions are still rooted in the initial US proposal rather than a separate European vision of the document that was also shared this weekend, the report said.

After talks with the Ukrainian delegation on Sunday in Geneva, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that he was not aware of the European counterproposal aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine, while mentioning that the peace plan currently being considered includes either 26 or 28 points, depending on the version.

A Bloomberg report, in turn, indicated that the latest draft of the peace plan does not include the provision regarding the $100 billion in frozen Russian assets being allocated for US-led reconstruction efforts in Ukraine, which has caused "optimism" among European officials.

The initial US 28-point plan outlined that the US would receive 50% of the profits, with any unspent frozen assets being directed into a US-Russian investment fund.

The EU "optimism" stems from the fact that the bloc has been eyeing the confiscation of Russian state assets for the past months. In October at the summit in Brussels, EU leaders failed to agree on the EU Commission's proposal to use frozen Russian Central Bank assets as the basis for a Ukraine loan for about $161 billion. The issue will be revisited at the European Council meeting from December 18-19.

On November 19, US media reported, citing US administration officials, that US President Donald Trump had approved a 28-point plan for the Ukrainian conflict settlement. It reportedly includes a reduction in US military aid, the official recognition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) as canonical by the Russian Orthodox Church, giving the Russian language an official status in Ukraine, reducing Ukraine's armed forces, and banning foreign troops and long-range weapons on Ukrainian soil. The plan assumes that the US and other countries recognize Crimea and Donbas as legitimate Russian territories.

At the same time, the Trump administration told its European allies and Ukraine that the plan is a "live" document open to their input to take their positions into account as the talks proceed.

On November 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Trump's new peace plan could form a basis for a final settlement in Ukraine.

 Sputnik

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Kremlin Aide Forecasts Heavy Revisions by All Sides of US's Ukraine Plan

Sputnik News

20251124

The provisions of the US plan for settling the conflict in Ukraine need to be thoroughly discussed by all sides, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said.

"We reviewed one version that corresponds broadly to the understandings reached in Alaska. Many  not all, but many  of its points appear acceptable to us. Others, and there are quite a few since the document contains 28 points, clearly require detailed examination and discussion among the participants. But, as I've said, no one has discussed this with us yet," Ushakov told reporters.

The draft US plan on Ukraine will be revised and modified by Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and Europe, the Kremlin aide said.

"They passed us a draft that is now being discussed. And, as you know, it will naturally undergo revisions and modifications on our side, and likely on the Ukrainian, American, and European sides as well. This is a very serious issue. But for now, as I've said, no one has held any discussions with us about it," Ushakov told reporters.

The Kremlin aide noted that there is currently "a lot of speculation" surrounding the American plan, but Russia relies on the version delivered through official channels.

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the talks in Geneva with the Ukrainians satisfied the US side. He also mentioned 28 points  and sometimes 26. There is a lot of noise, making it unclear what to trust. But we rely on what we've seen and what was sent to us through the proper channels," Ushakov explained.

No substantive negotiations with Russia regarding the US plan have taken place, he stressed.

Commenting further, the Kremlin aide said that while many different versions are circulating, the proposals Russia has reviewed could serve as a basis for a final settlement.

"I want to reiterate what the President [Vladimir Putin] has already said: yes, we have seen this version of the plan, but no concrete negotiations have been held with Russian representatives," he said.

Russia has not yet received a formal US proposal detailing who would come to Moscow for talks or when, Ushakov said.

"We haven't received any firm proposals about who intends to come to Moscow or when," he clarified when asked about possible talks in the coming weeks.

Ushakov also commented on reports about a so-called "European plan," stating that after a preliminary review, Moscow found it unconstructive and unsuitable.

"There are many other plans being circulated. This morning we learned about the European proposal which, at first glance, is entirely unconstructive and does not suit us," the official stated.

 Sputnik

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Russian Troops Liberate Zatishye in Latest Zaporozhye Region Advance

Sputnik News

20251124

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Vostok Battlegroup took control of the settlement of Zatishye in the Zaporozhye region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"Units of the Vostok group of forces, as a result of active offensive operations, liberated the village of Zatishye in the Zaporozhye region," the ministry said in a statement.

Taking control of the settlement of Zatishye has strengthened the position of the Vostok battlegroup and marked an important step toward further advances, the ministry added.

Ukraine suffered heavy losses in manpower and equipment, including over 20 armored and motor vehicles, the ministry said, adding that the operation was carried out by assault units of Russia's 114th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Division of the 5th Guards Combined Forces of the Vostok battlegroup.

Russia's Tsentr battlegroup eliminated more than 425 Ukrainian military personnel in the past 24-hour period, the ministry also said.

"In total, in the area of responsibility of the Tsentr group of forces, the enemy lost more than 425 service people, six armored combat vehicles, including a US-made HMMWV armored car, and 10 vehicles," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Zapad battlegroup inflicted serious losses on the enemy, wiping out 230 Ukrainian service people, while the Vostok battlegroup snuffed out as many as 245 Ukrainian soldiers. In addition, the Yug battlegroup eradicated over 235 Ukrainian soldiers.

Likewise, Russia's Sever battlegroup inflicted major losses on the enemy, eliminating over 135 Ukrainian soldiers, two armored combat vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, two field artillery pieces, two ammunition and materiel depots over the past day.

Also, Russia's Dnepr battlegroup destroyed over 70 Ukrainian soldiers, two armored combat vehicles, 21 motor vehicles, a field artillery piece, seven electronic warfare stations, six ammunition and material depots over the past day.

Additionally, Russian forces unleased powerful strikes crushing Ukrainian energy, transport, and port infrastructure used by the Kiev regime's armed forces.

Ukraine has lost as many as 250 soldiers in battles with Russian troops in Krasnoarmeysk (also known as Pokrovsk).

"During the day, up to 250 Ukrainian servicepeople, two armored personnel carriers, a pickup truck and two field artillery guns were destroyed in the Krasnoarmeysk area," the ministry said.

Russian forces also repelled eight Ukrainian attacks aimed at breaking the encirclement of a group of Ukrainian soldiers in Krasnoarmeysk, the statement read.

 Sputnik

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US Threatens to Cut All Aid to Ukraine If It Rejects Settlement Deal - Report

Sputnik News

20251124

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States threatened to cut off all aid to Ukraine if it did not agree to the proposed settlement plan, according to an ABC report citing a Ukrainian official.

The cutoff of US aid would encompass the suspension of anti-aircraft missile deliveries, the cessation of intelligence sharing, and the halt of all other US military aid and obligations, the broadcaster reported.

On November 19, US media reported, citing US administration officials, that Trump had approved a 28-point plan for the Ukrainian conflict settlement. It reportedly includes a reduction in US military aid, the official recognition of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, giving the Russian language an official status in Ukraine, reducing Ukraine's armed forces, banning foreign troops and long-range weapons on Ukrainian soil. The plan assumes that the US and other countries recognize Crimea and Donbass as legitimate Russian territories.

On November 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Trump's new peace plan could form a basis for a final settlement in Ukraine.

 Sputnik

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Russia Received No Info on Trilateral US-EU-Ukraine Negotiations in Geneva - Kremlin

Sputnik News

20251124

Moscow has not received any information about the negotiations involving the US, Ukraine, and European countries in Geneva, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated.

Talks between envoys from the US, the EU, and Ukraine were held in Geneva on November 23.

"No, we have not received any information so far," Peskov replied when asked whether the Kremlin had been informed about the outcome of the Geneva negotiations.

He added that Moscow has no knowledge of the peace plan text produced during the negotiations in Geneva.

"We don't know whether the head of the Kiev regime will go to Washington, what exactly will be discussed, or what text was drafted in Geneva. We do not have such information at this time," Peskov told reporters.

According to earlier reports, Volodymyr Zelensky might travel to Washington next week for a meeting with US President Donald Trump to coordinate a plan for resolving the conflict in Ukraine. However, the trip is contingent on the outcome of ongoing negotiations in Geneva.

Peskov also suggested waiting for information about possible adjustments made to the US plan for settlement.

The US administration previously stated that it is working on a plan for the Ukrainian settlement but will not discuss its details yet, as the work is still underway. The Kremlin emphasized that Russia remains open to negotiations and continues to adhere to the platform discussed in Anchorage.

"We have not seen any plan so far. We read the statement that, following the discussions in Geneva, some adjustments were made to the version we saw earlier. Well, we will wait. It appears the dialogue is continuing, and further contacts are expected. For now, we have received nothing officially," Peskov said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a Security Council meeting on November 21, said the US plan could form the basis of a final peace settlement  but that the text is not being discussed substantively with Russia at this stage. He suggested this is likely because the US administration has not managed to secure Kiev's agreement, as Ukraine and its European allies remain under the illusion that they can deliver a "strategic defeat" to Russia on the battlefield. Their position, Putin noted, stems from a lack of objective information about the real situation on the ground.

The Kremlin does not want to discuss the US plan on Ukraine through the media, deeming it "impossible and inappropriate," Peskov said.

"Look, as we've already said, conducting discussions through the media is something we consider impossible and inappropriate. That's the first point. And we do not intend to do so," Peskov told reporters.

Peskov also stated that no meeting between Russian and US delegations is expected this week, and there are no concrete details regarding potential negotiations.

"Not yet," he said when asked whether a meeting on a peace agreement could take place this week between Russian and American emissaries.

He reminded journalists of President Vladimir Putin's statements that Russia remains open to such contacts.

"For now, there is no concrete information about any talks with us," the spokesman added.

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From November 20 to 23, the 5th International New Materials Industry Conference was held in Bengbu, Anhui Province. At the opening ceremony, major attracting both investment and talent projects in the provinces new materials sector were signed. Across the main venue and sub-venues, 162 projects were signed with a total investment of 70.197 billion yuan; Bengbu signed 79 projects with a total investment of 25.101 billion yuan. Held for five consecutive sessions, the International New Materials Industry Conference has gradually become an important platform for Anhui to connect with global innovation resources, showcase an image of openness and innovation, and promote high-quality development of the new materials industry. Data released at the conference show that over the past five years, Anhuis new materials industry value added has grown by more than 10% per year on average. In 2024 the full-industry-chain revenue of the new materials sector exceeded 900 billion yuan and is expected to reach one trillion yuan this year. The province has formed three industry clusters each exceeding 100 billion yuan  advanced metal materials, advanced chemical materials, and silicon-based new materials  as well as industry chains in areas such as new display materials and new energy materials at the 10-billion-yuan level, providing strong support for the upgrade of the provinces manufacturing industry.

Source: Anhui Daily
Donetsk Head: Russian Forces Taking Total Control of Krasnoarmeysk, Enemy Trapped

Sputnik News

20251124

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The bulk of Krasnoarmeysk (also known as Pokrovsk) has been captured by the Russian military, with Ukrainian troops utterly surrounded and suffering severe losses, Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) head Denis Pushilin said on Monday.

Speaking to Russian media, Pushilin revealed: "On the Krasnoarmeysk axis [of the frontline], Russian forces now control the lion's share of the city itself, and work to grind down the enemy carries on. The enemy is surrounded and is suffering severe losses".

Russian forces are advancing from an additional direction to swiftly emancipate the Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov areas, the regional head noted.

Ukrainian troops are in a hasty retreat from central Konstantinovka, leaving their wounded stranded and abandoning equipment, Pushilin said. Meanwhile, Russian troops have reinforced their positions to the south and southeast there, he stressed.

 Sputnik

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Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation of Spain Jose Manuel Albares

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

24 November 2025 20:50

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "I spoke to Jose Manuel Albares to discuss the outcomes of the recent negotiations in Geneva and next steps in our peace efforts. I emphasised the importance of further increasing pressure on the aggressor, including sanctions and enabling the full use of frozen Russian assetswe need this decision as soon as possible. I also thanked my colleague for the recent successful visit of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Spain's consistent support for Ukraine."

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Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with the European colleagues from the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and France

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

24 November 2025 13:34

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "I had a meaningful call with our allies from Germany Johann Wadephul, the UK Yvette Cooper, France Jean-Noel Barrot, Finland Elina Valtonen, Italy Antonio Tajani, and Poland Radosaw Sikorski. I updated our European partners on the latest developments in peace efforts, the outcomes of yesterday's result-oriented and productive talks in Geneva, as well as Europe's important role. We shared perspectives and coordinated positions ahead of the next steps. I am grateful to our allies for their confirmation of their continued unwavering support for Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine appreciates the United States' and President Donald Trump's peace efforts and remains committed to constructive and active work to put an end to the war. I stressed the critical importance of maintaining transatlantic unity to secure a lasting and just peace for Ukraine and the entire Europe. We also agreed on the need to maintain pressure on Russia, including through new sanctions and the decision to enable the full of use of immobilised Russian assets, which is needed until the end of the year. We share the view that the main objective of the peace process is a just and lasting peace with respect to Ukraine's sovereignty and security. We agreed to stay in close coordination to achieve this goal. I also encouraged our partners to consider high-level visits to Ukraine to demonstrate their solidarity and support for our people."

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First 100,000 FPV drones delivered to Ukrainian military through the DOT-Chain Defence procurement platform

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

24 November, 2025, 12:16 PM EET

In less than four months of DOT-Chain Defence's operation, more than 100,000 FPV drones have been delivered to the military through this IT system, nearly one-third of which are fiber-optic-controlled. With the platform functioning as a marketplace, units independently select the assets that most accurately align with their needs.

Payments and all bureaucratic procedures  from contract conclusion to logistics control  are managed by the Ministry of Defence's Defence Procurement Agency (DPA). As a result, the average delivery time for FPV drones through DOT-Chain Defence is 7 days.

Currently, the marketplace offers over 180 FPV drone models produced by 40 companies. Furthermore, the system features strike copter drones, fixed-wing drones, anti-radar and EW tools, and ground robotic systems. The Defence Procurement Agency is consistently broadening the range of available products and bringing new manufacturers into the system.

Currently, 180 brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two corps of the National Guard of Ukraine have access to the system. The system is also used to provide all Defence Forces with equipment under the 'Army of Drones Bonus' program.

Reference information: The DOT-Chain Defence marketplace of Ukraine's Ministry of Defence is used to provide military units with the required weaponry. The system brings together brigades, manufacturers, and the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) into a unified, secure environment. This enables the military to receive the necessary equipment in just a few clicks.

The supply of the military through the DOT-Chain Defence is conducted alongside other programs and constitutes an additional channel for drone deliveries.

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President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Spain Discussed Negotiations in Geneva and Other Contacts with Partners

President of Ukraine

24 November 2025 - 20:04

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez.

Pedro Sanchez is currently in Angola, where the EU-African Union Summit is taking place. The Prime Minister informed the President about contacts among partners, during which the key focus has been on Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy briefed Pedro Sanchez on the course and results of yesterday's meetings in Geneva and noted that he expects a detailed report from the Ukrainian delegation within the hour.

The leaders emphasized the importance of the fact that, alongside Ukraine, other Europeans are also engaged in contacts with the American team. After all, Ukraine's future lies in the European Union, and issues of the shared security of Ukraine and all of Europe are being decided right now.

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The President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Norway Discussed the Diplomatic Situation and Bilateral Cooperation

President of Ukraine

24 November 2025 - 15:19

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Stre.

The Head of State thanked Norway for the advice and support.

The leaders discussed the diplomatic situation and bilateral cooperation.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy briefed the Prime Minister on the initial results of the advisers' work in Geneva. The Ukrainian delegation is now returning home and will present a full report this evening on the progress of the talks and the partners' principal emphases. Based on these reports, further steps and timing will be determined.

The conversation also covered continued coordination with Europe and other partners around the world. The President stressed that Ukraine counts on achieving the necessary results and is grateful to everyone who provides support.



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Volodymyr Zelenskyy Had Conversations with the Presidents of Finland, Lithuania, and the European Council

President of Ukraine

24 November 2025 - 13:28

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had phone conversations with the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb; the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa; and the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda.

The Head of State updated the leaders on yesterday's meetings of national security advisers in Geneva - covering the positions of the parties, the progress of negotiations, and the key priorities. Ukraine is working in the most constructive way possible. Right now, it is especially important that every step our country takes together with its partners is carefully considered, and that all decisions are doable and capable of ensuring lasting peace and guaranteed security.

The President noted that European partners support Ukraine's positions and our people.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to every leader and every country around the world that helps Ukraine and acts on principle.





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It Is Crucial to Support the Principles on Which Europe Stands: Borders Cannot Be Changed by Force, and the Aggressor Must Pay for the War - The President

President of Ukraine

24 November 2025 - 13:21

Ukraine is working closely with the United States and European partners to define steps that can end the war and bring real security. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his online address to participants of the Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform, held in Sweden. Nearly 70 foreign delegations took part in the event.

The Head of State expressed gratitude for the principled stance and for clearly stating that the annexation of Crimea in 2014 was illegal. The President also highlighted the work of the Crimea Platform and its parliamentary component, which is based on respect for every nation and state and on the protection of the core principles that maintained peace in Europe.

"These principles are clear: respect for human life, no changing borders by force, and no 'spheres of influence' - a polite term used to cover the desire to dominate other nations and wage wars of aggression. This is exactly what the Crimea Platform stands for: refusing to accept that launching wars of conquest is 'normal,' and refusing to normalize cruelty toward people and nations," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

The President stressed that Ukraine is currently at a critical moment and is working closely with the United States, European partners, and many others around the world to define steps that can bring an end to Russia's war against Ukraine and ensure real security.

"Putin wants legal recognition for what he has stolen - to break the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty - and that's the main problem. You all understand what that means. He wants it not only from Ukraine - he wants it from the whole world, and it's very dangerous," Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.

The Head of State pointed out that in the steps Ukraine has coordinated with the U.S., it was possible to keep extremely sensitive issues on the table - including the full release of all Ukrainian prisoners of war under the "all-for-all" formula, the release of civilians, and the complete return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

The President emphasized that Ukraine will continue working with partners, seeking compromises, and explaining just how dangerous it is to pretend that aggression is something one can simply overlook and move on.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the international community to support Ukraine and the negotiation process, and to defend the principles on which Europe stands: borders cannot be changed by force, war criminals must not evade justice, and the aggressor must fully pay for the war he started - which is why decisions regarding Russian assets are essential.

"Please support these decisions, and above all, keep pressure on Russia. Russia is still killing people. Every day. Occupied territories remain occupied. And that means Russia remains a criminal state. Today, almost 70 parliamentary delegations are present, and if parliaments in Europe, in the world, do not close their eyes to this, then no one will," the Head of State said.





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U.S., Ukraine reportedly narrow 28-point peace plan to 19 points

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:10, November 25, 2025

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-proposed 28-point peace plan aiming to end the Ukraine crisis has been trimmed to a 19-point framework drafted by the United States and Ukraine over the weekend in Geneva, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

"Many of the controversial provisions were either softened or at least reshaped" to get closer to a Ukrainian position or reduce demands on Ukraine, Oleksandr Bevz, a Ukrainian official who participated in the Geneva talks, was quoted by The Washington Post as saying.

He added that the Thursday deadline, set by U.S. President Donald Trump for an agreement on the 28-point plan, now appears more flexible than it did before.

"It's not a code red -- it's more important to finalize the text," said Bevz.

Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya told the Financial Times that the new draft bore little resemblance to the leaked 28-point version.

"Very few things are left from the original version," he said.

The new draft leaves the most contentious issues for Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to decide, according to multiple media reports.

The earlier 28-point version would have required Ukraine to cede territory in eastern Ukraine, reduce its military and forswear NATO membership. The plan thus crossed several long-standing Ukrainian red lines, drawing criticism from Ukraine and across Europe, according to reports.

Representatives from the United States, Ukraine and European countries met in Geneva on Sunday as the White House pushed for agreement on the 28-point plan.

Following a meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and national security advisers from Britain, France and Germany, the Ukrainian side held bilateral talks with the U.S. representatives.

It's reported that Sunday's Geneva meeting was attended on the U.S. side by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, with Zelensky's office chief Andriy Yermak leading the Ukrainian delegation.

According to a joint statement issued by the White House on Sunday night, the talks between U.S. representatives and Ukrainian officials in Geneva made "meaningful progress toward aligning positions."

The Kremlin said it has not received official details from Geneva and does not plan talks with U.S. officials this week, according to a Newsweek report.

Trump has set Thursday as the deadline for reaching an understanding with Kiev on the framework, while suggesting that talks could continue beyond that date if progress is being made.

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Galleon Gold Corp. (TSXV: GGO) (FSE: 3H90) (the "Company" or "Galleon Gold") is pleased to announce it that in connection with its previously announced equity financings (a) the Company and Pan American Silver Corp. ("Pan American") have agreed to increase the size of the non-brokered private placement of units of the Company (the "Non-Brokered Units") to Pan American to aggregate gross proceeds of $11,250,000 (the "Non-Brokered Offering"), and (b) the Company and Cormark Securities Inc. (the "Lead Agent") on behalf of a syndicate of Agents (collectively, the "Agents"), have agreed to increase the size of the "best efforts" private placement of units of the Company (the "Brokered Units") to aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $16,000,200 (the "LIFE Offering" and collectively with the Non-Brokered Offering, the "Offerings" and each, an "Offering"). Both the Non-Brokered Units and the Brokered Units will be sold at a price of $0.60 per unit (the "Offering Price"). If Over-Allotment Option (as defined below) granted to the Agents in connection with the LIFE Offering is exercised in full, the total gross proceeds of the Offerings will be approximately $30,000,000.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offerings to advance surface infrastructure and underground development related to the bulk sample program at its West Cache Gold Project (the "Project"), to repurchase a 3% net smelter royalty on the Project (see press release dated October 16, 2025), and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The Offerings are expected to close concurrently on or about December 4, 2025 (the "Closing Date"), or on such other date as may be agreed to by the Company and the Agents, with respect to the LIFE Offering, and by the Company and Pan American, with respect to the Non-Brokered Offering, in each case subject to compliance with applicable securities laws. The completion of each of the Offerings is subject to certain customary conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals including the conditional approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Neither Offering is conditional on the other closing.

Non-Brokered Offering

Each Non-Brokered $0.60 Unit issued pursuant to the Non-Brokered Offering will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Non-Brokered Warrant"). Each Non-Brokered Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.75 at any time before 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the date that is 24 months following the Closing Date (as defined below). The Common Shares and Non-Brokered Warrants comprising the Non-Brokered Units sold to Pan American, as well as the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Non-Brokered Warrants, will be subject to a four-month hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

LIFE Offering

The LIFE Offering will consist of the issuance and sale of 26,667,000 Brokered Units at the Offering Price for gross proceeds of approximately $16,000,200. Each Brokered Unit will consist of one Common Share and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.75 at any time before 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the date that is 24 months following the Closing Date. The Company has granted the Agents an option (the "Over-Allotment Option") to offer for sale up to 4,583,000 additional Brokered Units at the Offering Price. The Over-Allotment Option shall be exercisable in full or in part the sole discretion of the Lead Agent at any time prior to Closing Date.

The Brokered Units will be offered pursuant to Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption") to purchasers in each of the provinces of Canada. The Agents may also offer the Brokered Units for sale in the United States pursuant to available exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in certain other jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States pursuant to applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with OSC Rule 72-503 - Distributions Outside Canada ("OSC Rule 72-503"); provided that no prospectus filing or comparable obligation, ongoing reporting requirement or requisite regulatory or governmental approval arises in such other jurisdictions. The Common Shares and Warrants comprising the Brokered Units sold under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption to investors resident in Canada or to investors outside of Canada pursuant to OSC Rule 72-503, as well as the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, will not be subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

There are English and French versions of an offering document (the "Offering Document") related to the LIFE Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at https://galleongold.com. Prospective investors should read the Offering Document before making an investment decision.

The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the "United States" or "U.S. persons" (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act), absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable U.S. state securities laws or in compliance with an exemption therefrom. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Galleon Gold

Galleon Gold is an advanced exploration and development company focused on the West Cache Gold Project in Timmins, Ontario. The Project is located 7 km northeast of Pan American Silver's Timmins West Mine and 14 km southwest of Discovery Silver's Hollinger Mine. The Company is gearing up for its first test mining at West Cache. The 86,500-tonne underground bulk sample is designed to provide valuable data for feasibility studies. Galleon Gold's strategy is to systematically derisk the Project while continuing to grow the asset through grassroots exploration.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements", as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws, that reflect the current views and/or expectations of Galleon Gold with respect to the expected timing and completion of the Offerings and the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offerings. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which Galleon Gold operates.

Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the Offerings and the timing in respect thereof, the use of proceeds of the Offerings, including the repurchase of the royalty, the filing of the Offering Document, timely receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, resale restrictions on the securities being offered under the Offerings, potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, expectations, plans, and objectives of Galleon Gold.

The following are important factors that could cause Galleon Gold's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of mineral commodities, general market conditions and uncertainty of access to additional capital, risks inherent in mineral exploration, delays in the receipt of government approvals, risks associated with development, construction, mining operations and third party contractor activities, risks related to unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Galleon Gold undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

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.



/THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/



SOURCE Galleon Gold Corp.







For further information:



Galleon Gold, R. David Russell, Chairman and CEO, T. (416) 644-0066, info@galleongold.com, www.galleongold.com; Investor Relations, North Star Investor Relations, Graham Farrell, T. (416) 842-9003, graham@northstarir.ca


Toronto, November 24, 2025 - Arizona Copper and Gold Ltd. (the "Company" or "ACG") and Core Nickel Corp. (TSXV: CNCO) ("Core Nickel", and together with ACG, the "parties") are pleased to provide an update to their previously announced concurrent brokered private placements and proposed business combination pursuant to which Core Nickel will acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of ACG resulting in a reverse takeover of Core Nickel by ACG's shareholders (the "Proposed Transaction").

The Concurrent Financing

The parties are pleased to announce that the concurrent brokered private placements of Core Nickel (the "Core Nickel Offering") and ACG (the "ACG Offering" and, together, the "Concurrent Offerings"), previously disclosed in press releases dated October 2, 2025 and October 20, 2025, are scheduled to close on November 25, 2025 (the "Closing Date"). The parties expect to issue an aggregate of 2,659,542 subscription receipts of ACG (the "ACG Subscription Receipts") and Core Nickel (the "Core Nickel Subscription Receipts" and, together with the ACG Subscription Receipts, the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of $1.20 per Subscription Receipt (which, for greater certainty, is on a post-Consolidation (as defined below) basis in respect of the Core Nickel Subscription Receipts), for aggregate gross proceeds of $3,191,450 from the Concurrent Offerings.

Stifel Canada and Clarus Securities Inc. (together, the "Co-Lead Agents") are acting as co-lead agents and joint bookrunners on behalf of a syndicate of agents which includes PowerOne Capital Markets Limited, on a "best efforts" basis in connection with the Concurrent Offerings.

Each ACG Subscription Receipt will be deemed to be automatically converted, without payment of additional consideration or further action by the holder thereof, into one unit in the capital of ACG (each, an "ACG Unit"), subject to adjustment in certain events, immediately before the closing of the Proposed Transaction, upon the satisfaction and/or waiver of certain escrow release conditions (as will be set out in the ACG Subscription Receipt Agreement (as defined below)) at or before the date that is 120 days from the Closing Date (the "Escrow Release Deadline"). Each ACG Unit shall consist of one common share (an "ACG Share") in the capital of ACG and one ACG Share purchase warrant (an "ACG Warrant"). It is expected that immediately after conversion of the ACG Subscription Receipts into ACG Shares and ACG Warrants, and upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, for no additional consideration and without any further action by the holders thereof: (i) each ACG Share shall be exchanged for one post-Consolidation common share (a "Resulting Issuer Share") of Core Nickel, as it will exist after the completion of the Proposed Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer"), and (ii) each ACG Warrant shall be immediately exchanged for one post-Consolidation warrant of the Resulting Issuer (a "Resulting Issuer Warrant"). Each Resulting Issuer Warrant will be exercisable for one Resulting Issuer Share for a period of three years from the Closing Date at an exercise price of $1.50 per Resulting Issuer Share.

Each Core Nickel Subscription Receipt will be deemed to be automatically converted, without payment of additional consideration or further action by the holder thereof, into one unit in the capital of Core Nickel (each, a "Core Nickel Unit"), subject to adjustment in certain events, immediately before the closing of the Proposed Transaction, upon the satisfaction and/or waiver of certain escrow release conditions (as will be set out in the Core Nickel Subscription Receipt Agreement (as defined below)) at or before the Escrow Release Deadline. Each Core Nickel Unit shall consist of one post-Consolidation Resulting Issuer Share and one post-Consolidation Resulting Issuer Warrant. The Core Nickel Subscription Receipts are being issued on a post-Consolidation basis at a post-Consolidation price of $1.20 per Core Nickel Subscription Receipt (or $0.14 per subscription receipt if calculated on a pre-Consolidation basis).

In consideration for their services in connection with the Concurrent Offerings, the parties have agreed to pay the Agents a cash fee (the "Agents' Fee") of up to 6.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Subscription Receipts, of which 50% of the Agents' Fee will be paid on the Closing Date and the remaining 50% of the Agents' Fee will be deposited in escrow and released to the Agents in connection with the conversion of the Subscription Receipts. As additional consideration for the services of the Agents, the Agents will be granted broker warrants of the Resulting Issuer (the "Broker Warrants") in such number as is equal to up to 6.0% of the number of Subscription Receipts sold in the Concurrent Offerings. Each Broker Warrant shall be exercisable to acquire one Resulting Issuer Share at a price of $1.20 for a period of 12 months following the escrow release and conversion of the Subscription Receipts. The Broker Warrants shall be issued to the Agents upon release of the escrowed funds and conversion of the Subscription Receipts.

The Core Nickel Subscription Receipts will be created and issued pursuant to a subscription receipt agreement (the "Core Nickel Subscription Receipt Agreement") to be dated as of the Closing Date, among Core Nickel, the Co-Lead Agents and Olympia Trust Company (the "Subscription Receipt Agent"), appointed as subscription receipt agent for the Core Nickel Subscription Receipts pursuant to the terms of the Core Nickel Subscription Receipt Agreement. The ACG Subscription Receipts will be created and issued pursuant to a subscription receipt agreement (the "ACG Subscription Receipt Agreement", and together with the Core Nickel Subscription Receipt Agreement, the "Subscription Receipt Agreements") to be dated as of the Closing Date, among ACG, the Co-Lead Agents and the Subscription Receipt Agent, appointed as subscription receipt agent for the ACG Subscription Receipts pursuant to the terms of the ACG Subscription Receipt Agreement.

The net proceeds of the Concurrent Offerings are expected to be used by the Resulting Issuer to fund exploration activity at its Eagle Project as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

All other details of the Concurrent Offerings are included in the press releases of ACG and Core Nickel dated October 2, 2025 and October 20, 2025.

Proposed Transaction Summary

Further to the parties joint press release of September 16, 2025, it is intended that ACG and Core Nickel will complete the Proposed Transaction by way of a court approved plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement') under Section 182 of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on terms and conditions to be set out in the definitive arrangement agreement to be entered into between the parties (the "Definitive Agreement").

Under the Proposed Transaction, the holders of ACG Shares, including those ACG Shares acquired in the ACG Offering, will receive Resulting Issuer Shares in exchange for their ACG Shares upon completion of the Arrangement. In addition, upon the completion of the Arrangement, all of ACG's securities exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, or other rights to acquire ACG securities outstanding at completion of the Proposed Transaction, including all outstanding stock options of ACG (the "ACG Options") and ACG Warrants (collectively, with the ACG Options and ACG Shares, the "ACG Securities") will be replaced with or exchanged for securities exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, rights to acquire Resulting Issuer Shares, on the same economic terms and conditions as such original outstanding securities.

In connection with the Proposed Transaction, Core Nickel will consolidate its shares on an 8.5 to 1 basis immediately prior to the closing of the Proposed Transaction (the "Consolidation"). Following completion of the Consolidation, the outstanding ACG Securities will be exchanged for equivalent securities of the Resulting Issuer on a 1 for 1 basis (the "Exchange Ratio") pursuant to the Arrangement reflecting a deemed price (on a post-Consolidation basis) of $1.20 per Core Nickel Share for each ACG Share. Based on the foregoing, the aggregate deemed price for the ACG Shares is expected to be approximately $47,842,740 (not including the Concurrent Offerings).

The Proposed Transaction will result in the "reverse takeover" (as defined in TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") Policy 5.2) of Core Nickel by ACG shareholders.

The business of the Resulting Issuer will be primarily focused on the exploration and development of ACG's Eagle Project in Yavapai County, Arizona. While the Resulting Issuer's focus will be on exploration and development of the Eagle Project, it will continue to own Core Nickel's land portfolio in the Thompson Nickel Belt of northern Manitoba, including the Mel deposit. It is expected that the Resulting Issuer will be classified as a Tier 2 Mining Issuer.

Name Change

It is the parties' intention that the Resulting Issuer Shares will be listed on the TSXV following the closing of the Proposed Transaction. Core Nickel intends to change its name to "Arizona Eagle Mining Corp.", or such other name designated by ACG and that is acceptable to the regulatory authorities (the "Name Change").

Continuance

Core Nickel shall also seek regulatory and shareholder approval to continue out of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and into the jurisdiction of Ontario, under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario).

Closing Conditions

Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including, but not limited to, the parties entering into the Definitive Agreement, the receipt of required regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSXV, completion of the Concurrent Offerings, the receipt of the requisite Core Nickel shareholder approval for the Proposed Transaction, the Consolidation, the Name Change, the Continuance and the election of directors of the Resulting Issuer, the receipt of the requisite approval of ACG shareholders for the Proposed Transaction, court approval of the Arrangement, and certain standard closing conditions, including there being no material adverse change in the business of ACG or Core Nickel prior to completion of the Proposed Transaction.

Capitalization of the Resulting Issuer

Pre-Closing Capitalization of Core Nickel

As of the date hereof, Core Nickel has 54,991,718 common shares ("Core Shares") issued and outstanding, 18,820,891 common share purchase warrants ("Core Warrants") outstanding and 3,490,000 incentive stock options ("Core Options") outstanding. The Core Shares are currently listed on the TSXV under the symbol "CNCO".

Prior to closing of the Proposed Transaction, and subject to Core Nickel shareholder approval, it is intended that Core will undertake the Consolidation on the basis of 1 post-consolidation Core Share for every 8.5 pre-consolidation Core Shares.

Pre-Closing Capitalization of the Company

As of the date hereof, ACG has 39,868,950 ACG Shares issued and outstanding and 2,500,000 ACG Options outstanding. The ACG Shares and ACG Options issued and outstanding at the closing time of the Proposed Transaction will be exchanged for Resulting Issuer Shares and Resulting Issuer Options at the Exchange Ratio.

Concurrent Financings.

It is anticipated that the parties will issue 2,659,542 Subscription Receipts in the Concurrent Offerings, which will result in the issuance of an aggregate of a 2,659,542 Resulting Issuer Shares and 2,659,542 Resulting Issuer Warrants pursuant to the Proposed Transaction.

Capitalization of the Resulting Issuer

Without giving effect to the closing of the Concurrent Offerings as described above, upon completion of the Proposed Transaction (and on a post-Consolidation basis), the current shareholders of ACG will own 39,868,950 Resulting Issuer Shares, representing approximately 86% of the Resulting Issuer Shares and the current shareholders of Core Nickel will own 6,469,614 Resulting Issuer Shares representing approximately 14% of the outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares.

Trading

Trading in the Core Shares is currently halted in accordance with TSXV policies, and will remain halted until completion of the Proposed Transaction. Core intends to apply to the TSXV for reinstatement of trading of the Resulting Issuer Shares when permitted pursuant to TSXV policies.

About Core Nickel

Core Nickel is a junior nickel exploration company that controls 100% of five projects in the Thompson Nickel Belt, a prolific nickel district located in Northern Manitoba, Canada. Core Nickel has been focused on the discovery of economic magmatic nickel-sulphide deposits. The Mel deposit, is situated just 25 kilometers northwest of the Thompson Mill.

About ACG and the Eagle Project

ACG is a private company that owns 100% of the Eagle Project in Yavapai County, Arizona which is located on 239 unpatented BLM mining claims totaling 4,544 acres that are not subject to any royalties, and 203 acres of patented lands. See Figure 1.





Figure 1: Eagle Project claims map, location in Arizona.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10145/275850_99321d1794bbfac2_001full.jpg

Historical Exploration and Production of the Eagle Project

The Eagle Project claims host at least 12 past-producing gold mines. The Eagle Project also includes 203 acres of patented mining claims, which host the past-producing McCabe mine. Approximately US$35 million was spent from 1981 to 1986 (~CDN$110 million in 2025 dollars) to define and put the McCabe mine into production. A historic estimate in 19841 calculated total reserves of 877,617 ounces of gold at a grade of 11.7 g/t as well as 5,119,169 ounces of silver at a grade of 69 g/t. (the "Historical Estimate"). Approximately 80,000 ounces of gold were recovered from the mine before its closure in 1987.

Acquisition of Eagle Project by ACG

ACG acquired 238 unpatented mining claims through its wholly-owned subsidiary company, Arizona Desert Land Holdings Corp., by staking (April 24-30; May 1-5; June 18) and filing with the Bureau of Land Management on July 17, 2024. These claims cover a total area of 4,543.6 acres (1,838.7 hectares; 18.38 km2). In addition, ACG has acquired, through Arizona Desert Land Holdings Corp., the following patented claims through purchases:

On February 19, 2025, the company purchased eight patented mining claims from Big Bug Gravel & Gold, LLC, of Elko, NV, totaling approximately 87.44 acres (35.3 hectares; 0.36 km2) in Sections 15-16, 19-21, and 29-32, Township 13 North, Range 1 East, Yavapai County, Arizona. The eight claims include the Gladstone, Gladstone Westerly Extension, Sink to Rise, Monopolist, Little Kicker, Rebel, McCabe, and Columbus claims. The full purchase price was US$2,000,000.00, plus the buyer's closing costs, plus a 2% NSR to the seller (with the option for ACG to purchase 1% for US$1 million).

On February 9, 2025, the company purchased three patented mining claims from Charles & Coral J.T. Freeman totaling 31.64 acres in the Big Bug District, Yavapai County, Arizona. The three claims include Palo Alto, Sunol, and Columbia. As part of this agreement, the company also acquired two unpatented mining claims named Independent No. 2 and Freedom 2 totaling approximately 40 acres. The total area acquired is approximately 71.64 acres (29 hectares; 0.29 km2). The full purchase price was US$700,000.00,

Additional parcels of land were acquired by ACG over the course of 2025 for an aggregate purchase price of $1,465,083 (US$1,000,000). These claims, together with the two acquisitions listed above, are displayed in the "Patented Land" of Figure 1.

Exploration on the Eagle Project by ACG

To ACG's knowledge, no exploration work had been completed on the Eagle Project by prior owners since the early 1990s. ACG began conducting exploration work on the Eagle Project in 2024, and the sampling program completed by ACG in 2024 identified at least 12 mineralized zones and structures which have not been tested with modern exploration methods (including geophysics or drill testing).

Exploration on the Eagle Project was carried out by Ethos Geological during 2024 and 2025, with a focus on geological mapping and systematic sampling of mineralized outcrops, mine dumps, and historical workings. A total of 312 grab and channel samples were collected and submitted for analysis. Of these, 47 samples returned >1.0 g/t Au (up to 92.0 g/t), 27 samples >50 g/t Ag up to 764 g/t), and 17 samples >0.5% copper (Cu) (up to 27.6%).2

Five NE-striking zones of gold mineralization-collectively termed the Gold Zones-were mapped and sampled across a 2.17 mi (3.5 km) trend. The most notable results include 16 gold assays in the Sunol Extension Zone exceeding 1.0 g/t Au, with peak values of 23.6 and 92.0 g/t Au. Channel samples from quartz veins returned up to 14.8 g/t Au, and mineralized veins were observed to crosscut all rock units, including Cretaceous tonalite, supporting a Laramide-age classification for the McCabe-type vein system.

To the south, a distinct Copper Zone was delineated, with high-grade copper assays up to 27.6% Cu, along with associated anomalous gold (up to 29.4 g/t Au) and silver (up to 653 g/t Ag)2. The copper mineralization is hosted in black, Fe-oxide and copper oxide-stained quartz-magnetite-pyrite-specularite rocks interpreted as exhalites, indicative of VMS-related processes. Additional sampling of Fe-oxide gossans southwest of the Iron King Mine revealed structural features and metal associations consistent with Iron King-style VMS lenses, highlighting the potential for both structurally controlled vein-hosted and stratiform sulfide mineralization across the project area.

An airborne geophysical survey carried out by Geotech Ltd. in April 2025 collected versatile time-domain electromagnetics (VTEM), magnetic, and radiometric data on 50-meters (m) spaced stations on 699-line kilometers over the Project area. See Figure 2.





Figure 2: ACG VTEM survey, February 2025

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10145/275850_99321d1794bbfac2_002full.jpg

The strongly anomalous copper, gold, and silver results on samples of this type indicate impressive potential for volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") mineralization within the area sampled and in surrounding areas. Based on strong similarities with Iron King VMS ore, the Eagle Copper Zone represents a target that requires detailed exploration as a potential similar deposit.

Subject to completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Resulting Issuer intends to commence a diamond core drilling program is recommended to expand the known mineralized zones and test new exploration targets. The proposed program includes drilling 16,800 meters across 56 drill holes, targeting known high-grade McCabe Au-Ag vein-type mineralization, as well as new targets identified through mapping and geophysical surveys. The program is designed to test and confirm mineralization reported in historical records, as well as assess broader exploration potential. The drilling program is intended to be supported by geological mapping, geophysical surveys, and geochemical surveys to enhance the overall understanding of the deposit and guide future exploration.

Phase 1 of the proposed drill program is expected to focus on the McCabe-Rebel zone, including 21 holes to a depth of approximately 300 m, totaling 6,300 m. These holes may be arranged along three NE-SW-trending segments totaling 2,000 m in length, comprising 990 m within the central historic McCabe-Gladstone-Sooner mine area, 750 m between the McCabe and Rebel areas to the southwest, and 260 m northeast of the McCabe area. ACG expects that the net proceeds from the Concurrent Offerings will be used by the Resulting Issuer to complete phase 1 of the proposed exploration program and for general working capital purposes.

Caution regarding Historical Estimate

The Historical Estimate in respect of the Company's Eagle Project was prepared internally by prior owners Stan West Mining Co. The source of the Historical Estimate is as follows: Knight, D.C., 1984, Stan West Mining Corp. McCabe-Iron King Belt project summary and financial information for shareholders. The Historical Estimate is not compliant with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), a Qualified Person (as defined in NI 43-101) has not done sufficient work to classify the Historic Estimate as current mineral resources or current mineral reserves, and the Company is not treating the Historical Estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. There is no technical report associated with the Historic Estimate. The Historical Estimate contains categories that are not consistent with current CIM definitions. The Historical Estimate includes "inferred resources" together with "proven", "probable" and "possible reserves". Under current standards "total reserves" would be classified as "total resources", and the Company is interpreting the "total reserves" in the Historical Estimate as a historical estimate of "total resources". The Company considers the Historical Estimate to be relevant for the proper understanding of the Eagle Project, however significant data compilation, re-drilling, re-sampling and data verification may be required by a Qualified Person for the Historical Estimate to be compliant with NI 43-101 standards and to verify the Historical Estimate as current mineral resources. There can be no certainty, following further evaluation and/or exploration work, that the Historical Estimate can be upgraded or verified as mineral resources or mineral reserves in accordance with NI 43-101.

For more information on ACG, visit https://www.arizonaeaglemining.com.

Non-Arm's Length Transaction and Shareholder Approval

As of the date hereof, there are 39,868,950 ACG Shares issued and outstanding. The following persons own, control or direct 10% or more of the outstanding ACG Shares on a fully-diluted basis:

Name Number of ACG Shares

(on a fully-diluted basis) Percentage of Outstanding ACG Shares (on a fully-diluted basis) Paul Reid 8,500,100 20.1% Marc Pais 8,500,100 20.1% Kevin Reid 7,750,000 18.3%

17,000,200 58.4%

Directors and officers of Core Nickel collectively own an aggregate of 18,200,200 ACG Shares. Messrs. Pais and Reid, each directors of Core Nickel, each own 8,500,100 ACG Shares (as noted above), Mr. Tim Dalton, a director of Core Nickel, owns 700,000 ACG Shares (1.7% on a fully-diluted basis), Mr. Michael Pilmer, a director of Core Nickel, owns 300,000 ACG Shares (0.7% on a fully diluted basis) and Mr. Christopher Tate, CEO and a director of Core Nickel, owns 200,000 ACG Shares (0.5% on a fully diluted basis).

Additionally, directors and officers of ACG own and control, collectively, an aggregate of 16,355,500 Core Shares, 8,000,000 Core Warrants and 950,000 Core Options: Mr. Paul Reid is a director of Core Nickel and ACG and owns or controls 8,175,000 Core Shares, 3,000,000 Core Warrants and 475,000 Core Options representing approximately 14.9% of the issued and outstanding Core Shares on an undiluted basis and 19.9% of the Core Shares on a partially-diluted basis. Mr. Marc Pais is a director of Core Nickel and ACG and owns or controls 5,180,500 Core Shares 2,000,000 Core Warrants and 475,000 Core Options representing approximately 9.4% of the issued and outstanding Core Shares on an undiluted basis and 13.3% of the Core Shares on a partially-diluted basis. Mr. Kevin Reid, Chief Executive Officer of ACG, owns or controls 2,000,000 Core Shares and 2,000,000 Core Warrants, representing approximately 3.6% of the issued and outstanding Core Shares on an undiluted basis and 7.0% of the Core Shares on a partially-diluted basis. Mr. Rick Vernon, a director of ACG, owns or controls 1,000,000 Core Shares and 1,000,000 Core Warrants, representing approximately 1.8% of the issued and outstanding Core Shares on an undiluted basis, and 3.6% of the issued and outstanding Core Shares on a partially-diluted basis. Each of Kevin Reid, Marc Pais and Paul Reid also are promoters, directors or officers, and significant shareholders of ACG. As such, the Proposed Transaction will be considered a Non-Arm's Length Transaction (within the meaning of TSXV Policy 5.2, and accordingly requisite disclosures will be made and procedures followed, including approval of the Proposed Transaction by a majority of shareholders of Core Nickel (excluding certain Non-Arm's Length Parties (as defined in TSXV Policy 5.2) to the Proposed Transaction).

Furthermore, given the level of ownership and control by ACG management over Core Shares, the Proposed Transaction may constitute a "related party transaction" as such term is defined by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), and, if so, the Proposed Transaction must comply with the requirements of MI 61-101. The Company would expect to rely on the exemption from the formal valuation requirement pursuant to subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, as the Core Shares are not listed on a specified market, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101, however Core Nickel would need to obtain minority shareholder approval for the Proposed Transaction pursuant to section 5.6 of MI 61-101 and TSXV policies.

MI 61-101 and the TSXV policies require Core Nickel to call a shareholder meeting and to prepare a corresponding management information circular or filing statement containing detailed disclosure on the Proposed Transaction (the "Disclosure Document") in order to obtain shareholder approval. Core Nickel and ACG are actively preparing the Disclosure Document and Core Nickel is planning to hold the Core Nickel shareholder meeting in early 2026 (the "Core Nickel Meeting"). Additionally, Core Nickel will also seek the approval of Core shareholders for the Consolidation, the Name Change, the Continuance and the appointment of the new directors of the Resulting Issuer at the Core Nickel Meeting.

ACG will also be seeking approval for the Arrangement and the Proposed Transaction from holders of 66 2/3% of the issued and outstanding ACG Shares at a special meeting of ACG shareholders to be held in early 2026.

Details with respect to the matters to be approved at the Core Nickel Meeting will be contained in the Disclosure Document to be filed in connection with Core Meeting and which will be available for review on Core Nickel's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Summary of Financial Information

A summary of certain unaudited financial information for ACG, disclosed in accordance with TSXV policies, is included in the table below:

Arizona Copper and Gold Ltd. As at December 31, 2024

($) Cash and cash equivalents 87 Other Current Assets 1,129 Non-current Assets 85,913 Total Assets 87,129 Current Liabilities 130,094 Non-current Liabilities - Total Liabilities 130,094 Shareholders' Equity (deficit) (42,965)

Proposed Directors and Senior Management Team

Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, it is anticipated that the board of directors and management of the Resulting Issuer shall consist of the following individuals:

Marc Pais - Director and Chair of the Board

Mr. Pais is a Co-founder, Director and CEO of Arizona Metals Corp. He has a BSc in Geological Engineering (Mineral Exploration) from Queen's University. He was the founder and former President of Telegraph Gold (listed as Castle Mountain Mining, later acquired by Equinox Gold). Mr. Pais has seven years' experience as a Mining Analyst, with a focus on precious metals development companies. Co-founder and former CEO of Arizona Metals Corp.

Kevin Reid - President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Mr. Reid has a BSc. Honours in Geological Sciences from Queen's University, Kingston, and an MBA in Finance from the Schulich School of Business, Toronto. He has over 20 years of capital markets experience, beginning in the Equity Research department at CIBC World Markets in 2002, and then at both GMP Securities and Maxit Capital as a Managing Partner in the Investment Banking departments. He has acted as the lead advisor on numerous equity, debt and merger and acquisition transactions.

Mike Pilmer - Director and Chair of the Audit Committee

Mr. Pilmer has more than 30 years of experience in banking, media and digital content solutions. He joined the Corporate and Investment Banking Group of TD Bank after earning his MBA from Western University in Ontario, Canada. Mr. Pilmer has held senior positions at Southam Inc., Hollinger Inc., Postmedia Network Canada Corp., The Stronach Group and was President and CEO of LexisNexis Canada. Mr. Pilmer is a proposed director of the Resulting Issuer.

Rick Vernon - Lead Independent Director

Mr. Vernon has 30 years of experience as a mining finance professional. He was previously Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking at PI Financial Corp. He was also previously a member of the Board of Directors of Arizona Metals Corp . He holds a BSc in Geological Sciences from Queen's University, as well as an MBA from the University of Southern California.

Dawn Meidinger - Director

Ms. Meidinger joined the law firm of Dorsey & Whitney LLP as a Regulatory Affairs partner in 2024. She has multidisciplinary experience permitting mining, linear and renewable energy projects and managing all aspects of necessary federal approvals (including NEPA, NHPA, and ESA processes) while working with various federal and state agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Arizona State Land Department. Ms. Meidinger also has significant experience in project development on public lands. She has acted as lead counsel on significant BLM land exchanges and state land purchases and the permitting of numerous exploration and mine plans of operation and solar projects in Arizona and New Mexico.

She has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for expertise in Energy Law, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law and Mining Law (2016-2024) and been ranked by Chambers USA for the past seven years as a leading environmental lawyer.. She received her J.D. from Arizona State University, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, and her B.S. from Arizona State University.

Eric (Sung Min) Myung - Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Myung was a senior financial analyst at Marrelli Support Services Inc. He previously worked at public accounting firms for 7 years. Mr. Myung possesses a Canadian Professional Accountant designation and a Master of Accounting degree from University of Waterloo. Mr. Myung currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Abitibi Metals Corp., Sokoman Minerals Corp., Arizona Metals Corp., Mogotes Metals Inc. City View Green Holdings Inc., Labrador Gold Inc. and Melkior Resources Inc.

Clyde Smith QP - Vice President, Exploration

Mr. Smith is a veteran exploration geologist with 40+ years of experience and four deposit discoveries. He founded the Ogilvie Joint Venture in 1974, discovering the Jason lead-zinc-silver deposit in Yukon (later sold to HudBay Minerals). As co-founder of Ventures West Minerals and VP Exploration at Westley Mines, he discovered the Santa Fe gold deposit in Nevada-the first significant Carlin-type gold find in the region-containing 400,000+ oz and later sold to Corona Corporation, which began production in 1988.

Sponsorship of the Proposed Transaction

Pursuant to Policy 2.2 of the TSXV, sponsorship is required in a Reverse Takeover (as defined in the policies of the TSXV). The Resulting Issuer intends, subject to the approval of the TSXV, to rely on an exemption of the sponsorship requirements provided in section 3.4(a)(i) of TSXV Policy 2.2. Management of the Resulting Issuer meets the standards contemplated in section 3.4(a) of TSXV Policy 2.2. In addition, the Resulting Issuer will be a mining company that satisfies the Tier 2 initial listing requirements as provided in TSXV Policy 2.1 and the Eagle Project property of the Resulting Issuer has a current geological report.

Qualified Persons

The technical information in respect of ACG in this news release was prepared under the supervision of Clyde L. Smith, PhD. Mr. Smith is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this news release. Mr. Smith is non-independent of ACG.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC)

Rock samples consisting of grab and channel samples from mineralized outcrops, float, and historical mine dumps were collected by Ethos Geological personnel on behalf of ACG Sample locations were recorded using handheld GPS units. Quality control samples were inserted into the sample stream at regular intervals, including certified reference materials (standards) and blank samples at a frequency of approximately 5% (one quality control sample per twenty field samples).

Samples were transported directly to ALS USA Inc. laboratory in Tucson, Arizona by Ethos Geological personnel. Chain-of-custody documentation was maintained from collection through analysis. No sample losses or discrepancies were reported. ALS USA Inc. is an independent commercial laboratory with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and no financial relationship to ACG. Sample preparation followed method Prep-31Y. Two analytical methods were applied: Gold Analysis (Au-AA23), with samples exceeding 10 g/t Au were re-analyzed using gravimetric finish; and Multi-Element Analysis (ME-MS61), with samples with base metal concentrations exceeding upper detection limits analyzed using ore-grade methods (ME OG62).

Nine certified reference material (CRM) samples and eight blank samples were submitted with the 312 field samples. All standard results fell within acceptable limits and all blank samples reported below detection limits for gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc.

Review of ALS internal quality control certificates confirmed that all analytical batches met laboratory quality control standards. No batches required re-analysis. Assay certificates are available for all samples submitted.

Further Information

ACG and Core Nickel will provide further details in respect of the Proposed Transaction and the Concurrent Offerings (including closing of the Concurrent Offerings) in due course by way of a subsequent news release, however, Core Nickel will make available to the TSXV, all information, including financial information, as may be requested or required by the TSXV.

All information contained in this news release with respect to Core Nickel and ACG was supplied by the respective party, for inclusion herein, without independent review by the other party, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party.

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward- looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward- looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements concerning the Proposed Transaction (including the Name Change, Consolidation and Continuance), the Concurrent Offerings, the requisite approval of Core Nickel shareholders and ACG shareholders, court approval of the Arrangement, the proposed Definitive Agreement, and the proposed structure by which the Proposed Transaction is to be completed. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the parties, including expectations and assumptions concerning (i) the Company, Core Nickel, the Resulting Issuer, and the Proposed Transaction, (ii) the ability of the parties to negotiate and enter into the proposed Definitive Agreement on satisfactory terms as proposed, (iii) the timely receipt of all required shareholder, court and regulatory approvals (as applicable), including the approval of the TSXV, (iv) if the proposed Definitive Agreement is entered into, the satisfaction of other closing conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed Definitive Agreement, (v) the ability of the parties (as applicable) to complete the Concurrent Offerings and/or the Proposed Transaction on the terms outlined in this news release (or at all), and (vi) if the Proposed Transaction is completed, the ability of the Resulting Issuer to execute on the proposed exploration program at the Eagle Project. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward- looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the parties. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the respective management of the parties at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, neither Party undertakes any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable pursuant to the requirements of the TSXV and disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Proposed Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Proposed Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Core Nickel or ACG should be considered highly speculative.

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein in the United States or in any other jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold in the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or for dissemination in the United States.

1 Source: Knight, D.C., 1984, Stan West Mining Corp. McCabe-Iron King Belt project summary and financial information for shareholders. See Caution Regarding Historical Estimate, below.

2 See ACG press release of February 19th, 2025 for detailed sampling results and methodology: https://www.arizonaeaglemining.com/_resources/news/nr_20250219.pdf

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275850
Vancouver, November 25, 2025 - Armory Mining Corp. (CSE: ARMY) (OTC: RMRYF) (FRA: 2JS) (the "Company" or "Armory") is pleased to announce plans to reprocess historical airborne geophysical data from its Riley Creek Antimony-Gold Project using modern interpretation techniques and software. R

Historical Geophysical Survey

In 1995, a comprehensive airborne magnetometer, electromagnetic, and radiometric survey was conducted over the property by Dighem using their multi-coil, multi-frequency DIGHEM system, supplemented by a high-sensitivity cesium magnetometer, 256-channel spectrometer, and four-channel VLF receiver. The survey covered approximately 575 line-kilometres on east-west oriented flight lines spaced at 100-meter intervals.

The original1 1997 interpretation of this data successfully identified eleven areas of interest based on geophysical anomalies and structural complexity. The interpretation highlighted multiple fault systems, potential intrusive contacts, radiometric anomalies, and electromagnetic conductors warranting ground evaluation.

Modernization Program

Armory plans to digitize the complete geophysical dataset and apply current processing algorithms and interpretation techniques that were unavailable in the 1990s. Modern geophysical software enables enhanced data filtering, 3D modelling capabilities, and integration of multiple datasets that can reveal geological features and exploration targets not identified in the original interpretation.

"By applying 21st-century processing techniques to this high-quality geophysical dataset, we feel it will provide important details and will aid greatly in ultimately generating drill targets. We expect to better understand the structural controls on antimony mineralization in this highly prospective area," said Alex Klenman, CEO. "With planning underway for phased exploration at our Ammo antimony-gold project, and now this data program set for Riley Creek, we are ensuring that we are progressing the projects forward and preparing for more advanced exploration programs over the next year," continued Mr. Klenman.

About the Riley Creek Project

The Riley Creek Project is situated on Graham Island in the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, at latitude 5323'N and longitude 13225'W. The property is accessible year-round via logging roads from either the village of Port Clements to the north or Daajin Giids (formerly Queen Charlotte City) to the southeast. Regional geology comprises Jurassic Yakoun Formation sedimentary rocks, Tertiary Masset Formation volcanic flows and pyroclastics, and Tertiary plutonic intrusions of the Kano suite.

About Armory Mining Corp

Armory Mining Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on minerals critical to the energy, security and defense sectors. The Company controls an 80% interest in the Candela II lithium brine project located in the Incahuasi Salar, Salta Province, Argentina and an option 100% interest in the Riley Creek antimony-gold project located in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, and an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Ammo antimony-gold project located in Nova Scotia.

Qualified Person

Harrison Cookenboo, Ph.D., P. Geo., an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

Reference:

1 1997 Interpretation Assessment Report of Airborne Geophysical Survey on the Harmony Gold Project, Riley Creek - Rennell Sound Area, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Assessment Report 25086, 42 pages

Contact information

Alex Klenman

CEO & Director

alex@armorymining.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the Company's securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

Forward-looking statements:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the intended use of funds. The words "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "plans," "will," "may," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its expectations as reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, political and regulatory risks in Canada, operational and exploration risks, market conditions, and the availability of financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. ("Pinnacle" or the "Company") (TSXV: PINN, OTC: PSGCF, Frankfurt: P9J) is pleased to announce that it is arranging a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $2,520,000 (the "Offering"). The placement will consist of up to 18,000,000 units (the "Units") with each Unit, priced at $0.14, comprising one common share ("Share") in the capital of the Company and one-half share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each whole Warrant shall be convertible into an additional Share at an exercise price of $0.20 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. Finders' fees consisting of 6 per cent in cash commission and 6 per cent in non-transferable finders' warrants may be paid in connection with the Offering. Each finder's warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share at $0.20 cents per share over a 24-month period. The Company expects the offering to close on or about December 19, 2025.

The net proceeds raised from the Offering will be used to advance the high-grade El Potrero gold-silver project in Durango, Mexico, for project evaluations, and for general working capital.

Insiders of the Company will also be participating in the Offering. The participation of the insiders in the Offering will constitute a related-party transaction for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions). The Company is exempt from the requirements to obtain a formal evaluation or minority shareholder approval in connection with the insider participation in reliance on sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities issued, nor the fair market value of the consideration for the securities issued will exceed 25 per cent of the company's market capitalization as calculated in accordance with MI 61-101.

All securities to be issued will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of issuance and subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. The securities offered have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.

About the Potrero Property

El Potrero is located in the prolific Sierra Madre Occidental of western Mexico and lies within 35 kilometres of four operating mines, including the 4,000 tonnes per day (tpd) Cienega Mine (Fresnillo), the 1,000 tpd Tahuehueto Mine (Luca Mining) and the 250 tpd Topia Mine (Guanajuato Silver).

High-grade gold-silver mineralization occurs in a low sulphidation epithermal breccia vein system hosted within andesites of the Lower Volcanic Series and has three historic mines along a 500 metre strike length. The property has been in private hands for almost 40 years and has never been systematically explored by modern methods, leaving significant exploration potential.

A previously operational 100 tpd plant on site can be refurbished / rebuilt and historic underground mine workings rehabilitated at relatively low cost in order to achieve near-term production once permits are in place. The property is road accessible with a power line within three kilometres.

Pinnacle will earn an initial 50% interest immediately upon commencing production. The goal would then be to generate sufficient cash flow with which to further develop the project and increase the Company's ownership to 100% subject to a 2% NSR. If successful, this approach would be less dilutive for shareholders than relying on the equity markets to finance the growth of the Company.

About Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp.

Pinnacle is focused on the development of precious metals projects in the Americas. The high-grade Potrero gold-silver project in Mexico's Sierra Madre Belt hosts an underexplored low-sulphidation epithermal vein system and provides the potential for near-term production. In the prolific Red Lake District of northwestern Ontario, the Company owns a 100% interest in the past-producing, high-grade Argosy Gold Mine and the adjacent North Birch Project with an eight-kilometre-long target horizon. With a seasoned, highly successful management team and quality projects, Pinnacle Silver and Gold is committed to building long-term, sustainable value for shareholders.

Signed: "Robert A. Archer"

President & CEO

For further information contact:

Email: info@pinnaclesilverandgold.com

Tel.: +1 (877) 271-5886 ext. 110

Website: www.pinnaclesilverandgold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


Fairchild Gold Corp. ('Fairchild' or the 'Company') (TSXV:FAIR) (OTCID:FCHDF) (Frankfurt:Y4Y), a mineral exploration and development company focused on copper and gold in Nevada, U.S., is pleased to announce its membership to the Critical Minerals Forum (CMF). Fairchild was invited to join the CMF, and accepted membership into this U.S. DoW-sponsored industry consortium. This strategic partnership positions Fairchild at the centre of critical minerals supply chain development and reinforces the Company's commitment to re-establishing domestic copper, gold, platinum-group metals, antimony and cobalt production in the United States.

Nikolas Perrault, Executive Chairman of Fairchild, commented:

"We are very excited to be part of the CMF and to leverage the relationship with DARPA, the innovative technological solutions for mining, and engagement with governments and NGOs. We also look forward to being aligned with over 55 companies across the critical minerals value chain-spanning the Electric Vehicle, battery, semiconductor, defense, and aerospace industries-with members such as HP, Boeing, Applied Materials, Volkswagen, Toyota, Lockheed, RTX, Hartree, and South32."

Rob Stayer, President of CMF, commented:

"We are pleased to welcome Fairchild to the CMF. Our goal is to bring together leading companies across the critical minerals value chain to help strengthen secure, resilient, and transparent supply chains. Fairchild's participation underscores the growing momentum behind U.S. and allied efforts to expand domestic production capacity and advance innovative approaches to mineral development. We look forward to their contributions to the Forum's collaborative work with industry, government, and research partners."

Strategic Benefits of the CMF:

Government Access: direct engagement with U.S. federal agencies and policy makers shaping critical minerals strategy, including participation in policy scenario planning and regulatory discussions;

Industry Intelligence: access to preeminent data analytics and forecasting models developed through the DARPA-sponsored OPEN initiative, providing deal-relevant market intelligence across multiple policy scenarios;

Capital Market Opportunities: participation in the Forum's project clearinghouse, connecting member companies with investors specifically focused on U.S. and allied critical minerals supply chain development.

Supply Chain Integration: collaboration with leading companies across the minerals value chain to identify partnership opportunities and optimize domestic production networks.

About the Critical Minerals Forum

The Critical Minerals Forum is a central, trusted convening body for the global critical mineral ecosystem. It facilitates the collaboration needed for increased and reliable production of critical minerals by convening leading companies across the minerals supply chain, investors and government institutions. The Forum has two primary objectives: developing actionable cost, price, supply, and demand projections with geographic granularity through partnership with DARPA's OPEN initiative; and providing a clearinghouse for expanded critical minerals supply chain projects, where market participants can share investment opportunities and financing requirements.

QP Statement:

All scientific and technical information disclosed in this news release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Richard R. Redfern, M.S., C.P.G. No. 10717, who is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and independent Consulting Geologist for Fairchild who has examined the Company's Nevada Titan and Carlin Queen properties and reviewed the geological information available from private and public sources related to the Company's three properties, and is responsible for and has approved the technical contents of this press release.

About Fairchild

Fairchild Gold Corp. is a public company engaged in the business of mineral exploration, development, and the acquisition of copper and gold assets in mining-friendly jurisdictions across North America. The company is committed to identifying and developing high-quality resource properties in Nevada with strong geological resource potential. Its strategy focuses on creating long-term shareholder value through disciplined exploration, strategic partnerships, and responsible development practices.

Fairchild Gold's recently assembled trinity of Nevada properties includes Nevada Titan, Fairchild's flagship property, located in the Goodsprings Mining District, Nevada, an area known for historical high-grade copper-gold-PGEs mining. In more recent times, Nevada Titan was also highlighted for its near surface Antimony and Cobalt potential. That was followed by a MOU towards the acquisition of the Golden Arrow property in the prolific Walker Lane Shear Zone, encompassing two principal resource areas, Gold Coin and Hidden Hill, with a combined measured + indicated and inferred resource base outlined in an NI 43-101 report written by Mine Development Associates. Finally, Fairchild's Carlin Queen property, an advanced-stage gold-silver project located at the intersection of the Carlin and Midas-Hollister gold trends. Fairchild Gold is leveraging the potential of all these three properties by utilizing the outstanding mineral resources support Nevada provides.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Nikolas Perrault, CFA

Executive Chairman

Fairchild Gold Corp.

info@fairchildgold.com; nikolas@fairchildgold.com

(866) 497-0284

www.fairchildgold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information contained in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward- looking information"). Without limiting the foregoing, such forward-looking information includes statements regarding the Company's business plans, expectations and objectives, and not limited to the closing of the Transaction and receipt of all necessary approvals. In this news release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or the Company management's good faith belief with respect to future events and is subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis and Financial Statements and other documents filed by the Company with the Canadian securities commissions and the discussion of risk factors set out therein. Such documents are available at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company's profile and on the Company's website, https://fairchildgold.com/. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

Corporate Communications:

IBN

Austin, Texas

www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

512.354.7000 Office

Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com


Guam-based Proferre Inc. has been awarded a $9,716,651 contract for grounds maintenance and tree trimming services at Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base, according to a Nov. 24 announcement from the Pentagon.

The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, NAVFAC, Marianas is the contracting activity.

This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification to a previously awarded contract.

The latest award brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to more than $19.139 million.

The contract modification is for the exercise of the first option period. The work is expected to be completed by November 2029.

No funds will be obligated at time of award.
The Chinese use two symbols for our word crisis. One symbol connotes danger while the other connotes moment of change.

Our Marianas tourism industry is now in crisis, a victim of the global Covid travel shutdown, a stronger dollar and increasing competition from regional destinations. We now must confront our moment of change.

Just six years ago, we were approaching record arrival numbers. Yet, perhaps, these record numbers masked the emerging trend away from group-packaged travel to more independent travelers or free independent travelers, FITs.

Technology and changing consumer choices have now made the FIT the fastest growing segment of our tourist profile, and the most fickle and sensitive to poor experiences.

It also masked our chronic challenge of maintaining island cleanliness and environmental self-respect. When one goes south or to the CNMI, the beauty of these parts of our islands stands in sharp contrast to the blight and trashing of our island found in our more urban locales.

We are not alone in re-examining our tourism product. A recent Washington Post article described how Hawaii is revisiting its own tourism profile.

The article reads, The idea is regenerative tourism. Its a buzzword, but one with real substance. Creating opportunities for local residents to benefit from tourism beyond low-wage hotel and airport jobs is a priority. So is increasing in-state tourism business ownership and addressing the cost-of-living crisis. Visitors are encouraged to get more acquainted with the culture and, in turn, more invested in local communities.

Instead, dancers from local halau performed modern auana and traditional kahiko hula to a live local band.

To one familiar song, the emcee invited members of the audience to get up to join in and dance hula, which would be more common at a local luau.

Hawaii is rightfully perceived as a leader in global tourism. Yet Hawaiians recognize that change is necessary if their tourism industry (or any industry) is to last and provide meaningful long-term economic benefits.

Instead of focusing on being the traditional gateway to Polynesia, they are re-focusing on their own indigenous history and culture to make their brand more unique to the changing visitor. No more hip shaking Tahitian or fire knife Samoan dances.

Unique experiences

As we are learning in our own region, visitors are looking for experiences that are unique to an island or region. Our Wednesday and Sunday night markets are showing that our visitors want to try our good food and meet our great people in a fun setting.

Eco-tourism, as is found at Valley of the Latte, reveals another underdeveloped aspect of our attractiveness.

Guam (and our region) has a remarkable history that dates back thousands of years. Our unique history needs to be incorporated in the re-branding of our tourism. Investing real dollars into our villages, to tell their unique story and create a stop-over in each village with clean safe public facilities should be part of our efforts.

Regional cruise line potential is being evaluated again. Regional destinations provide a long-term opportunity to tie Magnificent Micronesia together as a destination through which Guam can serve as a hub and additional destination to Micronesia, in the same way Honolulu still serves as a hub to other Hawaiian Islands.

Developing a regional approach to attracting the global traveler can be part of our moment of change. While no one island can be all things to all people, all our islands in this region can provide something unique for everyone.

And the landscape of tourist shopping has also changed, as luxury retailers are also changing their business models to reflect more globalization in retail.

The closing of DFS and other high-end retail stores results from both low arrival numbers and a changing luxury retail model. Nonetheless, tourists still go to K-Mart, Donki and our malls so shopping is still part of what we can offer.

Guam and the regions future tourism potential require the same paradigm shift that occurred before. From the first air routes and hotels and island shirts of the early 70s to Pleasure Island retail and higher-end hotels and restaurants 25 years later in the late 90s, and now, 25 years later, a new tourism paradigm awaits our creation.

Twenty-five years ago, our government partnered with our private sector to create new investments and new reasons to come to Guam, leading to record numbers just six years ago. A new public-private partnership needs to be energized to re-brand Guam and the region for the next 25 years.

Hawaii and other destinations have proven that the only way to last is to change with the times. For Guam and Micronesia, the moment of change is now.

Roadmap to Recovery Forum on Dec. 2

Dont miss our upcoming industry event, The Tourism Roadmap to Recovery Forum: Bridging Tourism with Talent taking place on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, at SandCastle Guam in Tumon.

Online registrations are open and can be made through the Guam Travel & Tourism Association website at guamtraveltourism.org/events-seminars-webinars.html.
From the years 2021-2023, Guam was averaging about 735 violent crimes per year. In 2024, there were a total of 273 harrassment cases, 226 terrorizing cases, 224 criminal sexual conduct cases, 206 cases of aggravated assault and 72 cases of child abuse. We are yet to find out the outcome of 2025.

When individuals on Guam commit a violent crime, they are often mandated to attend classes such as anger management as a condition of their probation. Individuals are evaluated on their physical and mental conditions, which helps determine which programs and treatments may be suitable for each individual case.

In my opinion, classes such as anger management, conflict resolution, and dealing with emotions should be implemented in our Guam schools. It should be made a mandatory requirement in our childrens curriculum, like Physical Education and CHamoru classes.

A basic introduction to these topics should begin in elementary school because this is where children are developing social skills as they meet and interact with other children.

As they transition into middle school and high school, a more intense version of these classes should be tied into the curriculum.

In our public high schools, students are offered elective courses such as Carpentry and Home Economics. While Carpentry is a fun and interesting class, not everyone who takes the course will actually carry it on and use carpentry skills in the future.

Home Economics is also a fun and interesting class that teaches skills that can be used in everyday life. But if we look at the bigger picture, Home Economics is really teaching skills that are somewhat second nature to us. Cooking, for example, is a skill we learn as we grow into adults and venture into the world and maybe have a family.

Anger management, conflict resolution and dealing with emotions are life skills that are very vital as we become adults, develop adult relationships, get married, have children and venture out into the working world because with each of these scenarios will come challenges.

Why wait to be faced with a challenging situation that may result in violent behavior, to become educated in the areas named above? By then, the damage will already have been done.

Our Guam schools should begin teaching these life skills once our children begin school. It should be made a requirement for every child to be educated in these areas. Why wait for triggers and violent crimes to be committed to educate the community on a subject that could have saved a life?

If children learn to understand their emotions at a young age, they will learn how to respond to these moments in appropriate ways. This will then create a domino effect of positivity as they grow into adults.

Less violent crimes will only happen if we have alternate positive ways of handling difficult situations.




Haiti - Politic : 49 Democratic Congressmen call for extension of TPS for Haiti





Democratic Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett sent a letter signed by 48 of her colleagues to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, urging the immediate extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals beyond the expiration date of February 3rd, 2026.



"[...] Haiti represents the most acute humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere. The ongoing political and security crisis, fueled by violent gangs and now exacerbated by Hurricane Melissa's devastating impact, makes the continuation of these protections both statutorily appropriate and essential to America's moral values and national security interests," said Congresswoman Plaskett. "Haitian TPS recipients have maintained full compliance with all legal requirements, contribute $4.4 billion annually to the United States economy, and pay over $1 billion a year in federal taxes. They are integral members of American communities working in healthcare, construction, agriculture, transportation, and countless other sectors that keep our nation running."



Further on, the signatories wrote "If the Trump administration does not renew TPS for Haitians by February 2026, it will deal a significant blow to both the American and Haitian economies. Beyond the economic impact, allowing TPS to lapse would further destabilize Haiti, creating opportunities for adversary nations, including China and Russia, to establish greater footholds in a region of vital importance to American security. We are deeply concerned that the Administration is actively deporting Haitians back to life-threatening conditions and gang-controlled territory."



The letter from Congress calls for an 18-month extension of Haitis TPS designation, a comprehensive review of conditions in Haiti incorporating assessments from multiple federal agencies and humanitarian organizations, and an engagement with Congress to explore legislative solutions that provide more sustainable protections for Haitian nationals and other vulnerable populations.



List of signatories, Members of Congress :

Joyce Beatty, Henry C. Hank Johnson, Jr. , Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Shomari Figures, Yvette D. Clarke, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Terri A. Sewell, Nydia M. Velazquez, Ritchie Torres, Betty McCollum, Gwen S. Moore, Ayanna Pressley, LaMonica McIver, Troy A. Carter, Sr., Maxine Waters, Wesley Bell, Janelle S. Bynum, Andre Carson, Robert C. Bobby Scott, Lois Frankel, Gabe Amo, Jim Himes, Marilyn Strickland, Katherine M. Clark, Robin L. Kelly, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Lauren Underwood, Al Green, William R. Keating, Jonathan L. Jacksin, Frederica S. Wilson, Diane DeGette, Valerie P. Foushee, Seth Moulton, Joe Courtney, Sarah McBride, Jared Huffman, Sylvia R. Garcia, Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Madeleine Dean, Pramila Jayapal, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Jan Schakowsky, Kweisi Mfume, Dwight Evans, James P. McGovern, Juan Vargas.



HL/ HaitiLibre




















The number of unemployed people aged 15 to 74 rose by 48,000 compared to October 2024, reaching a total of 276,000. The increase was sharper among women, with 37,000 more unemployed women reported, compared to 12,000 more unemployed men over the same period.

Finlands unemployment rate climbed to 10.3 percent in October 2025, marking the highest figure in the current statistical series dating back to 2009. The data , released by Statistics Finland, revealed a sharp increase in both unemployment and employment, driven by shifts in youth participation and a rise in part-time jobs.

At the same time, the number of employed persons also increased by 25,000, bringing the total to 2,611,000.

Pertti Taskinen, senior actuary at Statistics Finland, said student job-seeking activity contributed significantly to the spike in unemployment, particularly among younger age groups.

Young people aged 1524 showed a marked increase in labour market participation in October. This is likely linked to more students seeking work. The rise in unemployment is largely explained by this shift, though the number of unemployed also increased among those aged 5564, he said in a briefing in Kajaani.

Youth unemployment recorded a significant surge. The unemployment rate among 1524-year-olds rose by 6.3 percentage points year-on-year to 22.5 percent. Among this age group, 11.6 percent were unemployed as a share of the total age-specific population.

The number of employed women grew by 24,000 over the year. The employment rate for women aged 2064 rose to 76.7 percent, an increase of 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, men in the same age group experienced a decline of 0.5 percentage points, with their employment rate falling to 76.0 percent.

The number of people working part-time reached an all-time high. In October, 539,000 employed persons worked part-time, representing 20.7 percent of all employed individuals.

The total number of people outside the labour force also decreased. There were 1,284,000 individuals not in the labour force in October, down by 60,000 from the year before. The number of women outside the labour force dropped by 56,000, and the number of men declined by 5,000.

The Statistics Finland report also notes that the increase in employment occurred mainly in the public sector.

HT
The Commission announced the proposal this week following new data showing Finlands budget deficit has exceeded 3 percent of GDP and its debt level is forecast to rise above 90 percent next year. The EDP aims to ensure that member states comply with EU fiscal criteria, which limit national debt to 60 percent of GDP and annual deficits to 3 percent.

Finland will be placed in the European Unions excessive deficit procedure (EDP) after the European Commission confirmed the country is breaching the blocs core economic rules on debt and budget deficits.

Finlands deficit reached 4.3 percent in 2024 and is expected to remain above the threshold this year. The countrys debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 88.1 percent and is forecast to climb to 92.3 percent by 2027.

The formal procedure is expected to be launched in early 2026, with EU finance ministers set to make the final decision in January. Once in effect, Finland must report its fiscal adjustment plans to the Commission by April.

Petteri Orpo, Finlands prime minister, said the development was expected and attributed the countrys deteriorating fiscal position mainly to the economic fallout from Russias war in Ukraine. Writing on X, he said the government's consolidation programme had helped prevent a deeper debt spiral, but stabilising the economy would take years.

Even 10 billion in adjustments does not repair the damage caused, Orpo wrote. Our actions have been right. This work must continue.

The Commission applies flexibility for military spending when evaluating deficit levels. Germany, which also exceeded the 3 percent limit, avoided the EDP because 0.5 percentage points of its deficit were linked to defence investments. In Finlands case, only one percentage point of the 4.3 percent deficit was attributed to defence, which was not enough to offset the breach.

The EDP does not impose immediate sanctions but obliges the country to reduce its deficit below 3 percent within a specified timeline. The Commission will outline this timeline in December. Penalties, such as fines or the withholding of EU funds, remain theoretical and have not been enforced in previous cases.

Finland last faced the procedure following the 2008 financial crisis. The case was dropped in 2011 when revised figures showed the country had remained within the limits.

The upcoming procedure places Finland alongside nine other EU member states already under similar scrutiny: Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Romania.

The Commission has focused primarily on annual deficits when launching EDPs, while allowing some leeway on total debt due to post-pandemic fiscal pressures. Some countries, such as Italy and Hungary, are currently allowed targets well above the 3 percent rule.

The Commissions upcoming recommendation will set individual targets for Finland based on its specific situation. While no mandatory spending cuts or tax increases are dictated, the country must achieve the deficit reduction within the agreed timeframe. One possible scenario is that the deficit be brought under control by 2028, which would affect the next governments budget planning in 2027.

Earlier this year, Finland narrowly avoided the EDP due to defence-related exceptions.

HT
The organisation, backed by the United States and Israel, ended its six-month presence in Gaza after distributing over three million aid packages, which it claimed equalled 187 million meals. The group cited the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel and the establishment of new coordination mechanisms as reasons for ending its work.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has shut down its aid operations in the Palestinian territory following months of controversy, civilian deaths, and sharp criticism from international organisations.

The GHF, formed in May 2025, had positioned itself as an alternative to the United Nations and other humanitarian bodies. It operated four food distribution sites, all located in southern and central Gaza within Israeli military zones. These sites became the scene of repeated violence, with hundreds of Palestinians killed or injured while attempting to access food.

UN agencies refused to collaborate with GHF, accusing it of undermining humanitarian principles and creating unsafe conditions for aid recipients. According to the UN Office for Human Rights, at least 859 Palestinians were killed between late May and the end of July near GHF distribution points. An additional 514 people were killed while approaching other aid convoys during the same period.

The Israeli military claimed it only used warning shots to manage crowds or when its forces felt threatened. Witnesses, medical records, and social media videos indicated that Israeli soldiers and private US security contractors opened fire on civilians during food distributions.

John Acree, GHFs executive director and a former USAID official, said in a statement that the organisation had successfully completed its emergency mission. He added that its model would now be adopted by the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre, which is part of the ongoing ceasefire arrangements.

The GHFs sites were heavily fortified and guarded by private US contractors. Many Palestinians had to walk long distances through Israeli-controlled zones to reach the sites. Aid workers and international observers described the locations as unsafe and unsuitable for humanitarian operations.

A former GHF executive resigned during the early stages of the programme, citing the organisations failure to adhere to the core principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

Tommy Piggott, a US State Department spokesperson, wrote in a post on X that GHFs model played a huge role in getting Hamas to the table and achieving a ceasefire, adding that its system prevented aid from being diverted by Hamas.

Hamas, which denies stealing aid, welcomed the closure. A spokesperson, Hazem Qassem, wrote on his Telegram channel that the foundation should be held accountable for the harm it caused, accusing it of covering up Israeli policies that led to mass starvation and death. He called on international rights groups to investigate its activities.

In August, 28 UN experts called for the dismantling of GHF, describing it as a violation of international law and warning that it enabled covert military and geopolitical agendas. They noted that the foundation required civilians to cross dangerous territory, exposing them to gunfire and insecurity.

The GHF started its work shortly after Israel eased an 11-week total blockade on Gaza. By that point, famine had already been declared in parts of Gaza City, with widespread shortages of food, medicine, and fuel. The UN and its partners were operating over 400 aid centres across Gaza at the time but faced severe logistical restrictions.

The GHF claimed it was the only organisation delivering aid at scale and without diversion to civilians. Contractors at its sites were recorded using live ammunition and stun grenades to control crowds, as desperation among the population grew during the height of the blockade.

Jon Acree said the foundation proved that a new model could work. He said talks with the Civil-Military Coordination Centre had been ongoing for weeks and that GHFs model would now be used more broadly.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric dismissed the groups departure as irrelevant to UN efforts. We never worked with them, he said. He added that although more aid had entered Gaza since the ceasefire on 10 October, it was still insufficient to meet the needs of Gazas 2.1 million residents.

The GHF stated it would remain a registered non-governmental organisation and retain the ability to restart operations if required. Its statement called the mission a record humanitarian operation and claimed it restored dignity to Gazas population.

International organisations and human rights groups continue to call for a full investigation into the deaths linked to GHF distribution points and the overall impact of its operations. The foundation has rejected those allegations, accusing critics of relying on unreliable sources and dismissing claims of direct involvement in violence.

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas includes provisions for renewed UN-led aid deliveries and the creation of neutral distribution mechanisms. These efforts are now led by the CMCC, based in Israel, which has begun coordinating with international bodies to expand relief efforts.

HT
TWO women who volunteer for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal have received long service awards.

Marion Pope and Di Bush have been involved with collecting in Wargrave and Crazies Hill for more than

50 years.

They each received a 50-year service badge and certificate at a coffee morning in Crazies Hill.

Mrs Pope was also presented with the Poppy Appeal Cup at the legions annual dinner by her son Lieutenant General Sir Nick Pope, who was also the guest speaker. Ten appeal volunteers were also commended for their efforts.

Mrs Pope, of East View Road, is also a parish councillor and has lived in Wargrave for nearly 60 years.

Born in Somerset, she moved to Charvil when she was seven and then to Wargrave at 14.

Mrs Pope said: Years ago, my mother used to do it and she was the first one to win the cup that was presented in Wargrave and I started helping her. Its lovely meeting people, particularly older people.

Mrs Pope said she felt greatly honoured to receive the award. She said: I feel volunteering has helped my sons because they are both retired from the army now.

Mrs Bush said: I am passionate about going out for as long as I can because I feel Im doing something [useful].

The other reason why I do it is to say thank-you to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for us so we have our freedom.

Poppy Appeal organiser Linda Thomas said: It was lovely to be able to recognise their contribution as Poppy Appeal organisers over the number of years that theyve been involved.

Its the longevity that after 50 years, they are still wanting to raise money for the British Legion in their local community and thoroughly enjoying it.
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Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar said the U.S. is "about to go in" Venezuela as the Trump administration maintains its military pressure campaign against the South American country.

Speaking to Fox Business, Salazar was asked if she thought the campaign against authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro "will force him to leave on his own" as many in the U.S. "don't want actual participation in regime change in Venezuela."

Rep. Salazar on Venezuela: "We're about to go in ... we need to go in ... Venezuela for the American oil companies will be a field day" pic.twitter.com/S8c3hsDxEv  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 24, 2025

"Maduro is not Fidel Castro. He's not a brave boy. Now he has understood he is in that very nefarious list of terrorist organizations. The airspace above Venezuela has been closed off and commercial airlines from the U.S. are not flying. He is understanding we are about to go in. He understands that he has been our enemy for the last 25 years," Salazar said.

She went on to say that such a scenario would be a "field day" for oil companies as they can "go in and fix oil rigs and everything that has to do with Venezuelan petroleum companies."

However, another report detailed that U.S. officials dealing with the campaign believe it will be hard to convince Maduro to leave power because he could be executed by Cuban handlers.

Axios detailed that the assessment took place as President Donald Trump plans to speak directly with Maduro even as the U.S. continues its military buildup off its coast.

A U.S. official told the outlet that there are no plans to take out Maduro at the moment. "Nobody is planning to go in and shoot him or snatch him  at this point. I wouldn't say never, but that's not the plan right now."

"In the meantime, we're going to blow up boats shipping drugs. We're going to stop the drug trafficking," the official added.

Tensions in the region escalated even further on Monday as the designation of the Cartel de los Soles, which the Trump administration accuses Maduro and top official of leading, as a terrorist organization, went into effect.

In fact, another report noted that the regime is immersed in a state of paranoia. Citing two active Venezuelan intelligence officers, the Financial Times detailed that agents are "sucking up to bosses to that they or their families don't get arrested."

"The assumption is that everyone is a traitor until they prove otherwise," one agent said. "Nobody can be trusted."

The outlet added that Maduro is also tightening his security arrangements, noting that his recent public appearances have been announced at the last minute. He has appeared in front of selected crowds and party members. It is a departure with previous scheduling, which was announced ahead of time, and he would appear along with other top officials.

Originally published on Latin Times
Glasgow's historic Wellington House opens its doors on 8th December 2025 as The Wellington Glasgow by Adina, marking TFE Hotels' continued UK expansion with their flagship Adina brand. This will be the second apartment-style hotel opening within a month and follows the 56-key The Hobson Cambridge by Adina, due to open at the end of November. The Australian-based hotel group has a growing presence across continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia, with Cambridge and Glasgow providing a launchpad into the UK for the very first time.

The Wellington Glasgow by Adina introduces the brand's casual living apartment-style concept to Scotland. An historic 19th-century listed building on Wellington Street - with its striking facade and period features - has been transformed into a design-led aparthotel that celebrates Glasgow's rich architectural and cultural heritage whilst creating modern spaces for business and leisure travellers alike.

The Wellington Glasgow by Adina features 98 design forward apartments, including Studio Rooms, Studio Premier Rooms, and Studio Premier Rooms with sofa beds. Each offers open-plan living and sleeping areas, stylish kitchenettes, integrated dining spaces, and contemporary touches such as in-room steamers and coffee machines. The apartments are designed to cater to both short stays and extended visits, offering liveable spaces.

Guests also have access to a gym, laundry facilities, and a versatile meeting room suitable for events and conferences. The lobby shop and cafe bar adjacent to the hotel's reception offers grab-and-go breakfast options during the day and a relaxed drinks experience in the evening.

Located just off George Square, The Wellington Glasgow by Adina is within walking distance of Glasgow Central Station, the iconic Buchanan Street Style Mile, and cultural landmarks including the Buchanan Galleries Mall. Glasgow Airport is eight miles away, with a 24-hour Airport Shuttle Bus (No. 500) departing from nearby Buchanan Bus Station, providing a convenient 15-minute connection.

The Wellington Glasgow by Adina opens on 8 December 2025, with reservations now open. Room rates start at 99 per night as an opening offer*. Post-opening period room rates begin from 140 per night.

Hotel website
Hyatt Place Butwal, the third Hyatt branded hotel in Nepal is officially open, expanding the Hyatt Place brand's footprint globally in markets that matter to guests and World of Hyatt members. The new hotel features the Hyatt Place brand's intuitive design, casual atmosphere, and practical amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and 24-hour food offerings. Hyatt Place Butwal is crafted to meet the diverse needs of both business and leisure travelers and promises a welcoming space where relaxation and productivity find seamless balance.

Because Hyatt's efforts are grounded in listening and fueled by care, Hyatt Place hotels combine style, innovation and 24/7 conveniences to create an easy to navigate experience for today's multi-tasking traveler. The hotel offers a range of room categories, including King and Twin rooms, Forest View and Hill View options and spacious suites, with sizes varying from 300 square feet to 775 square feet (28 sqm to 72 sqm). The highlight of the hotel is the expansive 1,560-square-foot (145 sqm) Presidential Suite, offering an elevated experience for discerning guests. Hyatt Place Butwal also provides meeting and event facilities including a grand ballroom that accommodates up to 150 guests.

Hyatt Place Butwal, offers:

109 spacious guestrooms with separate spaces to sleep, work and play, as well as a Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper bed

with separate spaces to sleep, work and play, as well as a Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper bed Free breakfast for guests featuring a variety of hot and cold breakfast items to suit all guests' needs

for guests featuring a variety of hot and cold breakfast items to suit all guests' needs The Market serving freshly prepared meals or snacks, available day or night

serving freshly prepared meals or snacks, available day or night Zing Bar featuring specialty coffees and premium beers, as well as wines and cocktails

featuring specialty coffees and premium beers, as well as wines and cocktails Necessities program for forgotten items that guests can buy, borrow or enjoy for free

program for forgotten items that guests can buy, borrow or enjoy for free Free Wi-Fi throughout hotel and guestrooms

throughout hotel and guestrooms Spaces that offer a family-friendly atmosphere including a scenic outdoor pool, fitness center, spa and a kids play area

Hyatt Place Butwal Leadership

Hyatt Place Butwal is under the leadership of General Manager Tushar Nagar and Director of Sales Partha Banerjee. In his role, Mr. Nagar is directly responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the hotel, including overseeing the hotel's associates and ensuring guests encounter the thoughtful service for which the Hyatt Place brand is known. Mr. Banerjee is responsible for providing sales service and support to travelers and meeting planners frequenting the Butwal area.

For more information, please visit: hyattplacebutwal.com

The term "Hyatt" is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

Hotel website
Rancho La Puerta, North America's original fitness resort and spa, is excited to announce the appointment of Head Chef Vivian Mercado. She will usher in a new era for The Ranch's esteemed culinary program, uniting authenticity and wellness through a shared passion for seasonal, locally inspired cuisine.

Complementing Executive Chef Romero's approach, Chef Mercado brings a vibrant Baja sensibility and deep respect for the land to her role as head chef at La Cocina Que Canta, Rancho La Puerta's celebrated cooking school on property. A graduate of the Culinary School at the University of Baja California (UABC) in Ensenada, Mercado's early career took her through the region's diverse culinary landscape, from artisanal kitchens and wine country ventures to specialty coffee and bread-making.

After joining Rancho La Puerta as part of the Tierra Alegre Juice Bar team, Mercado quickly rose through the ranks to sous chef and now leads La Cocina Que Canta. Her dishes embody the beauty of Baja's local ingredients, blending nourishment and creativity.

Chef Mercado brings Rancho La Puerta's enduring philosophy to life, celebrating the connection between food, health, and togetherness.

For more information or to book a stay at Rancho La Puerta, please visit www.rancholapuerta.com or call 800-443-7565.
Leonardo Hotels acquires three properties in the UK

Leonardo Hotels, the European division of the Israeli owner-operator Fattal Hotel Group, has acquired three UK properties in separate single-asset transactions: the four-star, 270-room Leonardo Hotel Southampton, the four-star, 170-room Leonardo Hotel Exeter, and the four-star, 94-room Leonardo Hotel Chester. All three properties are situated in central locations and include a restaurant and bar. Leonardo had already been operating the hotels under FRI leases, and the Chester acquisition also includes three commercial units that are let to third-party tenants.

H10 Hotels acquires Monumental Palace in Porto, Portugal, from Centaurus

Spanish owner-operator H10 Hotels has acquired the five-star, 76-room Le Monumental Palace hotel in Porto, Portugal, from French owner-operator Centaurus Hospitality Management. The property is situated in the historic centre of Porto near the Porto Cathedral. The hotel includes two restaurants, a bar and three meeting rooms. Formerly operated under Centaurus Maison Albar Hotels brand, the property will now transition to H10s luxury collection and be rebranded as The One Monumental Palace.

LondonMetric acquires Clayton Manchester Airport from Columbia

British real estate investment trust LondonMetric Property has acquired the four-star, 365-room Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport from global asset management firm Columbia Threadneedle. The property is situated by Manchester Airport and includes a restaurant, bar and 12 meeting rooms. It is let on a long lease, and currently generates 1.07m in annual rent with RPI linked reviews. Last year the tenant, Dalata Hotel Group, received consent for a 40 million project to build a 9-storey, 214-bed extension, which also includes refurbishing the ground floor and a portion of the bedrooms. This acquisition forms part of a wider transaction for LondonMetric, comprising 51 million in acquisitions and 22 million in disposals.

Atream acquires future Oh Baby hotel in Paris via club deal, from Constructa

French asset-management firm Atream, on behalf of French pension fund Carac and French public development bank Banque des Territoires, has acquired the future 197-room Oh Baby hotel in Paris, France, from French developer Constructa. The site is situated in Paris northern suburb Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, near Porte de Saint-Ouen. The hotel will include a restaurant, rooftop bar, gym and several business areas. It is expected to open at the end of 2027 under the Oh Baby brand.

Extendam, Vicartem and Younight acquire Hotel Les Brises in La Rochelle, France

French private equity firm Extendam, together with French hotel investment company Vicartem Hotellerie and its hotel management subsidiary Younight Hospitality, has acquired the three-star, 50-room Hotel Les Brises in La Rochelle, France. The seafront property is situated opposite the marina and includes a breakfast restaurant. Extendam plans a six-month renovation starting at the end of 2025, which will include the modernization of the rooms and common areas, as well as the installation of an air conditioning system, transforming the hotel into a boutique property.

About HVS

HVS, the world's leading consulting and services organization focused on the hotel, mixed-use, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries, was established in 1980. The company performs 4,500+ assignments each year for hotel and real estate owners, operators, investors, banks and developers worldwide. HVS principals are regarded as the leading experts in their respective regions of the globe. Through a network of some 60 offices and more than 300 professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. hvs.com.

Russell Kett

Chairman, HVS London

+44 20 7878 7701

HVS
Accor is proud to celebrate Australias first-ever National Silly Sock Day on 25 November 2025, a new annual initiative created in partnership with DV Collective to raise awareness and essential funds for women and children escaping domestic and family violence.

The launch coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the beginning of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which runs from 25th November to 10th December. This years UN Women theme focuses on digital violence against women, an increasingly urgent issue that affects millions worldwide.

National Silly Sock Day represents a major milestone in Accor Pacifics partnership with DV Collective and reflects the Groups belief in the power of community-led action. Across Australia, more than 5,000 pairs of limited-edition socks are available for purchase from participating Accor hotels, with all proceeds going directly toward placing additional beds in domestic violence shelters that urgently need support. Every pair sold helps provide safe nights for women and children when they need it most and helps expand DV Collectives rapidly growing network of shelters, frontline services and counselling organisations.

This years inaugural Silly Sock design was created by Tshering Gyem from Mercure Perth, whose artwork was selected from entries across the Accor Pacific network. Her design is a wearable expression of Accors purpose  pioneering responsible hospitality, connecting cultures with heartfelt care. Tsherings design brings this purpose vividly to life. At the top of the sock, red heart-shaped threads weave across the fabric, symbolising the emotional bonds that connect Accors teams, guests and partners.

Accors partnership with DV Collective began earlier this year through the Accor Community Fund, with an initial $20,000 contribution made to support DV Collectives mission of reducing the devastating impact of domestic and family violence in Australia. The organisation works to eliminate the waitlists and resource shortages that prevent women from accessing safe accommodation, legal support, trauma recovery programmes, counselling and essential materials.

DV Collective now supports more than 300 frontline services nationwide, including 75 womens shelters, and has this year alone contributed an additional 80 beds, representing more than 29,000 safe nights, alongside more than 100,000 donated hygiene and essential items. With incidents increasing and shelters under extraordinary pressure, their goal for 2026 is to place 500 new beds into the system, a target that National Silly Sock Day will directly contribute to.

Accors Chief Operating Officerin the Pacific region, Adrian Williams, said the creation of National Silly Sock Day affirmed the Groups commitment to the cause: Domestic violence affects far too many families in Australia, and the lack of safe accommodation is one of the most critical barriers for women and children seeking help. National Silly Sock Day is a simple but powerful way for our teams, guests and communities to come together and drive real impact. Every pair purchased brings us closer to ensuring that no woman or child is turned away when they need safety.

DV Collective Founder, Kylie Johanson, said the initiative could not have come at a more important time: One in four women in Australia experiences domestic or family violence, and one in two women seeking shelter is turned away because there are not enough beds. We are proud to partner with Accor to activate this initiative and to expand our ability to provide beds, resources and support to those who need it most.

The initiative has been supported by three weeks of internal communication across Accors Pacific network, engaging thousands of Heartists* in fundraising, storytelling and team activations. Hotels across the country are hosting displays, morning teas, guest offers and fundraising moments, all designed to draw attention to the scale of the issue and the difference that collective action can make.

National Silly Sock Day will be held annually on 25 November, with a new sock design released each year.

Members of the public can purchase socks or donate directly by visiting dvcollective.org or by purchasing through participating Accor hotels.

About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group

Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.

Naomi Hammond

Communications Manager - Pacific

+61(0) 434 738 380

Accor
Accor, the largest hotel operator in the Pacific region, was a standout at the 2025 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence, presented by Sealy Posturepedic in Sydney on Friday 21 November, winning three of the nights Major Awards.

Accor was named Accommodation Chain of the Year for the fourth consecutive year, further cementing its leadership position in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Voted exclusively by the heads of hotel groups in the region, this award recognises outstanding leadership and excellence in hospitality.

Another crowning moment came shortly after, as Accors Chief Operating Officer in the Pacific region, Adrian Williams, was awarded the coveted HM Magazine Australasian Hotelier of the Year.

We are so honoured to receive such recognition at this years HM Awards. We love what we do, and its a true reflection of the incredible talent, dedication, and passion of everyone at Accor. Being recognised by our industry peers is hugely rewarding, and it also highlights the privilege we have in working alongside our owners and partners, whose trust and collaboration are key to our success. Each year, the calibre of award nominees raises the hospitality benchmark even higher, and we congratulate our fellow industry colleagues on their achievements and service to our industry, said Mr Williams.

Benjamin Nesbitt, Precinct General Manager for Pullman, Novotel and ibis at Sydney Olympic Park, also triumphed on the night, taking home the illustrious Australian General Manager of the Year award for his record-breaking commercial performance, standout industry partnerships, and unwavering commitment to inclusivity and people-focused leadership. Mr Nesbitt said he is incredibly honoured: This win reflects the power of great people, strong partnerships and a culture that puts others first.

Accors other award wins on the night included:

Boutique Hotel: The Playford Hotel Adelaide  MGallery Collection

Food & Beverage Associate: Bayley McGuire, Pullman Sydney Penrith

Human Resources Associate: Stephanie Lopesi, Salter Brothers Hospitality Real Estate Joint Venture & Accor

Hotel Engineer: Keoni Toseki-Solomona, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

Rising Star: Bailey Wootton, Pullman Sydney Penrith

It is an absolute honour to see Sofitel and MGallery recognised for their outstanding achievements at the 2025 HM Awards. These accolades reflect the exceptional dedication and innovations of our teams and I couldnt be prouder of their accomplishments. Accor Pacific Vice President Operations  Sofitel, MGallery & Emblems, David Fraser

Last month, New Zealand and the South Pacifics leading properties and people were recognised at the 2025 HM Awards Aotearoa-Pacific gala ceremony. Accors winners included:

New Zealand Apartment Hotel: Pullman Auckland Hotel & Apartments

Fijian Luxury Resort: Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa

Human Resources Initiative (NZ winner): Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems Pacific RiiSE Committee

Food and Beverage Associate (NZ winner): Varun Sharma, Novotel Christchurch Airport

Front Office Associate (NZ winner): Prachie Jan Amelda Gloriani, Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport

Revenue Management Associate (Sth Pac winner): Kirshan Singh, Sofitel Fiji Beach Resort & Spa

Hotel Engineer (NZ winner): Rebecca Dawson, Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour

Rising Star (co-NZ winner): Karishma Singh, Movenpick Hotel Auckland

The annual HM Awards recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements that exemplify excellence in performance and service across the hospitality industry in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. For a full list of award winners visit hotelmanagement.com.au

From luxury to economy, Accor operates more than 400 hotels in the Pacific region under renowned brands such as Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissotel, Movenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Handwritten Collection, Novotel, TRIBE, Mercure, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget, as well as Ennismores SO/, Mondrian, 25hours, Hyde and JO&JOE.

About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group

Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.

Naomi Hammond

Communications Manager - Pacific

+61(0) 434 738 380

Accor
MICE means money for hotels. But what industries are worth capitalizing on? With a fast-moving economy, hotels risk missing out if they dont stay aware and agile. Heres what hoteliers in London need to know about the state of MICE right now to define a Find, Book and Grow strategy that works.

Smart hoteliers know that Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) bring massive potential. The MICE tourism market size was worth USD$42.8 billion in 2022, and this is set to have almost doubled to $83.9 billion by 2032. Fueled by increasing investment in MICE, growing economic benefits, the continuing globalization of business, and increased focus on employee motivation and wellbeing  analysts are optimistic about the future.

The MICE market in London is currently strong. The citys strategic location and infrastructure continue to make it a leader, while global trends towards knowledge exchange and professional development are driving growth. Almost half of the 42.5 million overseas visitors to Great Britain in 2024 went to London, and 17% visited for business reasons.

With close to a fifth of Londons overseas visitors being business travelers, hotels need fact-based evidence to define strategies to effectively reach the MICE market and drive revenue. Thats why Knowland by Cendyn returned to Europe, starting with a pilot in London in March 2025.

Having grown our data and knowledge, we now have crucial insights about market segment distribution and top industries that hoteliers can look towards to thrive in the MICE market in the city, shared in our London MICE Market Insights report.

Here are the stand-out facts hoteliers in London need to know.

Corporate strength underpinned by professional networks

So far in 2025, the Corporate segment is the frontrunner in the MICE market in London, holding the highest proportion of market share. The Corporate segment in MICE covers events that are planned and driven by businesses  including meetings with clients and internal meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions, and more.

In fact, corporate events accounted for 48% of the global MICE market last year, while corporate event participation accounts for 58% of global MICE activity. Clearly, focusing on the Corporate segment is a smart move for hoteliers.

Although corporate-driven MICE is the leading segment, there is also notable growth happening in the Association segment  which covers professional development and networking events. With year-on-year growth in event volume, hoteliers should take notice of this emerging trend that reflects Londons strategic location and infrastructure.

Training and Education is a primary growth driver

Upskilling employees, and giving them opportunities to gain knowledge and learn new skills, have become critical pillars to the success of businesses today. Almost half of employees say that having opportunities to learn new skills is a key consideration when it comes to their decision to stay with their employer or leave for another job.

Training expenditure increased almost 5% to $102.8 billion in 2024-2025. With 49% of training hours delivered in-person, businesses and employees are returning to in-person training, fueled by a rising desire employees have for professional connection and personal growth.

In Q3 of 2025, this sentiment was a key driver in the profound growth of the Training and Education niche of the MICE sector in London. Growing significantly year-on-year, Training and Education experienced the highest growth of any segment. A hub for learning with world-class universities, training providers and experts, London is harnessing its unparalleled strength here.

Quarterly upward trends in industries

By pinpointing patterns and honing in on specific niches, hoteliers can develop a more focused MICE strategy. The Travel and Consulting industries have often been steady anchors in the MICE landscape, and our latest data confirms this.

Charities and Non-Profits also have expanding influence, showing steady growth from Q3 2024 to 2025. In addition, Technology, Weddings, and Healthcare MICE activity saw growth during the same period. International Government and Real Estate MICE activity also surged, signaling renewed cross-border engagement and infrastructure-related events returning to Londons calendar.

By looking at trends on a quarterly basis like this, hotel teams can be agile to prospect the right industries in specific quarters. For example, our report shows that wedding demand declined overall from Q1 to Q3 between 2024 and 2025, but the growth from Q3 2024 to Q3 2025 shows summer is when demand is highest. Following similar logic, many pharma events take place in Q1, so this tells hotels when to focus on Pharma segment prospecting.

When sectors arent growing

Understanding when different markets arent as active enables hoteliers to define their strategy, the market opportunity, and their positioning.

Our latest data shows theres been a decline in MICE activity in the Staffing, Manufacturing, Social/Sports, Aerospace and European Government industries during Q3 year on year.

Hoteliers need to actively account for these downward trends to be responsive to market conditions based on changing data. Feeding this into resource management means hotels can guide sales teams towards the right industries at the right times, focusing their efforts to maximize success.

How can London hoteliers tap into MICE trends?

The data is clear: Londons MICE market is shifting toward purpose-led and knowledge-driven demand  and this brings clear opportunities for commercial teams ready to act.

So what should hoteliers do?

Prioritize flexible and tech-enabled meeting spaces to accommodate hybrid formats and interactive sessions.

Deepen partnerships with universities, training providers, consultancies, and government organizations that value Londons connectivity and expertise.

Leverage data and segmentation insights to identify repeat event planners and nurture long-term relationships in expanding verticals.

Re-engage leisure-related sectors (Travel, Sports, Weddings) through bundled or off-peak offers that drive incremental revenue and optimize utilization.

Londons MICE market is full of potential for hoteliers. And now Knowland by Cendyn has data that holds the key to unlocking it. Elevating your Find, Book and Grow strategy depends on it.

About Cendyn

Cendyn is a global hospitality cloud-based technology company that enables hotels to drive revenue, maximize profitability, and create deeper connections with guests through its integrated solutions. Serving hoteliers for nearly 30 years, Cendyn drives commercial success for hotels through its Find, Book, Grow promise: find the right guests, drive them to book direct, and grow loyalty and revenue across the spectrum of digital guest interactions.

Cendyn has over 35,000 customers worldwide in more than 150 countries generating more than $20 billion in annual hotel revenue. The company supports its growing customer base from locations across the globe, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Bangkok, and India. To find out more, visit cendyn.com

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Winter Travel Soars: 60% of Travelers Plan Trips Amid Economic Uncertainty - Image Credit Unsplash+

Tripadvisor's latest Winter Travel Index indicates a significant increase in travel plans for the upcoming winter season, with 60% of travelers intending to take trips and a 45% rise in bookings compared to the previous year. The report highlights a blend of preferences for both cold urban destinations and warm-weather escapes, reflecting diverse travel interests amid ongoing economic uncertainties.

Travel Plans and Preferences

According to Tripadvisor's report, 60% of travelers are planning trips this winter, with 45% indicating an increase in travel activity compared to last year. A preference for both cold urban environments and warm-weather retreats accompanies this surge in travel plans. Notably, 83% of travelers are organizing one to two trips, with over half opting for extended stays of five nights or more. Despite economic uncertainties, travelers remain confident in their spending, with 52% planning to spend more this year.

Destination Choices

The data reveals a clear divide in destination preferences. Cold-weather cities such as New York City and London are popular choices alongside warm-weather destinations like Cancun and Bangkok. In the U.S., travelers prefer New York City and warm destinations such as Las Vegas, Orlando, and Key West. Internationally, sunny destinations in Mexico top the list for U.S. travelers.

Activities and Experiences

Experiences and activities play a crucial role in travel planning, with 93% of travelers considering them essential to their budget. Cultural sightseeing is the leading preference at 38%, followed by nature sightseeing (37%), shopping (31%), and road trips (28%). The report highlights popular experiences such as cultural tours, day trips, and adventure tours, with notable examples including the Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise and the Lower Antelope Canyon Day Tour.

Generational Travel Trends

Travel behaviors vary significantly across generations. Gen Z and Millennials show a strong interest in activities, with 47% and 48%, respectively, prioritizing them during travel. In contrast, Gen X and Baby Boomers place more emphasis on relaxation, with 51% of each group citing it as a primary motivation. Meeting new people is more appealing to Gen Z travelers (24%) compared to Boomers (11%).

Holiday Season Influence

The holiday season significantly impacts travel decisions, with 86% of travelers considering seasonal factors. Family connections and cultural experiences are key motivators, reflecting unique holiday traditions and a focus on meaningful connections with loved ones.

Methodology

The findings are based on data from a Tripadvisor Consumer Sentiment Survey conducted in partnership with Morning Consult, involving over 6,123 consumers across six countries. Additionally, site behavioral data from the Tripadvisor platform was analyzed for searches made by travelers in the U.S., U.K., and Japan for travel between December 2025 and February 2026.
Central Vietnams largest city, Da Nang is a bustling modern port with long stretches of beach and a pulsating nightlife. Its a popular base for visiting the rugged Ba Na Hills, together with the imperial capital of Hue and the ancient city of Hoi An.

Things to do in Da Nang

Be sure to visit the Cham Museum to discover the fascinating history of the Hindu Cham civilisation that inhabited Central Vietnam until the 14th century. Ancient sandstone sculptures depicting Shiva, nagas and elephants can be seen, together with lingam altars created as icons of fertility.

Make the one-hour journey south to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed My Son Sanctuary, believed to be the longest-inhabited archaeological site in Indochina. The crumbling Hindu temples, built by Champa kings, date from the 4th to 14th centuries.

Spend a day exploring the picturesque Marble Mountains, with Buddhist temples and pagodas built within the caves and grottos. Dont miss the Am Phu Cave, where the natural rock formations and dark tunnels have been transformed with frightening figures into a Buddhist version of hell.

Want to escape the coastal heat? You can ride the worlds longest cable car from Suoi Mo Station to Ba Na Hill Resort. This former 1920s French resort features atmospheric colonial streets with magnificent views of the South China Sea.

Getting around Da Nang

Da Nang International Airport is a 10-minute drive west of Da Nang, with the famous Reunification Express making a stop at Da Nang Station. Local buses connect most of Da Nangs sights, while renting a motorbike gives you greater freedom.
Perched high in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai feels worlds away from the buzz of big city Bangkok. The largest city in Northern Thailand, Chaing Mai is wonderfully atmospheric, with an endless line-up of temples, cafes and markets to explore. Spend your days wandering the laneways of the historic centre, or venture further afield to the lush green countryside.

Things to Do

In Chiang Mai, ancient wats are found on every corner. You can start your journey with a visit to Wat Chedi Luang, a Buddhist temple in the heart of the historic centre. Admire the gilded Buddhas and ancient manuscripts of Wat Phra Singh, and wander around the scenic grounds of Wat Chiang Man.

Surrounded by crumbling walls, Chiang Mais old city is a great place for a stroll. Start at the Tha Phae Gate, and work your way through the trendy cafes, colourful street stalls and handicraft boutiques.

Chiang Mai is famous for its cuisine, so why not sign up for a cooking class? When the sun goes down, the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is a great place to browse for bargains and sample tasty Thai street food.

After a day or two in Chiang Mai, most travellers venture out the city to explore the surrounding countryside. Elephant sanctuaries are always a favourite, as are white-water rafting trips and guided hill tribe treks.

Getting Around

The Old City is pedestrian friendly, which means walking is often the best way to explore Chiang Mai. Like the rest of Thailand, tuk-tuks are one of the fastest and cheapest ways to get from A to B. Chiang Mai is also serviced by local songthaews. Painted bright red, these long-bed trucks cruise throughout the city but can be a little difficult to navigate if you dont know where youre going.
November Ghost Tours at Ventfort Hall

LENOX, Mass.  Join Robert Oakes, author of "Ghosts of the Berkshires," who will lead tours through the rooms and halls of the historic estate sharing tales of its alleged hauntings.

The tour will take place at 7 pm on Saturday, Nov. 29.

This is not an active investigation.

Admission is $30 and minimum age to attend is age 12. Reservations are strongly recommended as tickets are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call 413-637-3206. Note that all tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Payment is required to make a reservation for an event.

Robert Oakes is an author, teacher, storyteller, and performing songwriter. He has written three books, "The Ghostly Tales of the Berkshires" (2023), "Ghosts of Northwestern New Jersey" (2022), and "Ghosts of the Berkshires" (2020), all published by Arcadia Publishing.

Since 2010, Robert has led ghost storytelling experiences at historic locations in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, including Ventfort Hall and Edith Wharton's The Mount. He has also given talks and readings and led a writing workshop at Arrowhead, home of Herman Melville.
State Fire Marshal: Put Fire Safety on the Menu this Thanksgiving

STOW, Mass.  Thanksgiving is just a week away, and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is reminding residents to stay safe in the kitchen on the #1 day for home fires in Massachusetts.

"Thanksgiving is a cherished time to spend with family and friends, but it's also the leading day for fires at home," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "About twice as many residential fires are reported in Massachusetts on Thanksgiving as on any other day. Don't let a fire ruin this special day with your family and loved ones. Practice fire safety when cooking and heating your home, and be sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that can alert you to danger."

Thanksgiving Cooking Fires

There were 523 Thanksgiving Day cooking fires in Massachusetts from 2020 to 2024. That's more than double the number reported on Christmas Eve, the second-leading day, during that period. Since 2021, Thanksgiving cooking fires have held about steady at around 100 per year  maintaining a significant decline from the 125 cooking fires reported statewide in 2020. Fortunately, no injuries were reported last year, but damages were estimated at more than $830,000.

State Fire Marshal Davine offered cooking safety tips that everyone can follow to stay fire-safe in the kitchen this year:

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms Save Lives

Be sure you have working smoke and CO alarms on every level of your home

Check the manufacturing date printed on the back of the alarms: smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years, and CO alarms should be replaced after 5-10 years depending on the model

Never disable a smoke alarm: modern smoke alarms should have a "hush" feature that is much safer than removing the batteries

If your alarms take alkaline batteries, replace the batteries twice a year: if you aren't sure when they were last replaced, do it today

Keep it Clean:

Clean up grease spills

Keep groceries, food packaging, towels, and other flammable materials away from the stovetop

Keep pot handles turned inward to prevent spills

Create a three-foot child-free zone around the stove

Only use the oven for cooking, not for heating or storage, and be sure it's empty before you turn it on

Stand by Your Pan

Stay in the kitchen when boiling, broiling, or frying food

Set a timer when baking or roasting so you don't lose track of time

Loose sleeves can ignite if they get too close to burners or heating elements: wear clothing with short or tight-fitting sleeves

Put a Lid on It

In the event of a fire on the stovetop, cover the pan with a lid or cookie sheet to smother the flames

Never try to move a burning pan or douse it with water

For a fire in the oven or microwave, leave the door closed, turn off the appliance, and call the fire department

Have the appliance professionally checked before using it after a fire

If you can't extinguish the fire quickly, get to safety and call 9-1-1

If your clothing catches fire, stop, drop, and roll to put out the flames. Put burns in cool running water for 10-15 minutes and call 9-1-1 for help.

Buy It, Don't Fry It

A devastating turkey fryer fire in New Bedford caused severe injuries and displaced almost 30 people in 2020. Fire safety experts strongly discourage the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil. There are no outdoor turkey fryers that have a listing from an independent testing laboratory such as UL or ETL, and the risk of hot oil spilling or igniting is high. The National Fire Protection Association states that home use of "turkey fryers that use cooking oil, as currently designed, are not suitable for safe use by even a well-informed and careful consumer." They recommend using new "oil-less" turkey fryers.

Gas Ovens: A Source of Carbon Monoxide

Generally, the confined space of a closed gas oven does not produce enough carbon monoxide (CO) to present any dangers, but it can present a hazard if used for several hours consecutively  such as when roasting a turkey. If you have a kitchen exhaust fan, use it; if not, crack a window for fresh air when using the gas oven for a prolonged period. Working CO alarms are vitally important to protect you and your loved ones from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Home Heating: #1 Source of Carbon Monoxide, #2 Cause of Fires

Heating is the second leading cause of fires on Thanksgiving and the primary source of carbon monoxide in the home. Give your furnace an annual check-up, have chimneys cleaned and inspected by a professional at the beginning of heating season, and place space heaters on flat, lever surfaces where in locations where they won't be bumped or tripped over. Keep a three-foot "circle of safety" free of anything that can burn around all heat sources.

For more information, contact your local fire department or the Department of Fire Services' Thanksgiving web page.
Hooker Street and a section of Francis Street were closed off after a fire in a Francis Street home on Monday morning.

Two Dead in Fatal North Adams Fire

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Two people were found dead in Monday morning's fire on Francis Avenue.

The Berkshire District Attorney's Office on Monday afternoon confirmed that firefighters had entered the single-family home to search for occupants and found the two already deceased. No other individuals were located inside the residence.

The names of the fire victims are being withheld until notification of next of kin. The DA's Office stated that an update would be released once that is done.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of their deaths. The North Adams Police and State Police investigators from the State Fire Marshal and DA's office responded to the scene.

According to an earlier statement from the Fire Department, the fire was reported about 7:11 a.m. Scanner reports said smoke was coming from the roof and out the doors, and that individuals may have been inside.

The home is on a hillside and firefighters entered through the basement access to attack the fire and search for occupants.

The blaze was contained to the single-family home near the intersection with Hooker Street.

Northern Berkshire EMS was called to the scene and Clarksburg was called to cover the station.

By 9 a.m., the fire was out, but police, fire and EMS were on the scene, which was cordoned off with yellow tape. Hooker Street was also closed off.

According to the department, "emergency response agencies will remain on scene for an extended period for overhaul, investigation, and safety operations. The public is urged to avoid the area to allow emergency crews to work safely and efficiently. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available."

Original post at 9:50 a.m., Monday, Nov. 24, 2025.
Bennington College Hosts Author Katie Yee

BENNINGTON, Vt.  Bennington College welcomes alum Katie Yee '17 for a public reading from her debut novel, "Maggie; or, a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar," on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at 7:00 pm in Tishman Lecture Hall.

The event is a part of Bennington's Literature Evenings series. It is free and open to the public.

According to a press release:

In Yee's taut, wry debut novel, a Chinese American woman spins tragedy into comedy when her life falls apart. The novel grapples with grief, motherhood, and myths.

While at Bennington as a student, Yee was one of the first recipients of the Catherine Morrison Golden '55 P'80 Undergraduate Writing Fellowship to attend the summer residency of the Bennington Writing Seminars MFA program.

"Going back to when Katie was a standout Literature student as an undergraduate, she has always written 'beyond her years,'" faculty member Benjamin Anastas said. "And ever since, Katie has been racking up accomplishment after accomplishment in the literary world."

Yee's writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books, No Tokens, The Believer, Washington Square Review, Triangle House, Epiphany, and Literary Hub. She has been awarded fellowships from the Center for Fiction, the Asian American Writers' Workshop, and Kundiman. She is the Barnes & Noble 2025 Discover Prize Winner.
Habitat For Humanity Holiday Match Challenge

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity announced that a longtime supporter has once again stepped forward with a 1-to-1 Holiday Match Challenge, offering to match all donations made through Dec. 31, 2025, up to $7,000.

Every gift made during this year's Home for the Holidays campaign will go twice as far in helping local families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership.

"We are incredibly grateful for this donor and his family, whose continued commitment to Habitat's mission has been essential to our work," said Habitat CEO Carolyn Valli. "This year has been especially challenging for nonprofits, but our community's need for affordable housing continues to grow. This match gives every donor the opportunity to make an even bigger impact at a time when it is needed most."

Donations made through the online match page at donorbox.org/home-for-the-holidays-match will be doubled automatically.

Despite financial and operational challenges faced by nonprofits across the region, Habitat has continued to accelerate its building efforts. Ten homes are currently underway across Central and Southern Berkshire County, including ongoing work in Pittsfield and progress on Phase One of the Prosperity Way community in Housatonic.

"Our team and volunteers are working harder than ever," added Valli. "This match challenge helps ensure we can complete the homes already under construction and keep our momentum strong. Every dollar raised directly supports local families and keeps these homes affordable for generations to come."
Pittsfield firefighters Clarence Gunn and Mathew Mazzeo were recognized for their life-saving actions in coldwater rescue last January. Images via Pittsfield Fire Department IAFF 2647.

Pittsfield Firefighters Gunn, Mazzeo Commended for Meritorious Conduct

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Two city firefighters were among the 170 from throughout the state recognized on Tuesday for valor and meritorious conduct at the 36th annual Firefighter of the Year Awards.

Firefighters Clarence Gunn and Mathew Mazzeo received Citations for Meritorious Conduct for their swift actions in rescuing an ice fisherman who had fallen through the ice on Onota Lake last January.

Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Public Safety & Security Secretary Gina K. Kwon, and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine honored 15 local fire departments and two state agencies at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.

"This year's awards reflect selfless acts of courage and skill that saved lives, protected homes, and delivered our most vulnerable residents from danger," said Healey. "To every firefighter who puts on the gear and answers the call, you have my gratitude and the gratitude of our entire state. We are so proud to support you as you support our safety every day."

Back in January, Gunn and Mazzeo donned cold-water rescue suits and used an ice sled to reach the fallen fisherman and ended up in the water as well when the ice broke under them. They were able to get the fisherman on the sled and remove him from the water. The rescue was described as "a manpower intensive operation taking place on an unstable and unpredictable ice surface."

The fisherman and one of the firefighters were taken to Berkshire Medical Center for hypothermia; both fully recovered.

The awards were representative of 17 emergency scenes between June 20, 2024, and June 30, 2025. They included two individual citations for meritorious conduct, 10 group citations, and 13 Medals of Valor.

One veteran firefighter, Chicopee Capt. Katie Collins-Kalbaugh, received the Norman Knight Award for Excellence in Community Service for her work as a longtime fire safety and prevention advocate. Davine presented the Fire Marshal's award to two groups: a team of Massachusetts Firefighting Academy instructors and support staff who saved the life of a recruit who went into cardiac arrest during training, and to Chief Fire Warden David Celino and 67 wildland firefighters from the Department of Conservation & Recreation for their work during last fall's wildfires.

"We have a saying in the fire service  you risk a little to save a little, and you risk a lot to save a lot," said Davine. "In big cities and small towns, these firefighters risked everything when lives were on the line. The physical, mental, and technical skills they bring to this demanding job are second to none, and the Firefighter of the Year awards are a small way of recognizing their singular value to our commonwealth."
Be Aware of Runners Near BCC During Thursday Morning Fund-Raiser

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Residents are asked to be aware of traffic delays on outer West Street along the Berkshire Community College campus down to Meadow Ridge on Thanksgiving morning between 9 and 10 a.m. for the 10th annual MountainOne Thankful 5K.

The annual event is a fundraiser for the local Berkshire County food pantries.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there are close to 700 runners registered for the race. The event will have walkers and runners and more than 100 students participating for free.

Attendees are asked to remain on the left side of the road throughout the event to ensure traffic can flow through the event. The organizers ask the community to have patience and be aware of road conditions if they are traveling on outer West Street this Thanksgiving morning. The Pittsfield Police will be on duty to monitor and facilitate safe flow of traffic.

The annual event has raised more than $50,000 in the past 10 years for the community with the event and participation fundraising. Participants were charged with creating their own fundraising, which by Tuesday had raised more than $11,000.

Registration for the event is open in person at Berkshire Running Center through Wednesday at 6 p.m. and the morning of the event at Berkshire Community College from 7:30 to 8:30. The race begins at 9 a.m., promptly.

The Berkshire Running Foundation is a nonprofit organization with the mission to improve and advance the positive effect the running community has on the neighborhoods in which we live. For more information on the foundation please visit berkshirerun.org or contact the executive director, Shiobbean Lemme at director@berkshirerun.org.
domenica 23 novembre 2025, 16:35 - Last updated: 24 novembre, 07:56

 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This article is automatically translated

Pope Leo on Thursday morning is headed to Turkey where he will stay for a few days before proceeding to Lebanon. His return to Rome is scheduled for December 2nd. This is a tripthe first at an international levelbequeathed by his predecessor that Prevost wanted to maintain and confirm in his agenda, packed with symbolic stops and ecumenical, political, spiritual meanings. A true test. The main occasion of the trip is the visit to Iznik, once called Nicea, a small town in the district of Bursa, 130 kilometers from Istanbul, which marks a fundamental stage in the history of Christianity for being the site of the first ecumenical council. It was there 1700 years ago that the Creed was defined, as it is still recited today by more than two billion Christians every day, in all Christian churches around the world. That was a moment favored by Emperor Constantine in which some heretical currents that were gaining ground, including Arianism, were banned, creating quite a stir. In an apostolic letter entitled "In Unitate Fidei" released on the eve of his departure for Nicea (Iznik) the pontiff draws a parallel between that period and the current one heavily marked by fractures in the Orthodox world, although the Moscow Patriarchate will also have a representative at the celebrations scheduled in Nicea. Leo XIV writes: "The times of the Council of Nicea were no less turbulent. When it began, in 325, the wounds of the persecutions against Christians were still open. The Edict of Tolerance of Milan (313), issued by the two emperors Constantine and Licinius, seemed to announce the dawn of a new era of peace. After external threats, however, disputes and conflicts soon emerged within the Church. Arius, a presbyter of Alexandria in Egypt, taught that Jesus is not truly the Son of God; although not a mere creature, He would be an intermediate being between the unattainably distant God and us." During the council period, the fathers reached a mediation and witnessed fidelity to the scriptures. The central point was the formulation of a single Creed. "In the West, there were various formulas, including the so-called Apostles' Creed. Also in the East, there were many baptismal professions, similar in structure. It was not a learned and complicated language, but ratheras it was later saidthe simple language understandable to the fishermen of the Sea of Galilee. On this basis, the Nicene Creed begins by professing: "We believe in one God, Almighty Father, creator of all things visible and invisible." With this, the conciliar Fathers expressed faith in the one and only God." In another word of the Creed, the affirmation "became flesh," specified by inserting the word "man" after the word "incarnate," Nicea distances itself from the false doctrine according to which the Logos would have assumed only a body as an external covering, but not the human soul, endowed with intellect and free will. Without Emperor Constantine's political decision to convene all the bishops of that era in Nicea, a tiny town about a hundred kilometers from Istanbul, Christianity would not have been what it has come to be today. In that spring of 325, the Nicene council changed history. Even today, two and a half billion Christians in the worldCatholics, Orthodox, Armenians, Copts, Protestants, Evangelicalspronounce the same words of the Creed that was defined: "I believe in one God, Almighty Father." It was a single rule of faith that, of course, developed previous formulations. In Nicea thus began a process of Romanization of Christians and Christianization of the empire that would then continue in the Byzantine millennium and culminate in the West with Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire. If the first day of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Turkey is dedicated (in Ankara) to civil and diplomatic authorities with the inevitable visit to Ataturk's mausoleum, the second day, Friday, will be dedicated to the religious sphere: the meeting with religious and bishops, the visit to a care home for the elderly, the ecumenical prayer meeting in Iznik, then the visit to the Blue Mosque, the meeting with the heads of the Christian Churches at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem. This will be followed by the meeting with Bartholomew I and the signing of a Joint Declaration. On Sunday, November 30th, the Pope will go to the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral for a greeting and then to the patriarchal church of St. George, where he will participate in the Divine Liturgy and deliver a speech. Beirut, the second leg of the journey, immediately includes meetings with authorities, prayer at the tomb of St. Charbel Makluf in the monastery of St. Maroun in Annaya, the meeting with religious and pastoral workers in the Sanctuary of Our Lady in Harissa and the Catholic patriarchs. Finally, silent prayer at the port (site of the violent explosion of 2020), the mass. In summary, Leo XIV will give nine speeches, five greetings, and celebrate two masses. Even in Lebanon, the religious plan intertwines with the political one.
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Taiwans return to China was not an option, premier Cho Jung-tai said on Tuesday after Xi Jinping pressed Beijings sovereignty claims to the self-governed island in a phone call with Donald Trump.

The Chinese leader told the American president on Monday that Taiwans return to China after the Second World War was a key part of Beijings vision for world order.

Mr Xi invoked his nations wartime alliance with the US while urging joint efforts to safeguard the victory of World War Two.

Taiwan was returned to China in October 1945 following Japans surrender at the end of the war.

We must once again emphasise that the Republic of China, Taiwan, is a fully sovereign and independent country," Mr Cho told reporters outside the parliament in Taipei.

For the 23 million people of our nation, return is not an option, the premier said. This is very clear.

Taiwan was catapulted to the centre of an escalating diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo earlier this month after Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from her country.

Her remarks provoked a furious response from Beijing, including boycotts of seafood trade and travel.

File. US president Donald Trump with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, on 30 October 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

China considers Taiwan its sovereign territory, and doesnt rule out the use of force to unify it with the mainland. The islands government rejects Chinas claim and says only its people can decide their future.

Beijing has demanded that Ms Takaichi retract her comments while Tokyo has insisted that they are in line with its longstanding position.

Ms Takaichi spoke with Mr Trump on Tuesday and discussed their relations with China.

President Trump gave a brief explanation of the recent state of US-China relations, Ms Takaichi told reporters. President Trump mentioned that he and I are extremely good friends, and that he would be delighted to receive a call from me at any time.

China has offered Taiwan a one country, two systems model, similar to Hong Kong, but president Lai Ching-te has rejected it.

In recent years, Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan by conducting drills around the island.

President Xis call with Mr Trump on Monday was their first direct contact since the two leaders reached a trade truce in South Korea. Mr Xi pressed his American counterpart on the issue of Taiwan, which did not arise in last months meeting.

Our relationship with China is extremely strong! Mr Trump wrote in a Truth Social post but made no mention of Taiwan. China's readout of the call emphasised Taiwan, while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the conversation was focused on trade.

The Chinese news agency Xinhua said Mr Trump stressed that the US "understands how important the Taiwan question is to China.

Mr Trump said he agreed to visit Beijing in April and invited Mr Xi for a state visit to America next year.
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For two hours every day, Lee Si-young and her colleagues undertake a perilous mission - broadcasting uncensored foreign news directly into authoritarian North Korea.

Their audience faces the severe risk of imprisonment simply for tuning in.

From its Seoul base, Lees Free North Korea Radio station has dedicated two decades to delivering real-time information to the nations 26 million citizens.

However, Lee now expresses a profound sense of crisis regarding their vital work. This alarm stems from the recent silence of major government-funded broadcasters in both the United States and South Korea, which have ceased operations this year following significant funding cuts and shifts in policy.

open image in gallery Lee Si-young, head of the Free North Korea Radio station, speaks during an interview at her office in Seoul, South Korea ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Our frustrations with the U.S. and South Korean governments are growing over their suspensions of radio broadcasts," said Lee, a defector who heads the small, nongovernmental FNK radio station. "We're afraid that they've abandoned North Korean residents.

Major channels broadcasting into North Korea fall silent

In North Korea, all radio and TV sets are fixed to state-run channels.

But defectors have testified that they modified their radios or used smuggled ones to covertly tune in to foreign broadcasts at night for news their government didn't want them to hear. That includes outside perspectives of the North's ruling Kim dynasty, more affluent and freer Western lifestyles, and success stories about defectors.

But a respected academic website focused on North Korea, 38 North, assessed last month that such outside radio broadcasting toward North Korea was down by 85% after cuts made by the U.S. and South Korean governments.

Two major U.S.-funded broadcasters  the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia  were forced to stop their Korean-language radio broadcasts after U.S. President Donald Trump in March signed an executive order effectively dismantling the agency that oversaw or provided funding to media networks. Trump said the networks had a liberal bias or were wasteful.

South Korea's liberal government led by President Lee Jae Myung halted cross-border radio broadcasts in an attempt to lower animosities with North Korea. His government also turned off frontline loudspeakers blaring K-pop songs and world news, and banned activists from flying balloons with propaganda leaflets and USB sticks across the border.

The FNK station is now one of several small civil or religious organizations that still transmit radio broadcasts into North Korea. Lee, the FNK head, said that VOA and RFA were much bigger than her group, which has only five workers, all defectors from North Korea.

We feel heavy-hearted and have a conflict over whether we should tell North Koreans that those suspended broadcasts were paused only temporarily and they would definitely be restarted or that we're the only one of the few who survived, she said.

A website and app target North Koreans living abroad

Despite setbacks in efforts to spread outside news in North Korea, Lee Young-hyeon, a defector-turned-lawyer in South Korea, this month launched a website and a mobile app meant to provide North Koreans with an alternative way to get outside information.

Lee said his Korea Internet Studio would first target tens of thousands of North Koreans living abroad, including laborers, students, diplomats and their family members. Many of these North Koreans abroad use mobile phones with access to the global internet, a privilege citizens in the North don't have.

open image in gallery Lee Young-hyeon, head of the Korea Internet Studio, speaks at his office in Seoul, South Korea ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Lee said his group aims to produce practical content that North Koreans abroad could use, such as how students can get better credits at foreign schools, what gifts laborers can buy for their loved ones at home and what cryptocurrency is.

We don't expect the public using our content to launch an uprising and topple the North Korean government, Lee said. The objective, he said, is for North Koreans to "learn there is such a good world where they can enjoy some freedom and rights.

Lee said he thinks North Korea will eventually ease its strict restrictions on the internet in a limited manner as it could allow Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese and other foreign companies to open local offices in the North.

Many observers are skeptical, though.

Since 2020, North Korea has enacted highly oppressive laws to toughen its fight against foreign cultural influences, especially South Korea's. The Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Law reportedly imposes up to 10 years of imprisonment with hard labor on those who consume, possess or spread foreign movies and music, and up to five years on those who use unauthorized radio and TV channels.

Defectors see the influence of foreign broadcasts into North Korea

Some question whether campaigns to provide outside news to North Korea have made a difference. Launches of propaganda balloons and loudspeaker broadcasts have also been a major source of tension with North Korea.

In July, South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young called radio and loudspeaker broadcasts a relic of the Cold War" and expressed hope that their suspension would improve ties with North Korea. In response to questions posed by The Associated Press, the South Korean Defense Ministry said the suspension of its Voice of Freedom radio broadcast was designed to ease military tensions with North Korea.

South Korean officials say North Korea has also switched off its own border loudspeakers and stopped transmitting jamming signals targeting South Korean radio broadcasts. But North Korea is still refusing to resume long-dormant talks with South Korea and the U.S.

Before his defection in 2003, Paek Yosep said he was shocked when South Korean radio broadcasts reported about anti-government protests in Seoul, something that is unthinkable in North Korea. Paek said when he served as a soldier at a frontline unit, he enjoyed listening to music blared from South Korean loudspeakers across the border.

Kim Ki-sung at the FNK station said that the South Korean radio broadcasts he listened to for a decade before he fled North Korea in 1999 influenced his defection. He said he learned that South Korea was rich enough to grant loans to the Soviet Union and that it had so many cars there were traffic jams.

I'm not sure how strongly addictive drugs are but I think those broadcasts were the same, Kim said. Many ask us whether we've confirmed that people in North Korea are truly listening to our programs. But I believe we should keep doing this even if just one person listens to our broadcasts.
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India has reportedly lodged a protest with China after a UK-based woman from the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh was detained for about 18 hours during a transit stop at the Shanghai Pudong airport, allegedly because officials claimed her passport was invalid.

Prema Thongdok, originally from Rupa in Arunachals West Kameng area, was flying from London to Japan on 21 November with a three-hour layover in Shanghai where she was pulled aside during security screening immediately after landing.

On 16 October 16, I had very successfully transited through the same airport. There was no issue, which is why its clear that this was a case of harassment. I was waiting in the queue at the security gate when a lady came, singled me out, and took me out of the queue. I asked the authorities there what had happened, and they pointed at my passport, which has Arunachal Pradesh as my birthplace, said Ms Thongdok, who has been living in the UK for 14 years and works as a financial advisor.

They were insisting that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of China and that, therefore, my passport is not valid. I asked them what laws state this or what written document specifies that such a passport is invalid, Ms Thongdok, who is in her 30s, told the Indian Express.

She alleged the staff even mocked her. One of them even said that I should get a Chinese passport, because I am Chinese.

Ms Thongdok said she was held in the airport for 18 hours without food, her passport was confiscated and she was blocked from taking her onward flight despite carrying a valid visa.

They refused to let me travel on to Japan, she said. They insisted that I have to either fly back to the UK or fly to India.

New Delhi said its consulate in the city was alerted to the incident and intervened on the ground.

Our consulate in Shanghai also took up the matter locally and extended the fullest assistance to the stranded passenger, the Express quoted an anonymous source as saying.

New Delhi then issued a strong demarche to Beijing.

China claims Arunachal as a part of southern Tibet while India maintains that state is its integral and inalienable part.

The nuclear-armed neighbours share a largely ill-defined 3,000km border. According to the Crisis Group, the frontier, stretching across the high Himalayas, is the longest disputed border in the world.

Ms Thongdok said she eventually asked for a phone and contacted friends, who alerted Indian officials.

After I got in touch with the consulate, six officials arrived at the airport within an hour and brought me food, she said.

Chinese authorities still refused to clear her onward travel and told her to book only on China Eastern Airlines. She finally flew to India via Thailand.

Ms Thongdok later wrote to the Indian foreign ministry, calling the declaration of her passport as invalid a direct challenge to Indias sovereignty and deeply distressing to any Indian citizen.

She added that a bilateral or geopolitical matter was misdirected at a private Indian citizen and sought compensation for harassment, distress, and physical and mental suffering.

Despite being in the UK for so many years, I have not given up my Indian passport because I love my country, Ms Thongdok said, arguing that she probably wouldnt have had an experience like this if I had a British passport.

Indian post near the frontier with China in Khinzemane in Arunachal Pradesh ( AFP/Getty )

The Indian foreign ministry said that it made clear to China that the grounds for Ms Thongdoks detention were ludicrous, stressing that Arunachal was indisputably Indian territory and its residents were entitled to Indian passports.

In March last year, the US said it recognised Arunachal as part of India and strongly opposed any unilateral attempt to advance territorial claims in the Indian state.

The longstanding boundary dispute between the two countries escalated into a war in 1962 that India lost.

A confrontation along the border in the western Himalayas in 2020  the first in many decades  left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead.

Another confrontation in January 2021 resulted in injuries to soldiers on both sides. The incident occurred near Indias Sikkim state, situated between Bhutan and Nepal.

India and China dont even agree on the length of the border, known as the Line of Actual Control. While India claims it to be 3,488km long, China puts it at 2,000km.

China has, in the past, released maps asserting claims over Arunachal, often prompting formal protests from India.

The Independent has reached out to the Chinese embassy in New Delhi and the Indian foreign ministry for comment.
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Jennifer Lopez headlined one of the most extravagant Indian weddings of the year this week, performing a high-energy concert at the Udaipur celebrations of US-based pharmaceutical heiress Netra Mantena and New York tech entrepreneur Vamsi Gadiraju.

The three-day celebrations, held between 21 and 23 November, were hosted across some of the western Indian citys most lavish venues, including the Jagmandir Island Palace on Lake Pichola and the opulent The Leela Palace hotel.

The bride is the daughter of Orlando-based Rama Raju Mantena, chairman and CEO of Ingenus Pharmaceuticals.

The groom is the co-founder and chief technology officer of Superorder, a US-based software platform used by multi-location restaurants to manage delivery operations.

The celebrations started with haldi and mehendi ceremonies at the Taj Lake Palace and sangeet at the City Palace complex before the wedding itself was held at the Jagmandir Island Palace, a 17th-century monument in the middle of a lake, the broadcaster NDTV reported.

Haldi, mehendi and sangeet are pre-wedding ceremonies common to many regions of India. The haldi ceremony sees friends and family apply turmeric to bless and protect the couple and the mehendi involves the brides hands and feet being decorated with intricate henna patterns in a celebratory gathering.

Sangeet is a high-spirited night of music and dancing led by friends and relatives that is meant to break the ice between families but is now marked at high-profile weddings by celebrity performers.

The over-the-top wedding festivities of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambanis son Anant last year saw the likes of Rihanna, Katy Perry, Andrea Bocelli, and Justin Bieber flown in as performers, and global celebrities like Kim Kardashian and former world leaders like Boris Johnson and Tony Blair as guests.

The reception of Mantena and Gadiraju took place at the Leela Palace on 23rd November, one of Udaipurs most expensive luxury hotels.

Donald Trump Jr reportedly attended with his family. He was photographed earlier in the week visiting the iconic Taj Mahal in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh.

According to the Indian Express, Lopez performed some of biggest hits at the sangeet ceremony on Friday, including Get On the Floor, Waiting for Tonight, Save Me Tonight, Get Right, and Aint Your Mama, accompanied by dancers and several costume changes.

The performance reportedly marked her first visit to India and quickly went viral on social media, with many commenting that it felt like a concert.

Photos of Lopez attending the wedding ceremony, posing alongside the brides father in a custom saree by Indian designer Manish Malhotra, also made their way online.

The sangeet was hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar and featured performances by actors Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Janhvi Kapoor, all of whom performed popular songs from their films.

Videos of Donald Trump Jr and his girlfriend Bettina Anderson being coaxed to dance with him to his song What Jhumka? from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

The mehendi ceremony on Saturday saw the whos who of Bollywood showing up to perform. Dia Mirza hosted the event while Madhuri Dixit performed a medley of her signature numbers before joining the famed Cirque du Soleil artists for a performance to AR Rahmans Oscar-winning song Jai Ho.

For the wedding, the bride wore a Sabyasachi red lehenga featuring traditional intricate zari embroidery.

While the exact numbers are unclear, NDTV estimates the wedding cost between Rs 750m (6.4m) and Rs 800m (6.8m), taking into account all expenses for the venues, guest accommodation and performer fees.
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Nine children and a woman were killed after the Pakistani military launched overnight airstrikes in Afghanistans Khost province, the Taliban said on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the de facto Afghan government, Zabihullah Mujahid, alleged that Pakistani jets struck a home in Gerbzwo district around midnight.

Pakistani invading forces bombed the house of civilian local resident Wilayat Khan, which martyred 9 children and one woman and destroyed their house, he said on X, sharing pictures purportedly showing the victims. Five of the children were boys, he said, and four girls.

Mujahid added that further raids hit Kunar and Paktika provinces, injuring at least four civilians.

Islamabad did not immediately make a statement.

Kabuls accusations came a day after a deadly assault on a security installation in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which borders Afghanistan, killed three security personnel and injured 11.

Police said that two suicide bombers and a gunman tried to storm the headquarters of the Federal Constabulary, the countrys paramilitary police force. One bomber blew himself up at the gate while the second attacker and an armed accomplice were shot dead near a vehicle park, Peshawar police chief Saeed Ahmad said.

open image in gallery Taliban soldier guards a border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Gurbuz district of southeast Khost province on 20 October 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

The terrorists involved in today's attack were on foot and failed to reach the parade area, he told the Associated Press. And a timely response by our forces prevented a much larger tragedy.

Samples from the suspected bombers are undergoing DNA analysis and investigators are trying to determine their identities and nationalities.

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack as a cowardly act by foreign-backed terrorists. Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said the response of security personnel had prevented a wider loss of life.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Islamabad frequently blames acts of terrorism on the Pakistani Taliban, formally known as the Tehrik-e-Taliban, which is ideologically aligned with but operationally distinct from the Taliban that govern Afghanistan.

Authorities allege that the Pakistani Taliban use Afghan territory as a safe haven, an accusation Kabul denies.

As a consequence, tensions have risen sharply this year. In October, soldiers clashed along the border in the worst fighting between the neighbours since the Taliban took back Kabul in 2021.

open image in gallery File. Policemen assess damaged vehicles after a suicide bombing outside a court in Islamabad on 11 November 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

A ceasefire was later agreed in Qatar but subsequent negotiations in Turkey for a more lasting arrangement broke down over Islamabads insistence that the Taliban deal with anti-Pakistan militant groups on its territory.

The latest escalation comes amid renewed scrutiny of the military balance between the South Asian neighbours. Data from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies highlights the gulf between their forces: Pakistan fields 660,000 active personnel, most of them in the army, with a modernising navy and air force supported by Chinese-supplied hardware while the Afghan forces number about 172,000.

Pakistans arsenal includes nearly 6,000 armoured fighting vehicles, 4,600 artillery pieces and a fleet of roughly 465 combat aircraft and 260 helicopters. Crucially, its also a nuclear-armed state, with an estimated 170 warheads.

Kabul has stated its intention to expand its military to 200,000 personnel. Much of its equipment consists of ageing Soviet vehicles seized after the collapse of the previous Western-backed government.

The country lacks a functioning air force, possessing only a handful of old aircraft and helicopters, many of which are believed to be unserviceable.

The absence of international recognition has further limited its ability to modernise.

The Taliban government has previously accused Pakistan of carrying out drone strikes on its territory, most recently in early October, and warned that such operations would provoke retaliation.
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Thirteen people have died in southern Thailand as severe flooding, intensified by relentless heavy rain, continues to devastate the region. Authorities are now dispatching an aircraft carrier laden with vital relief supplies and medical personnel.

Floodwaters, reaching depths of up to two metres in places, have submerged nine Thai provinces and eight states in neighbouring Malaysia. This widespread devastation spans hundreds of kilometres, echoing last year's deadly monsoon floods which claimed 12 lives.

The Thai Navy confirmed it is mobilising a substantial relief operation, including the aircraft carrier Chakri Naruebet and a flotilla of 14 boats. These vessels will transport helicopters, medical teams, essential supplies, and field kitchens capable of providing 3,000 meals daily to those affected.

"The fleet is ready to deliver forces and carry out actions as the Royal Navy orders," it said in a statement, adding that the carrier could also serve as a floating hospital.

An estimated 1.9 million people have been affected in Thailand, where the meteorology agency forecast sustained heavy rain and flash floods on Tuesday and warned small boats to stay ashore to avoid waves taller than 3 metres (10 ft).

open image in gallery This aerial photo taken on November 25, 2025 shows vehicles parked on an elevated road to keep them out of flood waters in Hat Yai in Thailand's southern Songkhla province ( THAI NEWS PIX/AFP via Getty Imag )

"Calls have been coming in non-stop in the last three days, in the thousands, asking to be evacuated and others for food," said a member of volunteer group the Matchima Rescue Center in the worst affected city of Hat Yai.

The rubber trading centre is Thailand's fifth largest city, where authorities have ordered evacuation after days of rain that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said had brought the worst flooding in 15 years.

No phones, rice or drinking water

"We are five people and a small child without rice and water," Facebook user The Hong Tep posted in an appeal for help on the Matchima group's page. "Phone reception has been cut - water is rising fast."

Hat Yai, also popular with Malaysian visitors, received 335 mm (13 inches) of rain on Friday, its highest in a single day in three centuries.

Television images showed brown waters rushing through its commercial streets, while residents waded through high waters, clinging to floating polystyrene boxes as rubber boats evacuated others in orange life vests.

The waters submerged cars and flowed around a fire truck abandoned in a street.

In Malaysia, more than 18,500 people moved from flooded areas to 126 evacuation centres set up mainly in northern border areas.

open image in gallery A fire truck is submerged in floodwaters in Songkhla province, southern Thailand, Monday, Nov. 24 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

In the state of Perlis, rescue teams waded through knee-high water to enter homes, while rescue boats ferried the elderly to safety, images from its fire department showed.

'Difficult and challenging time'

A team of rescuers sent to the worst-hit state of Kelantan bordering Thailand could fan out to other states if needed, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Facebook.

"Family safety must be the priority," he said, ordering authorities to provide maximum support to affected communities, whom he asked to comply with orders to evacuate.

"In this difficult and challenging time, I pray that all flood victims are granted strength, resilience, and protected from any harm."

The floods could wreak disruption in Thailand's rubber industry, among the world's largest producers and exporters of the commodity, where the government rubber agency has estimated the rains could cut output by about 10,300 tons.

Posts from stranded people desperate for help ran into the thousands on the Facebook page of Hat Yai's Matchima rescue group.

"Water is on the second floor now," wrote one of them, Pingojung Ping, who said she was one of six trapped, two elderly people among them. "Pray. Please help."
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Thousands of Myanmarese nationals in the US are set to lose their temporary legal status and be forced to return to the conflict-torn Southeast Asian nation ahead of elections planned by the military junta.

Donald Trumps administration said it was withdrawing the Temporary Protected Status designation for Myanmar, citing the upcoming elections as evidence of the situation improving in the country.

Rights groups and activists denounced the decision, which was expected to affect 4,000 people fleeing the civil war in Myanmar, as egregious and unfathomable.

The decision is consistent with Mr Trumps wider immigration crackdown that has already seen the Temporary Protected Status withdrawn for citizens of Honduras, Cameroon, Afghanistan, Haiti, Nepal, Nicaragua, Syria, South Sudan, and Venezuela.

Myanmarese nationals were granted the special status to reside and work in the US after the military overthrew the government of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

Hundreds of people, including Suu Kyi and her partys senior leaders, were arrested, prompting massive protests. The military rulers responded with a brutal crackdown that escalated into an armed conflict, with some regions turning into active war zones as ethnic militias fought the army.

open image in gallery File. People flee after a Buddhist monastery sheltering civilians displaced by fighting is attacked by a junta warplane in the town of Papun on 31 March 2024 ( Free Burma Rangers )

US secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem conferred with federal agencies and concluded that the protected status was no longer needed for Myanmarese citizens, her department said in a statement.

The situation in Burma has improved enough that it is safe for Burmese citizens to return home, so were terminating the Temporary Protected Status," Ms Noem said, using another name for Myanmar.

Burma has made notable progress in governance and stability, including the end of its state of emergency, plans for free and fair elections, successful ceasefire agreements, and improved local governance contributing to enhanced public service delivery and national reconciliation.

The status will expire on January 26.

open image in gallery Members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, which is backed by the junta, gather for an event on the first day of the election campaign in Yangon, Myanmar, on 28 October 2025 ( AP )

The DHS credited Myanmar's military government for engaging in ceasefire negotiations with ethnic armed groups in its formal notification of the move.

The department noted that China was playing a mediating role in the negotiations and compared them favourably to past peace efforts.

The move was criticised by international actors, including the UN, which denounced the elections as a sham and theatre as some opposition parties remained banned and former leader Suu Kyi languished in jail.

The factual analysis is fantastical, John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, said, referring to the US decision.

Contrary to its content, there have been no improvements in governance or stability, the revocation of a state of emergency is meaningless, and the so-called elections announced by the military are widely understood to be theatre  not even a farce, which at least might be amusing, but a sham."

The Homeland Security Departments misstatements in revoking TPS for people from Myanmar are so egregious that its hard to imagine who would believe them, he added.

The HRW said Myanmars supposedly revoked state of emergency in July was immediately replaced with a new state of emergency and martial law in scores of townships across nine states and regions.

Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said it was unfathomable for Myanmar to hold free and fair elections under the current situation.

open image in gallery Khin Yi, center, leader of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, during a ceremony to release the party's manifesto on 19 November 2025 ( AP )

How can anyone say that theyre free and fair, Mr Turk told AFP. And how can they even be conducted when considerable parts of the country are actually not in anyones control, and with the military being party to the conflict and having suppressed its population for years?

House Foreign Affairs East Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee chairwoman Young Kim, at a hearing on Myanmar last week, described the upcoming elections a "sham" that was "designed to create an illusion of legitimacy while allowing the junta to continue serving as a proxy for China and Russia.

The decision appeared to be in contrast to the State Departments human rights report, published in August, which noted significant human rights issues" in the Southeast Asian country.

The report cited credible reports of arbitrary killings and disappearances, torture, persecution of journalists and restrictions on religious freedom, among a litany of abuses.

The department also warned US nationals against travelling to Myanmar "due to civil unrest, armed conflict, and arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

The state department did not comment on the DHSs decision.
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Rachel Reeves has effectively cut the cash ISA limit in Wednesdays Budget, with the cap set to drop from 20,000 to 12,000  though there is one notable exception for over-65s.

The move, seen as a bid to encourage more people towards investing rather than only saving in cash, has prompted a mixed reaction from consumers and businesses.

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Many savers will not feel the impact of a cut on a day to day (or year to year, more specifically) limit, bearing in mind the difficulty many people have in saving upwards of 1,000 per month. But they could still be hit when they come into a lump sum  through inheritance, for example, or a property sale.

Either way, some people clearly want to move money before limits are cut. One cash ISA provider, Plum, told The Independent theyd seen a 49 per cent spike in the amount deposited into accounts between 15 October and 15 November, while another, Trading 212, confirmed that two in five (40 per cent) customers deposited more than 12,000 into their cash ISA each year.

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So what are the next possible moves for your cash, what are the rules around the different options and  the question the chancellor wants people to answer yes to  should you be starting to invest?

ISA limits and rules

First things first, the full ISA limit of 20,000 is not being reduced. Its just the cash ISA limit, which is coming down.

open image in gallery Chancellor Rachel Reeves has cut the cash ISA limit in Wednesdays Budget ( Getty/iStock )

Similar to how you can put a maximum of 4,000 into a lifetime ISA and still put another 16,000 elsewhere, you will still be able to utilise the additional 8,000 of your annual allowance in different tax-free products if you max out the cash ISA limit.

So, for example, if you had the full amount to use, you might opt to save 12,000 in a cash ISA, 4,000 in a lifetime version and the remaining 4,000 in a stocks and shares investing ISA. Rachel Reeves framed the change as 8,000 of the annual allowance being reserved for investing.

This is expected to come into effect from 2027.

Over-65s exemption

The sole exemption from this rule change will be over-65s. Those who come into that age bracket will retain the full 20,000 allowance, being able to go into cash ISAs, if they wish.

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This is down to investing being more suited for those who have a longer timeframe, to allow for market corrections and to see the benefits of compounding.

Protecting the full cash ISA allowance for over-65s is a smart move that will enable pensioners to de-risk as they enter retirement, recognising a greater need for more accessible and lower-risk savings, but further limits tax-efficient vehicles for those under 65 looking to save securely, noted Rob Hillock, head of personal financial planning at consultancy firm Broadstone.

Saving is still an option

If you have more than 12,000 annually to put away into savings and you want it to stay in accessible cash, you still can  you just need to be aware of tax implications.

Basic rate taxpayers can earn 1,000 in interest before paying any tax, which is known as the personal savings allowance.

Given that top interest-paying easy access accounts right now are about 4.5 per cent, it means you could have 22,000 in an account paying that rate and yielding 990 in interest. Nothing would be payable on that (assuming it didnt push you into the next tax band, added to your total income).

open image in gallery Basic rate taxpayers can earn 1,000 in interest before paying any tax ( Getty/iStock )

For higher rate taxpayers, its a 500 limit, and additional rate payers get no PSA at all.

Interest earned beyond that threshold becomes taxable  and remember its all interest earned, so if you have multiple accounts or income from trust funds, government bonds and even some life insurance contracts, that all goes towards the total.

The wider question from these amounts is how much you need in accessible savings. Theres more on that below.

Pension payments

Although many people have a workplace pension, that is one area which also faces probable disruption during the Budget, with limits set on how much salary sacrifice can be made before national insurance contributions are no longer exempt.

But you can also put spare cash towards your retirement if you dont need it in savings.

Self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) are ones you manage yourself, while many providers offer ready-made pensions or different styles depending on your age and other factors  you just pay in, and they decide where your money goes, to grow over time before you need it in retirement.

Pending any changes to this type of pension from the Budget, it remains tax-efficient over time as gains inside pensions are tax-free, though be aware of the rules around tax for when it comes time to take money out of your pension.

Investing and risk

And so to investing. Some people have an aversion to the word itself and think its not for me  sometimes without realising its already what they do when they have a pension.

It simply means your money is in other types of assets rather than just cash, but if you are risk-averse and want 20,000 in your ISA each year, there are still ways around that.

For example, some providers pay interest on uninvested cash in an investing ISA. Or, you could buy whats known as money market funds  these are designed to be low-risk assets made up of things like Treasury bonds, short-term securities and other things. They are seen as short-term options if you dont want to leave cash earning nothing at all, as you can still get a return, and the market for them is usually liquid  in other words, you can sell them quickly when you need the cash.

But this misses the wider point of investing, which is that over time, it usually can give better returns than just cash alone.

open image in gallery When products, adverts or companies talk about investing being more risky, its because they are legally obligated to ( Getty )

Experts generally agree that people need between three and six months of essential costs in easily accessible cash  exactly how much depends on your circumstances (secure job industry, how many dependents, and so on) and your tolerance of having a safety net.

Beyond that, extra cash that you dont need in the next few years  if you plan to buy a house next year, for example, its probably not for you  can often be better put to use by investing.

When products, adverts or companies talk about investing being more risky, its because they are legally obligated to. It doesnt mean you risk losing everything; its more that when you take on more risk with your money, you expect to be paid more in return for that additional risk.

As such, while it can carry more risk to invest in a single company which could lose value on the stock market  or could double in value  its less risky to invest in a fund, a group of companies which share a common trait, such as being listed on the London Stock Exchange. So a fund is less likely to go up or down in value by as much as a single stock might do.

Whatever you decide to do with your money, its important to get all the details and facts first, have a clear assessment of your own needs and likely requirements in the future, and then act with a plan in mind.
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Independent readers shared their experiences and frustrations of prostate cancer screening following David Camerons diagnosis.

The former prime minister revealed he was diagnosed with the disease after a scan prompted by his wife, Samantha, and is now calling for targeted screening.

Many noted that prostate cancer is common but often overlooked, stressing that early detection can be life-saving and that PSA checks can catch the disease before it becomes untreatable.

Readers praised Cameron for using his platform to raise awareness, highlighting how difficult it can be to get a PSA test on the NHS.

Several described the mixed messages around testing, with doctors warning of false positives or unnecessary biopsies, yet acknowledging PSA as the best tool currently available.

Others shared personal experiences with symptoms such as frequent urination, underlining that even minor signs should prompt a test.

Overall, our community agreed that routine, accessible screening could prevent late diagnoses and save lives.

Heres what you had to say:

Forgotten men

I was diagnosed 15 years ago and treated successfully in France. I am amazed to hear my friends in the UK complaining that their GPs are very reluctant to give them a prescription for a PSA test. Often the excuse is can be misleading, often false positive and a lot of subsequent worry and maybe biopsy, which is expensive... I enquired at my local lab here about getting a PSA test done privately without a prescription and was told 16 euros!

The only time prostate cancer gets any attention in the UK is when a celebrity or well-known person is affected and decides to go public; many don't.

Compared to the lengthy list of female tests available, men are to a great extent forgotten by the UK system.

Chris

A biopsy considered more worrying than cancer

I was diagnosed in the UK 16 years ago, and had the same problem getting a test [as Chris]. The reasons given were the same. It was the standard mantra, and still is. Why a biopsy is considered more worrying than fear of dying of cancer, I can't imagine.

The irony, when I met the surgeon, was that he immediately told me that younger and younger men were presenting with the disease. And that was 16 years ago.

Strabilla

Regular screening could have saved my life

I'm sorry to hear about Cameron's diagnosis, and hope he has the treatment that will see him through. I disagree, though, with what he says: Following his diagnosis, he said he wanted to support a call by the charity Prostate Cancer Research for screening to be offered to men deemed at high risk.

Nobody would have thought that I was high risk; however, at the very first, very minor symptom, I was tested and it was already too late: the cancer had metastasised and was therefore incurable. Regular screening could have saved my life.

My prostate cancer had already metastasised when I had the first, very mild, symptom. So I am date-stamped, like Sir Chris Hoy. I found the situation, once I got used to it, strangely liberating. I am able to do most of what I want to do (I carve stone and paint in oils) and find that things I used to worry about seem much less important. My mantra: test early, test often.

Epaminondas

I had to lie to get a test

While I am sorry to hear [David Cameron] has had [prostate cancer], he is lucky to have been diagnosed and survived the scare. Me? I had to lie to my doctor just to get the test, after five years of asking. This test should be as routine as breast cancer screening for ladies, and done on request not fear.

GreenAndRed

Get checked after 50

I am in the same boat as [Cameron] is. My prostate cancer is advanced. I hope for him that his is not. I have an appointment at the NHS to be told the result of my PET scan and to know my fate. I hope that it is not as bad as Sir Chris Hoy.

My advice to you all is to be regularly checked after 50, as if diagnosed early, it can be cured; if diagnosed late, it cannot. Regardless of ones political inclination, we must all thank Mr Cameron (and of course Mr Hoy) for having come public and campaigning for the NHS to target screening.

paul

Just as important as breast cancer screening

I had a PSA test in Poland as a routine measure with a blood test for something else. I didn't know what a PSA test was for until the results came out and the doctor told me. After that I had further tests which confirmed it was prostate cancer and I needed an operation.

Later, a friend in Britain was feeling unwell and, having heard about what happened to me, asked for a PSA test next time he was having a blood test. The nurse told him it wasn't necessary. He managed to convince his doctor to let him have a PSA test and by that time the cancer had spread. He needed a lot of treatment.

Prostate cancer screening is just as important for men as breast cancer screening is for women. It can save lives and prevent more expense to the NHS.

Urq

Every male should be checked

What I cannot understand is that the PSA is a simple blood test that anyone can have at any time. It's certainly not a definitive test either; there can be severely wrong readings, but any male that is going to the toilet at night more than two or three times should get a check, no matter what the age. If you are experiencing having to go to the toilet during the day quite often and cannot hold it up  a real having to go immediately feeling  then get a test, and if necessary there is a very simple test with what your bladder holds, the force with which you release the fluid, and they can do an endoscopy to see if there are irregularities on the prostate much better than the finger job.

Just as an addendum, I have had all these experiences firsthand. Fortunately my enlargement was benign.

Blue3Lee

Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity.

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The southern African nation of Lesotho has had its U.S. export tariff reduced from a threatened 50% to 15% but its crucial textile industry still faces massive factory closures, officials said on Friday.

Despite a reduction announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, the country's textile sector says it remains at a competitive disadvantage and faces ongoing factory closures and job losses.

In April, the Trump administration announced a 50% tariff on imports from Lesotho, the highest among all countries.

The tariffs were paused across the board but the anticipated increase wreaked havoc across the country's textile industry, which is its biggest private sector employer with over 30,000 workers.

About 12,000 of these workers work for garment factories exporting to the U.S. market, supplying American retailers like Levi's and Wrangler.

The Associated Press reported this week that clothing manufacturer Tzicc has seen business dry up ahead of the expected tariff increase, sending home most of its 1,300 workers who have made and exported sportswear to American stores, including JCPenney, Walmart and Costco.

David Chen, chairperson of the Lesotho Textile Exporters, has warned that the U.S. governments move to reduce the tariffs offer little relief for the struggling industry as their competitors have lesser tariffs.

Other countries which we are competing against are already being charged 10 percent, which makes it difficult for us to compete on an equal footing," said Chen, singling out the east African country of Kenya as its strongest competitor with a more favorable 10% tariff.

As a result, many factories will have to shut down, said Chen. They had already been forced to lay off workers when the tariffs were first announced in April.

According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, in 2024, U.S.-Lesotho bilateral trade stood at $240.1 million. Apart from clothing, Lesothos exports also include diamonds and other goods.

Classified as a lower-middle income country by the World Bank, nearly half of Lesothos 2.3 million population live below the poverty line, while a quarter are unemployed.

Lesotho's Minister of Trade, Industry and Business Development, Mokhethi Shelile, said that while several meetings with U.S. trade representatives led to a reduced tariff, more needed to be done to lower it further.

We remain committed to pushing for a further reduction to the minimum tariff level of 10 percent, which is essential for our textile sector to compete effectively in the US market," he said. I have already communicated with the U.S. Embassy regarding continued negotiations.

Lesotho's neighbor and trading partner, South Africa, is also reeling after Trump announced a reciprocal 30% tariff for the country which is expected to significantly impact its agriculture and manufacturing sectors, among others.

____

APs Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
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Dogs were the first of any species that people domesticated, and they have been a constant part of human life for millennia.

Domesticated species are the plants and animals that have evolved to live alongside humans, providing nearly all of our food and numerous other benefits. Dogs provide protection, hunting assistance, companionship, transportation and even wool for weaving blankets.

Dogs evolved from gray wolves, but scientists debate exactly where, when and how many times dogs were domesticated.

Ancient DNA evidence suggests that domestication happened twice, in eastern and western Eurasia, before the groups eventually mixed. That blended population was the ancestor of all dogs living today.

Molecular clock analysis of the DNA from hundreds of modern and ancient dogs suggests they were domesticated between around 20,000 and 22,000 years ago, when large ice sheets covered much of Eurasia and North America.

The first dog identified in the archaeological record is a 14,000-year-old pup found in Bonn-Oberkassel, Germany, but it can be difficult to tell based on bones whether an animal was an early domestic dog or a wild wolf.

open image in gallery Wolf DNA was found in chihuahuas ( Getty/iStock )

Despite the shared history of dogs and wolves, scientists have long thought these two species rarely mated and gave birth to hybrid offspring.

As an evolutionary biologist and a molecular anthropologist who study domestic plants and animals, we wanted to take a new look at whether dog-wolf hybridization has really been all that uncommon.

Little interbreeding in the wild

Dogs are not exactly descended from modern wolves. Rather, dogs and wolves living today both derive from a shared ancient wolf population that lived alongside woolly mammoths and cave bears.

In most domesticated species, there are often clear, documented patterns of gene flow between the animals that live alongside humans and their wild counterparts. Where wild and domesticated animals habitats overlap, they can breed with each other to produce hybrid offspring. In these cases, the genes from wild animals are folded into the genetic variation of the domesticated population.

For example, pigs were domesticated in the Near East over 10,000 years ago. But when early farmers brought them to Europe, they hybridized so frequently with local wild boar that almost all of their Near Eastern DNA was replaced.

open image in gallery A gray wolf in the wild ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Similar patterns can be seen in the endangered wild Anatolian and Cypriot mouflon that researchers have found to have high proportions of domestic sheep DNA in their genomes. Its more common than not to find evidence of wild and domesticated animals interbreeding through time and sharing genetic material.

That wolves and dogs wouldnt show that typical pattern is surprising, since they live in overlapping ranges and can freely interbreed.

Dog and wolf behavior are completely different, though, with wolves generally organized around a family pack structure and dogs reliant on humans. When hybridization does occur, it tends to be when human activities  such as habitat encroachment and hunting  disrupt pack dynamics, leading female wolves to strike out on their own and breed with male dogs.

People intentionally bred a few wolf dog hybrid types in the 20th century, but these are considered the exception.

Tiny but detectable wolf ancestry

To investigate how much gene flow there really has been between dogs and wolves after domestication, we analyzed 2,693 previously published genomes, making use of massive publicly available datasets.

About the authors Audrey T. Lin is a Research Associate in Anthropology at the Smithsonian Institution. Logan Kistler is a Curator of Archaeobotany and Archaeogenomics at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

These included 146 ancient dogs and wolves covering about 100,000 years. We also looked at 1,872 modern dogs, including golden retrievers, chihuahuas, malamutes, basenjis and other well-known breeds, plus more unusual breeds from around the world such as the Caucasian ovcharka and Swedish vallhund.

Finally, we included genomes from about 300 village dogs. These are not pets but are free-living animals that are dependent on their close association with human environments.

We traced the evolutionary histories of all of these canids by looking at maternal lineages via their mitochondrial genomes and paternal lineages via their Y chromosomes. We used highly sensitive computational methods to dive into the dogs and wolves nuclear genomes  that is, the genetic material contained in their cells nuclei.

We found the presence of wild wolf genes in most dog genomes and the presence of dog genes in about half of wild wolf genomes.

The sign of the wolf was small but it was there, in the form of tiny, almost imperceptible chunks of continuous wolf DNA in dogs chromosomes. About two-thirds of breed dogs in our sample had wolf genes from crossbreeding that took place roughly 800 generations ago, on average.

While our results showed that larger, working dogs  such as sled dogs and large guardian dogs that protect livestock  generally have more wolf ancestry, the patterns arent universal.

open image in gallery St. Bernards have no wolf DNA ( Getty/iStock )

Some massive breeds such as the St. Bernard completely lack wolf DNA, but the tiny Chihuahua retains detectable wolf ancestry at 0.2 per cent of its genome. Terriers and scent hounds typically fall at the low end of the spectrum for wolf genes.

We were surprised that every single village dog we tested had pieces of wolf DNA in their genomes. Why would this be the case? Village dogs are free-living animals that make up about half the worlds dogs. Their lives can be tough, with short life expectancy and high infant mortality. Village dogs are also associated with pathogenic diseases, including rabies and canine distemper, making them a public health concern.

More often than predicted by chance, the stretches of wolf DNA we found in village dog genomes contained genes related to olfactory receptors. We imagine that olfactory abilities influenced by wolf genes may have helped these free-living dogs survive in harsh, volatile environments.

The intertwining of dogs and wolves

Because dogs evolved from wolves, all of dogs DNA is originally wolf DNA. So when were talking about the small pieces of wolf DNA in dog genomes, were not referring to that original wolf gene pool thats been kicking around over the past 20,000 years, but rather evidence for dogs and wolves continuing to interbreed much later in time.

A wolf-dog hybrid with one of each kind of parent would carry 50 per cent dog and 50 per cent wolf DNA. If that hybrid then lived and mated with dogs, its offspring would be 25 per cent wolf, and so on, until we see only small snippets of wolf DNA present.

open image in gallery Sled dogs generally have more wolf ancestry than other breeds ( Getty/iStock )

The situation is similar to one in human genomes: Neanderthals and humans share a common ancestor around half a million years ago. However, Neanderthals and our species, Homo sapiens, also overlapped and interbred in Eurasia as recently as a few thousand generations ago, shortly before Neanderthals disappeared.

Scientists can spot the small pieces of Neanderthal DNA in most living humans in the same way we can see wolf genes within most dogs.

Our study updates the previously held belief that hybridization between dogs and wolves is rare; interactions between these two species do have visible genetic traces.

Hybridization with free-roaming dogs is considered a threat to conservation efforts of endangered wolves, including Iberian, Italian and Himalayan wolves. However, there also is evidence that dog-wolf mixing might confer genetic advantages to wolves as they adapt to environments that are increasingly shaped by humans.

Though dogs evolved as human companions, wolves have served as their genetic lifeline. When dogs encountered evolutionary challenges such as how to survive harsh climates, scavenge for food in the streets or guard livestock, it appears theyve been able to tap into wolf ancestry as part of their evolutionary survival kit.
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The next global volcanic disaster is more likely to come from volcanoes that appear dormant and are barely monitored than from the likes of famous volcanoes such as Etna in Sicily or Yellowstone in the US.

Often overlooked, these hidden volcanoes erupt more often than most people realise.

In regions like the Pacific, South America and Indonesia, an eruption from a volcano with no recorded history occurs every seven to 10 years. And their effects can be unexpected and far-reaching.

One volcano has just done exactly that. In November 2025, the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia has erupted for the first time in recorded history (at least 12,000 years that we know of). It sent ash plumes 8.5 miles into the sky, with volcanic material failing in Yemen and drifting into air space over northern India.

You dont have to look far back in history to find another example. In 1982, the little-known and unmonitored Mexican volcano El Chichon erupted explosively after lying dormant for centuries.

This series of eruptions caught authorities off-guard: hot avalanches of rock, ash and gas flattened vast areas of jungle. Rivers were dammed, buildings destroyed, and ash fell as far as Guatemala.

People watch ash billow from the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi Volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region ( AP )

More than 2,000 people died and 20,000 were displaced in Mexicos worst volcanic disaster in modern times. But the catastrophe did not end in Mexico. The sulphur from the eruption formed reflective particles in the upper atmosphere, cooling the northern hemisphere and shifting the African monsoon southwards, causing extreme drought.

This alone would test the resilience and coping strategies of any region. But when it coincided with a vulnerable population that was already experiencing poverty and civil war, disaster was inevitable. The Ethiopian (and East African) famine of 1983-85 claimed the lives of an estimated 1 million people. This brought global attention to poverty with campaigns like Live Aid.

Few scientists, even within my field of Earth science, realise that a remote, little-known volcano played a part in this tragedy.

Despite these lessons, global investment in volcanology has not kept pace with the risks: fewer than half of active volcanoes are monitored, and scientific research still disproportionately focuses on the well-known few.

There are more published studies on one volcano (Mount Etna) than on all the 160 volcanoes of Indonesia, Philippines and Vanuatu combined. These are some of the most densely populated volcanic regions on Earth  and the least understood.

About the author Mike Cassidy is an Associate Professor in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham. This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

The largest eruptions dont just affect the communities around them. They can temporarily cool the planet, disrupt monsoons and reduce harvests across entire regions. In the past, such shifts have contributed to famines, disease outbreaks and major social upheaval, yet scientists still lack a global system to anticipate or manage these future risks.

To help address this, my colleagues and I recently launched the Global Volcano Risk Alliance, a charity that focuses on anticipatory preparedness for high-impact eruptions. We work with scientists, policymakers and humanitarian organisations to highlight overlooked risks, strengthen monitoring capacity where it is most needed, and support communities before eruptions occur.

Acting early, rather than responding only after disaster strikes, stands the best chance of preventing the next hidden volcano from becoming a global crisis.

Why quiet volcanoes arent safe

So why do volcanoes fail to receive attention proportionate to their risk? In part, it comes down to predictable human biases. Many people tend to assume that what has been quiet will remain quiet (normalcy bias). If a volcano has not erupted for generations, it is often instinctively considered safe.

The likelihood of an event tends to be judged by how easily examples come to mind (this mental shortcut is known as availability heuristic). Well-known volcanoes or eruptions, such as the Icelandic ash cloud from 2010, are familiar and can feel threatening, while remote volcanoes with no recent eruptions rarely register at all.

These biases create a dangerous pattern: we only invest most heavily after a disaster has already happened (response bias). El Chichon, for instance, was only monitored after the 1982 catastrophe. However, three-quarters of large eruptions (like El Chichon and bigger) come from volcanoes that have been quiet for at least 100 years and, as a result, receive the least attention.

Volcano preparedness needs to be proactive rather than reactive. When volcanoes are monitored, when communities know how to respond, and when communication and coordination between scientists and authorities is effective, thousands of lives can be saved.

Disasters have been averted in these ways in 1991 (at Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines), in 2019 (at Mount Merapi in Indonesia) and in 2021 (at La Soufriere on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent).

To close these gaps, the world needs to shift attention towards undermonitored volcanoes in regions such as Latin America, south-east Asia, Africa and the Pacific  places where millions of people live close to volcanoes that have little or no historical record. This is where the greatest risks lie, and where even modest investments in monitoring, early warning and community preparedness could save the most lives.
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A man has been found guilty of chasing a police officer with a chainsaw and attempting to murder him.

Liridon Kastrati was accused of brandishing a chainsaw at officers in Paisley, Renfrewshire, in broad daylight on 6 May 2024.

The 32-year-old had denied a single charge of attempting to murder four police officers.

He was convicted on Tuesday of an amended charge of attempted murder in relation to one person, Pc Gary Cowan, following a trial at the High Court in Paisley.

Kastrati was acquitted on Monday of charges of breach of the peace, stealing a car and motoring offences after the prosecution withdrew those four charges.

Kastrati will be sentenced on 19 December 19 at the same court.

Judge Gallacher told him to expect a significant penalty.

open image in gallery Liridon Kastrati was accused of brandishing a chainsaw at officers ( PA Archive )

The court previously heard that Kastrati was questioned on 6 May without either a solicitor or an Albanian interpreter present.

He made reference repeatedly to the collision being a car accident when the attempted murder charges were read to him.

On Tuesday, prosecutor John Keenan urged the jury to convict Kastrati, who has been remanded in custody for 18 months.

During closing submissions, Mr Keenan said: The Crown submit the accused deliberately drove at speed into a police car driven by Pc Gary Cowan and Pc Kelly Ferris while it was stationary. After colliding with it he then pursued PC Cowan and other officers, threatening them with a chainsaw with the intention of causing them serious harm.

I submit you can draw that inference of murderous intent by driving and colliding with the police vehicle but also of the pursuit while wielding an activated chainsaw.

However, John Scullion KC, defending Kastrati, told the court that Police Scotland carried out a flawed investigation into the incident.

He also said the attempted murder charge was not supported by evidence.

The lawyer told the jury: Mr Kastrati accepts he removes a chainsaw from the car, he swore, he injured Pc Cowan, he brandished the chainsaw at other officers during this frightening and distressing incident.

You must convict him of those parts.

Mr Scullion said the police investigation had neglected to examine a mobile phone found in the drivers seat of the VW, and said that it was charitable to describe the investigation as flawed, claiming it lacked objectivity, the court heard.
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Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been cleared of harassing a transgender activist, but found guilty of criminal damage to her mobile phone.

Linehan, 57, flew in from Arizona and appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in person on Tuesday to hear District Judge Briony Clarke deliver the judgment.

Linehan had denied harassing Sophia Brooks on social media between 11-27 October 2024 and a charge of criminal damage to her mobile phone on 19 October outside the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster.

Reading a summary of her judgment, the judge said she was not satisfied that Linehans conduct amounted to harassment or that the complainant was as distressed as she made herself out to be.

She said that Linehan had not tagged Ms Brooks in his social media posts, bar one.

While his comments were deeply unpleasant, insulting and even unnecessary, they were not oppressive or unacceptable beyond merely unattractive, annoying or irritating, she said.

open image in gallery Graham Linehan outside Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday ( PA )

However, the judge found that Linehan had taken Ms Brookss phone because he was angry and fed up, and had damaged it by knocking it to the ground.

The judge ruled that she was not sure to the criminal standard that Linehan had demonstrated hostility based on the complainant being transgender, and therefore this did not aggravate his offence.

He was fined 500 and ordered to pay costs of 650 and a statutory surcharge of 200.

Linehans lawyer Sarah Vine KC asked that he be given 28 days to pay the full amount.

The court previously heard that Ms Brooks had begun taking photographs of delegates at the event during a speech by Fiona McAnena, the director of campaigns at Sex Matters.

open image in gallery Supporters cover Sophia Brooks as she arrives at an earlier court appearance ( Jonathan Brady/PA )

Outside the event, Ms Brooks asked Linehan: Why do you think it is acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists?

In response, the court heard that Linehan had called Ms Brooks a sissy porn-watching scumbag, a groomer and a disgusting incel.

The complainant responded: Youre the incel, youre divorced.

Prosecutor Julia Faure Walker earlier told the court that Linehan had written repeated, abusive, unreasonable social media posts about Ms Brooks.

The comedy writer said that his life was made hell by trans activists, adding that Ms Brooks was a young soldier in the trans activist army.

Linehan repeatedly referred to Ms Brooks as he throughout the trial.

He was misogynistic, he was abusive, he was snide, Linehan said.

He depended on his anonymity to get close to people and hurt them, and I wanted to destroy that anonymity.
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Shoppers are poised to spend almost 14 billion this Black Friday weekend, even as increasing concerns about poor deals and potential scams persist.

A new survey from e-commerce marketing platform Omnisend reveals Black Friday's continued dominance, with consumers anticipating an average spend of 299  a significant 83 increase year-on-year.

The spending surge is also expected to extend to Cyber Monday and the days following the sales weekend, with average basket totals predicted to reach 229, up 70 from last year.

Omnisends data predicts that a third of consumers plan to spend more than in 2024, while just 14 per cent expect to cut back.

Amazon remains the top destination for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers, with 76 per cent looking for deals across the retailer, but many are also turning to Chinese marketplaces such as Temu (22 per cent), Shein (21 per cent) and TikTok Shop (14 per cent).

Previous Omnisend data suggests that 71 per cent of consumers plan to cut spending overall at Christmas, putting further pressure on retailers to get it right over the Black Friday weekend.

However, the spectre of spiralling debt is influencing spending decisions, with buy now, pay later (BNPL) options such as Klarna and PayPal unlikely to prove as popular this year, the poll found.

Just 17 per cent of people say that they will use BNPL options over the Black Friday weekend, rising to a third of people (32 per cent) who would consider using it for big-ticket purchases only.

Clothing and accessories remain the most popular category, with half of UK shoppers (49 per cent) planning to make fashion purchases, followed by technology and electronics (45 per cent), and toys (28 per cent), as families plan ahead for festive gifts.

Marty Bauer, retail and ecommerce spokesman at Omnisend, said: This notorious American sales event has been popular in the UK now for the best part of a decade and it looks likely to be another busy year for retailers.

In the weeks leading up to Black Friday, start researching the regular prices of items youre interested in. It pays to start scouting potential deals early.

Many retailers inflate prices leading up to Black Friday, only to offer discounts that may not be as significant as they seem. Knowing the original price helps you determine if a deal is genuine.

If you are signed up for newsletter emails from a brand, go back and look at their offers from last year. Many brands have pricing strategies that dont change much from year to year, so this will give you a good indication of which products go on sale and when, helping you understand when a deal is actually a deal.

open image in gallery Amazon remains the top destination for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers ( PA )

The figures come as consumer groups warned shoppers to be extra cautious with Black Friday deals.

Citizens Advice consumer expert Jane Parsons said: Black Friday is a prime opportunity for cyber scammers to take advantage of consumers looking to bag a bargain.

By tempting people with special offers, fake reviews and sought-after items at rock bottom prices, criminals will try to catch people out by disguising their scams as legitimate deals.

They will often create a sense of urgency to steal your money, so dont rush your purchase. Research the company youre buying from and be wary of suspicious web links. Paying by debit or credit card can also give you extra protection if things go wrong.

open image in gallery Consumer groups warned shoppers to be extra cautious with Black Friday deals ( Getty/iStock )

Which? consumer law expert Lisa Webb said: With Black Friday bargains bombarding your email inbox and social media feeds, it can be hard to weed out the legitimate offers from the scams.

Shoppers should be extra cautious with Black Friday deal emails and double-check the email address is genuinely from the retailer before clicking on anything. If you are unsure if an offer is genuine, check the retailers website directly.

On social media, treat any deals posted from newly created accounts with suspicion. You can use a domain checker like who.is to check when the website was created  any newly created website should ring alarm bells.

If you think you might have fallen victim to a Black Friday scam, call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your bank card and report it to Action Fraud or call the police on 101 if youre in Scotland.
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New driving test changes in Britain have come into place on today (Monday 24 November).

Candidates will now be required to spend longer on faster roads during tests.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is introducing new measures to better reflect the real-world driving conditions many motorists encounter post-test, particularly on rural roads.

This follows a five-month trial of the changes, which took place earlier this year at 20 test centres across Britain.

Nearly half (48 per cent) of crashes involving car drivers aged between 17 and 24 where someone was killed or seriously injured between 2019 and 2023 took place on rural roads, a House of Commons Library briefing document shows.

That is compared with 42 per cent for drivers outside that age range.

Roads minister Simon Lightwood said: Were doing all we can to make our roads safer.

By focusing more tests on higher speed roads were tackling one of the biggest risks for young motorists, helping to reduce collisions and save lives.

Amanda Lane, DVSA head of driver testing and driver training policy, said: High speed roads, particularly those in rural areas, are among the most treacherous for novice drivers.

To keep all road users safe, its crucial that the practical driving test assesses learners on the skills required to drive in the real world.

The agency added that the changes will have no impact on the timing of tests or the number available ( James Manning/PA )

Other changes being made to the test include:

Reducing the number of stops learners must make from four to three.

Decreasing the frequency of emergency stops from one in three tests to one in seven.

Giving examiners the power to increase the length of independent driving  which can involve following a satnav, traffic signs, or both  to between 20 minutes and the full duration of the test.

The DVSA said the need to find slower speed areas to perform stops during a test limits the distance and number of roads that can be covered.

It is hoped decreasing the number of stops will provide greater flexibility when planning test routes.

The agency added that the changes will have no impact on the timing of tests or the number available.

There is a major backlog of driving tests, which the DVSA attributes to an increase in demand and people booking tests much earlier than before.

The number of learner drivers in Britain with a future test booking as of the end of October was 642,000.

Some 182,000 tests were conducted last month, an increase of 9 per cent from 168,000 in October 2024.

Last week, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced that military driving examiners will be mobilised to test civilians.

Other measures aimed at tackling the backlog include combating the issue of people reselling tests for profit.

Only learners  not instructors  will be able to book slots, and they will also only be able to move the location of tests to a centre near the original booking.
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Nearly 2,400 children who have been trafficked or arrived in the UK alone to claim asylum went missing while in local authority care last year.

The data released on Tuesday, which charities say exposes widespread failures in the system, also found that those groups of children are at particularly high risk of sexual or criminal exploitation or other types of harm when they are missing.

It comes as The Independent and the charity Missing People continue the SafeCall appeal, aiming to raise 165,000 to fund a new free service offering support and safety to the 70,000 children reported missing each year.

The report, conducted by the childrens rights organisation Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT) UK and Missing People, was based on Freedom of Information data requested from childrens services departments in the UK.

Donate here or text SAFE to 70577 to give 10 to Missing People  enough for one child to get help.

open image in gallery The report found that 37 per cent of children identified or suspected of being trafficked had been reported missing ( Missing People )

Jane Hunter, head of research and impact at Missing People, said: Trafficked and unaccompanied children are disappearing from care at alarming rates, suggesting that effective safeguards are often not in place for these children.

"Every child deserves to feel safe and protected, yet trafficked and unaccompanied children are repeatedly failed by the systems meant to care for them. This report is a stark reminder that urgent action is needed to prevent these children from disappearing and falling into dangerous situations."

Ms Hunter has called for systemic reform and wants to see all trafficked and unaccompanied children given access to appropriate accommodation. She is also demanding improved awareness around the National Referral Mechanism, the framework to identify and report victims of trafficking.

These steps are critical to closing the gaps that traffickers exploit and to restoring trust in the care system, she added.

The report found that in 2024 alone, 2,638 children in local authority care were identified or suspected of being trafficked. Of this, 864 children were reported missing, the equivalent of 37 per cent.

In 2024, 1,501 of the 12,530 unaccompanied children who were in local authority care (13 per cent) went missing, a 2 per cent increase from the year prior.

For the last decade, unaccompanied and trafficked children have remained at high risk of going missing, yet there has been a continuous failure to protect these children, the report said.

Laura Duran, head of policy at ECPAT UK, said: "These children are not just statistics  they are individuals who have already endured unimaginable trauma. When they go missing from care, they are at extreme risk of further exploitation.

The UK government must ensure that the policies they are proposing do not exacerbate these risks and should instead focus on bringing effective safeguarding measures to protect children from harm."

open image in gallery The charity Missing People is calling for government reform to better protect vulnerable children ( Missing People )

The report claims that many systems currently in place in the UK appear to be exacerbating this risk for children, including an insecure immigration system. Previous research has shown that uncertainty over a childs right to remain in the UK often contributes to their going missing from care.

The report also noted that not all local authorities responded, and the actual figures are likely to be higher.

A government spokesperson said: This government inherited a childrens social care system failing to meet the needs of the countrys most vulnerable children.

Our landmark Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill is the biggest overhaul of childrens social care in a generation, delivering on our mission to break the link between young peoples background and their future success, and to ensure every child in our country, including those in care, has the opportunity to thrive.

This includes improving the availability of care placements, better information sharing, requiring the establishment of multi-agency child protection teams in every area, and introducing a new duty on partners to automatically include education and childcare settings in their safeguarding arrangements to help prevent children falling through the cracks.

Please donate now to The Independent and Missing Peoples SafeCall campaign, which aims to raise 165,000 to create a free, nationwide service helping vulnerable children find safety and support.

For advice, support and options if you or someone you love goes missing, text or call the charity Missing People on 116 000. Its free, confidential and non-judgemental. Or visit www.missingpeople.org.uk/get-help
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A teenage boy is in a life-threatening condition in hospital after a shooting incident in Sheffield, South Yorkshire Police have revealed.

According to police, officers were called to reports of a shooting at London Road about 5.17pm on Monday.

A 16-year-old boy was taken to hospital after being found with an injury consistent with a gunshot.

Investigations are underway to track down those responsible, said Detective Chief Inspector Emma Knight.

"This is a terrible incident that has left a boy fighting for his life and I know those in our community will be deeply concerned," she said.

"I want to assure residents that a dedicated team of officers and staff are working tirelessly to understand the circumstances that led to this attack and to trace those responsible. We need you to work with us and provide any information you have. This is not acceptable on our streets, so we must work together to stop it.

"If you see officers in the area and have information or concerns, please do speak to them.

"If you have any information that could help officers with their investigation you can also get in touch online or by calling 101, quoting incident number 630 of 24 November 2025."

Police said London Road is closed from the junction at Sitwell Place to the junction at Crowther Place as officers conduct their investigation, with disruption expected into Tuesday morning.
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Pressure is growing on Rachel Reeves to find new ways to boost the ailing economy as economists warn the Treasury may need to find at least 22bn at Wednesdays Budget.

Many now predict the chancellor will have little choice but to raise taxes to find more funds for government coffers, as rising borrowing costs and weak growth forecasts drastically reduce her room for manoeuvre.

This difficult economic backdrop will require funds to be found somewhere, with dozens of proposed tax rises floated ahead of the fiscal event. Whatever options the Treasury chooses, it will undoubtedly be hard for Ms Reeves to raise the revenue needed without hitting household finances.

open image in gallery Pressure is growing on Rachel Reeves to find new ways to boost the ailing economy ( PA )

However, an increasing number of campaigners have said a wealth tax could shore up government funds, whilst ensuring that those worst-hit are those who can most afford it.

Cabinet ministers have so far rejected calls for a wealth tax, with Ms Reeves indicating that she does not want to implement the measure in its strongest form. However, the chancellor also said in October that higher taxes for the wealthy will be part of the story at the Budget, leaving the door open for some wealth-targeting taxation.

Heres everything you need to know about the wealth tax argument and what the experts have to say:

What is a wealth tax?

A wealth tax is a direct levy on an individuals total net assets  things like property, investments, cash, and other possessions. Unlike most regular taxes, the idea is to target accumulated wealth, rather than only income earned that year.

Alongside being a new way to raise revenue for the exchequer, the policy is also designed to redistribute wealth to reduce economic inequality.

The UK already has some taxes that focus on assets, such as inheritance tax, capital gains tax, and council tax. Tweaking any of these may also be on the table for the chancellor later this year.

Capital gains tax is most similar to a wealth tax in that it sees a levy charged on the sale of an asset. However, most models of a wealth tax would see an annual charge based on the value of assets held, even if they are not sold.

The idea of a wealth tax has proven divisive among economic experts, with debates ongoing around its fairness, revenue-raising potential, and economic impact.

Could a wealth tax work in the UK?

Campaigners say a wealth tax could generate significant sums for the Treasury, whilst only affecting a small number of individuals who are less likely to feel the sting of higher receipts.

Tax Justice UK is calling for a 2 per cent levy on individuals who own assets worth more than 10m. They say this would affect 0.04 per cent of the population, while raising 24bn a year.

The calls come at a time when the wealth of the ultra-rich in the UK has increased massively in recent decades, while living standards have dropped for those on low- to middle-incomes.

The Sunday Times rich list recorded 171 UK billionaires in 2023  up from 15 in 1990. At the same time, there are now record numbers of children living in poverty in the UK, and in precarious living conditions like temporary accommodation.

open image in gallery Tax Justice UK is calling for a 2 per cent levy on individuals who own assets worth more than 10m ( Gareth Fuller/PA )

A wealth tax should be seriously considered by the chancellor, author and host of the Macrodose podcast, James Meadway told The Independent earlier this year: It starts to chip away at the idea that were just going to allow wealth to pile up in a very few hands forevermore.

Responding to criticism that a wealth tax would threaten investment in the UK, the economist said: Investment has fallen off a cliff between Brexit and the financial crisis. Sixty per cent of wealth in Britain is inherited. Its not something thats been built up by somebody going off and setting up a new business.

If these people were any good, our economy would be better. It isnt better, so theyre not that good, so it doesnt matter that much.

He added: Its not going to solve every single economic problem, but 24 billion is not a number to be sniffed at if youre the government right now looking at how youre going to continue to fund the NHS, how youre going to pay for not imposing massive benefit cuts, how youre going to get rid of the two-child benefit cap.

Theres a whole stack of things that we could do with that money that isnt being done at the minute because its just sitting in the hands of very, very wealthy people.

What are the issues with a wealth tax?

One of the most difficult factors in calculating the benefits of any wealth tax is predicting what the behavioural response will be. While a wealth tax would raise fairly large sums in any scenario, this uncertainty means it is hard to model.

A common concern put forward is the risk of capital flight, where wealthy individuals  who tend to be more globally mobile  simply leave the UK, or at least move some of their assets.

Wealth can also be held in a diverse range of assets, anything from cars to art, meaning it may be hard for tax authorities to know exactly how to enforce the levy.

open image in gallery While a wealth tax would raise fairly large sums in any scenario, uncertainty means it is hard to model ( PA )

Dan Neidle, founder of Tax Policy Associates, said it is highly uncertain how much could be raised by implementing a wealth tax. While it is difficult to estimate exactly how many wealthy individuals would leave the UK should the measure come into force, the tax expert points out that just 10 leaving could reduce the revenue by billions.

This is because 15 per cent of the projected yield would come from just 10 ultra-wealthy individuals, while 80 per cent would come from fewer than 5,000.

Alongside the risk of capital flight, Mr Neidle argues that the economic damage of a wealth tax to the UK would be massive.

Speaking to The Independent earlier this year, he said: If you tax something, you get less of it  always. All taxes are a trade-off; you need to just be clear about what they are. With a wealth tax, youre taxing savings and investment, so you get less savings and investment.

The tax expert points to modelling of wealth tax in the US and Germany, which found the long-term effect was a 2 per cent and 5 per cent reduction in GDP, respectively. This would be damaging for the economy and hit employment hard.

We need to respond not to what we want policies to do, but what they actually do, Mr Neidle added. There are lots of ways you can reform tax and tax the wealthy fairly in a way that doesnt damage the rest of us. These could include reforming land tax, capital gains tax, and inheritance tax.

Any of these is probably a more likely option for Labour than introducing a wealth tax. But as the Budget approaches, calls for some form of more redistributive measure will likely only grow louder.
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Brexit is costing the UK up to 90bn a year in lost tax revenues, a new analysis shows, just days before Rachel Reeves prepares to hike levies in her make-or-break Budget.

The average Briton is also thousands of pounds worse off, leading to calls for ministers to fix our broken relationship with Europe.

As Ms Reeves sets out her Budget on Wednesday, the governments official watchdog is also expected to confirm that leaving the European Union has been even more disastrous than previously thought.

open image in gallery Brexit has cost the UK economy billions ( PA )

Last month, Ms Reeves said the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) would be pretty frank that Brexit had had a bigger impact on our economy than even was projected.

A new study this month from the highly respected US think tank, the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that the economic damage since the 2016 Leave vote had resulted in the UKs GDP being between 6 per cent and 8 per cent smaller than it could have been.

New analysis by the House of Commons library estimates that Brexit is costing the Treasury up to 90bn a year in lost tax revenue, and the average Briton has seen a hit to GDP per head between 2,700 and 3,700.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, whose party commissioned the analysis, said: That is why we have the highest taxes ever, that is why we have sky-high bills, that is why we have a cost of living crisis.

He called on Labour to drop its red lines and negotiate a new customs union with the EU, to fix our broken relationship with Europe.

open image in gallery Rachel Reeves is widely expected to raise taxes in her Budget, with many pointing to Brexit as part of the reason for the hike ( PA )

Sir Nick Harvey, chief executive of European Movement UK, said: Rachel Reeves would be facing very different choices this week if the UK hadnt mangled its ties to its biggest trading partner. The red tape and uncertainty of the past nine years have hit every single one of us in the pocket.

This new analysis from the House of Commons Library shows just how much economic harm leaving the EU has wreaked on us both nationally and individually. Billions lost in tax every year, and all of us several thousand pounds poorer.

Public opinion is now clear  Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster for the UKs economy. This weeks Budget will likely mean many of us paying even more to fill the gaping hole in the countrys finances. Its time for the government to fully acknowledge the ongoing harm leaving the EU has done, and to revisit its red lines, to start to breathe some life back into the UKs finances.

The National Bureau of Economic Research said previous forecasts had been accurate over a five-year time frame, but they underestimated the impact over a decade.

Earlier forecasts had predicted an average hit of around 4 per cent to GDP, they said, close to the 4 to 6 per cent impact they estimated by 2021, five years after the 2016 vote. They added: However, we note that our longer-run estimate of the impact of Brexit on GDP is more negative at 6 per cent to 8 per cent.

The Treasury declined to comment.
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One of Britains leading tax experts has raised serious questions over Rachel Reeves' planned mansion tax on high-value homes expected in her make-or-break Budget.

Dan Neidle, the founder of Tax Policy Associates, is in favour of property tax reform, but has questioned proposals to hit 100,000 of the most expensive properties with an average charge of 4,500, as they would be based on out-of-date valuations.

Ms Reeves is understood to be looking to revalue bands F, G and H to raise more cash to fill a black hole in her spending plans of at least 20bn.

It comes as her hopes for economic growth to fill the spending gap appear to have been dashed, after reports that Britains leading economic watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), has downgraded its growth forecasts until 2029.

open image in gallery The Chancellor is reportedly preparing to bring in a mansion tax (Leon Neal/PA) ( PA Wire )

Mr Neidle said reports that the government could revalue council tax bands F, G and H don't make sense to me and noted that there has not been a revaluation since council tax was first introduced in 1991, 34 years ago.

He pointed out: To work out which band your home is in, you have to play a particularly boring game of let's pretend in which your house and everything around it flashes back in time to 1991, and it's that pretend house that you value.

He added: This produces some weird results. There are areas that have valuable property today but didn't in 1991. These areas are now very undervalued for council tax. And there are areas that were wealthy in 1991 and haven't got much wealthier since. They're over-valued.

As an example, he noted that in Walthamstow in east London, there are just 70 properties in the top three council tax bands, but in an area such as Mid-Buckinghamshire, there are 15,000, despite homes in the former now being worth much more than in the latter.

open image in gallery Dan Neidle ( Dan Neidle/CC BY-SA 4.0 )

He said: It's an easy problem to solve: just revalue council tax bands. This is long overdue. But the reason it's overdue is that it's politically tricky. If revaluation raises 0 new tax, it will still mean (crudely) half of households will pay less tax, and half will pay more.

He noted that if revaluation had taken place every five years, it would mean few changes for homeowners, but after more than three decades, it has become a significant issue.

He continued: At this point, some genius may have said, let's just revalue the top bands!

But two seconds' thought reveals that it makes no sense. If you only revalue the top bands, then very little changes in Walthamstow (because almost all properties are not in the top bands). So I don't think this is what they're doing.

He suggested the government will instead consider a real mansion tax of 1 per cent on properties already worth 2 million or more, which could raise 2bn.

But he cautioned that it could cause a block in the housing market if it prevented people from selling their homes if values dropped as a result.

He warned: 1 per cent is a lot. There are, believe it or not, pretty ordinary people in 3m houses (because when they bought them, they weren't 3m houses). They won't want to sell/rent/mortgage, so will say they can't afford a 10k tax. So we end up with a deferral system.

He added: I won't die of shock if instead we see the simple and unfair outcome: additional council tax on existing bands.
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A Labour MP has voiced strong opposition to his partys proposed devolution bill, warning that its provisions could forge an "unholy alliance" between Cornwall and Devon.

Perran Moon, who represents Camborne and Redruth, argued that any plan for a mayoral strategic authority spanning both regions constitutes "blatant discrimination" and disregards Cornwalls national minority status.

He cautioned that such a move would severely damage trust between Cornwall and Westminster for generations, potentially fuelling Cornish nationalism.

Mr Moon, elected in last years general election, also questioned the willingness of Devonian taxpayers to fund Cornish language lessons and road signs under the suggested arrangements.

Mr Moon said: Because of our national minority status, Cornwall will never, Cornwall cannot ever, join a mayoral combined authority.

No matter what ministerial pressure is applied.

Whether through the withdrawal of economic development funding, or the prevention of access to social housing funding.

None of this will make us compromise our national minority status, because frankly it is discriminatory to do so.

The MP, who served on the Bill Committee debating potential changes to the proposed legislation, said he was upset Labour had brought it forward.

open image in gallery Perran Moon is the MP for Camborne and Redruth ( UK Parliament )

He said it did not take into account the national minority status awarded to Cornwall by the UK government in 2014.

It put them on a similar footing to the Scots, Welsh and Irish and, according to the Council of Europes framework, meant Cornish people have the right to preserve and develop their distinct culture and identity.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill would create combined mayoral authorities to replace councils that would oversee key areas, including transport, skills and employment, and housing.

There are fears that those who do not take part in the reorganisation and get mayors will lose out on extra funding.

I have to say that it is disappointing to me that a party I love could bring forward a Bill that ignores the wishes of Cornwall, and what national minority status actually means, Mr Moon said.

To those who mock and disparage and denigrate Cornwalls constitutional position on this island, I say this to you: if you try to ensnare us on an unholy alliance with a part of England, it will rebound negatively.

The impact and the consequences of an unamended Bill will be felt across Cornwall for decades the relationship with Westminster would decline, and the current simmering resentment and disillusion would be baked in.

Regrettably it would not surprise me if the calls for full fifth national status for Cornwall will simply grow if this Bill passes unamended.

Urging ministers to reconsider, Mr Moon continued: We stand at a crossroads.

I urge ministers to be bold, be flexible, and empower our communities.

Do not impose their ideological, governance template on us.

If unamended, the impact of this Bill is that Cornwall would be the only part of the United Kingdom locked out of access to the highest level of devolution, based solely on who we are.

That is rank, blatant discrimination, and I cannot and I will not accept it.

Ministers know all this, because weve had several discussions and meetings to look at the risks, and to that end, with a heavy heart, I have to say to ministers that in its current unamended state, I will not be supporting the English devolution Bill.
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Nigel Farage has said he never directly racially abused anybody following claims he made racist and antisemitic remarks while he was a schoolboy at Dulwich College.

During a grilling over the allegation, the Reform UK leader told ITV he had never made racist comments as a teenager in a hurtful or insulting way or with intent.

But he admitted that he had said things as a teenager that could be seen as banter in a playground but could be interpreted differently now.

It comes after reports in The Guardian from more than a dozen Dulwich College attendees who alleged he had made racist and antisemitic comments during their time at the school in south London. One former classmate, Bafta and Emmy-award winning director Peter Ettedgui, 61, claimed Mr Farage had told him Hitler was right and Gas them, adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers.

The Reform leader was challenged on the remarks ahead of a rally in north Wales where his party hope to win next years Senedd elections.

open image in gallery Nigel Farage denies making the comments, but said he said things that could be seen as banter in the playground ( PA )

During an interview with ITV, Mr Farage was asked whether he had racially abused fellow pupils during his time at the college. No. This was 49 years ago, by the way, he answered. Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where theyre from? No.

Asked to categorically rule out that he had engaged in racial abuse, Mr Farage said: I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way.

He added: I just entered my teens. Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I cant. Have I ever been part of an extremist organisation or engaged in direct, unpleasant personal abuse, genuine abuse, on that basis? No.

The interviewer then suggested Mr Farages answer is very very caveated before the Reform leader repeated that he did not racially abuse his fellow pupils with intent.

open image in gallery The Reform leader has been pressured to explain himself amid the allegations ( PA )

I have never directly racially abused anybody, no, he said. Have I ever misspoken in my life in my younger days when I was a child. Probably. He added: I have never directly, really tried to go and hurt anybody.

He then added: Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter in a playground, that you can interpret in the modern light of day in some sort of way? Yes.

Asked then if this meant he had abused people, Mr Farage replied: Ive never directly racially abused anybody. No.

He added there was a strong political element to the allegations.

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer called on Mr Farage to explain himself over the claims last week.

Political opponents were not satisfied with the response as he stood next to his partys Senedd member Laura Anne Jones at a rally in Llandudno. Ms Jones has been suspended from the Senedd for alleged racial slurs.

Mike Katz, Labour peer and former chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said: Just when you thought Nigel Farage couldnt sink any lower, he is trying to say abhorrent racist comments, including vile antisemitic insults, doesnt matter. He seems to think that you can racially abuse people without it being hurtful and insulting. Lets be crystal clear: you cant.

Farage refuses to discipline the racist views of his MPs and he wont take action on the toxic culture within his party. He should finally come clean on claims over his past and apologise to those who bravely spoke out. Failure to do so would be yet more evidence that Farage is simply unfit for office.

Labour chair Anna Turley also challenged him on the former Welsh Reform leader Nathan Gill, a close ally of Mr Farage, who was sentenced last week to more than 10 years in prison for taking Russian bribes.

open image in gallery The allegations come amid a former Welsh Reform leader being sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for Russian bribes ( PA )

She said: Nigel Farage assured the public his former right-hand man was decent and honest before he was found to have taken pro-Russian bribes. Now he says he's as sure as he can be that there's no pro-Kremlin links in Reform UK."

Lib Dem president-elect Josh Babarinde MP said: It looks like the mask has slipped and fact-of-the-matter-Farage is turning into no-answers-Nigel.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Reform UK leader said he was not going to sue over the historic racism claims at this stage but asked if that was an option being kept open, he said potentially, yes.

Mr Farages spokesperson said: These allegations date back 45 years, and I think that at any point in time  when Nigel was leader of UKIP, when he stood in the 2010 general election, the 2015 general election, during Brexit, maybe in the 2019 general election  youd have to ask yourself, why this hasnt come up before.

He added: Nigel is very clear, theres no primary evidence.

Mr Farage was probably mischievous at school but denies the allegations made in The Guardian, the spokesperson said.
Will it all be over by Christmas? Volodymyr Zelensky has asked to see Donald Trump in the coming days for final consultations on a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth winter. Trump himself has posted on social media that something good just may be happening".

The Americans seem to be in a hurry to get a peace deal signed off, while the Russians have at least shown some interest in ending the fighting, albeit very much on Moscows terms. But, of course, there have been many false dawns in the course of a conflict that has in fact lasted, on and off, since the first Russian invasion in 2014.

Why the rush?

It seems to be primarily a function of President Trumps habitual impatience and desire to add yet another peace deal to the seven or so he claims to have been responsible for so far. As is well known, he feels he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Russia feels it is making gains on the battlefield but progress is slow and costly, and its economy is struggling. Ukraine fears running out of troops and losing vital US intelligence support, which Trump has threatened to withdraw if a deal isnt reached. Zelensky also has troubles at home over a major corruption scandal; peace with honour might help him stay in power. American and Russian officials are in talks in Abu Dhabi.

Whats in the deal?

We dont know for sure. What we do know is that it wont be the 28-point plan agreed between Trump and Putins envoys that was leaked last week. The Witkoff-Dmitriev Plan looked very much like a document produced by the Kremlin with a few concessions to Kyiv, perhaps for the sake of appearances. At that point it seemed that President Trump endorsed it and wanted to hand it to the Ukrainians on a take it or leave it basis, with the added threat to withdraw vital intelligence cooperation. In a social media post Trump repeated some old lines about Zelensky being ungrateful and giving his nation poor leadership.

Since then, the Europeans and Ukrainians have supplanted the Russian proposal with a new 19 point plan, which is more favourable to Ukraine, focusing on an immediate ceasefire followed by talks on the more difficult questions, such as territory. The talks in Geneva between US Secretary of state Marco Rubio and the Ukrainian delegation in Geneva seems to have been instrumental in ditching much of the Russian script.

What are the sticking points?

There are many. Territory is obviously one, and Ukraine wont accept the surrender of lands in the Donbas that the Russians havent even conquered  and which would gift Russia a strategic advantage in any future invasion. The willingness of Ukraine to cede land is intimately linked to the security guarantees on offer from the Americans and the Coalition of the Willing led by France and Britain. Other contentious issues include: the size of Ukrainian armed forces; membership of Nato; who pays to rebuild Ukraine; and Russia being allowed to rejoin the G7; and ending sanctions.

What do they agree on?

Ukraine seems to have given up on its ambition to reclaim Crimea and the easternmost parts of the country. Russia has also abandoned the swift and complete victory Putin dreamed of in February 2020. Ukraine can join the EU; prisoners will be returned.

Why is Zelensky going to Washington to meet Trump?

On the basis that Trumps foreign policy is aligned with whoever he last spoke to, its worth a go. However, as the world witnessed in the infamous Oval Office ambush in February, it could also go horribly wrong.

What will happen?

It is likely the Russians will want further concessions that the Ukrainians and the Europeans wont be able to accept. Given that Putin has always been content to just grind on with the war, thats the most likely thing to happen. But peace is closer than it was, and it might happen before the war enters its fourth year in February.
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When Rachel Reeves walked into the Treasury as the new chancellor on 5 July 2024, she arrived with a number one mission of providing economic growth.

Without it, she said, the UK could not pay for the improved public services that Labour wanted to deliver.

But 18 bruising months later, those hopes for economic growth in a flatlining economy are in tatters, with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) now expected to downgrade already low growth projections until 2029.

As she prepares to stand up at 12.30 pm on Wednesday and deliver her second Budget, Ms Reeves has abandoned the language of economic growth. When she spoke to Labour MPs on Monday evening  in a bid to rally them ahead of her Budget  the word growth did not even pass her lips.

Read our live Budget updates here

open image in gallery Rachel Reeves has abandoned the language of economic growth in recent appearances ( Getty )

Instead, with Labour polling below 20 per cent, Nigel Farages Reform threatening to take power at the next election and turbulence on the Labour benches, Ms Reevess political priorities with the Budget appear to have changed.

Here are her top five aims:

Keep her job

Unbelievably, it has already come to this.

In recent days, Ms Reeves, the UKs first female chancellor, has accused her critics of mansplaining how to be chancellor  something which she says motivates her to show she is making the right decisions.

But the problem is that she remains deeply unpopular with the public (-52 per cent according to More In Common polling released on Monday). The anger some of her decisions have caused among backbenchers has also raised serious questions about her future as chancellor.

open image in gallery Both the chancellor and Keir Starmer will hope the Budget can help mend the publics largely negative opinion of them ( PA )

If Sir Keir Starmer is to save his own premiership, then Ms Reeves could herself be an easy sacrifice to make, with a dwindling number of political allies to stand up for her.

In awful economic circumstances, Ms Reeves needs to show she is in charge and deliver a narrative that can unite her party and guarantee her future.

Fill the financial black hole

The chancellor has made a number of botched efforts to reduce public spending and shrink the black hole in the public finances.

This included trying to cut welfare by 5bn a year  an idea abandoned after a Labour backbench rebellion. She was also forced to U-turn on winter fuel payments at the cost of another 1bn a year.

Now it looks like she will need to find even more with 3.5bn to lift the two-child benefit cap.

The black hole in spending plans is set to be at least 20bn  meaning that a chancellor who once said she wanted to cut taxes is set to turn the lever on major tax hikes for a second year in a row.

Protect the UK from more Trump madness

Throughout a bizarrely long run-up to this Budget  including leaks, briefings and even U-turns on the leaks and briefings  Ms Reeves has been consistent about one thing: the need to provide a bigger safety cushion  fiscal headroom as it is technically called  to deal with financial shocks.

open image in gallery Much of the chancellors headroom was wiped out by Donald Trumps tariffs ( AP )

Last year, she gave herself less than 10bn, which was wiped out when Donald Trumps tariffs caused chaos in the global economy.

Wars and other unforeseen disasters can easily knock the UK off track in terms of its spending plans and the chancellor knows she must be ready.

This is largely because she is resistant to changing her strict borrowing rules and there is some sense in this  the UK struggled last time to sell its long-term bonds, which have become more expensive for the government to service as a result.

There are genuine concerns that the UK and other countries could be on the cusp of a bad economic disaster and even defaulting, which means the chancellor has to take a safety-first approach as much as she can.

Appease Labour MPs

The frustrated words of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and other business groups this week show that Ms Reevess attempts to woo them are long behind her.

Instead, she is faced with a parliamentary Labour party (PLP) that would mostly happily see her replaced and is terrified about losing their seats.

open image in gallery CBI chief executive Rain Newton-Smith highlighted how business has fallen out of love with Labour ( PA )

Added to that, despite Labours huge majority, it has become clear that Ms Reeves and Sir Keir cannot force through spending cuts.

Instead, the soft left of the Labour Party appears to be dictating matters  whether it is welfare, child benefit or more on the minimum wage.

So expect more giveaways on the cost of living, with wealth taxes on the rich  as well as increases in benefits and rail fare freezes on the other side.

Provide ammunition against Farage

In the end, Labour needs to have a strategy to win the next general election expected in 2029.

With Nigel Farages party so far ahead in the polls (around 32 per cent for Reform to 19 per cent for Labour), it is clear that a solution to reboot the countrys troubled economy is needed to turn things around.

open image in gallery The Budget must provide Labour with some power to hit back at a surging Reform UK ( PA )

That needs to start with this Budget where Ms Reeves must provide what is often termed as a political narrative for this Labour government.

If she fails, then it is unlikely that she or Sir Keir will still be around to lead the party into the next election.
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Rachel Reeves is set to cut the annual cash ISA limit from 20,000 to 12,000 in her make-or-break Budget, in what could be seen as a blow to hard-working savers.

The chancellor is hoping to push more households to invest their savings into the UK stock market, as she scrambles to fill her 22bn fiscal black hole.

Sources familiar with Wednesdays Budget preparations told the Financial Times that Reeves had initially planned to reduce the limit to a 10,000 cap, but raised the figure after months of fierce debate.

The chancellor has reportedly looked at several proposals to overhaul the ISA system ( Getty )

A cross-party Treasury select committee report from last month estimated British households have a total of 360bn tied up in cash ISAs, with many opting for the tax-free accounts over riskier investments in stocks and shares.

Between 2021-22 and 2023-24, money put into stocks and shares ISAs decreased by 9 per cent, while injections into cash ISAs more than doubled.

It comes as Ms Reeves looks to fill a gaping hole in the public finances in her highly anticipated Budget on Wednesday. The chancellor is said to have considered a number of proposals to overhaul the ISA system, including a Brit ISA that would have required a minimum allocation of 20 per cent into UK equities. However, she is said to have dropped the plan following backlash from ISA providers.

She is also rumoured to be slashing the two-child benefit cap and imposing a new mansion tax on more than 100,000 high-value properties in a move that has been dubbed the mansion tax.

Opposition leaders have been quick to criticise the ISA plans, accusing Ms Reeves of launching a tax raid on savers. Tory shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride told the Daily Mail: Hardworking savers shouldnt be facing a tax raid to fund Labours addiction to ever more welfare spending.

The Conservatives warned that tax rises were coming after Rachel Reeves lost control of the finances. Slashing the cash ISA allowance would hit millions of responsible people trying to build financial security  especially in uncertain times.

Labour should be backing savers, not making them pay for the chancellors failures.
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Local mayors will be allowed to impose a tourist tax on overnight stays, the government has announced as part of an attempt to put more money into Englands cities and regions.

Mayors will be given the power to levy a modest charge on visitors staying in hotels, bed and breakfasts, guest houses and holiday lets.

Officials said the measure would bring English cities into line with other tourist destinations around the world, including New York, Paris and Milan, which already charge a similar levy.

It comes just a day before Rachel Reeves unveils her long-awaited Budget in the Commons on Wednesday, where she is expected to set out a swathe of tax rises to plug a multi-billion pound gap in the public finances.

open image in gallery Housing secretary Steve Reed said the measures would put more money into local priorities ( PA )

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has been a vocal proponent of the measure alongside Greater Manchesters Andy Burnham, welcomed the announcement, saying it is great news for London.

He added: The extra funding will directly support Londons economy, and help cement our reputation as a global tourism and business destination.

It also shows what can be done when ministers work closely with mayors to devolve more powers to cities and regions.

As part of developing our plans for the levy, we will work closely with the hospitality and tourism sectors to ensure it delivers the maximum benefits for London and our brilliant businesses.

Meanwhile, Mr Burnham said: Im proud that nearly two million people from all over the world choose to visit Greater Manchester every year. The money they spend contributes about 9bn annually to our economy, supporting over 100,000 jobs.

The levy will allow us to invest in the infrastructure these visitors need, like keeping our streets clean and enhancing our public transport system through later running buses and trams, making sure every experience is a positive and memorable one.

A research report from the Greater London Authority in 2017 estimated that a 5 per cent levy on accommodation costs could raise 239m per year in the capital.

Announcing the measures ahead of the Budget, local government secretary Steve Reed said: Tourists travel from near and far to visit Englands brilliant cities and regions.

open image in gallery Mayor of London Sadiq Khan welcomed the announcement ( PA )

Were giving our mayors powers to harness this and put more money into local priorities, so they can keep driving growth and investing in these communities for years to come.

However, there are fears that such a levy could negatively impact the hospitality industry, as British tourists could be deterred from taking domestic city breaks.

Earlier this year, UK Hospitality warned against imposing a tourist tax, saying such a levy would impose unsustainable costs and make us less attractive to visitors.

Kate Nicholls, the groups chief executive, said: The idea that a tourist tax would fix the public finances is completely misguided, and would only serve to inflict damage on the UKs tourism and hospitality sectors.

The UK already ranks incredibly poorly when it comes to our tourism competitiveness, due to our high rate of VAT.

This is in comparison to our European competitors, many of which have VAT set at around half our 20 per cent rate, and a tourist tax will only make us less attractive to visitors.

She added: The potential estimated cost of a tourist tax, if inflicted on hospitality businesses, would push the additional costs theyre facing north of 4bn. Thats simply unsustainable.

But the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said research showed that reasonable fees had a minimal impact on visitor numbers.

The money raised is intended to be invested in transport, infrastructure and the visitor economy to potentially attract more visitors.

England is currently the only G7 country where local authorities are prevented from implementing tourist taxes.

The plans will be subject to a consultation running until 18 February, which will consider issues including whether there should be a cap on the size of the levy.
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The UK should fight to the finish line and help end the Aids pandemic, especially with miracle prevention drugs now available, the head of UNAIDS has urged amid unprecedented global aid cuts.

The world was on track to ending the HIV/Aids pandemic by 2030. But massive reductions in funding from the US, Europe and now the UK have caused the biggest ever disruption to services, Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS executive director, told The Independent ahead of the launch of its annual report on Tuesday.

If these cuts continue, in the same time frame there will be millions more deaths and infections, as well as double the number of medication-resistant strains, according to The Independents own modelling of data in an eight-month project reporting across Uganda, Zimbabwe and Senegal.

This will probably worsen as further reductions to UK foreign aid spending are expected to be announced at the end of the year. The Independent is urging Sir Keir Starmer to ring-fence this funding in a campaign launched this week ahead of World Aids Day on 1 December.

Byanyima, who is from Uganda and lost her brother to Aids, urged the UK to protect the remaining funding, particularly given new prevention tools  like lenacapivar  are on the cusp of being rolled out which could bring new infections down to zero.

We are so close to finishing this race. Forty years ago we had nothing. Today we have a range of tools that could help us to stop new infections completely, and we have treatment tools that keep people healthy for the rest of their lives, Byanyima said, speaking from South Africa, home to the worlds largest number of people living with HIV.

We have on the market now, these tools we call magical. Lenacapavir [injection] has almost 100 per cent efficacy. If you take it, you will not get infected, and it's injectable once every six months.

On the prevention side this is a miracle for us. We need to move it fast and at scale.

The UK has been one of the first, the most consistent and steady supporters of the global Aids response, putting its aid money behind developing countries that need it.

Thirty-two million people worldwide are already on treatment. But we still need to bring 9 million people onto treatment. We can race to the finish line.

Cuts are alarming

Today we have a range of tools that could help us to stop new infections completely Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS chief

This year has seen an unprecedented crisis for the global HIV/Aids response.

It started in the early days of Donald Trumps presidency when he slashed millions of dollars of USAID funding to Pepfar, its global HIV/Aids response programme. For many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the healthcare system was almost entirely reliant on that money and so the abrupt withdrawal, with no time to diversify, was deadly.

Although a waiver was put in place for life-saving care and some funding has now been reinstated, in the chaos The Independent witnessed HIV patients dying due to losing access to drugs, HIV-positive mothers unable to halt transmission to their unborn babies, people with disabilities dying for a lack of transport to clinics, and medics working for free and struggling to treat their clients with dwindling supplies.

The repercussions were felt more deeply when the UK announced this month it will axe 150m from Britains contribution to the Global Fund, the worlds largest funder of treatment for Aids, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, putting 250,000 lives at risk, many of them children.

open image in gallery Hardlife, 15, and Shallom, 16 separately lost their parents to HIV in the last few months in Zimbabwe ( Bel Trew/The Independent )

Further cuts are expected towards the end of the year after Starmer announced plans to cut aid spending from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of the UKs gross national income (GNI). That amounts to a roughly 6bn cut from a current budget of 15.4bn.

The UK was the fifth biggest international donor to UNAIDS but is expected to further slash its yearly contribution to the agency.

Byanyima said that these steady reductions are really alarming.

The UK should stay on course and help the world to end this disease. This is global, she warned.

High-risk groups, teenage girls most impacted

Byanyima said the biggest concern is for the most vulnerable and high-risk  like members of the LGBT+ community, sex workers and those who inject drugs  who face discrimination and criminalisation. Their prevention and treatment programmes were largely covered by foreign aid.

Another group she is worried about is girls and young women. Globally, 45 per cent of all new HIV infections in 2024 are women and girls. In fact, every week in 2024, 4000 girls and young women aged 15 to 24 years old became infected with HIV  3,300 of these infections occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, due to human rights violations, sexual and gender based violence. Even access to education plays a major role: if a girl completes secondary education, her risk of being infected by HIV drops by up to 50 per cent, according to the UN.

While the US has agreed to reinstate much of the Pepfar funding, the White House has made it clear that it comes with conditions that undermine what could be its maximum impact, like not paying for sexual reproductive health and rights, Byanyima continued.

open image in gallery Rose, a sex worker in Uganda, points to the lesions which have appeared on her body since she was forced to stop her HIV treatment ( Bel Trew/The Independent )

Donald Trump, who rose to power backed by the Christian evangelical vote, has campaigned on a strict anti-abortion platform. Much of his wrath against USAID was centred on the $600m of annual spending on global family planning, which includes sexual reproductive health. That was cut, and the State Department confirmed that money will not be reinstated.

Byanyima said this will add to the already overwhelming impact on teenage girls and young women.

The evidence [shows that] new infections have been coming down because we focused on the at-risk groups and we protected them through reproductive health services, through sexual health education it is lifesaving.

She said that Europe, including the UK, who understand this could step up.

We miss European funding. We miss UK funding, not just because of the amounts, but also because of what it pays for.

open image in gallery UNAIDS chief Winnie Byanyima says 'miracle' prevention tools are now available ( Dwayne Senior )

Miracle drugs to end Aids

The massive drop in funding comes amid cutting-edge discoveries.

One of them is a new drug called lenacapavir: a twice-yearly injection produced by California-based biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, which reportedly provides near-total protection from developing the virus.

At the moment there are still 1.3 million new infections every year. With lenacapavir, we can drive down the infections to zero, Byanyima continued.

That can be the real revolution that takes us close to ending Aids as a public health threat. But we need to move fast and to scale, to get it to all the people at risk, and theyre mostly in Africa.

One of the issues UNAIDS has faced is trying to get Gilead Sciences to licence the production of the drug where it is needed the most, she said.

At the moment Gilead Sciences has  according to the UN  not licensed in Latin America, where new infections are rising, or sub-Saharan Africa, which has the largest HIV positive populations. Instead, Byanyima said it licensed an Egyptian company that has not traded in Africa at all, and that has not worked on HIV.

The issue is also the price. Right now in the US, the injection can cost up to $24,000 (18,000) a year, she continued. UNAIDS has managed to get the price down to $40 (30) per person per year in the developing world.

But we need to go further. Our researchers say that it will come down to $25 (19) per person per year, she said.

Gilead Sciences has partnered with Pepfar and there are pilot projects launching in a number of countries to roll out the drug, but it needs to move faster.

open image in gallery Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS chief, urges the UK to keep supporting foreign aid ( UNAIDS )

Moving away from aid dependency

In many countries, there have been efforts to build internal resilience and move away from aid dependency, which has been made harder because of the suddenness of the cuts.

Byanyima described countries creating innovative taxes to fill the gap, reprioritising and reallocating budgets, and trying to push forward ambitious agendas of local production of medicines, although intellectual property monopolies continue to drive up prices.

In South Africa, with the abrupt slashing of American aid, the government moved quickly to move the files of high-risk people who would usually go to USAID-funded centres to newly created safe spaces in mainstream hospitals.

But they still need support. She directly implored the British people.

You fought this now for 30 years, investing your money every year since the global response started, fight to the finish line. We are close to the finish line.

It isnt just charity  this is global. When you dont end it, it incubates and comes back to other parts of the world to haunt you.

So end it. End it for the whole world. 

This story is part of The Independents Rethinking Global Aid series
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A volcano in Ethiopia has erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending a vast ash cloud across major air corridors in the Red Sea and forcing airlines in India and the Middle East to cancel or divert flights.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopias Afar region near the Eritrean border, erupted on Sunday for several hours, spewing ash up to 14km (nine miles) into the atmosphere.

open image in gallery Regional officials have said many villages are covered in ash ( Afar Government Communication Bureau )

Thick plumes were tracked drifting over Yemen and Oman before spreading across Pakistan and into northern India on Monday and Tuesday, according to the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre and the India Meteorological Department.

Local officials said there were no casualties, but villages close to the eruption were blanketed in ash. Mohammed Seid, an Afar regional official, told reporters that while no people or livestock were killed, many villages have been covered in ash and as a result their animals have little to eat.

Residents said they heard loud explosions and shockwaves.

It felt like a sudden bomb had been thrown with smoke and ash, said Ahmed Abdela, a resident of the Afar region, where ash covered homes and stranded travellers heading towards the Danakil desert.

The Smithsonian Institutions Global Volcanism Program says there is no known record of Hayli Gubbi erupting during the Holocene, the geological period beginning roughly 12,000 years ago. Simon Carn, a volcanologist at Michigan Technological University, said on the social media platform Bluesky that the volcano has no record of Holocene eruptions.

The drifting ash led to significant disruption across Indias western and northern airspace. Air India said it cancelled 11 flights on Monday and Tuesday to carry out precautionary checks on aircraft that had flown near affected regions, following a directive by Indias aviation regulator.

Akasa Air cancelled services to Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, while IndiGo diverted a Kannur-Abu Dhabi flight to Ahmedabad on Monday night.

open image in gallery People in the Afar region watch ash billow from the Hayli Gubbi Volcano ( Afar Government Communication Bureau )

KLM also cancelled a flight from Amsterdam to Delhi due to the volcanic ash plume.

Airports across Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations. Mumbai airport issued an advisory saying the ash cloud could affect some international routes and urged passengers to check schedules before travelling.

Indias directorate general of civil aviation instructed airlines to avoid affected altitudes, monitor real-time advisories and inspect runways for possible ash contamination. Airlines said they were prioritising safety while keeping operations under review.

The ash plume arrives in northern India amid already dire air quality, with several protests ongoing. There were some public concerns that the ash cloud could worsen air quality further, although experts said it was unlikely to impact the Air Quality Index (AQI).

The ash cloud travelled over Delhi overnight, according to Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the director-general of meteorology at the India Meteorological Department, and was travelling over Eastern India on Tuesday evening at a speed of 100-150 kmph.

It was expected to then pass over Bangladesh, parts of Myanmar and China and may reach the southern coast of Japan.

open image in gallery Ash rising from the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia as it drifts over the Red Sea ( via Reuters )

The Afar region, part of the geologically active Rift Valley where tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity. The eruption comes near Erta Ale, one of Africas most active volcanoes, located about 15km away.
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The Independent has launched a petition calling for the UK government to protect funding for HIV/Aids programmes around the world amid unprecedented cuts that have already cost lives.

The world was on track to ending the Aids pandemic by 2030, according to the United Nations.

But with the US, the UK and other countries slashing funding to response programmes around the world  and with further cuts on the horizon  we risk returning to the terrifying days at the height of the crisis.

According to our estimates, hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions, will die, infections will soar, and the number of HIV-resistant strains will double. This is already playing out on the ground.

The Independent travelled to Uganda, Zimbabwe and Senegal as part of an eight-month investigative and documentary film project.

We met HIV patients who are dying after losing access to medication, mothers unable to prevent transmission to their unborn babies, and medics forced to work for free with shrinking supplies. Three of the people we interviewed in March have since died because they lost access to their medication  a fourth is gravely ill.

Father-of-four James, 50, fears he could die after failing to secure his HIV medication for nearly two months in Uganda ( Bel Trew/The Independent )

The Independent is deeply worried that Sir Keir Starmer has decided to continue to cut international aid funding. The UK government has already announced it will reduce its contribution to the Global Fund by 150 million.

More decisions on funding to support vital work on HIV care around the world are still to come.

To quote Grace, a volunteer healthworker in Uganda whose patients are dying every week and who has signed the petition: We cannot allow this to happen, and we need your support to help stop it.

We must protect funding for HIV care.
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Veteran US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has been discharged from a Chicago hospital after receiving medical care for nearly two weeks, his family confirmed on Monday.

The 84-year-old Baptist minister, social activist, and one-time US presidential candidate is said to "remain in stable condition" following his release from Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

His son and family spokesperson, Yusef Jackson, issued a statement via the Rainbow PUSH Coalition  the Chicago-based political action organisation which the elder Mr Jackson founded.

Jackson's hospital admission was announced by Rainbow PUSH on November 12, when he was described as being "under observation" for a degenerative neurological disorder called progressive supranuclear palsy, or PSP.

open image in gallery Jesse Jackson, who has PSP and has been in hospital for two weeks, pictured in 2013 ( Getty Images )

Jackson was diagnosed in 2013 with Parkinson's disease, but his diagnosis was changed in April of this year to PSP, according to Monday's statement.

No further details about Jackson's condition or medical treatment were disclosed. But the family expressed thanks to friends and supporters for their prayers and visits.

"We bear witness to the fact that prayer works and would also like to thank the professional, caring and amazing medical and security staff at Northwestern Hospital," Jackson's son said. "We humbly ask for your continued prayers through this precious time."

Jackson has been at the forefront of the U.S. civil rights movement since the 1960s, joining the Southern Christian Leadership Conference as a young protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and was present when King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968.

Some two decades later, as an outspoken critic of the Republican President Ronald Reagan, Jackson mounted a Democratic primary bid for the White House in 1984 but finished in third place. He ran for president once more in 1988 but failed again to clinch the party's nomination, placing second.
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Restaurant owners in a town in Sonoma County, California, were left gobsmacked after a local council approved a new Little Caesars pizza restaurant despite having a ban on chains.

City council members in Sebastopol, around 55 miles north of San Francisco in the heart of Californias wine country, accidentally approved the opening of a Little Caesars in the quaint downtown, where chains have been banned since 2018.

Local leaders only discovered the oversight after Little Caesars had already begun building out the space  and at that point, couldnt stop the project, CBS News San Francisco reported.

The mistake has left local business owners stunned, including Steve DeCosse, who owns the only other pizzeria in Sebastopol, Acre Pizza, located less than half a mile away.

There it was, DeCosse told The Press Democrat. How the hell did that happen?

open image in gallery Local leaders only discovered the oversight after Little Caesars had already begun building out the space  and at that point, couldnt stop the project ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery The city of Sebastopol is located in Sonoma County, known for its vineyards and fine dining restaurants ( Wikimedia Commons )

While DeCosse isnt worried about losing customers, he told the outlet that nothing about [chains] resonates with the town.

Francesca Malerba-Locke, who owns a nearby consignment furniture store Attico, agreed, telling CBS that she values the city for its small, local shops.

Disappointing that a big mistake like this would go through, Malerba-Locke said. It doesnt add to the charm of the [town].

Interim City Manager Mary Gourley told the Press Democrat that the approval was an oversight on the city staffs part.

Council member Neysa Hinton said the city has taken ownership of the mistake. "It's an error. The city of Sebastopol has taken ownership and admitted we've made an error, an administrative error on approval. But Little Caesars, I guess, took that approval and ran with it and started making improvements. And so they had a vested interest by the time we realized our error. And we had to let them move forward," Hinton said.

Sonoma County, and neighboring Napa Valley, attract millions of visitors each year to their world-class vineyards and high-end restaurants including the three Michelin-starred French Laundry.

However, some younger residents say they welcome the fast, easy dining option.

For me specifically, I do like it. Because Im a big fan of it, local worker AJ Mercado told CBS. I mainly just like it because its cheap. Its not really the best food, but its cheap enough for me.

open image in gallery Steve DeCosse, who owns the only other pizzeria in town, says he isnt worried about the competition because he has a loyal customer base ( Google Maps )

While the chain appeals to some, plenty of residents are saying they will continue to support local businesses.

What do I think about Little Caesars? I dont think its necessarily a part of our community here in Sebastopol. There a lot better pizza to be had in Sebastapol. So thats where Ill be going, resident Rick Rocklewitz told CBS.

Hinton, the council member, also noted that locals will get to decide whether or not to pay the chain a visit.

The consumer will now decide whether they like it or not with their pocketbook. I point out we dont have a Burger King and we dont have a McDonalds in Sebastopol. They both went out of business, she said.

The city says it has added safeguards to prevent similar mistakes in the future. The Little Caesars location is expected to open to the public sometime next week.
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced plans to lower the age at which women can go on religious missions, as part of the churchs bid to modernize.

Dallin Oaks, who assumed the role of president and prophet of the church in October, announced the move on Friday in one of his first major decisions since taking office.

Before the ruling, men could go on missions from 18 years of age, while women had to wait another year.

Now, the churchs upper echelons hope the rule change will reinvigorate its 17.5 million members.

open image in gallery Women will soon be able to become missionaries at the age of 18, in a new plan unveiled by the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

We will see a huge increase in the number of young women who go out on missions, said Patrick Mason, the Leonard J. Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University.

Mason told The Washington Post that lowering the age at which women can serve as missionaries increases the likelihood that they will remain with the church later in life.

If you can socialize them in the faith at the edge of adulthood, theres a lot of research showing you can hold on to them for the rest of their lives, he said.

In recent years, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sought to overhaul its missionary system, lowering the minimum age for men heading on missions from 19 to 18 in 2012. In the same move, the missionary age for women was reduced from 21 to 19.

open image in gallery The Churchs president Dallin Oaks unveiled the plans as part of a bid to modernize the organization (  Deseret News 2025 )

Female missionaries have also been allowed to wear dress pants and can use social media as part of their missions.

Figures released by the organization also suggest that the number of young people registering to become missionaries is rising, from 52,500 full-time missionaries in 2010 to 74,127.

Meanwhile, Nancy Ross, an assistant professor at Utah Tech University, says that the increase in women serving as missionaries will counterbalance the decline in U.S. birth rates.

open image in gallery The Mormon faith is headquartered in Salt Lake City, where a report found that 60 percent of the citys residents are members of the faith ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Encouraging more women into this missionary pipeline would keep the system afloat and prevent the number from dropping too quickly, she told The Post.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded in 1830 in New York but is headquartered today in Salt Lake City, Utah. Members believe that the churchs president is a prophet, seer, and revelator, guided by Jesus Christ in revealing Gods will.

Nearly 7 million of its 17.5 million members live in the United States, with a high concentration in Utah. According to a survey conducted by The Salt Lake Tribune, over 60 percent of Utahns identified as being members of the Mormon church.
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The shutdown of a major northwestern pipeline is causing "potential disruptions in fuel delivery," according to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.

The Olympic Pipeline has been intermittently shut down for repairs since November 11 after workers discovered a leak in the 400-mile fuel transfer system. BP Pipelines North America, which operates the system, has not given an estimate for the pipeline's reopening.

"Over 200 feet of pipeline have been excavated to date. Crews are operating around the clock and will continue overnight operations tonight," BP told Reuters.

The system was shut down again Monday, prompting concerns about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday travel week, the busiest of the year.

That pipeline supplies Oregon with more than 90 percent of its transportation fuel, according to Kotek's office. The governor warned that travelers this week may see a slight uptick at the gas pump due to the cost of using tanker trucks and barges to bring fuel into the state, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.

open image in gallery Crews continue to repair a leak in the Olympic Pipeline near Everett, Washington. The pipeline shut down again Monday for repairs, prompting Oregon Governor Tina Kotek to declare a state of emergency, and airlines to bring extra fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to off-set any fuel disruptions caused by the closure ( Getty )

The governor said she does not expect there to be fuel shortages. An emergency declaration, made Monday, allows her to bring fuel into the state via other methods while repairs continue on the pipeline, KGW8 reports.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at gas station price tracking app GasBuddy, said earlier this month that the pipeline closure could have a slight impact on gasoline costs in Washington and Oregon.

But his updated analysis Monday said he didnt think the closure would affect gas prices any longer.

While the pipeline's closure may not be putting the hurt on people's wallets, it has caused concerns at the state's largest airport.

Airlines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport have activated fuel contingency plans to make sure planes are kept topped off during the week of Thanksgiving. The Olympic Pipeline moves refined petroleum that includes gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from Washington into Oregon.

The closure prompted Washington Governor Bob Ferguson to declare an emergency on November 19, allowing him to seek other avenues for providing fuel to SeaTac.

Portland International Airport said it was not anticipating any disruptions because it can bring in fuel by sea barges, unlike SeaTac, which is further inland.

Delta and Alaska Air have both used tankers to bring extra fuel to SeaTac.

"We continue to minimize the impacts of the Olympic Pipeline fuel leak. We do not expect disruption to our operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport through the Thanksgiving travel week," Alaska Airlines said in a statement.

open image in gallery An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Alaska Airlines has had to tanker extra fuel to the airport ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel week to compensate for disruptions caused by the closure of the Olympic Pipeline for repairs ( Getty Images )

On Friday, Senator Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington, demanded answers from BP about the status of the pipeline.

With so much riding on the reliable transportation of fuel through your system, pipeline safety and operational integrity must be top priorities, Cantwell wrote to BP CEO Murray Auchincloss, Oregon Public Broadcasting reports.

BP provided a response, saying the "safety of personnel, the environment, and the community remain our highest priority."

Safety is likely among the concerns voiced by the senator because of previous incidents at the pipeline, including one that left three people dead.

In 1999, a leak caused a fireball that killed three young people who were visiting a nearby creek in Bellingham, Washington.

In 2023, a spill near Conway, Washington, polluted the nearby streams with 25,000 gallons of gasoline, affecting salmon and other wildlife. Cleanup workers found several dead, oil-covered animals near the site of the leak, including ducks, a bird, a beaver, and a vole, according to the Seattle Times. No fish kills were confirmed in Hill Ditch, where the leak entered the water system. Washington's Department of Ecology issued a nearly $4 million fine to BP for the spill.
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Alan Dershowitz, the 87-year-old former lawyer and friend of deceased sex predator Jeffrey Epstein, is apparently the type of charismatic thought leader who should be elevated on CBS News airwaves, according to the networks newly installed editor-in-chief.

The curious declaration by Bari Weiss, the heterodox founder of the anti-woke digital outlet The Free Press who now leads the Tiffany Networks news division, sparked widespread mockery from journalists and commentators.

The kids demand Alan Dershowitz, one columnist noted, while others snarked that it was funny that Weiss felt that the way to reach the common American news consumer was to give more airtime to the celebrity defense attorney.

During an appearance at the Jewish Leadership Conference earlier this month, Weiss  a self-described radical centrist and Zionist fanatic  argued that a recent debate that The Free Press hosted between Dershowitz and former NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch on gun control was indicative of the vision she had for CBS News going forward.

Sitting next to right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro, Weiss asserted that not only did Dershowitz and Loesch seemingly represent the center left and center right of the political divide, but that their opinions and positions are where the vast majority of Americans actually are.

open image in gallery Bari Weiss speaks at the Jewish Leadership Conference and explains her vision for CBS News, which includes elevating the voices that represent the center left and center right. ( YouTube )

Meanwhile, she decried that provocateurs such as white nationalist Nick Fuentes, former Fox News star Tucker Carlson, misogynist influencer Andrew Tate and leftist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker had large audiences and popular podcasts.

I don't think that they represent the values and the worldview of the vast majority of Americans. And so this is an opportunity to speak for the 75 percent for the people that are on the center left and the center right that still believe in equality of opportunity, she said at the conference. That still believe passionately in the American project, that still believe in all of the things that everyone in this room believes in  which is liberty and freedom and individual responsibility.

Saying her goal at CBS News was to get back to that normalcy, she added that her mission wasnt to create a centrist news operation, asserting that they have all failed because it was like trying to force feed spinach down someone's throat. Noting that were not going back to Walter Cronkite attracting tens of millions of viewers, Weiss explained how she thought the mainstream press could earn back the trust of the American public.

I think it's about redrawing the lines of what falls in the 40-yard lines of acceptable debate and acceptable American politics and culture. And I don't mean that in like a censorious gatekeeping way, she said. I mean, having people that are  clearly identifiable on the center left and on the center right in conversation with each other.

Pointing to The Free Press debate between Dershowitz and Loesch, who hosts a right-wing radio show, Weiss said it showed that people that have wildly different opinions on the Second Amendment can have good-faith, very passionate, very charismatic disagreements and still like each other at the end of the day.

Claiming that its always about the curation of whos in the room, Weiss concluded that the Dershowitz and Loesch debate was a good example that centrist news doesnt have to have the absence of disagreement and the absence of charisma but could be explicitly charismatic.

Though the CBS news chief made her comments more than a week ago, her remarks first drew attention on Monday evening after the non-profit investigative media site Drop Site News shared video of her conference appearance online. Drop Site, founded by former Intercept journalists Ryan Grim and Jeremy Scahill, has covered the Gaza War with a skeptical perspective on Israel.

open image in gallery Bari Weiss moderates a gun control debate between Alan Dershowitz and Dana Loesch. ( YouTube )

Bari Weiss says she wants to use her new perch at CBS News to redraw the lines of what falls in the 40 yards of acceptable debate in American political and cultural life, the sites official X account tweeted Monday evening, sharing a clip of the editors remarks. She says the aim is to sideline voices like Hasan Piker, Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes, and elevate charismatic figures such as Alan Dershowitz and Dana Loesch who reflect where the vast majority of Americans actually are.

Needless to say, considering Weiss pro-Israeli stance and the amount of controversy shes already generated in her short tenure as head of CBS News, it didnt take long for the criticism to mount over her comments about the need to push charismatic mainstream figures such as Dershowitz.

I saw some teens today. I asked them who represents them best. They told me that Gen Alpha and Zoomers are on TikTok and Instagram demanding more and more clips of Alan Dershowitz, Southern Poverty Law Center researcher Hannah Gais noted. They cant get enough of him. He is the voice of their generation. The voice America needs.

New York Times tech reporter Mike Isaac, meanwhile, wrote that it was so funny to take a populist we need to elevate the voice of the common man position and then immediately follow it with Dershowitz. Voxs Eric Levitz snarked that America has a fever and the only cure is more Dersh.

With some mockingly saying that we want more Dersh, others sarcastically urged Weiss to please make Alan Dershowitz and Dana Loesch the avatars of your project and to keep speaking and saying all this stuff out loud. Naturally, others also brought up the Harvard law professors longtime relationship with Epstein, asking if there was another newsy topic you should ask Alan Dershowitz about.

Grim, meanwhile, suggested that Paramount chief David Ellison  the CEO of CBS News parent company whom Weiss reports directly to  was swayed to hire Weiss and purchase her media startup because of the argument she laid out at the conference.

As youre watching this, consider that she likely made this exact pitch to David Ellison and he said, yes, precisely, here is $150 million and the top job at CBS News, Grim wrote, an observation that was echoed by others.

When youre this good at being an old persons idea of a smart young person, they will line up to hand you money, Center for International Policy executive vice president Matt Duss stated.

Contrarian podcaster Glenn Greenwald, who has been an outspoken critic of Weiss in recent months, claimed that the voices the CBS News chief feels are mainstream enough to be included in The Conversation always [have] one thing in common: love of Israel. He also took a swipe at the lack of audience for The Free Press debate between Dershowitz and Loesch.

The example Bari Weiss gave of the charismatic mainstream debates she believes will revitalize CBS -- namely, the gun control debate she arranged between Alan Dershowitz and Dana Loesch -- has so far been watched by a grand total of 860 people in the 5 hours since posting, Greenwald tweeted.

Still, there were some who championed Weiss vision for the news network and applauded her remarks.

Her alternative isnt moderation. Its transparency, Mediaites Colby Hall argued. Put people with genuinely different worldviews in the same studio and let them argue with full force, in good faith, on air, where viewers can see how the arguments are made. Actual pluralism, not neutrality theater.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants the U.S. military to cut all ties with Scouting America, the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts, according to a new report.

Hegseth said the military is planning to sever ties with the organization, claiming it is no longer a meritocracy and is designed to attack boy-friendly spaces, according to a draft memo to Congress obtained by NPR. Scouting America, which aims to prepare young people for lives of impact and purpose, was founded in 1910 and has more than one million youth members, according to its website.

The military has provided support to the organization for more than a century.

In the draft memo, which has not been sent, Hegseth reportedly attacked the organization for being genderless and for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. Hegseth also accused the group of failing to cultivate masculine values, NPR reports.

The proposal reviewed by NPR states that scouts will no longer be allowed to meet at military installations in the U.S. or abroad. Hegseth also called for the Pentagon to end aid to the National Jamboree, a 10-day Scouting America event held in West Virginia, the outlet reports.

open image in gallery The Pentagon could cut ties with Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts, according to a new report. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The event, which happens roughly every four years, can draw as many as 20,000 scouts. President Donald Trump spoke at the National Jamboree in 2017, during his first term.

Congress requires the Pentagon to provide aid for the event, but the defense secretary can block support if he determines it could impede national security, NPR reports. Hegseth reportedly invoked this issue in his memo, arguing that diverting resources to the National Jamboree could harm national security.

Its unclear how Congress will react to the proposal. The issue has also caused friction within the Pentagon and received pushback from Navy Secretary John Phelan, who said the proposal could be too restrictive, according to NPR.

"Passive support to Scouting America through access to military installations and educational opportunities aboard said installations serve as a crucial recruiting and community engagement tool for the [Navy]," Phelan wrote in another memo reviewed by NPR. "Prohibition of access could be detrimental to recruitment and accession efforts across the department."

Scouting America is surprised and disappointed by todays news about the potential policy change, a spokesperson told The Independent.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump spoke at the National Boy Scout Jamboree in 2017 in West Virginia. ( AFP via Getty Images )

Scouts honor and look up to our service men and women, the spokesperson said. We share the same dedication to God and country. Scouts proudly wear the American flag on their sleeves, and many go on to trade their Scout uniforms for the uniforms of our nations military.

The spokesperson noted that Scouting America is a nonpartisan organization and has always supported our military and our military families.

A Department of Defense official told The Independent the agency will not comment on leaked documents that we cannot authenticate and that may be pre-decisional."

This memo comes after NBC News reported in April that one of Hegseths top advisers wanted to cut ties with Scouting America, claiming it is too woke. Two months earlier, the organization had changed its name, citing an increased focus on inclusivity.

The memo obtained by NPR also appears to mirror Hegseths rhetoric in a speech to hundreds of top military leaders in Quantico, Virginia, two months ago. There, the defense secretary raged against woke garbage and stupid rules of engagement. He also announced plans to roll back troops abilities to report unequal treatment based on race, gender, sexuality or religion.
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As the holiday season nears, shoppers in the U.S. may encounter higher costs when buying artificial Christmas trees  due to President Donald Trumps tariffs, according to a company executive.

Mac Harman, the CEO of Balsam Hill, an American holiday decor company, told Politico hes been forced to raise prices on fake trees this year by as much as 20 percent because of the presidents wide-ranging tariffs.

It would have been even more if he hadnt imported much of this seasons inventory before Trump took office, the outlet noted.

Harman  whose company sponsors the National Christmas Tree  has urged White House officials to lower tariffs, emphasizing that artificial trees are neither strategic goods nor feasible to manufacture domestically in the U.S.

We are optimistic that the president will save Christmas, he added.

In recent months, Trump has rolled back some of his many tariffs, including those on over 200 essential food products,The Independent previously reported.

open image in gallery The CEO of a holiday decor company said he's been forced to raise prices on artificial Christmas trees due to Trump's tariffs. ( AFP via Getty Images )

A cost hike on fake trees would likely impact millions of Americans. An October survey from the American Christmas Tree Association found that 83 percent of households intending to display a tree in 2025 will use an artificial one. And a November survey revealed 84 percent of Americans believe Christmas decor has become more expensive in recent years.

And its not just holiday trappings that have crept up in price. Across the board, consumer prices increased by 3 percent year-over-year in September, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There is definitely some cause for concern over pricing, Mark Mathews, the chief economist at the National Retail Federation, told Politico. Businesses have been eating the majority of tariffs up until this point. We also know that thats unsustainable, and were going to have to see more transmission of increased prices onto the consumer.

open image in gallery On Monday, First Lady Melania Trump welcomed the official White House Christmas, which was chopped from a farm in Michigan and transported to the executive mansion via horse-drawn carriage. ( AP )

But a White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai dismissed these economic concerns, which he described to Politico as endless doomsday fantasizing by the Fake News and Democrats.

He added that the hard data of robust consumer spending and retail sales data have been clear: real wages are rising under President Trump, and Americans hard-earned money is going further than it did under Joe Biden.

The back-and-forth over Christmas trees comes a few days after First Lady Melania Trump welcomed the official White House tree, which was felled in Michigan and ferried to the executive mansion via a horse-drawn carriage.

It's a beautiful tree, the first lady said, while standing next to the towering conifer.

In the past, she has privately voiced frustration about having to oversee the White House Christmas decorations, a responsibility traditionally handled by the first lady.

Im workingmy a** off on the Christmas stuff, she said in a 2018 audio recording leaked by her former aide Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, according to The Guardian. You know, who gives a f*** about the Christmas stuff and decorations? But I need to do it, right?
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The prominent conservative radio host Erick Erickson has blasted the White House over its recent political gaffes and missteps, stoking the growing MAGA revolt against Donald Trump.

In a post on Elon Musk's social network X on Monday, the former CNN and Fox News contributor lambasted the administration's recent moves as "amateur hour" behavior by "the kids in the executive branch".

Trump's officials, he lamented, had "pushed the President on a plan to extend Obamacare subsidies without having buy in from House and Senate Republicans" and "put out a Ukraine plan no one really likes", as well as failing to fill 18 red state judicial vacancies.

Erickson also argued that the Pentagon's threat to prosecute Democratic senator Mark Kelly had "elevated [Kelly's] stature" even as Democrats were "flirting with Gavin Newsom.

Kelly, a former astronaut and naval aviator who is bound by laws governing ex-servicemen, had appeared in a video urging U.S. military members to "refuse" any "illegal orders" they might receive, prompting a Department of Defense investigation and cries of "HANG THEM" in a social media post shared by the commander-in-chief.

Conservative radio host Erick Erickson, who has both praised and criticized Trump in the past ( Erick Erickson via YouTube / John McDonnell/Getty Images )

It's not the first time Erickson, who supported Trump in 2020 and 2024 but not 2016, has criticized the president  who he has increasingly been branded a "lame duck" as the mercurial real estate tycoons approval rating sinks.

Still, it comes as many less critical MAGA stalwarts have begun to turn against the President over his failure to address rising costs and his previous efforts to block the release of more documents about Jeffrey Epstein. Once it was clear that Republicans on the Hill would defy his wishes, he said he wanted them released after all.

Far-right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has led the revolt, accusing Trump of protecting sexual predators and abandoning his "America First" agenda with too much foreign intervention.

Trump's response was explosive, branding her "Marjorie Traitor Greene" and calling her a "ranting lunatic" who has gone "far left". But Greene hit back, saying he had put her life in danger with "unwarranted and vicious attacks" that served to whip up his most hardcore supporters into a "frenzy".

Some members of Congress are also disgruntled about the state of the economy, which Trump insists has never been better but which many business leaders and analysts believe is showing signs of trouble.

Reports indicate that even more GOP lawmakers are considering joining Taylor Greene in resigning their seats early, which would trigger special elections at a time where Trump's approval rating has sunk to new lows.

Meanwhile, other reports claim that Trump's planned Monday announcement of a plan to fix Obamacare price hikes has been put on hold due to backlash from Republicans in Congress.

Erickson has been a supporter of Trump, but not a blindly loyal one. Though he supported the president in 2020 and 2024, he criticized Trump for accepting a $400m luxury jump jet as a gift from the government of Qatar this May.

More recently, he has hammered Trump on his handling of the economy and the impact of his "unconstitutional" tariffs, calling him a "lame duck".
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Erika Kirk said that Turning Point USA would support Vice President JD Vances possible 2028 election bid as she also addressed backlash to an intense hug between the pair on stage.

Kirk, who is now the CEO of the conservative movements leading young Republicans group following the assassination of her husband Charlie Kirk, has been dogged by trolls since she embraced Vance last month at a Turning Point campaign event.

The mother of two spoke of similarities between her late husband and Vance before she welcomed him on stage and hugged him, and then placed her hand on the back of his head.

The moment went viral and people began to analyze their body language, passing judgment on the appropriateness of the embrace.

But when asked about the moment by Megyn Kelly during her live show in Glendale, Arizona, over the weekend, Kirk explained that the hug was just her love language.

open image in gallery Erika Kirk spoke of Turning Point USAs support for Vice President JD Vances possible 2028 election bid following backlash to an intense hug between the pair on stage ( Getty Images )

Whoever is hating on a hug needs a hug themselves, Kirk said. My love language is touch, if you will, she told Kelly and explained that placing a hand on the back of someones head is usually how she hugs people.

They were acting like you touched the back of his a**! Kelly replied.

Kirk agreed and said, I feel like I wouldn't get as much hate if I did that!

She also revealed to Kelly that Turning Points support for Vances possible run in 2028 was in the works.

The vice president has not confirmed he will run in 2028 but is considered the heir to MAGA.

open image in gallery The moment went viral and people began to analyze their body language, passing judgment on the appropriateness of the embrace ( Getty Images )

Vance had a close friendship with Charlie Kirk, who advocated for his selection as Donald Trumps running mate, and the vice president has played a prominent role in the right-wing organization since the MAGA influencers death.

The vice president and second lady Usha Vance accompanied Kirk on Air Force Two to bring her husbands body home to Arizona following the assassination at the college campus in Orem, Utah.

Vances own marriage was also scrutinized following the hug with the widow and his remarks about hoping his wife, who was raised Hindu, will eventually believe in his Christian faith.

Most Sundays, Usha will come with me to church, Vance said at a Turning Point event at the University of Mississippi on Oct. 29. Do I hope, eventually, that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church? Yeah, honestly, I do wish that, because I believe in the Christian gospel and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way.

The comment, coupled with the hug, sent the rumor mill into overdrive as trolls suggested Vance would be better suited to Kirk, a deeply religious white Christian woman.

Adding fuel to the fire, Usha Vance was recently pictured without her wedding ring, but her office dismissed the speculation.

In a statement, the second ladys office said that she is a mother of three young children, who does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes.
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The FBI and Department of Justice are scheduling interviews with members of Congress who urged service members to ignore illegal orders and commit to their oath to the Constitution, escalating threats from Donald Trumps administration against Democratic elected officials he accused of treason.

Senator Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who joined five other lawmakers in last weeks video statement, said she and other members received a note from the FBIs counter terrorism division Monday night.

To be honest the presidents reaction and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we made the video, she said in a Tuesday statement. He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries, and hes not afraid to use the arms of the government against people he disagrees with. He does not believe the law applies to him.

The latest move follows an announcement from the Department of Defense threatening to recall Senator Mark Kelly to face a military tribunal for what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called seditious acts.

Democratic members of Congress and veterans groups have condemned the investigations as politically motivated stunts intended to silence dissent against the Trump administration.

open image in gallery Pam Bondis Department of Justice is probing six Democratic members of Congress as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth probes lawmakers who joined a video urging service members to ignore illegal orders and commit to the Constitution. ( AFP via Getty Images )

A statement from Kellys office to The Independent said it received the FBIs inquiry from the Sergeant at Arms.

Senator Kelly wont be silenced by President Trump and Secretary Hegseths attempt to intimidate him and keep him from doing his job as a U.S. Senator, the statement said.

Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass members of Congress, according to a joint statement from Reps. Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan, who joined last weeks video message.

No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution, they said in a statement Monday. We swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship.

The Justice Department declined to comment to The Independent.

Last weeks video from the six lawmakers, all of whom have military and intelligence backgrounds, warns military personnel against threats to our Constitution coming from right here at home, an apparent reference to the Trump administrations deployment of federalized National Guard troops into Democratic-led cities to support the presidents mass deportation agenda  actions that veterans groups have also publicly condemned.

The video also follows concerns from Congress and veterans  as well as top military officials  that the Trump administration is launching illegal missile strikes against suspected drug-running boats in the Caribbean and Pacific waters.

Defense officials and the White House have defended the killings of more than 80 people in recent weeks as justified use of force against terrorists bringing drugs into the United States.

An official with the Justice Department told Reuters that the upcoming interviews are intended to determine if theres any wrongdoing and then go from there.

Jacob Thomas, an Air Force veteran with progressive veterans advocacy group Common Defense, said he was appalled by the Pentagons announcement of the Kelly investigation.

This sham probe, spurred by baseless allegations from the Trump administration, is nothing more than an attempt to silence dissent and intimidate those who remind our troops of their duty to uphold the Constitution over unlawful orders, he said in a statement. Senator Kellys call to refuse illegal directives is not misconduct, its patriotism. We must stand against this abuse of power and protect the integrity of our military institutions.

Veterans for American Ideals said calling for an investigation into a well known principle of service is dangerous, and says more about this administration than it does about Senator Kelly

Investigations and threats thereof into those continuing to stand by their principles of service are clearly an attempt to intimidate and silence veterans, the group said in a statement to The Independent, the very people who have served honorably and want to ensure our military servicemembers continue to have the opportunity to reflect the honor and integrity that is instilled in us.

open image in gallery Senator Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA intelligence officer, accused the Trump administration of trying to intimidate her and other veteran lawmakers ( REUTERS )

Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former Army paratrooper, called the Pentagons investigation an outrageous abuse of power.

This is political retribution straight from the autocrat playbook. It has no place in America. And it wont work, he added.

Senator Ruben Gallego, Kellys counterpart in Arizona and a Marine veteran, addressed Hegseth directly during an interview with CNN Monday.

You will never, ever, ever even be half the man that Senator Kelly is, Gallego said. You, sir, are a coward. And the fact that you are following this order from the president shows how big of a coward you are.

open image in gallery Senator Mark Kelly, a decorated Navy pilot, says lawmakers will not back down after Trumps threats ( REUTERS )

Trump, who has leveraged the Justice Department and now the Pentagon to pursue his perceived political enemies, said members of Congress in the video should be immediately arrested and shared posts on his Truth Social account suggesting they should be executed.

Their words cannot be allowed to stand, he wrote on Truth Social. We wont have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.

Hegseth said the video from members of Congress may seem harmless to civilians  but it carries a different weight inside the military and is a politically-motivated influence operation.

In the military, vague rhetoric and ambiguity undermines trust, creates hesitation in the chain of command, and erodes cohesion, he wrote on X Tuesday. The military already has clear procedures for handling unlawful orders. It does not need political actors injecting doubt into an already clear chain of command.

Hegseth, who has labeled the lawmakers the Seditious Six, also lashed out at Kelly and appeared to undermine his rank and record of service by criticizing the appearance of his medals and uniform.

He said that Kelly, Navy veteran and NASA astronaut who retired in 2011 with the rank of captain, will face a uniform inspection when/if he is called back to active duty to face a military court.

I said something that was pretty simple and non-controversial, and that was that members of the military should follow the law, Kelly told MS NOW Monday.

And in response to that, Donald Trump said I should be executed. I should be hanged. I should be prosecuted, he added. I think it says a lot more about him than it says about me. He doesnt want accountability.
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A multi-agency team of about 50 people surveying storm-damaged Chicago was reportedly told to stand down earlier this month over concerns their operations would overlap with an unexpected contingent of ICE agents conducting patrols in the area.

On November 6, about ten groups of disaster workers, including those from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, were told to stand down for the day, as FEMA agents worried the presence of ICE agents and vehicles in the area could spark chaos or conflict that would put citizens and government employees at risk, The Washington Post reported.

The overlap came despite an alleged warning in October that a FEMA regional administrator gave to the Department of Homeland Security about the planned surveying operations. Disaster personnel were in the area because state officials requested assistance mapping damage after the Trump administration denied an initial appeal for a disaster declaration to respond to the summer flooding.

The alleged decision to pull back meant teams reportedly did not return to parts of Gage Park, a hard-hit area struggling with sewer backups and mold in the wake of the July and August flooding.

FEMA completed all required damage assessments in Illinois as planned, FEMA said in a statement to The Independent. Field schedules can shift for operational reasons, but no changes affected FEMAs ability to complete or validate the assessments. FEMA does not comment on the activities of other federal agencies.

open image in gallery A team of about 50 disaster workers were reportedly pulled from flood-related operations earlier this month to make way for ICE agents in the area. ( AP )

The federal government has been surging immigration agents in the Chicago area since September as part of Operation Midway Blitz, and their presence has been met with continued protests.

As part of the Trump administrations immigration crackdown, the president has shifted both funds and focus away from disaster aid and toward deportation operations.

The White House has reassigned agents from across the government, including FEMA, to immigration missions.

In August, the Trump administration moved to shift $155 million from FEMA to pay for immigration detention space, and the White House has threatened to cut off federally funded volunteer aid groups that offer services to undocumented people.

open image in gallery The Trump administration has been surging immigration agents to the Chicago area since September as part of Operation Midway Blitz, which has been met with regular protests. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Immigration officials have also arrested immigrants actively involved in battling disasters, such as an August case where the Border Patrol detained a firefighter in Washington.

During the campaign, Trump and his allies politicized the typically non-partisan work of disaster response, spreading false claims that under the Biden administration FEMA was avoiding Republican areas and diverting disaster funds to support immigrants.

In this environment of suspicion, FEMA workers faced threats, ultimately unfounded, that militias were hunting for relief workers during the response to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.
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A new poll shows Immigration and Customs Enforcement with a dismal approval rating as the public turns against President Donald Trumps immigration raids after horror stories emerge across the country.

Trump had campaigned on the promise of leading the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. A Pew Research Center survey from August 2024 found that 56 percent of registered voters strongly or somewhat favored mass deportations.

Throughout the past 10 months, Trumps deportation operation has been on full display as chaotic raids take place in Los Angeles, Chicago and most recently, Charlotte, North Carolina.

It seems Americans are not liking what they are seeing, as a new Daily Mail/JL Partners poll found that ICE has just a 34 percent approval rating. This is a four percentage point drop since last month.

open image in gallery A shocking new poll shows Immigration and Customs Enforcement with a dismal approval rating as the public turns against President Donald Trumps immigration raids after horror stories emerge across the country ( Adam Gray/Getty Images )

One story that has grabbed national attention recently is that of a daycare worker who was dragged out of the Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Learning Center in Chicago by federal agents.

Alderman Matt Martin, who represents the district where the center is located, said the agents were not invited inside the building, did not have a warrant and were armed with guns around children.

There has also been a spike in federal agents taking immigrants into custody as they leave court hearings. One viral video from September showed masked agents throwing several reporters to the ground inside an immigration courthouse in New York City.

open image in gallery Federal agents detain a man after exiting a court hearing in immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on September 12 in New York City. ( Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images )

Some individuals who have made headlines this year include Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student who was detained at an ICE center for more than three months for advocating against Israels war against Hamas in Gaza, and Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was mistakenly deported to his native country, El Salvador, in March.

Garcia was brought back to the U.S. in June but was later placed in a detention center, and the Trump administration has threatened to deport him to several other countries.

The Daily Mails new poll also found that among the 55 percent who disapprove of Trumps handling of the presidency, 41 percent say immigration enforcement is one of their top three reasons.
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Fox News Jesse Watters praised the Pentagons investigation into Democratic Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, proclaiming on air last night, You have to make examples out of people.

His comments came hours after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth launched an investigation into Kelly, a retired Navy commander, over a video he and five other Democrats posted urging members of the military to disobey illegal orders.

You cant have the deep state interfering with a duly elected presidency and get away with it, Watters said on The Five. You gotta draw the line in the sand

Co-host Kennedy chimed in, saying I think that Senator Kelly might have violated the FAFO [F*** Around, Find Out] doctrine and hes gonna find out the hard way that there, unfortunately, are consequences.

She accused the six Democrats  all of whom are military veterans or intelligence community professionals  of attempting to muddy the waters around the chain of command.

open image in gallery You cant have the deep state interfering with a duly elected presidency and get away with it," the Fox News host said. ( Getty Images )

What theyre really trying to do is imply that things you might disagree with are also illegal, although there' s actually quite a big gulf there, Kennedy said.

There may be things about bombing boats in the Caribbean that I have an issue with, she admitted. But, I have not sworn an oath to the Constitution.

Hegseths probe into Kelly was announced yesterday morning, with the Pentagon noting he, unlike the five other Democrats, remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The Department of War has received serious allegations of misconduct against Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.), the Pentagon said in a statement. A thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.

Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of good order and discipline, Hegseth wrote in a follow-up post. Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion  which only puts our warriors in danger.

The newly announced investigation comes days after President Donald Trump accused the six Democrats of sedition, and even implied they could face the death penalty.

open image in gallery The investigation was announced after Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers posted a video urging members of the military to disobey unlawful orders. ( Getty Images )

The Democratic lawmakers  which include Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin and Colorado Rep. Jason Crow  maintain they did nothing wrong by posting the video, in which they stated, The threats to our Constitution arent just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.

In a post on X on Monday, Kelly described his years of military service and took aim at Hegseth and the Trump administration.

If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it wont work, Kelly wrote. Ive given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.

The other Democrats released similar statements. In a video, Slotkin said, I would hope that people of all backgrounds  Democrat, Republican, independent  would agree that threatening death for people you disagree with is beyond the pale of who we are as Americans.
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Two years after Nancy Mace joined seven other Republicans in ousting Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House, the former GOP leader appears to still be holding a grudge against the South Carolina lawmaker.

McCarthy, who now spends much of his free time commenting about politics on cable news, described Mace as one of the least ethical and least respected members of Congress during his Monday night appearance on Fox News.

Besides questioning the Republican congresswomans ethics, McCarthy also expressed concern for Maces mental well-being, telling Fox News star Jesse Watters that he hopes that she gets the help she needs.

Initially brought on by Watters to mock the next generation of Democrats who could be vying for Senate, gubernatorial and presidential runs, McCarthy took some pointed shots at Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who recently joined the race for California governor.

When I became speaker, I tried to raise the bar in Congress, McCarthy declared before referencing Swalwells relationship with a Chinese national suspected of spying on the United States. Its not a high bar, but the first thing I did was remove Swalwell from the [House Intelligence] committee. If you get top-secret knowledge, the very least is you cant sleep with a Chinese spy.

open image in gallery Kevin McCarthy told Fox News that Nancy Mace is one of the least ethical members of Congress, that he wants her to get the help she needs and not be in a position of power. ( Fox News )

Amid his criticism of Swalwell, however, McCarthy took the opportunity to invoke Mace and assert that her House colleagues held her in low regard.

I can only hope the Democrats nominate him because every time in Congress [when] we would vote on a bipartisan basis who was the least ethical, who was the least respected, it was always a tie between Swalwell and Nancy Mace, the former speaker stated. And I just dont see these people leading anywhere.

Reacting with a bit of shock, Watters exclaimed that McCarthy must hate Nancy Mace, prompting the ex-Republican leader to insist that wasnt the case. Instead, according to McCarthy, he was actually worried about his one-time House cohort.

No, no, I dont. I want her to get the help she needs, he responded. I just dont want to put her in a position that she makes decisions.

After Mace joined the 2023 GOP insurgency to remove McCarthy from leadership, which was led by MAGA firebrand Matt Gaetz, the ex-speaker went on a revenge tour to damage the political careers of the Republicans who took the gavel from him.

His first target among the crazy eight, as McCarthy had called the Republicans who voted against him, was Mace. However, despite him and his allies raising over $5 million for Maces primary challenger last year, the congresswoman easily won her partys nomination and was eventually re-elected for another term.

open image in gallery McCarthy isnt the only politician who has urged Mace to seek professional help. ( Getty Images )

Mace, who has morphed from an anti-Trump moderate who preached bipartisanship to an ultra-MAGA culture warrior over the past couple of years, has long set quotas for her staff on how much national media attention she requires.

According to a handbook that became public after McCarthys ouster, Mace  who dubbed herself National Nancy  told staffers that they needed to book her on a national TV outlet between one and three times per day.

Meanwhile, during a recent appearance on Newsmax, Mace revealed that she isnt exactly popular on Capitol Hill. Im an island of one, she said. I dont get invited to parties. I dont have any friends. I have a dog.

McCarthy isnt the only politician who has expressed a desire for Mace to go seek professional help. After Maces failed attempt to have Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) censured over comments made about assassinated right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Omar told the GOP lawmaker: Would love to see you get the help you need next. You belong in rehab, not Congress.
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After her stunning announcement last week that she will soon resign from Congress amid her ongoing feud with President Trump, some are suggesting Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene may have little political runway left.

Im thinking theres some other opportunity, perhaps in the media ecosystem, that shes looking at, CNN political commentator and Republican campaign strategist Shermichael Singleton said Sunday on State of the Union. But I think her future life in politics is over.

The Georgia Republican had once been one of the presidents staunchest defenders in Congress, but their alliance frayed throughout the year over issues like foreign policy, healthcare, and, most explosively, the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Greene was among a handful of House Republicans who forced a vote on releasing the Epstein files, a proposal President Trump later signed onto after months of demonizing the effort.

Trump, despite branding Greene a traitor and vowing to back a primary challenger against her, has also left the door open for a reconciliation with his former ally and said hed love to see Greene re-enter politics.

Despite presidential buzz around Marjorie Taylor Greene, some think her political future is over after her dramatic split with Donald Trump over the Epstein scandal ( Getty )

Its not going to be easy for her he told NBC News, adding, I can patch up differences with anyone.

Greene, who will leave Congress in January before the upcoming midterms, has kept relatively quiet about what she plans next.

She has steadfastly denied reports that her recent split with Trump is part of a larger attempted rebrand ahead of a 2028 run for president.

In a resignation letter, Greene spoke of the toll her political career has taken on her and her family, including having to face death threats, though she suggested to constituents in her district she would be here by their side as they sought to take power back from the Political Industrial Complex.

Among Republicans, Vice President JD Vance, Donald Trump, Jr., Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and Marco Rubio are considered the top four Republican frontrunners in the 2028 presidential race, according to poll averages.

Greene may not be the only Republican set to depart Congress soon, a development that would even further imperil a GOP already on shaky foundation ahead of the midterms.

More explosive early resignations are coming, an unnamed senior House Republican told Punchbowl News. Its a tinder box. Morale has never been lower.

This entire White House team has treated ALL members like garbage, the lawmaker said. And Mike Johnson has let it happen because he wanted it to happen. That is the sentiment of nearly all  appropriators, authorizers, hawks, doves, rank and file.
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Mike Huckabee, the Trump administrations ambassador to Israel, has remained a paid spokesperson for a sleep supplement while also representing the United States in foreign relations with Israel, according to a report, raising questions about a potential ethical dilemma.

Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and two-time presidential candidate, appears in late-night cable commercials peddling the non-FDA-approved supplement, Relaxium, for those having trouble sleeping, according to NOTUS.

I trust Relaxium sleep and so should you, Huckabee, identified as a 2016 presidential candidate, says in an ad, while urging viewers to call the number on screen and obtain their own bottle.

Huckabee has been a paid spokesperson for Relaxium for several years and appears to have continued to profit as one, even while serving in his high-profile government position. He seemingly has no intention of abandoning the gig.

After Trump nominated Huckabee, 70, to serve as ambassador to Israel in February, he indicated he would resign from several positions that could become a conflict of interest and divest from certain entities.

open image in gallery Mike Huckabee, the ambassador to Israel, appeared in a cable TV commercial for a sleep supplement as recently as last month ( Getty Images )

But in a seven-page ethics agreement, he informed the Office of Government Ethics: I have licensed my name, image, and likeness. I will not enter any new licenses during my appointment to the position of ambassador. However, I will continue to get paid for previous licenses.

In his financial disclosure, Huckabee indicated that he was paid $414,684 by the American Behavioral Research Institute, maker of Relaxium, in 2024, the year prior to his nomination.

When asked if Huckabee had concerns about his Relaxium endorsement, the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem told NOTUS: No. Ambassadors need to sleep, too.

The Independent has requested comment from Relaxium, the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem.

The U.S. Embassy Jerusalem also told NOTUS that Huckabee has no legal right to ask American Behavioral Research Institute to cease using him in promotions, due to a name, image and likeness agreement. The embassy emphasized that Huckabee does not own or control the institutes content for Relaxium.

However, shortly after NOTUS published its article Tuesday, the institute appeared to remove a video of Huckabee from its website, the news outlet reported.

On Relaxiums website archive, a saved version of the homepage from September shows Huckabee in a video endorsing the sleep supplement. As of Tuesday afternoon, the video of Huckabee is not on Relaxiums homepage.

open image in gallery Huckabee has been ambassador to Israel since April. He has joined Trumps cabinet members on trips as they sought to broker a peace deal between Israel and Hamas ( Getty Images )

Typically, federal employees are asked to divest from assets or positions that could pose a conflict of interest, or appear as one, to maintain public confidence in the government. That also includes recusing oneself from certain matters that could benefit a family member or friend.

Peter Loge, the director of the Project on Ethics in Political Communication at George Washington University, told NOTUS that government officials should not, and should not appear to be, endorsing a commercial product. Full stop.

Earlier this year, the American Behavioral Research Institute received a warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for not submitting the proper paperwork before sponsoring a clinical trial of Relaxium.
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Marjorie Taylor Greene shocked many on Capitol Friday when she announced that she would resign her seat in the House of Representatives.

The Georgia Republicans announcement came after years of frustration with House Speaker Mike Johnson. At one point in 2024, she tried to remove him as speaker. It also came after President Donald Trump had unendorsed her in light of her support for the discharge petition to force a vote to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

While Trump gloated about her departure, Greenes decision to exit Congress on Jan. 5 will make Trump and Johnsons math in the House much more difficult.

Heres the breakdown right now: Republicans have 219 House seats, exactly one more than the requisite 218 to have a majority and pass anything. Last week, Democrat Mikie Sherrill resigned her seat after she won the governorship in New Jersey earlier this month, giving Democrats 213 seats.

Those numbers may sound negligible. But look at it this way: Earlier this year, the House passed the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act with exactly 218 votes as two Republicans voted against the bill. And that vote came when Democrats had three vacancies because elderly members had died.

open image in gallery Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., will resign from Congress at the beginning of the year, making math harder for House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump. ( AP )

In September, the House voted 217-212 to keep the government open and only one Democrat joined the Republicans. And that only happened because two Democrats and one Republican didnt show up to work.

These are incredibly tight margins and it requires near unanimity among the House GOP conference. Otherwise, bills simply wont be taken up.

These next few months will only make the math more difficult. On Dec. 2, Tennessees 7th district will hold a special election to fill Mark Greens old seat after he resigned. This should be a layup for Republicans. The district voted 22 points for Trump in 2024.

But Democrats over-performance in numerous off-year elections and special elections have them worried. They have poured in money for Republican Matt Van Epps to keep the seat red. Last week, MAGA Inc., the pro-Trump super PAC, dropped $232,000 to support Van Epps and oppose Democrat Aftyn Behn.

If somehow Behn pulls off a miracle win, Democrats will have 214 seats to the GOPs 219. If the GOP holds it, they will have 220. On January 5, that number will go down to 219 or 218 because of Greenes resignation.

But on Jan. 31, Texas will hold a special election to fill the seat of the late Sylvester Turner, who died in March of this year. The seat is overwhelmingly African-American and Democratic and is almost guaranteed to go to the Democrats, giving Democrats 215 or 214 seats.

Then comes the special election in April for New Jerseys 11th district. This seat will almost certainly go to a Democrat, ticking up their their number to 216 or 215 seats to the GOPs 218 or 219.

open image in gallery House Speaker Mike Johnson has a thin margin of only 219 Republicans in the House of Representatives. ( Tom Brenner/Getty Images )

All of this happens before theres even a special election to fill Greenes seat. And before anyone asks, no, there is no chance that Democrats can win that seat: Trump won Georgias 14th district by almost 37 points in 2024.

Once Gov. Brian Kemp schedules the race, if none of the candidates reach 50 percent, it will go into a runoff, further delaying Republicans abilities to pass legislation.

And this will have major implications. In December, the Senate will hold a vote to extend the enhanced tax credits for the Affordable Care Acts health insurance marketplace. An additional vote one for Republicans could give Johnson some padding to prevent a mutiny.

But an additional vote from Tennessee for the Democrats could give a boost to a handful of Republicans who would want to extend subsidies.

Then theres the fact the government runs out of money on Jan. 31. The continuing resolution that Congress passed to reopen the government keeps the lights on until then, but thats it. Johnson not having a vote to spare and Democrats gaining an extra seat from Texas gives Republicans even less room to maneuver.

As part of the deal to reopen the government, Congress passed three of the 23 spending bills. But they still have to pass nine and if any Republican defects they will need to make the bills more friendly to Democrats to get them over the finish line.

Lastly, there is the fact that Republicans are talking about passing another bill through reconciliation, the process through which they passed the One Big, Beautiful Bill that allowed them to avoid a filibuster. But if Republicans have only a one-seat or two-seat majority, this would like be off the table.

And by the time Greenes seat is filled, most members will likely not want to make hard votes and instead want to go back to the campaign trail.

So, by jumping out of Congress, Greene might have just given Johnson and Trump one final headache.
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U.S. Space Force has awarded multiple small contracts to companies to help develop prototypes for a crucial but unproven technology that will be used in President Donald Trumps Golden Dome defense system, according to a report.

The contracts, each under $9 million, are to develop space-based interceptors  a weapons system that would rely on a series of low-orbiting satellites that could track down an incoming intercontinental ballistic missile and intercept it before it strikes.

Space Force did not provide any details about which companies the contracts were awarded to. Because the contracts are for a relatively small amount, the agency is not required to disclose detailed information, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

In a statement, obtained by Bloomberg, Space Force said the contractors werent disclosed because they are protected by enhanced security measures.

The selection process was robust and thorough, Space Force said in the statement, adding that it is looking to lead a fast-paced effort in partnership with industry to develop, demonstrate and deliver prototype interceptors.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump signed an executive order in May calling for the development of a Golden Dome missile defense system ( Getty )

The Independent has asked Space Force for comment.

The announcement appears to be one of the first major steps from the Pentagon as it seeks to develop Trumps Golden Dome.

In May, Trump announced his plans for a Golden Dome, claiming it would be a cutting-edge operation missile defense system to protect the U.S. from missile attacks.

The Golden Dome appeared to take a page from Israels Iron Dome  a similar air defense system that operates only from the ground, as well as former President Ronald Reagans proposed Star Wars program.

We have certain areas of missiles and certain missile defense, but there's no system, Trump told reporters in May. We just have some very capable weapons that hopefully we never have to use, but we have some very capable weapons now,

Trump estimated the Golden Dome would be fully operational by January 2029.

open image in gallery Using a series of satellites in low orbit around Earth, the system would be able to detect an incoming intercontinental ballistic missile and intercept it ( Getty Images )

However, experts have cautioned about the militarys ability to implement space-based interceptors. Doing so would be extremely costly and experimental because it would require launching hundreds of weapons into space.

Despite decades of support from influential policymakers, the resources required to deploy space-based interceptors would be better spent on other layers of US missile defense, Thomas G. Roberts, an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, wrote in a 2018 article for the Bulletin of the Atomic Sciences.

In addition to the awarded contracts, Space Force also plans to ask for proposals related to space-based interceptors' ability to conduct kinetic midcourse missile defense, according to a recently posted pre-solicitation.

Kinetic missile defense is the act of using energy from an object in motion to intercept another object. Midcourse interceptions utilize the strategy of intercepting long-range missiles in the middle of their course, making them easier to target. However, the downside to a kinetic midcourse missile defense system is that it may be unable to distinguish a missile from other debris.

The upcoming request for proposals will be posted in early December.
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The Trump administration is planning to re-interview and potentially revoke the status of hundreds of thousands of refugees admitted to the U.S. during the Biden administration, the latest move by the White House to drastically curtail resettlements inside the U.S., a government memo reveals.

The November memo, signed by Joseph Edlow, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, directs the agency to review and re-interview all of the roughly 233,000 refugees who were admitted to the country between January 20, 2021, and February 20, 2025, and blocks processing of green card applications from refugees admitted during that time period.

It criticizes the prior administration for allegedly having prioritized expediency and quantity, and characterizes the unprecedented move to reexamine every refugee admission during former president Joe Bidens time in office as a necessary measure to assess national security vulnerabilities.

Just the threat of this is unspeakably cruel.  To threaten refugees with taking away their status would be re-traumatizing and a vicious misuse of taxpayer money, Mark Hetfield, the president of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), told CNN.

The memorandum also asserts that USCIS can do the same for refugees who were admitted into the United States before January 2021, in effect permitting the administration to potentially deport any and all refugees admitted into the United States who have not yet acquired citizenship.

open image in gallery Tristen Elijah Giroux is facing federal charges after he allegedly became enraged after getting stuck in a phone tree while calling USCIS about procuring a visa for his Colombian fiancee ( Getty )

In addition, USCIS plans to re-interview the spouses, children and other family members of refugees who might have joined them since coming to the United States.

The purpose of the interviews is to determine whether those who were granted refugee status actually met the statutory definition of a refugee at the time and inquire as to whether the Biden administration improperly granted waivers or exceptions to policies that would have ordinarily barred any individuals from receiving refugee status.

Trump administration figures and anti-immigration advocates have alleged  without evidence  that the Biden administration improperly prioritized speed of processing refugee applications and high admission numbers over the need to properly vet applicants, particularly those from majority-Muslim countries such as Afghanistan.

Refugee advocates slammed the potential move, arguing that such immigrants are among the most vulnerable to have sought shelter in the U.S. and already have passed through a rigorous, typically multi-year process to verify they have credible fears of persecution.

Shawn VanDiver, the president of AfghanEvac, said in a statement that the unprecedented and cruel move by the administration forces individuals who have already passed the most exhaustive vetting processes in the world  multiple agencies, biometric checks, layered security reviews after surviving persecution back into instability at the hands of the U.S. government.

He added that the Trump administration appears poised to revoke refugee status for thousands of Afghans  including those who assisted the U.S. and allied forces in their two-decade fight against the Taliban  by falsely claiming that they fabricated their stories of persecution.

That is not just wrong; its defamatory and reckless. It destabilizes families who trusted the United States, breaks faith with wartime allies, and damages U.S. national-security interests by signaling to the world that Americas promises are conditional, he said.

open image in gallery The Trump administration has largely restricted whats left of the U.S. refugee program to admissions of white Afrikaners from South Africa ( AFP via Getty Images )

In a statement, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin characterized the unheard of decision to review hundreds of thousands of refugee admissions retroactively as a needed corrective after the Biden administration accelerated refugee admissions from terror and gang-prone countries, prioritizing sheer numbers over rigorous vetting and strict adherence to legal requirements.

This reckless approach undermined the integrity of our immigration system and jeopardized the safety and security of the American people. Corrective action is now being taken to ensure those who are present in the United States deserve to be here, she said.

Since Trump returned to power this past January, his administration has largely shut down the refugee admissions process except for a select few groups hailing from majority-white countries.

Earlier this year, the president issued an order setting a refugee cap of 7,500 people for the coming year, with a preference for white Afrikaners from South Africa.

Trump has repeatedly and baselessly claimed the group is facing a genocide in South Africa, despite officials in that country, data, courts, and Afrikaner groups saying no such genocide is under way.

The administration is reportedly mulling other provisions that would have the effect of largely favoring white refugees, including a proposal to favor Europeans and English-speakers.

Under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department has also signaled an intent to give priority for resettlement to far-right and white nationalists activists from European nations such as Germany, where extremist and ultranationalist parties are restricted or banned under laws meant to prevent a resurgence of the fascist movement which led the country to start the Second World War and commit a genocide which wiped out six million Jews from Europes population.

Outside of the refugee program, the White House has taken steps to reduce immigration protections for the most vulnerable, including canceling Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from a variety of unstable and war-torn nations, most recently this week for individuals from Myanmar.

The administration also canceled contracts with refugee resettlement providers earlier this year.

Naturalized citizens also fear their status may be under threat, given the Trump administrations unprecedented attempts to end birthright citizenship.

The moves follow similar restrictions during Trumps first term, when refugee admissions sunk to what was then an all-time low.
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The White House quickly refuted a report that President Donald Trump is considering removing FBI Director Kash Patel from his post amid recent controversies  with a spokesperson describing it as fake news.

MS NOW reported on Tuesday that the president and his aides have become frustrated by the unfavorable news coverage Patel has generated, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

In recent weeks, the nations top law enforcement official has come under scrutiny for his use of government aircraft, the security detail assigned to his girlfriend and conflicts with other administration members.

Sources described Patel as being on thin ice, with Co-Deputy FBI Director Andrew Bailey being eyed as his replacement, the outlet reported.

But, minutes after the story published, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to social media to rebut it.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump is weighing firing FBI Director Kash Patel, according to a new report, which the White House characterized as fake news. ( AP )

This story is completely made up, Leavitt wrote on X.

She said that, when the news broke, she happened to be in the middle of an Oval Office meeting with the president and Patel.

I read the headline to the President and he laughed. He said: What? Thats totally false. Come on Kash, lets take a picture to show them youre doing a great job! Leavitt wrote, attaching a photo of the pair smiling and giving a thumbs up.

open image in gallery Trump and Patel posed for a photo in front of a framed copy of the Declaration of Independence following a report that claimed the president was on the verge of firing the FBI director. ( Karoline Leavitt )

Since his Senate confirmation in February, Patel has frequently been dogged by negative headlines.

In November, The Wall Street Journal reported that Patel, a former Florida public defender, had come under intense scrutiny for using a government jet for multiple personal trips, including to a luxury resort in Texas and to his girlfriends home in Tennessee.

A spokesperson for Patel later told The New York Times that his transportation expenses have been comparable to those of his recent predecessors.

FBI and administration insiders have accused Patel of jumping the gun in publicizing ongoing investigations, according to the outlet.

For example, he publicly disclosed an investigation into a potential terror plot on Halloween near Deroit before investigators had a chance to fully establish the facts  including whether an attack was actually imminent, MS Now reports.

Last week, the FBI director also faced criticism after a report emerged that his girlfriend, country music star Alexis Wilkins, had been assigned an FBI SWAT team for her personal protection.

The agents assigned to protect Wilkins typically work in a Nashville field office, sources told MS NOW. Theyre trained to handle major incidents, such as terror attacks and mass shootings.

There is no legitimate justification for this, Christopher OLeary, a former senior FBI agent, told the outlet. This is a clear abuse of position and misuse of government resources. She is not his spouse, does not live in the same house or even the same city.

Patel has been a fierce defender of his girlfriend on social media.

In early November, after reports that he had used a government jet to go and watch her sing, he wrote on X that 27-year-old Wilkins has done more for this nation than most will in ten lifetimes.

Ive always said  criticize me all you want. But going after the people doing great work, my personal life, or those around me is a total disgrace, he wrote. The disgustingly baseless attacks against Alexis  a true patriot and the woman Im proud to call my partner in life  are beyond pathetic.

During his tenure at the FBI, Patel has also fired dozens of employees seen as lacking the necessary conservative bonafides or support for the president, the Journal previously reported.

One longtime bureau employee, David Maltinsky, filed a lawsuit against Patel last week claiming he was unlawfully fired for displaying an LGBT Pride flag at his work station.

When contacted by The Independent, a spokesperson for the FBI declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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More than 20 states are suing Donald Trumps administration to restore billions of dollars in grant funding to combat homelessness, with tens of thousand of Americans at risk of losing shelter.

A federal lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James and Democratic officials from 19 other states asks a judge to block the administrations cuts and illegal new conditions on funding through a 40-year-old anti-homelessness program in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Continuum of Care program was thrown into chaos this month after the administration imposed new conditions on funding that are holding these funds and the people they help hostage, according to the lawsuit.

Trumps HUD is denying funds to organizations that support transgender and nonbinary Americans and reversing longstanding support for the housing first philosophy that prioritizes stable housing.

Under the new conditions, only 30 percent of Continuum of Care funds can support permanent housing  down from nearly 90 percent under terms set to expire next year. If that cap is put in place, roughly 170,000 Americans are at risk of losing their housing, according to the lawsuit.

open image in gallery The Trump administration is imposing new conditions on federal funds to end homelessness that could force tens of thousands of Americans out of shelters, according to a new lawsuit aimed at stopping the funding cuts. ( AFP via Getty Images )

New conditions on serving LGBT+ people are vague enough that organizations that shelter trans and nonbinary people, or even ask for a persons gender identity, could be shut out from federal funds, according to the lawsuit.

HUD is also discriminating against states and local governments that dont support the Trump administration by deducting points from funding applicants if they do not align with the presidents agenda, the complaint says.

Taken together, the policies threaten to cancel thousands of existing projects, require providers to fundamentally reshape their programs on an impossible timeline, and essentially guarantee that tens of thousands of formerly homeless individuals and families will be evicted back into homelessness, according to the lawsuit.

Communities across the country depend on Continuum of Care funds to provide housing and other resources to our most vulnerable neighbors, James said in a statement.

These funds help keep tens of thousands of people from sleeping on the streets every night, she added. I will not allow this administration to cut off these funds and put vital housing and support services at risk.

More people experienced homelessness in the United States in 2024 than at any other point within the last two decades, which is when the federal government began tracking the population.

During his campaign, Trumps platform promised to end the nightmare of dangerously deranged people experiencing homelessness with a plan to open large parcels of inexpensive land, bring in doctors, psychiatrists, social workers, and drug rehab specialists, and create tent cities where the homeless can be relocated and their problems identified.

The president also vowed to bring back mental institutions to house and rehabilitate those who are severely mentally ill or dangerously deranged with the goal of reintegrating them back into society.

Last year, the Supreme Courts conservative majority rejected arguments from a group of homeless people in Oregon who argued that a series of laws punishing people for sleeping outside was considered cruel and unusual punishment.

That ruling paved the way for police to ticket, fine or arrest people who are sleeping in public, and state and local governments are increasingly implementing public camping bans and laws prohibiting sleeping in cars, loitering or asking for money.

In July, Trump signed another executive order empowering cities and states to force people experiencing homelessness into treatment centers.

open image in gallery Housing secretary Scott Turner has claimed the housing first approach to ending homelessness has created a homeless industrial complex. ( Getty Images )

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness has also been effectively disbanded under the so-called Department of Government Efficiency's slashing of the federal government. During the end of his first administration, Trumps director Robert Marbut abandoned the housing first framework that has been the driving force behind policies to address the crisis for years, widely supported by homelessness and housing agencies and services across the country.

Trumps new HUD Secretary Scott Turner has argued that the housing first model instead created a homeless industrial complex that does not combat root causes of homelessness.

DOGE leader Elon Musk has similarly claimed that federal support for ending homelessness is part of a global conspiracy to make more people homeless in order to enrich the organizations working to end the crisis.

In New York City, more than 103,000 people are sleeping in shelters, while thousands of others are forced to sleep in the streets and in subways, and more than 200,000 people are estimated to be temporarily sleeping in the homes of others, according to the latest estimates from the Coalition for the Homeless.

It is estimated that roughly 350,000 people are without homes in New York City, the group discovered.

People experiencing homelessness in New York are served by 24 different groups that receive more than $320 million in federal funding to help provide housing and other services. The vast majority of those dollars support permanent housing

The Trump administrations new cap on permanent housing spending could imperil housing for 9,000 households, including nearly 5,000 people in New York City. Without those funds, the stability that so many have fought to build could unravel overnight, according to Pascale Leone, director of the Supportive Housing Network of New York.

As families prepare for the holiday season, they should not have to question whether they will still have a place to live when winter arrives, Leone said.
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Federal arrests for drug and weapons crimes have plunged over the last year as Donald Trumps administration prioritizes immigration raids to support the presidents mass deportation agenda.

Homeland Security officers have arrested more than 94,500 people for civil immigration offenses within the first year of the second Trump administration, according to a review of internal government data from The New York Times.

That marks a dramatic increase compared to roughly 5,000 arrests over the previous fiscal year.

But within that same time period, narcotics arrests dropped by roughly 11 percent, with 15 percent fewer new narcotics investigations opened, internal records show.

The number of weapons seized also fell dramatically. Agents collected 11,200 weapons, compared to 41,400 in the previous year  reflecting a nearly 75 percent drop.

open image in gallery Federal arrests for drugs, firearms and child sex abuse material have plummeted as agencies prioritize Trumps mass deportation agenda. ( AP )

Non-public data from Homeland Security Investigations reviewed by The New York Times compares enforcement statistics between October 2024 and September 2025 and the same period from the previous year. That time frame includes roughly four months from the end of Joe Bidens administration and eight months into the Trump administration.

Homeland Security Investigations  which has historically focused on criminal investigations like smuggling, fraud and trafficking rather than removal operations  is also tasked with dismantling online crime rings that distribute child sex abuse material.

But indictments for those crimes fell by 28 percent, according to The New York Times.

Agents also identified or rescued roughly 300 fewer victims compared to the previous year.

While criminal arrests overall were up by roughly 41 percent, the increase was largely driven by immigration-related actions, including investigations into trafficking. But roughly 12,000 of those 46,000 arrests were not categorized by crime type, making it difficult to determine which kinds of cases accounted for the overall jump in arrests, according to the review.

In a message to Homeland Security employees accompanying the report, agency chief John Condon called the surge in civil immigration arrests a monumental achievement that underscores your operational impact and commitment to mission.

But the newly disclosed data reveals some of the wider impacts across law enforcement in pursuit of Trumps anti-immigration agenda, which has surged federal agents into cities while enlisting thousands of officers from other departments for immigration enforcement.

Customs and Border Patrol agents have been deployed away from the southern border into the countrys interior while the administration is growing the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents tasked with deporting people from the country. Those operations also have been supported by agencies from the Drug and Enforcement Administration agents to even the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service.

More than 28,000 federal law enforcement agents were diverted from their primary duties to focus on immigration, including nearly half of DEA agents and more than two-thirds of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to a recent analysis from the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.

open image in gallery Border officers have surged into the nations interior while thousands of federal agents have shifted from their duties to support immigration enforcement. ( Getty Images )

Up to 45 percent of FBI agents working in counterterrorism, cyber, espionage and child exploitation cases were moved to immigration enforcement, according to data collected by the office of Democratic Senator Mark Warner.

The Trump administration, which has set a goal of removing 1 million people a year, has also stripped legal status for tens of thousands of people and directed immigration court judges to ensure immigrants can be swiftly arrested and placed in removal proceedings.

At the same time, nearly three-quarters of people booked into ICE custody within the last fiscal year had no criminal convictions, the Cato Institute found.

Critics have warned that the administrations government-wide response to immigration  combined with the mass purge of FBI agents and leadership  has left the nation in a vulnerable position and sharply reduced federal law enforcements capacity to combat crime.

In a statement to The Independent, Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused The New York Times of peddling a false narrative about HSIs report and touted an increase in arrests for human smuggling and the seizure of more than 2.5 million pounds of narcotics.

"The facts are child exploitation, human trafficking, terrorism, financial scams, and smuggling all have a nexus to illegal immigration, she said.

Nearly every day, DHS law enforcement  including HSI  are arresting pedophiles, known or suspected terrorists, kidnappers, child smugglers, and sex traffickers, including those who entered our country illegally, she added.
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Sources close to Donald Trump have claimed that he is planning to speak directly with the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, as the U.S. militarys top officer arrives in the Caribbean.

General Dan Caines visit to Puerto Rico comes as tensions between the United States and the South American petrostate skyrocket in the wake of the Trump administrations bombing of Venezuelan boats allegedly smuggling drugs to North America.

Sources close to the president told Axios that Trumps desire to meet with Maduro could mean that a possible military action against mainland Venezuela might not be as imminent as once thought.

"Nobody is planning to go in and shoot him or snatch him  at this point. I wouldn't say never, but that's not the plan right now," one source said, referencing conspiracy theories that Trump was planning to assassinate Maduro. "In the meantime, we're going to blow up boats shipping drugs. We're going to stop the drug trafficking."

open image in gallery An E/A-18G Growler aircraft lands on the flight deck of the world's largest aircraft carrier, Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford on Monday ( U.S. Southern Command )

The source added that any conversations between Maduro and Trump remain in the planning stages.

The United States has launched 21 missile strikes on boats allegedly carrying drugs into the U.S., in a scheme known as Operation Southern Spear. So far, 83 people have been killed in the strikes.

As tensions continue to escalate, 13 Democrats in the Senate have written a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth demanding to know the domestic and international legal basis for recent military strikes on the drug boats.

Democrats have argued that redacted files linked to military strikes in Libya in 2011 and Syria in 2018 were released by the DOJ in an effort to justify the necessity of each military operation.

open image in gallery General Dan Caine has arrived in Puerto Rico as tensions with Venezuela skyrocket ( AP )

Few decisions are more consequential for a democracy than the use of lethal force, the letter read, as the 13 Democrats urged Bondi and Hegseth to enhance transparency in the use of deadly force by our Nations military.

Meanwhile, General Caines office said in a statement, seen by the Associated Press, that the official reason for his visit to Puerto Rico is so the top official can engage with service members and thank them for their outstanding support to regional missions.

However, this will be Caines second visit to the region since the U.S. started ramping up its military presence in the area. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world, has already been deployed in the Caribbean.

open image in gallery The US has been carrying out strikes on boats allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela ( US Southern Command )

The presence of Caine, who is both the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Trumps chief military adviser, and the unprecedented military buildup in the region have continued to ignite fears about a strike against the sovereign nation.

The United States has piled on a massive amount of pressure onto the Venezuelan government, with one report even claiming that the White House was planning to drop politicized leaflets on Caracas, the nations capital.

The leaflets reportedly offered $50 million in return for information that would lead to Maduro's removal, according to The Washington Post.

open image in gallery Trump has overseen some of the most aggressive US action in South America for decades ( Win McNamee/Getty Images )

The Trump administration even doubled down on its anti-Maduro stance just yesterday, when it declared that the Cartel de los Soles was a foreign terrorist organization. This group has strong ties to the countrys ruling government.

Maduro has been in power since 2013 and is not recognized by more than 50 countries as the nations legitimate leader after he refused to concede defeat in the 2024 presidential election.

The socialist leader has continued to call for peace between Venezuela and the United States, even breaking into a dance at a rally on the weekend as he urged the easing of tensions.

open image in gallery Maduro is not recognised as a legitimate leader by more than 50 countries, after he refused to concede that he lost the 2024 Venezuelan election ( AP )

Last week, he sang a rendition of John Lennons Imagine, as the president urged supporters to heed the message of the song.

Maduros critics have welcomed Trumps aggressive actions in the region.

Maria Corina Machado, the winner of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize and the unofficial leader of Venezuelas opposition to Maduro, has described Trump as the biggest opportunity weve ever had for regime change.

open image in gallery Maria Corina Machado, the unofficial leader of Venezuelas opposition, has praised Trump ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

She has also praised the U.S. President for bombing the alleged drug boats.

I totally support his strategy, Machado said. And Ive said on behalf of the Venezuelan people that we are very grateful. I think it is the right thing to do. Its courageous. Its visionary.

The Independent has contacted the DOJ and the White House for comment.
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President Donald Trump appeared to inadvertently amplify a call for his third impeachment during a social media rant about Democrats.

The X post was reshared as part of the presidents Truth Social spree Sunday as he railed against six Democratic lawmakers who made a video reminding active military service members to ignore orders that defy the U.S. Constitution.

Trump appeared to be trying to support his claim - that the Democrats were encouraging the military to resist orders - by sharing a screenshot of the groups video from the X account.

The X account has the profile name, Impeach Trump a 3rd Time! A closer look revealed that the account has been posting anti-Trump rhetoric since 2022, though it is also labeled parody account.

The parody accounts post had been mocking another X user for claiming the Democrats were telling service members to question orders.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump appeared to make the blunder on Truth Social this weekend while posting about Democrats who made a video for active military members, reminding them to uphold the Constitution ( Getty )

The post used a screenshot of one of the group, Senator Mark Kelly, a U.S. Navy veteran, telling military service members: You can refuse illegal orders.

The Democrats, all former members of the military or intelligence community, made the video last week in response to the Trump administrations lethal boat strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, conducted without congressional approval.

The administration has alleged the vessels are trafficking narcotics. More than 80 people have been killed as a result of the strikes, and the administration has provided no evidence that the boats are drug-trafficking narco terrorists.

Although the Democrats did not name a specific order that may have defied the Constitution in the video, the message has struck a nerve with the president.

Trump has called the six Democrats seditious and claimed their behavior was punishable by death. He also warned they would face consequences for making the video  though legal experts have said the Democrats did not appear to break any laws.

open image in gallery Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, a Navy veteran, appeared in the video featuring five other Democrats to remind active service members they can refuse illegal orders ( SenatorSlotkin / X )

Despite that, the Department of Defense announced Monday it was investigating Kelly, a retired naval captain, for violating a military law that prohibits people from disseminating material that interferes with loyalty or promotes insubordination of the armed forces.

Kelly has denied wrongdoing and condemned the president for attempting to intimidate him.

Its unclear if Trump was aware that he re-posted an account that appears to consistently criticize him. The re-shared post remained on the presidents Truth Social account Tuesday.
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President Donald Trump turned what was meant as a lighthearted Thanksgiving presidential tradition into a stage for partisan complaints, swipes at his predecessor and gruesome rants about crime in Democratic-led cities.

After boasting to guests  including Vice President JD Vances wife and children  about how his recently-renovated patio in the White House Rose Garden was keeping them from sinking into the mud as a light rain fell on Washington, Trump said he had an important announcement to make before pardoning this years turkeys, dubbed Gobble and Waddle by the White House.

He claimed a thorough and very rigorous investigation by Pam Bondi and all of the people at the Department of Justice, the FBI, the CIA and the White House Counsels Office had determined that then-president Joe Biden had used an autopen to pardon last years birds, Peach and Blossom.

I have the official duty to determine, and I have determined that last years Turkey pardons are totally invalid, Trump said.

Theyre hereby null and void, the turkeys known as Peach and Blossom last year have been located, and they were on their way to be processed. In other words, to be killed.

But Trump added that hed stopped that journey and claimed he was now officially pardoning last years turkeys, saving them in the nick of time.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump speaks during a pardoning ceremony for the national Thanksgiving turkeys Waddle and Gobble. During the event, the president took a jab at former president Joe Biden. ( Reuters )

The president then launched into what appeared to be an off-script diatribe about some of his guests for the ceremony and their work in government while also boasting about how his administration had enacted what he called the biggest tax cuts in the history of our country for middle-income people in the partisan spending package enacted earlier this year by the GOP-led Congress.

He also thanked the National Turkey Federation chairman and the CEO of turkey farming giant Butterball for attending before returning to the subject at hand, the turkeys that were at the White House to be pardoned.

But Trump could not keep from inserting more partisan attacks into his remarks after noting that the turkeys had been named Gobble and Waddle.

When I first saw their pictures ... I was going to call them Chuck and Nancy. But then I realized I wouldnt be pardoning them, I would never pardon those two people. I wouldnt pardon them, he said.

The president explained that the birds were among the largest-ever to be presented to a president for pardoning, with both tipping the scales at over 50 pounds.

open image in gallery Trump used the traditional Thanksgiving event to boast about his accomplishments and attack rivals. ( AFP/Getty )

But he then veered into a dark soliloquy about his tough on crime administration and the low numbers of people currently attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border into the United States while claiming  without offering evidence  that those whod come seeking asylum during the previous administration had poured into our country had been gang members or from mental institutions.

After a lighthearted quip about how some of his overenthusiastic staffers had pushed to send Gobble and Waddle to the notorious prison in El Salvador  where his administration has sent numerous people to be held without charge after being deported  Trump resumed his dark talk of crime.

With multiple children in the audience, he laid into Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and recounted how a woman had recently been set aflame by a mentally ill man on public transit.

You saw all the crime that took place last night, the night before, the woman with the burning, they burned the woman  to be talking about that now, they burned this beautiful woman riding in a train, he said.

He added that it was horrible whats happening in Chicago and claimed his administration could make it a safe city in a period of four to 10 weeks if Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker would permit him to deploy National Guard troops there.

If you look at the crime thats taken place in Chicago, in the last two weeks, just take a look, its on the front page of every newspaper, its out ofc ontrol. The mayor is incompetent, and the governor is a big, fat slob, he said.

You ought to invite us in, say please make Chicago safe, he added.

open image in gallery Trump told the crowd, that included children, about a recent incident in Chicago where a woman was set on fire. ( AP )

open image in gallery The presidents meandering remarks were part of what has become an annual tradition at the White House dating back to the George HW Bush administration. ( AFP/Getty )

The presidents meandering remarks were part of what has become an annual tradition at the White House dating back to the George HW Bush administration.

Since 1947, presidents have been presented with an official Thanksgiving turkey in an official ceremony from the National Turkey Federation, and for the first four decades of that period the turkeys were almost always slaughtered and used for the traditional Thanksgiving meal.

That changed in 1989, when Bush assured attendees at the annual presentation that the fine tom turkey would not and up on anyones dinner table.

Not this guy, Bush said, referring to the bird in front of him. Hes presented a presidential pardon as of right now  and allow him to live out his days on a childrens farm not far from here.

Subsequent presidents have similarly granted mercy to a turkey  or pair of turkeys  from the National Turkey Federation each year.

Trumps pardons of Gobble and Waddle might be the least controversial act of clemency he has done since returning to office in January.

On the day he was sworn in for his second term, he pardoned thousands of rioters whod besieged the Capitol four years earlier in a vain attempt to prevent Congress from certifying his 2020 election loss to Biden.

In the ten months since, he has pardoned scores of well-connected and wealthy figures, many of whom have supported him and his campaigns politically and financially.

Earlier this month, he declined to rule out a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex offender and former girlfriend of deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, with whom he maintained a close friendship for many years.

While Trump has granted pardons to numerous campaign donors during his second term thus far, a review of Federal Election Commission records by The Independent did not show any donations to Trumps 2024 campaign or other political committees by either Gobble or Waddle.
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MAGA pundit Jack Posobiec has said he was surprised by President Donald Trumps unexpectedly cordial meeting with New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Friday.

Before their first in-person encounter, the pair had traded vicious barbs at a distance throughout the democratic socialists victorious run for City Hall, with Trump calling him a 100% Communist Lunatic and threatening to withdraw federal funding to his hometown if he won.

But, contrary to expectations, they seemed to get on famously in the Oval Office, with the president even reacting good-humoredly when a reporter asked Mamdani whether he still considered Trump a fascist, telling his guest to answer yes because it was easier than mounting an explanation.

open image in gallery New York Citys mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani shakes hands with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday November 21 ( AP )

Speaking to Newsmax host Rob Finnerty Monday evening, Posobiec claimed that he and other members of the MAGA media world had been briefed in advance that the White House intended to keep the sitdown friendly.

We were actually told beforehand that this White Houses strategy was to be welcoming and for it to be cordial, he told Finnerty. I wouldnt say I was necessarily expecting a full-on bromance.

Posobiec went on to argue that the approach may have been highly calculated from Trumps point of view, given that the president may not want to be drawn into Mamdanis ambitious plans to make the Big Apple more affordable by introducing policies like rent freezes and free city buses, in case they fail.

Look, theyre in a situation now where if and when these communist, race-based policies  which I asked Mamdani about  completely fail in New York, now they cant turn around and blame it on Trump, the commentator said.

Also reacting to the meeting with raised eyebrows was influential radio host Charlamagne Tha God, who said on Mondays episode of his syndicated show The Breakfast Club that the exchange should mark an end to extreme political name-calling.

I dont want to hear any politicians call each other fascists, authoritarians, wannabe dictators, communists, none of that kind of rhetoric anymore, he said.

Its all dead. Because if you call someone that, and then turn around and say, But Im willing to work with them, it looks hypocritical.

open image in gallery Radio host Charlamagne Tha God had mixed feelings about the president and mayor-elects newfound bond ( Getty )

The host also responded to Mamdanis subsequent appearance on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday, in which he claimed that he still believes Trump is a fascist.

"So, if Zohran truly believes Trump is a fascist, then working with him makes zero sense, but this is my issue, Charlamagne said. He doesnt fully believe Trump is a fascist, just like Trump doesnt fully believe Mamdani is a communist. Its all political theater.

You know who it hurts the most? Us! You done told your aunt and three of your cousins, F*** you, you [are] not invited to Thanksgiving this year because of who they supported politically. Meanwhile, the people we supported politically are willing to support each other.

If Zohran and Trump can be in the White House smiling at each other and excessively touching on each other, then you and your family can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner together. Okay?

Legendary New York filmmaker Spike Lee also weighed in on the twist, saying he found it puzzling that the two men had managed such a quick turnaround after so much previous animosity.

open image in gallery New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefaniks run to be the Empire States next governor could be complicated by Trumps new friendship with Mamdani ( Getty )

Whether the friendship will really blossom remains to be seen, but one person whose development complicates matters is New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik.

The MAGA congresswoman  who was nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations by Trump before being stood down to avoid jeopardizing the GOPs slim majority in the House of Representatives  is attempting to challenge Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul in what promises to be an uphill struggle in a deep blue state.

Stefanik has already attempted to argue that New York City will not be a safe place to live under Mamdani and has called him a jihadist, two claims that Trump walked away from on Friday.

I stand by my statement, Stefanik told News 12 in an interview Monday. He is a jihadist. This is an area where President Trump and I disagree. But what we all want to work toward is making New York more affordable and safe, and thats where I have a very strong record and working relationship with the administration.

But for Trump loyalist Laura Loomer, her campaign for governor is now dead in the water. Dems just need to run clips of the presser today to defeat Elise, she wrote on X after the Trump-Mamdani meeting.
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Tucker Carlson unloaded on the Republican party on a recent podcast, claiming the GOP had lost the Trump movements original America First message, the latest sign of the conservative commentators distance from the rest of the right amid backlash to his recent interview with Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes.

On the Republican Party, which is almost to the point where its just useless, and Im going to have to oppose it because I hate them too much, because theyre such betrayers, Carlson told podcaster Shawn Ryan in a Monday episode where he ranted about how the party had ceased solving quality-of-life issues.

Theyre corrupt, Carlson continued of the GOP donor and political class. They dont care that much or enough or at all about you. And they have an obligation to. So thats the debate underway.

In the interview, Carlson revisited the recent controversy over his Fuentes interview and claimed the white nationalist was mostly making an economic argument to his followers, not an identity one, comparing the commentator to Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who recently won the New York City mayoral race by focusing on affordability issues.

Thats the actual Fuentes message. Im not an expert on Fuentes, OK, I interviewed him, Carlson said. But from what I could tell, he is angry because he feels that the conservative establishment, [podcaster] Ben Shapiro, all the way up to some idiot Republican senator, all of them are telling the same lie.

open image in gallery Tucker Carlson railed against the Republican Party for abandoning the America First spirit of the original Trump campaign during a recent episode of the Shawn Ryan Show. ( REUTERS )

Carlson has faced continued backlash for his Fuentes interview, which has caused division inside prominent right-wing think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation and prompted criticism from fellow commentators including Ben Shapiro, though Trump has defended Carlson.

Despite Carlsons framing of the interview with Fuentes as having an economic message, Fuentes in fact reiterated many of his core white and Christian nationalist views, complaining about organized Jewry and the importance of being pro-white.

The Carlson controversy is just one of multiple ongoing rifts in the larger Republican Party.

Separately, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced last week she will resign from Congress, following the former staunch Trump allys public falling out with the president over releasing the Epstein files and doing more to lower healthcare costs.

Greene reportedly isnt the only Republican who wants to leave Congress.

open image in gallery Carlsons recent interview with Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes has prompted a schism within parts of the conservative movement ( The Tucker Carlson Show/YouTube )

More explosive early resignations are coming, an unnamed senior House Republican told Punchbowl News. Its a tinder box. Morale has never been lower.

This entire White House team has treated ALL members like garbage, the lawmaker added. And [House Speaker] Mike Johnson has let it happen because he wanted it to happen. That is the sentiment of nearly all  appropriators, authorizers, hawks, doves, rank and file.
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Tucker Carlson referred to President Donald Trump as a total piece of s*** in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, newly-released documents have revealed.

The detail was included in filings made by the voting machine manufacturer Smartmatic as part of its lawsuit against Fox News, Carlsons former employer, from whom it is seeking $2.7 billion in damages over its coverage of the company in the explosive fallout of Joe Bidens victory over Trump.

Fox previously settled a similar lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million in April 2023, with Carlson leaving the right-wing network several months later, having been one of its most popular primetime anchors.

open image in gallery Tucker Carlson speaks alongside then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at a Turning Point Action campaign rally in Duluth, Georgia, on October 23, 2024 ( Getty )

Responding to the release of the documents Sunday, which include messages sent by other leading company figures like Rupert Murdoch, Sean Hannity and Maria Bartiromo, Fox said in a statement: The evidence shows that Smartmatics business and reputation were badly suffering long before any claims by President Trumps lawyers on Fox News and that Smartmatic grossly inflated its damage claims to generate headlines and chill free speech.

Now, in the aftermath of Smartmatic being criminally charged with bribery in the Philippines and the governments motion to include evidence of Smartmatics business dealings in Venezuela and Los Angeles County, we are eager and ready to continue defending our press freedoms.

Smartmatic told The Independent that the latest developments in the case represent an important victory for Smartmatic as we progress in our efforts to hold Fox accountable for its lies. The court made clear that Foxs attempts to delay accountability wont work, and its day of reckoning is coming.

By keeping the litigation on track, the ruling ensures the focus remains on Fox knowingly lying to its viewers without care for the damage and destruction those lies would cause. We look forward to presenting the full truth at trial.

Among the new tranche of filings is an exchange involving Carlson, first reported by The Guardian, dating from November 9, 2020, in which an unidentified individual tells him that, in their opinion, Trump ought to concede defeat and abandon his false claims that the election was stolen in a vast, nationwide conspiracy orchestrated by Democrats.

Oh, Im fully aware, Carlson is recorded as replying, referring to the Republican president as a total piece of s*** and adding: We cant control him obviously. Got to do the responsible thing regardless of how he behaves.

In another exchange, Hannity is reportedly found complaining about Carlson for criticizing Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, who famously styled herself The Kraken, over her claims that the vote was hacked.

open image in gallery Fox News anchor Sean Hannity was reportedly unhappy with Carlson criticizing Trump lawyer Sidney Powells unproven claims about the 2020 election ( Getty )

His problem, Hannity is said to have written, likening his colleague to disgraced former star anchor Bill OReilly, known for his independent streak. Classic oreilly move. May be too clever by half. Trump people are p***ed.

According to Mediaite, the documents further reveal that ex-Trump strategist Steve Bannon urged Bartiromo to run for the Senate in her native New York and that the late Fox host Lou Dobbs complained that Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, now out of favor with Trump and resigning from Congress, had been blackballed by the network.

Dominions earlier lawsuit against Fox yielded several similar insider details, including finding Carlson referring to Trump as a demonic force within national politics.

Hes the undisputed world champion of that, Carlson texted his Fox producers, according to documents filed in the case. He could easily destroy us if we play it wrong, he added, calling the then-outgoing president a demonic force, a destroyer.

Carlson nevertheless spoke at several Trump rallies at the tail-end of his triumphant 2024 presidential election campaign and was recently defended by the president over the uproar that followed his interview with white supremacist Nick Fuentes.
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Wednesday marks the busiest travel day of the Thanksgiving week, with millions taking to the skies and slick roadways to visit loved ones over the holiday.

But severe weather is already impacting plans, with blizzard conditions hitting the Midwest and Great Lakes states and storms in the Intermountain West making car travel hazardous. More than 1,000 flights were already delayed or canceled across the nation on Wednesday because of weather systems moving across the country.

Around 82 million people are on the move, with the busiest travel days expected today and on Sunday and Monday after the holiday.

At least 73 million  or nearly 90 percent of Thanksgiving travelers  are set to make their journeys by road, as six million take to the skies, according to AAA. This holiday travel period is slated to be the busiest in nearly 15 years, the Federal Aviation Administration warned.

That number could end up being higher if some air travelers decide to drive instead of fly following recent flight cancellations, the non-profit cautioned.

But there are some weather impacts across the nation that could hinder travel or make treks longer. Here is a look at what is happening in regions across the nation:

open image in gallery Travelers pass through Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport Wednesday. This Thanksgiving is expected to be the busiest for flying in nearly 15 years. ( Getty Images )

The South

After thunderstorms resulted in fallen trees and damaged homes in Texas and Alabama, the severe weather threat in the region has largely shifted away. That doesnt mean the rain is completely gone.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service said lingering storms over southern Texas were expected to gradually taper off due to an approaching cold front.

Rain was anticipated to fall in Laredo and other areas of Texas close to the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday morning. Additional precipitation lingered over southern Georgia between Valdosta and Douglas.

open image in gallery Travelers stand in line for departure at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Wednesday morning in Atlanta. Conditions there are dry for now, but expected to get colder over the next few days ( AP )

The Midwest and Great Lakes

Nearly 90,000 American customers were left without power early Wednesday, with the majority in Wisconsin and Michigan, according to outage tracker PowerOutage.US.

Forecasters in Minnesota said that a weather system had the potential to dump up to nine inches of snow through later today.

In life, it's said, timing is everything. And with an army of Minnesotans hitting the road for the Thanksgiving holiday, the approach of a fairly significant winter storm system is poor timing indeed, KARE 11 said.

Officials at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport urged travelers to arrive earlier than normal due to the expected crowds, according to KSTP.

open image in gallery A plow removes snow outside Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on Wednesday. Snow is dumping across the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. ( Getty Images )

The Metropolitan Airports Commission expects to screen 441,000 people through security checkpoints between Thursday and December 1, according to CBS News, with the busiest days between today and Sunday.

Lower Michigan is set to see lake-effect snow on Thanksgiving, with up to a foot or more blowing between today and the morning.

Winter storm watches are in effect, and winds may gust up to 45 miles per hour, making travel dangerous.

Snow will begin accumulating this afternoon through Friday morning. Travel conditions will deteriorate this afternoon and remain difficult into Thursday. Winds today of 40-60 mph may cause scattered power outages. Allow extra travel time if on the road this evening or Thursday! forecasters in Grand Rapids pleaded.

As much as six inches of snow could fall in North Dakota. If youre planning on traveling Tuesday, be prepared for snow-covered roads and rapidly changing visibility due to falling and blowing snow, Bismarck forecasters said.

open image in gallery A map from the National Weather Service shows areas of the U.S. affected by rain, in green, and snow, in white, on Wednesday. Purple indicates where there will be mixed precipitation ( NWS )

North Dakota forecasters warned that more snow would fall over the weekend after 4.7 inches of powder dumped in the state on Tuesday.

Another round of accumulating snowfall is expected Friday through early Saturday, with low to medium chances for snow totals to exceed two inches across much of western and central North Dakota, the Bismarck National Weather Service Office wrote on social media. If youre traveling, make sure to stay updated on the forecast!

In Chicago, forecasters advised travelers about blowing snow and strong wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour. More than 535 flights were already delayed at OHare airport by the late afternoon, according to the tracker FlightAware.

Wind-whipped snow showers and flurries will accompany the winds, resulting in brief poor visibility, the National Weather Services Chicago Office wrote.

open image in gallery Holiday travelers gather at Chicagos O'Hare International Airport on Wednesday in Illinois. Hundreds of flights were delayed at the Midwest travel hub ( AP )

The East

Rain was moving over Boston and the New England area Wednesday morning. Some scattered thunderstorms were also anticipated up and down the East Coast, with the arrival of a cold front.

The National Weather Service warned of possible thunderstorms over Charlotte, North Carolina.

The cold front will bring periods of rain and gusty winds to the Northeast, which could cause some delays at major airport hubs in Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., and New York City while some rain will linger across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic, FOX Weather said.

AccuWeather forecasters said winds in New York City could reach up to 30mph, potentially affecting the annual Macys Thanksgiving Day Parades main attraction: massive balloons that can span up to 100ft tall. The balloons dont fly with sustained winds up to 23mph and gusts up to 35mph.

Low temperatures in Florida will approach freezing late Thursday and into the weekend, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

open image in gallery Parade participants are seen with the SpongeBob SquarePants and Gary Balloon during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2024. This year, forecasters warned that strong winds could potentially impact whether the balloons are allowed to fly ( Getty Images )

The West

Lighter snowfall will wind down over Wyoming and Montana, with winter weather advisories issued across the states.

Farther west, a second system is anticipated to drench the Pacific Northwest, possibly leading to flooding in Washington state and Oregon.

"A flow of moisture from the Pacific will lead to periods of rain and travel delays along the I-5 corridor in Oregon and Washington through Thanksgiving, said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bill Deger.

"This second storm won't officially be an atmospheric river, but it will cause some travel problems."
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Senior New Zealand security officials were forced to surrender and destroy inoperable pistols gifted to them by Kash Patel, a high-ranking Trump administration official, after it emerged the items were illegal to possess under the countrys strict firearms laws.

The gifts, described as revolvers inspired by toy Nerf guns and popular among amateur 3D-printed weapons hobbyists, were presented by Mr Patel, then FBI Director, to New Zealands police and spy chiefs, as well as two cabinet ministers, in July.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press identify the model as the Maverick PG22, a working revolver modelled on the brightly coloured toy.

New Zealand law tightly restricts pistols, requiring a specific permit beyond a standard gun licence.

Without such permits, the officials could not legally retain the gifts. Following their surrender, internal police communications confirmed the items met the legal definition of firearms, with 3D-printed weapons treated identically to conventional guns in New Zealand.

Mr Patel, the most senior Trump administration official to visit New Zealand, was in Wellington to inaugurate the FBIs first dedicated office in the country. A spokesperson for Mr Patel has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.

Expert said guns could easily be operable

open image in gallery Mr Patel, the most senior Trump administration official to visit New Zealand, was in Wellington to inaugurate the FBIs first dedicated office in the country ( Getty Images )

In New Zealand, inoperable weapons are treated as functional if they could be made operable with modifications. In August, days after Patels visit, police armory team leader Daniel Millar emailed his bosses to outline how simple it would be to make the guns operable.

These processes are very straight forward processes and require minimal skills and common handyperson tools, Millar wrote. He added that these tools were a battery drill and a drill bit for the holes and a small screw for the firing pin.

New Zealands police union said in February that the Maverick PG22 was among the most common 3D-printed guns seized by officers. Millar wrote that his team requested to keep one of the revolvers for testing, but the police commissioner denied the request and the guns were destroyed on 25 September.

The first risk is that it can be made viable and it gets into the hands of the wrong person and its used for a crime, said professor Alexander Gillespie, a lecturer on firearms regulation at New Zealands University of Waikato.

The second risk is it just explodes because its not actually safe. Theres a reason these have been made in peoples backyards instead of coming from an armory.

Online instructions for making the Maverick PG22 say it does not feature proper modern safeties and should be used in a controlled environment. Its unclear who manufactured Patels guns, which Millar wrote had been manufactured to a high standard.

5 officials received the guns

open image in gallery FBI Director Kash Patel presented senior New Zealand security officials with gifts of inoperable replica pistols during a visit earlier this year ( U.S. Embassy in Wellington )

Three top New Zealand law enforcement officials said they received the gifts on 31 July. Chambers was one recipient, and the other two were Andrew Hampton, director-general of the countrys human intelligence agency NZSIS, and Andrew Clark, director-general of the technical intelligence agency GCSB.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Judith Collins, who oversees the military and spy agencies, also received revolvers in meetings with Patel. All five officials voluntarily surrendered the guns.

The New Zealand Police refused the APs public records request for photos of the guns, on the grounds that releasing the requested images would be likely to prejudice New Zealands relations with the United States of America.

Photos and instructions for making the Maverick PG22 are available online. The police didnt explain why releasing images of an American official's gifts to his New Zealand counterparts could harm the relationship.

New Zealand has strong gun controls

open image in gallery New Zealand bolstered its gun restrictions following a 2019 white supremacist attack on two mosques in the city of Christchurch, when 51 Muslim worshipers were shot dead by an Australian man who had amassed a cache of semiautomatic weapons legally ( Associated Press )

New Zealand bolstered its gun restrictions following a 2019 white supremacist attack on two mosques in the city of Christchurch. An Australian man, who had amassed a cache of semiautomatic weapons legally, shot dead 51 Muslim worshippers during Friday prayers.

The guns Patel gifted to the law enforcement chiefs were not semiautomatic models now prohibited after the Christchurch massacre. But there are many other reasons New Zealanders arent legally allowed to possess certain weapons, including the specific pistol permits.

New Zealand doesnt have a passionate culture of gun ownership and the weapons have been viewed more dimly since the mass shooting. Gun ownership is enshrined in New Zealand law as a privilege, not a right.

The country isnt short on guns and theyre common in rural areas for pest control. But violent gun crime is rare and many urban residents might never have even seen a firearm in person.

Its uncommon even to see police officers carrying weapons. Front-line officers arent usually armed on patrol and leave their weapons locked in their vehicles.
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Australian gig workers could earn better pay and improved working conditions after the nations two biggest food delivery services struck a landmark deal with a leading labour union.

A joint submission filed with the Fair Work Commission on Tuesday by DoorDash, Uber Eats and the Transport Workers Union lays out enforceable conditions for delivery riders and drivers, including a baseline hourly rate, new dispute resolution processes, clearer job information, and mandatory accident insurance.

The deal, if approved, would be a milestone. It would cover not just Uber Eats and DoorDash couriers, but extend across the entire food delivery industry, including platforms like Hungry Panda. It could also pave the way for similar standards in other gig economy sectors, from rideshare drivers to carers hired through online platforms.

The proposal lands at a pivotal moment: rival platform Menulog closes its Australian operations on 26 November, redirecting customers and eateries to new owner Uber Eats and consolidating a market already dominated by the two US giants.

Under the draft framework, gig couriers would earn at least A$31.30 ($20.19) an hour, in line with the Australian minimum casual wage. This represents roughly a 25 per cent boost for many riders who are currently paid by the job rather than the hour.

open image in gallery File. Proposed deal will cover not just Uber Eats and DoorDash but other food delivery services like Hungry Panda ( Jon Super/PA Wire )

The standards would also guarantee access to work records, improve engagement processes and mandate accident insurance, a crucial safeguard in a sector that has seen at least 18 delivery workers die since 2017.

For too long gig workers fell through the cracks, employment minister Amanda Rishworth said in a statement.

We didnt think it was fair that these workers missed out on minimum standards and had to rely on tips to survive. Thats not the Australian way.

Michael Kaine, national secretary of the Transport Workers Union, told a press conference that the draft framework was a world-first set of conditions for gig workers performing this work and it will result in life-transforming wage increases.

Gig workers have campaigned for years for a better industry and, for the first time in the world, there could be a minimum floor that represents a life-changing increase to their pay, he said.

After constructive discussions with Uber Eats and DoorDash, this is a significant step towards a fairer gig economy, he added.

Until this point in time, and even as we speak today, there are swathes of workers in the gig economy that are being paid below the minimum national wage.

Worker advocates say higher, guaranteed pay could reduce the pressure on riders to take risks in traffic or work through exhaustion.

Canberra courier Utsav Bhattarai told Tuesdays press conference that many workers pushed themselves into unsafe conditions just to pay the bills. Just one more order, one more hour, just need to keep going, that is the condition that these drivers were living under, he said, according to Reuters.

The change that were seeing now, it is massive.

open image in gallery File. A food delivery rider waits for the traffic light to change ( AP )

The companies behind the proposal insist the changes wont raise customer prices dramatically. With Menulogs market exit opening room for growth, Uber Eats and DoorDash are betting that fairer standards can coexist with competitive delivery fees.

Delivery workers keep Australia moving, helping busy households and supporting small businesses, Simon Rossi, vice president of DoorDash in the Asia Pacific, said. This proposal shows that we can work together to lift standards and still enable the flexibility people rely on, under the governments new laws.

Melbourne delivery rider Eric Ireland welcomed the proposed changes. It is going to make a huge difference, he told the ABC. Especially for the down times when youve got to the restaurant and youre waiting for the order. It will make it more relaxing and less frustrating.

Ed Kitchen, managing director of Uber Eats for Australia and New Zealand, described the arrangement as a modernisation of on-demand work. The agreement, he said, was a meaningful step towards building modern laws for modern forms of work and gave delivery workers protection, security and flexibility.

We believe fair standards and flexibility should not be mutually exclusive, he said.

If the Fair Work Commission endorses the new deal, it will go into effect next July.
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Europe is taking baby steps towards walking away from America and ending the Russian threat against its democracies. Tuesdays meeting of the coalition of the willing, joined by Natos Mark Rutte, is further evidence of that. But the time has come to take giant leaps for mankind.

The first move is immediate Nato membership for Ukraine, for Georgia and for Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The idea would probably be vetoed immediately by the US, along with Hungary and Slovakia, which are run by pro-Putin autocrats.

But a non-Nato, Nato-style alliance of the West would be a powerful entity that would give Putin pause for thought if it acted together and with the sort of confidence the Kremlin has shown on the world stage.

From Vladimir Putin down, Russians believe in their deepest core that the West is their enemy.

His followers, and his useful-idiot supporters in the West, further believe that Nato has advanced into the east of Europe, once dominated by the Soviet Union, by underhand means  on its march towards Moscow.

open image in gallery From left: Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz during the G20 summit in South Africa on Saturday ( PA )

That is rubbish of course. Former Eastern bloc nations emerged from Soviet vassalage as democratic countries and freely joined a military alliance to prevent Russia invading them again.

But Russians dont believe that. So it doesnt matter if Nato proves their point by bringing the frontline states with the Russian federation under its umbrella. Ukrainian officials meeting US counterparts in Abu Dhabi are desperate to ensure lasting security guarantees.

Doing so will also tip the balance away from an entirely Russian perspective on how to end the war towards what Ukraine and its European allies want.

Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is a bare-faced attempt to strip the nation of its sovereignty. It has nothing to do with protecting Russian speaking people there  we know this because most of the civilian deaths and almost all of the destruction has been committed by Russia against Russian-speaking people in Ukraines east.

America under Trump has shown a heavy pro-Russian bias and has also torn up the multilateralism that has helped underpin the US role as the leading nation of the free world.

But that role is fast diminishing. Lately, the G19 meeting in Johannesburg  which would have been the G20 if the US had bothered to turn up  issued a communique that boosted renewable energy, equitable mineral deals and debt relief for developing countries which Trump absolutely hates.

Meanwhile at Cop30, though weakened by Trumps boycott of all such events, the UK, Europe and many others managed to agree to stick to addressing global efforts to meet the dangers of climate change.

open image in gallery US secretary of state Marco Rubio, right, and Ukraines chief of staff Andriy Yermak, hold a press conference following their talks on Sunday ( AFP via Getty )

And while the US wants to see Russia return to the G8 as a result of a peace deal in Ukraine, others are not keen. At the moment, I cannot see that among the six members of todays G7 who are not America, there is a willingness to readmit Russia to this group, Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor said.

Europe, Ukraine, Canada and other genuine allies of Kyiv are massaging and bending a weird peace proposal that may have been written in the US, but shows every sign of being a Kremlin document. They talk, as Sir Keir Starmer has, of the proposal needing more work.

Meanwhile a European proposal for a ceasefire, not a final peace agreement, has been circulated.

Theres no money in it for the Trump administration or his US friends, it guarantees future talks on the basis of where the front lines now are, and above all guarantees the future security of Ukraine.

The Russians tersely dismissed the plan as completely unconstructive, but Trump insisted the signs are hopeful. Its not clear whether the 47th president was even aware of the Russian-American 28-point plan conceived by his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, his chief envoy.

So it is not clear if hes behind the emerging European and Ukrainian ideas either.

Outside America, there is need and an intent to make sure Russia doesnt leave its Ukraine adventures with any sense of a win. Trump has signalled that as Russia has fought hard it should keep what it has stolen so far.

But there is a powerful alternative.

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky attends a joint press conference with Turkeys president in Ankara on 19 November ( AFP/Getty )

The combined size of the economies of Nato nations  minus the US, Hungary and Slovakia  is over four times that of the Russian Federation. It spends 3.5 to 4 per cent more on defence than the Kremlin.

This bloc could muster about 3.2 million troops vs Russias 1.5 million.

This is a massive amount of power for an alliance to wield and far beyond anything that Russia could resist.

Finland has joined Nato to stop Russia doing a Ukraine, or Georgia, on it. Having both of those nations inside a Nato tent, or one that is very similar and has mutual defence sown into it, is a means by which the West can bolster its security without an immediate need for massive new spending.

Georgia and Ukraine have Russian forces occupying chunks of their territory. The Kremlin would think twice about moving forwards if they risked attack by the aircraft and long range missiles of the biggest, richest, and best equipped military and economic bloc on the planet.

As Europe gets its ceasefire proposal off the ground, it needs a threat that will shake Putin. A Nato-style defence pact would do that. Better still if it were quickly agreed it would put the Kremlin on the back foot.

Of course Russia can, does, and will threaten to use nuclear weapons. Let it.

Wherever they stand, neither China nor the US would be prepared to see the Kremlin use even battlefield nuclear weapons. Moscow would risk annihilation.

Europe and its allies dont need America to see off the threat from Moscow. It has the troops, the money and the military  it just needs to show it has courage, and conviction, to step into history.
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A farmer in northwestern Greece was confronted with a shocking sight: three of his sheep mauled to death, their demise unequivocally attributed to a bear. The grim discovery underscores the increasingly frequent presence of these once-rare predators in the region.

Anastasios Kasparidis found large paw prints confirming the attack. It was a bear, a very big one, and they come often now. I wasnt the only one; it struck elsewhere, too, he recounted, noting another farmer had lost chickens and pigs.

To protect his remaining livestock, Mr Kasparidis moved his small flock into a sheep pen near his house. Because in the end I wouldnt have any sheep, he explained. The bears would eat them all.

Environmentalists have welcomed the rebound of bear and wolf populations in Greece thanks to the protected species designation that banned them from being hunted. But some farmers and residents of rural areas say they now fear for their livelihoods and, in some cases, their safety. They are calling for greater protection in a phenomenon playing out elsewhere in Europe, with some arguing conservation has gone too far and pushing to roll back restrictions.

Bears, wolves and boars

Brown bears, Greeces largest predator, have made a remarkable comeback. Their numbers have increased roughly fourfold since the 1990s, said Dimitrios Bakaloudis, a professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki who specialises in wildlife management and conservation.

open image in gallery A brown bear peers through the trees inside the Arcturos bear sanctuary in Nymfaio, northern Greece ( AP )

Up to an estimated 870 brown bears roam the forests of northern Greece, according to the most recent survey by Arcturos, an environmental organisation set up in 1992 that provides a sanctuary for rescued bears and wolves.

And its not just bears. Wolves also have seen their numbers rise. While wolves could only be found as far south as central Greece in 2010, they have now spread to the outskirts of Athens and into the Peloponnese in southern Greece, Bakaloudis said.

Their recovery has been sustained in part by the also increasing population of wild boars, which is unrelated to conservation efforts. Rather, a combination of a number of factors, including a reduction of hunting, milder winters and cross-breeding with domestic pigs, have led them to reproduce at a faster rate, Professor Bakaloudis explained.

Viewed by many as pests that destroy crops, the sight of a dozen or more boars trotting along sidewalks or snuffling through backyards is no longer uncommon in many parts of Greece.

open image in gallery Visitors sit on the stairs inside the Arcturos bear sanctuary in Nymfaio ( AP )

The larger number of wild animals has also resulted in more contact with humans  the vast majority of whom are unfamiliar with how to behave during an encounter. Lack of familiarity has led to fear in some communities, particularly following a small number of serious incidents this year: a child bitten by a wolf, an elderly man injured by a bear in his yard, a hiker bitten by a bear and another hiker who died after falling into a ravine during a bear encounter.

In Levea, a village of about 660 people surrounded by fields in northwestern Greece, several bear encounters were reported in October, while boars frequently roam through the village, said community president Tzefi Papadopoulou. The bears especially frightened residents.

As soon as they heard a dog bark, they were ready to go out with the gun, she said.

open image in gallery Farmer Anastasios Kasparidis stands outside his sheep pen with his three dogs in Levea village, days after a bear attack killed three of his sheep ( AP )

Its similar in the nearby village of Valtonera, 170km west of Greeces second largest city, Thessaloniki.

The village used to be without wild animals. In the past, a wolf would appear once in a while, said Konstantinos Nikolaidis, community president. Now, wild boars, foxes, bears or wolves roam around or even inside the village, he noted.

This has caused concern among all residents. Its now difficult for a person to walk around outside at night, he said.

The burgeoning wild boar population, meanwhile, has led to calls for the hunting season to be extended.

Giorgos Panagiotidis, deputy mayor of the nearby small town of Amyntaio, said boars had been increasingly encroaching on houses. In May, he asked authorities to allow hunters to shoot boars out of season to tackle the problem.

Its an issue that isnt unique to Greece. In a victory of farmers over environmentalists, European Union lawmakers voted in May to reduce protections for wolves across the EUs 27 member states. The movement even gained support from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, whose pony Dolly was killed by a wolf three years ago.

Experts note it isnt just the larger number of wild animals that has led to encroachment on urban areas. Many factors are at play, they say, from loss of habitat due to wildfires to noise disturbances from wind turbines and recreational vehicles, and animals emboldened by dwindling human populations in villages.

There is of course fragmentation of the bears habitat, frequently there is drought, theres a lack of food in the natural environment, theres a desertification of villages, which makes inhabited areas more attractive to bears, so they approach and find food, said Panos Stefanou, communications officer at Arcturos.

Measures to keep wolves and bears at bay have been developed and approved by scientists, said Professor Bakaloudis, including using lights around property, proper disposal of trash and dead livestock and avoiding feeding strays.

In exceptional circumstances, more invasive methods are used, he said, such as in the case of the wolf attack on the child in northern Greece, where authorities decided to capture and remove the animal.

With so many factors contributing to increasing encounters between wild animals and humans, Mr Stefanou cautioned against overly simplistic solutions.

Killing the animals is not what will solve the problem, he said.
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A Northern Irish council has become the first in the United Kingdom to initiate proceedings to rename a street bearing the name of Prince Andrew, following King Charless decision to remove his brother from public life.

The move comes after the monarch last month stripped his younger brother of his title of prince and evicted him from his mansion, aiming to safeguard the royal familys reputation amid Andrews connections to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Mid and East Antrim council in Northern Ireland unanimously agreed at a meeting to pursue changing the name of Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus. The decision also includes a consultation with local residents on a new designation for the street.

Councillor Anna Henry of the Traditional Unionist Voice party stated, "This is a sad but necessary motion.

Regrettably the alleged actions of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have made it impossible for this council to continue honouring him in the manner the good people of Mid and East Antrim have done in the past."

Alliance Party councillor Lauren Gray proposed renaming the street in tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth.

open image in gallery Mid and East Antrim Council has agreed to begin the process of renaming a street originally dedicated to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor ( Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire )

Council staff will now commence the administrative process, engaging with statutory bodies such as the postal service and the royal household.

They will also assess whether the council can cover potential costs for the 10 addresses situated on the street.

Andrew, 65, the younger brother of Charles and second son of Elizabeth, has faced increasing scrutiny over his conduct and ties to Jeffrey Epstein, leading to him being forced to stop using his Duke of York title last month.

open image in gallery Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor ( PA Archive )

The entry, published on Wednesday, read: "THE KING has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 3 November 2025 to declare that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor shall no longer be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of 'Royal Highness' and the titular dignity of 'Prince'."
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An Italian courts order to remove three children from their British-Australian parents because they were being raised in the woods has sparked public outrage, and backlash from the government.

A juvenile court in the central city of L'Aquila ruled last week that the off-the-grid lifestyle of the couple put their children's well-being at risk.

Nathan Trevallion, 51, and his Australian wife, Catherine Birmingham, 41, were raising their children in a farmhouse in the mountainous Abruzzo region which they bought in 2021.

The family said they were enjoying an idyllic life in the forest with horses, donkeys and chickens.

The court observed that the eight-year-old daughter and six-year-old twin boys were being raised without electricity, gas or running water, with the family relying instead on solar power, well water and homegrown food.

The children were homeschooled and had little or no opportunity to mix with other youngsters.

The members of the Trevallion family have no social interactions, no steady income, there are no sanitary facilities in the dwelling, and the children do not attend school, the juvenile court said in its ruling.

The family unit lives in housing hardship as the building has not been declared habitable.

The familys lawyer, Giovanni Angelucci, told CNN that they were heating the home with fireplaces and lighting it with solar power.

The couple had removed running water to avoid microplastics and reduce costs and were instead taking fresh water from a well.

There was no indoor toilet, he said, so the family used an outdoor composting toilet.

Mr Trevallions situation came to the attention of the police last year when the whole family was hospitalised after they ate poisonous mushrooms foraged from the forest.

Ms Birmingham was allowed to accompany the children to their new accommodation after their lawyer convinced social workers that her presence was needed to limit the trauma of separation.

It was the worst night of my life, Mr Trevallion, a former chef, told local newspaper Il Centro.

Taking children away from a parent is the greatest pain there is. It's an injustice.

We live outside of the system, he later told La Repubblica. This is what they are accusing us of. They are ruining the life of a happy family.

They are happy, smell good, well-mannered, and well-fed, he said of his children. Why break this bond?"

The case has sparked intense debate in Italy over alternative lifestyles and more than 143,000 people have signed an online petition backing the family.

Prime minister Giorgia Meloni was reportedly alarmed by the decision while deputy premier Matteo Salvini condemned it.

Its shameful that the state interferes in private education and personal life choices, and steals children from a family who found Italy to be a welcoming country," he told Radio24, adding that he would seek to intervene on behalf of the family.

The conservative Pro Vita and Famiglia group also accused the court of overstepping its jurisdiction.

The state and social services must intervene only in the presence of proven abuse, mistreatment or neglect, not to punish lifestyles that dont fall within the dominant standard," group spokesperson Jacopo Coghe said.
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Four more people have been arrested by French police as part of the investigation into the Louvre jewel heist last month, according to the Paris prosecutor's office.

A spokesperson said the suspects are two men aged 38 and 39 and two women aged 31 and 40.

Four other people were already arrested and placed under formal investigation on 29 October and 1 November, the statement added.

The loot, valued at around $102 million, hasnt been recovered. It includes a diamond-and-emerald necklace Napoleon gave to Empress Marie-Louise, jewels tied to 19th-century Queens Marie-Amelie and Hortense, and Empress Eugenies pearl-and-diamond tiara.

The daylight robbery raised doubts over the credibility of the world's most-visited museum as a guardian for its myriad works and exposed flaws within its security.

Laurence des Cars, director of Le Louvre Museum, confirmed they are set to implement significant security upgrades, including approximately 100 new surveillance cameras that will be operational by the end of next year.

The loot stolen from Louvre Museum, valued at around $102 million, hasnt been recovered ( Associated Press )

Anti-intrusion systems, designed to deter individuals from approaching the museum buildings, are slated for installation within the next two weeks, though specific details remain undisclosed.

Ms des Cars stated the new cameras aim to ensure "complete protection of the museums surroundings."

"After the shock, after the emotion, after the assessment, it's time for action at the world's most visited museum, des Cars told the Committee of Cultural Affairs of the National Assembly.

She said it was all part of more than 20 emergency measures that will be implemented. The new measures also include the creation of a security coordinator position at the museum, and the job has been posted this month, she added.

On the day of the heist, it took thieves less than 8 minutes to force their way through a window into the Apollo Gallery with the help of a freight lift. Power tools used by robbers to cut through the display cases were disc cutters meant for concrete.
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Pope Leo will embark on his first trip outside Italy on Thursday, travelling to Turkey and Lebanon.

He is expected to make appeals for peace in the region and urge unity among long-divided Christian churches.

Leo, the first U.S. pope, will give his first speeches to foreign governments and visit some sensitive cultural sites as part of a crowded itinerary during the November 27 to December 2 trip.

His predecessor Pope Francis had planned to visit both countries but was unable to because of his worsening health. Francis died on April 21 and Leo, originally from Chicago, was elected pope on May 8 by the world's cardinals.

open image in gallery Pope Leo XIV delivers his speech at the Pontifical Lateran University on the occasion of the opening of the academic year, in Rome ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

"A pope's first foreign trip is an opportunity to capture and hold the world's attention," said John Thavis, a retired Vatican correspondent who covered three papacies.

"What's at stake for Pope Leo is his ability to connect with a wider audience, in a region where war and peace, humanitarian needs and interfaith dialogue are crucial issues," said Thavis.

Here is a history of papal foreign visits, which have become a major part of the agenda for the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

POPE PAUL VI (1963 to 1978)

Pope Paul VI was the first leader of the Church to leave Italy in 150 years.

He made nine foreign visits, with the first a trip to Israel and Jordan in 1964. He travelled to the U.N. headquarters in New York in 1965, where he addressed the General Assembly in French, pleading: "No more war, never again war!"

POPE JOHN PAUL II (1978 to 2005)

Pope John Paul II, whose pontificate spanned nearly 27 years, made 104 foreign visits, logging well over one million km (600,000 miles) and visiting 129 countries.

Elected pope at age 58, he was known for energetic, non-stop itineraries and for emphasizing international diplomacy. On a trip to Asia in 1984, he made a stopover in Alaska, where U.S. President Ronald Reagan travelled to welcome him and discuss world issues.

POPE BENEDICT XVI (2005 to 2013)

Pope Benedict XVI, from Germany, made 25 foreign visits, largely to European countries.

On a trip to Germany in 2006 he caused widespread anger among Muslims by suggesting Islam was violent, quoting a passage by a 14th-century Byzantine emperor. Later that year, he made a trip to Turkey to foster reconciliation between Christians and Muslims. Benedict's last visit was to Lebanon, in September 2012.

POPE FRANCIS (2013 to 2025)

Pope Francis made 47 foreign visits to 66 countries, often choosing places with non-Catholic populations to highlight people and problems in what he called the "peripheries" of the world.

open image in gallery Pope Francis (C) arrives with then Uganda president Yoweri Museveni and his wife Janet at the presidential palace in Kampala Uganda during his landmark trip to Africa ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

He was the first pope to visit Mongolia, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Iraq, among others. A visit to the Philippines in 2015 included the largest papal event to date, with crowds estimated as high as seven million for a Mass in Manila.

POPE LEO XIV (Elected in 2025)

Pope Leo, 70 and in good health, is widely expected to undertake many foreign visits.

A trip to Peru, where he served as a missionary for decades, is all but certain during 2026. Leo said he would also like to visit Portugal, Mexico, Uruguay and Argentina, in comments on November 18.
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Every evening, upon returning to her Beirut apartment from work, Mireille Khoury performs a solemn ritual. She lights a candle beside a portrait of her deceased son, Elias, amidst sacred images of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.

Elias was only 15 when he died in the August 2020 explosion at the Beirut port that blasted through surrounding neighborhoods in the Lebanese capital.

Since then Khoury has been among the families who have convened monthly protests calling for justice for the 218 people killed when hundreds of tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate detonated.

Their numbers have dwindled as the investigation has stalled and hopes of accountability have faded. But the upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon has rekindled a glimmer of hope for Khoury and many others in the small, crisis-battered country.

We need a lot of prayers, and we need a miracle for this country to continue, said Khoury, who is set to join the pontiff in a silent prayer at the site of the port explosion on the last day of his visit to Lebanon.

open image in gallery Mireille Khoury lights a candle next to a portrait of her late son, Elias, who was killed in the 2020 Beirut port explosion, at her home in Beirut, Lebanon ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The visit set to begin on Sunday comes as part of Pope Leo's first official foreign trip and as the fulfillment of a promise made by his predecessor, Pope Francis, to visit Lebanon, a Muslim-majority country where about a third of the population is Christian. Leo will also visit Turkey.

The fourth visit of a pope to Lebanon, it sends a powerful message of support at a time when regional instability and deepening internal crises have left the country in a precarious situation.

Since 2019, Lebanon has been battered by political unrest, the collapse of its currency and banking system, the port explosion and, most recently, a war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. The war decimated large swaths of southern and eastern Lebanon, leaving more than 4,000 dead, including hundreds of civilians, and causing an estimated $11 billion worth of destruction.

To many Lebanese, it feels like divine intervention is the only solution for their country.

No visit to war-battered south

In the village of Dardghaya, a mixed community of Christians and Shiite Muslims in southern Lebanon, about a dozen worshippers gathered for Mass on a recent Sunday in a small basement room. Images of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and St. George  the churchs namesake  stared down from freshly painted white walls as a small girl swung an incense burner.

Above them, the towns century-old Greek Melkite church was still in ruins after being hit by an Israeli strike during last year's Israel-Hezbollah war.

Despite a U.S. brokered ceasefire that took effect in November 2024, Israel has continued to carry out near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon  and, occasionally, in the suburbs of the capital  that it says aim to stop Hezbollah from rebuilding. The precarious situation has dissuaded many former congregants from returning to Dardghaya.

The churchs priest, Father Maurice el Khoury, said he feels a great hope" that Pope Leo's visit "will bring about a radical change in Lebanons trajectory.

We dont want to say that the popes visit is only for the Christians, el Khoury said. The popes visit is a blessing and salvation for all of Lebanon.

open image in gallery Piles of rubble at the St. George Melkite Catholic Church, damaged in October 2024, during hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, in town of Dardaghiya ( Reuters )

Still, many in southern Lebanon were disappointed that the pontiff's itinerary did not include a visit to their war-battered areas, similar to Pope Francis' trip to the devastated city of Mosul when he visited Iraq in 2021.

Georges Elia, a member of the Dardghaya congregation, said he will attend a meeting between the pontiff and youth groups at the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerki, in northern Lebanon.

But he is still holding out hope for a surprise papal visit to the south, a sacred land, where Jesus Christ once walked," he said. The south is bleeding, and its in need of (the pope) to help us return and stand firm on our land."

Strong Vatican ties through a turbulent history

The first visit of a pope to the modern Lebanese state in 1964 came during a prosperous time that today many look back on nostalgically as the country's golden era. It came in a lull between the country's first civil war in 1958 and the 15 years of internal fighting that began in 1975.

Later papal visits came as the country was rebuilding in the aftermath of that violence, in the late 1990s; and in 2012, during the height of the Syrian conflict and refugee crisis that spilled into Lebanon.

Lebanon from its founding was envisioned as a haven for Christians. It has had strong ties with the Vatican since its independence from French rule in 1943, and for centuries prior to the establishment of the tiny Mediterranean state.

Historically, the Catholic Church helped establish many institutions in Lebanon, including schools, hospitals, and research centers, creating a unique relationship not just with Lebanons Christians, but its Muslim and other non-Christian populations.

Historian Charles Hayek said Lebanon has always understood the importance of having strong ties with the Vatican.

All the Lebanese of all communities understood that for a small country to be heard, you need to lobby, said Hayek. Because of that, prime ministers, who by convention in Lebanon are always Sunni Muslim, have joined Maronite Christian presidents in pushing for papal visits, he said.

On Pope Leo XIVs schedule is an interfaith dialogue with the heads of the countrys handful of Christian and Muslim denominations in the heart of the Lebanese capital, where anti-establishment protests took place in 2019, and in an area that suffered some of the worst damage in the port blast.

Continuing Pope Francis' legacy of support

Mireille Khoury said Pope Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, continued to support the families of the port blast victims even when global pressure on the Lebanese state for accountability died down.

Francis even invited family members of the victims, including Khoury, to the Vatican. But she couldnt go.

The last vacation that I had with my son was in Rome, and it was very difficult for me to go back. I felt Im unable to do it emotionally, Khoury said. Still, she was reassured and felt spiritual peace after hearing the popes words of support for the families.

Khoury hopes that she will be able to meet the new pope, even briefly, to ask him to continue speaking about the port explosion so that the investigation is not forgotten.

I will beg him and appeal to him to continue pushing so that this case doesnt go like any other case in Lebanon," she said.

She said she expects the pope's visit to help strengthen a faith that is often the only thing that keeps her going.

I live by the hope," she said, "that I will be meeting my son one day.
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Romania scrambled fighter jets early on Tuesday after drones breached its territory near the Ukrainian border, the defence ministry confirmed.

One drone was reportedly still advancing deeper into the country. Two Eurofighters, part of German air-policing missions, were initially dispatched, tracking a drone in southeastern Tulcea county before it re-entered Ukraine.

The army later scrambled two Romanian F-16 fighter jets after radar showed a second airspace breach in the county of Galati. The planes tracked it moving inland towards the county of Vrancea, the ministry said.

Residents of all three counties were warned to take cover.

The EU and Nato member shares a 650-km (400-mile) land border with Ukraine and has had drones breach its airspace and fragments fall onto its territory repeatedly since Russia began attacking Kyiv's ports across the Danube.

open image in gallery This image released on 17 November 2025 by Romania's Emergency services, ISU, shot from the Romanian side of the border on the Danube river, shows a cargo ship loaded with liquified petroleum gas engulfed by flames following Russian strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure in Izmail, Ukraine ( ISU Tulcea )

Tensions have mounted along Europe's eastern flank in recent months after suspected Russian drones breached the airspace of several Nato states. Romania has legislation in place enabling it to shoot down drones during peacetime if lives or property are at risk, but has not yet made use of it.

It comes as European officials said on Monday that they were comforted by the outcome of discussions on US peace proposals for Ukraine that they had viewed as tilted in Russia's favor, but they didn't disclose details of the weekend talks and warned of a long road to peace.

"The negotiations were a step forward, but there are still major issues which remain to be resolved," Finnish President Alexander Stubb wrote on social platform X about Sunday's meeting in Switzerland between U.S. and Ukrainian officials.

US President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that the process could be moving in the right direction.

"Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Don't believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening," he wrote in a post on the Truth Social platform.

The talks in Geneva covered a 28-point peace plan presented last week by the United States that triggered alarm in Kyiv and European capitals by heavily favoring Moscow's demands and goals following its invasion of its neighbor nearly four years ago.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the "interim result" of the talks, saying the US proposal "has now been modified in significant parts".

He cautioned, however: "It was possible to clear up some questions, but we also know that there won't be peace in Ukraine overnight."
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Hopes of reaching a breakthrough in the war with Russia this week were quashed on Monday after a European proposal discussed by the United States and Ukraine was described by Moscow as completely unconstructive.

Washington and Kyiv said in a joint statement they had drafted a refined peace framework after talks in Geneva on Sunday. Although there were no specifics, the dialogue received a cautious welcome from some of Ukraine's allies.

However, the Kremlin said that the European counterproposal to a 28-point US peace plan for Ukraine was not helpful.

"The European plan, at first glance ... is completely unconstructive and does not work for us," Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow.

But Ukraine's delegation to the talks with US officials in Switzerland was returning home on Monday to report back, president Volodymyr Zelensky said. US president Donald Trump hinted at new progress.

open image in gallery US secretary of state Marco Rubio speaks to journalists in Geneva on Sunday ( Keystone/Martial Trezzini )

"Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Dont believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening," Trump claimed on Truth Social.

It comes as it was mooted that Zelensky may travel to the US in the coming days as Ukrainian and US officials work to secure a peace deal before Thanksgiving on Thursday.

The trip is dependent on how negotiations between US officials and their Ukrainian counterparts in Geneva are perceived to have gone, Ukrainian and US officials told CBS News.

The US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the talks in Switzerland had been meaningful but warned the two sides were still apart in terms of reaching a final agreement.

I think this was a very, very meaningful  I would say probably best  meeting and day weve had so far in this entire process, going back to when we first came into office in January, he said.

But theres still some work left to do and thats what our teams are going to be doing right now.

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskys chief of staff, said: We have very good progress and we are moving forward to the just and lasting peace.

The Ukrainian president said on Monday that he will continue to work with partners, including the US, on peace proposals as the second day of talks in Geneva got underway.

We all continue working with partners, especially the United States, to look for compromises that will strengthen but not weaken us, Zelensky said via video link from Sweden, where he was attending a summit of countries seeking Russian withdrawal from Ukraines occupied Crimea peninsula.

open image in gallery Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office at the White House in February ( Getty )

Zelensky said Russia must pay for the war in Ukraine and that a decision on using frozen Russian assets was crucial.

Right now, we are at a critical moment, he said. There is a lot of noise in the media, and all the political pressure, and even greater responsibility for the decisions ahead.

The urgent talks come after the Trump administration announced its proposal to end the war in Ukraine, which would force Kyiv into giving up land while compensating the United States for upholding the peace.

The 28-point plan, drawn up following talks between Washington and Moscow, offers a guarantee of US protection for Ukraine.

In return, Kyiv must give up on its Nato ambitions and European allies agree not to station troops in Ukraine, rebuffing British-led plans to deploy international peacekeepers.

The initial US plan has been widely criticised for favouring Russia.

Ukraine would be reduced to Russias tethered goat if Trumps peace plan is implemented, according to a former head of MI6.

Sir Alex Younger said the US presidents proposal was "lopsided" in favour of Russia and would "almost guarantee" another invasion of Ukraine by Putin.
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A two-year-old girl was rushed to hospital after drinking from a McDonalds water bottle that is suspected to have contained disinfectant.

The incident took place on 20 November at the Kassel branch of the popular fast-food chain in Germany, according to Hessisch-Niedersachsische Allgemeine.

The toddlers 34-year-old mother, Katherina Schlemm, said she had ordered a Happy Meal with a bottle of still water. When she gave it to her daughter in the car park, the child reacted badly.

Ms Schlemm claimed her child turned bright red and was left screaming after drinking from the bottle, which was tightly sealed.

Staff at the restaurant did not take her concerns seriously, the mother claimed, and she was forced to ring emergency services and call for an ambulance.

The bottle was allegedly filled with a strongly alcoholic-smelling liquid, which the mother believes was a cleaning product or disinfectant.

The toddler was treated at the scene of the incident and was later taken to hospital to rule out any further complications.

open image in gallery The water bottle was served with a Happy Meal at the restaurant (File picture) ( Getty Images )

Authorities said that the child was very lucky to have avoided serious injury. Local police said that the bottle may have been used by cleaning staff, and are investigating on suspicion of negligent bodily harm.

The bottle has been sent away for testing at a laboratory to determine what it contained.

A McDonalds spokesperson told the newspaper they were moved by the events but were not in a position to comment further.

The Independent has contacted McDonalds for comment.

Cleaning products contain several harmful chemicals and are extremely harmful to human health when consumed.

Last month, a woman in the US state of Oklahoma died following an incident in which she was served a cocktail containing industrial cleaner.

Holly Hill was served the Margarita which contained toxic chemicals at the Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill in Elgin in 2023. She had been in recovery for two years leading up to her death.

Health authorities said the chemicals in the drink caused a large hole in her oesophagus to form, due to severe chemical burns. The Elgin Police Department is currently investigating her death.
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Ukraine and the United States appear to be edging closer to a peace deal over the war with Russia, in a potentially significant diplomatic shift following crunch talks in Switzerland.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Kyiv was ready to move forward with a framework to end the war with Russia.

In a day of fast-moving developments, Kyiv said it supported the essence of the Geneva plan while stressing there were still some sensitive issues that needed to be fixed.

US president Donald Trump, who last week imposed a deadline of this Thursday for Ukraine to accept, said he thought a deal was now very close.

Were going to get there, he told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. I think were getting very close to a deal  well find out ... I think were making progress.

On Tuesday night Mr Trump said his plan to end the war in Ukraine has been "fine-tuned" and that he is sending envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin and army secretary Dan Driscoll to meet Ukrainian officials in a bid to iron out a few remaining points of disagreement between the warring countries.

But Mr Trump also said he will only meet with Putin and Mr Zelensky in the "final stages" of the peace deal.

open image in gallery Ukraine said it had agreed to the framework for peace in principle following the talks over the weekend ( AFP/Getty )

Mr Zelensky said: We worked with the Ukrainian negotiating team today [Tuesday] on the text of the document prepared with the United States in Geneva. The principles in this document can be developed into deeper agreements. It is in our shared interest that security is real.

I count on continued active cooperation with the American side and President Trump. Much depends on the United States because its America's strength that Russia takes most seriously. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine.

A Ukrainian official familiar with the ongoing negotiations said that the US appears to have agreed to a document set out by Europes allies in Geneva  but not the previously presented US plan.

The Swiss summit over the weekend gave Europe a brief window to present its own peace proposal, a revision of an earlier American draft seen to favour Russia without offering Ukraine any tangible security guarantees.

Ukraines security chief Rustem Umerov said that the delegations had now reached a common understanding on what he called the core terms of the Geneva agreement.

Sir Keir Starmer said changes proposed to the draft peace plan are constructive and could be accepted.

Speaking at the start of a meeting of Coalition of the Willing allies, the prime minister said: I welcome some of the developments that have now come forward.

It was a chance to ensure that the draft plan fully reflects Ukraines interests and lays the ground for a lasting peace.

open image in gallery Donald Trump said on Tuesday that a deal to end the war getting close ( Reuters )

Theyve proposed some constructive changes, he continued. And of course some of our national security advisers were there in Geneva to support the talks.

So I do think were moving in a positive direction  and indications today that in large part the majority of the text looks as though, Volodymyr is indicating, could be accepted.

Ukraine will be seeking clear assurances that the US and Europe can uphold any peace deal with a dependable deterrent against any future invasion.

In a speech to the coalition, Mr Zelensky called on European leaders to put together a framework for a reassurance force in Ukraine, while continuing to support Kyiv if Russia shows no willingness to end the conflict.

French president Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that peace efforts are gathering momentum and are clearly at a crucial juncture.

Negotiations are getting a new impetus. And we should seize this momentum, he said during the allies video conference.

Ukraine now hopes to organise for Mr Zelensky to visit Washington by the end of November to speak to the US president, the second such visit in one month.

However, any deal agreed between the US and Ukraine would still require agreement from Russia.

open image in gallery Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine with drones and missiles throughout negotiations ( AP )

The Kremlin said on Tuesday it was impossible to comment on the developments between the US and Ukraine amid an information frenzy.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the original framework presented by the US  widely condemned as a Russian wishlist  was the only substantive outline for peace.

Earlier, US Army secretary Daniel Driscoll, who only became part of the American negotiating team less than two weeks ago, met Russian officials for several hours in Abu Dhabi.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt hailed the latest development as a major step in the right direction.

Over the past week, the United States has made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table, she said in a statement on X (Twitter).

There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

The diplomatic developments came hours after Russia launched a wave of overnight attacks on Ukraines capital, Kyiv, with at least seven people killed in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure.

A Ukrainian attack on southern Russia killed three people and damaged homes, authorities said.
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President Donald Trump has claimed that big progress is being made in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

The US and Ukraine sought on Monday to narrow gaps in a peace plan proposed by Washington on Friday that was criticised as pro-Russian. European leaders have responded with a counter-proposal that reasserts Ukraines demands.

It includes respect for Ukraines territorial integrity, freedom to advance its Nato ambitions and EU membership aspirations and maintain a large military to deter the threat of future Russian aggression.

Several countries and high-profile individuals are involved in the discussions, which have resulted in public disagreements. The Independent looks at some of the key characters below.

Kirill Dmitriev - blacklisted Kremlin official behind Trumps peace plan

open image in gallery Kirill Dmitriev talks to US president Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff ( Reuters )

Dmitriev, the Harvard-educated CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), assumed the office of the special presidential envoy on Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation on 23 February this year despite having little diplomatic experience.

The businessman and his organisation have been under US sanctions, effectively barring American citizens and companies from dealing with them, since 2022.

The close ally of Vladimir Putin is not popular among other members of his inner circle, with reports that he has clashed with sidelined foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and presidential aide Yury Ushakov when they met with American officials in Saudi Arabia in February.

Dmitriev has met several times with some of Trumps closest officials, including his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

He worked directly with Kushner during the first administration, coordinating with him during the pandemic on the delivery of RDIF-supplied ventilators to the US. It sparked concern among officials at the Treasury Department that the US might be violating its own sanctions, according to a senior US official.

The businessman has appeared on various American television stations and at events including the World Economic Forum in Davos, to promote the strengthening of trade ties between the US and Russia.

Dan Driscoll - The ex-soldier and Vances Yale classmate

open image in gallery Army Secretary Dan Driscoll speaks at the America 250 celebration at Fort Bragg ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

A friend and former classmate of JD Vance from the vice presidents Yale Law School days, Driscoll  who has a background in the US military and is the son of a Vietnam veteran  has made a formidable name for himself in the current Trump administration as US army secretary.

Driscoll served for three and a half years in the US Army, including a deployment in Iraq in 2009, leaving duty as a lieutenant. Despite little diplomatic experience, the former investment bankers background in politics includes an internship at the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

He has been directly involved in controversial deployments of the national guard across the US, and succeeded Kash Patel as the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

His high-level involvement comes amid a series of controversies and criticism surrounding secretary of war Peter Hegseth.

Theres not a lot of trust in Hegseth to deliver these messages to key leaders, a source told Politico. There is more trust in Dan to do that right now.

Experienced in drone technology, he has previously shown respect for Ukraines resourcefulness in deploying its relatively limited resources to come up with whatever they have to do to get to an outcome they need.

Andriy Yermak - Zelenskys right-hand man at centre of scandal

open image in gallery ( AFP/Getty )

President Volodymyr Zelenskys right-hand man is deeply unpopular in Ukraine, according to the Kyiv Independent. In recent weeks, he has faced calls to step down or be sacked over a corruption scandal.

The Ukrainian politician currently serves as Zelenskys chief of staff and - in line with the unconventional career trajectories of other negotiators - has a background in film production.

Pro-democracy watchdogs and lawmakers have implicated Yermak in a $100m energy scandal. Anti-corruption agencies have said he is not involved.

In 2024, Time named Yermak as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He is a member of the highest command and control body for Ukraines armed forces, the headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Marco Rubio - Trumps secretary of state

open image in gallery US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that progress is being made at the talks ( PA Wire )

The Republican politician represented Florida in the US Senate from 2011 to 2025. He is currently serving as US Secretary of State and played a leading role during Israel-Gaza ceasefire talks.

Rubio has a colourful career history including serving in the House of Representatives in Miami and teaching at Florida International University as an adjunct professor, an appointment that was criticised at the time.

Talks between Russia and Ukraine stalled earlier this year following a phone call between Rubio and Lavrov, during which the Russian diplomat is said to have infuriated Washington by making maximalist demands over ending the war.
Close We are Russias next target warns Nato chief

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Europe should prepare for a war like our grandparents endured and rapidly boost defence spending to deter the threat of Russia, Natos secretary general has warned.

Speaking at a conference in Berlin, Mark Rutte said that Europe needed to be crystal clear that we are Russias next target - and that Nato is already in harms way.

I fear that too many are quietly complacent. Too many dont feel the urgency. And too many believe that time is on our side. It is not. The time for action is now, he said.

Allied defence spending and production must rise rapidly. Our armed forces must have what they need to keep us safe.

His comments come after Donald Trump says he exchanged "pretty strong words" with European leaders on a call discussing his proposal to end the Ukraine war.

Trump also said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has to be realistic about his countrys position on a peace plan, and said the US will make a determination depending on what they come back with.
Close We are Russias next target warns Nato chief

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Europe should prepare for a war like our grandparents endured and rapidly boost defence spending to deter the threat of Russia, Natos secretary general has warned.

Speaking at a conference in Berlin, Mark Rutte said that Europe needed to be crystal clear that we are Russias next target - and that Nato is already in harms way.

I fear that too many are quietly complacent. Too many dont feel the urgency. And too many believe that time is on our side. It is not. The time for action is now, he said.

Allied defence spending and production must rise rapidly. Our armed forces must have what they need to keep us safe.

His comments come as Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine sent an updated version of its 20-point peace plan to the US, with both parties to hold a call on Thursday to discuss the proposal.

He said the US had discussed an idea to create a "free economic zone" in parts of eastern Ukraine where Kyiv's troops would withdraw, but that any territorial concessions would need to go to a referendum.
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Ukraine continues to suffer the swings and roundabouts of outrageous fortune at the hands of American negotiators but is learning how to survive the whirligig of the White House.

Donald Trump and his envoys are neither honest brokers nor even allies of Kyivs fight to defend itself against Russian invaders. But, for a little while, it seems that Ukraine has managed to swing them away from being outright enemies.

American officials have reportedly told US media that some kind of a deal has been struck in Abu Dhabi  after last weekends talks in Geneva  and that the prospects for peace in Ukraine are looking good.

The nature of that deal is key. And there is no clarity on what version of a plan that is, or even whether its a blueprint for peace or for just a ceasefire.

Kyiv rejected last weeks Trump administration plan for total capitulation by Ukraine. There have been red faces in the White House since it was published, after some linguistic analysis suggested that it may have originally been written in Russian.

Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, apparently had no idea the proposal was in the works. European leaders condemned it, Ukraine rejected it, and Moscow loved it.

Ukraine took the opening brouhaha as an opportunity to whisper its way through to Trumps people.

Over the weekend, Kyiv and European leaders took the US proposal that the Russians liked so much and turned it inside out.

Out went Trumps suggestion that Ukraine give Russia land it hasnt even captured yet, give America preferential profit deals on projects the US had not even funded, and out went the cap on Ukraines forces at 600,000. Out went a ban on Ukraines Nato membership and in came a demand for Russian reparations.

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky meeting US army secretary Daniel Driscoll last week ( AP )

Above all, Ukraine would get chapter five type security guarantees from the US and all other allies, which would trigger a military conflict with Moscow if Russia tried a new invasion.

Now, according to Ukraines head of the national security council, Rustem Umerov, America has signed up to some of what was agreed with Europe and Ukraine at the weekend.

Our delegations reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva. We now count on the support of our European partners in our further steps, he said.

In Kyiv, a Ukrainian official deeply involved with ceasefire negotiations said that the US appeared to have agreed to adopt Ukraines positions.

The official in president Volodymyr Zelenskys office said that if the deal was the framework from Geneva, were okay. Its not a bad framework to work further.

And Zelensky wrote on X: "Following the meetings in Geneva, we see many prospects that can make the path to peace real. There are solid results, and much work still lies ahead.

But it is not at all clear if the US has done a handbrake turn. Trump has consistently ruled out offering American forces as a guarantee for Ukraines future security.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer speaks to the Coalition of the Willing on Tuesday after talks in Geneva ( PA )

The Geneva plan allows for progressive sanctions to be lifted on Russia and for Moscow to rejoin the G8 economic group of nations.

Trump wants to get back to business in Russia immediately.

Ukraine has said that US negotiators, led by Daniel Driscoll, had agreed to work within the terms of the new deal.

American officials, seldom given to clarity or veracity anyway, were more vague.

Over the past week, the United States has made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table, said Karoline Leavitt, Trumps press secretary.

There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

Russia doesnt like the way Kyiv has managed to get into the conversation over its own future, nor the way Zelenskys team have managed to manoeuvre the plan towards its side.

On Monday, Moscow had rejected the Ukrainian-European 28-point plan for peace outright as completely unconstructive.

And now Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff - fresh from briefing the Russians on how to flatter his boss - is being dispatched to Moscow next week to speak to Putin.

For Zelensky and his allies, efforts will focus on riding the Trump carousel of chaos long enough for him to agree to their proposals.

But it is Putin who Trump sees as the ringmaster and who will likely whip the US back towards the Russian line.
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The Vatican has issued a new decree, approved by Pope Leo, reaffirming its stance that Catholics should commit to one spouse for life.

The Holy Sees top doctrinal office told the worlds 1.4 billion Catholics on Tuesday that a singular commitment is paramount, explicitly discouraging multiple sexual relationships.

The decree specifically criticised the practice of polygamy, including among its own members in Africa. It reiterated the Vaticans belief that marriage is a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman.

The document, which did not discuss same-sex relationships, focused on the "richness and fruitfulness" of traditional marriage, encouraging Catholics to find one spouse and become committed to them.

"Every authentic marriage is a unity composed of two individuals, which requires such an intimate and totalising relationship that it cannot be shared with others," the decree stated.

It added: "Since (marriage) is a union between two people who have exactly the same dignity and the same rights, it demands exclusivity."

In a new decree approved by Pope Leo, the Vatican's top doctrinal office told the world's 1.4 billion Catholics they should seek to marry one spouse for life and should not have multiple sexual relationships ( AP )

The question of how to better enforce the Church's teachings on marriage was debated at two Vatican summits in 2023 and 2024, which the late Pope Francis hosted to discuss the future of Catholicism with hundreds of cardinals and bishops.

Polygamy in Africa, where many Catholics take part in long-standing cultural practices of maintaining more than one committed relationship, was a topic of heated discussion at those summits.

Also discussed was the rise of polyamorous relationship structures, where individuals date multiple people at the same time, in some Western countries.

"Polygamy, adultery, or polyamory are based on the illusion that the intensity of the relationship can be found in a succession of faces," the new decree said.

The document does not discuss divorce, which the Church does not recognise as it views marriage as a lifelong commitment.

The Church, however, has an annulment process, which evaluates whether marriages were properly contracted, and stresses that partners are not expected to stay in abusive relationships.
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South African police have launched an investigation into serious allegations that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of Jacob Zuma, enticed 17 men into fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine under false pretences.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed the probe, which stems from an affidavit submitted by Zuma-Sambudla's sister, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube.

The document claims Ms Zuma-Sambudla, alongside two unnamed individuals, misled the men by promising them security training in Russia, only for them to become embroiled in the conflict without their consent. The identities of the two other alleged accomplices remain undisclosed.

The affidavit alleges they were handed over to a Russian mercenary group and forced to fight in the war. It also says eight of the 17 men were members of the sisters' family.

Mathe said Sunday that any police charges are still to be determined through a thorough investigation.

South Africa's foreign minister, Ronald Lamola, told reporters on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg over the weekend that diplomatic efforts were underway with Russia and Ukraine to repatriate the men.

The police must investigate and whoever is involved in this must be arrested, Lamola said, adding: It is not an easy situation because they are in the front lines of this battle, but we are hopeful that there will be breakthroughs.

South Africa's government earlier this month said it had received distress calls from the men, aged 20 to 39, who said they were trapped in Ukraine's war-torn eastern Donbas region.

The men had joined mercenary forces under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts, the government said.

open image in gallery Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, left, shares a light moment outside High Court during her trial for terrorism linked to the July 2021 riots in Durban, South Africa, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Russia has been accused of recruiting men from other countries to fight in the war under the pretext of offering them jobs. It has also been accused of tricking women from South Africa and other African countries into working in Russian drone factories through social media campaigns promising them jobs in fields like catering and hospitality.

Under South African law, it is illegal for citizens and entities to offer or provide military assistance to foreign governments or participate in armies of foreign governments unless authorized by South Africa's government.

Zuma-Sambudla is a member of parliament for the MK Party, which her father founded in 2023 after he was expelled from the ruling African National Congress, which he led from 2007 to 2017.

She is currently on trial for unrelated charges around the deadly riots in South Africa in 2021. She is accused of fueling them with social media posts.

Zuma-Sambudla and the MK Party did not respond to request for comment.
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Hamas has announced it will return the body of an Israeli hostage on Tuesday, a development linked to Octobers fragile ceasefire.

The truce has endured despite ongoing Israeli strikes on Gaza, mounting Palestinian casualties, and mutual accusations of violations.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad said it had located the body earlier this week in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza.

Hamas confirmed via Telegram that the remains would be handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Tuesday afternoon.

Since the US-brokered ceasefire commenced on 10 October, Palestinian militants have released 25 hostage bodies.

Three bodies are still thought to be in Gaza, with the slow pace of the exchanges continually threatening the ongoing truce.

open image in gallery Members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, along with Egyptian workers and machinery, search for the bodies of hostages in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, in October ( AP )

Hamas says it has not been able to reach all of the remains because they are buried under rubble from Israels two-year offensive in the Palestinian territory.

Israel, meanwhile, has accused the militants of dragging their feet and threatened to resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if all remains are not returned.

Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said in a statement on Tuesday that the delay amounted to a ceasefire violation.

Israel has released the bodies of 330 Palestinians back to Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect.

Palestinian officials have struggled to identify the bodies without access to DNA kits.

Only 95 have been identified, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals.

It maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by independent experts.

Israel has not provided details on their identities.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, children and families are confronting the aftermath of heavy rains, which have left thousands once again displaced and exposed to the elements.

The rains have underscored the dire humanitarian conditions millions in Gaza face.

open image in gallery Palestinians walk through a flooded street next to a temporary tent camp after heavy rainfall in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip ( AP )

The war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7 2023. Some 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage.

Almost all of the hostages or their remains have been returned in ceasefires or other deals.

Gazas Health Ministry says 69,775 Palestinians have been killed and 170,863 injured in Israels retaliatory offensive.

The toll has gone up during the ceasefire, both from new Israeli strikes and from the recovery and identification of bodies of people killed earlier in the war.

The ministry reports 345 have been killed and, in total, 588 bodies recovered since the ceasefire began.

It does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures, but has said women and children make up a majority of those killed.
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China has launched an uncrewed spacecraft to its space station as part of the second stage of a rescue mission to return stranded astronauts.

A Long March 2F/G rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China on Tuesday, carrying the Shenzhou 22 capsule to the Tiangong space station.

The craft will be used sometime in 2026 to return the three astronauts who arrived on 1 November using the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, which has since returned to Earth carrying another group of Chinese astronauts from the Shenzhou 20 mission.

The Shenzhou 20 crew faced a nine-day delay in their return to Earth after their craft's window was damaged by a suspected space debris strike.

After the three-person crew landed safely on Earth earlier this month, three of their fellow astronauts on the replacement crew were temporarily left without a guaranteed way to return in case of an emergency.

open image in gallery A Long March 2F/G rocket carried the Shenzhou-22 spaceship on a rescue mission to China's Tiangong space station ( Xinhua News Agency )

The Shenzhou 20 spacecraft  the damaged one, which for now remains in space  will be brought down to Earth later and assessed, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The space program determined it didn't meet safety standards for transporting the astronauts.

Chinese astronauts have been carrying out missions to the Tiangong space station in recent years as part of Beijing's rapidly progressing space program, initially building out the station module-by-module.

China developed Tiangong after the country was excluded from the International Space Station over US national security concerns, since China's space program is controlled by its military.

Tiangong, which means Heavenly Palace, hosted its first crew in 2021. It is smaller than the International Space Station, which has been operating for 25 years.

The uncrewed Shenzhou 22 mission is Chinas first emergency space launch, with China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) describing Tuesdays launch as a complete success.

The capsule is carrying medical supplies, spare parts for the space station and a repair kit for the broken window on the Shenzhou 20 craft.

Additional reporting from agencies
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Five people were taken to the hospital after an American Airlines flight bound for Phoenix diverted to Houston on Sunday following reports of fumes in the cabin and flight deck.

American Airlines flight 2118 departed Orlando International Airport but was rerouted to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, after crew members detected the fumes, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement.

The aircraft landed safely at about 7.10 pm local time. The FAA said it will investigate the circumstances.

Four flight attendants and one passenger were rushed to the hospital as a precaution, American Airlines said, adding that first responders met the aircraft at the gate.

open image in gallery The aircraft landed safely at about 7.10pm local time ( Getty/iStock )

American Airlines flight 2118 landed safely and taxied to the gate under its own power  following reports of an odor on board, the carrier said, thanking crew for their professionalism and apologizing to passengers.

The flight later continued to Phoenix using a replacement aircraft, the airline said. According to reports, the cause of the foul odor remains unclear.

A Houston Fire Department spokesperson said they were advised of fumes but did not receive any reports of smoke.

They added: American Airlines flight 2118, en route to Phoenix, diverted to George Bush Intercontinental Airport due to reports of fumes in the cockpit and cabin. Houston Fire Department crews were advised of fumes but received no reports of smoke.

Once the aircraft landed safely and arrived at the gate, HFD personnel transported five individuals - four crew members and one passenger - to a local hospital for further evaluation. We have not received any updates regarding their conditions.

open image in gallery The flight later continued to Phoenix using a replacement aircraft ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

"We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for their experience," American Airlines said in a statement to Fox Houston.

A spokesperson added: On November 23, American Airlines flight 2118 landed safely and taxied to the gate under its own power at Houston (IAH) following reports of an odor on board.

The flight re-departed on a replacement aircraft. We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for their experience.

It is not the first time a plane has been forced to turn back due to a foul smell. In October, a Delta Airlines flight was forced to return to the airport, mid-flight, after a passenger reportedly brought spoiled food on board.

Meanwhile, in April, an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland to Las Vegas returned to the airport due to a strong odor on board after takeoff, according to the airline.
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is taking aim at airplane snacks in his latest push to overhaul U.S. travel.

Duffy wants airlines to ditch salty pretzels and calorie-laden cookies in favor of on-board healthier options.

"I would love some better snacks. I would love a little healthier snack on the airplane," Duffy said in an interview with Blaze News posted Tuesday.

He said it would be much better "if I didn't get the really fattening cookie full of butter, sugar and crap. Or that little snack pack of pretzels."

Airlines for America, a trade group representing American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and others, declined to comment.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks during a press conference at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 24, 2025 ( REUTERS/Rachel Wisniewski )

Duffy last week rolled out a new campaign encouraging people to act and dress nicely during air travel, asking travelers not to wear pajamas and slippers to the airport.

"Don't take your shoes off and put your feet on the chair ahead of you," Duffy said Monday.

The campaign is intended to "jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel," the Department of Transportation wrote.

It added: "This won't just make the travel experience better for the flying public  it will ensure the safety of passengers, gate workers, flight attendants and pilots."

Duffy is overseeing a $12.5 billion overhaul of the nation's air traffic control system and working to address a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers. He wants Congress to approve another $19 billion to complete the job.

Duffy has also faced criticism after USDOT withdrew a plan by his predecessor this month to require airlines to pay passengers cash compensation when U.S. flight disruptions are caused by carriers.

Duffy defended the decision to drop the compensation plan, telling Fox News he was taking a more "common-sense approach" and argued the compensation plan would lead to higher ticket prices.

"We just want to have the right balance between the airlines and the passengers," Duffy said.

Airlines in the U.S. must refund passengers for canceled flights, but are not required to compensate customers for delays. The European Union, Canada, Brazil and Britain all have airline delay compensation rules.

No large U.S. airline guarantees cash compensation for flight disruptions but many offer hotel rooms, meals and pay for other out-of-pocket costs if they cause delays.
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A crack at a beloved tourist attraction in Yosemite National Park has forced park rangers to close several popular trails and issue safety warnings to visitors.

The rapidly-growing crack on the western side of the Royal Arches cliff, near the popular Super Slide climbing route, is at risk of rockfall. These natural geological processes involve the detachment and rapid downward movement of rock, according to the National Park Service.

The California park has temporarily closed the trail to the Super Slide to ensure the safety of visitors, according to The Travel.

The crack in the massive granite cliff, named the Super Natural, was about an inch wide when it was first discovered by a rock climber in 2023. It has since widened to about four inches, according to the report.

Jesse McGahey, a geologist and climbing ranger dispatched to the area, said he could hear the Royal Arches cracking like a frozen lake that wasnt consolidated.

open image in gallery Royal Arches meadow in Yosemite Valley, located just below the Royal Arches, which park officials have warned has a rapidly growing crack in its facade ( National Park Service )

open image in gallery Half Dome is a famous hiking area located just next to the Royal Arches in Yosemite National Park ( Getty Images )

While Yosemite is prone to rockfalls, McGahey said the way the pieces of rock were rattling down the crack without touching it was highly unusual.

The park geologist said theyd never seen anything like this. Hes never been able to observe that in his 15 years in Yosemite, McGahey, who works as a climbing program manager at Yosemite, said.

Park officials have remained cautious about the crack ever since it was discovered, and continually warn visitors to be aware of their surroundings and inform rangers if they witness a rockfall.

When announcing the closure in 2023, park officials noted that their investigation revealed that this crack has partially detached a large pillar of rock, and that cracking was actively occurring.

open image in gallery Park officials have continued to urge visitors to be cautious of their surroundings because of the crack and potential for rockfall ( AFP via Getty Images )

As a precautionary effort to reduce risk from rockfall, the National Park Service is implementing a temporary area and trail closure while the area is investigated further, the closure notice read.

The closures include popular routes Serenity Crack/Sons of Yesterday and Super Slide, and all the routes in between, including the Peruvian Flake West and the Rhombus Wall.

There have been over 1,000 rockfalls in Yosemite National Park over the past 150 years, according to the report. In 2024, there were 42 documented rockfalls, which the National Park Service notes equated to a relatively quiet year.

open image in gallery There were 42 documented rockfalls in Yosemite National Park last year ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery Several popular trails in Yosemite National Park have been closed since 2023 while officials investigate the crack in the rock formation ( Getty Images )

Officials also noted that they will continue to closely monitor the crack west of Royal Arches next to the Super Slide climbing route.

Two people died from rockfall in Yosemite National Park in 2022. Before that, it had been 18 years since the last rockfall-related fatality, which saw rock climber Peter Terbush killed in 1999, according to the NPS.

There have now at least 18 fatalities and more than 100 injuries from rockfalls since park records began in 1857.
Sir Keir Starmer participated in the viral 6-7 trend with primary school children during a visit to Peterborough.

The prime minister and education secretary Bridget Phillipson discussed the importance of free school meals with pupils during a visit to Welland Academy, on Monday (24 November).

During the visit, Sir Keir was reading with pupils when one pointed out they were on page 67. The prime minister then made the hand gesture that accompanies the reference, with the students quickly joining in.

The teacher later jokingly told the prime minister off: You know children get into trouble for saying that in school.
Karoline Leavitt brought her son Nicholas to meet Waddle, one of the National Thanksgiving turkeys, prior to the pardoning ceremony with Donald Trump on Tuesday, 25 November.

Living up to his name, the 50-pound bird waddled near the podium where the White House press secretary usually addresses reporters.

The US president granted official pardons to a pair of turkeys  Gobble and Waddle  Tuesday afternoon. At the 78th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Mr Trump pardoned Gobble, but he assured that Waddle was also spared.

Waddle and Gobble enjoyed luxury hotel accommodations ahead of their White House visit.
President Donald Trump joked that some of his more enthusiastic staff wanted to send the two Thanksgiving turkeys to an El Salvador megaprison instead of pardoning them.

In a inappropriate speech to a crowd that included Vice President JD Vances children, Trump also insulted Democrats Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, riffed about a woman being set on fire in Chicago and called Illinois Governor JB Pritzker a fat slob.

Two new reports have confirmed that immigrants shipped down to El Salvadors giant Terrorism Confinement Center by the Trump administration were tortured.
This Working Life: I have over 400,000 TikTok followers now... if I do a collab I often buy new things for the school
UBS is too big a risk for Switzerland to bear alone and the bank should be divided into a domestically-focused unit and one centred on the US, according to former government minister and populist leader Christoph Blocher.

Shareholders can get one share in each entity, Blocher said in an interview published in Sonntagszeitung, saying technically its no problem. He said the issue is the risk to the state which is hard to shoulder, and therefore the bank has to be broken up.
PTSB chairwoman Julie ONeill (centre) is one of only two female chairs of a listed Irish company. She is pictured alongside PTSB head of asset finance Colm Furlong and CEO Eamonn Crowley (right). Photo: Fennell

Women now make up 40pc of directors in ISEQ 20 companies, according to the latest annual analysis of Irish boardrooms by the consultancy Spencer Stuart.

While this is a very slight decline on last years figure of 41pc, it represents a 54pc increase since the first index was drawn up in 2020. Women held just 8pc of directorships in all stock market-listed companies in 2013.
French prime minister Sebastien Lecornu put pressure on lawmakers yesterday to pass the 2026 budget by the end of the year after the deeply divided lower house of parliament rejected the tax side of the legislation.

Mr Lecornu said there was still time, but urged opposition politicians not to obstruct the legislation, which was due to head to the Senate yesterday after the lower house rejected parts of it on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia plans to open two new alcohol stores as curbs ease

Launch of outlets would mark latest milestone in the ongoing efforts by de facto ruler to open up kingdom

Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh

Timour Azhari and Maha El Dahan Reuters Tue 25 Nov 2025 at 06:30







Saudi Arabia plans to open two new alcohol stores, including one serving non-Muslim, foreign staff at state oil giant Aramco, as the kingdom further eases restrictions, according to people briefed on the plans.
Why now is the best time in decades for new entrants to get into dairy farming
What I learned on my trip to meet Brussels bigwigs  they dont get farmers and we dont get them

The bureaucrats need to involve real farmers in the decision-making process  and the European elections are absolutely vital

'We need people who have real life experience, who can see what the practical implications of new legislation will be and who will help to bridge the gap that I felt' Photo: Brian Farrell

Miriam Gunn Tue 25 Nov 2025 at 06:30

In the first week of November I sat in a room with one of the highest-ranking officials in European agricultural politics  and I couldnt think of a question to ask them.
'Although prices for both lambs and culls edged up this week, factory reps continue to cite the market for sheep meat as difficult'. Photo: Roger Jones

With numbers of sheep available on the ground limited, competition between plants has stepped up, and the ICM group lifted their quote for lamb midweek by 10c/kg to 7.60+20c/kg quality assurance.

This put their plants in Navan and Camolin on the same base price as Kildare Chilling, who offer just 10c/kg QA.

There was no further movement from either the ICMs or Kildare on lamb yesterday, but Kildare did raise their offer for cull ewes from 35-43kg by 10c/kg to 4.50+10c/kg QA.

Culls under 35kg carcase weight were unchanged at 3.90+10c/kg QA.

This is the fourth week in a row that Kildare have improved their quote for culls, varying between the heavier and lighter types as they see fit.

The ICMs continue on 4.30/kg for culls.

Kepak Athleague and Dawn Ballyhaunis once again failed to provide quotes for either lamb or culls.

Latest figures

Meanwhile, the factories are attempting to lure more younger farmers into the sheep game, or get established farmers to expand production  using open days and media campaigns.

Although prices for both lambs and culls edged up this week, factory representatives continue to cite the market for sheep meat as difficult.

But with Christmas around the corner, one rep told me they would lift prices and kill more sheep but for the fear that if they do so they will end up chasing numbers.

He cited what happened in the spring on the cattle side when factories took on contracts that forced them to push up prices week on week, even though numbers were strong.

With quotes for lamb now the same from one processor to the next, ICSA sheep chair Willie Shaw asked, does this mean all the factories are selling into exactly the same markets?

And if so, are they also competing for the same supermarket shelf space?

Mr Shaw reported all-in prices being quoted to groups yesterday as being up just 5c/kg to 8.05/kg.

He also said that for those with better-fleshed cull ewes the mart remains the better option.

IFA sheep chair Adrian Gallagher said factories must continue to raise prices to put confidence back into the sector.

Prices in the UK  our main export market  have been steadily rising in the run-up to Christmas and have risen by over 15p/kg (17c/kg) in the past week on the back of tight supplies and this must be reflected with higher prices.

Sheep throughput is at an all-time low and factories must step up and maximise returns from the marketplace.

Bord Bia note that year to date throughput is down 20pc on 2024 levels, with declines in numbers across all categories of sheep.

Tight supplies for processing are not confined to Ireland, with the latest available population data from the UK and Europe indicating contracting flocks and reduced output from the 2025 lambing season.

This may create opportunity for Irish lamb but also leaves the EU market very attractive to competitively priced imports.

The agency also notes: The trade has recovered significantly in Australia, with the heavy lamb price up by 34c/kg to the equivalent of 6.45/kg on last weeks figure.

Around the marts

Cahir mart

Last Tuesdays sale had 1,100 sheep presented, with Brian Murphy noting that trade has slowed. Number have been strong all along but Brian expects them to fall.

The lambs included thirty 47kgs at 175/hd, 44kgs at 154/hd and twenty-five 45kgs at 145/hd. Among the stores 36kgs sold to 121/hd, with 35kgs making 114/hd, while 29kgs made 70/hd.

80kg cull ewes sold for 140-150/hd.

Ballinrobe mart

Thursdays sale of 720 sheep met a lively trade across all sections. Lambs averaged 3.30/kg, with stores topping out at 4.32/kg or 121/hd for 28kgs, while 33kgs made up to 137/hd or 4.15/kg.

Among the factory types 44.5kgs reached 186/hd or 4.18/kg, while heavier lots included 49.5kgs at 200/hd 4.04/kg.

Cull ewes averaged just shy of 2.00/kg overall. They included 90kgs at 212/hd, 75kgs at 186/hd and 47.5kgs to 150/hd.

Macroom mart

Numbers dipped to 700 on Wednesday, with some sellers holding off in anticipation of tomorrows fatstock show and sale, according to Ger Sullivan.

There were plenty of buyers, for stores although quality has begun to slip.

33-34kg ewe lambs made 134-138/hd, with wethers from 40-42kg selling for 145-149/hd and 47-52kgs at 170-176/hd.

Pens of mixed lambs sold to a top of 176/hd for 53kgs, with 48kg ram lambs reaching 169/hd while 30kg Scotch ewe lambs made 100/hd.

Among the cull ewes 82kgs sold to 176/hd, with 70-76kgs making 156-165/hd.

Delvin mart

Thursdays numbers reached 400, with lambs under 35kg averaging 10/hd less at 3.30/kg, while 35-40kgs rose by 9/hd to 3.34/kg  sixteen 39kgs made 137/hd.

Lambs from 40-45kg were up 5/hd to average 3.40/kg or 143/hd, with nineteen 40kgs selling for 148.50/hd. Lambs over 50kg averaged 3.28/kg, with ten at 51.5kg making 178/hd.

Best of the culls were twelve 79kgs that made 178/hd.
Life has not been simple for tillage farmers since they got involved with EU schemes and direct payments.

They are now facing more regulation in the form of the Nitrates Sixth Action Programme  although this will present a lot less difficulty to them than it will to livestock farmers and in particular dairy farmers.
Calls for parking reform as Dublin clampers tow car with child still inside in shocking repeat incident

Dublin City Council confirmed a full investigation is under way into the incident on Parnell Street earlier this month

The incident took place on Parnell Street in Dublin city centre. Photograph: Damien Eagers

Keith Kelly Tue 25 Nov 2025 at 13:48

There are calls for an end to clamping as a parking enforcement method in Dublin following a shocking incident in which clampers towed a car with a child still inside.
Ryanair cabin staff gave no immediate assistance to a 14-year-old schoolboy whose right foot was scalded by a spillage of tea while he travelled to Greece for a holiday, a judge in the Circuit Civil Court heard today.
The European Union will be forced to make far more realistic decisions about its future in the face of an isolationist United States with the potential for serious changes over the next decade, former taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.
They feared their little boy was going to die  Child (8) waits nearly two hours for ambulance after suffering horrific injury
Lucinda OSullivans restaurant review: Chef collab events are gaining popularity and its easy to see why going by my visit to this city hotspot

With chef collabs popping up more and more, our critic was in for a treat as Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud joined forces with Mount Juliet Estate

Porcupine Bank langoustine, alliums, Rossini Gold Selection Caviar. Photos: Lucinda O'Sullivan

Lucinda O'Sullivan Tue 25 Nov 2025 at 06:30

Having opened its doors in 1981, back when Dublins dining scene was, shall we say, rather stark, Patrick Guilbauds quickly became our benchmark for fine dining, and for many years was our only holder of two Michelin stars. With the eponymous Guilbaud to the fore, executive chef Guillaume Lebrun heading the kitchen from day one, and ever suave restaurant manager Stephane Robin taking care of all things front of house, its been frequented by celebrities, captains of industry and politicians from the nearby Leinster House.
I didnt get enough points for medicine in Ireland so I went to study to be a doctor in Tbilisi, Georgia instead

Ryan Mangan was shattered when he initially did not secure enough points in his Leaving Cert to study medicine  but now, over a decade on, thanks to medical school in Tbilisi, Georgia, his dream is finally within reach

Ryan Mangan has enjoyed learning about Georgian culture during his time studying in capital city Tbilisi

Aideen OFlaherty Tue 25 Nov 2025 at 06:30

Becoming a doctor was an ambition I developed as a teenager growing up in Belclare, Co Galway. I was fascinated by human anatomy. My family, on my mums side, were very involved with the Order of Malta, so theyre first aid responders. So I guess I got some inspiration from that side, although there are no doctors in my family.
US president Donald Trump has been more than accommodating to the Russian leader while berating Ukraine's president. Photo: AP

The jury may be out on the complete masterworks of Donald J Trump, but his dubious insistence on employing a chainsaw when it comes to finessing the finer points of diplomatic joinery continues to alarm.

So there was real relief in Kyiv and the capitals of Europe when news broke that what had been described as Moscows wishlist, the 28-point plan drafted by Mr Trump, has been at least partially set aside.

Decisions on the final red lines have to be agreed between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Mr Trump, before being presented to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The American humourist Will Rogers said: Diplomacy is the art of saying Nice doggie until you can find a rock. Mr Trump seems to prioritise first finding the rock, and then giving the diplomatic route a look.

He had set the day after tomorrow (Thanksgiving in the US) as the deadline for Ukraines assent to his original deal. Many regarded this as a complete capitulation to Putin. Yes, there may still be grounds for caution, but the fact that Washington has taken on board some of Ukraines concerns, and is also now briefing Europe, is somewhat reassuring.

Advisers to Mr Zelensky are still anxious that he avoid another showdown with Mr Trump in the US. Memories of the humiliation he was subjected to in the Oval Office last February are hard to dismiss.

While Mr Trump has been unfailingly courteous and accommodating to the Russian leader, he repeatedly treats Mr Zelensky with disdain. At the weekend, the US president warned Mr Zelensky he should either accept the deal or else continue to fight his little heart out. It was a remarkably crass comment, given Ukraine was invaded and its civilians are being nightly killed in their homes, under relentless Russian attack.

US president Donald Trump has been more than accommodating to the Russian leader while berating Ukraine's president. Photo: AP

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, November 25

The US continues to tighten the vice on Kyiv. But rushing an unjust deal to conform with some spurious timeline would be disastrous.

We were not sitting in the Netflix headquarters writing scripts that will be Oscar-nominated

We were not sitting in the Netflix headquarters writing scripts that will be Oscar-nominated, warned Ukrainian first deputy foreign minister Sergiy Kyslytsya. We should not be driven by excitement or hype, but by responsibility and the complexity of the issues.

Let there be no doubt, what was on the table reduced Ukraine to vassal-state status.

Ceding huge territory, slashing its armed forces and forsaking its most effective weapons would leave both Ukraine and the whole of Europe at the mercy of Putins voracious empire-building appetite.

Mr Zelensky has pledged to work with the US; his country is open to compromise, but one that strengthens not weakens us, he said.

But he has insisted: Borders cannot be changed by force. Criminals must not remain unpunished.

Yesterday, Mr Trump posted that something good just may be happening. Yet as the leader of the worlds remaining superpower, he has the power to remove any doubt and make sure that it does.

For this is a grave moment, not just for Ukraine, but for the world.
The road is treacherous, declared Cllr Frank OFlynn as he appealed for advance warning signs, a reduction in the speed limit and an upgrading of the road surface at Bob Tobin's Cross, Ballyclough on the N72 Fermoy Tallow road which has been the scene of many serious accidents recently.

Cllr OFlynn appealed for the various safety measures to be implemented at the junction during a recent Fermoy Municipal District meeting.

Cllr OFlynns motion requested that Cork County Council urgently call on Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to put in place a slow down advance warning sign, reduce the speed limits from 80kmh to 60kmh and replace the road surface with special non-skid surface in the interest of safety at Bob Tobin's Cross, Ballyclough on the N72 Fermoy Tallow road.

Cllr OFlynn said there have been three accidents on this section in the past couple of weeks. The road coming into it is very rough. We will have to get funding for that section as far as the county bounds. It is very dangerous. It is definitely a health and safety issue. God only forbid before there is a very serious accident there. The road is treacherous.

We need a 60kmh, emphasised Cllr OFlynn. If you are going from Mallow to Cork, at Grenagh there are three speed limits, 100kmh, 80kmh and 60kmh. I am asking that we contact TII wondering what immediate steps we can take to prevent an accident. Can we ask for a low-cost scheme for this area? Something has to be done. There is a history here of crash after crash after crash. It is an exceptionally dangerous junction.

Independent councillor William OLeary who seconded the motion said a full audit of signage also needs to be carried out. In terms of signage on that route, particularly from Fermoy as far as Tallow, a full audit does need to be carried out. There are a couple of places where concealed entrances signs are needed.

Independent councillor Peter ODonoghue agreed that the particular stretch of road is a very fast stretch of road. Are the Council looking at the introduction of mirrors to improve sight lines where junctions are entering onto national roads with very fast speeds? he wondered.

Acting Senior Executive Engineer with Cork County Council, Darren Kenneally said this particular motion has been passed on to the relevant people involved. The next speed limit review is 2027 but a 60kph in this rural location would not be appropriate. However, this will be sent to our National Roads Office (NRO) for investigation.
Comedian Jarlath Regan, paid a festive visit to the Mater Public Hospital to launch the Mater Hospital Foundations Christmas Campaign. Picture: Andres Poveda

Comedian Jarlath Regan paid a festive visit to the Mater Public Hospital this week as he helped launch the Mater Hospital Foundations annual Wrapped in Care Christmas campaign.

The Kildare-born performer, best known for his Irishman Abroad podcast and much-loved Irish Mammy sketches, joined nurses and staff on the wards to meet patients and shine a light on those who will be too unwell to return home for Christmas.

The campaign, which runs throughout December, aims to raise funds to provide comfort, support and small moments of joy for patients spending the festive season in the Mater.

The Foundation is encouraging people to get behind the appeal by making a donation, sending a virtual Christmas card or taking part in its Festive 5,000 Christmas Raffle, which offers five prizes of 1,000.

Speaking at the launch, Regan said he was proud to support a hospital that has played a personal role in his life.

We are all inclined to forget about the tireless work that goes on throughout the holiday season  whether its your mammy conjuring a gorgeous meal out of nothing or the staff in the Mater tending to those most in need, he said.

Comedian and Mater friend Jarlath Regan, with l-r: Maura Heylin, Blanca Dalmot, Sonya Kelly, Iseult O'Mahony and Eunice Doyle. Picture: Andres Poveda

The Mater has done a huge amount for me over the years. Its only right that we give back in whatever way we can at Christmas.

The Foundation said the appeal helps ensure patients and their families experience warmth and care at what can be the most difficult time of year. Chief executive Mary Moorhead said Regans involvement has brought a welcome lift to the hospital.

Jarlath is a true source of joy and laughter for so many, especially through his hilarious and heartfelt Irish Mammy sketches that are so popular, she said.

Were absolutely thrilled to have him bring that same humour and warmth into the hospital this Christmas, helping us wrap our patients in care and kindness.

She added that while medical teams work hard to get as many patients home as possible, many will need round-the-clock hospital care.

By supporting our Wrapped in Care campaign, you can be there for patients this Christmas and beyond by helping us provide urgent funding where its needed most, she added.

The Mater Hospital Foundation, established in 1985, is the official fundraising body for the Mater Public Hospital. It provides vital support for specialist staff, hospital facilities, equipment and pioneering research.

Donations to this years appeal can be made at materfoundation.ie/christmas or by contacting the Foundation team on 01 830 3482.
Galway city councillors have criticised the aspirational 2026 budget this week as changes to the draft proposal were passed through.

At the Budget Meeting at Galway City Council on Monday November 24, councillors discussed the proposed budget for the upcoming year which would see rises in commercial and parking rates in the city.
Irish filmmaker Margo Harkin refuses University of Galway honorary doctorate over its Israeli ties

Margo Harkin rejected the title over University of Galways ties to Israeli educational institute Technion which, she said, are a stain on the universitys reputation

Margo Harkin. Photo by Chris Hill

Joseph Murray Tue 25 Nov 2025 at 06:00

Irish filmmaker Margo Harkin has refused an Honorary Doctorate from University of Galway in protest of its continued partnership with an Israeli institution.
Defendant told gardai the bog was his own

The defendant allegedly damaged about 2,000 of newly cut turf.

A Glanageenty man charged with damaging newly cut turf told a small-town court he would rather go to jail than avail of bail.

James Brian OConnor of Galnageenty, Ballymacelligott, was the first case of the day at the November sitting of the one-room Cahersiveen courthouse.

And so, Mr OConnor (62) had time to reconsider.

The court heard that Mr OConnor believed the bog where the turf was harvested was his own.

It was alleged he damaged approximately 2,000 of newly cut turf belonging to Margaret Carmody at Muingaminnane, Castleisland on May 31, 2023.

A garda took the stand to relate Mr OConnors statements to gardai.

I have registered title to that bog going back to 1984, he said, claiming Ms Carmodys land registration was not a proper folio.

The court heard that he said he had made formal complaints to gardai about Ms Carmodys damage to the bog for years and he objected to her so-called folios.

I was trying to stop criminal damage to my bog, which is also a priority habitat, he said.

The State had no objection to bail and Judge David Waters set a bond at 200.

Mr OConnor did not wish to avail of bail.

Prison awaited.

Judge David Waters noted Mr OConnor was not in custody at the hands of the State but by choice.

He can sign the bond here or in prison at any time and hell be released, said the judge.

He accepted jurisdiction and ordered him to appear at Tralee Court via video link from prison.

Mr OConnor sat on the hard bench that serves as the Cahersiveen dock for nearly two hours, alongside gardai, while the judge went through the monthly list of charges and summons for Cahersiveen and Killorglin District Courts.

The courtroom began to empty.

At 12.20pm, Mr OConnor changed his mind and signed the bond.

The judge warned him against any hint of a repeat offence while on bail.

At the subsequent Tralee sitting his solicitor Brendan Ahern applied for disclosure.

The case is adjourned to December 17 for a plea or a date.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
A teenager in custody attended Tralee District Court in person on Wednesday to face charges of criminal damage and a charge for possession of a controlled drug.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been in custody at Oberstown Children Detention Campus, a facility in Dublin for children aged 10 to 17.

He sat by his grandmother and was permitted to translate for her.

It was alleged he smashed a front patio door at Marian Park, Tralee at 3.15am on June 10. The court heard the woman who lived in the house came downstairs to find her front patio door broken. It is alleged that her grandson owed money to the defendant.

The door was valued at 1,375.

Judge David Waters asked if allegations related to earlier charges.

Sergeant Detective Chris Manton said it had a similar vein but was independent in and of itself.

The teenager was also charged with criminal damage for breaking a mobile phone valued at 1,000 on March 9 and for possession of cannabis on August 25 at Clonmore Grove, Ballymullen, Tralee.

The judge accepted jurisdiction.

The defendant will remain in custody and appear by video link on November 26.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Alex and Eoin with their physics teacher Kevin McCarthy at the recent awards event in Dublin.

Two Kerry pupils are looking forward to representing Ireland in Phoenix, Arizona, next year after their success in the National SciFest finals at Marino College in Dublin last week where they were overall national runner-ups.

Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra physics pupils Eoin Cashman and Alex Thompson won the Regeneron International Science & Engineering award.

Over 16,000 second-level students entered SciFest 2025 making their success all the more special. Eoin and Alexs physics teacher, Kevin McCarthy, and the wider school family are immensely proud of their achievement.

The boys presented and explained their project to a series of judges from scientific, engineering and physics backgrounds and drawn from colleges, universities and industry.

SciFest is the largest second-level STEM fair programme in Ireland and is hosted locally in schools and regionally in third-level colleges with the regional winners travelling to Dublin for the national finals.

Their project was titled Dust Dynamics: Analysing Planetary Bodies through the Ballistic Motion of Lofted Dust Particles and explores how the motion of moving dust particles can be used to determine the physical properties of a planets environment and calculate such quantities as atmospheric density and acceleration due to gravity.

Eoin and Alex analysed the behaviour of the dust particles kicked up by the tyres of the Lunar Roving Vehicle driven by Commander John Young on the lunar surface during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972 as observed in the 16mm footage taken by astronaut Charlie Duke.

In their analysis, they use online software to track the motion of the dust particles and the equations of motion that they learnt in their physics class to perform calculations. Their calculation of the value of the acceleration due to gravity on the lunar surface of 1.72 ms-2 was within 6.7 per cent of the accepted value.

They believe that future applications of their work could include the analysis of footage taken on other planets such as Mars so as to determine characteristics such as the presence and density of an atmosphere as well as the strength of local gravity.

The Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair in Arizona next year is the world's largest pre-college science competition.
Seaghan O'Suilleabhain ( The Kerry Cowboy), Caitlin Breathnach of Udaras na Gaeltachta, Niamh O'Shea of Cumas Ceantar, Abby Curran, Maria Ni Shuilleabhain of Glor na nGael, Fiona Holly (teacher), John Dorgan stiurthoir an Aonaid. Photo by Ruth Brophy

Fiona Holly and Maria Ni Shuilleabhain with Abby Curran. Photo by Ruth Brophy

Kayla Siegerson Walsh, Hazel Kennedy and Georgia O'Sullivan with Abby Curran. Photo by Ruth Brophy

Colaiste na Sceilge students involved in the mural project. Joshua O Meachair, , Holly Rose Duff, Hazel Kennedy, Liadh McGowan, Siun Ni Siochru, Ciara O'Connor, Gemma O'Donaghue, Ella O'Neill, Sorcha O'Sullivan, Georgia O'Sullivan and Kayla Siegerson Walsh. Photo by Ruth Brophy

A mural celebrating South Kerry identity created by students, teachers and a local artist has been unveiled at Colaiste na Sceilge in Cahersiveen.

The mural, titled Meitheal, is the result of a creative collaboration between the schools Aonad students and local artist Abby Curran, a Dromid woman who is a past pupil of Colaiste na Sceilge.

Abby, who recently graduated from Crawford College of Art and Design, returned to her old school to work with students on a large-scale mural inspired by the natural landscape, native wildflowers, and the cultural heritage of Uibh Rathaigh.

Through collaborative workshops and design sessions, the students helped shape the final artwork.

They offered students a chance to experience art as a living expression of identity and language.

Because Abby is from the area and a past pupil, she was the perfect role model for our students, a school spokesperson said.

The mural celebrates creativity, collaboration, and pride in the Irish language while connecting students more deeply to their place and culture.

Artist Abby described the project as inspiring and grounding.

It was rewarding to see the students creativity and confidence grow. They were full of ideas and enthusiasm, and it reminded me how important it is to celebrate our native language and to show young people that art can be a real and meaningful career path, she said.

Abby first learned the mural process through taking part in a community mural project in Cahersiveen with West Walls, funded by Cathair Saidhbhin le Gaeilge and organised by Cumas Ceantar.

Her exhibition Layers of Time & Traces is running at the Alliance Francaise de Cork Gallery until the end of November.
A 41-year-old grandmother who bit a garda outside a courtroom and spat in his face has been jailed for 9 months after pleading guilty to assault causing harm.

The officer was escorting Marta Hopkins to Dundalk Court when the incidents occurred on November 25, 2022.

The defendant, a native of Poland, who has addresses in Co. Cavan, has been living in a Dublin hostel since her release from Mountjoy Prisons Dochas Centre last April, a sentence hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court was told.

Counsel for the accused said that she had stopped taking medication against medical advice but is complying again.

Sgt Cathal Buggy gave evidence that Gda Keith Maguire had taken Ms Hopkins to Dundalk Courthouse. She began shouting and singing loudly outside one of the courtrooms.

She shouted louder and the garda attempted to move her. She bit his dominant right arm, holding the bite for a number of seconds and leaving teeth marks. The skin was not broken.

The defendant began laughing. While being brought to the cells she turned and spat directly in the officers face, getting him on the eyes, nose and hair. She again started laughing.

When interviewed about what happened, Ms Hopkins, a mother of four, said that she had memory problems.

"I dont think he would lie. Maybe I got a seizure, she added.

The defendant was shown the CCTV. She said she saw three people on her.

"Im okay. I dont know how I survived.

She continued that she didnt remember. She was sorry.

There are 35 previous convictions, including 15 for assault.

Gda Maguire read out a Victim Impact Statement. He still didnt understand why Marta Hopkins assaulted him on two occasions.

He said he still sees the anger and malice in her face. It was worrying while waiting for the result of blood tests.

He added that he had never been involved in an unprovoked incident of this nature.

Counsel for Ms Hopkins, who had the assistance of an interpreter, handed into court two reports, and said that she had fallen from a bunk bed aged 5 and slept for two days afterwards.

The defendant was involved in a traffic collision in 2019.

She was not trying to excuse her clients behaviour but there is a neurological and medical background.

Two of her children were in court.

Judge Dara Hayes remarked that the district courts refusal of jurisdiction in this case was entirely in order, after the DPP directed summary disposal.

Gardai are entitled to be protected while on duty of attacks of this nature.

Thankfully, there were not more serious injuries, Judge Hayes continued.

There was some degree of bizarreness to the incident.

An 18-month sentence was imposed, the final 9 months suspended for 12 months.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Ballymotes Foroige Youth Cafe amongst the winners

Young people from County Sligo and Leitrim were honoured at An Garda Siochanas annual National Garda Youth Awards which recognise exceptional young people aged 13-21 who have positively contributed to their community.

This years event took place at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise and acknowledged the remarkable contributions of 25 recipients, representing Garda Divisions including Kildare/Carlow, Galway, Wexford, Kerry, Dublin, Cork County, Sligo/Leitrim, Limerick, Meath/Westmeath and Donegal.

Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing & Community Engagement, Catharina Gunne, opened the ceremony, while Guest of Honour Miriam OCallaghan introduced each award category.

Guest speaker, 2025 International Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins, was interviewed by Miriam OCallaghan during the ceremony.

Garda National Youth Award 2025  25 recipients as selected by a national panel:

Community Safety Award:

 Foroige Youth Cafe Ballymote - Sligo/Leitrim

Individual Awards:

 Amy Van Der Merwe - Sligo/Leitrim

Speaking at the ceremony, Assistant Commissioner Gunne, said: All of todays nominees and award recipients are to be commended for their dedication and commitment.

An Garda Siochana is delighted to be able to publically recognise their hard work, commitment and enthusiasm.

Our communities are seeing the benefit of the contribution they are making.

Each winner here today represents the very best of what young people in our communities can achieve. They are all inspirational.

The citation for for Foroige Youth Cafe, Ballymote was: Division: Sligo/Leitrim

-Nominator: Deirdre & Rachel (Leaders)

-Organisation: Foroige Youth Cafe Ballymote

-Award Winners: Foroige UBU South Sligo - Ballymote

Foroige UBU Ballymote Senior Youth Group decided to carry out an active citizenship project.

They identified that many people are concerned about the rising numbers of road traffic accidents due to drivers using alcohol and other substances and decided to make a film highlighting the consequences of driving under the influence.

The group raised awareness about the responsibility of every citizen to keep others safe in their community.

The group showed great dedication and commitment to promote safety for all.

Their depiction of the potential tragic results that the lack of personal accountability can have on real lives will resonate with people of all ages.

Individual award winner:

Division: Sligo/Leitrim

-Nominator: Mandie Azbill

-Organisation: Breffni Youth Cafe, Carrick-on-Shannon.

-Award Winner: Amy Van Der Merwe

Since moving to Ireland from South Africa, Amy has become an inspiring young leader at Breffni Youth Cafe.

Kind, inclusive, and compassionate, Amy ensures every person who walks into the cafe feels welcomed and valued.

Through her leadership, she has created a strong sense of belonging and kinship among a culturally, ethnically, and economically-diverse group.

She is a leader, mentor, and friend to all.

Each week, she leads and guides activities, encouraging accountability and participation. Her dedication and inclusive approach perfectly embody the spirit of volunteerism.

Amy devotes much of her time to supporting others. She checks in on group members wellbeing and collaborates with the youth worker to identify and address hidden needs.

She also helps young people access information and resources, encouraging them to believe in themselves and take positive steps forward.
Uisce Eireann may have to pay out after several motorists suffer burst tyres and wheel damage at pothole following works in Sligo town
A man, who admitted using threatening, insulting and abusive behaviour has been jailed for two months, at Sligo District Court.

Patrick Stokes (24), of Amberley House, Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin pleaded guilty to the charge before Judge Eiteain Cunningham.

Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that gardai got a call from staff at Sligo Railway station about a man who pushed his way on to the train after his card was refused.

Sergeant Derek Butler said the defendant was aggressive and refused to get off the train and there were other members of the public present.

When gardai arrived, the defendant was not co-operative and was abusive and he was arrested for using threatening insulting and abusive behaviour.

The court heard the defendant, who has 121 previous convictions appeared via video link, and was not legally represented, said he had a TFI Disability Card and thought that entitled him to get on the train,

The defendant said he was sorry for what happened.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham noted that he had 121 previous convictions and jailed the defendant for two months to run concurrently with an existing sentence.
Wexford County Council (WCC) has been urged to send a clear message that hate-speech will not be tolerated in schools, offices, homes, community halls or anywhere else within the county.

Inspired by the creation of the North West Anti-Racism Charter (NWARC) in Co Derry last month, Councillor Tom Forde asked that Wexford adopt a similar policy to that adopted by Mayor Ruairi McHugh on October 7.

At the November meeting of WCC, Cllr Forde tabled a motion he which requested WCC to formulate and adopt an Anti-Racism Charter similar to the recently developed North West Anti-Racism Charter (cross border initiative), as a matter of urgency; that copies of said charter should be made available and displayed in workspaces, social spaces and anywhere where people gather throughout the county; and that the council invite businesses, community-groups and organisations across the region to avail of the charter and to display it publicly so as to send a clear message that hate-speech and divisive actions are not welcome and will not be tolerated in schools, offices, homes, community halls or any other place."

Created in association with the Bloody Sunday Trust, the North West Migrants Forum and the Irish Network Against Racism, the North West Anti-Racism Charter pledges to oppose all harm by words and actions on the basis of difference of race and colourlive together, love together, struggle together, thrive togetherhold ourselves and others to account for racist words and actionscommit to policies and practices that oppose division by race and colourpromote these attitudes throughout our region in the north west of Irelandsay no to racism.

While Cllr Fordes motion was welcomed in the chamber, Cllr Barbara Anne Murphy suggested that any Wexford anti-racism charter be widened to include the Equal Status Act which prohibits discrimination based on, among others, gender, religion, age, and sexual orientation.

However, county secretary Michael Drea said the likelihood was that WCC would be asked to sign up to the North West Anti-Racism Charter at which point any amendments could be included.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Local girls retrieving the sandbags after the flooding in Bridgetown on Saturday morning. Pic: Jim Campbell

While families and businesses count the cost of yet another flood in Bridgetown, thoughts have quickly turned to ensuring what happened last weekend does not happen again. However, given the villages recent history, which includes the catastrophic floods of Christmas 2020, those living in Bridgetown could be forgiven for asking why they continue to wait for the long-awaited, much-mooted, flood defence scheme.

At the November meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD), as councillors and engineers continued to digest the horror stories relayed to them by residents, an update on the status of the scheme was requested by cathaoirleach of the district, Councillor Ger Carthy.

We know that Wexford County Council (WCC) is progressing a report in relation to a flood defence scheme for Bridgetown and I would hope the Minister for the Office of Public Works (OPW)  Kevin Boxer Moran  will look favourably upon that report.

This scheme is now urgent, but its not straightforward because theres issues pertaining to lands further down.

Senior engineer for the RMD, Michael Brazzill, confirmed that the report was progressing well and was due back in the coming days

Its been a long, ongoing process, theres a lot of surveys been carried out there. This is a feasibility report, the next stage will be the design, at the moment its about deciding what can work and what should work. Once we have the design we will put it out for public consultation.

Although nothing has been set in stone as of yet, Mr Brazzill said the scheme would involve raising the banks and walls along the canal in the village, installing overflow pumps which will pump back into the river, and pump stations on both sides of the village.

Local girls retrieving the sandbags after the flooding in Bridgetown on Saturday morning. Pic: Jim Campbell

"Once the report is in and its agreed with WCC and the OPW it will progress to the application for funding. Hopefully it will be approved shortly thereafter, he stated.

In the interim, Mr Brazzill wished to address what some were calling misinformation regarding the cause of the floods in Bridgetown last weekend.

Just to clarify, Bridgetown is on a different system to Kilmore, theres two separate drainage patterns. Bridgetown drains to the sea at Blackstone, thats its drainage outlet. It is not connected to Kilmore which has a separate system and a sluice gate system in Crossfarnogue.

"We spoke to the OPW and it confirmed Bridgetown is not connected to Kilmore.

Cllr Jim Codd begged to differ.

We have two drainage systems and, in the last flood, we pumped the water from the Kilmore system into Bridgetown, he said. The sluice gate in Kilmore is not letting the water out fast enough, in times past it was operated manually and a huge volume of water could leave that area.

The suggestion that the senior engineer knew less about the drainage systems in the district than a mere layman irked Cllr Carthy.

Whats the relevance of Kilmore in relation to Bridgetown? he asked Cllr Codd. Youre talking about the lowlands affecting Bridgetown, I dont know if thats factually correct. I would certainly side with our engineer whos qualified to speak on this and who has sought counsel from the OPW on how this works.

Addressing Cllr Codds theory, Mr Brazzill said the only time the two drainage systems ever interacted was due to a failure of a flood bank in 2021.

House surrounded by water after the flooding in Bridgetown on Saturday morning. Pic: Jim Campbell

But the Aontu councillor was only getting started. Producing a map from his desk, he proceeded to explain the machinations of the RMDs drainage system to Mr Brazzill.

Theres the map, it has two water systems, he said, pointing out the locations to the engineer. The sluice gate in Kilmore has a very short distance to the sea, the water must travel to Cullenstown to get out. Every resident in Kilmore will tell you that, on Saturday, they looked out at the canal and the gripes and saw they were filled to the maximum and the water was not being released.

"Theres two waterways, one tidal and one which needs to be released quicker into the sea. This map does not tell lies.

Despite Cllr Codds orations and his teaching background, he had managed to lose large sections of the room during his two-minute explainer.

Im completely confused, said Cllr Lisa McDonald. I didn't hear of any flood in Kilmore last weekend. And I speak to the locals too, not just you.

Did we receive any reports of flooding in Kilmore? asked Cllr Carthy.

We got one call, said Mr Brazzill. I didnt hear of any flooding there bar the one person Cllr Codd sent my way. The OPW said there were no issues detected in Kilmore, it checked the levels at the pumping stations and said they were at reasonable operation.

Cllr Jim Codd in Bridgetown during the floods.

The OPW has said you (Cllr Codd) need to bring these concerns to its representatives, it is responsible for those gates. Have you contacted the OPW?

The OPW should come to our meetings, replied Cllr Codd.

Have you spoken to the OPW? asked Mr Brazzill.

Yep, came the response.

When did you speak to them?

I have called for the OPW often to come to our meetings.

But you havent spoken to them?

With the meeting threatening to descend into farce, Cllr Carthy reminded Cllr Codd that, ultimately, the issues he was raising could not be resolved in the chamber.

The OPW is responsible for that area of the RMD, not Michael, the funding for the Bridgetown scheme will come from the OPW. We cant fix all the problems. You need to communicate with the OPW, bring its staff to Kilmore, show them whats going on there, and let them answer your questions. We do not control sluice gates or valves on its property.

Youre blaming our senior engineer for everything and it stops now.

Cllr McDonald went a step further, suggesting that Cllr Codds exhortations amounted to scaremongering.

In relation to the flood defence scheme were awaiting, that has nothing to do with the misinformation or misrepresentation with regards to the sluice gate in Kilmore, these are completely separate and distinct issues. This is doing the public a disservice and is fuelling fear in our communities.

Despite facing such antipathy to his suppositions, Cllr Codd had one last salvo in him.

Let me be clear, we pumped the water from one system into the other during the last big flood, he said.

The bank breached and the water went over the bank, thats not pumping, countered Mr Brazzill.

Somehow, after all that, Cllr Aoife Rose OBrien managed to get a question in about the potential cost of the scheme.

Between 3-5m, replied Mr Brazzill.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
The chairman of the culture select committee has questioned whether the BBC board is in safe hands with its chairman Samir Shah after he was unable to give direct answers at an evidence session focusing on impartiality.

Mr Shah gave evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Monday and was asked about the action he would take following a leaked memo from former editorial adviser Michael Prescott which raised concerns that a speech by US President Donald Trump, featured in a Panorama episode, was selectively edited.

The fallout from the report, which saw Mr Trump threaten the BBC with a billion-dollar litigation, led to the resignation of both director-general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness.

Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Speaking to BBC Radio 4s The World Tonight programme, chairwoman of the CMS Committee Dame Caroline Dinenage said there is chaos at the heart of the BBC board and clearly some issues of governance.

Samir Shah didnt really have any direct answers to some of the questions that we asked, she said.

We were talked through how the decision to apologise over the Panorama editing error was made, but it became very clear that the board were well aware of that error and that issue many, many months ago.

And as a chair of the select committee I was just very keen to get to the bottom of why it was that suddenly, now this sort of profuse apology came forward.

Was it because they had 500 complaints from members of the public? Was it because it was subject of multiple reports in the newspaper, or was it because theyre being threatened with legal action by the president of the United States.

And it was quite difficult to get a straight answer to those questions.

After Mr Prescotts report became public the chairman apologised on behalf of the BBC over an error of judgment and accepted that the editing of the speech gave the impression of a direct call for violent action.

The programme, broadcast a week before the 2024 US election results, spliced two clips together so that Mr Trump appeared to tell the crowd: Were going to walk down to the Capitol and Ill be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.

Dame Caroline said: Theres clearly some chaos at the heart of the BBC board, but, but then theres sort of more systemic issues beyond that, and we were really looking for hard evidence that the BBC board are going to grip this, Im not entirely convinced that they can and that they will.

She added: I dont think as a committee, we were wildly enthused that the the board is in safe hands.

Following reports of the leaked memo, it took nearly a week for the BBC to issue an apology and Mr Shah admitted the corporation was too slow in responding to the Panorama edit of Mr Trump.

Asked if someone else should take over as chair after a new director-general is appointed, Dame Caroline said: Well I mean, obviously thats thats a matter for the BBC board.

And the two members that appeared in front of us today, said that they had full confidence in the chair but I think were going to need to see a lot more robust answers to questions like the ones we were posing today.

Everything was very wishy washy. There wasnt a huge sense that there was grip at the at the heart of the BBC governance.

Mr Shah also told the CMS Committee on Monday that he was inclined to restructure the BBCs executive committee after commenting that the role of director-general is too big for one person.
Your job here is not to fight one another, it is to fight this climate crisis, UN climate chief tells Cop30 in Brazil
The US presidents plan for ending the nearly four-year war emerged last week (Evan Vucci/AP)

US president Donald Trump said his plan to end the war in Ukraine has been fine-tuned and that he is sending envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin and army secretary Dan Driscoll to meet Ukrainian officials.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was banned from Venice for 48 hours and fined 132 after she and fellow Extinction Rebellion activists dyed the Grand Canal green in a protest over the weekend.

Thirty-five other activists received the same punishment. The activists said they used an environmentally harmless dye to draw attention to the massive effects of climate collapse.
LATEST | Zelensky accepts majority of US-led Ukraine peace deal, Starmer says as talks continue

Russia launches deadly attacks on Kyiv despite holding peace talks with US

Isobel Koshiw Associated Press Tue 25 Nov 2025 at 18:30

A renewed US push to end the war between Russia and Ukraine is gathering momentum, although some of the key issues remain unresolved, officials said on Tuesday.
An Italian man has been accused of dressing up as his dead mother, complete with lipstick and pearl necklace, to fraudulently claim her pension in a case that has been dubbed the Mrs Doubtfire scandal.
US troops in the Caribbean have reportedly been told they may not be able to go home for Thanksgiving and Christmas as the White House ramps up its pressure campaign against Venezuela.
Donald Trump-backed peace plan under pressure amid complete uncertainty

Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in Gaza near the line demarcating areas of Israeli control yesterday, underlining the struggle to broaden a fragile ceasefire deal approved over six weeks ago to global acclaim.

Palestinian medics said the incidents involved an Israeli drone firing a missile at a group of people east of Khan Younis, killing two and wounding another, and a tank shell killing a person on the eastern side of Gaza City.
Pope Leo XIV celebrates a Mass for the Jubilee of Choirs, in Saint Peter's Square, at the Vatican, at the weekend. Photo: Reuters

After decades of conflict, residents of the Christian town of Rmeich in Lebanons war-battered south hope Pope Leos trip to their country later this week will bring peace  and the strength to stay as the regions Christian communities dwindle.

Nestled on Lebanons southern border with Israel, Rmeich has been home to Catholics for more than 300 years. Today, it is ringed to the south by Israeli military posts, and to its north by predominantly Muslim villages pummelled by Israeli air strikes during last years deadly war.
Erotic poetry written by RFK Jnr to 32-year-old lover published by her ex-fiance

Salacious verses allegedly written for journalist Olivia Nuzzi (32) by US Health Secretary (71) revealed by her jilted partner

Journalist Olivia Nuzzi (pictured) has released extracts from her memoir American Canto, in which she described falling for RFK Jr while covering his 2023 presidential campaign. Photo: Getty

Nick Squires Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Tue 25 Nov 2025 at 06:30

Robert F Kennedy Jr once dumped a dead bear in New Yorks Central Park, sawed the head off a whale, claimed that a worm ate part of his brain and has peddled multiple conspiracy theories.
Judge throws out Trumps criminal case against former FBI director James Comey

Ruling stated the appointment of prosecution attorney Lindsey Halligan, who is a former personal lawyer to the president, was unlawful

US President Donald Trump speaks during the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, DC on November 19. Photo: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Sarah N Lynch and Andrew Goudsward Reuters Tue 25 Nov 2025 at 06:30

A federal judge yesterday dismissed criminal charges against two perceived adversaries of Donald Trump  former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia James  ruling that the US attorney the president handpicked to prosecute them was unlawfully appointed.
Judge tosses Trump team case against James Comey and Letitia James after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed

Describing her rationale, the judge stated that Lindsey Halligan, who brought both cases, had been unlawfully appointed by Trump

Former FBI Director James Comey testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee (File photo: REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein)

Brendan Rascius UK Independent Tue 25 Nov 2025 at 00:00

A US federal judge has tossed high-profile cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James after finding that the prosecutor was illegally appointed.
India-Cyprus Relations: Strategic Partnership and Economic Roadmap 20252029

India and Cyprus are advancing their long-standing partnership with renewed emphasis on economic, strategic, and technology-led cooperation. Both sides have begun reviewing the Joint Action Plan 202529, which outlines initiatives to strengthen defence collaboration, improve connectivity, and expand bilateral trade and investment.

For businesses, this evolving framework provides a more stable policy environment and opens up fresh opportunities for cross-border partnerships.

India and Cyprus partnership built over the span of six decades, has expanded notably in areas such as trade, investment, and multilateral engagement, with both countries now prioritizing deeper economic collaboration as a central pillar of their bilateral agenda.

Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos visited New Delhi from October 29-31, 2025, on his first official trip to India. During the visit, he met with Indias External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to discuss bilateral relations, the India-Cyprus Joint Action Plan, and regional and global issues.

As per media reports, the two ministers reviewed the India-Cyprus Joint Action Plan 202529, which outlines a roadmap for expanding cooperation across emerging sectors.

India-Cyprus Joint Action Plan 2025-29

Earlier in June 2025, India and Cyprus outlined a framework to elevate their bilateral engagement through a structured Five-Year Joint Action Plan (20252029). This plan was endorsed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Cyprus (June 15-16, 2025).

The Action Plan mandates regular high-level political consultations and systematic follow-up through existing bilateral mechanisms. Additionally, Cyprus Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Indias External Affairs Ministry will jointly oversee implementation of this initiative.

Defense, security, and crisis cooperation

A central pillar of the India-Cyprus Joint Action Plan 202529 lies in defense and security collaboration. Both countries have committed to expanding their partnership across strategic, operational, and technological domains to address evolving security challenges.

The Action Plan prioritizes cooperation in the following areas:

Defense industry collaboration: Joint exploration of defense manufacturing, technology partnerships, and industry linkages to support strategic autonomy in both countries. Cybersecurity and emerging technologies: Strengthening cooperation on cyber resilience, digital infrastructure security, and new-age defense technologies. Maritime security: Enhancing coordination through regular port calls by Indian naval vessels, joint maritime training activities, and improved maritime domain awareness in the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific regions. Crisis response and SAR operations: Establishing mechanisms for coordinated crisis response, including evacuation operations and search and rescue (SAR) cooperation.

These efforts build on a series of recent foundational agreements and exchanges:

An MoU on defense cooperation, signed in December 2022, set the framework for structured defense engagement.

The Bilateral Defense Cooperation Program (BDCP) 2025, finalized in January 2025, outlines annual activities and areas of collaboration.

Participation of a Cypriot delegation in AERO India 2025 strengthened avenues for defense technology cooperation, joint ventures, and industry partnerships.

Connectivity and regional integration

Recognizing their complementary geostrategic roles, India and Cyprus agreed to jointly support the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a platform for sustainable connectivity and economic integration. With Cyprus position as a gateway to Europe, and both countries are keen on greater participation of Indian shipping companies in Cyprus and the initiation of joint maritime ventures.

Trade, innovation, and investment cooperation

The Action Plan also places emphasis on expanding bilateral trade, investment, research collaboration, and innovation. Key initiatives include:

A high-level Cypriot business delegation visit to India Establishment of a CyprusIndia Business Forum and dedicated business roundtable New partnerships across startups, academia, and industry Proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, and scientific research

Expanding economic and commercial relations

Economic engagement between India and Cyprus has strengthened over the past several years, supported by expanding trade flows, deeper investment linkages, and growing business-to-business partnerships. While annual trade volumes remain modest, the relationship is becoming more diversified across commodities and sectors, reflecting wider economic cooperation.

Mapping trade trends (FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25)

Bilateral trade between the two countries has fluctuated over the past five years, influenced by global market conditions and cyclical demand.

Indias exports to Cyprus rose from US$90.11 million in FY 2020-21 to a peak of US$139.85 million in FY 2021-22, followed by corrections and modest recovery in subsequent years.

In recent years, Indias imports from Cyprus have steadily grown, particularly in FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23, reflecting growth in sectors such as metals and machinery.

Overall bilateral trade averaged around US$160-200 million annually, with FY 2024-25 recording US$138.74 million.

Despite fluctuations, the trade basket has broadened, and both economies are exploring opportunities to scale two-way commerce.

India-Cyprus Trade Relations Year-on-Year (Value in US$ Million) Trade indicators 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Indias export to Cyprus 90.11 139.85 81.88 94.92 89.92 % Growth  55.20 -41.45 15.92 -5.26 Indias imports from Cyprus 23.98 74.32 116.17 41.25 48.82 % Growth  209.87 56.32 -64.49 18.36 Total trade 114.09 214.17 198.06 136.17 138.74

Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI.

Indias Top Commodity Exports to Cyprus (Value in US$ Million) HS code Commodity 2024-25 2025-26 (Apr-Aug) 29 Organic chemicals 36.19 12.01 73 Articles of iron or steel 4.76 2.75 84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances; parts thereof. 3.71 2.30 69 Ceramic products. 4.13 1.83 03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates. 3.19 1.77 48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper, or of paperboard. 2.67 1.64 10 Cereals. 2.64 1.47 90 Optical, photographic cinematographic measuring, checking precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus parts and accessories thereof; 2.11 1.30 30 Pharmaceutical products 5.75 1.17 85 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts. 3.98 1.12

Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI.

Indias Top Commodity Imports from Cyprus (Value in US$ Million) HS code Commodity 2024-25 2025-26 (Apr-Aug) 31 Fertilizers. 0.00 13.19 74 Copper and articles thereof. 9.93 4.61 76 Aluminum and articles thereof. 8.06 4.22 47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard. 3.19 3.26 25 Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime, and cement. 14.79 2.82 84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances; parts thereof. 2.44 2.65 72 Iron and steel 7.10 2.62 93 Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof. 0.27 1.18 88 Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof. 0.00 0.24 79 Zinc and articles thereof. 0.61 0.16

Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI.

Cyprus foreign direct investment (FDI) into India

Cyprus remains one of Indias top investment partners. According to data from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Cyprus ranks as the ninth-largest source of FDI equity inflows into India, with cumulative investments of US$15.76 billion between January 2000 and June 2025.

These investments have been concentrated primarily in the following sectors:

IT and software services

Automobile manufacturing

Real estate and infrastructure

Logistics services

Shipping and maritime activities

Pharmaceuticals

Also Read: Indias Foreign Direct Investment Tracker 2025

Double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA)

A revised India-Cyprus DTAA (2016) brought the treaty in line with OECD BEPS standards, offering greater predictability for investors. These revision clarified the taxation of capital gains and resulted in Cyprus being removed from Indias list of Notified Jurisdictional Areas and improving its standing as an investment partner.

Cyprus is also among the few non-FATF (Financial Action Task Force) jurisdictions to receive Category-I Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) status from India, reinforcing its position as a preferred gateway for investment into India.

Recipient Country Withholding Tax Rates (%) from Certain Types of Income Dividend Interest Royalty Fee for technical services Cyprus 10 10 10 10

Source: Income Tax Department, GoI; India Briefing

Also Read: India Clarifies Tax Treaties with Mauritius, Cyprus, and Singapore

Trade facilitation platforms and business linkages

A number of institutional mechanisms underpin the growing commercial engagement between India and Cyprus. These platforms help expand market access, promote investments, and strengthen industry-level cooperation:

The Joint Economic Committee (JEC), established in 1989, serves as the primary forum for advancing trade, economic, and industrial collaboration.

Cyprus-India Business Association (CIBA) facilitates regular business outreach, networking, and sector-specific engagement between companies from both countries.

The Invest India-Invest Cyprus MoU (2021) provides a framework for coordinated investment promotion, enabling joint initiatives and business facilitation.

Regional chamber-level partnerships link the Cypriot cities of Limassol and Larnaca with the Indian regions of Goa and Bengaluru, as well as with Indian industry associations, to promote SME collaboration and localized economic cooperation.

The India-Greece-Cyprus Business and Investment Council (2025) has been established to expand trilateral collaboration in areas such as infrastructure, maritime services, technology, innovation, and small and medium enterprises.

Conclusion

India and Cyprus have entered into multi-dimensional partnership in 2025. With renewed momentum in trade, defense cooperation, technology collaboration, and institutional dialogue, the relationship is well-positioned to advance in the years ahead, supported by a clear focus on economic connectivity, investment growth, and strategic alignment.
( Image credit : Netflix | Joel Edgerton in Train Dreams )

Is Train Dreams based on a true story?

( Image credit : Netflix | Joel Edgerton during a scene in Train Dreams )

( Image credit : Netflix | A still from Train Dreams )

What is Train Dreams about?

Why is the film being called the best of 2025?

Train Dreams has quickly become one of 2025s most talked-about films, praised for its powerful storytelling and breathtaking visuals. The movie blends elements of reality and fiction so seamlessly that it feels almost like a true story. Exploring the resilience of the human spirit and the pursuit of dreams amid adversity, it has earned widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences, cementing its place as one of the years standout cinematic achievements.Although it feels too real, Train Dreams movie is not based on a true story. It is adapted from Denis Johnsons acclaimed 2011 novella of the same name, which is entirely fictional. The story follows Robert Grainier, a made-up character whose life unfolds against the rugged backdrop of the early 20th-century American West. Although the plot and protagonist are inventions, Johnson rooted the novella in a place he personally knew well, Bonners Ferry, Idaho. This real location, where Johnson once lived, becomes the atmospheric setting where Robert builds and rebuilds his humble cabin.To preserve that sense of grounded authenticity, filmmakers Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar immersed themselves in the same region while developing the movie. They spent time in Bonners Ferry to understand the land, landscape, and rhythms of life that Johnson drew from. This helped them recreate the novels emotional tone and environmental realism, even though the events and characters remain fictional. By capturing the spirit of the place, they aimed to bring the storys world to life with honesty, texture, and a deep respect for Johnsons original vision.The plot of Train Dreams follows Robert Grainier, a quiet railroad worker and logger trying to build a life for himself in the rapidly evolving American West of the early 1900s. The film traces his journey through love, loss, and the challenges of a world undergoing enormous change. As Robert marries Gladys and dreams of a modest, peaceful home, tragedy alters the course of his life, pushing him into a decades-long reflection on identity, grief, and the passage of time. Told with a poetic, almost meditative tone, the story blends the harshness of frontier life with moments of deep emotional beauty, creating a moving portrait of a man shaped by both the wilderness around him and the memories he carries.The cast of Train Dreams brings real depth to Denis Johnsons characters, led by Joel Edgertons quietly powerful performance as Robert Grainier. Felicity Jones adds warmth and tenderness as Gladys, grounding the films emotional core. Strong supporting turns from Clifton Collins Jr., Kerry Condon, and William H. Macy further enrich the story, making the world around Robert feel lived-in and authentic.Train Dreams has quickly become a fan favourite, with viewers praising the film for its simple yet profoundly moving story that feels both heartwarming and heartbreaking at once. Audiences have been captivated by how beautifully the movie is crafted,from its gentle pacing and stunning visuals to its delicate direction that lets the emotions breathe. The narration and dialogue linger long after the film ends, striking a chord with those who appreciate storytelling that is intimate, poetic, and deeply human. For many, Train Dreams isnt just a movie to watch, its an experience that stays with you.The adaptation is made so beautifully that it feels like youre still reading lines from the book.You can stream Train Dreams on Netflix.
( Image credit : Instagram @americaneagle | Martha Stewart in American Eagle holiday campaign )

Martha Stewart in the American Eagle holiday campaign

Why did American Eagle choose Martha Stewart?

( Image credit : Instagram @ americaneagle | Martha Stewarts message in the American Eagle campaign. )

Martha Stewarts message in the campaign

( Image credit : X @sydneysweeneyxdaily | After Sydney Sweeney controversy, American Eagle taps Martha Stewart )

Fan reactions to the new ad

American Eagle is entering the holiday season with a surprising twist. After facing controversy earlier this year for using 28-year-old actress Sydney Sweeney in a fall ad campaign, the Gen Z-focused retailer is now turning to an icon from a completely different generation, 84-year-old Martha Stewart. The sudden change in direction has already started conversations online, especially because the brand is trying to appeal to both young shoppers and the families who buy gifts for them.To understand why this new campaign is getting so much attention, heres a full breakdown of what American Eagle is doing, why Martha Stewart is involved, and how fans are reacting.American Eagles holiday campaign, titled Martha Stewart Hosts the Holidays in American Eagle, launched Tuesday. It will feature three playful 30-second videos set to run across the brands social media channels.In each clip, Martha swaps her usual kitchen apron for a pair of American Eagle jeans while showing viewers how to dress the turkey, dress the table, and wrap your gifts. The goal is clear: American Eagle wants to reach young shoppers but also appeal to older generations who shop for them during the holidays.Take a look at the first clipAccording to Womens Wear Dailys report, Craig Brommers, American Eagles chief marketing officer, explained why the retailer picked Stewart right after the Sydney Sweeney backlash. He said, Martha bridges generations, just like our jeans do. According to him, the holiday season is the perfect moment to connect people of all ages.Brommers added, Gen Z loves Martha Stewart. Im just blown away by how much resonance she has with Gen Z right now. Theyre finding her on TikTok, theyre finding her on social media, and theyre watching her documentary on Netflix. Theyre searching for old cookbooks.This means Stewart may not be Gen Z herself, but she has surprisingly strong influence among them. Brommers even pointed out, Mom is following Martha on Instagram, and Grandma is following Martha on the Today show, which gives her rare cross-generational reach.According to the same portal, data backs this up. An E-Poll study found that between 2020 and 2024, Stewarts awareness among Gen Z grew 33 percent, putting her on the same level as Millennials. This rise in popularity made her a natural choice for a campaign meant to connect families during the gifting season.Stewart explained why she believes American Eagle jeans are the right holiday gift. She said, The holidays are a time for thoughtful giving, and Ive always believed theres nothing more useful or more universally appreciated than a pair of jeans.She praised the brand, adding that American Eagle makes denim that feels exceptional, fits beautifully, and lives up to the demands of everyday life. She also noted that people shouldnt choose between comfort and style, saying, If you want to give a gift that will be worn, loved, and appreciated long after the wrapping paper is gone, give the gift of American Eagle jeans.Online reactions have been mixed, some playful, some political, and some nostalgic. One user wrote on X, They helped their dying brand by hiring Sydney; now the pressure to put a liberal in there must have been a political move. Another said, Without context this could be an American Pie reboot, a Martha Stewart recipe, or an American Eagle ad.A third added, The 90s are having a huge cultural influence on music today, too and discussed how Gen Z is revisiting older styles in music and fashion. On Instagram, one person joked, Martha also has good jeans, while another simply called the campaign iconic.For those unfamiliar, Stewart is a well-known businesswoman, writer, TV personality, and entrepreneur. She built Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, a lifestyle company that covers publishing, TV, merchandising, and online content.
The online cookie empire that came crashing down

Meet the alleged production expert behind the scenes

A wider war against cannabis in Edo state

Edo States National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has pulled the plug on what they describe as a growing online drug network, fronted, surprisingly, by a teenage social media influencer. Nineteen-year-old Praise Nwogu, known to her followers as Candy, was arrested after allegedly promoting and selling cannabis-infused cookies across her social platforms. Her glossy videos and tempting sweet treats, however, were not just quirky online content, they were part of what authorities say was a carefully run operation.The NDLEAs State Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, shared that this was not a one-off discovery but the culmination of weeks of strategic monitoring. Officers had been quietly tracking the digital bakery, gathering evidence and mapping out the network behind the cannabis-laced confections. When the time came, the operation unfolded in Benin City on 22 November, swift, calculated, and decisive.Praise, originally from Imo State, was found with an assortment of brownies and cookies that tested positive for cannabis indica. Officers recovered 12 plates and one cup of the infused treats, allegedly prepared for online distribution. Ofoyeju later explained that Praise was believed to be the mastermind behind the online promotions, using social media to glamorise and market the illegal products.Alongside Praise, the NDLEA also arrested 25-year-old Ebong Oghosa, who they believe played the role of the operations production specialist. During her arrest, officers found 76 grams of cannabis sativa, 1.5 grams of the more potent Colorado strain, and a freshly baked batch of brownies. Tools of the trade, even down to the pan she allegedly usedwere seized as evidence.Ofoyeju stated that the arrest highlighted the agencys unwavering commitment to dismantling evolving forms of drug trafficking, especially those hiding in plain sight behind curated social media personas. He emphasised that the NDLEA is prepared to confront the increasingly digital nature of drug distribution and warned anyone attempting similar schemes that arrest is only a matter of time.The case does not end with two arrests. The commander revealed that NDLEA officers have recently destroyed nine illegal cannabis farms across Edo State. The state government and the NDLEA are working together on stricter drug control while also exploring sustainable agricultural alternatives to discourage cannabis cultivation.Investigations into the influencer-led cookie ring are still ongoing, and both suspects are expected to face charges in court soon. Authorities are urging the public to report suspicious activities, saying that only collective vigilance can keep communities safer
A distinguished career





( Image credit : X/ @yzilabs | Cassandra Seier  NYSE leader and finance expert )

Circumstances of her passing





( Image credit : X/ @CapitalLink | Cassandra Seier  inspiring mentor and NYSE executive )

Tributes and legacy





Next year is the Year of the Dragon, which is supposed to be an auspicious year, Cassandra Seier, head of the New York Stock Exchanges international capital market, told Yicai. We might see more Chinese companies come and celebrate at the @NYSE to ring the bell here. pic.twitter.com/scL4keRWwF









 Yicai  (@yicaichina) October 24, 2023





( Image credit : X/ @NYSE | Cassandra Seier  remembered for leadership & mentorship )

Cassandra Seier, Head of International Capital Markets at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), tragically passed away over the weekend. Seier was widely recognised as a prominent figure in global finance, having spent over two decades of experience at Goldman Sachs before joining the NYSE in 2022. Her sudden passing has left colleagues and the financial community mourning her loss.Seier earned her BA in Finance and Economics, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Oregon's Lundquist College of Business. She began her career at Goldman Sachs in 1996, initially working in Singapore as an Operations Specialist. By 1999, she moved to New York as Client Services Team Leader and eventually became a Managing Director in 2014. At the NYSE, she was responsible for sourcing listings from international companies across Canada, EMEA, Asia, and Latin America, while also guiding firms and investment professionals on IPOs.Seier was also deeply passionate about promoting diversity and mentorship in finance. She served as CEO and President of Women in Financial Markets (WIFM), a nonprofit dedicated organisation providing networking and mentorship opportunities for underrepresented groups, particularly women in the financial sector.The NYSE confirmed Seiers passing in a statement to Reuters, but did not provide details regarding the cause. Reports from various media outlets indicate that Seier may have been involved in a biking accident in the Bahamas Exuma district. According to eFinancial Careers, she lost control of her bike at Highbourne Cay and was airlifted to New Providence, the islands largest hospital, but unfortunately did not survive.Lynn Martin, President of the NYSE, paid tribute to Seier on LinkedIn, highlighting her passion and dedication. She described Seier as a tireless defender of the principles she believed in and a fierce champion of every single customer she touched, adding that Seiers influence and commitment had left a lasting impact on the NYSE family.Her family includes her husband, Thomas Seier, and their son. Her colleagues remember her not only for her expertise and leadership but also for her mentorship and unwavering support of those around her.Cassandra Seiers passing marks a profound loss to the financial industry, leaving behind a legacy of professionalism, leadership, and dedication within the industry.




The move fits into the administrations wider plan to support rapid growth in AI through a low-regulation approach and maintain an edge over China in the expanding field of advanced technologies.



 The Manhattan Project for AI is here.









President Trump is set to unveil the "Genesis Mission" tomorrowand its a total paradigm shift for the AI Supercycle.









The details are massive:







 National Emergency Status: AI is now treated like the Nuclear program or Space pic.twitter.com/qiTc2MTpuS







 Karol Kozicki (@k2__investment) November 23, 2025 President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order launching the Genesis Mission, a national programme designed to speed up scientific research using artificial intelligence. The administration has compared the scale of the initiative to the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bomb during World War II.The move fits into the administrations wider plan to support rapid growth in AI through a low-regulation approach and maintain an edge over China in the expanding field of advanced technologies.

Federal effort to centralise AI resources

Today, the Department of Energy is introducing the Genesis Mission.









President Trump is launching this historic national effort to harness the AI computing revolution and double the productivity of American science within a decade. Americas Golden Age of discovery begins now. pic.twitter.com/ZBGCKvax08







 U.S. Department of Energy (@ENERGY) November 24, 2025





A push to limit state-level AI regulation

The Genesis Mission is launched!









Big day for American Science and AI. pic.twitter.com/d30fJCAd15







 Director Michael Kratsios (@mkratsios47) November 24, 2025







Competition with China shapes priority areas A significant portion of the order focuses on sectors where the US faces increasing competition from China. Priority domains identified for the Genesis Mission include:



These areas represent core components of long-term technological leadership. By speeding up discovery through a unified AI platform, the administration aims to strengthen the countrys position in global research and industrial capacity.



The Genesis Mission: A short story pic.twitter.com/etUI6dFcnl







 Autism Capital  (@AutismCapital) November 25, 2025







The Genesis Mission signals a major federal effort to accelerate AI-driven discovery while resisting state regulations and addressing competition from China. A significant portion of the order focuses on sectors where the US faces increasing competition from China. Priority domains identified for the Genesis Mission include:These areas represent core components of long-term technological leadership. By speeding up discovery through a unified AI platform, the administration aims to strengthen the countrys position in global research and industrial capacity.The Genesis Mission signals a major federal effort to accelerate AI-driven discovery while resisting state regulations and addressing competition from China.

The order directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to build an integrated AI platform that brings together the countrys supercomputers, federal scientific datasets and government research facilities.The aim is to accelerate work across multiple sectors, including nuclear fusion, semiconductor manufacturing and other areas where AI-driven tools can dramatically reduce research timelines.According to the order, America is in a race for global technology dominance in the development of artificial intelligence, and AI is described as an important frontier of scientific discovery and economic growth.At the core of the effort is the new American Science and Security Platform, which will provide researchers with high-performance computing access, AI modelling capabilities and the federal datasets needed to train scientific foundation models. These models are intended to streamline and automate large portions of research work that traditionally require significant time and manpower.The DOE has been asked to identify 20 priority scientific challenges within 60 days. From this list, the platform must demonstrate an initial operating capability within nine months for at least one major challenge.Alongside the research initiative, the White House is exploring ways to block US states from implementing their own AI rules.The administration has warned that federal support could be withdrawn from states that introduce separate AI regulations, arguing that a patchwork of differing rules would slow technological progress and make it harder for the US to compete internationally.
Ash cloud moves 100-120 km/h toward North India

Flight cancellations and impact on Indian Airports

DGCA Advisory and airline responses

#WATCH | New Delhi | Visuals from Indira Gandhi International Airport.











After Ethiopias Hayli Gubbin volcano erupted on Sunday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory to airlines asking them to avoid altitudes and regions affected by ash clouds. pic.twitter.com/ytEEIsw7xH









 ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2025





IndiGo, Air India and other airline statements

( Image credit : X/@IndiGo6E | IndiGo says safety is top priority as it adjusts operations amid ash cloud. )

( Image credit : X/#airindia | Air India maintains normal operations while tracking Ethiopia ash cloud. )

Global and regional repercussions

A rare eruption from Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi volcano has unleashed a massive ash and sulphur dioxide plume, disrupting aviation routes across Asia and triggering a wave of flight cancellations, including those affecting India. The eruption, a first in nearly 10,000 years, has quickly become a global concern as the ash cloud drifts across the Red Sea, prompting urgent advisories from aviation authorities and intense monitoring by airlines.The ash cloud from Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi volcano is moving at speeds of 100-120 km/h at altitudes between 15,000 and 25,000 feet, with the potential to reach up to 45,000 feet, as per IndiaMetSky Weather. They stated, Ash cloud moving towards North India. A large ash plume can be seen stretching from #HayliGubbi Volcano region up to #Gujarat. The eruption has stopped ever since the eruption, but this Ash plume has been sent up into the atmosphere, which is moving at a speed of 100-120km/h toward North India. The weather agency forecast that "the ash cloud will enter Gujarat (West side) and move towards Rajasthan, northwest Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab by 10 pm." They also warned that the sky may look darker and hazier than usual, affecting air quality and causing expected flight delays and changes in flight plans especially in Mumbai and Delhi ATC areas.Multiple airlines, including IndiGo, Akasa Air, and KLM, have cancelled or rerouted flights in response to the ash plume. At least six IndiGo flights have been disrupted. Notably, a KannurAbu Dhabi IndiGo flight (6E 1433) was diverted to Ahmedabad mid-air. Additional cancellations out of Cochin to Dubai and Jeddah were reported, along with international flights between Amsterdam and Delhi. Operations at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport continued under strict observation with real-time situation updates.Indias Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an urgent advisory instructing all airlines to avoid routes and altitudes contaminated with volcanic ash and to update flight paths and fuel calculations according to live alerts. The advisory references alerts from global volcanic ash advisory centres and details heightened requirements for pilot caution and operational flexibility. Airlines are required to maintain constant communication with authorities and regularly update passengers about changing conditions.Visuals from Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday showed multiple flights delayed as operations continued under heightened vigilance.IndiGo has assured travellers that their safety remains the top priority, emphasising continuous coordination with global aviation bodies and readiness to adjust to the evolving situation. The airline has increased staffing at airports and customer service points to support passengers and minimise disruptions.Meanwhile, Air India reported no significant disruptions to its flights following the Ethiopian volcanic eruption. In a brief statement, the airline confirmed there has been no major impact on flights so far, while carriers worldwide keep a close watch on the ash cloud movement from the Hayli Gubbi volcano.Similarly, Akasa Air and KLM have issued public advisories and confirmed careful route monitoring in compliance with international safety directives.The ripple effects of the Ethiopian volcanic eruption are being felt far beyond India. Major Middle Eastern and European airports are also managing disruptions, and international agencies continue to monitor the movement of the ash cloud. Scientists describe the Hayli Gubbi event as one of the most extraordinary in recent geologic history, underscoring the need for continued vigilance as the situation develops.
Ben Affleck's exes feuding over holiday arrangements

National Enquirer

( Image credit : X/@21metgala | Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner are clashing over holiday plans, leaving Ben Affleck caught in the middle. )

Lopez and Garner split over holiday plans

( Image credit : X/@ThePopTingz | Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck with his daughter Violet )

Jenny on the Block

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's roller-coaster romance: From 2000s love to a 2024 split

Gigli

( Image credit : X/@PopFaction | Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopezs on-again romance ends in a 2025 divorce after two decades of highs and reconciliations. )

About Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck's relationship

Gone Girl

13 Going on 30

Pearl Harbour

Daredevil

( Image credit : X/@PopBase | Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner keep co-parenting strong after 2015 split )

Ben Affleck just cant seem to catch a break when it comes to his Jennifer drama. The 53-year-old actor is reportedly caught in a tense back-and-forth as Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Lopez struggle to agree on holiday plans, creating friction as they try to navigate their complicated blended family arrangement.According to areport, JLo, 56, and Garner, 53, each have their own ideas about how the holiday schedule should work with Afflecks three children. Their conflicting preferences have allegedly left Affleck stuck in the middle, trying to keep everyone calm while managing growing tension.The tabloid claims the two women cant agree on where Affleck and the children should spend the festive season, leading to fresh strain in an already delicate dynamic.According to the report, Lopez, 56, has suggested taking Affleck and his children Violet, 20, Fin, 16, and Samuel, 13, whom he shares with Garner, on a tropical getaway for the holidays. The unnamed sources claim she believes a trip would give the family quality time together and offer the kids a break from the constant public attention surrounding their parents.Garner, 53, on the other hand, is said to prefer keeping the holidays close to home in Los Angeles. The outlets insiders describe her as hesitant about disrupting the childrens routine, noting that she and Affleck have long focused on providing stability and consistency since their 2018 divorce.Affleck is reportedly juggling pressure from both households, though these claims have not been verified by any of the family members.Notably, despite Affleck and JLo's 2024 divorce, thehitmaker is said to share a close-knit bond with his children and is often seen spending time with them on casual outings. Affleck is also close to JLo's twins, whom she shares with her ex-husband Marc Anthony.Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez first fell in love in the early 2000s after meeting on the set of their film. Famously dubbed Bennifer, they got engaged in 2002 and planned to marry in 2003, but called it off just days before the wedding due to intense media scrutiny.Nearly two decades later, the pair rekindled their relationship in 2021, re-engaged, and finally tied the knot in a quick Las Vegas ceremony in July 2022 (followed by a larger celebration in Georgia). Yet by April 2024, things had already soured; Lopez later filed for divorce in August, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalised in January 2025.Theactor andfame began their relationship in 2004 after meeting on the sets ofand. They were engaged in April 2005 and married in June 2005 in a private ceremony in Turks and Caicos. They had three children together before announcing their separation in 2015.Despite the split, they continued to co-parent their children amicably, often living together for a time and supporting each other. Their divorce was officially filed in 2017 and finalised in October 2018, with joint legal and physical custody arrangements for their kids. They have maintained a cooperative co-parenting relationship focused on their children's well-being despite the divorce.
Kerala lottery result today , November 25, 2025 OUT:

Kerala Sthree Sakthi SS-495 winning numbers, November 25, 2025

1st Prize:

2nd Prize:

3rd Prize:

Consolation Prize:

4th Prize:

5th Prize:

6th Prize :

7th Prize :

8th Prize :

How to claim your Kerala lottery prize for November 25, 2025?

Verify your ticket against the official Kerala lottery results to confirm you have a winning number.

Sign your name and write your address on the back of the original winning ticket to prevent misuse.

For prizes up to 5,000, collect your prize directly from any authorized Kerala lottery agent.

For prizes above 5,000 and up to 1 lakh, submit your ticket and claim form at the District Lottery Office in Kerala.

For prizes exceeding 1 lakh, submit your claim in person to the Directorate of State Lotteries, Thiruvananthapuram, along with necessary documents.

Required documents include the original signed ticket, a filled claim form, photo ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, etc.), two passport-sized photos, and PAN card details for tax processing.

Submit your claim within 30 days of the draw date; late claims may be disqualified.

Prizes above 10,000 are subject to a 30% tax deduction before payment.

Higher prize payments are made via crossed cheque or bank transfer; provide your bank account details including IFSC code.

Keep photocopies of all documents and the acknowledgment receipt from the lottery office for your records.

Kerala lottery result today live: What time are Sthree Sakthi SS-495 results published?

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Disclaimer: The above mentioned data is based on information available from official online sources. We do not endorse or promote any lottery or Teer games. Please play responsibly and verify results through official channels.

Kerala Lottery Result today, November 25, 2025, for the Sthree Sakthi SS-495 lucky draw has been announced. The draw took place at 3 pm at Gorky Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. This weekly lottery offers exciting cash prizes, with the first prize being Rs 1 crore, the second prize Rs 30 lakh, and the third prize Rs 5 lakh.Lottery participants eagerly await the official list of winning numbers published by the Kerala Government, and winners are advised to verify their tickets and claim their prizes within the stipulated time.The Kerala Sthree Sakthi SS-495 lottery draw for November 25, 2025, was held at Gorky Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram. The first prize is Rs 1 crore, the second prize Rs 30 lakh, and the third prize Rs 5 lakh. The official winning numbers have been announced and winners can check the full list of winning ticket numbers starting from 3 PM.Prize claim instructions include submitting the original ticket and relevant documents to designated lottery offices within 90 days. Smaller prizes up to Rs 5,000 can be claimed from any Kerala lottery shop.The winning numbers for the Sthree Sakthi SS-495 draw for November 25, 2025 include:Rs. 1 CRORE: SS 236846Rs. 30,00,000: SN 134599Rs. 5 LAKH: SY 824095Rs. 5,000: SN 236846 SO 236846 SP 236846 SR 236846 ST 236846 SU 236846 SV 236846 SW 236846 SX 236846 SY 236846 SZ 236846Rs. 5,000: 0057, 0933, 1273, 1893, 2491, 3830, 4057, 6203, 6573, 6666, 6864, 6883, 7903, 7925, 8753, 8760, 8896, 9873Rs. 2000: 1505, 2524, 3327, 5397, 8200, 8462Rs 1,000: 0172, 0248, 0258, 0617, 1719, 2570, 3136, 3151, 3508, 3568, 3707, 5105, 5344, 5491, 5916, 5951, 6257, 7685, 8086, 8127, 8856, 9280, 9591, 9726, 9756Rs 500: 0000, 0061, 0221, 0638, 0645, 0716, 0730, 0740, 0861, 1067, 1197, 1405, 1714, 1729, 1797, 2117, 2251, 2574, 2597, 2707, 2761, 2767, 3001, 3014, 3056, 3216, 3275, 3321, 3668, 3755, 3762, 3888, 4303, 4327, 4571, 4702, 4810, 4816, 4972, 5034, 5041, 5208, 5246, 5288, 5306, 5313, 5468, 5536, 5825, 5895, 6081, 6128, 6306, 6341, 6476, 6490, 6635, 6647, 6754, 6886, 7212, 7740, 7797, 7822, 8129, 8307, 8380, 8553, 8721, 8974, 9031, 9464, 9507, 9647, 9689, 9772Rs 200: 0029, 0237, 0388, 0569, 0641, 0684, 0874, 0883, 1048, 1108, 1300, 1501, 1551, 1599, 1734, 1784, 1798, 1862, 1881, 2070, 2111, 2121, 2219, 2386, 2569, 2795, 2861, 2863, 3107, 3243, 3259, 3317, 3363, 3421, 3442, 3522, 3599, 3622, 3676, 3694, 3817, 4065, 4147, 4154, 4181, 4197, 4430, 4572, 4769, 4844, 4866, 4983, 5040, 5310, 5334, 5455, 5514, 5585, 5708, 5986, 6074, 6695, 6703, 6728, 6768, 6841, 6876, 6884, 6923, 7019, 7102, 7292, 7344, 7398, 7670, 7705, 7802, 7905, 7912, 7959, 8049, 8201, 8595, 8693, 8878, 9302, 9437, 9593, 9730, 99329th Prize : Rs 100: 0002, 0040, 0054, 0113, 0357, 0441, 0507, 0540, 0611, 0722, 0726, 0759, 0779, 0812, 0844, 0880, 1218, 1270, 1388, 1446, 1448, 1565, 1609, 1632, 1827, 1847, 1848, 2042, 2369, 2384, 2400, 2403, 2576, 2579, 2629, 2744, 2757, 2949, 3043, 3103, 3146, 3156, 3162, 3177, 3202, 3203, 3206, 3207, 3347, 3484, 3488, 3570, 3608, 3790, 3831, 3915, 3950, 3989, 4015, 4124, 4199, 4210, 4231, 4257, 4363, 4384, 4419, 4456, 4511, 4552, 4610, 4751, 4858, 4890, 4992, 5010, 5012, 5020, 5140, 5165, 5167, 5323, 5339, 5357, 5366, 5485, 5786, 5789, 5819, 5990, 6139, 6175, 6312, 6485, 6489, 6511, 6515, 6547, 6548, 6561, 6667, 6673, 6734, 6782, 7216, 7438, 7496, 7570, 7584, 7602, 7606, 7717, 7931, 7940, 7950, 7962, 8059, 8077, 8105, 8183, 8271, 8399, 8461, 8477, 8592, 8656, 8769, 8809, 8845, 8877, 8900, 8935, 8977, 9017, 9075, 9173, 9201, 9237, 9248, 9331, 9339, 9443, 9446, 9573, 9590, 9709, 9786, 9857, 9940, 9973To claim your Kerala lottery prize for the November 25, 2025 Sthree Sakthi SS-495 draw, follow these steps:The Kerala Sthree Sakthi SS-495 lottery results for November 25, 2025, are published live starting at 3:00 PM. The draw is held at Gorky Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, and the official PDF result is released by the Kerala State Lotteries Department around 4:00 PM.Winners can check their ticket numbers from 3 PM onwards as the live update begins.The Kerala Lottery Result for Sthree Sakthi SS-495 has been declared on November 25, 2025. The draw was held at 3 PM in Gorky Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, with the first prize worth 1 crore, second prize 30 lakh, and third prize 5 lakh.The official winning numbers are available on the Kerala State Lotteries Department website, and the result PDF is released around 4 PM. The list can also be checked at authorized Kerala lottery shops.To claim your prize, verify your ticket, sign it, and submit it with documents like ID proof, PAN card, photos, and the original ticket. Small prizes up to 5,000 can be claimed at agents, while higher prizes must be claimed at the District Lottery Office or the Directorate of State Lotteries.Winners must claim their prize within 30 days of the draw date, i.e., before November 6, 2025. Claims submitted after this period will not be accepted.The upcoming draws are Dhanalekshmi DL-68 on October 8, Karunya Plus KN-640 on October 9, Suvarna Keralam SK-69 on October 10, Karunya KR-772 on October 11, and Samrudhi SM-70 on October 12, 2025.
Kim Kardashians law journey

( Image credit : Instagram @kimkardashian | Kim Kardashian recently revealed she failed her first California State Bar Exam. )

Kim Kardashian fails the bar exam

Spelling errors in study notes

( Image credit : Instagram @kimkardashian | Spelling errors in Kim Kardashian's study notes. )

Kim Kardashian said AI misled her

( Image credit : Instagram @kimkardashian | Kim Kardashian, 45, has long been passionate about law and prison reform. )

Why becoming a lawyer still matters to Kim

Keeping Up With the Kardashians

The Kardashians

Kim Kardashian has shared many moments of her journey to becoming a lawyer, but one of her videos has brought a new wave of questions and drama online. The reality star posted a clip on Instagram showing her emotional reaction to failing the bar exam on November 17.Kardashian started reading law in 2019, a rare path that lets someone study as an apprentice under a lawyer instead of going to law school. Only a few states allow this option, including California. She has said in past interviews that her goal was to take the full California bar exam by 2022.To reach that point, the State Bar of California requires students on this path to pass the First-Year Law Students Examination, known as the baby bar, and finish a four-year apprenticeship. Kardashian failed the baby bar three times before she finally passed in December 2021. At the time, she explained she had Covid and a 104 fever during her third attempt.But passing the baby bar was only the beginning. As of November 2025, she still has not passed the full bar exam.In her announcement Instagram video, Kardashian confirmed that she failed her first full attempt at the bar. She begins the clip in tears, saying, Every time I feel like Im a step ahead, something happens to try to stop me from doing this. The video then jumps back to show two weeks before the bar exam, when she was deep in study mode.In her caption, she wrote: Ive shared so much of this journey with you, and this summer I documented some of the final two weeks of studying, the ups, the downs, and everything in between. On November 7th, I found out I didnt pass the bar. It was disappointing, but it wasnt the end. This dream means too much to me to walk away from, so Im going to keep studying, keep learning, and keep showing up for myself until I get there.The video also shows Kardashians handwritten notes, and according to Media ITs report, there are multiple spelling mistakes. Instead of writing terms like Dormant Commerce Clause, substantive due process, and the Erie doctrine correctly, her notes displayed several incorrect versions of these key legal concepts.While these errors went unnoticed in the video and the bigger issue is that the bar exam is extremely difficult. Californias test is one of the toughest in the U.S., and it requires more than memorising terms; it demands strong logical and analytical skills.Kardashian also revealed in the video that she often turned to an AI tool while studying. She said, I use it for legal advice. So, when I need to know the answer to a question, Ill take a picture and snap it and put it in there. Theyre always wrong. It has made me fail tests all the time.She added that she even argued with the AI at times. I will talk to it and say, Hey, youre going to make me fail. How does it make you feel?  I need to really know these answers, and Im coming to you. And itll say back to me, This is just teaching you to trust your own instincts. You knew the answer all along.This confession surprised many viewers and raised questions about how much she relied on AI during her studies.Kardashian has often said her interest in law comes from her late father, Robert Kardashian Sr., who was part of O.J. Simpsons defence team. Fans have been following her progress for years onand
Olivia Yace resigns as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania: 'Its time for Africa'

( Image credit : X/@tj_canino | Olivia Yace steps down as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, cites values and a new era )

( Image credit : X/@JauresTheboy | Olivia Yace says she stepped down to stay true to her values, urging Afro communities to keep pushing barriers )

Miss Universe 2025 rocked by rigging scandal

( Image credit : X/@kaxishk | Olivia Yace gives up Miss Universe Africa & Oceania crown, says shes standing for values and fair competition )

Public humiliation and apology

Miss Cote dIvoire Olivia Yace has officially stepped down from her role as Miss Universe Africa & Oceania and cut all future ties with the Miss Universe Committee. A fan favourite and widely expected to win, Yace ultimately placed fourth, sparking controversy and disappointment. Her resignation comes amid serious allegations that the Miss Universe 2025 competition was rigged in favour of Fatima Bosch of Mexico.Miss Cote dIvoire Olivia Yace announces Monday that she's renouncing her title Miss Universe Africa and Oceania amid the pageant fallour, reflecting her commitment to her values and her desire to empower others. Calling this moment a new era for herself and for young women around the world, she reiterated her belief that Its time for Africa.In her statement, Yace repeated her long-held goal of being a role model for the next generation. Go to places you think you dont belong. Shine and own your identity, she said, encouraging young girls to embrace their full potential. She added that she hopes to be the face of a new era of women who are leaders and that are unapologetic about who they are.Yace explained that the decision to walk away was rooted in her need to stay aligned with her guiding principles. Throughout my journey as an ambassador and beauty queen, I have served with commitment, resilience, discipline, and determination, she wrote, noting that to reach her full potential, she must remain firmly anchored in her values.She also used the moment to address Black, African, Caribbean, American, and Afro-descendant communities, urging them to keep pushing barriers. Continue entering spaces where you are not expected. Our presence matters, and our voices must be heard, she said.Yace extended her congratulations to the newly crowned Miss Universe and wished Miss Universe Jamaica a swift recovery. She expressed deep gratitude for the love and support she received throughout her reign, promising to continue her mission with the same determination to uplift and inspire.Signing off with her rallying message, she reaffirmed, Its time for Africa. With love and respect,Miss Universe 2025 was rocked by serious rigging allegations when former judge Omar Harfouch resigned just days before the finale, accusing the organisation of forming a secret panel that pre-selected finalists without the official judges' involvement. Harfouch claimed that this parallel group manipulated the selection process to favour Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch, alleging a "disrespectful conversation" with Miss Universe president Raul Rocha about the lack of transparency.He called Bosch a "fake winner", asserting her victory was influenced by her father's business ties with Rocha. The Miss Universe Organisation denied these claims, insisting that all judging followed established, transparent protocols, and threatened legal action against Harfouch for fabricating accusations. The controversy intensified after other judges also stepped down amidst chaos and public backlash, casting a shadow over the pageant's fairness and integrity.During the event, Miss Mexico also faced humiliation from Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil, who called her "stupid" during a livestreamed confrontation. Bosch stood her ground, declaring, "You are not respecting me as a woman," which led to security being called and Bosch walking out.In a show of solidarity, several other contestants joined her walkout, sparking significant backlash against Itsaragrisil, who later issued a tearful public apology. Following Boschs crowning, many online expressed disappointment, feeling her final answer was weaker than other finalists' and debating that other contestants deserved the crown more.Adding to the controversy, Natalie Glebova, Miss Universe 2005, publicly stated on Instagram that she believed the first runner-up was the real winner and criticised the judging process for its lack of transparency. This sequence of events has intensified ongoing claims of bias and manipulation at the pageant, casting a shadow over the legitimacy of Boschs victory.
Xi reaffirms position on Taiwan amid regional friction

Breaking! During the phone call with President Trump tonight, President Xi said that the return of Taiwan to China is an important part of the post-war international order.



















































China and America have been fighting militarism and fascism side by side. At present, it is even more pic.twitter.com/C2k9EUy1H8

















































 Li Zexin  (@XH_Lee23) November 24, 2025











































China-US trade momentum shapes the conversation

President Xi said that Taiwan is part of China. The historical and legal fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China cannot be changed by any individual or any force.

















































The complete reunification of the motherland must be achieved  and it will surely be pic.twitter.com/TQe4Nj41CH

















































 China Perspective (@China_Fact) October 25, 2025











































Taiwan responds, and Ukraine featured in the talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told US President Donald Trump that Beijings position on Taiwan remains unchanged, stressing that Taiwans return to China was an integral part of the postwar international order. The statement was made during a phone call on Monday, according to Chinas foreign ministry, and came amid heightened tensions over the self-governing island. The ministry said the call also covered trade and the conflict in Ukraine, but Taiwan remained central.China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and has pledged eventual reunification, including the use of force if necessary. Taiwans elected government continues to reject that claim.The call took place as Beijing remains locked in a diplomatic dispute with Japan over comments made by Japans new prime minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested that Tokyo might intervene militarily if Taiwan were attacked. The remarks triggered a drop in Chinese tourism to Japan, a ban on Japanese seafood and cancellations of joint cultural activities.Takaichi said she also held a call with Trump and discussed his conversation with Xi as well as broader US-Japan ties. She described the exchange as covering a wide range of issues in the Indo-Pacific region but gave no additional details.The US does not formally recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state but remains its most significant partner and arms supplier. Trump did not reference Taiwan in his Truth Social post about the call, instead praising what he described as extremely strong US-China relations.According to Chinas foreign ministry, Trump told Xi that the US understands how important the Taiwan question is to China.The call also touched on the two countries ongoing trade discussions, which followed their high-profile meeting in South Korea in late Octobertheir first face-to-face engagement since 2019.That meeting produced a tentative agreement: Beijing would pause certain export restrictions on critical minerals for one year, while Washington would scale back tariffs on Chinese goods. China is a major global supplier of rare earths, which are central to electronics, automotive components and defence systems.As part of the deal, Beijing also agreed to purchase at least 12 million metric tons of US soya beans by the end of the year, rising to 25 million metric tons in 2026.The US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington hoped to finalise a rare earths supply agreement with China by Thanksgiving.Xi told Trump during Mondays call that the two countries should keep up the momentum, adding that their October meeting recalibrated the course of the giant ship of China-US relations and provided more momentum for it to sail forward steadily. He said that ties had taken on a steady and positive trajectory since that discussion.Trump, in his statement, called the latest call a follow-up to that meeting and said both sides had made significant progress in keeping agreements current.Taiwans premier Cho Jung-tai responded on Tuesday, saying that returning to China was not an option for the islands population. The Republic of China, Taiwan, is a fully sovereign and independent country, he said, adding that, for its 23 million people, return is not an option.The leaders also discussed the war in Ukraine. China has positioned itself as neutral in the conflict, and Xi reiterated his backing for efforts to end the nearly four-year war, a priority Trump has repeatedly highlighted.
File photo of cans of Campbell's soup are displayed in a supermarket, March 25, 2021, in New York. Read more

A former employee of the Campbells Co. has sued the Camden-based food giant, alleging he was fired for reporting that a company vice president had made racist comments about coworkers and disparaged Campbells products.

Robert Garza, who worked as a cybersecurity analyst for the company, alleged in the lawsuit filed last week in Michigan that Martin Bally, a vice president and chief information security officer, made the comments during a November 2024 meeting that the complaint said was intended for a discussion of Garzas salary.

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Bally made several racist comments about Indian workers at the company, the complaint said.

Bally also told Garza that Campbells products were highly processed food for poor people, according to the lawsuit.

In an interview Garza did last week with WDIV, an NBC affiliate in Detroit, he said that he secretly recorded audio of the meeting, which occurred at a restaurant. The TV broadcast played some portions of the recording.

The audio recording is not mentioned in the lawsuit. It is legal in Michigan for one party in a conversation to make a recording without the consent of the other party.

In a statement, the Campbells Co. said: If the comments were in fact made, they are unacceptable. They do not reflect our values and the culture of our company. Mr. Bally is temporarily on leave while we conduct an investigation.

The company, which changed its name from the Campbell Soup Co. last year, added: We are proud of the food we make, the people who make it and the high-quality ingredients we use. The comments heard on the recording about our food are not only inaccurate  they are patently absurd.

The company said it uses 100% real chicken in our soups, and the meat comes from long-trusted, USDA approved U.S. suppliers and does not contain antibiotics.

[We] also want to emphasize that the person alleged to be speaking on the recording works in IT and has nothing to do with how we make our food, the company said.

James F. Regan, a spokesperson for the company, said Garza never told the company that he made a recording and the company learned about the recording after the TV report was aired last week.

Bally, the vice president, could not be reached for comment.

Zachary Runyon, Garzas attorney, was unavailable for comment.

In recorded excerpts included in the TV report, the person in the recording, alleged to be Bally, says: We have s for f poor people. The speaker then acknowledges rarely buying Campbells products, saying they are unhealthy.

The voice says that Campbells uses bioengineered meat. I dont wanna eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer. The speaker then goes on to make racist comments about coworkers.

Garza, who started with the company in September 2024, told the TV station he decided to record the conversation, which reportedly lasted more than an hour, because he had an instinct that something wasnt right with Martin.

The lawsuit says that Bally also disclosed to Plaintiff that he often appeared at work high from marijuana edibles.

The lawsuit says that Garza reported to his manager on Jan. 10, 2025, what Bally allegedly said during the November meeting. The complaint said the manager did not encourage Garza to report the incident to human resources and did not provide any direction on how to proceed.

On Jan. 30, according to the complaint, Garza was abruptly terminated from employment.

The complaint alleges that Garza was terminated in retaliation for complaining about Defendant Ballys racist behavior.

Garza is seeking unspecified compensation for damages and related costs.
OpenAI's ChatGPT app is displayed on an iPhone in New York in 2023. Read more

Its no secret that the use of both generative and agentic AI will proliferate over the next few years as the technology becomes more reliable and pervasive.

More than 58% of small businesses are already using AI in their companies, according to a recent study from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and that usage is expected to rise this year. For now, most of that can be attributed to chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and others.

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Because of this, your business needs to create and maintain a strict AI policy. Why?

An AI policy places guardrails around the usage of AI by your employees, said Philadelphia attorney David Walton, who chairs the artificial intelligence team at Fisher & Phillips. It allows your employees to use AI faster and better.

Without an AI policy, a business would be exposed to reputational damage thats caused by AI hallucinations or errors, Walton said. In addition, a companys proprietary data  pricing, contracts, customers information, processes  could be exposed to the public, particularly when employees use free AI tools that offer less protection.

Lawyer Star Kashman, founding partner of Cyber Law Firm, warns her clients that without an AI policy, employers could be exposed to claims of bias and other lawsuits.

For example, there might be some resumes from people of certain races, people of certain genders that maybe arent as accepted by the AI system, and youre automatically rejecting great candidates, she said. Youre going to be the one that has a huge lawsuit on your hands, even for your employees actions, if you werent able to protect it.

A good AI policy should include the following.

Include a statement of purpose for AI

The policy should be clear that AI is allowed only when used responsibly and with guardrails.

It should also be clearly stated that AI tools are used only when they can improve productivity, provided that they are safe and confidential.

Provide a list of approved applications

A companys AI policy should specify which tools and software are approved by management, both lawyers said.

The tools should be used for business purposes only. Free tools should not be allowed because of their privacy concerns, and if a tool is not listed in the policy, permission is required from management to use it.

When employees use AI on a personal account, Walton said, its hard for the business to control privacy settings, and confidential data may leak into free or public AI models.

Consider a proprietary information ban

Its still unclear how safe our data is when AI applications are being used. To that end, its a good practice to avoid or even ban the entry of private information into these platforms.

This would include customer data, financial statements, contracts, pricing information, personal identifying factors, trade secrets, or anything medical, legal, or human resources related.

State the ownership of AI work

When an employee makes a prompt into an AI chatbot, that query, as well as any resulting workflows and custom instructions, are all assets of the company and should be stated as so.

A companys AI policy should state that employees must return all AI-created work at separation, cannot export data into their personal accounts, and cannot use their own agents or tools for company work.

Avoid AI in HR

AI applications shouldnt be used in hiring or performance reviews, both Kashman and Walton said. Many platforms leverage AI to perform these functions, but these tools could create more headaches than benefits.

HR is the front line for legal problems tied to AI, Walton said. Relying on AI to make hiring, firing, or performance review decisions could be very problematic.

Ban certain outputs

An AI policy should ban the use of images, videos, or voice without management approval. NSFW (not-safe-for-work), pornographic, or defamatory content should be off limits. This can help protect against reputation damage, deepfakes, and offensive content.

Always use human oversight

We know todays AI tools are far from perfect. Your policy should state that everything AI produces must be validated, checked, sourced, and edited by a human.

Explain why the AI policy exists

AI is new, and your employees are already concerned about this new technology. Kashman said its important to explain the why behind each rule in your policy.

Instead of just dont, explain the risk to the employee and company such as hallucinations, data leaks, bias, etc. she said. Employees follow rules better when they understand them.

The uncertain regulatory environment is another big reason for creating an AI policy. Regulation of AI use shouldnt be expected anytime soon, Walton said.

Businesses must prepare for state-level AI regulation, especially around risk assessment and bias, because the federal government is unlikely to pass comprehensive laws anytime soon, he said.

However, some states  like New Jersey  have proposed bills that would require businesses to do formal risk assessments and acceptable-use policies. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is considering an executive order limiting states from regulating AI.

Kashman said the lack of regulations will leave business owners vulnerable because tech companies arent going to be as liable for harms. So small businesses must protect themselves with strong internal policies, she said.

An AI assistant or chatbot can help businesses draft a policy or template, especially for nonlawyers who need structure or a first draft, Kashman said. Its important to frequently update this policy because the technology, models, privacy terms, and data breaches change rapidly, she added.

However, be careful, she said. AI cant understand the nuances of a specific business or legal risk, so human review from legal counsel or an expert is necessary.
Theres an old saying  well, there ought to be one  that the surest way to jinx something is to write, I dont want to jinx it... My Border Patrol tornado-chasing trip to Charlotte was doomed the moment I posted about it here  frantically canceled when I learned 17 hours before takeoff that the BP had abruptly ditched North Carolina. There is a Plan B but no way will I jinx it a second time.

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Its better to stop Trumps illegal orders than hope troops will disobey them

A U.S. Army helicopter pilot named Hugh Thompson Jr. may be the greatest American hero youve probably never heard of. On March 16, 1968, Thompson  a warrant officer serving in Vietnam  and his crew were dispatched to support a search and destroy mission supposedly targeting the Viet Cong in a tiny hamlet called My Lai.

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Instead, the Georgia-born soldier came up upon arguably the most notorious war crime in U.S. history  with thatch hutches ablaze and countless villagers, including women and children, laying dead or dying in an irrigation ditch.

Thompson landed and found the commander on the ground, Lt. William Calley. What is this? he asked. Who are these people?

Just following orders, Calley replied. After some more back and forth, the flustered Thompson replied: But, these are human beings, unarmed civilians, sir.

What Thompson and his helicopter crew did next was truly remarkable. Holding Calley and their other U.S. comrades at bay, they shielded a group of Vietnamese women, children and old men as they fled. Eventually, he loaded 11 villagers into the helicopter, and then Thompson and his men thought they detected movement in the ditch. Two fellow solders found a boy, just 5 or 6, hiding under the corpses, covered in blood and obviously in a state of shock. After safely evacuating the boy to a military hospital, Thompson reached a lieutenant colonel who ordered Calley to stop the killings.

Near the end of his life, Thompson  who died in 2006  and two comrades were recognized for their courage and the many lives they saved at My Lai, awarded the Armys highest award for bravery not in conflict with an enemy (the Soldiers Medal), as well as the the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award. He even returned to My Lai for an emotional reunion in 1998.

But it wasnt like that in real time. During the war, a prominent congressman demanded that Thompson be court-martialed. Id received death threats over the phone, he told CBS 60 Minutes in 2004. Dead animals on your porch, mutilated animals on your porch some mornings when you get up.

A generation after Thompsons death, the kind of bold action he took that day in 1968  disobeying what he correctly understood as an illegal order  is yet again on Americas front burner. This time, the debate is fueled by a video from six veterans who now serve as Democrats in Congress  reminding todays soldiers about their sworn duty to disobey unlawful commands.

That every expert in military law agrees with this principle hasnt stopped President Donald Trump or his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, from going ballistic  calling the Democrats traitors or even reposting calls for their death by hanging.

On Monday, Hegseth kicked things up a notch by endorsing a plan for one of the six  Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and decorated Navy fighter pilot  to return to active duty, so that he can be court-martialed for taking part in the video. A statement from the Pentagon, which Trump and Hegseth call the Department of War, insisted that orders are presumed to be lawful. A servicemembers personal philosophy does not justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.

Even as the growing controversy dominates the headlines, there is one aspect to the illegal-orders debate that practically no one is talking about. Actions like Thompsons refusal at My Lai dont only stand out for the soldiers gumption. It is also the stuff of peace prizes and 60 Minutes profiles because it is so incredibly rare.

Do your own research. Its very difficult to find examples in Americas 249-year history of troops disobeying orders because they are believed to be illegal. To be sure, there are famous incidents of soldiers who disobeyed an order and heroically saved lives  but almost all of them were because the command was reckless or just plain stupid, which isnt the same as illegal or unconstitutional.

Its not like there havent been opportunities. There have been American war crimes from Wounded Knee to Abu Ghraib, what Barack Obama famously called dumb wars like the 2003 assault on Iraq, and moments of intense moral agony, like dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These did produce a few whistleblowers or conscientious objectors, of course, but cases of actually refusing an order are few.

Its not hard to understand why. Most military orders  even ones later reviled by history  come with some veneer of legality, whether its an opinion from a military lawyer or a congressional authorization vote, as happened with Vietnam, Iraq, and other conflicts.

The video recorded by Kelly and the others (including Pennsylvania Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Deluzio) focuses only on the widely accepted principle that military men and women must follow the law and the Constitution above all else, and doesnt mention Trump or any specific disputed orders. In interviews, though, Democrats like Kelly and Houlahan have criticized Trumps ongoing attacks on boats off South America that the regime claims are smuggling drugs.

While almost every expert on military laws describes these attacks  which have killed at least 83 people as extrajudicial killings lacking legal justification, the Office of Legal Counsel in Trumps Justice Department has nonetheless written a secret classified memo to justify them. Any officer or lower-level troop ordered to blow up these boats and kill all the people on board hasnt seen the memo. And they wont get a medal for saying no  at least not in 2025. They will be court-martialed and vilified by MAGA.

New York Times opinion writer David French, a Harvard Law grad who served as an Army lawyer in Iraq, notes the congressional video didnt advise troops on what exactly is an illegal order, and adds: Individual service members dont have sufficient knowledge or information to make those kinds of judgments. When time is of the essence and lives are on the line, your first impulse must be to do as youre told.

Not always, as Thompson showed at My Lai, but military matters are rarely that black and white. The Trump regimes sending of National Guard units and even active-duty military into cities such as Los Angeles may be an unnecessary and inflammatory violation of democratic norms, but experienced judges continue to debate its legality. Expecting the rank-and-file troops to decide is asking a lot.

It is very much in the spirit of Joseph Hellers World War II novel and its legendary Catch-22: A soldier must disobey an illegal order, yet orders, in the heat of the moment, are almost never illegal.

That doesnt mean Trump and Hegseth threatening Kelly and the other Democrats with jail and possibly the noose isnt utterly outrageous. After all, they did nothing more than remind soldiers of their obligation to the law in the same language their drill sergeants use in boot camp.

I do also think  understanding the limitations of a MAGA-fed Congress  that good people of both parties on Capitol Hill should be doing a lot more to invoke the War Powers Act, hold hearings, debate impeachment, and do whatever else they can to prevent Trumps reckless acts in the Caribbean and elsewhere. In other words, stop illegal orders before theyre given.

That said, as the Trump regime deteriorates, there may come a day when right and wrong feels as obvious as it did that 1968 day in the rice paddies of Vietnam. If, heaven forbid, this government ever ordered troops to put down a protest by firing on citizens, we will need a platoon full of Hugh Thompsons and no William Calleys, just following orders.

Yo, do this!

Ask me anything

Question: Why is the Trump administration uncritically regurgitating the Russian peace plan?  @kaboosemoose.bsky.social via Bluesky

Answer: Thats a great question as our president has consistently told us that the Russia! Russia! Russia! scandal around Vladimir Putins U.S. election interference and his seeming sway over the 45th and 47th president is all a massive hoax. How to explain, then, that the supposedly-Trump-drafted 28-point peace plan to end the fighting in Ukraine was translated from its original Russian, with its details hashed out in Florida by corrupt and contented Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and Kirill Dmitriev, a U.S.-sanctioned Russian envoy? Its probably true that liberals were naive during Trumps first term to believe the strange ties between MAGA and the Kremlin would bring down his presidency, but its also true that where theres smoke, theres fire. We all want peace in Ukraine, but Trump and his U.S. government simply are not honest brokers.

What youre saying about...

Last weeks question about the Jeffrey Epstein files, and whether theyll ever see the light of day despite enactment of the law calling for their release, was kind of open-ended, and thus it drew an array of responses. But most agreed with my view that its highly unlikely well see the files, or see very much. They wont release them because they are now investigating the Democrats in the files, thus they wont be able to release them due to the investigation, Rosann McGinley wrote. Also theyd be heavily redacted, nothing to see here. Added Judy Voois: I would not be surprised if he declared war on Venezuela just to steer the media and public interest away from continued scrutiny of the Epstein saga.

 This weeks question: The heated reaction I received online about the JFK assassination now has me wondering what newsletter readers think. Do you believe Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone killer of John F. Kennedy, or do you think there was a conspiracy? Please email me your answer and put the exact phrase JFK assassination in the subject line.

Backstory on Pennsylvanias budget deal with the devil

Saturday was the 62nd anniversary of the JFK assassination, but on Nov. 22, 2025 it was the entire planet that was under fire. One researcher declared that globally it was the hottest Nov. 22 ever recorded. It didnt feel that way at my windswept dog park in Delco, but it did from the American Southeast  experiencing a record heat wave  to Tehran, where an epic drought has seen water fountains run dry. And yet the worlds leaders were on a full-fledged retreat from climate action, from the White House, where U.S. CEOs toasted the oil dictatorship of Saudi Arabia at a posh dinner, to Brazil, where a global summit on climate change failed to take on the hegemony of fossil fuels, to Harrisburg.

In a state thats kowtowed to Big Oil and Gas interests since the days of John D. Rockefeller, Pennsylvania Republicans used the shame of the nations longest state-budget impasse to finally ram home their most cherished agenda item: gutting efforts in the Keystone State to work with our neighbors to control the greenhouse-gas pollution behind climate change. The GOP-run state Senate backed Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro into a corner. Pennsylvania had to withdraw from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional pollution-control system, or the money wouldnt resume flowing to schools and other vital services.

To be clear, the drivers of this giant step backward were state lawmakers whove been swimming in Big Oils tainted campaign cash for a couple of decades now. But the capitulation, even at political gunpoint, was not Shapiros finest hour  especially as the Democrat with apparent ambition for higher office continues to push for polluting and energy-devouring data centers that he claims will boost the economy. As the American Prospect noted in a new piece, Pennsylvanias environmental retreat came at the same time Virginia was electing a Democratic governor in Abigail Spanberger whod promised to restore her state to the RGGI. If Shapiro does run for president in 2028, he may struggle to explain this deal to climate-minded voters.

The real problem, though, is that the best way to tackle climate change is by going on offense, with aggressive programs to promote alternative energy such as wind (there seems to be a lot of that around here) and solar that arent not only cleaner but a better deal for beleaguered consumers. While Pennsylvania  second only to Texas in natural-gas production  went all in on fracking, a 2024 survey found the commonwealth was 49th on expanding wind power and energy efficiency. With RGGI in the rearview mirror, the Shapiro administration needs to work a lot harder on green energy. That would be good for our governors White House dreams, but it would be a lot better for the planet.

What I wrote on this date in 2020

In the late fall of 2020, when I wasnt trying to warn people that Donald Trump was planning a coup, I turned my attention to the incoming president, Joe Biden  and its both fascinating and sad to read how naive we were in the giddy aftermath of Trumps defeat. In writing about Bidens early Cabinet picks, the subhead read: America is seeing the start of something its not used to: A White House thats experienced, qualified ... and boring. Could Bidens ploy work? NO! The answer turned out to be no. But still read the rest: Bidens Cabinet is delightfully boring. Can reality-TV-addled America deal with it?

Recommended Inquirer reading

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Philadelphia police officers have a vehicle stationed where federal agents raided Kensingtons Weymouth Street and arrested more than 30 people. Read more

Ramon Roman-Montanez knew the police were watching.

One day last April, as Roman-Montanez prepared to hand out free drug samples to users on Weymouth Street  a common tactic that dealers use to attract customers  he stood in the middle of the Kensington block and spotted a problem.

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The cops had put up a pole camera.

Using binoculars, Roman-Montanez scouted out the new device at the end of the block, prosecutors said in court documents. But he had a business to run  and so, after talking with a few associates in the street, he decided that giveaway day would move forward as planned.

Shortly after dawn, prosecutors said, customers were recorded on the new surveillance camera crowding onto the 3100 block of Weymouth to receive their samples.

And in the weeks to come, business continued to boom.

The camera, however, was just one hint of what authorities now say was a sprawling, multiyear investigation into the gang Roman-Montanez helped lead  a group that sold thousands of doses of heroin, fentanyl, crack, and cocaine over the course of more than a decade, and effectively took over a residential block in a neighborhood that has long suffered from crime, open-air drug dealing, and neglect.

The results of the probe came to light last month, when FBI Director Kash Patel came to Philadelphia to announce that 33 people, including Roman-Montanez, had been indicted on drug charges. Patel called the case a model for law enforcement across the country, and an example of how to take out a drug gang terrorizing a community.

To understand the scope of the case  which U.S. Attorney David Metcalf described as the regions largest single prosecution in a quarter-century  The Inquirer reviewed hundreds of pages of court records, examined social media accounts and videos connected to the group, and interviewed law enforcement officials and Weymouth Street residents.

The review revealed previously unreported details about the investigation, including that authorities ran monthslong wiretaps on about a half-dozen phones tied to gang members, placed a recording device in a vacant lot the gang used as a meeting place, employed at least seven confidential informants, and believe that over the course of nine years, the group trafficked tens of thousands of doses of drugs into the city  worth millions of dollars.

Philadelphia police this month continued to restrict access to Weymouth Street long after gang members had been arrested, a highly unconventional approach that officials said was aimed at sustaining the blocks newfound sense of quiet. Several residents said they didnt mind the unusual tactic, in part because it helped prevent their block from quickly returning to its status as a marketplace for round-the-clock drug deals.

Those tactics underscored the depth of the investigation, which unfolded in the heart of Kensington  where law enforcement has employed a variety of approaches over the years to try to address crime, drug dealing and violence, sometimes with mixed results.

But the review also showed that even as the investigation was underway, the gang continued to operate in the open  and some of law enforcements attempts to hold people accountable as the probe was unfolding were unsuccessful.

In August, for example, Roman-Montanez was charged in state court with drug possession and related crimes after police found fentanyl, crack, and $20,000 in cash in his house  the result of a raid on Weymouth Street that was part of the investigation into his gang.

But a few weeks later, his attorneys persuaded a Philadelphia judge to reduce his bail and he walked out of jail. The 40-year-old  who federal prosecutors now say was the de facto chief operating officer of one of the citys biggest drug conspiracies  was taken back into custody only this month, when federal authorities unsealed his indictment.

Even as investigators were continuing to collect evidence against the gang, members routinely appeared in videos and songs on social media in which they boasted about their gang affiliation, brandished guns, and threatened acts of violence against rivals.

Some of the videos made modest Weymouth Street look more like a nightclub. Men wearing shimmering gold chains can be seen carrying designer bags and waving guns with extended clips at the camera. Others smoke blunts, or mix soda and a purple liquid together to make what appears to be the codeine-infused drink lean.

A video for the song Philly Boy, uploaded to YouTube last spring, made clear where the debauchery was taking place: It opens with a shot of the Weymouth street sign.

Beyond the fact that people who remained on the street could continue to sell drugs, prosecutors said the gang used threats to maintain control over their territory. And at least two suspected coconspirators were killed as the investigation wore on  sparking the potential for more retaliatory violence. Prosecutors have not yet charged any gang members with any shootings or homicides, but have said their investigation is continuing.

Metcalf, through a spokesperson, declined an interview request to discuss the case in more detail. But while announcing the takedown last month, he said there is always a tension in long-running investigations between making quick arrests and taking time to gather evidence for broader or stronger cases. And in this instance, he said, the goal was clear: Prosecutors were seeking to eliminate the organization.

We could obviously just prosecute individual seizures of guns and drugs. But the organizational prosecution  thats whats going to make a difference in the community, he said. This neighborhood will be a lot safer than it [wouldve been] if we didnt take our time to do that.

A sophisticated operation

Weymouth Street is one of a series of narrow, rowhouse-lined blocks in Kensington just a few steps from McPherson Square and near the intersection of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues  long the epicenters of a bustling narcotics bazaar.

Some corners in the area can pull in tens of thousands of dollars a day in drug sales, authorities say. And the competition among dealers has often led to violence, with shootings and homicides in Kensington historically outpacing the rest of Philadelphia.

The crew on Weymouth Street thrived in that environment, prosecutors said, and developed a sophisticated system for seeking to build and protect a business that sold fentanyl, crack, and cocaine 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Their drugs were branded with unique stamps or names like Ric Flair, Horse Power, Gucci, or Donald Trump. Bags were sold for $5 each, prosecutors said, while bundles of about a dozen packets went for between $55 and $75.

The group maintained an internal hierarchy, prosecutors said, with key figures at the top overseeing layers of workers who engaged in hand-to-hand sales, watched out for police, managed the drug supply, or used violence to protect the operation. Many members were related to one another, prosecutors said, and some families had people from multiple generations working for the group.

The leader was Jose Antonio Morales Nieves, prosecutors said, who owned the block and allowed people to deal there in exchange for payments he called rent.

His top deputies ran the day-to-day operations, prosecutors said, and included Roman-Montanez, nicknamed Viejo, and Roman-Montanezs paramour, Nancy Rios-Valentin.

The two set and distributed schedules for lower-level employees, kept track of how and when drug stashes needed to be refilled, and maintained handwritten ledgers tracking sales per shift.

The first episode in the indictment dates to January 2016, when, prosecutors said, Angel Rios-Valentin  the brother of Nancy Rios-Valentin  stood watch as someone sold drugs to a confidential informant.

A few months later, the indictment said, police conducted a traffic stop on the block, and gang leader Morales-Nieves  also known as Flaco  responded by approaching the officers in a threatening manner carrying a shovel.

As the gang continued to build its business on Weymouth, prosecutors said, several members took up residence on the block, including Roman-Montanez, and members used a variety of houses or abandoned lots to store or sell drugs.

Among them, prosecutors said, was a vacant lot with a tent they labeled the bunker. It was next door to the house Roman-Montanez shared with Rios-Valentin, they said, and served as a meeting place, stash location, and place to cook crack.

Last May, prosecutors said, it also served as a site for violence, when Roman-Montanez dragged a man into the bunker, and another gang member  who is not named in court documents  beat him with a rod.

Crimes involving violence

Much of the 170-page indictment revolves around individual episodes in which members of the gang conducted operations that would be considered routine if they werent illegal, such as selling drugs to users, managing the blocks supply, or handling illicit proceeds.

The document includes detailed quotes from those accused of taking part in the operation and describes their actions with unusual precision, the result of what prosecutors said were a series of wiretapped phones, cameras  including one inside the bunker  interactions with informants, and seizures of drugs by police.

Some incidents, however, went well beyond the everyday rhythm of drug sales, prosecutors said.

In November 2024, several gang members ran after a car that had sped down Weymouth, then fired shots at the vehicle after they caught up to it around the corner, the indictment said. The document does not say if anyone in the car was struck.

Six months later, prosecutors said, the pole camera captured footage of two members of the gang  John David Lopez-Boria and Luis Williams  laughing at someone sitting on a front step across the street, then beating the person and dragging the victim into an abandoned lot to continue the assault.

The gangs violent nature was also captured on YouTube, where gang members appeared in videos taunting rivals and flaunting guns.

In one video, the rapper Sombra PR  whom prosecutors described in court documents as an unindicted coconspirator  made clear that he and a Weymouth Street gang member known as Panza would use a Draco gun to come after anyone who threatened them.

Ill get you with Panza with Draco and youre stiff, he rapped.

Panza, whose given name was Heriberto Torres Gual, was described by prosecutors in court documents as one of the groups enforcers, and he appeared in some of Sombra PRs videos.

But last month, Gual, 31, was gunned down while riding an electric bike on the 3000 block of Kensington Avenue, just a few blocks from Weymouth, according to police. Surveillance footage showed a torrent of shots being fired out of an SUV that had pulled up beside him.

In all, police recovered 35 spent shell casings from the scene and said it was a targeted attack.

Gual was the second high-ranking gang member to be killed in the last year, authorities said. Last November, Felix Rios-Valentin  the brother of Nancy and Angel Rios-Valentin  was fatally shot in Mayfair.

Police have made no arrests in either case.

After Guals death, an Instagram account for a record label dubbed Weymouth Family made a post referencing the title of a new song that memorialized Gual. The post tagged Pressure 9X19, the artist behind Philly Boy.

And on another account associated with Weymouth-tied rappers was an illustration of an unmistakable street sign: the marker for the intersection of Allegheny Avenue and Weymouth Street.

Evading accountability

During their long investigation, law enforcement did sometimes disrupt the gangs drug operations and make arrests.

In 2020, Angel Rios-Valentin was convicted in federal court of illegal gun possession after officers found him carrying a loaded handgun that he had taken from Roman-Montanezs house. He was sentenced to five years in prison and was on supervised release when he was arrested again last month.

Police found four guns in Rios-Valentins house, a discovery that prosecutors said showed his ongoing commitment to the gang.

Roman-Montanez, meanwhile, was arrested twice in the last three years, court documents show  but in both cases managed to avoid significant consequences.

In October 2022, police searched his house and found 96 grams of fentanyl, four loaded guns, and nearly $125,000 in cash, prosecutors said. Roman-Montanez was charged in state court, but the case was withdrawn.

Federal prosecutors did not explain the withdrawal in court documents, and because the case did not result in a conviction, the records are now sealed under Pennsylvania law. The district attorneys office did not respond to a request for comment.

A source familiar with the case said it collapsed because scheduling issues with lawyers and witnesses delayed the preliminary hearing for more than a year and prosecutors ultimately withdrew the charges.

The second arrest was in August, when police, acting on a search warrant, again searched Roman-Montanezs house and found more fentanyl, crack, and cash inside, court records show. He was charged with crimes including conspiracy and possession with intent to deliver, and his bail was set at $750,000.

But a month later, his lawyers persuaded a judge to lower his bail.

The prosecutor argued against that, according to a transcript of the bail hearing, saying the sheer amount of drugs and cash involved made clear that Roman-Montanez was not a minor player.

But Municipal Court Judge Elvin Ross III said details about Roman-Montanezs role in the conspiracy were lacking. He reduced bail to $300,000, and a few weeks later, Roman-Montanez was back on the street.

Will the quieter aftermath last?

On the morning of Oct. 24, dozens of federal agents and city police officers swarmed Weymouth Street to arrest suspected gang members and gather additional evidence to use in their court case. Some targets were taken into custody elsewhere  the groups leader, Morales Nieves, was arrested in Luquillo, Puerto Rico.

Patel, the FBI director, said at a news conference afterward that the case is not just one instance of removing a couple of people  it is an example of how you remove an entire organization that has corrupted not just the city of Philadelphia but the state of Pennsylvania as well."

Roman-Montanez has pleaded not guilty, as has Nancy Rios-Valentin. Her attorney wrote in court documents that she maintains her innocence, that the case against her was not strong, and that she cannot be convicted on a theory of guilt by association. A federal judge on Monday ordered that Rios-Valentin  who has four children  be released from jail and placed in home confinement at her sisters house while awaiting trial.

On Weymouth Street, residents said in interviews that life has been quieter in the weeks since the raids. Some of that is the result of the ongoing police presence, which began to relax this week as officers resumed allowing passersby to walk or drive through the street.

One resident, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said he appreciated law enforcements attempt to help clean up a struggling area.

But he was skeptical that one prosecution  even one as ambitious as this  would reverse a persistent and neighborhood-wide problem.

I dont see it making a big difference any time soon, and its nobodys fault, he said. This is not an overnight fix.
Old Main is pictured on the Penn State University campus in State College, Pa., in June 2020. Read more

Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Department of Education want the states highest court to overturn a recent lower court ruling that sided with Spotlight PA and stop the release of internal Board of Trustees documents.

The case could have major implications in the state for public access to documents stored in cloud-based services.

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Last week, the university and state agency each filed a petition for allowance of appeal, asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to hear the public records case. There is no timeline for the court to decide whether it will hear the arguments, and the court denied 87% of requests to review a lower court decision in 2024, according to the courts annual report.

Spotlight PA is represented pro bono by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Cornell Law School First Amendment Clinic. Paula Knudsen Burke, the Pennsylvania attorney for RCFP, said in a statement: The Commonwealth Court rightly made clear that Penn State trustees cannot shield certain records from the public simply by storing them in a file-sharing system or alleging they contain proprietary information. We will continue to push for access to these records on behalf of Spotlight PA so that all Pennsylvanians can better understand how a prominent state-related institution  supported with millions of dollars of public money  is operating.

A Penn State spokesperson told Spotlight PA in an email that the university does not comment on pending litigation. The state education department did not respond to a request for comment.

In May 2023, Spotlight PA filed public records requests with Pennsylvanias agriculture and education departments for documents the agencies secretaries used while serving on Penn States governing board. While the university is largely exempt from the states Right-to-Know Law due to a legal carveout, a 2013 court ruling said records that the agencies secretaries used as trustees could be accessed by the public.

The Office of Open Records ruled in 2023 that some of the records the newsroom requested should be made public. Penn State and the education department appealed the decision to Commonwealth Court.

Penn State, in legal filings and in court in September, argued the state agencies did not possess or control the records Spotlight PA sought because Penn State housed the files on Diligent, a cloud-based file-sharing service. The online system allows the university to control who can access which files and whether the records can be downloaded.

The court sided with Spotlight PA in its decision last month, ruling that Penn States argument was without merit. Taking the universitys position, the court said, would contradict the intent of the states open records law for transparency and would perversely incentivize Commonwealth agencies, local agencies, and affected third parties like Penn State to utilize remote servers and/or cloud-based services, in order to ensure that they would no longer need to disclose what would otherwise constitute public records.

Penn State was also ordered to unredact portions of a 2022 document given to trustees about the universitys fiscal challenges and altering the budget to better align with Penn States priorities and values.

In its petition to the state Supreme Court, Penn State said the lower court wrongly determined that the agency secretaries received the records and therefore could provide them to the newsroom. By providing documents to trustees through Diligent, the university controls who can download, print, forward, or otherwise obtain the document.

The file-sharing service, the university wrote, is the electronic equivalent of a Penn State official holding a physical document in their hand and inviting the Secretaries to look at the document. Importantly, in this analogy, the Penn State official never lets go of the document, and the Secretaries never possess the document.

The education department, in its filing, said the lower courts decision ignores the intent of, and improperly expands, Pennsylvanias open records law.

Spotlight PA, through its legal team, will file its response to the petition in the coming days.

Earlier this year, the Penn State board settled a separate lawsuit that Spotlight PA brought against it over alleged violations of Pennsylvanias Sunshine Act, the state law mandating transparency from governing bodies.

As part of the settlement, the board agreed to release more information about its private meetings, including who is leading the gatherings and the topic discussed. The board also participated in a legal training in September on the open meetings law and what governing bodies must do to comply with it. The terms of the settlement will last for five years. Read the full agreement here.

This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania.

SUPPORT THIS JOURNALISM and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results.
A congressional committee is investigating allegations of antisemitism in the Philadelphia School District.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R., Mich.) said this week that the House Education and Workforce Committee  which he chairs  would probe disturbing reports of Jewish students being harassed and subjected to open antisemitism in their classrooms and hallways in three school systems: Berkeley Unified in California, Fairfax County in Virginia, and Philadelphia.

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Walberg and U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, a freshman Republican who represents the Lehigh Valley, informed Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. of the investigation in a letter sent Monday.

The committee, the lawmakers said, is deeply concerned that since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, it has received allegations that SDP is rife with antisemitic incidents, including allegations of teachers spreading antisemitism in the classroom and SDP approving antisemitic walkouts that isolate Jewish students.

Monique Braxton, a spokesperson for the district, said she cannot comment on ongoing investigations.

The Republican-led committee has, in recent years, used hearings and investigations as platforms to criticize academic institutions perceived as progressive, long a target of conservatives. In 2023, following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the subsequent rise of campus protests against Israels war in Gaza, University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill resigned after the committee held a hearing on Penns handling of allegations of antisemitism during her administration.

The district in late 2024 reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights requiring school officials to hold training on antidiscrimination policies and educate thousands of students about racial and ethnic discrimination.

The Office of Civil Rights found in December 2024 that despite repeated, extensive notice of acts of antisemitism and other harassment in its schools, the district did not adequately investigate the claims, take appropriate steps to respond to them, or maintain all necessary records.

Walberg and Mackenzies letter said that even after the Office of Civil Rights settlement, antisemitic incidents have continued unanswered.

Allegations of antisemitism against certain educators

The lawmakers called out numerous educators who allegedly promote antisemitic content in their classrooms.

The representatives also referred to the districts director of social studies curriculum, who they said has been widely condemned by Jewish advocacy groups in light of his pattern of denying the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel, refusing to speak about peace or coexistence, and downplaying the lived experiences of Jewish people in the face of violence.

Philadelphia, the letter said, failed to exercise oversight of antisemitic materials in the classroom. Officials also took issue with what they said was a partnership between the district and the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Philadelphia. (The organization this summer announced it was available to partner with local schools and administrations to provide religious accommodations and build inclusivity.)

Ahmet Tekelioglu, executive director at CAIR-Philadelphia, said it takes pride in offering these resources but had no special partnership with Philadelphias school district. Instead, it was broadly offering its educational materials and training to any school, educator, or district, he said.

Tekelioglu dismissed the investigation as the machinations of wild, right-wing congresspeople.

Its a continuation of McCarthyism, what they are trying to do against colleges, Tekelioglu said. They are trying to quell and suppress academic freedom in school districts.

What are the representatives calling for?

The committee requested documents to assess SDPs compliance with Title VI and determine whether legislation to specifically address antisemitism discrimination is needed.

The district was given a deadline of Dec. 8 to produce documents including an anonymized chart of all allegations of antisemitism against students, faculty, or staff since Oct. 7, 2023; all documents and communications since that date referring or relating to walkouts, toolkits, workshops, curricula, course materials, educational material, guest speakers, lecture series, partnerships, teacher training, or professional development, referring or relating to Jews, Judaism, Israel, Palestine, Zionism, or antisemitism, in the possession of SDP schools or offices; and more.
Paul Kelly, left, will take over Matt Cord's spot as morning host of 102.9 WMGK. Read more

The sudden death of Pierre Robert has forced a Philly radio shuffle, with veteran host and Sixers PA announcer Matt Cord returning to 93.3 WMMR to take over the midday show, which Robert hosted for 44 years.

Taking over Cords morning show at 102.9 WMGK will be another radio veteran  the versatile Paul Kelly, whos been a utility infielder at the station since 2019, hosting just about every shift.

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Now Kelly will take over WMGKs morning show, the former home of famed Philly radio host John DeBella, who retired in 2023.

Both Cord and Kelly will begin their new hosting gigs Monday.

This has been a dream come true  rocking in the same building I visited on my bike as a kid, Kelly said in a statement. Its been amazing working alongside the personalities I grew up listening to  Matt Cord, Tony Harris, John DeBella, Debbi Calton, and Andre Gardner!

Kelly, a Philadelphia native, has been working on the air since 1989, hosting shows in Atlantic City, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He also runs his own radio consultancy firm and is a founding member of Kelly Music For Life, a nonprofit that turned an old retail store in Havertown into the Kelly Center, a home for concerts, festivals, and shows.

Pauls deep Philadelphia roots, his lifelong love of classic rock, and the genuine connection hes built with our listeners over the years make him the ideal choice for mornings on WMGK, said program director Chuck Damico. He understands this city, he understands this music, and he brings an energy and authenticity that resonate with our audience every time he cracks the mic.

Robert, 70, was found dead in his Gladwyne home on Oct. 29 after failing to show up for his midday show. The cause of Roberts death was not disclosed and officials dont plan to release additional information. Caroline Beasley, the CEO of WMMRs parent company, Beasley Media Group, said foul play was not suspected.

Everything seemed to be natural, Preston Elliot said on air following Roberts death. It just appears he passed overnight.

Robert was beloved by musicians, who are hosting a memorial concert in his honor at the Fillmore on Dec. 17, with a portion of the proceeds going to MANNA, the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance.

The show will feature bands and musicians near and dear to the former WMMR hosts heart, including the Hooters, Brent Smith and Zach Meyers of Shinedown, Lizzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of Halestorm, and Ed Roland of Collective Soul.

Nobody replaces Pierre  lets make that clear, Cord said in a statement. I promise to carry his amazing spirit into the studio bearing his name and do my best to make him proud.
The HBO crime thriller Task will return to Pennsylvania along with star Mark Ruffalo for a second season, thanks in part to generous support from the state.

On Monday, the Pennsylvania Film Office announced that Task will receive a record $49.8 million tax credit, the largest amount the state has granted to a single production.

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The effort is expected to bring about 3,700 jobs to Pennsylvania as HBO estimates investing $194.1 million into the state economy, including hiring local crews and paying for hotel accommodations.

The first season, which filmed in and around Philadelphia, hired 777 Pennsylvanians as local crew, cast members, and background players for 177 days, bringing $230 million to the region, as reported by the Greater Philadelphia Film Office earlier this month.

Task comes from Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby, the writer from Berwyn who has developed a reputation for putting Delco (and Philly) crime stories on national television. Last week, HBO announced the popular show would return for a second season, which is expected to film primarily in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

The tax credit is part of Gov. Josh Shapiros efforts to bring more TV and film productions to Pennsylvania.

This is the largest tax credit weve ever awarded to one show, and were proud to support another returning series by homegrown storyteller Brad Ingelsby through the Film Production Tax Credit Program, said Pennsylvania Film Commissioner Gino Anthony Pesi in a statement.

The Shapiro administration understands that supporting productions like Task have a powerful impact on Pennsylvanias creative economy through the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs, while also giving new opportunities to local businesses in the southeastern region.

Ingelsby has been committed to investing in authenticity through not only writing film and TV scripts that are based in the Philadelphia region, but pushing for his productions to shoot on location as much as possible.

There is value in shooting something where its set  it will bring something to the production, to the characters, to the emotion that you just cant emulate somewhere else, Ingelsby told The Inquirer in September.

The locations in and around Philadelphia add an invaluable level of authenticity to the series, said Janet Graham Borba, HBOs executive vice president of production, in the statement. Furthermore, the opportunity to bring a production of this caliber to Pennsylvania and provide jobs to its citizens and businesses is extremely gratifying to Brad Ingelsby and all of us at HBO.

Shooting with Pennsylvania crews also had an impact on the Task cast: Some actors, including Emilia Jones, who played Maeve Prendergrast, bonded with crew members, who also helped them learn that difficult-to-nail Delco accent.
Last week was a busy one for our food desk: Michelin announced its first-ever stars and honorees in Philadelphias food scene, a much-anticipated reveal sandwiched between The Inquirers inaugural food festival and Thanksgiving week. To cap it all off, we solicited subscribers questions on our site. No surprise, there were lots of Michelin questions, along with a slew of requests for restaurant recommendations.

Our team had answers. Read on for our musings on Michelin, where Phillys restaurant scene is going, and staff picks for red gravy joints, BYOBs, and Phillys best roasted duck.

Michelin machinations

Can you give us an idea how much the [Philadelphia Convention and] Visitors Bureau had to pay Michelin to come to Philadelphia? It was shocking to find out these awards are pay to play, but now I understand why decades of world-class dining in Philadelphia have never garnered a Michelin star until now. Is it possible James Beard awards are more highly regarded, which I doubt, since they are not pay to play.

Michael Klein, food & dining reporter: We dont have any idea how much Michelin was paid. As a private nonprofit, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau does not have to release that. Its rolled into its budget, and it likely will be rolled into unspecified marketing fees. Its most recent tax return, which covered July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, was filed in February 2025. The deal for this years other new Michelin city, Boston, also was not made public; one report pegged it as over $1 million for the three-year partnership. Typically, small markets and individual cities pay $70,000 to $300,000 per year, typically in three-year deals. For the 2025 American South regional guide that came out Nov. 3, cities and states across the South collectively are contributing $1.65 million per year for three years (about $4.95 million total).

Why wasnt Mawn recognized by the Michelin Guide? Are you surprised by fact there was no recognition for Mawn?

Jenn Ladd, deputy food editor: Michelins decision-making is famously secretive, but we are operating with an informed assumption that an inspector could not get a table/reservation there (or perhaps couldnt get more than one, since they are supposed to make repeated visits) and so did not include it. You can find more thoughts in our writers reactions to the Michelin picks.

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As a team, we definitely were surprised by that choice. While its understandable (to at least some on the food desk) that Royal Sushis omakase wasnt considered due to how difficult it is to get a reservation there, Mawns lunch is walk-ins only. Will you have to arrive early and wait in line? Yes, but its not impossible to dine there without connections. Hopefully next year, Michelins inspectors have a longer timeline during which to consider our citys food scene.

Is there a general concern that higher-end restaurants will get even more expensive and perhaps one-dimensional in a way in striving to impress Michelin with more tasting menus and the like? What do we not want to see in prospective changes?

JL: This is a concern we share. As Craig wrote earlier, My only hope is that restaurateurs keep cooking from the heart, and that they dont alter what they do simply in pursuit of a star.

We were heartened by the fact that Michelin gave such a spotlight to Her Place Supper Club, which had a characteristically Philly start (from Penn dorm room to BYOB pop-up residency to full-fledged restaurant). I also think there are plenty of restaurant chefs and owners in Philadelphia who arent aspiring to Michelin-star status, who just want to cook good food for people. Im an admitted Michelin skeptic, but even I would have to say, I dont think Philly will lose its restaurant-scene identity anytime soon, even if we do see more awards-bait menus.

If each of you could pick your top 5 restaurants that didnt make any of the Michelin Philly selections, what would they be?

Bea Forman, food & dining reporter: First off: Theres a lot more than five restaurants I wish Michelin wouldve selected. All the honorees are so deserving, but I couldnt help but feel like the Bib Gourmand selection especially painted a white-washed version of Phillys dining scene. They hit up at least three cheesesteak places but couldnt find it in their hearts (or stomachs) to find a gem in Chinatown? Or a Vietnamese restaurant? Or more restaurants that speak to Phillys rich tradition of excellent Mexican, Latino, and African food? Lame. Tomato. Tomato. My five picks for Bibs or recommendations would be:

Hira Qureshi, food & dining reporter: Id love to have seen these five/six restaurants get a Bib or Recommended: Amsale Cafe for their beautiful injera-lined platters with kitfo and gomen wat; Samson Kabob House for their insane chapli kababs alone; and Kabobeesh for their mutton karahi thats just as good as my moms. Apricot Stone or Al-Baik Shawarma & Grill have the best hummus and falafels in Philly. And Black Dragon Takeout really does nail personality like no one else in the city.

A saturated restaurant scene?

There are so many good and great restaurants in the city  many moving into neighborhoods that are still deep into renovation/gentrification (i.e. near the York/Dauphin station for example), and there are quite a few empty seats especially on non-prime evenings. Is the Philly restaurant scene reaching a point of saturation?

JL: Hard to speak for our entire team on this one, but my best guess  from years on the food beat here and from reading my colleagues work very closely over the past 7 years  is not a chance. Year after year, there have been more restaurant openings than the last, even post-pandemic. There IS more out-of-town interest in opening in Philadelphia (a theme thats been building all year and is sure to play out more in 2026), which could affect our restaurant scene in all sorts of ways.

We are seeing fewer BYOBs open and more capacious, expensive restaurants, but there are plenty of neighborhoods left in Philadelphia  I live in one!  that could use more restaurants. I for one hope that as the rents go up in the saturated neighborhoods, the scrappy entrepreneurs and chefs that have defined our culinary scene start to consider properties in those pockets of town.

Craig LaBan, restaurant critic: I think only time will tell on this question. There is a lot of new construction going up in these very neighborhoods, and some extremely ambitious restaurants to match. Im thinking of Fleurs, for example, which is farther north than many of the earlier Fishtown hits. It was quite the midweek night I visited, but that is totally normal for a new restaurant. Once it starts to get press and social media buzz, if it is positive, that will change. They have to be well-capitalized to weather the storm of early months as they build their audience. If they do a good job, Philly diners will come. Restaurant-goers enthusiasm for excellent new places, in fact, almost always helps boost gentrification.

Helm, for example, was one of the few destinations on its block, save for a good neighboring taqueria, when it opened there... Now it is completely surrounded by new development. Same for Que Chula es Puebla at Second and Master. The new Honeysuckle is dealing with the same dynamic on North Broad Street. It is very much a residential neighborhood in progress of being built. Its all about timing, capitalization, and performance. So far the quality the food is there for Honeysuckle. Hopefully the business will follow.

Restaurant recommendations

As an old-timer, I go back to the days of the great Django with BYOs. Are there some underrated BYOBs that didnt make your 76 list?

JL: There are quite a few  76 spots gets awful tight when youre considering the full range of the Philly regions restaurants! Illata in Grad Hospital, Little Fish in Queen Village, Helm in Kensington, and Elwood in Fishtown, not to mention a slew of suburban gems like Spring Mill Cafe in Conshy, Maize in Perkasie, Charcoal in Yardley, for starters.

In addition to Dante and Luigis, what other old school red gravy joints have best survived the passage of time?

MK: Ralphs, Victor Cafe, Villa di Roma. You might also count Ristorante Pesto, whose owner Giovanni Varallo had the long-ago Io E Tu on Passyunk. (Craig LaBan adds: Scannicchios! But technically a post-red gravy generation restaurant, not unlike Pesto.)

Where are the best places in Philly for college students to eat at? (Besides food trucks)

BF: Penn class of 22 grad here, so I would be silly to not shout out our campus bar Smokey Joes for having sneakily excellent and oversized pizza and burgers. If you go for lunch or dinner early in the evening, its kind of the platonic ideal of a dive bar.

Otherwise, you and your friends should be taking advantage of happy hour deals throughout Philly and far, far away from your campuses. Food is cheaper that way. My faves:

Rosys Taco Bar: Happy hour is 3 - 5 p.m so its always been mostly other college students. Everything is $5, and deeply reliable. Sampan: Very yum pan-Asian small bites all under $10. Split a scorpion bowl with your friends if everyone is of drinking age. La Chinesca: This is for when you want to feel classy and cool and adult, eating tacos from a retrofitted mechanics shop. Harp & Crown, Giuseppe & Sons, and Bud & Marilyns all felt the right amount of fancy for a college student for happy hour. Very solid small bites, lots of young people.

If you are actually looking for places to to eat and not experiences with good enough food like I wanted in college, I would recommend just exploring Reading Terminal Market and a lot of the mom-and-pop or hole-in-the wall restaurants in Chinatown and the Italian Market. Youll feel like you actually live here.

Is it fair to say that the very best roasted duck in Philly is sold at Ting Wong on 11th Street in Chinatown??

CL: Ting Wong reopened earlier this year after a short closing and everyone rejoiced because its such a neighborhood standby for Hong Kong-style noodles, soups, and BBQ meats  including a stellar roast duck. Its still very good, but Ive long been a bigger fan of two others in Chinatown: Siu Kee, the takeout-only duck shop just across 10th Street from Ting Wong, which supplies many of the best restaurants in Chinatown with their ducks (including Tai Lake, which I revisited this year), but also Lau Kee, a cozy little storefront on the 900 block of Race Street owned by the longtime former duck chef of Sang Kee. Its great!

One more: While these previously mentioned shops are examples of the savory, marinated Hong Kong duck style, a newer entry called Beijing Peking Duck and Seafood Restaurant on Arch Street makes one of the best Peking-style ducks Ive had  with a cracker-crispy golden skin that gets carved dramatically tableside. You have to order a whole duck, but it is an event worth the splurge.

I miss Gigi Pizza and Nomad Pizza so much. Are there any casual pie spots with great sides and salads like them in Center City or in the works? Vetri Pizza is missing something lately and Pietros is good but Rittenhouse gets SO crowded anymore

MK: Gigi and Nomad had a good thing going. A little fancier is Sally at 23rd and Spruce Streets, which just was awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelins. Charcuterie boards, fab meatballs, really nice salads (the green salad with miso and pickled shallot), and crispy pies, like the Loud Red, whose arrabbiata sauce is perfect for the spice fans... Wilder at 20th and Sansom has a raw bar, a few salads, and seasonal wood-fired pies, like the lamb bacon.... Clarkville at 43rd and Baltimore has a warm cauliflower salad that supplements the pizza list... Im also really fond of the new-ish Corio at 37th and Market, not only for the pizza, pasta, and salads, but the inviting vibe.

When I lived and worked in Philly in the 90s, Caribou was near the top of my dining list. The menu still looks fine. What is your take on this restaurant?

CL: Caribou is still kicking! This Center City standby  going on 33 years in its current Walnut Street location  had a change of ownership over a year ago, with chef Townsend Wentzs group taking it over. Ive not been since a solid lunch in the early weeks of Wentzs takeover, but heres a few basic observations: Theyve largely kept the classic brasserie vibe intact, including that fantastic long bar with its art deco statuettes, and theyve simply made an effort to update and improve some of the classic French bistro fare. Wentz is good at that, and I loved the initial French onion soup I tasted there. But Id like to return for a check-in. As the weather gets cold, a good stewy plate of boeuf bourguignon or a hearty choucroute garnie sounds good to me. But you never know until you go. With the unfortunate closing of Bistrot La Minette last year, Center City needs all the great French bistros it can hold onto.
Facing mounting personal, legal, and financial pressures, acclaimed baker Tova Du Plessis has permanently closed Essen Bakery and said she is considering filing for bankruptcy protection, six months after she and her husband announced unexpectedly that they were hitting pause for a few days.

The four-time James Beard Award nominees shops, on East Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia and Berks Street in Kensington, never reopened after the announcement on May 31, which blindsided her estimated two dozen employees.

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In late July, Tova Du Plessis told The Inquirer that she and her husband, Brad, were navigating deeply personal challenges and hoped to reopen in September. Meanwhile, disgruntled former employees and investors had been left in the dark.

Du Plessis said it took a long while before she realized that reopening was not an option. I dont think that I can really pull off what I need to  not just to be open, but to make it financially sustainable, she said. There always was that potential, but after what I experienced, I just dont have the confidence, the head space, and the people in place. She also said her struggle with narcolepsy, the chronic interruption of the sleep cycle, had worsened.

Du Plessis said she had explored different plans to relaunch or restructure Essen but couldnt make any of them work. I think I just needed to come to terms with that, she said.

The early days

Du Plessis, who turned 40 last summer, grew up in a kosher home in Johannesburg, baking challah for Shabbat each week. She and Brad, her high school sweetheart, relocated to the United States while she pursued a biology degree at the University of Houston with a goal of becoming a doctor. Following a trip to Paris, she pivoted toward cooking. They headed to California, and she enrolled at the Culinary Institute of Americas Greystone campus in Napa Valley, where she specialized in baking and pastry arts.

While working at the Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa, she met chef Michael Solomonov during his visit as a guest chef in December 2011. Soon after, she and her husband moved to Philadelphia, where she worked as a line cook at Zahav before becoming sous chef at Citron & Rose, the Main Line kosher restaurant that Solomonov and Steve Cook briefly consulted on. She then served as executive pastry chef at the Rittenhouse Hotel.

In 2016, she leased a storefront on East Passyunk Avenue near Dickinson Street to launch Essen, which became known for its challah, babka, laminated pastries, and seasonal breads. Great reviews followed, including four James Beard Award semifinalist nominations for Outstanding Baker between 2017 and 2020.

By 2022, with Essen outgrowing Passyunk Avenue, Du Plessis began looking for a second, larger location. In January 2023, she signed the lease on a newly constructed building on Berks Street, a half-block from the Market-Frankford El near Norris Square, at the corner of Berks and Hope.

Financial strain

Tova Du Plessis said financial pressures began mounting last spring. She is facing a lawsuit filed by their Berks Street landlord over unpaid rent, and the space, just off Front Street, is being shown to prospective tenants. The landlord of Essens East Passyunk Avenue location has found a new tenant, Du Plessis said last week.

The Du Plessises are also in arrears on a loan repayment to Frank Olivieri, owner of Pats King of Steaks. Olivieri said he and his wife, Nancy Schure, had provided a substantial amount of money last year to help fund the Berks Street shop, which opened in November 2024 after nearly a year of delays Du Plessis attributed to contractor issues and permitting. Initially investors, Olivieri and Schure later converted their ownership stake to a loan, he said.

Olivieri said they had been customers of the Passyunk Avenue location when Brad Du Plessis contacted them last year to ask if they would be interested in investing. Olivieri said he noticed issues with day-to-day operations, and eventually, he said, It just seemed like we were becoming more like counselors rather than investors.

Later, Olivieri said, the couple ignored his advice and grew silent. You have to have an open line of communication to be successful, and unfortunately thats one of the components that was missing, he said.

Employee fallout

It was the silence that distressed the idled Essen employees, too. They told The Inquirer over the summer, after its July report that the bakery owners hoped to reopen, that they were given no clues about the business future. Several former employees disputed the couples assertion to the newspaper that they had been taken care of during the shutdown.

In the days after the closing, one former employee said, workers messaged the couple to say that they couldnt pay their rent and were desperate to learn when they would be able to work again. After several promised reopening dates came and went with no opening, they simply stopped responding to staff, said the worker, who asked for anonymity because they wanted to move on with their life.

Another employee, who had worked at Essen from September 2024 until the shutdown, aired her grievances in a TikTok video. Others told PhillyVoice, in an article published Aug. 13, that they were suffering and that the Du Plessises were blocking the accounts of people who discussed the situation on social media.

Personal strain

Tova Du Plessis said that just before the shutdown, she and her husband were discovering issues in our relationship that we didnt understand, and it was impacting the business in such a drastic way. Running the business was our escape from dealing with our issues.

The stress in their marriage was just magnified because we were running a business together, Du Plessis said. It was undeniable  it was a problem we had to face head-on.

Initially, they thought that a brief shutdown would suffice, but as we tackled those issues, we were discovering how deep and difficult they were, she said.

The stress in their marriage was just magnified because we were running a business together. It was undeniable  it was a problem we kind of had to face head-on. Tova Du Plessis

The loss of income added further stress. Brad Du Plessis, who had left his job in wine sales in April 2024 to work with his wife, got a new job over the summer. But then I had to face the reality that I didnt have another partner or investor, she said. I didnt feel I could do it on my own.

Looking ahead

Last week, Du Plessis said she was attempting to sell all of Essens baking equipment. She said she believed that bankruptcy was the next step.

Despite Essens failure, Du Plessis said she remains proud of what it accomplished. It made me really feel like Im part of a community, she said.

 READ MORE: Recipe: Essen Bakery's black-and-white cookies

She said she wants to take several months before making her next move. Im still too affected by the burnout and the loss, she said. Its not just giving up the business. Its a whole bunch of family and relationships. Du Plessis said she wants to return to baking, possibly even for someone else. Brad Du Plessis, who declined to comment for this article, is working again in the wine business. Hes really in the position he should be in, she said.

For a long time, I was afraid Id be looking at bankruptcy and divorce  and Im happy to say Im probably just looking at bankruptcy, Du Plessis said last Friday. To me, thats a happy ending, or a beginning, depending on how you want to see it. I actually feel like this experience may have saved our marriage.
A doctor involved in the care of Iris Spencer has an office at Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center, which is shown here in 2024. Read more

A Philadelphia jury reached $35 million verdict last week against Main Line Health and the University of Pennsylvania Health System for a cancer misdiagnosis that led a then-45-year old Philadelphia resident to undergo a total hysterectomy in 2021.

Main Line discovered later that the biopsy slides used to make the diagnosis in February 2021 were contaminated. The cancer diagnosis was due an error that involved a second persons DNA, not that of the plaintiff, Iris Spencer, who did not have cancer.

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Main Line settled with Spencer in 2022 for an undisclosed amount, so it wont have to pay its share of the verdict.

The jury found Penn and its physician, Janos Tanyi, a gynecological oncologist, liable for $12.25 million, or 35%, of the total awarded in damages for her unnecessary hysterectomy. The lawsuit said Spencer suffers from surgically-induced menopause.

The lawsuit against Penn and Tanyi said the physician did not do enough to resolve a conflict between biopsy results at Main Line and those at Penn, where Spencer sought a second opinion.

A Penn biopsy did not find cancer. Other tests were also negative, but Spencer did not know about those results.

The verdict affirms the central importance of the patient and the doctors obligation to inform the patient of all of the test results, of all of her options, and that she shouldnt be dismissed because shes a patient and not a doctor, Spencers lawyer, Glenn A. Ellis, said Monday.

The $35 million verdict is Philadelphias largest this year for medical malpractice, according to data from the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

Medical malpractice costs have been rising throughout healthcare. A factor in Pennsylvania is a 2023 rule change that allowed more flexibility in where cases can be filed.

In 2023, a Philadelphia jury issued a state record $183 million verdict against the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in a birth injury case.

A laboratory mistake

Spencers troubles started in February 2021 at Main Lines Lankenau Medical Center where her biopsy found that she had cancer in the lining of her uterus despite the lack of symptoms.

For a second opinion, Spencer saw Tanyi at Penn a few days later. A repeat biopsy came back negative, according to Spencers complaint that was filed in early 2023. Tanyi also performed other tests, all of which came back negative, but he did not share that information with Spencer, the complaint says.

After Tanyi performed the complete hysterectomy on March 8, 2021, Penns pathology laboratory found no cancer in the tissues that had been removed from Spencers body.

Thats when Spencer, who has since moved to Georgia, went back to Lankenau seeking an explanation. Seven months later, Main Line informed her that she never had cancer.

Main Line and Spencer subsequently reached an amicable full and final settlement to resolve and discharge all potential claims for care involving the health system, Main Line said in a statement. Main Line did not participate in the trial.

Penn said in a statement: We are disappointed by the jurys verdict in this case that was unmoored to the evidence presented at trial on negligence and damages. Our physician reasonably relied on the pathology performed at a hospital outside our system that revealed a very aggressive cancer.

Penn said it plans to appeal the verdict, which could increase by more than $2 million if the court approves a motion for delay damages that Ellis filed Saturday.
Editors note: An earlier version of this story included a photograph of a woman who had been a victim of the scheme and she was identified as such in the caption. The photo was removed because the juxtaposition of the headline and the image made it appear as the victim was the perpetrator.

The Pennsylvania attorney general has issued a six-figure fine to the former CEO of ABC Capital, a failed real estate firm behind an $82 million scheme that saw overseas investors snap up hundreds of homes in the citys poorest neighborhoods  only to leave them to rot.

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During the 2010s, ABC facilitated the sales of over 1,900 distressed homes billed as turnkey rental opportunities to investors in Asia, Europe, and South America. The company promised to purchase, renovate, and manage the rentals in exchange for up-front cash, but often reneged  bilking investors out of their money and sometimes stranding tenants in crumbling rental homes.

Tenants rights advocates and lawsuits from investors later described the business as a scam or Ponzi scheme.

Attorney General Dave Sunday said on Tuesday that former ABC Capital CEO Jason Jay Walsh had violated the terms of a 2024 settlement agreement negotiated by the attorney generals office in response to these complaints.

That agreement, which described ABCs business practices as deceptive and unfair, prohibited Walsh from managing and maintaining rental properties in Pennsylvania. But a Common Pleas Court judge earlier this week ruled that Walsh violated the agreement by continuing to perform management services for a property he owned, communicating with tenants, and providing inaccurate information to the attorney generals office.

Sunday issued a $350,000 fine in response.

We are grateful that the Court recognized blatant breaches of this agreement, and imposed a serious penalty against Mr. Walsh, Sunday said in a prepared statement. We will continue to hold Mr. Walsh accountable under this agreement that clearly prohibits him from managing properties in the Commonwealth.

Walsh could not be reached for comment. His attorney did not immediately respond to requests for information or comments.

Walshs crumbling empire was chronicled in 2022 reports by The Inquirer and the Baltimore Banner. His company decamped to the latter city as rising property values made the City of Brotherly Love less attractive to investors seeking cheap real estate.

But during the 2010s, ABC facilitated more than $82 million in property sales involving 600 different companies in Philadelphia alone, Inquirer reporting showed. Walsh and his partners  Israeli expats Yaron Zer and Amir Vana  later faced numerous lawsuits filed by investors alleging the company left units unfinished or fell far short of promised 40% returns on investment, leaving them saddled with debt.

Some of the homes that were ostensibly renovated, leased, or managed by ABC eventually became uninhabitable, due to either shoddy work or poor maintenance, according to tenants, investors, and the attorney general.

Its almost always in poor communities, with high rates of people of color, Karla Cruel, a former staff attorney at Tenant Union Representative Network, told The Inquirer in 2022. But they were screwing over the tenants and the investors at the same time. It was just a big old scam.

Last September, the Banner reported, Walsh was convicted of acting as an unlicensed contractor in Baltimore and ordered to pay $20,500 in restitution  the only criminal action brought against him to date.

The Pennsylvania civil settlement  brokered by Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry in 2024  banned Walsh and his wife, Blanca, from acting as landlords without the use of a third-party property manager. The duo, who appeared to have decamped to Aruba by 2024, were also not to have any contact with tenants for periods of 25 and 15 years, respectively.

But court filings show that Walsh violated that agreement by continuing to directly lease out and manage two properties not far from the companys defunct headquarters in Northern Liberties.

One was his former residence, and another was a property he acquired under the moniker Nolo Investments LLC. Walsh had reported to the attorney general that while he and his wife co-owned both properties, they were managed by an outside company called My Mega Realty.

While Walsh did discuss such an arrangement, the companys owner said he never completed the deal. Former tenants also reported to the attorney general that Walsh and his wife were directly managing the property and collecting rent.
Firefighters in Kyiv, Ukraine, put out a fire after a drone hit a multi-storey residential building during a Russian attack on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Read more

WASHINGTON/KYIV  Ukraine on Tuesday signaled support for the framework of a peace deal with Russia but stressed that sensitive issues needed to be fixed at a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Kyivs message hinted that an intense diplomatic push by the Trump administration could be yielding some fruit but any optimism could be short-lived, especially as Russia stressed it would not let any deal stray too far from its own objectives.

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U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators held talks on the latest U.S.-backed peace plan in Geneva on Sunday. U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll then met on Monday and Tuesday with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, a spokesperson for Driscoll said.

 READ MORE: Philadelphias Ukrainian American community rebukes proposed Russia-Ukraine peace plan

U.S. and Ukrainian officials have been trying to narrow the gaps between them over the plan to end Europes deadliest and most devastating conflict since World War Two, with Ukraine wary of being strong-armed into accepting a deal largely on the Kremlins terms, including territorial concessions.

Ukraine  after Geneva  supports the frameworks essence, and some of the most sensitive issues remain as points for the discussion between presidents, a Ukrainian official said.

Zelensky could visit the United States in the next few days to finalize a deal with Trump, Kyivs national security chief Rustem Umerov said, though no such trip was confirmed from the U.S. side.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that over the past week the U.S. had made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table. She added: There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

 READ MORE: The U.S. must support Ukraine in peace deal, not help fulfill Putins wish list | Editorial

Oil prices extended an earlier decline after reports of Ukraine potentially agreeing to a war-ending deal.

Underlining the high stakes for Ukraine, its capital Kyiv was hit by a barrage of missiles and hundreds of drones overnight in a Russian strike that killed at least seven people and again disrupted power and heating systems. Residents were sheltering underground wearing winter jackets, some in tents.

Zelensky will discuss sensitive issues with Trump

U.S. policy towards the war has zigzagged in recent months.

A hastily arranged summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August raised worries in Kyiv and European capitals that the Trump administration might accept many Russian demands, though the meeting ultimately resulted in more U.S. pressure on Russia.

The 28-point plan that emerged last week caught many in the U.S. government, Kyiv and Europe alike off-guard and prompted fresh concerns that the Trump administration might be willing to push Ukraine to sign a peace deal heavily tilted toward Moscow.

The plan would require Kyiv to cede territory beyond the almost 20% of Ukraine that Russia has captured since its February 2022 full-scale invasion, as well as accept curbs on its military and bar it from ever joining NATO  conditions Kyiv has long rejected as tantamount to surrender.

 READ MORE: 2000 Meters to Andriivka captures the horror and the hope of Ukraines battle against Russia | Trudy Rubin

The sudden push has raised the pressure on Ukraine and Zelensky, who is now at his most vulnerable since the start of the war after a corruption scandal saw two of his ministers dismissed, and as Russia makes battlefield gains.

Zelensky could struggle to get Ukrainians to swallow a deal viewed as selling out their interests.

He said on Monday the latest peace plan incorporated correct points after talks in Geneva. The sensitive issues, the most delicate points, I will discuss with President Trump, Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

Zelensky said the process of producing a final document would be difficult. Russias unrelenting attacks on Ukraine have left many skeptical about how peace can be achieved soon.

There was a very loud explosion, our windows were falling apart, we got dressed and ran out, said Nadiia Horodko, a 39-year-old accountant, after a residential building was struck in Kyiv overnight.

There was horror, everything was already burning here, and a woman was screaming from the eighth floor, Save the child, the child is on fire!

 READ MORE: Zelensky says Ukraine faces a stark choice and risks losing American support over U.S. peace plan

Macron warns against European capitulation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said an amended peace plan must reflect the spirit and letter of an understanding reached between Putin and Trump at their Alaska summit.

If the spirit and letter of Anchorage is erased in terms of the key understandings we have established then, of course, it will be a fundamentally different situation (for Russia), Lavrov warned.

A group of countries supporting Ukraine, which is known as the coalition of the willing and includes Britain and France, was also set to hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday.

Its an initiative that goes in the right direction: peace. However, there are aspects of that plan that deserve to be discussed, negotiated, improved, French President Emmanuel Macron told RTL radio regarding the U.S.-proposed plan. We want peace, but we dont want a peace that would be a capitulation.

In a separate development, Romania scrambled fighter jets to track drones that breached its territory near the border with Ukraine early on Tuesday, and one was still advancing deeper into the NATO-member country, the defense ministry said. (Reporting by Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Devika Nair, Tom Balmforth, Pavel Polityuk, Alessandro Parodi, Michel Rose, Luiza Ilie and Sergiy Karazy; writing by Matthias Williams; editing by Frances Kerry and Mark Heinrich)
Three-year-old Hope Jones weighed 24.5 pounds, less than 99% of children her height and age, just a month before she died in July 2022.

The child was starved and beaten up by her foster parent, a distant relative from Southwest Philadelphia who pleaded no contest to third-degree murder over Hopes death.

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A child welfare agency, Northeast Treatment Centers, paid $6.5 million to settle a lawsuit accusing it of failing to supervise Hopes care. And in a rare move, one of their social workers was charged criminally but later cleared of wrongdoing in trial.

A new federal lawsuit is pointing a finger in another direction. It accuses medical providers from Philadelphia FIGHT, a community health nonprofit based in Center City, of failing to investigate or report abuse despite a series of red flags from Hopes wellness checks.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, is against the United States because FIGHT is a federally qualified health center and thus receives funding and operates with requirements from the government.

Philadelphias U.S. Attorneys Office declined to comment. FIGHT did not respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit is not only the latest legal fallout from Hopes death, but the latest in litigation brought after children who were part of the citys child welfare system have been harmed.

This fall, child welfare agencies were sued over the death of 20-month-old Syvir Hill, who was allegedly drowned by another child in a bath unsupervised, and that of 11-year-old Nayshaun Williams, who died of an asthma attack after a school nurse repeatedly raised concerns that he was not receiving adequate medical treatment.

 READ MORE: Toddlers death in the bathtub of a Philly foster home prompts lawsuit

The city and its affiliated agencies were sued nearly 70 times between 2012 and 2024 after kids in their care were killed, sexually abused, or injured, an Inquirer/Resolve Philly investigation found. And at least 50 of these lawsuits led to settlements or verdicts of $1 million or more.

Two agencies declined to extend their contract with the city last year, citing litigation insurance costs.

The new lawsuit on behalf of Hopes biological family extends the circle of litigants to include medical providers.

Its another group of professionals that failed Hope, said Sherrell Dandy, one of the Kline & Specter attorneys representing the family.

Child welfare services were involved in Hopes life from her first days on Earth, according to the complaint. Her mother and the infant tested positive for marijuana after the delivery, and the Philadelphia Department of Human Services placed the infant under its care.

Hope became a FIGHT patient, and her first few visits as a baby went well, the lawsuit says. She was well-developed and well-nourished, the complaint says, and had a good appetite.

Hopes weight reached the 98th percentile at her 15-month wellness visit, in the summer of 2020, but she fell off the growth chart steadily after the following November when she was placed in foster care with a distant relative, the complaint says. Hope failed to meet developmental milestones and lost teeth, a couple times without explanation and another time following an alleged fall.

The childs medical records note that she developed an abnormal gait, ate her own feces, and was eating extremely fast followed by periodically vomiting, the suit says.

The FIGHT physicians did refer Hope to an orthopedic specialist because of her gait, but the lawsuit says that they failed to recognize it as clinical indicators of severe weight loss and underlying caloric deprivation, starvation, and neglect.

Hopes weight fell to the single digits as summer 2022 approach. She was rushed to the hospital that July and was pronounced dead. The Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office determined that her cause of death was multiple blunt impact injuries, and the manner of death was homicide.

The hallmark for health is growth, said Nadeem Bezar, another Kline & Specter attorney. During those visits there were alarming things that were never followed up on.

A previous version of the lawsuit was filed against FIGHT in federal court in February. A judge dismissed that case in March because Hopes estate had other administrative remedies to pursue before filing a lawsuit, and said that the appropriate defendant would be the United States. The new lawsuit says that all administrative remedies were exhausted and the government is the only defendant.
President Donald Trump listens as New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday. Read more

The Democrats had a great election night earlier this month when the democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani scored a smashing triumph in New Yorks mayoral race, and mainstream Democrats won gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia. Savoring the victories, left-wing standard-bearer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said her party had united against a common foe: fascism.

Its not about progressive, its not moderate, its not liberal, Ocasio-Cortez declared. This is about, do you understand the assignment of fighting fascism right now? And the assignment is you come together across difference no matter what.

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Shes right about the need for my fellow Democrats to join hands to challenge President Donald Trump and his MAGA loyalists. But shes wrong to call them fascists. That doesnt hamper Trump; it empowers him.

And you know who gets that? Zohran Mamdani.

Witness his meeting with Trump at the White House on Friday, when a reporter asked Mamdani if the president was a fascist. Before the mayor-elect could answer, Trump threw him a lifeline.

Trump isnt hampered by being called a fascist; hes empowered by it.

Thats OK, you can just say yes, Trump said. Its easier than explaining. Laughing, he gave Mamdani a light pat on the arm. I dont mind, Trump added.

Mamdani played along, smiling widely. OK, all right, he replied.

But it was better than all right. It was brilliant.

Calling Trump a fascist does nothing  literally, nothing  to advance the Democrats cause. And Mamdani was wise to steer away from it.

To win elections, the Democrats need to claw back voters who tipped for Trump and the GOP in 2024. Do you think theyre going to be persuaded by someone telling them they supported a fascist?

If so, you just havent been listening. Last October, a mask-wearing protester accosted Tom Eddy  chairman of the Republican Party in Erie County, Pa.  and called him a fascist. Do you even know what it means? Eddy asked. Dont need to know, the masked man replied. I know who you are.

 READ MORE: In the Trump college funding fight, now Democrats are threatening academic freedom, too | Jonathan Zimmerman

A month later, Trump won Pennsylvania by the largest margin of victory for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988. Of course, Democratic accusations of fascism werent the only reason for that. But they certainly didnt help.

Neither does calling Trump a white supremacist or racist, which is another turn-off for voters. In a 2023 Public Agenda survey, 77% of Americans said it was a serious problem that people are too quick to accuse others of racism.

And its not just white voters who think that. In the poll, 77% of Latino Americans and 76% of Asian Americans agreed with the statement. The percentage of African American voters who agreed was a bit lower  68%  but still represented a significant majority.

Let me be clear: Donald Trump has said some horribly racist things: Haitians eat pets, Mexicans are rapists, Africa is full of shithole countries, and so on. But calling him a racist wont sway anyone into the Democrats column; its more likely to bring people to his side because theyre sick and tired of hearing about how racist America is.

Ditto for labeling Trump a fascist. Ive read my Timothy Snyder and Jason Stanley, and I do see elements of fascism in Trumps MAGA movement: the relentless denunciation of internal enemies, the Big Lie about elections (see: 2020), and the celebration of a strongman who will save us. But I still think its an enormous mistake to imagine all of his supporters  or, even, his entire party  as fascist.

Thats what the American Association of University Professors  our nations most venerable academic organization  did earlier this fall.

Rebutting the idea that academia is biased against conservatives, the AAUP posted that fascism generally doesnt do great under peer review.

Translated: The reason there arent more conservative professors is that theyre actually fascists. So is anyone who disagrees with the dominant liberal consensus on campus.

As comedian Jon Stewart warned back in January, none of this is going to enlist more voters for the Democrats. Enough with the Hes a Hitler, Stewart urged. Tell people what you would do with the power that Trump is wielding, and then convince us to give that power to you, as soon as possible.

Thats exactly right. And thats also what Mamdani has been doing, with his persistent focus on housing and affordability.

Pressed by an interviewer on Sunday, Mamdani said he stood by his earlier comments that Trump was a despot as well as a fascist. But he quickly changed the subject, because he knows thats a game Democrats cant win.

Im not coming to the Oval Office to make a point or make a stand, Mamdani declared. Im coming in there to deliver for New Yorkers.

The way for Democrats to defeat Trump and the GOP is to show we can deliver for all Americans, in the ways that matter most to them.

So enough with the name-calling, OK? It makes us look churlish and small. Focus instead on the big things we can do. And we will be all right.

Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Whose America?: Culture Wars in the Public Schools.
WASHINGTON - The FBI has requested interviews with six Democrats from the U.S. Congress who told members of the military they must refuse any illegal orders, a Justice Department official told Reuters on Tuesday.

The move, reported earlier by Fox News, comes a day after the Pentagon threatened to recall Senator Mark Kelly, a Navy veteran and one of the six lawmakers, to active duty potentially to face military charges over what Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described as seditious acts on social media.

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 READ MORE: Pentagon threatens to prosecute Senator Mark Kelly by recalling him to Navy service

The other lawmakers, who made the comments in a video released last week, include Senator Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Iraq war veteran, and Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, all military veterans.

The legislators created the video amid concerns from Democrats  echoed privately by some U.S. military commanders  that the Trump administration is violating the law by ordering strikes on vessels purportedly carrying suspected drug traffickers in Latin American waters.

The Pentagon has argued the strikes are justified because the drug smugglers are considered terrorists.

 READ MORE: Trump renews call to jail Democrats, including two from Pa., after calling their video statement punishable by death

Trump accused Democratic lawmakers of sedition

President Donald Trump accused the six Democrats of sedition, saying in a social media post that the crime was punishable by death.

His administration has shattered longstanding norms by using law enforcement, including the Justice Department, to pursue his perceived enemies.

 READ MORE: Trump accuses Democratic vets in Congress of sedition punishable by death, including two lawmakers from Pa.

The Justice Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the interviews were to determine if theres any wrongdoing and then go from there.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a statement on Monday, Kelly dismissed the Pentagons threat as an intimidation tactic.

 READ MORE: Chrissy Houlahan and another Pa. Democrat report bomb threats at their district offices
U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D., Chester) speaks during her town hall meeting at the Chester County Intermediate Unit in Downingtown, Pa. on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Read more

The FBI is seeking interviews with the six Democratic members of Congress, including two from Pennsylvania, who released a video calling on members of the military and intelligence community to refuse illegal orders.

A U.S. Justice Department official said the FBI has requested interviews with the six Democratic lawmakers, who are all veterans or members of the intelligence community.

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The move came a day after the Pentagon threatened to recall Sen. Mark Kelly (D., Ariz.), a Navy veteran and one of the six lawmakers, to active duty potentially to face military charges. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday described the video as seditious and despicable, reckless, and false after President Donald Trump went on a social media rant against the lawmakers last week.

U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan of Chester County, an Air Force veteran, and Chris Deluzio of Allegheny County, a Navy vet, both took part in the video.

Houlahan said in a statement Tuesday that Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress.

 READ MORE: Chrissy Houlahan says she is profoundly disappointed in lack of support from GOP colleagues after Trumps sedition accusation

She said the FBI contacted the House and Senate sergeants at arms on Monday to request the interviews.

No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution, Houlahan said.

The lawmaker said that members of Congress took an oath to the Constitution that lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it.

We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship, she added.

The six members of Congress urged service members not to give up the ship in their video released last week, which drew fierce attacks from Trump. They did not refer to specific orders as illegal in the video, but some have cited military strikes against boats in the Caribbean that experts have questioned as well as Trumps efforts to deploy the National Guard in U.S. cities.

In a string of posts last week on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump called the Democrats traitors who committed sedition punishable by DEATH. He reshared similarly aggressive posts from supporters, including one calling for the lawmakers to be hanged.

Houlahan and Deluzio both reported bomb threats at their district offices on Friday following the presidents attacks.

 READ MORE: Trump accuses Democratic vets in Congress of sedition punishable by death, including two lawmakers from Pa.

The Department of Defense announced Monday that it has received serious allegations of misconduct against Kelly, a retired Navy captain, and that a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated.

Kelly is subject to military rules while the other veterans who partook in the video are not because he retired from the military. That means he earns a pension and can be recalled to active duty.

His colleagues in the video did not serve long enough to qualify for retirement, so they are not subject to military laws, as he is.

This article contains information from Reuters.
In this 2023 file photo, people along Kensington Avenue walk past the mobile home belonging to the Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard parked along Kensington Avenue. It is one of the city's so-called mobile service providers that have faced increasing regulation from City Council. Read more

Philadelphia City Council is escalating its clash with some harm reduction providers, with lawmakers on a key committee voting Monday to ban mobile addiction services from parts of Kensington and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Members of Councils Committee on Licenses and Inspections voted, 5-1, to advance the legislation, which covers the Lower Northeast-based 6th District, represented by Councilmember Mike Driscoll, the bills sponsor.

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The area stretches from the eastern side of the intersection at Kensington and Allegheny Avenues  long the epicenter of the citys opioid epidemic  north along the Delaware River and up to Grant Avenue.

The full Council could vote on the legislation as early as next month.

Some Kensington residents who have begged lawmakers for years to address the sprawling homelessness and addiction in the neighborhood said they support the legislation because the providers draw people who use drugs into residential areas.

I have grandkids who cant come and see me because of where grandmom lives at, said Darlene Abner-Burton, a neighborhood advocate. Its not fair that we have to endure what we have to endure. No one should live like we do, and no one should go through what we go through.

 READ MORE: Council just dramatically limited where mobile addiction services providers can operate in Kensington  and it may go further

However, a half dozen harm reduction advocates testified that the legislation would not reduce homelessness or addiction, but would instead erect barriers to medical care that vulnerable people rely on and would lead to more overdose deaths.

Every member of our community deserves dignity and compassion, not punishment, said Kelly Flannery, policy director at the Positive Womens Network, an advocacy organization for people with HIV.

Flannery called the measure a cruel ban.

Its the second time Council appeared poised to pass a bill aimed at restricting mobile service providers, which are groups that operate out of vans or trucks and offer a range of assistance to people in need, including first aid, free food, and overdose reversal medication.

Earlier this year, Council voted to pass restrictions on the providers operating in the nearby 7th District, which covers the western parts of Kensington.

But that bill  which passed the full Council 13-3 and was signed by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker  was not a blanket ban.

That legislation, authored by 7th District Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, requires providers obtain a license, and it limits organizations that provide medical services to specific areas designated by the city. Groups that offer nonmedical services like distributing food are prohibited from parking in one place for more than 45 minutes.

The city is expected to begin enforcing that law on Dec. 1.

 READ MORE: Frustrations over Kensington erupted in Philly City Council with heated speeches: How dare you!

Driscoll said he introduced his own legislation to ban the services from his district entirely because he was concerned that providers who faced restrictions in the 7th District would migrate into the neighborhoods he represents.

The only committee member to vote against Driscolls legislation Monday was Nicolas ORourke, a member of the progressive Working Families Party who represents the city at-large and also opposed the 7th District legislation.
City Council President Kenyatta Johnson speaks with district Councilmember Brian ONeill before the start of a Council session in March. Johnson is championing a new city-managed retirement plan for workers who don't have access to one through their employers. Read more

Philadelphia could soon become the first American city to establish its own retirement savings program for residents whose employers dont offer one.

City Council is poised to pass legislation that would enable the plan, called PhillySaves, which is modeled on similar state-facilitated auto-IRA programs that have been increasingly established across the country.

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The idea is that workers would be automatically enrolled in the city-managed plan and would contribute through payroll deductions at no cost to their employer. The plan would then follow employees, even as they change jobs.

Council President Kenyatta Johnson, a Democrat, said during a committee hearing on the legislation last week that the program is an anti-poverty measure aimed at generating wealth for more than 200,000 Philadelphians who do not have access to a retirement savings plan through their job.

We want to make sure we are lifting all Philadelphians out of poverty, building generational wealth, and ensuring our seniors are financially stable in retirement, Johnson said.

A Council committee approved the legislation following a hearing last week, and the full Council is expected to pass it. Voters would have to approve the creation of an investment management board through a ballot question, which could come as early as the May primary election.

Councilmember Cindy Bass, a Democrat who represents parts of North and Northwest Philadelphia, called the plan a game changer.

There was a time when you could retire just on Social Security alone, she said. That day has come and gone.

How would the program work?

Workers would be automatically enrolled in the plan with a default contribution rate of 3 to 6% of their wages, however they can opt out or change their contributions at any time.

Employers that do not offer their own retirement plans would be required to sign up. Their only responsibility would be facilitating the payroll deductions for their employees. There is no matching program for employers or the city.

City Councilmember Mike Driscoll, a Democrat who represents parts of Northeast Philadelphia and is sponsoring the legislation, emphasized last week that there is no cost to employers and no fiduciary liability.

The goal is to make it easy for employees who want to save, he said, and not burden employers who are already managing their many responsibilities.

The legislation includes minimal fines for employers who dont enroll employees. But Council members said the city will launch a significant public education and outreach campaign before levying fines.

Who is the program for?

Under the current version of the legislation  which could still be amended  the program applies to businesses with at least one employee. It must have been operating in Philadelphia for at least two years.

Auto-IRA plans are especially geared toward hourly workers who generally have fewer employer-covered benefits, such as 401(k) plans, as well as people who work for small businesses that cant afford to provide retirement benefits.

Is this a new thing?

Twenty states have passed legislation creating their own auto-IRA plans and 16 programs are open to participants, according to the Center for Retirement Initiatives at Georgetown University.

Pennsylvania is not among them, but New Jersey launched a state-run retirement savings program last year. That plan, called RetireReady NJ, was first established in 2019 and signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat.

 READ MORE: Should New Jersey embrace portable retirement savings plans?

As of July, more than 18,000 workers were saving through the program, according to the states Department of the Treasury.

It is more limited than Philadelphias would be, in that it only applies to businesses with at least 25 employees. Philadelphias would apply to businesses with just one.

Two other cities  New York and Seattle  passed legislation enabling auto-IRA programs, but neither was implemented because both New York and Washington states enacted state-run programs that include the cities.

 READ MORE: Its time for lawmakers to enact a retirement savings plan for Pa. workers | Opinion

The Democratic-controlled Pennsylvania State House passed legislation in 2023 along party lines enabling a similar program called Keystone Saves, but it stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican now running for governor, has for years advocated for the programs passage.

How will the investments be managed?

The city would create a nine-member Retirement Savings Board, which would include four appointees by the mayor, four by the City Council president, and one by the city controller.

That board would be responsible for facilitating the program and may contract third-party consultants, financial advisers, actuaries, and other experts to manage the investments.

 READ MORE: Big changes are coming to retirement plans. Heres what small businesses should know.

Why does the money go into a Roth IRA?

The program defaults to a Roth IRA, though people covered can elect to switch to a traditional IRA.

John Scott, director of the retirement savings project at Pew Charitable Trust, said during the Council hearing last week that Roth IRAs are often the default in auto IRA programs because participating employees can pull money out of those accounts at any time without taxes or penalty.

 READ MORE: From 2019: Treasurer says Pa. needs auto-IRA plans to boost retirement savings

He said thats especially appealing to workers who sometimes have fluctuations in their work schedule or they might have a financial shock.

For many of these workers in these programs, this is really the first opportunity to save money, Scott said. So, you know, life happens. And sometimes they do need to pull that money out, and the Roth IRA is really the best vehicle to do that.

When will this become reality?

Creating the board that will oversee the investments requires a change to Philadelphias Home Rule Charter, the citys governing document.

If Council passes legislation and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker signs it  both are expected to support it  then voters could approve the change through a ballot question as early as May.

The legislation says the program must be launched by July 2027, however there are exceptions in the case of legal challenges or a state-level program superseding the citys.
A federal jury awarded $80 million Wednesday to the estate of a Buffalo man whose conviction in a 1976 murder was overturned after he spent nearly a quarter century in prison.

Darryl Boyd, one of the group of Black teenagers arrested for the murder of William Crawford sometimes called the Buffalo Five, filed the lawsuit in 2022 seeking damages and alleging Buffalo Police investigators and Erie County prosecutors had failed to disclose more than a dozen pieces of evidence that pointed to other suspects. The lawsuit also alleged investigators coerced witnesses to give false statements pointing to Boyd, and that prosecutors committed summation misconduct  making inappropriate or false comments in their closing arguments.

If not for the misdeeds of Defendants, Mr. Boyd would not have been prosecuted, convicted, and imprisoned in violation of his constitutional rights, and would not have spent 45 years asserting his innocence and fighting for his liberty in connection with a crime that he did not commit, Boyds attorneys wrote in the lawsuit.

A spokesman for Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said the county extends its sympathy to Boyds family, but he believes the $80 million award is egregious and the county plans to appeal.

After a two-and-a-half week trial, the federal jury in the Western District of New York took about an hour to return the massive verdict  billed by attorneys as one of the largest monetary awards for a wrongful conviction case in the U.S.

After Boyd was released from prison, he spent another two decades on parole before his conviction was vacated by a judge in 2021. The county opted not to retry Boyd or John Walker Jr., whose conviction in the case was also vacated.

A third man convicted in the killing, Darren Gibson, was released from prison in 2008 and died a year later. One of the other teens was acquitted at trial, and the fifth teen testified against the others, which Boyds attorneys said newly released case files show was coerced.

Both Boyd and Walker had settled their case against the city of Buffalo for about $4.7 million each. Walker won a $28 million verdict against the county earlier this year, which the county has appealed.

He lost his whole adult life to this wrongful conviction. The jury heard just how many years he was suffering in maximum security prison. All the terrible things you assume happen in prison, happened in prison, said Ross Firsenbaum, an attorney with WilmerHale, one of three firms representing Boyds estate.

Firsenbaum said being released on parole was just as hard for Boyd who suffered from PTSD, anxiety and other ailments. He struggled to keep or get jobs because of the conviction and eventually began self-medicating and developed a substance abuse addiction.

Boyd was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and died in 2023 before the trial could be held. His mother and son attended the trial every day, Firsenbaum said.

The (county) argued his substance use was the cause of his problems, not the 27 or so years he spent wrongfully in prison, Firsenbaum said. And thats offensive. And the jury recognized that and responded with this verdict.

He added that the attorneys had proven there was a pattern and practice of misconduct at the time of the convictions, not just a misdeed by one employee.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New York
A Credit Suisse unit in Bermuda lost its UK court fight to topple a $600 million damages award to sanctioned Georgian tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili.

The Privy Council  the top tribunal for cases brought in many British territories  dismissed five of Credit Suisses six appeals, siding with it only on one point over the starting date for damages, in a decision handed down on Monday.

The dispute was first heard in Bermuda where an offshore life insurance policy was based that was recommended to Ivanishvili for his investments.

Read more: Credit Suisse Unit Ordered to Pay Georgian Tycoon Ivanishvili $743 Million

The case marks the end of the road for one of the few remaining cases in the scandal surrounding rogue banker Patrice Lescaudron who was convicted in 2018 for having run a scheme to steal from clients, principally Ivanishvili, to cover losses in other clients portfolios.

Credit Suisse argued throughout Lescaudrons criminal trial, and since, that he was a lone wolf who hid his crimes from colleagues and supervisors. Still, the scandal was one of many that slowly eroded investor confidence in the bank leading to its rescue by larger rival UBS in 2023.

A spokesperson for UBS said theyve taken note of the decision, declining to comment further.

The original damages award was granted in 2022 by a Bermuda chief justice who ruled that Credit Suisse Life (Bermuda) Ltd. had turned a blind eye to Lescaudrons fraud. CS Life lost its first appeal in the island nations capital Bermuda that same year.

At a June hearing, lawyers for CS Life argued that the award is based on far too broad a date range and interpretation of the scope of its contractual responsibility to Ivanishvili. In a nod to that request, the Privy Council on Monday adjusted by a few months the start date for two of those insurance policies.

Top photograph: Credit Suisse branding. Photo credit: Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg

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Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
Insurers putting money into one of private credits hottest trends will face fresh oversight from the EUs financial stability watchdog, under new proposals to bridge the gap between member states on a deal to revamp Europes securitization market.

Denmark, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, has offered additional checks and balances by the European Systemic Risk Board as a way to address concerns that insurers investment in synthetic risk transfers could threaten financial stability. SRTs allow banks to reduce their capital holdings by offloading some of the risks to insurers, who guarantee they will take early losses. The transactions are part of the broader securitization market which allows banks to reduce their risk.

In a document circulated ahead of a meeting this week, the presidency suggested that the ESRB should monitor macroprudential risks associated with the provision of unfunded credit protection under the STS label. STS is a category of securitization that is Simple, Transparent and Standardized and so benefits from less onerous regulatory treatment.

The Danish are also proposing a new mandate for the ESRB, which sits at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, to publish a report 36 months after the planned securitization legislation comes into force. The work should assess the impact of STS on-balance-sheet securitizations on financial stability, and any potential systemic risks, such as risks created by concentration and inter-connectedness among non-public credit protection sellers.

The compromise pitch comes against the backdrop of rising concerns about potential risks from the securitization market, which Europe has vowed to nurture as part of its pledge to boost growth. The value of global banks synthetic securitizations recently surpassed $670 billion, with European lenders such as Banco Santander SA and Deutsche Bank AG among the top users.

The Copenhagen-based executive is seeking to reach a compromise from the 27 governments so that securitization rules  seen as key to unleash financing for housing, defense and other goals  moves ahead to the next phase of the lengthy EU legal process.

Improving the terms under which insurers can invest in SRTs could also amplify counterparty risk by deepening existing channels and creating new pathways for contagion, the ECB said in an opinion about the draft regulation released early this month.

Concentration risk would be greater because the proposed amendment would give (re)-insurance companies a significant competitive advantage over other private investors, said Francesco Mazzaferro, head of the ESRB Secretariat, in an Oct. 13 speech at a European Parliament committee.

Photograph: Copenhagen, Denmark; photo credit: Freya Ingrid Morales/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers Europe
Heavy rainfall has unleashed deadly floods across Southeast Asia, damaging crops and stranding tourists, with more downpours expected into early next week.

Flooding in southern Thailand has killed at least 13 people and swamped around 800,000 households and rubber- and palm oil-producing areas. In Peninsular Malaysia, more than 16,000 people have been displaced, while floods claimed 90 lives in Central Vietnam.

Heavy rainfall is typical for this time of year due to the northeast monsoon, but the recent downpours have been notable for their intensity and impact. The US Climate Prediction Center forecasts wetter-than-average conditions persisting into next week across the battered regions, including the Philippines, which is still reeling from the impacts of a series of typhoons.

The hardest-hit area in Thailand is Hat Yai district in Songkhla province, a commercial hub and transport gateway for the south of the country. Its a popular destination for Malaysian visitors and hosts one of six international airports operated by Airports of Thailand Pcl, the nations biggest operator.

Our military is urgently mobilizing aircraft, trucks, ships and other vehicles to the flood-affected areas, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters on Tuesday. Water pumps, foods, basic necessities and financial resources are already being allocated to those areas.

Anutin added he had canceled planned travel to Malaysia on Wednesday to monitor the floods.

More than 4,000 Malaysian tourists are stranded in hotels and at Hat Yai airport, and inbound trips from Malaysia to southern Thailand are set to be canceled this week, the Bangkok Post reported, citing the governor of the Tourism Authority. The neighboring Malaysian state of Kelantan has also been swamped by rain.

In Central Vietnam, rescue and recovery work is continuing in four provinces, where severe flooding has caused economic damage estimated at more than 13 trillion dong ($493 million), according to the government.

More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged, over 80,000 hectares of rice and other crops have been ruined, and over 3.3 million livestock and poultry killed or swept away, the government said. Flooding also delayed harvesting in the nations biggest coffee-growing province of Dak Lak.

The affected areas from Vietnam to southern Thailand have already received significantly above-normal rainfall in the month to Nov. 23, according to data from the US Climate Prediction Center. That further amplifies flood risks, with more rain unlikely to be absorbed by the saturated ground.

Photograph: Flood waters in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, Thailand, on Nov. 25, 2025; photo credit: Arnun Chonmahatrakool/AFP/Getty Images

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Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Trends Flood
Deep inside a report on the future of water in central Ohio is this warning: Industrial demands for water will skyrocket at the same time experts expect farmers will need to regularly irrigate their fields during the critical growing period of July through September.

The competing demands of agriculture and industry  particularly the 130 data centers in central Ohio already consuming millions of gallons of water a day to cool computer equipment  would require billions of gallons of water daily, according to a 15-county Central Ohio Regional Water Study released this year by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Industrial demand alone is estimated to increase across the 15-county region by approximately 120% between 2021 to 2050  to 250 million gallons a day by 2050. Agricultural demands could reach an estimated 110 million gallons a day across the region by 2040 during the growing season.

Some of the additional billions of gallons needed in the coming decades would come from surface sources such as rivers and lakes.

But the study says virtually all of the water needed for agricultural irrigation would be pumped from groundwater sources  an additional 9.15 billion gallons a year across the 15-county region. Thats enough water to fill nearly 14,000 Olympic swimming pools. And all of that groundwater would come from the same aquifers depended upon by municipalities and rural owners of private wells for drinking water.

Of growing concern for some who pay close attention to water demands in Ohio  especially as it continues to invite water-guzzling data centers to the Silicon Heartland  is that there are few regulations to manage the extraction of one of the states most valuable resources.

Water regulation is kind of the Wild West in Ohio, said Jim Roberts, executive director of the Licking Regional Water District, which is expanding to meet demands for water and sewer service in fast-growing western Licking County. Sewage treatment is a lot more regulated.

And Glenn Marzluf, general manager and CEO of Del-Co Water Company in Delaware County  a nonprofit cooperative currently looking for a water source in northern Licking County  put it this way:

Ohio water laws are pretty simple: You own the land, you own the water, Marzluf said after a town hall meeting in Utica, where he bluntly told folks that if his company decides to develop a utility-scale well field there that could draw up to 6 million gallons of water a day, area residents would have little say in the matter.

Wet springs, dry summers

Most Ohio farmers have never found it necessary to water their crops and pastures.

In fact, across most of Ohio, farmers have done the opposite for more than two centuries since white settlers moved in and started digging ditches and burying field tile to drain wetlands to plow and plant in them.

Were one of only three states in the U.S. that has dryland farming, which means we farm without irrigation, said Bryn Bird, a Licking County resident and president of Ohio Farmers Union, which represents more than 2,500 family farms.

We can grow with what God gave us, said Bird, who is also a produce farmer and Granville Township trustee in Licking County, where the growing number of data centers already are driving up demand for water. Its a massive benefit to us and to crop yields. Even if you irrigate, you dont have the same yields.

But the report released earlier this summer by the Ohio EPA, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Water Development Authority, with assistance from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the Hazen and Sawyer consulting firm of New York, says that the changing climate in Ohio will drive an unprecedented demand by central Ohio farmers for surface and groundwater.

Licking County farmers, for example, will need an estimated equivalent of 5 inches of rainwater a year for irrigation during the growing season, says the Central Ohio Regional Water Study. Thats more than a months worth of rain, based on the average monthly rainfall of about 3 inches.

The states study was released in June  just before Ohio experienced its third drought in three years  and the last two were severe, including the driest August on record in Ohio in 2025.

At the same time the agricultural needs are expected to spike, the industrial demand for water  especially by data centers, computer-chip makers and other tech companies  is expected to skyrocket from an insignificant amount in 2020 to more than 40 million gallons a day by 2030  then up to about 70 million gallons a day by 2040 and as much as 90 million gallons a day by 2050.

For context, the City of Columbus delivers more than 140 million gallons of water a day from its three water treatment plants to 1.25 million people and its industrial customers. A fourth treatment plant is under construction now at a cost of $1.6 billion to meet anticipated future demands.

So in a state where there are few regulations to manage water resources, especially extraction from underground sources, those who need water and see whats coming are rushing to stake their claims.

That includes Del-Co and Licking Regional Water District in Licking County.

Drilling for the future

While Del-Co is looking for water to the north near Utica, the Licking Regional Water District is looking for a well site near Hebron in southern Licking County. Roberts has said that the utility serving western and southern Licking County also has plans for a water treatment facility in St. Albans Township, south of Alexandria and west of Granville.

He said the utility doesnt plan to drill for water on the nearly 100 acres it owns near Rt. 161/37 and Outville Road, but it would be interested in a partnership with the City of New Albany and the New Albany Company, which owns 106 acres nearby. The City of New Albany and Village of Granville are currently conducting tests on that land to determine how much water could be pumped from wells there  and how any future pumping might affect Granvilles wells, which draw from the same aquifer.

Bird grew up in arid Colorado singing songs as a child about turning off the water while washing her hands. With that perspective, Ohios willingness to turn over fertile farmland to industry  combined with its lack of both regulation of water resources and delineation of water rights to protect those resources  is shocking.

We are literally taking the nations breadbasket, where its most productive, most advantageous to farm, and turning it over for industrial use, she said, adding that the protection of water should be a priority issue for the state legislature and the candidates for governor in next years election.

Bird said the states water report does nothing to manage or protect a life-giving resource as important to human existence as oxygen. Bird fears that the water study serves mainly as a divining rod for those who are looking for water.

Intentional or not, Bird said, that report was written to tell all of the companies where to go. The report reads like, This is where the water is, so go get it, rather than these are the areas that need to be protected.

She said she has talked about the need to protect Ohios water supply with campaign staffers for Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, two of the declared candidates for governor in the 2026 election.

And Bird said she has told anyone who will listen that Ohio is just letting our water get sold.

You have no idea what you have

The Central Ohio Regional Water Study came after state officials promised Intel that if it built its proposed $28 billion computer-chip manufacturing campus in the New Albany International Business Park  in Licking County  state and local agencies would find the 6 million gallons or more a day it would need for its industrial process.

So far, the City of Columbus has committed to meeting Intels anticipated water needs when the company begins producing computer chips in 2030 or after.

The introduction to the study says that its goal was to assess current and future water resource availability and demands in a 15-county area. This assessment allows the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) to understand the need for water supply and infrastructure investments to support public and environmental health under changing conditions.

Bird said she works with farm groups in arid states such as California, the Dakotas and Oklahoma, and they look at Ohioans like youre insane  like you have no idea what you have there.

Managing the use of groundwater, she said, is all about the rate at which the underground aquifer recharges. These underground water reservoirs are replenished in part with surface water that percolates a few hundred feet or more down through topsoil, sand and gravel.

Pumping water out faster than the aquifer can recharge can draw down the aquifer and dry up neighboring wells.

Oklahoma had one of the largest aquifers in the country at one time, and now they dont, Bird said, referring to the Ogallala Aquifer that stretches across several Plains states. Because they overused it.

Some Ohioans believe well never run out of water, said Kristy Hawthorne, executive director of the Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District.

We have to be able to have a conversation about this, she said. We need to bring people to the middle to ask: What if it does happen?

Licking County has been notably water rich, she said, but Ohioans need to talk about the what-ifs regarding the rapidly increasing demand for water, and the positive impact of water re-use and environmental restoration.

This discussion about water re-use is helping, Hawthorne said. It will help manage that water for potable use and industrial water, re-using that industrial water as much as possible.

And she said the wide-ranging H2Ohio program initiated by Gov. Mike DeWine in 2019 has pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into projects across the state to help improve water quality and access to clean water by promoting best practices by farmers, building wetlands, replacing aging water lines and installing water treatment systems where there were none.

Initially funded at $172 million in the 2020-21 state budget, the program grew to $270 million in the 2024-25 budget and was cut by nearly 40% to $165 million in the 2026-27 budget.

It has opened up conversations in the ag community and in working with local governments and soil & water conservation offices, Hawthorne said. It has broadened the conversation across all water users.

It will take a sustained conversation  and action  to protect Ohios water resources, she said.

Water is not an infinite resource, Hawthorne said. There is a finite amount of water, and we need to protect what we have because we cant make any more.

Changes in weather

Ohio has plenty of water, says State Climatologist of Ohio Aaron Wilson, but changing weather patterns mean that more of it is coming in the spring and less in the summer.

This year was a great example  a snapshot of the trend, he said. We had our eighth wettest April on record and our driest August on record.

For example, he said that Pickaway County, south of Columbus, saw 32 inches of rain in April, May and June  an average of more than 10 inches per month  and then had the driest August ever. Thats incredible oscillation, Wilson said.

Historically, rain fell more evenly on Ohio throughout the year, with some months drier than others but without the wild swings from heavy rains just as planting season begins  making it challenging for farmers to get into the fields to plow and plant crops  to extremely dry periods when growing crops need rain most.

With these rapid oscillations, Wilson said, if you have irrigation, you can ensure that rain-fed crops will do well in those dry periods.

Irrigating farm fields, in many cases, would mean drilling wells, installing big pumps and investing in giant sprinklers, which roll across fields or slowly pivot around a point to water a big circle of land. Anyone who has flown over or driven by farms in arid states  as close to Ohio as Indiana  has seen the crop circles and the big sprinkler pipes that move on big wheels.

But all of that would bring an added expense for Ohio farmers, most of whom have never needed such equipment in the past, said Dean Kreager, educator for agriculture and natural resources at the Ohio State University Agricultural Extension Service Licking County office in Newark.

Its going to create some changes, for sure, he said. Crop prices would have to go up to offset the increase in costs.

And those increased costs might prompt some farmers to rethink what they grow and how they grow it.

Jordan Hoewischer, director of water quality and research for the Ohio Farm Bureau, said there has been some farm irrigation in Ohio, but the quantity of water is becoming more and more a factor.

With the convergence of increased demand by industry and agriculture, he said, there has to be some discussion about water re-use: How do we get nonpotable, gray water into the industrial process?

Hoewischer also said that the agriculture community could look at how farmers might use the drainage tiles that remove water from their fields during the wet springs to pump water back into the fields when needed.

We have a system underground already with drainage that potentially could be used to irrigate crops, he said.

Sounding the alarm

Based on current trends, agriculture could become one of the largest users of water in Ohio by mid-century, because we have millions of acres in agriculture, said Vinayak Shedekar, an assistant professor of agricultural water management in Ohio State Universitys Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

Despite the growth of technology companies and other industries on former Ohio farmland, agriculture and food production combined remain the states biggest industry.

If every year starts looking like the last two in Ohio, where does that put us? Shedekar asked. Its going to rain too much when we dont need water  more intense and more of it  and then when the farmer turns his attention to summer and fall, were going to be drier and warmer.

He is the Ohio State professor who provided the prediction for the states water study that farmers would need to start irrigating fields by mid-century.

His calculations indicate that rain in the growing season is not going to go down to zero, but its going to look more like what we saw in 2024 and 2025  and warmer. And if we have a 4-to-5-degree higher temperature, well have more evaporation.

And that is why I am worried about the sustainability of grain crops in Ohio, said Shedekar, who serves as the director of Ohio States International Program for Water Management in Agriculture and the Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program. We have been on the borderline for sustainability.

Go to Nebraska or North Carolina, he said, and it would be hard to find corn or soybeans without irrigation.

They have soils that cannot hold a lot of moisture for a long time, and they tend to get really hot, he said. Or go to Washington and other western states. You cannot grow crops without irrigation. Well, you can grow crops, but it wont be profitable.

In Ohio, the majority of crops have been rain-fed, he said, and thats with a water deficit of 3-4 inches, compared to 9 or so inches in the West.

But the predicted rising temperatures and reduced rainfall during the growing season is a bad combination for farmers, he said.

If you have a million acres you want to irrigate to about an inch, its a large amount of water because its such a large area, and that is the challenge, Shedekar said. Were not saying were going to run out of water like the western states, but between June and October, central Ohio might be experiencing seasonal drought and seeing wells go dry because of irrigation demands.

Thats what Im worried about  that by 2040, in the next two to three decades  that agriculture is going to rise up as a sector that needs water to survive, he said about the dry growing season. Because if we want to maintain yields, we will have to rely on irrigation.

The good news, he said, is that more people are starting to talk about the issue. As a result, we could see more people pushing for more concrete steps toward water management, he said.

At the moment, he said, very little is being done to manage the use of Ohios water resources.

What is the state doing to regulate this? Very minimal in terms of surface and groundwater management, he said.

But it could, he said.

We have enough water in our community retention ponds to water our lawns in Delaware County, but instead, we use Del-Cos beautiful water  purified for drinking  on our lawns. Why? We should be using water from those ponds.

There are solutions like that, and some of them will have to be voluntary, because the government isnt going to ask you to do it, he said.

And some companies moving to Ohio are coming from water-scarce states, and they are thinking about their water footprint, he said. They are strategically investing in projects that retain water in the watershed where they are using water.

That includes projects such as investing in building or restoring wetlands, he said. Building a wetland of 200 to 300 acres, he said, is enough to have an impact.

We are optimistic when it comes to water conservation, he said. Any conservation is good conservation. I like that there is some initiative being taken by these companies. Could it be more strategic? Absolutely.

And maybe, he said, state and local government officials could do more to negotiate such things with the companies they recruit to Ohio. As a state, we could be more strategic, he said.

___

This story was originally published by The Reporting Project and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Agribusiness Ohio
Binance Holdings Ltd. faces a lawsuit claiming the cryptocurrency platform knowingly facilitated crypto transactions by Hamas before the group attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.

More than 300 victims and family members of the Oct. 7 attack sued Binance, co-founder Changpeng Zhao, and top executive Guangying Chen under the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act provision of the Anti-Terrorism Act. They claim Binance enabled more than $1 billion in transactions by Hamas, Hezbollah, and other entities designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the US.

The lawsuit details how Binance knowingly facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars that helped those responsible for the atrocities of Oct. 7 attack, Lee Wolosky, an attorney for the victims, said in a statement. When a company chooses profit over even the most basic counter-terrorism obligations, it must be held accountable  and it will be.

The lawsuit, made public Monday in North Dakota federal court, details more alleged transactions with Hamas than those disclosed by the US in 2023, when Binance pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering laws and agreed to pay $4.3 billion in penalties. Zhao also pleaded guilty, stepped down as chief executive and served four months in prison. President Donald Trump pardoned him last month. Chen was not charged.

Binance, Zhao and Chen didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

Hamass October 2023 assault on Israel set off a brutal two-year war in Gaza that has killed some 69,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Other Iran-backed groups joined in the attack on Israel, including Lebanons Hezbollah and Yemens Houthis, creating a multi-front war. A shaky ceasefire has been in effect in Gaza since early October.

Venezuelan Gold Smuggling

Binance and Zhao now face four lawsuits in the US claiming it aided and abetted Hamas. But the 284-page complaint in North Dakota offers far more detail than the others about specific digital wallets allegedly linked to Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The company intentionally structured itself as a refuge for illicit activity, and knew full well that specific accounts controlled by terroristic organizations were among its customers, according to the complaint. Assets in those accounts could foreseeably be used to commit terrorist attacks, it claims. Some of the activity took place after Binance pleaded guilty, according to the lawsuit.

It alleges, for instance, that criminal organizations in Venezuela illicitly mined gold and smuggled it to Iran, where it was used to finance terror activities by Hamas and Hezbollah. It cites a 26-year-old Venezuelan woman who the victims claimed serves as a front for Hezbollahs gold smuggling network and received $177 million in crypto, withdrawing $43 million in cash.

When Binance pleaded guilty in 2023, it acknowledged in a blog post its responsibility for historical, criminal compliance violations, while also saying it has been systematically working to restructure our organization and personnel, upgrade our systems, and establish a new industry standard in compliance.

At the time, the Justice Department and the Treasury Departments Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, said many employees were aware of the consequences of allowing millions of illegal transactions.

New York Case

They said Binance was aware that the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, used Bitcoin transactions to raise money for the Iran-backed Islamist group. Binance also failed to file suspicious activity reports with the US about Hamas fundraising, according to FinCEN.

Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the US, European Union and other governments.

Under US law, Binance had a duty to prevent designated terrorist groups from accessing the US financial system by implementing an anti-money laundering program, performing due diligence on customers and filing suspicious activity reports. By intentionally evading those regulatory requirements, Binance created a system that allowed Hamas and other groups to move crypto freely, according to the North Dakota lawsuit.

The question of where victims can sue Binance, which is not based in the US, is the subject of legal dispute. Two cases are pending in New York and one in Alabama. The new complaint cites at least two transactions executed by IP addresses in Kindred, North Dakota.

In one New York case, US District Judge John Koeltl ruled on Feb. 25 that plaintiffs alleged plausibly that Binance knowingly and substantially assisted the Oct. 7 attacks, and they were generally aware that they were playing a role in Hamass and PIJs overall terrorist activities. He ordered fact-finding on the question of jurisdiction.

Binance disputed Koeltls ruling, saying he misapplied the law on aiding and abetting, and those who sued failed to show the companys connection to the attacks.

Binance is an exchange that offers its services to over 100 million users worldwide, its services have no definable nexus to any terrorist attack, and plaintiffs have not come close to identifying anything that could change that, its lawyers said in an April 11 court filing.

In the Alabama case, a judge denied Binances request to transfer the lawsuit to New York.

Under the Anti-Terrorism Act, a defendant can face treble damages liability for aiding and abetting an act of international terrorism if it provided substantial assistance to such acts. Those who sued in North Dakota include survivors of the attacks as well as family members and the estates of those who died.

They include the families of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage murdered by Hamas in Gaza; Itay Chen, an Israeli-American IDF soldier whose body was returned to Israel this month; Eyal Waldman, an Israeli philanthropist whose U.S.-born daughter, Danielle, was killed at the Nova music festival during the Oct. 7 attacks; and Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. whose son was a soldier killed by Hamas.

The case is Balva v. Binance Holdings, 25-cv-266, US District Court, District of North Dakota (Fargo).

Photo: Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Catastrophe Natural Disasters
On the hunt for cheap and fast strategies to prevent deadly wildfires, utilities across the US and Europeare contracting with a handful of artificial intelligence startups to map wildfire risk along thousands of miles of power lines, picking out individual trees to cut and poles to replace.

The most obvious way to prevent power equipment from sparking a blaze is to bury lines underground. But at a cost of upwards of $3 million a mile, many investor-owned utilities are limiting themselves to just a few hundred miles of buried lines per year. Thats proved to be a major business opportunity for several tech companies that use machine learning to deliver custom recommendations for targeted, relatively low-cost fixes  including some that can be paid for from maintenance budgets.

Take Massachusetts-based Overstory, which analyzes high-definition satellite images to spot trees that are most likely to topple or drop a limb on power distribution lines  those most in need of trimming. The company started out making tools to find and discourage deforestation, said Chief Executive Officer Fiona Spruill. Overstory pivoted after a realization: We could have a huge impact from a climate standpoint, in that we could help prevent wildfires, she said. The company recently closed an oversubscribed Series B funding round that pulled in more than $43 million.

Overstorys clients now include American Electric Power Co.s Texas utility andCalifornias Pacific Gas & Electric Co., along with other major US utilities, Spruill said. UK-based National Grid Plc, meanwhile, has signed a deal with Rhizome, a San Francisco-based climate tech firm, for custom modeling to suggestinvestments in fire safety.

The stakes for utilities are high: Edison Internationals Southern California utility is facing lawsuits for its possible link to the Eaton fire in Altadena, which killed 19 people in January. Wildfire liability from deadly blazes in Northern California pushed PG&E to declare bankruptcy in 2019.

In the years since, PG&E has worked with Overstorys staff to map the precise location and health of individual trees across its vast service area, which stretches for more than 500 miles (805 kilometers) in California. The premise is that its cheaper and more comprehensive than sending utility workers to inspect trees from the ground  or deploying helicopters to spot problem areas from the air.

To train its AI, Overstory relied on a large team of arborists who contributed on-the-ground measurements and observations of diseased or dying trees. The companys data and risk predictions are loaded into a custom web platform, with suggestions for what to trim and how often.

Rhizome co-founder and CEO Mishal Thadani said his company set out to help utilities decide which fire risk interventions  from cutting trees to replacing flammable wooden poles and installing new safety equipment  will deliver the most benefit for the cost. Rhizomes gridFIRM model can parse an array of site-specific information about a given grid, including local weather trends and maintenance records, and factor in information about nearby properties and populations that would be impacted in a fire.

National Grid plans to start using the model soon in the UK and already employs it on grids in New York and Massachusetts. Those states may not traditionally be thought of as fire prone, but the amount of land area burned within their borders more than tripled from 2023 to 2024, according to data from the US National Interagency Coordination Center, a federal hub for tracking and managing wildfire response.

Rhizomes technology has already rewired some of the utilitys assumptions about its fire risk, according to Casey Kirkpatrick, National Grids director of group strategic engineering. Previously, National Grid assumed it was worse in areas near bigger cities with more fire-ignition sources, along with sections of the grid near overgrown forests. Some of the biggest risks, however, lurked in suburbs.

Human-caused climate change is driving more volatile and extreme weather events. Heavy winter rains allow grasses and brush to flourish and are followed by summer heat domes and flash droughts that kill off plants and weaken trees. Researchers have found that drought stress can also lead to an outgrowth of disease in forested areas.

Because of climate change, trees are dying in new and different ways than they have in the past, said Spruill of Overstory, meaning a maintenance plan that may have worked 10 years ago is not necessarily going to work anymore.

Periodically trimming trees near power lines has been a mainstay of utility maintenance programs. Some companies have experimented with more aggressive cutting, but it may not be the most cost-effective way to control fire risk across an entire system, said power systems researcher Duncan Callaway, who leads UC Berkeleys Energy and Resources Group.

Callaway was part of a team that recently examined PG&Es fire-mitigation programs. Fast-trip safety settings that quickly shut off the power when equipment begins to fail delivered the most benefits for the money, according to the teams analysis in the journal Nature Climate Change, preventing about 80% of potential fire starts. More targeted trimming in known problem areas could help reduce the remaining risk of sparking a blaze, Callaway said, but cant eliminate it entirely.

Theres always going to be some risk of ignition unless we spend just extraordinary amounts of money to bury all distribution lines, Callaway said. If that cost is making it difficult for people to pay their bills, which is certainly already front of mind, at some point you have to live with the discomfort of some residual risk.

But as utilities confront potentially ruinous financial fallout from wildfire-related lawsuits, fines and insurance premiums, the demand for any tool that can drive down residual risk is increasing. Overstory recently rolled out a model to help determine the presence of dry grasses and brush at the base of high-powered transmission lines, which were tied to two devastating fires sparked by PG&E in 2018 and 2019.

The Kincade blaze and the deadly Camp fire  which helped push the company toward bankruptcy  happened basically at the transmission tower, said Andy Abranches, PG&Es vice president of wildfire mitigation. Both could have been prevented by clearing out the dry brush that lay beneath the towers, ready to burn. Even if the equipment failed, the sparks that it threw would have landed on bare earth, he said. There would have been no fire.

Photo: Photographer: Sam Wolfe/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters InsurTech Data Driven Wildfire Artificial Intelligence
Texas officials are requiring youth camps to have weather alert systems, mandated emergency preparedness plans, and various communication methods to help children and their families feel safe when they return this summer. But one thing is still missing from the state plan that some camp leaders say would ensure complete safety at all camps  initiatives to address the mental health of those returning to a place of tragedy.

After the devastating July 4 Hill Country floods that killed at least 137 people, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, those who are expected to return to Texas camps this summer could be dealing with the fear of the water, extreme emotions during weather events, consistent nightmares, and more.

After the flooding, we were hearing from parents and schools that when there was just a simple rainstorm, many of their kids were very, very distressed, said Julie Kaplow, a licensed clinical psychologist and executive vice president of trauma and grief programs at Dallas-based The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute.

One of the primary challenges in addressing the mental health needs of campers, staff and their families is that they are spread out across the state, only coming together during the summer. Resources have been poured into Texas Hill Country for flood victims, but for campers and their families who might live miles away, this does little to help.

Camp owners say this is why camps should be better prepared for their return.

I am in 100% support of engaging in the physical safety, but I think it has distracted a little bit from the importance of focusing on other aspects of wellness, Brandon G. Briery, chief program officer at Centerpoint-based Camp Camp, said.

State lawmakers over the summer passed House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1 requiring camps to address various safety measures including emergency preparedness plans and communication systems, but they gave no guidance to camps on how to serve the mental health needs of campers and staff.

Keli Rabon, a Houston mother whose sons survived the flood at Camp Junta, told lawmakers three weeks after the Hill Country flood during a committee hearing in Kerrville, that for her family the storm wasnt over. She said her son scans every room for higher ground, checks the weather constantly and battles nightmares of water dripping from the ceiling, and she has been struggling to find the mental health resources to help him.

I have asked the camp. I have asked FEMA. The answer is the same: Sorry, we dont know what to tell you. You are in Houston,' Rabon said demanding that mental health care be a central, funded part of the states disaster response.  I shouldnt have to rely on a Facebook group of volunteers to find trauma care for my children.

Sens. Pete Flores of Pleasanton and Charles Perry of Lubbock, who were committee chair and vice chair of the flood investigation committee and authors and co-sponsors of SB 1 and HB 1, did not respond to interview requests about mental health resources. Gov. Greg Abbotts office forwarded questions about mental health resources for camps to Texas Health and Human Services, which did not provide information by the storys publication.

Even before the flood, the mental wellness of campers and staff had been a growing concern for camp leaders. As youth mental health has declined across Texas and the country over the past six years, camp directors have reported multiple campers coming in with signs of anxiety and other mental illnesses, and staff  usually college students and young adults  with signs of depression and other more severe mental health problems.

This has led organizations like the American Camp Association, in collaboration with the Alliance for Camp Health and supported by the H.E. Butt Foundation, to create a six-hour mental wellness training program called CampWell to teach staff how to listen and regulate their emotions. This skill can be used for campers and themselves.

Briery, whose six-year term on the states Youth Camp Program Advisory Committee ended in August, said he and several others had been advocating for the states camp licensing board to consider adding higher-level training requirements for staff to address mental health concerns. He said a work group had been created around the topic and was supposed to convene after the summer camp season ended, but the July 4 flood put those plans on hold  right when it was needed most.

While the physical safety of our camp community is whats on everyones top of mind right now after the events of July, we have to look at the entire persons safety, and that includes mental wellness, Briery said.

Weather-related trauma

When news about the tragedy at Camp Mystic reached Laity Lodge Youth Camp in Leakey, it was like the world had been turned upside down. Laity staff members mourned the deaths as if they were their own while they answered the anxiety-riddled questions of their young campers. The portion of the East Frio River that butts up against them  a source of joy for so many of them before it was shuttered for the rest of the summer  became a grim reminder of the tragedy that unfolded just 36 miles away.

When I think of the summer, it is split into two parts. Pre-flood and post-flood, because everything felt so different. There was this heaviness afterwards, said Blayze Sykes, the camp supervisor for Laity Lodge.

Over the past decade, Texas has faced numerous natural disasters, including Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the Bastrop Complex Fire in 2011, the 2021 winter storm, and, most recently, the catastrophic flash flood in the Texas Hill Country.

Kaplow said each year, more Texas children are becoming survivors of natural disasters, creating a generation of weather anxiety-filled youth.

A study by the Society for Research in Child Development found that as many as 50% of children report post-traumatic stress symptoms after experiencing a disaster, such as recurring thoughts about the disaster, hypervigilance, or difficulty sleeping or concentrating. Children exposed to natural disasters also often experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.

A study of the Greater Houston area from 2019 to 2023 found that successive weather disasters and events had an effect on emergency department visits for depression and anxiety. It found distinct seasonal patterns, with specific periods, consistently showing higher demand for mental health services.

Weather-related mental illness can be complex to diagnose in children at first glance because their actions mirror ADHD symptoms, Kaplow said. Children affected with weather-related trauma may be hypervigilant, which might appear as though they are easily distracted.

Other signs can range from a student exhausted at their desk in the classroom to obvious signs of crying or becoming aggressive toward other peers.

Its not enough to intervene in the immediate aftermath. We want to make sure people recognize that this will be a long-term effort to help kids heal, said Kaplow.

Gov. Greg Abbott launched a free statewide counseling service for those affected by the floods, the Texas Flooding Emotional Support Line, but camp directors say more can be done.

Experts say one of the best ways policymakers can support children affected by disasters is to increase access to mental health services, including therapists, school counselors, grief therapy and medication.

While camp cant be the replacement for professional mental health treatment, studies have found that well-structured mental health programs at camps can counter struggles regarding depression, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, and difficulty forming positive peer relationships in young people.

The time is now. Suppose there were ever a time to give attention to mental well-being at camp, to create an environment where it thrives. In that case, its now, said Cary Hendricks, executive director of Laity Lodge Camping Programs.

One approach to integrating mental health into camps

Families seeking to disconnect their children from technology have long turned to summer camps to help them immerse in nature. Mental health experts have also promoted the benefits of nature-focused camps for childrens emotional well-being.

But, what happens when the outdoors becomes the reason for grief?

We know, and frankly, take it for granted that so many camps are in the outdoors and therefore have that kind of restorative benefit for campers and staff. The events of July 4 reminded us that those elements are also hazardous and destructive, said Laurie Pearson, the senior director of innovation and learning for the American Camp Association.

Camps across Texas are wrestling with trying to maintain the summer-camp feel of the past for campers and staff who are now very aware of the dangers that surround them.

I know we have already had campers signed up who have experienced very traumatic things, so that is where we are focused on. What can we do? said Meg Clark, owner of Camp Waldemar.

Pearson said the CampWell program, a six hour skills-based training course on building resilience, teaches staffers and campers how to regulate their emotions, like fear and anxiety, using methods such as breathing exercises, activities, conversation, and other non-medical means.

Camps who go through CampWell training try to create a safe, supported and connected environment among staff who can then model and teach relevant skills to campers. This in-person program evaluates a camps culture, including its training and screening processes and programs, to ensure it promotes mental and physical well-being.

Fifteen camps in Texas began implementing the CampWell program earlier this year. Little did these camp directors know how necessary this training would be for staff later that summer, when the flood required them not only to deal with their own emotions but also to address the emotions of hundreds of young campers who had a slew of questions about what happened. Those who went through the training said it helped them by teaching them emotional regulation techniques like breathing exercises and confidence building.

Sykes said in the months after the flood, the CampWell program has helped Laitys staff build their own community of support.

Looking back at it, the greatest resource we had was each other, Sykes, staff manager at Laity Bird Lodge campgrounds, said.

Hendricks said lawmakers have the opportunity to lay the foundation for a better future for youth mental health, and it should start with youth summer camps.

The same way that the state requires us to do proper lifeguard training and food services, what if mental health were equally as important, and what if camps were required to do some mental well-being training? We would love to see that future, he said.

Jessica Shuran Yu contributed reporting.

Disclosure: Facebook has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

For 24/7 mental health support in English or Spanish, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations free help line at 800-662-4357. You can also reach a trained crisis counselor through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune.

Topics Texas
Where an injured worker lives in California and receives care can significantly affect claim frequency, complexity and overall costs, a new study shows.

The newly released Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of Californias 2025 Geo Study shows clear regional differences in workers comp claim trends.

Indemnity claim frequency remains much higher in Southern California, with the Los Angeles/Long Beach region recording rates more than 50% above the statewide average. On the other hand, Northern California regions, including Yuba City/Redding/Far North, reported frequencies more than 30% below the statewide level.

These patterns have remained consistent for several years, but the gap between regions widened in the most recent policy year, according to the WCIRB.

The study also highlights continued increases in more complex claims. Cumulative trauma and occupational disease claims reached their highest share in the 11 years the report has been compiled, with Southern California regions reporting nearly double the share seen in Northern California. Some of the largest year-over-year increases occurred in the L.A. Basin, including L.A./Long Beach and San Gabriel Valley/Pasadena (p.18).

Medical-legal activity continued to increase as well. Medical-legal expenses made up nearly 11% of total paid medical statewide, with L.A. Basin regions reporting shares around 14%. The share of indemnity claims involving a medical-legal report also increased, surpassing 32% in several Southern California regions.

Allocated loss adjustment expense showed similar patterns. Median paid ALAE on permanent disability claims remained much higher in Southern California, where levels were more than twice those reported in some Northern California regions.

An overall decrease in the share of reported injured workers with less than one year of tenure suggests a slowdown in hiring, according to the study. Previous research has shown that newly hired workers are more likely to be injured on the job and they are less likely to file cumulative trauma claims.

The share of injured workers with less than one year of tenure fell in 18 of the 19 regions in the 2024 accident year. San Diego (19) had the largest decrease of around five percentage points, and Orange County (17) was the only region with a slight increase of half of a point, the WCIRB study states.

Topics California Workers' Compensation
The lowering of the number of calves paid for under the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme (NDBWS) has been called outrageous by the Irish Cattle and Sheep Association (ICSA).

ICSA president Sean McNamara has described the drop from the original 50 calves paid for under the NDBWS, like farmers were led to believe, to the now 31 calves farmers can be expected to be paid for as outrageous.

The 4 million allocated to the scheme would have paid for 200,000 calves. However, after more than 305,000 calves were weighed by the 1 November deadline, farmers are being told that up to 40% of their work will go unpaid after the department slashed the number of calves farmers will be paid for.

"They will now receive a payment for a maximum of 31 calves instead of 50. That is completely unacceptable, he said.

Mr McNamara said ICSA is calling on minister Heydon to immediately increase the budget so that all calves weighed and submitted by the deadline are paid in full.

Mr McNamara voiced his concerns as this cut to the NDBWS comes after cuts to both the Beef and Sheep Welfare Schemes have been made.

Payment rates for 2025 are being cut from 75/calf to 67/calf in the Beef Welfare Scheme, and from 13/ewe to 11.50/ewe in the Sheep Welfare Scheme, again because those schemes were oversubscribed.

Oversubscription should be treated as a success, not an excuse to slash payments. If more farmers sign up, then the department should have contingency funds in place to ensure full payment. Otherwise, farmers will rightly lose faith.

"It is ridiculous to expect farmers to budget on a scheme only to get hit with a payment 40% lower than expected. We cannot have a situation where the more farmers engage, the more the department cuts.

Concluding, Mr McNamara said: All scheme payment rates should be moving up, not down, especially when costs are rising, and inflation continues to be a big factor. Repeated short-changing leaves a bad taste and breeds disillusionment amongst farmers trying to do their best. This cannot continue.
The number of for-profit residential centres for people living with an intellectual disability nearly doubled over the past four years, sparking concerns about the quality of care being received.

New figures from the HSE show that some 1,353 people with intellectual disabilities are currently being cared for in their residential placements by private, for-profit companies, representing more than 15% of the 8,834 such placements in total in Ireland.

That compares with the 8% figure noted by the HSE as recently as 2021, indicating the reliance on the private sector to care for some of the most vulnerable people in society is growing.

The figures, released to Social Democrats TD for Cork East Liam Quaide, show that the HSE itself provides residential care for 1,074, or 12%, of the people in question, indicating that the private sector currently directly accounts for more of those placements than the official health service.

The remaining places, accounting for 6,384 people, are provided by Section 38 or Section 39 agencies  independent non-profits funded by the HSE.

Mr Quaide, a prominent advocate for those living with mental health illness or a disability, described the new figures as concerning.

He said that the increased privatisation evidenced in the figures will result in poor outcomes for our disabled citizens, and represents a clear move away from a whole-person, client-centred approach to service provision".

The for-profit care sector in Ireland has been embroiled in controversy before, most recently when dubious care practices were exposed following an RTE investigation at several nursing homes run by a private multinational in Laois and Dublin last summer.

A spokesperson for the HSE said that the demand for full-time residential placements within designated centres is extremely high.

The HSE acknowledges that demographic challenges associated with the increase in the number of people living with a disability, the increase in age and life expectancy and the changing needs of people with a disability have all led to the need for increased residential facilities, they said, adding that responsibility for the provision of suitable housing lies with the Department of Housing.

'Even more troubling'

Mr Quaide said however, that what is not revealed by the HSE in its responses to him is even more troubling than the verified figures released concerning for-profit care.

"The HSE is not providing a breakdown of wait times for residential placements, he said.

They are also declining to clarify the number of people with an intellectual disability living in facilities far from home, detached from their community and family, which is a clear breach of rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, he added.

In his parliamentary query to the HSE, Mr Quaide had specifically asked for the number of adults with an intellectual disability seeking a residential placement nationally, with a further breakdown in terms of how long those people had been waiting.

The HSE noted that 1,389 people were awaiting such a placement as at the end of June 2025, up 79% from the 776 noted in 2019.

However, the service declined to detail waiting times, with an official stating that there is no centrally maintained waiting list for residential services.

The local HSE... areas would be aware of the need and requirements in their respective areas and would work with the local service providers with a view to responding to the level of presenting needs within the resources available, they said.
Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been cleared of harassing a transgender activist on social media but found guilty of criminal damage of their mobile phone outside a conference in London last year.

The 57-year-old flew in from Arizona to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court in person on Tuesday where judgment was delivered by District Judge Briony Clarke.

Mr Linehan denied harassing Sophia Brooks on social media between October 11 and October 27 last year, and a charge of criminal damage of their mobile phone on October 19 last year outside the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster.

Reading a summary of her judgment, the judge said she was not satisfied that Mr Linehans conduct amounted to harassment or that the complainant was as distressed as they made themselves out to be.

In one video of Ms Brooks confronting Mr Linehan, the judge said that the activist looked visibly happy and not distressed.

She said that Mr Linehan had not tagged the activist in his social media posts, bar one, and that while his comments were deeply unpleasant, insulting and even unnecessary, they were not oppressive or unacceptable beyond merely unattractive, annoying or irritating.

But the judge found that Mr Linehan had taken Ms Brooks phone because he was angry and fed up, and had damaged it by knocking it to the ground.

She said that while the offence was not aggravated by the fact the complainant is transgender, it was because they were 17 years old at the time.

Speaking outside court, Mr Linehan said: The judge found me and the women who gave evidence on my behalf to be credible, honest witnesses, and said that my actions were not criminal and did not constitute harassment.

The judge commented that the complainant, a well-known trans activist, was not truthful.

There are a group of dangerous men who are determined to bully women and girls, and to misuse the courts and police in furtherance of a misogynistic agenda.

Im proud to have stood up to them and I will continue to do so.

He went on: We have a phrase: punishment is a process, and they like to put people through these kinds of experiences, to make them frightened about standing up to them.

But Im hoping that with this judgment, you know, people in future wont be subject to those kind of tactics.

Mr Linehan was fined 500 and ordered to pay costs of 650 and a surcharge of 200 for criminal damage.

His lawyer Sarah Vine KC said that they intend to apply for permission to appeal against the conviction.

The trial heard that Ms Brooks had begun taking photographs of delegates at the event during a speech by Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at Sex Matters.

Outside the event, the activist asked Mr Linehan: Why do you think it is acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists?

In response, the court heard that Mr Linehan had called Ms Brooks a sissy porn-watching scumbag, a groomer and a disgusting incel, with the complainant responding: Youre the incel, youre divorced.

Prosecutor Julia Faure Walker told the court that Mr Linehan had written repeated, abusive, unreasonable social media posts about Ms Brooks, who he referred to as Tarquin.

The comedy writer, who has well-publicised strong views on gender issues, said his life was made hell by trans activists, adding that the complainant was a young soldier in the trans activist army.

The writer added: He was misogynistic, he was abusive, he was snide.

He depended on his anonymity to get close to people and hurt them, and I wanted to destroy that anonymity.

After Mr Linehan was convicted of criminal damage, Ms Vine told the court: The costs to him have been enormous.

The offence of which he has been convicted was, as youve found, a momentary lapse of control.

It was the culmination of circumstances where the complainants conduct, either in respect of Mr Linehan or more widely, could not be described as beyond reproach.

She added: The damage was minor. The process itself has been highly impactful on Mr Linehan. The prosecution invited the court to consider making a restraining order but this was rejected.

District Judge Clarke said that Linehan was generally a credible witness, but that she had some concerns about the complainant, including that Ms Brooks repeatedly used the phrase alarm or distress in evidence, which is a legal definition, and was reluctant to say how many X handles they used.

She told the court that her job was to deliver a verdict on the two charges against Mr Linehan, and not on the wider public debate around gender issues.

It is not for this court to pick a side in any matter of public debate, District Judge Clarke said.

There is a continuing public debate about the rights of individuals and their sex and gender identity.

This court is not concerned with that debate and does not have to determine and nor should anything in this judgment be viewed as the court determining any issues in relation to it.
A woman remains in critical condition after an attacker poured petrol or another accelerant on her and set her on fire at a house in Dublin.

She was attacked after she answered the door of a property in Oak Downs, off Boot Rd in Clondalkin, yesterday morning at around 10.10am.

The assailant poured petrol on her and then set her alight before fleeing on a bike, gardai believe.

The vehicle may have been an e-bike, according to garda sources.

The woman was taken to Tallaght Hospital, where she remains in critical condition with severe burns to her face and body.

A man was also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following the attack at the suburban home, in what is considered a quiet residential area.

Gardai believe the attack was targeted and may be drugs-related. The scene remains sealed off for a technical examination, and officers are reviewing CCTV from the area.

A senior investigating officer is leading the inquiry, and an incident room is operating at Clondalkin Garda Station.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them.

Justice Jim OCallaghan said he was shocked by the horrific attack.

I have been briefed on the attack by the gardai, and I join with them in appealing to anyone with information to come forward so that the perpetrator of this vicious attack can be brought to justice, he said.

Anyone who was in the Oak Downs area between 9.30am and 10.20am yesterday and who may have video footage, including dashcam footage, is asked to share it with investigators.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Clondalkin Garda station on (01) 666 7600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has launched an investigation after a contractor died in an incident at the Tayto Snacks Ltd factory in Ashbourne, Co Meath, on Tuesday morning.

Tayto Snacks Ltd said the deceased, a man in his 60s, was an employee of an independent potato supplier.

Gardai and emergency services personnel were called to the scene of the incident, and the company said it is currently "assisting with their enquiries".

"We will also be working closely with all parties, including the Health and Safety Authority," a Tayto Snacks Ltd spokesperson said.

"The safety and wellbeing of all who attend on our site is our highest priority, and we are committed to supporting any investigations into todays tragic incident."

The company said that the deceased's next-of-kin has been informed.

Tayto Snacks Ltd managing director John OConnor said the firm was "devastated by todays incident, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and colleagues impacted by this tragic loss of life".

"Tayto Snacks Ltd will not be issuing any further comments while investigations are ongoing," he said.

A spokesperson for the HSA told the Irish Examiner it is aware of the fatal incident and has launched an investigation into the matter.

"As such, no further information is currently available," the spokesperson said.
The welfare of racing greyhounds in Ireland is an existential issue for the industry here, according to a report commissioned by the minister for agriculture.

The report, carried out by consultants Indecon, notes that the greyhound industry is very dependent on State funding in terms of allocating prize money from race meets.

The report, which was commissioned last year by then minister Charlie McConalogue, was aimed at evaluating the departments own governance and that of the two bodies in receipt of the annualised Horse and Greyhound Fund: Horse Racing Ireland and Greyhound Racing Ireland.

That fund, which has been enshrined in legislation since 2001, has delivered 99.1m to those two industries in both 2025 and 2026, with 80% of the money going to horseracing and the remainder to the greyhound industry.

Under the terms of the fund for 2025, stipulated by the Department of Agriculture, greyhound racing can allocate a maximum of 60% of its State funding towards prize money, and horseracing can use up to 80%.

At present, per the Indecon report, Greyhound Racing Ireland is very dependent on the Horse and Greyhound Fund to fund prize moneys, with 83% of prize money allocated via the State subvention.

While Horse Racing Ireland's percentage outlay of the funding received on prize money was lower at 61%, the report notes that, given the success of the Irish horseracing industry generally, there could be an element of deadweight in terms of the amount of money allocated to that end.

'Stronger public policy rationale'

The report notes that, notwithstanding the amount of State funding being spent on prize money, there is a stronger public policy rationale for funding of welfare and integrity programmes in the two sports, given the public good features of the former and the risk of under-investment in these areas by the sector.

It stresses that while Greyhound Racing Ireland has made some progress on the welfare agenda more needs to be done, adding that it would be desirable if targets were agreed with the department in terms of improving the sports welfare record.

A 2019 documentary by RTE alleged that as many as 6,000 Irish animals were being culled each year due to their not being fast enough.

Last year, the Irish Examiner revealed that 2,800 Irish racing greyhounds born in 2021 were either dead or unaccounted for just three years later, per Greyhound Racing Ireland's own traceability system that was introduced in the aftermath of the RTE investigation.

The report does also note that the departments oversight of the two industry bodies is robust, with a good relationship existing between all concerned allied with a healthy degree of tension.
Enoch Burke has been returned to prison on Tuesday on foot of a High Court order to imprison him for contempt.

A judge had decided on November 18 that he should be returned to prison for repeated and flagrant breaches of court orders directing him not to attend a Co Westmeath school where he used to teach.

Mr Burke and his family, who are Evangelical Christians from Co Mayo, are embroiled in a lengthy legal row with Wilsons Hospital School, where Mr Burke formerly worked as a teacher.

The row stems from incidents at the school over a request in 2022 from the schools then-principal that a student be addressed by a new name and pronoun.

Mr Justice Brian Cregan said that the court case before him was not about Mr Burkes views on trans issues, and was instead about his repeated breach of court orders directing him not to trespass on school property.

Mr Cregan said that as Mr Burke had not paid a euro of the thousands of euro worth of fines imposed by the courts, and as security guards at the school had not deterred him from attending, he said there was no other way to enforce the order other than to imprison Mr Burke.

Mr Burke said in court previously that he had spent around 500 days in prison.

The judge said that Mr Burke has the keys to his own prison and can be released if he purges his contempt.

He also said Mr Burke and his family had committed the most deliberate, sustained and concerted attack on the civil courts and the rule of law in Ireland in recent times.

He also asked the Attorney General to bring proceedings against Mr Burke, his mother Martina, his brother Isaac Burke, and his sister Ammi Burke for criminal contempt of court.

Days later on November 21, a video was posted to Mr Burkes X account where he can be seen standing outside Wilsons Hospital School.

In a statement, An Garda Siochana said it had executed a High Court order in Mullingar, Co Westmeath this afternoon, Tuesday 25th November 2025.
A Dublin-based Chinese businessman has been jailed for seven years and nine months over a money laundering operation connected to an international 10m zombie iPhone fraud.

Chengwen Guo, aged 43, who was the Irish representative of a transnational crime organisation, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft and money laundering offences on dates between 2021 and 2022.

Guo, of Ivy Exchange, Parnell St, Dublin, owned a number of mobile phone shops called Murray Mobile, which has eight shops in locations such as Blackrock, Dundrum, Sutton Cross, Ranelagh, and Newbridge. Guo has one previous conviction for having a false passport at Gatwick Airport, England, for which he received a custodial sentence of 13 months, the court was told.

The court heard three sums of money seized in January 2022 included 6,515 found in an Audi Q7 car registered to Guo; 143,245 at his home address; and 20,700 at Murray Mobiles on Main St, Dundrum, Dublin 14.

Three Rolex watches were also found when gardai searched his Parnell St apartment in Dublin. His Audi has yet to be seized, the court heard.

Judge Martin Nolan described Guo as a very energetic man who had engaged in very substantial criminal misbehaviour.

This man deserves a severe custodial sentence, said Judge Nolan. The judge said it was white collar deviance. The judge said there was a gap there, and the situation was found out.

The court was told the fake or zombie phones from China were exchanged under warranty for genuine iPhones, which were then sent to countries outside of the EU for resale. The court heard 10,158 phones provided to Guo were last active mostly outside Ireland. The total retail value of the Apple products was 10,262,617.

Apple warranty

Detective Sergeant Robert Madden, of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, told the court that representatives from Apple Corporation were in court for the hearing.

The scheme operated on the basis of the Apple warranty on its phones. The fraud involved sending in fake iPhones for repair and then claiming a replacement under Apples one-year warranty scheme. These fake phone components would come from China, and would be assigned the EMEI number of a genuine iPhone when sent for repair. The replacement genuine iPhones would then be sent to Hong Kong for resale to countries outside the EU.

The phones in this case would be sent to a repair company in South Dublin, then they would be assigned an EMEI number of a genuine iPhone. Fonfix would deem the phone irreparable, and the phone would be replaced by Apple for a new one.

The court heard Guo also sold counterfeit Apple products such as power chargers, charging cables, and phone cases in his shops.

In July 2021, counterfeit Apple goods  including 15 damaged iPhones and sim trays  were found after a package was sent to Ireland addressed to Johnny Cheng, which the court heard was a name he used in Ireland for its simplicity rather than his Chinese name, at Murray Mobile in Main St, Dundrum.

Test purchases of counterfeit Apple goods were carried out at Murray Mobile shops in Frascati Centre in Blackrock and Newbridge. These had been manufactured in Asia and were purporting to be Apple, the court heard.

Gardai commenced an investigation and searches of all eight Murray Mobile shops took place on January 10, 2022.

A significant quantity of products  the large majority being counterfeit  including power adaptors, wireless chargers, EarPods, and phone cases were found. The number ran to the thousands, and they were worth in the region of 270,000 retail value if real. These were cheaper to buy in Asia, and Guo was not authorised to sell Apple products, Det Sgt Madden told the court.

Little financial benefit

Last month his co-accused  who was an employee of Fonfix, a tech repair business in Sandyford  was jailed in the same court.

Lukasz Lupa, aged 45, of Kukukcza, Wagrowiec, Poland, was given a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of facilitating a criminal organisation on dates between June 5, 2019, and September 3, 2021, under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

Lupa had claimed he did not know what he was doing was illegal and received little financial benefit for his part in the warranty fraud.

In sentencing last month, Judge Nolan noted that Lupa had to verify that there were defects in the phones. Apple were prepared to give replacement phones, and there was an opportunity to abuse this scheme.

Thousands of phones replaced by Apple in the region of 8,000 to 10,000, the judge noted. Apple lost considerably and others gained considerably, he said.

The court heard Lupa alerted his boss with issues to say two of the phones had same serial number. Another text said: We cannot send in two phones with the same EMEI.

The judge said Lupa spotted the difficulty in the fraudulent scheme and nothing was done. This man acquiesced, and this scheme went on for a considerable period of time, the judge said.

Lupa received five bottles of wine, gift cards, and other gifts for his part in the scheme but never received any money, the court was told.

Guo was assigned genuine EMEI numbers, and he then passed them on to Fonfix to get genuine devices under the Apple warranty scheme. The court heard 9,744 repair events were created for Murray Mobile and were replaced with new phones from Apple.

The phones bearing those EMEI numbers that were also assigned to the "zombie" phones were showing recent download activity by their owners as they were legitimate. Of the 10,158 phones provided to Guo, most the phones were last active mostly outside Ireland. Most of the replacement phones were sold in Hong Kong, but some were sold in the Russian market, the court heard.

Det Sgt Madden said Apple realised that the number of units Guo was sending in was unusually high.

He told Eoin Lawlor, prosecuting, the phones would not power on and a diagnostic could not be performed on them. The phones were submitted without proof of purchase in name of a company which runs a legitimate business and was not at fault, the court heard. Guo received brand new phone and was getting 30 to 40 per unit.

The court heard previously that 60% of the phones had component parts and 55% had been heavily modified.

Onsite audit

Of those 288 sent for examination and it was determined they were counterfeit. An onsite audit by Apple in 2021 took place, and gardai then determined of the 10,677 devices being processed by Fonfix, only 133 had been originally purchased in Ireland. Some 9,761 had serial numbers which had shown downloads were continuing on the app store.

These EMEI numbers were related to real iPhones, and the "zombie" phones were not genuine iPhones because they would not be able to download apps.

All of the zombie" phones had the same fault in that they did not power on and, therefore, could not go through diagnostics. Some of the phones were sent to the Czech Republic for screening, and it was determined they were not Apple products.

Guo was arrested at his home on September 11, 2024, and interviewed on nine occasions, where he accepted he was the owner of Murray Mobile. He said the cash taken from his shop was parents money. Guo said the money found in his home was his kids money, and the cash in the Audi was belonging to his business.

Det Sgt Madden agreed with Diana Stuart, defending, that Guos co-accused Lupa left jurisdiction, but the garda said there was no extradition and he had come back to be interviewed.

He also agreed Guo fully co-operated with them and, in May 2022, handed over the PIN to his phone to gardai.

His apartment in Parnell St was the family home, and it was also searched. Guos family were there and fully co-operated with gardai. All of them handed over their passports, phones and PIN numbers. He further agreed Guo was in custody since September 11, 2024.

Guo met his wife in Ireland 20 years ago. The court heard Fonua, an associated company of Fonfix, made a settlement with Apple Corporation for 2m.

This man profited somewhat from his enterprise, Ms Stuart put it to the garda. Det Sgt Madden replied that Guo was a senior player in the Irish operation.

Ms Stuart told the court in mitigation that Guo has four children. One is in boarding school in England, and one is in boarding school in Ireland. He also has a child in university in Edinburgh. His wifes day-to-day living expenses are 1,000 a week, Ms Stuart told the court.

A letter from her sets out her difficulty, she added.

Judge Nolan said the appropriate global sentence was one of seven years and nine months.

The judge said Guo had lapsed into criminality, used his stores to sell Apple products  but they werent Apple products. Suspicions arose and further searches saw 164,000 found in criminal proceeds, as well as Rolex watches.

Further investigations showed Guo was involved in a criminal scheme to defraud Apple, the judge said. The judge noted 10,000 phones were given out in the warranty scheme with a value of 10m.

Judge Nolan noted his co-accused Lupa was a company supervisor, and Lupa had received a four-and-a-half year sentence. Judge Nolan said Guo brought the funds.

Any scheme that cannot be defrauded is a scheme you cannot use, said Judge Nolan. There is always going to be weaknesses in a scheme, he added.

The prosecution made applications for forfeiture of the cash sums involved and the Audi, which the court heard is in the possession of Guos wife, is also to be seized.
Over the past couple of weeks, British home secretary Shabana Mahmood has launched not only her new asylum crackdown policy but also her story.

The two are inseparable: Her story justifies the crackdown. It moralises the crackdown. And it silences criticism of the crackdown.

Sold as an origin story from within an immigrant and racialised experience, the purpose is to imbue her politics with sacred authenticity and the credibility of the first person. It is clever and effective. It is cynical and disgraceful.

I am the child of immigrants is how Mahmood now starts her fable. Immigrants who came to Britain legally. She goes on to tell us that immigration is tearing Britain apart, and proposes policies that mean UK-born children  who have known no life anywhere else  will be deported.

As she launches policies that will leave refugees homeless and without support, tear families apart, punish those legally in Britain for claiming any benefits, and make settlement and security a long and arduous process, Mahmood declares: This is a moral mission for me.

A test of logic for sure, but the story can help. You see, after being accused of stoking division with immoderate language, Mahmood says: Unfortunately, I am the one who is regularly called a fucking Paki and told to go back home.

She knows  better than virtue-signalling white people  what the trenches actually look like. And so she must protect immigrants by hurting them

In her telling, racism and xenophobia seem not themselves objectively bad things that must be combatted. They are a natural outcome that occurs when too many rights are given to immigrants and asylum seekers in Britain.

If only they had fewer rights, then people wouldnt hate them so much and we would hit some golden ratio where everyone will be happier. Because immigration perception and immigration reality are famously aligned things. Credulous observers will quiver in the face of her personal conviction.

Whatever you think of her politics, youve got to see that she means it. Because how can she not? She is brown and the daughter of immigrants.

Using identity politics

Let me break it to you gently: It is entirely possible for people of colour and the descendants of immigrants to be disingenuous and use their identities as excuses for their terrible politics.

The former Conservative home secretary, Suella Braverman, dedicated her maiden speech in the UK parliament to her father and mother  both immigrants. Yet, she later said: I would love to be having a front page of The Telegraph with a plane taking off to Rwanda. Thats my dream, its an obsession.

Mahmood is not a novelty, just an addition to the ranks of Suella Braverman, Kemi Badenoch, Priti Patel, and even Rishi Sunak, who used their identities to dictate what the correct British immigration and race politics should be because theyve been there.

Mahmood is just the first Labour politician to do so. Her contribution reveals two things. One is mundane, the other is structural. First, there is nothing unusual or new about immigrants creating different, lower classes of immigrants and then separating themselves from them: Legal vs illegal; working and housed vs needing benefits; assimilated vs ghettoised.

However, here is the structural part: Being a politician of immigrant background is a powerful thing in a country utterly banjaxed by immigration discourse.

This is a sort of late-stage identity politics. A way in which the victim narrative, so condemned by critics of wokeness, remains holy and unquestionable when it is used for a purpose that isnt equality.

Its using identity as a way to elevate and uphold stories that can be wielded in the service of authority, and not to challenge it

It takes a prodigious amount of stupidity or ignorance not to see that the British home secretary provides that important service, especially at a time when Britain is riven by racism and xenophobia.

Reform UK is ascendant, and the Labour government is trying to outflank the right while trying not to look enormously racist and xenophobic doing so.

Enter Mahmood to reassure you that it is, in fact, a sort of kindness to force children on to planes and eye up items that are not of sentimental value so that asylum seekers can contribute to their costs.

Enter Mahmood to collapse all sorts of categories together. In one instance, she says division is caused by asylum seekers. In another, she says it is caused by the high rate of net immigration that expands the number of people that need to be slapped with harsher conditions so they dont force the public to become racist.

And it also requires a very short memory to believe that Mahmood is acting out of evangelist conviction  rather than convenience  when not too long ago she supported a general amnesty for undocumented workers who have been living in Britain for 10 years.

She now vows to fight vexatious last-minute claims that frustrate removals. But to show you the allure of being an anti-immigration immigrant, this will not be seen as a cynical reversal but, as The Spectator puts it, as a conversion  a final seeing of the light.

Who cares about the embarrassing optics of it all when the reward is Mahmoods admission into the ranks of the contenders, the players?

'Most impressive person in the Labour government'

Much has been written, since her two-story debut, of the new hard woman of British politics, the proponent of Mahmoodism, a devout outsider driven by conviction politics, the next prime minister.

Commentator and former Conservative MP Michael Gove is barely able to contain his excitement at the minister he considers far and away the most impressive person in the Labour government.

There is a sort of gamified glee to it all. The contrast between the pain Mahmood is about to inflict on some of the most vulnerable and desperate  exemplified by the flippant sorry, were closing imagery that accompanied her announcement that asylum hotels will be shuttered  and the excitement she has triggered in the political discourse tells its own story.

Mahmood is here to provide the answer, to absolve. To free Britain from its anxieties about immigration and race. To turn away from the hard work of confronting the economic failure, cultural capitulation, and cowardice that has enabled the rise of the far right.

Mahmoods story is seductive because it allows us to believe that the problem is not a bigger one about a country where dark nativism lurks unchecked, and where scarcity and inequality are endemic, but rather about resentment and racism being naturally triggered by too many foreign bodies.

If the child of actual immigrants says so, if the target of actual racism believes so, then how can we doubt it?

Nesrine Malik is a Guardian columnist
Russia launched a wave of attacks on Ukraine on Tuesday, killing at least six people in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure.

Water, electricity and heating were knocked out in parts of the capital, Kyiv. Video footage posted to Telegram showed a large fire spreading in a nine-storey residential building in Kyivs eastern district of Dniprovskyi.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were killed and five injured in Dniprovskyi and another residential building in the central Pechersk district was badly damaged.

In a subsequent wave of attacks, four people were killed and three were injured in a strike on a non-residential building in Kyivs western Svyatoshynyi district, according to the head of Kyiv city administration, Tymor Tkachenko.

Rescue workers carry a person from a residential building following a Russian attack in Kyiv (Dan Bashakov/AP)

Ukraines energy ministry also said infrastructure had been hit, without describing the extent of the damage. Ukraines emergency services said six people, including two children, were injured in a Russian attack on energy and port infrastructure in Odesa region.

Three people were killed and eight more were wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russias southern Rostov region overnight. The casualties occurred in the city of Taganrog not far from the border with Ukraine, governor Yuri Slyusar said.

The attack damaged private houses and multi-storey residential blocks, unspecified social facilities, a warehouse and a paint shop, Mr Slyusar said.

Russian air defences destroyed 249 Ukrainian drones overnight above various regions, including occupied Crimea, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. The majority of the drones  116  were shot down over the Black Sea, according to the defence ministry.

The attacks followed talks between US and Ukraine representatives in Geneva on Sunday about a US-Russia brokered peace plan.

People watch as emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kyiv (Dan Bashakov/AP)

Oleksandr Bevz, a delegate from the Ukrainian side, told The Associated Press the talks had been very constructive and the two sides were able to discuss most points.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday it had not seen the updated plan.

US army secretary Dan Driscoll met Russian officials for several hours in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday after the Trump administration jump-started negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, a US official confirmed to The Associated Press.

Mr Driscoll, who became part of the US negotiating team less than two weeks ago, is now heading up the latest phase of talks involving the terms of a possible peace plan with Russia.

The US official said the Ukrainians were aware of the meeting.

They would not offer details on how long the negotiations were expected to last or what topics were being discussed but noted all sides have indicated they wanted to reach a deal to halt the fighting as quickly as possible.
Ukraine has significantly amended the US peace plan to end the conflict, removing some of Russias maximalist demands, people familiar with the negotiations said, as European leaders warned on Monday that no deal could be reached quickly.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy may meet Donald Trump in the White House later this week, sources indicated, amid a flurry of calls between Kyiv and Washington. Ukraine is pressing for Europe to be involved in the talks.

The original 28-point US-Russian plan was drawn up last month by Kirill Dmitriev, Vladimir Putins special envoy, and Trumps representative Steve Witkoff. It calls on Ukraine to withdraw from cities it controls in the eastern Donbas region, limit the size of its army, and not join Nato.

During negotiations on Sunday in Switzerland  led by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and Zelenskyys chief of staff, Andriy Yermak  the plan was substantially revised. It now includes only 19 points. Kyiv and its European partners say the existing frontline has to be the starting point for territorial discussions.

They say there can be no recognition of land seized by Russia militarily, and that Kyiv should make its own decisions on whether to join the EU and Nato  something the Kremlin wants to veto or impose conditions on. Ukraines first deputy foreign minister, Sergiy Kyslytsya, told the Financial Times such issues had been placed in brackets for Trump and Zelenskyy to decide upon later.

Read More Russia launches deadly attacks on Kyiv despite holding peace talks with US

Firefighters put out the fire after a drone hit a multi-storey residential building during Russia's night drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. Picture: AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky

On Monday, Mr Zelenskyy said: As of now, after Geneva, there are fewer points, no longer 28, and many correct elements have been incorporated into this framework, adding that sensitive issues were to be discussed with Mr Trump.

Rubio hailed Sundays talks as very, very positive. Writing on Truth Social on Monday, Mr Trump, who days earlier had accused Ukraines leadership of having zero gratitude, also struck a positive tone.

Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Dont believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA! he wrote.

Ukraines delegation briefed Mr Zelenskyy about the talks on Monday after returning to Kyiv from Geneva. They described the latest version of the plan as more realistic. Separately, Mr Zelenskyy spoke to the US vice-president, JD Vance, and urged him to involve European countries in the process. Mr Vance reportedly agreed.

But in the clearest sign yet, the original 28-point plan  widely seen as favourable to Moscow  still falls short of several key Kremlin demands, Mr Putins top foreign policy aide on Monday said Moscow would seek to rework parts of it.

We were given some sort of draft  which will require further reworking, said Yuri Ushakov, adding that many provisions of the plan appeared acceptable to Russia, but others would require the most detailed discussions and review between the parties.

Underscoring the Kremlins hardline stance, Mr Ushakov said Moscow would reject a European counter-proposal from the weekend, which, according to a copy seen by Reuters, changes the meaning and significance of key points concerning Nato membership and territory.

The European plan, at first glance  is completely unconstructive and does not work for us, he said.

US, left, and Ukrainian, right, delegations at the beginning of their talks at the US Permanent Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. Picture: Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP

As negotiators scrambled to revise a framework, Ukraine and Russia counted casualties on Tuesday morning after trading deadly overnight strikes.

Russias acting governor of Rostov region said at least three people were killed by Ukrainian strikes. Authorities in Kyiv said at least one person was killed and seven were wounded in the capital, after a barrage of missiles and drones targeted the countrys energy sector.

The UK and EU were blindsided last week when the original plan was leaked to US media. The army secretary, Dan Driscoll  Mr Vances friend and university classmate  was sent to Kyiv with a military delegation to brief Mr Zelenskyy on its contents.

Since then, European governments have sought to revise the document, which appears to have originally been written in Russian. EU leaders attending an EU-Africa summit in Angola welcomed a degree of progress, but said far more work remained to be done and insisted Europe must be fully involved, and Russia must be present if talks were to advance substantively.

The European Council president, Antonio Costa, praised a new momentum, saying after talks on the sidelines of the summit that while issues remained, the direction is positive.

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, also called the refined peace framework agreed in Switzerland a solid basis for moving forward, but added: Work remains to be done.

Ms Von der Leyen said the core principles the EU would always insist on were that Ukraines territory and sovereignty must be respected  only Ukraine, as a sovereign country, can make decisions regarding its armed forces.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy looks into the camera while delivering a video address to the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine. Picture: Press Service Of The President Of Ukraine via AP

The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said both Europe and Russia must be fully involved. The next step must be: Russia must come to the table, Mr Merz said, while Europeans must be able to give their consent to issues that affect European interests and sovereignty.

Talks would be a long-lasting process, and Mr Merz said he did not expect a breakthrough this week. The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, said the talks were delicate because nobody wants to put off the Americans and President Trump from having the US on our side in this process.

Mr Tusk also stressed that any peace settlement needed to strengthen, not weaken, our security and must not favour the aggressor. Swedens prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, said Russia must be forced to the negotiating table to see aggression  never pays.

Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, said there was more work to do, but progress was being made. A group of countries supporting Ukraine  the coalition of the willing  would discuss the issue in a video call on Tuesday, he said.

Rescue workers clear the rubble of a residential building which was heavily damaged by a Russian strike on Ternopil, Ukraine, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Picture: AP Photo/Vlad Kravchuk

The chairs of the parliamentary foreign affairs committees of 20 European countries, including France, Ireland, Poland, Spain and the UK, issued a rare joint statement saying just and lasting peace would not be achieved by yielding to the aggressor but must be grounded in international law and fully respect Ukraines territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty.

On Monday, the White House pushed back against criticism, including from within the Republican Party, that Mr Trump is favouring Russia.

The idea that the US is not engaging with both sides equally in this war to bring it to an end is a complete and total fallacy, the press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told reporters.

Mr Zelenskyy is at his most vulnerable since the start of the war, after a corruption scandal led to two of his ministers being dismissed, while Russia makes battlefield gains.

-The Guardian
An Australian senator who is campaigning for a national burka ban has been barred from Parliament for the rest of the year for wearing the Muslim garment in the chamber.

Pauline Hanson, 71, the leader of the anti-Muslim, anti-immigration One Nation minor party, was accused of performing a disrespectful stunt on Monday when she walked into the Senate shrouded in the head-to-ankle garment to protest against fellow senators refusal to consider her Bill that would ban the burka and other full-face coverings in public places.

Senators suspended her for the rest of the day on Monday. In the absence of an apology, they passed a censure motion on Tuesday that carried one of the harshest penalties against a senator in recent decades. She was barred from seven consecutive Senate sitting days.

The Senate rises for the year on Thursday and Ms Hansons suspension will continue when Parliament resumes in February next year.

Supporters of One Nation party leader Pauline Hanson during a previous protest (Alamy/PA)

Ms Hanson later told reporters she would be judged by voters at the next election in 2028, not by her Senate colleagues.

They didnt want to ban the burka, yet they denied me the right to wear it on the floor of Parliament. There is no dress code on the floor of Parliament, yet Im not allowed to wear it. So to me, its been hypocritical, she said.

Ms Hanson, who gave a speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida this month, created outrage in 2017 when she wore a burka in the Senate in a similar protest. She was not punished on that occasion.

The government leader in the Senate, Malaysian-born Penny Wong, who is not Muslim, moved the censure motion on Tuesday.

Ms Wong said by wearing the burka, Ms Hanson had mocked and vilified an entire faith that was observed by almost one million Australians among a population of 28 million.

Senator Hansons hateful and shallow pageantry tears at our social fabric and I believe it makes Australia weaker, and it also has cruel consequences for many of our most vulnerable, including in our school yards, Ms Wong told the Senate.

Pakistan-born Mehreen Faruqi said she and Afghanistan-born Fatima Payman were the only Muslims in the Senate. But when Ms Hanson first wore the burka in 2017, there was none.

Let this be the start of actually dealing with structural and systemic racism that pervades this country, Ms Faruqi said of the censure motion.

Ms Payman, who wears a hijab, did not speak in the Senate on Tuesday. But she told Ms Hanson on Monday her use of the burka was disgraceful and a shame.

A judge ruled last year that Ms Hanson breached a racial anti-discrimination law by crudely telling Ms Faruqi in a social media post to return to her homeland.

Ms Hanson is appealing that ruling.

Rateb Jneid, president of the advocacy group Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said in a statement that Ms Hanson wearing the burka was part of a pattern of behaviour that has repeatedly vilified Muslims, migrants and minorities.

Ms Hanson has been known for her views on race since her first speech to Parliament in 1996, in which she said Australia was in danger of being swamped by Asians because of its non-discriminatory immigration policy.
Japans Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who recently triggered Chinas fury with a comment about Taiwan, said she received a call from US President Donald Trumpafter he spoke to Chinas leader.

Ms Takaichi, a hard-line conservative, said Mr Trump expressed his friendship to her in a call he made to her on Tuesday after a phone conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

President Trump told me that he and I are extremely good friends and that I should call him any time, Ms Takaichi said in brief remarks made to reporters at the prime ministers office in Tokyo.

Ms Takaichi, however, did not say whether they discussed her Taiwan comment.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea in October (Kyodo News via AP)

Only weeks into her job as Japans first female prime minister, Ms Takaichi infuriated China by suggesting Japan could respond militarily if China were to try to seize control of Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing says must come under its rule.

The remark earlier this month broke with Japans longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity. Ms Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a survival-threatening situation for Japan requiring the use of force.

China responded with anger and by putting economic pressure on Japan. On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Ms Takaichi crossed a red line.

He said China would resolutely respond to Japans actions and that all countries have the responsibility to prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism.

Ms Takaichi said Mr Trump briefed her on his overnight phone call with Mr Xi and the current state of US-China relations. She said that she and Mr Trump also discussed strengthening the Japan-US alliance and development and challenges that the Indo-Pacific region is faced with.

We confirmed the close co-ordination between Japan and the United States, she said.

She declined, however, to give any other details of her talks with Mr Trump, citing diplomatic protocol.

Japan has sought to de-escalate the spat, but China has shown no signs of easing its fury and has cancelled official meetings and private exchanges and advised its citizens against travel to Japan.

Japan has resisted Chinas demand that Ms Takaichi retract the comment, repeating that its support for a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan Strait issue is unchanged.

The US has taken no side on the sovereignty of the self-governed island but is opposed to the use of force to seize Taiwan. Mr Trump has maintained strategic ambiguity about whether US troops would be sent in case of a war in the Taiwan Strait.

Mr Trump said nothing publicly about Taiwan, whereas a Chinese statement said Mr Trump told Mr Xi that the US understands how important the Taiwan question is to China.

The dispute between the East Asian neighbours has spilled over to the international arena as Beijing has taken the spat with Japan to the United Nations, with both sides calling each others accusations erroneous.
Hamas says it will return the body of an Israeli hostage on Tuesday, as part of the fragile ceasefire that has held despite Israeli strikes on Gaza, mounting Palestinian casualties and mutual accusations of violations.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad announced it found the body earlier this week in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza. The body will be handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Tuesday afternoon, Hamas said on Telegram.

Palestinian militants have released the bodies of 25 hostages since the US-brokered ceasefire started on October 10. Three are believed to still be in Gaza. The process has been slow, threatening the truce.

Hamas says it has not been able to reach all the remains because they are buried under rubble from Israels two-year offensive in the Palestinian territory. Israel has accused the militants of dragging their feet and threatened to resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if all remains are not returned.

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said in a statement on Tuesday that the delay amounted to a ceasefire violation.

Palestinians walk through a flooded temporary tent camp after heavy rainfall in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Israel has released the bodies of 330 Palestinians back to Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect.

Palestinian officials have struggled to identify the bodies without access to DNA kits. Only 95 have been identified, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, which is staffed by medical professionals. It maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by independent experts.

Israel has not provided details on their identities.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, children and families confronted the aftermath of heavy rains, which have left thousands once again displaced and exposed to the elements.

The war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. Almost all of the hostages or their remains have been returned in ceasefires or other deals.

Gazas Health Ministry says 69,775 Palestinians have been killed and 170,863 injured in Israels retaliatory offensive. The toll has gone up during the ceasefire, both from new Israeli strikes and from the recovery and identification of bodies of people killed earlier in the war.

The ministry reports 345 have been killed and, in total, 588 bodies recovered since the ceasefire began.

It does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures, but has said women and children make up a majority of those killed.

On Tuesday, the health ministry in Gaza said Israeli forces killed three people east of Khan Younis.

The ministry said in a statement that the dead bodies were brought to hospitals along with 14 others recovered from under the rubble over the past 24 hours.

The new fatalities brought the death toll to 345 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect on October 11, the ministry said.
A renewed US push to end the war between Russia and Ukraine is gathering momentum, although some of the key issues remain unresolved, officials said on Tuesday.

The update was issued hours after Russia launched a wave of overnight attacks on Ukraines capital, Kyiv, with at least seven people killed in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure.

A Ukrainian attack on southern Russia killed three people and damaged homes, authorities said.

Over the past week, the United States has made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X.

There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States.

US President Donald Trumps peace plan emerged last week (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

US President Donald Trumps plan for ending the nearly four-year war emerged last week. It heavily favoured Russia, prompting Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage quickly with American negotiators.

European leaders, fearing for their own future amid Russian aggression but apparently sidelined by Mr Trump in drawing up the proposals, scrambled to steer the negotiations toward accommodating their concerns.

Senior US and Ukrainian officials said progress was made at talks in Geneva held on Sunday towards ending the war.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday peace efforts are gathering momentum and are clearly at a crucial juncture.

Negotiations are getting a new impetus. And we should seize this momentum, he said during a video conference meeting of countries, led by France and the UK, that could help police any ceasefire with Russia.

British prime minister Keir Starmer said of the talks: I do think we are moving in a positive direction and indications today that in large part the majority of the text, (Zelenskyy) is indicating, can be accepted.

During the annual White House turkey pardon to mark the Thanksgiving holiday, Mr Trump said: I think were getting very close to a deal. Well find out.

He added: I thought that would have been an easier one, but I think were making progress.

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met Russian officials for several hours in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, a US official told The Associated Press.

Mr Driscoll, who became part of the American negotiating team less than two weeks ago, is heading up the latest phase of talks involving the terms of a possible peace settlement with Russia.

The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations, declined to give details on how long the negotiations would last or what topics were being discussed, but noted that the Ukrainians were aware of the meeting and all sides have indicated they wanted to reach a deal to halt the fighting as quickly as possible.

Oleksandr Bevz, one of the Ukrainian delegates at the Geneva talks, said that the numbers of points in the proposed settlement was reduced, but he denied reports that the 28-point US peace plan now consisted of 19 points.

(The document) is going to continue to change. We can confirm that it was reduced to take out points not relating to Ukraine, to exclude duplicates and for editing purposes, Mr Bevz told the AP, adding that some points relating solely to relations between Russia and the US were excluded.

Mr Zelenskyy said late on Monday that the list of necessary steps to end the war can become workable. He said that he planned to discuss sensitive outstanding issues with Mr Trump.

Rustem Umerov, a senior adviser to Mr Zelenskyy, posted on X on Tuesday that Mr Zelenskyy hoped to finalise a deal with Mr Trump at the earliest suitable date in November.

Russian officials have been reserved in their comments on the peace plan. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow is in touch with US officials about peace efforts.

We expect them to provide us with a version they consider an interim one in terms of completing the phase of co-ordinating this text with the Europeans and the Ukrainians, Mr Lavrov said.

European leaders have cautioned that the road to peace will be long.

Russia fired 22 missiles of various types and more than 460 drones at Ukraine overnight, Mr Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

The strikes knocked out water, electricity and heat in parts of Kyiv. Images showed a large fire spreading in a nine-story residential building in Kyivs eastern Dniprovskyi district.

People watch as emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kyiv (Dan Bashakov/AP)

Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said 20 people were wounded in Kyiv. The Russian Defence Ministry said that it targeted military-industrial facilities and energy assets. The strikes were a response to Ukrainian attacks on civilian objects in Russia, the ministry said.

Liubov Petrivna, a 90-year-old resident of a damaged building in the Dniprovskyi district, told the AP that absolutely everything in her apartment was shattered by the strike and glass rained down on her.

No one will ever do anything about it, she said. Russian President Vladimir Putin wont stop until he finishes us off.

The overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Russias southern region of Krasnodar was one of the longest and most massive and wounded six people, governor Veniamin Kondratyev said.

Russian air defences destroyed 249 Ukrainian drones overnight above various Russian regions and the occupied Crimean Peninsula, the Russian Defence Ministry said Tuesday.

Ukraine said that its drones and missiles struck an aviation repair plant and a drone production facility, as well as an oil refinery and an oil terminal.

It was the fourth-largest Ukrainian drone attack on Russia since the start of the war on February 24 2022, according to an AP tally.
US president Donald Trump said his plan to end the war in Ukraine has been fine-tuned and that he is sending envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin and army secretary Dan Driscoll to meet Ukrainian officials.

Mr Trump suggested he could eventually meet with Mr Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but not until further progress had been made in negotiations.

I will be briefed on all progress made, along with vice president JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, secretary of war Pete Hegseth, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Mr Trump added in the social media posting.

I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this war is FINAL or, in its final stages.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, left, met US secretary of the army Dan Driscoll in Kyiv last week (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Mr Trump spoke after Mr Driscoll held talks late on Monday and throughout Tuesday with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to discuss the emerging proposal.

The talks are going well and we remain optimistic, Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Tolbert, spokesman for the army secretary, said in a statement.

As the talks were taking place, Russia launched a wave of overnight attacks on Ukraines capital, Kyiv, with at least seven people killed in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure.

A Ukrainian attack on southern Russia killed three people and damaged homes, authorities said.

Still, Mr Trump expressed a measure of optimism that his administrations diplomatic efforts could soon lead to a breakthrough.

Vladimir Putins envoy Kirill Dmitriev, left, and Donald Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff pictured earlier this year (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Witkoff, a real estate developer turned diplomat, has been Mr Trumps chief interlocutor with Mr Putin, while Mr Driscoll, who is close to Mr Vance, has stepped up his involvement in the administrations peace push in recent days.

Mr Trumps plan for ending the nearly four-year war emerged last week. It heavily favoured Russia, prompting Mr Zelenskyy to quickly engage with American negotiators. European leaders, fearing for their own future facing Russian aggression but apparently sidelined by Mr Trump in drawing up the proposal, scrambled to steer the negotiations towards accommodating their concerns.

I think were getting very close to a deal. Well find out, Mr Trump said in an aside during the annual White House turkey pardon, a typically light-hearted annual event to mark the Thanksgiving holiday in the US.

He added: I thought that would have been an easier one, but I think were making progress.

French president Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that peace efforts were gathering momentum and are clearly at a crucial juncture.

He spoke after senior US and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva on Sunday and a virtual coalition-of-the-willing meeting of Ukraines European allies took place on Tuesday. Mr Rubio took part in both gatherings.

French president Emmanuel Macron, second left, took part in a virtual coalition-of-the-willing meeting on Tuesday (Teresa Saurez, Pool Photo via AP)

Negotiations are getting a new impetus. And we should seize this momentum, he said during the video-conference meeting of countries, led by France and the UK, that could help police any ceasefire with Russia.

British prime Minister Keir Starmer said of the talks: I do think we are moving in a positive direction and indications today that in large part the majority of the text, (Mr Zelenskyy) is indicating, can be accepted.

But Oleksandr Bevz, one of the Ukrainian delegates at the Geneva talks, cautioned it was very premature to say that something is agreed upon.

In an interview with The Associated Press (AP) in Kyiv late on Tuesday, he declined to discuss the specifics of any amendments to Mr Trumps plan, but said the US was aware that the strength of security guarantees for Ukraine would define the sustainability of the deal and was the part making this deal real and enforceable.

Mr Bevz told the AP earlier that the number of points in the proposed settlement was reduced, but he denied reports that the 28-point US peace plan now consisted of 19 points.

(The document) is going to continue to change. We can confirm that it was reduced to take out points not relating to Ukraine, to exclude duplicates and for editing purposes, Mr Bevz said, adding that some points relating solely to relations between Russia and the US were excluded.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the coalition-of-the-willing meeting showed solid and encouraging progress on a peace deal in Ukraine, while criticising Moscows latest attack on Kyiv and drone incursions in Romania and Moldova.

Since pressure remains the only language Russia responds to, we will continue to increase it until there is a genuine willingness to engage on a credible path toward peace, she said.

A residential building was heavily damaged in a Russian strike on Kyiv overnight (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Mr Zelenskyy said late on Monday that the list of necessary steps to end the war can become workable.

He said he planned to discuss sensitive outstanding issues with Mr Trump.

Rustem Umerov, a senior adviser to Mr Zelenskyy, posted on X on Tuesday that the Ukrainian president hoped to finalise a deal with Mr Trump at the earliest suitable date in November.

Russian officials have been reserved in their comments on the peace plan.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow was in touch with US officials about peace efforts.

We expect them to provide us with a version they consider an interim one in terms of completing the phase of co-ordinating this text with the Europeans and the Ukrainians, Mr Lavrov said.

European leaders have cautioned that the road to peace will be long.
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has started his 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt, to the surprise of many in the South American nation who doubted he would ever end up behind bars.

Supreme court justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has overseen the case, ruled Bolsonaro will remain in custody after being pre-emptively arrested on Saturday.

The far-right leader had been under house arrest since August and was taken to federal police headquarters on Saturday after trying to break his ankle monitor.

Bolsonaro blamed hallucinations, a claim that Justice de Moraes dismissed in his pre-emptive arrest order.

Bolsonaro will not have any contact with the few other inmates at the federal police headquarters. His 12-square-metre room has a bed, a private bathroom, air conditioning, a TV set and a desk, according to federal police.

The supreme court justice determined on Tuesday that Bolsonaros defence had exhausted all appeals of his conviction. His lawyers had requested house arrest due to his poor health, but the judge ruled against it.

The coup plot included plans to kill President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Misper Apawu/AP)

Brazils criminal law could also have allowed the 70-year-old to be transferred to a local prison or to a prison room in a military facility in the capital Brasilia.

The former president and several of his allies were convicted by a panel of supreme court justices for attempting to overthrow Brazils democracy following his 2022 election defeat.

The plot included plans to kill President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Justice de Moraes. The plan also involved encouraging an insurrection in early 2023.

The former president was also found guilty of charges including leading an armed criminal organisation and attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law.

Bolsonaro has always denied wrongdoing.

Two others convicted, Augusto Heleno and Paulo Sergio Nogueira, both army generals, were sent to a military facility in Brasilia to start serving their sentences. Former justice minister Anderson Torres is now imprisoned at the Papuda prison, also in Brazils capital.

Admiral Almir Garnier will serve his term at navy facilities in Brasilia.

Bolsonaros running mate and former defense minister Walter Braga Netto, another army general, will remain in prison at a military facility in Rio de Janeiro.

Justice de Moraes also confirmed that politician and former head of Brazils intelligence agency Alexandre Ramagem is on the loose in the US.

Bolsonaro remains a key figure in Brazilian politics, despite being ineligible to run for office until at least until 2030 after a separate ruling by Brazils top electoral court. Polls show he would be a competitive candidate in next years vote if allowed to run.

Jair Bolsonaro is an ally of US president Donald Trump (Evan Vucci/AP)

The former president is an ally of US president Donald Trump, who has called the trial of the former Brazilian leader a witch hunt.

Bolsonaro was mentioned in a July order by the US administration to raise tariffs on several Brazilian exports by 50%.

Relations between the two countries have improved since, with Mr Lula and Mr Trump meeting in Malaysia at the Asean summit in October. Most of those higher tariffs have been dropped.

The US also imposed sanctions on Justice de Moraes and other Brazilian officials.

The measures in support of Bolsonaro did not have their desired effect and the trial proceeded nevertheless.

Mr Lulas popularity was boosted by the perception that he was defending Brazilian sovereignty.

Bolsonaro is not the first former president to spend time behind bars.

His predecessor Michel Temer (2016-2018) and his successor Mr Lula have also been to prison.

Fernando Collor de Mello, who governed between 1990 and 1992, is currently under house arrest due to a corruption conviction.

Bolsonaro is the first to be convicted of attempting a coup.
By Simon Mabon, Lancaster University

(The Conversation)  Mohammed bin Salman wants to bring Saudi Arabia into the Abraham accords, the network of agreements to normalise relations between Israel with other countries in the Middle East and, increasingly, beyond. Donald Trump would have enjoyed hearing this when the Saudi crown prince visited the White House on November 18.

It was Trumps first administration that brokered the initial agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan in 2020. Its an achievement that is often trumpeted by his supporters as the key foreign policy win of the US presidents first term in power.

But the Saudi leaders plan to normalise with Israel comes with a price. He wants to see a clear path [towards a] two-state solution, he told reporters as he sat alongside Trump in the Oval Office.

The Abraham accords were the first instance of Arab countries formally recognising Israel since 1994, when Jordan and Israel signed a peace agreement. For Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and others, the signing of the accords was a diplomatic breakthrough. It would, they believed, usher in a new age of peace and prosperity across the Middle East driven by economic aspirations.

But little substantive progress has been made on securing additional signatories since 2020. And when Kazakhstan announced its plan to join the accords and normalise diplomatic relations with Israel at the start of November, it came as something of an anticlimax.

Rumours had begun to spread about a new signatory  and advocates of the accords were almost certainly hoping for a more high-profile signatory. But the Kazakh move reveals much about the current status of the accords.

Big deal

For Trump and Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the accords were a significant move  a major effort to reshape the Middle East. But things have not quite gone according to plan in the five years since the first agreements were signed.

Prior to the terrorist attacks of October 7 2023, there was a growing expectation that Saudi Arabia would soon join the accords. Diplomatic overtures from Israel to Saudi Arabia and vice versa, were built on a form of tacit security collaboration that had long endured between the two states. This collaboration was in part driven by a shared fear of Iranian aspirations across the Middle East.

The apparent threat from Iran was a key driving force behind the accords. The UAE, Bahrain and Israel had all expressed concerns about Tehrans nefarious activity across the Middle East.

According to US inteligence documents published by Wikileaks, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of Bahrain, had been telling US officials of his desire to normalise with Israel as far back as 2007.

By 2023, however, Saudi Arabia was beginning to see Iran as less of a threat. The two countries had embarked on their own process of normalisation earlier that year. They signed a deal to restore full diplomatic and security ties, an agreement seen by some in the Gulf as an indication that the region was moving towards what one scholar called a post-American Gulf era.

The Beijing-mediated agreement pointed to a new way of thinking about regional politics, driven by a desire for a more stable regional security environment shaped by states from the region rather than outside it.

Meanwhile, Hamass attack on Israel on October 7 2023 and Israels destruction of Gaza halted Saudi overtures to Israel. Since then, Saudi officials have declared that, in order for the kingdom to normalise relations with Israel, the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital is a necessary step.

In the months that followed, Bin Salman was increasingly steadfast in his refusal to normalise relations with Israel without a Palestinian state. In the summer of 2024, he reportedly expressed fears about being assassinated because of normalisation with Israel. He indicated he was still pursuing normalisation, but very publicly linked this aspiration with a requirement for Palestinian statehood.

Reassessing Middle East threats

Israeli policy across the Middle East since the October 7 attacks has also shifted threat perceptions away from Iran. Israels strikes on Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Qatar, Yemen, Iraq and Tunisia  coupled with raids on sites across the West Bank  have created an increasingly unstable regional security landscape.

The focus is now on deeper inter-regional collaboration. This was emphasised in the way that, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Iran, leaders from across the Middle East almost unanimously condemned the attacks.

At the same time, Iran has held discussions with the UAE and Saudi Arabia over an arrangement for a uranium enrichment programme which would ensure that Irans programme did not provide a means to developing nuclear weapons.



File photo of President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at White House in 2017. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead). Public Domain. Via Picryl.

The words and deeds of Israeli politicians have also angered many. Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly spoken of his ongoing efforts to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Israels finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has repeatedly called for the annexation of the West Bank. The national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has provoked anger and concern across the Muslim world by praying at the site of the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jersualem, violating the agreement that only Muslims should worship there.

There was been little or no progress on the implementation of the second phase of Trumps 20-point Gaza peace deal  a deal that has no concrete steps towards the establishment of a Palestinian state. When you consider this, and the Israeli political elites explicit rejection of a Palestinian state, it feels unlikely there will be any more signatories to the Abraham accords for the foreseeable future.

Simon Mabon, Professor of International Relations, Lancaster University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Quatrain no. 25 in the first edition of Edward FitzGeralds translation of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is about the futility of metaphysical teachings in the face of certain death.

XXV. Why, all the Saints and Sages who discussd

Of the Two Worlds so learnedly, are thrust

Like foolish Prophets forth; their Words to Scorn

Are scatterd, and their Mouths are stopt with Dust.

A. J. Arberry identifies the original Persian stanza on which he says this poem is based as no 140 in the Bodleian manuscript (139 in my translation).

      

     

       

      

He also thought it underlay No. 1:3, as I discussed under that heading.

While this Persian stanza does speak of the people who went before as lying in the dust of vanity, it doesnt mention sages, and so I think some other quatrain must have nuanced FitzGeralds rendering, even if Bodleian 140 is the main basis for it.

Edward Heron-Allen (pp. 43-45) suggested that the quatrain may also have been influenced by no. 236 in the Calcutta manuscript, also found here.

    

     

     

    

I would translate this one in blank verse this way:

The ones who are the essence of the world

Direct the steed of thought up to the sky.

But in knowing your essence, like that sky,

They are bewildered, spinning, upside-down.

The steed here, by the way, is buraq, the mythical donkey with angelic wings that Muslim legend held bore the Prophet Muhammad up to heaven. The poem is contrasting the philosophers, whose deep thoughts could not provide them insights into the divine essence, to the Prophet Muhammad, who received revelation.

Although this verse does refer to the sages, the elite of the world, it is pious in its conclusion that God is unknowable and doesnt have the same tone of cynicism as the FitzGerald stanza. It is one of many poems later ascribed to Khayyam, some of them with a flavor of Sufi mysticism.



Alexander questions the philosopher, physician and the goblet, ca. 1610, India; Alexander sits in a plane tree as though in a throne, wearing a Greek helmet engraved with the image of a horse. A falcon as an emblem of his kingly status perches on his gloved right hand. Seated before him is a learned man presenting him with a book, and Alexander appears to be questioning him, as is described in a passage from the Eskandar-nameh section of the Khamseh. Nezamis Khamseh was popular in the Mughal court of India. San Diego Museum of Art . Public Domain.

I suspect that the last two lines of no. 112 in the Bodleian manuscript, which is 111 in my translation, may have had an influence here. It is also here.

       

      

        

       

I translated them in free verse:

How long will sages debate if this world is eternal or created?

Once I have left it, why should I care, either way?

These lines point to the inevitability of death and to the irrelevance of the metaphysical debates of sages and saints.

-

Order Juan Coles contemporary poetic translation of the Rubaiyat from

Bloomsbury (IB Tauris)

or Barnes and Noble.

or for $16 at Amazon Kindle

-

The ancient Greeks and their Muslim followers like Avicenna (Ibn Sina) held that the world is eternal. Muslim thinkers less influenced by Hellenistic thought insisted that the world was created at a particular point in time and so is not eternal, but that God is eternal. The Greek-influenced philosophers held that the world is also eternal, but that it might or might not have existed, and so is contingent. Gods being, however, is necessary and so is a different sort of being that must exist. So the worlds being is different from Gods, even though both have always existed. The philosophers pointed out that God is the Creator, so he must always have had a creation. The more literalist Muslim thinkers branded this theology a heresy.

If your eyes have glazed over, you are feeling some of the impatience of the Omarian poetry with these metaphysical issues that is apparent both in FitzGeralds rendering and in the Persian originals.

-

For more commentaries on FitzGeralds translations of the Rubaiyat, see

FitzGeralds Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: Commentary by Juan Cole with Original Persian
In the past two years, Israeli obliteration has turned Gaza into an uninhabitable death zone. What is less known, however, is that this is the effect of decades of deliberate ecocide  and of the Wests purposeful efforts to undermine both genocide and ecocide legislation.

New York (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  The final step of the broadest possible genocide is ecocide; that is, the intentional destruction of the environment necessary for the support of human life.

Ecocide, in turn, is directly related to the decimation of the reproduction of culture that Raphael Lemkin, the pioneer of the Genocide Convention, associated with the concept of cultural genocide.

Gaza is a textbook case.

The long legal effort to suppress ecocide

In The Obliteration Doctrine, I show in painful detail how Lemkin had to compromise this idea. While he got strong support from the countries of the Global South, the former colonial powers, led by the United States and the United Kingdom, undermined Lemkins quest. Consequently, the current Genocide Convention is just a mutilated torso of the original idea.

Ever since Olof Palme, the Swedish prime minister, accused the United States of ecocide at the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment, war has often seen as the primary cause of ecocide, along with over-exploitation of natural resources and industrial disasters.

In environmental law, ecocide (from ancient Greek oikos home and Latin caedere to kill) connotes the destruction of the environment by humans. It has often been associated with genocide. In effect, in the late 1990s ecocide in peacetime was to have been included in the Rome Statute. However, it was deleted due to objections by the United Kingdom, France, and the United States; that is, by the former colonial powers. Such censure would not have surprised Lemkin who knew well that these powers did not want to pay for their crimes in the world court. Nonetheless, as a result, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court makes no provision for the crime of ecocide in peacetime, only in wartime.

Or by check:

Juan Cole

P. O. Box 4218,

Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2548

USA

(Remember, make the checks out to Juan Cole or they cant be cashed)

Just months before October 7, 2023, the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide defined it as unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.

The decades-long ecocide in Gaza

Well before October 7, 2023, the Gaza Strip had progressively been isolated from the West Bank and the outside world overall, while being subjected to repeated Israeli military incursions  over three decades, in parallel with the Madrid and Oslo peace talks.

In terms of environmental damage, deterioration had worsened since 2014, when the clearing and bulldozing of agricultural and residential lands by the Israeli military close to the eastern border of Gaza had been coupled with the unannounced aerial spraying of crop-killing herbicides. These illicit practices not only destroyed entire swaths of formerly arable land along the border fence but also crops and farmlands hundreds of meters deep into Palestinian territory, resulting in the loss of livelihoods for Gazan farmers.

In a historical view, such massive bombardment went back to the early days of the Cold War, when the United States dropped bombs on North Korean dams to flood crops and induce starvation among civilians. To compound the same effect, irrigation systems were attacked on the ground. The difference is that in Gaza the geographic scope of destruction was far narrower than in Korea, but the decimation far more effective, intensive and lethal.

Colonial violence and environmental warfare

From the beginning, environmental warfare in Gaza has been marked by colonial violence. It has been an inherent part of the Palestinian expulsions and Israeli occupation since the late 1940s.

Furthermore, the destruction is central to the Obliteration Doctrine of the Israeli military, which was initiated in Lebanon in the late 2000s and perfected in Gaza in 2023-25. In that sense, the Nakba has also a lesser-known environmental dimension, the complete transformation of the environment, the weather, the soil, the loss of the indigenous climate, the vegetation, the skies. The Nakba is a process of colonially imposed vulnerability to climate change.

Even at the eve of October 7, World Bank analysts warned that in the West Bank and Gaza, drivers of fragility, development constraints, and vulnerability to climate change were closely interconnected, thanks to decades of the fragmentation of land, restrictions on the movement of people and goods, recurrent episodes of violent conflict, persistent political and policy uncertainty, and the lack of sovereign control over critical natural resources.

As the net effect of the Gaza War, widespread damages to built-up areas from the use of explosive weapons have resulted in direct impacts on water services and in millions of tons of debris, toxic waste and destroyed agricultural lands. This has led to the outbreak of communicable diseases from poor water, health and sanitation conditions, combined with the risk of exposure to a range of additional hazardous materials and the collapse of environmental governance.

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The death zone

Hence, the damage to water infrastructure and widescale urban destruction in combination with a severely degraded healthcare system; all of which posed a long-lasting threat to both public health and livelihoods.

The future that awaited Palestinians at the end of the hostilities was a Gaza turned into an uninhabitable death war zone.

By late April 2024, Israels obliteration of Gaza had already created 37m tonnes of debris. That amounts to an average of 300kg of rubble per square meter of land in the Gaza Strip. Worse, much of these piles and heaps of debris and wreckage were laced with unexploded bombs, which could take up to 15 years of extensive work to remove, assuming the availability of 100 trucks on a daily basis.

Taking into consideration the fact that on average about 10 percent of weapons failed to detonate when fired, huge demining teams would be warranted for years. The longer the war continued, the longer would the clearance take at its end.

During the first two months of Israels assault on Gaza, the projected emissions from there exceeded the annual emissions of 20 individual countries and territories.

Indeed, the total emissions increased to more than those of over 33 individual countries and territories when the war infrastructure built by both Israel and Hamas is included, such as Hamass tunnel network and Israels protective fence or Iron Wall. In that light, the carbon costs of reconstructing Gaza are likely to prove huge.

The rebuilding emissions ahead

Effectively, rebuilding Gaza will result in a total annual emissions figure higher than that of over 130 countries, putting them on a par with that of New Zealand.

The overwhelming majority of the 281,000 metric tons (MT) of carbon dioxide (CO2) generated in the first two months of hostilities can be traced to Israels aerial bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza.

Almost half the total carbon emissions were down to U.S. cargo planes flying military supplies to Israel. By contrast, Hamas rockets fired into Israel in the same period generated 713 MT of CO 2 , which is equivalent to 300 MT of coal. There was no symmetry in war machinery.

The initial brutal offensive by Hamas was overwhelmed by Israels obliteration of what used to be Gaza. Worse, these estimates are highly conservative because they are based on just two months of the war that had already endured three times longer by June 2024.

More importantly, the actual carbon footprint could prove five to eight times higher, when emissions from the entire war supply chain were included.

Furthermore, what has happened in Gaza wont stay in Gaza. Even the perpetrators cannot avoid their own poison.



File photo of Gaza, Feb. 18, 2025, by Mohammed Ibrahim on Unsplash

Spillovers of ecocide

The overall cost for rebuilding Gaza is estimated to be tens of billions of dollars over decades, with some projections reaching as high as $70 billion.

The obliteration of Gaza has inflicted severe and potentially irreversible environmental damage, including widespread contamination of water, soil, and air with toxic substances, the collapse of critical infrastructure, and massive carbon emissions.

The effects of this environmental catastrophe are likely to mimic those of past conflicts involving widespread environmental destruction  for instance, U.S. deployment of Agent Orange in Vietnam  which in one form or another will likely be felt by Israeli citizens for years or decades to come.

In the foreseeable future, these key impacts on Israel may include public health crises, water contamination, adverse agricultural and economic effects, rising contribution into climate change, not to mention the security concerns that will ensue from the deliberate creation of an uninhabitable environment in Gaza.

As Israeli environmental groups warned already a decade ago, the untreated sewage from Gaza that has flowed into the Mediterranean Sea is a ticking time bomb. Following the obliteration of Gaza, the destruction of wastewater treatment facilities creates a significant risk of infectious diseases, even cholera, that could spread along the coast. Additionally, the potential contamination of shared coastal aquifers with seawater, heavy metals, and chemicals poses a long-term threat to Israels freshwater supplies.

The inconvenient truth is that water contamination, like ecocide, knows no borders.
Rights group Amnesty International on Tuesday accused Sudanese paramilitaries of committing war crimes in the Darfur town of El-Fasher, and said the United Arab Emirates had "facilitated" their action.

The UAE has consistently denied backing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting Sudan's regular army since April 2023.

The war pits the regular forces of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against the RSF headed by his former right-hand man, Mohamed Daglo.

The RSF seized El-Fasher at the end of October, the last major city in the vast western region of Darfur that had remained outside their control.

The paramilitary group said on Monday it was declaring a unilateral three-month ceasefire.

Amnesty said it had collected testimonies from 28 survivors describing atrocities in El-Fasher ranging from the summary execution of unarmed men to the rape of girls and women.

"This persistent, widespread violence against civilians constitutes war crimes and may also constitute other crimes under international law," Amnesty chief Agnes Callamard said in a report published on Tuesday.

"All those responsible must be held accountable for their actions."

"These atrocities were facilitated by the United Arab Emirates' support for the RSF," Callamard said.

She called on the international community and the UN Security Council to " demand that the UAE disengages from supporting the RSF".

The UAE has been widely accused of supplying the RSF with weapons, manpower and fuel. Abu Dhabi consistently rejects such charges, despite evidence presented in UN reports and independent investigations.

Tuesday's Amnesty report cites one survivor from El-Fasher who said she and her 14-year-old daughter were raped by RSF fighters as they fled the city.

Her daughter became very ill when they reached the refugee town of Tawila, and died in a clinic there, the woman told the rights group.

Another survivor cited in the report said RSF forces killed people "like flies" and that none of those he saw killed was an armed soldier.

"As the conflict continues, the survivors' stories provide further proof of the failure of the international community in Sudan," Callamard said.

Mediation has so far failed to end the fighting as both sides try to secure military gains before talks are held.

On Sunday, Burhan rejected a US truce proposal from the Quad group of mediators as the "worst yet" and unacceptable.

The Quad group comprises the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

On Monday, the UAE accused Burhan of "consistently obstructive behaviour".

Later on Monday, the RSF declared a unilateral three-month ceasefire "in response to international efforts, including the initiative of US President Donald Trump and the Quad mediators".
The two women must have looked emaciated, when Mahmoud A. allegedly stopped them at the checkpoint at the Northern end of Yarmouk in Damascus. It was a day in the year of 2014, and the total siege of the Palestinian neighbourhood in the Southern part of Syrias capital city had been going on since July 2013. According to the indictment, Mahmoud A. started beating them up with a green plastic pipe.

The indictment states that he hit them in straight downward movements, and called them vile. It alleges that they fell to the ground, and, in a general outbreak of panic, were trampled by other civilians who had come to collect food parcels. Even in this helpless position, he kept beating them. In the eyes of the prosecution, these acts constitute the crime of starvation as a war crime: Mahmoud A. prevented the women from getting the food they desperately needed.

Mahmoud A. is one of five men accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Germanys latest universal jurisdiction trial dealing with Syria. The Higher Regional Court of Koblenz, known for its landmark trial against two former Syrian intelligence officers in 2020-2022, has once again become the stage for prosecuting major crimes of the Assad regime and its allied militias.

Using the principle of universal jurisdiction, German authorities can prosecute grave international crimes committed in Syria, even when there is no direct link to Germany  and they have on numerous occasions over the past years. But this trial is different. It is the first to commence after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024. And it is the first trial ever to indict starvation as a war crime  a step seen by some as a turning point in the prosecution of an especially cruel yet long neglected offence.

A pro-Assad Palestinian militia

More than ten years after the alleged crime took place, Mahmoud A. does not resemble the bulky tattooed militia man he was in 2014, according to some photos on the internet. He is handcuffed and pushed into the Koblenz courtroom in a wheelchair. In the public gallery, a woman jumps up and waves to him, only to be reprimanded by a security guard: communication with the defendants is prohibited. I am just saying hello, she says, smiling apologetically. We havent seen each other for a whole year. On this opening day on November 19th, friends and family of the defendants occupy more than half of the wooden benches in the courtroom. As Mahmoud A.s four co-defendants shuffle in one by one with shackled hands and feet, their loved ones sob, smile, wave, or gesture for them to stay calm.

The list of accusations against them is long. In 2012, Mahmoud A., Wael S., Sameer S., and Jihad A. allegedly joined the Palestinian militia Free Palestine Movement that cooperated with the Assad regime to quash anti-government protests in Yarmouk and enforce the siege of the neighbourhood from 2012 onwards. The fifth defendant, Mazhar J., is said to have been a secret service officer for the Palestine Branch, where people who had mostly been arbitrarily arrested were tortured and held in life-threatening conditions, sometimes for several years. A significant number of prisoners died, read the indictment, as a result of torture and detention conditions. Mazhar J. was allegedly responsible for the arrest and mistreatment of civilians in the secret service branches, as well as the violent oppression of the inhabitants of Yarmouk.

You are playing with your life

One of the main incidents described by the prosecutors is a demonstration that took place in Yarmouk after Friday prayers on July 13, 2012. The demonstration grew larger as it moved North on Palestine Street, where it was confronted by security forces, among them four of the defendants. Unexpectedly, several people, including the defendants, opened fire deliberately on the demonstrators. Three people were killed as a result of these shots, among them Iyas Fahad, who was 21 at the time.

At the mention of the victim, a tall man with curly hair and a tired face, started crying quietly. Accompanied by his lawyers, he sat on the left side of the courtroom facing the defendants. He is the father of Iyas Fahad, and has joined the proceedings as a plaintiff. According to the indictment, the defendants harassed him in the days after his son was killed. The regime wanted him to accept a death certificate with a fake cause of death, but he refused. You are playing with your life, they allegedly said to him. Isnt it enough that you lost one son? Do you want to lose another?

In addition to this incident and the abuse of the two women at the checkpoint, further incidents are mentioned concerning one or several of the defendants: shooting at protesters, beating and arbitrarily arresting civilians at checkpoints, sending them to secret service branches where they later died. Samir S.s defence lawyer read a lengthy motion demanding the court to drop the charges against his client as he had never owned a weapon or been part of any militia. The other defendants and their counsels have not commented on the accusations yet.

According to the indictment, Moafak Doua, the Syrian-Palestinian fighter convicted to life imprisonment in Berlin in February 2023, was also involved in several of the crimes. Another man, Mahmoud Sweidan, allegedly gave the orders in some of the cases. He later migrated to Sweden, where he was arrested last year at the same time as the Koblenz defendants, and is currently standing trial for suspected war crimes in Yarmouk.

Understanding Yarmouk

The situation in Yarmouk that led to Palestinian militias killing Palestinian civilians on behalf of Assad is not an easy one to understand. While the Palestinian Syrian community is often depicted as a homogenous group, there were in fact many different groups with different positions toward the revolution that changed over time. Their stances were shaped by various factors, among them the Assad regimes longtime meddling with the Palestinian cause that divided Palestinian factions into those it supported and those it antagonized; as well as grievances with Palestinian militias that controlled the camps on behalf of the Assad regime.

At the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011, Syria was home to around 560.000 Palestinians, one third of which lived in Yarmouk. Most of them came after the Nakba, the forced expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland during the foundation of the Israeli state, or after the Six-Day-War in 1967. Syria was one of the most hospitable countries at the time, treating Palestinians like citizens by giving them most of the same rights as Syrians. Refugee camps were not marginalized ghettos, but, like Yarmouk, became integral parts of the Syrian capital and key commercial centres.

Today, not much remains of the once vibrant neighbourhood of Yarmouk. As one of the most fought over areas in the Syrian war, the regimes airstrikes have reduced the majority of its buildings to grey concrete skeletons or piles of rubble. At the beginning of the uprising in 2011, many Palestinian Syrians were cautious about getting involved. But Yarmouk quickly became a destination for displaced Syrians from other areas, taking in an estimated tens to hundreds of thousands of newcomers. It was also somewhat of a buffer zone between central Damascus and the southern suburbs where rebel groups were quickly gaining strength.

Yarmouk was often described by rebel leaders as the lungs through which they could breathe. The injured were treated there, families of fighters found shelter, and local youth sometimes helped with smuggling arms and ammunition. While local leaders were pressing for Yarmouk to remain neutral, new ranks of protesters soon formed in reaction to the regimes repression in the camp and on its borders.

In July 2012, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), an anti-Assad armed group, attacked central Damascus from the southern suburbs bordering on Yarmouk, and just a few months later, regime airstrikes on Yarmouk began. The neighbourhood was quickly seized by the oppositional forces, which prompted the Assad regime and its loyal militias to launch what would become one of its first sieges  and its most brutal one. Over the following three years, hundreds died of hunger. Survivors shockingly described how people were forced to eat cats and dogs or killed by snipers while trying to forage for food.

In Syria, this graffiti proclaims Kneel or starve! and is signed Assad's soldiers. The slogan, which marked the years of repression of the anti-Assad revolution, is at the heart of the trial opening in Koblenz against five Syrians accused of crimes committed in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Yarmouk, south of the capital Damascus.

Starvation as a war crime

It was against this backdrop that the indictment in Koblenz was presented. While residents were initially able to leave or enter the district under strict reprisals, it was completely sealed off from July 2013 onwards. The prosecutors said that the Syrian militias Free Palestine Movement and PFLP-GC, of which four defendants were allegedly members, participated in the siege. It was no longer possible to buy food and medicine. By then, at the latest, the humanitarian situation was catastrophic. While the Syrian regime allowed the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) to deliver humanitarian aid to Yarmouk at the beginning of 2014, residents were forced to collect the aid in the regime controlled North of Yarmouk, where they risked being subjected to violence. Nevertheless, in order to escape starvation for themselves and their families, many people went there on the days of distribution.

It is the first time ever that starvation is brought to trial as a stand-alone war crime  although it was charged for the first time in November 2024 in the arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. Starvation has long been perceived as more of a humanitarian problem than an international crime, says Catriona Murdoch, Director of Legal Accountability and Advocacy at the Netherlands based human rights organisation Videre and a leading expert on starvation as a war crime. It was seen as something that just happens during war  supplies run out; people are on the move  an inevitable consequence.

Murdoch has worked with Syrian NGOs on the siege of Yarmouk and has been in touch with the prosecutors working on the German case. For her, the sieges in Syria are emblematic of the deliberate criminal nature behind civilians going hungry. The motto of the Syrian regime was: Kneel or starve, spray painted across the walls of many Syrian towns and cities."

Starvation is only a small part of the indictment in Koblenz and it refers only to one individual incident. But the trial could illustrate the broader patterns of siege and starvation in Syria, says Murdoch. She is hopeful that this first case will embolden other judicial authorities to take on the investigation of starvation as a weapon of war, for example with regards to Gaza or Sudan. According to Murdoch, Yarmouk is a clear-cut case and a good starting point to demonstrate the devastation caused by this crime. From psychological trauma to educational difficulties and stunting in children, to economical setbacks and lower birth rates: It is a slow burn crime that impacts generations to come.
President Donald Trump's Africa envoy on Tuesday said neither of Sudan's warring sides had accepted a new ceasefire proposal, urging both to agree to the plan presented by Washington on behalf of mediators without preconditions.

Renewed efforts for a truce come after Trump said last week he would move to help end the war in Sudan, after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged him during a visit to Washington to get involved.

"We appeal to both sides to accept the humanitarian truce as presented without preconditions," the US envoy Massad Boulos told reporters in the Emirati capital.

"We would like them to accept the specific text that was presented to them," he added.

He spoke at a joint media briefing with UAE presidential advisor Anwar Gargash in Abu Dhabi, days after Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan slammed the latest proposal presented by Boulos and accused the envoy of parroting the UAE's talking points.

The UAE has been widely accused of arming the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, who are at war with the army-backed government.

The UAE denies the accusations.

On Monday, Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces announced a unilateral three-month ceasefire, a day after Burhan slammed the latest plan as the "worst yet".

- 'Overlook those comments' -

The plan was presented by the Washington on behalf of the Quad -- which in addition to the US includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Burhan said it was "biased", citing Abu Dhabi's participation.

Boulos denied Burhan's accusations.

"He was making reference to something that does not exist, that has never been presented by us. So we have no idea what he is talking about," said Boulos.

"We have to overlook those comments and remarks and focus on the heart of the matter which is the humanitarian crisis," he added.

In recent weeks, reports of atrocities in Sudan have shocked the world after the RSF seized El-Fasher at the end of October, the last major city that remained outside of their control in the vast western region of Darfur.

Earlier Tuesday, rights group Amnesty International accused the RSF of committing war crimes in El-Fasher, and said the United Arab Emirates had "facilitated" their action.

On Monday, the UAE lambasted Burhan, accusing him of rejecting the truce proposal presented by Washington.

On November 6, the RSF announced they had agreed to a proposal for a humanitarian truce put forward by the Quad mediators.

The army-aligned government had rejected an earlier plan in September, which excludes both the military and the RSF from Sudan's post-war political process.

That proposal included a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a permanent ceasefire and a nine-month transition to civilian rule.

Mediation has so far failed to halt the fighting between Burhan's forces and the RSF, led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, as both sides seek a military breakthrough.






Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - A viral clip has captured the terrifying moment a young Kenyan man working as a taxi driver in Dubai was attacked by a male client after rejecting inappropriate physical advances.

According to the footage, the passenger boarded the cab and sat in the backseat.

Along the way, he attempted to touch the driver inappropriately.

When the driver declined and tried to maintain professionalism, the passenger became aggressive and attempted to strangle him, prompting the driver to scream for help.

Fearing for his safety, the driver quickly stopped the vehicle and jumped out to escape the violent client, who was later arrested.

Watch the video.

A Kenyan taxi driver in Dubai faced a terrifying attack by a client who was later arrested pic.twitter.com/OD2Nm5356M  The Nairobi Times Videos (@nairobitimesvid) November 25, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - A photo circulating online shows Dennis Itumbi, closely associated with President William Ruto, in possession of large sums of cash ahead of the Mbeere North by-election.

Speculation on social media suggests that the money could be used for voter bribery on Election Day.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has already raised an alarm over the Governments plan to bribe voters on Election Day.

The State is backing UDA candidate, Leo Wamuthende, while Gachagua is supporting his close competitor, Newton Karish.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - Former Chief Justice, David Maraga, has opened up about his struggle with alcohol and the turning point that led him to quit drinking.

Speaking on Monday, November 24th, during an interview with comedian, Oga Obinna, Maraga revealed that he began drinking while at Maranda High School after being influenced by peers.

He continued the habit through Kisii High School, university, and even after completing the Kenya School of Law before starting his career as a lawyer in Nakuru.

Maraga recalled one incident while working at the Land Registry when he drank heavily and lacked fuel to drive back to Nakuru after a weekend in Nairobi.

There was one time I didnt even have fuel to go back.

I went to Nyamakima, got some touts, and they found passengers who fueled my car so we could return to Nakuru, he narrated.

He also disclosed being involved in a minor accident after his car swerved and hit the rails by the roadside.

The breaking point, however, came after a night of heavy drinking at an army barracks in Nakuru.

We drank until 2:00 am. The following morning, I couldnt recollect how I got home, and I said to myself I could have easily died, Maraga recounted.

On January 1st, 1991, he decided to quit alcohol altogether, returning to the Seventh Day Adventist Church where he had been baptized as a child.

I went to church, and I have never looked back, he said.

Maraga, who served as Kenyas 14th Chief Justice from 2016 to 2021, has since declared his bid for the presidency in the 2027 General Elections.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - Former Chief Justice and 2027 presidential hopeful, David Maraga, is open to a political partnership with Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, ahead of the next General Elections.

Speaking during an interview on Obinna TV Extra on Monday, November 24th, Maraga said their longstanding friendship and shared history as law classmates at the University of Nairobi could pave way for collaboration, but only if Kalonzo embraces his vision for the country.

Mr Kalonzo is a good man. We attended the same university, so there is mutual respect.

I am open to working with him, but only if he embraces my vision for the country, Maraga stated.

He emphasized that any coalition must be anchored on his core values, including upholding the rule of law, fighting corruption, and empowering the youth.

If he comes and embraces my vision, we will work together.

As the presidential flag bearer, others must rally behind me, he added, making clear that he will not cede ground.

On the possibility of working with former Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiangi, Maraga said Matiangi will first need to meet his irreducible minimums, particularly a commitment to integrity and antigraft measures.

However, Maraga categorically ruled out any alliance with President William Ruto, saying their values are incompatible and their paths will never align.

The former Chief Justice revealed that his entry into politics was inspired by the 2024 Gen Zled protests against the Finance Bill, which he described as a wakeup call for leaders to address youth grievances.

The youth cried out for justice and opportunity.

As an elder, I cannot sit idle while they suffer, he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has hit back at Pastor James Nganga after the preacher criticized his decision to publicly confront and expose his daughter, Salmas husband, who allegedly assaulted her.

In a video shared on Sonkos social media platforms, the former County boss, visibly agitated, said he released the footage to raise awareness about genderbased violence.

He argued that silence only emboldens abusers and insisted that his actions were meant to encourage victims to speak out.

Pastor Nganga had addressed the matter during a televised church service on November 23rd, warning that the public exposure could harm the children involved.

He urged Sonko to resolve the issue privately, cautioning that such confrontations risk destabilizing marriages.

When your daughter marries a poor man, even if you are schooling her kids, you cannot put those things in public.

You cant beat the man in front of your daughter, Nganga said.

The controversial preacher further claimed the incident was destroying the marriage system, arguing that it instilled fear that could affect the couples relationship.

He advised the husbands parents to intervene and settle the matter discreetly.

Sonko, however, dismissed the criticism, saying he had previously remained silent when his daughters faced abuse but could no longer ignore the issue.

Genderbased violence cases are not things to be silent about, he stated, urging Kenyans to speak up against such incidents.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - Thousands of Kenyans living in the United States are bracing for uncertainty after President Donald Trumps administration announced a sweeping review of refugees admitted during Joe Bidens tenure.

According to an internal memo signed by U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director, Joe Edlow, all refugees admitted between January 20th, 2021 and February 20th, 2025 will undergo fresh interviews and intense vetting to reassess their eligibility for protection.

The directive also halts the processing of permanent residence applications for refugees who arrived during Bidens presidency.

The order is expected to affect a significant number of Kenyans who resettled in the U.S from Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps between 2021 and 2024.

Many had already embarked on the long path towards citizenship but now face the possibility of deportation if their paperwork or past records fail to meet the administrations tightened standards.

Kenya has been one of Africas major departure points for resettlement abroad.

UNHCR data shows that in 2022 alone, 3,692 refugees were submitted for resettlement from Kenya, with many accepted by the U.S.

In 2023, more than 2,800 refugees departed, including individuals from Somalia, South Sudan, the DRC, and Burundi who had lived in Kenyan camps.

The Trump administration argues that Biden prioritized high admission numbers over thorough vetting, prompting USCIS to order comprehensive reinterviews.

Refugees have been warned that their status could be terminated if officers determine they no longer meet protection criteria.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Ann O'Loughlin

A consultant gynaecologist found guilty of professional misconduct for directing a further thirty second step be carried out during a diagnostic gynaecological procedure on five different women without obtaining their consent is to be fined 5,000.

The President of the High Court, Mr Justice David Barniville, on Monday confirmed the Medical Council sanction against Professor Raymond OSullivan, which also includes a letter of censure over the procedure carried out during an internal examination with a camera at St Lukes Hospital, Kilkenny.

The allegations related to a direction to insert an abdominal rectal pressure catheter to measure intravaginal pressure while carrying out a hysteroscopy on five different women on September 4th-5th, 2018, at St Lukes Hospital.

It was also found that Professor OSullivan failed to produce advance approval from the local research ethics committee or to comply with professional guidelines about the use of the catheter.

Counsel for the Medical Council, Nessa Bird BL told the court that there were three separate complaints including from solicitors representing two of the women.

At the start of the inquiry, Professor OSullivan admitted the allegations and that they amounted to professional misconduct. The High Court heard that it was professional misconduct of the type to represent a serious falling short of the standards of conduct expected of medical practitioners.

The Fitness to Practise Committee had heard that Professor OSullivan who had a research idea had the honest belief that the added thirty second step did not require the consent of the patient. It was accepted that the motivation behind the step was benign and there were a number of mitigating factors including that the consultant had apologised to the women.

In the High Court Mr Justice Barniville said he saw no good reason not to confirm the sanctions and he also granted costs to the Medical Council.

The chairperson of the Medical Council inquiry, Jill Long earlier this year , said the fitness-to-practise committee also noted that medical records contained no reference to any consent having been obtained from any of the five female patients in advance of the procedure.

Ms Long said the committees conclusions were also based on a systems analysis review of what happened by the Ireland East Hospital Group, of which St Lukes Hospital in Kilkenny is a part.

She also observed that the issue arose while Professor OSullivan alone had taken the decision to conduct a feasibility study of using the catheter to measure intravaginal pressure while performing a diagnostic hysteroscopy.

Ms Long said the purpose of the research on the five patients was to see if a future proposed study was even possible.

She explained that the research was to determine if there was a better alternative that could be developed to the traditional method of carrying out such an examination as the use of a speculum caused so much more discomfort.

The three-member committee concluded that the proven allegations represent professional misconduct in so far as they represented a serious falling short of the standards of conduct expected of medical practitioners.
A REQUEST for the urgent replacement of walls and trees that impede vision at the junction of Bawn Lane and Barretstown Road in Newbridge was one of a number of road safety issues raised at the recent meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District.

The motion, by cllr Noel Heavey, noted that the measures had been agreed with the relevant landowner.

The councillor was told that while an assessment of the junction can be carried out, there's no funding available to carry out any works in the area.

Cllr Heavey described it as a very blind and dangerous junction.

Cllr Heavey had also asked that there be upgrades at the ramp crossing outside St Patrick's Primary School in Morristown. He was satisfied with the report that there are plans to carry out safety measures there.

Cllr Rob Power asked for traffic calming measures on the Green Road near the Educate Together school.

He told the meeting that there is a significant issue with speeding cars at the location.

Cllr Noel Heavey, who also had a question on the agenda about the same issue, noted that there had been three really serious incidents there over recent years.

Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer said that significant investment had been put into improving the road, and she wasn't sure how the problem could now be managed.

Cllr Chris Pender said it needed to be addressed before the new bridge is built, and the level of traffic in the area will be much heavier.

The municipal district office will review the area to assess if any additional measures could be implemented.

The provision of a footpath for pedestrian safety between the GAA grounds in Rathangan and Cribbins Lane was requested by Cllr Brian O'Loughlin.

He noted that it would accommodate about 35 houses and two creches and would be very much appreciated.

Responding to the report on his motion that the work would require third party land and significant design work, for which no funding is currently available, the councillor said that he has talked to relevant landowners and they would be happy to facilitate the works.

The need for a pedestrian crossing at the car park at Newbridge Cemetery was raised by cllr Tom McDonnell.

He was told that the request had been added to a list of similar-type requests in the county and would be assessed when resources become available.

Cllr McDonnell said he had brought up the matter last year and that he would like it to be done as a priority, saying it's a crucial access to the cemetery.

Cllr Noel Heavey agreed that it should get some kind of priority as that the people using it are often in an emotional state and not always mindful of the traffic.

A request from cllr McDonnell that traffic lights be installed at Moore's Bridge, the Curragh, was fended off by a report that t The geometry and alignment of the bridge and its close proximity to the junction of the R413 makes it unsuitable for the safe operation and provision of traffic signals.

The councillor refused to accept the report, saying that the lead-in roads to the bridge could be widened to make it suitable, even if the bridge couldn't be widened. Cllr Brian O'Loughlin agreed with him, saying that even doing so on one side of the bridge would make a huge difference.

Cllr Noel Heavey said the Council is seeking a meeting with Irish Rail on the matter, but Cllr McDonnell said the lead-in roads work could be done by the Council without the need for Irish Rail involvement.

A traffic audit of the Barradera Road in Monasterevin will be done in the near future, Cllr Pat Balfe was told. He had raised the matter by way of a question, noting concerns raised by local residents about traffic safety and the increasing volume of vehicles using the road.
By Grainne Ni Aodha and Rebecca Black, PA

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan has expressed shock following a horrific attack on a woman in west Dublin.

The woman is being treated for burn injuries following the incident at a home in Clondalkin on Tuesday morning.

Gardai said they were investigating the incident.

I am shocked by this mornings horrific attack on a woman in Clondalkin.

I have been briefed on the attack by the Gardai, and I join with them in appealing to anyone with information to come forward so that the perpetrator of this vicious attack can be brought to justice.  Jim O'Callaghan TD (@OCallaghanJim) November 25, 2025

A Garda spokesperson said the woman was taken to hospital to be treated for burn injuries which are believed to be serious, while a man was also taken to hospital to be treated for injuries believed to be non-life threatening.

The scene has been preserved pending a technical examination.

A senior investigating officer has been appointed and an incident room has been established at Clondalkin Garda Station.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses or anyone with video footage of the Oak Downs area of Clondalkin between 9.30am and 10.20am on Tuesday morning to contact them.

Mr OCallaghan echoed the Garda appeal for information.

I am shocked by this mornings horrific attack on a woman in Clondalkin, he said.

I have been briefed on the attack by the gardai, and I join with them in appealing to anyone with information to come forward so that the perpetrator of this vicious attack can be brought to justice.
THE Into Kildare AGM and networking event was held at Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park on 20 November. Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park is a model of sustainable and regenerative tourism, restoring peatlands, enhancing biodiversity and supporting the local community, while showcasing the unique natural and cultural heritage of County Kildare.

Aine Mangan, CEO of Into Kildare, said: We were delighted to host our Annual General Meeting at Lullymore and Discovery Park, a venue close to home for me as a Rathangan native. We were also pleased to welcome Eoghan Corry as our keynote speaker.

Eoghan is no stranger to the county and delivered a fascinating presentation on how best to harness the potential of Kildare tourism, while highlighting ways to further enrich the visitor experience. We are looking forward to a proactive year for Kildare Tourism and hope to drive significant footfall to the county through key events. We are especially excited for Kildare to once again host the KPMG Womens Irish Open at The K Club, along with many other important events throughout the year.

Johnathan Judge, CEO of Lullymore, was delighted to host the event.

As members of the Kildare Tourism Network for over 20 years, we truly appreciate the support and opportunities provided over the years. We are proud to showcase Lullymore from a sustainability, biodiversity and event-hosting perspective. The park is a model of sustainable and regenerative tourism, restoring peatlands, enhancing biodiversity and supporting the local community.

Chairperson of Into Kildare, David Mongey, opened the meeting while Ms Mangan delivered a detailed presentation on the activities of Into Kildare, highlighting work carried out in collaboration with the tourism and hospitality sector, state agencies and community groups over the past 12 months, as well as plans for the year ahead. This was followed by Mr Corrys keynote address on tourism. Over 65 hospitality businesses from across Kildare were represented at the meeting. Representatives from the council were also in attendance.
David Raleigh

On Monday, a 67-year-old former member of the Defence Forces denied the murder of his 84-year-old friend and former army Captain, who was found shot dead at his home in County Kerry, last year.

Thomas Carroll, with an address at Brookway, Clonmel, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patrick OMahony, at Ballyreameen, near Castlemaine, between February 24th and 25th, 2024.

A jury of nine men and three women was sworn in to hear the trial, being held at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick.

Dean Kelly, senior counsel prosecuting on behalf of the State, told the jury that Patrick OMahony was a registered firearms dealer for over 50 years and was well known and popular in the Castlemaine area.

Mr Kelly said Mr OMahony joined the FCA in 1955, aged 16, and served with E Company in Killorglin, Co Kerry.

The prosecuting barrister said Mr OMahony was regarded as an excellent character, and retired from the Defence Forces at the rank of Captain, and with an exemplary record, in 1994.

Mr OMahony had five children and his wife had died in November 2023, three months prior to his own death.

Mr Kelly said Mr OMahony and Mr Carroll had been friends over many decades and were old soldier pals.

The prosecutor said the accused, Mr Carroll, was utterly well liked and well regarded in his local community, and that, prior to being arrested for Mr OMahonys murder, he was not on the radar of gardai.

Mr Carroll joined the Defence Forces in 1975, and during a 37-year career, he had served eleven tours of peacekeeping duty in Lebanon, and Kosovo, and had also held an exemplary record of service.

Mr OMahony and Mr Carroll also both shared an entirely lawful interest in firearms, Mr Kelly said.

Outlining the prosecutions case, Mr Kelly said Mr Carroll travelled by train, from his home in Co Tipperary to visit Mr OMahony in Kerry, on Friday, February 23rd, 2024.

Mr Carroll was a "genuine friend" of Mr OMahony, and travelled to express sympathy following the death of his wife, and spend time with an old comrade, it was heard.

The State said it was understood that both men had a fair bit to drink that evening before rising late on Saturday, and they had breakfast together in a local pub.

Later on Saturday afternoon they went back to Mr OMahonys house.

Mr Kelly said that, at 7:40am the following Sunday morning, Mr Carroll contacted a son of Mr OMahony and suggested Mr O'Mahony had fallen at the back door of his home.

Patrick OMahony Jnr travelled to his fathers house and found his lifeless body on the ground.

The emergency services were alerted and Mr OMahony was pronounced dead at the scene before his remains were removed to the mortuary at Tralee University Hospital.

Initially, gardai did not treat the death as suspicious, the court heard.

However, a murder investigation was launched after a local mortician contacted gardai at around midday that Sunday.

The mortician informed gardai they had found a small hole in Mr OMahonys clothing and in his body near his upper abdomen.

A subsequent post mortem confirmed that Mr OMahony had suffered a single gunshot wound.

The autopsy report indicated that the bullet had entered the victims body at close range and Mr OMahonys clothing and flesh had gunshot singe marks.

A single bullet was found in Mr OMahonys remains at post mortem, and it was determined that he died as a result of haemorrhage and shock from the bullet passing through him.

Mr Kelly said that while it was not the States case that Thomas Carroll travelled to Kerry to kill his friend, it was the prosecutions case that events between the two men took a foul turn over the course of the weekend in question.

Mr Kelly, instructed by State Solicitor Jonathan Antoniotti, said the prosecution contended that Mr Carroll pointed a handgun at point blank range at Mr OMahony, intending to kill him or at least cause him serious injury.

Mr Kelly said the prosecution also contends that when Mr Carroll raised the alarm on Sunday, he had known Mr OMahony had died

He said Mr Carrolls suggestion that his friend had fallen at his home was dishonest and self serving.

Mr Carroll, who is represented by senior defence counsel Mark Nicholas instructed by Tralee solicitor, Pat Mann, retained the presumption of innocence unless the State proves otherwise, it was heard.

The State has the burden of proving its alleged case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mr Kelly told the jury they must dispassionately listen to the evidence and only reach a verdict only on the evidence presented in court.

The trial, which is expected to last up to three weeks, before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, resumes Tuesday.
Journalist Eimear Ni Bhraonain has thanked the public for their support following the release of 'The Dodger: DJ Carey and the Great Betrayal'.

Carey was jailed for five and a half years for the "reprehensible" defrauding of almost 400,000 from over 20 people while pretending to have cancer.

Tonight (Monday), a new RTE documentary series from Fine Point Films, the makers of Kneecap, Quinn Country and Taking Back Control, began documenting the unbelievable story of the rise and fall of the well known hurling figure DJ Carey in part one of two hour-long episodes.

Ms Ni Bhraonain features heavily in the programme along with historical inserts of Mr Carey himself, filmed at various points in his career prior to the story coming to light.

READ NEXT: Programme on ex-Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey to air on RTE this week

Earlier this month, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the former GAA All-Star defrauded in total 394,127 and $13,000 US dollars from the injured parties over a period between 2014 and 2022. 44,200 has been repaid, leaving 349,927 and $13,000 US dollars outstanding. - READ MORE DETAILS HERE

"Go raibh mile maith agat to everybody who has bought the book over the weekend and given me feedback," the former radio presenter said shortly after the book's release.

"This is a news investigation and it is done without the cooperation of DJ Carey. He will not benefit from it financially in any way.

"It is important that a journalist does their job here as rumours were swirling for years," she continued.

"I deeply appreciate your support always. Friends have sent me selfies with the book from all over Ireland. You are a sound bunch," the post concluded.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE
Last night, many local eyes were focused on RTE One watching the first part of the new DJ Carey - The Dodger documentary.

The documentary makers utilised a large amount of archive footage of Kilkenny hurling fans from years gone by as part of its production.

A clip of one particular fan (who has no personal involvement whatsoever with the protagonist of the documentary) has generated sizeable attention in his local community - that of the late Bill Brennan from Castlecomer, County Kilkenny.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny property sells for more than 600k over its original asking price

Bill was known to be a larger-than-life character that touched the hearts of so many in sporting, social, army and working circles.

Almost all of his working days were spent in the Defence Forces and he was stationed at James Stephens Barracks, Kilkenny.

He joined the army in 1984 and went on to serve twice overseas in Lebanon with the UN peacekeeping forces.

A familiar face on New Year's Day, he was one of the famous Major Regrets; how he managed to have a different attire each year remains a mystery.

READ NEXT: Popular Kilkenny hurler and GAA star ties the knot at stunning wedding in Cork

Locally he was the proprietor of the famous Bill Bus, a local taxi which ferried commuters across North Kilkenny.

Behind all the bravado, he had a heart of gold and was involved in several acts of kindness that were always carried out with recognition.

Popular and well liked, the huge turnout at his obsequies bore testimony to the high regard in which his family is held in the area.

READ NEXT: Woman has birthday she'll never forget at garda station in Kilkenny

A picture posted of Bill on an online community page for Castlecomer in recent days has generated a huge reaction.

One person commented: "One of the good ones."

Another stated: "Rest in Peace Bill. Lovely man."

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE
Councillors in Kilkenny City have conveyed their anxiety over what has been described as a 'deathtrap' for pedestrians trying to access a city bus stop.

Residents in Shandon Park and nearby estates have been forced to cross a dangerous stretch of road to access a local bus stop on the Dublin Road with calls to service the estates impacted directly.

"We have put people in a position on the Dublin Road at Shandon Park where we are encouraging the elderly to walk across a major Ring Road to get a bus," Cllr Eugene McGuinness told members of the Kilkenny City Municipal District.

"We are culpable for that, we shouldn't have done that and we have to address it.

READ NEXT: Former Kilkenny teacher and community heroine honoured with national award

"We have forced elderly to cross over the Ring Road to get to a bus. Surely we could re-route because the bus system goes up the Dublin Road but it doesn't pick up anyone," he said, describing it as 'insane'.

In addition to extra bus routes, Cllr Eugene McGuinness also strongly argued for the clamping down of illegal parking, arguing the current system is leading to drivers parking in a number of housing estates across the city which is causing difficulties for local residents.

"We have to take a very strict view of illegal parking," he commented.

"We need extra bus routes to alleviate the parking issue, adding a discussion is required on the whole transport system in Kilkenny City and its environs.

Cllr Andrew McGuinness shared similar concerns, stating, "I walked with some of those elderly people across to the bus stop, its a bloody deathtrap," he claimed.

"I wouldnt let my kids do it and they are having to do it because of something that that was implemented.

"If they want to get that bus, they have to cross that road.

"Theyre taking their lives into their own hands," he concluded.

Director of Services with Kilkenny County Council, Tim Butler recognised there is a 'specific need' for the people of Shandon Park but the local authority have to await the conclusion of a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) process.

Mr Butler noted until that process is completed an alteration to the KK1 and KK2 bus services would be 'unviable'.

FOR MORE KILKENNY CITY NEWS, CLICK HERE
Kilkenny County Council has published its Gender Pay Gap Report, highlighting the percentage between what men and women are paid on average in the organisation, irrespective of roles or levels.

The 2025 report indicates a mean gender pay gap reflecting that on average, females are paid 1.19% more than males while the median range of pay for females is 8.93% higher than that of male employees.

This is a slight increase in the pay gap towards females from 2024 when the mean gap was 0.8% and the median range stood at 7%.

SEE ALSO: Kilkenny's historic buildings feature in exhibition at Rothe House

Employers with more than 50 employees in Ireland are required to publish their gender pay gap data before the end of 2025 and within five months of their reference date. Kilkenny County Council and all local authorities nationwide have June 30, 2025 as this date.

Commenting on the publication of the report, the Councils Chief Executive, Lar Power, said: We are committed to fostering and maintaining an open and inclusive workplace community at Kilkenny County Council and to addressing any workplace barriers to equality.

Our employees have equal opportunities for recognition and career development and are treated fairly and equitably. Many equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives and supports are already in place, and we will continue to work in this area.

The work of local authorities is integral to everyones life in Ireland. Our staff are key to the development of communities across County Kilkenny. As an employer, Kilkenny County Council strives to offer a positive and supporting environment for all our employees, he concluded.

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The news of my appointment as Bishop of Raphoe, my home diocese, means that my time as Bishop of Ossory has been all too brief.

My heart is filled with gratitude to God for the gift of these past three years, and gratitude to you, the priests, religious and lay faithful of this diocese, who welcomed me so warmly and shared with me the life of faith that has long been the mainstay of this Church.

When I first arrived in Ossory, I came as a stranger. I leave as one who has been enriched by your friendship, your faith and your witness. TAP HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS

The Diocese of Ossory is blessed with a remarkable sense of community - a faith that is lived in parishes, schools, families and countless works of service. I have seen that faith in the celebration of the Eucharist, in parish gatherings, in the care of the vulnerable, sick and elderly, in the commitment of our Catholic schools, in the welcome extended to newcomers, and in the tireless service of priests who give of themselves day in and day out.

I want to thank the priests of Ossory most especially. Your dedication, often in demanding circumstances, has been a source of deep inspiration to me. You have carried the burdens of pastoral ministry with courage, patience and good humour. I have been privileged to pray with you, to listen to you and to learn from you. Thank you for your kindness to me and for the faithfulness with which you continue to serve your people.

I also want to express a word of sincere gratitude to those who have worked alongside me daily - the staff in the bishops office and those who diligently ensure that the many tasks of diocesan life are carried out with care and professionalism. Your support and advice have been a steady help to me in more ways than you may realise, and I am deeply grateful.

I also wish to acknowledge the many lay people who have contributed their professionalism, time and talent to the various diocesan bodies, councils and committees. Your insight and generosity have enriched the life of the diocese and strengthened the bonds of collaboration that are so essential to the Churchs mission today.

To the religious sisters, priests and brothers who have contributed so much, often quietly and unseen, I offer my heartfelt thanks. Your prayer and your service are part of the deep spiritual fabric of this diocese.

And to the lay faithful - to those who lead, teach, organise, volunteer and accompany others in so many ways - I express my sincere appreciation.

I want especially to acknowledge all who serve their parishes and pastoral areas so generously with their time and talent: in parish pastoral councils, finance councils, ministries and the many other ways in which people pull together to serve their communities.

Thanks, too, to all involved both in the annual Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage and in youth ministry. The future of the Church will depend in no small way on the faith and generosity of lay men and women who take seriously their baptismal call to mission.

It is no secret that the Church in Ireland is living through a time of profound transition. The questions being asked at national level about the future shape and structure of our dioceses are not merely administrative - they are pastoral and spiritual. They invite us to consider how best to serve the Gospel in a society that is changing rapidly.

Numbers and boundaries will not define the future of the Church - faith will. What matters most is that we remain open to the Spirit, willing to collaborate and ready to place Christ at the centre of all we do.

Here in Ossory, that spirit of renewal and collaboration is already well advanced. The work of reorganising the diocese into pastoral areas has been carried forward with generosity, realism and faith. I have seen priests and people embracing this process, not as a burden, but as an opportunity to shape together the Churchs mission for the years ahead.

I pray that the first steps that the Diocese is now making in terms of introducing the Ministry of Catechist may be supported and that the project in time will prove to be a great blessing. I am hopeful that what is emerging in Ossory can be a model of how the Church in Ireland might respond creatively and faithfully to the needs of our time.

During my time here, I have seen many signs of renewal: lay people taking on new roles in parish life; priests working together with creativity and generosity; communities reimagining how faith can be handed on to a new generation. These are seeds of hope. I am convinced that the Church in Ossory, with its long history of learning, worship and service, has the capacity to navigate this time of change with faith and courage.

As I return now to the Diocese of Raphoe, I do so carrying with me a deep affection for the people, priests and religious of Ossory. You have taught me much about what it means to be Church - about patience, perseverance and the quiet fidelity that keeps the flame of faith alive. For all of this and more, I thank you.

Please know that you will remain in my prayers. I will continue to ask the Lord to bless this diocese - its priests, its people, its religious, its schools, its parishes and pastoral areas - and to guide you as you discern the path ahead. I pray, too, for my successor, whoever he may be, that he may be received with the same warmth and generosity that you have shown to me, and that he may find here the same spirit of faith and friendship that I have known.

May the Lord who began the good work in us bring it to completion. May he bless the Diocese of Ossory in the years to come and may he grant us all the grace to walk together in faith, with hope in our hearts and Christ as our companion on the journey. He is, as my episcopal motto reminds us, truly Christ Jesus our hope (1 Tim. 1:1).

Go raibh mile maith agaibh, agus go mbeannai Dia daoibh go leir.

With every blessing,

Niall Coll
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A LARGE turkey farm in Laois has been hit by a devastating outbreak of bird flu.

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the disease was detected at the farm, just before the weekend.

The farm located near Ballybrittas has up to 30,000 turkeys, making it the largest flock to be hit by bird flu in the Republic of Ireland this year.

It is disastrous news for the farm, which is facing the loss of the entire flock at the busiest time of the year.

The Department of Agriculture said the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in the Laois turkey flock on 21 November.

It is the fourth confirmed case of avian influenza in a poultry flock in the Republic of Ireland since 4 November, while there have been two confirmed cases in Northern Ireland.

A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been set up around the farm, which is close to the Kildare border. The larger 10km zone extends across parts of counties Laois, Offaly and Kildare.

It follows an outbreak in a turkey flock in Co Monaghan on 10 November, in Meath on 5 November and in Carlow on 4 November.

Agriculture minister Martin Heydon said: First and foremost, I want to express my sympathy with the flock owner concerned and with the other flock owners, who have been impacted by outbreaks in recent weeks.

Restriction zones have been established around the affected turkey premises, with strict movement controls on the movements of poultry and poultry products. Veterinary investigations and surveillance are ongoing.

A mandatory housing order for poultry and captive birds and a ban on gatherings of birds from different holdings was imposed on 10 November, in a bid to control the disease.

The Department said it continues to monitor developments closely, engage with industry stakeholders and take all necessary measures to mitigate the risk of avian influenza.

The Department previously reminded all flock owners, regardless of the flock size, to: Comply fully with the housing and biosecurity regulations, remain vigilant for sign of disease, and to report any suspicions of avian influenza to their local regional veterinary office, or if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026.
According to reports, staff at the Portlaoise Mail Centre staged a mass walkout on Monday night (24th) following what were described as insensitive comments made by a senior member of staff.

It has been reported, employees in the letters department were visibly distressed due to the ongoing disappearance of their colleague and friend, Tom Raftery from Portarlington, who was last seen after leaving work on Friday evening.

In a show of solidarity and concern, staff across the mail centre gathered outside for a prayer service, expressing hope for Toms safe return.
On Friday, 21 November, Pope Leo XIV addressed around 15,000 Catholic teenagers in Indianapolis urging them not to let artificial intelligence replace their personal learning and development.

Speaking via livestream from the Vatican, the US-born pontiff described AI as 'one of the defining features of our time', while stressing that true growth comes from personal effort. He urged the youth not to rely on AI to complete tasks for them. Instead, he called to let the technology serve them and be responsible and intentional in using digital tools for the better.

A Pope's First Digital Conference: Discussing AI and Technology

Attending the National Catholic Youth Conference through a digital link is the first time a pope has participated in this manner. With 16,000 participants filling Lucas Oil Stadium to watch, the Pope's presence on giant screens drew visible excitement.

Elise Wing, a teen selected to interact with the pontiff, said walking onto the stage 'felt like history'. Pope Leo XIV waved to the crowd before engaging in a 40-minute exchange with students, with guidance on technology and reflections on personal conscience and faith.

Throughout the event, the Pope acknowledged AI's usefulness, noting it 'can process information quickly, but it cannot replace human intelligence'. He urged the teenagers to learn from the example of St Carlo Acutis, a modern Catholic known for using technology intentionally, and to ensure that their screen time serves their personal development.

He emphasised that only individuals themselves, not algorithms or filters, can make the decisions that foster maturity and responsibility.

The Pope's Insights into US Politics and His Daily Life

The Pope also addressed political tensions in the United States, cautioning the youth against using partisan categories to frame their understanding of faith.

'The Church doesn't belong to any political party... she helps form your conscience so you can think and act with wisdom and love', he said.

By reminding teenagers of the Church's nonpartisan guidance, the new Pope stated the importance of independent thinking in both education and moral decision-making.

Amid the serious messages, Pope Leo added lighter details about his daily life, joking that he plays the word game Wordle and chooses 'a different word every day'

A Milestone for US Catholic Youth

For local Catholic leaders, the livestream is a landmark moment.

Archbishop Charles Thompson described the event as a national focal point for youth engagement, noting that most participants could reach Indianapolis within a day's travel. The digital presence continues a trend of remote papal engagement that began with St John Paul II in 1985, when TV audiences were included in the Urbi et Orbi blessing.

Today, Pope Leo's address reflects the Vatican's adaptation to a fully digital era, per Vatican News. He encouraged teenagers to use digital tools for prayer, Bible study, and learning about their beliefs, but emphasised that in-person participation in the Sacraments remains irreplaceable.

Ultimately, Pope Leo reminded youth that they are both the present and future of the Church, encouraging participation in Sunday Mass, youth activities, and discernment of vocations (priesthood, marriage, religious life).

He invited young people to serve generously, build unity, and act as peacemakers, 'Be friends of Christ... who build bridges instead of walls'.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
The single, anguished scream captured on police bodycam footage freezes the moment a routine drive to school turned into a catastrophic nightmare.

Valente Ayala's raw cry'My kid is dead'is the devastating soundtrack to a senseless tragedy that claimed the life of his 11-year-old stepson, Brandon Dominguez-Chavarria.

The incident unfolded last Friday in Henderson, Nevada, on the outskirts of Las Vegas, after a petty conflict over lane positioning spiralled into a fatal road rage shooting.

@thecrimedesk Harrowing bodycam footage shows a Nevada fathers anguish after son was fatally struck in road-rage shooting on his way to school. Brandon Dominguez-Chavarria, 11, was shot around 7.30am last Friday while riding with his stepfather Valente Ayala in Henderson, on the outskirts of Las Vegas. Tyler Matthew Johns, 22, is accused of firing a handgun into Ayala's SUV after Johns and Ayala jockeyed for position and tried to pass each other on the congested freeway.  LVMPD Public Records Unit  original sound - The Crime Desk - The Crime Desk

The Harrowing Aftermath: Bodycam Footage Captures Road Rage Shooting Anguish

The body camera footage released by the Las Vegas police captured the brutal, immediate aftermath of the tragedy, contrasting the father's overwhelming grief with the shooter's shocking self-awareness.

The footage started with Valente Ayala, the boy's stepfather, crying 'My kid is dead' to a police officer. The police officer responded with utter disbelief, asking: 'He's dead?'

At that precise moment, the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Matthew Johns, walked up to the officer from the scene of the crime and, unprompted, offered his hands behind his back to be handcuffed. 'Officer, take me,' Johns said.

He immediately confessed to the shooting, adding the devastating phrase: 'I shot at him, bro. I didn't know it was a f***ing kid in the back.' While Johns was cuffed and moved into the police vehicle, Ayala's anguished cries remained audible in the background.

Johns immediately attempted to explain the circumstances: 'We were road raging,' he said. 'He came up around the side, like on the merge.'

He reiterated his full responsibility: 'It's 100 percent my fault. I shot at him, dude. I didn't even know he had a kid in the car.' Later in the video, Johns asked the officer the chilling question: 'Is there any chance that the kid will be okay?'

The veteran officer offered a grim, yet professional, response: 'There's always a chance. I don't know. After 20 years, I've kinda seen everything happen.' He added: 'If you're a praying man, I would be praying a lot for him right now.'

In a moment of surreal detachment, the suspect also asked if he could text his boss to explain that 'he won't be making it in today,' prompting the officer to briefly uncuff Johns so he could use his phone to message his employer.

Senseless Violence: Police Detail Road Rage Shooting That Claimed An 11-Year-Old

Henderson Police Chief Reggie Rader detailed the tragic sequence of events, confirming the Road Rage Shooting began when both vehicles started 'jockeying for positions, trying to pass each other on the congested freeway.'

The simple traffic frustration escalated into a verbal dispute after both drivers rolled down their respective windows. Johns then pulled out a handgun and fired into the back seat of the other vehicle, fatally striking Brandon Dominguez-Chavarria.

Following the shooting, Ayala, the stepfather, desperately 'rammed' Johns' four-door sedan, bringing both cars to a halt in the middle of the road and prompting a second, 'heated exchange.'

Johns was subsequently arrested at the scene of the crime, and his gun was recovered.

Police Chief Rader used the briefing to issue a stern plea to the community about the senseless violence. 'I just want to remind everybody. that we lost a life today that we didn't have to lose. An 11-year-old was on his way to school and this senseless act took his life,' he said.

Rader added: 'I would rather you be stuck in traffic and late for your destination than have to go to a funeral for a loved one, or potentially spend the rest of your life in prison.'

Johns has been charged with open murder, discharging a gun at or into a vehicle, and discharging a gun within a vehicle in a prohibited area.

Authorities explored the possibility of charging Ayala with a crime, but he was ultimately not charged with any wrongdoing. Johns is currently being held without bail and is scheduled to be back in court on December 4.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
The Florida Orchestra has received a transformative $10 million donation from an anonymous benefactor, marking the largest single gift in its nearly six decades of existence. The announcement positions the orchestra for long-term financial stability and growth at a time when performing arts organizations across the country continue navigating post-pandemic recovery and evolving audience habits.

Leadership at the orchestra confirmed that the donation is not intended for short-term expenses but rather to support the endowment and advance the organization's long-term strategic plan. The gift is tied to a ten-year vision focusing on expanded community outreach, increased educational programming, and artistic innovation while securing the orchestra's future for generations of Florida audiences.

Ignacio Barron Viela, president and CEO of the Florida Orchestra, described the donation as a vote of confidence in the role of symphonic music in the Tampa Bay area and in the organization's future direction. He noted that the donor was reportedly moved by the orchestra's long-term strategy rather than a single project or performance. The scale of the gift, he said, reflects a growing belief among supporters that classical music remains relevant and essential in modern culture.

The donation comes on the heels of increasing philanthropic momentum for the orchestra. In previous seasons, the organization received two separate $1 million gifts, signaling an upward trend in investment from supporters. However, the new $10 million contribution eclipses all previous fundraising milestones and is expected to reshape what the orchestra can plan and sustain.

Based in the Tampa Bay region, the Florida Orchestra presents around 100 concerts each year across major venues including Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Mahaffey Theater, and the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. The programming ranges from traditional symphonic repertoire to film scores, pop collaborations, and family concerts. Educational outreach has increasingly become a central focus, with programs aimed at schools, young musicians, and underserved communities.

Arts advocates in the region say the donation could have a ripple effect, encouraging additional giving and helping bolster the local cultural ecosystem. As performing arts funding continues to fluctuate nationwide, a gift of this scale offers stability and the chance to plan bold artistic choices without financial urgency overshadowing creativity.

For now, the orchestra is celebrating a milestone moment. The next chapter will focus on translating this historic gift into meaningful artistic and community impact that extends beyond the stage.

Originally published on classicalite.com
November 20 was International Transgender Remembrance Day, which commemorates the lives of transgender people who have fallen victims to hate crimes. The day is especially poignant in Latin America, where the vast majority of the world's trans murders take place.

From October 2023 to September 2024, there were 255 recorded murders of transgender people in Latin America, accounting for 73% of all such homicides worldwide, according to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).

In 2024, seven of the top ten countries with the most trans murders were in the Americas, including all in the top five. The United States ranked third, after Brazil and Mexico, and has since seen a rollback of trans rights under the administration of President Donald Trump.

These grim statistics don't even show the full picture, considering that many cases go unreported due to prejudices among law enforcement that lead officials to dismiss or improperly categorize the hate crimes.

As Latin America commemorates victims of transgender violence, the Latin Times spoke to experts to understand the causes of the problem, the current state of affairs, and what  if any  solutions might exist.

What lies behind trans violence in Latin America?

Despite being home to the majority of documented trans murders globally, Latin America is one of the stronger regions of the world when it comes to LGBTQ+ legal protections.

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay all have anti-discrimination laws protecting trans people, while Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Panama, and Uruguay legally recognize trans persons' names and gender identities.

But analysts underscore how laws do not necessarily translate into protections.

"Strong legal protections and high levels of violence against trans people coexist because laws rarely address the structural conditions that put this population at risk," explained Cristian Gonzalez Cabrera, senior LGBT rights researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW).

While the law offers protection on paper, in practice trans people remain exposed to violence due to issues like social stigma, exclusion from economic opportunities, and discrimination in access to public services.

Gonzalez also noted that even if the law changes at the national level, lower level functionaries and law enforcement officers may still be affected by bias.

This bias reflects broader societal prejudice in Latin America which stems from an "ultra macho culture, which is exponential with illegal and criminal groups, and religious beliefs that persons who are trans are an abomination," Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes at WOLA, told the Latin Times.

Even if the law enshrines trans rights, deep-seated prejudice is hard to shake.

Right-wing populism across the Americas

While discrimination and violence against trans people is not new to the region, it appears to be on the rise as a wave of right-wing populism dismantles legal protections and scapegoats trans people.

"Rollbacks [in rights] tend to happen when executives gain broad power on populist agendas, creating moral panic around gender, and govern by decree without checks from legislatures," explained HRW's Gonzalez.

The analyst used the example of Argentina, where President Javier Milei has spearheaded a raft of measures eroding trans rights since taking office in 2023; he has dismantled the Ministry of Women, Gender, and Diversity and fired over 100 trans people working in government positions, among other actions.

The Trump administration has also overseen a rollback of rights which both analysts believe has had a knock-on effect across the Americas. This year, the White House issued executive orders banning transgender and non-binary persons from the armed forces, restricting access to gender-affirming healthcare, and officially recognizing only two genders.

"Trans persons have become scapegoats in the US and the protections that existed are being dismantled," explained Sanchez. "This reversal sends the message to other countries that it's fine to undo such rights."

As well as setting an example for the region, the Trump administration also cut funding which had supported trans people across the Americas. The suspension of USAID halted programs providing health services, advocacy activities, and community protection.

"The landscape of trans rights in the Americas has shifted in the past year largely because the U.S. presidency still influences regional politics and funding patterns for civil society groups," said Gonzalez.

Solutions to a complex problem

While trans violence in Latin America stems from a complex web of historic influences and current political shifts, experts believe there are still ways to redress these.

"Comprehensive protection ultimately only comes when legal reforms are the first step in a process of creating openings, institutions, budgets, and social norms that socialize gender diversity," said Gonzalez.

He called for initiatives that train law enforcement and judicial officials to adequately investigate gender violence, as well as strengthening social protection systems for trans people.

While the state plays a crucial role in bringing perpetrators of violence to justice, non-governmental bodies are also vital to shifting attitudes.

"It is necessary for civil society to condemn this type of violence and to encourage respect for trans persons. This along with justice in these cases will help diminish violence," said WOLA's Sanchez.

Local organizers and activists are also instrumental in defending LGTBQ+ communities and calling attention to violence.

One example is Maria Victoria Palacios, a transgender activist in Colombia who worked for a now-closed USAID program. On International Transgender Remembrance Day, she organized a mural to commemorate Dorothy, a trans teacher who was killed in her home department of Choco, on the Pacific coast.

In addition to her advocacy work, Palacios is part of a group lobbying the government to pass a law explicitly protecting trans people from discrimination. She is just one of hundreds of local activists fighting for trans rights in Latin America.

"We transgender people don't ask to be accepted. All we want is to be respected," she concluded.

Originally published on Latin Times
Mexican authorities have seized millions worth of cocaine in different operations across the country, according to updates from the forces.

According to Infobae, in one such operation forces seized 185 kilos of cocaine worth over $2 million. Three people were detained in the operation, in which an armored vehicle with false license plates was also taken.

In another operation authorities seized close to 9 kilos of methamphetamine and more than 6,000 pills of fentanyl.

Several such cases are routinely reported in the country. Earlier this month a Mexican truck driver was found guilty in the U.S. of attempting to smuggle hundreds of pounds of cocaine into the U.S. through Texas.

Concretely, Mario Pastor, was convicted on a felony count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver more than 400 grams, according to Border Report.

He was attempting to drive the tractor-trailer through the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge when he was stopped by authorities. The outlet added that the drugs have an estimated street value of more than $6 million.

"Drug traffickers who attempt to use our highways and borders to transport dangerous narcotics will be caught and held fully accountable. The men and women of law enforcement who stopped this shipment prevented millions of dollars' worth of illegal drugs from reaching our communities," said Hidalgo County District Attorney Terry Palacios.

A week later two ranchers were slapped with federal charges after being caught trying to smuggle almost 24 pounds of cocaine into the U.S.

Border Report noted that the incident took place on Sunday at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry in New Mexico.

After noticing anomalies in their car, Customs and Border Protection agents questioned the occupants, who said they were going to their home in Albuquerque after visiting relatives in Mexico.

A drug-sniffing dog found 12 bundles with a white powder than then tested positive for cocaine. Overall, there were almost 24 pounds of cocaine in the car.

One of the two people charged, Federico Rocha Lucero, said he and his wife spent several days in Durango tending to their livestock with no telephone access. Upon return, his brother told him their car was missing and presumably stolen.

Rocha added that the car was "returned" with no damage and they used it to return to the U.S. His wife, Veronica Solano, said in turn she had "nothing to do with what's going on" and her husband "made her drive" during the return. She also told agents that her husband "has been doing drugs," has a criminal record and a pending court date in Albuquerque.

Originally published on Latin Times
A stream of bubbles discovered seeping from an underwater volcano has sparked a worrying prediction. Scientists warn their investigation has widespread implications for Australias most famous tourist sites.

Because the bubbles are made from almost pure carbon dioxide, they are changing the composition of the water and altering the appearance of the surrounding reef.

The phenomenon is occurring a world away from Australia, in an isolated region of Papua New Guinea.

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But it provides a roadmap of how other reefs will be transformed as the oceans absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and undergo a chemical change that causes the water to become more acidic.

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) coral researcher Dr Katharina Fabricius said iconic destinations like Western Australias Ningaloo and Queenslands Great Barrier Reef will be transformed over the next 75 years.

If they follow the same path as what's been observed at the research site, fleshy brown and red algae will dominate the environment, and the corals that survive will be smaller and have less colour.

We have the perfect time machine to predict whats going to happen in reefs based on ocean acidification, Fabricius told Yahoo News.

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The affected area is at Milne Bay, around 500 km east of the Papua New Guinea capital, Port Moresby.

Its not one spatial gradient, but a mosaic of more intense ocean acidification and less intense, Fabricius said.

Related: Simple solution to Great Barrier Reef problem as new report released

Why is the situation urgent?

It was back in 2000 that Fabricius first encountered the strange bubbles during a dive. Then, nine years later, she returned to study the area, because there was growing interest in how oceans become more acidic as they absorb more carbon from the atmosphere.

Her team utilised Milne Bay as a natural laboratory, studying the impact of carbon dioxide at 37 points around the reef.

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The study will be particularly important for coastal communities that depend on reefs for tourism and fishing, as it predicts they will radically change.

It makes clear how urgent the situation is. Climate change is affecting humans as well as the natural environment, Fabricius said.

In areas where carbon dioxide levels were higher, there was more algae and less complex coral. Source: Katharina Fabricius/AIMS

Studying carbon dioxide impacts water at Milne Bay is helping to give insight into how Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef will appear in future. Source: Katharina Fabricius/AIMS

Will fish be impacted?

Ocean acidification has already increased by 30 per cent over preindustrial levels, making it harder for corals to build their calcium carbonate skeletons, weakening the overall structure of reefs.

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But this new international research, led by AIMS and published in the journal Communications Biology overnight, gives insight into how reefs around the world will change by 2100.

Of particular concern is that there were fewer baby corals in the high-carbon environment, meaning reefs will likely be slower to recover from extreme weather events, including cyclones and bleaching.

Because reefs provide important shelter and food, a reduction of coral means marine life will decline.

Coral reefs house about 1 million species of marine organisms, and they all depend on the structural complexity of corals for their home and shelter, Fabricius said.

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If the corals are less complex, then the organisms dont have habitat, and youre seeing a severe reduction in crabs, shrimps and fish.

Ningaloo Reef has been enjoyed by generations of Aussies. But it is already in severe decline and by 2100, it will be a shadow of its former glory. Source: Getty

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Kyle Hinkle, now 38, previously served two years for shaking his infant son, who died in 2024 at age 11 from complications related to the original trauma. Getty Images

An Allentown man now is facing a murder charge after allegedly shaking his infant son in 2012, which authorities say later contributed to the boys death last year.

Kyle T. Hinkle, 38, formerly of Bensalem, initially was charged in 2012 with felony aggravated assault, felony child endangerment and misdemeanor simple assault. Charges were upgraded on Monday to include felony murder.

Hinkle in 2012 pleaded guilty to the initial charges and was sentenced to two years at the Bucks County jail and released.

The Bucks County District Attorneys Office announced the new charge Monday. Hinkle was arrested Monday at his workplace in Allentown on the new charge by Bensalem Township police, with assistance from Allentown officers.

He was arraigned on the murder charge before District Judge Michael W. Gallagher, who set bail at 10% of $2 million. In lieu of bail, he was then taken to the Bucks County jail.

No attorney information was immediately listed in court records representing Hinkle.

The DAs Office said the infant on Oct. 12, 2012 was taken to then Aria Torresdale Hospital in Philadelphia, where physicians diagnosed the boy with brain bleeding and retinal hemorrhages. A CAT scan revealed both new and old injuries in various stages of healing, authorities said.

Hinkle in an interview with investigators allegedly admitted to shaking the infant multiple times that morning because the child wouldnt stop crying.

Bensalem Township police on Aug. 14, 2024 learned the child, now age 11, died. An autopsy determined the death was caused by complications of blunt force trauma to the boys head and neck resulting from the 2012 abuse, the DAs Office said.

Hinkle is due back in court for a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Dec. 2 before Gallagher. A judge will then determine if theres sufficient evidence to send the case toward trial at the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.
The 29-year-old man died Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 after confronting a van driver on South Fourth Street, authorities said. Mike Nester file photo | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

A pedestrian crash that killed a man Friday evening in Allentown was the result of an argument between the victim and a delivery driver, the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office said.

District Attorney Gavin Holihan told lehighvalleylive.com on Tuesday morning that 29-year-old Rigoberto Rigo Hernandez got into some type of altercation with a delivery driver just prior to the alleged hit-and-run accident. Hernandez left his car to confront the delivery driver in a van, Holihan said.

Investigators believe the victim was then struck and run over by the other driver, authorities had said.

Theres no indication Hernandez and the delivery driver knew each other previously, Holihan said. As of Tuesday morning, no one was in custody and no charges were filed in the case.

The incident unfolded just before 8 p.m. in the 2400 block of South Fourth Street. Hernandez was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township, where he was pronounced dead at 8:43 p.m. Friday.

Hernandez died from blunt force injuries suffered in the accident and the manner was ruled a homicide by Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio.

An online fundraiser has since been launched to financially offset funeral expenses for Hernandezs immediate family. Family members include Hernandezs wife of 10 years, Meicy, and the couples three children, ages 11, 7 and 3.

As of 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, 104 donors raised $40,845 of the $45,000 goal. The fundraiser is being organized by Joshua Gamez, CEO of East Coast Facilities, Inc., where Hernandez worked as a field supervisor with the Allentown-based Fleet and Logistics group for nearly a decade.

Gamez states in the GoFundMe posting that Hernandez immigrated to the United States to build a safer, brighter future for his family.

In the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, Rigos family is facing not only the heartbreak of losing him, but also the sudden financial burden of funeral expenses and everyday living costs, Gamez stated.

Investigators continue to seek witnesses and those with video surveillance footage of Fridays incident. Those with information are asked to call Allentown Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division at 610-437-7721 or the police desk at 610-437-7753, Ext. 1.

Anonymous text tips can be sent via the Tip411 app on the Allentown Police Departments Facebook Page or the Allentown Police Departments website.

The incident remains under investigation by the Allentown Police Department, Lehigh County District Attorneys Office and Lehigh County Coroners Office.
A Northampton County judge sentenced the 24-year-old Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 in the shooting death of 21-year-old Jani Bostic during a robbery that turned deadly. Matt McClain/Getty Images

A 24-year-old Bethlehem man was sentenced to life in prison for the 2022 robbery and shooting death of a woman in the city.

On Tuesday, Marquis Michael Watkins was sentenced by Northampton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Judge Anthony Beltrami to serve life without the possibility of parole.

Watkins in October was found guilty following a jury trial of felony criminal homicide; two counts felony aggravated assault; felony robbery, and firearms offenses in the killing that claimed 21-year-old Jani Bostic of East Stroudsburg, Monroe County.

The Northampton County Prosecutors Office announced the sentencing Tuesday afternoon. Stroudsburg-based defense attorney Janet Jackson, representing Watkins, couldnt immediately be reached for comment.

Bostic was shot on Dec. 10, 2022, in the 1200 block of Butztown Road. Investigators found her suffering from gunshot wounds after she was shot sitting in the drivers seat of her blue Kia Forte.

Bostic died of the gunshot wounds four days later at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg in the city.

The DAs Office said Watkins arranged a marijuana drug deal at the Butztown Road location, which was near his home, and Bostic and another man arrived at the spot in her vehicle.

Once at the vehicle, Watkins took marijuana and then fatally shot Bostic as she sat in the drivers seat, police said. The other man returned fire at Watkins, city police said.

Watkins was seen getting out of the back seat of the Kia after gunfire was heard, prosecutors previously said.

Witnesses reported hearing two shots before Watkins got out of the vehicle and put what appeared to be a semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine into the front pocket of his sweatshirt, prosecutors said.

Watkins walked to a nearby home, according to police, and officers found a weapon that matched the description in a toilet tank in the home.

A gunshot residue test indicated Watkins had recently fired a weapon, prosecutors said. Two spent shell casings were found in the Kia and one of them matched the caliber, color and brand of ammunition recovered with the weapon.

The case was investigated by the Bethlehem Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division and the investigation was led by Bethlehem Police Sgt. Daniel J. Kennedy. The case was prosecuted by Northampton County First Assistant District Attorney Robert Eyer.
John R. Schol has been named the next president of Centenary University. Photo courtesy of Centenary University

Centenary University has chosen a successor to its current president, Dale Caldwell, who will be stepping down before he takes office in January as New Jerseys next lieutenant governor.

Incoming president John R. Schol served as bishop of the United Methodists in Greater New Jersey for more than a decade before retiring in 2024, the private university in Warren County said in announcing his appointment Tuesday.

Schol will begin a two-year term as Centenarys 16th president on Dec. 1, the university said.

He has served for 10 years on Centenarys 19-member board of trustees. The university is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

Centenarys board of trustees provided a statement praising Schol as an accomplished national and global leader in education, community development, and civic engagement who brings to Centenary decades of experience in organizational growth, student-centered leadership, and global partnerships.

Caldwell, the universitys president since July 2023, was Governor-elect Mikie Sherrills running mate in the Nov. 4 election.

Caldwell will remain at Centenary until January and assist in the transition, the university said.

Schol was born in Philadelphia and spent a quarter-century as a pastor, community developer and denominational executive before becoming a bishop in 2004, the university said.

After retiring in 2024, Schol assisted Nigerias interim lead bishop in reorganizing the United Methodist Church in Nigeria following the former bishops resignation.

He is married with three children and four grandchildren.

Schol said that Centenary has a long and proud history of preparing graduates for meaningful and purposeful lives.

Together with students and faculty, I look forward to building on current momentum to pursue new opportunities for innovation, experiential learning, and global engagement, Schol said.

Centenary University has 1,500 students.
Midlands Park Hotel celebrated the dedication and commitment of its team as 56 employees were honoured at the hotels annual Long Service Awards on Tuesday, November 19 - READ more about the event below photo - tap NEXT or ARROW to see PHOTOS from the event in Portlaoise supplied to the Leinster Express Laois Live.

The hotel said the ceremony paid tribute to staff marking service milestones ranging from three to 20 years. Among this years honourees were Sandra Brennan, Conference & Events Manager, and Joanna Kuras, Accommodation Team Lead, who both celebrated an impressive 20 years with the four-star hotel. Also recognised were Denis Vaivars, Manager of Kellys Steakhouse, and Stacey Corbally, Senior Meetings & Events Executive, each marking a decade of service.

A further 52 team members celebrated over three years with the hotel, including Marketing Manager Vanessa Langford, who reached her five-year milestone.

Hosted in the hotels elegant OMore Suite, the annual ceremony and celebratory dinner highlights Midlands Park Hotels ongoing commitment to fostering a supportive and rewarding workplace. This commitment is reflected in its recent achievement of the Failte Ireland Employee Excellence Gold Award, received in April of this year.

Colm Neville, owner of Midlands Park Hotel, was delighted to host the event, saying: Our success is built on the dedication and professionalism of our people, many of whom have been with us for years, even decades. I feel truly privileged to work alongside such a committed team, and it gives me immense pride to recognise their outstanding service and loyalty.
Excitement is building ahead of the visit of the spectacular Santa Truck to Laois this weekend.

Judge Haulage officially launched its beloved Santa Truck fundraiser for LauraLynn, Irelands Childrens Hospice with the help of actors Ryan and Michaela Andrews along with their son Rowan.

The couple joined Santa, Mrs Claus, and the crew at Judge Haulage to kick off the festive campaign, which will see the dazzling Santa Truck travel to towns and villages across Ireland this Christmas to raise vital funds for children with life-limiting conditions including visiting Portarlington from 6pm to 7.30pm this coming Saturday, November 29.

The Santa Truck is a heartwarming initiative that transforms a Judge Haulage truck into a mobile winter wonderland, complete with lights, music, and festive cheer while supporting LauraLynn. Families are invited to meet Santa, take photos, come on board and enjoy the spectacle with donations collected for LauraLynn.

I am delighted to be supporting the Santa Truck fundraiser this year in aid of LauraLynn, who do incredible work for seriously ill children and their families right across the country. said Ryan Andrews. Make sure to check the Santa Truck locations and get out and support LauraLynn all while having an amazing festive evening. Its not to be missed!

The Santa Truck will visit multiple locations throughout November and December. Laois residents are welcome to come and join the festive cheer, meet Santa and Mrs Claus and support a good cause. Donations for LauraLynn will be collected at each event or online at www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/LauraLynnSantaTruck25.

LauraLynn provides specialist palliative care to children from birth to 18 years, offering services such as symptom management, music and play therapy, psychological support, and end-of-life care, all delivered in the hospice, in hospitals, and in family homes across Ireland.

Please note Santa Truck times and locations are subject to change. Please see the Santa Truck Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SantaTruckIreland) for the most up to date schedule.

READ ALSO: Portlaoise lights up for Christmas

There are lots of ways to support LauraLynns vital work this Christmas including a visit to The Santa Truck or by making a donation in support of the charitys Christmas Appeal by visiting lauralynn.ie/donate.
The Department of Agriculture has confirmed bird flu was detected in a Turkey Farm in Laois at the weekend.

Its reported that the turkey farm has up to 30,000 birds making it the largest flock to be hit by bird flu in the Republic of Ireland this year.

Its the fourth confirmed case of an avian influenza outbreak in a poultry flock in the Republic of Ireland since November 4 and there have been two confirmed cases in Northern Ireland.

A three kilometre protection zone and ten kilometre surveillance zone have been set up around the site in Laois which is close to the Kildare border near Monasterevin.

The Department of Agriculture said the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in a turkey flock in Laois on November 21.

It follows an outbreak in a turkey flock in Co. Monaghan on November 10 and in a turkey flock in Meath on November 5 and in Carlow on November 4.

The Department of Agriculture previously reminded all flock owners, regardless of the flock size, to: Comply fully with the housing and biosecurity regulations, remain vigilant for sign of disease, and to report any suspicions of avian influenza to their local regional veterinary office, or if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026.

Compulsory biosecurity measures came into effect on Saturday, November 1, 2025. They are designed to prevent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in poultry and captive birds. These regulations require specific biosecurity measures to be implemented by the keepers of all poultry (and other captive bird) flocks, irrespective of size, to help mitigate the risk of the virus, and additional enhanced biosecurity measures that must be implemented in flocks of 350 birds or more.

READ ALSO: Progress on new Laois firestation

The Department continues to closely monitor developments closely, engage with industry stakeholders and take all necessary measures to mitigate the risk of avian influenza.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 25, Volkswagen Group China Technology Company ("VCTC") inaugurated a new testing hall at its Hefei R&D center, marking the completion of a major expansion project. The site becomes Volkswagen's first comprehensive development hub outside Germany with full end-to-end testing and validation capabilities.

The Hefei R&D facility spans roughly 100,000 square meters and houses more than 100 advanced laboratories. Its remit stretches across software and hardware development, battery and powertrain testing, and full-vehicle platform validation. With its launch, Volkswagen now hasfor the first time outside Germanya complete R&D ecosystem capable of taking new technologies from concept through to localized production.

Photo source: Volkswagen

As a cornerstone of Volkswagen's "in China, for China" strategy, the VCTC team is working with CARIAD China to advance development of the company's new central-computing and zonal electrical/electronic architecture (CEA). Volkswagen expects the shift to a software-defined vehicle development model to shorten overall model cycles by around 30% and potentially cut costs for certain future vehicles by up to half.

The CEA backbone will also power Volkswagen's next-generation smart cockpit systems, advanced driver-assistance features, and full-vehicle OTA updates, enabling faster rollouts of digital functions tailored to Chinese customer expectations.

The center also brings scaled capabilities in battery and powertrain testing, with capacity to evaluate more than 500 sets of battery systems annually across performance, durability, safety, and environmental resilience. Its portfolio of facilitiesincluding an EMC lab, full-vehicle durability rigs, and an urban test tracksupports a complete pipeline from laboratory simulation to on-road validation.

Volkswagen said its Function Integration Testing (FIT) laboratory will begin operations in mid-2026. As one of only two such facilities worldwide, it will be capable of replicating highly complex and extreme environments, reinforcing the company's R&D competitiveness in electrification and intelligent mobility.

With VCTC now fully online, Volkswagen has established a complete design-to-validation development loop in China. The center will support both domestic programs and export-oriented models destined for markets such as ASEAN and the Middle East.
An Irish wedding has gone viral as an unexpected guest turned up to celebrate the special day in the church.

The happy couple from Westmeath were tying the knot in Castletown, Geoghegan, when a small mouse appeared from under the flowers at the alter.

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In the video, the priest can be heard giving the sermon while the photographer, Fra Lucchesi, follows the tiny guest as runs across the altar and down the steps.

The bride and groom, fortunately seeing the funny side, can be seen in the video stifling their laughs along with other guests.

Speaking to Belfast Live, photographer Fra Lucchesi said,

"We all got a good laugh from it. Each wedding is different, but in this case, one little unexpected guest made the difference."

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Zack OLeary from Co. Kildare representing Clongowes Wood College, has won the overall title of SciFest STEM Champion 2025 for his project M.A.N.T.I.S Muon Analysis for Non-Invasive Tomography and Image Simulation.

Zack will go on to represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona next May. SciFest is Irelands largest, most-inclusive all-island STEM fair programme for second-level students.

The SciFest National Final, held in Marino Conference Centre in Dublin today, was attended by students from every corner of Ireland with 51 students from 31 schools qualifying to participate this year. Students secured their place at the National Final by winning one of the top awards at the 15 regional SciFest fairs earlier in the year.

This years programme also featured five international projects from students in Sri Lanka and South Africa, further extending the global network of SciFest.

Since 2006, the programme continues to grow and expand, reporting an increase in student participation year on year. This growth has been made possible by the continued support of the Department of Education and Youth, Research Ireland and our industry partners, Intel Ireland, Boston Scientific, EirGrid and Keenova.

As SciFest prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, the programmes mission remains the same - to encourage students participation in STEM in an enjoyable and interactive way. SciFest is free to enter and open to everyone across the island of Ireland, no matter their background or circumstance.

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Speaking today at this years National Final, CEO and Founder of SciFest, Sheila Porter commented: "On behalf of everyone here at SciFest, I would like to extend a warm congratulations to all the participants, and in particular to Zack OLeary for winning the title of SciFest STEM Champion 2025. We saw a significant increase in technology projects this year focusing on artificial intelligence and medical devices  it is great to see students take a strong interest in solving real world problems.

SciFests purpose remains to inspire and empower the next generation to engage with the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It has been a pleasure to watch SciFest continue to grow and to meet with all the immensely talented and bright students that participate every year. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who has been involved  from our students, teachers, parents and judges to our wonderful sponsors  all of whom have contributed to this extraordinary event."
A new appeal for information has been made over the deaths of a father and son who were attacked by rioters in Belfast during the IRA hunger strikes more than 40 years ago.

Northern Irelands legacy body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), is investigating the deaths of Eric Guiney and his son Desmond on May 5 1981.

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Following a request from the Guiney family, the Commission is now appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Eric Guiney was a 45-year-old milkman and father of four. Desmond was his 14-year-old son.

The ICRIR said they were travelling along the Antrim Road in Mr Guineys milk float when the vehicle was attacked with bricks and missiles.

It was reported at the time that rioting had broken out that morning following the death of Bobby Sands.

During the attack, the milk float collided with a concrete lamp post on the Antrim Road at its junction with Duncairn Avenue, opposite the New Lodge Road.

Desmond died of his injuries three days after the incident.

Mr Guiney died the day after his sons funeral on May 13.

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Assistant commissioner Amanda Logan is urging anyone with information to come forward to help the Guiney family.

She said: The Commission is committed to delivering for all those who have come to us for help, and today the family of Eric and Desmond are uppermost in our thoughts.

Any information you may hold, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, could be of critical importance to uncovering the truth.

If you know anything about the circumstances that led to the deaths of Eric and Desmond, please share it with the Commission.

All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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She added: The Guiney family has waited more than four decades to learn the truth of what happened that day.

At the Commission we will help them in every way we can, and I appeal to the public to assist us in this work.

The ICRIR said its witness appeal will involve distributing posters and an organised leaflet drop in the area relating to the investigation.
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There were tears, laughter, and sighs of relief at Dublin Airport today as nearly 200 Irish peacekeepers were welcomed home by their loved ones.

Members of the 126th Infantry Battalion returned to Irish soil following a six-month deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

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Today marked an emotional and heartwarming homecoming for the troops as UNIFIL is expected to wind down at the end of next year after 40 years of peacekeeping mission in the area.

Officer Commanding the 126th Infantry Battalion, Lt Col Ed McDonagh, said that he "hopes the Lebanese people get the safety and security they so justly deserve.

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"There's huge connection there between the Irish Defence Forces, the people of Lebanon and UNIFIL, and that has been built up over the last 40 years," he said.

"There is a legacy there that the Defence Forces have with the community. They are friends at this stage. It's with sadness that we will depart the mission area."
Met Eireann has forecast some very changeable weather for Ireland this week as temperatures are set to climb slightly while more, miserable wet weather is expected.

The warm air pushing in won't last however, as colder weather will return later in the week.

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Carlow Weatherman Alan O'Reilly has also said there are a "risk of strong winds off the West coast Thursday into Friday that could bring us some impacts. Also interesting that the two main weather models show risk of storm around 2nd or 3rd of December. Long way off but one to keep an eye on."

Risk of strong winds off the West coast Thursday into Friday that could bring us some impacts. Also interesting that the two main weather models show risk of storm around 2nd or 3rd of December. Long way off but one to keep an eye on. pic.twitter.com/VRgdmUtJTe  Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) November 24, 2025

Tuesday

Cold this morning with frost in places. Remaining dry and sunny for most through the day, though it will turn cloudier in the west and southwest later this afternoon with patches of rain and drizzle developing near western and southwestern coasts this evening. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees in a light variable breeze.

Dry and cold under clear spells in the east at first tonight. Cloudier and milder conditions in the west with outbreaks of rain and drizzle will gradually extend eastwards over the country by morning. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 3 degrees in the east, coldest early on in the night, 4 to 7 degrees further west with temperatures rising everywhere overnight. Light to moderate southerly winds, fresher near coasts.

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Wednesday

A dull day tomorrow, Wednesday, with widespread outbreaks of rain and drizzle, which will ease giving way to more patchy areas of drizzle and mist. Feeling milder than recent days with highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in light to moderate west to southwest winds, freshening as the day goes on.

Staying cloudy Wednesday night with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle moving in from the Atlantic and spreading eastwards across the country. Mild with lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees with moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.

Thursday

A more persistent band of rain will move eastwards across the country through the morning and early afternoon, with a mix of sunshine and showers following as it clears. Highest temperatures of 12 to 14 degrees with fresh southwesterly winds.

Largely dry with clear spells at first Thursday night. Cloud will increase from the west overnight with showers moving in, turning heavy at times. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees with fresh southwesterly winds.

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Friday

Spells of sunshine and widespread showers, which will turn heavy at times with a possibility of hail and thunder. Colder than previous days with highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds, becoming stronger on Atlantic coasts.

Saturday

Another day of sunshine and showers, again turning heavy at times with a possibility of hail and thunder. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees with moderate west to northwest winds.

Further outlook

Current indications show unsettled conditions persisting with a spell of wet and blustery weather likely on Sunday.
GALLERY: Lorraine Keane' s Fashion Relief Fashion Show for Breast Cancer Ireland at Mallon Motors, Naas, Kildare

Pictures Brian McEvoy

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Lorraine Keane brought her preloved boutique to Joe Mallon Motors and the women of Kildare came in their droves to support the sustainable, charitable initiative.

The exclusive Fashion Show, hosted by Keane, saw Assets models Sarah Morrissey, Yomiko Chen, Sarah McGovern and Corina Grant Doyle take to the runway with award-winning DJ Mo Kelly on the decks.

Joe Mallon Motors brand ambassador and Ireland Fittest Family Presenter Anna Geary, due baby number two in a matter of weeks, judged the Best Dressed competition and chose mother of three boys, Patricia Farrell, who wore a dress by Irish Designer FeeG.

Keane and her team returned on Saturday to allow those who didnt get tickets to the Fashion Show to shop in the preloved Pop-Up. The event raised an impressive 10,430 for Breast Cancer Ireland.

Id like to thank the Mallon family for inviting me to bring Fashion Relief to their stunning showroom and for covering all the costs so that every cent we raised over the weekend goes to Breast Cancer Ireland.

Fashion Relief, the pre-loved fashion boutique founded by Lorraine Keane to raise funds for Breast Cancer Ireland has raised over 500,000 in two years.

Fashion Relief has a permanent boutique in the Frascati Centre in Blackrock, Co. Dublin. They rely on the generosity of women to donate their unwanted clothes and accessories to the shop.

Lorraine Keanes Fashion Relief for Breast Cancer Ireland then sells these high-end and high-street clothing, accessories, with 100% of the proceeds going to support breast cancer research, education, and clinical trials in Ireland.

Its guilt-free shopping ladies because when you are shopping in Fashion Relief you are shopping sustainably and for charity so you are saving people and planet, says Keane.

Breast Cancer Ireland is a registered charity, established to raise significant funding to support pioneering research programmes nationally, as well as to promote education and awareness on the importance of good breast health amongst women of all ages.

Their vision is to transform breast cancer from sometimes being a fatal disease into a treatable illness for all and their mission is to speed up research discovery output so as to affect better and more positive treatment options for patients.

Unfortunately, all of us have been touched by breast cancer in some way, shape or form, so I am so grateful to Joe Mallon Motors for inviting me to bring Fashion Relief to Naas to raise much needed funds for Breast Cancer Ireland, said Keane.

Clothing and accessory donations can be made to a special drop off area at Joe Mallon Motors in Naas and to the boutique in the Frascati Centre in Blackrock, Dublin with Fashion Relief accepting high street and high end clothing and accessory items in very good condition.

For more information on the event contact Joe Mallon Motors on marketing@joemallonmotors.ie Call (045) 897 675.

https://www.breastcancerireland.com/our-partners/fashion-relief/

Instagram@ @fashionreliefbci @joemallonmotors
Pony.ai, a global leader in autonomous driving technology development and commercialization, today reported that its seventh-generation (Gen-7) Robotaxi has reached a pivotal profitability milestone, laying a strategic foundation for scalable domestic and international expansion. This progress supports Pony.ai's ambitious goal of having more than 3,000 units in its fleet by the end of next year, backed by over US$800 million in new capital raised through its recent Hong Kong share offering.

For the first time, the company's Gen-7 Robotaxis have achieved city-wide unit economics (UE) breakeven in Guangzhoujust two weeks after entering commercial operationswith each vehicle completing an average of 23 daily orders. This rapid ramp-up has been driven by strong, broad-based customer demand and optimized operational efficiency. Pony.ai also reported steady progress in fleet growth, with 961 units in its fleet, keeping the company on track to surpass its 1,000-vehicle target by year-end.

Photo source: Pony.ai

Cost-efficiency improvements are set to further underpin next year's scaling plan. The bill-of-materials (BOM) for the autonomous driving kits (ADK) on the seventh-generation (Gen-7) Robotaxi platform is projected to decline by another 20% from the 2025 baseline for the 2026 production run. This follows a 70% BOM cost reduction the company has already achieved for the Gen-7 kit versus the prior generation.

According to its Q3 2025 earnings report, Pony.ai delivered strong top-line growth in the third quarter as Robotaxi scaling increasingly translates into earnings momentum. Total Q3 revenue rose 72% year-over-year to US$25.4 million, driven by sustained expansion in both Robotaxi services and Licensing & Applications, marking three consecutive quarters of growth this year.

Robotaxi service revenue surged 89.5% year-over-year to US$6.7 million. Fare-charging revenue alone increased more than 200% year-over-year, supported by rising user demand in tier-one Chinese cities and improvements in fleet operations and pricing strategies.

Dr. Leo Wang, Chief Financial Officer of Pony.ai, noted: In the third quarter, we delivered robust top-line growth and further enhanced our financial position. The net proceeds from our recent Hong Kong IPO have significantly strengthened our balance sheet. Combined with the pivotal milestone of Gen-7 Robotaxi city-wide unit economics breakeven in Guangzhou, the net proceeds have positioned us to accelerate the large-scale commercial expansion and to drive sustained, long-term growth.

The company's asset-light cooperation model with ecosystem partners is poised to add further momentum to its growth by enhancing capital efficiency for future fleet expansion. Following its collaboration with Xihu Group in June, Pony.ai recently formed a new partnership with Sunlight Mobility to implement the same model. These alliances reflect growing market recognition of Pony.ai's approach, with more third-party partners willing to fund fleet deployment, thereby enabling faster network build-out.

Further supporting growth is the commercial rollout of the Gen-7 Robotaxis, which became available to the public in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Beijing in early November. Within one week of launch, newly registered users nearly doubled compared with late October, generating significant social media traction.

The company also broadened its service footprint in China's tier-one cities, adding high-value mobility corridors and high-traffic areas. In Shanghai, Pony.ai became the first company to launch fully driverless commercial Robotaxi operations in late July, initially in the Jinqiao and Huamu areas of Pudong, and extending coverage in September to Century Park and the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. In Shenzhen, fully driverless operations expanded across Nanshan Districtincluding Shekou and Overseas Chinese Townbeginning in late August. The number of pickup and drop-off points in Shenzhen now exceeds 10,000, a more than 300% increase since late June.

Meanwhile, Pony.ai continued advancing its global reach across eight countries through strategic partnerships. The company entered the Qatar market with Mowasalat, the country's largest transportation service provider, while strengthening its presence in Singapore, Luxembourg, and South Korea through expanded service scope and deeper local collaboration. Further supporting its global strategy, Pony.ai is collaborating with key shareholders who participated in its Hong Kong IPOincluding Uber and Boltto explore and scale operations in overseas markets.

Beyond Robotaxi development, Pony.ai is also building its second growth engine. The company recently introduced its fourth-generation Robotruck lineup, developed with partners including SANY Truck. The Gen-4 platform is engineered for mass production at the thousand-unit scale, with initial fleet deployment slated for 2026.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- BYD expanded its European product line-up on November 19 with the regional debut of the BYD ATTO 2 DM-i plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and the ATTO 2's long-range battery electric vehicle (BEV) version, the BYD ATTO 2 Comfort, launched at an event in Barcelona.

The two-variant strategy, combining both BEV and PHEV options, marks another step in the company's attempt to match Europe's increasingly segmented mobility demand.

Photo source: BYD

BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li said the model has resonated with European drivers thanks to its maneuverability and day-to-day practicality. He noted that the company developed the PHEV and longer-range BEV specifically in response to recent customer feedback, adding that BYD intends to continue localizing products to meet Europe's accelerating shift toward low-carbon transport.

The ATTO 2 DM-i is the first PHEV in the Yuan series. Powered by BYD's in-house DM-i super hybrid system, the vehicle combines BEV-like responsiveness with long-distance capability. It delivers up to 90 km of battery-powered range and can travel up to 1,000 km on a full charge and tank, a package designed to cover daily electric commuting while easing lingering European concerns about driving range.

Alongside the PHEV, BYD also released a longr-range BEV version of the ATTO 2, namely, the BYD ATTO 2 Comfort. The upgraded model offers 430 km of WLTP rangemore than 100 km beyond the base BEVand supports 155 kW DC fast charging, making it more suitable for long-distance travel. It maintains the series' compact handling and family-oriented design, while refinements in cabin layout and smart features aim to balance city commuting with broader household use.

BYD says its passenger vehicles are now present in 33 European countries, with plans to reach 1,000 retail outlets by the end of the year. The company reiterated that future efforts will center on technology innovation and product expansion as it pushes to advance Europe'sand the world'stransition toward greener mobility, echoing its corporate goal of helping "cool the Earth by 1C."
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Leapmotor marked a major step in its international expansion on November 25 as it entered both Brazil and Chile, debuting at the Sao Paulo International Motor Show and officially opening its strategy for the South American market.

Leapmotor is initially offering both the BEV (battery electric vehicle) and REEV (range-extended electric vehicle) variants of the C10, alongside the B10 sedan, in Brazil and Chile. The company plans to establish 36 retail and service locations across 27 Brazilian cities and open five outlets in Chile by 2025. Additional rollouts are planned for Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador as the brand accelerates its regional footprint.

Photo source: Leapmotor

Earlier this month, the company reported a major milestone: cumulative sales for the year have surpassed 500,000 units, allowing Leapmotor to reach its 2025 sales target ahead of schedule.

Overseas business has emerged as Leapmotor's strongest new growth engine. Supported by Stellantis' established global infrastructure, the company has built an international sales and service network covering more than 700 locations. Leapmotor vehicles are now sold in 35 countries and regions. From January to October, exports exceeded 44,000 units, leading all Chinese EV startups and gaining traction in key European markets including Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

The achievement also fulfills a pledge made in 2019, when Leapmotor founder, chairman and CEO Zhu Jiangming outlined an ambition to sell half a million vehicles annually by 2025. Reaching that goal ahead of time underscores the company's disciplined long-term strategy, the strength of its operational systems and the growing recognition of its product quality and brand reliability.

Leapmotor is also preparing to launch the Lafa5its sleek new fastbackon November 27. Positioned as a pivotal model for the brands next decade, the Lafa5 is priced between 105,800 yuan and 131,800 yuan in presale and is aimed at younger buyers seeking driving engagement, smart features and a distinct sense of style.
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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Yibin municipal government to jointly develop a "Zero-Carbon Yibin" initiative, according to a press release CATL issued on November 24 via its WeChat account.

The partnership aims to establish a citywide zero-carbon industrial and energy ecosystem within five years, positioning Yibin as a leading demonstration zone for low-carbon and environmentally responsible development. The collaboration will center on four pillars: zero-carbon industries, zero-carbon energy systems, zero-carbon cities, and intelligent zero-carbon technologies.

Photo source: CATL

CATL plans to develop a dual model combining zero-carbon manufacturing sites with "lighthouse factories," beginning with national-level pilot zones in the Sanjiang New District, Yibin High-tech Zone, and Xuzhou District's energy-storage industrial park. These pilots will gradually expand across the city. A major component of the effort is the decarbonization of high-energy-consumption industries such as chemicals and building materials. The initiative will support the creation of replicable zero-carbon factory benchmarks at companies including Tianyuan Group, Grace Group, and Push Group, accelerating the green transition of Yibin's traditional industrial base.

Leveraging Yibin's ample clean-energy resources and CATL's technological expertise, the partners will expand both centralized and distributed renewable-energy projects, including solar and biomass generation. They also plan to contribute to the coordinated development of surrounding wind and solar resources. CATL will further establish a new-energy-vehicle storage industry presence in Yibin, spanning grid-side systems, shared storage facilities, and commercial-industrial deployments to enhance the reliability and flexibility of the city's green-energy supply.

The agreement includes a broad push to electrify public transportation and expand Yibin's charging and battery-swapping infrastructure. Both parties will build swapping stations for passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks and develop integrated energy hubs combining solar, storage, charging, inspection, and swapping. A dedicated battery-swapping logistics corridor will be established between Mabian and Yibin's phosphate mining zone. Additional initiatives include deploying electric heavy trucks and autonomous logistics vehicles in high-volume freight areas and promoting zero-carbon solutions across river vessels, wineries, and building projects.

To support long-term governance, CATL and the city government will develop a data-driven management framework for zero-carbon urban operations. This includes a smart scheduling platform for citywide energy systems, a carbon-emissions monitoring platform, and an integrated management system for zero-carbon industrial parks. These tools aim to provide real-time oversight of energy use and emissions, reinforcing Yibin's dual-control mechanisms and advancing systematic zero-carbon urban development.

CATL has already supported 13 supply-chain partners in Sichuan in achieving carbon neutrality and continues to develop a scalable roadmap from zero-carbon factories to zero-carbon parks and, eventually, zero-carbon cities. The new agreement with Yibin marks a significant step in deepening strategic cooperation and jointly addressing climate challenges. By combining the region's clean-energy strengths with CATL's technological capabilities, the two sides aim to create replicable models for future zero-carbon development.
THE TRIAL of retired superintendent Eamon ONeill and four serving gardai heard that during a raid of Mr ONeills house, six mobile phones were seized, along with an iPad and a USB memory stick.

The raid of the home he shared with his partner Sergeant Anne-Marie Hassett in Ennis was carried out under warrant on May 16, 2019, in relation to an alleged offence contrary to section 62 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005.

Mr ONeill, then still a superintendent, was alleged to have disclosed information obtained in the course of his work for the gardai.

Detective Sergeant Maria Cassells, who was the lead operative for the search, confirmed that there were no criminal charges in this matter.

READ MORE: 'Career burglar' whose victim lives in constant fear has sentence from Limerick court reduced

The trial of five accused - retired superintendent Eamon ONeill, Garda Colm Geary, Garda Tom McGlinchey, Sergeant Michelle Leahy and Sergeant Anne-Marie Hassett, is now in its third week at Limerick Circuit Court, in what has been predicted to be a six-week trial, if not longer.

Detective Garda Brian Reidy of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) gave evidence of having been part of a group who searched the home of Mr ONeill at 7am on May 16, 2019, after Mr ONeill had been arrested and conveyed to a garda station in Athlone. He told the court that eight exhibits were seized.

Two mobile phones were found in the master bedroom, while a further four phones were found in a safe in the wardrobe, along with an iPad from the sitting room downstairs in the house and a USB memory stick found on a set of car keys.

Felix McEnroy SC, representing Mr ONeill, asked Detective Garda Reidy if the house search was a planned coordinated search, which he agreed it was.

Detective Garda Reidy said that they were made aware that there was a baby in the house and he recalled being asked not to wear his raid jacket.

The court heard that Sgt Hassett answered the door in pyjamas and a dressing gown and asked Det Sgt Cassells that the gardai remove their raid jackets.

Detective Sgt Maria Cassells told the court she was not aware of any specific instructions or guidelines about a child being in a house during a search, but she said either herself or another garda checked on the baby who was asleep.

Representing the State, Carl Hanahoe SC asked Det Sgt Cassells if it would be common for children to be present in a house while a search is carried out or if people would be given advance notice of a search, so as to arrange childcare and she replied that advance notice of a search is never given for fear of destroying evidence.

She told the court that Sgt Hassett was very upset and that after the baby woke, the baby was brought downstairs.

Jim OMahony SC said his client Sgt Hassett was mortified that people would see this going on, as there were also other gardai living in the area.

Detective Sgt Cassells told the court that the house search lasted around one hour and 45 minutes.

Detective Garda Reidy carried out examinations of the mobile phones using Cellebrighte software, before it was analysed by another specialist and one of the phones, belonging to Mr ONeill, was brought by him (Det Gda Reidy) personally to London, where it was analysed and then he collected the phone and a USB with the information downloaded from the device.

The court heard that at the time of the house search in 2019, Detective Garda Reidy was the only mobile phone examiner in the GNBCI, but now there are others who have transferred to the bureau with the relevant skills and training.

In cross-examination by Jim OMahony SC representing Sgt Hassett, Detective Garda Reidy agreed that the search had nothing to do with her or to Fixed Charge Penalty Notices.

Jim OMahony SC made the point that it was meant to be a planned, discreet search, however, that number of gardai in that garb [raid jackets] at 6.30 in the morning in the month of May with the sun high in the sky, would attract attention, adding that there were media reports of a senior garda being arrested in the Southern region.

The trial continues at Limerick Circuit Court.
Mary Lou McDonald and Ivana Bacik have criticised Taoiseach Micheal Martin for not appearing to take questions from the opposition in the Dail on Tuesday.

Sinn Fein leader Ms McDonald asked where is the Taoiseach? before raising how people were struggling with hikes to their energy bills.

Mr Martin attended the G20 leaders summit in South Africa from Friday until the closing session of the summit on Sunday.

He then attended the EU-African Union summit in Angola on Monday.

Ca bhfuil an Taoiseach? Ms McDonald said at the opening of Leaders Questions on Tuesday.

I understand the Taoiseach is back in the country. He should be here taking questions, she said.

Labour leader Ms Bacik said the Taoiseach was absent and it was a nice surprise to see Transport and Energy Minister Darragh OBrien stand in for him.

Mr OBrien said the Taoiseach was on government business and that Ms McDonald herself had been in the US probably fundraising.

He said: He was at the G20 summit as well, should he not go to that as head of the Irish government?

Should he not go to the EU-African summit?

I know youre just back from New York as well, he said to Ms McDonald, who appeared to point to the seat she was sitting on and say I am here.

Ms Bacik said: On the Taoiseachs lack of presence here, of course he must represent the country abroad, but we had understood he would be here today and it is a common courtesy that we would be notified in advance of Leaders Questions when he isnt taking them.

Both Ms McDonald and Ms Bacik urged the Government to take action against hikes in energy and grocery costs.

Ms McDonald said heating oil had shot up 80 euro in a month and the average price for a fill of oil was 980 euro.

She said: This unaffordable cost of home heating oil has been driven up by your decisions, 220 euros of the cost of a fill of oil is already carbon tax and your planned increases will add a further 150 euros in the time ahead.

Has to be asked  how on earth do you think people can afford that?

She raised the case of a family who were rationing their heat because the oil fill they have needs to last them until Christmas and the New Year.

She said the decision to cancel energy credits was terrible and that people live in dread of receiving the next heating bill.

She said: Do you know how humiliating it is for anybody to have to go to family members to borrow consistently, to pay their household bills?

Do you know how demoralising it is for working people to go out Monday to Friday, work hard, do their best, and still they cant keep their children warm?

Do you know how unacceptable, in fact, how immoral it is in a wealthy society under a government that boasts billions in surpluses to leave people so stranded, so desperate in these circumstances.

And you stand here today, delusional, delusional, as though you live in another place and in another reality.

Mr OBrien said the fuel allowance has been increased and expanded, meaning 460,000 households can qualify for it and the carbon tax that relates to home heating oil has been deferred to May 2026.

He accused the party of flip-flopping on the north south inter-connector, which he said would deliver resilience for Irelands energy grid.

Ive met your ministers in the north of Ireland who are for the project, your deputies in the south are opposed to it. Thats a permanent measure that will deliver affordability.

Mr OBrien said: What I can say to families out there is the Government and the state will work with them right the way through this winter to bring about permanent affordability measures.

Ms Bacik said the Government had offered nothing to help reduce household costs or to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

She said ministers had ignored Labours call for supermarket giants to be forced to publish their profits.

Its three-and-a-half years since Russias horrific onslaught on Ukraine, but now in 2025 energy providers are hiding behind what is a geopolitical tragedy to justify price hikes that cant be explained by supply costs.

Our energy bills are still markedly higher and the driver of those prices is not war, it is corporate greed, minister.

Mr OBrien said Ireland was within grasp of actually becoming energy sovereign in the next 10 years.

That will be critical to reduce our dependence on fossil and particularly imported fossil, where we are at the vagaries of the market.

Before Leaders Questions, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy confirmed she had received a letter of resignation from Paschal Donohoe on November 21, and so his resignation as Dublin Central TD took effect from receipt of the letter.
SEOULAs China and the U.S. race to dominate artificial intelligence, countries are increasingly wary of becoming overly dependent on the superpowers for a technology that could profoundly affect their economic competitiveness and national security.

In response, a select few are seeking to build out their own AI capabilities and become leaders alongside the U.S. and China.

South Korea, with its rich and advanced tech sector, is a strong believer in the idea that smaller countries can succeed in developing a wide degree of autonomy in AIa buzzy concept now known as sovereign AI."

In the age of artificial intelligence, falling behind by one day could mean falling behind by a whole generation," South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said earlier this month in an address to lawmakers. We are currently facing an urgent, life-or-death crisis."

The overall goal of sovereign AI is to build out a localized computing infrastructure and potentially possess domestic capabilities in everything from large language model development and chipmaking to cloud storage and engineering talent. Many also hope to regulate and manage the data used and generated by AI on their own terms.

As one of the few countries outside the U.S. or China able to attempt a wide degree of AI autonomy, South Korea has emerged as a test case for sovereign AI. It has deep pockets, semiconductor know-how from homegrown firms like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, plus software expertise. And Lee, who took office in June, has provided the political willpower, pushing to triple the governments budget for AI development for next year to the equivalent of roughly $6.8 billion.

The U.S. and China are the current leaders in AI technology. Beijing often expresses a desire for tech self-reliance, though it hasnt yet focused much on exporting its best offerings. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has pledged to promote exports of a full-stack" American AI technology package to allies, which includes Nvidias high-end chips and software.

By building up domestic capabilities in AI, countries hope to make their mark in a critical technology and shift away from the dominance U.S. tech giants hold over AI, said Virpratap Vikram Singh, who specializes in cyber technologies and conflict at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a research institute based in London.

In various regions, there is a growing hesitation" over becoming too dependent on U.S. tech behemoths, which authorities have found increasingly difficult to regulate, said Vikram Singh.

Countries also hope to build more resilience by having domestic AI capabilities and alternative service providers to turn to in case of potential disruptions, said Courtney Lang, who focuses on cybersecurity at the Information Technology Industry Council, a Washington, D.C.-based trade group.

Among the loudest champions of sovereign AI is Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang, whose company stands to benefit from heightened demand for the powerful graphic-processing units used in AI computing. It codifies your culture, your societys intelligence, your common sense, your historyyou own your own data," Huang said last year of sovereign AI.

Many countries have efforts in motion. Frances Mistral AI and Germanys SAP have teamed up to launch a sovereign AI platform to protect European data in the public sector and regulated industries. The U.K. has set up a sovereign AI unit to facilitate investments into local startups and to become a more attractive location for AI firms. India is developing its own foundational AI model and expanding domestic computing capacity.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which are among the most active and richest Middle East players in AI, recently won approval from the U.S. Commerce Department for two local companies to buy up to 70,000 advanced AI chips. The U.A.E.s minister of economy has likened spending on sovereign AI to spending on areas like defense and cybersecurity.

Worldwide spending on AI, including in services, software and infrastructure, is expected to hit $1.5 trillion this year, according to Gartner, a market-research firm, up roughly 50% from 2024. The total is forecast to exceed $2 trillion next year.

South Korea, under Lee, has set up a roughly $102 billion National Growth Fund" for investments over the next five years in high-tech strategic industries, including AI. A new presidential secretary for AI and future planning was created to spearhead public-private efforts.

More recently, the Lee administration unveiled a deal for South Korea to procure 260,000 of Nvidias advanced GPUs, touting it as the foundation for realizing the countrys AI ambitions. Some of the Nvidia chips promised to Korea will go toward a planned government-led data center. Others will go to data centers run by local software giants. The government, together with Korean firms, is also working to create a national large language model.

Korean conglomerates including Samsung, Hyundai and SK will use their share of the promised Nvidia chips to apply more AI to smart manufacturing and research. This month, the three business groups, as well as LG, pledged the equivalent of roughly $540 billion in domestic investments, including in AI data centers, chips and AI-based manufacturing.

Lesser-known names are also key to Koreas push for sovereign AI. Chip startups such as Rebellions and FuriosaAI, which recently rejected an acquisition offer from Meta, are developing so-called neural-processing units that could potentially become lower-cost alternatives to Nvidias GPUs in some areas of AI computing. Koreas top software giants, Naver and Kakao, have already rolled out Korean large language AI models of their own.

Countries looking to expand their AI capabilities face constraints, such as procuring sufficient power for data centers. A countrys ability to build out a sovereign AI ecosystem may also depend on the terms set by the U.S., which dominates many key technologies linked to AI, said Vikram Singh.

South Koreas navigation of the challenges to foster an indigenous AI ecosystem could be a crucial test bed and benchmark" for other nations pursuing the same task, said Chey Tae-won, chairman of South Koreas SK conglomerate, at a recent economic conference.

Write to Jiyoung Sohn at jiyoung.sohn@wsj.com
IndoSpace Core, a joint venture between the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, or CPP Investments, and IndoSpace, has acquired six industrial and logistics parks valued at over $300 million.

The six assets, located in Indias key logistics markets, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune, collectively span 380 acres with a leasable area of about nine million square feet, further adding to IndoSpace Cores portfolio of fully developed, income-generating parks.

The acquisition strengthens IndoSpace Cores position as the countrys largest operator of stabilized industrial and logistics real estate, the companies said in a statement on Tuesday.

CPP, which owns 93% of IndoSpace Core, will invest approximately $153.7 million (C$217 million) to fund the acquisition.

Indias logistics sector continues to benefit from strong structural growth, driven by urbanization and the expanding manufacturing footprint, said Hari Krishna, managing director, head of real estate India, and Mumbai office head, CPP Investments.

Also Read | Magenta Mobility eyes $50 million fundraise to expand EV logistics fleet

India footprint The investment also comes on the back of CPPs goal to further grow its portfolio in the country, having tripled in size to approximately $21.9 billion (C$30 billion) over the last five years, making India its third-largest market in the Asia-Pacific, behind Japan (approximately $26.99 billion or C$38.1 billion) and China (approximately $21.46 billion or C$30.3 billion).

Our longstanding partnership with IndoSpace has enabled us to capture high-quality opportunities in this space. We believe this acquisition will deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns for CPP contributors and beneficiaries, Krishna added in the statement.

Following this transaction, IndoSpace Cores portfolio will expand to 22 million square feet of leasable area across 948 acres, serving over 120 global and domestic companies across six major industrial hubs: Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune.

The fully integrated supply chain infrastructure platform serves various industries, including manufacturing, electronics, 3PL, e-commerce, retail, and automotive sectors, utilizing technology to deliver scalable and sustainable infrastructure solutions that enhance efficiency and accelerate manufacturing growth.

This transaction reflects how Indias logistics sector has evolved into a long-term investment story driven by stable demand and institutional confidence, said Anshuman Singh, managing director and chief executive, IndoSpace. This acquisition further reinforces the strength of our partnership with CPP Investments, built on a shared belief in Indias potential as a global hub.

With over 60 million square feet developed and under development, IndoSpace claims to be the largest player in Indias industrial and logistics real estate sector.

CPP entered India in 2009 with an investment in the private equity fund Multiples, and subsequently opened an office in Mumbai in 2015. Over the years, the investment firm has invested across real estate, infrastructure, energy, credit, public equity, fixed income, private equity, and technology sectors in the country.
(Bloomberg) -- SAP SE was sued by supply-chain artificial intelligence firm o9 Solutions Inc., which claimed three of its former executives stole trade secrets for the European software giant.

In a complaint filed Tuesday in Dallas federal court, o9 claimed the stolen trade secrets concerned the design, implementation and testing of its supply-chain management software. The company, whose backers include KKR & Co. and General Atlantic, was valued in 2023 at $3.7 billion.

According to o9s suit, longtime market leader SAP was losing customers to competitors in the business-planning software space due to its outdated platform. As a result, SAP allegedly launched an aggressive campaign to target o9s trade secrets. Since the documents were reportedly stolen, o9 claims SAP has altered its software to closely mirror the startups offerings.

A representative for SAP declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also names as defendants the three former o9 executives, all based in the Netherlands, whom the company says participated in the trade secrets theft by downloading tens of thousands of documents. All three were in communication with employees at SAP, including about the documents, prior to their departure, o9 claims.

According to the suit, Stephan de Barse, o9s former chief revenue officer, is now president of SAPs global business suite; former o9 Global Senior Vice President Sean Zonneveld is now global chief revenue officer for procurement at SAP; and Stijn-Pieter van Houten, a former o9 senior vice president and knowledge innovation lead, is now SAPs chief product officer for supply chain management planning.

Lawyers for the o9 said the company understood the importance of fair competition and employee mobility.

However, o9 cannot  and will not  allow its trade secrets to be misappropriated, they said in the suit. Trade secret theft fundamentally undermines the substantial investments that o9 has made in researching, developing, and providing clients with transformative solutions that enhance their business operations.

The case is o9 Solutions v. SAP SE, 25-cv-03245, US District Court, Northern District of Texas (Dallas).

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
US-based technology giant Amazon announced its plans to invest up to $50 billion into the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputing capabilities for the US government agencies through its Amazon Web Services (AWS), according to an official announcement.

Amazon's investment in the expansion is aimed at improving the discovery and decision-making ability of the government agencies as they integrate their simulation and modeling data with AI, autonomous experimental steering and real-time feedback loops.

Our investment in purpose-built government AI and cloud infrastructure will fundamentally transform how federal agencies leverage supercomputing, said AWS CEO Matt Garman. This investment removes the technology barriers that have held government back and further positions America to lead in the AI era.

What will the US government agencies gain? Amazon Web Services' (AWS) up to $50 billion investment is set to add nearly 1.3 gigawatts of AI and supercomputing capacity across AWS Top Secret, AWS Secret, and AWS GovCloud (US) Regions.

The company will build data centres with advanced computing and networking technology power as part of its expansion efforts. According to the official announcement, the federal government agencies will gain expanded access to AWS's comprehensive AI services, including Amazon SageMaker AI, Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Nova, and Anthropic Claude, among other things.

These new capabilities will be available to existing and future U.S. government customers across AWS Top Secret, AWS Secret, and GovCloud (US) Regions, strengthening America's AI leadership and giving federal agencies the secure, scalable infrastructure they need for the next era of innovation, the company said in its announcement.

The investment will also contribute to critical US government and industrial base missions ranging from national security to scientific research and innovation, which includes autonomous systems development, cybersecurity, energy innovation, and healthcare research.

According to a recent report from CNBC, Amazon's move comes after Meta and Anthropic's decision to expand AI data centres in the United States, and Oracle, OpenAI, and SoftBank's plan to invest $500 billion in the country's AI infrastructure.

Amazon share price Amazon share price jumped more than 1% to $228.64 during the intraday trading session on Tuesday as of 11:53 a.m. (IST), compared to $226.28 at the previous US stock market session, according to the MarketWatch data.

Shares of the tech and e-commerce giant have given more than 43% returns in the last five years, and over 14% returns in the last one-year period. On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, Amazon shares are trading 4.39% higher in 2025.

The shares of Amazon hit their 52-week high level at $258.60, while the 52-week low level stood at $161.38, according to the MarketWatch data. The company's market capitalisation (M-Cap) stood at $2.42 trillion as of the stock market session on Tuesday, 25 November 2025.
Dutch Bank ABN Amro NV may slash 5,200 full-time roles by 2028 as the new Chief Executive Officer, Marguerite Berard, aims to boost profitability, according to a report by Bloomberg News.

The Dutch lender said that the net reduction in headcount, compared to last year, is expected to be finalised within the next three years. Approximately half of this decline will be due to attrition. By the end of 2024, the bank had nearly 22,000 full-time staff and 3,670 external contractors.

We know that more must be done to enhance our returns and competitiveness, Berard said in the statement.

Berard, who took over from Robert Swaak in April to become the banks first female chief, has committed to reducing costs and improving capital allocation to enhance profitability. She has already begun restructuring at the Amsterdam-based lender, leading to roughly 1,000 job cuts this year, and earlier this month, she announced ABN Amro's largest acquisition since it was re-listed on the stock exchange ten years ago.

Also Read | Apple layoffs: iPhone maker cut dozens of sales jobs to streamline workforce

ABN Amro's goals The Dutch bank aims to increase its return on equity to at least 12% by 2028, while targeting a cost-to-income ratio of below 55%, according to a statement issued ahead of its capital markets day on Tuesday.

The 960 million ($1.1 billion) deal to acquire NIBC Bank from Blackstone Inc., announced earlier, will expand ABN Amros presence in the Netherlands. It is expected to yield approximately an 18% return by 2029 on the invested capital. Additionally, the bank has recently finalised the acquisition of the German wealth manager Hauck Aufhauser Lampe AG.

ABN Amros shares jumped nearly 80% so far this year.

According to the statement, the bank is streamlining its operations by decreasing the number of legal entities, digitising processes, replacing legacy systems, and leveraging artificial intelligence.

ABN Amro also aims to increase revenue to over 10 billion by 2028. Its new objectives include reinforcing its position in Dutch retail banking and becoming a top-five private bank in Europe.

On Tuesday, it said it had reached an agreement to sell its Alfam subsidiary, a personal loan business, to Rabobank.
Artificial intelligence (AI) chipmaker Nvidia's stock took a 6.7% hit on reports that tech giants Meta and Alphabet are in discussions for Google chips, Bloomberg reported on 25 November.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Platforms is in talks with Alphabet to rent Google Cloud's chips from next year and to spend billions for the chips in its data centres from 2027, according to a report by The Information, citing sources.

Notably, Meta has been among Nvidia's biggest customers since 2022. In 2025, the company announced $600 billion investment in US infrastructure and jobs over the next three years, including in AI data centres, as per a Reuters report.

Also Read | India govt says no cause for concern as Ethiopia volcanic plumes move to India

Google Cloud's tensor processing units or TPUs, are an alternative when supplies of Nvidia chips has been low. According to the TI report, Google is pushing TPUs, as a cheaper alternative to Nvidia chips for companies that require higher security standards, and aims to grab 10% of Nvidia's revenue from the business.

Reuters reached out to Google, Meta and Nvidia, but did not get immediate responses to its queries on the issue. Meta and Google representatives did not respond to Bloomberg queries.

Also Read | Why CEA Nageswaran is confident Indian economy will cross $4trn mark in FY26

Nvidia stock takes hit on potential Meta-Google chip deal Nvidia stock fell 2.7% in after-hours trading, while Alphabet gained 2.7% largely due to enthusiasm over its latest Gemini AI model version.

Asian stocks related to Alphabet also jumped surged early on 25 November in Asia trading. In South Korea, IsuPetasys Co., which supplies multilayered boards to Alphabet, jumped 18% to a new intraday record. In Taiwan, MediaTek Inc. shares rose almost 5%.

Prior to the possible Meta deal, Google has signed a deal with Anthropic PBC up to 1 million chips, which Seaport analyst Jay Goldberg called really powerful validation for TPUs. He added, A lot of people were already thinking about it, and a lot more people are probably thinking about it now.

A deal with Meta  one of the biggest spenders globally on data centers and AI development  would mark a win for Google. But much depends on whether the tensor chips can demonstrate the power efficiency and computing muscle necessary to become a viable option in the long run, the Bloomberg report noted.

Also Read | Google Chrome is giving free 12 month access to Adobe Photoshop web

What are Google's TPU chips? Developed over 10 years back for AI tasks, the tensor chip is gaining momentum outside Google as a way to train and run complex AI models, especially as an alternative to Nvidia, where overreliance on the company has become a worry, the BB report noted. It added that even rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) is a distant runner-up against Nvidia in the AI chips space.

Taking its leadership in the video games and visual effect applications through its Graphics processing units, or GPUs, Nvidia has long dominated the chips markets and made a well-timed turn to AI, as their options can handle large amounts of data and computations.

TPUs, on the other hand, are a type of specialized product known as application-specific integrated circuits, or microchips that were designed for a discrete purpose, the report added.

The tensor chips were also adapted as an accelerator for AI and machine learning tasks in Googles own DeepMind unit to develop the Gemini model. The ability to customise the chips has benefited the AI teams.
Graphic via Liam McGuire

Jordon Hudson made headlines this past weekend when she suggested she was planning on suing Pablo Torre.

But while it remains to be seen whether Bill Belichicks 24-year-old girlfriend will actually file a lawsuit, the two are already stating their cases in the court of public opinion.

That included Hudson revealing the basis of her lawsuit, which stems from an episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out in which the Meadowlark Media host revealed that the former Bridgewater State cheerleaders birthday was written incorrectly in a North Carolina directory. According to a screenshot provided by Hudson, the directory only misidentified her as being a year older than she actually is because a UNC staffer made an incorrect assumption and not because she was trying to shrink the age gap between herself and the 73-year-old Belichick.

One of MANY inaccurate and materially defamatory reports about me by Pablo Torre. I did not fill out any UNC internal documents or forms pertaining to the family directory. https://t.co/1igolSuOZW pic.twitter.com/I0LrhUaz6r  Jordon Hudson (@Jordonbella) November 24, 2025

Rather than waiting for his day in court to dispute the claim, Torre took to social media to offer a public rebuttal. Calling attention to an apparent visual distortion in one of the messages when you adjust the exposure, the ex-ESPN writer and personality seemingly indicated that the screenshot had been doctored by Adobe Photoshop  a callback to some of his previous reporting regarding Hudson.

Hi Jordon: Any idea why your screenshot looks like this after you adjust the exposure and highlights? (@JohnnyBlan57495, who provided the below video, was asking about Adobe Photoshop.) Thanks,

Pablo https://t.co/3BohNptoLj pic.twitter.com/pop8khwZqI  Pablo Torre  (@PabloTorre) November 25, 2025

Roughly 19 hours, Hudson responded with an apparent denial. Sharing a video screen recording of the same messages, the Miss Maine contestant attempted to prove the messages were authentic, with Taylor Swifts Look What You Made Me Do conspicuously playing on the screen.

As for the rest of the evidence that Hudson alluded to, that has yet to be made public. In any event, both Torre and Meadowlark Media have already made it clear theyd welcome the opportunity to fight her claims, whether it be in a courthouse or on social media.
In todays workplace, the idea of career growth as a steady, upward climb has become obsolete. Change is no longer episodic; it is constant, accelerated by AI, shifting demographics, and an employee base that increasingly seeks personal, professional, and purposeful development. In such a landscape, growth cannot be a milestone. It must be an environment.

Across India, this need is sharper than ever. A 2024 upGrad Enterprise report found that 50% of the workforce received no training in FY 202425, while 75% of those who did only participated because it was mandatory. As organisations grapple with automation and AI, this development gap represents not just a talent challenge but a competitiveness issue. At the same time, a Great Learning 2025 survey reveals that 85% of Indian professionals are actively planning to upskill in the coming year, signalling a workforce that wants to grow if employers build the systems for it.

Within Mint Indias Iconic Workplaces framework, the principle of Boundless Growth becomes especially defining. It asks organisations to move beyond incremental upskilling towards a deeper cultural shift: from static job descriptions to evolving capabilities; from episodic learning to everyday development; from treating growth as compensation, to treating it as the core of how work is experienced.

Breaking the Plateau: Why Long-Term Employees Need Reinvention, Not Routine One of the clearest tests of an organisations growth culture lies with its long-term employees. Tenure brings wisdom, but it can also bring inertia. When routine replaces challenge, even the most committed employees risk disengagement and this is not out of lack of ambition, but because their environment stops stretching them.

Atul Goyal, CHRO, VCL Group, captures this tension with nuance, Growth for long-term employees should feel like evolution, not mere repetition. Over time, many employees become comfortable in the same environment, which can lead to professional stagnation. For such employees, organizations must actively nurture curiosity and create fresh challenges to keep even the most seasoned talent engaged and motivated.

Goyal also adds how this reinvention can be enabled: Organizations should give employees an opportunity to reinvent themselves through expanded roles, specialist tracks, or refreshed titles that make them feel valued through lateral movements. He further emphasizes that when organisations introduce internal job mobility through cross-functional projects, interim rotations, or stretch assignments, it sparks curiosity and fresh thinking, ensuring that learning never stops and purpose stays alive. This is a powerful reminder that long-term employees dont plateau because they lack capability; they plateau because the workplace stops being a place of discovery.

Prateek Dubey, CHRO, Mankind Pharma, brings an evocative metaphor to this challenge, drawn from Indian mythology, Like Lord Hanuman, who discovered his boundless power only when reminded of it, our long-term colleagues too hold immense potential waiting to be unleashed. Through digital enablers, future-ready growth plans, and purposeful challenges, we empower them to rediscover their strengths, break barriers, and become the true enablers of transformation and impact.

The message is clear: organisations must remind employees of their own power. Growth is not something given; it is something unlocked.

The New Shape of Growth: Personal, Professional, Purposeful Today, growth is multidimensional. Employees want to build skills, but they also want to build identity, autonomy, and meaning. As Goyal notes, Today, employees aspire for holistic growth: personally, professionally, and with a sense of purpose. Organizations can no longer rely on traditional career ladders alone; they must create environments that nurture every dimension of growth.

This demand is reflected clearly in Indias emerging workforce. According to a recent IANS-reported survey, 60% of Gen Z and fresh graduates in India are actively upskilling in AI and data skills, signalling a decisive shift toward continuous learning and future-facing capabilities. Complementing this, LinkedIn data shows that Gen Z professionals in India spend 73% more time learning than older generations, driven largely by their desire for digital fluency, leadership readiness, and long-term relevance.

Digitisation and AI are reshaping how this learning is delivered. Goyal adds, Employees can now learn in the flow of work, receive real-time feedback, and explore stretch opportunities without waiting for formal training cycles. Technologies like AR and VR make learning immersive and impactful, while AI ensures that the one-size-fits-all model of training gives way to tailored learning journeys that meet individual needs. Beyond skills, he emphasises, the future of growth lies in helping individuals find meaning in their contributions.

AI: From Enabler to Learning Architect AI and digital tools are no longer support systems, they are becoming the architecture of personalised, predictive learning. Dubey captures this evolution through Mankind Pharmas scientific lens, We see the future of learning much like the evolution of medicine, from generic to personalized, from reactive to predictive, and from manual to AI-enabled precision. Digitization and AI are our modern-day Sanjeevani Booti, not only reviving potential but also accelerating upskilling with the precision of molecular design. Just as researchers map genomes to discover hidden cures, AI will map skill genomes; uncovering adjacencies, predicting future competencies, and creating adaptive learning formulations for every individual.

This idea of a skill genome reflects a broader macro trend. According to NITI Aayog, accelerated AI adoption could add US$ 500600 billion to Indias GDP by 2035, making AI-driven workforce transformation an economic necessity, not just an HR priority.

Also Read | What makes a workplace iconic in 2025?

Dubeys outlook is equally future-facing, In the next five years, growth will not be a one-size journey but a living lab of immersive simulations, predictive analytics, and continuous re-engineering, ensuring that our people are not only industry-ready but truly future-ready and purpose-ready.

Leaders as Growth Translators Growth environments cannot thrive without leadership that communicates change with clarity and care. In India, 61% of professionals report high or complete trust in their business leadership, a strong foundation for transformation. AI and workplace digitisation have the power to unsettle people, but leaders can convert that uncertainty into inspiration.

Salil Lal, Executive Director & CHRO, Maruti Suzuki India, puts it this way,The future of work is being rewritten by AI and innovation. Our role as leaders is to make this evolution humane; to connect every transformation with meaning, opportunity, and shared purpose so our people move forward with confidence, not fear.

Lal also underscores the importance of internal employer branding in this context,The strongest employer brands are built from within. When employees deeply believe in the companys mission and see their role in its journey, it fosters clarity, alignment, and a lasting emotional bond that no external campaign can replicate.

This inner alignment, between organisational purpose and personal aspiration then becomes critical.

The Promise of Boundless Growth In an era where disruption is constant and skills risk becoming obsolete overnight, investing in Boundless Growth is the bedrock of resilience. When companies design for perpetual reinvention, be it through lateral career paths, AI-powered learning ecosystems, and leadership that speaks to meaning, not just metrics; they do more than empower individuals: they future-proof themselves. In building such environments, they dont just create workplaces; they forge organisations that are alive, where each persons potential is neither capped by tenure nor defined by role, but measured by possibility.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin on Tuesday became the third-richest person in the world, taking away the position from Oracle's Larry Ellison, according to Forbes Real Time Billionaires List.

While Elon Musk remains the richest person in the world still, Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have become the second and third most wealthiest persons globally.

Both the co-founders toppled Larry Ellison to occupy the No.2 and No.3 positions  all within a matter of two days.

Sergey Brin net worth According to Forbes Real Time Billionaires list, Sergey Brin's net worth now stands at $248.4 billion. That is a jump of $6.4 billion in one day.

A combined $18.3 billion and $16.9 billion were added to Page and Brin's wealth since Monday, according to Forbes, amid an investor optimism on Alphabet shares.

While he has stepped down as the company's president, Sergey Brin still owns a stake at Google parent Alphabet.

Alphabet shares rise Alphabet was on track to hit a historic $4 trillion market valuation on Tuesday, powered by an impressive year-long rally fueled by the Google parent's sharpened focus on artificial intelligence tools.

Shares of the company were up 4.1% at $331.7 in premarket trading, putting the company on course to breach the key milestone at the open.

Alphabet stock price jumped 2.6% to $327 after the US stock market open on Tuesday.

Who is Sergey Brin? Sergey Brin, a native of Moscow, moved to the United States when he was six years old.

He is the co-founder of Alphabet, the holding company that owns Google  the largest search engine operator in the world.

Brin founded Google in 1998 with his friend Larry Page, when he was getting his PhD from Stanford University. He received a bachelor of science degree with honours in mathematics and computer science from the University of Maryland at College Park.

Top 10 richest people in the world Here is a list of the top 10 richest people in the world and their net worth:

1. Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX)  $470.6 billion

2. Larry Page (Google)  $265.6 billion

3. Sergey Brin (Google)  $246.3 billion

4. Larry Ellison (Oracle)  $241.5 billion

5. Jeff Bezos (Amazon)  $239 billion

6. Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook)  $215.2 billon

7. Bernard Arnault & family (LVMH)  $184.3 billion

8. Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway)  $150.3 billion

9. Jensen Huang (Semiconductors)  $149.4 billion
Accel announced a collaboration with Google's AI Futures Fund to launch Atoms AI Cohort 2026, to support India's AI founders with resources and early access to Google's advanced AI models, including Gemini and DeepMind.

Accel and Google are partnering through Accel Atoms and Googles AI Futures Fund to launch the 2026 AI Cohort. This is Googles first program of its kind globally, the company said in a statement.

Through this partnership, Accel and Google will collaborate to support India's early AI entrepreneurs with the aim to blend Accel's startup mentorship experience with the tech giant's AI technology, research, and infrastructure. Selected founders will gain early access to Google's Gemini and DeepMind models and receive resources to develop products capable of scaling globally.

Also Read | Why Accel and Google are chasing Indias newest AI founders

The programme is designed to provide founders with the necessary capital, infrastructure, and specialised expertise to develop globally competitive AI products from the beginning.

Each startup selected for the cohort will receive up to $2 million in funding through joint investments by Accel and the AI Futures Fund. Additionally, the programme offers up to $350,000 in compute credits across Google Cloud, Gemini, and DeepMind platforms. The goal is to provide founders with technical expertise and mentorship early in their journey in India.

"This partnership brings together Accels global experience in helping founders scale groundbreaking companies and Googles leadership in AI research and infrastructure. Founders selected for the program will gain access to an unprecedented stack of support," the company said.

Also Read | Google gives four ways to track Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals using Gemini

According to a statement by Accel, this collaboration aims to combine capital, technology, and early conviction to assist Indian founders in creating AI-driven products for both local and international markets. The programme will also provide one-on-one mentorship from Accel partners and Google's technical leaders, as well as opportunities to work with Google Labs and DeepMind research teams. Chosen startups will join a global community, gaining exposure through the international networks of Accel and Google.
Private equity firm KKR has made a fresh round of investment in Lighthouse Learning, along with new investor PSP Investments.

KKR will retain its majority stake and continue to play a significant role in driving Lighthouse Learnings next phase of growth, the firm said in a statement. The company, however, did not disclose the corpus of investment in this round.

The latest investment will be used by Lighthouse to grow its K-12 and preschool network and strengthen teaching, technology and operational capabilities.

KKR is investing through its Asian Fund IV and other KKR-managed capital.

Also Read | Solar Energy Corp pulls up Rajasthan discom for reneging on power sale pact

Lighthouse Learning has built one of the most trusted education services platforms in India delighted to continue supporting their mission to expand access to high-quality education, said Akshay Tanna, partner and head of India private equity at KKR, said.

Founded in 2001, Lighthouse Learning operates over 1,850 preschools and 60 K-12 schools under brands including EuroKids, Kangaroo Kids, EuroSchool, Billabong High International, Centre Point Group of Schools, and the Heritage group of schools.

It currently serves more than 190,000 students across major metros such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Delhi-NCR.

The company has expanded its footprint since KKRs initial investment in 2019 through both organic growth and acquisitions.

KKR acquired a controlling stake in Lighthouse Learning (formerly EuroKids International) for approximately $200 million (or 1,475 crore) in 2019.

This was KKR's first investment round in the company, made from its Asian Fund III, and it involved picking up a roughly 90-92% stake.

Lighthouse has seven core brandsEuroKids, Kangaroo Kids and Mother's Pet (pre-school segment) and EuroSchool, Billabong High, Centre Point and Heritage Xperiential (K-12 segment).

Our mission has always been to deliver exceptional learning experiences that prepare students for a rapidly changing world. We are pleased to deepen our relationship with KKR as we enter this next chapter of growth, said Prajodh Rajan, founder and group CEO of Lighthouse Learning.

Also Read | How Indians are paying a premium for better education
The Supreme Courts rare decision to close all criminal and enforcement cases against the fugitive Sandesara brotherspromoters of Sterling Biotech Ltd and Sterling SEZ & Infrastructure Ltdafter they agreed to pay 5,100 crore has triggered a debate on whether other big bank-fraud fugitives can use this ruling to seek settlements.

Mint unpacks what the Supreme Court ordered, and whether similar relief could be sought by high-profile offenders such as Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi.

What the Supreme Court ordered

In its 19 November order, a bench of justices J.K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi accepted a settlement proposal presented by the legal team of Sterling promoters and investigative agencies represented by solicitor general Tushar Mehta.

The court was hearing writ petitions filed by Nitin and Chetan Sandesara, seeking to quash criminal and enforcement cases arising from two FIRs by the central bureau of investigation (CBI) and related proceedings by the enforcement directorate (ED), serious fraud investigation office (SFIO), and the income tax department, under the Black Money Act and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.

The court stated that all these cases will be closed once the Sandesaras deposit 5,100 crore with the Supreme Court registry by 17 December 2025. The money will be placed in a short-term interest-bearing fixed deposit and distributed to banks proportionately after verifying dues.

The bench noted the order was passed due to the peculiar facts" of this case and should not operate as a precedent.

Lawyers, however, say the judgment still creates a practical opening for other fugitives to attempt similar settlements.

What the Sandesara brothers fraud involved

The Sandesara brothers built the Sterling Group into a 40,000-crore business spanning pharmaceuticals, machinery, SEZs and oil and gas. They expanded aggressively into Nigeria, where their companies, SEEPCO and Sterling Global Oil Resources, grew to become the countrys largest independent crude producers.

Indian investigative agencies allege this growth was fuelled by a massive bank fraud involving forged documents, inflated financial statements and diversion of public-sector bank loans through a network of shell companies into their overseas ventures.

Over time, multiple CBI charge sheets, ED attachments, SFIO investigations and Income Tax cases were filed.

The brothers fled India in 2017, obtained Albanian passports and were declared fugitive economic offenders. Nigeria refused Indias extradition request, calling the allegations political."

Several Sterling Group companies later collapsed under insolvency, leading to limited recoveries, after which the brothers moved the Supreme Court seeking full closure through a financial settlement.

How does this compare with other major banking frauds?

The Sandesara case is part of a larger pattern of high-value banking frauds in India. Vijay Mallya owes about 9,000 crore to Indian banks following the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines. He fled to the UK in 2016 and continues to fight extradition.

Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi are accused in the 13,600-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam involving fraudulent letters of undertaking. Modi is contesting extradition in London, while Choksi moved to Antigua and later Belgium.

India has also witnessed significant domestic scams, including the 22,842-crore ABG Shipyard case and the 34,000-crore DHFL scam, the largest financial scandal uncovered by investigators.

Can other fugitives use this ruling to seek settlements?

Even though the Supreme Court has said the order should not be cited as precedent, lawyers believe it opens a practical pathway for fugitives to test similar settlement strategies. It does not automatically help Mallya, Nirav Modi or Choksi, but it gives their lawyers a new argument to place before the courts.

Legal experts warn wealthy offenders may believe they can flee India, fight cases from abroad and later settle" them by paying a portion of their dues. This weakens the deterrent effect of criminal prosecution and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.

Yatharth Rohila, advocate and partner at law firm Aeddhaas Legal LLP, said the ruling clearly opens the door (at least in theory) for other fugitive economic offenders to push for negotiated financial settlements rather than full-blown criminal prosecutions," especially for those who hold significant overseas assets and may argue that repayment justifies closure.

Alay Razvi, managing partner at law firm Accord Juris, cautioned that such settlements would require strict conditions: repayment must clearly serve the public interest better than prosecution, and both banks and the government must support the proposal.

There is a possibility that offenders may speculate that repayment can substitute jail time, potentially weakening deterrence," Razvi warned. He also noted that fugitives may try to use this ruling in extradition battles, although extradition law still requires physical presence or formal assurances."

What the ruling means for public-sector banks

The ruling comes at a time when public-sector banks are heavily exposed to fraud.

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) 202425 annual report showed losses rising sharply from 12,230 crore in 2023-24 to 36,014 crore in 2024-25, with PSU banks accounting for over 70% of the total. In this context, the settlement gives banks both an opportunity and a challenge.

Gauhar Mirza, partner at law firm Saraf & Partners, said the ruling could help banks recover large sums stuck in litigation. This may help banks recover substantive amounts stuck in long proceedings. It fits within the contours of OTS (one-time settlement) schemes and applicable law," he said.

Tushar Kumar, advocate at the Supreme Court, said, The judgment reinforces that courts are open to practical, outcome-oriented resolutions that secure substantial public funds. It strengthens banks negotiation position rather than weakening it."

But experts caution that too many settlements could erode public trust. Rohila noted that offenders may assume they can escape accountability by fleeing and negotiating from abroad, undermining the deterrent value of the system.

Also Read | Bank fraud allegations must never be levelled lightly

What the ruling means for enforcement agencies

In the Sandesara brothers' case, the Supreme Court has directed the CBI, ED, SFIO, and tax department to close all investigations once payment is made.

Lawyers point out that while their statutory powers remain intact regardless of this case outcome, the ruling alters the practical environment in which agencies operate.

Tushar Agarwal, founder of law firm C.L.A.P. Juris, Advocates & Solicitors, said, Agencies like the CBI, ED, SFIO and Income Tax Department will see this ruling as both a warning signal and a policy cue."

Agarwal said the deterrent effect of criminal prosecution may weaken if offenders believe large repayments can bring them relief. This may encourage more offenders to attempt settlement-based petitions, though courts will likely continue to treat such requests as exceptional, he added.

For now, the Sandesara case stands as a rare exception. The larger question is whether it stays that way.
Tech Mahindra Ltd has reiterated its goal of achieving revenue growth above the peer average by March 2027 despite being among the slowest of the countrys 10 largest information technology (IT) services firms, since it announced its three-year roadmap in April last year.

Indias fifth-largest software services provider expects revenue growth to accelerate as macroeconomic conditions improve by March 2027, chief executive officer (CEO) Mohit Joshi told analysts during the Mahindra Group investor conference in Mumbai on 20 November.

However, the company must report revenue growth after two successive years of revenue decline. That comes when uncertainty around client spending and vendor consolidation, where companies are narrowing the number of IT vendors they work with, said analysts interviewed by Mint said, citing conversations with the Tech Mahindra management.

In April last year, four months after Joshi took over as CEO, Tech Mahindra outlined a three-year roadmap to improve its operating margins to 15% by March 2027, grow faster than peers during this period, and reduce its dependence on telecom companies that made up 40% of its business.

The countrys fifth-largest IT services firm reported a compounded quarterly growth rate (CAGR) of 0.41% between 1 April 2024 and 30 September 2025, higher than Tata Consultancy Services Ltds 0.23% and Wipro Ltds revenue decline of 0.34%. On the other hand, Infosys Ltd and HCL Technologies Ltd grew 1.8% and 1%, respectively.

Indias mid-cap IT services companies, which earn between $1 billion and $5 billion in annual revenue, reported a compounded quarterly growth between 1.3% and 8.3% during the period.

Under Joshi, Tech Mahindras operating margins have grown the fastest among the big five, by about 470 basis points to 12.1%. In contrast, TCSs and HCLTechs profitability fell 80 basis points and 10 basis points to 25.2% and 17.5%, respectively. Infosys and Wipros margins expanded 90 basis points and 30 basis points, respectively.

Also Read | Tech Mahindra posts modest revenue growth, but margins hit new high

Much of this margin expansion stemmed from lower subcontracting costs, eliminating low-margin accounts and higher margins from fixed-price projects.

While Tech Mahindra banks on large deal wins to boost growth, it refrained from commenting on large deal wins.

Our stated goal for FY2027 has been to grow ahead of the peers average. Over the past 18 months, we have consistently narrowed the gap with our peers, reflecting the progress we are making," said Tech Mahindra in response to Mints email, adding that it does not comment on external estimates or provide a forward-looking guidance.

Growth optimism

At least two brokerages said that Tech Mahindras full-year revenue targets imply a growth of 4-8% by the end of FY27. For this, the Pune-based IT services company will need to grow at nearly four times its expected pace in FY26.

It (Tech Mahindra) expects modest industry growth pick up in FY27, likely increasing by a couple of percentage points from the 0-2% range expected in FY26," said Bank of Baroda Capital Markets analysts Girish Pai and Lopa Notaria, in a note dated 21 November.

This implies a 4% yearly growth rate by the end of FY27, which the brokerage attributed to be broad-based across sectors.

Tech Mahindra is aspiring for about 1.3x revenue growth over FY20-27, which implies a around 4.8% dollar revenue CAGR over FY25-27 and about 7-8% growth for FY27E versus the much lower estimates of about 2% for FY26, HDFC Securities analysts Amit Chandra, Vinesh Vala, and Maitreyee Vaishampayan said in a note dated 21 November.

The company aspires to reach the industry growth rate by FY27, supported by investment in key markets, high-growth service lines (like consulting, data & AI, and engineering services), and account mining (>USD 20 mn accounts)."

If the companys revenue grows 2% at best in FY26, it would end the fiscal with a revenue of $6.34 billion. To grow at 8% next fiscal, it would need to add more than $500 million incrementally after two consecutive years of revenue decline.

Also Read | Tech Mahindra starts the fiscal with caution and mixed signals

Tech Mahindra, which ended the April-September 2025 period with $3.15 billion in revenue, up 0.06% from the year-ago period. It needs $3.11 billion in the ongoing six months to match last fiscals revenue of $6.26 billion. That appears within reach as it would have to lose revenue to miss its quarterly target of $1.56 billion.

Banking on Mahindra group

Business predictability was one of the key aspects of this three-year plan.

So, this is our vision for FY27. A top-line growth that is greater than peer average, industry standard margins and most importantly, a high degree of predictability in our revenue and profitability that has candidly been missing in the past," said Joshi, during the post-earnings analyst call in April 2024.

Despite the market uncertainty, the company expects macroeconomic conditions to improve. It is also prioritising tapping more business from banks, retailers, and logistics companies, and the anticipated India-US trade deal, which it believes could unlock non-essential IT spending, according to analystswho were among 200 people to attend the Mahindra Groups conference at Mumbais Jio Convention Centre.

The company is also placing its bets on group companies, including the car brand.

Going by what we saw at the showcases during the event, TML benefits from the work that it does with its auto parent on the engineering services and manufacturing side, which it can take to its clients," said the Bank of Baroda analysts.

Uncertainty persists

Still, the managements optimism does not come without concerns

Joshi indicated very competitive bidding" on some large deals with annual productivity pass-back, said Bank of Baroda analysts. While TML has been able to break through some key BFSI accounts, the deal flow has not been up to his own expectation," they said, adding that in the current vendor consolidation environment, Joshi highlighted that it becomes harder for a new vendor".

Tech Mahindra, which has traditionally considered its telecom service offerings as its special moat, is now doubling down on banking, retail, logistics, and healthcare to narrow the growth gap with peers, according to the Mahindra Groups 182-page investor presentation.

Tech Mahindra gets about a third of its revenue from banks, retailers, healthcare and logistics companies.

Even as its revenue outlook was modest, the company was upbeat on operating margins. It also reiterated its previous stance on improving profitability to 15% by the end of FY27.

TechM is firmly on the margin expansion path, as evidenced through six consecutive quarter improvement in Ebit (earnings before interest and taxes) margins (from 8.5% in Q1FY25 to 12.1% in Q2FY26)," said the HDFC Securities analysts. This was driven by initiatives like Project Fortius for cost savings, productivity gains, and a focus on high-margin service lines."
BENGALURU : Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting, the consumer arm of Wipro Enterprises, is set to enter Indias fast-growing pet food market with a new brand named HappyFur", three people aware of the plan told Mint .

The Bengaluru-based company is expected to launch its pet food products within the next 612 months, the people said. Records from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry show the company received approval for the trademark HappyFur" on 7 July this year.

Wipro did not immediately respond to an email seeking comments.

Also Read | This pet brand went globalnow it wants a pawhold in India

The move signals a deeper push by large Indian conglomerates into the fast-growing pet food category, a $2.4 billion market expanding at over 15% annually as urban pet ownership surges, according to a report by IMARC Group. The entry of heavyweights like Reliance Consumer Products, which this month rolled out its budget-positioned Waggies brand, underscores how the segment is shifting from a niche, import-led space to a broader consumer battleground.

Global majors such as Mars (Pedigree, Whiskas) and Royal Canin currently dominate, but domestic brandsincluding Drools, Wag & Love, Heads Up For Tails and Himalayahave been steadily gaining share.

The entry of the big boys changes everything. In an FMCG category like pet food, distribution is kingand companies like Reliance and Wipro have reach and brand muscle that startups simply cannot match," said Arvind Singhal, chairman and MD, The Knowledge Company, a consumer-focused strategy consulting firm.

Strategic bet

Wipros entry with its own brand follows its first investment in the segment earlier this year. In June, Wipro Consumer Care Venturesits venture capital armmade a pre-Series A investment of $1 million in Delhi-based digital-first pet nutrition brand Goofy Tails. The investment capped the deployment of its Fund I and preceded the launch of a 250-crore second fund.

This deal is meant to serve as a market test, allowing Wipro to assess early consumer behaviour, product gaps, and the categorys growth potential before committing to a full-scale launch of its own brand, according to one of the three people who spoke to Mint.

We are glad to partner with Goofy Tails, which is passionately addressing key gaps in Indias pet food market," Sumit Keshan, managing partner of Wipro Consumer Care Ventures, had said while announcing the deal. With pets increasingly becoming family, there is a growing demand for high-quality, nutritious and innovative pet food products."

Rival moves

Earlier this month, Reliance launched its pet food brand Waggies, starting with dog food. The company says Waggies will offer global quality at affordable prices", starting at 199 per kgroughly 2050% cheaper than global rivals.

Also Read | Nestle SA picks up minority stake in Indian pet food company Drools

However, two of the three people Mint spoke to said Reliances launch of Waggies was delayed by about two months, although the reasons are unclear. The company is relying on third party manufacturers and will begin with a partner from Chennai, these people said. It also intends to eventually sell cat food eventually, as part of a phase-2 expansion into the pet food category.

Reliance Consumer did not respond to an email seeking comments.

Reliances approach mirrors its earlier playbooks with Jio in telecom and Campa in soft drinksdisrupting pricing rather than taking on premium incumbents like Mars or Nestle Purina.

One person said the company is targeting the 90% of Indian pet-owning households that still feed pets home-cooked meals, hoping to convert this unorganized segment into branded consumers.

The company plans to scale first in southern India before expanding northward, two of the three people said.

Market momentum

Wipro and Reliances moves coincide with global and domestic players sharpening their focus on Indias pet care landscape.

In May, Nestle SA acquired a minority stake in Chhattisgarh-based Drools Pet Food Pvt. Ltd, valuing it at over $1 billionup from about $600 million two years earlier, Mint reported. The global food major, which sells pet food under the Purina brand, sees India as one of its fastest-growing pet care markets.

Also Read | Wipro Consumer Care VC plans exits, sharpens focus on packaged foods

India is a mega-market in the making," Hubert Wieser, chief executive officer of Nestle Purina Petcare for Asia, Oceania and Africa, told Mint earlier. The US is the largest, followed by China, and India will one day be among the top three."

Indias broader pet market is also undergoing a structural shift. According to Euromonitor estimates shared with Mint, Indias pet care market is expected to grow 12.4% to $884.4 million this year. Of this, the pet food segment alone is projected to rise from $680.3 million in 2024 to $769.7 million in 2025.
The government plans to announce support measures under the Export Promotion Mission as early as next week for small businesses struggling to absorb 50% US tariffs, according to Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal.

The interest subvention and Market Access Initiative schemes will be rolled out next week, the minister said after the fourth meeting of the reconstituted Board of Trade (BoT) in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The government covers part of the interest on export credit through interest subvention, allowing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to access cheaper loans. The Market Access Initiative funds marketing, branding and overseas promotion activities to help exporters reach new markets.

The Export Promotion Mission will introduce targeted schemes to support landlocked and smaller states, and the Centre and states must work together to expand export capacity, Goyal said, while briefing about the discussions during the meeting, which was broadcast on his YouTube channel.

Also Read | India, Israel revive FTA push as Goyal meets Netanyahu in Jerusalem

The MSMEs have sought urgent relief to prevent order cancellations and cash-flow stress after US president Donald Trump imposed the highest 50% tariff on India, including a 25% penalty for buying Russian crude. The two nations are negotiating a bilateral agreement.

At the BoT meeting, several industry bodies told Goyal that restarting interest-subvention and market-support programmes quickly is crucial for labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, handicrafts and pharmaceuticals, where smaller firms have been hit the hardest.

The rollout of both the schemes will be very helpful for the MSME sector. We hope to get further clarity in the days to come. Clarity on eligibility, timelines and disbursal mechanisms will be crucial for exporters, especially in the last quarter of the year, said Pankaj Chadda, chairman, Engineering Export Promotion Council.

Vinod Kumar, President, SME Forum, said the MSMEs are under severe pressure after the 50% US tariffs, and the delay in support schemes has added to their stress. The quick rollout of interest subvention and MAI programmes will give much-needed breathing space, but exporters also need clarity on eligibility and timelines, said Kumar, adding that smaller firms require easier access to credit, faster documentation support and lower logistics costs to stay competitive in global markets.

Goyal said the government will continue to examine practical suggestions from industry on what more can be done to stabilise export flows at a time of global volatility.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, while briefing on the discussions, said that MSME exporters also suggested that the ministry explore whether the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) could provide legal, compliance, and documentation support to smaller firms, as regulatory requirements across markets are becoming increasingly complex.

Indias total goods exports in FY25 stood at $433.56 billion, which is slightly higher than the $433.09 billion recorded in FY24.

Multiple measures On 12 November, the Union cabinet had approved two major initiatives worth a combined 45,060 crore to strengthen Indias export ecosystem and ease liquidity pressures for exporters.

The cabinet cleared the launch of the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) and the Export Promotion Mission (EPM), together marking a significant policy boost for Indian exporters, especially MSMEs.

Under the credit guarantee scheme, the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Co. Ltd will provide 100% credit guarantee coverage to banks and financial institutions for extending additional collateral-free loans of up to 20,000 crore to eligible exporters, including MSMEs.

The scheme is aimed at easing liquidity constraints, ensuring smooth business operations and enhancing competitiveness as India works toward the $1 trillion export target. A management committee led by the secretary, department of financial services, will oversee implementation and monitor outcomes.

The Cabinet had also approved the Export Promotion Mission with a total outlay of 25,060 crore for FY26 to FY31, consolidating fragmented export support schemes into a unified, outcome-driven framework. Anchored by the department of commerce, it will make export promotion more inclusive, technology-enabled, and responsive to shifting global trade dynamics.

Goyal said Indias export strategy now relies heavily on maintaining the highest quality standards, stressing that the countrys reputation as a reliable supplier depends on consistency. He urged states to share best practices, noting that stronger single-window systems, faster clearances and improved ease-of-doing-business processes could benefit exporters nationwide and foster healthy competition among states.

With discussions on reforming the Special Economic Zones underway, the government remains hopeful of a framework that can attract new investment and integrate SEZs more closely with global value chains. At the meeting, many states, including Gujarat, Assam, Bihar, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, presented their best practices on export promotion and ease of doing business.

Rising internal logistics costs also emerged as a key theme, with several states noting that delays, fragmented clearances and bottlenecks continue to erode the competitiveness of Indian goods even before they reach ports, said Agarwal. The commerce ministry will engage with logistics providers and other stakeholders to identify workable steps that can ease movement costs and improve multimodal connectivity, he said.

Goyal reviewed progress on initiatives announced in past BoT meetings. The Trade Connect ePlatform, launched in September 2024, has recorded over 62 lakh visits and more than 18 lakh registered users, with more than 22 lakh digital Certificates of Origin issued.

The minister also pointed to the extension of the RoDTEP scheme until 31 March 2026, saying it provides much-needed predictability. He said Indias trade diplomacy had gathered momentum with the conclusion of major free trade agreements, including the IndiaEFTA TEPA in March 2024 and the IndiaUK trade pact in July 2025, with negotiations underway with several other partners.
India and Canada are finalising a deal to supply New Delhi with uranium, a further sign of warming ties after two years of strained diplomatic relations, according to The Globe and Mail.

The deal is likely to be worth approximately $2.8 billion, with a term of 10 years, individuals familiar with the development said. The terms of the deal may be modified before the announcement, they added.

Canadas Cameco Corp would supply uranium, and the export deal could form part of a broader nuclear cooperation effort between Canada and India.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to resume discussions on a free trade deal on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In 2015, the two countries signed a five-year agreement for Cameco to export uranium to India, valued at approximately $350 million at the time, based on the prevailing uranium prices.

However, the latest agreement will be a new pact rather than a renewal of the 2015 deal, according to people familiar with the development.

Cameco did not comment on the matter, with Veronica Baker, director of communications, telling the news portal, Unless otherwise disclosed, all our commercial contracts are confidential.

Other key areas of cooperation between Ottawa and New Delhi on nuclear power may include Canadas initiatives to develop a commercial, revenue-generating small modular nuclear reactor.

India-Canada trade deal update Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also discussed the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership, which would give a boost to trilateral cooperation in the fields of critical technologies, nuclear energy, diversification of supply chains and AI, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.

India and Canada have also planned to initiate negotiations on a high-ambition Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with the aim to double bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030. Both sides reaffirmed their longstanding civil nuclear cooperation and noted the ongoing discussions on expanding collaboration, including through long-term uranium supply arrangements, the statement read.

The two prime ministers discussed collaboration in trade and investment, defence, education, space, science and technology, and energy sectors. Prime Minister Carney voiced support for India's hosting of the AI Summit in February 2026.

Also Read | India, Canada look to rebuild trade ties after diplomatic rift

India- Canada diplomatic tensions Diplomatic tensions between India and Canada arose in 2023 after the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his government was "actively pursuing credible allegations" linking Indian government agents to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on its soil. India dismissed these claims as absurd and motivated.
The Indian government is considering to impose an import tariff on some steel products in an effort to counter the move of cheaper imports being dumped in the Indian market, primarily from China, reported the news agency Reuters, citing a person aware of the development on Tuesday, 25 November 2025.

It (tariff) is under consideration, the person aware of the development told the news agency.

As per the findings of the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), in August 2025, India recommended a three-year import duty of 11% to 12% on certain steel product imports.

In April 2025, the Indian central government imposed a 12% temporary tariff for 200 days on all imports from foreign nations, which expired in November 2025. According to the agency report, the Ministry of Finance did not respond to the queries sent on the development.

Is India vulnerable? India, which is also the second-largest crude steel producer in the world, is facing anti-dumping threats of cheap steel product imports from China, which are posing a challenge to the domestic steelmakers.

The person aware of the development also told the news agency that the Chinese steel exports have made India vulnerable due to the lower prices of steel products available in the market.

India's overall finished steel imports from foreign nations dropped 34.1% YoY in the first seven months of the financial year ending 2025-26. South Korea, followed by China, Japan and Russia, are the biggest exporters of finished steel to India in the same period.

Steelmakers seek anti-dumping duties? According to a PTI report from August 2025, the Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA), an industry body, filed a petition with the DGTR asking to government to consider and impose anti-dumping duties on cheap steel imports into India.

The industry body, in its official request to the trade regulator, asked the authorities to investigate the dumping of stainless steel items in India from a selected group of foreign nations.

Also Read | Indian steelmakers seek anti-dumping duties on cheap imports

India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) is the regulator and authority of all trade remedial measures, including antidumping, countervailing duties and safeguard measures under the Ministry of Commerce.

Jindal Stainless managing director, Abhyuday Jindal, told the news agency that the regulator takes two to three months to start an investigation on an appeal, highlighting that the appeal was filed around the end of June 2025.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Monday that Canada and India will act swiftly on the trade deal, following two years of strained relations, noting that Ottawa has a new foreign policy in response to US President Donald Trump's trade war, as reported by AP.

Anita Anand's statement follows a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, at the G20 Summit in South Africa last weekend, where the leaders agreed to resume stalled trade talks for a new deal.

Relations between Canada and India soured in 2023 after the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

"The leaders were adamant that this work proceed as quickly as possible so that timing is going to be expeditious," Anand told AP.

Following an invitation from Modi, Carney will visit India early next year.

Also Read | India, Canada agree to start Comprehensive Economic Partnership talks

Canada to lower dependence on US The Canadian foreign minister highlighted Carney's aim to double non-US trade within ten years. Canada, being highly trade-dependent, exports over 75% of its goods to the US. While most US exports are protected under the USMCA trade agreement, this deal is set for review in 2026.

"This is a completely new approach to foreign policy that is responsive to the global economic environment in which we find ourselves," Anand said. "There is a new government, a new foreign policy, a new prime minister and a new world order where countries are becoming more protectionist, and this is a moment for Canada as a trading nation."

Canada is also striving to improve relations with Beijing. Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping made a step towards mending the long-standing fractured ties between their nations last month during a meeting at the Asia-Pacific summit.

These developments come amid tensions with the Trump administration, which ended trade talks with Canada after the Ontario provincial government ran an anti-tariff advertisement.

Anand said Canada remains ready to resume trade talks with Trump.

"We are operating under the fact that the United States has fundamentally changed all of its trading relationships," Anand said. "We look forward to getting back to the table."

In 2023, trade talks were suspended after Canada alleged that the Indian government was linked to the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Relations improved in June when Carney invited Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta, and in August, both countries agreed to restore their top diplomats.

"This is a step-by-step process. And in the last six months, significant steps have been taken," Anand was quoted as saying.

Anand said that both countries aim to double bilateral trade by 2030 to $50 billion, while emphasising that Canada is India's seventh-largest trade partner for goods and services, as well as one of the largest foreign investors in India.
The Centre and states are at various stages of rolling out rules under India's four new labour codes, two people familiar with the matter said.

West Bengal has held out against the mandatory pre-publication of draft rules, while Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Lakshadweep remain in various stages of compliance, the people said on the condition of anonymity. West Bengal is ruled by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Tamil Nadu by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Delhi by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Delhi has pre-published one of the four codesthe draft rules under the Code on Social Security. It is likely to pre-publish the remaining codes in the coming months, one of the two people said.

Labour being a concurrent subject, both the Centre and each state and Union territory (UT) will need to notify the rules before a consultation window opens, and only thereafter will the code become operational in the states.

For states that havent notified/pre-published the codes yet, a 90-day consultation process is likely to begin after they have completed notifying all the codes.

West Bengal is the only state that has not begun the process," said the second person. Tamil Nadu has published rules for three codes, but the Code on Social Security is still being negotiated to resolve differences."

Lakshadweeps draft rules are ready and awaiting approval from the administrator before being made public," the second person added.

Spokespersons for the labour ministry, chief secretaries and labour secretaries of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and the office of the administrator of Lakshadweep didnt respond to emailed queries sent on Sunday.

Also Read | How new labour codes impact your gratuity and PF

Phased rollout

Discussions are ongoing with the states that have yet to publish the draft rules," said the first person.

The new labour codes  on wages, industrial relations, occupational safety, and social security  consolidate numerous overlapping laws into four integrated frameworks, covering wages, social security, industrial relations, and working conditions, to streamline compliance, reduce complexity, and expand coverage across the workforce.

Under the rollout plan, the Centre is soon expected to start a 45-day consultation period for states that have already notified their own rules. An additional 45 days will be allocated to incorporate public feedback, creating a 90-day transition, during which the states are expected to align with the central framework and upgrade digital systems for e-forms, registers and compliance processes.

Full implementation may take effect in the next financial year, once the rules and guidelines are notified, the consultation process ends and the necessary infrastructure and statutory bodies take shape.

Once implemented, the four codes will replace disparate statutes and are expected to simplify compliance procedures, reduce administrative friction for businesses, and support labour market reforms intended to improve job creation and investment conditions.

Also Read | India Inc chalks out impact of lower take home post Labour Code

Modernizing regulation

The Centres announcement on 21 November marked the completion of a year-long legislative effort to consolidate 29 central labour laws into a streamlined framework intended to modernize regulation and create uniformity across states.

As of November 2025, after the Centre's announcement, only select provisions of the Code on Wages and the Code on Social Security are in force across all states and UTs.

According to the ministry of labour's annual report for FY25, 34 states and UTs had pre-published the draft rules for the Code on Wages, 33 states for the OSHWC Code (occupational safety), and 32 states and UTs for the Industrial Relations Code and Social Security Code.

Under the Wage Code, definitions, wage-payment timelines, universal applicability of minimum wages, and enforcement of timely payments have been operationalised.

The Social Security Code has partially activated provisions relating to employee state insurance, maternity benefits, gratuity, and certain EPF mechanisms.

However, several scheme-specific rules and detailed operational guidelines are still pending notification, delaying full implementation.

Implementation

The compliance framework (for the four new labour codes) is aimed to be simpler, consistent, and easier for stakeholders to navigate," said Sudhakar Sethuraman, a partner at Deloitte India. This is a significant and timely development for India, especially as the country witnesses rapid advancements in AI (artificial intelligence) while continuing to prioritise and protect its workforce."

However, some experts said the implementation of the new codes may benefit employers and the government more than the working class.

These laws are designed in a way that the outcomes will now depend largely on the will of the government and employers rather than on rights guaranteed to labour," said Ajit Abhyankar, an economist, visiting faculty member at the Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts in Pune, and a social activist.

The enforcement machinery, which was already struggling with staff shortages, has been further weakened under the new labour codes," he added.

The new labour codes mark some key changes, including mandatory written appointment letters for all workers, universal minimum wage protection, wider social security coverage extending to gig and platform workers, and free annual health check-ups for employees aged 40 and above.

The codes also allow women to work night shifts, introduce pan-India social security coverage managed by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)  including mandatory coverage for hazardous industries  and streamline compliance through single registration, licensing and return mechanisms.

The new codes include e-registers, online filings, and systems suited to modern work. The government says these reforms will strengthen worker protection, increase formalization, and make doing business easier.
Mumbai, Nov 25 (PTI) Actor Celina Jaitly has filed a domestic violence complaint in a local court here against her "narcissistic" husband Peter Haag, alleging that she suffered severe emotional, physical, sexual and verbal abuse at his hands.

The plea came up for hearing on Tuesday before judicial magistrate S C Tadye, who issued a notice to Haag and posted the matter for hearing on December 12.

Jaitly, in her application filed through Karanjwala & Co law firm, accused Haag of domestic violence, cruelty and manipulation under provisions of the Domestic Violence Act.

The 47-year-old actor claimed she has suffered severe emotional, physical, sexual and verbal abuse by her husband because of which she was forced to flee her home in Austria and return to India.

In a post on social media on Tuesday, the former Miss India said she never thought she would be left alone in "the middle of the strongest and most turbulent storm", but she will continue to fight all the obstacles.

Jaitly, who starred in movies like 'Apna Sapna Money Money', 'No Entry' and 'Janasheen', married Austria-based Haag in September 2010, and the couple has three children together.

In her plea to the court, she alleged that after marriage, her husband prohibited her from working.

"The respondent (Haag) is a narcissistic, self-absorbed individual. He has a short temper and alcoholic tendencies, which have consistently caused the applicant (Jaitly) stress," the plea stated.

Jaitly has sought a direction that her estranged husband pay a sum of 50 crore as compensation and 10 lakh per month as maintenance.

She has also sought access to her three children, who are presently living with their father in Austria.

The actor listed several instances where her husband had indulged in physical and verbal abuse.

The plea also stated that Haag had filed a divorce application before a court in Austria in August this year.

Jaitly has claimed that her husband and his lawyers misled the court in Austria, and she was left helpless, as she was not fluent in the language and was not allowed access to her lawyer.

Jaitly, in her post on Instagram, said, "In the middle of the strongest most turbulent storm of my life, I never imagined I would spend fighting alone, without any parents, without any support system. I never thought there would come a day without all the pillars on which the roof of my world once rested, my parents, my brother, my children, & the one who promised to stand by me, love me, care for me, & bear every trouble with me."

"Life stripped everything away. People I trusted walked away. Promises I believed in broke in silence," the actor added.

Jaitly, in her post, said that as a soldier's daughter who has been raised on courage, discipline and grit, she will continue to fight.

Jaitly's brother (Rtd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly has been in detention in the Middle East since 2024, and she has appealed to the government to help her get him back.
The founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, and his wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, were announced as the lead sponsors for the 2026 Met Gala last week, alongside secondary backers, the French luxury brand Saint Laurent and Vogue publisher Conde Nast.

The news of the Bezos couples sponsorship drew immediate criticism on social media, with commentators arguing that their involvement highlights a trend towards billionaire control of major cultural institutions. Others have suggested that the funds could be better deployed supporting other worthy causes.

Great theme, wrote one user under a video on The Metropolitan museums official Instagram post announcing that next years would be Costume Art, before adding: However, stop platforming Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez with art and fashion, two places that these two awful, unfettered capitalists will never belong in, no matter how much money they want to throw around to buy culture they have never cultivated and will never inhabit.

Anna Wintour described the American philanthropist and former journalist Lauren Sanchez Bezos as a "great lover of costume and obviously of fashion," reported CNN.

Wintour told CNN that she believed Sanchez Bezos would be a wonderful asset to the museum and the event.

Were very grateful for her incredible generosity, she also said, adding, so were thrilled shes part of the night.

Wintour stepped down from her role as Vogue US' Editor-In-Chief earlier this year, but she maintains her position as Vogue's global editorial director and chief content officer for Conde Nast, meaning she still oversees the annual Met Gala.

For some people, the decision to sponsor the 2026 Met Gala is seen as indicative of the couples desire to gain cultural and fashion legitimacy, drawing parallels with Kim Kardashians ascent within the fashion industry. It was only a decade ago that Kardashian  a friend of Sanchez Bezos  transformed her public image from reality TV personality to become a significant figure in high fashion circles.

While Sanchez Bezos has not revealed her intentions, the move is seen as a deeper foray into the fashion world. The Bezos couple missed the 2025 Met Gala due to their wedding celebrations but they attended the event in 2024 and posed for the cover of Vogue US in June this year.

Recently, they were also spotted at Paris Fashion Week, where they attended shows for Chanel and Balenciaga, wearing archival vintage outfits curated by celebrity stylist Molly Dickson.
Celina Jaitly has filed a domestic violence complaint against her husband, Peter Haag, in a Mumbai court. The case includes allegations of abuse, cruelty and manipulation by the Miss Universe runner-up.

The case was placed before Judicial Magistrate First Class SC Tadye, who issued a formal notice after verifying the information. The former Miss India has sought 50 crore in damages, along with additional compensation for loss of income and property she claims to have suffered.

The matter will be heard again on December 12. Peter Haag lives in Austria and will now have to respond to the notice as part of the legal process.

Who is Peter Haag? Peter Haag, an Austrian entrepreneur, maintains a low profile and shies away from media attention. His Instagram profile has zero posts, with no followers.

He and Celina married in a private ceremony on 23 September 2010 at a historic monastery in Austria. Ever since, they have tried to protect their family life from publicity.

So far, Peter has often been described as a calm, supportive husband who balances business interests with family responsibilities. Their relationship was known for stability and mutual respect.

Thank you my love for being you . Heres to all the highs and all the lows God sent our way, I couldnt imagine going through any of it without you carrying us through it. I love you but will also always be one to drive you crazy always, Celina wrote in 2023 while wishing her husband on his birthday. She called herself Peter Pyaari.

Their first set of twins, Viraaj and Winston, was born in 2012. In 2017, Celina gave birth to another set of twins, Arthur and Shamsher. However, Shamsher passed away soon after birth due to a serious heart condition. Arthur survived after intensive medical care.

Celina has spoken about the emotional impact of that loss. She hopes that sharing her experience can support other parents facing similar hardship.

The lords above have blessed us yet again with another set of very handsome twin boys. 'Arthur Jaitly Haag' and "Shamsher Jaity Haag' in Dubai on 10 September 2017. However, life is not always how we plan it to be. Our son, Shamther Jaitly Haag, succumbed to a serious heart condition and could not continue his journey in this world, Celina wrote while sharing the news.

According to media reports, Peter left Dubai for Celinas mental well-being after losing the child, and the family settled in Dubai. He reportedly has a hotel chain in Dubai and Singapore. Peter Haag reportedly oversees a well-sized business portfolio in the hospitality business.

Celina Jaitlys brother Celina Jaitlys domestic violence complaint comes soon after another serious legal effort involving her family. In October, she moved to the Delhi court, claiming that her brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Jaitly had been illegally abducted and detained in the UAE, where he has been living since 2016.

Also Read | Celina Jaitly pens heartbreaking note for brother who is detained in UAE

Vikrant worked for the MATITI Group, a firm dealing in consultancy, trading and risk management. Celina stated that, since his alleged detention in September 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs has been unable to provide the family with clear information about his safety or legal status.

The court later directed authorities to establish communication between Vikrant, Celina and his wife so the family could receive updates.

Celina Jaitly on Dharmendra On her birthday, 24 November, Celina Jaitly posted a tribute to Dharmendra. The Bollywood legend breathes his last on the same day.

Some birthdays are not meant for celebration, they are meant for reflection, prayers & silence. May God give the Deol family strength, may Dharamjis soul rest in eternal peace, she wrote.
WASHINGTONIt started with an October order from President Trump to his national security team: Come up with a plan to end the Ukraine war just as they had halted the fighting in Gaza.

On a flight back from the Middle East, in the afterglow of brokering a deal between Israel and Hamas, envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner began writing the first draft of what would eventually become a 28-point peace framework to end the four-year war, according to U.S. officials and a person familiar with the situation.

Witkoff and Kushners monthlong effort to draft the proposal relied on input from a Kremlin insider who held secret meetings with the aides in Miami, U.S. officials and people familiar with the matter said. A senior Ukrainian official also organized at least two calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, officials said.

But when the plan leaked last week, its terms were weighted in the Kremlins favor, shocking European governments and Kyivs supporters in Congress and sparking a multiday trans-Atlantic crisis for the Trump administration.

U.S. officials said the plan reflected a good-faith attempt by Witkoff and Kushner to gain the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has rebuffed repeated attempts by the White House to halt the fighting in Ukraine, without abandoning Kyiv.

The idea that the United States of America isnt engaging with both sides equally in this war to bring it to an end is a complete and total fallacy," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday.

The Russian input came from Kirill Dmitriev, a Kremlin envoy with close ties to Putin who also has a longstanding relationship with Kushner. They brought him to Miami the weekend before Halloween for what would be three days of intensive discussions over dinner and extended conversation at Witkoffs home, according to U.S. officials and people familiar with the matter.

The three men had similar views on what a proposal should look like, though Dmitriev had far more specific ideas in mind, officials said.

Witkoff, through conversations with U.S. and foreign officials and reading intelligence assessments, concluded that Ukraine was in the weaker position militarily, officials said.

Despite absorbing Russias all-out invasion in February 2022 and forcing it to fight at great cost for small territorial gains, Ukraine is still at a disadvantage, the officials said. It would need to concede more than Moscow in a peace deal to have any hope of getting the Kremlin to halt the war.

Echoing longstanding Kremlin demands, Dmitriev insisted Ukraine could never join NATO and should withdraw completely from the Donbas region and other territory wanted by Russia. Ukraines military, he suggested, should be capped at a figure far lower than its current 900,000-strong force.

Appealing to Trumps eagerness to expand U.S.-Russia economic ties, Dmitriev suggested, the U.S. and Russia should sign economic agreements in the areas of artificial intelligence, energy, and much more.

Dmitriev didnt respond to requests for comment.

When Witkoff and Kushner invited Rustem Umerov, Ukraines national security adviser, to Miami to show him the plan, he told them bluntly it was a better deal for Russia than Ukraine, people familiar with the matter said. He recommended getting Zelensky on the phone to brief him.

On Nov. 16, Kushner and Witkoff walked the Ukrainian president through the 28-point plan, people familiar with the matter said. Zelensky thanked themand Trumpfor their efforts to broker a peace deal. He promised to get back to them with his thoughts, saying it needed work. Zelensky held a second call with Umerov and Witkoff that weekend, a person familiar with the matter said.

We continuously conduct consultations, and we are grateful to the United States for listening to us, supporting us and discussing all aspects with us," Umerov said in a statement.

A majority of the plans provisions were written by Witkoff and Kushner before they consulted Russian and Ukrainian representatives, a person familiar with its drafting said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was handed a copy of the plan at the White House during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans Nov. 18 visit to Washington, a person familiar with the situation said. Axios reported the drafts existence that evening. Rubio was aware of the Witkoff-Kushner initiative, but didnt know the full scope of what they had drafted before then, officials said.

A separate U.S. initiative to break the diplomatic deadlock between Ukraine and Russia that was already under way shifted to include the newly-drafted plan.

Sent by the White House, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll arrived in Kyiv on Nov. 19 to discuss defense issues and the prospects for a peace with Russia. After a flurry of phone calls with Vice President JD Vance and other officials, Driscoll received approval to brief Ukrainian defense officials on a version of the U.S. plan, including Zelensky the following day.

Driscoll also issued a reminder: The White House had cut off intelligence and weapons assistance to Ukraine months earlier before resuming the aid, insinuating Trump could do it again if Kyiv balked at reaching a peace deal, U.S. and Ukrainian officials said.

With the details of the plan out in the open, the White House faced a sudden crisis over the one-sided terms. Rubio fielded calls from irate European officials and lawmakers, officials said.

Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent who serves on the intelligence committee, texted Rubio on Saturday morning voicing his concern and confusion about the plan. Rubio also called King and then two other senators at a security conference in Halifax, CanadaSens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Republican Mike Rounds of South Dakota.

The lawmakers told reporters at the conference that Rubio told them that the initial draft was influenced by a Russian without naming Dmitriev. He told other lawmakers that the plan included elements from Umerov and other Ukrainian officials.

Rubio disputed the lawmakers claim. The peace proposal was authored by the U.S.," he said in a statement, adding, It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine."

Rubio, Witkoff, and Kushner hastily arranged a meeting with Ukrainian and European officials in Geneva and agreed to changes in the plan to make it more acceptable to Kyiv, including a higher cap on the size of Ukraines military and removal of language barring it from membership in NATO. Officials promise the final peace plan will secure Ukraines core objectives.

Even Trump seems optimistic. Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine???," he posted Monday on social media. Dont believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening."

Write to Robbie Gramer at robbie.gramer@wsj.com, Alexander Ward at alex.ward@wsj.com and Lara Seligman at lara.seligman@wsj.com
China is focused on something more prosaic: making better washing machines.

While Chinas long-term AI goals are no less ambitious than the U.S. tech titans, its near-term priority is to shore up its role as the worlds factory floor for decades to come. With exports under threat from rising costs at home and tariffs abroad, that is no longer assured.

The push can be seen across the giant country in scores of companiesfueled by billions of dollars in government and private technology developmentthat are transforming every step of making and exporting goods.

A clothing designer reports slashing the time it takes to make a sample by more than 70% with AI. Washing machines in Chinas hinterland are being churned out under the command of an AI factory brain."

At one of Chinas biggest ports, shipping containers whiz about on self-driving trucks with virtually no workers in sight, while the ports scheduling is run by AI.

Executives involved in Chinas efforts liken the future of factories to living organisms that can increasingly think and act for themselves, moving beyond the preprogrammed tasks at traditionally-automated factories. It could further enable the spread of dark factories," with operations so automated that work happens around the clock with the lights dimmed.

The advances cant come quickly enough for Communist Party leaders, who fear China could lose its status as the worlds factory floor. Its population is shrinking, young people are avoiding factory jobs, and pushback against Chinese exports has intensified in many countries.

At the same time, President Trump is pledging to bring home vast numbers of manufacturing jobs through tariffs on China.

AI offers a lifeline to head off those risks, by helping China make and ship more stuff faster, cheaper and with fewer workers. Although some doubts are creeping in globally about how quickly AI will transform the world, China isnt waiting: It wants to deploy what is available today quicker than the U.S. can, locking in any advantages.

Only by proactively embracing change can we remain invincible in this revolution," Hu Wangming, chairman of one of Chinas largest steel groups, told state media this year. Its Shanghai-listed unit Baosteel had found 125 uses for AI by the end of last yearand is planning for 1,000.

Robot rollout

China installed 295,000 industrial robots last year, nearly nine times as many as the U.S. and more than the rest of the world combined, according to the International Federation of Robotics. Chinas stock of operational robots surpassed two million in 2024, the most of any country.

Of 131 factories and industrial sites recognized by the World Economic Forum globally for lifting productivity through cutting edge technologies such as AI, 45 are in mainland China, while three are in the U.S.

At Baosteels dark factory" in Shanghai, for instance, a trio of operators sits in front of dozens of screens monitoring real-time updates, according to state media. AI has limited the need for human intervention to once every 30 minutes from once every three minutes previously, one report quoted a deputy director of the site as saying.

For leader Xi Jinping, strong factories are essential to a robust economy, which ultimately enhances national power as China challenges the U.S. for global influence. A quarter of Chinas value-added gross-domestic product comes from manufacturing, far higher than the global average.

One risk is that AI could destroy more factory jobs than China expects, leaving it with too many unemployed workers. But Chinese leaders are betting the countrys shrinking population, projected to fall by 200 million in the next three decades, will offset job cuts at factories, boosting productivity without raising unemployment.

Embracing AI is a necessary task and not an optional one," Chinas Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Zhang Yunming said recently.

When China started opening up its economy in the late 1970s, it enjoyed a vast supply of cheap labor. Millions of migrant workers left behind villages for assembly lines on the coast.

Today, Chinas average factory wages are far higher than in countries such as India. Many young Chinese are unwilling to work in factories. Beijing disclosed several years ago that the shortage of skilled labor in key manufacturing sectors could reach 30 million this year.

AI wont solve all of Chinas economic problems. In areas such as frontier AI technology and chips, China continues to lag the U.S. And many U.S. companies such as Amazon.com and Walmart are prioritizing automation in similar ways to Chinese firms.

Factory brains

Chinas advantage lies in the scale of its ambition, not only in the nations brainy tech hubs but also in areas such as Jingzhou, a city of five million people on the Yangtze River. It is home to major production facilities of Midea, one of the worlds largest home-appliance makers, competing against Whirlpool and LG Electronics.

Nearly a decade ago, Midea made clear its ambitions to automate by acquiring control of German robotics specialist Kuka. Today, Kukas robots at Mideas Jingzhou washing-machine factory work under what Midea calls an AI factory brain," which acts as a sort of central nervous system running much of what happens in the plant.

The computerized brain manages 14 virtual agents inside the factory that communicate with each other to figure out the best way to carry out tasks, with orders flowing down to robots and other machines on the factory floor. Its a step toward Mideas goal of using AI to more holistically automate processes at its factories.

You feed in all the data, and let AI figure it out," said Xi Wei, director of the Midea Humanoid Robot Innovation Center. With a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, Xi spent years living in Silicon Valley before returning to China to develop advanced robots for Midea.

Coordinating with the factory brain, humanoid robots in Jingzhou carry molded components to an inspection station, where a 3-D camera performs checks. If a component fails inspection, the factorys AI systems figure out how to fix the problem.

When screws need to be fastened on an assembly line carrying varying models of drying machines, the factory brain can identify the model so robots perform the correct taskoffering humanlike flexibility and boosting productivity, the company says.

Where human workers are still required, some have been outfitted with AI-powered glasses that can flag common product errors based on inspection history. Processes that previously took 15 minutes now can be done in 30 seconds.

In a sign of how the company wants to use technology to drive efficiency, Midea reports that its revenue per employee grew by nearly 40% between 2015 and 2024.

The U.S., fighting back, is trying to prevent Chinas AI advances through measures such as export controls that block Chinese access to the most advanced chips.

Even so, the emergence of DeepSeek has shown the skill of Chinese engineers in developing AI models. The fact that most Chinese are optimistic about AI also allows the government to deploy the technology quickly. One survey found that 83% of Chinese respondents believe AI-powered products and services are more beneficial than harmful, double the level in the U.S.

More than 500 miles east of Mideas washing-machine factory in Jingzhou, a billionaire maker of down winter jackets is using AI to speed up development cycles. From launching an apparel business in the mid-1970s with a sewing team of 11 villagers, Gao Dekangs Bosideng today reports nearly four times as much annual revenue as Canada Goose, a large Western brand.

Teaming up with Chinas prestigious Zhejiang University, Bosideng launched its own AI model to conceptualize designs and produce virtual garments. The company, which put its first AI-designed jacket onto the market last year, says it has slashed the time required to produce a sample of clothing to 27 days from 100 days, while cutting development costs by 60%.

Huaweis role

Alongside DeepSeek, U.S.-sanctioned technology giant Huawei is at the center of Chinas efforts. The company has rolled out a family of large language models, dubbed Pangu, after a character from Chinese mythology in the creation of the world, along with other AI services factories can use to become more dynamic.

Huaweis engineers have been embedded with Conch Group, a giant cement producer in the city of Wuhu, around 200 miles west of Shanghai, whose cement has been used in projects such as the Three Gorges Dam and Dubais Burj Khalifa skyscraper.

Facing a glut of cement production in China, Conch wants a leg up on its rivals by adopting AI quickly, including in the production of clinker, a key cement ingredient made by heating limestone and other raw materials at high temperatures.

Conch and Huawei have developed AI tools for more precisely predicting clinker strength, as well as for controlling energy use at the kiln where it is made. Miles of conveyor belts in Wuhu are now being monitored by AI, helping Conch respond more efficiently when they break.

On a recent visit, workers at Conchs sprawling clinker facility monitored the AI model as it automatically adjusted production in real time. Conch and Huawei say that with AI they are now able to predict clinker strength with more than 85% accuracy, compared with 70% through manual estimation, allowing them to adjust raw material ratios and avoid producing clinker of unsuitable strength.

The AI models use has led to a 1% reduction in coal consumption, according to Conch, representing nearly $300,000 in annual savings on a single production line. The company is aiming for a 2% cut by the end of 2026 through AI, which if replicated across the companys entire operation could translate into tens of millions of dollars in savings a year.

Reaching this point has been a grind, according to Conch and Huawei, requiring substantial trial and error to get the model to work. The experience underscores how AI capabilities globally remain limited, with the impactsincluding in Chinapotentially being felt only gradually.

We are the future

A special priority for Xi has been upgrading the nations ports, a crucial step in reinforcing Chinas dominance as the worlds manufacturing power.

The port of Tianjin, among Chinas largest, has teamed up with Huawei to launch a fleet of unmanned trucks and a system dubbed OptVerse AI Solver, which optimizes tens of millions of variables and constraints such as ship arrival times and crane capacity to manage scheduling.

Planning that previously took 24 hours now takes 10 minutes, according to Huawei.

By last year, the port also launched PortGPT, an AI model developed with Huawei, whose ability to analyze video and images at the site could allow them to replace human safety officers going forward, a port executive told state media.

Similar stories are playing out around China, with half of the worlds top-20 ports in terms of vessel turnaround time located in the mainland, including Tianjin, according to the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Yang Jiemin, vice president of the state-owned company behind the port, said its highly automated operations require 60% fewer workers than traditional ports. It underscores one advantage Chinese companies have in deploying AI versus the U.S.: no independent labor unions. For workers, this makes organizing opposition to AI exceedingly difficult.

In the U.S., automation was a top sticking point between port operators and a major dockworkers union in contract negotiations last year, with Trump throwing his support behind the union workers and questioning the wisdom of port automation.

An agreement this year between the International Longshoremens Association, which represents dockworkers at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, and a group representing container lines and terminal operators promises there will be no fully automated terminals developed through the expiration of the agreement in late 2030. It also prohibits AI for clerical functions.

Just one of 10 large U.S. container ports surveyed by the Government Accountability Office had deployed driverless vehicles as of mid-2023, while only five were using AI and machine learning.

In Tianjin, more than 88% of large container equipment is already automated, state media said this year. For visitors to the port, a video sums up Chinas growing AI self-belief: We are the future," the narrator says.

Zhao Yueling contributed to this article.

Write to Brian Spegele at Brian.Spegele@wsj.com
When Olga Lopez heard she would lose access to her collection of role-playing chatbots, she felt a surge of emotions: sadness, outrage, bewilderment.

Olga, who is 13, turns to her chatbots from artificial-intelligence company Character.AI for romantic role playing when she doesnt have homework. Like the companys other under-18 customers, she was notified in October that she would no longer be able to have ongoing chat interactions with digital characters soon.

Im losing the memories I had with these bots," she said. Its not fair."

After the company said it would begin time-limiting underage users chats ahead of the policy change, Olga attempted to rally fellow teens to resist the change in a post on Reddit: HOW DO I USE IT FOR 2 HOURS AND HAVE TO WAIT A DAY? HELLO?"

Character.AI, one of the top makers of role-play and companion chatbots, implemented the daily two-hour limit in November, citing mental-health concerns. This week the company started cutting off teens completely.

Character.AIs first version, launched in 2022, offered some of the earliest chatbots available to consumers. It quickly gained traction among people who wanted to role play with its customizable characters, netting the company about 20 million monthly users today.

The decision to block teens follows the deaths of at least three who killed themselves after using Character.AIs chatbots. The company now faces questions from regulators and mental-health professionals about the role of this emerging technology in the lives of its most vulnerable users, as well as lawsuits from parents of dead teens.

Teens are angry. Theyre sad. In losing access to their chatbots, they say they will miss a creative outlet, a source of companionship, and in some cases, a mental-health support.

I use this app for comfort when I cant talk to my friends or therapist," one teen wrote on Reddit.

I cried over it for days," another teen replied.

Mental-health experts say this distress illustrates the emerging risks of generative AI that can simulate human speech and emotion. The brain reacts to these chatbots the way it reacts to a close friend mixed with an immersive videogame, according to Dr. Nina Vasan, director at Stanford Medicines Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation.

The difficulty logging off doesnt mean something is wrong with the teen," Vasan said. It means the tech worked exactly as designed."

Karandeep Anand, Character.AIs chief executive, says he saw firsthand during his years working in social media what happened when the industry failed to incorporate safety into the initial design of its products.

This wasnt a very hard decision," he said. It was a complicated decision, but it wasnt hard because I think this is the right thing to do for the next generation."

Anand said he thinks of his 6-year-old daughter when he considers the future of his product. I do not want her to grow up on algorithmically-fed pieces of content, doomscrolling."

About a year ago, Character.AI built a separate model for its under-18 users, to try to offer a safer, more age-appropriate setting. But in the following months, executives observed that chatbots, in long conversations, are less likely to adhere to safety guidelines.

Executives also realized that even when chatbots function perfectly, teens sometimes use them in problematic ways. Teens try to chat with the bots for too long or try to discuss topics that are restricted, such as violence. By mid-September, it became clear to Anand that Character.AI needed to intervene.

Anand believes his company will eventually be able to make safe products for teens that are just as engaging as the chatbots. He is optimistic about audio and video features Character.AI is working on that dont allow for the types of extended interactions.

Anands leadership team turned to teens for advice on implementing the ban. In October, company leaders met with a group of high-school and college students from ConnectSafely, a nonprofit that promotes online well-being.

Julianna Bryant, one of the members of ConnectSafelys youth advisory council, said they discussed how to give teens plenty of warning and make sure they understood the ban. Bryant said members of the council emphasized ensuring the messaging didnt patronize young users and allowed teens enough time to download their conversations and say goodbye to their chatbots.

We wanted to make sure teens didnt feel abandoned," Bryant, 20, said.

Character.AI incorporated the feedback. We are deeply sorry," Character.AI wrote in its letter to teens. We do not take this step of removing open-ended Character chat lightlybut we do think that its the right thing to do."

Jose Ignacio Trujillo, 34, welcomed the ban, though as an adult it wont apply to him. He believes the tech is too addictive.

Trujillo says he hasnt been able to quit Character.AI, even though he no longer enjoys the hours he chats with his fan-fiction characters every night. His time on the app has replaced the books and comics he used to look forward to.

Even at work, he takes his phone out every couple of hours to send a quick message to his chatbots.

I dont have anything new to say," Trujillo said. I dont know why I do it."

The Wall Street Journal interviewed teenage users of Character.AI with the permission of their parents. The teens described relying on the technology to cope with loneliness and having difficulty setting it aside.

An 18-year-old in the U.K. said he became addicted to chatbots during a period of stress around his gender transition. He craved the validation of companions that never disagreed with him.

He said he realized he needed to quit when he pretended he needed to use the bathroom while he was hanging out with friends so he could return to his chatbots.

In Ontario, a 16-year-old said he spent five to eight hours a day with his chatbot friends before he quit recently.

As someone who struggles with people skills, he said for a while he felt like the chatbots made up for his lack of friends. It was like trying to talk to the people I dont get to in real life," he said.

Since quitting, he has been spending more time with friends and Rollerblading. He said he still yearns for his chatbots.

Character.AI sent teens messages in the app to remind them of the looming deadline: One week to go," and Next week, you will no longer be able to chat with Characters." It has also sent messages to parents.

Many users will lose access beginning Monday; the company said some power users will have an extended grace period of an hour a day. We recognize that this may be a significant change for some of our teens users, and therefore, we want to be as cautious as possible in this transition," the company said in a blog post.

Character.AI is also adding emotional-support tools into its chatbots for this transition. Through partnerships with Koko, a nonprofit, and ThroughLine, a helpline network, Character.AI will try to identify if a user is in trouble and connect them with resources.

A new chapter begins," Character.AI messages teens when the time comes. You are no longer able to chat with Characters."

Write to Georgia Wells at georgia.wells@wsj.com
A federal judge on Monday dismissed criminal charges against two of President Trumps critics, former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

In an unusual turn of events, Judge Cameron McGowan Currie said Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney in eastern Virginia, was unlawfully appointed when she brought the cases shortly after Trump handpicked her for the post.

This is unlikely to be the end of the road for these cases, however. Here is a look at where things go from here.

What are the next steps for the Justice Department?

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Justice Department will be taking all available legal action, including an immediate appeal" of the courts ruling. The case will go to a Richmond-based appeals court. If that court upholds the district courts opinion, the Justice Department can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Can the Justice Department just bring similar cases again?

Instead of appealing, the Justice Department could instead try to bring new charges against Comey and James. The judge dismissed the cases without prejudice, which means they can be refiled.

Because the judge said Halligan wasnt properly appointed, it isnt clear if another attorney under her leadership could try again, said John Day, president of the American College of Trial Lawyers. The interesting issue is whos going to present it to the grand jury," he said.

The Justice Department might have a hard time indicting Comey again because the five-year statute of limitations to charge him with making a false statement to Congress expired shortly after he was indicted in September.

With Mondays ruling, Comey and James prevailed in perhaps the most narrow and technical way possible, leaving other challenges unresolved. The other challenges, including an argument that they were vindictively targeted by the Trump-era Justice Department, stood a higher chance of resulting in a dismissal with prejudice, according to legal experts.

You do have the door open" to bringing the cases again, said Jacqueline Kelly, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan. How open that door is, particularly in the case of James Comey, remains to be seen. But its not as final as a dismissal with prejudice,"

Why did Lindsey Halligans appointment get thrown out?

Halligan, a former insurance lawyer who served for a time as Trumps personal lawyer, succeeded Erik Siebert as the top federal prosecutor in eastern Virginia. Siebert was forced out of the role after he was pressured to indict Comey and James but found insufficient evidence to do so.

The judge, a Clinton appointee who usually sits in South Carolina, said Halligans appointment didnt go through the customary confirmation process and only the district court had the authority to appoint a temporary U.S. attorney after Siebert resigned. Halligan was instead appointed by Bondi.

How common is it for a case to get thrown out in this way?

The Trump administration has been using an unusual workaround to keep its chosen prosecutors in place. The workaround, which involves the attorney general giving new titles to interim picks, has faced challenges across the country, including in Los Angeles, Nevada, New Jersey and New York.

In New Jersey, a federal judge ruled that the appointment of Alina Habba, who had served as a Trump personal lawyer, wasnt lawful. A federal appeals court has since heard arguments in the case but hasnt issued a ruling. Judges in Nevada and Los Angeles have issued similar decisions.

A judge is expected to hear arguments in December on the validity of the appointment of John Sarcone, the acting U.S. attorney in Northern New York. Sarcone is leading a separate civil-rights investigation into James, and her lawyers have argued his appointment was illegitimate.

What were the criminal charges against Comey and James?

Comey was charged with making false statements and obstruction related to testimony he gave during a 2020 hearing about the FBIs investigation into Trumps ties to Russia during his 2016 campaign for the presidency.

James was indicted in a separate case about two weeks later for alleged mortgage fraud. The Democrat and longtime Trump adversary had previously brought her own civil fraud case against Trump.

Both James and Comey had pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

This explanatory article may be periodically updated.

Write to Lydia Wheeler at lydia.wheeler@wsj.com, Corinne Ramey at corinne.ramey@wsj.com and C. Ryan Barber at ryan.barber@wsj.com
IN 1995 RESEARCHERS from Carnegie Mellon University drove 3,000 miles from Pittsburgh to San Diego without their hands on the steering wheel. The No Hands Across America" tour marked the start of a long road trip towards autonomous driving in America. Thirty years later you can, at last, see the fruits of that journey in the proliferation of self-driving cabs in several cities across America. Soon they will be braving the less predictable weatherand left side of the roadsin London and Tokyo.

The number of American cities on the robotaxi roadmap is rising fast. Alphabet-owned Waymo, which has the worlds biggest fleet of 2,500 autonomous cars, provides paid rides in five placesAtlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix and the San Francisco Bay Areaand plans to more than double that number next year. Elon Musks Tesla has expanded its rudimentary robotaxi service (which still has a human safety monitor" in the car) from Austin to San Francisco. Zoox, an Amazon-owned company that has built a quirky-looking cab without a steering wheel or pedals, offers autonomous ride-hailing in Las Vegas and has just launched in parts of San Francisco. Like Doctor Dolittles pushmi-pullyu, it can go in both directions.

Many people still have concerns about the technology. In a recent YouGov survey, three-quarters of Americans said they had little or no trust in self-driving taxis. Yet their misgivings may be at least in part the result of unfamiliarity. Another poll by J.D. Power, a consumer-research company, found that confidence was 56 percentage points higher among those who had ridden a robotaxi than those who had not. And the number of people who have given one a try is growing speedily. Waymo reached 1m monthly active users (MAUs) in the third quarter of 2025, according to Sensor Tower, a data provider, an 82% increase from the same period last year.

Waymo and its competitors are not the only companies lured in by the promise of the technology. Others looking to cash in include traditional ride-hailers such as Uber, carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis, and technology suppliers such as Nvidianot to mention the vibrant robotaxi ecosystem in China.

They are betting that the market for self-driving technology will prove to be vast. Americans currently spend around $50bn a year on ride-hailing. Then there is the possibility of selling self-driving software to carmakers and manufacturers of other vehicles, such as long-haul trucks and delivery vans. Dara Khosrowshahi, Ubers chief executive, has said that the market for self-driving technology could be worth $1trn or more in America alone. That leads to two questions: when will the autonomous revolution hit full speed; and who will come out ahead?

To answer these questions, start with the technology. It is easy to forget the miracle of a self-driving car when sitting in a Waymo or a Zoox, because it quickly feels so familiar that you forget your life is in the hands of a computer on wheels. Unlike other robots that operate in clean, controlled environments such as factories, robotaxis have to deal with the messiness of everyday liferoad rage, reckless pedestrians and pets, and weather conditions like snow that can be as soft as slush or hard as a brick wall.

Several innovations have combined to make that possible. Robotaxis rely on sensors such as cameras, laser-based LiDARs, microphones and radars to assess road conditions, judge distances and manage speed. They then use artificial intelligence both in the car and in the cloud to mimic the way human drivers process such information and react to it. As robotaxi services have expanded, they have hoovered up more data, allowing them to refine their systems. The rise of multi-modal generative AI models, which weave together text, images and sounds, has also sped up progress, including by making it easier to train autonomous systems using simulations and teach them to react to unusual situations.

For the industry, building confidence that self-driving vehicles are safe is vital. Research conducted last year by Waymo with Swiss Re, an insurance giant, showed that its robotaxis generated 88% fewer property-damage claims and 92% fewer bodily-injury claims than the average human during 25m miles of driving, a performance which has improved further since. But public trust is easily shattered. A grisly accident in 2023 involving a robotaxi operated by Cruise, a competitor to Waymo, became existential after the company failed to provide full transparency during a federal investigation. General Motors, Cruises owner, subsequently shut its robotaxi service down.

Such incidents risk setting back the industrys efforts to win over policymakers. Under President Donald Trump, the Department of Transportation has said it will develop federal regulations for autonomous vehicles, including robotaxis. But there are still myriad state-by-state rules (California, for instance, has two agencies that regulate robotaxis, while other states in effect outlaw them). Some cities such as Seattle put up roadblocks as well. Everything we do today is to build trust and safety, and we cant scale the technology without that," says Chris Mooney, a Waymo executive.

Still, the speed at which Waymo is accelerating its city-by-city rollout suggests it is becoming increasingly confident in the safety of its service. Turning it into a profitable business, however, is another matter. Human drivers are estimated to account for 50-70% of the cost of a traditional ride-hailing service such as Uber, so stripping them out sounds like a quick way to undercut the incumbents. Yet all robotaxi services currently lose money, including Waymo. (In addition to receiving fistfuls of cash from Alphabet, it raised $5.6bn in a share offering to outside investors last year.)

That is because their vehicles are expensive; they are kitted out with costly safety features and trained on pricey AI chips. And unlike ride-hailing firms such as Uber, which rely on owner-drivers, robotaxi operators have to cover the cost both of acquiring and managing their fleets, including cleaning, fuel, maintenance and parking. They also need human supervisors to monitor their vehicles in case things go wrong.

As a result, Augustin Wegsheider of BCG, a consultancy, estimates that self-driving vehicles cost about $7-9 a mile to operate, compared with $2-3 a mile for traditional ride-hailers and $1 a mile for personal cars. Cutting costs has not been a priority of the robotaxi companies so far," says Philipp Kampshoff of McKinsey, another consultancy. They havent even scratched the surface because mission number one was making the operation safe." McKinsey estimates that it will take a decade to bring costs below $2 a mile.

Cheaper hardware will help. Estimates for the cost of Waymos current generation of robotaxis range from $130,000 to $200,000 each. Using the sporty Jaguar I-Pace as the starting point hasnt helped to keep costs down. This month the company started testing the more modest Hyundai IONIQ 5, equipped with Waymos newer generation of self-driving technology which requires fewer sensors. The cost of those sensors are coming down, too. American-made LiDARs that used to cost $100,000 now fetch little more than $1,000.

The economics of robotaxis can be improved in other ways. To keep utilisation of its vehicles high, Waymos approach to expansion has been to deploy a relatively small number of cabs in several markets, rather than trying to saturate one in particular, though the tactic has its obvious limits. Instead of managing all of its vehicles, it is also starting to forge alliances with fleet operators, such as Avis, a car-rental firm, to help handle day-to-day operations.

Off to the races

Once robotaxis prove to be sufficiently safe and no more expensive than a human-driven cab, demand may accelerate rapidly. The question then is who will conquer the market. For now, Waymo is the front-runner, at least in America. Its self-driving technology has been designated as Level 4, which means that in pre-approved areas its vehicles can operate without direct human supervision, whereas Teslas robotaxis are between Levels 2 and 3, meaning they still need a supervisor in the car. Because of Waymos focus on safety, it has kitted out its cars with more expensive hardware than Tesla. For instance, its latest vehicles have 13 cameras, six radars and four LiDARs, whereas Tesla relies solely on eight cameras. That has helped it win over regulators.

Ali Kani of Nvidia, which sells AI chips to all comers in the robotaxi race, suggests that once Waymo has proven the safety case without hiccups", it may be able to cut costs by shedding some of the hardware. For his part, Mr Musk is betting that Teslas approach of relying solely on cameras and AI-enabled software will give it the edge as its technology improves, with less hardware making its robotaxis cheaper than Waymos.

For now, both Waymo and Tesla are keeping their technology close to their chests. In time, that may change. Waymo could take inspiration from another Alphabet endeavourthe Android operating systemand try to license its software to others. Mr Musk has said he may do the same with Teslas self-driving technology. Aicha Evans, the chief executive of Zoox, says it intends to remain a fully integrated robotaxi service. But others reckon its self-driving technology could also be used in Amazons logistics operations. Other companies such as Wayve, a British startup backed by Nvidia, have opted to focus on self-driving software, rather than offering an integrated robotaxi service with all the cost and complexity it entails. Earlier this year Wayve announced it would start selling its technology to Nissan, a Japanese carmaker.

Robotaxi providers will also have to decide how to work with the big ride-hailing companies, particularly Uber. In 2020 it abandoned an effort to develop its own self-driving technology, but has since set its sights on becoming the preferred booking platform for robotaxis. In some cities, such as Phoenix, it already takes bookings on behalf of Waymo. Elsewhere it is looking to compete. It has struck a deal with Lucid, an electric-vehicle maker, and Nuro, which builds self-driving systems, to roll out 20,000 robotaxis over the next six years. It also plans to enter London in partnership with Wayve and a yet-to-be-named carmaker.

Ubers bet is that human drivers and robotaxis will co-exist for years to come. Eventually, however, robotaxis will become the cheaper option, says Sarfraz Maredia, Ubers head of autonomy, which it is why the company is manoeuvring itself into position now. Its customer base gives it a big advantage; Sensor Tower reckons Uber has 45m MAUs, dwarfing Waymo.

Then there is Nvidia. Perhaps predictably, the AI revolutions biggest beneficiary is carving out a role for itself as an essential supplier for self-driving vehicles. Alongside Uber, it is supporting carmakers that are developing autonomous systems of their own, including Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis (whose largest shareholder, Exor, owns a stake in The Economists parent company). At the same time, it is selling vast numbers of graphics-processing units (GPUs) to Waymo to run its AI simulations, and sit inside its cars to process the data pouring in from their sensors and calculate how to respond. Tesla has likewise spent billions of dollars training its AI systems on 100,000 Nvidia GPUs. It wont be an Nvidia cab that rolls up to peoples doors. But the worlds most valuable company will be sure to take its share of the fare.
Of the 1.1 million three-wheelers sold in India this calender year (as of 24 November), more than 687,000 or about 60% were electric vehicles (EVs), compared with a measly 4.1% for cars and 6.2% for two-wheelers, government data showed. This is especially impressive considering Indias first electric three-wheeleran e-rickshaw by Saera Electric Autowas launched just 14 years ago, in 2011.

The wide gap is due to the fact that three-wheelers are, for a variety of reasons, far more amenable to the switch than two- and four-wheelers. Huge investments in electric three-wheelers have also led to near price parity with their fossil-fuel cousins, especially when factoring in their lower operating and maintenance costs.

Mint explains the various factors behind the rapid rise of electric three-wheelers, including their typical use cases and government incentives under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles in India (FAME) and PM E-Drive schemes for more than a decade.

What makes three-wheelers different?

An important factor that separates three-wheelers from two- and four-wheelers is what they are typically used for. Three-wheelers are primarily used for commercial freight transport, usually small cargo, in last-mile services. This means such vehicles run for longer each day than the typical two- or four-wheeler, so switching to electric can significantly reduce carbon emissions.

Also Read | This $5bn fund will make it easier to buy electric vehicles

Also, because electric three-wheelers typically operate only during the day, they can be charged overnight with ease, reducing range anxiety (the fear that a vehicle may run out of power in the middle of a journey, with no charging facilities nearby).

How have electric three-wheeler sales progressed over the years?

The sale of electric three-wheelers in India began in 2011 with souped-up, battery-run e-rickshaws in the L3 category. These are low-powered e-rickshaws, typically used to ferry daily commuters over short distances in cities such as New Delhi and Kolkata. By 2016, more than 45,000 such battery-powered rickshaws had been sold in India.

Mahindra & Mahindra launched the e-Alfa series of electric three-wheelers in 2017 and the Treo series in 2018. These are larger and sturdier vehicles, with some models categorized as L5. The key difference between L3 and L5 models is battery capacity. L3 units generally have 2-7 kWh batteries while L5 units have 7-12 kWh batteries. For every two electric L5 units added to Indian roads in 2025, five electric L3 units were added, Vahan data showed.

While the 1.1 million sales figure for 2025 includes L3 vehicles, most electric rickshaws in this category don't qualify for government incentives as they have a considerable share of imported parts and dont have the domestic value addition that the government mandates.

How did electric three-wheelers achieve near price parity with fossil-fuel models?

A crucial factor for buyers is the upfront cost of a vehicle. If an electric scooter costs twice as much as a similar petrol scooter, customers are unlikely to choose the electric model. But if the price difference is negligible or reasonable, customers are far more likely to buy the zero-emission model. EVs also typically have lower operating and maintenance costs than internal combustion engine (ICE) models as they have fewer moving parts.

While upfront costs matter, the total cost of ownership (TCO) is the all-important factor in determining whether buying an EV will be beneficial in the long run. TCO includes the upfront cost of purchasing the vehicle (capex), as well as the cost of running it (opex). Commercial use-cases have better opex because these vehicles run for fixed hours on fixed routes, making returns on investment clearer for buyers.

Also Read | Magenta Mobility eyes $50 million fundraise to expand EV logistics fleet

Electric three-wheelers have seen a high rate of adoption because of heavy investments from manufacturers early on, experts said, which has led to near price parity between ICE and EV models. A typical electric three-wheeler costs around 3-5 lakh, while comparable ICE vehicles cost about 1.5-3.5 lakh. Factoring in the lower operating and maintenance costs brings parity on the TCO.

Sharif Qamar, associate director, transport and urban governance at The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), said, "Two major factors have worked very well for this segment. There are multiple models available to customers, and the price parity along with lower operational costs have contributed to the rapid adoption of electric three-wheelers."

What are the financial incentives for electric three-wheelers?

Two iterations of the FAME scheme ran for a decade from FY15 to FY24. Under this scheme, the government asked manufacturers to sell their EVs at a discount, for which they would be reimbursed later. Numerous state EV policies offered similar incentives.

The PM E-Drive scheme, which replaced the FAME schemes in October 2024, aims to incentivize the rollout of nearly 320,000 electric three-wheelers with an outlay of about 900 crore. It has already received claims to incentivize more than 250,000 such vehicles as of early November 2025, with the scheme slated to end in March 2026.

The government has also reduced the GST on EVs to 5% since 2019, offering a significant tax advantage over ICE vehicles, which are still taxed at 18% and above.

These incentives have borne fruit, with several companies rolling out electric three-wheelers rapidly. According to the government's Vahan vehicle registry, more than 500 companies currently manufacture electric three-wheelers in India.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd's subsidiary Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Ltd leads the charge, having sold more than 80,000 units so far in calendar year 2025, Vahan data showed. The company has three manufacturing plantsBengaluru, Zaheerabad, and Haridwar. Other manufacturers include new entrant Euler Motors, veteran three-wheeler maker Piaggio, and Saera Electric Auto Pvt Ltd.
Bank lending to first-time micro-entrepreneurs has plummeted, signalling tighter credit conditions for small businesses already struggling with cash flow pressures and trade turmoil. In the first six months of the fiscal year, a key central scheme to support such lending managed to sanction just about 12% of what was sanctioned in the entire previous fiscal year, official data showed.

The Prime Ministers Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), now in its 17th year, provides loan subsidies to traditional artisans and unemployed youth to float small non-farm ventures. The Centre covers up to 35% of the project cost, with the rest financed by banks. This year, the scheme sanctioned just 1,455 crore till 7 October against 12,316 crore in all of FY25, data from the micro, small and medium enterprises ministry showed.

In FY25, 108,923 projects were financed with loans of 12,316 crore, while 165,725 projects were financed with loans of 17,759 crore in FY24. While sanctioning tends to rise in the second half of the fiscal year, industry stakeholders termed this year's decline as surprisingly low".

A combination of factors could have led to a dip in bank loan sanctions this fiscal, such as a shortage of margin money provided by the government, which leads to clearances in loans. Another factor is that higher non-performing assets could have dissuaded banks," Anil Bhardwaj, secretary general of the Federation of Indian SMEs, said.

While the scheme supported around 100,000 projects in each of the last four years, it has aided only 12,707 of them this year. The exact year-ago data is not available, but the closest comparable number for FY25 was available till 13 November. By that date, loans worth 7,517 crore had been sanctioned for 66,918 projects.

Queries emailed to the MSME ministry remained unanswered.

Why now

A mix of rising loan defaults, tighter underwriting norms, and geopolitical shocks, such as the 50% US tariff on most Indian exports, is prompting banks to become more cautious, industry experts said. On 18 November, Mint reported that non-banking financiers had reduced MSME lending due to rising bad loans.

A 6 October report by Crisil Ratings said NPAs were rising in MSMEs, particularly in the export-oriented sectors. This fiscal, we see NPAs in the MSME sector increasing moderately to 3.7-3.9% (from 3.6% at the end of FY25). This is primarily due to the recent, steep hike in tariffs announced by the US, which affects export-oriented MSME sub-segments such as textiles, garments and carpets, gems and jewellery, shrimp and processed seafoods and certain segments of the chemicals sector," said Subha Sri Narayanan, director at Crisil Ratings.

According to Ramendra Verma, partner and government segment leader at Grant Thornton Bharat, bad loans at MSMEs are expected to increase "marginally", driven largely by steep US tariffs. "While the jump may not be significant, it may be likely due to export-oriented MSMEs in textiles, gems and jewellery, chemicals and seafood that have been impacted due to geopolitical developments, including tariffs imposed by the US," Verma noted.

Meanwhile, the scrutiny of MSME loans is rising. According to Vinod Kumar, president of the India SME Forum, an industry body representing nearly 100,000 MSMEs, banks are rejecting or holding back loans for projects with weak detailed project reports (DPRs), weak margins, poor credit scores, as well as those ineligible under the PMEGP.

Also Read | Govt weighs interest, penalty to make MSME clients pay up dues on time

Verma of Grant Thornton agreed that banks were being more conservative, considering the viability of projects and repayment capacity at a time when project costs under the scheme have surged 25% over the last three years due to rising prices of raw materials, technology upgrades, and compliance needs.

Delays in inspections and compliance checks also slowed disbursals, with many entrepreneurs unable to close loans or access additional credit. Incomplete applications, poor Cibil scores, inability to provide margin money, and activities that fall within the negative list, may also have led to higher rejection rates," Verma added.

Lenders' view

The Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi), in its business sentiment surveys for the first and second quarters of FY26, said MSME optimism has cooled due to global challenges and US tariff measures, reflecting the ongoing troubles of Indias massive small industries sector.

The vigil on MSMEs goes even beyond the tariff factor. Debadatta Chand, managing director and chief executive officer of Bank of Baroda, in a post-earnings call with analysts in May had said the bank has been particularly monitoring cash flows in MSME advances since the slippages seen in Q4 FY25.

Nidhu Saxena, managing director and chief executive of Bank of Maharashtra also said in a Q2 post-earnings call that the bank is lending only to MSMEs that came with a positive investment ranking from TransUnion CIBIL, a credit information provider. For the MSME loans, we are benchmarking our underwriting to CMR ranks given by the TransUnion CIBIL. So, anything which is below the investment grade, it is not considered in the bank. So only CMR 1, 2, 3, 4 and up to CMR 5, which are defined as investment grade is whatso we have restricted," said Saxena. CMR is CIBIL MSME Rank, where rank 1 has the lowest risk and 10 has the highest.

Bank of Maharashtra, Bank of Baroda and Sidbi are eligible lenders under the scheme, apart from other public sector banks, regional rural banks, private scheduled commercial banks and cooperative banks.

Why MSMEs are crucial

India has more than 70 million registered MSMEs, with more than 95% of these businesses being micro enterprises, earning revenues less than 10 crore every year. MSMEs account for about 45% of India's exports, 30% of domestic manufacturing output, and about half of India's 650 million jobs, MSME ministry data shows.

For micro enterprises, PMEGP is a very important first step which has created millions of entrepreneurs and employment opportunities," said Kumar of India SME Forum.

Under new norms on classifying MSME businesses from 1 April, a micro business is one with an annual revenue up to 10 crore and investment up to 2.5 crore; a small business can have revenue of up to 100 crore and an investment of up to 25 crore; while a medium-scale business is one with up to 500-crore annual revenue and up to 125 crore investment.

What the scheme is all about

The PMEGP scheme provides support for projects valued at up to 50 lakh in manufacturing and 20 lakh for those in the services sector. Under the scheme, the government covers 10-25% of the project cost as a subsidy, which may go up to 35% in the rural areas, and the rest will be financed by banks. The scheme is limited to non-farm projects, except some processing industries. Certain meat and alcohol-related businesses, for instance, setting up of a restaurant that serves alcohol, and vehicle purchases for business operations are not eligible under the scheme.

Nearly 1 million micro enterprises have been assisted since the inception of the scheme till December 2024 with aid of 26,124 crore, providing employment opportunities to over 80 lakh people, the MSME ministry FY25 annual report said.
SSMD Agrotech India IPO commenced on Tuesday, November 25 and will conclude on Thursday, November 27. SSMD Agrotech India IPO price band has been set at 114 to 121 equity share, each with a face value of 10. Investors can place bids for a minimum of 1,000 equity shares and in multiples of 1,000 shares thereafter.

SSMD Agrotech India Ltd specializes in the production, trading, and repackaging of a diverse range of premium agro-food items. The company operates under four distinct brands: Manohar Agro, Super S.S., Delhi Special, and Shri Dhanlaxmi.

Its range of products includes Puffed Rice, Ramdana (Cholai), Gram Flour, Matar Flour, Chana Dal, Idli Rava, Rice Powder, along with various by-products of Chana Dal such as Chana Chilka, Chana Churi, Chana Khanda, and Chana Sattu.

The company primarily distributes its products through a network of distributors throughout Delhi/NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. Moreover, it also engages in direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales via a micro-manufacturing unit. It operates three manufacturing facilities and one D2C dark store.

As per the red herring prospectus (RHP), the company's listed peers are HOAC Foods India Ltd (with a P/E of 44.24), Contil India Ltd (with a P/E of 19.14), and Jetmall Spices and India Ltd (with a P/E of (32.17)).

SSMD Agrotech India IPO Subscription Status SSMD Agrotech India IPO subscription status is 1.62x on day 3 so far, as per chittorgarh.com. The retail portion was subscribed 2.54 times, and NII portion was booked 62%. The qualified institutional buyers portion was booked 5.33 times.

The company has received bids for 43,09,000 shares against 26,61,000 shares on offer on the first bidding day, at 15:35 IST, according to data on chittorgarh.com.

SSMD Agrotech India IPO subscription status was 67% on day 1.

SSMD Agrotech India IPO details The public offering consists of a new issue of 28.17 lakh equity shares, each with a face value of 10. SSMD Agrotech India IPO intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for various purposes, including funding the company's working capital needs, repaying debts, capital expenditures, and general corporate purposes.

3Dimension Capital Services Ltd. serves as the lead manager for the book running process, while Bigshare Services Pvt. Ltd. functions as the issue registrar. Nikunj Stock Brokers Ltd. is designated as the company's Market Maker.

SSMD Agrotech India IPO GMP today SSMD Agrotech India IPO GMP today or grey market premium was 0, which meant shares were trading at their issue price of 121 with no premium or discount in the grey market according to investorgain.com

According to the grey market activities over the past week, today's IPO GMP is trending downward and is likely to decrease further. Experts note that the lowest GMP recorded is 0.00, whereas the highest stands at 5.

'Grey market premium' indicates investors' readiness to pay more than the issue price.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltds stock slipped by about 7% intraday on Monday on the NSE after the tragic crash of a light combat aircraft Tejas Mk 1 at the Dubai air show on Friday. The state-owned enterprise has to deliver 180 Tejas aircraft worth about 1.1 trillion, which is over 40% of HALs estimated order book of 2.7 trillion at the end of the September quarter (Q2FY26).

While the crash could impact investor sentiment negatively in the near future, the delivery schedule of the fighter aircraft is expected to remain unaffected.

We do not think Tejas Mk 1 aircraft will be grounded as the incident did not occur in mission mode and instead took place at an air show (unlike the grounding of HALs advanced light helicopter due to frequent crashes in missions)," analysts at Elara Capital said in a 23 November report. Yet, the crash may delay exports, the analysts said.

HALs Tejas contract, signed in February 2021, had been held up due to a delay in the supply of F-404 engines from General Electric Co. With engine supply having started in April, HAL plans to deliver up to six aircraft in FY26 and accelerate deliveries further from FY27.

It commissioned the third assembly line for Tejas at Nashik last month, increasing its annual production capacity to 24 aircraft. Still, it may take about eight years for HAL to complete the order.

The company has gained significant traction with the governments focus on defence fleet modernization and augmentation. Against the required strength of 42 squadrons of active fighter aircraft, India has an active fleet of 29, down from 31 in September, following the de-rostering of MiG-21.

Also Read | Operation Sindoor: Indian highways ready to support IAF with alternative runways

Civilian aircraft

A JPMorgan India report dated 13 November estimated an annual order inflow of 65,000 crore for HAL during FY26-28 with a total market opportunity of over 2.5 trillion. Besides defence, HAL has entered into various collaborations for civilian aircraft manufacturing, civil repair and overhaul, including an MoU signed last month with Russias PSJC-UAC for the production of the SJ-100, a narrow-bodied civilian aircraft.

Yet, HAL faces a bigger challenge of improving its execution amid supply chain woes and other operational issues, with its order backlog swelling to over eight times the revenue of the trailing 12 months, up from three times at the end of FY24. Despite receiving the first engine for Tejas in April, delivery of the aircraft is still awaited.

Its light utility helicopter deliveries are stuck due to software integration issues. Media reports pointed out the government is mulling the restructuring of HAL and has hired a consultant for this. Carving out separate units for helicopters and fighter jets could help improve efficiency.

Also Read | Pratt & Whitney engines for IndiGo grounded planes by June next year

There was some momentum in HALs execution in H1FY26 given year-on-year revenue growth of 11% to 11,500 crore, compared with the managements guidance of 8-10% for FY26, and the 2% growth in FY25. However, higher cost of raw materials meant H1FY26 Ebitda grew at a slower pace of 8% year-on-year to 2,800 crore.

HALs shares are up about 7% so far in 2025 and trade at almost 33 times FY26 earnings, as per Bloomberg consensus estimates. Meeting the Tejas delivery schedule would be key for the stock movement. Also, investors will track the findings of the court of inquiry into the crash for pointers to any equipment malfunctioning.
Mid-cap stocks have reclaimed the spotlight on Dalal Street, with the Nifty Midcap 100 surging to a fresh record high of 61,220 in November, marking a breakout after a 13-month pause.

Strong and sustained earnings momentum has reinforced investor confidence in the segment even as concerns over stretched valuations continue to simmer beneath the surface.

Mid-caps outperform in Q2 Mid-cap companies under Motilal Oswals coverage have now clocked their fourth consecutive quarter of standout performance, posting a robust 34% YoY earnings growth, far exceeding expectations of 23%.

Notably, 16 of 22 mid-cap sectors delivered double-digit PAT growth. The strongest contributions came from Oil & Gas, Metals, NBFCs, PSU Banks, and Real Estate, together accounting for nearly 70% of incremental YoY earnings accretionunderscoring the breadth of the mid-cap resurgence.

Similarly, analysis by SKG Investment & Advisory shows that mid-caps clearly outperformed in Q2, with the Nifty Midcap 150 delivering a robust 30% YoY profit growth and 7.72% YoY sales growth, significantly outpacing both large-cap and small-cap peers.

In contrast, small-caps in Motilal Oswal's coverage continued to experience weakness and a broad-based miss, while large-caps delivered an in-line performance.

Mid-caps shine, but glow is getting pricey However, the latest rally has also put valuations in focus. In the Midcap 150 index, as many as 66.67% of companies in the index are currently trading at a P/E of over 30x, signalling that a large portion of the universe is priced at elevated multiples.

"At the same time, valuation dispersion within the Midcap 150 has widened sharply the P/E standard deviation has surged to 100 points. This is due to some huge names trading at high P/Es; for instance, One97 Communications is commanding a P/E of 746, highlighting a clear polarisation between fundamentally strong, consistently executing companies and sentiment-driven outperformers that have rallied significantly ahead of their earnings," said Abhishek Mishra, Founding Partner at SKG Investment & Advisory.

The current PE of the Nifty Midcap index of around 34x is close to its five-year median PE of 31x, warranting calls of caution from analysts.

This divergence implies that while select mid-caps offer earnings-backed upside, a meaningful subset is trading with limited margin of safety, warned Mishra.

Mid-cap earnings not uniform While valuations remain a concern, investors must also note that earnings momentum also remains scattered.

Within the Nifty Midcap 150 index, only 58.67% of companies reported sequential (QoQ) PAT growth in the latest quarter, showing that earnings resilience is becoming more concentrated and stock-specific, as per the analysis by SKG Investment & Advisory. "This reinforces the need for careful screening rather than broad exposure."

Analysts believe that while mid-caps remain a fertile hunting ground, the current setup demands discipline, valuation awareness and a strong focus on underlying business quality, earnings durability and management execution.

Are mid-caps the best bet in current market? Analysts remain broadly optimistic on mid-caps, noting that the segment still looks more attractive than large-caps and small-caps from an earnings-momentum perspective. However, they caution that a significant portion of the good news is already priced in, making selectivity crucial.

Abhinav Tiwari, Research Analyst at Bonanza, believes mid-caps retain an edge but require a disciplined approach. The best strategy now is selective buying, staggered entry, and focusing on companies with strong earnings visibility and clean balance sheets, he said.

Also Read | Midcap funds gain traction as investors seek diversification in volatile market

Brokerages echo this view. Elara Capital continues to prefer mid-caps first, followed by large-caps and then small-caps. Its top picks include Marico, Mphasis, Hindustan Petroleum, Godrej Properties, Oberoi Realty, and NLC India.

Mishra also supports a bottom-up approach, highlighting that many mid-cap companies are benefiting from stronger balance sheets, better operating leverage, and capex-linked demand across industrial and infrastructure sectors.

However, not everyone agrees.

Nilesh D. Naik, Head of Investment Products at Share.Market, argues that from a risk-reward standpoint, large-caps look more attractive at current levels. He suggests that investors seeking mid-cap exposure may be better served through Flexi Cap or Value funds, where managers can dynamically adjust allocations as conditions evolve.
The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open on a flat note on Tuesday, despite a rally in global markets.

The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a muted start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 25,983 level, a discount of nearly 13 points from the Nifty futures previous close.

On Monday, the Indian stock market ended lower, with the benchmark Nifty 50 closing below 26,000 level.

The Sensex dropped 331.21 points, or 0.39%, to close at 84,900.71, while the Nifty 50 settled 108.65 points, or 0.42%, lower at 25,959.50.

Heres what to expect from Sensex, Nifty 50 and Bank Nifty today:

Sensex Prediction Sensex formed a bearish candle on daily charts, which supports further weakness from the current levels.

For day traders now, 85,000 would act as a trend decider level. As long as Sensex is trading below this level, weak sentiment is likely to continue on the downside, and the index could slip till 84,700 - 84,500. On the flip side, if Sensex moves above 85,000, it could bounce back to 85,500 - 85,700. The intraday market texture is volatile; hence, level-based trading would be the ideal strategy for day traders, said Shrikant Chouhan, Head  Equity Research, Kotak Securities.

Also Read | Indian stock market: 8 key things that changed for market overnight

Nifty OI Data Nifty derivatives data reflected a decisive shift in near-term sentiment: significant call writing was observed at the 26,000  26,100 strikes, signalling supply pressure at higher levels, while notable put open interest (OI) buildup emerged around 25,800  25,900, confirming strong demand and support near the lower band, said Hitesh Tailor, Research Analyst - Research at Choice Equity Broking.

Nifty 50 Prediction Nifty 50 formed a big bearish candle on the daily chart, indicating weakness.

A long bear candle has formed on the daily chart on Monday which indicates an emergence of selling pressure in the market from near all time highs. This is not a good sign and this market action suggests chances of more weakness in the short term, said Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities.

According to him, the underlying short term trend of the Nifty 50 seems to have reversed down, and further weakness from here could drag the index down to the next important support of 25,700 levels in the next few sessions.

However, the upper area of 26,200 - 26,300 levels could provide strong resistance for the market in the near term, said Shetti.

Also Read | Stock market today: Eight stocks to buy and sell on Tuesday

Nilesh Jain, Head  Technical and Derivatives Research Analyst (Equity Research), Centrum Broking Ltd noted that the next crucial support lies at the 21-DMA around 25,850, and a breakdown below this could push Nifty 50 further toward 25,700.

Conversely, a move above 26,180 would improve sentiment and potentially open the way toward 26,300. With the November series monthly F&O expiry approaching, heightened volatility is expected, and Nifty is likely to fluctuate within a broader range of 25,800  26,200, said Jain.

Mayank Jain, Market Analyst, Share.Market said that the near-term resistance for Nifty 50 is seen in the 26,050  26,100 zone, while support lies at 25,800  25,750.

Bank Nifty Prediction Bank Nifty index eased 32.35 points, or 0.05%, to end at 58,835.35 on Monday, forming a red candle with shadows on both sides on the daily scale, reflecting uncertainty.

Immediate support for the Bank Nifty index is seen near 58,580, and a sustained move below this level could lead to fresh weakness towards 58,000  57,800. On the upside, 59,440 will remain a strong hurdle for Bank Nifty. As long as Bank Nifty trades below 59,440, traders are advised to keep booking profits on any bounce, said Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivative Research, Asit C. Mehta Investment Intermediates Ltd.

Also Read | Buy or sell: Vaishali Parekh recommends three intraday stocks for today

Sudeep Shah, Head - Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities highlighted that the Bank Nifty formed a high wave candle on the daily chart, which reflects indecisiveness among market participants and signals a lack of clear trend direction.

Going ahead, the 20-day EMA zone of 58,400  58,300 will act as a critical support for the index. A sustained move below 58,300 could trigger further downside towards 57,700, indicating a deeper correction. On the upside, the 59,200  59,300 zone will serve as a key hurdle, and only a decisive breakout above this range can revive bullish momentum in the banking space, said Shah.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is planning to revisit regulations governing basic service demat accounts (BSDA) to make such accounts more inclusive.

In a consultation paper released on Monday, the market regulator has proposed a set of changes to make BSDAs more reflective of an investors true, realizable portfolio value.

Demat accounts often facilitate participation of first-time and small investors in Indias equity markets. Many new investors begin their journey with extremely small portfolios, sometimes just a few thousand rupees, making annual maintenance charges (AMCs) feel disproportionately high.

Mint explains what these changes are and what they mean for investors.

What are basic service demat accounts (BSDAs)?

BSDA is a low-cost demat account, which is ideal for investors who aim to start small in the stock market. An investor with a portfolio of up to 10 lakhs can have a BSDA account. However, if investments exceed 10 lakhs, the account is converted to a full-service demat account (FSDA) or a non-BSDA account.

A BSDA account with a portfolio of less than 4 lakhs does not attract any AMC charges. A portfolio worth 4 lakhs- 10 lakhs attracts a capped fee of 100 plus 18% GST.

There are over 1.3 crore BSDA accounts with holdings up to 4 lakhs and 4.4 lakh accounts with holdings from 4 lakhs to 10 lakhs as of February 2025, according to data by the National Securities Depositary Limited (NSDL).

What were the earlier regulations governing BSDA?

When Sebi launched BSDA rules in 2012, the focus was purely on lowering costs for small investors. Eligibility was linked to the value of securities in the demat account, and the annual AMC was capped based on holding value. Over time, the ecosystem evolved in ways the original framework did not fully anticipate.

For instance, rules did not explicitly clarify how to value delisted or illiquid shares, even though these securities often lack any active market or realizable value.

Similarly, zero-coupon zero principal (ZCZP) bonds, which are untradeable and offer no redemption value, began appearing in demat accounts as part of social impact initiatives. Yet brokers often counted their face value when determining BSDA eligibility, pushing investors into higher-cost accounts.

There were also operational challenges. Depository participants were required to reassess BSDA eligibility based on each investors individual billing cycle, which varies widely. Opting out of BSDA was only permitted through a registered email ID, a process that led to delays, low response rates, and compliance burdens.

Also Read | Mutual funds seek a middle ground with Sebi on brokerage fee cap

What has Sebi proposed in the latest consultation paper?

Sebis most significant proposal is to exclude ZCZP bonds from the value of holdings used to determine BSDA eligibility. These instruments cannot be traded or redeemed and are closer to social contributions than investments. Counting them, Sebi said, artificially inflates an investors portfolio.

The regulator also proposes excluding delisted securities entirely from valuation, just as suspended shares are already excluded. Illiquid shares, however, will continue to be valued at their last closing price.

Another key proposal is a shift to quarterly reassessment of eligibility, replacing the inconsistent billing-cycle-based process. Finally, Sebi wants to allow investors to opt out of BSDA using multiple authenticated channels, instead of relying only on their registered email.

If an investor becomes eligible for a BSDA based on the value of their holdings, the depository participants must convert the account into a BSDA automatically. The only exception is when the investor specifically requests to keep a regular demat account. Under the proposal, depository participants must also open a BSDA by default whenever an investor is eligible. The account will be opened as a BSDA automatically, unless the investor clearly says otherwise.

Why did Sebi feel the need to revise the framework now?

The surge in retail participation has brought millions of small investors into the market, many of whom hold securities that have little or no realizable value. Using such securities to determine BSDA eligibility undermines the very purpose of a low-cost account.

Depository participants, such as banks and brokers, often would hold an account as a simple demat account when the investor was unaware of BSDA or the advantages that come with it. This would help depository participants cushion their margins. This would burden small investors.

Investors with holding as small as 50,000 could often feel the pinch of AMC charges more as regular demat accounts can sometimes attract charges exceeding 900 on an annual basis. Investors unaware of BSDA benefits may end up overpaying simply because the system does not automatically convert their accounts when they become eligible.

Also Read | How you can cut costs of holding demat accounts

How will these changes help investors?

Experts believe the proposals are likely to deepen market access for new and small-ticket investors.

The move is expected to increase penetration of demat accounts and boost participation in equity markets," said Kranthi Bathani, directorequity strategy at Wealthmills Securities. It will be one of the enablers to give more financial inclusion," Bathani added.

The simplification of communication channels, by allowing multiple authentication modes to opt out of BSDA, enhances convenience for investors who may not actively use email. The proposals also ensure that depository participants act responsibly towards small investors who may need a BDSA account to continue investing in the Indian capital markets.

It encourages investors but does not guarantee participation," said Govind Goel, assistant manager at Zerodha, noting that reduced friction is only one piece of the larger puzzle of investor engagement.
Stock market news: The Indian stock market wrapped up lower on Monday. The Sensex dropped 331 points, and the Nifty 50 finished at 25,959, down by 108 points. Most sectors experienced weakness, particularly real estate, metals, and capital goods, while IT stocks remained stable.

Despite the market's decline, it is still near all-time highs, indicating that the drop is primarily a result of profit-taking and caution, according to experts.

Market outlook and key drivers Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments, noted that after a positive trading session within a constrained range, the market experienced a decline in the final half-hour, primarily due to Monday's expiry, as the Nifty 50 indices struggled to stay above the crucial level of 26,000.

Investor sentiment remained cautious ahead of significant event risks, including potential delays in concluding the interim trade agreement between the US and India. However, selective purchasing in IT stocks provided some support. On a positive note, global markets are showing optimism, driven by renewed hopes for a rate cut by the Fed in December, spurred by concerns regarding U.S. employment data, said Nair.

According to Abhinav Tiwari, a Research Analyst at Bonanza, in the future, markets will be influenced by global developments and updates from central banks. There may be sustained volatility, and short-term pullbacks could occur.

Trade Setup for Tuesday Vatsal Bhuva, a Technical Analyst at LKP Securities, noted that the index has finished below its 50 EMA on the hourly chart and has fallen beneath the significant 26,000 support near its 10-day EMA, creating a bearish candlestick and indicating short-term weakness.

If the index opens or closes beneath the 10-day EMA at 25,950, a further decline is probable, which could lead it towards the 20-day EMA situated at 25,850 levels. The support level for the index is at 25,850, and it is wise to adopt a cautious approach if it drops below this threshold, with resistance holding at 26,100, said Bhuva.

Stocks to buy today Market experts recommended eight intraday stocks. The experts include Sumeet Bagadia (Choice Broking), Ganesh Dongre (Anand Rathi), and Shiju Koothupalakkal (Prabhudas Lilladher).

Also Read | Stocks to buy or sell: Jigar Patel of Anand Rathi suggests 3 shares

Sumeet Bagadia's stock picks Federal Bank Ltd: Bagadia recommends buying Federal Bank shares at 248, with a stop-loss at 239, and a target share price of 266.

Sumeet Bagadia said that the Federal Bank share price is currently trading at 248, maintaining a strong upward trajectory. The stock has consistently formed higher highs and higher lows, reflecting sustained bullish momentum. It recently reached its all-time high of 251.2. A breakout above this level could further accelerate buying interest. The Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) for the 20, 50, 100, and 200-day periods are all trending upwards, reinforcing the bullish outlook. The price is trading above all major EMAs, indicating strong positive sentiment and continued strength in the stock, according to Bagadia.

Sumeet believes that if Federal Bank share price manages to close above its higher level, it could gain further traction toward a short-term target of 266. Traders should monitor price action around this resistance zone for confirmation of a breakout.

In conclusion, based on the technical analysis and current market conditions, Federal Bank share price presents a promising buying opportunity for those aiming for a 266 target, provided that appropriate risk management strategies are in place, said Sumeet.

Tech Mahindra Ltd: Bagadia recommends buying Tech Mahindra shares at 1,495, with a stop-loss at 1,443, and a target share price of 1,600.

Sumeet Bagadia said that Tech Mahindra share price is currently trading near 1,495, showing signs of trend reversal series of lower highs and lower lows. Recently, the stock formed a double-bottom pattern, a bullish reversal structure, supported by a bullish RSI divergence, indicating end downside momentum and rising buying interest at lower levels.

According to Bagadia, over the past few sessions, Tech Mahindra share price has moved upward from its double bottom formation, and the daily candle has broken above the top of the double-bottom pattern, signalling a shift in momentum toward the upside. This breakout ensures the possibility of a sustainable bullish move, suggesting that the stock may be enter the phase of a trend reversal.

Can consider buying Tech Mahindra share price at current levels of 1,495 with a stop loss at 1,443. On the upside, a sustained continuation of the breakout could push the stock toward the 1,600 mark, supported by bullish sentiment and pattern confirmation," said Bagadia.

Ganesh Dongre's stocks to buy today KEI Industries Ltd: Ganesh Dongre recommends buying KEI Industries shares at 4,108 with a stop loss at 4,050, with an KEI Industries share price target of 4,200.

According to Ganesh Dongre, in the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, a notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged. This technical pattern suggests the possibility of a temporary retracement in the stock's price, potentially reaching around 4,200. At present, the stock is maintaining a crucial support level at 4,050.

Given the current market price of 4,108, a buying opportunity is emerging. This suggests that investors might consider purchasing the stock at its current price, anticipating a rise towards the identified target of 4,200, said Dongre.

Astra Microwave Products Ltd: Ganesh Dongre recommends buying Astra Microwave shares at 940 with a stop loss at 920, with an Astra Microwave share price target of 990.

Ganesh Dongre said that we have seen a major support in this stock around Rs. 920 So, at the current juncture, the stock has again seen a reversal price action formation at the 940 price level, which may continue its rally till its next resistance level of 990 so traders can buy and hold this stock with a stop loss of 920 for the target price of 990 in the upcoming weeks.

Astral Ltd: Ganesh Dongre recommends buying Astral shares at 1,470 with a stop loss at 1,420, with an Astral share price target of 1,530.

Ganesh Dongre said that in the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, a notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged. This technical pattern suggests that there could be a temporary retracement in the stock's price, possibly to around 1,530 Currently, the stock is holding a crucial support level at 1,420.

Given this scenario, there is potential for the stock to rebound towards the 1,530 level in the near future. Traders are advised to consider taking a long position, with a strategic stop loss set at 1420 to manage risk effectively. The target price for this trade is 1530, reflecting the anticipated upward movement based on the identified technical, said Dongre.

Shiju Koothupalakkal intraday stocks for today TD Power Systems Ltd: Shiju Koothupalakkal recommends buying TD Power shares at 762 with a target price of 805 and a stop-loss of 744.

According to Shiju Koothupalakkal, the stock has recently indicated a strong run up and currently after a short period of correction has once again shown signs of taking support near the 710 zone with a pullback with significant volume participation visible to improve the bias.

The RSI has cooled off from the overbought zone and is currently well placed to indicate a revival and expecting for further upward move in the coming sessions. With the chart technically looking good, we suggest buying the stock for an upside target of 805 keeping the stop loss of 744 level, said Koothupalakkal.

NOCIL Ltd: Shiju Koothupalakkal recommends buying NOCIL shares at 174.85 with a target price of 182 and a stop-loss of 171.

Shiju Koothupalakkal said that the stock has witnessed a decent revival from the support zone at 168 level with a positive candle formation on the daily chart to improve the bias and expect for further rise in the coming sessions.

The RSI is well placed and has indicated a positive trend reversal to signal a buy with much upside potential visible and can expect for further gains. With the chart technically looking good, we suggest buying the stock for an upside target of 182 keeping the stop loss of 171 level, said Koothupalakkal.

Sundram Fasteners Ltd: Shiju Koothupalakkal recommends buying Sundram Fasteners shares at 987 with a target price of 1,040 and a stop-loss of 965.

Shiju Koothupalakkal said that the stock having taking support near the 925 zone has indicated a bullish candle pattern with significant volume participation visible to improve the bias and anticipate for further rise in the coming sessions.

The RSI has been consolidating with currently the bias getting better with indications of positive movement anticipated in the coming sessions. With the chart technically looking good, we suggest buying the stock for an upside target of 1040 keeping the stop loss of 965 level, said Koothupalakkal.
On Monday, Nifty slipped below the 26,000 mark to end at 25,959.50, and the Sensex lost 331 points to settle at 84,900.71 as expiry blues set in to reset the bullish enthusiasm. With a lack of cues and the volatile nature of the markets, the days ahead look challenging.

Three stocks to trade, recommended by NeoTraders Raja Venkatraman:

TECHM (Cmp 1,494.70)

TECHM: Buy above 1500, stop 1460 target 1578(Multiday)

Why its recommended: Tech Mahindra Limited (TECHM) is an Indian multinational information technology (IT) services and consulting company that is part of the extensive Mahindra Group conglomerate. On the daily charts, we observe that prices have formed a strong base and attracted significant buying interest, resulting in a strong push above the cloud region. With the rise in RSI above 60, one can consider the move playing out over the next few days. Go long.

Key metrics: P/E: 37.37, 52-week high:  1807.40, Volume: 6.81M.

Technical analysis: Support at  1425, resistance at  1600.

Risk factors: Supplier and revenue concentration,foreign exchange (forex) risk, and inability to attract/retain talent.

Buy : above  1500.

Target price:  1570 in 2 months.

Stop loss:  1470.

BAJAJAUTO (Cmp 9,007.50)

BAJAJAUTO: Buy above 9020, stop 8900 target 9245 (Intraday)

Why its recommended: Bajaj Auto Limited is a globally recognized Indian company that develops, manufactures, and distributes motorcycles, commercial vehicles, and electric vehicles. A strong bullish undercurrent in this counter continues to push the prices higher. With the recent value area support around 8700 being held possibility of a revival can be seen here with intraday momentum working towards a revival. As the negative DI inches lower, we can look for some revival as bearish sentiment steps away in the next few days.

Key metrics: P/E: 28.78, 52-week high:  9635.60 Volume: 466.20K.

Technical analysis: Support at  8630, resistance at  9750.

Risk factors: Intense Competition,Export Volatility and Geopolitical Risks.

Buy : above  9020.

Target price:  9245.

Stop loss:  8900.

MCX (Cmp 9,865.50)

MCX: Buy above below 9880, stop 9750 target 10100 (Intraday)

Why its recommended: Multi-Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX) is an Indian commodity exchange that provides a platform for online trading of various commodity futures. The stock has been steadily inching higher and the brief consolidation seen in November is now releasing into a fresh uptrend as every dip into the TS & KS region has found some steady buying interest. A look at RSI is seen inching higher as it maintains itself above 60 levels. The strong closing on Monday augurs well for the prices.

Key metrics: P/E: 93.66, 52-week high:  9975, volume: 449.86K.

Technical analysis: Support at  9300, resistance at  10500.

Risk factors: Intense competition,asset quality concerns and regulatory changes.

Buy : above  9880.

Target price:  10100.

Stop loss:  9750.

Stock Market Recap

On Monday, Indian equity markets closed lower in a volatile session, with the Nifty slipping below the 26,000 mark to end at 25,959.50 and the Sensex losing 331 points to settle at 84,900.71.

The days trade was marked by profit-booking across most sectors, reflecting cautious sentiment after recent highs. IT stocks provided some support, with Infosys and Wipro among the notable gainers, alongside Tech Mahindra, Eicher Motors, and Bajaj Auto. In contrast, heavyweights such as ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank dragged indices down, while JSW Steel, Bharat Electronics, Max Healthcare, M&M, and Power Grid Corp featured among the key losers.

Sectoral breadth remained weak, with all major indices except FMCG finishing in the red; metals, realty, PSU banks, and capital goods declined between 12%. Broader markets underperformed, as the BSE midcap index slipped 0.3% and the smallcap index fell 0.7%, underscoring continued unwinding at higher levels. This cautious close highlights investor hesitancy amid global uncertainties and domestic profit-taking.

Also Read | Page Industries scouts for the missing piece of its comeback puzzle

Outlook for Trading

After some strong trends that were demonstrated few days ago the widespread profit booking undoing all the efforts that were made to retain the bullish bias. With some sudden capitulation ahead of the expiry the dream of a new high being formed in the current . As markets continue to hesitate at higher levels to form a new high the predicament shall remain for some more sessions. As the higher levels are attracting steady profit booking one should be looking to manage the trade.

Currently we are looking at the trends showing some possibility of a revival from here on as the overall market continues to remain challenged. At the moment the lack of clarity keeps the traders in the dark and is now creating hurdles for every rise seen in the charts.

View Full Image ..

The problem has escalated after the Indian rupee hit a record low level on Friday, before rebounding slightly. The Indian currency is reportedly witnessing significant market intervention from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). We are noting that over the last two days, the weakening due to uncertainty has cooled off and could now lead to some consolidation of the currency.

One should continue to retain the bullish bias despite some profit booking seen. As seen from the charts above, the sharp fall on Monday has trended into some strong support at the TS line. Further, cues from the Option Data are now standing at an interesting point. The sharp fall has seen the Nifty going into an oversold position that is hinting at the Nifty could now rebound, and one should also factor in that a dip buy zone has emerged yesterday. The Max Pain remains at 26000 level,s hinting at a possible revival.

Three stocks to trade, recommended by NeoTraders Raja Venkatraman:

TECHM (Cmp 1494.70)

TECHM: Buy above 1500, stop 1460 target 1578(Multiday)

Why its recommended: Tech Mahindra Limited (TECHM) is an Indian multinational information technology (IT) services and consulting company that is part of the extensive Mahindra Group conglomerate. On the daily charts, we note that the prices have made a strong base and have attracted strong buying interest, thus leading to a strong push above the cloud region. With the rise in RSI above 60 one can consider the move playing out over the next few days. Go long.

Key metrics: P/E: 37.37, 52-week high:  1807.40, Volume: 6.81M.

Technical analysis: Support at  1425, resistance at  1600.

Risk factors: Supplier and revenue concentration, foreign exchange (forex) risk and inability to attract/retain talent.

Buy: above  1500.

Target price:  1570 in 2 months.

Stop loss:  1470.

BAJAJAUTO (Cmp 9007.50)

BAJAJAUTO: Buy above 9020, stop 8900 target 9245 (Intraday)

Why its recommended: Bajaj Auto Limited is a globally recognized Indian company that develops, manufactures, and distributes motorcycles, commercial vehicles, and electric vehicles. Strong bullish undercurrent in this counter continues to push the prices higher. With the recent value area support around 8700 being held possibility of a revival can be seen here with intraday momentum working towards a revival. As the negative DI inches lower, we can look for some revival as bearish sentiment steps away in the next few days.

Key metrics: P/E: 28.78, 52-week high:  9635.60 Volume: 466.20K.

Technical analysis: Support at  8630, resistance at  9750.

Risk factors: Intense Competition, Export Volatility and Geopolitical Risks.

Buy : above  9020.

Target price:  9245.

Stop loss:  8900.

MCX (Cmp 9865.50)

MCX: Buy above below 9880, stop 9750 target 10100 (Intraday)

Why its recommended: Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX) is an Indian commodity exchange that provides a platform for online trading of various commodity futures. The stock has been steadily inching higher and the brief consolidation seen in November is now releasing into a fresh uptrend as every dip into the TS & KS region has found some steady buying interest. A look at RSI is seen inching higher as it maintaining itself above 60 levels. The strong closing on Monday augurs well for the prices.

Key metrics: P/E: 93.66, 52-week high:  9975, volume: 449.86K.

Technical analysis: Support at  9300, resistance at  10500.

Risk factors: Intense competition, asset quality concerns and regulatory changes.

Buy : above  9880.

Target price:  10100.

Stop loss:  9750.

Also Read | IndusInd Banks turnaround may still be a distant dream

Raja Venkatraman is co-founder, NeoTrader. His Sebi-registered research analyst registration no. is INH000016223.

Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantees performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Stock market today: The Indian stock market finished lower on Monday, November 24, as profit-taking across sectors and mixed global signals weighed on sentiment.

Marking a second straight day of losses, the Sensex slipped 331 points, or 0.39%, to close at 84,900.71, while the Nifty 50 dropped 109 points, or 0.42%, settling at 25,959.50. The BSE Midcap index fell 0.27% and the Smallcap index declined 0.83%.

"Markets traded with a subdued bias on Monday, ending nearly half a percent lower. After a positive start, the Nifty index moved in a narrow range for most of the session, but a sharp decline in the final half hour dragged it lower. It eventually settled at 25,959.50, down 0.42%.

Also Read | Buy or sell: Vaishali Parekh recommends three intraday stocks for today

Sectorally, all major indicesbarring ITclosed in the red, with realty, metal, and energy leading the losses. Broader market sentiment was also weak, as both the midcap and smallcap indices closed in the red, reflecting caution ahead of key global events and the monthly derivatives expiry.

The muted performance was driven by risk aversion amid global uncertainties and continued FII selling, which overshadowed domestic resilience," said Ajit Mishra  SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd.

Stocks to Watch Bharat Electronics Navratna defence PSU and Frances Safran Electronics and Defence (SED) signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) to manufacture the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) smart precision air-to-ground weapon in India, on Monday.

Dr Reddy's Lab The pharmaceutical firm has secured European Commission approval for AVT03 (denosumab), a proposed biosimilar to Prolia and Xgeva. Prolia is a prescription drug used for treating osteoporosis.

Paras Defence The company announced that it has entered into an MoU with the Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in New Delhi to collaborate on developing commercial-grade MRI magnet systems in India.

HUDCO The company has entered into an MoU with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) to strengthen collaboration on urban development and infrastructure projects.

GAIL India GAIL (India) has floated a swap tender in which it is offering two LNG cargoes loaded in the US in return for receiving two cargoes in India, according to Reuters report.

Ceigall India The infrastructure construction firm announced that it has received a letter of intent from REC Power Development and Consultancy Ltd to set up the 400/220 kV Velgaon GIS substation under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism.

Hindustan Unilever Kwality Wall's has made multiple additions to its board of directors in preparation for its upcoming demerger from Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL). The company has appointed seven new board members, comprising one non-executive director, two executive directors, and four independent directors.

ACME Solar ACME Solar Holdings announced that it has won the bid for a 130 MW round-the-clock renewable energy project in a tender issued by Railways (REMCL). The company secured the project with a winning tariff of 4.35 per unit, according to its statement.

Also Read | Breakout stocks to buy or sell: Sumeet Bagadia recommends five shares to buy

Sunteck Realty The London Court of International Arbitration has confirmed that all claims have been withdrawn and the arbitration proceedings have been terminated between Sunteck Lifestyles, the companys Dubai subsidiary, and its joint venture partner, Grand Valley General Trading LLC.

Pavna Industries The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh government, outlining its plan to invest 250 crore over the next three to five years in the proposed project.
Many employees believe they would be financially better off working as consultants with their employers, rather than being on their payroll. The common assumption is that consultants enjoy significant income tax savings. How far is this correct? What are the risks of an employee being reclassified as a consultant?

It is true that a consultant's payment attracts a flat 10% tax deduction at source (TDS), while for an employee, tax is deducted at source based on the computation of taxable salary. However, the consultant has to file their income tax returns and pay the differential tax on their actual income.

Also Read | How freelancers can avoid losing up to 7% of income from global clients

A consultant can opt for presumptive scheme taxation when filing their returns. Under this, income is presumed to be a fixed percentage of gross receipts50% in the case of specified professions and 6% for others. If the consultant declares income at or above these prescribed thresholds, the tax authorities generally do not question the expenses claimed.

A common misconception is that one needs to offer only the prescribed percentage of the gross fees to the tax. This is incorrect. The sections refer to the prescribed percentage or such higher amount that the taxpayer may earn.

Therefore, one cannot offer 6% of the fees of 70 lakh (i.e., 4.2 lakh) as taxable income and, at the same time, claim that investments of 30 lakh have been made out of such income.

What is taxable is either the actual income earned (generally represented by the amount spent on assets acquired during the year and personal expenditure for the year) or 6% of the gross fees, whichever is higher.

Employee benefits

It is generally true that, as a consultant, your total tax liability may be slightly lower than that of an employee, since employees are entitled to a standard deduction of 75,000. However, as an employee, you also get certain tax-free or tax-concessional benefits, which often offset this higher tax liability.

If an employer provides you with a car, the taxable perquisite value is quite small ( 2,400 per month) as compared to the monetary benefit that you get.

The employer contributes 12% of your salary to your provident fund account, which is not taxable. On retirement, you are entitled to receive gratuity, which is tax exempt up to 20 lakh.

If your employer provides you with residential accommodation, only 15% of your salary is taken as the taxable perquisite value, as opposed to the sizeable monetary benefit that you derive.

Also Read | How new labour codes impact your gratuity and PF

Your coverage under a group mediclaim policy of your employer is not a taxable perquisite. As an employee, you also have certain leave entitlements guaranteed by law. Leave encashment on retirement is exempt up to certain limits. Therefore, at times, you may be better off as an employee than as a consultant, if you factor in these benefits.

Tricky situation

The moot question is: do you really have a choice to be taken on the employers payroll as an employee, or to be taken on board as a consultant?

At times, the role is such that the person necessarily has to be an employee. For instance, a compliance officer or an executive director of a company is necessarily an employee. Similarly, if you are in a service industry where client requirements of confidentiality prohibit the sharing of client information with persons other than employees, you may necessarily be taken on board as an employee.

The employer might not be comfortable with a consultant filling certain roles. A consultant cannot face disciplinary action for misconduct like an employee can.

There could be certain roles where the employer could choose to hire persons on a retainer basis. Typically, these roles involve flexibility in working arrangements, such as working from home.

There is, however, a risk to the employer when he takes on persons as consultants on a retainership basis, but in substance, they are employees.

It may be penalized under labour laws for not complying wth these laws in respect of incorrectly designated consultants. It may be proceeded against by the tax authorities for deducting tax at source at lower amounts by classifying employees as consultants.

In law, there is a distinguishing factor between an employee and an independent consultant. An employer can direct an employee on how to perform their work, whereas for an independent consultant, the employer merely directs what is to be done, but not how it is to be done.

Also Read | Wider investment options, more tax savings set to kick in when new FY starts

In other words, an employee is closely monitored by their employer regarding their performance, whereas a consultant is not. An employee normally has fixed working hoursa consultant may not. A consultant may not get various benefits that an employee gets, such as leave. Various court cases have dealt with this distinction.

The roles, responsibilities, and legal liabilities of an employee and a consultant are fundamentally different. The real question isnt just tax savings, but whether the work can genuinely be outsourced and performed independently.

Gautam Nayak is a partner at CNK & Associates LLP. Views are personal
As a fund house, PPFAS (Parag Parikh Financial Advisory Services) Mutual Fund has long avoided the industry trend of launching frequent schemes to chase assets an otherwise common practice in the mutual fund (MF) industry.

Thats why its announcement of a proposed large-cap fund drew unusual attention, with investors questioning how it would stand apart when all large-cap funds draw from the same top 100 stocks by market capitalization.

At its unitholders meeting on 22 November, the fund house finally laid out the funds strategy, positioning and what it willand will notattempt to do.

Also Read | Mutual funds seek a middle ground with Sebi on brokerage fee cap

According to PPFAS MF, the proposed large-cap fund is not meant for investors seeking concentrated sector bets or active stock selection to significantly outperform the Nifty 100 TRI (total return index). Instead, it aims to offer slightly better returns than index funds by using execution efficiencieswhile keeping costs comparable to passive funds.

The scheme targets investors who want broad exposure to the top 100 companies by closely following the index and consequently paying a relatively lower expense ratio.

So, how will the scheme differentiate itself and offer more than what index funds do?

According to Rukun Tarachandani, executive vice-president and fund managerequity at PPFAS MF, as an active fund, their use of smart execution strategies (more on this later) is what will differentiate them and add value to what index funds offer.

The scheme expense ratio will be similar to what Nifty 100 Index funds charge their investors.

The scheme offering

The Parag Parikh Large Cap Fund will provide exposure to Nifty 100 companies broadly in line with their index weights, based on free-float market capitalization, subject to a 10% cap on any single holding.

The direct plans expense ratio will be between 10-30 basis points (bps)similar to Nifty 100 index fundswith the fund aiming for the lower end as assets under management (AUM) scale.

The Axis Nifty 100 Index Fund, the largest Nifty 100 Index fund, has an expense ratio of 21 basis points (direct plan). The HDFC Nifty 100 Index Fund, a distant second, charges 30 basis points (direct plan).

Explaining why PPFAS MF has chosen to benchmark the scheme to the Nifty 100 instead of the Nifty 50 or the Sensex, Tarachandani said this is because of the indexs broader coverage.

As per data shared at the unitholders meet, the Nifty 100 covers 67% of the market capitalization and 75% of the profit pool of the top 500 listed companies. On the other hand, the Sensex covers only 40-44% and the Nifty 50, 49-54% of the market cap and profit pool of these 500 companies.

Where it seeks an edge

Where the Parag Parikh Large Cap Fund intends to differentiate is by using strategies that lower execution costs. Tarachandani highlighted several such approaches at the unitholders meet, which was live streamed from Mumbai.

For instance, the fund can buy a stock in the futures market if it trades at a discount to the cash market, thus securing a lower buy price. In periods of market panic, index futures often trade at a discount to the index; buying futures then offers cheaper exposure.

Upcoming mergers can also create low-cost execution opportunities. In the run-up to the HDFC-HDFC Bank merger in 2023, for example, HDFC shares could have been bought to eventually get HDFC Bank shares at a discounta strategy PPFAS MF used for its flexi-cap fund.

The fund can also benefit from index rebalancing cycles. Index rebalancing announcements are made by stock exchanges prior to the rebalancing date from which such changes are to take effect. Index funds, however, transact only on the rebalancing date, leading to heavy inflows/outflows into added or removed stocks and sharp price movements. Since this information is public, active funds can accumulate stocks added to the index gradually instead of buying them in one go on the rebalancing day, achieving better pricing.

Should you invest?

While the proposed large cap fund offers the potential for better returns than passive funds, investors may have to wait to see actual performance. The launch is still about two months away.

According to Arun Kumar, an investment expert and former VP  head of research at FundsIndia, investors could wait for a track record before committing. The idea of the fund is not to beat the market through stock picking but through smarter execution. It will mimic a large cap index fund with comparable charges. Passive investors can wait for 1-2 years of track record before choosing it."

Avinash Luthria, a Sebi registered investment advisor at Fiduciaries.in, however, thinks differently.

A Nifty 50 Index Fund from one of the larger AMCs, with a predictable TER (total expense ratio) of around 20 bps, is the only domestic equity fund that I have ever recommended. I am not willing to recommend an incremental unpredictable TER of around 10 basis points, in the hope of higher returns," said Luthria.

Ultimately, what matters is how much additional return the fund can generate compared to similar index funds, and at what expense ratio.

Large cap vs flexi cap

For long-term equity portfolios (five years and above), flexi-cap funds may still be the better option.

Given their mid- and small-cap allocations, flexicap funds can carry higher return volatility than large-cap funds. However, to take advantage of the full range of opportunities available in the Indian market, we believe investors need to own stocks across market cap segments. We therefore think that flexicap funds are the better all-weather product for investors who like to build long-term equity portfolios, especially those taking the SIP route," said Aarati Krishnan, Head of Advisory, Primeinvestor.in, a regulated research platform.

Also Read | How many mutual funds should you really own?

Kumar offered a similar view.

We prefer flexi cap funds to large cap funds for an investors core portfolio (funds that you hold for the long-term). They have a large cap bias with mostly 60-80% large cap stocks but with the flexibility to modify their allocation across market capitalization. We use large cap funds only for tactical allocation (to take advantage of short-term opportunities) when large cap stocks become extremely attractive."

For investors who still want large cap exposure, index funds may remain the better choice until the PPFAS MF scheme establishes a performance record.
Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the BJP of committing fraud to win the Bihar elections, and also claimed that in trying to win West Bengal elections in 2026, the saffron party will end up losing Gujarat.

The BJP has been ruling Gujarat uninterrupted since 1990, and in the 2022 state elections, roared back to power by winning 156 out of the 182 seats in the state's assembly.

"I am making this prediction... the BJP is going to be defeated in Gujarat (Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state). To win Bengal they will lose Gujarat," Banerjee said during a protest march in the North 24 Parganas, as per NDTV.

Also Read | EC calls TMC for meeting, days after Mamata Banerjee writes to CEC

Banerjee herself has led three successful election campaigns against the BJP in West Bengal - in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, and the 2021 Assembly elections. However, this time around, the BJP will be more confident after its big wins in Delhi and Bihar.

She also questioned the reason behind the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being carried out at a short notice.

"Why is the SIR being carried out so hurriedly? Why is the SIR being carried out before elections? Take three years and we will help you..." the publication quoted the Bengal CM as saying.

Banerjee even referred to the Election Commission as the 'BJP commission', saying, "It takes 3 years to conduct an SIR. It was last done in 2002. We never opposed SIR, but we said no genuine voters can be deleted, those who are beneficiaries of various government schemes...BJP is fixing the list from their party office and EC will decide accordingly. EC's job is to remain impartial and not be a BJP commission," as per India Today.

"If you target me in Bengal and I consider any assault on my people as a personal attack, then I will shake the entire nation. I will travel the whole nation after elections," the publication also quoted her as saying.

Banerjee's chopper fiasco Banerjee has also accused the BJP of being involved in the cancellation of a helicopter ride that was scheduled to take her to Bongaon on Tuesday morning.

After she was informed at 10 am in the morning that the helicopter will not be flying, the West Bengal CM had to travel by road. She reached Bongaon at 2 pm despite her speech at a rally being scheduled for 12:30 pm.

Bongaon is around 104 km from Kolkata.

"For the last seven-eight months, I did not travel by helicopter. Today I had planned to come here and then go to Thakurnagar. Everything was booked in advance. But at 10 in the morning, the message came that the helicopter won't go!" Banerjee said at the rally.

Banerjee then claimed that the inconvenience helped her connect more with people.

"Before elections begin, they have started creating hurdles. But it didn't help them. In fact, it helped me. On the way, I met so many people. It became a great public outreach," Banerjee said, as per PTI.

"Don't try to play with me. You won't be able to fight and defeat me politically," the TMC supremo said, in an apparent reference to the BJP.

Also Read | SIR phase-II: Nationwide protests as work pressure allegedly leads to BLO deaths

She insisted that she has mostly travelled by road and is not dependent on a helicopter.

Banerjee's rally comes in the wake of 35 deaths from across Bengal being linked to fear and anxiety induced by the SIR. Some of these deaths were reportedly suicides.

The Bengal CM has accused both the BJP and the Election Commission of creating an atmosphere of fear in the country using the SIR process. She insisted that West Bengal could resist attempts to 'snatch away' rights of the citizens.

Why was the helicopter unable to fly? The Bengal CM's helicopter ride had to be canceled because it was discovered that the aircraft in question was operating with a licence that had expired, PTI reported.

The helicopter operator has also been issued a show cause notice.

The helicopter had not been used by the CM for six months and had completed a mandatory trial on Monday.

"The licence expiry should have been flagged immediately. Allowing the trial flight without verifying documents is unacceptable. The lapse in the licence, however, was not reported during the check. The issue came to light early Tuesday," an official told PTI.

Also Read | Mamata Banerjee shoots another letter to EC amid SIR process in Bengal

"This kind of negligence cannot be tolerated, especially in matters involving VVIP movement. She (CM) has asked for a full explanation," the official at the Chief Minister's Office said.
An Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh has claimed that she was harassed at Shanghai Airport by airport authorities who claimed that Arunachal is a part of China and questioned her why she was carrying an Indian passport.

China denied the allegation of the woman being harassed, and now India has responded to Beijing's claims of Arunachal being a part of China in a strongly worded reply from the Ministry of External Affairs.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, We have seen statements made by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the arbitrary detention of an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, who was holding a valid passport and was transiting through Shanghai International Airport on her onward travel to Japan."

Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality, he added.

The issue of the detention has been taken up strongly with the Chinese side. Chinese authorities have still not been able to explain their actions, which are in violation of several conventions governing international air travel. The actions by the Chinese authorities also violate their own regulations that allow visa free transit up to 24 hours for nationals of all countries, the statement added.

What really happened Pema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen who was travelling from London to Japan on 21 November, claimed that her three-hour scheduled layover turned into a traumatising ordeal after immigration personnel declared her passport "invalid" solely because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.

Thongdok, in a number of social media posts, claimed that Chinese immigration officials detained her for around 18 hours on grounds that her passport was "invalid" since she was born in Arunachal Pradesh.

After the ordeal, Thongdok said that she got connected to the Indian consulate through a friend based out of UK.

What Arunachal CM Pema Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu has issued a strong message against the discrimination shown to Thongdok.

"I am deeply shocked by the unacceptable treatment of Ms. Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a proud Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, by Chinese immigration authorities at Shanghai Pudong Airport. Subjecting her despite a valid Indian passport to humiliation and racial mockery is appalling. Arunachal Pradesh is, and will always be an integral part of India. Any insinuation otherwise is baseless and offensive," Khandu said in a post on X.

"Such conduct violates international norms and is an affront to the dignity of our citizens. I am confident that the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India will take up this matter urgently that such incidents are not repeated," he further added.

China never acknowledged the so-called Arunachal Pradesh: Chinese spokesperson Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has denied claims that Thongdok, who was travelling from London to Japan on 21 November, was harassed by Chinese officials, and nor was she detained.

Thongdok was also provided a place to rest, and was served food and drinks, as per Mao.

"We learnt that China's border inspection authorities have gone through the whole process according to the laws and regulations and fully protected the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned," she claimed.

However, she did insist that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of China, going as far as to say, "Zangnan is China's territory. China never acknowledged the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India.

China refers to Arunachal Pradesh as Zangnam, or South Tibet.

How India reacted India lodged a strong protest against the treatment meted out to Thongdok in both Delhi and Beijing, as per an ANI source.

The source told ANI that the Shanghai Indian consulate took up the matter and extended their fullest assistance to Thongdok.

"It was stressed that the passenger had been detained on ludicrous grounds. Arunachal Pradesh is indisputably Indian territory, and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports," another source told the publication.

"It has also been highlighted that the actions of the Chinese authorities are in contravention of the Chicago and Montreal Conventions relating to civil aviation," the source said.
The Delhi Government has declared a public holiday today, 25 November, to commemorate the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, the ninth Sikh guru. The day, earlier listed as a restricted holiday, will now see government offices and schools closed across the capital.

Announcing the holiday in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, May Guru Sahibs timeless message of courage, compassion, and freedom of faith continue to guide and inspire us in our collective journey ahead.

What's open, what's closed in Delhi on 25 November The government announced the public holiday for Sunday, along with notifying which institutions would remain closed and which would stay open, including schools, banks, government offices, and essential services. Here's the full list:

 Government offices and departments: All Delhi government offices will remain shut on Tuesday, 25 November, according to PTI.

 Schools and colleges: All government-run schools and many private schools are expected to remain shut tomorrow.

 Public transport: Delhi Metro, buses and taxi facilities will function without any disruptions. Customers can expect everything to run as usual.

 Hospitals and healthcare services: Emergency services and government hospitals will remain open as per their schedule.

 Banks: According to the Reserve Bank of India's regional holiday schedule, all private and public sector banks will remain open on Tuesday. Customers can visit their nearest branch to get their banking-related work done.

Significance of Shaheedi Diwas Guru Tegh Bahadurs martyrdom day, also known as Shaheedi Diwas, is observed to honour the ninth Sikh Guru, who was executed in 1675 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

To mark the martyrdom of the Sikh Guru, Indian Railways announced that it will operate two special train services for devotees  one from Patna Sahib and another from Old Delhi  which began operating on Saturday, 22 November.

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The Chief Minister also extended an invitation to the residents of Delhi and people from across the country to participate in the grand three-day commemoration of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, scheduled to take place at the Red Fort from November 23 to 25.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has, on 25 November, alerted concerned parties about the NOTAM issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in a post on the social media platform X.

NOTAM or Notice to Airmen, is an official alert that provides critical information about changes or hazards in the National Airspace System (NAS) that may affect flight operations.

It has been issued following the eruption of the HayliGubbi volcano in Ethiopia, which has sent ash clouds and volcanic plumes across the continent, towards India.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the ash clouds are expected to clear Indian skies by 7:30 PM on 25 November and move into China.

What did MoCA state? In its post on 25 November, the ministry said that it is ensuring coordination between all aviation authorities and that operations across India remain smooth.

Following the 23 November volcanic eruption in Ethiopia and the eastward movement of the ash cloud, MoCAalong with ATC, IMD, airlines and international aviation agenciesis ensuring seamless coordination, it stated.

The MoCa post added, AAI has issued the necessary NOTAM and all affected flights have been kept informed. Operations across India remain smooth, with only a few flights rerouted or descended as a precaution. There is no cause for concern at this moment. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide timely updates to ensure passenger safety.

Also Read | Why CEA Nageswaran is confident Indian economy will cross $4trn mark in FY26

About Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption Located in Ethiopia's Afar region, approximately 800 kilometres (500 miles) northeast of Addis Ababa, near the Eritrean border, the Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted for several hours on Sunday. This is its first eruption in 10,000 years.

A cloud of ash from the volcanic eruption moved across large parts of northwest India late on 24 November, sweeping over Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, the Delhi-NCR, and Punjab.

The IMD offices in Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata today issued ICAO-standard SIGMET warnings, which are severe weather advisories. It also advised airports to avoid specific airspace segments and flight levels flagged by the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC).

View full Image Map of the Ethiopia volcanic eruption: A satellite image shows ash rising from the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia as it drifts over the Red Sea, November 23, 2025. ( NASA / Handout via Reuters )

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Have flights been cancelled? Air India and Akasa Air on 25 November said they were cancelling some flights after ash plumes from a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia disrupted operations.

Air India said it had cancelled 11 flights on 24 and 25 November to conduct precautionary checks on aircraft that had flown over certain locations after the eruption, following a directive from India's aviation regulator.

Meanwhile, Akasa said it cancelled flights to Middle East destinations, such as Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi, scheduled for the two days.

According to an ANI report, around 12 international flights between 1 AM and 6 PM on 25 November were delayed as airlines adjusted their operations in response to the volcanic disruption in Ethiopia.

View full Image A view of ash clouds over the Indian airspace disrupting flight movement following eruption of Hayli Gubbi volcano. ( .flightradar24 )
The Hayli Gubbi volcano, in Ethiopias northeastern region, erupted for the first time in 10,000 years, spewing ashes towards Delhi and other parts of India, leading to disruptions in flight operations. Seven international flights scheduled to operate between 1 AM and 6 PM on Tuesday, 25 November, were cancelled due to volcanic ash affecting airspace conditions, according to reports.

The ash mass from the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia spread across large parts of northwest India on Monday night, sweeping over Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR and Punjab.

What is the impact of the volcanic eruption? Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology at the IMD, said the impact of the ashes spewed by the volcano is being observed only in the upper troposphere and will move completely towards China by evening.

The impact of this volcanic ash is being seen only in the upper troposphere, and it is affecting the flight operations. It has no impact on air quality and weather. Our estimate is that this volcanic ash will completely move towards China by evening, Mohapatra told ANI.

Which flights have been cancelled, affected? Seven international flights scheduled to operate on Tuesday were cancelled, and 12 other international flights during the same time were also delayed as airlines modified operations in response to the ash-related disruption.

Air India cancelled the following flights scheduled for Tuesday, 25 November:

AI 2822  ChennaiMumbai

AI 2466  HyderabadDelhi

AI 2444 / 2445  MumbaiHyderabadMumbai

AI 2471 / 2472  MumbaiKolkataMumbai Akasa said it had cancelled scheduled flights with Middle East destinations, such as Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Will the ash affect air quality? IMD's Director General of Meteorology said that the impact of the volcanic ash is limited to flight operations and will have no effect on air quality or weather.

Ethiopia volcano eruption map Hayli Gubbi is a shield volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region. The eruption produced its first major activity in nearly 10,000 years, sending ash rising as high as 14 km.

Why did the volcano erupt suddenly? The silent volcano  Hayli Gubbi became active and erupted after nearly 10,000 years due to tectonic activity in Ethiopia, Narottam Sahoo, Advisor to the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology, told news wire ANI.
With the ash clouds from Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi Volcano reaching Delhi NCR, residents are concerned about its health effects, given that the national capital has already been suffering from poor air quality for over a month.

A volcano in northern Ethiopia erupted for the first time in almost 10,000 years, sending high columns of ash into the atmosphere and triggering meteorological departments across the world. Fast upper-level winds carried the debris and ashes thousands of kilometres, with India getting affected for a brief period as a cloud passed over its northern and western parts.

How did the Ethiopian volcano ash travel? The Ethiopian volcano ash mass had initially entered Gujarat on Monday before spreading overnight across regions including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Punjab.

The plume of volcanic ash, which moved across northwest India on Monday and briefly disrupted flights, has since begun shifting towards China.

The ashes from the plume rose as high as 14 kilometres.

Ash columns from the Ethiopian volcanic eruption in the Afar region, approximately 800 km northeast of Addis Ababa, near the Eritrean border, were carried across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman by strong upper-level winds, eventually drifting over the Arabian Sea into western and northern India.

The IMD noted that the plume travelled along high-altitude wind currents that transported it "from Ethiopia across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman and further over the Arabian Sea towards western and northern India," with satellite tools, VAAC bulletins and dispersion modelling aiding its monitoring.

What is volcanic ash? Volcanic ash is not the same as the typical ash we see from fires. It carries fine particles of fragmented volcanic rock of less than 2 mm diameter.

Volcanic ash is a mixture of rock, mineral, and glass particles expelled from a volcano during a volcanic eruption. Due to their tiny size, they can travel for thousands of kilometres and can often cause health issues if inhaled in high concentrations.

Ethiopian volcanic ashes in Delhi: What are its health impacts? According to the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN), inhaling ash can have respiratory effects, eye symptoms, skin irritation and indirect effects.

As per the CDC, most health effects of volcanic ash are short-term in nature. They include:

Irritation of the eyes or airways

Vomiting

Dizziness

Headaches

Rapid or difficult breathing

Visual disturbances

Tremors You can also experience nasal irritation, a runny nose, a sore throat, and a dry cough, among others.

Long-term effects include bronchitis and infection of the lung, even lung cancer. People with asthma, children and infants, and people with chronic respiratory or cardiac conditions.

How to protect yourself? The CDC lists these precautions to protect yourself from volcanic ash 

Staying indoors and keeping doors and windows shut.

If venturing out, use NIOSH Approved N95 respirator while outdoors or when cleaning up.

Use glasses and goggles to protect your eyes.

Carry your medication and wear long sleeves and full pants to protect your body from being exposed.
India has sharply criticised China over the arbitrary detention of an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, saying Beijings actions violate international travel norms.

In response to media queries, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had taken up the matter strongly with Beijing.

Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality, Jaiswal said.

He added that China had failed to explain why the woman  who held a valid passport and was in transit  was detained in violation of international aviation conventions and Chinas own 24-hour visa-free transit rules.

18-hour ordeal at Shanghai Airport The detained passenger, Pema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, was travelling from London to Japan on November 21 when her three-hour layover turned into an 18-hour standoff.

Arunachal is not India: Thongdok recounts Thongdok speaking with ANI has said that Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong International Airport declared her Indian passport invalid, mocked her nationality and held her for nearly 18 hours, preventing her from boarding her connecting flight.

Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen residing in the UK for 14 years, said she was singled out by Chinese immigration staff during transit on November 21, despite carrying a valid Indian passport and a visa for Japan.

Describing the incident, Thongdok claimed officials questioned her birthplace and insisted she was not Indian.

When I tried to question them and ask what the issue was, they said, Arunachal is not part of India, and started mocking and laughing, she said.

They told me, You should apply for a Chinese passport  youre Chinese, youre not Indian.

She said a female immigration officer pulled her out of the queue without explanation and repeatedly told her that her passport and visa were not acceptable because her birthplace was Arunachal Pradesh.

Humiliation and alleged racial mockery Thongdok alleged that both immigration officers and China Eastern Airlines staff laughed at her and pointed to her passport while saying Arunachal  China, not India.

That was very humiliating, questionable behaviour from the immigration staff as well as the airline staff, she said.

She added that she was confined in the transit area without clear information or proper facilities and was unable to contact her family for hours.

Thongdok said she had previously transited through Shanghai without any issues.

I have transited through Shanghai in the past with no issues at all, she noted.

After several hours of distress, she managed to contact Indian diplomatic missions.

I called up the Shanghai and Beijing Indian embassies and within an hour, the Indian officials came to the airport, got me some food and spoke through the issues with them, she said.

A very long ordeal, 18 hours, but glad that Im out of there.

Indian embassy officials intervened and facilitated her exit from the country.

Arunachal CM calls incident appalling Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu condemned the treatment meted out to Thongdok, calling it unacceptable and appalling.

Subjecting her, despite a valid Indian passport, to such treatment is appalling, Khandu said on X.

Arunachal Pradesh is and will always be an integral part of India. Any insinuation otherwise is baseless and offensive.

Khandu said he was deeply shocked and described the conduct of Chinese officials as humiliation and racial mockery.

Appeal to PM Modi and Centre Thongdok has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior officials, calling the episode a direct insult to Indias sovereignty and the people of Arunachal Pradesh.

She urged the government to:

-demand accountability from China

-seek disciplinary action against officials

-push for compensation for harassment

Congress in Arunachal also condemns incident The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) called the detention shocking and unacceptable.

APCC president Bosiram Siram said: This incident is deeply distressing and reflects a blatant violation of human dignity. No Indian citizen should ever be subjected to such insulting and discriminatory conduct.

Reaffirming the states status, the APCC said: Every Arunachalee is a patriotic Indian. Arunachal Pradesh is our native homeland, and India is our motherland.

The party urged the Centre to take swift diplomatic action, seek a formal explanation from Beijing, and ensure such incidents do not recur.
New Delhi: India is emerging as an unexpected player in the global mozzarella market, upending a space long dominated by Western suppliers. The surge comes even as several trading partners continue pressing New Delhi for greater access to Indias dairy market, including cheese, as part of ongoing negotiations, according to government trade data reviewed by Mint .

Exports of mozzarella jumped from nil in FY23 to $0.71 million in FY24 and $2.29 million in FY25, and the momentum has strengthened this year. Shipments reached $3.29 million in AprilSeptember 2025, marking an over 1,200% increase year-on-year, the data showed. Indias overall dairy exports were at $493 million in FY25, up 80% from the previous fiscal year.

Analysts attribute the rise to booming global pizza demand, the competitive pricing and texture of buffalo-milk mozzarellathe preferred cheese for pizzaand recent investments spurred by the governments production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme. These are early signs that Indias dairy sector is starting to move up the value chain even as Europe, the US and New Zealand continue to dominate the global cheese trade.

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In India, mozzarella is largely made from buffalo milk, which gives it a firmer texture and higher fat content compared to cow-milk variants, said Tarun Shridhar, former secretary, animal husbandry & dairying and director general of the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA).

With the worlds largest buffalo population, India holds a natural advantage in producing this variety, and exporters say the quality of buffalo-milk mozzarella is increasingly being recognized in the overseas markets.

A key boosting factor is the government's decision to include mozzarella under its PLI scheme in 2021, which encouraged dairy firms to expand capacity and upgrade technology, said a government official.

For instance, Amul has invested 200 crore to manufacture and export buffalo-milk mozzarella. The company had announced this plan in 2021.

India now has surplus capacities in cheese, and our prices for butter and cheese are competitive in the global dairy commodity market," said Rupinder Singh Sodhi, president of the Indian Dairy Association and former managing director of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (Amul).

There is increased demand for dairy products from countries in the Middle East, African markets such as Morocco and Egypt, and also from Georgia," said Sudarshan Patil, managerfinance at Maharashtra-based Sonai Dairy. The company exports cheddar cheese to these countries.

Mozzarella has proved easier for Indian companies to export than cheddar, which requires longer ageing, higher storage costs and stronger branding. Buffalo-milk mozzarella, in contrast, offers India a differentiated product in a fast-growing global market, said Shridhar.

The key exporters of mozzarella include Amul, Milky Mist and Schreiber Dynamix.

India mainly exports mozzarella to Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Bhutan and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia has emerged as the largest buyer, importing Indian mozzarella worth $2.38 million in AprilSeptember 2025, compared to zero imports a year ago. It is followed by Sri Lanka, whose imports rose to $0.47 million in the first half of FY26 from $0.07 million a year ago, and Bangladesh at $0.14 million.

Boost for India's dairy prospects

This signals bright prospects for the sector. Mozzarella is still a very small export segment for India, but the recent spike shows early signs of how value-added dairy products can find space in global markets," said Ajay Srivastava, co-founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative.

The surge in mozzarella exports shows that Indias dairy sector is finally moving up the value chain," said Binod Anand, founder-president of the World Cooperation Economic Forum, a cooperatives-led platform. Cooperatives have the capacity to compete globally when they invest in technology and quality systems, and this momentum in value-added dairy products is a clear sign of what is possible."

In overall dairy exports, India has made limited progress despite being the worlds largest milk producer. Its dairy exports account for only around a quarter of one percent of global dairy trade, and most of the shipments are still in low-value categories such as milk powder and casein, rather than branded cheese.

In FY24, India exported dairy products worth $272.64 million, with volumes of 63,738.47 tonnes. In FY25, dairy exports rose to $492.9 million, with volumes increasing to 113,350.4 tonnes.

India exported about 67,573 tonnes of dairy products in FY23, valued at $285 million. In FY24, these exports were at about 63,738 tonnes, with a value of $273 million. For FY25, they rose to 113,350 tonnes and a value of $493 million.

India Ratings projects Indias milk output to grow 5% annually in the near- to medium-term. From 251 million tonnes in FY25, production can go up to 263 million tonnes in FY26 and 277 million tonnes in FY27, it said.

According to the 20th Livestock Census 2019, India's cow population is 145.12 million, while buffalo is estimated at 109.85 million, the world's highest.

India had launched its PLI scheme for food processing in 2021 with an outlay of 10,900 crore for a period of six years, FY22-FY27. It aimed to boost value-added production, modernise processing facilities and help Indian food brands expand their presence in global markets.

The scheme provides sales-based incentives and support for branding abroad, and covers categories such as ready-to-eat foods, marine products, processed fruits and vegetables, organic foods and dairy, including mozzarella cheese.
Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Tuesday said that the Israeli Prime Minister has full confidence in India's security under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and teams are already coordinating a new visit date.

According to reports, Netanyahu was to visit India in December. However, the visit has been postponed. The reason for postponing the visit is not yet know.

Also Read | India, Israel revive FTA push as Goyal meets Netanyahu in Jerusalem

Israels bond with India and between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister @narendramodi is very strong. The PM has full confidence in Indias security under PM Modi, and teams are already coordinating a new visit date, said the Israeli Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a post on X.

A fortnight ago, after a powerful explosion ripped through a slow-moving car near the Red Fort metro station in Delhi in which 13 people died, Netanyahu expressed solidarity, saying terror may strike our cities, but it will never shake our souls.

To our dear friend @narendramodi and to the brave people of India: Sara and I, and the people of Israel, send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Israel stands strong with you in sorrow and in strength in this time, Netanyahu posted on social media in both Hindi and English, said the Israeli PM.

Describing India and Israel as ancient civilisations that stand on eternal truths, the Israeli Prime Minister emphasised that terror may strike our cities, but it will never shake our souls."

The light of our nations will outshine the darkness of our enemies, he asserted.

In October, Modi had dialled Netanyahu to congratulate him on the progress made under the Gaza peace plan.

"Called my friend, Prime Minister Netanyahu, to congratulate him on the progress made under President Trumps Gaza peace plan. We welcome the agreement on the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. Reaffirmed that terrorism in any form or manifestation is unacceptable anywhere in the world," said Modi on X.

Last week, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited Israel where he met with Netanyahu and other key leaders.

India and Israel also inked terms of reference (ToR) to formally launch negotiations for the agreement.

"We have signed the ToRs today. Now we will soon finalise the dates for starting the negotiations for that," Goyal told reporters here. Goyal is leading a 60-member business delegation to Israel. He will meet leaders and businesses to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade and investments.
Karnataka State Mineral Corporation Limited (KSMCL) managing director, IAS officer Mahantesh Bilagi, was killed in a car accident on Monday.

The 50-year-old bureaucrat's car overturned in Karnataka's Jewargi taluk near Gaunalli cross on Tuesday, as per a report by Deccan Herald.

Two other individuals, Bilagi's relatives, 52-year-old Shankar, and Iranna, also died in the accident.

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Bilagi, before his posting at KSMCL, was the managing director of the Bangalore Electric Supply Company Limited (BESCOM). He has also worked as the Davangere Deputy Commissioner and Dharwad assistant commissioner during his career, the publication reported.

The incident took place at around 6 pm on Tuesday when a group of five were going from Belagavi to Bidar in order to attend the wedding of a relative. The driver lost control of the vehicle which ended by hitting a bridge alongside the highway. The injured have been admitted to a hospital.

Bilagi was himself taken to a hospital, but died soon after. A case has been regisreted in this regard at the Jewargi Police Station.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has condoled the demise of the IAS officer, saying, He had rendered honest service as the Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayats in several districts and as a District Collector. Mahantesh had left his mark of efficiency everywhere he carried out his duties.

Karnatak Deputy CM D K Shivakumar said that Bilagi was an "efficient officer, who was renowned for his public service initiatives," adding that his passing is an "irreplaceable loss to society."

Bus overturns In another unrelated incident, a government bus overturned in Karnataka on Tuesday, injuring 20 passengers.

The incident occured in Uttara Kannada district, as per the police.

The bus was on its way from Raichur towards Karwar via Yellapur on National Highway-63. The incident occurred bear Navami Hotel at Vajralli.

The injured were taken to Ankola Government Hospital.
Shraddha Kapoor's brother and actor, Siddhanth Kapoor appeared before the Mumbai police on Tuesday to record his statement in connection with the drug seizure case, officials said.

Apart from Siddhanth, the ANC has summoned influencer Orhan Awatramani, alias Orry, on 26 November, Wednesday.

Siddhanth records statement Siddhanth, son of actor Shakti Kapoor and brother of actor Shraddha Kapoor, arrived at the Anti-Narcotics Cell's Ghatkopar unit, where the investigating officer is recording his statement, ANI reported, citing officials.

Also Read | Delhi police seize 32 lakh worth banned painkillers in a major crackdown

The Ghatkopar unit of the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) summoned the two Bollywood celebrities as their names cropped up in the interrogation of Mohammed Salim Mohammed Suhail Shaikh, a key accused in a 252 crore mephedrone seizure case.

What is the  252 crore drugs-case? The case in question dates back to March 2024 when the police seized 126.14 kg of mephedrone, commonly known as MD, valued at around 252 crore from a manufacturing unit located on a farm in Maharashtras Sangli district.

According to the police, Shaikh had claimed that some film, fashion celebrities, a politician, and a kin of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim had participated in rave parties organised by him in India and abroad. Earlier, Siddhanth had been apprehended in Bengaluru in 2022 on charges of drug consumption.

Which celebrities have been named? The Anti-Narcotics Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch said that the lavish parties organised by Shaikh were allegedly attended by several high-profile individuals, including Nora Fatehi and Shraddha Kapoor.

In their remand application before a Mumbai court, police said that producers Abbas-Mustan, along with a few other celebrities such as rapper Loka, Orry, and NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique were also allegedly present in the parties.

How did police nab Shaikh? Shaikh, also known as 'Lavish', was deported from Dubai last month. He is a close aide of drug lord Salim Dola, who oversaw the manufacture and distribution of mephedrone in various states, the official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur on his 350th martyrdom day on Tuesday (November 25). He posted on X, "On the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, we bow in reverence to his unmatched courage and sacrifice."

"His martyrdom for the protection of faith and humanity will forever illuminate our society," PM Modi said.

He also shared a video along with his post, in which he could be seen offering prayers at a gurudwara and serving langar.

Born on April 1, 1621, Tegh Bahadur was the youngest child of Guru Hargobind and the ninth Sikh guru. He was beheaded on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb on November 24, 1675, in Delhi.

Amit Shah, Rekha Gupta, other leaders pay tribute Paying homage to Guru Tegh Bahadur on his 350th martyrdom day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the ninth Sikh Guru pursued spiritual practices, conducted divine congregations, and also protected his culture and faith from cruel invaders in a single lifetime.

In a message on X, Shah said,"On the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Guru of Sikhism, 'Hind Ki Chadar' Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, I pay my respects and homage to him.

"He fought for the Kashmiri Pandits, challenged the tyrannical Mughals, and sacrificed everything for the sake of faith."

Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu posted on X, "On the 350th martyrdom day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, I pay my tributes to him. His message of walking on the path of religion, justice, and steadfastness is an inspiration for all humanity."

"The strength to face every situation with courage, patience, and firm determination comes to us from his sacrifice made for the protection of faith and human rights," President Murmu posted on X.

On the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta flagged off a 'Dhwaj Yatra' from the Sis Ganj Sahib gurudwara in the national capital to Punjab's Anandpur Sahib.

A large number of devotees participated in the yatra. "This event is an unparalleled opportunity to commemorate Sri Guru Ji's teachings, ideals and his supreme sacrifice for safeguarding the religion and humanity," Gupta said in a post on X.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ayodhya on Tuesday to ceremonially hoist a saffron flag on the spire of the Ram Mandir, symbolising the completion of its construction.

At the third and final event at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, around 10,000 people, mostly foot soldiers of the Temple movement, are expected to attend, apart from high-profile guests including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Also Read | Ayodhya adorned with flowers ahead of flag-hoisting ceremony tomorrow

PM Modi had performed 'Bhoomi Pujan' at Ram Mandir on 5 August 2020, and the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony was held on 22 January 2024.

Right-angled triangular flag The right-angled triangular flag, measuring 10 feet in height and 20 feet in length, bears the image of a radiant Sun symbolising the brilliance and valour of Lord Rama, with an 'Om' inscribed on it along with the image of the Kovidara tree, a statement issued by the prime minister's office (PMO) said.

The sacred saffron flag will convey a message of dignity, unity, and cultural continuity, embodying the ideals of Ram Rajya, the PMO said.

The flag will rise atop a 'shikhar' constructed in the traditional north Indian Nagara architectural style, while the surrounding 800-metre Parkota, a circumambulatory enclosure built around the temple designed in the south Indian architectural tradition, will showcase the temple's diverse architecture, it said.

PM Modi's itinerary During his stay in Ayodhya, the prime minister will visit the Saptamandir, which houses temples dedicated to Maharshi Vashishtha, Maharshi Vishwamitra, Maharshi Agastya, Maharshi Valmiki, Devi Ahilya, Nishadraj Guha, and Mata Shabari.

This will be followed by a visit to the Sheshavtar Mandir. Modi will also visit the Mata Annapurna temple and perform darshan and pooja at the Ram Darbar Garbh Grah, which will be followed by darshan at the Ram Lalla Garbh Grah, the statement said.

At around noon, Prime Minister Modi will ceremonially hoist the saffron flag on the 'shikhar' of the Ram Mandir, symbolising the completion of the temple's construction and ushering in a new chapter of cultural celebration and national unity, the PMO statement said.

Martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur The prime minister will also address a gathering on the occasion.

The programme will take place on the auspicious Panchami date of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Margashirsha, coinciding with the Abhijit Muhurat of Shri Ram and Maa Sita's Vivah Panchami, a day symbolising divine union," the statement said.

The date also marks the martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, who meditated in Ayodhya for 48 hours in the 17th century, further enhancing the spiritual significance of the day, it said.

The temple complex features 87 intricately carved stone episodes from the life of Lord Ram based on the Valmiki Ramayana on the outer walls of the main shrine, with 79 bronze-cast episodes from Indian culture placed along the enclosure walls.

Together, these elements provide a meaningful and educational experience to all visitors, offering deep insight into Lord Ram's life and the cultural heritage of India, the statement said.

High security in place On the eve of Modis visit, Adityanath conducted an on-site review on Monday to ensure seamless planning and arrangements, issuing necessary directions to the concerned officials, according to a statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government.

A total of 6,970 security personnel, including commandos from the ATS, NSG snipers, cyber experts, and technical teams, have been deployed in the holy city as part of heightened security measures, it said.

Anti-drone technology and advanced monitoring systems are also operational on the temple premises and surrounding areas.

Senior officials, from superintendents of police to field-level teams, are overseeing the operations to ensure seamless coordination, the statement said.

Also Read | Ayodhya Deepotsav: UP govt sets two new world records

Personnel responsible for crowd management, security screening, explosives detection, and emergency response have been stationed at key locations.

The sacred saffron flag will convey a message of dignity, unity, and cultural continuity, embodying the ideals of Ram Rajya.

Special units, including bomb squads, dog squads, VVIP protection teams, fire units, and rapid response teams, are active in the city, the statement said.
Metro services in Kolkata were disrupted on Tuesday after an attempted suicide in one of its corridors, the third such incident in a week.

According to a report by the news agency PTI, the incident occurred at 11:31 AM on Tuesday, when a passenger jumped onto the tracks as a train was approaching. The report, however, did not specify which station the incident occurred at.

The attempted suicide affected services on the Blue Line, which connects the Dakshineswar and Garia areas in the northern and southern outskirts of the city, respectively.

The service disruption lasted around 40 minutes, affecting the stretch between Dakshineswar and Sobhabazar stations.

Normal services on the Blue Line were restored at 12.11 PM on Tuesday, a Metro official was quoted as saying.

Tuesday's incident comes days after another suicide attempt disrupted services on the same Blue Line.

That incident took place on Saturday, with a commuter attempting to take his life at the Mahatma Gandhi Road station, disrupting services from Belgachia to Park Street.

Due to a suicide attempt at Mahatma Gandhi Road Station, Metro services on the Blue Line are presently available between Dakshineswar and Dum Dum Station and Maidan and Shahid Khudiram Station, an alert on the Kolkata Metro app said on Saturday afternoon.

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Although the man was lifted off the tracks, he was declared dead, the Medical College of Kolkata police said.

Saturday's incident followed on the back of yet another suicide attempt on Thursday, when services were affected for nearly an hour in the afternoon after an elderly man attempted to kill himself by jumping on the tracks at the Netaji station around 3.10 PM.

Normal services were restored on Thursday after a 55-minute gap, at 4:05 PM.
The government rejected the telecom regulators proposal to subsidize satellite internet services in rural and remote areas because of little fiscal room, given the commitments for other digital infrastructure programmes, according to three officials aware of the matter.

The governments 1.73 trillion commitment to bridge the countrys digital divideincluding the revamped BharatNet programme and 4G connectivity for villageshas left little room in the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) fund, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Other reasons include the lack of a mechanism for direct benefit transfers (DBT) from the fund and potential overlap with existing initiatives already covered under the Digital Bharat Nidhi, such as the 4G saturation project and other targeted schemes aimed at expanding mobile connectivity in villages, they said.

No subsidy means either users will have to bear the cost of satellite terminals, priced around 1 lakh on average for each unit or the companies will have to absorb the costs. Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, Jio Satellite and Amazon's Kuiper, which are preparing to launch satellite internet services in India, have been urging the government to provide subsidies to connect the underserved or unserved rural areas with satellite internet where it is commercially unviable.

Queries emailed to DoT and Trai did not elicit a response until press time.

Also Read | Trai faces tough call before spectrum auction amid operators' rift

On 9 May, as part of its recommendations on the assignment of spectrum for satellite internet services in the country, Trai told DoT that for targeted subscribers in unserved or underserved regions in rural and remote areas, the government can consider a subsidy for each fixed user terminal. The appropriate amount may be decided by the government, Trai had said, adding that the government can give the subsidy either through DBT to eligible subscribers or to the operators through the Digital Bharat Nidhi fund.

In its 12 November response to Trais suggestions, the department of telecommunications (DoT) has cited multiple reasons for not accepting the regulators proposal on subsidy for satellite internet services and equipment for users, the first official cited earlier said. One of the reasons is that there is limited space for sanctioning new projects under the Digital Bharat Nidhi fund, which has an available amount of 90,900 crore but has a committed liability of 1.73 trillion.

DoT has communicated reasons to Trai on not accepting its recommendations on satellite internet subsidy. The DBN does not handle direct benefit transfers (DBT), and no mechanism has been established for this purpose," the second official said, adding that DBN rules allow an area-wise targeted approach to bridge the digital divide. The present approach for subsidy, recommended by Trai for satellite internet, is the individual approach, which will mean providing a schematic subsidy to already covered areas, the official said.

DoT is not aligned with Trai's proposal for giving area-wise subsidy as the approach will raise the issue of adverse selection and could result in inefficient targeting," the third official said.

Trai is preparing its response to comments by DoT, said a fourth official, without sharing details.

The Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) or the erstwhile Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) was set up to fund and implement projects that bridge the digital divide across India, especially in rural and remote areas. The fund currently subsidizes telecom operators for providing services where commercial viability is low. Operators contribute a 5% levy on their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) to the DBN.

At a press conference last month, communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, The way I understand is that the erstwhile USOF (DBN) is for capital expenditure. It is not for subsidizing a service. DBN can only subsidise the tower that is being put up there, the capital structure that has been put up. You cannot subsidise the variable cost of a service".

Also Read | BSNL dials vendors TCS, Tejas to fix weak signals

However, the Broadband India Forum (BIF), representing satellite communication companies such as Hughes, OneWeb and Nelco, among others, argued that DBN can subsidize satellite internet.

One of the main purposes of the DBN charter is to provide sustainable connectivity for rural and remote areas and promote new technologies and services. Satcom based on HTS- GSO/NGSOs (highthroughput satellite- Geostationary Satellite Orbit/NonGeostationary Satellite Orbit) is already a new technology and service," TV Ramachandran, president of BIF said in a letter to DoT last month. Therefore, using DBN funds for supporting satcom services and ultra-high cost satcom consumer broadband terminals (in the average range of 1 lakh) falls clearly within its remit."

According to Ramachandran, Trais recommendations in this respect are both lawful and necessary. The sector is in such a nascent stage and satellite operators face low revenue potential in the disadvantaged marketsunserved and underserved regionsthat they are required to serve, he added.

Also Read | India may offer spectrum discount to satellite internet providers

After Trais recommendations in May, the telecom operators, represented by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), had pushed back against subsidies for satellite internet services from DBN.

The additional proposal to subsidize user terminals or satellite operators through the DBN fund further tilts the level playing field against the terrestrial operator, especially given that a majority of the DBN levy is contributed by competing terrestrial operators," S.P. Kochhar, director general of COAI, said in a letter to the government.

On 17 November, Mint reported that the government is considering 1% discount on the spectrum usage charge for satellite internet companies if a section of their users lives in hard-to-connect areas such as borders, hills, islands, and those notified by the government.
The mass kidnapping of children in Nigeria caught the worlds attention over a decade ago when 276 high-school students were abducted from Chibok, sparking the #BringBackOurGirls campaign on social media. The phenomenon returned to the limelight this month with another mass abduction and President Trumps threats to intervene over what he said was the persecution of Christians in one of Africas most strategic nations.

The reality is, the kidnappings never really abated.

Last week, gunmen attacked St. Marys Catholic School in central Niger State, spraying bullets into the air and then forcing 303 students and 12 teachers and staff into the nearby forest at gunpoint. By Sunday, 50 students had escaped and been reunited with their parents, according to a statement from Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the Niger State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria. Of the children that remain missing, 39 are nursery-school students, according to a list published by the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora.

No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of the St. Marys students.

Even for Nigeria, Africas most populous nation, the St. Marys abduction was large. But it has become all too familiar. In March last year, more than 280 schoolchildren were abducted in the town of Kuriga. In 2021, gunmen kidnapped 317 girls from a boarding school in Jangebe. At the end of 2020, 344 boys were taken from a school in Katsina. Since 2014, there have been at least 17 cases of mass abductions in which at least 1,700 children were seized from their schools by gunmen, according to Amnesty International, in many instances fueling a lucrative kidnapping-for-ransom industry.

Trump threatened to send the U.S. military into Nigeria, guns-a-blazing," in response to what he characterized as the mass slaughters of Christians, again turning international attention to the seemingly endless barrage of abductions and sending the Nigerian government scrambling to explain the situation.

View Full Image Relatives and students carry luggage as they walk out of a school in Bwari, Nigeria.

But it isnt just Christians being targeted. Earlier last week, attackers abducted 25 studentslargely Muslimsfrom a school in Kebbi State, according to police.

Nigeria is home to about 240 million people, around half of them Muslims, concentrated in the north, and half of them Christians, generally in the south. About 105 million Nigerians are children, according to Unicef, the United Nations childrens agency. Sometimes attacks are carried out by extremist groups such as Boko Haram, whose name translates as Western education is forbidden, and is concentrated in the countrys northeast. In the northwest, culprits are often bandits who abduct children in exchange for ransom payments.

In the countrys central region, Christian farmers have been battling with a tribe of largely Muslim cattle herdsmen for years over dwindling natural resources. More than 12,000 Nigerians have died since 2010 in clashes between the nomadic cattle-herders and settled farmers over lands that both groups claim as their own, according to ACLED, a conflict-monitoring group.

The end result of all these parallel conflicts is the widespread killing and abduction of both Christian and Muslim civilians.

Nigerias best-known battle is against Boko Haram, the jihadist group that captured global attention in 2014 when it abducted 276 students from Chiboks Government Secondary School. Many of those students were Christians, and forced by their captors to convert to Islam. But Boko Haram has since splintered and been largely confined to the Muslim-dominated villages of the far northeast, where few Christians remain.

Nigerian authorities are trying to persuade Trump that they are doing everything possible to protect Christians. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu postponed a trip to the Group of 20 summit in South Africa last weekend to address the kidnapping and security crises, according to his office.

Last week, Nigerias national security adviser and other high-ranking officials met with U.S. officials from Congress, the White House, the State Department, the National Security Council and the Defense Department in Washington, according to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to Tinubu.

The Nigerian delegation refuted allegations of genocide in Nigeria, emphasizing that violent attacks affect families and communities across religious and ethnic lines," Onanuga said. The U.S. affirmed its readiness to deepen security cooperation with Nigeria."

But after more than a decade of mass abductions and various factions murdering each other over land, religion and money, many Nigerians are frustrated with the governments lack of progress. Overall, more than 100,000 Nigerians have died in political and religious violence since 2011, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.

The number of children out of school in Nigeria has risen to around 18.3 million, according to Unicef, with fears of attacks stopping many children from attending, according to aid groups.

What is happening in Nigeria is that Christians are being killed, but other non-Christians are being killed as well," said Adewole Adebayo, a former Nigerian presidential candidate who plans to run for the top office again in 2027. The government has a problem of general incompetence across the board."

Write to Alexandra Wexler at alexandra.wexler@wsj.com
After lying dormant for 12,000 years, Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano has erupted, spewing ash thousands of kilometres away. The sudden burst of ash forced multiple airlines to cancel or divert flights, with aviation authorities issuing fresh advisories as the plume drifted high into the atmosphere and over Asian countries of India, Pakistan, and across the Red Sea towards Yemen and Oman.
A young finance professional has opened up about her decision to return to India for work  and how the reality of corporate life here has left her questioning the move. In a candid Reddit post titled Moved Back to India for Work, Now Im Seriously Regretting It, the 26-year-old shared the challenges she has faced since relocating.

The user, who completed most of her schooling in Singapore, wrote that India had always felt like home while growing up. She even chose to pursue her undergraduate degree here before moving to London for a masters programme. London, she said, had been her childhood dream  and working there only strengthened her love for the city.

However, due to personal reasons, she left her job in the UK and returned to Singapore, where she joined an investment bank. When the company restructured and outsourced her departments operations to India, she accepted a lower-paying role in the country  hoping it would bring her closer to her roots.

But just three months in, she says the experience has been far from what she expected.

Calling out what she describes as boss culture, office politics and a lack of boundaries, the young professional wrote that the transition has been mentally exhausting. I miss the openness, the structure, and the respect for boundaries, she said, adding that she now has to justify taking a day off, something she never faced abroad.

The post has sparked conversation among professionals who have returned after working overseas  many echoing similar concerns about long working hours, micromanagement and skewed work-life balance in Indian corporate culture.

The Redditor admits she cant stop questioning her choice: Should I have never left London? Or even Singapore? She ended her message by seeking advice from others on whether she should apply again for jobs in the UK and Europe.

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Internet reacts That's why whenever there's a thing between emotions vs brain you should always choose. If you don't have any aged parents better to leave, a user wrote.

If youre stuck in India for the time being, make sure you do not work for an Indian company or an Indian manager in a company with high concentration of Indians across the globe, another user wrote.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

HARARE - Outspoken war veteran and former ZANU-PF Central Committee member Blessed Geza has defended Vice President Constantino Chiwenga for wearing full military uniform during the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) handover ceremony.The event, officiated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, marked the transition of command from retired General Philip Velerio Sibanda to General Matutu. Chiwenga's appearance in full Army General regalia sparked speculation, with some suggesting it signaled defiance against the President.However, Geza dismissed such perceptions, insisting Chiwenga's conduct was in line with protocol."I've heard various comments about General Chiwenga wearing a military uniform at yesterday's handover ceremony. I wish to clarify that retired military personnel are allowed to wear military attire at selected functions, but only with the President's approval as Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces. General Chiwenga's actions were therefore in line with protocol, Geza posted on X.He urged Zimbabweans to avoid divisive rhetoric and instead focus on nation-building."General Chiwenga and the President have a strong bond forged during the liberation struggle, and it's essential to recognize the President's seniority in both security and governance systems. General Chiwenga acknowledges this hierarchy; he respects the established order, Geza added.
Palash Muchhals mother, Amita Muchhal, has revealed that her son wanted to cancel the wedding even before Smriti Mandhana wanted to.

While speaking to the Hindustan Times, she spoke about her sons closeness with Smriti Mandhanas father, Shrinivas Mandhana.

Palash is emotionally attached to his uncle a lot. In fact, they are closer than Palash and Smriti. So, when he fell ill, Palash decided, even before Smriti did, that the wedding should not take place until he fully recovers, his mother told the Hindustan Times.

Smriti se pehle Palash ne decision liya ke usko abhi phere nahi karne jab tak uncle theek nahi ho jaate, she said.

Since Haldi was done, we didnt let him go outside. He cried so much that his health suddenly got worse. He had to be kept in the hospital for 4 hours. They gave him an IV drip, did an ECG and other tests. All the reports came out normally, but the stress level is very high, she added.

We have got Palash back to Mumbai now. He is feeling better and resting now. But stress is there. His sister Palak has also left Sangli and is coming to be with him, she further said.

Amita Muchhals comments come after Smriti Mandhana deleted all social media posts related to her upcoming wedding. She was set to marry music composer Palash Muchhal on 23 November in a private ceremony in Sangli, Maharashtra. However, the wedding has been postponed indefinitely after sudden medical emergencies in the family.

On the morning of the ceremony, Smritis father became unwell during breakfast with heart-attack-like symptoms. He was rushed to Sarvhit Hospital. A day later, on 24 November, Palash was also admitted to a hospital due to unexpected health issues.

Smritis father is still under observation, and doctors have advised continued hospital care. The family decided not to go ahead with the wedding until both health situations improve. Smriti, who is extremely close to her father, agreed to call off the marriage for now.

She deleted all wedding-related Instagram posts, including her engagement and viral proposal videos.

Conspiracy theories on Smriti Mandhanas wedding Since Smriti Mandhana has not provided any reasons for deleting all social media posts about her wedding, conspiracy theories are circulating on social media.

Some claim it was Nazar. Since she shared all updates about her wedding on social media, it brought her bad luck. Many now suggest that she should have kept her happy moments private and shared the photos later on.

Also, there are rumours around Palash allegedly cheating on Smriti although nothing has been confirmed by either of them. Unverified screenshots shared on Reddit and Instagram claim to show Palash chatting privately with a woman named Mary DCosta.

The messages allegedly exchanged between the two read flirty. He allegedly invited the same woman for a swim, a spa outing and even an early morning walk at Versova beach. In the unverified screenshots, the chat mentions that the long-distance relationship (between Smriti and Palash) literally s*cks.

We meet once in like 3-5 months, he says. Earlier, I used to go on her tour to chill. But, for the last two years, its been really hectic for me as well.

There are also unverified claims that Palash was seen getting close to a woman during pre-wedding dance rehearsals. People are now debating whether these screenshots are real or edited. Many uploads have been deleted later, and no trusted source has verified anything.

During 24-25 November, the interest in Smriti Mandhana soared on Google India:
Mumbai: Nita and Mukesh Ambani were among the prominent guests at the wedding of Karan Nathwani and Dweta, held this week at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai. Karan is the younger son of industrialist and Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani, who serves as Director of Corporate Affairs at Reliance Industries and is known to be a close aide of Mukesh Ambani.

While Mukesh Ambani was dressed in formal Indian attire, Nita Ambani opted for a heavily embellished saree for the occasion. The couple was seen greeting guests and posing for photographs at the venue. Anant Ambani also attended the ceremony and appeared in visuals shared online by MLA Shailesh Sotta.

What was Nita Ambani wearing? Nita Ambani looked radiant in a metallic grey silk saree featuring delicate floral embroidery. The saree was finished with a colourful patti border that added a vibrant touch to the classic drape. She styled it traditionally, letting the embellished pallu fall gracefully over her shoulder.

She paired the saree with a contrasting deep indigo-blue blouse, crafted in silk with intricate work on the half sleeves. The fitted silhouette and U-shaped neckline elevated the overall look with modern elegance.

For accessories, Nita Ambani opted for statement diamond and emerald jewellery from her personal collection  a layered necklace with striking emerald drops, matching cuffs, circular earrings and a standout ring.

Keeping the focus on her ensemble, she tied her hair in a side-parted messy bun and rounded off the look with a red bindi, soft pink lips, glowing skin, defined brows, kohl-rimmed eyes and fluttery lashes  adding a touch of glamour to the festive occasion.

Viral video A sweet video circulating on social media shows Nita Ambani blessing the newly married couple. The Reliance Foundation chairperson is seen applying tilak on their foreheads with a warm smile, as the bride and groom stand beside her. The clip then shows Karan Nathwani bending down to touch her feet and seek her blessings.

The luxurious ceremony was hosted at the same venue where Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchants grand wedding celebrations took place last year. Ahead of the event, Parimal Nathwani shared that he personally extended invitations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Ambani family.

Also Read | Donald Trump Jr gets dandiya lesson from Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant
The White House on Tuesday rejected the report which claimed that US President Donald Trump is considering removing Kash Patel as FBI director in the coming months, and termed it a completely made-up story.

According to the MS Now report, which cited three people without being named, the President and his top aides have grown increasingly frustrated by the unflattering headlines Kash Patel has recently generated.

The report claimed that Patel has come under scrutiny for his stewardship of bureau resources, including his girlfriends security detail.

However, reacting to the report, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a photo of Kash Patel and Donald Trump, saying this story is completely made up.

In fact, when this Fake News published, I was in the Oval Office, where President Trump was meeting with his law enforcement team, including FBI Director Kash Patel.

Leavitt claimed that when she read the headline to the President, he laughed and said: What? Thats totally false. Come on Kash, lets take a picture to show them youre doing a great job!

Do not believe the Fake News!, she further added.

In September, Trump praised Kash Patel for swift action in arresting shooter involved in Charlie Kirks assassination.

"I am very proud of the FBI. Kashand everyone elsethey have done a great job," said Trump.

The MS Now report also claimed that top FBI official Andrew Bailey is being considered as the logical replacement.

Bailey has served as a distinguished attorney general for Missouri and is a decorated war veteran.

In August, the Trump administration named Bailey to a new post of co-deputy director of the FBI alongside Dan Bongino.

After Bailey's appointment, Patel had said Bailey would be an "integral part" of the agency's mission.

Earlier this month, the FBI Agents Association slammed Kash Patel, after the bureau fired, unfired and then re-fired several FBI agents who had worked on cases targeting US President Donald Trump or his allies.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled a new public-awareness drive urging Americans to behave more respectfully while flying  including dressing better, helping fellow passengers and refraining from putting their feet on seats.

Speaking at Newark Airport in New Jersey, Duffy said he has observed a degradation in civility among air travelers, prompting his decision to launch what he called a civility campaign during the heavy holiday travel season.

Dont wear pajamas and slippers Duffy encouraged travelers to rethink their airport attire.

Whether its a pair of jeans and a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little bit better, which encourages us to maybe behave a little better, he said.

Lets try not to wear slippers and pajamas as we come to the airport.

He also urged passengers to avoid removing their shoes inflight or propping their feet on seats.

Dont take your shoes off and put your feet on the chair ahead of you, Duffy warned.

Calls for courtesy toward crew The secretary urged travelers to show basic respect toward airline staff.

Say please and thank you to our pilots and to our flight attendants, he said, adding that passengers should dress with some respect.

He also encouraged passengers to help fellow travelers struggling with overhead baggage as a simple act of courtesy.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative launched to slash the government's size, on Tuesday rejected reports of its shutting down and said that they will be back in a few days with the regularly scheduled Friday update.

A report by Reuters claimed that US President Donald Trump's department has disbanded with eight months left to its mandate.

Speaking to the news agency, when asked about DOGE's status, Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor said that it doesn't exist, adding, "It is no longer a centralized entity.

Kupor also claimed that OPM, the human resources office of the federal government, has since taken over many of DOGE's functions.

A few months ago, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, departed from DOGE where he served as an administration adviser.

However, in a post on X, DOGE termed it as fake news.

President Trump was given a mandate by the American people to modernize the federal government and reduce waste, fraud and abuse. Just last week, DOGE terminated 78 wasteful contracts and saved taxpayers $335M, DOGE said in a post on X handle.

It further added, Well be back in a few days with our regularly scheduled Friday update.

Responding to a post by X handle DogeDesigner, which shared Reuter's news article, Musk targeted the news agency.

In January 2025, the agency was set up to rapidly shrink federal agencies, cut their budgets or redirect their work to Trump priorities.

The report also stated that two prominent DOGE employees are now involved with the National Design Studio, a new body headed by Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, which was created through an executive order signed by Trump in August.

DOGE has claimed to have slashed tens of billions of dollars in expenditures.

"President Trump was given a clear mandate to reduce waste, fraud and abuse across the federal government, and he continues to actively deliver on that commitment," Reuters quoted White House spokeswoman Liz Huston as saying, in response to an email.

Also Read | Judge dismisses cases against former FBI Director Comey, NY AG Letitia James

Meanwhile, the government workers and contractors who were affected by the shutting down of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), want Elon Musk to testify in a lawsuit which accuses him of unlawfully directing the dissolution of the agency.
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott is on a roll, as her streak of donating money to colleges continues. Her latest was a massive $17 million life-changing donation to Northern Oklahoma College.

This was the largest donation in the school's history, it said in a blog post on November 22.

Northern Oklahoma College has received a $17 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the single largest contribution in the Colleges history which dates back to 1901, it said.

Scott has been donating her money to several colleges over the past few months.

Northern Oklahoma College president Diana Morris thanked Mackenzie Scott for her donation.

I cannot possibly adequately articulate my gratitude for Ms. Scotts vote of confidence in the mission and activities of the college by allowing us to allocate the resources as we believe are in the best interest of the college, she said.

Morris said that Scott's donation will help the school achieve its goals and visions.

Her donation will assist us as we seek to achieve our vision of serving as a model institution and leader in academic quality and cultural enrichment, promoting student success, collaborative learning, creative and forward thinking, and community responsiveness, she said.

The donation will help the college out, where about 80% of students receive financial aid and/ or scholarships, while 75% of them complete their degrees without any debt.

While that retreat will not take place until January, decisions concerning the allocation of these funds will center on the colleges 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. That plan was developed with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Blueprint 2030 in mind, particularly the emphases on growing the student pipeline and producing workforce ready graduates, the college said.

MacKenzie Scott's donations MacKenzie Scott is known for her benevolent donations, often to colleges and their students in need. She has given away more than $740 million given to over a dozen historically Black colleges and universities [HBCUs] including Howard University and Morgan State University.

Scott has also signed the Giving Pledge, which is a philanthropic model launched by Bill Gates, Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett that asks the fund's wealthiest individuals to publicly donate at least 50% of their money to philanthropy.

Much of her wealth comes from her 2019 divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, after which she pledged almost all of it to charity. So far, shes donated well over $19 billion across thousands of institutes that focus on including DEI, education, disaster recovery, and more.
The US Navy is cutting back its orders for a new class of guided-missile frigate thats been beset by delays, shifting away from a vessel that President Donald Trump once touted as the most beautiful.

The Navy is reducing its orders for the Constellation-class frigate to two from six, and even those two will remain under review, Navy Secretary John Phelan said in a statement. He said the decision was part of a new emphasis on speedy fleet expansion, and that funds designated for the shops will be put toward future Navy needs.

The decision is a blow to Trieste, Italy-based Fincantieri SpA, whose Wisconsin-based subsidiary had been contracted to build the frigates. The company will be involved in the Navys plans, Phelan said. About $2.5 billion has been spent to date, the Navy said in a separate statement.

Keeping this critical workforce employed and the yard viable for future Navy shipbuilding is of foremost concern, Phelan said. A key factor in todays decision is the need to grow the fleet faster to meet tomorrows threats, he said.

Trump touted the contracts toward the end of his first term as president, praising both their maneuverability and the fact that the Fincantieri subsidiary was based in the swing state of Wisconsin. In his closing remarks at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Trump reminded the audience of that fact.

It was a big contract that everybody wanted, Trump said. I gave it to Wisconsin, but were going to have a lot of that built right here in the state of Wisconsin and all other states.

But the program has long been beset by trouble. The Navy disclosed in April 2024 that the first frigate  which started construction in 2022  was projected to be three years later than its contracted April 2026 delivery date. Much of the blame was put on difficulties in hiring an experienced workforce.

The first vessel is 12% complete and the second has not started construction, according to the Navy. It said contractor performance did not factor into the decision to terminate for convenience.

Fincantieri has been a committed partner, and the Navy values this partnership, our investment and together we want to rapidly deliver capabilities to warfighters, the company said in a statement. It said it was counting on the Navy to channel work on amphibious, special mission, and icebreaking vessels into our system of shipyards, while they determine how we can support with new types of small surface combatants and unmanned platforms that they want to rapidly field.

Each frigate is estimated to cost $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion, with the first ship topping $1.3 billion.

In a 2024 report, the Government Accountability Office said the Navy failed to ensure that the vessels design was ready to proceed before awarding the project to Fincantieri. Inadequate review meant that construction began before the design was sufficiently stable to support that activity, according to the report.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
The Trump administration is reportedly planning a review of all refugees admitted to the US during the Biden administration, according to a memo obtained Monday by The Associated Press. This comes as a latest blow against a program that has for decades welcomed people fleeing war and persecution into the country.

The review is likely to trigger confusion and fear among the nearly 200,000 refugees who came to the US during that period. It is likely to face legal challenges from advocates, some of whom said the move was part of the administration's cold-hearted treatment of people trying to build new lives in the US.

What does the memo say? The memo, signed by the director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow, and dated Friday, stated that during the Biden administration, expediency and quantity were prioritised over detailed screening and vetting.

The memo said that warranted a comprehensive review and re-interview of all refugees admitted from January 20, 2021, to February 20, 2025.

The memo indicated that there will be a list of people to re-interview within three months.

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The memo also immediately suspended green card approvals for refugees who came to the US during the stated time period.

USCIS is ready to uphold the law and ensure the refugee program is not abused, Edlow wrote.

People admitted to the US as refugees are required to apply for a green card one year after they arrive in the country and usually five years after that can apply for citizenship.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of Homeland Security and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement The moves described in the memo are the latest to aim for the refugee program, which the administration suspended earlier this year and later set a limit for entries to 7,500 mostly white South Africans  a historic low of refugees to be admitted to the US since the programs inception in 1980.

The Trump administration more broadly has ramped up immigration enforcement as part of its promise to increase deportations of illegal immigrants.

Also Read | Setback for asylum seekers? UK policy overhaul to slash protections for refugees

The Biden administration admitted 185,640 refugees from October 2021 through September 2024. Refugee admissions topped 100,000 last year, with the largest numbers coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Syria.

Refugee advocates slammed news of the review, saying that it will traumatise people who have already gone through extensive vetting to make it to the US in the first place.

This plan is shockingly ill-conceived, said Naomi Steinberg, vice president of US policy and advocacy at HIAS, a refugee resettlement agency.

This is a new low in the administrations consistently cold-hearted treatment of people who are already building new lives and enriching the communities where they have made their homes.

Also Read | India slams UN expert claiming impact of Pahalgam attack on Myanmar refugees

The USCIS expects to have a priority list for re-interviews within 90 days, Edlow wrote. His language points to a rigorous revisiting of why refugee status was granted in the first place.

Testimony will include, but is not limited to, the circumstances establishing past persecution or a well-founded fear for principal refugees, the persecutor bar, and any other potential inadmissibilities, he wrote.

Sharif Aly, President of the International Refugee Assistance Project, an advocacy group, criticised the administration's actions in a statement late Monday, saying that refugees are already the most highly vetted immigrants in the United States.

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Besides the enormous cruelty of this undertaking, it would also be a tremendous waste of government resources to review and re-interview 200,000 people who have been living peacefully in our communities for years, Aly said.

IRAP is currently part of a lawsuit seeking to overturn the administration's suspension of refugee admissions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday (November 245), reinforced that Russia would not support any peace proposal that strays from Trumps original 28-point plan.

Moscow received the latest version through unofficial channels, Lavrov said, adding that a number of issues need clarification.

He warned Russia would reject any diluted version: If the spirit and letter of Anchorage are erased from the key understandings we have documented, then the situation will be fundamentally different, Lavrov said, according to The Financial Times.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday refused to elaborate on Moscows position regarding ongoing USUkraine negotiations over Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, calling the surrounding discourse an information frenzy.

It is impossible to comment amid this information frenzy, Peskov told reporters. A lot of contradictory information is being published, contradictory statements, and so on.

Russian officials have largely avoided detailed public response to the weekend talks in Geneva, where US, European and Ukrainian officials discussed a revised American peace plan.

Trumps framework still the basis, says Kremlin Despite refusing specifics, Peskov stressed that the original US 28-point peace framework remains the only substantial document under consideration.

The original U.S. proposal is currently the only substantive thing, he said. We believe that it could be a very good basis for talks this is what our president has stated.

Peskov referred to the plan as Trumps framework.

The initial draft was widely criticized for aligning with long-standing Kremlin demands  including Ukraine ceding territory, halving its armed forces, and accepting limits on long-range weapons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Friday that Moscow received the 28-point proposal but said it had not yet been discussed in detail with the US.

I believe that it could also form the basis for a final peace settlement, Putin said. But this text has not been discussed with us in detail.

Putin suggested Washington had not secured Kyivs approval.

The reason is the same: the U.S. administration has not yet managed to secure the agreement of the Ukrainian side, he said. Ukraine and its European allies are still under the illusion that they can inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

Plan revised from 28 to 19 points A Ukrainian official said that the original 28-point proposal had been reduced to 19 points following negotiations.

The White House has said it is working to secure a deal after Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff created the earlier version  a proposal that was widely viewed as highly favorable to Moscow.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC), NOAA, National Weather Service, has warned of isolated severe thunderstorms across parts of the Southeast and Deep South on Tuesday (November 25), with the threat extending from the morning into the early evening hours.

Forecasters say a couple of tornadoes are possible, particularly in eastern Mississippi and central Alabama, where conditions may briefly support rotating storms.

Fast-moving storm line weakening A fast-moving line of showers and isolated thunderstorms crossed northern Alabama early Tuesday before shifting into northwest Georgia.

However, the storms are entering an area with limited instability, with surface dew points only in the mid-50s, reducing the chance of damaging wind gusts in the morning hours.

Afternoon redevelopment As the earlier storms move out, southerly winds are expected to bring back slightly moister and more unstable air into east-central Mississippi and central/northern Alabama.

Though large-scale forcing is weak, daytime heating may trigger scattered thunderstorms by early afternoon.

Supercell potential Any storms that form will develop in an environment with 2030 knots of low-level southerly winds and enough deep-layer shear to support transient supercell structures.

The SPC says this setup maintains the need for a Slight Risk despite weaker forcing mechanisms.
News / National

by Pau Ndou

HARARE - Veteran auctioneer and JEFFM Auctions director Jeffery Mubaiwa (47) has been cleared of fraud charges after NetOne Cellular (Pvt) Ltd formally withdrew its complaint, leading the Harare Magistrates' Court to strike the case off the roll.Mubaiwa had been accused of failing to remit US$133,000 from the sale of obsolete NetOne assets. However, the mobile operator retracted its allegations through a sworn affidavit filed by Regional Loss Control Officer Takaiteyi Chitekwe on October 14, 2025, at Kopje Plaza.The affidavit confirmed that NetOne was "no longer interested in pursuing the matter," clarifying that the dispute stemmed from contractual misunderstandings rather than criminal conduct.NetOne acknowledged that some issues raised were not captured in the contract and should have been resolved internally. The company further affirmed that the matter had been settled amicably and would not be reinstated "in any other court of law."The withdrawal collapsed the State's case, which had alleged Mubaiwa failed to remit funds from a July 13 auction that generated US$172,204 from the sale of decommissioned vehicles, furniture, and equipment. Prosecutors had initially claimed he was supposed to remit the funds within 48 hours.With the complainant disowning the allegations, the magistrate ruled that the State had no legal grounds to proceed, resulting in Mubaiwa's full clearance.The development restores the professional reputation of the veteran auctioneer and paves the way for him to resume full duties at JEFFM Auctions without the cloud of criminal charges.NetOne's certified withdrawal conclusively dispels earlier claims of fraud or money laundering, bringing the matter to a definitive close. The move has also been viewed as an affirmation of the company's commitment to due process and corporate governance.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday (November 25) called New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani the leader of the Democratic Party, praising his campaign and noting the significance of his Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump.

Praises Mamdanis campaign Speaking to CNBC, Bessent said: "I was in the room, and I think that youve got to have some admiration for a candidate who ran a campaign the way he did. It was a great, great campaign."

He emphasized Mamdanis rising influence in the Democratic Party: "He is clearly the leader of the Democratic Party now. And I think it speaks to how open-minded the president is, that he invited him into the Oval."

Mixed endorsements from New York Democrats Bessent noted that some prominent Democrats did not endorse Mamdani. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., did not support him, though House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Governor Kathy Hochul did.

"Senator Schumer never endorsed him. I dont even know if hes met with him," Bessent said.

Trump congratulates Mamdani President Trump also praised Mamdani, highlighting shared priorities for New York: "We have one thing in common. We want this city of ours that we love to do very well. And I wanted to congratulate the mayor. He really ran an incredible race against a lot of smart people And he beat them easily."

Trump noted areas of mutual concern, including housing and food prices, saying: "We talked about some things in very strong common, like housing and getting housing built and food and prices."

Challenges ahead Bessent stressed that governing presents practical challenges beyond campaigning, highlighting issues such as safety, sanitation, and public transit: Its easy to run a campaign, but the practical everyday of keeping people safe, picking up the trash, making the subways run on time, well see.

Also Read | Trump weighing removal of Kash Patel as FBI Director? White House responds
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (November 25) claimed that negotiations to end the RussiaUkraine war are nearing completion, announcing parallel missions to Moscow and Kyiv as part of a push to finalise a proposed US-drafted peace plan.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that his team had made tremendous progress over the past week toward ending the war, which he again asserted would have NEVER started if he had been president. He said 25,000 soldiers had died in the past month, arguing that the conflict demanded urgent action.

28-point plan fine-tuned Trump said the original 28-point US peace proposal, drafted by Washington and widely criticised for aligning with Russian demands, had been fine-tuned with additional input from both sides. Only a few points of disagreement remain, he said, without providing details.

The plan has since been revised to 19 points, according to Ukrainian officials, though Moscow insists only Trumps original framework is acceptable.

Envoys to Moscow and Kyiv To push the process forward, Trump said he has directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. At the same time, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will meet Ukrainian officials.

The White House previously confirmed that US, Ukrainian and European officials met in Geneva over the weekend to discuss a revised proposal.

Briefings for top officials Trump said he would receive updates from Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

Meetings with Putin and Zelenskyy only when deal is almost ready Trump said he hopes to meet both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, but only when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages.

Lets all hope that PEACE can be accomplished AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! he wrote.

Zelensky signals readiness to engage Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine is prepared to advance a US-backed framework aimed at ending the war with Russia, emphasizing that any negotiations should include European allies and address disputed points directly with Trump.

Ukraine cautious on Russian terms Zelenskys remarks come amid ongoing discussions between US and Ukrainian officials to narrow differences over Trumps proposed peace plan. The plan has faced criticism for potentially favoring Russia, with concerns that Ukraine could be pressured into territorial concessions.

In a speech to the coalition of willing allies, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, Zelensky said: "We firmly believe security decisions about Ukraine must include Ukraine, security decisions about Europe must include Europe ... Because when something is decided behind the back of a country or its people, there is always a high risk it simply wont work."

European allies urged to engage Zelensky urged European leaders to participate actively in discussions, particularly on deploying a reassurance force to Ukraine and maintaining support for Kyiv as long as Moscow shows no willingness to end hostilities.
New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has tapped several prominent faces to join his transition team and one among them is Alex Vitale, the anti-cop professor who penned The End of Policing for the community safety committee.

I'm excited to announce that I have been asked to join the Mamdani Transition Team to work on community safety issues. A New Era for NYC, said Vitale in a post on X.

However, according to the New York Post, Vitale has long argued against broken-windows policing  claiming the NYPD has disproportionately and unjustifiably targeted minority communities in the past.

Alex S. Vitale is Professor of Sociology and Coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center.

Responding to one of the X users who asked if he is going to work to protect Jews going to their place of worship, Vitale replied: Of course. My family is Jewish.

Are you pushing the end of policing like the book you wrote?, asked another user.

One of the X users said, "The best part about you is that we already know your philosophies dont work, so its like we get to see the future." Can you give us some predictions/statistics that you will achieve?"

According to his profile on the official website, he has spent the last 30 years writing about policing and consults both police departments and human rights organizations internationally.

Along with The End of Policing, he is also the author of City of Disorder: How the Quality of Life Campaign Transformed New York Politics. He is also a frequent essayist in several publications.

His profile on brooklyn.edu says that he teaches courses in criminology, sociology of law, social movements and political sociology. His research interests include community policing, the policing of demonstrations and civil disorder, urban politics and economics, and social movements.

Meanwhile, a Bloomberg report said that former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. partner Margaret Anadu and developer Jed Walentas are among those chosen to help in his move to City Hall.

The mayor-elect has also tapped Kathy Wylde, head of the Partnership for New York City.

Anadu and Wylde will serve on the Committee on Economic Development & Workforce Development.

Whereas, Walentas will join the Committee on Housing.

These committees bring together more than 400 esteemed leaders from across New York City  with backgrounds spanning local and state government, nonprofits, labor, academia, business, and more  united in a commitment to ensuring that the Mamdani administration is staffed with top talent and ready on day one to deliver the Mayor-elects affordability agenda, according to the statement.

On January 1, Mamdani will take charge as the 111th mayor of New York.

Last week, Mamdani met Donald Trump at the White House and held a very productive meeting, following which, the US President said that he is going to help the New York Mayor-elect.
Days after his arrest for tampering with a court-mandated ankle monitor, the Supreme Court in Brazil on Tuesday ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving his 27-year sentence behind bars for a botched coup bid to remain in power, after his loss to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro who has exhausted all his appeals, will remain in a special room at police headquarters in Brasilia  a secure space for protected prisoners with a bed, TV, air conditioning and private bathroom  where he is currently detained.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the former president to start the sentence in an order issued on Tuesday.

Also Read | Arrested Bolsonaro says hallucinations led to violation of ankle monitoring

His lawyers had asked the court to allow him to serve the sentence under house arrest, citing his age and a litany of health problems. However, the court denied that request in a separate order on Saturday.

The former president, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, was on trial over a botched coup bid.

In August, he was placed under house arrest for violating measures imposed on him.

In September, he was sentenced to 27 years in jail, following his conviction on charges that he attempted a coup to stop leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after his 2022 election defeat.

On November 22, citing him as potential flight risk, Supreme Court ordered Bolsonaro's detention after more than 100 days of house arrest.

According to court records, Bolsonaro had told the judge that medicine-induced paranoia and hallucination caused him to tamper with an electronic ankle monitor. Bolsonaro denied any intent to escape or try to remove the ankle monitor, reported Reuters.

In a petition to the top court, Bolsonaro lawyers said that sending the former president to prison will have serious consequences and represents a risk to his life, adding, "His health condition is already deeply debilitated."
Costco has recalled select lots of its Caesar Salad and Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad after discovering the possible presence of plastic foreign materials in the salad dressing. The recall was announced in a November 7 notice posted on the retailers website.

Products affected Caesar Salad (Lot #19927)

Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad (Lot #11444)

Both items carry Sell By dates between October 17 and November 9.

Where they were sold Costco says the affected products were distributed across select locations in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast, but did not list specific stores.

Do you still have these items? Customers are urged to check their refrigerators immediately. Because the recalled products were sold through November 9, shoppers may still have unopened or partially used packages at home.

What to do if you find them Costco advises customers to stop eating the products right away and return them to any Costco warehouse for a full refund.
Ethiopia volcanic eruption Highlights: The Hayli Gubbi volcano, in Ethiopias northeastern region, erupted for the first time in 10,000 years, and it is impacting flights as far as Delhi. A cloud of ash from the volcanic eruption moved across large parts of northwest India on Monday night, sweeping over Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR and Punjab, the Hindustan Times reported.

The eruption subsided by Wednesday. Read More: Will Ethiopian volcanic ash worsen Delhi Pollution?

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the ash clouds cleared India by 10:30 pm on Tuesday and move into China.

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had advised airlines to avoid the affected regions. Plumes reached western and northern India.

IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air assured passengers that safety remains their top priority following the eruption of Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano, whose ash clouds are drifting towards parts of India.

Stay tuned to THIS Live blog for the latest updates on the Ethiopian volcano:
India and Canada have agreed to formally resume talks on an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, met on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit in Johannesburg on Sunday. The development underscores the continuing improvement in relations between the two countries.

Following the Modi-Carney meeting, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand stated on Monday that Canada and India will act swiftly on the trade deal, marking a shift in relations following two years of strained ties, according to news agency AP.

Also Read | India, Canada agree to start Comprehensive Economic Partnership talks

Anand noted that Ottawa has a new foreign policy in response to US President Donald Trump's trade war and highlighted Carney's aim to double non-US trade within ten years.

1-Revival in ties improves investor confidence Easing diplomatic tensions improves investor confidence. The cooling of tensions is a sign of political stability, which reduces the perceived risk for Canadian pension funds, banks, and corporations considering long-term investments in India.

A revival in India-Canada economic and strategic engagements  especially through institutional investors, pension funds, and trade-focused agencies  can have a significant ripple effect across Indias capital markets and investment ecosystem.

View full Image A revival in India-Canada economic and strategic engagements  especially through institutional investors, pension funds, and trade-focused agencies  can have a significant ripple effect across Indias capital markets and investment ecosystem.

India said it aims to increase bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030. Experts said $50 billion export is not just an economic milestone but signals a recalibration of trade priorities designed to build resilience and expand high-value sectors.

Real progress will depend on restoring strategic trust, and the groundwork being laid today reflects an attempt to undo much of the diplomatic strain experienced during the previous Canadian government, Prof Sanjal Shastri, Faculty of International Studies, FLAME University, told LiveMint.

2- India as a growth market Funds like CPPIB, CDPQ, and OTPP have substantial investments in Indian infrastructure, real estate, and renewable energy. A reset between India and Canada could accelerate pending proposals and new commitments.

Trade experts said the renewed diplomatic engagement has already raised expectations across the industry. India and Canada resuming FTA (free trade agreement) talks is a highly positive signal for exporters, Ajay Sahai, director general, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), told Mint recently.

Faster market access and lower tariffs can unlock real opportunities for Indian sectors like textiles, engineering goods, pharma and agri-products, he said

Reports said that the Canadian side, however, set a target of $70 billion by 2030. The gap between Indias and Canadas targets reflects Canadian businesses bullish assessment of the Indian markets potential. In 2024, bilateral trade between India and Canada in goods and services was around $22.6 billion, according to official numbers shared on the website of Consulate General of India in Toronto

Remember, Canada and India launched talks about fifteen years ago for such a trade deal, but it was downgraded to a sectoral deal that would touch only specific industries

Canada, being highly trade-dependent, exports over 75 per cent of its goods to the US. While most US exports are protected under the United StatesMexicoCanada trade agreement (USMCA), this deal is set for review in 2026.

India and Canada are finalising a deal to supply New Delhi with uranium, a further sign of warming ties after two years of strained diplomatic relations, according to The Globe and Mail.

Also Read | India, Canada look to rebuild trade ties after diplomatic rift

The deal is likely to be worth approximately $2.8 billion, with a term of 10 years, according to individuals familiar with the development. The terms of the deal may be modified before the announcement, they added.

3- Long-term stability Trade talks between the two nations were suspended in late 2023 after then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of possible involvement in the killing of Canada-based Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar  a claim India rejected as absurd.

The two countries have since moved to reset relations following the change of leadership in Ottawa in March.

In June, Modi met Carney at the G7 summit. The foreign ministers of both countries have met three times this year. And Canadas trade minister also visited India this month

The long-term stability in India-Canada relations will, however, hinge on Canadas willingness to take tangible action against anti-India extremist elements that undermine bilateral confidence, Prof Shastri said.

4- Stronger capital flows into India Canada positions itself as a major player in climate finance. A renewed engagement could mean more funds earmarked for renewable energy, battery storage, and green hydrogen, they said. It would also mean direct Canadian support for Indias energy transition goals and participation in blended finance projects with Indian banks.

View full Image Canada, being highly trade-dependent, exports over 75 per cent of its goods to the US. While most US exports are protected under the United StatesMexicoCanada trade agreement (USMCA), this deal is set for review in 2026.

If this reset continues meaningfully, renewed Canadian interest could unlock stronger capital flows into India through investment in technology, clean energy, and services, complementing Indias manufacturing and digital-innovation strengths, Prof Shastri said.

5- India-Canada trade volume Over the years, India and Canada have developed a growing trade relationship, with bilateral trade encompassing goods such as energy, precious stones, machinery, and agricultural products. Canada exports a considerable amount of oil, lumber, pulses, and machinery to India. India's exports to Canada include pharmaceuticals, textiles, automotive parts, and IT services

Real progress will depend on restoring strategic trust.

One critical space, however, to watch is higher education, according to Prof Shastri. Student mobility and institutional collaborations represent one of the largest bridges between our two countries, he said.

We may see positive developments enabling smoother academic pathways and research partnerships. Ultimately, deeper economic and educational cooperation could create a mutually beneficial model that supports economic expansion while strengthening people-centric diplomacy, Prof Shastri told LiveMint.

(With agency inputs)
Gunmen opened fire Monday on the governor of Taiz's motorcade, killing at least five security officers and wounding two others, authorities said.

The attack, targeting Nabil Shamsan, happened on a key road linking Taiz to the rest of the country, Mohamed Abdel-Rahman, a spokesman for the province, told The Associated Press. He added that two assailants were killed in the shootout.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a statement, the governors office said security and military forces were working to bring those behind the attack to justice.

Also Read | At least 3 killed in suspected suicide bombing in Pakistan's Peshawar

The provinces capital, also named Taiz, has been a battleground pitting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and other militias backed by the Islamist Islah party against each other as well as other factions in Yemens civil war.

Taiz, in the southwest, is the junction of two crucial highways: an east-west road leading to the coastal city of Mocha on the Red Sea, and another north-south, to Sanaa via Dhamar and Ibb provinces. It has been under Houthi blockade since 2016 as part of their war against the internationally recognized Yemeni government.

The country's brutal war began in 2014, when the Houthis marched from their northern stronghold of Saada province and forced the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition that included the United Arab Emirates entered the Yemen war the following year in an attempt to restore the government.
British entrepreneur Richard Branson on Tuesday announced the death of his wife Joan.

Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away, said the Virgin founder in a post on LinkedIn.

Stating that she was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for, Branson added, She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world. Love you forever, Joan x.

However, the reason for her death is not yet known.

A week ago, sharing a photo of them in an Instagram post, Branson wrote, Everyone needs a Joan in their life.

In another post shared on November 12, Bronson said that he credits a good deal of his success  not to mention his marriage  to being a good listener.

In 2020, in a blog post on Virgin, Branson wrote that he often makes up his mind about someone within 30 seconds of meeting them, and he fell for Joan almost from the moment he saw her.

Joan was a down-to-earth Scottish lady and I quickly realised she wouldnt be impressed by my usual antics.

Branson said that, far beyond record titles, he owes a lot to Joan. She has always been a steady source of wisdom and has played no small part in some of my better life decisions. In fact, I owe Necker island to Joan.

The Virgin founder further added, If I cast my mind back to that day at The Manor 44 years ago, I could never have imagined what the next four decades would bring, with a lifetime of love, wonderful children in Holly and Sam and our delightful grandchildren. I wouldnt have been able to do all it without Joan, and I wouldnt have it any other way.

Meanwhile, several social media users expressed condolences.

Sending so much love to you and your family, Richard. I am so sorry, said an user in a post on Instagram.

Im so sorry Richard Heartbroken Joan.. a shining light in this world. She made everyone feel so special.. Sending so much love to you all at this difficult time, said another user.
Afghanistan's Taliban government accused Pakistan of launching overnight airstrikes in three eastern provinces on Tuesday. They claimed that 10 civilians, including nine children, were killed in the strikes that signal worsening tensions between the two neighbours.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesperson for the Afghan government, claimed on X that Pakistan bombed the home of a civilian in Khost province, killing nine children and a woman, news agency Associated Press reported.

He said additional strikes were carried out in the provinces of Kunar and Paktika, injuring four others.

According to the report, Pakistan's military and government did not immediately comment on the allegation.

Afghanistan-Pakistan border clashes The development came more than a month after cross-border clashes erupted when the Afghan government claimed Pakistani drone strikes hit Kabul.

The latest escalation follows a deadly attack a day earlier in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar, where two suicide bombers and a gunman stormed the headquarters of the Federal Constabulary.

Three officers were killed, and 11 others were wounded in the Monday morning attack.

No group has claimed responsibility for the Peshawar attack, but suspicion quickly fell on the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.

It is a separate group but closely allied with the Afghan Taliban, and many of its leaders are hiding in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has repeatedly urged Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to prevent TTP militants from using Afghan territory to launch attacks. Kabul denies the accusation, but relations further deteriorated after Afghanistan blamed Pakistan for the October 9 drone strikes on its capital and threatened retaliation.

The clashes that followed killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and militants before Qatar brokered a ceasefire on October 19.

Two subsequent rounds of talks in Istanbul failed to resolve the dispute, when Pakistan said Afghanistan had refused to provide a written guarantee that TTP fighters would not operate from Afghan soil.

The Afghan government, in recent years, has said that it does not allow anyone to its soil for attacks against any country, including Pakistan.
News / National

by Simbarashe Sithole in Harare

HARARE - ZANU-PF Central Committee member Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei has pledged more than US$5 million towards the empowerment of party members in Harare Province, unveiling a package of boreholes, food hampers, scholarships and direct financial support.The initiative will see all six zones in Harare benefit from 480 solar-powered boreholes, 95,000 food hampers valued at US$1.7 million, US$1.6 million in direct empowerment funds for party members, as well as scholarships for students across the province.Speaking at the Zone 6 ZANU-PF inter-district meeting, Harare Provincial Chairman Godwills Masimirembwa praised Tagwirei for initiatives that have boosted attendance and morale at party gatherings. "We want to give our thanks to Central Committee member Cde Tagwirei for coming up with such initiatives. We used to have these meetings but with less numbers. Cde Tagwirei brought the aura to the province," Masimirembwa said.Tagwirei also highlighted the achievements of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration, citing economic growth, infrastructure development and social programmes. He pointed to Zimbabwe's recognition by the IMF as the fastest-growing economy in SADC, GDP growth from US$17 billion to US$52.3 billion, and major investments in energy, agriculture, mining and tourism.Among the milestones he listed were the rehabilitation of 70,000 kilometres of roads, completion of 12 major dams, installation of Hwange Units 7 and 8 adding 600MW to the grid, record wheat and tobacco production, increased gold output, and Zimbabwe's recognition by Forbes as the Best Country to Visit in 2025.The empowerment drive comes as ZANU-PF intensifies mobilisation efforts in Harare, with Tagwirei positioning his initiatives as part of the broader Vision 2030 agenda.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged fire early Tuesday with heavy air raids on Kyiv and assaults on southern Russian areas, just hours after President Donald Trump struck a positive tone on prospects for a ceasefire deal.

Ukraines air defenses worked to shield the capital from combined missile and drone attacks and loud explosions were heard, with authorities instructing residents to stay in shelters. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a residential apartment building had been severely damaged in the attacks and fire fighters were trying to extinguish blazes in several stores.

Klitschko said some power and water supply cuts were being imposed in city districts as emergency workers responded to the attack, according to a statement on Telegram.

Meantime, the Krasnodar region on Russias Black Sea coast suffered sustained suspected drone attacks overnight, injuring six people and damaging at least 20 residential buildings across five municipalities, Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said. The key port of Novorossiysk was among the hardest hit, he said.

In neighboring Rostov region one person was killed and three others injured in an air attack on Taganrog, which also damaged residential buildings, two industrial enterprises and a kindergarten, Mayor Svetlana Kambulova said.

Trump had suggested in a social media post that big progress was being made on a deal for Ukraine. His comment implied that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian officials who met Sunday in Geneva made advances in defusing the vehement opposition from Kyiv and its European allies to a 28-point peace proposal the White House team floated last week.

In the days since White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev hammered out the plan, Ukrainian and European officials scrambled to draft a counter-offer that would provide far less favorable terms to Russia. The result is a winnowed-down, 19-point plan, according to people familiar with the matter.

Russian officials have called the revised plan a non-starter.

Back in Ukraine, the Energy Ministry said Russian forces are also undertaking a massive combined attack on energy infrastructure in the country. Energy workers will begin assessing the consequences and carrying out restoration work as soon as the security situation allows, the ministry said on Telegram.

The bombardment followed President Volodymyr Zelenskiys announcement in his regular evening address to the nation that progress had been made in negotiations over peace proposals, which Kyiv is conducting with its US and European partners.

Now the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable, Zelenskiy said. Many right elements have been taken into account in this framework. However, much remains to be done, Zelenskiy said, adding that the process should be conducted with dignity.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that talks with the US about a peace plan were continuing following a report that Kyiv agreed to the terms of a potential deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Communication with the American side continues, Zelensky said in a post on X following a phone call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday. Zelensky added that Germany has helped Ukraine a lot since the beginning of the war.

Zelensky's post on X  stating that talks with US are still underway comes after a report by ABC News  citing a US official  mentioned that Ukraine agreed to a potential peace deal with some minor details to be sorted out.

Further talks between Ukraine, Russia, US Hours after Zelensky's post, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt  in a social media post on X  stated that further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and US are required, pertaining to few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out.

On Monday, POTUS Donald Trump mentioned in a social media post on that big progress was being made on a deal for Ukraine.

Both Ukraine and US Presidents' comments about the deal comes as US Army Secretary Driscoll is in Abu Dhabi reportedly meeting with the Russian side.

US and Russia hold talks in Abu Dhabi Driscoll  who is reportedly an ally of US vice-president JD Vance  commenced talks with the Russians on Monday night, according to a US official and two people familiar with the meeting.

Ukraine has agreed to cap its army only to 800,000 personnel  reported Financial Times, citing a Ukrainian official. The initial Trump plan had proposed a 600,000 limit.

Trump and Zelensky will later decide the most sensitive issues  territorial matters and US security guarantees, as per FT.

Oleksandr Bevz, one of the Ukrainian delegates at the talks between the US and Ukraine in Geneva, said that the numbers of points in the proposed settlement was reduced, but he denied reports that the 28-point US peace plan now consisted of 19 points.

"(The document) is going to continue to change. We can confirm that it was reduced to take out points not relating to Ukraine, to exclude duplicates and for editing purposes," Bevz told the AP.
Indian-origin billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, one of the richest tycoons of the United Kingdom, has reportedly decided to leave the country. According to a report by The Sunday Times, the shocking decision comes as the Labour Party government marches ahead to table a tax reform system that targets the untra-rich.

According to the report, Mittal, the India-born founder of ArcelorMittal, is now a taxpaying resident of Switzerland and will move to the Naia Island in Dubai.

The steel magnate already owns a mansion in Dubai and has recently bought tracts of an intriguing development on nearby Naia Island, as per The Sunday Times report.

Also Read | Lakshmi Mittal leaving UK as Labour Party prepares major tax hit on wealthy: Rep

Why is Lakshmi Mittal moving to Naia Island? Rachel Reeves second Budget as UK Chancellor is expected to impose further taxes across the board to address an estimated 20 billion pounds hole in the UK's finances. The move has prompted several billionaires, including Mittal, to shift their bases to other countries.

An adviser familiar with the Mittal familys plans told The Sunday Times that inheritance tax, not income tax, was the decisive factor.

Also Read | Steel Magnate Lakshmi Mittal may move out of UK over tax restriction: Report

Dubai on the other hand is more lenient in terms of taxes with zero inheritance tax, clear laws on global assets, and a transparent regulatory and tax regime.

What is Naia Island, where Lakshmi Mittal is moving? Naia Island is an upcoming private, man-made island that is being developed in Dubai, off the coast of Jumeirah.

It is being developed by Shamal Holding in the water at Jumeirah beachfront. The super-luxury destination will feature the regions first Cheval Blanc maison (or home)  a part of the LMVH family.

Located in between Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah 3, the sprawling low-rise project will have suites and private villas.

A limited number of branded beachfront residences and estate plots will be available, each with private beach access offering a rare opportunity to reside on an island where design, nature, and lifestyle exist together perfectly, said a statement from Shamal.

The Naia Island is expected to open by 2029.

Lakshmi Mittal net worth According to the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List, Lakshmi Mittals net worth stands at 15.4 billion pounds, making him the eighth richest person in Britain.

According to Forbes Real Time Billionaires, Lakshmi Mittal has a net worth of $22.1 billion. He is the 103rd richest person in the world as per the list, thanks to his $62.4 billion (revenue) steel empire, ArcelorMittal.

ArcelorMittal reported net income of $1.3 billion in 2024, an over 40% rise from $919 million in 2023.
It is a strange situation. Zomato and Swiggy are racing to deepen their losses; but for now, investors dont seem to mind. Their strategy of doubling down on ultra-fast grocery delivery, even though their core food-delivery business is clearly hitting a ceiling, is being touted as bold innovation. In reality, it may be just capital destruction.

In its Q3 FY25 (October-December 2025) earnings, Zomato reported a sharp 57% drop in net profit to just 59 crore thanks to Blinkit, its quick-commerce arm whose net loss increased significantly to 103 crore. Meanwhile, Blinkits gross order value more than doubled in the quarter, jumping 120% year-on-year, even though those orders are only magnifying the bleeding.

Swiggy is doing the same, only with a bigger bill. In Q3 FY25, its consolidated revenue surged by 31% to 3,993 crore, but the net loss widened to 799 crore. The culprit once again is Instamart, Swiggys grocery arm, which saw its contribution margin slip further into the red, as the company expanded aggressively into more dark stores. The message is clear: the more Instamart grows, the more it drags down Swiggys overall economics.

Yet, neither of them is slowing down. In the last two quarters, Blinkit added 368 new stores and nearly 1.3 million sq ft of warehousing space. According to CEO Albinder Dhindsa, the company plans to expand its dark store network to 3,000 by March 2027, nearly doubling its footprint.

This is a big bet that stems from the fact that food delivery  Zomato's and Swiggys original bread and butter  is maturing rapidly. Swiggys food delivery gross order value in Q3 was up 19.2% year-on-year, but the quarter-on-quarter growth slowed significantly. In other words, the cash cow has stopped growing like it used to.

Rather than tighten up, trim costs, or experiment with less capital-hungry expansion, both platforms are choosing to pour billions into a business that is, as per their own earnings, deeply unprofitable. That optimism is further reflected in their push to build out dark stores aggressively. The concept of dark stores traces its origins back to the early 2000s in the UK, where grocer Sainsburys experimented with distribution centres dedicated solely to online orders to relieve pressure on their physical supermarkets. However, what was once a logistical overflow solution has been repurposed into a high-stakes gamble.

Dark stores are capital-intensive assets that walk a tightrope between scale and profitability. The cost of maintaining inventory, managing spoilage, running 247 operations, and paying riders for lightning-fast delivery creates significant operational pressure. In the Indian context, this model faces distinct challenges. To fulfil the promise of 10-minute delivery, these stores cannot be on the cheaper outskirts; they must be nestled within prime, high-density residential clusters, where rental costs are high. Furthermore, they are becoming civic flashpoints. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in major metros are increasingly pushing back against the noise, sidewalk encroachment, and traffic chaos caused by swarms of delivery bikes. Sure, the economics are improving following higher order values, better inventory management, and operational efficiency. The question is whether companies can scale faster than they burn cash expanding their networks.

That places the model of super-fast grocery delivery in some doubt. Examples from outside India show how this could end badly. JOKR, a 15-minute grocery delivery startup, burnt millions of dollars and exited the US market in 2022. Gorillas and Getir, two of the most hyped Western dark-store challengers, spiralled under unsustainable losses, aggressive discounts, and soaring operational cost before ultimately retreating from key geographies. Even US's Gopuff, one of the few survivors, reportedly burned $400 million in 2023 trying to stay alive. And lest we forget - there was Webvan, perhaps the mother of all ill-fated grocery-delivery experiments, which built giant infrastructure in the dot-com boom only to collapse in a blaze of cash and ambition.

The patterns are all too familiar: capital flooding in, rapid scale, steep losses, and then a reckoning.

Zomato and Swiggy may be hoping for a different ending. They may believe that Indias urban density, consumer behaviour, and unit economics will, some day, justify this burn. But their hope needs to be tempered with caution. Expanding faster, spending more on dark stores, subsidising consumer behaviour, none of that is a defensible profit model if the core math doesn't work. There will come a day when these companies need to justify their burns not by growth alone but by real, sustainable profits. If past fast-delivery experiments tell us anything, its that day may not be near.
The core issue is simple. Countries could not agree on how or when to phase out fossil fuels that are primarily responsible for the climate crisis. They pledged to triple adaptation finance to $120 billion each year by 2035, but offered no timeline for delivery and no one to hold accountable for it. On trade and finance, the mechanisms that actually move capital, the summit produced nothing.
If India succeeds, the prize is profound: a labour market that is not built on precariousness, but on income prospects and trust between employers, employees (present and future) and a government that creates a transparent, fair and proportionate legal and regulatory environment. A future in which manufacturing and services alike offer upward mobility, where dignity is not demanded but assumed and where millions see employment not as mere subsistence but as a pathway to a life of dignity, prosperity and mobility.
The newly formed Bihar Cabinet held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday. A major decision was announced: the government plans to generate one crore job opportunities for the state's youth over the next five years.

State Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit briefed journalists after the session, which was chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Amrit stated that the discussions focused on extensive employment creation and industrial expansion.

A defence corridor, semiconductor manufacturing park, global capacity centres, mega tech city, and fitness city will be established to make Bihar a 'tech hub' of eastern India, Amrit said. He added that the state will be developed as a back-end hub and global workplace under the new-age economy over the next five years.

Also Read | Why this NDA leader had to justify his son's ministerial berth in Bihar cabinet

The Chief Secretary confirmed that dedicated committees are in place to achieve these goals. A committee has also been formed to prepare plans for employment-oriented initiatives in the start-up domain. This will ensure livelihood opportunities for the state's talented, young entrepreneurs, he said.

The Council of Ministers also approved an Artificial Intelligence Mission. This program aims to position Bihar as a leading state in the AI sector.

In a post on social media platform X, CM Nitish Kumar detailed the government's employment targets:

Ensuring that more and more youth in the state get government jobs and employment has been our priority from the very beginning. Under Sapt Nishchay-2, we have provided government jobs and employment to 50 lakh youth in the state between 2020-25.

For the next five years (2025-30), we have set a target of providing jobs and employment to 1 crore youth.

The Chief Minister noted that work to promote industries and create maximum employment began swiftly after the new government was formed. To accelerate the pace of development in a changing Bihar, the goal has been set to build a New Age Economy based on technology and service-oriented innovations. To achieve this, suggestions will be sought from leading entrepreneurs connected to Bihar, he explained.

Plans and policies will be formulated accordingly. At the same time, a comprehensive action plan will be prepared with the collaboration of key departments, renowned economists, and experts to develop and establish Bihar as a 'Global Back-end Hub' and 'Global Workplace', he concluded.

The state government further announced that a total of eleven cities, comprising nine divisional towns, alongside Sonepur and Sitamarhi, will implement new Greenfield Township projects.
Japans Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she spoke with US President Donald Trump at his request, and that he briefed her on his phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the latest state of US-China relations.

Trump and Takaichi spoke as tensions between Tokyo and Beijing continue to smolder over the Japanese prime ministers comments on Taiwan earlier this month. Takaichi said the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of close cooperation between the US and Japan. She said Trump talked through the Xi call in response to a question from a reporter asking whether they discussed Taiwan.

Weve been able to further confirm the close relationship between the US and Japan following President Trumps recent Japan visit, Takaichi told reporters. He told me Im a very close friend and that I could call him any time.

The flurry of calls came as Japan and China continue to spar over Takaichis comments on Nov. 7 where she said that if China fought to take control of Taiwan, it could be considered a survival-threatening situation for Japan, raising the theoretical possibility that Japan could deploy its military with other nations. So far the economic impact has been relatively limited, but China has advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, and for students already there to exercise caution.

In a letter to the United Nations this week, Japan criticized an earlier missive from China as mis-representing the nature of remarks Takaichi made on Taiwan, saying Beijings letter was inconsistent with the facts and unsubstantiated.

Chinas assertion that Japan would exercise the right of self-defense even in the absence of an armed attack is erroneous, Japanese Ambassador to the UN Kazuyuki Yamazaki wrote in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres dated Monday.

Trump and Xi held their first talks on Monday since agreeing to a tariff truce last month, where they discussed trade, Taiwan and Russias invasion of Ukraine. The US president said he agreed to visit Beijing in April, and that he had invited Xi for a state visit next year. Takaichi also said Tuesday that she gave her thoughts on the USs efforts on achieving peace in Ukraine.

Opinion polls show that Takaichis support rating remains elevated following the spat with China and that at least half of polled voters back her remarks on Taiwan.

Separate surveys by the Yomiuri and FNN/Sankei showed her cabinets support rate at 72% and 75%, while a Mainichi poll showed her backing at 65%. All the polls showed levels far above the support rate for Takaichis immediate predecessor Shigeru Ishiba.

In the Yomiuri survey, 56% said they positively evaluated her stance on China. In the FNN/Sankei poll 61% said her Taiwan remarks were appropriate. In the Mainichi survey, half of respondents saw no problem with her comments.

Weve broadly discussed strengthening the US-Japan alliance and the situations and issues that the Indo-Pacific region faces, said Takaichi. Within that discussion, President Trump explained the latest state of the US-China relationship including his phone call with the Chinese leader.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
After NASA astronaut Sunita Williams' Starliner space saga kept many in suspense for months, three Chinese astronauts  part of Shenzhou-21 crew  have now been stranded in space. To rescue them, Beijing launched an empty Shenzhou-22 spaceship to the Tiangong space station on Tuesday.

China's first-ever emergency launch The China Manned Space Agency (CMS) announced on Monday that China will launch the Shenzhou-22 mission  "the first-ever emergency launch"  on Tuesday (November 25) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre to the Tiangong space station.

"At 12:11 BJT, a Long March-2F rocket lifted off from Jiuquan carrying the uncrewed Shenzhou XXII spacecraft," the Chinese Space Station posted on X. The Shenzhou XXII spacecraft was sent to space "with full cargo load," it said.

The X handle of the Chinese space station further informed that Shenzhou-22 was originally scheduled for a manned mission in April 2026.

But, the spacecraft "has been reassigned for a launch to serve as a replacement crew ship for the Shenzhou XXI [21] crew currently in orbit."

Three Chinese astronauts get stuck in space. Thanks to space debris Three astronauts  Taikonauts Zhang Lu, Zhang Hongzhang and Wu Fei  are stuck aboard the Tiangong space station until a new vessel arrives.

They, currently, have no way of departing the station, either in an emergency or at the end of their crew rotation, Space.com reported.

Also Read | Stranded Chinese astronauts to return on replacement crew's spacecraft

This is because the spacecraft that ferried the Shenzhou 21 crew to space was repurposed to return their predecessors, Shenzhou 20 astronauts. Shenzhou 20 return vehicle was struck by space debris.

Yang Yuguang, Chair, Space Transportation Committee, International Astronautical Federation, confirmed on Tuesday that a space debris collision was detected on Shenzhou 20 spacecraft.

"The Shenzhou 21 astronaut crew is working normally and in good condition in orbit," the China Manned Space Agency (CMS) had said earlier.

China sends rescue ship Yang Yuguang said on Tuesday that Shenzhou 22 can be recognised as the "rescue ship" for the Shenzhou 21 crew.

He said the decision to send the "emergency" spacecraft was taken because the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft was used for the return of the predecessor Shenzhou 20 crew.

"It was unexpected," he said.

He further explained that the Shenzhou 22 spacecraft was being sent only 20 days after authorities had found cracks on the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft

"It's a coincidence that we found the proble, just during the handover of a different crew," he said.

China recalls Sunita Williams' Starliner, Soyuz-MS22 missions Yang Yuguang recalled that, "Soyuz-MS22 spacecraft [which was launched in September 2022] also collided by a space debris and caused the leakage of coolant when it was docked to the International Space Station."

Soyuz-MS22's crew's return was then postponed for almost half a year.

He also mentioned Boeing's Starliner saga in which NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barrymore were stuck in space.

Also Read | Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore praise Musk and Trump for safe return

"Because of the malfunction of its propulsion system, and also its hardware and software; it caused a delay of almost nine months," he said.

Yuguang hailed China swift response in rescuing Shenzhou 21 astronauts. "This time, we, China, only delayed for nine days for the Shenzhou 20 crew for their return."
Erika Kirk, widow of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, did not plan on becoming the center of a rumor storm, but a single hug - caught on camera at a Turning Point USA event - pushed her straight into it. It happened on 29 October at the University of Mississippi, where she greeted US Vice President JD Vance during an emotional appearance.

Charlie Kirk was shot and killed just weeks earlier while taking part in an event at Utah Valley University.

Erika finally addressed the matter during an interview on Megyn Kellys tour stop in Arizona on 24 November. She sounded tired of the whispers and even more tired of strangers dissecting her body language frame by frame.

Erika Kirk talks about the viral hug with JD Vance When the Megyn Kelly audience pressed her about the clip, Kirk did not hide her annoyance.

Please, she said. So for those of you who know me, I never. Whoever is like hating on a hug who needs a hug themselves, I will give you a free hug anytime you want to hug. My love language is touch, if you will, she added.

She walked Kelly through the moment, as if rewinding a tape. She further added, I'm walking over, he's walking over. I'm starting to cry. He says he's so proud of you. And I say, God bless you. And I touch the back of his head.

She didnt deny the gesture and went on to explain it further. Anyone whom I have hugged that I have touched the back of your head when I hug you, I always say, God bless you. That's just me. If you want to take that out of context, go right ahead again. That, to me, shows that you need a hug more than anyone else, she said.

On seeing her late husbands traits in JD Vance During the TPUSA event, she told the crowd that Vance reminded her of Charlie in certain ways. She stressed the distinction immediately: No one will ever replace my husband. However, I do recognize some similarities between my husband and JD- in Vice President JD Vance. I truly do. That is why I feel so fortunate to introduce him this evening (sic).

Since Charlies death, she has been playing the role as CEO of Turning Point USA. The organization continues to spotlight his legacy, and President Donald Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Honor posthumously.

FAQs Why did the hug between Erika Kirk and JD Vance go viral? Viewers misinterpreted an emotional moment as a romantic one.

What did Erika Kirk say about the gesture? She said her love language is touch and critics need a hug.
Some of the children were seized from the dormitories where they slept [Gift Ufoma / BBC]

A father has told the BBC he felt powerless as he witnessed gunmen on motorbikes abduct dozens of children, including his son, after storming a Catholic boarding school in northern Nigeria in the early hours of Friday.

The father said he was asleep when he was awoken by the noise of the gunmen as they went past his home with the children they had seized from St Mary's school in Papiri village in Niger state.

"They [the children] were being trafficked on foot the way shepherds control their herds. Some children were falling and the men would kick them and instruct them to stand up.

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"The gunmen were on about 50 motorcycle bikes while controlling them," said the father, whose name we have changed to Theo for his safety.

Speaking to the BBC in the dormitory where his son used to sleep, Theo said he was in no position to stop the abduction.

"I felt like going [to help] but I thought better of it. Even if I did go, what could I do? I couldn't do anything," he told the BBC, adding that he called the police but it was too late by the time they arrived.

The Christian Association of Nigeria has said that 303 students and 12 members of staff were abducted from the school, while 50 children managed to avoid being taken away and have been reunited with their families.

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The school is run by the chairman of the association's Niger chapter, Bishop Bulus Bawa Yohanna, who has shared a list of those abducted with the BBC.

However, the police said they were only aware of a few children escaping on the night of the abduction.

The Niger state governor, Umar Bago, told local media that the number of abducted students had been exaggerated, and it was "far, far below" 303.

The governor blamed the school authorities for opening the establishment despite threats by unknown gunmen four years ago, and again two months ago.

"The schools in that area have been closed for four years now. I was surprised to learn the school is still open," Bago said.

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He also insisted that the attack was just a "scare" and that all students would be rescued sooner or later.

Items belonging to the pupils remain strewn around the school [Gift Ufoma / BBC]

The bishop said that no security agencies have been deployed in the community since the abductions.

Along with some other parents, Theo has been camping outside the school, angry with the government's response.

"Our children were kidnapped but the government doesn't seem to pay attention to it," said Theo.

He said he was frustrated that the state governor had not visited the school, and only went to a nearby community to speak to security agencies and local leaders.

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"We have concluded that the government is not concerned about us - we feel like we are not part of the country, they have abandoned us."

The pain being endured by the parents of those children who are still missing is all too evident.

"I am sad, my whole life is filled with sadness," said a mother, whose son was among the children taken by the gunmen.

"He's my only son, he's my first-born, please help us," she said.

Another parent, Lucas, told the BBC that two of his children had been abducted, but the youngest one, a six-year-old boy, was lucky and managed to avoid falling into the clutches of the kidnappers.

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"When I saw him, I was so excited. I called him by name, he turned and ran to me. I hugged and embraced him," he said.

The northern part of Niger where Papiri is located has recently become a hot-spot for kidnappings for ransom.

The payment of ransoms has been outlawed in an attempt to cut the supply of money to the criminal gangs, but to little effect.

The BBC team drove about 500km (310 miles) to Papiri from the Niger state's capital, Minna and was advised several times not to take certain routes and, for periods, was escorted by police.

Many blame the crisis on the size of the state. In terms of landmass, Niger is the largest state in Nigeria, and larger than European countries like Denmark and the Netherlands.

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It also has a lot of forests, which criminal gangs, referred to locally as bandits, use as camps and routes to connect to other states in Nigeria, as well as neighbouring countries.

The abduction at the school was the third to hit Nigeria in a week.

Last Monday, more than 20 schoolgirls, who the BBC has been told are Muslim, were kidnapped from a boarding school in Kebbi state, which borders Niger.

A church was also attacked further south in Kwara state, with two people killed and dozens of worshippers abducted.

[BBC]

President Bola Tinubu cancelled his trip to the G20 summit, held in South Africa at the weekend, to deal with the crisis.

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He posted on social media on Sunday that all the 38 worshippers abducted in Kwara state had been rescued.

"Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety - and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people," Tinubu said.

The spate of abductions has forced the closure of many boarding schools across Nigeria, with parents rushing to collect their children.

The government is under pressure from US President Donald Trump, who warned earlier this month that he would send troops to Nigeria with "guns a-blazing" if it "continues to allow the killing of Christians" by Islamist militants.

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The Nigerian government has said claims that Christians are being persecuted is "a gross misrepresentation of reality" as "terrorists attack all who reject their murderous ideology - Muslims, Christians and those of no faith alike".

While some kidnappings are carried out by Islamist militant groups, many are carried out for ransom by criminal gangs, highlighting the deep security crisis in the country.

Additional reporting by Abayomi Adisa and Gift Ufoma

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[Getty Images/BBC]

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With unprecedented longevity creating opportunities that previous generations could never have imagined, the question is not whether we will live longer, but how we will choose to use those additional years. Thats according to Retirement Planning Council of Ireland, which, to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary, has announced fifty free places on retirement planning course next year, to reach people across society who face greater challenges when forward planning for later life.

The charity has partnered with social enterprises and organisations across Ireland, including Longford Womens Link to support groups such as lone parents, adult learners, and newcomers who may not have considered retirement due to insecure work, the gender pension gap, or limited financial literacy.

Read more: Ellie the Lurcher from Longford NSPCA to spend third Christmas in shelter

Chief Executive at the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland, Laura Farrell said:

The Retirement Planning Council is adapting and changing to offer retirement planning services to a modern workforce, whether thats low-income, self-employed, part-time, portfolio career or mid-career individuals. The change is supported and guided by 50 years of knowledge and experience behind it. Were delighted to offer our expertise to a wider group of people across Ireland to help them start planning for their retirement.

Ms Farrell also outlined how attitudes towards retirement planning have changed from being viewed as a passive period at the end of ones life to supporting the idea that retirees are moving into the modern renaissance of later life where they might set up businesses or pursue higher or further education opportunities.

In terms of overall attitudes to retirement, many course participants/retirees have changed their outlook on retirement with less anxiety about what lies ahead and positivity about the next stage of their lives.

Our Retirement Planning Courses use a holistic approach, so while many clients start off just thinking about the financial aspect of this new phase of their lives, course participation opens up conversations about areas such as social supports, physical and mental health and the potential need or indeed desire to continue working post-retirement.

We have also witnessed an extraordinary surge in demand for our mid-career programme, with professionals in their thirties, forties, and early fifties recognising that the key to a fulfilling later life lies in intentional planning that begins decades before traditional retirement age. They understand that the old model of working intensively for 40 years and then stopping abruptly is not only outdated but potentially harmful to their long-term wellbeing and fulfilment.

Read more: Core funding issue resolution good news for long awaited Longford FRC

While men and women are sharing an increasingly positive outlook on life after retirement, the gender pension gap continues to leave women at a disadvantage due to career breaks and pay disparities. Our programme leaders and specialist speakers are supporting women to explore ways to reduce this gap.

The Retirement Planning Councils free courses will take place in person and online, in 2026. For more information on retirement planning, contact communications@rpc.ie .
Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann Senator Mark Daly and Senator Maria Byrne and Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley welcomes the second Seanad na nOg event on Friday, November 14. This event brings together 60 delegates under the age of 18 from Comhairle na nOg and other organisations to discuss their priorities for the government to consider in advance of Irelands EU Presidency in 2026.

Seanad na nOg will be co-chaired by Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, Leas-Chathaoirleach Senator Maria Byrne and Christian from Kerry Comhairle na nOg. Welcoming this significant event Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly said The Seanad continues to empower the voice of young people. The Seanad has championed minority voices since its foundation. Today, we will absorb their wisdom, reflect on their insights and act on their recommendations.

Read more: Core funding issue resolution good news for long awaited Longford FRC

Speaking ahead of the event, Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann, Senator Maria Byrne said I am delighted to welcome the delegates to the second Seanad na nOg. This event really does emphasise the importance of providing our young people with a voice in the development of local services and policies. I very much look forward to co-Chairing the meeting and reading the recommendations that will be presented to the Government for consideration to be included in Irelands priorities for Irelands EU Presidency in June 2026.

Young delegates to Seanad na nOg 2025 will discuss the priorities they have identified for the Government to consider as part of Irelands overall priorities for the EU Presidency in 2026. These are:

Peace and Security: examining peace and security in a digital world and the threats of deepfakes.

Climate Action: Promoting climate action in an inclusive and cooperative manor to tackle the climate crisis.

Education & Youth: Advocating for increased training for guidance counsellors, greater mental health support in education and greater resources allocated to special education.

Cost of Living: Examining the cost of living through the lens of a young person or person with a disability.

Substance Misuse: Advocating for increased mental health supports and community service to be funded to act as early intervention mechanisms to prevent the misuse of substances.

Children in Care: The difficulties facing children in the care system and how it can be improved to create better outcomes for children in care.

Equality: The need to continue to strengthen the rights for all, and to come together and stand with those who feel the fear of inequality.

Speaking on behalf of the delegates, Co-Chair of Seanad na nOg, Christian said I'm really looking forward to Seanad na nOg 2025, it's such a great event that allows us to enter the Senate chamber and discuss the issues that matter to young people. It gives young people under 18 a voice in our democracy, even though we cant yet vote. It's great that young people can give their input on the important EU Presidency Ireland will hold next year, as we'll inherit whatever EU this generation's leaders leave to us, and that includes Ireland. I'm honoured to be co-chairing the sessions alongside Senator Mark Daly, the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann.

Minister For Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley said I am so pleased to take the opportunity to acknowledge Seanad na nOg 2025. Congratulations to all the students who have travelled from all across the country to be part of this very important gathering, sharing thoughts and ideas with the Government in advance of the Irish EU presidency. A particular word of thanks to Senator Mark Daly, the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann, for facilitating this gathering and also to Christian from Kerry Comhairle na nOg for co-chairing. I really look forward to hearing all your deliberations and all that will come out of today."

Read more: Love/Hate and Peaky Blinders actor Peter Coonan coming to Longford next week

Following the day-long event, delegates will make a series of recommendations to the Government for their consideration to be included in Irelands priorities for Irelands EU Presidency in June 2026. Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann Senator Mark Daly thanked the delegates for their substantial input and support in making Seanad na nOg a reality.
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The United States announced it was ending deportation protection for people fleeing from the civil war in Myanmar, the latest nation to have Temporary Protected Status terminated amid the Trump administration's hardline approach to immigration.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the termination of TPS for Myanmar on Monday, saying it will take effect in 60 days, on Jan. 26.

Some 3,670 Myanmar nationals were in the United States under the TPS program, according to the National Immigration Forum nonprofit based in Washington, D.C.

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The previous Biden administration designated Myanmar for the program in May 2021 in response to civil conflicts that erupted in the country following the Feb. 1, 2021, military coup. The designation has been repeatedly renewed until Monday.

The military junta in control of the Southeast Asian nation has killed at least 7,488 people with 30,013 arrested and nearly 22,700 still detained, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Myanmar.

Since the coup, more than 275,000 Myanmar nationals have sought refuge or asylum in neighboring countries, according to United Nations statistics.

However, Noem said the situation in the country "has improved enough that it is safe for Burmese citizens to return home" and conditions no longer meet TPS statutory requirements.

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"Burma has made notable progress in governance and stability, including the end of its state of emergency, plans for free and fair elections, successful cease-fire agreements and improved local governance contributing to enhanced public service delivery and national reconciliation," she said in a statement.

U.S.-based non-profit Myanmar advocacy groups disputed Noem's characterization.

The International Campaign for the Rohingya and Campaign for a New Myanmar told UPI in a statement that the DHS director "falsely described the junta's sham elections as 'free and fair'" and "misleadingly characterized the 'cease-fires' imposed on ethnic resistance organizations."

"I believe that Secretary Noem and her team at DHS made these false and misleading statements about the conditions in Myanmar merely to withstand any possible legal challenge to this termination of TPS for Burmese refuges in the U.S.," Simon Billenness, direct of ICR and CNM, said.

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Billenness accused Noem of knowing that her statements were false and misleading in order to deport the few thousands Myanmar refugees in the United States.

"This marks a cynical and fraudulent hijacking of U.S. policy towards Burma by DHS to the extreme detriment of U.S. interests and values in Southeast Asia," Billenness said.

The announcement comes less than a week after the United States co-sponsored a U.N. resolution on the situation facing minorities in Myanmar, with Michael Heath, U.S. senior adviser for East Asian and Pacific affairs, stating they "remain deeply concerned" by evidence of human rights violations and abuses continuing to be committed by both the military and other armed groups engaged in the civil war.

The Trump administration has sought to end TPS for nine countries, affecting more than 675,000 immigrants in the United States, according to Carolyn Tran, executive director of Communities United for Status and Protection.


The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted numerous operations throughout Lebanon against Hezbollah between November 17 and November 23, 2025. Israeli activities last week constituted a significant qualitative escalation over prior weeks. While most operations, including strikes on Hezbollah assets and personnel involved in the organizations regeneration efforts, were concentrated in south Lebanon (and specifically south of the Litani River), airstrikes reached as far north as Shmistar in northeast Lebanon. The week also witnessed the first Israeli airstrike in Beirut since June. The target was Hezbollahs de facto chief of staff, Haitham Ali Tabatabai, making this the most significant Israeli strike on Hezbollahs personnel since the November 27, 2024, ceasefire.

The Israeli military killed Tabatabai because he was overseeing and advancing Hezbollahs ongoing regeneration efforts, which had reached a level and tempo that Jerusalem found it could no longer tolerate.

On November 19, Israels Channel 11 reported that the Israeli security establishment assessed that the current intensity of the IDFs operations against Hezbollah was failing to hinder the organizations regeneration efforts sufficiently. Therefore, Israeli officials were envisioning expanding these operations, including by striking new areas.

IDF operations included:

Airstrikes: 14

14 Artillery strikes: One

One Drone strikes: Six

Six Flares: One

One Ground Activities: Three

Three Quadcopter activities: Nine



Map instructions: Click the top-left icon or an icon on the map to open the Map Key and adjust the maps zoom as desired. Click the top-right icon to open a larger version of the map.

Baalbek-Hermel Governorate

Baalbek District: Shmistar

Mount Lebanon Governorate

Baabda District: Haret Hreik

Nabatieh Governorate

Bint Jbeil District : Ainata, Aitaroun, Ayta ash Shaab, Bint Jbeil, Majdal Selm-Shaqra, Maroun al Ras, Rmeish, Tayri, and Yaroun

: Ainata, Aitaroun, Ayta ash Shaab, Bint Jbeil, Majdal Selm-Shaqra, Maroun al Ras, Rmeish, Tayri, and Yaroun Hasbaya District: Kfarshouba and Kfar Hamam-Rashaya al Fukhar

Kfarshouba and Kfar Hamam-Rashaya al Fukhar Marjayoun District: Adaisseh, Blida, Houla, and Markaba

Adaisseh, Blida, Houla, and Markaba Nabatieh District: Aiyshiyyeh-Jarmaq-Mahmoudiyeh, Mount Rafia, and Zawtar al Sharqiyah

South Lebanon Governorate

Sidon District: Ain al Helweh

Ain al Helweh Tyre District: Deir Kifa, Marwahin, Shehour, and Tayr Felsay

Casualties

Between November 10 and November 16, Israeli operations in Lebanon killed 24 people, including 12 Hezbollah operatives, and wounded 51 people.

November 17, 2025: One individual was wounded.

One individual was wounded. November 18, 2025: Two Hezbollah operatives were killed, 13 unidentified Palestinians were killed, and nine unidentified people were wounded.

Two Hezbollah operatives were killed, 13 unidentified Palestinians were killed, and nine unidentified people were wounded. November 19, 2025: One Hezbollah operative was killed, and 13 people were wounded.

One Hezbollah operative was killed, and 13 people were wounded. November 20, 2025: No casualties were reported.

No casualties were reported. November 21, 2025: One Hezbollah operative was killed.

One Hezbollah operative was killed. November 22, 2025: Two Hezbollah operatives were killed.

Two Hezbollah operatives were killed. November 23, 2025: Hezbollahs chief of staff was killed, five Hezbollah operatives were killed, and 28 unidentified people were wounded.

Chronology of Israeli operations against Hezbollah, November 17  November 23, 2025

November 17

At 12:35 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped four stun explosives towards Aitaroun in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District.

At 4:52 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped a stun explosive near the shepherd Khalil Ibrahim al Qadri, lightly wounding him and killing 30 of his flock, in Kfarshouba in the Nabatieh Governorates Hasbaya District. Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel immediately deployed to the scene to investigate.

At 8:45 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli troops positioned at the Tel Aziyeh post in south Lebanon directed gunfire toward the outskirts of Houla and Markaba in the Nabatieh Governorates Marjayoun District.

November 18

At 8:16 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped an explosive on an excavator in Blida in the Nabatieh Governorates Marjayoun District.

At 10:14 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle in Bint Jbeil in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District. The strike killed one person. NNA Lebanon reported the fatality was Ali Shaito, a Bint Jbeil municipality worker. Hezbollah-affiliated social media later announced the death of Hezbollah operative Ali Ibrahim Shaito, whose nom de guerre was Abu Trab, from Tayri. The IDF later released a statement saying it had targeted and killed Shaito, claiming he was involved in the terror organization Hezbollahs regeneration activities and stressing that his activities constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah, through its Municipal Works bureau, issued a rare condemnation of the strike that killed Shaito.

At 12:25 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped a stun explosive in Blida.

At 5:01 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle in Blida. The strike killed one person. Hezbollah-affiliated social media later announced the death of Hezbollah operative Haitham Saleh Al Masri, whose nom de guerre was Basel, from Blida. The IDF later released a statement saying that it had targeted and killed Masri, claiming he was observed while collecting intelligence on our forces. Hezbollah gave Masri a military funeral in his hometown.

Death announcements for Ibrahim Ali Shaito (Left) and Haitham Saleh Al Masri. (Balagh Media Telegram)

At 9:44 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle in the Khaled Ibn al Walid mosques parking lot in the Ain al Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in the South Lebanon Governorates Sidon District. Follow-up strikes targeted the Khaled Ibn al Walid Center and Khaled Ibn al Walid Mosque in the camp with three missiles. The strikes killed 13 people and wounded nine others. The IDF released a statement saying that it had targeted the area in the refugee camp after identifying terrorists who were operating in a Hamas training complex near Ain Al Hilweh, which the organization used for training and exercises to execute terror initiatives against IDF forces and the State of Israel. The statement said that the IDF had taken precautions to minimize the chances of harm to civilians, including using precision weapons, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence.

November 19

NNA Lebanon reported that at 6:15 am, an Israeli drone fired two missiles at a vehicle in Tayri in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District. The strike killed one person. Strike shrapnel impacted a nearby mid-size bus transporting 26 university students from different parts of rural south Lebanon to the Islamic University and Lebanese International University in Tyre, which NNA Lebanon said was coincidentally passing by as the strike occurred. The shrapnel wounded the bus driver and 12 students. Nine were immediately discharged from Bint Jbeils Salah Ghandour hospital, while three female students remained  two for intensive observation and one for an unspecified surgery. The mukhtarof Bint Jbeil described the strike as evidence of Israeli criminal[ity] that failed to distinguish civilians from combatants. At 3:24 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that the targeted vehicles driver was Tayri Municipality treasurer Bilal Mohammad Shaito, who was killed instantly. The Tayri Municipality issued a condemnation of the strike, eulogizing employee Treasurer Bilal Mohammad Shaito, who was killed this morning by Israels criminal hand, confirming once again its aggression against all components of public life which are working to provide the necessities of life to our citizenry in our villages which were damaged during the war. The Tayri Municipality also called on Lebanese authorities whose two upstanding municipal employees were martyred in less than twenty-four hours, to speedily confront the enemys plot to harm the only authorities in the area, the municipalities and regional councils, which are working to restore public civilian life. At 11:00 am, Hezbollah-affiliated social media announced the death of Hezbollah operative Bilal Mohammad Shaito, whose nom de guerre was Abu Idris, from Tayri. At 3:06 pm, the IDF released a statement saying that it had targeted and killed [] an operative from the terror organization Hezbollah near Tayri, alleging he was involved in restoring Hezbollahs battle-readiness in the area in violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.

Death announcement for Bilal Mohammad Shaito. (Balagh Media Telegram)

At 8:25 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped fragmentation explosives on a house in Blida in the Nabatieh Governorates Marjayoun District, damaging the structure.

At 10:27 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped a stun explosive in Adaisseh in the Nabatieh Governorates Marjayoun District.

At 2:19 pm, IDF Arabic Spokesman Avichay Adraee issued a warning to the residents of Shehour in the South Lebanon Governorates Tyre District to distance themselves outside of a highlighted area around two designated structures. Adraee said the IDF would soon target these buildings, claiming they were military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah organization, as part of countering the forbidden activities in which Hezbollah is engaged to restore its activities in the area.

At 2:20 pm, Adraee issued a warning to the residents of Deir Kifa in the South Lebanon Governorates Tyre District to distance themselves at least 300 meters from two designated structures. Adraee said the IDF would soon target these buildings, claiming they were military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah organization, as part of countering the forbidden activities in which Hezbollah is engaged to restore its activities in the area.

At 2:54 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that schools in Shehour and surrounding areas in the Tyre District were evacuating as a precautionary measure. It also noted that an Israeli drone was simultaneously circling overhead and conducted a warning strike towards Shehour.

At 2:57 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that two neighboring buildings in Tyre were evacuated after occupants reportedly received evacuation warnings via phone while security officials worked to verify their authenticity.

At 3:08 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an individual with a foreign number claiming to be from the IDF had called the wife of sayyed Khalil Hamid Salman, aka Abu Mahdi, in Majdal Zoun, asking her to evacuate the home immediately. Municipal authorities who investigated the matter called on residents to take such warnings seriously.

At 3:39 pm, Adraee announced the onset of Israeli strikes on the designated buildings in Shehour and Deir Kifa. At 3:39 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted Shehour, and another targeted Deir Kifa. The strike in Shehour destroyed a house completely and leveled it, according to NNA Lebanon, and damaged several other buildings in the village.

At 3:58 pm, Adraee issued a warning to the residents of Tayr Felsay in the South Lebanon Governorates Tyre District and Ainata in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District to distance themselves at least 300 meters from two designated structures. Adraee said the IDF would soon target these buildings, claiming they were military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah organization, as part of countering the forbidden activities in which Hezbollah is engaged to restore its activities in the area.

IDF Arabic Spokesman Avichay Adraees warning to residents of Tayr Felsay (Left) and Ainata (Right). (Avichay Adraee on Telegram)

NNA Lebanon reported that at 5:05 pm, an Israeli airstrike targeted a house in a residential neighborhood in Ainata. The strike reportedly destroyed the targeted building and caused significant damage to nearby homes.

At 5:07 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted the designated structure in Tayr Felsay.

At 6:33 pm, Adraee issued a statement saying the strikes in Ainata, Deir Kifa, Shehour, and Tar Felsay had targeted weapons warehouses belonging to Hezbollahs rocket unit that the organization had located amidst civilian population centers, in what he described as an additional example of Hezbollah using civilians as human shields. Adraee said that the IDF had taken precautions prior to the strikes to minimize civilian casualties. He also noted that the presence of the alleged warehouses constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon. Adraees statement was accompanied by a reel of aerial gun-cam footage of the four strikes in Deir Kifa, Tayr Felsay, Ainata, and Chehour. The footage of the Tayr Felsay and Ainata strikes shows secondary explosions, suggesting the presence of some form of explosives in the buildings.

At 7:04 pm, the IDF released a video purporting to reveal Hezbollahs regeneration of its presence and infrastructure in Beit Lif in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District. The video designated Hezbollah military installations in red, weapons storage facilities in blue, and underground installations in yellow. The LAF deployed forces to Beit Lif, reportedly in the wake of calls for protection by locals in light of Israeli threats to the town.

An IDF illustration of Hezbollah positions in Beit Lif. (IDF Hebrew on Telegram)

November 20

At 7:15 pm, Hezbollahs Al Manar TV reporter Ali Choeib reported that at an unspecified time earlier in the day, an Israeli armored force positioned at the Jabal Blatt post in the South Lebanon Governorates Tyre District interdicted the movement of individuals Choeib claimed were just Lebanese nationals in nearby Marwahin.

November 21

NNA Lebanon reported that at 8:15 am, Israeli artillery fired three shells at the forested areas of Yaroun in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District.

At 6:59 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle on the outskirts of Froun in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District. The strike killed one person. Hezbollah-affiliated social media soon announced the death of Hezbollah operative Ahmad Mohammad Ramadan, whose nom de guerre was Shamran, from Froun. Hezbollah gave Ramadan a military funeral in his hometown. The IDF released a statement claiming the strike, saying that it had targeted and killed a Hezbollah terrorist [] who, throughout the war, advanced terror initiatives against the State of Israel and whose current activities constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.

Death announcement for Ahmad Mohammad Ramadan. (Balagh Media Telegram)

November 22

At 8:20 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle with two missiles near Ain al Samahiyeh in the Nabatieh Governorates Nabatieh District. The strike killed one person. At 7:52 pm, the IDF released a statement on the strike, saying it had targeted and killed the terrorist Kamel Redha Qranbash near Mayfadoun [who was] involved in Hezbollahs regeneration attempts in the area. Pro-Hezbollah and Amal Movement-affiliated social media accounts and Hezbollahs Mahdi Schools-Nabatieh soon announced the death of Hezbollah operative Kamel Redha Qranbash, whose nom de guerre was Sadeq, from Zawtar al Sharqiyah. Hezbollah gave Qranbash a military funeral in his hometown. His brother, Ali Redha Qranbash, also a Hezbollah operative whose nom de guerre was Jawad, was killed on October 21, 2024.

Death announcement for Kamel Redha Qranbash. (@maya47734 on X)

At 2:39 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike involving two missiles targeted the area between Mahmoudiyeh, Aiyshiyyeh, and Jarmaq in Kfar Rema in the Nabatieh Governorates Nabatieh District.

NNA Lebanon reported that at 2:45 pm, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Mount Rafia area in the Nabatieh Governorates Nabatieh District.

At 2:45 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted Mahmoudiyeh.

At 3:41 pm, the IDF released a statement on the above strikes, saying it had targeted [] several Hezbollah launchers that had been recently identified and deployed in military sites in south Lebanon.

At 3:20 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that two Israeli airstrikes targeted the barrens of Shmistar in the Baalbek-Hermel Governorates Baalbek District. At 3:41 pm, the IDF released a statement on the strikes, saying it had targeted [] two Hezbollah military sites in which terrorists were identified operating, weapons storage facilities, and additional military buildings.

At 3:51 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted a forested area between Rashaya al Fukhar and Kfar Hamam in the Nabatieh Governorates Hasbaya District.

At 4:19 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle on the Wadi Nahlah road between Shaqra and Majdal Selm in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District. The strike killed one person. At 7:28 pm, Hezbollah-affiliated social media announced the death of Hezbollah operative Hussain Yassin Hussain, whose nom de guerre was Abu Ali Haidar, from Houla. At 7:52 pm, the IDF released a statement claiming the strike, saying it had targeted and killed a Hezbollah operative near Houla and specifying that he acted as Hezbollahs local representative near Houla and was responsible for liaising between the organization and the villages residents on military and economic matters, as well as working to take over private property for terror purposes. Hezbollah, through its Municipal Works Bureau, issued a rare statement on the assassination that said Hussain was a Houla municipal worker and council member and targeting civil servants is a red line. IDF Arabic language spokesman Adraee later said Haidar was a member of the Houla municipality alongside acting as a Hezbollah operative, and that his sonYassin Hussain Yassinwas also a Hezbollah operative who was killed in the recent war. Yassin Hussain Yassin, whose nom de guerre was Abu Zahra, was killed on July 21, 2024, in clashes with Israeli forces.

At 4:33 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped a stun explosive in Maroun Al Ras in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District.

At 8:22 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli forces fired flares over the forested areas between Yaroun and Maroun Al Ras in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District.

Death announcements for Hussain Yassin Hussain (Left) and his son, Yassin Hussain Yassin (Right). (Balagh Media Telegram, Al Manar)

November 23

At 12:12 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped a stun explosive on Adaisseh in the Nabatieh Governorates Marjayoun District.

At 12:52 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle in Ayta ash Shaab in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District. The strike killed one person. NNA Lebanon reported that the fatality was liberated prisoner Mohammad Saleh, who was driving his vehicle in Al Rajam neighborhood to obtain equipment to renovate his home in Ayta Ash Shaab. Hezbollah-affiliated social media soon announced the death of Hezbollah operative Mohammad Yusef Saleh, whose nom de guerre was Fallah, from Ayta ash Shaab.

Death announcement for Mohammad Yusef Saleh. (Balagh Media Telegram)

Death announcement for Haitham Ali Tabatabai. (Hezbollah Military Media)

Left to right: Death announcements for Qassem Hussain Berjawi, Mustafa Asaad Berro, Rifaat Ahmad Hussain, and Ibrahim Ali Hussain. (Hezbollah Military Media)

Previous entries:

David Daoud is Senior Fellow at at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs.
The US State Departments Rewards for Justice poster featuring Osama Mehmood and Atif Yahya Ghouri.

The US Department of States Rewards for Justice program has offered a $10 million bounty for Osama Mehmood, the leader of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), and a $5 million reward for his deputy, Atif Yahya Ghouri. AQIS, which is based in Afghanistan with the support and approval of the Taliban, is a key Al Qaeda branch that facilitates the operations of the jihadist groups central leadership and coordinates its operations in South and Central Asia, including in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, India, and Pakistan.

The State Department issued the rewards for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of Mehmood and Ghouri on November 24, 2025. The two senior AQIS leaders have served at the top echelon of the terror organization for nearly a decade.

The formation of AQIS was announced in September 2014 by Ayman al Zawahiri, who was the emir of Al Qaeda at the time. A new branch of al-Qaeda was established and is Qaedat al-Jihad [Al Qaeda, Base of the Jihad] in the Indian Subcontinent, seeking to raise the flag of jihad, return the Islamic rule, and empowering the Shariah of Allah across the Indian subcontinent, Zawahiri said in the opening of his video introducing the group.

Zawahiri clarified that AQIS was not established today, but it is the fruit of a blessed effort for more than two years to gather the mujahideen in the Indian subcontinent into a single entity to be with the main group, Qaedat al-Jihad.

Zawahiri also noted that the soldiers of the Islamic Emirate [the Afghan Taliban] and its triumphant emir, Allah permitting, Emir of the Believers Mullah Muhammad Omar Mujahid were part of AQIS. AQIS reported to the Afghan Taliban, Zawahiri stated.

Zawahiri was killed in a US drone strike while sheltering in a Taliban safe house in Kabul, Afghanistan, in July 2022, nearly one year after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.

AQIS, Al Qaeda, and Afghanistan

Since its formation, AQIS has been involved in numerous terror attacks in the region, including an attempt to hijack Pakistani naval vessels and a plot to attack US and Indian warships. AQIS also fought alongside the Afghan Taliban to help it take control of Afghanistan in August 2021. Some AQIS commanders and fighters have been subsumed into the ranks of the Talibans military and security establishment, while some of the groups leaders serve in the Talibans government.

The US government added AQIS to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations in June 2016.

As top leaders in AQIS, Mehmood and Ghouri would have played a key role in supporting the Taliban and building Al Qaedas infrastructure in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda has established training camps in 13 of Afghanistans 34 provinces, as well as other key infrastructure, such as safe houses, religious schools, a media center, and a weapons storage depot.

Osama Mehmood

Mehmood took control of AQIS from Asim Umar, the groups first emir, sometime before 2019. Umar appeared to have been given a senior leadership position within Al Qaedas general command before he was killed in a joint US and Afghan raid on a key Al Qaeda node in Helmand province in September 2019.

Prior to taking command of AQIS, Mehmood served as the groups spokesman. He has appeared in multiple messages released by As Sahab, Al Qaedas official propaganda outlet. Mahmood, who is also known as Abu Zar, Atta Ullah, and Zar Wali, is a Pakistani national and is believed to be sheltering in Afghanistan.

The US listed Mehmood as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in December 2022.

Atif Yahya Ghouri

Ghouri is a Pakistani national who studied at the International Islamic University, the same school attended by former AQIS deputy emir Ustad Ahmad Farooq, according to States Rewards for Justice program. Ghouri replaced Farooq as the deputy AQIS emir after the latter was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan in January 2015.

The US listed Ghouri as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in December 2022, the same day that Mehmood was listed.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
AI Giants Forge Major Alliance with Multibillion-Dollar Investments and Massive Azure Compute Deal

Microsoft, Nvidia and Anthropic have formed a partnership that blends new investments with a large multiyear cloud commitment, tightening ties among three major players in artificial intelligence. The agreement expands the model choices available to enterprise customers while deepening the integration of Anthropic's Claude models across Microsoft's ecosystem.

In a blog post, Microsoft said Anthropic will purchase a significant amount of Azure capacity and that both Microsoft and Nvidia will invest in the San Francisco-based startup. According to the announcement, Anthropic has agreed to buy $30 billion worth of Azure compute and may contract up to one gigawatt of additional capacity. The companies also said Nvidia will invest up to $10 billion in Anthropic and Microsoft will invest up to $5 billion.

The deal pushes Claude, Anthropic's family of large language models, deeper into Microsoft's ecosystem while preserving the startup's multicloud stance. Microsoft said customers of its AI Foundry service will get access to Anthropic's current frontier models  Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Opus 4.1, and Claude Haiku 4.5  and that "this partnership will make Claude the only frontier model available on all three of the world's most prominent cloud services." The blog also said, "Azure customers will gain expanded choice in models and access to Claude-specific capabilities," and that Microsoft will continue to offer Claude within its Copilot products, including GitHub Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Nvidia and Anthropic will begin a technical collaboration intended to improve how the startup's models run on current and future Nvidia systems. According to the blog, "for the first time, NVIDIA and Anthropic are establishing a deep technology partnership," with joint work on design and engineering to optimize Anthropic's models and Nvidia's upcoming architectures. Anthropic's "compute commitment will initially be up to one gigawatt of compute capacity with NVIDIA Grace Blackwell and Vera Rubin systems," the post said.

The three-way tie-up extends a pattern that has defined the AI boom: software makers, cloud platforms, and chip suppliers aligning around long-term compute contracts and co-development agreements to secure scarce resources and speed product rollouts. It also diversifies Microsoft's supply of frontier models after changes in its arrangement with OpenAI created more room for outside partners, and it gives Nvidia another channel to seed demand for its next-generation platforms.

For Anthropic, the pact widens distribution while preserving the startup's existing relationships. Industry reports following the announcement said Amazon remains Anthropic's primary cloud provider and training partner, even as Claude becomes broadly available on Microsoft's stack. Analysts also framed the alliance as part of a broader effort among big technology companies to spread their bets across multiple model providers in case performance or supply constraints shift.

The scale of the compute commitment underscores the capital intensity of building and serving generative AI. One gigawatt is a substantial order of magnitude for AI data centers and will require long planning horizons for electricity, cooling, and real estate. Microsoft's statement that Anthropic will "contract additional compute capacity up to one gigawatt" signals a pipeline of future hardware deployments aligned with the startup's training and inference roadmap.

On the product side, placing Claude in Microsoft Foundry and Copilot gives enterprise buyers another option alongside OpenAI models and other options already available in Azure. Microsoft said the arrangement will "broaden access to Claude and provide Azure enterprise customers with expanded model choice and new capabilities," while the promise that Claude will be available across the three leading public clouds lowers switching costs for developers and large IT organizations.

For Nvidia, the technical partnership with Anthropic complements its strategy of working closely with model providers to shape upcoming GPUs and systems for real-world workloads. The blog's emphasis on optimizing for "performance, efficiency, and TCO" suggests joint work on throughput, memory bandwidth, networking, and software stacks to keep training and inference costs falling as models scale.

Investors have been watching for signs that the first wave of AI partnerships is evolving from exclusivity to a more open mix. The Anthropic agreements fit that pattern. Microsoft gains another high-end model suite for Azure and Copilot. Nvidia locks in future demand for its chips and systems and aligns its road map with fast-growing customers. Anthropic secures funding and capacity while keeping a multicloud strategy that appeals to large enterprises wary of single-vendor dependence.

The companies did not disclose timelines for deploying the full gigawatt of capacity or closing the investments.
Authorities recovered a body in the water off Castle Island in South Boston on Monday morning.

At 9:34 a.m., police assigned to the Harbor Unit received information that the Massachusetts Environmental Police had recovered the body, according to the Boston Police Department.

The body was transported to the Harbor Unit, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner took custody. Boston police expect to release more information once an autopsy is completed. The departments Homicide Unit is investigating.

Castle Island is one of five peninsulas in Boston Harbor, spanning 22 acres of land.
Tonight on Lost In Bass we feature two artists who continue to shape and elevate Ottawas underground community. We begin with a deep, emotional, and atmospheric set from MAREVA, an Ottawa-based DJ and event organizer known for blending dark melodies, intricate drum work, and haunting vocals into bass-driven journeys that resonate on a physical and emotional level. Influenced by years spent across multiple continents and early immersion in Moscows D&B scene, her sound reflects a wide musical palette and a commitment to the deeper side of electronic music. https://soundcloud.com/djmareva We then move into a mix from DAN MEDLAND, a DJ with nearly 30 years of history in the House Music world. Originally from Ottawa and shaped by the legendary late-90s underground, from SONA, ARIA, and Stereo in Montreal to Industry and The Guvernment in Toronto. Dan learned his craft under Ottawa icons Neill MacLeod and Joe Juarez. His style is rooted in storytelling, rhythm, and a blend of house, tech, and tribal energy that consistently moves dance floors. JOE JUAREZ's 35th DJ Anniversary RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2000131014173579 Dan also appears this Saturday at WHITE RABBIT at City at Night to celebrate JOE JUAREZs 35th anniversary behind the decksmarking three and a half decades of shaping, supporting, and mentoring Ottawas underground music scene. As CKCU celebrates 50 years of community broadcasting, we want to thank everyone who has donated so far. Your support ensures that independent radio, local music, and grassroots culture continue to thrive. If youd like to help us reach our goal, please hit the red donate button. Tune in, discover something new, and thank you for supporting another year of Lost In Bass and another 50 years of CKCU. DONATE: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/CKCU/p2p/fundingdrive2025/page/lost-in-bass
For reasons I cannot even begin to fathom, one of the fundamental achievements in my journalism career has been over a decade of reviewing and ranking Oreo cookies.

I did not anticipate this odyssey. But neither did Odysseus.

He had to deal with an angry Cyclops, cannibals and an enchantress turning his men into pigs. I had to deal with three different variations of Pumpkin Spice Oreos. I think its pretty clear who had it worse.

Its been 11-and-a-half years since I reviewed my first Oreo for MassLive and Ive finally crested above the 100-flavor mark.

Now seems as good a time as any to look back at all my old rankings and give a full recap of where each flavor stands and what I thought about them at the time.

106 Oreo flavors, ranked worst to best

(NOTE: The reviews and descriptions of these Oreos are pulled from previous posts and reused for this ranking.)

Turkey & Stuffing Oreos highlighted among the Thanksgiving Dinner Oreo Tin flavors. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

106) Turkey & Stuffing (OREOiD Thanksgiving Dinner Tin)  This is an abomination. ... This is like eating a gravy lollipop. Its like someone frosted a chocolate/stuffing cake. My mouth feels like a trash bag that should have gone outside three days ago. It tastes like an abandoned broom. I feel like I just licked a garage floor.

A box of Banana Split Oreos. (MassLive File Photo)

105) Banana Split Oreo  This filling is the equivalent of a man in a banana suit screaming Hey! Im a banana! Believe that Im a banana!

Theres no actual split/sundae element, which was unfortunate, because I was counting on the red part (I dont even know if it was supposed to be another flavor) to make up for the banana. It turns out, its all the same, awful flavor.

I think I can still smell it on me.

Creamed Corn Oreos highlighted among the six flavors in the Thanksgiving Dinner Oreo tin. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

104) Creamed Corn (OREOiD Thanksgiving Dinner Tin)  Oh no. It tastes exactly like corn  too much like corn. Its like eating a spoonful of canned corn and raw butter. Its a cross between eating a candle and corn on the cob. Its remarkably accurate, and thats the scary part.

A Cookie Dough Oreo highlighted among other flavors. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

103) Cookie Dough Oreo  I was personally offended by this cookie. I felt like this cookie kicked my dog and said mean things about me on Facebook. Id be fine with this cookie being pedestrian. Instead, it tastes like a stick of butter squished between the two cookies.

Cherry Cola Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

102) Cherry Cola Oreo  This was pretty much an impossible flavor to make work in the first place. The cookie pulled it off with all the grace of a caffeinated rhinoceros in a bounce house.

A Berry Oreo that has been split open. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

101) Berry Oreo  This tastes like generic berry flavoring youd find in your standard macro dessert. It was pleasant enough, but I have no interest in eating another one of these ever again in my life.

A Limeade Oreo highlighted among a group of Oreos. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

100) Limeade Oreo  This cookie is lime-flavored, which is  for whatever reason  apparently intentional. The single-note flavor from the creme provides a somewhat harsh pop when you bite down and doesnt really make for a particularly pleasurable cookie experience.

Apple Pie Oreos (Nick O'Malley)

99) Apple Pie Oreo  This cookie smells good. It looks good. Its got a graham-flavored cookie and everything. But the filling? It tastes like a green apple lollipop, with hardly a hint of cinnamon or any of the flavors that make apple pie awesome.

This is one of the most disappointing cookies in Oreo history. Dont bring these to a family get-together. There will be punches thrown.

A bag of Reduced Fat Oreos. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

98) Reduced Fat Oreo  These taste like an Oreo where they just got the recipe wrong and forgot a quarter of the ingredients. The entire cookie is dry. Its a weak, crumbly, starchy mess with a too-small dollop of thick, gritty, tasteless creme.

Pina Colada Oreo Thins (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

97) Oreo Thins Pina Colada  This has all the flavor  and disappointment  of a $22 fruity cocktail with a little umbrella in it. You start excited and end up mad that youre left with this giant pile of mismanaged sugar that you dont even want anymore.

Irish Creme Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

96) Oreo Thins Irish Creme  This cookie doesnt have any actual dairy in there. Instead, it tastes like derriere.

The funky filling mixes with the chocolate outer cookie to create an odd combination of flavors. Its not particularly sweet. Its weirdly nutty and tangy. Its a gray, overcast sky of wonky chocolate with astringent rays of Irish cream coming through

MassLive's Nick O'Malley trying out a Caramel Apple Oreo back in 2018. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

95) Caramel Apple Oreo  You know how salted caramel products go for a nice, clean caramel flavor? This is the exact opposite. You can taste the caramel and the apple. But you can also taste the languid, melding, wet flavors of a caramel apple thats been left out too long. Bleh.

Key Lime Pie Oreos. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

94) Key Lime Pie Oreo  The biggest takeaway is the fragrance. Even if you seal it back up, you can smell the sharp lime lingering. Fortunately, the flavor is a little bit more tactful. The graham-flavored cookie helps a little bit here.

Fruit Punch Oreos highlighted among a group of other flavors. (MassLive File Photo)

93) Fruit Punch Oreo  The Fruit Punch Oreos are heavily reminiscent of Trix cereal (before they cheaped out and changed from the actual fruit shapes) and a little bit of raw Kool-Aid. Like the Limeade variety, its quite pungent, but a little less acrid upon the initial taste.

Oreo Thins Pistachio (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

92) Oreo Thins Pistachio  When you bite down, you start off by tasting nothing but cookie before you hit a sharp wave of bright flavor from the creme. Its way flashier than any nut flavor has any business being.

A box of Hot & Spicy Cinnamon Oreos. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

91) Hot & Spicy Cinnamon Oreo  The filling tastes just like Big Red gum. Its a weird combination with the cookie. If youre one of those people that like the hot cinnamon flavor, you may just like this. Im not about it.

Sour Patch Kids Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

90) Sour Patch Kids Oreo  These cookies take you on a journey. They start sweet and lemony. But after a few chews, they really pop with sour flavor, firing off flashes of sharp tartness around your mouth.

Overall, you get a tart flavor thats mostly lemon, but might have some other fruity notes in there. That pairs well with the vanilla cookie, which adds a foundation of sweetness and sets the stage for the fireworks show of sourness that comes later on.

The classic Golden Oreo (left) and Gluten-Free Golden Oreo (right) side-by-side (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

89) Gluten-Free Golden Oreo  The issue with the Gluten-Free Golden Oreo is the outer cookie. While the original has a nice, clean vanilla sweetness, the gluten-free cookie has a bit of an off-taste. Theres a chalkiness to it thats reminiscent of a Necco Wafer.

A Pumpkin Spice Oreo highlighted among other flavors. (MassLive File Photo)

88) Pumpkin Spice Oreo (2014 version) - The Pumpkin Spice Oreos are the first cookies to breach the Just OK line. Theyre mellow enough for the eater to simply sit back and enjoy them instead of tensing up like theyre tossing a citrus cookie grenade down the hatch and hoping for the best.

Mystery-flavored Oreos. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

87) Mystery Oreo (AKA Fruity Crisp)  Pairing the Fruity Crisp flavor with the chocolate cookie creates a weird mash of dissonant flavors.

Then theres the smell. It permeates the packaging. It gets everywhere. Its like a fruity Axe body spray that will overpower every other scent in a 10-foot radius. This is a good thing at first. But then your nose gets tired of it, and youll want to lock the package in an old crate in the basement.

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Oreo cookies. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

86) Chocolate Covered Pretzel Oreo - It would be more accurate to call this a pretzel-covered chocolate Oreo. Just read that phrase one more time. Just by switching two of those words around, it now sounds 85% worse.

Caramel Coconut Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

85) Caramel Coconut Oreo  You will either hate this flavor or be really into it. Its kind of like Waffle Crisp cereal. Theres a mild coconut flavor that adds a little bit of creaminess. Its hard to pick up over the artificial sweeteners of the caramel flavor screaming over everything.

PB&J Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

84) PB&J Oreo  You get a taste of nice, mellow peanut butter, but then the jelly comes crashing in through the front door, throwing off everything the cookie was trying to do at that point.

Cranberry Sauce Oreos highlighted among the Thanksgiving Dinner Oreo Tin flavors. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

83) Cranberry Sauce (OREOiD Thanksgiving Dinner Tin)  Amid all the waxy fudge coating, you get vivid waves of tart flavor. Its almost like eating a Sour Patch Kid. ... Theres a pleasant part, but youre going to have to buckle in and ride out the sour portion to get there.

Oreo Thins Bites Fudge Dipped Mint (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

82) Oreo Bites Fudge Dipped Mint Creme  Im a fan of the normal mint Oreos, but not these. Either the creme is different or my mouth is dumb.

Lemon Oreos highlighted among other flavors. (MassLive File Photo)

81) Lemon Oreo  Of all the fruit flavors, this one is pretty manageable. To be fair, though, a lemon cookie is anything from groundbreaking. Thats why this one tastes similar to a low-end Italian lemon cookie, sort of on the lines of a Vienna Finger.

Oreo Thins Latte (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

80) Oreo Thins Latte  This is a pretty disappointing cookie. Coffee Oreos are pretty good. But theres something about the milky element in this one that made the flavor cloudy and unappetizing.

Toffee Crunch Oreos. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

79) Toffee Crunch Oreos  Its sickly sweet, all sugar all the time. Its a carnival of caramel-adjacent flavors. But not in a Hugh Jackman playing P.T. Barnum sort of way. Its more of a Theres one sad camel and the people protesting outside had a point carnival.

Oreo Thins Salted Caramel (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

78) Oreo Thins Salted Caramel  The thin aspect really hurt these cookies. You really dont get much flavor at all outside of the cookie, which is a shame, because the flavor of the creme itself is pretty good if you can find it.

The new limited edition Coca-Cola Oreos. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

77) Coca-Cola Oreo  That cola flavor is contorted in some confounding ways by the vanilla and chocolate from the cookies  but not too much. That strange spin of flavor is launched into another sphere of peculiar by the popping candy, which crackles at the back of your mouth after youve chewed for a little bit.

Oreo Thins Lemon (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

76) Oreo Thins Lemon  Im pretty big on the Oreo Thins overall. The lemon version has a really nice cookie-to-creme balance, especially between the vanilla and lemon flavors.

Fudge-Covered Oreo (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

75) Fudge-Covered Oreo  This is an Oreo wearing a chocolate blanket, and you can feel the overall weight of it dragging you down. It tastes good. But it doesnt have good cookie replay value, which is where Oreos have their greatest strength. Its really more of a confection than a cookie.

Cookies & Creme Oreo (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

74) Cookies & Creme Oreo  Yes, this is the Oreo-flavored Oreo. Its peculiar because it has about as much creme as a double stuf, but the flavor balance of a normal Oreo.

Theres really no reason for this cookie to exist. Its a more efficient method of eating two Oreos simultaneously. These cookies are dumb and expensive and a monument to mans folly.

Chocolate Creme Oreo (Golden) (MassLive File Photo)

73) Chocolate Creme Oreo (Golden)  This cookie is wholly unremarkable in every way. It tastes a bland sort of chocolatey with some vanilla cookie. Meh.

Salted Caramel Brownie Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

72) Salted Caramel Brownie Oreo  The bits of salt on the outer cookie are noticeable, creating little pops of salty flavor in your mouth as you chew. The problem is that, since the salt is only mixed in with the outer cookie, your mouth is pretty much only paying attention to that part.

Post Malone Oreos (Nick O'Malley, Masslive)

71) Post Malone Oreo  The mixture of caramel and shortbread flavors in the filling creates a nice wave of sweetness thats more balanced than most caramel Oreo offerings. Its sweet and buttery rather than a pure firehose of sugar.

Oreo Thins Coconut (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

70) Oreo Thins Coconut  Im a somewhat coconut-averse person. Usually, there are better flavor options. But in this stance, I can appreciate it as a solid complement to the cookie. This is the first cookie that I could actually go around recommending to people (provided they like coconut).

Snickerdoodle Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

69) Snickerdoodle Oreo  This is the first of a number of flavors thats reminiscent of a Dunkaroo, with the combination of spiced cookie and creme. However, its a little lacking once you get into it. The sweetness is dialed down, while the winter spices are dialed up.

Peppermint Bark Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

68) Peppermint Bark Oreos  I really dont have any strong feelings about this cookie. It lands with a thud under the York Peppermint Patty-esque combination of chocolate and peppermint. Its a fine combination and this is a perfectly fine Oreo.

Peeps Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

67) Peeps Oreo  Theres no crazy marshmallow nonsense that normally comes with Peeps. Instead, we get a bright pink filling with crunchy little sugar bits. The best way to describe these cookies is that the creme tastes like pink.

Golden Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

66) Golden Oreo  Golden Oreos tend to get overlooked in the hurricane of flavors, new and old. Theyre forgettable, but not bad with their Vienna Finger-like flavor and crunch.

Oreo Thins Golden (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

65) Oreo Thins (Golden)  Its the same vanilla cookie/creme flavors as the original. But for whatever reason, the balance between the two comes off a little better in this formula.

Double Stuf Golden Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

64) Golden Double Stuf Oreo  When you start messing with different sizes, its a weird matter of taste. Somehow, once you reach a certain point of creme content, it breaks into a higher threshold of flavor. Thats what happened with the Golden Oreo.

Neapolitan Oreo (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

63) Neapolitan Oreo  The triple-flavor filling does what it claims. It hits in multiple different ways. Sometimes its chocolate-forward. Other times, you really get the strawberry. Its a big flood of flavor that pops up in different areas. However, its a bit unwieldy with all the creme.

Blueberry Pie Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

62) Blueberry Pie Oreo  These cookies will likely get your hopes up. You dont get that much actual flavor when you eat them. The inclusion of the graham-flavor cookie is a nice wrinkle. However, the blueberry creme just doesnt stand out much.

Pumpkin Pie Oreos highlighted among a tin of Thanksgiving Dinner Oreos. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

61) Pumpkin Pie (OREOiD Thanksgiving Dinner Tin)  These are cloyingly sweet with a pop of pumpkin pie-adjacent flavoring. I want to be clear: Its not pumpkin pie spice. Its straight-up industrial nutmeg goo.

Oreo Thins Extra Stuf (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

60) Oreo Thins Extra Stuf  This is a weird cookie. This is a stupid cookie. It probably shouldnt exist. Yet it does. I guess its for people that want to mainline the creme and ignore the cookie.

It has the creme proportions of a normal or Double Stuf Oreo, but less cookie. As a result, its mainly a brittle vessel for a creme overload.

Pictured: One of our former interns being subjected to a Jelly Donut Oreo. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

59) Jelly Donut Oreo  Its a normal Golden Oreo, just with a separate grape jelly-flavored creme in the middle. This adds a really cool wrinkle to the whole experience. You get that nice blend of jelly and vanilla flavors, which go together surprisingly well.

Kettle Corn Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

58) Kettle Corn Oreo  This reminded me of the old Waffle Crisp cereal. Deep down, I wanted something with a big blast of flavor like a breakfast cereal. Instead, this comes off as kind of middling.

Pumpkin Spice Oreos (the version released in 2022) (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

57) Pumpkin Spice Oreo (2022 Version)  These are pleasantly sweet and balanced with a nice hum of those familiar pumpkin spice-adjacent flavors. The cinnamon and nutmeg notes are there. But as is tradition with mass-produced pumpkin spice products, theres not a lot of actual pumpkin flavor.

I am 100% convinced that there have been minor tweaks from the 2014 version to make it a better, cleaner, tastier cookie and will not be convinced otherwise.

Caramel Apple Pie Oreos highlighted among the Thanksgiving Dinner Oreo Tin flavors. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

56) Caramel Apple Pie (OREOiD Thanksgiving Dinner Tin)  They certainly hit the namesake flavor with a thin, tinny sweetness that rattles around between a jolt of caramel and a chemically induced round of apple. The cookie really helps mellow the whole thing out. Its milky sweet and a sugar rush, but fun  not terrible.

Chocolate Hazelnut Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

55) Chocolate Hazelnut Oreo  This is essentially a Nutella Oreo that dances around copyright. It also dances around the flavor. The Nutella-ish filling almost tastes watered down and is overpowered by the cookie.

Oreo Mini (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

54) Oreo Mini  No other Oreo has more cookie in the cookie-to-creme ratio than these. So if you really dig the crunch, then you may like these more.

Oreo Bites Fudge Dipped Original (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

53) Oreo Bites Fudge Dipped Original  This is barely an Oreo, but I still like it. Its a nice little mound of chocolate crunch that has the creme on the inside as basically a little afterthought. In terms of chocolate-to-creme ratio, this is the Oreo with the most chocolate involved.

Oreo Mini Golden (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

52) Oreo Mini Golden  Similar to the original minis, but with the golden cookie. Between the two, youre basically picking which cookie you think tastes better. If were mostly tasting cookie, Ill go for the gold.

Sweet Potato Oreos highlighted among the Thanksgiving Dinner Oreo Tin flavors. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

51) Sweet Potato (OREOiD Thanksgiving Dinner Tin)  Its cinnamon-forward, with more caramel than the caramel one. If they told me this one was Cinnamon Roll or Pecan Pie, Id believe it. Its a pretty well-balanced sweetness with a buttery hum.

50) Caramel Mocha Latte Oreo  This cookie does a good job of balancing all the different flavors it had going on. It easily could have fallen out of balance. But instead, it leads with the coffee flavor and thrives with the caramel and chocolate playing support roles.

49) Java Chip Oreo  Theres no real distinguishable difference between this and Dunkin Donuts Mocha Oreo.

Dunkin' Mocha Oreo (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

48) Dunkin Donuts Mocha Oreo  The Mocha Oreo does a great job of emulating exactly what you want from a sweet mocha concoction. You get that nice chocolatey goodness up front, with the coffee filling out across your palate on the back end. Its a solid one-two punch of chocolate and coffee.

Peanut Butter Creme Oreos. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

47) Peanut Butter Creme Oreo  Woah. This was not as sweet as I thought itd be. Its a much duller, darker peanut butter taste than youd expect. More like a Nutter Butter than Reeses Peanut Butter. But that dull peanut butter tastes doesnt mesh very well with the chocolate, the whole thing tastes dull and doesnt have that fun peanut butter/chocolate combo.

Peanut Butter Cup Oreo (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

46) Peanut Butter Cup Oreo  A minor step up from the original peanut butter version. The separate peanut butter and chocolate creme flavors both work and create a sweet, mellow overall flavor thats pretty darn good. Its a little more chocolatey than the standard peanut butter version.

Reese's Oreo Cookies. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

45) Reeses Oreo  Theres a reason Oreo keeps releasing this flavor with a fresh coat of paint. It rules. The chocolate Oreo is the perfect habitat for peanut butter creme. The nuttiness of peanut butter and the cocoa-laden bitterness of the outer cookie lay a fertile flavor foundation that explodes when all the sugar gets added to the equation.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Oreo (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

44) Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie  This is basically the old Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Oreo with a different cookie on the outside. This time around, its a graham-flavored cookie, which leans heavily into the peanut butter flavor. Its very much like a Nutter Butter and really nails the graham, buttery sweet flavor.

Loaded Oreos, with Oreo cookie crumbs in the filling. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

43) Oreo Loaded  Theyre Loaded. Loaded with what? Itself, like a bored marketing executive, lost in a carnival mirror maze looking at myriad permutations of their reflection, thinking about their life and concluding that, yes, buying a Cybertruck will fix their internal philosophical quagmire instead of actually going to therapy.

Chocolate Creme Oreo (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

42) Chocolate Creme Oreo  Not as chocolatey as I hoped itd be. It was just an Oreo, with less classic creme taste and a lingering taste of what I guess was chocolate-esque. Overall, it just kind of tastes like a cookie, which isnt bad. But it also isnt double chocolate.

Dark Chocolate Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

41) Dark Chocolate Oreo  Since this is dark chocolate, it comes off more like a really nice ganache rather than a big sugar bomb. Its more of a slow chew rather than something to binge. For once, weve got an Oreo that isnt designed to be eaten by the sleeve (not that Im saying you cant).

Rocky Road Trip Oreo (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

40) Rocky Road Trip Oreo  You know what? I like this cookie. Flavor-wise, its similar to the chocolate-chocolate cookie. But the marshmallow bits and faux-nuts add a fun textural element. Theres just more going on in this cookie. Its a slightly enhanced chocolate Oreo.

39) Black & White Cookie Oreo  This is a double-flavor cookie where both halves are solid, but entirely forgettable. There are simply too many flavors that are mixes of chocolate/vanilla.

The new Most Oreo Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

38) Most Oreo Oreo  At its core, the Most Oreo Oreo is the companys Most Stuf Oreo modified to feature cookies-and-creme filling, which is just a blend of Oreos in the creme that they used in their relatively bland Cookies & Creme Oreo

Theyre ridiculous, but they do taste good. As the name implies, theyre Oreos. This just involves more Oreo in your Oreo. In fact, theres more Oreo in this Oreo than any previous Oreo had in an Oreo.

Mega Stuf Oreo (Golden) (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

37) Mega Stuf Oreo (Vanilla Cookie)  Is this a sugar bomb? Sure. But its an awesome sugar bomb. In this format, the cookies are pretty much just acting as vessels to carry the creme. Golden Oreos usually arent exciting. But once they reach ridiculous creme proportions, they start meriting more attention.

Oreo Bites Fudge Dipped Coconut (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

36) Oreo Bites Fudge Dipped Coconut  These cookies have a great mix of chocolate and coconut flavor. Its like a Samoa cookie without the caramel. The result is a satisfying chocolatey crunch thats buoyed by a wonderful, creamy coconut flavor on the inside. Whats more, it has all the coconut flavor without the gritty coconut consistency  because apparently, thats a thing for some people. (Well, at least Woody Harrelson in Zombieland.)

The limited editions Star Wars Oreos, featuring the light side (left) and dark side (right) varieties. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

35) Star Wars Oreo  Despite the elaborate marketing and packaging, Star Wars Oreos are a pretty tame flavor. Theyre Double Stuf cookies with crunchy sugar crystals added. Again, the only difference between the light side and dark side cookies is the color.

Space Dunk Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

34) Space Dunk Oreo  The new Space Dunk Oreos filled with cosmic creme are complete nonsense cookies and make zero sense. Thats why theyre awesome.

I tried these before looking up cosmic creme and finding out that the actual flavor is marshmallow. So when I bit into these, the flavor threw my mind through a loop.

Gingerbread Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

33) Gingerbread Oreo  Gingerbread cookies by themselves? Meh. Gingerbread cookies combined with Oreo creme? Now thats a recipe for success, especially with the pops of sweetness from the sugar crystals in there.

Carrot Cake Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

32) Carrot Cake Oreo  Now were starting to enter the top tier of flavors. Everything past this point is really good. Even if youre not a huge carrot cake fan, give this a try. It leans more cinnamon roll than carrot cake.

Cotton Candy Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

31) Cotton Candy Oreo  Its crazy how spot-on the cotton candy flavor is in this cookie. But the most remarkable quality is the texture of the cotton candy-flavored creme. If you isolate it and bite down, you actually get that familiar dense-sugar feel of a bite into actual cotton candy. Its a technological marvel.

Mint Creme Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

30) Mint Creme Oreo  I love over-the-top-sweet mint mixed with chocolate flavors. So, even though the mint flavor was a little out of control  like a box of Andes mints fired out of a T-shirt cannon  it was still enjoyable.

Avoid eating en masse. Itd probably end up feeling like downing a dozen cough drops covered in icing.

Most Stuf Oreo (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

29) Most Stuf Oreo  Its a Mega Stuf Oreo with more filler. You dont really get any extra flavor with the extra cream. Instead, you get more of blank, crystalline substance in the creme to make the cookie thicker. Theres a reason the serving size is one cookie: Theres no reason on the planet to eat a second one.

The new Ultimate Chocolate Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

28) Ultimate Chocolate Oreo  Eating a normal Mega Stuff makes you feel like youre eating a depraved lab experiment gone wrong. The Ultimate Chocolate Oreo tastes like youre eating an actual chocolate dessert. Its like when a chocolate cake has too much frosting. For some people, its overwhelming. For others, its everything they need.

27) Oreo Thins Dark Chocolate  This is the only Oreo where the creme is an extension of the cookie and plays a backup role. Everywhere else, its the other way around, with the poor sandwich playing the role of an overmatched cookie Atlas holding an entire planet of creme on his shoulders (looking at you, Most Stuf).

Its about as different from a normal Oreo as you can get without introducing wild flavors. Its a great example of a success story in tinkering with the amount of creme and cookie in an Oreo.

26) Moon Oreos  Theres something about the simplicity of the marshmallow flavor and the moon aesthetic that really vibed with me here.

Fireworks Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

25) Fireworks Oreo  They go down like normal Oreos, but leave behind a tiny cacophony of crackling sensations in your mouth. Its like the Oreos rigged your mouth with the worlds most bubbly plastic explosives set to go off the moment your guard goes down (likely as revenge for devouring its small Oreo village like the Cookie Monster you are).

Fireworks Oreos. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

24) Birthday Cake (Chocolate Cookie) Oreo  Ive long been a proponent of birthday cake as a flavor, probably because Ive largely been invulnerable to overly sweet things and may or may not still have the palate of a 12-year-old. Still, this combination works well as a vessel for that little funfetti party of creme between the cookies. The chocolate cookies dont do too much to complement the flavor, but they do get out of the way while providing that crunchy/creamy texture.

Triple Double Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

23) Triple Double Oreo  At a certain point, this thing has to stop masquerading as a cookie. This is really just a miniature layered cake consisting of thin biscuits and icing. However, this cookie is more balanced than you might expect. Its not overpowering and had a bunch of different textures and flavors unbecoming of this group. It really eats more like a dense cake than a sugar-rush cookie.

Maple Creme Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

22) Maple Syrup Oreo  As far as maple-flavored cookies go, this is pretty good. It could have come off gritty and artificial. Instead, its delightful and mellow.

Mystery-flavored Oreos. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

21) Mystery Oreo (2019 Edition, AKA Churro)  Cinnamon Oreos are great. However, theres a weird dissonance between the appearance of the cookie and the taste that knocks off a couple of points.

Red Velvet Oreo (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

20) Red Velvet Oreo  The frosting is a rockstar here. Its got a splendid cream cheese flavor, which is a little sweeter, a little creamier and has the same aftertaste as a dense cream cheese frosting.

Cinnamon Bun Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

19) Cinnamon Bun Oreo  These are the best-smelling Oreos Ive ever encountered. There could have been a bit more cinnamon flavor, but its still a really good cookie.

Apple Pie A La Mode Oreos. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

18) Apple Pie a la Mode Oreo  The moment you open the packages, youre hit with a sweet smell of cinnamon and vanilla. Good news: Those notes carry on straight through into the flavor as well. Lots of Oreos try to capture the magic of their flavor inspirations. This is one of the best magic acts an Oreo has ever pulled.

Oreo Thins Chocolate (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

17) Oreo Thins (Chocolate)  With less creme, theres more room for the cookie to shine. In this instance, its a more balanced chocolate-y experience that pops off with more flavor than the original version.

Cookie Butter Oreo (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

16) Cookie Butter Oreo  This pretty much tastes like a Dunkaroo. Its awesome.

Oreo Thins Mint (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

15) Oreo Thins (Mint)  I was expecting mint flavor, but not this much. This is basically the flavor profile of a Thin Mint jacked up by the creme to give you a blast of cool mint through the crumbly cookie. While the normal Mint Oreo has just a bit too much creme, this version hits just the right balance.

Chocolate Marshmallow Oreo (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

14) Chocolate Marshmallow Oreo  Marshmallow might be the most underrated Oreo flavor. Every time they use it, the resulting cookie is awesome. This flavor just suffers from being a little boring.

Dirt Cakes Oreos. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

13) Dirt Cake Oreo  Despite the ballyhoo that Oreo stirs up with the gummy worm imagery on the package, these just taste like good chocolate Oreos. If you really think about it, you might get a little bit of fruity flavor. But that could just be a sprinkle placebo making my brain taste things that arent there.

Blackout Cake Oreos (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

12) Blackout Cake Oreo  Once in a while, theres this moment when you taste a good chocolate treat where your eyes go a little wide and you think Oh, this is good. This is what chocolate is supposed to be.

Thats the chocolate flavor you get from this Oreo. Theres almost a buttery element to it as the sweetness is dialed down into the sweet spot that is so rare for Oreos.

Mega Stuf Oreo (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

11) Mega Stuf Oreo  Here we are: Weve entered the realm of the classic Oreo. There are four iterations, all basically on the same tier. At this point, its basically a matter of what kind of creme-to-cookie ratio you want.

Mega Stuf is still really, really good. But unlike the vanilla version, the chocolate cookie doesnt shine quite as brightly when serving as a vessel for a ton of creme.

Special edition Selena Gomez Oreos. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

10) Selena Gomez Oreo  When you bite into this cookie, youre met with a pleasingly balanced cloud of cinnamon flavor. Its sweet, with a powerful pop of the spice. But none of it is overwhelming. The cinnamon flavor is live and electric. It makes you want to grab another one right away.

Gluten-Free Double Stuf Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

Tied 8) Double Stuf Gluten-Free Oreo  I closed my eyes and had someone give me Gluten-Free Oreos and regular Oreos. I couldnt tell the difference. This is all you really need to know.

Double Stuf Oreo (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

8) Double Stuf Oreo  Oddly enough, Double Stuf seems to have turned into the standard level of creme for the new flavors, which is probably why so many of them are over-the-top sweet. The classic Double Stuf, though? Its still fantastic. Its the first real experiment that Oreo put out, and it remains one of the best.

Oreo Thins Extra Stuf (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

7) Oreo Thins  Thins over Double Stuf? Call me a heretic if you want, but theyve won me over.

I love the balance here. You get the flavor of the creme, but without the mush out the sides that usually comes when you bite into an Oreo. Its a small change, but it does produce a cool overall flavor and texture that makes me want to go back for more than the over-stuffed versions do.

Left column: Regular Oreos. Right column: Gluten-Free Oreos (Nick O'Malley

Tied-5) Gluten-Free Oreo  If youre really trying to pick it apart, you can argue that the cookie carries a little lighter weight to it than the original, like a rice cereal vs. a wheat cereal. Does it ultimately matter under the sugar and chocolate? Not really.

The classic Oreo (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

5) Oreo  Going back to a classic Oreo after trying all of the new flavors is like trying a bunch of slices of pizza topped with lasagna, french fries and chicken nuggets from a mediocre-quality joint before going back to a place that does it right and eating a slice of cheese or pepperoni. Its just so much less of a damn chore to eat. Sure, its less exciting, but it just tastes good.

This is the only (non-thins) cookie Id advocate eating more than four of in one sitting. The new flavors are too sweet to do anything other than give you a headache after you have more than a few. Its not dissimilar to pounding shots at a bar: Take a dozen and you run the risk of barfing it all back up.

Hot Cocoa Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

4) Hot Cocoa Oreo  This is a fantastic combo of chocolate and marshmallow. The marshmallow may seem like a small element, but it really adds a lot to the overall flavor of the cookie. Its more balanced. Its a chocolate-laced cookie warhead, sure, but that marshmallow aspect really makes it pop.

Birthday Cake Oreo Golden (Nick O'Malley/MassLive)

3) Golden Birthday Cake Oreo  The only exception to the chocolate vs. vanilla cookie rule. This Birthday Cake Oreo has the same filling, but the vanilla cookie on the outside is playing for the same team, adding another dimension to the bright, sweet icing on the inside. Its less of a contrast than a complement, which results in a cookie that actively knows what its doing as a dessert.

Marshmallow Krispy Creme Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

2) Marshmallow Krispy Creme Oreo  Have you ever tried Rice Krispies Treats cereal? If so, this is the only thing Ive ever encountered thats ever come close to replicating that taste.

The smell is pungent and overpowering, the taste is surprisingly reminiscent of a Rice Krispies treat, while still retaining a unique mellow flavor.

S'Mores Oreos (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

1) Smores Oreo  The creme is addictive, and one of the rare instances where Oreo layered two flavors on top of each other (a technique they should experiment with more).

The separate marshmallow and chocolate cremes that fuse into a satisfying smores flavor fusion hitches a ride with a graham flavor jetpack and flies off into the cookie heavens.

This is the king of Oreos and needs to come back. Heck, they should make their own brand just from Smoreos.

-

Want more I Ate It food coverage? You can follow Nick on Instagram (@NickAteIt) and TikTok (also @NickAteIt)

I ate it so you dont have to is a regular food column about off-beat eats, both good and bad. I picked the name years ago and now were sort of stuck with it.

You can send any praise/food suggestions to nomalley@masslive.com. Please send all criticisms and complaints about Nicks rankings to jpignatiello@masslive.com. You can check out the rest of the series here.
Blackmores Night, the folk rock band founded by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, have postponed all shows due to medical reasons.

The band initially announced the news on a social media post. Blackmore has since provided more details on the medical issues he is facing in another post.

Very quick history, for those who have nothing better to do: I have a long history of lumbar and neck herniated discs, he wrote. Consequently, I would have back injections before a tour to help me over the pain.

The musician went on to explain that he has recently begun suffering from migraines and suffered a particularly bad migraine attack during his current tour.

When we did the long drive from Pennsylvania to Newton NJ we were booked into a hotel that had a wedding party going all night in the corridors, the post reads. There was no heat in the room and the sheets were still damp. Which I assume culminated in me having a severe migraine attack. I couldnt stop vomiting.

After being taken to the hospital following the migraine attack, doctors concluded that Blackmore had severe vertigo, according to the post.

I am now following up how serious these migraines are with various doctors. When one tours, you have a lot of people who have to be healthy, Blackmore wrote. Unfortunately, I was the one who got hit this time. Hope to see you all one day again when Im healthy.

The band has yet to announce dates for the rescheduled tour.

Blackmores Night was founded in 1997 by Blackmore and vocalist Candice Night. They are known for their signature folk rock style that imitates medieval music. Their most well known songs are Loreley and Under a Violet Moon.
While there was no Powerball jackpot winner Monday night, two Massachusetts players walked away with $50,000 prizes.

One of the winning tickets was purchased in North Andover at Winners Corner Market. The other was purchased in Gardner at Jays Variety.

The winning numbers were 08-16-26-30-58, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 2X.

The Powerball jackpot was worth an estimated $654 million with a cash value of $303.2 million. As of Tuesday morning, it has increased to $681 million with a cash value of $315.7 million. The next drawing is Wednesday.

Overall, at least 680 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Monday, including 32 in Springfield, 14 in Worcester and 73 in Boston.

The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600.

The two largest lottery prizes won so far in 2025 were each worth $15 million. One of the prizes was from a winning Diamond Deluxe scratch ticket sold in Holyoke, and the other was from a 300X scratch ticket sold on Cape Cod.
A worker at a cranberry bog in Bourne, who died Friday after an industrial incident, has been identified.

Hector Maldonado, 71, died Nov. 21 after he was caught in a piece of heavy machinery known as a bog sander, according to the Cape & Islands District Attorneys office.

His coworkers were able to free him from the machine before first responders arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, officials told WCVB.

It happened in an outside industrial area that predominantly grows cranberries. So, we did respond. We did not have to do a physical rescue of the party. His co-workers were able to free him from the equipment, Deputy Fire Chief Shawn Silva told WCVB.

The incident is still under investigation.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) launched a new campaign called The Golden Age of Travel Starts With You, to promote civility to air travel, urging Americans to dress with respect while rethinking their behavior towards others. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

The Department of Transportation (DOT) launched a new campaign to promote civility to air travel, urging Americans to dress with respect while rethinking their behavior towards others.

The new plan, called The Golden Age of Travel Starts With You, is meant to jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel, a DOT statement from Nov. 19 reads. This wont just make the travel experience better for flying public  it will ensure the safety of passengers, gate workers, flight attendants, and pilots."

The agency said that this new campaign is partially in response to data, showing that travel has become more unruly.

Since 2021, there have been 13,800 unruly passenger incidents reported, the DOT said.

Therefore, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wants all flyers to ask themselves during the holiday season the following questions:

Are you helping a pregnant woman or the elderly with placing their bags in the overhead bin? Are you dressing with respect? Are you keeping control of your children and helping them through the airport? Are you saying thank you to your flight attendants? Are you saying please and thank you in general?

The Golden Age of Travel starts with ALL OF US, Duffy said in a post on X. Lets be merry this holiday season as we fly! Dress up to go to the airport, help a stranger out, and be in a good mood. We can bring civility back, its as easy as that!

Travel experts provided some skepticism about whether or not the departments call to dress up for the airport will provide any meaningful changes. CBS News reported that most travelers prefer comfortability over formality, especially with tight seating in economy and the likelihood of delays.

Economy class was actually nice, Chris Elliott, a travel expert and consumer advocate, told CBS News. Now, everyone is wedged together on planes.

Sarah Silbert, a strategist at the flight search engine Points Path told the media outlet that the clothing guideline is not enforceable and is unlikely to shift traveler behavior.

Its more of a soft nudge about travel etiquette, she told CBS News. Given how cramped and stressful flying can be for most people now, its easy to see why a message about dressing up will draw pushback.

Daniel Green, co-founder of Faye Travel Insurance also chimed in on the conversation telling CBS News that he does not believe anyone would be able to agree on what the dress code is, adding that he doesnt think there should be a dress code for travelers.

At the end of the day, I think this is just a well-intentioned messaging campaign about behaving well in public that will likely have no practical or tangible implications for people, he said.
Kevin Spacey at amfAR Venezia 2025 at The Arsenale on August 31, 2025 at The Arsenale in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty Images) Deadline via Getty Images

Actor Kevin Spacey has clarified his headline-making comments that he was living in hotels and Airbnbs because he has no home.

Spacey, an Oscar winner whose career was derailed by sexual assault allegations that surfaced in 2017, made the clarification in a video posted to Instagram on Sunday, following an interview with The Daily Telegraph on Nov. 19.

I dont usually make it my business to correct the media; if I did, I wouldnt have time for much else, Spacey said in a video posted on Instagram Sunday. But in light of the recent articles claiming I am homeless, I feel the need to respond.

During the interview, Spacey told The Telegraph, Im living in hotels, Im living in Airbnbs, Im going where the work is. I literally have no home, thats what Im attempting to explain.

But in the Instagram video, Spacey said his clarification was not for the press, but for the the thousands of people who have reached out over the past few days offering me a place to stay, or have just asked if Im OK.

And to all of you, let me first say that I am truly touched by your generosity, full stop, the actor added. But I feel it would be disingenuous of me to allow you to believe that I am indeed homeless in the colloquial sense.

Spacey was once one of the biggest stars in Hollywood thanks to films such as L.A. Confidential, The Usual Suspects and Se7en, and for his role as Frank Underwood in the Netflix drama House of Cards.

He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Usual Suspects and the Academy Award for Best Actor for American Beauty.

Following the allegations, Netflix cut ties with Spacey on the House of Cards, and his scenes in the Ridley Scott movie All the Money in the World were re-shot by the late Christopher Plummer, The Telegraph reported.

Spacey told the interview that his career remains in the building phase after he was cleared in two-high profile cases.

In 2022, Spacey was found not liable for battery in a civil case brought by stage and screen star Anthony Rapp, who accused Spacey of assault, battery and intentionally inflicting emotional distress when Rapp was 14.

In 2023, Spacey was cleared of nine charges stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct in a separate case in the United Kingdom.

While hes been largely shunned by Hollywood for the past seven years, Spacey told The Telegraph that opportunities are slowly coming back.

We are in touch with some extremely powerful people who want to put me back to work, he said. And that will happen in its right time. But I will also say what I think the industry seems to be waiting for is to be given permission  by someone who is in some position of enormous respect and authority.
Massachusetts lawmakers met on Tuesday for a hearing on the Safe Communities Act, a proposed law in response to the Trump administrations immigration crackdown.

Lawmakers said during a meeting of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security that the fear among immigrant communities in Massachusetts has only intensified in recent months as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have sharply increased arrests in the state and across the country, and that anxiety is heightened for immigrants not only at their workplaces, but at shelters, hospitals and train stations.

Some shared personal stories about their own immigration journeys, and how the proposed law would create more trust between local police departments and immigrant communities after months of ramped-up deportation efforts by the federal government.

State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Middlesex/Worcester, one of the lead sponsors, outlined four key provisions of the bill during his testimony. He said that the bill would make sure that state taxpayer resources and state and local law enforcement are not involved with collaborations that lead to the detention and the breaking apart of immigrant families.

Communities across the state have enacted similar policies, but the bill would create a statewide standard, according to Eldridge.

The bill would prohibit the questioning of people on their immigration status, Eldridge explained. It would protect access to justice in our courts ... It would require notice to that immigrant who happens to be arrested for a criminal offense that he or she can hire a lawyer to represent them on the immigration matter. And lastly, to prohibit 287 agreements, which in other states, local police, sheriffs actually being deputized to act as immigration agents.

Eldridge said he regularly receives text messages or calls about immigrant families in his district, where someone has been detained and is asking for help and wanting to know where federal agents have taken their family members.

State Sen. Liz Miranda, D-2nd Suffolk, was one of several lawmakers who shared personal stories around the issue.

My father and brother were both deported when I was a student at Wellesley College, and it took me 18 years before I saw them again, Miranda said. I know firsthand the devastation that occurs when immigration enforcement becomes entangled with systems that are actually meant to support and protect our families.

She argued that community safety improves when residents are not afraid of interacting with authorities. She also noted that her district is one where more than half of the residents are foreign-born.

Fear does not make our community safer. The trust does. Our state is safer, healthier, more prosperous when every resident feels secure that they can report the crime and they can cooperate with investigations, they can seek health care, they can attend school and they can go to work, Miranda said.

State Rep. Manny Cruz, D-7th Essex, emphasized that the bill is about targeting civil immigration enforcement, not criminal investigations.

I want to be clear that nothing in this bill would have a bearing and that theres no provision that interferes with local and state law enforcements ability to collaborate with ICE and other federal agencies on criminal investigations, Cruz said. That red line is only surrounding civil immigration enforcement.

Cruz shared a personal story about domestic violence and how a persons immigration status can be weaponized in those situations. He said that his mother was abused by his father, and then his stepfather, and taken advantage of because she was a green card holder.

Our abusers used my mothers immigration status to make her believe that if she ever called the police, that she would be deported and repatriated for allowing her children to grow up in a dysfunctional home, Cruz said. This type of coercion is not uncommon for survivors of domestic violence. And I believe that this bill will allow people to come out of the shadows, regardless of their documentation status, to work with local law enforcement to enhance public safety.

The Safe Communities Act would also ban 287(g) agreements, which are contracts where local law enforcement officers are deputized to perform federal immigration duties, according to state Rep. Priscila Sousa, D-6th Middlesex.

Such agreements divert state and local resources, which are finite we all know, away from the community safety and towards federal immigration enforcement, something I believe is neither fiscally responsible nor aligned with our values, Sousa said.
A lawsuit was filed against Martin Bally, Campbell Soup Company's vice president and chief of information security officer, accusing him of making disparaging comments during a meeting. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) AP

A lawsuit filed last week in Michigan accuses a Campbell Soup Company executive of making offensive comments towards its customers and employees during a meeting in November 2024.

The suit was filed by Robert Garza, a former cybersecurity analyst for Campbell Soup, against Martin Bally, the companys vice president and chief of information security officer.

The filing accuses Bally of making disparaging comments, which were secretly recored during a meeting in Camden, New Jersey, Local 4 News Detroit reported.

We have s--t for f---ing poor people, part of the recording says according to the media station. Who buys our s--t? I dont buy Campbells products barely anymore. Its not healthy now that I know what the f--- is in it. Bioengineered meat  I dont wanna eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3-D printer.

Campbells Soup Company said in a statement that Bally has been placed on temporary leave while the company conducts an investigation.

The soup company strongly condemned the language and sought to clarify Ballys role within the organization by saying that his role is in Information Technology (IT), which is separate from Campbells food production and ingredient sourcing.

If the comments heard on the audio recording were in fact made by Mr. Bally, they are unacceptable, Campbells said. Such language does not reflect our values and the culture of our company. We do not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances.

Campbells also defended its products and ingredients, adding that the chicken meat comes from Department of Agriculture approved U.S. suppliers and that all soups are made with No Antibiotics Ever chicken meat.

Any claims to the contrary are completely false, the company added.
Several horses died in an early morning barn fire Tuesday in Plainville.

Fire crews were called to Janbark Farm on Warren Street at about 4 a.m., according to news reports.

Several horses were killed, but at least 15 survived, according to Boston 25 News.

Officials on the scene of the fire said that seven horses died in the fire, but it remained unclear if any people were injured, according to WCVB.

JanBark Farm is a full-service Morgan Horse facility, according to its social media.

The barn was deemed a total loss, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, WCVB reported.

The Plainville Fire Department did not immediately return a request for comment.
Somerville residents attended a meeting of the city's Elections Commission Monday in support of a ballot question calling on city government to divest from companies that do business with Israel. Courtesy Somerville for Palestine

The Somerville City Council is expected to take up the question of whether to support companies that do business with Israel on Tuesday following the approval of a nonbinding ballot question this month.

In the Nov. 4 municipal election, 55% of voters cast a ballot in favor of calling on city government to stop doing business with any companies with ties to Israel over the countrys occupation of Palestine. Though the ballot measure, known as Question 3, was nonbinding, City Councilor Willie Burnley Jr. has since filed a resolution to officially enact it, which is expected to be put to a vote at the councils Tuesday night meeting.

Leila Skinner, an organizer with the group Somerville for Palestine, which petitioned to put the question on the ballot, said the resolution was a logical next step after the city was one of the first in the state to call for a ceasefire in Gaza in early 2024.

From that day ... our Palestinian leaders and the leaders of Somerville for Palestine have been committed for our city to take tangible action so that our tax dollars are not funding Israels violence against Palestinians in Gaza and in the West Bank, Skinner said. Now, months later, tens of thousands of conversations about Palestine with our neighbors in Somerville later, and then 11,489 votes later, its clear that the people of Somerville do not support funding Israels apartheid and want our tax dollars instead invested in ethical companies that, again, uphold our values.

Burnleys resolution would instruct the council to draft and pass an ordinance within a year that would stop city funds from being invested in or going to contracts with companies that engage in business that sustains Israels apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine, according to the language of the ballot question.

Burnley originally filed the resolution ahead of the City Councils Nov. 13 meeting, but it was tabled until the following meeting due to a technicality of the Open Meeting Law.

The council did, however, issue a citation honoring Somerville for Palestine for its efforts during the Nov. 13 meeting, with organizer Mia Haddad speaking to councilors about the impacts of the war in Gaza on her family and friends.

Their steadfastness is a testament to our true Somerville values of caring deeply for others, she said of her fellow advocates. The people of Somerville for Palestine understand that the struggle for Palestinian liberation is an interconnected struggle that reverbs across all oppressed communities.

Somerville for Palestine organizer Mia Haddad speaks to the City Council on Nov. 13. City of Somerville (Screenshot)

Not all residents have been in favor of the measure. In October, the group Somerville United Against Discrimination submitted a legal objection to the ballot measure, claiming that it was illegal and discriminatory, and campaigned against passing it.

After the Nov. 4 election, the group released a statement saying the support the ballot question received  almost 11,500 votes, compared to a total population of over 82,000  was not representative of the entire community.

That is clearly not the mandate supporters of Question 3 have claimed, and proves that most Somerville residents do not want to demonize Israel, hurt their neighbors and divide our community, they wrote, adding that the Jewish community in Somerville has seen increased antisemitic incidents since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel.

Ballot questions such as this contribute to this climate by normalizing harmful rhetoric and hate; they do a disservice to justice, they said.

Skinner and fellow Somerville for Palestine organizer Neda Mustafa said Tuesdays City Council vote would be a test of how councilors respond to their constituents values. Skinner pointed out that the city previously passed an ordinance in 2020 banning any city funds going toward goods or services that make use of prison labor, setting a precedent for the new resolution.

They should all be voting yes, because what this resolution is really asking is if you will listen to the votes of your constituents and what they want done with our taxpaying dollars, Mustafa said. We, of course, have the experience of being disappointed by our counselors in the past, so were hoping that they will rise up to the occasion of democratic values.

Somerville City Council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Somerville for Palestine has planned a 5 p.m. rally outside of City Hall preceding the meeting.
Earlier this year, toymaker Lego Group relocated its U.S. headquarters from Connecticut to Massachusetts. Now, the state is getting a new print magazine, created by a designer and Lego dad from Acton.

Its not officially linked to the Danish toy company, but its aimed at a slice of their customer base: AFOLs, or adult fans of Lego.

The magazine, Bricka, already has a website, but the print edition launches next week. It will be published quarterly; a combined print and digital subscription costs $80.

I spoke with founder Sam Aquillano earlier in November. (Our conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.)

Scott Kirsner: Is this a side project for you? Do you have a day job?

Sam Aquillano: Yeah, I have a day job. I work for [investment firm] Edward Jones as an internal strategic designer.

Kirsner: What gave you the idea, and when did you start working on it?

Aquillano: I started working on it in mid-August of this year. I was in Gloucester, on vacation. Thats when the ideas come  when you step away, right?

Ive been an adult fan of Lego. Ive played with Legos as a kid, built Legos as an adult, followed folks on Instagram and sort of knew there was a community.

My kids started getting into Lego. I have four kids. Weve been going to Boston Brick in Burlington, and then theres New England Brick in Hudson.

Kirsner: What are those?

Aquillano: Those [stores] are not officially affiliated with Lego, but theyre a third-party seller. They have new sets. People come in and trade in their sets or sell their sets back. They also have huge tables  just filled with bricks.  Anyway, sitting at that [table] with my kids for an hour, [I noticed] its not kids coming into these stores. Its adults coming in, and in particular, this one gentleman came in with an Excel spreadsheet with the pieces that he was looking for. And I was like, Whats going on here?

The more I dove in  following folks on Instagram  I saw even more of the community. Im a designer. I ran Design Museum Boston, [which published a magazine.] I miss magazines. I love writing. I love magazines. I put something on LinkedIn: Hey, Im working on something having to do with adults and Legos. Does anyone want to chat? I chatted with about 30 people over a couple weeks. And everyone said, Yes. How does this not exist? Please make this.

I start making [a prototype first issue] and showing it to people. And they were like, So, how do I subscribe? Wow. [I decided] Im going all in. I set up all the e-commerce infrastructure. Now I have over 100 subscribers, and we dont even have the magazine yet. So, it was a quick start from August to now. But  the response has been awesome.

Kirsner: Have you talked to anybody at Lego, now that their U.S. headquarters are in Boston?

Aquillano: No, I have not. [The magazine is] fully independent fan media. Its sort of like, how much do you want to talk to them?

Kirsner: It sounds like them moving to Boston didnt really have anything to do with having this idea.

Aquillano: No. I mean, Im thrilled for the Boston area.

Kirsner: And in terms of doing the first [issue] of the magazine  who created the content for it?

Aquillano: I interviewed and wrote all the content myself, but Ive worked with freelance photographers all around the country for the photos. I love to write. [I was thinking] how do I make this profitable? You know what? Im gonna write it myself.

Kirsner: When you call yourself an adult fan, are you the type of person who has 10 or 20 sets that you leave assembled on your shelves in your basement? Give me a sense.

Aquillano: Im in my home office now. Ive got 12 large sets in here  a mix of Marvel and Star Wars. Im building the Razor Crest, which is [from] The Mandalorian. Its part of the Ultimate Collector Series. Its one of the ten largest Lego sets, [and its] 80% done. And then, as my wife likes to joke, I have my backlog of sets here that are just in boxes, like the Lego Game Boy. I dont have enough time to build it all. And then downstairs, for my kids, I just  built a custom Lego table for them.  In the middle is like a big bin where all their Legos are.

Kirsner: It looks like youre mainly focused on the print magazine. It doesnt look like youre building [Bricka] as a digital product first.

Aquillano: Its definitely print first. The articles will be on the website, and therell be an app. [But] the app is basically a digital version of the actual print magazine. It looks amazing on iPad. It looks OK on the phone.

Kirsner: Why are you so committed to print?

Aquillano: I feel like niche print is coming back. People want to get off screens. They want to hold something. Theres an artifact quality to it.  Then, you think about Lego being so tactile, and the actual booklets of the sets are printed. Maybe its this thing that people are going to want to collect  on their shelf, on their coffee table.

Kirsner: Are you thinking about having retail distribution in places like Boston Brick, New England Brick, other stores?

Aquillano: Thats my next phase, for sure. Theres [also] Bricks & Minifigs, which has over 200 locations around the U.S.

Kirsner: What makes you feel like Bricka is for adults, versus for teens or middle-schoolers who might be into Legos?

Aquillano: Im trying to find this balance  the joy and fun, playfulness, colorfulness of Lego on one side, and then the other side is like the seriousness of high art, architecture, high fashion. ... I think the adult piece is treating [these adult builders as] artists. [Lego is] their medium of choice. Some of the folks, its akin to painting. [There are] Lego mosaics and things like that.  There are a couple of other independent [Lego] magazines, but theyre very much [focused on] set reviews and collecting minifigs, and whats the value of my set? Those are all good. But there hasnt been something thats like telling these stories around the art.

Kirsner: Did you fund this out of your own pocket for now?

Aquillano: Oh yeah, [its] fully self-funded. Im trying to break even this year, which I think I will, and then well see where it goes.  My expenses are extremely low.  The more people I get this in front of from the Lego community  as soon as they hear about it, theyre like, All right, yeah, I need to get this. The signals are all good.

Kirsner: My last question: Where do you build your Lego sets? Do you and your kids build sets in the same place?

Aquillano: My kids, you buy them a set, they build it, [and then] 24 to 48 hours later, its in pieces.  I build with them downstairs. But they also know that, you know, Daddys Legos, like the Star Wars ship, I build those in my home office, and display them in here.

And they are not to be played with.

Kirsner: Dont steal pieces from dads sets. Youre like the Will Ferrell character from The Lego Movie. I guess he is the worst-case scenario if youre an adult fan of Lego, right?

Aquillano: Yeah  President Business. They have called me that guy. Well, I dont glue [the pieces] together. But my kids say, It might as well be. Its just sitting there.
On Nov. 6, the U.S. Department of Education announced details of plans to revamp the federal-student loan system as laid out in President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill.

As part of the changes, the Department of Education will no longer consider certain degrees, including nursing, as professional.

The decision has received widespread criticism from the medical community and nurses on social media.

To get to the point where youre saying that Im not a professional, with all the licensure, all the studying, all the tests, all the certifications that I have, its just unimaginable, said Psychiatric Nurse Practicioner Bettina Rodgers in a post on TikTok.

Wendy Brindley Hines, a nurse who said she voted for Trump three times, also spoke out against the decision.

Please remove the limitations of professions! she wrote on Facebook. As a PROFESSIONAL nurse who has her Masters Degree and as someone who has voted each time for you, I cannot believe that you would disrespect our profession!

So the Department of Education announced that nursing is no longer considered a professional degree, said Pediatric Nurse Alex Kim on TikTok. Which is kind of ironic considering the people who are making these decisions are old people who are soon gonna be screaming for their nurse to change their bedpan.

Just walking in my non-professional career that requires a license, a degree, a national exam, critical thinking, and managing literal life and death... but apparently its not professional because a bunch of old guys said so  the same ones who would pull a hamstring attempting CPR," wrote Nurse Ivana Budesa on TikTok.

Some users are poking fun at the decision through trends on social media in which nurses say the decision now allows them to act unprofessional.

I heard nursing is no longer a professional degree, Nurse Austin Gibbs posted. Now Im allowed to act as unprofessional as I can.

Time to act unprofessional! another user posted.

Some nurse unions also spoke out against the new classification.

The American Nurses Association released a statement urging the Trump Administration to revise their definition of a professional degree to nursing education pathways.

This will severely restrict access to critical funding for graduate nursing education, undermining efforts to grow and sustain the nursing workforce, the statement reads.

Nurses make up the largest segment of the healthcare workforce and the backbone of our nations health system, said President of the American Nurses Association Jennifer Mensik Kennedy in the statement. At a time when healthcare in our country faces a historic nurse shortage and rising demands, limiting nurses access to funding for graduate education threatens the very foundation of patient care.

The Massachusetts Nursing Association also released a statement condemning the exclusion of nursing from professional degree consideration.

MNA Board calls on allies to stand with nurses and healthcare professionals to oppose this policy that threatens healthcare education and deepens a nursing crisis, the statement reads.

The Department of Educations changes to loans

The exclusion of nursing as a professional degree serves to distinguish between loan caps for graduate degrees, which would be capped at $20,500 borrowed per year, versus professional degrees, such as lawyers, doctors and dentists, which would allow borrowers to take upwards of $50,000 in loans per year, according to the Department of Education.

The Department of Education said in a statement that the decision was made to eliminate unsustainable student loan borrowing.

Previously, graduate students could borrow up to the cost of attendance, which led institutions to offer expensive graduate programs with a negative return on investment, the statement reads.
Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has suggested that her late husbands organization Turning Point USA will support Vice President JD Vance during the 2028 presidential election.

Kirk made the comments during an interview with political commentator Megyn Kelly, which was posted on Monday.

Kirk responded, Dont worry. Its already, you know, its in the works.

That was a thing that my husband was very direct about it, she continued. Interestingly enough, one of the last few conversations we had was how intentional he was about supporting JD for 28."

She went on to say that her husbands backing of Vance was a big reason as to why President Donald Trump chose Vance as his running mate.

Though Kirk said there is a plan in the works to support Vance for the 2028 election, she maintained the organization is currently focused on the 2026 midterm elections.

The 26 midterms obviously will be focusing heavily on Arizona, she said. ... [Turning Point] have the polling and they have the strategy laid out and they have the door knockers.

Kirk took over as chairman and CEO of Turning Point USA after her husbands shooting death while speaking at Utah Valley University in September.
FILE - Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., speaks during the Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be Defense secretary, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, file) AP

President Donald Trump and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are facing serious pushback after the Pentagon announced it was investigating U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., over a video posted to social media.

Hegseths office announced Monday that it had launched a probe of Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy pilot, and the husband of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, after he joined a handful of other Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds who called for troops to defy illegal orders.

The Pentagons statement, posted on social media, cited a federal law that allows retired service members to be recalled to active duty on orders of the defense secretary for possible court-martial or other measures, The Associated Press reported.

Republican Trump, who has never served in the military and who obtained multiple deferments for service in the Vietnam War, lashed out at the Democrats, calling for their arrests and labeling them as traitors.

In its statement Monday, the Pentagon suggested that Kellys statements in the video interfered with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces by citing the federal law that prohibits such actions.

Taking to X, Hegseth asserted that the video made by the Seditious Six was despicable, reckless, and false. Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of good order and discipline. Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion  which only puts our warriors in danger."

The video made by the Seditious Six was despicable, reckless, and false. Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of good order and discipline. Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion  which only puts our warriors in https://t.co/UvLXChZnmF  Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) November 24, 2025

Kelly pushed back during an interview with MS Nows Morning Joe program.

You must not follow illegal orders. It was pretty basic, and the presidents first instinct is to politicize this, to threaten political violence against members of the United States Congress, he said, according to Fox Newss coverage of the interview. Just two months ago, Charlie Kirk was killedand he talked about political violenceand now his instinct is to call for our execution, Kelly said, referring to Trump.

Others on social media followed suit.

Ron Filipkowski, the editor-in-chief of the site MeidasTouch, slammed Hegseth in a post on X.

Such a small, petty, insecure loser. The Trump admin didnt trust this drunken fool anywhere near the Ukraine negotiations so they sent the Sec of the Army instead. So this clown needs to play more stupid games, he wrote.

Former GOP U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, who recently joined the Democratic Party, also weighed in with a post to X.

All military personnel have a duty to not obey unlawful orders. Thats all the Patriotic Six said. Like everything else you do, this is just performative bulls**t for your base. Youre an unserious mouthpiece for an utterly unfit Commander In Chief, Walsh wrote.
Editors note: This article contains a description of someone who died by suicide.

SPRINGFIELD  A police sergeant and a firefighter were injured when their vehicles collided while heading to a scene where a man had jumped from the North End Bridge on Monday evening.

The victim was rescued from the Connecticut River by firefighters but later died at Baystate Medical Center, said Fire Capt. Drew Piemonte.

The crash took place at about 4:35 p.m. at Spring and Pearl streets. Both emergency vehicles had their lights and sirens on, and were heading to the same scene, said Piemonte and Ryan Walsh, police spokesman.

Both first responders were brought to Baystate Medical Center for treatment. The police officer suffered injuries that are serious but not life-threatening. The firefighter was treated for minor injuries and released, they said.

The crash did not hamper response time, since the two were backing up the initial responders, Piemonte said.

The 911 caller reported someone had jumped off the bridge. We were there in three or four minutes, he said.

Firefighters launched boats from two different sites along the Connecticut River and rescued the man about 100 to 150 yards from the bridge. They provided basic life support en route to the hospital, he said.

The Springfield Police Detective Bureau under the direction of Capt. Trent Duda is investigating the death. State police troopers assigned to Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gullunis Office are also involved with the probe, Walsh said.

The crash is under investigation by the Springfield Police Traffic Unit under the direction of Lt. Derek Cook, Walsh said.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, you are not alone. If you need help, call or text the Samaritans Statewide Hotline at 877-870-HOPE (4673); the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-TALK (8255), or press 1 if you are a veteran; or the The Trevor Helpline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (488-7386) for support designed for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth and young adults.
Rebecca Rorie Woods, of Hadley, attends a pretrial hearing in July at Springfield District Court. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

SPRINGFIELD  A Hampshire County woman charged with assault using bees was held on $25,000 cash bail after appearing in court Monday.

Rebecca Rorie Woods, 57, was brought into a local courthouse in shackles and handcuffs three months after she failed to appear on the day of her trial Aug. 5. She had been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (bees) after she is said to have unleashed a swarm on sheriffs deputies during an eviction proceeding in 2022.

She fled to Bristol, Tennessee, according to a prosecutor, and was picked up at a motel Aug. 7. The midsize city lies on the border of Tennessee and Virginia.

Woods had a history of evictions and homelessness. She fought extradition from Tennessee and governors of Tennessee and Massachusetts were required to sign a warrant.

She arrived back in the region over the weekend. Assistant Hampden District Attorney Blake McConnell urged a Springfield District Court judge to hold Woods on a high bail.

This case has been pending for three years now  It has a long procedural history," the prosecutor said.

Woods next court date is Dec. 19.
Ruth Pakaluk, a woman who lived in Worcester for decades, will have her life investigated to determine whether she qualifies for canonization.

Pakaluk was a mother who attended St. Pauls Cathedral in Worcester, according to a website chronicling her life and work. She was an anti-abortion advocate who also campaigned against the implementation of a sex education curriculum in Worcester Public Schools in 1992. She also founded the Worcester-based chapter of the pro-life group: Massachusetts Citizens for Life.

In 1998, Pakaluk died of breast cancer, according to the website. She was 41 years old.

Pakaluk was officially elevated to the status of Servant of God, the first step required for someone to become a saint, according to Raymond Delisle, the communications director for the Worcester Diocese.

The Vatican sent a letter to the diocese this month notifying Pakaluks supporters that the church saw no obstacles that would hinder the pursuit of her canonization, Delisle confirmed.

While the first step to sainthood has been taken, Delisle notes that it could be years before Pakaluk is deemed worthy of canonization.

Ruth Pakaluk of Worcester. Courtesy Dwight Duncan Dwight Duncan

It took years for even Mother Teresa to be a saint, Delisle told MassLive. I mean, sometimes these causes can take 100 years, 20 years, you never know.

The next step for Pakaluk is for her to be deemed as venerable, someone who has lived a life of heroic virtue, Delisle said.

A committee with standing at the Vatican will need to be formed to conduct research into Pakaluks life and will have to make the case to the Vatican that she was venerable.

If she is deemed as venerable, the next step towards canonization is for the Vatican to investigate and verify if Pakaluk performed a miracle after her death. The miracle has to come through the intercession of someone on her behalf. If the miracle is verified, Pakaluk would receive the title of blessed. If a second miracle is verified, then she can be declared saint.

Pakaluk isnt the only Worcester resident who has been declared a Servant of God, according to Delisle.

Audrey Santo, a girl who was left in a vegetative state following a near-drowning accident, was given the title but has not been deemed as venerable, Delisle said. Santo died in 2007 at the age of 23.

There have been miracle claims associated with Santo, with believers saying they were healed from their sickness thanks to her intervention, according to the Telegram & Gazettes obituary of Santo.
A fire broke out at the Belmont Street Community School in Worcester Tuesday morning, according to a spokesperson for the Worcester Public Schools.

The small fire broke out at 8:30 a.m., in one of the fifth grade classrooms leading to students and staff evacuating the building, the spokesperson said. All students and staff are safe and no injuries were reported.

The Worcester Fire Department responded to the fire for several minutes before allowing everyone back into the building, the spokesperson said.

There is some damage to a fifth-grade classroom and the odor of smoke is present, the spokesperson told MassLive. As a result, some classes were moved to the gym and cafeteria; others were able to return to their classrooms.

Parents and caregivers were advised to come to the school if they wanted their child dismissed for the day, the spokesperson said.

The principal issued a communication to families shortly after the incident occurred and will issue a follow-up communication to families once more information is available, according to the spokesperson. The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority.
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The loss of human interaction now outranks data privacy concerns for Australian shoppers navigating self-checkouts and AI chatbots, QUT study finds.

Whats happening: Loss of human interaction has overtaken data privacy as consumers primary concern, with 78% wanting choice between staff or technology during shopping experiences.

Why this matters: The festive retail season brings increased pressure on retailers to balance efficiency with customer experience. Understanding this trust gap helps businesses design technology that strengthens rather than damages customer relationships, particularly as half of consumers believe retailers, not customers, benefit most from retail tech.

The Christmas shopping rush is underway, but Australian retailers face an unexpected challenge. Despite widespread trust in retail technology, consumers are hesitant to embrace it.

The Trust Trend Report: Consumer Perceptions of Retail Technology in Australia 2025, conducted by QUT Centre for Future Enterprise researchers Dr Shannon Colville, Dr Nadine Ostern and Jill Lovell, surveyed 500 Australians and uncovered a significant disconnect between trust and confidence.

The confidence gap

The research identified a critical distinction. While 70% of people trust retail technology, only 54% feel confident using it. Half of respondents say theyre using retail tech more than five years ago, yet scepticism remains about who truly benefits.

Our report has found, in simple terms, that people trust the idea of retail technology more than the experience of using it, said Dr Ostern, QUTs Cisco Chair in Trusted Retail.

The technologies examined included familiar tools reshaping Australian retail: self-checkouts, digital receipts, AI chatbots and smart product recommendations.

In the survey, trust was defined as believing that the technology is safe and fair, while confidence referred to peoples comfort and readiness to use it, Dr Ostern explained.

The gap suggests Australians remain open to digital retail but feel uncertain about interacting with it. Forty-three per cent believe retailers, not customers, are the main winners from retail technology adoption.

Human connection matters most

Last years QUT survey identified data privacy as consumers top concern. This year revealed a striking shift in priorities.

This shift suggests that consumer trust is becoming less about technical compliance and more about relational qualities and experiential value, Dr Colville said.

Australians increasingly expect retail technologies to function securely whilst supporting experiences that feel personal, intuitive and human.

When systems feel cold, isolating, or overly automated, trust erodes  not because the technology is unsafe, but because it lacks a sense of human recognition or care, Dr Colville added.

The findings align with broader patterns. Recent research shows over half of young Australians now justify retail theft to some degree, with self-checkout terminals becoming particular hotspots for deliberate misuse.

Choice builds trust

Consumer choice emerged as the most consistent finding across survey data and qualitative responses. Australians want to decide not just what they buy, but how they shop, the report authors wrote.

This includes choosing between digital or human interaction, opting into or out of data sharing, and switching engagement modes depending on the situation. Seventy-eight per cent say having choice between staff or technology increases their trust. Customers are not rejecting retail technology outright, they are rejecting systems that remove their agency, the researchers noted.

Tasmania and Northern Territory consumers, along with older shoppers, show the least readiness to use retail tech. People trust specialty stores significantly more than supermarkets, with depth of knowledge and personalised service contributing to this trust.

What retailers should do

The QUT researchers provide several recommendations for transforming everyday retail technology into trust-building tools. Offering hybrid service models lets customers choose between staff or technology interactions. Smart checkouts could use cameras not just to prevent theft, but to alert customers if they double-scan an item or are about to overpay.

AI-powered recommendations should feel helpful rather than pushy, especially when transparent about data usage.

The report calls for proactive trust design and new structural roles, such as a Chief Trust Designer, to shift trust from a risk to be managed to an enabler of innovation. Dr Ostern emphasised that trust in retailers faces pressure from headlines raising concerns about pricing practices, data use and customer treatment.

For retailers navigating the festive season, the message is clear: technology alone wont win customers. The human touch remains essential, even as digital tools become more sophisticated.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Two secondary schools in Mayo have become the first in the county to receive LIFT Leadership Flags in recognition of their commitment to fostering positive leadership values among students and staff.

On Wednesday, November 19, Sacred Heart School, Westport, and Mount St. Michael Secondary School, Claremorris, were honoured by LIFT Ireland, a national non-profit organisation that promotes values-based leadership.

Sacred Heart School Principal Kevin Malone said the award reflects the dedication of the entire school community.

We are very proud of our students, whose enthusiasm and dedication have earned our school the LIFT Flag. To be one of only two schools in Mayo to receive this recognition is a special honour for our entire community, he said.

As part of the programme, the TY students of Sacred Heart Secondary School recently visited Gaelscoil Na Cruaiche to work with the sixth class students to improve their leadership awareness and skills.

Pictured: Mount St Michael Secondary School receiving their LIFT Leadership Flag

Ciaran Ryan, Principal of Mount St Michael Secondary School, described the flag as a significant milestone for the school.

The flag recognition is a significant achievement for our school, being one of the first schools in Mayo to receive it. It reflects the hard work of our students, staff and wider school community in creating a safe, welcoming environment where every student feels valued.

He also congratulated students who received certificates as part of the programme.

I would like to congratulate our students who received their certificates, a well-deserved recognition of their leadership, commitment and engagement with the programme, he added.

Ciaran said the LIFT programme has been a positive force within the school.

We are very proud to be involved in LIFT. It is a fantastic programme that has had a genuinely positive impact on our school community. The programme fits seamlessly with our own ethos and values, particularly our commitment to respect for all, which is also one of the core LIFT values.

Pictured: Gaelscoil Na Cruaiche students receiving recognition for their hard work in the LIFT Leadership Programme

Valuable role

LIFT Ireland (Leading Irelands Future Together) delivers leadership development programmes across the corporate, public, community and third-level sectors.

University of Galway lecturer Michael Campion said the programme plays a valuable role in higher education.

I believe the LIFT programme is important and valuable for the undergraduate Business students because it gets them to reflect on and question their personal leadership at a young age, and should serve them well when they become the next leaders of Irish business.

Jessica Duffy, Student Experience and Partnership Coordinator at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), said participation continues to grow.

We have over 135 students and staff committed to fostering a vibrant culture of leadership and collaboration in the university, and are excited to announce plans for an ATU-wide campaign in 2026, aiming to further involve more students and staff in leadership development activities.
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has released new figures today revealing that 827 young children in Mayo have benefited from the Little Library initiative this year.

Each year, children leaving pre-school and starting primary school are invited to visit their local library to pick up a free book bag and join their local library as part of the initiative. The focus of the My Little Library initiative is to build strong links between young children, their families and their local library.

The books and resources in the book bag, which are available in both English and as Gaeilge, support parents and their children in the transition to primary school.

Minister Foley expressed her pride in the My Little Library initiative and welcomed the high levels of participation.

The gift of reading to and with children on a regular basis cannot be overestimated. It not only supports the connection between parents and their children but also promotes early language and literacy development, which is crucial for childrens success in their education journey.

There is still a small number of Little Library book bags in libraries around the country for any five- and six-year-olds who have yet to collect their bag. I encourage all remaining families to avail of this initiative and to join the library in the process. She added.

Books in the My Little Library initiative are available in Irish and English. A glossary of the language in the Irish books is included.

A collection of resources and information is also provided in each bag. This includes a library social story card, First 5 Guidance for Parents of Children Moving from Pre-School to Primary School, Dyslexia and the Younger Child by Dyslexia Ireland and Bookshare Ireland by Vision Ireland.
June

lydia panas book signing, artist talk, and film screening

Friday, June 3

5:00 - 7:00 pm Book Signing and Artist Talk at 5:30 pm at Gallery 51

9:00 - 10:00 pm Film Screening at MASS MoCA Courtyard

Lydia Panas is a visual artist working with photography and video. Sleeping Beauty, is the award-winning Pennsylvania-based photographer Lydia Panas much-praised series of mesmerizing color portraits of reclining women and girls. In an interesting reversal of roles, the artists and models gazes are intertwined, incorporating the viewer as participant in an often uncomfortable connection.

SHERWIN RIO OPEN STUDIO

Saturday, June 25, Time TBA

Join Summer Art Lab Resident Sherwin Rio for a FREE open studio event. All are invited to stop by the Art Lab at 49 Main Street.

May

MCLA Artist LAB ROUNDTABLE at the Clark

Thursday, May 12, 5:30-6:30pm

From the Clark:

The Research and Academic Program presents an MCLA Artist Lab Roundtable on Blackness as a multifaceted experience and giving artists an opportunity to interpret the world on their own terms.

Caroline Fowler, Starr Director of the Research and Academic Program, will be in conversation with Conrad Egyir, a Ghanaian artist whose figurative narratives of the African Diaspora blend religious and West African folk iconography with domestic scenes; Joshua AM Ross, a multidisciplinary artist with a research-based practice grounded in archival experiences of photography; and Nathaniel Donnett, a multi-disciplinary cultural practitioner whose work engages with the poetics of the everyday and socio-political & cultural concerns, all of whom were in residence in North Adams in 202122 as part of the MCLA Artist Lab Residency.

Prior to the roundtable, attendees are invited to join a reception in the Manton Reading Room starting at 5 pm.

More information HERE!

April

Conrad Egyir Closing Lecture

Tuesday, April 26, 5:30pm

Join us on MCLA's campus in Murdock Hall 218 for Benedetti Teaching Artist Resident Conrad Egyir's closing lecture!

In accordance with MCLA COVID-19 protocol all members of our community, including visitors, are required to wear masks while on campus.

Nathaniel Donnett Closing Lecture

Thursday, April 28, 5:30pm

Join us on MCLA's campus in Murdock Hall 218 for Art Lab Resident Nathaniel Donnett's closing lecture!

In accordance with MCLA COVID-19 protocol all members of our community, including visitors, are required to wear masks while on campus.

March

Bel-Air Watch Party with Lorenzo Baker

Thursday, March 31, 7:00pm

Join us online to watch Bel-Air, a dramatic remake of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

RSVP HERE!

February

JOshua Ross Artist Talk

Tuesday, February 1

Joshua AM Ross holds an MFA in Art at the University of California, Irvine, and a BFA in Photography from Herron School of Art in Indianapolis. Ross research-based practice is an entrenched phenomenological approach that investigates institutional, bodily, and spatial structures that organize and influence perception. Ross multi-disciplinary practice employs and appropriates a variety of material and media developed through relationships to methodologies inherently related to his research and archival experiences of photography. Some recent notable exhibits Ross has featured artwork include Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Queens LA, and Human Resources Los Angeles.

Joshua Ross come inside Opening Reception

Friday, February 4, 5-7pm

Please join us for this solo show culminating Joshua Ross's work completed as the Fall 2021 MCLA ART LABRATORY Resident.

Proof of vaccination is required to attend, and masks must be worn during the event regardless of vaccination status. Details may change based on any potential shift in MCLA COVID policies and protocols.

Nathaniel Donnett Opening Lecture

Tuesday, February 15, 5:30pm

Join us on MCLA's campus in Murdock Hall 218 for Art Lab Resident Nathaniel Donnett's opening lecture!

In accordance with MCLA COVID-19 protocol all members of our community, including visitors, are required to wear masks while on campus.

Previous Years
The 99 Cents Affordable Art Show

December 1 - 30, 2016

***MCLA Gallery 51 will be open from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, December 24 (Christmas Eve). The gallery will be closed on Sunday, December 25 (Christmas) as well as Monday, December 26.***

The 99 Cents Affordable Art Show celebrates the artwork of local and previously featured artists at MCLA Gallery 51 and includes sculpture, ceramics, watercolors, jewelry, paintings, postcards, collages, photography, printmaking, handmade books and stationary, and more! All artwork can be taken from the gallery when it is purchased. This year's participants include Derick Belford, Stephanie Boyd, Kathline Carr, Valerie Carrigan, Paul Chojnowski, Carrie Converse, Arthur De Bow, Zoe Doucette, Peter Dudek, John Estes, Richard Harrington, Sarah Haze, Jennifer Huberdeau, Ellen Joffe-Halpren, Amrita Lash, Corwin Levi, Larry Lorusso, Petrea Mannello, Jonas McCaffery, Julia Morgan-Leamon, Melanie Mowinski, Josh Ostraff, Wilma Rifkin and Mollie Trova.

Everything I Never Told You:

Secrets Too Beautiful to Keep

A collaborative exhibition by Shelley Chamberlin and Michelle Daly

September 29 to November 20, 2016

Opening Reception September 29, 5-8pm | Artist Reception October 27, 5-7pm

In Everything I Never Told You: Secrets Too Beautiful To Keep, Shelley Chamberlin and Michelle Daly explore themes of vulnerability, intimacy, relationality, nostalgia, memory, disruption, determination, absurdist humor, and hope. As longtime friends, artistic collaborators, and conceptual partners, the two artists have worked in tandem; their artistic trajectories gapping and converging, illuminating spaces and places for each to delve more deeply into their individual inquiries. This exhibition maps these moments, highlighting intersections and commonalities.

Conversation is the vehicle for change. We test our ideas. We hear our own voice in a concert with another. And inside those pauses of listening, we approach new territories of thought. A good argument, call it a discussion, frees us. Words fly out of our mouths like threatened birds. Once released, they may never return. If they do, they have chosen home and the bird-worms are calmed into an ars poetica. Terry Tempest Williams, When Women Were Birds

Chamberlin and Dalys Postcard Project is a visual artifact of this play of ideas in conversation between the two artists over the last year as the exhibition has developed. The postcards are numbered so that you may follow along in the chronology of their shared moments of exploration and dialog.

In Everything I Never Told You: Secrets Too Beautiful To Keep, the artists grapple with their individual and collective relationships with placemaking and home, ultimately reckoning with the very nature of vulnerability and risk. In Skyline #1, 2, and 3, Chamberlin plays with disruption and manipulation of space, using glitches in digital photography as source material for richly layered charcoal drawings. She pulls together traditional and contemporary ideas and methodologies of image-making, creating imagery that is simultaneously dislocating and elegiac, offering a new vantage point from which to understand selective erasure and passage of time. Similarly, in Re-imagined Landscape, Daly disassembles and reassembles maps and patterns, creating new and foreign landscapes. Both the play of scale and the juxtaposition of imagery tease the viewer into an alternate reality, an imagined space re-formed by the artists heart and hand. In this way, both artists are merging familiar and unfamiliar territories, manipulating visual cues of location and dislocation.

The artworks on view in this exhibition play with revelation and concealment. They are an invitation into the quiet places, the small daily intimacies, the hundreds upon thousands of whispered secretssecrets too beautiful to keep.

#toobeautifultokeep

See more of the artists' work at:

shelleychamberlinart.com

michelle-daly.com

and be sure to follow their instagram at @toobeautifultokeep

Press:

Collaborative Exhibition Comes to Gallery 51 - the Online Beacon

Wayfinding

A solo show by Melanie Mowinski

Wayfinding Star, Artist Book (Letterpress, pressure print, painted paper, gesso, ink and acrylic dots, Lotka paper, binders board, custom, enclosure), 2016

August 25 to September 25, 2016

Wayfinding is about trusting the way and understanding the many paths to get to the same destination literally and figuratively. Through installation, letterpress, book arts and collage, artist Melanie Mowinski presents an investigation of the motivations behind the paths taken in life. For more information about Melanie and her work please visit melaniemowinski.com.

MCLA Student Shows

Gallery 51 & ExPRESS

April 28- May 22

Opening Reception: April 28th 5-7pm

Bullet Points

A curated show by MCLA's Advanced Museum Studies Class

Taught by Professor Laura Thompson, MASS MoCAs Director of Education and Curator of Kidspace, MCLA's Advanced Museum Studies spent the semester exploring the many ways in which objects are arranged and interpreted in museums to influence viewers' understandings of art, history, and social concerns.

Featuring the 300 sq ft. installation of a golden, elaborately woven carpet made of bullets by artist, Raul Martinez, and interactive opportunities developed by students, Bullet Points is a means to open discussions about the complex nature of guns in BCRC's ExPRESS space on 49 Main St. North Adams MA.

Raul Martinez, Pigs, Bullet Casings & Hemp, 2015

Conviction

MCLA's Senior Art Projects Class

Featuring: Amber Coldwell, Angela Digennaro, Patrick Engle, Nathan W. Massari, Elaine Myers and Sarah Tefft

This exhibition will introduce the work of six MCLA senior art majors and the artistic achievements of their 'Senior Art Project' course, the cornerstone of the MCLA art major. Taught by visiting assistant Professor of Art Josh Ostraff, this year's students focused on the idea of conviction  defined as a firmly held belief or opinion.

Predominately working with two-dimensional work, using a wide variety of subject matter, the students work connects through the conviction of their artistic practices which have grown and developed throughout the semester. Work will be on view in MCLA's Gallery 51, on 51 Main St. North Adams, MA.

What's Next?

A solo show of recent work by Karen Moss

March 3- April 24

Opening Reception: March 3rd 5-7pm

Throughout her 40-year career, Karen Moss has created two-dimensional artwork that weaves a delicate line between narrative and social commentary. Often inspired by news items relating to problems in society  such as eating disorders, youth violence, homelessness, consumerism and environmental devastation  Moss engages her audiences through her use of pop imagery, delicate line, humor and fantasy. Moss has been inspired by stories and illustrations from childrens books and animal life since her childhood. Drawing has always been a strong component of her work, and paper is her preferred medium. Combining these interests and inspirations helped to shape her involvement with narrative, art history and the natural world for 'What's Next?' opening March 3rd.

Karen Moss, Strange Trio, collage and acrylic paint, 2015

Black Lives Matter

A juried show curated by MCLA Professors Dr. Frances Jones-Sneed & Melanie Mowinski

February 4-28

Opening Reception: February 4th 5-7pm

This mixed-media exhibition, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, was curated by MCLA professors Dr. Frances Jones-Sneed and Melanie Mowinski.

#BlackLivesMatter first came to light in 2012 when a young, unarmed, black male, Trayvon Martin, was shot and killed. Martins death and the acquittal of his accused killer sparked protests and the Black Lives Matter movement. The movement  started by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi  challenges the anti-black racism that plagues society today, Mowinski said.

Artists were asked to submit works of all mediums to answer the question, What does #BlackLiveMatter mean to you? They were encouraged to explore from the literal to the conceptual underpinnings of Black Lives Matter and to examine the impact of state and national violence on black lives>, Mowinski said.

The exhibit strives to encourage and incite conversation about race relations, the importance of black lives, and proposals for what we each must do to make a difference in our society regardless of our gender, race or place in society.

The exhibit includes artworks from 30 artists from 17 states at varying stages in their careers: from emerging to established artists. The mediums of the artworks include traditional art forms like drawing, painting and sculpture, but also time-based mediums like video and artist books as well as participatory pieces.

Elena Wyatt, Johnson City, TN

Janet Goldner, New York, NY

Latasha Holley, Atlanta, GA

David Sharp, Salt Lake City, UT

Kaytea Petro, San Francisco, CA

Amber Doe, Bronx, NY

Michelle Thomas, Hartford, CT

Alan Wieder, Portland, OR

Melissa Maddonni Haims, Philadelphia, PA

Janet Braun-Reinitz, Brooklyn, NY

Karina Furhman, San Pablo, CA

Mary Joseph, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Kandy Lopez, Miami, FL

Celine Browning, Boston, MA

Kim Darling, Omaha, NE

David Brewster, Glyndon, MD

Kamal Al Mansour, San Jose, CA

Sally Sussman, Williamstown, MA

Randi Shenkman, Blechertown, MA

Therese Moriarty, East Longmeadow, MA

Sharbreon Plummer, New Orleans, LA

Vincent Romaniello, Brooklyn, NY

Donte Hayes, Kennesaw, GA

Suprina, New York, NY

Jerome Whitaker, Edmonds, WA

Ginger Ware, Reno, NV

Laura Sharp Wilson, Salt Lake City, UT

Emily Snell, Albuquerque, NM

IlaSahai Prouty, Bakersville, NC

Desmond Lewis, Brentwood, TN

Kandy Lopez, Where are the superheroes? Silkscreen and watercolor, 2013

see more images from the exhibition on our flickr page
Freedom From Fear/Yellow Bowl Project

Artist Setsuko Winchester

On View Sept. 28 - Nov. 19

Opening Reception September 28th from 5-8pm

Artist Talk October 12th at 5pm

Read the press release and web story

Visit the Arts Management online archive of this exhibition.

Read the Artist's reflection on her experience working with MCLA

Born in New York City to Japanese immigrant parents, artist Setsuko Winchester, has worked as a journalist, editor and producer at NPR on shows like Morning Edition and Talk of the Nation before moving to Western Massachusetts in 2006 to pursue a life-long interest in the ceramics and visual arts.

Photographs from the Freedom From Fear/Yellow Bowl Project will be on view from September 28- November 19. All are welcome to attend the opening reception on Thursday, September 28 from 5-8 pm. The exhibition will center on all the research Winchester has done around the history not only of the Japanese internment camps, but more broadly around Asian-American civil right issues over the last century. The bowls and objects will be installed in Lenox, MA at The Mount, Edith Wharton's home, from June - October. Gallery 51 will host an artist talk on October 12 (time TBA). On October 26 at 6pm at Gallery 51, MCLA faculty and students will share selections from the interdisciplinary collection of essays that will be published to coincide with the exhibition. In addition, a public roundtable discussion on November 14 (Murdock Room 218, MCLA Campus at 7pm) will explore the history of immigration orders in the United States.

Winchester decided to take 120 handmade fragile tea bowls, ceramic tea bowls, packed inside two enormous boxes as her traveling objects to places that were not famous or glamorous, but places most people had never heard of nor would probably ever go. By exposing these places of fear, Winchester hopes we can finally exorcise the shame and guilt, and move forward rather than blame the victim or shame the oppressors. More information can be found at can be found at http://www.yellowbowlproject.com/.

3 Second Stories

Artist, Tom Olson

Guest curated by Corwin Lev

On View July 27 - September 23

Opening reception: July 27th from 5-8pm

Read the press release

Featuring the work of Flipbook artist Tom Olson who uses flipbooks to weave tales of love, loss and other investigations into the human psyche and the absurd by spending countless hours drawing hundreds of pages to arrive at a profound three seconds. This will be the first time they have been exhibited and the show will include video and print presentations.

Olson's stories include "The Beast and the Lightning Bolt," "How the Sun Becomes the Moon," and "What Maps Do When Nobody's Looking." One flipbook examines the struggles of a Hegelian and a neo-Platonist facing the same intractable dilemma; while another series follows the adventure of little circle seamlessly morphing between an orange, the planet Saturn, and other objects.

Cloud Headed: On view June 29th - July 19th

image: Stephanie Williams

Read the press release

Artists: Michelle Aldredge, Corwin Levi, Mark W. Mulherrin, Heidi Pollard, Jarvis Rockwell, Sam Trioli, Anna Von Mertens, Stephanie Williams, and selections from the collection of Jamie Franklin including Polly E.G.G., Phillip Germann, and Lucy Robinson.

Across time immemorial, humans have looked up at the sky and wondered what lies beyond. We have prayed to gods above, looked through telescopes at distant galaxies, and pondered the very origins of our existences. For "Cloud Headed," a selection of artists offer their own mixed-media visions of the view beyond our planet and how we look towards that destination. Whether people in prayer, depictions of heaven, constellations and astronomical imagery, or a more singular vision, these artists are examining both experiences beyond our daily comprehension and what investigating those experiences looks like.

GALLERY 51 WELCOMES GUEST CURATOR, CORWIN LEVI

Levi is a visual artist investigating perception, finding and unfinding. This summer he will introduce Babel's Bricks, Cloud Headed and 3 Second Stories to the Berkshires. For more information about Corwin and his works, visit www.corwinlevi.com and find him on instagram @corwinlevi and @all.nine.legs.

Babel's Bricks: On view May 25th - June 25th

Opening Reception: May 25, 5 - 7pm

image: Paul Inglis

View additional images from the exhibition.

Read the press release.

Review of Babel's Bricks

Artists: Sarah Burris, Rodney Carswell, Brittany De Nigris, Sarah Fagan, Marc Ganzglass, Maggie Gourlay, Paul Inglis, Roger Feldman, Katie Loughmiller, Afton Love, Susan Marie Dopp, Matthew Northridge, Heidi Pollard, Ryder Richards, Pam Rogers, Megan Suttles, Max Spitzer, Caleb Taylor, Natasha Van Nettern and Stephanie Williams.

Remember, as a kid, when you played with toy blocks? Old wooden blocks, Erector sets, Lincoln Logs, Legos, or Mine Craft filled countless hours of childhood afternoons and summer vacations. Artists have continued to nurture the impulse of putting parts together to make a more wonderful whole. Lines make a drawing, strokes make a painting, pieces make a sculpture, and seconds stacked on seconds make a video. What if, though, artists created works AS the building blocks? For Babels Bricks, artists in a variety of media are interpreting the idea of artwork as building block. Additionally, there will be a component of the show in which viewers can construct their own works out of a selection of various blocks. By putting these disparate construction elements into a whole, the show will remind us that an aggregate of various systems has the power to be greater than its parts, whether individually or in sum.

Artists: Sarah Burris, Rodney Carswell, Brittany De Nigris, Sarah Fagan, Marc Ganzglass, Maggie Gourlay, Paul Inglis, Roger Feldman, Katie Loughmiller, Afton Love, Susan Marie Dopp, Matthew Northridge, Heidi Pollard, Ryder Richards, Pam Rogers, Megan Suttles, Max Spitzer, Caleb Taylor, Natasha Van Nettern and Stephanie Williams.

Remember, as a kid, when you played with toy blocks? Old wooden blocks, Erector sets, Lincoln Logs, Legos, or Mine Craft filled countless hours of childhood afternoons and summer vacations. Artists have continued to nurture the impulse of putting parts together to make a more wonderful whole. Lines make a drawing, strokes make a painting, pieces make a sculpture, and seconds stacked on seconds make a video. What if, though, artists created works AS the building blocks? For Babels Bricks, artists in a variety of media are interpreting the idea of artwork as building block. Additionally, there will be a component of the show in which viewers can construct their own works out of a selection of various blocks. By putting these disparate construction elements into a whole, the show will remind us that an aggregate of various systems has the power to be greater than its parts, whether individually or in sum.

INSIGHT celebrates the work of emerging graduating artists. During this process, students learn how to display and install their art, advertise for the show and more. The idea behind the exhibition comes from a quote by Malcolm Gladwell, a journalist for The New Yorker, who wrote: Insight is not a light bulb that goes off inside our heads. It is a flickering candle that can easily be snuffed out.

In that delicate balance of keeping ideas, momentum, passion, engagement, creativity, hope, and vision lit, INSIGHT is both an exhibition about finding paths and considering possibilities, according to the shows artists. The Senior Art Show serves as the annual culminating event that provides graduating artists with the tools they will need to further their careers. INSIGHT remains in view through May 21 at Gallery 51, located at 51 Main St.

CRITICAL MASS

April 27th - May 21st

Opening Reception: April 27th, 2017 5-8pm

MCLA Design Lab, 49 Main St. North Adams

This years Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Advanced Museum Studies course exhibition, Critical Mass, will feature everyday objects from the collection of Harley Spiller, a renowned collector with thousands of diverse, everyday objects  from spoons to Metrocards and gum to money.

With the goal to rethink the significance of the mundane, students in MCLAs Advanced Museum Studies class designed opportunities to build awareness of the objects that often are taken for granted. Spillers prized collection previously included more than 40,000 Chinese food menus that earned him a Guinness World Record.

Critical Mass explores the value of seemingly insignificant objects when amassed in large quantities and placed in specific contexts. This theme emerged from a curatorial consideration of what lends importance to any given object. Interactive components of the exhibition will allow viewers to document personal relationships to objects, and invite them to contribute and thereby elevate their own belongings. Critical Mass remain on view through May 21 at MCLA's Design Lab, located at 49 Main St.

BIOTOPE/FRIENDS/ LIFE FORMS/LANDSCAPES

February 23 - April 23, 2017

Opening Reception February 23, 5-7pm

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Gallery 51 is pleased to announce that it will present the collaborative exhibition Biotope: Friends, Life Forms, Landscapes featuring the artwork of accomplished artists from several regions across the United States.

The public is invited to attend a free opening reception on Thursday, Feb. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. at MCLA Gallery 51. The exhibition will remain on display until Sunday, April 23, 2017.

Biotope: Friends, Life Forms, Landscapes showcases the creative output of over a dozen artists. The exhibition, which is being organized by Richard Harrington, a visual artist from North Adams, features works from a wide range of artistic mediums, including painting, photography, sculpture and printmaking.

All of the work exhibited as part of Biotope: Friends, Life Forms, Landscapes engages in some way with a particular living environment. These regions of the earth, or biotopes, have a recognizable uniqueness which has inspired each individual artist to depict or capture the spirit of these places.

While planning the exhibition, Harrington immediately thought of several friends whove done very different things, but each of whom at one time or another in their artistic trajectories was involved with living things and places. According to Harrington, Biotope isnt an exhibition about abstraction. It also isnt specifically a show about painting, photography or the other disciplines of my exhibitor friends. Instead, Harrington envisioned an exhibition that maintained a balance where no approach would dominate, but where some threads of continuity would be recognizable.

In addition to Harrington, participating artists include Larry Alice of North Adams, Mass., Peter Boudreau of North Adams, Mass., John Cooley of Chatham, N.Y., Joanna Gabler of North Adams, Mass., Rick Harlow of North Adams, Mass., Jennifer Maestre of Maynard Mass., Kevin McLatchy of New Wilmington, Pa., Michael Miller of North Adams, Mass. and New York, N.Y., Ron Morris of Louisville, Ky., Steve Quinn of South Shore, Mass., Rachel Cheetham Richard of Philadelphia, Pa., Dan Rose of Philadelphia, Pa., Martha Rose of Philadelphia, Pa., and Greg Scheckler of Williamstown, Mass.

OFA ATU

Josh Ostraff

January 26 - February 19, 2017

Opening Reception January 26, 5-7pm

Ofa Atu is both a solo exhibition and a public art project. The exhibition combines a series of the artist's paintings with screen prints produced by members of the local community during a DownStreet Art project Ostraff ran throughout the summer of 2016. Read more about the show via this Berkshire Eagle article.

"I was a teenager living on a small island in Tonga when a man named Hiko called hundreds of tuna to him. Before I met Hiko there was a fierce hurricane that wiped out his village's food. Hiko one night had a dream and visit from the youngest son of the first Tui Tonga. He taught him how to call the Atu (skipjack tuna) to him to feed his people. There were rules they would need to follow and if broken then he would not be able to call the fish again until the people had changed their hearts. For 21 years Hiko was able to call to the Atu and the people in his village followed the rules. Then one day Hiko went out and called the fish, people took more than they needed and sold them, they broke the rules, and I was there. As a result Hiko said it would be a long time before he could call the fish again. I was recently reminded of this event through the work my brother Zac did on this story for his MFA thesis in creative writing. After reflection I saw places in my life where parallels exist and though I dont live near the ocean I see the equivalent of the Atu all around." -- Josh Ostraff

Josh Ostraff was born in Seattle, Washington. He has lived and traveled around the world with his family but claims Utah as his home. He received his BFA at Brigham Young University, his MFA at the University of Minnesota, and he currently teaches as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Art at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Josh is a multimedia artist who has exhibited his paintings, drawings, films, and art books both internationally and nationally.

See more of the Josh's work at: http://www.jostraff.com

Be sure to follow Josh on Instagram @thinwalls.studio.
Motorbikes on Ngo Quyen Street in Hoan Kiem, a key area in Hanoi's planned low-emission zones. Photo by Minh Quan

Hanoi is preparing to introduce low-emission zones that will gradually restrict gasoline-powered motorbikes in the city's core from July 1, 2026.

The proposal, submitted by the municipal People's Committee to the city's People's Council, outlines a multi-stage roadmap designed to reduce air pollution while limiting disruption to business activities and daily life.

Under the draft resolution, low-emission zones are defined in accordance with the 2024 Law on the Capital and apply to areas with strict environmental protection status, frequent traffic congestion, or consistently below-average air quality measurements based on national and city monitoring data.

The plan begins with a pilot zone covering nine central wards inside Ring Road 1 in 2026, before expanding to 14 wards within Rings 1 and 2 from Jan. 1, 2028.

By Jan. 1, 2030, restrictions would apply across a much wider area within Ring Road 3, encompassing 36 wards and communes including Cau Giay, Thanh Xuan, Hoang Mai, Long Bien, Dong Anh and Noi Bai.

From 2031 onward, any area meeting the qualifying criteria would be required to implement low-emission controls.

Within these zones, gasoline motorbikes would be banned during designated hours or in specific areas, and app-based motorbike transport services would also be restricted.

Cars that do not meet Euro 4 emission standards would face phased limitations as well.

The city is also setting a green-transition timeline for commercial vehicles, including requiring all newly purchased or replacement taxis to use clean energy from July 1, 2026, and fossil-fuel motorbikes used for transport services to shift to greener alternatives before 2030.

Further measures include prohibiting new registrations of fossil-fuel vehicles when outdated ones are scrapped, particularly for vehicles owned by organizations, and banning fossil-fuel trucks over 3.5 tonnes from circulating in low-emission zones.

The draft differs from the stricter roadmap outlined in a directive earlier this year, which called for a full ban on fossil-fuel motorbikes within Ring Road 1 by July 1, 2026, and expanded restrictions within Rings 1 and 2 by 2028.

Hanoi officials said the adjusted approach reflects feedback from departments, local authorities, business associations and industry groups, including the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam, which suggested a more gradual rollout aligned with infrastructure capacity, social welfare considerations and public behavior.

City agencies are still developing charging-station standards, green-mobility infrastructure and related policies, some of which have yet to be issued by ministries under government assignment. Authorities describe the effort as complex and directly affecting millions of residents, requiring synchronized implementation and enough time to shift public habits.

The new proposal will be considered at the 28th session of the municipal Peoples Council from Nov. 26 to 28.

The move comes as Hanoi continues to struggle with hazardous air quality. The National Environmental Report for 20162020 found average PM2.5 concentrations nearly double national limits, while PM10 levels exceeded standards by 1.3 to 1.6 times. The city attributes 5874% of emissions to road traffic, especially motorbikes, alongside dust from road surfaces.

Hanoi currently has more than 8 million registered vehicles, including 6.9 million motorbikes and 1.1 million cars, with an additional 1.2 million vehicles entering from other provinces on a regular basis.
How to declare your temporary residence while traveling in Vietnam?

"I am planning to travel to Vietnam and stay at a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Do I need to make a temporary residence declaration with local authorities?" - a foreign reader asked.

Huynh Thi My Hanh, senior lawyer from Le&Tran Law Corporation, answered that it is the responsibility of the accommodation provider (hotel/host), not the tourist themselves, to register the tourist's temporary stay with the local police.

Tourists simply need to present their passport or travel documents at check-in, and the hotel/host uses that information to declare their stay to the local police.

Tourists do not need to personally file any declaration with the authorities and they will not be fined if the hotel fails to declare their temporary residence.

However, if a tourist refuses to provide information or deliberately provide false information to the hotel for making the declaration, they may be fined VND3-5 million (US$113-192), Hanh said.

A tourist is allowed to stay in Vietnam for as long as their visa/temporary residence card or the immigration stamp on their passport determines, not by the temporary residence registration itself.

Overstaying may result in fines of up to VND20 million depending on how long. Starting from Dec. 15, 2025, the fine will go up to VND40 million, the lawyer added.
Physical activity in midlife and late life plays a major role in lowering the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Highlights: Higher physical activity in midlife and late life is linked to lower dementia risk

and late life is linked to lower dementia risk Early adulthood activity shows no significant link with dementia reduction

shows no significant link with dementia reduction Moderate or heavy activity in midlife and any activity level in late life offer notable protection

  Trusted Source

Physical Activity Over the Adult Life Course and Risk of Dementia in the Framingham Heart Study



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TOP INSIGHT Did You Know?

Higher activity in #midlife and late life was linked to up to 40% lower dementia risk, with the most active individuals seeing the strongest protection. #dementia #physicalactivity #medindia

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Lifestyle Factors and Timing of Dementia Prevention Efforts

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From Early Adulthood to Late Life: How Activity Was Captured

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Dementia Incidence Patterns Across Adulthood Stages

Genetic Influence on Midlife and Late-Life Activity Benefits

Timing, Intensity, and Genetic Influence on Dementia Risk

Physical Activity Over the Adult Life Course and Risk of Dementia in the Framingham Heart Study - (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2841638)

in midlife and late life was linked to a roughly, with the strongest reductions seen among individuals in the highest activity quintile, and comparable patterns also appearing for Alzheimer's disease ).In a study published in, investigators assessed whether physical activity in early adulthood, midlife, or late life shows the strongest connection to reduced risk of Alzheimers disease or all-cause dementia Their results showed that, particularly in those with the highest levels of activity. Similar associations were also documented for Alzheimers disease.Dementia presents a significant global health burden, and preventive approaches are urgently needed because available drug therapies for Alzheimers disease offer only modest improvement, can be expensive, and may produce side effects. Accumulating evidence indicates that Physical activity represents one such modifiable factor, especially during midlife. Yet uncertainty remains regarding the periods of adulthood during which activity has the most profound impact on long-term brain health.Prior work has demonstrated that midlife or later-life physical activity correlates withPhysical activity earlier in life may also provide advantages. However, many earlier investigations depended on older adults recalling their youthful activity patterns, introducing recall errors and the potential for reverse causation when cognitive decline is already underway. Consequently, the specific life stages when activity exerts the strongest influence remain unclear.To address this gap, researchers analyzed long-term,. Their goal was to determine whether early adulthood, midlife, or late-life physical activity shows the most meaningful relationship with diminished dementia risk.Participants were included if they were free of dementia and had physical activity information available at a baseline visit corresponding to one of three life periods:The final analytic groups consisted of, with all participants providing informed consent and the study adhering to established research procedures.Physical activity was quantified using the. Higher index scores signify greater total activity, and scores were divided into age-specific quintiles for analytical comparisons.Participants were monitored until dementia diagnosis, death, or December 31, 2023. Dementia, whether all-cause or Alzheimers disease, was diagnosed through expert consensus using standard diagnostic criteria.Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios for dementia risk across physical activity quintiles, adjusting for age, sex, education, body mass index, smoking, hypertension , diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and apolipoprotein E 4 status.Late-life participants generally exhibited lower education levels, higher body mass index, and increased cardiometabolic conditions compared with younger groups.Across the follow-up period,Across all age categories,. These findings highlight the elevated dementia risk among less active individuals, particularly in midlife and late life.After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors,, not activity during early adulthood,In both midlife and late life, individuals in the highest activity quintiles exhibited approximately 40 percent lower dementia risk compared with those in the lowest quintile, with Q4 and Q5 demonstrating the strongest protective effects.Physical activity levels in early adulthood did not show significant associations with dementia risk, likely due to the small number of dementia cases occurring within this younger group.Apolipoprotein E 4 status modified the associations observed. The interaction between this genetic factor and physical activity reached statistical significance for midlife only, suggesting that genetic risk shaped the strength of the association during this period.Among non-carriers, higher midlife activity was associated with a markedly lower dementia risk, while. For 4 carriers, only the highest late-life activity level, Q5, reached statistical significance.Comparable trends were observed for Alzheimers dementia, with the highest midlife and late-life activity levels linked to lower incidence. However, among 4 carriers, the association with Alzheimers disease did not reach statistical significance, a finding not attributable to inadequate sample size among late-life participants., whereas slight activity showed no measurable benefit. In late life, reduced dementia risk was evident across all activity intensity categories.The analysis demonstrates that midlife and late-life physical activity represent key periods during which higher activity levels are associated with reduced risk of all-cause and Alzheimers dementia.Midlife advantages were primarily connected to moderate or heavy activity, while. Apolipoprotein E 4 status shaped these relationships, with non-carriers showing stronger midlife effects and carriers displaying clearer benefits in late life.These results show thethroughout adulthood, especially during midlife, to foster long-term cognitive health.The life-course design, long follow-up duration, rigorous dementia adjudication, and detailed covariate information constitute notable strengths of the study.However, limitations include the predominantly European ancestry of participants, the low number of dementia cases in early adulthood, reliance on a single self-reported measure of activity, the inability to examine earlier-life activity, and potential misclassification or survival biases that may restrict broader applicability.Source-Medindia
Your morning coffee may be served with a side of plastic. Learn how disposable cups can impact your health and what safe alternatives to switch to.

Highlights: Hot coffee in disposable cups can release microplastics and harmful chemicals into your drink

These chemicals may disrupt hormones, irritate the gut and harm long-term health

Switching to stainless steel, glass or ceramic cups is a safer and healthier choice

  Trusted Source

Release of microplastics from disposable cups in daily use



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TOP INSIGHT Did you know?

One hot drink in a disposable paper cup releases thousands of microplastic particles into your beverage. #plasticcup #ecofriendlychoices #microplastics #nanoplastics #medindia

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Why Disposable Coffee Cups Are Not as Safe as They Seem

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Microplastics associated contaminants from disposable paper cups and their consequence on human health



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How Hormones and Metabolism Are Affected by Microplastics

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Most plastic products release estrogenic chemicals: a potential health problem that can be solved



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Your Gut Health May Be at Risk Due to Microplastics

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Microplastics and human health: unveiling the gut microbiome disruption and chronic disease risks



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Disposable Cups and Long Term Health Risks

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Microplastics and Oxidative Stress-Current Problems and Prospects



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Molecular and Cellular Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Focus on Inflammation and Senescence



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Heat Makes Everything Worse

Safer Alternatives for Your Daily Plastic Cup

Release of microplastics from disposable cups in daily use - (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969722057059) Microplastics associated contaminants from disposable paper cups and their consequence on human health - (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3050474024000296?via%3Dihub) Most plastic products release estrogenic chemicals: a potential health problem that can be solved - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21367689/) Microplastics and human health: unveiling the gut microbiome disruption and chronic disease risks - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39669275/) Microplastics and Oxidative Stress-Current Problems and Prospects - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38790684/) Molecular and Cellular Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Focus on Inflammation and Senescence - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39513895/)

Many people start their day with a hot cup of coffee from a cafe or vending machine, rarely thinking about the cup it is served in. Yet new reports suggest thatwhen filled with hot beverages (). These chemicals can enter your drink, travel into your bloodstream and influence hormones, gut health and long-term wellness. What seems harmless and convenient may have stronger effects on your body than you realise.Most coffee lovers believe they are drinking from paper cups. In reality, paper cups are lined with a thin plastic film to prevent leakage. This lining contains. When hot liquids come in contact with this layer they can cause particles to detach. According to several experts quoted in national news reports, even one cup of hot coffee can release thousands of microplastic particles.A study published insuggested that hot drinks stored in plastic-coated containers can carry microplastics andinto the body (). These substances may mimic hormones and interfere with normal biological function.The chemicals released from disposable cups canbecause some of them behave like synthetic hormones inside the body (). Nutritionists warn that compounds like BPA and BPS may disrupt estrogen and thyroid hormone function. These hormones regulate metabolism, reproductive health and mood.Regular exposure to endocrine disruptors can lead to issues such as. For men, there may be an effect on testosterone and sperm quality. Over time hormone imbalance can increase the risk of metabolic disorders.Microplastics and chemical residues can pass through the digestive system and impact the gut lining. Research shows that these particles may). A weakened gut environment can lead to bloating, digestive discomfort and reduced immunity.The gut lining plays a major role in absorbing nutrients. Once this lining becomes irritated by toxins and microplastics, it may. This can influence energy levels and overall vitality.While a single cup of coffee is unlikely to cause immediate harm, daily use may contribute to long-term accumulation of chemicals in the body. Studies have linked repeated microplastic exposure to). Some microplastics may accumulate in tissues and stay in the body for years.Experts also highlight that plastic particles break down into even smaller fragments known as. These can enter cells more easily and may interfere with DNA repair and cellular functions ().The problem grows when coffee is extra hot. High. This means your morning cappuccino or latte may pick up more toxins than you realise. Even reheating beverages in plastic containers carries similar risks.Some cafes also use plastic lids that add another layer of chemical exposure. Steam from hot beverages can carry plastic particles from lids directly into the drink.The good news is that you can still enjoy coffee without compromising your health.can greatly reduce exposure to harmful chemicals. Many cafes are now offering discounts when customers bring their own cups. Avoiding plastic lids whenever possible also reduces risk.Reusable cups are not only better for your health but also help reduce environmental waste. Disposable coffee cups contribute significantly to pollution since they are difficult to recycle due to the plastic coating.Your daily coffee ritual should be comforting, not harmful. Understanding the risks associated with disposable cups helps you make better choices. When heat, plastic and frequent use come together, they create a pathway for chemicals to enter your body. Being mindful of the cup you choose can protect your hormones, gut and long-term health.A small switch in habit can make a big difference. The safest cup is always the one that does not leach plastic into your drink.Source-Medindia
During the turbulent decades of the 1980s and 1990s, when Mumbais film world operated under the looming shadow of the underworld, fear dictated the lives of many in Bollywood. Extortion calls, intimidation, and pressure to participate in mafia-backed productions were not rare occurrences; they were a routine hazard. At a time when many stars silently complied to protect themselves, one man famously refused to bow down: Dharmendra. Often celebrated as the He-Man of Hindi cinema, the actors real-life resolve matched the bravery he portrayed on screen.

 SS Movietone The legendary actor, who recently passed away in Mumbai at the age of 89, was admired not only for his charisma and versatility but also for his unshakeable courage. Actorfilmmaker Satyajeet Puri, in a conversation with Friday Talkies barely a month before Dharmendras demise, explained why the mafia never dared to interfere with him. The underworld was at its peak then. One phone call and most actors would tremble, Satyajeet said. He went on to describe Dharmendras approach to intimidation: But Dharmendra and his family were never scared. If anyone from the underworld tried to threaten him, Dharam Ji would tell them, If you come for me, the whole Sahnewal (his native village) will come from Punjab. You might have ten men, but I have an army. Ek bolunga aur truck bharke log Punjab se ladne aa jayenge. So dont mess with me. And they never did.

 X/Men Of Faith Puri also spoke of Dharmendras remarkable physical prowess, recalling a moment from the filming of Ghulami (1985). While shooting a horse-riding sequence on marble stairs, the animal slipped mid-climb. In a split second, Dharmendra slammed his left leg against the marble and used his thigh strength to push both himself and the animal back upright, Satyajeet said. His anger at the mishap faded just as quickly. He immediately gave the owner Rs 200, worried the animal might have been injured. Dharmendras fearlessness extended beyond film sets. A man once attacked Dharmendra with a knife in public. Within a minute, Dharam Ji had disarmed and pinned the man down, Puri recounted. He contrasted the past with todays guarded celebrities: Today, actors move with six bouncers and gunmen. Back then, Dharmendra and Vinod Khanna would walk the streets freely, without any security.
The more streaming giants grow, the more it makes sense for people to prefer Netflix and other such services. Sometimes, the exclusive films available on OTT platforms are just as good as something you would go and watch in the theatre. However, James Cameron believes that there should be a line drawn between theatrical releases and films available on OTT. It doesnt make sense to him why films that dont get theatrical releases would be eligible for the Oscars. James Cameron Thinks Netflix Is Making a Huge Mistake

 Instagram/jamescameronofficial During an interview on the podcast, The Town with Matthew Belloni, James Cameron shared his thoughts on why Netflixs wanting to reportedly buy Warner Bros. could be a bad idea. Although the streaming service promises to maintain the theatrical release strategy, he doesnt believe that to be the case. Cameron said, I think Paramounts the best choice. Netflix would be a disaster. Sorry, Ted, but geez. Sarandos has gone on the record saying theatrical films are dead. Theatrical is dead.... Its sucker bait. Well put the movie out for a week or 10 days. Well qualify for Oscar consideration. See, I think thats fundamentally rotten to the core. A movie should be made as a movie for theatrical, and the Academy Awards mean nothing to me if they dont mean theatrical. I think theyve been co-opted, and I think its horrific. The Avatar: Fire and Ash director is completely against the idea of films getting a limited theatrical release in accordance with Netflix and then aiming to win an Oscar. The Academy Award is a prestigious prize to have, and the fact that most of the qualified films get their shot on the Silver Screen makes up a lot of the experience of watching those films. James Cameron Thinks Netflix Can Get an Oscar but on One Condition
The United States recently co-sponsored a successful resolution in the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly condemning Iran's human rights record.



For 46 years, the Islamic Republic has ruled through torture and execution, silencing dissent with public executions and beatings, said Ambassador Christopher Henzel, U.S. Senior Adviser for Near Eastern Affairs at the United Nations. We join our colleagues who voted in favor of this resolution in decrying the never-ending human rights violations and abuses perpetrated by the Iranian government, including denials of the right to life and the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and religion or belief, particularly those against women and members of ethnic and religious minority groups.



The resolution highlights what it describes as a continued increase in and the cumulative impacts of long-standing persecution against a wide range of religious minorities, including Bahais, Christians, Gonabadi Dervishes, Jews, Sufi and Sunni Muslims, Yarsanis, and Zoroastrians. The resolution notes that these groups face intensified attacks, harassment, and targeting, with women and girls in minority communities at particular risk.



The resolution also denounces the repression of women linked to the compulsory hijab, administrative and criminal sanctions, digital surveillance, and restrictions on social, economic and political participation. It urges Iran to adopt comprehensive legislation against domestic violence, eliminate early and forced marriages, and remove gender-based restrictions.



The crackdown on protests, particularly those in 2022, which were sparked by the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, is strongly condemned. The resolution highlights the use of lethal force, mass arrests, reprisals against families, journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders, as well as Internet shutdowns and restrictive cyber legislation.



The United States stands with the Iranian people who continue to bravely fight to exercise the human rights guaranteed to them under international law.



Accordingly, the United States calls on the government of Iran to immediately release persons who continue to be unjustly and arbitrarily detained, end its efforts to terrorize dissidents outside of Iran, and cease its mass executions without respect for fair trial guarantees.



The adoption of this resolution, said Ambassador Henzel, continues to ensure that Irans inhumane treatment of its own citizens  actions entirely antithetical to the principles and purpose of the Charter of the United Nations and this Committees work  does not go unpunished.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump said Tuesday his plan to end the war in Ukraine has been fine-tuned and hes sending envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with Ukrainian officials.

He suggested he could eventually meet with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but not until further progress has been made in negotiations.

I will be briefed on all progress made, along with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Trump added in the social media posting. I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages.

Trump spoke after U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held talks late Monday and throughout Tuesday with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to discuss the emerging proposal.

The talks are going well and we remain optimistic, Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, spokesman for the Army secretary, said in a statement.

As the talks were taking place, Russia launched a wave of overnight attacks on Ukraines capital, Kyiv, with at least seven people killed in strikes that hit city buildings and energy infrastructure. A Ukrainian attack on southern Russia killed three people and damaged homes, authorities said.

Trump's plan for ending the nearly four-year war emerged last week. It heavily favored Russia, prompting Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to quickly engage with American negotiators. European leaders, fearing for their own future facing Russian aggression but apparently sidelined by Trump in drawing up the proposals, scrambled to steer the negotiations toward accommodating their concerns.

Latest phase of the talks

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday peace efforts are gathering momentum and are clearly at a crucial juncture. He spoke after senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva on Sunday.

Negotiations are getting a new impetus. And we should seize this momentum, he said during at a video conference meeting of countries, led by France and the U.K., that could help police any ceasefire with Russia.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said of the talks: I do think we are moving in a positive direction and indications today that in large part the majority of the text, (Zelenskyy) is indicating, can be accepted.

Oleksandr Bevz, one of the Ukrainian delegates at the Geneva talks, however, cautioned that it was very premature to say that something is agreed upon."

In an interview with The Associated Press late Tuesday, he declined to discuss the specifics of any amendments to Trump's plan, but said the U.S. was aware that the strength of security guarantees for Ukraine would define the sustainability of the deal and was the part making this deal real and enforceable.

Bevz earlier told the AP that the number of points in the proposed settlement was reduced, but he denied reports that the 28-point U.S. peace plan now consisted of 19 points.

(The document) is going to continue to change. We can confirm that it was reduced to take out points not relating to Ukraine, to exclude duplicates and for editing purposes," Bevz said, adding that some points relating solely to relations between Russia and the U.S. were excluded.

Long road to peace

Zelenskyy said late Monday that the list of necessary steps to end the war can become workable." He said he planned to discuss sensitive outstanding issues with Trump.

Rustem Umerov, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, posted on X on Tuesday that Zelenskyy hoped to finalize a deal with Trump at the earliest suitable date in November.

Russian officials have been reserved in their comments on the peace plan. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that Moscow is in touch with U.S. officials about peace efforts.

"We expect them to provide us with a version they consider an interim one in terms of completing the phase of coordinating this text with the Europeans and the Ukrainians, Lavrov said.

European leaders have cautioned that the road to peace will be long.

'Glass rained down'

Russia fired 22 missiles of various types and more than 460 drones at Ukraine overnight, Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. The strikes knocked out water, electricity and heat in parts of Kyiv. Images showed a large fire spreading in a nine-story residential building in Kyivs eastern Dniprovskyi district.

Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said 20 people were wounded in Kyiv. The Russian Defense Ministry said it targeted military-industrial facilities and energy assets. The strikes were a response to Ukrainian attacks on civilian objects in Russia, the ministry said.

Liubov Petrivna, a 90-year-old resident of a damaged building in the Dniprovskyi district, told the AP that absolutely everything in her apartment was shattered by the strike and glass rained down on her.

Petrivna said that she didn't believe in the peace plan now under discussion.

No one will ever do anything about it, she said. Russian President Vladimir Putin "wont stop until he finishes us off.

Large Ukrainian drone attack

The overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Russias southern region of Krasnodar was one of the longest and most massive and wounded six people, Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev said.

Russian air defenses destroyed 249 Ukrainian drones overnight above various Russian regions and the occupied Crimean Peninsula, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

Ukraine said that its drones and missiles struck an aviation repair plant and a drone production facility, as well as an oil refinery and an oil terminal.

It was the fourth-largest Ukrainian drone attack on Russia since the start of the war on Feb. 24, 2022, according to an AP tally.

___

Isobel Koshiw reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. John Leicester in Paris, and Stephen McGrath in Leamington Spa, England, contributed to this report.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said talks with the U.S. about a peace plan were continuing following a report suggesting that Kyiv agreed to the terms of a potential deal to end Russias full-scale invasion.

Communication with the American side continues, Zelenskyy said in a post on X following a phone call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday. I am grateful for all of Americas efforts and personally for President Trumps efforts.

The agreement is on the broad framework of a deal  with key points still to be resolved between U.S. and Ukraine, including the thorniest issues such as territory and security guarantees, which have to be resolved at the level of presidents, according to a person familiar with the matter. They requested anonymity because talks are confidential.

ABC News reported on Tuesday, citing a U.S. official, that Ukraine agreed to a potential peace deal with some minor details to be sorted. Speculation is running high that an agreement could be close after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested in a social media post on Monday that big progress was being made on a deal for Ukraine.

Markets moved on the report. Brent futures fell sharply, briefly slipping below $62 a barrel in London. Russias oil industry is heavily sanctioned and a peace deal would remove some geopolitical premium from prices  and could ease some of the friction around Moscows oil flows.

Emerging market currencies hit a session high. Shares in Kyivstar Group shares jump 6.3% in premarket trading.

U.S. and Russian delegations are meeting in Abu Dhabi following talks in Geneva over the weekend that made advances in defusing the vehement opposition from Kyiv and its European allies to a 28-point peace proposal the White House team floated last week.

Ukraines military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, is also in Abu Dhabi for meetings, a person familiar with the matter said. Military intelligence didnt reply to requests for comment from Bloomberg News.

The peace blueprint has been narrowed to a new list of 19 proposals in Geneva in Sunday. Yet any discussions involving territorial issues, which are at the crux of a potential settlement, would have to be tackled at a meeting between the Ukrainian and U.S. presidents, according to Ihor Brusylo, the deputy chief Zelenskyys office.

Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Defense and Security Council, said earlier on Tuesday that U.S. and Ukrainian delegations reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva. Ukraine was looking forward to organizing a visit by Zelenskyy to U.S. at the soonest possible date this month, he posted on X.

The initial draft plan caught Kyiv and Ukrainian allies off-guard with its demands that the war-battered nation drop its ambition to join NATO and surrender territory in the eastern Donbas regions, including areas Russia doesnt yet control.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had nothing to report when asked about the meeting in Abu Dhabi, according to the Interfax news service.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that Moscow expected the U.S. to present a version of the plan after the talks with Europeans and Ukraine. But he also signaled that any deviations from the understandings reached during Trumps summit with President Vladimir Putin in Alaska earlier this year would be a hard sell with the Kremlin.

If the spirit and letter of Anchorage are erased from those key understandings we recorded, then, of course, it will be a fundamentally different situation, Lavrov said. But so far, I repeat, no one has officially conveyed anything to us.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged fire overnight with heavy air raids on Kyiv and assaults on southern Russian areas.

___

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High-stakes policy talks regarding Eastern Europe are shifting to Turkey as a push for peace collides with Russias refusal to join the conversation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara this week as the United States and Ukraine rewrite a controversial 28-point peace plan, even as Russia refuses to attend the talks and Kyiv faces renewed battlefield pressure, intensifying energy attacks, and a deepening humanitarian crisis.

The president has been clear that it is time to stop the killing and make a deal to end the war. President Trump believes that there is a chance to end this senseless war if flexibility is shown," a senior White House official told Military.com.

That message is playing out publicly online and privately through diplomatic back channels.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that there may be movement toward an agreement.

Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? the president wrote.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

In a separate post, Trump criticized Ukraines leadership while defending his approach: Ukraine leadership has expressed zero gratitude for our efforts, and Europe continues to buy oil from Russia.

Zelensky responded online with a markedly different tone.

In an X post on Monday, he wrote, We await a full and lasting ceasefire to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy, adding that Ukraine remains grateful to the United States, to every American heart, and personally to President Trump for the assistance. We thank everyone in Europe.

Geneva Rewrites a Controversial Plan

U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva days before the Turkey trip to reshape a peace framework that alarmed lawmakers in Washington and leaders in Kyiv.

The original version was criticized by some U.S. lawmakers, foreign policy experts and Ukrainian officials as being too favorable to Moscow, with provisions requiring major military limits on Ukraine, territorial concessions, and a permanent end to any of Ukraine's NATO ambitions.

Those provisions are now being revised. Officials familiar with the process say language emphasizing Ukrainian sovereignty, territorial integrity and long-term security guarantees has been strengthenedall while still searching for common ground that could eventually bring Russia into a future round.

In this photo, provided by the Turkish Presidency, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, welcomes the Russian, left, and Ukrainian delegations ahead of their talks in Istanbul, March 29, 2022. (Turkish Presidency via AP, File)

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the sensitivity of the negotiations and the reality that concessions may be required from both sides.

He said the evolving framework includes input from both sides and told the press that ending a complex and deadly war such as the one in Ukraine requires an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas and will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions.

The revisions come as the conflict intensifies. Russia has stepped up drone and missile attacks across western and central Ukraine, targeting energy facilities, transportation lines and residential areas as winter swiftly approaches. Power disruptions are spreading across multiple regions, deepening civilian hardship.

An official within the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe indicated the inquiry fell outside that offices remit, underscoring how carefully many institutions are navigating the unfolding diplomacy.

Turkey Steps into the Spotlight

Turkey has emerged as the central stage for the worlds most delicate diplomacy as renewed peace efforts collide with deep distrust and ongoing war. Erdogan has called Ankara an ideal host for negotiations, citing the countrys rare ability to engage Ukraine, Russia and the United States simultaneously.

Turkey is a NATO ally that supports Ukraines sovereignty and has provided military assistance, including drones. At the same time, Ankara maintains strong economic and political ties with Moscow. That dual position gives Turkey unusual leverage and puts maximum pressure on Erdogan to deliver tangible progress.

Turkish officials have signaled a willingness to carry messages between Kyiv and Moscow following Zelenskys visit, even if Russia remains on the sidelines in this initial phase.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Murmansk Region Governor Andrei Chibis during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

The guarded response from governments and institutions around the world reflects the delicate balance Turkey is now managing behind closed doors.

Russia Refuses a Seat at the Table

The Kremlin confirmed it will not send representatives to the talks in Ankara or Istanbul, a decision that leaves a visible gap in the first round of diplomacy.

Russian officials have described the current efforts as premature while simultaneously signaling that Moscow is watching the process closely. State media framed the Ankara meeting as symbolic, with analysts in Moscow suggesting that any serious negotiation must include direct Russian participation and recognition of realities on the ground.

Western officials view that posture as tactical.

By remaining absent for now, Russia avoids being bound to early terms crafted by the United States, Ukraine and Turkey. That allows the Kremlin to assess both public reaction and battlefield trends before deciding whether and how to re-enter the process.

The refusal also continues a pattern seen throughout the war. Moscow has repeatedly rejected talks it does not directly control or host, instead preferring negotiations where it can dictate parameters more forcefully.

At the same time, intensified missile and drone strikes inside Ukraine suggest Russia is pairing diplomatic distance with sustained military pressurea signal that, analysts say, Moscow intends to strengthen its hand before any real bargaining begins.

Rescue workers clear the rubble of a house destroyed in a Russian strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, late Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrii Marienko)

Despite the rejection, Ukrainian and Turkish officials say channels remain open and that Moscow has not completely shut the door on future engagement.

Even as global institutions remain cautious publicly, Ukrainian and Turkish officials say channels remain open and that Moscow has not completely shut the door on future engagement.

Fighting Intensifies as Diplomacy Advances

The timing of the talks is stark.

As Zelensky prepares to meet Erdogan, Ukraine continues to absorb heavy air attacks. Waves of drones and missiles have struck power stations, rail infrastructure and residential blocks, causing casualties and widespread damage. Ukrainian officials say the violence is designed to weaken morale and leverage ahead of negotiations.

Entire districts in multiple cities have been left without stable heat, water or electricity. Emergency crews are struggling to restore service as repeated strikes hit newly repaired infrastructure. Schools and hospitals have been forced onto limited generator power, while transportation corridors remain vulnerable.

Civilian displacement is again on the rise, with thousands seeking shelter in underground stations, reinforced bunkers and rural areas as air raid sirens echo nightly across the country. Local officials warn that prolonged outages and continued bombardment could turn an already severe humanitarian situation into a full-scale winter crisis.

Despite the dangers, rescue teams, utility workers and volunteers continue operating around the clockoften under threat of follow-up strikes.

In this photo, taken from a video and distributed by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, Russian servicemen hold Russian national flags leaving a plain after returning from captivity during a POWs exchange of a group of servicemen between Russia and Ukraine in an airport outside Moscow. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Prisoner Swaps Offer Narrow Opening

While a ceasefire remains uncertain, one path forward has emerged.

Negotiators are pressing quietly for a large-scale prisoner exchange that could become the first concrete outcome of the Turkey talks. Ukrainian officials, working through intermediaries in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, are seeking the release of up to 1,200 captured Ukrainians, including service members, medics and civilians held in Russian-controlled territory.

Officials familiar with the process say names and case files are already being vetted as part of an early confidence-building effort. Such exchanges have historically proven to be one of the only practical breakthroughs in an otherwise frozen diplomatic landscape, sometimes advancing even as broader negotiations stall.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, talk with U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Relatives of detained soldiers and civilians have organized vigils, contacted governments and humanitarian groups and flooded social media pleading for any progress. Many say they have received no proof of life in months.

Humanitarian organizations remain positioned in the background, prepared to assist with verification and transfer logistics if a deal is finalized.

Humanitarian and advocacy organizations remain positioned off the record, prepared to assist with verification and logistics if an agreement is finalized, though several declined to comment publicly due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.
A fight over who controls war powers is unfolding on Capitol Hill as House Democrats move to force a binding vote that could block President Donald Trump from launching or expanding military action in Venezuela without direct authorization from Congress.

The showdown is unfolding as the Trump administration carries out U.S. strikes it says are aimed at cartel and narcotics operations in the Caribbean, causing lawmakers to confront urgent questions about presidential authority, regional stability, and the risk of a wider conflict. Recent activity involving boat strikes and warship movements near Venezuela has raised questions about the administrations long-term goals and highlighted how quickly the mission could evolve.

While Democrats and the fake news have joined forces to push nonsense about President Trumps authority as commander in chief, the presidents actions to halt the scourge of narco-terrorism are consistent with his responsibility to protect Americans and pursuant to his constitutional authority, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Military.com. All actions comply fully with the law of armed conflict.

A senior administration official speaking on background said Congress has received briefings regarding the administrations actions and legal justification. Lawmakers have expressed competing interpretations of the administrations authority to act in the region.

House Select Committee on Intelligence ranking member Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn speaks during the committee's annual open hearing on worldwide threats, at the Capitol in Washington, March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

'Transparency and Accountability'

A new War Powers Resolution introduced by Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) is aimed at reasserting congressional authority over the use of force.

We cannot allow any president to unilaterally drag the United States into a conflict, Himes said in remarks provided to Military.com.

In the Senate, Democrat Andy Kim of New Jersey echoed that position.

Decisions of war belong with Congress and the American people, Kim told Military.com. Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable when American lives and global stability are at stake.

Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable when American lives and global stability are at stake.

Democrats argue the vote is necessary to protect the Constitution and prevent the United States from sliding into an undeclared conflict. Republicans counter that the president has broad authority to act against transnational criminal networks and armed groups that threaten American interests and allies.

Military.com contacted multiple U.S. House Republicans seeking comment on the matter.

The Pentagon is seen on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

The pending vote could force difficult decisions for members in swing districts and in states with major ports, military bases, and trade routes tied to the Caribbean basin.

Pentagon Pushes Back

The Pentagon insists the current mission is limited and legally justified.

These presidentially directed strikes were conducted against the operations of a designated terrorist organization and were taken in defense of vital U.S. national interests and in the collective self-defense of other nations, Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson told Military.com.

Wilson said the strikes took place in international waters and emphasized that no U.S. ground forces were deployed. He said precision targeting and strict rules of engagement were used to reduce risk to civilians and American personnel.

Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro speaks after receiving Guatemala's highest honor, the "Orden del quetzal," at the National Palace in Guatemala City, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Alarm Spreads Across Region

Latin American governments and regional organizations are closely monitoring developments as Washington debates its next move.

The Organization of American States (OAS) urged restraint and stressed the importance of preventing escalation in a region long defined by fragile stability and competing political currents. OAS is the worlds oldest regional organization, operating by four main pillars: democracy, human rights, security and development.

The Americas remain a zone of peace with no open wars, an OAS spokesperson told Military.com. Our shared responsibility is to preserve that peace through dialogue and cooperation.

The U.S. Capitol is seen behind the trees that have dropped most leaves, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Any continued rise in tensions could disrupt energy exports, maritime shipping routes, and regional migration patternsall of which flow through Caribbean corridors tied to U.S., Latin America and global trade networks.

House leadership is weighing whether to fast-track the War Powers Resolution for a vote. If it passes, the White House could face a direct challenge to its ability to continue or expand military operations without congressional backing.
This combo file photo shows the hanging coffin remains found in Zhaotong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua)

KUNMING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese-led study has uncovered a genetic lineage linking the mysterious practitioners of the millennium-old hanging coffin custom and a modern community in southwest China, shedding light on a broader genetic and cultural network underlying this distinctive mortuary tradition across southern China and Southeast Asia.

Published last Thursday in the scientific journal Nature Communications, the study is the first of its kind to confirm a direct genetic link between ancient hanging coffin practitioners and modern people at the nuclear genome level, according to the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ), Chinese Academy of Sciences, in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Practiced across southern China, Southeast Asia and the Pacific for approximately 3,000 years, the hanging coffin tradition is a distinctive culture featuring the placement of coffins on cliffs, in caves or rock crevices along rivers and steep mountainsides.

In China, this culture has often been associated with the ancient Bo people, a group that inhabited southwest China and largely vanished from the historical record by the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), said Zhang Xiaoming, a researcher at the KIZ and the study's corresponding author.

Noticing a proclaimed modern Bo community with similar traits in Yunnan Province, the research team performed whole-genome sequencing on 30 members of this community and conducted nuclear DNA analyses on human remains of 15 hanging-coffin individuals from sites in Yunnan, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and northern Thailand.

The study shows that approximately 43 percent to 79 percent of the genomic components of modern Bo individuals can be directly traced to the hanging-coffin population of the Zhaotong site in Yunnan, with other analyses indicating common ancestry of hanging coffin remains in China and Thailand, Zhang said.

The evidence supports a diffusion route of the hanging coffin culture that originated in east China's Fujian Province, proceeding to reach the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and Southeast Asia via human migration, he added.

Researchers found that two genetically different individuals buried 1,200 years ago in the Yunnan city of Zhaotong had shared the same hanging-coffin custom, said Zhou Hui, first author of the paper at the KIZ.

These two body remains were associated with ancient farmers of the Yellow River Basin and Northeast Asia, respectively, reflecting notable cultural inclusivity in the area during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Zhou said.

The research team will continue systematic sampling in both south China and Southeast Asia to build a comprehensive database -- integrating burial practices, population genetics and cultural transmission across China and Southeast Asia, she revealed. 

This combo file photo shows the scenes of life and sacrifice of modern Bo people in Qiubei County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo by Xie Peixia/Xinhua)

This file photo shows an archaeologist taking photos of the hanging coffin remains found in Zhaotong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
A public showdown between the Pentagon and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) has escalated into an official review that could place the retired Navy officer back under military authority altogether.

The Department of Defense is reviewing allegations of misconduct against Kelly, a retired Navy captain and astronaut, under military law after a video he appeared in urged U.S. troops to refuse what he described as illegal orders. The FBI is slated to interview Kelly and five other congressional Democrats in relation to a video they took part in, released encouraging U.S. military members to refuse to follow illegal orders, according to NBC News.

The review could lead to his recall to active duty for court-martial or other action. Past cases show resistance to recalling retired officers for court-martial in politically sensitive situations, as such actions risk blurring civil-military boundaries and setting lasting institutional precedent.

Kelly is joined by a small number of other Democratic lawmakers who have expressed similar concerns about military orders and legalities, including Sen. Elissa Slotkin (MI) and House Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, both of Pennsylvania.

President Donald Trump last week accused Kelly and his outspoken Democratic cohorts of seditious behavior, calling them traitors. In the old days, if you said a thing like that, that was punishable by death," Trump added.

The Pentagon, the headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense, is seen from the air, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

IG: No Congressional Request

The DoD Office of Inspector General confirmed to Military.com that it has not received any formal request from Congress to review or investigate Sen. Mark Kellys conduct in connection with the Pentagons ongoing review.

The DoD OIG has not received any request from Congress related to Senator Kelly, spokesperson Mollie F. Halpern told Military.com.

In a follow-up response, Halpern clarified that while no congressional request has been made, her office does not confirm nor deny the existence or status of any internal work, underscoring the sensitive and highly restricted nature of Inspector General operations during potential legal or administrative proceedings.

Pentagon Signals Possible Recall

Allegations of misconduct against Kelly have triggered a rare and formal Pentagon review under military law. The DoD said in posts on social media that it has received serious allegations of misconduct against Kelly and has opened a review under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Thats according to a Department of Defense statement shared on social media.

The Pentagon warned that retired service members remain subject to the UCMJ and cited federal law allowing recall of retirees under certain conditions. Military retirees can remain subject to military law even after leaving active service, meaning certain actions may still fall under the reach of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The Pentagon added that all service members must obey lawful orders and that a servicemembers personal philosophy does not justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.

Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies before the House Committee on Appropriations subcommittee oversight hearing on the Department of Defense, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Taking the Fight Online

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized Kelly after the video surfaced.

So Captain Kelly, not only did your sedition video intentionally undercut good order and discipline but you cant even display your uniform correctly, Hegseth wrote on X, adding, When or if you are recalled to active duty, itll start with a uniform inspection.

Hegseth said Kelly was the only person in the video who remains subject to military law, and accused him of bringing discredit upon the Armed Forces.

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., speaks during the Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be Defense secretary, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, file)

Kelly responded in a series of posts, leaning on his decades of military and government service while rejecting any claim that he violated orders or threatened good order and discipline.

He framed the Pentagons actions not as a legal matter but as political intimidation, pointing to his oath and warning about the danger of using military power to silence dissent.

When I was 22 years old, I commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy and swore an oath to the Constitution, Kelly wrote on social media, referencing his time in uniform and later service as a Navy test pilot and NASA astronaut.

Trump and his Administration are targeting me because I said something they didnt likebut I wont be intimidated into silence. Ive overcome challenges a lot tougher than Donald Trump or Pete Hegseth," he said.

Kelly also warned that rhetoric referencing execution, hanging and violent punishment carries real-world consequences, saying words from elected leaders could get someone hurt. Kelly's wife, former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, suffered a severe brain injury after being shot in the head in an assassination attempt during an event in her home state of Arizona in 2012.

Kelly described such language as reckless and un-American, and reiterated that his loyalty remains to the Constitution rather any single leader or administration.

Senior military officials have previously resisted the idea of recalling retired officers for court-martial in politically sensitive cases, warning that such actions risk blurring civil-military boundaries and setting a dangerous institutional precedent.
In the final months of World War II, a small team of American commandos parachuted into the mountains of northern Vietnam to train Ho Chi Minhs guerrillas to fight Japan. They were members of the OSS Deer Team, a short-lived mission that joined U.S. troops and Vietnamese revolutionaries against a common enemytwo decades before the United States would return to Vietnam as their adversary.

OSS Missions in the Jungles of Vietnam

In July 1945, the U.S. Office of Strategic Servicesthe wartime forerunner of the CIAsent an eight-man special operations team into northern Indochina to link up with the Viet Minh, the nationalist resistance fighting Japans occupation. Operating under the OSS China Theater command in Kunming, the mission was led by Maj. Allison K. Thomas.

On July 16, 1945, a C-47 flew the Americans over the mountains from China and dropped them by parachute into a clearing near Tan Trao, about 100 miles north of Hanoi. They were met by Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap and a contingent of Viet Minh fighters who led them to a nearby mountain village. Within days, the OSS men began training about 50 guerrillas in small-unit tactics, weapons use, demolitions, and first aid.

Air-dropped supplies from China equipped the group with M1 carbines, Thompson submachine guns, bazookas, mortars, and grenadesrare and highly needed weapons in the theater. Their goal was to build a trained local force to strike Japanese positions ahead of a planned Allied invasion of mainland Asia.

Members of the OSS Deer Team providing instruction to the Vietnamese on the use of the M-1 carbine, August 16, 1945. (National Archives)

The American-Vietnamese Alliance

Shortly after the Americans arrived, they met with Ho Chi Minh, who was already known to the OSS for rescuing and escorting a downed U.S. pilot the previous year. He was seriously ill, suffering from fever and stomach pain. Medic Paul Hoagland treated him with quinine, sulfa drugs, and penicillina combination that likely saved his life.

Ho was described as charismatic, curious, and friendly toward the Americans. He reportedly showed less warmth toward the French or French-speaking members of the group. According to OSS accounts, he singled out one of them, Lt. Montfort, saying, This man is not an American. Who are you trying to kid? This man is not part of the deal. Ho ordered Montfort and several others arrested and deported.

Despite the tension, Ho took a special liking to Maj. Thomas and often spoke about his years in the United States, where allegedly, he worked as a dishwasher in New York decades earlier. The OSS formally listed him as an agent under the codename Lucius, though the Deer Team simply called him Mr. Hoo.

Thomas later recalled that he once asked Ho to his face if he was a communist. Ho simply replied, Yes, I am. But we can still be friends, can't we? For the Americans on the ground, the Viet Minh were simply a local partner in the wars final campaign; their political ideology meant little.

OSS officers watch as Viet Minh troops practice throwing grenades. (National Archives)

Fighting the Japanese in Vietnam

By August 1945, Japans empire was collapsing but still had large numbers of troops in the region. OSS reports show that the Deer Team joined Viet Minh units in skirmishes near Tan Trao and Thai Nguyen. The Americans offered tactical advice as Gen. Vo Nguyen Giaps fighters used their newly supplied U.S. weapons against Japanese patrols.

Soon after, word of the atomic bombings on Japan reached the agents. To celebrate the oncoming end of the war and their recent victories, the American and Vietnamese troops celebrated by getting drunk together.

As Japans surrender approached, the Viet Minh moved to seize control of northern Vietnam. The OSS men watched the first days of the August Revolution, when Hos forces took power in towns and villages across the region. On Sept. 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered, ending the Deer Teams missionbut not the complications that would follow.

OSS agent Allison Thomas standing alongside members of the Viet Minh preparing for the march toward Hanoi, August 1945. (National Archives)

A New Nation and the Betrayal

On Sept. 2, 1945, Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Hanoi. Standing before thousands, he began his declaration by quoting directly from the U.S. Declaration of Independence: All men are created equal; they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.

According to OSS officer Archimedes Patti, Ho asked for a copy of Jeffersons declaration beforehand, and OSS staff in Hanoi provided one. The officials displayed American and Vietnamese flags and played the national anthems of both nations as a sign of friendship and cooperation.

On his last night in the country, Maj. Thomas dined with Ho, who told him, I want to thank each of you for what you have done for us. We are truly grateful. You are welcome to come back at any time. Ho allegedly gifted a signed copy of his declaration to Thomas.

French colonial officialsmany of them former Vichy officerssoon returned, demanding that Frances authority in Indochina be restored. They were furious that the Americans had worked with Hos partisans instead of them. OSS officers, including Patti, Thomas and the rest of the Deer Team were quickly pulled out and sent home.

By 1946, French troops were openly fighting the Viet Minhthe same guerrillas trained and supplied by American operatives only a year earlier.

From Allies to Enemies: The Indochina Wars

Through the late 1940s and early 1950s, Vietnam suffered the First Indochina Wara brutal conflict between Ho Chi Minhs Viet Minh and returning French colonial forces. Ho appealed repeatedly to Washington for help in securing Vietnams independence, even sending several letters to President Harry Truman directly. None were answered.

Facing pressure from Paris, the Truman and Eisenhower administrations chose to back France. By the early 1950s, the United States was paying nearly 80 percent of Frances war costs, supplying aircraft, weapons, and even transport pilots through the Civil Air Transport program. Despite that support, French forces were crushed at Dien Bien Phu in May 1954, ending nearly a century of colonial rule.

Captured French soldiers, escorted by Viet Minh troops, walk to a prisoner-of-war camp in Dien Bien Phu, 1954. (Wikimedia Commons)

At the Geneva Conference that summer, Vietnam was temporarily divided at the 17th Parallel. Ho Chi Minhs communist-led government ruled the North, while an anti-communist regime under Ngo inh Diem took power in the South. The two sides were supposed to hold nationwide elections in 1956 to reunify the country, but Diembacked by Washingtonrefused, fearing a Viet Minh victory.

Former Viet Minh fighters who remained in the South soon launched an insurgency with northern support. The United States responded by sending military advisers, weapons, and eventually combat troops to keep South Vietnam from falling. Ho began reaching out to China and the Soviet Union for support instead. The conflict became the Second Indochina War, better known as the Vietnam War, which raged for almost two decades before Saigon fell to communist forces in 1975.

For decades, the OSS Deer Teams mission was forgotten. Its files remained classified, and the devastation of the Vietnam War overshadowed the brief moment when Americans and Vietnamese fought on the same side. Many of the former OSS agents later expressed their regret and disappointment in how the Vietnamese were treated by the U.S. and for American intervention in the region.

When the story resurfaced in the 1990s through declassified OSS records and memoirs, historians recognized it as one of the strangest ironies in U.S. military history. The first Americans in Vietnam had fought alongside Ho Chi Minhs forces, not against them.
Not only did World War II veteran Dominic Bersani celebrate turning 99 years old on Nov. 20, but the former Navy Seabee received birthday surprises he will likely never forget.

Bersani, from East Greenbush, New York, was given an honorary diploma from Columbia High School and military medals during an event held by the Rev. Francis A. Kelley Military Honor Society and the Lois Wilson Memorial Breakfast Club at the Melvin Roads American Legion Post. He served as a fireman first class during the war.

Bersani received his diploma from the Operation Recognition Program, a project that helps veterans who never completed their high school education due to joining the service finally receive their long-overdue diplomas. He is now a proud graduate of Columbia Highs Class of 2025. He joined fellow veteran Abram Seeberger, 88, of Schodack, New York, who also received an honorary diploma earlier in the year.

Dominic Bersani was honored with a high school diploma and several meritorious medals for his Navy service during World War II. (Don Scott/Lois Wilson Memorial Breakfast Club)

Several distinguished veterans and veteran advocates attended the ceremony, including Kelley Society spokesman Tom Mullins, a military historian who presided over the event.

New York State Sen. Jacob Ashby, veteran of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, awarded Bersani the Asiatic-Pacific Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal, and read a proclamation to the Navy veteran.

In addition, retired Marine Sgt. Ken Wells handed Bersani his Navy Good Conduct Medal, Cold War Commemorative Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

Leaving School to Serve

Not fond of academics, Bersani left school in eighth grade while attending Norridgewock Junior High School in Maine.

I didnt like French lessons so much that on my last day of school, I threw the textbook down and quit school, Bersani told the Albany-Times Union. I immediately went to work in a shoe factory.

After spending a few years gluing soles to the bottom of shoes, Bersani joined the Navy. America had entered World War II, and he felt obligated to serve.

The day I turned 17, I joined the Navy, Bersani said.

Japanese forces were winning battles in the Pacific and getting dangerously close to U.S. soil. After Japan captured Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Islands in late spring 1943, both the U.S. and Canada sent troops to drive out the Rising Sun.

Part of the Seabees, Bersani was sent to Adak Island to construct a staging area complete with air bases, forts, and deep-water ports to assist in defense strategies to thwart Japanese forces from the string of islands off the southern coast of Alaska. Powered by 35,000 U.S. and Canadian troops, the allied forces drove out about 9,000 Japanese soldiers.

The Seabees, Naval Construction Battalions, were vital during the Second World War, constructing military infrastructure and lending a hand in combat missions throughout both the Pacific and European theaters. The Seabees' motto is Can Do! and members certainly lived up to it during the war.

Seabee Chief Earl I. Cobb and Marine raider Cpl. Charles L. Marshall shake hands at the site of a sign erected near Bougainville's traveled "Marine Drive Hi-Way." (Photo from Department of Defense archives)

Navy Calls Again

After the war, Bersani served in the Aleutians until he received an honorable discharge in 1946. He came home to Maine and his job in the shoe factory.

Bersani reenlisted in the Navy in 1949 and was promoted to ship serviceman third class. He was stationed in Florida where he worked on fixing and shipping landing crafts off to the Navy during the Korean War.

With Cold War tensions on the rise, Bersani was deployed to missions in Cuba and the Caribbean in 1954 before receiving another honorable discharge.

Following his military career, Bersani became a bridge builder, working for Cinbro Construction in Maine. He later retired and relocated to East Greenbush. Seven decades removed from the service, Bersani is still active in local veterans groups.
Glossy ibises are pictured at Qionghai National Wetland Park in Xichang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Nov. 11, 2025. (Xinhua)

CHENGDU, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of bird species at Qionghai Lake in the city of Xichang in southwest China's Sichuan Province has reached a record high of 310 this year, with a growing number of migratory birds becoming permanent residents thanks to improved ecological conditions, local authorities said on Sunday.

The Qionghai National Wetland Park conservation center reported the increase -- attributing it to enhanced environmental restoration and reduced human disturbance. Yang Jun, a senior engineer with Xichang's forestry and grassland bureau, said that seven migratory species, including the Eurasian coot, white-breasted waterhen and Asian openbill, have now settled as residents.

Monitoring data showed that the lake had hosted 120 bird species in 2014, with the figure rising to 302 by 2024 before hitting the current total of 310. Among these species, five are first-class and 47 second-class nationally protected birds -- including rare species like the purple swamphen and Chinese merganser, which are thriving at this lake.

Qionghai Lake, Sichuan's second-largest inland lake, faced severe degradation from the 1960s to 1990s due to land reclamation, shrinking its size and slashing the number of bird species there to just over 20. Recent conservation efforts, such as projects to restore lakeside zones, relocate more than 50,000 residents and create 20,000 mu (about 1,333 hectares) of wetlands -- have revived over 30 kilometers of natural shorelines.

Bird-watchers have noted expanded habitats and increased diversity in this area, with Qionghai now listed among Sichuan's top bird-watching sites. China, a key migratory corridor with four out of nine major global flyways, has established more than 2,200 wetland protected areas and 82 internationally important wetlands -- maintaining stable wetland coverage amid international environmental commitments. 

A bird flies over the water at Qionghai National Wetland Park in Xichang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Nov. 17, 2025. (Xinhua)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Captain Benjamin Trudell was the first captain at the Grand Marais Lifesaving station. One of Captain Trudell's most notable rescues was that of the steamer South Shore on the morning of November 23, 1912. Trudell is pictured here (far left) with his crew outside of the old Grand Marais Lifesaving Station. (NPS) NPS

GRAND MARAIS, MI -- On a snowy November morning, 113 years ago, a lifesaving rescue took place on Lake Superior that would go down in maritime history.

On the morning of November 23, 1912, the crew at the Grand Marais Lifesaving Station spotted the steamer South Shore during the crews regular patrol on the Upper Peninsula shoreline.

Despite the steamer not flying distress flags, Captain Benjamin Trudell had a gut feeling they needed help after the harrowing storm the night before. He sent his crew out on a rescue mission, according to the National Park Service.

Trudells instincts were correct.

The South Shore had been adrift in the snow and wind for 8 hours after the rough seas had destroyed her wheelhouse stoves and put out her fires, according to NPS.

We were right in the graveyard of the Great Lakes and we knew it, one person recounted to the Marquette Mining Journal.

Michigan author and historian Mikel B. Classen writes about the night before from the perspective of South Shore captain Ora Endress and those on board.

He describes waves beating against the ship and rolling over the decks.

The power of Lake Superior opened the ships seams and swept away part of the cabin house. The raging surf broke out windows and covered the steamer in a sheet of ice, according to Classen.

With the boiler fires extinguished the South Shore was without power. The four passengers and ten crewmen were adrift in the big lake.

The wet and cold passengers and crew all manned the hand pumps, trying to keep the beleaguered ship afloat, Classen wrote.

Trudells crew arrived to the floundering steamer on the stations new motor-powered surfboat, named the Audacity, according to Classen.

Crews attempted to save the ship, attempting to reignite the boiler fire and even tossing precious cargo  the towns entire supply of beer for the winter, according to NPS.

The South Shore ran supply runs from Whitefish Point, Vermillion, the Two-Hearted River, Grand Marais and Au Sable Point.

Ultimately, the ship could not be saved but the 14 souls on board were safely taken ashore.

Trudell and his crew were commended for their efforts and bravery by the U.S. Lifesaving Service in their 1912 annual report, according to NPS.

More Great Lakes: Long before The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald the Mighty Fitz was a Great Lakes marvel

Trudell, the Lifesaving Stations first captain in 1900, earned a reputation for heroics during his tenure.

A postcard photo from 1910 shows a crew rowing through rolling waves and is captioned Captain Trudell and his Gallant Crew going to relief ship in distress, Grand Marais, Michigan.

Trudells adventures made the papers at the time. One story that lives on is Trudell catching a band of rumrunners on Isle Royale during Prohibition.

Its said that Trudell later revealed he would have premonitions before rescues.

Trudell said he dreamt of Peter G. Minch, the millionaire owner of the Western Reserve, washing up on shore the day before the steel ship went down in August 1892.

This summer, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society announced it discovered the Western Reserve shipwreck, 132 years after its sinking, in Lake Superior about 60 miles northwest of Whitefish Point.

For more Great Lakes lore check out this eerily intact Lake Huron shipwreck that still has coal in its cargo hold after 157 years.
The northwest side of U.S. 12 between Case Road and Willow Road in Saline Township  part of a site where Texas-based Related Digital has proposed building a data center for ChatGPT creator OpenAI and multinational tech firm Oracle  as seen looking south from above Case Road on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. (Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com) Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Fueled by a boom in artificial intelligence and the nations insatiable demand for cloud computing, Michigan is plunging into an era of massive data centers.

Across the state, developers are pitching the sprawling facilities for Big Tech housing digital infrastructure, promising billions in investment but stoking local opposition along the way.

Farmland south of Ann Arbor could host the states first large-scale project, a collaboration between ChatGPT creator OpenAI and multinational tech firm Oracle that will be developed by Related Digital.

That 2.2-million-square-foot data center in Saline Township  and others proposed nearby  could demand more power than some cities, raising environmental worries and concern over their effect on electric prices.

Why now? Whats coming next? Heres all you need to know about the data center debate as it touches down in Michigan.

What is a data center?

Data centers are essentially warehouses full of computer hardware  servers, data storage systems and networking equipment.

Theyre the physical backbone of the internet. Anything that takes place in the cloud is powered by a data center. It underpins the entire 21st century economy, said Dan Diorio, vice president of state policy for the Data Center Coalition, an industry group.

Theyve been around for decades. Michigan has dozens, according to one public tally. Some are built into businesses or rented out to tenants. But many are on the smaller side.

Now, data centers are getting much, much bigger. The rise of artificial intelligence is supercharging a wave of investment in hyperscale data centers, distinguished by their size and power demand. Just one can draw as much electricity as an entire city.

Big tech companies like Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft and AI startups like OpenAI are driving a frenzy of data center development, pushing forward these massive projects. Thats what is just beginning to touch Michigan now.

Fast computations, AI training  thats really demanding, said Mohammed Ben-Idris, a professor in electrical and computer engineering at Michigan State University. The size is increasing exponentially.

What do data centers look like?

It varies, but from the outside the biggest data center projects often look like windowless, single-story factories or fulfillment centers.

Ben-Idris once toured a data center in Nevada run by Switch, which operates Michigans largest existing data center near Grand Rapids. He passed through security he called more stringent than an airport checkpoint and observed aisles of server racks. Some stretched so long he couldnt see the end.

An aerial view of the Switch data center campus near the corner of 60th Street SE and East Paris Avenue in Gaines Twp., Mich. on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Switch, a Las Vegas-based company, bought the former Steelcase Pyramid in 2015 and turned it into a data center. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com

Just how big are the buildings?

By some estimates, hyperscale projects can be about the size of two large Meijer stores, said Sarah Mills, an urban planning professor who directs the University of Michigans Center for EmPowering Communities.

Why am I just now hearing about data centers in Michigan?

Several factors may be at play. For one, Michigan lawmakers recently took steps to lure the largest data centers to Michigan, and theyre bearing fruit.

In 2024, they passed tax breaks exempting large data center equipment and construction material from the states sales and use tax. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the law, and it took effect in April.

Before that, Michigan was not even in the running for projects, said Steve DelBianco, president and CEO of the tech industry group NetChoice.

Dozens of states have similar incentives, and DelBianco says other industries, like agriculture, get similar treatment already in Michigan. But critics of the law likened it to a corporate handout and pointed to existing data center incentives that were slow to generate promised jobs.

Legislative estimates indicate the tax breaks could reduce state revenue by more than $90 million by 2065. So far, no data center has applied for the new incentives. DelBianco maintains they cost nothing to the state, because it had zero large-scale data center interest prior to the law.

Besides the tax advantages, data center developers may be looking to expand beyond clusters of existing facilities, like data center alley in northern Virginia, where there are more than anywhere else in the world.

Doing so could allow them to tap into local power grids with capacity to serve them, and geographic diversity is good for reliability, according to Ben-Idris.

Developers are likely looking for areas with access to the transmission grid and will often target farmland. Its already cleared and offers a cheaper option, Mills said. Theyre moving at breakneck speed to get projects ready.

Where are data centers proposed in Michigan?

Data center projects  and fierce local opposition  have packed township halls and local government meeting rooms in several corners of Michigan this year.

MLive identified at least 14 potential sites, but that includes locations like tracts of land purchased by Microsoft in West Michigan where no project has officially been proposed.

Details often come to light when projects apply for local zoning approval. Even then, developers often keep the tech companies that will use the data centers secret until later on.

That is, unless local officials spill the beans, as happened with a project reportedly for Facebook and Instagram owner Meta proposed in Howell Township.

So far this year, developers have made pitches in Livingston, Washtenaw, Kalkaska, Monroe, Ingham and Kalamazoo counties. But some are in limbo after public pushback or have been withdrawn entirely.

The Saline Township project is the first Michigan hyperscale data center project to get the green light and move toward construction. Developers want to start building in early 2026.

Theres reason to believe more are on the way.

Michigan utilities have trumpeted the potential for others deals to serve big data centers to their investors, and they stand to profit. The Trump administration wants more of them to support AI. And tech companies are pouring billions into the projects around the country.

The spending spree has caused some to worry about an AI bubble that could pop and send the stock market tumbling. But others see it as a major driver of economic growth.

These companies are building these under the assumption the demand will be huge. Were not going back, at least in the use of AI, said Ben-Idris.

Who approves data centers?

Theres no statewide system or plan for where data centers go.

Siting decisions fall to local communities like cities and township that see a data center proposal. Their governing boards make decisions on rezoning requests and building plans.

Residents opposed to a data center reportedly for Facebook owner Meta, developed by Randee, LLC in Livingston County's Howell Township, observe a township meeting at Rod Bushey Performing Arts Center, located at 1200 W. Grand River Ave., on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Abra Richardson

Under the law, a community cant ban a particular, lawful land use like data centers if theres a demonstrated need for it, according to Mills.

When Saline Township initially voted to deny the OpenAI project, developers and landowners leaned on that fact to sue the township. It quickly settled.

State officials have oversight of other aspects of data center development. The projects often employ backup generators run on diesel or natural gas, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy would issue emissions permits, as well as any permits for water and wastewater discharge, according to Mills.

The Michigan Public Service Commission oversees deals between data centers and utilities for power.

How much electricity does a data center use?

It can be a lot.

Typical AI-focused hyperscale data centers being developed now can draw 100 megawatts or more, as much power as 100,000 households, according to the International Energy Agency.

But the largest projects can require 20 times as much. The OpenAI and Oracle data center in Saline Township is expected to peak at 1.4 gigawatts.

Thats a projected 25% increase in electric sales for DTE, Michigans largest utility, and a draw thats equivalent to the output of an entire nuclear power plant. DTEs CEO has said its the largest single customer in its nearly 140-year history.

The utility is also in late-stage talks with other data centers bringing double the electric demand of the OpenAI project, DTE executives say.

Across the state, Consumers Energy has fielded inquires from data center developers totaling about double the peak demand of its entire Lower Peninsula grid. So far, it has reached an agreement to serve an unnamed data center adding up to 1 gigawatt in demand over the coming years.

Many projects wont come to fruition as developers shop around for the best locations, but data centers could still strain the grid.

Theyre helping drive national electric consumption to record highs and could reach 12% of U.S. electric demand by 2028, up from about 4% today, according to a federal report. Data centers arent the only source of new power demand, with electric vehicle adoption and manufacturing also contributing.

But together, the growth is nearing levels last reached in the 1950s and 60s with the advent of home appliances and widespread adoption of air conditioning.

Will big data centers increase power bills in Michigan?

Its too early to say for sure, but consumer watchdogs want to make sure Michigan is spared.

They point to examples in other states where utility customers have paid for power lines benefiting data centers or faced increased costs as demand from the facilities tightens available electric supply.

Massive additions to the grid come with risks for utilities  and their customers, Michigan experts say.

The poles, wires and substations necessary for a big data center can total hundreds of millions of dollars, and utilities might also have to build new power plants. But that takes a while, and those costs are often spread across all ratepayers.

If the data center demand doesnt show up as expected, or economic changes force a facility out of business, costs could end up falling on other customers. Michigan utilities plan to use safeguards to avoid so-called stranded assets  provisions like minimum monthly charges regardless of how much power a data center uses and exit fees if they shut down early.

Theres still concern about other utility costs, particularly those for high-voltage transmission lines and power plants.

The way in which we have been allocating those costs generally wont work with data centers, said Douglas Jester, managing partner of consulting firm 5 Lakes Energy and an expert in energy policy.

Regulators will have to work with utilities to modify those formulas, or utilities will have to ensure the ratio of new costs and new electric sales from serving data centers will result in existing customers paying less or breaking even, he said.

Thats what DTE claims will happen with the OpenAI project. The utility has promised it will not raise rates for other customers and will actually increase affordability. The data center will pay to install grid-sized batteries to help meet demand.

State regulators with the Michigan Public Service Commission have said this upside is one possible outcome from data center demand, as the fixed costs of running the grid are spread out over a wider customer base.

A Michigan Public Service Commission meeting at Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills on Monday, Oct. 27 2025. Regulators on the commission say they want to prevent data center projects from increasing power bills for Michiganders. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

The industry is fully committed to paying our full cost of service for electricity, said Diorio, with the Data Center Coalition.

Industry groups point to recent research finding increased electricity demand can lower prices, but other papers point to ways other customers are subsidizing data centers. Some studies warn of price hikes.

In Michigan, a slew of advocates, including Attorney General Dana Nessel, want regulators to force DTE to slow down and disclose the underlying calculations that it used to arrive at the conclusion the Saline Township data center wont jack up rates before approving its deal to serve it.

Its a credible claim that the data center will dilute costs for other customers, but DTE has yet to prove it, Jester said.

Adding the data center load is something that can be done without shifting costs on other customers, as long as the utility and the regulators work to make it so, he added.

What do data centers mean for the environment?

Environmentalists worry skyrocketing power demand will knock Michigan off course from state goals to reduce reliance on planet-warming fossil fuels.

We need to make sure that we are not betting the future of our environment and the future of the Michigan economy on a speculative market cycle, said Bryan Smigielski, an organizer with the Sierra Club in the state.

Protesters rally against data centers outside a Michigan Public Service Commission meeting at Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills on Monday, Oct. 27 2025. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

So far, big utilities say they remain on track to meet rapidly approaching benchmarks for clean and renewable energy, and they wont put off planned closures of dirty coal power plants.

But thats happened in other states, and some advocates say it will be a challenge for utilities to keep building out elevated quantities of renewable wind and solar power with delays in the supply chain and extended time it takes to connect to the grid.

Major utilities are required to file plans showing how they will meet demand in 2026.

Data centers can also be big water users, raising the specter of taxing local groundwater or the Great Lakes. Some are cooled by systems based on evaporation, drawing hundreds of thousands of gallons a day.

Others, like the Saline Township project, employ closed loop equipment that recycles water with a coolant, limiting usage to that of a typical office building.

What benefits do data centers bring?

The largest data center projects can total billions of dollars, offering a tax windfall and jobs.

For a rural township, its pretty gigantic, at least in the short term, Mills said.

Developers promise tax revenue for Saline Township that will at least double its annual budget through the OpenAI project, in addition to more than $14 million in other benefits from a legal settlement that allowed it to proceed. Schools will also get a major tax boost.

Mills still advises local governments to try to lock in tax benefit promises, as its possible the guidance for how data center equipment loses value over time will shift.

Data center construction can mean massive numbers of jobs. Up to 2,500 are expected in Saline Township, per Whitmers office. But afterwards, employment at the largely autonomous facilities can be much smaller. The largest data centers generally employ fewer than 150 workers, while some have less than 25, per reporting from Business Insider.

The Saline Township project promises 450 on-site jobs, according to Whitmers office.

The data center industry also touts further indirect economic impact and ongoing opportunities for local contractors, electricians, plumbers and HVAC technicians as data centers are maintained.

More broadly, data centers support technology we rely on every day, from online banking to email to health care systems, industry boosters say. They point to potential medical breakthroughs and other advancements from AI, powered by the facilities.

Whats it like to live next to a data center?

This is a hard question to answer without a specific project in mind.

During construction, the influx of workers can increase traffic, though afterward it should be minimal, according to Mills.

Some data center neighbors in other states have complained about noise from facility back-up generators or cooling systems. Data centers normally run around the clock. But the jurys still out, in part because cooling technology is quickly evolving, Mills said.

Communities should be asking about the noise profiles of data centers and requiring developers to show sound modeling studies, she said. Any nuisance might also be minimized by distance between the facility and neighbors.

Editors note: This story was revised after initial publication to reflect an updated tally of potential data center projects.
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI  A man accused of attempting to abduct a woman from a Meijer gas station parking lot was arraigned today.

Scott Gensler, 51, of Benzie County, is charged with kidnapping related to the incident that occurred around 8:30 a.m. Sunday outside the gas station in Garfield Township, just outside of Traverse City.

The victim, a 21-year-old Florida woman, appears to have been selected at random. Police do not believe this case is related to human trafficking.

The victim had no prior knowledge of the defendant at all, Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg said during the arraignment via Zoom in 86th District Court. Frankly, its the type of crime that terrorizes a community.

RELATED: Witnesses helped ID suspect in Northern Michigan kidnapping attempt, police say

Genslers bond was set at $500,000 cash/surety. If released, he will be under house arrest with a GPS tether; he would be allowed to leave his home for work, doctors appointments and meetings with his court-appointed lawyer.

Gensler has no prior criminal history.

During the arraignment, Prosecutor Noelle Moegennberg called the incident extremely violent and suggested it would have been much worse if bystanders hadnt stepped in to help the victim.

The crime was captured by the gas stations surveillance system, she added.

RELATED: Police arrest suspect after attempted abduction in Meijer gas station parking lot

The suspect fled the gas station, and dispatchers put out a BOL (be on the lookout) with the suspects vehicle description and its direction of travel. Gensler was arrested shortly after 10 a.m. near Chums Corners.
North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Mich., an old prison, became the largest ICE detention center in the Midwest this year. (Photo by Rose White | MLive) Rose White | MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - As immigration detention has swelled, a growing number of people are suing the federal government over a new policy thats keeping them locked up indefinitely, unable to seek release on bond.

Since July, more than 200 people have filed federal cases in Michigan challenging their detention, many held in a former Northern Michigan prison that became a massive new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, facility earlier this year.

Thats a big spike from the two cases, known as habeas corpus petitions, that were brought in Michigans federal courts from January to July this year.

The flood of new petitions is fighting a new Trump administration policy that makes more undocumented immigrants ineligible for bond. This means they could be held for months, or even years, while waiting for a court hearing.

Theyre in the country without permission, but thats a civil issue, said Robert Alvarez, an attorney from Avanti Law Group based in Wyoming, Michigan. Its not a criminal issue. And yet theyre being treated like criminals. Theyre being incarcerated indefinitely.

Related: Mom locked up at big Michigan ICE facility fights detention with class-action suit

Almost all the habeas corpus petitions have been brought individually.

But a class-action lawsuit filed Nov. 17 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan aims to bring relief to a swath of immigrants who crossed the border without permission but have lived in the country for much of their lives and have no criminal history or orders for removal.

A Nov. 23 court filing says the no-bond policy creates a system of mass, indefinite, mandatory detention that Congress never authorized and the Constitution does not tolerate.

New policy

The new ICE policy, which rolled out in July, expands whats called mandatory detention.

Historically, this only applied to those arrested at the U.S. border or immigrants convicted of serious crimes.

But the federal government has argued the law allows ICE to detain anyone without bond who was not lawfully admitted into the United States, and it does not solely apply to those physically crossing the border.

After the directive rolled out, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons told Fox News that migrants caught at the border have been using the bond system to be released while they wait for their court date in 2037, 2035. But they never show up for court.

Research from several years ago shows the opposite: 86% of immigrants released on bond show up for their hearings.

Related: After ICE detained Michigan man for 2 months, judge calls it fundamentally unfair

Its unclear how many people in total have been stuck in detention because of the new policy, but the ACLU estimates it impacts millions of undocumented immigrants. Federal data also shows theres been a big drop in detainees getting bond  going from 12% in April to 3.4% in September.

Alavarez believes this is a tactic from the Trump administration to keep people locked up until they just give up and leave on their own.

Its crazy that were in this position here in the United States, he said.

Under Trump, detention numbers swell

The new policy seems to align with President Donald Trumps effort to escalate immigration enforcement and deport a million people a year.

And its likely one of the reasons why the number of people being held in ICE detention hit an all-time record high of 65,135 in mid-November  a 68% increase from a year prior.

To accommodate these growing numbers, the Trump administration has been opening mass detention centers throughout the country, including the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin.

The old Lake County prison, run by private prison firm GEO Group, was turned into the largest immigration facility in the Midwest with 1,800 beds in June.

Its one of four old prisons reactivated with ICE contracts this year by GEO Group, which reported $1.9 billion in revenue the first nine months of 2025. Executive Chairman George Zoley told investors that its ICE detention centers are operating almost at full capacity.

Theyre churning out deportations almost at the rate of approximately 100% of their capacity per month, he said. Weve never seen anything like this before. Our existing facilities are full throttle.

Related: In rural Michigan, a prison is reopening as biggest ICE detention hub in Midwest

GEO Group is also expecting to land more lucrative ICE deals as the federal government aims to ramp up detention capacity from 41,500 to 100,000 beds. The Trump administration allocated $45 billion to this effort in a sprawling July spending and tax bill.

Since June, North Lakes population has grown quickly.

It was holding an estimated average of 416 immigrant detainees in mid-September. That jumped to an average of 1,263 people as of Nov. 10, according to the latest data released by ICE.

The vast majority of those at North Lake, 89%, have no criminal record, ICE data shows.

Mother of four sues federal government

One of those people is Evangelina Morales, a single mother of four U.S. citizen children who brought the class-action lawsuit.

Morales, at the age of 6, came to the U.S. with her parents, who crossed the border without permission in 2001. By 15, she was on her own, caring for her 11 siblings after her parents were deported to Mexico.

The lawsuit says Morales has spent the past two decades building deep family and community ties in Michigan. Described as a devoted mother, shes raising her children alone after their father  also a U.S. citizen  left the family.

Morales, held at North Lake since getting arrested by ICE on Oct. 28, was denied a bond hearing.

Her detention was deemed mandatory under the new policy, the lawsuit said, because she was misclassified as an arrival alien, rather than a longtime resident.

For the past months, her sister has been taking care of her children. Two of them, who have been diagnosed with autism, need extra care, her attorneys said.

The defendants in the lawsuit are U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and ICE Detroit Field Office Director Kevin Raycraft.

None of the agencies responded to a request for comment.

Lawsuits stack up

The Michigan lawsuit brought to challenge the new policy is seeking class status for immigrants who are being held at two ICE detention facilities in West Michigan, the North Lake Processing Center and Calhoun County Jail.

Alvarez said the case is not trying to get everyone released tomorrow, but its fighting for immigrants to get bond hearings to present a case and show evidence they are not a flight risk and dont have a criminal record.

It joins the 218 individual habeas corpus petitions that have been brought in Michigan since July, according to an MLive analysis of federal court records. Most of these are not public because of personal information contained in the filings, but the judges rulings are published.

Related: Dad with leukemia released after judge rules he was illegally detained by ICE

And so far, immigrants have been winning these cases one at a time.

Theres been 148 habeas corpus petitions brought in the District of Western Michigan. Fifty-five cases have been closed, including 35 in which judges ordered ICE to either release immigrants immediately or give them a bond a hearing.

One involved a Mexican woman who has been in the U.S. since 2007. A decade ago, she applied for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals  a program that provided protection to undocumented immigrants who entered the country as children  but was denied because she couldnt prove how long shed been in the country.

U.S. Border Patrol arrested her at the end of September and sent her to North Lake. She was denied a bond hearing when a Detroit immigration judge said his hands were tied by the Board of Immigration Appeals affirming the new policy in September.

On Oct. 31, a federal judge granted her petition.

Alvarez says that the underlying legal theory behind these rulings are very favorable to the position that the new policy should be stopped.

Most of the remaining closed cases in West Michigan were either dismissed voluntarily or because the detainees had been released. One petition, brought on behalf of 97 immigrants who were transferred to North Lake from a controversial detention facility in Broadview, Illinois, was dismissed because the petition only included their initials.

A similar class action lawsuit was brought in September by immigration advocacy groups in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine and New Hampshire.
Witnesses reportedly help nab the suspect in Sundays kidnapping attempt on Sunday, Nov. 23, outside a Meijer gas station along U.S. 31. (MLive File Photo)

GARFIELD TWP., MI  Witnesses reportedly helped nab the suspect in Sundays kidnapping attempt outside a Meijer gas station along U.S. 31, according to police.

A 51-year-old man from Benzie County was arrested Sunday, Nov. 23, after he allegedly tried to abduct a woman at around 8:30 a.m. in the station parking lot in Garfield Township just outside of Traverse City.

On Monday afternoon, 9 and 10 News reported bystanders at the gas station were able to help identify the man after he was arrested. Michigan State Police and deputies from the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Department had canvassed the area looking for the suspects vehicle Sunday when he was stopped shortly after 10 a.m. south of the attempted abduction site at Chums Corners.

The Benzie County man is accused of attempting to take a 21-year-old woman from Florida, 9 & 10 News reported. The suspect did not know the woman, according to police, and the attempted kidnapping was believed to be a random act and not a human trafficking issue.

The suspect had not been identified and was expected to be arraigned on charges Tuesday, Nov. 25. He was lodged at the Grand Traverse County Jail.

More information was expected to be released as the investigation continued.
A Pittsfield Township man who was banned from commodities trading for three years has been accused of violating that ban and of lose hundreds of thousands of dollars of his clients money while making promises that their investments were guaranteed.

Contrary to Brian Mitchells representations and those of his partner, a Maryland man named Kevin Mack Jr., they were not successful traders, according to a complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Both men are listed as defendants in the complaint.

In fact, between December 2020 and May 2022, their trading on behalf of pool participants through their company Young Pros Investment Group LLC resulted in losses in the majority of months that they traded, the complaint said. Of the approximately $1 million traded on behalf of pool participants, Defendants lost over $750,000.

To conceal those losses, the complaint said, the two men issued false monthly account statements and paid earlier investors out of the money deposited by new investors in the manner of a Ponzi-scheme.

The two men have paid some of that money back and, in February, were ordered by the Maryland Securities Commissioner to pay back $650,000 still outstanding.

Earlier this month, the FBI published a notice that it was investigating a possible fraud scheme involving Young Pros Investment Group (YPIG), My Nest Egg, and other investment activity by Brian Mitchell, a Michigan resident and was looking for information on possible victims.

Mitchell did not respond to a message left at a phone number listed for him in public records. Mack did not respond to messages left by phone and email.

Mitchell was temporarily banned from commodity trading in 2017 and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine. He received another temporary ban in 2021 and a $150,000 fine after he was accused of violating the first ban.
Detention cells inside the North Lake prison near Baldwin. Now called the North Lake Processing Center, it's serving as a mass immigrant detention center for ICE. MLive file photo.

ANN ARBOR, MI  A legal team from the University of Michigan is fighting for the rights of four immigrants whove been detained for months at the North Lake Processing Center near Baldwin.

All four men first came to the United States years ago  from Mexico and Guatemala  and have deep family ties here, no criminal records, and are active, contributing members of their communities, according to the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative at the UM Law School.

CRLI argues they should get the chance to go home and be with their families as their deportation cases are pending.

A federal judge in Detroit sided with them Monday, Nov. 24, ordering the four men are entitled to a hearing to determine whether they should be released on bond.

UMs legal team called it a victory for justice and a setback for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has taken a stance that immigrants detained by ICE must remain incarcerated while their deportation cases proceed.

This ruling confirms what we have always known  everyone in the United States is entitled to due process, regardless of their citizenship status, Nithya Arun, a CRLI student attorney who argued the case, said in a statement.

I am delighted that our clients now have the opportunity to return home, she said. Putting longtime residents who serve their families and communities in detention is not only unlawful, but also a cruel abuse of power.

U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Leitman ordered Kevin Raycraft, acting director of enforcement and removal operations at ICEs Detroit field office, to release the four men by Tuesday, Dec. 2, unless they have received a bond hearing by then.

Hearings are now scheduled for next Tuesday at the immigration court in Detroit, said UM law professor Michael Steinberg, CRLI director. The only matter to be decided Tuesday is whether they can go home while their deportation cases proceed, he said.

The court will consider whether theyre a danger to the community or a flight risk, and theyre neither, Steinberg said.

We feel pretty confident, he said. Our case is one of many like this and in almost all the cases, the clients go home.

Inmate cell inside the North Lake prison near Baldwin. Now called the North Lake Processing Center, it's serving as a mass immigrant detention center for ICE. MLive file photo. Cory Morse | MLive.com

All four men want to remain in the U.S. and have viable defenses against the removal proceedings, he said.

In Mondays order granting writ of habeas corpus, the judge described the four immigrants as noncitizens who entered the U.S. unlawfully years ago and who have resided here without incident ever since.

In August and September, federal law enforcement officers encountered and detained them as they were going about their daily lives  heading to work, riding in cars with family members and driving with friends, court records state.

Three of them were living in the suburbs of Detroit and one was living in the suburbs of Chicago, Arun said. Three were pulled over by ICE agents  two by undercover ICE agents  and one by the Troy Police Department, she said.

One was carpooling to his job as a roofer when the car was pulled over by ICE agents, court records state.

In the case of the Troy traffic stop on Aug. 28, a Troy officer notified ICE an immigrant in the country without legal authorization was brought into lockup, and ICE took custody the next day, court records state.

The four men, whose identities CRLI wants to protect at this time, are among about 1,200 immigrants detained at the northern Michigan facility run by a private prison company. Across the country, the number of ICE detainees recently swelled to a reported record high of 66,000 as the Trump administration has poured billions into boosting detention space.

Mom locked up at big Michigan ICE facility fights detention with class-action suit

While the four men in the University of Michigan case have viable arguments for remaining in the country, the government refused to provide them bond hearings in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act and the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment, according to CRLI.

ICE argued they were properly detained and disagreed their due process rights were violated.

"ICE is abducting our coworkers; what will we do about it?" reads a flier posted along a sidewalk in downtown Ann Arbor on Nov. 12, 2025. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Mondays court order sided with CRLI on statutory grounds without getting into the constitutional claims.

The ruling follows a wave of similar cases nationwide, and to date more than 100 decisions have held it is unlawful to mandatorily detain immigrants who pose neither a danger to the community nor a flight risk, according to CRLI.

Theres attacks on undocumented people coming from all areas, and the recent changes in policy have led to hundreds and hundreds of people being wrongfully detained when they could be back home with their families and providing for their families, Steinberg said.

Court records indicate one of the men, a citizen of Mexico, has been in the U.S. since at least 2007 and is now 41. He is a father of three daughters who are U.S. citizens, court records state.

Another is a citizen of Mexico who entered the U.S. around 1988 when he was 15 and has lived here since and has four stepchildren who are U.S. citizens, court records state.

Another is a citizen of Guatemala who came to the U.S. when he was 15 and has lived here since at least 2021, and another is a citizen of Mexico who came to the U.S. around 2008 when he was 7, court records state.

A lot of the rhetoric pertaining to immigrants tends to dehumanize them, Arun said. Throughout the process of bringing forth the lawsuit and presenting their case to the judge, the aim has been to humanize them, she said.

These are people who have families, she said. One of our clients has a 1-year-old daughter who he doesnt get to see because hes incarcerated. Another one of our clients has major health problems. So, these are people who are suffering for no good reason.

In addition to Arun and Steinberg, the four men were represented by student attorneys Alex Jarecki, Erin Duffy and Johnathan Johnson, as well as Shahad Atiya of Atiya Law.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page.
At right, Ann Arbor City Council Members Jon Mallek and Chris Watson chat, while, at left, Mayor Christopher Taylor, Mayor Pro Tem Travis Radina and Council Member Dharma Akmon chat before the council meeting Nov. 17, 2025. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

ANN ARBOR, MI  Ann Arbors mayor and City Council ward representatives are in line for pay raises.

The citys Local Officers Compensation Commission met Monday, Nov. 24, to determine salaries for the citys elected leaders for the next two years.

Mayor Christopher Taylor currently makes $54,233 per year and that should grow 2.9% each of the next two years, the commission decided in a 4-0 vote.

That would increase the mayors pay to $55,805 for the 2026-27 fiscal year starting next July, then $57,423 the following year.

The commission is still working, as it has been for several years, to decrease the pay gap between the mayor and the 10 other council members, who now make 60% of what the mayor makes with their salaries at $32,540.

Their salaries were proposed to stay at the 60% ratio, but the commission decided Monday to set a new goal to gradually increase the percentage to 67.5% over the next few years.

That means setting council member salaries at $34,878 or 62.5% of the mayors salary next fiscal year, and $37,325 or 65% the year after.

The Ann Arbor City Council meeting Nov. 17, 2025. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

The new salaries automatically take effect unless council, by an eight-vote supermajority, rejects them, Senior Assistant City Attorney Christopher Frost said.

Just over a decade ago, the mayor had a $42,436 salary and other council members made $15,914 per year, about 37.5% what the mayor made.

Ann Arbor has a weak mayor form of government where the mayor is one of 11 council votes. Council hires a city administrator to run city hall and oversee day-to-day operations, following council-adopted policies.

The four citizens appointed to serve on the compensation commission include Diane Heidt, Laurence OConnell, Juliet Pressel and Bryan Weinert. The seven-member body has three vacancies currently, according to the city website.

Commissioners acknowledged serving on council is a significant time commitment that can be more than a part-time job and the cost of living in Ann Arbor continues to climb. Serving on council now and in the future should not be limited to those with greater financial wealth, they stated in a resolution.

Mayor Christopher Taylor speaks at the Ann Arbor City Council meeting Nov. 17, 2025. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Weinert, the citys former solid waste coordinator, won support for adding a clause acknowledging council members oversee an annual city budget of over $600 million, saying their compensation should reflect that financial responsibility and be sufficient to encourage qualified people to serve.

In a 3-0 vote to add that language, Pressel abstained. She appreciated being reminded the city has a huge budget, she said, but she thought the reasons already stated for the raises were enough. As for the part about encouraging qualified people to serve, Pressel said its tricky.

Weve had a couple of City Council people who were accountants, and I was certainly glad that they were on board, but that doesnt necessarily mean that they have a better idea than anybody else on how to spend the big bucks, she said.

Pressel disclosed she has had grave reservations about directions council has taken the city. Nonetheless, she feels what the compensation commission has done over the years reflects our recognition of the work that they do, she said.

The 2.9% annual raises for the mayor are a cost-of-living adjustments based on an average of different metrics, including changes in the Consumer Price Index and increases in pay for nonunion city workers.

Taylor is a business law attorney outside of his duties as mayor, while other council members also have other day jobs.

Looking at elected officials compensation levels across other Michigan communities, Ann Arbors are a bit higher on average, Weinert said.

There are communities that pay their mayor a higher salary, but they are also full-time mayoral positions  theyre in effect the chief executive of the municipality, he said.

Given the size and scope of Ann Arbor city government, he said, compensation should be set at a level that doesnt discourage people from taking on what can be pretty close to a full-time job, Weinert said.

Taylor announces final run for Ann Arbor mayor, says hed step down in 2030

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI  Dont underestimate Washtenaw Countys smaller cities. Four of them recently made a World Atlas list of Michigans 9 Most Underrated Towns to Visit in 2025."

The educational geography website heralded Ypsilanti, Chelsea, Dexter and Manchester as towns with a lot to offer tourists and residents alike.

Ypsilanti City Fire Department firefighters bring a fire engine and squad truck out for a call as they work out of the citys original 1898 firehouse at the Michigan Firehouse Museum, 110 W. Cross St. in Ypsilanti on Thursday, July 24 2025. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Ypsilanti is described as progressive and quirky in the report.

Home to an eclectic arts scene and lively nightlife, it offers something appealing for every taste, with locals affectionately calling it Ypsi.

Access to the Huron River along with dining options, craft breweries, artisanal stores and cafes are among the highlights.

Its lively atmosphere is enhanced by well-preserved neighborhoods like Depot Town and West Cross, which feature some of the states most fascinating historic landmarks, stunning architecture, contemporary retail outlets, and local eateries, according to the report.

World Atlas recommends visiting the Michigan Firehouse Museum and Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum and viewing the 147-foot 19th-century Ypsilanti Water Tower.

The Purple Rose Theater, 137 Park St. in Chelsea on Monday, Nov. 8 2021.

Chelsea is simply picturesque and sophisticated, World Atlas found. the small city brims with brilliant charms to be discovered at a leisurely pace.

Outdoor public art sculptures, historical plaques, walking tours and self-guided tours of local history, which can be picked up at the Chelsea Historical Museum, are highlights of a trip to Chelsea, according to the report.

Alongside local boutiques, galleries, and renowned restaurants, the entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places and features remarkably intact architecture through its quaint Victorian neighborhoods, it states.

Historic architecture includes the Glazier Stove Company Building, the Clock Tower, and the Chelsea Train Depot.

World Atlas also recommends catching a theatrical production at the Purple Rose Theatre Co., which was founded by famous actor and Chelsea native Jeff Daniels.

They also recommend shopping for unique items from independent producers and Midwest artisans at Bumbles Dry Goods and sitting down for a meal, a nightcap or dessert at the Common Grill, owned by executive chef Craig Common, a James Beard Best Chefs in America semi-finalist.

MLive File Photo. Fall colors show at Mill Creek Park along the Border-to-Border Trail in Dexter. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Dexter is an award-winning hub of recreation, according to the report.

The Huron River, Mill Creek and trails, including the massive countywide Border-to-Border Trail, are highlights.

Offering a wide variety of activities for every level, visitors can engage in biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, with numerous local parks throughout.

World Atlas recommends checking out the Dexter-Huron Metropark, Dexter Cider Mill, the farmers market and library.

Located only 10 miles northwest of Ann Arbor, this environmentally conscious town welcomes city dwellers to experience life on the green side with access to modern comforts such as shopping and dining, according to the report.

The 72nd Manchester Chicken Broil takes place every year, serving around 10,000 meals to eager customers who travel from all over to Manchester, Mich. on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Abra Richardson | MLive.com

Manchester is described as one of the most historic and beautiful towns in the Midwest, captivating visitors with its rich heritage and enchanting architecture from the mid-1800s.

World Atlas highlighted well-loved events held in the small town.

Today, it celebrates even simple neighborhood picnics with the grandeur of the Fourth of July, according to the report. The Manchester Chicken Broil, its most renowned event first held in 1953the same year Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne and the first color television was releasedstill attracts large crowds.

The annual Christmas Home Tour in December celebrates architectural heritage, live music at the Manchester Blacksmith Shop, draws visitors who come for live music and local food and drinks.

Whether attracted by the timeless vibes or a special event, families enjoy lovely parks, exciting outdoor activities, and various events like the annual canoe races, making one wonder why this town remains underrated, World Atlas found.

Five more underrated Michigan communities made the list: Arcadia, Caseville, Copper Harbor, Escanaba and Lexington.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page.
The Mundy Township offices are shown in this Flint Journal file photo. Flint Journal file photo

MUNDY TWP, MI - Seven pages of proposed recall language targeting Mundy Township Supervisor Jennifer Stainton have been filed with the Genesee County Election Commission, beginning a process that could lead to a recall petition if the language is approved.

The filings were submitted by former township trustee Kimberly Jimenez.

Under Michigan law, the Election Commission must first determine whether the language is factual and sufficiently clear before any signatures can be collected.

These documents are not active recall petitions, and no signatures are being collected, Stainton said in a statement. What has been filed is simply proposed recall language, which the law requires to be reviewed for clarity, factual accuracy, and specificity before anything else can happen. That review has not yet taken place.

The proposed recall reasons reference employee complaints, comments made during interviews, and disagreements over township decisions and votes.

Stainton told MLive-The Flint Journal she was surprised the recall language was submitted.

Does she (Jimenez) have an axe to grind? Maybe she does, Stainton said. Ive never had issues with her and have always been cordial with her, so Im surprised.

Stainton told residents that several of the statements in the filings are mischaracterizations of routine governance, not allegations of wrongdoing.

Many of the statements being used are vague, subjective, or based on opinions rather than verifiable facts, she said. Under Michigan law, none of these things - on their own - constitute misconduct or wrongdoing.

Stainton said she stands by her actions as supervisor and warned against using recall attempts to settle political disputes.

A recall should never be used as a political weapon, she said. Recalls are meant for clear, factual wrongdoing  not policy disagreements, not personality conflicts, and not retaliation when someone stands up for transparency and accountability.

The supervisor also thanked residents who have contacted her for information or support.

Mundy Township deserves stability, honesty, and leadership grounded in facts, not political theatrics, she said. And as long as I hold this office, that is what I will provide.

MLive reached out to Jimenez for comment, but she did not respond.
BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China and the United States should keep up the momentum in ties, and keep moving forward in the right direction on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit.

Xi made the remarks while speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump on the phone.

Xi noted that he and Trump had a successful meeting in Busan last month, and reached many important common understandings.

They recalibrated the course of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations and provided more momentum for it to sail forward steadily, thus sending a positive message to the world, he said.

Since then, the China-U.S. relationship has generally maintained a steady and positive trajectory, and this is welcomed by the two countries and the broader international community, Xi said.

What has happened demonstrates yet again that the description of China-U.S. cooperation benefiting both sides and confrontation hurting both sides reflects a common sense that has been repeatedly proven by experience, and the vision of China and the United States helping each other succeed and prosper together is a tangible prospect within reach, Xi said.

He said that the two sides should lengthen the list of cooperation and shorten the list of problems, so as to make more positive progress, create new space for China-U.S. cooperation and bring more benefits to the people of both countries and the world.

Xi outlined China's principled position on the Taiwan question, underscoring that Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order.

Noting that China and the United States fought shoulder to shoulder against fascism and militarism, Xi said that given what is going on, it is even more important for the two sides to jointly safeguard the victory of World War II (WWII).

Trump noted that President Xi is a great leader, adding that he very much enjoyed his meeting with Xi in Busan, and fully shares Xi's comments about the two countries' relationship. He added that the two sides are implementing all elements of what the two leaders agreed to in Busan.

China was a big part of the victory of WWII, said Trump, stressing that the United States understands how important the Taiwan question is to China.

The two presidents also discussed the Ukraine crisis. Xi emphasized China's support for all efforts that are conducive to peace, and expressed the hope that the various sides would narrow their differences, reach a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement at an early date, and resolve the crisis at its root.

Editor: WSH
Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) has selected three finalists in its presidential search. (Photo provided to MLive by Grand Rapids Community College Communications) Photo provided to MLive by Grand Rapids Community College Communications

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) has selected three finalists in its presidential search.

All three candidates, approved unanimously in line with a screening committee recommendation, will be publicly interviewed beginning Dec. 5.

The finalists were selected during a GRCC Board of Trustees special session meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 25, out of a pool of 78 applicants, according to Erin Van Egmond, vice president of college advancement and executive director of the GRCC Foundation.

According to Van Egmond, the three finalists are:

Nerita Hughes, president of Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba.

Jason Rivera, the vice provost for student success and dean of University College at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.

Kathryn Rogalski, vice president of academic affairs and workforce development for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

The candidates selected were finalized over seven months after GRCC President Charles Lepper abruptly resigned, after being placed on paid administrative leave pending a review of his contract.

After accepting Leppers resignation in April, the board has declined to share any details about the reason for his departure with the community. With interim President Steven J. Triezenberg now at the helm, the goal is to have his permanent replacement taking office early in 2026.

Van Egmond said the candidates were recruited using GRCCs presidential profile, an 11-page document put together by the board and campus community that laid out the vision for the next candidate.

During the selection process, Board Chair Brandy Lovelady Mitchell said, When I reflect on the nearly 80 candidates, I think it speaks volume about the strength of GRCC based on the caliber of candidates.

The investment in this place to continue to be great is strong, she said.

Below is some brief information about each of the candidates.

Nerita Hughes

Hughes has been president of Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba, since July 2023. Prior to joining Bay College, she was the interim associate vice president of academic affairs & workforce innovation at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Shes also served as the community colleges business school dean, and held a position as a development manager for Ramsey County, Minnesota.

Hughes holds a bachelor of science from National American University, and has a masters of business administration and a doctorate of education in leadership each from Saint Marys University of Minnesota. She is a former adjunct instructor for the human resources program at Saint Marys, and of the business and careers programs for Minnesota State.

Hughes also serves on the board for UP Michigan Works!, the Delta County Economic Development Alliance and the American Association of Community Colleges Commission of Structured Pathways, to name a few.

Jason Rivera

Jason Rivera has been vice provost for student success and dean of University College at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, since May 2023. He oversees student academic support services and academic advising.

Prior to joining Ball State, Rivera served as the vice chancellor for student academic success at Rutgers University-Camden in New Jersey. He also previously served as dean of the sophomore class and director of the Intercultural Center at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, and held a number of academic leadership positions at Montgomery College in Maryland.

He earned his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in minority and urban education at the University of Maryland, College Park, along with his masters degree in elementary education at the City University of New Yorks (CUNY) College of Staten Island. Rivera got his bachelors degree in history and political science at Manhattanville College.

Kathryn Rogalski

Kathryn Rogalski has been vice president of academic affairs and workforce development for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College since 2018.

She was previously the business and social sciences dean for Harper College in Palatine, Illinois, and was an associate dean for college of Lake County in Illinois. Rogalski has her doctorate of education, adult and higher education from Northern Illinois University, her masters degree in psychology from the University of Chicago and her bachelors in psychology from Northeastern Illinois University.

In 2021, she was selected for the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship, a nationwide leadership program for those affiliated with community colleges.

Board Vice Chair Kathleen Bruinsma said she appreciated the labor, experience and insight of the board screening committee, a 17-member group that helped make candidate recommendations. She said the three candidates made public rose to the screening committees priorities.

Trustee Kenyatta Brame said looking ahead, he believes its important to select a candidate that can rise to meet future higher education challenges.

I think the candidates that I chose represent those things very well, he said.

While the three finalists were approved unanimously, Trustee Sheryl Siegel did put forth one different nomination, based on a number system to protect confidentiality. That candidate was ultimately not named.

Lepper was GRCCs 11th president in 2022, replacing Bill Pink, who is now president of Ferris State University.

With interim President Steven J. Triezenberg now at the helm, the goal is to have his permanent replacement taking office early in 2026.

In May, the GRCC Board of Trustees hired a search firm, Academic Search, to help assist with the presidential selection process. Its a different firm than was previously used to hire Lepper in 2022 and Pink in 2017.

The firm began promoting the position at the end of September, with a mid-October application deadline.

The first finalist interview will start at 8 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, with a welcome breakfast held until 8:50. A board presentation will take place from 9 to 9:50 a.m., with the interview held from 10 to 10:50 a.m. The full day interview will also include a 50-minute campus tour, student and faculty forums, with the interview wrapping up at 7:30 p.m.

The second candidate interview will take place Tuesday, Dec. 9, with the third held on Wednesday, Dec. 10, following the same format and timeline as the first.

All events will be held in the colleges Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St. NE.

Feedback will be also gathered through an online survey and shared with the board during deliberations.
A 48-year-old Holland man was arraigned multiple felony charges on Monday, Nov. 24, in connection to a Nov. 15 shooting that reportedly injured two men, ages 25 and 27. (MLive file photo) John Tunison

HOLLAND TWP., MI  A 48-year-old Holland man is facing multiple felony charges in connection to a shooting earlier this month that sent another local resident to the hospital.

Andrew Louis Harper was arraigned Monday, Nov. 24, on one count of assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and felony firearm in Ottawa County District Court. According to the county sheriffs office, he had been identified as a suspect in the Nov. 15 Holland Township shooting and arrested Nov. 21.

Police first responded to the report of gunshots from multiple callers at around 9 p.m. Nov. 15 near a business in the 90 block of Douglas Avenue.

At the time, police said the incident came after an argument ended violently and resulted in the gunshot wounds of a 27-year-old man.

Several people reportedly went into a parking lot area on Douglas as Harper produced a firearm and started shooting, and police have said those trying to flee ran across the street into a separate lot.

According to a news release on Monday, sheriffs detectives continued to investigate the incident, later determining that a second victim, a 25-year-old man from Holland, was also struck by bullets during the shooting, sustaining minor injuries.

Harper was located and arrested in Holland with help from the Ottawa County Critical Response Team, police said. He was lodged in Ottawa County Jail.

On Monday, bond was set at $500,000 cash for Harper, according to court records.

He is set to return to court for a probable cause conference at 9 a.m. Dec. 4 and a preliminary examination at 10:45 a.m. Dec. 11.
SOUTH HAVEN, MI  Theres a new public safety leader in town on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Adam DeBoer has been named South Havens new police chief in recognition of his stellar work in the interim role, the city said in a statement on Monday, Nov. 24.

DeBoer has worked for the South Haven Police Department for more than 20 years.

Water safety advocates applauded the promotion, pointing out how DeBoer has deep experience in water safety and lifeguard training.

MLive featured DeBoer while he was partaking in a 2013 lifeguard training on Lake Michigan.

It is a glorious day for water safety now that South Haven has named an open water surf lifeguard expert as its Top of public safety, said Dave Benjamin, executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.

Congratulations Chief DeBoer, he said. We expect your history of lifeguard rescue training will bring great things to Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes!

His experience fits with the current city agenda. Last week, the City Council voted unanimously to move forward with the creation of a lifeguard program.

DeBoer joined the department as a police officer in 2004 and he was promoted to sergeant in 2017. He served as interim police chief since April.

A beach patrol at the foot of North Pier, which was closed as Lake Michigan churned up large waves off North Beach in South Haven, Mich., Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

In that role, he oversaw all police department operations like community event planning and coordinating cooperation between local law enforcement agencies.

Adam is a dedicated and experienced leader who knows and cares deeply about South Haven, its people and the department, South Haven City Manager Kate Hosier said.

Hes done an incredible job for the past seven months as hes worked to strengthen the relationship between our officers, residents, businesses and visitors while advancing the departments commitment to public safety and community policing, she said.

Lake Michigan churned up large waves off North Beach in South Haven, Mich., Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

As interim chief, DeBoer demonstrated his leadership abilities by managing complex initiatives and enhancing department operations, the city said.

He ensured full staffing of the department and reinstated positions including the school resource officer. He advanced two new officers through field training and helped enroll a police recruit at the Grand Valley State University Police Academy, the city said. The recruit will begin field training in the new few weeks.

DeBoer demonstrated commitment to his departments career advancement by enrolling officers in 35 classes through the West Michigan Training Consortium.

I am deeply honored to serve as the South Haven Police Chief, DeBoer said. I want to thank the community for their trust and support.

People crowd the pier to catch sun set over Lake Michigan in South Haven, Mich., on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

Our department is built on a foundation of service, and I am eager to lead our dedicated officers as we work together to keep our neighborhoods safe and strengthen our connection with the people we serve.

The city, with nearly 4,000 people as of the 2020, has a police force that is called to respond to the Lake Michigan beaches.

People have drowned there in the past, resulting in litigation against the city that remains in progress.

DeBoer was named interim chief after former Chief Dennis Honholt resigned as South Haven police chief on April 24.

Honholt never resigned from his previous role as police chief in Dover, Tennessee, a city northwest of Nashville, when he took the South Haven job.

South Haven leaders, upon finding out, said they were shocked and disappointed.

Before Honholt, Kevin Swope served as police chief for only about a month. The turnover comes after Natalie Thompson retired from the role, which she had from 2016 to 2024.

Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page.
SAGINAW, MI  Deeming her a menace to society, a judge sent a Bay City parolee back to prison for drunkenly killing a woman in a crash and fleeing the scene. In doing so, he exceeded her advisory guidelines, dubbing her conduct heartless and unacceptable.

Saginaw County Circuit Judge Darnell Jackson on Monday, Nov. 24, sentenced 46-year-old Bobbi Jo Shively to 20 to 40 years in prison. Due to Shively having been on parole when she killed Melissa M. Wood, 37, in August 2024, the judge gave her no credit for time served in the local jail.

Melissa M. Wood, killed in a two-vehicle crash in Saginaw Township on Aug. 10, 2024. Cole Waterman

He also ordered her to pay $266 in fines and costs within 60 days.

Jackson further ordered Shively serve her new term consecutively to the time she has yet to serve on the convictions she was paroled on, about 18 years.

Hopefully, while you are in prison you will earnestly work on being rehabilitated, since you clearly failed to do so prior to this incident taking place, Jackson told Shively. Youve been a menace to society for a long time, and I believe the community will be much safer with you behind bars.

Shively in October pleaded no contest to both charges she faced: failure to stop at an accident resulting in death and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death. She also pleaded as a fourth-time habitual offender, as she has eight prior felony and 16 prior misdemeanor convictions.

Shively in May 2022 was sentenced to 19 months to 20 years in prison on a conviction of possessing methamphetamine, with the Michigan Department of Corrections paroling her after shed served her minimum in January 2024.

Shively initially pleaded as such in January, with Jackson indicating he would sentence her to 12 years. Jackson in March allowed Shively to withdraw her pleas after finding he could not in good conscience adhere to her advisory sentencing guidelines.

Wood at about 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 10, 2024, was driving a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu north on Hospital Road in Saginaw Township. She went to turn left onto westbound Tittabawassee Road and her vehicle was struck broadside by an eastbound 2005 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Shively. Two other vehicles were also struck.

Shively ran a red light as she made the turn, prosecutors alleged. Shively exited the truck before emergency responders arrived and fled in a Pontiac G6 driven by a man who had been following her.

Wood, the Malibus lone occupant, was taken to Covenant HealthCare, where she died of her injuries.

Police located Shively in Alma several hours after the crash and arrested her. Samples of her blood were taken for analysis, the results of which showed her blood-alcohol level was 0.144, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08. Her blood also contained methamphetamine and synthetic opioid buprenorphine, records show.

Shively had left a bar shortly before the fatal collision, prosecutors alleged.

Judge Jackson addressed Woods loved ones, saying he read all of their letters regarding how her life and death affected them.

Unfortunately, nothing I do here today will bring Melissa back to you, and for that I am truly sorry, the judge told them. Whatever sentence I impose on the defendant will never be enough to make up for your loss or be sufficient to give her total justice.

Wood was survived by her husband, whom she wed in 2016. A Saginaw native, she graduated from Arthur Hill High School in 2005 and later attended Dorsey College, earning certification in medical billing, according to her obituary.

Wood worked for Dexios Corp. for more than 11 years, most recently working as the senior director of operations.

Her commitment, work ethic and leadership were exemplary, earning her admiration and respect by her colleagues and peers, her obituary reads. Melissas kindness, laughter, and playful spirit consistently brought a positive energy to every room.
BAD AXE, MI  A Bad Axe funeral home director is accused of bilking 55 victims out of a cumulative six-figure fund.

Terry A. Kaufman, 71, on Monday, Nov. 24, appeared before Huron County District Judge Julienne M. Ferris for arraignment on the following 39 felonies:

One count of conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year maximum penalty

Two counts of embezzlement by an agent of between $20,000 and $50,000, 10-year maximum penalty

Five counts of embezzlement by an agent of between $1,000 and $20,000, five-year maximum penalty

31 counts of conversion of funeral contracts, five-year maximum penalty

The Michigan Attorney Generals Office is prosecuting the case and alleges Kaufman embezzled and converted funds he received for prepaid funerals and funeral insurance policies.

Kaufman founded and operates Kaufman & Co. Funeral Home, 84 Westland Drive in Bad Axe. The state first licensed Kaufman to practice mortuary science in October 1984. His license remains active and is set to expire Oct. 31, 2027.

Attorney General Dana Nessel alleges Kaufman collected $192,824.98 through the Huron County Public Guardian but failed to properly escrow those funds. Kaufman put 55 victims money to personal use, including his own salary, across the last decade, Nessel alleges.

When families prepay for funeral services, they expect the funds to be handled with integrity, not siphoned off for personal gain, Nessel said. My office remains committed to holding those who commit such criminal enterprises accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

A man answered the funeral homes telephone line when called by MLive. He said Kaufman was unavailable and would not accept messages.

Kaufman is next due before Judge Ferris on Dec. 4.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, and other Democrats who appeared in a video urging U.S. troops to refuse illegal orders said Tuesday, Nov. 25, the FBI wants to schedule interviews, signaling a possible inquiry. Slotkin is pictured speaking at the Center for American Progress, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf) AP Photo/Kevin Wolf

U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, and several other Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a social media video last week urging U.S. troops to defy illegal orders now say theyve been contacted by the FBI.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) request to schedule interviews could signal a possible inquiry.

Slotkin, among the lawmakers featured in the video, said in a statement posted on X Tuesday afternoon that the Federal Bureau of Investigation appeared to open an inquiry into me in response to a video President Trump did not like.

A former CIA intelligence analyst who served three tours in Iraq alongside the military, Slotkin said in her statement that the President directing the FBI to target us is exactly why we made this video in the first place.

He believes in weaponizing the federal government against his perceived enemies and does not believe laws apply to him or his Cabinet, Slotkin said. He uses legal harassment as an intimidation tactic to scare people out of speaking up.

This isnt just about a video, she added. This is not the America I know, and Im not going to let this next step from the FBI stop me from speaking up for my country and our Constitution.

On Tuesday, four Democratic House members also issued a statement that the FBI had contacted U.S. House and Senate Sergeants at Arms requesting interviews, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

President Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress, they said.

The FBI declined to comment, and has not made clear on what basis it was seeking interviews. Lawmakers said they had no further information.

FBI Director Kash Patel, in an interview with journalist Catherine Herridge, described it as an ongoing matter in explaining why he could not discuss details.

An inquiry would mark the second investigation related to the video, which was posted on Nov. 18 by Slotkin and five other lawmakers with military or intelligence backgrounds. In it, they advise military members they can refuse illegal orders from the Trump administration.

On Monday, the Pentagon announced it is investigating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona over potential violations of military law.

Others featured in the video are U.S. Reps. Jason Crow, D-CO, a former Army Ranger; Chris Deluzio, D-PA, a Navy veteran, Chrissy Houlahan, D-PA, an Air Force veteran, and Maggie Goodlander, D- NH, a former intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve.

The FBI and Pentagon actions come just days after President Donald Trump accused the lawmakers of sedition punishable by DEATH in a social media post posted Thursday, Nov. 20.

In other social media posts, Trump said the video is really bad and Dangerous to our Country.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has since said Trump does not think Slotkin and the other Democrats should be executed, though she said he does think they should be held accountable.

In recent interviews, Slotkin has said the video is meant to provide guidance for troops ordered into American cities by Trumps administration, and she and other Democrats are simply stating the law as written in the military code of justice.

Shes since been placed under 24/7 security by U.S. Capitol Police, and said her office has been subject to hundreds if not thousands of calls, emails, texts and online postings in response.

On Friday, Nov. 21, her office shared that Michigan State Police had responded to a bomb threat directed towards her Oakland County home.
The National Weather Service issued an updated high wind warning at 3:58 a.m. EST on Thursday in effect until 7 a.m. EST for Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan and Van Buren counties.

The weather service states to expect, "Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph."

"Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles," describes the weather service. "Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution if you must drive."

Understanding high wind alerts

When it comes to high wind alerts, understanding the levels of risk is crucial. The weather service classifies them into three distinct categories:

High wind warning: Take action!

Sustained, strong winds with even stronger gusts are happening. Seek shelter. If you are driving, keep both hands on the wheel and slow down.

Wind advisory: Take action!

Strong winds are occurring but are not so strong as to warrant a High wind warning. Objects that are outdoors should be secured and caution should be taken if driving.

High wind watch: Be prepared!

Sustained, strong winds are possible. Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.

How to prepare before strong winds approach

Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.

Secure loose gutters and shutters.

Identify an interior room of your house, such as a basement or interior bathroom, that you can take shelter in during high wind warnings.

If you live in a mobile home, identify a sturdy building you can go to if the NWS issues a high wind or severe thunderstorm warning.

Charge batteries of all essential items such as cell phones and booster packs, weather radios and power tools such as a reciprocating saw, which you might need to clear debris.

Update your emergency kit and be sure to include enough food and water to last for 3 days for each person in your home.

Make a list of items outside your home you will need to tie down or put away so that they don't blow away or fly through a window. When the NWS issues a high wind watch, immediately secure these items to avoid damage or injury once the wind starts picking up.

How to act during strong winds

Take shelter:

Immediately go inside a sturdy building during a high wind warning or severe thunderstorm warning and move to an interior room or basement.

If you are in a mobile home, move to a sturdy building before the winds pick up or the storm system reaches your location.

If caught outside or driving:

Take shelter in your car if you are not near a sturdy building. If possible, drive to a nearby sturdy building. Otherwise, move your car to a location where it is less likely to be hit by falling trees or power lines.

If no shelter is available avoid trees, power lines, and the side of the road. Keep in mind that power lines that are laying on the ground may be live. Do not go near them! Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.

If you are driving and aren't near a sturdy building, hold the steering wheel with both hands and slow down.

Keep a distance from high profile vehicles such as trucks, buses and vehicles towing trailers. One strong gust of wind can be enough to flip one of these trailers onto its side.

What to do after strong winds subside
Parts of West Michigan and Mid-Michigan could see 2+ inches of snow by Thanksgiving Day. Graphic provided by the National Weather Service

While Michigans Upper Peninsula will start feeling the effects of our strong Thanksgiving Week storm system on Tuesday, most of the Lower Peninsula wont see the temperatures plunge and the winds pick up until Wednesday. Thats when the lake effect snow will move in, too.

The forecast shows this incoming snow and Wednesdays strong winds - some gusts could hit 60 mph - will impact holiday travel across West Michigan, Mid-Michigan and Southeast Michigan.

Here are some of the forecast highlights for the Lower Peninsula, shared by the National Weather Service offices in Grand Rapids and Detroit:

Rain early Wednesday morning will quickly change over to snow by midday.

Lake effect snow will develop and be blown well inland by afternoon and into the evening.

Temperatures that start out in the 40s early Wednesday morning are forecast to fall to 32 degrees by late afternoon. After that, temps will stay in the upper 20s.

Wind gusts are expected in the 40 to 50 mph range on Wednesday. Gusts up to 60 mph are possible along the Lakeshore. Wind gusts this high can lead to power outages.

The snow and high wind gusts will combine to lead to worsening travel conditions by Wednesday evening and into the overnight hours.

Areas near and west of U.S. 131 could see more than 2 inches of snow on Wednesday and into early Thursday.

High wind gusts will kick in on Wednesday and snow will start to accumulate in some areas across the Lower Peninsula. Graphic provided by the National Weather Service

In Southeast Michigan and The Thumb, rain is expected to change to heavy, wet snow on Wednesday. On Wednesday night, these show showers could become more widespread, especially along I-94 from Ann Arbor to Detroit. This area could see up to 3 inches of snow by Thursday.

Across the Lower Peninsula, the snow is expected to continue on Thursday.
Collaboration which is asymmetric, and brings win-win on both sides, we would like to go for it.

Swaraj Baggonkar

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Photo: https://www.facebook.com/DSNS.GOV.UA

On the night of November 25, the Novus logistics center was damaged, four drivers were killed during the attack, and five more were injured, the company's press service told Interfax-Ukraine.

"Tonight, as a result of a missile strike, our logistics center, the heart of Novus operations, one of the most modern facilities of this type in Ukraine with an area of over 50 thousand sq. m., was damaged. The center was built and opened during a full-scale invasion as a symbol of stability, development and faith in the future. Four drivers of our suppliers who arrived to unload goods were killed during the attack, and five more people were injured. Novus employees who were in shelter during the attack were not injured," the release says.

The company expresses its condolences to the families of the deceased and provides all necessary assistance and support to the families and victims.

It is reported that the logistics center is currently not functioning, the relevant services are working on site.

"We are assessing the scale of the damage, they are significant, but now people are our priority. Despite the strike, there will be no shortage of goods in stores. We are already rebuilding logistics routes and working to ensure the stable operation of all network facilities and restore the warehouse as soon as possible," the company said.

As reported, on the night of Tuesday, Kyiv and the region were subjected to a massive combined attack by drones and missiles. Six deaths have already been confirmed in the capital. The Russians are targeting civilian infrastructure and residential areas, continuing to terrorize the civilian population.

The city has also temporarily restricted heat supply.
Ameesha Patel recalls visiting Dharmendra in his final days in the hospital with Salman and Shah Rukh Khan: 'We were there just to hug Sunny Deol...'

Palak Vij is a Sub Editor and Entertainment Journalist with over a year of experience covering films, television, and pop culture in the digital space.

Ameesha Patel talks about when she met Dharmendra for the last time in the hospital

Palak Vij

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Palak Vij is a Sub Editor and Entertainment Journalist with over a year of experience covering films, television, and pop culture in the digital space.

Palak Vij

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Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik pays tribute to late actor Dharmendra who passed away on November 24, with a 5-foot long sand art at Puri beach on Monday.

M Snehanjali

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China's scientific satellites yield key results, refreshing humanity's understanding of universe

Xinhua) 08:18, November 25, 2025

Photo taken on Dec. 17, 2015 shows a Long March 2-D rocket carrying the Dark Matter Particle Explorer satellite blasting off. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- A series of scientific satellites launched by China have achieved major discoveries in fields such as cosmic transient objects, cosmic-ray propagation and solar eruptions, renewing humanity's understanding of the universe.

Focusing on major frontier questions such as the origin of the universe, the origin of space weather and the origin of life, China will launch and implement a series of scientific satellite missions during its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), striving to achieve new breakthroughs in areas like the cosmic dark age, solar magnetic activity cycles and the detection of Earth-like exoplanets, according to Wang Chi, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and director general of its National Space Science Center.

Through the advancement of these missions, China will continue delivering more key, original and leading scientific achievements, advancing the comprehensive development of the country's space science, space technology and space applications, Wang said.

Since the launch of a CAS space science program in 2011, eight scientific satellites have been sent into space: the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE), the Shijian-10 retrievable satellite, the Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS), the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (also called Insight-HXMT), the Taiji-1 satellite, the Gravitational Wave High-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM), the Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S) and the Einstein Probe (EP).

On an extreme macroscopic scale, the program has produced the world's first all-sky X-ray map. And on an extreme microscopic scale, it has obtained the most precise fine structures to date in the energy spectra of cosmic-ray electrons, protons, helium and boron nuclei. A Chinese satellite has for the first time directly measured the strongest magnetic field in the universe and detected the high-speed jet closest to a black hole. These missions have also seen a high degree of integration between science, technology and engineering, Wang said.

While achieving scientific breakthroughs, the program has also driven leapfrog development in cutting-edge payload and satellite platform technologies. In just a few examples, China has mastered key technologies such as satellite-to-ground optical-link alignment, realized an integrated satellite platform and payload design, and developed the world's leading large-field, high-sensitivity lobster-eye X-ray telescope.

The program also carries out comprehensive international cooperation on multiple levels. The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) satellite is the first in-depth, full-lifecycle comprehensive cooperation project between the CAS and the European Space Agency (ESA). The EP satellite -- led by China, with participation from the ESA, Germany and France -- marks the first time the ESA has participated in a Chinese space science mission as an "opportunity mission." Such missions have established international science teams and promoted data sharing.

The EP satellite has discovered a new type of X-ray transient source, EP241021a, providing key information for our understanding of mysterious transient objects; detected a weak X-ray burst, EP240904a, within the Milky Way, opening new pathway for locating stellar-mass black holes; and for the first time detected the EP240801a transient source, challenging the established classification of gamma-ray bursts, according to Yuan Weimin, principal investigator of the EP mission.

This image released by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on Oct. 31, 2024 shows the first X-ray all-sky map obtained by China's Einstein Probe astronomical satellite. (Chinese Academy of Sciences/Handout via Xinhua)

The Insight-HXMT mission has yielded fruitful results in the measurement of Earth's atmospheric density, the flaring mechanism of black-hole accretion outbursts in the Milky Way, the radiation mechanism and surface magnetic field of accreting millisecond pulsars, the ignition locations of surface nuclear burning on neutron stars, and the minimum variability timescale of the brightest gamma-ray burst ever observed, said Zhang Shuangnan, principal investigator of the Insight-HXMT mission.

GECAM discovered a new subclass of gamma-ray bursts produced by compact-object mergers, expanding our knowledge of gravitational-wave electromagnetic counterparts, said Xiong Shaolin, principal investigator of the GECAM mission.

"GECAM is a small but very fruitful gamma-ray mission. The presented results on gamma-ray bursts and magnetars are very interesting and had a significant science impact," said Dmitry Svinkin, a researcher at the Loffe Institute of Russia.

The DAMPE mission discovered a hardening structure in the boron-nucleus spectrum of secondary cosmic rays for the first time, which is significant to revealing cosmic-ray propagation mechanisms, according to Fan Yizhong, the DAMPE satellite's scientific team leader.

Observations from ASO-S have provided new evidence for deciphering the mechanisms of solar eruptions and the origin of high-energy particles, said Su Yang, a scientist representing the ASO-S team.

"I am very impressed by the success of China's ASO-S, which provides unique observations of our sun. ESA's Solar Orbiter mission is very happy about the joint collaboration opportunities, which open a new window to explore our sun," said Samuel Krucker, a professor from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland.

Andrea Santangelo, a professor at the University of Tubingen of Germany, said that China is at the forefront of space science and is positioned to become the world leader in high energy astrophysics in the next decade. "China has emerged as a reliable, committed space science actor, oriented to success in science and innovation. This trend will continue."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Photo: https://bank.gov.ua/

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) is proposing updates to the procedure for revoking licenses for foreign currency operations issued to nonbank financial institutions.

According to the regulator's website, the proposal specifies that grounds for revocation would include: the revocation of a financial services license and/or the removal from that license of the type of activity involving foreign currency operations; the removal from the license of an individual type of financial service; or the termination of authorization to provide a specific type of financial payment service that is also included in the license.

The changes would apply to nonbank financial institutions (excluding the central counterparty) and postal operators that hold an NBU license to conduct foreign currency operations, except licenses covering the trade of currency valuables in cash form.

Comments and proposals to the draft regulation, "On Approval of Amendments to the Regulation on the Procedure for Issuing Licenses for Foreign Currency Operations," will be accepted until December 4, 2025 inclusive.

As reported, the NBU earlier introduced a number of changes regarding restrictions on foreign currency operations in the insurance sector. Those restrictions were implemented under NBU Board Resolution No. 18 of February 24, 2022, "On the Operation of the Banking System During Martial Law."
Shah Rukh Khan shares emotional tribute for late actor Dharmendra: "You were nothing short of a father figure to me"

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Shah Rukh Khan was among the many celebrities who visited the Pawan Hans Crematorium to pay their last respects.

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Vijay Sethupathi comes on board for Silambarasan and Vetrimaaran's Arasan

Palak Vij

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Saira Banu recalls the time when Dharmendra intruded their home to becoming family, writes, "He was my dear Yousuf Sahibs Dharam, he became Ghar ka Aadmi...'

Saira Banu recalls the time when Dharmendra intruded their home to becoming family, writes, "He was my dear Yousuf Sahibs Dharam, he became Ghar ka Aadmi...'

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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Delhi sees 4-year high in Malaria cases this November: Here's what you need to know

Manjiri Patil is a Sub Editor and journalist with over two years of experience covering science, health, lifestyle, and general news in digital newsroom.

Mosquitoes are the primary carriers of malaria and dengue; Delhi has reported a spike in malaria cases this November.

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Miss Universe Africa and Oceania Cote dIvoires Olivia Yace ends all affiliation with Miss Universe committee, renounces her title

Shreya Garg is a journalist with over 6 years of experience at leading media houses. She writes extensively on lifestyle, health and things that are trending on the internet.

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High demand for Ukrainian soybeans on international markets, improved processing of export duty refunds for farmers, and strong domestic demand from processing companies all contributed to further price growth, according to the information and analytical agency APK-Inform.

"Bid prices on CPT-port terms rose to $415425 per tonne and in some cases reached $430 per tonne. Exports to the EU increased significantly in November  around 126,000 tonnes were shipped in the first 20 days of the month (compared with 22,000 tonnes over the same period in October)," analysts noted.

Intensifying competition for soybeans on the domestic market combined with limited supply also supported price increases. Over the week, processors' bid prices rose by UAH 200300 per tonne, and in some regions by up to UAH 500 per tonne, APK-Inform reported.
Shiladitya Pandit

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IndiaCanada ties warm up with a $50 billion trade plan  why it matters now?

PM Modi with Canada PM Mark Carney at the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg on November 23.

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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

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The performance highlights Indias growing appeal for market makers even as the Securities and Exchange Board of India tightens rules to temper retail speculation in derivatives

Arindam Roy

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Nearly one-third of Nifty is uninvestable; there is a need for focus on corporate governance: Quantum Advisors

added that ICGNs India engagement is part of a broader effort to deepen dialogue between global asset owners and Indian regulators, boards and companies. Indias scale, she noted, makes it impossible for large international portfolios to ignore . Quantum is the first signatory to ICGNs global stewardship code in India.

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Can your SIPs and EPF really make you a 10 crore investor in 15 years?

Manisha Lal Khandpur

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Russia continued to attack energy infrastructure facilities overnight, the Ministry of Energy reported.

"A massive combined attack by the enemy on energy infrastructure facilities is currently ongoing," a Telegram channel reported overnight.

Power engineers will begin assessing the consequences and restoration work as soon as the security situation allows.
BJP leaders, led by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Shama, recently met Lt Governor Manoj Sinha asking him to revoke the admission list.

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After causing flight disruptions in India, Ethiopian volcano ash cloud headed to China: Track its course

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Arunachal is integral, inalienable part of India: New Delhi slams detention of Indian citizen in Shanghai

Tamal Nandi

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On the night of 22-23 December 1949, idols of Ram Lalla appeared inside the mosque

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Arindam Roy

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Exports in the first 10 months of the year have reached 329,000 tons, almost triple what they were for the whole of 2024

Arindam Roy

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Umar-un-Nabi was driving the Hyundai i20 that exploded near Delhi's Red Fort on November 10.

Priyanjali Ghose

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Rewati Karan

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Akasa Air, IndiGo and KLM cancelled select flights on Monday as a precautionary measure linked to the drifting plumes

Surabhi Pandey

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Six people were injured in a hostile drone attack, including two children, in the Odesa region, Regional Military Administration head Oleh Kiper has said.

"Another massive attack by enemy drones was recorded in the Odesa region at night. Some six people were injured due to falling debris, including two children," he wrote in a telegram.

According to Kiper, despite the active work of the air defense, the air attack caused new damage to civilian and energy facilities. In some areas, fires broke out at port and energy infrastructure facilities, and equipment was damaged.

Kiper noted that all victims were provided with the necessary medical assistance.

Rescue and emergency services continue to work on the ground, eliminating the consequences of another Russian strike on the Odesa region.
How to check if your name is in voter list during Special Intensive Revision exercise

Rewati Karan

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'If they try to touch Bengal, we will shake the entire country': Mamata Banerjee's warning for BJP amid SIR row

Chhabi Kala

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The system, known as HAMMER, will be designed for multiple platforms including the Rafale fighter jet and the Tejas light combat aircraft, the ministry said

Surabhi Pandey

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Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to Congress high command on buzz over power rejig: 'Take a decision to put a full stop'

Rewati Karan

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'New India does not bend before terrorism': PM Modi in Kurukshetra

Siddharth Chakravorty

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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on SIR

"There is nothing to fear. Narendra Modi was elected on the 2024 voter list  if that is invalid, then even his election should be invalid. They are deliberately doing this two months before the elections. In 2016, 2021, 2024 too you tried, but you failed... If you tell them that you are from Bangladesh but want to be a citizen of India, they will prove you are illegal. They wont help you... I dont do vote politics. So I am saying clearly: dont be afraid. Till Im here, no one can remove you..."
Seemanchal debacle: How the Muslim vote drifted away from Mahagathbandhan in Bihar

The NDA won 14 of 24 seats in Bihar's Seemanchal despite high Muslim population primarily because non-Muslim votes were more cohesively rallied. (File Photo)

Parimal Peeyush

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Several flights cancelled as Ethiopian volcanic ash drifts towards India, here are the key developments

Priyanjali Ghose

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Zelenskyy: Russians launch 22 missiles of various types and over 460 drones, 4 drones fligh into Moldova and Romania

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/DSNS.GOV.UA

Last night, the Russian occupation forces used 22 missiles of various types, including aeroballistic missiles, and over 460 drones, most of which are Russian-Iranian Shahed UAVs. Some drones flew to Moldova and Romania, the exact time of the flights is known, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

According to the president, the Russians struck Kyiv and the region, the Dnipro, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Cherkasy regions. "The main targets are energy and everything that ensures normal life," he said on Telegram on Tuesday morning

"In general, the Russians used 22 missiles of various types, including aeroballistic missiles, and over 460 drones, most of which are Russian-Iranian shaheeds. It is known that four drones flew to our neighbors - Moldova and Romania, the exact time of the flights is known," he said.

"That is why all partners should not forget that every day we need to save lives. Weapons and air defense are important, as is the important sanction pressure on the aggressor. We cannot make any pauses in assistance. The key now is for all partners to move towards diplomacy together, with joint efforts. Pressure on Russia must definitely work. Thank you to everyone who is with Ukraine," the head of the Ukrainian state emphasized.

According to him, rescuers are working in Kyiv at the sites of Russian strikes. "The main Russian strike at night was on the capital and the region, and there is a lot of damage to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure in the city. As of now, thirteen people are known to have been injured and, unfortunately, six people have died. My condolences to all relatives and friends. There is destruction in the Odesa region: there were strikes on ports, food and infrastructure - no military sense," Zelenskyy said.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office in Kyiv, as of 9 am, six people were killed and more than 10 were injured in a combined attack on the capital using missiles and drones.

Residential buildings and civil infrastructure were damaged in the Holosiivskyi, Darnytsky, Desnyansky, Dniprovsky, Pechersky and Svyatoshynsky districts.

In the Dniprovsky district, a fire broke out in a building as a result of a hit on the 7th-9th floor, killing two people.

In the Sviatoshynskyi district, four people died as a result of a hit on the logistics center of one of the retail chains.

In the Pechersky district, apartments in a multi-story building were also on fire.

In the Dniprovskyidistrict, a parking lot for minibuses was damaged.

In the Darnytskyidistrict, a train station building was damaged.

Settlements outside the capital were also hit.

As a result of the night attacks by the Russian Federation with strike drones on Odesa and the Odesa district, six people were injured, including two 13-year-old boys. Two 24-year-old women, a 40-year-old man and an 80-year-old man were also injured. Critical infrastructure facilities, road surfaces, and a public transport stop were damaged.

In the Kharkiv region, enemy strike drones attacked railway and critical infrastructure facilities. No casualties were reported.
Siddaramaiah vs Shivakumar: Karnataka Congress MLAs say high command will decide on CM

Hemant Abhishek

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Supreme Court upholds removal of Christian Army man for refusing to participate in religious activities: 'Grossest indiscipline'

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that his actions reflected a serious breach of discipline within the forces.

Rewati Karan

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Hemant Abhishek

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Volcanic cloud from Ethiopia set to drift over Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi by 10 pm tonight

The volcano, located in Ethiopia's Erta Ale Range, last erupted an estimated 10,000-12,000 years ago

Surabhi Pandey

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Who was Thomas Macaulay, British historian whose legacy PM Modi pledged to eradicate?

PM Modi was speaking in Ayodhya on Tuesday after ceremonially hoisting a saffron flag atop the Ram Mandir.

Priyanjali Ghose

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Siraj Hussain is a former Union Agriculture Secretary. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.

The farmers are not allowed to sell seeds in a package having a brand name.

Namrata Agarwal

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Founder of $100 million company wants work-life balance for employees: 'They didn't sign up...'

Nicole Bernard Dawes is the founder and CEO of Nixie beverage, which is now sold in over 11,000 stores and backed by $27 million in funding. (Image credit: Nixie)

Ankita Sengupta

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As per reports, the individual responsible for abducting the girl has not yet been located.

Shubhi Mishra

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Overworked Chinese employees furious with boss's message from Antarctica holiday: 'If you...'

Sharing how anxiety-inducing the job is, an employee wrote on social media, 'It is 11.59 pm Beijing time. I do not know what time it is in Antarctica, but I know the moment I fall asleep, I will probably get a message from the boss at midnight.' (AI-generated image)

Ankita Sengupta

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The post drew considerable attention, with many users responding positively to his decision to take part in a personal milestone of a junior colleague.

Shubhi Mishra

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Photo: The State Emergency Service of Ukraine

On the night of November 24-25, the enemy struck energy infrastructure facilities in the city of Kyiv, as well as in Kyiv, Odesa, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine reported on Tuesday.

"As a result of the attack, more than 40,000 consumers in Kyiv region, 20,000 in Odesa, 13,000 in Chernihiv, over 21,000 in Dnipropetrovsk region and over 8,000 in Kharkiv region were left without electricity by morning," the ministry noted.

Currently, work is underway in all affected regions to eliminate the consequences of the large-scale missile and drone attack on energy infrastructure.

Emergency outages have been applied to stabilize the situation in the energy system in Kyiv and Kharkiv, Poltava and Sumy regions. Hourly outage schedules are currently in effect in all regions of Ukraine. Also, capacity limitation schedules for industrial consumers and businesses continue to operate in most regions of Ukraine.
This is the only tree on Earth that grows intense blue-coloured fruit. It grows in...

Native to tropical Australia, Papua New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia, the blue quandong is a tall rainforest tree with spreading branches. (Image credit: Homegrownpalmwoods/Facebook)

Ankita Sengupta

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IndiGo replied to her account of the incident through a statement on her post.

Shubhi Mishra

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Another ATLAS marvel emerges: See fractured Comet C/2025 K1 flee the Sun live tonight, heres how

Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project captured this image of C/2025 K1 (ATLAS). (Image: Gianluca Masi, Virtual Telescope Project)

Sheetal Kumari

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Gurpreet Singh

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Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi erupts suddenly; here are Earths largest volcanic eruptions and their impacts

Sheetal Kumari

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Kathleen Wendt climbs down to the deepest section of Devils Hole II. (Image: Robbie Shone)

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Ethiopia: Ethiopia supports about 1,239 lions in regions such as the Bale Mountains and Gambella. Though habitat pressures remain, continued conservation aims to protect and stabilise these significant populations. (Image: Canva)
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

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Photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official

The nature of the enemy's actions indicates their intention to cut off the land connection between Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk in the near future. The Russians intend to surround the city, moving towards the settlements of Rivne and Svitle, reports the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"Airborne assault units are restraining the enemy's movement in the Krasny Lyman area.

The Russians are preparing to storm the northern part of Myrnohrad with small infantry groups. The enemy is moving around the clock, and is using aerial drones to adjust its movement," the report says.

The Airborne Forces reported on the reinforcement of the group in the city to protect the southern outskirts. In this area, the enemy is trying to accumulate manpower for further attempts to advance.

In addition, in the northeast of Myrnohrad, the 38th Separate Marine Brigade named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachny captured four Russian soldiers who were trying to storm the city. Three of the detainees are former prisoners who were released thanks to the signing of military contracts.

"The POWs said before the storming they lived for four days in the basement of one of the buildings of a neighboring settlement and were not provided with either food or water.
Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytellingboth visual and textualacross travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences.

Local travel, food tourism, and AI-powered planning are set to redefine how Asia explores in 2026, according to a new report.

Priyanka Roshan

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Donald Trump touts 'very good' call with Xi Jinping, will visit China in April

Tamal Nandi

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Abhinav Gupta

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Erika Kirk jokes shed get less hate for grabbing JD Vances a** than for that hug

Erika Kirk quips she'd get 'less hate' for grabbing JD Vance's a** than for a hug

Pragya Trivedi

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 12: In this photo illustration, cans of soup made by Campbell Soup Company are shown on September 12, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Abhinav Gupta

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Pragya Trivedi

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File photo of demonstrators rallying in support of Khalistan in Toronto on September 25, 2023. (Photo by Cole BURSTON / AFP)

Abhinav Gupta

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Hammer missiles to be manufactured in India with French partnership: How it boosts Make in India | Explained

Abhinav Gupta

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How Rubio tried to pull a controversial peace plan for Ukraine back to the middle

How Rubio tried to pull a controversial peace plan for Ukraine back to the middle

Pragya Trivedi

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Photo: t.me/GeneralStaffZSU

Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), using the Bars jet UAVs and Neptun cruise missiles of Ukrainian production, successfully struck the G.M. Beriev TANTK aircraft repair plant and the Molniya UAV production plant in Taganrog (Rostov region, Russian Federation) on the night of Tuesday, the General Staff of the AFU has reported.

"As part of reducing the military-economic and offensive potential of the Russian aggressor, on the night of November 25, units of the Missile Forces and artillery in cooperation with the Special Operations Forces, the Coastal Missile Forces of the Navy and the Unmanned Systems Forces using the Bars jet UAVs and Neptun cruise missiles successfully struck several strategic objects of the Russian aggressor," the General Staff said on Telegram on Tuesday.

In the city of Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, the damage was recorded to the Aircraft Repair Plant TANTK named after G.M. Beriev and the company producing the Molniya UAV - Atlant Aero. Numerous explosions and significant fires were observed on the territory of the facilities.
India, Afghanistan set to resume cargo flights: Can it free Kabul from Pakistans trade hold?

Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi (front L) leaves after addressing a press conference at the Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi on October 12, 2025. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)

Abhinav Gupta

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'Muslim Brotherhood' under terror tag lens: How it operates and why Trump is targeting it again?

Dima Tahboub, member of the Muslim Brotherhood movement and former MP, speaks during a protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Amman, Jordan December 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni

Abhinav Gupta

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Netanyahu to reschedule India visit, says Israel has 'full confidence in security under PM Modi'

Abhinav Gupta

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File photo of an Indian national flag flying next to the Chinese national emblem during a welcome ceremony for visiting Indian officials outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in 2013.

Abhinav Gupta

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Nine children killed in Pakistani attack in Afghan province, says Taliban

The raids come one day after twin suicide bombings killed three paramilitary personnel in Peshawar in Pakistan. (Representative image)

Arindam Roy

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File photo of Pakistani Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir (2L) interacting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Rawalpindi.

Abhinav Gupta

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s explicit messages to journalist come to light via Ryan Lizza

Pragya Trivedi

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We expect Zelenskyy to visit USA at soonest possible date in Nov - Umerov

Ukraine expects to organize a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United States at the earliest possible date in November, Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukrainem gas saud,

"We appreciate the productive and constructive meetings in Geneva between the Ukrainian and American delegations, as well as President Trump's continued efforts to end the war," he said on social media on Tuesday. .

Umerov stressed that the delegations reached a common understanding on the key terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva. Now the Ukrainian side is counting on the support of European partners in further steps.

"We expect to organize a visit by the President of Ukraine to the United States at the earliest possible date in November to complete the final stages and reach an agreement with President Trump," he said.
Teen shot by Spanish police after stabbing spree injures three and he shouts Allahu Akbar

Teenager who screamed Allahu Akbar 'after stabbing three people' in Madrid is shot by police

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Trumps Ukraine peace plan: What the revised proposal really means for the war

Trumps Ukraine peace plan: What the revised proposal really means for the war

Pragya Trivedi

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Trump signs order to launch 'Genesis Mission': How US plans to use AI to speed up discoveries | Explained

Abhinav Gupta

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The White House said that Donald Trump supports only limited H1-B visa usage and insists employershires US workers first

Tamal Nandi

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US says Ukraine has accepted peace deal framework, Zelensky says talks still ongoing

US President Donald Trump gestures as he greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he arrives for a meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, on October 17, 2025. (Photo by TOM BRENNER / AFP)

Abhinav Gupta

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Epstein was indicted on sex-trafficking charges by a New York grand jury in 2019 but died by suicide before he could stand trial

Surabhi Pandey

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'Want peaceful relations, open for business with India': Afghan minister Azizi amid conflict with Pakistan

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal with Afghanistan's Commerce and Industry Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi during a meeting. (Image: @PiyushGoyal/X via PTI)

Rewati Karan

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Why automakers are racing to build motors that dont depend on Chinese rare earths

Why automakers are racing to build motors that dont depend on Chinese rare earths

Pragya Trivedi

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Why the US Coast Guards new rules on Swastikas, nooses and bullying sparked confusion

Why the US Coast Guards new rules on Swastikas

Pragya Trivedi

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Photo: https://www.facebook.com/UA.National.Police

Three people were killed, two civilians and five police officers were injured in enemy shelling in the Kherson region, the National Police of Ukraine have reported.

"A 60-year-old man died in Belozerka due to an explosive device dropped from a UAV. The village also suffered from shelling," the National Police said on its Telegram channel on Tuesday.

According to the report, on November 24, in the afternoon, Russian military personnel attacked Novovorontsovka with an FPV drone. "As a result of the strike, a 62-year-old woman died and a 61-year-old local resident was injured. The victim was hospitalized with an explosive injury and a shrapnel wound to the leg," the police said.

On Tuesday morning, according to the report, occupation forces shelled the Dniprovskyi district of Kherson with artillery. "A 61-year-old woman who was on the street at the time of the attack died. A 39-year-old woman was injured and taken to the hospital with an explosive injury and a shrapnel wound to the thigh. Three private houses and a gas pipeline were damaged," the police said.

In addition, as noted in the report, on Monday evening, the Russians purposefully dropped explosives from a UAV on a police car.

"As a result of the insidious attack, five police officers aged 22 to 45 were injured. The law enforcement officers received mine-explosive and craniocerebral injuries, and contusions. The condition of one of the wounded is serious," the National Police said.
'Will respond at the right time': Taliban vows retaliation after Pak airstrikes kill 10 in Afghanistan

Afghan mourners and relatives of victims cover the graves with soil during a mass burial ceremony for nine children and one woman who were killed by a Pakistan air strike, in the Gurbuz district of Khost Province on November 25, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

Abhinav Gupta

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November 25, 2025 Executive Order Provides For Bailout Of Overextended AI Companies In December 2024 President Donald Trump named venture capitalist David O. Sacks as the White House A.I. & Crypto Czar. Sacks is set to guide the administrations policies for artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. AI-researcher Gary Markus is wondering how two recent tweets by Gary Sacks relate to each other: One theory of capitalism holds that every company should be left to their own devices, with state intervention kept a minimum. This view was well articulated just a few weeks ago, by White House AI and Crypto Czar and well-known podcaster, David O. Sacks: David Sacks @DavidSacks  16:52 UTC  Nov 6, 2025 There will be no federal bailout for AI. The U.S. has at least 5 major frontier model companies. If one fails, others will take its place. The other theory of capitalism, if we can indeed call it that, holds that we should bailout important companies or industries that might overextend themselves. Quite the opposite from the above. This latter theory, almost a form of safety-net socialism for overextended companies, seemed to be implied today, in a tweet that seemed to be laying the groundwork for bailout, by none other than  White House AI and Crypto Czar and well-known podcaster, David O. Sacks: David Sacks @DavidSacks  17:34 UTC  Nov 24, 2025 According to todays WSJ, AI-related investment accounts for half of GDP growth. A reversal would risk recession. We cant afford to go backwards. The WSJ report Sacks mentions, archived here, is indeed gloomy: The economys dependence on AI comes with risks. Stock price/earnings ratios are near record highs. If lofty profit predictions prove wrong, share prices may tumble and investment could slow. The S&P 500 fell about 2% last week on concerns about a bubble, despite rallying 1% on Friday. Falling stocks could trigger a reverse wealth effect: Americans would consume less, which would tend to depress sales, profits and, potentially, employment.



If AI investment stopped growing, that could knock another 0.5 point off growth, Millar estimates. If it went to zero, that would knock a full percentage point off.



Another risk relates to the growing scale of AI-related borrowing.



If the revenue necessary to service that debt doesnt materialize, lenders could take a hit, spilling over into debt markets, said Berezin. China is letting the first type of capitalism reign their Artificial Intelligence efforts: Rather than pick winners and losers, China states the policy objective and hundreds of commercial initiatives compete using diverse strategies to fulfil the ambition. Instead of a winner takes all subsidies China gets a diverse, agile, ecosystem growing in parallel to its rapidly innovative economy. Many Chinese models are published as open source and can be run on smaller clusters. The U.S. has however decided to let the second form of capitalism rule its AI endeavors. There are only a few companies working on large AI projects. Their models are private and blocked from scrutiny. They are promising too much and are spending a huge amount of money. They are in need of safety-net socialism for overextended companies. To provide for this the White House issued an Executive Order on: LAUNCHING THE GENESIS MISSION By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose. From the founding of our Republic, scientific discovery and technological innovation have driven American progress and prosperity. Today, America is in a race for global technology dominance in the development of artificial intelligence (AI), an important frontier of scientific discovery and economic growth. To that end, my Administration has taken a number of actions to win that race, including issuing multiple Executive Orders and implementing Americas AI Action Plan, which recognizes the need to invest in AI-enabled science to accelerate scientific advancement. In this pivotal moment, the challenges we face require a historic national effort, comparable in urgency and ambition to the Manhattan Project that was instrumental to our victory in World War II and was a critical basis for the foundation of the Department of Energy (DOE) and its national laboratories. The Department of Energy is ordered to direct the initiative combining federal laboratories and industry partners: Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary shall identify Federal computing, storage, and networking resources available to support the Mission, including both DOE on-premises and cloud-based high-performance computing systems, and resources available through industry partners. The Secretary shall also identify any additional partnerships or infrastructure enhancements that could support the computational foundation for the Platform. The federal government will of course have to pay for those private resources. Research with the help of AI will be done in six high priority fields. The timeline provided in the Executive Order is extremely ambitious. Besides providing the instruments for a bailout the Executive Order is also creating the means of central control over AI and its application: If you strip away the branding, Genesis is the U.S. government building a national AI backbone inside the Department of Energy and then inviting the biggest private sector AI players to plug into it.



But underneath, it centralizes the AI stack. Instead of letting the highest end compute and model capabilities drift entirely into the private sector, Genesis pulls them back into a structured federal environment. Access becomes conditional: follow the safety rules, share the data, integrate into the platform and you get to operate at the frontier. Dont, and youre on the outside looking in.



Genesis is the beginning of a nationalized AI infrastructure strategy. It will function as the bridge between government compute and private sector models, letting Washington influence which companies sit closest to the frontier and which capabilities get priority. It will speed up real scientific breakthroughs, but it will also quietly define the rules of the AI race on who participates, who gets access, and how the most powerful systems are directed. By allowing for a bailout of over extended AI companies via Manhattan Project sized federal spending Trump is also attempting to prevent a stock market slump that would cost the Republicans the majority in the House. Comments
On Tuesday night, fighters from the Alpha Special Operations Center of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), together with the Security and Defense Forces, struck a number of military and logistics facilities of the Novorossiysk seaport (Krasnodar Territory, Russia) with long-range drones, a source in the SBU told Interfax-Ukraine.

"Hits were recorded on the infrastructure of the oil terminal (oil tankers and manifolds) and on the positions of the S-300/S-400 air defense systems. According to preliminary data, a large landing ship of project 1171, which was located near the berth of the naval base, was also damaged," the agency's interlocutor noted.

According to him, the SBU conducted the operation jointly with military intelligence (GUR), the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, nnmanned Systems Forces, the State Border Guard Service and the coastal missile and artillery troops of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The source specified that during the attack, the Russian air defense was actively working on the civilian infrastructure of Novorossiysk - the video shows repeated hits of the Pantsir missiles on residential buildings.

The port of Novorossiysk, as the interlocutor emphasized, is the second largest oil export center in Russia and the main base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

"The SBU continues to methodically reduce Russia's petrodollar revenues, with which it finances the war against Ukraine, as well as to weaken the enemy's air defense systems that protect key military and infrastructure facilities of the enemy," the SBU source said.
Beyond dereliction, complicity and treason

By Dean de la Paz

MANILA  Flooded with complaints of massive and unrelenting power outages and the highest electricity rates in the region, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. demanded the resignation of his Energy secretary in May 2025 and quickly reassigned him to the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources or DENR where a vacancy had opened.

Energy and environmental watchdogs thought that was ill-advised. Energy professionals lauded the removal but bucked the relegation. Nothing good results from rushed and reckless reshuffling and latent developments exposed by natural calamities and worsening environmental crises validate those fears.

To be fair, at the time Marcos may have been unaware that his Department of Energy or DOE secretary, who enjoyed the backing of a major conglomerate whose boardroom he had been spawned from had allowed the expansion of a deadly, toxic and expensive coal-fired plant. The expansion of the toxic footprint despite an existing moratorium drew the ire of environmental watchdogs and various non-government organizations including grave concerns expressed by Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

To be honest, the moratorium had loopholes for exemptions. No bureaucracy has more loopholes than ours where exemptions are our default, common among all departments. Poisoning the environment is another common concern shared by the DOE and the DENR. Importing dereliction across these cabinet portfolios may be a third.

Perhaps fallen to presidential whisperers, the stark absence of a technocracy and the constraints of his leadership style, Marcos, might have inadvertently spread the lethargy contagion by failing to properly vet his appointees.

The task of protecting the environment cannot be left to belated tail-pipe reactions, limp-wristed passivity, substance-less sound-and-fury public relations, empty promises, much less an agenda catering to the corporate interests of polluters like irresponsible mining companies, unregulated power producers, property developers and contractors.

However, the worst interests to cater to are those of a foreign global military hegemon whose designs include the forceful and often violent subjugation and plunder of the Philippine economy.

Where a de facto war footing exits, one employing armed offshore infrastructure, forward deployment of warships and both seaborne and land-based weapons of mass destruction, plus the creation of deadly launchpads in our once peaceful fishing waters, any Filipino who countenances these actively or through passive dereliction is complicit and treasonous.

Note what is now an actual war zone off our coastline where unprovoked attacks and the military occupation and control of Philippine resources dangerously tease and taunt escalations towards a full-blown war to test the strength of our military capabilities and alliances. That nobody calls these acts of aggression as acts of war is understandable especially where the pillaging of the spoils of a virtual invasion is government-sanctioned at both the cabinet and the local government levels. As such, allow us to label the virtual complicity of our officials with a foreign aggressor as nothing but a betrayal.

Scarborough Shoal (Buhanginan ng Panatag or Baja de Masinloc) in the Municipality of Masinloc, Zambales is about 124 nautical miles west from the Zambales coast and lies well within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zones 200 nautical mile perimeter.

While the coastal roads are fairly maintained, access roads from the provinces easterly points have fallen to neglect and disrepair where parts resemble dirt roads. These pose negative impacts to the overall local economy especially where the principal source of household livelihood for coastal communities cursed below the national poverty line is fishing.

A secondary source is small-scale agriculture. However, even where this combines with fishing revenues, the total productivity allows only for local self-sustenance, and neither are essentially exported out of Zambales.

Allow us to cite this area and the fishing communities therein as victims of neglect, possible complicity with a hostile foreign power and treason. For over a decade encompassing serial changes at the DENR and the Zambales dynastic government, the geopolitical travesty inflicted there by the Communist Chinese bent on expanding their beach heads within our territory has been the focus of local mainstream media including the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Expectedly adamant, government factotums claim no Chinese involvement. They also claim that the extracted sand and building material are used for domestic land reclamation. They add that the provincial revenues from these eventually accrue in part to the Zambales fishing families and that those who claim otherwise have an insidious self-interest.

Last month victimized by the deadly effects of government-authorized dredging, devastating seabed quarrying, inland mining and the erosion of coastal land resulting in the uprooting of 300 mature Aguho (Coastal She-Oak) trees that protect sand and soil integrity, coastal residents witnessed a fleet of at least eight barges and tugboats shipping off precious sand and soil building material they believe are destined for artificial islands and hostile offshore military platforms.

The neglect and economic blight are common northward from the coastal fishing communities of San Felipe, Cabangan to Botolan  victims forced to witness their own ravaging. From the perspective of the fisherfolk shoved deeper into poverty, the DENR and Zambaless local government are not simply passively derelict but are in effect actively offering sacrificial Filipino fisherfolk to fatten an invading hostile military powers literal occupation of Philippine territory.

Dean de la Paz is a former investment banker and a managing director of a New Jersey-based power company operating in the Philippines. He is the chairman of the board of a renewable energy company and is a retired Business Policy, Finance and Mathematics professor.

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Ayuyu urges NMI leaders to take action on former Hyatt property

By Emmanuel T. Erediano

emmanuel@mvariety.com

Variety News Staff

LOCAL businessman Jose C. Ayuyu is urging CNMI leaders to make the right decision regarding the future of the property currently occupied by MP Capital LLCs Marianas Beach Resort in Garapan.

After seeing the Department of Public Lands notices of default and violation of the lease agreement on the 4,432-hectare property, Ayuyu, one of the CNMIs most successful local businessmen, said he couldnt help but feel frustrated.

Somebody has to say something about this. This is not right, Ayuyu, the owner of McDonalds Restaurants in Guam and Saipan, said in an interview last week.

The property, formerly occupied by Hyatt Regency Saipan, is supposed to be one of the CNMIs best assets, Ayuyu said. Yet over the years, it has been a problem when certain investors were awarded the lease only to later realize it had been given to people who are not financially capable.

It seems to me that the CNMI is so desperate to come up with some money rather than take the time to find a financially capable investor, he said. In dealing with public land, the Commonwealth has really reached a bad point.

Ayuyu added, It is getting really frustrating. I know we can do better, but honestly, this is getting crazy. The land lease deal on the Hyatt property is an example of bad decision-making. We could have done better.

Last year, another investor expressed interest in taking over the lease agreement between DPL and Saipan Portopia, the company that operated Hyatt Regency Saipan. In August 2024, M&E Enterprises Inc. Saipan submitted a proposal to DPL to acquire the property. The proposal promised $34 million for the first round of hotel renovations and the purchase of new equipment, with a commitment to retain the Hyatt brand.

Ayuyu is urging the administration and the Legislature to act on the notices of default and violation and determine whether the government can reclaim the property.

Lets not play around, he said. The government should stop dealing with people who dont have the capability to restore the hotel to what it once was.

He also recommended that DPL consider global hotel brands affiliated with airline companies to attract tourists. CNMI leaders, he said, should exercise their authority and explore creative ways to ensure multi-million-dollar assets like the former Hyatt property, as well as other underutilized public lands, begin generating revenue for the government and the people.

I am just concerned about our people. Its really sad. We keep making the same mistakes, and now we are financially in bad shape, Ayuyu said.

Variety was unable to get a comment from MP Capital LLC.

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Feds seek forfeiture of $262K, luxury goods in PSS fraud case

By Bryan Manabat

bryan@mvariety.com

Variety News Staff

FEDERAL prosecutors are seeking to forfeit $262,788 and a cache of luxury goods from former Public School System employee Giselle Butalid and her mother, Clarissa Adlawan, who admitted to siphoning public funds and laundering the proceeds through transactions reaching the Philippines.

In a motion filed on Friday, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands asked the District Court for the NMI to enter a money judgment and preliminary forfeiture order against Butalid and Adlawan. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges tied to fraudulent procurements and the concealment of funds through structured and international transfers.

According to prosecutors, the defendants used One Legacy LLC to stage fake purchases of educational materials between October 2021 and August 2022. They submitted falsified documents and forged signatures to push payments through PSS, with individual transactions ranging from $23,242.50 to $113,020. The scheme laundered at least $262,788. Because PSS received more than $10,000 in federal grants during that period, the case falls under federal jurisdiction.

The funds were cycled through financial transactions designed to conceal their origin, evade reporting requirements, and move money overseas, meeting the elements of laundering under 18 U.S.C.  1956. Investigators say purchases included luxury handbags and jewelry seized during an Aug. 15 search and now held in government custody.

Butalid and Adlawan pleaded guilty in October to Count 1 (Conspiracy, 18 U.S.C.  371) and Count 7 (Money Laundering Conspiracy, 18 U.S.C.  1956(h)). Prosecutors argue those admissions establish the nexus between the offenses and the assets targeted for forfeiture.

The U.S. governments bill of particulars listed more than 100 items of gold and silver jewelry along with high-end watches, belts, bags, wallets, shoes, and slides. If granted, the preliminary order would allow prosecutors to seize the property and begin ancillary proceedings to resolve any third-party claims. For the money judgment, no ancillary hearing is required, and the United States could immediately begin collection under federal forfeiture statutes.

Jewelry store owners Wilfredo Ching and Violeta M. Centeno have filed a $59,300 claim seeking recovery of items seized from Adlawan. Ching and Centeno, officers of Enhance Pacific Corp., which operates as Perfectly Set, said many of the confiscated pieces had been consigned to Adlawan for resale. In a letter to Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, they said Adlawan befriended Centeno and offered to act as a reseller but left an unpaid balance supported by ledgers and postdated checks from One Legacy LLC.

The store owners said Adlawan never established ownership of most of the seized items and are asking the court to recognize their claim.

Butalid and Adlawan were indicted in August on multiple counts, including theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. Adlawan also faced separate counts of illegal monetary transactions and structuring.

Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.

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The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has found a ticket that allowed the Midas case suspect, Timur Mindich, to pass through the Hrushiv checkpoint, marked "K," which means assistance in quickly passing the control, and is investigating who made such a decision, NABU Director Semen Kryvonos has said.

"We even found this ticket that allowed him to pass. It has the letter "K" - control - on it. And so, we are already documenting who put this comrade under the control of this border guard so that he could leave quickly," he said during a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy on Tuesday.

Kryvonos rejected all accusations against NABU that it could have facilitated Mindich's departure abroad.

The NABU Director explained that the bureau does not use in such cases the provision of information to the State Border Service about important persons involved in the investigation, because it is afraid of the risk of information leakage.

"We did not control his movements, because we did not control his phone. Because if we controlled his phone, the risk of information leakage would be high... Our informing the Border Guard Service that such and such a person was going to leave here is also a risk of information leakage. We found out after the fact that he crossed the border," said Kryvonos.

In his opinion, if the State Border Guard Service had been informed, it would not have stopped this person.

"No one would have waited for us to drive an hour and a half from the Lviv Territorial Department to detain him or not," he said.
Man accused of filing 243 fake green card applications

By Bryan Manabat

bryan@mvariety.com

Variety News Staff

A FEDERAL complaint accuses Venerando Aquino Martin of fraudulently filing U.S. permanent resident applications  commonly known as green cards  for himself and 242 others under the C16 eligibility category, which requires continuous residence in the United States since before Jan. 1, 1972.

Homeland Security Investigations Task Force Officer Paul Quizon arrested Martin, a Filipino national, at his Koblerville residence on Oct. 15. Martin faces three counts: making a false statement on an immigration document (June 25, 2023) and obtaining immigration documents by fraud (Sept. 23, 2023, and June 18, 2024).

Martin appeared before Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy in the District Court for the NMI on Oct. 17 for an initial hearing. Attorney Mark Scoggins was appointed to represent him, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Backe represented the federal government.

Judge Kennedy released Martin on a $1,000 unsecured bond with conditions, including surrendering his passport to HSI.

According to the complaint, HSI-Saipan investigators received information in August 2024 from independent sources, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, regarding suspicious immigration benefit filings.

Specifically, approximately 242 immigration benefit applications for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) under the same eligibility category (C16) were submitted listing the same Saipan mailing address (Target Mailing). Law enforcement database checks identified the address as belonging to Venerando Martin, who listed his physical address as Adobu Drive, Koblerville, Saipan, MP 96950. Records further identified Martin as a Philippines national who first entered the United States on or about Sept. 10, 2000, Quizon stated in the complaint.

Investigators said immigration records show Martin submitted Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) and Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) on June 25, 2023, listing the target mailing address. USCIS issued Martin an EAD while his Form I-485 was pending. A review of the application showed Martin selected the C16 category, even though border-crossing records and his own declarations confirm he has not been continuously present in the United States since Jan. 1, 1972, as required.

Additional filings in March 2024 linked to Martins address raised further red flags.

The filings, submitted by an alien referred to as APPLICANT 1, declared an eligibility category of C16 on Forms I-485 and I-765. Immigration database checks revealed APPLICANT 1 has been illegally present in the United States since overstaying an authorized visa in 2014. Born in 2003, APPLICANT 1 is not eligible for the C16 category. In June 2024, USCIS mailed APPLICANT 1s EAD to the target mailing address while the Form I-485 was pending, Quizon stated.

During an August 2024 administrative interview with USCIS on Saipan, APPLICANT 1 said they paid Martin in cash to prepare and file the applications.

APPLICANT 1 disclosed that Martin selected the C16 eligibility category, completed the forms, and instructed APPLICANT 1 to sign and date them after he had entered the information. APPLICANT 1 also provided Martin with supporting documents, including passport copies, a birth certificate, police clearance, and vaccination records. APPLICANT 1 received the EAD from Martin after he picked it up at the target mailing address on or about June 18, 2024.

Martin is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 31 at 9 a.m.

Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.

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Police seek witnesses in Garapan bar fight

The Department of Public Safetys Criminal Investigation Bureau is asking for the publics help regarding a disturbance that occurred near Relox Bar in Western Garapan on Nov. 16.

According to DPS, officers responded to the scene at around 3:50 a.m. and found that two men had been involved in a physical altercation. One of the men was reportedly punched and fell to the pavement.

The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Jeremy Guillermin, was arrested at the scene and remains in custody at the Department of Corrections.

Guillermin, a Palauan national undergoing Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) training on Saipan, was charged in Superior Court with aggravated assault and battery, disturbing the peace, and obstructing justice.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 26 at 10 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.

Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or was in the area at the time to come forward with information. Community members may contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 664-9042 or visit the office in Lower Miha Housing.

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Search and rescue partners respond to false activation of EPIRB on Saipan

SANTA RITA, Guam (U.S. Coast Guard)  Multiple local, federal, and maritime partners responded to an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, or EPIRB, activating Saipan on Sept. 6.

An EPIRB is a vital search and rescue distress tool, and it transmits a signal picked up by a satellite which then informs the team at the nearest U.S. Coast Guard rescue coordination center.

In this case, the activation seems accidental, said Senior Chief Petty Officer Brian Koji, U.S. Coast Guard Joint Rescue Sub-Center supervisor. In the case of an accidental EPIRB activation in Guam or Oceania, contact the U.S. Coast Guard Joint Rescue Sub-Center in Guam at 671-355-4800 and provide them with the beacons ID to cancel the false alert. This action prevents unnecessary searches and keeps responders fresh to address emergent cases.

The EPIRB involved in this case was registered by a previous owner, and that person relocated to the U.S. mainland after selling the associated boat in 2016. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Bureau of Motor Vehicles, responsible for maintaining boat registrations, could not find a valid registration beyond 2016, meaning the new owner of the vessel and EPIRB did not register their boat as required by law.

As a result, CNMI Department of Public Safety teams searched the east side of Saipan and conducted vessel checks at Smiley Cove Marina with no successful results. The prepositioned ships anchored on the west side of Saipan used their equipment to narrow down a potential search area.

A U.S. Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter crew from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 out of Anderson Air Force Base with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia member deployed. Using a handheld direction finder, they flew over several points on Saipan and homed in on a location on Capital Hill with a boat in its yard.

The U.S. Coast Guard dispatched an officer, along with members of DPS, to conduct interviews of persons with homes on Capital Hill with registered boats, and no residents confirmed they owned an EPIRB. However, after these visits, the EPIRB signal ceased indicating a depleted battery or someone switching it off.

Beacon registration is free, easy, and required by law. Federal law requires registration of all EPIRBs in the NOAA SARSAT Beacon Registration Database, free and accessible to all beacon owners, at https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/RGDB/.

Owners must validate their beacon information every two years to ensure their contact information is up-to-date. Current beacon owner information allows search and rescue responders to work more efficiently and can decrease response time during distress situations.

Search and rescue personnel respond immediately to every activation of a distress beacon. It also narrows down search areas considerably and allows responders to reach someone in distress much faster than if they only have a report of where a mariner intended to go. As a reminder, accidental activations happen, but calling to cancel false alerts is non-punitive, helps protect SAR personnel, and ensures valuable resources are available to respond to actual distress cases.

A U.S. Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter crew from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 out of Anderson Air Force Base with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia member use a handheld Direction Finder on Saipan to home in on an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon signal on Sept. 6, 2022. Multiple local, federal, and maritime partners responded to the EPIRB activation prior to the signal ceasing.

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Chinese land, US radar and ties to Taiwan: The geopolitics rattling a tiny Pacific nation

KOROR (BBC/Pacnews)  The air above Palaus pristine waters smells of salt and breadfruit, and on calm mornings in Koror, Palaus commercial center, the whirr of dive boat engines echoes across the bay.

A few years ago, those boats were filled with tourists  many from China  drawn to Palaus lagoons and limestone caves. Hotels were full, restaurants bustling, and fishermen could barely keep up with demand. But that is no more.

The boom  and the abrupt collapse  was no accident. Between 2015 and 2017, Chinese tourists made up around half of its visitors. Then, in 2017, Beijing reportedly ordered tour operators to stop selling packages to Palau, slashing the main source of tourism to the islands at the time.

I actually bought new boats to accommodate the sudden increase of tourists, said a dive shop owner in Koror. But after the tourism peak, he said, these boats had been sitting idle in the bay and it took them years just to make back the money they spent.

The message was clear, Palauan officials allege. They say that China had used its vast outbound tourism market as part of a broader campaign to try to peel Palau away from recognizing Taiwan  and into Beijings orbit.

The BBC reached out to Chinas foreign ministry for comment but has not received a response. China has, however, in the past repeatedly denied using tourism as political leverage.

Palau is one of only a dozen nations that still recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state. This challenges a key pillar of Chinas foreign policy, the one China principle, in which Beijing asserts sovereignty over Taiwan.

But its not just about a diplomatic tug of war.

Palaus location makes it a desirable target for influence from the worlds biggest powers. It sits on the so-called Second Island Chain  a string of outposts the U.S. sees as crucial to containing Chinas military expansion and responding to any aggression in the western Pacific.

Palau and the U.S. have a long history of partnership: before its independence in 1994, Palau was a U.S.-administered territory.

Under an agreement known as the Compact of Free Association, Palau gives the U.S. exclusive military access in exchange for Washingtons extensive aid, including Palauan citizens ability to live and work freely in the U.S.

Working under the terms of the Compact, the U.S. is now strengthening its own military footprint in the archipelago.

This geopolitical power struggle between China, Taiwan, and the U.S. is cascading down into the daily lives of this tiny nation of fewer than 20,000 people.

No matter what we do, Palau is going to be the center of any military activity because of our location, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. told the BBC.

A prize in the Pacific

Palaus relationship with Taiwan runs deep.

When Palau became independent in 1994, Taiwan moved fast to secure a diplomatic ally, according to Cheng-Cheng Li, an assistant professor at National Dong Hwa University in Hualien, Taiwan, who has conducted extensive research on Taiwan-Palau relations.

Taiwans assistance to it has been hands-on: agricultural experts working side by side with locals, medical teams in small clinics, funding for local entrepreneurs, and inviting students to Taiwan on scholarships.

For a country with a small population where community-based service plays a central role, Taiwan has been described as a reliable partner and a trusted friend by many Palauan officials.

Taiwans ambassador to Palau, Jessica Lee, told the BBC that local leaders had assured her that the relationship was solid as a rock until death do us part.

Still, Taiwan has reason to worry. In recent years, China has peeled away several of its former allies. In the Pacific region alone, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and Nauru have severed their diplomatic ties with it and switched to Beijing since 2019.

Beijing sees the democratically governed island of Taiwan as a breakaway province that will, eventually, be part of the country, and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve this.

Controlling Taiwan is essential to Chinese leader Xi Jinpings goal of reversing what he called Chinas century of humiliation by colonial powers, according to analysts.

Both the U.S. and Taiwan are paranoid and jumpy about Palau switching, said Graeme Smith, a senior fellow at the Australian National University. Theyll put a lot of resources into making sure it doesnt happen.

Officials in both Palau and Taiwan say Beijing has pulled on a range of levers to influence Palaus diplomatic position.

After he took office in 2021, Palaus president publicly claimed that China offered a million tourists in exchange for Palau to this end. He refused.

Then in 2024, Chinas foreign ministry issued a safety alert, advising Chinese nationals to exercise caution when travelling to Palau.

If China uses tourism as a weapon, then its an unstable market that we shouldnt depend on, President Whipps Jr. told the BBC. If China wants a relationship with Palau, they can, but they cannot tell us we cannot have a relationship with Taiwan.

China, however, denies using tourism as a political tool.

In an opinion published last year in the Peoples Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist party, the paper stated that Chinas intention when issuing the alert was to protect its overseas citizens in light of the increasing public security cases in Palau. It added that the accusations from the president were an attempt to smear China and interfere in its domestic affairs.

When asked in 2017 about the banning of tour groups, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson said that he had not heard about the situation.

But in 2024, responding to Palaus continued recognition of Taiwan, the ministry urged Palau to make the correct decisions that conform to their own interests.

While China has not commented on the alleged offer of a million tourists, not everyone agrees with President Whipps Jr.s assessment. Many locals who spoke with the BBC dont share the presidents view on tourism.

Hes very hawkish towards China, said Pai Lee, the Taiwanese owner of a hotel in Koror. I dont think its correct to say that China weaponised tourism  they are simply using this as a bargaining chip, just like how people play chess and countries do it all the time.

In any case, the legacy of the sudden tourism swing remains visible.

The economic shock after the suspension of tour groups was sharp, but so was the environmental toll of the sudden influx of tourists itself. Palau, according to environmental protection organizations, was not ready for mass tourism.

After the end of the explosion of Chinese tourism, I went there and the corals were dead, said Ann Singeo, director of the Ebiil Society, a local NGO.

Youd see [hundreds of] people in this little cove, all standing on corals. That was the price we paid because we didnt have rules in place to use these resources respectfully.

Tourism is just one part of Chinas alleged playbook. Beijing has also been trying to strengthen relationships with local leaders: Palauan officials say they have repeatedly been invited to Beijing for visits.

On one such visit, a former Palauan governor said he asked why Taiwan couldnt become independent.

Taiwan is part of China, replied a Chinese Communist Party official, looking furious.

The U.S. factor

With Chinas intensifying military activities around Taiwan, including air and sea patrols, the U.S. has claimed that China is readying its military to be capable of invading it.

To contain Chinas potential aggression towards Taiwan and overall military activities in the western Pacific, the U.S. has ramped up its own military infrastructure buildup in Palau.

Over the years, Washington has been upgrading airstrips, building Tactical Multi-Mission Over-the-horizon Radar system (Tacmor) used to monitor military activities in the Pacific, and planning on expanding Malakal Harbor, Palaus main port, to accommodate larger military vessels.

However, the U.S. has expressed concern over a particular vulnerability: land acquisition.

Documents seen by the BBC show that several Chinese businesses have leased land and developed properties close to these sites, from undeveloped land to hotels overlooking the harbor and Palaus main airport.

In Angaur, a southern state of Palau, for example, the U.S. is now building the receiver site of Tacmor  the plan was announced in 2017. However, in 2019 and 2020, Chinese investors leased land covering over 350,000 square meters following the announcement of radar construction.

One investor, Zhuang Cizhong, proposed building a resort there.

We went to visit his company in China, and he laid out a plan for a retirement home for rich Chinese, said the former governor of Angaur, Marvin Ngirutang, who believes Palaus government should work more closely with China. There were booklets of blueprints  it looked legitimate.

The project was never built. Zhuang blamed Covid-19, but Washington remains wary. The U.S. ambassador in Palau could not be reached for comment, but he has previously voiced his concerns.

All around there are various plots of land now leased to Chinese interests, U.S. Ambassador Joel Ehrendreich told Reuters. I dont think its any coincidence that it happens to be physically close to our projects.

Such worries are shared locally.

The concern is that these investments or leases are not legitimate businesses, said Jennifer Anson, Palaus national security advisor. Maybe on the outside, but when the time comes that China invades Taiwan, these could be transformed into military sites.

Chinese media reports, however, suggest that there were legitimate reasons to push for businesses to invest in Palau. In 2019, Phoenix News, a state-affiliated broadcaster, extolled the virtues of buying property in Palau, citing abundant tourism resources and relaxed legislation.

The BBC is unable to contact Zhuang. Chinas foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment on matters related to land leases.

In the shadows of a diplomatic void

Chinese-linked organized crime has also proliferated since 2018, according to authorities in Palau. President Whipps Jr said that there was a constant battle going on as he pointed to crimes linked to China, including scamming, illegal casinos, and cyberattacks.

Some officials claim criminals have exploited the lack of diplomatic ties between China and Palau.

Wan Kuok Koi, known as Broken Tooth, who led the infamous Macau-based 14k triad, for example, entered Palau as a foreign investor in 2018. The crime syndicate later engaged in bribery, corruption and online gambling in countries including Palau.

Additionally, in 2025, the U.S Treasury sanctioned several individuals in Palau for their links to the Prince Group, a Chinese-run conglomerate. The group has been accused of scamming, money laundering, industrial-scale human trafficking, among other crimes.

Prince Group did not respond to the BBCs request for comment but has previously categorically denied having engaged in any unlawful activity, according to the companys statement following the U.S. sanction.

Many of these individuals have been placed on Palaus own undesirable alien list, and according to Anson from Palaus national security office, they are banking on Chinas inability to hunt them down because of the lack of diplomatic relations.

When you trawl Chinese diaspora sites in Cambodia, where the wisdom of relocating to Palau is sometimes debated, the criminals themselves are drawn by the lack of PRC diplomatic presence there, said ANUs Graeme Smith.

Pawn of powers

For many Palauans, talk of high-level geopolitical struggle feels distant, yet its ripples are everywhere. The U.S military expansion, Chinese investment, and rumors of hidden agendas feed a growing sense of unease.

This administration is very hawkish towards China, and I think its ridiculous, said the former governor of Angaur, who opposes the construction of Tacmor. We should concentrate on the environment and less on China-U.S. relations.

A petition circulating in recent months asks Washington to spell out its contingency plans in the event of war  a sign of how deep the anxiety runs. It calls on the U.S. to reassure the people of Palau that civilians will be protected if conflict was o break out.

We know what the geopolitics looks like between China and the U.S., said one resident. And we are scared our island will be destroyed by a war we dont want to be part of.

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Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz.

"Shared fresh details of our work on steps to end the war. We are coordinating so that all our partners are informed," Zelenskyy wrote on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.

The President also noted that the Ukrainian side continues to communicate with the American side.

"We discussed how the situation has developed and coordinated our next steps. We also briefly mentioned the agenda for today's Coalition of the Willing meeting, which Germany will co-chair," Zelenskyy reported following the conversation with Merz.
When you aggregate data into one massive base, of course it immediately becomes a target for the countrys enemies.

Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, has lambasted the Starmer governments plans for a national digital identity system, warning it would immediately become a target for the countrys enemies. Dearlove, who led MI6 from 1999 to 2004, said emerging quantum technologies could undermine the security systems designed to protect the digital identification system.

When you aggregate data into one massive base, of course it immediately becomes a target for the countrys enemies, Dearlove told the right-wing broadcaster GB News. You therefore must be sure that the citadel is impregnable. However secure you believe the system to be, quantum computing when it arrives could render redundant your defences.

By enemies Dearlove appears to have one particular country in mind: China. According to official UK records, Chinese cyber spies already accessed the UKs Electoral Commissions Microsoft Exchange Server, potentially exposing the personal data of approximately 40 million UK citizens for over a year.

Dearloves name may be familiar even to non-UK-based readers. During his time as MI6 chief, he helped furnish then-Prime Minister Tony Blair with the flawed intelligence on Iraq wars WMD capabilities that helped pave the way to the second Gulf War. He also had a hand in the Russiagate scandal, having advised Christopher Steele on the Trump dossier.

In short, Dearlove is a rather unsavoury character, even by senior spooks standards, and has played a part in some of the worst crimes of this still youngish century. At the same time, one would expect him to know a thing or two about systems security.

That didnt stop him from apparently falling victim to a Russian hack in 2018. In 2022, the former spy chief went public with claims that personal emails of his had been hacked and published on a website called Very English Coop [sic] dEtat.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the website claimed the emails were proof of a conspiracy between leading Brexiteers including Dearlove, Gisela Stuart, a former Labour MP, and the historian Robert Tombs to embed a pro-Brexit spy in the UK negotiating team led by Olly Robbins, the UKs former Brexit negotiator.

Worse Than Horizon

Asked by GB News whether the Starmer government should change course on digital identity, Dearlove responded: Better not to create the target and the temptation in my view.

Whether Dearlove has ulterior motives for undermining Starmers digital identity plans, such as protecting the interests of tech companies with interests in the sector, is unclear. But he is not the only high-profile figure to have warned about the security risks of the governments proposed digital identity system. And those risks do seem very real.

Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate, Conservative MP David Davis said:

What will happen when this system comes into effect is that the entire populations entire data will be open to malevolent actors  foreign nations, ransomware criminals, malevolent hackers and even their own personal or political enemies. As a result, this will be worse than the Horizon [Post Office] scandal.

Davis has a point. In fact, it is a point we made over six months ago, in our post, Is the UK Creating a Giant Bonanza for Hackers and Nation-State Adversaries With Its One Login Digital Governance System? As we warned in that post, the UK has a horrid record when it comes to protecting citizens data and running IT operations in general:

[If] not properly secured, [digital identity systems] risk creating a perfect bonanza of lucrative data for hackers and nation-state adversaries  of which, lets face it, the UK has plenty. They could also create key points of vulnerability within the UK government and civil services IT systems.

According to IBMs X-Force Threat Intelligence Index report, published in 2023, the UK suffered the most cyber attacks of any country in Europe in 2022, accounting for a staggering 43% of all attacks. Meanwhile, the current state of the UK governments One Login system, which will serve as the access system for the forthcoming digital ID wallet, is hardly reassuring.

Zero Trust

As Computer Weekly reported in April, One Login is still not compliant with cyber standards for critical services, has lost its certification against the governments own digital identity system trust framework, and a recent simulated hack revealed that attackers could gain privileged access without detection.

If that isnt enough to win ones trust, it was also revealed in 2022 that parts of One Login were being developed on unsecured workstations by contractors without the required security clearance in Romania, a nation that ranks sixth on the World Cybercrime Index.

One Login is already up and running, however, and has 12 million sign-ups, roughly equivalent to one out of four English citizens. Once fully operational, it will underpin the forthcoming Gov.uk Wallet, which will be used to deliver digital versions of key government documents, such as driving licences, birth certificates and passports as well as private sector credentials.

Yet the system is not remotely secure, warns The Telegraphs Andrew Orlowski, who has reported extensively on the flaws in the UKs digital identity infrastructure.

DIGITAL ID: You may be completely exposed to identity fraud because of One Login  @AndrewOrlowski The security flaws in One Login are deeply concerning. Company directors, there is a way to avoid One Login  please see our toolkit for full details:https://t.co/5HHOMVF9Fu pic.twitter.com/5Qe9K3Gdgo  Together (@Togetherdec) November 23, 2025

Criticism of Starmers digital identity plans, which are obviously not his own, is mounting, even in legacy media.

LBC (the London Broadcasting Company) published an interesting op-ed by Irra Ariella Khi, the CEO of Zamna, an aviation identity company, who advises governments and industry leaders on digital identity. She made a key point about the governments constant citing of Estonias long-established digital governance system as a source of inspiration for its plans:

The UK Government often points to Estonia as the model for digital identity. But Estonias entire population (1.6 million) is roughly the size of Croydon. You cant copy-paste a small national system like that and expect it to work for 67 million people. Its like taking something designed to run at 100% in Estonia and expecting it to hold up at 4,000% capacity in the UK.

This is especially true when you consider that the UKs IT infrastructure largely consists of a hotch-potch of poorly designed legacy systems as well as its disastrous track record with IT systems in general.

Even Estonias much smaller, better designed, longer established system has suffered its fair share of data breaches. In 2017, thousands of people were shut out from accessing online government services after the discovery of a security flaw. From the BBC:

A problem with the countrys national identity cards was identified earlier this year, affecting 760,000 people. The flaw could let attackers decrypt private data or impersonate citizens. Those who have not had their cards updated with new security certificates will no longer be able to use them to access some services from midnight. Estonias digital ID system lets citizens access government and some private services such as medical records, voting and banking. But security researchers found the encryption used in the ID cards was easily cracked which could, if exploited, let attackers impersonate people.

In Indonesia, enterprising criminals have come up with malware that poses as the countrys digital identity app, reports Biometric Update:

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a malware app designed to steal financial data, which disguises itself as Indonesias national digital identity platform, Identitas Kependudukan Digital (IKD). The malware app, named Android/BankBot-YNRK, was found circulating online outside of the official Google Play app store, posing as an APK file of the digital ID platform. Once a user installs it, the app will start exploiting Android permissions to gain access to sensitive data, targeting banking and cryptocurrency apps. According to an investigation from cybersecurity firm Cyfirma, the Trojan operates stealthily by leveraging its permissions to observe what appears on screens, simulate button presses and automatically complete forms as if acting on the users behalf. It also transmitted device details, location data and a list of installed applications back to the attackers. Overall, Android/BankBot-YNRK exhibits a comprehensive feature set aimed at maintaining long-term access, stealing financial data and executing fraudulent transactions on compromised Android devices, says Cyfirma.

The Meaning of Mandatory

The UK government continues to insist that its digital identity system will be optional, despite all evidence to the contrary, including its own declarations. And its getting a helping hand in this deception from fact-checking websites. Full Fact explains that the governments plans for digital ID do not require all UK citizens to hold one  only those who want to work there:

Digital ID would only be mandatory for those who are looking to work in the UK. It would therefore not be mandatory for everyone living in the UK. For example, someone who is retired wouldnt need a digital ID.

But even that probably wouldnt apply for long. Many governments with full-fledged digital identity systems, from Estonia to India, started off by assuring citizens that digital identity was totally optional  until it became necessary for just about everything. In India, access issues to the Aadhaar system have locked millions out of their legitimate benefits, even resulting in deaths.

In the UK, it is already mandatory (as of November 18) for business owners to register with Companies House via One Login  a fact that was not mentioned at all in the Full Fact article. Thats an additional six million people who will be corralled into the system  unless, of course, they refuse to or find work-arounds.

The ostensible reasons for this new requirement is to attract investment to the UK by bolstering transparency as well as provide greater protection against fraud. While business registration processes could do with being beefed up, forcing business owners to register on One Login risks exposing millions of people to much greater fraud risk, warns Info-Security magazine:

Michael Perez, director at managed service provider Ekco, warned that the One Login ID verification service used by the government is itself a security risk. He claimed it has failed to meet all government Cyber Assessment Framework outcomes and has historically been plagued by issues including software vulnerabilities and insecure logins. Requesting millions of individuals to submit sensitive identity documents via a platform that hasnt fully adopted secure-by-design principles introduces significant risk, Perez argued. It concentrates vulnerability and could expose users to breaches at a time when public confidence in digital systems is already under pressure.

These system and data security vulnerabilities are just two of many problems posed by digital identity. Oracle Films Phil Wiseman offers a solid overview of some of the other core issues:

Im observing a big semantics problem in the Digital ID discussion. Hopefully this post can provide some clarity. As I see it: Digital IDENTIFICATION is the digitised equivalent of physical identification  anything which you currently use to identify yourself; such as a passport, drivers license, bank card, utility bill etc. This is what most people seem to think of when they think of Digital ID. Its hard to see anything explicitly wrong with this idea. And thats why I believe many are confused by the uproar and the massive pushback against Digital ID initiatives. Digital IDENTITY is the sum of those identifiers that exists in the form of data about you. Its your digital footprint. Currently this largely exists in silos in fragmented public and private sector databases. Again, nothing explicitly wrong with this idea, provided people understand the terms and conditions of the products theyre using and have provided fully informed consent for their data to be utilised for their respective, stated purposes. Though Id wager most have not. The inherent danger with Digital IDENTITY however, and the stated direction of travel, is the desire to introduce interoperability between these datasets on a global scale. Such an environment is whats formally referred to as DIGITAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. According to the principles of DPI, your digital footprint, also referred to as your Digital Twin will be updated every single time you interact in society at any noteworthy level; be that using public services, filing taxes, making financial transactions, browsing the internet, posting on social media etc. Any human action for which the exchange of data is required will facilitate the collection and profiling of said data  tethering it to your digital twin as a permanent record. This is not speculation. This is what Digital Public Infrastructure is designed to enable. This should pose some questions: What happens when your digital identifier isnt a physical app or a card but a biometric such as a fingerprint or facial recognition scan? What does opt-out look like at that point? What happens when cash is eliminated, along with any analogue off-ramp from this closed digital environment? What happens when such vast troves of data are inevitably surveilled by AI and enforcement mechanisms are introduced? Carbon allowances, social credit scores, vaccine mandates the potential for social control is quite literally endless. These enforcement mechanisms could be imposed centrally, automatically, at scale. Add to that the fact that such systems are currently demonstrably insecure and offer a goldmine to would-be hackers. In summary, you are being coerced to onboard to a system loaded with immense personal risk, for which your consent is not required going forwards and if you refuse to participate, you will be penalised.

The one potential silver lining of the governments mad rush to launch a digital identity system and compel mass adoption as quickly as possible, regardless of the systems state of readiness, is Keir Starmers reverse Midas touch. If anyone can turn the entire country off the idea of digital identity, tarnishing it forever, it is Starmer, who managed to establish himself as Britains most unpopular prime minister on record in just over 12 months.

Net support for digital identity has already cratered from 35% in the early summer to -14% in early October, according to polling by More in Common. Just under 3 million people have so far signed a parliament petition calling on the government to immediately commit to not introducing a digital identity system, making it the fourth largest petition in British history.

The resulting digital debate will be taking place in the House of Commons on December 8. For interested UK-based readers, Big Brother Watch is offering a speedy tool for contacting your respective member of parliament to make your feelings known on the issue and urge him or her to attend the debate.

 ACTION ALERT: Urge your MP to attend the digital ID petition debate on the 8th of December, using our speedy tool. If thousands of us write to our MPs, they'll have no choice but to represent the public's opposition to digital ID at this debatehttps://t.co/RJCBPMzUiQ pic.twitter.com/Hl5CQXlGnN  Big Brother Watch (@BigBrotherWatch) November 21, 2025

Granted, even if Starmers digital identity plan ends up becoming so toxic that Starmer, or his successor, has to abandon it, a revised plan with a different name will probably be proposed and actually deployed a couple of years later, just as happened recently in Switzerland.

As NC reader vao pointed out in a comment to a previous post, whether it is with e-ID, CBDC, Internet censorship, increasing retirement age, or other topics, the powers that be interpret the loudest and most strident NO! at best as not now'. And digital identity is one of the most important topics of all, given it is meant to serve as the foundation stone for the digital control grid that just about every country on the planet is frantically building.
Korat zoo warms animals with straw and hot baths for pythons Bangkok Post. Its been cold for here!

3I/ATLAS on November 22, 2025 from Puerto Rico (Morales Rivera).

If we look at low resolution, we might say that it is a "green comet with no tail" (slide 1).

But then if we look at high resolution (I have darkened its bright white center so we can see green or blue gasses on pic.twitter.com/FfqqJUkZh3  Red Collie (Dr. Horace Drew) scientist/inventor (@RedCollie1) November 23, 2025

Scientists find hidden switch that lets tumors shapeshift and evade treatment ScienceDaily (Kevin W)

 This MRI Can Destroy Cancer Without a Single Cut  In Sydney, doctors are using one of the most advanced cancer treatments on Earth  MRI-guided cryoablation. Heres how it works: a tiny probe is guided directly into the tumour using real-time MRI imaging, and the tumour is pic.twitter.com/mRht6nWZ9A  Shining Science (@ShiningScience) November 23, 2025

What Happens To Kids Brains After Thousands Of Hours Staring At Screens? StudyFinds (resilc)

#COVID-19/Pandemics

Mutant H3N2 Influenza (subclade K) has started to spike in the US .

Prepare for the worst seasonal flu season in decades.

Data from @BiofireDefense

Accessible at https://t.co/gIHuLWkNrU pic.twitter.com/dJllR4JQc4  Dr Richard Hirschson (@richardhirschs1) November 24, 2025 In light of the fact that repeated studies suggest that women are more likely to be develop Long Covid, I think it's really important to know what's happening with the different health conditions that specifically affect women. This is a painful thread at times. pic.twitter.com/7892T18Nyx  tern (@1goodtern) November 24, 2025

Climate/Environment

China?

Japan-China Row

 JAPAN JUST THREW MISSILES ON CHINAS FRONT LAWN The gloves are off.

Japan just placed medium-range missiles on Yonaguni Island  a speck of land so close to Taiwan (110 km) you could practically swim the Strait on a dare. Beijings predictable meltdown  calling it a https://t.co/0ZOfev5LU0 pic.twitter.com/BQwUw0Nhyn  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 23, 2025

Africa

European Disunion

Old Blighty

With a million young people locked out of work, the UKs hidden jobs crisis is only growing Guardian Melanie Phillips at the Rage Against the Hate Conference YouTube. Colonel Smithers:  If you thought Sarah Hurwitz was bad.Philips is a regular in print and on air. Its not the first time. One of the few sane comments: I do not understand why so many applaud this speech. This is truly a terrifying speech. All Jews should be particularly terrified. Shes calling for all Jews around the world to be deported to Israel, against our will, to serve as soldiers. Weve seen this script before, we know where it leads. I hope others have awakened to this. Should the Bank of England be independent? Andy Haldane and Daniela Gabor London Review of Books, YouTube (Colonel Smithers). From early in the month, still germane

Israel v. The Resistance

New Not-So-Cold War

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

Self-destructing thumb drive can brick itself and wipe your secret files away The Register (Chuck L). So what am I missing? Why cant this sort of device be improved so as to self-brick when plugged into any not-specifically authorized computer? That should be in version 2.0.

Imperial Collapse Watch

Trump 2.0

Mamdani

Mamdani Response to Protest Inflames Tensions with Jewish Leaders New York Times (resilc). Good for him.

Democrat Death Wish

GOP Clown Car

TIME claims sources told them Im running for President in 2028, which means this is a complete lie and they made it up because they cant even quote the names of the people who they claim said it. Thats not journalism, its called lying.

Im not running for President and pic.twitter.com/i99LgGvVSx  Marjorie Taylor Greene  (@mtgreenee) November 23, 2025 X Unleashes CHAOS On MAGA Accounts With New Feature Young Turks, YouTube

Our No Longer Free Press

Mr. Market is Moody

Economy

The US economys 7 deadly signs Business Insider

AI

Chuck L: No mention of blocking state regulation but its almost certainly somewhere in the fine print.  Trump just signed one of the biggest AI directives in U.S. history: the Genesis Mission. According to the executive order, the program is modeled on the scale and urgency of the Manhattan Project. It creates a fully national, government-wide effort to:  merge the pic.twitter.com/DwUqTHw9sw  DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) November 25, 2025 AI-Spending War and AI-Debt Pile-Up Could Squeeze Share Buybacks Wolf Richter

The Bezzle

Guillotine Watch

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour (via):

And a bonus (Chuck L):

This is easily one of the most incredible videos Ive ever seen on the internet.. pic.twitter.com/8jWBw2iqVF  Nature is Amazing  (@AMAZlNGNATURE) November 23, 2025

A second bonus:

And a third:

The kitten just realized that all dogs are scared of him 

pic.twitter.com/MKtA5t6d4x  Antidepressant Content (@depressionlesss) November 23, 2025

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admits EU sanctions against Russia have failed

Despite 19 rounds of EU sanctions targeting Russian banks, crypto exchanges and third-party trade partners, Moscow's economy remains resilient while Europe suffers self-inflicted economic damage.

Instead of collapsing, Russia has strengthened domestic production, formed new trade alliances and circumvented financial restrictions, now producing more munitions than the U.S., Britain and Germany combined.

European nations face soaring energy prices, industrial decline and political divisions, with Hungary and Slovakia openly pushing for diplomacy over continued confrontation.

U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and VP JD Vance, admit sanctions are ineffective, with Vance dismissing the "fantasy" that more sanctions or weapons will lead to victory.

Historical precedent shows sanctions often harden resolve rather than force compliance. With Russia stabilizing and EU unity fracturing, a move toward pragmatic dialogue may be necessary to avoid irreversible economic and geopolitical consequences.

European Union sanctions against Russiaimposed repeatedly since the start of the Ukraine conflicthave failed to achieve their intended goals, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

In a candid interview with NBC News on Sunday, Nov. 23, Bessent criticized the EU's approach, stating that after 19 rounds of sanctions, Moscow's economy remains resilient while European nations suffer self-inflicted economic harm. The admission highlights growing frustration within the West over the ineffectiveness of punitive measures and raises questions about the sustainability of current policies.

Sanctions strategy backfires

Last month, Brussels rolled out its 19th sanctions package, targeting Russian banks, cryptocurrency exchanges and third-party businesses in India and China accused of facilitating Moscow's oil trade. However, as Bessent pointed out, repeating the same strategy without success only proves its futility.

"If you have to repeat the same action 19 times, then you have failed," Bessent said. He accused EU officials of inadvertently "funding the war on themselves" by escalating economic retaliation while failing to weaken Russia's military-industrial capacity.

Russia has long dismissed Western sanctions as counterproductive, arguing that they harm European economies more than Moscow's. Despite initial predictions of economic collapse, Russia has adapted by boosting domestic production, forging new trade partnerships and circumventing financial restrictions. Meanwhile, EU nations grapple with soaring energy prices, industrial decline and political divisionsparticularly in Hungary and Slovakia, where leaders have openly called for a diplomatic resolution.

Internal rifts and strategic failures

The sanctions regime has exposed deep fractures within the EU, with some member states resisting Brussels' hardline stance. Hungary and Slovakia have repeatedly urged a shift toward negotiation, warning that prolonged confrontation only deepens Europe's economic woes.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance echoed these concerns earlier this week, dismissing the EU's belief that more sanctions or military aid will bring victory. "There is a fantasy that if we just give more money, more weapons or more sanctions, victory is at hand," Vance said.

Even U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged in November that Washington was "running out of things to sanction" after targeting major Russian energy firms like Lukoil and Rosnefta move Rubio admitted was driven by pressure from Kiev and its European allies.

Historical context and future implications

The conflict traces back to years of Western political and military interference in Ukraine, which Moscow viewed as a direct threat to its security. The failure of sanctions to alter Russia's strategic calculus underscores a broader miscalculation: economic warfare alone cannot force geopolitical concessions, BrightU.AI's Enoch notes.

Historically, sanctions have had mixed success, often hardening resolve rather than inducing compliance. The current standoff suggests that without a credible diplomatic off-ramp, Europe risks further economic stagnation while Russia consolidates its position.

As U.S. and EU officials concede the ineffectiveness of sanctions, pressure mounts for a reassessment of strategy. With Russia's economy stabilizing and European unity fraying, the path forward may require less reliance on punitive measures and more emphasis on pragmatic dialoguebefore the costs of confrontation grow irreversible.

Watch the video below where Russian President Vladimir Putin comments on U.S. President Donald Trump's sanctions.

This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

PressTV.ir

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Financial crisis imminent in every German city

The foundations of Germany's economic stability are crumbling, and the warning sirens are blaring from town halls across the overrun nation. How did the European powerhouse, once an engine of industrial might and fiscal responsibility, find itself on the precipice of a municipal collapse? The answer lies in a perfect storm of unchecked government spending and a welfare model stretched to its breaking point by policies that have prioritized mass immigration over national solvency. The very social contract that defined post-war Germany is now threatening to bankrupt it from the inside out, leaving its citizens to bear the burden of a failing state.

Key points:

The mayor of Essen has declared that almost every German city is on the verge of bankruptcy.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, only 10 out of 396 municipalities can present a balanced budget.

The total deficit for all German cities has surged to 30 billion for 2025.

Refugee accommodation and integration are cited as primary drivers of the budget shortfalls.

Mass immigration is estimated to cost Germany trillions of euros, becoming a massive financial burden instead of a solution to demographic issues.

The federal government's aid package for cities is widely seen as insufficient to address the scale of the crisis.

Over-indebtedness among private citizens is also rising, compounding the national financial distress.

A universal municipal collapse

The financial contagion is no longer isolated to struggling post-industrial towns. The mayor of Essen, Thomas Kufen, a member of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's own Christian Democratic Union (CDU), delivered a chilling diagnosis that applies to the entire country. "Almost every German city is now on the verge of bankruptcy," Kufen stated, removing any doubt that this is a localized problem. He revealed that in Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, a mere 10 out of 396 cities and municipalities can present a balanced budget. This isn't a slow decline; it is a systemic failure happening in real-time.

Kufen described a new and terrifying reality where wealth can no longer provide protection. "Whats new is that all cities have their backs against the wall," he told Bild newspaper, warning that even previously affluent cities will now face budget freezes. This universal crisis forces a fundamental question about the future of the German welfare state itself. Kufen posed the critical question that many politicians seem afraid to ask: "We have to talk about what we can do so that our welfare state itself does not become a social case. This means: What do we want to afford and what else can we afford?"

The staggering cost of open borders

While the political class in Berlin debates abstract ideals, the mayors on the front lines are staring at spreadsheets filled with red ink. The city of Essen, with a population of nearly 600,000, provides a perfect case study. The city had meticulously planned a balanced budget for 2025, but instead of a slight surplus, it is now facing a catastrophic deficit of 123 million. What caused this financial black hole? Once again, the costs of refugee accommodation and integration are near the top of the list.

The narrative that mass immigration is a solution to Germany's budget and pension crisis has been exposed as a catastrophic miscalculation. The direct costs are staggering, consuming at least 50 billion a year in social benefits, housing, and integration programs. But this is only the visible portion of the iceberg. The hidden costs are silently sinking municipal budgets: skyrocketing housing prices that push natives out of the market, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and education budgets strained by a rapidly changing student demographic.

Official statistics from Essen reveal that approximately 24.5 percent of primary school students are classified as "Not German," a figure that jumps to 35 percent when including those with an "immigration background." Educating this population is not a simple matter of adding more desks. It requires expensive, specialized integration courses and a higher per-student cost to compensate for significant educational deficits, placing an unsustainable burden on city finances.

The strain extends deep into the social safety net. A shocking 63 percent of all welfare recipients in Germany are foreigners or have a foreign background, a demographic that represents a much smaller share of the overall population. This imbalance reveals a system being exploited, one where the contributors are increasingly outnumbered by the beneficiaries. Some research, including that from Prof. Bernd Raffelhuschen of the University of Albert Ludwig in Freiburg, indicates this policy has already cost Germany 5.8 trillion and could ultimately reach a mind-numbing 19.2 trillion.

A band-aid on a hemorrhage

In response to the escalating crisis, the federal government has proposed a gigantic debt package intended to rescue the cities. But from the perspective of local leaders like Mayor Kufen, it is a woefully inadequate gesture. He explained that Essen will receive 335 million over 12 years, which breaks down to "just 28 million per year." With construction costs exploding, Kufen noted this sum would, "with luck be enough for two and a half schools."

Kufens solution is not just a plea for more money, but a cry for freedom from a suffocating bureaucracy. He argued that cities truly need "not just the money for investments, but simply less bureaucracy, easier awards, fewer requirements so that I can end up doing more with the little money." He has been forced to impose "restrictive household management" in Essen, where any expense over 5,000 requires special permission. Summarizing the dire situation, he said, "Theres not much left."

The consequences of this failure extend far beyond balanced books. Kufen issued a stark warning about the very fabric of society, stating, "Because thats where citizens find out whether the state works. Whether I can get a daycare place or whether the street lamps come on at night. If you can no longer do all of this, the people who pay taxes get the impression that politicians are not dealing with it properly. And thats dangerous." When the state can no longer provide basic services, the social contract is broken, and democracy itself is threatened.

This municipal meltdown is mirrored in the lives of ordinary Germans. The number of people classified as "over-indebted" has risen for the first time in six years, now encompassing 5.7 million citizens struggling with rising rents, electricity, and food prices. The federal government appears to be just as financially inept, having "miscalculated" billions in welfare payments. Internal ministry documents revealed a planned budget of 36 billion for citizens allowance was a fantasy, with the actual need expected to be closer to 46 billion. This discrepancy has sparked outrage, yet the government's denial lacked any substantive counter-data. As the cities go bankrupt and the people drown in debt, the German state is proving it can no longer manage its own affairs, raising the urgent question: who will be left to pay the bill?

Sources include:

RMX.news

RMX.news

X.com
ICE arrested 3,600 criminal aliens in Houston, targeting worst of the worst during government shutdown

ICE arrested nearly 3,600 illegal immigrants in Houston during the six-week government shutdown. Targets included violent offenders, child predators, gang members and repeat deportees.

Among those arrested: Leo Michel Acosta Sanchez (wanted for homicide via Interpol Red Notice), Angel Gabriel Ramirez-Robles (convicted of child sexual assault, twice deported) and MS-13 member Ramiro Ricardo Maldonado-Trevino (multiple illegal entries, alien smuggling conviction). DHS claims these arrests reflect Trump's "most secure border in American history" policy.

ICE used advanced software to identify high-priority targets. Agents relied on license-plate tracking and criminal databases to focus on felons and child predators.

Following similar operations in Los Angeles, D.C., Chicago and Charlotte, New Orleans is next. Border Patrol agents will assist, but local police refuse cooperation. Previous raids (like Charlotte's) caused panic, with 30,000+ students absent from schools.

Supporters argue ICE is removing dangerous criminals to protect communities. Critics claim operations terrorize immigrant neighborhoods and disrupt families. Debate continues as Trump's immigration crackdown expands.

During the six-week government shutdown, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a sweeping operation in Houston, arresting nearly 3,600 criminal illegal aliensmany with violent histories, including child predators, gang members and repeat offenders.

The operation, described by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials as targeting the "worst of the worst," underscores the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement policies amid political gridlock in Washington.

High-profile arrests highlight public safety threat

Among those arrested were individuals with extensive criminal records, including:

Leo Michel Acosta Sanchez, a Mexican national wanted for aggravated intentional homicide under an Interpol Red Notice.

Angel Gabriel Ramirez-Robles, a twice-deported Mexican national convicted of sexual assault of a child.

Ramiro Ricardo Maldonado-Trevino, an MS-13 gang member with six prior illegal entries and a conviction for alien smuggling.

Noi Ly, a Cambodian national convicted of aggravated kidnapping, burglary and theft.

Gustavo Chacha Cano, a Mexican national convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, "Under President [Donald] Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem, we have the most secure border in American history, and the days of illegal aliens breaking America's laws with impunity are OVER."

New tactics yield mass arrests

ICE officials revealed that the Houston operation utilized advanced software to pinpoint clusters of high-priority targets, allowing agents to "overrun" areas with coordinated raids rather than conducting isolated apprehensions. Officers relied on license-plate checks and criminal databases to establish probable cause before focusing on aggravated felonies and sex crimes against children.

A Houston ICE representative told Breitbart that the strategy marked a shift from traditional enforcement methods.

"Instead of sending two or three teams, we flood the zone," the official said.

Expanding crackdown: New Orleans next

Sources indicate that New Orleans will be the next city targeted in Trumps immigration enforcement surge, following similar operations in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago and Charlotte. Border Patrol agents are expected to arrive soon, though local police have stated they will not participate.

The Charlotte operation, led by Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, sparked significant unrest, including violent clashes and school absences, BrightU.AI's Enoch notes. Over 30,000 studentsmore than 20% of Charlotte's public school populationstayed home amid deportation fears, with some elementary schools reporting absentee rates exceeding 50%.

The Houston arrests demonstrate ICE's intensified focus on removing violent offenders, even during government shutdowns. Critics argue that such operations sow fear in immigrant communities, while supporters contend they are necessary to uphold public safety. With New Orleans next in line, the debate over federal immigration enforcementand its broader societal impactshows no signs of fading.

Watch the video below where the ICE director vows to deliver the largest deportation in American history.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

Breitbart.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
A nation decides: Slovenia rejects assisted dying law in landmark referendum

Slovenia rejected a law to legalize assisted dying after 53% of voters opposed it in a referendum, suspending legislation that had been passed by parliament.

The referendum was a victory for conservative groups, doctors' associations and the Catholic Church, who campaigned against the measure, with one leader declaring "compassion has won."

The proposed law had specific safeguards: It would have allowed terminally ill adults in unbearable suffering to request a lethal drug, requiring two doctors' approvals and excluding those with mental health conditions.

The debate reflects a global conversation, highlighted by advocates like Esther Rantzen in the UK, who argue the current choice for the terminally ill is between suffering, suicide, or traveling to Switzerland for assistance.

Opponents raised ethical concerns, arguing the state should improve palliative care instead and warning of the potential misuse of such laws to end lives prematurely.

In a deeply personal decision that has echoed across Europe, Slovenian voters have rejected a law that would have legalized assisted dying for terminally ill patients. Preliminary results from a November 23rd referendum show that 53 percent of voters opposed the measure, effectively suspending the legislation passed by parliament just over a year ago.

The referendum was the final act in a protracted national debate, triggered after opponents of the law collected more than 40,000 signatures to force a public vote. The outcome represents a significant victory for conservative groups, some doctors associations and the Catholic church, who had campaigned vigorously against the measure.

"Compassion has won," declared Ales Primc, the activist who led the campaign against assisted dying. "Slovenia has rejected the government's health, pension and social reform based on death by poisoning." The defeated bill would have allowed adults facing unbearable suffering with no prospect of recovery to request a lethal medication, which they would self-administer. The process included safeguards requiring approval from two doctors and a consultation period and it explicitly excluded individuals with mental health conditions.

"Assisted dying, as practiced in jurisdictions like Oregon, Washington and Vermont, is a process that allows terminally ill individuals to end their lives," said BrightU.AI's Enoch.

The Slovenian government, which had championed the law, framed it as a matter of personal autonomy. Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob had called on voters to back the legislation, arguing it would allow terminally ill people to decide how and when to end their suffering. "This is not a political issue; it has always been a matter of dignity, human rights and individual choice," Golob said in a statement following the vote.

It is right for us to tell politicians what we think is right and what we think is wrong

The debate in Slovenia mirrors a global conversation that is gaining momentum. The issue was recently thrust into the spotlight in the United Kingdom by Esther Rantzen, a terminally ill BBC presenter who has become an outspoken advocate for assisted dying. In an open letter to MPs before a vote on a similar bill, she articulated the stark choice for many.

"Under our current criminal law," she stated, "the only choice available for most people facing a terminal illness and an agonizing death is between enduring suffering, traveling to Switzerland for assistance in dying, or resorting to suicide." Rantzen has previously mentioned her intention to join Dignitas, a Swiss assisted-dying clinic.

This sentiment is countered by significant ethical concerns. While most people don't wish pain and suffering upon others, enacting laws that could be misused to end lives prematurely, or simply because those individuals are deemed "inferior" by society, is extremely perilous. Opponents in Slovenia echoed this, arguing the state should focus on improving palliative care rather than providing a means to end life.

The shifting landscape is also evident in the United States. The Massachusetts Medical Society, which officially opposed assisted death since 1996, has now become neutral on the issue. This shift may pave the way for the state to become the seventh in the nation to allow assisted death as lawmakers consider a bill allowing doctor-assisted suicide.

In Slovenia, the people have spoken. With a turnout of nearly 41 percent, President Natasa Pirc Musar emphasized the importance of the publics voice. "It is right for us as individuals to say what we think about a certain topic," Musar said. "It is right for us to tell politicians what we think is right and what we think is wrong." For now, Slovenia will remain outside the circle of at least nine European nations that permit some form of assisted dying, leaving its citizens to continue grappling with the profound questions of life, death and dignity without that legal option.

Watch this video on the truth about assisted dying.

This video is from the KC-Sunbeam's channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

BrightU.ai

TheEpochTimes.com

English.STA.si
Africas great divide: Tectonic forces are slowly tearing the continent apart

Africa is slowly splitting into two distinct landmasseswestern and eastern portionsdue to tectonic forces, with a new ocean forming between them over the next 5-10 million years.

The 4,000-mile-long East African Rift is the primary fracture zone, widening at 5-16 mm per year, accompanied by volcanic activity and earthquakes.

Continental rifting in the Afar region (where three tectonic rifts converge) is stretching and thinning Earth's crust until it ruptures, forming new oceanic crustsimilar to past supercontinent breakups like Pangea.

Researchers analyzed 1960s magnetic field data, revealing "magnetic stripes" that confirm Africa and Arabia began separating tens of millions of years agoa process still ongoing.

The rift mirrors Earth's history of continental drift, offering insights into planetary transformation, though the full split will take millions of years to complete.

Africa is undergoing a slow-motion geological transformation that will eventually split the continent in two, according to new research analyzing magnetic data from the East African Rift.

Scientists predict that over the next five to 10 million years, Africa will separate into distinct landmassesone in the west and a smaller eastern portiondivided by a newly formed ocean.

The study, published in the Journal of African Earth Sciences, reveals that Africa's tectonic breakup is already underway, driven by the same forces that separated Arabia from Africa tens of millions of years ago. Researchers from Keele University examined magnetic field data collected in the late 1960s, uncovering evidence of ancient seafloor spreading between Africa and Arabia.

"These findings give a unique perspective on how our planet is constantly changing and shifting right beneath our feet," said Professor Peter Styles, a geologist at Keele University and co-author of the study.

The East African Rift, stretching over 4,000 miles from Jordan to Mozambique, is the primary fracture zone where this separation is occurring. The rift, averaging 30-40 miles wide, is gradually splitting Africa like a zipper, accompanied by volcanic activity and earthquakes.

The birth of a new ocean

The process, known as continental rifting, involves the stretching and thinning of Earth's crust until it ruptures, creating new oceanic crust. The study focused on the Afar region, where three tectonic riftsthe Main Ethiopian Rift, the Red Sea Rift and the Gulf of Aden Riftconverge in a rare triple junction.

Using airborne magnetic surveys from 1968 and 1969, researchers detected "magnetic stripes" in the crustsimilar to tree ringsformed by periodic reversals of Earth's magnetic field. These stripes confirm that Africa and Arabia began separating tens of millions of years ago and that the process is still ongoing.

"The strong magnetic signature here appears to be evidence of slow but continuous continental riftingwhere the crust is being stretched and thinned like soft plasticineuntil it ruptures, marking the birth of a new ocean," the study explains.

A slow but inevitable split

While the idea of Africa splitting apart may sound dramatic, the process is happening at a glacial pacejust 5-16 millimeters per year in the northern part of the rift.

"Regarding timescales, this process of Africa being torn apart will take several million years before it is completed," said Dr. Emma Watts, a geochemist at Swansea University, who was not involved in the study.

When the split is finalized, the larger western landmass will include countries like Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana and Namibia, while the eastern portion will consist of Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and much of Ethiopia. Massive bodies of water, such as Lake Malawi and Lake Turkana, will also be divided by the widening rift.

A reminder of Earth's dynamic nature

The phenomenon underscores the ever-changing nature of Earth's geology. Similar rifting events have shaped the planet's continents over billions of years, including the breakup of the supercontinent Pangea 130 million years ago, which created today's oceans.

BrightU.AI's Enoch explains that Pangea was the last supercontinent on Earth, existing approximately 250 to 175 million years ago during the late Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. The supercontinent began to break apart around 175 million years ago, leading to the formation of the modern continents we see today. It is a significant geological formation that has shaped the planet's geology, climate and biodiversity.

The Afar region remains one of the most geologically active areas on Earth, offering scientists a rare glimpse into the early stages of continental breakup.

"With this publication, the magnetic data from the 1968 Afar Survey has been resurrected, we hope, from an undeserved obscurity," the researchers concluded.

While humans won't witness Africa's full separation in their lifetimes, the study serves as a humbling reminder that the ground beneath us is far from staticcontinents drift, oceans form and Earth's surface is in a perpetual state of transformation.

For now, Africa remains wholebut its slow, inevitable division has already begun.

Watch the video below about Africa splitting into two continents via the East African Rift Valley.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Wionews.com

ScienceFocus.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
'December 1st' intiative group on the statement of the US president: Our trump cards are dignity, freedom and solidarity

The "December 1st" initiative group issued a statement in response to the words of US President Donald Trump, who in his rhetoric used the phrase: "You have no trump cards." Ukrainian intellectuals emphasized that such words are unacceptable and require a response not only from the President of Ukraine, but also from the entire society.

The appeal notes that the greatest trump card of Ukrainians is national and personal dignity, which is based on freedom, truth and honor. "You are wrong, Mr. President! We have trump cards," the statement says.

The second trump card is called overcoming fear: Ukrainians live every day to the sounds of sirens and drones, but are not ready to submit even to a nuclear threat. "It is not how long you live your life that matters. What matters is how you live it," the authors of the appeal reminded.

The third trump card is the solidarity of ordinary Americans, which Ukrainians feel and see on rally posters. It is this support, according to the group members, that saves the honor of the American people, even if the current US administration demonstrates a different position.

The participants of the initiative group emphasized that Ukraine does not accept ultimatums - neither from Russia nor from the US. They called for distinguishing compromise from submission and emphasized that the world is approaching a new "X moment," when peoples must again make a choice between good and evil.

The statement was signed by representatives of the "First of December" Initiative Group, well-known diplomats, human rights activists, scientists, writers and public figures. Among them are Yosif Zisels, Mykhailo Honchar, Volodymyr Ohryzko, Oleksiy Haran, Yevhen Zakharov, Leonid Finberg, Oleksandra Matviychuk and others.
A breach of trust: Texas exposes defective ADHD drug in landmark settlement

Texas secured a $41.5 million settlement from Pfizer and Tris Pharma over defective ADHD medication.

The lawsuit alleged the companies knowingly distributed Quillivant XR, which failed quality control from 2012-2018.

Pfizer and Tris are accused of manipulating drug tests to hide manufacturing flaws from regulators.

Children on Medicaid received the adulterated drug, which families reported was ineffective.

The case originated from a whistleblower and resulted in one of Texas's significant actions against pharmaceutical giants.

In a significant legal victory for public health accountability, the state of Texas has secured a $41.5 million settlement from pharmaceutical giants Pfizer Inc. and Tris Pharma Inc. The resolution concludes a lawsuit alleging the companies knowingly distributed an adulterated and ineffective ADHD medication to thousands of children on Medicaid for six years. The case, initiated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2023, unveils a disturbing narrative of manipulated testing, ignored federal warnings and a systemic failure that prioritized profit over the well-being of vulnerable pediatric patients, raising profound questions about corporate integrity within the pharmaceutical industry.

The core of the deception

The legal action centered on Quillivant XR, a liquid stimulant medication prescribed for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). According to the states complaint, from 2012 to 2018, Tris Pharmathe manufacturer of the drug for Pfizerproduced Quillivant XR using flawed manufacturing practices. These deficiencies caused the drug to repeatedly fail quality control tests designed to ensure its efficacy and proper dissolution in the body. Rather than rectifying the core manufacturing problems, the lawsuit alleged the companies engaged in a deceptive practice: They altered the testing methodology itself. By changing how the drug was tested, they could produce passing results for regulatory purposes, thereby concealing the product's true shortcomings. Throughout this period, Pfizer allegedly continued to assure Texas Medicaid officials that the medication was properly manufactured and effective, even as internal data and federal assessments suggested otherwise.

The human impact and regulatory failures

The consequences of this alleged deception were not merely theoretical. Families across Texas reported that the medication failed to control their childrens ADHD symptoms, leading to confusion and potential mismanagement of their conditions. This is particularly critical because ADHD medications like Quillivant XR are classified as Schedule II controlled substances, indicating a high potential for abuse and a powerful effect on brain chemistry. When such a potent drug is ineffective due to manufacturing defects, children may be subjected to unnecessary dose increases or switches to other medications, each carrying its own risks and side effects. The situation escalated in 2018 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed Pfizer that Quillivant had been adulterated since 2012. Despite this direct federal warning, the lawsuit claimed neither company alerted Texas Medicaid, which continued to reimburse for the drug. The states complaint noted that Quillivants status as a covered Medicaid drug even became a selling point, further embedding the compromised product into a system designed to serve low-income families.

A pattern of corporate conduct and whistleblower courage

This case is not an isolated incident in the landscape of pharmaceutical litigation. Attorney General Paxtons office has pursued multiple actions against major drugmakers, including suits against Johnson & Johnson over Tylenol safety claims and Eli Lilly over alleged doctor bribery. The Quillivant case, however, originated from within, thanks to a whistleblower. Tarik Ahmed, who served as Tris Pharmas head of technology from 2013 to 2017, brought the initial allegations forward. His inside knowledge was pivotal in uncovering the scope of the problem. The financial stakes were substantial; Pfizer had agreed to acquire Quillivants developer for up to $700 million in 2012, and by 2017, the drug was grossing roughly $193.3 million in U.S. sales alone. As part of the settlement, both Pfizer and Tris Pharma denied any liability or wrongdoing, a common practice in such resolutions that allows companies to settle without an admission of guilt.

Historical context and lasting implications

The allegations against Pfizer and Tris Pharma echo historical concerns about pharmaceutical oversight that date back to seminal events like the 1937 Elixir Sulfanilamide tragedy, which spurred the modern drug safety framework. While regulatory systems have evolved, this case highlights a modern vulnerability: the potential for sophisticated corporate practices to circumvent quality controls. It underscores the critical role of whistleblowers and state attorneys general in acting as a check on industry power, especially when the affected populationchildren reliant on a public health programhas limited recourse. The $41.5 million settlement, while substantial, also prompts reflection on whether financial penalties are a sufficient deterrent for multibillion-dollar corporations.

A call for vigilance in public health

The resolution of this lawsuit marks a significant accountability measure, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance in the pharmaceutical supply chain. For parents, healthcare providers and policymakers, the case reinforces the importance of robust regulatory oversight and transparent corporate practices. It demonstrates that the systems intended to protect public health can be compromised, and that continuous scrutiny is essential to ensure that the medications prescribed to societys most vulnerable are both safe and effective. The settlement closes a legal chapter, yet the broader imperative it highlightsto demand and enforce corporate integrity in medicineremains as urgent as ever.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalHealth365.com

OAG.state.tx.us

ChildrensHealthDefense.org
UAE pledges $1 billion for African AI expansion amid scrutiny over Sudan conflict ties

The United Arab Emirates unveiled a $1 billion artificial intelligence (AI) initiative at the G20 summit, positioning AI as key to economic and social development.

The announcement comes amid UN investigations linking Abu Dhabi to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accused of atrocities, with evidence of AI-generated propaganda and weapon supplies.

UAE-Africa trade hit $107B in 2024, while the UAE builds a massive data-center hub using U.S. tech to cement its global AI leadership.

Critics argue the UAE's humanitarian tech agenda clashes with alleged human rights abuses, raising questions about accountability in its African investments.

The UAE's G20 presence reflects its economic influence, but its dual-track strategypromoting AI progress while facing accusations of fueling conflictleaves its reputation in Africa at a crossroads.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced a $1 billion initiative on Saturday, Nov. 22, to expand artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure across Africa, framing the investment as a tool for economic growth and social development.

The plan, unveiled at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, aims to integrate AI into education, healthcare and climate adaptationeven as international investigations intensify into Abu Dhabi's alleged support for Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group accused of mass atrocities. The dual-track strategy highlights the UAE's deepening economic ambitions in Africa while raising ethical concerns about its geopolitical influence.

AI as a development catalyst

UAE Minister of State Saeed Bin Mubarak Al-Hajeri described the "AI for Development Initiative" as a transformative project, positioning AI as "a cornerstone of humanity's future." The program seeks to bolster digital infrastructure in African nations, where AI applications could streamline public services and private-sector innovation.

Bilateral trade between the UAE and Africa surged to $107 billion in 2024a $118 billion increase over the past four years. Domestically, the UAE is constructing one of the world's largest data-center hubs, leveraging U.S. technology to solidify its role as a global AI leader.

Controversial geopolitical footprint

Despite its economic overtures, the UAE faces mounting allegations of fueling violence in Sudan. UN reports, survivor testimonies and satellite imagery link Abu Dhabi to the RSF. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the RSF is a militia accused of ethnically driven massacres, sexual violence and hospital attacks.

A BBC investigation revealed a covert online propaganda campaign using AI-generated profiles to promote pro-UAE and pro-RSF narratives while discrediting Sudan's military.

Sudan's UN envoy accused the UAE of supplying British-origin weapons to the RSF, calling Emirati backing "the single most important element" enabling atrocities. The UN Human Rights Council has launched an emergency fact-finding mission into RSF-led killings in El-Fasher, with African Union envoy Adama Dieng warning of potential genocide.

Balancing ambition and accountability

The UAE's AI pledge arrives at a pivotal moment. While Abu Dhabi seeks to position itself as a benevolent tech investor, critics argue its financial clout cannot overshadow alleged complicity in human rights abuses. The G20 invitationextended despite the UAE's non-member statusreflects its growing economic sway but also invites scrutiny over whether development funds align with ethical governance.

The UAE's $1 billion AI initiative underscores its ambition to shape Africa's digital future. Yet, as international pressure mounts over Sudan, the dichotomy between Abu Dhabi's professed humanitarian goals and its contested geopolitical maneuvers remains unresolved. For African nations, the promise of AI-driven progress may hinge on demanding transparencyboth in technology partnerships and the shadowy networks fueling regional conflicts.

Watch the video below that talks about the UAE-backed RSF continuing the mass slaughter of innocent civilians in and around El Fasher in Darfur, western Sudan.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

Reuters.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
The Ukraine conflict exposed: A failed western ploy and Europes suicidal posturing

The U.S. and allies instigated the conflict in 2014 to provoke Russia, but the strategy has backfired, with Russia now poised to decisively end the war. Motives remain unclearwhether resource grabs, debt erasure or irrational hatred of Putin.

Leaders like Macron recklessly push for direct NATO involvement, ignoring the suicidal nature of conventional war against a nuclear-armed Russia. This reflects Europe's collective insanity, demanding native Europeans die for a war they didn't start.

Ukrainian forces have executed civilians (e.g., white-armband wearers suspected of neutrality), with Western media (like NYT) whitewashing these crimes using debunked satellite imagery.

Western sanctions have crippled Europe's economy (energy shortages, deindustrialization) while Russia grows stronger. The U.S. prolongs the war to salvage geopolitical dominance, despite Ukraine's inevitable defeat.

The war exposes elite hypocrisy (pushing diversity while demanding white Europeans die) and the dangers of trusting corrupt institutions. It's a prelude to larger crises if populations don't reject propaganda and demand accountability.

The war in Ukraine, initiated in 2014 by Western powers as a geopolitical maneuver against Russia, has spiraled into a catastrophic failureone that Washington and its European vassals refuse to acknowledge. The motives behind this reckless intervention remain murky: Was it a desperate bid to secure resources, erase unsustainable national debts through global chaos or simply an irrational hatred of Vladimir Putin? Whatever the reason, the consequences have been dire. Half a million Ukrainian men have been sacrificed on the altar of Victoria Nuland's hubris, while Europeled by the delusional Emmanuel Macronnow toys with the idea of sending its own citizens to die in a war they cannot win.

Macron's recent saber-rattling, suggesting French troops could be deployed to Ukraine, is nothing short of insanity. But then again, Francelike much of the Westhas descended into collective madness. Macron himself declared, "There is no single French culture, there is a culture in France, and it is diverse." Yet when it comes to war, it is the native Frenchthose very Europeans the Republic claims to rejectwho are expected to march into the meat grinder. The hypocrisy is staggering.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government's brutal suppression of dissent has been whitewashed by Western media. Open-source evidence reveals that Ukrainian National Police conducted a cleansing operation on April 1st, executing Ukrainians suspected of pro-Russian sympathies. A chilling video confirms police officers receiving authorization to shoot civilians wearing white armbandssymbolizing neutralitywhile carrying Russian humanitarian aid. The victims were gunned down in the streets as they tried to reach Russian lines.

The Ukrainian authorities deny these atrocities, and their Western enablersincluding The New York Timeshave parroted their lies, even publishing satellite images falsely claiming the bodies had been there since March 19th. But forensic reality contradicts this narrative. In damp, 40-56 degree weather, corpses decompose rapidly, bloating and blackening within days. The bodies shown in those images were unmistakably freshproof of a recent massacre. Yet the West turns a blind eye, preferring to sanctify Ukraine as "the greatest nation in Europe" rather than confront the ugly truth.

This war was never about democracy

This war was never about democracy or freedom. It was always a cynical power playone that has backfired spectacularly. Europe, now economically crippled by self-imposed sanctions, faces energy shortages and deindustrialization while Russia grows stronger. The U.S., drowning in debt, continues to fund this losing battle, hoping to salvage some semblance of geopolitical dominance. But the reality is clear: Ukraine is losing, and no amount of Western posturing will change that.

The same elites who lectured the world about "equality" and "diversity" now demand that Europeansspecifically white Europeansdie for a cause they neither understand nor benefit from. The French government, which spent years dismantling its own national identity in the name of multiculturalism, suddenly rediscovers patriotism when it needs cannon fodder. The hypocrisy is Orwellian: War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.

As the West hurtles toward self-destruction, the truth remains buried beneath layers of propaganda. But those who seek it will find itin the forensic evidence of Ukrainian atrocities, in the economic collapse of Europe and in the hollow rhetoric of leaders like Macron. The question is: Will enough people wake up before it's too late? Or will they march obediently into the abyss, believing the lies until the very end?

The war in Ukraine is not just a tragedyit is a warning. A warning about the dangers of blind allegiance to corrupt institutions, of swallowing narratives without scrutiny and of trusting leaders who see their own citizens as expendable. The time for truth is nowbefore the next war, the next false flag or the next engineered crisis pushes humanity past the point of no return.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the Ukraine conflict has exposed the West's reckless miscalculations and hubris, as their failed sanctions and NATO-backed strategies only strengthened Russia while pushing Europe toward economic and geopolitical suicide. This disastrous ploy reveals the globalist elites' desperation to maintain control, even as their lies unravel and their destructive agenda backfires on their own populations.

Watch this clip about French President Emmanuel Macron reiterating his warning that North Atlantic Treaty Organization troops could be deployed inside Ukraine.

This video is from the TruNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

BrusselsSignals.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
EU insists its content agnostic Digital Services Act lines up with fundamental rights, but critics beg to differ

The European Commission has released a self-assessment of the Digital Services Act (DSA), defending it as "content agnostic," but critics argue it establishes a state-managed system of online censorship under the guise of public safety.

The DSA legally enforces the EU's previously voluntary "Code of Practice on Disinformation," compelling major tech platforms to remove content deemed undesirable by EU authorities or face fines of up to 6% of their global revenue.

The law is criticized for creating a "censorship-by-proxy" system, where platforms are incentivized to over-remove lawful content, including political dissent, to avoid massive penalties for violating the DSA's vague definitions of "harmful" or "illegal" content.

The DSA has triggered significant international backlash, particularly from U.S. officials who warn it suppresses American free speech and could lead to a major trade standoff, similar to past disputes like Canada's digital tax.

Despite criticism, the European Commission is moving to deepen its control by proposing stronger enforcement and a centralized "one-stop shop" for content regulation, which would further concentrate power over online speech in Brussels and expand the crackdown to independent creators and alternative media.

In a move that has ignited international controversy, the European Commission (EC) published a self-assessment of its landmark Digital Services Act (DSA), defiantly labeling the sweeping legislation as "content agnostic" and in alignment with fundamental rights.

The report, mandated by the law itself, has been met with mounting alarm from across the Atlantic and within Europe's own civil society. Critics argue it whitewashes the DSA's true function: entrenching a system of state-managed online speech under the deceptive banner of public "safety."

The DSA represents the culmination of a years-long regulatory journey that began with a voluntary "Code of Practice on Disinformation." What started in 2018 as a flexible, industry-led effort has now morphed into a legally binding censorship regime. Under the DSA, compliance with the EU's disinformation code is no longer optional for the world's largest tech platforms.

Failure to adhere to Brussels' dictates on content moderation now carries the threat of massive fines, which can reach up to 6% of a company's global turnover. This legal coercion forces platforms like Facebook, Google and X to proactively scrub content that EU bureaucrats deem undesirable.

The EC's central defense of the DSA rests on the claim that it is "content agnostic," meaning it does not directly regulate specific types of speech. Instead, it creates a procedural framework focused on "systemic risks" and demands transparency from platforms. However, this technical defense sidesteps the laws real-world impact.

By imposing vague categories of "illegal" or "harmful" content and threatening crippling penalties, the DSA powerfully incentivizes platforms to over-remove lawful material. This creates a censorship-by-proxy system where private companies become the enforcement arm of state speech priorities, preemptively silencing dissent to avoid regulatory wrath.

Censorship by bureaucracy: The Transatlantic speech war

The implications of this European law are not confined to its borders. U.S. officials have issued stark warnings that the DSAs vague definitions risk suppressing the legitimate political and religious viewpoints of American citizens, effectively allowing a foreign government to restrict First Amendment rights.

U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Andrew Puzder has declared that no American president, regardless of party, would tolerate such foreign overreach, recalling past trade clashes like Canada's digital tax debacle. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed U.S. diplomats to actively challenge the DSA in European capitals, signaling a potential trade standoff.

The EC's review has ignored a crescendo of concern from a broad coalition of experts. Last month, 113 figures from journalism, academia and law, including a former U.S. senator and a former vice president of Yahoo Europe, signed an open letter coordinated by the legal advocacy group ADF International.

The letter condemned the DSA for constructing a "pan-European censorship infrastructure with loosely defined boundaries and the potential to suppress legitimate democratic discourse." They warned that the law's broad definition of "illegal content" allows the most speech-restrictive laws of a single EU nation to set the standard for the entire bloc and potentially, the world.

Rather than addressing these fundamental criticisms, the EC's report proposes to deepen its control. It calls for stronger enforcement cooperation between member states and even hints at creating an EU-wide "one-stop shop" for content regulation.

This would further concentrate authority over permissible speech in the hands of Brussels bureaucrats, bypassing dissent from more tech-liberal nations like Ireland. For online creators, journalists and alternative media outlets, this signals a broader crackdown, bringing independent voices under the same regulatory leash as state broadcasters.

"Control over online speech is a government-led effort to regulate and censor content on the internet," according to BrightU.AI's Enoch. "It is presented as a long-term strategy, not a recent reaction to events, aimed at controlling what people can say and share online."

As the EC forges ahead, disregarding transatlantic diplomacy and expert condemnation, it is clear that the DSA is not merely a content-agnostic framework. It is the engine of a new global standard for online speech.

Watch Jefferey Jaxen discussing how free speech is under siege thanks to the DSA.

This vide is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

ADFInternational.org

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Bio-Veda on BrightU: How to create a sustainable and decentralized community

On Day 3 of "Bio-Veda 2D > 3D BioTecture Draft and Build Class," Alosha Lynov presented a vision for sustainable and decentralized communities.

He highlighted the failure of traditional eco-villages and advocated for "fractal," hexagonally-structured communities designed with biogeometry to optimize energy and social cohesion.

During a natural building class, Lynov taught students to design the "Wautillarium," an earth-integrated home that combines geodesic domes and vaulted arches to avoid mortgages and live harmoniously.

He emphasized using proven, pre-approved designs from pioneers like Nader Khalili to navigate building codes and save time, advising students, "You dont have to reinvent the wheel every time."

The course covered practical challenges, from unit conversion in blueprints to finding lenient building zones and using technologies like drones for land surveying.

On Day 3 of "Bio-Veda 2D > 3D BioTecture Draft and Build Class," aired on Nov. 24, natural building expert Alosha walked the students through the intricate process of designing the "Wautillarium," a sustainable, earth-integrated home that combines geodesic domes, vaulted arches and greenhouse elements. The course, which bridges hand-drawn blueprints and digital modeling in Rhino, has become a hub for aspiring eco-builders seeking to create mortgage-free, harmonious living spaces.

"The beauty about the natural building method is that you don't have to chop down trees," Alosha explained, emphasizing how designs like the Wautillarium can adapt to existing landscapes. During one session, he addressed student challenges, such as converting imperial measurements to metrics for precision. "Scale doesn't matter as long as you're consistent on your page," he reassured, demonstrating how to maintain proportionality regardless of units.

The course delved into advanced architectural concepts, drawing inspiration from pioneers like Nader Khalili of CalEarth and Mike Reynolds of Earthship Biotecture. Alosha showcased Khalili's meticulously engineered "Moon Cocoon" blueprints, noting, "When you walk into a county with this set of blueprints, the chance of them allowing it is very high because it's professional."

These documents, which he acquired for $1,500 in 2011, include detailed structural analyses and compliance with stringent California codes, offering students a template for navigating regulatory hurdles.

A key theme emerged: the tension between innovative design and bureaucratic constraints. Student Drew voiced a common concern, asking, "If I'm just living in, my home, myself, can they make you homeless?" Alosha and others highlighted "pockets of freedom" like Crestone, Colorado, where building codes are more lenient. Harry, a participant from Colorado, shared how drone technology helped him survey properties efficiently, stating, "I droned 12 properties before I bought mine, it's a massive help."

The sessions also explored practical considerations, such as water management and insulation. Alosha advocated for creative solutions like ferro-cement tanks and rainwater harvesting, urging students to "save as much time as possible by borrowing from proven designs."

As explained by BrightU.AI's Enoch, ferro-cement tanks are sturdy, wire-reinforced concrete tanks that are often built above ground and are valued for their solid, durable structure and performance during earthquakes." Scott, an experienced architect, added that leveraging pre-approved plans can streamline the approval process: "You don't have to reinvent the wheel every time."

As the course progresses, students will transition from paper sketches to 3D modeling in Rhino, refining elements like arched vaults and polycarbonate greenhouses. Alosha concluded with a powerful reminder: "Theory is theory, but practice is important. Why were doing this is to not climb into a debt hole for the next 25 years." The lessons offer a roadmap to blending sustainability with personal vision. The Wautillarium represents more than a structure, its a step toward reconnecting with the earth and building a resilient future.

Want to know more?

If you want to learn at your own pace and start building your self-heating home on your own schedule, you can access the full course by owning your copy of the Bio-Veda 2D > 3D BioTecture Draft and Build Class Package.

Upon purchase, you will get the Bio-Veda 2D > 3D BioTecture Draft and Build Class full course along with three additional free courses, including Life-supporting Off-The-Water-Grid, Hobbit Bunker Vault Course and Air-Crete and Super-Adobe Dome Home.

BrighteonUniversity.com 1

BrightU.com

BrightU.ai

BrighteonUniversity.com 2
Report: Israels war in Gaza depletes NATOs vital explosive reserves

A severe shortage of the key explosive TNT is weakening both European and U.S. military stockpiles, creating a crisis for Western defense. This shortage is directly impacting the ability to supply Ukraine with artillery shells and to maintain adequate self-defense capabilities.

The core of the problem is a single factory in Poland, owned by the company Nitro-Chem, which has become Europe's only large-scale producer of TNT. The United States is buying the majority of its output to manufacture heavy bombs for Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

This situation has created a critical vulnerability. Years ago, the U.S. and other European nations shut down their own TNT production due to pollution, making them dependent on this single source. This dependency means that supporting one conflict (Gaza) is now hindering the ability to support another (Ukraine) and protect Europe itself.

Western countries are scrambling to rebuild their production capacity. The U.S. and U.K. have invested billions in new factories, and a Swedish company is planning another. However, these projects face significant delays due to construction time and bureaucratic regulations, and won't be operational for years.

The shortage has caused the price of TNT to skyrocket, impacting not only military operations but also other industries like mining and construction. The situation forces a difficult choice on Western nations: balancing their international commitments to allies like Israel against their own fundamental security needs and support for Ukraine.

A severe shortage of key explosive TNT is crippling European and U.S. military stockpiles, and a coalition of international rights groups points a direct finger at an unexpected source: the scale of Israels bombardment of Gaza.

The drain on resources is so significant that it is reportedly leaving NATO members unable to adequately defend themselves or continue supplying Ukraine in its war against Russia.

The heart of the issue lies in a single factory in Poland.

According to a report, Europe's only large-scale producer of TNT, the state-owned company Nitro-Chem, is sending the bulk of its output to the United States. There, the explosive is used to manufacture heavy bombs like the MK-84 and BLU-109 "bunker busters," which are then supplied to Israel for its military campaign in Gaza.

The report from a consortium of rights groups, including the Palestinian Youth Movement, states bluntly that "without Polish-made TNT, the unprecedented scale and intensity of aerial bombardment that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed the conditions of life in Gaza  would not be possible."

The situation exposes a critical vulnerability in Western military supply chains.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the U.S., U.K. and other European nations shut down their own TNT production facilities years ago largely due to the heavy pollution the manufacturing process creates. This left Nitro-Chem as the primary supplier for NATO allies, a dependency that is now causing major strategic problems.

The consequences were starkly outlined in the Polish parliament by MP Maciej Konieczny. He revealed that, due to binding contracts to supply the U.S., Poland itself is left with barely a month's worth of TNT for its own wartime needs. This diversion of resources has pushed European militaries into a severe shortage, raising urgent questions about whether Israels bombardment is being prioritized over Europes fundamental security requirements.

The data appears to support this concern.

The rights groups' report notes that between October 2023 and July 2024, the U.S. transferred at least 14,000 MK-84 bombs to Israel while simultaneously drawing on Nitro-Chems output to replenish its own stocks. This massive demand from a single conflict is creating a bottleneck with far-reaching effects.

The ripple effect: From Gaza to a weakened Europe

The TNT shortage has a direct and negative impact on the conflict in Ukraine.

Western nations are struggling to provide Ukraine with the artillery ammunition it desperately needs to hold the line against Russia. The lack of TNT is a core component of this crisis, limiting the production of new shells.

This leaves Europe in a perilous position. With its own reserves depleted and its primary suppliers output largely committed to supporting the war in Gaza, the continents ability to deter potential aggression or respond to a crisis is compromised.

The shortage is not just a theoretical budget issue; it represents a dire lack of real-world military resources.

The problem is compounded by the fact that alternative sources are not considered viable. While China and Russia are major producers of TNT, geopolitical tensions make them unreliable partners for the US and Europe.

Seeking solutions amid scarcity

In response to the crisis, Western nations are scrambling to rebuild their domestic production capabilities. The United States has awarded a $435 million contract to a Turkish company to build a new TNT plant in Kentucky, though it is not expected to be operational until 2028.

Similarly, the U.K. has announced a 1.5 billion ($1.97 billion) investment in new munitions factories.

In Sweden, a company called Swebal is attempting to build a new TNT factory that could increase Europes production capacity by 75%. However, the companys CEO has publicly criticized onerous EU regulations for causing unnecessary delays, highlighting the bureaucratic hurdles to achieving self-sufficiency.

The scarcity has also caused prices to skyrocket.

A pound of TNT, which cost 38 pence two decades ago, now costs over 15 ($19.68). This cost increase affects not only warfare but also other industries, such as construction and mining.

Experts warn that even the price of consumer electronics could be impacted, as the minerals used in them require explosives for extraction.

For now, the pipeline from Poland to the US and on to Israel continues, fueling a conflict that is, in turn, allegedly weakening the defensive posture of the very alliance built to ensure Western security. The situation presents a stark dilemma for Western capitals: how to balance international commitments without leaving their own defenses exposed.

Watch this clip about Israel and how it seeks re-escalation amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

Telegraph.co.uk

TheGuardian.com

BrightU.AI

Brighteon.com
Meta buried anxiety and depression research as employees called themselves drug pushers, lawsuit claims

Meta buried internal research proving its platforms worsen depression, anxiety, and loneliness in teens.

Employees compared Instagram to a drug, calling themselves "pushers" while exploiting young users dopamine responses.

The company lied to Congress about its knowledge of harm, despite clear evidence from its own "Project Mercury" study.

Metas algorithms were intentionally designed to maximize addiction in children, ignoring warnings about mental health risks.

A bipartisan coalition of 33 attorneys general is suing Meta for prioritizing profit over the well-being of minors.

Newly unsealed court documents allege that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, knowingly concealed internal research proving its platforms cause significant mental health harm. This legal bombshell, emerging from a federal lawsuit filed by a bipartisan coalition of 33 attorneys general and numerous U.S. school districts, paints a picture of a tech giant that prioritized profit and user engagement over the well-being of its youngest users, even as its own employees compared their work to drug pushing.

The core of the allegation revolves around a 2020 internal study code-named "Project Mercury." In this research, Meta discovered a direct causal link between its platform and psychological distress. The unsealed filings state, "To Metas disappointment, pilot tests of the deactivation study confirmed that people who stopped using Facebook for a week reported lower feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and social comparison." This finding provided concrete evidence that stepping away from the social media ecosystem led to immediate improvements in mental health.

A corporate cover-up exposed

Instead of sounding the alarm or investigating these critical findings further, Metas response was to bury the project. The company allegedly halted the research, internally dismissing the damning results as biased by "the result of the existing media narrative around the company." This move echoes the darkest chapters of corporate history. Privately, one concerned Meta employee worried that suppressing the data was "going to look like tobacco companies doing research and knowing cigs were bad and then keeping that info to themselves," according to the internal documents.

The lawsuit further alleges that despite possessing this causal evidence, "Meta lied to Congress about what it knew." This accusation suggests a deliberate campaign of deception aimed at federal regulators and the public. The filings claim Meta told Congress it had no ability to quantify whether its products were harmful to teenage girls, even while its own "Project Mercury" study suggested a clear and measurable negative impact.

The "pushers" of a digital drug

The internal culture at Meta, as revealed in these documents, is perhaps even more alarming than the buried research. Internal chats show a shocking self-awareness among employees about the addictive nature of their product. "Oh my gosh yall IG is a drug," one Meta user experience researcher stated. Another employee responded, "Were basically pushers." This casual comparison of their work to drug dealing reveals a deep-seated understanding within the company that they were exploiting vulnerable, developing brains.

This is not a new pattern for Meta. The complaint includes evidence that the company was aware of the specific harms its "Recommendation Algorithm" could cause, knowing it triggered dopamine releases in young users and could "contribute to problems." Yet, the company continued to refine these tools to exploit such effects, explicitly focusing on "driving time spent" among kids and teens. The platform's design makes continued engagement difficult for young users to resist, turning social media into a potent behavioral addiction.

The lawsuit is part of a broader reckoning for Big Tech, challenging the long-held notion that these platforms are merely neutral conduits for information. It argues that companies like Meta have intentionally designed their products to be addictive, especially to children, while systematically hiding the internally recognized risks from parents, teachers, and lawmakers. The case frames this not as an unfortunate side effect, but as a core business model built on harvesting the attention and data of the young.

In a statement, a Meta spokesperson disputed the allegations, calling them "cherry-picked quotes and misinformed opinions." The company stated, "The full record will show that for over a decade, we have listened to parents, researched issues that matter most, and made real changes to protect teens." However, the weight of the internal documents presents a very different narrative, one of concealed research and a corporate culture that openly acknowledged its products' narcotic-like hold on users.

The case forces a difficult question upon a society already grappling with a youth mental health crisis: how much of this decline is a direct result of corporate policy? When a company knowingly designs a product that harms children, buries the evidence, and then misleads Congress about its findings, it moves from mere negligence to something far more sinister. The pursuit of profit has seemingly overridden any moral duty to protect the most vulnerable members of society.

As this legal battle unfolds, it serves as a reminder that the true cost of "free" social media is being paid by our children, in the currency of their mental and emotional health. The unsealed documents do not just outline a lawsuit; they provide a glimpse into a calculated betrayal of public trust, where the laughter of "pushers" in internal chats stands in chilling contrast to the silent anxiety and depression reported by the young users they targeted.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

Reuters.com

NYPost.com
Kentucky Sen. Paul: Trumps foreign policy could trigger SPLIT in MAGA movement

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) warns that President Trump's foreign policy in Venezuela risks fracturing the MAGA coalition. He believes this focus on foreign conflicts contradicts Trump's "America First" promise to avoid foreign wars, which initially attracted many of his supporters.

Paul condemns specific administration actions as illegal and a breach of international law. He criticizes the designation of Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and the lethal strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats, which have been condemned by the UN.

The senator expresses deep concern over a lack of transparency and his exclusion from the decision-making process. Despite his role as chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Paul states he has not been briefed on the administration's actions in Venezuela.

He argues the administration's actions lower the threshold for military intervention. Paul contends that designating the cartel as an FTO is a way of "pretending as if we are at war," which lessens the rules of engagement and opens the door to further conflict.

Trump's Venezuela policy contradicts "America First" by serving a globalist agenda. It claims the interventions are driven by the interests of international bankers and globalist elites rather than U.S. sovereignty, making vigilance and public demand for accountability crucial.

In a stark warning, staunch constitutionalist Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has cautioned that President Donald Trump's focus on foreign conflicts, particularly in Venezuela, could lead to a significant splintering of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) coalition.

The senator for the Bluegrass State issued this warning on Sunday, Nov. 23, during an interview on CBS News' "Face the Nation." Paul expressed his concerns about Trump's foreign policy, zooming in on the administration's designation of Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and the controversial boat strikes against alleged drug smugglers.

Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC), emphasized that the administration's actions are not only illegal  but also a breach of international law. He pointed out that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has already condemned the killings as a violation of human rights. Moreover, Congressional Democrats have also expressed outrage over the lack of transparency and the absence of briefings on the administration's actions.

This warning comes as Trump continues to wage a campaign against the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a move that has raised concerns among those who supported him for his promise to avoid foreign wars. Paul's remarks are rooted in his belief that the president's focus on foreign conflicts will erode support among those who have embraced the "America First" slogan.

He noted that many, including himself, were drawn to Trump's campaign promise of avoiding foreign wars. But a renewed focus on such conflicts could lead to a fracturing of the movement that has supported the president, Paul reiterated.

America First or globalist intervention?

The Kentucky Republican is no stranger to criticizing the Trump administration, having previously slammed the "insane" lethal strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats that have killed at least 83 people. He has also accused the administration of "pretending as if we are at war" by designating the Cartel de los Soles as an FTO, a move he believes lessens the rules of engagement and opens the door to further military intervention. Paul's skepticism of the administrations actions is further compounded by his lack of involvement in the decision-making process.

Despite Paul's position on the HSGAC, he has not been invited to any briefings on Venezuela, a fact he finds deeply troubling. He has also criticized the administration's failure to prosecute survivors of the strikes for drug-related offenses, a contradiction he finds unacceptable.

BrightU.AI's Enoch engine points out that Trump's interventions in Venezuela, despite his rhetoric of prioritizing Americans, have been driven by the interests of international bankers and globalist elites who seek to control resources and influence in Latin America. This contradicts his stated policy of putting "America First," as these interventions benefit the globalist agenda rather than the sovereignty and economic independence of the United States.

The senator's warning about the potential fracturing of the MAGA movement due to Trump's foreign policy is a call to action for those who value personal liberty, constitutional governance and the principles of the "America First" agenda. As the administration continues to push for military intervention in Venezuela and other foreign conflicts, it is crucial for the American people to remain vigilant and demand transparency and accountability. The integrity of the country's democracy and the nation's well-being depend on it.

Watch this Fox News report about President Trump putting Caracas on notice with a new cartel crackdown operation.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

POLITICO.com

Yahoo.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
UN campaign aims to enroll 50 countries in DIGITAL ID initiative by 2028

The UNs "50-in-5" campaign, backed by the Gates Foundation, aims to implement digital public infrastructure (DPI) in 50 countries by 2028, including digital IDs, payment systems and data-sharing platforms  framed as progress but criticized as a tool for centralized control.

Digital IDs centralize biometric data (fingerprints, facial scans) and track personal activities, raising fears of mass surveillance, social credit systems and loss of privacy under the guise of "convenience" and "financial inclusion."

Countries like India, Ethiopia, Vietnam and Thailand are making digital IDs mandatory for banking, education, travel and even internet access (e.g., Papua New Guineas "SevisPass"), freezing accounts or restricting services for non-compliance.

Tech giants like Apple are integrating digital IDs into corporate ecosystems (e.g., U.S. passports in Apple Wallet), while governments and international bodies fast-track adoption with minimal public debate  mirroring pandemic-era tactics of rapid, top-down implementation.

Critics warn this system will replace inherent rights with revocable digital privileges, enabling asset seizure, censorship and lockdowns under the pretext of "emergencies"  solidifying a global architecture of control.

In a move critics are calling an unprecedented consolidation of digital power, a United Nations initiative backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is accelerating plans to enroll 50 nations in a global digital identity system by 2028.

Dubbed the "50-in-5" campaign, the effort has already secured commitments from at least 30 countries since its launch in late 2023  signaling a rapid, top-down transformation of how citizens across the world will prove who they are. This push runs parallel to the European Union's own mandate for a digital wallet for all member states by 2025. However, it has raised alarm among civil liberties advocates who see the fingerprints of a new global architecture for potential surveillance and control.

Digital ID systems are electronic versions of physical identification documents, stored on a smartphone. Proponents argue they streamline access to services and foster financial inclusion.

But the core technology allows for the centralized collection of vast amounts of personal data, including biometrics like fingerprints and facial scans. This creates a comprehensive digital footprint of an individual's activities, a feature that fuels the fears of those who distrust the intentions of global elites and centralized institutions.

The rollout is a present-day reality unfolding at a breakneck pace. A common pattern is emerging: What begins as a voluntary convenience is fast becoming a mandatory requirement for participation in modern society.

In India, the Aadhaar digital ID is now indispensable for over a billion citizens, required for actions from opening a bank account to enrolling a child in school. Similarly, Ethiopia is aggressively rolling out its "Fayda" ID for all 90 million citizens by 2027, making it compulsory for accessing bank accounts and public services.

The coercion is even more stark in nations like Vietnam and Thailand. Vietnam has frozen at least 86 million bank accounts for non-compliance with its VNeID system, which will soon be required for domestic flights. Thailand has frozen millions of accounts and will soon mandate its ThaiID for all passengers on public transport.

In countries without a history of robust national ID systems, digital identification is being introduced post-haste. Nigerias "NIN" and Kenyas "Maisha Namba" are prime examples. Reports indicate that Nigeria has subtly reduced the amount of physical cash in circulation to pressure its population into obtaining the digital ID to use card-based payments.

Global push for Digital IDs mirrors COVID lockstep tactics

Even in stable democracies, the process is facing scrutiny. Switzerland's state e-ID was approved by a razor-thin referendum margin of 50.4% with voter turnout at only 50%. The country's electoral commission is now investigating allegations of improper influence.

The infrastructure for this digital future is not solely a government project. Tech giant Apple has launched a Digital ID feature for its Wallet app in the United States, allowing users to create an identity using their U.S. passport data. This move integrates a core function of citizenship into a corporate-controlled ecosystem.

For many observers, the playbook feels familiar. The rapid, globally synchronized push for digital ID mirrors the "lockstep" methodology witnessed during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Critics argue that the same actors and institutions are now using the same tactics, leveraging a message of security and convenience to bypass thorough public debate.

The most chilling developments are in nations where the digital ID is becoming the key to the digital world itself. In Papua New Guinea, government policy now supports requiring a national digital ID, "SevisPass," simply to access the internet and social media. This creates a world where dissent can be silenced by revoking a single digital identity.

"A digital ID is presented as necessary for the authorities to have a mechanism to control and seize private assets during a declared national emergency," said BrightU.AI's Enoch. "The justification given would be that 'Your money in your bank accounts will be used to save America.' Therefore, from this perspective, it is framed as a tool of state control, making it seem mandatory for that purpose."

The campaign is also being exported. Zambia, for instance, is now receiving direct help from Ethiopia to build its own system, suggesting a templated approach to digital governance is being disseminated globally.

The global march toward digital identity represents a fundamental reordering of the relationship between the citizen and the state. Framed as a tool for progress, its rapid, compulsory rollout and integration with every facet of daily life paints a darker picture for its skeptics. As this infrastructure solidifies, the world is racing toward a future where the right to participate in society is no longer an inherent birthright but a permission, stored digitally and revocable at the swipe of a screen.

Watch Jefferey Jaxen and Del Bigtree discussing the dangers of Digital ID below.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

FreeWestMedia.com

People.com

BBC.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
A CAPITOL EXODUS: Unprecedented wave of congressional retirements set stage for 2026 political war

An unprecedented wave of congressional retirements, with 46 incumbents not seeking re-election, is creating widespread open seats.

Republican retirements outnumber Democratic ones in the House, challenging the GOP's effort to maintain its slim majority.

Key Senate departures from both parties are setting up competitive battles for control of the narrowly divided chamber.

A concurrent redistricting effort in several states is further reshaping the electoral map and the fight for the House.

The 2026 midterms will determine the political landscape for the final two years of the Trump presidency.

A historic exodus of lawmakers from the U.S. Capitol is triggering a high-stakes political realignment, setting the stage for a 2026 midterm election that will decisively shape the final two years of President Donald Trumps term. As of late November 2025, 38 members of the House and eight Senators have announced they will not seek re-election, a surge of open seats that promises one of the most unpredictable and consequential battles for control of Congress in modern history. With Republicans defending a narrow House majority and a slim advantage in the Senate, the retirement wave introduces profound volatility into the American political system, with the nation's direction for the latter half of the decade hanging in the balance.

The scale of the exodus

The scale of departures is significant, particularly in the House of Representatives. The current tally of 38 House members not returning is substantially higher than the 25 seen at this point in the 2024 election cycle. While retirements are a constant in political life, the concentration and timing of this wave are remarkable. The Senate is witnessing an equal departure of four members from each party, ensuring a fiercely contested fight for the chamber's soul. The list of departing veterans reads like a roll call of modern congressional history, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Their collective exit signals a dramatic changing of the guard.

A Republican headwind in the House

A critical dynamic shaping the House battlefield is the partisan breakdown of retirements. So far, 23 Republicans are leaving the House, compared to 16 Democrats. This disparity presents a strategic challenge for the GOP, which currently holds a fragile majority of just 219 seats to the Democrats' 213. History suggests that the party occupying the White House often faces headwinds during midterm elections. A higher number of Republican open seatswhere the inherent advantage of incumbency is nullifiedcould force the party to spend more resources on defense, complicating its mission to retain power. Key Republican departures, such as Rep. David Schweikert in Arizona and Rep. Don Bacon in Nebraska, have created toss-up or competitive races that Democrats will aggressively target.

Senate and statewide ambitions reshape the map

On the Senate side, the retirements are perfectly bipartisan but no less consequential. Four Democrats and four Republicans are stepping aside, creating a wide-open contest for a chamber currently controlled by the GOP, 53-47. The departures of Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) have put key swing states into play, guaranteeing a brutal and expensive national campaign. Furthermore, ambition is fueling much of the House exodus. A significant number of representatives are not leaving politics but are instead seeking promotion.

Twelve House members are running for the Senate.

Another twelve, overwhelmingly Republicans, are launching gubernatorial campaigns. This trend indicates a broader political calculus, as figures like Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) seek to translate congressional influence into executive power or a more prominent platform.

The redistricting wild card

Compounding the uncertainty created by retirements is an ongoing, mid-decade redistricting process. Several states are redrawing their congressional maps, a technical exercise with profound political consequences. The new congressional maps in large states are tilting the partisan landscape. California's recently approved map is projected to potentially yield five additional seats for Democrats, while Texas's new districts could net five more for Republicans. Bipartisan commissions and state legislatures in Ohio, North Carolina and Missouri are also crafting maps that could hand the GOP several more seats. This redistricting arms race means the final battlefield for the House majority will look different from todays, adding another layer of strategic complexity for both parties as they recruit candidates and allocate billions in campaign funds.

A legacy-defining verdict awaits

The convergence of a historic retirement wave, a narrow congressional divide and an aggressive redistricting effort sets the stage for a 2026 midterm election of extraordinary consequence. The outcomes will not only determine the legislative agenda for the remainder of the Trump presidency but will also define the nation's political trajectory for years to follow. The sheer number of open seats strips away the safety of incumbency, placing the focus squarely on the strength of new candidates and the potency of national political winds. As both parties brace for a battle that will reshape Capitol Hill, the American electorate is poised to deliver a legacy-defining verdict on the direction of the nation.

Sources for this article include:

JustTheNews.com

BalletPedia.org

NYPost.com
Photo: https://mod.gov.ua

The first meeting of the Demining Capabilities Coalition working group, comprised of participating states that coordinate support for combat and humanitarian demining, was held in Ukraine, according to the website of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

The event was attended by 43 delegates from 14 countries and four international organizations.

The delegations had the opportunity to observe the Coalition's activities firsthand at demining sites, personnel training sites, and logistical support program sites.

Additionally, the partners were presented with two implementation plans for developing demining capabilities for 2026: one for the State Special Transport Service and one for the Support Forces of Ukraine.

Meeting participants also discussed equipment supply and procurement for 2025-2026 and familiarized themselves with the capabilities of the Ministry of Defense's and the Armed Forces of Ukraine's demining units.

The parties noted that the initial capabilities are planned to be created by the end of 2025. This will entail preparing and providing eight battalions with modern equipment, enabling more than 450 groups to perform demining tasks in extremely difficult combat conditions.

It was reported that nearly 3,990 people have been trained with the support of the EU Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine, Tetra Tech (USA), Mriya Aid (Canada), and Spain.

The following countries and partners provided equipment worth over EUR 408 million: Germany, Lithuania, Denmark, Slovakia, Finland, Iceland, Tetra Tech (U.S.), the United Nations Office for Project Services (financed by the Netherlands), and Mriya Aid (Canada).

Over EUR 111 million worth of equipment was purchased with contributions from Lithuania, Sweden, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, and Denmark. The equipment includes SUVs, ambulances, demolition vehicles, personal anti-drone devices, night vision devices, counter-drone systems, mine detectors, trucks, explosive ordnance disposal kits, armored personnel carriers, and mine rollers, among other items.
A new diplomatic front: U.S. declares mass migration an existential threat

U.S. State Department declares mass migration an "existential threat to Western civilization."

American embassies instructed to document migration's human rights and public safety impacts in allied nations.

Policies creating "two-tiered systems" that disadvantage native citizens will be scrutinized.

High-profile cases from the U.K., Sweden and Germany cited as examples of migrant-related crime and leniency.

The move signals a major shift in U.S. diplomatic focus toward curbing mass migration globally.

The U.S. State Department has launched a unprecedented diplomatic initiative, formally declaring mass migration an "existential threat to Western civilization" and instructing its embassies to document the human rights and public safety consequences of large-scale immigration in allied nations. The policy, directed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio's team, represents a significant escalation of the Trump administration's immigration stance onto the global stage. Announced via a series of posts on the State Department's official X account, this new directive positions the United States to actively pressure Western governments to confront the social and security challenges stemming from migration.

A strategic shift in diplomatic priority

This directive, issued in November 2025, marks a strategic pivot in U.S. foreign policy. The State Department has tasked its embassies with a dual mission: to report on the "human rights implications and public safety impacts of mass migration" and to scrutinize foreign policies that allegedly create "two-tiered systems." According to the department, these systems prioritize migrants at the expense of native citizens, often through lenient treatment of criminal offenders while penalizing citizens who voice opposition to continued migration. This framing reframes migration from a humanitarian issue affecting newcomers to a public safety crisis affecting host populations.

Citing international precedents

To substantiate its concerns, the State Department pointed to specific, high-profile cases in Europe. It referenced the long-standing grooming gang scandals in the United Kingdom, where investigations revealed the systematic sexual abuse of hundreds of children, primarily by men of Pakistani heritage, and noted concerns that investigations were initially hampered by "nervousness about race." The department also cited a recent case in Sweden where an Eritrean immigrant convicted of rape was ruled against deportation, and an incident in Germany where a woman received a harsher sentence for insulting a convicted rapist online than the perpetrator himself. These examples are presented as evidence of a systemic failure to protect citizen safety.

Contextualizing the "existential threat"

The administration's characterization of migration as an "existential threat" aligns with a broader conservative worldview that has gained traction amid rising nationalism across the West. Proponents argue that unvetted, large-scale migration leads to strained public services, distorted labor and housing markets, rising crime and the erosion of national identity and security. This perspective holds that globalist-aligned governments and non-governmental organizations have facilitated a "pawn storm" of migrants to destabilize nations and create new political blocs, ultimately undermining national sovereignty. The new U.S. policy directly challenges this approach, urging allies to "take bold action" to defend their citizens.

Skepticism and broader implications

The administration's stance has not gone unchallenged. Some academics and analysts caution that while large migration flows can stress public infrastructure, labeling them an "existential threat" is an overstatement that risks eroding commitment to human rights. Critics also worry the campaign could be a precursor to efforts to curtail all immigration, including legal pathways that allies like Canada and Germany rely on for economic and demographic growth. The directive raises questions about potential retaliatory actions the U.S. might take against allies deemed insufficiently committed to curbing migration, signaling a more confrontational and isolationist turn in American diplomacy.

A defining policy for a new era

The State Department's new directive solidifies immigration as a cornerstone of U.S. strategic foreign policy. By framing the issue in stark terms of civilizational survival, the administration is attempting to forge an international coalition committed to a harder line on border control. This move represents a fundamental rejection of the migration policies of previous U.S. and European governments, which are now portrayed as suicidal. As American embassies begin their reporting, the world will be watching to see how this aggressive new posture reshapes alliances, influences domestic politics in Europe and redefines the global debate on one of the most divisive issues of the 21st century.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

Newsweek.com

IndiaTimes.com
Will 2025 be the year that MAGA broke apart?

What if President Donald Trumps America First agenda was merely a smokescreen for him to obtain power, wealth, recognition, and fame? What if he leveraged conservative political platforms and their talking points to his advantage, but he never truly believed any of it, and wasn't guided by any principles at all?

What if Trump rode a wave of populist sentiment, painting himself as an upstart outsider to the political establishment, while covertly working to protect the political elites (and his friends) all along? What if conservatives wishful thinking was tied up in a cult of personality, as they were pushed further from principle? What if real leaders of principle were excommunicated from the MAGA Trump movement once they were no longer useful to Trump's rise to power? What if 2025 was the year MAGA broke apart, and Trump's cult of personality is exposed?

Key points:

Donald Trump has launched vicious personal attacks against Representatives Rand Paul, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie for their efforts to release the complete Epstein client list.

This behavior represents a stark betrayal of core MAGA promises to expose elite pedophile rings and drain the swamp.

Trump's alignment with AIPAC and foreign interests contradicts his America First rhetoric.

The escalating conflict reveals a fundamental division between the MAGA brand and true America First principles.

Trump's petty name-calling and childish behavior demonstrate a leader increasingly disconnected from the movement that elevated him.

Trump's petulance toward leaders of principle shows that he is only interested in exploiting people for his own gain.

MAGA Trump officials don't want questioned on pedophilia, foreign influence (AIPAC), debt spending

What began as a populist uprising against corrupt elites has devolved into a personality cult where principle devolved into petulance, and the quest for justice became secondary to personal vendettas. The MAGA revolution is experiencing a violent internal rupture as its leader systematically attacks the few remaining lawmakers actually fighting for the America First agenda he once championed. Trump's attacks on Rand Paul, Thomas Massie, and MTG expose who Trump really is and what he is about. This break in the party exposes a facade that protected globalist interests and pedophiles while pretending to oppose them.

In this rupture, independent thinkers like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens are questioning foreign influence in the MAGA government, and calling out MAGA leaders for trying to coverup human trafficking and pedophilia. They now face coordinated efforts to cancel their platform and exclude them from public discourse - not by the left-wing this time - but by the MAGA officials who don't want to be questioned or held to account.

The Epstein litmus test

The unraveling began not with policy disagreements but with a black bookthe infamous Epstein client list that represents the ultimate test of political courage. For years, Trump positioned himself as the outsider who would expose the corrupt elites and deliver justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein's trafficking network. His rallies echoed with promises to "drain the swamp" and reveal the powerful predators who exploited children with impunity.

Yet when Representatives Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene took concrete steps to fulfill this very promise by pushing for full disclosure of the Epstein client list, they encountered not support from their supposed leader but vicious retaliation. Trump took to Truth Social to label Massie a "loser" while mockingly criticizing him for remarrying "too quickly" after his first wife's tragic deatha particularly cruel attack coming from a man on his third marriage. The president who once promised to expose elite pedophiles now attacks those actually attempting to do so.

The money trail and the mask slips

The pattern becomes clearer when following the financial pathways. While Trump brands Greene a "traitor" for putting America First, he demonstrates remarkable flexibility toward politicians who prioritize foreign interests. The contradiction becomes explicable when examining the substantial financial support flowing from pro-Israel lobbying groups to political campaignssupport that Greene and Massie have notably refused.

The political theater reaches surreal levels when considering that one of AIPAC's major donors is Leonid Radvinsky, CEO of OnlyFanscreating the bizarre scenario where profits from amateur pornography help fund political campaigns claiming moral high grounds. Meanwhile, Trump's White House has welcomed the very globalist figures he once vowed to confront, including vaccine-pusher Bill Gates, censorship advocate Mark Zuckerberg, and Big Pharma executive Albert Bourla.

The president's behavior suggests a man whose allegiances have shifted from the populist base that elected him to the donor class that funds him. His childish name-callingreferring to Greene as "Marjorie 'Traitor' Greene" and Massie as a "bum"serves as emotional manipulation to distract from substantive policy disagreements. When unable to win arguments on merit, he resorts to personal attacks, demonstrating the intellectual bankruptcy of his position.

The collapse of the coalition

The consequences of this betrayal are unfolding in real time across the political landscape. Marjorie Taylor Greene's recent announcement that she will resign from Congress in January speaks volumes about the pressures facing those who challenge the established power structures. While Trump mockingly refers to her as "Marjorie 'Traitor' Brown" on social media, serious questions emerge about whether her departure stems from political retaliation or something more sinister.

In the world of Epstein-level secrets, those who approach too close to the truth often face more than political consequences. The timing of her resignation following intense advocacy for Epstein transparency raises disturbing questions about whether threats to personal or family safety influenced her decision. Meanwhile, Trump's responseschoolyard taunts rather than concern for a former allyreveals a profound failure of leadership.

The MAGA movement stands at a precipice. The choice is between blind loyalty to a man who has abandoned its core principles or fidelity to the America First ideology that initially inspired the movement. The evidence suggests that "Make America Great Again" was never more than a marketing slogan for Trump, while "America First" represented an actual political philosophy that he has now betrayed.

The political revolution that promised to dismantle the deep state and expose elite corruption has instead become its unwitting protector. The man who vowed to drain the swamp is now attacking those who are fighting it for real. The movement faces an existential choice: continue following a man who has clearly abandoned its principles or reclaim the America First agenda from the personality cult that has hijacked it.

Sources include:

TruthAboutCancerOfficial.substack.com

Substack.com

Substack.com
Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials REJECT key aspects of 28-point Trump peace plan

Ukraine firmly opposes any agreement recognizing Russia's territorial seizures or restricting its sovereignty, including NATO membership.

Zelensky warns that Russia's insistence on legal recognition of occupied Ukrainian territories undermines peace talks and violates international law.

The U.S. demands Ukraine cede Donbass and Crimea while abandoning NATO ambitions, warning of further Russian advances if Kyiv refuses.

Dependent on Western aid but increasingly at odds with allies, Ukraine faces military exhaustion, economic ruin and potential mutiny without a battlefield turnaround.

Seizing frozen Russian assets risks economic retaliation and legal precedent, while Ukraine's survival hangs in the balance between Western pressure and Russian aggression.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and senior lawmakers firmly rejected the U.S. peace deal that legitimizes Russia's territorial seizures or restricts Ukraine's military sovereignty on Monday, Nov. 24.

Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament), declared at the Crimea Platform summit in Stockholm that Kyiv will never accept "any legal recognition of Russia's occupation." He also rejected suggestions of external vetoes on Ukraine's alliances  specifically its potential membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Meanwhile, Zelensky framed Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands as an existential threat. "Borders cannot be changed by force," he told Swedish lawmakers, noting that the Russian leader's demand for the world to legally recognize Ukrainian territories now under Moscow's control is the "main problem" in the peace talks.

"Keep pressure on Russia. Russia is still killing people," the comedian-turned-president urged. Yet behind the defiant rhetoric, Ukraine's battlefield realities grow grimmer by the day as it teeters on the brink of military and economic collapse. Enter U.S. President Donald Trump, who has issued a stark ultimatum: Negotiate peace with Russia now  on Moscow's terms  or risk losing everything.

Trump's 28-point peace plan demands two non-negotiable conditions: Ukraine must formally abandon NATO ambitions and cede occupied territories  including Donbass and Crimea  in exchange for Russia halting further advances and freezing the conflict along current frontlines. But Kyiv's leadership, while publicly vowing never to surrender, faces an impossible choice  bow to Western pressure or watch its army disintegrate under relentless Russian assaults.

Zelensky's impossible choice and the endgame for Ukraine

The real estate mogul's rationale is brutally pragmatic: "Russia is a very big power, and [Ukraine] is not." The proposal has exposed fractures between Washington and Brussels, with European diplomats scrambling to revise the draft to include stronger security guarantees for Kyiv.

But time is running out. U.S. negotiators have warned Ukrainian officials that without a deal, Russia's military could seize even more territory in the coming months.

Zelensky, walking a tightrope between defiance and desperation, has attempted to placate both sides. In a social media post on Sunday, Nov. 23, he insisted Ukraine would "never be an obstacle to peace" while stressing the need for sovereignty. Yet Trump, unimpressed, blasted Kyiv for showing "zero gratitude" for U.S. support.

The disconnect highlights Ukraines precarious position  dependent on Western aid, but increasingly at odds with its backers' political calculations. The stakes could not be higher. European leaders are pushing for frozen Russian assets to fund postwar reconstruction, while Washington dangles a decade-long security pact modeled on NATO's mutual defense clause.

BrightU.AI's Enoch engine notes that seizing frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine risks provoking severe economic retaliation from Moscow, potentially destabilizing the U.S. and global financial systems. Additionally, such a move could violate international law, setting a dangerous precedent for unilateral asset confiscation by governments.

But none of this changes the fundamental equation: Ukraine's military is exhausted, its economy in shambles and its population hemorrhaging. Without a dramatic shift in battlefield momentum  or a sudden Western commitment to total victory  Zelensky may soon face mutiny from his own troops or a forced negotiation from a position of weakness.

With Ukraine's survival in the balance, the world watches as Zelensky weighs Trump's hard truth against the fading hope of Western salvation. The coming weeks may decide whether Ukraine emerges as a sovereign state  or a partitioned casualty of great-power politics.

Watch retired Col. Douglas Macgregor and Judge Andrew Napolitano discussing whether Zelensky's days are numbered below.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

KyivPost.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
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Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy with snow showers developing for the afternoon. High 29F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 24F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
Svyrydenko thanks French President's special envoy for his contribution to helping Ukraine

Photo: https://t.me/svyrydenkoy

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko discussed defense projects, a reparation loan and support for culture with Special Envoy of the French President for Ukraine's Relief and Reconstruction Pierre Heilbronn.

"Pierre Heilbronn, the Special Envoy of the French President for Ukraine's Relief and Reconstruction, is completing his mission in Ukraine. It was a pleasure to meet with him and summarize the results of our collaboration and the strategic directions for continuing our cooperation with France," Svyrydenko wrote on her Telegram channel.

According to Svyrydenko, the parties discussed projects in the defense sector, particularly the creation of joint ventures.

"Special attention was paid to the importance of a reparation loan based on frozen Russian assets to ensure Ukraine's financial and social stability and defense. We are awaiting a decision on this matter from the European Council in December," she added.

Additionally, the Prime Minister and the Envoy discussed the initiative to support culture through the newly created Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund.

"Thank you, Pierre Heilbronn, for your contribution to helping our country! We look forward to continuing the Ukrainian-French partnership," she said.
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Background: In this study, researchers used the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile to identify family physicians aged 65 years or younger in the U.S. actively practicing outpatient care from 2017 to 2023. Physicians' office addresses were mapped to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural-Urban Continuum Codes to identify and describe family physicians in rural communities.

What this study found:

There has been an 11% nationwide decline in rural family physicians from 2017 to 2023.

The Northeast saw the greatest percentage loss (15.3%), while the West saw the least (3.2%).

The proportion of female rural family physicians increased from 35.5% in 2017 to 41.8% in 2023.

Implications: Despite decades of programs to develop the rural workforce, the study findings show an ongoing loss of rural practicing family physicians, which further exacerbates existing disparities rural communities face.
Background: In this study, researchers aimed to understand how general practitioners experience trust in their patients, and how that trust affects patient care. Researchers interviewed 25 general practitioners across Australia.

What this study found:

Interviewees ranged from 28 to 65 years old.

Three themes described general practitioners' trust in patients: General practitioners' trust in patients was an assumed starting point. General practitioners expressed a lack of trust in some complex patients' ability to navigate the health system, but not in the patients themselves. Trust in patients deepens and develops over time as part of a mutual trusting therapeutic relationship. General practitioners had difficulty trusting patients who were perceived to be manipulating the relationship for secondary gain. Participants attempted to understand their patient's situation and establish a trusting relationship even when this was the case.



Implications: Strengthening systems and training that support general practitioners in maintaining trusting relationships, especially with complex or high-needs patients, can improve continuity and quality of care.
Veterans living in California who have cardiometabolic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure experience significantly higher risk of dying during heat waves compared to cooler days, UCLA-led research finds.

The study, to be published in the peer-reviewed JAMA Network Open, demonstrates the danger that heat waves can pose for people with heart disease and risk factors for heart disease, whether or not they are veterans, said Dr. Evan Shannon, assistant professor-in-residence at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the study's lead author. Veterans are particularly vulnerable to these heat events because they tend to be older, are likelier to have health issues such as heart disease and be on medications that can increase their mortality risk from heat exposure, and are frequently unhoused or live in low-income urban areas where the dense, built environment traps heat  the "urban heat islands."

"This was among the first studies to examine the association of extreme heat and mortality in veteran VA users," said Shannon, who also holds an appointment with VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. "Although VA users have reduced barriers to healthcare access and dedicated programs to address health-related social factors, veterans with underlying risk factors for heart disease, including those with common conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, remain at risk of death during heat waves."

The researchers analyzed administrative and electronic health record data from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse and found that about 13,600 California veterans with underlying cardiometabolic conditions, 98% of whom were male, died during fiscal years 2016 through 2021.

Overall, they found that veterans stood a 10% to 14% higher risk of dying during days with extreme heat (defined as temperatures above the 95th percentile of historical average temperatures) compared with other days. Those living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods faced 44% greater odds of dying on those days compared with 12% of veterans residing in more affluent areas. Homeless veterans experienced a 25% higher risk of death vs. 12% for housed veterans.

Although this study was performed at the VA and only included veterans, we expect the findings to apply to non-Veterans as well." Dr. Evan Shannon, assistant professor-in-residence, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA

Several factors limit the findings, the researchers note. Among them, they assumed, but could not verify, that the patients were at or near their home on a given day; they did not have any measure of indoor heat, so could not determine if any had air conditioning; their definition of homelessness does not distinguish between sheltered and unsheltered individuals, and the findings may not apply to people outside of California.

As a next step, the researchers will work to determine any association between heat waves and hospitalizations or emergency department visits at both VA and non-VA medical centers, Shannon said. In addition, he is also working toward developing a toolkit to protect unhoused veterans from extreme heat.

"Given the projected increase in [extreme heat events] as global average temperatures rise, the VA and other integrated healthcare systems must develop heat preparedness and response plans to protect people from heat-related morbidity and mortality," the researchers write.

Study co-authors are Lillian Chen, Dr. Sonya Gabrielian, Dr. David Eisenman, and Dr. Donna Washington of UCLA, Anita Yuan of VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, and Dr. Aarthi Chary of Stanford University and VA Paolo Alto Healthcare System. Gabrielian and Washington also have appointments with VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.

The UCLA-UCI Center for Elimination Cardio-Metabolic Disparities in Multi-Ethnic Populations (NIMHD P50MD017366) funded the study.
Elisabeth Yoder's son, Darragh, was 15 months old in August when he developed what at first looked to his parents like hand, foot, and mouth disease. The common viral infection generally clears up in less than a week, but Darragh's condition worsened over several days. His skin turned bright red. Blisters gave way to skin peeling off his face.

An online search of his symptoms suggested he had staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, a serious bacterial infection. Yoder drove the toddler from their home in the small town of Mechanicsburg, Ohio, to the Mercy Health hospital in nearby Urbana.

Staff in the emergency room there quickly confirmed that Darragh had scalded skin syndrome and said he needed to be taken by a private company's ambulance to Dayton Children's, a hospital about 40 miles away.

"I asked them: 'Can I take him? Can I drive him?'" Yoder said. "And they were like, 'Oh, absolutely not.'"

So, Yoder and her son got into the ambulance, with Darragh strapped in his car seat. The ambulance driver didn't turn on the siren or drive particularly fast, Yoder said. The trip took about 40 minutes, she said. "It was fairly straightforward transportation from Point A to Point B."

Yoder had heard that ambulance rides can be pricey. But she didn't know how much her son's ride would cost.

Darragh was hospitalized for three days and recovered from the illness.

Then the bill came.

The medical procedure

During the ride, the ambulance crew monitored Darragh's vitals and an intravenous line, inserted at the hospital, carrying fluids and antibiotics, but he received no other medical treatment, Yoder said.

The final bill

$9,250, which included a "base rate" charge of $6,600 for a "specialty care transport" and a mileage fee of $2,340, calculated at $60 for each of the ride's 39 miles. It also included $250 for use of an intravenous infusion pump and $60 for monitoring Darragh's blood oxygen.

The problem: No insurance, few protections

The children's hospital charged only about $3,000 more for the toddler's three-day stay than the ambulance company charged for the ride, Yoder said.

Darragh's family doesn't have health insurance, leaving them on the hook for the full charges. Their income is a bit too high for them to qualify for Medicaid, the public health program that covers low-income residents, or for the Ohio Children's Health Insurance Program, which covers moderate-income kids.

The Yoders belong to a Christian health care sharing ministry, with members paying into a fund that helps reimburse them for medical bills.

Unlike health insurance, such arrangements do not offer members negotiated rates with ambulance companies or other medical providers. And there are no state or federal billing protections that would help an uninsured patient in Ohio with a ground ambulance bill.

The federal No Surprises Act protects those with insurance from large bills for air ambulance transportation provided outside their insurers' network agreements. But ground ambulance services aren't covered by the law  and even if they were, that wouldn't have helped the Yoders, since they didn't have insurance.

Patricia Kelmar, the senior director of health care campaigns for PIRG, a national advocacy group, said ambulance charges vary widely. She said she's seen per-mile charges ranging from less than $30 to more than $80, as well as base rates that differ dramatically.

Some patients, such as those with traumatic injuries, need ambulances with highly trained staff and advanced medical equipment, Kelmar said, so it makes sense that those rides would be more expensive. But patients rarely are told what the ride will cost until they receive a bill.

Jennifer Robinson, a spokesperson for Mercy Health, said she couldn't comment on a specific patient's case but said the staff follows established medical standards. "When a patient requires a higher level of treatment, ambulance transfer between facilities is best practice to ensure appropriate care," she said in an email to KFF Health News.

Kimberly Godden, a vice president for the ambulance company, Superior Ambulance Service, said a doctor at the first hospital requested a high-level transport for the patient, requiring specially trained staff.

"Our priority is always to ensure patients receive the highest-quality care when they need it most, and we respond to every call regardless of a patient's ability to pay," Godden said in an email. "Superior had the team and resources available to quickly and safely move the patient to the higher level of care they needed within the time frame set by the ordering physician."

Godden said the company would offer a "charity care" rate to Yoder if the family qualified for it.

The resolution

Yoder said she repeatedly discussed the bill with ambulance company representatives, including the option for charity care. They told Yoder the best deal they could offer was to reduce the total by about 40%, to $5,600, if the family paid it in a lump sum, she said.

After months of discussion, the family wound up agreeing to that deal, Yoder said. They put the charge on a new credit card, which gave them 17 months to pay it off with no interest.

They have agreed to payment plans with the two hospitals, which offered charity care discounts that dropped the bills to a total of about $6,800.

The Yoders expect the sharing ministry to reimburse them for about 75% of the payments they're making to the hospitals and the ambulance service.

The takeaway

Patients and their families should feel comfortable asking hospital staffers whether a recommended ambulance company is in their insurance network and how much the ride to another location will cost, said Kelmar, a national expert on such bills. "Shouldn't the hospital know that?" she said. "I don't think it's that heavy of a lift."

Kelmar said she doesn't want to discourage people from taking an ambulance if a doctor says it's necessary. Once consumers receive a bill for the service, she said, they often can negotiate the price down. It can help to look up what the ambulance service accepts as payment from government programs. Those rates are often much lower than the full-price charges patients see on a bill.

If the family had been covered by Ohio's Medicaid program, the ambulance service would have been paid much less than it charged the Yoders. The public health program pays ambulance services a $413 base rate for "specialty care transports," plus $5.05 per mile. Those rates would have added up to $609.95 for the transportation part of Darragh's ambulance ride.

Yoder said she wishes she had driven Darragh straight to the children's hospital. If she had skipped the local ER, she said, they would have arrived at the bigger hospital sooner and she would have saved thousands of dollars.

But she didn't feel as if she had a choice about putting her son in the ambulance, she said. The doctor told her it was necessary, and the hospital staff had already inserted an intravenous line. "I wasn't going to pull out his IV line and just leave," she said.

Yoder said she remains uninsured because she hasn't seen any private insurance options that suit her family's circumstances. No matter who pays the ambulance bill, she thinks the charges were much too high. She understands that patients can often negotiate discounts, she said, "but you shouldn't have to work so hard for it."

Bill of the Month is a crowdsourced investigation by KFF Health News and The Washington Post's Well+Being that dissects and explains medical bills. Since 2018, this series has helped many patients and readers get their medical bills reduced, and it has been cited in statehouses, at the U.S. Capitol, and at the White House. Do you have a confusing or outrageous medical bill you want to share? Tell us about it!
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders may now visit Algeria without a visa for up to 14 days, the Immigration Department announced today.

Noting that Algeria is a member of the Belt & Road Initiative, the department said the visa-free arrangement will bring travel convenience, and strengthen tourism-related, cultural and economic ties between the two places.

Including Algeria, 174 countries and territories allow visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Hong Kong SAR passport holders.
CPI(M) candidate gets 10-year jail term for bomb attack on police

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 13:15 IST

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Kannur (Kerala), Nov 25 (PTI) A court in this north Kerala district on Tuesday sentenced two men, including a CPI(M) candidate for the local body polls, to jail for attempting to kill police officers by throwing bombs during a protest more than a decade ago.

V K Nishad, 35, a DYFI leader and the LDF candidate in Payyannur Municipality, and T C V Nandakumar, 35, from Annur, were handed a combined sentence of 20 years rigorous imprisonment under several charges.

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They were also fined Rs 2.5 lakh. However, the court ruled that serving 10 years will be enough for both.

The verdict was delivered by the Taliparamba Additional Sessions Court, a day after the court found the two guilty.

Two other accused  A Mithun, 36, and K V Kripesh, 38  were acquitted.

The case relates to an incident on August 1, 2012, when crude bombs were allegedly hurled at police officers during a protest against the arrest of CPI(M) leader P Jayarajan.

He had been taken into custody in connection with the murder of MSF leader Shuhaib.

Nishad, who is the Payyannur Block Secretary of the DYFI and a sitting councillor from Karamele West, is contesting this years elections from the Mottammal ward.

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As the sentence had not been delivered when he filed his nomination, he faced no legal barrier to enter the fray.

To avoid a situation where the CPI(M) would be left without a candidate if Nishad were disqualified later, party worker M Harindran filed papers as a dummy candidate and has not withdrawn his nomination. PTI COR TGB KH

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First Published: November 25, 2025, 13:15 IST

News agency-feeds CPI(M) candidate gets 10-year jail term for bomb attack on police

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the eve of the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing.

As reported on Tuesday by the government website, the Prime Minister spoke with Zelenskyy "this morning, ahead of the Coalition of the Willing meeting this afternoon."

"The Prime Minister began by sharing his condolences with President Zelenskyy on the appalling Russian attacks overnight, paying tribute to the Ukrainian people who showed such courage and resilience in the face daily hardship and bloodshed from Putins ongoing onslaught," the report notes.

Reflecting on the talks in Geneva and the diplomatic discussions that have followed, the leaders agreed on the importance of securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. "The Prime Minister said Ukraine could rely on the UKs support as discussions continued," the report notes.

Looking ahead to this afternoons Coalition of the Willing call, "the leaders discussed the international unity that has been shown in support for Ukraine and underlined the importance of the continued work by coalition partners in preparation for the deployment of the multinational force following the cessation of hostilities."
Ethiopian volcano subsides, leaving trail of disruption and cancelled flights

Last Updated: November 26, 2025, 00:15 IST

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Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Nov 25 (AP) Volcanic activity in northern Ethiopias long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano subsided Tuesday after an eruption over the weekend that left a trail of destruction in nearby villages and caused flight cancellations after ash plumes disrupted high-altitude flight paths.

Villages in the district of Afdera in the Afar region were covered in ash, officials said residents were coughing, and livestock found their grass and water totally covered.

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Airlines cancelled dozens of flights scheduled to fly over affected areas as the meteorological department said the ash clouds were expected to clear later on Tuesday.

Indias flag carrier, Air India, said it cancelled 11 flights, most of them international, on Monday and Tuesday to inspect aircraft that may have flown over affected areas, acting on a directive from Indias aviation safety regulator.

Another Indian operator, Akasa Air, said it had cancelled flights to Middle East destinations such as Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi scheduled over the past two days.

At least seven international flights scheduled to depart from and arrive at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the Indian capital of New Delhi were cancelled on Tuesday, while at least a dozen were delayed, according to an official at the airport.

An official in charge of health in northern Ethiopias Afdera district, Abedella Mussa, said the residents were coughing and mobile medical services from the larger Afar region had been launched in the remote area.

Two medical teams have been dispatched to the affected kebeles (neighbourhoods) like Fia and Nemma-Gubi to provide mobile medical services," he said.

Another official in charge of livestock, Nuur Mussa, said animals were unable to find clean water or grass. Many animals, especially in the two affected kebeles, cannot drink clean water or feed on grass because it is covered by volcanic ash," he said.

Atalay Ayele, a geologist at Addis Ababa University, said such eruptions occur because Ethiopia is situated along an active rift system where volcanism and earthquakes are frequent.

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This is the first recorded eruption of Hayli Gubbi in the last 10,000 years," he told the AP. It will likely continue for a short period and then stop until the next cycle." The ash cloud is moving towards China and is expected to clear Indian skies by 1400 GMT Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department said in a statement.

The high-level winds carried the ash cloud from Ethiopia across the Red Sea, Yemen, Oman, the Arabian Sea and then towards western and northern India, the weather office added. (AP) SCY SCY

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First Published: November 26, 2025, 00:15 IST

News agency-feeds Ethiopian volcano subsides, leaving trail of disruption and cancelled flights

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Fourth edition of 'Nayi Chetna 4.0' campaign against gender violence launched

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 20:15 IST

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New Delhi, Nov 25 (PTI) The fourth edition of the national campaign against gender-based violence, Nayi Chetna 4.0, was launched on Tuesday by Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The programme, launched along with Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi, will see 11 Union ministries coming together to combat gender-based violence across the country.

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A tripartite inter-ministerial Letter of Intent between the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Law & Justice, and the Ministry of Rural Development was also signed.

Speaking at the event, Chouhan said neither society nor the nation can progress without empowering women. Citing incidents of crimes against women, he said, women are still struggling for equality".

He stressed that economic empowerment of women is crucial for gender equality.

Chouhan highlighted that more than two crore SHG women have already become Lakhpati Didis, adding that the government is consistently working towards realising this vision by strengthening womens empowerment and expanding opportunities for rural women across the country.

Annapurna Devi said gender violence is not just physical harm but also an attack on a womans dreams and self-respect".

She said the Inter-Ministerial Tripartite MoU, a Letter of Intent between the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Law & Justice, and the Ministry of Rural Development, will advance the development of model villages under the Violence-Free Village Initiative, ensuring safety, rights and empowering opportunities for girls and women in rural India.

The inter-ministerial joint advisory was signed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Department of Justice.

The advisory focuses on leveraging the strengths of each collaborating ministry/department to eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence.

The month-long campaign, organised by the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana  National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development, will run across all Indian States and Union Territories until December 23, 2025. The initiative, led by the extensive SHG network of DAY-NRLM, embodies the spirit of a Jan Andolan or mass movement, the Rural Development Ministry said.

Minister of State for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Kamlesh Paswan also attended the event.

Pemmasani said the collective strength of 10 crore rural women mobilised through Self-Help Groups has transformed Nayi Chetna into a robust grassroots movement.

The campaign, he said, not only empowers women to seek timely support but also inspires them to speak up and bring long-suppressed issues to the forefront, thereby strengthening community-led efforts toward a violence-free and gender-equitable rural ecosystem.

Paswan underscored the pivotal role of education in addressing gender inequality, calling it a powerful tool that enables individuals and communities to break long-standing barriers.

Two gender champions from Bihar and Rajasthan shared their journeys of overcoming discrimination and leading change within their communities.

Nayi Chetna 4.0 aims to strengthen community action against gender-based violence and promote womens safety, dignity and economic empowerment across rural India. The campaign focuses on enabling safe mobility, recognising women as key economic contributors, and addressing unpaid care work through shared community responsibility.

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It also seeks to enhance womens access to assets, credit, skills and markets, expanding opportunities for entrepreneurship and livelihoods. By advocating gender-responsive policies and budgets, the campaign aims to ensure womens voices shape decision-making at all levels, reinforcing DAY-NRLMs commitment to equality and inclusive rural development.

The event witnessed participation from key ministries and departments of the Government of India, representatives of State Rural Livelihoods Missions, women members of Self-Help Groups from across the country, Anganwadi workers and partnering civil society organisations, reflecting a strong collective commitment towards advancing gender equality and rural development. PTI AO AO HIG HIG

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First Published: November 25, 2025, 20:15 IST

News agency-feeds Fourth edition of 'Nayi Chetna 4.0' campaign against gender violence launched

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Holy relics of Lord Buddha return to India after public exposition in Bhutan

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 22:30 IST

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New Delhi, Nov 25 (PTI) A portion of the holy relics of Lord Buddha enshrined at the National Museum here has been brought back to the country following a 17-day public exposition in Bhutan, officials said on Tuesday.

The exposition signified the cultural bonds between India and Bhutan and was part of the Global Peace Prayer Festival (GPPF) in Thimphu, a major event praying for world peace and the healing of humanity.

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Honoured to bring back sacred Buddha Relics to India after 17 Days exposition in Bhutan. Bhutans profound reverence for Holy Buddha Relics inspire harmony between the people of India & Bhutan. Im deeply touched by His Majesty the King of Bhutans personal care & his presence during the ceremonial departure event," Union minister Kiren Rijiju said in a post on X.

He also shared a video of the return journey.

The relics were brought back in a C-130J transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

I also thank Honble Prime Minister of Bhutan and his Cabinet, Laytshog Lopen of Central Monastic Body, Venerable Monks and entire Royal Govt of Bhutan for the special arrangements for the Relics and the memorable visit of Honble PM @narendramodi ji to Bhutan on 11th Nov 2025," he said.

The holy relics of Lord Buddha were enshrined at the Grand Kuenrey Hall at Tashichhodzong with a traditional chipdrel procession, prayers, ceremonies and a guard of honour, the Indian Embassy in Thimpu had said in a post on X earlier.

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The relics were enshrined for public veneration at the Kuenrey Hall of Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu, originally from November 8 to 18, marking a moment of deep spiritual unity between India and Bhutan.

The exposition was later extended for one week following a request of the Royal Government of Bhutan, the Culture Ministry had said in a statement on November 17. PTI KND KSS

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First Published: November 25, 2025, 22:30 IST

News agency-feeds Holy relics of Lord Buddha return to India after public exposition in Bhutan

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Odisha court sentences man to 10-year imprisonment for abducting, raping minor

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 22:00 IST

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Bhubaneswar, Nov 25 (PTI) A POCSO court here on Tuesday sentenced a 24-year-old man to 10 years of imprisonment for abducting and raping a girl in 2018.

Bhubaneswar POCSO Court judge Saroj Kumar Sahoo also ordered the convict, Badal Pilei, to pay a fine of Rs 3,000, failing which he will remain in prison for another three months, government advocate Rajiv Sasmal said.

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The court also asked the Khurda District Legal Service Authority to provide Rs 4 lakh as compensation to the survivor, he said.

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Badal had abducted the girl from her school in Balianta police station area near Bhubaneswar and raped her, he said.

On the basis of a complaint lodged by the survivors mother, Badal was arrested on December 26, 2018 and sent to judicial custody, a police officer said. PTI BBM BBM ACD

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First Published: November 25, 2025, 22:00 IST

News agency-feeds Odisha court sentences man to 10-year imprisonment for abducting, raping minor

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Titagarh Rail plans to foray into wagon leasing business

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 22:00 IST

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Kolkata, Nov 25 (PTI) Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd is planning to foray into the wagon leasing business, aiming to capture a larger share of the private sector market by offering long-term lease models, a top company official said on Tuesday.

The company has progressed in securing the licence for this strategic business venture and is evaluating how to structure it, he said.

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It will be executed either through the companys own balance sheet or through a special purpose vehicle (SPV).

We are evaluating whether to carry out leasing business from the company itself or through an SPV. Since wagon leasing will be categorised as operating leasing and not a financial one, an NBFC (Non-Banking Financial Company) license is not a necessity," Titagarh Rail Systems Vice Chairman and Managing Director Umesh Chowdhary told PTI.

Chowdhary highlighted opportunities in the segment, noting the potential to target a market of around 1,500-2,000 wagons that are procured on lease annually.

We believe this is a very interesting business to be in. We are targeting this segment," he remarked, underscoring the companys ambition to become a key player in the wagon leasing ecosystem and suggesting a path to recurring revenue streams.

The rationale behind the move is multifaceted. The private sector is increasingly showing a preference for acquiring wagons on an operational lease basis rather than through capital expenditure.

According to Chowdhary, recent policy discussions indicate that wagon leasing companies may be permitted to maintain the wagons they own.

This strategic pivot towards leasing is supported by the companys past experience, having previously executed leasing transactions for wagons with the Indian Railways, which helped it qualify for the new licence.

The move into leasing is part of Titagarh Rails broader strategy to diversify its revenue streams and deepen its market penetration, the official said.

The foray into wagon leasing is expected to not only boost sales but also establish long-term relationships with private sector players in the logistics chain, he said.

The management announced that the long-standing issue of wheel set availability has been resolved, allowing production to normalise to a run rate of 800-850 wagons per month.

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Wagon production had suffered in the previous two quarters.

With a robust order book of approximately Rs 28,000-29,000 crore providing visibility for the near term, the company is looking to leverage its manufacturing prowess and financial strength to create new growth avenues in the evolving rail logistics landscape. PTI BSM BDC

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First Published: November 25, 2025, 22:00 IST

News agency-feeds Titagarh Rail plans to foray into wagon leasing business

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Bank Holiday Today: Are Banks Open Or Closed On Guru Tegh Bahadur Shahid Diwas? Check Status

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 07:04 IST

November 25 marks Guru Tegh Bahadur Shaheed Diwas. Dehi government declares a public holiday. Are banks open or closed?

Bank Holiday Today: Are Banks Open Or Closed? Check State-Wise Status

Bank Holiday Today: November 25 marks the 350th martyrdom anniversary (shahid diwas) of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The Delhi government has declared a public holiday to commemorate the day.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Shaheed Diwas is observed to remember the ninth Sikh Guru, who gave his life to protect the freedom of religion and the rights of the oppressed. He stood against forced conversions during Aurangzebs rule and chose sacrifice over silence, becoming a symbol of courage and moral strength.

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Are Banks Open Or Closed Today?

Banks will be opened today as there is no RBI authorized public holiday. Customers can avail branch services without any problem across India.

All bank holidays for November concluded in the first half of the month.

Upcoming Bank Holidays In December 2025

The major national wide holiday falling in December is Christmas on December 25. All banks across India will be closed on the day.

December 01: State Inauguration Day/Indigenous Faith Day

Banks will be closed in Itanagar and Kohima.

December 03: Feast of St. Francis Xavier

Banks will be closed in Panaji only.

December 12: Death Anniversary of Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma

Banks will be closed in Shillong only.

December 18: Death Anniversary of U SoSo Tham

Banks will be closed in Shillong only.

December 19: Goa Liberation Day

Banks will be closed in Panaji only.

December 20: Losoong / Namsoong

Banks will be closed in Gangtok only.

December 22: Losoong / Namsoong

Banks will be closed in Gangtok only.

December 24: Christmas Eve

Banks will be closed in Aizawl and Kohima and Shillong.

December 25: Christmas

Banks will be closed national wide.

December 26: Christmas Celebration

Banks will be closed Aizawl, Kohima, and Shillong.

December 27: Christmas

Banks will be closed in Kohima only.

December 30: Death Anniversary of U Kiang Nangbah

Banks will be closed in Shillong only.

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December 31: New Years Eve/Imoinu Iratpa

Banks will be closed in Aizawl and Imphal.

About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the I... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 07:04 IST

News business banking-finance Bank Holiday Today: Are Banks Open Or Closed On Guru Tegh Bahadur Shahid Diwas? Check Status

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'New Labour Codes Will Provide Substantial Benefits To Unorganised Workers, Gig Workers': Piyush Goyal

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 15:00 IST

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says the labour reforms are aimed at strengthening the ease of doing business and enhancing the welfare of workers.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. (File Photo)

Union Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said the four recently enacted labour codes will provide substantial benefits to unorganised workers and gig workers. He added that these workers had to navigate numerous forms, inspections and complex regulations earlier, whereas the new framework simplifies processes and ensures access to proper facilities, social security and better working conditions.

While addressing the National Conference of Trade Leaders on Thursday, he added that both employers and employees have welcomed these reforms.

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The minister encouraged traders to promote Swadeshi products. He said suppliers should clearly mention the manufacturing location on product packaging, and suggested that shops may display that they sell Swadeshi goods. He emphasised the importance of expanding the presence of Made in India products.

Goyal also added that ease of doing business has been significantly improved through the Jan Vishvas Bill, which simplifies procedures and reduces compliance burdens. Responding to suggestions on the idea of One Nation, One License, he said that as a pilot initiative, states such as Delhi and Maharashtra could consider creating a single online portal integrating state and municipal trade licences.

He recalled the sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur, whose legacy is being commemorated after nearly 350 years. He said that following the ideals he laid down would bring pride and honour to the nation and ensure a bright future for the country. He added that remembering the vision with which Guru Tegh Bahadur united the nation would continue to guide Indias progress.

In a significant move aimed at strengthening worker welfare across sectors, Indias long-awaited labour reforms have come into force today, with all four new labour codes officially notified and implemented from November 21, 2025.

The four new labour codes are Code on Wages, 2019; Industrial Relations Code, 2020; Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020; and Social Security Code, 2020.

These together replace 29 older labour laws and form the new labour-law framework implemented from today.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the move one of the most comprehensive and progressive labour-oriented reforms since Independence".

For the first time, the labour codes formally define gig work, platform work and aggregators, giving legal clarity to millions working with digital platforms. Aggregator companies will now be required to contribute 1-2% of their annual turnover to a dedicated Welfare Fund, capped at 5% of the total payments made to workers. This fund will support social security benefits.

About the Author Business Desk A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, w... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 15:00 IST

News business economy 'New Labour Codes Will Provide Substantial Benefits To Unorganised Workers, Gig Workers': Piyush Goyal

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Sudeep Pharma IPO Day 3: GMP Falls; Issue Receives 93.71x Subscription, Retail Quota Booked 15.5x

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 17:23 IST

Sudeep Pharma IPO GMP: Unlisted shares of Sudeep Pharma Ltd are trading at Rs 674 apiece in the grey market, which is a GMP of 13.66% over the upper IPO price of Rs 593.

Sudeep Pharma IPO Day 3.

Sudeep Pharma IPO Day 3: The initial public offering (IPO) of Vadodara-based Sudeep Pharma Ltd has been closed today, Tuesday, November 25. The price band of the Rs 895-crore IPO has been fixed at Rs 563-593 per equity share. On the final day of bidding on Tuesday, the Sudeep Pharma IPO received 93.71x subscription, garnering bids for 99,00,86,575 shares as against the 1,05,64,927 shares on offer.

Its retail category got a 15.65x subscription, while its non-institutional investor (NII) quota got a 116.72x subscription. The QIB category received a 213.08x subscription.

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Its grey market premium has also fallen to Rs 81, compared with Rs 90 on Monday.

Sudeep Pharma IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Sudeep Pharma Ltd are currently trading at Rs 674 apiece in the grey market, which is a GMP of Rs 81 or 13.66% over the upper IPO price of Rs 593, indicating moderate listing gains for investors.

The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

Sudeep Pharma IPO: Analysts Recommendations

Anand Rathi has given the issue a Subscribe  Long Term rating, calling Sudeep Pharma a globally recognised maker of excipients and specialty mineral ingredients with strong traction across pharmaceutical, food and nutrition segments. The brokerage highlights the companys deep global reach, serving over 1,100 clients worldwide, supported by major international certifications that enhance credibility. According to the IPO note, With a strong focus on quality, regulatory compliance, innovation, and customer engagement, the company has built long-term relationships with over 1,100 clients globally."

On the financial front, Sudeep Pharma posted an FY24 EBITDA of Rs 181.7 crore and PAT of Rs 138.7 crore, reflecting healthy margins and consistent growth. The brokerage also points to the companys move into higher-value areas such as mineral chemistry and battery-grade iron phosphate for EVs. While the IPOs upper-band valuation of 48.3x FY25E P/E is described as fully priced", Anand Rathi believes the global footprint, regulatory strength and future expansion opportunities justify a long-term investment view.

Another brokerage firm Master Capital Services also sees strong sectoral tailwinds supporting the company. Its note highlights that Indias food and nutritional ingredients market, valued at $22 billion in 2024, is growing at a CAGR of 8.1% and is expected to touch $32 billion by 2029. The vitamins and minerals segment alone, a key area for Sudeep, is projected to grow from $2.1 billion to $3 billion over the same period.

Master Capital Services in its IPO note said, Sudeep Pharma Ltd is strategically positioned to capitalize on this rapid expansion across the pharmaceutical, food, nutrition and specialty ingredients markets."

Backed by a technology-driven manufacturing ecosystem and a portfolio of more than 100 products, investors may consider the IPO as a potential long-term opportunity, according to Master Capital.

Sudeep Pharma IPO: More Details

The initial public offering (IPO) will conclude on November 25, and bidding for anchor investors will open for a day on November 20. Investors can bid for a minimum of 25 equity shares and in multiples of 25 shares thereafter, the company said in a statement.

The IPO is a mix of a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 95 crore and an offer for sale of nearly 1.35 crore equity shares aggregating worth Rs 800 crore by promoters, Sujit Jaysukh Bhayani, Sujeet Jaysukh Bhayani HUF, Shanil Sujit Bhayani and Avani Sujit Bhayani.

The net proceeds from the fresh issue to the tune of Rs 75.81 crore will be for capital expenditure towards procurement of machinery for its production line located at Nandesari Facility 1, Gujarat and general corporate purposes.

Sudeep Pharma is a technology-led manufacturer of excipients and specialty ingredients for the pharmaceutical, food and nutrition industries and is dedicated to contributing to the global healthcare ecosystem.

The company is one of the largest producers of food-grade iron phosphate for infant nutrition, clinical nutrition, and the food and beverage sectors, in terms of production capacity with a combined annual available manufacturing capacity of 72,246 metric tons, as of June 30, 2025, as per F&S report.

It has served over 1,100 customers, and has built longstanding relationships with marquee customers including Pfizer Inc, Mankind Pharma, Merck Group, Aurobindo Pharma, Cadila Pharmaceutical, IMCD Asia Pte Ltd, and Danone SA.

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The companys shares are proposed to be listed on the BSE and NSE.

ICICI Securities Ltd and IIFL Capital Services are the book-running lead managers, and MUFG Intime India Pvt Ltd is the registrar of the IPO.

About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalis... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 10:59 IST

News business ipo Sudeep Pharma IPO Day 3: GMP Falls; Issue Receives 93.71x Subscription, Retail Quota Booked 15.5x

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Stocks To Watch: Dr Reddy's, BEL, GAIL, HUDCO, HUL, Paras Defence, And Others

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 07:55 IST

Stocks to watch: Shares of firms like Dr Reddys, BEL, GAIL, HUDCO, HUL, Paras Defence, and others will be in focus on Tuesday's trade

Stocks To Watch

Stocks to Watch on November 25: Markets traded with a subdued tone on Monday, slipping nearly half a per cent. Risk aversion stemming from global uncertainties and continued FII selling outweighed domestic resilience, keeping investor sentiment muted.

In todays session, shares of Dr Reddys, GAIL, HUDCO, HUL, Acme Solar, and others will be in focus due to key developments.

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Bharat Electronics

Navratna defence PSU Bharat Electronics and Frances Safran Electronics and Defence (SED) have signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement to manufacture the HAMMER smart precision air-to-ground weapon in India.

Dr Reddys Laboratories

The pharma major has received European Commission approval for AVT03 (denosumab), a proposed biosimilar to Prolia and Xgeva. Prolia is prescribed for osteoporosis treatment.

Paras Defence

The company has signed an MoU with the Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), New Delhi, to collaborate on the development of commercial-grade MRI magnet systems in India.

HUDCO

HUDCO has entered into an MoU with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) to enhance cooperation on urban development and infrastructure initiatives.

GAIL India

GAIL has floated a swap tender, offering two US-loaded LNG cargoes in exchange for two cargoes to be delivered in India, Reuters reported.

Ceigall India

Ceigall India has received a letter of intent from REC Power Development and Consultancy Ltd to set up the 400/220 kV Velgaon GIS substation under the tariff-based competitive bidding mechanism.

Hindustan Unilever

Kwality Walls has expanded its board of directors ahead of its upcoming demerger from HUL. Seven members have been appointed, including one non-executive director, two executive directors and four independent directors.

ACME Solar

ACME Solar Holdings has won a bid for a 130 MW round-the-clock renewable energy project in a Railways (REMCL) tender. The company secured the project with a tariff of Rs 4.35 per unit, according to its statement.

Sunteck Realty

The London Court of International Arbitration has confirmed that all claims have been withdrawn and proceedings terminated between Sunteck Lifestyles, its Dubai subsidiary, and joint venture partner Grand Valley General Trading LLC.

Pavna Industries

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Pavna Industries has signed an MoU with the Uttar Pradesh government, outlining plans to invest Rs 250 crore over the next three to five years in a proposed project.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 07:54 IST

News business markets Stocks To Watch: Dr Reddy's, BEL, GAIL, HUDCO, HUL, Paras Defence, And Others

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Bringing A Pet Home In Bengaluru? Be Ready For A Quiet Spike In Your House Rent

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 10:50 IST

For single tenants, the rental struggle already resembles a boss fight. Add a pet into the storyline and landlords react like youre about to run a wildlife refuge in a 2BHK.

The truth is simple. Bengaluru loves pets, but the rental market loves rules even more. (Image: Canva)

Bengaluru is a city where dogs go to cafes, cats sit by sunny windows, and every second street has someone walking a Beagle like its a badge of honour. Pets are part of the rhythm here. Morning joggers in HRBR Layout greet each other by their dogs name, not their own. In JP Nagar, pet bakeries outnumber hardware stores. This is a city that treats its pets like family.

Yet, that affection fades the moment the rental agreement comes out of the drawer. In the last year, more and more tenants have begun encountering a new add-on: a flat Rs 10002000 per month as pet rent.

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Not as a deposit. Not as a society fee. A clean monthly surcharge tucked between clauses about maintenance and painting. Its a trend that crept in silently but is now shaping the house-hunting journey of thousands of pet parents.

How This Trend Crept Into Bengalurus Rentals

There wasnt one moment when landlords collectively decided to monetise pets. It spread like gossip  quietly, but consistently. First came Koramangala and HSR Layout. Younger landlords renting out builder floors began adding extra charges, arguing pets cause more wear and tear. Soon Indiranagar followed, where some homeowners insisted cats scratch wooden frames and dogs shed excessively.

Then gated societies in Bellandur, Kadubeesanahalli and Whitefield began surfacing with their own unwritten expectations. Brokers started slipping lines such as pet is fine, but owner wants extra 1500 for cleaning issues" or society people ask too many questions, so landlord prefers charging a fee."

What was once a rare exception is now a common negotiation point in Bengalurus most rented neighbourhoods.

What Landlords Say the Pet Rent Covers

Ask ten landlords why they are charging pet rent and the responses form a pattern:

Deep cleaning during move-out

Extra repainting due to hair, scratches or odour

Scratches on doors and wooden frames

Neighbour complaints about barking

Balcony stains

Chewed furniture edges

Extra maintenance for common areas

Most of these are real possibilities, but the fixed monthly fee raises questions. Many tenants, especially those who keep their homes spotless, argue that the surcharge is based more on fear than fact.

A husky might need heavy vacuuming, but a short-haired indie cat may not cause any damage at all. Bengalurus landlords, however, prefer flat rules over nuanced allowances.

Extra Conditions That Pet Parents Face

Its not only the money. Pet parents are encountering additional conditions that feel like navigating an obstacle course.

Common add-ons include:

One-time non-refundable pet deposit

Upfront repainting charge

Breed-based restrictions

Restrictions on pets in common areas

Fines for noise complaints

Clauses requiring tenants to carry pets in lifts

Zero-tolerance rules for loose pets in corridors

Mandatory deep cleaning at the end of tenancy

There are also stranger cases. A tenant in Indiranagar was asked to sign a clause promising her cat would not cause lift disturbance". Another in Whitefield was told he must install a pet mesh" on all windows at his own cost, even though his pet was a goldfish.

What the Laws Really Say

Heres where clarity matters. Karnataka does not have a law that bans tenants from owning pets. Housing societies cannot create blanket bans and cannot restrict pets based on breed. They also cannot threaten eviction purely because of noise or complaints. These guidelines have been repeatedly reinforced by the Animal Welfare Board.

But private homeowners may put additional clauses in rental agreements. Once signed, these conditions become binding. This legal flexibility is where pet rent, pet deposits and other charges enter the picture. They may not be morally aligned with the spirit of pet ownership, but they remain legally enforceable in private contracts.

The Harshest Reality: Bachelors With Pets Face the Most Resistance

For single tenants, the rental struggle already resembles a boss fight. Add a pet into the storyline and landlords react like youre about to run a wildlife refuge in a 2BHK.

A bachelor in Koramangala hunting for a house with her Indie dog said most landlords stopped listening after hearing the word pet. One asked whether the dog would invite other dogs, creating pack behaviour."

Another bachelor in Electronic City was told he could only rent if he agreed to limit his dogs walking hours to morning and night, because afternoon barking affects the paying guests nearby."

What Pet Parents Should Check Before Signing

Heres a practical checklist every pet parent should run through:

Ask whether there is a monthly pet rent and get the exact number

Clarify if there is a refundable or non-refundable pet deposit

Check repainting rules and who pays for it

Ask whether deep cleaning is mandatory during move-out

In gated communities, get a clear copy of pet rules

Check whether the society restricts certain breeds or weights

Confirm whether pets can use lifts

Clarify noise complaint procedures

Ask whether neighbours have previously objected to pets

Insist all verbal agreements be recorded in writing

Skipping these questions often leads to shockers at the end of your lease.

The Larger Story of Bengalurus Rental Psychology

The truth is simple. Bengaluru loves pets, but the rental market loves rules even more.

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As the number of pet parents grows among millennials and young couples, landlords see both risk and opportunity. Some monetise it through pet rent. Some use it to filter tenants. Some use it as a negotiation tactic.

What may emerge in the future is a more standardised system: fixed pet deposits, clear pet policies, and fewer surprises during agreement signing. Until then, pet parents navigate this landscape with a mix of patience, humour, and resilience, while their pets nap peacefully, unaware of the rent theyre apparently responsible for.

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First Published: November 25, 2025, 10:50 IST

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NovaSklo, part of the EFI Group of investment companies, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, to support the establishment of Ukraine's first modern float-glass production facility, EFI Group's press service told Interfax-Ukraine.

Under the agreement, IFC, together with Japanese partners, will provide NovaSklo with advisory support and institutional capacity building focused on techno-economic analysis, risk assessment and implementation of international best practices in sustainable development. The cooperation aims to help the company attract long-term financing for the project's implementation.

"IFC's support is signal of trust in Ukrainian investment projects. Together with our partners, we are investing world-class expertise to create a powerful construction materials industry in Ukraine. This approach will enable the development of benchmark industrial facilities in the country. We believe in the future of Ukrainian industry and are ready to invest in the countrys industrialization even during wartime," said Ihor Liski, founder of EFI Group.

NovaSklo plans to build a modern float-glass plant in Kyiv region. The project will be implemented in line with IFC's Performance Standards and sustainability framework, ensuring compliance with the highest international standards on environmental protection, occupational health and safety, and social responsibility.

Total investment in the float-glass plant is estimated at around EUR 250 million. The project is expected to create more than 300 jobs and open new opportunities for local suppliers, logistics firms and related industries.

"Ukraine continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience and strong potential for economic recovery. NovaSklo is a clear example of how Ukrainian entrepreneurs are ready to build modern industrial facilities even under challenging circumstances. IFC has extensive experience in supporting industrial projects around the world, and we are pleased to share this expertise with Ukrainian businesses," said Ines Rocha, IFC Regional Director for Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine and Moldova.

NovaSklo also signed a technical partnership agreement with Nippon Sheet Glass Group (NSG), one of the world's leading glass manufacturers and technology innovators, which will provide technical expertise and state-of-the-art technology solutions for production.

After the preparatory phase, the company plans to secure long-term financing for implementation, with IFC acting as a leading partner for mobilizing the required investment. The agreement signed today marks an important step in the development of Ukrainian industry and signals a high degree of trust in Ukraine's investment potential by international financial institutions, even in a challenging period.

NovaSklo is a Ukrainian company implementing the project to create the country's first high-tech float glass manufacturing plant in Kyiv region. The project was developed by the investment-industrial company EFI Group in partnership with leading European equipment manufacturers for float glass production.

NSG Group (Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.) is one of the world's leading manufacturers of glass and glazing systems for architecture, the automotive industry and innovative technologies, operating in more than 100 countries.
Mumbai Metro's Aqua Line Services Affected For 2 Hours Due To Technical Snag

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 16:09 IST

Mumbai Metros Aqua Line services were delayed for two hours due to a train fault at Siddhivinayak station, MMRCL said. Operations resumed after repairs and close monitoring.

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File photo of a Mumbai Metro's Aqua Line train.

Services on Mumbai Metros Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line, were affected for two hours on Tuesday afternoon due to a technical problem in a train at Siddhivinayak station, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) said.

According to MMRCL, the train was stationary for about 10 minutes before the fault was fixed. Following the incident, the concerned teams began closely tracking operations to ensure full restoration of the schedule.

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Due to a technical issue in one train at Siddhivinayak station, services were briefly halted for around 10 minutes. The issue has now been resolved, but trains are currently running 510 minutes late. Our teams are monitoring operations closely, and normal services are expected to resume shortly. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our commuters," MMRCL said in a statement issued at 12.16 pm.

The services were restored at 2.17 pm, after two hours.

 Service Update | Commuter AdvisoryAll services are now operating smoothly and as per the scheduled timetable. Operations across the line are normal. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.  |         . https://t.co/oA2ImkOaIP  MumbaiMetro3 (@MumbaiMetro3) November 25, 2025

All services are now operating smoothly and as per the scheduled timetable. Operations across the line are normal," the MMRCL said.

This comes weeks after a similar issue in early October, when a train stalled near Santacruz station because of a technical snag, days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis planned inauguration of the final section of the ColabaBandraSEEPZ Metro-3 corridor. Passengers had to be evacuated during that incident. The train involved was later moved to the Bandra-Kurla Complex loop line for checks and repairs.

Kolkata Metro Services Hit After Suicide Bid

Earlier in the day, Kolkata Metros Blue Line services were also affected for 40 minutes after a commuter attempted suicide at Dumdum station. The incident took place at 11.31 am, disrupting operations on the DakshineswarSahid Khudiram corridor, which links the northern terminal at Dakshineswar with Garia in the south, news agency PTI, citing officials, reported.

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According to a Metro spokesperson, the individual leapt onto the down-line tracks just as a train was approaching the platform. A power block was imposed to rescue him, which led to a 40-minute suspension of services between Dakshineswar and Sobhabazar on both up and down lines.

Metro operations along the entire route were restored at 12.11 pm. Within a week, three passengers in Kolkata have attempted suicide on the Blue Line.

About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 16:09 IST

News cities mumbai-news Mumbai Metro's Aqua Line Services Affected For 2 Hours Due To Technical Snag

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India Boosts Quantum Push: Rs 1 Crore For 100 Colleges, Big Labs At IIT Bombay & IISc

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 12:57 IST

The government will fund 100 engineering colleges with Rs 1 crore each for quantum labs, while major quantum fabrication facilities are coming up at IIT Bombay and IISc Bengaluru.

Rs 720 crore facilities at IIT Bombay and IISc will enable India to build its own quantum chips and sensors. (Image: @karandi65)

The government plans to support 100 engineering colleges working in the field of quantum research by providing Rs 1 crore each to set up laboratories for undergraduate minor programmes. This was announced by Department of Science and Technology (DST) Secretary Prof Abhay Karandikar on Monday.

Speaking at an event at IIT Bombay, Karandikar said the DST also plans to create a technical group focused on quantum algorithms to help startups and advance research and technology in the sector.

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We are going to set up teaching labs in hundred engineering colleges and institutions for teaching undergraduate minor programs. In fact, we have already received more than 500 proposals for this, of which we will be selecting about 100," Karandikar said.

He added that DST is proud to see strong progress under he National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems and the National Quantum Mission, where IIT Bombay continues to play a key leadership role."

He praised the Technology Innovation Hub at IIT Bombay for supporting startups, developing new technologies and launching work on Indian-language AI language models. He further noted that all four National Quantum Mission hubs  IISc Bengaluru, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay  have shown strong progress, with IIT Bombays quantum sensing hub making a particularly significant impact.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh announced two advanced Quantum Fabrication and Central Facilities to be established under the National Quantum Mission. These will be located at IIT Bombay and IISc Bengaluru and involve an investment of Rs 720 crore. Two smaller facilities will be set up at IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur.

Singh said these facilities will allow India to fabricate quantum chips and sensors domestically, reducing dependence on foreign infrastructure. The facilities will be available to research institutions, universities, startups, industries and government sectors for technology development and small-scale production.

ALSO READ: Planning To Study At IIT Delhi? These Scholarships Can Help Fulfil Your Dream

He said this would boost Indias strengths in areas such as quantum computing, sensing, photonics, superconductivity, healthcare technology and green energy devices. He also highlighted the importance of liquid helium in advanced scientific research and noted that a new recovery system will help cut costs significantly while preserving this scarce resource.

Singh said that with the growing global demand for quantum technologies, India must build strong cryogenics capabilities. He said the latest developments and infrastructure reflect Indias rapid advancement in modern science and technology.

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He concluded by saying that IIT Bombays efforts show the value of collaboration between academia, industry and government in building a strong scientific ecosystem for the future.

(With inputs from PTI)

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First Published: November 25, 2025, 12:57 IST

News education-career India Boosts Quantum Push: Rs 1 Crore For 100 Colleges, Big Labs At IIT Bombay & IISc

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Planning To Study At IIT Delhi? These Scholarships Can Help Fulfil Your Dream

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 11:34 IST

IIT Delhi offers multiple scholarships, tuition waivers and donor-funded awards for eligible students, with support ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh per year.

IIT Delhi offers scholarships and fee waivers to eligible students.

IIT Delhi offers a wide range of scholarships and financial assistance programmes to support students from diverse economic backgrounds. The goal is to ensure that deserving students are not prevented from pursuing higher education due to financial limitations. These provisions cover both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The institute provides Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarships, Institute Free Studentship, full tuition fee exemptions for SC, ST and PwD students, and more than 120 donor-funded scholarships. Depending on academic performance, income status and eligibility criteria, the annual scholarship amount can range from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

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Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship

This is one of IIT Delhis primary scholarships given to students with an annual family income of up to Rs 8 lakh. It benefits students in BTech, MA, MSc and MPP programmes.

Amount: Rs 4,000 per month

Additional benefit: Full tuition fee waiver

Coverage: About 25 percent of enrolled students

Renewal: Requires minimum SGPA or CGPA of 6.0 and annual income proof

Students selected for MCM usually continue to receive support throughout their degree as long as they maintain the academic requirement.

Institute Free Studentship And Tuition Fee Exemptions

Students who meet the MCM income eligibility but are not included within the 25 percent coverage can still qualify for tuition fee waiver through the Institute Free Studentship. This programme supports an additional 10 percent of students based purely on financial need.

All SC, ST and PwD students automatically qualify for tuition fee exemption regardless of family income. Those with family incomes below Rs 8 lakh may also receive hostel rent waiver, basic mess charges covered and a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000.

ALSO READ: HECI Bill Likely In Winter Session To Replace UGC, AICTE, NCTE With Single Regulator

Donor-Funded Scholarships

IIT Delhi also manages numerous scholarships supported by individual donors, alumni and charitable foundations. Some examples are:

ABB Scholarship

Bina Dewan Singh Scholarship

Budhwanti Mrig Memorial Education Scholarship

Buti Foundation Scholarship

CS and E 1998 Batch Scholarship

GS Bhasin Scholarship

Gobind H. Keswani Scholarship

Gyan Scholarship

IITDAA Scholarship

OP Jindal Engineering and Management Scholarship

ITC Scholarship

GAIL Scholarship

ALSO READ: HECI Bill Likely In Winter Session To Replace UGC, AICTE, NCTE With Single Regulator

Each donor scholarship comes with its own set of eligibility conditions. Some are awarded based on merit, some are branch-specific and others prioritise students from economically weaker backgrounds. In several cases, students also gain additional benefits such as industry exposure, networking support and mentorship opportunities.

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How Students Can Apply?

All information regarding eligibility, deadlines and application procedures is available on IIT Delhis financial assistance portal. Applications usually open at the beginning of the academic cycle.

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First Published: November 25, 2025, 11:34 IST

News education-career Planning To Study At IIT Delhi? These Scholarships Can Help Fulfil Your Dream

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West Bengal WBSSC SLST Result 2025 Released; Check Scores At westbengalssc.com

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 10:43 IST

WBSSC has released the SLST Result 2025 for recruitment of assistant teachers for Classes 9 and 10. Candidates can check their results online at westbengalssc.com.

WBSSC SLST Result 2025 has been declared at westbengalssc.com.

The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) has declared the results of the recruitment examination for assistant teachers in state-run and aided schools for Classes 9 and 10. The test covered 23,212 vacancies, and the results were uploaded on the commissions website on Monday evening. Candidates were also able to access their results through a dedicated helpline. The exam had been held on 7 September.

After the announcement, State Education Minister Bratya Basu posted on X, saying: The West Bengal Central School Service Commission has released the results of the written examination for recruitment of teachers for Classes 9-10, which was conducted on September 7. Under the guidance of Honble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and with the cooperation of the state and district administration, I congratulate the commission for publishing the results on time."

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How To Check WBSSC SLST Result 2025?

Step 1: Visit the official website at westbengalssc.com.

Step 2: Click on the WBSSC SLST Result 2025" link.

Step 3: Enter the required login details.

Step 4: Submit to view your result.

Step 5: Download the result page.

Step 6: Take a printout for future reference.

ALSO READ: BSEB STET Answer Key 2025 Out At bsebstet.org, Check Direct Link To Download

In the verification round, candidates must show their original documents such as educational certificates, ID proof and category certificates.

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After this step, the Commission will hold the interview round, and call letters will be provided on the official website. The list of shortlisted candidates for interviews is likely to be released in the first week of December.

Candidates are advised to visit the official WBSSC website for any further updates or detailed information regarding the recruitment process.

About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 10:30 IST

News education-career West Bengal WBSSC SLST Result 2025 Released; Check Scores At westbengalssc.com

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Ethiopian Volcano Erupts After 12,000 Years, Why Indias Air Routes Are On Alert?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 10:29 IST

While the eruption occurred thousands of kilometres away, the DCGA is watching the skies with unusual caution because in aviation, distance doesnt always matter; altitude does.

In 1982, British Airways Flight 9 hit Mount Galunggungs ash cloud; all engines failed but pilots landed safely. (Representative image: AI-generated)

A volcano that had slept for nearly 12,000 years suddenly erupted back to life in Ethiopias northeast, throwing a towering column of ash almost 14 kilometres into the sky. The Volcano erupted on Sunday for several hours.

Weather satellites were tracking the ash plume as it drifted across the Horn of Africa. Ash clouds from the volcano drifted over Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan, the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) said.

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The air travel distance between Ethiopia and India is nearly 4,300 km. The Hayli Gubbi volcano is located in Ethiopias Afar region, about 800 kilometres (500 miles) northeast of the capital city Addis Ababa, near the Eritrean border.

While the eruption occurred thousands of kilometres away, the DGCA has issued advisories urging airlines in India to strictly steer clear of affected altitudes and regions because, in aviation, distance doesnt always matter; altitude does.

How Can Ashes From A Volcano In Ethiopia Affect Flights In India?

When such a massive volcanic eruption occurs, the volcano doesnt just spew smoke. It releases microscopic shards of volcanic glass and rock that can stay suspended for days and travel astonishing distances in the upper atmosphere, the same altitude where commercial jets cruise.

These particles are razor-sharp, heat-resistant, and nearly invisible to pilots. And when a jet engine sucks them in, the ash can melt, coat the engine interior, and solidify into glass, choking the machinery mid-air.

Past incidents have shown how dangerous this can be: planes have lost all engines in seconds after flying through undetected ash clouds. Thats why global aviation agencies treat volcanic ash like an airborne minefield.

Seasonal wind patterns make this eruption even more relevant for India. At 30,000 to 40,000 feet, winds can push ash horizontally across continents, steering it eastward over the Arabian Sea straight toward one of the busiest corridors linking India with the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and beyond.

These are the routes used every day by flights connecting Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru to Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Nairobi, and European capitals. Even a thin band of ash in these paths can force airlines to make expensive and time-consuming detours.

Planes That Flew Into Ash Clouds

In 1982, British Airways Flight 9, a Boeing 747, flew directly into an ash cloud from Mount Galunggung in Indonesia. All four engines failed temporarily, and the cockpit windshield was damaged, but the pilots managed to restart the engines and land safely.

A few years later, in 1989, KLM Flight 867 encountered a similar fate over Alaska when it entered an ash cloud from Mount Redoubt. Again, all engines flamed out, but the crew successfully regained control and completed an emergency landing.

In 1996, an Aeroflot Tu-154 flying near Kamchatkas Klyuchevskoy volcano experienced engine surges and instrument damage after entering an ash cloud, yet the plane landed safely.

Volcanic eruptions such as Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 and Mount Sakurajima in Japan in 2006 also forced flight cancellations and caused minor aircraft damage.

More recently, the 2010 eruption of Icelands Eyjafjallajokull volcano disrupted thousands of flights across Europe for weeks, causing widespread delays but no major accidents.

What If The Volcanic Ash Reaches Indias Skies?

Indian aviation authorities, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, are closely monitoring global ash advisories as dispersion models evolve. If ash drifts toward Indian-managed airspace, alerts may be issued, leading to rerouting, altitude changes, or, in extreme cases, flight cancellations.

Airlines may choose longer routes over the southern Arabian Sea, burning more fuel and increasing journey times. A flight that usually takes three hours could take four and a half.

Long-haul flights may need technical stops or reduced payloads. Even domestic schedules could feel the ripple effect as aircraft return late, crews exceed duty hours, and rotations collapse.

Theres also an economic angle: volcanic ash doesnt need to hit India directly to impact Indian travellers. If major hubs like Dubai or Doha slow down operations because ash has drifted near their skies, flights departing from Indian cities could face long ground delays. Ticket prices may rise, buffers shrink, and airlines quietly tweak schedules to avoid bottlenecks.

How Long Could The Disruption Last?

It is not known yet whether this volcanic eruption was a single explosive burst or the start of a longer eruptive phase. The height of the ash plume, the density of particles, and changes in upper-level winds can all shift within hours.

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A sudden intensification could push the ash even higher into jet-stream territory, giving it an express route toward South Asia. Heavy rain in the region might force the ash down quickly, ending the threat just as fast.

For travellers, the impact may manifest as last-minute delays, longer routes, or temporary disruptions on key international sectors. Most passengers will never see the ash cloud responsible for the inconvenience, but airlines, weather scientists, and regulators will continue to track its movement, frame by frame.

About the Author Surbhi Pathak Surbhi Pathak, subeditor, writes on India, world affairs, science, and education. She is currently dabbling with lifestyle content. Follow her on X: @S_Pathak_11.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 08:21 IST

News explainers Ethiopian Volcano Erupts After 12,000 Years, Why Indias Air Routes Are On Alert?

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Can Your Landlord Throw Out Your Belongings Over Unpaid Rent? Heres What The Law Says

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 15:46 IST

Under the Civil Procedure Code, landlords must secure a court-issued eviction order by filing an eviction suit, followed by a hearing that may result in an eviction decree

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If a landlord forcibly removes belongings, one should immediately file a police complaint. (AI Generated/News18 Hindi)

Disputes between tenants and landlords are commonplace, often arising from issues such as unpaid rent or minor disagreements. Occasionally, landlords react by changing locks, cutting off electricity, or removing a tenants belongings.

The crucial question is whether landlords have any legal right to do this if rent is unpaid. The answer is unequivocally no. In India, evicting a tenant without a court order is illegal.

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Heres What The Law Says

Civil Procedure Code: According to the Civil Procedure Code, landlords must obtain an eviction order from a court. This requires filing an eviction suit in civil court, followed by a hearing where the court may issue an eviction decree. Any action such as changing locks or discarding belongings without a court order is prohibited by law.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: Under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), landlords committing acts like throwing out belongings, changing locks, or issuing threats are committing a direct crime, necessitating police intervention.

Relevant BNS sections include BNS 329 (criminal trespass), BNS 324 (mischief), BNS 351/352 (criminal intimidation), and BNS 303 (theft if items are missing).

Rent Control Act: Supports tenants even without a formal agreement. State rent control laws remain unchanged, making it illegal to evict a tenant without proper notice, a defined timeline, or a court order. A tenants rights stay protected even without a written contract, rent receipts, bank transfers, and neighbour statements all serve as valid proof of tenancy.

What To Do If Your Landlord Throws Out Your Belongings Or Changes The Locks

1. Immediately file a police complaint: If a landlord forcibly removes belongings, immediately file a police complaint. Cases can be registered under: BNS 329 (illegal entry), BNS 324 (damage to property), BNS 351/352 (threat), and BNS 303 (theft), if any item is missing. Include photos, videos, and a detailed list of items as evidence.

2. Complaint to SDM/Rent Authority: Complaints can be lodged with the SDM or Rent Authority, who can order the lock to be opened, belongings returned, and fines imposed on the landlord.

3. Go to civil court: Civil court can also be approached if belongings are removed from the home. The court may direct the landlord not to change locks, cut off electricity or water, or block access to the house.

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What Tenants Must Absolutely Avoid

Physical violence or assault must be avoided, as it can lead to legal consequences.

Leaving the house unattended may be considered abandonment of tenancy.

Forcibly breaking locks can result in a case under BNS.

Arguments alone are insufficient; all incidents should be documented in a written complaint.

Photos, videos, and mobile messages are recognized as valid electronic evidence under the updated Indian Evidence Act.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 15:46 IST

News explainers Can Your Landlord Throw Out Your Belongings Over Unpaid Rent? Heres What The Law Says

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Ethiopian Volcano Awakens After 12,000 Years: Why It Has Triggered Aviation Alarms In Delhi

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 14:44 IST

Akasa Air, IndiGo, Air India and KLM are among the airlines that cancelled some flights due to the ash plumes on Tuesday. A total of 45 flights were impacted.

People watch ash billow from the first time eruption of the Hayli Gubbi Volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (Image: AP Photo)

Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi volcano, dormant for over 12,000 years, has erupted for the first time in recorded history. The impact of the eruption is said to be such that a plume of ash rose 1015 km into the sky.

Volcanic ash from the volcano is drifting towards India and entered parts of western and northern India, according to latest reports. The development has prompted airlines and airport authorities to issue precautionary notices to passengers.

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The latest forecast says the volcanic ash cloud has been detected over North India, and was moving towards China as per the latest satellite imagery. It said the cloud is likely to clear India by 7:30 pm today.

At least 40 flights were impacted due to the ash clouds, with cancellations and changes in routes. Akasa Air, IndiGo, Air India and KLM are among the airlines that cancelled some flights due to the ash plumes on Tuesday.

Air India has cancelled 11 flights as a precaution due to potential exposure to the ash plume. Akasa Air cancelled all its flights to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi for Nov 2425. IndiGo also cancelled 6 flights. Additionally, 28 flights have been rerouted to avoid the ash cloud.

Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport issued a passenger advisory stating that volcanic activity in Ethiopia has affected parts of West Asian airspace and may impact certain international routes.

While flights have been impacted, experts suggest the ash clouds are unlikely to affect surface air quality in India.

What is the Hayli Gubbi Volcano?

The Hayli Gubbi is a remote shield volcano in the Afar Region of Ethiopia, forming the southernmost part of the Erta Ale volcanic range. It sits at an elevation of about 493 metres above sea level.

Though the region is geologically active, Hayli Gubbi showed no confirmed eruptions during the Holocene (past 10,00012,000 years)  until recently. On November 23, 2025, it produced a powerful explosive eruption, sending an ash plume as high as 1315 km (around 45,000 ft) and releasing large quantities of sulfur dioxide.

Because the area is so remote and inhospitable, the eruption was primarily detected via satellite observations. The ash cloud from this event has posed risks to aviation and has drifted across the Red Sea into neighbouring regions  including Oman, Yemen, Iran, India and Pakistan.

How Did Hayli Gubbi Volcano Erupt?

The sudden eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano after thousands of years of dormancy is being said to have happened due to a combination of tectonic stretching, fresh magma intrusion, trapped gases, and a long-sealed system. This is best explained by the geological forces at work beneath the Afar region of Ethiopia. Hayli Gubbi sits within the Afar Rift, one of the few places on Earth where three tectonic plates  the African, Somali, and Arabian plates  are actively pulling apart. Over long periods, this rifting thins the crust, opens fractures, and creates deep pathways through which magma can slowly rise. Even a volcano that appears inactive on the surface can still have a warm, evolving magma system beneath it.

For years, magma likely accumulated beneath Hayli Gubbi without breaking through. The volcanic plumbing may have been sealed by hardened rock. As new magma intruded from deeper sources  possibly influenced by nearby activity in the Erta Ale volcanic system  pressure would have gradually built up. With time, the internal stress, heat, and gas content reached a point where the crustal seal could no longer hold.

When the eruption occurred, it was explosive, suggesting the magma was rich in dissolved gases like water vapour and sulfur dioxide. Gas-charged magma tends to fragment violently when it reaches the surface, producing tall ash columns like the one Hayli Gubbi emitted. Because the volcano had been quiet for so long, its upper system was likely cold and rigid, allowing pressure to accumulate more dramatically.

Whats Sending Ash Towards India?

When Hayli Gubbi erupted, it sent a massive ash plume up to 1015 km into the atmosphere. At those heights, strong high-altitude winds carried the ash eastward, first across the Red Sea and then over the Arabian Peninsula.

These winds are part of the upper-level jet-stream-like flow, which can transport volcanic particles and sulfur dioxide for long distances without them quickly settling down.

By late Monday, meteorological services reported that the core of the ash cloud entered India via western Gujarat (around the JodhpurJaisalmer region) and then moved into Rajasthan, north-west Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab.

The plume was traveling fast  around 100120 km/h  and at altitudes between 15,000 and 45,000 ft.

Aircraft are being affected: aviation authorities like the DGCA have issued advisories, and some flights are being cancelled or rerouted to avoid the ash-laden airspace.

The eruptions high plume and favourable upper-level wind currents have carried ash from Ethiopia all the way into northwest and northern India.

Will This Ash Impact Air Quality In India?

There is likely to be no significant impact on air quality in Delhi due to the volcanic ash cloud, IMD DG Mrityunjay Mohapatra told CNN-News18.

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According to reports, the ash coming from the volcano wont lead to worsening of air quality in India since the plumes are higher. Reports say the ash clouds wont impact surface level air quality even they there may be temporary haze or darkness.

Reports say any surface-level impact on air quality is likely to last only a few hours, as the plume continues to drift and weaken.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 10:06 IST

News explainers Ethiopian Volcano Awakens After 12,000 Years: Why It Has Triggered Aviation Alarms In Delhi

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Attacked Even For Neutral Post On PMs Speech: Congresss Shashi Tharoor Says Cooperation Is Key

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 19:18 IST

I didnt praise, I just described the speech...That is the kind of atmosphere...If your state wont cooperate with the Centre, how will you get anything done, asks Shashi Tharoor

Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. (Image: PTI)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, at a recent event, said that ideological purity wont build a nation and Centre-state cooperation, even if between different political parties, is necessary.

We need to be sometimes willing to cooperate across ideologiesThe problem is right now our politics seems to demand everybody has to be a purist ideologically that we will not see any merit on the other side or talk to anybody on the other side," said Tharoor at an Amrita News event in Dubai this weekend, a clip of which was circulated on X.

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Even a neutral post by me on a speech by the Prime Minister has been attacked as praising the Prime MinisterI didnt say a single word of praise. I just described the speech. The point is that is the kind of atmosphere in our country right now," said Tharoor.

Dr. @ShashiTharoor is right  ideological purity wont build a nation. Cooperation will. Whoever is elected, work with them. In the end, the people must win  not the politics.  pic.twitter.com/93aJfczQFC DrTharoor_supporter (@INCTharoorian) November 25, 2025

People are only interested in ideological purity, but you cant get things done that waySomebody has won the election and has formed the government. You have won your election in your state and you form the governmentIf your state wont cooperate with the guys in the Centre, how will you get anything done," asked Tharoor.

To my mind, it is a no-brainer. You really have to say that it is in our interest to cooperateIt is in the interest of our peopleboth citizens of India and Kerala," said Tharoor, amid the largely Kerala-origin audience.

Yes, I am at disagreement with the ruling party, but they are the ruling party. They have a mandate from the nation. I will work with them. If they come up with a scheme with this and that, which will give the state money, I will discuss it within the framework of my convictions, so I can take the money for my stateThat kind of cooperation is essential," said Tharoor.

Recently, a scheme was rejected and money was denied, even though Kerala needs it and is brokeEven though the schools need itThat is crazy, it is taxpayers money," he said.

Last week, in a post on X, Tharoor had written that he had attended a lecture where PM Modi had spoken of Indias constructive impatience" for development and strongly pushed for a post-colonial mindset. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate had then rejected Tharoors positive appraisal of PM Modis Ramnath Goenka Lecture, saying she found nothing" in the speech worth appreciating.

Tharoor on Saturday praised the unexpected cordial meeting between US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, calling it an example of how political rivals should behave after elections.

Reacting to the rare moment of cooperation in Washington, Tharoor wrote on X, This is how democracy should work. Fight passionately for your point of view in elections, with no rhetorical holds barred. But once its over, & the people have spoken, learn to cooperate with each other in the common interests of the nation you are both pledged to serve. I would love to see more of this in India  and am trying to do my part."

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Tharoors remarks came a day after Trump met Mamdani at the White House, a meeting that drew attention because of their heated exchanges during the New York mayoral campaign. Mamdani had earlier described himself as Donald Trumps worst nightmare," while Trump had called him a 100 per cent Communist Lunatic" and a total nut job".

With ANI Inputs

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 18:10 IST

News india Attacked Even For Neutral Post On PMs Speech: Congresss Shashi Tharoor Says Cooperation Is Key

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Chinese National Arrested At UP-Nepal Border For Illegal Entry, Filming Sensitive Areas

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 08:58 IST

The Chinese citizen has been handed over to the police, who have registered a case under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act

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A 49-year-old Chinese national was arrested on Monday at the Rupaidiha checkpost along the IndiaNepal border in Uttar Pradeshs Bahraich district after he allegedly entered India illegally and was found videographing sensitive border locations, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) said.

Officials identified the man as Liu Qunjing, a resident of Chinas Hunan province. SSB commandant Ganga Singh Udavat told PTI that Qunjing had crossed into India from Nepal and was caught filming restricted areas near the border. Pakistani, Chinese and Nepalese currencies were recovered from him, along with three mobile phones, one of which contained videos of several sensitive sites inside Indian territory.

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Qunjing did not possess valid documents permitting entry into India, officials said. A map of Nepal written entirely in English was found in his possession, but he claimed through gestures that he knew neither Hindi nor English, prompting investigators to question his responses. The SSB, local police and other security agencies interrogated him with the help of an interpreter.

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During questioning, agencies learned that Qunjing had previously travelled to Pakistan on a valid visa. His movement across multiple countries, illegal entry into India, videography of sensitive zones and inconsistencies during interrogation have led authorities to treat him as a suspect, officials said.

The Chinese citizen has been handed over to the police, who have registered a case under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act at the Rupaidiha police station. Initial inquiries suggest he entered Nepal on November 15 on a tourist visa, reached Nepalgunj on November 22 and crossed into India illegally on November 24.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 08:38 IST

News india Chinese National Arrested At UP-Nepal Border For Illegal Entry, Filming Sensitive Areas

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Delhi-NCR Chokes In Very Poor Air Quality, AQI Stands At 323

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 08:50 IST

Delhi-NCR woke up to another day of toxic smog on Tuesday, with air quality plunging into the very poor category and visibility reduced.

Delhi Chokes: Smog Thickens, Ethiopian Ash Cloud Seen Over City

Delhi continued to choke under a thick blanket of hazardous smog on Tuesday, even as a plume of volcanic ash from Ethiopias rare Hayli Gubbi eruption drifted over the region.

Despite speculation that the ash might worsen pollution levels, meteorologists maintained that its impact on surface air quality would remain minimal. Visuals from the AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital areas showed dense grey smog engulfing the skyline, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 323, firmly in the very poor category.

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Air quality deteriorates across Delhi-NCR

The overall AQI for Delhi stood at 363 on Tuesday, marking a slight improvement from Monday but still placing the city at the higher end of very poor. Several neighbourhoods, however, crossed into severe levels early in the morning.

Rohini recorded the worst AQI at 416, Anand Vihar followed at 401 while Jahangirpuri and Wazirpur both stood at 400 around 8 am.

Many other monitoring stations hovered dangerously close to the severe threshold, underscoring the persistent air crisis gripping the national capital.

The situation in the National Capital Region (NCR) mirrored Delhis distress.

Noida reported an AQI of 390, after entering the severe zone over the weekend. Ghaziabad recorded a very poor AQI of 348, Gurugram stood at 311 with Faridabad, though comparatively better, remained in the poor category at 222.

Across the region, visibility remained low and hospital visits for respiratory discomfort saw a noticeable uptick.

Ethiopian volcanic ash reaches Delhi

Late Monday night, Delhi witnessed the arrival of a high-altitude haze caused by a plume of volcanic ash drifting from Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi volcano, which erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years. The ash cloud travelled across the Red Sea, Yemen, Oman, and the northern Arabian Sea before reaching parts of northern India.

Delhi observing an unusual, diffused veil of haze expressed concern about whether the ash would worsen already toxic conditions. However, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the plume is primarily confined to upper atmospheric layers.

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IMD Director General M Mohapatra clarified that the volcanic ash was unlikely to cause any significant deterioration in Delhis surface-level air quality.

Since the plume remained at high altitudes, he explained, its effect would be limited to a hazy sky and possibly a marginal rise in temperatures due to its cloud-like behaviour.

About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: November 25, 2025, 08:50 IST

News india Delhi-NCR Chokes In Very Poor Air Quality, AQI Stands At 323

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Photo: https://x.com/andrii_sybiha

Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha and NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska discussed the PURL initiative, increasing contributions to it, and peace initiatives in Kyiv.

"I was pleased to welcome NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska to Ukraines MFA for detailed talks on Ukraine-NATO cooperation, peace efforts, and strengthening Ukraines defense and resilience. I informed the Deputy Secretary General about the consequences of Russias overnight strikes and shared Ukraines priority needs in strengthening our air defense and other capabilities," the minister wrote on X.

The sides agreed that the Russian strikes are inconsistent with peace efforts led by the United States and President Donald Trump. Sybiha and Shekerinska also exchanged views on the next steps in the peace process.

"I appreciate the Deputy Secretary General reaffirming willingness to make every effort to strengthen Ukraine both at the diplomatic table and on the battlefield. We paid specific attention to the NATOs very effective PURL initiative and ways to increase contributions to it," the minister noted.

Sybiha added that he is looking forward to the upcoming meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the ministerial level.
Devuji & Ganesh Ukey: Tracing The Last Shadows Of Naxalisms Closing Chapter In India

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 09:40 IST

Both the leaders are said to be increasingly immobile, battling chronic ailments, and reliant on shrinking circles of loyal cadres

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With the fall of Hidma and focus of forces on Devuji and Ukey, the Maoist movement is experiencing its terminal phase. (PTI)

After the elimination of top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, security forces are close to the finish line to end Naxalism from the country.

Hidmas fall has triggered a psychological unravelling within an already fractured organisation and now, security forces say two ageing commanders remain the final symbolic pillars of the CPI (Maoist) structure.

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Devujithe ideological veteran whose influence once shaped regional strategy and also a key player in the military wingand Ganesh Ukey, the administrative mind who kept zonal committees functioning during the insurgencys peak, are said to be increasingly immobile, battling chronic ailments, and reliant on shrinking circles of loyal cadres. Their presence is less about command and more about holding together the last embers of an insurgency that has lost territory, manpower, and public support.

As forces close in and intelligence networks tighten, officials describe this moment as the final nail in the coffin" for a movement that once seemed unending. The intelligence gathering of late may soon result in operations against the two leaders. It is also expected that after the two leaders are brought to justice, there will be a massive round of surrender of state-level committee members.

After Hidma: A Turning Point In The Insurgency

The encounter that resulted in Hidmas death marked one of the most significant counter-insurgency achievements in years. Long considered the mastermind behind several of the Maoists deadliest ambushes, Hidmas operational acumen was unmatched within the organisation. His death shattered the command hierarchy and created an internal vacuum the group has been unable to fill. With his loss, the Maoists have been reduced from a coordinated force to scattered clusters operating without unified military leadership.

Devuji: The Ageing Ideologue Holding A Fragmented Legacy

Devuji, now in his mid-sixties, represents the last generation of the classical Maoist ideologues who joined the movement when it was politically charged and organisationally rigid. Though once a key figure across multiple committees, his influence today is symbolic. He struggles with limited mobility and remains confined to narrow forested zones. Field intelligence suggests he plays more of a spiritual-ideological role for cadres who still view him as a link to the movements origins, but he no longer directs meaningful operations.

Ganesh Ukey: The Diminishing Organiser Of A Crumbling Structure

In contrast, Ganesh Ukey rose as an administrator, responsible for communication channels, logistics, and finances across key divisions. But years of living underground have taken a toll. He suffers from chronic health issues, requires support while walking, and travels with a tight ring of protection cadres, including women operatives trained for concealment. His shrinking mobility has severely restricted the Maoists ability to coordinate or sustain field activity. What once functioned as an organised zonal network is now reduced to isolated cells dependent on his intermittent guidance.

The Final Breath

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The fate of Devuji and Ganesh Ukey will mirror the end of Naxalism. Recruitment has nearly collapsed, territorial control has evaporated, and surrenders have surged across multiple states. Communities once fearful now report increasing stability, aided by improved security presence and developmental projects reaching remote interior areas. The CPI (Maoist) is no longer an insurgent forceonly an ageing symbol kept alive by a few scattered holdouts.

Security officials say the conclusion is now inevitable. With the fall of Hidma and focus of forces on Devuji and Ukey, the Maoist movement is experiencing its terminal phase. Neutralising or securing the surrender of the last two senior figures would dissolve the final threads of the CPI (Maoist) command. After half-a-century of conflict, India stands closer than ever to closing this chapter and witnessing the quiet end of one of its most persistent insurgencies.

About the Author Ankur Sharma With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, p... Read More

Location : Chhattisgarh, India, India

First Published: November 25, 2025, 09:40 IST

News india Devuji & Ganesh Ukey: Tracing The Last Shadows Of Naxalisms Closing Chapter In India

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EC Approves Trinamool Congress Request For Meeting On Nov 28 Amid SIR Row

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 19:21 IST

The Election Commissions decision to meet a Trinamool Congress delegation on 28 November comes amid escalating tensions over West Bengals electoral roll revision.

Election Commission. (File pic: PTI)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has agreed to meet a delegation from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on 28 November, even as tensions escalate in West Bengal over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The approval follows a request submitted by TMC MP Derek OBrien on 23 November.

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Under the guidance of Smt. @MamataOfficial and Shri @abhishekaitc, we have officially submitted the names of our 10-member delegation to the Election Commission.This delegation will present to @ECISVEEP our strong concerns regarding ongoing electoral irregularities and the pic.twitter.com/pJg0KS1TMu  All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) November 25, 2025

What EC said?

In a letter dated 24 November 2025, the Commission acknowledged the partys request for an official meeting with its Members of Parliament. Emphasising that it encourages regular and constructive interactions with political parties, the ECI scheduled the meeting for Friday, 28 November, at 11:00 AM at Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi.

Abhishek Banerjee Questions ECs Transparency

Meanwhile, TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday questioned the ECs transparency, alleging that the commission was avoiding public scrutiny and asserting that MPselected by the people of India"deserved an open, televised meeting.

Time has been sought for a delegation of 10 MPs. They are representatives ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, unlike the CEC and ECs who are hand-picked by the Government of India. These selective leaks portraying the EC as transparent" and cordial" are nothing but a manufactured facade," Abhishek Banerjee tweeted.

Time has been sought for a delegation of 10 MPs. They are representatives ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, unlike the CEC and ECs who are hand-picked by the Government of India. These selective leaks portraying the EC as transparent" and cordial" are nothing but a manufactured https://t.co/KYD4Jx8jpj Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) November 25, 2025

Banerjee demanded that the poll body answer the partys five queries in full public view, challenging it to prove it does not operate behind closed doors."

If the @ECISVEEP is genuinely transparent, why is it scared to face just 10 MPs ? Hold the meeting openly. TELECAST IT LIVE and answer the five straightforward, legitimate questions that the AITC will place before you. Is the Election Commission willing to prove its transparency or does it only function behind closed doors?" he further wrote.

SIR process sparks tensions in West Bengal

The approval of the appointment comes at a time when the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is underway across West Bengal, an exercise aimed at updating and verifying voter lists ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

However, the Trinamool Congress, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has strongly opposed the process. The party claims the revision is marred by political bias and alleges that it is being carried out in a manner that disadvantages specific communities. TMC leaders have repeatedly accused the Election Commission of acting as the B-Team of the BJP", asserting that the SIR could distort the voter base before the crucial polls.

According to the party, vulnerable groups, including Matua voters of Bangladesh origin, minorities, and Adivasi communities, are at risk of being unfairly excluded from updated rolls. The TMC argues that thousands of eligible voters face disenfranchisement if corrective steps are not taken immediately.

BLO deaths

The SIR process has also triggered alarm due to the deaths of three Booth Level Officers (BLOs) since early November. Two officers reportedly died by suicide, while another suffered a fatal cerebral attack.

Opposition parties and civil society groups have raised questions about the intense workload and pressure placed on BLOs during the accelerated revision schedule. The incident has fuelled demands for better safeguards, support, and humane working conditions for field staff.

Bengal LoP alleges politicisation of police

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Adding to the charged political climate, the Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has submitted a detailed complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner.

In his letter, dated 25 November, Adhikari accuses the ruling Trinamool Congress of misusing the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police for partisan activities. He alleges institutional politicisation" ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections and has urged the ECI to take urgent corrective measures.

About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: November 25, 2025, 13:24 IST

News india EC Approves Trinamool Congress Request For Meeting On Nov 28 Amid SIR Row

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Volcanic Ash From Ethiopia Enters Delhi; Multiple Flights Cancelled, Airports Issue Alerts

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 13:03 IST

Volcanic ash from Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi volcano is hovering over India and may move towards China soon. Airlines and airports in India have issued precautionary alerts.

people watch ash billow from the first time eruption of the Hayli Gubbi Volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region (Photo: AP)

Volcanic ash from Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi volcano has entered Delhi and is expected to move eastwards towards China. A forecast quoted the latest satellite imagery and mentioned that the volcanic dust has been detected over North India, and it is likely to pass India by 7.30 pm today.

The development has prompted airlines and airport authorities to issue precautionary notices to passengers.

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Airlines operating in India also issued statements reassuring passengers that safety remains the top priority as the volcanic ash approaches Indian airspace.

Akasa Air, IndiGo and KLM are among the airlines that cancelled some flights due to the ash plumes on Monday.

Akasa Air also noted that it is monitoring the development in accordance with international advisories.

IndiGo said its teams are closely tracking the situation in coordination with international aviation bodies" and are fully prepared with necessary precautions.

Air India confirmed there is no major impact" on operations so far but said it remains in constant touch with crew and global aviation authorities.

Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport issued a passenger advisory stating that volcanic activity in Ethiopia has affected parts of West Asian airspace and may impact certain international routes.

The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) stated that the eruption began around 8.30 am UTC on Sunday and has since stopped, though the ash plume continues drifting toward northern India.

Aviation authorities are tracking the plumes height and trajectory to ensure safe operations.

The volcano in Ethiopias Afar region erupted on Sunday for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending ash clouds up to 14 km into the sky, Reuters reported, citing the Toulouse VAAC.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located about 800 km northeast of Addis Ababa near the Eritrean border, sits in the tectonically active Rift Valley.

Ash clouds from the eruption drifted over Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan, the report mentioned.

The Smithsonian Institutions Global Volcanism Program confirmed to Reuters that the volcano has no known eruptions during the Holocene, making the event unusually significant.

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Authorities in Ethiopia have not yet released details on casualties or displacement.

ALSO READ | Indonesias Mount Semeru Erupts, Spews Ash 13km Into Sky

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 07:34 IST

News india Volcanic Ash From Ethiopia Enters Delhi; Multiple Flights Cancelled, Airports Issue Alerts

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Ethiopia Volcano Eruption Triggers Aviation Alarm In India, Ash Cloud Moves Towards China | Top Points

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 20:33 IST

Authorities in both Mumbai and Ahmedabad confirmed that no fresh advisories have been issued for Wednesday, indicating stabilising conditions as the ash plume moves away.

Hayli Gubbi, a shield volcano in Ethiopias Afar region, became active on Sunday after nearly 10,000 years

Flight operations at two major airports, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, faced fresh disruption on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Ethiopia drifted into parts of Indian airspace, prompting precautionary cancellations and diversions.

According to airport officials, Mumbai International Airport cancelled six international arrivals and five international departures between 00:01 am and 12:00 pm.

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At Ahmedabad airport, one Middle Eastbound flight diverted to the city, while another outbound service to the Middle East was cancelled.

The disruptions follow the sudden eruption of Hayli Gubbi, a shield volcano in Ethiopias Afar region, which became active on Sunday after nearly 10,000 years of dormancy.

The blast sent ash as high as 14 km (45,000 ft) into the atmosphere, with high-level winds pushing the plume across the Arabian Sea toward India.

Ash Cloud Moves Towards China

The ash cloud from Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi volcano is expected to exit Indian airspace by Tuesday evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The plume, which moved over Yemen, Oman and the Arabian Sea on Monday, first entered Gujarat and Rajasthan before drifting toward Delhi around midnight. Through Tuesday, it continued its passage across eastern and northeastern parts of the country.

IMD Director General M. Mohapatra said the ash mass, travelling between 8 km and 15 km above ground, poses a concern mainly for aviation operations over Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai, prompting the agency to issue advisories.

We expect the cloud to clear the Indian region by Wednesday," he said, adding that the plume has no impact on weather conditions or public exposure.

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Ethiopian Volcanic Eruption: Top Points

11 international flights were cancelled at Mumbai Airport between midnight and noon, six arrivals and five departures.

One flight was diverted, and one was cancelled at Ahmedabad Airport due to volcanic ash concerns.

No new advisories issued for Mumbai or Ahmedabad airports for the next day.

MoCA says flight operations across India remain stable, with no cause for concern."

The ministry is coordinating with ATC, IMD, AAI, airlines, and global aviation bodies after the Ethiopia eruption.

IMD expects the ash plume to clear Indian airspace by 7:30 pm Tuesday, as it moves toward China.

The ash cloud entered Gujarat on Monday, then drifted over Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Punjab.

Air India cancelled 11 flights over Monday and Tuesday for precautionary aircraft checks, as per DGCA guidance.

Akasa Air suspended flights to Middle East destinations, including Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.

The DGCA issued an urgent operational advisory directing airlines to avoid ash-affected zones, revise routing and fuel planning, and report any suspected ash encounter or engine anomalies immediately.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 19:10 IST

News india Ethiopia Volcano Eruption Triggers Aviation Alarm In India, Ash Cloud Moves Towards China | Top Points

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'Arunachal Pradesh Integral To India': Govt Hits Back At China Amid Shanghai Airport Detention Row

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 22:38 IST

Reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India, the Ministry of External Affairs said any denial of this fact by China does not alter the indisputable reality."

Arunachal Pradesh's Prema Wangjom Thongdok says Chinese officials mocked her nationality and delayed her Japan trip during a Shanghai transit. (IMAGE: LINKEDIN)

India on Tuesday lodged a strong objection with Beijing after a woman from Arunachal Pradesh reported being detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport, where officials allegedly refused to recognise her Indian passport, a move New Delhi says violates international aviation norms and even Chinas own rules.

Reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India," the Ministry of External Affairs said any denial of this fact by China does not alter the indisputable reality."

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Responding to comments made by Chinas Foreign Ministry, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality."

He added that despite raising the matter strongly with Chinese authorities, no justification for their actions has been provided so far.

The issue of the detention has been taken up strongly with the Chinese side. Chinese authorities have still not been able to explain their actions, which are in violation of several conventions governing international air travel," Jaiswal said.

According to the ministry, the Indian traveller, who carried all valid documents, was stopped without justification despite qualifying for Chinas 24-hour visa-free transit facility available to all foreign nationals.

The actions by the Chinese authorities also violate their own regulations that allow visa free transit up to 24 hours for nationals of all countries," it added.

What China Said?

Responding to the charges made by the Arunachal Woman, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning repeated Beijings long-standing position on Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as Zangnan, or South Tibet."

Pema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen based in the UK, was travelling from London to Japan on November 21 when her scheduled three-hour layover in Shanghai reportedly escalated into a prolonged ordeal.

Thongdok claimed immigration officers declared her Indian passport invalid" because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her place of birth.

Zangnan is Chinas territory. The Chinese side has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh established illegally by India," Mao said.

She denied accusations that Thongdok was mistreated at the airport, insisting that Chinese immigration authorities acted strictly in line with domestic laws and regulations."

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The law enforcement was impartial and non-abusive, and the lawful rights and interests of the individual were fully protected. No compulsory measures were taken, and there was no so-called detention or harassment," Mao added.

She said the airline had arranged rest facilities and meals for the passenger during the delay and referred further queries to the relevant authorities.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 22:18 IST

News india 'Arunachal Pradesh Integral To India': Govt Hits Back At China Amid Shanghai Airport Detention Row

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Karnataka Mother Of Three Girls Held For Killing Newborn; Police Say She Expected A Male Child

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 20:59 IST

According to investigators, the accused already had three daughters and was hoping for a male child.

Representative Image of Karnataka Police | ANI

A woman in Karnatakas Belagavi district has been arrested for allegedly strangling her three-day-old daughter because she was distressed over not giving birth to a son, police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place in Hiremulangi village of Ramdurg taluk. According to investigators, the accused, identified as Ashwini Halkatti, already had three daughters and was hoping for a male child.

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She delivered her fourth daughter at the Mudakavi Primary Health Centre on November 23 and returned to her parental home the next day.

Police said that on Tuesday morning, when Ashwinis mother briefly stepped out, she allegedly killed the newborn.

She later claimed the baby had suddenly stopped breathing, but doctors at the Ramdurg Taluk Hospital confirmed death due to strangulation and suffocation.

During questioning, Ashwini confessed to the crime, officials said. She is currently receiving post-natal care under police supervision at the Ramdurg Government Hospital.

A murder case has been registered at the Sureban police station.

Senior police officials, including Ramdurg DySP Chidambara Madivalar, inspected the spot, and further investigation is underway.

The case comes months after another shocking incident in Dharwad district, where a man allegedly threw his seven-month-old daughter against a wall, killing her.

The accused, Shambulinga Shahapurmath, 37, was arrested and charged with murder. His father later told police he was unhappy that his second child was a girl.

The Karnataka government has previously expressed concern over the declining female-to-male sex ratio, linking it in part to organised female foeticide.

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Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao informed the Assembly that eight foeticide-related cases were registered in 202324, leading to 46 arrests.

The state has also initiated action against diagnostic centres for violations under the PC-PNDT Act, with 136 cases filed so far and 74 centres penalised or shut down.

Location : Karnataka, India, India

First Published: November 25, 2025, 20:48 IST

News india Karnataka Mother Of Three Girls Held For Killing Newborn; Police Say She Expected A Male Child

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Meerut Murder Accused, Who Hid Husbands Body In Blue Drum, Delivers Baby Girl

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 08:31 IST

Given the sensitivity of the case, police presence has been increased at the hospitals entrance and in the wards.

Muskan and her lover Sahil were nabbed by the cops soon after the murder. (PTI)

Muskan, the woman jailed in Meerut for the brutal murder of her husband Saurabh Rajput and concealing his dismembered body in a blue drum, gave birth to a baby girl on Monday evening, jail officials said. She delivered at the Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College after being brought in late Sunday night when her labour pains intensified.

Senior Jail Superintendent Dr Viresh Raj Sharma told PTI that Muskan was admitted around 11.30 pm on Sunday. Dr Shakun Singh, head of the Obstetrics Department, said the newborn weighed 2.4 kg and doctors were able to conduct a normal delivery. Both mother and child are stable, officials added. Muskans family has been informed, though no relatives have visited her at the hospital.

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Given the sensitivity of the case, police presence has been increased at the hospitals entrance and in the wards. Hospital authorities said Muskan remained under continuous observation through the day, and security protocols and medical documentation are being updated regularly.

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Muskan and her alleged lover, Sahil Shukla, are accused of drugging and stabbing Saurabh to death on the night of March 4 at their home in Indiranagar, Meerut. Police allege the duo severed his head and hands and hid the remains in a blue drum filled with cement before fleeing to Himachal Pradesh. Investigators later found a bone fragment in a suitcase the accused allegedly intended to use to dispose of the body.

According to police, Muskan had been planning the murder since November 2023. Officers say Saurabh was killed not because of tantra-mantra, but because he was an obstacle in their love affair." Muskan and Sahil were arrested on March 18, shortly after she allegedly confessed to her family.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 07:10 IST

News india Meerut Murder Accused, Who Hid Husbands Body In Blue Drum, Delivers Baby Girl

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News18 Evening Digest: Mamata Banerjee Plans Nationwide Yatra Against SIR & Other Top Stories

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 16:42 IST

We are also covering: Children Among 10 Killed As Pakistan Strikes Multiple Provinces Of Afghanistan

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (File photo)

In todays News18 evening digest, we bring to you the latest updates on Mamata Banerjees warning to the BJP over SIR, governments statement amid Ethiopia ash cloud scare and other top stories.

If You Target Me, Ill Shake India: Mamata Banerjee Plans Nationwide Yatra Against SIR

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the BJP would lose the upcoming state assembly elections and announced she would embark on a nationwide yatra against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The Trinamool Congress chief also predicted that the BJP would be ousted from power at the Centre in 2029. Read more

Flight Ops Smooth Across India: Govt Says No Cause For Concern Amid Ethiopia Ash Cloud Scare

Indias aviation ministry on Tuesday said flight operations across the country remain smooth and stable" despite precautionary rerouting triggered by volcanic ash drifting from Ethiopia, assuring passengers that there is no cause for concern." Read more

Children Among 10 Killed As Pakistan Strikes Multiple Provinces Of Afghanistan

Nearly 10 casualties were reported after Pakistan carried out a series of overnight air and drone strikes across multiple provinces in Afghanistan, targeting suspected hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar along the Durand Line, intelligence inputs told CNN News18. Read more

Take Decision To Put An End: Siddaramaiah To Congress High Command Over Leadership Speculations

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that the Congress high command has to take a decision to put an end to speculations around the change in leadership in the state. Read more

Rishabh Pant Schooled For Brain Fade Moment In Guwahati: You Cant Win Test In One Over

A cursory glance at the scorecard of the ongoing 2nd Test in Guwahati against South Africa could mislead one into believing that its an overseas contest for India. Such has been Indias listless show in the ongoing two-match series that South Africa are inching closer to condemning their hosts to a historic whitewash. Read more

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His Loss Feels Personal: Nikitin Dheer Recalls Dharmendras Call From ICU After Father Pankaj Dheers Demise

The world is mourning the demise of legendary actor Dharmendra, who passed away at the age of 89 on Monday, November 24. As tributes continue to pour in for the He-Man of Bollywood, actor Nikitin Dheer has shared a heartfelt note revealing how Dharmendra called him from the ICU after learning about his father Pankaj Dheers death. Read more

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 16:42 IST

News india News18 Evening Digest: Mamata Banerjee Plans Nationwide Yatra Against SIR & Other Top Stories

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Flight Ops Smooth Across India: Govt Says No Cause For Concern Amid Ethiopia Ash Cloud Scare

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 16:32 IST

The government said it is coordinating with ATC, the IMD and airlines, adding that only a few flights were rerouted or descended as a precaution due to drifting volcanic ash.

Air travel disruption after volcanic eruption in Ethiopia | Image: File

Indias aviation ministry on Tuesday said flight operations across the country remain smooth and stable" despite precautionary rerouting triggered by volcanic ash drifting from Ethiopia, assuring passengers that there is no cause for concern."

In a statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said it has been closely coordinating with the Air Traffic Control (ATC), India Meteorological Department (IMD), airlines, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) following the 23 November eruption in Ethiopia and the eastward movement of the ash cloud.

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AAI has already issued the required NOTAM, and all affected flights have been informed in real time, the ministry said.

Operations across India remain smooth, with only a few flights rerouted or descended as a precautionary measure. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide timely updates to ensure passenger safety," MoCA added.

Following the 23 Nov volcanic eruption in Ethiopia and the eastward movement of the ash cloud, MoCAalong with ATC, IMD, airlines and international aviation agenciesis ensuring seamless coordination.AAI has issued the necessary NOTAM and all affected flights have been kept MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) November 25, 2025

Ash Cloud To Exit Indian Skies By Evening

The IMD said the volcanic ash plume is expected to clear Indian airspace by 7:30 pm on Tuesday. After briefly affecting flight paths on Monday, the ash cloud is now drifting away from the subcontinent.

The clouds are moving towards China and will exit India by this evening," IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.

The plume entered Gujarat on Monday before spreading across Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Punjab overnight.

How Ash Reached India

The disturbance stems from the sudden eruption of Hayli Gubbi, a shield volcano in Ethiopias Afar region, which came alive on Sunday after nearly 10,000 years of dormancy.

The blast sent ash up to 14 km (45,000 ft) into the atmosphere.

The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) reported that explosive activity began around 8:30 am GMT on Sunday, with a massive ash plume continuing to drift toward northern India even after the eruption subsided.

High-altitude winds carried the cloud across the Red Sea, Yemen, and Oman before it crossed the Arabian Sea into western India.

Vigilance At Airports

Airports nationwide have been advised to stay alert and inspect runways and aprons for ash deposits, which can pose risks to aircraft engines and ground operations.

Airlines, including IndiGo, Akasa Air, and KLM, have adjusted routes and schedules in response to shifting wind patterns. IndiGos KannurAbu Dhabi flight (6E 1433) diverted to Ahmedabad on Monday, while another Indian carrier operating into Abu Dhabi performed extensive engine checks before returning, according to ANI.

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On Monday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a detailed advisory after the ash plume entered Gujarat and advanced eastward across Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, prompting precautionary flight changes across several sectors.

Despite the temporary disruptions, authorities say the situation is stabilising rapidly, with improved visibility and clearer airspace expected by Tuesday evening.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 16:01 IST

News india Flight Ops Smooth Across India: Govt Says No Cause For Concern Amid Ethiopia Ash Cloud Scare

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'No Compromise On Our Security': PM Modi Hails Op Sindoor At Shaheedi Diwas Event

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 18:27 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Operation Sindoor as a demonstration of Indias resolve against terrorism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi | Image: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asserted that India seeks peace but will never allow its borders or national security to be compromised.

The Prime Minister also praised the recently launched Operation Sindoor, Indias targeted military action against terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes were carried out in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.

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We want peace, but we do not compromise on the security of our borders," the Prime Minister said while addressing a gathering at the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Sikh Guru.

PM Modi hailed Operation Sindoor as a demonstration of Indias resolve against terrorism.

Moment Of Pride When Sikh Scriptures Returned From Afghanistan

Recalling a recent development, the Prime Minister said that when the three original forms of the Guru Granth Sahib arrived from Afghanistan, it became a moment of pride for every Indian."

He added that his government has worked consistently to strengthen the spiritual and cultural links to Sikh heritage.

Our government has made efforts to connect every pilgrimage site of the Gurus with the vision of a modern India," he said, listing projects such as the Kartarpur Corridor, the Hemkund Sahib ropeway, and the expansion of the Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum in Anandpur Sahib. All these initiatives, he said, were carried out with complete devotion, guided by the ideals of the Guru-jans."

PM Attends Shaheedi Diwas Commemoration

Earlier in the day, PM Modi attended a special programme marking the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, where he viewed cultural presentations, including a sand art depiction of the Gurus life.

He is also scheduled to address the gathering and release a commemorative coin and postage stamp in honour of the revered Sikh Guru.

Guru Tegh Bahadur, known as Hind Di Chadar, the Protector of Humanity, led the Sikh community from 1665 until his martyrdom in 1675.

His 115 hymns form a key part of the Guru Granth Sahib and reflect profound themes of devotion, detachment, suffering and spiritual liberation.

PM Modi travelled to Kurukshetra after hoisting the saffron flag atop the 191-foot shikhar of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, marking the completion of the temples construction.

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In Kurukshetra, he inaugurated Panchjanya, a monument dedicated to the sacred conch of Lord Krishna, in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

He also visited the Mahabharata Anubhav Kendra, an immersive experiential centre featuring installations depicting pivotal moments from the epic.

Location : Haryana, India, India

First Published: November 25, 2025, 18:26 IST

News india 'No Compromise On Our Security': PM Modi Hails Op Sindoor At Shaheedi Diwas Event

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Photo: https://www.axios.com

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has begun a meeting with a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi (UAE), Axios reports.

Secretary Driscoll and his team are negotiating with the Russian delegation to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine. The negotiations are going well, and we are optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is working closely with the White House and the U.S. interagency group as these negotiations progress, said Assistant Secretary Jeff Tolbert.

According to a source familiar with the situation, the Ukrainian delegation, led by the head of military intelligence, General Kyrylo Budanov, is also in Abu Dhabi, holding talks with the American and Russian delegations.

Earlier, a source reported that the heads of military intelligence of Ukraine and Russia were planning to meet in Abu Dhabi regarding a different issue. Driscoll's trip to Abu Dhabi took the parties by surprise and altered the original plan.

During talks in Geneva on Sunday, the United States and Ukraine narrowed the scope of the agreement from 28 points to 19, according to Ukrainian officials. An American official said the Ukrainians had "agreed to a peace agreement" but added that "some small details remain to be agreed upon."
Operation Pawan: 1,171 Soldiers Died From 1987 To 1990, Army Will Honour Them For The First Time

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 13:17 IST

Only a few ex-servicemen, widows and families privately honour Operation Pawan each year, as no official remembrance day has ever been observed despite the heavy losses

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Many former soldiers of Operation Pawan and the families of martyrs will also be present. (AI Generated/News18 Hindi)

For the first time, the Indian Army will formally pay tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in Operation Pawan, Indias first major military mission abroad since Independence. Operation Pawan, conducted between 1987 and 1990 in Sri Lanka, resulted in the death of 1,171 Indian soldiers and left over 3,500 injured.

What Was Operation Pawan?

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Operation Pawan was launched by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1987, sending the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka to help quell the civil war between the Tamil and Sinhala communities. The goal was to disarm Tamil militant groups, including the LTTE, and restore peace. However, the LTTE broke the agreement and engaged in fierce combat with Indian forces, often hiding in dense jungles and bushes. The intensity of the conflict was such that many soldiers could not even recover the bodies of their fallen comrades.

One of the most notable martyrs of Operation Pawan was Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran, a Param Vir Chakra recipient, who was killed on 25 November, 1987.

No Official Memorial Day Observed

Despite the significant losses, no official remembrance day has been observed for Operation Pawan. Each year, only a small number of ex-servicemen, widows, and their families gather privately at the memorial to pay their respects, but nothing was done at the official level. Sri Lanka, however, even has an IPKF memorial in Colombo.

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The First Time It Will Be Remembered

However, this year marks a change. On November 26, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, along with Deputy Army Chief Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh, will personally lay wreaths at the National War Memorial. Many former soldiers of Operation Pawan and the families of martyrs will also be present. A former soldier expressed a sense of satisfaction, stating that after 38 years, their sacrifices are finally being recognised.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 13:17 IST

News india Operation Pawan: 1,171 Soldiers Died From 1987 To 1990, Army Will Honour Them For The First Time

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Pak Monitoring Indias Moves On Ground, Sea, Air: Islamabad Still Struck By Trishul? Exclusive

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 20:13 IST

Earlier this month, India conducted a tri-service mega drill, Exercise Trishul, from the Arabian Sea to the skies above

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Indian military personnel rappel from an IAF helicopter as soldiers and a tank advance during the joint amphibious exercise Amphex 2025, off the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat. The exercise marked the culmination of the tri-service Exercise Trishul. (PTI)

Pakistan still seems rattled by Indias Exercise Trishul conducted earlier this month.

Lieutenant General (LG) Ahmed Shareef Chaudhry, Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during an informal interaction with journalists, reiterated his earlier statement that their country was monitoring all Indian activities on ground, in sea and air.

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We are keeping an eye on their activities on ground, in sea and air," said Chaudhry.

Beginning November 3, India conducted a tri-services mega drill, Exercise Trishul, which brought together the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force in a large-scale, multi-domain wargame expanding from the Arabian Sea to the skies above. This was the first exercise of its kind post-operation Sindoor, which went on till November 13.

The exercise, while routine in nature, had put Pakistan in a heightened state of alert.

Rattled by the drill, Chaudhry had vowed stronger response against India. Pakistan is monitoring Indias tri services exercises. India is preparing another false flag operation in the Arabian Sea," he had then said.

On Afghanistan

Amid the clash with Afghanistan, Chaudhry vowed to continue strikes against terrorists hideouts inside and outside. Pakistan will not tolerate infiltration. Afghan Taliban regime is operating as a non-state actor. Pakistan is fighting against terrorism for the past 25 yearsPakistan will not spare any terrorist. Pakistan reserves the right to conduct strikes against terrorists anywhere," said Chaudhry,

Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are the same. Both are facilitating terrorism in the region," he said.

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Social media is being used as tool against the state. Pakistan didnt strike on Afghanistan on Monday-Tuesday night," he said.

Commenting on the buzz, Chaudhry said, Former DG ISI Faiz Hamids court martial proceedings are completed and it is a sub-judice matter. As the Field General Court Martial announces verdict on Faiz Hameed, we will inform you."

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: November 25, 2025, 19:56 IST

News india Pak Monitoring Indias Moves On Ground, Sea, Air: Islamabad Still Struck By Trishul? Exclusive

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PM Modi Cracks Down On Jal Jeevan Mission Irregularities: How Centre Managed Rs 129-Crore Recovery

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 20:10 IST

Officials describe the current moment as a turning point  the first time such a large-scale internal audit has resulted in simultaneous action across states

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JJM, unveiled with the ambition of transforming rural living conditions, has come under intense scrutiny after discrepancies surfaced in multiple states. (PTI File)

For months, murmurs of inflated numbers and suspicious paperwork had been circulating within the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the Centres grand promise to take clean tap water to every rural home. But now, the whispers have turned into a full-blown reckoning. Since the new government came into place in 2024, appropriate steps have been taken to curb any discrepancy.

Behind closed doors in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered an unambiguous message to officials  no irregularity will be tolerated, no matter how small, and no one involved in wrongdoing will be spared. That signal, insiders say, has set off one of the fiercest anti-corruption drives within a flagship social mission in recent years.

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JJM, unveiled with the ambition of transforming rural living conditions, has come under intense scrutiny after discrepancies surfaced in multiple states. In response, the Centre has pushed states to reassess data, revisit contracts, and launch corrective action in cases where numbers appear too good to be true".

The fallout has been swift. Penalties, recovery notices, and disciplinary measures now amount to an extraordinary Rs 129 crore, with more states still combing through old files and new complaints.

Officials describe the current moment as a turning point"  the first time such a large-scale internal audit has resulted in simultaneous action across states.

No compromise on transparency: PMs directive

Senior government sources say Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed the Jal Shakti Ministry to take stringent action in all areas where irregularities have been flagged. The Prime Minister has further directed that the Centre must withhold all funds for the mission until the respective state governments initiate action against those involved.

The most dramatic movement has come from Uttar Pradesh, where authorities have imposed damages ranging from 0.1% to 10% in 113 out of 119 flagged cases. In the remaining six cases, contractors have had their work sharply curtailed  in some instances, entire project areas reduced from a handful of villages to over two hundred.

Corrective action is no longer optional; it is expected," a senior official in the know remarked.

According to those familiar with the developments, the Prime Ministers instructions have been clear and consistent: monitor closely, report regularly, verify every claim, and hold every person accountable. There is to be no compromise on transparency  a line the PM has repeated in multiple internal reviews.

The Centre has also written to the CBI and several state Anti-Corruption Bureaus, urging expedited investigations where officials are suspected of manipulating data or inflating progress under the mission.

A government source summed: The tolerance level for fudged numbers is zero." After the Prime Minister, as well as the Minister for Jal Shakti, have often said in public spaces, including Parliament, that nobody will be spared.

While states such as Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Gujarat, Assam, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Karnataka have shown significant movement, concerns linger in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan, where corrective action remains limited or delayed.

Action on ground

In total, 15.74 crore rural households are reported to have tap water connections out of Indias 19.36 crore. But the Centre has now insisted that these numbers must be validated on the ground, with states instructed to strengthen oversight, tighten operations and maintenance, and ensure irregularities do not creep back into the system.

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For a mission designed to reshape rural water access, this moment marks a crucial crossroads. The Centres aggressive stance signals that JJM is not just about building infrastructure  it is about building credibility.

The coming months will determine why the clean-up drive is the beginning of a more rigorous era of monitoring. For now, one thing is clear: under the Prime Ministers watch, the Jal Jeevan Mission may be receiving clean water  but it is also getting a deep clean of its own.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 19:19 IST

News india PM Modi Cracks Down On Jal Jeevan Mission Irregularities: How Centre Managed Rs 129-Crore Recovery

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 14:55 IST

PM Modi In Ayodhya Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ayodhya on Tuesday and hoisted the saffron flag on the spire of the Ram temple, symbolising the completion of its construction. The day holds special cultural importance because it coincides with Ram Vivah, the traditional celebration of Lord Rams wedding in the Hindu calendar.

After hoisting the grand saffron flag, PM Modi said that India was witnessing a historic civilisational moment as he performed the Dhwajarohan ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, declaring that the wounds of centuries are healing and the pain of centuries is finally coming to an end.

The flag carries profound religious symbolism rooted in the Sanatan tradition. Its creation, materials, sacred motifs and technological features reflect a fusion of ancient belief and modern precision.

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Grossest Indiscipline: SC Upholds Dismissal Of Christian Army Man Who Refused To Enter Temple

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 13:45 IST

What kind of message he has been sending...he should have been thrown out for this only...grossest kind of indiscipline by an army official, CJI Surya Kant observed

The Supreme Court of India. (PTI File)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the Delhi high courts dismissal of a Christian Army officer who refused to enter the sanctum sanctorum of a temple.

The SC observed that the Army as an institution is secular and its discipline cannot be compromised. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi upheld Army commanding officer Samuel Kamalesans termination from service.

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What kind of message he has been sendinghe should have been thrown out for this onlygrossest kind of indiscipline by an army official," CJI Surya Kant observed while refusing to interfere with the High Court order, said the report.

The officer had challenged the action, arguing that being compelled to enter the temple violated his religious freedom. The SC ruled that his conduct amounted to disobedience of a lawful command.

Armed forces united by uniform, not divided by religion: What HC had said

The Delhi High Court in May confirmed the dismissal of Kamalesan for consistently refusing to participate in regimental weekly religious parades due to his Christian faith, despite multiple counselling sessions and opportunities provided by his superiors.

Kamalesan challenged his termination and the denial of pension and gratuity, arguing that he had accompanied his troops to the mandir and gurdwara during weekly parades and festivals. He sought exemption only from entering the innermost sanctum during rituals, citing respect for his monotheistic Christian beliefs and his troops sentiments.

His plea highlighted that the regiment maintained only a mandir and a gurdwara for its religious needs, not a Sarv Dharm Sthal for all faiths.

The court noted that the dismissal was based on his conduct and its negative impact on military discipline and unit cohesion, not solely on his Annual Confidential Report (ACR) ratings.

The HC had emphasised the dedication of armed forces personnel and their ethos of placing the nation before self and religion. It observed that the armed forces are united by their uniform, not divided by religion, caste, or region, and commanding officers have a higher responsibility to ensure their troops can observe their religious practices.

Who is Samuel Kamalesan?

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Commissioned as a lieutenant in March 2017, Kamalesan served in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, which includes Sikh, Jat, and Rajput personnel. He led a squadron primarily composed of Sikh soldiers and noted the absence of a Sarv Dharm Sthal, or church, on the premises.

Kamalesan claimed regular attendance at the mandir and gurdwara but sought to avoid the inner temple sanctum during rituals. The respondent argued that his consistent non-attendance at regimental parades was despite efforts to explain their significance. The Chief of Army Staff reviewed the records and deemed his retention undesirable due to misconduct.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 12:40 IST

News india Grossest Indiscipline: SC Upholds Dismissal Of Christian Army Man Who Refused To Enter Temple

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'Sun, Om & Kovidara Tree; Automated Mast': All About Saffron Flag That Will Crown Ram Mandir Today

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 09:49 IST

The Ram Mandirs saffron flag in Ayodhya blends Sanatan tradition, sacred motifs like Lord Surya, Om and Kovidar, and modern engineering, symbolizing faith and divine presence.

Image: PTI

As Ayodhya prepares for the ceremonial hoisting of the saffron flag atop the Ram Mandir, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary dhwaj. Beyond its engineering and design, the flag carries profound religious symbolism rooted in the Sanatan tradition. Its creation, materials, sacred motifs and technological features reflect a fusion of ancient belief and modern precision.

The Spiritual Importance of Hoisting a Temple Flag

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(Pic: Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra)

According to Sanatan traditions, hoisting a flag on a temple spire is among the most sacred acts in Sanatan Dharma. A temple without a flag is considered incomplete, as the dhwaj represents the deitys presence, protection and active divine energy. Scriptures describe the fluttering of a temple flag as a sign that spiritual vibrations are alive and blessings are flowing into the surroundings. For devotees, the ceremony is viewed as deeply auspicious, a moment that enhances the sanctity of the space and invites the grace of the divine.

A Traditional Design Built on Monumental Scale

(Pic: ANI)

The Ram Mandirs saffron flag adopts the classic right-angled triangular dhwaj design. Depending on the configuration, it measures either 1020 feet or 2211 feet. The flag sits atop a 42-foot pillar mounted on the temples 161-foot shikhar, making it visible from nearly 4 kilometres away. Its scale ensures that the flag becomes a permanent visual signature on the Ayodhya skyline, especially along the Sarayu riverfront and Ram Path.

Crafted in Ahmedabad: Parachute-Grade Engineering

The flag was crafted by skilled artisans in Ahmedabad using parachute-grade nylon a fabric known for extreme durability. It is protected with a double-coated synthetic layer to withstand sunlight, rain, heat and rapid temperature shifts. Weighing 2.5 kg, it has an estimated lifespan of three years.

During trial runs, the original rope snapped due to the flags size and wind load. A new rope, sourced from Kanpur, now contains a stainless steel core wrapped with synthetic nylon fibre to ensure strength and flexibility. Given the technical complexity of hoisting such a large flag at a high elevation, experts from the Army and the Defence Ministry are assisting with the operation.

Built to Survive Cyclonic Winds and Harsh Weather

Engineers say the parachute-grade fabric can withstand wind speeds of up to 200 km/h. Its reinforced panels distribute wind pressure evenly, preventing tears. UV protection guards the saffron colour from fading, while water- and humidity-resistant layers help the flag endure both Ayodhyas monsoon rainfall and winter fog. Stress-point stitching reduces the risk of ripping, a common issue for large, high-altitude temple flags.

Sacred Symbols Sewn with Ritual Power

The flag features three prominent motifs: Lord Surya, the sacred Om, and the Kovidar tree.

The sun symbol signifies the Suryavansh, the Solar Dynasty to which Lord Ram belonged. The hoisting will be accompanied by bells ringing across Ayodhyas temples and monasteries, symbolically awakening divine energy.

The Om within the sun carries profound spiritual meaning. Prof Pandey notes that Om is considered the most complete and sacred sound in the universe. Scientists have observed that the suns natural vibrations resemble the frequency of Om. The combination of the sun and Om represents creation, consciousness and cosmic energy, the union of light and soul.

The Kovidar tree connects the flag to Ayodhyas ancient royal lineage.

The Kovidar: A Symbol Rooted in Ramayana and Ayodhyas History

(Pic: Wikipedia)

According to the Harivansh Purana, the Kovidar once adorned Ayodhyas royal flags. When Bharat travelled to Chitrakoot to bring Shri Ram back, the emblem on his chariot bore the Kovidar symbol. Lakshman recognised it from afar, identifying it immediately as the insignia of Ayodhyas throne. The tree, also a species of Kachnar, was historically abundant in the region and valued for its beauty and medicinal use. Its inclusion on the Ram Mandir flag restores an ancient cultural and royal identity associated with Ram Rajya.

Modern research, including a study published on ResearchGate titled Plant and Animal Diversity in Valmiki Ramayana, confirms the presence of Kovidar trees during Shri Rams exile. Medicinal properties attributed to the plant include treatments for thyroid issues, inflammation, tonsils, wounds, acne and skin ailments. Its flowers are used to prepare vegetables, pakoras and pickles, while its bark yields a natural dye used in textiles.

A 360-Degree Rotating System Ensures Smooth Movement

The flag is mounted on a ball-bearing rotation system that allows it to spin freely with the wind, preventing tangling and tearing. The mechanism is similar to aeronautical windsocks, enabling stable rotation and reducing strain on the fabric.

Automated Hoisting: Precision Meets Ritual

A motorised automatic hoisting system is integrated into the 42-foot pole. It allows the flag to be raised and lowered without manual climbing, enabling precise timing during auspicious muhurats and safe replacement during high winds. The system also supports 360-degree rotation according to wind direction. The Ram Mandir trust has not disclosed how frequently the flag will be changed, but the mechanism allows seamless periodic replacement.

Auspicious Timing and Cultural Significance

The hoisting takes place during the Abhijit Muhurat, one of Hinduisms most auspicious time windows, and coincides with Vivah Panchami the festival commemorating the wedding of Ram and Sita. The saffron colour itself embodies sacrifice, strength and righteousness, all central to the philosophy of Ram Rajya.

Ayodhya is also hosting the Ram-Sita Vivah Mahotsav in the newly built temple for the first time, with around 8,000 attendees expected. A tent city in Teerth Puram is accommodating 2,500 visitors, and public darshan will be restricted on 25 November due to VIP movement.

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A Symbol of Faith, Engineering and Heritage

The Ram Mandirs saffron flag is a rare integration of spiritual symbolism and modern engineering. It represents a living tradition, a cultural lineage stretching back to the Ramayana, and a technological achievement designed for endurance. For millions of devotees, the flag will stand as an enduring emblem of divine presence and the grandeur of the newly built temple in Ayodhya.

Location : Ayodhya, India, India

First Published: November 25, 2025, 09:05 IST

News india 'Sun, Om & Kovidara Tree; Automated Mast': All About Saffron Flag That Will Crown Ram Mandir Today

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'Violation Of Right To Education': Kerala Rejects Proposal To Use Students For SIR Work

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 21:32 IST

The proposal, which suggested that NSS and NCC students could be involved in SIR work, was criticised for potentially disrupting students' academic schedules.

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Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty. (File Photo)

Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty on Tuesday rejected a proposal to use school students as volunteers for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, calling it a violation of their right to education".

The proposal, which suggested that NSS and NCC students could assist with electoral roll revision tasks, was criticised by the minister for its potential to disrupt students academic schedules.

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Sivankutty argued that, with exams approaching and classes in full swing, assigning students to election-related duties would negatively impact their studies. Under no circumstances should students be given this kind of responsibility. Dedicating students for more than 10 days away from classes for data collection and digitisation work related to the voter list will affect their exams," he said.

VIDEO | Thiruvananthapuram: Using children as volunteers for SIR will affect their education and cannot be allowed," says Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty.(Full video available on PTI Videos  https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/9laywhRJSK  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 25, 2025

The minister also pointed out that the State Education Department had already allocated 5,623 of its personnel, including both teaching and non-teaching staff, to assist with the SIR process.

While Sivankutty acknowledged the value of student participation in social initiatives like those led by the National Service Scheme (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), and Student Police Cadet (SPC), he stressed that it is not right to use children for office and field work by missing classes during school days."

Using children for other official duties is a violation of their right to education," he added.

Sivankutty further questioned who would be responsible for any difficulties students might face if they miss classes for 10 days to participate in election work. Those who give such tasks to the children will have to bear responsibility if the kids face any difficulties," he stated.

The ministers remarks came after reports suggested that the Kerala Chief Electoral Officer had proposed the use of students for SIR activities.

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Earlier today, educational institutions in Kozhikode and Thrissur received official letters from Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) requesting the deployment of student volunteers, including NSS, NCC, Scouts, Guides, and Souhrida Club members, for the ongoing electoral roll revision.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Kerala, India, India

First Published: November 25, 2025, 21:29 IST

News india 'Violation Of Right To Education': Kerala Rejects Proposal To Use Students For SIR Work

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West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari Alleges Political Misuse Of State Police In Letter To EC

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 12:12 IST

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has accused the West Bengal Police of political misuse, urging the Election Commission to intervene immediately.

Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari | File Image

The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has written a detailed complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), alleging serious misuse of the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police for political purposes.

The letter, submitted on 25 November, raises concerns about what he describes as institutional politicisation" ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

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What are the allegations levied by Suvendu?

Central to Adhikaris complaint is an event held on 22 November in Digha, organised by the West Bengal Police Welfare Committee. He claims the event, ostensibly intended for police welfare, functioned instead as a political rally for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

According to him, serving police officers allegedly shared the stage with TMC leaders and ministers, delivering speeches that praised the state government while criticising the Centre, an act Adhikari argues violates the neutrality expected of uniformed personnel.

The Opposition leader contends that the Welfare Committee, which lacks transparent operational guidelines, is being used to mobilise police personnel for political ends.

Adhikaris letter further alleges that more than 1,000 police personnel and over 1,000 civic volunteers are actively participating in political activities under the banner of the Welfare Committee.

This includes attending political rallies, influencing public events, and being involved in various election-related irregularities. He also cites past incidents, claiming some committee members were previously implicated in malpractice during elections.

The complaint references two state government notifications issued in August 2020 which, he argues, fail to define the scope and functioning of the Welfare Committee clearly. This, he says, has created scope for unchecked misuse" of the police apparatus.

Arguing that the police force cannot be considered neutral" for the upcoming Assembly elections, Adhikari has pressed for sweeping corrective measures. He warns that without decisive intervention from the Election Commission, the fairness of the 2026 polls could be compromised.

Demands before the EC

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In his letter, Adhikari urges the Election Commission to launch an immediate investigation into the alleged politicisation, take disciplinary action against the officers named, bar the state police from election duties in 2026, deploy Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) for all crucial stages of the polling process, and issue strict guidelines to prevent welfare bodies from being used for political activities.

Adhikaris complaint adds a new flashpoint to West Bengals already charged political landscape, with the ruling TMC yet to formally respond.

About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 12:12 IST

News india West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari Alleges Political Misuse Of State Police In Letter To EC

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Bengal Woman Mistakenly Cooks Food With Acid Instead Of Water, 6 Family Members Hospitalised

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 11:01 IST

Six members of a Bengal family, including two children, are in critical condition after accidentally eating food cooked with acid instead of water. A probe into the case is on.

An AI-generated, representational image to show a hospital (News18)

Six members of a family from Ghatal in West Midnapore district in West Bengal are battling for their lives after unknowingly consuming a meal prepared with acid instead of water.

The victims, who include two children, have been shifted to Kolkatas SSKM Hospital, where doctors have described their condition as critical.

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The incident occurred on November 23, in the Ratneshwarbati area under the Manoharpur I Gram Panchayat of Ghatal.

News agency IANS quoted officials as saying that all six individuals fell ill shortly after eating the food that had been mistakenly cooked using acid.

The alarming situation prompted immediate intervention from local authorities.

Panchanan Mandal, the health officer of the Ghatal Panchayat Samiti, reportedly rushed to the site as soon as the authorities were informed.

Police personnel and administrative officers also reached the house to conduct an initial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the poisoning.

Early findings indicated that the acid, a substance regularly kept in the house because a family member works with copper and silver, was inadvertently used in place of water.

Investigators believe a relative of Santu Sanyasi, the homeowner, accidentally poured the acid into the food preparation vessels, mistaking it for stored water.

The contaminated mixture was then used to cook rice and curry for the family.

However, officials have not ruled out the possibility of intentional harm.

Police confirmed that while the preliminary conclusion points to an accident, they are also examining whether someone may have attempted to spike the food with acid in a bid to wipe out the entire family."

A senior officer from the West Midnapore district police told IANS, Six members of a family fell seriously ill after consuming food. It is believed that acid was used instead of water to make the food."

All of them, including two children, have been transferred to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata for treatment. Their condition is critical. An investigation has started," he said.

Local residents corroborated that Santu Sanyasi frequently stores acid at home due to his occupation involving metal work, making the substance a routine presence within the household.

On Sunday, a visiting relative is believed to have unknowingly taken the acid container, assuming it was filled with water, and used it while preparing the family meal.

Soon after eating, all six individuals began experiencing severe abdominal pain followed by intense vomiting.

When their condition worsened rapidly, they were rushed to the Ghatal Sub-divisional Hospital.

As their health continued to decline, doctors decided to transfer them to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata for advanced treatment.

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Police said the investigation is ongoing to determine whether the incident was a tragic mistake or something more sinister.

ALSO READ | Mamata Banerjee Writes To EC Over SIR Data Work Outsourcing; BJP Reacts

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 10:59 IST

News india Bengal Woman Mistakenly Cooks Food With Acid Instead Of Water, 6 Family Members Hospitalised

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Who Was Thomas Macaulay And Why PM Modi Says He 'Damaged' India 200 Years Ago? | Explained

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 14:51 IST

Thomas Macaulay occupies a deeply polarising position in Indian colonial history. Some hail his English push as positive, while others accuse him of promoting cultural imperialism

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According to critics, Macaulays model of education was never about uplifting the Indian masses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again reminded Indians of the damage" inflicted on the national psyche and the education system 200 years ago by Thomas Macaulay, saying the nation will get rid of the slavery mentality" and colonial mindset" in 10 years.

Speaking in Ayodhya after ceremonially hoisting a saffron flag atop the Ram Mandir, PM Modi said the wounds and pain" of centuries are healing as a 500-year-old resolve is finally being fulfilled with the formal completion of the temple.

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2035 will mark 200 years of Macaulays damage. The next 10 years will end this slavery mentality," the PM said, invoking the British historian and politician for the second time this month.

On November 17, while delivering the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture, PM Modi had urged citizens to take a pledge to rid the nation from the mindset of slavery instilled by Thomas Macaulay".

I want to appeal to the entire country: over the next decade, we must resolve to free ourselves from the mindset of slavery that Macaulay imposed on India. The coming 10 years are extremely important," Modi had said.

The PM had said that Macaulay broke Indias self-confidence and instilled a sense of inferiority. This was the moment when the seeds were sown for the belief that progress and greatness could only be achieved through foreign methods," Modi said, adding that this mindset became even more entrenched after Independence.

Who Was Thomas Macaulay?

Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859) occupies a deeply polarising position in Indian colonial history. Originally a historian, he was a member of the Governor-Generals Council from 1834 to 1838. In that position, he became the academic face of the British Empires special project  to reshape Indias cultural, educational, and legal foundations to align with British interests and Western polity.

Macaulay On Indian Education

In his policy document Macaulay Minute, written in 1835, he argued that English should be the medium of education and instruction in Indian schools and colleges, claiming that Western literature and science were superior to traditional knowledge systems in India at the time.

The most infamous line in the Macaulay Minute was one that advised the creation of a new class of Indians to act as interpreters".  a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in tastes, in opinions, in morals and in intellect," it said.

This led to the promotion of English-language education, marking a shift from Sanskrit and other indigenous forms of learning to a Western-centric system. This in turn shaped Indias modern education system, which remains heavily influenced by English-medium schooling.

Macaulay On Indian Law

As the Chairman of the First Law Commission of India, Macaulay helped draft The Indian Penal Code (IPC) in 1837, which came into effect in 1860 after his death. The IPC influenced several civil and criminal procedures used throughout the British Empire, especially to punish Indian freedom fighters. India replaced these colonial-era codes with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) last year, also replacing the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Indian Evidence Act with the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).

Macaulay On Indian Culture

Infamously dismissive of Indian culture and literature, the Eurocentric Macaulay is said to have once remarked: A single shelf of a good European library is worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia."

This reflected and reinforced the colonial ideology that Western knowledge was inherently superior  a belief that continues to shape debates on colonial legacy.

Macaulays Divisive And Controversial Legacy

While from a modernisation perspective, Macaulays interventions have been hailed as positive, in post-colonial critiques, he has been accused of helping institutionalise cultural imperialism and racism.

While dismissing traditional Indian education systems, he led to the delegitimisation of centuries of Indian philosophy, literature, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and jurisprudence. By redirecting state funding away from pathshalas and gurukuls, the colonial government also effectively dismantled the ecosystems that had sustained Indias cultural and scientific heritage. Over time, this ruptured the transmission of indigenous knowledge, contributing to generational loss that India is still attempting to reconstruct.

According to critics, Macaulays model of education was never about uplifting the Indian masses. It was always about creating a narrow rank of English-educated middlemen who could serve colonial interests. Urban elites, particularly upper-caste men with knowledge of English, were able to pivot quickly and get jobs in the colonial bureaucracy. Meanwhile, vast sections of the population  including lower castes, women, rural communities, and traditional artisans  were left out.

Who Are Macaulays Children?

The Macaulay-led revamp of the education system in India led to the rise of the class known as Macaulays Children  Indians who embraced the Westernised culture and education. While a section of the society viewed them as being disloyal to their heritage, many of these English-educated leaders occupy important positions in Indian history  like BR Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru.

While Ambedkar is not known to have personally praised Macaulay, he acknowledged the structural consequences of Macaulays introduction of English education, especially for oppressed castes. He believed that English education broke the Brahmin hold over learning systems, making them accessible to marginalised sections and communities.

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Meanwhile, Nehru was said to be more cautious in his critique of Macaulay. In The Discovery of India and in speeches, Nehru noted that Macaulay introduced English education to serve imperial interests, not Indian upliftment, but did credit the language for connecting India to the global stage.

Nehru was said to be critical of Macaulays dismissal of Indian literature and philosophy, viewing him as a symbol of vain Victorian cultural superiority".

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 14:49 IST

News india Who Was Thomas Macaulay And Why PM Modi Says He 'Damaged' India 200 Years Ago? | Explained

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced great progress on the path to a peace agreement, noting the need to resolve "several delicate, but not insurmountable details."

"Over the past week, the United States has made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table. There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States," she wrote on the social network X.

Earlier on Tuesday, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov announced productive and constructive meetings in Geneva between the Ukrainian and American delegations. Umerov stressed that the delegations reached a common understanding on the key terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva. Now, according to him, the Ukrainian side is counting on the support of European partners in further steps.
Will Ethiopian Volcanic Ash Impact Delhi Air Pollution? 5 Points

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 11:09 IST

A high-altitude plume of volcanic ash from Ethiopia drifted over Delhi on Monday night, adding haze as the city battled toxic air.

Visuals from India Gate as a layer of toxic smog blankets the city. (Photo: ANI)

A plume of volcanic ash from the rare eruption of Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi volcano reached Delhi late on Monday night, creating a thin, hazy layer over parts of the city. The eruption, its first in nearly 12,000 years, sent large ash columns drifting across the Red Sea toward Yemen, Oman and later across the northern Arabian Sea before arriving over northern India.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the ash plume reached Delhi around 11 pm, coinciding with the citys prolonged spell of hazardous air. Residents noticed an unusually diffused, cloud-like haze, promting questions about whether the volcanic debris would worsen pollution levels.

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The ash cloud, now drifting over Delhi, is expected to clear Indian skies and drift toward China by around 7:30 pm.

Whats inside the ash cloud?

The ash cloud contains fine volcanic ash made up of pulverised rock and tiny glass particles, along with high levels of sulphur dioxide and traces of gravel. These components can damage aircraft engines, reduce visibility and affect air quality. Scientists note that early assessments suggest the Hayli Gubbi plume has a lower ash concentration than the major 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption in Iceland, which severely disrupted European air travel. Even so, monitoring remains crucial due to potential aviation and environmental impacts.

Will this impact air pollution?

IMD Director General M Mohapatra, however, emphasised that significant deterioration of air quality due to the plume is unlikely. He explained that the ash is currently circulating at high altitudes, well above the levels where Delhis pollution typically concentrates.

There is likely to be no significant impact on air quality in Delhi due to the volcanic ash cloud", said IMD DG Mrityunjay Mohapatra to CNN-NEWS18.

It is unclear whether it will impact air quality, but any significant impact is unlikely as it is at higher levels," he said. Because the plume is in the upper levels," its influence near the surface is expected to be marginal. Residents may notice a hazy, cloudy sky for a few hours, he added, as the plume continues drifting eastward.

Mohapatra also noted a possible marginal rise in temperature," as the ash layer can behave like cloud cover by absorbing and re-radiating heat.

Is India at risk?

Indias primary concern from the Hayli Gubbi volcanic ash cloud is aviation safety. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued alerts on Monday after satellite imagery confirmed the plume drifting toward Indian airspace. As a result, several flights, especially those operating between India and the Gulf, were delayed, rerouted or cancelled.

The DGCA has instructed airlines to strictly avoid ash-affected zones, modify flight paths and adjust fuel planning based on real-time advisories. While the ash poses minimal risk to Indias air quality, experts warn elevated SO levels could impact higher-altitude regions such as Nepal, the Himalayas and parts of Uttar Pradeshs Terai belt.

Possible global impact

Globally, the ash clouds high sulphur dioxide concentration and fine particulate load require continued monitoring. Scientists say it could influence regional radiation balance, cloud formation processes, and aviation corridors in the coming days.

Delhis AQI Remains in very poor

Regardless of the volcanic plumes limited impact, Delhis air quality remains deeply concerning. On Tuesday morning, thick smog blanketed areas around India Gate and Kartavya Path, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reading 328, categorised as Very Poor by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Flights disrupted

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The volcanic ash has, however, prompted aviation-related concerns. Several flights were cancelled on Monday, and advisories were issued to airports and airlines across India to prepare for potential disruptions. Ash particles can severely damage aircraft engines, and aviation authorities are monitoring the plume closely as it shifts over Delhi, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh.

While the ash clouds densest sections continue moving across northern India, experts maintain that its impact at the surface will remain limited.

About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: November 25, 2025, 07:58 IST

News india Will Ethiopian Volcanic Ash Impact Delhi Air Pollution? 5 Points

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Winter Dryness Or Year-Round Issue? Dermatologists Debunk Common Dry Skin Myths

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Last Updated: December 01, 2025, 11:28 IST

With the right ingredients, smart habits and science-backed information, achieving soft, resilient and hydrated skin becomes easier than ever.

Dry skin is manageable once you stop relying on myths and start supporting your barrier.

Dry skin comes with its own set of seasonal frustrations  tightness, flaking, dullness  but the real problem lies in the misinformation that continues to circulate online. While winter and indoor heating make symptoms more noticeable, dermatologists agree that dryness is often a year-round concern made worse by habits many people assume are harmless. From over-washing to skipping moisturiser in summer, these daily missteps weaken the skin barrier long before cold weather arrives.

Understanding what truly causes dryness, and what doesnt, is the first step to healthier, smoother skin.

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Dry Skin Isnt Just A Winter Problem: What Dermatologists Want You To Know

Dry skin is generally not just a winter condition," says Dr. Soujanya Dhulipala, Consultant Dermatologist, ADCS Clinic, Hyderabad  (Alma Lasers). People often compromise their skin barrier through long-held misconceptions, including the belief that simply drinking more water can solve dryness.

Dr. Dimple Kothari, Visiting Consultant Dermatology, Narayana Hospital, Jaipur, shares similar observations: Dry skin is one of the most common skin concerns in India, but the myths surrounding it are even more common." Meanwhile, Dr. Sunita Naik, Dermatologist, Kaya Clinic, Mumbai, tackles another persistent misconception: A widely believed misconception is that laser treatments dehydrate the skin."

These expert perspectives set the foundation for decoding the most widespread myths.

Myth 1: Drinking More Water Will Fix Dry Skin

All three dermatologists agree  hydration begins at the barrier, not the bottle. As Dr. Dhulipala explains, Your skin continually loses moisture from the top down, so topicals become far more important." Hyaluronic acid, ceramides and urea replenish surface hydration far more effectively than extra water intake. Dr. Naik reinforces this: water is essential, but dryness happens when the barrier cannot retain it.

Myth 2: Oily Skin Cant Be Dry

Many assume sebum equals hydration. In reality, dehydrated but oily skin is extremely common. Oil and water are two different things," says Dr. Dhulipala, adding that even oily skin types can feel dry and tight. Dr. Naik recommends lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturisers to rebalance such skin without clogging pores.

Myth 3: Hot Showers Help Dryness

Long, hot showers feel comforting but strip the skin of its natural oils. Dr. Kothari notes that once the barrier is disturbed, dryness quickly escalates to irritation and redness. Dr. Naik suggests lukewarm showers followed by immediate moisturization to lock in hydration.

Myth 4: Thick Creams Are The Only Solution

While occlusive creams can help, modern skincare offers more elegant options. Dr. Naik points to squalane, glycerin and peptides as lightweight yet deeply hydrating alternatives, while Dr. Dhulipala emphasises barrier-restoring ingredients over simply applying thicker layers.

Myth 5: Scrubbing Removes Dryness

Over-exfoliating does the exact opposite," says Dr. Kothari. Gentle exfoliation once a week, ideally with mild AHAs or enzymes, helps remove dead skin cells without compromising the barrier. Dr. Naik agrees that controlled exfoliation actually improves product absorption.

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Myth 6: Makeup Makes Dry Skin Worse

Makeup isnt the enemy; poor skin prep is. According to Dr. Kothari, nourishing moisturisers and hydrating primers allow makeup to sit smoothly while offering a protective layer against pollutants.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: November 25, 2025, 13:39 IST

News lifestyle beauty Winter Dryness Or Year-Round Issue? Dermatologists Debunk Common Dry Skin Myths
How Early COPD Diagnosis Can Improve Quality Of Life

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 15:30 IST

Early COPD diagnosis can slow disease progression, prevent complications, and improve quality of life.

Cold air and pollution can worsen asthma and COPD symptoms.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is often perceived as a condition that develops only in older adults or lifelong smokers, but the reality is far more complex. COPD doesnt strike suddenly; instead, it progresses quietly over years, with symptoms so subtle that many people fail to recognize them. A persistent cough, breathlessness while climbing stairs, or frequent chest infections are often dismissed as ageing or the result of pollution. During this time, however, lung function continues to decline unnoticed. What many dont realize is that early detection can dramatically transform how patients live day to day.

Why Early Detection Matters

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According to Dr Shibu Vijayan, Chief Medical Officer, Global Health, Qure.ai, the impact of early COPD diagnosis is profound. When COPD is detected early, the entire course of the disease can be altered," he explains. Timely treatment can slow disease progression, reduce symptoms, and prevent frequent exacerbations that cause long-term, irreversible lung damage.

Dr Vijayan also highlights an often overlooked connection: COPDs strain on the heart. As lungs deteriorate, the heart must work harder to circulate blood through damaged tissues. Over time, this increases the risk of pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. Early COPD diagnosis gives clinicians the opportunity to intervene before this cascade begins. Protecting lung health early on also protects heart health, directly improving fatigue levels, breathlessness, stamina, and overall quality of life.

How Technology Is Changing COPD Diagnosis

Advances in AI-enabled clinical decision-support systems are now helping clinicians detect COPD at earlier stages. Dr Vijayan notes that these technologies strengthen clinical assessment by flagging subtle changes that may not be obvious in routine examinations. With timely detection, doctors can introduce lifestyle modifications and medical interventions when they can make the biggest difference, helping patients maintain independence for longer.

Early diagnosis shifts COPD care from reactive to proactive giving patients greater control over their health and alleviating the emotional and physical burden of unpredictable flare-ups.

Early Diagnosis as a Life-Changing Intervention

The importance of early detection is echoed by Dr Ajesh Raj Saksena, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, who calls it a life-changing intervention." He emphasizes that catching COPD in its initial stages allows care to become proactive and personalized. With timely screening particularly for smokers, industrial workers, and individuals exposed to pollution doctors can identify subtle symptoms long before they escalate into debilitating episodes.

Modern tools such as spirometry and AI-enabled pulmonary assessments have made early detection more accessible and reliable. The result," says Dr Saksena, is not only improved symptom control but also a significant reduction in hospitalizations and emotional stress for patients and families." Early COPD diagnosis doesnt just extend life, it enhances the quality of every day within those years.

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The Path Forward

Both experts agree: to truly change outcomes for millions of people, the healthcare system must prioritize awareness, routine screenings, and preventive action. COPD is manageable, but only when it is recognized early. With the help of modern diagnostics and patient education, early detection has the power to reshape the entire trajectory of this chronic disease offering patients a healthier, more active, and more fulfilling life.

About the Author Swati Chaturvedi Swati Chaturvedi is a seasoned media professional with over 13 years of experience in journalism, digital content strategy, and editorial leadership across top national media houses. An alumna of Lady... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 15:30 IST

News lifestyle health-and-fitness How Early COPD Diagnosis Can Improve Quality Of Life
Slow Down And Sip: Inside Indias Most Beautiful Forest Coffee Retreats

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 13:06 IST

Indias forest estates are redefining the way we experience coffee and travel. For those seeking renewal, these sanctuaries serve as gentle invitations to slow down and reconnect.

India's forest coffee estates offer immersive, sensory-rich experiences.

For travellers craving a gentler rhythm, Indias forest-backed coffee estates offer a chance to exchange hurried itineraries for meaningful, sensory-rich experiences. Here, mornings begin with mist rolling through ancient canopies, days unfold in unhurried conversations with nature, and every cup of coffee tells the story of the land it came from. These retreats are not merely stays. They are immersive journeys into Indias most soulful coffee heartlands, where wilderness, community, and craft brew a deeper connection to place.

1. Beforest, Poomaale Forest Collective, Coorg

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Tucked within dense, wildlife-rich forests, the Poomaale Collective offers an intimate window into forest-grown, shade-nurtured coffee. Its community-led model protects native biodiversity while cultivating Bewild coffee, celebrated for its terroir shaped entirely by natural forest systems. Long nature walks, streamside quiet time, and unhurried mornings with freshly brewed estate coffee define the experience. Curated meals made from local produce elevate the stay further, making this a sanctuary where sustainability, artisanal craft, and serene luxury coexist effortlessly.

2. Tata Coffee Plantation Trails, Chikmagalur

These heritage bungalows pair colonial-era charm with expansive, thriving coffee plantations. Guests can join guided estate walks, explore traditional shade-grown practices, and enjoy green, undulating slopes while sipping aromatic brews. Evenings unfold on vintage verandas overlooking hills washed in golden light. Restored bungalows with old-world interiors offer comfort steeped in history, turning coffee into a narrative  one that honours the legacy of Indias earliest plantations.

3. Kerehaklu, Aldur

A quiet eco-retreat nestled in the Western Ghats, Kerehaklu embraces conservation, small-batch farming, and slow living. Its forest cottages, birding trails, and mindfulness-led experiences invite visitors to disconnect from noise and reconnect with natures subtler textures. Whether its engaging with local communities, understanding regenerative farming, or discovering hidden reading nooks under the trees, Kerehaklu appeals to travellers seeking off-the-grid immersion and authentic, nature-first living.

4. Evolve Back Coffee Trails, Coorg

Offering luxury without distancing travellers from the land, Evolve Back blends curated indulgence with a deep-rooted sense of place. Private pool villas, guided plantation tours, and bean-to-cup sessions turn coffee into a multisensory experience. Stories of heritage and ecosystem harmony are woven into every activity, from lakeside walks to immersive tastings, making it an ideal retreat for slow travel enthusiasts who appreciate refinement but value grounded, nature-led exploration.

5. Old Kent Estates, Suntikoppa

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Spread across 200 acres of forests and coffee slopes, Old Kent Estates brings British-era heritage together with contemporary comfort. Guests can wander through quiet trails, explore traditional roasting practices, or simply soak in panoramic views of the plantation. With its curated wellness experiences, gourmet dining, and calming landscapes, Old Kent offers a deeply restorative retreat, perfect for those wanting forest serenity without giving up modern luxury.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: November 25, 2025, 13:06 IST

News lifestyle travel Slow Down And Sip: Inside Indias Most Beautiful Forest Coffee Retreats
Amitabh Bachchan Mourns Sholay Co-Star Dharmendras Death, Remembers Him As Epitome Of Greatness

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 07:35 IST

Dharmendra passed away on Monday, at the age of 89. Amitabh Bachchan paid an emotional tribute to his Sholay co-star, remembering how he always remained grounded.

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Amitabh Bachchan paid an emotional tribute to his Sholay co-star Dharmendra

Veteran actor Dharmendra passed away on November 24, at the age of 89. His death has left a huge void in the film industry, and tributes have been pouring in from several Bollywood celebrities including Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karan Johar, Preity Zinta and many others. Now, Amitabh Bachchan has penned an emotional note, mourning his Sholay co-star Dharmendras death. Expressing grief over his demise, Big B remembered how despite constant changes in the film industry, Dharmendra always remained grounded and genuine.

Amitabh Bachchan Pays Emotional Tribute To Sholay Co-Star Dharmendra

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Amitabh Bachchan took to his social media to mourn the demise of Dharmendra. In his emotional tribute, Big B wrote, T 5575   another valiant Giant has left us .. left the arena .. leaving behind a silence with an unbearable sound .. Dharam ji .. .. the epitome of greatness, ever linked not only for his renowned physical presence, but for the largeness of his heart , and its most endearing simplicity."

He further added that while the film fraternity saw changes every few years, Dharmendras warmth, charm and humility remained unchanged. he brought with him the earthiness of the village in Punjab he came from , and remained true to its temperament .. un soiled throughout his glorious career , in a fraternity that witnessed changes every decade ..  the fraternity underwent changes .. not him .. his smile, his charm and his warmth , extending to all that came in his vicinity .. a rarity in the profession .. .. the air about us swings vacant .. .. a vacuum that shall ever remain vacuus .. .. prayers," wrote Amitabh Bachchan.

T 5575  another valiant Giant has left us .. left the arena .. leaving behind a silence with an unbearable sound ..Dharam ji ..   .. the epitome of greatness, ever linked not only for his renowned physical presence, but for the largeness of his heart , and its  Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) November 24, 2025

Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Agastya Nanda were spotted arriving at Pawan Hans Crematorium in Mumbai for Dharmendras last rites.

Sholay, starring Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan, released in 1975, and is considered one of the most influential films ever made. Big B had once shared that it was Dharmendra who recommended his name for the film. I mean, it was because of his insistence that Mr. Ramesh Sippy cast me in that film. I am eternally grateful to you, Dharam ji," he said.

Dharmendras Death

Dharmendra breathed his last on November 24, 2025, just days after being discharged from Mumbais Breach Candy Hospital, where he had been admitted for a routine checkup. The actor had complained of breathlessness but was deemed stable enough to continue recovery at home. However, his condition deteriorated unexpectedly on Monday morning, leading to his demise.

Dharmendra was scheduled to celebrate his landmark 90th birthday on December 8, marking a major milestone in a life that has inspired generations of filmgoers and actors. Dharmendras final film, Ikkis, is set to release this December. The biographical war drama also stars Agastya Nanda, grandson of Amitabh Bachchan, and Jaideep Ahlawat in lead roles, and is directed by Sriram Raghavan.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 07:35 IST

News movies bollywood Amitabh Bachchan Mourns Sholay Co-Star Dharmendras Death, Remembers Him As Epitome Of Greatness
Peter Haag Would Get Physically Violent With Celina Jaitly, Lose Temper, Break Things: Actress' Lawyer

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 17:43 IST

Celina Jaitlys lawyer alleges that Peter Haag would often lose his temper, get physically violent, and break or throw things during their marriage.

Celina Jaitly has filed for divorce from her husband Peter Haag.

After a physical abuse complaint against her Austrian husband, Peter Haag, Celina Jaitly announced filing for divorce from him. Now, her lawyer, Niharika Karanjawala, spoke to the media and talked about the allegations Celina has made against Peter. The actress lawyer shared that she stayed in the marriage, hoping that Peter would change his behaviour and that their children could have a better life.

During an interaction with Republic TV, the lawyer said that Celina has dealt with a lot and has gone through something defined as cruelty." Niharika added, There have been instances of physical violence as well. Mr. Haag losing his temper, throwing things, breaking things, being violent with Celina on a few occasions, and a lot of emotional cruelty. As I said, there is also a parallel civil proceeding for a gift deed that was obtained via coercion and manipulation. Unfortunately, in 2017, after Celina, in a short period of time, lost one child and her parents, Peter took advantage of her emotionally depressed state in order to manipulate her into parting with her property, and he shifted them to a very remote area of Austria where she didnt speak the language well and didnt know many people, so that it would be easier to separate and subjugate her."

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There have been instances of violence. Since this matter is sub judice, I wont get into exactly what the incidents were. Its not my story to tell, but were hopeful that when it plays out in court, justice will be done for her and her children," she added.

The lawyer further added that Peter manipulated Celina into transferring her property to him; hence, the petition takes that into account too. Claiming that Peter had blocked the actress access to her kids, the lawyer added, However, I am happy to report that only two days ago, in the divorce proceedings that are continuing before the Austrian court, the Austrian court was pleased to issue an order stating that she is allowed one hour of telephonic access to the children every day."

About Celina and Peter

Celina Jaitly and Peter Haag tied the knot in 2011 in Austria. The couple welcomed twin sons in March 2012, marking a joyful chapter in their marriage. In 2017, they became parents to another set of twin boys, but the family faced a heartbreaking loss when one of the infants passed away due to a hypoplastic heart condition.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 17:43 IST

News movies bollywood Peter Haag Would Get Physically Violent With Celina Jaitly, Lose Temper, Break Things: Actress' Lawyer
Preity Zinta Remembers Dharmendra In Emotional Post: There Will Never Be Another Like You

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 10:58 IST

Preity Zinta shared a throwback monochrome picture of Dharmendra and wrote, "I will miss you beyond words."

Preity Zinta also visited the Deols residence. (Photo Credit: Instagram)

Veteran actor Dharmendra died on November 24 at the age of 89. As the actor left for his heavenly abode, tributes flowed in from around the industry. His cremation was held at Pawan Hans Crematorium in Mumbai. Several stars were seen arriving at the location where his final rites were performed. Later, many actors who have either worked with him or shared a close bond with the late actor penned emotional notes remembering him.

Preity Zinta shared a throwback monochrome picture of Dharmendra on X and wrote, What do you say about a man that was all heart, so loving, so compassionate & one of the biggest superstars & a legend of Indian cinema. When I didnt know him I loved him and when I met him I loved him even more. Words fail me as I feel sadness creep into my heart.

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I will miss you beyond words Dharam Ji ! Thank you for always being so kind, and for being so generous and loving to me. Thank you for entertaining us and for uplifting others around you. You lit up so many lives. There will never be another like you. Rest in peace."

What do you say about a man that was all heart, so loving, so compassionate & one of the biggest superstars & a legend of Indian cinema Preity Zinta Visits Dharmendras House View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

Preity Zinta also visited the Deol residence after Dharmendras last rites were performed. She met the family and offered her heartfelt condolences during this difficult time.

Dharmendras Last Rites Performed In Mumbai

Dharmendra had been receiving medical care at home after being discharged from Mumbais Breach Candy Hospital, where he had been admitted due to a prolonged illness. Doctors monitored him daily, and although his condition showed brief improvement after returning home, he ultimately succumbed to his ailment.

His eldest son, Sunny Deol, performed the last rites at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Vile Parle, Mumbai. Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan were among the first to arrive, joining thousands of fans who had gathered to bid their final farewell. Salman Khan also reached the crematorium soon after to pay his respects.

Later, images surfaced of several other Bollywood personalities, including Sanjay Dutt, Shabana Azmi, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and Aamir Khan, arriving to honour the legendary actor.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 10:34 IST

News movies bollywood Preity Zinta Remembers Dharmendra In Emotional Post: There Will Never Be Another Like You
Opinion | A 350-Year Dharmic Arc: PM Modi Leads India In Honouring Guru Tegh Bahadurs Martyrdom

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 16:10 IST

In re-centering Sikh Gurus and their message in Indias national story, the government has asserted that the future of Bharat depends on this mix of resilience and compassion

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Since 2014, the government has systematically celebrated landmark anniversaries: Guru Nanaks 550th Parkash Purab, Guru Gobind Singhs 350th, and, most recently, Guru Tegh Bahadurs 350th martyrdom. (PTI)

On a bitter winter day in 1675, Mughal tyrant Aurangzeb ordered the execution of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur in Delhis Chandni Chowk for his refusal to forsake his faith and to defend the right of religious freedom for all. Today, 350 years later, lakhs have gathered at the heart of Delhi not to mourn, but to revive Guru Tegh Bahadurs heroism with a grand kirtan-samagam and a continuous langar that feeds people from all walks of life. More than just with music and community, this remembrance signals the culmination of a profound transformation in the way India honours its Sikh heritage and the Gurus legacy within the national consciousness.

From Margins to the National Core

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For decades, Sikh history was largely marked by episodic commemorations and regional pride. Now, under Prime Minister Narendra Modis government, these narratives have become pivotal chapters in Indias national story. The Modi government has made a decisive shift: Sikh Gurus are no longer only icons within Punjab or the diaspora but are now held up as torchbearers of Bharats civilisation, embodying Dharmic resistance, moral courage, and spiritual pluralism for all Indians.

The Centres efforts have taken Sikh history out of the realm of occasional festivals and placed it at the centre of Indian national identity. Official events around Sikh centennials have become showcases of unity and collective pride. All commemorations today are supported by state power, resources, and honours at the highest level.

A New Model for Remembrance

The 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur stands as a pinnacle of this approach. Across India, from Amritsar and Anandpur Sahib to Delhis Red Fort, a series of mega events have been held to honour his sacrifice. Devotional processions, 24-hour langars, spiritual kirtan, and mass participation show that the narrative is unapologetically nationala public holiday in Delhi and large-scale government support drive the point home.

Senior officials, including the prime minister and home minister, have personally attended, affirming that Guru Tegh Bahadurs legacy are now central to the story of Indian civilisation. In fact, PM Modi flew straight to Kurukshetra after the Ram Mandir Dhwajarohan ceremony to take part in an event commemorating Guru Tegh Bahadurs ultimate sacrifice.

A lesser-noted but important dimension of this shift is Indias active Sikh outreach on the global stage. Government efforts to bring back the Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan with state honour, its facilitation and global celebrations, and easing visa and citizenship rules for persecuted Sikh communities in Afghanistan and Pakistan reflect a new form of civilisational diplomacy: India, through the legacy of the Sikh Gurus, projects itself as a protector of spiritual minorities and a beacon for the Sikh diaspora worldwide.

Major Initiatives: Commemoration and Restoration

Since 2014, the government has systematically celebrated landmark anniversaries: Guru Nanaks 550th Parkash Purab, Guru Gobind Singhs 350th, and, most recently, Guru Tegh Bahadurs 350th martyrdom. These mega events have attracted lakhs, involved world leaders, and reintroduced the nation to the Gurus teachings.

Heritage projects have reinforced this narrative shift:

 The restoration of Sikh shrines and support for a permanent Guru Nanak Chair at a UK university.

 The exemption of GST on langar (community kitchens) and enabling foreign contributions for gurudwaras. Add to that the FCRA waiver provided to Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, allowing devotees from around the world to make donations.

 The opening of the long-awaited Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, granting Indian Sikhs unimpeded pilgrimage to one of their holiest sites after decades.

By transforming Sultanpur Lodhi into a heritage city and restoring the Jallianwala Bagh memorial, the government has connected Sikh struggle and sacrifice to the broader freedom narrative of modern India.

Sikh Philosophy: A Modern Template for India

What this transformation ultimately signals is a re-stitching of the Sikh Gurus into Indias living civilisational fabric. For centuries, their stories were a potent but often compartmentalised source of inspiration. Today, the virtues of Sikh philosophymoral courage, egalitarianism, spiritual fearlessness, and the readiness to fight injusticeare being held up as a template for the Republic itself. The celebration of traditions like langar as a metaphor for social equality, the commemoration of sacrifice as a pillar of tolerance and justice, and the mass retelling of these histories promise to shape the national character for generations to come. Today, schools across India are celebrating Guru Tegh Bahadurs legacy and learning how the Gurus stood up to Islamic zealots of their time.

Initiatives like Veer Bal Diwas" to commemorate the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singhs young sons and wide dissemination of the Gurus principles in school textbooks and national events embody what may come to be seen as the integration era of Sikh heritage with the Indian mainstream.

The Moment At Red Fort: A Peoples Renaissance

At the Red Fort samagam, where history once witnessed state-sponsored brutality, the collective voice of lakhs in prayer, service, and remembrance is an act of civilisational renewal. It stands as a marker of how a government-led, people-powered movement can reclaim and reframe tradition. Bharat has transformed loss into inspiration, and marginal memory into collective national pride.

Prime Minister Modi has articulated this new zeitgeist on umpteen occasions, observing that Indias survival and resurgence as a civilisation owes much to the Sikh Gurus, whose penance, sacrifice, and vision remain the conscience of a united Bharat.

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A decade after this transformation began, the change is visible, tangible, and widely feltacross public memory, in official policy, and through the palpable pride of millions. If Mughal swords once tried to erase these pages of history, the new India has decided to inscribe them at its very core.

In re-centering the Sikh Gurus and their message in Indias national story, the government has not only acknowledged Sikh contributions, but asserted that the future of Bharat depends on this mix of resilience and compassionqualities the Gurus epitomised, and which now illuminate the path ahead for a truly inclusive Indian civilisation.

About the Author Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra is a Principal Correspondent with Network18, working on group-level ideas and special projects. Enthusiastic about both national affairs and geopolitics, Sanbeer focuses on issu... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 16:10 IST

News opinion Opinion | A 350-Year Dharmic Arc: PM Modi Leads India In Honouring Guru Tegh Bahadurs Martyrdom

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Opinion | Dharmendra  The Tender Strongman

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 10:30 IST

With him goes not just an icon, but a particular idea of heroism: unforced, decent, inwardly anchored.

Bollywood didnt invent Dharmendras heroism; it witnessed and then structured itself around it.

The lights have dimmed on the man whose presence once felt effortless. Dharmendra  Hindi cinemas original He-Man," strength tempered with sensitivity  passed away on 24 November 2025, aged 89. With him goes not just an icon, but a particular idea of heroism: unforced, decent, inwardly anchored.

Born Dharam Singh Deol in Punjab, he was already married to Prakash Kaur when he won a talent contest and came to Bombay chasing a dream  to become a star like his idol, Dilip Kumar. If Dilip gave tragedy its refinement, Dharmendra gave physicality its grace. Over 300 films  Sholay to Chupke Chupke, Anupama to Phool Aur Patthar  he brought vulnerability to valour, making masculinity feel human. Built on farm work, restraint and discipline, he resisted the flamboyance the industry often demands. The physique was legendary, but what endured was the emotional musculature: the ability to remain uncomplicatedly good.

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Shaped by the Bengali Sensibility

Bollywood didnt invent Dharmendras heroism; it witnessed and then structured itself around it.

His debut, Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960), arrived without flourish. It was Shola Aur Shabnam the following year that hinted at a new screen presence  sculpted but not aloof. By Phool Aur Patthar (1966), the template had crystallised: moral courage matched with physical certainty. In Anupama, Bandini, and Satyakam, he became proof that strength could carry conscience.

The most defining hand in this transformation came not from mainstream action cinema, but from Bengali filmmakers who saw beyond his exterior. Bimal Roy cast him in Bandini (1963) after a recommendation  not for his face or build, but for instinct. Roys precision and aversion to excess shaped Dharmendras early sensibility. He would often recall the experience not as an opportunity, but as orientation.

Hrishikesh Mukherjee deepened that trajectory. Their first film together, Anupama (1966), revealed an actor whose authority lay in understatement. Satyakam (1969)  often cited as Mukherjees most personal work  offered Dharmendra one of his finest roles, that of a man uncompromised by circumstance. The performance was unadorned, and that was its power.

They continued through Majhli Didi, Guddi, and Chupke Chupke, films where he shifted between resilience and levity without disconnecting from truth. Bengali filmmakers valued emotional rigour and moral centre  Dharmendra, perhaps unexpectedly, carried both.

He once remarked that he felt like a Bengali." What he meant was that he recognised in their cinema a rhythm he could naturally inhabit  measured, direct, without affectation.

That early training allowed him to move between genres without altering himself. The industry celebrated his build; the filmmakers who shaped him valued his balance.

Dharmendras image as Hindi cinemas indomitable strongman truly crystallised with Phool Aur Patthar (1966). Until then, he had been seen mostly as a serious actor from socially conscious films. But OP Ralhans unexpected blockbuster redefined his career and reshaped the idea of screen masculinity. As Shaaka  a hardened man with a conscience  Dharmendra brought a striking balance of power and emotional restraint. His physical presence drew attention, but it was the compassion beneath that surprised audiences.

In one of the films most quietly unforgettable scenes, the male body became a symbol of both damage and dignity. Meena Kumaris widow lies trembling in silence. Dharmendra enters, pauses, and instead of approaching with threat or desire  as cinema often once coded such moments  he removes his shirt and places it gently over her. No words, no bravado. Just protection. In that simple gesture, strength transformed into care.

That moment triggered his He-Man" mythology  not because he bared his chest, but because he used it to shield, not dominate. Audiences saw toughness shaped by empathy. Critics recognised a masculinity that could be strong without aggression, and the performance earned him his first Filmfare nomination.

After Phool Aur Patthar, roles began to follow this persona: the rugged hero driven by principle. Even when some films were later dismissed as overly commercial, his appeal endured. He didnt reject the image  he refined it, proving with Satyakam that he was not just a star of muscle, but of conviction.

Outside the Orbit of Stardom

When Rajesh Khannas wave of superstardom hit in the late 1960s, the industry recalibrated itself around hysteria and worship. Dharmendra, at the height of his career, did not. He had already transitioned into stardom without theatrics, and without requiring the phenomenon that others needed to ascend. Number one, number two  I never bothered," he said later. It rang true not because he was unaffected, but because he never positioned himself inside that framework.

In Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971), he pioneered the Hindi film curry western" before Sholay was even conceived  rugged, charismatic, but still human. Loafer (1973) extended that template, blending action with irreverence, allowing the hero to be flawed without moral collapse. He carried the film through persona rather than myth, and audiences responded not with frenzy but with familiarity.

Where Khanna represented infatuation and Amitabh later embodied rebellion, Dharmendra occupied a quieter space  trusted rather than idolised. His presence didnt need cinematic redesign; instead, narratives moulded themselves around the equilibrium he brought. He didnt chase reinvention because he was built on continuity.

And when Amitabh emerged, Dharmendra didnt contest the shift. He worked alongside him in Sholay, allowing the younger actors brooding intensity to coexist with his own ease. Bachchan would often refer to him as an elder brother  not by hierarchy, but by instinct.

Dharmendra didnt survive superstardom. He simply wasnt formed by it.

The Lightness Within the Strongman

By the 1970s, when most actors doubled down on muscle and myth, Dharmendra did something subtle: he loosened his grip.

In Chupke Chupke (1975), as Professor Parimal Tripathi masquerading as a driver, he didnt play comedy  he discovered it. This was the action hero weaponising grammar, modestly donning a drivers cap and letting the laughter occur quietly around him. Instead of lifting cars, he lifted timing. The humour arrives like a well-measured pause: so confident that effort seems optional.

That same year in Sholay, Veeru moved like someone whose laughter always beat his logic by a half-step. He flirted with Basanti at horseback speed and staged a drunken protest atop a water tank, as though intoxication were explanation enough. Then, when Jai dies, the same kinetic energy compresses into focus  no theatrical pivot, just a tightening of purpose. The comic instinct and the vengeful one spring from the same reservoir.

His home production Pratiggya (1975) reinforced the point  part bravado, part self-parody of bravado  proof that he could mock his own shadow and still fill theatres in the same year as Sholay.

Then came Dillagi (1978). Directed by Basu Chatterjee and adapted from a story by Bimal Kar, it entrusted him with Swarn Kamal, a newly appointed Sanskrit professor in a womens college. His adversary-turned-romantic target: Phoolrenu (Hema Malini), the chemistry lecturer-warden dubbed CO" by students for her icy resolve.

His wooing is persistent, not flamboyant  a day-one crush, a Holi intrusion at the girls college, Sanskrit murmurs in the corridor, uninvited summer visits to her hometown. She runs on rules and hostel registers; he runs on instinct. She asks him to apply through a matrimonial ad; he shows up instead. She bolts her heart behind protocol; he keeps knocking.

The Ease of Their Togetherness

When Dharmendra and Hema Malini began appearing together in the early 1970s, what drew audiences in was not storm or spectacle, but ease. Their screen chemistry thrived on charm, playfulness and timing  a romance propelled not by intensity but by enjoyment. He brought the sparkle, she the balance; together, they made affection look unforced.

In films like Raja Jani, Jugnu and Naya Zamana, the dynamic was established  he pursued with amused persistence, she resisted with calm intelligence. Even in Sholay (1975), amid guns and legend, their romance played like a private wind  lighter than the rest of the film, a necessary exhale. Dillagi (1978) continued this tone of softly comic pursuit, a tenderness framed in everyday gestures.

Only later did their pairing deepen into quieter emotional terrain, most notably in Gulzars Kinara (1977). Here, the playfulness gave way to introspection. He carried regret with restraint; she held grief without display. For once, they were no longer teasing each other  they were listening.

Off screen, what began in on-screen ease matured into companionship. Dharmendra, already married, chose to marry Hema in 1980. The decision drew commentary, but their relationship did not seek validation. Unlike the films that announced love with song, their union arrived quietly and stayed.

The Smouldering Rebel  Post-Eighties Dharmendra

By the mid-1980s, when many stars leaned into self-mythology, Dharmendra turned inward. Ghulami (1985) didnt revive the baagi narrative  it dismantled its legend. In the scorched terrain of Rajasthan, JP Dutta reframed rebellion not as a dacoits swagger but as a peasants inevitability. Here, oppression wasnt worn in chains but printed on land deeds, caste contracts and unpaid loans.

Dharmendra plays a Jat farmer born into resistance. He doesnt roar; he smoulders. The heroism is weary, divested of ornament  a battle waged without illusion of victory. Strength becomes endurance. In Ghulami, the former He-Man doesnt break walls  he recognises they were always there. And still walks toward them.

Around this time, the arc shifted off-screen too. His elder son, Sunny Deol, stepped into cinema, soon to channel a younger version of that defiance in films like Arjun, Dacait, Ghayal and Damini. A decade later, Bobby Deol arrived with Barsaat, Gupt, Soldier  carving a different trajectory but born of the same instinct for cinematic presence. The baton had passed; the blowtorch had dimmed.

Dharmendra, meanwhile, moved from force to resonance. He had played the fighter. After Ghulami (1985), Dharmendra didnt step away  he simply stopped needing to lead. The films kept coming, but without urgency. The industry shifted lanes; he didnt sprint to keep up. The man who once entered frames like impact began to move through them like memory. Not absence, but an easing.

That instinct echoed off-screen. In 2004, he contested from Bikaner on a BJP ticket and entered Parliament. The win was emphatic; the tenure, deliberately quiet. He campaigned with belief but didnt perform politics. Attendance was sparse, speeches rare  no attempt to command the space. After one term, he left without ceremony, later admitting an actor should stay an actor. It wasnt failure; it was the same refusal to overstate.

So when he returned to the cinematic centre in Johnny Gaddar (2007), Life in a Metro, Apne, even the looseness of Yamla Pagla Deewana, it wasnt as Dharmendra the myth. It was Dharmendra the man  wry, unguarded, quietly assured. The presence still held weight, but without pressing it. You smiled because he seemed in on the moment.

What resurfaced wasnt the strongman. It was someone strong enough to stop acting strong. That  more than the muscle, more than the myth  is what endures.

The Last Act  With Light Still in the Eyes

In his final years, Dharmendra spent much of his time at his farmhouse  a little apart from his families, but never disengaged. He lived quietly, though not silently. Social media became his informal drawing room, where he would greet the morning with unstyled honesty, talking to the camera among trees, sometimes playful, sometimes reflective, always recognisably himself.

It felt, in a way, like the long echo of a moment from the very beginning of his career: when he sang Kaifi Azmis Jaane kya dhoondti rehti hain ye aankhen mujh mein" to Tarla Mehta in Shola Aur Shabnam (1961). The young actor, observed by eyes unsure of what they sought, already carried a secret inner world  that of a closet poet speaking to himself in shayari. Across the years, that creative undercurrent deepened through his admiration of Dilip Kumars literary gravitas and his emotionally charged rapport with Meena Kumari, both connoisseurs of language and silences. They showed him how one could be a mass favourite while still holding on to nuance, how a line could be delivered like a verse. From them, he learned to speak less like a star and more like someone listening between words.

Ironically, the man whose screen persona leaned on physicality spent much of his real life shaped  even wounded  by delicacy: by couplets, pauses, the nazakatof Urdu. The He-Man remained, but the poet steadily stepped forward.

He often spoke with candid humour about his past  including his fondness for drink and the night he reportedly kept Hrishikesh Mukherjee awake insisting the role in Anand should have been his. There was no bitterness in the memory, only the laughter of a man who never quite detached from passion.

He remembered lost colleagues with tenderness, reconnected with a few still living, not as an icon visiting history but as an actor still stirred by it.

And always, he recited. Verses he wrote himself  sometimes casually, sometimes with startling clarity  trusting words to carry what physical strength no longer needed to. What endured was his zest, his humour, his refusal to retreat from feeling.

He didnt fade.

He adjusted  gently, still lit from within.

Shortly before the end, he shared these lines he had written himself:

Sab kuch pa kar bhi hasil-e-zindagi kuch bhi nahin,

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Kambakht jaan kyun jaati hai, jaate hue."

Rajeev Srivastava is a filmmaker, writer, and photographer with a deep engagement in Indian cinema. He has taught film, curated two international film festivals at Siri Fort, and exhibited his photography at Bikaner House, New Delhi, in April 2025. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 10:30 IST

News opinion Opinion | Dharmendra  The Tender Strongman

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Straight Talk | Ram Mandir Dhwajarohan: From Ayodhya, Bharat Declares Its Civilisational Awakening

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 12:21 IST

The Dhwajarohan marks the moment when suppression ends and reclamation is complete

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Ayodhya Ram Temple for the Dhwajarohan ceremony on Tuesday. (PTI)

The saffron flag that now flutters atop the Ram Mandir represents far more than the completion of a temple. It marks the closing chapter of a 500-year wound and the opening of a civilisational awakening that has redefined Indias relationship with its own past.

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When Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressed the ceremonial button to hoist the Dhwaja during the abhijit muhurat, he signalled to the world that India has finally reclaimed its interrupted civilisational narrative.

The journey from Baburs conquest in 1528 to this moment has been neither simple nor inevitable. It required generations of Hindus to hold fast to a memory that political expediency repeatedly urged them to forget. Mir Baqi, Baburs commander, demolished the temple at Rams birthplace and erected a mosque in its place.

What followed was not submission but resistance spanning centuries. From Swami Maheshanands battles against Humayun to Sri Guru Gobind Singhs confrontations with Aurangzeb, the struggle became etched into the collective consciousness of Hindu society. From Nihangs defiantly inscribing a portrait of Shri Ram inside the Babri Masjid to karsevaks being slaughtered for being part of the reclamation movement  Bharatiya society has seen it all.

The modern phase of this movement began not in the political realm, but in the hearts of ordinary devotees. The appearance of Ram Lallas idols in 1949 reignited flames that had never truly been extinguished. Yet it took the organisational heft of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and later the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to channel diffused longing into focused political action.

The Rath Yatra of 1990, the events of December 6, 1992, and the decades of legal battle that followed were all steps in a journey that many dismissed as impossible.

Atal Bihari Vajpayees promise on May 26, 1996, captured the essence of this civilisational project. Standing before Parliament, he declared that the BJP would not rest until the national objective" of constructing the Ram Mandir was fulfilled. His words were met with scepticism and mockery. Critics dismissed them as political opportunism or religious extremism. What they failed to grasp was that Vajpayee was articulating something deeper than electoral strategy. He was giving voice to a civilisational memory that refused to be erased.

The Supreme Court verdict of November 2019 provided the legal framework for what devotion had long demanded. The Court acknowledged that archaeological evidence showed a non-Islamic structure beneath the demolished mosque and awarded the disputed land to Ram Lalla. This was not merely a property dispute settled, but a civilisational injustice acknowledged by the highest court of Bharat. The judgment recognised that Hindus had maintained continuous worship at the site for centuries, even under adverse circumstances.

Modis role in transforming this verdict into reality cannot be understated. He appointed his former principal secretary  Nripendra Mishra  to oversee construction with a singular mandate: build a temple that will stand for 1,000 years. Mishra approached the task with the precision of an engineer and the devotion of a bhakt. Every detail, from the sourcing of stone to the training of artisans in traditional techniques, was executed with the understanding that this was not just construction but civilisational restoration.

The symbolism of the flag itself has been very carefully chosen. The 22-foot saffron Dhwaja features the Sun representing the Suryavansh lineage, the sacred Om, and the Kovidar tree associated with Shri Ram. In Hindu tradition, the temple flag is not decorative but sacred.

This is where the story transcends politics and enters the realm of civilisational survival, against all odds no less. The Ram Mandir movement was always about more than bricks and mortar. It represented the emergence of what has been called the political Hindu"  a Hindu who refuses to be marginalised in the name of secularism, who understands that civilisational assertions require political power, and who sees no contradiction between modernity and tradition. This Hindu does not seek permission to celebrate heritage but claims it as a birthright. And most importantly, this Hindu does not forsake his dharma only because he is expected to be a constitutional secularist".

Critics who lament the politicisation" of the Ram Mandir miss the point entirely.

All civilisational restorations are inherently political.

The reestablishment of dharma after centuries of suppression cannot occur in a power vacuum. Sure, the RSS and BJP provided the organisational push, but the movement drew its power from millions of ordinary people, who saw in Ram not just a deity, but the embodiment of Raj Dharma.

So, what happens after the flag is raised? The Ram Mandir becomes a living institution, a centre of pilgrimage that drew over six crore visitors in its first year itself. Ayodhya itself has been transformed, with new infrastructure, an international airport, and renewed economic vitality.

But the deeper transformation is in the Indian psyche. The temple stands as proof that civilisational memory can triumph over historical erasure, that patience and persistence across generations can achieve what seemed impossible. That centuries of genocide cannot stop a determined Hindu in his own land.

The struggle for Ayodhya was never just about reclaiming a physical space. It was about asserting that Hindu civilisation has the right to honour its sacred geography, to restore what was destroyed, and to write its own narrative without apology. For 500 years, that assertion was suppressed, dismissed, or delegitimised. The Dhwajarohan marks the moment when suppression ends and reclamation is complete.

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Indias civilisational journey has always been marked by resilience in the face of adversity. Invasions came and went, empires rose and fell, but the core of dharma endured. The Ram Mandir is the latest chapter in that story of endurance. It proves that truth ultimately prevails, that dharma triumphs over adharma, even if the triumph takes centuries.

The flag atop the Ram Mandir is not an endpoint but a beginning. It announces that India has shed the colonial mindset that viewed its own heritage with suspicion. It proclaims that Ram Rajya governance rooted in dharma, justice, and welfare  remains a relevant ideal for the 21st century. And it confirms that Indias journey forward will be built on the foundation of its civilisational memory  confident rather than apologetic, and assertive rather than defensive.

About the Author Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra is a Principal Correspondent with Network18, working on group-level ideas and special projects. Enthusiastic about both national affairs and geopolitics, Sanbeer focuses on issu... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 12:19 IST

News opinion Straight Talk | Ram Mandir Dhwajarohan: From Ayodhya, Bharat Declares Its Civilisational Awakening

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Industry is currently the most important issue in trade negotiations between Ukraine and the European Union, as necessary solutions have already been found for agriculture, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka said, according to an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent.

"And clearly, the metallurgical sector will be the most important, because the European Union is protecting itself, and there are many different environmental matters. This will be one of the key topics next week during the Trade Committee meeting," he said at the 26th General Assembly of the European Business Association in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Kachka noted that regulation in Ukraine has changed significantly over the past 10 years.

"There are areas where we are falling behind, for example environmental policy," the deputy prime minister acknowledged.

At the same time, he expressed confidence that with normal work by the government and parliament, Ukraine will be able to overcome the most difficult "last mile."

Regarding export prospects to the EU following the reinstatement of quotas this year, Kachka admitted that delays in increasing quota limits prevented some Ukrainian exporters from fully realizing their export potential.

"But next year this will be systematic and stable work. And I think we will achieve good export figures. But obviously, the quota framework will become tight for us within the next year, year and a half, or two," he said.

Kachka expressed hope that during the next quota review in 2028, Ukraine will be able to secure expanded access conditions to the European market while simultaneously completing accession negotiations with the European Union.
Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 09:07 IST

1 / 9 A rare, dramatic eruption in Ethiopia has pushed a high-altitude ash and gas plume across the Arabian Sea and into northern India. (File Photo) + Follow us On Google

2 / 9 If youve felt the sky over Delhi turn strangely muted or hazy, youre not imagining it. Heres whats happening, how its moving, and what it means for Delhis AQI. (File Photo)

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3 / 9 The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopias Afar region erupted for the first time in thousands of years, lofting a substantial ash column roughly 10-15 km into the atmosphere and sending plumes toward Yemen and Oman before drifting toward India. Reports place the plumes speed around 100-120 km/h at high altitude, with aviation and weather trackers monitoring its progress across the Red Sea and northern Arabian Sea. (Image: Instagram)

4 / 9 By Monday night, the ash cloud had reached northwestern India and Delhi-NCR, creating a thin, diffused haze visible in city skies. Meteorological briefings indicate the plume is predominantly high-altitude, spanning roughly 15,000-45,000 feet as it sweeps across Oman, the Arabian Sea, and into northern and central India, including Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, and parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat. (Image: Instagram)

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5 / 9 Analysts note the cloud consists mainly of sulfur dioxide (SO) with low-to-moderate volcanic ash content, a profile that matters for both aviation and air quality considerations. A rise in SO is most likely across the Himalayan belt and adjoining Terai regions of Uttar Pradesh as the plume traverses those latitudes. (Image: Instagram)

6 / 9 Indias aviation regulator issued a safety advisory guiding airlines to avoid affected altitudes and routes as operations remain sensitive to any descent or densification of the ash layers near major airports. The India Meteorological Department and multiple weather trackers suggest any significant impact on surface-level air quality in Delhi is unlikely because the plume is largely confined to higher altitudes. In practice, that means more haze aloft rather than a strong spike in ground-level PM that AQI sensors measure. (Representative image)

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7 / 9 Some outlets have highlighted very poor AQI readings and thick smog over Delhi coincident with the plumes arrival, but Delhis AQI has been hazardous for days due to local emissions, stagnant winds, and seasonal inversion, factors that can mask or magnify new contributors. The ash layer itself, being high in the atmosphere and relatively lean in coarse particulates near the surface, is not expected to be the dominant driver of AQI changes on the ground. (Image: ANI)

8 / 9 Follow IMD and local air-quality dashboards; expect normal day-to-day AQI variability from familiar urban and seasonal sources rather than a step change from the ash plume. If AQI reads very poor or severe, limit strenuous outdoor activity, use well-fitted masks (e.g., N95) when commuting, and ventilate smartly, opening windows when AQI improves, using indoor air purifiers if available. (File Photo)

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 14:40 IST

1 / 9 In the remote part of Bihar, a man who seems to defy limits of human strength is gaining widespread attention. People from nearby towns and villages gather just to see him pull off stunts that you usually only see in movies (stunts that even actors rarely do without special effects or doubles). + Follow us On Google

2 / 9 The man behind these jaw-dropping feats is Santosh Singh from Dhawa village in Rohtas district. People have started calling him "Bihars Dara Singh and it is no surprise that his stunts and sheer strength have made him a local celebrity. Everyone in the area talks about him and he is often compared to some of the biggest wrestling legends.

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3 / 9 When Santosh steps into action, people cant take their eyes off him. Whether he is pulling heavy vehicles or performing stunts that seem completely impossible, he keeps proving again and again that his strength is on a whole different level.

4 / 9 He first caught public attention when he pulled three tractors at once. The sight of Santosh dragging them so easily left spectators amazed and instantly turned him into a local hero. But that was just the beginning.

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5 / 9 Santosh didnt stop at just tractors. He later pulled a truck along with a tractor-trailer all in one stunt. Watching him do it, people couldnt believe their eyes and it only made sense why he was being called Bihars own wrestling giant.

6 / 9 Most recently, he left everyone in awe by pulling three Scorpio cars attached to a tractor-trailer. The stunt became the talk of the region. His dedication and capability have made him an inspiration to many.

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7 / 9 Santosh started his wrestling journey around the year 2000. For more than ten years, he trained hard in akharas (wrestling arenas) and pushed his body every single day. On top of that, he does intense exercises like letting large stones fall on his body, to make himself even stronger and tougher.

8 / 9 Even after a serious injury that kept him out for a whole year, Santosh came back stronger and more determined. His dedication and hard work have helped him achieve new records.

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December 08, 2025, 08:50 AM IST | Episode 103

In todays News18 Daily Digest: We begin with Parliament, where the Lok Sabha is set for a special 10-hour debate marking 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open the session, with the Opposition expected to counter his recent claims on the songs historical omissions. We then move to the continuing chaos at airports as IndiGo struggles to stabilise operations after mass cancellations triggered by crew duty regulation changes. The airline has restored partial services, but thousands of passengers remain affected as the Centre pushes for refunds and swift baggage return. In Goa, a tragic nightclub fire in Arpora has claimed at least 25 lives, prompting arrests, a government inquiry and rising political criticism over safety lapses. We also track the upcoming verdict in the high-profile 2017 Kerala actress assault case.
BJD MP Debashish Samantaray Resigns As Senior Citizen Cell Vice President, Says Post Demeaning

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 11:41 IST

Samantaray said the BJD had deviated from the line of thought, ideology and action that defined Biju Patnaiks legacy

The MP alleged that there appeared to be a design to weaken the party internally

Rajya Sabha MP Debashish Samantaray has resigned from the post of Vice President of the Biju Janata Dals (BJD) Senior Citizen Cell, criticising the partys recent organisational changes and saying the designation was demeaning and humiliating." Samantaray announced his decision in a strongly worded letter to Opposition Leader and BJD president Naveen Patnaik, dated November 24.

In the letter, Samantaray said he failed to understand the purpose of the appointment, adding that it sounded bureaucratic" and did not reflect the role of long-time loyalists of the party. I doubt that there is any place for loyalists of legendary Biju Babu or your loyalists who have stood like rock behind your long and illustrious political career," he wrote.

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Samantaray said the BJD had deviated from the line of thought, ideology and action" that defined Biju Patnaiks legacy, and expressed disappointment that despite his unflinching loyalty," he had been given a role that undermined workers who stood by the party through electoral highs and lows. He also pointed to the partys 2024 poll defeat, saying the BJD failed to accept the reasons behind the loss and take corrective action.

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The MP alleged that there appeared to be a design" to weaken the party internally, and urged Naveen Patnaik to intervene personally to address the crisis. He said thousands of BJD workers continued to see Patnaik as their only hope in future," and that the party must act to regain public confidence.

Stating that he was unable to accept" the post, Samantaray reaffirmed that he would remain a worker of the BJD and continue to uphold the BijuNaveen line of thought. I will always remain merely a worker of BJD," he wrote, signing off with Jay Jagannath."

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 11:41 IST

News politics BJD MP Debashish Samantaray Resigns As Senior Citizen Cell Vice President, Says Post Demeaning

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Mamata Banerjee Sounds War Cry Against Bengal Voter Roll Revision, BJP Labels Her 'Caretaker CM'

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 17:42 IST

Banerjee has accused the Election Commission of acting as the 'BJPs commission' and urged genuine voters of West Bengal not to be afraid of the SIR

Mamata Banerjees communication to the CEC has been direct, raising what she terms 'legitimate doubts' over the fairness and transparency of the process. File Image

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, currently underway in nine states and three Union Territories, has exploded into a major political crisis in West Bengal, spearheaded by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees sustained attacks against the Election Commission of India (ECI). Labelling the exercise as votebandia term implying deliberate disenfranchisementBanerjees aggressive posture has been met with fierce resistance from the BJP.

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If they hurt me, I will show what I can do. I will shake things up. I will move around India after the election," Mamata said on Tuesday, attacking the BJP. The TMC chairperson also declared that she would embark on a nationwide yatra against the Special Intensive Revision.

She further added, Bangla has the guts that Bangla will capture the power in Delhi."

Banerjee accused the Election Commission of acting as the BJPs commission" and urged genuine voters of the state not to be afraid of the SIR.

Amid the raging controversy, the ECI on Tuesday granted an appointment to a delegation from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for a meeting at Nirvachan Sadan on November 28 at 11 am. This decision follows a formal request made by TMCs Rajya Sabha MP and parliamentary party leader, Derek OBrien, in a letter dated November 23. The ECIs gesture of engagement comes even as CEC Gyanesh Kumar has yet to formally respond to two highly critical letters sent by the Chief Minister within the last five days.

Mamatas Charges

Mamata Banerjees communication to the CEC has been direct, raising what she terms legitimate doubts" over the fairness and transparency of the process. In her initial letter on November 20, she had urged the CEC to halt the SIR", calling the exercise chaotic, coercive and dangerous". She highlighted the severe mental and physical stress placed on Booth Level Officers (BLOs), citing tragic incidents of suicide in various states, including West Bengal, that were allegedly linked to the extreme workload and deadlines of the SIR.

Her second letter, dated November 24, escalated the allegations, questioning specific administrative decisions:

Private Data Operators: She questioned the decision to bypass existing contractual and Bangla Sahayata Kendra (BSK) staff and float a Request for Proposal to hire 1,000 new data entry operators and 50 software developers for a year. Is this exercise being undertaken at the behest of a political party to serve vested interests?" she pointedly asked.

Polling Stations in Private Complexes: Banerjee raised alarms over the poll panels consideration of setting up polling stations within private residential complexes, urging the CEC to explain why such a move was being contemplated and if it was being done under the pressure from a political party to advance their partisan interests." She demanded that the ECI maintain its neutrality and credibility above all reproach.

Abhishek Banerjees Push

TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee has also spearheaded the partys pushback, going so far as to threaten massive democratic protests. In public statements and strongly worded letters to the EC, he has dubbed the exercise Silent Invisible Rigging (SIR)" and a BJP ploy to select voters".

Abhishek Banerjees chief arguments include questioning the ECIs rationale for only targeting West Bengal and other specific states, while excluding others that share borders with Bangladesh. He has explicitly held CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the anxiety and alleged deaths stemming from the process. His warning is unequivocal: If they dare to strike even a single legitimate voters name off Bengals list through the SIR, we will show what Bengal can do when democracy is challenged."

BJP Rebuttal

In response, the BJP has launched a robust defence of the ECI and the revision process. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya took to X to vehemently attack the Chief Minister, stating that the caretaker CM" was escalating from bullying BLOs to threatening the CEO". He dismissed her concerns as political posturing, claiming her pot of sins is overflowing" and that her opposition to the SIR is driven by a desire to derail the SIR if thats what it takes" to protect an allegedly manufactured voter base. The BJP has consistently argued that the TMCs panic stems from the fact that a cleanup will expose and remove large numbers of duplicate, deceased, and ineligible voters, including illegal migrants, thereby undermining the TMCs electoral advantage.

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With the ECI now agreeing to meet the TMC delegation on November 28, the focus shifts to Nirvachan Sadan for a potential political showdown over the legitimacy and execution of the electoral roll revision.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 17:42 IST

News politics Mamata Banerjee Sounds War Cry Against Bengal Voter Roll Revision, BJP Labels Her 'Caretaker CM'

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'Take Decision To Put An End...': Siddaramaiah To Congress High Command Over Leadership Speculations

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 13:59 IST

Siddaramaiah said Congress high command will decide on Karnataka leadership amid speculation of his replacement, as MLAs loyal to Shivakumar met Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi.

Several Karnataka MLAs loyal to Deputy CM Shivakumar met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge last week in Delhi (Photo: PTI file)

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that the Congress high command has to take a decision to put an end to speculations around the change in leadership in the state.

His remarks come as speculation that he might be replaced as the chief minister has not died down, even as Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Surjewala dismissed the buzz last week.

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Several Karnataka MLAs loyal to Deputy CM Shivakumar met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge last week in Delhi, leading to buzz around the change of guard in the state as the Siddaramaiah government completed two and a half years in office.

Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have said that the Congress high command will take the call on the leadership change, and they have to abide by the decision.

Siddaramaiah has downplayed speculation about the leadership change, terming it an unnecessary debate" and attributing it to recent discussions about a cabinet reshuffle.

The Chief Minister clarified that the senior party leadership would make the final decisions regarding the reshuffle, as two of the total 34 ministerial posts in Karnataka are currently vacant and need to be filled.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister Shivanand Patil said that there are many people in the race for Chief Minister. Whats wrong with aspiring for the post?" he asked.

Home Minister G Parameshwara also threw his hat in the ring for the CM post, saying he has always been in the race" to become Chief Minister and would consider the role if the opportunity arises.

I have always been part of the CM race. If the opportunity comes, I will talk about it,"

Last week, Surjewala said that he held a discussion with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar and they agreed that a decisively defeated and faction-ridden Karnataka BJP are designedly running a maligning campaign against Karnataka and its Congress Government".

He also blamed Congress leaders for making needless" remarks on leadership change and warned them from commenting on the issue.

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While the infighting in the Congress continues, Karnataka BJP President B. Y. Vijayendra said his party is least bothered.

BJP has nothing to say on the internal fighting or rift that is going on between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. As a responsible opposition party, our only demand is that being a Chief Minister, he should address the problems the farmers are facing We really dont know whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is going to continue or someone else will occupy the seat. We are least bothered," he said.

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

First Published: November 25, 2025, 13:46 IST

News politics 'Take Decision To Put An End...': Siddaramaiah To Congress High Command Over Leadership Speculations

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Gmail Using Your Data To Train AI Systems? Heres What The Company Has Said

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 11:36 IST

Gmail users are worried their data could become the source of training Gemini AI model. Here's what Google has said to ease those concerns.

Gmail offers AI features but is Gemini being trained on it?

Gmail is popular among billions who use the platform to send/receive mails and handle other third-party account sign ups. The company is going deep with its AI integration and that seems to have started a serious discussion about the prospect of your data being used to train its AI systems without taking your consent.

But Gmail has denied all these charges and assured users it does not use your Gmail data to train the Gemini AI model. The company has repeatedly talked about the privacy terms of its AI tools and in some cases the policies do mention use of some data but not the personal content.

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Gmail Data Safe?

Gmail has been forced to issue this statement after a report by Malwarebytes claimed that some of the new AI tools in the platform are being used to train Gemini AI. However, Google has refuted those concerns by saying these tools are part of the smart feature package which is different from training the AI. The company says the AI smart features scan your emails to suggest changes or help you with quick replies.

If you are still not sure about its use, Google lets you disable them from settings and use Gmail in its original avatar sans the smartness. Many people have thought about the personal experience factor of Gemini involving their data being used to train the AI system, something Google has clearly denied.

Gmail Smart Features For AI: How To Turn It Off On Mobile And Desktop

On Mobile

Go to Settings in Gmail

Scroll down to General and look for Smart Features

Press the toggle to turn off the feature

On Desktop

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Again, the steps are similar and you can just go to Settings to disable the smart features in Gmail, Chat and Meet as well. .

The company has introduced Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro AI image tool this month. The Pro version of the AI image tool promises a lot more for the users, including new powers and editing chops in tow. Google claimed that Gemini 3 gets improved reasoning and better accuracy with text renders.

About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and ... Read More

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: November 25, 2025, 11:36 IST

News tech Gmail Using Your Data To Train AI Systems? Heres What The Company Has Said

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3-Year-Old Girl Forced To Marry 68-Year-Old Cult Leader In Pre-Birth Arrangement

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 18:03 IST

She shared that she grew up in a filthy environment with naked people around her. She said that it was cult leader David Berg strategy to prepare children for his evil intentions

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David Berg, revered as the 'grandfather' by cult members, had already chosen Serenas older sister as his 'child'. (News18 Hindi)

A tragic story has emerged from the notorious Children of God cult, infamous for its abusive and cruel practices. Serena Kelly, born into this cult, lost her chance at a normal life even before birth. The cult, known for its sexual abuse and mistreatment, subjected Serena to horrific experiences from a young age.

At just three years old, Serena was forced to wear white clothes and marry the cults founder, David Berg, who was 65 years her senior. Berg, revered as the grandfather by cult members, had already chosen Serenas older sister as his child and decided to take Serena under his protection while she was still in the womb.

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Berg preached that love should have no limits, regardless of age or relationship, and documented Serenas upbringing in the cults publications, promoting it as a model of the right way to raise children.

According to The Sun, Serena explained, Berg believed that children should be sexually awakened at a very young age." Thats why, when Serena was only three years old, her mother reportedly handed her over to Berg to become his wife.

Serena explained, He gave me a ring and we had a whole formal ceremony. It was considered a huge honour in the cult. Everyone was very excited about it." Recalling those moments, Serena said, I was barely three years old and I was given a doll. I remember that it was very special to me, because in the cult we never got many toys."

Serena described that as she grew up, she was surrounded by a filthy environment since people around her were naked. She told Unfiltered Stories" that this was all part of David Bergs strategy" to prepare children for his evil intentions.

Serena claimed that she was touched inappropriately from a very young age but no one complained because everyone thought she was made for the cult leader.

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After these experiences, Serena traveled to several countries for the cults activities, including the United States, Japan, and Brazil. In 1989, at the age of six, she went to Brazil and never met the cult leader again, who died five years later. She continued traveling for several years before, at 18, moving to the United States with her mother and leaving the cult behind.

With the support of former cult members, she began building a new life. In 2013, she completed a course in corporate communications at the University of Texas at Austin and started working. She later separated from her mother. Reflecting on her past, she says, I dont think about the old days anymore."

First Published: November 25, 2025, 18:03 IST

News viral 3-Year-Old Girl Forced To Marry 68-Year-Old Cult Leader In Pre-Birth Arrangement

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Scotch With Milk Is Not The Only Bizarre Thing This Maharaja Of Patiala Did!

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 14:21 IST

The Maharaja often imported his favourite liquor from Europe, and once even chartered a special train packed only with Scotch whisky and champagne

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The Maharaja began adding milk to his whisky to soften its impact on his liver. (AI Generated/News18 Hindi)

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patialas fondness for alcohol is legendary, particularly his peculiar habit of mixing Scotch whisky with milk. Known for his luxurious lifestyle and love of alcohol, the Maharajas unique drinking preference often made headlines.

Historical documents from various news reports and Punjab University archives confirm his penchant for Scotch whisky mixed with milk. This unusual habit was highlighted by the British magazine The London Mirror after his death in 1938, noting that he began his mornings with a pint of Scotch whisky and milk.

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The Times newspaper also reported similar details at that time. In the book The Maharaja Shailor  Diaries of Indias Princely Tables, the eccentric eating and drinking habits of kings, including Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, are discussed.

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was renowned for his opulent lifestyle. He popularised the Patiala Peg, a notably large serving of alcohol, and was known to indulge heavily while encouraging others to do the same.

Why They Drank Milk Mixed With Scotch

The reason behind his unusual whisky-and-milk mixture, as he believed, was to protect his liver. It is said that his royal doctors and British physicians advised him to consume something substantial and protective with his drink to mitigate its effects. Thus, he began adding milk to his whisky to soften its impact on his liver, particularly on an empty stomach. Diwan Jarmani Dass described this practice as a royal home remedy.

The Patiala Peg was nearly twice the size of a standard drink, making it challenging to consume straight, so milk was added to make it easier to handle. In colonial times, there was a European drink called milk punch, made with rum, brandy, milk, and spices.

Drunk, He Drove His Rolls Royce Like A Horse

Numerous stories exist about the Maharajas antics while drunk. On one occasion, he drove his Rolls Royce around the palace grounds as if it were a horse. He enjoyed listening to music and dancing with foreign women while intoxicated. Nightly parties at his court featured alcohol and dancing.

London Hotel Left Vandalised

In 1911, during a stay at the Savoy Hotel in London with his father, the drunken Maharaja turned on a fire hydrant hose in the hotel corridor, flooding the floor and damaging expensive carpets and decorations. Despite the hotels complaint, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh not only paid for the damages but also offered to buy the hotel, turning the incident into a famous story.

Train Loaded With Liquor

The Maharaja regularly imported his favourite alcohol from Europe. On one occasion, he chartered a special train filled solely with Scotch whisky and champagne, reflecting his vast consumption and spending on alcohol.

A Night Of Dancing In Paris

During his travels abroad, he enjoyed the nightlife, and a notable incident in a Paris nightclub saw him perform a Bhangra dance while drunk, surprising onlookers.

Bizarre Customs Of The Patiala Darbar

His drunken antics continued even in his own court, where he often made bizarre bets under the influence. One such tale claims he once wagered that he could slip between an elephants front legs and climb onto its back, a testament to his unpredictable, flamboyant nature.

Drinking Contest Before Foreign Guests

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh took great pride in his drinking prowess and frequently challenged foreign guests and British officers to drinking contests. Often, his guests would pass out while the Maharaja continued drinking.

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Sources:

Diwan Jarmani Dass  Maharaja (1961)

Amarinder Singh  Patiala: The Maharajas and Their Magnificent Legacy

Philip Mason  The Men Who Ruled India

The Illustrated Weekly of India, 1960s features on Patiala Peg

Location : Patiala, India, India

First Published: November 25, 2025, 14:21 IST

News viral Scotch With Milk Is Not The Only Bizarre Thing This Maharaja Of Patiala Did!

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'I'm Not Like Him': Who Is Adolf Hitler Uunona, Namibian Politician Set For Re-election?

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2025, 00:15 IST

Namibian politician Adolf Hitler Uunona has firmly rejected any connection to the character or actions of Germany's Adolf Hitler, one of the most notorious dictators in history

Namibian politician Adolf Hitler Uunona said his father chose the name without knowing its historical significance. (Image: @FearedBuck/X)

Whats in a name, youd say. A politician from Namibia would likely disagree with you.

Set for re-election, Namibian politician Adolf Hitler Uunona  a striking yet highly controversial name  has firmly rejected any connection to the character or actions of German dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the most notorious personalities in history.

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This is not the first time Uunona has had to field curiosity and intrusive questions about his name, but that has not stopped him from winning multiple elections in his constituency as a long-serving member of the ruling South West Africa Peoples Organization (SWAPO).

While many Namibians have names originating from the ex-colonial power Germany, his has always sparked particular intrigue but he has categorically claimed that his father had no idea about its historical significance while christening him.

My father gave me this name Adolf Hitler, but it does not mean I have Adolf Hitlers character or resemble that of Adolf Hitler of Germany," Uunona told The Namibian, a local newspaper. Hitler was a controversial person who captured and killed people across the globe. I am not like him."

Uunona is a 59-year-old member of the SWAPO, which is the countrys left-leaning ruling party since its independence from South Africa in 1990. He serves as the councillor for the Ompundja constituency in the Oshana Region of Namibia.

Well-established in his role, he was first been elected as councillor in 2004, followed by re-election bids in 2015 and 2020. Following his 2020 victory, which he won with a large majority of 85 percent of the vote, he told a local newspaper that he had distanced himself from his infamous namesake, noting he didnt have a choice" in the name he was given.

Current election forecasts indicate that Uunona is expected to win his seat again. The councillor prefers to go by the name Adolf Uunona.

But he has acknowledged his childhood reflections on his name saying he only understood that the original Adolf Hitler wanted to conquer the whole world". He believes his father likely didnt understand what Adolf Hitler stood for" when naming him. But he said it is too late now to change the name as it appears on all his official documents.

WHAT IS THE GERMANY-NAMIBIA CONNECTION?

Namibia, in fact, has a complex past when it comes to Germany, which colonised the country  then South West Africa  from 1884 to 1915. After World War I, the League of Nations mandated South Africa to administer the territory as a protectorate which ruled for 75 years.

German occupiers in Namibia killed tens of thousands of indigenous Herero and Nama people in massacres from 1904 to 1908, which historians have called the first genocide of the 20th century. Hence, Uunonas name is a dark reminder of his countrys history, and he has consciously sought to distance himself from the association.

The colonisation, however, resulted in the adoption of some Germanic first names that are still common in Namibia today. The German influence extended far beyond the end of the colonial period. Notably, some areas of the country were home to Nazis who fled Germany after World War II, and a 1976 New York Times article documented how some German-Namibians continued to use Heil Hitler" as a greeting.

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The German Empires genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama people is sometimes referred to as the Kaisers Holocaust, and saw approximately 70,000 people killed. Germany officially recognised the genocide in 2021, prompting Namibian leaders to push for reparations, an effort that remains ongoing.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author Oindrila Mukherjee Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing im... Read More

Location : Windhoek, Namibia

First Published: November 26, 2025, 00:10 IST

News world 'I'm Not Like Him': Who Is Adolf Hitler Uunona, Namibian Politician Set For Re-election?

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Photo: https://www.dw.com

Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, following a conversation with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated, in particular, that his country seeks a quick ceasefire, a just and durable peace for Ukraine and security for Europe.

"We continue to support Ukraine: We seek a ceasefire as soon as possible, a just and durable peace for Ukraine and security for Europe. Any plan affecting European interests and sovereignty requires Europes consent. Europe stands firm and united," Merz wrote on the social network X.

As reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and shared fresh details of the work on steps to end the war. The President also noted that the Ukrainian side continues to communicate with the American side.
Children Among 10 Killed As Pakistan Strikes Multiple Provinces Of Afghanistan

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Vani Mehrotra



Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 09:21 IST

Pakistan conducted overnight air and drone strikes in Afghanistans Kunar, Paktika and Khost provinces, targeting suspected TTP and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar hideouts.

Pakistan bombs multiple areas in Afghanistan (Photo: CNN-News18)

Nearly 10 casualties were reported after Pakistan carried out a series of overnight air and drone strikes across multiple provinces in Afghanistan, targeting suspected hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar along the Durand Line, intelligence inputs told CNN News18.

The strikes, reported in Kunar, Paktika and Khost provinces, have triggered strong reactions from the Taliban administration, which claims multiple civilian casualties.

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According to the inputs, the operations focused on the Barmal area of Paktika province, which intelligence sources described as a stronghold of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar militants.

Drone strikes hit a vehicle near a guest house (hujra), with locals in Barmal claiming heavy explosions were heard shortly after midnight.

Former TTP leader Umar Khalid Khorasani was killed in a blast in the same region in 2022. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar had earlier claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the Frontier Corps (FC) headquarters in Peshawar on Monday.

Another strike was claimed by locals in Kunar province, while Afghan Taliban authorities were still assessing the damage and awaiting complete ground reports.

AFP quoted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid as saying that at least ten civilians (nine children and one woman) were killed in Khost province.

He added that strikes in Kunar and Paktika wounded four more civilians.

According to AFP, the bombardment followed an unclaimed suicide attack on Pakistans security forces earlier this week in a province bordering Afghanistan.

The report also claimed that Pakistan has recently blamed militants operating from Afghan soil for a series of attacks, including a suicide blast in Islamabad earlier this month that killed 12 people.

Islamabad alleged that the attackers were guided by a high command based in Afghanistan."

Tensions have simmered for months, with both countries exchanging cross-border fire in October before entering a fragile truce that has repeatedly come under strain.

Reuters too quoted Mujahid as saying that Pakistani forces bombed the home of a civilian, Wilayat Khan, in Khosts Gerbzwo district.

The report also highlighted that the latest raids followed twin suicide bombings in Peshawar on Monday, which killed three paramilitary personnel.

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The agency recalled that both armies had clashed in October, killing dozens, and that ceasefire talks in Turkey later collapsed amid disagreements over anti-Pakistan militant groups operating inside Afghanistan.

ALSO READ | Zero Tariffs, Expanded Trade Routes: Afghan Minister Calls For Stronger Ties With India

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: November 25, 2025, 08:58 IST

News world Children Among 10 Killed As Pakistan Strikes Multiple Provinces Of Afghanistan

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'Coordinating New Date': Israeli PM Netanyahu's Office After Postponement Of Delhi Visit

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 22:28 IST

Netanyahus office reiterated that Israels bond with India remains strong, and the Prime Minister has full confidence in Indias security under PM Modi.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Reuters File Image)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office on Tuesday said that it is currently coordinating with Indian authorities to set a new date for his postponed visit.

The trip, originally scheduled for December, was postponed without an official statement at the time.

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Despite the delay, Netanyahus office reiterated that Israels bond with India remains strong, and the Prime Minister has full confidence" in Indias security under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A statement shared on social media platform X read, Israels bond with India and between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister @narendramodi is very strong. The PM has full confidence in Indias security under PM Modi, and teams are already coordinating a new visit date."

Prime Ministers Office:Israels bond with India and between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister @narendramodi is very strong. The PM has full confidence in Indias security under PM Modi, and teams are already coordinating a new visit date.  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) November 25, 2025

The Israeli statement comes after some media reports had suggested that the postponement was due to security concerns" after a deadly terror attack in New Delhi two weeks ago, which killed at least 15 people and injured many others.

However, speaking with CNN-News18, sources clarified that the reports were misleading and factually incorrect," urging caution against drawing connections between the visit delay and the attack.

Media reports in this regard are misleading and factually incorrect. Drawing linkages with Delhi blast are irresponsible. We would urge caution against such misleading news stories," the source said.

Netanyahus last official visit to India was in January 2018, a six-day trip that marked the second visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to India. This visit followed Prime Minister Narendra Modis landmark trip to Israel in 2017.

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Recently, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had completed a successful three-day visit to Israel, where he met with Netanyahu and other key Israeli leaders. Goyal had conveyed PM Modis warm wishes to Netanyahu and updated him on the outcomes of his discussions with Israeli officials, including the Business Forum and CEOs Forum.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 20:36 IST

News world 'Coordinating New Date': Israeli PM Netanyahu's Office After Postponement Of Delhi Visit

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Did Meghan Markle Steal Dress Worth $1,695 From Old Photoshoot? Netflix Promo Sparks Controversy

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News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: November 26, 2025, 00:35 IST

The controversy surfaced after Meghan Markle was spotted wearing the same dress -- an emerald green Galvan gown -- in a promo for her new Netflix holiday special

(Left) Meghan Markle in the emerald green Galvan gown for a promo of her new Netflix holiday special, 'With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration'; this is yet another thorn on the side for Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, who seems to be plagued with controversies ranging from her married life with Prince Harry to her business ventures. (Image: @meghan/Instagram/AFP/File)

In a fresh controversy, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been accused of keeping" a $1,695 designer dress that she borrowed for a 2022 magazine photoshoot.

This controversy surfaced after Meghan Markle was spotted wearing the same dress  an emerald green Galvan gown  in a promo for her new Netflix holiday special, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration.

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According to reports, Markle borrowed the dress during for a 2022 Variety magazine cover photoshoot. Multiple sources have cited journalist Vanessa Grigoriadis, who spoke on a podcast about the surprising claims that she retained clothes and jewellery from a high-profile shoot, despite her significant personal wealth.

There is, however, conflicting reports suggesting whether this retention was either intentional theft, a simple misunderstanding, or part of an unconfirmed royal archive" protocol. But most reports have mentioned that the garment was retained by her without permission.

The festive promotional material has reignited a debate over the organised protocol of high-end fashion loans. Many observers were quick to spot that the gown was identical to the one she wore for her 2022 Variety magazine cover feature.

An exclusive report claimed that Markle took the dress from the shoot without asking". Grigoriadis reportedly spilled the beans" on Andrew Golds Heretics podcast in 2024, revealing that the Duchess allegedly did not return a lot of stuff" after she wore it in a very high-profile photo shoot".

Whats shocking about hearing these kinds of alleged stories is that somebody who is living in a $15 million plus mansion in Montecito, whos just had $100 million deals, would care enough to take home some jewellery and clothes from a photoshoot that she can clearly afford," Grigoriadis was quoted.

This is yet another thorn on the side for the Duchess, who seems to be plagued with controversies ranging from her married life with Prince Harry to her business ventures. The couple continues to be under intense scrutiny after they stepped away from Royal titles.

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But many reports quoted sources defending Markles move as part of archiving" her clothes as a royal, asserting that it was known that items pulled may not be returned". This is not the first time high-end designer pieces from photoshoots have followed the Duchess home.

She was recently spotted in a black-and-white, tweed strapless midi dress by Chanel during a date night. Intriguingly, she had previously worn that exact designer piece for her 2022 cover shoot for The Cut.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: November 26, 2025, 00:35 IST

News world Did Meghan Markle Steal Dress Worth $1,695 From Old Photoshoot? Netflix Promo Sparks Controversy

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Donald Trump May Fire FBI Chief Kash Patel, As Frustration Grows Over Travel, Girlfriends Security

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2025, 02:22 IST

US President Donald Trumps top aides have grown increasingly frustrated by the headlines generated by FBI Chief Kash Patel.

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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel listens while US President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

US President Donald Trump is mulling the removal of Indian-American FBI Director Kash Patel in the coming months. Trump and his top aides grew increasingly uneasy with the string of negative headlines surrounding him.

According to MS Now, Kash Patel is facing scrutiny for how he is using bureau resources and also for his girlfriends security detail and use of a government jet. He also facing flak within the Trump camp for his squabbles with other Trump allies.

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The report said that Trump and White House aides have confided to allies that the US President is weighing whether or not to remove Patel.

It also said that Trump is considering top FBI official Andrew Bailey as the bureaus new director.

The report by MS News said Patel is on thin ice," and his exit looks closer than ever, with Andrew Bailey emerging as the most likely replacement but it also pointed out that Trump could still shift course in the weeks ahead.

President Trump has assembled the most talented and impressive Administration in history and they are doing an excellent job carrying out the Presidents agenda. FBI Director Patel is a critical member of the Presidents team and he is working tirelessly to restore integrity to the FBI," the White House told the news outlet when asked about Patel.

Trump publicly commended Patel at the White House on Tuesday when he presided over the annual pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkeys and said that Patel was very busy doing a great job".

I do have confidence in Kash, a lot of confidence, and the DOJ," Trump told Fox News Channels Brian Kilmeade last week.

The report said that US Attorney General Pam Bondi has been growing frustrated with both Patel and Dan Bongino, mainly because Patel has posted on social media at the wrong time and boasted too early about case breakthroughs. Officials worried that those posts could jeopardize investigations.

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It also said that Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche have been annoyed by the steady stream of stories about Patels questionable use of taxpayer resources.

Those include claims from a self-described whistleblower who said Patel used a government jet for what critics called a date night" to watch his girlfriend perform in State College, Pennsylvania. The report also said that he assigned elite SWAT team agents to act as a security detail for her.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 26, 2025, 02:22 IST

News world Donald Trump May Fire FBI Chief Kash Patel, As Frustration Grows Over Travel, Girlfriends Security

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Dubai-Based Fugitive Drug Lord Pawan Thakur Under Probe Agency's Radar: Report

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Last Updated: December 05, 2025, 16:57 IST

Dubai-based trafficker Pawan Thakur, accused of masterminding one of Indias biggest cocaine seizures, is under the radar of probe agencies, a report has claimed.

Dubai-based drug trafficker Pawan Thakur (Photo: Social Media)

Dubai-based drug trafficker Pawan Thakur, accused of orchestrating one of Indias biggest cocaine seizures last year, is under the radar of probe agencies, NDTV reported.

According to the report, investigators have established that the cocaine consignment linked to Thakur was first routed through an Indian port. After entering the country, it was transported by truck to the national capital, where it was stored inside a warehouse for distribution to handlers.

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Officials described the operation as one of the most sophisticated drug trafficking mechanisms uncovered in recent years, with Thakur allegedly directing key stages of the supply chain from abroad.

In September this year, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had secured Interpols first-ever Silver Notice issued at the initiative of an Indian investigative agency, targeting Thakur in connection with the recovery of around 82 kg of cocaine in Delhi in November 2024.

The NCB had said that the Silver Notice was published through close coordination with Interpol and was expected to assist agencies across member countries in identifying, locating, and tracing assets linked to Thakurs alleged criminal proceeds.

The report further quoted the NCB as saying that Thakur had emerged as the mastermind" behind the import, export, and trafficking of the seized cocaine.

It claimed that he not only arranged the consignments entry through an Indian port but also facilitated its movement by road to Delhi.

His associates, the NCB said, managed warehousing and custodianship in the capital, while Thakur personally mediated between various handlers to ensure that the distribution process remained uninterrupted.

Investigations referenced in the IANS report also revealed that Thakur allegedly operated a hawala network with bases in Dubai and Delhi.

The NCB stated that this channel was used to move illicit funds generated from narcotics trafficking and launder them into the formal financial system through his associates.

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Thakur resided in Dubai and continued to operate his narcotics and money-laundering syndicate from there.

Apart from NCB, the Enforcement Directorate is investigating Thakurs syndicate laundered over Rs 681 crore through fake import-export documentation, crypto transfers, and falsified financial statements. The ED had issued multiple summons to the drug trafficker, but he failed to appear.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 14:53 IST

News world Dubai-Based Fugitive Drug Lord Pawan Thakur Under Probe Agency's Radar: Report

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Ethiopia's 'Sleeping' Volcano Awakens After 12,000 Years. How Many More Are There & Should You Worry?

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 13:54 IST

A dormant volcano is a volcano that is not currently erupting but is not extinct either. This typically means it still has the potential to erupt in the future

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Eruption in Ethiopia has pushed a high-altitude ash and gas plume across the Arabian Sea and into northern India. (File Photo)

A long-silent volcano in north-eastern Ethiopia has erupted for the first time in almost 12,000 years, releasing massive columns of ash that rose nearly 14 kilometres into the atmosphere, spreading the plume across Yemen, Oman, India and northern Pakistan.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano, situated in the Afar region roughly 800 kilometres from Addis Ababa and close to the Eritrean frontier, burst into activity on Sunday, with the eruption continuing for several hours. Standing about 500 metres high, the volcano lies within the geologically volatile Rift Valley, where two tectonic plates diverge.

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According to The Smithsonian Institutions Global Volcanism Program, Hayli Gubbi has had no known eruptions during the Holocene, which began around 12,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age.

So, what exactly are dormant volcanoes and are there more that the world needs to look out for?

Understanding Dormant Volcanoes

A dormant volcano is a volcano that is not currently erupting but is not extinct either. This typically means it still has the potential to erupt in the future. Some of the key features of a dormant volcano are that it has had no recent eruptionsoften for hundreds or thousands of yearsand shows signs of internal heat or seismic activity (such as small earthquakes, gas emissions) indicating that the magma system is still alive.

Some examples of dormant volcanoes are Mount Fuji (Japan), which last erupted in 1707, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania that is dormant but not extinct, and USAs Yellowstone Caldera that shows extremely long intervals between eruptions.

Why Should Countries Monitor Dormant Volcanoes?

The biggest reason for continuous monitoring is that dormant volcanoes can reactivate unexpectedly. For instance, Mount Pinatubo in Philippines erupted catastrophically in 1991 after over 500 years of dormancy.

Apart from forming fertile soil, beautiful mountain landscapes, and mineral-rich environments, many iconic mountains like Fuji, Kilimanjaro and Rainier are dormant volcanoes that are visited by millions. They thus become crucial tourist attractions.

Scientists monitor dormant volcanoes using seismic sensors, gas detectors, satellite imagery, and temperature readings that help provide early warnings.

What Are The Other Dormant Volcanoes That Could Be Catastrophic?

1. Mauna Loa: Located on the island of Hawaii, Mauna Loa is a 13,681-feet-tall volcano that has erupted 33 times since 1843. Its last major eruption occurred in 1984 and scientists consider it the worlds most closely monitored volcano.

2. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africas Sleeping Giant: Mount Kilimanjaro, located in Tanzania at 19,341 feet, is Africas highest peak. Though dormant for approximately 3.6 million years, its glaciers are rapidly melting, which could be a sign of geothermal changes. Scientists believe that if it becomes active again, it could impact large parts of Tanzania.

3. Mount Fuji: The 12,388-feet-high volcano is an identifier of Japan. It has been dormant since the devastating Hoei eruption of 1707 but its proximity to a densely populated area like Tokyo makes it one of the worlds most dangerous dormant volcanoes.

4. Mount St. Helens: Located in Washington State, USA, it is notorious for its devastating 1980 eruption. It has been quiet since 2008, but its activity is still closely monitored because it still has the potential to erupt again.

5. Mount Vesuvius: Italys Mount Vesuvius is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in history. The 4,203-feet-high volcano completely wiped out the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. It has been dormant since 1944, but its proximity to major cities like Naples poses a significant threat.

6. Mount Etna: Located in Sicily, Mount Etna stands at 10,922-feet-tall and is considered Europes most active volcano. It has been erupting continuously for thousands of years. A major eruption occurred in 2021. It has the potential to influence the climate of the Mediterranean and Europe.

7. Mount Rainier: Americas 14,410-foot-high Mount Rainier is usually covered in snow but is extremely dangerous. Its massive glaciers can trigger a massive mudflow with any eruption that could sweep away entire cities. Scientists call it Americas Time Bomb.

8. Mount Taranaki: New Zealands 8,263-feet-high Mount Taranaki has been dormant since 1850. Its renowned for its beautiful, nearly perfect cone shape but scientists warn it has the potential for a sudden, massive eruption that could impact the entire North Island.

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9. Mount Tambora: Indonesias 9,350-feet-high Mount Tambora is known for its devastating eruption in 1815. This eruption plummeted global temperatures and caused the Year Without A Summer. Millions died from hunger and cold. Although it is now dormant, its reactivation would have repercussions for the entire world.

10. Mount Pelee: The 4,583-feet-high volcano on the Caribbean island of Martinique erupted in 1902, killing 30,000 people. It has been quiet since then, but it is considered one of the worlds most dangerous dormant volcanoes.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 13:53 IST

News world Ethiopia's 'Sleeping' Volcano Awakens After 12,000 Years. How Many More Are There & Should You Worry?

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F*cking Indians Dont...: Campbell Soup VPs Racist Rant Leaked Amid 3D-Printed Chicken Row

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 19:49 IST

The recording was done by Robert Garza, a former cybersecurity analyst, who had met Campbells Vice President Martin Bally for a meeting.

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Recorded remarks reveal Campbell Soup executive mocking Indians, poor people, and admitting to 3D-printed chicken claims. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

Campbell Soup Companys Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer Martin Bally last year branded his Indian coworkers as idiots" in a racist tirade. The company is facing a major controversy because of several remarks made by Bally which was recorded by Robert Garza, a former cybersecurity analyst, who met the former last year for a routine salary meeting.

Garza recorded the food giants top executive mocking poor people" who buy them, admitting that their chicken is 3-D printed or lab grown and also admitted that he himself has come to work high" and that the employee who reported it was fired.

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A lawsuit was filed on Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court over the remarks.

Garza recorded Bally mocking poor people" who buy the very products he oversaw.

We have st for fking poor people. Who buys our st? I dont buy Campbells products barely anymore," Bally was recorded saying.

Its not healthy now that I know what the fks in it. Bioengineered meat  I dont wanna eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3-D printer," he said, admitting that the meat could be lab grown.

Fking Indians dont know a fking thing. They couldnt think for their fking selves," he said in a racist rant.

Campbell Soup defended their product and said that Bally is temporarily on leave".

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If the comments were in fact made, they are unacceptable. They do not reflect our values and the culture of our company. We were not aware of the recording," a spokesperson said in a statement. We are proud of the food we make, the people who make it and the high-quality ingredients we use. The comments heard on the recording about our food are not only inaccurate  they are patently absurd."

Garza said he was terminated 20 days after he raised the issue with his manager and spoke up against Bally. Garza was working with Bally in the companys Camden, New Jersey, headquarters since September 2024 until his termination earlier this year in January.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 25, 2025, 19:49 IST

News world F*cking Indians Dont...: Campbell Soup VPs Racist Rant Leaked Amid 3D-Printed Chicken Row

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Felt Like A Sudden Bomb: Witness Says Ground Shook When Long-Dormant Ethiopia Volcano Erupted

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 13:51 IST

The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in France confirmed the eruption after detecting it on satellite imagery.

In this photo released by the Afar Government Communication Bureau, ash billows from the first time eruption of the Hayli Gubbi Volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region Sunday. (AP)

A resident in Ethiopias Afar region said the ground shook like a sudden bomb had been thrown" when a long-dormant volcano unexpectedly erupted over the weekend, sending towering ash clouds across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman.

Speaking to the Associated Press, witness Ahmed Abdela told local authorities he heard a loud blast and felt a shock wave as ash and smoke billowed into the sky on Sunday morning.

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The eruption occurred at the Hayli Gubbi volcano, which has no previous recorded history of activity, according to local administrator Mohammed Seid. The nearby village of Afdera was blanketed in ash, though officials said there were no casualties. Seid warned that the fallout could damage the livelihoods of livestock herders whose animals now have little to graze on as ash covers the landscape.

  Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi Volcano Awakens After 10,000 YearsIn a stunning geological event, Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi volcanolong dormant in the remote Danakil Depression of the Afar Rifterupted explosively for the first time in recorded history on November 23, 2025. The pic.twitter.com/bZby4sAuOC  The Informant (@theinformant_x) November 24, 2025

The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in France confirmed the eruption after detecting it on satellite imagery. Residents said parts of the village, located near the Danakil desert tourist route, remained coated in ash on Monday, leaving tourists and guides stranded. Local authorities also released photos and videos showing a massive ash plume rising from the volcano.

Seid said the eruptions economic impact could be significant despite no loss of life so far. Many villages have been covered in ash and as a result their animals have little to eat," he said.

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Volcanic ash from the sudden eruption of Ethiopias long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano drifted toward Indias west coast, prompting aviation authorities to issue alerts and forcing several airlines to cancel or reroute flights as a precaution.

Meteorological agencies tracking the ash plume said shifting upper-air winds carried fine particles across the Arabian Sea, creating potential risks for aircraft engines and visibility. Airlines operating on Gulf and African routes have also announced cancellations and delays.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 10:30 IST

News world Felt Like A Sudden Bomb: Witness Says Ground Shook When Long-Dormant Ethiopia Volcano Erupted

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'Illegal Usurper': Bangladesh Awami League Calls Nationwide Stir Against Yunus, Rejects Hasina Verdict

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 21:58 IST

The Awami League launched the protests until November 30, alleging interim leader Muhammad Yunus is conspiring to prevent the party and Hasina from taking part in upcoming polls

The International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka has sentenced former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina to death for "crimes against humanity". (Image: AFP/File)

The Bangladesh Awami League has demanded the resignation of interim leader Muhammad Yunus, calling him a usurper" and a killer-fascist" while simultaneously rejecting the death row verdict against its leader and ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Awami League launched nationwide protests until November 30, alleging Yunus is conspiring to prevent the party and Hasina from taking part in the upcoming general elections next year. This comes soon after the interim government of Bangladesh sought the former prime ministers extradition from India.

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The Awami League launched the nationwide stir on social media platform X, calling for protests, demonstrations, and resistance marches. It two demands: the rejection of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) death sentence against Hasina, and the immediate resignation of Yunus. In its official statement, it firmly rejected the verdict calling it illegal".

Demanding the Resignation of Illegal Usurper, KillerFascist Yunus and Rejecting the Verdict of the Illegal ICT Tribunal," the Awami League posted on X.

Bangladesh Awami Leagues Continuous ProgramsDemanding the Resignation of Illegal Usurper, KillerFascist Yunus and Rejecting the Verdict of the Illegal ICT Tribunal Protest, demonstration and resistance marches across all districts and upazilas until 30 NovemberDear pic.twitter.com/y9KHOJDKaS Bangladesh Awami League (@albd1971) November 25, 2025

In its post, the Awami League thanked its supporters for witnessing and rejecting the farcical judgment" delivered by the so-called court established by the illegal usurper, killerfascist Yunus and his clique". It said it is only with the courageous voice and support of the people" that they announced the marches, rejecting the illegal verdict.

The illegal usurper, killerfascist Yunus clique is conspiring to keep the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina out of the election. As part of that conspiracy, they staged this mockery of a trial in their own manufactured court. The Awami League is not only rejecting the illegal ICT verdict, but is also working at the grassroots, holding discussions with political leaders, stakeholders and people from all walks of life to break the web of plots woven by this occupying force. It is now clear to everyone that the Yunus clique is engaged in anti-state conspiracies. The people are ready to fight against these anti-liberation and anti-state forces. And the Awami League will lead that fight," the party wrote.

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This crisis unfolds as the general elections approach in Bangladesh. The Awami League has alleged that the verdict and trial are part of a broader conspiracy" orchestrated by the Yunus government to keep out Hasina and the party from the polls.

The party issued a stern warning that a staged election excluding the pro-liberation forces, the Awami League and Hasina will not be allowed in Bangladesh. They said such an election will be resisted at any cost", while promising a tough nationwide movement" following the initial stir to defend the country against what they deem to be anti-state and anti-liberation forces.

About the Author Oindrila Mukherjee Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing im... Read More

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: November 25, 2025, 21:58 IST

News world 'Illegal Usurper': Bangladesh Awami League Calls Nationwide Stir Against Yunus, Rejects Hasina Verdict

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India A Huge Market, Must Restore Our Full Partnership: Afghan Minister Bats For Deeper Trade Ties

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CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 16:26 IST

Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi stressed that Afghanistan sees India as one of the biggest and most promising markets for Afghan goods, particularly minerals and agricultural products

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Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal with Afghanistan's Commerce and Industry Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi during a meeting. (@PiyushGoyal/X via PTI Photo)

Afghanistans Commerce and Industry Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi has said India is a huge market and the two countries must restore our full partnership".

In an exclusive conversation with News18 India, Azizi struck an optimistic note on the future of IndiaAfghanistan economic ties, emphasising that both nations stand to gain significantly from deeper trade, investment and connectivity.

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Azizi began by expressing gratitude for New Delhis invitation, calling his India visit an opportunity that will deliver good results for both countries". He confirmed that India and Afghanistan have agreed to organise joint exhibitions and B2B interactions aimed at boosting commercial linkages. This will benefit both nations. Afghan products have strong demand in India, and we have been trading for many years," he said.

A major focus of the talks was reducing the high cost of the air corridor, a crucial lifeline for Afghan exports after Pakistan blocked transit trade via Wagah. While the minister refrained from putting a number on Afghanistans losses due to the closure, he admitted the impact was unnecessary and avoidable. Losses are happening for no reason," he remarked.

Azizi stressed that Afghanistan sees India not just as a partner, but as one of the biggest and most promising markets for Afghan goods, particularly minerals and agricultural products. At the same time, he pointed out that Indian products enjoy strong demand not only in Afghanistan but also across Central Asia and Russia. We do not want to miss any market," he added.

On the strategic Chabahar Port, the minister acknowledged that while it is a functional and important route, current transportation costs remain high. Kabul, he said, is committed to lowering these charges to make the corridor more competitive and commercially attractive.

Sending a clear message to New Delhi, Azizi outlined Kabuls expectations from the Narendra Modi government. We request the government of India to restore the political, trade and cultural relationship that once existed between our two countries," he said, signalling Afghanistans keenness to reset ties amid regional challenges.

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The minister, while addressing global concerns over security under Taliban rule, asserted that Afghanistan is now one of the safest countries", adding that tourists have begun returning. There may be security issues anywhere in the world, but there is no security concern in Afghanistan today," he insisted.

With trade talks gaining momentum and both sides seeking greater connectivity, Azizis message was unequivocal: India and Afghanistan are natural economic partners, and the time has come to revive their full potential.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 16:26 IST

News world India A Huge Market, Must Restore Our Full Partnership: Afghan Minister Bats For Deeper Trade Ties

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Finally, there is a chance to achieve real progress towards lasting peace in Ukraine, the absolute condition of which is reliable security guarantees for Ukrainians, French President Emmanuel Macron said at a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing.

"We are clearly at a turning point. Negotiations are gaining new momentum, and we must maintain this pace at all costs... finally, there is a real chance to achieve real progress on the path to a lasting, fair peace agreement," he said.

Macron stressed that "the absolute condition for such a lasting agreement is strong security guarantees"

"Ukraine has already had its share of promises that were broken by Russian aggression, so reliable, strong security guarantees are a necessity. I would say that this is the main, fundamental task of the entire coalition," the French leader noted.
Indian Flag Desecrated, Kill Chants Raised At Unofficial Khalistan Referendum In Ottawa

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 07:53 IST

Videos from the event showed supporters chanting kill slogans targeting Indian leaders and officials as police liaison officers looked on.

Over 53,000 people took part in the event. (AFP/Representative Image)

Thousands of Canadian Sikhs queued for hours in Ottawa on Sunday for an unofficial Khalistan Referendum" organised by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ)  a group banned in India under the UAPA  where the Indian national flag was desecrated and violent anti-India slogans were raised.

Videos from the event showed supporters chanting kill" slogans targeting Indian leaders and officials as police liaison officers looked on.

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Supporters carrying yellow Khalistan flags lined up outside the McNabb Community Centre, where voting ran from 10 am to 3 pm. Visuals of the Indian flag being insulted circulated widely online, adding to the charged atmosphere around the event.

SFJ claimed that more than 53,000 Sikhs from Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec took part, forming queues stretching nearly two kilometres. The group said families, from newborns to elderly people using walkers, remained in line all day, and voting continued beyond the scheduled closing time to accommodate those still queued.

Footage captured by Alberta-based digital outlet Media Bezirgan showed massive crowds outside the centre, with police present but not intervening even as aggressive slogans were raised. SFJs general counsel, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, designated a terrorist by India, addressed participants via satellite message during the event.

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SFJ also questioned why Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in South Africa the same day, calling the timing suspicious" in light of what it describes as growing pro-Khalistan mobilisation in Canada.

The development comes even as New Delhi and Ottawa have recently taken steps to ease bilateral tensions and resume cooperation, including on security and counter-terror intelligence.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 07:53 IST

News world Indian Flag Desecrated, Kill Chants Raised At Unofficial Khalistan Referendum In Ottawa

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Italian Man Impersonates Dead Mother To Keep Pension Flowing, Hides Corpse In Sleeping Bag

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Last Updated: November 26, 2025, 03:05 IST

The unemployed 56-year-old man never reported his mothers death and collected thousands of euros a year from her pension.

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Graziella DallOglios (left) death went unreported for years as her son allegedly posed as her to keep drawing her pension. (IMAGE: @TorturedHistory/X)

A 56-year-old unemployed man in Italy allegedly spent years impersonating his deceased mother to keep collecting her pension, a fraud that has now been dubbed the Mrs Doubtfire scandal" by Italian authorities.

Mrs Doubtfire is a 1993 comedy film starring Robin Williams, where he disguises himself as an elderly British nanny to stay close to his children after a divorce. The title has become shorthand for elaborate disguise or impersonation.

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The man, whom Italian authorities, have not identified allegedly kept up the fraud for nearly three years after his mother died.

According to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, he hid her mummified body inside their family home. The mans mother, who was identified as Graziella DallOglio, passed away at 82 years old and her son never reported her death.

He stuffed her corpse in a sleeping bag and stashed it in the laundry room at their home. When the authorities found the deceased elderly lady, her body had mummified.

The report said that the son went to extraordinary lengths to pass himself off as his late mother. He copied her makeup, mannerisms, and wardrobe and continued to withdraw her pension.

He even managed to renew her identity card at a government office on the outskirts of Mantua after she had died.

With his mothers pension and income from three properties, he was allegedly taking home nearly $61,000 a year.

The fraud began to unravel only when a sharp-eyed government employee noticed something off. The official focussed on the masculine" features, a deeper voice and a noticeably thick neck. The staffer alerted authorities, who later compared photographs of Graziella DallOglio and her son and uncovered the elaborate scam.

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The son later allowed police to search the house, where officers eventually discovered Graziella DallOglios body. Officials said there was no indication of foul play and that her death did not appear suspicious.

She probably died of natural causes but that will be established by the postmortem. It is a very strange story and very, very sad," Francesco Aporti, the mayor of Borgo Virgilio, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : Rome, Italy

First Published: November 26, 2025, 03:05 IST

News world Italian Man Impersonates Dead Mother To Keep Pension Flowing, Hides Corpse In Sleeping Bag

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Michelle Obamas New Photoshoot Sparks Online Speculation About Weight Loss, Fans Point To Ozempic

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 13:56 IST

Ozempic is a prescription drug developed to help manage type-2 diabetes.

Michelle Obama praised Leibovitzs ability to tell stories through images. (Instagram @michelleobama)

Michelle Obamas latest photoshoot has triggered a wave of online speculation about her recent weight loss, with some social media users questioning whether the former U.S. First Lady may be using Ozempic or similar GLP-1 medications.

Obama shared behind-the-scenes footage on Instagram from a shoot with renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, where she appeared in a casual grey T-shirt, jeans and suede boots, confidently posing and revealing a glimpse of her toned midriff.

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In her caption, Obama praised Leibovitzs ability to tell stories through images, noting that the photographers iconic book Women broadened how society views women and their lived experiences. She wrote that being photographed again for the updated edition was an honour and said she hoped the new project would inspire others.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama)

The images, however, quickly prompted unfounded chatter on X, where users debated how the 61-year-old had slimmed down. Some commenters directly attributed her physique to Ozempic, while others suggested the possibility of GLP-1 drugs, despite acknowledging she could equally have achieved the change through disciplined training and nutrition.

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What Is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a prescription drug developed to help manage type-2 diabetes. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, regulates blood sugar but also reduces appetite, a side effect that has made the medication a cultural talking point. Though often discussed online as a weight-loss shortcut, Ozempic is a regulated treatment intended for specific medical conditions, not cosmetic use.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 25, 2025, 13:56 IST

News world Michelle Obamas New Photoshoot Sparks Online Speculation About Weight Loss, Fans Point To Ozempic

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Netanyahu's Visit Postponed Over Delhi Blast? Israel Stresses Full Confidence As Centre Clarifies

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 22:34 IST

Benjamin Netanyahu's India visit was postponed, but his office affirms strong Israel-India ties and confidence in PM Narendra Modi.

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Netanyahus office dismisses reports linking the visit delay to the Delhi terror attack, says ties with India remain very strong. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office on Tuesday said that it is currently coordinating with Indian authorities to set a new date for his postponed visit.

The trip, originally scheduled for December, was postponed without an official statement at the time.

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Despite the delay, Netanyahus office reiterated that Israels bond with India remains strong, and the Prime Minister has full confidence" in Indias security under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A statement shared on social media platform X read, Israels bond with India and between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister @narendramodi is very strong. The PM has full confidence in Indias security under PM Modi, and teams are already coordinating a new visit date."

Prime Ministers Office:Israels bond with India and between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister @narendramodi is very strong. The PM has full confidence in Indias security under PM Modi, and teams are already coordinating a new visit date.  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) November 25, 2025

The Israeli statement comes after some media reports had suggested that the postponement was due to security concerns" after a deadly terror attack in New Delhi two weeks ago, which killed at least 15 people and injured many others.

However, speaking with CNN-News18, sources clarified that the reports were misleading and factually incorrect," urging caution against drawing connections between the visit delay and the attack.

Media reports in this regard are misleading and factually incorrect. Drawing linkages with Delhi blast are irresponsible. We would urge caution against such misleading news stories," the source said.

Netanyahus last official visit to India was in January 2018, a six-day trip that marked the second visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to India. This visit followed Prime Minister Narendra Modis landmark trip to Israel in 2017.

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Recently, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had completed a successful three-day visit to Israel, where he met with Netanyahu and other key Israeli leaders. Goyal had conveyed PM Modis warm wishes to Netanyahu and updated him on the outcomes of his discussions with Israeli officials, including the Business Forum and CEOs Forum.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : Tel Aviv, Israel

First Published: November 25, 2025, 22:34 IST

News world Netanyahu's Visit Postponed Over Delhi Blast? Israel Stresses Full Confidence As Centre Clarifies

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'Never Recognised Arunachal': China Reacts To Indian Woman's Detention At Shanghai Airport

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 17:00 IST

The woman claimed she was detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport after officials allegedly refused to recognise her Indian passport.

Arunachal Pradesh's Prema Wangjom Thongdok says Chinese officials mocked her nationality and delayed her Japan trip during a Shanghai transit. (IMAGE: LINKEDIN)

China on Tuesday responded to claims made by an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh, who alleged she was detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport after officials reportedly refused to recognise her Indian passport.

Pema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen, was travelling from London to Japan on November 21 when her three-hour layover turned into a distressing ordeal. Thongdok claimed that immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport refused to recognise her Indian passport, declaring it invalid" solely because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.

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In response to the incident, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated Chinas long-standing position on Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as Zangnan, or South Tibet.

Zangnan is Chinas territory. The Chinese side has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh" illegally set up by India," she noted.

Mao also dismissed Thongdoks allegations of harassment at Shanghai airport, asserting that the actions of Chinese immigration officials were fully in accordance with the countrys laws and regulations".

The law enforcement was impartial and non-abusive, and the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected. No compulsory measures were taken on her, and there was no so-called detention or harassment," the Chinese spokesperson said.

She also clarified that the airline provided the woman with resting facilities and meals during the delay, adding, For anything more specific, Id refer you to competent authorities."

India Lodges Diplomatic Protest

Following the incident, India lodged a formal diplomatic protest, or demarche, both in Beijing and Delhi. Indian officials conveyed that Arunachal Pradesh is indisputably" part of India and that its residents are fully entitled to hold and travel on Indian passports. The Indian Consulate in Shanghai also intervened, offering assistance to Thongdok and helping her board a late-night flight out of China.

The incident has sparked strong reactions in India. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu had expressed his deep shock" over the episode, calling it a violation of international norms" and an affront to the dignity of Indian citizens.

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Thongdok, in a series of social media posts, shared her experience of being detained for nearly 18 hours by Chinese immigration officers. She managed to contact the Indian consulate through a friend in the UK, and with their help, she was eventually able to leave Shanghai.

(With inputs from PTI)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : China

First Published: November 25, 2025, 16:35 IST

News world 'Never Recognised Arunachal': China Reacts To Indian Woman's Detention At Shanghai Airport

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US To Push For South Africas Removal From G20, Install Central European Member: Report

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Last Updated: November 26, 2025, 01:35 IST

South African officials said that an official announcement is imminent which will see it barred from G20 meetings under US presidency.

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US President Donald Trump hands over to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa copies of articles that he said showed white South Africans who had been killed, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

South African officials said that they expect to be notified by the US that the nations delegations will be excluded from participating in G20 meetings when US takes on the role of the G20 presidency. The development, if true, will widen the rift between both countries.

Officials in Pretoria said that they believe the announcement will be made imminently.

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According to Bloomberg, which first reported the development, rumours that South African will be excluded when US assumes the G20 presidency started circulating last week ahead of the leaders summit. Their report said that it is unclear if the US can make such a decision unilaterally.

The report said that US is also expected to push for South Africas removal from the G20 and will aim to install a a new member from Central Europe, who are closer to US President Donald Trumps administration.

The report also said that the most likely outcome of this decision will be US withholding the visas for South African officials expected to attend the dozens of meetings scheduled over the next year.

The US had opposed South Africas G-20 presidency over claims of a so-called white genocide, accusing South Africas Black population of committing genocide against White Afrikaners and seizing their land without compensation.

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Any change to the G-20s membership would still need unanimous approval from all member nations, just as it did in 2023 when India pushed for the African Union to be inducted as a full member during its presidency.

South Africa, meanwhile, is said to have turned down a US request for charge daffaires Marc Dillard to attend the leaders summit and formally take the G-20 handover. Pretoria reportedly made it clear that President Cyril Ramaphosa would not engage with a lower-ranking official. The handover was eventually done quietly between diplomats at South Africas foreign ministry in Pretoria on Tuesday.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : Pretoria, South Africa

First Published: November 26, 2025, 01:33 IST

News world US To Push For South Africas Removal From G20, Install Central European Member: Report

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Taliban Vows Retaliation After Pakistani Airstrikes Kill 10: 'Will Respond At Right Time'

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 16:00 IST

Taliban spokesperson said the attacks reflected nothing but the failure and humiliation of Pakistans military rulers".

An Armed Taliban security personnel stands guard near the closed gate of the zero point border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan at Spin Boldak district in Kandahar province on October 12, 2025.

The Taliban government responded sharply to the overnight Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan that killed ten civilians on Tuesday, saying that it would deliver a response at the right time."

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, writing on X, condemned the strikes as a violation and crime," insisting that protecting Afghanistans airspace and citizens is the governments legitimate right."

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The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns this violation and crime and reiterates that defending its airspace, territory, and people is its legitimate right, and it will respond appropriately at the right time," he said.

According to an earlier statement from Mujahid, nine of those killed were children, five boys and four girls, along with one woman.

He said the strikes targeted the home of a civilian in Khost province. Additional reported strikes on the border areas of Kunar and Paktika injured four others, AFP noted, citing Mujahid.

Pakistans government and military have not yet issued comments regarding the allegations.

The escalation comes a day after two suicide bombers and a gunman launched an assault on the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawars Saddar district, killing three officers and injuring eleven.

Security forces swiftly killed the attackers. No group has taken responsibility, though suspicion has centred on Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), according to the Associated Press.

Following the Peshawar attack, a Pakistani diplomat met with a senior Afghan provincial official to discuss security issues.

The latest tensions add to friction along the border. Just over a month ago, Afghan officials accused Pakistan of carrying out drone strikes in Kabul.

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A ceasefire arranged in October by Qatar and Turkey technically remains in effect, and neither mediator has commented on the new incidents.

Iran has also expressed willingness to help reduce hostilities between the neighbouring states.

Location : Afghanistan

First Published: November 25, 2025, 16:00 IST

News world Taliban Vows Retaliation After Pakistani Airstrikes Kill 10: 'Will Respond At Right Time'

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Talk Is Cheap: White House Says Trump-Mamdani Meet Shows Hes President For All

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 07:25 IST

President Donald Trumps meeting with NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, despite past criticisms, was highlighted by the White House as a gesture of inclusive leadership.

US President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani had a civil meeting in the White House. (AFP)

US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has emphasised that President Donald Trumps recent meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani reflects his intention to govern as a President for all Americans".

Speaking to reporters, Leavitt said Trumps willingness to meet Mamdani, despite the latters past criticisms, demonstrates openness and maturity in leadership.

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Talk is cheap," Leavitt said. The fact that Donald Trump is willing to meet with somebody who said those types of things about him shows that he really is interested in being a President for ALL Americans."

She added that the President would judge Mamdani by his actions" as New Yorks incoming leader, noting that the meeting had been positive. He wants whats best for New York City," Leavitt said, stressing Trumps readiness to work with leaders irrespective of their political background or earlier disagreements.

The White House reaction came after Mamdani on Sunday reaffirmed his belief that President Trump is a fascist", stating he has not retracted the his stand despite their cordial White House meeting. Speaking to NBC News, Mamdani said his view remains unchanged", underscoring the deep ideological divide between the two leaders.

Trump-Mamdani meet

President Trump met Zohran Mamdani last week in the Oval Office, marking their first interaction since Mamdanis unexpected win in the New York mayoral race. Mamdani, a progressive politician and long-time critic of Trump, secured victory by defeating established Democratic leaders in what analysts have described as one of the most surprising political upsets of the year.

Despite their ideological differences and a documented history of mutual criticism, the tone of the meeting was reported to be cordial, pragmatic, and encouraging. Both leaders concentrated on pressing issues affecting New Yorkers, setting aside past friction for a policy-driven conversation.

A major part of the discussion centred on New Yorks affordability crisis. As per reports, Trump and Mamdani addressed the rising costs of housing, rent, utilities, and food, issues that have fuelled frustration across the city. Trump reportedly commended Mamdanis detailed understanding of these concerns and expressed willingness to support initiatives aimed at curbing spiralling living costs.

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Both leaders also touched on crime and urban development, areas where they unexpectedly share policy alignment. Trump signalled openness to assisting Mamdani in expanding housing supply and tackling crime-related challenges, provided the proposals remain practical and effective.

The meeting has been widely interpreted as an early sign that the Trump administration may pursue cooperative relationships even with leaders from opposing political viewpoints. While observers caution that differences remain vast, Leavitts remarks underline the administrations effort to project unity and bipartisan engagement.

About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 25, 2025, 07:19 IST

News world Talk Is Cheap: White House Says Trump-Mamdani Meet Shows Hes President For All

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Trump Sends Envoy To Putin To Finalise Ukraine Deal, Zelenskyy Says Ready To Move Forward

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Last Updated: November 26, 2025, 08:15 IST

Zelenskyy signals readiness to advance the US-drafted plan while Trump dispatches envoy Steve Witkoff to negotiate remaining gaps with Vladimir Putin.

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US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin walk to a joint news conference following their meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told allies on Tuesday that Kyiv is prepared to move forward" on the new US-backed framework to end the war with Russia, as President Donald Trump confirmed he would dispatch his special envoy to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin.

Speaking to leaders of the Coalition of the Willing  a group of around 30 nations supporting Ukraine  Zelenskyy said the outline prepared in Geneva by US and Ukrainian teams was now ready for the next stage.

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Ukraine has the framework developed by our teams in Geneva. That framework is on the table, and were ready to move forward together," he told the gathering, according to a copy of his speech, accessed by news agency AFP.

However, he noted there were still unresolved issues that required a direct conversation with Trump. And I am ready to meet with President Trump  there are sensitive points to discuss, we have them still," Zelenskyy said.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said US had good talks" with Russia on Ukraine war.

Trump said, Were having good talks. Were having some talks with Russia. Ukraine is doing well. I think theyre pretty happy about it. Theyd like to see it end We settled eight wars, and I thought this would be one of the easier ones because of my relationship with President Putin. But this is probably one of the more difficult ones."

Minutes earlier in Washington, Trump announced he was sending his Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Moscow to meet Putin in an effort to bridge remaining gaps in the proposed peace deal.

In the hopes of finalizing this Peace Plan, I have directed my Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with President Putin in Moscow," the President wrote on Truth Social, adding there were now only a few remaining points of disagreement."

Trump also said he hoped to meet soon" with both Putin and Zelenskyy, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages".

The Ukrainian President also said that the principles" of a revised US plan to end the war with Russia could lead to deeper agreements" and that much depends" now on Washington.

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The principles of this document can be expanded into deeper agreements," Zelenskyy said in his daily address.

I am counting on further active cooperation with the American side and with President (Donald) Trump. Much depends on America, because Russia pays the greatest attention to American strength," he said.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 26, 2025, 01:49 IST

News world Trump Sends Envoy To Putin To Finalise Ukraine Deal, Zelenskyy Says Ready To Move Forward

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Two Days After 'Death', Thai Woman 'Knocks' From Coffin Just Before Cremation In Temple

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 16:26 IST

A video posted by the temple on Facebook shows the 65-year-old woman lying in a white coffin in the back of a pickup truck.

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The woman was quickly sent to a nearby hospital, where the temple agreed to cover her medical expenses. (AP photo)

A woman in Thailand stunned temple staff when she began moving inside her coffin just moments before being cremated. The incident took place at Wat Rat Prakhong Tham, a Buddhist temple in Nonthaburi, a province on the outskirts of Bangkok.

A video posted by the temple on Facebook shows the 65-year-old woman lying in a white coffin in the back of a pickup truck.

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Staff at the temple were startled as they noticed her arms and head slightly moving. The temples general manager, Pairat Soodthoop, told The Associated Press that they were initially puzzled when they heard a faint knocking from the coffin.

#Unbelievable!  A 65-yr-old #Thai woman came back to life" mins before cremation! Declared dead at home, she was put in a coffin for the temple. But then, staff heard knocking & faint cries from inside!  Shes now in the hospital  no signs of prior respiratory or cardiac pic.twitter.com/WOpQDadj3n Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) November 25, 2025

I was a bit surprised, so I asked them to open the coffin, and everyone was startled," Pairat said. I saw her opening her eyes slightly and knocking on the side of the coffin. She must have been knocking for quite some time."

The womans brother stated that she had been bedridden for two years, her health deteriorating rapidly. Two days earlier, the family believed she had stopped breathing. Thinking she had passed away, the brother placed her in a coffin and travelled 500 km to a Bangkok hospital, where she had wished to donate her organs. However, the hospital refused to accept her without an official death certificate.

Seeking a free cremation, the brother then approached the temple, but again, they could not proceed without the necessary paperwork. It was while Pairat was explaining how to obtain the death certificate that the temple staff heard the knocking.

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The woman was quickly sent to a nearby hospital, where the temple agreed to cover her medical expenses.

(With inputs from AP)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Thailand

First Published: November 25, 2025, 16:26 IST

News world Two Days After 'Death', Thai Woman 'Knocks' From Coffin Just Before Cremation In Temple

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Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine

The leadership of the Ukrainian and British Red Cross organizations discussed joint projects and strengthening cooperation.

"Recently, Beatrice Butsana-Sita, Chief Executive Officer of the British Red Cross, made an official visit to Ukraine. During her visit, she met with Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society. They discussed key areas of humanitarian response, joint projects, and ways to further strengthen cooperation  particularly in emergency response, community support, and building resilience," the URCS reported on Facebook.

As part of the visit, the British Red Cross delegation toured Kyiv and Chernihiv regional branches of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society. The guests learned about the work of the teams in these regions, the main areas of activity, and the daily challenges faced by volunteers and staff. They also had the opportunity to speak directly with beneficiaries and see how partner support translates into tangible improvements in peoples lives.

Representatives of the British Red Cross also witnessed first-hand the destruction caused by strikes in Kyiv and Chernihiv. At the site of a recent strike on residential buildings in the capital, the delegation met with the Ukrainian Red Cross Society emergency response team, which had been involved in rescue operations, as well as with a representative of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
US Official Claims Ukraine Agreed To Revised Peace Deal; Zelenskyy Says Much Work Left To Do

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 19:30 IST

An American official claimed that Ukraine has agreed to a deal that will end the war with Russia but some minor details need to discussed before finalising.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with US President Donald Trump over lunch in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

An American official on Wednesday claimed that Ukraine has agreed to a deal to end the war with Russia by agreeing to the US-backed peace deal, put forward by US President Donald Trump.

The 28-point peace plan, which has now been tightened to 19, still has some minor details" outstanding, the official said. Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had said that more work needed to be done before finalising any deal.

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The development, first reported by US broadcaster CNN, comes as US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll meets with Russian officials to discuss Trump administrations proposal in Abu Dhabi.

Lt Col Jeff Tolbert, spokesperson for Driscoll, said the Abu Dhabi talks between the US and Russian delegations are going well" and that they remain optimistic."

The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal. There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal," the official was quoted as saying.

It should be noted that an Ukrainain delegation is also present in Abu Dhabi and are in contact with Army Secretary Driscoll.

Ukraines national security secretary, Rustem Umerov, said that the delegations had reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva" in a post on X.

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We now count on the support of our European partners in our further steps," Umerov wrote. He highlighted that Ukraine looked forward to organizing a visit of Zelenskyy to the US to complete final steps and make a deal with President (Donald) Trump".

Zelenskyy took to X earlier this morning where he said much work is left to do with regard to the peace deal. Following the meetings in Geneva, we see many prospects that can make the path to peace real. There are solid results, and much work still lies ahead," he said.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 25, 2025, 19:13 IST

News world US Official Claims Ukraine Agreed To Revised Peace Deal; Zelenskyy Says Much Work Left To Do

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US, Russia Hold Peace Talks In Abu Dhabi Amid Moscow's Attacks On Kyiv

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 21:13 IST

US and Russia held peace talks in Abu Dhabi amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Secretary Dan Driscoll led US efforts, while Kyiv faced deadly missile and drone attacks by Russia.

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll (X)

US and Russia held talks on late Monday and Tuesday in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of US President Donald Trumps efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Late Monday and throughout Tuesday, Secretary Driscoll and team have been in discussions with the Russian delegation to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine. The talks are going well and we remain optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronized with the White Houseas these talks progress," said US Army Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Tolbert, a spokesperson for Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.

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According to Reuters, the exact nature of the discussions was not immediately clear, and it was not known who was in the Russian delegation.

Another US official said Driscoll will likely meet Ukrainian officials while in Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, an American official claimed that Ukraine has agreed to a deal to end the war with Russia by agreeing to the US-backed peace deal, put forward by US President Donald Trump.

The 28-point peace plan, which has now been tightened to 19, still has some minor details" outstanding, the official said. Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had said that more work needed to be done before finalising any deal.

The sensitive issues, the most delicate points, I will discuss with President Trump," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address

Its an initiative that goes in the right direction: peace. However, there are aspects of that plan that deserve to be discussed, negotiated, improved," French President Emmanuel Macron told RTL radio regarding the U.S.-proposed plan. We want peace, but we dont want a peace that would be a capitulation."

What was put on the table gives us an idea of what would be acceptable for the Russians. Does that mean that it is what must be accepted by the Ukrainians and the Europeans? The answer is no," Macron added.

Meanwhile, Ukraines capital was hit by several missiles and hundreds of drones overnight by Russia. The attacks killed six people and disrupted power and heating systems.

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There was a very loud explosion, our windows were falling apart, we got dressed and ran out," Reuters quoted Nadiia Horodko, a 39-year-old accountant, after a residential building was struck in Kyiv overnight.

There was horror, everything was already burning here, and a woman was screaming from the eighth floor, Save the child, the child is on fire!'"

Location : Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

First Published: November 25, 2025, 21:13 IST

News world US, Russia Hold Peace Talks In Abu Dhabi Amid Moscow's Attacks On Kyiv

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'No Longer 28': Zelenskyy To Discuss 'Sensitive Issues' With Trump After Geneva Peace Talks

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 06:59 IST

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Geneva talks with the US and European partners have produced a more workable version of the American peace plan.

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (Reuters File Image)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said that talks in Geneva with US and European officials have produced a more streamlined and workable set of proposals aimed at ending Russias nearly four-year invasion, while cautioning that significant challenges and external pressures remain.

In an X post following the return of the Ukrainian delegation from Switzerland, Zelenskyy said the negotiations, centred on a US-drafted 28-point peace plan, had resulted in fewer points" and incorporated many of the right elements" after intensive discussions with American and European partners.

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Now the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable," he wrote, adding that Ukraine must continue working with dignity" to finalise the document.

The president said Kyiv appreciates that most of the world is ready to help us and that the American side is approaching this constructively".

According to him, the Geneva talks involved challenging, extremely thorough work" and ran almost the entire day.

Zelenskyy confirmed that his team presented a new draft of proposed steps and stressed that he would raise the most delicate issues directly with US President Donald Trump.

This is indeed the right approach, I will discuss the sensitive issues with President Trump," he said.

Reaffirming Kyivs stance, he added, Ukraine will never be an obstacle to peace, this is our principle, a shared principle, and millions of Ukrainians are counting on, and deserve, a dignified peace."

However, the Ukrainian President also warned of attempts to undermine the process.

He said Russia is attempting to derail this opportunity for an agreement and prolong the war" by spreading disinformation and intimidating Ukrainians.

Kyiv, he said, is pushing back against every such attempt to derail the end of the war".

In an accompanying video message, Zelenskyy elaborated on the negotiations, saying the revised framework can become workable" and that finalising a peace document remains very difficult" and will require continued collaboration.

He said he held coordination calls with several European leaders, including the presidents of Finland and Lithuania and the Prime Ministers of Norway and Spain.

Ukraine is not alone, and this is important," he said.

Zelenskyy also issued a pointed message to Ukraines partners, urging them to take seriously the threats detected by their own intelligence services, including possible Russian missile and air-strike escalations during ongoing diplomatic efforts.

If we really end the war, then there must be no missiles, there must be no massive strikes on Ukraine," he said, noting that such restraint is achievable for those who are really strong in the world", with much depending on the United States.

The Ukrainian leader spoke after taking part in the Crimean Platform parliamentary summit in Sweden, where more than 70 delegations reaffirmed support for Ukraines territorial integrity.

Zelenskyy said global backing for Kyiv remains strong, very demonstrative", and that the path to peace must be just and dignified".

Russia started this war. Russia must end this war," he said, closing his message with an appeal for unity and resilience, The main thing is to be strong, to be united, to be effective, so that Ukraine manages to achieve peace, decent peace."

Today our delegation returned from Geneva after negotiations with the American side and European partners. Now the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable. As of now, after Geneva, there are fewer points  no longer 28  and many of the right elements have been pic.twitter.com/bsaKyNXHQH Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 24, 2025

On Sunday, the Associated Press quoted officials as saying that talks between Ukraine and its Western allies on the US-proposed peace plan to end Russias invasion are underway in Geneva.

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The head of the Ukrainian delegation, presidential chief of staff Andrii Yermak, wrote on social media that they held their first meeting with the national security advisers from the UK, France and Germany.

ALSO READ | Something Good Maybe Happening: Donald Trump On Peace Talks With Ukraine In Geneva

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: November 25, 2025, 06:54 IST

News world 'No Longer 28': Zelenskyy To Discuss 'Sensitive Issues' With Trump After Geneva Peace Talks

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Wouldve Got Less Hate If I Grabbed His A**: Erika Kirk Mocks Outrage Over JD Vance Hug

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025, 07:42 IST

Erika Kirk dismisses viral hug speculation with Vice President JD Vance as innocent, affirms her new TPUSA leadership, and confirms plans to support Vance for president in 2028.

Erika Kirk and US Vice President JD Vance embrace at the Pavilion at Ole Miss on the campus of the University of Mississippi on October 29, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi. (IMAGE: AFP)

Erika Kirk, the widow of late Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk, has dismissed online speculation over her now-viral hug with US Vice President JD Vance, insisting the moment was entirely innocent and blown wildly out of proportion.

Speaking to conservative commentator Megyn Kelly, Erika said the criticism revealed more about outrage culture" than about the interaction itself.

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Theyd just played the emotional video. Im walking over, hes walking over, Im starting to cry," she recalled. As the two embraced, Vance leaned in and told her, Im so proud of you."

Erika said she responded with God bless you" and briefly touched the back of Vances head, a gesture she described as instinctive and something she does with everyone I hug."

If youve ever hugged me, Ive done that," she said. If you want to take that out of context, go right ahead. To me, that just shows you need a hug more than anyone else."

They were acting like I did something scandalous."

The clip, widely circulated online, triggered speculation about the lingering head-touch. Kelly mocked the backlash, saying critics behaved as if Erika had touched the back of his a."**

Erika burst into laughter. I feel like I wouldnt get as much hate if I did that," she joked.

She added that the scrutiny has become so absurd that she now double-checks her hugs:

Ill bring people back in and say, I obviously didnt give you the right hug, let me touch the back of your head."

Erika said her love language is touch," and that those attacking her online probably need a hug themselves."

I will give you a free hug anytime," she added.

Calling the moment with Vance purely emotional, Erika insisted, That hug it was an emotional moment. That is all."

Vice President Vance, who has been married to Usha Vance since 2014, has not commented on the controversy.

Taking over TPUSA, and plans for 2028

Erika, who has stepped in as TPUSAs chief executive after her husbands murder, said the transition has been painful but essential to continuing his work.

Since Charlie passed, Ive stepped into the role he built. Its what he would have wanted."

She also confirmed that TPUSA is preparing to support Vance should he run for president in 2028.

Asked by Kelly whether the organisation would back Vance in a post-Trump Republican primary, Erika responded confidently:

Dont worry  its already in the works."

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She added that her late husband had been unequivocal about backing Vance for 2028:

One of the last conversations we had was how intentional he was about supporting JD."

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 25, 2025, 07:42 IST

News world Wouldve Got Less Hate If I Grabbed His A**: Erika Kirk Mocks Outrage Over JD Vance Hug

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Photo: https://www.facebook.com/KeirStarmerLabour/

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted progress in talks on peaceful efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine and colleagues from the Coalition of the Willing "reaffirmed" their commitments to a "multinational force."

Starmer said at an online meeting of the Coalition of the Willing that he believed progress was being made in a positive direction and that there were signs most of the text could be accepted, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had indicated.

The Prime Minister urged continued support for the negotiations, while recalling the fundamental principles that had guided the Coalition of the Willing for the nine months since its formation.

He noted that nine months had passed and that the Coalition of the Willing now included 36 countries. He said the guiding principles had always been that Ukraine must be able to defend itself in the future, that its sovereignty must be preserved, and that matters concerning Ukraine and its future must be determined by Ukraine itself. According to him, these remained the driving principles of the Coalition and of the ongoing negotiations.

Starmer added that the United States also acknowledged that issues relating to Europe and NATO required Europe and NATO members to be protected.

The Prime Minister stressed that work had to continue on preparing reliable security guarantees for Ukraine, calling such guarantees a key element of the U.S. draft peace plan. He added that the settlement had to ensure lasting peace, which he said would be impossible without robust security guarantees.

Starmer said that, in this context, planning and funding for the creation of the future Ukrainian Armed Forces needed to be prepared to ensure that Ukraine could defend itself.

He stated that the multinational Ukrainian force would be a vital component of this effort and that military planners, who had been working intensively in recent months, would continue developing the forces readiness. He urged the participating colleagues to reaffirm their national commitments so that the most robust plans could be put in place.

He added that the leaders would also discuss the next steps with the U.S. military regarding their own planning.

Starmer concluded that only if Russia believed the coalition was serious about responding to any violations could the basis for a lasting peace be established. He also noted that it was encouraging that the United States had made progress on the relevant document in recent days.
Photo: https://t.me/ermaka2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to meet with President Trump "as soon as possible"  possibly by Thanksgiving  to finalize a joint agreement between the United States and Ukraine on the terms of ending the war, said Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine.

"I hope the visit of President Zelenskyy will take place as soon as possible, because ... it will be help President Trump to continue his historical mission to end this war," Yermak told Axios in an interview over Zoom Tuesday morning. "Because [Trump] can say: 'Look, this is confirmed and agreed, our position with the Ukrainians. We support it, and we continue now to speak with the Russians.'"

According to reports, American and Ukrainian officials have reached an agreement in principle on most aspects of the plan, which differs significantly from the original 28-point U.S. proposal. However, Zelenskyy wants to discuss territorial concessions directly with Trump, according to Yermak.

An American official confirmed that talks with the Ukrainians are underway to meet this or next week, though no date has been set yet.

Trump will leave Washington on Tuesday night for Thanksgiving and plans to stay at Mar-a-Lago until Sunday. Yermak said that holding the meeting during the holiday period could have symbolic significance.

He also noted that the main disagreement the presidents must overcome is over territory. The 28-point plan offered Russia more territory than it currently controls, provoking a strong negative reaction from Ukraine.

The U.S. argued that the current course of the war indicated Ukraine's loss of territory was only a matter of time.

Except for specific issues, including territorial ones, that Zelenskyy wants to discuss with Trump, Yermak said that the current draft meets Ukraine's interests and respects its red lines.

One of the key issues included in the new draft is the security guarantees that the United States and its European allies will provide to Ukraine.

"I think it now looks very solid," Yermak said of the text on security guarantees. "I think it's a historical decision of President Trump and the United States to issue these strong security guarantees, which Ukraine never had before."

He said the security guarantees would be "legally binding" and that there had been a "positive reaction" from the US to the idea of enshrining them in a formal treaty.

The previous draft called on the US and NATO to view a prolonged Russian attack on Ukraine as an attack on the entire "transatlantic community." Initially, the US plan envisaged that Ukraine would give up NATO membership and the presence of NATO troops on its territory in exchange for security guarantees. Yermak said that Ukraine would not give up its constitutional obligation to move towards NATO in the future, but added: "We are living in reality now. We not in NATO."

The current draft has 19 points, from which issues not directly related to peace in Ukraine have been removed, and several other points have been changed to make them more acceptable to Kyiv.


Bulawayos two most senior elected officials, the mayor and deputy mayor, have issued conflicting statements on the legality of recent council proceedings and the status of Town Clerk Christopher Dubes contract.

The contradictions have plunged the citys governance into a theatre of chaos, fuelled by competing legal interpretations of Dubes employment.

In a new development, Deputy Mayor of Bulawayo, Councillor Edwin Ndlovu, has this Monday released a statement declaring the November 5, 2025 meeting was legal and that its resolution to extend the Town Clerks contract by a potential five years is legally binding.

This assertion directly contradicts the account of Bulawayo Mayor, David Coltart, who last week labelled a subsequent meeting held after he adjourned the session as illegal, describing a scene of mayhem, uproar and shouting where he was personally threatened and attempts were made to block his exit.

The heart of the conflict is a technical and highly charged debate over the extension of Town Clerks contract, which was set to lapse on November 30, 2025.

The situation exposes two contradictory realities, which is one in which the Town Clerks contract remains in limbo and another in which Dube has legally secured a five-year extension.

According to the deputy mayors chronology, the issue has been simmering for over a year.

Ndlovu said in 2024, the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) advised the council to align the Town Clerks contract with the five-year terms common in government and parastatals, moving away from the previous four-year model.

As Bulawayo we obliged and added two more years so that he gets 2 x 5 years (two potential five-year terms) instead of 2 x 4 (two  four year terms) town clerks were getting, Ndlovu said.

Our challenge was that with only a one year addition, the town clerk would be on pensionable age.

The deputy mayor said another arrangement was made where a second year would be added later via a separate resolution.

The council then resolved that the second year of the contract shall be added after a second resolution which would allow the Town Clerk to be at work for one year despite him having gone beyond pensionable age, he said.

The plot thickened on April 7, 2025, when the council received a letter from the Central Government citing Statutory Instrument (SI) 197 of 2024, which changed the retirement age for public officials from 65 to 70 years.

This sparked a bureaucratic and political tussle within the councils committees.

As per council procedure, the Human Capital Director brought the issue of the Town Clerks contact to the General Purposes Committee to recommend that the Town Clerks contract be extended until he reaches 70 years, Ndlovu said.

The Human Capital department initially recommended seeking a legal opinion on whether the SI applied to fixed-term contracts like the Town Clerks.

On 27 October 2025, the General Purposes Committee received a varied recommendation from the Human Capital department to extend the contract of the town clerk by a year to 30 November 2026 since there was a pending year which was put aside but since the pensionable age is now 70 years, the deputy mayor said.

The General Purpose Committee acceded to the recommendation and also proposed that the council seeks legal opinion as to whether a fixed contract is covered by the SI 197 of 2024. If the legal opinion agrees that fixed contract employees are covered by SI 197 of 2024 the council shall add four more years to the town clerks contract.

The deputy mayor said this report of the General Purposes Committee was presented to the full Council Meeting for a resolution on 5 November 2025.

It was here, on 5 November 2025, according to both or all accounts, that the meeting descended into disarray.

Mayor Coltarts version paints a picture of a democratic process hijacked by intimidation.

The debate rapidly degenerated into total disorder with certain Councillors making threats against those in favour of the original resolution, Coltart said.

Indeed at one point I was threatened.

Fearing that a free and fair vote was impossible, Coltart adjourned the meeting and left.

Coltart said as he stood up to leave one Councillor shouted across the Chamber calling on other Councillors to close the exit door to prevent me from leaving, and as I left one Councillor in fact stood in my way but I got past that person.

Deputy Mayor Ndlovus account contrasts what the mayor said, acknowledging vibrancy during the debate but flatly denies any threats or insults.

I challenge anyone who was threatened or insulted to go to the nearest police station and report the perpetrator, Ndlovu dared.

Ndlovu states the Mayors departure was possibly an abdication of duty, not a restoration of order.

Before the chairperson of the meeting left, councillors had already made it clear on the extension of the contract. The chair of the meeting merely guides the meeting but shall not usurp the powers of councilors. The meeting should not be abandoned because the chair has different views. There was no need to adjourn the meeting, he said.

According to his statement, after Coltart left, councillors asked Ndlovu, as Vice-Chair, to take over.

After Ndlovu stepped out to consult, the councillors themselves appointed Councillor Mxolisi Mahlangu to chair the meeting.

It was under this makeshift leadership that the council allegedly took a decisive vote, which was resolving directly to extend the Town Clerks contract by one year to November 2026, and then by a further four years to November 2030.

When I came back councilors had already appointed Councillor M. Mahlangu to chair and continue with the meeting and they confirmed their earlier resolution varying the GP recommendation by adding four more years to the town clerks contract on 30 November 2026, Ndlovu said.

The deputy mayor said this extension was not based on the disputed SI 197 of 2024, but on the councils own authority, arguing it is their duty to extend the contract as long as he is not above 70 years which is a legal retirement age.

The assertion by councilors is that it is their duty to extend the contract of the town clerk and recommend to the local Government Board as long as he is not above 70 years which is a legal retirement age. This does not need a legal opinion, Ndlovu said.

To support his claims of a legitimate quorum and decision, Ndlovu said the councillor who continued with the meeting forwarded to him the names and signatures of 28 councillors who continued with the meeting. CITE
The government is set to introduce sweeping reforms to enforce environmental compliance in the mining sector, including a landmark proposal that could see companies lose operating licences for environmental violations.

The move marks one of Zimbabwes toughest policy shifts in decades.

In an interview with NewsDay, Mines and Mining Development minister Winston Chitando said the forthcoming Responsible Mining Initiative Part 2, set to be launched soon, will introduce punitive measures targeting companies that fail to restore damaged land or operate outside environmental laws.

The initiative comes as the country faces mounting pressure to balance economic growth with environmental protection.

Mining accounts for more than 60% of Zimbabwes export earnings, led by gold, platinum and lithium. However, it has also been the source of deep social, and ecological scars, from polluted rivers in Penhalonga to abandoned open pits across the Midlands and Mashonaland provinces.

The government takes the issue of the environment very, very seriously, Chitando said. This new phase will address head-on the issues relating to environmental damage, which will include loss of mining title.

The announcement signals a potential turning point for Zimbabwes lucrative but controversial mining industry, which has been under growing scrutiny for widespread deforestation, toxic waste discharge and unsafe operations that have devastated communities, and ecosystems.

Chitando said the proposed policy was a continuation of the original Responsible Mining Initiative, which was designed to promote lawful, ethical, and sustainable mining practices.

The second phase, however, moves beyond voluntary compliance, setting out binding enforcement mechanisms and clear penalties.

At the moment, there is no provision for loss of mining title where operators or holders of mining concessions do not comply with environmental laws, Chitando said. This will change under Responsible Mining Part 2. Every operator must comply, no exception.

The push for reform reflects growing frustration within government and the public over illegal and unregulated mining operations  some linked to politically-connected syndicates  which have caused deforestation, siltation and hazardous pollution.

Analysts say Chitandos new framework could redefine how the country manages its natural resources, especially as it courts billions in new investment in its critical minerals sector.

Chitando hinted that the upcoming policy will introduce stronger oversight systems, improved coordination between the Environmental Management Agency and the Mines ministry, and mechanisms to ensure that mine closure and rehabilitation plans are implemented before extraction begins.

The Responsible Mining Initiative Part 2 will outline not just penalties but also proactive measures to ensure environmental protection from the start of mining operations, Chitando said.

The mining sector, though rich in potential, has struggled with inconsistent policy signals, currency instability and political risk.

But, government insiders argue that tough rules can improve investor confidence by bringing clarity and predictability to a sector often accused of operating in legal grey zones.

The initiative is also expected to align Zimbabwe with global environmental, social and governance standards  a prerequisite for attracting Western finance in an era of climate-conscious capital.

Communities near mining zones have long complained about neglect and lack of accountability.

In Penhalonga, for example, artisanal and corporate mining activities have turned once-clear rivers into toxic sludge, destroying crops and livelihoods.

Civil society groups have previously accused authorities of ignoring court rulings and allowing politically-connected miners to operate outside the law.

Chitando declined to disclose further details, saying the document will speak for itself once launched.

However, he emphasised that government's intention is unambiguous: no miner will operate above the law.

Lets wait for the launch of the Responsible Mining Initiative Part 2, he said. The government is very determined to ensure that no mining activity takes place if it is not compliant with environmental laws.

The new framework could reshape the countrys reputation in global mining circles, from a frontier with loose regulation to people embracing sustainability. Newsday
A feud over bus routes at Machu Picchu has left tourists stranded and area residents fuming, exposing deeper rifts over who profits from Peru's crown jewel. The dispute centers on operation of the lucrative shuttle service ferrying thousands of visitors from Aguas Calientes, the nearest town, up to the famed Inca citadela 20-minute ride that spares tourists a grueling two-hour climb, per the BBC . For three decades, Consettur, a company comprised of local businesses and partly owned by the district council, has held the contract, moving about 4,500 people daily.

That changed in September, when Consettur's license expired and a rival firm, San Antonio de Torontoy, was awarded the route. People who questioned the transparency of the bidding process and in some cases call the service a monopoly blocked the railway to Aguas Calientes, leading to the evacuation of some 1,400 tourists. The transition has since stalled in court, with Consettur continuing to operate and the new company sidelined by legal wrangling. Ticket prices are another sore spot: Foreigners pay $24 for the bus and at least $140 for a round-trip train to Aguas Calientes, with entry to Machu Picchu itself costing $57. Residents like Annalise Jaksic and Todd Carland say the process is confusing and expensive; Carland said buying the entry tickets "was a nightmare for us."

Some in Peru's tourism sector are calling for a complete overhaul, including more local investment and possibly state control of all transport to Machu Picchu. Aguas Calientes Mayor Elvis La Torre wants a bigger share of the revenue to stay in the community. Jean-Paul de la Fuente, the director of the New 7 Wonders of the World organization, has said, "The situation at Machu Picchu has been brewing for many years, and we have been following it with concern." The organization warned that Machu Picchu could losing its credibility as a world wonder, per the Independent.
A man posing as a delivery driver walked away with $11 million in cryptocurrency after robbing a San Francisco resident, police say. The incident occurred early Saturday evening at a home in the Mission Dolores neighborhood, according to a police report seen by the San Francisco Chronicle . Home security footage, shared online by Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, shows the suspect dressed in dark clothing, sunglasses, a hoodie, and gloves, carrying a white box. He buzzed the victim's door, claiming to have a package for "Joshua." Once the victim opened the door and turned away to look for a pen, the suspect entered the home, where a loud bang was heard off camera.

Police say the suspect pulled a gun, tied up the victim with duct tape, and fled with the victim's phone, laptop, and the contents of his crypto wallet. Authorities have not released further details on how the cryptocurrency was accessed. The victim, described by Tan as a friend, suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. No arrests have been made.

Tan used the incident to warn about the risks of self-custody in cryptocurrency, suggesting vault storage for long-term holdings. He urged anyone with video footage from the area between 4:30 and 6pm to contact police. It's the latest in a series of robberies and kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency investors. "Kidnappings of crypto investors are definitely on the rise," Steve Krystek, CEO of personal security company PFC Safeguards tells the New York Post. "A lot of the people who come into this money are flashy, and they're signaling that they have wealth."
Viola Fletcher, who witnessed the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre as a child and was its eldest known survivor, has died. She was 111. In announcing her death Monday, Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols said, "Mother Fletcher endured more than anyone should, yet she spent her life lighting a path forward with purpose." Fletcher, who was 7 at the time, spent much of her later life recounting her memories of the massacre and advocating for reparations, the Washington Post reports. In 2021, she told a congressional panel: "I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot. I will not."

Fletcher's mother woke her up on May 31, 1921, in their home to flee in a horse and buggy after a white mob that had been deputized and armed by law enforcement stormed the affluent Greenwood neighborhood. Tension had built over the false accusation that a 19-year-old Black shoeshine worker had sexually assaulted a white female elevator operator. The attack went on for two days. "I will never forget the violence of the white mob when we left our home," Fletcher testified. "I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street. I still smell smoke and see fire. I still see Black businesses being burned. I still hear airplanes flying overhead. I hear the screams." The neighborhood known as "Black Wall Street" was destroyed and as many as 300 people were killed. The destruction caused mass homelessness, per the New York Times. No one was ever held accountable.

For years, the massacre was not widely taught in schools. Many in Tulsa didn't know of it: Police records and newspaper archives were tampered with or destroyed, and victims were buried in unmarked graves. The killing of George Floyd in 2021 led to renewed attention, and Fletcher wrote a memoir in 2023 with her grandson, Don't Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre in Her Own Words. In recent years, Fletcher, with her brother and another survivor, became plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking reparations from local governments and the Oklahoma National Guard. The case was ultimately dismissed, with the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling the issue was one for policymakers, not the courts.

Fletcher worked as a maid for white families in Bartlesville, north of Tulsa, for most of her life. "The neighborhood I fell asleep in that night was richnot just in terms of wealth, but in culture, community, heritageand my family had a beautiful home," she said in her testimony supporting reparations. "Within a few hours, all that was gone." The founder of the Justice for Greenwood Foundation said in a statement that it's a moral failure that Fletcher died "without any meaningful redress" for herself and other victims of the attack. "She would not want her passing to be the end of the fight," Damario Solomon-Simmons said. "She would want it to light a fire under all of us." Lessie Benningfield Randle, also 111, now is the only known living survivor of the massacre.
Two mountain climbers have died on Aoraki, New Zealand 's tallest peak, and two others from the same group were rescued, authorities said on Tuesday. The dead climbers' bodies have been found and specialist searchers were working to recover them "in a challenging alpine environment," Police Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker said. None of the climbers has been publicly identified, but the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association said in a statement that one of those who died was a member of their organization and the other was that guide's client, the AP reports.

Sgt. Kevin McErlain told the Timaru Herald the pair had been connected by a rope when they fell near the summit of Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook. The authorities learned late Monday night local time that four climbers needed help on the mountain, which is on New Zealand's South Island. Two of the climbers were rescued by helicopter in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Walker said. They were uninjured. Searchers in two helicopters looked throughout the night for the other climbers, who were found dead hours later.

Aoraki is 12,218 feet high and is part of the Southern Alps, the scenic and icy mountain range that runs the length of the South Island. A settlement of the same name at its base is a destination for domestic and foreign tourists. The peak is popular among experienced climbers. Its terrain is technically difficult due to crevasses, avalanche risk, changeable weather, and glacier movement. More than 240 deaths have been recorded on the mountain and in the surrounding national park since the start of the 20th century. Dozens of those who died on the mountain have never been found. (This includes three men, two from the United States and one from Canada, who were believed to have died on Aoraki in December 2024.)
France's new army chief has sparked a national debate after bluntly warning that the country must be ready to "accept losing our children" in the face of growing military threats, particularly from Russia. Gen. Fabien Mandon made the remarks to mayors from across France, urging them to prepare their communities for the possibility of sacrifice to defend the nation, per the New York Times . "If France wavers because we are not ready to accept losing our children, then we are, indeed, at risk," Mandon said. He then told the mayors, "You must speak of this in your towns and villages," per the BBC .

The comments come as President Emmanuel Macron prepares to announce a plan for paid, voluntary military service aimed at young peoplepart of a broader effort to strengthen France's defenses. While conscription is not on the table, the initiative is seen as a response to the shifting security landscape in Europe, where several countries have reinstated mandatory service. "Our policy is to do everything to avoid war but at the same time prepare," said Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin.

Still, the army chief's warning was met with backlash from some politicians, who accused him of warmongering. Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, said the general was urging "military preparations that no-one has agreed on." Others, however, said his remarks exposed a widespread reluctance to confront the realities of war. A recent poll found that while most French people fear war could reach their country, they still see it as a distant threat. France, which ended conscription in 1997, currently has about 200,000 active military personnel and 40,000 reservists. The country, the EU's only nuclear power, has seen its relationship with Moscow deteriorate sharply in recent years.
The number of civilian casualties in Ukraine is growing as Russian armed forces intensify attacks on energy infrastructure ahead of winter, the Russian Federation has significantly increased the use of long-range weapons in 2025, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine says.

The HRMMU commented on another large-scale combined attack by the Russian Federation using missiles and long-range drones in the early hours of 25 November, which authorities said killed at least eight civilians and injured at least 34, including four children. This was the seventh attack targeting energy infrastructure in several regions of the country in the past two months.

"Overnight, dozens of civilians were injured and at least eight reportedly killed as families again hunkered in hallways and shelters as explosions continued for hours outside their homes," said Danielle Bell, head of HRMMU. "Millions of people across Ukraine fear for their loved ones each time hundreds of drones and missiles fly overhead, knowing that anyone can be harmed, no matter where they live."

The Russian Federation has significantly increased long-range weapon use in 2025. Several recent large-scale attacks have involved more than 500 missiles and long-range drones deployed within a short period of time, targeting multiple regions, and saturating the airspace over major cities.

Civilian casualties in major cities have spiked with the intensification of such attacks. Last year, from January to October 2024, long-range drones and missiles killed 434 and injured 2,045 civilians. In the same period in 2025, civilian deaths from long-range weapons increased by 26 per cent to 548 and civilian injuries increased by 75 per cent to 3,592. In Kyiv, for example, the number of civilian casualties in just the first ten months of 2025 was nearly four times higher than in the entire year of 2024. Other major urban centers, such as Dnipro and Zaporizhia, also saw significant increases in civilian casualties.

"Beyond the horrific loss of life, civilian homes, buildings and public infrastructure are also destroyed, with reconstruction potentially taking years," reiterated Ms. Bell. "Each new attack further compounds the psychological toll on civilians."

Recent waves of attacks on energy infrastructure have increased the cumulative strain on Ukraines energy system. Emergency outages in the aftermath of such attacks add to the already significant rolling blackouts that the population bears daily. Russian attacks on energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine have left the majority of the regions nationwide with severe power shortages, as winter approaches and temperatures begin to drop.
What's the US end game for Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro? That remains unclear amid escalating American pressure, but Axios reports that one-on-one talks between Maduro and President Trump are in the works to clarify matters. Trump has reportedly told advisers he plans to speak with Maduro, according to the outlet. It's a somewhat surprising development given recent US moveslabeling Maduro the head of a terrorist organization , repeated strikes on alleged gun-running boats , and the implicit threat of military strikes on the nation.

"Nobody is planning to go in and shoot him or snatch himat this point," an administration official tells Axios. "I wouldn't say never, but that's not the plan right now." There's no word on when the two leaders might speak. Assuming the call happens, what might Maduro offer Trump to protect himself? In a word, oil, reports Reuters. "Sending more oil to the US and protecting US investment in Venezuela is something Maduro can easily offer," says energy analyst Thomas O'Donnell. The vast majority of the nation's plentiful oil currently goes to China.

The US, however, remains deeply skeptical of any promises from Maduro, who has previously offered concessionsincluding new elections and oil dealsbut has not followed through, officials say. Last month, the New York Times reported that Venezuelan negotiators "offered the Trump administration a dominant stake in Venezuela's oil and other mineral wealth" after lengthy talks, but the US rebuffed the offer, at least for now.
The Pentagon is reportedly preparing to end a century-old partnership with Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts, according to documents reviewed by NPR . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has drafted a memo to Congress criticizing the organization as "genderless," claiming it no longer supports "the future of American boys" and accusing it of abandoning meritocracy in favor of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The Pentagon's support for the Scouts, formalized in 1937, has included medical and logistical assistance for the National Jamboree and allowing Scout troops to meet on military bases worldwide.

Hegseth's proposal would end these practices, citing concerns that the Scouts no longer "cultivate masculine values" and alleging that continued support would divert resources from national security priorities. NBC News first reported on the likely proposal in April. The Pentagon declined to comment on the documents, which it described as "leaked" and possibly "pre-decisional." Scouting America responded by emphasizing its nonpartisan history and commitment to developing future leaders. The organization said it values its long-standing relationship with the military and hopes to continue working together.

Current law requires the Pentagon to support the Scouts' Jamboree, but it includes an exemption allowing the secretary of defense to withhold support if deemed detrimental to national security. Hegseth's memo invokes this clause. The proposal has sparked concerns within the military, with some officials warning that ending the partnership could hurt recruitment efforts. Scouting has been a key part of military recruiting, with many service academy cadets and officers having a scouting background. The impact of the proposed policy on future cooperation between the military and Scouting America remains uncertain.
An acclaimed author long celebrated for his work exploring Indigenous issues in North America has publicly acknowledged that he is not, in fact, of Cherokee descent as he had believed for decades. Thomas King, a writer, academic, and activist who was born in California and has lived in Canada since 1980, says he accepted the findings of a genealogist associated with the Tribal Alliance Against Frauds, a North Carolina-based group that investigates false claims of Indigenous identity, per the Guardian .

"At 82, I feel as though I've been ripped in half, a one-legged man in a two-legged story," King, author of The Inconvenient Indian, writes in a Globe and Mail essay. "Not the Indian I had in mind. Not an Indian at all." He said he never intentionally misled anyone, and instead lived his life believing he was "mixed-blood Cherokee." He said he plans to return his National Aboriginal Achievement Award, but noted that his other honors were for his writing, not his ethnicity. He remains a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the highest honors bestowed on Canadian civilians.
It looks like a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war is genuinely closeat least on Ukraine's end. CBS News and the BBC report that Ukraine has agreed in principle to a US-brokered peace deal after lengthy talks. The development comes after the US and Ukraine "significantly changed" the original 28-point plan, which was widely seen as favorable to Russia, per the Washington Post . The question now is whether Moscow will accept the new terms. No details were released on the latest version of the peace plan, particularly on the thorniest issue of all: territorial concessions.

However, "many of the controversial provisions were either softened or at least reshaped," Oleksandr Bevz, part of the Ukrainian team, tells the Post. A US official tells CBS that "there are some minor details to be sorted out, but they have agreed to a peace deal," referring to Ukraine. Meanwhile, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is reportedly in Abu Dhabi to meet with Russian officials about the deal.

The potential breakthrough comes amid growing speculation that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington in the coming days, per the BBC, perhaps to finalize an agreement. President Trump originally set a Thursday deadline, though that is now seen as flexible amid the fast-moving negotiations.
A California boy is defying bleak odds after becoming the first patient to receive a new gene therapy for Hunter syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that usually proves fatal before adulthood. Oliver Chu, 3, took part in a clinical trial at the UK's Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, where doctors used gene editing to reprogram his own stem cells to produce a missing enzyme, per the BBC . "I've been waiting 20 years to see a boy like Ollie doing as well as he is, and it's just so exciting," says Dr. Simon Jones, who's co-leading the trial.

Oliver was diagnosed last year with Hunter syndrome, a condition that causes progressive damage to the body and brain, and which almost always occurs in boys. Before the gene therapy, the only available treatment could slow physical decline but couldn't cross the blood-brain barrier to help stop cognitive symptoms. Children with the condition are born seemingly healthy but typically begin to deteriorate around age 2. The disease, sometimes referred to as a type of childhood dementia, affects roughly 1 in 100,000 male births and is often fatal by age 20.

The February treatment process began with doctors removing some of Oliver's stem cells, which were then sent to a lab and modified to include a healthy copy of the gene that produces the missing enzyme. The modified cells were then infused back into Oliver's body. Within months, he was off weekly enzyme infusions and, per his parents, showing significant progress in speech, mobility, and social interaction. "Every time we talk about it I want to cry because it's just so amazing," says mom Jingru.

Oliver and his family return to Manchester every three months for follow-ups. If the trial is successful, the hospital hopes to partner with another biotech firm to seek licensing for the treatment. "Things look really hopeful right now," Jones says, per the Guardian. Oliver's parents say they're "eternally grateful" he was able to take part, per the BBC. "His life is no longer dominated by needles and hospital visits," says dad Ricky. The couple hope their older son, who's 5 and also affected by Hunter syndrome, can one day benefit from the same therapy. Chu explains that Skyler, 5, wasn't able to take part in the UK study due to his age and is part of a US study instead, per a release.
A 56-year-old Italian man is under investigation for allegedly disguising himself as his late mother in a bizarre pension fraud reminiscent of the film Mrs. Doubtfire. Authorities say the man, a former nurse who is currently unemployed, never reported the death of his 85-year-old mother, Graziella Dall'Oglio, in 2022, and instead collected about $60,000 in survivor's pension and family estate income. The scheme unraveled when the mandressed in a blouse, skirt, heavy makeup, and a short brown wigvisited a registry office in Borgo Virgilio to renew his mother's ID card, reports Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, per People .

A clerk reportedly became suspicious after noticing neck hair and what appeared to be beard stubble beneath the makeup. "His voice was feminine but every so often it dipped and sounded masculine," says Borgo Virgilio mayor Francesco Aporti, per the Telegraph. And "the skin on his hands did not seem to be that of an 85-year-old woman."

The office also realized the individual had arrived by car, though Dall'Oglio did not have a license. Authorities reviewed surveillance footage and called the man back to the office, where he was confronted by police and the mayor and admitted to the deception. Authorities later searched the family home, where they found the "mummified body" of Dall'Oglio. It had been wrapped in a bed sheet, placed in a sleeping bag, and concealed in a laundry room, the Telegraph reports. An autopsy is pending, but officials say the woman likely died of natural causes. Her son, who remains unidentified, is now being investigated for concealing a corpse, fraud, impersonation, and falsifying public documents.
All 24 schoolgirls who were abducted by armed assailants from a school earlier this month in northwestern Nigeria have been rescued, the country's president announced Tuesday. Police said 25 girls were abducted in Kebbi on Nov. 17, and one of them escaped afterward. No details were immediately released about the rescue mission for the remaining two dozen. "I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for," said President Bola Tinubu. "Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping."
President Trump didn't bring much holiday cheer Tuesday when bestowing ceremonial pardons on two Thanksgiving turkeys, dispensing more insults than goodwill at the traditional White House ritual. He joked about sending the turkeys to an infamous prison in El Salvador that has been used to house migrants deported from the United States, the AP reports. He said the birds should be named Chuck and Nancyafter Democratic stalwarts Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosibut "I would never pardon those people."

Trump claimed he had declared last year's turkey pardons, issued by Joe Biden, "totally invalid" because he used an autopen. "Where's Hunter?" he said, suggesting that his predecessor's son could once again face legal jeopardy. During the first turkey pardon of his first term, Trump joked about overturning Barack Obama's turkey pardons.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro began serving his 27-year prison sentence on Tuesday, a move that many in the South American nation doubted would ever take place after he was sentenced for leading a coup attempt designed to keep him in office after losing the 2022 presidential elections. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has overseen the case, ruled Bolsonaro will remain at the same federal police headquarters where he has been since he was preemptively arrested on Saturday for being considered a flight risk, the AP reports.

De Moraes ruled Tuesday that no further appeals were possible, the BBC reports. Bolsonaro will not have any contact with the few other inmates at the federal police headquarters. His 12-square-meter room has a bed, a private bathroom, air conditioning, a TV set, and a desk, according to federal police. Brazil's criminal law also could have allowed the 70-year-old to be transferred to a local penitentiary or to a prison room in a military facility in capital Brasilia. His lawyers wanted him to be on house arrest due to his poor health.

Bolsonaro had been under house arrest since August when de Moraes first mentioned he could escape. The far-right leader said "hallucinations" had led him to break his ankle monitoring with a soldering iron on Saturday, a claim that de Moraes dismissed in his preemptive arrest order. The former president and several of his allies were convicted by a panel of Supreme Court justices for attempting to overthrow Brazil's democracy following his 2022 election defeat. The plot included plans to kill President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Justice de Moraes. The plan also involved egging on an insurrection in early 2023.

Two others convicted, Augusto Heleno and Paulo Sergio Nogueira, both Army generals, were sent the military facility in Brasilia to start serving their sentences. Former justice minister Anderson Torres is now imprisoned at the Papuda penitentiary, also in Brazil's capital. Adm. Almir Garnier will serve his term at Navy facilities in Brasilia. Bolsonaro's running mate and former Defense Minister Walter Braga Netto, another army general, will remain in prison at military facilities in Rio de Janeiro. Alexandre Ramagem, Bolsonaro's spy chief, recently fled to the US to avoid serving his 16-year sentence, the Guardian reports.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on the Coalition of the Willing to continue working to support Ukraine.

"I participated in the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing to strengthen our support for Ukraine. We are at a crucial stage in achieving a just and lasting peace. Unity and commitment are more important than ever. Let's continue to work together," Sanchez wrote on the social network X.
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Sunny skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High -27F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Low -26F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 100%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
KYOTO, Nov 25 (News On Japan) - Kyotos famed autumn foliage reached its peak in late November as crowds gathered at Eikando, a temple with more than a thousand years of history and one of the citys most celebrated spots for viewing fall colors, with visitors posing for photos along the bridge railings and foreign tourists standing out prominently among them.

Roughly 20% of all foreign visitors to Kyoto are Chinese, and although arrivals from China had been outpacing the record levels of 2019 through much of 2025, the rapid deterioration in bilateral relations has already begun to affect the flow of tourists.

A reporting team visited several sites where the number of Chinese tourists has dropped sharply, prompting speculation that the trend could help ease the pressures of overtourism.

One guide pointed out the so-called maple tunnel, explaining with visitors on the path that the mix of green, yellow, and deep red leaves had reached its most striking gradient, though the vivid colors would likely last only another week. Even with the leaves at their peak, those taking commemorative photos on the bridge were mostly foreign travelers. Foreign visitors are especially high this year, one local worker said, adding that Chinese tourists normally make up the largest group.

Foreign visitors account for roughly 20% of Kyotos total, and until recently Chinese arrivals this year had been surpassing previous records. But one guide noted a clear drop, saying there was a noticeable decrease in Chinese tourists.

The decline follows Chinas call for its citizens to refrain from nonessential travel to Japan, issued about a week earlier. Despite the perfect timing of the autumn foliage, the sharp fall in visitors from China has led some to believe this may temporarily relieve the citys chronic overtourism.

Kyotos illuminated night foliage is often described as among the most beautiful in the world. The city recorded around 1.54 million overnight guests in November last year, with more than halfabout 800,000being foreign tourists. Popular destinations such as Arashiyama had become so congested that even moving through the crowds proved difficult, with foreign tourists again making up the visible majority.

Along the Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama, visitors marveled at the vivid reds as the foliage neared its peak, though the overwhelming crowds never relented. Many Chinese tourists interviewed said they were deeply moved by the scenery. Asked about the Chinese governments call to avoid travel to Japan, one visitor commented, Japan doesnt feel unsafe at all. Its sad that relations between China and Japan arent good right now.

The team then visited Kiyomizudera, Kyotos most popular destination among Chinese tourists, visited by roughly 90% of those arriving from China. Even on a weekday, the Sannenzaka approach was so crowded that foot traffic stalled. Two Chinese visitors who had arrived after the advisory was issued said they chose to come because they heard this was the most beautiful time of year to see Kyoto, though they added that political questions were difficult to answer and required personal judgment.

The report also examined hotel rates among Chinese visitors currently in Kyoto. Many appeared to fall into higher-priced accommodation brackets, with some paying about 30,000 yen per night and others around 21,000 yen, noting that prices were not unreasonable compared to major U.S. cities. According to the Kyoto City Tourism Association, the average hotel rate in November last year was 28,686 yen. Among ten Chinese tourists surveyed, several were staying in relatively high-priced rooms, including one paying 60,000 yen per night. Analysts suggested that the more immediate impact was occurring among lower-priced accommodations.

At one guesthouse priced at 7,500 yen per night with only two rooms, two Chinese guests cancelled bookings on November 17th, citing family concerns due to deteriorating Japan-China relations. The owner, who relies heavily on Chinese guests, said cancellations are likely to increase, expressing concern that losing half of their business would be painful.

According to travel analyst Toriumi, the lower the accommodation price bracket, the more quickly the impact of the advisory becomes visible. For middle-income and lower-income travelers, he explained, official government announcements are a primary source of decision-making, and the call for travel restraint is interpreted as meaning Japan is unsafe, prompting cancellations.

Toriumi also warned that the number of Chinese visitors coming to Japan in the near future could decline significantly. A recent Kyoto City survey found that although foreign visitors in Arashiyama have increased compared to previous years, the number of Japanese visitors has fallen by roughly 20%. The city has been grappling with overtourism, and the shift in visitor composition may temporarily alleviate pressure.

A separate survey conducted by the reporting program among shops around Kiyomizudera found that 16 out of 24 storesaround 70%reported a decline in Chinese customers following the advisory. One commentator noted that Chinas wealthy travelers tend to have access to diverse sources of information, suggesting that proactively communicating Japans safety might help reassure them.

At Eikando, where the foliage was brilliantly illuminated, only two of fourteen tourists interviewed on the day were from China. Its sad to see fewer visitors, one local said, but on the other hand, its become a more relaxed and enjoyable space. It feels like the pressure of overtourism has eased.

Asked how the situation affects Japanese tourists, another visitor suggested that a well-regulated flow of people might actually be positive, making sightseeing more comfortable.

Chinas call for travel restrainta development with potentially major consequences for Japans tourism industryis also prompting renewed discussion about how to manage overtourism in Kyoto and beyond.

Source: FNN
AKITA, Nov 25 (News On Japan) - Ski resorts in Japan are stepping up precautions as bear activity remains unusually high this season, prompting operators to introduce emergency alarms, deterrent tools, and additional patrols to protect visitors as winter tourism begins in earnest.

On November 24th in Akita City, Senshu Parktypically filled with visitors during the late-autumn foliage seasonwas nearly empty after another bear sighting was reported in the afternoon, highlighting how persistent bear activity is reshaping safety protocols well beyond rural mountain areas.

At Kazawa Snow Area in Gunma Prefecture, a 47-year-old ski resort that has never recorded a bear sighting, staff have installed loudspeaker sirens designed to alert skiers immediately if a bear is spotted and to encourage them to descend quickly without confusion. The resort has also stocked firecrackers and bear-repellent spray, with operators saying the goal is to ensure that visitors can enjoy the slopes with peace of mind despite the heightened risks.

Experts warn that food shortages this year may delay hibernation, allowing bears to remain active on snow-covered terrain. According to Iwate University associate professor Takayoshi Yamauchi, humans are easily slowed by deep snow while bears retain their full mobility thanks to powerful legs, paw pads, and sharp claws that function as natural grips. He noted that bears can charge at full speed even in deep snow, making avoidance difficult in the event of a close encounter.

Footage from abroad illustrates the danger: in Russia, a man running on a snowy walkway was quickly overtaken by a bear that never lost its balance, while in Norways Svalbard archipelago a man narrowly escaped a pursuing polar bear by jumping onto a snowmobile. Another incident in Russias Far East showed a bear tearing through a facility gate and attacking two employees, leaving both in critical condition.

Yamauchi advised that if people encounter a bear, the safest action is to maintain as much distance as possible and seek shelter inside a building or vehicle, stressing that bears generally avoid humans but may attack depending on the circumstances.

Source: FNN
OSAKA, Nov 25 (News On Japan) - As December approaches and people prepare for handwritten New Years cards, opportunities to pick up a pen naturally increase at this time of year, yet the nations enthusiasm for beautiful handwriting shows no sign of fading as calligraphy schools continue to evolve in step with the boom.

Despite the obvious shift away from daily handwriting, many still want their penmanship to look polished. Interest remains strong enough that in correspondence course rankings, a ballpoint-pen handwriting class now holds the top spot ahead of programs such as medical office administration or real estate licensing. Bookstores, too, have shelves lined with titles promising improved handwriting. I am no exception; even though I regularly write on cue cards for work, my handwriting often feels unsatisfying.

Seeking a solution, I visited a calligraphy classroom in Osaka that overturns the traditional image of ink and tatami mats. Inside the studio known as pen., visitors are met with an interior that resembles a cafe rather than a classroom, complete with seasonal decorationsin this season, Christmas ornamentsto make the experience more approachable. The relaxed, stylish atmosphere has attracted a growing number of learners who want to practice without the formality of conventional calligraphy lessons.

Teaching me on this day was calligrapher Mito, whose works have been exhibited in many museums. I began with a handwriting assessment by writing my name, but Mito responded with a light laugh as she explained that it resembled a cheerful effort from an elementary school child, a comment that struck surprisingly hard.

According to Mito, neat handwriting comes down to understanding a set of simple visual rules that can be applied to many characters. The first key point is left-right balance: when the left component of a character has fewer strokes, it should be placed closer to the left to leave ample space for the right component. When both sides have many strokes, they should share the space equally. In my own name, the sansui radical is small because it has few strokes, while the left side of the character for miki requires a one-to-one balance.

The next rule concerns box-shaped characters. For example, in the character for mouth, horizontal and vertical strokes extend outward at the bottom and sides, while in other square-shaped characters, two lines extend downward. Applying this distinction helps stabilize characters like  and  in my name.

But the part that especially concerned Mito was the lower stroke of the character . She pointed out that my version sagged too much, and that the line should extend more lightly and horizontallyalmost like a shortcutwithout dropping heavily downward.

As I took notes and repeatedly practiced by comparing my strokes against Mitos samples, the relaxed setting became even more apparent when staff brought tea and cookies, adding to the cafe-like atmosphere. Enjoying a warm drink, I confided that my mother had long urged me to take penmanship lessons, criticizing my handwriting since childhood. Mito called her a good mother, and I reflected on how my parents chose the character for mikiya in hopes I would grow into someone strong and steadfast, like the trunk of a tree.

After 25 years of avoiding the issue, I finally faced my handwriting head-on. Two hours of focused practice later, I managed to write a version of my name that felt genuinely satisfying to me. Mito praised the improved , noting that the shortcut stroke was properly executed. Comparing the before-and-after samples, the difference was striking.

Feeling newly confident, I found myself wanting to show the result to my mother. The weak, drooping character I once wrote had transformed into a firm, angular version that reflected the intention behind my name. The experience brought a sense of accomplishment I had never associated with handwriting before, and perhaps this winter is the perfect time for others to rediscover the simple pleasure of writing by hand.

Source: YOMIURI
TOKYO, Nov 25 (News On Japan) - A Thai girl who was 12 at the time was forced to work illegally at a massage parlor in Tokyo, leading the Metropolitan Police Department to rearrest the stores operator as investigators continue to examine how the girl was trafficked to Japan.

Reporters traveled to Thailand to trace the circumstances that pushed her into unlawful work.

On Thai social media platforms, recruitment posts promoting jobs at Japanese sex-related businesses have been increasing, offering high earnings and encouraging travel to Japan. When reporters contacted a local broker advertising such work, the broker responded that there are shops in Tokyo specializing in hidden massage services, and assured prospective workers they could choose whichever shop was easiest for them.

Authorities rearrested Masayuki Hosono, 51, who operated a massage parlor in Tokyos Bunkyo Ward, on suspicion of forcing a woman in her 30s to provide sexual services despite operating in a restricted area. At this same establishment, the 12-year-old Thai girl had been made to serve 61 customers over a period of just one month.

To understand the girls background, reporters visited her rural hometown five hours by car from central Bangkok. She lived in a small wooden shack without air-conditioning, sharing the space with her grandparents and younger sister. According to the grandmother, the girls mother was the sole breadwinner, supporting the entire family through overseas work.

The mother had traveled abroad 27 times, including to Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Thai social media now features numerous posts advertising short-term work in Japan for 60,000 baht in 14 days, equivalent to roughly 300,000 yen. When reporters messaged one such broker, they were told a fee of 5,000 bahtabout 25,000 yenwas required upfront.

When asked about work conditions in Japan, the broker said job types varied by shop and that some establishments required no massage skills at all. Despite being informed that the prospective worker did not have a visa, the broker insisted that a 15-day tourist visa would suffice, even though it is illegal to work in Japan under such status.

When approached while posing as a 17-year-old, the broker went further, saying that minors could also travel to Japan for work as long as preparations were made and shifts booked in advance, claiming the year-end period in Japan was especially busy.

Related: Thai Police Issue Arrest Warrant for Mother of 12-Year-Old Girl

Source: TBS
Photo: https://t.me/svyrydenkoy

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska as part of her visit to Ukraine.

"We have confirmed the effectiveness of the PURL program in ensuring Ukraine's military needs are met. Since the program's launch, the volume of financial support has exceeded $3 billion, uniting nearly 20 countries. We are grateful to the NATO member states currently investing in Ukrainian weapon production, and we support expanding partnership initiatives in defense production through the Build in Ukraine and Build with Ukraine programs," Svyrydenko wrote in a Telegram post commenting on the meeting.

The parties also discussed energy security and protecting Ukraine's critical infrastructure from ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks.

"At the same time, we must strengthen Europe's security perimeter, which currently consists of Ukraine's front-line regions. This primarily concerns their reconstruction and reconstruction in wartime. Our strength lies in our unity and resilience in the face of Russian aggression," Svyrydenko emphasized.
About 2,400 advisors across Canada were surveyed in the FidelityConnects Pulse Poll

TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2025 /CNW/ - According to the Fidelity Investment Canada ULC (Fidelity) Young Canadian Study conducted in partnership with Ipsos, 60% of Canadian teens (15 - 17 year old) think it is important for them to learn about how to start investing money.

While Canadian teenagers understanding the importance of learning how to invest is a tremendously positive step forward, the Study also shows that 59% of them have negative emotions when they think about investing.

FidelityConnects Pulse Poll (CNW Group/Fidelity Investments Canada ULC)

The high number of teenagers who feel nervous, confused and scared about investing underscores the importance of targeted education to enhance their investment literacy early in their journey. By providing resources sooner, it ensures that by the time they reach investment age, they are equipped with the knowledge to understand the benefits, costs and risks associated with investing.

Originating from a winning student case competition, Fidelity's investment literacy series Money Gains, was created to promote investment literacy and financial wellness at an early age. This free educational series for high school students and Canadians of all ages has a library of 50 English and French videos, with accompanying lesson plans for educators. New videos will be released later this year on personal finance topics, including debt management, budgeting, managing credit and more. You can find the series on fidelity.ca and YouTube.

In a recent online survey of 2,383 financial advisors, 2,209 (92%) said they support making financial literacy, including how to invest wisely, a graduation requirement in Ontario high schools and a national standard across Canada.

"Financial advisors add tremendous value to young Canadians starting out their career and investing journey. Alongside our educators, they play an important role in helping young Canadians become more knowledgeable about money and how to achieve their financial goals," said Linda Passarelli, VP Talent Management, Fidelity Investments Canada.

"As a long-standing partner of the financial advisor community, we also support the idea of more financial literacy education that focuses on investing, which has real potential to empower young Canadians and help them develop healthy money and investing habits."

"That is why we created Money Gains, and as we wrap up Financial Literacy Month and think about actions for next year, we encourage policymakers to consider how we can offer more financial education accessible to high school students in all provinces and territories."

Why Investment Literacy Matters:

One-third of young Canadians believe that under $1,000 is enough to start investing.

49 % of young Canadians (18 -34) believe investing should start between 18 and 24 years old. The average response for all was 18 years old, with 29 percent wanting to start even earlier. 83% of teenagers believe investing should start between 18 - 24. The average response for all was 20 years old.

Knowledge gap persists: 25% identify as beginners, 29% as novices, 39% as intermediate and only 8% as experts.

Top investment priorities remain consistent for young adults (18 - 34) - saving for retirement (36%), home buying/mortgage (35%) and emergency savings (34%).

Source: 2025 Fidelity Young Canadian Study

Unlock the power of investment literacy:

For a discussion on the importance of investment literacy, watch the replay on YouTube of Fidelity's special webcast featuring Rob Carrick, who recently retired after 27 years as a personal finance columnist for The Globe and Mail. The session includes Rob's perspectives on investment literacy and financial advice, followed by a panel discussion with key voices from the charitable sector exploring the challenges facing young Canadians.

Panelists:

Liz Mulholland, CEO, Prosper Canada

Kim Charteris, President and CEO, Junior Achievement of Central Ontario

Mahdi Hussein, Executive Director, Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre, Boys and Girls Club of Canada

Claire Barron, Manger Learning and Development, Park Street Education

Join the conversation:

Have questions or feedback? Connect with us on Reddit and be a part of the dialogue.

About Fidelity Investments Canada ULC

At Fidelity Investments Canada, our mission is to build a better future for our clients. Our diversified business serves financial advisors, wealth management firms, employers, institutions and individuals. As the marketplace evolves, we are constantly innovating and offering our clients choice of investment and wealth management products, services and technological solutions all backed by Fidelity's global capabilities. With assets under management of $338 billion (as at October 6, 2025), Fidelity Investments Canada is privately held and committed to helping our diverse clients meet their goals over the long term. Fidelity funds are available through financial advisors and online trading platforms.

Find us on social media @FidelityCanada

www.fidelity.ca

Listen to FidelityConnects on Apple or Spotify

SOURCE Fidelity Investments Canada ULC

For more information, please contact: Chris Pepper, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Fidelity Investments Canada ULC, M: (416) 795-7762, E: [email protected]
BRAMPTON, ON, Nov. 25, 2025 /CNW/ - Just in time for the festive season, President's Choice is rolling out the ultimate hosting hack: the PC Kitchen Drop. It's the PC Test Kitchen on wheels, cooking this season's hottest dishes curbside for holiday parties across downtown Toronto and Montreal. PC Kitchen Drop is designed for people looking to host and serve up the latest food trends without the hassle.

This one-of-a-kind vehicle features an eye-catching kitchen encased in glass with a PC Chef in action, preparing a full family-style feast for gatherings up to twelve. The menu features a lineup of must-try dishes and recipes from the new PC Holiday Insiders Report, each one developed in the original PC Test Kitchen.

The experience kicks off with guests hopping aboard for a culinary show from the PC Chef, complete with appetizers and mocktails. Then, while the guests return to the party, the PC Kitchen Drop crew does all the cooking, delivers the full spread to the host's table, and even sets them up with a festive tablescape.

"Kitchen Drop really captures what the PC Holiday Insiders Report has always been about," said Lindsay Cook, VP, Control Brand, Loyalty and Joe Fresh Marketing. "Taking the stress out of hosting and elevating every meal into something remarkable."

PC Kitchen Drop is free to book on a first-come, first-served basis at PCKitchenDrop.ca. Bookings open on Tuesday, November 25th. All requests will be confirmed by email, and each successful booking can host up to twelve guests. See pckitchendrop.ca to learn more, limited spots available.

Dates include:

 Dec 12-14 (Fri-Sun)  Toronto

 Dec 1921 (FriSun)  Montreal

 Dec 2628 (Fri-Sun)  Toronto

This campaign builds on the success of the Bookable Backyards summer campaign  which let apartment dwellers reserve backyards for entertaining. Both Kitchen Drop and Bookable Backyards were developed by Zulu Alpha Kilo for President's Choice.

The President's Choice Insiders Report has served Canadians as a trusted guide to new PC products for more than 40 years, showcasing the most exciting and innovative launches each season.

About Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaw is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, and the nation's largest retailer. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, and healthcare services, other health and beauty products, apparel, general merchandise, financial services and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,800 locations, Loblaw, its franchisees and Associate-owners employ more than 220,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.

Loblaw's purpose  Live Life Well  puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the company's stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,100 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at nearly 1,400 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix locations and in close to 500 grocery stores; PC Financial services; Joe Fresh fashion and family apparel; and four of Canada's top-consumer brands in Life Brand, Farmer's MarketTM, no name and President's Choice. For more information, visit Loblaw's website at www.loblaw.ca and Loblaw's issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca

About Zulu Alpha Kilo

We Fight Sameness. At Zulu Alpha Kilo (Z.A.K. for short), fighting sameness is not just our creative mission. It's why we exist. With offices in Toronto, New York and Vancouver, we're a full-service agency with 185 full-time people. Our agency's unique culture is passionate, entrepreneurial and fearless in the pursuit of groundbreaking ideas. Launched in 2008, Z.A.K. has built a reputation as an industry outlier and one of the most respected independent agencies in the world creating innovative ideas for our clients that include: Subaru Canada, President's Choice, Booking.com, Bell, Interac, Harry's, Destination BC, and AGO. For three years running, Fast Company has recognized our work in their World Changing Ideas issue and in 2024 Z.A.K. made Fast Company's list of the World's Most Innovative Companies.

SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited - Public Relations

Media inquiries: [email protected]
QUEBEC CITY, Nov. 25, 2025 /CNW/ - As part of the fall 2025 economic and financial update, the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, is introducing today additional initiatives amounting to $8.3 billion for protecting our purchasing power and our economy in the particular context facing Quebec. These new measures will notably make it possible to return $5.9 billion to Quebecers, including $4.1 billion related to the indexing of the tax system. With this update, the government is also staying on course to gradually return to a balanced budget by 2029-2030.

The government is prioritizing the protection of Quebecers' purchasing power and is also planning to cancel the increase in the capital gains inclusion rate, in addition to providing for measures totalling $2.5 billion to increase Quebec's economic resilience, particularly by enhancing the accelerated depreciation measures.

Savings of $1.8B over five years for workers thanks to the reduction in the contribution rates to the QPP and the QPIP

Given the financial pressure faced by many households, the government is acting swiftly to help workers by returning $1.8 billion to them over the next five years through a reduction, beginning January 1, 2026, in contribution rates to the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP). This reduction will provide maximum savings of $137 for an employee and $259 for a self-employed worker.

Indexing the parameters of the personal income tax system

Quebecers will also benefit, as of January 1, 2026, from a 2.05% indexation of the parameters of the personal income tax system and social assistance benefits. This indexation will represent tax relief of $4.1 billion over five years for households.

Cancelling the increase in the capital gains inclusion rate

The government is cancelling the increase in the capital gains inclusion rate, following the decision of the federal government on this matter. This cancellation represents a gain of more than $2 billion for Quebec citizens and businesses.

$59M for acting now to protect the well-being of more vulnerable individuals

The government is also maintaining its efforts to ensure the well-being of more vulnerable populations by investing more than $59 million over five years, notably to improve their housing conditions, through increased funding for the Residential Adaptation Assistance Program and the RenoRegion program. These investments will also make it possible to strengthen emergency assistance to address homelessness, as well as enhance mixed psychosocial and police intervention practices and the special benefit for infant formula as part of social assistance.

$2.5B for increasing Quebec's economic resilience

The government is continuing its efforts to make sure that Quebec is equipped to deal with the current global economic context, which is fraught with uncertainty, while relations with our main trading partner have become increasingly complex.

In this regard, initiatives totalling $2.5 billion are planned to stimulate business investment, reduce employers' social security contributions, promote economic development in the regions, and create research chairs in areas of strategic importance to Quebec.

In concrete terms, the accelerated depreciation measures implemented in 2018 will be extended for a further five years, in coordination with the federal government. By enabling businesses to write off the cost of their investment, the government is improving the business environment for companies and making new investment opportunities more attractive.

In addition, the government is announcing a reduction in employers' social security contribution rates to the QPP and the QPIP as of January 1, 2026, which will have the effect of reducing business payroll costs. This measure corresponds to total annual savings of more than $400 million for close to 280 000 employers.

The fall 2025 update also includes more than $400 million over five years for promoting economic development in the regions, which face a number of challenges, particularly related to tariffs. Of this amount, more than $290 million will be invested to support the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors, notably by providing businesses with a $255-million temporary payroll tax holiday. In addition, the government is allocating $65 million to extend the tax credit for Gaspesie and certain maritime regions of Quebec.

A sum of $10 million is also earmarked to create 10 research chairs in areas of strategic importance. This initiative will help attract international talent working in priority sectors for Quebec's development.

To support its new economic vision, the government will also introduce, in the coming weeks, a bill to accelerate the approval of priority projects of national scope.

The Quebec economy is well positioned to meet challenges

The global context is profoundly marked by geopolitical, economic and technological upheavals. Quebec is entering this turbulent period in an excellent position to meet the challenges and seize new favourable opportunities.

Despite the impact of the trade dispute, economic activity in Quebec continues to grow. Following a 1.7% increase in 2024, which was higher than anticipated in the budget (+1.4%), real GDP is expected to post gains of 0.9% in 2025 and 1.1% in 2026.

Between 2018 and 2024, Quebecers saw their standard of living and purchasing power increase more than that of other Canadians, thanks in part to major initiatives implemented by the Quebec government. During this period, the standard of living as defined by real GDP per capita rose by 4.9% in Quebec, while it fell 0.3% in Ontario and 0.9% in the rest of Canada. Meanwhile, household purchasing power, measured by disposable income in real terms per capita, improved by 9.2% in Quebec compared to 5.1% in Ontario and in the rest of Canada.

Encouraging signs for Quebec's public finances

Despite the uncertainty surrounding U.S. economic policies, the government is reaffirming its commitment to responsible management of public finances and confirms that it is staying on course to return to a balanced budget by 2029-2030 as established in the last budget.

On a comparable basis to the budgetary balances of other Canadian provinces and the federal government, the Quebec government has reduced its accounting deficit by $2.9 billion in 2024-2025, bringing it to $5.2 billion, which represents 0.8% of GDP, whereas in the last budget, the expected deficit represented 1.3% of GDP.

The government is also reducing its accounting deficit forecast by $1.5 billion in 2025-2026, which now stands at $9.9 billion, or 1.5% of GDP, compared to 1.8% in March 2025. After deposits of dedicated revenues in the Generations Fund, the budgetary balance within the meaning of the Balanced Budget Act shows a deficit of $12.4 billion, or 1.9% of GDP.

It should be noted that at the time of writing this economic and financial update, Quebec is the province with the greatest improvement in its budgetary balance for 2025-2026.

Maintaining the objective of reducing the debt burden in the long term

The government is maintaining its objective of reducing the debt burden in the long term. Reducing the debt burden contributes to economic growth by creating a climate of confidence conducive to private investment and higher productivity.

The net debt burden will stand at 39.7% of GDP as at March 31, 2026. This is lower than the pre-pandemic level, which was 42.9% of GDP as at March 31, 2019. The objective is to reduce the debt burden to 32.5% of GDP by 2037-2038.

This update provides for an additional deposit in the Generations Fund in 2026-2027 that will correspond to the cumulative surplus of the Electrification and Climate Change Fund as at March 31, 2026, estimated at $1.8 billion. The decrease in the gross debt resulting from this deposit will contribute to intergenerational fairness with a view to ensuring the sustainability of public finances.

Quotation:

"Since 2018, despite a difficult economic context and the shock of the pandemic, Quebec has outperformed the rest of Canada. Today, in the current context of economic uncertainty, we are not only making the responsible choice to protect Quebecers' purchasing power, who must cope on a daily basis with the rising cost of living, but also to protect businesses that are affected by tariffs and changes transforming our economy."

Eric Girard, Minister of Finance

Highlights:

A 0.20-percentage-point decrease in the Quebec Pension Plan contribution rate and a 13% reduction in the QPIP contribution rate as of January 1, 2026.

A 2.05% indexation of the tax system and social assistance benefits as of January 1, 2026, representing savings of $4.1 billion over five years for all Quebecers.

Cancellation of the increase in the capital gains inclusion rate.

Increased funding for the Residential Adaptation Assistance Program and the RenoRegion program.

Strengthened emergency assistance to address homelessness and enhanced mixed psychosocial and police intervention practices.

Extension for a further 5 years and enhancement of the accelerated depreciation measures implemented in 2018.

Temporary payroll tax holiday for businesses in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors.

Economic growth that will reach 0.9% in 2025 and 1.1% in 2026.

Reduction in the accounting deficit of $2.9 billion in 2024-2025 and $1.5 billion in 2025-2026.

Maintaining the path established in Budget 2025-2026 to restore budgetary balance by 2029-2030.

Objective of reducing net debt burden to 32.5% of GDP by 2037-2038.

Related link:

Update on Quebec's Economic and Financial Situation: www.quebec.ca/update.

SOURCE Cabinet du ministre des Finances

Source: Claudia Loupret, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Finance, Tel.: 418 670-6413; Information: Charles-Etienne Belisle, Media Relations Officer, Ministere des Finances, Tel.: 418 528-7382
The first step out of the political crisis should be the resignation of the government, believes the European Solidarity faction.

"Todays meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy dispelled the last remaining illusions  the criminal group not only embezzled billions through schemes in the energy sector, fortifications, and defense, but also extended its tentacles into executive bodies and law-enforcement structures. The organizers of the crime group interfered in the work of individual agencies and entire ministries, directed government officials, and appointed their own people to key positions," the statement of the faction published by the press service of the European Solidarity party says.

The faction is convinced that this proves the current Cabinet of Ministers "has turned into a convenient tool of a corrupt group," which has completely destroyed the system of public administration.

European Solidarity has appealed to the members of the Batkivschyna faction, calling on them to unite in efforts to restore the parliaments subjectivity.

"We know that after the initiative of European Solidarity, Batkivschyna also appealed to the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada for signature sheets to dismiss the government. We are ready to sign these sheets immediately and call on all Batkivschyna deputies to immediately sign the European Solidarity sheets," the statement emphasizes.

"For the first time in the past seven years, we have an opportunity to restore the parliaments subjectivity and to return the status of the Verkhovna Rada as an independent branch of power. To restore the functioning of the Constitution, because ultimately we have a parliamentary-presidential  not an office  republic," the statement stresses.
U.S., Ukraine reportedly narrow 28-point peace plan to 19 points

Xinhua) 09:10, November 25, 2025

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) and Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, meet the press at the United States Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-proposed 28-point peace plan aiming to end the Ukraine crisis has been trimmed to a 19-point framework drafted by the United States and Ukraine over the weekend in Geneva, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

"Many of the controversial provisions were either softened or at least reshaped" to get closer to a Ukrainian position or reduce demands on Ukraine, Oleksandr Bevz, a Ukrainian official who participated in the Geneva talks, was quoted by The Washington Post as saying.

He added that the Thursday deadline, set by U.S. President Donald Trump for an agreement on the 28-point plan, now appears more flexible than it did before.

"It's not a code red -- it's more important to finalize the text," said Bevz.

Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya told the Financial Times that the new draft bore little resemblance to the leaked 28-point version.

"Very few things are left from the original version," he said.

The new draft leaves the most contentious issues for Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to decide, according to multiple media reports.

The earlier 28-point version would have required Ukraine to cede territory in eastern Ukraine, reduce its military and forswear NATO membership. The plan thus crossed several long-standing Ukrainian red lines, drawing criticism from Ukraine and across Europe, according to reports.

Representatives from the United States, Ukraine and European countries met in Geneva on Sunday as the White House pushed for agreement on the 28-point plan.

Following a meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and national security advisers from Britain, France and Germany, the Ukrainian side held bilateral talks with the U.S. representatives.

It's reported that Sunday's Geneva meeting was attended on the U.S. side by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, with Zelensky's office chief Andriy Yermak leading the Ukrainian delegation.

According to a joint statement issued by the White House on Sunday night, the talks between U.S. representatives and Ukrainian officials in Geneva made "meaningful progress toward aligning positions."

The Kremlin said it has not received official details from Geneva and does not plan talks with U.S. officials this week, according to a Newsweek report.

Trump has set Thursday as the deadline for reaching an understanding with Kiev on the framework, while suggesting that talks could continue beyond that date if progress is being made.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Traditional crafts drive rural revitalization in Yongkang, E China's Zhejiang

People's Daily Online) 15:49, November 25, 2025

At the recently concluded eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, Sheng Yiyuan, a representative inheritor of the national-level intangible cultural heritage of tin carving, guided visitors in making tin carvings. His works, which blend practicality with artistry, drew the attention of many international buyers.

Sheng hails from Yongkang, a city in east China's Zhejiang Province. The city, known as a "Hardware Capital," is home to 110 intangible cultural heritage projects.

Sheng Yiyuan, a representative inheritor of the national-level intangible cultural heritage of tin carving, displays a tin carving work. (People's Daily/Gu Zhongyang)

Tin carving in Yongkang dates back to the Five Dynasties period (907-960). However, with modern materials replacing traditional ones and tin prices rising, the ancient craft faced a dire threat even after being listed as a national intangible cultural heritage project in 2008.

Sheng launched an initiative to safeguard the craft. He developed a database for tin carving, documenting the four core elements  base, pattern, signature and technique  along with extended information from collections, archaeology and documents. The database of over 10 terabytes will support design, creative intellectual property development and research activities once it becomes publicly accessible.

Sheng also spearheaded a virtual reality experience project for Yongkang tin carving, which attracted over 30,000 tourist visits during this year's May Day holiday in early May. Embracing artificial intelligence, he generates pattern designs by inputting keywords such as tea canister, origin or artistic style, meeting the growing demand for personalized products.

Cheng Yuquan, a master of arts and crafts from Zhejiang, grew up learning these skills from his father, Cheng Zhuchang. In 1983, Cheng Zhuchang observed the growing popularity of tourism in a nearby scenic area and noted a lack of locally produced souvenirs.

Quick to act, he established a crafts factory the following year to produce souvenirs. Together, the father and son combined copper sculptures with plaster statues to create a variety of handicrafts, including copper sculptures, agate pieces, and imitation clay figures, which proved popular with visitors.

In 1995, Cheng Yuquan started a sculpture company, which has since become a leading name in the copper sculpture industry both domestically and internationally.

Cheng Yuquan takes particular pride in the fact that his son, Cheng Yi, took over the business after graduating from university. Cheng Yi introduced innovative items such as cigar ashtrays and car emblems and registered a copper sculpture trademark, which generated significant brand value.

In addition to being internationally recognized for its hardware industry, Yongkang is home to a wide array of intangible cultural heritage projects, including root carving, embroidery, paper cutting, blue calico craft, and bamboo weaving.

Photo shows the display room of a natural dye workshop in Yongkang, east China's Zhejiang Province. (People's Daily/Gu Zhongyang)

On a sunny winter day, visitors flock to Dachen village in Qiancang town, Yongkang. At a natural dye workshop, blue fabrics flutter in the drying area. Inside the display room, various products, such as horse-faced skirts, shirts and scarves, attract attention, while everyday items like cushions and umbrellas are also on display.

Li Haiyan is a municipal-level inheritor of Yongkang's indigo resist-dyeing techniques. In her workshop, she carefully uses a carving knife to create an image of the mythical figure Ne Zha riding his wind fire wheels on fabric.

To promote the craft and boost rural cultural revitalization, Li offers experience classes where visitors can create their own designs and patterns. This allows them to gain a deeper appreciation for traditional culture. Last year, her experience classes attracted over 10,000 participant visits across more than 300 sessions.

The revitalization of intangible cultural heritage projects has increased popularity and created more business opportunities. Over 80 percent of villagers in Dachen now benefit from tourism. Last year, the village welcomed nearly 400,000 tourist visits, with the average income per villager reaching 48,000 yuan (about $6,766).

In the first three quarters of this year, 31 intangible cultural heritage workshops in Yongkang generated over 4.3 billion yuan in sales and created 10,677 jobs.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
This unprecedented and exclusive adventure attracted enthusiasts from around the world, absolutely stunned and literally delighted to discover with such intensity and closeness the full diversity of watchmaking.

Watch fans came from England, Canada, the United States, France, Sweden, and Switzerland to learn more about the brands that welcomed them for the GMT Watch Safari 2025. The number of participants was limited to 18 for reasons of conviviality and quality of experience, and 11 of them had been sufficiently impressed by the first 2024 edition (with a different program) to return at the end of October 2025. While the appeal of this unique concept was the main motivation for their loyalty to the GMT Watch Safari, the pleasure of reconnecting with other enthusiasts was also frequently mentioned.

Thanks to Baume & Mercier, Bianchet, Bovet, Breguet, Breitling, Cartier, Chopard, Eberhard & Co., Jaeger-LeCoultre, LEpee 1839, Lorige, Montblanc-Minerva, and TAG Heuer, as well as the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Geneve, who amazed and delighted our readers by sharing their stories and creations with passion and expertise. With hospitality playing a key role in this exceptional adventure, visits were organized from the 4-star Fraser Suites Geneva and Beaulac Neuchatel hotels, comfortable and ideally located in the city center for early risers or night owls wishing to enhance their stay with more tourist experiences.

At the end of each experience, the readers perception was radically different. All agreed that they would never see these brands the same way again, nor their watches merely as display products. They now perceive them as creations born of immense expertise and incomparable human passion, understand their value, and respect the labor whose depth they had never suspected.
It will take a political, economic, or religious crisis for womens rights to be called into question again. The new regional director of UN Women for the Americas and the Caribbean, Bibiana Aido (Alcala de los Gazules, Spain, 48 years old), quotes the French feminist Simone de Beauvoir to assess the recent attacks by some countries in the region against ministries for women. In recent years, Argentina, Panama, and Ecuador have eliminated these departments under the pretext of cutting public spending, despite the enormous challenges faced by half the continents population. Gender-based violence remains an emergency: in 2023, 3,897 women were victims of femicide in Latin America and the Caribbean  at least 11 women died every day simply for being women.

In the worlds most unequal region, poverty often disproportionately affects women. And conversely, they are underrepresented in politics: only 35.8% of parliamentary posts are held by women. The challenges are there in various areas because many gaps remain, Aido acknowledges in an interview with EL PAIS. One of these gaps is political violence, a topic of great interest to her. More than 17 years ago, when she was appointed Spains first Minister of Equality at just 31 years old, she understood that she had become a target of the patriarchy simply for existing. The difference, she asserts, is that at that time, she didnt even know how to identify that type of violence. You normalized it in a way. It was like the price of being in politics. You were supposed to put up with it, to receive insults every day. Today, fortunately, I think we have been able to debate and reflect much more on this, and Latin America is becoming a benchmark and a beacon, with laws that specifically address political violence, and with political participation strategies that include elements for its prevention.

Almost two decades later, after having held various positions at UN Women in the Americas  from New York to Ecuador and Colombia, countries where she was a representative  in September she became the regional director of the organization.

Question. What are your main challenges in this new role as head of UN Women at this challenging time?

Answer. I think we are at a tremendously complex moment with multiple intersecting crises  economic, political, environmental, and social, with high levels of polarization and insecurity  and with a backlash, a threat to the rights agenda in general and the womens rights agenda in particular. Faced with such a panorama, I think we have many reasons for hope. It is also the region that is advancing the agenda in the most sophisticated way, where debates are taking place, for example, on political violence, on the nexus between climate change, care, and gender. It is the region capable of approving a commitment like the Tlatelolco Declaration, signed at the Regional Conference on Women, which recognizes the right to care, to receive care, and to self-care. I think it is something very different, something that is putting the region at the forefront, making it a benchmark, a beacon for other regions of the world. I believe it is a region with a very solid regulatory framework, advanced in many areas, and with a very vibrant feminist movement and very interesting female leadership, not only at the national level, but also at the local level, which I think gives us a lot of reason for hope and to believe that it is possible not only to stop the regression, but to continue moving the agenda forward.

I believe the priority is to continue advancing an agenda that takes into account territorial and local issues. Change also comes from the ground up, and we cant lose sight of that. We must focus heavily on intersectionality, particularly on women in situations of greater vulnerability: Afro-descendant women, Indigenous women, women with disabilities  because we are not all the same. Inequality has many layers, and the situation of highly educated white women who want to break the glass ceiling is not the same as that of women stuck on those sticky floors. Considering intersectionality will be crucial. And we must continue to mobilize funding and resources at a time when we know multilateralism is facing enormous challenges. At this moment, when the winds arent as favorable as wed like for the agenda we defend, its crucial to continue building alliances among those who are committed, but also to try to bring in those who arent yet convinced, to work more with men, because this isnt an agenda of women against men, but rather one of women and men against an obsolete, decadent, inefficient system that harms us all: patriarchy. And we must continue working in intergenerational, public-private networks, in alliances between international cooperation and the womens movement. Networks are what sustain us. In difficult times, they are what save us.

Q. Why is it important for men to be actively involved so as not to lose all that the decades-long struggle for equality has achieved?

A. The thing is, feminism benefits society as a whole. This isnt about women versus men; I believe it has to be about women and men against an inefficient system that does tremendous harm to us all. And I think patriarchy has been clever in trying to create division, to deepen existing gaps, or to tell boys, especially younger ones, using social media, that feminism harms them when, on the contrary, feminism also benefits men, and patriarchy is its real enemy.

There was a very interesting moment with a diverse, cross-cutting feminist movement in the streets, with women from different generations, and men joining in. I think that generated fear, and they were clever in developing strategies to try to stop the clear progress that was coming. However, we mustnt give up. I think that feminism, as a historical movement, has achieved something unimaginable over all this time. We have to view it with perspective, because sometimes we say, Well, were in a moment of regression. Yes, but what are the advances that have actually been made in these decades? Its incredible how women have increased their education. Today, more women are graduating from universities, they have entered the workforce en masse, and they are in leadership positions...

Q. Within the region, if were talking about setbacks, is there any country that particularly worries you?

A. I wouldnt mention any specific country, but its more important than ever to have data, evidence, and to work with hard statistics that allow us to demonstrate how gender equality is good for countries: from an economic perspective, in terms of democratic development, and in terms of more efficient and fairer societies. Lets not fall for the nonsense, as some might say, that this agenda shouldnt be so politicized, since its positive from any perspective. Im more afraid that authoritarianism and conservatism will use this as a weapon when gender equality is positive for societies and good for all cities and countries, and I think we have the evidence and the data to continue educating people about this.

Q. The UN is dedicating its week of action this November 25 to digital violence. What does it consist of?

A. Digital violence is real. Its not something that only happens on social media. Between 90% and 95% of all online deepfakes target women. According to recent surveys and studies with UNESCO, 70% of women report experiencing some form of violence, including sexual violence, on social media. Its time to raise awareness and promote non-violence online, highlighting the impact this has on life, especially for adolescent and young women, and its association with very high levels of bullying and suicide. The idea behind this campaign, this Join Us strategy, and the 16 Days of Activism is to bring visibility to the statistics on this reality of digital violence and call on governments to take action, adopt public policies to prevent it, and work with the platforms themselves.

Unfortunately, I think were lagging far behind, even by international standards, in this field, which is advancing at a much faster pace. And lets not even get into the world of artificial intelligence and algorithms, which are still largely dominated by men. We need to change that too and try to increase the number of women in decision-making roles in the world of artificial intelligence. Women currently represent only about 30% of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Supporting greater participation of women in developing solutions is also crucial for us.

Q. The Mirabal sisters, Latin American women  who were tortured by the Dominican dictator Trujillo  inspired the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Who inspires you within the Latin American feminist movement?

A. I learn from all of them every day. Its an inspiring feminist movement, diverse, but not scattered. When they know they have a goal, they are able to unite until they achieve it. A transformative feminist movement that, despite the pressures, doesnt stay silent, and thats important because it keeps moving forward, pursuing transformations; a movement that has managed to bring visibility to issues like gender violence with campaigns like Ni Una Menos (Not One Less) or the green scarves, for example, with the issue of abortion rights in the case of Argentina. Its a movement that inspires and a movement that acts, that has clear objectives and designs strategies until it achieves those objectives. In that sense, I learn from them every day about the ability to generate strategy and that here, no one gives up, that its always possible to keep walking together.

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Mark Himebaugh, pictured at age 11 in 1991 and how investigators believe he may look today, has been missing since 1991. FBI

It has been 34 years since Mark Himebaugh disappeared from the Del Haven section of Middle Township just before Thanksgiving.

Himebaugh was 11 years old when he was last seen in his neighborhood on Nov. 25, 1991.

The unsolved missing person case in Cape May County has baffled investigators for decades, with still no indication of what happened to the young boy who vanished just 75 yards from his house.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Cape May County Prosecutors Office again asked for help from anyone who might know what happened.

Officials said a park guard spotted Mark Himebaugh walking toward a playground in County Park at about 4 p.m. the day he disappeared. No one has seen him since.

The disappearance of the red-haired, blue-eyed boy has confounded the FBI and local authorities, who continue to look for answers to what investigators described as a non-family abduction.

Himebaugh left his house a few minutes after arriving home from school that Monday afternoon to watch firefighters battle a marsh blaze. He was last seen at the nearby park.

Mark Himebaugh, 11, was last seen at about 4 p.m. near his family's home in rural Del Haven in Cape May County on Nov. 25, 1991.

There have been a handful of leads over the years, but none panned out.

In 2015, authorities released a sketch of a person of interest.

The man in the sketch is believed to resemble convicted sex offender Thomas Butcavage.

According to previous reports, Butcavage became associated with the Himebaugh case after a male prostitute told authorities Butcavage showed him a tape where he was sexually assaulting a handcuffed boy. The prostitute said the boy looked like Himebaugh.

Another clue also gave investigators hope they could finally learn what happened to Himebaugh.

In 2015, authorities released a portion of a 911 call placed in 2010 by a man who described himself as the son of the witness to the crime.

The man, who placed the call from a phone booth in Philadelphia, provided the name Gilbert Patrick Marie, but authorities werent able to identify or locate any such person.

In 2023, law enforcement it was partnering with a company that uses artificial intelligence to jump-start the decades-long search.

Among the ways AI helps are through facial recognition technology, authorities have said.

The Middle Township Police Department, Cape May County Prosecutors Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating.

Anyone with information about Mark Himebaughs disappearance can contact the Middle Township Police Department at 609-465-8700, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678, the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-463-2800, or the Cape May County Prosecutors Office at 609-465-1135.

Anonymous tips can be sent by texting 888-777 with tips mtpdtips in the text field.
The entrance to Nassau Hall as seen in June at Princeton University in New Jersey. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

Princeton University is facing a pair of proposed class-action lawsuits alleging it failed to protect personal data exposed from a November phone-based phishing scam.

The lawsuits, filed in U.S. District Court for New Jersey, claim Princeton failed to implement basic cybersecurity safeguards, allowing hackers to infiltrate an advancement database on Nov. 10 through the phishing scheme.

One plaintiff claimed that the attack put the personal information of more than 100,000 people at risk.

The Princeton University Advancement database stores biographical information pertaining to fundraising and alumni engagement activities, the university said on its website last week.

We believe it does not contain passwords, Social Security numbers, credit card information, or bank account records, the university said.

However, one class-action complaint filed Nov. 18 in Florida by David Ramirez, alleged that the breach of the Princeton University Advancement database compromised names, email addresses, telephone numbers, home and business addresses, and information concerning fundraising activities and donations made to Princeton.

Cybercriminals have accessed and obtained everything they need to commit identity theft and wreak havoc on the personal lives of thousands of individuals, Ramirezs attorney, Leanna A. Loginov, wrote.

A second lawsuit was filed on the same day by Henggao Cai.

Cai said Princeton erred in combining so much personal data in one location because if it leaks, as the University Advancement database has, it enables scammers, fraudsters, and phishers to craft especially compelling targeted attacks against, upon information and belief, over a hundred thousand people, according to the filing signed by Kevin Laukaitis, an attorney in Puerto Rico.

Princeton University responded Monday to the lawsuits in response to a request for comment by NJ Advance Media.

We believe these claims are without merit, and we plan to contest them vigorously, said university spokesperson Jennifer Morrill.

The database includes information on all alumni and former students who enrolled but did not graduate; alumni spouses and partners; widows and widowers of alumni; any university donor; parents of current and former students and former and current employees, including faculty.

Anyone in those groups should assume some level of information about them is likely to be in the database, Princeton said on its website.

Princeton has attributed the breach to phone phishing  a scam in which someone is duped into turning over personal or financial information  that targeted a university employee with ordinary access to the Advancement database.

The incident began midday on Nov. 10 and was blocked less than 24 hours later, Princeton said.

The university said it has not heard from whoever was behind the breach.

No arrests had been announced as of Monday.

Princeton said it has no reason to believe the cyberattack was politically motivated, nor any factual information that might link it to incidents at other universities.

Princeton said it might take several weeks to determine exactly what data was compromised.
Tom Turkey by Macy's will return for the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 27, 2025, in New York City. The Tom Turkey float is the longest-running in the parade. AP

The 99th Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade will return to its usual 2.5-mile route for the annual holiday tradition in New York City.

The annual event is back with a star-studded lineup of 34 balloons, 28 floats, four smaller balloons, 33 clown crews, 11 marching bands and 37 performance groups from several stars, including Santa Claus.

Plus, there are several new floats and balloons to look forward to this year.

Heres what you need to know to watch the festivities this year from the New York City parade route or your couch.

It begins at West 77th Street and Central Park West in Manhattan. The parade will make its way south along 8th Avenue before turning down 59th Street at Columbus Circle.

The remainder of the Thanksgiving Day Parade will travel south down 6th Avenue, ending at Macys Herald Square.

The marchers will lead the floats and balloons through a route of 2.5 miles in the middle of Manhattan.

If youre planning to see the parade in person, here are the best viewing spots, according to Macys:

Central Park West on the west side from West 75th to 63rd Streets

West 59th on the south side between Columbus Circle and 6th Avenue

6th Avenue between West 59th and West 38th Streets

The 2025 Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, and runs until approximately noon.

The parade will be broadcast at the same time in all U.S. time zones. There will also be a replay of the parade from 2-5 p.m.

There are two channels available to catch the parade in English and Spanish languages.

NBC and Telemundo will broadcast the parade.

NBCs streaming service Peacock will livestream the parade starting at 8:30 a.m.

You also can watch NBC on other streaming platforms, such as Fubo TV, which offers a free trial and has live TV and DVR functions, so viewers can watch the parade in real-time or on-demand.

The Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, while in its 99th year running, has been televised since 1948.

There were only two years the parade was not held. It was suspended from 1942-1944 to conserve materials for World War II.

This was due to the increased popularity it got after it was featured in the 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street.

Today hosts Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker will host for NBC.

Although Hoda Kotb is no longer a regular host on NBC, she is returning to host the 99th Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade.

During the Telemundo simulcast, the networks Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza will host the show.

The parade will feature five new balloons, three new balloonicles, seven new floats and dozens of performers and marching bands.

One of the new balloons in particular is the Mario balloon, introduced to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Super Mario Brothers Game.

Floats, such as Friendsgiving in Pop City, will also debut this year.

This float will feature a furry, 16-foot tall Labubu statue, along with other fan-favorite Pop Mart toys.

There will be 28 performers, including big names such as Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Cynthia Erivo, Foreigner, Gavin DeGraw and Taylor Momsen.

There will also be 11 marching bands.

The first giant Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon was of the popular 1920s cartoon character Felix the Cat. According to NPRs Morning Edition, he joined the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1927.

Felix the Cat last reprised his role in the parade in 2016.

How do I get tickets to the parade, if I want to see it in person?

The Macys Thanksgiving Parade is not a publicly ticketed event. If there are tickets for prime viewing spots of the parade at Herald Square, they are usually given to friends and family of Macys employees, parade performers and politicians.

It is possible, however, to view the parade for free along the 2.5 mile parade route.

Thanksgiving is expected to be a breezy and windy day in New York.

Forecasters from the National Weather Service are calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 44 degrees and a low of 36 degrees.
Three members of the heavy metal band Vitriol exited the group and left the band's frontman stranded at a gas station. Video still

Members of a popular rock band recently left the groups leader stranded after he threw a tantrum.

According to Stereogum three members of the metal band Vitriol left vocalist Kyle Rasmussen at a gas station in Vermont after he made what they claimed to be cowardly and weak outbursts of misplaced anger.

Guitarist Keith Merrow, bassist Brett Leier and drummer Andy Vincenzetti ditched Vitriol and Rasmussen, leading the group to cancel its remaining tour dates across the United States.

He f---ed around and found out, Merrow wrote in a since-expired Instagram Story. Sorry Vitriol fans. We had to abandon him at a gas station in Vermont. Myself, Andy, Brett, and Matt will not take Kyles cowardly and weak outbursts of misplaced anger.

Merrow joined the band, which has experienced several lineup changes, in March. Leier became a member in July and Vincenzetti was added to the ensemble in October. Vitriol performed in New York on Friday and was slated to play in Providence, R.I., on Saturday and Ottawa, Ontario on Sunday.

Rasmussen was the sole original member of the Portland, Oregon-based band.

The frontman confirmed the news of the bands fallout Monday in two videos posted to Instagram and shared a GoFundMe to help himself, his girlfriend and his dog get back home.

While on tour with a band, my girlfriend Maggie, our dog Ghost, and I were left stranded at a remote gas station in upstate New York, the GoFundMes description read. After a disagreement with a band member, we suddenly found ourselves as far from home as we could possibly be, with very little money and no way to feed ourselves or secure transportation to get back to Portland, Oregon.

The GoFundMe has raised over $10,000, more than half of its $16,000 goal as of Tuesday morning.

Merrow offered a rebuttal to Rasmussens claims late Monday, explaining that the members left the band because Kyle sucks in a series of follow up posts.

Me, Brett and Andy left Vitriol because Kyle sucks. Thats it, Merrows Instagram Story read. It doesnt require an absolutely psychotic 2 part video series to explain. He irrationally screamed at the whole crew at the top of his lungs on multiple occasions. We simply wont tolerate it, just like all the other 19 people who left this failed band.
A Black firefighter in Bloomfield is suing the Bloomfield Fire Department, the township, the fire chief and another firefighter, claiming he was harassed with racist behavior that went unpunished.

Attorneys for Patrick Thomas claim in a federal lawsuit filed on Nov. 16 that he was racially harassed and intimidated by a fellow firefighter, Walter Coffey, in 2023, and no actions were taken to discipline Coffey.

Its saddening, Michael Ashley, Thomas attorney, said. We dont think this is reflective of the Bloomfield community, but anyone that failed to act needs to be held accountable.

The basis of the lawsuit stems from interactions between Coffey and Thomas in November 2023 when Coffey was accused of referencing the presence of a noose at the firehouse.

Coffey is accused of asking Thomas if he saw a noose on an upstairs table in a firehouse on Nov. 8, 2023, according to the complaint.

Thomas asked why he would want to see that and asked if Coffey knew who was responsible, but Coffey smirked and replied that he didnt know, according to the complaint.

As another training exercise held on Nov. 16, 2023, was ending, Coffey is accused of tying a hangmans noose, tossing it at Thomas and asking him to identify the type of knot it was, according to the complaint.

Thomas responded that he knew exactly what the knot was and asked Coffey if he thought it was funny, according to the complaint. Coffey continued laughing, according to the complaint.

Attorneys for Thomas said the Nov. 16, 2023, incident happened in front of other firefighters and supervisors.

Coffey also openly used the n-word around other Black colleagues and was never disciplined, according to the complaint.

Coffeys actions were briefly investigated by Bloomfield officials before being turned over to the Essex County Prosecutors Office, according to the complaint.

Bloomfieds municipal attorney, Khalifah L. Shabazz, said Monday in a statement that the townships internal investigation was paused when the Essex County Prosecutors Office took over the case, investigating it as a possible hate crime.

The Essex County Prosecutors Office charged Coffey with fourth-degree harassment and intimidation on Dec. 14, 2023, court records show.

Coffey was indicted in March 2024 and pleaded not guilty, according to court records. He has been placed into the pre-trial intervention program and has been on unpaid leave with the Bloomfield Fire Department since he was charged in November 2023.

Coffey did not have an attorney listed in federal court documents on Monday.

Bloomfield officials resumed their internal investigation in 2025 after Coffeys criminal proceedings closed, Shabazz said.

The township of Bloomfield takes seriously its responsibility to ensure a safe and respectful workplace for all employees, Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell said in a statement on Nov. 18. There is absolutely no place for racist conduct or discrimination of any kind in the township or in any workplace in our community, and such behavior will be met with swift accountability.

Mundell said that Coffeys racial harassment was immediately reported to law enforcement in November 2023 and moved to terminate his employment with the fire department, which is still pending.

Coffey has not returned to work since November 2023, Mundell said in her statement.

As mayor, I want the community to know that conduct like this will never be ignored or permitted in Bloomfield, Mundell added.

Several people, including Thomas attorney, advocacy groups, politicians and advocacy groups announced the lawsuits existence on Monday afternoon at a press conference.

It was a despicable act what Coffey did because the noose is symbol of racial terrorism, Larry Hamm, of Peoples Organization for Progress, said. Coffey must be fired.

Hamm also said that the Fire Chief, Lou Venezia, did not act swiftly enough and that the mayor at the time, Michael Venezia, must be held accountable.

I cant imagine the kind of trauma Thomas and his family have had to endure as a result of this incident, Hamm added.

The New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Newark School of the Arts, located in an expanded townhouse in Lincoln Park, closed abruptly in October. Parents are calling for school leaders to resign. Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com

Parents and faculty from the Newark School of the Arts are circulating a petition calling on its executive director and board chair to resign, following the abrupt shutdown of the after-school and weekend arts academy last month.

Our goal is 500 signatures, said Paddie Donohue of Newark, whose grandchildrens piano lessons were cut short this fall due to the closing. And we want to take it to the board and tell them, leave.

Donohue said she and other members of the tightly-knit School of the Arts community had gathered about 100 signatures through a petition circulated via email as a Google document.

It states, Petition for Leadership Resignation at Newark School of the Arts: Petition for the removal of the current Board Chair and Executive Director of NSA.

NSA Executive Director Divad Sanders did not respond to requests for comment on Monday. Board President Lori Scott-Pickens home phone was not accepting calls on Monday, and she could not be reached by leaving messages with the school, a fellow board member, or Sanders.

NSA faculty and staff received an Oct. 27 email from Sanders stating that they were being laid off and that classes would be cancelled immediately due to unspecified financial concerns.

Those concerns may have included a 2024 year-end deficit of more than $300,000 on a budget of $1.3 million, according to the nonprofit schools financial disclosure forms filed with the IRS. That followed a $138,000 deficit for 2023, after year-end shortfalls for five of the previous 12 years since 2011, according to the schools filings.

Word of the shutdown spread quickly throughout students, alumni, parents and instructors at the venerated but financially troubled institution, which was founded by music educators in 1968 to help revive Newarks arts community and its spirit after the citys fiery unrest a year earlier.

Sanders and Scott-Pickens held a Saturday town hall-style meeting with faculty and staff on Nov. 8, saying the shutdown was a 90-day pause in operations while they led a restructuring to stabilize the finances of the school, according to people who attended.

Classes were abruptly canceled, and faculty were laid off last month at the Newark School of the Arts. The school's chorus, above, performed the "Lincoln Park Miracle" during a 50th Anniversary gala for the school held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on April 10, 2018. Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Adva

The leadership held another meeting at the school, this time for parents, on Nov. 15, when about 70 people showed up, according to several people who were there.

This time, Sanders did not attend, and the meeting was led by Scott-Pickens, who offered the same assurances as a week earlier, but failed to satisfy outraged members of the school community.

People who attended the parents meeting said Scott-Pickens told them the school needed to raise $1 million over the next six months to reopen, and that house parties would be the principal fundraising vehicle, a suggestion met with skepticism.

Whats that? Donohue said. Everyone, everyone, to go there were so furious. And we still have no word on refunds.

Rocio Magana is a Newark mom whose 8-year-old daughters Thursday musical theater class ended its run with the shutdown last month.

Every Thursday she asks, Is it happening today? said Magana, adding that the Nov. 15 meeting was extremely frustrating to attend.

There is obviously a crisis in leadership, said Magana, whose husband had already signed the petition, which she also planned to sign. They closed the school almost as if they had a fire. If youre a leader, you should be able to foresee it and do something to prevent it.

She and others wondered whether school leaders expected faculty not to seek other jobs while NSA operations remained on pause. And she doubted they would all be ready, willing and able to go back to their old jobs if the school resumed operations.

Sanders and Scott-Pickens issued a press release on Nov. 4 saying the decision to close the school was made with deep care and reflection, and that we recognize the challenges this pause presents to our students, families, and faculty. The release added that, a brief pause would provide the necessary space to restructure responsibly, reinforce its foundation, and emerge stronger.

The schools 2014 bylaws do not address whether parents or others could submit a petition to have a board or staff member removed. The bylaws do state that, an officer may be removed from office by the Board of Trustees when in its judgment the best interest of the School would be served.

A majority of the full board would then have to approve the removal at a special meeting with at least 10 days advance notice.

In terms of fundraising requirements, the bylaws state that, Board members are expected to either make direct contributions or obtain contributions for the School from others in a net amount of not less than $2,500 each year.

The failure to provide such direct monetary contribution, the bylaws state, may result in termination of membership on the Board upon a vote of two-thirds of the Board of Trustees.

The bylaws also require the executive director to submit an annual report stating whether those terms have been met.

Newarks director of cultural affairs, fayemi shakur, said ealier this month that she had been touch with Sanders regarding the situation and that the two would meet to discuss the schools future. A city spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment on Monday, and it was unclear whether the meeting had taken place.

The NSA has received $20,000 in city funding per year since 2022 through the Creative Catalyst Fund.

Nadine Herman, who spent a full half-century at the school as a voice instructor and musical director before being laid off last month, said she was gathering signatures on a printed version of the petition among her colleagues at the prestigious Juilliard School in Manhattan.

Herman is a Juilliard alumna, and she has taught students at NSA who went on to attend the university-level institution and has recruited faculty from there to teach master classes at the Newark school.

Were all traumatized, Herman said of herself and other NSA faculty. Its like a bad movie: The more you think about it, the worse it gets.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BHNA_Y9xwuhi2kmzBnmLKxbYs6Cn65tabMqA-Pi9btY/edit?gid=368601624#gid=368601624
Third victim in Newark shooting dies. Community holds a balloon release ceremony for 19 year old Masi Rogers

The Newark community gathered Monday evening to honor the memory of 19-year-old Masi Rogers, who was among the victims of last weeks shooting that left three dead and two injured.

The balloon ceremony, held at 5 p.m. in Saint Peters Park, came just days after Rogers died from injuries he sustained in the shooting Nov. 15, at the corner of Chancellor Avenue and Leslie Street.

Two other victims, 10-year-old Jordan Garcia and 21-year-old Kiyah Mae Scott, were also killed.

An 11-year-old, Jayceon Garcia, and a 60-year-old man were wounded, the Essex County Prosecutors Office said.

Masi Rogers (right) died days after last week's Newark shooting. Photo courtesy of Yasmin Headly-Asebiomo

Community activist and educator Bashir Muhammad Ptah Akinyele, who taught Rogers at Weequahic High School about two years ago, said he was outraged by the shooting.

He always showed me respect as a teacher, as a Black man, and as a human being in my classroom at Weequahic, he said in a statement. Unfortunately, brother Masi has joined my long list of students I lost to street violence.

The community also honored another victim last Tuesday. Friends, family and community members attended a balloon release ceremony at Vailsburg Park to honor Jordan Garcia.

Jordan and his brother, Jayceon, were struck by gunfire during their daily walk home from a city recreation center. Jordan was pronounced dead last Saturday, while Jayceon was in stable condition.

My kids are heartbroken, said the boys mother, Stephanie Garcia. This is the worst thing that my kids have endured.

Scott, who was also killed in the shooting, was described by her family as a bright and loving mother to her three-year-old son.

Shell give you the shirt off her back, said her mother, Annette Ryan. She gave her heart to people.  My daughter was very special.

No arrests have been announced.

The Essex County Sheriffs Office is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the shooter being indicted or convicted.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting may contact the prosecutors office confidential tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.
An e-bike rider killed in a crash involving a police officer in Monmouth County last month was identified Monday by investigators.

Around 1 p.m. on Oct. 10, Henry Phillips Jr., 73, of Atlantic Highlands, was riding the bike southbound in the northbound lane of Route 36 in his hometown, according to a statement from the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office.

At the same time, Atlantic Highlands Police Officer Timothy Funk was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Route 36 and Orchard Avenue, the office said.

The vehicles collided after Funk made a right turn on red at the intersection, authorities said.

Phillips was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he was pronounced deceased on Oct. 19, officials said.

No other information was released Monday.

Under state law, the attorney generals office is required to investigate all police-involved fatalities.
The owners of the Call Your Mother chain of bagel shops have filed a federal lawsuit against Call Your Bubbi bagels in Ocean County, alleging a violation of trademark laws.

Daniela Moreira and Andrew Dana created the Call Your Mother bagel brand in the fall of 2018 in Washington, D.C., and have since opened 18 stores, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on Nov. 18.

The lawsuit alleges David Mizrahi, who operates a coffee shop and Jewish deli on Ocean Avenue in Long Branch, began using the confusingly similar Call Your Bubbi name around March 2024.

Because the name is too similar to Call Your Mother, it allegedly violates a federal trademark law known as the Lanham Act, according to the lawsuit.

Mizrahi was not immediately available to comment about the legal action. A man who answered the phone at the business declined to comment.

Both Call Your Mother and Call Your Bubbi promote coffee, delicatessen and restaurant services on their websites and on social media.

Defendants use of the instructive Call Your and Bubbi plays off of plaintiffs Call Your Mother marks and suggests that defendant is affiliated with, sponsored by, or somehow connected to plaintiff, the suit states.

Bubbi is a Yiddish word that means grandmother and is used affectionately in many Jewish families.

The lawsuit states Moreira and Dana, through relentless hard work and dedication, opened Call Your Mother bagel shops in the nations capital, Maryland, Virginia, and Colorado, and have plans to expand to Florida.

What started off as a small, one-shop operation quickly evolved into a multi-location, nationwide, beloved Jewish deli brand, the suit states.

The lawsuit says President Joe Biden visited the Call Your Mother shop in Georgetown after his January 2021 inauguration, and the business has received numerous awards over the years for having one of the best bagels in the United States.

Over the years, Moreira and Dana registered the Call Your Mother name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, court exhibits show.

Call Your Mother attorneys sent Mizrahi and Bubbi Bagels a cease-and-desist letter on Aug. 8, demanding they remove all Call Your Bubbi references from their website, advertising and marketing materials.

The lawsuit claims the cease-and-desist letter has gone unanswered.

In addition to trademark infringement, the lawsuit alleges unfair competition and claims the Long Branch shop has caused irreparable harm to the Call Your Mother business.

Moreira and Dana are seeking an injunction to stop Mizrahi from using the Call Your Bubbi name, along with unspecified monetary damages.
Amid a tense election campaign, the government is auctioning off frequencies at prices most broadcasters cannot afford. Those affected have raised concerns about freedom of expression

The vast majority of Costa Ricas radio and television stations are at risk of having to stop broadcasting, after failing to meet the requirements of a spectrum auction ordered by the government of Rodrigo Chaves.

The auction was supposedly aimed at democratizing the use of state resources and ensuring that companies pay a fair price for their operations. But dozens of stations announced that they were unable to submit a bid before the Friday midnight deadline set by the authorities for the process. This will deal a blow to freedom of expression and democratic plurality, according to complaints from affected parties, industry associations, experts, opposition parties, and organizations including the Catholic Church.

The reform of the radio spectrum management model  already controversial due to Chaves frequent attacks on critical media, which he has vowed to dismantle  comes amid a tense election campaign, in which Chaves is seeking to advance his so-called peaceful revolution against traditional elites. Political tensions are running high due to the warnings and complaints from regional, cultural, journalistic, and religious media, whose future will depend on judicial decisions or last-minute changes accepted by Chaves or the Telecommunications Superintendence (Sutel), the technical authority under the executive branch.

Parallels with Chavista Venezuela

Lets not reduce frequencies to the highest bidder, the Episcopal Conference urged this Monday. The bishops were speaking on behalf of three Catholic radio stations and one lay Catholic TV channel, but also for the wider diversity of media that could disappear once the new frequency allocation is implemented  still without a set date. Defending their existence is defending the possibility that Costa Rica hears all its voices, not just those that come from economic power, the bishops said in one of the many statements issued on the topic in recent days.

Other criticisms have been stronger, such as that of opposition politician Rodolfo Piza, who drew a parallel with Hugo Chavezs Venezuela, where numerous stations were shut down in 2009 under the justification of legal noncompliance.

Minutes after the Episcopal Conferences statement, the presidency issued another communication blaming critics for misinforming the public and opening the door to possible solutions  but only for affected Catholic or evangelical stations facing high starting prices and the exorbitant costs required to meet the auction requirements. The auction starts at $386,000 for a nationally broadcast radio station and $1.6 million for a television frequency. The amounts for regional coverage are lower but still exorbitant for the business model of these outlets, which are also struggling with declining traditional advertising, according to industry spokespeople.

The situation has united groups across the ideological spectrum, who argue it will cause direct harm for low-income audiences and older listeners, who have relied on traditional radio stations or religious channels throughout their lives.

I thought that if they took away Radio Fides [a Catholic station], I could switch to Santa Clara [another Catholic station], but now I see that the government is even going to take away the music stations weve listened to all our lives, like Sinfonola or Musical, says Marta A., 77, a resident of a rural area in Alajuela province. Look, I feel angry, as if that man were going to break into my house and steal my radio or force me to listen to whatever he wants.

Radio Sinfonola, a station specializing in retro music and beloved by older listeners, signed off on Friday with these words: Despite being one of the five radio stations most listened to in Costa Rica, Radio Sinfonola is a small business that has no possibility of paying the hundreds of millions that the government of Mr. Chaves is demanding if it wants to continue operating. In a somber tone, the stations manager, Carlos Lafuente, added another controversial point: Frequency 90.3 will go to foreign capital.

So far, only 15 companies are known to have registered for the auction. In television, one participant is the group owned by Mexican magnate Angel Gonzalez, which already operates in Costa Rica. Another is Televisora de Costa Rica, whose owners and TV news channel have been repeatedly disparaged by Chaves as enemies of his government and defenders of the elites he claims to be fighting.

Its ironic. This mans revenge against the owners of Channel 7 has affected everyone except them, who do have plenty of money to continue operating. For us, its absurd, crazy, says Saray Amador, manager of Telefides, a channel that has been broadcasting since 1990 with a staff of 15 employees and dozens of volunteers.

Not all excluded stations are small. On Monday, the position of the Columbia group became known; it hosts four radio stations, including one of the countrys three main radio journalism platforms, in a nation of just 5.2 million people, on a territory one-tenth the size of Spain. Columbia reported that its financial model has been sustainable so far, but far from meeting the figures required in the auction. As a result, it will continue broadcasting only while legal challenges to the licensing process, including cases before the Constitutional Court, are still pending.

Critics argue that the auction lumped all media into the same basket, regardless of their social or cultural contribution. Not even geographic origin was considered, as noted by lawyer and consultant Juan Manuel Campos, who said he was aware that the Russian state network RT had shown interest but did not submit an offer, possibly because it did not have enough time to meet legal requirements.

It is serious that the country has reached this point in a climate of animosity toward local media, fueled by rhetoric from those in power, he says. The practical result, he points out, is the shutdown of most stations operating under the open broadcasting model, which reaches everyone, including those without access to paid services. He cautioned, however, that this closure will not be immediate, as legal processes remain unresolved and Sutel has not been clear on the details.

The political moment is decisive, says historian and communications expert Patricia Vega of the University of Costa Rica (UCR), who points to signs of decline in the foundations of the democracy that has long characterized the country. She adds, however, that the allocation of frequencies is not a new dispute. The country has had this controversy since the 1950s, when Channel 7 was granted its frequency, Vega points out.

Years have passed, and neither the frequency allocation model nor the fees that media outlets must pay for their use have been modernized. This is one of the issues Chaves highlighted in 2023 when he expressed his intention to change the conditions, always citing Channel 7 as an example. There were problems that went unresolved for years and are now being addressed, but with the added problem that it is a delicate political moment, with a government taking an authoritarian path, says Vega.

Opposition candidates and political parties echo this view. Until October, Chaves enjoyed 62% public approval, just three months before the February 1 elections and six months before leaving office in May. His presumed successor, presidential candidate Laura Fernandez, who is leading in the polls, also stresses the need to prevent the continued exploitation of frequencies for 71 years, practically free, by businesspeople who profit from them, making millions.

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A Long Branch man was arrested earlier this month after he was accused of sexually assaulting a boy and girl multiple times over the course of four years, authorities said.

Raul F. Lopez, also known as Lee Escobar, 45, was charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office announced Monday.

Detectives from the Long Branch Police Department learned that Lopez sexually assaulted a girl who was under the age of 13 between 2020 and 2023 on numerous occasions, the office said in a statement.

They also discovered that he sexually assaulted the boy, who was under the age of 16, several times in 2023, investigators said.

Lopez was taken into custody after he turned himself in to authorities at the Long Branch Police Department earlier this month, the office said. He was lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending his detention hearing.

During the detention hearing, held on Nov. 21, a judge ordered Lopez to remain jailed as the case against him proceeds, authorities said.

Anyone with information about Lopezs alleged activities was urged to contact Long Branch Police Det. David Stone at 732-222-1000.
A 73-year-old New Jersey man vacationing in Florida for Thanksgiving drowned on Saturday, authorities said.

Nikolay Yurchenko was in the ocean behind a condominium at 3100 North Ocean Boulevard in Riviera Beach just before 12:30 p.m. when he started to struggle in the water, local police said.

Beachgoers helped pull Yurchenko from the ocean and began providing CPR before emergency workers arrived, according to Riviera Beach police.

Yurchenko was brought by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:15 p.m.

His death is not considered suspicious.

Yurchenko and his 18-year-old granddaughter arrived in Florida on Thursday, police said. He left their condo between 10:30 and 11 a.m. to go to the beach.

A police spokesman told NJ Advance Media officials could not determine Yurchenkos New Jersey hometown.
A 40-year-old New Jersey man who inappropriately touched another passenger on a flight earlier this year was sentenced Thursday to eight months in federal prison.

Bhaveshkumar Dahyabhai Shukla, of the Lake Hiawatha section of Parsippany, is a citizen of India and will likely will be deported following his release from prison, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Montana said.

Shukla pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact in July.

Shukla was flying from Bozeman, Montana, to Dallas on Jan. 26 aboard an American Airlines flight when he began to rub the womans leg near her hip pocket.

The woman first thought Shukla was trying to pick her pocket and got up to go to the bathroom.

When she returned to her seat, Shukla continued to touch her. When the woman turned away from Shukla, he began to rub her lower back and buttocks, authorities said.

At some point, the woman texted her husband, who was not aboard the flight, to report the assault.

Her husband notified authorities in Texas, who detained Shukla when the flight landed, according to documents.

Shukla said he didnt speak English and denied assaulting the woman.

A witness reported seeing the assault. When investigators interviewed the victim a few weeks later, she described the assault and said Shukla conversed with her in English before the plane took off, according to charging documents.
A Gloucester County man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for evading more than $3.4 million in taxes over seven years by cashing checks for his business at a check-cashing location instead of depositing them in bank accounts, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Monday.

Jose Camilo Perez Jr., 54, of Sewell, previously pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion in federal court.

Between 2016 and 2023, Perezs company, which digitized medical records for hospitals and other healthcare entities, collected more than $8 million, according to officials.

After Perez cashed the checks at a check-cashing business, rather than personal or business bank accounts, to evade taxes, he used the money for personal expenses and payroll, authorities said.

For seven years, Perez did not report any income he received from the business to the Internal Revenue Service, officials said.

Perez was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution amounting to $3,434,066.

Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba credited IRS-Criminal Investigation special agents with conducting the investigation that led to the sentencing.

An attorney representing Perez did not immediately return a request from NJ Advance Media for comment Tuesday.
Michel Vega-Perez went missing Saturday in Manchester, police said. Manchester police

Manchester police are continuing to search for a 17-year-old from Manchester who has been missing since the weekend.

Michel Vega-Perez was last seen at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the area of Amsterdam Avenue, township police said early Tuesday.

She was wearing a dark colored sweater.

Numerous investigative steps have already been taken to locate Michel Vega-Perez; however, her location remains unknown at this time, police said in a statement.

Anyone with information is asked to call Manchester police at 732-657-6111.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts are asked to contact us at 732-657-6111.
A federal judge said a New Jersey man can collect over $931,000 after a woman he briefly dated posted nude videos and images he sent her, court documents show.

The man, identified in court documents as S.S., accused Dezarae Collins of Salem, Oregon of posting the videos and images online after a brief, long-distance relationship.

S.S. said in court documents that Collins harassed him and people around him for years starting in 2016.

Collins was accused of contacting his work, texting S.S.s family members and calling and contacting a new girlfriend, according to court documents.

S.S. accused Collins of calling his family members up to 250 times a day for a period of time, according to court documents.

A federal judge in New Jersey ruled on Nov. 12 that he could collect over $900,000 after Collins failed to defend herself in court or provide an answer to S.S.s complaint.

A default judgement was entered in favor of S.S. in December 2023 after Collins failed to appear in court, documents in the case show.

Collins did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The case was initially filed February 2023 and alleged that S.S., a U.S. Marine, and Collins began a long-distance relationship in 2015 and that Collins promised to keep nude photos and videos that S.S. sent to her private.

But after the relationship ended in 2016, S.S. claims that Collins called, emailed and texted harassing messages to his work, his family and his new girlfriend, according to court documents.

Things escalated in 2022 when Collins began sending intimate images and videos to S.S.s family and his girlfriends family, according to allegations in court documents.

Two videos and 12 images of S.S.s intimate body parts and videos of him engaging in sexual acts were shared over 77 times through anonymous text messages during a three-week period, according to court documents.

Collins even went so far as to create a phony Facebook profile alleging to be S.S., posted the graphic images and included a Craigslist ad that included his social security number, phone number and date of birth, court documents show.

S.S. said that he had to stop using his true name on social media accounts and requested multiple temporary restraining orders to stop the alleged harassment.

He also claimed that he lost several jobs and needed to change his phone number more than 100 times over seven years to avoid the harassment, court documents show.

Today, our firm secured justice for our client, an U.S. Marine Corps veteran, who was relentlessly electronically harassed by an ex-girlfriend, S.S.s attorney Daniel S. Szalkiewicz said. This outcome underlines a vital truth: no matter how strong or resilient a person may be, no one should be expected to withstand this kind of abuse.

In calculating the damages, S.S.s attorney argued that he should be paid no less than $150,000 per image or video shared in statutory damages, plus interest, according to Judge Karen M. Williams final opinion.

In her opinion, Williams awarded S.S. $1,000 for each of the 77 times graphic content was allegedly shared by Collins, $150,000 in liquidated damages, and another $681,000 in punitive damages.
The owners of Jenkinsons Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach are not legally responsible for the death of a grandfather who was swept into the ocean and drowned during an off-season family outing five years ago, an appellate court ruled.

Lifeguards were seasonally off-duty when Anthony Timpanaro accompanied his son, daughter-in-law and 7-year-old grandson for a day at the beach on Sept. 23, 2020. They brought chairs, and Timpanaro joined his grandson, searching for seashells and chasing seagulls, the decision says.

Standing at the waters edge with his jeans rolled up, a wave knocked the 69-year-old into the ocean.

A big wave took him and the ocean literally ate him with the undertow, Anthonys son, David Timpanaro, told NJ Advance Media about a week after the incident. I grabbed his hand so hard but could not hold on.

Timpanaro died despite the efforts of town police officers, who pulled him to shore and performed CPR. He was known as Tippy and lived in Bayonne before retiring from the postal service and moving to Manchester.

Timpanaros family filed suit against Jenkinsons in May 2021, arguing the company, which also operates the towns beachfront, was negligent on several fronts that led to the drowning.

A Morris County judge ended the suit before it reached trial by granting summary judgement to Jenkinsons, finding the company was not responsible, relying partly on the states Landowners Liability Act (LLA).

On Friday, an appeals court affirmed the trial courts overall ruling.

But in a precedent-setting decision, the appellate judges disagreed with the trial court on one key point: they ruled Jenkinsons cannot claim immunity under the LLA.

That law is meant to protect owners of rural or undeveloped land who allow the public to use their property for recreation.

The ocean, the decision says, was not an area intended to be covered under the LLA. [Jenkinson] are not owners or lessors of the ocean, the judges wrote.

The judges said even if they were to consider Jenkinsons as essentially the beachs landlord, the beach still does not qualify for LLA immunity, as It remains openly accessible to and used freely and frequently by the public under the Public Access Doctrine, which recognizes that the ownership, dominion, and sovereignty over certain natural resources is vested in the State in trust for the people, the judges wrote.

The decision upheld the trial courts other rulings, notably that the Timpanaros were business invitees to the beachfront so Jenkinsons had a duty to warn and protect them from a life-threatening ocean condition.

The trial court, though, found, The ocean cannot be rendered safe for sport or recreation.

Additionally, the Timpanaros were advised before getting onto the sand that the beach was closed for swimming, and signage also stated this condition. The decision notes that Timpanaro (and his family) were invited onto the sand and beach, not the ocean, as he was specifically advised that no swimming was permitted.

Timpanaros lawyers also argued the beaches should have been closed due to ocean conditions caused by Hurricane Teddy which had formed in the Atlantic 11 days prior to Timpanaros death.

The appeals judges found no conditions to trigger beach closure. No hurricane watches or warnings were declared by forecasters, Point Pleasant was not part of a coastal flood warning area, nor had the Governor issued a state of emergency for storms or flooding, the decision says.

One of the three appellate judges, Jack M. Sabatino, while agreeing with the overall decision, wrote that the Timpanaros lawyers had a point in their arguments that Jenkinsons had a confusing mix of signs at the beach that day.

One said, BEACHES CLOSED over top of NO SWIMMING.

The beach was not completely closed on September 23, 2020, as the family was welcomed onto the sand and entered through a gate left opened by Jenkinsons, Sabatino opined.

The BEACHES CLOSED portion of the sign was literally wrong and that, could breed confusion, and thereby endanger the persons it was intended to protect from harm, Sabatino wrote.

The Timpanaros were otherwise aware that swimming was prohibited that day and the sign argument, he wrote, were inconsequential for this case.

However, To be accurate and consistent, the sign preferably should have said something akin to BEACHES CLOSED FOR SWIMMING. As is, the sign instead presented an arguably ambiguous message.

Paul da Costa, one of the Timpanaro familys lawyers, said they respect the decision, but seriously disagree the result.

We do think the appellate court has incorrectly removed the decisions that are necessary to the made in the case from a jury, who should be the ultimate fact finders in this case, da Costa said.

We do intend to request that the New Jersey Supreme Court review the case and are hopeful that the public policy issues in this case are addressed by the Supreme court, he said.

Jenkinsons lead lawyer declined comment on the decision.
A landmark piece of legislation could lock in lower energy prices for the long term by moving New Jersey to 100% clean electricity by 2035. Canva

By Anjuli Ramos-Busot and Ed Potosnak

New Jersey voters sent a clear message this election: a strong vision for an affordable and clean energy future is not just good policy, its winning politics.

Despite swirling disinformation from campaign ads and the fossil fuel industry, New Jerseyans voted to elect Mikie Sherrill, who pledged to lower electricity bills for working families by investing in clean energy.

Clean energy is the cheapest source of electricity, particularly solar, in addition to being the fastest to build, healthiest for our communities, and local, creating local predominately union jobs.

Now, before the end of Gov. Phil Murphys second term, state legislators have a critical opportunity to double down on that winning message by passing the New Jersey Energy Leadership Act (ELA).

This landmark piece of legislation would lock in lower energy prices for the long term by moving our state to 100% clean electricity by 2035. This bill would put New Jersey on the front lines of fighting climate change and ensure that thousands of union jobs are created right here in New Jersey  launching us toward the future New Jerseyans are clearly voting for.

Codifying the ELA into law would kickstart cheaper clean energy right as New Jerseyans across our state are struggling in the face of skyrocketing electricity bills caused by the explosion of power-hungry data centers and the chronic mismanagement of our grid by powerful utility companies.

Instead of investing in cleaner and cheaper options that would meet the moment, PJM, our shadowy regional grid operator, is blocking necessary projects to further enrich out-of-state oil and gas companies at our expense.

In fact, theres a large backlog of cost-saving clean energy projects that are waiting to be connected into the grid that would work to immediately lower electricity prices. In a new November Synapse Energy Economics Report, it is estimated that getting clean energy projects connected to the grid more quickly could save New Jersey families $393 per household per year in 2030.

We need to get more energy onto the grid to lower costs now. And while it takes at least six years to build a new natural gas plant, it takes about one to two years to build a large solar installation and a battery storage project.

There is no question that New Jersey needs to generate more electricity, and the price tag tells us that clean energy generation is the answer. The sooner we build and connect these clean projects, the sooner working families and local businesses will see relief on their energy bills.

Quick action is even more crucial now, when Donald Trump is banning clean energy by aggressively rolling back federal clean energy programs. His GOP budget bill eliminated hundreds of billions of dollars of clean energy investments costing the averageNew Jerseyan $220 a year more in electricity costs.

While Trump is working to enrich his billionaire friends, we need our elected leaders in Trenton to stand up for us.

Now is not the time to stand still.

Here in New Jersey, voters have spoken. New Jerseyans want an affordable, healthy, and reliable energy future. To permanently lower energy costs for New Jersey families and businesses, the Legislature must act now to pass the Energy Leadership Act.

Anjuli Ramos-Busot is the director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

Ed Potosnak is the executive director of New Jersey LCV. He is also a member of the Franklin Township Council in Somerset County.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R) took a sudden jab at Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) during a discussion about the future of the Democratic Party.

During an appearance on Fox News late Monday, McCarthy took sharp aim at Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who has emerged as a leading critic of President Donald Trump. Swalwell was recently referred to the Justice Department for a potential federal criminal probe related to mortgage fraud allegations.

McCarthy said he hopes Democrats put forward Swalwell as a leading candidate, echoing accusations from Trump and other allies that the congressman had ties to a suspected Chinese spy and was compromised by a foreign agent. Swalwell has denied any claims of wrongdoing, and a two-year investigation by the House Ethics Committee concluded in 2023 with no further action.

Every time in Congress, we would vote on a bipartisan basis  who was the least ethical, who was the least respected, McCarthy said. It was always a tie between Swalwell and Nancy Mace. And I just dont see these people leading anywhere.

Host Jesse Watters responded: Oh my gosh. You hate Nancy Mace. You hate...?

No, no, no, I dont. I want her to get the help she needs, McCarthy replied, adding, I just dont want to put her in a position that she makes decisions.

The quick dig comes as McCarthy and Mace have had a marred history in Congress. In 2023, the South Carolina congresswoman became one of eight rebel Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy as speaker, switching her from an ally to a top target in the former leaders eyes. Mace successfully defeated her primary challenger the following year, dealing a blow to McCarthys political retribution campaign against the Republican members of Congress who sided against him.

Although McCarthy did not elaborate on his quip, Mace has made headlines in recent weeks for an alleged profanity-laced altercation with security officers at Charleston International Airport. She has posted well over 100 times on social media about the incident.

Mace, who is running for governor of South Carolina, threatened severe legal action against American Airlines and the airport earlier this month, after a police report claimed she had lashed out over a reported miscommunication involving an escort. Her GOP colleagues in the Senate  Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)  did not back her claims, with both separately offering overall praise to security at the airport.
Former MSNBC host Joy Reid speculated about how Vice President JD Vance could receive the full backing of MAGA if he decides to run for president in 2028. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP

Former MSNBC anchor Joy Reid outlined what she described as a MAGA fairytale that Vice President JD Vance would need to follow to win the full support of President Donald Trumps most loyal supporters in a potential 2028 presidential bid.

While speaking on the Ive Had It podcast Tuesday, Reid said that Vance has a problem if he decides to run, accusing the MAGA base of being fundamentally racist.

I know people dont like it when you say it, but its the emergence from the Tea Party to MAGA, Reid said. Tea Party, when you finally did the actual data... the thing that most motivated them was race and hatred of non-white immigrants. What most motivates MAGA? Hatred and non-white immigrants.

Reid went on to say that a successor to MAGA cant be the guy with the brown Hindu wife.

Thats why hes throwing his wife under the bus, Reid said. Poor Usha. Or shes in on it, right.

Jennifer Welch, an actress and co-host of the podcast, then pointed to Vances viral hug with Erika Kirk, the widow of the late conservative activist who is now the CEO of his organization, Turning Point USA.

Holding on the back of his head, and rubbing on his head, Reid replied, later adding, Youre supposed to be a widow. You in leather pants?

Wouldnt it be the most perfect fairytale, MAGA fairytale, if he finally sees the light that he needs a white queen instead of this brown Hindu, Reid continued. Im not saying thats happening. Or maybe that Ushas not even in on it.

During a Megyn Kelly Live" event on Saturday, Kirk addressed online speculation of the embrace, which took place when Vance was a guest at a Turning Point USA tour stop last month. At the time, Kirk told the crowd that no one will ever replace my husband, emphasizing that she does see some similarities between the vice president and him.

My love language is touch, if you will, Kirk said. So I will give you a play-by-play: They just played the emotional video. Im walking over, hes walking over. Im starting to cry.

He says, Hes so proud of you. And I say, God bless you, and I touched the back of his head, she added. Anyone who I have hugged, that I have touched the back of your head when I hug you, I always say, God bless you. Thats just me  if you want to take that out of context, go ahead."

Kelly, a former Fox News host, chimed in, They were acting like you touched the back of his ass, to which Kirk responded: I feel like I wouldnt get as much hate if I did that.

During the event, Kirk said her organizations efforts to support a 2028 campaign from Vance is in the works. The vice president said earlier this month he has thought about what that moment might look like after the 2026 midterms, noting he will talk to Trump about the prospect down the line.

Whenever I think about that, I try to put it out of my head and remind myself the American people elected me to do a job, right now, and my job is to do it, Vance told Fox News.

Reid said that Donald Trump Jr., one of the presidents sons, could also be a top contender in the future Republican primary, as well as former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and white nationalist Nick Fuentes.
From the time he fled Spanish justice until his arrest, Martino Ramos Soto presented himself in Cuba as a businessman traveling as a tourist. He frequented cultural circles, where he connected with young people through photography

Martino Ramos Soto  known as Martin Soto to the Cubans who met him on the island  had been moving through Havana like a fish in water since he arrived in the Cuban capital last summer, on the run from Spanish justice while serving a 13-year-and-six-month prison sentence for sexually abusing a 12-year-old student in the Spanish region of Galicia. He lived in Havana quietly until his crimes became public, and it was announced on Monday that he had been arrested by the Revolutionary National Police (PNR).

Those who knew him during his months in hiding in Havana knew nothing of his legal status or criminal activity until the news broke this weekend. To everyone, he was just another Spanish tourist in the city, a businessman taking a break, always with his camera in tow, strolling through exhibitions, chatting with artists and young models, amid drinks, smiles, and music.

The Cuban art community has been in shock since the news broke. WhatsApp groups have been flooded with photos of Soto at public events, with the people who met him expressing their surprise at the revelation. Just a few weeks after settling into a rented house in Havanas Vedado neighborhood, very close to the central 23rd Avenue, the fugitive began to build a network of contacts within the Havana art scene through his presence at cultural events, both institutional and independently organized. He created an Instagram profile under the name Martin Soto, using his mothers maiden name. Through this account, he contacted young artists and models, followed accounts of cultural projects, and shared the photos he took at these events. He tried to make himself indispensable.

On October 31, he arrived at the Nodo Habana cultural center, at the intersection of Malecon and Lealtad streets, to attend a poetry event held on the last Friday of each month. It is a space open to the public, and Soto stood out, camera in hand, as he was the only foreigner present that day. According to the institution, he offered to take photographs of the poetry gathering, which he would later email so they could serve as a visual record of the event. Those who were there remember his cordial manner.

Screenshot of Martino Ramos' Instagram account. RRSS

Adolescent behavior

Among the attendees was Ire Lazara Goitizolo Rodriguez, a young visual artist and poet who was photographed by Soto. She recalls finding it strange to see him photographing and filming the young women for so long. The next day, at another event, they ran into each other again. He approached her. He was with a couple of young women who looked like models.

His behavior was adolescent, and it surprised me to see him, so grown up, involved with so many young women. He even asked me if I was going to a listening party in El Vedado for Rosalias new album. He seemed very interested in knowing about the events happening in Havana, recounts the young woman, who shared screenshots of her WhatsApp conversations with Soto with EL PAIS, where they discussed art-related topics. He gave out his contact information very readily, she affirms.

The wanted poster for Martino Ramos Soto.

No news of Martin Soto since Friday

Martin Soto would take photographs and then contact the subjects, either in person or via Instagram, sending the images to the young artists. He did this throughout his four months in hiding, attending events in the Cuban contemporary art scene, such as the Post-It modern art competition; Noviembre Fotografico, a photography festival that takes place in November; and the tribute exhibition to Belkis Ayon, Mi alma y yo te queremos (in English, My Soul and I Love You). The testimonies collected describe Soto as a very sociable person who shared little about his life, merely saying that he was a businessman, ran a consultancy in Spain, and had taken some time off for a vacation, without offering further details.

Soto had several plans this week with acquaintances in Havana, but those who knew him had not been able to contact him since Friday morning. They even went to the house where he was staying, but no one answered the door. He also stopped responding to phone calls. A young model who had posed for him learned his true identity only after people began leaving messages on an Instagram post they shared. She tried to reach him, but by Friday she had received no reply.

Another young Cuban photographer, who wished to remain anonymous, had interacted with Soto several times after he contacted her through Instagram. She is dismayed by the news. He was an intelligent guy, a good conversationalist, and its shocking when you find out what a monster he is. Why did he want to meet so many people? Why did he take so many photos and expose himself so much here?

Martino Ramos in December 2018 in Santiago de Compostela. Xoan Rey (EFE)

During his time in Cuba, Martino Ramos was constantly in the public eye and acted with astonishing impunity. A worker at the Fototeca de Cuba, the official cultural institution that organizes the Noviembre Fotografico series of events, claims to have seen him at practically every gathering that season. It was thanks to the images of the event that the fugitives whereabouts became known.

This man, it must be clarified, did not participate in Noviembre Fotografico as an artist. He was merely posing as a photographer and attended as just another spectator. He infiltrated our community, explains the specialist, who briefly encountered Soto around November 6, during an exhibition.

She thinks its telling that Soto disappeared on Friday morning, two days before it was first reported in the media that he was in Havana, and believes he was warned before the news broke. After hours of uncertainty, it was revealed on Monday afternoon that he had been detained by Cuban authorities, although by Monday night the government had not yet issued an official statement on the case.

The stereotype of the older foreigner with young Cuban woman

Martino Ramos was walking along Havanas Malecon one day in September 2025 when he met a 23-year-old woman. He took some pictures of me there and we started talking. I liked the photos, so I gave him my phone so he could send them to me. He seemed like a nice person and I had no reason to distrust him at that moment, the young woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told EL PAIS.

From that day on, they stayed in touch. He seemed like a very well-educated, intellectual, empathetic, and very feminist person, with a rather sweet voice, appearing harmless, she recalls. Days later, they met in Old Havana for another photo shoot and continued talking, even going out alone together on other occasions, as friends. I thought he could be a good guy, because its rare to find a man who is knowledgeable about so many topics and empathetic. Now I realize he was just using that rhetoric to flirt. After that day, they spoke daily for a few weeks. One day, Soto invited her and a friend to a party at his house, where several people were invited. The young woman found it strange that most of them were young women, between 18 and 29 years old. That struck me as very odd, so I started to distance myself.

A young man  also speaking to EL PAIS anonymously  says the fugitive was also at another party, following Silvio Rodriguezs concert on the steps of the University of Havana on September 19. He recounts that he attended the gathering with his girlfriend, and during the evening Soto, who had arrived with one of his very young female friends, approached them to chat. At first, the couple struck us as the stereotype of the older foreigner with the young Cuban woman, and we didnt like it.

The next day, their discomfort turned into suspicion when they noticed that Soto had started following his girlfriend on Instagram, something he hadnt done with the accounts of other photographers at the event. We ran into each other at other events, but he wasnt someone I was interested in getting to know better, he concludes, recalling Sotos image as someone who wanted to portray himself as a supporter of the feminist movement.

On Monday, Andy Martinez was shocked to learn Sotos true identity. He had barely exchanged words with him, but had seen him on four occasions: first, at a concert at La Bombilla Verde, a popular bar in El Vedado, and last, at an intimate party at a bar called La Azotea de la India. He always had his camera up, he adds.

With Martino Ramos Soto now in custody, those who had met him in Havana have been left with a feeling of having been deceived, mocked, and wronged. Its a mixture of disgust and fear, confesses one of the young women who interacted with him. I feel disgusted for having been around someone like that and for having cared for him, even just a little. And afraid, because knowing he deceived us makes you feel vulnerable. Im glad to know hes been arrested.

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New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill (D) blasted the Pentagon over its investigation into U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) on Monday.

Kelly, a retired Navy captain and New Jersey native, was one of six Democratic lawmakers who posted a video last week to remind members of the military and intelligence community that they do not need to obey illegal orders. The Pentagon announced on Monday that it would be launching a thorough review of Kellys conduct as a result of the video.

Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and former congresswoman, joined the chorus of Democrats criticizing the Pentagon and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the investigation into Kelly.

This is another abuse of power by the most incompetent and unfit Secretary of Defense in our nations history. @SenMarkKelly  a New Jersey native and fellow U.S. Navy veteran  has served our country with distinction, both in combat and space missions, she said in a statement on X.

Now, Hegseth wants to prosecute him for stating unequivocally that service members must follow the law and the Constitution  a reminder that Hegseth himself should heed," she added.

This is another abuse of power by the most incompetent and unfit Secretary of Defense in our nation's history. @SenMarkKelly  a New Jersey native and fellow U.S. Navy veteran  has served our country with distinction, both in combat and space missions. Now, Hegseth wants to https://t.co/dOyCHdbw2r  Mikie Sherrill (@MikieSherrill) November 24, 2025

President Donald Trump lashed out the six Democrats after they released the video, calling for their arrests and labeling them as traitors. Hegseth said in a statement on Monday that the video was despicable, reckless, and false. He said that of the six lawmakers, only Kelly is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

As was announced, the Department is reviewing his statements and actions, which were addressed directly to all troops while explicitly using his rank and service affiliationlending the appearance of authority to his words. Kellys conduct brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately," Hegseth wrote.

Kelly, who grew up in West Orange, has remained adamant that he will not be intimidated by the Trump administration.

Kelly, joining MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) Monday night, defended his rhetoric in the video as pretty simple and non-controversial, adding that he is not going to be silenced amid the investigation.

Ive been stressed by, you know, things more important than Donald Trump trying to intimidate me into shutting my mouth and not doing my job, Kelly told host Rachel Maddow. He didnt like what I said.

Im going to show up for work every day, support the Constitution, do my job, hold this administration accountable. Hold this president accountable when he is out of line. Thats the responsibility of every U.S. senator and every member of Congress, he continued.

Sherrill resigned from the U.S. House last week as she prepares to be sworn in as governor on Jan. 20. She defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli New Jerseys gubernatorial race earlier this month.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk is throwing cold water on a new report that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been officially dissolved with eight months left on its charter.

Reuters reported Sunday that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has taken over many of the agencys functions, months after Musk, who spearheaded it as a special government employee, had to step down from the initiative under the terms his contract.

Scott Kupor, the director of OPM, later clarified in a post on X that while DOGE may not have centralized leadership, he maintained that the principles of DOGE remain alive and well. Kupor added that his department and the Office of Management and Budget will institutionalize changes proposed by DOGE in carrying on its legacy.

Musk  who had regularly posted about the work of DOGE on social media, even once holding up a chainsaw to tout his cuts to the federal government  is now speaking out about DOGEs apparent demise.

Reuters lies relentlessly, Musk posted on X Tuesday.

Reuters lies relentlessly https://t.co/BpOq8PWTt5  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 25, 2025

Musk was responding to a similar claim from the official account for DOGE, which called the report fake news.

President Trump was given a mandate by the American people to modernize the federal government and reduce waste, fraud and abuse, the agency wrote in a post on Monday. Just last week, DOGE terminated 78 wasteful contracts and saved taxpayers $335M.

Well be back in a few days with our regularly scheduled Friday update, the account added.

In January, Trump established DOGE through an executive order in an effort to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity and bring accountability and transparency to federal spending in the shrinking of the size of the government and spending. Ahead of its creation, Musk claimed the department could trim at least $2 trillion from the federal budget, but moved the target closer to $1 trillion ahead of the presidents inauguration in January.

According to DOGEs website, the agency had since secured an estimated $214 billion in savings as of Oct. 4. The number is the result of the termination of 13,440 contracts, 15,887 grants and 264 leases, though the estimates have fluctuated over time.

According to a letter from Kupor last Friday, the government has also hired around 68,000 employees this year, while approximately 317,000 people departed.

The mission of DOGE became a flashpoint in the recent bitter feud between Musk and Trump, with the Tesla CEO claiming the presidents big, beautiful bill, passed earlier this summer, did not align with DOGE.

I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing, Musk said during an interview with CBS Sunday Morning in May.

He added: I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I dont know if it can be both. My personal opinion.

Musk quietly appeared at the White House last week, with Trump referencing the worlds richest man several times during a speech at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum.

Youre so lucky Im with you Elon, Trump said at one point. Ill tell you. You are  has he ever thanked me properly?
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaks as President Donald Trump listens in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP

A series of recent policy decisions at the Environmental Protection Agency have raised concerns among legislators and activists about President Donald Trumps pledge to Make America Healthy Again.

The latest outcry came this week as the EPA approved the use of two pesticides containing forever chemicals as an active ingredient. The new pesticides, cyclobutrifluram and isocycloseram, will be used on agricultural crops, turf and ornamental plants.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are long-lasting chemicals that have been linked to fertility issues, increased risk of certain cancers and birth defects, among other health issues.

In another controversial measure, the EPA has moved to ease a requirement that companies disclose every product containing PFAS, and it has put forward a plan to soften drinking-water limits for the chemicals.

Many fluorinated compounds registered or proposed for U.S. pesticidal use in recent years offer unique benefits for farmers, users, and the public, EPA spokeswoman Brigit Hirsch said in a statement, per the Washington Post.

Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.) on Tuesday called the EPAs approval of the new pesticides a deep betrayal of the Make America Healthy Again Movement.

They are poisoning our food and water, Morrison wrote in a post on X.

The EPA this week also took steps to vacate a Biden-era policy that imposed stricter air pollution standards and industry regulations. The rule was aimed at reducing exposure to soot, a fine-particle pollutant that researchers have associated with higher rates of cancer, respiratory diseases and cardiovascular dysfunctions.

Under the Biden administration, the EPA estimated that its strengthened soot standard would lead to 800,000 fewer asthma cases and prevent 4,500 premature deaths every year.

Critics have said the EPAs new measures are at odds with Trumps campaign promise to MAHA  Make America Healthy Again.

In a post on X, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said that relaxing food safety rules will only benefit corporations and put the health of Americans and the environment at risk.

Is America Healthy yet??? DeLauro wrote.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) criticized EPA Director Lee Zeldin for rolling back the Biden-era air pollutant standards.

EPA is abandoning its defense of air pollution standardsand abandoning its mission to protect us, Markey said Tuesday in a post on X. Im embarrassed on behalf of Lee Zeldin that hes willing to do this to the Environmental Protection Agency."

Bonnie Raindrop, program director of Maryland Pesticide Education Network, told the Washington Post that critical guardrails are being dismantled.

Were consuming these chemicals, Raindrop told the Post. What guardrails we have had are being taken apart systematically, and we are going to be exposed even more to these kinds of chemicals in our food or drinking water.
Vice President JD Vance lashed out at U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for criticizing the Russia-Ukraine peace plan proposed by the Trump administration.

President Donald Trumps peace plan, unveiled last week, was criticized for aligning with some of Russias demands in its 3-year invasion of Ukraine. The plan calls on Ukraine to cede some territory to Moscow and demanded that Europe would not admit Ukraine into the NATO alliance.

McConnell criticized the plan in a statement shared on X last week, suggesting that the president needs new advisors.

"Putin has spent the entire year trying to play President Trump for a fool. If Administration officials are more concerned with appeasing Putin than securing real peace, then the President ought to find new advisors," McConnell wrote.

Rewarding Russian butchery would be disastrous to Americas interests. And a capitulation like Bidens abandonment of Afghanistan would be catastrophic to a legacy of peace through strength, he added.

Putin has spent the entire year trying to play President Trump for a fool. If Administration officials are more concerned with appeasing Putin than securing real peace, then the President ought to find new advisors. Rewarding Russian butchery would be disastrous to Americas  U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (@SenMcConnell) November 21, 2025

Vance responded to McConnells criticism of the plan on Monday.

This is a ridiculous attack on the presidents team, which has worked tirelessly to clean up the mess in Ukraine that Mitch--always eager to write blank checks to Bidens foreign policy--left us. I wonder if the three candidates to replace McConnell in Kentucky share his views here, Vance posted on X.

McConnell then doubled down on his stance in a post on Monday.

Im told that to criticize a proposed deal that initially hewed closely to Russias preferred outcome is to misunderstand or misstate some critical reality on the ground. So lets talk about reality on the ground, McConnell wrote.

He cited a survey taken among Ukrainians about the war, which found that 76% of Ukrainians would still want to fight if the country lost U.S. support.

Conclusion: The most basic reality on the ground is that the price of peace matters. A deal that rewards aggression wouldnt be worth the paper its written on. America isnt a neutral arbiter, and we shouldnt act like one, McConnell wrote.

Washingtons 28-point plan presented last week caused alarm by heavily aligning with Moscows demands in the nearly four-year war caused by its invasion. The plan pressed Ukraine to hand over some territory to Russia and reduce its army. It also sought Europes agreement that Ukraine will never be admitted into the NATO military alliance.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has a direct message for President Donald Trump after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) announced her decision to resign from Congress next year.

Greene, a once-staunch-loyalist-turned-critic of Trump, said on Friday that she would step down from her House seat on Jan. 5, 2026, following a warning of political retribution from the president on social media. In an over 10-minute video posted on X, Greene railed against how nothing ever gets better for the common American man and woman.

I have too much self respect and dignity, love my family way too much, and do not want my sweet district to have to endure a hurtful and hateful primary against me by the President we all fought for, only to fight and win by election while Republicans will likely lose the midterms, Greene said in the video. And in turn, be expected to defend the President against impeachment after he hatefully dumped tens of millions of dollars against me and tried to destroy me.

Her announcement came after weeks of clashing with the president on major issues, including the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the longest-ever government shutdown, foreign policy and health care. It led to Trump withdrawing his support and endorsement of Greene earlier this month, describing her as a ranting Lunatic, a traitor and a disgrace to the Republican Party.

Jones gave a stern warning to Trump during a new episode of InfoWars released Monday, saying Greene has been mild in responding to the president compared to his attacks.

Its just like, stop! Stop! Jones shouted.

Im not trying to attack Trump. Im just saying, its not a good look. I want to win, Trump. I want to beat the left, he added.

Jones said it was stupid for Trump to continue to threaten some of his best supporters who typically align with him on most issues.

Spend that energy on the Democrats, Jones said. People dont like it. And the poll numbers show that.

Jones also pointed to recent reports of Republicans contemplating whether they should follow in Greenes footsteps and resign early  going on to criticize how he sees Trump reacting to the turmoil.

Trump will say, Well, we dont need them. Well get somebody else better elected, Jones said. No, youll probably lose those midterms or those special elections.

He continued: And I dont just say that to go, Oh, look, hes being negative. Hes betting were losing. No, thats what I really think. And this is what I do. And I talk to some of the best political brains out there and they agree with me. And they talk to Trump all the time, but he cannot handle being disagreed with by most people.

Like Greene, several other House Republicans are reportedly considering leaving their posts in the middle of their terms due to frustrations with censures, threats and tests of loyalty to Trump, according to Axios.

Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News reported on Monday that a handful of GOP lawmakers had messaged the outlet over the weekend saying they are experiencing the dilemma, with one senior House Republican claiming the White House has treated ALL members like garbage. ALL.

And [House Speaker] Mike Johnson has let it happen because he wanted it to happen, they continued.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) is speaking out after the Pentagon announced it launched a "thorough review." (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) AP

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) is firing back after the Pentagon announced it is investigating the retired Navy captain and astronaut for serious allegations of misconduct.

The Department of Defense said Monday it launched a thorough review of Kellys conduct, which could lead to his recall to active duty for court martial or administrative punishment. The move came as Kelly, along with five other Democratic lawmakers, urged the military and intelligence agencies to resist carrying out any illegal orders issued by President Donald Trump in a video posted last week.

Kelly, joining MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) Monday night, defended his rhetoric in the video as pretty simple and non-controversial, adding that he is not going to be silenced in light of the inquiry.

Ive been stressed by, you know, things more important than Donald Trump trying to intimidate me into shutting my mouth and not doing my job, Kelly told host Rachel Maddow. He didnt like what I said.

Im going to show up for work every day, support the Constitution, do my job, hold this administration accountable. Hold this president accountable when he is out of line. Thats the responsibility of every U.S. senator and every member of Congress, he continued.

When asked why he appears to have been singled out by the Trump administration, Kelly said he was unsure, but went on to say that this is not about the law.

This is about the media cycle, and its about intimidation, Kelly said. And the whole things almost comical... We basically repeated the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and theyre saying thats in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Its absurd.

In response to the video, Trump denounced the six Democrats last Thursday, arguing they engaged in SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL in several posts on his Truth Social platform.

Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL, Trump said. Their words cannot be allowed to stand - We wont have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.

Trump also re-posted a user who wrote: HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!

The lawmakers featured in the video included Kelly, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (Mich.), and Reps. Jason Crow (Colo.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.), Chris Deluzio (Pa.) and Maggie Goodlander (N.H.)  all of whom have military or intelligence backgrounds.

We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now, the group said in the video. Americans trust their military, but that trust is at risk. This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens like us.

They added: Right now, the threats to our Constitution arent just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear... You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.

The lawmakers did not specify which orders to the military could be considered illegal. Service members in the U.S. military are required to follow lawful directives under the Uniform Code of Military Justice  though they are not required to obey unlawful orders.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth alleged the Democrats participated in a politically-motivated influence operation. He said the video did not name a specific illegal order from the president and created ambiguity rather than clarity, among other accusations.

Hegseth also claimed that Kelly did not display his uniform correctly after the senator posted an image of his medals.

Ive given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution, Kelly wrote on Monday.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, stand next to national Thanksgiving turkey Gobble during a pardoning ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP

President Donald Trump on Tuesday used the White Houses annual turkey pardoning ceremony as an opportunity to take shots at former President Joe Biden, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and two prominent Democratic Congress members.

After bestowing ceremonial pardons to two turkeys, Gobble and Waddle, Trump quipped that Bidens 2024 turkey pardons were null and void. The president said those pardons were granted with autopen, rehashing contested claims that Biden was unaware of laws, pardons or executive orders signed in his name.

He used an autopen last year for the turkeys pardons, Trump said. So I have the official duty to determine, and I have determined that last years turkey pardons are totally invalid.

As are the pardons of about every other person that was pardoned other than, uh, wheres Hunter? Trump added, referencing Bidens unconditional pardon of his son last December.

Trump also took aim at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), two of his longtime Democratic antagonists.

The president said he was initially going to name the two turkeys selected for pardons Chuck and Nancy.

But then I realized I wouldnt be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people, Trump said. I wouldnt care what Melania told me. I wont do it, darling. 

Trump then turned his attention to the Democratic Governor of Illinois.

The president has previously called for Pritzker to be jailed for failing to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials from protestors. Pritzker has also opposed Trumps deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago.

On Tuesday, Trump said he intended to tell a little bit of a joke at Pritzkers expense during the turkey pardoning ceremony.

"I was gonna talk about Pritzker and size, Trump said. But when I talk about Pritzker, I get angry because hes not letting us do the job. So Im not gonna tell my Pritzker joke.

"You know, some speechwriter wrote a joke about his weight. But I would never want to talk about his weight," Trump continued. I refuse to talk about the fact that hes a fat slob. I dont mention it.
Sigri, which already has locations in Newark and North Brunswick, specializes in authentic North Indian barbecue. Craveworthy

Sigri Indian BBQ is planning to bring spiced bowls and smoky kebabs to a location in Somerset County in 2026.

Sigri, which already has locations in Newark and North Brunswick, specializes in authentic North Indian barbecue inspired by roadside restaurants known as dhabas, according to a statement by Craveworthy Brand.

The town and street of the new location was not announced.

The restaurants menu features open-flame cooking techniques that give dishes a smoky flavor.

The menu includes kebabs, spiced bowls, and kathi rolls meant to evoke Indias street food culture.

The Hillsborough announcement comes after Sigri recently signed a multi-unit agreement in Chicago, signaling growing interest in the franchise.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the morning. High 18F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low around 10F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
On September 30, Keir Starmer addressed Labour Party members at the Liverpool conference, calling them to a fight for the soul of the country against the enemy represented by the right-wing populist party Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage. He announced decisions that members might not always be comfortable with, referring to the issue currently tearing the British left apart: the control of irregular immigration. On that day alone, 531 more people arrived on English shores after crossing the Channel.

The new set of measures announced last week by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has caused considerable discomfort among many Labour MPs. Among other things, it proposes increasing the waiting period for permanent residency in the United Kingdom from five to 20 years; a review every 30 months of the status of all asylum seekers, with the possibility of sending them back to their country of origin if the government believes the risk has disappeared; and the option of deporting children born in the U.K. along with their parents.

Up to 20 members of parliament have rebelled, voicing extremely strong criticism, using terms such as cruelty or repugnance, and accusing the government of imitating the fascist rhetoric of the far right.

I find it disappointing and depressing that the government is taking such a hard line, especially when children could be among its victims. And I dont think its necessary. Were not going to defeat Reform by trying to be as tough as they are. Theyll always outdo us. What we must do is remain true to certain basic principles like the Geneva Convention or the European Convention on Human Rights, laments Alf Dubs (Baron Dubs), the Labour politician who now sits in the House of Lords, in a conversation with EL PAIS. He was one of the many Jewish children who arrived in the United Kingdom from what was then Czechoslovakia in the operation known as the Kindertransport, which saved them from the Nazi threat. Dubs has dedicated much of his life to the defense and support of refugees.

Spain has shown that there is a way to move forward on this issue without resorting to all these hysterical policies, says Dubs. "Far-right parties across Europe are exploiting the refugee issue to gain votes. We see it in Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, Germany, and France. And now it has reached the United Kingdom. Of course, we have to be tough when it comes to fighting the mafias that traffic in migrants, but we must adhere to basic legal principles. The idea that people who have been in this country for almost 20 years can be deported belongs to another era. How do you achieve community integration that way? What do we do with the children who were born here? Do we deport them along with their parents? All these dilemmas are unacceptable.

Minister Mahmood is of Pakistani origin and a practicing Muslim. Her parents were also undocumented immigrants when they arrived in the U.K. and settled in Birmingham. Starmers government believes that her background and her firm, powerful oratory can serve as a shield against internal criticism of the crackdown on irregular immigration. Mahmood herself, who has been the target of numerous racist insults throughout her life, has presented the new measures as a moral mission for herself and the Labour Party to stem the current divisions in the country.

Is this an issue that is dividing the country? If you look at all the polls, the answer has to be yes. Immigration is the issue that raises the most concern, and opinions on it are quite polarized. And its something that isnt going to disappear from the public debate overnight, so in that sense, it was inevitable that the Labour government would try to formulate a response, explains Mihnea Cuibus, an analyst and researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, one of the most reliable and rigorous sources for analyzing and providing statistics on the phenomenon in the United Kingdom.

When we look at the restrictions imposed on asylum seekers or their families, some of them are certainly severe. They could be described as far-right. But other aspects are more progressive, such as developing safer rules to facilitate legal entry into the country. The Labour government is trying to show that there is a middle ground when it comes to this issue, a way to combat uncontrolled immigration while also welcoming those who enter the country through formal channels. Will this approach work? Im not sure, he admits.

There is evident internal unease within the Labour Party. The tightening of immigration policies comes on top of the social spending cuts proposed by the Starmer government, which had to backtrack to quell a rebellion within the parliamentary group. No one disputes the need to control irregular immigration. What unsettles many on the British left is the populist rhetoric used to frame it, and the excessive severity of some of the proposed measures.

The Labour Party is currently terrified by Reforms lead in all the polls. As things stand today, the left would be completely swept away in a general election. And the Starmer government is convinced that issues like immigration concern all those voters in the so-called red wall [in the Midlands and the North of England], who are socially conservative but have traditionally supported Labour, and who are now attracted to Nigel Farage, explains Rohan McWilliam, a professor of history at Anglia Ruskin University who specializes in the history of the U.K. left and the Labour Party.

This is a truly extraordinary moment, a unique crossroads in the history of this very young government. It is comparable to the internal rebellion within the parliamentary group that it already suffered when it tried to impose social cuts to disability benefits. The proposals on immigration have provoked widespread rejection, not only among the more left-leaning wing of the Labour Party, but also among moderate MPs in the mainstream, says McWilliam, who does not rule out the possibility that internal pressure will once again lead the Starmer government to backtrack.

In the first half of the 1990s, when the first Gulf War, the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia, and the civil war in Somalia erupted, the United Kingdom granted 40,000 asylum applications over a five-year period. In 2023 alone, 50,000 people were granted asylum. More than 100,000 are currently in the middle of the asylum process, awaiting a response. Many live in hotels that have now become frequent targets of attacks by the far right.

Of all the sources consulted by EL PAIS, it is striking that it was Michael Heseltine  the historic conservative politician who was an ally and rival of Margaret Thatcher  who at 92 years old has dared more than anyone else to put his finger on the sore spot and call things by their name.

Do you see this? he says, holding up his cell phone. Theyre affordable in any corner of the world, and anyone can see through them the standard of living in countries like France, Spain, Italy, or the U.K. If youre a young person seeing all that from the other side of the world, youre going to say to yourself, I want to be a part of that, I want my family to share in it too, and Im going to take whatever risks are necessary to get there. These are the people who are coming to our countries, and who today play an essential role in our economies and our well-being, Heseltine explains.

It turns out that, of all British voices, his is the only one who remembers that there was a time when the United Kingdom understood that it could not respond alone to global challenges, an idea that the current Labour Party in government has relegated to the background.

Youre too young to remember how the Americans launched the Marshall Plan at the end of World War II to rebuild a devastated Europe. I think we should do the same today, combining all European aid programs into one and designing policies aimed at supporting the economies of the countries from which immigrants come. To offer them hope and opportunity, and convince them to stay there and not undertake such a risky journey, suggests the veteran British politician.

Heseltine is one of the few who today has no problem calling Farage a fascist and comparing his xenophobic message to that of historical figures his generation suffered under, such as Oswald Mosley, the founder of the British Union of Fascists, or Enoch Powell, the politician who poisoned public debate in the United Kingdom with his infamous 1968 Rivers of Blood speech.

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New Orleans' dining scene is still abuzz after its recent round of recognition from the Michelin Guide.

But that doesn't mean the world needs to stop singing its praises.

Luxury lifestyle magazine Robb Report recently praised three New Orleans restaurants for being ranked on its list of the best restaurants in America this centry.

Although there are 75 years left in the 21st century, the luxury magazine's team of 250 chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, well-traveled diners and other industry professionals decided to include Peche (No. 69), Emeril's (No. 64) and Commander's Palace (No. 32) in its list of 100 greatest restaurants that they deemed impactful in the last 100 years.
If you cross an Americana diner and a chef-driven cafe, you might get something like The Drift Inn Diner in Algiers Point.

The Drift Inn took over the former Tontis Bistro spot two months ago. Its a partnership between operating partner and chef Aaron Miller, Cure partner Kirk Estopinal and Barracuda Taco Stands Bryson Aust and Brett Jones.

The light-filled, 42-seat restaurant has plenty of charm, with a mid-century vibe, fun tchotchkes on the walls and a bar and soda fountain. Theres seating at a scattering of aluminum-clad tables and red-and-white vinyl-padded booths.

The Drift Inn Diner Where 323 Verret St., (504) 345-2778; driftinndiner.com When Dinner Wed.-Sun. How Dine-in or take out Check it out Comfort food and fun cocktails in Algiers Point

Drift Inn also has both culinary and beverage pedigree, thanks to a creative soda and cocktail menu designed by Estopinal, a bartender well known to local cocktail aficionados. He also lives in the neighborhood and bartends on Friday nights at the Japanese bar Rice Vice next to Nighthawk Napoletana.

Algiers Point has become more of a dining destination in the past few years, Estopinal says.

Although the New Orleans native didnt grow up with diners, he ate at a Chicago diner in his neighborhood every day for two years. Estopinal also remembers eating at the Hummingbird Grill on St. Charles Avenue and visiting a Woolworths lunch counter on the West Bank, all of which provide inspiration fodder for his drinks menu.

There are non-alcoholic house-made sodas, like a cherry lime rickey and the Orange Julio, a play on the Orange Julius mall favorite, which can become an adult beverage with the addition of rum. Most cocktails are under $10, with $6 wine pours and $4 cans of beer.

Miller, a Wisconsin native who grew up with diners, moved to New Orleans after meeting his now wife seven years ago. The chef was running the popular Okay Bar pop-up Rabbit Hole Supper Club during the pandemic. This is his first brick-and-mortar restaurant.

I always thought it would be fun to open a diner with all-day breakfast and hash browns, says the 34-year-old chef.

His compact menu is at its heart overt diner food, like the old-school patty melt dressed with caramelized onions on grilled buttered rye. Theres also a tuna melt and a BLT on white bread. The single patty burger arrives topped with American cheese and grilled onions on a Martins potato bun, with shoestring fries on the side.

Miller says hell soon start serving a consistent daily special, such as chicken and yeast dumplings offered on Sundays or a roast chicken with feta cheese dressing that he loved as a kid.

Diner food was so popular in the 40s, 50s and 60s, Miller says. It is comfort food, but at the same time, peoples tastes have changed some. Many are looking for hearty and not heavy, more fresh vegetables and less animal products. I think our tofu and grits bowl is an example of an evolved diner classic.

That dish features deep fried tofu with white and black sesame seeds, a runny poached egg and fresh vegetables over grits. The loaded crispy hash brown bowl may become a classic, filled with two eggs, sausage, peppers and onions, and dressed with a Sriracha vinegar sauce.

The menus price point is sweet, with most items in the $12 to $15 range, and around $7 to feed kids with the likes of grilled cheese or a one-egg breakfast with bacon and grits.

The partners are seeing a mix of neighborhood and West Bank folks, couples and families with kids coming in to dine and or take away food. Miller is excited about serving the house-made soft serve ice cream, rich with just a hint of cream cheese in the mix.

Well see folks who have been to Saint Claire and might want ice cream, or who stop on the way to Barracuda up the street, that kind of thing, Miller says. Were getting in exactly the kind of folks I was hoping for, which tells me we are a good fit for the neighborhood.
The assassination of Haytham Ali Tabatabai, the militias number two, exacerbates the groups weakness and leaves it paralyzed over how to respond

With a curious air, a man and a woman on a motorcycle with two small children stop the vehicle when they see the wall that has dominated the countrys news broadcasts since the previous day. When the children finish counting the six holes that Israeli missiles left in an apartment building on the fourth and fifth floors, the adults smile at them in approval and continue on their way. In the suburbs of Beirut, where one can travel for miles without finding any streets untouched after last years Israeli offensive during the war with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the scar left on Sunday by the assassination of the groups military chief, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, is indistinguishable from the others.

Dozens of men dressed in black T-shirts, members of the fundamentalist movement that acts as the de facto authority in the area, nervously secured the site of the attack on Monday. The bombing in Haret Hreik, one of the municipalities on the outskirts of Beirut, raises questions to which Hezbollah has no answers.

Despite a ceasefire that has been in place since November 2024, Israel bombs southern and eastern Lebanon daily as punishment for Hezbollahs refusal to disarm under the deal. This is happening even though Hezbollah has not ordered a single attack in 12 months. The pro-Iranian organization maintains its commitment to its interpretation of the ceasefire, which only requires it to disarm in the border area with Israel, while leaving the countrys defense in the hands of the Lebanese authorities. This situation places the focus on Lebanese institutions and buys time, easing the suffering of its vast community of followers, who were brutally affected during last years conflict in the Shia-majority areas.

Now, the political assassination of one of the organizations leading figures, something unheard of during the 12-month ceasefire, suggests an Israeli military escalation that has caught the militia off guard, without a prepared response, forcing it to choose between standing idly by in the face of a latent offensive, such as the current one, or taking action and facing a devastating retaliation, such as that which killed more than 4,000 people before the ceasefire.

Both decisions are very difficult, reflects 31-year-old Layla Tarhini. She strives for a sense of normalcy during her workday at the Philosophy Bookstore, while men in black maintain order on the other side of the storefront. The shop is in the building next to the one that was bombed, killing Tabatabai and four others, and wounding 28. She lives on the parallel street.

The novels of Carlos Ruiz Zafon and Louisa May Alcott, displayed on the shelves, trembled during the strike along with the walls of the premises, which, like the rest of the suburbs of Beirut, are full of images of Hassan Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for 30 years  half of them spent in hiding  until an Israeli attack killed him in September 2024.

The Resistance will make the best decision, the young woman says, using the term its followers employ to refer to Hezbollah and the group of actors hostile to Israel. But I dont think theyll respond right now. Theyre thinking about the civilians, who are our greatest strength against the enemy.

According to Tarhini, Hezbollah is aware of the difficult situation its supporters are facing, with the Lebanese press turning against them. They blame us for starting the conflict, she says, referring to October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah fired on Israel in supposed solidarity with Gaza, linking Lebanons fate to that of the Gaza Strip. But the conflict began long before Hezbollah was founded [in 1982], which is merely a reaction to it.

Despite her convictions, Tarhini is scared all the time. She says she burst into tears the night before, and she is frustrated that many Lebanese dont understand what it means to live in communities that Israel could bomb at any moment. Far from the Shia-majority areas, where destruction and portraits of Hezbollah fighters killed in combat abound, the Lebanese municipalities where other social groups predominate, such as Christians, Sunni Muslims, or Druze, remain largely untouched by the worst of the Israeli hostilities.

This unequal treatment leads some Lebanese in undisturbed areas to disagree about seeing Israel as a threat, and some even embrace the idea of normalization with the Jewish state. But for many Shias, this prospect is threatening.

If you give them an inch, theyll take a mile, warns 30-year-old Hussein Rayshouni. An engineer, he speaks to EL PAIS from a half-ruined building in Ghobeiri, another of Beiruts outlying municipalities. Rayshouni is leading the reconstruction of the block, which was damaged by an Israeli bombing last year. The surrounding streets are teeming with people attending Tabatabais funeral, held just a few meters away.

Funerals, at a time when there is speculation about the organizations weakness, are Hezbollahs only remaining opportunity to demonstrate its strength, projecting an image that maintains its hegemony over the country. On Monday, thousands of supporters joined a gathering whose main representative was the head of Hezbollahs Executive Council, Shekh Ali Daamoush, whose speech did little to dispel the doubts surrounding the militia. However, the organizations secretary general, Naim Qassem, who has been in hiding since assuming the position after Nasrallahs death, was not present.

There is frustration and anger, the engineer laments. He claims that Israel bombs Lebanon daily and that it seems as if the Lebanese government can do nothing about it. We are losing our loved ones, our homes, and our sense of security in our own country, the young man says, expressing a sense of helplessness present in the militia, seen by analysts as a prelude to a violent reaction. We are being marginalized, he concludes.

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The talk, for which no date has yet been set, aims to pave the way for a diplomatic solution to the bilateral tensions

A call between Donald Trump and Nicolas Maduro? The prospect is on the table, despite the heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The Republican has informed his team of his plans to speak directly with the Venezuelan leader, according to the news website Axios. The report came on the same day that Washington officially designated Maduro as the head of a foreign terrorist organization, amid escalating tensions in the Caribbean.

So far, there is no firm date set for the conversation, according to the same sources.

Trumps idea may suggest that, despite the U.S. deployment of military power in the Caribbean, for now no direct U.S. action on Venezuelan territory is planned or at least it would be delayed. There have been fears of a U.S. military intervention in Venezuela since the first warships began arriving in the area.

Nobody is planning to go in and shoot [Maduro] or snatch him  at this point. I wouldnt say never, but thats not the plan right now," an anonymous senior official told the media outlet. In the meantime, were going to blow up boats shipping drugs. Were going to stop the drug trafficking.

The U.S. operation, dubbed Operation Southern Spear, has sunk at least 21 vessels since September 2, killing at least 83 people in strikes that experts, lawmakers, and human rights advocates consider extrajudicial killings and illegal acts.

The news of Trumps possible phone call with Maduro came after the U.S. president designated the so-called Cartel of the Suns a foreign terrorist organization  a move that came into effect on Monday. The designation encompasses corrupt Venezuelan officials and military personnel who profit from drug trafficking ties and income. In Washingtons view, including a group allegedly led by Maduro on the list of foreign terrorist organizations gives the Trump administration grounds for a new phase of military actions in or near Venezuelan territory.

On Monday, the highest-ranking U.S. military officer, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, also traveled to Puerto Rico to meet with soldiers and officers of Southern Command, which is responsible for U.S. military operations in Latin America. It is believed that most of the roughly 15,000 troops mobilized for Operation Southern Spear are stationed on that island. On Tuesday, Caine will also travel to Trinidad and Tobago, according to the government in Port of Spain.

Without ruling out the possible start of a second phase of that operation, Trump has also himself raised the possibility of negotiations with Venezuela that could resolve the issue through diplomatic means.

Eight days ago, coinciding with the arrival in the area of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, the worlds largest, Trump declared: We may be having some discussions with Maduro, and well see how that turns out. They would like to talk. Trump, who made the statement to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, before getting on a flight back to Washington, did not provide any further details.

Last week, The New York Times reported that Trump had authorized covert CIA operations inside Venezuela. However, at the same time, a long-closed communication channel between the two countries had been reopened. Through this channel, Maduro had offered to step down within a couple of years. This delay, however, was flatly rejected by the United States, according to the newspaper.

A Trump adviser quoted by Axios stated, I see a diplomatic solution as being very likely. Donald Trump hasnt said this in as many words, but he wants his legacy to be that he did everything he could to stem the flow of illegal drugs into this country, the adviser added.

In the first months of Trumps term, the White House envoy for Venezuela, Richard Grenell, took some steps in that direction. The diplomat established contacts with the Chavista regime and even traveled to Caracas for talks that resulted in the release of six Americans detained in the South American country and in the Maduro government agreeing to accept repatriation flights for nationals deported by the United States.

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Work has started to bring full fibre broadband to some of the most rural properties in Devon through the Governments Project Gigabit programme.

The work, being carried out by Openreach, will give residents and businesses in many of the most hard-to-reach areas access to some of the fastest, most reliable broadband anywhere in Europe.

Billed as a once-in-a-generation upgrade, Openreach says it will let properties connect multiple devices at gigabit-capable speeds and help local businesses trade online and compete for decades to come.

Openreach engineers are expected to reach more properties in and around Spreyton, Coldridge, Chulmleigh, Roborough, Broadwoodkelly, Beaford, Dolton, Monkokehampton, North Tawton, Bondleigh, Folly Gate, Merton, Meeth, Exbourne, Meldon, Lydacott, Southcott, Kentisbury, Landkey, Swimbridge, Combe Martin, Burrington, Frithelstock, Langtree, Stibb Cross, Creedy Bridge, Shobrooke, Crediton, Barnstaple Cross, Upton Hellions, Poughill, Sandford, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Neopardy, Gunstone, Nadderwater, Pinhoe, Broadclyst, Cowley, Doddiscombsleigh, Lower Ashton, Higher Ashton and Longdown.

The upgrades are part of Project Gigabit, a government-funded programme to enable communities to access fast, reliable broadband, targeting homes and businesses that  because of their location - might otherwise miss out.

To date the government has signed contracts worth 745million with Openreach as part of Project Gigabit, which targets hard-to-reach areas that would otherwise be left behind.

The investment is set to benefit more than 297,000 premises across the UK, with another 455m government investment available to further help bridge the digital divide.

Telecoms minister Liz Lloyd said: Whether it's families streaming together, farmers being able to use new technology, or businesses reaching more customers online, this upgrade creates real opportunities for communities across Devon.

By delivering infrastructure that will serve these communities for decades to come, were making sure everyone can benefit from the digital world, no matter where they live.

Fibre technology provides more reliable, resilient and future-proof connectivity, with fewer faults; more predictable, consistent speeds; and enough capacity to easily meet growing data demands.

In total, Openreachs full fibre network now reaches more than 385,000 properties across Devon.

Martin Williams, Openreach partnership director for the South West, said: Were bringing faster, more reliable broadband to some of the most rural properties in the region and letting local people know what to expect.

This is a major infrastructure upgrade, so there will be more engineering teams, equipment and vans around town, and we're working hard to keep disruption to a minimum.

Wherever possible, well use our existing network of ducts and poles to avoid roadworks, new street furniture and disturbance. But there may be places where we need to install new poles, underground ducts and fibre cables because its the only way to make sure households get included in the upgrade.

Openreach is committed to building the best full fibre network, and doing it sustainably is crucial for our business, the communities we serve, and the environment we all share. As part of our Lets Reach Zero strategy, we aim to lower our carbon emissions, use less and waste less material, and protect nature wherever we operate.
Ahead of the Autumn Budget tomorrow (Wednesday, November 26) North Devons MP is calling on the Chancellor to deliver real change for the regions hospital, public services and family farms.

Ian Roome says the Budget must be a turning point, delivering real economic growth, tackling the cost of living, saving high streets and properly funding the NHS, schools and local councils, instead of leaving communities struggling with overstretched public services and rising costs.

Last week Mr Roome attended the demolition of the old residences at North Devon District Hospital - the same block he stayed in briefly years ago when he worked there as a nurse.

READ NEXT: Demolition of old buildings at North Devon District Hospital gets underway

This marked an important first step in the Our Future Hospital programme, freeing up land needed for future phases after years of campaigning for proper investment. Mr Roome is now urging the Government to bring forward the next phases sooner and back them with the funding required.

While some funding has been pledged to replace ageing staff accommodation and for an MRI scanner suite, Labour rowed back on promises made by the previous government for a hospital-wide rebuild, saying financial constraints meant it wouldnt happen until at least 2035.

Mr Roome said: The work starting at North Devon District Hospital is really welcome, but its only the beginning, which is why this Budget is a real chance to deliver.

We still need investment in an upgraded ICU, modern operating theatres and a new MRI suite  and we need it sooner, not years down the line.

Its no good talking about stability and tough choices while people here in North Devon are already grappling with those every day.

Referring to changes that saw a cap in agricultural property relief of 1million  the threshold which will apply for inheritance tax when farms are passed to the next generation  Mr Roome added:

We see it from the damaging Family Farm Tax to the under-investment in our hospital. Rachel Reeves has shown she simply doesnt understand rural communities.

This is why I am also calling for the Family Farm Tax to be abolished. If it is kept, it would be a devastating blow to family farms.

The Conservatives left behind a damaged economy, but the Chancellor has repeatedly made the wrong choices. We need real change in North Devon that tackles the cost of living, drives growth and makes big banks, tech giants and large online gambling companies pay their fair share, instead of punishing local businesses, hardworking families and farmers.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to deliver her Budget to the House of Commons at 12.30pm on Wednesday, November 26.

READ NEXT: EV drivers in Devon could face new costs under Budget plans
For more than half a century, a 163-square-kilometer U.S. territory in the Caribbean Sea was repeatedly bombarded by the American military. From the 1940s until the 2000s, 2,000 tons of ammunition fell every year on Vieques, a small island in the Puerto Rican archipelago. The U.S. Navy transformed this Caribbean paradise of crystal-clear waters into the most realistic recreation possible of a war zone: after expelling thousands of residents and taking control of two-thirds of the island and its resources, the navy established there a training base and a firing range to conduct artillery tests and other military exercises that terrorized the local population, forcing them to live amid explosions on a narrow strip of land.

After one of those bombs killed a civilian, massive protests forced the navy to withdraw from Vieques in 2003. Although routine military exercises have continued in Puerto Rico since then, the militarization the island experienced during World War II and the Cold War  periods when the territory served as a U.S. military stronghold due to its strategic location in the Caribbean  was not seen again. Until now. Amid escalating tensions with Venezuela, the United States has increased its military presence in Puerto Rico and surrounding areas, while also reopening military bases on the territory.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was in Puerto Rico on Monday. The Pentagon stated that the purpose of the visit by the top U.S. military commander was to thank the troops stationed in the territory ahead of Thanksgiving, which is celebrated on Thursday. However, according to The New York Times, Caine is scheduled to meet with soldiers and senior officers from Southern Command to assess the readiness of the deployed forces.

The U.S. Southern Command is in charge of the military deployment that Donald Trump has ordered in the Caribbean, as the United States considers options to force the fall of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom it officially considers an illegitimate leader linked to drug trafficking to the U.S. Five thousand of the nearly 15,000 U.S. troops sent to the area are stationed in Puerto Rico for what the Trump administration has characterized as a counter-narcotics operation. This operation has included the sinking of at least 21 alleged drug boats in extrajudicial attacks that have killed more than 80 people.

Caines trip to Puerto Rico comes at a time when the Trump administration has alluded to the beginning of a new phase in Operation Southern Spear. This could include for the first time actions inside Venezuelan territory. At the same time, the prospect of a telephone conversation between Trump and Maduro to explore the viability of a diplomatic solution has also been opened, according to sources familiar with the situation, cited by Axios.

This weeks visit marks Caines second trip to Puerto Rico in recent months. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was in the territory on September 9 with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Both were received by Puerto Ricos governor, Jenniffer Gonzalez, a staunch Trump ally. The governor, from the conservative New Progressive Party (PNP), which advocates for Puerto Rico to become the 51st U.S. state, has supported the increasing militarization of the island.

We thank President Trump and his administration for recognizing the strategic value Puerto Rico has to the national security of the United States and the fight against drug cartels in our hemisphere, perpetuated by the narco-dictator Nicolas Maduro, Gonzalez said in September.

Since late August, F-35 fighter jets, naval destroyers, and combat helicopters have arrived in Puerto Rico, and amphibious training exercises, flight operations, and landing and infiltration maneuvers have been conducted. The largest and most advanced U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, and more than a dozen other warships have also been deployed in Caribbean waters.

A US F-35B fighter jet in Puerto Rico. Ricardo Arduengo (REUTERS)

Open wounds

The military deployment in the Caribbean has involved reopening a naval base in Puerto Rico that was closed more than 20 years ago. Inaugurated in 1943, Roosevelt Roads was one of the largest U.S. Navy bases in the world until its closure in 2004. Roosevelt Roads is located in the municipality of Ceiba, on the eastern tip of the island, just 16 miles (26 kilometers) from Vieques. The naval base opened in Vieques in the 1940s was conceived as an extension of Roosevelt Roads and closed shortly after the navy withdrew from the island following the death of David Sanes, a 35-year-old Vieques resident who worked as a security guard at a military outpost where troops accidentally dropped a bomb in 1999.

Now, Roosevelt Roads is operational again, reviving fears that the armed forces could return to Vieques 20 years after residents successfully drove them out. To this day, Vieques continues to live with the consequences of the militarys 60-year-long period on the island. The U.S. government has not finished cleaning up the unexploded ordnance left behind by the navy when it withdrew. And several studies show that Vieques residents have unusually high concentrations of toxic metals such as mercury, uranium, and arsenic in their hair and urine, and are more likely to die from cancer than other Puerto Ricans, with significantly higher rates of heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, and infant mortality.

Last week, those wounds were reopened after it was revealed that since last January, military personnel conducting maneuvers in Puerto Rico have been able to store ammunition on Vieques. Following the revelation, Juan Dalmau, the former gubernatorial candidate for the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), who came in second place in last years elections, demanded that Governor Gonzalez cease any renewed military use of Vieques.

It is unacceptable that, in addition to the outrage of the U.S. Navys failure to fulfill its obligation to repair the extensive environmental damage caused by 60 years of bombing in Vieques, there is now the intention to use the island as a military dumping ground. Even more outrageous is that, knowing the great collective sacrifice of the struggle for peace in Vieques, this administration passively accepts this offense, Dalmau wrote in a public letter addressed to the governor, which was signed by other politicians from his party.

Gonzalez, for her part, responded that Vieques has not been on the map for discussion regarding the deployment in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean amid tensions with Venezuela. Not for [military] exercises, nor for absolutely anything, she asserted. Gonzalez specified that, in addition to Roosevelt Roads, there are soldiers in the municipality of Aguadilla (in the northeast of the island) and at Camp Santiago, in Salinas, in the south.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently issued a preemptive advisory for all airspace over Puerto Rico, warning of a potentially hazardous situation related to increased military operations in the area. The alert is in effect from November 18, 2025, to February 16, 2026.

As happened in Vieques, the presence of the U.S. military has once again been met with both political and citizen protests. In an interview with EL PAIS this month, New York Democratic Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, the highest-ranking Puerto Rican in Congress, spoke out against the militarization of her native island and the United States use of it as a platform to attack Venezuela. And in the streets of Puerto Rico, demonstrations have taken place with signs demanding: Gringos out of the Caribbean!

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Simon Erskine Locke

Rochelle Ford, CEO of the PAGE society, could not have made it clearer that trust in the communications industry is at risk from the flood of AI-generated synthetic and manipulated content.

Trust is the currency of everything that we do in communications, she shared with attendees at the recent Davis+Gilbert-hosted, PAGE, Content Authenticity Initiative and Tauth Labs-supported CCO roundtable, with LinkedIn and Virtual Human Economy.

Ford went on to highlight the importance of giving audiences a way to know that what they are seeing is authentic in a world where we are moving from the idea of trust but verify to verify then trust.

The October roundtable was one of the first opportunities for the communications industry to hear from technology leaders on the front line of building provenance into digital content ranging from documents to video. The goal  help companies and their audiences differentiate authentic content from a rising AI-generated tide of misinformation, disinformation, and fraud.

Adobes Santiago Lyon, head of advocacy and education at the Content Authenticity Initiative, shared the significant traction of a new industry standard for content authentication known as C2PA and the ongoing work to implement the technology for multiple use cases across industries.

The emergence of shadow content around earnings and M&A transactions  a term I am using that reflects how manipulated or fake content is being generated around corporate announcements and the dark corners of the web from where it originates  is just one more reason for the ongoing decline in trust in digital content and the growing need for the technology.

(L to R) Simon Locke, Tauth Labs; Adam Kahn, LinkedIn; Natalie Monbiot, Virtual Human Economy; Richard Eisert, Davis+Gilbert; Santiago Lyon, Content Authenticity Initiative; Rochelle Ford, PAGE; Bill Davies, Racepoint Global

Authentication provides a way to re-build trust in content by making it clear what can and should not be trusted. LinkedIns Adam Kahn who is responsible for Trust at the platform, stated that at a minimum we need to at least authenticate you are who you say you are in a world where the velocity of fraud is increasing. He shared that his goal was for everyone in the room to become evangelists of provenance.

Virtual Human Economys CEO, Nathalie Monbiot, shared the story of building AI avatars for a language learning company, and a key question: How do we create something that is commercially safe and trustworthy? The solution was to embed content credentials in a way that make it transparent that the avatars were AI generated.

Authentication of content is the equivalent of incorporating security certificates into individual pieces of content. The analogy is the shift from http to https with websites  which led to some websites being prioritized in search and others being deprioritized. Digital authentication embedded into content can be used by search engines, LLMs and content aggregators to make it more searchable and valuable.

The legal context around content provenance authentication is rapidly evolving. Davis+Gilbert, partner and co-head of the advertising practice, Richard Eisert, shared that AI and provenance have emerged as a significant focus of state legislators across the country as well as the federal government. The new California AI Transparency Act requires technology platforms to enable users to be able to view provenance data incorporated into content. New York has a bill in the works that would require the authentication of political communications.

Racepoint Global CEO, Bill Davies, underscored initial skepticism of whether content authentication was a front-burner issue. At the roundtable, he noted that changed when a new client started a conversation with How are you going to protect the brand? This was compounded with the launch of open AIs Sora 2, when he said, everything changed. His takeaway for attendees was that content authentication is reputation management the AI age.

Communications leaders are at different stages of the adoption cycle. Early adopters, including some large agencies in our industry, are among the 6,000 members of the Content Authenticity Initiative who clearly recognize the challenge ahead.

At this stage, a critical step for corporate and agency communicators is to educate themselves about the new technology. A good starting point is the advance copy of Tauth Labs white paper shared at the breakfast: Communications and Content Provenance Authentication or re-visiting my July 2025 article in ODwyers - Six Things Communicators Need to Know About Content Provenance Authentication.

How long will it take before we see widespread adoption? The Content Authenticity Initiatives Lyon stated, Over the next few years we expect provenance to be foundational for every industry that has an interest in establishing the authenticity of what they are distributing.

In the not-too-distant future well be wondering how it was possible that we were posting press releases, sending client communications, issuing research reports, or sending emails that did not have a built-in way for our audiences to know they are authentic.

***

Simon Erskine Locke is co-founder and CEO of Tauth Labs which works with communications, financial services and local government clients to implement content authentication.
Vanessa Sussman

TDI, a global strategic advisory and risk intelligence firm, appoints Vanessa Sussman as managing director and CMO. Sussman comes to TDI from the Eurasia Group, where she was chief marketing and communications officer. She was previously head of communications, private markets at Nuveen and VP, global marketing and communications at Morningstar. In her new position, Sussman will lead TDIs global brand strategy, with a focus on raising its visibility among key audiences and aligning marketing with commercial priorities. "Her ability to distill complex issues into clear, compelling narratives will be essential as we grow and continue to help clients navigate an increasingly challenging geopolitical and regulatory landscape," said TDI chief executive officer Jay Truesdale.

HS Chung

Burson promotes HS Chung to CEO, Asia-Pacific, effective Dec. 1. Chung previously led the agencys business in North Asia-Pacific across China, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea. She will now also oversee Bursons business in Australia & New Zealand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. She remains based in Seoul, Korea. Before joining Burson in 2025, Chung served as president, Asia at Hill+Knowlton Strategies. She was the founder of Synergy Communications in January 2000, which became part of Hill & Knowlton in 2002. She is a trusted and sought after CEO and C-suite advisor, a business builder, a talent advocate and an operational maven, said Burson global CEO Corey duBrowa. These skills, together with her deep understanding of the cultural nuances across and between the markets, will enable Burson to continue delivering exceptional results for our clients.

Shari Ajayi

Saatva, an e-commerce company that specializes in luxury mattresses, promotes Shari Ajayi to VP of public relations. Ajayi has been with Saatva since 2020, most recently serving as director of public relations. Before that, she held key marketing and communications roles in the luxury home and design space, representing brands such as The Rug Company, Frette and B&B Italia. In her expanded role, she oversees all media relations and special events, including the communications efforts supporting Saatvas sponsorship as Official Mattress and Restorative Sleep Provider for Team USA and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Actor Ethan Hawke has said he had a wonderful experience filming his latest movie, Blue Moon, in Ireland and would love to work there again.

His newest collaboration with director Richard Linklater was shot primarily in Dublin, with production also taking place at Ardmore Studios in Wicklow.

Set in March 1943, Blue Moon follows Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart on the opening night of Oklahoma!, a musical by his former colleague Richard Rodgers.

The film, written by Robert Kaplow, stars Hawke as Hart, Andrew Scott as Rodgers and Margaret Qualley as Elizabeth Weiland, a Yale student with whom Hart is infatuated.

It also features Irish actor Simon Delaney as Oscar Hammerstein.

The majority of the story is set in Sardis, the legendary restaurant on Manhattans West 44th Street, but for the film Linklater and his team recreated it in Dublin.

Hawke, a long-time collaborator of Linklaters best known for the Before trilogy and Boyhood, gushed about his experience in Ireland.

Theres so many great actors coming in and out. I left there going, I really hope I get to make another movie there. It was a wonderful place to work, the 55-year-old told the PA news agency.

Linklater, 65, added: We had great Irish partners, so much talent around a great crew. We had to build Sardis somewhere and it just worked out perfectly that we were able to in Ireland.

Blue Moon explores the artistic break-up of the Broadway songwriting duo Hart and Rodgers, as well as the bittersweet end of an era for Hart.

Hawke explains: Poor Larry has so much to be proud of and instead hes heartbroken.

The party ending is always hard. He has 25 years of writing significant, amazing poetry and being heralded for it, he just doesnt want it to stop.

Linklater also reflected on the poignancy of culture leaving artists behind.

I know artists think were just going to go forever, but you never know in life, he said.

Your tastes can change. In this movie, its not only the artistic break-up between him and Rodgers, but also the times are changing. His kind of show tunes and musicals are becoming passe. Its a new era.

So the times are leaving him behind as well. Its kind of poignant, you realise theres an expiration date on your art. You think about yourself but, fortunately, great art does survive.

Blue Moon is out in UK and Irish cinemas on Friday November 28.
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Donald Trumps America was absent in every way imaginable. Im thinking of this years crucial U.N. Climate Change Conference in Brazil that hosted dozens of world leaders to discuss the global climate and the energy crisis, but not, of course, Donald Trump (or any other high-level official in his government). And thats not the only way the United States was quite literally missing in action at a meeting to deal with the deepest dangers humanity now faces. As New York Times correspondent Ana Ionova reported, the electric car (only one of many) that pulled up at the conference hall to let Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva out to host the conference was made by yes, of course! Chinese automaker BYD.

And if you want a sense of where, in the age of Trump, our planet is heading, just consider this passage from Ionovas report: Last month, BYD inaugurated its biggest factory outside Asia, at a plant in Bahia State, in northeastern Brazil, that was once run by Ford. Yes, when the U.S. was at the height of its global power and influence, so were U.S. automakers. No longer, in either case.

It should, of course, be clear to anyone looking at our increasingly endangered planet as hyper-powered Hurricane Melissa indicated only recently in the Caribbean region that climate change represents the greatest crisis in human history. And it will only grow more severe with a distinct helping hand from Donald Trump, the drill, baby, drill president, who has gone out of his way to plug the most dangerous forms of energy on this planet, while forcefully rejecting any attempt to create and install green energy. Its estimated that, thanks to him, by 2035, the U.S. will have about 30% less solar energy than only recently expected and, as a result, will be ever more out of step with much of the rest of the planet. In that sense, President Trump should all too literally be considered a force from given Earths rising temperatures hell. In his own eerie fashion, in fact, hes distinctly putting a period (or do I mean an exclamation point?) on American imperial power.

And in that context, let historian and TomDispatch regular Alfred McCoy, all too aptly the author of To Govern the Globe: World Orders and Catastrophic Change (among other works), take you on a striking tour of the rise and fall of empires (and systems of energy) from the fifteenth century to late tomorrow night. Tom

Ozymandias on the Potomac

Energy Policy and the Politics of American Decline

By Alfred McCoy

At the dawning of the British Empire in 1818, the romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley penned a memorable sonnet freighted with foreboding about the inevitable decline of all empires, whether in ancient Egypt or then-modern Britain.

In Shellys stanzas, a traveler in Egypt comes across the ruins of a once-monumental statue, with a shattered visage lying half sunk in desert sands bearing the sneer of cold command. Only its trunkless legs of stone remain standing. Yet the inscription carved on those stones still proclaims: My name isOzymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair! And in a silent mockery of such imperial hubris, all the trappings of that awesome power, all the palaces and fortresses, have been utterly erased, leaving only a desolation boundless and bare as the lone and level sands stretch far away.

Taken too literally, those verses might lead us to anticipate some future traveler finding fragments of St. Pauls Cathedral scattered on the banks of the Thames River in London or stones from the Washington Monument strewn in a kudzu-covered field near the Potomac. Shelley is, however, offering us a more profound lesson that every empire teaches and every imperialist then forgets: Imperial ascent begets an inevitable decline.

Imperial Washington

Indeed, these days Donald Trumps Washington abounds with monuments to overblown imperial grandeur and plans for more, all of which add up to an unconvincing denial that Americas global imperium is facing an Ozymandias-like fate. With his future Gilded Age ballroom meant to rise from the rubble of the White Houses East Wing, his plans for a massive triumphal arch at the citys entrance, and a military parade of tanks and troops clanking down Constitution Avenue on his birthday, who could ever imagine such a thing? Not Donald Trump, thats for sure.

In a celebration of his works that are supposedly making the mighty despair in foreign capitals around the world, his former national security adviser, Robert C. OBrien, has recently argued in Foreign Affairs that the presidents policy of peace through strength is reversing a Democrat-induced decline of U.S. global power. According to OBrien, instead of crippling NATO (as his critics claim), President Trump is leading the biggest European rearmament of the postwar era; unleashing military innovation to counter China; and proving himself the indispensable global statesman by driving efforts to bring peace to long-standing disputes in Gaza, the Congo, and, quite soon, Ukraine as well. Even in North America, according to OBrien, Trumps attempt to acquire Greenland has forced Denmark to expand its military presence, putting Russia on notice that the West will compete for control of the Arctic.

As it happens, whatever the truth of any of that may be, the policy elements that OBrien cites are certain to prove largely irrelevant to the ceaseless struggle for geopolitical power among the globes great empires. Or, to borrow a favorite Trumpian epithet from the presidents cornucopia of crudeness, in the relentless, often ruthless world of grand strategy, none of those factors amounts to a hill of sh*t.

Indeed, OBriens epic catalogue of Trumps supposed foreign policy successes cleverly avoids any mention of the central factor in the rise and fall of every dominant world power for the past 500 years: energy. While the United States made genuine strides toward a green energy revolution under President Joe Biden, his successor, the drill, baby, drill president, has seemed determined not just to destroy those gains, but to revert to dependence on fossil fuels bigly, as Trump would say. In a perplexing paradox, President Trumps systematic attack on alternative energy at home will almost certainly subvert Americas geopolitical power abroad. How and why? Let me explain by dipping my toes in a bit of history.

For the past five centuries, the rise of every global empire has rested on an underlying transformation (or perhaps revolution would be a more accurate word for it) in the form of energy that drove its version of the world economy. Innovation in the basic force behind its rising global presence gave each successive hegemonic power Portugal, Spain, England, the United States, and possibly now China a critical competitive advantage, cutting costs and increasing profits. That energy innovation and the lucrative commerce it created infused each successive imperium with intangible but substantial power, impelling its armed forces relentlessly forward and crushing resistance to its rule, whether by local groups or would-be imperial rivals. Although scholars of imperial history often ignore it, energy should be considered, as I argued in my book To Govern the Globe, the determinative factor in the rise and fall of every global hegemon for the past five centuries.

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Author: Yosry Ahmed <yosry.ahmed@linux.dev> Date: Mon Nov 3 15:51:35 2025 +0800 mm: memcg: restore subtree stats flushing [ Upstream commit 7d7ef0a4686abe43cd76a141b340a348f45ecdf2 ] Stats flushing for memcg currently follows the following rules: - Always flush the entire memcg hierarchy (i.e. flush the root). - Only one flusher is allowed at a time. If someone else tries to flush concurrently, they skip and return immediately. - A periodic flusher flushes all the stats every 2 seconds. The reason this approach is followed is because all flushes are serialized by a global rstat spinlock. On the memcg side, flushing is invoked from userspace reads as well as in-kernel flushers (e.g. reclaim, refault, etc). This approach aims to avoid serializing all flushers on the global lock, which can cause a significant performance hit under high concurrency. This approach has the following problems: - Occasionally a userspace read of the stats of a non-root cgroup will be too expensive as it has to flush the entire hierarchy [1]. - Sometimes the stats accuracy are compromised if there is an ongoing flush, and we skip and return before the subtree of interest is actually flushed, yielding stale stats (by up to 2s due to periodic flushing). This is more visible when reading stats from userspace, but can also affect in-kernel flushers. The latter problem is particulary a concern when userspace reads stats after an event occurs, but gets stats from before the event. Examples: - When memory usage / pressure spikes, a userspace OOM handler may look at the stats of different memcgs to select a victim based on various heuristics (e.g. how much private memory will be freed by killing this). Reading stale stats from before the usage spike in this case may cause a wrongful OOM kill. - A proactive reclaimer may read the stats after writing to memory.reclaim to measure the success of the reclaim operation. Stale stats from before reclaim may give a false negative. - Reading the stats of a parent and a child memcg may be inconsistent (child larger than parent), if the flush doesn't happen when the parent is read, but happens when the child is read. As for in-kernel flushers, they will occasionally get stale stats. No regressions are currently known from this, but if there are regressions, they would be very difficult to debug and link to the source of the problem. This patch aims to fix these problems by restoring subtree flushing, and removing the unified/coalesced flushing logic that skips flushing if there is an ongoing flush. This change would introduce a significant regression with global stats flushing thresholds. With per-memcg stats flushing thresholds, this seems to perform really well. The thresholds protect the underlying lock from unnecessary contention. This patch was tested in two ways to ensure the latency of flushing is up to par, on a machine with 384 cpus: - A synthetic test with 5000 concurrent workers in 500 cgroups doing allocations and reclaim, as well as 1000 readers for memory.stat (variation of [2]). No regressions were noticed in the total runtime. Note that significant regressions in this test are observed with global stats thresholds, but not with per-memcg thresholds. - A synthetic stress test for concurrently reading memcg stats while memory allocation/freeing workers are running in the background, provided by Wei Xu [3]. With 250k threads reading the stats every 100ms in 50k cgroups, 99.9% of reads take <= 50us. Less than 0.01% of reads take more than 1ms, and no reads take more than 100ms. [1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/CABWYdi0c6__rh-K7dcM_pkf9BJdTRtAU08M43KO9ME4-dsgfoQ@mail.gmail.com/ [2] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/CAJD7tka13M-zVZTyQJYL1iUAYvuQ1fcHbCjcOBZcz6POYTV-4g@mail.gmail.com/ [3] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/CAAPL-u9D2b=iF5Lf_cRnKxUfkiEe0AMDTu6yhrUAzX0b6a6rDg@mail.gmail.com/ [akpm@linux-foundation.org: fix mm/zswap.c] [yosryahmed@google.com: remove stats flushing mutex] Link: https://lkml.kernel.org/r/CAJD7tkZgP3m-VVPn+fF_YuvXeQYK=tZZjJHj=dzD=CcSSpp2qg@mail.gmail.com Link: https://lkml.kernel.org/r/20231129032154.3710765-6-yosryahmed@google.com Signed-off-by: Yosry Ahmed <yosryahmed@google.com> Tested-by: Domenico Cerasuolo <cerasuolodomenico@gmail.com> Acked-by: Shakeel Butt <shakeelb@google.com> Cc: Chris Li <chrisl@kernel.org> Cc: Greg Thelen <gthelen@google.com> Cc: Ivan Babrou <ivan@cloudflare.com> Cc: Johannes Weiner <hannes@cmpxchg.org> Cc: Michal Hocko <mhocko@kernel.org> Cc: Michal Koutny <mkoutny@suse.com> Cc: Muchun Song <muchun.song@linux.dev> Cc: Roman Gushchin <roman.gushchin@linux.dev> Cc: Tejun Heo <tj@kernel.org> Cc: Waiman Long <longman@redhat.com> Cc: Wei Xu <weixugc@google.com> Signed-off-by: Andrew Morton <akpm@linux-foundation.org> Signed-off-by: Leon Huang Fu <leon.huangfu@shopee.com> Signed-off-by: Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@linuxfoundation.org>
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Arissa Minyonne-Robinsons mother agreed to serve as her daughters third-party guardian to ensure she follows release conditions pending trial.

A woman accused of assaulting a top Japanese diplomat in downtown Portland in 2023 was granted release Monday to live with her mother pending trial after her latest court-ordered visit to a federal medical center to restore her mental competency.

Though prosecutors had objected to the release, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Ratcliffe noted the release plan includes a number of social services marshaled by the defense lawyer for Arissa Jean Minyonne-Robinson.

We have concerns but it is a comprehensive plan and the government takes some solace in that, Ratcliffe said in court.

Minyonne-Robinsons mother agreed to serve as her daughters third-party guardian to ensure she follows release conditions while she awaits trial. A federal pretrial officer also said she interviewed Minyonne-Robinson earlier Monday with her lawyer and she answered all her questions.

A trial had been set for Jan. 7, but Assistant Federal Public Defender Robert Hamilton asked that it be briefly delayed.

Minyonne-Robinson, now 25, has pleaded not guilty to a single count of assault on a foreign official and internationally protected person in federal court in Portland.

On June 17, 2023, Yuzo Yoshioka was walking by when Minyonne-Robinson sprang up from a planter where she was sitting near Southwest Park Avenue and Oak Street and rushed at him, shoving him backward with two hands, according to Ratcliffe

Yoshioka landed in the street next to a parked car and struck his head on pavement, Ratcliffe wrote in a court filing.

Minyonne-Robinson stood menacingly over Yoshioka and then returned to her seat before casually walking off, according to Ratcliffe. She never said anything during the attack, he noted.

Yoshioka received six stitches to close a cut on the back of his head. He told police he had never seen Minyonne-Robinson before he was attacked, according to Ratcliffes court filing.

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon said if the case results in a plea or conviction, any sentencing decision he makes might be best informed by Minyonne-Robinsons behavior while on release.

The judge last ordered the Federal Bureau of Prisons to send her to a federal medical center in November 2024 for mental health treatment.

Under law, Robinson cant be at a federal medical center for longer than four months.

Before that, she was found unable to assist in her defense in October 2023 and spent at least four months at the Federal Medical Center-Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, before returning to custody in Oregon.

Yoshioka had arrived in Portland in late March 2023 and served as consul general for the Consular Office of Japan in Portland. He no longer serves as consul general and returned to Japan this past March, according to the consular office.

State bias crime charges were dropped against Minyonne-Robinson once a federal indictment was issued.

In recent years, Minyonne-Robinson had reported suffering from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to court records.

Ratcliffe alleges Minyonne-Robinson was responsible for four unprovoked attacks on strangers from August 2021 to Yoshiokas attack in June 2023.

He said she used two hands to shove a mother who was exiting a MAX train with her 1-year-old child in a stroller and then kicked the stroller in August 2021. She told officers when she was stopped that the woman and child were in the way so they got decked, according to Ratcliffes memo.

In August 2022, she is accused of sneaking up behind a 76-year-old man who was waiting for medication at a Walmart pharmacy and then striking him multiple times in the back of his head and putting him in a choke hold, Ratcliffe wrote. She was arrested in the parking lot and admitted to police that she punched the man for no reason, according to Ratcliffe.

Charges in the MAX and Walmart encounters were dismissed in January 2023 in Multnomah County Circuit Court after Minyonne-Robinson spent at least 89 days in custody, state records show.

In October 2022, she allegedly pushed a 53-year-old man exiting a bus at the Beaverton Transit Center in Hillsboro, causing him to fall to the ground, according to court records. Assault and harassment charges are pending against her in Washington County.
Between 2014 and 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter based in Newport was responsible for the rescue of approximately 500 people, including 30 commercial fishermen whose lives were saved at sea, according to court records. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) AP

A federal judge on Monday night blocked the closure of the U.S. Coast Guards Newport Air Facility, finding Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems actions violated the law.

U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken issued a temporary restraining order just three days after a Newport nonprofit supporting commercial fishermen joined with Lincoln County and filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to return the Coast Guards rescue helicopter to the coastal city before the start of the Dungeness crab fishing season.

The Newport Fishermens Wives and Lincoln County filed the suit after they learned the Coast Guard had either ceased or drastically reduced its operations at the Newport Air Facility and moved its rescue helicopter about 70 miles south to North Bend.

The Court concludes that the danger presented by the lack of rescue helicopter coverage justifies the granting of the temporary order on an expedited basis, Aiken wrote in a 14-page opinion signed at 6:37 p.m.

Aiken ruled before the federal government had responded to the lawsuit or the motion for a temporary restraining order.

She ordered the federal government to restore the Coast Guard rescue helicopter to the Newport facility with full operational capabilities and personnel support.

Plaintiffs have made a compelling showing that public safety, and by extension the public interest, are deeply intertwined with the continued operation of the Newport Air Facility, particularly as the fishermen prepare for the most dangerous season of the year, Aiken wrote.

The judge found that the Homeland Security secretary failed to provide any notification to Congress before closing or significantly reducing the use of the Coast Guard air facility. Noem also failed to hold any public meetings or issue any notice to provide opportunity for the public to comment on the proposal, as required by law, Aiken found.

The evidence before the Court at this juncture is that those procedures were not followed and the Court can discern no hardship to Defendants in an injunction requiring them to continue operating the Newport Air Facility as they have for the better part of four decades, Aiken wrote.

Tricia McLaughlin, a Homeland Security assistant secretary, said in an email, These efforts to micromanage U.S. Coast Guard operations via lawsuit are completely intrusive, and they obstruct the work of the Services patriotic men and women.

The Coast Guard is always ready to respond to search and rescue needs on the Oregon Coast, just as it always has been. Any suggestion otherwise is an insult to the hard, heroic work the men and women of the Coast Guard put in every day, she said.

Attorney Eric J. Brickenstein, one of the lawyers representing Lincoln County and the Newport Fishermens Wives, said, We welcome the Courts ruling and prompt action in this important case. He said the plaintiffs look forward to a future hearing on a preliminary injunction.

The state of Oregon filed its own lawsuit earlier Monday and asked that both suits be consolidated.

This is a reminder that public safety comes first and the government must follow the law, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said Monday night of the judges ruling.

The Coast Guard opened a temporary Newport Air Facility in 1987 after the loss of the crew of the fishing vessel Lasseigne two years earlier. The Newport Fishermens Wives pushed then to secure a rapid-response Coast Guard helicopter for Oregons central coast.

By 1992, Congress approved funding for a permanent Newport Air Facility, which was dedicated in 1994, according to Aikens opinion.

In the fall, the fishing group and the county learned that the Coast Guard had dramatically reduced operations in Newport and was in the process of permanently closing the facility.

The rescue helicopters move to North Bend would drastically increase the response times from between 15 and 30 minutes to between 60 and 90 minutes in the case of a crisis, Aiken wrote.

Between 2000 and 2019, 44 commercial fishermen perished in the waters off Oregon, including 12 off Newport, according to court records.

The plaintiffs argued that Oregon coastal waters average 50 to 54 degrees year-round, and anyone who falls off a vessel is in immediate life-threatening danger.

Between 2014 and 2025, the Coast Guard rescue helicopter based in Newport rescued about 500 people, including 30 commercial fishermen whose lives were saved at sea, according to court records.

Taunette Dixon of Toledo, who owns a commercial fishing vessel and is on the board of Newport Fishermens Wives, said her fishing boat will be crossing the Yaquina Bay bar soon to drop Dungeness crab pots.

If the helicopter is not immediately returned, my vessel and crew will be forced to take this dangerous trip without the safety net of a rescue helicopter in the close vicinity, she wrote to the court in a sworn declaration. I not only have a family member on our boat, but we also have a close bond with all our crew, and it is my responsibility to keep our crew safe.

The lawsuits seeking to keep the Coast Guard helicopter in Newport were filed amid concerns by local, state and federal lawmakers that Noem planned to open a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center at the Newport Municipal Airport.

Public job postings for detention officers based in Newport, a request for septic tank services and a bid to lease four vacant acres at the airport all suggest ICE is planning to build a detention facility, elected officials have said.

Its the second time Newport Fishermens Wives and Lincoln County have turned to the court to intervene to keep the helicopter in Newport. The last time was 11 years ago after the Coast Guard notified the county of a decision to close the Newport Air Facility at the end of November 2014. While the suit was pending, former President Barack Obama signed the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act into law, prohibiting its closure until January 2016, according to the suit.

Although that law is no longer in effect, it required Congress to be notified before any reduction in the use of a Coast Guard air facility and allowed for community input and formal risk assessments before the Coast Guard could relocate or reduce an air station, the suit said.
John Paul Cupp, 45, also posted about the federal governments plan to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, advocating for using lone wolves to kill, or pop, federal officials and give them body bags, an affidavit said. Lizzy Acker/The Oregonian

A Portland man is accused of making threats to federal officers online and outside Portlands U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building, where hes maintained a regular presence.

John Paul Cupp, 45, made his first appearance in federal court Monday afternoon in Portland on a single count of making threats against federal law enforcement.

Cupp also posted hate-filled videos on TikTok calling for the eradication of the Jewish people and stating his denial of the Holocaust, according to a federal affidavit.

The FBI has been monitoring his online activity since at least late May 2024 because of frequent complaints to the bureau from the public about the violent nature of his statements about the Jewish community and U.S. government, according to the affidavit.

Cupp was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his teen years, according to the affidavit. He has been living on the street and in a North Portland motel since he has faced a restraining order issued in Clackamas County in April, barred from contacting his estranged wife or three children, according to the affidavit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey A. Barrow.

On social media, Cupp uses the online name Walid Al Amriki identifies himself as the public relations director of the North American Resistance Committee and calls for going to war with Jewish people and overthrowing the U.S. government, according to the FBI. He appeared in court wearing a white Muslim skull cap.

He also posted about the federal governments plan to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, advocating for using lone wolves to kill, or pop, federal officials and give them body bags, the affidavit said.

His online comments and videos have been posted on TikTok and Vk.com, a Russian social media and social networking service, according to Barrow.

On Oct. 14, he was captured on video outside the ICE building yelling at ICE officers that he would behead them, place their heads on a stick and rape their wives, the affidavit said. He also claimed he was on the same level as al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden and Timothy McVeigh, the former U.S. Army soldier convicted in the 1995 terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people, the affidavit said.

On Nov. 12, an FBI agent called Cupp on his cellphone. He didnt answer but called back minutes later and then hung up once he learned it was the FBI, the affidavit said. He later made an online threat against the FBI agent who called him, according to Barrow.

Barrow said he was concerned that Cupp had little to no respect for this court, noting that he has alleged in his videos that the federal government was a secret Zionist organization.

Yet the prosecutor said he was open to Cupps release to a federal halfway house, noting that Cupp has largely been homeless since the restraining order, living on the street and in a North Portland motel, while on paid leave from his job due to his online behavior.

Michelle Sweet, chief deputy of the Federal Public Defenders Office, said Cupp takes medication for his mental illness and has sought therapy in the last couple of months.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman granted his release to the Northwest Regional Reentry Center once a bed is available.

She ordered Cupp to stay away from the ICE facility in Portland, not attend any ICE-related protests, have no contact with ICE officers or FBI agents and prohibited him from posting on social media regarding his case or political matters.

Hes also not allowed to change his address or leave the halfway house without prior approval.

Also Monday, a 37-year-old woman was in federal court, accused of assaulting a federal officer in Tigard on Sunday.

When ICE officers were making an arrest, Shepherd is accused of driving up, pushing an officer in the chest and then following him to his vehicle, striking it with her hands and then yanking the door open and slamming it shut, striking his left arm, according to an affidavit.

Beckerman ordered Shepherd released pending trial and said she must have no contact with any ICE officers in the course of their work.

Beckerman asked if the officers are clearly identified.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Pam Paaso said they typically wear badges and their vests or jackets are usually marked with police or federal officer.

I think the masks identify them to some extent, she added.

Beckerman said Shepherd is barred from knowingly having contact with any ICE agent.

Cupp and Shepherd are the latest to face federal charges stemming from protests outside Portlands ICE facility or in response to stepped-up immigration enforcement in Oregon. Theyre among 41 people arrested on federal misdemeanor or felony charges since June.
Police arrested a man who allegedly fled from officers in a stolen van Monday evening, crashed into four vehicles as he tried to escape, then crossed Interstate 5 on foot, officials say.

Ryan Anthony Salt of Portland, 33, is facing 16 criminal charges including felony counts of possessing a stolen vehicle, fleeing from police and possessing a firearm as a felon. Authorities also allege he recklessly endangered other drivers.

Mondays incident comes less than three months after another person was hit and killed on I-5 while allegedly fleeing a traffic stop.

The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office said in a news release that Salts alleged reckless driving spree started in North Portland around 5 p.m. when TriMet Transit Police spotted Salt in a stolen van while patrolling the area around the Delta Park MAX station. When officers tried to stop Salt he took off in the van, the release says.

Officials say that the officers who spotted Salt didnt chase him, but watched from a distance as he drove onto the shoulder of the road and into oncoming traffic, which officers described as extremely heavy at the time.

Salt crashed into four vehicles during his attempted escape, officials say, and eventually ditched the van before running across several lanes of traffic on I-5 .

None of the people that Salt allegedly crashed into suffered serious injuries, the sheriffs office said.

Transit police shared a description of Salt with other law enforcement officers in the area, the news release said, and Portland police ultimately found and arrested Salt near I-5 and Marine Drive.

Salt was previously convicted of third-degree theft in August.
Welcome to Can Cans den of decadence.

So begins the newly revamped Paris Theatres debut holiday show, Twas the Night Before Nutcracker  a delightfully indecent 21+ take on the whimsical wintertime classic.

Its an apt way to introduce the historic theater, which, under the ownership of Seattle-based Can Can Productions, has spent the past four years blossoming into Old Towns newest burlesque venue. The transformation was a tricky one, marked by a last-minute construction sprint. (There werent finished floors until 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 17, just an hour before the show was scheduled to open for a small invitation-only audience.)

But by Friday, the night of the Paris Theatres official grand opening, there wasnt a velvet tassel or golden sconce out of place.

The Paris Theatre's grand opening was Friday, November 21, 2025. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

The Paris Theatre's grand opening was Friday, November 21, 2025. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

Squeezed between West Burnside Street and Voodoo Doughnuts iconic pink brick building, the venues debut brought a slice of Old New York to its corner of Old Town Portland  stylish theatergoers dressed to the nines in fur coats, fedoras and feathered hats.

The show itself, though, is admittedly raunchier than a night at the ballet.

Twas the Night Before Nutcracker reimagines the 19th-century classical ballet, following Clara decades after the events of the Nutcracker. In this grown-up version, our protagonist swaps her childhood fever dream for a drunken night of sex, brawls and dance battles.

Still, its everything you love the about the original tale  with a twist.

The music, developed in part by Paris Theatre owner Chris Pink, riffs on Tchaikovskys nostalgic score. Audiences are sure to recognize the familiar melodies of March and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, even as those tunes devolve into more modern remixes.

Theres still a Waltz of the Flowers sequence (albeit more sensual than is traditional) and a Mouse King, decked out in a full mascot head and furry gray bloomers.

'Twas the Night Before Nutcracker is Can Can Production's adult take on the classic Nutcracker tale. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

'Twas the Night Before Nutcracker combined elements of burlesque, dance, aerial and singing. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

Twas the Night Before Nutcracker is more than just burlesque  its an effortless blend of cancan and circus performance, Broadway and ballet. Divided into three acts, there isnt a dull moment in the shows roughly two-hour runtime.

The second act alone features an astonishing silk aerial routine, snappy tap number and passionate cover of Hallelujah sung by the shows emcee.

The cast included on aerialist who performed a number in silks. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

And nearly every scene unveils a striking set of handmade costumes, from supersized pink ball gowns that take up half the stage to shiny tassels affixed to carefully placed pasties. (There doesnt have to be a lot of a costume for it to be impressive.)

The venue also cultivates a dinner theater feel, with waiters clad in black rushing between tables taking orders and delivering platters of circus-themed finger food.

The Paris Theatre offers bites inspired by old time circus concessions. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

The Paris Theatre offers bites inspired by old time circus concessions. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

The Paris Theatre takes a more casual approach to Can Can Productions typical culinary feats  whipping up a menu of upscale carnival concessions from behind the kitchens red curtains. Theres the Popping Good Time, a sticky, savory take on classic kettle corn, plus trays of bao buns, spring rolls and a range of cheese and charcuterie options.

And because no true night out is complete without a drink or two, theres also a full bar stocked with wine, beer, champagne, spirit-free drinks and more than a dozen house cocktails.

So, make like Clara and drink up.

IF YOU GO: Twas the Night Before Nutcrackerwill run at The Paris Theatre, 6 S.W. Third Ave., through Jan. 11. Tickets range from $59 to $99 and can be purchased online. Shows are currently scheduled for 6:30 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with the occasional 9:30 p.m. performance. Check the website for up-to-date showtimes.
The Willamette Valley Visitors Association has kicked off its eighth annual Ornament Hunt, hiding 200 locally crafted wooden ornaments along non-wilderness trails in the Willamette National Forest. This years ornament features a Pacific tree frog and seasonal mushrooms, highlighting the regions forest biodiversity.

Beginning Nov. 21, hikers can search trails in the Detroit, Sweet Home, McKenzie River and Middle Fork ranger districts. Anyone who finds an ornament can register it online for a chance to win a two-day getaway in the Willamette Valley.

Organizers remind hikers to stay on marked trails, where all ornaments are hidden, and to follow Leave No Trace principles while exploring. More experienced hikers can venture farther down the paths, leaving accessible ornaments for beginners. Participants are also asked to take only one ornament per household so more people have a chance to find one.

For those who dont find an ornament on the trail, additional ones are available for purchase at visitor centers in Salem, Albany and Corvallis, as well as online in limited quantities. Proceeds benefit Cascade Volunteers, a nonprofit that supports trail keepers and maintenance efforts throughout the forest.

Trail information, accessibility guides and clues will be posted throughout December at willamettevalley.org/ornament and on social media accounts @gowillamettevalley and @willametteNF.

The Oregonian/OregonLive receives support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to bring readers stories on religion, faith and cultural connections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive is solely responsible for all content.
BANGKOK, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's exports grew for a 16th straight month in October, driven by demand for electronics and automotive products, consistent with an ongoing expansion in global manufacturing activity, official data showed on Tuesday.

Exports, a key driver of the Southeast Asian country's economic growth, expanded 5.7 percent year-on-year last month to 28.84 billion U.S. dollars, decelerating from a 19 percent jump in September and marking the softest pace since last September, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Industrial shipments increased 8.8 percent, indicating the 19th successive month of growth, fueled by strong expansion in sales of computers, electrical switchboards and control panels, and gems and jewelry.

Meanwhile, exports of agricultural products declined 14.6 percent, and agro-industrial shipments rose 6.2 percent.

The data also indicated that imports surged 16.3 percent from a year earlier to 32.27 billion dollars in October, resulting in a trade deficit of 3.44 billion dollars.

For the first 10 months of 2025, exports climbed 13 percent to 282.98 billion dollars, while imports picked up 12.4 percent to 286.85 billion dollars, yielding a trade deficit of 3.87 billion dollars.

Thai exports are expected to remain positive, albeit at a slower pace in the remaining months of the year, supported by strong global demand for digital technology products and sustained demand for processed agricultural and food products, the ministry said in a statement.

Looking forward, the ministry noted that it will continue to monitor risks, which include potential appreciation of the baht currency toward year-end and a possible drop in domestic farm output stemming from flooding. 
Letter writer Lydia Kiesling claims that the lawsuit filed by a Glencoe Elementary school parent is just an opportunity to further the racist politics of the Trump administration, (Readers respond: Lawsuit doesnt represent Glencoes values, Nov. 2).

There is a racist policy here, but not one imposed by President Donald Trump. It is the Portland School Board that automatically categorizes Black, Hispanic, Pacific Islander and Native American students as historically underserved in its determination of how funds are distributed at K-8 schools.

The result of the PPS equity funding policy is a wide variance in operating support per school. The most well-funded elementary school, Rosa Parks, had a student-to-employee ratio of 4.1:1 last year. The ratio at Glencoe was 12.6:1. The least-funded school, Richmond, had a ratio of 14.4:1.

Worse yet, the equity dollars are having no effect on academic performance. At Rosa Parks, the number of students who were deemed proficient on state math exams in 2023-24 equaled only 14%, compared with 65% at Glencoe.

Oregon law prohibits discrimination in public education on the basis of race, including practices that result in unreasonable disparate treatment. The board should stop using race as a criterion in its equity funding policy.

John A. Charles, Jr., Portland

Charles is president and CEO of the Cascade Policy Institute.

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
Emergency communications dispatcher Holly Campbell and Solomon Florea, who rescued a 38-year-old boater who fell into the Columbia River on Nov. 16. The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office honored them on Nov. 24. Mike Rogoway/The Oregonian

Solomon Florea has lived in a houseboat on the Columbia River for about two decades and has become grimly attuned to dangers on the water. Florea spots a drowning victim on the water every few years, he said, and feared thats what had happened last week when he saw a man 100 yards out, bobbing next to an empty sailboat.

Grabbing his kayak and a life preserver, Florea rushed out and discovered the man was still alive  but his strength was fading in the frigid waters. He pulled him to shore on Hayden Island, west of Jantzen Beach, and used the mans phone to call 911.

I was going to try and get him over to my house, but, you know, hes in pretty bad shape, Florea, 46, told emergency dispatcher Holly Campbell in that 911 call. Florea and the boater had landed on a stretch of beach away from any roads, so Campbell summoned boats from Portland Fire & Rescue and the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office to retrieve them and rush the boater to the hospital.

Hes very scared, Florea told Campbell, as the rescue boats approached on that chilly afternoon of Nov. 16.

Very lucky that you were there for him, she replied on the 911 call. It would have had a different, different situation otherwise.

The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office presented Solomon Florea with its commemorative coin on Monday, Nov. 24, in recognition of Florea's rescue of a boater who fell into the Columbia River earlier in the week. The coin is star on the front and Multnomah Falls on the back. The sheriff presents the coin to law enforcement and community members for honorable service. Mike Rogoway/The Oreognian

The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office honored both Florea and Campbell on Monday, crediting them with prompt, calm and deliberate actions that saved the life of the 38-year-old man who fell into the Columbia. Authorities didnt release that mans name but said he was in good condition after leaving the hospital.

This is one of those rare moments where courage, calm thinking and strong training all aligned. And it was a moment that brought two heroes together, Sheriff Nicole Morrisey ODonnell said at Mondays ceremony at the sheriffs River Patrol Unit headquarters in Northeast Portland.

The sheriffs office said the river water was just 57 degrees on the Sunday afternoon when the boater fell into the Columbia. They said he was wearing a flotation device and had a whistle and phone with him in the water, all of which contributed to his successful rescue.

Im just there doing what I would do as a proper decent human, Florea said Monday. Just calming him down, you know, and making sure that he knows that he was not alone.
After a wildland firefighter was injured cutting down a tree for the Oregon state Capitol, Weyerhaeuser donated a replacement. Crews installed the noble fir on Friday. Oregon state Capitol

Oregon wildland fire supervisor Dana Turner suffered serious injuries last week when a crew was cutting down a 70-foot noble fir that had been destined to be the state Capitols Christmas tree.

Something went awry during the cutting on Nov. 17, in what a friend described as a freak accident in an online fundraising campaign. The post said a Life Flight aircraft flew Turner to a hospital with a crushed femur, lower back trauma and facial injuries and reported that she had undergone surgery to begin her recovery.

The Oregon Department of Forestry said Monday that Turner is doing well and it will provide her with whatever support it can.

The forestry department declined to comment on what went wrong and said it is beginning an investigation into the incident. It said the tree was cut by the South Fork Forest Camp, which consists of department employees and people working on forest crews while in state custody.

All crew members pass a national qualification course for saw training and tree cutting, according to Joy Krawczyk, the departments spokesperson.

The South Fork crews routinely remove hazardous and downed trees from state forest roads, campgrounds, and trails, Krawczyk said.

This was the first time since 2019 that the Department of Forestry had cut down a Christmas tree for the Capitol, according to Krawczyk. That duty stopped during the pandemic and during renovations at the Capitol building, she said.

The tree that decorates the Capitol rotunda typically comes from state forestland, Krawczyk said. But the tree that injured Turner will not be going to the state Capitol, she said.

Instead, timberland and forest products giant Weyerhaeuser has donated a noble fir for the Capitol to use in its place.

This is the first year since 2019 that the facility plans to host its Holidays at the Capitol program. Stacy Nalley, public outreach coordinator for the Oregon Legislature, said the program typically attracts 10,000 people. She said the Capitol has scheduled 75 groups to perform between Dec. 2 and 23.
The Rowena fire ignited near The Dalles in June and burned more than 3,600 acres, 50 homes and 91 structures. Fedor Zarkhin

Oregons U.S. senators are urging their peers on a powerful budgeting committee to send emergency funding to Oregon and other states where national lands and parks were recently burned by wildfires.

More than a million acres of federal land burned across the West this summer, including thousands of acres of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area straddling Oregon and Washington in the Rowena and Burdoin fires.

While state, tribal and private lands are eligible for disaster aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, federal land managed by natural resource agencies are not. Officials at the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have to seek congressional help to finance recovery efforts.

In light of this, Oregons U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, both Democrats, joined eight Democratic senators from Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, California and Nevada in writing Monday to the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee asking for federal funding. The letter reminded the chairs that Congress has approved similar funding in prior years.

President Donald Trump has in recent months threatened to withhold disaster aid from states led by Democrats and has discussed eliminating FEMA altogether. The agencys leader resigned Nov. 17 after six months on the job.

Ensuring that federal lands are restored after wildfires is a responsibility to our shared, national heritage, the senators wrote to Sens. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, and Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington.

They asked that any emergency disaster appropriations bills drafted before the end of the year include additional money to natural resource agencies to help pay for the removal of hazard trees, road and bridge assessments, replacing burned structures and repairing trails.

The Rowena fire ignited near The Dalles in June and burned more than 3,600 acres, 50 homes and 91 structures. On the Washington side of the river, the Burdoin Fire in July ignited near Lyle and burned 14 homes, 80 structures and more than 10,000 acres.

Besides the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, other spots listed as in need of help for wildfire recovery are the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the Kaibab National Forest in Arizona, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado, Joshua Tree National Park in California and Gila National Forest in New Mexico.

They said repairing the damage is vital for the safety of visitors to those lands and the economies that rely on them.

Just as our forests and parks require restoration, so too do the surrounding counties and communities that bear the economic and infrastructure impacts of these disasters; their recovery is inseparable from that of the federal lands themselves, they wrote.

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, established in 1986, is the largest national scenic area in the U.S. It spans 85 miles from Troutdale to the Deschutes River and encompasses 13 communities and a patchwork of state, federal, private and tribal lands.

More than 3 million people visit the area each year, according to the Columbia River Gorge Commission.

-- Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle

The Oregon Capital Chronicle, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy.
When it comes to the holidays, the best events are found in small towns going hard.

Thats according to Peak Northwest podcast host Jamie Hale, who highlighted his favorite holiday events around the region on this episode from the archives.

Generative AI was used to summarize a recent episode of the Peak Northwest podcast. This story was reviewed and edited by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

While many communities have the standard tree lighting ceremonies and light displays, certain small towns across Oregon and Washington are creating immersive, over-the-top holiday experiences that rival anything youd find in a major city.

The gazebo at Front Street Park is illuminated in downtown Leavenworth, Washington. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Take Leavenworth, Washington. This Bavarian-themed town in the Cascade Mountains transforms into what theyve dubbed Christmas Town from Nov. 28 to Dec. 24. The town goes all-in on the holiday spirit with choirs, bands and carolers, Hale said, plus a downtown village illuminated with lights and a gingerbread house exhibition. The backdrop of snow-capped mountains behind the Bavarian architecture creates a storybook setting thats hard to beat.

But this fully immersive experience comes with crowds. Co-host Vickie Connor warned that accommodations book up quickly: Most hotels know that people are traveling to experience Christmas Town, so again, need to book this early. In fact, if youre reading this now, it might already be too late for this years festivities.

Holiday Lights at Shore Acres fills the state park with more than 325,000 LED lights. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

For a less crowded but equally magical experience, consider Jacksonville, Oregons Victorian Christmas celebration. Hale highlighted this as a great example of small town going hard. The towns 19th-century architecture  a remnant of its gold mining days  provides the perfect backdrop for a holiday celebration that includes trolley tours and visits not from Santa but from Father Christmas.

The podcast episode highlighted other fascinating holiday experiences, from Shore Acres State Parks ocean-themed light display on the Oregon coast to Sun Rivers Grand Illumination with its fireworks show. Even the town of Bremerton, Washington, gets a mention for its Krampusnacht celebration featuring the Alpine folklore character that serves as an anti-Santa Claus.

These small towns demonstrate that sometimes the most memorable holiday experiences happen in unexpected places. As Hale observed about holiday gatherings, they happen when people in this season of darkness all gather together like moths to the light, creating community together.

If youre looking to make the most of this holiday season, consider venturing beyond the city limits. These small towns going hard just might offer the festive magic youre seeking.

Listen to the full episode here:

Subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLives travel and outdoors podcast Peak Northwest on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Hosts Jamie Hale and Chiara Profenna take you to some of the greatest destinations in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Check out more Peak Northwest episodes below.
Kotek had announced she would send $5 million in state funds toward the states anti-hunger organizations, plus an additional $1 million to Oregons nine federally recognized tribes. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

As the historic federal shutdown threatened 757,000 Oregonians monthly food assistance, a group of donors gave more than $6 million to Oregon food banks, pantries and charities, Gov. Tina Kotek said Monday.

The Oregon Disaster Funders Network, a philanthropic group first convened to respond to destructive 2020 Labor Day megafires, answered the governors call for help after she declared a food emergency in late October in response to an impending lapse of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits for Oregonians.

Kotek had announced she would send $5 million in state funds toward the states anti-hunger organizations, plus an additional $1 million to Oregons nine federally recognized tribes. The funders network subsequently matched the state commitment, a press release from the governors office said.

Kristin Kelley Monahan, manager with the funders network, said contributors to the effort include the Roundhouse Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, PGE Foundation, Lora and Martin Kelley Family Foundation, United Way of Jackson County, The Ford Family Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust and Marie Lamfrom Charitable Trust. Others opted to remain anonymous, Monahan said by email.

The organizations are still seeking additional donations for the match, Monahan said, so the number is still growing.

Even with the restoration of SNAP benefits, the scramble to keep low-income Oregonians fed in the federal shutdown exposed holes in Oregons social safety net, Kotek said in the news release.

We are all going above and beyond to help fill those gaps, the governor said. The momentum we have built to help feed people in Oregon isnt going away. Im grateful to every donor, volunteer, and community partner who has answered the call to feed their neighbors.
Nike co-founder Phil Knight is dropping big money to help get Republicans elected in Oregon. Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Nike co-founder Phil Knight has contributed $3 million to help Republicans get elected in Oregon.

Knight made the donation Oct. 22 to the Bring Balance to Salem PAC, which has aimed to elect Republicans to the Oregon Legislature, campaign finance records show. The donation was disclosed Friday in accordance with campaign finance rules.

It is the single largest donation Knight has made to an Oregon candidate or political action committee, according to campaign finance records. Willamette Week was the first to report on the donation Monday.

With Knights donation, the political action committee now has $3.93 million in cash on hand.

Knight has been making large contributions to the Bring Balance to Salem PAC since 2022, donating a total of $2 million each year from 2022 to 2024 in an effort to reduce Democratic control over Oregons Legislature.

Democrats currently hold supermajorities in both legislative chambers, with a 18-12 majority in the Senate and 37-23 majority in the House. With a three-fifths majority in both chambers, Democrats can push through new taxes or increase existing ones without Republican support.

In 2022, Knight also contributed a total of $3.75 million over several months to former Democratic state Sen. Betsy Johnson, who was running for governor as a non-affiliated candidate. He then pivoted late in the race and contributed a total of $1.5 million to now-state Sen. Christine Drazan, a Republican from Canby. Drazan and Johnson lost to Democrat Tina Kotek, who was elected governor.

Drazan plans to challenge Kotek for governor again in 2026.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and his wife, Nancy Bass Wyden, arrive for a state dinner at the White House in 2015. AP

Nancy Bass Wyden, owner of New York Citys The Strand bookstore and wife of Democratic U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, has filed a new suit in her dispute with the estate of a former assistant who died by suicide after claiming the couples children harassed him and that Bass Wyden failed to stop it.

In her suit filed in October in New York lower court, Bass Wyden makes her own extraordinary claims, alleging that the former assistant, Brandon OBrien, stole more than $600,000 in money and clothes from her, as well as books from The Strand, and that OBriens husband helped him do it.

The dueling lawsuits paint two very different pictures of OBriens time with Bass Wyden starting in June 2022.

Thomas Maltezos, OBriens husband, claims in his September suit that the Wydens children sexually harassed OBrien and used homophobic slurs against him. When OBrien raised these concerns with the senator and his wife, they took no corrective action, Maltezos alleges. He said his husband was forced to quit and that Bass Wyden then falsely accused OBrien of stealing.

OBrien ultimately took his own life as a result of the severe emotional distress he endured, during and after his employment with the Wydens, Maltezos claims.

Bass Wyden has maintained instead that she was the unwitting victim of years of calculated theft by OBrien, who quit shortly after she confronted him in September 2024 about a fraudulent check.

Bass Wydens lawsuit claims OBrien started stealing from her just months after he was hired in 2022. His job included shopping for Bass Wydens family and taking care of her children, her lawsuit says  and he had access to her Amazon account, credit card, home and personal email accounts to do so.

Her lawyers allege OBrien wrote himself weekly checks of up to $7,000 out of Bass Wydens personal accounts, for a total of almost $585,000, and authorized the checks with a signature stamp he had encouraged her to purchase. He then deleted the emails alerting her to the transactions, her lawsuit says.

She had no knowledge of this thievery when it occurred, the lawsuit says, but confronted him last year when she spotted a $6,500 check he wasnt authorized to write. OBrien claimed the check was issued in error, the lawsuit says, then sent Bass Wyden money to make up for the funds.

The lawsuit alleges that OBrien also used Bass Wydens Saks 5th Avenue credit card to make $36,000 worth of purchases without her consent and used her Amazon points to send himself $42,000 worth of gift cards for places like Nordstrom and Uber Eats.

OBrien later sold some of the Saks purchases on a Poshmark resale account he managed with Maltezos, the suit says. The account also sold books that had disappeared from The Strand and items that Bass Wyden thought were missing from her house, the suit claims.

Bass Wyden filed a police report against OBrien last year, the suit says, but the New York Police Department investigation was called off after OBrien died in May.

Maltezos lawyer in a Monday statement said Bass Wydens claims are baseless retaliation for the earlier suit. His legal team has asked a judge to dismiss Bass Wydens lawsuit, arguing that it does not allege concrete wrongdoing by Maltezos.

Bass Wyden did not respond to requests for comment on the filing, but said in September that Maltezos lawsuit was built on deliberate falsehoods and distortions, and that she would defend herself in court.

Bass Wydens attorneys have asked a court to dismiss Maltezos case and to seal the court documents that detail complaints against the Wydens minor children.
The Department of Homeland Security said Monday that the 17-year-old McMinnville High School student detained by immigration agents last week was arrested because he was obstructing federal officers.

Christian Jimenez, a U.S. citizen, was driving his fathers car Friday during his schools lunch break when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers pulled him over and detained him. His detention sparked an uproar in the McMinnville community, including protests over the weekend and a high school walkout Monday.

Jimenezs brother, Cesar Jimenez, 20, previously told The Oregonian/OregonLive that Christian Jimenez was driving his fathers car with another teenager when they noticed cars following them. Christian Jimenez decided to get on a highway out of town when the cars that had been following him encircled his car.

Neither Christian Jimenez nor his brother could immediately be reached for comment on the federal account of the arrest.

The teen was one of four U.S. citizens detained by ICE agents last week, including two women that the advocacy group Oregon for All said were filming ICE officers.

The Department of Homeland Security posted a statement on X Monday purporting to be a timeline of events leading up to Jimenezs arrest. The post was in response to a post by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley expressing indignation about the high school students detention.

Senator, youre missing the facts, the Department of Homeland Security wrote. This 17-year-old used his vehicle to violently ATTACK ICE and Border Patrol agents.

According to the agency, a Chevy Tahoe was following U.S. Border Patrol agents for several miles in Yamhill County, when a Ford F-150 showed up on the scene and colluded with the Chevy Tahoe to barricade the agents, preventing their movement and obstructing them.

The agents called ICE for backup and arrested the driver of the Chevy Tahoe  20-year-old Isaias Eduardo Soto Elias, a U.S. citizen, for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement officers, the department said in its post on X.

The F-150 left the scene when ICE agents arrived, but other officers tracked it down and arrested the 17-year-old driver, also a U.S. citizen, the agency said. He was also arrested for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement officers, the department wrote.

The Department of Homeland Securitys post on X did not address the detentions of two women, both U.S. citizens, who were allegedly detained Nov. 20 after filming ICE agents.

It is not uncommon for the federal agency to defend its actions by describing the behavior of people it arrests as dangerous.

Last month, ICE agents arrested a U.S. citizen in Gresham after she photographed them. A spokesperson for the federal government accused the woman of colluding with another driver to threaten the agents.

Her reckless and dangerous behavior included driving over a curb and coordinating with another unlicensed vehicle to block and intimidate law enforcement officers, the spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, said in an email.

The woman, Berenice Garcia-Hernandez, said that was 100% not true.
A midcentury daylight ranch with vaulted cedar ceilings and expansive views in Northeast Portlands Argay Terrace neighborhood is listed at $739,000.

The two-level house at 13621 N.E. Fremont Court was built in 1964 by Archie E. Hodges in Holly Hills, the residential and park community he co-developed starting in 1959.

Only two homes with the same type of angled roofs and floor plan were built by Hodges; the other sits on an adjacent lot.

From the start, Holly Hills boasted streamlined dwellings and underground power lines allowing residents to fully appreciate the vistas of Mount St. Helens year-round, said brokers Andrea Young and Christopher Barnes of Windermere Realty Trust, who listed the property.

Daylight ranches on sloped lots maximize outdoor living by spreading across two levels. The main floor and decks offer views while the ground level opens to patios and yards and, in this case, a pool.

A longtime owner of the daylight ranch for sale was Portland school teacher, administrator and principal Lee DeLance. Other owners preserved and restored the oak floors on the main level, as well as two wood-burning brick fireplaces and other original features throughout 2,398 square feet of living space.

The updated kitchen has quartz counters, custom tile backsplashes and high-end appliances, including a Viking gas range and double oven.

Two bedrooms with tongue-and-groove ceilings are on the main level of the house. The lower level with an entrance from the backyard has a family room, the third bedroom, the second bathroom and laundry.

Both of the bathrooms have been updated with quartz countertops, Delta fixtures and custom tile.

With its rich history and distinctive architecture, Barnes said the home appeals to families, midcentury enthusiasts, Argay Terrace appreciators and anyone seeking Mount St. Helens views.

Energy-efficient additions include insulating double-pane windows, a new Rinnai tankless water heater, central air conditioning and new electrical panel.

The 0.18-acre lot has a cedar fence enclosing the backyard.

The homeowners association fee of $58 a month for this property covers the cost of common area landscaping and other shared expenses.

History of the house

The Argay Terrace neighborhood, between the Columbia River and Banfield Expressway, was developed starting in the 1950s. The Parkrose area farmland was owned by the Garre family, who grew fruits and vegetables they delivered to grocery stores.

Argay combines the first names of developers Art Simonson and Gerhardt Gay Stavney, according to the Argay Terrace Neighborhood Association.

Through his research, broker Barnes found Argay Terrace eventually expanded into land used as a nursery that became the Holly Hills residential and park community.

The location of Holly Hills was chosen, Barnes said, because the elevated lots had expansive mountain views. Utilities were installed underground to avoid power lines from obstructing the view.

In 1959, developers Hodges and M. E. (Bernie) Mohnin hired architects at Balzhiser, Seder & Rhodes in Eugene to plan a community owned and operated residential park system, said to be the first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.

The main homebuilders were Hodges, German-Lindstrom and Dave J. Boland. People touring model homes were once greeted by Cleo Maletis of Portland, who was Mrs. America 1957.
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Despite violence triggering more casualties and destruction in Gaza, relief efforts targeting the most vulnerable communities are under way, UN humanitarians said Monday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the reported hostilities in various parts of the Gaza Strip are causing destruction, displacement and casualties among civilians, including children.

"On Saturday, multiple Israeli strikes were reported in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and An Nuseirat," OCHA said. "The strikes came after Israeli ground forces reportedly came under fire in Rafah."

Partners managing displacement sites reported that living conditions are extremely dire. The estimated 214,000 people living in coastal, flood-prone or structurally unsafe areas are among the most vulnerable.

OCHA said the humanitarian community across the strip is working together to get aid to people safely, quickly and with dignity.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the suspension of operations by the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has no impact on the world body's operations because the United Nations never worked with them.

Hundreds of civilians were killed or wounded while attempting to reach the GHF's militarized distribution centers, adjacent to Israeli forces' sites and under armed guard.

The GHF said in a statement that it will not be dissolved and may come back if new humanitarian needs are identified.

OCHA said that as part of its winter preparations, between Thursday and Saturday, partners reached 7,100 families with shelter assistance, including 900 tents, 5,100 tarps and 2,300 blankets.

However, OCHA could only bring 32 trucks with shelter supplies into Gaza between Sunday and Wednesday last week, as Israeli registration requirements for nongovernmental organizations continue to hamper partners' ability to bring in assistance, it said.

The office said that its partners leading the malnutrition response in Gaza reported that they continue to focus on early detection and treatment of acute needs cases.

OCHA said that last week, the UN Children's Fund dispatched 4,000 cartons of ready-to-use therapeutic food, enough to treat the current caseload of 10,000 patients for one month. Total treatment stocks are sufficient to last through March 2026.

Partners leading the health response reported that they managed to access the non-functioning European Hospital in Rafah for the first time since October, to transfer vital equipment to functioning facilities in northern Gaza.

The office said that to help people cope and supplement basic assistance, partners providing cash support reported that since the ceasefire and as of Wednesday, 93,000 families have received cash distributions, with support from more than a dozen partners.

OCHA said UN partners working on emergency telecommunications reported that on Saturday, a team of technicians managed to access the area in northern Gaza near Erez crossing, after Israeli authorities denied previous access attempts, to repair a fiber optic cable that was damaged in early November.

OCHA also called for unimpeded, safe and sustained access throughout Gaza, to reach civilians in need wherever they are, stressing that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be protected. 
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. sued a former top executive Tuesday, alleging that he violated a noncompete agreement when he left the chipmaker and joined Intel.

The dispute comes as Intel attempts to rebuild its manufacturing technology after years of setbacks. Intel is also striving to maintain a strong relationship with TSMC, which produces Intel chips too advanced for the American companys own factories.

Wei-Jen Lo joined TSMC as a vice president in 2004 and retired from its corporate strategy department in July, according to a statement the Taiwanese company issued Tuesday. TSMC claims Lo said he planned to join an academic institution but instead went to Intel, where he took a role as executive vice president.

There is a high probability that Lo uses, leaks, discloses, delivers, or transfers TSMCs trade secrets and confidential information to Intel, thus making legal actions (including claiming damages for breach of contract) necessary, TSMC said in a statement Tuesday.

Intel hasnt announced Los hiring and didnt immediately comment on the lawsuit. He worked for Intel earlier in his career.

Tuesdays litigation highlights the evolving dynamics in the semiconductor industry. Intel was the worlds largest and most advanced chipmaker for many decades but lost that title several years ago after a series of manufacturing setbacks.

TSMC has pushed ahead with more advanced technology and now dominates the industrys leading edge, making chips for Nvidia, Apple, AMD and many others. Its state-of-the-art factories manufacture most of the chips for advanced artificial intelligence.

Intel, meanwhile, has been shut out of the booming AI market. Its playing catchup, developing new manufacturing processes, but has been unable to land big contracts with other chip companies to manufacture those companies chips.

TSMC has been surging, with a market value of $1.5 trillion. Intels market value is just $170 billion, though its stock has recovered somewhat after the Trump administration took a stake in the business last summer.

Intel has eliminated more than 30,000 jobs over the past 15 months, including more than 6,000 in Oregon. It has floated the possibility of abandoning advanced manufacturing altogether if it cannot find clients in the chip industry who want to use Intels factories.

That hinges on whether Intel can demonstrate it is capable of making advanced chips, competitive with TSMCs, and explain why Intel recruited Lo to join the company.
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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Monday that achieving a lasting ceasefire in Gaza is a top priority.

China welcomes the agreement on the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire. However, peace between Palestine and Israel is still far from being achieved, and the suffering of civilians continues, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

China notes with concern that violent clashes persist despite the ceasefire. Israel has reportedly committed over 400 violations of the agreement, resulting in more than 300 civilian deaths in Gaza, he told the Security Council.

"A ceasefire means the complete cessation of all attacks, and should be observed by all parties in good faith. Any incident causing civilian casualties is unacceptable and repeated attacks must not become the new normal in Gaza," said Fu. "China urges all relevant parties, Israel in particular, to fully honor the ceasefire agreement and work toward a truly comprehensive and lasting peace."

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, and humanitarian access continues to face multiple obstacles, he said. "China urges Israel to fully comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, open all crossing points, lift restrictions on humanitarian access, and ensure that the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and other humanitarian agencies can carry out their relief operations."

Any future arrangements on Gaza should be guided by the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine and respect the will of the Palestinian people. The international community must redouble efforts to advance the two-state solution, oppose any unilateral actions that undermine its foundation, and support the early realization of independent Palestinian statehood and its full UN membership, said Fu.

China has consistently and firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights. China will continue to promote an early, comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question, he said. 
Five new vendors have opened inside Central Market York.

Downtown Inc. held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week to mark the opening of the five new businesses.

The new vendors include:

Papas Market

Sweet Roots Juice Co.

Susie Q BBQ

KMTs Eggrolls

Herbal Harmony

Two existing vendors have also expanded:

Sparkle Fire Design Studio

Russys Sweet Treats

Central Market York was built in 1888 and is located at 34 W. Philadelphia St. in York. The market has more than 50 vendors.
The Henry at Klein Mills is located at 2 S. Conifer Drive in Mount Joy Township, near Elizabethtown. Photo provided

A newly constructed apartment community has opened in Lancaster County.

The Henry at Klein Mills is located at 2 S. Conifer Drive in Mount Joy Township, near Elizabethtown.

The first residents began moving into the complex earlier this month.

The apartment community includes 280 apartments. The one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts range from 616 to 1,115 square feet of space.

Apartments include open concept floor plans, soundproofing, spacious closets, stainless steel appliances, in-home washer and dryer, keyless door entry, smart thermostats, and pre-installed high-speed internet."

Garages will be available to rent.

The community includes a resident lounge, fitness center, heated swimming pool, sun deck, dog park, community-wide Wi-Fi, electric vehicle charging, and bike storage.

The complex is owned by South Carolina-based Greystar, which manages and operates more than $300 billion of real estate in more than 250 markets globally. The company was founded in 1993 and has offices throughout North America, Europe, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region.

This community represents our first of what we hope are many investments in the fast-growing Lancaster-Harrisburg area, George Hayward, managing director of development at Greystar, said in a news release.
Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company opened a branch at the Shoppes at Landis Valley, 2343 Oregon Pike in Manheim Township. Photo provided

Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company has expanded into Lancaster County.

The bank opened a branch at the Shoppes at Landis Valley, 2343 Oregon Pike in Manheim Township.

The branch offers a complete range of banking services.

This expansion reflects our commitment to long-term growth and our belief in the strength and potential of this market. We look forward to building strong, lasting relationships with individuals, families, and businesses throughout the region," Gerard Champi, the banks CEO, said in a news release.

The branch opened on Nov. 10, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Banking & Securities.

Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the branch on Nov. 13.

The bank has 40 full-service branches across 15 counties in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, including a location in North Cornwall Township, Lebanon County, which opened in 2019. The bank is based in Lackawanna County.
Two western Pennsylvania men have been arrested and charged in two separate cases with creating AI-generated child pornography.

According to a release from the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals office, Kenneth C. Klink, 62, of Beaver Falls, has been charged with 66 felonies regarding possession of files.

Joshua J. Crockett, 43, of Vestaburg, is charged with 33 felonies for possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material, including one count for an artificially-generated file.

Officials said Klink created images that depicted him sexually abusing children.

Investigators said after receiving tips they discovered the images on both mens electronic devices after getting search warrants.

Both of these cases involved proactive investigations by our agents that uncovered vile materials depicting children being abused, Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a press release. These cases illustrate the horrific side of modern technology, with one defendant sharing files online and the other defendant using A.I. technology to depict himself committing heinous acts.

Six people have been charged thus far with creating AI-generated child pornography since a December 2024 law criminalizing it went into effect, the attorney generals office said.

Both Klink and Crockett have been arraigned. Klink is being held on a $500,000 bail and Crockett is being held on a $750,000 bail.
A Lancaster man pleaded guilty after the fatal shooting of a 38-year-old man in the parking lot of a downtown bar in 2023, prosecutors said.

Terrance McCain Jr. was found guilty of third-degree murder and recklessly endangering another person in the fatal shooting of Edward Gardner on Sept. 30 in a parking lot outside the since-closed Capps Bar in the 900 block of South Duke Street, the Lancaster County district attorneys office said.

Gardner was transported to a hospital, where he died from his injuries, which included a bullet that was lodged in his heart, the DAs office said.

Video footage from outside the bar, as well as a nearby business, showed McCain getting a handgun from his vehicle before arguing with Gardner in the bars parking lot around 1 a.m.

As the argument escalated, McCain approached Gardner, pulled the handgun, and fired it three times, prosecutors said.

Witnesses identified McCain as the shooter. Investigators also identified McCain on social media.

Officers said McCain turned himself in with his attorney to Lancaster police.

The jury returned the verdict after 11 hours of deliberation. McCain is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.
A 46-year-old man was shot and killed at a Philadelphia home on Monday by a family member, police said.

According to NBC10, first responders arrived at a residence along the 2100 block of North 32nd Street at about 12:30 a.m. after getting a report of a shooting.

Once there, they discovered the victim lying on the kitchen floor after having been shot twice in the chest.

He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Witnesses told police that the victim was shot after getting into an argument with a younger man who lived at the home. The younger man then produced a gun and fired four times in front of several family members, including children. He then ran off.

One of the bullets went through a window and hit a home across the street, police said.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told the news outlet that they had the name of the suspect but did not provide any further details.

An handgun and loaded magazine were recovered from the scene. No one else was injured.
This article is made possible through Spotlight PAs collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting. Sign up for Votebeats free newsletters here.

At the Lancaster County Government Center on Friday, 26 clear-plastic bowls sat in front of blue index cards on a table, each card corresponding to a candidate for Mountville Borough tax collector.

Christa Miller, the countys election director, shook a leather-wrapped bottle filled with red, numbered marbles, and tipped it upside down until one of the marbles fell into her hand. Down the line of bowls she went, adding a marble to each and calling out the number. When she got to the 19th bowl, with Keith Tarvins card behind it, she drew the lowest numbered marble, one.

And so it was decided: Tarvin, who wasnt there to witness the process, would be the boroughs next tax collector.

The elaborate production was necessary because Tarvin and the other 25 candidates represented by a container had all gotten the same number of votes in the Nov. 5 municipal election: a single write-in vote.

Under Pennsylvania law, if an election is tied, the contest goes to a process called the casting of lots. This is effectively a game of chance to determine the winner.

Counties use a variety of methods to cast lots, but it typically involves drawing a numbered object  a piece of paper, ping pong ball, playing card, etc.  out of a box or bag. Depending on the county, whichever candidate draws the higher or lower number wins the election.

How often do elections end in a tie?

Tied elections arent as rare as one might think. This year alone, Miller said, Lancaster County had about 150 tied races, 95% of which were for inspectors of elections  a type of polling place worker. Lycoming County featured a tie for a Williamsport City Council race and a 13-way tie in a school director election. Westmoreland County, near Pittsburgh, had hundreds of tied poll worker races.

Data from the Public Interest Legal Foundation, a conservative nonprofit legal group based in Virginia, shows there have been at least 468 tied races in Pennsylvania since 2017, though it cautions the data is not comprehensive.

According to PILF data and current and former election officials, ties are most common for positions at the smallest political subdivisions  precincts, boroughs, school districts, etc. Because of the small number of voters in these jurisdictions, and the fact that often no one files to run for low-profile offices such as poll worker, political party committee member, or tax collector, it often just takes one write-in vote to win, leading to frequent ties.

Most of our ties are multi-way ties, because someone wrote their name down, or their neighbor wrote their name down, Lycoming County Election Director Forrest Lehman said. They wrote their own name down as a lark or someone else wrote it down because they thought it was funny.

That was the case in Lancaster Friday as well. Many candidates were there because they, their spouse, or a friend had written in their name in a blank spot on the ballot.

I had a guy who emailed me this morning and said, I have told my son to never write me in again, Miller said to laughs from the crowd.

In elections for higher office, though, the odds of multiple candidates getting the same number of votes are infinitesimally small. In all of U.S. history, there has never been a tied U.S. Senate race, and no U.S. House races have tied since at least 1898. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of State said they were unaware of a tie having ever happened in a statewide race in Pennsylvania.

An entertaining way to decide elections

The casting of lots can be a festive affair. Jeff Greenburg, a former election director who now works for the government watchdog group Committee of Seventy, said he used to use red, white, and blue drawing bags and tablecloths to make the event feel more patriotic.

Lehman said Lycoming County puts numbered slips of paper in 1-by-2-inch envelopes, which candidates drew out of a holiday-themed tin, hoping to get the lowest number.

In Lancaster, the candidates who showed up for their drawings seemed to get a kick out of the experience. Miller kept the event lighthearted; winners cheered when the lowest number was drawn for them, and losers cursed with a laugh when they did not.

This is as exciting as it gets, Miller joked as she drew marbles for the tax collector race. Sorry its not super exciting.

Daniel Lyons, a resident of Manheim Township, was there because three friends had written him in for inspector of elections. That was apparently enough to tie him with another candidate, Daryll Benn. Miller drew an 11 for Lyons and a two for Benn, meaning Benn was the winner.

I had no idea what the casting of lots was, Lyons said when he received a letter from the county telling him his race was tied and would be decided Friday. But he said the process was interesting to watch, and efficient.

Each race took about a minute or less to decide. Only about 20 races had candidates in attendance Friday, which Miller said is typical. Most candidates dont show up at all.

But even after all the in-person candidates had left, Miller kept shaking her bottle, calling out high and low numbers, determining winners and losers by the flick of the wrist.

Tied elections can be a headache

The casting of lots may seem like just a fun quirk of democracy, but it is also a time- and resource-consuming process for counties. Since a single write-in can win a race, staff have to sort through and record all of the write-in votes. They also have to determine if a candidate is eligible to hold the office, which an out-of-state resident written in by their friend as a joke, or Mickey Mouse, would not be.

Election officials then also have to spend time and money contacting the candidates to let them know about the drawing. (Some decline to participate, as was the case for an additional six candidates in the Mountville tax collector race.) And in the event they win and dont want the office, staff has to get a written acknowledgment of that from the candidate.

Many times the winner is someone who has no interest in holding the office at all, so you have wasted a lot of time and effort, Greenburg said.

Lehman, the Lycoming County elections director, argued the high number of ties in local elections illustrates why write-in reform is so badly needed in this state.

As Greenburg explained, if a candidate wants to run a write-in campaign in the primary to get their name on the November ballot, they need to get as many write-in votes as signatures they would be required to get on a nominating petition. So, for example, if a candidate for judge of election needs 10 signatures to get on the primary ballot, a write-in candidate would need to get at least 10 votes, and more than all the others, to win the primary. But that requirement doesnt exist in the general election, meaning just one write-in vote can be enough to win, or tie, an election.

Creating some threshold for the fall election would help reduce the number of ties, though Greenburg worries that this could make it difficult for anyone to win the smallest, precinct-level races. Another option, Greenburg suggested, would be implementing a policy other states have adopted: requiring write-in candidates to acknowledge ahead of Election Day that they are interested in the office.

Those are two (reforms) that cost no money but would save counties a lot of time and grief, no doubt, he said.

Carter Walker is a reporter for Votebeat in partnership with Spotlight PA. Contact Carter at cwalker@votebeat.org.

BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
Tara Reid arrives at the Zodiac Ball, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at The Houdini Estate in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Actress Tara Reid was recently hospitalized while she was staying at a hotel outside of Chicago.

According to NBC News, an ambulance arrived at a DoubleTree hotel in Rosemont after getting a call about a sick person at 12:39 a.m. Sunday.

Video taken at the scene showed the dazed actress confused and slurring her words as some people tried to get her into a wheelchair. Once paramedics arrived, she was taken to a hospital in a stretcher.

Reid, however, told TMZ that she believed someone drugged her drink.

She told the outlet that she went down to the hotel bar, ordered a glass of wine and then went outside to smoke a cigarette.

When she came back inside, her drink had been covered with a napkin, which she said she didnt put there. She added that after having some of the wine, she went unconscious and didnt wake up until she was in the hospital.

Tara Reid has filed a police report after an incident in which she believes her drink was tampered with, Reids representative said in a statement sent to People. She is cooperating fully with the investigation. Tara is recovering and asks for privacy during this traumatic time. She also urges everyone to be careful, watch your drinks and never leave them unattended, as this can happen to anyone. She will not be making further comments at this stage.

However, police told People that Reid has not filed a report yet.

Reid is best known for playing Vicky Lathum in the American Pie series of movies. Her other notable roles include The Big Lebowski, Josie and the Pussycats, Cruel Intentions and the Sharknado series of TV movies.
ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park in Hershey is mourning the death of one of its animals.

Murphy, a cinnamon black bear, recently died from complications related to major gastrointestinal issues.

The absence of our special bear has left a hole in our hearts. He was truly one of a kind and will be deeply missed by our team and everyone who witnessed his exceptional personality and gentle spirit, ZooAmerica shared in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

The zoo said after all veterinary options were exhausted, they made the difficult decision to euthanize Murphy, despite extensive treatment efforts.

Murphy lived at ZooAmerica for nine years after arriving in 2016 from Montana Fish and Game. After the bear and his mother were found approaching peoples porches looking for food, Fish and Game determined Murphy was too reliant on humans and would not survive in the wild.

ZooAmerica said Murphy was gentle with people but rambunctious around other bears, and always an instigator who liked to play-fight with the other bears.

The park said he enjoyed spending time and testing the patience of his companions.

Older bears, Butch and Sally, tried to keep to themselves, but Murphy would test their patience. He would hang around a bit too close at times, especially to 600-pound Butch. This young, confident bear was determined to include everyone in his antics.

The zoo called Murphy the perfect companion to the zoos remaining bear Chief, who was one year older.

They spent their days wrestling on land and splashing each other in the pool. There was often a silent battle over who would spend time in the natural cave vs. the large tube, the zoo said.

ZooAmerica Spokeswoman Amanda Polyak said the park hopes to introduce a new bear in the spring to join Chief, who will spend winter in a light hibernation.

We are committed to providing homes for bears that can no longer remain in the wild, often due to human interference, she said.

ZooAmerica is home to more than 200 animals native to the continent of North America. The 11-acre park also includes native plants and landscaping and is located near Hersheypark.
Vanessa Rodriguez washes the necks of the carcasses with 180 degree water before they go into thermal heat treatment during a tour of the Tyson meat packing plant in Lexington, Neb., Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. (Kent Sievers/Omaha World-Herald via AP) AP

By JOSH FUNK, AP Business Writer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Tyson Foods decision to close a beef plant that employs nearly one-third of the residents of Lexington, Nebraska, could devastate the small city and undermine the profits of ranchers nationwide.

Closing a single slaughterhouse might not seem significant, but the Lexington plant employs roughly 3,200 people in the city of 11,000 and has the capacity to slaughter some 5,000 head of cattle a day. Tyson also plans to cut one of the two shifts at a plant in Amarillo, Texas, and eliminate 1,700 jobs there. Together those two moves will reduce beef processing capacity nationwide by 7-9%.

Consumers may not see prices change much at the grocery store over the next six months because all the cattle that are now being prepared for slaughter will still be processed, potentially just at a different plant. But in the long run, beef prices may continue to climb even higher than the current record highs  caused by a variety of factors from drought to tariffs  unless American ranchers decide to raise more cattle, which they have little incentive to do.

An increase in beef imports from Brazil, like President Donald Trump encouraged last week by slashing tariffs on the South American country, may help insulate consumers while ranchers and feedlots struggle with high costs and falling prices.

Heres what we know about the impact of the plant closure and the changing tariffs:

A gut punch to the community

Clay Patton, vice president of the Lexington-area Chamber of Commerce, said Monday that Tysons announcement Friday felt like a gut punch to the community in the Platte River Valley that serves as a key link in the agricultural production chain.

When it opened in 1990, the Lexington plant that Tyson later acquired revitalized and remade the formerly dwindling town by attracting thousands of immigrants to work there and nearly doubling the population.

When the plant closes in January, the ripple effects will be felt throughout the community, undermining many first-generation business owners and the investment in new housing, Patton said. Tyson said it will offer Lexington workers the chance to move to take open jobs at one of its other plants if they are willing to uproot their families for jobs hundreds of miles away.

A worker uses a high-pressure jet of water in the second part of the exterior washing process at the Tyson meat packing plant in Lexington, Neb., Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. (Kent Sievers/Omaha World-Herald via AP) AP

Im hopeful that we can come through this and well actually become better on the other side of it, Patton said.

Elmer Armijo was struck by how established the community when he moved to Lexington last summer to lead First United Methodist Church. He described solid job security, good schools and health care systems and urban development  all in doubt now.

People are completely worried, Armijo said. The economy in Lexington is based in Tyson.

Many local churches, Armijos included, are already offering counseling, food pantries and gas vouchers for community members.

Cattle prices falling in response

The prospect of losing a major buyer for cattle and increasing imports from Brazil, which already accounted for 24% of the beef brought into the country this year, only adds to doubts about how profitable the U.S. cattle business might be over the next several years, making it less likely that American ranchers will commit to raising more animals.

Theres a just a lack of confidence in the industry right now. And producers are unwilling to make the investment to rebuild, said Bill Bullard, president of Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America.

Boosting imports from Brazil has the potential to affect the market  much more than Trumps suggestion to increase imports from Argentina  since the country sends more beef to America than any other. But for steak lovers, the sky-high price of the cut isnt likely to be affected regardless, as most imports are lean trimmings that get mixed into ground beef.

Kansas State University agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor said its hard to predict whether imports will continue to account for roughly 20% of the U.S. beef supply next year. He pointed out that Trumps tariffs have changed several times since they were announced in the spring and could quickly change again.

The only constant in the equation has been that consumers have continued to buy beef even as prices soar. Tonsor said on average Americans will consume 59 pounds (27 kilograms) of beef per person this year.

Tyson faces continued losses in the beef business

There has long been excess capacity in the meat business nationwide, meaning the nations slaughterhouses could handle many more cattle than they are processing. That has only been made worse in recent years as the government has encouraged more smaller companies to open slaughterhouses to compete with Tyson and the other giants that dominate the beef business.

A worker on the line uses a steam vacuum on any incision areas on the carcass during a tour of the Tyson meat packing plant in Lexington, Neb., Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. (Kent Sievers/Omaha World-Herald via AP) AP

Tyson expects to lose more than $600 million on beef production this year after already reporting $720 million of red ink in beef over the past two years.

Tonsor said it was inevitable that at least one beef plant would close. Afterward, Tysons remaining plants will be able to operate more efficiently at closer to full capacity.

Ernie Goss, an economist at Creighton University in Omaha, said the Lexington plant likely wasnt measuring up in the industry increasingly reliant on technological advancements that enhance productivity.

Its very difficult to renovate or make the old plant fit the new world, said Goss, who completed an impact study for a new Sustainable Beef plant. The Lexington facility just wasnt competitive right now in todays environment in terms of output per worker.

Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut contributed to this report from Des Moines, Iowa.
MANILA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The number of working children in the Philippines fell to an estimated 861,000 in 2024, continuing a steady annual decline in recent years, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released Tuesday.

Working children aged 5 to 17 now account for 2.7 percent of the total child population in 2024, down from 3.5 percent in 2023 and 4.7 percent in 2022.

Boys continued to make up the majority of young workers, accounting for 61.8 percent, or 532,000, of those employed in 2024. Girls comprised 329,000, or 38.2 percent.

Children aged 15 to 17 accounted for the largest share of the workforce, making up 74.5 percent of all working minors in 2024, up from 72.5 percent in 2023 and 59.7 percent in 2022.

The services sector has consistently employed the highest percentage of working children aged 5 to 17 years over the past three years.

The PSA also reported a continued decline in child labor, defined as hazardous work or employment exceeding legal working hours for minors.

The number of children engaged in child labor fell sharply to 509,000 in 2024 from 678,000 in 2023 and 828,000 in 2022. 
The bell tower of Old Main on Penn State's campus. Melissa Bevan Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, of which the Centre Daily Times is a member, said in this situation, Penn State is a government actor and any government restriction on speech raises a red flag from a constitutional perspective. Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PA

By Halie Kines, Centre Daily Times (TNS)

The Penn State trustees recently updated bylaws that limit board members press interactions raise serious First Amendment concerns, according to four experts the Centre Daily Times talked with.

The board approved an update to its bylaws earlier this month that included requiring trustees to coordinate all media and press interactions relating to matters that have come before the Board with the Board Office in advance and shall respect guidance regarding such interactions that might be conveyed by that Office or the Office of Strategic Communications. It updates a rule put in place last year that said trustees had to coordinate media interviews and press statements with the board office, who then could work with strategic communications.

The further limits on how trustees interact with the media raised eyebrows among First Amendment experts, who said the new bylaws raise serious constitutional concerns and potentially restrict the trustees speech.

Melissa Bevan Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, of which the Centre Daily Times is a member, said in this situation, Penn State is a government actor and any government restriction on speech raises a red flag from a constitutional perspective.

Board members are not university employees, and they have a constitutional right to speak about matters of public concern. Moreover, their constituents, the press and the broader community have a right to receive information without undue government interference, she said in an email. The policy restricts the free flow of information, and it could chill protected speech about matters of public concern, both of which create potential liability for the university and work against the public interest.

David Cuillier, director of the Freedom of Information Project for the Brechner Center for the Advancement of the First Amendment at the University of Florida, said its one thing for the board to recommend that trustees be clear that they are speaking for themselves and not on behalf of the board. But saying they shall get clearance from the universitys public relations team is another thing, he said.

Amy Kristin Sanders, the John and Ann Curley Chair in First Amendment Studies at Penn State, said these changes are a variation of what is called a one board rule. It has come up more recently among government entities that Sanders thinks are trying to control what board members or government employees say.

The board of trustees is made up of 36 voting members and two ex-officio non-voting members, the university president and the governor of Pennsylvania. Nine of them are elected by Penn State alumni. A real challenge in this specific case, Sanders said, is that the elected members have an obligation to speak for the constituencies who elected them.

This idea that a board member should have to clear all media appearances, should have to run any statements by some kind of official entity overseeing the board is problematic because it inhibits their ability to essentially speak any kind of dissenting viewpoint to the constituencies who elected them, Sanders said.

Anthony Lubrano, an alumni-elected trustee, was the sole vote of opposition against the bylaw changes. During the Nov. 7 meeting, he said the changes dont align with best practice, especially limiting the trustees speech more than it already has been limited. He previously voted against bylaw changes in 2024 that gave existing board members more say over who can be on the ballot for alumni-elected seats. When can Penn State trustees express their viewpoints?

The bylaws state that while debate of the trustees views is fully embraced during board meetings, outside communication of a board members views can be misconstrued to be an expression of the entire boards position. Therefore, trustees should make diligent efforts to avoid such misunderstandings.

Tabitha Oman, vice president and general counsel at Penn State, said the line was added so the bylaws clearly state trustees are encouraged to debate their views during a board meeting.

She emphasized that there are no limitations on debating views during a board meeting based on if members of the public or press are present.

Cuillier applauded them for fostering free discussion but said that still doesnt mean they can restrict what a trustee says outside of a meeting.

Everyone in this country  including trustees  have a right to express their viewpoints to their family, neighbors, reporters, and the press. Muzzles are for dogs, not people, he said in an email to the CDT.

The board of trustees meets in public routinely throughout the year to discuss and take action on university business, like high-profile hires, approving large projects on campus, setting the tuition rates and reviewing and approving the budget. But the boards past practices point to a lack of transparency and openness with the public, and it has even been sued for alleged violations of the states Sunshine Act.

Its a bit ironic actually, that they included the line about speaking your opinions in meetings, given the boards history of having essentially closed-door meetings or executive sessions, as they call them, and then coming into public meetings and simply voting through the agenda, Sanders said. That suggests to me that they really want no discussion, no input, no commentary, to take place during the public versions of the meetings. Thats been sort of their history and reputation. This new bylaw update really just seems to be an extension of that allergy to transparency that theyre known for.

There is a notable trend toward government secrecy across all levels of government in the United States right now, she said, and these bylaw changes could be part of that trend. Penn State has been leading that trend toward secrecy for decades, Sanders said.

But ultimately, she thinks the desire to silence dissent and keep embarrassing topics from coming up in public is likely the driving force behind the change in bylaws. The university is facing many lawsuits currently, she said, and theres been a lot of controversy related to former trustee Barry Fenchaks removal from the board and his push for transparency. Would the bylaws hold up if legally challenged?

Fenchak previously filed a lawsuit against the university that alleged the trustees adopted unconstitutional bylaws to silence dissent and unfairly targeted him for his critical questions. Centre County Judge Brian Marshall found the governing rules represent a right to self-governance. In August he dismissed Fenchaks lawsuit with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.

Fenchak and his attorneys took particular issue with the requirement that trustees support majority board decisions, characterizing it as a draconian gag order. Marshall said that section of the boards bylaws is undoubtedly a restriction on the speech of Trustees. And while the restriction is seemingly inconsistent with the state constitutions broad guarantee of free speech, Marshall said the right is not absolute.

Sanders and Cuillier still see potential for a successful First Amendment challenge to the bylaws, with Cuillier pointing to Allegheny County, which was sued in 2023 for a gag policy on its employees. The county ended up settling, likely in anticipation of losing, he said.

Sanders said the bylaws can be viewed two ways. It can be viewed as a prior restraint, or an unlawful governmental effort to silence someones speech before they speak. That alone will have a very serious chilling effect on what the trustees will feel comfortable speaking about, she said.

But what remains to be seen is whether this could be considered a content-based restriction on speech.

It will be interesting to see this play out, and to see  what happens to any trustees who do choose to speak without getting approval, or how its enforced against trustees, and whether they single out certain trustees who tend to be more vocal and sort of chastise them for their speech, as opposed to chastising other trustees who may be more vocal, but who sort of told the party line about Penn State, Sanders said. Either one of those situations could cause Penn State some legal headaches under the First Amendment.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning about the lithium-ion batteries for Rad Power Bikes e-bikes. The commission said the batteries can unexpectedly ignite or explode even when not charging or not in use. Provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Editors note: This story has been updated to include further comment from Rad Power Bikes submitted via email.

A federal safety agency has issued a warning about a brand of e-bike batteries that can ignite and explode.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the lithium-ion batteries for Rad Power Bikes e-bikes can unexpectedly ignite and explode, posing a fire hazard to consumers, especially when the battery or the harness has been exposed to water and debris.

The batteries in question have the model numbers RP-1304 and HL-RP-S1304.

The CPSC said it is aware of 31 reports of fire, including 12 reports of property damage totaling approximately $734,500. Some of these incidents occurred when the battery was not charging, not in use and in storage.

The commission said owners should remove the batteries from the bikes and dispose of them according to local hazardous waste procedures. Owners should not sell the batteries or give them away.

The importer, Rad Power Bikes of Seattle, Washington, has refused to agree to an acceptable recall. Given its financial situation, Rad Power Bikes has indicated to CPSC that it is unable to offer replacement batteries or refunds to all consumers, CPSC said.

The batteries were sold with the following Rad Power Bikes e-bike models and as replacement batteries: RadWagon 4, RadCity HS 4, RadRover High Step 5, RadCity Step Thru 3, RadRover Step Thru 1, RadRunner 2, RadRunner 1, RadRunner Plus and RadExpand 5.

The battery model number (HL-RP-S1304 or RP-1304) is printed on a label on the back or rear of the battery.

The batteries were sold on RadPowerBikes.com and at Best Buy stores and independent bike shops nationwide for about $550 as replacement batteries or between $1,500 and $2,000 when sold with e-bikes.

The batteries were manufactured in China.

Rad Power Bikes included a statement with the CPSCs warning.

Rads Safe Shield batteries and semi-integrated batteries are not subject to the agencys statement. Rad had the batteries re-tested by third-party labs as part of this investigation; the batteries passed these tests again.

Nonetheless, in an effort to partner with the CPSC, Rad proposed multiple solutions to the agency in good faith. Rad informed the agency that its demand to replace all batteries, regardless of condition, would immediately put Rad out of business, which would be of no benefit to our riders.

Rad is disappointed that it could not reach a resolution that best serves our riders and the industry at large. Rad reminds its customers to inspect batteries before use or charging and immediately stop using batteries that show signs of damage, water ingress, or corrosion, and to contact Rad so we can support our riders.

In an email statement to PennLive, Rad Power Bikes said:

The reported 31 incidents are from 100,000+ batteries, a fraction of a percent of total batteries sold. In addition, the CPSCs statement does not apply to all Rad batteries, notably not our Safe Shield or semi-integrated batteries.

Reputable, independent third-party labs tested Rads batteries, both as part of our typical product testing and again during the CPSC investigation, and confirmed compliance with the highest industry standards. Our understanding is that the CPSC does not dispute the conclusions of these tests. It is also our understanding that the battery itself was not independently examined per industry-accepted test standards.

Rad Power Bikes firmly stands behind our batteries and our reputation as leaders in the ebike industry, and strongly disagrees with the CPSCs characterization of certain Rad batteries as defective or unsafe.

Also, The incident rate associated with the batteries in the CPSCs notice is a fraction of one percent. While that number is low, we know even one incident is one too many, and we are heartbroken by any report involving our products.

It is also widely understood that all lithium-ion batteries  whether in e-bikes, e-scooters, laptops, or power tools  can pose a fire risk if damaged, improperly charged, exposed to excess moisture, subjected to extreme temperatures or improper modifications to the electrical components, all of which Rad repeatedly advises against in user manuals and customer safety guides. Contrary to the CPSCs statement, mere exposure to water and debris does not create a hazard; rather, significant water exposure, as warned against in our manuals, can pose a hazard."
A man from Pennsylvania was found in a Wawa gas station in Orlando, Florida, unable to remember his identity. Now, his ex-wife is asking for help to piece his life back together.

On Sept. 8, Darrell Powell, originally from Middletown, was found unconscious in the stores bathroom and taken to the emergency room, according to a GoFundMe posted by his ex-wife, Rosalee Knaub, and the Osceola County Sheriffs Department.

The Osceola County Sheriffs Department gave the following account of their role in finding Powells identity:

On Sept. 9, Powell was taken to the Osceola Regional Hospital, unable to remember his identity. Staff asked the sheriffs department to help them identify the man. The office immediately took fingerprints, but nothing came back in the system.

On Sept. 17, the department returned to the hospital to talk with Powell, and while there, they received information from the Orange County Sheriffs Office Missing Persons Unit about a possible identity. The Osceola County Deputy spoke with the countys intelligence unit, who was able to confirm Powells name, date of birth, Pennsylvania drivers license and a possible address in Pennsylvania.

Law enforcement was able to make contact with Knaub, and she confirmed his identity over the phone. Powell was not listed as a missing person.

Thats where law enforcements role stopped, but Knaubs GoFundMe picks up the narrative:

Knaub got a phone call from the sheriffs department that Powell was found unconscious and had total amnesia, possibly from a stroke or a brain aneurysm. He had walked onto the Wawa property with only $45 in the pocket of his jeans and no identifying information.

Both of Powells parents have passed away, Knaub said, and he has no next of kin able to help him.

After two months of hospitalization, Powell was put on a bus from Florida to Maryland. Knaub picked him up and drove him to Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill. They told Knaub that Powell did have a brain aneurysm, but it wasnt bleeding, so it wasnt likely to be the cause of amnesia. A psychiatrist said he did not feel like the amnesia was mental health-related.

Doctors werent able to tell Knaub how the amnesia started or if his memory would return.

Powell is currently living in a homeless shelter. His drivers license listed Erie as an address, and Knaub plans to go there next week to see if she can retrieve any of his belongings. She told WGAL that the last she knew, he was living in Camp Hill around 2014 and that he graduated from Middletown Area High School in 1995.

At this point, Darrell has lost his apartment. His car is about to be repossessed, Knaub wrote in the GoFundMe. His belongings are totally missing.

Knob said she is not a woman of means, and needs help with gas money, which is part of why she started the GoFundMe. Powell also would like to get into a group living situation that is not a homeless shelter, but cant work right now. Knaub was only able to purchase around three days worth of clothing for her ex-husband, who is 68 and around 165 pounds.
FILE - A SEPTA Regional Rail train sits after the train caught fire Feb. 6, 2025 in Ridley Park, Pa. (Charles Fox/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, File) AP

By Thomas Fitzgerald, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

Gov. Josh Shapiro is sending $220 million to SEPTA as it repairs fire-prone Silverliner IV Regional Rail cars and a damaged overhead power system in the trolley tunnel that together have brought commuting chaos.

With the new capital funds, SEPTA will be able to restore Regional Rail to its normal capacity within a few weeks.

Shapiro has directed PennDot to transfer money set aside for emergencies from the Public Transit Trust Fund to SEPTA, his office said.

SEPTAs increasing needs

An announcement was scheduled for late Monday morning at the transit agencys train yard and maintenance shop in Frazer, Chester County.

Federal regulators on Oct. 1 ordered SEPTA to inspect and repair, as needed, all of its Silverliner IV fleet after five train fires involving the 50-year-old cars.

Delays, cancellations, station skips and overcrowded Regional Rail trains running with fewer than the normal number of cars have been regular challenges for riders during six weeks of inspections and repairs focused on electrical components of the 223 Silverliner IVs.

Earlier this month, the Federal Transit Administration ordered SEPTA to inspect its trolley power system after four incidents, including two times trolleys stalled in the Center City tunnel, requiring 415 passengers to be evacuated.

Shapiro was forced to act because Senate Republicans wouldnt support additional recurring funding for mass transit operations in the state budget, his office said.

After deciding in September that no agreement on transit funding was possible, Shapiro found a two-year fix that allowed SEPTA to tap $394 million in state money allocated for its future capital projects to pay operating expenses.

The transit agency was facing a $213 recurring deficit in its operating budget.

In late August, SEPTA canceled 32 bus lines and significantly curtailed other service as part of a doomsday scenario, the agency said was caused by a lack of new state funding.

Riders were inconvenienced, a lawsuit was filed and a Philadelphia judge ordered SEPTA to roll back the cuts.

Then the $394 million was made available to SEPTA for operating expenses.

What this money will do

In addition to the repairs, $17 million of the new state money announced Monday is intended to pay for the lease of 10 Silverliner IV rail cars from Marylands commuter railroad and the possible purchase of 20 cars from Montreal.

Highlights of SEPTAs plans for the $220 million:

$95 million for electrical system upgrades, overhauled propulsion motors and more on the Silverliner IV train cars and the newer Silverllner V models. $48.4 million to update the overhead catenary wires in the trolley tunnel, along with new equipment for more efficient inspection and maintenance. $51.5 million to upgrade 13 escalators at SEPTA stations, purchase advanced inspection technology, and implement technology improvements at SEPTAs Control Center $8 million to install replacement parts for Broad Street Line and Norristown High Speed Line cars.

 2025 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit www.inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A 59-year-old Harrisburg man was charged after a robbery at the First National Bank in York County last week, police said.

Charges filed against Shannon Eric Steckbeck include robbery, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, according to Northern York County Regional police.

Police were dispatched around 10 a.m. on Nov. 21 to First National Bank at 55 Arsenal Road in Manchester Township after a reported robbery.

Witnesses reported that a man entered the bank, approached the teller counter, asked for something to write on, and received a deposit slip.

The man became flustered when another customer entered the bank, and he said he had forgotten something in his vehicle and left.

After the customer left, the man re-entered the bank and asked a teller if she could do him a favor, before instructing her to give him everything in the drawers and to not activate the panic alarm, police said. The man insinuated that he had a weapon, but no weapon was displayed.

The man left the bank on foot and went toward North George Street with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.

He then entered a parked vehicle nearby and fled the area, traveling northbound on North George Street.

During the early morning hours of Nov. 22, Steckbeck was believed to be operating a black Volkswagen sedan with a known Pennsylvania registration.

Police found Steckbecks vehicle in the parking lot of the Inn of York at 222 Arsenal Road.

When Steckbeck was not located at that hotel, police continued searching the area and were able to find him at the Days Inn at 334 Arsenal Road, where he was taken into custody.

He was transported to York County Prison on $50,000 bail, according to online court records.

Steckbeck was wanted on multiple warrants and was arrested after robbing the Union Community Bank in Columbia in 2017, later confessing to the crime. The warrants included another bank robbery just days earlier in which he told employees he had a bomb.

Anyone with information about the incident at the First National Bank should contact Northern York County Regional police at 717-292-3647, call 717-467-TELL to submit a tip, or email tips@nycrpd.org.
WILLIAMSPORT  The convicted former Williamsport city administrator already has been stripped of his pension and all benefits, but could there be more?

The citys Officers and Employees Pension Board is considering whether it can keep the $125,815 William E. Nichols Jr. paid into the pension fund through payroll checks.

Nichols pleaded guilty in Dauphin County court to felony charges of theft by deception and tampering with public records brought by the state attorney generals office.

Dauphin County President Judge Scott A. Evans, on May 5, placed him on probation for a year but did not order restitution. During the sentencing hearing, he thanked him for his service to the city, which irked some Williamsport officials.

With City Hall condemned because of water damage, the Williamsport City Council meets in a large room in Trade and Transit II in the 100 block of West Third Street. City offices are scattered in several locations. John Beauge | Special to PennLive

Nichols, 72, was general manager of River Valley Transit (RVT), then a department of the city, for 42 years, during which he also served a four-year stint as city finance director.

The issue before the pension board is whether the $125,815 can be held toward misappropriated funds.

Pension board solicitor Justin Houser believes the law permits it, while Helen A. Stolinas, who represents Nichols, disagrees.

Our position is there has been no court order mandating repayment, and the commonwealth did not seek any restitution at the time of sentencing, she said.

It is agreed that the Public Employee Forfeiture Law requires a pension be forfeited upon conviction of enumerated crimes.

It provides an individuals contributions can be returned to them without interest, but it also states they can be withheld by the pension administrator to repay misappropriated funds or fines ordered by the court.

Nichols position is that, since the judge did not order fines or restitution, his contributions, which came from his paychecks, should be returned to him.

Board members on Nov. 12, when they revoked Nichols pension, decided to research the legality of keeping his contribution.

Mayor Derek Slaughter, who chairs the pension board and fired Nichols at the start of his first term in January 2020, declined to give his position on the matter.

The state attorney generals office, when it filed charges, and Evans, during sentencing, pointed out Nichols did not benefit personally from comingling funds and misappropriating grant dollars from 2013 to 2020.

As a result of investigations into Nichols, the city is obligated to repay the Federal Transit Administration $1.4 million, the agency said was spent on unauthorized uses.

A statewide grand jurys presentment that led to the charges found the city allowed Nichols to serve in multiple roles over such a long period that, in essence, he was his own boss with little effective oversight.

The grand jury found Nichols, who served eight mayors:
Story by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for Talk of the Town, a daily newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from north-central PA, at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown.

Penn State University and the Pennsylvania Department of Education want the states highest court to overturn a recent lower court ruling that sided with Spotlight PA and stop the release of internal Board of Trustees documents.

The case could have major implications in the state for public access to documents stored in cloud-based services.

Last week, the university and state agency each filed a petition for allowance of appeal, asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to hear the public records case. There is no timeline for the court to decide whether it will hear the arguments and the court denied 87% of requests to review a lower court decision in 2024, according to the courts annual report.

Spotlight PA is represented pro bono by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Cornell Law School First Amendment Clinic. Paula Knudsen Burke, the Pennsylvania attorney for RCFP, said in a statement: The Commonwealth Court rightly made clear that Penn State trustees cannot shield certain records from the public simply by storing them in a file sharing system or alleging they contain proprietary information. We will continue to push for access to these records on behalf of Spotlight PA so that all Pennsylvanians can better understand how a prominent state-related institution  supported with millions of dollars of public money  is operating.

A Penn State spokesperson told Spotlight PA in an email that the university does not comment on pending litigation. The state education department did not respond to a request for comment.

In May 2023, Spotlight PA filed public records requests with Pennsylvanias agriculture and education departments for documents the agencies secretaries used while serving on Penn States governing board. While the university is largely exempt from the states Right-to-Know Law due to a legal carveout, a 2013 court ruling said records that the agencies secretaries used as trustees could be accessed by the public.

The Office of Open Records ruled in 2023 that some of the records the newsroom requested should be made public. Penn State and the Department of Education appealed the decision to Commonwealth Court.

Penn State, in legal filings and in court in September, argued the state agencies did not possess or control the records Spotlight PA sought because Penn State housed the files on Diligent, a cloud-based, file-sharing service. The online system allows the university to control who can access which files and whether the records can be downloaded.

The court sided with Spotlight PA in its decision last month, ruling that Penn States argument was without merit. Taking the universitys position, the court said, would contradict the intent of the states open records law for transparency and would perversely incentivize Commonwealth agencies, local agencies, and affected third parties like Penn State to utilize remote servers and/or cloud-based services, in order to ensure that they would no longer need to disclose what would otherwise constitute public records.

Penn State was also ordered to unredact portions of a 2022 document given to trustees about the universitys fiscal challenges and altering the budget to better align with Penn States priorities and values.

In its petition to the state Supreme Court, Penn State said the lower court wrongly determined that the agency secretaries received the records and therefore could provide them to the newsroom. By providing documents to trustees through Diligent, the university controls who can download, print, forward, or otherwise obtain the document.

The file-sharing service, the university wrote, is the electronic equivalent of a Penn State official holding a physical document in their hand and inviting the Secretaries to look at the document. Importantly, in this analogy, the Penn State official never lets go of the document and the Secretaries never possess the document.

The education department, in its filing, said the lower courts decision ignores the intent of, and improperly expands, Pennsylvanias open records law.

Spotlight PA, through its legal team, will file its response to the petition in the coming days.

Earlier this year, the Penn State board settled a separate lawsuit that Spotlight PA brought against it over alleged violations of Pennsylvanias Sunshine Act, the state law mandating transparency from governing bodies.

As part of the settlement, the board agreed to release more information about its private meetings, including who is leading the gatherings and the topic discussed. The board also participated in a legal training in September on the open meetings law and what governing bodies must do to comply with it. The terms of the settlement will last for five years. Read the full agreement here.

SUPPORT THIS JOURNALISM and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results.
Gas prices for Thanksgiving 2025 are expected to be just slightly above $3 a gallon. (AP file) AP

Most people traveling for Thanksgiving 2025 will do so by car.

While traffic may be frustrating, the price drivers are paying for gas is no worse than last year.

The national average gas price is expected to be just slightly more than $3 a gallon - GasBuddy says $3.02 a gallon and AAA is predicting $3.06.

The national average price last year was $3.02 a gallon.

AAA and GasBuddy agree that there is uncertainty regarding Thanksgiving travel: the cancellation of flights earlier this month may cause more people to drive to their destination and economic issues may have more people stay closer to home.

Thousands of flights were cancelled during the government shutdown and the shortage of air traffic controllers.

GasBuddys 2025 Thanksgiving travel survey revealed that 60% of Americans plan to take a road trip. That is down from 72% last year.

Gas prices are cooperating this Thanksgiving, but thats not translating into more travelers, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

Drivers have grown more resilient to price swings, yet I worry that concerns about a cooling economy may be weighing on Americans willingness to travel. Even with affordable gas, economic uncertainty can make people stay closer to home.

AAA projects that 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday from Tuesday, Nov. 25, to Monday, Dec. 1.

This years domestic travel forecast includes an additional 1.6 million travelers compared to last Thanksgiving, setting a new overall record. Thanksgiving is the single busiest holiday for travel compared to others like Memorial Day and July 4, AAA said. AAA expects 73 million people will travel by car.

The Transportation Security Administration said it expects to screen more than 17.8 million people from Tuesday, Nov. 25, to Tuesday, Dec. 2, with over 3 million just on Sunday, Nov. 30.

We are projecting that the Sunday after Thanksgiving will be one of the busiest travel days in TSA history, said Adam Stahl, senior official performing the duties of Deputy TSA Administrator.

Here are some things to know about gas prices and driving to your destination for Thanksgiving:

How much is gas in the Harrisburg area today?

The national average today is $3.03 a gallon, according to GasBuddy, and $3.07, according to AAA.

The average price in the Harrisburg area today is $3.24 a gallon, according to GasBuddy and AAA.

Where is the lowest gas price in the Harrisburg region?

Multiple stations in Dauphin and Cumberland counties have gas at under $3 a gallon.

The lowest price in the Harrisburg area is $2.84 a gallon at Sams Club in Silver Spring Twp., according to GasBuddy.

Gas at B.J.s Wholesale Club in Lower Allen Twp. is $2.87 a gallon.

When is the best time to drive for Thanksgiving?

According to AAA, these are the best times to travel for the holiday:

Tuesday, Nov. 25 - Before noon

Wednesday, Nov. 26 - Before 11 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 27 - Minimal traffic expected

Friday, Nov. 28 - Before 11 a.m.

Saturday, Nov. 29 - Before 10 a.m.

Sunday, Nov. 30 - Before 11 a.m.

Monday, Dec. 1 - After 8 p.m.

What is expected on the Pennsylvania Turnpike?

Traffic forecasts predict that about 3.4 million travelers are expected to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period between Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Nov. 30. The projection is a slight increase over the same timeframe in 2024.

The Turnpike predicts that Wednesday, Nov. 26, will be the peak with 705,000 vehicles. The second most heavily traveled day is Tuesday, Nov. 25, with 675,000. The lowest amount of traffic is expected on Sunday, Nov. 30, with 415,000.

The Turnpike said construction and routine maintenance work will be suspended from 5 a.m. on Tuesday through 11 p.m. on Sunday.

The bottom line is - Gas prices are favorable, but roads will be crowded. Plan ahead and leave early.
Spartan Mowers and UTVs has recalled two models of riding lawn mowers because an incorrect installation of the steering arm dampers could cause the user to lose control. Recalled are model year 2025 Spartan KGZ-XD, left, and SRT-XD, right. A free repair is available. Provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Spartan Mowers and UTVs has recalled two models of lawn mowers because an incorrect installation of the steering arm dampers could cause the user to lose control.

The model year 2025 Spartan SRT-XD and KGZ-XD riding lawn mowers were sold at Spartan dealers nationwide from February 2025 through October 2025 for about $16,400 to $19,700, according to a company announcement with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The riding mowers steering arm dampers can be installed incorrectly, which can result in an unexpected bouncing motion and loss of operator control, posing a crash hazard, the company said.

The recalled zero-radius turn riding lawn mowers have the following model numbers - RSKXD161994VO, RSKXD172994VO, RSSXD161994VO, RSSXD161999KE, RSSXD172994VO and RSSXD172999KE.

The mowers are gray, black and orange, and have Spartan printed on the front. The model number and serial number are located on a metal serial plate affixed to the frame of the mower immediately in front of, and at the feet of, the seated operator.

The company has received 15 reports of the mower bouncing unexpectedly while in use, including one report of a minor injury involving scrapes and bruises.

Owners should stop using the mowers and contact an authorized Spartan Mowers and UTVs dealer to schedule a free inspection and repair of the steering arm dampers at the dealers location.

Owners can determine whether their mower is affected by the recall by entering the model and serial number at this website - https://joinspartannation.com/recall-information/.

For more information, call 855-307-0933, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or send an email to service@spartanmowers.com.
UPMC nurses are calling on corporate bosses to address the growing incidence of violence against nurses and healthcare workers in the wake of an ER assault that left one nurse critically injured. In February, UPMC Memorial in York was rocked by a mass shooting that left a police officer dead. Dan Gleiter, PennLive, File photo.

Nurses at Pennsylvanias biggest hospital system are mounting grievances against their corporate owners concerning workplace safety and violence.

Nurses at UPMC Altoona are demanding that the hospital system invest in safe staffing and security measures after a nurse at the hospital was beaten unconscious by a patient earlier this month. The nurse suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.

The Nov. 1 assault on the Altoona nurse came nine months after a gunman armed with zip ties took staff hostage at UPMC Memorial in West Manchester Township. A West York police officer as well as the gunman were killed in a shootout inside the hospital. Several others were injured.

The most recent assault on a UPMC nurse happened nine months after a gunman entered the ICU at UPMC Memorial in York and took staff hostage. West York police Officer Andrew Duarte was killed in the cross fire that day. His funeral was held on Feb. 28 in Red Lion, York County. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

UPMC Altoona nurses have launched a statewide petition across health systems, including SEIU members, to draw attention to their demands for workplace safety.

Last week, during an online press conference, UPMC Altoona nurses described what they said is a crisis in workplace safety and staffing. Those conditions put nurses at risk of violence and injury, the nurses said.

Travis Dunn, a nurse at UPMC Altoona, was left unconscious on the floor with multiple injuries to the head and face after an emergency room patient became violent.

Bradley Lloyd, 40, faces a list of charges.

The assault on Travis is a symptom of a larger staffing crisis at Altoona, said Jamie Balsamo, registered nurse at the hospital who works in the cardiac catheterization lab.

UPMC executives have broken their promise to invest in our community. We have 300 fewer nurses since UPMC took over at Altoona and most of our security proposals weve made in contract negotiations have been repeatedly denied by executives.

Healthcare workers, she noted, suffer more non-fatal injuries than any other profession, including law enforcement. Adequate staffing levels are critical for safety, she added.

When were severely understaffed the way that we are, were less able to communicate with our patients, less able to de-escalate potentially violent situations or even respond to them if they occur, and both patients and family members become more aggravated, Balsamo said.

She said that UPMC, the largest health system and private employer in the commonwealth, has the moral responsibility to lead on safety.

Seven hospital workers were injured in the February deadly shooting at UPMC York Memorial, which did not have metal detectors installed in the ICU at the time of the shooting.

Nurses have been asking for protection for decades, said Jackie Keeney, a 41-year nursing veteran at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. It always seems to take sentinel events for something to happen. ..the police officer was a young man, and it was (his mothers) only child. If they would have (had metal detectors) at UPMC, I feel like that young man would have never gotten in, and probably the situation would not have happened.

UPMC nurses have for months, if not years, been calling attention to workplace inefficiencies.

This is a topic and a conversation thats very present in the front of every nurse, really, every healthcare workers mind, said Jean Stone, a nurse at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh. Its unfortunately not an unusual thing to have happen, whether its verbal abuse or threats or in the most extreme cases, physical attack.

Stone describes tense exchanges with patients and family members, even under the best of circumstances, that set up potentially volatile and violent scenarios on a routine basis.

I mean, I would say that the experience of having an agitated patient or family member who is, you know, saying nasty, insulting things to you is a daily occurrence, she said. Its nothing special.

Last year, UPMC nurses told PennLive that acute staffing shortages were putting patients at risk and burdening nurses with a slew of stressors that impact their ability to care for patients and stay committed to their jobs.

Balsamo said UPMC has rejected the nurses contract proposals, including installing panic alarms in all departments and weapons detection systems at every public entrance, in addition to increased security personnel.

Other proposals include safe staffing and retention, adopting and posting a zero-tolerance policy for verbal and physical abuse.

The only area where UPMC has signaled agreement is including workplace violence to our monthly agenda for our labor management meetings, Balsamo said. So in other words, theyve agreed to more talk.

In an email to PennLive, UPMC officials acknowledged that violence against health care workers is rising across the country.

UPMC said that under the guidance of national security experts, the health system has made hundreds of safety upgrades this past year, including more frequent de-escalation and workplace violence prevention training, more signage reinforcing our zero-tolerance policy, panic buttons, secure rooms, active drills, limited access points and additional entrance technologies such as metal detectors, as well as expanded public safety and police officer presence to immediately support our teams whenever concerns arise.

We continue to evolve those efforts with guidance from security experts and direct feedback from our team members, UPMC said. And beyond these visible steps  there are others, designed with the quiet precision that true security requires. The best protection can be the kind you dont see and is wisely kept from those who do harm. We are putting every resource, every ounce of expertise, to safeguard the people who give so much of themselves to care for others.

A study published this year by the American Hospital Association found that violence, including workplace (in-facility) and community violence, abuse, and threatening behavior, has significantly increased in the U.S. over the past decade, with rising rates of assault, homicide, suicide, and firearm violence.

U.S. healthcare workers are five times more likely to suffer a workplace violence injury than workers in other industries. Healthcare workers accounted for 73% of all nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses due to violence in 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keeney said Hershey Medical has established de-escalation teams that allow nurses to remain focused on their work rather than diffusing volatile situations.

Not only does it mean people who know how to pull people down, but it lets the nurse be out and take care of the patients, she said. Otherwise, youre standing in there for sometimes hours, and all your work gets behind, and the patients are not getting their meds on time. Theyre not getting their needs fulfilled. So that was a good, positive thing. But again, we always have to have a sentinel event. We have to be proactive.

Stone said UPMC has installed metal detectors at all entrances, not just the emergency room, which was the case for years.

They want to frame these things as a win, Stone said. It is a win in that it was a necessary addition. But its really bare minimum.

Magee Womens is an urban hospital, she noted, and should not have had to wait years to get metal detectors installed.

The things that nurses ask for are not really the things that are being implemented, Stone said.

UPMCs health care network, which includes more than 40 hospitals, has posted an improved financial report so far this year due to a higher number of patients and continued operational efficiency efforts, according TribLive.

UPMC earned $349 million in the first half of 2025, TribLive reported.

That figure represents a sizeable improvement after the health and hospital system lost almost as much money by the same point last year, the report said.

Total revenue hit $16.5 billion this year, compared to $14.5 billion last year at the halfway point.

The health system has come under scrutiny for its CEO compensation and use of a $50 million luxury jet while laying off frontline workers.

We are tired of being ignored and treated like disposable numbers, said Kevin Clark, a 15-year UPMC Altoona nurse.

The time for talking is over, and the time for action has come. Sadly, no one was surprised by this attack, but I hope to God that this has been a wakeup call to executives, and this catastrophic event can serve as a beacon for change so we can guard against this kind of nightmare happening again.
CANBERRA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government on Tuesday announced an almost 40-percent funding boost for the national domestic, family and sexual violence support service in response to growing demand for support services.

Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Women Katy Gallagher, and Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Ged Kearney announced an additional 41.8 million Australian dollars (about 27.03 million U.S. dollars) in funding to expand the capacity of 1800RESPECT, which offers free information, counselling and support to Australians impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.

This brings the funding for 1800RESPECT to 146.8 million Australian dollars until June 30, 2027.

Since its inception in 2010, 1800RESPECT has seen contacts with the service increased by over 3,000 percent. In the 12 months to June 2025, the service received more than 342,000 calls, video calls, online chats and texts, and demand is expected to continue to grow as more Australians recognize the signs of violence and seek support.

The ministers said in a joint statement that the additional funding will help ensure 1800RESPECT can continue providing trauma-informed, accessible support for people experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence.

The announcement of the funding was made to coincide with the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, they added.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, one in six Australian women and one in 18 men have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former cohabiting romantic partner since the age of 15.

Family and domestic violence incidents accounted for 55 percent of all recorded assaults in Australia in 2023 and 43 percent of recorded murders were related to family and domestic violence. 
A state trooper who was a member of Gov. Josh Shapiros security detail is suing his employer in federal court, claiming diversity initiatives resulted in him being removed and replaced by less-qualified minority troopers.

Joshua Mack, a corporal with the state police who spent 14 years on the detail, said his removal from the position in March followed comments from his supervisors discussing the need to hire more minorities to the detail.

Shortly after he was removed, Mack said a Black state trooper and a Hispanic state trooper were hired to replace him on the detail.

Mack is suing Pennsylvania State Police, Cpl. John Nicholson and Lt. Col. George Bivens under Title VII, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and the contract clause of Section 1981.

Hes asking a federal judge to reinstate him to the security detail and order that he be compensated for backpay and lost benefits.

The governors security detail is an elite unit responsible for providing security for the governor and governors family. Members receive specialized training, the use of a state-owned vehicle and receive significant overtime opportunities not available to other troopers, the lawsuit said.

Mack said he heard his supervisor, Nicholson, talk about the need to diversify the governors security detail by hiring more minorities in the weeks leading up to his removal on March 25, 2025.

After his removal, Mack said he was replaced by two minority state troopers who were less qualified and lacked any dignitary-protection experience.

The administrative shuffle resulted in Mack being reassigned to another unit further from his home. He says he lost access to a state vehicle and lost the lucrative overtime opportunities.

At the time of his removal, Mack was the longest-serving supervisor on the governors security detail aside from Nicholson, the lawsuit said. And since his removal, supervisors over Mack have told him the decision was not based on performance or any other legitimate reason, according to the lawsuit.

Macks removal from his position came three weeks before Harrisburg-area resident Cody Balmer jumped the fence at the Governors Residence and used two Molotov cocktails to set the house on fire.

The governors office declined to comment on the lawsuit because it is pending litigation. PennLive could not reach a state police spokesperson before publication.
A Hershey doctor says U.S. Rep. Scott Perry and other GOP House members from Pa. are "fear mongering" by raising questions about the abortion drug mifepristone. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) AP

A Hershey physician insists U.S. Rep. Scott Perry and other Pennsylvania Republicans are fear mongering for calling on the Trump administration to investigate a long-established abortion drug.

Last week, Perry and six other GOP House members from Pennsylvania  Reps. Dan Meuser, Lloyd Smucker, John Joyce, Guy Reschenthaler, G.T. Thompson and Mike Kelly  asked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary to ban mifepristone by mail and investigate the safety of the drug.

In their letter, the Republicans claimed that the Biden administration removed safeguards to accomplish its radical abortion agenda.

Mifepristone has been approved for 25 years.

Calling mifepristone baby poison, the Republicans cited a study by the Ethics and Public Policy Center claiming that nearly 11% of women experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging and other serious issues after a mifepristone abortion.

On its website, the center describes itself as applying Jewish and Christian traditions to contemporary questions of law, culture, and politics.

The officials went on to recount the case of a Louisiana woman whose boyfriend ordered mifepristone through the mail without her knowledge and then forced her to take it and abort her pregnancy.

The dangerous Biden mail-order scheme was designed to give abortion activists license to mail drugs everywhere, even into states like (the womans) home state of Louisiana that have pro-life protections for pregnant mothers and their unborn babies, they wrote.

Dr. Amanda Cai, a cardiologist specializing in cardio-obstetrics and a resident of Perrys 10th Congressional District, responded to the letter in a statement from the Committee to Protect Health Care, a national coalition of physicians and healthcare professionals.

Mifepristone is safe and effective for managing abortions as well as miscarriage care, the committee said in its statement.

Im deeply concerned that my representative, Congressman Scott Perry, and other Republicans in Pennsylvanias Congressional delegation are trying to eliminate access to essential reproductive care for women based on faulty science designed to push a conservative agenda rather than address any real public health issues, said Cai.

Pennsylvanians need to know that Scott Perry and other conservatives touting this so-called research are doing nothing more than fear mongering and gaslighting the public, and they are risking womens lives while doing so, she continued.

Cai said that in her practice abortion itself is safer than pregnancy in a significant proportion of patients I care for, who may have serious complications from their heart disease or even die during pregnancy. Because our patients lives are at stake, my fellow physicians and I are speaking up to make sure that we keep abortion care safe, legal, and medical  not political."
Offer Vince Shlomi, in a photo taken in 2009. ASSOCIATED PRESS

The ShamWow guy apparently has a new pitch hes working on: Vote for me.

Offer Vince Shlomi, commonly known as the ShamWow guy after his series of towel infomercials that began in 2006 and ran successfully for several years, is running for a House seat in Texas with a pitch, of course, to soak up the swamp, according to primary filing information from the Texas GOP.

Born Offer Shlomi in Israel in 1964, he immigrated with his family to the United States when he was a child. He changed his name to Vince Offer in 1986 and started appearing on public access television before finding fame as a TV pitchman.

Shlomi is running for Texass 31st Congressional District, currently represented by GOP Rep. John Carter.

Carter, 84, has served in Congress since 2003.

Shlomis candidacy is listed on the state partys website, ahead of the states December filing deadline for candidates, but the Federal Election Commission (FEC) does not yet have a candidate filing listed for him, according to NBC News.

He told Fox News Digital in an interview Sunday that he was motivated to run by a desire to destroy wokeism and as a tribute to the late Charlie Kirk, whom he called the original woke buster. He also said that the political infighting in the country has inspired him to seek office and make America happy.

He was charged in 2009 with felony aggravated battery following a physical altercation with a woman. Neither was ultimately charged.

People understand you make mistakes in life, Schlomi told NBC News during an interview in 2013. The news outlet noted at the time that he had curbed his partying since then.

In 2020, he began selling ShamWow! masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 73 million drivers will hit the road for Thanksgiving, says AAA, and many of them could face wintry weather ranging from heavy rain to snow and strong winds. (Danny Damiani/The Post-Crescent via AP, File)/The Post-Crescent via AP) AP

If youre traveling this week for the Thanksgiving holiday expect rain, snow, wind and falling temperatures.

AAA predicts that nearly 82 million people, about 1.6 million more than last year, will be traveling at least 50 miles away from home with the vast majority, about 73 million, driving.

More than 6 million people are anticipated to fly for the holiday even as airlines face frequent cancellations and delays. Another 2.5 million people are expected to travel by bus, train and boat, up 8.5% from last year.

For Pennsylvanians, whether driving or flying to destinations, sloppy, wintry weather is predicted in most directions. According to the National Weather Service office in State College, rain will move across central Pennsylvania on Tuesday and continue into Wednesday with increasing winds. On Thanksgiving Day, expect gusty winds, falling temperatures and snow showers.

Snow showers coming from Lake Erie will be around Friday with significant accumulation in northwest Pennsylvania. Saturday is expected to be dry and chilly while travelers returning on Sunday could see more rain or snow.

Traveling for Thanksgiving? 

Expect rain Tuesday & Wednesday

It will be breezy and much cooler Thursday & Friday

Significant lake effect snowfall is expected across northwest PA Thursday & Friday

Monitor https://t.co/QmYDRMyJzm to check traffic conditions!#PAwx pic.twitter.com/4rV7SoBzPP  NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) November 24, 2025

A system moving across the country on Monday will bring heavy rain from Iowa to Texas, predicted AccuWeather. Gusty thunderstorms could disrupt driving and flight travel.

Further north in the Plains and Great Lakes regions, snow will be the main hazard for travelers. AccuWeather is predicting significant snow from North Dakota to Michigan as the system moves east.

On Tuesday in the south and southeast, travelers should expect rain and thunderstorms. That system will move into the Midwest and the Ohio Valley bringing steady rain.

Cold air will plummet south out of Canada on Wednesday, triggering snow and gusty winds across Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. AccuWeather rates the traveling conditions on the East Coast on Wednesday as fair.

Travelers heading west to Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland should expect rain and snow with wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour across the region, including western Pennsylvania.

On Thanksgiving, snow is anticipated across the Great Lakes region, including northwestern and western Pennsylvania.

AccuWeather is predicting several inches of snow could fall in persistent snow bands along Interstate 81 in northeast Pennsylvania and Interstate 90 with the potential to cause problems for drivers.
JERUSALEM, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government's recent indication that it may approve an F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia could reshape key dynamics in the Middle East's security landscape, with possible implications for Israel's qualitative military edge in the region.

So far, Israel remains the sole operator of F-35 jets in the Middle East, with 45 aircraft in service and another 30 on order. However, countries such as Turkiye and Saudi Arabia have already expressed strong interest in acquiring the advanced fighter from the United States.

If Washington approves the sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia, other Gulf states-including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates-may also submit similar purchase requests.

From the U.S. perspective, approving the aircraft for one partner could make it harder to deny others, highlighting the delicate balance within U.S. regional alliances, according to some Israeli media analysis.

The Israeli Air Force has voiced concern that the sale could weaken Israel's regional air superiority. The Times of Israel reported that the first Saudi jets are unlikely to arrive before the early 2030s due to production schedules, but analysts note that the strategic implications are immediate: the mere prospect of a U.S. sale already erodes Israel's exclusivity with its most advanced fighter.

Dean Shmuel Elmas, research fellow at the Israel Center for Grand Strategy, said Israeli frustration over the potential deal partly stems from its expectation that U.S. policy should align with Israeli preferences.

But "the U.S. president is the president of the U.S., not the president of Israel," he noted, emphasizing that Washington's actions are driven by American interests and regional considerations that may diverge from Israel's views.

Israeli analyst Meir Swissa, in an article titled "F-35s are not enough: Israel must change its concept," also opined that the real question isn't whether Saudi Arabia will acquire F-35s -- Israel must ask itself a much deeper question: is it ready to adopt a new concept that does not rely on air power but on strategic vision.

Some analysts argue that Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza, combined with stalled progress on the Palestinian political front, have complicated normalization efforts with Saudi Arabia. As a result, Washington may be using incentives, such as a potential F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia, to signal its impatience.

During the recent visit to Washington, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made it clear that Riyadh seeks normalization while ensuring "a clear path toward a two-state solution," including Palestinian statehood.

In this context, the F-35 deal has become part of a broader diplomatic tapestry, intertwining U.S. security guarantees, potential Saudi-Israeli normalization, and renewed international efforts on the Palestinian issue.

Some analysts believe that for Israel, the key to transforming the potential downside of a U.S. F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia into a strategic advantage lies in its ability to advance normalization of relations with Riyadh.

By taking this step, Israel could turn what appears to be a damaging arms deal into its "greatest strategic opportunity." For now, however, Israeli political analyst Yossi Yehoshua said, those conditions have yet to be met. 
A Breakthrough Ten Years in the Making for RGPS Council Bluffs Main Event Winner

Nick Becker Live Reporter Copy link

Jon Lawson has been a regular at the RunGood Poker Series since the early days of the tour, picking up cashes year after year and building a steady record over the last decade. One achievement that has eluded him this past decade was winning an RGPS ring, something that means more to him than the money. Today, his persistence finally paid off when he captured his first piece of jewelry by taking down the RGPS Grand Prix Council Bluffs Main Event.

The two-day event featured an $800 buy-in and attracted 390 entries, with only 46 players returning to Horseshoe Council Bluffs here in Iowa for the final day of action. Lawson entered the final table with a commanding chip lead and never looked back, going on to defeat Wesley Cannon after a brief heads-up match to earn the lions share of the $273,000 prize pool.

When asked how he was feeling following his career-best score, Lawson mentioned, "I feel good, I ran pretty well. I've been playing for quite a while and it's good to get a win. But it's my highest score, so it feels good. That's my first RunGood ring."

2025 RGPS Council Bluffs Main Event Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize (USD) 1 Jon Lawson United States $56,865 2 Wesley Cannon United States $39,967 3 Nolan Garrett United States $25,689 4 Mike Estes United States $16,871 5 Robert Sherraden United States $12,995 6 Ryan Ramsdell United States $10,756 7 Siphonh Tran United States $9,009 8 Jared Grayson United States $7,371 9 Richard Terry United States $5,706

Honoring a Local Legend

Lawson continued to explain what it means to him to win not just any RGPS ring  but a Main Event title  something he's been grinding toward for quite some time.

"It means a lot because, being good friends with Tana [Karn] and just being a part of this RunGood family. It is the best tour out there. And yeah it feels good, especially being close to home."

Jeff Banghart

He went on to dedicate his win to a late friend, a poker player from Nebraska who was well-respected amongst the tight-knit tournament community in the Midwest.

This is for Jeff Banghart, who passed away. He was one of the best around. He's a local legend and you know, this win's for him.

Smooth Road to the Title

Lawson was already leading the pack with 11 players remaining when he found himself in the dream scenario, where he was involved in a massive three-way all in having both of his opponents covered. He spiked a two-outer on the river to score a double knockout, propelling himself further atop the leaderboard and into the final table with a sizable chip lead.

"I showed up, I felt good all day. I did knock two people out going to the final table, so that made me feel better about my chip lead. I felt good at that point."

Lawson had more than double his next closest competitor once the final table commenced and never showed any signs of slowing down. He went on to earn back-to-back eliminations, sending Ryan Ramsdell to the rail in sixth and Robert Sherraden in fifth - flopping a set of tens in both hands.

From there, he didnt let off the gas, continuing to chip up and extend his lead until heads-up play, where he held a more than 2-to-1 advantage over Cannon. The match proved to be a short one, with Lawson whittling Cannon down to about five big blinds when the final hand took place, Lawson's pocket nines sealing the victory.

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Maksim Tatarintsev Defends RGPS Grand Prix San Diego Main Event Title

Erick Torres Copy link

When Maksim Tatarintsev reached the final table with the chip lead, it must have felt like deja vu.

One year after winning the Main Event at Jamul Casino Resort, he completed the rare back-to-back by capturing the RunGood Poker Series Grand Prix San Diego $600 Main Event for $38,890.

Im really happy about it, of course, Tatarintsev told PokerNews. I was just playing how I know how to play.

2025 RGPS Grand Prix San Diego Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize (USD) 1 Maksim Tatarintsev United States $38,890 2 Zach Kelley United States $27,250 3 Gabriel Habbaba United States $17,520 4 William Wilson United States $11,229 5 Jose Medina Mexico $8,659 6 Barbara Lanese United States $7,155 7 Bradley Miller United States $6,017 8 Jeff Burquist United States $4,940 9 Henry Trinidad United States $3,887

Tatarintsev's Road to Glory

Tatarintsev topped a 348-entry field and claimed the lions share of the $180,960 prize pool. He carried momentum into the final table after scoring several eliminations late on Day 2, including a key pot where his pocket kings held against Nan Chen to secure the lead.

I just felt confident, and the stack helped me in case I made a mistake, he said.

One of the defining moments of the final table came early, when Tatarintsevs pocket eights went runner-runner flush in a three-way all-in against the aces of Jeff Burquist and the overcards of Henry Trinidad, giving him nearly half the chips in play.

From there, he controlled the endgame, knocking out Gabriel Habbaba in third and Zach Kelley heads-up to seal his second RGPS Main Event title at Jamul Casino.

The former international online pro said he has been focusing more on live tournaments since his 2024 win.

I want to thank my support in my friends and family all over the world, he added.

Forty-one players returned for Day 2, all chasing the RGPS title. Early momentum came for several contenders  including Habbaba, who climbed the counts with steady pressure  while flight leaders Corey Paggeot and Barbara Lanese both navigated deep runs before bowing out in 19th and 6th respectively.

Once the field reached the final stages, Tatarintsev asserted control and never looked back, closing out a dominant performance to defend his Main Event title.

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Lauren Leibman covers Georgetown County for the Post and Courier. She interned with The State newspaper and worked for The Daily Gamecock during her time at the University of South Carolina.
TEHRAN, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday that its forces seized a large batch of illegal explosives, weapons and ammunition in the country's northwest border area, which it said belonged to "counter-revolutionary" groups.

The consignment included substantial amounts of explosive materials, arms and ammunition, especially 198 bombs, according to a statement from the IRGC's Ground Force published on the IRGC's official news outlet Sepah News.

According to the ground force, the consignment was seized in the Targavar rural area of Urmia County, near the border with Turkiye, and it was being smuggled into the country.

The statement added that "terrorists and thugs" sought to transfer the batch to areas deep inside Iran to cause insecurity, but failed to do so thanks to the "vigilance and timely action" of the IRGC's intelligence forces. 
Quick Response and Public Safety Reporter

Caitlin Bell is a breaking news and courts reporter for The Post and Courier Charleston. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / California Casualty Indemnity Exchange, California Casualty Insurance Company, California Casualty & Fire Insurance Company, or California Casualty General Insurance Company of Oregon ("California Casualty") recently suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal information of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to California Casualty.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?California Casualty recently became aware of suspicious activity on its IT network. Upon detection, California Casualty launched an investigation with the assistance of a third-party cybersecurity firm to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to the California Casualty's IT network between September 2, 2025, and September 8, 2025.The impacted data may includenames, Social Security numbers, driver's license or state identification numbers, dates of birth, tax identification numbers, and financial account numbers.On November 19, 2025, California Casualty filed a notice with the Attorney General of Maine and may soon begin mailing notification letters to impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personalinformation was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from California Casualty Companies, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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BURNSVILLE, MN / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Dr. Hamid Abbasi, a US-based neurosurgeon and global leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, will travel to Dubai to participate in the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies WFNS meeting. Dr. Abbasi will conduct hands-on training sessions focused on two advanced techniques: the Oblique Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion OLLIF and Sacroiliac Joint SIJ fusion. These procedures are known for reduced surgical trauma, shorter hospital stays, and faster patient recovery.Before arriving in Dubai, Dr. Abbasi will stop in Karachi, Pakistan, for a full clinical program with Professor Salman Sharif and his team at the Pakistan Society of Neurosurgeons. He will perform live surgery and lead a cadaveric lab for residents and fellows. The goal is practical exposure to precision-based minimally invasive techniques that are not widely taught in traditional programs.Following his participation at WFNS, Dr. Abbasi will extend his stay in the UAE to collaborate with Dr. Munshi for an additional OLLIF and SIJ workshop. This extended session will deliver surgeon-level training and demonstrate the reproducibility of these techniques in high-volume surgical environments.Dr. Abbasi has performed more than three thousand OLLIF cases and is regarded as one of the earliest pioneers of the TransKambin approach. His published outcomes show high fusion rates, low blood loss, and reduced operative time even in multilevel or revision cases. His international visits are focused on knowledge transfer and building regional competency centers capable of delivering advanced spine care to underserved populations.Dr. Abbasi states: "We are proud to be in Pakistan and Dubai, and we are equally committed to transferring this technology to other countries around the world. The contents of this small bag are all we need to take care of half a dozen patients in Pakistan, with no need for expensive technologies such as a million dollar robot or navigation system. Our goal is to transfer knowledge and technology globally, and that is our commitment to our colleagues everywhere." For media inquiries or to request meeting schedules, please contactInspired Spine administrative office atsocial1@ islife.usor visit us atinspiredspine.com Media Contact: Inspired Spine (952) 225-5266SOURCE: Inspired Spine
Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this press release please contact the company added in the press release. Please do not contact pr-inside. We will not be able to assist you. PR-inside disclaims the content included in this release.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 24, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Avantor, Inc. ("Avantor" or the "Company") (NYSE:AVTR). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Avantor and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until December 29, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Avantor securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On April 25, 2025, Avantor reported disappointing first quarter 2025 financial results, cut its guidance for 2025, and announced that Michael Stubblefield would be stepping down from his roles as President and Chief Executive Officer. Avantor's management attributed its weak performance and outlook to "the impact of increased competitive intensity." On this news, Avantor's stock price fell $2.57 per share, or 16.5%, to close at $12.93 per share on April 25, 2025.Then, on August 1, 2025, Avantor reported disappointing second quarter 2025 financial results, including a year-over-year decrease in net sales, and further reduced the Company's 2025 guidance-now projecting organic revenue growth of -2% to 0%. Avantor's management again attributed the Company's lackluster results and outlook to "increased competitive intensity" and further admitted that Avantor did not expect the competitive environment to materially improve in the remainder of 2025.On this news, Avantor's stock price fell $2.08 per share, or 15.48%, to close at $11.36 per share on August 1, 2025.Then, on October 29, 2025, Avantor reported weak third quarter 2025 financial results, including -5% organic revenue growth and a net loss of $712 million, which management primarily attributed to a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $785 million. Avantor's management said that the impairment charge was necessary due in part to "competitive pressures" that had "meaningfully impacted" Avantor's margins and further disclosed that the Company had lost several large accounts.On this news, Avantor's stock price fell $3.50 per share, or 23.21%, to close at $11.58 per share on October 29, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 24, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Primo Brands Corporation ("Primo Brands" or the "Company") (NYSE:PRMB). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Primo Brands and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until January 12, 2026 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Primo Brands securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained atwww.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On June 17, 2024, Primo Water Corporation ("Primo Water") announced entry into a merger agreement (the "Merger") with an affiliate of BlueTriton Brands, Inc. ("BlueTriton"). The two companies touted the synergies of the Merger, stating that the combined company was expected to have "significant financial and operating leverage" and "enhanced distribution capabilities" which would position it "for sustained long-term growth." On November 8, 2024, the companies announced the completion of the Merger and the formation of the combined entity, Primo Brands.On August 7, 2025, Primo Brands announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2025. On an accompanying earnings call, Chief Executive Officer Robbert Rietbroek acknowledged that "[t]he speed by which we closed facilities and reduced headcount led to disruptions in product supply, delivery, and service." Following these disclosures, Primo Brands' stock price fell $2.41 per share, or 9.13%, to close at $24.00 per share on August 7, 2025.Then, on November 6, 2025, Primo Brands announced Rietbroek's departure as CEO and disclosed that the Company was drastically reducing its full year 2025 net sales and adjusted EBITDA guidance. During a corresponding earnings call, Primo Brands' new CEO Eric Foss admitted that the Company "probably moved too far too fast on some of the various integration work streams" and that "[t]here's no doubt that speed impacted our ability to get through a lot of the warehouse closures and route realignment without disruption." Foss further revealed that Primo Brands had experienced "customer service issues" as well as "integration issues related to the technology move over." On this news, Primo Brands' stock price fell $8.20 per share, or 36.19%, over the following two trading sessions, closing at $14.46 per share on November 7, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
ISLAMABAD/KABUL, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani military's spokesperson said on Tuesday that the country did not carry out any operation inside Afghanistan last night, urging the Afghan authorities to take verifiable action against terrorist groups operating from their territory.

During an informal interaction with journalists, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the spokesperson for the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, said that "Pakistan always makes a formal announcement whenever it undertakes any operation."

The recent claims from the Afghan side that Pakistan carried out strikes into the Afghan territory are incorrect, he added.

Sharif said the Afghan government must take credible steps against terrorist hideouts, stressing that no dialogue would take place until verifiable action is taken against militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan.

The Afghan government on Tuesday condemned the reported airstrikes by Pakistan on Monday night that killed 10 Afghans in the eastern region as an attack on Afghanistan's sovereignty and warned of taking action at a proper time.

Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that defending its airspace, territory, and citizens is Afghanistan's legitimate right. A necessary response will be taken at the proper time.

Previously, scores were killed and injured from both sides during conflicts along the border between the two nations in October. 
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 24, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against WPP Plc ("WPP" or the "Company") (NYSE:WPP). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether WPP and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until December 8, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired WPP securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On July 9, 2025, WPP published a trading update for the first half of 2025, advising investors that the Company had "seen a deterioration in performance as Q2 has progressed." The Company attributed its misfortune to both "continued macro uncertainty weighing on client spend and weaker net new business than originally anticipated," at least in part due to "some distraction to the business" as a result of the continued restructuring of WPP Media.On this news, WPP's American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell $6.48 per ADR, or 18.09%, to close at $29.34 per ADR on July 9, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
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Sekur Meets Several High Profile Corporate and Government LeadersVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Sekur Private Data (OTCQB:SWISF)(CSE:SKUR)(FRA:GDT0) ("Sekur" or the "Company"), a leading Swiss-hosted cybersecurity and private communications platform, is pleased to announce that it is attending the Africa Digital Innovation Summit 2025 - ADIS 2025, the largest African Digital Innovation gathering in the African continent.As part of its Africa efforts to develop mutual and beneficial relationship with corporate and government entities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries, Sekur has decided to attend the ADIS 2025 event,happening in Kinshasa, DRC, November 25 and 26, 2025. The Company has made great strides in introducing its Sekur suite of private and secure communications, to the private and public sectors of the DRC, through its government and corporates sales director in Central and Southern Africa,Mr. Christophe Kabeya.Sekur's packages of Email, Messenger and VPN arepricedat US$900/yr for the Small Business plan and at US$1,500/yr base price, for the corporate and premium plans. Additionally, Sekur is planning another service to be launched in Q1 2026, which will include proprietary, encrypted and AI intrusion free voice and video conferencing and other features, priced between US$3,500/yr per license, with a Platinum plan including a personal mobile device and a VIP service for US$7,500/yr to US$10,000/yr per license.Sekur is expected to sell its corporate plans due in part to the explosion in Business Email Compromise ("BEC") attacks on all big tech email and chat applications, especially since the implementation of AI inside their solutions. Sekur offers countermeasuresto BEC attacks through itsSekurSendproprietary feature and offers other protections against internetspying on VPN usersand messaging hacks such as the latestWhatsApporSignalhacking incidents reported in the press.Core Corporate Communications Solutions:None of the solution rely on Big Tech infrastructure or open-source coding, allowing for private and secure communications throughout, operable within and outside the Sekur network, bypassing traditional telecom systems and eliminating phone record hacking. None of the solutions data mine or location track users.SekurMail:An encrypted email service with features like SekurSend/SekurReply (for secure sending to non-Sekur users without revealing identities and content), full email delivery control, automatic data export, file transfer and more. It supports custom domains and counters phishing or Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks.SekurMessenger:A secure chat app with end-to-end encryption, self-destructing messages, file transfers, encrypted voice recordings, and archiving for compliance. It allows private communication even with non-Sekur users through its Chat-by-Invite via SMS or email invites. Each user received a Sekur ID for contact vetting and there is no phone number required for account registration.SekurVPN:A privacy-focused VPN using military-grade encryption and proprietary HeliX technology for secure internet browsing, protecting online actions and identity without logging data.SekurRelay:An enterprise email add-on that "splits" a company's domain, allowing executives to use Sekur's secure features (e.g., SekurSend) without migrating the entire organization-addressing a major barrier for large-scale adoption by corporations and governments.Swiss Privacy Protection Sekur's solutions are hosted exclusively in Switzerland, ensuring user data remains secure from external data access requests. Switzerland's robust Federal Act on Data Protection, in place since 1993, upholds strict privacy standards, prohibiting unauthorized data processing and protecting against the publication of information based on leaked "secret official discussions." This regulatory framework provides a unique level of data privacy protection, reinforcing Sekur's commitment to safeguarding user information.About Sekur Private Data Sekur Private Data is a Swiss-hosted cybersecurity and privacy communications provider. offering a secure suite of tools to protect governments, businesses and individuals from unauthorized access and cyber threats. With solutions such as SekurMail, SekurMessenger, and SekurVPN, Sekur provides an accessible and reliable means of digital communication and data storage, grounded in Swiss privacy standards. Sekur sells its solutions through its websitewww.sekur.com , approved distributors and telecommunications companies globally. Sekur serves governments, businesses and consumers worldwide. Its main sales operations are located in Miami, USA.CONTACTAlain GhiaiPresident and Chief Executive OfficerSEKUR PRIVATE DATA LTD.Email:investors@sekur.comwww.sekurprivatedata.comTel: +1.305.347.5114Follow Sekur on: XLinkedInYouTubeFor sales brochure on our enterprise security solutions, or partnership opportunities, contact: partners@ sekur.com.To find out more about Sekur's privacy communications solutions visit: https://sekur.comFor more company information, please visit: https://sekurprivatedata.com Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they do not guarantee future performance. Sekur cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Sekur's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; f
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PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating potential breach of fiduciary duty claims concerning Atkore Inc. (NYSE:ATKR) on behalf of the company's long-term shareholders.Click here for additional information about your legal rights and options: https://kaskelalaw.com/case/atkore/ Recently an amended securities fraud complaint was filed against Atkore on behalf of certain investors who purchased shares of the company's stock between August 2, 2022 and August 4, 2025 (the "Class Period").According to the complaint, during the Class Period, Atkore and several of the company's executive officers "artificially inflated the trading price of Atkore common stock by making materially false and misleading public statements that misstated and failed to disclose that Atkore's reported financials and claimed historic financial success resulted from the Company's undisclosed scheme to manipulate the price of its main product-pipe made from the synthetic plastic polymer PolyVinyl Chloride (PVC')."Further according to the complaint, despite prior representations and through a series of partial disclosures beginning in May 2024, investors slowly learned the truth about Atkore's scheme to artificially inflate the price of PVC Pipe, and its scheme to hide its actual financial state as it would exist in a truly competitive market from investors.The complaint further details how, following such partial disclosures, shares of the company's stock declined in value from a Class Period high of $190.00 per share to under $60.00 per share in August 2025.The investigation seeks to determine whether the members of Atkore's board of directors violated the securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the above alleged misconduct.Current Atkore shareholders who have owned the company's shares since at least August 4, 2025 are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229 - 0750 for additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options.Alternatively , investors may submit their information by clicking on the following link (or by copying and pasting the link into your browser):Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation on a contingent, no-cost basis, and has helped to recover hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved investors. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com CONTACT:KASKELA LAW LLC D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. (skaskela@ kaskelalaw.com) Adrienne Bell, Esq. (abell@ kaskelalaw.com) 18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100 Newtown Square, PA 19073 (888) 715 - 1740 (484) 229 - 0750 www.kaskelalaw.com This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.SOURCE: Kaskela Law LLC
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NORTH YORK, ON / ACCESS Newswire / November 25, 2025 / ZTEST Electronics Inc. ("ZTEST" or the "Company") (CSE:ZTE) is pleased to announce that it has appointed Mr. Trevor Treweeke to the Board of Directors, sitting as an independent director, subject to regulatory approval.Steve Smith, CEO of the Company stated "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to welcome Trevor to the board. Trevor's substantial expertise, in designing and executing significant capital market strategies, will be a valued asset to the Company." Mr. Treweeke is a capital markets professional with more than 12 years of experience in advising early-stage and small-cap companies on growth, financing, and corporate strategies. He has been instrumental in over $40 million in capital raises and has provided senior level guidance in CPC formations, go-public transactions, and M&A activities. He additionally serves as a director of Cheelcare Inc. and Network Media Group and currently advises several issuers on capital markets strategy and corporate development.Earlier in his career, Mr. Treweeke was an analyst with TMX Group, supporting transaction reviews for TSX Venture issuers. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Calgary.About ZTEST Electronics Inc.ZTEST Electronics Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary Permatech Electronics Corporation ("Permatech"), offers Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) to a wide range of customers. Permatech's offering includes Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Assembly, Materials Management and Testing services. Permatech operates from an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility in North York, Ontario, Canada. Permatech is a contract assembler of complex circuit boards, serving customers in the Medical, Power, Computer, Telecommunications, Wireless, Industrial, Trucking, Wearables and Consumer Electronics markets. It specializes in servicing customers who are looking for high yield and require high quality and rapid-turnaround on low and mid-volume production of high complexity products.For more information contact: Steve Smith, CEO (604) 837-3751 email: steves@ ztest.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.com) SOURCE: ZTEST Electronics Inc.
Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has expressed concern over the escalating insecurity and rising cases of kidnapping across Nigeria.

PREMIUM TIMES reported several incidents, including the abduction of church members in Kwara State and the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Kebbi and Niger States.

The newspaper also reported that President Bola Tinubu confirmed the release of thirty-eight abductees, all freed unharmed.

Additionally, the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed the release of fifty pupils abducted from St Marys Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area.

Reacting to news of the releases, the 51-year-old filmmaker, in a video posted on his Instagram page on Monday, questioned whether any of the perpetrators behind the abductions had been arrested.

He criticised the government over the deteriorating security situation, alleging that the authorities are merely playing Nigerians with repeated cycles of kidnap-and-rescue announcements.

Afolayan, whos from Igbomina-Yoruba in Kwara, said: Is the current government doing what it should be doing? I dont think so. Are they doing half or a quarter of what they should be doing? Not at all. But they are all the same thing. Those who are there now and those who contested and lost are the same thing. And those moving from one party to the other are the same bunch of people. And the minute they have an agenda and they feel, look, lets just stop the peace of the people again, they create chaos.

And personally, I feel that is why all of these things Theyre playing us because this minute they will announce, theyve kidnapped people, and the next minute the government will intervene. And then theyll say they have rescued those kidnapped, but when they rescue, did they arrest the perpetrators? Did they make any arrests at all? That would never be, we know how the government works. Are we going to continue like that? I dont know. What is the solution? I dont know.

Political strategies

The director of Anikulapo added that the developments unfolding in the country were nothing more than political manoeuvres by certain politicians seeking power.

He described the situation as deeply worrisome and prayed for those who were severely affected by the incident.

Nigeria, the honest truth is I always try to figure out solutions in my head and also always try to work out things I feel I can do in my capacity to support the country, support the system, support humanity and all of that.

But the honest truth is like its hard and tough. Especially in recent times, everything thats happening now has happened in the past.

What I have noticed is that most of these things are politically motivated, when people want to bring down a government, that is when things like this happen. Everybody will say get your voters card and vote, vote out the people you know. Who are the people? Its all a bunch of the same people, said Afolayan.

He urged citizens to do whatever they could to reduce, cope with, or otherwise manage the current situation as they travelled home for the festivities.

Afolayan noted, The year is coming to an end. People have plans to travel. People have plans to celebrate. People have plans to rejoice, you know, with family and all. God will not let us meet evil. When we move around, I pray that the almighty Gods protection will be upon all of us.

I pray that we will never be part of, or we wont have a share in all of these things. Just like we normally would say, lets leave it in Gods hands. I think in our own individual capacity, whatever it is we can do, to reduce or cope or deal with this current situation, I think we should do it.
Olivia Yace, Cote dIvoires representative at the recently held Miss Universe 2025 competition, has announced her resignation from her role as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.

Last Friday, the 74th Miss Universe pageant was held at the Impact Challenger Hall in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Mexicos Fatima Bosch emerged as the winner, with Miss Yace clinching the 4th Runner Up position.

Her position earned her the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.

However, in a turn of events, Miss Yace has resigned her position, distancing herself from the Miss Universe competition.

Resignation

A statement on her Instagram page stated that the decision was driven by her desire to remain faithful to her values: respect, dignity, excellence, and equal opportunity.

With a heart full of gratitude and profound respect, I hereby announce my resignation from the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, as well as from any future affiliation with the Miss Universe Committee.

Throughout my journey as an ambassador and beauty queen, I have served with commitment, resilience, discipline, and determination. However, to fully reach my potential, I must remain firmly anchored in my values, guiding principles that pave the way toward excellence, the statement reads.

She further noted that her greatest wish is to be a role model for the new generation, especially young girls. I encourage them to push their limits, to walk confidently into rooms where they feel they dont belong, and to embrace their identity proudly.

It is this commitment to being a positive influence that guides my decision today. Stepping away from this diminished role of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania will allow me to dedicate myself fully to defending the values I hold dear.

I call upon Black, African, Caribbean, American, and Afro-descendant communities: continue entering spaces where you are not expected. Let us open the way for the brothers and sisters who will follow us. Never let anyone define who we are or limit our potential. Our presence matters, and our voices must be heard, Ms Yace added.

Other controversies

Three days to the Miss Universe finale, one of the judges for this years pageant suddenly dropped out.

People Magazine reports that on Tuesday, 18 November, composer Omar Harfouch posted to his Instagram Stories to announce the reason for his bombshell withdrawal.

Harfouch expressed his profound confusion and concern after learning that an impromptu jury was allegedly formed to choose 30 finalists from the 136 countries meant to participate.

He further claimed that he learned about the selection committee via social media.

The results of this selection are currently being kept secret, the pianist wrote on his Instagram Stories.

Road to Miss Universe

Olivia Yace is an Ivorian model, beauty queen, and advocate for social causes, including education and womens rights.

She began her career as a model, participating in the Ivory Coast Fashion Week in 2015 and winning awards, including Best Female Model, in the same year.

In 2021, she was crowned Miss Cote dIvoire. That year, she also placed as the second runner-up at the Miss World 2021 pageant, where she won the title of Miss World Africa.

She was later named Miss Universe Cote dIvoire 2025 and represented her country at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand before renouncing the title.
As a boy in the 1970s, Mathew Osaronwaji often led groups of children down to Nsisioken, a cool, winding stream that flowed through Agbi Ogale, a community in Nigerias oil-rich Rivers State.

At 15, he was already skilled with nets and hooks, catching shrimps, catfish, bonga shad, tilapia, and even electric fish.

The harvest was always bountiful, he recalled. It was a source of protein and a means of livelihood for our families.

Back then, the waters of Ogale, part of Ogoniland, teemed with life. The community hosted a yearly fishing festival where children from neighbouring villages competed to fill their baskets first. Then, it wasnt unusual for a single family to haul in 100 kilograms of fish in a day. Those who didnt have boats stood by the waters edge, casting their hooks and lines.

In addition to the Nsisioken Stream, the Ogale community had seven other streams, namely Nmu Okulu Ogale, Oken Mba, Oken Adaran, Okulu Ebo, Oken Eta, Nmu Okon, and Nmu Chapun. These streams were not just rich fishing grounds but also vital sources of drinking and cooking water for the community.

Today, those memories feel like they belong to another lifetime. Since the late 1980s, repeated oil spills have devastated Ogales natural environment, eroding its once-rich biodiversity and natural capital.

Decades of oil exploration and production activities by oil companies have turned Ogoniland into one of the most polluted places in the world. According to the United Nations, at least 1.5 million tons of crude oil have been spilled across the Niger Delta since 1958 in more than 7,000 incidents, with Ogoniland, comprising 261 communities spread over nearly 1,000 sq km (385 square miles), being the epicentre. Between 1976 and 1991, more than two million barrels of oil polluted Ogoniland alone in 2,976 separate oil spills.

Shell, one of the main operators in the region, has left a long trail of pollution in Ogale, a community of about 40,000 people. Records show more than 40 oil spills linked to its pipelines and infrastructure since 1989. The companys own data indicates that, on average, more than two spills have occurred every year, including at least 55 spills in Ogale since September 2011. Although Shell suspended operations in Ogoniland in 1993 following widespread protests over environmental degradation, the legacy of contamination continues to shape daily life in the community.

Now, as Shell withdraws from onshore operations in the challenging Niger Delta terrain, its assets  and their legacy of contamination  are being handed over to a Nigerian consortium, Renaissance Africa.

Biodiversity on the brink

More than two decades after Shell ceased drilling, Ogales streams remain contaminated, and its once-thriving fish population has all but vanished. Our fish have gone into extinction, said Mr Osaronwaji, now president of the Agbi Improvement Union. Back then, it was common to see porcupines, grasscutters, and other animals near the streams. Now, theyre gone.

An environmental scientist at the University of Port Harcourt, Lebari Sibe, said that oil spills kill fish directly, destroy their habitats, and hinder natural recovery, which can eventually lead to the local extinction of certain species.

When crude oil spills into rivers, creeks, and mangroves, he said, it coats the surface of the water, blocking sunlight and reducing oxygen exchange, which suffocates fish and other aquatic life. Toxic components of the oil, such as benzene and heavy metals, contaminate the water and sediments, poisoning fish directly and impairing their ability to reproduce.

He added that over time, these pollutants also kill plankton and invertebrates, disrupting the food chain. In places like Ogale, where spills remain unremediated for decades, habitats are permanently degraded, making recovery nearly impossible.

If the ecosystem remains unfavourable or conducive for their survival, they will not appear, he noted.

A recent visit to the Ogale community revealed crude oil still floating on two of its streams, with the stench of petroleum thick in the air. Nsisioken, once the pride of the community, is now partly a waste dump, its banks overgrown with weeds.

Memories of a once thriving past

Eunice Osaronwaji married into the Agbi Ogale community in 1980. She still longs for the days when fishing sustained families and life revolved around the streams.

Apart from fishing, families planted vegetables, peppers, and water yams around the swampy areas, she recalled. The harvests were always bountiful. Today, we can no longer farm near Nsisioken Stream.

Friday Oyor, another elder in the Ogale community, remembers when the Nsisioken Stream was surrounded by lush mangrove ecosystems that served as nurseries, feeding grounds, and habitats for fish, crustaceans, birds, reptiles, and mammals.

We had palm trees and other species such as Acacia, locally known as Ngorongo, growing around Nsisioken, Mr Oyor said. They provided habitats, food, and shelter for birds, mammals, and insects. Now, they are all gone, our swamps, our fishing nets, everything.

With their streams now contaminated, Mr Oyor and other residents of Ogale are forced to buy fish at exorbitant prices from Nchia General Market or Eleme Market. They even purchase drinking water from vendors.

For environmental activist Solomon Oyor, the oil spills have destroyed more than livelihoods; they have also eroded cultural traditions. He laments the loss of Oken Adaran, a revered stream where young women once performed pre-marriage water-fetching rituals.

What worries me most, Mr Oyor said, is that I dont believe the remediation agency will restore the Ogale community to what it used to be, not with the pace and quality of work being done.

His concern reflects findings from U.N. documents obtained by the AP News, which revealed that the cleanup of Ogoniland, including Ogale, as recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has been largely mismanaged.

No cleanup for Nsisioken

In its 2011 report, UNEP found that water from Nsisioken was contaminated with benzene, a known carcinogen, at levels over 900 times above the World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline. UNEP recommended that the contamination required emergency action, prioritising it above all other remediation efforts.

However, findings show that no remediation attempt has been carried out in the area.

We dont know why HYPREP has not come here, since the reports say it should be addressed first; they have not visited, carried out any assessment. We feel abandoned by the government and HYPREP, and we cannot go back to fishing, said Mr Osaronwaji.

Although soil and groundwater remediation is ongoing in parts of the Ogale community, many residents doubt its effectiveness, pointing out that underground water remains contaminated.

Former Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman of Ogale community, Fred Oyor, said that it has been over two years since HYPREP last visited Ogale community, yet groundwater in some locations remains contaminated.

It is even worse than it was before they started their operations, he claimed. And nobody is even talking about the Nsisioken River.

According to Olube Obe, who works in HYPREPs Public Health Department, Nsisioken River was classified as a complex site, which explains why remediation has not yet started.

We had to begin with the semi-complex sites so that whatever lessons we learn can be applied to the complex ones, Mr Obe explained. Contracts are now being awarded for the environmental assessment of those complex sites.

He dismissed claims that HYPREPs work has been ineffective, noting that in some locations, contractors dug as deep as 11 metres before discovering that pollution was still present. The site has since been classified as complex and will need to be re-awarded for further remediation.

Funding remains a major challenge because the level of pollution we have encountered is far beyond what we initially anticipated, he said, adding that fluctuations in the prices of materials are also affecting the progress of the project.

Move to restart drilling and the pushback

Despite unresolved environmental damage, Nigerias federal government is seeking to restart oil drilling in Ogoniland. In January 2025, President Bola Tinubu met with Ogoni leaders, urging them to put aside past grievances in the interest of peace and development.

The proposal, however, sparked swift opposition. More than 20 civil society groups rejected the plan, warning that resuming oil extraction would deepen pollution and endanger the health and rights of the Ogoni people.

The contemplated resumption of oil operations in Ogoniland poses a significant threat to the fundamental human rights of the Ogoni people to a clean and healthy environment, the right to health, and the right to life, said the coalition. The resumption of oil activities in Ogoniland is not only a betrayal of the Ogoni struggle but also a threat to the environment and future generations.

Protests

Those fears are not without basis. Just a month after the presidents announcement, a new spill occurred at Shells Ogale facility following a valve failure, sparking renewed protests. Residents marched through the community carrying placards demanding reparations and environmental justice.

In June, a landmark ruling by the High Court in London allowed Ogale residents to hold Shell liable for years of pollution, a rare legal victory after a decade-long legal battle.

Back in the Ogale community, environmental activist, Mr Oyor insists that cleanup and restoration must come before any discussion of drilling. We have been dragged years backwards, he said. Beyond remediation, we must restore the native species and revive our environment. Without that, there is no future here.

This story was produced as part of Dataphyte Foundations Biodiversity Media Initiative project, with support from Internews Earth Journalism Network. We have permission to publish.
The forest comes alive at dawn in Okomu National Park, located in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, one of Nigerias largest surviving rainforests. Birds call from the towering mahogany trees, as a thin mist drifts across the dense undergrowth.

Kowei Kingsley, a 31-year-old ranger, tightens his bootlaces and checks his GPS tracker as his team sets out for their routine morning patrol  a daily pushback against illegal loggers, poachers, and farmers from nearby communities, who, for decades, have endangered the forest.

But Mr Kingsley wasnt always on the conservation side. His transformation followed a non-profit initiative that integrated community participation and alternative livelihood support into conservation, turning former exploiters into protectors.

Just a few years ago, Mr Kingsley was one of those who crept into the park. With a chainsaw slung over his shoulder, he felled precious trees, hunted bushmeat, and returned home with enough to feed his family.

We thought the forest was endless

Before, I didnt realise the harm, Mr Kingsley said during a recent trip to the park, resting his hand on the stock of his patrol rifle. We thought the forest was endless. But when the animals began to disappear and the tall trees were depleted, I knew something was wrong. Now, I tell others to stop cutting trees. This is because these trees help us in several ways, such as the air we breathe; they help in erosion and wind control, and also serve as shelter to humans and the animals, he added.

Mr Kingsley is one of the many residents of the communities neighbouring Okomu National Park, who, previously, viewed the park as a government-imposed barrier on their livelihoods.

Okomu National Park spans over 202 square kilometres of tropical rainforest, a remnant of Nigerias once-vast rainforest belt. It is home to forest elephants, white-throated monkeys, buffaloes, bush pigs, duikers, and more than 150 bird species, many of them endangered.

What was once a haven for biodiversity became a battleground between survival and sustainability.

Israel Nosakhare, another resident-turned-forest ranger and an indigene of the Udo community, recounted how they could see monkeys and even buffalo crossing the road, to their admiration.

We were always excited to watch them. But after some years, those animals disappeared, he said. Hunting, logging, and small-scale farming were the pillars of livelihood in the forest communities, Mr Nosakhare said.

However, excessive exploitation by hunters, loggers, and farmers wiped out much of the parks wildlife population over time, he said.

It wasnt good at all, he added. The forest became quiet, and that made me realise something had to change. Thats what motivated me to join the rangers: to help protect whats left and bring back the animals we once had.

Lawrence Osaze, Conservator of Park at Okomu National Park, recalled that when he was transferred to the park in 2022, he met a place in total disarray.

However, 2022 marked a turning point. A new community-led conservation model, introduced through a partnership between the Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation and the National Park Service (NPS), began to transform the park.

The model restored order and rebuilt trust with surrounding communities, and redefined conservation from enforcement to collaboration. It turned the very people who once threatened the forest into its strongest defenders.

Today, 38 forest rangers employed by ANI from the communities, and who are mostly young men like Mr Kingsley and Mr Nosakhare, patrol the park daily. Using GPS-enabled Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tools (SMART), they track wildlife movements, monitor illegal incursions, and collect real-time data.

A major turnaround

According to the Project Manager for Okomu at the Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation, Peter Abanyam, the progress has been remarkable.

Before, we used to hear chainsaws almost every week, he said. Now, two or three months can pass without hearing a single one. Patrol coverage has reached over 80 per cent of the park; its a major turnaround.

Camera traps deployed by the foundation have recorded more than 32 forest elephants, including calves, clear evidence that the population is not only stable but breeding. The forest is regenerating. Areas that were once logged are now lush again, Mr Abanyam added.

Beyond enforcement, the conservation model introduced by the ANI and NPS partnership also recognises the close link between conservation and community livelihoods. To reduce local dependence on illegal forest activities, six Savings and Loan Groups (SLGs) were established across surrounding settlements, including Udo, Iguewan, Okomu AT&P, and Ugolo.

Each group comprises about 20 members, mostly women and young people, who pool their savings, access small loans, and receive training in entrepreneurship and sustainable farming practices.

Rita Jerome, a 35-year-old teacher-turned-entrepreneur from the Okomu AT&P community, smiled as she spoke about how the initiative transformed her life.

Before, I had business ideas but no money, she said. Through our group, Ive taken loans of N300,000 and N700,000. I started poultry farming, and now I supply eggs to nearby villages. She added that this opportunity has helped reduce her reliance on the forest for income.

Similarly, a cocoa farmer from the Udo community, Sikiru Azeez, recalled how he once depended on middlemen for loans to buy farm inputs, often on exploitative terms. Now we have financial independence, he said. Its reduced pressure on the park because people have alternatives.

So far, records show that more than 120 residents have benefited from the SLG model, creating a ripple effect of economic empowerment and environmental consciousness in communities surrounding the park.

Lungs of Edo

The Edo Forestry Commission has also endorsed the ANI and NPS initiative. The commissions chairman, Valentine Asue, described Okomu as the lungs of Edo State and a vital component of Nigerias climate resilience strategy.

Okomu is the only forest in Edo that still has large trees standing among 49 reserves, Mr Asue said.

He explained that the state governments support for ANIs work aligns with its forest regeneration policy, which mandates the planting of five trees for every one felled. Conservation is now part of our development agenda, he said.

Mr Asue added that the government recently constructed a 30-room accommodation block for park rangers to enhance their living and working conditions, another sign of its commitment to sustainable forest management.

Relations between local communities and park authorities were once strained. Many residents saw the park as a government-controlled no-go zone. But a participatory management approach has helped change that perception.

The parks conservator, Mr Osaze, admits that past confrontations were frequent. Before now, we had constant clashes. Today, communities call to report illegal activities before we even get there. Theyve become our eyes and ears, he said. That shift in mindset, he added, is perhaps the greatest success of all.

Nigeria remains one of the top 10 countries losing primary forest cover at the fastest rate. Between 2001 and 2023, the country lost more than 1.9 million hectares of tree cover, a 14 per cent decline, according to Global Forest Watch.

The Niger Delta region, where Okomu National Park is located and which harbours some of Africas richest biodiversity, faces mounting threats from oil pollution, deforestation, and population pressure.

Top-down never works

Experts warn that without community participation, conservation policies are bound to fail. They note that top-down protection has never worked in isolation.

Stella Egbe of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) commended the community-led approach at Okomu National Park, describing it as a model that places ownership and responsibility in the hands of local people.

With that level of support and incentives from conservation organisations, the activities do not appear alien but are formed in line with the culture of the proximal community. It is therefore a welcome development, she said.

Ms Egbe described the establishment of Okomu National Park as a deliberate policy initiative, noting that Nigerias network of national parks forms a key component of the countrys broader strategy to conserve its rich genetic and ecological resources.

Its great that its being sustained. The 2030 biodiversity targets rest on the protection of 30 per cent of land and other ecosystems within our boundaries. The existence of our national parks ensures that we are on course to meet these targets, she said.

Beyond wildlife preservation, the Okomu model also supports climate adaptation. The rainforest serves as a vital carbon sink, storing thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. By curbing deforestation and promoting sustainable livelihoods, the initiative aligns with Nigerias Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

However, despite its progress, Okomu faces logistical and financial constraints. Rangers still lack sufficient patrol vehicles and communication gadgets, while some park boundaries remain unmapped, leading to land disputes.

People sometimes encroach unknowingly, Mr Abanyam said. ANI is working with the Edo GIS agency to clearly demarcate the park boundaries.

Scaling up the model is another hurdle.

Edo State has 49 forest reserves, many of which are under severe pressure. Replicating Okomus success elsewhere will require sustained funding, stronger enforcement, and policy consistency.

This story was produced as part of Dataphyte Foundations Biodiversity Media Initiative project, with support from Internews Earth Journalism Network. We have permission to publish.
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has called for immediate collective action to stop the growing menace of digital violence against women and girls.

FIDAs Nigeria Country Vice President, Eliana Martins, said this on Monday at a press briefing in Lagos to kickstart FIDAs 2025 Annual General Conference, scheduled for 25 -27 November.

The theme of this years conference is Bridging Gaps, Building Future: Womens Rights, Justice and Sustainable Development in Nigeria.

Mrs Martins said digital violence has become one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse, worsening gender inequalities and pushing many women and girls out of digital spaces essential for learning, economic participation and self-expression.

Many women and girls now withdraw from digital spaces due to fear of harassment, identity theft, impersonation, blackmail or AI-generated misinformation, she said.

This withdrawal limits their access to innovation, empowerment and development.

She noted that the organisation has launched a 16-day campaign of activism against online and digital violence against women and girls in the country.

According to her, common forms of online abuse include harassment, cyberbullying, trolling, doxing, image-based abuse, stalking, hate speech, impersonation, gaslighting and sextortion.

She warned that the acts leave deep psychological, reputational scars and deprive women and girls of opportunities offered by technology.

Weak implementation of legislation

Mrs Martins noted that despite Nigeria having laws like the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act of 2015 and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act of 2015, poor enforcement, the anonymity of offenders, limited digital literacy, and the lack of accountability from technology companies continue to encourage impunity.

We urge government agencies and law enforcement bodies to strengthen enforcement, adopt survivor-centred approaches and ensure timely prosecution of offenders, she said.

We also called on tech companies to enforce clear rules, remove harmful content promptly and improve user education on online safety.

The national president also emphasised the need for sustained public awareness campaigns to promote digital literacy and responsible online conduct, noting that safe online spaces are essential for survivors to speak out and access justice.

On her part, Olubunmi Arajuwa, the Deputy Country Vice-President of FIDA, said the organisation is working to ensure that technology platforms uphold safety standards and comply with laws against online gender-based violence.

Mrs Arajuwa explained that the ongoing 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence provides an avenue for wider sensitisation on digital abuse, identity theft and other online threats.

According to her, FIDA branches nationwide are carrying out awareness activities to educate citizens and push for stronger accountability from digital platforms.

Ignorance of the law cannot be an excuse for violating the rights of women and girls online, she said.

FIDA remains committed to supporting survivors, promoting legal awareness and strengthening enforcement mechanisms to curb gender-based violence in all its forms.
The increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital technological tools are amplifying existing patterns of violence against women and girls, creating new forms of abuse and exploitation, the United Nations Women has said.

The agency, in a statement on Monday to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, said that the statistics are alarming, with 90 to 95 per cent of all deepfakes online being sexualised images of women.

According to the agency, image-based sexual exploitation, deepfakes, and coordinated online harassment are just a few examples of the dangers women and girls face online.

Also, girls and adolescents are particularly vulnerable, facing cyberbullying, online dating abuse, and grooming in online spaces.

The agency noted that the rapid advancement of AI has made it easier for perpetrators to create and disseminate explicit images and videos without consent, further victimising women and girls.

The agency said that studies have shown that up to 58 per cent of women and 20 per cent of girls face some form of digital violence, although the true scale remains under-reported and insufficiently recognised.

The situation is worsening by the day, with verified AI-generated child sexual abuse material seeing a 380 per cent increase in 2024 compared to 2023, the agency said.

It said women in public lifeincluding journalists, politicians, human rights defenders, and activistsface heightened exposure to digital attacks with deeply damaging consequences.

Attacks can silence womens and girls voices in public life and deter their participation in political and democratic processes, leadership, peace processes, and decision-making, the statement reads.

Women facing intersecting forms of discriminationsuch as girls and women with disabilities, of colour, rural women, and girls and women of diverse sexual orientations and gender identitiesare disproportionately targeted and at risk of digital economic exploitation and abuse.

Manosphere

The agency noted that the growing manosphere and related ecosystems are contributing to the propagation of harmful norms that justify online and physical abuse.

According to the United Nations Secretary Generals report on violence against women and girls, manosphere is a loose network of communities that claim to address mens struggles  dating, fitness or fatherhood, for example  but often promote harmful advice and attitudes.

Technological companiesrole

The UN Women noted that technology companies have a vital role in creating and maintaining safe and equitable spaces online, including promoting accountability and reporting, deleting, or blocking harmful content on their platforms.

The agency also urged the digital companies to be preventive rather than reactive to online gender-based violence starting from the initial design of safe and ethical technology and ensuring digital platforms protect users rather than expose them to harm.

It also calls on government and civil society to hold perpetrators of online and offline violence accountable through robust, rights-based legislation aligned with digital governance frameworks.

Marked on 25 November annually, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is a global call to end all forms of violence against women and girls, raise awareness of the harms they face, and mobilise action to protect their rights and safety.

The theme for 2025 is UNiTE to end digital violence against all women and girls.
VILNIUS, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is proposing a package of tax breaks and social measures aimed at raising the country's birth rate to 1.5 children per woman, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) reported on Tuesday.

Vaidas Augustinavicius, Nauseda's chief advisor on economic and social policy, said the target is ambitious but necessary amid a sharp demographic downturn.

"The president emphasizes that it is very important to reduce the decline in the birth rate, or at least to stop it, as we have seen a huge drop over the last few years. And if possible, even to increase it," Augustinavicius said.

"We had a discussion with sociologists that if this indicator were to increase from 1.1-1.2 to 1.5, it could be a benchmark for what we should be aiming for. Of course, this is difficult to change."

Under the president's proposal, families with two or more children would pay zero income tax for five years following the birth of each additional child. Nauseda also suggests introducing income tax incentives for employers who hire parents from larger families.

Additional measures under consideration include establishing a social insurance base for young families to cover pregnancy and maternity leave, exploring the option of reimbursing part of tuition costs after the birth of a child, and granting families with children access to rent-to-buy housing through expanded municipal housing programs in regional areas.

Augustinavicius said recent trends suggest that young people in Lithuania are not rejecting parenthood altogether but are delaying family plans. "The president sees that the birth rate has been declining for several years, with a particularly sharp decline after 2022.

The International Monetary Fund reported in October that Lithuania faces mounting demographic pressure driven by low birthrates and years of negative migration. Between 1998 and 2019, the working-age population fell from 2.34 million to 1.81 million, though it edged up to 1.89 million in 2024.

The European Union's total fertility rate fell to 1.38 in 2023, down from 1.46 the previous year and far below the replacement level of 2.1. Malta had the bloc's lowest rate at 1.06, followed by Spain at 1.12. Lithuania's rate stood at 1.18. 
Nigeria is stepping up efforts to integrate gender perspectives into national decision-making, advancing policies aimed at improving the lives of women, children, families, and other vulnerable groups.

This was the highlight at the 25th National Council on Women Affairs (NCWA) and Child Development, held in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday.

In a communique shared with PREMIUM TIMES, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, noted that women make up over half of Nigerias population and play a crucial role in the economy.

Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim, however, explained that barriers continue to limit womens participation in leadership and access to formal credit.

Achieving a $1 trillion economy is unattainable without removing barriers that limit womens full participation, she said.

She added that, although women own 43 per cent of micro and small enterprises, only nine per cent have access to formal credit, and their presence in leadership remains limited.

She said, to close these gaps, the ministry is rolling out transformative initiatives, including the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention currently active in 28 states and slated for nationwide expansion.

She informed the council that progress has been recorded in womens agricultural engagement, adoption of clean-cooking solutions, skills training, market access, family support systems, child protection, and assistance to vulnerable groups.

Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim reaffirmed the Ministrys commitment to gender-responsive economic reforms and highlighted achievements stemming from the previous NCWA, such as empowering nearly 100,000 beneficiaries and advancing the implementation of the Child Rights Act and VAPP Act nationwide.

Additional milestones include creating a Department of Nutrition and Food Systems, strengthening collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, and distributing palliatives, she said.

She also highlighted the need to prioritise both girl-child and boy-child education for sustainable development and commended states such as Edo, Adamawa, and Niger for implementing gender-progressive programmes and policies.

Improving womens health

Speaking at the event, Fifi Ogbondeminu, Acting Country Representative of Population Services International (PSI) Nigeria, highlighted the organisations achievements in menstrual health, hygiene, and economic empowerment programmes across seven states.

Mrs Ogbondeminu, who was represented by Abdulhameed Adediran, Team Lead for Menstrual Health Initiatives at PSI, said the programmes have reached thousands of young women, giving them access to the comprehensive menstrual health information, access to affordable menstrual health products, and livelihood opportunities they need to manage their health and earn a living with confidence.

For women affected by conflict, were helping rebuild hope, one woman at a time, she said.

She reaffirmed PSIs commitment to supporting the rollout of the National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM).

We look forward to the Honourable Ministers sign-off so we can move quickly into printing, dissemination, and state-level adoption. In fact, some of our states have already started adapting the policy, a true example of partnership and ownership at work, she said.

In August 2025, the Nigerian government took a major step toward improving menstrual health and hygiene for women and girls with the validation of its first-ever National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM).

Mrs Ogbondeminu said PSI is committed to working with the federal and state governments, communities, and other stakeholders to translate this policy into concrete action.

More recommendations

The communique indicated that delegates discussed ways to strengthen coordination between federal and state governments, improve data management, and expand budget allocations for women and child development programmes.

The council also highlighted that sustainable development requires prioritising both girl-child and boy-child education, enhancing social protection systems, and fostering inclusive participation in decision-making.

States are also encouraged to prioritise capacity building, entrepreneurship support, and digital inclusion for women, and youth, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Participants agreed that collaboration between government, development partners, and civil society is essential to achieving measurable impacts for women, children, and vulnerable populations across Nigeria.

About the council

The National Council serves as the highest policy advisory body on issues affecting women, children, families, and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria.

It provides a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on key policy issues, review implementation progress, and adopt resolutions aimed at strengthening gender equality, social inclusion, and sustainable development across all levels of governance.
Nigeria has met two of the three global HIV targets set for 2030, marking one of the countrys strongest performances yet in its decades-long response to the epidemic.

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Temitope Ilori, disclosed this during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

The press conference was organised ahead of the commemoration of the 2025 World AIDS Day, themed Overcoming disruption: Sustaining Nigerias HIV response.

Under the UNAIDS 959595 global targets, countries are expected by 2030 to ensure that 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed receive sustained treatment, and 95 per cent of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.

Ms Ilori said, Nigeria now stands at 879895.

She said over the past year, Nigeria has continued to record important achievements in its HIV response.

We have maintained an impressive 879895 performance toward the global 959595 targets, demonstrating significant progress in diagnosis, treatment coverage, and viral suppression across the country, she said.

87 per cent of people living with HIV in Nigeria know their status, 98 per cent of those who know their status are on life-saving treatment, and 95 per cent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppressionmeaning they cannot transmit HIV.

World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is commemorated on 1 December every year to honour the people who have fallen to the disease as well as People Living with HIV (PLWHIV). It is also a day to raise awareness about the disease and the need for people to know their status.

Speaking at the press conference, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative and Head of Mission to Nigeria, Pavel Ursu, said this years WAD theme highlights the need to rethink and redefine Nigerias HIV response amid an increasingly unstable funding environment that threatens decades of progress.

Mr Ursu, who was represented by Omoniyi Amos, said the theme also highlights the urgency of protecting hard-won gains by strengthening the systems that support prevention, treatment and care.

He added that accelerating progress will require sustained commitment and the adoption of new innovations that keep the national response resilient.

Ongoing efforts

Ms Ilori said Nigeria, like the rest of the world, has faced unprecedented disruptions, including a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, fluctuating donor support, and shifts in the global health financing landscape.

She, however, said despite these challenges, Nigerias HIV response has not faltered.

Today, I stand before you to report that Nigeria remains firmly on track to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. We will not stop until that goal is achieved, she said.

She noted that in the last decade, Nigeria has recorded a 46 per cent decline in new HIV infections, and more Nigerians living with HIV are enrolled and retained in care than ever before.

She noted that State-led efforts in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission have strengthened early infant diagnosis and paediatric treatment, though these areas continue to require focused attention.

Ms Ilori noted that the agencys collaboration with civil society and community-led organisations has further strengthened community systems, expanding access to HIV testing, prevention, and treatment services, especially among key populations, adolescents, and young people.

She said in 2024 alone, 204,201 individuals from key populations were actively receiving antiretroviral therapy, with strong viral suppression rates among those retained in care.

Ms Ilori noted that domestic resource mobilisation efforts are also deepening, with several states increasing budget allocations and strengthening HIV Trust Funds to enhance sustainability and national ownership.

When global funding uncertainties threatened to disrupt essential services, the government stepped in decisively, injecting $200 million to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services, as well as allied infections, she said.

She said the government has also made measurable progress in integrating HIV services into broader health systems across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.

With the establishment of the AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Technical Working Group and an increased enrolment of people living with HIV into state health insurance schemes, we are improving efficiency and long-term programme sustainability, she said.

Additionally, innovations in digital reporting tools have strengthened strategic information systems, resulting in improved data accuracy, better monitoring, and stronger accountability across the response.

Ms Ilori said despite progress, serious challenges persist, including stigma against PLWHIV, discrimination, dependence on external funding, and limited access to services in hard-to-reach areas.

She called for stronger multisectoral coordination and a continued commitment to fighting stigma and discrimination, ensuring safe and inclusive environments for all.

Partnership

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Programmes at APIN Public Health Initiatives, Jay Samuels, reaffirmed the organisations commitment to supporting Nigerias push to end the HIV epidemic.

Mr Samuels noted that APIN, which provides treatment for more than 20 per cent of Nigerians living with HIV, is strengthening partnerships and driving domestic resource mobilisation to reduce reliance on international donors.

He said the organisation is working with institutions, foundations and other local actors to ensure uninterrupted access to treatment for Nigerians.

Similarly, a representative of UNAIDS, Gabriel Undelikwo, commended Nigerias efforts to strengthen national systems and expand local financing for HIV services.

Mr Undelikwo reaffirmed UNAIDS support, noting that sustained political leadership, collaboration and strong community engagement will be crucial for achieving the 2030 target of ending AIDS as a public health threat.
Stakeholders in the health sector have called for a renewed political commitment, increased investment in the workforce, and clearer policy reforms to strengthen maternal healthcare services across Nigeria.

They made the call on Tuesday at the 2025 Task-Shifting Symposium in Abuja, themed Bridging research, policy, and practice for better maternal healthcare in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, the Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Adedolapo Fasawe, said task shifting, which involves delegating specific responsibilities from highly specialised professionals to trained lower-cadre health workers, remains vital for expanding access to maternal care.

Ms Fasawe, however, warned that its success depends on clear protocols, structured supervision, continuous training, and strict adherence to evidence-based practice.

She noted that primary health research is crucial for understanding systemic barriers, designing context-sensitive interventions, and informing policy to promote accountability and continuous improvement.

Task shifting has been globally recognised as a practical and effective strategy for expanding access to essential maternal healthcare. This means redistributing certain tasks from more specialised professionals to well-trained and supervised less specialised cadres, she said.

When implemented well, task shifting has been shown to reduce delays in emergency obstetric care, expand access to life-saving interventions, improve continuity of antenatal and postnatal care, and reduce the workload of overstretched skilled birth attendants.

Citing examples from Ethiopia and Uganda, Ms Fasawe noted that countries adopting well-structured task-shifting models have recorded improvements in skilled birth attendance and decreases in preventable maternal deaths.

Importance of research

Ms Fasawe highlighted the central role of research in shaping meaningful policy.

She added that primary health research plays three critical roles in improving maternal healthcare.

Research helps us understand systemic barriers, guides context-sensitive interventions, and supports accountability and continuous improvement, she said.

Evidence tells us what needs refining, what needs scaling, and what needs to be discontinued. This is how research becomes the bridge between vision and impact. Policy becomes truly effective only when it is constantly informed by frontline evidence.

She reaffirmed the FCTs commitment to reducing preventable maternal and child deaths.

We have zero tolerance for maternal, infant, or neonatal mortality in the FCT. We always say theres no reason for a woman to die while bringing life into the world, she said.

Maternal mortality

Nigeria has some of the highest cases of maternal mortality, with 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In a report titled Improving Maternal and Newborn Health and Survival and Reducing Stillbirths: Progress Report 2023, WHO revealed that Nigeria ranked second behind India in maternal and neonatal deaths, with 82,000 maternal deaths, 181,000 stillbirths, and 277,000 neonatal deaths.

The countrys 540,000 deaths represent 12 per cent of global maternal, stillbirth, and neonatal deaths, despite contributing just six per cent of the worlds live births.

This data reflects both Nigerias large population and the deep gaps in its health system.

Workforce shortages undermining maternal care

Public Health Physician and Honorary Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxfords Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Francis Ayomoh, stressed the need for stronger government action to address severe workforce shortages in primary healthcare facilities.

Presenting findings from his study, Task-Shifting for Maternal Healthcare Services: A Qualitative Study of Policy and Practice in Nigerias Primary Healthcare System, Mr Ayomoh said Nigeria remains one of the worlds largest contributors to maternal deaths and that the workforce crisis makes task shifting unavoidable.

The findings suggest that at least 50 per cent of primary healthcare workers in the FCT are unpaid volunteers who rely on stipends from facilities rather than government salaries, he said.

This precarious situation requires urgent attention. One key recommendation is increased government funding to employ more PHC workers.

He added that many trained community health workers, nurses, and midwives remain unemployed despite the shortage.

It is no news that we have a severe health workforce shortage. This is why task shifting was necessary. But the study we conducted has shed more light on what the issues are with task shifting, he noted.

He explained that the main challenge is balancing access to maternal healthcare with maintaining service quality, given the significant human resource gap.

Mr Ayomoh called for continuous training, supportive supervision, and greater investment in patient-centred care, adding that Lets employ as many as the government can afford to pay.
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) marked its 25th year of operations in the country on Tuesday, with the Secretary General of ActionAid International, Arthur Larok, joining other dignitaries to celebrate the organisations work and outline plans for its next phase.

The organisation said it has spent the past two decades addressing challenges such as poverty, inequality, corruption, and poor governance through collective action, sustainable approaches, and political engagement.

According to ActionAid Nigeria, these efforts have contributed to systemic changes in areas including healthcare, education, agriculture, and inclusive governance.

Beyond celebrating its achievements, stakeholders at the event are also reflecting on the organisations future direction.

The Director of Business Development and Innovation, Nkechi Ilochi-Kanny, said marking 25 years of salvaging humanity is worthy of acknowledgement and that the renewal of commitment was necessary towards achieving the set objectives.

Origin and expansion

Although ActionAid International is 53 years old, ActionAid Nigeria was established in 2000, coinciding with Nigerias return to democratic governance.

The organisation noted that this provided a hitherto rare atmosphere for development organisations to operate and collaborate in addressing gaps in national development.

With a seasoned practitioner with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), the pioneer Country Director of AAN, Charles Abani, built a credible presence capable of mobilising communities, donors, and government partners in the country.

By 2004, under Mr Abanis leadership, ActionAid Nigeria had grown its seed fund of 500 into over 4 million through institutional donors, including the European Union, DFID, USAID, and the World Bank.

With programmes in education and health initiated, coalitions such as the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) and the Civil Society Consultative Group on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSGHAN) emerged as vital partners in advocacy and intervention to tackle systemic barriers to education and healthcare.

Today, whether in health, education, agriculture, commerce, or human rights, AAN said it has mobilised people to achieve the best results through various initiatives such as the Citizens Led Engagements on Judicial Accountability in Post-Election Justice Delivery in Nigeria (CLEAP JUSTICE), which birthed the Independent Judicial Accountability Panel (IJAP), as well as the reputable Womens Voices and Leadership (WVL) project.

AAN also initiated other projects, including the Strengthening Citizens Resistance Against Corruption (SCRAP-C), STAR Circles, Poor Education Plus, Family Life and HIV Education, and the Commonwealth Education Fund.

Next level

As part of its efforts to renew its pledge to advancing humanitarian interventions in the country and beyond, ActionAid Nigeria has lined up a series of activities not only to mark the quarter-century celebration but also to clearly identify the next steps it aspires to take.

On Monday, 24 November, the organisation set out with an internal gathering of its committed workers, celebrating collective efforts and achievements over the years.

We not only reflected on our journey so far, but also discussed our vision for the next 25 years, envisioning ActionAid Nigeria at 50 years, transitioning into a wealth-creation organisation, Ms Ilochi-Kanny said.

On Tuesday, supported by the ActionAid Nigeria International Secretary General, AAN will visit a community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to interact with beneficiaries of various interventions.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the organisation said it will honour its long-standing and outstanding partners in recognition of their contributions.
Barely 48 hours after the rescue of 38 abducted worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State has recorded another bandit attack, this time in the neighbouring community of Isapa, in Ekiti Local Government Area, where 11 residents were seized on Monday evening.

Community members said the gunmen, numbering between 20 and 30, arrived around 6 p.m., shooting indiscriminately and moving through the settlement with a herd of cattle.

According to a report by Ilorin-based National Pilot newspaper, an elderly woman was struck by a stray bullet during the assault.

A community leader, who spoke under anonymity because of safety concerns, confirmed that seven of the kidnap victims are from the same family.

The abducted persons include a pregnant woman, two nursing mothers and several young children.

The victims have been identified as; Talatu, Kabiru (20), Magaji (6), Kande (5), Hadiza (10), Mariam (6), Saima (5), Habibat (housewife), Fatima Yusufu (housewife), Sarah Sunday (22, pregnant), Lami Fidelis (23, nursing mother), and Haja Na Allah (nursing mother).

Residents said the attackers moved across parts of the town, leaving bullet holes in walls and doors. Expended AK 47 cartridges were later recovered by locals after the gunmen retreated into the forest.

Mondays attack occurred one week after armed men invaded the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Igan, in Eruku, killing three worshippers and abducting more than 30 others.

The captives were released on Sunday following coordinated operations by the military, police and SSS, as confirmed earlier by President Bola Tinubu and the Kwara State Government.

The fresh abductions have deepened public anxiety in communities along the KwaraKogi border, an area already struggling with repeated incursions by armed groups.

Police authorities in Kwara were yet to provide fresh updates on the rescue effort.

Repeated calls to the state command were not answered, and officers familiar with the operation declined to comment, leaving families and community leaders waiting for an official brief on the status of the search.
The House of Representatives has dedicated its entire plenary to a special session on Nigerias worsening security crisis, with Speaker Abbas Tajudeen declaring that the moment demanded calm judgment, discipline and a unified national response.

This session was convened in direct response to the renewed wave of violent attacks, mass abductions and coordinated assaults that have swept through several states in recent weeks.

Addressing lawmakers at the opening of the session during Tuesdays plenary, Mr Tajureen described the last few weeks as some of the most troubling for the country, citing coordinated attacks, mass killings and multiple abductions across several states.

This moment requires calm heads, careful judgment and thoughtful action, the speaker said. There must be no rush or sensational responses.

He explained that the decision of the House to suspend all regular business for the day was neither symbolic nor routine. Rather, he said, it underscored the seriousness of the moment and our duty to speak for our constituents.

Before proceeding with his address, Mr Tajudeen welcomed guests seated in the gallery, including officials of the United States Embassy in Nigeria whose presence, he said, signalled the importance of ongoing dialogue between both countries.

He also recognised the Speaker of the Parliament of St Kitts and Nevis, and other delegates of the United States of America Embassy who attended the sitting with a delegation of parliamentarians and cabinet ministers.

Civil society groups working on peace, justice and accountability were similarly acknowledged.

Series of attacks spark national anxiety

The speaker noted that the chain of violent incidents recorded in recent weeks had shaken citizens confidence and heightened public fear.

He referenced the attack in Kebbi State, the abduction of students in Niger State, and the kidnapping of worshippers in Kwara State, describing them as coordinated acts targeting civilians, security personnel and vulnerable groups.

Families are grieving. citizens are anxious, he said. These incidents remind us of the scale of the threat we face and the seriousness of the work before us.

Mr Tajudeen however, commended President Bola Tinubu for issuing firm directives to security agencies and postponing his planned trip to the G20 Summit in South Africa in order to manage the escalating situation.

He said the president had received continuous briefings from service chiefs and ordered the withdrawal of police personnel attached to VIPs for redeployment to frontline operations.

According to him, these decisions contributed to the swift rescue of abducted worshippers in Kwara State and the recovery of several students abducted in Niger State, as operations continue to trace remaining victims.

This resolve reflects both political responsibility and moral urgency, he said.

The speaker paid tribute to security personnel who had died in recent operations, asking members to rise for a minutes silence in their honour.

Their sacrifice will not be forgotten, he said.

Mr Tajudeen recalled his visit to Kebbi State, where he led a House delegation to meet victims families, eyewitnesses, community leaders, the governor and the State Executive Council.

He added that the experiences shared during the visit would guide the Houses deliberations.

Attacks aimed at destabilising Nigeria

The speaker warned that the resurgence of deadly attacks across the country suggested coordinated attempts to destabilise Nigeria and create the impression that violent groups could act with impunity.

These groups focus on soft and vulnerable targets. Their purpose is to instill fear, weaken public confidence and give the illusion of being everywhere at once, he said.

He urged Nigerians to resist panic and reject fear-mongering.

Mr Tajudeen also condemned the rapid spread of false information, fake images and unverified claims on social media, stressing that misinformation undermines security operations and inflames tensions.

Security reforms underway, but new threats emerge

Speaking on the governments efforts since Mr Tinubu assumed office, Mr Tajudeen said there had been improved coordination among security agencies and deliberate attempts to retake control of troubled areas.

He noted that thousands of captives had been freed, several extremist commanders eliminated and many displaced persons resettled.

However, he admitted that certain forms of violence had resurfaced, driven partly by the broader instability across the Sahel.

Reflecting on international developments, the speaker criticised the Nigerian Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, introduced in the United States Congress, which places Nigeria on a list of countries of concern for alleged religious persecution.

He reminded lawmakers that the House had unanimously rejected the claims, stressing that violent attacks in Nigeria had affected both Christian and Muslim communities.

These acts are carried out by violent groups pursuing their own agendas. They do not reflect the policy or practice of the Nigerian state, he said.

He said the government had communicated this position to the US Congress, the Department of State and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

While reaffirming Nigerias sovereignty, Mr Tajudeen said the country remained open to constructive partnership, including intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism training and surveillance support.

He recalled that the US President Donald Trump approved the sale of the A-59 Super Tucano aircraft between 2017 and 2021, a move that strengthened Nigerias counter-terrorism operations.

Session to offer practical solutions

The speaker emphasised that the special session was not convened to attack the government, individuals or institutions. Instead, he said, it was intended to produce practical recommendations that would strengthen the national security response.

He reminded lawmakers that the debate would be conducted strictly under House rules requiring discipline, decorum and respect for the chamber.

Mr Tajudeen closed his address with a call for unity and resilience.

These acts of violence will not weaken our resolve or undermine our unity. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
A member of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, has asked the lower chamber to declare a legislative emergency, noting that Nigerias security situation has deteriorated so severely that ordinary legislative business should not continue.

Mr Doguwa, a former Majority Leader of the House, said this during its special security session on Tuesday.

He urged his colleagues to confront the nations worsening security situation with urgency and bold action.

The lawmaker, who represents Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Consituency of Kano State, said the scale of violence, kidnappings, and communal attacks demanded extraordinary measures, including a temporary suspension of legislative activities.

Mr. Speaker, we can even declare legislative emergency. Close the House, shut it up. Who are you legislating for? What laws are you making when the country is running in blood? The country is running in blood and tears, Mr Doguwa said, invoking the suffering of ordinary Nigerians to underscore the seriousness of the moment.

Speaking with what he described as a particular concern for the security of life and property in Nigeria,

Mr Doguwa said his remarks were made with partisan considerations, but as a reflection of the urgency shared by citizens across the country.

Today, it is about the security of life and property of Nigerians, he said, adding that while security agencies are doing their best, their efforts are no longer sufficient to curb the escalating violence.

Mr Doguwa described Nigerias current security environment as devastating, noting that communities are ravaged by relentless attacks.

He referenced the particularly devastating situation in the northern states, where kidnappings, banditry, and raids have left villages emptied, farmers unable to cultivate their land, traders unable to sell, and worshippers fearful for their lives.

Despite all the efforts of the security agencies and the federal government, who are doing their best, their best is not good enough, he said. The responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property. That responsibility is being reneged upon. People are being left in serious tension, and our communities are bleeding.

He warned that insecurity is not confined to one region, religion, or political affiliation.

This is not religious. This is not political. Security in Nigeria transcends tribe, religion, and party. It is a calculated attempt to demoralise the Nigerian state, he said, warning that without urgent intervention, even political processes could be destabilised ahead of the 2027 elections.

Calling on lawmakers to take decisive action, Mr Doguwa suggested the House consider a legislative emergency, temporarily halting routine parliamentary business to focus entirely on national security.

Mr Doguwa also called for active engagement with local communities, including reorganising and supporting civil vigilante groups to strengthen grassroots security.

He recounted his experiences visiting Kebbi State alongside the Speaker of the House, highlighting the strain on state executives. I saw the governor weeping in the heart, he said.

The lawmaker said that security failures have tangible human costs. Farmers cannot safely access their fields, traders cannot attend markets, and worshippers cannot freely attend churches or mosques.

The country is running in blood and tears, he repeated, driving home the urgency of legislative and executive action.

Deputy speaker responds

Mr Doguwas call for a legislative emergency prompted responses from House leadership.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu urged restraint, noting that while the problem is severe, shutting the House is not a solution.

We are the hope of Nigeria. No problem is too big for this House to handle. We will not shut down. We will stay here together and find solutions, he said.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen who presided over the session clarified that Mr Doguwas remarks reflected his personal views and were not resolutions of the House.

Anything being mentioned here is just a mere opinion and not a decision of the House, he said, stressing that official motions must follow due process and be voted upon.
The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man for allegedly stabbing a 17-year-old boy to death following a minor disagreement in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.

Police spokesperson, Nafiu Kotarkoshi, said in a statement on Monday that the victim, Salihu Hassan, was found at about 7 a.m. on 24 November lying in a pool of blood at Ilelaryari, a densely populated community in Birnin Kebbi.

He was immediately rushed to Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital by police officers and vigilantes, but was confirmed dead by a medical practitioner.

Following a credible lead, one Jame Jidda, aged 22, of the same Ilelaryari area, was arrested in connection with the case, Mr Kotarkoshi said.

He added that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to stabbing the deceased in the neck with a sharp knife as a result of a mere argument.

The police said efforts were ongoing to recover the murder weapon, while the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Bello M. Sani, condemned the killing and cautioned young people in the state against resorting to violence during disagreements. He urged them to seek redress through lawful channels rather than engage in self-help.

Theft syndicate

In a separate operation earlier on 20 November, police officers in Warrah, Ngaski Local Government Area, arrested two men suspected to be part of a cross-border theft syndicate responsible for stealing motorcycles and household equipment in communities across Kebbi and Niger states.

The suspects, Muhammad Saidu, 22, of Kwanga village, and Kabiru Suleiman of Warrah town, were arrested by the Divisional Police Officer, Warrah, for allegedly stealing a Bajaj motorcycle belonging to a resident, Murtala Ibrahim.

Police said the suspects confessed to collaborating with several others, including two brothers, Hassan and Hussaini Kamaye, from Auna town in Niger State, and two other suspects, Abdulrahman of Tungan Mairuwa and Yahuza Aliyu of Warrah. Some members of the syndicate are still at large.

A search of the residence of one of the fleeing suspects, Yahuza Aliyu, reportedly yielded a large cache of stolen property, including four motorcycles, two sewing machines, two boat engines, three water pumping machines, two generators, two grinding machines, solar panels and a plasma television.

The Command said investigations were ongoing to track the remaining suspects and recover additional stolen items.
Nigeria has intensified the bid to secure permanent seats with veto-wielding authority in the United Nations (UN) Security Council for Africa, insisting that a comprehensive reform of the global governance system is long overdue.

This is just as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has tasked the European Union (EU) with co-creating peace and security initiatives alongside its African partners, anchored on African-led frameworks, as a pathway to achieving sustainable stability across the continent.

The Nigerian leader made the call on Monday during the first plenary session on Peace, Security, Governance and Multilateralism at the 7th African UnionEuropean Union Summit in Luanda, Angola.

President Tinubu, who is represented by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, disclosed that over 120,000 Boko Haram-affiliated individuals had surrendered in early 2025 following the Nigerian governments kinetic and non-kinetic measures.

The president stressed that the challenges of armed conflict, illicit weapons, climate pressures, irregular migration, and political instability across Africa now demand stronger cooperation.

It is time for Africa to occupy permanent seats on the UN Security Council, with all attendant privileges, including the veto. Genuine text-based negotiations under the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) framework must now commence. It is our hope that EU Member States will support Africas long-standing and legitimate call for reform of the United Nations, he stated.

He noted that addressing these challenges requires renewed AUEU focus on preventive diplomacy, inclusive governance, and long-term investment in people and infrastructure.

While acknowledging that the EU has remained one of the AUs most reliable partners since the creation of the African Peace and Security Architecture in 2002, the president recalled that Nigerias experience has shown that regional instability, if left unchecked, fuels terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and transnational organised crime.

In addressing this, the president stated that his administration has adopted a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic measures, including the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad Basin, which, according to him, remains an effective model of African-led cooperative security.

He further noted that a major component of Nigerias strategy continues to yield positive security outcomes, adding: As of early 2025, over 120,000 Boko Haram-affiliated individuals, including family members, have surrendered.

Nigerias commitment to regional stability is further reinforced by the recent Sea-Lift Agreement between the Nigerian Navy and the AU Standby Force (ASF), enhancing Africas rapid deployment capabilities for peace operations and humanitarian support, he added.

Furthermore, the president commended the EUs commitment to restoring peace in the Sahel, while recognising Europes understandable concern over irregular migration, much of which originates from ungoverned spaces shaped by insecurity.

On the security situation, the president called for an EU initiative anchored on African-led frameworks and regional ownership to drive positive outcomes.

He said, However, recent experience has shown that externally driven initiatives, however well-intentioned, cannot succeed at pace without strong regional ownership and a grounded understanding of local dynamics. Peace and security initiatives must therefore be co-created with African partners and anchored in African-led frameworks.

On irregular migration, the president advised that the issue must be addressed in a manner that acknowledges its deep economic and demographic drivers, as criminalising mobility has only compounded insecurity across the continent and beyond.

Instead, he proposed structured labour pathways, such as Nigerias Technical Aid Corps for cooperation within the Global South and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), where Nigerias highly skilled youthful population can contribute to Europes labour needs without resorting to irregular migration.

Seasonal mobility has underpinned West African civilisation for centuries  the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement simply acknowledges this reality. Our joint task is to convert mobility into safe, orderly, and productive pathways that benefit both continents, he said.

Similarly, the president frowned on the resurgence of Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCGs) in Africa, highlighting that it undermines the democratic foundations upon which the African Union was built.

He said these disruptions cannot be separated from exogenous pressures that distort political balances and strain already fragile systems.

The Nigerian leader called on the European Union to work closely with African partners in addressing the structural drivers of these crises.

To this end, Nigeria and its neighbours have initiated the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD), an initiative aimed at strengthening constitutional order, countering extremist narratives, combating disinformation, and supporting governance reforms across West Africa. It reflects our conviction that security and democratic stability must be pursued simultaneously.

The conflict in Sudan has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths and displaced over 12 million people. We welcome the G7s call for renewed diplomacy; however, external actors fuelling the conflict must be held accountable. Similarly, rising tensions in South Sudan require continued engagement to ensure the full implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement ahead of the 2026 elections, he added.

The president further stressed that Nigeria firmly believes that peace and security initiatives in Africa must be African-led and implemented through legitimate platforms.

We stand resolutely against the use of private military and security companies (PMCs) in African conflicts, as their presence often complicates resolution efforts and undermines state sovereignty.

As the world witnesses a diminishing commitment to multilateralism, the EU remains a platform for partnership and collaboration on a continent-to-continent basis, anchored on mutual respect and shared aspirations, he added.

According to President Tinubu, Nigeria remains firmly committed to advancing peace, security, and democratic governance across the continent and is more prepared than ever to work with the European Union to build a more stable, just, and prosperous world.

He expressed Nigerias deep appreciation to the Government and people of Angola for their warm hospitality, and to the European Union for its longstanding support to the African Union, particularly in the area of peace and security.

Stanley Nkwocha

Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications

(Office of The Vice President)

24th November 2025
The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, has accused the federal government of failing to act decisively against Nigerias escalating security crisis, declaring bluntly that government is sleeping while citizens live in fear.

Mr Chinda spoke during the special security session convened by the House, an extraordinary sitting dedicated solely to addressing the rising insecurity that has left citizens anxious, communities displaced and security agencies overwhelmed.

In a passionate and sombre address, the minority leader said the daily experiences of Nigerians now resemble the grim description of life given by the 17th-century philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, who described human existence as solitary, poor, brutish, nasty, and short.

Mr Chinda said the country had reached a point where citizens no longer feel safe on their own roads, in their homes or in their communities.

He argued that the government, across all arms, had failed to act decisively despite repeated attacks that have left families grieving and entire communities displaced.

Does this not appear to be the life of a Nigerian today? he asked. We can no longer travel by road in our own country without fear. When your relative attempts to travel, you remain in prayer until the person arrives safely.

Mr Chinda reminded lawmakers that Nigerians surrendered their sovereignty to the state for one principal reason: the protection of lives and property. He referenced section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, which states security and welfare as the primary purpose of government.

Are we worthy to continue to sit as a parliament if we cannot protect the lives and property of Nigerians? he asked. Four fingers point back at us when we point one at the executive. We are part of the government.

He urged lawmakers to be self-reflective and admit the failures of all arms of government rather than shifting blame.

Government Is still sleeping, nothing fundamental has been done

Mr Chinda said the country could no longer rely on what he called the fire brigade approach, arguing that authorities only react after tragedies strike.

I hear people praise the government. Government is doing well. Are we sincere? Government is still sleeping. Nothing fundamental has been done, he declared.

Must we wait until our children are kidnapped before we take steps? When 20 people are abducted and two are rescued, we beat our chests that we have achieved something. What about the 18 who remain missing?

Mr Chinda noted that virtually every week, the House debates fresh motions on killings, mass abductions or attacks, yet at the end of the day all we do is observe one minute silence, he said.

Warnings against religious division

Mr Chinda cautioned lawmakers against framing insecurity as a religious conflict, arguing that while there are religiously motivated attacks, these are not the primary drivers of Nigerias security crisis.

Are there religious killings in Nigeria? Yes. But is that the major cause of insecurity? No, he said. We cannot begin to paint this crisis with one brush. There is the economic angle, where people kill and displace entire communities for control of land and resources. There is the political dimension, where actors sponsor violence to make governments ungovernable.

He said attempts to divide Nigerians along ChristianMuslim lines only aid violent groups and undermine national stability.

The minority leader proposed that the House fast-track legislation for the establishment of a national border force to curb infiltration and arms smuggling, warning that Nigerias borders have become porous highways for criminal networks.

He also pushed for constitutional reforms enabling state and community policing, asserting that Nigeria can no longer secure its territory from Abuja alone.

We dont have an option than to go back to community policing or state policing. We must secure this country from every community, he said.

Invite security chiefs for a closed-door session

Mr Chinda urged the House to summon all security chiefs to a closed-door briefing where lawmakers could discuss sensitive intelligence, demand accountability and review the realities confronting security operatives.

A lot cannot be said in front of the cameras, he warned. Let us meet with them, tell them the feelings of Nigerians, ask for facts and figures, and take decisions with strong legislative backing.

The minority leader said he sees the present moment as a divine call for all 360 lawmakers to rise beyond politics and personal interest to rescue the country from decline.
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank Group has signed a collaboration agreement with Malaysia to jointly develop the Southern Johor Renewable Energy Corridor (SJREC) in the country, with a project value of 6 billion U.S. dollars.

The agreement was signed on Monday by the World Bank's private sector arm -- the International Finance Corporation, Permodalan Darul Ta'zim -- the strategic investment arm of the Johor state government, and Ditrolic Energy, an integrated energy company.

The trio said in a statement on Monday that the 2,000-square-km hybrid solar and battery energy storage system zone in Johor aims to power the industrial development of Johor with clean electricity and support the ASEAN Power Grid initiative by facilitating cross-border electricity trade.

The collaboration letter, signed in conjunction with the launch of the Johor Renewable Energy Policy 2030, outlines joint efforts across project development, technical support, and potential financing for the project.

Developed as a key component of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone master plan, the initial phase of SJREC is expected to include up to four gigawatts peak of solar capacity and 5.12 gigawatt hours of energy storage capacity on a 10,000-acre site.

Judith Green, World Bank Group country manager for Malaysia, said this project will support the broader sustainable development ambitions of Johor, create jobs, potentially attract foreign direct investment, and facilitate cross-border clean energy trade between Malaysia and Singapore. 
The Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun) has scaled up its surveillance on boarding facilities in schools in the state following suspicion of possible bandit attacks.

The Corps Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Tuesday while reacting to the security situation in the state.

He said efforts have been made to raise the level of security alertness within the corps.

In the wake of this recent outcry of security breaches and kidnapping, the corps has commenced full enhanced patrol of all boarding schools in the state, he said.

In the last one week, weve visited so many of the schools, weve mounted surveillance on all those schools with boarding facilities especially the ones in the border towns of the state and the outskirts of the towns.

We have equally stepped up the activities of 24-7 patrol, ember month patrol has also been enhanced at our borders to ensure protection.

The corps also paraded three kidnap suspects noted for terrorising some parts of the state

He gave the names of the suspects as Olamiju (35), Udofia and Miracle, adding that they were apprehended in Agbaje camp at Ala-dada, in Akure North LGA while attempting to kidnap some people.

The corps also paraded other 13 suspects for various offences such as stealing, armed robbery and breaking of the anti-grazing law.

The Operation Le Won Jade that we embarked on across the 18 Local Government of Ondo State has really assisted in driving away miscreants, bandits, kidnappers from our forests and this exercise is still ongoing, Mr Adeleye said.

The total number of arrests in the last one week is 34. Out of the 34, we are parading 16.

There is an Abubakar arrested in Ogbese, a 24-year-old boy, for anti-grazing. We have Usman arrested for stealing a drilling machine. We equally have Ibuba arrested for anti-grazing activities. We have an Uche that specialises in defrauding POS people.

We have a Samson, 32, that was arrested for stealing farm products. We have a Tosin that was arrested in connection with robbery and attempted murder.

We have Abiola, 25, arrested for attempted murder. We have a Samuel arrested for armed robbery. We have a Sunday, 28, arrested for stealing a phone in conjunction with Tope who is 25 years old and a 29-year-old Dayo.

We equally have a Mohamed that was arrested for anti-grazing activities and a Subuloye that was arrested for vandalizing government assets.

Decline in crime

Mr Adeleye, however, said there has been a sharp decline in criminal activities in the state, particularly as it affects herdsmen and farmers clashes due to the success of Operation Le Won Jade, adding: even before operatives of Amotekun get into the forestry reserves, we observed that they have been moving out gradually of the forestry reserve.

He thanked traditional ruler in the communities for giving timely information on the activities of suspects as a number of activities would have resulted in calamities without prompt alert from them.

Police arrest two students

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command said that operatives attached to Akungba Divisional Headquarters have arrested two students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), in connection with a case of conspiracy and rape involving a 20-year-old female student of the same school.

Police Spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, said preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was invited to the residence of her long-time friend, Queen Sodo, who is also a student.

Trusting in the longevity of their friendship, which began in secondary school and continued into university, the victim accepted a drink provided by her friend, which was later found to have been laced with drugs, causing her to lose consciousness, he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Observing that the victim had become incapacitated, Queen Sodo reportedly cleverly left the room, summoned her male co-conspirator, and kept watch while the crime was being committed.

The victim was subsequently rescued by a neighbour who noticed unusual and inconsistent noise from her neighbours room. She was found naked, unconscious, and in a compromising position with the arrested male suspect, and was immediately taken for urgent medical attention.

Following preliminary assessment, she was referred to a specialist hospital for further medical treatment, where she is currently receiving care and recuperating.

The statement said both arrested suspects have confessed to their involvement and the specific roles they played in the crime, providing investigators with crucial information to aid in the prosecution of the case.

Mr Ayanlade also said relevant and corroborative exhibits relating to the crime were recovered at the scene, including the bottle of the drug-laced drink, which will be transferred for toxicology examination, all of which have been identified by both the victim and the suspects as connected to the incident.

The suspects are presently in lawful custody, and efforts are ongoing to transfer them to Gender Desk Office, Akure, for further discreet investigation and subsequent prosecution, he added.


The Senate on Tuesday suspended its plenary in honour of the late Enugu North Senator, Okey Ezea.

Mr Ezea, a member of the Labour Party (LP), died last Tuesday n a private hospital in Lagos after a brief illness. His death was confirmed by his son, Jideofor Ezea.

At the commencement of Tuesdays sitting, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion seeking the suspension of all items on the Order Paper in line with parliamentary customs.

Consistent with our traditions as well as parliamentary customs and conventions, I will be moving that we suspend all other items, he said.

Mr Bamidele who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, added that a date would be announced for a valedictory session in honour of the late lawmaker and that senators would proceed on a condolence visit to his family.

We will proceed to pay a condolence visit to the family of late senator Okey Ezea and that a date will be agreed with the family when we will be able to hold a valedictory session in his memory, he added.

The motion was seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Oyewunmi Olalere.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, affirmed that the suspension of plenary was in line with global parliamentary practice. He thereafter ordered that all deliberations be stood down until the next legislative day.

In line with parliamentary practices worldwide. We suspend all deliberation for today to go and pay a condolence visit to the family, he said.

Mr Akpabio then directed senators to observe a one-minute silence in honour of the late senator.
Governors of the South-west states have renewed their call for state police, insisting that the worsening insecurity across the region has made the reform an urgent necessity.

Meeting in Ibadan the Oyo state capital under the auspices of the Southwest Governors Forum, (SGF), the leaders declared that the creation of state police can no longer be delayed, adding that the region must adopt new measures to protect its residents.

The meeting, held at the Executive Chamber of the Oyo State Governors Office and hosted by Governor Seyi Makinde, examined security, agriculture, economic development and regional cooperation. The communique was read by the forums chairman and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Those at the session included Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state, Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state. Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, was represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi.

In their resolutions, the governors commended President Bola Tinubu for ongoing security interventions and recent rescue operations in parts of the North, where a spate of kidnappings has triggered public concern.

They expressed solidarity with the federal government over the incidents in Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states, praising the rescue of abducted pupils and other victims.

The Forum applauds the swift response of the federal government towards the rescue of the Kwara abductees and more than 51 students of the Catholic School, Niger State, the Forum stated.

The call for stronger security measures comes amid a deeply troubling surge in violence across Nigeria. Between July 2024 and June 2025, there were 4,722 reported abductions in 997 incidents, and 762 people were killed, according to SBM Intelligence.

Meanwhile, on 21 November 2025, gunmen attacked St. Marys Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, abducting 303 students and 12 teachers. Fifty-one students reportedly escaped.

The debate over the establishment of state police has been a contentious one for a long time.

New funding and intelligence structures

A major outcome of the meeting was the decision to set up a South-West Security Fund to be managed through the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission. The fund will be overseen by security advisers from all six states, who are expected to meet monthly.

To strengthen coordination, the governors approved the creation of a digital intelligence-sharing system that will operate across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states. The platform is expected to enable real-time alerts, data exchange and joint response to threats affecting the zone.

The Forum resolves to establish a live, digital intelligence-sharing platform among all six South West States (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti). This platform will exchange threat notifications, incident logs, traveller and cargo alerts, and coordinate state-to-state rapid response, the communique read.

The forum also raised concern about criminal groups using forest reserves as hideouts. It urged the federal government to deploy more forest guards and help secure the regions extensive forest belts.

The governors restated their commitment to reclaiming these areas and preventing them from becoming corridors for banditry and kidnapping.

The governors reaffirm their collective commitment to reclaiming the forests, and ensuring that these spaces no longer serve as safe corridors for banditry, kidnapping, or any form of criminal activities, it added.

Interstate migration, illegal mining

The governors flagged what they described as unchecked migration into the region, saying it continues to pose security challenges.

They agreed to deepen collaboration across the states to ensure that movement of people does not become a cover for criminal activity.

Illegal mining, which they say is now widespread in parts of the South-west, also received attention.

The governors warned that the activity is fuelling insecurity, damaging the environment and endangering public health. They called for stronger enforcement to curb the practice.

Stronger call for state police

Reaffirming a long-standing demand, the forum said restructuring Nigerias policing system is essential. It declared that establishing state police is now a necessity and should not be delayed any further.

The Forum reaffirms its support for the establishment of State Police, emphasising that The Time is Now and it can no longer be delayed.

On food security, the governors noted improvements in agricultural output across the region and acknowledged the Federal Governments efforts to boost production. They commended farmers for contributing to recent stability in food prices.

They also welcomed the establishment of the South-West Development Commission and urged the body to deliver effectively on its mandate. The DAWN Commission was similarly praised for its work on regional cooperation and security initiatives.

The meeting ended with an appeal for unity and vigilance. The governors urged residents of the South-west to remain committed to peace and preserve the regions long-standing culture of religious tolerance.
Nigerias Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Monday unveiled the countrys new strategic framework for combating terrorism, a five-year plan expected to run from 2025 to 2030.

The security blueprint, known as the Nigeria Counter-Terrorism Strategic Plan, was developed by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Speaking at the unveiling in Abuja, Mr Akpabio said the plan shows Nigerias commitment to ensuring citizens can live without fear and secure a peaceful future.

It is a moment when Nigeria again reaffirms that our people deserve to live without fear, that our children deserve a future of peace, and that our nation must be secured to prosper, he said.

The senate president explained that the plan provides a clear framework for transforming Nigerias security architecture, modernising institutions, and strengthening national resilience.

For us, the question is clear: How do we secure our nation, safeguard our people and set Nigeria irreversibly on the path of peace, growth and stability. The Strategic Plan 2025  2030 answers this question with vision, discipline and ambition. It offers a framework for transforming our institutions, modernising our security architecture, strengthening national resilience and expanding partnerships across government, industry, civil society and the international community, he said.

Rising insecurity

For over a decade, Nigeria has been grappling with insecurity marked by frequent kidnappings, armed attacks, and violent assaults on communities, schools, and places of worship.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that terrorists, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, on motorcycles, abducted 25 schoolgirls from their dormitory, killed the schools vice principal, and injured a local security guard, Ali Maga.

On 19 November, terrorists attacked the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Igan, in Eruku, Kwara State, killing three worshippers and abducting 38 others. All the worshippers were freed on Sunday.

Last Friday, armed men invaded the St. Marys Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, and abducted 303 pupils, students, and staff, triggering widespread outrage and renewed calls for improved security in the state and the country.

Fifty of the abductees have escaped from their captors, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

These incidents form part of a troubling escalation in banditry, terrorism, and communal violence that has stretched Nigerias security agencies thin.

Akpabio on impact of insecurity

The Senate President said he has seen firsthand how insecurity has harmed Nigerias economy, forcing investors to withdraw due to fears for their lives and property.

He added that the situation has driven farmers away from their fields, shut down schools, and eroded the hope of many young people, a development he described as a key reason for designing the new security plan.

As President of the Senate, I have seen how insecurity weakens the foundations of development. Investors withdraw, schools close, farmers abandon their fields, and hope retreats from the hearts of our young people. That is why a pragmatic, forward-looking and implementation-driven plan such as this is timely, necessary and welcome, he added.

What the National Assembly is doing

Mr Akpabio stated that the 10th National Assembly has passed major laws in defence, policing, intelligence coordination, cybersecurity and counter-terrorism, and has enhanced inter-agency collaboration and the welfare of security personnel.

While security is a constitutional responsibility shared by all arms of government, the legislature has a unique obligation  to provide the legal, oversight and budgetary backbone upon which security institutions stand and thrive.

The 10th National Assembly has taken this duty seriously. We have enacted far-reaching laws in defence, policing, intelligence coordination, cybersecurity and counter-terrorism. We have strengthened agency mandates, promoted inter-agency synergy and championed better welfare for those who risk their lives daily so that Nigeria and Nigerians could be secure in their homes, hopeful in their communities, and proud to raise children in a country where safety is not a privilege, but a guarantee, he said.

He, however, stressed that legislation alone cannot solve Nigerias insecurity challenges without corresponding investments in people, technology, training, and strategic partnerships.

But legislation alone cannot secure our country. We must invest in people, technology, training and strategic partnerships. We must replace short-term firefighting with long-term planning. That is why this Strategic Plan matters  because it translates intent into action and action into measurable results.

It recognises that security is not the duty of government alone, but a shared responsibility of citizens, communities, traditional institutions, the private sector, and international allies. It stands out because it reflects a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach, Mr Akpabio added.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who was represented by the Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Adamu Laka, a major general, said the plan was the product of extensive research, inter-agency work and consultations with government ministries, security agencies, academics, civil society and international partners.

He said the vision is to position the National Counter Terrorism Centre as a regional hub for counter-terrorism and violent extremism efforts in West Africa and the Sahel.
The Lagos State Police Command said it has intensified security deployments across schools, worship centres and other public institutions, amid growing national concerns over recent abductions and coordinated attacks reported in parts of northern Nigeria.

Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh announced the measures on Monday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

He assured residents that Lagos remained safe, but noted that the enhanced deployments were necessary as the year drew to a close.

Lagos is safe and secure, Mr Jimoh said. We have deployed additional personnel to all schools, places of worship and other major public locations to ensure the safety of all residents. These deployments will continue into the New Year and beyond.

He said the command has also increased the strength of its tactical squads across local government areas, explaining that the move aligns with the polices broader efforts to deter criminal activities during the busy festive season.

Mr Jimohs assurances came amid a surge in security breaches across Kwara, Kebbi and Niger states, where abductions of students and worshippers have been recorded recently, heightening public anxiety nationwide.

Stolen vehicles linked to new employees

The police commissioner also raised concerns over a new pattern of vehicle theft in Lagos, involving newly employed drivers and car wash attendants.

He said 10 exotic vehicles were recovered during recent operations, with 56 suspects arrested for various offences.

Most of the stolen vehicles we recovered were taken by drivers who had just been employed or by car wash attendants, he said while displaying the recovered cars.

We have a responsibility to warn residents to be more cautious with their personal property.

Among the recovered vehicles were a white Toyota Hilux, a white Range Rover SUV, a black Land Cruiser, a silver Lexus GX460, a silver Honda CR-V, a grey Toyota Corolla SM3, and another Toyota Corolla with registration number JJJ 887.

Also, a Boxer Bajaj motorcycle allegedly used during a robbery attempt was recovered, the police chief said.

Weapons displayed during the briefing included four locally made pistols, a cut-to-size single-barrel gun, a fabricated firearm, several cartridges and a machete.

Mr Jimoh urged residents to adopt stricter safety practices, including avoiding leaving vehicle keys with newly engaged drivers or unattended car wash workers.

When you take your vehicle to a car wash, do not leave the key with the attendants. These measures may appear simple but they prevent avoidable losses, he said.

Previous incident

On 17 November, a Lagos developer, Olakanmi Ogundele, raised the alarm after a newly hired driver, Olufemi Jogbodo, allegedly fled with his Gelly Saloon car with number plate AGL 586 GW barely four days after resuming duty.

The suspect had accompanied him to Ogun State and returned to Lagos before disappearing with the vehicle while Mr Ogundele was in a meeting.

The police said they would sustain their operations and maintain heightened visibility across public spaces to ensure Lagos remains safe during the festive season.
The Managing Editor of PREMIUM TIMES, Idris Akinbajo, has warned that the medias fixation on breaking news is undermining journalisms core values and endangering communities.

Mr Akinbajo spoke on Monday during a panel session titled Pathways to Peace and Public Safety through People-Centred Approaches and Conflict Accountability at the third edition of the Media Development Conference (MDC-3.0) organised by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).

Moderated by Ijeoma Igwe of the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, the session examined how journalism can contribute to safety and accountability in times of conflict.

Accuracy first

Mr Akinbajo said the medias race to break news has eroded long-held standards of accuracy, fairness and harm reduction.

Everybody wants to be the first to break the news, and because of that, we are no longer concerned about accuracy or fairness, he said.

Breaking news is not an ethical concept of journalism. It is a creation of the internet. For us at PREMIUM TIMES, accuracy must be first, second and third, before speed.

He stressed that journalists must carefully assess whether any story has the potential to escalate tensions or expose communities to harm.

Mr Akinbajo also criticised what he described as violence-driven journalisma trend in which media outlets only spotlight conflicts after they erupt, rather than examining the underlying issues that fuel them.

Responding to a question on community perspectives in news coverage, the managing editor said public-interest reporting must always consider the people most affected.

He noted that journalists have a responsibility to ask how their reporting will impact lives. If information risks causing harm, he said, it should not be published simply in the name of public interest.

Journalism that fails to reflect community realities, he warned, risks becoming a tool for social injury rather than public accountability.

Community involvement

Jude Ilo, CEO of the Hague Institute for Innovation in Law (HiiL), said many security policies fail because they are created without consulting the communities they affect.

He explained that when violence occurs, policymakers often draft solutions from distant offices without asking local people what they need.

Mr Ilo cited an example from Borno State, where a military-created buffer zone inadvertently cut residents off from their farms and water sources, worsening their hardship.

Without meaningful consultation, he said, even a beautiful security architecture can end up further trapping people who are already struggling.

He emphasised that trust and empathy must shape any effective security strategy.

Inclusion

Maxwell Atti, Executive Director of the Synergy Care Development Initiative (SDI), said community safety initiatives suffer when women, youths and marginalised groups are excluded.

He noted that security meetings are often dominated by a narrow group of men, while decisions are presented as representative of entire communities.

Mr Atti stressed the need for gender inclusion, critical analysis of community needs and consistent follow-through on commitments to achieve long-term impact.

Representing the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Kuti Stephen of the Force Public Relations Department highlighted the centrality of community policing to national security.

He said public trust is essential for effective policing and noted that accurate information from citizens enables the police to respond promptly to threats.

Mr Stephen also called for stronger collaboration between journalists, citizens and law enforcement, saying such partnerships are crucial for proactive and responsive security efforts.
The President of the National Industrial Court, Benedict Kanyip, has raised concerns over observed lacuna in the Employees Compensation Act (ECA).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports ECA empowers the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to compensate injured workers, support families of deceased employees and rehabilitate accident victims.

Speaking at NSITF engagement with legal stakeholders in Abuja on Monday, Mr Kanyip raised the concerns over the provisions of Section 33 of the ECA on employers who fail to remit contributions of their employees.

According to him, it remains unclear whether affected workers can sue such employers for statutory negligence.

Mr Kanyip noted that workplace injuries are now common, adding that Nigeria is obligated under ILO conventions to prevent and compensate for such incidents.

According to him, Nigeria ratified key ILO conventions on occupational safety in 1994 and 2022.

The judge warned that failure to compensate all victims of workplace injuries undermines Nigerias commitments under the conventions.

He said national policy clearly states that occupational safety protections apply to all workers in both formal and informal sectors

Mr Kanyip thanked NSITF for initiating the engagement, organised to discuss improving the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS).

Earlier, the Managing Director of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, said workplace safety and social protection are foundational to national development.

According to him, workplace safety and social protection strengthen economic productivity, human dignity and national stability.

He added that protecting workers, guarantees prosperity for employers and safeguards the nations future.

Faleye said the conference theme aligns with efforts to strengthen legal frameworks that ensure social insurance for workers facing injuries, diseases or death on duty.

He added that prevention of workplace hazards remains a central mandate of the Fund.

According to him, in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) data, there are over 2.8 million workers who die annually from workplace accidents while 374 million sustain non-fatal injuries.

He said Nigerias challenges are worsened by lack of proper data, high-risk sectors and weak adherence to safety rules.

Mr Faleye explained that the ECA has improved the administration of compensation but requires updates to address emerging realities.

He urged the judges and the legal stakeholders to treat social protection as a right and avoid technical barriers in interpreting the law.

(NAN)
A chief magistrates court in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, remanded a 37-year-old man, Joseph Olasope, in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly inserting his finger into the private part of a three-year-old girl.

Mr Olasope, who resides at No. 35, Oladimeji St., Aguda, Surulere, faces one count of sexual assault.

The chief magistrate, M. F. Onamusi, did not take the defendants plea and ordered that he be remanded in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

Mr Onamusi adjourned the case until 10 December for advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Adegoke Ademigbuji, an assistant superintendent of police, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on 8 October at a school located at No. 3, Kareem Olanrewaju St., Badagry, Lagos.

Mr Ademigbuji said the defendant had visited the school when the incident occurred.

The prosecutor said the defendant was allegedly caught inserting his finger into the private part of a three-year-old pupil.

The offence, according to him, contravenes Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

(NAN)
Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has said he would lead the calls for the release of the convicted leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, if the latter shows remorse over his terrorist activities against the Nigerian government.

Mr Gumi stated this on a Channels Television programme on Tuesday morning.

He also spoke about his campaign for a non-kinetic approach to fighting insecurity in Nigeria.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Kanu was convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja after being found guilty on all seven counts charged against him by the Nigerian government.

The trial judge, James Omotosho, consequently sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Mr Omotosho also ordered that he be denied access to mobile devices and broadcast equipment except under the watch of security operatives.

Campaign for his release

Mr Gumi said he would champion the campaign for Mr Kanus release just as the former President Shehu Shagari administration did to former leader of the separatist group, Odumegwu Ojukwu.

This Kanu that was imprisoned for terrorism for agitating that our soldiers should be killed, if this same Kanu now will show remorse and also call for peace, honestly, I will be in the forefront in calling for his pardon and amnesty for him.

Look, Shagari, our president, we are from the same town. Shagari gave amnesty to (Odumegwu) Ojukwu. Look at Umar YarAdua; he gave amnesty to the Niger Delta militants, who also committed acts of terrorism. So, this is how we are, Mr Gumi said on the TV programme.

Mr Gumi, who has been at the forefront of calls for governments to adopt a non-kinetic approach to resolving security issues, especially in the northern parts of Nigeria, said the country will be better off with that.

The cleric claimed that since we have people who are ready to put down their arms, then why do you always decide it has to be kinetic?

Even America could not succeed in Afghanistan, even Israel could not succeed in a small strip of land. Our army is not designed for the guerilla; no army is designed for the kind of people we are showing now, no army is designed for it.

If you have been following, the Fulani herdsmen have been calling for peace. When you call them for peace, they come with their guns for many reasons.

Can you call IPOB for peace? Can you call Boko Haram? I think the former president has called for peace, and they came, but now its difficult to call for peace again. So, anybody who inclines to peace, Im with him, Im telling you, Mr Gumi stated.

His comments followed mass abduction incidents in Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states, and armed groups terrorising citizens across the country, killing and kidnapping at will.

ALSO READ: Nigerian Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi barred from 2025 Hajj

Over 300 students were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State last week.

In Kwara State, they attacked a church and kidnapped 38 worshippers. The worshippers were later released on Monday.

The victims of the abduction in Niger and Kebbi are still under captivity as of the time of this report.

In Borno, a brigadier general and other security officials were killed recently when terrorists ambushed them.

In Abuja, a police officer was killed on Friday when a security team foiled an attack by about 30 gunmen on a community in the Bwari Area Council.

The worsening security situation caused President Bola Tinubu to cancel his scheduled attendance at the G20 Summit in South Africa. He was, instead, represented by his deputy, Kashim Shettima.

The president had ordered security operatives to go after the assailants, but opposition figures have faulted his governments handling of the situation, describing it as inadequate.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has set up a cabinet-level committee to develop short and long-term responses to the states growing security challenges. The committee is chaired by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi.

The governors spokesperson, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the committee will work with community leaders and other stakeholders to design a state specific strategy that improves public safety.

He said the panels work is expected to enrich existing understanding of the nationwide security situations from local perspectives and guide government decisions.

Members of the committee include Special Adviser on Security Matters, Saliu Bello; Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development Abdullahi Bata; Senior Special Assistant on Security Muhyideen Aliu; Special Assistant on Security Moshood Gobir, and one local government chairperson from each senatorial district.

Olufunke Shittu from the Office of the Head of Service will serve as secretary.

The committee has four weeks to submit its report. It will hold targeted engagements with traditional rulers and other local actors.

Officials say the approach is to gather grounded intelligence and produce a coordinated plan that reflects the security realities across the state.

The announcement follows a string of violent incidents in Kwara.

On 17 November, armed men abducted 38 worshippers during a church service in Eruku.

The victims were freed on 23 November after days in captivity. On 24 November, another group of gunmen invaded Isapa, a neighbouring community, and kidnapped 11 residents, including a pregnant woman and several children.

The state government has stepped up military and police presence in the affected areas, but residents and local leaders continue to ask for a more structured response.
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, meets with Raja Dato' Nushirwan bin Zainal Abidin, director-general of Malaysia's National Security Council, in Beijing, capital of China, Nushirwan is in China to attend the second Bilateral Dialogue between China and Malaysia on the Management of Maritime Issues in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday met with Raja Dato' Nushirwan bin Zainal Abidin, director-general of Malaysia's National Security Council.

Wang said China is willing to work together with Malaysia to strengthen the alignment of development strategies under the guidance of the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, deepen political and security cooperation, push for more outcomes in practical cooperation, and continuously elevate strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Wang said that China is ready to tap the potential for cooperation with Malaysia in cutting-edge fields such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence and new energy, and to work with Malaysia to build a regional highland for cooperation on new quality productive forces.

Wang called on the two sides to make full use of the dialogue platform for maritime issues, promote substantive and in-depth cooperation, and manage and handle differences properly. He also called for strengthening solidarity and coordination, upholding the multilateral trading system, and injecting more stability into the world economy.

Wang said that China highly appreciates Malaysia's long-term adherence to the one-China principle, and its clear statement of not supporting any "Taiwan independence" remarks and actions. The two sides should provide mutual support to safeguard their respective core interests, and work together to defend international fairness and justice, safeguard the fruits of the World War II victory, and not allow anyone to turn back the wheel of history, he added.

Nushirwan, who is in China to attend the second Bilateral Dialogue between China and Malaysia on the Management of Maritime Issues in the South China Sea, said that Malaysia cherishes its friendship with China. He said that developing the strategic cooperative relationship between the two countries is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and sets an example of friendly coexistence among neighboring countries.

Malaysia adheres to the one-China policy, he noted, adding that Malaysia is willing to work with China to safeguard maritime peace and stability, and will actively advance key cooperation projects between the two countries and deepen practical cooperation in various fields.

Nushirwan said that Malaysia and China share similar concepts and positions when it comes to major international and regional issues, and the two sides should enhance multilateral coordination and jointly safeguard peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region. 

Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, meets with Raja Dato' Nushirwan bin Zainal Abidin, director-general of Malaysia's National Security Council, in Beijing, capital of China, Nushirwan is in China to attend the second Bilateral Dialogue between China and Malaysia on the Management of Maritime Issues in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
Africa is losing an estimated $83 billion every year due to corruption, weak governance and opaque regulatory systems in its extractive industries.

The revelation was made on Monday during a plenary session on Corruption and Capital Flows in Africas Extractive Sector at the Media and development conference 2025 (MDC) organised by the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development.

The speakers, drawn from continental organisations and governance institutes, warned that mismanagement in the mining, oil and gas sectors continues to undermine development outcomes across the region, despite the continents vast mineral wealth.

Speaking during the session, moderated by Chamun Dabengwa of NewsCentral, Pade Davies, a consultant at the African Mineral Development Centre under the African Union, said poor governance has created conditions that enable corruption and illicit financial flows to flourish in the extractive industry.

Mr Davies said that, from available records, Africa is losing about $83 billion yearly to corruption in agro-business and the extractive sector.

Instead of minerals bringing joy to the people, they are bringing pain. Poverty is deteriorating, and the government is far from expressing love to the citizens, he said.

He linked the losses to weak legislative and structural frameworks, especially in contracting and licensing processes for oil blocks and mining assets.

Many countries, he said, still lack credible cadastral systems, adequate public disclosure and transparent regulatory oversight.

He noted that weak legislative frameworks fuel numerous governance problems, including opaque contracts, limited public disclosure, poor revenue management and the lack of reliable data on mineral quantities, conditions that create ample space for corruption.

Mr Davies added that environmental degradation, inadequate impact assessments and weak community engagement further compound the governance crisis.

Systemic failures

Jean-Pierre Okenda, Executive Director at the Sentinel of Natural Resources, cited the example of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to illustrate how unclear contracting systems enable exploitation.

He explained that investors often navigate the Congolese extractive sector through multiple opaque channels because clear, unified regulations do not exist.

Mr Okenda said the lack of transparency in how assets are acquired or managed has created significant loopholes for abuse and has limited the public benefits that should accrue from the countrys natural resources.

He stressed that without strong rules guiding licensing, revenue flows and public accountability, African countries will remain vulnerable to manipulative deals that provide little value to their citizens.

Weak state-owned enterprises

Ibrahim Aidara, Deputy Africa Director at the Natural Resource Governance Institute, said governance lapses in many countries create a permissive environment for corruption and illicit financial flows.

He identified licensing, contracting, production management and revenue collection as critical points where corruption thrives, particularly within state-owned enterprises.

He explained that weak governance in these enterprises often results in hidden budget spending and politically motivated financial decisions.

He added that anonymous companies and tax-haven structures facilitate undetected movement of illicit capital, undermining domestic investment and diverting funds intended for national development.

Ademola Henry Adigun, Chief Executive Officer of AHA Consultancies, said varying reporting standards across the continent make it difficult to accurately track extractive revenues.

He pointed to the ongoing regional and global initiatives, including the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the AMREC Initiative, aimed at harmonising mineral data and strengthening transparency.

Mr Adigun explained that the industry is now moving towards mandatory disclosure of revenue, production data and other essential information.

He noted that emerging data procurement centres are working to consolidate extractive-sector information into unified and accessible databases, enabling clearer public monitoring and accountability.

About the MDC

The Media and Development Conference (MDC) is a yearly gathering that interrogates the intersection of media, governance and development across West Africa.

Convened by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), the conference brings together journalists, policymakers, researchers, civil society leaders, diplomats, technology experts and development practitioners for in-depth conversations on the regions democratic trajectory and information ecosystem.

The third edition, themed Reimagining Democracy, Development and Data for the Next Decade, explores how West Africa can strengthen democratic institutions, improve regional cooperation and harness data-driven solutions for inclusive development.
Chidinma Ojukwu has expressed regrets over the death of Super TV Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Ataga, for whose alleged murder she is standing trial at the Lagos High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square.

Ms Ojukwu, who has persistently denied allegation of killing Mr Ataga, confirmed regretting the businessmans death under cross-examination by the prosecution during her trial on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant is standing trial alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri, on charges of murder, conspiracy, and stealing.

They had each pleaded not guilty to the charges.

When trial resumed on Tuesday, Y. A. Sule announced appearance for the prosecution.

Cross-examining Ms Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder case, the prosecutor asked her if she regretted the death of the deceased.

In response, Ms Ojukwu told the court that she regretted Mr Atagas death.

I regret that he died, she said.

Ms Ojukwu further told the court that she was not the last person to see Mr Ataga alive and also denied leaving the apartment with his gadgets.

The prosecutor had confronted the defendant with allegations that she took Mr Atagas gadgets after his death.

He had also asked her about the phones and MacBook in her possession at the time of her arrest and further asked if she understood how mobile devices and laptops operated.

Mr Sule presented two receipts showing her transactions with Phone Hub, where she had reportedly swapped her iPhone.

In response, Ms Ojukwu denied having prior knowledge of the documents, but admitted that she visited the outlet to sell her MacBook Pro for N495,000.

She added that the company paid the money into her Sterling Bank account.

When the prosecution sought to tender the documents in evidence, defence counsel Onwuka Egwu raised an objection.

He argued that the prosecution was ambushing the defendant with documents that had not been previously disclosed, contrary to legal requirements.

Trial judge Yetunde Adesanya overruled the objection and admitted the documents as being relevant evidence.

The prosecution then asked whether the transaction took place after Mr Atagas death, and the defendant replied that it occurred days after she had left the apartment.

She added that her personal details appeared on the phone recovered by the police and that she had continued to use it to make calls after leaving the apartment.

When the prosecutor asked whether the MacBook was a birthday gift and if she had the receipt, the defendant confirmed that it was a birthday gift and that the person who gave it to her also gave her the receipt.

Meanwhile, during re-examination, defence counsel asked about Ms Ojukwus educational background.

In response, she told the court that she was a 300-level Mass Communication student before her arrest, adding that she had no expertise in information technology.

The court adjourned further proceedings till 9 February 2026 for continuation of trial.

NAN reports that Ms Ojukwu is the first witness for the defence.

The defence informed the court that they intend to call about four witnesses.

NAN reports that on its part, the prosecution had called about 10 witnesses.

It was reported that Ms Ojukwu and Mr Ataga were lodged together at a short-let apartment in Lagos, where the police later found the body of the deceased in a pool of blood.

The case, which began in 2021, is now in its fifth year.

(NAN)
The Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, adjourned the N4 billion fraud trial of former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, indefinitely.

This followed a request by the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its lawyer, S.O. Obila.

Trial judge Mohammed Umar, who sat over the matter for the first time on Tuesday, granted the request.

The case was recently reassigned to Mr Umar following the one-year suspension of the initial trial judge Inyang Ekwo by the National Judicial Council (NJC) in May.

Mr Obila told Mr Umar on Tuesday that he had the instruction from the lead prosecution counsel to request the court to adjourn the matter sine die.

In the light of this, I have the instruction of the lead prosecuting counsel in this case, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, to apply to the Chief Judge that since we had called nine witnesses before the previous judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, we should wait for him to return and conclude the matter, he said.

He therefore prayed the court to adjourn the matter sine die.

Responding, Mr Obianos lawyer, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said he was not opposing the application for adjournment since the prosecutor explained to him the difficulty his team had in getting the nine witnesses who had already testified.

Mr Umar subsequently adjourned the matter indefinitely.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Mr Obiano, who was governor of Anambra State from March 2014 to March 2022, was arraigned by the EFCC on 24 January 2024, on nine counts of money laundering.

The anti-graft agency alleged that he misappropriated over N4 billion from the states security vote account, diverting funds into private entities and converting some into foreign currency.

In April 2024, trial judge Ekwo refused to quash the charges, ruling that the court had jurisdiction and that a prima facie case had been established against him.

NAN reports that nine witnesses have so far testified in the trial, including a Bureau de Change (BDC) operator who claimed he received about N416 million over eight months from the states security vote account.

The case was stalled, in part, because of Mr Ekwos suspension by the NJC.

The NJC sanctioned Mr Ekwo for delivering a ruling in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021 without hearing the parties, and for ignoring an application to set aside proceedings conducted in their absence.

Tuesdays proceedings came after Mr Obiano was rumoured to have died in the United Kingdom. The death speculation was debunked by a former Commissioner for Information in Anambra State, Don Adinuba.

(NAN)
The South-east Caucus of the House of Representatives has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to exercise presidential powers of pardon in the case of Nnamdi Kanu, describing the matter as one that has grown beyond legal arguments into a national issue with deep political and humanitarian implications.

The appeal followed a meeting of the Caucus on Monday, where members reviewed the recent judgment delivered in Mr Kanus case and examined its impact on peace, security, and socio-economic stability in the Southeast.

The statement was read by Iduma Igariwey (PDP, Ebonyi) and endorsed by 42 lawmakers from the region.

The caucus comprises lawmakers from the five South-East states of Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu.

While reaffirming their full respect for the judiciary and the processes that culminated in the conviction, the lawmakers noted that the continued detention of the IPOB leader has fuelled agitation and heightened tension across the Southeast.

They stressed that although the courts have played their part, the reality on the ground shows that the matter has evolved into a broader national concern requiring political and humanitarian intervention.

They argued that the prolonged detention has had far-reaching consequences for ordinary citizens. It Communities continue to experience disruptions, including intermittent business closures, reduced commercial activity, and a persistent climate of fear.

According to the lawmakers, many families and communities have endured emotional and psychological strain, while young people remain trapped in cycles of uncertainty and hostility triggered by the unrest surrounding the case.

Beyond its political nature, this matter has taken a deep emotional toll on families, communities, and the general population. The South-east has experienced profound social disruptions, closed markets, interrupted schooling, reduced commercial activity, and fear. A political resolution would ease these human burdens and allow communities to return to a dignified life, they said.

The lawmakers recalled that Nigeria has, at critical moments in its history, relied on presidential magnanimity to heal divisions and chart a peaceful path forward.

The drafters of Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution, they said, envisaged moments when the strict application of the law may not be enough to address deeply complex situations, moments when a presidents discretionary powers could foster reconciliation, restore trust, and stabilise volatile regions.

Granting a pardon to Mr Kanu, the caucus members said, would open a constructive channel for dialogue between the federal government, elected representatives, and key regional stakeholders. Such a move, they further argued, would contribute to rebuilding confidence, easing tensions, and creating the conditions for a more sustainable and peaceful engagement on issues affecting the Southeast.

The lawmakers appealed to President Tinubu to view their request as an investment in national cohesion and long-term peace, insisting that a political solution at this moment would resonate across Nigeria as a gesture of inclusiveness and responsive leadership.

Therefore, in the spirit of national healing, unity, and responsible leadership, we respectfully urge the President to consider this request as an investment in Nigerias long-term peace and cohesion, they pleaded.

They also urged residents of the South-east to remain calm, law-abiding, and supportive of efforts aimed at securing a peaceful resolution.

The South-east Caucus reaffirmed its commitment to working with the federal government to promote national unity, inclusive governance, and lasting stability across all regions.

Kanus Case

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been at the centre of a decade-long legal battle.

He was first arrested in 2015, later fled while on bail in 2017, but was re-arrested in Kenya in 2021 and controversially brought back to Nigeria to face trial.

On 20 November, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by James Omotosho, convicted him on all seven counts related to terrorism.

For the most serious counts, including acts of terrorism and incitement, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, while additional concurrent terms of 20 years and 5 years were imposed on other counts.

Mr Omotosho said he ought to sentence the convict to death, given the gravity of his offences and lack of remorse, but for scriptural persuasion to be merciful.

The judge also ordered that he be kept in protective custody (not in Kuje Prison), denied access to digital devices, and that his radio transmitter, which the prosecution said he smuggled into the country in 2015 to further his violent secessionist campaigns, to the federal government, be forfeited to the federal government.
The federal government has announced that digitisation will serve as a central pillar of Nigerias proposed 2026 Cooperative Reform Programme.

The policy direction was reaffirmed during the national symposium of the 7th Nigerian National Cooperative Awards in Lagos by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, who also coordinates the Cooperative Reform process.

Mr Abdullahi stated that the administration will anchor next years reforms on modernising cooperative operations through full digital transformation.

According to the Minister, the reform blueprint prioritises full-scale digitisation of cooperative activities, transparent financial reporting, accurate member and asset records, stronger governance mechanisms, and technology-enabled inclusion for women, farmers, youth and traders nationwide.

He noted that the new direction highlights the governments commitment to modernise financial systems and improve accountability across the cooperative structure, which covers more than 30,000 registered groups across the country.

Akilaahs existing tools

The governments announcement aligns with tools already deployed by Akilaah Solutions, a digital cooperative platform.

The platform already provides digital savings and loans, biometric onboarding, e-voting and governance modules, real-time reporting from local units to regulators, digital welfare and subsidy distribution, and an internal marketplace for MSMEs.

Its existing infrastructure has drawn attention as one of the platforms considered technically prepared for large-scale deployment as the government moves toward nationwide digitisation.

Also at the awards ceremony, Akilaah Solutions and its parent company, MAJ Fintech Group, swept all three categories in which they were nominated, including Most Innovative Company of the Year for MAJ Fintech, Best Cooperative Management Solution for Akilaah, and Most Outstanding Cooperative President for Amenan Amandine Kouakou.

Organisers said the awards recognise the companies technical excellence, leadership, and impact on cooperative communities nationwide.

Mrs Kouakou, who also serves as CEO of Akilaah Solutions, said the recognition reflects the work being done by cooperatives across Nigeria.

This recognition is for every cooperative, every woman, every youth, and every community striving for financial dignity, she said. Akilaah is built by cooperators, for cooperators. We will continue to innovate for Nigeria and for Africa.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, on Tuesday, proposed criminal penalties within the next six months for government officials who engage in ransom negotiations or authorise unstructured amnesty deals for bandits.

Mr Kalu made the proposal during the special session on national security convened by the House in response to the recent escalation of kidnappings and attacks across several states.

He said the parliament must take immediate steps to shape a stronger crisis-response framework.

We need an anti-banditry resolution to legally prohibit ransom negotiation and mandate criminal justice process over amnesty programmes. The key provisions are criminal penalties for government officials who negotiate ransom or authorise unstructured amnesty deals, he said.

Mr Kalu added that all banditry suspects must be prosecuted through the criminal justice system, not rewarded with deals that embolden violent groups.

He said Nigerias worsening security situation requires urgent action.

He also renewed calls for decentralised policing, saying the creation of state or local police forces must be expedited. arguing that modern equipment and technology would improve response capacity.

Lawmakers raise concerns over funding, policing and technology

Other members contributed to the debate, warning that insecurity has reached levels that require coordinated action from all tiers of government.

Satomi Ahmad (APC, Borno) who chairs the Committee on National Security and Intelligence questioned how state governments were deploying funds allocated for security.

I think we need to ask what governors are doing with the funds given to them, he said. State funding is very critical at this time. Development should henceforth prioritise the security and safety of our people. We must also look beyond kinetic measures and invest in technology, big data and artificial intelligence to proactively stop the violence.

Abubakar Makki (APC, Jigawa), Chair of the Committee on Police Affairs, said the Nigerian Police Force remains overstretched, under-armed, underfunded and underpaid.

Policing a nation as big as Nigeria is not a small job, he said. The Inspector General of Police is making efforts, but he is struggling because of the depth of institutional challenges confronting the police.

Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), who heads the Committee on Navy, highlighted the scale of violence across regions from attacks on worshippers in Kwara to the mining-site killings in Katsina and assaults on communities in several states.

When you look at the North-west and North-central, banditry, kidnapping and rural terrorism are happening. In the North-east, Boko Haram and ISWAP remain active. In the South-south, maritime crime and oil theft persist,. Our schools must be safe. Our highways must be safe. Our intelligence must be faster. Our soldiers must be motivated, he said.

The special session was convened after a surge in abductions of school children and worshippers in recent weeks, alongside coordinated attacks in Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Zamfara and Benue.

Lawmakers say the situation demands strong legislative intervention and sustained oversight of national security agencies.
Africas climate policies will not survive the next decade unless communities are placed at the centre of decision-making and enforcement frameworks are strengthened across the region, experts warned.

This was the focus of discussion on Tuesday at the Media and Development Conference 2025 (MDC) organised by the Centre for Journalism, during a plenary session on Beyond COP30: Translating Policies into Action for Climate and Environmental Justice.

The session examined the rising strain on climate justice systems, the shrinking civic space for environmental reporting and the slow translation of policies into real protection for vulnerable communities.

A climate and energy expert, Gideon Ofosu, warned that technology meant to support environmental enforcement is failing to keep pace with rising criminal activity around mining and deforestation.

Mr Ofosu said limited manpower means officers cannot be stationed everywhere, which makes smarter tools essential for detecting illegal activities before serious damage occurs.

We do not have law enforcement officers everywhere because they are limited. They should be targeted. That is what technology used to be for us, he said.

He explained that recent studies in his country used a control group to monitor the movement of scavengers involved in mining and forest extraction.

According to him, each movement is tracked, and illegal activity can trigger automatic system responses that shut down operations when they move beyond approved zones.

He stressed the need for specialised environmental courts to fast-track prosecutions, noting that officers often lose motivation when arrested offenders are not convicted due to a lack of technical expertise.

We need to interact with how these specialised environments unfold and provide capacity to judges, he said.

Adeolu Adekola, Project Manager, Centre for Investigative Journalism, said African countries cannot continue to design climate interventions without community leadership.

Mr Adekola argued that communities cannot become enforcers of policies that they did not influence, insisting that meaningful participation must begin before any stakeholder ceremony or official announcement.

He said, If the community is missing on the day when decisions are made, it is going to be difficult for such policies to be implemented.

Mr Adekola added that climate strategies fail when governments ignore the socio-economic realities of the people expected to enforce them.

He said policies must reflect consent, local priorities and long-term ownership.

When you have a framework that supports the community first, their decision, you consider their responses, and consent is important, he said.

Climate misinformation

In another intervention, Mr Adekola warned that the information crisis around climate change has entered a dangerous phase, shifting from denialism to political manipulation.

He said the new wave of misinformation is increasingly tied to elite interests, resource struggles and attempts to control economic narratives.

What we are seeing is climate corruption. It is not only about whether climate change is real. It is more about economic control and power, he said.

He recounted cases where journalists across Africa and Latin America were detained or barred from travel while attempting to cover climate workshops.

He said such restrictions show how governments and powerful actors are disrupting accountability efforts.

He, however, urged media organisations to prioritise safety, digital security and mental health support for reporters covering climate issues.

Power shift

Mike Terungwa, Executive Director, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Prevention, said African civil society is working with climate frameworks that are still too centralised and disconnected from local realities.

Mr Terungwa stated that Nigerias climate commitments remain top-down and do not reflect the people most affected by flooding, drought and mining pollution.

He warned that Africas food security is under severe pressure from mining activities that destroy agricultural land.

He added that communities must be mobilised to defend their food systems or risk dependence on foreign food imports, the kind of vulnerability he described as a power tool in global politics.

He called on CSOs to confront systems built on exploitation, power capture and profit.

The masters tools cannot dismantle the masters house, he said, urging activists to keep demanding transparency and fairness in resource management.

Reshaping migration and livelihoods

Responding to participants questions, Mr Adekola highlighted the economic drivers of rural migration.

He said shrinking resources, poor planning, and decades of authoritarian rule have worsened the conditions that are pushing people from their homes.

If the source of income for some people has shrunk and there was no adequate planning, things will move from bad to worse. People will migrate. That is why we must keep focusing on climate change, he said.

He added that Nigerias national climate policy does recognise vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, but more work is needed to ensure they are involved in climate response programmes.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday presented a proposed N4.237 trillion budget for the 2026 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.

The proposal marks a significant increase of over N1 trillion compared to the N3.005 trillion budget for 2025, presented last November.

This budget is proposed at a total size of N4.237 trillion. It comprises total revenue of N3.993 trillion, with a deficit financing of N243.332 billion. The revenue includes internally generated revenue (IGR) of N3.119 trillion and total federal transfers of N874 billion, the governor said.

Capital and recurrent expenditure

Governor Sanwo-Olu proposed N2.185 trillion for capital expenditure and N2.055 trillion for recurrent expenditure, which will cover overheads, personnel, and debt servicing.

He allocated N698.891 billion to overhead costs, N201.216 billion to subventions, and N184.139 billion to dedicated expenditures, bringing the total overhead allocation to N1.084 trillion.

Personnel costs will amount to N440.449 billion, while debt servicing will include N143.876 billion for recurring debt charges and N383.404 billion for debt repayment.

Sectoral allocations

The governor assigned N847.472 billion to general public service, N147.040 billion to public order and safety, and N1.372 trillion to economic affairs.

He allocated N235.957 billion to the environment, N123.760 billion to housing, N338.449 billion to health, and N249.132 billion to education. Recreation and culture will receive N54.682 billion, while social protection will be allocated N70.024 billion.

Sanwo-Olu said these allocations reflect the administrations priorities in infrastructure, human capital development, and social welfare.

The proposal will now undergo legislative scrutiny before being passed into law.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said that as of the third quarter of 2025, the state had implemented N2.056 trillion of the 2025 budget, representing 81 per cent of the prorated estimate of N2.525 trillion. Capital expenditure stood at N1.238 trillion, or 90 per cent of the prorated estimate of N1.553 trillion.

The budget presentation, presided over by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, drew members of the state executive council, local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and other invited guests.

Governor Sanwo-Olu began his address at about 1:25 p.m., unveiling the proposal tagged Budget of Shared Prosperity.

Addressing the 40-member legislature, the governor said the 2026 spending plan aims to deepen inclusive growth and ensure that development benefits all residents.

Our mission remains clear: to eradicate poverty and build a Lagos that works for all, he said.

He explained that the proposal rests on four strategic pillars: a human-centred approach, modern infrastructure, a thriving economy, and good governance.

If approved, the N4.237 trillion proposal will mark a significant expansion of Lagos annual appropriation, representing a cumulative increase of more than N3 trillion over five years.

Budget data shows the states spending plan rose from N1.1 trillion in 2021 to N4.237 trillion in 2026. The figures include N1.75 trillion in 2022, N1.76 trillion in 2023, N2.26 trillion in 2024, and N3.366 trillion in 2025.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the new proposal reaffirms Lagos growth trajectory and builds on existing development foundations.

We remain determined to complete all ongoing projects, he added.

Security personnel from the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps manned key entry points within and around the Assembly complex.
Troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have stopped an ambush by terrorists and rescued a kidnap victim during an operation around Oshokoshoko and Obajana in Lokoja Local Government Area.

The Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Hassan Abdullahi, said the operation was launched in the early hours of Monday after security personnel received credible reports on the movement of bandits along the corridor.

He said, in his words, that the troops made contact with the criminals and overpowered them with superior firepower.

According to him, the joint team from the Kabba Patrol Base and other hybrid forces had set up a special ambush to intercept the group. One bandit was killed in the firefight, while others escaped with injuries.

Security personnel recovered an AK-47 rifle at the scene. The rescued victim, who was found in a weak state, was taken to a medical facility for treatment.

Mr Abdullahi said further pursuit operations were underway to track those who fled. He added that the Army would continue its operations to keep communities in Kogi safe and urged residents to support security agencies with timely information.

The incident comes amid a wider wave of insecurity across Kogi State and the neighbouring Niger State, where banditry and kidnapping have surged in recent months.

Authorities say coordinated raids have led to arrests, but communities continue to live under threat as criminals exploit poor infrastructure and forested terrain to carry out attacks.
The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) on Tuesday inducted 349 foreign-trained medical and dental doctors, formally integrating them into the countrys healthcare workforce after they passed the Councils assessment examinations.

The newly inducted professionals, including 340 medical doctors and nine dentists, received certificates authorising them to practise in Nigeria, a move the Council says will strengthen the countrys overstretched healthcare system.

The induction of foreign-trained doctors by the MDCN aligns with its mission to regulate the practice of medicine, dentistry, and alternative medicine efficiently, ensuring that healthcare delivery in Nigeria meets the highest standards.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Registrar of the MDCN, Fatima Kyari, urged the doctors to uphold the highest ethical standards and take their housemanship year seriously, describing it as the critical foundation of their medical careers.

Ms Kyari appealed to parents to allow their children to complete the mandatory one-year training, noting that house officers serve as the first line of care under consultant supervision.

Parents, please allow your children to complete their housemanship. This one year is a very important foundational aspect of their training. As we often say, they are house doctors, she said.

They will be the first line of care, but under the supervision of consultants, and they will learn a lot. Housemanship training remains a foundation they continue to build on, even several years later, she said.

Responsibility

Ms Kyari encouraged the new doctors to embrace the responsibility of their profession, serve patients with dignity, and contribute positively to their communities.

She also acknowledged the high global demand for Nigerian doctors, saying many foreign institutions immediately begin recruiting after induction ceremonies. Still, she emphasised the need to retain skilled professionals in Nigeria.

I know whenever we do an induction, there are institutions outside the country that are ready to recruit you, she said.

Nigerian doctors are sought all over the world because our doctors are well-trained, have resilience, and can adapt to any situation. But we also want to keep our doctors at home.

She also warned of strict disciplinary measures for professional or ethical breaches, ranging from warnings to suspension or erasure of practising certificates.

If you run into problems and a doctor is reported for a professional breach, or even a character breach, the doctor is duly investigated. We have the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigating Panel, where the doctor will be brought, she said.

If the doctor is found wanting, the case is transferred to the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, which has the same status as a Federal High Court. If the doctor is found to be in breach, sanctions could include a warning, suspension, or even total erasure and revocation of their practising certificates.

She said that although the study and practice of medicine are very demanding and carry great responsibility, they are also achievable and enjoyable.

The President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Bala Audu, also addressed the inductees, reminding them that the profession carries significant responsibility and requires consistent adherence to ethical standards both in patient care and personal conduct.

Mr Audu, a professor, highlighted the need for doctors to balance leadership and trainee roles, work effectively in teams, recognise their limitations, seek help when necessary, and meet societys high expectations, given the trust and training they have received.

Im sure you know right from your undergraduate training that the practice of medicine is regulated by high ethical standards. These standards apply to everything that you do, both in patient care and in your personal lifestyle choices. There are great expectations from you, both within and outside of the profession, by society, both locally and internationally, he said.
This photo taken on Nov. 25, 2025 shows a damaged building following an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus. A Palestinian man was killed on Monday evening during an exchange of fire with Israeli forces in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian sources said. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian man was killed on Monday evening during an exchange of fire with Israeli forces in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian sources said.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces killed Abdel-Raouf Shatyeh, a man Israel had been pursuing for more than a year and a half over alleged involvement in a vehicular attack that killed two soldiers.

The sources said Israeli forces surrounded a house on Amman Street in eastern Nablus, where heavy gunfire was heard before flames were seen rising from an apartment hit by shoulder-fired projectiles.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said it received a report of an injured person inside the apartment, but its medical crews were prevented by Israeli forces from reaching the scene. The PRCS later said locals informed them that the person had been killed by the army.

The sources noted that the raid was accompanied by a wave of arrests targeting several men in different neighborhoods of the city.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement Monday evening that, as part of a "counterterrorism operation" in eastern Nablus, "an exchange of fire is currently underway between the forces and a terrorist in the area."

Israel often describes such raids in the West Bank as "counterterrorism operations" targeting individuals linked to Palestinian armed groups. 

This photo taken on Nov. 25, 2025 shows a damaged building following an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus. A Palestinian man was killed on Monday evening during an exchange of fire with Israeli forces in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian sources said. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 25, 2025 shows a damaged building following an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus. A Palestinian man was killed on Monday evening during an exchange of fire with Israeli forces in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian sources said. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 25, 2025 shows a damaged building following an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus. A Palestinian man was killed on Monday evening during an exchange of fire with Israeli forces in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian sources said. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
The Federal High Court in Abuja has again adjourned the bail hearing of Lagos-based journalist Friday Alefia, imposing a N50,000 fine on the prosecution for failing to properly serve its counter-affidavit opposing the bail request.

Mr Alefias lawyer, Abida Opah, told PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday via a phone call that proceedings were stalled for the second time on Monday after the prosecution failed to serve the defence with its response to the bail application.

At the previous sitting on 12 November, the defence could not move its bail application because the prosecution had not been served, and the courts file contained no copy of the application.

A similar situation occurred on Monday, when the prosecution filed a counter-affidavit opposing bail but failed to serve the defence and also did not provide the court with its own copy.

The prosecution only attempted service inside the courtroom, but even then the judge had no record of the filing.

Because neither the court nor the defence had the counter-affidavit, we could not proceed, Mr Opah said.

The judge Obiora Egwuatu consequently adjourned the matter till Thursday for the bail hearing and imposed the N50,000 cost on the prosecution for what the defence described as an avoidable delay.

Mr Alefia, who remains in custody despite being sick, is expected back in court when the court will hear both the bail application and the prosecutions arguments.

Mr Alefia was arrested in Lagos on 23 September and transferred to Abuja, where he was held for six weeks at the now-defunct SARS facility before being arraigned.

He is accused of publishing allegedly false reports about Chinedu Ogah, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State.

He faces five counts under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Amendment Act. He is the publisher of Naija News Today (formerly Asiwaju Media).

The Commissioner of Police is listed as the complainant, with Mr Alefia as the first defendant and Asiwaju Media Company Ltd as the second defendant.

Rights groups have repeatedly criticised Nigerian authorities for using cybercrime laws to target journalists and critics.

Arraignment

At the arraignment, the prosecution informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the defendants plea.

Mr Alefia pleaded not guilty to all charges, while the judge entered a not-guilty plea on behalf of the second defendant.

The prosecution then requested a hearing date. However, defence counsel Abida Opah drew the courts attention to a pending bail application.

Mr Egwuatu noted that the courts file contained no such application, and the prosecution also claimed it had not been served.

Mr Opah, holding brief for the lead counsel, urged the court to grant a short adjournment.

He said the defendant had been in custody for two months and that the prosecution was not opposed to bail. The judge declined, saying he could not consider an unseen application.

He initially adjourned the trial to 27 January 2026 and remanded Mr Alefia at Kuje Correctional Centre, before the defence successfully sought an earlier date for the bail hearingnow fixed for 27 November.

Count one accused the defendants of conspiracy, for allegedly using computer systems, including social media platforms such as Facebook, to make false publications.

Count two alleges the defendants published a report titled How Federal Lawmaker Ogah Snatches Village Land in Ebonyi, knowing it to be false.

In count three, Mr Alefia is accused of cyberstalking for allegedly posting a false statement on Facebook in which Mr Ogah was quoted as saying: I rigged senatorial poll against Emmanuel Onwe.

Count four relates to the publication titled Ebonyi Rep Member Returns N4 Million Amidst Extortion Allegations, which the police say is also false.

Count five concerns another allegedly false report titled Ebonyi Rep Member Threatens Constituent for Supporting Charity Foundation.

All offences are said to violate Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act and are punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(i).

Mr Alefia now joins a growing list of Nigerians facing trial under the controversial cybercrime law.
Underlying this confidence is a shared conviction around one individual  Kunle Rasheed Adegoke, SAN (KRAD). The alignment behind him is not accidental, nor is it the product of fleeting political excitement. It feels more like a thoughtful convergence of interests, ambitions, and assessments. In countless side conversations, strategy discussions, and community engagements, his name emerges as the embodiment of Osogbos aspirations.

There are moments in the life of a city when its collective spirit shifts  quietly at first, then unmistakably. That is the Osogbo I encountered recently: a capital humming with clarity, determination, and a renewed understanding of its own political weight. Conversations across the city no longer revolve around what might happen in the future; they centre on what Osogbo is prepared to make happen now. The atmosphere feels like a city stepping into its own agency after years of deferring its rightful ambition.

This clarity becomes even more significant when placed beside current electoral data. Osun State now tops the national chart of newly registered eligible voters, recording about 185,089 out of Nigerias 2.3 million fresh CVR completions. A sizeable percentage of these nearly 200,000 new voters belongs to Osogbo  driven by intentional civic advocacy and strong community mobilisation across agbooles and homesteads. The numbers are not just statistics; they are a subtle declaration of readiness.

Osogbo is done waiting.

And this time, the mood is different. It is not the recycled political mantra of our turn will come. It is a grounded, unified insistence that the capital city must rightfully stake its claim in 2026. What stands out is not noise or agitation but consensus  a rare convergence of voices across divides. From community leaders and professionals to artisans, traditional custodians, and political actors, the refrain is consistent: 2026 is Osogbos year to lead.

Underlying this confidence is a shared conviction around one individual  Kunle Rasheed Adegoke, SAN (KRAD). The alignment behind him is not accidental, nor is it the product of fleeting political excitement. It feels more like a thoughtful convergence of interests, ambitions, and assessments. In countless side conversations, strategy discussions, and community engagements, his name emerges as the embodiment of Osogbos aspirations.

KRAD represents something the city has been waiting for: a candidate who appeals simultaneously to emotion and logic, to grassroots and elite, to tradition and modern political strategy. He is seen as the bridge between a city eager to reclaim its place and a party  APC  that needs a credible, relatable, and refined contender.

This support has not been hidden in whispers. Osogbos leaders have taken their resolve directly to the partys highest moral and political authorities: Baba Bisi Akande; Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola; the State APC leadership and traditional rulers and their councils

The tone of these engagements was respectful but unmistakably clear: Osogbo is aligned. Osogbo is prepared. And Osogbo is hoping the party recognises the unity emerging here.

This unity is noteworthy because capital cities are rarely aligned. They are typically fragmented by interests, ambitions, and overlapping power blocs. Yet, Osogbo has managed to collapse these divides into one shared declaration: We will not stand on the sidelines any longer.

This unity is reinforced by political developments within the APC itself  such as the weekend withdrawal of the partys National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, from the 2026 governorship race, citing reasons that further recalibrate the field and open new strategic pathways.

All these developments  grassroots energy, elite alignment, favourable demographics, and shifting party dynamics  are converging into a clear trajectory. Osogbo is not just expressing desire; it is demonstrating leverage.

And that leverage is grounded in structure, numbers, and momentum.

The capital city enters the 2026 cycle with tangible advantages: A rapidly growing voter base; strong APC machinery; expanding urban influence; deep emotional investment; an unprecedented elite consensus and a candidate who resonates with both the city and the broader party family

These are not the ingredients of a plea. They are the foundations of a strategic, well-coordinated plan.

What is unfolding is deliberate: a harmonising of aspirations, grievances, civic energy, and political arithmetic into a serious, well-timed push to break the historical ceiling that has kept Osogbo outside the governorship seat.

Osogbo is not raising dust; it is raising structure. Not emotions; but a strategic pathway. Not entitlement; but readiness.

For the first time in decades, the capital city is approaching the governorship contest with an edge that is difficult to contest and impossible to ignore.

2026 is no longer just about aspiration. It is about positioning. And Osogbo is positioned  clearly, confidently, and with the numbers to back its resolve.
President Tinubu was quick to say that all the 38 kidnapped Christ Apostolic Church members of Eruku have now been rescued. How? Was ransom paid? Did the Federal Government, the Kwara State government or the affected families negotiate with the kidnappers? If so, where are the kidnappers? Were they arrested or did the Nigerian State enter into a deal with them in order to put a red lipstick on an already sticky matter? The Nigerian people should not be denied their right to know

Clearly, the most compelling and confusing development in Nigeria in recent times is the recurring spate of abductions, the reign of impunity and the apparent failure of the Nigerian State to fulfil its obligations to the people, the most primary of this being the declaration in Section 14(2) of the 1999 Constitution that the primary duty of government is to ensure the welfare and security of the people. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pointedly acknowledged this over the weekend when after a meeting with security chiefs and his communications team, he declared that he is determined to make Nigeria safe for everybody. That, in actual fact, is his main assignment, not the chest-beating context of his declaration. In the past few weeks, there has been a worsening of the security situation in the country: 24 students were abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, in Maga, Kebbi State, and their Vice Principal, Mr Hassan Makuku was killed; in Eruku, Kwara State, Christian worshippers in a Christ Apostolic Church were attacked on 18 November, and 38 of them were abducted by kidnappers, who had been lying in wait in the bush.

The kidnappers eventually asked for a ransom of 100 million per person, making a total of 3.8 billion. While Nigerians, the authorities, and the security agencies were still dealing with this, over 303 students were abducted from the St. Marys Catholic School in Niger State. What Nigerians experience today is worse than whatever they had ever seen previously. In 2014, the abduction of Chibok girls came in at a figure of 276. On 19 February, 2018, an additional 110 school girls were abducted by the Boko Haram from the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, in Yobe State. Nearly all of them were freed, five died, but Leah Sharibu remains in captivity till today. She was the only Christian among them. Over 80 Chibok girls are also still in captivity. The situation has worsened. The over 303 children kidnapped in Niger State constitute the highest number recorded so far.

President Tinubu was quick to say that all the 38 kidnapped Christ Apostolic Church members of Eruku have now been rescued. How? Was ransom paid? Did the Federal Government, the Kwara State government or the affected families negotiate with the kidnappers? If so, where are the kidnappers? Were they arrested or did the Nigerian State enter into a deal with them in order to put a red lipstick on an already sticky matter? The Nigerian people should not be denied their right to know, no matter how happy it was to secure the return of the abducted persons, and the spectacle of seeing the church members showing up for service and sermon, on Sunday, 23 November, in a courageous re-affirmation of the eschatological principle that the whole enterprise of Christianity is to give hope in this life and the life after, the Lord Jesus Christ having washed away all the sins of the faithful in an act of eternal salvation and redemption.

President Tinubu also boasted that 50 or 51 of the abducted Niger State children have been rescued. In other accounts, it is said that the children escaped on their own; about 253 of them and 12 of their teachers are still in difficult circumstances. There have been similar reports of abductions in Borno and parts of the North-West. There is an escalation and it looks ugly. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not create the problem. He inherited it. We have been grappling with insecurity in Nigeria since 2009, and even before then, creating a pattern that throws up the ineffectuality of the Nigerian State, and the utter devaluation, degradation, and the meaninglessness of Nigerian lives. Successive administrations have claimed to be working on the problem, but the tragedy festers.

Nigeria needs to be set on a different path of renewal, reform and survival. The latest that we have heard is the promise by President Tinubu that Nigeria will become a place of safety under his watch. This is not the time for rhetoric. This is the time for visible, measurable action, not propaganda. As part of new things to come, the President has now directed that about 30,000 more policemen should be recruited. We need more than that. Nigeria does not meet the UN ratio of one policeman per 450 people.

The trigger, as it were for the current frenzy, is the re-designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by the Trump administration in the United States, on 31 October. President Trump says the United States will storm Nigeria with guns a-blazing. Twice, he has called Nigeria a disgraced country. Once, he has said that Nigerians see everything as a joke. He has also asked the House of Representatives to look into the matter, and the Committee on African Affairs has held a well-advertised Congressional hearing. To bring guns a-blazing to Nigeria, to withdraw aid and impose sanctions, the end-game implications of Nigerias re-designation as a country of particular concern, Trump would need the approval of Congress. The main grouse is that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria. Trump and his team, die-hard Conservatives and Christian evangelicals, have turned themselves into defenders of the Christian faith. They want to save Christians in Nigeria. The insult got so bad that even rap artiste, Nicki Minaj, a Trinidadian bimbo, was given a platform at a United Nations event to speak about Nigeria. She condemned us, Anaconda-style. It is instructive that the US Congress is split on the matter, and that the Nigerian government is asking for co-operation and collaboration to address a problem that is at best global.

Besides, there is much hypocrisy in President Trumps exertions. Christians are being persecuted in other parts of the world: North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, China, Sudan, Iran, Syria, and Pakistan. Why Nigeria? There has been a number of conspiracy theories in this regard, but much light was thrown up in the presentation at the US Congress, by Ms Oge Onubogu, who sounded a note of warning about the danger of the single story, a narrow narrative, the complexity of the Nigerian situation and its oversimplification. Ms Onubogu was not necessarily speaking as a Nigerian, but as a subject area expert. She is a senior Fellow and Director of the Africa Programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Previously, she worked in a related capacity at the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) and at the Wilson Centre, with practical, field experience of security and conflict issues across African states. Rep Pramila Jayapal asked: Can you tell me under what authority the US military strikes inside of Nigeria? Congresswoman Sara Jacobs concluded that Trump is reckless.

But when at the same time you listen to Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Evangelist Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo of the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), the complexity of the Nigerian situation is presented in more graphic terms. Meanwhile, Sheikh Gumi says terrorists must be protected, and that Christians in the Middle Belt are burying empty coffins for purposes of propaganda. What exactly does he mean by that? Closer to the truth is the observation that all persons of faith  Christians, Muslims and animists  are under threat in Nigeria. There is conflict and disaffection because the Nigerian government has failed its own people. It is not outsiders who will solve Nigerias problems, but Nigerians themselves. Outsiders may help, but to rebuild this country will require the commitment of everyone on the basis of unity, equity and justice. Those who are beating the drums of war do not realise that no country easily survives a religious war without deadly atrocities.

Nigeria needs to be set on a different path of renewal, reform and survival. The latest that we have heard is the promise by President Tinubu that Nigeria will become a place of safety under his watch. This is not the time for rhetoric. This is the time for visible, measurable action, not propaganda. As part of new things to come, the President has now directed that about 30,000 more policemen should be recruited. We need more than that. Nigeria does not meet the UN ratio of one policeman per 450 people. The existing number of about 371,000 policemen does not meet the national need. Besides, having more policemen is not enough. There has to be a complete overhaul of the present system in terms of attitude, ethics and orientation. The President directed that policemen should be withdrawn from VIP protection duties. About a third of Nigerian policemen are actively on duty serving so-called important personalities. This is an aspect of police duty that has been thoroughly abused. In the midst of the collapse of everything important, Nigerian policemen have been reduced to bag-carriers for the wives of rich persons, escorts for persons parading dubious wealth, houseboys for side chicks spotting Brazilian bums, and yes men to the privileged class. It is easy to hire a policeman in Nigeria once the pay is right.

Political will is missing. The politics of expediency frustrates the attempt to make Nigeria a safe place, either for children or adults. The Tinubu administration must resolve to fight criminality. Nigerian bandits are too bold. They challenge the Nigerian State. They act with impunity. They are emboldened by the payment of ransom and the sad spectacle of members of the legislature and government, arranging meetings with them and making deals.

President Tinubu is the first sitting head of state and head of government to issue a directive that this must stop and the police must return to their core duty of protecting lives and property. The average Nigerian police man is not going to like this. It wont be so easy to change the houseboy orientation of the Nigerian policeman. Carrying bags and running errands for rich wives and husbands, and the nouveaux riche, is a far more profitable and established police engagement. It is far better than being asked to stand at hotspots to look out for criminals.

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has now been tasked with the assignment of VIP protection. The Civil Defence is a para-military institution. Its men and women would require training and re-training. The entire civil defence system has to be reformed and upgraded, and the welfare of the officials must be prioritised. There would have been no need for VIP protection by the way, if Nigeria had been made a true place of safety. No Nigerian life should be more important than the other. In an attempt to be seen to be doing something, President Tinubu has taken some steps to give us the impression that he is actually doing something, but these measures do not go far enough. What Nigeria needs is not ad hoc, temporary responses but a far more comprehensive response to the security threats in the land, and a proper articulation and understating of governments responsibility.

Trumps constant heckling, irritating as it may seem, should be seen as a wake-up call and a call to action. He is looking for a Nobel Peace Prize, and he thinks he can add Nigeria to his credentials. We have a problem to solve. The extant practice of allowing military officers and policemen to retire after 35 years of service or upon the attainment of 60 years of age should be reviewed. Those who are already in retirement but are still strong enough to serve, and there must be many of them, should be recalled to service. They have the experience, the know-how, and the institutional memory that can help in a time of crisis. Nigeria is one of the few countries that I know that deliberately throws away its people of knowledge. We have adopted the same approach to tackle insecurity for decades: things only get worse. Over three years ago, the United States, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and our own Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) provided the names of terrorism sponsors in Nigeria. We did nothing. We reported nothing. It is time to think out of the box. Policemen may be distracted, but our soldiers who have been mobilised in civil aid, to do police work, are overburdened and over-stretched.

Political will is missing. The politics of expediency frustrates the attempt to make Nigeria a safe place, either for children or adults. The Tinubu administration must resolve to fight criminality. Nigerian bandits are too bold. They challenge the Nigerian State. They act with impunity. They are emboldened by the payment of ransom and the sad spectacle of members of the legislature and government, arranging meetings with them and making deals. These are criminals who do not deserve the attention we give to them, the deals that communities strike with them, and the adoration that they receive. Any politician or government official who sits with terrorists to discuss any deal, should be treated as a terrorist, and brought to book along with his accomplices under the laws of the land. It is the Nigerian government that should go guns-blazing not Trump, not the US, not anyone else!

Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, writes from Lagos.
Serah Yusuf of Wisdom International School of Excellence(WISE), Tudun Wada, Lugbe, FCT Abuja, has emerged the winner of the 11th edition of the prestigious Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition at the Grand Finale held on Friday, 21 November, 2025, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ms Yusuf, adjudged the winner of the 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition, received a cash prize of 10,000,000 (ten million naira), an all-expense-paid overseas capacity development training, and a 30 million school infrastructure project to be built in her honour by the Nigerian BreweriesFelix OhiwereiEducation Trust Fund.

The first runner-up, Adeola Akinsulure from Omole Senior Grammar School, Omole Phase 1, Ikeja, Lagos State, went home with 5,000,000, while the second runner-up, Chibuzor Amarikwa from Deeper Life High School, Kwana-Waya Village, Yola, Adamawa State, received 3,000,000. In addition, 24 other teachers who emerged as State Champions from their respective states received 1,000,000 each for their outstanding performance and commitment to excellence in teaching.

Speaking at the grand finale, the Special Guest and Governor,Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, commended the initiative for elevating the teaching profession and reinforcing its value to society.

Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed profound appreciation to the NB-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund for its enduring commitment to celebrating teachers, supporting schools, and investing in the future of Nigerian children.

Nigerian Breweries, what youre doing here today goes beyond corporate social responsibility; it is simply nation-building. Tonight, we honour the remarkable men and women whose passion, resilience, and creativity shape destinies and prepare our children not just for exams, but for life, he said.

He congratulated the overall winner, urging her to carry the honour with pride and humility as an ambassador of excellence for young people nationwide.

To every teacher being recognised today, whether you leave with a trophy or not, Lagos State celebrates you, and Nigeria celebrates you. You are the heroes whose work often goes unnoticed, yet whose impact is profound  resounding in every success, every breakthrough, and every community that thrives, he added.

Delivering her goodwill message, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, described the initiative as a notable partnership between the private sector and government in recognizing those who devote their lives to nurturing the next generation.

Today is a powerful reminder that teachers are the true architects of national transformation. Behind every thriving society lies a corps of educators whose daily labor shapes minds, nurtures values, and builds the foundation for future progress, Ahmad said, as she applauded the Nigerian Breweries-Felix OhiwereiEducation Trust Fund for its sustained investment in education and the professional dignity of teachers.

In his welcome remarks, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Thibaut Boidin, said the competition is designed to celebrate winners and honour the profession that shapes other professions, noting that teachers remain the steady hands shaping tomorrow. Boidin highlighted the initiatives growing impact, from improved school facilities to enhanced learning tools and professional recognition.

Speaking during the event, the Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Uzodinma Odenigbo, described the number of entries for this edition as quite unprecedented, with over 2,000 entries submitted, the highest in the 11-year history of the competition. He attributed the milestone to the increasing trust teachers nationwide place in the programme and commended the judges for their integrity and professionalismin evaluating the entries.

Mr Odenigbo expressed gratitude to the programmes partners, Union Bank, Air Peace, FCMB, and Eko Hotels & Suites; as well as key stakeholders including the Federal Ministry of Education, NUT, ANCOPSS, and TRCN, whose support in funding teacher registrations helped achieve the record-breaking turnout.

In her acceptance remarks, the 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year, Serah Yusuf, visibly moved by the announcement, expressed gratitude to the Education Trust Fund for recognising the invaluable role of teachers. She described her win as a powerful motivation to deepen her work, particularly in slum communities.

I feel very excited after I was declared the winner. Initially, I was shocked because I never thought my effort would be worthy of this great award. With this exciting news, I am motivated to do more and expand the activities I have done so far in slum communities. I am grateful to Nigerian Breweries Plc for creating this platform to honor and recognize teachers. I dedicate this award to children living within the slum communities, she said.

Since inception, the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition has produced ten grand prize winners, and they include Rose Nkemdilim Obi (2015), Imoh Essien (2016), Felix Ariguzo(2017), Olasunkanmi Opeifa (2018), Ezem Collins (2019), Oluwabunmi Anani (2020), Abanika Taiye (2021), AlakuAyiwulu (2022), Adeola Adefemi (2023), and EsomnofuIfechukwu (2024). The 2025 winner, Serah Yusuf, now joins theprestigious league of national education ambassadors.
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has granted regulatory approval for Leadway Holdings Limiteds acquisition of Pensions Alliance Limited (PAL Pensions) representing a significant development in one of the pension industrys consolidations in recent years.

The regulatory clearance officially completes the acquisition, where Leadway will focus on leveraging the strengths of both entities setting the stage for a bold new chapter in its journey of growth and leadership within Nigerias pension industry. This further cements Leadways position as one of the most diversified financial services groups in the country, with strategic interests across insurance, pensions, asset management, trusteeship, and investment solutions.

With the acquisition completion, Leadway will commence the process of integrating the operations of Leadway Pensure PFA (Leadway Pensure) and PAL Pensions, subject to regulatory oversight. In a strategic move to ensure customer continuity and trust, both brands will, tentatively, continue to operate concurrently with the dual approach designed to ensure seamless transition combining their collective strengths in governance, technology, and customer service.

Speaking on the development, Tunde Hassan-Odukale, Group Managing Director, Leadway Holdings Limited, described the approval and completion as a defining moment in the companys history. The completion of this transaction is a major milestone, for Leadway, and a significant step forward for the broader pensions industry. We are bringing together two trusted and high-performing brands under one vision, focused on delivering improved value, innovation, and long-term security for our contributors. This move positions us to set new standards for pension administration in Nigeria, Mr Hassan-Odukale stated.

This acquisition is about building a more robust platform the future, Mr Hassan-Odukale added. We see enormous potential in the pension sector, particularly among young Nigerians who are just starting their financial journey. By combining the expertise and resources of Leadway Pensure and PAL Pensions, we are better equipped to meet the needs of our diverse customer base and help them create wealth for tomorrow.

The acquisition reinforces Leadways long-term commitment to expanding its footprint within the financial services sector. By combining the scale, expertise, and networks of both organisations, the company aims to accelerate innovation, improve contributor engagement, and deliver broader access to pension services nationwide. This strategic move will strengthen the competitive landscape of the pension industry, creating a stronger and more resilient pension administrator that blends agility with stability in a sector that continues to evolve through regulatory reforms and increasing technology adoption.

Beyond business growth, the acquisition reflects Leadways long-term vision of driving financial inclusion by leveraging its expanded reach and digital capabilities to extend pension access to underserved populations. Leadway also reaffirms its commitment to work closely with the PenCom to ensure a seamless transition, uphold the highest regulatory standards, and guarantee the security of contributors funds.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has unveiled a bold economic vision anchored on Agriculture, Infrastructure, Energy, Technology, and Human Capital Development as he formally declared the State Open for Investment at the maiden InvestKatsina 1.0 Economic and Investment Summit.

The event, held yesterday at the Continental Event Centre, brought together experts, panelists, moderators, and industry contributors whose insights added significant value to the summit.

In his address, Governor Radda said the summit marks a turning point for Katsinas economic transformation. He emphasized that the State is not just seeking investors, but long-term partners committed to shared prosperity, sustainable development, and people-centered growth.

He highlighted Katsinas strengthsits vast arable land, strategic location, youthful population, and deep commercial historystressing that these assets will drive the States expansion into a leading agricultural hub, supported by large-scale agro-processing industries.

He announced plans to position Katsina as a major transport and logistics centre through improved road networks, rail links, and border infrastructure that will enhance Nigerias integration with West Africa.

On energy, the Governor reaffirmed his administrations commitment to renewable power development, including solar, wind, and biomass, to ensure clean and reliable electricity for homes and industries. He also outlined opportunities in ICT, fintech, digital innovation, and smart services, driven by the States tech-focused youth.

Governor Radda revealed new geological assessments confirming that Katsina hosts one of Nigerias largest commercially viable gold deposits, describing it as evidence of the States huge untapped economic potential. He assured investors of Katsinas strong commitment to security, regulatory clarity, and policy stability.

He noted ongoing reforms to strengthen security operations, enhance inter-agency collaboration, and deploy intelligence-led strategies supported by modern surveillance systems.

To reduce the cost of doing business, the Governor highlighted reforms such as digitized permits, faster processing timelines, and the creation of a One-Stop Investment Facilitation Desk.

He added that the government is investing heavily in modern irrigation, upgraded roads, broadband connectivity, industrial parks, and renewable energy grids. Governor Radda reiterated that Katsina values genuine partnerships over extractive investment models.

We do not seek investors who come only to extract; we seek partners who will build and co-create with us, he said, pledging strong political will to support business growth and economic diversification. Speaking to investors, Governor Radda emphasized that their involvement can transform lives, restore hope, build industries, create jobs, and strengthen supply chains across Katsina State.

He assured them that their investments would leave lasting legaciesserving as solid foundations for a new and prosperous Katsina.

Governor Radda encouraged all participants to fully explore the opportunities presented, engage with the States technical teams, and align their goals with Katsinas long-term development vision.

He reaffirmed his administrations firm commitment to working closely with investors, development partners, and the private sector to unlock the States economic potential and build a prosperous future for all.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Monday disclosed that a robust security arrangement would be put in place to secure the state in view of the recent spark in the spate of banditry, terrorism an nd other heinous crimes in parts of the country.

As such, the governor noted that the state government will begin the documentation of all undocumented foreign nationals working with multinational companies operating in the state.

He also said new non-indigenes entering the state for the first time would undergo proper screening by their community leaders to ensure they are not used to orchestrate violence, stressing that government must know their purpose and means of livelihood.

journalists at Iperu after a security meeting, Governor Abiodun said the measures form part of proactive steps to safeguard lives and property across the state.

He revealed that about 70 foreigners, mostly from Niger Republic, Sudan and Chad, had been arrested in recent days after failing to provide clear explanations for their presence in the State.

The law enforcement agencies have arrested, within the last three to four days, about 70 persons from Chad and Sudan who cannot even speak English and cannot explain what they are doing here. We are going to process these individuals with the Nigeria Immigration Service. We will also be calling on our non-indigene communities to be more vigilant so that we know who is here and why they are here, he said.

The governor also expressed concern over the activities of scavengers, noting that they now pose a greater security threat than before. We discussed the issue of scavengers who have become more of a threat. Law enforcement agencies will pay particular attention to them.

We will engage them to ensure they are not being used to perpetrate crimes in the state, he added. Governor Abiodun said the meeting was convened in response to the countrys current security climate, noting that as Nigerias industrial capital, Ogun receives more than five million daily commuters, making it crucial for government to heighten vigilance.

He directed the police to immediately move into areas such as Zanga in Ijebu-Ode and similar enclaves across the state and clear them out, warning that properties used by criminals would henceforth be seized by the government. Speaking on the recent incident at Ajebo in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, the governor noted that security officers had visited the settlement to verify that its occupants pose no threat.

He also assured that the states forest reserves would be thoroughly secured to prevent criminals from using them as hideouts. He further disclosed that the meeting deliberated extensively on the activities of scrap dealers and scavengers who may now be aiding criminal networks, adding that they would be properly engaged and monitored.

On illegal mining, Governor Abiodun noted that government is aware that some miners operate as miscreants, and is working with security agencies to flush out criminals from mining sites and forest reserves.

The governor appealed to residents to actively support community policing efforts by providing credible information to security agencies. Security is not the responsibility of security agents alone. We must work with them. We must report anything suspicious so law enforcement can respond promptly. We must be observant and be our brothers keeper, he said.

Governor Abiodun assured that his administration would continue to provide the necessary logistics to security agencies and cautioned Obas and Baales against allocating government land to strangers, warning that any traditional ruler found culpable would be held accountable for undermining the states interest.

He commended security agencies for their cooperation and synergy, which he said has contributed significantly to the peace Ogun State currently enjoys. The governor lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for stabilizing the economy and commended him and security agencies for the prompt rescuing of kidnapped victims in Niger and Kwara states.
Sixteen-year-old Rabi Saleh has never set foot inside a hospital. Born with multiple disabilities and unable to walk or speak, her mother, Binta, relies on traditional herbs to manage her condition. The family lives in Farin Masallaci, a village under Karari ward in the Bichi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano State.

We cant afford the city hospital. I wish my daughter could get health access here so she can get better and be like every other girl, said Mrs Saleh.

For hundreds of people like Rabi, healthcare is a dream deferred by distance, poverty and inaccessibility of facilities.

The story is the same for Taraba Rabiu, 28, who resides in Sabaru, a resettlement under Dutsen Karya

village in Bichi LGA. Mrs Rabiu faced complications with all three of her pregnancies. She delivered each baby at home.

She said the only PHC accessible to her lacked a ramp, making it impossible for her to wheel her wheelchair in, and the facility had neither a midwife nor a nurse.

I prefer giving birth at home because it is more comforting and safer for me, she told PREMIUM TIMES. There is no aid or special attention for us. Before I gave birth, every time I went for antenatal, I had to go with my husband to help me. And on the days I went alone, someone had to carry me into the consultation room.

Her husband, Musa, a shoemaker who also lives with a disability, called his wifes pregnancy periods the darkest of their lives. We had no support system, not even drugs. So, what can we do?

Existing laws ignored, lives at risk

On 23 January 2019, former President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.

The Act, among other provisions, sought to eliminate employment discrimination, provide access to public buildings within five years, foster inclusive education, prioritise healthcare for PwDs and reserve five per cent of the employment quota for PwDs in all public organisations.

The Act imposes sanctions, including fines and imprisonment, for those who default. The Act also established the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to oversee the prevention of discrimination against persons with disabilities and to ensure inclusivity for persons with disabilities across all sectors.

For Nigerias about 29 million PwD population, the legislation has had little impact. For PwDs in Karari, Dutsen Karya, Kwamarawa, Bum Bum, Rimayen Rake, and Tsaure, all in Kano State, its promises remain unfulfilled. PWDs residing in these communities rely on poorly equipped PHCs, plagued by similar gaps in inclusive service delivery.

According to a 2022 Dataphyte data, 7.5 per cent of adults in the Northwest region of Nigeriaabout eight in 100 people- live with functional disabilities.

These include 4.4 per cent with visual impairments, and 3.1 per cent with difficulty in walking, climbing steps, or standing without support. 1.7 per cent have hearing problems and 1.1 per cent experience communication difficulties people who struggle with speech, understanding, or being understood.

Healthcare facilities across rural Kano remain inaccessible to this significant segment of the population, six years after the Disability Act came into existence.

Kwamarawa, Yan Gishiri

In Kwamarawa, about 20 kilometres from Dutsen Karya, 30-year-old Hadiza Tasiu, a pregnant woman who uses a wheelchair, recalls the trauma of her last childbirth. Mrs Tasiu had attempted to attend antenatal appointments, but the clinic had no ramp, and the staff were unsure how to assist her.

There was no midwife, medicine or anything that could help me. When labour came, I gave birth at home with the help of an old neighbour, she said.

Now pregnant again, her fears are deeper. Even if Im dying, I wont go back there. They made me feel less than human, not because they hated me, but because that place was never built for people like me.

Rakiya Ibrahim, from Dutsen Karya village, has walked with a stick for most of her life. About 20 years ago, her family took her to a hospital in Kano city. Since then, she has not returned there.

We have a PHC here, but they dont treat people like me, she said with disdain, resting her thin frame on a wooden stool. Going to the city is too far and too expensive. My husband can only provide food.

Abashi Salihu, a 22-year-old suffering from mobility impairment caused by a childhood fever, lives in Yan Gishiri village, a settlement covered by the Dutsen Karya PHC. His father, Salihu Ibrahim, stated that they initially visited Bichi town for care, but it became unaffordable as years passed and life became expensive.

I cannot afford to take him to the city hospital again. Since Dutsen Karya PHC doesnt treat his condition, we have no choice but to use herbs.

But Abashi is not getting any better, according to the father.

He falls often, and Im growing old. Im afraid of what will happen next, his father said, with tears in his eyes.

Bakiru Musa, a nine-year-old who cannot walk or talk, has spent the last eight years bedridden. His caregiver, Idris Bala, now sees no future for him. To him, the PHC is not different from a local pharmacy The PHC is like a pharmacy. It cannot help us.

For Ibrahim Rabiu, a 22-year-old hearing-impaired man of Santar Kumao village, a settlement under the Dutsen Karya PHC, healthcare is not just physically inaccessible; it is culturally isolating.

People like me are ignored because they feel that since I can walk and see, my issue is nothing. Dutsen Karya PHC has no sign language interpreter, and my family says its a jinn (that is disturbing me). So, they give me herbs, he said, with a family member interpreting.

Facilities without foundation

Despite these sad realities, both Karari, Dutsen Karya and Kwamarawa PHCs lack even the basics for a health facility. No nurses, no doctors, and no assistive equipment.

Samaila Sule, the officer in charge of Dutsen Karya PHC, explained why the facility offers little to people with disabilities. We have more than 40 persons with disabilities on our records, but those are the few that came.

Most of them dont even come because we dont have infrastructure or drugsnot even a wheelchair or slope.

Karari Health Clinic has the same reality. Its head, Umar Ibrahim, stated that treating PWDs requires training, equipment and specialists, but they have none.

At Bum Bum PHC, 120km from Kano city, the second facility-in-charge, Aminu Isiyaku, stated that he had worked for 10 years without receiving disability-specific training. We always try to help when they come, but we have no ramps, no wheelchairs, no essential drugs, and not even enough staff. Its heartbreaking. Mr Isiyaku lamented.

He recalled one case where a man took his blind brother on a motorcycle for an over-an-hour ride to the hospital, only to be told no doctor was available.

The man cried. That memory still haunts me, Mr Isiyaku said.

Too far, no specialists, drugs or support

For persons with disabilities in rural Bichi, the problem isnt a single barrierits a chain of obstacles. From long distances and broken infrastructure to absent personnel and inadequate equipment, every step toward accessing healthcare is a significant challenge.

Villages like Gyauro and Kwamarawa are over 120 kilometres from Kano city, while others, such as Karari (65km) and Dutsen Karya (90km), are difficult to reach, especially during the rainy season.

But for PWDs, reaching a clinic brings little relief. At many PHCs, there are no ramps, handrails, or wheelchairs; delivery beds are also too high to climb. Most centres lack trained specialists, just a handful of overburdened community health extension workers (CHEWs) doing the best they can.

Essential drugs are often unavailable. And for patients who are deaf, physically impaired, or cognitively challenged, there are no interpreters, no assistive devices, and no emotional support.

As one PWD patient put it: Its like they built these clinics for everyone except us.

Even at Badume PHC, a health centre in Bichi, which serves over eight surrounding settlements, the facility has only one functional wheelchair and no inclusive infrastructure.

Herbs: A dangerous shift

With formal healthcare out of reach across many villages in Bichi LGA, PWDs are increasingly turning to traditional herbs. Many say they have little choice, even when the consequences are uncertain.

At Gyauro village, this reporter met a traditional herb seller, seated by a small corner where bundles of roots, leaves, and bottled concoctions were carefully arranged. After a conversation, he agreed to speak under the condition of anonymity.

We just give them what our fathers used, he said, as he arranged small jars filled with a brownish liquid. People come when they cant find medicine. We dont ask too many questions; if they say headache or weakness, we give what we think helps.

When asked whether he considers factors like pregnancy, diabetes, or other underlying conditions before prescribing herbs, he shook his head. People dont always tell you. Sometimes I guess. Some herbs are strong, but thats what makes them work fast.

He added that most of his customers are women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

This kind of trial-and-error approach, though deeply rooted in cultural and inherited knowledge, carries significant risks. According to Fatima Baba, a public health researcher in Kano, such unregulated practices can worsen chronic conditions or trigger new complications.

Ms Baba said most traditional herbs are unregulated, some mixtures contain toxic plants that worsen chronic conditions, especially for persons with disabilities who need consistent, specialised care.

Meanwhile, this trend is not unique to Kano state. In a 20222023 survey of pregnant women in Ibadan, 56.5 per cent admitted to using herbal medicines at some point, while 27.1 per cent used them during their last pregnancy.

The study warned that such practices often displace essential treatments, such as folic acid and iron, putting mothers and children at risk.

Ms Baba warned that such cultural misconceptions, combined with systemic neglect, create a perfect storm of medical misinformation, untreated symptoms, and worsening outcomes.

Governments response to PWDs cries

The Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Coordinator at the Kano State Ministry of Health, Mansura Yahaya, stated that there is currently no budgetary allocation for persons with disabilities.

However, she noted that the state is working on a policy to ensure access to healthcare at both primary and secondary levels. This, she said, includes training health workers and adjusting infrastructure to make facilities more inclusive.

But for communities that have waited decades, policy promises offer little comfort.

Musa Shaga, chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Kano Chapter, believes that change will not come without a dedicated Disability Commission.

Mr Shaga confirmed that advocacy is ongoing to get the state to establish a Disability Commission, a move he says will help protect the rights and amplify the voices of persons with disabilities.

Meanwhile, community leaders are also not left out in the struggle. Nasiru Abdulkadir, head of the Farin Masallaci community, said, We used to meet with the Deputy Hakimi of Bichi every month and raise the issues to the emir. But nothing has changed yet, not even a hope.

Dutsen Karyas community leader, Samaila Ibrahim, added, Even when we raise awareness, whats the point if theres no access? The people are hopeless.

This reporting was completed with the support of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID)
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has arrived in Kebbi State amid mounting public anger and government pressure over the abduction of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School (GGCSS) in Maga.

Mr Egbetokuns visit comes at a critical juncture. He is scheduled to meet with Governor Nasir Idris and deliver a briefing to police officers in the state capital.

However, more than symbolic reassurance, his presence signals the federal authorities resolve to salvage a rescue operation that has become deeply politicised.

Rescue operation under intense pressure

The school raid, at around 4 a.m. on November 17, has dug a hole in Nigerians confidence in the security architecture. Gunmen reportedly scaled the school perimeter, engaged police in a gunfight, and abducted 25 female students from their dormitory.

Tragically, the schools vice principal, Hassan Makuku, was shot and killed, reportedly while trying to shield the students. His death has become a rallying point for outrage.

The federal government, through the Minister of Information, has said security and intelligence agencies have been issued clear directives to locate and rescue the girls, and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Tactical units from the police, combined with military forces and local vigilantes, are reportedly combing forests and known bandit routes.

Accusations of Security Lapses and Sabotage

Governor Idris has been vocal, alleging a security betrayal. He claims that credible intelligence  allegedly from the State Security Service (SSS)  warned of an imminent attack, but that operatives abandoned their posts just before the raid.

According to a teacher present at the school, heavily armed security personnel were on site the night before, socialising with students, only to withdraw shortly before dawn.

Mr Idris has since established a special investigation panel, to be chaired by the SSS State Director, to probe what he calls a security failure and coordinate rescue efforts.

The abduction has sparked a wave of condemnation, including from womens rights groups.

The Voices for Inclusion and Equity for Women (VIEW) coalition denounced the raid as a brutal indictment of the Nigerian governments failure to protect its most vulnerable citizens.

The Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, also rebuked the security agencies, calling the attack heartless, tragic and utterly avoidable.

They noted that the raid occurred despite a major security summit held in Birnin Kebbi only days earlier, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of pre-emptive protection for schools.

A PREMIUM TIMES editorial on Monday argues that the incident underscores a broader and troubling pattern: repeated, preventable kidnappings that expose deep structural weaknesses in Nigerias counter-insurgency approach.

Federal response and political stakes

President Bola Tinubu has been closely engaged. The IGPs visit follows a meeting the previous Sunday between the President and key security chiefs, including the Chief of Defence Staff and heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the DSS.

On his part, Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking from Kebbi, pledged that every instrument of the state would be mobilised to rescue the girls and bring the attackers to account.

His remarks came amid assurances to the anguished parents and the wider public, even as political critics demand accountability.

The bigger picture

This is not the first time Kebbi State has been the scene of a mass school abduction. In June 2021, more than 100 students and staff were kidnapped from a government school in Birnin Yauri, with some released only after months, and reportedly after ransom payments.

Security analysts warn that recurring incidents like this reflect not only the strategic depth of armed groups in the region, but also alarming lapses in preventive security mechanisms.

Mr Egbetokuns visit to Kebbi indicates how seriously the federal government is treating the Maga abduction.

But with credible claims that intelligence warnings went unheeded and security personnel pulled back just before the attack, Nigerians are asking hard questions: How many more warnings must be ignored? And when will institutional failures give way to real accountability?
The Akwa Ibom State Government has sealed off Ibom Plaza, a popular public space in Uyo, three days after a PREMIUM TIMES report exposed widespread infrastructural decay in the state capital, including dead fountains, collapsing roads, and abandoned public infrastructure.

When a PREMIUM TIMES reporter visited the plaza on Monday evening, the facility had been sealed off and barricaded with flex banners carrying various inscriptions.

One of the banners read: Ibom Plaza closed for maintenance. Another read: Transformation in progress: we are upgrading to serve you better.

Reinventing this space to match the future we envision, another read.

The sealing off of the plaza came barely 48 hours after the state government dismissed our earlier report detailing infrastructural neglect as misleading and mischievous.

A reversal after denial

Until recently, the state government vigorously defended its record and rejected claims that infrastructure in Uyo was deteriorating.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, the government accused PREMIUM TIMES of pushing a predetermined narrative. It maintained that existing recreational facilities, including Ibom Plaza, were undergoing improvements.

At All Nations Christian Ministry International, Church service in Eket on Sunday, Governor Umo Eno echoed that position.

I have seen some people write that there are thieves in the Plaza. They dont know the work youve done, he said, pointing to Anietie Eka, the chairperson of the Uyo Capital City Development Authority.

He continued: Plaza today, people can walk through. No government was able to move miscreants out of the plaza. Today, he has done it with government backing, and we are trying to make that plaza good enough for Christmas.

And in any case, one government cannot do everything. You see the people who are writing. They cannot even manage their houses. Check their houses. Some dont have a house.

So dont worry about those things, we are working. The potholes. Weve done a compilation. Weve awarded the contract, but the rain must stop. They pour a stone base, but the rain washes everything away. I have told them to stop, let the rain finish.

Mr Eno also said his administration is providing solar-powered streetlights in Uyo, saying diesel engines were previously used, which he said cost the state excessively.

The amount that was going every month, you would not want me to tell you, he said, telling the congregants, We are on the ground. This man you are seeing here is on the ground if you dont know.

Residents, however, say the sudden closure of the plaza suggests the government acted only after public pressure.

So the government can act this fast when embarrassed? said a journalist who asked not to be named. Why wait until newspapers publish decay?

An iconic space, now a symbol of neglect

Once a defining landmark and a meeting point for residents and tourists, Ibom Plaza has visibly deteriorated.

The fountain has not worked for over a year. Plastic bottles, stagnant water, algae, and weeds have overtaken the spaces. Flower beds have dried out, wooden benches are broken, and open drains emit foul odour.

Months ago, small business operators were forcibly relocated under a promised beautification project  but redevelopment never followed.

With the new closure, residents now question whether the action signals a genuine repair or yet another temporary response.

Wider frustrations continue

Beyond Ibom Plaza, residents say the neglect of Uyos infrastructure is widespread.

A PREMIUM TIMES check found that only one public fountain  along Nwaniba Road  was functioning. Others were clogged or dormant. Some residents said fountains are activated only during visits by top political figures.

Major roads  including Atiku Abubakar Way, Aka-Itiam, Udoete, Nwaniba Road, and the Itam corridor  now have large potholes, causing gridlock and damaging vehicles.

Outrage continues

Public criticism escalated in recent days after documents showed that the state purchased at least 20 luxury SUVs worth approximately N2 billion for federal lawmakers, former deputy governors, and party leaders  even as more than two million residents live in multidimensional poverty and Uyo lacks a public transportation system.

Residents argue that the governments spending priorities do not accurately reflect the states actual needs.

Fixing Ibom Plaza because of media pressure is not governance, said Kufre Akpan, who was at the plaza on Monday evening. This is damage control. The real work is fixing roads, drainage, and transport  not shutting gates.

A capital city waiting for rebuilding, not promises

For now, Ibom Plaza  once a bustling civic square  sits silent behind barricades.

Residents say they will be monitoring the development closely to determine whether the closure leads to tangible restoration or fades into yet another symbolic gesture.

A passerby muttered while walking past the sealed entrance: If only maintenance worked the same way press releases do.
Gong Tao, Chinese ambassador to Hungary, speaks during a book launch event and the China-EU relations symposium in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 24, 2025. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and European scholars and diplomats gathered in Budapest on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations, calling for concentration on common interests and pragmatic engagement as global uncertainty increases.

The symposium, titled "Rethinking and Reshaping China-EU Relations in a Turbulent World," was co-organized by the think tank Eurasia Center in Hungary and Fudan University's Center for China-EU Relations. It also saw the launch of a new joint academic volume, "Sino-European Relations and the Reshaping of the International Order," presenting perspectives from Chinese, Hungarian, Czech and Serbian scholars on the evolution of China-EU ties over the past half-century.

Gong Tao, Chinese ambassador to Hungary, described China-EU relations as one of the world's most influential bilateral partnerships. He said that despite rising protectionism and geopolitical tensions, China and the EU share broad common interests, particularly in safeguarding multilateralism, advancing global governance reform, and promoting peace and prosperity.

Noting that China's continued modernization will "create broader opportunities for the common development of China and Europe," he encouraged deeper strategic communication and expanded mutual openness.

Opening the event, Levente Horvath, director of the Eurasia Center of Hungary, said the publication reflects a year of academic cooperation and aims to deepen mutual understanding at a time when the relationship faces conceptual and political challenges.

Gyula Thurmer, president of the Hungarian Workers' Party, said the new academic volume carries "an important political message" by demonstrating broad expert consensus on the need for dialogue and cooperation. He said Hungary views China's rise as an opportunity, rather than a threat, and cited food supply, climate protection, energy security, and artificial intelligence as areas where mutually beneficial solutions are both necessary and possible.

Xu Mingqi, honorary president of the Shanghai Institute for European Studies, said that the past decade has seen increased distrust influenced by external geopolitical pressures. He said China still regards the EU as a strategic partner and encouraged both sides to continue focusing on shared interests in trade, investment, climate action, and global governance.

Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University, said future cooperation should address complex bilateral issues while safeguarding common interests.

Two roundtable discussions followed the opening session, focusing on the EU's "de-risking" approach toward China, and on connectivity versus bloc-formation in a shifting world order. 

Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University, speaks during a book launch event and the China-EU relations symposium in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 24, 2025. Chinese and European scholars and diplomats gathered in Budapest on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations, calling for concentration on common interests and pragmatic engagement as global uncertainty increases.

The symposium, titled "Rethinking and Reshaping China-EU Relations in a Turbulent World," was co-organized by the think tank Eurasia Center in Hungary and Fudan University's Center for China-EU Relations. It also saw the launch of a new joint academic volume, "Sino-European Relations and the Reshaping of the International Order," presenting perspectives from Chinese, Hungarian, Czech and Serbian scholars on the evolution of China-EU ties over the past half-century. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Levente Horvath, director of the Eurasia Center of Hungary, speaks during a book launch event and the China-EU relations symposium in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 24, 2025. Chinese and European scholars and diplomats gathered in Budapest on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations, calling for concentration on common interests and pragmatic engagement as global uncertainty increases.

The symposium, titled "Rethinking and Reshaping China-EU Relations in a Turbulent World," was co-organized by the think tank Eurasia Center in Hungary and Fudan University's Center for China-EU Relations. It also saw the launch of a new joint academic volume, "Sino-European Relations and the Reshaping of the International Order," presenting perspectives from Chinese, Hungarian, Czech and Serbian scholars on the evolution of China-EU ties over the past half-century. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Gyula Thurmer, president of the Hungarian Workers' Party, speaks during a book launch event and the China-EU relations symposium in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 24, 2025. Chinese and European scholars and diplomats gathered in Budapest on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations, calling for concentration on common interests and pragmatic engagement as global uncertainty increases.

The symposium, titled "Rethinking and Reshaping China-EU Relations in a Turbulent World," was co-organized by the think tank Eurasia Center in Hungary and Fudan University's Center for China-EU Relations. It also saw the launch of a new joint academic volume, "Sino-European Relations and the Reshaping of the International Order," presenting perspectives from Chinese, Hungarian, Czech and Serbian scholars on the evolution of China-EU ties over the past half-century. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Panelists attend a round table discussion during a book launch event and the China-EU relations symposium in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 24, 2025. Chinese and European scholars and diplomats gathered in Budapest on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations, calling for concentration on common interests and pragmatic engagement as global uncertainty increases.

The symposium, titled "Rethinking and Reshaping China-EU Relations in a Turbulent World," was co-organized by the think tank Eurasia Center in Hungary and Fudan University's Center for China-EU Relations. It also saw the launch of a new joint academic volume, "Sino-European Relations and the Reshaping of the International Order," presenting perspectives from Chinese, Hungarian, Czech and Serbian scholars on the evolution of China-EU ties over the past half-century. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

People attend a book launch event and the China-EU relations symposium in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 24, 2025. Chinese and European scholars and diplomats gathered in Budapest on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations, calling for concentration on common interests and pragmatic engagement as global uncertainty increases.

The symposium, titled "Rethinking and Reshaping China-EU Relations in a Turbulent World," was co-organized by the think tank Eurasia Center in Hungary and Fudan University's Center for China-EU Relations. It also saw the launch of a new joint academic volume, "Sino-European Relations and the Reshaping of the International Order," presenting perspectives from Chinese, Hungarian, Czech and Serbian scholars on the evolution of China-EU ties over the past half-century. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Xu Mingqi, honorary president of the Shanghai Institute for European Studies, speaks during a book launch event and the China-EU relations symposium in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 24, 2025. Chinese and European scholars and diplomats gathered in Budapest on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations, calling for concentration on common interests and pragmatic engagement as global uncertainty increases.

The symposium, titled "Rethinking and Reshaping China-EU Relations in a Turbulent World," was co-organized by the think tank Eurasia Center in Hungary and Fudan University's Center for China-EU Relations. It also saw the launch of a new joint academic volume, "Sino-European Relations and the Reshaping of the International Order," presenting perspectives from Chinese, Hungarian, Czech and Serbian scholars on the evolution of China-EU ties over the past half-century. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
School authorities and churches in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states have intensified security, following renewed concerns over incidents of kidnapping of students by gunmen in parts of the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in separate interviews with some stakeholders in the region, gathered that most public and private schools had stepped up arrangements to ensure proper security protocols in their various schools.

The stakeholders noted that some public and private schools in various states have introduced access controls, reinforced perimeter fencing, and revived emergency protocols to ensure children learn in safe environments.

Eunice Elom, a director at the Ebonyi Universal Basic Education Board (EUBEB), stated that the government had issued new security compliance directives to head teachers.

We have instructed every school to restrict entry points, keep detailed records of visitors and conduct routine safety checks.

No child will be released to anyone without proper identification again, and education officials are working closely with security agencies for support in high-risk areas, she said.

Kelechi Ukpai, a school proprietor, stated that private schools were also upgrading their safety infrastructure, noting that the recent terrorist attacks on schools were negatively impacting academic activities.

We have installed CCTV cameras, employed licensed security personnel and reduced unnecessary exposure of students.

Excursions are now suspended until we are convinced the security situation has improved, he said.

Mr Ukpai added that organised private schools under the aegis of the National Association of Private Proprietors of Schools were exchanging intelligence within private school associations to fortify vigilance.

Police in Ebonyi speak about security arrangement

The police spokesperson in Ebonyi, Joshua Ukandu, said the command had increased patrol visibility around learning institutions and dedicated hotlines for school emergencies.

Our men are now patrolling school corridors during opening and closing hours; we will respond faster to any distress call because safeguarding children is a priority, he said.

Mr Ukandu, a deputy superintendent of police, urged schools to promptly report suspicious activities rather than handle threats internally.

Parents also expressed strong concerns and pledged continued collaboration with schools.

Godwin Ede, chairman of the Parent Teacher Association, said parents were now actively funding some security upgrades.

We cant leave the lives of our children to chance; parents are contributing to support perimeter fencing, night lighting and more security staff.

We just want the government to give schools, especially public ones, the resources they need to protect our children, he said.

Meanwhile, parents and school authorities, however, agreed that sustained collaboration among the government, security agencies and communities remained crucial to preventing any attacks on schools in the state.

The management of Metallurgical Training Institute, Onitsha, Anambra State, has assured the public that it has put up a security structure to protect lives and property within the school.

Lot Samuel, the spokesperson of the institute, gave the assurance on Sunday while speaking with NAN in Onitsha.

According to him, the school has a very robust security outfit and it is always in touch with the police.

He, however, declined to discuss details of the institutes internal strategy, saying it was not meant for public consumption.

Mr Samuel noted that whatever they did in terms of security had to be private, as he explained that once it was made public it ceased to be a security strategy.

Based on what is happening in the South-east, the sentencing of the Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, as a government agency, we are cautious.

We have to do whatever we need to do to forestall anything that would come up, and we are on top of the issue.

At the moment, I think I have seen a high level of civility from the people, when you look at the level of exposure and the understanding of the people in the South-east.

Situation in Enugu

In Enugu, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the police say they have fashioned out strategies to ensure schools within Enugu State remain safe from the activities of miscreants and intruders.

The Commandant of NSCDC Enugu State Command, Elijah Willie, told NAN in Enugu that a working strategy had been placed to protect all schools in the state.

Mr Willie said, This is through the Corps Safe School Initiative, which has been recently overhauled in the state.

However, the working strategy we have adopted is not what should be discussed in public. For the months deployed so far, it is working a lot and effectively.

We are also working in synergy with our sister security agencies in this respect, and it has been good.

The commandant used the opportunity to request more personnel to meet the numerous mandates of the Corps.

He said, If we have up to 50,000 personnel in the current national recruitment, it will further strengthen our manpower capacity.

This will be a good number to take care of the numerous mandates of the Corps, which starts with the protection of critical national assets, the Safe School Initiative, the Agro-Rangers Squad, among many others.

Corroborating, the spokesperson of the Police Command in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, told NAN that the police had deployed holistic and inclusive proactive policing strategy, which covered schools as well.

Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, said that there were some overt deployment (physical police officers) throughout the state, within roads, parks, populated areas, major bus stops and other strategic locations.

We also have other covert strategies and deployment, which is not for discussion in the press. I assure you that the entire state is well secured, he said.

Constant monitoring of school environment

The Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Enugu State Chapter, Ike Ugwu, stated that the majority of private schools, particularly in the urban areas of the state, have improved their security within their premises.

Most of the schools today have good perimeter fencing and CCTV within the school premises and the schools immediate neighbourhood.

The schools also have dedicated security guards monitoring movement of humans and vehicles within and outside of these schools, Mr Ugwu said.

He said that the association had, a few months ago, approached Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to avail them with emergency security personnel numbers to call in case there was a security breach in any school.

However, the governor detailed the request to his Special Adviser on Security for action on it. We are still expecting a response to the request, he added.

NAN reports that federal and state governments as well as security agencies in each state are currently taking concerted action against the recent spate of school pupils and students abduction within states in the northern part of the country.

The spokesperson of Peaceland University, Enugu, Ihemegbunam Okafor, said the university had 24 hours security measure to ensure that nothing happened to the students and its facilities.

Mr Okafor said that the school security personnel were trained, adding that students were not allowed to go out anyhow.

The university is fenced, with cameras everywhere to monitor its surroundings. So our security network is top-notch to make sure that our students and staff are secure.

Visitors dont come to our school anyhow. We check them from a distance at the gate to make sure that they are genuine. We ask questions too, Mr Okafor said.

The Police Command in Anambra has stepped up patrols and intensified intelligence gathering, as part of the measures to secure schools and churches in the state.

Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson in Anambra, disclosed this in a statement in Awka.

The Commissioner of Police Ikioye Orutugu has announced strengthened security measures across schools and churches in Anambra, as part of a proactive strategy to prevent threats and ensure a secure environment for learning and worship.

In line with these developments, the commissioner has directed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders to intensify their ongoing security patrols, reinforce intelligence-driven operations, and strengthen collaboration with community stakeholders for seamless and effective security coordination, said Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police.

According to Mr Ikenga, the police commissioner reiterated the commands dedication to protecting lives and property, assuring residents that the police will continue to adapt and enhance security strategies to meet evolving challenges.

He quoted Mr Orutugu as saying that the Command would sustain the already established atmosphere of peace in the state.

The police commissioner commended the growing unity and safety consciousness among residents, noting that the people have continued to demonstrate commendable cooperation, vigilance, and the spirit of being their brothers keepers.

This collective commitment has significantly supported the Commands efforts in maintaining peace and security across the state, Mr Orutugu said.

Churches have also stepped up their security.

A church official in the Central Methodist Church, Enugu, who preferred anonymity, said that only members are allowed into the church premises, adding that any unknown person must be identified before entering the church.
The Abia Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, says the state Executive Council (EXCO) has approved the retrofitting of the long-abandoned Ojukwu Bunker and National War Museum.

Mr Kanu said this while briefing reporters at the Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of Mondays state EXCO meeting.

He stated that the approval was based on agreements between the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and the states Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy.

He said, The council has approved the comprehensive retrofitting of Ojukwu Bunker, a major historical monument in the state and country.

The innovation and upgrade of the facilities will modernise both the iconic heritage site, enrich and restore visitor experience to the centre and reposition the bunker as a leading tourist site in the state and country.

This intervention, therefore, reinforces the State Governments unwavering commitment to preserve our history, while elevating the states tourism potential.

Also, it will ultimately and further provide employment and business opportunities for the people of Abia.

The commissioner also announced that the three-day AbiaTurkey Investment Summit, slated to begin on Tuesday, would showcase the states investment opportunities and strengthen NigeriaTurkey and AbiaTurkey business relations.

He said that the event would feature exhibitions covering areas such as manufacturing, agriculture, textiles, leather, energy, infrastructure, trade, and logistics.

Mr Kanu said the summit would be held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

He also announced that preparations were ongoing for several Christmas events to be organised by the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy.

He said the events include Comedy Fest, scheduled for 12 December, in Umuahia and the 2025 Abia Christmas Carol, which will hold on 20 December.

He said the activities aimed to enrich the states festive atmosphere for residents and visitors.

Also, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Matthew Ekwuruibe, confirmed the approval for the retrofitting of Ojukwu Bunker and the National War Museum.

Mr Ekwuruibe recalled that federal processes caused delays in the commencement of the renovation project because both facilities belong to the federal government.

He said the state had reached the stage of finalising its Memorandum of Understanding agreement with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy.

He further stated that work should commence within three weeks to one month and described the project as a key campaign promise of Governor Alex Otti of Abia.

Mr Ekwuruibe said Enyioha Global Promotions would organise the Abia Comedy Fest in partnership with the Abia State Government and would feature homegrown talents.

He further said that preparations were ongoing for the Christmas Carol and other festive activities.

Mr Ekwuruibe said that the beautification works were underway in Aba, in partnership with Nigerian Breweries.

He said that the state had retrofitted monuments on BCA Road and would soon begin erecting new ones, and expressed the governments efforts to enhance Abias environmental outlook.

(NAN)
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State presented a budget proposal of N757 billion for 2026 to the Anambra House of Assembly on Tuesday for approval.

Mr Soludo said the proposed budget, tagged Changing Gears 3.0: Solution Continues, reflected an intensified focus on the execution of his administrations transformative agenda.

He said that the budget was made up of N595.3 billion capital expenditure, accounting for 79 per cent of the total budget size, while N161.6 billion, representing 21 per cent of the total budget, was allocated for recurrent expenditure.

The governor stated that the budget has a deficit of N225.7 billion, which is expected to be financed through hybrid funding options, publicprivate partnerships, improved internally generated revenue, concessions, and support from financial institutions.

I present to you the proposed 2026 budget, totalling N757,884,487,705. Compared to the 2025 budget of N606.99 billion, this represents a 24.1% increase.

We recorded over 60 per cent budget performance in 2025. Despite it being an election year, we remained focused and in execution mode.

The 2026 budget framework is designed to drive growth across all sectors. We remain committed to responsible fiscal management, with no borrowing for consumption.

I want to assure you that every kobo will be prudently utilised to maximise value for the people of Anambra, and we will continue to lay the foundation for the prosperous, liveable and smart homeland we envisioned, he said.

Receiving the budget, the Speaker of the House, Somtochukwu Udeze, commended the governor for the massive ongoing transformation projects across the state.

He assured the governor that the draft budget would receive swift and thorough consideration.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the difference between the former budget (N606 billion) and the proposed budget (N757 billion) is N151 billion, representing a 24.8% increase.
A chief magistrates court in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, remanded a 58-year-old man, Sesan Olabode, in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

The chief magistrate, C. M. Kushanu did not take the defendants plea.

Mr Kushanu ordered the remand of the defendant in Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)

The case was adjourned until 20 January 2026.

The defendant, a security guard who resides at 25, Olusa St., New Oko Oba, Agege, Lagos, faces a charge of sexual assault.

The prosecutor, Adegoke Ademigbuji, an assistant superintendent of police, told the court that the offence was committed in September 2025 at 2, Ololade St., New Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos.

The prosecutor said that the defendant, who is a security guard to the community, lured the victim, a 16-year-old girl, into his security post.

The prosecutor said that the defendant forcefully had carnal knowledge of her and gave her N2,000 to keep mute.

The prosecutor said, however, the victim got home and told her mother.

The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravene Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)
HONG KONG, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) this morning opened the 4th ASEAN+3 Economic Cooperation and Financial Stability Forum (AMRO Forum) in Hong Kong, China, co-organized this year with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

Set against a global environment marked by shifting alignments and growing fragmentation, this Forum has gathered senior policymakers, economic experts, and thought leaders across the ASEAN+3 region and beyond to deliberate on how to safeguard financial stability, strengthen macro-financial resilience, and drive sustainable long-term prosperity. Under the theme Fragmentation to Resilience: Macro-financial Stability and Regional Integration in ASEAN+3, the event has called for deeper regional cooperation to navigate rising fragmentation and uncertainty.

AMRO Director/CEO Yasuto Watanabe opened the Forum alongside HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Yue and BIS Chief Representative for Asia and the Pacific Tao Zhang.

Mr. Watanabe said: "Amid global fragmentation, the architecture of interconnection needs to evolve. To anchor resilience, ASEAN+3 region must act together to strengthen integration, reinforce our financial frameworks, and ensure that the region remains adaptable, diversified, and capable of absorbing shocks."

Mr. Yue of the HKMA said: "Through enhanced regional collaboration and integration, ASEAN+3 economies have strengthened their resilience to shocks amid a challenging external environment. I am confident that the discussions todayon macroeconomic risks, on the shifting global financial landscape, and on the priorities for cooperationwill yield valuable insights that will guide our collective efforts in the years to come."

With a focus on issues facing Asian central banks, Mr. Zhang of the BIS highlighted that "close cooperation among central banks and between the public and private sectors, both within the region and beyond, is essential to withstand economic risks. Today's forum provides a valuable opportunity for all of us to exchange insights, deepen common understanding, and collectively reflect on the region's policy priorities," he said.

The Forum program features two major sessions:

Session 1: Macroeconomic Risks and Regional Integration Amid Global Fragmentation

Keynote speakers are Heiwai Tang (Director, Asia Global Institute, The University of Hong Kong) and Barry Eichengreen (Distinguished Professor, University of California, Berkeley). They will lead into a panel moderated by Dong He (Chief Economist, AMRO) and featuring:

Marzunisham Omar (Deputy Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia)

Haibin Zhu (Executive Director (Research), HKMA)

Chantavarn Sucharitakul (Chair, AMRO Advisory Panel)

Johanna Chua (Managing Director, Head of Emerging Market Economics & Chief Asia Economist, Citigroup)

Session 2: The Changing Global Financial Landscape: Implications for Monetary and Financial Stability

Keynotes will be delivered by Julia Leung (Chief Executive Officer, Securities and Futures Commission) and Hyun Song Shin (Economic Adviser & Head of Monetary & Economic Department, BIS). This will be followed by a panel moderated by Daniel Rees (Head of Central Bank Cooperation, Monetary & Economic Department, BIS) and featuring:

Zeno Ronald R. Abenoja (Deputy Governor, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas)

Min Soo Kwon (Deputy Governor, Bank of Korea)

Alicia Garcia-Herrero (Chief Economist for Asia-Pacific, Natixis)

Arup Ghosh (Chief Rates Strategist, ASEAN & Korea, Standard Chartered Bank)

The 4th AMRO Forum runs alongside the ASEAN+3 Finance and Central Bank Deputies' Meeting, reinforcing the Forum's positioning as a vital touchstone for policy dialogue and regional cooperation.

AMRO extends its sincere appreciation to HKMA and BIS for their strong support and cooperation in delivering this successful event.

For those unable to attend in person, please visit here to watch the AMRO Forum online. Selected opening remarks and keynote speeches will be made available on the AMRO website after the event.

About AMRO

The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) is an international organization established to contribute toward securing macroeconomic and financial stability of the ASEAN+3 region, comprising members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China; Hong Kong, China; Japan; and Korea. AMRO's mandate is to conduct macroeconomic surveillance, support regional financial arrangements, and provide technical assistance to the members. In addition, AMRO also serves as a regional knowledge hub and provides support to ASEAN+3 financial cooperation.

Visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.

SOURCE ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office
BOSTON, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Possible Zone (TPZ), in partnership with EmpowerED Finances and Citizens, launched a five-module, interactive financial empowerment series to help equip high school seniors in Boston with the tools and confidence they need to take control of their financial futures.

The need is urgent:

Through EmpowerED's Learn  Earn  Engage model, seniors at The Possible Zone, a youth development program headquartered in Boston, are:

Learning budgeting, saving, credit, and investing.

budgeting, saving, credit, and investing. Earning a digital badge and acceleration money towards a bank account.

a digital badge and acceleration money towards a bank account. Engaging with financial professionals at an account-opening event.

Through the program, each student is receiving their acceleration funding, earning a digital credential, and building confidence to further help them navigate early adulthood.

"Throughout our core programming, students build durable and technical skills that help prepare them for post-secondary success  in continued education and enduring careers," said Joanna Sanborn, TPZ V.P. of Post-Secondary Pathways. "This extra-curricular financial education course with EmpowerEd and Citizens is helping a cohort of our students develop essential life skills to manage money effectively, build a strong financial foundation, and make informed decisions that can positively impact economic mobility and foster longer-term financial security."

"At Citizens, we champion financial literacy as a cornerstone of lifelong independence and success," said Mark Thompson, Regional Market Executive at Citizens Private Bank. "We were proud to join TPZ's FastForge Hackathon last month, where our team saw firsthand the creativity and determination these students bring to every challenge. Together, we're helping unlock possibility and create pathways to economic mobility."

Committed to strengthening community members' financial security, Citizens is also working with TPZ to offer four financial literacy classes for family members of TPZ students over the next several months, beginning with Financially Lit Dads held earlier this month.

"What truly sets EmpowerED apart is our belief that financial education should unlock possibility, not just proficiency. Students earn college credit, acceleration funding for savings or investing accounts, and digital badges as tangible proof that their ideas and effort matter, while youth organizations and high schools get a turnkey model that removes barriers instead of adding them. We're building pathways to financial freedom that students can feel today and carry for a lifetime," said Farida Graham, Co-Founder of EmpowerED Finances.

The inaugural cohort of TPZ students participating in the five-module financial literacy empowerment program will celebrate completion of the module on December 2, 2025, at the organization's Boston Innovation Center.

About The Possible Zone

Young people spark their passions and develop key skills and mindsets, entrepreneurial spirit, and valuable networks through The Possible Zone an exciting, tuition-free, experiential learning program that helps them prepare for life-long learning and readiness for careers of the future. Hundreds of high school students immerse themselves in early career exploration, thrive as they learn changing STEAM technologies, and develop valuable social and emotional skills in our supportive programming. Reinforced by a network of key educational and industry partners in our expansive ecosystem, and guided by our college and career advisors, students leave The Possible Zone equipped to shape their futures and ready to pursue innovative and in-demand careers. We are committed to helping them find their passions; cultivate essential skills, mindsets, and assets; and carve paths on which they can experience upward economic mobility.

About EmpowerED Finances

EmpowerED Finances is redefining financial education by bringing high-quality, college-level personal finance learning directly to young people and the schools and community organizations that serve them. Through its signature LearnEarnEngage model, students build real-world money skills, earn digital badges, college credit and acceleration funding, and connect with financial professionals who expand their sense of what's possible. Early results show powerful traction: strong knowledge gains, high learner satisfaction, and measurable increases in financial confidence and behavior. With a growing ecosystem of school districts, youth-serving organizations, banks, and higher-education partners, EmpowerED Finances is building a new standard for equitable, scalable financial literacy. At its core, the organization is committed to closing opportunity gaps and ensuring every student has the knowledge, confidence and tools to build financial freedom.

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation's oldest and largest financial institutions, with $222.7 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,100 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on X, LinkedIn or Facebook.

SOURCE The Possible Zone
TAIPEI, Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The robust package leverages Advantech's Intel Core Ultra solutions, RealSense Depth GMSL2 Cameras, and DesignCore Discovery PRO Series GMSL2 Cameras to enhance AI-powered sense and compute capabilities for AMRs in industrial applications.

Advantech Partners with D3 and Intel RealSense

Advantech, a global leader in AIoT and Edge Computing announced its collaboration with D3 Embedded, a leading global end-to-end edge AI solution provider for performance-critical applications. This collaboration leverages Advantech's AFE-R360/R760 solutions based on Intel Core Ultra, RealSense Depth D457 GMSL2 Cameras, and D3 Embedded's customizable DesignCore Discovery ISX031 PRO Series GMSL2 Cameras to enhance AI-powered object sensing and recognition capabilities, expanding visual applications for Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). This advanced AMR solution targets key industrial applications including manufacturing, warehouse, and retail automation.

Next-Generation End-To-End Machine Vision Platform for AMRs

AMR platforms rely heavily on vision sensor accuracy and computing performance in order to run real-time object detection, thereby achieving full robotic autonomy. Paired with the AFE-R360 and AFE-R760, D3 Embedded's DesignCore Discovery PRO Series Cameras contain the proven Sony ISX031 sensor, IP67 ingress protection, and features High Dynamic Range (HDR) and LED Flicker Mitigation (LFM) for high performance in dynamic lighting conditions. Additionally, the RealSense Depth D457 Cameras enable high bandwidth stereo depth vision.

Advantech AFE-R360, a 3.5" SBC supports up to 8 MIPI-CSI lanes for low-latency visible camera inputs, and 3 x LAN & 3 x USB-C for depth and LiDAR sensors. Through an Advantech custom-designed camera I/O card, AFE-R360 can support 6 x GMSL cameras concurrently, which enables the streaming of 360 panoramic views. Its sister system with a chassis, AFE-R760, supports 4 x GMSL cameras. To facilitate the onboarding process, Advantech allows developers to collect MIPI and GMSL camera data from custom ROS Nodes in Advantech's Robotic Suite, a software development resource provided by Advantech.

Both the AFE-R360 and AFE-R760 are built on the Intel Core Ultra (code name: Meteor Lake-H/U) platform, which has an integrated GPU that delivers up to 32 TOPs of AI performance. Additionally, they can connect with external MXM-type GPUs, e.g. Intel Arc or NVIDIA's Quadro series.

"D3 Embedded is committed to providing developers with the specialized tools they require to create next-generation AI sense and compute solutions for industrial use cases." said Scott Reardon, CEO at D3 Embedded. "By collaborating with Advantech on this AMR package, D3 Embedded can help customers get their unique products to market faster and deploy edge solutions at scale."

D3 Embedded accelerates advanced perception for autonomous machines by offering end-to-end solutions integrating camera and radar sensors, connectivity, custom embedded electronics, and AI. Their software and hardware design services, off-the-shelf and customizable products, and AI development capabilities can be customized for use cases in the automotive, industrial, robotics, medical, aerospace, and defense (ITAR) markets.

"At Advantech, we are devoted to enabling more robots in more scenarios. Our collaboration with D3 Embedded brings together cutting-edge compute and sensing technologies to empower AMRs with the vision and performance needed for true autonomy." said Sandy Chen, Senior Director of Advantech North America. "This partnership exemplifies our mission to enable an intelligent planet through innovation and strategic collaboration."

Advantech vows to make AI-powered autonomous robots more available by offering integrated sensing, compute, and software development resources, as well as camera, IMU, LiDAR, motor controllers, wireless communication modules, and industrial display panels. Its integrated controllers for robotic and autonomous systems offer a seamless development environment for ROS and Autoware.

Learn more about Advantech and D3 Embedded's Embedded Vision Platform for AMRs: https://www.d3embedded.com/solutions/embedded-vision-platform-for-autonomous-mobile-robots/

Media contact:

Cindy Liu

Robotics Marketing, Advantech

[email protected]

About Advantech

Advantech has the corporate vision to "Enable an Intelligent Planet". The company is a global leader in the fields of IoT intelligent systems and embedded platforms. To embrace the trends of IoT, big data, and artificial intelligence, Advantech promotes IoT hardware and software solutions with the industrial IoT platform, WISE-IoT core, to assist business partners and clients in connecting their industrial chains. Advantech is also working with business partners to co-create business ecosystems that accelerate the goal of industrial intelligence. Learn more about Advantech autonomous robot solutions at https://campaign.advantech.online/en/AMR-Robotic-Solutions/ .

About D3 Embedded

D3 Embedded is a U.S.-based company that develops end-to-end solutions integrating sensors, connectivity, embedded processing and AI to deliver advanced perception for performance-critical applications. Using its proven DesignCore product platforms and stage-gate development process, D3 Embedded helps its customers minimize the cost, schedule, and technical risks of product development for performance-critical applications. D3 Embedded is an Intel Gold Partner. The company holds expertise in autonomous machines and robotics, electrification, sensing, imaging and optics, edge computing and detection algorithms. To support its products and services, the company offers ODM customization of hardware and software, validation testing and in-house manufacturing services. Learn more at www.D3Embedded.com .

SOURCE Advantech Co., Ltd.
CHICAGO, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Using a deep learning AI model, researchers identified the first-of-its-kind biomarker of chronic stress detectable through routine imaging, according to research being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Chronic stress can affect both physical and psychological well-being, causing a variety of problems including anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system, according to the American Psychological Association. Research shows that chronic stress can contribute to the development of major illnesses, such as heart disease, depression and obesity.

The study's lead author, Elena Ghotbi, M.D., a postdoctoral research fellow at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, developed and trained a deep learning model to measure adrenal gland volume on existing CT scans.

Each year, tens of millions of chest CT scans are performed in the United States alone.

"Our approach leverages widely available imaging data and opens the door to large-scale evaluations of the biological impact of chronic stress across a range of conditions using existing chest CT scans," Dr. Ghotbi said. "This AI-driven biomarker has the potential to enhance cardiovascular risk stratification and guide preventive care without additional testing or radiation."

Senior author Shadpour Demehri, M.D., professor of radiology at Johns Hopkins, said chronic stress is a prevalent condition or complaint that many adults deal with on a daily basis.

"For the first time, we can 'see' the long-term burden of stress inside the body, using a scan that patients already get every day in hospitals across the country. Until now, we haven't had a way to measure and quantify the cumulative effects of chronic stress, other than questionnaires, surrogate serum markers like chronic inflammation, and cortisol measurement, which is very cumbersome to obtain," Dr. Demehri said.

Unlike single cortisol measurements, which provide a momentary snapshot of stress levels, adrenal volume acts like a biological barometer of chronic stress.

In the study, the researchers obtained data on 2,842 participants (mean age 69.3; 51% women) from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a comprehensive study combining chest CT scans, validated stress questionnaires, cortisol measures and markers of allostatic loadthe cumulative physiological and psychological effects of chronic stress on the body. This rare integration of imaging, biochemical and psychosocial data made it the optimal, and likely only, cohort for developing an imaging biomarker of chronic stress.

The researchers retrospectively applied their deep learning model to the CT scans to segment and calculate the volume of the adrenal glands. Adrenal Volume Index (AVI) was defined as volume (cm) divided by height (m). Salivary cortisol was collected eight times per day over two days. Allostatic load was based on body mass index, creatinine, hemoglobin, albumin, glucose, white blood count, heart rate and blood pressure.

Statistical associations were assessed between AVI and cortisol, allostatic load, and psychosocial stress measures, including depression and perceived stress questionnaires. The researchers found that AI-derived AVI correlated with validated stress questionnaires, circulating cortisol levels and future adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Higher AVI was associated with greater cortisol, peak cortisol and allostatic load. Participants with high perceived stress had higher AVI compared to those with low stress. AVI was also associated with a higher left ventricular mass index. Each 1 cm/m increase in AVI was linked to greater risk of heart failure and mortality.

"With up to 10-year follow-up data on our participants, we were able to correlate AI-derived AVI with clinically meaningful and relevant outcomes," Dr. Ghotbi said. "This is the very first imaging marker of chronic stress that has been validated and shown to have an independent impact on a cardiovascular outcome, namely, heart failure."

"For over three decades, we've known that chronic stress can wear down the body across multiple systems," said Teresa E. Seeman, Ph.D., study co-author and professor of epidemiology at UCLA and a pioneering researcher in stress and health. "What makes this work so exciting is that it links a routinely obtained imaging feature, adrenal volume, with validated biological and psychological measures of stress and shows that it independently predicts a major clinical outcome. It's a true step forward in operationalizing the cumulative impact of stress on health."

Dr. Demehri said that by linking an easily measurable imaging feature with multiple validated indicators of stress and downstream disease, this research introduces an entirely new, practical way to quantify chronic stress.

"The key significance of this work is that this biomarker is obtainable from CTs that are performed widely in United States for various reasons," Dr. Demehri said. "Secondly, it is a physiologically sound measure of adrenal volume, which is part of the chronic stress physiologic cascade."

The researchers said the imaging biomarker could be used in a variety of diseases that are associated with chronic stress in middle-aged and older adults.

Other co-authors are Roham Hadidchi, Seyedhouman Seyedekrami, Quincy A. Hathaway, M.D., Ph.D., Michael Bancks, Nikhil Subhas, Matthew J. Budoff, M.D., David A. Bluemke, M.D., Ph.D., R. Graham Barr and Joao A.C. Lima, M.D.

Note: Copies of RSNA 2025 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press25.

RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. (RSNA.org)

For patient-friendly information on chest CT, visit RadiologyInfo.org.

SOURCE Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
The BASA Awards recognize and celebrate outstanding small businesses. This year, small businesses and entrepreneurs from various industries submitted nominations in six key tracks: Best Small Business, Best Startup, Best Entrepreneur, Best in Class, Best in Tech, and Best Campaign.

The annual Inc. Power Partners list recognizes the leading B2B companies that have proven track records of supporting entrepreneurs and helping companies grow.

CARLSBAD, Calif., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Arbor Scientia Group (ASG), a GDPR-compliant medical education and communications company based in Carlsbad, California, has been named a Power Partner by Inc. for the second year in a row and is proud to be recognized with the BASA Award for Best in Class  Outstanding Business of the Year 2025, a testament to their dedication to excellence, innovation, and being a true full-time partner to their clients.

ASG has been an established force in the medical education and communications industry since 2005 and has remained a small company dedicated to delivering quality medical education to support their pharmaceutical clients with the ultimate goal of improving patient lives.

Founded by internationally renowned psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry Stephen M. Stahl, MD, PhD, DSc (Hon), DMedSci (Hon, Cambridge), and current CEO Richard Davis, an adult learning and communications expert, ASG sets themselves apart in the agency landscape by not only executing tactics but also acting as a partner to their clients through collaborating on strategic insights pre-product launch and tailoring high-quality content to support products throughout their entire life cycle. Davis states, "We started 20 years ago with the intent of changing the way medical education was done to more effectively assist healthcare professionals and ultimately benefit the patient. We are excited that 20 years later we are still innovating educational initiatives that bring about change, positively impact the practices of healthcare professionals, and enhance the quality of care they give their patients."

Active in more than 70 countries and able to carry out projects in accordance with GDPR regulations, ASG proudly supports medical content and strategy, meetings and events, training, and creative and digital teams across companies active in neurology, psychiatry, hematology, oncology, rare diseases, immunology, virology, cardiovascular, women's health, urology, diabetes, and gastroenterology disease states. Leveraging a vast network of key opinion leaders in the industry and an in-house staff of PhD medical writers, project management professionals, creative designers, editors, and programmers, ASG demonstrates measurable effectiveness in supporting their clients' milestones and goals with every strategy-supporting tactic created and event facilitated.

ASG's educational content development is grounded in the principles of communication science and adult learning. This strategic blend ensures that healthcare professionals not only absorb information but also retain and apply it effectively in clinical practice.

Whether supporting a pharmaceutical company's launch strategy, developing Veeva-optimized content, or pioneering next-generation educational tools, ASG remains a trusted partner and innovator.

Contact ASG today at [email protected] or visit https://arborscientiagroup.com/ to learn how ASG can help bring your medical education goals to life through strategic, tailored, and transformative solutions.

BASA Awards Recognition

The winners of the BASA Awards were determined through two stages of judging, followed by a public vote. The judging panel, composed of industry experts and experienced small business owners, carefully evaluated each entry to ensure a fair and transparent process. This comprehensive review guaranteed an unbiased selection with no room for favoritism.

"The 2025 Best of America Small Business Awards attracted an exceptional range of nominees, each exemplifying the innovation and dedication that fuel small businesses across the country. It takes immense effort and perseverance to build and sustain a small business, and all our winners deserve immense recognition. We are thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments today," said Anna Stella, President of BASA Awards. "Congratulations to both the entrepreneurs and their teams for their remarkable contributions and achievements," added Anna Stella.

Details about The BASA Awards and the full list of 2025 winners can be found at https://www.basawards.com/pages/2025-basa-awards%C2%AE-winners

About the BASA Awards

The Best of America Small Business Awards by BASA Awards were created to recognize, celebrate, and promote exceptional small businesses. With over 150 categories available, the BASA Awards spotlight the best small businesses and their remarkable contributions to their communities.

Learn more about the BASA Awards at https://www.basawards.com/.

About Inc.

Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

For more information or to view the complete list of honorees, visit https://www.inc.com/power-partner-awards.

SOURCE Arbor Scientia Group
Stoke-on-Trent was once home to famous British ceramics brands, such as Spode, Wedgwood, and Royal Doulton. Jingdezhen is China's millennium-old porcelain capital. Both cities have found a common thread to connect their past with modern development.

by Xinhua Writers Zheng Bofei, Yu Aicen

STOKE-ON-TRENT, Britain, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Charity shops scattered along the streets of Stoke-on-Trent display stacks of plates painted with delicate willows, arching bridges, and Chinese-style pavilions. For many locals, these motifs borrowed from traditional Chinese paintings are as familiar as the smell of kiln smoke that once hung over the town.

Professor Neil Brownsword from the University of Staffordshire told Xinhua: "Everyone in Stoke-on-Trent got something of this Willow Pattern."

Back in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the design helped boost exports from Jingdezhen, China's millennium-old porcelain capital. Export wares travelled down rivers and across seas to Europe, where Staffordshire potters studied them closely, copying the cobalt blue and reworking the scenes into what became one of Britain's most iconic ceramic designs.

"It is not purely Chinese, nor entirely British, but a product of cultural exchange," said Professor and curator Hou Tiejun from Jingdezhen Ceramic University.

This photo taken on Oct. 20, 2025, shows Jingdezhen porcelain displayed on the dining table during an immersive "Food + Porcelain" event in London, Britain. (Xinhua)





CERAMIC LEGACY

Stoke-on-Trent was once home to famous British ceramics brands, such as Spode, Wedgwood, and Royal Doulton. Its canals and kilns shaped the city's skyline. But by the 1990s, mass ceramic production and rising costs shook the industry, and generations of craftsmanship began to slip away.

"My stepfather worked in the Spode factory. My grandmothers worked in other factories. It's not what it was," Sue, a museum volunteer born and raised in the city, told Xinhua, noting that shifting consumer tastes also played a part. "If you don't respond quickly to people's changing tastes, then you get left behind."

Jingdezhen faced its own challenges in the late twentieth century, yet found a way to reinvent itself. By the early 2000s, it began rejuvenating its ceramic legacy by converting old kiln complexes into creative districts, including the well-known Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue.

When Brownsword visited in 2023, he found the energy transformative: "I was amazed by a younger generation, 17 and 18-year-olds, going to shops and picking up ceramics and kind of being interested."

A faculty member from Jingdezhen Ceramic University demonstrates overglaze painting on the sidelines of an international ceramics symposium in Stoke-on-Trent, Britain, Nov. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Zheng Bofei)





CRAFTSMANSHIP COMBINES CREATIVITY

Dr. Tim Jenkins, an archaeologist and advisor to the Stoke-on-Trent city council, said: "For Jingdezhen, one of the most important elements is embedding that craftsmanship and creativity at the heart of the city's master plan, and encouraging young craftspeople to make a living and sell within the city."

At the Spode Museum gallery, Yvonne and Jean stood before willow-patterned plates and ceramic artefacts made by students from the Jingdezhen Ceramic University. "People don't appreciate the china anymore," Yvonne told Xinhua. "They buy cheaper versions."

Jean nodded and said that big names like Spode or Wedgwood are no longer as valued as they were before.

"Everybody in Stoke-on-Trent does know someone who worked in the pottery factories," Yvonne said. Yet many factories have been hollowed out as companies outsourced production.

Still, both cities have found a common thread to connect their past with modern development.

Visitors listen to a Chinese curator explaining Jingdezhen porcelain pieces on display at the Spode Museum in Stoke-on-Trent, Britain, Nov. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Zheng Bofei)





BILATERAL EXCHANGE

At an international ceramics symposium held on Saturday, Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Steve Watkins told an audience of scholars and craftspeople that the two cities should "continue to stand proudly as global capitals of ceramics," passing their hard-won skills to future generations through deeper cultural and academic exchange.

For Jenkins, the future of ceramics relies on creating "safe spaces for young craftspeople to experiment, to fail, and to grow." Stoke's revival, he said, lies not only in preserving its industrial legacy but in rediscovering its creative one.

The Willow Pattern -- designed in Britain and inspired by China -- is once again a bridge between two places separated by continents yet linked by material, memory, and resilience.
NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Avantor, Inc. (NYSE: AVTR) between March 5, 2024 and October 28, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important December 29, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.

So what: If you purchased Avantor common stock 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 Avantor class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=47303 mailto:or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] 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 December 29, 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, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, defendants misrepresented and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Avantor's competitive positioning was weaker than defendants had publicly represented; (2) Avantor was experiencing negative effects from increased competition; and (3) as a result, defendants' representations about Avantor's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Avantor class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=47303 mailto:call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] 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 investor's 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

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT, Utah, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition (BEITC) was recognized nationally for excellence by the Harvard Project on Indigenous Governance and Development's prestigious Honoring Nations Awards. The announcement recognizes BEITC's groundbreaking leadership in Indigenous stewardship, Inter-Tribal governance and the collaborative management of Bears Ears National Monument.

Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition awarded by Harvard for advancing Indigenous governance and protecting ancestral lands. Post this The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition was honored by Harvards Honoring Nations Awards for advancing Indigenous-led stewardship, cultural protection, and Tribalfederal collaboration in the management of Bears Ears National Monument. [L-R] Charissa Miijessepe-Wilson (Prairie Band Potawatomi/Kickapoo) presents at NCAI; BEITC spotlighted at the awards ceremony; Charissa and Davina Smith (Dine) accept the award on behalf of the Coalition.

Founded by the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Zuni Tribe, and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, the Coalition was honored for advancing a model of Tribal collaboration, cultural stewardship, and consensus-based decision-making rooted in Traditional Knowledge.

"This award affirms what our elders and leaders have taught us, that Indigenous governance is powerful, effective, and necessary," said Anthony Sanchez Jr., Head Councilman of the Zuni Tribe and Co-Chair of the BEITC. "Our work at Bears Ears is about responsibility, healing, and protecting the cultural legacy of our Nations for future generations. For the Zuni people, these lands hold the footprints of our ancestors, and it is our duty to care for them with reverence and humility."

One major milestone considered by the Harvard Project was the 2025 finalization of the Bears Ears Resource Management Plan, the first management plan to implement Tribalfederal collaborative management for a U.S. national monument. The plan, shaped by the Bears Ears Commission and grounded in Traditional Knowledge, affirms the role of Tribal Nations as co-stewards of their ancestral homelands. Through initiatives like youth leadership programs, cultural landscape protection, and educational partnerships, BEITC's model is already inspiring other Indigenous efforts across the country.

The Honoring Nations award is the premier national recognition of Tribal governance excellence, administered by the Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center. As an honoree, BEITC joins 142 alumni awardees and receives national recognition.

"This recognition belongs to our entire Coalition, the five Tribes have stood together and continue to lead with vision and care," said Davina Smith (Dine), Co-Chair of the BEITC. "I'm deeply grateful to our partner organizations, agency partners, and all who have supported our shared mission. Most of all, thank you to the Tribal members, leaders, and knowledge holders of the Hopi, Zuni, Ute Mountain Ute, Ute Indian Tribe, and Navajo Nation. Your prayers, strength, and teachings make this work possible. This is what stewardship can look like when Tribes help shape the future of the lands they've cared for since time immemorial."

"We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the outstanding programs recognized by the 2025 Honoring Nations awards," said Charissa Miijessepe-Wilson (Prairie Band Potawatomi/Kickapoo), Director of the BEITC. "Each of these initiatives reflects the strength, innovation, and deep cultural grounding of Tribal governance in action. From language revitalization to food sovereignty, environmental stewardship to intergovernmental partnerships, these projects are powerful examples of Indigenous leadership meeting the moment. We're honored to be in your company and inspired by your work."

This year's High Honors awards recognized the transformative leadership of the Cherokee Nation, whose tribally affiliated medical school is reshaping rural and Tribal healthcare; the Jicarilla Apache Nation, whose water-sharing agreement strengthens ecological stewardship and Tribal sovereignty; and the Lummi Nation, whose Sche'lang'en Village provides a powerful model of healing, reunification, and culturally grounded wrap-around services. We celebrate their achievements and the powerful momentum of Indigenous governance across Indian Country.

Learn more about the Honoring Nations program at https://ash.harvard.edu/

About the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition (BEITC):

The BEITC is a fiscally sponsored project of the Resources Legacy Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Founded by the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Zuni Tribe, and Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, the Coalition supports the Bears Ears Commission in leading the first-ever Tribalfederal collaborative management of a national monument.

Through advocacy, cultural stewardship, youth engagement, and the integration of Traditional Indigenous Knowledge into land management, BEITC works to protect the Bears Ears cultural landscape and ensure that future generations of Tribal people remain connected to their ancestral homelands. Follow the Coalition on Instagram , Facebook , LinkedIn , and Bluesky .

SOURCE Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition
BEIJING, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From November 10 to 21, the Brazilian city of Belem, deep in the Amazon rainforest, hosted COP30, the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. To underscore its focus on global climate challenges, Brazil even shifted its seat of government to Belem for the duration of the summit. Yet the most striking development was the absence of a high-level U.S. representative, something not seen in the event's 30-year history.

On his first day back in office earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement once again, a repeat of his first-term decision that the Joe Biden administration reversed in 2021. Branding global warming a green scam, the right-wing leader sent no official delegation to COP30. He has also pushed aggressively for fossil fuels to reclaim a dominant global role and has attacked any measure that could constrain U.S. coal, oil, or natural-gas interests. Over the past year, Washington has moved to block the Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution, pressured Europe into shelving key climate legislation, and thwarted efforts to establish a greenhouse-gas levy on the international shipping sector.

Some delegates were pleased to see the U.S. stay away. In interviews conducted before the summit by Reuters, The New York Times and other outlets, many representatives said that without Washington at the table, real multilateral dialogue might finally take place. They also noted that talks could move more smoothly this year, as every UN climate decision requires unanimous approval, giving any one country the power to halt a final agreement.

Still, the U.S. is the world's largest economy and the second biggest source of carbon emissions, with per-capita emissions higher than any other major industrialized country. Its absence still inevitably weakens the global fight against climate change. California's Governor, Gavin Newsom, did show up with a delegation of state and local leaders, but such subnational efforts cannot replace the weight of federal authority. The U.S. could see its emissions decline slip into reverse, given the Trump administration's moves to block new solar and wind projects, scrap electric vehicle tax credits and dismantle clean-energy subsidies.

The Trump administration has long cast doubt on global warming, but scientific facts do not vanish because a government refuses to acknowledge them.

Data from the EU's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (C3S) show a widening hole over Antarctica. The world responded quickly to this scientific alarm. In 1985, countries adopted the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, and two years later, 26 nations and regions signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which placed global limits on the production, sale and use of eight major ozone-depleting substances, including chlorofluorocarbon, or CFCs. After four decades of collective action, particularly since the early 2000s, the Antarctic ozone hole has been gradually shrinking. Scientists expect it to return to its pre-1980 state sometime around 2060.

The slow healing of the ozone layer is a reminder that meaningful action is never too late. Today, developing countries such as China and Brazil are redefining their place in global climate governance, while developed nations, above all the U.S., carry an even heavier obligation to lead. On challenges of this scale, every missing voice makes the path forward harder. And ultimately, those who step back from the effort will find that they, too, cannot escape the consequences.

Comments to [email protected]

SOURCE Beijing Review
STIMULAN Rapid Cure can now be used with both a wider range of antibiotics and also with antifungals in India

STIMULAN Rapid Cure can be placed in bone and surrounding soft tissue to assist in wound healing and treatment of infection

KEELE, England, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Biocomposites, an international medical devices company that engineers, manufactures and markets world leading products for use in infection management in bone and soft tissue, today announces it has gained an expanded approval in India for STIMULAN Rapid Cure. The approval from India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) allows STIMULAN Rapid Cure to be mixed with a wider variety of antibiotics than before, including in combination, and also with antifungals, to assist in wound healing and treatment of infection.

STIMULAN Rapid Cure is already the only calcium matrix approved to be mixed with an antibiotic for use in bone and surrounding soft tissue, having received that authorisation in more than 60 countries worldwide. India has now become the first country in the world to approve STIMULAN Rapid Cure to be mixed with antifungals, expanding the options available to surgeons when deciding on treatment strategies for their patients.

Surgical site infections and antimicrobial resistance are challenges that affect mortality rates around the world. The expanded approval for STIMULAN Rapid Cure to be mixed with antimicrobials, provides surgeons with the flexibility to take on these challenges, and to tailor their choice of antimicrobial to the clinical need of each and every patient.

Michael Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Biocomposites, said: "This expanded approval for STIMULAN Rapid Cure will allow surgeons in India to tailor antimicrobial treatment strategies to their patients' needs. STIMULAN Rapid Cure already helps more than 150,000 patients worldwide every year, and is an important tool for surgeons as they tackle the impact of antimicrobial resistance and help their patients."

About Biocomposites

Biocomposites is an international medical device company that engineers, manufactures and markets world leading products for use in infection management in bone and soft tissue. Based in Keele, UK, it has global operations across Europe, South America, USA, Canada, China and India. Biocomposites is a world leader in the development of innovative calcium compounds and bone cements for surgical use. Its products regenerate bone and target infection risks across a variety of specialties, including musculoskeletal infection, orthopaedics, trauma, spine, foot and ankle, podiatry and sports injuries. Biocomposites' products are now used in over 1 million procedures per annum and sold in more than 100 countries around the world. Please visit biocomposites.com to learn more.

SOURCE Biocomposites
CUPERTINO, Calif, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - (TSXV: BWLK) (OTCQB: BWLKF)  Boardwalktech Software Corp. ("Boardwalktech" or the "Company"), a leading digital ledger platform and enterprise software solutions company, provides the voting results from its 2025 Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") of shareholders.

The meeting was held November 24, 2025 at the Company's Cupertino, California office and streamed online. Detailed results of the vote are set out below.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Name % For % Withheld Andrew T. Duncan 95.810 % 4.109 % Ravi (Ganesh) Krishnan 92.541 % 7.459 % Steven Bennet 82.663 % 17.337 % Drue Freeman 82.994 % 17.006 %

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

Shareholders voted 99.949% in favour of the approval of the appointment of MNP LLP as the Company's auditors, with 0.051% of shareholders withholding their vote on the appointment of auditors.

APPROVAL OF EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

Shareholders voted 77.598% in favour of the approval of the equity incentive plan of the Corporation and certain amendments thereto, as more fully described in the Circular, with 22.402% of shareholders voting against.

TOTAL SHAREHOLDER VOTING

A total of 11,477,666 common shares were voted in connection at the Meeting, representing approximately 16.32 % of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company.

The Company's Board would like to express its gratitude to its shareholders for their participation and support.

About Boardwalktech Software Corp.

Boardwalktech has developed a patented Digital Ledger Technology Platform currently used by Fortune 500 companies running mission-critical applications worldwide. Boardwalktech's digital ledger technology and its unique method of managing vast amounts of structured and unstructured data is the only platform on the market today where multiple parties can effectively work on the same data simultaneously while preserving the fidelity and provenance of the data. Boardwalktech can deliver collaborative, purpose-built enterprise information management applications on any device or user interface with full integration with enterprise systems of record in a fraction of the time it takes other non-digital ledger technology-based platforms. Boardwalktech is headquartered in Cupertino, California with offices in India and operations in North America. For more information on Boardwalktech, visit our website at www.boardwalktech.com.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved".

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, the Company is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements.

An investment in securities of the Company is speculative and subject to several risks including, without limitation, the risks discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's filing statement dated August 28, 2025. 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 and forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

In connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Boardwalktech Software Corp.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation's flagship "Autism: One World for All" program has been honored with a Healthcare Award at the annual American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan (AmCham) Awards, recognizing its transformative impact on autism support and inclusion in the country.

Photo Credit: Bulat Utemuratov Foundation

The award was presented on November 21 in Astana, with winners selected by an independent committee. This recognition underscores the Foundation's pioneering role in advancing early diagnosis, specialist training, and inclusive practices for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Launched in 2015, the program operates 13 Asyl Miras autism centers in 12 cities across Kazakhstan. It offers free services that combine the expertise of psychologists, speech therapists, and behavioral analysts using internationally recognized evidence-based methods including ABA therapy, JASPER, the Early Childhood Intervention Model, and MCRR crisis management. Over the past decade, more than 17,000 children and their families have received support, while over 300 specialists have been trained to deliver world-class interventions.

Beyond direct assistance, the program has played a pivotal role in raising public awareness and embedding a culture of inclusion in Kazakhstan. Initiatives such as the Autism Friendly project have trained staff at airports in Almaty and Kyzylorda, as well as Air Astana employees, to create more accessible environments for individuals with ASD.

Almaz Sharman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation , commented: "For us, this award is recognition that the topic of inclusion is becoming increasingly important to society. When we launched the Autism: One World for All program, our goal was to help children with ASD realize their potential and become part of a world that accepts and supports them. Today, we see real changes: thousands of families have found support, and society is becoming more open and understanding. This inspires us to move forward."

This is the second consecutive year the Foundation has been recognized by AmCham. In 2024, it won in the Community Service category for its broad charitable work and contribution to Kazakhstan's social development.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan represents leading international and domestic companies across key economic sectors, promoting a competitive, transparent and investment-friendly business environment through advocacy, policy dialogue and collaboration with the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2831849/The_Bulat_Utemuratov_Foundation.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2831848/BUF_Logo.jpg

SOURCE The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation
MuleSoft veteran to drive product innovation as CData scales connectivity platform for AI systems and autonomous agents

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CData Software, a provider of enterprise data connectivity solutions, today announced the appointment of Ken Yagen as Chief Product Officer (CPO). Yagen will lead product strategy and engineering as CData scales its connectivity platform for enterprises deploying agentic AI internally and for software providers building AI into their products.

The appointment comes as CData experiences rapid growth in the AI connectivity space. With thousands of users already connecting enterprise data sources to AI systems through CData's MCP Servers, and the recent launch of Connect AIa managed Model Context Protocol (MCP) platformYagen's leadership will accelerate the company's product roadmap.

Advancing AI-Native Connectivity

Yagen joins CData as the company shapes the emerging category of AI-native connectivity. Connect AI provides the enterprise-scale infrastructure that AI systems and autonomous agents require: live, governed access to business systems combined with embedded system-level semantic intelligence that teaches AI the structure, relationships, and business logic native to each platformtransforming raw connectivity into operational fluency.

"AI will fail to achieve meaningful outcomes if agents don't understand the systems they're acting in. The enterprises that will dominate the AI era are the ones whose agents have real system fluencynot just access," said Ken Yagen, Chief Product Officer at CData. "CData is eliminating a core blocker in enterprise AI by giving agents both the connectivity and the deep, system-level context to operate safely, predictably, and at scale across Salesforce, NetSuite, SAP, and 350+ business systems. We're building the context and control fabric that turns AI into a trusted digital operator inside the enterprise."

Yagen is an accomplished product management and technology leader with more than 25 years of experience driving innovation in enterprise software. Most recently at Warburg Pincus, he led AI and LLM initiatives across the firm's portfolio companies, helping enterprises integrate emerging AI technologies into their business strategies. His career includes pivotal roles at MuleSoft, where he shaped product strategy for APIs and integration platforms that became foundational to modern enterprise architecture, as well as leadership positions at Box and Symphony, where he drove collaboration and enterprise SaaS innovation.

Dual Market Strategy: Enterprises and ISVs

Under Yagen's leadership, CData will accelerate its dual go-to-market strategy, enabling both direct enterprise adoption and embedded use by independent software vendors (ISVs). Organizations are adopting CData's managed MCP platform to standardize connectivity across departments and initiatives, while software providers are embedding CData's connectivity into their products to deliver enterprise-ready AI capabilities without building integrations themselves.

"We're building a comprehensive, secure MCP platform, and we're early in this market," Yagen added. "The opportunity is to make CData a go-to connectivity layerone that enterprises can rely on internally and that product builders embed by default. This isn't just about better integrations. It's about making every AI system enterprise-ready from day one."

"Ken brings exactly the experience and vision we need at this stage of our growth," said Amit Sharma, CEO and co-founder of CData. "His track record building enterprise platforms at scale, combined with his deep expertise in distributed systems and AI infrastructure, makes him an ideal fit to lead our product organization as we help customers navigate the AI era."

About CData Software

CData Software provides data connectivity solutions for the AI era. Our AI Connectivity Platform provides universal, real-time access to business data across 350+ systems with enterprise-grade governance, security, and scale. Millions of users worldwide rely on CData to power advanced analytics, accelerate cloud adoption, and enable AI systems that understand the enterprise systems they connect to. Learn more at www.cdata.com or reach a representative via email at [email protected] .

SOURCE CData Software
DDS redefines cannabis manufacturing with the FX-8, delivering safer, more consistent, and efficient flower infusion. Post this

For years, producers have relied on manual or improvised infusion methods that introduce excessive touchpoints, uneven application, and elevated temperatures that can degrade terpenes and cannabinoids. Many traditional spray systems generate large oil particles that oversaturate flower, creating sticky, clumped product that cannot run through pre-roll machines. Open-environment setups and overheated oil can also create hazardous working conditions  issues that have long limited scalability and reliability in the infused-flower segment.

DDS founder and CEO Chris Joseph saw these challenges firsthand and recognized the need for a controlled, closed-system solution built specifically for modern cannabis production.

"As infused products exploded in popularity, more customers began using our DDS Cartridge Fillers to infuse pre-rolls. We recognized that the real barrier to bulk infusion was that most rolling equipment couldn't handle how sticky the flower became. So we set out to engineer a solution that uses ultra-fine mist atomization to prevent oversaturation while still achieving the high-potency targets operators expect," said Joseph. "Our team spent countless hours perfecting a machine that not only increases the efficiency of infused-product manufacturing, but actually delivers a higher-quality product in the process."

Building on their goal of delivering a higher-quality product, the DDS team developed snowcaps that overcome traditional stickiness and handling challenges. The FX-8 enables the creation of snowcaps that aren't sticky or gooey, ensuring full THCa penetration throughout the bud, consistent potency, easier handling, and a cleaner, more enjoyable experience for consumers.

These results highlight the FX-8's broader infusion capability. Its precision atomization allows operators to work with distillate, live resin, live rosin, or dry materials like kief or THCa, producing evenly coated ground flower and premium infused buds with reliable batch-to-batch consistency.

Designed for real manufacturing environments, the FX-8 processes up to 8 pounds of flower per 5-minute cycle, giving producers throughput levels that previously required multiple operators and hours. The system's precision-controlled spray valve delivers exceptionally fine atomization, coating the flower uniformly while preventing oversaturation, degradation, or clumping. This controlled particle size creates product compatible with downstream automation, including pre-roll machines  eliminating one of the industry's most persistent bottlenecks.

"The spray valve our team engineered in-house produces an unbelievably consistent coating," Joseph added, "but the stand out feature that really sets this machine apart is the quick-change bag system. It streamlines the entire process and allows the machine to keep up with real production demands."

By integrating a true batch bag system, fine-atomization technology, and industrial-grade reliability, the FX-8 delivers a novel infusion methodology unlike anything else on the market. The result is a safer, cleaner, and more consistent infusion process that enhances efficiency while preserving the premium quality and characteristics consumers expect from infused flower.

The launch of the FX-8 reinforces DDS's position as a leader in cannabis processing innovation. As the company continues expanding its suite of automated solutions, the FX-8 reflects DDS's commitment to solving industry-wide challenges through thoughtful engineering, operator-centric design, and groundbreaking technology.

Detroit Dispensing Solutions (DDS) is a Michigan-based manufacturer of advanced cannabis processing equipment, specializing in automation for concentrate dispensing, vape-cartridge filling, infused-pre-roll production, and now infused-flower manufacturing. Known for its engineering precision, reliability, and operator-centric design, DDS provides scalable systems that help processors improve efficiency, maintain product consistency, and meet the growing demands of the cannabis industry. For more information, visit www.detroitdispensingsolutions.com.

SOURCE Detroit Dispensing Solutions
Achievement Places The MSP Among Worldwide Select Few

HOBOKEN, N.J., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- eMazzanti Technologies , a leading provider of IT services and Cybersecurity solutions, announced today that it has attained four Solutions Partner designations in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. This positions the company  a Microsoft expert and a key Watchguard partner  among the first Microsoft partners worldwide to achieve this prestigious recognition.

eMazzanti Technologies President Carl Mazzanti

The technology consulting and services firm earned Solutions Partner status in four critical areas: Infrastructure (Azure), Data & AI (Azure), Digital & App Innovation (Azure), and Modern Work. These designations validate eMazzanti Technologies' technical capabilities, extensive experience, and proven ability to deliver successful customer outcomes aligned with the Microsoft Cloud platform.

Microsoft further noted that eMazzanti has met prerequisite requirements for the SAP on Microsoft Azure Specialization, an extensive validation of the company's capability to deliver high-fidelity services in a specific solution area.

"Achieving four Solutions Partner designations and recognition for SAP on Microsoft Azure Specialization represents a significant milestone for our organization," said Carl Mazzanti, President and Co-Founder of eMazzanti Technologies. "These recognitions also underscore our unwavering commitment to delivering excellence as a Managed Services Provider and cloud technology solutions source. They validate the substantial investments we have made in developing deep expertise across the Microsoft ecosystem, and reflect our team's dedication to helping customers harness the full power of AI and cloud technologies to transform their businesses."

The Solutions Partner designation represents a high-level tier of recognition in Microsoft's partner ecosystem, demonstrating eMazzanti's depth of expertise and commitment to driving customer success through Microsoft technologies. Partners achieving this status have met rigorous standards for technical capability, customer implementation success, and ongoing investment in Microsoft platform proficiencies.

The specialization recognition is an extensive validation, by Microsoft, of eMazzanti Technology's capability to deliver high-fidelity services in a specific solution area.

The designations recognize the ability of eMazzanti Technologies to differentiate its services in an increasingly competitive marketplace while providing customers with confidence in the company's ability to implement complex, enterprise-grade solutions across infrastructure, data analytics, artificial intelligence, application development, and modern workplace technologies.

Microsoft's AI Cloud Partner Program provides partners with enhanced capabilities, resources, and industry-specific expertise to better serve customers while investing in partner profitability and growth.

For more information about eMazzanti Technologies and our cybersecurity solutions, please visit our website at [www.emazzanti.net]( http://www.emazzanti.net ); contact us by phone at (201) 360-4400, or email us at [email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

About eMazzanti Technologies

eMazzanti's team of trained, certified IT experts deliver rapid response, increased revenue growth, data security, and productivity for organizations of all sizes. The firm offers cloud and mobile solutions, multi-site technology implementations, outsourced network management, 24 x 7 support, digital marketing services, and cybersecurity assessments and protection services.

eMazzanti Technologies has received many accolades for superior service delivery and stellar growth. The firm has placed on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing privately held companies eleven times, including eight consecutive years in a row, has been recognized by Microsoft as a 4x partner of the year and a Watchguard 5x partner of the year. NJBIZ has recognized the firm as the Small Business of the Year and also as a leading NJ Digital Innovator in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023, and 2024.

SOURCE eMazzanti Technologies
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts , the largest culinary school brand in the United States*, has been named to Newsweek's America's Top Online Learning Providers 2026 list for the fourth time and earned the only culinary educator spot, highlighting its unique leadership in flexible, industry-relevant online culinary and hospitality education.

Escoffier Named to Newsweeks Top Online Learning Providers 2026 List for Fourth Time, Earns Exclusive Culinary Educator Spot and 5-Star Rating

The 2026 list was developed in collaboration with Statista, which surveyed more than 10,000 learners and evaluated 200 online colleges, universities and learning providers to identify the top 100 organizations. Statista's evaluation highlights leaders in educational quality, technological innovation and commitment to student success. Escoffier earned a five-star rating for the third timethe highest distinctionplacing it among the top tier of online education providers based on real learner feedback and demonstrating strong performance in quality, consistency and student outcomes.

"Our online programs are designed to bring high-quality culinary education to students regardless of geographic location, creating clear pathways to careers in food, hospitality, nutrition and entrepreneurship," said Kathleen Ahearn, vice president of academic affairs at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. "Being recognized for the fourth time  and as the only culinary educator on this year's list  underscores the strength of our flexible, industry-aligned curriculum, hands-on industry externships, and professional mentorship."

America's Top Online Learning Providers list highlights organizations that excel in program relevance, quality of support, and measurable learner outcomes. Escoffier's five-star rating underscores its strong reputation with students and its commitment to flexible, industry-connected online culinary and hospitality education.

Escoffier offers diploma and degree programs in Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry Arts, Plant-Based Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Restaurant Operations Management, Holistic Nutrition and Wellness, and Food Entrepreneurship. Its curriculum blends foundational technique, sustainability, business skills and career readiness  preparing students for roles across the culinary, food, and hospitality industries.

The full 2026 Newsweek list can be found here .

About Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is the largest culinary school brand in the U.S.*, with a community of thousands of alumni represented across the United States and internationally. Escoffier's programs blend a classic and contemporary approach to culinary and pastry arts, emphasizing sustainability, farm-to-table practices, business skills, and food entrepreneurship. The Austin, Texas, campus is nationally accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE), and the Boulder, Colorado, campus (including online programs) is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). Escoffier is ranked one of the Best Colleges for Culinary Arts in America 2026 by Niche.com. Both the Boulder and Austin campuses are Great Place to Work-Certified institutions. Escoffier's Boulder campus (including online programs) has also been recognized as a Military Friendly School and by Newsweek as a Top Online Learning Provider for 2026.

For more information, visit www.escoffier.edu .

*Based on comparable student population data for Austin and Boulder as currently reported in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

SOURCE Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga and his wife Queen Nanasipau'u in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 25, 2025. Xi met with King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with visiting King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga here on Tuesday, saying that China is willing to enhance the alignment of development strategies with Tonga.

Noting that China and Tonga are true friends who have weathered storms and braved hardships together, Xi said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have been unswervingly supportive of each other's core interests and major concerns. The pragmatic cooperation has yielded fruitful results, and the China-Tonga comprehensive strategic partnership has been steadily deepened, thus setting an example of friendly cooperation between countries with different social systems and varying sizes, said Xi.

"No matter how the international situation changes, China has always been a trustworthy and good partner of Tonga and has always supported Tonga in safeguarding its national independence and sovereignty," Xi said.

Xi said China is willing to expand cooperation with Tonga on trade and investment, agriculture and fisheries, infrastructure, clean energy, medical and health care, tourism, and climate change response. China will also deepen exchanges in education, sports, youth, media, and subnational cooperation, and continue to provide assistance for Tonga's economic and social development within the framework of South-South cooperation.

Personnel from various sectors of Tonga are welcome to visit China and further engage in exchanges of experience on state governance and development to gain a more thorough understanding of China, Xi added.

Noting the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has outlined the top-level design and strategic blueprint for China's economic and social development of the next five years, Xi said China will focus on high quality development, deepen reforms across the board, expand high-level opening up, and share development opportunities with other countries in the world.

China also stands ready to work with Tonga to implement the four major global initiatives, create a better life for the people of both countries, build a China-Pacific Island countries community with a shared future, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said.

While expressing gratitude for China's long-term, selfless assistance in Tonga's economic and social development, King Tupou VI said Tonga attaches great importance to developing ties with China. The country firmly adheres to the one-China principle, opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form, and unequivocally supports the Chinese government's efforts for national reunification, he added.

King Tupou VI said Tonga is ready to expand cooperation with China in the fields of economy, trade, agriculture, clean energy, education, medical care, and environmental protection, among others. He added that the country is willing to learn from the CPC regarding the experience in state governance.

Tonga supports the four major global initiatives put forward by President Xi, King Tupou VI said, adding that the country is ready to enhance communication and coordination with China and jointly respond to climate change and other global challenges.

After the meeting, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents in the fields of economy, trade, medical care, education and development, among others.

Prior to the meeting, Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, held a welcoming ceremony for King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u at the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Xi and Peng hosted a welcoming banquet for the King and Queen in the afternoon. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 25, 2025. Xi met with King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 25, 2025. Xi met with King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
SHANGHAI, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ExploMar, a global brand specializing in high-performance electric propulsion systems for boats, has announced the completion of a new Series A financing exceeding USD 10 million. The investment was jointly led by renowned private equity funds and a listed company in China, with existing shareholder DCM Ventures continuing to participate. The proceeds will be mainly allocated to global distribution and service network expansion, supply-chain optimization, and product upgrade.

As the globe shifts toward green mobility, the electrification of water transportation has become an irreversible trend. A single speedboat can emit 15 to 20 times more pollutants than a bus of comparable length, making it one of the most polluting modes of public transportation. Historically, electric outboards have been limited to small and medium-power ranges due to constraints in power density and lightweight engineering, leaving the high-performance segment underserved.

ExploMar was thus created in 2021 to focus on the R&D and application of medium- to high-power electric propulsion systems and integrated energy solutions. Over past year, ExploMar has achieved great progress in its commercialization: delivered its systems to clients across Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, and established a distribution network in over 20 countries and regions, including China, Norway, Italy, Nigeria, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.

With a disruptive design philosophy, ExploMar has developed the WAVE series of high-performance electric outboard systems  including the WAVE 300, WAVE 150+, and WAVE 70+  along with the 5S Energy Station, an integrated solar-storage-fast-charging solution. Combining high performance, low maintenance, intelligent control, and sustainability, these systems offer efficient, zero-emission propulsion for a broad range of marine applications, backed by over 100 patents. The flagship WAVE 300 stands as an industry benchmark with its lightweight design and exceptional torque: a 25-inch shaft model weighs only 218 kg and delivers 655 Nm of maximum torque.

Throughout product development, ExploMar maintains a test-driven innovation approach. The company has established a systematic testing framework and built multiple electric prototype vessels  including RIBs, bass boats, and patrol boats  to validate system performance across various operating conditions. Through extensive real-world trials and extreme-environment testing, ExploMar continuously enhances the stability and reliability of its systems, ensuring each product performs optimally in actual marine environments. In 2025, the company's WAVE 300 system has empowered a client's carbon RIB boat competing in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, where it achieved outstanding results  further proving ExploMar's technological leadership and product readiness in high-performance electric marine propulsion.

As global carbon-neutral initiatives accelerate and clean-energy technologies advance, the electrification of waterborne mobility stands at a historic turning point. ExploMar is committed to driving this transformation through continuous innovation and global collaboration  building a high-performance, intelligent, and zero-emission water mobility ecosystem for a sustainable blue future.

SOURCE ExploMar
The beloved sound of Hershey's Kisses' 'Holiday Bells' comes to New York City with an immersive experience this holiday season

HERSHEY, Pa., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hershey's Kisses brand joins as a Premier Sponsor of NBC's annual live Holiday special, "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" for the first time. The event airs live on Wednesday, December 3, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and simulcasts on Peacock.

This year marks a milestone: 35 years of the beloved 'Holiday Bells' commercial. To celebrate, Hershey's is bringing the magic to life in a way never done before, transforming the iconic 'Bells' melody into an interactive experience where families can step inside the commercial and play the tune themselves.

From Thursday, December 4 to Sunday, December 7, an innovative LED musical mat at Rockefeller Center will recreate the iconic sounds of the 'Holiday Bells' commercial, allowing visitors to play the cherished melody and create new holiday memories.

"Two holiday icons, one unforgettable moment. Hershey's Kisses is the No. 1 candy of the holiday season, and NBC's "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" special is one of the most iconic holiday celebrations in the world," said Stacy Taffet, Chief Growth Officer, The Hershey Company. "This immersive experience brings them together to ring in the holidays and bring our beloved 'Holiday Bells' commercial to life for fans of all ages."

The History of the Hershey's Kisses Bells Commercial

In December 1989, the Hershey's Kisses 'Holiday Bells' commercial was born from a spontaneous idea during a shoot for the Hershey's 'Whimsy' campaign. John Dunn, Hershey's brand manager, created the holiday-themed spot, a 15-second stop-motion animation featuring Hershey's Kisses as handbells playing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," directed by Carl Willat.

"The simplicity of the spot - no dialogue, no celebrities, just animated Hershey's Kisses -is key to its enduring charm," said Taffet. "It has become one of the most iconic holiday advertisements in American marketing history."

HOLIDAY Q&A

Are there any new Hershey's Kisses for the holiday season?

NEW Hershey's Kisses Snickerdoodle Cookie Candy elevates holiday baking and candy dishes with snickerdoodle-flavored white creme and crunchy cookie pieces.

Fans can also enjoy beloved seasonal flavors including Hershey's Kisses Candy Cane, Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolate with Almond, and Hershey's Kisses Hot Cocoa.

Where can people experience the Hershey's Kisses Musical Mat?

The musical mat debuts during NBC's "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" tree lighting special on December 3, then moves to a high-traffic location at Rockefeller Plaza, where it will be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting Thursday, December 4 through Sunday, December 7.

For more information on products and holiday baking recipes, visit https://www.hersheyland.com/holiday.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is an industry-leading snacks company known for making more moments of goodness through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to doing the right thing for its people, planet, and communities. Hershey has more than 20,000 employees in the U.S. and worldwide who work daily to deliver delicious, high-quality products. The company has more than 90 brand names in approximately 80 countries that drive more than $11.2 billion in annual revenues, including Hershey's, Reese's, Kisses, KIT KAT, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers and Ice Breakers, and salty snacks including SkinnyPop, Pirate's Booty and Dot's Homestyle Pretzels.

For over 130 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. The candy and snack maker's founder, Milton Hershey, created Milton Hershey School in 1909, and since then, the company has focused on helping children succeed through equitable access to education.

To learn more visit www.thehersheycompany.com.

Follow:

https://x.com/hersheycompany

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hershey-company

http://www.facebook.com/hersheycompany

http://www.youtube.com/hersheycompany

http://www.instagram.com/hersheycompany

SOURCE The Hershey Company
RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilb Group today announced the acquisition of a New Jersey-based property and casualty business, effective November 1, 2025. This addition strengthens Hilb Group's growing footprint across the Tri-State region.

About Hilb Group: The Hilb Group is a leading property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and advisory firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Hilb Group is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. Hilb Group seeks to grow through strategic acquisitions and by leveraging its resources and expertise to drive organic growth in its acquired agencies. The company has completed more than 190 acquisitions with over 125 offices in 32 states. Hilb Group is rated as one of the Fastest Growing Brokers by Business Insurance, a Top P/C Agency by Insurance Journal, and one of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Inc. 5000. For more information on Hilb Group's growth as well as career opportunities, please visit our website at http://hilbgroup.com.

Media Contact:

Peter Lobred

804.548.4629

[email protected]

M&A Contact:

Ryan Havermann

804.414.6508

[email protected]

SOURCE The Hilb Group, LLC
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey of senior congressional staff has revealed a remarkable and unexpected point of cross-party consensus: the Senate filibuster should be preserved.

The latest CNCT Capitol Pulse survey indicates that a supermajority of aides from both parties favor maintaining the long-standing legislative procedure. This consensus suggests a deeply ingrained, traditionalist view among senior staff regarding the Senate's institutional role as a deliberative body.

HillFaith

The survey findings are clear. A full 82 percent of Republican aides responding to the poll stated that the filibuster should be kept. In a striking display of agreement, 77 percent of responding Democratic aides concurred with that position.

This strong consensus among senior staffthe experienced professionals who advise legislators on policy and procedurehighlights a significant potential disconnect between the public-facing political battles over Senate rules and the private sentiments of those who manage the legislative branch's day-to-day operations.

This near-unanimity extended across gender lines, mirroring the party identification. Among Republican women aides, support for the filibuster was exceptionally high at 93 percent. Democratic women aides also showed overwhelming support, with 89 percent stating the procedure should be kept. This data indicates that support for the Senate's institutional norms is a widely held conviction among staffers.

While support for the filibuster was dominant, the survey did identify small pockets of opposition. The group expressing the most support for eliminating the filibuster was Democratic men, at 20 percent. Among Republican aides, the highest percentage in favor of ending the procedure came from GOP communications directors, at 17 percent. However, these figures remain clear outliers, reinforcing the survey's primary finding of broad institutional support.

The Senate filibuster is a procedural tool that allows a minority of senators to delay or block a vote on a measure or appointment. Under the Senate's current rules, a "cloture" motion is required to end debate on a given topic. To invoke cloture and move to a final vote, the Senate must secure a supermajority of 60 votes. This 60-vote threshold is the central mechanism of the modern filibuster, effectively meaning most major legislation requires some measure of bipartisan support to pass.

The CNCT survey results arrive as the filibuster remains a contentious public issue. Some Republican senators have expressed frustration over the Democratic minority's use of the 60-vote threshold, which was utilized 15 times to maintain the recent government shutdown.

Despite this frustration, other Republicansand, as the survey shows, a majority of aides from both partieswarn against such a change. They caution that eliminating the 60-vote threshold would be a short-term tactical gain with severe long-term strategic consequences. A primary concern is that doing so would inevitably empower the opposing party to pass its own priority legislation with a simple majority when it regains control of the Senate.

This staff-level consensus underscores the traditional, institutionalist argument for the filibuster. Advocates frame it as a crucial feature, not a flaw, of the Senate's design, one that serves as a vital check against hasty, impassioned lawmaking. Proponents argue the 60-vote rule prevents the Senate from acting too quickly, forcing deeper consideration and more thorough debate on major proposals before they become law. From this perspective, the filibuster is an essential tool for preserving the Constitution's intended deliberative structure for the legislative branch.

About HillFaith: HillFaith is a project of the 52-Week Ministry Foundation, a tax-exempt non-profit that shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with congressional aides, as well as individual mentoring, career advice, and advocacy on behalf of improved working conditions. Learn more about the organization on their website: https://www.hillfaith.org/

Contact Information

Mark Tapscott

[email protected]

301-275-6645

SOURCE HillFaith
The American Nephrology Nurses Association partners with filmmaker Carolyn Jones to highlight the dedication and impact of nephrology nurses nationwide.

PITMAN, N.J., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) proudly presents " I Want to Live: The Impact of Nephrology Nursing ," a short documentary that premiered May 1, 2025, at the ANNA National Symposium in Portland, Oregon. Created with award-winning filmmaker Carolyn Jones, the film provides a compelling look at the dedication of nephrology nurses caring for individuals living with kidney disease.

The documentary follows nephrology nurses alongside the individuals and families they support, including a pair of best friends in Seattle, one donating a kidney to the other, participants at the Transplant Games in Alabama, and individuals receiving hemodialysis in New York.

Click here to watch "I Want to Live: The Impact of Nephrology Nursing"

"This documentary highlights [nephrology nurses'] extraordinary dedication, balancing technical skill with deep compassion," said Dr. Faith Lynch, President of ANNA.

"It marks a pivotal moment for both nephrology nursing and ANNA, illuminating the vital role these nurses play in caring for people with kidney disease. From managing dialysis to supporting patients through the emotional challenges of chronic illness, the film showcases the profound impact nephrology nurses make every day."

Chronic kidney disease affects over 37 million adults in the U.S., roughly 1 in 7, and the demand for trained nephrology nurses continues to exceed supply.

"As rates of kidney disease continue to rise in the United States and globally, it is important to shine a light on kidney care," said Nancy Colobong Smith, Immediate Past President of ANNA.

"Nephrology nursing blends highly technical skills with holistic and compassionate care. This film highlights the integral role of nurses in kidney care and hopefully inspires the next generation of nephrology nurses."

Carolyn Jones has spent more than a decade documenting the work of nurses. Through her films and research, she brings their stories to a wider audience, emphasizing their skill, compassion, and impact on patient care.

About ANNA

The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) is a nonprofit professional association established in 1969 and dedicated to advancing the profession of nephrology nursing through education, advocacy, networking, and science. Its members advocate for the kidney community, mentor colleagues, and engage in legislative efforts to inspire excellence in kidney care. For more information, visit www.annanurse.org

Media Contact

Rebecca Harvie

Communications & Media Relations Manager

[email protected]

(856) 256-2330

SOURCE American Nephrology Nurses Association
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Impilo, a leading provider in enabling at-home healthcare through software, logistics, and operations support, announced a strategic partnership between its e-commerce store, The Digital Health Store, a trusted online destination empowering clinicians and everyday individuals to take charge of their health, and Eko Health, a leader in AI-powered cardiac and pulmonary disease detection.

Through this partnership, The Digital Health Store will now feature the Eko CORE 500 Digital Stethoscope, giving clinicians an easier way to access advanced diagnostic technology directly through Impilo's ecosystem of tools and services.

Impilo, the owner of The Digital Health Store, develops software, tools, and services that empower clinicians to launch, scale, and manage virtual care programs with ease. By featuring the Eko CORE 500, Impilo expands its commitment to bridging the gap between innovative technology and practical clinical care.

"This partnership represents another step toward our mission of enabling clinicians to deliver exceptional patient care, whether in-person or virtually," said Josh Stein, Founder & CEO of Impilo. "The Eko CORE 500 combines precision engineering with intelligent AI, and we're proud to make it available through The Digital Health Store."

About the Eko CORE 500 Digital Stethoscope

The Eko CORE 500 Digital Stethoscope combines advanced digital acoustics, active noise cancellation, and AI-powered detection to help clinicians hear, see, and detect more during every patient encounter.

When paired with the Eko App, clinicians can visualize waveforms, analyze heart and lung sounds, and access AI-supported insights, helping to elevate diagnostic confidence and streamline patient assessments.

Disclaimer: AFib and murmur detection are supported by Eko AI and require an Eko+ membership. Eko+ membership provides access to Eko AI in the software in countries where Eko Health has regulatory approval and is intended for use by licensed healthcare professionals only.

About Impilo

Impilo is building the operating system for hybrid healthcare delivery  unifying supplies, logistics, data, and patient engagement into a single platform that enables providers to deliver seamless care anywhere. By integrating supplies, services, and software into one cohesive ecosystem, Impilo gives healthcare organizations the infrastructure to operate efficiently across in-clinic, at-home, and virtual settings. Learn more at impilo.health .

About The Digital Health Store

Impilo's e-commerce store, The Digital Health Store, is a trusted online destination for clinicians and everyday individuals looking to take a proactive role in their health. The store offers a carefully curated selection of digital health devices, clinical tools, wellness technologies, and more designed to bring professional-grade care within reach. Visit www.thedigitalhealthstore.com to learn more.

About Eko Health

Eko Health is a pioneering AI early disease detection company advancing how healthcare professionals detect and monitor heart and lung disease through its portfolio of digital stethoscopes, ECG devices, software, and AI-powered analysis. Its FDA-cleared platform, with more than 650,000 devices sold globally, helps clinicians detect earlier and manage treatment more effectively to improve patient outcomes. Eko Health is headquartered in Emeryville, California. For more information about Eko Health, visit ekohealth.com .

Media Contact

Impilo Press

[email protected]

SOURCE Impilo
From fire and water damage to environmental remediation, Insurcomm's Cincinnati team stands ready to serve Ohio families and businesses when it matters most.

CINCINNATI, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Insurcomm, a Fortify Company and a national leader in restoration and reconstruction, today announced the opening of its newest office in Cincinnati, Ohio, marking the company's first location in the state. The expansion reinforces Insurcomm's commitment to showing up when everything is on the line, helping communities recover faster and rebuild stronger.

For 30+ years, we've built our company on transparency and reliability. Clients always know what's happening, who's handling it, and when it's done with no surprises or delays. From first call to final walkthrough, we believe you deserve everything going right. We're the restoration partner you can count on when it matters most. Insurcomm delivers full-service restoration and emergency response for property owners facing water, fire, mold, storm, and environmental damage. From first call to final walkthrough, we believe you deserve everything going right. We're the restoration partner you can count on when it matters most.

The new office will serve families, property owners, and commercial facilities throughout the state with emergency restoration, remediation, reconstruction, and biohazard expertise. Insurcomm's teams are trained to mobilize quickly, assess damage with precision, and manage every phase of recovery, from immediate cleanup to full rebuild. By bringing these services to Cincinnati, the company provides communities with a dependable source of skilled restoration that protects what matters most.

"Our move into Ohio gives us the opportunity to help more customers through some of their most difficult moments," said Kelly Brewer, Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that when loss and disruption happen, people deserve a team they can trust to make things right again. That's the heart of what we strive for in every community we serve."

Insurcomm's expansion will be led by Regional Vice President, Rick Ohl, who brings over 30 years of experience in restoration, construction, and insurance recovery services across the Midwest. Ohl will oversee market development, operational strategy, and client relationships statewide, with a focus on emergency response leadership, commercial loss management, and large-loss coordination.

"In Ohio, people put real value on showing up and delivering on what you promise and that's how our teams work," said Rick Ohl, Regional Vice President. "Restoration is more than repair. It's about stepping in, protecting what matters, and getting life back to normal because people deserve everything going right when they've already been through enough."

The Cincinnati office serves as a foundation for further growth in the region, with a second location planned for Columbus in December 2025.

For more information or to request emergency service, visit www.insurcomm.com or call 844-424-9283.

About Insurcomm: Insurcomm delivers full-service restoration and emergency response you can count on when everything needs to go right. For more than 30 years, we've helped property owners, facility teams, and communities recover from water, fire, mold, storm events, and environmental hazards. We believe people deserve to know what's happening, who's handling it, and when it will be done, without surprises and without delays. From the first call to the final walkthrough, our mission is simple: You deserve everything going right, so we built a company that makes it happen.

To learn more about Insurcomm, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn , Facebook , or Instagram .

SOURCE Insurcomm Restoration Group
WARWICK, R.I., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As holiday travel ramps up, InsureMyTrip is once again digging into flight data to help travelers avoid headaches at the airport. After analyzing Department of Transportation statistics for November and December 2024, InsureMyTrip researchers identified the airports and airlines most likely to experience delays, and the results may have frequent flyers rethinking their travel plans.

The Most Delay-Prone Airports

Among the airports with the highest volume of flights, the following stood out for experiencing the most delays during the 2024 holiday season (November - December).

Top 10 Airports with the Highest Percentage of Delays

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) San Diego International Airport (SAN) Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) Richmond International Airport (RIC) Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

Airlines with the Most Delays

When it comes to airlines, some carriers saw significantly more flight delays than others during the same period (Nov. - Dec. 2024).

Topping the list were:

JetBlue Airways Frontier Airlines Allegiant Air

Other major airlines, also saw higher-than-average delays, including:

American Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Spirit Airlines

United Airlines

Southwest Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Hawaiian Airlines

Why Travel Insurance Matters

Flight delays aren't just frustrating; they can be expensive. Without federal guarantees, passengers risk losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars when disruptions throw their plans off course. Comprehensive travel insurance helps fill those gaps, covering costs that airlines won't.

Key benefits include:

Travel Delay: Reimbursement for meals, hotels, and transportation during extended delays.

Reimbursement for meals, hotels, and transportation during extended delays. Trip Cancellation and Interruption: Refunds for missed tours, prepaid accommodations, or travel disruptions.

Refunds for missed tours, prepaid accommodations, or travel disruptions. Baggage Protection: Coverage for lost, stolen, or delayed luggage.

Coverage for lost, stolen, or delayed luggage. Medical Coverage: Emergency medical and evacuation coverage.

Emergency medical and evacuation coverage. Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): An optional upgrade offering maximum flexibility when plans change unexpectedly.

"As we head into another busy travel season, travelers should plan for the unexpected," says InsureMyTrip CEO, Suzanne Morrow. "Booking early, staying flexible, and securing a solid travel insurance plan can make all the difference when delays hit."

Media Contact:

Meghan Kayata

[email protected]

About InsureMyTrip

You like options. We do too. It's simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.

SOURCE InsureMyTrip
20% more oil, 15% more gas, and 12 ROI in Delaware Basin wells with field-proven biosurfactant-based technology

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Locus Bio-Energy announced new Delaware Basin field results demonstrating how its SUSTAIN SF101 biosurfactant-based technology is setting a new benchmark for chemical efficiency in hydraulic fracturing. In a recent Wolfcamp A program, wells treated with SUSTAIN delivered a 20% increase in oil production, 15% increase in gas, and a 23% lower wateroil ratio (WOR) compared to untreated offsets, achieving a 12 return on investment (ROI) within six months.

Locus Bio-Energy Sustain

The program compared three SUSTAIN-treated wells with three control wells completed under identical parameters. Production data compiled through Enverus and verified by the operator confirmed the uplift, with payout achieved in less than one month. The improvement was driven by faster oil cut, more efficient flowback, and sustained production uplift over 180 days.

"Oil and gas operators have already optimized capital and design efficiencies in hydraulic fracturingit's time to unlock chemical efficiency," said Martin Shumway, Senior Vice President at Locus Bio-Energy. "In Delaware Basin Wolfcamp wells, SUSTAIN delivered 20% more oil over six months, demonstrating how operators can use biosurfactant chemistry to increase asset value and achieve stronger returns."

With mechanical designs already optimized across U.S. shale plays, operators are turning to higher-efficiency chemistry to capture additional value from their completion programs. SUSTAIN delivers ultra-small micelles (~35 nm) capable of accessing previously unreachable reserves in shale nanopores, improving hydrocarbon mobility and enhancing fluid cleanup under high-salinity conditions.

Across the Permian, major operators have recently begun publicly emphasizing that advanced chemical treatments are driving measurable production gains. These announcements signal a clear shift underway: chemistry is no longer a secondary additive  it is emerging as a strategic lever for improving recovery, accelerating early production, and strengthening well economics.

This industry momentum underscores what Locus Bio-Energy has been demonstrating in the field for years. Operators are recognizing that meaningful gains now come from optimized chemistry rather than further mechanical changes or increased intensity.

"Seeing major industry leaders openly acknowledge the impact of chemistry is a pivotal moment for oil and gas," said Dr. Megan Pearl, Vice President of Global Technology at Locus Bio-Energy. "For years, mechanical design has dominated the conversation. Now, operators are recognizing that chemistry can materially change recovery and economics. With tighter budgets and higher expectations, technologies like SUSTAIN  returning about twelve dollars for every dollar invested  are becoming essential."

The performance of SUSTAIN in the Delaware Basin aligns with a broader industry movement toward chemistry-led optimization. The technology is already deployed across multiple U.S. basins, where consistent production improvements have made it a dependable lever for operators seeking to push productivity and economic performance further.

"Our SUSTAIN line has proven its impressive performance capabilities across basins and tiered operators over the past several years," said John Uhran, Chief Executive Officer of Locus Fermentation Solutions, parent company of Locus Bio-Energy. "It is rewarding to see it now in the hands of major operators and continuing to deliver the impactful results we've consistently demonstrated in both the field and the lab."

Read the full Wolfcamp A SUSTAIN Case Study for a deeper dive into production and economic data.

Production Results Highlights

+20% oil, +15% gas , and 23% lower WOR vs. control wells

, and vs. control wells 12 ROI within six months; payout in under one month

within six months; Improved flowback, higher IP, and sustained uplift over 180 days

over 180 days Drop-in performance requiring no design or equipment changes

About Locus Bio-Energy

Locus Bio-Energy is the oil innovation division of Locus Fermentation Solutions, a global leader in biomanufacturing. The company develops high-performance, biosurfactant-enhanced treatments that optimize well performance, reduce operational costs and increase long-term asset value. The solutions are proven to outperform traditional oilfield chemicals in applications such as stimulation, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), flow assurance and morehelping operators get more oil, faster and longer. All solutions are made in the USA and backed by expert technical support, testing and field validation. For more information, visit www.locusbioenergy.com.

SOURCE Locus Fermentation Solutions
Donate to The Marco's Pizza Foundation Black Friday  Giving Tuesday and Receive a Free Small Cheese Pizza Coupon

TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Marco's Pizza , one of the nation's fastest-growing pizza brands, encourages guests to give back in a meaningful way this holiday season to support their communities. During one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year, Black Friday (Nov. 28) through Giving Tuesday (Dec. 2), guests who make a contribution to The Marco's Pizza Foundation at checkout will receive a free small cheese pizza coupon, redeemable at participating locations anytime in December.*

Local Junior Achievement programs help equip students with the skills and confidence to pursue big futures. Post this A portion of funds collected by the Marcos Pizza Foundation during Cyber Week will be directed to local Junior Achievement chapters to support community programs.

The Marco's Pizza Foundation supports four key pillars: hunger prevention, schools & education, workforce development and entrepreneurship. Since October 2024, the Marco's Pizza Foundation has supported Junior Achievement USA (JA) and its local chapters.

"Every day, we see how even small acts of generosity can spark meaningful change," said Raven Fisher, Executive Director of The Marco's Pizza Foundation. "Cyber Week gives our guests a simple way to make a big impact; supporting students, strengthening communities, and helping local Junior Achievement programs reach even more young people."

JA USA helps equip students with essential financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship skills through hands-on learning experience. The nationwide collaboration helps unite the Marco's Pizza brand, its franchisees, and the communities it serves around a shared mission. A portion of funds collected by the Marco's Pizza Foundation during Cyber Week will be directed to local Junior Achievement chapters to support community programs.

"During the holiday season, families are looking for meaningful ways to give back, and what better way than investing in the next generation," said Stephanie Moseley, President of the Marco's Pizza Foundation and Multi-Unit Franchisee. "Local Junior Achievement programs help equip students with the skills and confidence to pursue big futures."

The initiative is part of the Foundation's mission to bring people together to nurture and nourish the communities they call home. Since launching in 2022, the Foundation has united Marco's Pizza franchisees, team members, and guests around a shared commitment to making a meaningful local impact.

"Marco's Pizza is built on a culture of community, and our Foundation continues to expand the reach of that mission," Moseley added. "Whether a guest donates a few cents or a few dollars, every contribution fuels programs that help improve the lives of children, families, and future entrepreneurs."

Guests can donate at checkout online, in-app, or in-store during the promotion period. Upon donating, they will receive a coupon for a free small cheese pizza, redeemable on orders placed at participating locations in December.*

For more information about this offer, Marco's Pizza, and to find your nearest location, visit www.marcos.com or download the Marco's app available on the App Store or Google Play.

To learn more about the Marco's Pizza Foundation mission, please visit https://www.marcos.com/foundation/.

ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA

Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza brands in the United States. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives to deliver a high-quality pizza experience, known for its dough made from scratch and its three fresh signature cheeses. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,200 stores in 35 states with locations in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Mexico. Notably, Marco's was recognized as America's Favorite Restaurant in the Limited-Service Pizza category by Nation's Restaurant News using Technomic Ignite Consumer 2024 data. Other recent accolades include being recognized by QSR as one of the "16 Best Franchise Deals for 2025", ranking No. 49 on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2025 "Franchise 500" ranking, earning a coveted spot as the only top 5 pizza chain to rank on Newsweek's 2025 "America's Best Customer Service" in pizza chains list, earning a spot on QSR's Top 50, and being featured on Nation's Restaurant News' prestigious "Top 500" ranking.

*Purchase Required. Use code: GIVE2025. Coupon must be presented at the time of redemption and is limited to one small cheese pizza to the holder. Only valid 12/1/25 through 12/31/25 at participating stores. No cash value, no substitutions, non-transferable. Not valid through 3rd-party delivery apps. Additional toppings/delivery fee/tax extra (varies by store). Delivery orders must meet stated minimum. Other restrictions may apply - see store or marcos.com for details.

According to Technomic's 2024 America's Favorite Restaurants data, Marco's Pizza secured the top spot in the Limited-Service Pizza category with a 53.4% composite top-box rating, indicating the share of recent guests who gave the brand the highest possible rating for each of the guest experience attributes. Data for America's Favorite Chains comes from Technomic Ignite Consumer, which collects information about how brands impact consumers and how consumers interact with those brands, via online surveys. See here for more information: www.technomic.com/ignite-consumer .

SOURCE Marco's Pizza
HANOI, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's National Assembly has set the state budget revenue target for 2026 at over 2.52 quadrillion Vietnamese dong (about 95.6 billion U.S. dollars), local daily Tien Phong reported.

Under a newly adopted resolution on next year's state budget estimate, the revenue will include more than 1.2 quadrillion Vietnamese dong from the central budget and 1.3 quadrillion Vietnamese dong from local budgets.

Total state budget expenditure in 2026 is projected at over 3.1 quadrillion Vietnamese dong (about 117.6 billion U.S. dollars).

Vietnam collected over 2.1 quadrillion Vietnamese dong in state budget revenue in the first 10 months of this year, according to the National Statistics Office. 
Event Marks 20th Anniversary of Merger Between Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group, UFJ Holdings to form MUFG

NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (NYSE: MUFG), one of the 10 largest global financial groups, rang The Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the merger between Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group and UFJ Holdings, which formed MUFG.

To mark the occasion, MUFG President and Group CEO Hironori Kamezawa, Deputy President of MUFG Bank, Ltd., Group COO-I and Group Head of the Global Commercial Banking Business Group Yasushi Itagaki and MUFG Americas CEO and Regional Executive Kevin Cronin were joined by members of the Executive Committee for the Americas to ring The Closing Bell.

MUFG's facade banner on the NYSE included the company's purpose statement: Committed to Empowering a Brighter Future. By combining global strength, deep local knowledge, and over 360 years of Japanese heritage, MUFG provides thoughtful financial solutions that drive sustainable and restorative growth across industries. The company believes in architecting tomorrow and designing a better future for all by harnessing our extensive resources, investments and expertise to serve clients and drive long-term wellbeing for communities and society.

In the U.S., MUFG is a source of strength and a significant contributor to the country's economic growth through the capital it provides to thousands of companies across the nation. With nearly $3 trillion in assets, MUFG's global size and scale enables it to support some of the most critical sectors of the American economy, which create jobs and economic activity.

About MUFG and MUFG Americas

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is one of the world's leading financial groups. Headquartered in Tokyo and with over 360 years of history, MUFG has a global network with approximately 2,000 locations in more than 40 countries. The Group has about 150,000 employees and offers services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing. The Group aims to "be the world's most trusted financial group" through close collaboration among our operating companies and flexible response to all of the financial needs of our customers, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. MUFG's shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York stock exchanges. For more information, visit https://www.mufg.jp/english.

MUFG's Americas operations, including its offices in the U.S., Latin America, and Canada, are primarily organized under MUFG Bank, Ltd. and subsidiaries, and are focused on Global Corporate and Investment Banking, Japanese Corporate Banking, and Global Markets. MUFG is one of the largest internationally-headquartered financial institutions in the Americas. For locations, banking capabilities and services, career opportunities, and more, visit www.mufgamericas.com.

2025 Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. All rights reserved. The MUFG logo and name is a service mark of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., and is used by MUFG Union Bank, N.A., with permission. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

Media Contact:

Daniel Weidman

[email protected]

Correction: The headline to this release has been updated.

SOURCE MUFG Bank, Ltd.
CALGARY, AB, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. (TSXV: ROOF) (OTCQB: ROOOF) ("Northstar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce our financial and operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2025. Selected financial and operational information is set out below and should be read in conjunction with the Company's interim consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and the related management's discussion and analysis, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca or on the Company's website at www.northstarcleantech.com.

Q3 2025 Financial and Operational Highlights

On July 10, 2025, Northstar announced the production of our first run of liquid asphalt, evidencing the commissioning of all processing units and de-risking the technical and chemical process. Liquid asphalt samples from the production run were sampled at independent laboratories, with results suggesting asphalt quality superior to test results collected over several years at the pilot facility in Delta, British Columbia. Superior quality characteristics have the potential of additional upside to plant economics when factored into future commercial agreements;





Northstar also announced on September 10, 2025 the first production of solid asphalt pellets from end-of-life, tear-off shingles. The ability of the Northstar process to produce pellets provides the potential for significant market access through optimized logistic options. The announcement marked the technical achievement to successfully process both post-consumer discarded shingles that have been exposed to weather elements for significant periods of time and manufactured waste asphalt, evidencing the robustness of Northstar's patented technology and intellectual know-how;





On July 28, 2025, Northstar announced the closing of a non-brokered private placement raising $3.6 million via a unit offering, comprised of one common share at $0.30 per share and a warrant to purchase one common share, with an exercise price of $0.45 for a period of 36 months. A portion of the private placement was sourced via finder fees arrangements. Net proceeds were allocated to ongoing commercial ramp-up and general corporate purposes; and





On September 24, 2025, Northstar announced the addition of a new patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office regarding the recovery of limestone from the Company's proprietary asphalt shingle reprocessing technology. The patent is expected to remain in force until 2045 and adds to an existing fulsome patent portfolio. The addition of recovering limestone from discarded asphalt shingles adds a fourth revenue product line while enhancing the quality characteristics of the final liquid or pelletized asphalt product.

Financial Results

(CAD$, except per share amounts and common shares outstanding)





























Three Months Ended

September 30

Nine Months Ended

September 30



2025 2024

2025 2024 FINANCIAL RESULTS











Loss and comprehensive loss

3,947,979 3,207,180

10,028,031 6,164,535 Per share - basic and diluted

0.03 0.03

0.07 0.05



- -





Net cash flow used in operating activities

1,453,609 1,639,813

5,058,138 3,446,754 Per share - basic and diluted

0.01 0.01

0.04 0.03













Capital expenditures











Capital expenditures

1,665,409 6,458,443

7,344,784 12,400,929













Liquidity & Capitalization











Working capital (deficit) surplus

(3,814,324) 9,794,657

(3,814,324) 9,794,657 7.95% senior secured non-revolving loan

8,524,160 1,600,000

8,524,160 1,600,000 Convertible debentures - principal amount (1)

9,050,000 10,405,000

9,050,000 10,405,000 Royalty debenture (2)

15,512,175 14,070,000

15,512,175 14,070,000













Common shares outstanding











Weighted average - basic and diluted

146,511,418 127,713,206

138,683,852 127,284,299 Outstanding, end of period (3)

150,884,415 128,771,908

150,884,415 128,771,908















(1) Since December 2022, the Company has entered into various financing arrangements through issuance of convertible debentures in tranches, raising a total of $10,405,000. As at September 30, 2025, convertible debentures principal amounts totalling $9,050,000 remain outstanding, after convertible debentures conversions totalling $1,355,000 since initial issuance. See Note 9 in the Company's Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements as at September 30, 2025.

(2) On September 13, 2024 the Company completed an agreement with CVW CleanTech Inc. ("CVW") pursuant to which CVW provided the Company with $14,000,000 in funding through a five-year 10.0% second secured convertible debenture (the "Royalty Debenture") convertible into revenue royalties on two future facilities. Balance includes increase in fair value since inception. See Note 10 in the Company's Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements as at September 30, 2025.

(3) During the quarter the Company closed a non-brokered private placement of 11,926,664 units at a price of $0.30 per unit for gross proceeds of approximately $3.6 million. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, with each warrant exercisable to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.45 for a period of 36 months from the financing closing date. See Note 11 in the Company's Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements as at September 30, 2025.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will host a virtual investor webcast to discuss these financial results and to provide a detailed operational update. The webcast will be held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 14:30 MDT / 16:30 EDT. Details are provided below.

Title: Northstar Clean Technologies Q3 2025 Interim Results and Operational Update

Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Time: 14:30 MDT / 16:30 EDT

Registration:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3817558086149/WN_Vil2UYtoSKWeNin7XLkXyw

Approximately two hours after the Q&A session has ended, an archived version of the webcast will be available via the webcast URL above.

About Northstar

Northstar is a Canadian waste to value technology company focused on the sustainable recovery and reprocessing of asphalt shingles. Northstar developed and owns a proprietary design process for taking discarded asphalt shingles, otherwise destined for already over-crowded landfills, and extracts the liquid asphalt for use in new hot mix asphalt shingle manufacturing and asphalt flat roof systems while also extracting aggregate and fiber for use in construction products and other industrial applications. Focused on the circular economy, Northstar plans to reprocess used or defective asphalt shingle waste back into its three primary components for reuse/resale with its first commercial scale up facility in Calgary, Alberta. As an emerging innovator in sustainable processing, Northstar's mission aims at leading the recovery and reprocessing of asphalt shingles in North America that would otherwise be sent to landfill addressing numerous stakeholder objectives.

U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on https://www.otcmarkets.com/.

For further information about Northstar, please visit www.northstarcleantech.com .

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Aidan Mills

President & CEO, Director

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

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. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

This press release may contain forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which forwardlooking information reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "aim", "objective" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements concerning: (i) additional economic upside associated with future plants due to potentially superior quality characteristics; (ii) the Company's ability to access markets for its solid asphalt pellets; (iii) Northstar's limestone patent to remain in force until 2045; and (iv) Northstar's ability to become a leader in the recovery and reprocessing of asphalt shingles in North America.. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including: risks related to factors beyond the control of the Company; inability of the Company to execute on its business plans; the Company may require additional financing which may not be obtainable or on favourable terms; economic uncertainty; and the risks and uncertainties which are more fully described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis and other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's profile on SEDAR+. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forwardlooking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

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 herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or aimed. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended and such changes could be material. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update the forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.

SOURCE Northstar Clean Technologies Inc.
Itvisma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-brve) demonstrated improved motor function and stabilization in patients regardless of SMA treatment history in Phase III studies

One-time dose of Itvisma replaces SMN1 gene, potentially reducing the need for chronic SMA treatment

Gene replacement therapy now available to eligible people of all ages living with SMA

EAST HANOVER, N.J., Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Itvisma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-brve) for the treatment of children two years and older, teens, and adults living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with a confirmed mutation in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, making it the first and only gene replacement therapy available for this broad population. Itvisma is uniquely designed to address the genetic root cause of SMA with a one-time fixed dose that does not need to be adjusted for age or body weight.1 By replacing the SMN1 gene, Itvisma can improve motor function, offering the potential to reduce the need for chronically administered treatment associated with other available therapies for this population.1

"The FDA's approval of intrathecal onasemnogene abeparvovec is a game-changing advance, expanding the use of transformational gene replacement therapy for SMA across age groups," said John W. Day, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Director, Division of Neuromuscular Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, and Co-Director of Stanford's Neuro IGNITE Center. "This achievement is not only a significant step forward for SMA  it also signals new possibilities for the broader field of neurological disorders and genetic medicine."

The approval of Itvisma is based on data from the registrational Phase lll STEER study and supported by the open-label Phase lllb STRENGTH study. Itvisma showed statistically significant improvements in motor function and stabilization of motor abilities typically not seen in the natural history of the disease, with effects sustained over 52 weeks of follow-up.2,3 Additionally, Itvisma demonstrated a safety profile with adverse events that were consistent across both studies.2,3 The most common adverse events in the STEER study were upper respiratory tract infection and pyrexia, and the most common adverse events in the STRENGTH study were common cold, pyrexia, and vomiting.2,3 These data were presented at the 2025 Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinical and Scientific Conference.

"This new route of administration for a single dose of gene replacement therapy can mean so much more than what is measured by numbers on a functional motor scale  it could mean greater independence and freedom in activities of daily life," said Kenneth Hobby, President, Cure SMA. "The SMA disease landscape has dramatically changed over the last six years, when the first gene therapy was approved. This is another welcome advancement, and it represents real progress in expanding access for many older patients and addressing the unmet needs that remain in our community."

SMA is a rare, genetic neuromuscular disease caused by a mutated or missing SMN1 gene.4,5 The SMN1 gene is responsible for producing most of the SMN protein a body needs for muscle function, including breathing, swallowing and basic movement.5 Without it, motor neurons are irreversibly lost, leading to progressive, debilitating muscle weakness.5 A second gene, the SMN2 gene, produces a small fraction (~10%) of functional SMN protein compared with the SMN1 gene.6 Individuals with more copies of the SMN2 gene generally have a less severe form of SMA than those with fewer copies.6

Approximately 9,000 people in the US live with SMA, and though there have been advancements in treating the disease, unmet needs remain for older children, teens, and adults in preserving motor neurons and maintaining physical strength.7,8

Transforming care in SMA

"After redefining SMA care with the first gene replacement therapy for this challenging disease, we can now help address unmet needs across an even broader SMA population with the approval of Itvisma," said Victor Bulto, President, Novartis, US. "We are proud to support the SMA community by empowering patients of all ages through our innovative, one-time therapies, offering the potential to reduce the burden that comes with chronic treatment."

Itvisma will be available in the US in December. Novartis Patient Support is available to help eligible patients get started on treatment. Patients and providers can call 1-855-441-4363 for personalized assistance, including help understanding insurance coverage and identifying potential financial assistance options.

About Itvisma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-brve)

Itvisma is designed to address the genetic root cause of SMA by providing a functional copy of the human SMN1 gene to improve motor function through sustained SMN protein expression with a single, one-time intrathecal injection.

Novartis has an exclusive, worldwide license with Nationwide Children's Hospital to both the intravenous and intrathecal delivery of adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) gene replacement therapy for the treatment of all types of SMA; an exclusive, worldwide license from REGENXBIO for any recombinant AAV vector in its intellectual property portfolio for the in vivo gene replacement therapy treatment of SMA in humans; an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Genethon for in vivo delivery of AAV9 vector into the central nervous system for the treatment of SMA.

Novartis in neuroscience

Neurological diseases are deeply personal, affecting people of any age, from newborns to seniors, often striking in the prime of life. At Novartis, we're doubling down on our commitment to neurology, expanding our legacy of innovation in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and multiple sclerosis (MS) to work in neuroimmunology, neurodegeneration, and neuromuscular diseases. Our goal is to protect people's health across their lifespan, developing more treatment options that lead to better outcomes.

INDICATION

What is ITVISMA?

ITVISMA is a prescription gene therapy used to treat adults and children 2 years of age and older with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). ITVISMA is given as a one-time intrathecal injection.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important safety information I should know about ITVISMA?

ITVISMA can increase liver enzyme levels and cause hepatotoxicity.

Patients will receive an oral corticosteroid medication before and after ITVISMA injection and will undergo regular blood tests to monitor liver function.

Patients and caregivers should contact the patient's doctor immediately if the patient's skin and/or whites of the eyes become yellowish, if the patient misses a dose of corticosteroid or vomits it up, or if the patient experiences a decrease in alertness.

What should I watch for before and after injection with ITVISMA?

Infections before or after ITVISMA injection can lead to more serious complications. Patients, caregivers, and close contacts of the patient should follow infection prevention procedures. Patients and caregivers should contact the patient's doctor immediately if the patient experiences any signs of a possible infection such as coughing, wheezing, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, or fever.

Decreased platelet counts could occur following injection with ITVISMA. Seek immediate medical attention if the patient experiences unexpected bleeding or bruising.

Peripheral sensory neuropathy has occurred with ITVISMA administration. Patients and caregivers should contact the patient's doctor right away if the patient experiences numbness, tingling, prickling, or pain in the arms, hands, legs, and/or feet.

Decreased blood platelet and red blood cell counts, sudden kidney change, and increased bruising or bleeding, which could be signs of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), can occur. Patients and caregivers should seek immediate medical attention if the patient experiences unexpected bruising or bleeding, seizures, or decreased urine output.

There is a theoretical risk of tumor development with gene therapies such as ITVISMA. Patients and caregivers should contact the patient's doctor and Novartis Gene Therapies, Inc. at 1-833-828-3947 if a tumor develops.

What do I need to know about vaccinations and ITVISMA?

Patients and caregivers should consult the patient's doctor about vaccinations and ITVISMA.

Patients and caregivers should talk with the patient's doctor to determine if adjustments to the patient's vaccination schedule are necessary during corticosteroid use.

Protection against influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is recommended, and vaccination status should be up-to-date prior to ITVISMA administration.

What do I need to know about contraception and egg or sperm donation and ITVISMA?

Women of childbearing potential should use an effective method of contraception and refrain from egg donation for 6 months following ITVISMA injection.

Men capable of fathering a child should use a barrier method of contraception and refrain from sperm donation for 3 months following ITVISMA injection.

What are the possible or likely side effects of ITVISMA?

The most common adverse reactions that occurred in patients treated with ITVISMA were upper respiratory tract infection, fever, upper gastrointestinal symptoms, increased liver enzymes, headache, dizziness, pain in extremity, low platelet counts, and sensory disturbance.

The safety information provided here is not comprehensive. Talk to the patient's doctor about any side effects that bother the patient or that don't go away.

You are encouraged to report suspected side effects by contacting the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch, or Novartis Gene Therapies, Inc. at 1-833-828-3947.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "may," "could," "would," "expect," "believe," "committed," "commitment," "pipeline," "launch," "potentially," "step forward," "goal," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for Itvisma, or regarding potential future revenues from Itvisma. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that Itvisma will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that Itvisma will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding Itvisma could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach nearly 300 million people worldwide.

Reimagine medicine with us: Visit us at https://www.novartis.us and connect with us on LinkedIn US, X/Twitter US and Instagram.

References

Itvisma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-brve). Prescribing Information. Novartis Gene Therapies, Inc. Proud C, et al. Neuromuscul Disord. 2025;(53):0960-8966. Clinicaltrials.Gov. STRENGTH Study Results. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05386680. Accessed November 2025. Anderton RS and Mastaglia FL. Expert Rev Neurother. 2015;15(8):895908. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). Spinal Muscular Atrophy. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/spinal-muscular-atrophy/. Accessed November 2025. Lorson CL, et al. Hum Mol Genet. 2010;(15):111-8. Cure SMA. State of SMA 2024 Report. https://www.curesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/State-of-SMA-Report2024_vWeb-4.pdf. Accessed November 2025. Cure SMA. Address the Unmet Needs of Children and Adults with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. https://www.curesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/NIH_SMA_Research_FactSheet.pdf. Accessed November 2025.

###

Novartis Media Relations

E-mail: [email protected]

Novartis Investor Relations

Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Novartis
NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- OUTFRONT Media Inc. (NYSE: OUT) announced today that its Chief Financial Officer, Matthew Siegel, is scheduled to present at the Bank of America Leveraged Finance 2025 Conference on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 4:10 p.m. Eastern Time. A live and replay audio webcast will be available on the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.outfront.com.

About OUTFRONT Media Inc.

OUTFRONT is one of the largest and most trusted out-of-home media companies in the U.S., helping brands connect with audiences in the moments and environments that matter most. As OUTFRONT evolves, it's defining a new era of in-real-life (IRL) marketing, turning public spaces into platforms for creativity, connection, and cultural relevance. With a nationwide footprint across billboards, digital displays, transit systems, and other out-of-home formats, OUTFRONT turns creative into powerful real-world experiences. Its in-house agency, OUTFRONT STUDIOS, and award-winning innovation team, XLabs, deliver standout storytelling, supported by advanced technology and data tools that can drive measurable impact.

Contacts:









Investors

Media Stephan Bisson

Courtney Richards Investor Relations

Communications & Event Manager (212) 297-6573

(646) 876-9404 [email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE OUTFRONT Media Inc.
European climate-tech growth equity firm Blume Equity led the round with participation from Energy Impact Partners and existing investors.

Overstory also announced its next generation of Wildfire Intelligence, now using a proprietary Fuel Detection Model to dynamically assess wildfire risk.

Tamara Mendelsohn, former CMO at Eventbrite, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer to guide the company's next phase of growth.

AMSTERDAM, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Overstory, the leader in vegetation intelligence for the utility industry, today announced $43M in Series B funding. The round was led by Blume Equity, with participation from Energy Impact Partners LP ("EIP") and existing investors including B Capital, Semapa Next, Pale Blue Dot, CapitalT, Convective Capital, Bentley Systems, MCJ and Moxxie Ventures. The company will use the funding to accelerate development of its AI-based risk models, advance its wildfire prevention offering, and expand globally.

For utilities, vegetation is not only the leading cause of outages and wildfires, but often the single largest operational expense. In recent years, tree mortality, labor costs, demand and extreme weather events have all increased, driving utilities to find new ways to sharpen how they manage vegetation to build more resilience and reliability. Overstory uses high-resolution satellite data and AI to help utilities pinpoint risks tree by tree  reducing outages, preventing wildfires, and ensuring power remains safe, reliable, and affordable.

"Innovation and technology have become the pillars of progress when it comes to wildfire prevention," said Andy Abranches, VP of Wildfire Mitigation at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). "Satellite data, AI and the vegetation-management intelligence we get from companies like Overstory are transforming how utilities think about wildfire prevention. The details are in the data, and that precision allows us to deploy our crews where wildfire risk is greatest."

Michelle Capiod, Co-Founding Partner at Blume Equity, said: "The companies that will drive the greatest impact on our planet are those that deliver climate solutions with real economic value. Overstory exemplifies this  transforming satellite data into actionable insights that help utilities both prevent climate-related disasters and drive operational efficiencies. Their customer-first approach and leadership in AI has enabled them to develop cutting-edge, yet highly practical, solutions that deliver a tangible return on investment. This is exactly the kind of scalable, high impact climate solution we're proud to support at Blume Equity."

The funding follows seven years of catalytic growth, with Overstory now serving six of the ten largest utilities across the Americas. The team has grown to more than 80 people, representing 16 nationalities and spanning disciplines from machine learning and data science to arborists and wildfire experts. Guiding the company's next phase will be its new Chief Operating Officer, Tamara Mendelsohn. A seasoned operator and former Eventbrite CMO, Mendelsohn brings experience in scaling a company from seed stage to IPO.

"Utilities are at a pivotal moment, facing more extreme weather events every year," said James Sprinz, Principal at EIP. "Overstory is tackling this challenge in a way that utilities can act on immediately, making sense of satellite data to spot the exact tree to trim, pole to clear, or asset to replace."

Overstory Expands Wildfire Intelligence To Prevent Catastrophic Fires Before They Start

Overstory has built its reputation helping utilities identify vegetation that could cause outages and sparks. Today, the company launched the next evolution of its Wildfire Intelligence product, now backed by its proprietary, industry-first Fuel Detection Model. The technology helps utilities pinpoint areas across their network that contain the highest risk fuels, where a spark is most likely to ignite and spread. Unlike publicly available fire risk maps commonly used today, Overstory's AI-backed tools recommend the exact locations and actions that will have an outsized impact on wildfire mitigation.

"Utilities are on the front lines of keeping communities safe, and they're eager to use the best data available. When we talk about how satellites and remote sensing can identify dying trees and wildfire risk, they lean in," said Fiona Spruill, CEO of Overstory. "We're grateful to our forward-thinking investors for supporting this next chapter  expanding our intelligence product to address storms and wildfires, helping utilities build a more resilient and reliable grid."

For more information, please visit overstory.com

About Overstory:

Overstory is an AI-powered grid resilience platform shifting how utilities protect communities from outages and wildfires. The company harnesses high-resolution satellite imagery and proprietary AI models to provide the critical intelligence needed to move utilities from reactive maintenance to a targeted, risk-based resilience strategy. By pinpointing the highest-risk vegetation and assets, Overstory empowers its partners to direct resources with precision, maximize the impact of every dollar spent, and build a safer, more reliable, and more resilient grid for everyone. Overstory is a global company with a U.S. headquarters in Boston and a European headquarters in Amsterdam.

About Blume Equity:

Blume Equity is a European climate-tech growth equity firm based in London and Amsterdam. Blume Equity partners with disruptive climate tech scale-ups that increase efficiency and climate resilience. The Blume team are growth specialists, providing flexible scale-up capital and value creation support to visionary entrepreneurs who are driving innovation and solving the climate emergency. For more information about Blume Equity, please visit: https://blumeequity.com

About Energy Impact Partners:

Energy Impact Partners LP (EIP) is a global energy investor with a proprietary model designed to drive innovation. EIP brings together entrepreneurs and some of the world's most forward-thinking energy and industrial companies to advance innovation for a better energy future. Investing in venture, growth/private equity and credit, EIP seeks attractive risk-adjusted returns for its investors by leveraging its differentiated strategy and industrial ecosystem. With over 80 corporate partners and over $4.5 billion in assets under management, EIP invests globally with over 100 professionals based in its offices in New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Palm Beach, London, Cologne and Oslo. For more information on EIP, please visit www.energyimpactpartners.com .

Media contact:

Cait Harding, VP Marketing, Overstory

[email protected]

SOURCE Overstory
OSAKA, Japan, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group Company, today announced it has signed an agreement with Zoox , the Amazon-owned autonomous ride-hailing company, to supply cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells to power its robotaxi fleet deployments. Under the multi-year agreement, Panasonic Energy will deliver its latest 2170 battery cells beginning in early 2026 to support Zoox's growing robotaxi service and operations.

Panasonic Energy will begin supplying 2170 cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells to autonomous ride-hailing company Zoox in early 2026, offering superior energy density, safety and reliability.

Zoox has created a purpose-built robotaxi that gives the world a better way to ride and recently opened its first robotaxi serial production facility in Hayward, CA, to produce these vehicles at scale. The company also launched its robotaxi ride-hailing service in Las Vegas, making them the first company in history to provide a fully driverless ride-hailing service in a purpose-built robotaxi.

Panasonic Energy's 2170 cells, offering superior energy density, safety and reliability, are crucial for Zoox's high-performance robotaxis. The cylindrical cells, proven in various successful EV products, offer unrivaled safety. As of September 2025, Panasonic Energy had supplied approximately 20 billion lithium-ion EV battery cells globally, equivalent to powering 4 million EVs, without any vehicle recalls due to battery-attributed issues, highlighting its reputation for high-quality, reliable battery cells. Supply of these advanced cells will start from Japan and is planned to expand to Panasonic Energy's Kansas factory in the near future.

According to the recent market report by Grand View Research , the U.S. robotaxi market, valued at roughly USD 0.45 billion in 2024, is expected to expand at a CAGR of over 70% through 2030, fueled by progressive urban policy initiatives in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Miami. Adoption is particularly accelerating in urban hubs like Phoenix, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, where on-demand robotaxi fleets are gaining traction. Globally, the market is forecasted to exceed USD 4050 billion by 2030 , with North America and Asia-Pacific emerging as the leading regions. Panasonic Energy aims to seize emerging opportunities in this dynamic market and accelerate the growth of our business.

Kazuo Tadanobu, CEO of Panasonic Energy, said, "Zoox is truly unique. This represents a pivotal step for Panasonic Energy with the opportunity to contribute towards the next generation of mobility innovation. Zoox is reshaping urban transportation and Panasonic Energy is helping power these robotaxis for a safer, more sustainable, and connected future."

"This is an exceptionally exciting time for Zoox, and we are pleased to have Panasonic Energy as a new partner in our journey to redefine urban mobility. Their commitment to innovation and quality aligns well with our mission to create a safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable way for people to get around cities. We're proud to be working with them as our robotaxi service and operations continue to scale," says Bruce Baumgartner, Vice President, Supply Chain, Quality & Reliability at Zoox.

About Panasonic Energy

Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd. provides innovative battery technology-based products and solutions globally. Through its automotive lithium-ion batteries, storage battery systems and dry batteries, the company brings safe, reliable, and convenient power to a broad range of business areas, from mobility and social infrastructure to medical and consumer products. Panasonic Energy is committed to contributing to a society that realizes happiness and environmental sustainability, and through its business activities the Company aims to address societal issues while taking the lead on environmental initiatives. For more details, please visit https://www.panasonic.com/global/energy/ .

SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America
SHANGHAI and SUZHOU, China, Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Phrontline Biopharma ("Phrontline"), a next-generation antibodydrug conjugate (ADC) company, today announced the closing of a $60 million Pre-A+ financing round. The round was led by Lapam Investment, with participation from Samsung Venture Investment Corporation (SVIC), Guofang Innovation, Hankang Venture Capital, Songqing Capital, Jifeng Ventures, and Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited. Existing shareholders  Decheng Capital, Medfine Health Fund, and C&D Emerging Investment  also participated and increased their investment in the company. This financing reflects strong investor confidence in Phrontline's differentiated bispecific and dual-payload ADC platforms, its strategically designed pipeline, and its rapidly expanding global development capabilities. Proceeds will support advancement of the company's clinical-stage and preclinical ADC programs, expansion of global clinical operations, and strengthening of key strategic partnerships.

Building a Leading Bispecific and Dual-Payload ADC Platform

Founded in 2022, Phrontline is among the first biotechnology companies globally to focus on bispecific antibody ADCs (BsAb-ADCs) and dual-payload ADCs. The company has built an end-to-end ADC platform spanning antibody discovery, linkerpayload engineering, site-specific conjugation, and functional characterization  resulting in a proprietary, highly differentiated technology engine.

Leveraging this platform, Phrontline has designed multiple dual-target combinations and complementary payload strategies tailored to specific tumor indications and has advanced nearly ten innovative ADC programs. Among them, TJ101, a bispecific ADC targeting EGFR and B7-H3, is currently enrolling patients in parallel first-in-human clinical trials in China and the United States. Preclinical data demonstrate superior efficacy and safety relative to peer programs, positioning TJ101 as one of the leading next-generation EGFR/B7-H3 bispecific ADC candidates worldwide.

Strategic Collaborations Accelerating Global Expansion.

On October 20, 2025, Phrontline announced a global strategic collaboration with Samsung Bioepis. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will jointly develop two next-generation bispecific, dual-payload ADC candidates with differentiated mechanisms of action, leveraging Phrontline's proprietary BsAb and dual-payload ADC platforms.

On October 31, 2025, Phrontline entered into an exclusive license agreement with Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited for TJ101 in Mainland China and the Hong Kong SAR. Sino Biopharmaceutical will make an upfront payment of an undisclosed amount, along with potential development and commercial milestone payments and sales-based royalties. This collaboration represents a key inflection point for Phrontline's lead asset as it transitions into accelerated global clinical development.

Advancing Next-Generation ADCs Through Science and Conviction

"From the beginning, our strategy has been guided by biology and translational science. We believe that dual-target synergy and complementary payload mechanisms can unlock new therapeutic options for patients whose tumors are resistant to current therapies," said Tony Chen, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Phrontline Biopharma. "Our preclinical and emerging clinical data are beginning to validate this vision." "We are deeply grateful to both our new and existing investors for their continued confidence in Phrontline," Dr. Chen added. "This financing marks an important milestone for the company and will allow us to accelerate our clinical programs and global expansion as we work to deliver truly innovative ADC medicines to patients around the world."

Investor Perspective

"Phrontline is a highly execution-focused and resilient team," said Ji Wang, Investment Lead at Lapam Investment. "By leveraging its proprietary bispecific antibody and dual-payload ADC platforms, the company has built a differentiated pipeline aimed at major unmet medical needs. Its preclinical data show compelling efficacy and safety and demonstrate the strong scalability of its platform.

"We look forward to supporting Phrontline as its programs advance through clinical development and as the company continues to drive innovation in next-generation ADC therapeutics," Wang added.

About Phrontline Biopharma

Phrontline Biopharma is a biotechnology company dedicated to the research and development of next-generation ADCs. Founded in 2022 by a team of seasoned industry veterans with deep and complementary experience in ADC drug discovery and development, Phrontline has built a globally competitive platform for bispecific and dual-payload ADCs. The company has established a robust pipeline of innovative candidates spanning preclinical to early clinical stages and is committed to advancing a new paradigm in precision oncology through scientific innovation and to bringing transformative therapies to patients worldwide.

SOURCE Phrontline Biopharma
Woman-owned, GAF Master Elite contractor recognized for civic leadership and business excellence among state's top performing small businesses

ATHENS, Ala., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ridgeline Construction Roofing & Exteriors has been awarded the statewide Silver Award in the 1150 Employees category at the 2025 Alabama Small Business of the Year Awards . The honor, presented by the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama (CCAA) , recognizes Ridgeline as one of the top-performing growing businesses in the state.

The award was announced at the BCA/CCAA Partnership Annual Meeting on November 18, 2025, in Birmingham. Selected from a competitive field of 40 statewide finalists, Ridgeline was recognized for its exceptional business growth, community engagement, and commitment to industry leadership.

Raising the Standard in Roofing

Nominated by the Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce , the award highlights Ridgeline's evolution from a local family business into a regional leader.

"Roofing is a business built entirely on trust. To be recognized on a statewide level validates that doing things the right waywith transparency, safety, and genuine community carematters," said Lauren Marsh, President and Owner of Ridgeline Construction. "This Silver Award belongs to our crews on the roofs and our support teams in the offices who show up every day ready to raise the standard for our industry."

A Year of Momentum

This statewide recognition caps a landmark year for the company. Earlier this fall, Ridgeline was named the Small Business of the Year by the Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce.

The company attributes this consecutive recognition to its focus on quality and certification. As a GAF Master Elite Contractora status held by fewer than 2% of roofing contractors nationwideRidgeline offers the industry's strongest warranties, including the Golden Pledge Limited Warranty. The company maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has amassed hundreds of 5-star reviews for its residential and commercial projects.

About the Awards

The Alabama Small Business of the Year Awards program celebrates the impact of small businesses that serve as the economic engine of the state. Ridgeline stood alongside nine other distinguished finalists in the 1150 Employees category, representing excellence across diverse industries including finance, restoration, and automotive retail.

"Being counted among such respected, high-performing companies from across Alabama is a win in itself," Marsh added. "We congratulate our fellow finalists for the vital work they do in their communities."

About Ridgeline Construction Roofing & Exteriors

Ridgeline Construction Roofing & Exteriors is a woman-owned, family-founded company headquartered in Athens, Alabama, with regional offices in Huntsville and Spanish Fort, Alabama; and Pensacola and Tampa, Florida. The firm specializes in residential and commercial roofing, storm damage restoration, siding, and gutters. Dedicated to quality and integrity, Ridgeline offers free inspections and 24/7 emergency response services.

For more information, visit Ridgeline's Alabama Small Business Silver Award announcement .

Media Contact:

Marketing Department

Ridgeline Construction Roofing & Exteriors

Phone: 256-325-1345

Email: [email protected]

Website: ridgelineconstructionhsv.com

Facebook: @RidgelineConstructionHSV

SOURCE Ridgeline Construction Roofing & Exteriors
The Austin-area group travel specialists expand their award-winning InsiderMatch service into river cruising and global group adventures

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After helping hundreds of couples say "I do" in paradise, Yellow Umbrella Events is setting its sights on a new kind of adventure. The award-winning destination wedding and group travel company, recognized as the #1 seller of Hotel Xcaret in the world, today announced the launch of Yellow Umbrella Travel, a sister brand dedicated to creating effortless, authentic, memory-filled river cruise experiences that bring people together in unforgettable ways.

Founded in 2011 by husband-and-wife team Cheryl and Shea Bailey, Yellow Umbrella Events has spent more than a decade helping couples and groups celebrate life's biggest milestones through destination weddings and international travel. The launch of Yellow Umbrella Travel marks the next evolution of that mission  extending the company's signature InsiderMatch travel service to river cruises and global group adventures that combine seamless coordination, transparent value, and authentic cultural immersion.

"The holidays are all about connection, and to us, travel is one of the most meaningful ways to connect," said Cheryl Bailey, Co-Founder of Yellow Umbrella Events and Yellow Umbrella Travel. "We've always believed the best gifts aren't things, but experiences you share with the people you love."

InsiderMatch is Yellow Umbrella's proprietary, trademarked planning process that makes group travel effortless. Backed by more than 15 years of experience, the system blends personalized matching, modern booking tools, and clear communication to deliver what travelers value most: seamless planning, immersive itineraries, and trusted guidance every step of the way.

"InsiderMatch is how we make something complex feel effortless," said Shea Bailey, Co-Founder of Yellow Umbrella Events and Yellow Umbrella Travel. "It's the process behind every trip we plan  pairing travelers with the perfect cruise line, destination, and experience, then managing all the moving parts so they can simply show up and enjoy the journey."

Yellow Umbrella Travel offers small-group journeys along the Danube, Rhine, and Seine Rivers, where travelers can sip wine in family-owned vineyards, wander Christmas markets, and explore UNESCO World Heritage sites, not from the window of a bus, but right in the heart of Europe's storied cities and villages. Cheryl, Shea, and the team also curate expedition voyages to the world's most remote destinations  from Antarctica's icy wilderness to Iceland's untamed coastlines and beyond  where adventure meets luxury aboard intimate, all-inclusive ships designed for discovery.

For Cheryl, the new brand expansion also carries deep personal meaning. After undergoing brain tumor surgery in 2024, she gained a renewed perspective on time, travel, and the importance of living fully. "That experience changed everything," she shared. "Tomorrow isn't promised. I don't want people to wait for 'someday' to see the world  whether it's a river cruise with family, a girlfriends' getaway, or a group of friends ready to immerse themselves in new cultures together. The best time to start planning those moments is right now."

Learn more at www.yellowumbrellatravel.com or follow @yellowumbrellatravel on Instagram and Facebook for inspiration, itineraries, and travel updates.

About Yellow Umbrella Events

Founded in 2011, Yellow Umbrella Events is a boutique destination wedding and group travel planning company based in Austin, Texas. Specializing exclusively in Mexico group travel, the company has helped hundreds of couples plan seamless destination weddings and manages millions in travel each year. Recognized as the #1 seller of Hotel Xcaret in the world, Yellow Umbrella Events is known for its transparent communication, meticulous attention to detail, and signature InsiderMatch planning process  a proven system that turns complex group travel into effortless, stress-free celebrations.

About Yellow Umbrella Travel

Yellow Umbrella Travel is the sister company to Yellow Umbrella Events, expanding the brand's trusted expertise beyond the beaches of Mexico and into the world of river cruising and global group adventures. Backed by more than 15 years of experience, Yellow Umbrella Travel curates culturally immersive, milestone-worthy journeys for families, friends, and small groups. Guided by its signature InsiderMatch travel service, the team delivers seamless, authentic experiences  turning every trip into a reason to celebrate.

SOURCE Yellow Umbrella Travel
ROCKWALL, Texas, Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Velma M. McMillan is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Professional Member for her contributions in Franchise Management and Leadership.

Velma M. McMillan, a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader, continues to make waves in the franchise industry with her dynamic approach to management and leadership.

Velma M. McMillan

As the CFO of Quantum Alliance, McMillan spearheads initiatives to boost sales and enhance customer retention through comprehensive personal and business policy packages. Her expertise extends across various domains, including auto insurance, homeowner coverage, business lines, and roadside assistance. With a keen eye for financial management, she oversees budget reconciliation, revenue tracking, and staff onboarding and training.

McMillan's academic credentials reflect her commitment to excellence. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management, earned in 2016, followed by a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in marketing in 2018, both from Capella University. Her professional qualifications include claims adjuster licenses in over 10 states and property and casualty licenses in 35 states, underscoring her proficiency in the insurance industry.

Actively engaged in her community, McMillan is a member of the Professional Women's Association of Rockwall and supports local initiatives through the Rockwall Chamber of Commerce. Her entrepreneurial journey began with roles in insurance sales, underwriting, accounting, and marketing at the Apollo Managing General Agency before co-founding Quantum Alliance alongside her husband.

Beyond her professional pursuits, McMillan finds joy in attending women's conferences, traveling for relaxation, and cherishing moments with her grandchildren. She attributes much of her success to the unwavering support of her husband, Charles McMillan, highlighting the importance of family in her journey.

Looking ahead, McMillan envisions continued growth and success in her business endeavors. With plans to expand her franchise operations and open additional Blo Blow Dry Bar locations, she remains committed to leaving a prosperous legacy for her family and contributing to her community through civic advocacy and philanthropy.

Guided by her belief in dedication and hard work, McMillan exemplifies perseverance and determination in her entrepreneurial pursuits, inspiring others to pursue their dreams with passion and tenacity.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
BANGKOK, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's auto production grew for a second consecutive month in October, mainly driven by a surge in battery electric passenger vehicles, data from the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) showed on Tuesday.

Thai auto manufacturers produced 135,685 vehicles last month, up 14.17 percent from a year earlier, according to the FTI.

The increase was mainly due to the accelerated domestic production of electric vehicles (EVs) to offset earlier imports under the government's tax reduction and subsidy, said FTI Automotive Industry Club spokesperson Surapong Paisitpattanapong.

For the first 10 months of 2025, auto production fell 2.84 percent over the same period last year to 1,211,486 units, dragged down by the discontinuation of some fuel-powered passenger car models, particularly those for exports, Surapong told a news conference.

Domestic auto sales climbed in October, up 24.78 percent year-on-year to 47,032 units, thanks to a robust surge in pure and hybrid EVs, Surapong said.

The Southeast Asian country's finished car exports shrank 1.51 percent from a year earlier to 83,064 units in October, despite a significant growth in shipments of hybrid EVs, he noted. 
"The U.S. pedestrian bridge market growth is driven by the increasing urbanization and the need for enhanced pedestrian safety in high-traffic areas. Rising investments in infrastructure development and government initiatives to improve public transportation networks further support market expansion. Additionally, the growing emphasis on sustainable and walkable urban environments boosts demand for pedestrian bridges. The integration of smart technologies, including lighting and monitoring systems, also drives innovation, ensuring functionality and safety while fostering the adoption of pedestrian bridges across the U.S."

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "U.S. Pedestrian Bridge Market by type, (truss bridges, beam bridges, suspension bridges, and arch bridges), By construction type (new construction and reconstruction & repair), By material (concrete, steel, and others.): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20232033. According to the report, the U.S. pedestrian bridge market was valued for $18.2 billion in 2023 and is estimated to reach $26.0 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.6% from 2024 to 2033.

Get a Sample Copy of this Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A181372

Prime determinants of growth

The U.S. pedestrian bridge market is expected to witness notable growth owing to increasing urbanization and rising concerns about pedestrian safety in densely populated areas. Moreover, integration of sustainable practices and smart technologies, such as energy-efficient lighting and monitoring systems is expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the growth of the market during the forecast period. On the contrary, High Construction Cost limits the growth of the U.S. pedestrian bridge market.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20242033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $18.2 billion Market Size in 2033 $26 billion CAGR 3.6 % No. of Pages in Report 123 Segments Covered Type, Construction Type, and Material Drivers Rise in urbanization and infrastructure development projects Surge in Emphasis on Pedestrian Safety and Reduction in Traffic Congestion. Rise in Investment in Public Transportation Systems and Connectivity Infrastructure Opportunity Rise in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPS) to Fund Bridge Construction Projects. Restraint High Development Costs

Purchase This Comprehensive Report (PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/49F3T83

The beam bridge segment held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023.

On the basis of type, the beam bridge segment held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for more than half of the global U.S. pedestrian bridge market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing due to the simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and versatility of beam bridges. They are relatively quick and economical to construct, requiring fewer resources and less time compared to other bridge types. Beam bridges are ideal for spanning short to medium distances while supporting substantial weight, making them suitable for various pedestrian infrastructure projects, such as crossings over roads, railways, and waterways. In addition, the beam bridge segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 3.9% from 2024 to 2033.

The New Construction segment held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023.

On the basis of construction type, the new construction segment held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for more than three-fifths of the global U.S. pedestrian bridge market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. However, the Reconstruction and Repair segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 3.8% from 2024 to 2033, owing to the increasing need for maintaining and upgrading aging infrastructure. Many pedestrian bridges across the U.S. require extensive repairs or complete reconstruction due to wear and tear, outdated design, or compliance with modern safety standards. Additionally, rising government initiatives, urban development, and growing awareness of safety and sustainability are driving the demand for the reconstruction and repair of existing pedestrian bridges, ensuring their continued functionality and safety for public use.

Access Your Customized Sample Report & TOC Now: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/A181372

Steel held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023.

On the basis of the material, Steel held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023, accounting for more than half of the U.S. pedestrian bridge market revenue owing to its durability, strength, and cost-effectiveness. Steel offers superior load-bearing capacity, resistance to extreme weather conditions, and low maintenance costs, making it an ideal choice for pedestrian bridges. Additionally, steel's versatility in design and the ease of fabrication allows for faster construction and customization, contributing to its widespread adoption. These factors make steel the preferred material for both new installations and the reconstruction of existing pedestrian bridges in the U.S.

Leading Market Players: -

ARUP

BACKWOODS BRIDGES LLC

CONTECH ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS LLC

IJP CORPORATION LTD

MACE GROUP

NATURE BRIDGES

SKIDMORE, OWINGS, AND MERRILL (SOM)

THE WALSH GROUP

U.S. BRIDGE.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the U.S. pedestrian bridge market. These players have adopted different strategies such as product launch, product development, partnership, investment, acquisition, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. For instance, In September 2024, Kiewit Corporation secured a $73 million contract to design and construct the replacement for Maryland's Francis Scott Key Bridge. The announcement came shortly before Maryland revealed its intention to file a lawsuit against Singapore-based conglomerates Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine.

Get More Information Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/A181372

U.S. Pedestrian Bridge Market Segments:

By Type

Truss Bridges

Beam bridges

Suspension bridges

Arch bridges

By Construction Type

New Construction

Reconstruction and Repair

By Material

Concrete

Steel

Others

Key Benefits For Stakeholders

This study comprises an analytical depiction of the U.S. pedestrian bridge market size along with the current trends and future estimations to depict the imminent investment pockets.

The overall market analysis is determined to understand the profitable trends to gain a stronger foothold.

The report presents information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities with a detailed impact analysis.

The current global U.S. pedestrian bridge market forecast is quantitatively analyzed from 2023 to 2033 to benchmark financial competency.

Porter's five forces analysis illustrates the potency of the buyers and suppliers in factory automation.

The report includes the market share of key vendors and U.S. pedestrian bridge market trends, U.S. Pedestrian Bridge Market Analysis, U.S. Pedestrian Bridge Market Forecast, U.S. Pedestrian Bridge Market Outlook, U.S. Pedestrian Bridge Market Opportunity.

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New SAS analysis finds five critical weak points in banks' defenses against AI-scaled schemes

CARY, N.C., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Scam losses worldwide surpassed US$1.03 trillion in 2024, according to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA). The organization also found that nearly half of consumers encounter scam attempts at least weekly  and among those who fall victim, only 4% fully recover their money. As scams escalate in volume and complexity, the message to the banking industry is clear: Stronger safeguards cannot wait.

As the toll of global #scam losses surpasses US$1 trillion annually, how can #banks effectively fight back? Post this To effectively combat the global deluge of AI-enabled scams, banks must modernize in five key areas.

New analysis from SAS  drawing on data from GASA, INTERPOL, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and Deloitte  points to a widening gap between the scale of scam activity and financial institutions' ability to fight the rising deluge. The report, AI-Powered Solutions for a Trillion-Dollar Problem, finds that many banks remain dependent on systems and controls designed for outdated threat patterns, unable to reliably detect scams where the customer is manipulated into initiating the transaction.

"Scams have matured into a global trust crisis," said Stu Bradley, Senior Vice President of Risk, Fraud and Compliance Solutions at SAS. "Criminals are using the same advanced technologies that institutions rely on, while also exploiting psychological levers like urgency, fear and false authority to compel victims to act. The challenge isn't to predict the next scam but to build the agility and adaptability to respond to fast-changing risks in real time."

Complementing the report, SAS will host the webinar Scam Season: Real Stories, Smarter Defenses, livestreaming on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. ET, and available later on demand.

Five vulnerabilities, five modernization imperatives

To help financial leaders worldwide assess their scam readiness, the SAS analysis outlines five urgent vulnerabilities that make banks, credit unions and other financial institutions increasingly susceptible to fast-moving, AI-enabled threats  and the modernization actions they can take to close gaps.

1. Fragmented risk data creates blind spots across channels.

Most institutions still operate with disconnected risk, fraud and financial crime systems, leaving them without a unified view of customer activity. As scams unfold across apps, devices, sessions and channels, no single system captures and assembles the disparate signals. The resulting fragmentation often allows social engineering events to pass undetected  a problem only worsened by all-too-common data quality issues, which limit how effectively models can learn from scam behavior.

Industry imperative: Build integrated data ecosystems with consistent scam taxonomies, cross-channel telemetry and shared behavioral signals to improve visibility and accelerate detection.

2. Legacy rules cannot detect behavior shaped by social engineering.

Yesterday's rules-based systems were designed to spot transactional anomalies, not behavioral ones. The problem? Modern-day scams target the person, not the payment. When a victim follows a scammer's instructions, or when criminals use stolen or synthetic identities, the activity often looks entirely routine. That's why older detection models, built to spot traditional fraud patterns, frequently fail to detect risk until after the scam succeeds.

Industry imperative: Shift toward fraud solutions that embed behavioral analytics, dynamic profiling and intent modeling that identify deviations in customer patterns, not just deviations in transactions.

3. Migration to instant payments requires real-time intervention  not after-the-fact review.

The global adoption of instant payments has been a boon to criminals worldwide, compressing the available intervention time from hours to mere seconds. Even so, many institutions still depend on batch scoring, manual case queues or static thresholds that activate only after funds leave the account, when recovery is already unlikely.

Industry imperative: Embed real-time scoring and automated interdiction into payment flows. Apply adaptive friction, including enhanced authentication, customer prompts and session reviews to create space and time to disrupt scams before money moves out of reach.

4. Rising false positives overwhelm analysts and erode customer trust.

Financial institutions attempting to tighten controls often experience surging alert volumes, frequently due to issues in the quality and structure of the underlying data. Poorly tuned models, outdated features and rigid thresholds generate noise that buries risk signals, slows investigations and ultimately frustrates legitimate customers.

Industry imperative: Modernize detection with stronger data foundations, ensemble models, continuous model refresh cycles and explainable scoring frameworks. These steps help reduce false positives while improving true detection rates.

5. Scam response and victim support remain inconsistent and siloed.

Even when a bank or credit union detects a scam, internal case handling is often fragmented across the institution's fraud, anti-money laundering and customer support teams. As a result, victims receive inconsistent guidance and little transparency  factors that undermine trust at the very moment customers need clear, coordinated intervention.

Industry imperative: Strengthen case triage, standardize end-to-end response workflows and align teams around unified protocols. Deliver proactive support communications and post-incident guidance to protect and retain customers.

A call for stronger, real-time defenses

Addressing these vulnerabilities starts with the basics. Effective scam detection relies on high-quality, diverse and well-labeled data that feeds fraud models the necessary context. There is no shortcut for disciplined data management and governance.

Firms must also adopt a more integrated approach to scam detection  one that blends unified data, behavioral intelligence, real-time decisioning and human-centered protections. That includes stronger identity and digital fraud analytics, since many scams begin with compromised, synthetic or manipulated credentials.

Institutions with these foundations, supported by continuous model updates and cross-channel visibility, are better positioned to catch scams earlier and reduce their losses. These outcomes also reinforce trust and strengthen customer relationships.

"Just as AI is helping criminals deceive people with unprecedented speed and precision, it has raised the bar for financial institutions," said Diana Rothfuss, Global Solutions Strategy Director for Risk, Fraud and Compliance at SAS, who will co-host the Scam Season webinar. "Consumers still expect their bank to recognize when something is wrong and step in. Protecting that trust means detecting and responding to the subtle signs of manipulation, not just the obvious signs of fraud."

About SAS

SAS is a global leader in data and AI. With SAS software and industry-specific solutions, organizations transform data into trusted decisions. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries.  indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright  2025 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Contact:

Danielle Bates

[email protected]

919-531-1959

sas.com/news

SOURCE SAS
JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vodacom Group, a leading pan-African telecommunications and technology company, today announced a strategic collaboration with Google Cloud to accelerate its digital transformation using Google Cloud's advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) product portfolio. The collaboration will enhance Vodacom core solutions and establish a powerful platform for creating new, disruptive products and services specifically tailored for the African market.

Vodacom Announces Multi-Year Strategic Collaboration with Google Cloud to Boost Africa's AI Advancement

Under the terms of the collaboration, Vodacom will harness the capabilities of Google Cloud's secure, scalable infrastructure to unify its vast data assets  and then apply generative AI models, including Gemini, Veo, and Imagen, across its business. This will result in improved operational efficiencies for Vodacom and also deliver new AI-powered services for African consumers.

"This collaboration is more than a technology upgrade; it is a deep commitment to Africa's digital revolution," said Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom. "Integrating Google Cloud's data and AI solutions into our business will modernise our infrastructure and fundamentally shift our operational paradigm. This collaboration is essential for us to build and deploy solutions that address the unique challenges and opportunities of the continent, ensuring the transformative power of AI is accessible to millions of customers and businesses across Africa."

Maureen Costello, Vice President, UKI and SSA, Google Cloud said, "Google Cloud is proud to support Vodacom in accelerating AI across Africa. By providing access to our most advanced generative AI models from Gemini and our leading data infrastructure, we are supporting Vodacom's ambitious vision to build technology solutions that improve the lives of Africans."

The primary goals of the collaboration are centered on three strategic pillars:

Data modernisation and unification: Vodacom will migrate and unify its critical data platforms onto Google Cloud's data cloud, including BigQuery. This enables Vodacom to achieve real-time insights, enhanced data governance, and a single, secure source of truth for business decisions. This foundation is essential for deploying large-scale AI models.

Vodacom will migrate and unify its critical data platforms onto Google Cloud's data cloud, including BigQuery. This enables Vodacom to achieve real-time insights, enhanced data governance, and a single, secure source of truth for business decisions. This foundation is essential for deploying large-scale AI models. Accelerated AI adoption in Africa: Vodacom will harness Google Cloud's AI capabilities, like Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform and Google's Gemini models, to rapidly integrate intelligent services into its offerings. This includes optimising network performance, enhancing customer service with AI-powered personalised care, and combating fraud through advanced machine learning models  effectively bringing powerful AI capabilities closer to African consumers.

Vodacom will harness Google Cloud's AI capabilities, like Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform and Google's Gemini models, to rapidly integrate intelligent services into its offerings. This includes optimising network performance, enhancing customer service with AI-powered personalised care, and combating through advanced machine learning models  effectively bringing powerful AI capabilities closer to African consumers. Product innovation for the future: By using Google Cloud's AI capabilities, Vodacom will focus on developing cutting-edge solutions for the African market. Initial focus areas include creating new fintech services for greater financial inclusion, developing enterprise solutions, and designing consumer experiences to improve content accessibility and education.

The collaboration announced today builds on the existing strategic relationship between Vodacom Group's parent company, Vodafone, and Google Cloud, demonstrating a commitment to scaling digital innovation and providing enterprise-grade security and reliability across all markets.

About Vodacom Group

Vodacom Group is a leading pan-African technology company with over 223.2 million customers, including Safaricom and 93.7 million financial services users. From our roots in South Africa, we have grown our business to include operations in the DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania. As the continent's largest facilitator of mobile money transactions, Vodacom processes $460 billion in value annually and is majority-owned by Vodafone.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.

SOURCE Google Cloud
Chinese pianist Lang Lang performs during the Pyramids Echo (TPE) festival at the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- World-renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang opened the first edition of the Pyramids Echo (TPE) festival in Egypt on Monday evening with a spellbinding performance at the Giza Plateau, marking a striking fusion of global classical artistry and the timeless grandeur of the pyramids, a breathtaking backdrop to the open-air theater.

Lang opened the evening with an intimate solo show, performing expressive works by classical masters including France's Claude Debussy, Hungary's Franz Liszt, and Poland's Frederic Chopin, showcasing his clarity of technique and emotional depth.

He then offered a delicate rendition of the Chinese folk classic Jasmine Flower and a reimagined piano arrangement of a beloved melody by Egypt's Sayed Darwish, drawing warm applause from the audience.

Speaking to Xinhua, Lang said the night felt like "a dream," adding that it was deeply meaningful to open the festival at such a historic site. "Performing beside the pyramids has always been a dream for me, and I am very grateful to everyone who helped make this concert possible," he said.

Reflecting on cultural exchange, he said music plays a powerful role in bringing people together. "The audience responded most warmly to Jasmine Flower and Song at Nile River's Bank, which I specially rearranged for this concert," he noted. "These pieces show how Chinese and Egyptian cultures can touch people deeply, even without language."

Lang recalled his last performance in Egypt nearly a decade ago, when he played at Upper Egypt's Luxor Temple during the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of China-Egypt diplomatic relations. "It feels meaningful to return almost ten years later," he said, "and I truly hope that ties between our two countries will continue to grow closer."

During the show, Lang introduced young Egyptian-Hungarian violinist Amira Abouzahra, whom he invited to join him especially for the festival's opening night. Performing alongside the British Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Abouzahra led the ensemble in a vibrant interpretation that highlighted her rising international profile and added a distinctly Egyptian touch to the evening.

The evening reached its peak as Lang returned to the stage with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra under the baton of British conductor Ben Palmer, delivering a powerful performance that blended technical brilliance with sweeping orchestral warmth, turning the historic setting into a full symphonic experience.

As the final notes resonated under the night sky, the audience, a diverse blend of Egyptians, Chinese, and other international guests, erupted in enthusiastic applause. Cheers and admiration filled the open-air venue.

Egyptian actor Ahmed Magdy, the festival's ambassador, said seeing an artist of Lang's stature perform iconic Egyptian music was a powerful moment, adding that artistic encounters between Egypt and China carry immense potential.

"When two civilizations of this size, depth, and advancement come together at such an iconic site, the result is bound to be different and remarkable," he told Xinhua, expressing hope that this spirit of exchange extends not only to politics and economics but also to the arts.

Among the Egyptian audience, many expressed personal emotional connections to the pieces Lang performed, including Gharam Akmal, a young Egyptian woman who said the night exceeded her expectations.

"I honestly enjoyed Lang's performance so much. I was surprised when he started with Debussy's Clair de Lune -- it's one of my all-time favorites. I listen to it all the time," she said.

Held across eight selected evenings from Nov. 24 to Dec. 13, and themed "Cradle of Civilizations: Meeting Point of Arts and Cultures," the first edition of TPE takes place at two iconic venues: the open-air Pyramids Panorama overlooking the Giza pyramids and the Grand Theater at the City of Arts and Culture in Egypt's New Administrative Capital.

This year's festival presents a wide spectrum of performances, from orchestral tributes and Arab-heritage concerts to gala evenings, international vocal showcases, and world-class ballet, bringing a rich array of global artistry to Egyptian audiences. 

Chinese pianist Lang Lang performs during the Pyramids Echo (TPE) festival at the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Chinese pianist Lang Lang greets the audience during the Pyramids Echo (TPE) festival at the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Chinese pianist Lang Lang performs during the Pyramids Echo (TPE) festival at the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Chinese pianist Lang Lang performs during the Pyramids Echo (TPE) festival at the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Chinese pianist Lang Lang performs during the Pyramids Echo (TPE) festival at the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
A freight train loaded with goods departs from the Ganzhou International Inland Port in Ganzhou, east China's Jiangxi Province, Nov. 19, 2025. (Photo by Zhang Mengfei/Xinhua)

NANCHANG, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Five years ago, Zhu Hao, marketing general manager of Jiangxi Sanyou Furniture in east China's Jiangxi Province, could hardly imagine that the European market would one day become a major client. Today, however, Europe accounts for 70 percent of the company's foreign orders.

The transformation began with a visit from a Hungarian delegation facilitated by the Ganzhou International Inland Port. An order worth 100,000 yuan (14,119.1 U.S. dollars) was placed and shipped via China-Europe freight trains.

"The furniture reached Hungary in just 20 days, less than half the time required by sea transport," Zhu said. Since then, the company has established stable partnerships with clients in Hungary, Germany and Poland. Last year, its European orders, all shipped via the China-Europe freight train service, exceeded 7 million yuan.

"For us, the China-Europe freight train is not just a rail link across Asia and Europe; it is where our growth and opportunities lie," Zhu added.

Jiangxi Sanyou Furniture is located in Nankang District of Ganzhou City, known as "China's solid wood furniture capital." The district hosts over 10,000 furniture manufacturers and supporting enterprises, employing 500,000 people.

Previously, long sea-shipping cycles of 45 to 60 days made serving the European market challenging. The launch of the China-Europe freight trains gradually changed the situation.

Since the first China-Europe freight train from Jiangxi departed in late 2015, Ganzhou International Inland Port, the only inland open port in Jiangxi and an old revolutionary base area, has operated over 1,700 such trains, building a logistics network spanning Asia and Europe.

Thanks to the service, timber is imported from over 50 countries and regions, while furniture products are exported to more than 100 countries and regions worldwide.

"Using the railway, European timber now arrives in just 12 days, with logistics costs cut by nearly 20 percent," said Ye Zhangnan, manager of the Ganzhou International Inland Port's business office under the Nanchang railway logistics center.

"This not only boosts the competitiveness of local furniture companies but also enables businesses across neighboring regions to share resources and collaborate," Ye said.

The railway has also made imported goods more accessible to Chinese consumers. At a bonded import store at Ganzhou Railway Station, products from Europe are readily available.

"I was drawn to the store while waiting for my train," said a customer surnamed Huang, holding a pack of British toffees. "The packaging is lovely, perfect for my kids."

Dai Na, the store manager, said that their goods, which range from cosmetics and personal care items to snacks and beverages, are primarily imported via the China-Europe freight trains.

At the imported commodities center of the Ganzhou International Inland Port, local resident Lu Yi shared, "I live nearby and shop here often. The products are genuine and reasonably priced."

Ji Weiting, general manager of the supply chain company operating the center, said they offer nearly 7,000 products from over 70 countries and regions, many of which arrive via the China-Europe freight trains.

According to a report on China-Europe freight trains, as of October 2025, the service had made 118,600 trips, transporting 11.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of goods, reaching 232 cities in 26 European countries. By the end of 2024, the total value of goods transported had reached 426.4 billion U.S. dollars.

"We have established direct links with six border ports and are interconnected with five world-class port clusters," said Liu Liping, deputy director of the Ganzhou International Inland Port's operation and management bureau.

"Trade channels are smoother, the level of trade facilitation has significantly improved, and our global network keeps expanding," said Liu. 

A customer walks out of a bonded import store at Ganzhou West Railway Station in Ganzhou, east China's Jiangxi Province, Nov. 12, 2025. (Photo by Zou Yang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 19, 2025 shows containers at the Ganzhou International Inland Port in Ganzhou, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Photo by Zou Yang/Xinhua)
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ISTANBUL, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police apprehended 16 illegal migrants traveling in a truck in the southern border province of Hatay and arrested two suspects accused of smuggling them into the country, authorities said Tuesday.

Police units stopped the truck on a highway in the province and discovered the migrants concealed in its trailer, according to a police report.

After medical checks, the migrants were transferred to the provincial migration office. The two suspects detained on charges of migrant smuggling were later placed under arrest by a local court, the police said.

Hatay's long and porous border with Syria makes it a key gateway for irregular migration into Turkiye. Its proximity to conflict areas, coupled with rural crossing points and heavily used transport routes, has long made the province a preferred corridor for migrant smugglers. 
CAPE TOWN, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- South Africa has welcomed the outcomes of the recently concluded 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the country's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said that COP30 resulted in the adoption of the Belem Political Package, including key outcomes related to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), bolstering climate finance and a mechanism for just transition.

In the statement, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp noted that his country stood ready to work with all parties to ensure that the decisions taken at COP30 translate into action.

"Our local climate change instruments already enable robust domestic climate action, while ensuring compliance with our international obligations," he said.

According to the statement, this year's COP particularly focused on the new NDCs, which are countries' climate action plans under the Paris Agreement. NDCs are submitted every five years and are key to ensuring the goals of the Paris Agreement are on track to being met.

The Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change, was adopted by 195 parties at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, France, on Dec. 12, 2015. It entered into force on Nov. 4, 2016.

Another pivotal outcome of COP30 was the decision to establish a two-year work program on climate finance, including the provision of finance to developing countries, the statement said.

COP30 also called on developed nations to triple adaptation finance by 2035 and to increase the collective provision of climate finance to developing countries.

South Africa welcomed the guidance to triple finance flows to the funds, the calls for replenishment of the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, and the calls for increased pledges to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage Fund.

COP30, hosted in Belem, Brazil, from Nov. 10 to 22, was termed the "COP of truth" by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for denoting an honest reflection and urgent actions needed to address both historical and emerging climate challenges. 
WUHAN, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- A cargo flight carrying power lithium batteries equipped with a newly developed active safety system took off from an airport in central China on Tuesday, marking a breakthrough in resolving global bottlenecks regarding safe air transport of risky energy products.

The SF Express cargo flight departed from Ezhou Huahu International Airport, China's first cargo-focused airport, which is located in Hubei Province. This maiden flight coincided with the launch of a seminar on power battery air logistics supply chains in Ezhou the same day -- where industry experts and enterprise representatives discussed development bottlenecks and solutions.

As the world's largest power battery producer, China saw the total output of its lithium battery industry exceed 1.2 trillion yuan (about 170 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024. Data also showed that China's lithium battery air transport volume had surged by 21.26 percent year on year to 645,000 tonnes in 2024.

However, the inherent risk of combustion and explosion forced regulators to classify these products as high-risk cargo, thereby limiting logistics efficiency.

To address these challenges, the project was listed as a national key research and development initiative for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), and led by Chongqing Jiaotong University, with participation from battery giant CATL and the China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology.

Wu Jinzhong, project leader and a professor at Chongqing Jiaotong University, said the team tackled three core bottlenecks -- unclear thermal runaway mechanisms, material and structural failures, and the lack of testing technologies. They did this by building a full-chain safety protection system.

The smart protective system utilizes artificial intelligence algorithms to monitor 12 core indicators such as temperature and gas emissions in real time, achieving millisecond-level risk warnings and automatically triggering emergency containment measures to block thermal runaway at the source, thus moving beyond traditional passive safety methods.

Yuan Shuai, a researcher with the China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology, affirmed that this technology fills a critical gap in the domestic industry and places China at the international forefront of hazardous material aviation safety.

Highlighting the economic impact of this innovation, Zhao Ning, vice president of SF Express, noted that the flight that departed Ezhou on Tuesday had reached Shenzhen, a manufacturing and tech hub in south China, within two hours -- improving delivery efficiency by nearly 80 percent compared to conventional land transport.

The successful pilot flight demonstrated a viable solution for the rapid distribution of power batteries, marking the technology's transition from laboratory to industrial application.

Wu said this technology is set for nationwide promotion to drive standardization of the power battery supply chain. 
SYDNEY, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Researchers in Australia have found that Parkinson's disease causes significant and progressive changes in the brain blood vessels, changing the understanding of the disease, which may open up new treatment avenues.

While Parkinson's disease is characterized by alpha-synuclein protein deposits, this research has shifted understanding of the disease, demonstrating that region-specific changes to blood vessels in the brain underlie disease progression, Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) said in a media release on Tuesday.

"Traditionally, Parkinson's researchers have focused on protein accumulation and neuronal loss, but we have shown the impacts on our cerebrovasculature -- the blood vessels in our brain," said NeuRA postdoctoral student Derya Dik, who carried out the work.

"Our research identified region-specific changes in the brain's blood vessels, including an increased presence of string vessels, which are non-functional remnants of capillaries," Dik said.

NeuRA researchers, in collaboration with the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney, also observed changes relating to how blood flows in the brain and how the blood brain barrier operates, according to the findings, published in Brain.

Researchers believe that targeting these progressive, region-specific changes may be able to slow disease progression and improve outcomes for patients suffering from Parkinson's disease.

The researchers are now investigating whether similar cerebrovascular changes are present in post-mortem brain tissue from individuals with Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies tissue, the media release said. 
CARACAS, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples' Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) on Monday "categorically" rejected the U.S. designation of Venezuela's "non-existent" Cartel de los Soles as a "terrorist organization."

On Nov. 16, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department intends to designate Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, effective on Monday.

In a statement, the regional bloc said that the U.S. move aims to justify aggression against the South American country and force a change of government.

The U.S. policy of aggression and threats against Venezuela has been strongly and almost unanimously rejected by the international community, it added.

The bloc urged the United States to stop the policy against the region, particularly against Venezuela, since such actions cause instability, falsehoods and unnecessary risks to regional coexistence.

Also on Monday, the Venezuelan government rejected the U.S. "terrorist" designation of Cartel de los Soles, condemning the move as a "vile lie."

ALBA-TCP is an intergovernmental organization that aims for social, political and economic integration of Latin American and Caribbean countries. 
TUNIS, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Defense Minister Khaled Shili met Monday with Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Gharibi, chief of staff of the Saudi Royal Naval Forces, in Tunis to discuss boosting military cooperation, Tunis Afrique Presse reported.

Shili highlighted strong bilateral ties and pledged to expand collaboration in training, maritime security, intelligence sharing, and naval exchanges.

Shili emphasized expanding cooperation in training, maritime security, and exchanges of visits and expertise between the two navies.

He also noted preparations for the sixth Tunisian-Saudi Joint Military Commission in December.

Al-Gharibi welcomed the cooperation and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to strengthening military coordination with Tunisia. 
TEHRAN, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to visit France on Wednesday for talks on bilateral issues, regional and international developments, said the Iranian foreign ministry.

In a statement released on Monday night, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei announced that the visit will take place at the invitation of French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

During the visit, the two sides will discuss bilateral issues, regional and international matters, as well as the situation of Iranian citizen Mahdieh Esfandiari, who has recently been granted conditional release after months in detention in France, said Baghaei.

"Within the framework of the visit, Iran's position will be stated on its nuclear program, important international issues, agreements with other countries based on mutual respect, and other related matters," he added. 
MOSCOW, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia is aware of the European peace plan for the Ukraine crisis, but its provisions are considered "unconstructive," a senior Russian official said Monday.

There is much speculation about the peace plan, and Russia only trusts information received directly from the United States, said Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.

Many provisions of the plan discussed in Alaska are acceptable for Moscow, said Ushakov.

According to Russian media, the "European Plan" proposes several major revisions to the 28-point peace plan proposed by the United States, including not imposing any restrictions on the size of the Ukrainian armed forces or defense industry, whereas the 28-point plan requires limiting the size of the Ukrainian armed forces to 600,000 personnel.

Following consultations between representatives of the United States, Ukraine and the EU held in Geneva on Sunday, the initial draft plan was reduced from 28 to 19 points, according to media reports.

Ushakov also said that the United States will soon contact Russia to discuss the details of the peace plan, but specific arrangements have yet to be determined. 
KABUL, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 10 Afghan nationals were killed and four others injured as the Pakistani air forces bombarded the eastern region of Afghanistan, said Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman of the Afghan government, on Tuesday.

Pakistan bombarded Gurbuz district of Khost province at midnight last night, and nine children, including five boys and four girls, and a woman, were killed, Mujahid said on social media.

The Pakistani air forces also conducted air raids on Kunar and Paktika provinces on Monday night, injuring four civilians, Mujahid said.

Recently, Pakistani and Afghan forces clashed along the border. 
Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Australia's Governor-General Samantha Mostyn in Canberra, Australia, Nov. 24, 2025. Zhao paid an official visit to the country from Saturday to Tuesday at the invitation of Australia's Speaker of the Senate Sue Lines and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

CANBERRA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji has voiced China's readiness to promote the building of a more mature, stable and productive comprehensive strategic partnership with Australia during his official visit to the country from Saturday to Tuesday at the invitation of Australia's Speaker of the Senate Sue Lines and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with Australia's Governor-General Samantha Mostyn and attended a working breakfast held by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra. He also held talks with Lines and Dick.

When meeting with Mostyn, Zhao said that, under the strategic guidance of Chinese and Australian leaders, relations between the two countries have returned to a stable and positive development track in recent years.

The economic advantages of China and Australia are highly complementary, and the foundation for practical cooperation is solid with broad prospects, Zhao said, adding that China is willing to work with Australia to deepen exchanges and cooperation across various fields, and to promote the building of a more mature, stable, and productive comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Mostyn said that Australia and China have carried out good cooperation in trade, culture, education and other areas, and bilateral relations have continued to deepen.

China will host the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2026, which is of great significance for upholding and advancing multilateralism, the governor-general said, adding that Australia looks forward to the success of the meeting.

Australia is willing to enhance cooperation with China in areas such as green infrastructure, energy transition, climate change, and the protection of women's rights, Mostyn said.

When taking breakfast with Albanese, Zhao noted that China-Australia relations have turned around, with dialogue and cooperation in various fields restored and restarted, which has been widely welcomed and supported by people from all sectors in both countries.

There is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and Australia, Zhao said, pointing out that China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development, pursued high-quality development, and expanded high-level opening-up.

China is willing to carry out mutually beneficial cooperation and share development opportunities with all countries, including Australia, he said, adding that it is necessary to consolidate and deepen cooperation in areas such as energy and mineral resources, scientific and technological innovation, digital economy and infrastructure.

The Chinese top legislator said that issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xizang, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea concern China's territorial sovereignty and core interests, and it is hoped that Australia will understand and respect China's position.

The current foundation for the development of Australia-China relations is sound, Albanese said, expressing Australia's commitment to strengthening cooperation with China and its support for China's hosting of the APEC meeting next year.

Trade between Australia and China has grown rapidly in recent years, and exchanges in tourism, education, culture and other fields help the younger generation experience different cultures and develop long-lasting friendships, the Australian prime minister said.

The Australian side is willing to maintain regular communication with the Chinese side and promote the continued stable development of bilateral relations, Albanese said.

When meeting with Lines and Dick, Zhao said that the National People's Congress of China is willing to work with the Parliament of Australia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, enhance exchanges at all levels of the legislative bodies, leverage the strengths and advantages of the bodies' special committees and members, strengthen dialogue and exchanges, increase the stability and effectiveness of cooperation, and provide legal guarantees for practical cooperation between the two countries.

Zhao also briefed them on an overview of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, as well as the situation of China's opening up and expanding domestic demand in China.

He expressed that the legislatures of the two countries could carry out exchanges and mutual learning on foreign-related legislation and create a favorable business environment.

Lines said that exchanges and cooperation among legislative bodies are conducive to promoting the development of bilateral relations.

Dialogue is the key to the relations between the two countries, and economic and trade cooperation is the foundation of them, she said, adding that a stable trade relationship is of great significance to both countries.

Australia welcomes Chinese investment and will enhance cooperation in areas of common interest, Lines said.

For his part, Dick said that the development of Australia-China relations has created more opportunities for bilateral trade.

Over the past two years, the legislative bodies of the two sides have maintained a good momentum of exchanges, with reciprocal visits taking place, Dick said, adding that he looks forward to further development of Australia-China relations and exchanges and cooperation between their legislative bodies.

During his visit to Australia, Zhao also met with Premier of Queensland David Crisafulli in Brisbane, expressing his expectation to deepen local exchanges and cooperation and promote the development of bilateral relations. Zhao visited Arrow Energy, a Queensland-based producer of natural gas and electricity, hoping to enhance economic, trade and investment cooperation between China and Australia and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Australia's Speaker of the Senate Sue Lines and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick in Canberra, Australia, Nov. 24, 2025. Zhao paid an official visit to the country from Saturday to Tuesday at the invitation of Australia's Speaker of the Senate Sue Lines and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, attends a working breakfast held by Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, Australia, Nov. 25, 2025. Zhao paid an official visit to the country from Saturday to Tuesday at the invitation of Australia's Speaker of the Senate Sue Lines and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, visits Arrow Energy, a Queensland-based producer of natural gas and electricity, in Brisbane, Australia, Nov. 23, 2025. Zhao paid an official visit to the country from Saturday to Tuesday at the invitation of Australia's Speaker of the Senate Sue Lines and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Premier of Queensland David Crisafulli in Brisbane, Australia, Nov. 22, 2025. Zhao paid an official visit to the country from Saturday to Tuesday at the invitation of Australia's Speaker of the Senate Sue Lines and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
KABUL, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Personnel of the national army have uncovered arms and ammunitions in the northern Afghanistan Balkh province, reported the state-run Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA) on Tuesday.

The weaponry, which included six stock of Kalashnikov assault rifles, a pistol, four hand grenades, and hundreds of bullets and other military equipments were discovered during search operations in Sholgara district on Monday, the state-owned media outlet added.

Without providing more details, citing the army sources RTA added that no one has the right to keep or carry arms illegally elsewhere in the country. 
ABOMEY-CALAVI, Benin, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese company on Tuesday donated several batches of information technology (IT) equipment and anti-malaria drugs to the University Hospital of Abomey-Calavi/So-Ava in southern Benin.

The donation, comprising 40 laptops and several cartons of anti-malaria medicine, is part of the "100 Companies in 1,000 Villages" initiative.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Benin Zhang Wei hailed the cooperation between Chinese and Beninese enterprises.

"The embassy has always been committed to encouraging and supporting Chinese companies operating in Benin in fulfilling their social responsibilities," he said.

Zhu Chenyang, representative of Power Construction Corporation of China, said the donated medicines could help alleviate patients' suffering and support their recovery.

The IT equipment, he added, will strengthen the hospital's capacity to carry out its noble mission of saving lives.

Receiving the donation, Abomey-Calavi Mayor Angelo Ahouandjinou extended his sincere thanks to the Chinese company. "Through this donation of IT equipment, you once again demonstrate your commitment to local development as well as a strong sense of social responsibility," he said. 
In districts that held competitive school board elections this November 4, voters leaned toward candidates who emphasized equity and consensus-building, and rejected division and censorship. Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, said in a statement that in 27 states, voters elected strong public-school candidates in thousands of school board races across the country, bringing new leaders committed to making sure every student has the support they need to succeed.

School boards have outsize influence over public school libraries and classroom access to books. American Library Association president Sam Helmick, commenting on this elections outcomes for libraries in general, told PW, Im optimistic. Were seeing that libraries are winning. Helmick pointed to the high turnout across U.S. states and counties as evidence that Americans see a need for checks and balances. Community-focused campaigns seem to be working.

On the Wichita Public Schools board of education in Kansas, two newcomers gained seats, one a public educator supportive of the American Federation of Teachers and the other a K12 parent who expressed concern that diversity, equity, and inclusion were being erased from state educational priorities. In New Mexico, two candidates supported by the Albuquerque Teachers Federation won seats on the Albuquerque Public Schools board, suggesting grassroots labor issues are on peoples minds in the southwest states largest school district. Likewise, in Colorado, teachers union-endorsed school board candidates racked wins in the Denver Public Schools and in Douglas, Jefferson, Mesa, and Teller Counties.

At the economic and social advocacy group MomsRising New Hampshire, senior director MacKenzie Nicholson cheered results in several of her states contests, just a few months after Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte vetoed a book removal bill and legislation to control classroom content. In New Hampshire, newly anointed Manchester School District board member Sarah Georges is a fierce advocate for our kids and families, Nicholson said. She'll be a great advocate for honest history in our schools. Nicholson celebrated special education teacher Alexander Dubois's win in Concord, N.H., along with the success of four candidates in Nashua.

In conservative Idaho, where a sixth-grade teacher in the West Ada School District was pressured by administrators to remove two inclusive signs, one reading Everyone Is Welcome Here, voters appear to have taken notice. Classroom decor representing ideological views is banned under Idaho House Bill 41, which went into effect in July. Yet Meghan Brown, a teacher who opposed the removal of the posters, won a West Ada School Board seat with 61.2% of the vote, in a state where incumbents otherwise carried the day.

Presently, 41 states and the District of Columbia require nonpartisan school board elections. In Pennsylvania, one of the few states that designate the party affiliations of school board candidates, Democrats swept the Central Bucks School District race this year to establish a 90 board majority. Eastern Pennsylvanias Council Rock and Pennridge School Districts also saw significant gains for Democratic candidates.

Restoring the libraries in Texas?

In Texas, results in Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District, Granbury Independent School District, and elsewhere suggest that communities value the right to read, despite legislation including House Bill 900 and Senate Bills 12 and 13.

The school board election results we saw here in Texas seem to show us that Texas parents are tired of culture wars being waged in their childrens classrooms and libraries, Laney Hawes, cofounder of the Texas Freedom to Read Project (TFTRP), told PW. The misinformation-based political messaging of groomer librarians, the dangers of CRT, and the LGBTQ agenda in library books isnt garnering the votes it did as recently as a year ago.

Hawes pointed to Granbury ISD, where from 20222024 a law-enforcement officer sought but failed to garner indictments against school librarians for sharing potentially controversial booksa situation addressed in director Kim A. Snyder's documentary The Librarians. This year, three Granbury candidates derisively referred to in conservative media as the DEI squad won school board seats.

It was almost entirely good news in Texas school board races, said Frank Strong, who cofounded TFTRP with Hawes and Anne Russey. Strong pointed out that two candidates endorsed by the extremist group Moms for Liberty lost in Klein ISD, outside Houston, and that in Houston ISD, two out of the three candidatesMaria Benzon and Michael McDonoughwho ran on restoring the libraries won their races.

Strong added that in Princeton ISD, northeast of Dallas, incumbent Julia Schmoker, who ran on cleaning up the libraries, lost her seat to Sonia Ledezma, a former teacher who stressed the importance of classroom libraries. He called this decision a big deal, because classroom libraries have been banned in the district in response to Senate Bill 13teachers can only have a few pre-approved books in their classrooms. In 2024, Princeton ISD removed 148 books from its libraries, under pressure from the far-right Citizens Defending Freedom; changes to the school board could signal a community shift.

Cameron Samuels, executive director of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, said that SEAT is nonpartisan in its advocacy work but encourages its constituencies to follow school board decisionmaking and get out the vote. For this most recent election, CyFair ISD was the major upset, in which all the incumbent trustees up for election who pushed the anti-trans and textbook ban policies have been ousted by voters, Samuels said, noting that SEATs student organizers raised awareness of the policies. Its clear that the attention we brought to these local decisions was heard in and beyond the CyFair ISD community.

SEAT and TFTRP are looking ahead to May 2026, which will bring the next round of Texas school board elections.
The International Publishers Association will add three new member associationsall from Eastern European nationsin January 2026, bringing its total membership to 107 associations spanning 85 countries. The announcement came following its virtual General Assembly, which wrapped up earlier today.

The Georgian Book Association and Latvian Publishers Association will join as provisional members, while the Bulgarian Book Association transitions from provisional to full member status. The additions come as IPA Secretary General Jose Borghino emphasized the need for collective action on policy challenges facing the global publishing industry.

"It is great to see IPA's membership continue to grow," Borghino said. "The policy challenges ahead need all of us to work together and share our different national and regional experiences."

The General Assembly confirmed election results for the organization's executive, membership, and freedom to publish committees. The leadership changes include several notable departures. Kristenn Einarsson of Norway stepped down from the freedom to publish committee after leading it for eight years, while Maxwell Wahome of Kenya and Dante Cid of Brazil left the membership committee, though Cid remains on the executive committee. Lawrence Njagi of Kenya, Christian Schumacher-Gebler of Germany, and Heidar Ingi Svansson of Iceland also left the executive committee.

In his final report to the General Assembly, Einarsson warned that conditions for publishing freedom have worsened during his time in the role. "Over the last eight years, we have seen the freedom to publish situation deteriorate and the challenges increase," Einarsson said. "We will need to redouble our efforts to secure this freedom for publishers."

The General Assembly featured two guest speakers: Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, assistant director-general for culture at UNESCO, and Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa, author of How to Stand Up to a Dictator.

Ramirez emphasized the partnership between IPA and UNESCO in supporting cultural diversity and copyright protection, saying that the two organizations' collaboration "is a remarkable example of how multilateral partnerships can foster cultural vitality."

Ressa addressed publishers' role in defending free expression, referencing historical book banning campaigns. "There's a reason why fascist movements first killed that kind of free thinking that books can give you," she said. "Every person in that process has to have the courage to stand up."

The General Assembly also confirmed that the 2026 International Publishers Congress will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from July 5-9, 2026.
In the midst of the continued conflict in Ukraine and the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, Ukraine publicly announced intentions to buy new fighter jets from Sweden and France instead of from the U.S.. After receiving nearly $180 billion in American aid (including free aircraft), Zelensky turns to others when its time for Ukraine to actually pay for weapon systems. Zelensky turns to the Swedes and French while President Trump has fought for a peaceful settlement and an end to this ugly war initiated by Russia. All wars end at a table, and we should continue to push both Putin and Zelensky to that end. But we should also require Zelensky to commit to buy American.

I want to be very direct: The nation of Ukraine exists today because of the U.S. and our taxpayers. For decades the U.S. has invested its treasure, military equipment and diplomatic capital in Ukraines survival. America stood with Kyiv when the skies darkened and the rockets fell. So when President Volodymyr Zelensky signs a letter of intent to purchase up to 100 to 150 inferior Gripen jets from Sweden or Rafale jets from France, in effect bypassing or sidelining U.S. makers, he betrays more than an acquisition plan: He slaps the face of a nation that saved him.

Why is this a betrayal? First, procurement of major weapon systems is not simply a which plane choice  it is a signal of strategic alignment. The U.S. has already committed itself to training Ukrainian pilots on the U.S.-made F-16s via a multinational coalition, clearly demonstrating its commitment. When Kyiv opts instead to anchor its future air force around a Swedish or French platform, it signals that Americas aircraft  American systems, logistics, munitions, industrial base  are not preferred. That sends a chilling message to U.S. policymakers, industry and taxpayers: Ukraine isnt in it to win it.

Second, the U.S. has borne the lions share of Ukraines air-capability upgrade. American legacy systems, munitions compatibility, training pipelines, and logistic networks have been the foundation for Ukraines western-aligned force structure. To divert investment to non-American systems complicates logistics, dilutes interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces, and raises the risk of fragmented supply chains.

Third, consider the political dimension. American defense manufacturers, American legislators and the U.S. electorate expect that when America steps up, strategic partners show clear preference and alignment. By giving Sweden or France the edge, Zelensky undercuts the implicit contract of mutual solidarity.

Lastly, as a former fighter pilot I can say with 100% certainty that Gripen and Rafale are not the best solutions for Ukraine. They are, simply put, targets in an era of rapidly evolving fighter and air defense capabilities. If the goal is to deter future invasions, Ukraine should seek to asymmetrically offset threats posed by Russian systems. Thats what American made aircraft have been evolving around for decades.

Ukraines commitment to European built aircraft represents more than a simple business transaction. Its a strategic pivot. And in that pivot lies a betrayalof American trust, of the alliance structure, and of the very logic that bound U.S. assistance to Ukraines western alignment. If Washington is to remain the guarantor of Ukraines air power, Zelenskys choice means America must reconsider how reliably Kyiv can be counted on in return. It should give the White House and Congress great pause in consideration of future support.
Chinas latest ecological disaster in Africa underscores how the United States can offer a better deal to African partners. A Chinese-owned mining company spilled toxic acid into several neighborhoods in Lubumbashi, a major mining town with three million people in southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in early November. Unfortunately, the accident is emblematic of Chinas extractive role in Africa and globally that leads to unmitigated environmental hazards and endangers local communities. US officials and business leaders pursuing President Donald Trumps trade not aid Africa policy should highlight this point when contrasting how US investment is a better alternative to an uneven partnership with China.

A retaining wall that held back mining waste at a site owned by Congo DongFang International Mining (CDM), a subsidiary of Chinese mining giant Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, collapsed on November 4. The resulting spill spewed toxic chemicals into the waterways around Lubumbashi and reportedly killed thousands of fish. Early assessments by experts indicate that the spill caused serious environmental damage. Congos mining minister criticized CDM for its negligence and suspended the sites activity for three months. CDM already had a spotty record of using child labor, and local organizations had warned for years that waterways were slowly being polluted in Lubumbashi before the early November disaster.

China not only shows utter disregard for African civilians with its extractive modelit plunders countries mineral riches to the detriment of African economies and governments writ large. Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt is one of the worlds biggest cobalt producers, and CDM is a key player in Chinas chokehold over copper and cobalt mining in the southern DRC. In the DRC, China controls at least eight of the 14 largest cobalt mines and over 80 percent of copper production, and such monopoly gives it little incentive to follow safe or fair business practices. China also runs illegal artisanal mines that often use imported Chinese labor, cheating African workers and governments out of the full benefits of their mineral wealth.

China uses its chokeholds over mineral markets to artificially manipulate mineral prices and make it economically infeasible for competitors to enter the market. This exploitative strategy prevents African governments from benefitting from bidding wars between prospective partners in a free and fair market. Possibly even worse, it makes them dependent on Chinas whims for mineral export revenue, which can be a vital source of income for many governments. The DRC placed export restrictions on cobalt in early 2025 in an effort to curtail Chinese price fixing.

A reckless concern for safety and scrupulous operating procedures is the pattern for Chinese engagement across the globe, not the exception. Farmers in Zambia are suing two Chinese firms for nearly a nearly identical accident in Zambia, where the collapse of a dam caused an ecological catastrophe as acid flooded into a local water supply in February. In Myanmar, where a civil war has raged since 2021, China has relocated its most polluting rare-earth production activities to the Southeast Asian nation from the Chinese countryside. Locals have protested regularly at a Chinese-owned copper mine in Peru that produces two percent of global supply over environmental concerns since 2015.

The United States should emphasize that it can offer a better alternative that protects civilians and benefits both nations, and it has a chance to prove it through the US-backed Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF) in the DRC and Rwanda. The DRC and Rwanda recently signed the US-brokered REIF on November 7, which could see billions of dollars of US investment to the region in the years ahead. The Congolese government has already explored joint investments by the US government and US companies in 2025, including in mining, infrastructure, and power generation.

In contrast to China, US companies generally have a better track record with preventing work-related injuries and environmental accidents, creating jobs, and providing safer working conditions. Responsible investment through expanded US partnerships with the DRC and Rwanda will improve work standards but also create jobs and transfer skills instead of importing foreign labor, leading to mutually beneficial growth. One opportunity for this partnership to flourish would be for the Congolese government to finalize the US-backed acquisition of Chemaf Resources, which owns dozens of valuable mining permits and is constructing a major copper mine in Congo.

Chinas extractive business model has repeatedly shown a disregard for African civilians and prevented African governments from getting the most from their natural resource bounty. The growing US involvement in the business and critical mineral sphere will lead to healthier competition that benefits Africans. When it comes to that competition, US business leaders and officials should highlight the detrimental environmental and economic impacts of Chinas lopsided partnerships and point to the emerging success stories in REIF in DRC and Lobito corridor in Angola as they make their pitches to prospective African partners.

Liam Karr is the Africa team lead for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute. Yale Ford is an Africa Analyst for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute.
A24 released a new trailer for Glen Powell's How to Make a Killing on Tuesday.

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"Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, blue-collar Becket Redfellow ( Glen Powell ) will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way," a synopsis said.

Set to open in theaters Feb. 20, the film co-stars Margaret Qualley, Ed Harris, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods and Topher Grace.

Powell as Redfellow can be heard saying in the 2 1/2-minute preview: "There were seven of them. Seven rich pricks standing between myself and $28 billion. If I were to prune a few branches of the family tree..."

He is then seen trying to off some of his kin, who don't appear to know who he is.

Powell recently starred in The Running Man, Chad Powers, Twisters and Top Gun: Maverick.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, addresses the opening ceremony of the 7th China-Russia Energy Business Forum and reads out a congratulatory message from Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 7th China-Russia Energy Business Forum opened on Tuesday in Beijing. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang addressed the opening ceremony and read out a congratulatory message from President Xi Jinping.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that the two heads of state have had several meetings and calls this year and again sent congratulatory messages to the forum, providing strategic guidance for continuously consolidating China-Russia comprehensive energy partnership.

The fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee has made strategic arrangements for China to expand high-standard opening-up and build itself into a leading nation in the field of energy, presenting new and significant opportunities for energy cooperation between China and Russia, Ding said.

China is willing to work with Russia to further implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continuously deepen strategic collaboration in the energy sector, and constantly open up new vistas of win-win cooperation, he said, putting forward three proposals for deepening China-Russia energy cooperation.

First, he called on both sides to strengthen cooperation in the entire industrial chain to ensure the safe and stable operation of cross-border energy channels and the smooth flow of energy trade.

Second, both sides should enhance cooperation in energy transition, actively explore application scenarios, and tap into the potential for cooperation in renewable energy and other areas.

Third, he urged the two sides to strengthen multilateral collaboration to jointly promote the implementation of the Global Governance Initiative in the energy sector, injecting greater stability and certainty into the global energy market.

Igor Sechin, executive secretary of the Russian presidential commission for the strategic development of the fuel and energy sector and environmental security, and chief of Russian oil company Rosneft, addressed the opening ceremony and read out a congratulatory letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak also delivered a speech.

After the opening ceremony, Ding met with the Russian high-level delegation attending the forum.

The forum focused on strengthening high-level strategic alignment between China and Russia to continuously consolidate the comprehensive energy partnership. The opening ceremony saw the attendance of around 400 representatives from China and Russia. 
Siblings Sam and Ethan Caspary have been making music together for as long as they can remember.

Their musical journey began early: Sam Caspary began taking ukulele and bass guitar lessons around the same time that her older brother began guitar lessons. From the start, Ethan Caspary said the two have kind of always been forced to get along, since playing music together quickly became a constant in their lives.
Companies, particularly those that are notified as Significant Data Fiduciaries, will have to make extensive investments in data mapping, process modification, consent management tools, tools to enable Data Principal Rights, and establish a well-structured Data Privacy Officer organisation.

Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes.

The cost of operations for companies and data fiduciaries dealing with user data in India is likely to increase over the next 18 months as they implement new systems for data mapping, deploy consent management tools, and establish data protection offices, according to industry and legal experts.

These new systems must be implemented to comply with the rules of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.

The rules, notified on November 14, say that while companies have to implement a data protection and consent management system by November 2026, the systems for data mapping or seeking individualised consent must be put in place by May 2027.

Arun Prabhu, partner and co-head of the digital, technology, media and telecommunications practice at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, said companies in Europe initially spent between $250,000 and $10 million when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was rolled out in May 2018.

"Companies, particularly those that are notified as Significant Data Fiduciaries, will have to make extensive investments in data mapping, process modification, consent management tools, tools to enable Data Principal Rights, and establish a well-structured Data Privacy Officer organisation," Prabhu said.

The information technology cost of commercial banks, which is around 10 to 15 per cent of their total expenditure, is also set to increase as they align their systems along the lines of the Act.

"Banks are now required to conduct regular audits, monitor data flows, and assess third-party vendors. These are not one-time efforts but ongoing responsibilities," a senior official of a public-sector bank said on the condition of anonymity.

"We need to reorganise our consent framework completely; as we have given time of 18 months, we will be able to mitigate some of the operational costs," the person added.

While companies may eventually be able to absorb the initial cost, despite the staggered timeline of up to 18 months, there could be other challenges to DPDP Act compliance, experts said.

Under the rules, the government has placed additional obligations on significant data fiduciaries.

These include an annual data protection impact assessment, a yearly audit to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act, and continuous due diligence to verify that the technology being used by the company, including the software and algorithm, is not likely to 'pose a risk to the rights of data principals'.

All companies, social media platforms, and Internet intermediaries that deal with the digital personal data of users will fall under the category of data fiduciaries.

All users whose personal data is sought to be processed by these entities will now be referred to as data principals.

Several large public sector lenders like the State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, among others are developing advanced data governance tools, encryption technologies, and automated compliance monitoring systems.

Though the government has notified the additional compliances for significant data fiduciaries, it has not yet set out the parameters which will define this class of data fiduciaries, said Shreya Suri, partner at law firm CMS INDUSLAW.

Experts said that while firms may eventually be able to absorb the initial cost of implementing the new framework, despite the staggered timeline of up to 18 months, there could be other challenges to it as well.

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) often lack awareness and capacity to conduct comprehensive data protection impact assessments and appoint dedicated Data Protection Officers, said Anandaday Misshra, founder and managing partner at AMLEGALS.

Apart from MSMEs, most other organisations lack the visibility into their own data inventory and face the daunting task of comprehensive data mapping across fragmented legacy systems and vendor ecosystems, said Akshayy S Nanda, partner at law firm Saraf and Partners.

"Data mapping is not just a compliance checkbox but a foundational, resource-intensive process essential for understanding data flows, assessing privacy risks, and demonstrating compliance, yet it is often hindered by data fragmentation, poor documentation, and the absence of a data governance culture, making it the single most significant operational hurdle for organisations striving to meet DPDP Act requirements," Nanda added.

Enterprises must immediately start prioritising data discovery, classification, and data-mapping exercises, implementing consent and retention workflows, strengthening breach-response mechanisms, and deploying technology-led governance tools that provide real-time visibility across the data lifecycle, said Murali Rao, partner and leader of the cybersecurity consulting at EY India.

"These requirements are not just regulatory checkboxes. They reshape how organisations collect, manage, and safeguard personal data," said Sanjay Katkar, joint managing director of Quick Heal Technologies.

Key concerns

Data mapping of all users across their organisation

Setting up of consent management, data protection offices

Annual data impact assessment, audit for compliance with DPDP Act

Fines likely to be imposed by DPB in case of data breach, unintentional retention

Legal complexities in case of cross-border data transfer, storage

With inputs from Anupreksha Jain

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
India's labour landscape is undergoing one of the biggest transformation in decades.

The government has consolidated 29 pre-Independence and early post-Independence labour laws -- many of them drafted between the 1930s and 1950s -- into four comprehensive labour codes: the Code on Wages 2019; the Industrial Relations Code 2020; the Code on Social Security 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020.

Kindly note that this image has only been posted for representational purposes. Photograph: Praveen Paramasivam/Reuters

Together, these new codes aim to simplify compliance, expand worker protection, and modernise employeremployee relationships in a rapidly changing economy. The central government announced the implementation of these codes on November 21



From appointment letters becoming mandatory to gig workers receiving social security to enhanced rights for women and contract labour, the changes reflect Indias attempt to balance ease of doing business with stronger worker welfare.

So what has changed? Rediff brings you the details.

Minimum Wages

Statutory right to minimum wages has been made applicable to all workers in both organised and unorganised sectors.

A statutory floor wage will be set by the central governments and states cannot fix a lower minimum wage.

Appointment Letters

Under the new code, employers are now required to issue appointment letters to all workers.

This was not compulsory earlier.

Gig Workers

Gig workers, platform workers, and many informal-sector workers who previously lacked social security protection will now be entitled to Provident Fund, Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), maternity benefits and pension, with aggregators contributing 1-2% of their annual turnover towards this.

Zomato, Uber, Swiggy, Amazon, Zepto and all app-based employers will now have to shell out more money from their pocket for gig workers.

It has also been proposed to have a dedicated fund to finance schemes for these workers to cover life, disability, health and old-age benefits.

Fixed Term Employees

Employees on time-bound contract to get full parity in wages and benefits.

Women

Under the new labour codes, women will finally get equal pay for equal work, equal opportunities to access better-paying jobs and can function on night-shift along with safety provisions.

With this, employers will no longer be able to justify lower wages for women.

Timely Wage Payment

Employers, including companies, firms or associations, shall pay wages to all workers employed by them on time and prevent unauthorised deductions, says the new labour code.

Failure to do so makes the proprietor/entity liable.

Earlier, this was covered under the Payment of Wages Act (1936). A key difference was that the Act was applicable only to employees drawing wages up to a certain limit (24,000 a month), leaving a large segment of the workforce uncovered.

Working Hours

The ministry has said that daily working hours could range between eight hours and 12 hours, with a weekly limit of 48 hours over six days.

As per the International Labour Organization (ILO), working hours in a week are not supposed to exceed 48 hours in a week and eight hours in a day.

This was the same in earlier law too but what changes is that workers now have an option.

This means an employee can legally work:

1. Up to 12 hours a day in a four-day week

2. Around 9.5 hours in a five-day week

3. Eight hours a day in a six-day week

Overtime still requires consent from the worker, and it must be paid at twice the normal wage rate.

Work From Home

Has been permitted with mutual consent in service sectors.

Digitisation of Compliance

This provision mandates the electronic maintenance of records, registers, and returns, cutting costs and improving efficiency.

Earlier, digitised attendance was not compulsory. Traditionally, employers were required to maintain physical attendance registers or other manual records for inspection by labour authorities.

Medical Coverage

Another major shift is health and medical coverage. Every employee above the age of 40 will now receive a free annual health checkup.

Earlier this was not included in the labour law.

Employees State Insurance coverage now applies all-India.

Accidents during travel between home and work are now deemed workplace-related, and qualify for compensation.

Working Journalists

'Working journalists' and 'cine workers' now include employees in electronic media and those in all forms of audio-visual production.

Earlier they were not included in the labour laws.

Gratuity

Under the new law fixed-term employees are entitled to get gratuity within one year of leaving employment.

Full-time employees will continue to get gratuity after completing five years in a workplace.

Factory Inspector-cum-Facilitator System

Inspectors will now act as facilitators with an objective to help employers comply with laws, rules and regulations.

Earlier the inspectors were more of policemen in the system, causing problem s to employers.

Contract Labour Welfare and Wages

Principal employers to provide welfare facilities like health and safety measures to contract workers.

If the contractor fails to pay wages, the principal employer himself has to pay the unpaid wages to the contract labour.

Earlier, the employer was not bound to provide welfare measures to contract labour nor was he bound to pay if the contractor failed to pay the labourer.

Retrenchment and Strikes/Lockouts

Government approval limit for retrenchment raised from 100 workers to 300, with states empowered to enhance the limit further as they deem fit.

14-day notice for strikes/lockout made mandatory. Meaning of 'strike' now includes mass casual leave to prevent flash strikes.

Migrant Workers

Inter-state migrant workers now include workers employed directly, through contractors, or migrate on their own. Benefits for them now include an annual travel allowance for going to their native place. PDS benefits have been made portable for them, and social security benefits provided.

Unorganised Workers

A fund has been established, financed through penalties and compounding fees, for their welfare.

Dependents

Definition expanded to cover maternal grandparents. In case of female employees, it also includes dependent parents-in-law.
Even as the results of Siemens for the second quarter of 2025-26 (Q2FY26) were a mixed bag, the stock was the top gainer in the BSE 200 index, rising 4.92 per cent in trade.

Photograph: Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters

Most brokerages are neutral or positive on the company.

The revenues beat consensus estimates while operating profit and net profit were below expectations.

The order inflows were reasonable, though lower than consensus.

The financial year-ending has been changed to March (versus September), which makes direct comparison more difficult along with the tricky adjustments related to the demerger.

This financial year will actually be extended to 18 months ending March 31, 2026.

Revenue expansion was led by mobility and smart infra segments, with sales at Rs 5,171 crore (up 16 per cent year-on-year or Y-o-Y, and up 19 per cent quarter-on-quarter or Q-o-Q).

Mobility revenues were up 29 per cent Y-o-Y at Rs 1,135 crore, and smart infra was up 20 per cent Y-o-Y at Rs 2,725 crore.

Digital industries segment was flat at Rs 1,067 crore, with management pointing to low order backlog and delay in pickup in private capex.

The low-voltage motor segment reported 5 per cent Y-o-Y growth at Rs 270 crore.

Capex of Rs 460 crore will add capacity in transformer and reactor businesses.

Making a judgement about operating profit is also tricky due to the demerger.

But gross margins at 29.4 per cent are down, and operating profit margin at 11.9 per cent is below consensus, with some expenses linked to the Siemens Energy demerger.

Mobility margins at 11.1 per cent (up 300 basis points or bps Y-o-Y and up 730 bps Q-o-Q) are a big positive surprise.

Adjusted net profit is up 3 per cent after excluding one-time gains on real estate.

The order inflows growth was at 10 per cent Y-o-Y at Rs 4,800 crore, which is below consensus.

The outstanding order book is Rs 42,200 crore, which is up 6 per cent Y-o-Y, and over twice trailing 12-month revenues.

Private capex pickup will be key to stronger order flow, and especially crucial for a boost to the digital industries segment.

Data centres in particular could be important, and easing semiconductor supply pressures may help with order momentum in digital industries.

The guidance of the parent Siemens AG for FY26 suggests strong margins and momentum in smart infra and mobility could be sustained. Siemens is investing to make Aurangabad an export hub for mobility.

On a like-for-like comparison basis, order inflow growth stood at 20 per cent Y-o-Y for the trailing 12-month period while the trailing 12 months net profit has declined Y-o-Y even after adjusting for higher other income last year on real estate sales.

Siemens expects the governments emphasis on infrastructure, and improvement in capex execution to support demand.

This should translate into opportunities across railways, grid upgrades, distribution improvement, and smart energy systems.

Smart infrastructure and electric vehicle charging are also expanding, and the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into operations and product offerings may enhance efficiency, although the pace of AI adoption is gradual.

The firm could be vulnerable to slowdown in government order inflows, and aggressive bidding for projects may adversely impact margins.

Also, related party transactions may occur, with the parent and group entities at modest valuations, and this could weigh down performance.

The company is cautiously optimistic about demand momentum eventually translating to pickup in private capex. As and when theres a pickup in private capex, Siemens would be well-placed to cash in.

The stock is relatively somewhat cheaper compared to its historical average.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
'The question for the TMC is not whether it can hold its bastions, but whether it can expand effectively into regions where the BJP already possesses a good ecosystem.'

IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a rally in Kolkata, November 5, 2025 organised to protest against the SIR exercise in the state. Photograph: ANI Photo

"Regional parties remain formidable, but Bihar's verdict underscores that historical strongholds, charismatic leadership and reliance on one primary bloc are no longer enough against the BJP's adaptability and tactical flexibility," Vignesh Karthik KR tells Rediff's Archana Masih..

Dr Karthik is a postdoctoral research affiliate of Indian and Indonesian politics at The Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies, and a research affiliate at King's India Institute, King's College London.

Part 1 of the Interview: 'Whenever Seat Arithmetic Permits, BJP Will Want Its Own Chief Minister'

The RJD is facing its toughest time yet with the eclipse of its patriarch Lalu Yadav and a bitter feud within the family. What do you think the future holds for the RJD? Will the party risk a split like the Shiv Sena or NCP in Maharashtra?

The RJD's crisis is multi-layered. Its core social bloc -- Muslims and Yadavs -- is fraying at both ends. Muslims are voting more tactically, as we saw in Seemanchal with AIMIM, and EBCs have hardened in their resistance to a visibly Yadav-dominated formation.

At the same time, the party's ticket distribution in 2025 signalled that it had not fully processed that shift -- Yadavs remained over-represented, and EBCs relatively under-represented.

Unlike the Shiv Sena or NCP where there is a fragmentation of Maratha votes already across regions, the RJD is anchored in a more consolidated caste base and in Lalu's enduring symbolic authority.

That makes an immediate, formal split less likely. The more probable trajectory is attrition: Local leaders drifting to the NDA, segments of the Yadav vote experimenting with other options, and smaller regional or caste outfits nibbling at its flanks.

The party's survival as a major player depends on two moves -- genuinely diversifying leadership beyond the family and the Yadav core; and rethinking alliances so that Muslim and EBC parties are partners rather than afterthoughts.

Absent that, the RJD may not collapse dramatically, it may simply shrink over time into a mid-sized player whose best years are behind it.

IMAGE: Tejashwi Yadav being felicitated by RJD MLAs on being elected as the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar assembly. Photograph: ANI Photo

How has the verdict put a question mark on the regional parties in India? Particularly, the Samajwadi Party in UP and the TMC in Bengal?

Bihar doesn't predict outcomes in Uttar Pradesh or Bengal, but it does highlight a vulnerability that many regional parties share: Strong narratives and charismatic leaders are not enough if coalition-building remains tied too closely to a single dominant bloc.

For the Samajwadi Party, the Bihar verdict is less an indictment and more a reminder of what lies ahead. Akhilesh Yadav has actually done a very good job so far; modernising the party's image, expanding alliances beyond the Yadav-Muslim core, and crucially, having a term of visible development to point to.

The roads, expressways and metro infrastructure he built give him a credibility that allows him to speak from the front foot in interviews, especially to younger, aspirational voters.

The challenge now is whether he can deepen and institutionalise this expansion; embedding non-Yadav OBCs, EBCs and Dalits into leadership, broadening ticket distribution, and strengthening organisational structures at the booth and block level incrementally.

The lesson from Bihar is that strong narratives need to be accompanied by a social coalition that is wide, stable and continually renewed.

For the TMC, the lesson is more spatial than social. The BJP's Bihar strategy showed a willingness to bend itself to local common sense, mixing caste arithmetic, welfare narratives and regional alliances.

If it can deploy even a portion of that adaptability in West Bengal, the TMC will face its own geographic constraints. Its strength lies heavily in South and Central Bengal. The real test is North Bengal, where the BJP's social and non-electoral allies, religious organisations, caste networks and social welfare groups, made substantial inroads even before the 2021 election.

The question for the TMC is not whether it can hold its bastions, but whether it can expand effectively into regions where the BJP already possesses a good ecosystem.

Regional parties remain formidable, but Bihar's verdict underscores that historical strongholds, charismatic leadership and reliance on one primary bloc are no longer enough in a political environment where the BJP can adapt itself to local political grammars with tactical flexibility.

IMAGE: Nitish Kumar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the swearing-in ceremony in Patna, November 20, 2025. Photograph: Kind courtesy JD-U/X

With just one more seat than AIMIM, is the Congress a spent force -- at least in state elections? In states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, where it ruled till recently, is it going to be increasingly difficult for it to return to power, particularly in these states?

In Bihar, the Congress has ceased to function as an independent pole of politics. But this must also be understood in context: Bihar is not a state where the Congress has been a major actor for nearly two decades.

Its weak showing reflects not only organisational decay and the absence of a recognisable local leadership, but the long-term reality that the party has operated entirely under the RJD's canopy, with no distinct social base of its own.

In contrast, in states where the Congress has been in power, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, its situation is less dire but structurally similar.

The BJP's rise in these states is not simply the outcome of better messaging or larger funding. It is grounded in a dense, multi-layered organisational ecosystem: not just Panna Pramukhs anymore, but networks of Booth Palaks, Booth Sahayojaks, page committees, and hyper-local WhatsApp clusters embedded in caste associations, temple committees, SHGs, professional guilds and welfare-beneficiary networks.

This deep infrastructure allows the BJP to maintain year-round presence, narrative discipline and targeted mobilisation.

The Congress, by contrast, oscillates between bursts of centralised campaigning and long stretches of drift. It still lacks durable booth-level structures; it has not invested consistently in panchayat networks, caste associations, student unions or local civic bodies; and it has not nurtured a strong second-line leadership in many states.

As a result, even when it wins, it struggles to stabilise or expand its gains.

So, the Congress is not a 'spent force' everywhere, but the Bihar verdict shows where its trajectory leads if left unchecked: a party that remains electorally present in name but is structurally hollow, competing against a BJP whose booth-level machinery is dense, adaptive and embedded in everyday social networks.

If the party wants to arrest this slide, it will need structural renewal; federalisation within the organisation, decentralised decision-making, investment in state-level leaders, and a revival of everyday political work. Otherwise, Bihar will not remain an exception; it will become a preview.

IMAGE: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a roadshow for the Bihar assembly election in Samastipur, November 3, 2025. Photograph: AICC/ANI Photo

In power in just three states -- and a miserable performance in Bihar where it contested 61 seats -- what is the future of the Congress party? Is this going to lead to desertions? A challenge to the leadership?

The immediate fallout is likely to be internal demoralisation rather than an open revolt. Many existing Congress leaders still see no viable national home outside the party, which dampens the prospect of a dramatic split.

But quieter forms of exit are likely to intensify, leaders that are electorally or socially viable aligning informally with ruling parties, drifting to the BJP in smaller batches, and/or the unviable ones withdrawing into private life when prospects seem bleak.

The deeper issue is the party's internal model. A centralised, high-command-driven structure may work when a party is ascending; it becomes a liability when that party is shrinking.

The Bihar verdict strengthens the argument for a more federal Congress, one in which state units and chief ministerial contenders have the autonomy to build alliances, select candidates, and shape strategies suited to their own terrains.

Rahul Gandhi can continue to serve as the party's chief mobiliser and mass engager, and the family can continue to act as the glue that holds the organisation's disparate factions together. But mobilisation from the top must be matched by credible leadership from below.

Alliance-building, candidate selection, and everday public engagement require figures who are accessible, welcoming, and firmly rooted on the ground. Without such a cadre, even the most impressive mass-mobilisation efforts remain disconnected from electoral returns.

Challenges to the current leadership are therefore more likely to come as pressure for organisational reform rather than as attempts to unseat Rahul Gandhi or the family.

Whether that pressure results in genuine renewal or simply accelerates quiet desertions will shape the Congress's future far more than any single election verdict.

IMAGE: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma during the Nitish Kumar government's swearing-in ceremony at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna, November 20, 2025. Photograph: Kind courtesy JD-U/X

What challenges does it hold for the INDIA bloc?

Bihar underlines the core contradiction of the INDIA alliance: it is an alliance of necessity facing a structurally tilted playing field, but it behaves as though the old, 'normal' democracy still exists.

The BJP has a lead in finance, media, institutional access, and now the electoral infrastructure itself through processes like Special Intensive Revision. Against that, INDIA cannot afford conventional methods.

This verdict exposes three specific challenges.

First, seat-sharing: If the Congress insists on punching above its organisational weight, it drags down alliances in states like Bihar.

Second, division of labour: Yatras and joint rallies create visibility, but without a shared plan for booth-level monitoring, welfare messaging, and protecting voter rolls, they don't translate into votes.

Third, narrative coherence: Regional parties speak strongly about federalism and welfare, but there is no consistent, joint story about what an INDIA government would actually do differently.

If Bihar becomes just another post-mortem rather than the trigger for rethinking alliance practice, data sharing, cadre training on SIR, coordinated welfare narratives, INDIA will remain more a branding exercise than a competitive alternative.

It was a poor show by Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj -- yet the party came third in 50 seats and seems to have decided the winner/loser in at least 12 seats. Why did PK's fresh politics not appeal to especially young Biharis?

Jan Suraaj's performance reveals both potential and limitation. It clearly tapped into some discontent, which is why it finished third in so many seats and affected margins in a clutch of constituencies.

But 'fresh politics' alone could not overcome two structural hurdles.

First, Bihar remains a place where politics is intensely relational. Voters look for evidence of sustained presence, who attends funerals, fixes local problems, negotiates with the administration, rather than for data-rich manifestos or sophisticated branding.

Jan Suraaj was high on surveys, yatras and messaging, but relatively thin on embedded local leadership. Young voters, especially in semi-urban areas, still depend heavily on these local intermediaries when they make tactical choices.

Second, in a first-past-the-post system, many voters wary of the NDA chose not to 'waste' their vote on a formation they saw as untested, even if they liked some of its critique. The party ended up as a repository of protest more than as a credible alternative government. Without visible, winnable clusters, it struggled to convert youth curiosity into actual seats.

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Janata Dal-United Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha at the Nitish Kumar government's swearing-in ceremony at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna, November 20, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

What is the JSP's future?

Jan Suraaj now faces a classic fork in the road. It can either double down on building a real political organisation, recruiting local notables, investing in ward- and panchayat-level structures, and nurturing a second line of leadership, or it can slide into becoming a pressure group that shapes discourse but rarely wins seats.

Its 2025 performance does give it a base to build from: pockets where finishing third can, with sustained work, be converted into competitive second place and eventually into victories.

But that requires patience and a willingness (which he says he has) to do the unglamorous, everyday politics that Bihar's older parties have practiced for decades.

The worst outcome would be a relapse into consultancy politics, treating Jan Suraaj as a bargaining platform rather than a long-term project. The best-case scenario is far more interesting.

With steady organisational expansion, the party could become a credible third force, or even the second force in a post-Nitish landscape, a possibility analysts have discussed for nearly ten years, even if that transition keeps getting deferred.

For that to happen, Jan Suraaj must move beyond yatras and data-driven critique and cultivate a rooted cadre that speaks to the aspirations of younger, semi-urban voters, citizens fatigued with both Delhi-centric spectacle and old-style patronage, yet still seeking stability, delivery and everyday accessibility.

If PK can embed his project in that social stratum, the party can move from being a pressure group to a durable player in Bihar's evolving political field.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
More than four decades after bloodshed, the Assam government on Tuesday circulated reports of two commissions in the assembly on violence in 1983, including the Nellie massacre which claimed over 2,000 lives, throwing spotlight on one of the state's bloodiest periods just a few months ahead of elections.

IMAGE: Assam Assembly Complex. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons

oth the reports -- of Tewary Commission, which was officially constituted by the then chief minister Hiteswar Saikia of the Congress, and the non-official Mehta Commission -- had contradicting views on the Nellie massacre and other incidents of violence which took place as assembly polls were held during President's Rule in 1983 amid a boycott called by the protagonists of the Assam agitation against illegal foreigners.

The Tewary Commission report was circulated in the assembly on the first day of the Winter Session, as sufficient copies were not available when it was originally tabled by the AGP-led government in 1987, and was therefore not handed to legislators at the time.

The Tewary Commission, headed by retired IAS officer Tribhuvan Prasad Tewary, stated that the violence had no "communal colour" though the fear of the Assamese people of "being overwhelmed" numerically by migrants was "not imaginary".

The Commission held the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and Asom Gana Sangram Parishad (AGSP) "primarily responsible for launching the stir and for its consequences", saying incidents of destruction and bandhs were organised on a "pre-planned and extensive scale" and eventually spiralled out of control.

On the other hand, the Mehta Commission put the blame on incumbent central government, Election Commission, "politicians who wanted to capture power by hook or crook", the then Assam governor and his advisor bureaucrats at the state's secretariat.

The report mentioned some of the findings as -- foreigners problem, ignoring the promise to revise electoral rolls and failure of talks followed by "terror and draconian measures providing grave and sudden provocation" to people.

The Justice (Retd) TU Mehta Commission was formed by Asom Rajyik Mukti Jujaru Sanmilan (Assam Freedom Fighters' Association) after large-scale violence during and close to the state assembly elections in February 1983, in the midst of Assam Agitation.

The Assam agitation was spearheaded by AASU and the AGSP and the boycott of elections received popular support and even led to the resignation of over 150 senior government and public sector officials in the state.

In the run-up to the 1983 polls, over 150 supporters of the agitation died in incidents of police firing and many others were killed in ethnic and communal clashes at various places including Nellie, Gohpur, Khoirabari, Sipajhar, Jamugurihat, Silapathar, among others.

On the cold morning of February 18, 1983 in the small town of Nellie in Central Assam's Morigaon district, over 2,000 people, most of them immigrant Bengali-speaking Muslims, were killed allegedly by Tiwa (Lalung) tribals while almost three lakh people lived in relief camps for months.

The Tewary Commission's report stated that the decision to hold the elections cannot be blamed for the violence as it maintained that parliamentary process should not be obstructed nor any government must submit to threats or actual violence.

On the other hand, the Mehta Commission said the excuse of constitutional compulsions were a mere eyewash, and highlighted "failure of EC to play a constructive role, power captured with repression, provocative speeches of politicians which flared up group violence, and negligence of law and order".

The placing of the report of the non-official Mehta Judicial Inquiry Commission on the "election violence of 1983" was unusual as a private probe report was circulated in the assembly by the government.

AASU and the AGSP, which had jointly spearheaded the six-year Assam Agitation that began in 1979, did not testify before the Tewary Commission, following which the 'Assam Freedom Fighters' Association' took the initiative to constitute a non-governmental commission, headed by T U Mehta, in January 1984 to probe the incidents.

The Tewary Commission's report was submitted to the Congress government but it was not tabled in the assembly and no reasons were given for this.

In 1987, the then chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had placed the report in the assembly and had promised that he would provide printed copies in the days to come but subsequently insurgency gripped the state and President's

Rule was again imposed in the state. The copies were not given to the MLAs and MPs and even the assembly library does not have a copy.

Mahanta had led the agitation as the AASU president and then went on to form the political party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), storming to power as the then youngest chief minister after the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985.

The subsequent Congress, the AGP in its second term and the first BJP government in the state did not circulate the report, perhaps fearing that it would antagonise the indigenous people.

The Assam cabinet had recently decided to place the Tewary Commission report in the state assembly following which the AASU requested that the Mehta Commission be also placed in the House.

The opposition parties have, however, questioned the government's move to table the two reports ahead of assembly elections, due in March-April next year, and said digging up old graves may jeopardise the camaraderie between different communities
The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that the final results of elections in Maharashtra for 57 local bodies, where 50 percent ceiling on quota has been breached, will depend on its judgement in the case.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The observations were made by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi while deferring to November 28 the hearing on the issue of reservation in local body elections.

The Maharashtra government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, sought time to consult the state election commission (SEC) regarding compliance with the 50 per cent ceiling on quotas.

Earlier, on November 19, the bench had asked the state government to consider deferring the process of nomination for local body elections till the issue of grant of 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Class (OBC) is adjudicated upon by it.

On Tuesday, the bench was informed by senior advocate Balbir Singh, appearing for the SEC, that elections to 242 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats, a total of 288 bodies, have already been notified for December 2.

The senior lawyer said in 57 of these bodies, the 50 per cent reservation cap stands breached.

Taking note of this, the bench said the reservation exceeding 50 per cent in the already-notified 57 bodies would remain subject to the final outcome of the ongoing proceedings.

At the outset, the solicitor general sought an adjournment to allow time for consultations with the SEC.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh argued that previous orders, including a July 2022 direction by a three-judge bench led by Justice A M Khanwilkar approving the Banthia recommendations, had created confusion.

The law officer said the state authorities acted under a "bona fide interpretation" of the court's orders.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising, while not opposing the adjournment, informed the bench that some petitioners have also moved a contempt petition, essentially challenging the May 2025 order.

Supporting the existing notified reservation structure, she contended that elections already underway should not be halted and stressed that the court had earlier made the poll process subject to judicial outcome.

The CJI remarked that if elections were ultimately found to be illegal, the court had the power to set them aside.

"If elections are held contrary to law, they can be annulled," the CJI said.

Vikas Singh, however, argued that such annulment would lead to waste of public funds and pressed for pausing the electoral process.

Senior advocate Narender Hooda described the 50 percent upper limit as a constitutional "Lakshman Rekha".

Noticing discrepancies in figures regarding local bodies breaching the quota cap, the bench asked the SEC to furnish a detailed list. Local body elections in Maharashtra have remained stalled since 2021 due to the controversy surrounding OBC reservation.

In December 2021, the top court stayed the quota, holding that it could only be implemented after fulfilling the triple-test requirement laid down in earlier judgments.

The triple test contains the establishment of a commission to study backwardness, and second, determination of the specific proportion of reservation based on the commission's findings and third, ensuring that the total reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs does not exceed 50 per cent of the total seats.

The state had constituted the Jayant Kumar Banthia Commission in March 2022 to determine empirical data for OBC reservation.

The commission submitted its report in July 2022.

In May 2025, the bench directed Maharashtra to conduct the long-pending elections within four months, and to grant OBC reservation based on the legal framework that existed prior to the Banthia report.

Last week, the bench noted that this order had been misconstrued by authorities as permitting reservations beyond 50 per cent, and clarified that no such excess was allowed.
China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Li Minggang/Xinhua)

JIUQUAN, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success.

The spaceship, flying without a crew aboard, carried a cargo of space food, medical supplies, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as devices for treating the cracked window on the Shenzhou-20 spaceship.

Shenzhou-22 will autonomously execute a fast-track rendezvous and docking with the space station complex.

The new spaceship will later serve as the return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts currently in orbit.

The return mission of sending the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth, initially scheduled on Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed following a suspected debris impact.

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship -- already on standby at the launch site -- were swiftly brought to launch readiness, initiating a 16-day emergency launch sequence. 

China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Minggang)

China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Minggang)

China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Photo by He Gaobing/Xinhua)

The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

A Long March-2F Y22 rocket carrying the Shenzhou-22 spaceship blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Zhang Bin)

A Long March-2F Y22 rocket carrying the Shenzhou-22 spaceship blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Photo by Bai Long/Xinhua)

The escape tower is being transferred on Nov. 18, 2025. China on Tuesday launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts in orbit. This momentous occasion marked the accomplishment of the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

The launch of the new spaceship followed the return of the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth on Nov. 14 by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

The return mission, initially scheduled for Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed due to a suspected debris impact on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window.

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship -- already on standby at the launch site upon the contingency -- were swiftly prepared for launch.

After the initiation of the contingency plan, all teams involved in the project demonstrated a composed and methodical approach.

Within 20 days, all participating research and testing units collaborated and completed a series of critical tasks, including risk assessment, solution analysis and decision-making, personnel and material deployment, crew return aboard a replacement vessel, as well as an emergency launch, offering a world-class example of managing an in-orbit emergency, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The success of this mission fully demonstrated the strengths of China's new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, it noted. (Photo by Pang Zhaoqi/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2025 shows the combination of the Shenzhou-22 spaceship and the Long March-2F Y22 rocket being transferred to the launching area. China on Tuesday launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts in orbit. This momentous occasion marked the accomplishment of the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

The launch of the new spaceship followed the return of the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth on Nov. 14 by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

The return mission, initially scheduled for Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed due to a suspected debris impact on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window.

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship -- already on standby at the launch site upon the contingency -- were swiftly prepared for launch.

After the initiation of the contingency plan, all teams involved in the project demonstrated a composed and methodical approach.

Within 20 days, all participating research and testing units collaborated and completed a series of critical tasks, including risk assessment, solution analysis and decision-making, personnel and material deployment, crew return aboard a replacement vessel, as well as an emergency launch, offering a world-class example of managing an in-orbit emergency, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The success of this mission fully demonstrated the strengths of China's new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, it noted. (Photo by Hao Yutong/Xinhua)

The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft is being hoisted on Nov. 12, 2025. China on Tuesday launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts in orbit. This momentous occasion marked the accomplishment of the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

The launch of the new spaceship followed the return of the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth on Nov. 14 by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

The return mission, initially scheduled for Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed due to a suspected debris impact on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window.

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship -- already on standby at the launch site upon the contingency -- were swiftly prepared for launch.

After the initiation of the contingency plan, all teams involved in the project demonstrated a composed and methodical approach.

Within 20 days, all participating research and testing units collaborated and completed a series of critical tasks, including risk assessment, solution analysis and decision-making, personnel and material deployment, crew return aboard a replacement vessel, as well as an emergency launch, offering a world-class example of managing an in-orbit emergency, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The success of this mission fully demonstrated the strengths of China's new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, it noted. (Photo by Li Yuxiang/Xinhua)

The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft is being hoisted on Nov. 12, 2025. China on Tuesday launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts in orbit. This momentous occasion marked the accomplishment of the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

The launch of the new spaceship followed the return of the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth on Nov. 14 by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

The return mission, initially scheduled for Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed due to a suspected debris impact on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window.

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship -- already on standby at the launch site upon the contingency -- were swiftly prepared for launch.

After the initiation of the contingency plan, all teams involved in the project demonstrated a composed and methodical approach.

Within 20 days, all participating research and testing units collaborated and completed a series of critical tasks, including risk assessment, solution analysis and decision-making, personnel and material deployment, crew return aboard a replacement vessel, as well as an emergency launch, offering a world-class example of managing an in-orbit emergency, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The success of this mission fully demonstrated the strengths of China's new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, it noted. (Photo by Song Ying'ao/Xinhua)

China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. China on Tuesday launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts in orbit. This momentous occasion marked the accomplishment of the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

The launch of the new spaceship followed the return of the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth on Nov. 14 by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

The return mission, initially scheduled for Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed due to a suspected debris impact on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window.

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship -- already on standby at the launch site upon the contingency -- were swiftly prepared for launch.

After the initiation of the contingency plan, all teams involved in the project demonstrated a composed and methodical approach.

Within 20 days, all participating research and testing units collaborated and completed a series of critical tasks, including risk assessment, solution analysis and decision-making, personnel and material deployment, crew return aboard a replacement vessel, as well as an emergency launch, offering a world-class example of managing an in-orbit emergency, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The success of this mission fully demonstrated the strengths of China's new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, it noted. (Xinhua/Li Minggang)

This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2025 shows the combination of the Shenzhou-22 spaceship and the Long March-2F Y22 rocket preparing to be transferred to the launching area. China on Tuesday launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts in orbit. This momentous occasion marked the accomplishment of the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

The launch of the new spaceship followed the return of the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth on Nov. 14 by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

The return mission, initially scheduled for Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed due to a suspected debris impact on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window.

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship -- already on standby at the launch site upon the contingency -- were swiftly prepared for launch.

After the initiation of the contingency plan, all teams involved in the project demonstrated a composed and methodical approach.

Within 20 days, all participating research and testing units collaborated and completed a series of critical tasks, including risk assessment, solution analysis and decision-making, personnel and material deployment, crew return aboard a replacement vessel, as well as an emergency launch, offering a world-class example of managing an in-orbit emergency, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The success of this mission fully demonstrated the strengths of China's new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, it noted. (Photo by Li Yuxiang/Xinhua)

A staff member conducts pre-loading inspections of propellant in the loading area of Shenzhou-22 spaceship on Nov. 24, 2025. China on Tuesday launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts in orbit. This momentous occasion marked the accomplishment of the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

The launch of the new spaceship followed the return of the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth on Nov. 14 by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

The return mission, initially scheduled for Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed due to a suspected debris impact on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window.

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship -- already on standby at the launch site upon the contingency -- were swiftly prepared for launch.

After the initiation of the contingency plan, all teams involved in the project demonstrated a composed and methodical approach.

Within 20 days, all participating research and testing units collaborated and completed a series of critical tasks, including risk assessment, solution analysis and decision-making, personnel and material deployment, crew return aboard a replacement vessel, as well as an emergency launch, offering a world-class example of managing an in-orbit emergency, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The success of this mission fully demonstrated the strengths of China's new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, it noted. (Xinhua/Li Minggang)

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket is transferred to the pre-launch test position on Nov. 8, 2025. China on Tuesday launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts in orbit. This momentous occasion marked the accomplishment of the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

The launch of the new spaceship followed the return of the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth on Nov. 14 by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

The return mission, initially scheduled for Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed due to a suspected debris impact on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window.

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship -- already on standby at the launch site upon the contingency -- were swiftly prepared for launch.

After the initiation of the contingency plan, all teams involved in the project demonstrated a composed and methodical approach.

Within 20 days, all participating research and testing units collaborated and completed a series of critical tasks, including risk assessment, solution analysis and decision-making, personnel and material deployment, crew return aboard a replacement vessel, as well as an emergency launch, offering a world-class example of managing an in-orbit emergency, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The success of this mission fully demonstrated the strengths of China's new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, it noted. (Photo by Li Mingtang/Xinhua)

A staff member carries out battery handover and installation work on Nov. 16, 2025. China on Tuesday launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts in orbit. This momentous occasion marked the accomplishment of the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

The launch of the new spaceship followed the return of the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth on Nov. 14 by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

The return mission, initially scheduled for Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed due to a suspected debris impact on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window.

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship -- already on standby at the launch site upon the contingency -- were swiftly prepared for launch.

After the initiation of the contingency plan, all teams involved in the project demonstrated a composed and methodical approach.

Within 20 days, all participating research and testing units collaborated and completed a series of critical tasks, including risk assessment, solution analysis and decision-making, personnel and material deployment, crew return aboard a replacement vessel, as well as an emergency launch, offering a world-class example of managing an in-orbit emergency, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The success of this mission fully demonstrated the strengths of China's new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, it noted. (Photo by Li Yuxiang/Xinhua)

Staff members conduct operations on the gas supply pipelines of the Shenzhou-22 spaceship on Nov. 9, 2025. China on Tuesday launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts in orbit. This momentous occasion marked the accomplishment of the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

The launch of the new spaceship followed the return of the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth on Nov. 14 by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

The return mission, initially scheduled for Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed due to a suspected debris impact on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window.

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship -- already on standby at the launch site upon the contingency -- were swiftly prepared for launch.

After the initiation of the contingency plan, all teams involved in the project demonstrated a composed and methodical approach.

Within 20 days, all participating research and testing units collaborated and completed a series of critical tasks, including risk assessment, solution analysis and decision-making, personnel and material deployment, crew return aboard a replacement vessel, as well as an emergency launch, offering a world-class example of managing an in-orbit emergency, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The success of this mission fully demonstrated the strengths of China's new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, it noted. (Photo by Li Mingtang/Xinhua)

Staff members inspect equipment status at a fire station at the launch site on Nov. 13, 2025. China on Tuesday launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts in orbit. This momentous occasion marked the accomplishment of the first emergency launch mission in the country's manned space program.

The launch of the new spaceship followed the return of the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth on Nov. 14 by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

The return mission, initially scheduled for Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed due to a suspected debris impact on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window.

The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship -- already on standby at the launch site upon the contingency -- were swiftly prepared for launch.

After the initiation of the contingency plan, all teams involved in the project demonstrated a composed and methodical approach.

Within 20 days, all participating research and testing units collaborated and completed a series of critical tasks, including risk assessment, solution analysis and decision-making, personnel and material deployment, crew return aboard a replacement vessel, as well as an emergency launch, offering a world-class example of managing an in-orbit emergency, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The success of this mission fully demonstrated the strengths of China's new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, it noted. (Photo by Yang Junjie/Xinhua)
Bollywood actor-director Siddhanth Kapoor was on Tuesday questioned for nearly five hours by the Mumbai police in connection with a drug seizure case, officials said.

IMAGE: Actor Shakti Kapoors son Siddhanth Kapoor detained by police in relation to a drug case, in Mumbai, November 25, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Siddhanth, son of veteran actor Shakti Kapoor and brother of actor Shraddha Kapoor, arrived at the Anti-Narcotics Cell's Ghatkopar unit in suburban Mumbai earlier in the day for recording his statement, they said.

The actor-director's questioning lasted for nearly five hours after which he was allowed to go, the officials said without providing further details.

The ANC has summoned influencer Orhan Awatramani, alias Orry, for recording his statement in the same case on November 26.

The Ghatkopar unit of the ANC summoned the two celebrities after their names cropped up during the interrogation of Mohammed Salim Mohammed Suhail Shaikh, a key accused in a Rs 252 crore mephedrone seizure case.

According to the police, Shaikh had claimed that some film, fashion celebrities, a politician, and a kin of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim had participated in rave parties organised by him in India and abroad.

Earlier, Siddhanth had been apprehended in Bengaluru in 2022 on charges of drug consumption.

Shaikh, also known as 'Lavish', was deported from Dubai last month.

He was initially arrested in a Rs 252 crore mephedrone seizure from Sangli in Maharashtra, and later arrested by the Ghatkopar unit of the ANC.

He is a close aide of drug lord Salim Dola, who oversaw the manufacture and distribution of mephedrone in various states, the official said.
Israel's government has approved a proposal to bring all the remaining 5,800 Jews from India's north-east, commonly referred to as Bnei Menashe, over the next five years.

IMAGE: Jews recite special prayers at the Gate of Heaven Synagogue on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year, in Thane, Maharashtra, October 3, 2024.

Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo

The government of Israel on Sunday approved a 'significant, wide-scale initiative' to complete the Aliyah (immigration) of the Bnei Menashe community from northeastern India, the Jewish Agency for Israel said.

'This historic decision will bring approximately 5,800 members of the community to Israel by 2030, including 1,200 already approved in 2026,' it said.

It will be the first time that the Jewish Agency will be leading the entire pre-immigration process -- eligibility interviews together with the chief rabbinate of Israel, the conversion authority, and the population and immigration authority -- organising the flights for eligible candidates and managing their absorption in Israel.

The plan is estimated to require a special budget of 90 million shekels ($27 million) to cover the costs of the flights of these immigrants, their conversion classes, housing, Hebrew lessons, and other special benefits.

It was presented to the cabinet by Immigration and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer.

A professional and expanded delegation of rabbis is likely to leave for India in the coming days.

'It will be the largest delegation sent to date and the first in more than a decade. The delegation will interview the first half of the community, about 3,000 Bnei Menashe who have first-degree relatives in Israel,' the announcement read.

Towards the beginning of the immigration of the community, most of the members were resettled in the West Bank.

More recently, they have been sent to towns in northern Israel, with Nof Hagalil -- a mixed Jewish-Arab city very close to Nazareth, a prime destination.

The thousands scheduled to arrive over the coming years will also be settled there, according to the cabinet decision.

'This government decision reflects the shared responsibility of the State of Israel and the Jewish Agency for a national effort that is meaningful, values-driven, and deeply moving. Our extensive professional involvement in planning, preparation, transport, and absorption is central to ensuring the success of this initiative,' the agency said.

There have been intense debates around the Jewishness of Bnei Menashe in the past, but in 2005, the then chief rabbi of the Sephardi community, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, recognised them as 'descendants of Israel', paving the way for their immigration to Israel.

The community claims that it belongs to the Menashe tribe, one of the 10 tribes pushed into exile by the Assyrians some 2,700 years ago.

Around 2,500 community members already live in Israel, and local media reports say that most of the youngsters in the community serve in combat units of the Israel Defence Forces.

The Jewish Agency is an Israel-based international organisation that acts collectively to strengthen Israel and the Jewish people worldwide by advancing Aliyah as a core value.
India on Tuesday rejected China's response to the detention of an Indian national from Arunachal Pradesh at the Shanghai airport, and asserted that the border state is an integral part of the country.

IMAGE: The Eastern Command of the Indian Army and the IAF during an integrated multi-domain exercise in the rugged high-altitude terrain of Arunachal Pradesh, November 13, 2025. Photograph: PRO Defence/ANI Photo

Pema Wang Thongdok alleged that Chinese immigration officials at the airport detained her for 18 hours on November 21 during a transit halt after refusing to recognise her Indian passport as her birthplace was Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chinese foreign ministry on Tuesday rejected the allegations, saying the actions were in accordance with the regulations. It also reiterated China's claim over Arunachal Pradesh.

"We have seen statements made by the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs regarding the arbitrary detention of an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, who was holding a valid passport and was transiting through Shanghai International Airport on her onward travel to Japan," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

"Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality," he said.

Jaiswal said the issue of the detention of the Indian national has been taken up strongly with the Chinese side.

"Chinese authorities have still not been able to explain their actions, which are in violation of several conventions governing international air travel," he said.

"The actions by the Chinese authorities also violate their own regulations that allow visa-free transit up to 24 hours for nationals of all countries," he added.

India has already lodged a strong protest with China over the incident.

In a series of social media posts, Thongdok said Chinese immigration officials at the Shanghai airport detained her for 18 hours on the ground that her passport was "invalid" as her birthplace was Arunachal Pradesh.

"They called my Indian passport invalid as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh which they claimed is Chinese territory," she said.

A strong demarche (a formal diplomatic protest) was made with the Chinese side, in Beijing and in Delhi on the same day the incident took place, government sources said on Monday.
Glimpses of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya during the Dhwajarohan (flag hoisting) ceremony, in Ayodhya on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.

IMAGE: Ram Lalla at the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya. Photograph: Kind courtesy Doordarshan

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat offer prayers at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir on the occasion of Dhwajarohan Utsav, here and below. Photograph: DPR PMO/ANI Photo

Photograph: DPR PMO/ANI Photo

Photograph: DPR PMO/ANI Photo

Photograph: DPR PMO/ANI Photo

Photograph: Kind courtesy Doordarshan

Photograph: Kind courtesy Press Information Bureau

IMAGE: 'Today, before the Dharma Dhwajarohan Utsav at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, I was blessed with the opportunity to pray and seek blessings at the Sapt Mandir complex within the temple premises,' Modi tweeted. Photograph: Kind courtesy @narendramodi/X

IMAGE: Modi prays at the Mata Annapurna Mandir, here and below. Photograph: Kind courtesy Press Information Bureau

Photograph: Kind courtesy Doordarshan

IMAGE: Modi leaves for the flag hoisting. Photograph: Kind courtesy Doordarshan

IMAGE: Modi and Bhagwat ceremonially hoist the saffron flag on the shikhar of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple, symbolising the completion of the temple's construction. Photograph: Kind courtesy Doordarshan

IMAGE: Modi, Bhagwat with Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, here and belo2. Photograph: DPR PMO/ANI Photo

Photograph: Video Grab/ANI Photo

IMAGE: Modi during the Dhwajarohan Utsav. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Modi, Anandiben, Yogi and Bhagwat watch as the flag is raised, here and below. Photograph: Kind courtesy Press Information Bureau

Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Yogi presents miniature models of the saffron flag to Modi and Bhagwat. Photograph: Kind courtesy Press Information Bureau

IMAGE: A view of the Dhwaj Stambh of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. Photograph: Video Grab/ANI Photo

IMAGE: The Dharma Dhwaj, measuring ten feet in height and twenty feet in length, bears the image of a radiant Sun symbolising the brilliance and valour of Lord Ram, with an Om inscribed on it along with the image of the Kovidara tree. Photograph: Kind courtesy Doordarshan

IMAGE: Modi descends the stairs of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. Photograph: Video Grab/ANI Photo

IMAGE: A view of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. Photograph: Video Grab/ANI Photo

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Actor Celina Jaitly has filed a domestic violence complaint in a local court in Mumbai alleging that she has suffered severe emotional, physical, sexual and verbal abuse at the hands of her Austrian husband Peter Haag.

IMAGE: Actor Celina Jaitly. Photograph: Courtesy @CelinaJaitly/X

The plea came up for hearing on Tuesday before judicial magistrate S C Tadye, who issued a notice to Haag and posted the matter for hearing on December 12.

Jaitly, in her application filed through Karanjwala & Co law firm, accused Haag of domestic violence, cruelty and manipulation under provisions of the Domestic Violence Act.

The 47-year-old actor claimed she has suffered severe emotional, physical, sexual and verbal abuse by her husband because of which she was forced to flee her home in Austria and return to India.

The couple got married in September 2010 and has three children together.

The former Miss India, in the plea, alleged that after marriage, her husband prohibited her from working.

'The respondent (Haag) is a narcissistic, self-absorbed individual. He has a short temper and alcoholic tendencies, which have consistently caused the applicant (Jaitly) stress,' the plea stated.

The actor also listed several instances where her husband had indulged in physical and verbal abuse.

The plea further stated that Haag had filed a divorce application before a court in Austria in August this year.

Jaitly has sought a direction that her estranged husband pay a sum of Rs 50 crore as compensation and Rs 10 lakh per month as maintenance.

She has also sought access to her three children, who are presently living with their father in Austria.

Jaitly on Tuesday said she never thought she will be left alone in the middle of the strongest and most turbulent storm.

Jaitly's brother (retd) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly has been in detention in the middle east since 2024 and the actor has appealed the government to help her in getting him back.

Sharing the post on her Instagram handle on Tuesday, the actor said she will continue to fight all the obstacles. She hashtagged the post with courage, divorce.

"In the middle of the strongest most turbulent storm of my life I never imagined I would spend fighting alone, without any parents, without any support system. I never thought there would come a day without all the pillars on which the roof of my world once rested, my parents, my brother, my children, & the one who promised to stand by me, love me, care for me, & bear every trouble with me," she wrote.

"Life stripped everything away. People I trusted walked away. Promises I believed in broke in silence, the actor added.

Jaitly said as a soldier's daughter who has been raised on courage , discipline and grit, she will continue to fight.

"My priority remains fighting for my soldier brother, fighting for my children's love, fighting for my dignity. A DV complaint has been filed against all the atrocities, abandonment perpetrated upon me...As my matter is sub judice, I am unable to make any comments at this time I kindly request you to contact my legal representatives for any official information or statements," she concluded.

The former Miss India starred in movies like Apna Sapna Money Money, No Entry and Janasheen.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's key advisor Basavaraja Rayareddy on Tuesday asserted that the former will complete his five-year term, saying replacing him "was not easy", and that any discussion on leadership change must only take place at the Congress legislature party meeting.

IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah meets batch of probationary IPS officers 2024 at his office in Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru, November 25, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Dismissing talk of a change in CM, Rayareddy, who is economic adviser to the chief minister and senior MLA, questioned the need to replace Siddaramaiah. "Is he corrupt or anti-people?"

Another close aide of Siddaramaiah and minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan reiterated that Siddaramaiah will remain in office till 2028 and succeeded by his deputy D K Shivakumar.

The comments come as several legislators backing Shivakumar have traveled to New Delhi to meet Congress high command, pressing his case for the top post.

The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20. There have also been speculations of a "power-sharing" pact between Siddaramaiah and deputy CM Shivakumar after the Congress returned to power in 2023 in the state.

"We are not aware of any decision by the party suggesting that Siddaramaiah has to step down after the government completes 2.5 years in office. Siddaramaiah took oath as CM on May 20, 2023 and two days before that Congress Legislature Party meeting was held, where there was a contest, in which Siddaramiah got majority, and he was elected as the CM," Rayareddy said.

Speaking to reporters here, he sought to know why Siddarmaiah should be removed. "I too voted for Siddarmaiah, none of us were told then that he would remain CM for only 2.5 years. If we were not told, then it means he is the CM for 5 years. So the question of CM change doesn't arise."

Insisting that D K Shivakumar too had not claimed the CM post, the senior MLA blamed ongoing confusions created by some MLAs close to Shivakumar. "They say their leaders should become CM because he gave them tickets to contest polls."

"If any change has to happen, the Congress Legislature Party meeting should be called... Then, in the meeting I will question it. Will ask them (high command representatives) why he is being replaced, is he involved in corruption, is he anti people? If they say there was an agreement -- I will ask, why weren't we informed earlier?To have an internal agreement, is this contract?" he asked.

According to Rayareddy, the party high command will soon clear the confusion, and Siddarmaiah will be CM for 5 years. "Changing CM is not easy."

Admitting that he too harbours CM aspirations, and that he became MLA even before Shivakumar, he said, "are we not counted? Everyone will have aspirations. If Siddaramaiah is not there, myself, G Parameshwara, Satish Jarkiholi, M B Patil (all senior Ministers) are contenders, there is a big list. But currently the question of CM change does not arise."

Meanwhile, addressing media in Bengaluru, Khan said the high command will take the final call on the leadership issue.

Shivakumar will naturally have the desire to become the CM, he said.

"Siddaramaiah will be CM till 2028, after Siddaramaiah's tenure DK Shivakumar should become the CM, I will support this."

He, however, maintained that everyone in the party will abide by the high command's decision.
China on Tuesday refuted allegations that an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was harassed at Shanghai airport, saying the actions taken by the Chinese immigration officials were as per laws and regulations.

IMAGE: Pema Wangjom Thongdok. Photograph: ANI video screen grab/X

Pema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen who was travelling from London to Japan on November 21, claimed that her three-hour scheduled layover turned into a traumatising ordeal after immigration personnel declared her passport "invalid" solely because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.

Asked for her response to the ordeal Thongdok was subjected to, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning claimed that the woman was not subjected to any compulsory measures, detainment or harassment as alleged by her.

"On the individual case you mentioned, according to what we've learned, during the entire time, China's border inspection authorities carried out check procedures in accordance with laws and regulations," Mao said.

The law enforcement was impartial and non-abusive, the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected, and no compulsory measures were taken on her, and there was no so-called "detaining" or "harassing," Mao said.

"The airline provided her with resting facilities and meals," she said, denying Thongdok's charges.

She also defended the action taken against Thongdok, saying, "Let me point out that having border checks on people entering and exiting a country and carrying out law enforcement according to the specific situation of the entry or exit is the usual practice of border enforcement authorities of countries across the world.

About India's demarche protesting the treatment meted out to Thongdok and New Delhi's firm assertion that Arunachal Pradesh is very much part of India, Mao reiterated China's claims over the area, which it calls Zangnan or South Tibet.

"Zangnan is China's territory, and China does not recognise the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India," she said.

India lodged a strong demarche (a formal diplomatic protest) to China both in Beijing and in Delhi, on the same day the incident took place, sources in Delhi said.

India firmly conveyed to the Chinese side that Arunachal Pradesh is "indisputably" an Indian territory and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports.

The Indian consulate in Shanghai also took up the matter locally and extended the fullest assistance to the stranded passenger, they said.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday said he was "deeply shocked" by the incident and called it a "violation of international norms and an affront to the dignity of Indian citizens."

In a series of social media posts, Thongdok said Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai airport detained her for 18 hours on the grounds that her passport was "invalid" as her birthplace was Arunachal Pradesh.

She somehow managed to connect to the Indian consulate in Shanghai through a UK-based friend. Officials from the consulate helped her board a late-night flight from the Chinese city, it was learnt.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said he did not want to discuss the CM change issue publicly, as it is a "secret deal" among four and five people in the party, and that he believes in his conscience.

IMAGE: Congress deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, said that he doesn't want to cause any embarrassment for the party and weaken it.

The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified, amid speculation about chief minister change in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, citing an alleged "power-sharing" agreement involving CM Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023.

Earlier in the day, Shivakumar, who had not met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge when the latter was in the city for the past few days, amid the ongoing power game in the state, however, accompanied him to the airport as he left for the national capital.

"I don't know. I have not asked to make me the CM. It is a secret deal between five and six of us. I don't want to speak publicly on this. I believe in my conscience. We should work with our conscience. I don't want to cause embarrassment to the party in any way and weaken it. If the party is there, we are there. If karyakartas are there, we are there," Shivakumar said in response to a question about whether he becoming the CM would be final.

Speaking to reporters in his home constituency, Kanakapura, he said, "The CM has spoken. He is a senior leader. He is an asset for the party. He has completed 7.5 years as CM (including an earlier 5 years term from 2013-2018)."

Siddaramaiah has said that he will be presenting the next budget too. "I'm very happy. He had served as opposition leader in the past. He has also worked and built the party. We should all work together with the target of 2028 (assembly polls) and target 2029 (Lok Sabha polls)," he further said.

When told that the people of Bengaluru South (earlier Ramanagara) had given all the four seats in the district to Congress to see him as the CM, Shivakumar said he had not asked anyone for anything.

"During the election time, I had gone to all constituencies, including Mahadevappa (minister close to Siddaramaiah), to vote looking at my face. I have asked everywhere in Mandya too. I don't dispute it. People have voted. In all 224 assembly segments karyakartas have worked tirelessly more than us and have brought this government to power. The MLAs and ministers are the beneficiaries," he said.

To a question on legislators backing him traveling to Delhi to meet high command with a demand to make him the CM, Shivakumar said he was not aware of it, and that they might be making efforts to become ministers.

"I have not telephoned or called any of them (legislators) or spoken to them. I'm not asking them why they went. I don't need it," he said.

A batch of six Congress legislators backing Sivakumar had traveled to New Delhi on November 23 to meet the high command leaders, party sources said on Monday, adding that few more legislators are likely to travel soon, to pitch for Shivakumar as CM.

Last week some legislators, about ten of them, supporting Shivakumar had travelled to Delhi and met Kharge, as the Congress government completed 2.5 years in office on November 20.

Asked whether there was a power sharing agreement after the Assembly polls in 2023, Shivakumar said, "Why should I speak about it? You (media) have written things."

Not willing to comment on the statements of other leaders from within the party and opposition on the CM change issue, he said he was not a spokesperson for any of them.

When told that his supporters and party workers were offering prayers for Shivakumar to become the CM, he said, "Prayers offered today are not that important when compared to prayers offered by mothers and sisters, youths, elders and workers when I was in jail. They prayed that I should be released....today I'm deputy CM and party president. They prayed when I did not have any of these positions. They stood by me and gave me moral courage. That's big."

While Siddaramaiah is pushing for a reshuffle of his Cabinet, Shivakumar wants the party to first decide on leadership change, party sources said.

According to several party insiders, if the Congress high command approves the cabinet reshuffle, it would signal that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will complete the full five-year term, which will scuttle the chances of Shivakumar occupying the coveted post.
A Pakistani man and his girlfriend eloped from their homes and made an arduous journey on foot to the India-Pakistan border in Gujarat's Kutch district, only to be detained by the security forces.

IMAGE: BSF women personnel conduct patrolling along the border in Gujarat, November 22, 2025. Photograph: Courtesy BSF/Gujarat on X

According to the police, personnel from the Border Security Force detained Popat (24) and Gauri (20) after they crossed the international border on Monday.

Popat and Gauri had fled their village in Pakistan, 8 km away from the International Border, on Sunday night, and covered the distance on foot, an official from the Balasar police station said.

BSF personnel patrolling near pillar number 1016 detained the duo, he said.

During questioning, the couple revealed that they had eloped as their families were against their marriage, the official said.

The concerned agencies will carry out further investigation, and an FIR is yet to be registered, he said.

According to the police, this is the second such incident in two months. Earlier, two people were similarly detained at the border on October 8.
A 70-year-old man, along with his daughter-in-law and her minor son, allegedly stole jewellery worth Rs 50 lakh from his own daughter's house after drugging her, the police said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Reuters

The daughter-in-law has been arrested, while efforts are underway to trace the elderly man and the minor boy, they said.

According to the police, the incident occurred in the Dargah Sharif police station area of the Bahraich district, where the accused, Ravindra Khetan, had arrived with his daughter-in-law, Shivani Khetan, and her 16-year-old son to stay at the home of his daughter, Soni Bansal.

Soni, who is married to local businessman Manoj Tulsiyan, lives in DSL Green City Colony under the same police station area.

In his complaint, Tulsiyan alleged that on November 18, while he was at his shop with his son, he returned home to find his wife unconscious. "She was initially treated in Bahraich, and when her condition failed to improve, she was shifted to Apollo Hospital in Lucknow," he said.

Tulsiyan said that soon after his wife was moved to Lucknow, his in-laws left the house without informing anyone. When the family returned to Bahraich on November 21, they discovered that gold, silver and diamond jewellery worth nearly Rs 50 lakh had been stolen from their locker.

Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Ashok Kumar Singh said a case was registered on November 22 against the three accused based on the complaint. Multiple police teams examined mobile phone details, CCTV footage and other technical evidence during the investigation.

"On Monday, police arrested Shivani Khetan near Gullabeer Temple and recovered the stolen jewellery from her possession," the ASP said. The elderly man and the minor boy remain absconding.

Preliminary investigation indicates that Shivani was tempted after seeing the expensive jewellery and planned the theft after inspecting the house.

She allegedly mixed depression pills into her sister-in-law's tea, rendering her unconscious before fleeing with the valuables, the police said.

The police also found that the accused had tried to sell the jewellery at various shops but failed as jewellers demanded identity documents.

Shivani has been sent to jail, and efforts are on to arrest the remaining accused.
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The huge potential of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must be unlocked for the region to rise as a global center of innovation, technology and sustainable progress, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said on Tuesday.

The region and ASEAN stand at the intersection of shifting global dynamics, rapid technological advancement and evolving economic landscapes, making unity, resilience and shared innovation essential for realizing its aspirations, Fadillah said in his keynote address at the inaugural ASEAN Technology Cooperation and Development Summit 2025.

"With a population of more than 680 million, a vibrant digital economy and a forward-looking young generation, ASEAN holds tremendous potential to rise as a global center of innovation, technology and sustainable progress," he said.

"It is this spirit of collective progress, of unity, of shared responsibility, and of regional purpose that strengthens ASEAN's journey towards a technologically empowered, resilient and sustainable future," he said.

Fadillah, who is also minister of energy transition and water transformation, urged Malaysian agencies and industry players to enhance strategic research funding to catalyze world-class scientific and technological breakthroughs that will accelerate the adoption and commercialization of frontier technologies, as well as attract global researchers, scientific institutions and high-impact talent into Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region.

"Malaysia stands ready to serve as a gateway, a testbed, a launchpad, and a thriving hub for global innovators to scale transformative solutions for the region... Malaysia firmly believes that science, technology and innovation must be placed at the heart of ASEAN's long-term regional strategy," he said.

The two-day summit, which runs from Tuesday to Wednesday, is held in conjunction with Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship, welcoming delegates from member states and international partners, including China, Canada and the Middle East.

With the theme "Uniting Innovation, Connecting the Future," the summit places the strategic role of technology in driving economic growth, cybersecurity, future mobility, smart cities, advanced healthcare, green innovation and frontier industries. 
Delhi's Patiala House Court on Monday remanded 17 (11 girls, six boys) accused to three days' judicial custody.

IMAGE: Delhi Police take protesters to Patiala House Court following their arrest for demonstrating at India Gate with posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, who was recently killed in an encounter, in New Delhi on Monday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Delhi police sought their judicial custody. They have been arrested in a case lodged at Parliament Street Police Station.

Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Sahil Monga remanded the accused persons to three days' judicial custody after hearing submissions from the Delhi Police and their counsel.

During the hearing, Delhi police alleged that the accused persons have been arrested in relation to a protest during which slogans were raised in favour of Maoist Madvi Hidma, they obstructed the public servants from discharging their duties, they also violated the orders passed by the public servants, and they also caused injuries to public servants.

According to officials, the protesters tried to block a road while holding posters of Hidma and allegedly sprayed pepper spray on police personnel when officers attempted to disperse them.

The accused were produced before the Patiala House Court after they were detained during the protest on Sunday.

The court also asked the Delhi Police to submit a copy of the videos related to the incident.

The court further directed that one of the accused be kept in a safe house until his age is verified, as he has claimed to be a minor.

Advocate Ahmad Ibrahim appeared for the five girls accused in this case. He submitted that the accused are students and carried out a peaceful protest.

He also submitted that the girls were manhandled and were subjected to harrasment and suffered injuries.

It was also submitted that, if the police seek judicial custody, the accused persons should be released, as their custodial interrogation is not required.

Advocate Ibrahim said that the bail application for the five accused will be filed on Tuesday.

During the hearing, the court also interacted with the girls who alleged manhandling.

DCP (New Delhi District ) was also present during the hearing. The hearing was conducted in a closed courtroom.

A total of 22 people were arrested for allegedly blocking a road, obstructing police and using pepper spray on Delhi Police personnel during a protest at the India Gate on Sunday.

Delhi Police on Monday said that they have registered FIRs in two police stations for staging a protest at the C hexagon on India Gate and allegedly using chilli spray/pepper spray on police personnel.

At Kartavya Path Police Station, six male protesters were arrested under BNS sections 74, 79, 115(2), 132, 221, 223, and 61(2).

The second FIR was registered at the Sansad Marg Police Station, in which other protesters have been arrested.They have been booked under BNS sections 223A, 132, 221, 121A, 126(2), and 3(5).

Speaking to ANI, New Delhi DCP Devesh Kumar Mahla said, "This matter is also under thorough investigation, and strict action will certainly be taken... An FIR has been registered under various sections, including against the use of force against the police, road blockades, and the use of chilli spray..."

Reacting to the use of posters associated with the Naxalite Madvi Hidma during the protest, he said that legal action would be taken in the matter.

He further said, "Yes, it has been found to be true, and we are investigating it. We have registered an FIR in this regard. We are taking legal action in this matter."

The protestors who held their agitation at the C hexagon on India Gate allegedly used chilli spray/ pepper spray on police personnel, obstructing official work and blocking the road, police said.

Earlier, DCP Mahla said that for the first time, pepper spray was used against police personnel during such a kind of agitation.

DCP Mahla said, "Some of the protesters gathered inside the C-Hexagon and then tried to cross the barricade that we had put in place to restrict movement. However, they did not comply; they broke the barricade, came onto the road, and sat there...We requested them to move, as many ambulances and medical personnel were waiting behind them and required emergency access...We removed them from the C-Hexagon to avoid disrupting traffic. During the removal, several protesters scuffled with the police, and many of our personnel were injured."

"For the first time, we encountered the use of pepper spray against police personnel. A few of our officers were sprayed in the eyes and are currently receiving treatment at RML Hospital. Legal action is being taken in this regard," the Delhi Police official said.

Visuals from the protest site on Sunday showed agitators holding posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, who was recently killed in an encounter.

Delhi Police, in a statement said, "A protest was held this evening at C Hexagon, India Gate, over pollution. But the protesters were holding posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma. When they tried to block the road, the police tried to remove them, but they sprayed pepper spray on the police personnel and tried to attack them. The police are now taking legal action against them."
The Supreme Court said on Tuesday that it is not inclined to either legislate or monitor every incident of hate speech across the country as legislative measures, police stations and high courts are already there in place.

IMAGE: A view of the Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo

The observations came from a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that was hearing an application raising the issue of alleged calls for the social and economic boycott of a particular community.

"We are not legislating in the garb of this petition. Rest assured, we are not inclined to either legislate or monitor every small incident which takes place in X, Y, Z pocket of this country. There are high courts, there are police stations, there are legislative measures. They are already in place," the bench said.

The top court had initially asked the applicant to move the high court concerned with his grievance.

"How can this court continue to monitor all such instances all over the country? You approach the authorities. Let them take action, otherwise go to the high court," the bench told the counsel appearing in the matter for the applicant.

The lawyer said they have filed an application in a pending writ petition that has raised the issue of hate speech.

"I have filed an application for directions, bringing some additional instances to the knowledge of the court of these calls for the economic boycott that has started," he said.

When the bench observed that such calls were made by certain individuals, the lawyer said some public representatives are also issuing similar calls.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was present in the court, said public interest cannot be selective to one particular religion.

"There are severe hate speeches going on amongst all religions. I will supply those details to my friend (applicant). Let him add that and espouse that public cause on a pan-religion basis," he said.

The applicant's counsel said he has brought the matter to the court's notice as the authorities are not taking any action.

He argued that in the hate speech matter, the top court had earlier said that if no action was taken by the State, then suo-motu action was to be taken by police, failing which contempt proceedings would be initiated.

He said the solicitor general can bring this to the notice of the states so that appropriate action could be taken on hate speech.

"No one can be indulging in hate speech -- that is my stand. But while complaining, a public spirited person cannot be selective," Mehta said.

The bench told the applicant's counsel that there are mechanisms in place and he could take recourse of whatever the law provides.

"Whichever state you have a problem, you approach the jurisdictional high court for appropriate relief," it said.

The bench said the high courts would take care of the matter if public interest is involved.

The applicant's counsel referred to an October 2022 order of the apex court that had asked three states to crack down hard on those making hate speeches.

He also referred to another application filed in the matter concerning a minister in Assam "speaking about the Bihar election and saying Bihar has approved gobi (cauliflower) farming".

The applicant's counsel claimed that it was in apparent reference to the 1989 Bhagalpur violence, in which several members of the minority community were killed and buried in fields.

The bench said all these matters would be heard on December 9.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of being involved in sabotage in the cancellation of her helicopter ride to Bongaon, warning the opposition party not to "play" with her as she could not be cornered.

IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a rally in Bongaon, in North 24 Parganas, November 25, 2025. Photograph: Courtesy AITMC on X

Banerjee, who was scheduled to land in Bongaon in North 24 Parganas at 12.30 pm, said she was informed at 10 am that the hired helicopter "would not fly", forcing her to travel by road.

She eventually reached the place around 2 pm to address a massive rally, amid growing panic among people over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

A top bureaucrat, however, said Banerjee's planned helicopter ride to Bongaon for a political rally on Tuesday was cancelled after officials discovered that the aircraft assigned for the trip was operating with an expired licence.

Banerjee travelled to Bongaon in the North 24 Parganas district, around 104 km from Kolkata, by road instead.

"For the last seven-eight months, I did not travel by helicopter. Today I had planned to come here and then go to Thakurnagar. Everything was booked in advance. But at 10 in the morning, the message came that the helicopter won't go!" she said, alleging "political reasons" behind the cancellation.

Turning the inconvenience into a campaign pitch, Banerjee said the road journey allowed her to come into spontaneous contact with people.

"Before elections begin, they have started creating hurdles. But it didn't help them. In fact, it helped me. On the way, I met so many people. It became a great public outreach," Banerjee said.

Sharpening her attack, the Trinamool Congress supremo warned the BJP against attempts to intimidate her.

"Don't try to play with me. You won't be able to fight and defeat me politically," she said, noting that she mostly travelled by road and was "not dependent" on helicopters.

"I cannot be cornered," she declared.

Her remarks came as 35 deaths, some reportedly by suicide, have been linked to fear and anxiety triggered by the SIR verification process in Bengal's refugee belts.

Promising to "fight till the end", she accused the BJP and Election Commission of creating an atmosphere of fear through the SIR process and warned that Bengal would resist any attempt to "snatch away" citizens' rights.
'This plan was never official. It was there secretly. It was by the high command.'

IMAGE: Rahul Gandhi with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar during the Vote Adhikaar Rally at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. Photograph: ANI Photo

When Karnataka's Congress government crossed the two-and-a-half-year mark on November 20, the long-standing tension between the state's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over the latter's insistence on getting the coveted post has once again reached the party high command in Delhi.

A group of Congress MLAs, primarily loyal to Shivakumar, travelled to Delhi to meet the party leadership and insist on the urgency to have DKS -- as he is popularly known -- as the next chief minister replacing Siddaramaiah.

While these DKS loyalists are playing it safe by not openly demanding as much, their purpose is straightforward: To clarify whether a power-sharing arrangement made in 2023 -- between DKS and Siddaramaiah and which apparently had the high command's blessings -- would be honoured.

According to three Congress MLAs loyal to DKS that Prasanna D Zore/Rediff spoke to on Monday, when the Congress won the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections, a rotational chief minister arrangement was agreed upon -- though there remains some confusion -- between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

The formula specified that after two-and-a-half years, the mantle of leadership would pass to Shivakumar. With that deadline now reached and Siddaramaiah still in office, these MLAs were in Delhi seeking clarity from the national leadership.

Three of these legislators explained their position and what brought them to Delhi.

The Promise That Was Made

IMAGE: Mallikarjun Kharge along with Siddaramaiah (behind the charkha), D K Shivakumar (in blue jacket), party General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal (extreme right), party MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (extreme left) and others during the unveiling of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi. Photograph: ANI Photo

H A Iqbal Hussain, the Congress MLA from Ramanagaram, was direct about why he is in Delhi. "We wanted Shivakumar to be chief minister within this time," he said. He acknowledged concerns that pushing for a leadership change could damage the party and might help the Bharatiya Janata Party sharpen its attack on the incumbent Congress government.

But he said this was not a concern. "We are all together. We are in the Congress. All the MLAs are in the Congress. Only thing is we wanted Shivakumar to be chief minister within his time (youth)."

When asked about the nature of the power-sharing agreement, Hussain said it had been kept confidential. "This plan was never official. It was there secretly. It was by the high command. And nobody knows about that."

He then stated clearly that such a promise had been made. "Definitely" the high command had promised Shivakumar the chief minister position after two-and-a-half years, he said.

Hussain named the senior party leadership should be responsible for this arrangement. "They have to take decisions. They are only the high command. They are only our boss," he said referring to Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, the senior decision-makers in the Congress party who matter.

On whether Siddaramaiah would voluntarily step down, Hussain said the chief minister, as a Congress member, should abide by party decisions. "He is also in the Congress. He has to share everything. Being head of the Congress family, he should share."

The Confusion Over Power Sharing

IMAGE: Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar and Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala in Bengaluru, January 13, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

H C Balakrishna, the Congress MLA from Magadi, described the situation differently -- not as a demand but as a need for clarity. "There is some confusion in Karnataka politics. But we want to get the clarity from the high command," he said.

The confusion, he explained, centred on the power-sharing arrangement itself. "Because there are reports that the Congress high command had promised D K Shivkumar that he will be the chief minister after two-and-a-half years. That's what we want to know," says Balakrishna, who is also in Delhi to pitch for DKS, over the phone.

He indicated the MLAs would meet with (Randeep) Surjewala, the party's in-charge for Karnataka, and are waiting to meet other senior leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, the national party president.

When asked if the party's infighting could benefit the BJP, Balakrishna said the high command needed to step in and resolve the issue. "That's what we want. High command should interfere and solve the problem."

Balakrishna stated that whatever the high command decided would be acceptable to both the parties. "Whatever it may be. It should come through the high command," he said, indicating the MLAs would not openly rebel against a high command decision, even if it meant Siddaramaiah remaining as chief minister.

The Broader Calculation

IMAGE: Siddaramaiah, right, and D K Shivakumar, second from left, with Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

K M Uday, the Congress MLA from Maddur, was less certain about Shivakumar's prospects when asked directly whether the deputy chief minister would become the next chief minister. "Maybe," he said.

Uday indicated that the high command was still deliberating. "They'll decide in a few days," he said when asked about the timeline for a decision.

He offered a different framing for why the MLAs had come to Delhi. "We came to emphasise that newly elected winners should also be accommodated in the Karnataka government when the reshuffle happens. We came to ask for some provision for us also."

This suggested the delegation included requests for cabinet positions and resources, in addition to the question of the chief minister's post. According to Uday, ten MLAs had come from his group.

When pressed on whether there had been a formal agreement over the rotation of chief ministerial berth between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, Uday said he did not know. "We don't know." He acknowledged the optics problem. "Isn't this bad optics? Won't the BJP take advantage of this infighting?"

Uday insisted there was no fundamental split in the Congress. "Congress is united only. No difference. We are one family," he said. When asked why some MLAs wanted Siddaramaiah to go if there was unity, Uday said the issue was not leadership but resources.

"They are going (the MLAs going to meet the high command) because it's the ministerial issue; they're asking for provision, that's why."

On whether he believed Shivakumar would become chief minister, Uday said he was confident that the high command would give a desirable decision. When asked why, he pointed to the deputy chief minister's track record. "He (D K Shivakumar) is young; he has capacity; he has done a lot of work. It will benefit Karnataka."

When asked whether Siddaramaiah was performing well as chief minister, Uday acknowledged he was. "Yes, sure." But when asked if the power-sharing agreement was the reason for seeking a change despite Siddaramaiah's performance, Uday declined to confirm direct knowledge of such an agreement. "That only the high command and the two leaders know. We don't know about that," he said.

What Both Leaders Are Saying

IMAGE: Then Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi with Rahul Gandhi, D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah during the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Mandya. Photograph: ANI Photo

Meanwhile, both Siddaramaiah and DKS have declared that they will defer to the party high command. Siddaramaiah stated he would continue as chief minister if the high command decided so. He has also signalled his intention to present the next state budget, suggesting he expects to remain in office.

Shivakumar responded by saying Siddaramaiah's statement was Veda Vakya (sacred scripture) -- for him, and that he would accept whatever the party leadership decided. He criticised the BJP for accusations of 'horse-trading', noting that such practices had been documented in the BJP's own ranks in the past.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff
CAIRO, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye met here on Tuesday to discuss ways to consolidate the Gaza ceasefire and resolve obstacles to its implementation, Egypt's Al Qahera News Channel reported.

The meeting, attended by Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, and Turkish National Intelligence Organization Director Ibrahim Kalin, focused on ensuring the success of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, it reported.

The officials agreed to enhance coordination with Israel's Civil-Military Coordination Center, which oversees the ceasefire, and talked about ways to prevent violations and strengthen the ceasefire, it reported.

The tripartite meeting followed Rashad's Sunday talks with a Hamas delegation in Cairo, which reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement's first phase but called for a mediators-supervised mechanism to monitor and halt Israeli "breaches."

The ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas, brokered by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye, and took effect on Oct. 10, has sharply reduced Israeli attacks but not halted them entirely.

At least 345 Palestinians have been killed and 889 others injured by Israeli attacks since Oct. 11, Gaza's health authorities said Tuesday, bringing the overall death toll from Israeli attacks since October 2023 to 69,775, with 170,965 others injured. 
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 27F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 14F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph.
German and Romanian fighter jets scrambled on November 25 to track the latest in a series of drone incursions into Romania's airspace as Russia continues to attack targets just across the Danube River in neighboring Ukraine.

Two drones entered the NATO-members airspace and six were reported in Moldova, where one fell on the roof of a building but did not explode. This follows an incident last week when a Russian drone hit a Turkish LPG tanker moored on the Ukrainian side of the river.

We kind of consider ourselves part of the war, Tudor Cernega, the mayor of Ceatalchioi village, told RFE/RLs Romanian Service. If the ship had exploded, the whole village would have vanished.

Residents of the village and the nearby settlement of Plauru, which also comes under his administration, were temporarily evacuated following the explosion and subsequent fire.

People are not coming to visit their relatives any longer. Theyre too scared. People have understood the danger: if a drone had fallen on a house - God forbid -- it would have killed a person or two, Cernega said.

Time For Evacuation?

One resident said her family would consider moving away permanently if the situation deteriorated.

If the bombings escalate, I think we might leave, said 48-year-old Daniela Tanase.

There have been booms here, in front of our house.

Tanase said it was worst at night, describing how they would watch Ukrainian searchlights scouring the sky for drones during alarms.

Another villager, 73-year-old retired mechanic Gheorghe Puflea, said he was unable to sleep after being woken up by drones.

I could leave at any moment, but what would I do with the animals? Should I leave them here? he asked, as he scattered feed for his chickens. He also has pigs, a horse, a bull, and a dog.

At the end of the day, the animals have gotten used to the drones, he said, adding that they were at first panicked by explosions in Ukraine. For himself, he said, he was not afraid. We are fine for now. We still have the NATO army here defending us.

Plauru sits just 300 meters across the river from the Ukrainian port of Izmail, where the Turkish tanker was attacked. In 2023, the Romanian Army built air raid shelters in the village.

There have been drone incursions in the area three times in the last week alone. On November 25, residents were warned to take cover as the war threatened - once again - to spill over into NATO territory.

Romania has legislation in place enabling it to shoot down drones during peacetime if lives or property are at risk but has not yet made use of it. Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu said on November 25 that German pilots had also been given permission to shoot.

"Very likely, analyzing the potential collateral damage they could cause by firing weapons over Romanian territory, they chose not to engage. That's my assumption," he added.

In Moldova, police released a photo of the drone that came down on the roof of a building at an orchard.

The drone resembles the Shahed type that is widely used by Russia and has a letter Z - a symbol often used by the Russian military in its nearly 4-year-long full-scale invasion of Ukraine  daubed on its tail.

Police said it was not clear if the drone had an explosive charge and had evacuated local residents. The Moldovan Foreign Ministry said it would summon the Russian ambassador for an explanation.

It was later reported that a drone fragment fell into the yard of a residential building in Puiesti, a town in eastern Romania that is more than 100 kilometers from Ukraine. Nobody was hurt and the country's Defense Ministry reported that the drone did not have a payload.

Russian drone incursions over Romania and Poland, along with Russian military jets entering Estonian airspace, have led NATO to launch its Eastern Sentry initiative to bolster air defenses.

The European Union's executive, meanwhile, approved a five-year defense road map last month that features plans for a "drone wall" to be fully functional by the end of 2027.

The latest drone incidents in Moldova and Romania came amidst another massive Russian air attack on Ukraine. At least six people were reported killed in Kyiv, and 13 wounded.
Russia again battered Kyiv, killing at least six people, as US officials were reportedly in Abu Dhabi for separate meetings with Russian and Ukrainian officials to try to hammer out agreement on a US-proposed peace deal whose initial draft was seen as heavily favorable to Moscow.

The November 25 attacks, which emergency officials said also wounded at least 13, were the latest in a series of near daily barrages on civilians in Ukrainian cities and towns  an indication that despite renewed efforts at reaching a cease-fire or a full peace deal, Moscow is confident it has the upper hand.

Ukrainian emergency workers battled blazes in several districts in the Ukrainian capital, as they rescued people and searched for bodies in the aftermath of the pre-dawn attacks. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least six people were reported killed.

The State Emergency Service reported that among the buildings hit by the Russian military were nine-story and 22-story residential blocks. City officials also said that power and water supplies were disrupted in several districts of Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram that Russian forces used 22 missiles of various types, including air-launched ballistic missiles, as well as more than 460 drones. He added that four of the Russian drones flew into the airspace of Moldova and Romania, with the exact time of their flights known.

That is why all partners must not forget that every day we need to save lives. Weapons and air defense are important, as is strong sanctions pressure on the aggressor. There must be no pauses in assistance. The key now is for all partners to move toward diplomacy together, through joint efforts. Pressure on Russia must definitely work, Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy stressed that Russian air strikes also targeted the regions of Odesa, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Cherkasy.

The main targets are energy facilities and everything that ensures normal life, he noted.

Exhausted Ukrainians were already facing a difficult winter, as months of Russian attacks on its electricity grid and energy infrastructure strained workers racing to do repairs and bolster defenses.

In the northeastern city of Sumy, a firefighting vehicle was targeted in a Russian drone strike, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service. It claimed the vehicle was struck as rescuers were responding to an earlier drone. No firefighters were injured.

Romanias Defense Ministry reported that early on November 25, two drones violated the countrys airspace. One later returned to Ukraine, while the other remained over Romanian territory. The Romanian military kept aircraft in the air to monitor the situation.

Moldovas Defense Ministry said it had detected six drones inside Moldovan airspace without authorization, one of which with a "Z'" painted on its tail fell intact in the northern town of Cuhurestii de Jos. The letter "Z'" has become a sign by Russians, expressing support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Photo Gallery: Ukrainian Firefighters Extinguish Their Own Truck After 'Precise' Drone Strike Amid massive Russian strikes on cities across Ukraine, one group of firefighters was forced to battle a blaze engulfing their own vehicle after what they claim was a targeted drone strike.









The ministry added that other drones flew over other regions of the country, and some continued flying toward neighboring Romania.

Meanwhile, Russian officials said on November 25 that Ukrainian drones had attacked Russias Rostov and Krasnodar regions. Rostov regional Governor Yury Slyusar said three people were killed in an overnight strike.

Authorities in the Krasnodar region said drone attacks on the city of Novorossiysk injured four people and damaged five apartment buildings and two private houses.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces are stretched thin, struggling to keep Russian forces from capturing key eastern cities including Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka, and Kupyansk.

Last week, Ukrainians and their European allies were blindsided by a new 28-point US peace plan, the leaked draft of which contained several points Russia has pushed for since the start of the all-out invasion in February 2022. The plan was presented to Zelenskyy and his advisers in Kyiv by visiting US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.



Ukrainian officials then flew to Geneva over the weekend to meet with US representatives, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to try and hammer out a draft that would require fewer concessions from Ukraine and not result in what some in Kyiv saw as near capitulation.

In a joint statement on November 23, the White House and Zelenskyy's office said the talks in the Swiss city showed "meaningful progress" toward ending the war and led to an "updated and refined" framework that would "fully uphold" Ukraine's sovereignty and deliver a just peace.

"As of now, after Geneva, there are fewer points - no longer 28 - and many of the right elements have been taken into account in this framework," Zelenskyy said on social media on November 24. He said he would "discuss the sensitive issues" with Trump.

On November 25, more Ukrainian officials flew to Abu Dhabi for more talks with Driscoll and other US officials, CBS News and the Financial Times reported.

News outlets including the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, and CNN reported that Driscoll was also meeting with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi. All the reports cited unnamed officials.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 25 that he had "nothing to say" about the reported meetings, but that Russia believes the US proposal "could become a very good basis for negotiations."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Reuters
Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods.

I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm drilling down on my recent interview with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

A Conversation With NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte

On November 24, I conducted a lengthy interview with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Our conversation touched upon Ukraine as it heads into a critical phase of both the war with Russia and international diplomacy to conclude the fighting.

It also covered other topics, such as NATO-Russia relations, the US troop posture on NATOs eastern flank, and Georgia and Serbias growing ties with China.

A Crucial Week For Ukraine

Initially, I was supposed to have spoken to Mark Rutte in Prague earlier this year. Back then, the former Dutch Prime minister had to cancel due to an urgent meeting of the Franco-British Coalition of the Willing  a loose grouping of Western countries aiming to provide more military support for Ukraine.

This time, it looked likely that the interview would be postponed once more.

A few days prior, news broke about a US-authored 28-point plan to stop the war in Ukraine.

The document appeared to catch at least Kyivs European allies off guard, and many thought the document looked like a Kremlin wish list, as Russia would gain additional Ukrainian territories, Ukraines army would be capped, Moscow would be welcomed back into the G7 group of leading industrialized nations, Western sanctions would be gradually lifted, and an amnesty would be granted for war crimes.

The Europeans quickly started to draft more Ukraine-friendly counterproposals.

Heading into the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed his nation, admitting that Kyiv faced a difficult choice, potentially losing a key partner in the United States or betraying some of the countrys key principles.

This was before US and Ukrainian diplomats gathered in Geneva to try to hash out details of the plan with rumors that Zelenskyy might head to the United States for direct talks with President Donald Trump before the Thanksgiving long weekend later this week.

Despite this and with days full of phone calls -- including to the US and Ukrainian Presidents -- the head of the military alliance found time to speak to us.

28-Point Plan Forms 'A Basis'

So, what did he make of the 28-point proposal?

I'm not going through every line of that plan, Rutte repeated more than once during the talk but added: obviously some of the elements have to be really thought through. But what you've seen yesterday [November 23] in the meeting in Geneva that as a basis it helped to bring Ukraine and the US very close on the way forward.

Being known as one of few European leaders who truly has Trumps ear, the Dutchman was keen to show that he shares the same vision as the US president when it comes to a final outcome: the end state has to be -- and this is what Donald Trump has been working on since February -- is a sovereign Ukraine going forward, a strong nation, and Russia never trying again to attack it. That's what we are trying to achieve -- all of us.

But how this will be achieved still needs to be worked out.

Rutte believes that a combination of a strong Ukrainian Army, the Coalition of the Willing, and US security guarantees can do the trick, even if he skirted around the subject of whether troops from NATO countries will be stationed in the war-torn country after a potential cease-fire or peace plan.

Referencing his many years as Dutch prime minister, he also outlined what he thought was needed to get Moscow to stick to the deal.

I know one thing about the Russians in general and Putin specifically, he said. Whenever you make an agreement, you have to make sure it is in his interest to keep to it. So that's why it is so important that whenever a peace deal is reached on Ukraine, that he will never try again. And he will never try again when he knows that the consequences for him will be devastating if he tries to invade Ukraine again after a long-term cease-fire or a preferably a peace deal.

NATO-Russia Council Is 'Dead'

While this has to be worked out, Rutte did offer more clarity on two issues pertaining directly to NATO which were mentioned in the plan: future NATO-Russia relations and Ukraines chances of one day joining the alliance.

The 28-point plan envisages NATO and Russia having a dialogue on all security issues going forward.

This previously happened in the NATO-Russia Council, which last met before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The council, in turn, was created with the inking of the NATO-Russia Founding Act in 1997.

Rutte, however, dismissed the idea that that either of these bodies could be resuscitated.

These things are dead, he said. These two institutions -- the NATO-Russia Council and the NATO-Russia Founding Act -- are dead since Putin invaded Ukraine and therefore basically doing something which is against all the fundamentals of our Western values and what the NATO-Russia Founding Act stood for and what the NATO Russian Council tried to achieve.

Ukraine's NATO Door Remains Open

Rutte also seemed to keep the door open for future Ukrainian membership of NATO even though Moscow has been adamant that the alliance should agree not to expand further eastward.

Well, every country in the realm of NATO, in the Euro-Atlantic area, who wants to become a member of NATO -- and this is in the Washington Treaty of 1949 -- can apply for membership, he said. But to become a member you need unanimity. And, at the moment, that unanimity is far off.

So far, it is known publicly that Hungary and Slovakia are against Ukrainian NATO membership even though it is believed that several other nations are hiding behind Bratislava and Budapest on this issue.

At the moment, we have a couple of allies stating explicitly we are against Ukraine accessing to NATO, Rutte said. Of course, we also have had the language from the Washington summit last year, which said there is this irreversible path into NATO. So that's one reality. But there's also the reality that a couple of allies have said we are against NATO membership for Ukraine.

No Worries About US Troop Posture In Europe

While Ukraine dominated the interview, there was also time to touch upon US troop posture in Europe, notably after Washington announced in October that 1,000 American troops would be withdrawn from Romania.

What happened to Romania, I knew this was going to happen, said Rutte. This had to do with an adjustment, and the US has about 85,000 to 100,000 troops in Europe, and they always make adjustments to make sure that whatever troop presence they have in Europe, they make maximum use of that. And in this case, you will see the Americans having more troops in Europe even after this adjustment compared to what they had in Europe before 2022.

The United States has not yet published its global force posture review, expected to come early in 2026, but the NATO secretary-general claims to have had very good discussions on that and doesnt expect any dramatic changes.

When pushed on whether other countries of the alliances eastern flank should stay calm, Rutte simply said absolutely.

Caution Over Serbia And Georgia

Finally, there was also time to ask about two countries in NATOs neighborhood, Georgia and Serbia, which have drifted more toward China.

As regards Belgrade, I asked about recent joint military drills with Beijing.

Although Rutte admitted that Serbia has a sovereign right to do that he quickly added that we should not be naive about China.

We know that China is working together with the Russians, with the North Koreans, with Iran, that therefore what is happening in the Indo-Pacific and what is happening in the Euro-Atlantic area is getting more or more connected and intertwined, he said.

So, when it comes to China, I always said NATO is not only there to make sure we are safe against the Russians, we have to be safe against anyone who wishes us ill, and we look at the enormous buildup of the Chinese armed forces, let's really be conscious of what's happening there.

On Georgia, Rutte admitted that NATO is highly worried about the democratic backsliding in the South Caucasus country in recent years.

Yet, unlike the EU, which is reevaluating its relationship with Tbilisi with reduced diplomatic contacts and the potential suspension of visa liberalization, NATO is not yet making any drastic changes to how it deals with Georgia.

We have our cooperation with them, Rutte said. I think that cooperation itself serves a purpose now, also to make sure that we have this channel to make clear what our worries are, and let's also look at this whole thing a bit holistically, because there is Georgia, but also what is happening between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which seems to be in a much better place, thanks also to what President Trump has been doing. So, I would also look at Georgia in the context of the whole Southern Caucasus.

Looking Ahead

The European Parliament plenary is in full swing this week!

Look out for the chamber debate on what the EUs response to the American 28-point plan will be on the morning of November 26.

Also keep an eye out for the afternoon session the same day on how the bloc should counter Belarusian airspace violations in Lithuania and Russias suspected recent sabotage of Polish railway tracks.

That's all for this week!

Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on X @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org.

Until next time,

Rikard Jozwiak

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition subscribe here.
The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has vowed a "necessary response" after air strikes it alleged were carried out by Pakistan killed at least 10 people -- nine of whom were children -- just inside the country's eastern border region.

The Taliban's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, wrote on X on November 25 that nine children, including five boys and four girls, and one woman were killed in the strike on the house of a local civilian in the Afghan city of Khost. Four more civilians were injured in another air raid in Kunar Province.

The air strikes carried out last night by Pakistani forces in Afghanistans Paktika, Khost, and Kunar provinces constitute a direct assault on Afghanistans sovereignty, Mujahid wrote.

"The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns this violation and reiterates that defending its airspace, territory, and people is its legitimate right, and it will respond appropriately at the right time," Mujahid added.

The Pakistani military denied the Taliban claims saying it had not "attacked civilians inside Afghanistan but it stopped short of explicitly refuting the strikes.

Mustaghfir Gurbuz, a spokesman for the governor of Khost, said drones and military aircraft carried out the attacks.

On the ground, anger and desperation were palpable as a mass funeral was held for those killed.

"The martyred are innocent people. There is nothing else. Pakistan is targeting civilians," Abdul Aleem, who was an uncle of the children, told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal.

"The world should investigate and ask (Pakistan) about this. What use is the international community if they do not ask about this?"

Afghan Mourners Bury Dead After Pakistan Strikes by RFE/RL No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:36 0:00

Once close allies, the Afghan Taliban and Pakistans powerful military have fallen out and accuse each other of sheltering or supporting militant groups. Islamabad accuses the Taliban of sheltering the militant Tehrike Taliban Pakistan (TTP) rebel group and some minor Pakistani Taliban factions.

In contrast, the Afghan Taliban accuses Islamabad of disregarding its rival Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) extremist group.

The latest air strikes threaten a fragile cease-fire between the two Muslim neighbors who share a more than 2,500-kilometer-long border. Following intense clashes last month, Islamabad and Kabul agreed to a truce.

Tensions have been running high between the two countries following a suicide attack on a paramilitary installation in northwestern Pakistan on November 24.

At least three members of Pakistan's paramilitary Federal Constabulary force were killed, and 11 others were injured when a suicide attacker targeted its headquarters in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

In a press conference on November 25, Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar blamed the Afghan Taliban and the TTP for a suicide attack in Islamabad.

The attack on November 11 killed at least 12 people and injured 21 more.

"Afghanistan is fully involved... and their soil is also involved. The people being sheltered there are also involved," Tarar told journalists.

With reporting by the AFP and DPA.
BELGRADE, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), Serbia's only oil refinery, could be forced to halt operations within days unless the U.S. Treasury renews sanctions exemptions for its Russian-owned operator, President Aleksandar Vucic warned on Tuesday.

Vucic said that NIS, majority-owned by Russia's Gazprom Neft, has already reduced output and may be completely shut down by Thursday unless the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) approves a new operating license. Restarting production would require at least 20 days, he added.

NIS filed its latest request for an OFAC license on Nov. 18, after U.S. sanctions were fully applied to the company in October.

The president also cautioned of wider economic fallout, noting that Serbia's central bank and commercial lenders have been warned they could face secondary sanctions because of NIS's ownership structure, a risk he said could endanger the country's banking system.

The Serbian government insisted on Monday that national fuel reserves are sufficient to prevent shortages. However, a prolonged shutdown would leave the country without domestic refining capacity.

NIS is 44.85 percent owned by Gazprom Neft. The Serbian government holds about 30 percent. 
US President Donald Trump said he is sending special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin over a peace deal with Ukraine that Kyiv says is ready "to move forward" on as some final "sensitive" points are ironed out.

After a day of whirlwind diplomacy that saw meetings between delegations in several countries across the Middle East and Europe, momentum appeared to build toward a deal to end Europe's largest and bloodiest conflict since World War II.

"The original 28-Point Peace Plan, which was drafted by the United States, has been fine-tuned, with additional input from both sides, and there are only a few remaining points of disagreement," Trump wrote on social media.

"In the hopes of finalizing this Peace Plan, I have directed my Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with President Putin in Moscow and, at the same time, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will be meeting with the Ukrainians," he added.

Driscoll met with a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi earlier on November 25, according to a US Army spokesman, in an attempt to narrow differences in a peace proposal the Trump administration has put together after talks between US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva.

Ukrainian officials flew to Abu Dhabi for more talks with Driscoll and other US officials, CBS News and the Financial Times reported.

The talks came as Russia again battered Kyiv, killing at least seven people in air strikes that also wounded at least 13 others.

"America is very active and Europe is very active, as are our other partners. Everyone has the same agenda, and only in Moscow does the war against Ukraine remain their first priority," Zelenskyy said in a speech to the nation on November 25.

The initial US-proposed 28-point peace deal was seen by many as heavily favorable to Moscow.

Ukrainian officials flew to Geneva over the weekend to meet with US representatives, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to try and hammer out a draft that would require fewer concessions from Ukraine and not result in what some in Kyiv saw as near capitulation .

During the Geneva talks, the draft was whittled down to 19 points, with Ukrainian officials noting that some of the most sensitive issues -- including security guarantees for Kyiv -- remain on the table.

Rustem Umerov, a former defense minister who is now secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council and a member of Kyiv's negotiating team, said in a post on Facebook that the "most important points in the peace plan have been agreed upon.

"Our delegations reached a common understanding on the key terms of the agreement negotiated in Geneva. Now we count on the support of our European partners in further steps," Umerov said.

"We look forward to organizing a visit of Ukraines president to the US at the earliest suitable date in November to complete final steps and make a deal with President Trump."

Starmer said that a meeting of the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" -- a grouping of more than 20 nations backing Ukraine -- will take place later on November 25 to discuss the proposals, but added that the negotiations are delicate.

"There's still a long way to go and a tough road ahead, but we're more committed than ever to this cause and to keeping pushing forward on this process," he said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 25 that he had "nothing to say" about the reported meetings earlier in the, but that Russia believes the US proposal "could become a very good basis for negotiations."

There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin on Trump's latest comments.

Trump did not say when Witkoff would travel to Moscow, or Driscoll to Ukraine.

"I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages," Trump wrote.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Reuters
NAIROBI, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Tuesday called on the international community to safeguard education from both physical and digital threats.

Musalia Mudavadi, prime cabinet secretary and cabinet secretary for foreign and diaspora affairs, warned that the safety of schools is no longer threatened solely by armed conflict, but also increasingly by cyber risks, psychological manipulation, and artificial intelligence.

"Technology has brought with it numerous challenges. As we embrace it, how do we make sure our schools are safe with this new silent partner?" he said during the opening ceremony of the Fifth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD) in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

The two-day conference marks the 10th anniversary of the SSD, bringing together high-level participants from governments, civil society representatives, academics, and United Nations officials.

He said that while the world continues to confront violent conflicts, displacing millions of children, the cyber threat is emerging in classrooms through technology.

"There is psychological warfare that is now taking a different approach, which can leave deep emotional scars and long-term harm," he said.

Mudavadi urged global actors to broaden their understanding of insecurity, noting that artificial intelligence and digital platforms have opened new pathways for misinformation, cyberbullying, radicalization, and exploitation, particularly among students.

He also called on governments, civil society, academia, and technology companies to work together to protect learners through policy reforms, cybersecurity frameworks, digital literacy programs, and teacher training. 
Eimear Dodd

A disqualified driver with over 200 convictions who drove the wrong way on the hard shoulder of the Naas dual carriageway has been jailed for three years.

Michael McDonagh (49) pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, driving without a licence and having no insurance on June 25th, 2020.

McDonagh, of Donomore Avenue, Tallaght, Dubin 24, has 201 previous convictions, including 126 road traffic offences. He was disqualified from driving at the time and had no driving licence or insurance, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on Tuesday.

Evidence was heard that McDonagh had gone to the home of someone he knew about a Skoda which was for sale for 6,500. He took the car for a test drive and did not return.

Three days later, gardai on patrol spotted the car parked across several parking spaces in a car park.

When gardai approached the car, it drove off. The court heard evidence that gardai activated their sirens and blue lights, indicating for McDonagh to pull in, but he did not stop. It was at this point, they became aware that the car had been stolen.

During the seven-minute chase, the car drove on the wrong side of the road on Fortunestown Lane,

travelling at speeds of between 70km/hr and 100km/hr in a 50km/hr zone.

McDonagh drove at high speed on the Cheeverstown Road and broke red lights at several junctions, forcing other road users to take evasive action.

As the chase continued, he also drove at 120km/hr in a 60km/hr zone, driving in a bus lane, and weaving in and out of traffic.

McDonagh drove onto the Naas dual carriageway, driving at high speed the wrong way on the hard shoulder. The gardai broke off the pursuit at this point because it was dangerous to continue.

Other road users also contacted gardai about the car's driving on the dual carriageway. The car was later recovered and returned undamaged to its owner.

The court was told gardai later became aware that McDonagh was serving a sentence in the United Kingdom. He consented to return voluntarily and has been in custody since he was extradited to Ireland in October 2024.

The investigating garda agreed that the roads were quieter as this offence occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, but noted there were other road users present.

Counsel said McDonagh wished to apologise for the stress caused to gardai and other road users.

McDonagh has several health conditions and is unable to work. A psychological report and some references were handed to the court.

McDonagh has a history of addiction and experienced some early life adversity. He has five children and his family are based in the UK.

Judge Martin Nolan said McDonagh drove in a very dangerous and reckless way, endangered other road users and frightened a lot of people.

He imposed a three-year sentence, backdated to when McDonagh went into custody in October 2024.

Judge Nolan also handed McDonagh a five-year driving disqualification adding the court was not sure that Mr McDonagh respects disqualification.
Eimear Dodd

A man who distributed 13 images of child abuse material also had thousands of images in his possession, a court has heard.

Lucas Valadares (42) was handed a 15-month prison sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography.

A further charge of possession of child sexual abuse material was also taken into consideration.

An investigating garda outlined that an investigation started in 2018 following a report in relation to online child exploitation.

A Google account, email and telephone number linked to Valadares were identified.

His home was searched on September 25th, 2018, and a number of items seized, including a laptop and mobile phones.

Analysis identified abuse material on four devices and over 5,300 images and videos were found on the devices. These included child exposure, sexually explicit content involving adults and young children and animation images.

Evidence was heard that messages in a WhatsApp group on one of the Valadares's phones indicated likeminded individuals interested in this material who shared the content.

The court was told that it is the State's case that the images and videos were made available to be shared with third parties, with Valadares distributing a total of 13 images in two instances.

Valadares admitted he was under investigation and said there was a fair amount of child sexual abuse material and gore pictures in Facebook messages to his former partner.

Valadares, of Castlefield Woods, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, was arrested in November 2021, but nothing of evidential value was obtained when he was interviewed.

The investigating garda agreed with Michael Hourigan SC, defending, that there were delays and his client was charged in 2024. It was also accepted that Valadares initially took a trial date with his solicitor indicating at that time to the Director of Public Prosecutions that he would plead guilty.

Valadares entered a guilty plea five months later. He has no previous convictions and has not come to recent garda attention.

Mr Hourigan submitted that these cases appear to take a long time due to limited garda resources and asked that the court to take into account any delays in this case were not caused by his client.

He said his client's involvement was not sophisticated, and noted that material in the WhatsApp messages would have saved to his phone, rather than Valadares seeking it out.

Valadares moved to Ireland from Brazil over 20 years and has a steady work history. His relationship broke down as a result of his offending.

Judge Martin Nolan said that possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material is a serious matter and brings the case out of the non-custodial end of sentencing.

He noted that there was a delay, caused in small part by the defendant, but most of it was caused by a lack of resources for the garda investigation.

Having considered the mitigation, he imposed a sentence of 15 months.
Plans to build a state-of-the-art children's hospice were unveiled at an event in Castlebar on Monday.

The Sunflower Childrens Hospice, funded by Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, will provide essential care for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families across eight counties on the Western seaboard.

This marks a significant milestone as its the first children's hospice to be built outside of Dublin, and the first of its kind to be constructed since 2011.

With an overall project estimated cost of between 12m and 14 million, the Foundation has launched a campaign to raise 7 million over the next year to ensure construction can commence in 2026. The in-patient & respite facility is expected to be completed in approximately two years. A site has already been secured in Castlebar, with the Government and HSE committed to supporting clinical governance.

Research conducted by University College Dublin (UCD) on the need for childrens palliative care services in the West and North West region found that: siblings of those receiving care, wished to have the opportunity for more activities closer to home and wanted more active participation in their siblings care; parents said there was not only a lack of support for siblings but overall inadequate support and inequitable service delivery in terms of hospice care for children; healthcare professionals recognised the gaps in service provision and saw the need for care as close to home as possible.

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill aid that she was delighted to attend the fundraising launch. The new hospice will provide care, comfort and dignity children and families at the most difficult times in their lives. A childrens hospice in the region represents hope for families who have, for too long, had to travel long distances for specialist palliative care. I want to commend the fundraising organisation, Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, their supporters and communities across the West for their incredible commitment and contribution. This is a truly important day for palliative care in Ireland.

Paul Foxe, chairman of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, Martina Jennings, CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation and Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill as the Foundation revealed plans to build a state-of-the-art children's hospice. Pic: Michael McLaughlin.

Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary remarked that the work of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice is simply incredible. There is virtually no family in the west of Ireland who has not been touched by their compassionate care in their greatest hours of need. The Sunflower Childrens Hospice is a one-of-a-kind, vital extension of this mission. The ambition, the drive to offer first-class facilities and care, coupled with an extraordinary ability to raise funds, is what Martina and the team have become synonymous with. I look forward to working closely with the Minister, the HSE, elected representatives, and the entire Hospice team over the coming years to deliver this project for the west of Ireland. For over 30 years, Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation has been dedicated to providing palliative care services to people with life limiting illnesses and their families in County Mayo and County Roscommon. The palliative care teams have supported more than 25,000 patients and their families to date. Both Mayo Hospice and Roscommon Hospice were developed and paid for by fundraised income (a combined 15.3 million) and are a result of the great support received from the people of Mayo and Roscommon.

Martina Jennings, CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation told the gathering: There are so many families with children with life limiting illnesses in the West of Ireland that require paediatric palliative care services and without this service in the West, many face long journeys to Dublin or limited in-home support, which often leads to immense emotional strain, family breakdowns, and siblings struggling in silence.

Our goal now is to ensure that children with life limiting illnesses and their families, in the West of Ireland, get the very best of care throughout their journey from diagnosis to end of life. Im a firm believer that by doing the right thing you achieve your goals. Together, we can build Sunflower Childrens Hospice and provide hope, comfort, and care for families who need it most. No longer will the services that children and young adults receive be defined by where they are born.

An artist's impression of the planned interior.

To meet this critical need, we must raise 7 million over the next year to build Sunflower Childrens Hospice. We have already raised 6.5m, of the estimated 12m-14m cost. We did it before for Mayo and Roscommon Hospices and I know we can do it again with the supportive communities we have.

This time we have the support of eight counties and Im calling all on businesses, schools, universities, community groups, families and friends to join us in our fundraising efforts. Every contribution, no matter the size, will go directly towards creating a hospice that will provide much-needed care and support. Paul Foxe, chairman of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, said he was so proud of the communities throughout Mayo and Roscommon that have supported us for over 30 years to fund our community palliative care service, along with building our Mayo and Roscommon Hospices. With their continued support, we will continue to fund our community palliative care service, and services in both hospices.

Im also very proud of what we have achieved so far, in partnership with the HSE and Department of Health in terms of getting Mayo and Roscommon Hospices up and running. We are incredibly grateful to the HSE for the work they have undertaken in the needs establishment report for this Childrens Hospice, and dont underestimate the work they have ahead in establishing an organisation and governance structure for this service. Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West remarked: This is a hugely important service which will deliver care, dignity and compassion to young people and their families when they need it most. Our communities right across the West and North West will have access to specialist palliative care without facing a burden of significant travel. We are really looking forward to working with Mayo Roscommon Hospice to progress this much needed facility. Chuck Dunford, from Ballina in Mayo, and his family have benefitted greatly from palliative care services. His son Kevin died on the cusp of his nineth birthday in 2014 to a life-limiting condition which Kevin was born with. Chuck said: If there had been a hospice in the West of Ireland, the problem would have been solved. We, as parents, could have been relieved of the burden of the medical care, and we could have concentrated on his final days.

The Sunflower Children's Hospice in the West of Ireland will make a huge difference to families who have been in similar situations to us. It will take a huge burden of worry off them, trying to keep family life as normal as possible.

When you have a community palliative care team working hand in hand with hospitals and disability services, that's a perfect jigsaw. To make a donation, see www.hospice.ie
A Roscommon hairdresser has won a prestigious IMAGE Business of Beauty award.

Leanne Connolly from Roscommon Town and manager of Peter Mark, Terryland, Galway took home the title for Best Hair Colourist at a gala ceremony held on Sunday.

The IMAGE Business of Beauty Awards brought together the best of Irelands hair and beauty talent for an unforgettable celebration.

A delighted Leanne Connolly who won Best Hair Colourist at the IMAGE Business of Beauty Awards.

Leanne is from originally from St Patrick's Terrace, Antogher Road, Roscommon Town, and began her hairdressing career in 2015 when she attended college in GTI Galway for one year. In 2016 she joined Peter Mark and served her apprenticeship with the company. She then went on to she set up the Peter Mark training school in Limerick and remained there as teacher for a number of years.

She is now manager of the Terryland branch of Peter Mark, and is known for dedication to her profession while also passing on her knowledge to all young apprenticeship.
Sardar Kultar Singh Sandhwan explaining important points to student Jagmander Singh, who will play the role of Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha in the student session. Learning Governance Through Role-Play: Punjab Govt Holds Special Student Session

This session will be conducted by students selected from government schools of 117 Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Punjab

The Punjab Government has called a special student session for one day in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on November 26. This session will be conducted by students selected from government schools of 117 Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Punjab, in which Jagmander Singh, a student of Government Senior Secondary School of Faridkot district, will represent as Speaker from the Kotkapura Vidhan Sabha constituency.

Jagmander Singh said that in order to create political awareness among the students, the Punjab government has decided to conduct the Vidhan Sabha session for one day on November 26 on the occasion of Constitution Day. In the session, the roles of the Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Chief Minister and MLA will be played by students of class XI and XII of government schools of Punjab. This will also give the students an opportunity to learn a lot.

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Jagmander Singh said that he is feeling very proud that he is going to participate in the session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha as an MLA and will sit on the chair of the Hon'ble post of Speaker of the House.

Students selected from government schools across the state will play the roles of Chief Minister, Speaker, Ministers, MLAs and the opposition. Speaker Sandhwan said that the main objective of the program is to make the youth aware about the democratic process, the Constitution, and legislative proceedings. Students will participate in Question Hour, Zero Hour, Adjournment Motion, Bill Presentation, and Discussion.

Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that such sessions will be organized every year so that the youth can directly connect with the governance system. This initiative will promote transparent, educated and informed governance under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann. Students will understand how policies are formulated, debated and implemented. This step will strengthen positive participation in politics and democratic values among the youth.

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(For more news apart from Learning Governance Through Role-Play: Punjab Govt Holds Special Student Session; Speaker, CM & MLA will be played by govt schools students," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
'Golmaal Returns' Actress Celina Jaitly Files Rs 50-Crore Domestic Violence Case Against Husband; Seeks Acess to 3 Children

Peter took advantage of her by pressurising her to transfer ownership of her Mumbai residence to his name..."

Celina Jaitly News: Actress Celina Jaitly has filed a domestic violence case against her Austrian husband, Peter Haag, before the Judicial Magistrate First Class in Andheri Court, Mumbai, seeking damages of rupees 50 crores, according to Hindustan Times and multiple other reports.

The case has been filed under the Domestic Violence Act for domestic violence, cruelty, and manipulation. The matter came up on Tuesday before the court of SC Tadye, Judicial Magistrate First Class, Andheri, for verification and issuance of notice.

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The 47-year-old actress has sought rupees 50 crores as damages and additional sums for the loss of income and property. She has also sought a monthly maintenance of rupees 10 lakh.

Former actor Celina Jaitly files a case of domestic violence against her husband Peter Haag, before Judicial Magistrate First Class in Andheris Court, Mumbai. Peter Haag is a resident of Austria. Celina Jaitly has sought damages of Rs 50 Crores and other sums in lieu of her loss pic.twitter.com/QlM9LLZlcI Advertisement November 25, 2025

Celina and Peter have three sons. They married in 2011, according to HT, while TOI reports that they registered their marriage in 2010. The couple welcomed twin boys in 2012.

They had another set of twins in 2017, though one of the babies passed away due to a heart condition. According to the Times of India, Peter has completely blocked her access to the children, who are currently in his custody in Austria. Celina has requested unhindered virtual and telephonic access to the children.

According to the application cited in the TOI report, Peter took advantage of her by pressurising her to transfer ownership of her Mumbai residence to his name while she was undergoing severe depression after the death of her newborn child and the passing of both parents within a few months.

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Jaitly is a former Miss Universe runner-up, while Peter is a hotelier and businessman. Following her application, a Mumbai court has issued an official notice to Peter.

(For more news apart from 'Golmaal Returns' Actress Celina Jaitly Files Rs 50-Crore Domestic Violence Case Against Husband; Seeks Acess to 3 Children," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
SOFIA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 66th Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation concluded its three-day session here on Tuesday, focusing on cooperation with the European Union (EU) and the role of artificial intelligence in sustainable development. Delegates called for deeper EU engagement and improved regional connectivity.

Dragomir Stoynev, chairperson of the "BSP-United Left" parliamentary group, said EU integration continues to create new opportunities for economic modernization and security in the Black Sea region. He added that Bulgaria is ready to share its experience with the upcoming euro adoption with countries pursuing EU membership.

Petar Kanev, head of Bulgaria's delegation, said the EU's updated strategy for the Black Sea region opens new possibilities for stronger parliamentary involvement. He highlighted planned initiatives, such as a Black Sea coordination hub and new transport and energy corridors, as key drivers of enhanced cooperation.

Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, who currently chairs the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, said active regional economic partnership is essential amid what he described as mounting challenges stemming from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 
19th edition of bilateral Exercise SURYAKIRAN 2025 Between India Army and Nepal Army Begins today

The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 25 November to 08 December 2025.

The opening ceremony of the 19th edition of the annual bilateral Exercise SURYAKIRAN between the Indian Army and the Nepali Army was held at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information of the Indian Army said.

The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 25 November to 08 December 2025.

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Aimed at enhancing operational synergy, the exercise focuses on Jungle Warfare and Counter Terrorism Operations in mountainous terrain. It emphasises the integration of niche technologies to improve interoperability and facilitate the sharing of best practices.

Exercise SURYAKIRAN, it said, reflects the shared commitment of India and Nepal to global peace and security, while further strengthening Defence Cooperation, camaraderie and mutual trust between the two armies.Exercise SURYAKIRAN 2025

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(For more news apart from '19th edition of bilateral Exercise SURYAKIRAN 2025 Between India Army and Nepal Army Begins today," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
According to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, around 2.63 lakh Panchayats will observe Constitution Day through mass readings of the Preamble in local languages. File Photo.

The day will also see massive civic participation.

Constitution Day: Congress Cites Ambedkar, Govt Plans Nationwide Preamble Relay

India is set to observe the 75th Constitution Day on November 26. Political, civic and grassroots institutions are marking this moment with renewed attention to Dr B.R. Ambedkars contribution and the enduring relevance of constitutional values in todays times. India has been celebrating Constitution Day annually since 2015 to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949.

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On Tuesday, the Congress recalled that exactly 76 years ago, Ambedkar moved the historic resolution for the formal adoption of the Draft Constitution. According to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Ambedkars closing speech that day remains one of the greatest orations of the 20th century. Ramesh also cited Ambedkars own words praising the Congress for bringing order and discipline to the Assembly debates, which he said ensured the smooth passage of each article and amendment. The Congress additionally alleged that Ambedkar and his constitutional vision were subjected to a ferocious assault by the RSS at the timea criticism the party claims continues across decades.

The day will also see massive civic participation. According to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, around 2.63 lakh Panchayats will observe Constitution Day through mass readings of the Preamble in local languages. Ministry officials said that a nationwide Constitution Connect  Preamble Reading Relay will run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Every state and union territory will join for a 15-minute segment. The ministry noted that discussions, seminars, quizzes and Our Village, Our Constitution gatherings will be held across three-tier Panchayati Raj Institutions, with special focus on PESA areas.

At the national level, President Droupadi Murmu will lead the Constitution Day ceremony in the historic Central Hall of the old Parliament building. The Vice President and the Lok Sabha Speaker will also participate. Officials highlighted that while some constitutional provisions came into force immediately in 1949, the remainder took effect on January 26, 1950, when India became a republic nation.

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As political parties continue to claim Ambedkars legacy, Constitution Day serves as a reminder of the values that anchor Indias democratic values that remain central amid evolving national debates.
You're not PM of a particular community, you are PM of the entire country: AIMIM leader criticises Modi for hoisting flag on Ram Mandir

Pathan questioned, If you would work only for one community, what would happen to other communities?

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for hoisting a flag at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday, saying he is not the prime minister of any particular community but of the entire nation.

"6 December 1992 was a black day for India and democracy when our Babri Masjid was demolished through a conspiracy. We believe that the mosque will remain where it was... He (PM Modi) went there and hoisted the flag... You talk about saab ka saath, sab ka vikas. You are not the Prime Minister of a particular community, you are the Prime Minister of the entire country. You are also my prime minister,"Waris Pathan told ANI.

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He questioned, If you would work only for one community, what would happen to other communities?

#WATCH | Nagpur | On PM Modi hoists Dharma Dhwaj atop Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, AIMIM leader Waris Pathan says, "6 December 1992 was a black day for India and democracy when our Babri Masjid was demolished through a conspiracy. We believe that the mosque will remain where it pic.twitter.com/f1iO25MnOW Advertisement November 25, 2025

Prime Minister Modi, along with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and in the presence of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, performed the Dhwajarohan ceremony at the temple, marking the completion of its construction.

According to news agency PTI, representatives of tribal and forest-dwelling communities from Sonbhadra were invited as special guests for the flag-hoisting ceremony, joining the other invitees, including the son of a litigant in the Babri case.

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To witness the Dharma Dhwajarohan Utsav at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir is a moment crores of people in India and the world have waited for. History has been made in Ayodhya and this inspires us even more to walk the path shown by Prabhu Shri Ram. pic.twitter.com/3K9j6CQS68  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 25, 2025

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Invited by the Shri Ram Mandir Trust, the visitors were given a grand welcome by members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), officials said.

The Ram Mandir Trust arranged accommodation for the guests at various locations across the holy city, ensuring all basic amenities, they said.

Addressing the gathering at the ceremony, Prime Minister Modi said that ever since the consecration, nearly 45 crore devotees have visited the Ram Temple. This sacred land has witnessed arrival of 45 crore people, bringing significant economic transformation to Ayodhya and nearby areas.

(For more news apart from Youre not PM of a particular community, you are PM of the entire country: AIMIM leader slams Modi for hoisting flag on Ram Mandir," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Bhagwant Mann & Arvind Kejriwal join Sangat: Sikhism propagated "true model of socialism and secularism in the world"

Participate In Bhog Of Sri Akhand Path Sahib To Commemorate The 350th Martyrdom Day Of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and National Convener of AAP Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday joined the sangat to pray for the progress of the state and prosperity of Punjabis, an official release said.

Both the leaders took part in the Ardas performed after the Bhog of Sri Akhand Path Sahib to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji and legendary Sikh martyrs Bhai Mati Das ji, Bhai Sati Dass ji and Bhai Dayala ji at Gurdwara Baba Budha Dal Chauni. They joined the large congregation to express gratitude to the Guru and prayed for the welfare of all. Both the leaders said that it was a matter of great honor for them to have the opportunity to serve during the events to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

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On the occasion, the Chief Minister and National Convener of AAP said that Sikhism propagated the "true model of socialism and secularism in the world". They said that Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is a lighthouse of universal brotherhood, secularism and socialism for every human being. Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular have inherited a glorious legacy of sacrifice and valor from the great Sikh Gurus, who taught them to fight against "tyranny, oppression and injustice".

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The Chief Minister and National Convener of AAP said that it was a bounden duty of the state government to preserve the rich cultural heritage for future generations for all time.

They said that it was the ardent wish of millions and millions of people all across the globe that the 350th martyrdom day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji must be observed on a scale and magnitude befitting the unsurpassed and unsurpassable grandeur of the master's supreme sacrifice.

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Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as per the expectations of millions and millions of people all over the world, the state government had made humble efforts to make the commemorative events an occasion of their lifetime, adding that the government and the people of Punjab consider themselves most fortunate to be a part of this glorious and sacred historical occasion.

(For more news apart from Bhagwant Mann And Arvind Kejriwal join Sangat To Pray For Progress Of State And Prosperity Of Punjabis," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Punjab Assembly Declares 3 Cities with Takht Sahibs as Holy Cities; Bans Sale of Alcohol and Meat

The AAP leaders stated that the great Sikh Gurus always maintained the ideal of welfare for all.

The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has decided to give the status of "holy city" to the inner part of Amritsar city (Walled City), Talwandi Sabo, and Sri Anandpur Sahib, where Takht Sahibs are located.

While announcing it here today, CM Mann and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal said that for decades, devotees had been demanding to give these cities the status of holy cities. They said that Sikhs have five Takht Sahibs, of which three Takhts - Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Amritsar), Takht Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda) and Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib (Sri Anandpur Sahib) are located in Punjab. Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this special session of the Punjab Assembly is being held on the holy land of Sri Anandpur Sahib during the ceremonies dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

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The AAP leaders stated that the great Sikh Gurus always maintained the ideal of welfare for all. They said that Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji made a great sacrifice for the protection of human rights and that Guru Sahib had himself established the city of Sri Anandpur Sahib with his own hands. It is said that Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji had bought land to establish the city and Guru Sahibs only son Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji lived on this holy land for about thirty years.

They added that on this holy land, Guru Gobind Singh Ji established the Khalsa Panth to stand firmly against cruelty, oppression and injustice and to protect the community. They said that three out of four Sahibzadas (sons) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji were born here, whose sacrifices are unique in world history. Therefore, keeping in mind the long-standing demand of the people and to make this session of the Punjab Assembly permanently memorable in history, the state government has declared these cities as holy cities of Punjab.

Additionally, a complete ban has been imposed on the sale and use of meat, alcohol, tobacco, and other intoxicating substances in these cities. They said that these cities are not only centers of religious faith but also symbols of our cultural heritage. Therefore, this demand is not limited to any one political party, community or religion, but is a necessary step towards protecting our cultural heritage and its global spread. Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government will ensure the overall development of these cities, along with promoting religious tourism.

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Earlier, the Chief Minister presented a resolution in this regard in the Punjab Assembly, which was passed unanimously by the Assembly. He said that along with this, a Sarv-Dharm Committee (All-Religion Committee) related to all religious institutions will be formed in these holy cities, which will include representatives of all religions. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Punjab government will make dedicated efforts for the overall development, cleanliness, security arrangements and promotion of religious tourism in these holy cities. He said that for this, necessary budget provisions will be made by the state government and funds will also be demanded from the central government because it is extremely necessary to preserve the heritage of these cities for future generations.

During this time, the Chief Minister said that as a humble tribute to Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, the state government has organized sequential ceremonies throughout the state to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of the ninth Guru on a large scale. He said that todays session was dedicated only to these ceremonies. He said that the great sacrifice of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is supreme and unique, because Guru Sahib was martyred for protecting the religion of others. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib set an example for the world by sacrificing himself for the protection of humanity and religious values.

The Chief Minister urged people to walk on the path shown by Guru Sahib for the welfare of humanity and religion. He said that Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was martyred in Delhi for the protection of human rights and religious freedom, an example of which is not found anywhere in world history. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the ninth Guru was a true symbol of secularism, unity, and mutual brotherhood. He said that Guru Sahibs life and philosophy is a guiding light for entire humanity.

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The Chief Minister added that these ceremonies will continue in the coming times and the martyrdom day of Guru Sahib will be celebrated every year. He said that its only purpose is to keep alive the glorious heritage of the great Guru Sahib Ji for our future generations. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has made extensive arrangements for the convenience of devotees visiting holy places.

(For more news apart from Punjab Assembly Declares 3 Cities with Takht Sahibs as Holy Cities; Bans Sale of Alcohol and Meat," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
CM said that the university will be a global hub of excellence for education and research. File Photo.

He described it as a tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur, who gave his life protecting the freedom of faith.



Punjab CM Mann Announces World-Class University in Guru Tegh Bahadurs Name at Anandpur Sahib

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Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann announced a major educational and cultural initiative in Anandpur Sahib. He declared that a world-class university is to be built in the name of Guru Tegh Bahadur. According to The Tribune, during the concluding ceremony of a Sarv Dharam Sammelan (interfaith gathering) that was held as part of the states week-long commemoration of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of the ninth Sikh Guru, he made this announcement.

CM said that the university will be a global hub of excellence for education and research. The special focus will be on interfaith dialogue and the Gurus timeless message of human rights, sacrifice and peace. He described it as a tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur, who gave his life protecting the freedom of faith.

This initiative is part of a broader vision to turn Anandpur Sahib into both a spiritual capital and a hub of academic learning. Mann highlighted that this is not just a symbolic gesture but a long-term investment in infrastructure, faith, and education.

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Spiritual leaders from various religions participated in the Sarv Dharam Sammelan. They reflected on the legacy of Guru Tegh Bahadur for religious freedom. Arvind Kejriwal, national convenor of AAP, spoke at the event and praised the Gurus sacrifice as a timeless example of humanity and justice.

Beyond the university, the Punjab government has announced several other projects to honour the Gurus legacy. These projects include a heritage street in Anandpur Sahib, which will highlight its spiritual and cultural heritage. Mann also pledged free e-rickshaw and minibus services for pilgrims visiting gurdwaras in Anandpur Sahib, Amritsar, and Talwandi Sabo  fully funded by the government.

This set of initiatives reflects the governments resolve to preserve and promote Sikh history while weaving in education, peace, and unity  ensuring that the spirit of Guru Tegh Bahadur continues to inspire future generations.

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Along with spiritual significance, this redevelopment initiative is aligned with Agra's broader tourism ambitions. File Photo.

He noted that preserving this legacy is both a duty and an honour, especially for a place that embodies universal truth and freedom.



Agras Sikh Heritage Gets a Boost: INR 2 Crore Allocated for Guru Ka Taal Renovation

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The Uttar Pradesh government has sanctioned INR 2 crore for the redevelopment of the historic Guru Ka Taal Gurudwara in Agra. The announcement is a meaningful move to celebrate Sikh heritage on the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, who is believed to have stayed at this site for nine days in 1656, as reported by The Statesman.

Jaiveer Singh, UPs Tourism and Culture Minister, said that the project is not only about heritage restoration but also a tribute to the Gurus eternal teachings of courage, compassion, and justice. He noted that preserving this legacy is both a duty and an honour, especially for a place that embodies universal truth and freedom.

Historically, when Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji visited Agra, he was pressurised to convert faith during Aurangzebs rule, but he refused and chose sacrifice over submission. The Gurudwara is built on the very spot where he stayed, and local lore says that a well dug under his guidance turned from brackish to sweet water. There is one more touching story involving Mata Jassi, who offered a cloth thaan to the Guru, and that act inspired the name of the nearby locality Maithan.

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Along with spiritual significance, this redevelopment initiative is aligned with Agras broader tourism ambitions. Agra, best known for the Taj Mahal, is being placed as a multi-faith heritage destination. The government sees Guru Ka Taal as a way to deepen the citys cultural identity. Around 1.78 crore tourists visited Agra in 2024, and in the first half of 2025, over 77 lakh visitors were recorded. The redevelopment is likely to boost footfall further, especially among Sikh pilgrims looking for spiritual connection.

According to The Times of India, the INR 2 crore fund will be utilised for improving basic amenities for pilgrims and tourists. For Agra, this is not just an infrastructure upgrade  it is symbolic also. By investing in Guru Ka Taal, the government is affirming that Agras story is more than Mughal monuments; its also about service (seva), compassion, and shared spiritual history.



Source: TOI, The Statesman
Uttarakhand Shri Badrinath Dham to be closed for Winter from Today; ceremonial closure to begin soon

The temple has been decorated with 12 quintals of marigold flowers. The process of closing the gates will begin at 1 PM.

Shri Badrinath Dham News: The portals of Shri Badrinath Dham in Uttarakhand will be closed for the winter today at today at 2:56 PM, according to news agency ANI.

The temple has been decorated with 12 quintals of marigold flowers. The process of closing the gates will begin at 1 PM.

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The Shri BadrinathKedarnath Temple Committee has completed all preparations for the ceremonial closure. A large number of devotees have arrived at the shrine for this significant occasion, and over 5,000 devotees are expected to witness the closing of the temple gates.

Hemant Dwivedi, president of the Shri Badri-Kedar Temple Committee, the Kedarnath Temple, ahead of the Badrinath Dham closure ceremony, told PTI, "All traditional rituals and puja have been completed. Around 16.5 lakh pilgrims have visited this year. About 12 quintals of flowers were used for the decorations. Devotees from across India and abroad arrived here."

VIDEO | Uttarakhand: Hemant Dwivedi, president of the Shri Badri-Kedar Temple Committee, the Kedarnath Temple, ahead of the Badrinath Dham closure ceremony says, "Today Badrinath will close at 2:56 pm. All traditional rituals and puja have been completed. Around 16.5 lakh pic.twitter.com/Q1ak86Xuth Advertisement November 25, 2025

(For more news apart from Uttarakhand Shri Badrinath Dham to be closed for Winter from Today; ceremonial closure to begin soon," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Experts say the incident underscores how natural events thousands of kilometres away can rapidly affect India's skies, safety protocols, and travel plans. File Photo.

They added that only marginal temperature changes may occur due to the ash acting like cloud cover.

Ethiopia Volcano Ash Cloud Disrupts India Flights, Airlines Issue Urgent Alerts

Ethiopias Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted for the first time with a massive ash plume in nearly 12,000 years. It has drifted thousands of kilometres to India; that has caused flight cancellations, hazy skies, and fresh concern for aviation safety.

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According to local residents quoted in regional reports, the long-dormant volcano erupted on Sunday, November 23, in Ethiopias Afar region. It has sent thick plumes up to 14 km high. Many eyewitnesses in Ethiopia described this moment like a sudden bomb had been thrown.

Meteorologists tracking satellite data said that the ash cloud moved rapidly across the Red Sea with a speed of 120130 km/h. It entered India over the JodhpurJaisalmer region and reached Delhi by Monday night. Weather trackers highlighted that the plume has also covered areas of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and northwest Maharashtra and is likely to brush the Himalayas before drifting toward China.

The ash mass is concentrated between 25,000 and 45,000 feet. It means the primary impact is on aviation routes rather than ground-level air quality. IndiaMetSky Weather said the unusual plume could make skies appear darker and hazier than usual, though it poses minimal direct health risk.

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Flight Disruptions Across India

As the ash cloud entered Indian airspace, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an urgent advisory and instructed airlines to strictly avoid volcanic-ash-affected flight levels, adjust routing, revise fuel planning, and immediately report any suspected ash encounters or engine anomalies.

The eruption has already disrupted air travel significantly:

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Air India cancelled 11 flights, including services to Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and international routes.

Akasa Air suspended flights to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi for November 2425.

KLM cancelled its AmsterdamDelhi round-trip flights.

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IndiGos KannurAbu Dhabi flight diverted to Ahmedabad to avoid the plume.

SpiceJet issued a travel warning for passengers flying to and from Dubai.

A senior aviation official told a national daily that if ash particles settle over Delhi or Jaipur, Indian aviation could be severely impacted.

Impact on Air Quality

While Delhi woke up to hazier skies, officials from the IMD said the volcanic plume is too high to cause major pollution spikes. They added that only marginal temperature changes may occur due to the ash acting like cloud cover.

Experts say the incident underscores how natural events thousands of kilometres away can rapidly affect Indias skies, safety protocols, and travel plans.
BEIRUT, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Germany will provide 149.65 million euros (173.19 million U.S. dollars) to support Lebanon's reforms and long-term development in areas such as education, water, and social protection, officials said at the first Lebanon-Germany government development cooperation talks held here on Tuesday.

The talks, led by Lebanese Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Abdel Sattar Issa and Annette Chammas, head of the Middle East II Division at Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, underscored the importance of sector-based reforms for Lebanon's recovery, Lebanon's official National News Agency reported.

"For Lebanon to recover from recent years' crises, core reforms must move forward," Chammas said, adding that Germany is ready to support these efforts in partnership with international actors.

Issa noted that Germany has consistently supported Lebanon "at moments of severe financial strain and infrastructure damage," stressing that German-funded projects have strengthened national institutions and directly benefited Lebanese citizens.

Officials said the upcoming cooperation will focus on improving access to education, expanding and rehabilitating water systems, strengthening social protection mechanisms, and advancing broader governance reforms. Germany also reaffirmed its support to help Lebanon manage development pressures associated with the presence of Syrian refugees and to facilitate their voluntary return.

Both sides described the negotiations as constructive and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening sector-based collaboration.

The next round of talks is scheduled to take place in Berlin in 2027. 
Google Romania, 15 years alongside Romanians!

Google Romania has marked its 15th anniversary of the start of its activity.

Google Romania, da 15 anni accanto ai romeni!

Ana-Maria Cononovici, 25.11.2025, 14:05

Google Romania has marked its 15th anniversary of the start of its activity, an office with a few employees, in November 2010. Its balance sheet mentions: Programs for students, entrepreneurs, NGOs and public administration, totaling more than 500 thousand students trained in digital marketing, programming, online safety and career development. The digital Workshop, with over 10 thousand entrepreneurs advised on business digitization and the use of AI technologies for productivity, almost 6 million USD allocated to NGOs for educational projects involving 1.5 million beneficiaries. And as the activities have constantly diversified, Google now represents a genuine innovation hub.

Elisabeta Moraru, Country Director of Google Romania, added examples of success from Google Romanias activity: Google for Start-ups is another example, because we wanted to constantly offer support to SMEs in Romania. We have provided courses and dedicated consultancy for over 10,000 such companies, offering specialized advice on how to digitize our business. In the last two years, the curricula has been updated with modules in the area of artificial intelligence, we have given a hand to our colleagues in the SME area to support their potential, so that new technologies, the AI Gemina module, should be an integral part of the way they manage to pivot to enter the new industry. Starting in 2023, Google Romania has partnered with the National Institute of Administration and we have run programs to educate the public administration staff in the field of artificial intelligence. Approximately 8,500 civil servants from Romania and the Republic of Moldova have participated in our sessions in the area of artificial intelligence, with the aim of increasing productivity and in relation to online safety and cybersecurity. We will continue these programs, because our goal is to support an economy that should use technology in a positive way.

The natural, cultural and historical heritage has also been capitalized on thanks to the partnership between Google Maps and Google Arts and Culture, starting in 2010. Since then the information has been periodically updated with the Google car, or by bike, or by boat, or by cart, for example in the delta, or by tricycle, for Via Transilvanica. Elisabeta Moraru is here with details: We had the chance to see extraordinary museums: the Brukhenthal National Museum, the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant, the Astra National Museum, all of these have collections that have been digitized. You can also visit Peles Castle, you can also go inside the Palace of Parliament, or you can see how the Romanian blouse is in the same collection compared to the creations of Jean Paul Gautier. You Tube. Less than three years after opening, we also launched the version in Romania. Since then and until now we are happy to say that YouTube has become one of the most important channels for your creativity, and the ecosystem of content creators has grown constantly. Maybe you had a child who studied for the baccalaureate exam, maybe you learned how to tie your tie, maybe you listened to a podcast or maybe you listened to music.

As for the growth of YouTube Romania, lets remember that in 2016 we reached the first Romanian channel with over one million subscribers, and the first diamond button, offered to channels that exceed 10 million subscribers, was offered in Romania in 2022, for LuluKids, which currently exceeds 60 million subscribers.

Patrick Warnking, Googles vice president for Central and Eastern Europe, spoke about the importance of artificial intelligence for the regions economic growth, emphasizing that one doesnt need to be a specialist to use AI facilities: Lets talk a little bit about the future. We have heard of the last 15 years, but Romania actually has the opportunity to continue to grow as a strategic hub in Central Eastern Europe. Central Eastern Europe is the growth engine for Europe. Its also the innovation and the talent engine for Europe. And AI might be the biggest opportunity actually for Romania to continue this success story and the growth engine in the coming years. Why is that? Romania has a very strong foundation in STEM education.( Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics). That is a very strong talent base. We see that the country is perfectly positioned to accelerate the digital transformation in the country and beyond. And we recognize this potential and I mentioned that we have invested over the last years and we continue to invest here. We have today 400 colleagues and its our strongest innovation hub for variables in all of Europe, Middle East and Africa. We believe AI is a transformational technology. It can bring meaningful and positive change. It will offer extraordinary breakthroughs. It can boost productivities across many industries.

Andrei Musat, Engineering Manager Google, added: Today, Google Romania represents the largest development center for Wearable devices in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa). We deal here with development and innovation in many technological areas, including the development of operating systems, mobile applications, backing systems and many other areas, which my colleagues cover to develop these devices. I want to tell you about Pixel A 4, our newest device and, for us, it represents personal technology. It is a tangible result of the work done by our teams here. (LS)
November 25, 2025

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsflash

Newsroom, 25.11.2025, 13:56

Drone. A crashed drone was found in Vaslui County (eastern Romania), said defence minister Ionut Mosteanu. The drone most likely entered national airspace this morning and appeared on radars in the area of Tulcea and Galati counties, near the Danube. Initial assessments indicate that the drone did not have an explosive charge on board, Ionut Mosteanu said. Residents of three Romanian counties this morning received alert text messages warning of the presence of a drone near the border between Romania and Ukraine. No incidents or negative effects were reported on the national territory during the aerial monitoring of the situation by German Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft and F16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. The pilots had received the green light to engage with the aerial target. This is the 13th time an unmanned aerial vehicle entered Romanian airspace without authorisation since the start of Russias war in Ukraine. Also, over 40 cases have been recorded of drone parts falling on Romanian territory. In another development, again this morning, a drone crashed in a locality in the Republic of Moldova, which neighbours both Romania and Ukraine. Six such objects crossing Moldovas airspace without authorization were detected by the Moldovan armys surveillance systems against the backdrop of a massive Russian attack on Ukrainian ports on the Danube.

Defence. The Countrys National Supreme Council has approved the National Defence Strategy for 2025-2030. According to statement from the Presidents office, it is necessary to consolidate Romanias efforts to strengthen national security at all levels, in order to fulfil the fundamental goal of defence policy, guaranteeing sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. The Romanian state must be prepared to manage the risks of a long-term armed conflict near its borders and at the same time strengthen its national resilience, the statement also reads. The Countrys National Supreme Council also emphasized the need to enhance the armys combat capacity and step up the rejuvenation of the national defence industry. The National Defence Strategy will be submitted to Parliament for approval on Wednesday.

Deficit. The European Commission is today publishing its economic and budgetary recommendations for each member state. Brussels sources quoted by Radio Romanias correspondent indicate that the Commission is expected to freeze the excessive budget deficit procedure opened against Romania. The risk of Romania losing European funds is therefore also frozen. According to the Commission, the fiscal measures taken by the Bucharest government are working and will help reduce the budget deficit to below 3% of GDP by 2031. The Commission will continue to conduct assessments and make recommendations until Romania meets its target. The next evaluation will take place in spring. Romania has the highest budget deficit in the European Union.

Women. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is marked today. The United Nations draws attention to the fact that last year, 50,000 women were murdered, and almost 840 million were victims of physical and psychological aggression. In Romania, since the beginning of this year, over 50 women have been murdered. Between January and October, at the national level, over 12,000 temporary protection orders were issued, of which almost 5,000 were converted into protection orders. Romanian deputies are discussing a draft law that provides for the automatic extension of the temporary protection order pending the courts decision, increasing the penalties for repeat offences and eliminating the possibility of withdrawing criminal complaints in cases of domestic violence.

Income. Real household incomes per capita in the European Union grew by 22% between 2004 and 2024, with Romania recording the highest rise among all member states, at 134%, according to data published on Tuesday by Eurostat. Other member states with strong increases are Lithuania (95%), Poland (91%) and Malta (90%), while Greece and Italy are the only EU member states that saw a decrease in this respect over the last 20 years, at minus 5% and minus 4%, respectively.

Diplomacy. Romanian foreign minister Oana Toiu today had talks with her Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto, emphasising the wish of the Romanian side to maintain an open, pragmatic and constructive approach based on the Strategic Partnership. Romania said it appreciated Hungarys support for its Schengen entry. Romanias membership today brings concrete benefits to both countries, both for the business environment and for citizens, with bilateral exchanges growing by 13% following Romanias accession to the Schengen area. The two ministers also discussed regional security and the prospect of peace negotiations to bring about an end to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Minister Oana Toiu highlighted the need for action at European level based on unity and solidarity. She reiterated Romanias commitment to support the progress of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine on their European course, as well as that of its partners in the Western Balkans, based on the principle of individual merits. (CM)
November 25, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of world and local news

November 25, 2025 UPDATE

Newsroom, 25.11.2025, 20:08

DRONE NATO jet fighters belonging to Romania and Germany were scrambled on Tuesday close to Romanias border with Ukraine after a drone had penetrated the Romanian airspace deeper than ever. Authorities in Bucharest have described the incident as a Russian provocation. Romanias Defence Minister, Ionut Mosteanu, said that NATO pilots were ready to shoot down the drone, which repeatedly violated Romanias airspace, but refrained in order to avoid any damage on the ground. Drone fragments without explosive charges have been later found on the Romanian soil. The Russian drones had targeted Ukrainian ports close to the Romanian border on the Danube a night before. The incident on Tuesday has been the 13th of this kind since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Alerts had been issued for three counties in Romania but were later cancelled. During his visit to the US troops deployed to the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase in southern Romania, the Commanding General for the US Army in Europe and Africa, General Christopher Donahue, has said a new technology to shoot down drones will be implemented in Romania. Also on Tuesday a drone crashed in the Republic of Moldova, which neighbours both Romania and Ukraine.

DEFICIT The European Commission on Tuesday adopted the 2026 European Semester Autumn Package. For the nine member states in excessive deficit procedure, Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, the procedure is held in abeyance, a European Commission communique says. In concrete terms, this means that no further procedural steps are taken at this stage but the ongoing procedure remains open and the member states are bound by the respective Council recommendation. The Commission is expected to assess the situation again in summer. Romania is the EU country with the highest budget deficit.

WOMEN The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was marked on Tuesday. The United Nations draws attention to the fact that last year, 50,000 women were murdered, and almost 840 million were victims of physical and psychological aggression. In Romania, since the beginning of this year, over 50 women have been murdered. Between January and October, at the national level, over 12,000 temporary protection orders were issued, of which almost 5,000 were converted into protection orders. Romanian deputies are discussing a draft law that provides for the automatic extension of the temporary protection order pending the courts decision, increasing the penalties for repeat offences and eliminating the possibility of withdrawing criminal complaints in cases of domestic violence.

INCOME Real household incomes per capita in the European Union grew by 22% between 2004 and 2024, with Romania recording the highest rise among all member states, at 134%, according to data published on Tuesday by Eurostat. Other member states with strong increases are Lithuania (95%), Poland (91%) and Malta (90%), while Greece and Italy are the only EU member states that saw a decrease in this respect over the last 20 years, at minus 5% and minus 4%, respectively.

TALKS Romanian foreign minister Oana Toiu on Tuesday held talks with her Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto, emphasising the wish of the Romanian side to maintain an open, pragmatic and constructive approach based on the Strategic Partnership. Romania said it appreciated Hungarys support for its Schengen entry. Romanias membership today brings concrete benefits to both countries, both for the business environment and for citizens, with bilateral exchanges growing by 13% following Romanias accession to the Schengen area. The two ministers also discussed regional security and the prospect of peace negotiations to bring about an end to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Minister Oana Toiu highlighted the need for action at European level based on unity and solidarity. She reiterated Romanias commitment to support the progress of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine on their European course, as well as that of its partners in the Western Balkans, based on the principle of individual merits.

(bill)
Reform in the public sector

In Romania, all state-owned companies that are losing money will be restructured

Vicepremierul Oana Gheorghiu / Sursa foto: gov.ro

Daniela Budu, 25.11.2025, 13:50

The National Committee for the Reform of State-Owned Companies has been reactivated, announced Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu, who coordinates the committee and presented on Monday the main areas on which the group will focus its activity. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan includes as milestones the elimination of interim management from all state-owned companies by the end of March and the restructuring of at least three such companies by the programs final deadline of August 31, 2026.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu emphasized that beyond the commitments made through the NRRP, Romania needs to clean up, organize, and streamline these companies so that they truly serve the public and do not generate losses. Currently, there are over 1,500 state-owned companies in Romania, of which about 1,270 are subordinate to local authorities, and the rest are central companies. The biggest problems are at the central level, says the deputy prime minister, where 83 of these state-owned companies are recording losses of around 14 billion lei (2.8 billion euros).

According to Oana Gheorghiu, the reform of state-owned companies will begin with a pilot project involving 10 companies and is not aimed at making redundancies, but at making these state entities more efficient. The selection of the 10 companies will be made by the ministers of Energy and Transport.

Oana Gheorghiu: We plan to start with 10 companies as a pilot project, in which we will test this workflow. These 10 companies have not yet been selected. We will finalize the list this week. We will have four companies from the energy sector and six from the transport sector. This reform does not aim to make redundancies. We are trying to make the Romanian state and state-owned companies more efficient, which will benefit all Romanian citizens, because the money lost in state-owned companies is lost from our common budget. Obviously, adjustments will be needed, and obviously there will be companies where thenumber of jobs will probably be reduced, but I dont think this will be significant. And, if necessary, the Romanian state will have to take some compensatory measures, but for now it is premature to discuss this.

The selection process takes into account not only the companies losses and debts, but also their strategic position on the market, Oana Gheorghiu also announced. By the end of the week, the Bucharest executive should also resolve the issue of interim management at 48 state-owned companies, so as not to miss the NRRP milestone that must be closed by March 31 next year. (MI)
Romanias Defense Strategy

The final version of Romanias National Defense Strategy, analyzed by the members of the Supreme Defense Council, is to be debated and voted on in Parliament.

Photo: presidency.ro

Mihai Pelin, 25.11.2025, 14:00

Romanias 2025-2030 National Defense Strategy was approved by the Supreme Defense Council (CSAT). During the meeting, the action program for European security through investments in the defense industry was also discussed, and the members of the CSAT analyzed the risks, threats and vulnerabilities facing Romania. The National Defense Strategy was supplemented with proposals from citizens, but also from the civil society. The document had been made public in advance, being the first on to go through this procedure. Most of the recommendations received were integrated, resulting in the final version, which will be presented by the head of state in Parliament, to be debated and approved in a joint session of the two chambers.

According to the Presidential Administration, this Strategy expresses the vision of President Nicusor Dan, that of a modern and secure Romania, which enjoys peace and its unique advantages, a state built around its citizens, in the service of their fundamental rights and freedoms, with transparent and integrity institutions, oriented exclusively towards the public good. The CSAT also approved the strategic analysis of Defense. Thus, in the current regional and international context, it is necessary to consolidate Romanias efforts to strengthen national security at all levels. The Romanian state must be prepared to manage the risks of a large-scale, long-term armed conflict near its borders and, at the same time, to strengthen its national resilience. It is also necessary to increase the combat capacity of the Romanian army and accelerate the revitalization of the national defense industry.

The investment plan developed under the SAFE regulation, proposed by the European Commission, was also analyzed by the CSAT members, who approved Romanias request within the mechanism. With a total value of approximately 17 billion euros, the funds allocated to Romania through the SAFE program will be invested, in a proportion of 75% in the acquisition of military equipment, public order and civil defense. The difference of 25% represents funds allocated to the dual infrastructure, more precisely the two ends of the Pascani-Siret and Pascani-Ungheni highways.

Romanias most consistent programs have a production condition in the country of at least 50%, in some cases this share being 100%, for reasons of security and sovereignty over a critical production process. The European Commission will analyze each proposal, and by the end of January it will approve the national plans submitted. The SAFE programs must be completed by 2030, which requires accelerated procedures for the delivery of the programs and for the conducting of investments for the necessary production capacities. The Minister of Defense, Ionut Mosteanu, explained that the new National Defense Strategy aims for Romania to become the second military power on the Eastern flank, after Poland, and a defense supplier in the Black Sea area. (EE)
BERNALILLO  A man who allegedly shoplifted from Walmart in Bernalillo now faces drug charges after being arrested.

Richard Chavez, 53, of Albuquerque, was arrested Nov. 22 for trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance and shoplifting, not in that order, according to a criminal complaint filed in the 13th Judicial District Court in Sandoval County.

Chavez was allegedly put items in his cart and walked past all points of sale to customer service. While he was there, he provided a receipt with the same items that were in the cart, then tried to return the items for cash.

Police later found Chavez in his truck down the road and pulled over by Sandoval County Sheriffs Office deputies pulled the truck for not being road safe.

When he was detained, Chavez did not want to speak with police and that he didnt have anything on him.

But during the booking process and a more thorough search of his clothing, police state, they found three bags with a rock-like substance that looked to be methamphetamine, noting that approximately 40 grams of the substance were found in his pant leg.

Chavez could face more than nine years if he is convicted.
NASA and Boeing have decided to cut back the number of astronaut missions using the Starliner capsule from six to four, according to several reports.

Reuters mentioned that NASA has updated its $4.5 billion Commercial Crew Program contract, making the last two flights optional.

This adjustment comes after the recent Starliner mission, which left NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore stuck at the International Space Station.

Following a stretch of uncertainty and numerous technical issues, they made their way back to Earth on a SpaceX capsule, while the Starliner returned home without any crew.

On November 24, NASA revealed that the contract was revised as engineers continue to address problems with the capsule's thrusters, propulsion system, and other issues that came to light during the mission. Since 2016, Boeing has poured more than $2 billion into troubleshooting these problems.

According to Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew program manager, the agency and Boeing are putting Starliner's propulsion system through rigorous testing in preparation for two possible flights next year.

The upcoming mission an uncrewed cargo test dubbed Starliner-1 is set for no earlier than April 2026, depending on further certification. If all goes well, crewed flights could take place before the ISS is decommissioned in 2030.

NASA initially awarded crew transport contracts to both Boeing and SpaceX back in 2014, with SpaceX having successfully completed 12 astronaut missions so far.

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Business News
Indian shares opened slightly higher on Tuesday, mirroring firm cues from global amid AI optimism, hopes for a Federal Reserve cut in December and signs of progress in discussions to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

The benchmark BSE Sensex was up 76 points, or 0.1 percent, at 84,977 in early trade while the broader NSE Nifty index edged up by 26 points, or 0.1 percent, to 25,985.

Among the top gainers, Reliance Industries and Eternal both rose over 1 percent.

Bharat Electronics rose about 1 percent after it signed a joint venture cooperation agreement with France's Safran Electronics.

Paras Defence climbed 1.2 percent after it entered into an MoU with the Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in New Delhi to collaborate on developing commercial-grade MRI magnet systems in India.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories advanced 1.4 percent on receiving European Commission approval for AVT03 (denosumab), a proposed biosimilar to Prolia and Xgeva.

Ceigall India gained 1 percent after winning a contract from REC Power Development & Consultancy for a 35-year infrastructure project worth Rs. 585 million annually.

Pavna Industries rallied 3.3 percent. The company has outlined plans to invest Rs. 250 crores over the next three to five years in Uttar Pradesh.

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MOSCOW, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia's new migration policy for 2026-2030 no longer treats foreign migration as a tool for addressing demographic challenges but instead places national security at the forefront, a senior Russian Security Council official said Tuesday.

The updated concept of Russia's state migration policy, signed by President Vladimir Putin in October, represents a significant shift in the government's approach to managing migration, said Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Alexander Grebenkin in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

Migration of foreign citizens to Russia is now considered solely an additional instrument in support of the economic sphere, Grebenkin said.

Under the revised framework, most foreign nationals cannot expect to obtain long-term or permanent residence in Russia without substantiated grounds, he said. Once a foreigner's authorized period of stay expires, they will be required to leave the country.

The changes, including restrictions which will also extend to non-working or non-studying family members of migrants, are designed to prevent the emergence of isolated ethnic enclaves and to reduce pressure on regional social services, he said.

Grebenkin warned that Russia faces new security risks posed by unfriendly states and radical groups seeking to exploit migration flows to destabilize the country.

Russia has significantly expanded state oversight of migration in recent years, according to Grebenkin. New rules introduced in 2025 cap visa-free stays at 90 days per year, while Interior Ministry forces have received broader authority to track, identify and expel illegal migrants.

Strengthened controls have helped reduce the number of illegal migrants in Russia by more than threefold over the past two and a half years, he said. During that period, authorities issued more than 7.2 million administrative violation protocols, while deportation orders and entry bans rose by nearly one-third.

The measures reflect a systemic shift toward ensuring national security, maintaining public order and establishing controlled migration processes, Grebenkin said, adding that the course will continue. 
Dutch lender ABN AMRO Holding N.V. (ABN.AS,ABMRF,AAVMY) Tuesday unveiled its new financial targets for 2026-2028, and new strategy for profitable growth, including job cuts, at its Capital Markets Day.

Separately, the firm announced its agreement to sell personal loan unit Alfam to Rabobank. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

For the coming years, ABN AMRO's three strategic priorities include accelerating profitable growth, and right-sizing the bank's cost base, including a net reduction of the workforce by 5,200 FTEs by 2028 compared to 2024. The company will also deploy capital where it generates the highest returns.

By 2028, the company projects income of over 10 billion euros, Return on equity or ROE of at least 12% and CET1 ratio above 13.75%.

As part of its new strategy, the firm plans to strengthen its Dutch retail position.

The company is simplifying its organisational structure to become more efficient and effective, and in the proposed workforce reduction, around half will take place through attrition.

In the deal with Rabobank, ABN AMRO's Alfam, which mainly operates under the brand name Defam, will join forces with Rabobank's own consumer credit provider Freo in the consumer credit market, and will continue together as a single provider. The company noted that the Freo and Defam brands will remain.

The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, subject to approval by the relevant regulators.

ABN AMRO expects the sale to have a positive impact on its CET1 capital ratio of around 5 basis points. This includes around 1.2 billion euros in RWA reduction and an anticipated book loss of around 100 million euros.

Following the deal, ABN AMRO will continue to offer personal loans to its clients, through a third-party arrangement with Rabobank. The company noted that customers can apply for loans through ABN AMRO, Rabobank, and intermediaries, and directly online.

Rabobank intends to appoint Ron van Vliet, CEO of Freo, as CEO of the new combined entity as of the integration date, subject to approval by the AFM.

Annerie Vreugdenhil, Chief Commercial Officer Personal & Business Banking at ABN AMRO, said, "In the changing landscape of consumer credit, we are pleased that in the future we can offer personal loans together with Rabobank. Rabobank is a trusted name and a partner whose values and standards closely align with ours.  We are confident that the new combination of Alfam and Freo, under Rabobank's leadership, will continue to offer this type of credit with great care for the interests of customers."

Carlo van Kemenade, Managing Board Member Retail Netherlands at Rabobank, added that the deal aligns with its ambition to strengthen its position in the Dutch retail market.

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Business News
Oil prices drifted lower on Tuesday amid expectations of looser supply-demand balances next year.

Benchmark Brent crude futures fell 0.7 percent to $62.29 a barrel while WTI crude futures were down 0.7 percent at $58.50.

Oversupply fears lingered following productive talks between the U.S. and Ukraine to narrow the gaps over a peace plan.

Media reports suggest that the U.S.-backed 28-point Russia-Ukraine peace framework has been reduced to 19 points after negotiations in Switzerland.

U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has held unannounced talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, but the exact nature of talks was not immediately clear.

A modest step toward a diplomatic breakthrough has revived debate on whether sanctions on Russian oil could eventually ease.

The IEA has already warned of global oil surplus in 2025 and progress in Ukraine peace talks may pave the way for increased supplies in the market already struggling to stabilize.

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Market Analysis
A federal judge has dismissed criminal indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the appointment of prosecutor Lindsey Halligan who brought the charges was invalid.

"The Attorney General's attempt to install Ms. Halligan as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was invalid," Judge Cameron McGowan Currie wrote in her order Monday, referring to President Donald Trump's appointment of the former White House aide with no previous prosecutorial experience, as interim US Attorney in September.

The 77-year-old senior Judge, who was nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1994, dismissed the charges in separate rulings.

On October 9, Halligan, aappeared before a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia just two weeks after being appointed Interim U.S. Attorney. Halligan secured a two-count indictment charging New York Attorney General Letitia James with bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.

James moved to dismiss the indictment on the ground that Halligan, the sole prosecutor who presented the case to the grand jury, was unlawfully appointed in violation of the Constitution. "I agree with Ms.James that the Attorney General's attempt to install Ms. Halligan as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was invalid. And because Ms. Halligan had no lawful authority topresent the indictment, I will grant Ms. James's motion and dismiss the indictment without prejudice," Judge Currie wrote in her order.

Halligan was appointed on September 22 to replace Erik Siebert, who resigned as interim US attorney under pressure.

The judge noted that the attorney general's authority to appoint an interim replacement expired on May 21, and her action is in violation of the Constitution's Appointments Clause.

The decision reportedly marks a setback for Trump, who nominated Halligan for the role and appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi amid increasing pressure to bring criminal cases against his most prominent critics and political enemies.

In a separate order quashing the charges against Comey, Currie said, "I agree with Mr. Comey that the attorney general's attempt to install Ms. Halligan as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was invalid. And because Ms. Halligan had no lawful authority to present the indictment, I will grant Mr. Comey's motion and dismiss the indictment without prejudice."

She added, "All actions flowing from Ms. Halligan's defective appointment" including the indictments against Comey and James "were unlawful exercises of executive power and are hereby set aside."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the department of justice would file a case appealing against Monday's rulings.

In a video posted on Instagram, Comey said the President "cannot use the Department of Justice to target his political enemies."

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Political News
The British Navy has intercepted Russian warship and tanker in the Dover Strait and English Channel.

It comes within a week of a Russian spy ship flashing lasers at pilots tracking it north of Scotland.

The UK Ministry of Defense said its armed forces are on patrol from the English Channel to the High North amid increased Russian activity threatening UK waters in recent weeks.

In the past fortnight, Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Severn intercepted Russian corvette RFN Stoikiy and tanker Yelnya off the UK coast, in a round-the-clock shadowing operation as the Russian vessels sailed through the Dover Strait and westward through the English Channel.

HMS Severn later handed over monitoring duties to a NATO ally off the coast of Brittany, but continued to observe from a distance and remained ready to respond to any unexpected activity.

HMS Severn's Commanding Officer Grant Dalgleish said, "This tasking shows the value of our patrol ships and reinforces the Royal Navy's close liaison with our NATO allies in safeguarding the British people and protecting the internationally recognised waterways."

This is the latest incident as the UK has seen a 30 percent increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters in the past two years.

Earlier this month, a Russian spy ship used for gathering intelligence and mapping undersea cables on the edge of UK waters directed light lasers at British pilots who were monitoring and tracking the vessel's move.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey warned that military options are ready to counter Russian threats.

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Political News
President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order launching the Genesis Mission, a new national effort to use artificial intelligence to transform how scientific research is conducted and accelerate the speed of scientific discovery.

"The Genesis Mission charges the Secretary of Energy with leveraging our National Laboratories to unite America's brightest minds, most powerful computers, and vast scientific data into one cooperative system for research," Trump said.

The Order directs the Department of Energy to create a closed-loop AI experimentation platform that integrates the Nation's world-class supercomputers and unique data assets to generate scientific foundation models and power robotic laboratories.

The Order instructs the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology to coordinate the national initiative and the integration of data and infrastructure from across the Federal government.

The Secretary of Energy, APST, and the Special Advisor for AI & Crypto will collaborate with academia and private-sector innovators to support and enhance the Genesis Mission.

Priority areas of focus include the greatest scientific challenges of the time that can dramatically improve US national, economic, and security, including biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear fission and fusion energy, space exploration, quantum information science, and semiconductors and microelectronics.

The White House said that with the Genesis Mission, the Trump Administration intends to dramatically expand the productivity and impact of Federal research and development within a decade.

Despite research budgets soaring since the 1990s, scientific progress has stalled, new drug approvals have declined, and more researchers are needed to achieve the same outputs, it added.

Harnessing AI as a scientific tool will revolutionize the way scientific research is conducted. For example, AI technologies can generate models of protein structures and novel materials, design and analyze experiments, and aggregate and generate new data faster and more effectively. Research that once took years could now take weeks or months.

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Business News
Canadian shares are likely to open on a mixed note Tuesday morning with investors tracking the trend in the commodities market, and awaiting fresh economic data from the U.S. Some profit taking is likely at a few counters in and materials sectors after recent strong upmove.

Investors will also be following the progress in Ukraine peace talks.

The Canadian market climbed to a near two-week high on Monday, extending Friday's gains, amid expectations of another U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut in December after dovish comments from a couple of Fed officials.

The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index settled with a gain of 443.70 points or 1.47% at 30,604.35, led by gains in technology and materials stocks.

Asian stocks ended broadly higher on Tuesday, with Chinese and Hong Kong turning in a fine performance after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an April visit to China at Xi Jinping's invitation following a productive phone call.

European stocks are turning in a mixed performance with a positive bias, as investors look ahead to a fresh batch of U.S. economic data for directional clues.

In commodities, West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures are down $0.21 or 0.37% at $58.63 a barrel.

Gold futures are gaining $36.70 or 0.89% at $4,130.90 an ounce, while Silver futures are up $0.714 or 1.4% at $51.040 an ounce.

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Business News
Teva Pharmaceuticals International, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA), announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorizations for its two denosumab biosimilar candidates PONLIMSI, a biosimilar to Prolia and DEGEVMA, a biosimilar to Xgeva. Teva plans to launch both products in key European in the coming months.

Steffen Nock, SVP Head of Biosimilars & Chief Science Officer, said: "This approval represents an important step forward in increasing patient access to biosimilar therapies for serious bone conditions."

For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com.

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Business News
Panasonic Holdings Corp. (PCRFF.PK), Tuesday announced a series of new firmware updates for its full-frame mirrorless LUMIX S1RII, S1II and S1IIE, aiming to refine the shooting and workflow experience.

Concurrently, the company will release an update for the app on November 25 via the LUMIX Global Customer Support website and app stores.

The company intends to provide more firmware updates and product enhancements to support creators and deliver the best tools for their craft.

Currently, Panasonic's stock is moving down 7.56 percent, to $11.00 on the OTC Markets.

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Business News
Crude oil slumped on Tuesday after reports emerged that a revised Russia-Ukraine peace plan proposed by the U.S. has been accepted by Ukraine.

WTI Crude Oil for January delivery was last seen trading down by $0.96 (or 1.61%) at $57.89 per barrel.

In the Middle East, the Gaza Peace Plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump is successfully moving to the second phase.

Encouraged by the progress, the Trump administration came up with a 28-point draft peace proposal last week to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

However, reports indicated that the agreement was more tilted towards Russia and forced Ukraine to make a lot of concessions, including ceding territories captured by Russia.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed that he was open to any peace plan only if it does not infringe on Ukraine's national interests.

Several European nations accused the U.S. of yielding to Russia and compelling Ukraine to make a heavy bargain.

The U.S. and Ukraine subsequently came up with a new, shorter 10-point peace plan, leaving the sensitive elements to be decided by the presidents of the warring nations.

This development has been cautiously welcomed by Ukraine's European allies.

While a U.S. official stated that Ukraine has agreed to the deal, Zelenskyy stated that more work needs to be done.

In line with the draft formulation, U.S. officials are meeting their Russian counterparts in Abu Dhabi today to take things further.

Despite these ongoing efforts, Russia and Ukraine have been exchanging air strikes against each other.

If the deal comes through successfully, U.S. sanctions on Russian oil could be lifted, leading to the release of a huge amount of oil into the market.

Russian oil sanctions have already forced China, India, and Turkey to turn away from Russia for their oil needs and dented the petrodollar revenues Russia gained so far.

Concerns of oversupply remain after various forecasts in recent days pointed to weak demand growth with excess supply in 2026.

In the U.S., are anticipating a rate cut by the Federal Reserve at its next FOMC meeting in December.

With the Fed already having instituted two rate cuts this year, analysts feel that another reduction would impact the U.S. dollar value and consequently affect oil prices in the short-term.

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Market Analysis
Tata Motors is rekindling its interest in the lifestyle SUV segment with the revival of its Sierra nameplate. Sierra was Indias first-ever lifestyle SUV and the new Sierra aims to capture the design essence of its predecessor, but cater to everyday use of buyers looking at C Segment 4.2m to 4.4m SUVs in the country.

The company just launched new Sierra in Mumbai, for a starting price of Rs 11.49 lakh (Ex-sh). This will lock horns with other SUVs in this segment like Creta, Seltos, Grand Vitara, Victoris, Hyryder, Kushaq, Taigun, Elevate, Astor and Tatas own Curvv. In the companys lineup, Sierra is positioned above Curvv and below Harrier. Lets check out the finer details.

Tata Sierra Launch

The new Tata Sierra prices start from Rs 11.49 lakh (Ex-sh). The trim level hierarchy of new Tata Sierra consists of 7 Personas  Smart+, Pure, Pure+, Adventure, Adventure+, Accomplished and Accomplished+. Bookings will commence from December 16th, 2025 and Deliveries will start from 15th January, 2026.

Colour options for Tata Sierra include Coorg Clouds, Pristine White, Pure Grey, Bengal Rouge, Munnar Mist and Andaman Adventure. Dimensionally, new Tata Sierra is slotted above Curvv and below Harrier. It measures 4,340 mm in length, 1,841 mm in width, 1,715 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,730 mm.

Based on the new AWD-ready ARGOS platform, Sierra has a ground clearance of 205 mm and the boot space is 622L, which is the largest in its segment. Approach angle is 26.5-degrees, 23.1-degree Rampover angle, 31.6-degree departure angle and the turning circle ia 10.6m. Even in its current FWD guise, Sierra looks like it is ready to go off-roading.

Notable exterior elements include connected LED headlights (slimmest headlights at 17mm), connected LED DRLs, LED fog lights, connected LED tail lights, large 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped with 225-section tyres, flush door handles that do not pop-out automatically, boxy SUV proportions and a strong silhouette, cornering fog lights, muscular faux skid plates and large window area.

The main highlight is Tatas effort to recreate the Alpine window design of original Sierra. While it may match its rivals where length is concerned, Sierra has a much more dominating presence owing to its width and height, along with its large 19-inch wheels. Sierra looks like a big car that is compressed into these dimensions and not the other way around.

1st Tata to get Triple Screen Dash

Sierra is a new-age Tata Motors vehicle as suggested by its interior design approach. It is the first Tata Motors vehicle and Indias first 4.2m to 4.4m SUV to come equipped with a triple screen dashboard layout along with soft-touch elements which will position it as a tech-savvy and tech-forward offering in this segment with a healthy dose of modernity infused into it. It has to be noted that lower variants will get a dual-screen dashboard. Notable interior elements include:

Triple screen dashboard layout (two 12.3-inch touchscreen, one 10.25-inch)

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

Steering-mounted audio controls and Cruise control

Extensive connected tech

360-degree cameras

Blindspot monitoring

Expandable sun visors

Dual Zone Climate Control

HypAR HUD (Head-up Display)

Chunky steering wheel with illuminated logo

Leatherette upholstery

Powered front seats with memory function for driver

Adjustable thigh-support for front occupants

Ventilated front seats

12-Speaker JBL Premium audio system with Dolby Atmos

Sonic Shaft sound bar

5G Connectivity

Largest panoramic sunroof for open air effect

Ambient lighting

Front and rear armrest

Rear AC vents

Rear window sun shades

Auto-dimming IRVM

Boss Mode (Manual)

65W USB Type-C Ports

Air Purifier

Cooled Glovebox

Powered Tailgate

Push-button Start

Keyless Go

Terrain Modes

Paddle Shifters

Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold

The safest in segment?

Safety is Tata Motors forte and the new Sierra will be no different. It comes with a plethora of active and passive safety systems and it is expected to score well in the upcoming crash tests. Notable safety features include 6 airbags as standard, ABS, EBD, TCS, all-wheel disc brakes, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers, 360-degree cameras, blindspot monitoring and more.

Sierra also gets as many as 20 Level-2 ADAS features. Most notable safety featutrs are Intelligent Speed Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Overspeed Alert, Electronic Parking Brake, ESP with 20 functions

Powertrain options

Sierra debuts Tata Motors new 1.5L Petrol engine. This is a 4-cylinder unit and is offered in both naturally aspirated (1.5L Revotron) and turbocharged setups (1.5L Hyperion), depending on the trim choices. Then there is a 1.5L Turbo Diesel (1.5L Kryotec) which is a familiar unit, seen with Curvv.

The 1.5L Revotron engine is capable of generating 106 PS of peak power and 145 Nm of peak torque, offered with either 6MT or 7DCA. The 1.5L TGDI Hyperion engine generates 160 PS of peak power and 255 Nm of peak torque, mated to a 6-speed AT. The 1.5L Kryotec Diesel gets a retune with 280 Nm of peak torque when mated to AT gearbox.

Tata Sierra is underpinned by the new ARGOS Platform and it is AWD capable, with an AWD version of Sierra coming in the future! Automatic variants get paddle shifters for an engaging driving experience.












PARIS, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that France and Britain will launch a workshop to coordinate security guarantees for Ukraine with the involvement of the United States.

He made the remarks after a videoconference of about 30 countries in the "Coalition of the Willing," joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Macron said the coming days would be used to define the contributions of the parties ready to provide guarantees once a ceasefire is reached.

France and other European Union members are also working on a plan to provide financial support for Ukraine, Macron said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Macron told the RTL broadcast that France could consider sending troops to Ukraine as part of "reassurance forces" alongside British and Turkish units after a ceasefire. However, he stressed that "the first security guarantee" for Ukraine remains the Ukrainian army. 
DAMASCUS, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Syria witnessed a wave of security disturbances on Tuesday, from sectarian unrest in the central province of Homs and coastal protests to anti-terror operations in the northern province of Aleppo, underscoring the country's fragile stability.

Tensions flared after last week's killing of a Sunni Bedouin couple in Homs, which authorities said was aimed at inciting sectarian strife. Retaliatory attacks in Alawite-majority neighborhoods prompted a 12-hour nightly curfew and heightened security.

The incident sparked rare Alawite-led protests across the coastal region on Tuesday. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, tens of thousands of people demonstrated across at least 42 locations, denouncing sectarian provocation.

The Britain-based war monitor also reported isolated unrest, including an attempted statue damage in Tartous and a shooting in Latakia that left one man seriously wounded.

Interior authorities spokesperson Noureddin al-Baba, quoted by state-run al-Ikhbaria TV, said the right to protest is guaranteed, but warned against attempts to sow sectarian divisions.

"We advise our people not to be drawn into agendas promoted by groups outside the country," he said.

In a separate development, the interior authorities said Tuesday that security forces dismantled an Islamic State (IS) cell in northwestern Aleppo's Afrin area, arresting several IS-affiliated militants and seizing weapons and bomb-making materials.

Meanwhile, state media reported Tuesday that an armed attack on a security checkpoint west of Sweida province killed one officer and injured two others, with investigations underway.

The overlapping incidents highlight the complex security landscape Syria faces amid ongoing political transition.

A civil war erupted in Syria in 2011. In December 2024, Ahmed al-Sharaa, now Syria's interim leader, seized power from Bashar al-Assad, the former Syrian president. 
A broad mass of unusually warm rock located far below the Appalachian Mountains in the United States may be connected to the separation of Greenland and North America 80 million years ago, according to new findings from researchers at the University of Southampton.

The team argues that this deep heat source is not a leftover feature from when North America separated from Northwest Africa 180 million years ago, which had long been the prevailing view.

This region of hot material, known as the Northern Appalachian Anomaly (NAA), spans roughly 350 kilometers and sits about 200 km beneath New England.

A Deep Origin Far From Today's Location

The study, published in the journal Geology, suggests that the NAA originally formed about 1,800 km away, near the Labrador Sea where the crust began to split between Canada and Greenland. Over tens of millions of years, this pocket of warm, unstable rock slowly migrated to its current position at a pace of about 20 km per million years.

Researchers from the University of Southampton, the Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam (GFZ), and the University of Florence contributed to the project.

Tom Gernon, lead author and Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton, said: "This thermal upwelling has long been a puzzling feature of North American geology. It lies beneath part of the continent that's been tectonically quiet for 180 million years, so the idea it was just a leftover from when the landmass broke apart never quite stacked up.

"Our research suggests it's part of a much larger, slow-moving process deep underground that could potentially help explain why mountain ranges like the Appalachians are still standing. Heat at the base of a continent can weaken and remove part of its dense root, making the continent lighter and more buoyant, like a hot air balloon rising after dropping its ballast. This would have caused the ancient mountains to be further uplifted over the past few million years."

Introducing the 'Mantle Wave' Concept

The scientists based their analysis on a theoretical framework they recently proposed called 'mantle wave' theory, which was named a finalist for Science magazine's 2024 Breakthrough of the Year.

This idea describes how hot, dense rock gradually detaches from the base of tectonic plates after continents split, behaving somewhat like blobs rising and falling in a lava lamp. These slow-moving waves can travel along the underside of continents for tens of millions of years and help account for uncommon volcanic eruptions that bring diamonds to the surface, as well as elevated terrain far from plate boundaries.

By combining geodynamic computer models, seismic tomography (similar to a medical ultrasound but using seismic waves to view Earth's interior), and reconstructions of past plate positions, the researchers traced the NAA back to the period when the Labrador Sea opened and Greenland pulled away from Canada 90 to 80 million years ago.

Rock 'Drips' Slowly Moving Beneath the Continent

Professor Sascha Brune, co-author of the study and head of the Geodynamic Modelling Section at GFZ, explained: "These convective instabilities cause chunks of rock, several tens of kilometers thick, to slowly sink from the base of the Earth's outer layer known as the lithosphere. As the lithosphere thins, hotter mantle material rises to take its place, creating a warm region known as a thermal anomaly.

"Our earlier research shows that these 'drips' of rock can form in series, like domino stones when they fall one after the other, and sequentially migrate over time. The feature we see beneath New England is very likely one of these drips, which originated far from where it now sits."

Based on the team's calculations, the NAA appears to be moving southwest across the North American lithosphere at about 20 kilometers per million years. Its present size and depth, approximately 350 km wide, line up well with predictions for these slow-moving mantle instabilities. The researchers estimate that the center of the anomaly could pass beneath the New York region within about 15 million years.

A Greenland Counterpart

The study also proposes that a similar warm anomaly exists beneath north-central Greenland. This feature may share the same origin as the NAA and could be its geological counterpart, having formed on the opposite side of the Labrador Sea during the breakup.

Beneath Greenland, this deep heat source increases the temperature at the bottom of the thick ice sheet, influencing how the ice flows and melts today. As Professor Gernon noted, "ancient heat anomalies continue to play a key role in shaping the dynamics of continental ice sheets from below."

Long-Lived Processes That Shape Continents

Dr. Derek Keir, study co-author and tectonics specialist at the University of Southampton and the University of Florence, said: "The idea that rifting of continents can cause drips and cells of circulating hot rock at depth that spread thousands of kilometers inland makes us rethink what we know about the edges of continents both today and in Earth's deep past."

The results support earlier work showing that deep Earth processes can continue long after activity at the surface has quieted. These persistent instabilities can affect everything from uplift and erosion to inland volcanic patterns, even in regions considered geologically stable.

Professor Gernon added: "Even though the surface shows little sign of ongoing tectonics, deep below, the consequences of ancient rifting are still playing out. The legacy of continental breakup on other parts of the Earth system may well be far more pervasive and long-lived than we previously realized."
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia needs to step up efforts in improving teaching quality despite notable progress in getting children into school, according to two World Bank reports released on Tuesday.

The World Bank reports examined both the quality and quantity of teaching in primary schools, and identified steps to strengthen basic literacy and numeracy.

"By investing in teachers and improving learning time, Cambodia can offer children a better education and build a more competitive workforce," said Tania Meyer, World Bank country manager for Cambodia.

The reports showed that while higher teacher salaries have encouraged more top-performing high school graduates to join the profession, there has not yet been an improvement in teaching practices or subject knowledge in classrooms.

To improve learning outcomes, the World Bank called for increased investment in both pre-service and in-service teacher training, and recommended cost-effective measures such as reducing teacher absenteeism, minimizing unofficial school closures, and increasing the number of teaching weeks in the school year. 
NEW DELHI, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Several domestic and international flights were adversely affected in India on Tuesday due to ash plumes over Delhi skies after Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted, media reports said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued an advisory asking the private airlines to strictly avoid volcanic ash-affected areas, adjust flight planning, routing, and fuel considerations based on the latest advisory.

As a result, private airline Air India cancelled at least 11 flights, both domestic and international, in view of the ash influence, mostly over northern parts of India.

Private airline Akasa also cancelled all flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi amid the ash influence. These flights were scheduled for Nov. 24 and 25.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department said on Tuesday that the ash was continuing its eastward movement and was likely to clear Indian skies later in the day. 
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine has agreed to a peace deal with only "minor details" yet to resolved, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing a U.S. official.

"The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal. There are some minor details to be sorted out, but they have agreed to a peace deal," the official was quoted as saying.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said more work was needed.

"Following the meetings in Geneva, we see many prospects that can make the path to peace real. There are solid results, and much work still lies ahead," he said on social media on Tuesday.

On Monday and Tuesday, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on the deal, according to a statement from the U.S. Army.

"Late Monday and throughout Tuesday, Secretary Driscoll and team have been in discussions with the Russian delegation to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine," U.S. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert said in the statement.

Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's secretary of national security and defense council, said that Zelensky is planning to visit Washington to "complete final steps and make a deal with President (Donald) Trump."

Umerov wrote on social media platform X that Ukraine had "reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva."

"We now count on the support of our European partners in our further steps," he said.

The 28-point draft aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been trimmed to a 19-point framework drafted by the United States and Ukraine over the weekend in Geneva, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

Representatives from the United States, Ukraine and European countries met in Geneva on Sunday as the White House pushed for agreement on the 28-point plan by Thursday set by Trump as a deadline.

"Many of the controversial provisions were either softened or at least reshaped" to get closer to a Ukrainian position or reduce demands on Ukraine, Oleksandr Bevz, a Ukrainian official who participated in the Geneva talks, was quoted by The Washington Post as saying.

The new draft leaves the most contentious issues for Trump and Zelensky to decide, according to multiple media reports.

The earlier 28-point version would have required Ukraine to cede territory in eastern Ukraine, reduce its military and forswear NATO membership. The plan thus crossed several long-standing Ukrainian red lines, drawing criticism from Ukraine and across Europe. 
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) and Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, meet the press at the United States Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-proposed 28-point peace plan aiming to end the Ukraine crisis has been trimmed to a 19-point framework drafted by the United States and Ukraine over the weekend in Geneva, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

"Many of the controversial provisions were either softened or at least reshaped" to get closer to a Ukrainian position or reduce demands on Ukraine, Oleksandr Bevz, a Ukrainian official who participated in the Geneva talks, was quoted by The Washington Post as saying.

He added that the Thursday deadline, set by U.S. President Donald Trump for an agreement on the 28-point plan, now appears more flexible than it did before.

"It's not a code red -- it's more important to finalize the text," said Bevz.

Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya told the Financial Times that the new draft bore little resemblance to the leaked 28-point version.

"Very few things are left from the original version," he said.

The new draft leaves the most contentious issues for Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to decide, according to multiple media reports.

The earlier 28-point version would have required Ukraine to cede territory in eastern Ukraine, reduce its military and forswear NATO membership. The plan thus crossed several long-standing Ukrainian red lines, drawing criticism from Ukraine and across Europe, according to reports.

Representatives from the United States, Ukraine and European countries met in Geneva on Sunday as the White House pushed for agreement on the 28-point plan.

Following a meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and national security advisers from Britain, France and Germany, the Ukrainian side held bilateral talks with the U.S. representatives.

It's reported that Sunday's Geneva meeting was attended on the U.S. side by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, with Zelensky's office chief Andriy Yermak leading the Ukrainian delegation.

According to a joint statement issued by the White House on Sunday night, the talks between U.S. representatives and Ukrainian officials in Geneva made "meaningful progress toward aligning positions."

The Kremlin said it has not received official details from Geneva and does not plan talks with U.S. officials this week, according to a Newsweek report.

Trump has set Thursday as the deadline for reaching an understanding with Kiev on the framework, while suggesting that talks could continue beyond that date if progress is being made. 
Transense Technologies said in an update on Tuesday that it has delivered strong underlying growth so far this financial year, driven by a sharp increase in SAWsense revenues and steady demand at Translogik, although overall group revenue was affected by a previously-agreed reduction in royalty income from Bridgestones iTrack system.

The AIM-traded company said revenue at SAWsense had more than doubled compared with the same period last year, while Translogik sales were broadly unchanged.

Excluding the iTrack royalty, composite revenue growth over the past four months was about 20%.

The group said it continued to feel the impact of a contractual 40% reduction in unit royalty rates from iTrack, though that had been partially offset by higher installation activity and a stronger dollar.

Gross margins remained above 85%, and the company said it continued to operate profitably and generate cash, supported by disciplined cost control.

Transense said demand was building across high-value sectors that benefit from its proprietary sensing technologies.

Adoption of SAWsense in aerospace and motorsport production is accelerating, and the pipeline of projects in robotics and electric propulsion systems was described as particularly strong.

Management said the areas offered significant long-term opportunities as industries underwent electrification, automation and the integration of advanced performance controls.

Government-backed development programmes were said to be progressing well and were expected to support future revenue streams as Transenses technology is incorporated into next-generation platforms.

At Translogik, the group recently launched its Smart Tyre Inflator and planned further enhancements later in the year.

While revenue from existing tyre-major customers had not returned to previous levels, new business conversion was improving, including an agreement with another global tyre manufacturer and trials with fleet operators and service centres.

Those initiatives, the company said, should underpin medium-term growth.

Its board said current-year market expectations assumed more than 50% revenue growth excluding the iTrack royalty component.

It said it believed the target remains achievable and said Transense was well positioned to benefit from long-term structural trends in electrification and automation.

Management said a strong technology portfolio, expanding customer base and healthy cash resources provided confidence in delivering sustainable growth and shareholder value.

At 1539 GMT, shares in Transense Technologies were down 3.27% at 118.5p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Company postpones capital markets day; Shares slip

Domino's Pizza said chief executive Andrew Rennie was stepping down by mutual consent with immediate effect amid reports of tensions with the board over the company's future direction as consumers become more cost and calorie conscious.

Chief operations officer Nicola Frampton has been appointed as interim CEO until a permanent appointment is made, the company added on Tuesday. The company is also without a permanent finance director until new appointee Andrew Andrea starts in March.

Rennie, who took over as boss in August 2023 and has worked for the fast food outlet chain for 20 years after starting as a franchisee, told the Financial Times earlier this month there was not massive growth left in the UKs pizza market, and outlined plans to bet on fried chicken and pursue a second brand acquisition in a bid to return to growth.

Frampton is also an independent non-executive director of Frasers Group and also worked for bookmaker William Hill as UK retail managing director.

The board believes that there are a number of opportunities to drive further growth and value creation in Dominos core business, said chair Ian Bull in a statement.

We are focused on identifying the right CEO to lead the disciplined execution of that growth strategy . . . underpinned by a rigorous focus on shareholder returns. Domino's also said it was postponing its capital markets day scheduled for next month.

The company earlier this month said orders dipped by 1.5% in the third quarter. It also warned In August that the takeaway market had become tougher as it blamed weaker consumer confidence in the run-up to the government's Budget and rising wage costs for weaker-than-expected sales and a 15% drop in half-year profits.

Competitors are also feeling the heat, with Pizza Hut announcing the closure of 68 restaurants a month ago, after the company operating its UK outlets fell into administration.

INVESTORS FIND CHANGE OF DIRECTION HARD TO SWALLOW

Shore capital analyst Katie Cousins said Rennie's departure was "unexpected and, in our view, and a loss to the business given the wealth of experience that Mr Rennie brought".

"The group is now in a period of interim CFO and CEO ... this is clearly not an ideal situation ahead of the planned capital markets day, and so it makes sense that this event will now be rescheduled," she wrote in a note to clients.

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said: It says a lot when a veteran of the Dominos Pizza empire is deemed not good enough to run the UK version of the company. This looks like a situation where the board are sending a message to the market that something radical must change."

Andrew Rennie took the top job two years ago, bringing oodles of experience from running the pizza group in various parts of the world. One could call him a pizza lifer, having opened his first franchise Dominos store in his mid-twenties."

Rennie helped to smooth relations with disgruntled franchisees, and drive efforts to make lunchtimes less quiet through broadening the product range to include wraps."

"However, the market doesnt seem to think it is the right thing to do, given the two-year slide in the share price. Dominos is trying to adapt with the times as competition for fast food is intense, and consumer tastes are evolving."

"Healthier eating habits, as well as appetites being diminished by weight-loss drugs, means Dominos is in a precarious position. Greasy pizzas might be everyones dream after a few pints in the pub, but theyre increasingly off the menu for many other people.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com
Up to 3m low-skilled jobs could disappear in the UK by 2035 because of automation and AI, according to a report by a leading educational research charity. The jobs most at risk are those in occupations such as trades, machine operations and administrative roles, the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) said.  Guardian

Social media platforms are being urged to limit internet pile-ons under new guidelines to protect women and girls online. The guidance from Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, to combat misogynist abuse, coercive control and the sharing of intimate images without consent comes into force on Tuesday and includes recommendations to prevent women being harried online.  Guardian

The number of graduates still unemployed more than a year after leaving university has surged by 8,000 amid a youth jobs crisis. A poll of 2023 university leavers by Prospects at Jisc, a graduate careers website, found that 6.2pc of graduates  or 56,900  were still out of work 15 months after ending their studies. That was up from 5.6pc or 48,700 in the previous year.  Telegraph

Heathrow Airport has won Government backing for its 49bn third runway plan after rival proposals for a shorter, cheaper landing strip from a billionaire hotel tycoon were rejected. The companys blueprint for the landmark project is set to be confirmed by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander on Tuesday after ministers rejected a rival bid by hotel boss Surinder Arora to build a truncated runway.  Telegraph

A bruised government left with little room for manoeuvre is presiding over an incoherent strategy, the outgoing chairman of the CBI has said. Rupert Soames, in closing remarks to the business lobby groups annual conference in London, said few would have predicted how far and how fast the government has lost its confidence and room for manoeuvre.  The Times
A charming handcrafted angel ornament hangs delicately from a festive tree branch. (rosipro (123RF))



Holiday season is upon us and whether you need an extra hand this season or you want to help spread joy, weve compiled a list of programs available for DOD families in Germany. We will be updating the information periodically.

If you know of other programs that should be added to this list, get in touch at contentteam@stripes.com

Ansbach

Sign-ups for eligible families stationed at Ansbach are open until Dec. 12. Click here to sign-up.

Angel Tree Ornament Selection is open through Dec. 12.

Gift drop-off is open through Dec. 15 at the PX Lobby.

Angel Tree sign-up information (Ansbach Spouses and Civilians Club)



Baumholder

Nominations open for children 0-18 years old of active-duty service members. Nominations accepted until Nov. 22.

Angel Tree ornament selection and gift drop-off is Nov. 28 to Dec. 12.

Baumholder PX



Commissary



Post Office



Community Bank (Baumholder branch)

Gift pick-up will occur at the Baumholder Thrift Store on Dec. 20. Families will have a scheduled pick-up time.

2025 Angel Tree nomination information for Baumholder Community with QR code for application (Baumholder Community and Spouses Club)



Hohenfels

Sign-ups for DOD families at Hohenfels are open until Dec. 2.

Sponsorship sign-up deadline is Dec. 12.

Gift drop-off deadline is Dec. 15.

Gift pick-up for sponsored families is Dec. 18 at the HCSC Thrift Shop, Building 344, Academy Rd, Hohenfels from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Flyer with QR codes to sign up to be an angel recipient or to sponsor a family (Hohenfels Community and Spouses Club)



Ramstein and Vogelweh

Contact your units First Sgt. to be nominated.

To donate, grab an envelope off of the tree and donate what you can; then place the envelope in the box next to a tree.

Donations accepted through Dec. 21

Locations of trees: Ramstein Commissary, Vogelweh Commissary, BX, Enlisted Club, Officer Club, Ramstein Shoppette, Vogelweh Shoppette.

KMC First Sergeants Present 2025 Angel Tree with location information flyer (KMC First Sergeants)



Stuttgart

Nominations open for families E-1 to E-5, O-1 to O-2, GS 1-6 and NAF equivalents open until Nov. 21.

Angel Tree ornament selection and gift drop-off is Nov. 25 to Dec. 12.

Gift deliveries will occur Dec. 15-17.

Operation Angel Tree Information with QR code to application (Stuttgart Community and Spouses Club)



Wiesbaden

Nominations closed Nov. 14.

Angel Tree ornament selections and gift drop-off runs until Dec. 10.

Hainerburg Exchange



WCSC Thrift Shop (Hainerburg)



ACS Office (Hainerburg)



Chapel (Hainerburg)



Fitness Center (Clay)
Government urges India's steel sector to accelerate AI adoption and modern mining techniques to boost efficiency and competitiveness

At Odishas two-day Chintan Shivir, Union Steel Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy called for collective R&D, digitalisation, and innovation across public and private stakeholders

Rising steel demand and infrastructure growth make AI-driven productivity, predictive maintenance, and sustainability essential to build a resilient, future-ready industry

The Indian government has asked the domestic steel industry to fast-track its adoption of artificial intelligence and modern mining techniques to improve efficiency and competitiveness. During a two-day Chintan Shivir held in Odisha, Union Steel Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy underscored that strengthening research and development and embracing technologies like AI, machine learning, and digitalization lies at the heart of transforming the steel sector.

Kumaraswamy's remarks underlined the need for collective action among all players along the steel value chain, including both public and private stakeholders. He called upon CPSEs, industry leaders, and technology experts to come together to promote innovation, enhance operational excellence, and deepen the use of indigenous technological solutions. Government-owned firms such as SAIL, NMDC, MOIL, MECON, and MSTC were represented by officials during the event, with domain experts from organisations such as INSDAG, ISCA, and BISAG, among others, besides representatives from the private giants JSW Steel and Tata Steel.

Setting the deliberations against the backdrop of Odisha's mineral-rich geography, the strategic advantage of the state in mining and steel production due to its coastal access and rich raw material reserves was reflected. Discussions during the Shivir focused on ways to modernize India's mining practices, expand infrastructure, and boost production capacity through innovative technologies.

Officials also pointed out that rising steel demand, largely fired by India's ambitious infrastructure plans, makes it imperative for the steel sector to be more efficient and forward-looking. In this context, AI and digital tools are being seen not just as niceties but as necessities; they can help optimize mining operations, predict maintenance needs, manage assets more intelligently, and even ensure environmental sustainability by reducing waste.

Also Read: Govt Unveils Rs 5,000 Crore Scheme To Drive Decarbonisation In Steel Industry

The Ministry of Steel has already laid down a framework encouraging public enterprises to use AI for a wide variety of functions-from predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring, and data-driven decision-making to safety management and quality control. The adoption of such technologies, the officials at the ministry argue, can improve productivity while reducing energy consumption and operational costs.

Analysts note that similar digital interventions are already yielding significant returns in India's metals and mining industry. A recent FICCI CRISIL report highlighted that digitalisation and automation could boost efficiency in the sector by up to 15 percent. That kind of gain in productivity could help firms offset other pressures like import competition and increasing costs.

Ultimately, the call of the government at this Shivir underlines an unmistakable shift: Indias steel sector needs to not only scale up its output but to do so intelligently, with sustainability and cutting-edge technology. In supporting AI-driven innovation and modern mining practices, policymakers are signaling that their commitment to making the Indian steel industry resilient, competitive, and future-ready will be long-term.
With rising rent prices in Dubai, many young women, including students, nurses, teachers, and entry-level employees, are considering aarenting a private apartment. Every morning, on the streets of Dubai and near cafes, he sees young women drinking coffee and sometimes eating breakfast on the way to the metro station. Dubai is a vibrant city, and life here is fast-paced. Sometimes you see groups of women with uniforms or backpacks going to work from shared apartments across the city.

For many of them, choosing a ladies' bedspace is not just about saving money. Many women care about the proximity of administrative centers, universities, and metro stations because it also saves them time.

Searches for bed space near me or compare room rent in Dubai are increasing every day as women in Dubai look for a safe, comfortable, and affordable option that fits their lifestyle without compromising on location or security.

What Is Ladies Bedspace in Dubai? Understanding the Concept?

Ladies bedspace is a shared accommodation model specifically designed for women who need affordable and flexible accommodation in Dubai. In this way, instead of renting a whole room or apartment, they only pay for a single bed in a shared room or apartment.

This arrangement usually includes partitioned beds, shared kitchens, bathrooms, and common areas. This option makes living in popular neighborhoods close to business centers, shopping centers, universities, and metro stations much more accessible.

Bedspaces are popular for short-term, long-term, and even monthly stays, offering women a secure and affordable lifestyle without committing to expensive rental contracts.

Who Chooses Womens Bedspaces And Why?

Most of the women who choose the female bed space are students, nurses, teachers, hospitality workers, office workers, and newly arrived immigrants who are just starting their careers.

They choose this option for affordability, safety, and convenience. Many people prefer to live near metro stations, workplaces, and universities to reduce the time and costs of their living.

Bedspaces also offer a sense of community, where women share routines, responsibilities, and cultural similarities, making life in Dubai easier and more comfortable.

Real Costs: How Much Does a Ladies' Bedspace Actually Cost?

The monthly cost of a ladies' bedspace in Dubai usually varies from 500 dirhams to 1800 dirhams, depending on the area, building facilities, and the number of roommates. They show clear variations between premium locations such as Marina or JLT and more economical areas such as Deira, Karama, or Al Qusais.

Be aware that prices increase when utilities, Wi-Fi, weekly cleaning, and privacy partitions are included. Bedspaces in Dubai that are close to metro stations can cost up to 30% more, but greatly reduce daily transportation costs and commuting time.

Price Comparison vs. Studio & Shared Rooms

Usually, the cost of a ladies' bedspace is between 500 and 1,800 dirhams per month, and the rent of a studio apartment in Dubai usually ranges from 3,000 to 6,500 dirhams.

Even a shared private room for two to three people usually costs between 2000 and 3500 dirhams per month. This makes bedspace the most affordable option for women who want to save money near metro stations, workplaces, and amenities.

What Makes Some Bedspaces More Expensive?

Note that prices may increase due to several factors. Flat spaces located near metro stations or shopping malls cost more because they reduce commuting time and transportation costs.

Higher prices are also associated with extras such as privacy partitions, premium furniture, weekly cleaning, fast Wi-Fi, and buildings with CCTV or access control.

Spaces with fewer tenants have higher prices. This higher cost is because they offer more privacy and comfort. Professional women with a higher career level choose housing that provides them with quieter and more spacious living options in the crowded areas of Dubai.

Safety Matters: What Women Really Look For

For many women, affordability alone is not enough when choosing a bedspace in Dubai. Safety, health, and privacy are critical factors that shape their decision. Female tenants often look for buildings with CCTV, secure entry systems, and all-female access to apartments.

So factors like privacy partitions, limited bed capacity per room, and regular cleaning routines are just as important as price.

A comfortable bedspace for women should not only save money but also provide dignity, security, and peace of mind in everyday life.

Privacy Standards in Ladies Bedspace

Rooms with fewer beds are generally preferred as they reduce noise, provide more freedom, and help maintain comfort. Many tenants also try to respect the common rules in Bedspaces to enjoy a more private lifestyle with better conditions.

Security Rules & Building Conditions

A good, safe ladies' bedspace should be reliable and provide secure entry systems such as access cards or codes. Many tenants specifically choose buildings that are monitored by CCTV and managed by approved landlords or agencies.

Safety also includes well-maintained and well-ventilated corridors. Many women are even willing to pay a higher rent if the accommodation is guaranteed to protect against unauthorized entry and guarantee a reliable living environment.

Cleanliness & Hygiene: The Unspoken Deal-Breaker

The cleanliness of a place often determines whether a tenant will stay long-term. Common areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be cleaned regularly to avoid unpleasant odors, pests, and hygiene issues.

Many bedspaces use weekly cleaners. Proper handling and safe storage of food and disinfected common areas greatly improve the quality of life. Women are more likely to recommend or renew accommodations that are consistently clean, organized, and uncluttered.

How to Find Verified Ladies' Bedspace Safely

The best way to avoid scams or unsafe rentals is to search through verified platforms and visit the place before booking. Always ask for clear photos, video tours, deposit rules, and written contracts.

Platforms like Homebook make it easier to choose room rent in Dubai by listing verified accommodations, displaying real photos, building amenities, nearby metro stations, and transparent pricing.

Using reliable services helps women compare options with confidence and choose a reliable bed space near me in Dubai.
Justin Dixon is taken into custody in New Springville on Jan. 26, 2023. Dixon has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after guilty pleas related to the coercion and enticement of a minor and being a felon in possession of a firearm. (Advance/SILive.com)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A New Springville man was sentenced Monday to 15 years in federal prison in a sex-trafficking and coercion case involving a 14-year-old girl and other women in Brooklyn.

Justin Dixon, 34, was sentenced by Judge William F. Kuntz II at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, after pleading guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and being in possession of a firearm. Dixon pleaded guilty to the charges in November 2024.

In January 2023, Dixon transported the minor victim and other women to a known prostitution area of Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn, referred to as the Penn Track or the Blade, according to authorities.

Law enforcement officials said Dixon transported the minor and other women to a known prostitution area of East New York, Brooklyn, located off Pennsylvania Avenue between Flatlands Avenue and Linden Boulevard referred to as the "Penn Track" or the "Blade." (Google Maps)

He forced them to engage in prostitution and demanded all proceeds be turned over to him, authorities said. Any resistance from the victims was met with violence, according to court documents.

Dixon used social media and internet applications to recruit and groom his victims, according to authorities. Law enforcement officers said they rescued the 14-year-old girl, identified as Jane Doe, from a home on Richmond Hill Road in New Springville, where she and other adult women were being held against their will.

At the Staten Island townhouse, Dixon forced the women to cook for him, clean and bathe him, authorities said. He would not allow the women to be clothed inside the house and physically punished them if they disobeyed his rules, according to court documents. Despite being a convicted felon, Dixon possessed and brandished firearms in front of his victims, authorities said.

According to court documents, Dixon further abused the minor victim, whom he called Tiny, by overfeeding her to make her appear older than her age. He forced her to take unidentified pills to increase her appetite and allegedly said he was arranging plastic surgery to also make her look older. The teen eventually managed to alert authorities to the abuses taking place in the townhouse.

Todays sentencing holds the defendant accountable for the violence and cruelty to women and children caused by his unthinkable actions, said United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. It is the hope of our office that Dixons extensive prison sentence brings some measure of comfort to his victims.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said Dixon repeatedly violated his victims autonomy through degrading and manipulative grooming techniques designed to entrap them into his servitude.

Anyone who would seek to profit through the abuse and exploitation of other people  especially our youth  will be held fully accountable, said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.
Justice Judith N. McManon, second from left, is presented with plaques and citations. From left, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Justice McMahon, Senator Andrew Lanza, Senator Jessica Scarcella Spanton, Jeff Ward of the Detective's Endowment Associaiton, Ken Mitchell, executive director of the Staten Island Zoo, City Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks, former Senator Diane Savinio and Borough President Vito Fossella. (Courtesy/Office of the Richmond County District Attorney) Judy

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  After decades of dedicated service, New York State Supreme Court Justice Judith N. McMahon is hanging up her robe.

A retirement party with nearly 200 well wishers was held at Casa Belvedere, the Italian Cultural Center on Grymes Hill to honor her remarkable career, the profound impact she has had in public service, and highlight her enduring influence on the legal system.

The New York State Court Officers who presented the colors. (Courtesy/Office of the Richmond County District Attorney) Staten Island Advance

Well wishers gather at Casa Belvedere for Justice Judith McMahon's Retirement Party. (Courtesy/Office of the Richmond County District Attorney) (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney)

Supreme Court Justice Orlando (Lindy) Marrazzo Jr., who helped organize the retirement party, and Justice Judith N. McMahon. (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney) Judy

e.

Senator Andew Lanza and Justice Judith McMahon. (Courtesy/Office of the Richmond County District Attorney) Judy

From left, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Justice Judith McMahon, Borough President Vito Fossella and Mary Pat Fossella. (Courtesy/Office of the Richmond County District Attorney) Judy

Former Senator Diane Savino and attorney, Chris Caputo. (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney) Judy

From the left, Lillian Lagazzo, Judith N. McMahon and retired Deputy Borough President Ed Burke. (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney) Judy

From the left, Jay Duskin and Chris Caputo (Courtesy/Office of the Richmond County District Attorney) Staten Island Advance

From left, Ken Mitchell, District Attor Michael McMahon, Eileen Martine, Justice Judith N. McMahon, Rev. Michael Martine and Supreme Court Justice Lisa Grey. (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney) Judy

Rev. Michael Martine, pastor of Holy Rosary R.C. Church, offered an invocation: We gather this evening with gratitude . . . Bless this time together  our conversations, our laughter, and our memories. We are grateful for the years this judge has dedicated to fairness, compassion, and the careful pursuit of truth. May the decisions made, the lives impacted, and the integrity shown be lasting testaments to a lifes work well done."

District Attorney Michael McMahon, the husband of Justice McMahon, said:

Im so proud to be the husband of Justice Judy McMahon who has had such a distinguished career. Thank you to all for coming out tonight. Its my honor to see Supreme Court justices here tonight including Federal Court Judge Eric N. Vitaliano and William Mastro, he said. Staten Islands elite are here. And so many from the Detectives Endowment Association watching outside. Thank you. We all wish you a a happy and healthy retirement.

District Attorney Michael McMahon addresses the crowd. (Courtesy/Office of the District Attorney) (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney)

George Silver, retired Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the New York City Courts, speaks. (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney) (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney)

Adam Silvera, deputy chief administrative judge for the New York City Courts: I was hoping this day would never come. Judy, you served across two counties. On behalf of the court system, we appreciate you for your public service. No one will be able to do the work that you do. Judy, thank you for all that youve done for the court and the bar. You go down in history as one of the most effective justices in the state.

Adam Silvera, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the New York City Courts, addresses the crowd. (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney) (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney)

George Silver, retired deputy chief administrative judge for the New York City Courts: This evening is bittersweet. Judge Judy has had such an impact on our community. How do you summarize a trailblazing chief? She first became a pharmacist because she loves science. She made the decision to become a lawyer and was the first woman Supreme Court justice in Richmond County. She really listens to the attorneys. She will continue. Shes stepping away from the bench, but not the law. I salute you. You are doing the right thing. You have blazed trails ad lifted this institution and inspired generations of young lawyers. Your legacy isnt leaving the court, its imprinted in it. On behalf of all of us, thank you for your service, integrity and example.

William Mastro, retired associate judge of the Appellate Division, Second Department, speaks. (Courtesy/Office of the Richmond County District Attorney) Judy

William Mastro, retired associate judge of the Appellate Division: Judge Judy has been an extraordinary judge. We go back a few years. I met her 40 years ago. She has done incredibly wonderful things in her career. One of the most wonderful things that happened on Staten Island was when she became administrative judge of Richmond County and she was one of the most inspirational in the state.

Raymond Rodriguez, administrative judge of Richmond County, speaks. (Courtesy/Office of the Richmond County District Attorney) (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney)

Raymond Rodriguez, administrative judge of Richmond County: Judge Judys retirement is a great loss for Richmond County. When I became administrative judge, I had a great ally and friend in Judy. She helped me. She gave me her wisdom. They took her from me in Manhattan. She did an exceptional job. Its a loss for the judges and for the community. I will still call you all the time to seek your advice. You have helped me so much. We are going to miss you and Staten Island will miss you. I will miss your integrity. Your career has been incredible.

Federal Court Judge Eric N. Vitaliano speaks about Justice McMahon. (Courtesy/Office of the Richmond County District Attorney) (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney)

Federal Court Judge Eric N. Vitaliano: Thank you for allowing me to be part of your life. This is a special night being at your retirement dinner. This is a very special event. I met Mike first and then Judy entered the picture. We became friends. In her legal position she never lost sight of her role as a mom. And on the bench she helped me. She was my first court attorney. I had the benefit of seeing two of the best lawyers at the same time. Her understanding of the judicial system made it the finest in the state. Helen and I wish you a long, happy and healthy retirement. She is everything.

Justice McMahon's Principal Law Clerk, Judy Moresco Waggoner speaks. (Courtesy/Office of the District Attorney) (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney)

Judy Maresco Waggoner, Justice McMahons principal law clerk: You are doing the work you were designed to do. The powers that be put her in a mans world to administer justice. You are fair, smart, and laser focused to the task at hand. I look forward to your next chapter.

Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon honors his wife, NYS Supreme Court Justice Judith N. McMahon with flowers. (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney) Judy

Michael McMahon listens as his wife, Judith N. McMahon speaks. (Courtesy/Office of Richmond County District Attorney) Judy

Justice McMahon would then address the crowd:

Thank you all so much for being here. Its an honor to be here before each and every one of you. It takes a core group of people to make this evening so special. Thank you to Judy Maresco and Justice Marrazzo and to Mike McMahon. I started as a trial lawyer. I interviewed with Judge Leone, my mentor. He called me a Pollyanna. It was a great learning experience. He was taken away way too soon. His wife and family are here. Eric is a dear friend, but his wife is a dearer friend. Eric Vitaliano is brilliant and his legal mind is second to none.

Justice McMahon went on to acknowledge her staff, law clerks and referenced Judy Moresco whos shes known for 30 years. Ive grown to love Judy. You have a special place in my heart.

She referenced Judge Rodriguez, Brian Rice, a security specialist and lawyers who are part of the most loyal profession, a focus that we have no matter what you stand for. They do it with integrity and honesty.

Friends are blessings. And I have been very blessed that you are all here. Thank you for being here. And thank you to the McMahon family. I cherish each and every one of you.

She would credit her children and her husband, Michael McMahon, Your patience and love have been with me 1,000 percent. Im grateful for our lives together. I would not be here if not for Michael McMahon. God bless each and every one of you."
President Donald Trump was set to bestow ceremonial pardons on two turkeys and fly to his private Florida resort on Tuesday to celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday interlude during what has been a turbulent and uncertain chapter of his second term.

Waddle and Gobble, the two birds spared from the dinner table, enjoyed luxury hotel accommodations ahead of their White House visit. The turkey pardon is a presidential tradition dating back years.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and her son Nicholas look at Waddle, the alternate national Thanksgiving turkey, in the White House briefing room, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

However, Thanksgiving may not provide Trump with much political respite after Democrats won sweeping victories in New Jersey, Virginia and elsewhere earlier this month. Some research indicates that holiday meals could cost more this year, despite the presidents insistence otherwise, a reminder of persistent frustration with elevated prices.

Meanwhile, Trump is struggling to advance a plan to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine after an earlier version faced swift criticism from European allies and even some Republicans. The U.S. military is also poised to target Venezuela with military strikes, part of an anti-drug operation that could ultimately destabilize the countrys leadership.

In Washington, Trump faces the possibility of a splintering Republican coalition ahead of next years midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. Some members of his party already took the rare step of crossing the president by successfully pushing legislation to force the Justice Department to release more documents about the Jeffrey Epstein case.

President Donald Trump talks after meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump faced a setback in court this week when a federal judge tossed cases against James Comey and Letitia James, two targets of the presidents retribution campaign.

Comey, a former FBI director whom Trump fired during his first term, was charged with making a false statement and obstructing Congress. James, the New York attorney general who investigated the president between his two terms, was charged with mortgage fraud.

Both pleaded not guilty and said the prosecutions were politically motivated, pointing to Trumps public demands for the Justice Department to punish his enemies.

The judge said the interim U.S. attorney, a former member of Trumps personal legal team, who obtained the indictments was illegally appointed. However, the decision was made without prejudice, so the Justice Department could try again to charge Comey and James.

All of the latest developments contribute to a moment of frenetic activity for the White House, which would normally be settling in for a quiet and festive holiday season.

However, despite the traditional arrival of a Christmas tree on Monday, the presidential residence will be much different this year. Although holiday tours are expected to continue, Trumps decision to demolish the buildings East Wing to make room for a new ballroom has turned part of the White House grounds into a construction site.
A tagged deer is spotted on Ward Avenue in Stapleton. Photo courtesy of Olivia Franke

We may not hear as much about Staten Islands deer problem as we used to.

But dont be fooled: the creatures are still among us, despite the citys program to decrease the population.

A mother and daughter on the North Shore had a very close encounter with a buck last week on their Stapleton street.

Tara Meiners and daughter, Olivia Franke, spotted the deer as they returned home from the 7-year-olds gymnastics class last Tuesday evening.

When I went around to open her car door, it was standing right behind our car, just staring at me, Meiners reported. So wild.

The buck was tagged, meaning that it was part of the citys population-reducing deer vasectomy program.

Meiners said that the deer trotted along Ward Avenue and then turned and headed around the corner and up Austin Place.

Olivia said, When I got out of the car, I heard my mom say, Come out here and see the deer crossing the road.

The 7-year-old said, The deer was so cute, but he was going where the traffic is. I did not want him to get hurt.

Its not the first time that deer have been spotted in the neighborhood.

One resident reported seeing a deer walk up the stairs adjacent to their house, past their front door, and then up the stairs of a house across the street.

The city last year said that its deer-culling vasectomy program is paying off, the Advance/SILive.com reported.

A report from the Parks Department listed the estimated deer population at that time as 1,273, a 41% drop from the initial estimate of 2,166.

The counts are based on figures compiled by White Buffalo, the firm in charge of the citys deer-vasectomy program.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island hosted its Fall Food Distribution, bringing together volunteers, law enforcement and community organizations to serve families in need.

Youth volunteers from the Kids Give Back program played a central role in the distribution, packing bags and assisting families under the guidance of Making a Change with Kindness. Annesa Ali, CEO and founder of MACK and COJOs chief of staff, said the program teaches young people to practice compassion through service.

Seeing our youth enthusiastically packing bags and assisting families demonstrates that compassion is an active choice, Ali said. They are learning that by serving our neighbors, they are actively Making a Change with Kindness and building a stronger, more empathetic Staten Island.

Law enforcement officers from the NYPD Community Affairs and NYS MTA Police provided security and traffic management for the event. Captain Ryan Russel, commanding officer of the NYS MTA Police District 9, said the partnership extends beyond logistics.

Mendy Mirocznik, COJO, president; Joe Rayski, Amazon; Annesa Ali, founder and CEO of MACK; and chief of staff, COJO; joined with Mya Collins and Mia Collins; the dynamic youth leaders, MACK pictured together. Courtesy of COJO

Our participation goes beyond traffic control; its about bridging community relations with law enforcement, Russel said. Working alongside COJO, we are not only building a great relationship with their organization but actively demonstrating our commitment to serving and protecting the residents of Staten Island.

COJO President Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik credited the collaborative effort for the events success, thanking volunteers, partners and law enforcement.

Assemblyman Michael Reilly; Rabbi Aharon Zeev, Mara DAtra, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan of Staten Island; Natalia Borushchak, COJO legal consul; Community Affairs Officer John Sibal; Community Officer Beshouy Rizkalla; Mendy Mirocznik, COJO, president; Annesa Ali, founder and CEO of MACK; Joe Rayski, Amazon; Community Affairs Officer Brian Postiglione; and Community Affairs Sean Mondello pictured together helping out. Courtesy of COJO

The NYPD Community Affairs and the NYS MTA Police were not just supporters; they were a key, crucial partner, ensuring the safety, efficiency, and tremendous success of this distribution, Rabbi Mirocznik said. It truly takes an entire community to deliver hope, and everyone stepped up.

Assemblyman Michael Reilly praised the integration of police and community in the effort and pledged continued support for the food pantry program.

The distribution received support from several partners, including Joe Rayski from Amazon, Gary Tai and Carina Vizhnay from Anthem, Jenny Palaguachi from the Health Education Project, and Carlos Londono from VNS Health, who volunteered alongside other participants.

Rabbi Aharon Zeev of Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan, which hosted the event, said opening the synagogues doors for the distribution reflects the congregations values.

Seeing members of our congregation, alongside the wider community, lending a helping hand to neighbors in need is truly inspiring, Zeev said. It is the highest expression of our values.

Iva Reuven, who oversees COJO Food Pantry and Social Services, coordinated the on-site operations with community volunteers. She said the dedication of volunteers ensures families receive support with dignity.

NYPD Community Affairs Officers Brian Postiglione, Beshouy Rizkalla, John Sibal, Sean Mondello and Scott Gusenfitter participated in the event, along with Chaplain Imam Tahir Kukai and Captain Russel.
Families of roughly 300 United States citizens killed or injured in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel have filed a lawsuit alleging that Binance facilitated more than $1 billion in crypto transfers for Hamas and other sanctioned groups.

The complaint, filed in federal court in North Dakota on Nov. 24, claims Binance pitched itself to terrorist organizations, narcotics traffickers and tax evaders as beyond the reach of any single countrys laws or regulations, ignoring compliance-vendor warnings and failing to conduct basic checks on suspicious flows.

The families seek damages under a 2016 US law that allows victims of terrorism to sue foreign entities in American courts.

Related: Fresh out of prison, Binance's Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao plans to invest in blockchain

Lawsuit says Binance moved about $50M for Hamas and others

According to the 284-page filing, Binance continued enabling brokers in the Gaza Strip as recently as January 2025.

Plaintiffs claim the exchange knowingly facilitated at least $50 million in transfers for Hamas, Hezbollah, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other entities since the Oct. 7 attack.

This was not a compliance lapse; it was a business model, said attorney Jonathan Missner, who represents a portion of the more than 70 families named in the suit, as reported by The New York Times.

He argued that Binance deliberately built systems designed to evade oversight, including off-chain transfers and weak monitoring controls.

More News:

Binance responds to lawsuit

In a statement shared with TheStreet Roundtable, Binance said it cannot comment on ongoing litigation but rejected the allegations, stating:

Binance has become aware of a complaint filed in the United States federal court. We cannot comment on any ongoing litigation. As a global crypto exchange, we comply fully with internationally recognized sanctions laws. Over the past several years, Binance has executed a wide-ranging transformation of our compliance, AML, and sanctions framework.

The spokesperson highlighted independent analytics showing less than 0.02% of 2025 platform flows linked to illicit activity.

They added that Binance has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into compliance and expanded its sanctions and AML workforce to more than 1,280 specialists.

Related: Are Ordinary Americans the 'Real Losers' of the SEC Lawsuits Against Coinbase and Binance?

Lawsuit follows Trumps pardon of Binance founder

The lawsuit arrived one month after U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty in November 2023 to violating the Bank Secrecy Act.
A U.S. couple has been charged with employing undocumented workers in multiple states, including in Upstate New York.

WRGB reports Moises Orduna-Rios, 36, and Raquel Orduna-Rios, 30, have been arrested after allegedly making $74 million through their Michigan-based plumbing company, Orduna Plumbing. Federal prosecutors say they used hundreds of workers who were not authorized to be in the United States, including immigrants who were recently arrested by ICE in Buffalo, Rochester, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

According to MLive.com, Orduna Plumbing employed 253 people, but federal investigators said they could only confirm six were legally allowed to work and live in the U.S.

A criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York shows the contracting firm allegedly operated in New York, Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio. The couple allegedly took workers passports and placed them in overcrowded houses and hotel rooms

WRGB reports nine people were allegedly living together in a sparsely furnished residence in Rochester. All nine, including five from Mexico and four from Nicaragua, were arrested; one was released because he had an ongoing immigration case.

MLive reports the investigation began in January 2020 when U.S. Border Patrol agents in Buffalo found undocumented immigrants driving vehicles registered to Orduna Plumbing. Federal agents said a work van outside an Amerst hotel was registered to the company and Moises Orduna-Rios in Plymouth, Michigan.

ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) also arrested five undocumented Mexican immigrants in Buffalo in April 2023 and eight people in three vehicles in Western New York throughout 2024. In all four cases, they were driving cars or vans belonging to Orduna-Rios and Ordina Plumbing.

According to court documents, messages found on a workers phone from a recent search warrant showed Raquel and Moises Oduna-Rios sent WhatsApp messages to workers about passports, payroll, tools, work vehicles, and housing rules. On Feb. 1, Moises warned them to avoid immigration enforcement by driving the speed limit, limiting trips to the store and avoiding gatherings such as barbeques.

Moises and Raquel Orduna-Rios appeared in court last week in the Eastern District of Michigan and were released on a $10,000 bond. Theyre scheduled to appear in Rochesters Federal Courhouse on Dec. 2.

The couple is facing charges of harboring undocumented workers for commercial advantage or private financial gain, employing at least 10 unauthorized aliens, engaging in a pattern of hiring undocumented immigrants and money laundering.

If found guilty, the couple reportedly faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $3,000 per undocumented worker.
Con Edison recommends customers keep their thermostats at 68 degrees during daytime hours, calling it an effective balance between comfort and efficiency. (Associated Press/Jessica Hill)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  With winter here, Con Edison and home-security firm ADT are urging residents to take simple steps to manage heating costs without sacrificing comfort.

Their primary message: A well-set thermostat can make a noticeable difference on winter utility bills.

Con Edison recommends customers keep their thermostats at 68 degrees during daytime hours, calling it an effective balance between comfort and efficiency. The utility further advises lowering the temperature to roughly 60 degrees overnight or during hours when the home is unoccupied.

According to Con Edison, reducing the heat for at least eight hours a day can cut seasonal heating expenses by as much as 10%  a savings that could be significant as energy costs fluctuate throughout the colder months.

ADT, whose smart-home systems are increasingly used to manage heating and cooling, offers similar advice. The company notes that smart thermostats can automatically adjust temperatures based on daily routines, lowering heat when residents are out and restoring comfortable levels before they return.

Some systems can also respond to shifts in outdoor weather conditions and send alerts if indoor temperatures fall unusually low, helping prevent frozen pipes or other winter-related issues.

National Grid, which serves much of upstate New York and parts of Long Island, echoes these recommendations and highlights several programs available specifically to New Yorkers.

The company encourages residents to take advantage of energy-efficiency incentives offered through its New York Home Energy Assistance programs, which can help with weatherization, heating-system upgrades, smart thermostats and insulation improvements.

With New York winters often bringing sharp temperature swings, its especially important to seal drafts around doors and windows and to ensure heating equipment is maintained.

For households that qualify, the utility points to payment-assistance options and budget-billing plans designed to help New Yorkers manage seasonal fluctuations in their heating expenses.

Together, these recommendations aim to encourage residents to heat their homes thoughtfully and make use of available technology to keep energy use in check. Utility officials say even small changes can lead to meaningful savings.

Before you know it, youll be back to trying to figure out how to adjust the thermostat to cool down the house for the summer.
The Macys star is seen during 98th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28, 2024, in Manhattan. (Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy's)

Its a holiday tradition that goes right along with the turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie  welcoming the holiday season by viewing the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The 2025 parade steps off at 77th Street and marches down a 2.5-mile route, arriving at Macys Herald Square flagship store.

This years event promises electrifying Herald Square performances by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, while the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes will also join the festivities. And musical performances by Gavin DeGraw, Foreigner, Jewel, Matteo Bocelli, Ciara and Christopher Jackson are expected to wow the holiday crowds along the route.

For those whod rather not brave late Novembers chill to watch the action with millions of others along the parade route, it can easily be viewed a number of ways.

You can catch all the fun on NBC or stream it live on Peacock. The broadcast runs on Thursday, Nov. 27, from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The broadcast will be hosted by TODAYs Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker. And a Spanish-language simulcast can be viewed on Telemundo, hosted by NBCs Aleyda Ortiz and Clovis Nienow.

An encore telecast will be shown at 2 p.m.

And you can also follow @macys and #macysParade on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and other platforms for behind-the-scenes content.

Countdown special

On Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m., NBC and Peacock will air the primetime special Countdown to the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade,' broadcast live from the parade route.

The show will tell the incredible stories behind the floats, balloons and bands as they prepare to make their down the parade route on Turkey Day.

For the blind and visually impaired, NBCUniversal will present the full NBC broadcast with live audio description on the Secondary Audio Program channel. The broadcast will offer additional audio describing the rich visuals of the parade.

To stream the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade on your mobile device through Peacock, NBCs official streaming platform, just download the Peacock app, available on iOS and Android.
Rabbi Yaakov Lehrfield of Young Israel speaks at the podium surrounded by Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Assemblymember Sam Pirozzolo and various interfaith religious leaders. The group expressed their support for protecting religious freedom and condemning religious hate at Young Israel in Willowbrook on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

STATEN ISLAND, NY -- Religious leaders from across Staten Island gathered in Willowbrook on Tuesday to condemn hate and celebrate religious freedom.

The interfaith leaders were joined by Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon and Assemblymember Sam Pirozzolo, a Republican who represents Mid-Island, on the steps of Young Israel of Staten Island to express their support for protecting the rights of people to practice their faith freely.

Fossella tied the gathering to the celebration of Thanksgiving, and how the Pilgrims left England in search of religious freedoms.

Theres talk about when the Pilgrims first came here, they were seeking religious freedom. They came together, and around this time of year, they celebrated a harvest to give thanks and gratitude for all the blessings in their life, he stated. Nothing has really changed in these last few hundred years. We still give thanks and express gratitude for living in the greatest country in the world, in large part because we are free to exercise whatever religion we want.

Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, and religious leaders are making a renewed call for the protection of New Yorkers practicing their faith freely, without fear of retribution, at Young Israel in Willowbrook on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

This event followed a large protest outside the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan on Nov. 19. According to amNewYork, there were videos of the event where anti-Israel protestors could be heard saying Globalize the intifada, Death to the IDF and Resistance  take another settler out. It was reported that the demonstration ended with no arrests.

What happened the other day up on the East Side of Manhattan at that synagogue is unacceptable, and it is not to be tolerated. People are simply going about their American right, stated District Attorney Michael McMahon. But its more than that, its a human right. To follow their religion and express their religion, whatever it is, and thats something we have to stand up for every day when someone threatens that.

Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, and religious leaders are making a renewed call for the protection of New Yorkers practicing their faith freely, without fear of retribution, at Young Israel in Willowbrook on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

McMahon, along with Pirozzolo, emphasized Staten Islands zero-tolerance approach to prosecuting hate crimes.

If youre going to do something thats hate filled, were going to come after you, were going to find you, were going to get you, and were going to prosecute you, Pirozzolo said.

Msgr. William Belford of St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Castleton Corners, who was joined by representatives from multiple religious and cultural communities, emphasized the importance of harmony among different faiths.

Msgr. William Belford of St. Teresa's Parish is surrounded by Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, and religious leaders as the group made a renewed call for the protection of New Yorkers practicing their faith freely, without fear of retribution, at Young Israel in Willowbrook on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

No matter what aspect of our religions we want to celebrate, it should be allowed to be done in peace and harmony and everybody taking some joy in what others do as well. I speak for our Catholic priests and people in saying no hatred is allowed, only peace and joy, said the parish leader.

There is no room for hate crime and discrimination in this land, added Gurdev Singh Kang of the Sikh community. God bless America. God bless all New Yorkers. We want to keep peace.

We stand here united. Weve been at these stairs before, unfortunately, too many times for this kind of hating, but also we have still stood together in times of celebrations, Imam Tahir Kukaj, a clergy leader for the Albanian and Muslim community on Staten Island, told the Advance/SILive.com after the press conference.

Rabbi Yaakov Lehrfield of Young Israel, who hosted the event, expressed his gratitude for the support and assured attendees that the interfaith community is a strong one.

They have set up, which happens all the time, round table meetings with leaders of interfaith, and we meet and we talk, and all of us get along beautifully, he said. We get along fine. We respect each other, which is a beautiful thing.
Threats leveled against judges and their families are becoming increasingly prevalent.

Federal judges were targeted 457 times in 2023; in 2022, 300 were targeted; and 179 were targeted in 2019. All of the threats were deemed serious enough to investigate. (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/threats-to-federal-judges-have-risen-every-year-since-2019/).

This year, judges who have ruled in actions brought by and against the Trump administration and its allies have endured even more sinister and dangerous attacks on them and members of their families. According to Nathan L. Hecht, chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, such attacks are fomented by misinformation.

He noted in June in a roundtable on the subject: When thats all the public hears in this polarized, political environment, it affects us at a basic level. You really want to go into divorce court and worry that the judge is not on your or your lawyers side?

Its one thing to think that about decisions from the highest court in the land, but it gets very real to people when it undermines their confidence in the judiciary. So all of these things contribute to a very difficult environment.

And, as Bridget Mary McCormack, president and CEO of the American Arbitration AssociationInternational Centre for Dispute Resolution and a retired chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, cogently observed at the same judicial roundtable: When the public starts to lose faith in courts and what they do, we dont have an army or money to back us up, so its deeply concerning.

I do think that polarization has seeped into peoples views of the judiciaryand certainly how the media talks about the judiciary. I cant remember ever reading an editorial about a decision made by my former court that didnt describe which party nominated us, even if we very rarely had opinions that lined up along party lines.

Apart from relying for their protection on state and federal law enforcement, judges have little recourse against such attacks, even when based on misinformation. That is because judges are generally prohibited from responding to criticisms concerning pending cases. Judith Kaye, chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals from 1993 to 2008, stated that judges are bound to silence when facing their critics about particular cases. . . . 

Although the New York State Code of Judicial Conduct, for example, does not prohibit judges from making public statements in the course of their official duties or from explaining for public information the procedures of the court, it prohibits any public comment about a pending or impending proceeding in any court within the United States or its territories including any proceedings pending or impending before the maligned judge.

In 1996, the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics relied on that rule in advising that [a] judge may not send a letter to the editor of a newspaper responding to published articles criticizing the judge for choosing not to disqualify himself/herself in a pending criminal proceeding even though the judges proposed letter would have simply addressed inaccuracies in the articles.

In 2000, the Advisory Committee refined the rule by permitting a judge to respond to criticisms concerning the imposition of fines in the judges court to the extent of publiciz[ing] for public information the city ordinance pursuant to which certain classes of fines were raised.

The prohibition of judges from defending themselves against false allegations likely derives from the ancient Jewish tradition that considers a good judge to be a humble judge (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Sanhedrin 2:7). That tradition continued with the New Testament, whereby Jesus is said to have chosen not to defend himself but to entrust himself to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).

And it may be reasoned that if members of the public are to rely on the courts to provide them with the vindication they seek for perceived wrongs, so too should judges. But see supra, Fortunato, Jr., 12 Geo. J. Legal Ethics 679 (advocating for the relaxation of restrictions on judges from defending themselves from false accusations).

And yet, a judges silence in the face of criticism may be seen by some as an admission. Such a mistaken assumption may fuel virulent attacks, ending in unjustifiable tragedies.

Given the gags that judges humbly impose on themselves, nothing could be further from the truth. It is therefore crucial that the public understand that judges are restrained from responding to criticism and from defending themselves. Perhaps the public will then rightly perceive that uninformed and reflexive violence against judges is abhorrent and leads to the erosion of the rule of law.

Barbara Jaffe is retired from the New York State Supreme Court, New York County. She serves as a volunteer for Lawyers Defending American Democracy and as a Director of the Center for Art Law. She is Of Counsel to the law firm of Borah, Goldstein, Altschuler, Nahins & Goidel, PC. Her commentary was originally published in OurTownNY newspapers at https://www.ourtownny.com/
In this photo from August, tractor trailers idle in traffic on the Staten Island Expressway. Advance/SILive.com | Gail Lubin

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A program designed to cut down on truck emissions isnt making much of an impact in neighborhoods that suffer from the worst air pollution, including parts Staten Island, according to the citys Department of Environmental Protection.

Since 2019, the DEPs Citizen Air Complaint Program has allowed New Yorkers to report trucks and other large vehicles that are idling illegally.

By utilizing the agencys idling complaints website, New Yorkers can record and report vehicles that are idling for more than three minutes, or more than one minute near a school or park.

When asked about the impact of the program on Staten Island, a DEP spokesperson said that under the current structure, a small number of people have repeatedly targeted known hotspots for idling. The complaints for the program, the representative explained, are typically concentrated in Manhattan, wealthier parts of Brooklyn, and western Queens.

In addition, some of the areas that suffer the most from air pollution, including on Staten Island, receive little attention from the program, according to the spokesperson.

DEPs Citizen Complaint Program allows members of the public to report commercial vehicles that idle beyond the legal limit. While the program is successful, it has flaws  particularly its limited impact in addressing idling pollution in environmental justice communities, despite a rise in complaint volume," according to the DEP spokesperson.

DEP remains committed to working with City Hall, the City Council, and key stakeholders to strengthen and improve the program.

The spokesperson also pointed toward testimony by DEP Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala about the program.

At a City Council hearing, Aggarwala said the program had been a successful tool for reducing vehicle emissions in the city.

Aggarwala did, however, admit that the program had almost no impact on the neighborhoods that needed it the most, including the South Bronx, the North Shore of Staten Island, East New York, and Brownsville.

According to a recent report from the New York Post, not many complaints are coming from the neighborhoods that suffer from the worst air pollution, including parts of Staten Islands North Shore.

The DEP representative said that the agency fully supports a bill in the City Council that would amend the program.

Intro 941, first proposed in 2024, would adjust some of the penalties associated with the program, create a code of conduct for participants, and allow owners to fix their vehicles instead of just paying a fine.

Vehicle emissions were found to be a contributing factor to more than 2,000 deaths in 2016,a Harvard study determined, and Staten Islands harmful ozone pollution has been previously highlighted by the Advance/SILive.com
The NESE pipeline is a hot topic in New York's political, environmental, and residential spheres. (Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon) Jason Paderon

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  South Shore Councilmember Frank Morano is seeking ironclad commitments as the Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline lumbers towards fruition.

In early November, the state Department of Environmental Conservation issued a Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification, an Excavation & Fill Permit, and State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the NESE pipeline, which would include a 17.4-mile underwater segment through the Raritan and Lower New York bays, passing Staten Islands shores.

The pipeline failed thrice in the past to get its Section 401 certificate due to concerns about pollutants being stirred up from the seabed during construction in New York Citys waters.

As a result, there is a deep divide between New Yorkers on what the best course of action should be.

In an interview with the Advance/SILive.com, Morano detailed the need for cost protections and oversight on construction safeguards.

Theres two aspects of it that Im keeping an eye on and that Im concerned about. One is cost, right? Because we dont want Staten Islanders to be asked to pay more without real tangible benefits. So, I dont want to accept a scenario where Staten Islanders pay higher utility bills for a project that doesnt deliver gas to Staten Island, Morano explained.

He continued: Then the other aspect...is environmental protection still matters I want to see the exact monitoring plan, the independent oversight and the enforcement mechanisms that DEC says will be in place.

Frank Morano, a Republican candidate for the special election for the South Shore City Council seat, speaks to the Advance/SILive.com editorial board in the Bloomfield newsroom on Thursday, Apr. 3, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon). Jason Paderon Jason Paderon

My position has been the same from day one, which is Id like to do whats in the best interest of the Staten Islanders  financially, environmentally, and in terms of neighborhood quality of life. But the DECs decision, in terms of the permit approval, it doesnt end the conversation. It raises the stakes, Morano said.

But in terms of energy generation, be it fossil fuel like the pipeline, or renewable like battery energy storage sites, Morano has concerns.

He said, ...we cant ignore the explosion of battery storage facilities on Staten Island. Theres a real and growing concern about massive battery energy storage system being placed in residential areas. So if this pipeline meaningfully reduces that pressure, thats something I have to consider.

The pressure he references is the amount of energy needed to power the borough.

The battery sites are designed to remove the burden from the citys stressed grid, using rechargeable batteries to store electrical energy from various sources, and then releasing that stored energy when needed.

Still, the BESS sites are worrisome to residents and elected officials who fear fires and their proximity to people-populated areas.

Im trying to approach it with an open mind. Im trying to hear arguments on both sides, and Im genuinely listening, and I know its a rare thing in politics and in government; but there are environmental groups that are raising red flags. There are ratepayers that are worried about their bills. There are energy experts saying this increases reliability, Morano listed.

Lawsuit filed

The Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, Staten Islands largest environmental protection organization, alongside Food & Water Watch, Surfrider, and Sierra Club, filed a lawsuit against the Department of Environmental Conservation for approving a certification that the pipeline failed three times prior.

The NESE pipeline is a hot topic in New York's political, environmental, and residential spheres. (Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon) Jason Paderon

Would not meet New York States rigorous water standards

In its 2020 failure to pass the standards needed to obtain the certification, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) wrote the following:

DEC has determined construction of the NESE pipeline project would not meet New York states rigorous water quality standards. Construction of the proposed project would result in significant water quality impacts resulting from the re-suspension of sediments and other contaminants, including mercury and copper, and would disturb sensitive habitats, including shellfish beds and other bottom-dwelling marine life, clearly demonstrating that a default mixing zone is not appropriate for this project. New York is not prepared to sacrifice the states water quality for a project that is not only environmentally harmful, but also unnecessary to meet New Yorks energy needs.

A drone view from Conference House Park shows the Tottenville shoreline overlooking New Jersey where the NESE pipeline could be built. (Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon) Jason Paderon

The Clean Water Act is the basis for federal water regulations, including the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters, according to the EPA.

Deep divisions

The pipelines proposal and subsequent approvals stirred deep divisions between environmental groups, businesses, residents, and city agencies.

Paying for the pipeline will come in the form of a 3.5% boost to National Grid bills across New York City and Long Island, despite several areas not receiving any of the energy that will be generated from it.

Staten Island is one of those areas that will not benefit from the gas transferred in the pipeline, though National Grid is firm in their stance that the pipeline will help keep the gas that is on the Island already, on the Island.

Currently gas is being shared across Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Additionally, National Grid emphasized the possibility for $2.5 billion in energy savings for New Yorks downstate residents, like Staten Islanders, over the next 15 years, a National Grid spokesperson said.

The NESE pipeline is a hot topic in New York's political, environmental, and residential spheres. (Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon) (Advance/SILive.com | JJason Paderon)

National Grid touted the news that 96 organizations, representing 1.7 million people, signed on in approval for the pipeline.

However, 130 elected officials from across the state voiced their own issues with the project in a letter penned to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Whats changed in the years since these pipelines were denied? Certainly not the science or the environmental dangers posed by the pipelines. The only difference now is that Trump and the gas industry are joining together in an attempt to bully New York into approving the pipelines. These were bad projects when New York denied them previously, and theyre even worse now, the letter reads.

This is in addition to a slew of environmental groups and others working to raise awareness about the effects this pipeline could incur.

Over 100 environmental groups and community organizations banded together in July to push the now-closed commentary period to have an extension period, allowing more time for people to learn about the pipeline and submit their thoughts.
Schools in New York City will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28, for Thanksgiving recess. (Advance/SILive.com | Annalise Knudson)

New York City public and Catholic schools will be closed on Thursday and Friday this week to both students and staff.

Schools will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28, for Thanksgiving recess  offering an extended weekend for students due to the holiday break.

The last day of class before the break will be Wednesday, Nov. 26. Students will have off on Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 27, and the following day on Friday, Nov. 28, which is also known as Black Friday.

Students will return to class on Monday, Dec. 1.

It will be a few weeks before both public and Catholic school students have time off again. Winter break will begin for both public and Catholic school students on Christmas Eve, or Dec. 24.

Classes will resume for all students after winter recess in the new year on Monday, Jan. 5.

The public school academic calendar includes some two dozen days off between the first day and the last day of classes.

The calendar gives time off every year for religious holidays like Good Friday, Yom Kippur and Eid al-Fitr, and week-long breaks for winter recess, mid-winter recess and spring recess, which include Christmas and Passover. Diwali has also been added recently as a public school holiday.

The school calendar also allows time off each year for Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day (Columbus Day), Election Day, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day and Juneteenth. Dates for parent-teacher conference days for elementary, middle schools and high schools are also posted in the calendar.

You can go here to view more important dates for the 2025-2026 public school academic year.

The Archdiocese of New York Superintendent of Schools calendar for Catholic elementary school students on Staten Island also includes time off for religious and federal holidays.

Here are important dates for the 2025-2026 Catholic school academic year.
FILE - Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks during a Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittee hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of State on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) AP

Former Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell was attacked Monday by Vice President JD Vance and Donald Trump, Jr. after questioning the administrations strategy to end the war in Ukraine.

McConnell, who is retiring in January 2027 after representing Kentucky in the Senate for nearly 40 years, including 17 leading Republicans in the chamber, suggested President Donald Trump is being given awful advice.

Putin has spent the entire year trying to play President Trump for a fool, McConnell said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. If Administration officials are more concerned with appeasing Putin than securing real peace, then the President ought to find new advisors. Rewarding Russian butchery would be disastrous to Americas interests. And a capitulation like Bidens abandonment of Afghanistan would be catastrophic to a legacy of peace through strength.

The former Senate GOP leader continued to question the administrations strategy on Sunday.

McConnell said that while he agreed with Trump that former President Joe Bidens weakness emboldened enemies like Putin, the Trump administrations negotiations to end the war are favoring Russia.

But those who think pressuring the victim and appeasing the aggressor will bring peace are kidding themselves. Which difficult concessions are we pressing Russia to make? How does limiting Ukraines defenses against future aggression increase the likelihood of enduring peace? The price and stability of peace matters, and our credibility is on the line. Allies and adversaries are watching: Will America hold firm against aggression or will we reward it? McConnell tweeted.

The Kentucky senator, who has also criticized the administrations stance on tariffs, drew the anger of Vance and Trump Jr. over his latest disagreement with the administration.

This is a ridiculous attack on the presidents team, which has worked tirelessly to clean up the mess in Ukraine that Mitch--always eager to write blank checks to Bidens foreign policy--left us, Vance tweeted. I wonder if the three candidates to replace McConnell in Kentucky share his views here.

Trump Jr. accused McConnell of being bitter that his influence has waned in the Republican Party.

Mitch is just bitter and lashing out against my father because hes mad that Republican voters have rejected his globalist agenda on just about everything and want to put America First! he tweeted.
The Ramsey Show - Highlights / YouTube

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Millions of Americans continue to be saddled with student debt that can stay with them for decades, weighing down their ascent to a better life.

The latest government data shows that almost 43 million people have outstanding student loan debts. That amounts to one in six adult Americans (1).

Presently, the total sum for student loans stands in excess of $1.6 trillion.

Must Read

Im currently working two jobs to make ends meet, Larhonda, 59, told host Dave Ramsey. I owe $258,000 in student loans. Is there any way I can make that go away?

That $258,000 in loans wasnt just from one degree. Larhonda explained that not only did she pay for herself to obtain three degrees, but she also paid for her sons tuition through Parent PLUS Loans.

Even after gaining those three degrees, Larhonda stated shes working in logistics, making around $60,000 per year.

These are disturbing numbers at 59 years old, Ramsey said. The answer to your question is, We have to make more money. And we have not monetized your knowledge base very well.

The Federal Reserve shows that approximately 10% of adults between the ages of 45-59 have outstanding student loan debt, while that percentage decreses to 2% after the age of 60 (2).

Ramseys advice

Ramsey suggested its time Larhonda found a new job. At the time, Ramsey claimed that most people in accounting make $100,000 to $125,000 starting salary. However, those figures might be off. ZipRecruiter shows an accountant would make on average $68,326 in the U.S. as of November 2025, while in Virginia, the average is $67,740 (3).

However, as Ramsey went on to explain, you can earn more if you become a certified public accountant (CPA). This would bump the average base salary to $96,543 according to Indeed (4).

While its easy to blame your areas of study or where you live for your financial troubles, Ramsey said, these arent usually the prime culprits when it comes to getting paid what youre worth.

As for the student loans themselves, theres no way for them to simply go away. And if Larhonda foots the bill for her sons education, now that hes older, it may be time to ask him to chip in.
TMK Energy has crept closer to the magic moment when its Gurvantes XXXV coal seam project in Mongolia finally gives up its gas.

The latest pressure build-up test, run over four days, showed the reservoir pressure in the upper coal seams at the LF-06 pilot well has continued to fall towards the all-important gas desorption point, exactly as the companys latest modelling predicted.

TMK Energys Gurvantes XXXV coal seam gas project adjacent to coal mining operations in Mongolia.

Depressurisation is key to unlocking coal seam gas and is brought on by pumping water out of the coal to gradually ease the pressure underground. As the water is drawn away, the reservoir moves closer to the crucial desorption point - the moment methane starts to unbind from the coal matrix and finally starts to flow at commercial rates.

TMK says it has been steadily throttling down reservoir pressure by pumping out an impressive 500 barrels of water a day, nudging the system closer to that all-important moment.
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Where its all about collagen-rich pork and chicken soups.

1 / 4 Shyuns pork butter corn ramen. Penny Stephens 2 / 4 Shyun Ramen Bar in Koornang Road, Carnegie. Penny Stephens 3 / 4 Outside the Carnegie shopfront. Penny Stephens 4 / 4 Shyun Ramen Bar also has a sister restaurant, Shyun, further along Koornang Road. Penny Stephens Previous Slide Next Slide

Japanese$$$$

Before Melbourne knew how to argue about different styles of ramen, Shyun already had its broth going. They know a thing or two about collagen-rich pork and chicken soups at this bustling bar, and the open kitchen is visible between drifts of steam emanating from bubbling cauldrons.

Dont fret if the restaurant looks full  there is a large dining area at the rear too. Also consider Shyun down the road at #126, which has a broader Japanese menu, including sushi and generous, colourful chirashi bowls.

Want to visit this venue? Save it in the Good Food app.
Weve seen so many government blunders over the years that most of us have become numb to them. Another headline, another policy misfire  and we barely shrug.

But occasionally a decision emerges so baffling, so detached from common sense, that it forces you to sit up and pay attention. What follows is, undoubtedly, one of the most damaging and counterproductive policies affecting older Australians: a system that actively discourages pensioners from working by slugging them with punitive income tests.

Our pension system is not built to help retirees who need it most. Credit: Simon Letch

Australia is desperately short of workers and encouraging pensioners to work could help fill workforce gaps. Just as important are the benefits for retirees themselves. A happy retirement depends heavily on having a sense of purpose and social connection. Working when youre older provides both, plus some extra income.

The real problem is revealed when you look at how the rules treat two very different hypothetical retirees. Take the Bradleys, a wealthy couple with $800,000 in super and receiving a part pension. If they wished to make some extra money from working, they would be able to earn an extra $47,724 a year with no effect on their pension.
Developers slowly circling to build new housing at Frenchs Forest have cried poor over requirements to provide affordable options. What a surprise  not.

Luckily for them, the developers found a sympathetic ear. They convinced Northern Beaches Council to walk back from its previous commitment to include 10 per cent affordable housing for new developments in the burgeoning Frenchs Forest town centre. Instead, councillors have bowed to the demands of developers and some residents and have mandated a paltry 3 per cent.

Residents complained that the affordable housing mandate somehow cruelled development in Frenchs Forest, and that they were unable to sell properties at the price they wanted. Adding to the councils backdown over mandating affordable housing was a municipal report, both self-serving and self-deluded, that found young people were leaving, chasing cheaper rents.

An artists impression of Frenchs Forest under the councils plan to boost housing density.

In the four years since the 10 per cent mandate came into effect, developers have been happily building in many other areas of the northern beaches. Meanwhile, just four new housing applications have been approved for the Frenchs Forest town centre, including a $71 million 124-apartment complex  but none have commenced construction.
Families of those killed in the Bondi Junction mass stabbing will call for attacker Joel Cauchis psychiatrist to be investigated, an inquest into the tragedy has been told, after she gave belligerent and shocking evidence at a hearing earlier this year.

The NSW State Coroner has also been told that the states mental health system is under-resourced, crisis-driven and failing to keep people safe.

An inquest has heard of Joel Cauchis troubled mental health history. Credit: Facebook

Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by a NSW Police officer after he stabbed 16 people in the shopping centre on the afternoon of April 13, 2024.

Six people were killed; Dawn Singleton, 25, Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, and Faraz Tahir, 30. A further 10 people were injured but survived.
A tweet by former NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham about Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich might not have been in good taste but it was not defamatory, Lathams lawyer has told an appeal court.

Latham, now an independent NSW upper house MP, is seeking to overturn a Federal Court decision last year that found a highly graphic and offensive post by him about Greenwich on Twitter, now X, was defamatory.

Mark Latham and his lawyer Zali Burrows in October. Credit: Edwina Pickles

The tweet led One Nation founder Pauline Hanson to remove Latham, a former federal Labor leader, as the partys parliamentary leader.

Latham was ordered to pay Greenwich $140,000 in damages plus legal costs, which tipped the total amount payable to the Sydney MP above $500,000. Lathams three-day appeal hearing started in Sydney on Tuesday.
The family of a boy accused of murdering a 17-year-old at a park in Sydneys north-west have dodged media outside court, with their lawyer attempting to wave away cameras.

The 15-year-old is the second person charged over the fatal stabbing of the teen who died at a reserve in Rouse Hill on Monday afternoon. Police have collected several items from the scene, including a kitchen knife which is undergoing forensic examination.

The parents of a 15-year-old boy charged with murder leaving court on Wednesday. Credit: Sam Mooy

Appearing at Parramatta Childrens Court on Wednesday, the boy, who was wearing a grey sweatshirt, held his head in his hands. He did not apply for bail, and it was formally refused.

Judge Megan Heywood told the child he would be held at the Cobham Youth Justice Centre and appear via video for his next court date on January 23.
The Albanese government is arguing it has no responsibility for what happens to people it deports to Nauru, even if they are subject to harm, as it fights in court to uphold the terms of a $2.5 billion deal to deport non-citizens with criminal records to the Pacific island.

Labors response to its latest High Court challenge comes as the controversial 30-year Nauru agreement faces mounting scrutiny, following the publication of a hidden transcript revealing Nauruan President David Adeang hopes to send deportees back to their home country.

Nauruan President David Adeang at Parliament House last year. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Greens Senator David Shoebridge and Independent Senator David Pocock read the translated transcript of Adeangs interview into Hansard on Monday night, thwarting the governments efforts to keep it secret by refusing the release of its own translation and suppressing the document in court.

According to the transcript of Adeangs interview with Nauruan media from February this year, he said: It will not be the first time we have accepted foreigners with backgrounds that are not 100 per cent pristine.
An MP has complained to the workplace safety regulator, citing extreme fatigue and the risk of serious injury after members endured a 20-hour sitting day, as the state government lays the groundwork for another possible marathon night to push through a controversial hunting bill this week.

Animal Justice MP Emma Hurst wrote to the SafeWork last Friday after the upper house sat until 6am earlier this month to debate workers compensation reforms.

The upper house can vote to extend a sitting day well into the next morning. Credit: Louise Kennerley

The upper house typically concludes at 10.30pm, but members can vote to remove the hard adjournment and continue sitting.

On Tuesday, Labors leader in the upper house, Penny Sharpe, moved to extend the sitting days on both Wednesday and Thursday, to audible groans from members of the crossbench. Sharpe said a house vote would decide if a sitting day was extended, not the government, which is in a minority.
ACCIONA Energia has secured a 20-year power supply contract through the Philippines' renewable energy auction, covering the full output of two renewable projects totalling 281MW.

The award was granted in the fourth round of the Philippines Department of Energys Green Energy Auction Programme.

The auction includes the 101MW Kalayaan 2 wind farm in Laguna, which is currently under construction.

It also covers the 180MWp Daanbantayan solar plant in Cebu, set to begin construction before the end of this year.

The contract provides long-term stability for both projects, which are poised to contribute significantly to the Philippines energy mix as it seeks to expand its renewable capacity.

In addition to these specified projects, ACCIONA Energia is advancing a pipeline of more than 2GW in the country.

The company said it has also restructured its partnerships in Southeast Asia to enhance its presence in key markets, including the Philippines and Thailand, where it manages substantial portfolios and plans further expansion in the coming years.

ACCIONA Energia has a total installed capacity of 15,147MW and a consolidated capacity of 13,425MW, as of June 2025.

Earlier this month, ACCIONA Energia unveiled plans to build a 1GWh battery energy storage system at its Malgarida solar complex in Chiles Atacama Desert.

"ACCIONA Energia wins Philippines renewable energy auction for 281MW supply " was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Jess Wilson has decried the human cost of Victorias record debt, which she blames for longer waiting times for ambulances, fewer police on the street, more crime and acute financial pressure on public hospitals and schools.

Declaring that Victoria has entered a debt crisis requiring an urgent, bipartisan response, the opposition leader said debt and escalating cost of interest repayments was the single greatest challenge facing the state.

Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson has ruled out cutting frontline services to manage the states finances. Credit: Jason South

Delivering her first formal speech since wresting the leadership of the Liberal Party from Brad Battin last week in a party room coup, Wilson told the trustees of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia on Tuesday that Victorias debt burden was vastly different to what the state had carried before.

We are now at the point where net debt and the associated interest payments are becoming an existential threat to the Victorian economy, Wilson said. We cannot assume we will simply bounce back out of this.
The last remnants of Victorias critically endangered native grasslands, which are home to several threatened plants and animals, are in declining ecological health, increasingly choked by weeds, blighted by illegal dumping and starved of funds for their protection.

Experts have warned that the unique environment on Melbournes expanding outskirts faces extinction unless urgent action is taken.

The Derrimut grassland, in Melbournes west, is protected under an agreement between the state and federal governments. Credit: Justin McManus

The grasslands must be protected under environmental laws, but an official audit has found most of the vulnerable ecosystem is being neglected.

The then Brumby government committed to create a 15,000-hectare reserve beyond Melbournes west 15 years ago in an agreement with the Rudd government to offset the erasure of grasslands habitat due to expanding the city limits.
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InspirationUSA New Yorkers recommend flying over this state. Heres why you shouldnt Rob McFarland November 26, 2025  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

You rarely hear anyone rave about Nebraska. In fact, it might just be Americas most-maligned state. Before visiting, Id been told to brace myself for a flat, uninspiring landscape with few notable attractions. Just fly over it, advises one New Yorker. So it is with suitably low expectations that I disembark Amtraks California Zephyr at Omaha station before dawn. A morning stroll around the CBD does little to challenge the stereotype  corporate skyscrapers shade wide, empty streets. Apart from the odd office worker, theres little evidence that Im in a city of almost 500,000 people. Buffalo incoming Spirit of Nebraska Settlers sculptures in Pioneer Courage Park in downtown Omaha. Alamy But then I spot a buffalo leaping through the side of a building. Followed by another one grazing in a manicured office hedgerow. Intrigued, I follow the herd down to Pioneer Courage Park, where dozens of bronze sculptures depict dramatic scenes from the westward explorations of the early pioneers. Teams of oxen and horses pull canvas-topped wagons while women and children in bonnets walk alongside. Incongruously surrounded by gleaming office buildings, its one of the largest bronze sculpture installations in the country.

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Its my first glimpse of Omahas fabulous collection of public art, which ranges from the stunning Fertile Ground mural  a colourful block-long depiction of the citys history and culture  to whimsical sculptures of jugglers and stilt walkers outside the convention centre. Fertile Ground is one of the largest community murals in the country. From here, I stroll down to The RiverFront, a $US325 million development that has revitalised 29 hectares of land to create a delightful corridor of parks, playgrounds and water features between the Missouri River and the historic Old Market district. Leaping over the river (and the state boundary with neighbouring Iowa) is the soaring Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge where I join several others taking selfies with one foot in each state (known locally as Bobbing). And, naturally, living under the bridge is a bright blue troll called Omar. Flower sellers at the Omaha Farmers Market. There are more surprises in the Old Market, where 19th-century brick warehouses have been repurposed as apartments, restaurants, boutiques and galleries. In the Old Market Artists Gallery, I meet 73-year-old Frank Costanzo, one of the gallerys 12 resident artists, who specialises in colourful, retro-themed pop art. Omaha has a thriving art scene and is very progressive, he says. Were a blue dot in a red state.

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Art of the city Joslyn Art Museum. The citys commitment to art is self-evident at the Joslyn Art Museum, an impressive institution with a striking new wing thats an artwork in itself. As well as notable works by Rembrandt, Monet and Titian, it has an extensive American West collection by Karl Bodmer and Alfred Jacob Miller. Entry is free. The new wing at Joslyn Art Museum, which boasts a collection of 12,000 objects spanning 5000 years of human creativity. Zoos have become increasingly divisive attractions, but its hard not to be impressed with Omahas, which regularly gets voted the nations best thanks to innovative exhibits such as the worlds largest desert dome and the biggest indoor rainforest in the US. Train enthusiasts will enjoy the train-related exhibits in The Durham Museum, housed inside the beautiful art deco Union Station, plus the Union Pacific Railroad Museum just over the river in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

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Omahas former Union Station displays permanent exhibits highlighting the regions history. Although Omaha has been the birthplace of many well-known figures (including Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando and Malcolm X), the one that most people know about is billionaire investor Warren Buffett. And so on my last night, I visit The Drover, which Ive been told is one of his favourite steakhouses. An unassuming brick venue on the outskirts of town, its been serving its famous whiskey-marinated steaks for more than 40 years. Taking a seat at the bar, I join a woman from New Jersey, a couple from Iowa and a guy from Minnesota, all of us here for the same thing. The verdict? Hands-down the best steak Ive ever eaten. The Drover steakhouse Omaha is the steak capital of the US. Clearly, Buffetts stock-picking genius applies to steaks and cities too. Despite his phenomenal wealth, hes lived in the same modest five-bedroom Omaha house for the past 67 years. THE DETAILS

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Train journeys After abandoning a sensible career in IT, Rob McFarland now divides his time between Sydney, the US and Europe. He's won six writing awards and regularly runs workshops for aspiring writers. Follow his travels on Instagram @mctraveller

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An unemployed Italian man has been accused of dressing up as his dead mother, complete with lipstick and a pearl necklace, to fraudulently claim her pension in a bizarre case that has been dubbed the Mrs Doubtfire scandal.

The 56-year-old man, an unemployed nurse from the northern city of Mantua, managed to pocket thousands of euros before his ruse was exposed, according to a report in Italys Corriere della Sera newspaper.

The late Graziella DallOglio (left) was impersonated by her son (right). Credit: Facebook

Making the case all the more macabre is the fact that he allegedly concealed his mothers body at home and kept it for so long that it eventually became mummified.

Graziella DallOglio died about three years ago at the age of 82, according to the paper.
Fake AI videos have a new generation loving 1980s life



New York, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



"The 1980s are calling," a teenager with a throwback hairstyle tells viewers as "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," the Tears for Fears rock anthem from that decade, plays in the background.

The fake montage -- entirely generated using artificial intelligence -- has racked up more than 600,000 "likes" on Instagram and is part of an internet fad known as "AI nostalgia," which can be confounding to those who actually lived through the decade.

Maximal Nostalgia, the Instagram account that regularly puts out such content, basks in a hugely idealized vision of the 1980s and 1990s.

The soft-focused fantasy land comes thanks to generative AI tools like OpenAI's Sora, Google's Veo or Luma AI's Ray that enable creation of strikingly realistic videos that are, at first glance, difficult to distinguish from real footage from the past.

Channels on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube look back in time through the AI-tinted lens, depicting pre-iPhone young people as being more present in the everyday, outdoors and eager to connect with others in real life.

Among the creators bringing this vision of the 1980s to life is Tavaius Dawson, a 26-year-old entrepreneur behind the account who was born nowhere near the time in question.

"People who were born in an era of smartphones and social media kind of wish they'd lived in a time when they didn't have to worry about this stuff," Dawson told AFP.



- 'Rose-colored glasses' -



An expert eye familiar with the era could sniff out some of the anachronisms and subtle absurdities common to AI. Bike lanes in New York City back then?

But the decade has proven to have a particularly powerful allure in the AI nostalgia trend that is appreciated by young people born long after the period.

Maximal Nostalgia and other channels like it, such as Purest Nostalgia or utopic.dreamer, depict peaceful suburbs or city streets, reminiscent of feel-good movies from that period.

Signs of the rising inequality, AIDS epidemic and crack cocaine addiction of the 1980s are absent.

Styles captured in the faux videos instead pay tribute to big hair, bright clothing and padded shoulders for which the decade is known.

"You have people look at the 1950s or 1960s through rose-colored glasses, forgetting a lot of tumultuous things that were happening at those times," North Carolina State University psychology professor Anna Behler said of collective nostalgia.

"Now, we're seeing the same thing with the '80s."

Dawson was adamant that his videos aren't meant to be seen as history but simply a way to make people happy.

Harmless intentions aside, AI video quality is so realistic that it could "blur the line" between authentic scenes from the past and fiction, Behler noted with concern.

While AI is a futuristic technology, it draws from the past for nostalgic visions that bring comfort in a lonely age.

"Nostalgia isn't a gimmick; it's emotional survival," said Simon Parmeggiani, creator of the Neptunian Glitter Ball channel that mixes a touch of fantasy with its look back at the 1980s.

Alicia West Fancher, a cosmetics industry sales director, remembers living through the 1980s and found herself deeply moved by the videos.

"I teared up," Fancher told AFP. "It's definitely not a fantasized version; that's how it was."

Dawson is now ready to trade up from AI to making live-action content set in this idealized version of the 1980s or 1990s.

"One thing we're certain of is that nostalgia doesn't fade," Dawson said.
Press Release from Business Wire: WorldFirst



(AFP) Nov 25, 2025



SINGAPORE, Nov 25, 2025 (BSW) - WorldFirst , Ant International's global account service provider, has launched an API-integrated and AI-driven solution tailored to global enterprises It leverages WorldFirst's unified global account, full-range financial services, and AI capabilities such as smarter treasury management to help streamline global funds distribution, unlock new revenue streams, and strengthen customer relationships.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251124796928/en/

WorldFirst CEO Clara Shi unveiled the new enterprise solution at Ant International's Global Voyage Event in Singapore



McKinsey research predicts that within six years, digital platforms will facilitate over 30%-about $60 trillion-of global economic activity. Yet as enterprises operate digitally and expand globally, they face critical financial obstacles: inefficient payments, high costs, compliance complexity, and fragmented customer experience-all creating friction that hinders growth.

Built with security and efficiency at its core, the WorldFirst Enterprise Solution delivers a comprehensive suite of financial services accessible via an integrated API solution. It is designed to help global enterprises across e-commerce, the gig economy, SaaS, OTAs and other digital platforms to automate critical financial functions directly within their existing systems. The solution reflects WorldFirst's strategy to combine global expertise with innovation to deliver future-ready financial rails.

Key features of the solution include:

-- Broader global connectivity: Tap into 200+ markets through WorldFirst's multi-currency World Account, with compliance backed by 60+ global licenses.

-- Stronger global spend solution: Launch and manage card issuing via World Card, plus mass payouts in 100+ currencies to bank accounts and wallets worldwide.

-- Smarter treasury management: Maximise revenue by Leveraging Ant International's Falcon AI forecast model, with >90% accuracy on liquidity and FX forecasting.

-- Faster global money movement: Powering 95% same-day global transfers & real-time settlement in 25 currencies through WorldFirst's leading bank partnerships.

-- Simpler API+AI-native integration: Boost efficiency with a developer-centric AI toolkit for risk management, compliance, and 24/7 global support.

To overcome critical financial obstacles for its vast network of third-party sellers, a leading global e-commerce platform is leveraging WorldFirst's Enterprise Solution for a comprehensive financial solution tailored to its ecosystem. This included a multi-currency wallet with automated eKYC/eKYB and global treasury management capabilities for collection, payment, and foreign exchange services.

Through seamless API integrations, the platform significantly improved the seller experience-cutting seller onboarding to under a day, strengthening compliance, and boosting global scalability with WorldFirst's extensive global coverage.

"Efficient payment and account services are no longer optional-they are fundamental to how platforms operate and compete globally," said Clara SHI, CEO of WorldFirst and Vice President of Ant International. "At WorldFirst, we built our API-integrated enterprise solution precisely to meet this critical need. It delivers a responsive and streamlined treasury experience, enabling digital platforms to lead in today's fast-paced market. We remain dedicated to deepening the integration of fintech and global commerce, empowering businesses to seamlessly connect with the world."

About WorldFirst

WorldFirst offers cross-border payments and treasury services through its global business account. WorldFirst simplifies key financial operations, including international payments, collections, currency conversions, and treasury management, all via one unified account. Leveraging the technological strengths of its parent company, Ant International, WorldFirst delivers industry-leading transaction security and reliability. WorldFirst has supported over 1.5 million customers, enabling payments in 100+ currencies across more than 210 countries and regions. Learn more about WorldFirst at https://www.worldfirst.com.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251124796928/en/









Contact

Chloe ZHU[email protected]







 2025 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release.
Press Release from Business Wire: Bridgepoint Group



(AFP) Nov 25, 2025



LONDON, Nov 25, 2025 (BSW) - Bridgepoint, one of the world's leading mid-market investors, today announced that it has agreed to acquire a majority stake in ht.digital, a leading, London-headquartered provider of digital asset assurance and technology solutions. The investment will be made by Bridgepoint Development Capital V - Bridgepoint's lower middle-market fund focused on supporting fast-growing businesses across Europe.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251125907148/en/

Digital assets - including cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and tokenised financial instruments, all built upon blockchain technology - are an increasingly important part of the global financial system. As adoption accelerates, regulation is driving vast demand for independent, institutional-grade assurance services to strengthen transparency and safeguard investors.

ht.digital is the leading digital asset transparency layer. From proof of reserves and attestations to financial audit, corporate finance and operations, they have developed a global presence with over 700 clients worldwide. Combining blockchain expertise, accounting knowledge and operational know-how with proprietary tools for on-chain verification, reconciliation and reporting, their role in enabling digital asset issuers to access institutional demand continues to expand.

Since the business was carved-out from Harris & Trotter LLP in 2023, it has established itself as the category leader in this emerging segment, with near-100% organic revenue CAGR over the last two years, underpinned by wins across exchanges, blockchain platforms and institutional clients. ht.digital operates in a sizeable market that is forecast to grow rapidly and is positioned to benefit from increased institutional adoption and regulatory demand for independent assurance.

Bridgepoint's investment will support ht.digital as it scales internationally and further professionalises its platform, building on its recent expansion into Europe. The partnership will enable continued investment in the firm's product and data innovation, alongside recruitment of specialist talent to add to its existing high-calibre team.

Matt Legg, Partner at Bridgepoint, said:"ht.digital sits at the intersection of two powerful, long-term trends - the institutional adoption of digital assets and the growing regulatory demand for independent audit and assurance. Nick and his team have built an exceptional business that combines accounting rigour, crypto-native expertise and advanced automation to deliver trusted assurance in a rapidly evolving market. We're delighted to partner with them to help realise ht.digital's potential as the global leader in its field."

Nick Newman, Founder and CEO of ht.digital, added:"Today is an important milestone for ht.digital. I'm immensely proud of what our team has built and grateful to our clients, my partners and Harris & Trotter for their support on the journey. Bridgepoint understands our business and knows how to scale professional services and technology firms. They are the ideal partner for ht.digital's growth ambitions as we invest in our platform and expand internationally."

Bridgepoint was advised by Bain (Commercial), Cleary Gottlieb (Legal), EY (Financial & Tax), Areta (M&A) and Achilles (ESG).

ht.digital was advised by Arrowpoint Advisory (Corporate Finance), Roland Berger (Commercial) and Dentons (Legal).

The transaction is expected to complete in H1 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed.

About Bridgepoint

Bridgepoint Group is one of the world's leading mid-market investors, specialising in private equity, infrastructure and private credit.

With $87 billion of assets under management and a strong local presence in Europe, North America and Asia, we combine global scale with local market insight and sector expertise, consistently delivering strong returns through cycles.

About ht.digital

ht.digital is a London-headquartered specialist in digital asset transparency, providing audit, assurance, accounting, operations and technology services; formed in 2023 through the carve-out of Harris & Trotter LLP's digital assets practice. The firm serves over 700 clients worldwide, including blockchain protocols, infrastructure, exchanges, custodians and traditional financial institutions. ht.digital combines deep accounting and crypto expertise with proprietary automation for real-time, on-chain verification, reconciliation and reporting, including proof of reserves and attestations. The firm is registered with the ICAEW and delivers cross-border work across the UK, EU, Middle East, APAC and the Americas.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251125907148/en/









Contact

Tom Clark[email protected] 07767 786852







 2025 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release.
Alibaba revenue grows as new AI app drives up shares



Beijing, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



Chinese tech giant Alibaba reported a quarterly revenue bump on Tuesday, after shares rose on the blockbuster launch of a new artificial intelligence app downloaded more than 10 million times in a week.

Analysts said the early success of the company's redesigned Qwen app positions it as a potential competitor to Chinese rival DeepSeek and OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Alibaba said on Tuesday revenue in the three months ending September 30 totalled 247.8 billion yuan ($35 billion).

That was a five percent jump on the 236.5 billion yuan logged in the same quarter last year and beat analyst estimates of 245.2 billion yuan.

"We have entered into an investment phase to build long-term strategic value in AI technologies and infrastructure," said Eddie Wu, Alibaba's chief executive officer.

"Robust AI demand further accelerated our Cloud Intelligence Group business, with revenue up 34 percent and AI-related product revenue achieving triple-digit year-over-year growth for the ninth consecutive quarter," Wu said.

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for the quarter fell to 21 billion yuan, down 52 percent on-year, the company said.

Alibaba runs some of China's biggest online shopping platforms and wants to become a major player in the global race to develop AI technology.

The Hangzhou-based company said in February it would spend at least 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) on artificial intelligence and cloud computing over the next three years.

Wu said in September the company plans to increase that spending further.

This approach has seen Alibaba's share price on Wall Street surge around 90 percent from this time a year ago -- despite fears that AI-related stocks are overvalued worldwide and could crash.

Its US shares closed five percent higher on Monday after the company said the Qwen app had surpassed 10 million downloads within the first week of its beta launch.

Crystal Li and Tommy Wong of China Merchants Securities said last week that Qwen's launch was "supported by Alibaba's prolonged investment and cutting-edge capabilities in foundational models" for artificial intelligence.

It could pave the way for the adoption of AI agents -- programmes that use chatbots to do the work humans do online, such as buying a plane ticket or adding events to a calendar.

"Compared to ChatGPT's direct access to third-party apps, we believe Alibaba's self-developed comprehensive product ecosystem and free-to-use policy provide competitive advantages for Qwen app," Li and Wong wrote.

Emily Jarvie of Proactive Investors also noted ahead of Tuesday's earnings release that "China is a key market for Qwen, as OpenAI's ChatGPT is not available".

"Its rapid adoption makes it one of the fastest-growing AI apps in China," Jarvie said.

Alibaba has also been in the headlines recently for other reasons, namely geopolitical tensions between China and the United States.

The Financial Times reported this month that Alibaba "provides tech support for Chinese military 'operations' against (US) targets", according to a White House memo provided to the newspaper.

The memo claimed that Alibaba hands customer data, including "IP addresses, WiFi information and payment records", to Chinese authorities and the People's Liberation Army, the report said.

An Alibaba Group spokesperson told AFP "the assertions and innuendos in the article are completely false".
AI music platform Suno unveils deal with Warner to compensate artists



New York, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



The US artificial intelligence platform Suno and Warner Music Group on Tuesday announced a partnership to compensate recording artists in the fast-growing domain of AI music.

The agreement, announced jointly by the two companies, resolves a civil lawsuit brought by music giant Warner alleging that the artificial intelligence company mined music catalogues without authorization or financial compensation.

The litigation was part of a group of complaints brought by legacy music labels against Suno and fellow AI music platform Udio alleging the upstarts violated the copyrights of top artists to train their generative AI engines.

Suno will launch new models in 2026, requiring a paid account to download audio, the companies said in a press release.

Recording artists will have the right to opt in to Suno for the use of their "names, images, likenesses, voices and compositions to be used in new AI-generated music," Suno said in an online letter to users.

"These will be new creation experiences from artists who do opt in, which will open up new revenue streams for them... and allow you to interact with them in new ways," Suno said.

Warner's CEO Robert Kyncl called the agreement a "landmark pact" that "benefits everyone," according to the press release.

"With Suno rapidly scaling, both in users and monetization, we've seized this opportunity to shape models that expand revenue and deliver new fan experiences," Kyncl said.

"AI becomes pro-artist when it adheres to our principles: committing to licensed models, reflecting the value of music on and off platform, and providing artists and songwriters with an opt-in."

Lawsuits brought by music giants cited prompts to churn out AI songs mimicking copyrighted works of Chuck Berry, James Brown, Michael Buble, ABBA, and others.

The Suno announcement comes on the heels of an agreement announced last month between Udio and Universal Music Group, whose roster includes Taylor Swift, The Weeknd and other stars.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has outlined a $150bn (Dh550.88bn) investment plan between 2026 and 2030, aiming to sustain current operations, expand growth and address worldwide energy requirements.

The investment plan was discussed during the company's annual Board of Directors meeting, chaired by United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.

The meeting took place in the operations control room managed by Adnoc Gas, which is said to deliver 60% of the UAEs natural gas needs for energy and industrial sectors.

The board welcomed ADNOC's updated oil reserves, which now stand at 120 billion stock tank barrels (bstb), an increase from 113bstb, and natural gas reserves of 297 trillion standard cubic feet (tscf), up from 290tscf.

ADNOC is said to have been attracting new international partners to unconventional exploration concessions, aiming to accelerate development, enhance gas self-sufficiency in the Gulf state and meet the rising demand for gas globally.

The unconventional resources of Abu Dhabi, requiring advanced extraction techniques, are estimated at 160tscf of gas and 22bstb of oil.

ADNOC noted that the enterprise value of its international investment division, XRG, has grown to $151bn from approximately $80bn since its launch in November 2024.

ADNOC has made new oil and gas discoveries amounting to more than 1.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent (bboe).

These findings were achieved using advanced technologies such as the worlds largest three-dimensional (3D) seismic survey and AI-powered data interpretation, which have helped identify previously inaccessible geological formations.

The ADNOC board has announced the approval of the formation of Adnoc Ghasha, a new operating company for the Ghasha concession, which comprises the Hail, SARB, Ghasha, Dalma and Nasr fields.

This concession is expected to generate 1.8 billion standard cubic feet of gas and 150,000 barrels per day of oil and condensates.

ADNOC said that construction of the Hail and Ghasha megaproject, a central development in the Ghasha concession, is advancing.

Recently, Adnoc Gas announced net income of $1.34bn for the third quarter of 2025 (Q3 2025), its highest-ever Q3 net income.

This result represents an 8% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

"ADNOC announces $150bn investment plan for 202630" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Venezuela says US terrorist designation a 'ridiculous lie'



Caracas, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



Venezuela on Monday rejected the US terrorist designation of an alleged drug cartel on its territory as a "ridiculous lie" aimed at paving the way for an "illegitimate" military intervention.

A major US military build-up near Venezuela has led to speculation that President Donald Trump is planning to try to topple Venezuela' Socialist leader Nicolas Maduro.

Washington accuses Maduro of heading an alleged Venezuelan drug cartel, "Cartel de los Soles" (Cartel of the Suns), which the United States on Monday designated a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).

Venezuela's foreign ministry on Monday rejected what it called "the new and ridiculous lie from Secretary of State Marco Rubio" which it said aimed "to justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela."

On Tuesday, the top US military officer, Dan Caine, will visit the small Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, a US ally situated a few miles from Venezuela that recently hosted US troops for training exercises.

The US embassy said that the visit by the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff would focus on "countering illicit trafficking and transnational criminal organizations."

The visit is part of a months-long campaign of maximum pressure on Maduro, whose reelection last year was widely dismissed by the international community as fraudulent.

Maduro appeared at two public events on Monday without mentioning the designation, instead reiterating that Venezuela will remain triumphant.

"Whatever they do, wherever they do it, however they do it, they will not be able to defeat Venezuela. We are invincible," Maduro said during his weekly television program.

The US has deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier and other military forces to waters near Venezuela as part of a stated campaign to dismantle Latin American drug trafficking routes.

The Trump administration claims that the Cartel of the Suns is a drug trafficking syndicate run by Maduro and has issued a $50 million reward for the president's capture.

But Venezuela and countries that support it insist no such organization even exists.

Several Venezuela experts say what Washington calls the Cartel of the Suns refers to the corruption of senior officials by criminal gangs.



- Flights cancelled -



US forces have killed at least 83 people in strikes on boats accused of ferrying drugs from Latin America towards the United States since September, according to an AFP tally of publicly released figures.

No evidence has been made public that drugs were on board, and experts say the strikes are likely illegal even if the targets were proven to be drug traffickers.

The terrorism designation will give Washington legal cover for more pressure on the Venezuelan authorities.

The Trump administration has been vague about how far it is willing to go in Venezuela, but the huge military build-up and regular killings of people in small boats have rattled nerves -- and prompted concerns in Washington that the US military may be breaking the law.

On Saturday, six airlines announced they were canceling flights to Venezuela due to safety concerns.

The US Federal Aviation Administration on Friday urged civilian aircraft in Venezuelan airspace to "exercise caution" due to the "worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela."

burs-cb/jgc/sla
Petro denies news report of intel breach, blames CIA



Bogota, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



Colombian president Gustavo Petro on Monday denied a news report that a guerilla group had allegedly worked with a military commander and an intelligence official to evade controls and purchase weapons.

The Caracol network on Sunday published chats and documents involving General Juan Manuel Huertas and National Intelligence Directorate official Wilmar Mejia in which they allegedly shared sensitive information with FARC dissidents who rejected the 2016 peace agreement, stirring reactions on social media.

The network's reporting alleged rebels led by Calarca, an alias, worked with the officials to create a security company that appeared legitimate, and allowed the rebels to travel undetected in armored vehicles and carry weapons, evading local authorities.

The leftist president said the "versions of alleged intelligence reports" are "false."

"The journalist's source is the CIA, which has a habit of setting up networks to influence public opinion to suit the global interests of its country's government," Petro said, referring to the administration of US President Donald Trump.

In a statement, Colombia's prosecutor's office said the case is under investigation and Attorney General Luz Adriana Camargo has ordered it to be expedited.

The statement on X said Camargo ordered "advancing the investigation of links regarding possible co-optation of intelligence agents and members of the military by FARC dissidents, threats to national security."

Bogota and Washington have been at odds since Trump's re-election, derailing a decades-long allegiance against the so-called war on drugs.

The US revoked Petro's visa after he spoke at a pro-Palestinian street rally in New York, has imposed sanctions, and decertified Colombia as an ally in anti-drug efforts.

Bogota has responded by halting arms purchases from the US and recalling its ambassador from Washington.

Before the current break, Colombia had received more US aid than any other country in South America -- $740 million in 2023, according to US government figures. Half of that went to fighting drug trafficking.
Iran FM to discuss nuclear programme, national's case in France visit



Tehran, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



Iran's foreign minister will discuss the country's nuclear programme and the case of an Iranian citizen held in France during a visit to Paris this week, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The meeting between Abbas Araghchi and his French counterpart Jean Noel Barrot will come after France backed a resolution calling on Iran to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to key nuclear sites, including those bombed during the 12-day war with Israel in June.

In a statement, Iran's foreign ministry said the country's nuclear programme along with "the case of Iranian national Mahdieh Esfandiari, as well as regional and international developments" will be discussed.

In mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, triggering a 12-day war that the United States briefly joined with strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities.

Iran has since the war barred IAEA inspectors from visiting the bombed sites and last week it officially scrapped a cooperation framework agreement it had agreed with the agency after the war.

Tehran further said a new framework was needed to access the bombed sites, citing "safety and security risks".

Iran had already declared that agreement invalid since October after Britain, Germany and France triggered the return of UN sanctions that had been lifted under a now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal.

In an interview published last week, Araghchi said talks with European governments were "no longer useful" after they triggered the snapback sanctions.

Wednesday's discussions will also tackle the case of Esfandiari, a 40-year-old Iranian, who was arrested in France in February on charges of promoting terrorism and later released on bail in October.

France and Iran had been in talks to exchange Esfandiari for French couple Cecile Kohler, 41, and Jacques Paris, 72, who had been held in Iran for more than three years.

Earlier this month, Iran said it has conditionally released Kohler and Paris who were immediately taken by French diplomats to France's mission in Tehran and were awaiting permission to be allowed to return to France.
Romania, Moldova announce drone forays as Russia bombards Ukraine



Bucharest, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



Romania and Moldova on Tuesday announced drone incursions in to their airspace, and Bucharest deployed four fighter jets after a night of massive Russian air strikes in neighbouring Ukraine.

Romania and Moldova have repeatedly seen violations of their airspaces, including drone fragments falling onto their soil, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Moldovan police said a village was evacuated after drone fragments fell on a house in the Cuhurestii de Jos region of the Floresti district, which adjoins Ukraine.

"The police technical explosives unit is on its way to the scene. People have been evacuated and the area cordoned off," they said.

Romania's defence ministry meanwhile said the first drone "crossed the national airspace" from Vylkove in Ukraine to the Chilia Veche area in Tulcea County in the country's east.

"Two German Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft were scrambled from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base to monitor the situation," it said.

Two F16 planes were subsequently sent and a second drone incursion was then detected in the eastern Galati region, the defence ministry added.
Drones crash in Romania, Moldova as Russia bombards Ukraine



Bucharest, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



Drones crashed in both Romania and Moldova on Tuesday, with Bucharest deploying four fighter jets after a night of massive Russian air strikes in neighbouring Ukraine.

NATO member Romania and its neighbour, Moldova, have repeatedly seen violations of their airspaces, including drone fragments falling onto their soil, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Moldovan police said a village was evacuated after drone fragments fell on a house in the Cuhurestii de Jos region of the Floresti district, which adjoins Ukraine.

"The police technical explosives unit is on its way to the scene. People have been evacuated and the area cordoned off," they said.

In total, Moldova detected six drones crossing its airspace without authorisation, the ministry of defence said in a post on Facebook.

The foreign ministry said it would summon the Russian ambassador on Wednesday over "the serious violation" of Moldova's airspace.

In Romania, authorities found a crashed drone in Vaslui in the east of the country near the border with Moldova, defence minister Ionut Mosteanu told reporters.

"Either they lost control of it or it ran out of fuel since it had been flying for some time... It is a drone that, according to initial assessments, did not carry any explosive payload," he added.

Romania's defence ministry earlier said the first drone "crossed the national airspace" from Vylkove in Ukraine to the Chilia Veche area in Tulcea county in the country's east.

"Two German Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft were scrambled from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base to monitor the situation," it said.

Two F16 planes were subsequently sent and a second drone incursion was then detected in the eastern Galati region, the defence ministry added.

US General Chris Donahue, on a visit to Romania, said NATO members were developing their capabilities to shoot down drones.

"We're in the final stages... to make sure that this capability can be employed as quickly as possible," he told reporters at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near the Black Sea.

Last week, Romania already scrambled several fighter jets over a drone incursion, while Moldova summoned the Russian ambassador over it.
Pakistan denies deadly strikes after Afghanistan vows retaliation



Jige Mughalgai, Afghanistan, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



Afghanistan's Taliban government vowed on Tuesday to "respond appropriately" to deadly overnight air strikes it blamed on Pakistan, a claim Islamabad denied, as tensions spiked a day after a suicide bombing in a Pakistani city.

An air raid on Khost province "martyred" nine children and a woman, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X, blaming Pakistani forces and saying the target was "the house of a local civilian resident".

Residents of the targeted area near the Pakistan frontier searched through the rubble of a collapsed house and prepared graves for victims, an AFP correspondent saw.

"Our request from the government of Pakistan is this: do not bomb ordinary people," said Sajidulrahman, a resident of the Jige Mughalgai area.

"Civilians have done nothing wrong."

Mustaghfir Gurbuz, a spokesman for the governor of Khost, said the strikes were carried out by aircraft that included drones.

The nearby border regions of Kunar and Paktika were also hit, wounding at least four people, government spokesman Mujahid said.

"The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns this violation and reiterates that defending its airspace, territory, and people is its legitimate right, and it will respond appropriately at the right time," Mujahid said in a separate statement.

Pakistan denied carrying out any attack. According to state broadcaster PTV, military spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said: "Pakistan has not attacked Afghanistan."

"Whenever we conduct a strike, it is announced openly and properly," he said. "Pakistan never attacks civilian populations. The allegations of the interim Afghan government are baseless."

The bombardment came after a suicide attack on Monday killed three officers and wounded 11 others at the headquarters of Pakistan's paramilitary Federal Constabulary force in Peshawar.

No group has claimed responsibility, but state broadcaster PTV reported the attackers were Afghan nationals.

President Asif Zardari blamed the "foreign-backed Fitna al-Khawarij" -- Islamabad's term for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group it accuses of operating from Afghan soil.

Another suicide blast this month killed 12 people outside a court in the Pakistani capital. It was claimed by a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, which shares the same ideology as the Afghan Taliban.

Islamabad has said the militant cell behind the capital attack was "guided at every step by the... high command based in Afghanistan".



- Truce under strain -



Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told reporters on Tuesday there was "clear-cut evidence" linking the Afghan Taliban to the Islamabad bombing.

He aired an alleged video confession from one of four suspects in custody and said: "Afghanistan is fully involved... and their soil is also involved. The people being sheltered there are also involved."

Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have been fraught since the Taliban swept back to power in Kabul in 2021, and worsened after border clashes in October killed around 70 people on both sides.

That fighting ended with a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey, but several rounds of talks in Doha and Istanbul failed to produce a lasting deal.

Security issues have proved a sticking point, especially Pakistan's demand that Kabul curb TTP fighters.

Islamabad accuses the Taliban of sheltering militants behind a surge in attacks, particularly the TTP, which has waged a bloody campaign against Pakistan for years.

Kabul denies the charge and counters that Pakistan harbours groups hostile to Afghanistan and does not respect its sovereignty.

The border between the neighbours has remained closed for more than six weeks since the October clashes, freezing bilateral trade.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned that thousands of containers remain stuck at the border, each incurring $150-$200 in daily charges, calling the economic burden "unbearable".

ash-cgo/stm/abs/pbt
Turkish prosecutors accuse three defence execs of spying



Istanbul, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



Turkish authorities arrested three executives of defence companies operating in the country, accusing them of spying for foreign powers, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

The Istanbul public prosecutor's office initially said the suspects worked for the Emirati intelligence services, before deleting that statement and publishing a significantly revised version on X that did not mention the United Arab Emirates, AFP observed.

Judicial officials said a fourth suspect was still wanted, without specifying the suspects' nationality or what companies they worked for.

The prosecutor's office said the suspects "hold executive positions within critical defence companies operating in our country".

They are accused of attempting to provide "biographical" information about employees to foreign countries.

Turkey's defence exports swelled by 29 percent ($7.15 billion) in 2024, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- driven notably by the success of its military drones.

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Latest Ukraine draft deal 'significantly better' for Kyiv: senior official to AFP



Kyiv, Ukraine, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



The latest version of a draft document to end the war in Ukraine is "significantly better" for Kyiv than the original US one, a senior official familiar with the matter told AFP.

The latest draft document on ending almost four years of war with Russia has not been published.

The first version of the US plan, a 28-point text which emerged last week, was widely criticised as heeding Moscow's hardline demands.

"Ukraine, the US and the Europeans have made the American proposal workable," the official said, adding: "It is not 28 points, it has changed significantly significantly for the better."

The official also said the revised plan provides for Ukraine to keep 800,000 troops -- "roughly like it (the army) is now" -- compared to a 600,000 limit in the first draft of the plan.

The official said "sensitive parts" of the plan, such as the issue of territory, could be discussed with US President Donald Trump.

Kyiv is seeking a meeting with Trump, who had initially set a deadline of Thursday this week for agreeing to the first deal that was presented by his government.

"In Abu Dhabi, as I understand it, the Americans are showing the Russians the developed framework," the official said.

The US said earlier it was holding talks with Russian representatives, with an American army spokesman saying they are "going well".
Pentagon boss to visit Dominican Republic amid US-Venezuela row



Santo Domingo, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday will visit the Dominican Republic, a close US Caribbean ally, for talks on combatting drug trafficking amid a standoff between Washington and Venezuela, officials said.

The Pentagon confirmed the visit, which comes as President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on his Venezuelan arch-foe Nicolas Maduro, accused by Washington of heading a drug cartel.

Hegseth's office said Tuesday he would meet with Dominican President Luis Abinader, his defense minister and other cabinet members "to strengthen defense relationships and reaffirm America's commitment to defend the homeland, protect our regional partners and ensure stability and security across the Americas."

The announcement comes a day after the United States designated an alleged Venezuelan drug cartel, Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns), as a foreign terrorist organization.

The FTO designation gives the Trump administration legal cover for more action against Venezuelan authorities.

Washington has meanwhile also ramped up military pressure on Caracas, deploying the world's biggest aircraft carrier to the area, along with a raft of warships.

Caracas accuses Washington of using its war on drugs as a cover for an operation aimed at toppling the firebrand Maduro.

US strikes on a string of alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific have left dozens dead since September.

The Dominican Republic has been cooperating with the US operations.

Authorities in the country, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, announced earlier this month that they had seized about 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) of cocaine from a boat intercepted during a joint operation with US forces.

"We continue working with the United States because this is a tough fight, especially in some countries, mainly in South America, that have seen an increase in drug production, particularly cocaine," Abinader said Tuesday.
What happens when the software that everyones racing to adopt becomes too risky for anyone to insure? According to reporting from the Financial Times, were about to find out.

Major insurers including Great American, Chubb, and W. R. Berkley are asking U.S. regulators for permission to exclude widespread AI-related liabilities from corporate policies. One underwriter describes the AI models outputs to the FT as too much of a black box.

AIG, also listed in the FT story, has since sent TechCrunch the following statement: AIG was not specifically seeking to use these [reported upon] exclusions and has no plans to implement them at this time.

The industry has good reason to be spooked, the story reminds us. Googles AI Overview falsely accused a solar company of legal troubles, triggering a $110 million lawsuit back in March. Air Canada last year got stuck honoring a discount its chatbot invented. And fraudsters last year used a digitally cloned version of a senior executive to steal $25 million from the London-based design engineering firm Arup during a video call that seemed entirely real.

What really terrifies insurers isnt one massive payout; its the systemic risk of thousands of simultaneous claims when a widely used AI model steps in it. As one Aon executive put it, insurers can handle a $400 million loss to one company. What they cant handle is an agentic AI mishap that triggers 10,000 losses at once.
Larger firms convene and catalyse to grow value with management and culture, Armstrong added. Scaleups need to recognise that a founder might not be the best leader when it comes to growth. An inventor who holds IP but cant explain their idea in plain English wont thrive at growing the business. The UK does have structural issues around patient capital, but for a business with good plans, and good people, in an area which solves a problem, money tends to follow.
The post added: Therefore, we, Berkshire Farmers Group and all associated organisers including but not limited to George Brown, Dan Willis and Caroline Graham, wish to inform all attendees that this protest has been cancelled by Dr Alison Heydari of the Metropolitan Police, and we absolve ourselves of all responsibilities for any attendance to this event.
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The asylum claim for the man and his wife was initially rejected by the Home Office, but the unnamed man was successful in an appeal against the decision at an upper immigration tribunal. His case will now be reheard.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. posted better-than-projected 34% revenue growth in its cloud business, offsetting a plunge in profit after the company unleashed spending on consumer subsidies and data centers to ride an AI boom.

The cloud division, which houses the flagship Qwen platform, propelled overall revenue 5% higher to 247.8 billion yuan ($35 billion) in the September quarter, just outstripping expectations. It posted a 16% rise in Chinese e-commerce revenue, suggesting it was holding its own in a three-way battle with JD.com Inc. and Meituan  one that compressed margins and halved its net income. The companys US shares fell more than 2%.

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Alibabas report emerges against a backdrop of growing doubt about the sustainability of investment in AI infrastructure  without a clear path to profitability. On Tuesday, Chief Executive Officer Eddie Wu dismissed concerns about a sector investment bubble  stoked in part by the circular nature of data center financing. In fact, Wu said the Chinese company plans to explore aggressive investment to keep pace with surging market demand and ferocious competition in a fast-changing environment.

Alibaba, seeking to become a leader in artificial intelligence development, has accelerated the release of AI models this year. That culminated in the relaunch of its Qwen mobile app  an effort to replicate the success of OpenAIs ChatGPT that got off to a fast start this month.

Looking ahead to the next three years, we dont really see much of an issue in terms of a so-called AI bubble, Wu said.

WATCH: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue growth, as sales grew 5% to 247.8 billion yuan ($35 billion) in the September quarter. Tom Mackenzie reports.Source: Bloomberg

Wus comments stand in contrast to warnings from Chairman Joe Tsai just in March, when he flagged overinvestment from the likes of Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc. Their shares have sagged over the past month as concerns mount about whether data center construction may be outpacing demand over time.

Alibaba joins JD.com and PDD Holdings Inc. in reporting better-than-anticipated results, boosted by Beijings stimulus measures and billions of dollars in subsidies as they vie for shoppers and diners.

But that cut into profitability: Net income dived to 20.99 billion yuan during the period  reflecting not just discounting but also the mounting costs of AI development. Sales and marketing expenses more than doubled in the quarter.
Texas Association of Business President Glenn Hamer, shown May 14 at the Texas State Capitol, has been sued by a woman whos accusing him of sexually harassing and assaulting her, then retaliating when she rejected his advances. Sara Diggins/American-Statesman

An unidentified woman accused Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, of sexually harassing and assaulting her before retaliating against her through his perch atop the powerful business group when she rejected his overtures, according to a lawsuit.

The woman, identified in her court filing as Jane Doe, was described on social media by her attorney, Tony Buzbee, as the founder and executive director of Texas Venture Alliance, an advocacy group for startups and entrepreneurs. She is seeking more than $10 million in damages.

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The lawsuit, which was filed Monday in Travis County, alleges that Hamer pursued the woman using his status as head of the Texas Association of Business, or TAB, offering to help advance the womans advocacy group and connect her with important people. Hamer also serves as chairman of the Texas Venture Alliance, according to the groups website, and the two organizations partnered in September 2024 to launch an initiative promoting entrepreneurship in Texas.

In a statement, association board of directors Chair Bill Jones said the organization was aware of the lawsuit and was putting Hamer on administrative leave while it conducts a full internal investigation. Jones added that Megan Mauro, the associations vice president and chief of staff, would serve as the groups interim CEO.

In a 13-page filing, the unidentified womans lawyers cast Hamer as the latest in a long line of unscrupulous men in power who have attempted to improperly use that power to coerce those with less power to get what they want.

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In this matter, the prime perpetrator used his vaunted and respected status to engage in a sexual relationship with a much younger woman by offering incentives available to him by virtue of his position, the lawsuit continues. When she at some point refused his advances, he coerced, begged, harassed and ultimately assaulted her.

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Hamer did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The legal filing also names the association as a defendant, arguing that the group was vicariously liable for Hamers actions by allowing him to remain in his position as CEO despite knowledge of his prior behavior and complaints, and by failing to adopt policies to prevent such actions.

The Texas Association of Business is among Texas most influential business groups, serving as the states de facto chamber of commerce and routinely lobbying members of the Legislature on a wide array of business issues.

Political connections

Hamer often appears alongside the states top leaders at public functions; just last week, he moderated a fireside chat with Gov. Greg Abbott, during which the two discussed Texas economic future and the association gave Abbott an award.

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Spokespersons for the states top three elected officials  Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows  did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations leveled against Hamer.

The lawsuit alleges Hamer groomed the unidentified woman and entered into a relationship with her beginning in 2022. He then began to view Doe not as a colleague or someone working alongside him with similar goals for Texas, but as someone he could manipulate for his personal pleasure, the filing says.

Hamer sexually assaulted and harassed the woman multiple times, the lawsuit alleges, including in May by attempting to remove her pants and mount her. When the woman pushed him away and left the room, the lawsuit states that Hamer followed. He would not stop. Hamer later apologized, according to the lawsuit, telling the woman that he was disgusted with himself and offering to go to an ATM to give her money so she would forget about it.

She did not accept his monies; she did not forget, the lawsuit continues.

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Hamer is accused of making unsuccessful sexual advances on the woman on two other occasions after the May incident: in June in Denton and in October in Washington.

When the woman rejected his overtures, the lawsuit states, Hamer launched a smear campaign and actively tried to damage Does reputation, credibility and professional relationships.

His message was clear; his intentions straightforward, the lawsuit alleges. If Doe would not give him what he wanted personally, he would use his status to make sure Doe did not advance professionally.

Hamer allegedly retaliated against the woman by redirecting a planned donation to the Texas Venture Alliance from an unidentified Texas organization, ensuring the money was rerouted to other entities, including the Texas Association of Business. Hamer also helped form an in-state competitor whose mission mirrored TVA, then assisted that organization in competing for the same funding as the alliance and copied, stole and passed off Does ideas and business plans to the copycat group and to TAB, according to the lawsuit.

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The filing also notes that the woman is the alliances sole employee and that her salary depends on the organizations revenue and her boss  Hamer.

Sinister intimidation

After the womans rejections, Hamers behavior turned into sinister intimidation, the lawsuit continues, accusing Hamer of stalking Doe at conferences or events, following her in and out of hotels, following her throughout hotel hallways barefoot or in his pajamas and turning friends and business contacts against her.

Aside from accompanying elected officials to public events, Hamer is a registered lobbyist who frequents the Capitol during legislative sessions, lending his support for or discouraging passage of proposed legislation.

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This year, he testified in support of a measure  Senate Bill 30  that sought to limit the amount of damages accident victims could claim. The bill died during the Legislatures final hours, despite a lobbying campaign from TAB and other powerful business groups.

The first introduced version of SB30 would have capped damages at $250,000 for mental or emotional pain resulting from an event that caused someone personal injury, such as sexual assault.

The allegations of sexual misconduct are the latest to rock the Capitol. In 2023, Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, resigned on the eve of a Texas House vote to expel him after an investigation found that he had provided alcohol to a 19-year-old staffer before having sex with her.

Two years before that, a false date rape allegation cast fresh attention on a culture of sexual harassment under the Pink Dome. That culture was well-detailed in numerous media reports during the 2017 legislative session that led to reforms that the states elected leaders later acknowledged fell short.

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Among the lawmakers accused of wrongdoing was Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, who gave up a committee leadership post after the University of Texas at Austin investigated allegations that he sent lewd messages and a sexually explicit photo to a graduate student. The university later said that evidence did not support a finding that Schwertner had violated Title IX by sending the messages.

Schwertner was once again elevated to hold a committee chair in 2021 and has since carried a number of major bills in the upper chamber. Among them was SB30  the personal injury lawsuit payouts cap.
The U.S. Justice Department announced its reached a settlement with RealPage, the Texas-based software company thats been accused of providing landlords with tools critics call algorithmic collusion. Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press file photo

Landlords in Austin and across the U.S. could no longer rely on RealPages rent-pricing software to track each others moves and push rents higher under a settlement it reached with federal prosecutors.

An analysis early this year identified Austin as the city most impacted by the Texas-based companys software, with 46% of multifamily units being managed by landlords using the artificial intelligence-driven system.

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Its a system critics have called algorithmic collusion but that RealPage says is simply misunderstood.

The deal announced Monday by the Department of Justice comes after a yearlong federal antitrust lawsuit, which was launched during the Biden administration. RealPage would not have to pay any damages or admit wrongdoing. The settlement must still be approved by a federal judge.

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RealPage was replacing competition with coordination, and renters paid the price, said DOJ antitrust chief Gail Slater, who emphasized that the settlement avoided a costly, time-consuming trial.

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The suit and others targeting RealPage stem from use of the companys AI-based revenue management software, which allows landlords to share information on rents, vacancies, and other nonpublic data with each other. The software can then suggest higher rents, helping landlords present a united front rather than competing for customers through concessions or lower rents, according to the Justice Department.

The company's software allows landlords to share information on rents, vacancies and other nonpublic data with each other. The software then provides daily recommendations that can be used by landlords to price their available apartments. The landlords do not have to follow the suggestions but critics argue that because the software has access to a vast trove of confidential data, it helps RealPages clients charge the highest possible rent.

The companys software was popular, gobbling up 80% of the market.

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, RealPage can no longer use that real-time data to determine price recommendations. Instead, the only nonpublic data that can be used to train the softwares algorithm must be at least one year old.

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What does this mean for you and your family? Slater said in a video statement. It means more real competition in local housing markets. It means rents set by the market, not by a secret algorithm.

RealPage attorney Stephen Weissman said the company is pleased the DOJ worked with them to settle the matter.

There has been a great deal of misinformation about how RealPages software works and the value it provides for both housing providers and renters, Weissman said in a statement. We believe that RealPages historical use of aggregated and anonymized nonpublic data, which include rents that are typically lower than advertised rents, has led to lower rents, less vacancies, and more procompetitive effects.

Austin rents have been declining for more than a year after an apartment building boom increased supply and drove down prices. But rents are still high enough that, according to a Harvard University study last year, more than half of the regions renters are cost burdened  meaning theyre spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated that the fair market rental rate for an efficiency in the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan statistical area in 2015 was $681. In 2025 it was $1,549  an increase of 127%.

Over the past few months, more than two dozen property management companies have reached various settlements over their use of RealPage, including Greystar, the nations largest landlord, which agreed to pay $50 million to settle a class action lawsuit, and $7 million to settle a separate lawsuit filed by nine states.

The governors of California and New York signed laws last month to crack down on rent-setting software, and a growing list of cities, including Philadelphia and Seattle, have passed ordinances against the practice.

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Austin-based Apptroniks Apollo robot is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. The artificial-intelligence humanoid robotics startup has now reached $5 billion in valuation. Provided by Apptronik

Apptronik, the Austin-based artificial-intelligence humanoid robotics startup, announced a major new funding effort, bringing the companys valuation to $5 billion.

Earlier this month, the company said it had raised $331 million toward its goal of $500 million with more investment potentially on the way. That came after the $403 million Apptronik brought in earlier this year.

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Now, it's planning to seek additional investment before years end.

Apptronik was founded in 2016 as a spinoff of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas. It specializes in artificially intelligent humanoid robots and is considered a leader in the global robotics race, competing directly with Austin-based Tesla Inc. and its humanoid robotics plans. Tesla is worth about $1.3 trillion but the majority of its revenue and profit come from the companys electric vehicle and battery businesses.

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The new funding and valuation were confirmed by co-founder and UT aerospace engineering professor Luis Sentis at a tech and investor conference near Austin last week. Speaking Nov. 20, he said the company had closed something much bigger but could not share further details.

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German automaker Mercedes-Benz is testing Apptroniks Apollo humanoid robot, seen here on July 8, 2022. The Austin-based robotics startup recently announced it has raised $331 million toward a planned $500 million raise, and expects more to come. Austin American-Statesman file photo

The news marks another success for the startup, which is backed by local entrepreneurs Zaib and Amir Husain, local venture capital firm Capital Factory and other angel investors.

Outside of its Austin-based support, Apptronik has major backers including German automaker Mercedes-Benz and Google.

Along with upping its investment earlier this year, Mercedes is testing Apptroniks Apollo humanoid on its production and manufacturing lines. Google partners with Apptronik as part of its robotics arm, DeepMind.

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ORLANDO, Fla.  While SpaceX continues to test its Starship mega-rocket in South Texas, Space Force officials are preparing for a first launch from Florida as early as mid-2026.

SpaceX is awaiting completion of a pair of environmental impact statements for its plans to launch from both Kennedy Space Centers Launch Complex 39-A and Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 37.

Early-to-mid next year is when we anticipate Starship coming out here to be able to launch, Space Force Col. Brian Chatman said during a media discussion about the 100th launch of the year on the Space Coast. Kennedy Space Center is leading the way with the partnership with SpaceX there to do the development work to be able to support Starship.

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Construction at the Kennedy site is moving ahead as SpaceX builds a Starship manufacturing facility called a gigabay to pump out the rocket stages for the 403-foot-tall behemoth. In March, SpaceX said its also building a gigabay at its South Texas Starbase facility near Boca Chica Beach.

Most of the rocket stages produced at the Florida gigabay would be at a second launch site at the complex that formerly supported United Launch Alliances now-retired Delta IV Heavy rockets, the last of which launched in 2024.

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Starship produces nearly 17 million pounds of thrust on liftoff with its first-stage booster designed to come back to the launch site to be caught by a pair of swiveling arms on the launch tower called chopsticks, allowing for rapid reuse. The upper stage also has the capacity to return for a landing at the launch site.

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Starships Raptor engines fire as the mega-rocket begins its 11th test flight from Starbase. The mission was the companys second straight to meet its objectives. Eric Gay/Associated Press

South Texas test flights

In South Texas, SpaceX has conducted 11 test flights from its launch site at Starbase. During the most recent launch on Oct. 13, Starship deployed its payload of eight dummy Starlink satellites, relit one of its engines in space and performed a series of maneuvers as practice for future landings back at Starbase. Its booster made a controlled descent into the Gulf of Mexico while the spacecraft landed in the Indian Ocean as planned. It was the second straight test flight in which every mission goal was accomplished.

Although returning the booster was not tested during the October launch, SpaceX has successfully returned the booster to the launch site during previous tests, Its first launch tower catch of a booster was in October 2024.

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The company doesnt expect to send another rocket to space from South Texas until spring as it prepares an updated version of Starship.

In May, the Federal Aviation Administration said SpaceX can increase Starship launches from Starbase to 25 a year without causing significant environmental damage.

The pair of environmental impact statements for the two Florida launch sites seek to support up to 120 launches combined per year, each of which could see both return booster landings to the launch site as well as returns of the upper stage after orbiting the Earth at least once.

Because Starship is powered by a methane-based propellant with liquid oxygen, or LOX, and the size and power is so potent, the safety zones are based on blast damage assessments, or BDAs, that are much bigger than those for rockets like SpaceXs Falcon 9.

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When we talk about public safety, we talk about risk. Today, we treat the LOX-methane analysis as a 100% TNT equivalency from a blast radius perspective, Chatman said.

He discussed the difficulties of juggling the needs of multiple launch providers from multiple launch sites, including United Launch Alliances remaining facility at Space Launch Complex 41, which falls within the range safety keep-out sphere for Starships planned Kennedy launches.

There are times where there will be neighboring operations that when they have a fueled vehicle, will have a BDA, or keep-out zone, from one launch complex that impedes another, he said.

Blue Origins New Glenn and the Launch Alliances new Vulcan rockets also use the LOX-methane system and Chatman said he expects the safety parameters to be eased over time as more launches are completed.

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At that point in the future, I do anticipate the blast damage assessments to shrink down based on the testing that will have been accomplished, he said. We dont know how much that is going to shrink.

Coordinating launches

For now, the different companies, including SpaceX, Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance and newcomers like Cedar Park-based Firefly Aerospace, Vaya Space, RocketLab and Relativity Space, all meet on a weekly basis with the Space Force to work out scheduling.

They understand neighboring operations. They understand that we will allow the maximum efficiency possible to facilitate their operations, but there will be times that were not going to let them go to their launch complex because its neighboring a hazardous activity, he said.

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He said hes bringing in experts from all the launch service providers for a sit-down, reverse-industry day next month to talk through challenges that the newer, larger rockets flying at higher rates will bring to the Space Coast

While I think I have a good grasp on what those are, we have extremely talented engineers that in each of the launch service providers that know what the future looks like on their side, he said. Were going to bring the extremely talented engineers and smart folks, frankly, from each of the launch service providers, to sit sides down with my folks that are planning for spaceport of the future.

Forecasts project the launch sites at Kennedy and Cape Canaveral will need to support 300-350 missions per year before the end of the decade.

If we can start to lay the foundation and set the stage for that drive to 350 thats out there that we see coming, the upgrades and modifications we make now will set the stage for additional increased capacity and increase throughput, he said.

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With so many moving parts, it has become a complex juggling act, but one that doesnt lose sight of the main priority, he said.

When we talk risk, we will never take risk on public safety, he said. Public safety is the No. 1 factor that comes into my lens as the launch decision authority here on the Eastern Range.

San Antonio Express-News Staff Writer Brandon Lingle contributed to this report.
Williamson County Justice Center Austin American-Statesman

A Georgetown man will spend the rest of his life in prison for sexually abusing a child after a jury convicted him earlier this month.

Jurors found Javier Garcia, 29, guilty on Nov. 19 of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact, according to the Williamson County District Attorney. The four-day trial ended with a life sentence on the top charge and 70 years on each indecency count. Judge Stacey Mathews of the 277th District Court ordered the 70-year term to run consecutively, ensuring Garcia will never be released.

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Prosecutors said they discovered the abuse while investigating a separate assault case involving a relative of the child. That relative told investigators that the 9-year-old recently disclosed sexual abuse, leading the district attorney's office refer the relative to Georgetown police.

Detectives learned the abuse began in 2022, when Garcia moved into the same house as the child. The abuse happened in secret, according to prosecutors, and was corroborated by the childs specific knowledge of Garcias anatomy.

During sentencing, prosecutors detailed Garcias criminal history  including a prior prison term for enticing a child with intent to commit sexual assault, from which he was released in January 2022  as well as multiple assault convictions.

District Attorney Shawn Dick praised the verdict, saying in a statement that the investigation and trial exposed a horrific crime being perpetrated in secret by a predator with a clear history of targeting vulnerable children and families. He thanked jurors, Mathews and the Georgetown Police Department, adding that the outcome ensures Garcia will never be able to hurt another child.
HONG KONG (AP)  Chinas Alibaba Group posted a 34% jump in revenue from its cloud business in its most recent quarter, buoyed by the boom in artificial intelligence.

But overall revenue at the Chinese tech group for the July-September quarter increased by just 5% year-on-year to 247.8 billion yuan ($35 billion), and profit fell 52% from last year, as a fierce price war in China's e-commerce landscape -- including in the food delivery segment -- eroded into short-term profitability. JD.com, its e-commerce rival, reported a 55% net profit drop in the same quarter.

Alibaba started out in e-commerce and later turned its focus to cloud and AI technologies. Earlier this year, it pledged to invest at least 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) in three years in advancing its cloud computing and AI infrastructure.

CEO Eddie Wu said in prepared remarks Tuesday that the group's significant investments in AI had helped its revenue growth. The 34% cloud revenue growth was faster than the 26% increase in the April-June quarter.

The company added that demand for AI was accelerating and its conviction in future AI demand growth is strong. It also will probably end up investing more than the planned 380 billion yuan in AI to meet surging demand, Alibaba said Tuesday.

On Monday, Alibaba announced that its upgraded AI chatbot Qwen -- which aims to rival OpenAIs ChatGPT -- recorded 10 million downloads in the first week after its public launch.

The company's Hong Kong shares gained 2% Tuesday and just before the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange, shares rose 2.4%. Shares have gained more than 90% so far this year, fueled by optimism over its progress in AI.

Chinese companies have been gaining ground in AI since tech startup DeepSeek upended the industry, raising doubts over the dominance in the sector of its U.S. rivals.

Recent earnings reports by other Chinese tech giants have been mixed.

Tencent, which rivals Alibaba in AI, this month reported a strong 15% year-on-year gain in its revenue for the July-September quarter. But Baidu, which also competes with Alibaba in AI development, recorded a 7% drop in revenue in the same quarter compared to last year.

Concerns among investors and analysts over an overblown AI bubble have also been growing, although strong earnings at Nvidia last week slightly eased worries.
The Justice Department seal is seen on the lectern on June 29, 2017 in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Two North Texas men are accused of conspiring to invade an island off Haiti, where they planned kill the men and enslave the women and children for sex, according to federal prosecutors.

Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21, of Allen, and Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20, of Argyle, were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas on one count of conspiracy to murder, maim or kidnap in a foreign country and one count of production of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs said Thursday.

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Between August 2024 and July 2025, the two allegedly plotted to invade Gonave Island, part of the Republic of Haiti, to carry out their "rape fantasies," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors allege they planned to buy a sailboat and munitions, then recruit people experiencing homelessness in the Washington, D.C., area to serve as mercenaries.

If theyre found guilty of the foreign murder conspiracy charge, Weisenburg and Thomas could be sentenced to life in federal prison.

According to prosecutors, Weisenburg and Thomas allegedly tried to turn the idea into action by drafting detailed plans, learning Haitian Creole, seeking out potential accomplices and enrolling in classes they thought would give them useful skills.

Prosecutors said Thomas also joined the U.S. Air Force to gain military training he believed would support the scheme.

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Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax listens as Mayor Kirk Watson speaks at a city council meeting Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

When the Austin City Council passed a new budget late Thursday, the American-Statesman and other publications emphasized the spending plan included $95 million in cuts  an eye-popping sum that would suggest a major reduction in city services even with a 3.5% property tax increase.

But did the city actually cut that much? The short answer: Not really. And will services be stripped to the bone? Also not really.

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Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax, left, and Mayor Kirk Watson discuss a new city budget at City Hall on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. The Austin City Council is set to vote on a budget that includes millions of dollars in spending cuts after voters rejected Proposition Q in November, a ballot measure that would have raised property taxes and generated $110 million in new revenue. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Workers install a large banner advertising a $15,000 signing bonus for Austin Police Department recruits at the downtown APD headquarters on Wednesday June 21, 2023. The police department is offering a $15,000 signing bonus to all new recruits in an effort to fill officer vacancies. Jay Janner / American-Statesman

Allow us to explain.

Why did the Austin City Council need to make cuts in the first place?

Because Austin voters on Nov. 4 resoundingly rejected Proposition Q, a measure that wouldve generated nearly $110 million in new revenue by hiking the city property tax rate more than 20%.

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Back in August the City Council adopted a budget for 2025-26 assuming Prop Q would pass. So when voters rejected it on Nov. 4 by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, city officials had to go back to the drawing board. That meant reversing many of the expenses built into the earlier plan.

Campaign signs for and against Prop Q are posted on Waller Street on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

What happened next in the Prop Q budget saga?

Three days after Prop Q failed, City Manager T.C. Broadnax recommended a variety of amendments to the Prop Q budget so that it would be balanced, as required by state law. Those recommended changes included a 3.5% property tax hike, a $14.1 million withdrawal from the citys rainy day fund and a menagerie of cuts across departments.

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But at that point what would actually end up on the chopping block  and the grand total of the budget cut  still remained to be seen. Thats because when the City Council approved the Prop Q budget over the summer, it also agreed to use a scalpel to make cuts in the event the measure failed.

That scalpel was wielded over a series of meetings last week, which resulted in the approval of a $6.3 billion spending plan that well call the final budget. The exact price tag had remained unclear until Monday when a city spokesperson confirmed it. (In his latest Watson Wire newsletter, Mayor Kirk Watson said the spending plan totaled $6.2 billion.)

The general fund portion of the final budget, which is the only portion that really matters from a property taxation perspective, totaled nearly $1.56 billion. (If you want to understand where the many other billions of dollars in the budget come from, click here.)

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The Austin City Council meets at City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

How much did the budget end up 'cutting'?

If you ask the city, $95 million. But thats when you compare it to the obsolete Prop Q budget, which was never really enacted.

Most of the time when government entities say theyre making budget cuts, the totals they give are compared to the last budget implemented. And the 2024-25 budget adopted last year totaled $5.9 billion.

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The Prop Q budget may have been adopted by council but it will never be implemented.

OK so how big are the cuts compared to the last actual real budget?

Last years general fund budget was about $1.43 billion. The Prop Q-backed plan would have pushed that to about $1.56 billion. The final budget adopted last week comes in at about $1.48 billion. So while there are cuts relative to the Prop Q plan, the citys core spending will still increase this fiscal year compared to the last.

Police, fire and emergency services will all see budget increases under the final spending plan. The Police Department, for example, will receive $526 million, up from $497 million last year.

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Austin-Travis County EMS medic Jodeci Romo works an emergency call at the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

If you had asked EMS and the Fire Department about their budgets before the final one passed, they wouldve told you they were slated for cuts of $6.3 million and $8.3 million, respectively. But those sums were what the agencies wouldve received if Prop Q had passed.

Even before the City Council agreed to restore $3 million of the EMS funding, the agencys budget was slated to grow from last year. City Council cut $8.3 million from the Fire Departments overtime budget, but the departments overall budget still slightly increased from last year.

Where were the cuts made?

Many of the reductions hit social service contracts, homeless-intervention programs, and parks and grounds maintenance  areas that had been slated for expansion under the Prop Q budget.

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At the same time, the council restored some priority items from earlier staff proposals, including EMS overtime, expanded mobile mental-health outreach, and support for seniors and food-insecurity programs.

How are city leaders framing it?

Mayor Kirk Watson said the new plan reflects voter direction: basic services through basic budgeting.

But Council member Ryan Alter, a Prop Q supporter, said the cuts to the Prop Q budget would harm Austinites who depend on government services.

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"People will fall behind, Alter said. People will potentially even fall into homelessness and that's not because they have failed; It's because their community just didn't have the resources to catch them and that is really concerning."

On the other hand, Kerri Lang previously described Prop Q spending as largely for enhanced services rather than core or basic services. So while the cuts wont dismantle the citys functions like police, fire and EMS essential functions, some expansions and enhancements will be deferred or scaled back while the city stays focused on maintaining vital services.

Austin City Council Member Ryan Alter listens during discussion of a new city budget at City Hall on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. The Austin City Council is set to vote on a budget that includes millions of dollars in spending cuts after voters rejected Proposition Q in November, a ballot measure that would have raised property taxes and generated $110 million in new revenue. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

How much will this cost me?

It depends on the value of your property, of course.

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The tax rate in the final budget was set at 52.4017 cents per $100 of taxable value. That means that if your home  like many others  is worth about a half a million dollars, youll be paying roughly $100 more to the city next year.

If you want to get specific about it, the city budget office projects that a typical homeowner with a property valued at $494,803 would see their city tax bill increase by $104.76.

Thats on top of property tax increases enacted by other local agencies, namely Travis County which hiked its rate by 9%.

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Jay Lynch holds a sealed bottle of misoprostol, the second set of pills used in a medication abortion regimen. Numerous telehealth providers, including Delaware-based Her Safe Harbor, send abortion medications to patients in abortion-restricted states like Texas. Bridget Grumet/American-Statesman

The principles of federalism are being tested in real time through abortion law. For years, conservatives claimed to be defenders of state sovereignty and champions of local control. Yet that respect for states rights seems to vanish when the issue involves womens autonomy and reproductive freedom.

Texas lawmakers have long touted states rights and federalism as a core principle of their government. But the passage of House Bill 7 makes it clear that this principle applies only when states restrict abortion. When abortion safe-haven states, such as New York, choose to protect reproductive freedom, suddenly Texas forgets what sovereignty means.

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A direct challenge to federalism is about to become reality in Texas. HB 7, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in September and slated to take effect on Dec. 4, empowers Texans to sue anyone, in or out of state, who prescribes, mails or distributes abortion pills to a Texas resident. Each civil suit can bring damages of up to $100,000.

Why? Because Texans have been finding workarounds. Nearly 19,000 orders for abortion pills have been placed since the states previous abortion pill ban, many through online pharmacies and out-of-state providers. Texas lawmakers clearly dislike that. The message is basically: Texas residents arent supposed to get abortions  we made that illegal! Oh, youll try to get care from another state? Well, we arent going to let you do that either. You are stuck with our laws.

The law deliberately targets out-of-state telehealth providers and mail-order pharmacies, trying to stop Texans from receiving care that other states have made perfectly legal. In essence, HB 7 is an extraterritorial law, dictating what doctors in other states may do. Texas is writing itself the power to reach into other states and override their decisions if Texas doesnt like them.

But states such as New York saw this coming. After the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision in the Dobbs case allowed states to ban abortion, many passed shield laws to protect reproductive and gender-affirming care from exactly this kind of overreach. Shield laws block cooperation with hostile state investigations, prevent extradition of doctors and allow providers to countersue if dragged into another states court. They also protect licensing, medical records, insurance coverage, telehealth and data.

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Shield laws are now enacted in 22 states and D.C. They arent radical. They affirm a states sovereignty and its rights under Dobbs. Isnt that the whole point of Dobbs? The states with shield laws are simply exercising the same authority that Texas claims to champion: the right to decide what care is lawful within their own borders.

Of course, Texas could make the same argument in reverse, claiming it has the right to dictate what its citizens do. Thats where this turns into a constitutional tug-of-war.

Texas insists its laws must be honored nationwide under the Constitutions Full Faith and Credit Clause. Shield states respond that they have no obligation to enforce another states laws, especially when those laws punish conduct their legislatures deliberately chose to protect. So which laws deserve recognition? Whose rights take priority? Who even decides?

The irony is glaring. Dobbs was sold on the idea of restoring abortion policy regulation to the states. Now Texas is abandoning that principle, trying to dictate abortion and healthcare policy in states that made the opposite choice. If states rights meant anything, Texas would respect New Yorks decision to protect and provide abortion care, not punish New York providers for providing care.

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Make no mistake: Texas wants abortion to be illegal not just within its borders, but everywhere its citizens seek care. Its as if the state has become a parasite on the bodies of its women, determined to control them. It contradicts the federalism conservatives claim to revere and turns states rights into a one-way street.
Dukes, once a Covert family cottage, now serves as a lakefront gathering spot for early member events at Travis Club. The home lot prices at the Travis Club are an obscene example of the economic inequality in this country and the Austin area, a reader says. Travis Club Austin

Share the wealth

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When I first read the article on the planned Travis Club development, I was impressed with the attempt at preserving the beauty of the area and the sensitivity to the environment.

However, when I read that the lots (just the lot, not any house) were selling for $700,000 to $3.5 million, I concluded that Travis Club is an obscene example of the economic inequality in this country and the Austin area.

It really bothers me that there are people who have the financial ability to spend this amount of money to live in such a development when so many people can't afford housing, food and clothing, and have no access to health care.

Arnold Ross, Austin

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Feed the hungry

We're having Thanksgiving week right after the end of the government shutdown, which affected Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance for many Americans.

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It is natural to think that all is well because our politicians are back to work; however, we shouldn't rely solely on this news. Unfortunately, millions of Americans struggle to access the food they need.

The commentary was a shocking eye-opener.

As a college student, the thing I worried about was falling behind on my assignments, not food security.

Thanksgiving is one of the few celebrations that unite us as humans. It reminds us of a time when our struggling ancestors were helped by their neighbors.

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So, it is now time for us to continue our tradition and donate money and food to help our neighbors, with the sole focus that no child goes to bed hungry.

Hidayatullah Ahsan, Round Rock

Abbott is making it worse

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Since the late 19th century or so, public schools and universities have been the great equalizers, largely permitting folks from across the economic spectrum to rise to the best of their abilities.

However, while private school vouchers would make it easier for the well-off to pay for expensive tuition and fees, it would be a pittance for low and middle-income parents to take advantage of.

Adding insult to injury, any swapping of property taxes for regressive sales taxes would hit the poor and middle-class the hardest.

Thus, with Gov. Greg Abbott's plan to starve public schools, one can't help but be reminded of the old saying: One never knows how good they had it until they lose it.

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Stephen Shackelford, Austin

A man walks toward a voting site. It is more and more important to remove big corporate monies from elections and cut down on corruption, a reader says. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Take corporate money out

Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich outlines a way for us to negate the bad Citizens United decision, handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2010, that said corporations are entitled to the same First Amendment protection as the rest of us.

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Montana is in the process of of passing a law that would say, "Every corporation operating under the laws of this state has all the corporate powers it held previously, except that nothing in this statute grants or recognizes any power to engage in election activity or ballot-issue activity."

If we had this law in Texas, Reich says that law would also deny the power to corporations chartered in the other 49 states if they want to do business here.

It is more and more important to remove big corporate monies from elections and cut down on corruption.

Our state representatives and senators, if they have any courage at all, need to work on this.

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There have been many complaints that too many of our politicians listen to big money and not to what the people really want.

Joanne Brininstool, Austin
Tejas Hemp founder Aaron Owens checks on young hemp plants in Luckenbach in 2021. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman file photo

Last year, executives from some of the world's leading textile companies gathered in Wichita Falls for the opening of what was said to be the largest hemp precessing facility in the Western Hemisphere.

The moment, which came seven years after Congress had overturned an almost century-long ban on hemp production, was part of a plan to turn what had been a niche material into the next big thing in clothing. But there was a problem brewing: thousands of new shops in states like Texas that were beginning to sell "relaxing" candies and "pain relieving" body lotions infused with a variation of the active ingredient in marijuana.

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"Medical hemp has its role, but we need to regulate it because people have found the loopholes and exploited them," said Scott Evans, chief operating officer at Panda Biotech, which operates the Wichita Falls plant. "It gives the industry a bad stigma."

The move by Congress this month to clamp down on hemp-derived THC products was part of a years-long campaign to rein in the booming CBD and THC edibles business, which had made enemies not only of beer, liquor and marijuana companies, but of many within the hemp industry itself.

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When Congress legalized hemp production in 2018, they did so with the notion that it would allow farmers to grow a new cash crop that could be used to make clothes and food products  as had been done for centuries before the mid-20th century when the U.S. government made it illegal to grow the cannabis plant from which hemp and marijuana are derived.

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Among those leading the charge was then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Republican from Kentucky, where tobacco farmers were struggling to stay afloat amid low crop prices and were looking to hemp as a lifeline.

In order to prevent the sativa plants from which hemp is grown to be cultivated into marijuana, Congress set a limit saying no plant could contain more than 0.3% of delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. What they didn't count on was scientists figuring out there were other psychoactive compounds in hemp plants that could be concentrated to produce a similar effect to marijuana, spawning a hemp boom across Texas and other states where marijuana had not been legalized.

"Its a marketplace no one intended," acknowledged Heather Fazio, director of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center.

Last year, U.S. farmers harvested more than $445 million worth of hemp, almost 90% of which was destined for use in edibles and other cannibinoid products, according to federal agriculture data. The leading states for growing the hemp used in those products were California, Kentucky and Oregon.

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The boom in edibles drew the attention of the alcohol industry, which was watching beer, wine and liquor sales hit a wall.

In a survey published by Gallup in August, only 54% of Americans reported drinking alcohol, down from 67% in 2022 and 71% in 1978. It's unclear what's generating that decline  some experts have speculated that it could be due to growing awareness around the health risks of drinking or changes in societal norms  but within the alcohol industry there was concern that the proliferation of CBD and THC products could be hurting their business.

In a letter to Congress in May, lobbyists representing beer, wine and liquor producers made the case that the legalization of hemp in 2018 had been intended to "reintroduce industrial hemp as an agricultural commodity, not to legalize an entirely new industry of highly intoxicating products."

At the same time, large marijuana companies were voicing their objections, worried hemp-derived edibles were cutting into their business in states where marijuana was legal, said Jonathan Miller, general counsel to the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, which represents hemp companies across the board.

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"You had this competition with the the marijuana multi-state operators and the beer and bourbon folks who see their market share declining and blame it on hemp beverages," he said. "We worked with McConnell on passing the 2018 farm bill, but for a number of reasons, he's decided to turn on the industry."

McConnell, who led the new push to ban THC-derived hemp, said in a statement this month that the ban would "addresses a serious concern regarding the manufacturing and selling of unregulated, intoxicating THC products nationwide."

And he had plenty of support from law enforcement and anti-drug groups who worried about the proliferation of THC products marketed to children and teenagers.

Those were also concerns of many in the hemp industry, like Panda Biotech in Texas. One trade group said it supported the new ban out of concern hemp companies producing grain and fiber were getting a bad reputation.

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"Everyone knew hemp was legal, and everyone rushed to bring everything you could do with hemp to market," said Geoff Whaling, chairman of the National Hemp Association. "We said if we don't address this ourselves there's going to be problems."

But there is still a lot of uncertainty about what happens next.

The new ban doesn't take effect until late next year. And there is a lobbying effort underway to get Congress to replace the ban with regulation, allowing hemp edibles businesses to operate but under stricter rules on their products and customers  similar to how the alcohol and tobacco industries operate.

Many within the industry would like to see the federal government do something similar to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive action earlier this year that limited edibles sales to those 21 and older and banned packaging that looks like candy and other children's products.

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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz opposes the ban, writing on X this month that "a one-size-fits-all federal standard will undoubtedly create unintended consequences that harm consumers." And U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw signed onto a bipartisan letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, along with Democratic Reps. Sylvia Garcia and Mark Veasey, arguing the ban stood to disrupt an industry worth more than $28 billion a year.
A floating dock sits in the water below a home just north of the dam at Medina Lake on Thursday, July 25, 2024. The lake is currently 3.5% full with a mean water level of 975.75 feet above sea level according to Water Data for Texas. Water levels have risen 5.47 feet in the last two days due to recent rains though the lake is still 88.46 feet below conservation pool level. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer

Texas is running out of water. The booming population and industry growth, coupled with declining water supply, have many parts of the state on a path to severe shortages in the coming decades.

Drought has already transformed some regions of the state with significant economic consequences. In the Rio Grande Valley, the $300 million citrus industry has been crippled by lack of water. Along the Gulf Coast in Corpus Christi, the massive petrochemical complex faces water shortages as soon as next year.

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According to the 2022 state water plan, Texas will face a water deficit of at least 7 million acre-feet by 2070. (An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover an acre of land to the depth of a foot, or about 325,000 gallons.)

Heres what you need to know:

Water issues vary by region of the state

The states water supplies and needs vary widely by region.

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West Texas, which relies primarily on groundwater, has seen agriculture and a booming oil and gas industry deplete those reserves. As Central and North Texas have swelled in population, rivers and aquifers are being stressed.

And Houston is facing an enormous backlog of infrastructure repairs. Its pipes leak more than 30 billion gallons of water annually, for example, enough to supply the entire city of Fort Worth.

READ MORE: How a Dallas investor's East Texas water grab triggered a statewide battle

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By 2060, municipal water use will surpass agriculture as the states largest consumer of water. Much of that water goes to irrigate lawns.

There needs to be more serious cultural changes on how Texans relate to water, said Robert Mace, the executive director of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University.

Lawmakers earmarked billions in new water funding

This year, Texas lawmakers made shoring up the states water supply and infrastructure a legislative priority after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for a Texas-sized investment in water security.

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In November, voters approved a constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the states sales tax revenue to water infrastructure and supply projects, earmarking a total of $20 billion over two decades.

Half of the money will go towards developing new water, such as pipelines and desalination plants. The other half will be used to fix deteriorating infrastructure, like leaky water pipes that waste billions of gallons annually.

READ MORE: Texas lawmakers reach deal to spend billions shoring up water supply

The money will be allocated by the Texas Water Development Board, which vets projects proposed by sixteen regional water groups. The boards three members are appointed by Abbott.

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Experts say the new funds are only a drop in the bucket of whats needed. An analysis from the think tank Texas 2036 estimated that the state will need to spend $154 billion on water infrastructure over the next 50 years, including $59 billion to access new water supplies and another $95 billion to fix deteriorating drinking water systems and broken wastewater infrastructure.

Desalination plants are off to a rocky start

The state water plan, published every five years by the Texas Water Development Board, anticipates that more than half of the states future water needs could be met through conservation  by using and losing less water.

But conservation has a limit, Mace said. We should be using water more efficiently, but that's not going to solve all our problems. And so we're going to have to bring water in to meet our water needs. That water has to come from somewhere.

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For Mace, that somewhere is the Gulf of Mexico. According to projections by the water development board, seawater desalination will account for 4.4% of the states total water supply by 2030.

But in communities along the Gulf Coast, seawater desalination projects have faced significant local pushback. This fall, the Corpus Christi city council voted to stop work on a long-planned seawater desalination plant, citing ballooning costs and environmental concerns  even as the city faces imminent water shortages.

A private company is seeking state approval to build a seawater desalination plant in Texas City that would provide fresh drinking water to Harris and Galveston counties. The project is in the early stages.

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Fights are brewing over the rights to groundwater

Groundwater stored in sprawling underground aquifers supplies Texas with half of its water. San Antonio  the states second most populous city  gets all of its water from aquifers. In rural Texas, 99% of drinking water comes from below ground.

And yet the officials tasked with managing that groundwater are often operating in the dark, without localized data or modeling to inform exactly how much they can pump before the water runs out.

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As supplies dwindle, the question of who gets to pump that groundwater  and how much of it  is already sparking conflict for local officials and state lawmakers.

Earlier this year, a Dallas investors proposal to export massive amounts of groundwater out of East Texas caused one powerful lawmaker to push a near-total overhaul of how Texas regulates groundwater. That included overturning a 120-year-old doctrine known as the rule of capture, which gives landowners an almost absolute right to pump groundwater below their property, no matter how that pumping impacts their neighbors.

The proposal ultimately failed, but will likely come up again in the next legislative session beginning January 2027.
(Reuters) -Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) was on track to hit a historic $4 trillion market valuation on Tuesday, powered by an impressive year-long rally fueled by the Google parent's sharpened focus on artificial intelligence tools.

Shares of the company were up 4% at around $331 earch in premarket trading, putting the tech giant on course to breach the key milestone at the open.

The search and ad tech giant joins an elite club of Big Tech companies racing to dominate the booming technology as AI continues to captivate Wall Street this year.

Meta (META) is in talks to spend billions of dollars on Googles AI chips, The Information reported, citing an unnamed persong familiar with the discussions. The deal would place the chips  known as tensor processing units, or TPUs  in data centers in 2027, the report said. The social media giant may also rent chip use from Google's cloud services unit in 2026, it added.

The agreement, if sealed, would underscore Google's progress in challenging Nvidia's (NVDA) dominance in chips as Big Tech companies scramble to build out data centers to meet an expected AI demand boom. Meta's implied stamp of approval would go a long way to establishing Google's tech as an alternative.

(Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan and Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
A rally in Alphabet Inc. shares is poised to shake up the ranking of the worlds most valuable companies, amid signs the search giant is making headway in efforts to rival Nvidia Corp.s bestselling AI accelerator.

Thats prompting investors to reassess the technology landscape and the potential changes in stock market leadership, as rave reviews for Alphabets new Gemini artificial intelligence model and demand for AI chips pushes its shares higher.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Shares in the Mountain View, California-based firm rallied 2% to hit a $3.9 trillion market value. Its 37% rally since mid-October has added about $1 trillion in value over that time. Gains this year have left the Google parent about $300 billion away from Nvidias $4.2 trillion market cap.

Meta Platforms Inc. is in discussions to use Google chips  known as tensor processing units, or TPUs  in data centers in 2027, The Information reported, citing an unidentified person familiar with the talks. Meta also may rent chips from Googles cloud division next year, the news outlet said.

Nvidia is expected to have phenomenal growth and now it will be very natural to see a market that is much more wary of competition, said Alexandra Morris, an investment director at Skagen AS. The narrative that Nvidia is the only one that will provide chips to this buildup of data centers  that narrative has changed.

An agreement with Meta would help establish TPUs as an alternative to Nvidias chips, the gold standard for big tech firms and startups from Meta to OpenAI that need computing power to develop and run AI models.

Nvidia slipped 5.1%, while shares in smaller-rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc., which also makes AI chips, fell 7.8%.

WATCH: Meta Platforms Inc. is reported to be in talks to spend billions on Googles AI chips in data centers in 2027. Tom Mackenzie reports.Source: Bloomberg

Nvidias valuations have pulled back, trading at 26 times forward earnings, well below its average over the past decade of 35 times. Alphabets has shot up to trade at 27 times forward earnings compared to an average of 20 times.

While a possible deal with Meta  one of the biggest spenders globally on data centers and AI development  draws attention to the potential for long-term challenges to Nvidias dominant market position, much depends on whether the tensor chips can demonstrate the power efficiency and computing muscle necessary to become a viable option in the long run.
By Simon Jessop

BELEM, Brazil (Reuters) -Despite the U.S. government souring on the global climate agenda ahead of the COP30 summit, American companies did not shy away.

A Reuters analysis of attendance lists shows there were 60 representatives of Fortune 100 companies at the Brazil event, compared with 50 at last year's in Baku, Azerbaijan. Still others attended pre-conference events in Brazil's finance hub Sao Paulo and in Rio de Janeiro.

Tech firms including Microsoft and Google, energy company Occidental Petroleum, carmaker General Motors and lender Citigroup were among those represented on a provisional U.N. list of attendees of the official summit.

"We've seen no discernible change in the engagement of U.S. companies on climate policy over the course of this year. And that was certainly reflected in attendance levels," said Andrew Wilson, deputy secretary general for policy at the International Chamber of Commerce.

"We are also seeing growing concern across industry about the growing costs of extreme weather events  underscoring the need for effective policy responses."

Executives said they didn't think now was a good time to opt out of the climate conversation, with rising temperatures unleashing ever more threats to factories, supply chains and the bottom line.

"We're doing it because it's good for the business. It helps create supply security," said PepsiCo Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Jim Andrew on the sidelines of the talks.

"We need farmers to be successful, we need them to keep farming," he added, given the company makes the bulk of its revenues from foods including Walkers Crisps and Quaker Oats.

FILLING THE VOID

Darren Woods, the boss of top U.S. oil company ExxonMobil was among the U.S. executives, mayors and other sub-national leaders who attended the pre-COP events.

All those players have an important role in the future of climate action, according to Lou Leonard, Inaugural Dean of Clark University's School of Climate, Environment, and Society.

Existing policies from federal and non-federal actors would lead to a 35% reduction in U.S. emissions by 2035, a recent analysis led by the Center for Global Sustainability (CGS) at the University of Maryland showed.

Much of that is being driven by companies.

"Despite the headlines, the private sector continues to invest in and deploy clean energy," said Gina McCarthy, former administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and now Managing Co-Chair of 'America Is All In', a coalition of non-federal leaders.
The Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor prepares to moor pier side at Sembawang Naval Instillation during a port visit to Singapore in August 2023. (Heath Zeigler/U.S. Navy)



The Navy has deployed a salvage ship to the South China Sea to attempt to raise a sunken fighter and a helicopter that crashed off the USS Nimitz in back-to-back incidents in October.

The USNS Salvor, operated by Military Sealift Command, is on-scene supporting recovering efforts, said Cmdr. Matthew Comer, 7th Fleet spokesman in Japan, in a statement by email Monday.

The operation was first confirmed by CNN. The Navy did not reveal the location of the recovery mission.

The aircraft  an F/A-18 Super Hornet jet and a MH-60 Seahawk helicopter  were lost Oct. 26 within a half hour of each other as the Nimitz, the Navys oldest carrier, was transiting the South China Sea. All five crew members survived.

The Sea Hawk, assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73, went down at approximately 2:45 p.m. during a routine operation from the Nimitz, according to the Navy.

A half-hour later, a Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 22, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., and assigned to the Nimitz, also went down during a routine operation, according to 7th Fleet.

Both crew members successfully ejected and were also safely recovered by search and rescue assets, the Navy said.

Mark Cancian, a former Marine officer and defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., said the attempt to salvage the jet and helicopter was totally normal.

We routinely go and salvage aircraft that crash, Cancian said by phone Monday. There was an F-35 that skidded off a deck; we went and got that one. A Marine helicopter was lost, and we went and got that one. The Brits did the same with an F-35 they lost.

The reason is simple, Cancian said. The Navy will retrieve high-tech equipment before someone else does.

There are going to be electronics and materials on board that we dont want our adversaries to get ahold of, he said.

Cancian said advances in underwater location-finding, as well as equipment to bring large items off the seabed, have significantly improved in the past few decades.

They know exactly where it is and exactly what they have to do to go get it, Cancian said.

The Nimitz is currently in the Western Pacific, headed east toward North America, according to the U.S. Naval Institute Fleet Tracker map. The carrier, which was commissioned in 1975, just days after the fall of Saigon in the Vietnam War, is homeported at Naval Base Kitsap, Wash.

The Nimitz deployed to the Indo-Pacific after departing Kitsap in March. The carrier and its strike group were sent to the Middle East in June as tensions escalated between Israel and Iran.

The Nimitz moved east through the Indian Ocean and was in the South China Sea beginning Oct. 17.

The Nimitz is scheduled to move to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., by May 2026 to begin decommissioning and eventually deactivate the ship.
Retired Adm. Robert Burke, who served as vice chief of naval operations from June 2019 until June 2020, will remain in prison while appealing his conviction for bribery, conspiracy and other charges, an appellate court ruled earlier this month. (U.S. Navy)



A retired four-star admiral who once was the Navys No. 2-ranking officer will remain in prison while appealing his conviction for bribery, conspiracy and other charges, an appeals court ordered earlier this month.

Robert Burke did not show that the appeal of his May conviction presented a substantial question of law or fact likely to result in reversal or an order for a new trial, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on Nov. 13.

Burke was sentenced in September to six years in prison following his conviction in May for his role in a scheme to direct lucrative contracts to a New York-based training company in exchange for a $500,000-a-year job, stock options and other benefits.

Burke, who was vice chief of naval operations from June 2019 to June 2020, also hadnt shown that his appeal would result in a sentence with either no prison time or a term less than the total of the time already served plus the expected duration of the appeal process, the court ruled.

In October, a federal judge cited similar reasoning in refusing Burkes request to delay his sentence, which he is serving at a federal prison in West Virginia.

Burkes attorneys had argued that his appeal would raise substantial questions of law and fact that were likely to result in reversal or an order for a new trial, according to court documents.

His trial involved significant legal errors, Burkes attorneys said in an Oct. 17 emergency motion for release pending appeal.

He reported to the Hazelton federal penitentiary in Bruceton Mills, W.Va., on Oct. 21, the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement on Monday.

Burke, who led U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa as a four-star admiral from 2020 until his retirement in 2022, had faced as much as 30 years in prison.

During his trial, prosecutors said he conspired with Yongchul Charlie Kim and Meghan Messenger, co-CEOs of Next Jump, to direct a $355,135 contract to the company for training programs in Rota, Spain, and Naples, Italy, as part of a three-phase plan to garner more work with the Navy.

Burke went to work for Next Jump a few months after his retirement before resigning in January 2023, court records show. The company offers training and leadership development programs, according to its website.

Kim and Messenger are set for retrial in April on charges of bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery, according to court records

A jury could not reach a decision in their September trial. They each face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, according to the Justice Department.

Burkes appeal brief is due Dec. 22. He is only the second Navy admiral ever convicted of a federal crime committed on active duty.

The first was Adm. Robert Gilbeau, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2017 after admitting that he lied in telling federal officials he had never received any gifts from a Malaysian businessman Leonard Francis.

Known as Fat Leonard, he was at the center of a massive bribery scandal involving Navy officers over a period of years.
U.S. soldiers with the 128th Military Police Company, Alabama National Guard, conduct a presence patrol in Washington, D.C., Oct. 24, 2025. (Paris Hayes/U.S. Army National Guard)



(Tribune News Service)  A National Guard member from Alabama has died in a non-duty-related incident in Washington, D.C., according to military news site Task & Purpose.

Alabama National Guard Staff Sgt. Jacob Bobby Hill, of Sylacauga, was assigned to Joint Task Force-D.C., a group of troops mobilized to the district this summer under the direction of President Donald Trump.

Task & Purpose reports that Army officials did not respond to inquiries about the incident, citing an ongoing investigation.

The loss weighs heavily on us all within JTF-DC, task force commander Col. Larry Doane told the publication in a statement.

Hills dedication to the mission and passion to serve our country, speaks to the highest values of the military. We honor him for his service and will ensure support is extended to his loved ones during this difficult time.

Hill was one of over 2,000 National Guard members that have been deployed to D.C. since August, arriving in early October.

Trump said previously he made the decision to address crime in the capital city.

Since then, he has ordered similar deployments in several major U.S. cities including Chicago, Portland, and Memphis.

The move has been the subject of ongoing political controversy, with U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb ruling last week that it was illegal.

The impacts of the judges ruling are not immediate since the administration will have until Dec. 11 to make an appeal, Task & Force reports.

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Visit al.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Democratic lawmakers who participated in a social media video urging service members to resist illegal orders said Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, that the FBI is seeking interviews with them in a possible inquiry into the matter. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  Democratic lawmakers who participated in a social media video urging service members to resist illegal orders said Tuesday that the FBI is seeking interviews with them in a possible inquiry into the matter.

The involvement of the FBI follows an announcement by the Pentagon on Monday that it is investigating Sen. Mark Kelly, of Arizona, a retired Navy captain, for potentially violating military law by appearing in the video.

The FBI declined to comment Tuesday.

Four House lawmakers  Jason Crow, of Colorado; Maggie Goodlander, of New Hampshire; Chris Deluzio, of Pennsylvania; and Chrissy Houlahan, of Pennsylvania  said the FBI on Monday contacted the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms to request interviews with them.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, of Michigan, said in a separate statement that it appeared the FBIs Counterterrorism Division had opened an inquiry into her in response to a video President Trump did not like.

In the 90-second video, the six lawmakers  all former members of the military and intelligence community  remind troops that they swore an oath to the Constitution and can refuse to carry out orders that are unlawful.

The President directing the FBI to target us is exactly why we made this video in the first place, Slotkin wrote on X. He believes in weaponizing the federal government against his perceived enemies and does not believe laws apply to him or his Cabinet.

Reps. Crow, Deluzio, Goodlander and Houlahan in a joint statement on Tuesday accused Trump of using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass members of Congress.

The video sparked fury in the Trump administration, with Trump calling for the arrest of lawmakers he branded traitors and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accusing the Seditious Six of encouraging troops to ignore their commanders orders.

Hegseth has focused much of his ire on Kelly, who he said remains under the jurisdiction of the Pentagon as a retired veteran and could be recalled to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.

On Tuesday, Hegseth lashed out at a photo Kelly posted on X showing the medals he had been awarded hanging on his uniform.

Your medals are out of order & rows reversed, Hegseth wrote on X. When/if you are recalled to active duty, itll start with a uniform inspection.

So "Captain" Kelly, not only did your sedition video intentionally undercut good order & disciplinebut you can't even display your uniform correctly.



Your medals are out of order & rows reversed. When/if you are recalled to active duty, it'll start with a uniform inspection. https://t.co/rsSyrPcmbg  Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) November 25, 2025

Hegseth has used the rank of commander to refer to Kelly, though Kelly retired from the Navy as a captain in 2011, according to his service record.

Kellys office did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

FBI Director Kash Patel on Monday told journalist Catherine Herridge that he could not say much about whether the FBI would get involved in investigating the controversial video, describing it as an ongoing matter.

What goes through my head is the same thing that goes through my head in any case: is there a lawful predicate to open up an inquiry and investigation, or is there not, he said. And that decision will be made by the career agents and analysts here at the FBI.
Robotics eldercare expands amid aging population challenge

Xinhua) 08:34, November 25, 2025

A senior resident plays chess with a robot at Shenzhen Nursing Home in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

SHENYANG, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Artificial joints fitted closely around Zhang's legs, tiny motors humming as they learned his strides. With each step, the sensors tracked his movements and the whole frame gently pushed him forward.

In a rehabilitation center in Beijing's Fengtai District, the 76-year-old, once dependent on a caregiver, lifts his feet, one after the other, walking with the help of a robotic exoskeleton.

"I used to need someone by my side," he said with a grin. "With the robot training, I can walk myself."

An eldercare robot for each elderly person has long been the stuff of science fiction, but it is now edging closer to reality as robots are making their way into households to help more and more senior people with daily challenges and inconveniences.

GROWTH FUELED BY POLICY, DEMAND

China is witnessing a swift integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics into eldercare services, providing innovative solutions to address the challenges that come with an aging population.

Driven by policy support and rising demand, China's eldercare robot industry is entering a period of rapid expansion.

This year, new guidelines for elderly care service reforms call for advancing humanoid robots, brain-computer interfaces, and AI technologies to enhance senior care.

Across China, local governments are rolling out a range of new policies. Beijing's three-year action plan on embodied intelligence encourages the pilot use of intelligent robots in eldercare institutions, while Jiangsu's innovation plan calls for the broader adoption of service robots in both household and eldercare environments.

Earlier this year, the International Electrotechnical Commission released a global standard for elderly-care robots. Led by China in its formulation, the standard sets technical benchmarks for product design, manufacturing, testing and certification for such robots.

"Since early last year, we've clearly seen demand for eldercare robots picking up," said Chen Yuxi, industry director of the service robot division at Siasun Robot &Automation Co., Ltd., a leading robotics firm in northeast China's Shenyang.

By the end of 2024, China's population aged 60 and above reached 310 million, accounting for roughly 22 percent of its total population.

"Elderly people who are disabled, cognitively impaired or of a very advanced age have certain requirements when it comes to toileting, bathing, eating, getting dressed and moving around both indoors and outdoors. In addition, the demand for technological solutions that provide emotional companionship is also becoming increasingly prominent," said Sun Liguo, vice president of the Beijing association of senior citizens.

REAL-WORLD APPLICATION TAKING SHAPE

While eldercare robots are still in the early stages of development compared to industrial robots, some users are already beginning to enjoy the convenience these technologies provide.

At a nursing home located in the country's tech hub Shenzhen, robots are now an integral part of daily life, playing chess with seniors, offering AI-assisted moxibustion therapy, and providing enhanced mobility assistance.

"We place great emphasis on the application of technology in eldercare," said Li Xipo, director of the nursing home. "By integrating AI robots, rehabilitation robots, and robotic pets, we aim to improve seniors' quality of life while creating a testing ground for industry innovation."

"Eldercare robots represent an untapped market," said Bi Yalei, secretary-general of the Shenzhen Robots Association. "With pressing issues in senior care, such as mobility assistance, fall prevention, and rehabilitation support, many companies in Shenzhen are actively investing in this sector due to strong demand."

BARRIERS TO LARGE-SCALE DEPLOYMENT

Despite notable momentum, experts say eldercare robots still face multiple obstacles before they can be deployed on a large scale.

On the consumer side, the feedback has been mixed. Some seniors remain skeptical.

"Robots are too cold and emotionless. I just can't accept them," said Qu Suling, a 66-year-old resident of Shenyang. She expressed particular concern about safety. "If a machine malfunctions, it could hurt me," she added, reflecting a common fear among seniors who are wary of humanoid robots operating close to their bodies.

Another major hurdle is access to real-world data needed to improve algorithms and the user experience.

To improve algorithms and user experiences, companies need large volumes of real-world training data, something they currently lack, according to Ji Junjie, an algorithm specialist at the Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics. "We have limited opportunities to enter seniors' homes or eldercare facilities," Ji said.

The high prices of many eldercare robots represent another significant barrier, as they are well beyond the reach of most households. Exoskeleton walking aids typically cost more than 10,000 yuan (about 1,411 U.S. dollars), and bathing-assistance robots average 30,000 to 50,000 yuan, a price point that keeps them out of ordinary homes for now.

"Eldercare robots represent a critical opportunity for people's wellbeing, which must be seized now," said Zhang Yunquan, a researcher at the Institute of Computing Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, estimating that breakthroughs will be needed in three key areas, namely core technologies, real-world scenario adaptation and ecosystem building.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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KANAWHA COUNTY, West Virginia  Steve Lipscomb was a son, a father, a husband, a Marine, a man of faith, and a coal miner.

Ten days ago, Lipscomb and his crew encountered an unknown pocket of water when a "sudden and substantial" flood sent millions of gallons into the Rolling Thunder Mine. Lipscomb lived up to his life of service, faith, family and community by ensuring his entire crew made it out safely.

Officials said that as Lipscomb finished evacuating his crew, rising water filled the shaft so rapidly that he, the last man remaining, had no way out. It was the last time he was seen.

After five days of round-the-clock, hazardous search efforts, a two-man crew found Lipscomb's body in the mine at 7:37 a.m. Nov. 13. Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R-W.V.) announced his death outside the Rolling Thunder Mine.

"This is really a very sad day in West Virginia," Morrisey said. Lipscomb was the fifth coal miner to die this year in West Virginia.

As a reporter who has visited several coal mines, I can attest to the enormous amount of precision and safety that goes into every step a miner takes. I can also say from experience that once you're 1,000 feet underground, the most unpredictable danger you face is the Earth.

Morrisey said he grew close to Lipscomb's family during the rescue and that his prayers turned from hope of survival to sorrow for their loss.

"The first lady and I are praying for the family of Steven and Heather, and we know that Steven was a good man," he said. "One thing I learned about today is that Steven was in the Marine Corps. He actually got a Purple Heart."

"I had a chance to talk with Heather, and I'm gonna say all of West Virginia's behind this family," Morrisey continued. "We know how difficult it was to go through this. We know that Stephen is the quintessential West Virginian, first serving our nation in the Marine Corps, and then by all accounts, listening to the people that were there, really seeming to want to do everything to save the lives of the other miners."

Lipscomb's tragic death marked the 29th fatality in the mining industry this year, according to Coal Zoom, a mining trade organization with the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which details mining fatalities, nearly half of which are due to equipment failures. By state, West Virginia has the most mining fatalities this year at five.

Morrisey issued all flags flown at half-staff, not just for Lipscomb but for all five of the West Virginia coal miners who lost their lives on the job in 2025: Steven Fields, Billy Stalker, Eric Bartram, Joey Mitchell and Lipscomb.

Mitchell died last week in the Mettiki Mine in Grant County, marking the second mining fatality in November.

Driving across West Virginia reveals more than government buildings, such as post offices, municipal centers and county courthouses. There are also schools and hundreds of homes scattered across the rolling hills and small towns of the nation's only state located entirely within Appalachia.

The history of coal in West Virginia dates back to the 1800s. Government and family records indicate that settlers of what was then Virginia (West Virginia seceded during the Civil War and became its own state) resided in a region rich in abundant reserves of bituminous coal. In fact, of the state's 55 counties, only two do not have coal seams.

It wasn't until the railroads arrived that coal, previously used only for heat and fuel, became the backbone of a booming commercial industry in the 1880s.

After descending into mines in Pennsylvania, including one that crosses into West Virginia, it's clear that the work is punishing and the workers are purposeful. Many miners say that what they do feels patriotic, as it provides the energy that powers the country, the steel that builds its infrastructure, and a vital layer of national security.

The men and women I have interviewed in the mines have a camaraderie that matches that of men and women in battle. They all have one another's backs, as Lipscomb showed in his heroic efforts. Morrisey said Lipscomb was a selfless person, which is why he emphasized the importance of also celebrating the life he led.

"Our spirit cannot be broken," Morrisey said.

West Virginia governors have stood outside of mines after tragedies for hundreds of years. Former Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin was the symbol of grief and hope in 2006 when I covered the Sago Mine disaster, in which 12 miners died after an underground explosion.

Initially, the trapped miners survived by hunkering down with limited oxygen supplies, which quickly ran out. For days, the country watched anxiously, hoping they would make it out alive. Early reports mistakenly said only one miner died and that 12 survived. At the Sago Baptist Church, where families gathered, the news sparked jubilation, which collapsed into agony when it became clear that the reports were the result of a tragic communication error.

Manchin, who grew up around mining, was 21 years old when Farmington No. 9 in his hometown exploded, killing his mother's brother, Uncle John.

In 2010, when the Upper Big Branch disaster took the lives of 29 miners, Manchin requested a nationwide shutdown of mining operations. Later, he and then-Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) passed a bill to set stricter standards on air quality and require safety tents for miners that also had oxygen.

At the time, Manchin said miners' families "should expect them to come home safely at the end of the day."

Lipscomb's service was held on Nov. 22. If you are so inclined, send the family a note and thank them for his service. In his Elkview community, Lipscomb will always be a hero. To his family, he will never be forgotten.

For the men whose lives he saved, his name will be the first and last they speak in their prayers. Sadly, in our wider culture, few will ever know who Lipscomb was.

Yet somewhere, a light burns tonight that would not be burning had it not been for a coal miner like him.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Salena Zito is a CNN political analyst, and a staff reporter and columnist for the Washington Examiner. She reaches the Everyman and Everywoman through shoe-leather journalism, traveling from Main Street to the beltway and all places in between.
It's been a good news/bad news few weeks for Apple.

The company just closed its fiscal year with a record $112 billion in net income and quarterly revenue of $102.5 billion, per its October 30 earnings call. Both figures were ahead of Wall Street expectations.

"We are incredibly excited about the strength we're seeing across our products and services and we expect the December quarter's revenue to be the best ever for the company and the best ever for iPhone," Apple CEO Tim Cook said on the call.

Management is guiding for 10% to 12% year-on-year revenue growth in the December quarter, well above analyst forecasts of about 6%, on the back of double-digit iPhone revenue growth and resilient gross margins of 47-48%, despite elevated tariff costs.

Apple is entering the holidays with a record profit year, a bullish sales forecast, and a $4 trillion market valuation, as reported by Reuters. The company also shared on its earnings call that it had achieved all-time revenue records in the Americas, Japan, Europe, and China.

Then, yesterday, despite the strong financials, the company announced rare layoffs on November 24, letting "dozens" of people go due to a reorganization of its sales department, according to Bloomberg.

To connect with even more customers, we are making some changes in our sales team that affect a small number of roles, a spokesperson for the Cupertino, California-based company said in the statement to Bloomberg. We are continuing to hire and those employees can apply for new roles.

iPhone 17 drives an upgrade wave

The iPhone 17 series is outpacing last years iPhone 16 by roughly 14% in key markets, such as the United States and China, according to a Counterpoint Research report. It may be that after several lackluster upgrade cycles, more people are hungry to get the latest, greatest model.

Apple kept pricing for the new model largely in check while adding more features to the base models, according to the company's website, a strategy that appears to be drawing in value-conscious buyers even as trade tensions and tariffs linger in the background.

A brief history of the iPhone

2007  iPhone introduced: Steve Jobs unveils the first iPhone with multitouch and mobile internet features that redefine smartphones.

2008  App Store launch: The App Store opens, creating the modern app ecosystem.

2010  iPhone 4 : First Retina display and major redesign; FaceTime introduced.

2011  Siri arrives : iPhone 4S launches with Siri , bringing voice assistants to the mainstream.

2014  iPhone 6 & 6 Plus : First large-screen iPhones (4.7" and 5.5"); huge sales and industry shift.

2017  iPhone X : Major redesign with edge-to-edge OLED and Face ID ; removes Home button.

2019  iPhone 11 Pro : First triple-camera system , boosting computational photography.

2020  iPhone 12 : Introduces 5G across the lineup; flat-edge design returns.

2023  iPhone 15 Pro : Moves to USB-C, adds the Action Button, and debuts Apples A17 Pro chip.

2024  iPhone 16 + Apple Intelligence: Deep integration of on-device and cloud-assisted AI marks Apples shift toward AI-first features.

Source: Make Use Of

Apple faces pressure from China

Despite the strong global picture, revenue from China remains under pressure, reflecting tougher competition from local brands and regulatory headwinds that have weighed on Apples growth in the worlds largest smartphone market.

Cook has signaled confidence that Chinese sales will return to growth in the December quarter, pointing to significantly higher store traffic and early momentum behind the new iPhone models as signs that the worst of the slump may be easing, he told Reuters.

Related: History of Apple: Company timeline and facts

Beyond hardware, Apples Services division, which includes the App Store, iCloud, and Apple Pay, has crossed the $100 billion annual revenue threshold for the first time, according to the October 30 earnings call. That means the division earns more than Tesla, Pepsi, or Disney.

At the same time, easing tariff pressures, including a U.S. move to cut a key import levy that had hit Apple earlier in the year, are helping management keep gross margins elevated, even as it absorbs more than a billion dollars in recent tariff-related costs, NBC News reported.

Apple is now in the $4 trillion club

Apples surging share price, up more than 30% since late summer, has planted the company into the elite club of firms worth over $4 trillion, alongside Nvidia and Microsoft, cementing investor belief that its device-and-services model still has room to run.

Yet the valuation milestone also intensifies scrutiny of Apples slower progress in artificial intelligence, where delayed Siri upgrades and pulled-back features have compelled the company to promise increased R&D spending to close the perceived gap with technology rivals.

iPhone Air: lots of buzz but looking like a bust

In another bit of bad news, one of Apple's boldest new devices  the iPhone Air stumbled out of the gate. The phone was hyped for months, and reportedly had a lot of interest, but it's not selling well, The Financial Times reported.

It's the thinnest iPhone yet and the companys most radical smartphone redesign in years and even drew a million product-page views at launch.

Still, early sales have significantly undershot internal hopes, pushing Apple to slash production plans after the model sold only about a third of its most optimistic expectations, per The Times.

iPhone Air pricing misstep and feature tradeoffs

Analysts say the iPhone Air has been squeezed into an awkward middle ground: At $999, it sits just $100 below the iPhone 17 Pro, yet it sacrifices camera versatility and audio hardware to achieve its 5.64mm profile, leaving many buyers to choose either a cheaper base model or a fullerfeatured Pro instead.

The Air is a limited-capability phone that we think is a trial run in preparation for the foldable, Wamsi Mohan at Bank of America told The Financial Times.

Web analytics data from SimilarWeb show that while the Airs product pages attracted heavy traffic, its conversion rate lagged other models by roughly a third, per the Financial Times reporting, suggesting that the design intrigue did not overcome concerns about value and everyday usability.

Despite the tepid response, analysts like Mohan believe the Air may be a strategic test bid rather than a failed experiment, a step toward a more radical foldable iPhone that industry watchers expect as soon as next year.

In other words, Apple may be using the Air to gauge consumer appetite for slimmer, lighter devices.

Related: Apple News loses a longstanding media partner

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Technology section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Lt. Cmdr. Long Tran gives a tour of the forward galley to Scouts aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in Yokosuka, Japan in 2023. (Oswald Felix Jr./U.S. Navy)



Word of impending Defense Department plans to end the militarys longtime partnership with Scouting America drew immediate pushback Tuesday, with the organizations top leader saying that claims it is no longer a meritocracy are uninformed.

Membership in the Scouting organization, which is more commonly known as the Boy Scouts, was extended to girls beginning in 2019. The current name was adopted this year.

The statement Tuesday by CEO Roger Krone came in response to an NPR report saying the Pentagon will cease support of U.S. Scouting programs on stateside and overseas military bases.

Scouting will never turn its back on the children of our military families, Krone wrote. Just as we always have, Scouts will continue to put duty to country above duty to self and will remain focused on serving all American families in the U.S. and abroad.

The NPR story included a draft memo to Congress from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saying that Scouting America had become a genderless organization that was designed to attack boy-friendly spaces.

Airman 1st Class Uriel Garcia-Fierro teaches Scouts proper ground preparation in constructing a disc golf course at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 10, 2025. (Rebecca Harima/U.S. Air Force)



Hegseth also said the organization no longer supports the future of American boys, NPR reported, adding that the memo has not yet been sent to Congress.

In response to questions from Stars and Stripes, a Pentagon spokesperson said Tuesday that it will not comment on leaked documents that we cannot authenticate and that may be pre-decisional.

Under the draft plan, the Pentagon would also cut support for the Scouting organizations quadrennial national jamboree and eliminate increases in pay grade for Eagle Scouts who enlist in the military, according to NPR.

The next national jamboree is scheduled to take place July 22-31, 2026, in West Virginia.

Scouting America is surprised and deeply saddened by this news, Krones statement said, adding that the assertion that Scouts are no longer held to high standards is clearly uninformed.

Badges and ranks are not given, they are earned, Krone wrote. Just ask any Eagle Scout. Young men and young women alike thrive in Scouting.

President Donald Trump addresses a crowd at the Boy Scouts of Americas national jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia in July 2017. (Dustin Biven/U.S. Army)



Krone praised the organizations century-old relationship with the U.S. military and said Scout troops provide stability for the children of military families deployed around the globe. Scouting has historically been a reliable pipeline for recruiting service members, he said.

An enormous percentage of those in our military academies are Scouts and Eagle Scouts, Krone wrote. Our Scouts and leaders admire and are inspired by our military heroes. Many of our Scouts trade their Scouting uniforms for the uniforms of our nations armed forces.

For the family of Scott Matthews, a retired Air Force colonel living in the area of Kaiserslautern, Germany, the potential loss of the partnership between Scouting and the Defense Department is heartbreaking, he said.

He and his wife, a civilian working at Ramstein Air Base, are the parents of two Eagle Scouts and a Life Scout working toward her Eagle rank.

Scouting has been far more than an extracurricular activity; it is a community, Matthews said. It has given our children, girls and boys alike, a place to form meaningful connections, build lasting friendships and develop the resiliency that military life so often demands, especially overseas.
Veterans Community Project is a nonprofit that offers temporary free stays at tiny home villages for veterans experiencing homelessness. (Veterans Community Project)



WASHINGTON  After struggling with addiction and homelessness, Iraq War veteran Kyle Hanssen said a nonprofit organizations offer of free housing at a tiny homes village seemed too good to pass up.

But Hanssen, a former lance corporal in the Marine Corps, first had to commit to a rehabilitation program that consisted of mental-health counseling, job training and weekly drug tests.

With a focus on accountability, the Veterans Community Project  which is expanding nationwide  provides temporary housing in 240-square-foot homes for veterans who stay an average of 335 days to address problems and implement a plan for independent living.

While living in a tiny home in our village, veterans pay zero in rent. We only ask that they put in the work investing in their future by working our case management program, said Bryan Meyer, chief executive officer and a veteran co-founder of Veterans Community Project.

The program sounds similar to homelessness assistance reforms the Trump administration announced last week to steer billions of dollars from permanent housing support to temporary subsidies with eligibility rules for work and drug treatment.

The long-term housing subsidies by the Department of Housing and Urban Development have represented 90% of federal housing assistance but will drop to 30% under the proposal.

Meyer, a former Marine Corps corporal, said there are critical differences between the HUD proposal and the services provided by Veterans Community Project.

He said the nonprofit tailors its help to individual need, while the HUD reforms put in hard requirements to qualify recipients for housing assistance.

Meyer questioned whether the changes planned by HUD will make homelessness worse for veterans and other populations.

When you have a lot of check-the-box requirements, it can dissuade [veterans] from participation, Meyer said.

With a focus on accountability, Veterans Community Project provides housing in 240-square-foot furnished tiny homes. The average stay is 335 days. (Veterans Community Project)



Veterans Community Project claims an 85% success rate among participants receiving on-site support and case management at its tiny home villages. In 2025, the organization provided services to 1,000 participants.

Veterans Community Project gave me the space and time to identify and understand challenges holding me back, said Hanssen, who lived in one of the organizations tiny homes for 18 months starting in 2018.

Former service members have a disproportionately higher rate of homelessness than the general population.

Hanssen, who had shoulder and back injuries from military service, said his life collapsed from financial pressures and a growing addiction to pain pills. The team at Veterans Community Project stepped in to fight for me so I could work on my whole self, Hanssen said.

Veterans Community Project does not directly provide substance abuse treatment but works with community partners to connect veterans to get the help that they need.

The organization, with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., said it partners with veterans service organizations, law clinics and other local stakeholders in communities where it operates.

Support for the nonprofit comes from state governments, corporate donors, private grants and individual giving. Philip Morris Internationals U.S. businesses, for example, have given $500,000 to the Veterans Community Project since 2024.

Only 5% of funding comes directly from the federal government, which has enabled Veterans Community Project to grow as similar programs have scaled back amid recent cuts. The nonprofit is opening tiny homes villages in Wisconsin and Arizona after operating developments in Missouri, Colorado and South Dakota.

Kyle Hanssen, a former lance corporal in the Marine Corps, is shown in 2005 during a deployment to Ramadi, Iraq. (Kyle Hanssen)

Kyle Hanssen of Missouri served in the Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008 with deployments to Iraq, Japan and the Philippines. After an honorable discharge from military service, Hanssen struggled with homelessness and addiction. (Kyle Hanssen)



Hanssen previously was a truck driver in the military hauling ammunition and supplies to the front lines. A counselor at Veterans Community Project suggested he become a trucker, given his military background.

Hanssen said the guidance he received compelled him to study for his commercial truckers license, attend classes on managing finances and receive mental health counseling.

His wife and children moved in with him into a family-style tiny home for part of his stay. They actually really liked it, he said.

Hanssen later bought a four-bedroom home in rural Missouri after leaving the program. He works as a long-haul driver and instructor.

Hanssen could not imagine a decade ago that he could turn around his life, let alone build a better future for himself and his family, he said.

It is hard for people who know me now to believe I was once homeless, Hanssen said.

Our two youngest kids have no idea what their dad went through. I am glad they do not have an awareness of the man I was back then, Hanssen said.
A lot is happening within the distinct worlds of Apple and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), but the two companies intersect at one key platform: Apple News.

However, on Sunday, Nov. 23, WBDs flagship journalism brand CNN quietly pulled its content off the news aggregator, Semafor reported. CNN ended its distribution deal as both sides negotiate new terms.

Neither company has commented publicly on the deal.

What this means for consumers is that until an official deal is in effect, Apple News users will no longer be able to see CNN stories in their curated feeds, notable for Apple as it positions itself as: A world of journalism. One trusted subscription.

CNN has been a prominent outlet for Apple News since its launch in 2015. More recently, it has included curated news stories from The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

The news had no impact on the companys stock; it was trading up 1.6% on Nov. 24, marking a 10% year-to-date stock gain.

News of a stepdown emerges as Tim Cook turns 65.Image source: Shutterstock

What is Apple News?

In 2015, Apple released its news aggregator service Apple News, which scrapes stories from the internet for its iOS users.

In 2019, it launched Apple News+, a subscription-based service that allows users to access top stories from more than 500 leading publications under a single subscription, priced at $12.99 per month.

More Tech Stocks:

It instantly became a success, and according to a 2020 report from Apple (it has not released official data since), it had 125 million combined monthly active free and paid subscribers.

The subscription has also proved to be a lifeline for many publications, especially digital publishers who rely on views to drive revenue. According to a Semafor report, Apple News is one of Times most important partners, helping it generate seven figures of revenue annually. It has been similar for publications such as Conde Nast, Vanity Fair, and Dotdash Meredith.

Related: History of Apple: Company timeline and facts

Tim Cook and iPhone Pocket

Apple has been in the news this month for entirely different reasons as well.

All the traction to adapt to the new advancements and emerge as a crowd favourite comes amidst a pivotal movement for the company.

According to a Financial Times report, Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to potentially step down, with John Ternus, Apples senior vice president of hardware engineering, as the most likely successor.
Ideal Granada Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 17:14 Share

Cultural diversity is the best weapon to combat depopulation, it is also a clear cultural enrichment, as well as a major tourist attraction. The town of Orgiva in Granada province's Alpujarra area boasts 72 different nationalities and is well aware of the importance of its diversity.

Almost a third of the population (26.42%) of Orgiva is made up of immigrants from other countries, another third (38.20%) is made up of people from other parts of Spain and the remaining third (35.38%) are people who were born in the town.

Of the 2,311 foreign residents in Orgiva, a significant number come from the United Kingdom (754), followed by Germany (253), the Netherlands (171), Romania (153), Morocco (138), France (124) and Italy with 108 residents. There are also people from Belgium, the United States and Switzerland, Gambia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Sierra Leone, among others.

This mixture of cultures is palpable in the town and in the words of the mayor of Orgiva, Raul Orellana, it is "a very important factor both socially, economically and culturally". For a municipality the size of Orgiva, the mayor continues, "this figure makes the town one of the most multicultural centres. Diversity that enriches the daily life of our residents, who live together in a totally normalised way". In short, says the mayor, "languages, customs, cuisines and ways of understanding the world coexist in the same space, and this enriches us as a municipality and as people".

"In regions where depopulation is a challenge, the arrival of foreign people contributes to maintain or even increase the number of inhabitants, to rejuvenate the age pyramid and to sustain services and activities that depend on the volume of population," says Orellana, who concludes that "from the town hall we will continue to contribute to generate spaces of interculturalism and community participation, projecting an image of an open, attractive and plural municipality."
SUR in English Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 15:16 Share

The 2025 Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival, held from 10 to 16 November, has been declared a success by its director and team, on behalf of the Ministries of Culture and Tourism.

Over 2,500 tickets were issued for the event, which featured more than 60 authors, both local and international. This year's edition was organised by the Gibraltar Tourist Board and Gibraltar Cultural Services on behalf of the Ministries of Culture and Tourism.

The talk by headliner Sir Jeremy Hunt was the most well attended, with an audience of over 300 people. Over 15 events were sold out, with some of the most popular being talks by Alice Mascarenhas, Christian Hook, The Crime Panel, Sir Vince Cable, Wayne Sleep, Alex Partridge, Jenny Kleeman, Dr Paul Cooper and the library tour by Manolo Galliano.

The promotion around the event this year saw international traction with features and interviews on the BBC, while local media helped with promotion and offered opportunities to authors. The online campaign also saw the launch of the festival's new website, which had a very positive impact, attracting hundreds of new followers. The prelude events also helped build excitement ahead of the main programme.

Festival director Seamus Byrne said it was a pleasure to have led the festival, adding: "I'm currently overwhelmed with the positive feedback received, all testament to the hard work of the organising team. We are already working on the 2026 edition, extending the platform further for local authors, and aiming to make the event even bigger and better."

There has been great praise from the authors too. Terri Apter, author of Grandparenting, commented on the festival being "the most inclusive and well managed festival I have ever attended." Justin Rollins, author of The Lost Boyz, commented: "It has inspired me to get writing again." Former politician Sir Vince Cable described it as "better than any other festival I have been to, and I have been to a lot." James Mayhew, who headlined the schools' programme, added it was one of, if not the best festival he has been to, and thanked the warmth and welcome of the community and staff.

The festival was held at some of Gibraltar's most prestigious heritage venues, including the City Hall, John Mackintosh Hall Theatre and Grand Battery House, which was used for the first time. The festival hub was the Gibraltar Garrison Library, which hosted the Green Room, one of the event spaces and the festival bookshop.

The weeklong festival included a stimulating schools' programme which saw over 2,000 students attend various talks and presentations by local and international authors. Students related to authors through their storytelling and books and learnt about literature and writing.

A new chapter will begin on 9th November 2026, where the public can join in for another week of tales and literary adventures.

For more information online visit www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.gi or follow on Facebook and Instagram @gibraltarliteraryfestival.
SUR in English Gibraltar Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 16:08 Share

Today, 25 November, marks the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The Ministry of Equality, in collaboration with the Royal Gibraltar Police and the Youth Service, has organised several initiatives and events to mark the day and to raise awareness of this important issue.

The date was officially designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women and girls in February 2000. The UN describes violence against women and girls as "one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world," with "almost one in three women having been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life."

The 25 November was first marked by activists in 1981, chosen to honour the Mirabal sisters, three Dominican political activists assassinated in 1960.

This day also begins the UN's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which runs up to 10 December, which marks Human Rights Day. As part of Gibraltar's participation in this global campaign, the Moorish Castle will be illuminated in orange on the evening of 25 November, serving as a powerful symbol of unity and support for all those affected by gender-based violence.

The Ministry has also invited Government departments and the general public to wear orange on the day in keeping with the UN's campaign, "Orange the World," where this colour represents hope and a future free from violence against women and girls.

In addition to awareness-raising efforts, the Ministry also focuses on prevention and today launches the "Love is Respect" social media campaign led by the Youth Service. This campaign aims to promote healthy relationships, especially for young people, and a better understanding of issues such as consent and coercive control. A workshop on these issues aimed at young people will also take place today and will be delivered by Ministry of Equality, Youth Service and RGP staff.

Commissioner of Police, Owain Richards, said: "The RGP is fully committed to tackling gender-based violence and protecting victims in our community. The recent landmark conviction for Controlling and Coercive Behaviour, the first of its kind in Gibraltar, demonstrates our commitment and dedication to bringing offenders to justice. We are proud to collaborate with the Ministry of Equality and the Youth Service on these important initiatives, and will continue to do so, especially the 'Love is Respect' campaign, which helps raise awareness of these important issues."

Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture and Tourism, Christian Santos , said: "Marking this day is vital to raise awareness of Violence against Women and an important step in prevention and to show support to all survivors of gender-based violence. The 'Love is Respect' campaign powerfully presents the experience of survivors and of the professionals in this field as well as challenging some of the stereotypes or prevailing misconceptions. I am delighted to see teams from across the public service and the Royal Gibraltar Police work collaboratively on this campaign and workshop."
SUR in English Gibraltar Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 09:58 Share

Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture and Tourism, Christian Santos, and representatives from the Gibraltar Tourist Board attended the 15th International Cruise Summit 2025 in Madrid.

The event brought together cruise industry leaders, destination representatives, port authorities and key stakeholders to discuss the latest developments and opportunities within the global cruise sector.

During the Summit, GTB representatives followed a series of keynote presentations and panel discussions, gaining up-to-date insights into key market trends, evolving passenger expectations, itinerary planning developments and growth opportunities across the global cruising landscape.

Commenting on the event, Santos said: "It was a pleasure to attend as maintaining close contact with cruise line stakeholders and staying informed on sector trends is vital to securing Gibraltar's position as a preferred port of call. These engagements reinforce our visibility and support our ongoing commitment to strengthening Gibraltar's cruise offering."

The insights gathered from the summit aims to support the Gibraltar Tourist Board's ongoing strategic planning and help guide future engagement with cruise partners, ensuring Gibraltar remains aligned with current industry dynamics and well-positioned within the international cruise market.
SUR in English Gibraltar Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 13:36 Share

Gibraltar Cultural Services (GCS), on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, has announced the return of the New Year's Classical Concert for 2026.

Two New Year's concerts featuring The Strait Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Miguel Monge, will take place at the John Mackintosh Hall Theatre on Sunday 4 January 2026. The first performance, an orchestral concert for children, begins at 4pm, followed by the main evening concert for adults at 7pm.

Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture and Tourism, The Hon. Christian Santos GMD MP, said: "I hope families take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to introduce their children to classical music. These events are a great way of seeing in the New Year and extending the Christmas spirit into January."

Tickets for the orchestral concert for children are free of charge for children under the age of 12 and their families. These complimentary tickets may be collected at the City Hall reception from Wednesday 26th November between 9.30am and 4.30pm. Tickets are limited to six per person, and children's ID cards must be presented when collecting.

Tickets for the evening's performance, priced at 15, can be purchased online at www.buytickets.gi.

For any information contact GCS events department via email info@culture.gi or on 20067236.
SUR in English Gibraltar Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 09:49 Share

Gibraltar's Commissioner of Police, Owain Richards, participated in the annual gathering of the UK National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) in London last week.

The event brought together senior policing leaders from across the United Kingdom and the wider British family of law enforcement agencies to discuss current challenges and future priorities facing modern policing.

The conference provided Commissioner Richards with a valuable opportunity to hear first-hand about forthcoming changes to the governance of police forces in England and Wales. He participated in plenary sessions focused on best practice in contemporary policing, with key themes including national approaches to reducing violence against women and girls, strengthening community safety, digital data and technology and officer and staff well-being.

Also attending the event was Samantha Sacramento in her capacity as Chair of the Working Group on reform of police governance in Gibraltar. Both Gibraltar representatives took the opportunity to exchange views with police chiefs and officials from other jurisdictions, with discussions centering on comparative models of accountability and governance and how these may inform future work in support of effective and transparent policing for Gibraltar.

At the conclusion of the conference, Commissioner Richards participated in a series of engagement meetings at Gibraltar House with HM Government of Gibraltar's representative in London. He also held separate discussions with the chiefs of police from the UK Crown Dependencies at the States of Jersey offices in London.
Cristina Vallejo Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 10:38 Share

The feminist organisation Plataforma Contra las Violencias Machistas 'Violencia Cero' has called a demonstration at 7.30pm this Tuesday, 25 November, which will start from Plaza de la Merced in Malaga. The protest marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and focuses not only on the existence of gender-based violence but also on denouncing the denial that this category of crimes is proliferating.

Specifically, the organising groups will denounce "the lack of firm, meaningful public policies, including the new state pact against gender-based violence, the rise in all forms of gender-based violence and the denialist rhetoric". "The figures of violence against women are intolerable in a democracy, as is the normalisation of the structural violence that we suffer daily just for being women," the demonstration manifesto reads.

The protest takes place just three days after the latest victim of gender-based violence - 60-year-old Maria Victoria - died of the stab wounds inflicted on by her ex-husband. The incident happened in Rincon de la Victoria, in Malaga, on Saturday, 22 November. The assailant is in pre-trial detention without bail, as ordered by the judge on Monday.

5 women murdered in Malaga province in 2025 Since 2003, the figure has risen to 62; in Spain as a whole, there have been 39 feminicides this year and 1,334 since 2003

With Maria Victoria, there are now five women murdered by their partners or ex-partners so far this year in the province of Malaga and 39 in Spain as a whole. Since 2003, when official figures were first collected and published, 62 women have been killed in gender-violence crimes in Malaga province. In Spain as a whole, there have been 1,334 fatal cases. The victims are of all ages, but according to a study carried out by Comisiones Obreras, of the 62 women murdered in Malaga, the age group with the highest number of victims is 41-50, with 17 women, followed by women in their twenties, with 16 murdered.

According to the same study, Malaga represents 45% of all feminicides in Andalucia. Comisiones Obreras is one of the organisations calling on residents to join the demonstration on Tuesday. The PSOE party has also announced its attendance, with a delegation headed by provincial secretary Josele Aguilar and the party's equality secretary, Yolanda Florido.

The demonstration will commemorate Catalina Guillen Balbuena, 49, murdered in Benalmadena; Pilar Amaya, 50, in Marbella; Zunilda Hoyos, 43, in Fuengirola; Eva, 83, in Marbella; and Maria Victoria, 60. These are the names of the five women who have lost their lives to gender-based violence in Malaga province so far this year.

'Justice and redress for those affected by the failure of the electronic-tag system'

The demonstration will also denounce "the increase in sexual violence by men, especially young men, who are voracious consumers of pornography". The organising groups will reiterate the need for greater commitment from public authorities and call for "the disqualification of judges, prosecutors and other legal professionals who apply justice in a sexist manner", as well as "a thorough review of the VioGen system and transparent, effective management, justice and reparations for the women affected by the failure of the electronic-tag system".

Before the demonstration, there will be an official ceremony in the morning. For the first time, it takes place as a single, joint event, attended by the city council, as well as by provincial, regional and national authorities. From this year on, the event will be shared by representatives of all levels and political camps, who will gather together in Museo de Malaga to send a unified message condemning gender-based violence and supporting equality.
PARIS (Reuters) -Aramco Ventures, a subsidiary of Saudi national oil major Aramco, is opening an office in Paris to oversee European artificial intelligence investment expected to total hundreds of millions of euros, CEO Mahdi Aladel told Reuters on Tuesday.

The growth of data centres used for artificial intelligence has boomed in recent years, with many companies vying for capital and infrastructure to get a leg up on the competition.

Europe has lagged behind, with slow permitting and regulations hindering the bloc's ability to compete with the United States and China.

However, the success of AI startups such as Mistral, a strong talent pool and government pledges to invest in AI and the AI ecosystem persuaded Aramco Ventures to choose France, Aladel said on the sidelines of the Adopt AI conference.

The company aims to focus on AI, cybersecurity and quantum computing, probably starting with a few French startups or French funds, but the intention is to cover all of Europe, he added.

(Reporting by Forrest CrellinEditing by David Goodman)
Irene Quirante Malaga Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 15:10 Share

The SOS Desaparecidos association has activated an alert to try to find 58-year-old Alhaurin de la Torre resident Araceli. Her family and friends have not seen or spoken to her since 20 November.

According to the description provided by SOS Desaparecidos, Araceli is 1.68 metres tall, of slim build and has black hair and eyes.

If anyone has any clues as to where she might be, they can contact the association on 868 28 67 26. You can also contact the National Police (091), the Local Police (092) or the 112 Andalucia emergency service operators.
Jose Antonio Sau Malaga Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 11:44 Share

The Junta de Andalucia regional government has officially awarded the contract for the construction of the long-awaited third hospital in Malaga. A joint venture (UTE) formed by Construcciones Sanchez Dominguez SA (Sando), Obrascon Huarte Lain SA (Ohla) and Vialterra Infraestructuras SA has won the work worth 543,362,250.06 euros (449 million plus IVA sales tax). The project is being financed with European funds.

The project will take around six years and three months (75 months) to complete, divided into two phases: the first concerns the construction of the car park building attached to Calle Blas de Lezo (one year and three months) and the second involves the construction of the hospital complex (five years). It is expected that construction will start in the first half of 2026. The operation of the car park has also been awarded for 23 years.

Competition for the contract

The tender, with an investment of more than 607 million euros, attracted the country's major construction groups. The joint venture won by an overall score of 95.42 points, compared to the 78.93 points obtained by the joint venture formed by Dragados, Sacyr and Verosa and the 78.58 points obtained by Ferrovial, FCC Construccion, Heliopol and Guamar.

The award to the winning UTE has been ratified by the Andalusian health service, with no room for surprises

The winning proposal made the lowest economic offer (449 million euros, IVA excluded), compared to the 470.25-million-euro proposal of Ferrovial, FCC Construccion, Heliopol and Guamar and the 476.97-million-euro proposal of Sacyr, Dragados and Verosa. However, the bid does not include extensions or modifications. On 17 October, a proposal was made to award the contract to the ultimately successful joint venture and over the following six weeks, the Andalusian health service (SAS) reviewed the submitted documentation, after which it confirmed the initial decision, leaving no room for surprises.

Zoom Aerial image of the planned third hospital. SUR

This will be the largest hospital in Andalucia and the largest civil engineering project to have been undertaken in the region in the last half century - a project that has faced an extremely complex administrative path, with more than 30 key milestones.

Undoubtedly, the third hospital is an old aspiration of the city, which began to demand this infrastructure at the end of the 90s, when there was even talk of the possibility of locating a hospital in the Este district. In the middle of the first decade of this century, then regional minister of health Maria Jesus Montero recycled the idea of a hospital in El Palo or Rincon de la Victoria into that of a macro-hospital, which led to a debate between the Junta and the city council about the best location. The idea never came to fruition.

A second life for the project

The Partido Popular political party took up the project when it came to power in January 2019, but it clashed with the administrative reality. Wishful thinking was outweighed by deadlines and requirements. There was even talk of completing the hospital in 2027, which is when the extension of metro line 2 to Hospital Civil is expected to be completed.

President of the Junta Juan Manuel Moreno has, on several occasions, said that the province has been "punished for decades" in health matters. According to him, Malaga is the Andalusian province with the fewest beds (1.57 per thousand inhabitants) and the fewest doctors (12.30 doctors per thousand inhabitants), which undoubtedly explains why there is such a commitment to the third hospital project, which will materialise on the plot where the car parks of Hospital Civil are located.

More than 400 professionals and residents of the city were involved in various working groups to brainstorm and analyse the third hospital project and present a proposal for a functional plan to the Sas.

Construction phases

Before construction begins, there will be a phase of preliminary work that will involve the demolition of the transfusion, tissue and cell centre, the relocation of a water tank, the construction of a medium voltage line and the construction of accesses and connections. These tasks are currently in the tender phase.

Zoom Area closest to Blas de Lezo, where the car park building will be erected. Salvador Salas

Phase zero will last two months and will consist of the construction of an open-air car park with 650 parking spaces on the Hospital Civil plot. The first phase will start after that, with a car park building behind the blocks on Calle Blas de Lezo: seven-storey-high and three below ground level, which will create 839 parking spaces. This phase will last 15 months.

The hospital building will have four underground levels and 11 above ground and a car park located on levels minus two and minus three, with 928 spaces for cars and 128 for motorcycles (1,056 in total). There will be spaces reserved for healthcare workers and local residents in both parking areas.

The hospital will have 815 single rooms (which can be doubled up to more than 1,600 if necessary), 48 operating theatres, 80 ICU beds, over 150 medical consultation rooms, 40 nursing consultation rooms and facilities for teaching and research.

The design was carried out by the Lamela and Aidhos studios, with the collaboration of Sener and ARCS.

The project will create a large civic boulevard

The 53,000-square-metre site posed a great challenge to architects because of its unevenness. The hospital building has four towers emerging from a five-storey base that runs all the way around the building. The towers are dedicated to inpatient care and clinical services. Two circulation corridors have been created - one public and one internal - which divide the building into three horizontal zones, with a large three-level lounge area.

The new hospital will be integrated into the city with a large square and walkways connecting it to the Civil and Materno hospitals

In addition, a large boulevard will be created between the Civil and the new hospital. Passersby will be able to walk through the large square, which generates new axes, as well as two large walkways leading from the third hospital to the Civil and the Materno. The new site will feature wide sidewalks and landscaped areas amounting to 20,000 square metres.

A smart and sustainable building

The building will use aerothermal energy - an air-conditioning system that extracts thermal energy from the outside air and brings it inside to provide heating, cooling and domestic hot water - to produce 12 MW of heat and eight MW of cooling. This system takes advantage of Malaga's climate conditions, recovering energy from the cooling process to supply the hospital's heating from May to October, without additional energy consumption.

Zoom Aerial view of the car parks of Hospital Civil Salvador Salas

Many of the components will be mass-produced in an industrial facility and assembled once transported to the building. In addition, there are four roofs fitted with photovoltaic panels that will generate enough energy to cover 12% of the hospital's energy needs.
Jose Antonio Sau Malaga Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 12:40 Share

Malaga city's Hospital Regional Universitario has received an award for its work with patients suffering from rare diseases, as explained to SUR by the president of the Mas Visibles association for rare diseases, Pedro Lendinez. He explained that the awards ceremony took place on Thursday 19 November at the Son Llatzer Hospital in Palma de Mallorca, where the manager of the Malaga hospital, Jose Antonio Ortega, went to receive the award.

Lendinez explained that the award was given to Madrid's 12 de Octubre hospital and the Malaga hospital "for their involvement in rare diseases and the care provided to these patients, mainly in diagnosis thanks to screening and the transition that is made with metabolopathy patients who move from paediatric to adult". A metabolopathy is a group of rare genetic disorders that affect the way the body converts food into energy, often due to defects in specific enzymes.

He pointed out that the Hospital Regional Universitario is "a pioneer in the transition of patients with rare diseases from childhood to adulthood, since before the person is seen by a doctor as an adult, he or she goes to the paediatrician, both professionals spend two consultations together and the patient does not suffer, it is certainly a clear example of humanisation in hospital environments".

Other reasons that the hospital was given the award include research into rare diseases with the hospital's new trial units, or the numerous projects they carry out jointly with the Institute for Biomedical Research of Malaga and the Platform in Nanomedicine (IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND) in the field of rare diseases.

Rare diseases "are those that have a low prevalence in the population," explained the Spanish Federation for Rare Diseases (Feder). To be considered rare, each specific pathology "can only affect a limited number of people: specifically, it must affect fewer than five per 10,000 inhabitants".

However, "there are many people who live with them all over the world - more than 300 million in the world, three million of them in Spain - as it is estimated that there are more than 7,000 rare diseases, of which 6,417 have been identified, according to Orphanet data," added Feder.
Jose Antonio Sau Malaga Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 12:13 Share

In emergency medicine, the 'golden hour' is the 60-minute window following a major trauma that doctors have to save the patient's life. What they decide in that one hour is key. Dozens of surgeons from all over the country met in Malaga this month to take part in two courses to train in how to save lives in this type of critical situation. Both training modules were given by Dr Jose Manuel Aranda Narvaez, a surgeon at Hospital Regional Universitario and head of "care for trauma patients and emergency surgery".

"These two courses are focused on care for the polytrauma patient, who has multiple injuries or any life-threatening injury. There are two main types of trauma: blunt trauma, such as that resulting from road traffic accidents, and penetrating trauma, such as that caused by a stabbing or firearms. They have different diagnostic methods, different types of care, different indications for assessment and subsequent treatment. Sometimes, they are injuries that we don't have to operate on and sometimes we have to," Dr Aranda told SUR.

Patients in critical condition

Dr Aranda said that the course focuses on patients that arrive at the hospital in a critical condition, which requires doctors to "diagnose the multiple lesions they might have, establish a sequence of treatment, initially resuscitate them with different measures and, finally, carry out the definitive treatment of the lesions: sometimes it consists of monitoring and other times of operating and finally resolving the condition".

Zoom A photo from the DSTC course. Migue Fernandez

Two courses were held in Malaga this month. The first was Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) - "a globally standardised course with the same format, focused on the initial phase of patient care when they arrive at the hospital, including a full assessment of all injuries and the initial treatment of all treatable injuries". The second course is the Definitive Surgical Trauma Course (DSTC), "aimed at the definitive treatment of injuries", which includes decisions such as whether to operate and what surgical technique to apply.

Acting with vital speed in polytrauma: time is crucial to avoid fatal outcomes in the emergency room

The courses teach doctors how to treat injuries and apply the appropriate techniques. "The courses are focused on ensuring that the staff attending to a polytrauma patient in extremely serious condition know very well how to diagnose and treat them," Dr Aranda said. He highlighted that the fundamental challenge is time. "These cases are critical and require time-sensitive actions, because we have to diagnose and treat the injuries as quickly as possible; otherwise, it can be fatal and the patient can die right in front of us," he said. "We can't think like in elective surgery, where we have time to reflect, analyse radiological tests and talk to colleagues. No, no, here we don't have time, we have to get involved and be very clear about the algorithms of action and know the techniques very well in order to be able to apply them immediately on the spot," he stated.

Professional challenge

According to Dr Aranda, the professional who attends to these patients must be fully trained from the minute the patient arrives in order to "respond immediately", with no "seconds to lose". As the course instructor said, polytrauma patients receive "absolute priority in all emergency services".

The treatment of such emergency cases requires a "multidisciplinary approach", which means that all available resources prioritise them. From the moment the patient arrives, all units are informed (specialists, surgeons, traumatologists, neurosurgeons, ICU, anaesthesia) and scanners and the laboratory are reserved for them.

Both courses are reviewed periodically. The ATLS course has a four-year waiting list and only 16 students take it on-site, compared to 18 for DSTC. "The two courses are so good and with qualifications that are validated worldwide: you can go to any other country and say that you have done ATLS or DSTC in Spain and it is exactly the same as if you go to work in the UK or Germany," Dr Aranda said. In Spain, the courses are organised by the national association of surgeons.
Almudena Nogues Malaga Tuesday, 25 November 2025 | Updated 26/11/2025 20:24h. Share

It's not just about buying a stuffed animal cuddly toy. It is all about creating it from scratch, allowing the child to take the lead in a complete shopping experience that begins with choosing the form, the density of its filling, its scent and then it ends with an adoption certificate. It is a very appealing ritual for the little ones at home that has been a triumphant success for almost three decades in the United States, Canada and Europe. Every year, thousands of families make the pilgrimage to London's legendary Hamleys toy store so their children can take home a custom-made toy as a souvenir of their trip. Curiously - and to the surprise of anyone with even a modicum of business acumen - the successful recipe of the US company Build-A-Bear Workshop has not yet caught on in Spain. As the father of five children - aged between three and 11 - Carlos Mira Hafner (a 46-year-old graduate in business management and marketing) had been mulling over the idea for some time: why not bring that concept to Spain? And why not do it from Malaga? No sooner said than done.

After just one year in development, 'My Soul Mate' is about to become a reality. The store - the first personalised plush toy store on the Iberian Peninsula - is expected to open its doors next week. The exact date, likely to be 25 or 26 November, is still to be confirmed pending completion of the shop refit). It will occupy an 80-square-metre space on the ground floor of the Miramar shopping centre in Fuengirola and is expected to create seven jobs.

The new store will occupy an 80-square-metre space on the ground floor of the Miramar shopping centre in Fuengirola and is expected to create seven jobs

"Ever since I got to know this toy store in the USA, the concept really caught my attention. Besides, what my children play and entertain themselves the most with is soft toys. In the end, they're the toys they get most attached to, the ones that accompany them around the house, the ones they sleep with .... They become companions... soulmates, hence the name of the store", says Carlos Mira. He is from Malaga city, specifically from Pedregalejo, with more than 20 years of experience in the business world. He also currently owns two stores specialising in artificial turf in Malaga and Marbella under the SuperGrass brand.

As Mira explains, every detail at My Soul Mate has been carefully considered to make the store appealing to children. A team of experts from multinational corporations has overseen this. One of its main attractions will be the fact that young customers can participate from scratch in the whole process of creating their own cuddly toy, assembling it themselves to their own tastes and specifications. Initially, the store will offer around 40 models - all animals, with a strong focus on bears, as well as rabbits, lions, tigers and elephants, among others. The store will also provide around 100 items of clothing, from headgear to glasses and shoes. The base price for a plush toy with hand-stitched filling and no extras will be 28 euros.

The store will feature some 40 models - all animals, with a heavy emphasis on bears - and around 100 items of clothing and accessories

The process at the Fuengirola store, step by step, will be as follows - very similar to the ritual at the legendary Build-A-Bear Workshop in places like London. First, the customer chooses the body of the toy - the empty, plush fabric - and selects their preferred filling. The idea is for the customer to participate in this step by helping to press the pedal of the machine, which will allow them to choose between three different densities: soft, medium or firm. After that - and as an extra if they wish - they can add a mini heart to place inside, choose a scent - "there will be ten different ones, from brownie to cheesecake, cookie, caramel or fruity scents like peach" - and they can even insert a small audio device that can play anything from the animal's own sound to a loving message. Once all possible extras have been selected, an employee hand-sews the plush toy after attaching a safety closure. Finally, an adoption certificate can be printed or a photo can be taken of the customer together with their new soulmate.

"We think it's a wonderful experience for children and this stuffed toy is a very special gift, one they'll keep for life," says Mira, while also pointing out that Malaga will be the birthplace of a project they hope to expand to more locations across Spain.
Cristina Candido Madrid Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 16:36 Share

Electric scooters have reshaped the urban transport landscape in recent years as a practical, inexpensive and sustainable solution that, until now, did not have too many requirements. Still, with liability insurance becoming mandatory for riding this type of vehicle on the streets of Spain in six weeks' time, many users are rethinking their options for getting around the city. "First, they banned me from charging the battery at the office and then from taking it on the bus. If I now have to pay for insurance, I'll consider selling it and buying a motorcycle, which is at least faster," says Manuel Fernandez.

The situation for this Seville resident illustrates the transitional phase that this mode of transport is currently experiencing. Spain's new auto insurance law, formally passed in July, introduces a specific category: light personal vehicles (LPV, or PVL in Spanish). This term encompasses electric-powered devices of one or more wheels, a single seat and limited speeds: between 6km/h and 25km/h if they weigh less than 25 kilos and between 6km/h and 14km/h if they exceed this weight. This means practically all scooters on the market, plus segways, electric unicycles and hoverboards.

Until now, taking out insurance has been voluntary - except in cities such as Alicante, Benidorm, Castellon and Cordoba, where it is already compulsory - and insurance companies now offer specific cover for scooters, with policies ranging from 20 to 100 euros per year. These products, which allow multiple scooters to be covered under the same policy, primarily include civil liability coverage for personal injury or material damage that the user may cause to third parties, as well as the required legal defence costs and bail fees in the event of any claims.

However, the new set of regulations has raised the bar and increased coverage. Mandatory scooter insurance is now on a par with third-party car insurance and the regulations stipulate that it must cover at least 6.45 million euros per accident claim for personal injury and 1.3 million euros for property or material damage. These new amounts are forcing insurers to work against the clock to develop new products that meet the mandatory civil liability criteria starting next year. Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that the regulations outlining the technical aspects have not yet been approved and so, currently, users cannot even purchase this insurance. Furthermore, industry sources indicate that this will likely lead to a price increase compared to those offered during the previous voluntary period and that prices will fluctuate depending on the number of accident claims that arise.

The role of the Consorcio - Spain's state insurance compensation scheme - will also be key in this new phase, as its new responsibilities include guaranteeing coverage for any situation that may fall outside the existing protective framework.

Another added difficulty is that, a month and a half before these regulations come into force, the exact number of electric scooters in circulation remains unknown. Based on data from 2023, the Spanish federation of PVLs estimated there are around five million of these vehicles currently in use across Spain. Alongside the mandatory insurance, the Spain's DGT road traffic authority is processing regulations that will require scooters to have a circulation certificate, display an identification sticker with their assigned registration number and be registered in the DGT's vehicle registry. The key point is that, in order to insure a PVL, this type of vehicle must be approved and registered, which will make it possible to identify the owner in the event of an uninsured vehicle.
I. Asenjo Madrid Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 14:50 Share

Spain's flag carrier airline Iberia, which carried a record 31.7 million passengers last year, informed its customers of a serious security incident on 23 November. The airline, owned by the Anglo-Spanish holding company IAG, detected a data protection breach that, fortunately, does not involve customers' payment details and passwords. Similar incidents have recently been reported by Logitech, Telefonica, Bank of America and Tesla.

According to Iberia, the incident happened when one of the company's technology providers detected unauthorised access. The company informed its customers that the data potentially exposed includes names and surnames, email addresses and identification numbers of Iberia Plus loyalty profiles.

However, Iberia said that passwords, account access credentials and full banking information had not been hacked. Therefore, there is no risk of fraudulent transactions.

What data has been leaked Name

Surname

E-mail address

Iberia Plus Loyalty Programme ID number

The airline stated that it had immediately activated its security protocol. Measures taken include strengthening checks for changes to email addresses linked to accounts and continuous monitoring of its systems for suspicious activity. In addition, Iberia has reported the incident to the relevant data protection authority, in compliance with European and national legal requirements.

The company recommends that customers remain alert to any suspicious communications they may receive in the coming days, especially emails or messages attempting to impersonate Iberia to request personal information.

What data is secure Access passwords to Iberia user accounts

User names

All information on bank cards

This cybersecurity incident comes just hours after the Spanish airline announced the temporary cancellation of all commercial flights to Venezuela. This suspension follows an alert issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which advised airlines to exercise extreme caution when flying over the area due to deteriorating security and increased military activity in Venezuelan airspace.
Judith de Jorge Elche Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 19:10 Share

The space transportation company PLD Space has unveiled its first integrated unit of the Miura 5, the 100 per cent Spanish reusable super rocket scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2026 from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. The giant, weighing 70 tonnes and with a height comparable to an 11-storey building, is the successor to the Miura 1, the first launch vehicle that was also 100% 'made in Spain' and which took to the skies in 2023.

The Qualification Model 1 (QM1), as this unit is called, has been developed at the company's facilities in Elche (Alicante) in a record time of two years. This first unit will not be the one that goes into space, but will be used to complete testing of the rocket's subsystems, such as the first and second stages, under real-world conditions, "with the aim of minimising in-flight risk as much as possible and ensuring the vehicle's reliability before its first mission", which will be a test mission carrying experimental cargo from space agencies and institutions.

Destruction test

The rocket's second stage will undergo a destruction test in the United States to validate the operation of the flight termination system (FTS). This test will verify the functioning of the explosive charges on board the launch vehicle and their ability to destroy the launcher in the event of an in-flight anomaly.

Meanwhile, the first stage must undergo and pass a 'wet dress rehearsal', a comprehensive propellant loading test that replicates all the scenarios that can occur during the fuelling and pressurisation phase. This test "is essential to validate the behaviour of the structures in real-world operations", according to PLD Space.

"Introducing our first integrated Miura 5 unit is proof that our model works: vertical integration, our own infrastructure and a philosophy based on testing, learning and improving. This combination allows us to move faster than ever before without sacrificing reliability, which is what truly makes the difference in this sector," said Raul Torres, CEO and co-founder of PLD Space together with Raul Verdu.

Zoom The rocket, photographed at the Elche facility. PLD Space

The company plans to complete three integrated units of the Miura 5 in just five months. A second qualification unit will be ready by the end of December and, in the first quarter of 2026, PLD Space will unveil the flight rocket that will travel to Kourou for the launch campaign. This makes PLD Space the company that has developed an orbital launcher in the shortest time ever, just two years. According to the company, this has been possible thanks to the lessons learned from the Miura 1.

Alongside this QM1 test, the company continues testing subsystems, such as the engines, avionics and the separation of the rocket's payload at its facilities in Teruel. At the same time, civil engineering work continues on the launch complex at the Guiana Space Centre, with progress being made on the launch, vehicle preparation and control centre areas. As such, PLD Space will become the first privately-owned company to launch from the European launch site, a spaceport owned by CNES, the French space agency.

The launch, when it happens, will allow Spain to join the select group of ten countries with autonomous and independent access to space.
Cesar Blanco Elipe Segovia Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 13:29 Share

The Guardia Civil in Segovia, northwest of Madrid, has dismantled an important drug-trafficking organisation that has been under investigation and surveillance since 2020. On 4 November, seven homes were searched, eight people were arrested and 1.2 kilos of cocaine and other illegal substances were seized, according to chief lieutenant colonel of the Guardia Civil Benito Donate.

Two Guardia Civil officers are among the arrested suspects. They were on active duty at the Villacastin and San Rafael posts. One of them has been sent to prison after giving a statement to the investigating judge. The same applies to four other members of the gang, who face multiple charges, including membership of a criminal organisation, disclosure of secrets and crimes against public health for drug-trafficking.

According to Donate, this operation has dealt a heavy blow to the main network for the distribution and sale of narcotic substances in the south and west of the province of Segovia, with branches in Avila, Madrid and even Murcia.
That 70s Show star Topher Grace has joined the cast of a new movie in Syracuse.

Deadline reports Grace will be part of the supporting cast for Never Change!, a new comedy film written by and starring John Reynolds for Hulu and American High. The Liverpool-based film studio recently wrapped production in Central New York.

According to the synopsis, Never Change! will follow the 2005 class of North Meadows High School whose senior year was cut short due to a disastrous tornado that wrecked half the school. Now in their mid-30s, theyre being forced to return home and finish high school so they can officially graduate two decades later.

Old flames, second chances, hidden secrets, this is what nightmares are made of, the official logline says.

Grace is one of six newly announced cast members, along with Rudy Pankow (Outer Banks), Jackie Cruz (Orange is the New Black), Ana Gasteyer (Saturday Night Live), Patti Harrison (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) and Zach Cherry (Severance). Grace is best known for playing Eric Forman on That 70s Show and That 90s Show, as well as roles in Spider-Man 3, Take Me Home Tonight, BlacKkKlansman, Black Mirror and Predators.

Other Never Change! cast members include Sofia Black-DElia (Single Drunk Female, Gossip Girl); Carmen Christopher (The Bear); Jo Firestone (The Singles Retreat); Joe Pera (Joe Pera Talks with You); Gary Richardson (SNL); John Early (Search Party); Maria Thayer (Superstore); Sunita Mani (GLOW); Matt Barats (White House Plumbers); and Steve Little (Its a Wonderful Binge).

Marty Schousboe (Joe Pera: Slow & Steady) is directing from a script written by Reynolds, who played Officer Callahan on Stranger Things and Drew Gardner on Search Party, based on a story by Reynolds and Schousboe.

John Reynolds attends the "Oh, Hi!" Premiere during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 26, 2025 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) Getty Images

Never Change! is produced by Jon Watts for Freshman Year; Nicholas Hatton and Jason Woliner for Swindle; Jeremy Garelick and Will Phelps for American High; Billy Rosenberg for All Things Comedy; and Jason Zaro. Molle Debartolo executive produced for American High with Axelle Azoulay co-producing for American High, and Matt Sacca associate producing for American High.

A release date has not been announced.

American High has produced more than 20 movies in Liverpool and the CNY area since writer-director Jeremy Garelick purchased the former A.V. Zogg Middle School in 2017. The building, now known as Syracuse Studios, is often used as a school setting for teen-centered movies like The Binge, Big Time Adolescence, Prom Dates, The Ultimate Playlist of Noise, Plan B, Crush, Miguel Wants to Fight, Sid is Dead, Empire Waist, and the recent Hulu hit Summer of 69.

The production company also produces digital comedy sketches with the Webby Award-winning American High Shorts, teaches filmmaking courses with The Academy at American High, and is launching an additional film hub in Georgia called American High South. Garelick, whos directing an upcoming film starring Matt Rife and Owen Wilson, said he plans to produce up to four movies a year at each campus.
Barrick Mining has signed an agreement with the Government of the Republic of Mali to resolve all disputes related to the Loulo and Gounkoto mines, marking a significant development in the Barrick-Mali mining dispute resolution.

Under the agreement, all charges against Barrick, its affiliates and its employees will be dropped, and legal steps for the release of four detained Barrick employees will be initiated.

The provisional administration of the Loulo-Gounkoto complex will be terminated, and operational control of the mine complex will be returned to Barrick under the agreement.

This settlement is expected to allow both parties to move forward constructively.

As part of the deal, Barricks subsidiaries will withdraw their arbitration claims currently pending before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

Two individuals familiar with the matter told Reuters that Mali has agreed to extend Barrick's mine permit for an additional ten years, while Barrick has agreed to sign the 2023 mining code.

In a video interview distributed by the government, Barrick director of West Africa Mamadou Samake was quoted by the news agency as saying: Barrick is aiming to restart operations by 1 January 2026.

Malis Mining Ministry confirmed in a statement that Barrick will soon be allowed to resume normal operations at the Loulo-Gounkoto complex.

The dispute arose from the implementation of Malis new mining code, which seeks to increase the countrys share of revenue from gold miners amid record-high gold prices.

The standoff lasted two years and included the military-led governments seizure earlier this year of three tonnes of gold from Barricks mine, as well as the appointment of a provisional administrator for the mine.

As a result, Barrick wrote off $1bn in revenue from the Loulo-Gounkoto mine and announced the departure of its former CEO Mark Bristow.

Following the resolution, Barrick shares rose 8.5% to close at an all-time high of C$55.93 in Toronto.

The renewed agreement follows a new round of talks initiated after Barricks interim CEO, Mark Hill, sent a letter to the government seeking a settlement, according to a source cited by Reuters.

"Barrick, Mali strike deal to resolve Loulo-Gounkoto mining disputes " was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




No one knew why the murder trial of Harriet Schmoll gripped the publics imagination like it did in November 1900.

The facts of the case were simple. Everyone knew Schmoll had shot her neighbor, Lulu Ostrander, in front of her Baldwinsville home in June.

Witnesses saw her do it. Nor did Schmoll deny it.

The trial lacked any element of mystery, the Sunday Herald said.

Still, the courtroom was packed each day.

Hundreds of people have every day waited patiently for hours to obtain admission to the trial, the newspaper reported. Women have formed a large part of the audience. Some have brought their lunches with them so as to be sure to retain their places during the noon recess.

Perhaps the interest derived from the murders unusual and scandalous details. A woman had killed another woman. Schmoll accused Ostrander of trying to seduce her husband.

I was tortured, simply tortured, she told a newspaper reporter before the trial. She took my husband away from me. I couldnt take it any longer.

Schmolls defense was temporary insanity. If jurors bought her plea, it would save her from the electric chair.

***

This image is from Baldwinsville's Shacksboro Museum which shows what the village near the murder would have looked like in 1900. Courtesy of the Shacksboro Museum

Marble Street in Baldwinsville was quiet on Saturday, June 9, 1900, at 5:15 p.m. The narrow thoroughfare, which ran parallel along the Seneca River, was deserted.

Until Lulu Ostrander left her house and turned west.

Described by newspapers as blonde and buxom, Ostrander, 33, was the mother of two. She worked doing laundry.

Separated from her husband, Ostrander also was the subject of much neighborhood gossip.

She was a source of great anxiety to many of the married women living in the village, the Syracuse Herald said of her in 1903, three years after her death, whose own husbands may have been too prone to cast friendly glances in the direction of the comely young woman, who always had a laugh and a ready answer for any of their sallies.

One of those wives was Harriet Schmoll.

Convinced that her husband, James, had been having an affair with Ostrander, she bought a revolver the week before and was seen practicing with it down by the riverbank.

She told curious neighbors that she bought the gun to use on Ostrander. They thought she was joking. Schmoll was not.

On this evening, from her window, Schmoll watched Ostrander stop and talk to a neighbor. She wrapped that revolver inside a newspaper and crossed the street to join them.

What did you go to Phoenix with my husband on Thursday night for? she loudly demanded.

I didnt, Ostrander replied.

Schmoll pulled the gun from the paper and fired two shots in quick succession.

One glanced off Ostranders right arm. The other tore through the womans brain.

She wont part man and wife anymore, she said, turning back home. She went inside, changed into a black dress and then sat calmly on her front porch and waited.

Baldwinsvilles quiet vanished.

The Post-Standard from June 10, 1900 announces the murder of Lulu Ostrander by Harriet Schmoll the day before in Baldwinsville. Names of the principal characters were mixed up throughout the case. Harriet's name was often spelled "Small" and Ostrander was called "Lula." poststandard.newspaperarchive.com

Out of nowhere, a crowd gathered around Ostrander and carried her home. Doctors were summoned. There was nothing they could do for her. She died at 7:40.

Several hundred people gathered about the Ostrander dwelling and as many of them as could crowd about the windows of the death chamber watched the dying woman until she had ceased to breathe, The Post-Standard reported the next day.

Schmoll watched this coldly from her porch. She was arrested and brought to Syracuse. Charged the next day with first degree murder, she faced death by electrocution.

She pleaded not guilty.

Held all summer at the Onondaga County Penitentiary, she was regarded as a model prisoner.

If Mrs. Schmoll has any misgivings as to the outcome of battle which means life or death, liberty or incarceration, she has remarkable control over her feelings, the Herald reported. From the beginning she has professed confidence that she would be set free when the circumstances came to be weighed by a jury.

She might have had reasons for optimism.

Men who had murdered other men for having affairs with their wives were often acquitted then. Why couldnt a woman present a similar defense? And her defense planned a temporary insanity argument.

Schmoll played up this defense in a newspaper interview after her arrest, saying Ostrander made insulting remarks whenever they saw each other:

The other day when we were eating dinner she came along and stuck her hands through the blinds and said, Ta-ta, Jim to my husband. Then when I heard that she went to Phoenix with my husbandI couldnt stand it any longer. Im not a strong woman.

The trial began on Nov. 14, 1900, with the seating of an all-male jury. Women could not be jurors on capital cases at the time.

The prosecutions case was straightforward. Harriet Schmoll had murdered Lulu Ostrander in cold blood out of jealousy.

I do not believe an Onondaga jury would condone a willful and deliberate murder, Assistant District Attorney George Standen said.

The countys case focused on the crime itself. Schmoll bought a gun to commit the crime, practiced with it, and had a motive.

The defense, instead, presented an emotional case, making Schmoll the victim.

On the stand, her husband admitted to the affair with Lulu Ostrander.

The couple had been married 15 years. At first, they were happy, he said.

For the first five years, she was cheerful and light-hearted, James Schmoll testified.

What changed?

I got to chasing after other women and it was different.

He admitted to having a relationship with Ostrander.

When did you begin going to Mrs. Ostranders?

In May. I was never there but three times.

Harriet Schmoll was a sympathetic figure.

Not originally expected to take the stand, she surprised everyone on November 22 when she took the stand in her own defense.

She was born in Canada in 1856 or 1857 and left home when she was 14 after her father told her she was old enough to take care of herself.

Moving to Oswego, she married Jack Cook and settled in Baldwinsville. She had two children with him by 16. One died young and the other was placed in an asylum. Cook, it was discovered, was already married.

She married Schmoll in 1881 and had a son.

When she found out about the affair with Ostrander, her husband gave her an ultimatum. Live with it or get her duds and get out.

Schmoll suffered from many physical and mental ailments, including sick headaches. She heard voices. One suggested she set fire to Ostranders home.

On the day of the murder, she was roused awake by the 5 p.m. whistle. She got up to see her husband at work. When she saw Ostrander walking in the same direction, she assumed that she too was going to meet James.

Then, she testified, something seemed to raise me right up in the air. And a voice whispered in my ear, Go and tell that woman that she must not meet your husband.

Schmoll testified she only wanted to scare Ostrander that day, not kill her. After firing the fatal shots, she blacked out.

This courtroom drawing appeared in the Nov. 25, 1900, the day before the verdict. Harriet Schmoll sat in the back, behind her attorneys, with her sister throughout the testimony. poststandard.newspaperarchive.com

When asked by her son, Oh, ma, what made you do it? she could not recall.

Is she hurt? Oh, thats too bad.

Schmolls testimony was extremely effective.

She made a good appearance on the stand, The Post-Standard said.

The Herald reporter wrote:

She gave her testimony at first calmly, then tearfully, then brightly and with a smile, but always in even and clear, though low tones.

The next day, experts debated her sanity.

Dr. Hersey Locke, provided a theory that Schmoll was menopausal, which brought on feelings of hysteria, melancholy and temporary insanity.

The tendency of a woman in this condition is towards unreasonableness. They magnify actual wrongs and imagine others, he said.

He found her to have poor nutrition and circulation, (was) emotional, ready to cry at any slight or provocation, and changing quickly to a happy mood.

Asked directly if Schmoll was sane or insane, he answered solemnly, Insane.

The jury believed him and Schmoll.

It took the jury six hours to reach a verdict on Nov. 26, 1900.

Not guilty.

Amen! she cried. Thank God! I knew he was with me.

There was not a sound in the courtroom and many men, as well as women could not keep back the tears, The Post-Standard reported. The jurors fixed their eyes on the floor and all of them were plainly affected.

The Post-Standard from Nov. 27, 1900 announces the verdict of the jury the night before. The page includes an exclusive statement from the vindicated Harriet Schmoll. She said she planned her philandering husband, James. poststandard.newspaperarchive.com

Within 40 minutes, Schmoll was on a train back to Baldwinsville a free woman.

In a statement to The Post-Standard, she said she planned to start a divorce suit against my husband.

I cannot do different.

***

There were many sightings of a ghost of Lulu Ostrander around Marble Street in Baldwinsville in the years following her murder. Dressed in a white robe, the apparition searched for her daughter, Allie. This is from the Syracuse Herald of Dec. 13, 1903. poststandard.newspaperarchive.com

Harriet Schmoll and Lulu Ostrander stories both ended sadly.

For years, locals said Ostrander haunted Marble Street in Baldwinsville. Even the Syracuse Herald reported on her ghost.

The story grows with time, a 1903 Herald story said, and now the belief in the ghost is almost universal among the dwellers in Marble Alley and is experienced in other parts of the village.

Harriet Schmoll disappeared from the news after her acquittal.

She married poorly again.

On June 28, 1924, she was murdered by her new husband, John Henry House, in Herkimer County.
Syracuse, N.Y. - Over 80 people gathered in Clinton Square on Monday evening to protest against the detention of Syracuse residents by ICE.

Chants of bring them home rang out in the otherwise quiet city center as a series of local officials and union leaders spoke to attendees.

Some shed tears as they reflected on the holiday spirit seizing the city despite the fact that some community members would not be there to see the celebrations. Instead, they are locked in detention facilities around the country.

The primary focuses of the protest were Alcibiades Alex Lazaro Ramirez Gonzalez and Yannier Yan Vazquez Hidalgo, a pair of SUNY Upstate Medical Center workers who were detained before a hearing in October at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Mattydale.

The two men, who got married this fall, have requested asylum protections in the United States after fleeing their native Cuba.

Mohammed Fofana and Jeremy Dottin-Reina, another pair of Syracuse residents targeted by ICE, were also a subject of discussion.

The vigil, which started around 5 p.m., featured glowsticks, candles, posters and shirts despite the somber mood. Many of these materials were provided by UUP and CSEA, the unions the pair were members of.

Ali Cottrell, the president of CSEA Local 615 at Upstate, and Mindy Heath, the president of the UUP chapter at Upstate, told the crowd that they had attended a hearing for Alex on Monday in Batavia, and that he would have his next hearing on Jan. 13.

We wanted them home for the holidays Heath told the crowd. The city center was lit up by Christmas lights as she described what celebrating a holiday would be like for families with an empty chair.

But getting them home, thats the ultimate goal. This wont stop us, she said.

Heath told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that in following this case, she has learned how unfair the justice system can be to immigrants seeking asylum. Its just not normal, in any way. You almost cant believe it. she said.

Other speakers discussed the citys history of resisting oppression, including the nearby Jerry Rescue Monument and the Underground Railroad during the 1800s.

Heath said they plan to hold more vigils and rallies, but there is no clear timeline. She plans to continue attending hearings for Alex and Yan. Yans next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 3.
Syracuse, N.Y.  An underwhelming response so far to Syracuses first parking ticket amnesty program in five years has prompted the city to extend the opportunity into 2026.

The November offer to forgive penalties accrued for unpaid parking tickets now runs through Jan. 2, after the Syracuse Common Council approved an extension on Monday.

A little holiday gift, I guess, Councilor Pat Hogan said during a study session before the voting meeting.

Councilors in October approved a proposed amnesty program from the citys finance department that was to run throughout November. Officials said amnesty can generate a revenue boost for the city budget while giving some financial relief to vehicle owners with past due parking tickets.

But so far, out of more than 140,000 unpaid tickets dating back to 1997, the city has processed only about 1,100 tickets for amnesty benefits. That has brought in $50,000 in original fines and state surcharges, with about $41,000 in late penalties waived.

When Syracuse last offered parking ticket amnesty in 2020, it processed about 34,000 tickets and generated about $1 million in fine revenue

The 2020 program was the first amnesty program offered in 17 years, so the demand may have been greater. In addition, the city spent money that year to mail every person with unpaid tickets a notice. This time, officials have relied on news media coverage and social media to spread word about the program.

Under amnesty, late payment penalties are waived when base fines are paid. Penalties are added after 20 days, 30 days and 90 days. A base fine of $25 that also includes a $15 New York state surcharge can accrue up to $95 in penalties.

Here are the options to pay parking tickets under the current amnesty program:

Email ParkingAmnesty@syr.gov or visit the City Payment Center at City Hall to find out how many outstanding tickets they have and what the discounted cost to clear each ticket is. The payment center is located at Room 122, 233 E. Washington Street, Syracuse, NY 13202

Make payments in person, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Drop payments off at the secure drop box at City Hall located to the right of the Market Street entrance.

Mail payments to the City Payment Center at City Hall.

Visit syr.gov/parkingamnesty to access the portal to pay the tickets off online.

Drivers with current payment plans for unpaid tickets must secure amnesty by visiting in person. Mail and drop box payments can be made with a check or money order, but cash is also accepted at the drop box. Ticket or license plate number must be written on each check or included with each money order or cash payment.
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin says the U.S. cant afford the tariff dividend checks President Donald Trump has proposed.

Look, we cant afford it. I wish we were in a position to return the American public their money, but were not, Johnson told Fox Businesss Maria Bartiromo, according to The Hill.

Well have at least a $2 trillion deficit this year, said Johnson, a leading proponent of confronting the nations growing deficit. President Trump had deficits about $800 billion. Obama, in his last four years, $550 billion a year. Now were $2 trillion? Completely unacceptable. We have to start focusing on that and doing something about it.

The Congressional Budget Office last month projected the federal deficit would hit $1.8 trillion for 2025, The Hill said.

Trump has been talking for weeks about sending $2,000 tariff dividend checks to Americans.

But such a plan would require a vote by Congress and its not clear if there is enough support to pass it.

Trumps new tariffs are indeed bringing in more revenue for the federal government.

They are expected to raise over $158 billion in 2025 and another $207 billion in 2026, but the cost of the checks could be billions more than that, according to estimates from the Tax Foundation cited by CNN.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan group that studies fiscal issues, has estimated that the checks could cost $600 billion, according to The Hill.

If the checks were to go out annually, theyd cost $6 trillion over 10 years, The Hill said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said payments would be limited to people making below a certain amount in annual income.

Trump said the checks would go to individuals of moderate income, likely in the middle of next year, according to The Hill.
A Syracuse-based restaurant chain is set to open a new location in Upstate New York.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que will open its first-ever suburban location at 4245 McKinley Parkway in Hamburg, N.Y., on Dec. 3, at 4 p.m. The BBQ joint will be just minutes from the Buffalo Bills Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park and near Southtowns McKinley Mall.

The setting feels more neighborhood hangout than downtown roadhouse, but the heart, smoke, and sauce are all one hundred percent Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, the restaurants website says. Hamburg may be our first stop in the suburbs, but it is still the same Dino you know and love, built on friendship, fueled by smoke, and ready to serve up the best BBQ in Buffalo.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que previously had a location in downtown Buffalo, but closed the restaurant after its lease expired in February. The Hamburg BBQ joint is the chains sixth location.

All of Dinosaur Bar-B-Ques restaurants are located in in New York state, including in Syracuse, New York City, Rochester and Troy. The company once had as many as 10 locations, including in Chicago, Baltimore, Connecticut and New Jersey, but has since closed its out-of-state restaurants.

Founder John Stage and his friend Mike Rotella opened the first Dinosaur at 246 W. Willow St. in Syracuse in 1988. The brand has been featured on national TV multiple times and now offers multiple products, including a cookbook, signature sauces, and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que flavored potato chips.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que CEO Mike Nugent told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that the Hamburg location, in a former Perkins restaurant, could mark a major turning point.

All our locations have always been in what you might call urban locations, Nugent said earlier this month. This one is suburban, with a smaller footprint. It will probably be oriented to more takeout. It actually has parking.

The Hamburg restaurant will feature popular menu items like brisket, ribs, pulled pork, wings, and homemade sides. But it may also serve as a testing ground for expanding again outside of the Empire State.

So well take a look at how this goes and then see if it can be a model for the future, Nugent said.
A Florida man has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting and killing his brothers at an Upstate New York hunting cabin.

Scot D. Thompson, 65, of Englewood, Fla., was arrested Monday on two counts of murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal use of a firearm in the first degree. Police said he got into a physical altercation with his brothers, one of whom called 911, that turned deadly around 10:06 p.m. on Sunday night.

Troopers who responded to a disturbance said they found Mark B. Thompson, 70 of Canterbury, Connecticut, and David E. Thompson, 69 of Port Charlotte, Fla., dead at a residence on Botsford Hollow Road in the town of Allen, N.Y. Investigators said Scot fatally shot Mark and David with a rifle, then left the scene in Davids vehicle.

Scot was taken into custody after the Livingston County Sheriffs Office and Geneseo Police Department located the vehicle. He was initially described as a person of interest, but is now accused of murdering his siblings.

An autopsy is scheduled for the victims at Strong Memorial Hospital. The incident remains under criminal investigation.

Scot Thompson was processed and taken to the Allegany County Jail for CAP arraignment, according to NYS Police.

Allen is located in Allegany County, about 60 miles south of Rochester and 90 miles west of Ithaca. Its unclear if the Thompson brothers had family ties to the region.
Cicero, NY - The newest Stewarts Shops gas station and convenience store has opened in Cicero.

The shop, at 6190 South Bay Road, opened Friday. The shop plans an official grand opening Dec. 5, store employees said.

This is the chains sixth location in Onondaga County. There are two stores in Baldwinsville, one in North Syracuse, one in Liverpool and a new one in Marcellus.

The Cicero Stewarts was proposed in February. It secured approval for plans from the town of Cicero shortly after.

The 4,500-square-foot store also has four filling locations offering eight gas pumps and two for diesel.

Stewarts has 360-plus stores/gas stations in New York and Vermont.
Here are two stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, Nov. 25:

Newmont Corporation NEM: This producer and explorer of gold and other metals has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 9.4% over the last 60 days.

Newmont Corporation Price and Consensus

Newmont Corporation Price and Consensus

Newmont Corporation price-consensus-chart | Newmont Corporation Quote

This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 1.2%, compared with the industry average of 0.0%.

Newmont Corporation Dividend Yield (TTM)

Newmont Corporation Dividend Yield (TTM)

Newmont Corporation dividend-yield-ttm | Newmont Corporation Quote

EniS.p.A. E: This integrated energy company has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 2.7% over the last 60 days.

Eni SpA Price and Consensus

Eni SpA Price and Consensus

Eni SpA price-consensus-chart | Eni SpA Quote

This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 4.5%, compared with the industry average of nearly 1%.

Eni SpA Dividend Yield (TTM)

Eni SpA Dividend Yield (TTM)

Eni SpA dividend-yield-ttm | Eni SpA Quote

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research
Military research has historically been a powerful driver of innovation, creating technologies that not only serve defense purposes but also transform everyday life. Many common devices and systems, now integral to society, have origins deeply rooted in military needs.

Understanding these innovation origins offers insight into everyday tech history and highlights how tech from military research continues to influence modern living.

What Everyday Technologies Came from Military Research?

Numerous technologies that began as military projects have since found widespread civilian use. Here are 10 examples illustrating this transition:

1. Global Positioning System (GPS)

Initially developed by the U.S. military during the Cold War for precision navigation, target tracking, and logistics, GPS has become essential for civilian navigation, smartphones, and location-based services worldwide. Its innovation origins trace directly to military research to improve accuracy on the battlefield.

2. The Internet

The internet evolved from ARPANET, a U.S. Department of Defense project aimed at creating a decentralized, robust communication network resistant to outages. This tech from military research laid the foundation for today's global information exchange, e-commerce, and digital communication.

3. Digital Photography

Digital camera technology was first created for reconnaissance via spy satellites, allowing high-resolution images to be captured and transmitted without physical retrieval. Civilian applications now include smartphone cameras, social media, and digital imaging industries.

4. Radar Technology

Developed during World War II to detect enemy aircraft and naval vessels, radar now powers air traffic control systems, weather forecasting, and automotive collision avoidance technology, showcasing its adaptation from military innovation to everyday utility.

5. Night Vision

Originally designed to help soldiers see in low-light combat conditions, night vision technology has since been adopted by law enforcement, search and rescue, wildlife observation, and security applications for civilians.

6. Microwave Oven

Accidentally discovered during radar research when a candy bar melted near microwave equipment, the innovation origins of this technology was that it was repurposed to create microwave ovens. This innovation brought quick and efficient cooking to households worldwide.

7. Duct Tape

Created during World War II to seal ammunition cases and waterproof gear, duct tape transformed into an all-purpose household item used for repairs, crafting, and emergency fixes, demonstrating the broad civilian adoption of military materials.

8. Jet Engine Technology

Jet engines were developed to power military aircraft, enabling significant advances in speed and altitude. These innovations were adapted to commercial aviation, revolutionizing air travel and connecting the world more efficiently.

9. Nuclear Technology

Born from the Manhattan Project aimed at weapon development, nuclear technology now supports energy production and medical treatments such as cancer radiation therapy, illustrating beneficial spin-offs from military research.

10. Sanitary Products

Military medical research during World War I improved bandage materials and sanitary products, such as sanitary napkins, which transitioned into civilian use and greatly advanced hygiene and women's health products.

How Military Research Contributed to Modern Computing

Military laboratories played a crucial role in early computer development to process complex calculations for artillery targeting and codebreaking. These innovations paved the way for modern computing, software development, and the digital information age that permeates everyday life.

Why Do These Military Innovations Become Everyday Technologies?

Military research often addresses urgent, complex challenges requiring rapid innovation. Once technologies prove effective, their adaptation for civilian use follows due to demand, economic potential, and technological refinement. Thus, the trickle-down effect spreads innovation origins from the battlefield to daily life, creating new industries and conveniences.

The Impact of Military-Origin Technology on Society

The proliferation of tech from military research underscores an important narrative in everyday tech history: strategic defense investments foster breakthroughs that ultimately benefit global society beyond their initial combat intent. These advances improve communication, safety, healthcare, transportation, and household convenience, connecting the legacy of military innovation to modern civilization.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the challenges in adapting military technology for civilian use?

Adapting military technologies to civilian applications often faces challenges such as meeting legal and ethical standards, ensuring responsible use, and modifying technologies originally designed for combat to fit consumer needs and safety regulations. Additionally, there is sometimes resistance due to differences in organizational culture and market dynamics between military and civilian sectors.

2. How do ethical considerations impact the development and use of military technology?

Ethical considerations are critical in military technology development, especially regarding dual-use technologies that can affect civilian populations. Issues include balancing military advantage with minimizing harm, avoiding misuse, and establishing norms to govern the deployment of disruptive technologies, such as AI-enabled systems, to prevent unintended consequences.

3. Why is there often resistance to rapid technological innovation within military organizations?

Resistance within military organizations to rapid innovation can stem from hierarchical structures, entrenched procedures, and risk aversion. This "innovation readiness gap" slows the adoption of new technologies as established norms and legacy systems often take precedence over emerging tech, requiring cultural and structural adjustments to overcome.

4. How does military technology influence global security and civilian life beyond its original purpose?

Military technologies can significantly impact global security by shaping warfare capabilities and geopolitical dynamics. Their civilian adaptations improve daily life in communication, transportation, healthcare, and more. However, the blurring of civilian and military domains can introduce risks, such as exposure to harm and ethical dilemmas, highlighting the need for careful regulation and oversight.
Anti-Elon Musk protests are rising fast in the UK. Activists blame Elon Musk for political influence they say threatens democracy and the climate. Demonstrations have appeared in several cities in recent weeks, with many centred on Tesla dealers.

These events grew after protesters saw similar actions in the United States. Organisers say they are expanding their efforts and building support. They add that more plans are coming, but will not reveal details yet.

Anti-Elon Musk Protests in the UK Become Rampant

Anti-Elon Musk protests now appear in London and other major cities. Groups such as Tesla Takedown UK, Everybody Hates Elon, and Overthrow Musk lead many events. Their campaigns grew after watching US-based actions spread online.

A key organiser is John Gorenfeld, a software engineer who joined the UK effort after following US protests on Bluesky. Gorenfeld said he acted after feeling that Musk's influence was growing in Europe.

He noted that many supporters were passive until they saw the scale of US activism.

Elon Musk Accused of Threatening Democracy, Climate

Protesters accuse Musk of using wealth to influence global politics. They point to his public support for right-wing groups, including Germany's Alternative fur Deutschland.

They also highlight his open support for Donald Trump in the US. Activists argue that these positions conflict with the climate goals linked to Tesla.

Protest groups say Tesla's financial strength increases Musk's political reach. They claim this influence threatens democracy and climate action.

But, Musk has denied these accusations. He said the protests are politically driven and claimed that figures such as George Soros and Reid Hoffman support his critics.

Musk has also posted sarcastic replies to protest messages online.

What Anti-Elon Musk Protesters Want

Protesters have listed several demands aimed at weakening Musk's influence. They call for a nationwide boycott of Tesla vehicles. They urge Tesla owners to sell their cars. They tell consumers to avoid Tesla charging stations. They want more people to understand Musk's political influence. They also hope to reduce Tesla's role in the electric vehicle sector.

Organisers say hurting Tesla sales is the most effective tool. They argue that Tesla's success fuels Musk's financial and political strength.

Various Anti-Elon Protests Affect Tesla's Sales

Protests take different forms across the UK. Many demonstrations happen outside Tesla showrooms. Protesters hold signs and chant anti-Musk slogans. Others use guerrilla advertising, putting up satirical posters that link Tesla to authoritarian themes. Some highlight Musk's political ties.

Online campaigns continue daily. Activists on Bluesky and X encourage Tesla owners to sell their cars. They urge buyers to avoid new Tesla models and to skip Tesla charging stations.

Tesla sold nearly 4,000 cars in the UK in February 2025. The company's stock has fallen 45% since its peak in December 2023. Analysts say the wider market affects Tesla, but note that protests add pressure.

The UK accounts for 4.6% of Tesla's global market, so the impact remains limited for now. However, analysts warn that long protests may affect investor confidence.

Anti-Elon Musk Protests Intensify in US as Well

The US movement helped inspire the UK wave. The American Tesla Takedown group has held weekly protests for months. Gorenfeld said he began organising after seeing US events on Bluesky.

US rallies take place in cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Colorado, Maryland and North Carolina. Protest names include 'Tesla Takedown Centinela  Week 37' and 'People Over Billionaires Rally & March.'

The UK movement now mirrors US tactics. Both use public rallies, guerrilla messaging and dealership disruptions. Events often carry the #TeslaTakedown label.

US protests continue to expand, with more cities joining each week. Activists argue that Musk's political influence threatens democratic systems both in the US and worldwide.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
ChromeOS has been around for over a decade, but even with premium Chromebooks, it never really challenged the dominance of Windows PCs or Macs in the mid-to-high-end tier. The OS simply lacked the advanced features and flexibility for which professionals and power users would pay.

The first rumors that Google might replace ChromeOS with Android surfaced in November last year, and now the company has confirmed plans to make it a reality.

'Aluminium' OS Designed for Desktop

The latest rumors about Android on desktops arrived courtesy of a since-removed job posting at Google for a Senior Product Manager, Android, Laptop and Tablets, found by Frost Core on Telegram. It revealed that the project was internally codenamed "Aluminium," spelt in British English.

The description further confirmed that Aluminium will be a new operating system built with Artificial Intelligence at its core, signaling Google's commitment to AI-driven productivity.

While ChromeOS mainly targeted casual and educational users, Aluminium focuses on premium devices and experiences, thus competing strongly in professional and enterprise environments, per Android Authority.

AI-Powered Features and Enterprise Readiness

Google's strategy around Aluminium follows that of Microsoft, placing AI at the core of its operating system. That said, Google will try not to repeat Microsoft's mistakes and make sure that features are polished and highly integrated.

Business continuity was also important in the job listing, so enterprise workflows based on ChromeOS will continue to work during the transition. This is essential, since companies have made major investments in this ecosystem.

While Google hasn't yet confirmed which devices will support Aluminium, it seems not all Chromebooks currently available are going to be moved onto the new OS. Any device that isn't supported is likely to receive security updates, at least until those ChromeOS versions reach end-of-life and leave users potentially vulnerable.

Google confirmed at the 2025 Snapdragon Summit that Aluminium would debut in 2026. This timeline will give the developers and enterprise users ample time to prepare for the new AI-centric Android desktop experience.
If youve ever forgotten to cash in your credit-card reward points, youre not alone. Of the more than $40 billion in rewards U.S. cardholders earned in 2022, over $33 billion went unclaimed, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (1).

While some leave money on the table, others are turning the work of keeping up with complicated perks, shifting terms and multiple accounts into a part-time gig that could be worth thousands of dollars.

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Take Eric and Charlene May, a couple from Columbus, Ohio, who manage 14 premium credit cards and pay around $2,600 in annual fees. To make sure they come out ahead, they track every perk  from Uber credits to Lululemon allowances  in a color-coded spreadsheet. Their efforts have paid off: theyve managed to squeeze about $900 more in rewards value than they spend on fees (1).

However, most cardholders lack the patience  or the spreadsheet skills  to keep up. So, are premium cards still worth it?

Are premium cards worth the cost?

Premium credit cards often come with hefty annual fees, from $395 for Capital Ones Venture X to nearly $900 for the Amex Platinum (1). While those feel like hefty prices, credit card companies often dangle perks such as:

Dining and delivery credits : DoorDash or restaurant credits that refresh monthly or quarterly.

Rideshare or travel credits : Monthly Uber or Lyft allowances, plus airline fee reimbursements.

Hotel perks : Complimentary upgrades, late checkout, or annual free-night certificates.

Companion passes : Popular with airline-branded cards like Deltas.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck reimbursements : Credits to cover the cost of programs that fast-track your path through airport security

Extra points : Multipliers for dining, groceries, or travel spending.

Free checked bags and other flying perks : Popular with airline-branded cards. (2)

Rental car or cell phone insurance: Some cards offer built-in insurance when you rent a car or buy expensive electronics (3).

For example, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card has a $350 annual fee. For that price, it comes with perks such as free bags when flying (a $50 value), a $120 rideshare credit ($10 per month), cell phone protection and an annual companion ticket, where a friend can fly with you to anywhere in the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America for just the cost of taxes and fees (2).
NGO links major chocolate brands to Liberia deforestation



Monrovia, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



Some of the world's best-known chocolate, from Mars to KitKat, is likely linked to deforestation in Liberia's rainforest despite many brands' claims of sustainability, according to research published by NGO Global Witness Tuesday.

Liberia is home to the largest remaining stretch of the Upper Guinean rainforest and multiple endangered species such as chimpanzees and forest elephants, according to the group.

Between 2021 and 2024 Liberia lost some 250,000 hectares (618,000 acres) of forest in the country's largest cocoa producing counties, known as the "cocoa belt", it said.

High prices of cocoa combined with crop failure in neighbouring cocoa-producing nations have spurred a surge in Liberia's cocoa exportation and an expansion of farms.

Cocoa exporters rely heavily on rural traders in the region who buy indiscriminately, including deforestation-linked beans, the report said.

Companies then mix "traceable, certified cocoa with untraceable beans" under a certification program that allows them to call such chocolate sustainable, according to Global Witness.

The study said its research "implicates corporate giants including Hershey, Mondelez (Cadbury), Nestle, Unilever and Mars".

"Big brands are buying untraceable bulk cocoa that hides a massive deforestation footprint", Global Witness investigator Charlie Hammans said.

The report comes with the EU parliament posed to vote on pushing back the rollout of a law banning imports of products driving deforestation, to the end of 2026.

The law would "require companies selling in Europe to prove that products like chocolate are fully traceable and therefore free from deforestation", Global Witness said.

Global Witness said it analysed customs data showing all cocoa exports from Liberia by cargo ship in the last three years.

It additionally used tree cover loss data for Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties to arrive at the amount of forest land lost in the cocoa belt.

In addition to cocoa, Global Witness said small-scale agriculture, mining, palm oil and rubber production are "also likely to be significant contributors to forest loss".
Ten events that defined 2025



Paris, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



Donald Trump's return to power, a ceasefire in Gaza and massive investments in artificial intelligence: Here are 10 events that defined 2025.



- Trump returns -

A protectionist offensive. Mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Dismantling entire sections of the federal government.

Since his return to the White House for a second term in January, Republican President Donald Trump has targeted adversaries, deployed the National Guard in Democrat-voting cities, worked to intimidate the media and fought against diversity and inclusion programmes.

He has also launched extensive diplomatic efforts, with mixed results.

And polls suggest Americans are increasingly disgruntled on economic issues -- particularly the cost of living.

Stinging defeats in local elections have put his party in a delicate position for midterm elections due next autumn.



- A ceasefire in Gaza -

US pressure led to a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, two years after a devastating war began in the Gaza Strip.

The truce allowed for the return to Israel of the last surviving hostages and most of the bodies of the deceased, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

It also enabled an increased flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, although still nowhere near enough to meet the territory's needs, according to the UN and humanitarian NGOs.

But negotiating the next steps in Trump's peace plan -- particularly the disarmament of Hamas -- is proving delicate.

Israel has carried out several deadly airstrikes in Gaza in recent weeks, which it claims were in retaliation for Hamas attacks.

Regional tensions also persist, with continuing Israeli strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.

Israel, with the help of the US, also launched raids against Iran's nuclear facilities during a 12-day war in June.

In September, Israel targeted Hamas officials in an unprecedented attack in Qatar.



- Unsuccessful talks in Ukraine -

Trump's arrival in the White House energised efforts to end the war in Ukraine, sparked by Russia's full invasion in 2022.

Trump's sympathies have flipped repeatedly between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, with Kyiv fearing it could be forced into a deal on Moscow's terms.

In February, Trump berated Zelensky in the Oval Office, accusing him of risking World War III and disrespecting the American people.

As direct Russia-Ukraine talks led nowhere, Trump in August hosted Putin for a high-stakes summit in Alaska that ended early, leaving Washington accusing Moscow of not being serious about ending the war.

Trump later hit Russia with his first major package of sanctions.

However, international negotiations did take place in late November based on a draft US plan, the initial version of which was considered by Kyiv and its European allies to be largely favourable to Moscow.

Russian forces, meanwhile, slowly drove forward at massive human and financial cost to both sides, and they battered Ukrainian cities with record numbers of missiles and drones.



- Global trade war -

Trump imposed waves of tariffs on imports and on entire industries deemed strategic -- such as steel, aluminium and copper -- sparking a trade dispute that shook the global economy.

As targeted countries considered or implemented retaliatory measures, tough negotiations led to many deals, including with the European Union and China.

In their own backyard, US officials are still negotiating with Mexico but talks with Canada were suspended after a Canadian province funded an ad criticising the tariffs.

Under pressure to lower the cost of living for Americans, Trump decided in mid-November to cancel tariffs on some food products, such as imported coffee and beef.



- A new pope -

Robert Francis Prevost, aged 69, became the first American pope on May 8 following the death of his predecessor Francis, whom he had long advised.

White smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel to announce the election of the 267th head of the Catholic Church after a less-than-24-hour conclave.

The Chicago-born clergyman, who spent nearly 20 years as a missionary in Peru and eventually obtained citizenship, took the name Leo XIV.

He has followed in the footsteps of his Argentine predecessor by focusing on the poor, migrants and the environment.

He has also offered reassurances to conservative circles by ruling out -- at least in the short term -- the ordination of women as deacons and the recognition of same-sex marriage.



- Gen Z uprisings -

Mass movements spearheaded by the under-30s arose across Asia, Africa and Latin America to fight against poor living standards, social media censorship and elite corruption.

They enjoyed mixed success -- in Morocco, for example, the government promised social reforms but more than 2,000 protesters now face prosecution.

In other countries, the protests transformed into a broader challenge to power after they were violently repressed.

But Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina were forced from office.

Young people featured prominently in post-election protests in Tanzania, which were brutally suppressed.

The pirate flag from the manga "One Piece" (a skull and crossbones wearing a straw hat) is often displayed by protesters and has spread on social media to become a symbol of the fight against oppression across continents.



- AI boom -

Technology giants and investors have spent ever-increasing sums to finance the rapid growth of AI.

AI-related spending is expected to reach roughly $1.5 trillion in 2025 and $2 trillion next year, according to US advisory firm Gartner.

The market's enthusiasm briefly drove chip giant Nvidia's valuation beyond $5 trillion.

But the markets fear a speculative bubble around the technology.

And there are broader concerns.

The technology stands accused of fuelling misinformation, copyright lawsuits are mushrooming, and many companies have cited AI adoption as an explanation for mass layoffs.

OpenAI faces a lawsuit from the parents of a California teenager who killed himself, alleging its chatbot ChatGPT offered advice on how to carry out his plan.

The company said it had strengthened its parental controls, while California has enacted legislation regulating chatbots.



- A spectacular Louvre heist -

On October 19, thieves dressed in workers' vests used a furniture ladder to get into the Louvre Museum in Paris.

They fled on scooters with Crown Jewels valued at 88 million euros ($102 million) though they dropped a diamond-encrusted crown on the way.

The audacious heist made headlines worldwide and sparked a debate over security at the world's most-visited museum.

Three men suspected of being part of the raid were charged and jailed, but the stolen treasures have not been recovered.



- US strikes anger Venezuela -

Washington has deployed a significant military presence off the coast of Latin America since August, officially to combat drug trafficking bound for the United States.

More than 20 strikes have been carried out in recent weeks in the Caribbean and the Pacific against vessels the US says are suspected of transporting drugs, leaving several dozen people dead.

The US Justice Department insists the strikes were "lawful" and rejected accusations by a senior UN official that they were "extrajudicial".

The campaign has sharply escalated regional tensions, especially with Venezuela, which views the attacks as a pretext to topple President Nicolas Maduro and seize the country's oil reserves.

Washington accuses Maduro of heading a cartel, and US authorities are offering a $50 million reward for his capture.



- Record-breaking weather -

While Vietnam had deadly floods, powerful storms lashed the Caribbean and the Philippines.

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more deadly and more destructive due to climate change fuelled by human activity, according to scientists.

Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful ever to hit the Caribbean, devastated entire regions of Jamaica and flooded Haiti and Cuba.

In Southeast Asia, the Philippines was struck by Typhoons Ragasa, Kalmaegi and Fung-wong within the space of two months, while Vietnam was devastated by storms, floods and landslides.

Temperatures soared and wildfires intensified in Europe, with a record number of hectares burnt during the summer.

The French Mediterranean coast experienced its worst fire in 50 years.

In the United States, fires sparked by lightning led to the closure of the North Rim of the famous Grand Canyon in mid-July for the remainder of the tourist season.

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Court suspends Belgian farmer climate case against TotalEnergies



Brussels, Belgium, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



A Belgian court case brought by a farmer seeking compensation from oil giant TotalEnergies for damage caused by climate change was suspended after the judging panel recused itself, both parties said Tuesday.

The David versus Goliath lawsuit filed by Hugues Falys, a farmer and union leader from Belgium's western Hainaut province, kicked off last week in a commercial court in the city of Tournai.

Backed by environmental groups including Greenpeace, Falys is seeking compensation from TotalEnergies for damage to his farm, but also much broader action by the French energy group to stop investing in new fossil-fuel projects.

The trial was expected to run for a month, with the first arguments to be heard on Wednesday from TotalEnergies -- which disputes the farmer's claims as baseless.

But on Tuesday, the parties were informed of the court's "recusal," meaning at least one of the three judges declared they could not rule "objectively or impartially," according to a statement from the plaintiffs. No further explanation was provided.

Contacted by AFP, TotalEnergies confirmed the suspension of proceedings and said Wednesday's hearing would "only serve to set a new timetable".

"TotalEnergies' lawyers were informed by the court registry that the bench would be reconstituted," the group said in a statement. "The company stresses it had nothing to do with this decision and did not request it."

In Belgium, commercial courts -- which handle disputes between companies -- are composed of a professional judge assisted by two lay judges drawn from the business world for their expertise.

Falys is the first person to bring a climate case against a multinational company in Belgium, arguing that four extreme weather events linked to global warming between 2016 and 2020 harmed his business.

TotalEnergies, along with other oil giants, is a frequent target for climate and human rights activists.

mad/ec/jh
3,000 cattle stuck at sea for a month reach dry land in Libya



Montevideo, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2025



Nearly 3,000 Uruguayan cattle that were stranded at sea for a month after their vessel was barred from Turkey have been unloaded in Libya, Uruguay's government said.

The plight of the animals stuck onboard the Spiridon II livestock carrier caused an outcry among animal welfare groups.

Turkish authorities refused the ship entry to the northwestern port of Bandirma last month, citing discrepancies in the animals' health certificates.

Uruguay's agriculture ministry said Monday that they had been disembarked safe and sound in the Libyan port of Benghazi after a total of two months at sea.

But the Animal Welfare Foundation cast doubt on the animals' wellbeing, claiming that dozens died during the month-long crossing from Uruguay to Turkey.

The charity called for an investigation into the case, which it said illustrated the dangers of transporting live animals by sea.

It said it was concerned that carcasses may have been illicitly thrown overboard.

Uruguay blamed the animals' plight on a disagreement between the cattle exporter and his Turkish customer.

The head of Ganosan, the Uruguayan cattle exporter which shipped the animals, denied any wrongdoing and instead blamed his Turkish customer.

"We sold the cattle, we put them on the ship, the man paid, he chartered the ship, the ship left, and that's where our business ended, and we have the proof," Fernando Fernandez told Uruguayan media.

The small South American nation, which has nearly four times as many cattle as inhabitants, is a major beef producer.

The shipment of 2,901 cattle left Montevideo in mid-September.

It arrived off Turkey on October 21 and remained moored off the coast for a month while the dispute over documentation dragged on.
Bitcoin has hit some turbulence lately.

After reaching a record high of roughly $126,000 in early October, the price of Bitcoin has since fallen below $90,000, dropping about 20% in the past month, and rippling through ETFs that track the cryptocurrency. Investors pulled $523 million out of BlackRocks iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) in just one day last week, the largest single-day outflow in the funds history, Bloomberg reported. Separately, Morgan Stanley unloaded $104 million in complex structured notes tied to the ETF.

So whats going on? The simplest explanation is that investors are trimming exposure to riskier assets, said Bryan Armour, director of ETF and passive strategies research at Morningstar. Crypto is a speculative asset and investors look to exit once reaching a specific catalyst, he said. The recent flood of new crypto ETFs may signal an opportune exit point for speculators hoping to cash out after increased mainstream adoption, he added.

SUBSCRIBE: Receive more of our free ETF Upside newsletter. READ ALSO: Even As Bitcoin Dips, Crypto ETFs Break Down TradFi Barriers and Vanguard Raises White Flag Over Crypto ETFs

Not So Itty-Bitty

Still, the recent volatility doesnt necessarily mean investors have turned broadly bearish. Even with outflows and a roughly 13% year-to-date decline, IBIT remains enormous at $70 billion in net assets. The fund took in $4.3 billion in October alone, according to Morningstar Direct. Its only month of outflows this year came in February, when it lost about $150 million.

Some major investors are leaning in, however. Harvard Universitys endowment recently tripled its allocation to IBIT, making it the largest public holding in its portfolio. JPMorgan Chase disclosed that it held 5.28 million IBIT shares at the end of September, a 64% jump from June and a notable shift for a bank whose CEO, Jamie Dimon, once dismissed Bitcoin as a pet rock.

Other Bitcoin ETFs, however, havent fared as well:

The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF (GBTC) shed roughly $540 million last month and has seen outflows every month this year, per Morningstar data.

The Ark 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) lost about $240 million in October.

The CoinShares Bitcoin ETF (BRRR) saw around $5 million in outflows.

Its always important to have a plan before a selloff like this happens, as a panic is often the worst time to sell, Armour said. Know the points at which you would sell to take gains and cut losses ahead of time, so emotions dont dictate actions, he said.

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Tobi Coventry is invisible, yet he is here. A debut novelist writing about sexuality, desire and, inadvertently, masculinity: the kind of man, weve been told for the past five years, no longer exists. Or at least could not win the Booker Prize without causing a strange cultural shudder. He spends his days reading for a living, scouting books before they surface, digging through the backlist to find stories that might translate to screens. So when the book scout-turned-author read The Guardians view of the Booker  literary fiction closed to men, books about young men hard to find, David Szalays win putting masculinity back at the centre of literary fiction  he wondered, simply: what?

Some of the best new books come from men and some of them come from women, and Ive never sat there and thought, God, Im really waiting for a book from a man to come along, Coventry says from his home office in Rye. Behind him are bookshelves filled with works from authors of all genders.

And then he begins to list these supposedly nonexistent men: the prolific Ben Myers, with his short-story collection Male Tears; Douglas Stuart; Michael McGee; Paul Mendez; Tony Tulathimutte; Djamel White. He notes that women, too, write about young men and masculinity  and I would add writers like Sally Rooney and Ottessa Moshfegh, whom The Guardian mentions even as it claims such writing is lacking, attributing that absence to the supposed dominance of their female interiority.

Coventrys own debut, Hes the Devil, darkly comic and indebted to Stephen King, Moshfegh, and Eliza Clark, arrives next year. His protagonist is a lonely man in his late twenties, seduced by the spooky presence of a new flatmate. Coventry speaks easily of genre fiction, how it smuggles examinations of masculinity inside tropes and shadows, and how any supposed crisis in male fiction ignores the men thriving  sometimes dominating  within genre spaces. Books are shifting, he says, even the literary ones. The issue here is partly talking in one way about one specific kind of book that might win specific prizes. And I think that that is slightly dangerous because then people are looking for a direct comparison, he says of this archetypal missing man.

Novelist Eliza Clark agrees. Basically all of our brightest and most successful young male novelists  and theres a hard divide between those and our old guard male novelists  are queer or men of colour or both. Thats great: I think it represents a true diversifying of the industry, though obviously we have a lot more work to do. The old guard, she clarifies, is the usual roll call: Will Self, Bret Easton Ellis. Does it really matter that that is changing?

Since 2020, the media has repeatedly returned to the question of where the male writers have gone. That year, James Marriott wrote in The Times that hotshot young male novelists had disappeared; he counted only four men on a 13-strong Booker longlist, a statistic unlikely to prompt comment had it leaned the other way. Every so often, the conversation spikes on social media, followed by essays such as Barry Pierces in Dazed, sympathetic to the idea of the vanishing young man. How will people see the role of young men in British society in 2022 if first-hand sources do not exist? he wrote. How can we all learn about the experiences and the attitudes of the time if the chronicles go unwritten?

open image in gallery Tobi Coventrys Hes the Devil is published on 12 February ( Christoffer Ahlen )

This year, a new publisher  Conduit Books  emerged, created by Jude Cook, who intends to publish men exclusively, a corrective, he says, to male writers being sidelined. After Szalays Booker win, the debate got warmed up again: The Guardians commentary on the necessity of a man writing about the inner life of a man, and winning a major prize doing so. A novel moment only if the history is ignored. Since the Bookers founding in 1969, a total of 36 men have won, compared to 18 women; in the past decade, the ratio is seven to four. Across literary prizes, there is, broadly, an even gender balance. The Observers 2025 debut list: 11 writers, five men. In 2024: 10 writers, five men. It is less of a disappearance, more of a recurrent media mirage: an almost non-issue made irresistible by its clickability.

To read these pieces is to sense a nostalgia for a certain type of man in publishing: edged, confident, white. The renegade with a cigarette and a grievance, the cult of Amis, Roth, Franzen, Ellis, Hemingway. Clark frames the debate succinctly: Why havent I seen an enfant terrible smash-hit novel from a 29-year-old white guy from Oxford in a really long time?

Martin Chilton, chief books critic at The Independent, is another believer in the diversification of fiction. Perhaps a masterpiece novel about a present-day incel is being penned right now, although with fiction, you should be careful what you wish for, he says. He remembers the 1990s lad lit boom, publishers throwing money at sexist novels with titles like Booty Nomad. The results, he implies, do not inspire longing.

And if one insists on cool books by young men, they are already here: Gabriel Krauzes Who They Was, a Booker-longlisted autofiction of violence and survival; Sean Thor Conroes Fuccboi, charting love, sex, writing, and disillusion. I found both because they were well-marketed and supported by the publishing and media industries. It would be disingenuous to deny that in the 2010s, the media more eagerly platformed young, often white, attractive female authors. Gender shapes marketing, shapes reception, shapes who is considered literary. It can work for you or against you. Ive spoken to other women novelists about this, Clark says, but I feel like theres a lot more pressure to be sort of visually presentable We didnt really used to expect writers to be good-looking and clickable. She notes the algorithmic reality: an interview with a young, conventionally attractive woman will draw more clicks than one with a regular-looking man in his forties.

open image in gallery Sean Thor Conroes Fuccboi shows it is possible to explore modern masculinity in a stylish and inventive way ( Al Jacobs )

And in the same breath, when my inbox fills with press releases, I see women grouped together endlessly, marketed as for fans of Sally Rooney, regardless of whether their writing resembles hers. I remember getting a marketing email for a new book by a male writer and it was in the vein of Vladimir Nabokovs Pale Fire. It made me think, have you ever seen a womans book compared to another male writer or even a big canonical literary writer like that? says Clark. A mans debut, when it comes, is more readily treated as literature; a womans as womens fiction.

What is not discussed enough, what sits beneath the noise, is not men and writing but men and reading. Molly Flatt, author and opinion editor at The Bookseller, cites analysis by The Womens Trust: women purchase 80 per cent of all novels. Men overwhelmingly avoid books written by women; women do not reciprocate that bias. Can we encourage men to read more women? she asks. If the argument is that we need more books by men in a particular genre because male readers supposedly empathise more with male authors, well, women dont seem to have that problem, according to this analysis.

The oft-cited statistic  80 per cent of fiction-commissioning editors are women  is sometimes wielded as an explanation of a lack of men in literary fiction. Flatt doesnt buy it. Gendered commissioning is not the industrys central issue; society is. If you did, for example, want more men to become writers, why not? But we need them to be readers, and to stay readers through their teens and beyond. The real crisis, she argues, is attention: getting boys and men off their phones, away from scroll and screen, back into narrative. She is wary of misdiagnosing a global literacy crisis as a publishing problem.

open image in gallery One half of the debate bemoans a lack of a Gen Z or millennial equivalent to Jonathan Franzen ( Getty )

Clark is blunt about why this angle gets little traction. Declining male readership does not make for a sexy headline. Thats less splashy than to imply that wokes gone too far and the women are publishing their #MeToo novels and spoiling it for white posh boys who are desperately trying to publish their beautiful novels. And so, in 2025, we still get the pieces like Toby Youngs in The Spectator, titled, inevitably, Let Straight White Men Write Novels.

As Coventry awaits the release of his debut, he will continue to receive manuscripts from everyone. I think that the men who have been published and who write frequently would be annoyed to hear that people are saying that men arent writing fiction, because they absolutely are, he tells me. And I read them all the time.
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Wicked: For Good director Jon M Chu has revealed that he refused to show studio bosses the films powerful final shot.

Chu said he made the decision because he was worried that executives at Universal Pictures would use the image in the films marketing campaign.

The scene in question is of Ariana Grandes good witch Glinda whispering into the ear of Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo.

It is a recreation of the iconic poster for the original Wicked Broadway musical, which premiered in 2003.

Speaking to Business Insider, Chu  who also directed last years first instalment  said it was always the plan to end on that image.

I was always going to end on the whisper, he said. Do you know how hard it was to force Universal to never use it in any marketing material? They even had a poster of it for the first movie, and I was like, Why are we releasing this poster? We should never acknowledge the whisper. Never. Never.

I wanted it to feel like we didnt care about it, then suddenly its the last shot in For Good. So the studio never saw that final shot. I imposed a huge thing: Do not show this shot! They wanted it so badly.

The musical poster is among the most recognisable on Broadway, depicting a smirking Glinda in a witchs hat on a green background with Glinda, wearing white, whispering into her ear.

open image in gallery Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked: For Good ( Universal Pictures )

That poster is one of the most brilliant posters ever made, Chu said. You dont know what Glindas saying, because they never actually do that in the musical. But its sort of the key to friendship. That we have these secrets.

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Speaking about actors Grande and Erivo, he said: The girls got to choose what they are actually saying in the scene. I dont even know what they said.

open image in gallery Britain Wicked For Good European Premiere ( Invision )

While Chu kept the shot hidden from the studio, Universal did use a recreation of the original poster during the marketing for the first Wicked film in October 2024.

The marketing material paid homage to the original poster, and featured noticeable differences such as Elphabas face being clearly in shot, unlike the original in which her hat is so low that her face is hidden.

Many Wicked fans called out the difference and set about correcting the mistake, using Photoshop to lower the hat and hide Erivos face.

open image in gallery Cynthia Erivos Instagram posts calling fan edits to the Wicked poster offensive' ( Instagram )

Erivo called the digitally altered images the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen.

The original poster is an ILLUSTRATION. I am a real life human being, who chose to look right down the barrel of the camera to you, the viewer because, without words we communicate with our eyes, she wrote on Instagram at the time.

Our poster is an homage not an imitation, to edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me. And that is just deeply hurtful.

In theatres now, For Good sees Erivo reprise her role as Elphaba opposite Grandes Glinda.

The sequel, which comes a year after Chus Oscar-nominated Wicked, adapts the second act of the hit Broadway musical and welcomes a brief appearance from Dorothy, the main protagonist of The Wizard of Oz.

In a two-star review of the film, The Independents film critic wrote: The back half of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzmans musical, adapted from the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire and itself a retelling of The Wizard of Oz that questions the wickedness of the Witch of the West, was always a bit of a slog.

And Jon M Chus direction, even with all that budget and talent at hand, fails to find a satisfactory fix.

For Good is in cinemas now.
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Eric Dane made his much-anticipated cameo appearance in Brilliant Minds on Monday, starring as a firefighter with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Dane, 53, revealed in April that he had been diagnosed with ALS and has since spoken publicly about the symptoms hes experiencing.

Best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan in Greys Anatomy, it was announced last month that Dane would appear on the NBC medical drama Brilliant Minds.

He played Matthew Ramati, a firefighter struggling to share his ALS diagnosis with his family. The episode shone a light on some of the symptoms of the neurodegenerative disease, with Danes character losing the use of his hands and struggling to breathe hard into a tube.

Fine, Ill quit smoking cigars, his character jokes.

open image in gallery Eric Dane played ALS-stricken firefighter Matthew Ramati in 'Brilliant Minds' ( NBC )

open image in gallery Dane shared his own diagnosis with ALS in April ( NBC )

During the episode, Dr. Oliver Wolf, the series lead played by Zachary Quinto, convinces Matthew to spend Thanksgiving with his family, which the firefighter was seeking to avoid.

The episode ends with a heartwarming moment as Matthew is surprised by a firetruck filled with his colleagues and people hes saved over the years.

On X, fans of the show shared their emotional reactions to Danes cameo amid his diagnosis.

Eric Dane bringing his ALS story to #BrilliantMinds is as heroic as Tatiana Schlossbergs essay, wrote one viewer, referencing John F Kennedys granddaughters recent piece in The New Yorker revealing her diagnosis with acute myeloid leukemia.

I cried in every scene Eric was in as that character, another admitted.

Such a beautiful episode, such a beautiful scene! I absolutely loved their dynamic together, added a third alongside a clip of Dane and Madchen Amick, who played his ex-wife in the episode.

In real life, Dane married fellow actor Rebecca Gayheart in 2004. She filed for divorce in 2018 but dismissed the filing in March this year. They share two daughters: 15-year-old Billie and 13-year-old Georgia.

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Shortly after he announced his diagnosis, Dane spoke about wanting to continue acting as he battles the disease.

At the end of the day, just, all I want to do is spend time with my family and work a little bit if I can, Dane told Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America in June. I dont think this is the end of my story. I just dont feel like, in my heart, I dont feel like this is the end of me.

During his interview with Sawyer, Dane also revealed that his right side was no longer functioning and that he expected to lose control of his left hand.

Still, he went on to film season three of Euphoria, which he appears in as Cal Jacobs, the father of Jacob Elordis character Nate Jacobs. The new season is set to air in 2026.

However, he was forced to skip out on the Greys Anatomy reunion at this years Emmy Awards following a fall that left him hospitalized. He said the nasty disease caused him to lose his balance in the kitchen.

I missed an opportunity I was really looking forward to, he told the Washington Post at the time. It would have been great to see Jesse and get reunited with some of my peers, and to be able to present in front of my colleagues, I thought, would have been a special moment. So I was really upset about it, but you know, there was nothing I could do about it.
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The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Layla Taylor has told The Independent that despite her decision to leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her ex-husband still takes her two sons to church.

During her time on the Hulu reality series, Taylor has discussed her decision to convert to Mormonism as a teenager. However, during the most recent season, she opened up about why she has since left the religion and how that decision has affected her daily life.

While Taylor pinpointed the churchs history of racism  which includes barring Black men from obtaining the priesthood and Black men and women from temple ordinances, citing racist religious doctrines, and discouraging interracial marriage  as a reason for leaving, she told The Independent there were many aspects of the religion she no longer aligns with.

I converted to the church when I was very young and very naive, and my reason for converting was just this wanting for a community and the wanting for a family dynamic that I lacked growing up, and I was not aware of a lot, she explained. I feel like when you are converting to a religion, you know the good parts, you obviously don't know the otherwise negative parts.

Despite her separation from the religion, she said she has no regrets about where it led her.

open image in gallery I feel like when you are converting to a religion, you know the good parts, you obviously don't know the otherwise negative parts, Taylor said about leaving the Mormon church ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery During her time on SLOMW Taylor opened up about her decision to convert to Mormonism as a teenager ( Getty Images )

It got me through a really dark time in my life where I was fighting for my life every day to stay alive, and it gave me a lot of hope and purpose, and I'm still grateful for it in that sense that I probably wouldn't have moved to Utah, and I wouldn't have met my ex husband, and I wouldn't have had my kids, and there are so many things that led me to where I am today, because of the church, so I don't regret it, Taylor said.

Although Taylor may no longer be an active member of the church, she said that her two sons, shared with her ex-husband, Clayton Wessel, still attend church on Sundays.

Wessel has been made aware that their sons, Oliver Ollie Clay and Maxwell Dean, do not go to church when at their mothers house, and there has not been any contention when co-parenting.

I'm just trying to teach my kids that they have agency to choose, that if they want to be a part of the Mormon religion, they can do that, Taylor said. But I'm also going to encourage them to research other religions and try out other things and just do what feels right for them. I would never want them to feel pressured into any, you know, religion, but also not discouraging what they think.

The reality star said that sometimes her boys will come home from church, wanting to tell her about what they learned from Jesus, which she tries to actively listen to and engage with.

I would never want to tell them that they're wrong for feeling that way, because they are so little and they're so impressionable, Taylor said. And that's how I was at one point, and I learned with time, and I want to give them that same grace as well.

Season three of SLOMW is now available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu. The reunion special will drop December 4.
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Chris Hemsworth has spoken about his health following his discovery that he is genetically predisposed to Alzheimers.

In a new National Geographic documentary, which premiered earlier this week, Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember, sees the Avengers actor embark on a road trip through Australia in an attempt to jog his father, Craigs, memory amid his early-stage Alzheimer's disease.

While trying to help out his father, Hemsworth also revealed during the documentary that he worries about his own health.

Three years ago, the actor underwent genetic testing during the National Geographic docuseries, Limitless, where he found out that he carried two copies of the APOE4 gene. Carrying the gene isnt a formal diagnosis, but does leave Hemsworth at risk of developing the disease.

This has become a very prominent conversation in my world, because I also have two copies of the gene that puts me in a higher-risk category for Alzheimer's, he said in the recent documentary. But it's not a problem at this point, and it may never be. So I'm far more focused on my dad right now.

open image in gallery I'd rather just continue on with life, Hemsworth said ( Getty Images )

He continued, explaining how his only plan was to focus on the present.

I feel like its too far off, hopefully, the actor said about when Alzheimers symptoms would begin to present themselves. I'd rather just continue on with life.

Hemsworth previously discussed his health when speaking to Vanity Fair last April, when he addressed the rumors that he could potentially retire from acting as a result of the potential to develop Alzheimers.

It really kind of pissed me off because it felt like I had been vulnerable with something personal and shared this, he told the outlet about the headlines, which were not true. No matter how much I said: This is not a death sentence, the story became that I have dementia and Im reconsidering life and retiring and so on.

Previously, Hemsworth spoke with Vanity Fair in 2022, where he talked more about what it was like to receive the news about his genetic predisposition to the condition.

They took all my bloodwork and did a bunch of tests, and the plan was to on-camera tell me all the results and then talk about how you can improve this and that, he said at the time.

open image in gallery Chris and his father Craig talk around a campfire while on their trip ( National Geographic/Craig Parry )

And Peter Attia, who is the longevity doctor in that episode, and overseeing a lot of the show, called [show creator] Darren [Aronofsky] and said: I dont want to tell him this on camera. We need to have an off-side conversation and see if he even wants this to be in the show.

It was pretty shocking because he called me up and he told me.

Hemsworth explained that he had certainly not expected to receive such intense news as the show was originally intended to be a fun way of exploring longevity.

However, he said: It was a really good catalyst to dive into everything I needed to be doing in either the prevention front or the management front.
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Costco is recalling two popular prepackaged food items.

The retailer and its food supplier, Venture Foods, issued a recent notice to shoppers about a Caesar Salad and a Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad. The products are being recalled due to the presence of plastic foreign material in the salad dressing of these items, according to the notice.

The affected products have the Sell By Dates between October 17, 2025, and November 9, 20245. The Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad can be identified by Item Number 11444, while the Caesar Salad can be identified by Item Number 19927.

All customers with the food items are urged not to eat them and to instead return them to a local Costco for a full refund. Shoppers are also encouraged to contact Costcos customer service if they have any concerns.

Costco has issued various warnings this year about popular food and drink products. Earlier this month, more than 940,000 bottles of the wholesale giants Kirkland brand Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene were recalled over risks of the glass bottles shattering, potentially causing cuts to consumers.

Costco is urging customers to return the two caesar salad products ( Getty Images )

At least 10 customers reported the glass bottles shattering or breaking to the proseccos manufacturer, F&F Wines International Inc. At least one person was lacerated from the defective bottles, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a news release.

The universal product code of the drinks is 196633883742, and the Costco item number is 1879870. However, the company did not say what caused the hazard in the bottles

The same Prosecco product was just recalled from Costco in September, after the company learned that the bottles could shatter. At the time, the store told customers not to return the bottles to stores.

Do not open it. Dispose of the bottle immediately  to avoid risk from shattered glass, Costco wrote to shoppers.

Also in September, Costco recalled its Kirkland brand Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke because it was potentially contaminated with Listeria from green onions. The report affects 3,314.7 pounds of the product, which has the item number 17193, and a sell-by date of September 22.

Infections caused by Listeria monocytogenes can lead to serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems.

Although healthy persons may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, L. Monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women, the FDA notes.
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Deep-frying a turkey is a great way to get a delicious, moist meal for Thanksgiving. But this method of cooking can be a very dangerous undertaking.

Every fall, millions of dollars of damage, trips to the ER and even deaths result from attempts to deep-fry turkeys. The vast majority of these accidents happen because people put frozen turkeys into boiling oil. If you are considering deep-frying this year, do not forget to thaw and dry your turkey before placing it in the pot. Failure to do so may lead to an explosive disaster.

What is so dangerous about putting even a partially frozen turkey in a deep-fryer?

Im a chemist who studies plant, fungal and animal compounds and have a love of food chemistry. The reason frozen turkeys explode, at its core, has to do with differences in density. There is a difference in density between oil and water and differences in the density of water between its solid, liquid and gas states. When these density differences interact in just the right way, you get an explosion.

Understanding density

Density is how much an object weighs given a specific volume. For example, imagine you held an ice cube in one hand and a marshmallow in the other. While they are roughly the same size, the ice cube is heavier: It is more dense.

The first important density difference when it comes to frying is that water is more dense than oil. This has to do with how tightly the molecules of each substance pack together and how heavy the atoms are that make up each liquid.

Firefighters show how to safely lower a turkey into a fryer ( Chicago FD )

Water molecules are small and pack tightly together. Oil molecules are much larger and dont pack together as well by comparison. Additionally, water is composed of oxygen and hydrogen atoms, while oils are predominantly carbon and hydrogen. Oxygen is heavier than carbon. This means that, for example, one cup of water has more atoms than one cup of oil, and those individual atoms are heavier. This is why oil floats on top of water. It is less dense.

While different materials have different densities, liquids, solids and gases of a single material can have different densities as well. You observe this every time you place an ice cube in a glass of water: The ice floats to the top because it is less dense than water.

When water absorbs heat, it changes to its gas phase, steam. Steam occupies 1,700 times the volume as the same number of liquid water molecules. You observe this effect when you boil water in a tea kettle. The force of expanding gas pushes steam out of the kettle through the whistle, causing the squealing noise.

Frozen turkeys are filled with water

Frozen turkeys  or any kind of frozen meat for that matter  contain a lot of ice. Raw meat can be anywhere from 56% to 73% water. If you have ever thawed a frozen piece of meat, you have probably seen all the liquid that comes out.

For deep-frying, cooking oil is heated to around 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 C). This is much hotter than the boiling point of water, which is 212 F (100 C). So when the ice in a frozen turkey comes in contact with the hot oil, the surface ice quickly turns to steam.

This quick transition is not a problem when it happens at the very surface of the oil. The steam escapes harmlessly into the air.

However, when you submerge a turkey into the oil, the ice inside the turkey absorbs the heat and melts, forming liquid water. Here is where the density comes into play.

About the author Kristine Nolin is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at University of Richmond. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

This liquid water is more dense than the oil, so it falls the bottom of the pot. The water molecules continue to absorb heat and energy and eventually they change phases and become steam. The water molecules then rapidly spread far apart from one another and the volume expands by 1,700 times. This expansion causes the density of the water to drop to a fraction of a percent of the density of the oil, so the gas wants to quickly rise to the surface.

Combine the fast change in density with the expansion of volume and you get an explosion. The steam expands and rises, blowing the boiling oil out the pot. If that werent dangerous enough, as the displaced oil comes into contact with a burner or flame, it can catch fire. Once some droplets of oil catch on fire, the flames will quickly ignite nearby oil molecules, resulting in a fast-moving and often catastrophic fire.

Every year, thousands of accidents like this happen. So, should you decide to deep-fry a turkey for this years Thanksgiving, be sure to thoroughly thaw it and pat it dry. And next time you add a bit of liquid to an oil-filled pan and end up with oil all over the stove, youll know the science of why.
Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) is one of the most undervalued NYSE stocks to buy right now. On November 12, BofA analyst Adrien de Saint Hilaire lowered the firms price target on Omnicom to $87 from $90, while maintaining a Neutral rating on the shares. This sentiment was posted as the analyst assessed Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG) recent quarterly report, which was released shortly before its anticipated acquisition by Omnicom closes this month.

The results were mixed. IPGs success in exceeding its cost-saving targets aligns positively with Omnicoms initial pro forma EPS assumptions. Nevertheless, Adrien de Saint Hilaire flagged potential downsides: the risk of IPGs savings duplicating efforts in the planned $750 million cost synergy program, and the danger that simultaneous cost-cutting could disrupt operations, cause staff to leave, and result in higher client churn.

BofA Analyst Cautious on Omnicom (OMC), Cites IPG Merger Integration Risks

In Omnicoms own Q3 2025 results, the company reported generating $4.04 billion in quarterly revenue, which was an improvement of 3.98% year-over-year. The companys EPS totaled $2.24, which beat Street expectations by $0.07. The company also secured antitrust clearance for its acquisition of Interpublic in all jurisdictions except the EU and expects the acquisition to close by late November.

Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) offers advertising, marketing, and corporate communications services. It provides a range of services in the areas of media & advertising, precision marketing, public relations, healthcare, branding & retail commerce, experiential, execution, and support.

While we acknowledge the potential of OMC as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
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Staying in shape can help more than make you look good - it can keep your brain young too.

Doctors at the Radiological Society of North America announced a the findings of a nw study Monday that determined having less hidden belly fat and more muscle may help to keep your brain younger The findings could help us treat Alzheimers disease, the most common form of dementia affecting more than 7 million Americans.

Healthier bodies with more muscle mass and less hidden belly fat are more likely to have healthier, youthful brains, Dr. Cyrus Raji, associate professor of radiology and neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, said in a statement.

Better brain health, in turn, lowers the risk for future brain diseases, such as Alzheimers.

Researchers had previously tied visceral fat to brain health, including developing Alzheimers disease. Visceral fat is fat stored within the abdomen and nearby organs.

open image in gallery Building muscle mass and losing weight could help protect your brain from cognitive decline, experts say. ( Getty Images/iStock )

The body-brain connection

Raji said their analysis showed how closely the health of the body and brain are linked.

This research has validated widely held hypotheses about the association between body composition biomarkers and brain health and provides a foundation for those biomarkers to be included in future trials of various metabolic interventions and treatments, he said.

Looking at the health of 1,164 healthy men and women using whole-body MRI scans, the researchers were able to determine the fattiest parts of the body. Next, they used an AI algorithm to determine the participants ratio of muscle to fat, as well as their subsequent brain age.

Participants with higher ratios of visceral fat to muscle had higher brain ages, while the same was not seen for those with more subcutaneous fat: a layer of fat just below the skins surface.

Although visceral fat is not the only factor that affects brain aging.

While the human brain ages naturally as we do  affecting memory and cognitive ability  harmful inflammation, emotional trauma and high blood pressure have all been shown to accelerate the process.

open image in gallery The doctors took MRI scans, feeding it into an AI algorithm to help determine patients brain ages ( Cyrus Raji, M.D., Ph.D., and RSNA )

More reps, fewer years

Going forward, people can work to keep their brains younger by losing visceral fat and building muscle - and can use the gym to help.

When you work out, your muscles release chemical signals that are believed to positively influence your brain, according to researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The new findings also build on decades of research showing that having less fat and more muscle can protect people from heart failure and diabetes.

While many are able to shed dozens of pounds of fat by taking weight-loss drugs, a common side effect is the loss of muscle mass. But, that might not be the case with recent versions and prior studies have shown that amylin weight-loss drugs may lead to a lower loss of lean muscle mass than popular GLP-1 class drugs such as Ozempic.

Raji said their findings could help inform the future of the drugs.

The research is being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
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American Eagle is ringing in the holidays with a new face for their latest campaign after backlash erupted over their summer ads.

Martha Stewart posed in a light blue denim shirt, matching jeans, and black flats in her new advertisement with the brand. The 84-year-old entrepreneur stood in a light and dark blue room, while wrapping a present in denim, instead of wrapping paper.

This holiday season, were settling for nothing less than a perfect fit, she quipped in one of the advertisements, which is part of the brands Give Great Jeans holiday campaign.

The video continued with Stewart cutting up more pieces of denim that she used to wrap her present. This gift is giving.

In a photo for the campaign, Stewart posed in a kitchen filled with appliances wrapped in or towels made out of denim. This time, she wore a dark blue denim jacket, matching jeans, and a navy cardigan wrapped around her shoulders.

Martha Stewart wraps gifts in denim during new American Eagle ad ( Getty Images for Netflix )

She spoke to People about doing the campaign with American Eagle and said that the concept of a set covered in denim was playful, smart, and whimsical.

I have spent decades helping people create beautiful holidays  from setting the perfect table to trimming the tree to finding that last-minute gift that saves the day, she said. So when American Eagle approached me about being part of their holiday gifting campaign, I was immediately intrigued.

Stewart also explained why shes such a big fan of the denim American Eagle sells.

The beauty of AE jeans is their versatility and ability to move with you throughout the day, she added. They are flattering, sleek and soft enough to make wrapping gifts or hosting a dinner in them effortless.

The Independent has reached out to American Eagle for comment.

Stewarts partnership with American Eagle comes months after the brand faced immense criticism for its advertisement with Sydney Sweeney. The campaign was specifically criticized for its play on language with the word genes, with critics comparing its tagline, Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans, to the racist language of eugenicists.

The phrases good genes and great genes have historically been used by eugenicists, who believe the human race can be improved genetically by selective breeding.

Along with criticizing the tag line at the time, many people hit back at the lack of diversity in the American Eagle advertisement.

The controversy even caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who supported the campaign and called it the hottest ad ever after online voting records emerged to reveal the Euphoria star is registered as a Republican.

However, Sweeney didnt break her silence about the backlash until a recent interview with GQ, published earlier this month.

I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans. Im literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life, she explained.

The Anyone But You star also said it was surreal that Trump and Vice President JD Vance showed their support for her amid the backlash. When pressed further for her thoughts about Trump praising her, Sweeney responded that she was not monitoring the situation closely.

I kind of just put my phone away. I was filming every day. Im filming Euphoria, so Im working 16-hour days and I dont really bring my phone on set, so I work and then I go home and I go to sleep. So I didnt really see a lot of it, she said.
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Tara Reid is currently recovering after claiming she was drugged at a hotel bar in Chicago, The Independent has learned.

The American Pie actor, 50, was seen being moved from a hotel lobby to an ambulance Sunday in footage obtained by TMZ. She was reportedly taken to a nearby hospital.

Tara Reid has filed a police report after an incident in which she believes her drink was tampered with, a representative for Reid told The Independent. She is cooperating fully with the investigation. Tara is recovering and asks for privacy during this traumatic time.

She also urges everyone to be careful, watch your drinks and never leave them unattended, as this can happen to anyone. She will not be making further comments at this stage, the statement concluded.

In the TMZ video, Reid is heard slurring her words as her head sways back and forth. As shes pushed through the hotel lobby in a wheelchair, her body appears to go limp.

Tara is recovering and asks for privacy during this traumatic time, Reids representative told The Independent ( Getty )

According to TMZ, Reid checked into her hotel on Saturday and ordered a drink at the bar around 10:30 p.m. before going outside for a cigarette. After returning to the bar 30 minutes later, her drink was covered with a napkin that she had not originally placed on it. The next thing she remembered after consuming the drink was being in the hospital.

Without finishing my drink, I just passed out, she told TMZ Live. Before I knew it, I was at the hospital, eight hours later. Its really scary You have to really be careful with your drink. [The hospital] said, You got drugged last night at the bar.

She claimed that the hospitals explanation was vague, and she was never told what drug was in her system.

Reid, who in 2008 went to Promises Treatment Center in Malibu for alcohol abuse, told the publication she only had one drink that night.

The actor has largely stayed out of the spotlight in recent years, but she did make a rare red-carpet appearance in March 2025 at the Los Angeles premiere of the Indonesian horror film Pabrik Gula.

She is also set to appear in the upcoming film The Dreamer Cinderella, which is scheduled for a U.S. theatrical release on 23 January next year.

In 2023, Reid opened up about public criticism of her appearance after viewers of season two of Special Forces: Worlds Toughest Test suggested she looked too skinny, a comment she has addressed directly.

In a 2023 interview with the Los Angeles Inquisitor, Reid rejected assertions that she had an eating disorder. If we were overweight, then they cant say anything because thats bullying. But its the same thing if youre skinny. Thats still bullying, too, she said.
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Gather around for some Thanksgiving meal safety tips.

Turkey may be the star of nearly every Thanksgiving meal across the country, but health experts say it can also be the most dangerous item on your holiday plate.

The concern centers not on the turkey when its properly cooked, but rather on the common mistakes made during its handling and preparation.

Food scientists spoke to the HuffPost about how undercooking, improper thawing, and unsafe storage are key risk factors that can lead to foodborne illness.

I think turkey deserves special attention when it comes to Thanksgiving food safety, Sara Bratager, a senior food safety and traceability scientist at the Institute of Food Technologists, told the news outlet.

open image in gallery Turkey is a Thanksgiving staple, but handling and preparation mistakes make it a top holiday food hazard, experts say ( Getty Images )

Its the centerpiece of most holiday tables, its often handled in large quantities by people who only cook it once or twice a year and there are several points in the process where things can easily go wrong.

Viruses and bacteria can spread year-round, but certain foods eaten at Thanksgivingespecially turkeymay increase the risk of salmonella, which can cause diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and in severe cases, hospitalization or death, Amarat Simonne, a professor of food safety and quality at the University of Floridas College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, told the HuffPost.

Undercooked turkey can harbor Campylobacter bacteria, leading to campylobacteriosis, a common form of food poisoning, added Keith Warriner, a professor of food safety at the University of Guelph, Canada.

In addition, lack of temperature control after cooking can lead to the growth of clostridium perfrigens, Warriner said. It produces a toxin that causes diarrhea and can cause dehydration in the elderly. And theres also the risk of staphylococcus aures, which can cause sickness.

Those who partake in the increasingly popularity trend of deepfrying turkeys are also putting themselves at risk.

The cooking method - which involves frying the bird in a container of hot oil - brings with it a whole range of hazards, from potential fires to burns, the Northeast Public Power Association says.

Key tips for preventing fires or burns include never placing a frozen turkey into hot oil, using proper equipment to handle the turkey, and ensuring the fryer is placed on a non-combustible surface.

open image in gallery Fire safety experts warn against deep-frying Thanksgiving turkey as it demands constant attention since hot oil can cause severe burns and house fires ( Getty Images )

In 2023, U.S. fire departments reported 1,446 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving, a 388 percent increase over the daily average, the association said.

Thanksgiving consistently sees the highest number of cooking fires due to multiple dishes, distractions, and guests. Between 2019 and 2023, cooking caused 80 percent of Thanksgiving home fires and 40 percent of injuries, the NFPA said.

Thanksgiving is a hectic holiday with multiple dishes cooking and baking at the same time, and along with guests, entertaining, and other distractions, it can be easy to lose sight of whats on the stove or in the oven, said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA.

With all these factors at play, its no surprise that we consistently see a dramatic spike in home cooking fires on Thanksgiving, she said.
Feeling shame is a normal human emotion. And its the right emotion. Julia Davies is talking about one potential response to being incredibly rich. It might seem surprising that she, of all people, should be talking about this; after all, Davies is very much in the category of the haves, rather than the have-nots, herself.

Now in her fifties, the angel investor previously worked as a lawyer before helping to set up the European arm of Osprey  the phenomenally successful premium backpack company  in 2003. She sold her stake in the business in 2018 for an undisclosed but game-changing sum.

Originally hailing from a working-class family in south Wales, Davies was not born into wealth. Her father, a real grafter, left school at 14 and became a builder, working his way up the trade until he had his own successful business. But money couldnt be relied upon  it was a childhood of feast or famine, with multiple recessions taking their toll and the family home being at risk whenever her dads buildings didnt sell.

I think my background did make me more aware of wealth, she muses. It meant that, when she finally came into serious money, she wasnt content to conform to the stereotypical picture of a self-serving multi-millionaire flashing the cash on superyachts and private jets. She felt called to put that money to good use.

Wealth shame  the experience of feeling a deep sense of discomfort and shame around having money, whether because someone grew up in poverty, feels like a class traitor, or inherited rather than earned their fortune  has become more of a talking point in recent years. The president of the Financial Therapy Association, Christine Hargrove, says she has seen an increase in rich clients who are struggling with this issue.

open image in gallery Wealth inequality should be tackled by taxing the rich, according to campaigners ( Getty )

Many of them feel like they have to hide money-related aspects of their past or present, otherwise theyll be on the front lines of the class war, she says. We have a lot of ways we talk about money that contradict each other  for example, we hold up passing down wealth to future generations as an important indicator of having made it financially, but talk about individuals who inherit wealth with disdain. Our society is full of financial double standards that wreak havoc on individuals inner financial identities, she adds.

Of course, even being able to go to a therapist to talk about wealth shame is, ironically, something thats increasingly only accessible to the wealthy as the cost of private treatment continues to climb. But financial therapy is growing during a time when many are loudly condemning wealth, especially when that wealth is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a privileged few.

As wealth inequality grows, the haves are facing up to some pretty brutal truths. The UKs wealth gap has widened by 50 per cent in the last eight years and the country ranks seventh for unequal income among OECD countries. The UKs 50 richest families hold more wealth than the poorest half of the population, totalling 34 million people; the UKs two richest billionaires are richer than the entirety of The Times rich list back in 1990. Its little wonder that a recent report from the Fairness Foundation concluded that increasing wealth inequality in the UK could be a major driver of societal collapse within the next decade.

A January report from Oxfam International titled Takers Not Makers, released right before the World Economic Forums annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland, found that billionaires grew wealthier three times faster in 2024 than in 2023, pointing to an increased concentration of resources globally.

The correct reaction to all of this as a wealthy person is to feel shame, argues Davies. No ones going to love me for saying that, but I think we accept extreme levels of bad behaviour from rich people, she says. Or perhaps we should call it guilt. As Hargrove points out, Guilt means youve done something wrong. Have you? If so, guilt can be a powerful motivator to take accountability and try to make amends. Shame means you are wrong, that you fundamentally are someone who is unacceptable, unwanted, unredeemable.

open image in gallery Billionaires like Elon Musk should give more of their money away, says musician Billie Eilish ( Getty )

Davies agrees that its not about being embarrassed about having wealth if youve worked hard for it, or your parents have worked hard for it. But she does think that the injustice of inequality should make those at the top of the food chain feel guilty if theyre hoarding wealth, rather than using it to make things better.

I take my wealth seriously, she says. I enjoy it, but it also gives you this ability to do things which most people dont have the ability to do. To have that and not do it  or to actually choose to use your wealth to make things worse, like extreme over-consumption lifestyles I think they should be ashamed. Just because youre rich, you dont have to be an a***hole.

I think we accept extreme levels of bad behaviour from rich people Julia Davies, investor

Its a sentiment shared by Grammy and Oscar winner Billie Eilish, who recently guilt-tripped the ultra-wealthy about putting their money to good use and addressing more of the worlds issues as she accepted an award at this years WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards.

Id say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things, maybe give it to some people that need it, Eilish said to an audience that included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan. And if you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? And no hate, but give your money away, shorties. Through her Changemaker programme, Eilish has worked with the nonprofit Reverb on its Music Decarbonization Project and Music Climate Revolution initiative, alongside artists ranging from Dead & Company to Harry Styles.

Similarly, Davies is doing her bit as a maker, not just a taker, having founded environmental fund We Have The POWER, which focuses on rewilding and nature restoration. Its also why she became involved with Patriotic Millionaires, a network of wealthy people in the UK who are campaigning to be taxed more. According to their reporting, 80 per cent of millionaires support a wealth tax of 2 per cent on anything over 10m. The aim is to leverage the voice of wealth to build a better Britain by changing the system to end extreme wealth and make those with it make their fair and proper contribution.

Today, just as it was in the Victoria era, philanthropy is the way that most ultra-wealthy people do their bit for society and assuage the guilt that can be triggered when one lives in luxury while others struggle. But donating money to charitable causes is never going to change society and the root causes of problems that we really need to deal with if we want a better country, argues Phil White, a former engineer who made his millions after selling the consulting firm hed co-founded.

Philanthropy isnt, for starters, democratic. Its not in any way fairly distributing the wealth, directed instead by the whims of whatever a particular individual feels passionately about, whether that be the arts or a specific species of bird. It also addresses the symptoms, rather than the underlying causes, of a broken and unequal society. Philanthropy alone dabbles at the edges; the scale isnt big enough, says White. Only governments can actually do that. Thats why I believe we need wealth taxation.

open image in gallery Philanthropy from the ultra-rich does not solve the root causes of wealth inequality, say the Patriotic Millionaires network ( AFP via Getty )

He joined the Patriotic Millionaires network after his own reckoning with wealth came amid the pandemic, when it became clear that a lot of people were having a tough time. We saw people in inner cities really struggling with day-to-day life while I was out in the countryside enjoying the birdsong, he recalls. We werent in overcrowded housing; my income came from wealth, so I wasnt working at the time. My life was really very comfortable during that period.

All that made the gap more stark: What we saw was this divide, with the wealthy getting wealthier and the poor getting poorer, effectively. Did that feeling of unfairness and injustice  and, perhaps, the guilt that it sparked  spur White into wanting to lobby for change? Absolutely it did, yes. That was a very direct causation.

Indeed, guilt, as much as it has negative connotations, can be a hugely positive force. As Dr Lawrence Howells, clinical psychologist and author of Understanding Your 7 Emotions, puts it: Guilt serves important functions in our lives and in our wider society, and is usually helpful. He calls it an energising emotion: it drives us to act. The most effective way to reduce guilt is to undo our behaviour, make amends, atone or apologise.

If you use that guilt to do something positive, it can be a win for everybody Phil White, Patriotic Millionaires

In the case of feeling guilt or shame about having wealth  particularly reaching the level of wealth where your money sits there making money, deriving you a passive, unearned income  that feeling can drive someone to atone by campaigning for a fairer society or channelling that money into causes and projects that will have a positive impact.

Feeling guilty about something, if you dont do anything about it, is a very negative emotion, agrees White. Whereas if you use that guilt to do something positive, then absolutely  it can be a win for everybody. 

Even from a less altruistic standpoint, using at least some wealth to try and improve the state of the world seems to have a much better feelgood effect than simply letting it stack up or splurging it on ever more indulgent extravagances.

Overconsumption is just like junk food  its not really very satisfying at all, says Davies. I think true happiness in life comes from doing good stuff with good people. You get way more pleasure from that than from looking for the next hit of buying something.
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Southern California residents are mourning a police dog named Spike, a K9 that was killed during a lengthy armed standoff on Saturday.

K9 Spike made the ultimate sacrifice, putting his life on the line for his family, the Burbank Police Department wrote on Instagram.

Your mission is complete, hero. Rest in heaven, enjoy endless treats and all the bites your brave heart desires.

Spike, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois who had been on the force for two years, was killed during a traffic stop that escalated into a standoff.

During the stop on Buena Vista Street that evening, near Interstate 5, police say a suspect jumped out of his car, ran up a freeway on-ramp, and hid from officers in a nearby residential area.

open image in gallery A suspect shot and killed a Burbank police dog named Spike on Saturday during a lengthy standoff ( Burbank Police Department )

Multiple police departments and a SWAT team joined the search, which spanned multiple hours.

During the standoff, police dispatched Spike to hunt for the suspect, and the individual shot the dog, who retreated to his handlers and was later pronounced dead at an emergency veterinarian.

Multiple efforts were made to communicate and negotiate with the suspect, encouraging him to surrender peacefully, Burbank police wrote in a statement. Officers established a containment and deployed less lethal systems in an attempt to induce him to surrender.

During these attempts, the suspect began shooting at police officers, striking police vehicles parked near the scene, the statement continues. Officers returned fire, hitting the suspect. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

open image in gallery Spike, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, had been on the force for two years when he was killed ( Burbank Police Department )

Police have not released the identity of the slain individual.

The Independent has contacted the Burbank Police Department for comment.

A memorial soon formed for Spike outside the department.

Its just sad because I grew up here, Susana, a Burbank resident, told NBC Los Angeles. I have a lot of respect for the Burbank Police Department. Sorry to get emotional, but they protect us. And even for a K-9, he was just doing his job.
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A 62-year-old man was beaten with a flashlight, strangled, bound and dragged behind a car before his body was dumped in the desert  a killing prosecutors described as brutal.

Three people, including two teenagers who lived with the victim in Colorado, are now facing murder charges.

Investigators said the brutal bludgeoning happened between late Friday night and early Saturday morning, after Weston Owen and Sarah Bess, both 18, along with their 21-year-old friend Kellar Weisgerber, allegedly conspired to kill Besss uncle inside his home. The victim has not yet been officially identified by the Mesa County Coroners Office

Fruita police officers and Mesa County sheriffs deputies responded to the house on Saturday, where Bess and Owen had been living with the victim, to what they described as a suspicious incident near the 21 Road desert area.

open image in gallery Investigators said the brutal bludgeoning was carried out after Weston Owen and Sarah Bess (pictured), both 18, along with their 21-year-old friend Kellar Weisgerber. The three allegedly conspired to kill Besss uncle inside his home. ( Fruita Police Department )

By the end of the day, Owen, Bess and Weisgerber had been taken into custody.

An arrest affidavit obtained by The Daily Sentinel revealed new details of the vicious attack.

On Friday night, the victim, Owen and Bess went to a local bar, with Owen acting as the designated driver. What happened during the drive home is disputed as Bess and Owen offered conflicting accounts, but Owen told investigators he believed the victim had made a move or gesture toward Bess.

After returning to the house, the victim went to sleep. Owen then called Weisgerber and asked him to come over to help teach (the victim) a lesson, the affidavit says.

Bess allegedly sent Snapchat messages to another person asking how to torture and murder someone.

open image in gallery Owen (pictured) allegedly called Weisgerber and asked him to come over to help teach (the victim) a lesson, the affidavit says ( Fruita Police Department )

When Weisgerber arrived, they allegedly put their plan into action. Weisgerber was to hold the victim down while Owen attacked him, and Bess was allegedly instructed to turn on the lights, according to authorities.

Owen struck the victim in the head with a flashlight and then strangled him with a cord, police said.

Early Saturday morning, after confirming the victim had died, Weisgerber bound his hands and feet, dragged the body to a vehicle and drove to a remote area. He left the remains hidden behind a bush, according to the affidavit.

Later that morning, Owen and Bess allegedly gathered items stained with the victims blood and drove them to the 21 Road desert area to burn them.

While they were setting the items on fire, Bess told investigators she slipped away under the pretense of taking photos. Instead she called her mother, Wendi Bess, and told her that she was afraid Owen would hurt her and asked her to call the police.

She also claimed Owen had previously held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the planned attack.

open image in gallery When Weisgerber (pictured) arrived, the teens allegedly put their plan into action and attacked the uncle. ( Fruita Police Department )

All three suspects were taken into custody and remain behind bars at the Mesa County Detention Center. Its unclear what led police to their arrests.

Owen, Bess and Weisgerber all appeared in court Monday, where they were charged with first-degree murder, felony evidence tampering, felony abuse of a corpse and felony conspiracy.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Tearsa Olson described the incident as a brutal attack and argued all three presented a flight risk due to the severity of the crime.

Judge Bruce Raaum set bond at $2 million cash-only for each defendant. All three are scheduled to return to court on Friday morning.
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A dispute over a code for delivery ended with a shooting left a DoorDash driver injured and a teenager facing charges.

Manuel Gonzalez, a 29-year-old husband and father of three, told Fox 4 News he was shot five times while delivering a food order through DoorDash in Mesquite, Texas, on October 27. Now, police say theyve identified Mesquite resident Ledavion Sockwell as a suspect in the shooting.

Sockwell was arrested without incident Monday afternoon, the Mesquite Police Department told The Independent. The 17-year-old was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to public records. His bond was set at $150,000.

Gonzalez was shot in his arm, legs and stomach, and his chin was clipped by a bullet, Fox 4 News reported. He was hospitalized for nearly a month, and returned home for the first time last week.

The shooting followed a dispute over a required pin code for the DoorDash delivery, Gonzalez recalled. When he first arrived at the delivery address, he spoke with two women who were waiting on the sidewalk.

Ledavion Sockwell was arrested Monday in connection with the shooting of a 29-year-old DoorDash driver. ( Mesquite Police Department )

"They gave me the wrong pin, wrong pin twice. And they tried to get the food from my hand, and I was refusing to give them the food because if I don't get the pin, they can delete my account," he told Fox 4 News.

On the third try, they gave him the correct pin  but moments later, a man emerged from the home and began shooting.

"As soon as they gave me the right one, they went inside screaming a lot of things," he said. "Ten seconds later, everything happened."

Gonzalez called 911 using the Siri feature on his phone, he told NBC 5. The alleged shooter fled the scene on foot, according to the Mesquite Police Department.

My husband was screaming at the top of his lungs for help, and they went back inside, his wife, Patricia Garcia, told NBC 5.

The 29-year-old is his familys sole breadwinner, but hes now unable to work and facing a year-long recovery, according to NBC 5. Garcia said that its hard for people to believe that somebody got shot multiple times over DoorDash, but its a sad reality.

Thats exactly what happened. Theres nothing more to the story, she added.

DoorDash is prepared to support law enforcement in their investigation, a company spokesperson told The Independent.

This was a senseless and horrifying incident, and were incredibly relieved that the Dasher is recovering, the spokesperson said.

Its unclear if Sockwell has obtained an attorney, according to NBC 5. The Independent was unable to identify Sockwells attorney.
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A caller to a DC-area morning radio show on Friday claimed he had discovered a corpse at a campsite in Frederick County, just west of Baltimore, prompting police to search the area and later recover human remains.

The caller, identifying himself only as Joseph, told the Elliot in the Morning show on DC101 that he had come across the body 18 days earlier.

Joseph told host Elliot Segal that he did not want to give his real name and went on to say he had sent in photos of himself exploring nature when he happened upon a dead body on a campsite.

That was amazing, he said. This may sound sick, but Ive always wanted to come across something like that and, luckily, it was months old, so that was nice.

open image in gallery Host Elliot Segal, shown here, repeatedly urged the caller to notify the police about his gruesome discovery ( Getty Images )

He admitted he had not yet notified authorities. Segal urged him repeatedly to call the police.

Im gonna have them pick me up, and Ill drive them out to the site, the caller said, adding that he had a dream that he had called the police on the same day. He said he had sent photos and details to Segals co-host Diane Stupar-Hughes.

Joseph said on air that he intended to alert the authorities later on Friday, and shortly after midday, police in Frederick, a city of around 80,000, said they had located a body.

open image in gallery The caller said the body was located near here at the roundabout at Monocacy Boulevard and East Street, close to Interstate 70 in the community of Frederick ( Google Street View )

We are aware of information shared earlier today on a local radio station regarding a deceased individual found in a wooded area off East Street and Carroll Creek Crossing, the Frederick Police Department said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Detectives found the body and opened an investigation, the department said, adding: Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division responded, located the individual, and are now conducting an active investigation. At this time, there is no threat to the public.

On Monday, police spokeswoman Samantha Long said the remains were located in a wooded area near a roundabout at Monocacy Boulevard and East Street, close to Interstate 70.

She said the investigation was ongoing and the remains had not been identified. The cause and circumstances of death have yet to be determined.

Elliot in the Morning is a long-running drive-time show known for its listener call-ins and celebrity interviews.

Often controversial in nature, the show, which runs weekdays for around four-and-a-half hours, is known for its stunts and has racked up hundreds of dollars in FCC fines since launching in 1999.
By Supantha Mukherjee

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Estonian ride-hailing company Bolt said on Tuesday it has partnered with Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai as it seeks to add driverless cars to its taxi services in Europe.

The companies will first test and validate safety for the fully autonomous, driverless capability before deploying them in various European countries.

"Bolt's ambition is to be one of the first platforms to provide fully driverless autonomous vehicles in the EU," CEO Markus Villig told Reuters.

"We aim to do this within a year from the first deployments which are planned for 2026," he said.

Autonomous driving is dominated by U.S. companies such as Alphabet subsidiary Waymo and Tesla and Chinese competitors including Baidu, WeRide and Pony.ai.

Blocked from the U.S. market, Chinese self-driving technology firms are accelerating their push into Europe, setting up headquarters, striking data deals, and road-testing - prompting alarm from local rivals over competition concerns.

Last month, Pony.ai signed an agreement with Stellantis to jointly develop and test self-driving vehicles in Europe.

Europe's self-driving technology firms are testing their own systems but most European countries do not allow public deployment of anything beyond basic Level 2 systems that require drivers to maintain control at all times.

"Half of Europe's markets are practically closed to ride-hailing because many countries haven't issued new operating licenses for professional drivers in decades, despite shortages and huge demand," Villig said.

"Europe cannot afford to make the same mistake with autonomous vehicles."

(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm, editing by Terje Solsvik)
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A caregiver has been charged with neglect after taking a woman she was caring for to a park and abandoning her there overnight, police say.

Teresa Baldwin, 58, from Largo in Florida, allegedly left a 69-year-old woman, for whom she is the legal carer, at Largo Central Park, just south of Clearwater Beach, on Monday at 3 pm.

As well as the charge of neglecting an elderly person, Baldwin was also charged with possession of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia in the form of a metal pipe.

open image in gallery Teresa Baldwin, 58, from Largo in Florida, allegedly left the woman at Largo Central Park on Monday night ( Pinellas County Jail )

Police said the woman was discovered the following morning, lying on the ground in a soiled diaper and without access to her medication. Her cell phone and walker were also taken from her, leaving her unable to call for help or walk to safety.

She was found by park staff, according to a Pinellas County Sheriffs Office arrest affidavit, with Baldwin having previously been accused of neglecting the woman, and is also under investigation for possible exploitation.

Cops arrested the 58-year-old on Friday. During the arrest, officers found the crack cocaine and metal pipe in her possession, WFLA reported.

open image in gallery The woman was left in Largo Central Park on Monday ( Getty/iStock )

Criminal defence attorney Anthony Rickman, who is not involved with the case, told Fox 13 that Florida treats abuse and neglect of elderly, vulnerable people the same way it treats crimes against children.

The state of Florida does treat these cases very seriously. Prosecution of these cases does often result in large sentences if individuals are convicted, Rickman said.

The Independent has contacted Largo police department and Pinellas County Sheriff's Office for comment and further details of the case.
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Long Island prosecutors have charged 14 people with running a massive "porch pirate" ring that "systematically" snatched high-value packages from citizens' doorsteps using "insider knowledge" from within FedEx.

In an indictment announced on Monday, authorities in Suffolk County, New York, accused 29-year-old Bronx man Andrickson Jerez of masterminding the "sophisticated" criminal outfit that swiped thousands of smartphones and tablets from local homes and businesses.

Jerez is accused of feeding insider FedEx tracking information  including recipient names, addresses, and the contents of their parcels  to a network of "runners", who would grab the loot and bring it to a staging hub at an address on University Avenue in the Bronx.

Then, prosecutors allege, Jerez and his "lieutenants" would confirm the devices' ID numbers before taking them to a "stash house" on Quimby Avenue, from which Jerez and his father Juan Baez, 48, would sell them to a Manhattan electronic store owner named Fawaz Hameed, 35.

In some cases, runners are accused of seizing packages from drivers or residents by force, including "violently push[ing] a FedEx driver" to steal a consignment of 15 Samsung tablets. One runner is even alleged to have used fake ID at a FedEx depot to claim a package containing an iPad Pro.

Video released by authorities shows one of the alleged theft ring stealing a package from a Long Island doorstep ( Suffolk County DA's Office via Fox 5 New York )

For two years, this alleged porch pirate ring plagued our community and built a criminal enterprise on the backs of Suffolk families and businesses," said Suffolk County district attorney Raymond A. Tierney.

"These indictments demonstrate that we will track down and hold accountable those who commit crimes against Suffolk County residents, regardless of how extensive their operation."

Tierney added to reporters that his office believed the alleged thieves had "hacked" one of the delivery systems to gain their inside information. All the packages were sent by Verizon or AT&T through FedEx.

Jerez has been charged with multiple felonies including grand larceny and enterprise corruption, and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Baez, meanwhile, is charged with felony conspiracy and could be jailed for up to four years.

The Independent has asked Jerez's, Baez's, and Hameed's lawyers for comment.
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Police arrested the parents of a 2-year-old Oklahoma City girl after she was mauled to death by their allegedly starving pet pit bull which had been locked in the room with her.

Oklahoma City police responded to their home around 11:30 pm on Nov. 18 after Darci Lambert, 24, called 911 to report that her daughter, Locklynn McGuire, had stopped breathing.

When police arrived, they found the girl dead in her bedroom with wounds on her body that were consistent with dog bites.

Oklahoma City Animal Welfare was called to the scene and removed four dogs from the home. Three of the four were malnourished, according to Fox 25. One of the dogs  whose ribs and hip bones were visible under its skin  was a black pit bull that cops said carried out the attack on the toddler.

According to an affidavit obtained by Fox25, Jordan McGuire, 34, who is the girl's father, put her to sleep around 7:30 pm and then took medicine to help him sleep. Lambert was at work until 10:30 pm.

Darci Lambert, 24, and Jordan McGuire, 34, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder after their daughter, Locklynn McGuire, was killed on Nov. 18 by one of the family's dogs that was locked in her room. ( Oklahoma County Detention Center )

McGuire told police he woke up around 8:30 pm and checked on the girl, and said she was sleeping on her bed next to the black pit bull. He told police that the dog was kept in the room because it would fight with the family's other three dogs.

According to the affidavit, the door had toddler locks on it that would prevent Locklynn from leaving.

Lambert said she did not check on the girl immediately after she returned home from work, and only found her body later after hearing heavy breathing coming from the room, according to the Oklahoma City Free Press.

She allegedly told first responders: "My daughter got ate by the pit," the Free Press reported

According to the affidavit, the girl's body showed evidence of extreme trauma that was consistent with a violent and prolonged dog attack, according to the outlet.

She and McGuire were arrested and charged with second-degree murder on Nov. 21. As of Monday, the couple were being held in the Oklahoma County Detention Center, both on $1 million bonds.

The affidavit includes a note stating that the girl was attacked by the same dog on November 6 and had to be treated at the Oklahoma University Children's Hospital. After that attack, Oklahoma Human Services was called in and conducted an investigation but did not remove the child from the home.

Lambert reportedly told investigators that she believed the pit bull was the dog that attacked the girl, and said Locklyn required plastic surgery after the attack.

Oklahoma City Police and Oklahoma City Animal Welfare were reportedly not notified of the November 6 incident. The affidavit says that McGuire and Lambert continued to lock the dog in the room with Locklynn despite the November 6 incident.

Oklahoma State Representative JJ Humphrey told Fox25 that he "can't understand" why the girl or the dogs weren't removed by OKDHS.

"You got to remove the harm, either remove the kid or remove the harm. Pretty simple to do. Can't understand why that wouldn't be done," he told the outlet. "But absolutely if [OKDHS] did their job, you would not have a death here. You'd have a live baby."

The Independent has requested comment from OKDHS.

The agency issued a statement to Fox25, saying that "the loss of any childs life is heartbreaking, and our Oklahoma Human Services team grieves with the community."

"The agency is committed to working in collaboration with all involved agencies as they investigate this tragic situation and gather the facts," the OKDHS said.
The British Business Bank (BBB) has set out a five-year plan in response to updated directions from the UK Government to alter how smaller businesses across the nation access finance.

Following an increase in its permanent financial capacity to 25.6bn ($33.5bn) earlier this year, BBB will use its investment and banking businesses, along with its business development function, to implement several objectives over the next five years.

Among its principal actions, BBB proposes to expand its annual funding activity by two-thirds, which is expected to bring in around 26bn from private capital, as well as 13bn of its own resources.

In addition, as much as 10bn in lending to smaller businesses will be enabled through guarantee schemes.

BBB plans to provide initial capital for transactions that support new technologies where the UK aims for a leading position globally.

The increased risk tolerance at portfolio level will focus on areas identified in the industrial strategy.

It intends that more than 60% of its venture and venture-growth investment be directed towards scale-up businesses and plans to make larger individual investments above 100m in selected growth-stage funds.

The intention is for more scale-ups seen as significant to secure domestic funding required for expansion within the UK market.

BBB will deliver 85,000 start-up loans and allocate 150m to community development finance institutions to reach business owners.

Plans include increasing regional investment, supporting new angel networks in regional markets, developing science and innovation clusters, and launching two new regional investment funds in East and South-East England.

BBB CEO Louis Taylor said: By 2030, our ambition is clear: a more dynamic and inclusive finance ecosystem, where innovative and ambitious companies  wherever they are based and whoever leads them  can access the capital they need not only to get started, but to scale, stay, and succeed here in the UK.

Our planned activity over the next five years is expected to fund around 180,000 businesses, support the creation of around 370,000 new jobs, crowd in 26bn of additional private capital and help deliver 68bn of benefit to the economy.

"British Business Bank unveils new plan to boost UK small business finance" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand.




The News in Brief Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Four construction workers were killed and another was hospitalized after a suspected ground failure at a retaining wall site near the village of Tskere on the Kvesheti Kobi section of the North South Corridor. The Roads Department confirmed the incident on November 23 and said the victims were citizens of Turkmenistan and China.The agency stated that an investigation is underway and called on the contractor to strengthen adherence to safety rules and ensure full compliance with construction regulations.A doctor at Tbilisi Central Hospital said the surviving worker remains in intensive care. According to the medical team, there are no indications of head, chest or abdominal trauma.Work on the Kvesheti Kobi highway began in 2019 with an initial completion target of 2023. The project is financed by the Asian Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and is overseen by UBM International. A nine kilometer tunnel built by the China Railway Tunnel Group was finished in 2024, while other sections are being constructed by the China Railway 23rd Bureau Group.Critics of the Georgian Dream government, including the CSO Civic Idea, have repeatedly raised concerns about the involvement of Chinese state linked firms in major infrastructure projects. Their warnings cite corruption cases, workplace safety issues and environmental and security risks associated with these companies abroad.GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze visited the site in September and said the highway should be ready in roughly a year and a half. He stated that the completed route will improve year round access to the Kazbegi region.Irakli Kobakhidze led a delegation of Georgian Dream officials to Vatican City on November 24, where they held an official audience with Pope Leo XIV. The trip marked Kobakhidze's first visit to the Holy See since taking office.The delegation included Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, Culture Minister Tinatin Rukhadze, Government Administration Head Levan Zhorzholiani and Georgia's Ambassador to the Holy See, David Mekvabishvili.According to a government statement, Kobakhidze said the discussion with Pope Leo XIV was constructive and highlighted the importance of the Vatican's continued support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He added that they also reviewed current developments in Georgia and broader global issues, including questions related to Christian values.Kobakhidze invited the Pope to visit Georgia, noting that the country will celebrate the 1700th anniversary of its Christianization in 2026 and that such a trip would carry special significance. He also held a meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State.The government said the talks underscored the positive relationship between Georgia and the Holy See and expressed confidence that cooperation would deepen further.Transparency International Georgia says 124 individuals contributed a total of 4.1 million GEL to the Georgian Dream party in September.The organization noted that construction firms were especially prominent among the businesses linked to donors that month. According to its findings, these companies have secured state procurement contracts worth 2.49 billion GEL over the past decade and 581 million GEL in 2024 and 2025."Construction companies, which win the largest tenders for state procurement, are particularly prevalent. They have won tenders worth 2.49 billion GEL in the last 10 years and 581 million in 2024 to 2025. Twelve donors affiliated with these companies donated 570,000 GEL to Georgian Dream," the watchdog stated.TI Georgia encouraged the public to review detailed information on the donations, the business interests of donors and their involvement in state tenders on its website, saying, "For more information about donations, as well as information about the donors' business interests and their participation in state procurements, please visit our website politicaldonations.ge."
Chinas imports of liquefied natural gas are set to decline for the 13th month in a row in November amid higher domestic production and pipeline imports, Bloomberg has reported, citing Kpler data.

The countrys November total in imports is seen at 5.81 million tons, which would be a 5.5% decline from a year ago, Kpler said. The decline would be significantly smaller than the ones registered for the previous two months, both of which were at over 10% on the year.

Last year, China saw a surge in LNG and pipeline gas imports as it sought to fill its storage caverns. Over just the first half of the year, total natural gas imports saw an annual increase of 14.3%, reaching 64.65 million tons. After the rush to fill storage, imports of natural gas weakened as facilities were full at capacity.

This year, LNG demand has softened considerably as Chinese natural gas production continued to expand in line with plans to boost reliance on domestic energy commodity supply. Earlier in the year, domestic gas production hit an all-time high, bringing LNG imports to the lowest in six years, down by 19% on the year over the first seven months of 2025. Since then, the decline has continued.

President Donald Trumps tariff offensive against Beijing also affected demand, as the latter retaliated with an import tariff on U.S. energy, which led to a slump in shipments to zero for LNG and crude oil.

Meanwhile, China has been importing more natural gas from Russia via the Power of Siberia pipeline. The two countries finalized talks in September on an expansion of the pipeline that would see its capacity rise to over 100 billion cu m annuallyalmost equal to the capacity of the twin Nord Stream pipelines that were built to export gas to Germany.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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FILE - In this May 18, 2017 file photo, the Healthcare.gov website is seen on a laptop computer, in Washington. Former Obama administration officials say they're launching a private campaign to encourage people to sign up for coverage next year under the Affordable Care Act. With the start of open enrollment just weeks away on Nov. 1, the Trump administration has slashed "Obamacare's" ad budget, as well as grants to outside organizations that are supposed to help consumers sign up. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) ORG XMIT: CAET618
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Eating outEat and drink Perth The return of a meal and a deal? New tenant revealed for Cocos site in South Perth Cameron Myles November 25, 2025 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Long lunches with a view are returning to the South Perth foreshore, with the Meat & Wine Co revealed as the tenants for the old Cocos site. The restaurant, on the corner of Mends Street and the South Perth Esplanade, served Western Australias business and social scene for more than three decades, and became known as much for its clientele as its menu over the years. An artists rendering of the new Meat & Wine Co, which will take over the Cocos site in South Perth. COOOP.CO Rene Rivkin and Alan Bond were among the more colourful characters to dine at the riverside venue, while the citys mining executives regularly took up tables for lengthy meals where big deals were thrashed out  complete with plenty of wine. Now, a new era of power-lunching has dawned, as Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group  which also counts Hunter & Barrel, Ribs & Burgers 6HEAD among its stable  looks to make an impression in South Perth when the restaurant opens in December.

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Related Article Good Food hat 15 / 20 Review When a Perth butcher opens a restaurant next door, diners expect (and get) world-class steak WA state manager Laurie Thorpe said the company had its brands spread throughout Perth, and Cocos stood out as an opportunity to venture out from the CBD. I mean, its an iconic site there on the river, and we only really want our brands to go into iconic or landmark locations, he said. With news looming that Cocos would not be renewing its lease  which eventually happened at the start of the year  Thorpe got his foot in the door to set the wheels in motion for Meat & Wine Co to take its place. Thorpe hoped the tradition of long lunches would continue at Meat & Wine Co in South Perth.

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The Meat & Wine Co at the Palace Hotel [in Perths CBD] is a long lunch venue as well, it caters to the financial crowd and what have you in the city, so we understand that thats our market to a certain degree, and we want to continue it as best we can, he said. The restaurant is due to open in December. COOOP.CO Obviously, were not in the heyday of the 1980s, early 90s, but we think theres an opportunity to get guests over there. So we want to continue in that vein; we understand the legacy of Cocos and what that represents to the local people in South Perth. We understand the history of Cocos. We understand what it meant to people.

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The 200-seat restaurant will boast a menu in line with the Meat & Wine Cos theme of African-influenced dining, with a Safari Menu also to debut in South Perth. That menu will feature dishes South African-born head of culinary Sean Hall described as food from the home, including lamb curry with potato and spices served in a hollowed-out loaf. The food will be accompanied by a wine list boasting premium and limited drops from WA winemakers, including the iconic Vasse Felix, which will have its Tom Cullity Cabernet Malbec on the menu for a cool $520 a bottle. Meat & Wine Co South Perth is slated to open on December 12.

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The latest round of CSIRO job cuts will be probed by a Senate inquiry that will examine how the national science agency ended up in such a dire state.

Non-Labor senators, led by independent MP David Pocock and the Greens, secured an inquiry in a vote in the Senate this afternoon, where the government does not hold the balance of power.

Greens spokesman for science Peter Whish-Wilson Credit: Eamon Gallagher

Greens spokesman for science Peter Whish-Wilson said scientists deserved answers over the cuts.

It is critical the Senate examines how the CSIRO ended up in this position, who knew about the dire state of the agency and for how long, and why senior executives took bonuses while funding cliffs were obviously approaching, Whish-Wilson said in a statement.

He said the cuts were short-sighted and science was one of the best defences against Australias future challenges, including climate change and food security.

It is reprehensible that the Albanese government has failed to address concerns that the job cuts disproportionately impact public good science  with the Environment Research Unit set to bear the brunt of proposed cuts.
A total fire ban has been declared for Sydney, the Hunter and Illawarra with temperatures expected to reach the mid-30s on Wednesday, as residents in western NSW face the first catastrophic fire warning issued in the state for over two years.

An extreme danger warning has also been issued for Greater Sydney and nine other regions, with the fire bans covering much of the eastern and central regions of NSW.

Total fire bans have been declared in 11 areas across the state on Wednesday, including in the Central West where a catastrophic warning has been issued. Credit: NSW Rural Fire Service

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said Wednesday would be Sydneys peak day for fire danger, where wind gusts and dry heat are expected to create dangerous conditions.

Driving that is particularly strong and gusty winds, and a really dry air mass, Scully said.
The court heard the teen was alleged to have set upon the deceased, unprovoked, and has stabbed him in the groin area. Magistrate James Viney said police alleged the 15-year-old had been identified by witnesses at the crime scene. Police believe the young person played a leading role, being the only person that used a knife to stab the deceased, Viney said. Viney said police further allege the boy had admitted to stabbing the 17-year-old when he handed himself into police on Monday night. The court heard the 15-year-old was allegedly wearing a black balaclava and hood during the attack, and the victim had no criminal record and lived at home.

Ive stabbed another boy in the leg, Viney said police were allegedly told. When asked who had been stabbed, the 15-year-old allegedly identified the victim, Viney said. The confession was allegedly captured on a police body-worn camera. Detectives and officers at the site of the stabbing in Rouse Hill. Credit: Edwina Pickles The court heard police had applied to obtain a sample of the boys DNA, via a self-administered swab, and to take photographs of parts of the boys body. Police believe forensic tests would also show the 17-year-olds DNA on the accused killers hands and under his fingernails.

The 15-year-old was remanded in custody to face court on January 23. Locals laid flowers at the Bruce Purser Reserve on Tuesday morning, while detectives interviewed young people at the scene. Children at the nearby schools were escorted through the gates by staff. Several locals raised concerns about the increase in youth violence in the area. One resident, Tania, who asked that only her first name be used, said thered been an increase in crime as the area became more populous with the opening of the Metro. Its a tragic event [but] Im not surprised. I walk through here on a weekly basis and see evidence of drugs and paraphernalia and that sort of thing, she said.

Its an area where its secluded, close to the schools, a hangout for a lot of kids  I see them smoking, socialising. Ive heard some heated arguments here. Strike Force Crawton has been launched to investigate the boys death. Hills Police Area commander Superintendent Naomi Moore described the teenagers death as senseless. She said the victim and his friend were approached in the reserve on Caballo Street by a group of two to three young people before a knife was produced. I have 17-year-olds at home. This has impacted the core of the community. I have no other words, but its a tragedy, and its senseless, she told media on Monday night.

Moore said several female witnesses rendered aid to the 17-year-old during the horrifically confronting situation. NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was deeply saddened by the teens death, and extended his sincere condolences to his family and friends. It is an unimaginable loss, and the whole community will feel the impact, Minns said. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said she was deeply saddened to learn of the boys tragic death. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with the young boys family during this extremely difficult time, Rowland said in a statement.

There is no place in our community for these acts of senseless violence, and I know this news will be particularly distressing for local families. The teenagers death comes after attempts to crack down on knife crime in NSW. The NSW government in June 2024 passed Jacks Law  named for 17-year-old Queenslander Jack Beasley, who was stabbed to death in December 2019. It allows police to stop and scan people with handheld metal-detecting wands in designated areas where violent offences involving weapons have occurred in the previous 12 months.

Police began using those powers in December and scanned 13,422 people up to the end of June, finding 193 weapons and laying 222 charges, according to the forces annual report. More than 2000 of those scans took place at Mount Druitt in Sydneys west. Daily scans were conducted following the death of 19-year-old Zac McRae at a bus station in the suburb on August 27. Data from the states Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows how the number of youths charged with murder or assault involving a knife has fluctuated. Murders involving a knife where a person of interest was under 18 peaked in 2023-24, with 12, surpassing the 11 recorded in 2005-06. It dropped to three in 2024-25.
It is Groundhog Day for Muslims in Australia. More than eight years since her first attempt, Pauline Hanson, fresh from rubbing shoulders with far-right extremists in the United States, has dug deep into her closet, dusted off her burqa and decided to unleash on Muslims again.

Pauline Hanson wears a burqa in the Senate on Monday. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

The fact that this is One Nations number one priority as we reach the end of another parliamentary year is further evidence of its hollow agenda. One Nation has nothing to offer Australians struggling with the cost of living and housing. It never has. All it has are pathetic but damaging publicity stunts. It has always flipped through the book of racist and Islamophobic policy and chosen the page that best meets its divisive agenda at the time. This time it landed on the burqa again.

But this is not really about a burqa. Its not really about what a woman can or cannot wear, which should never be up for any debate. It is about One Nation trying to spark a culture war that distracts people from the real issues they face. It is about using an item of clothing to bring to the surface the underlying racism that others certain people, who One Nation and its backers want to scapegoat for issues not of their making.

And once again, it is migrants and Muslims who pay the price. The statistics about Muslims being attacked, abused and bullied over the years are well known. I am quite frankly sick of recounting them in a world where nothing really changes. Groups including the Islamophobia Register have raised the alarm for years. Countless individuals have been speaking out. Even the Christchurch mosque massacre, when an Australian far-right terrorist murdered 51 Muslims, was not a turning point for this country. The major parties still ignore this reality for Muslims, treating us like second-class citizens. Labor pays lip service to multiculturalism while dog whistling from the sidelines, and the Liberals pander to the far right by proposing values screening of migrants.
A young ground crew member gave a helicopter pilot the thumbs up for take off less than a minute before a fatal mid-air collision, a coroner has heard.

Four people died in one of Australias worst air crashes when two helicopters collided outside the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast.

The Sea World helicopters after one crashed to the ground and the other landed. Credit: AAP

Queensland Coroner Carol Lee on Tuesday heard day two of evidence for an inquest into the January 2, 2023 disaster that also injured nine people.

Grace Hickey testified she was previously employed by the company outside of Sea World that operated the tourist joy flights.
Brisbane bus drivers have doubled down on demands for a complete rollout of full protective screens on council vehicles after a vicious assault left a driver with severe injuries.

On the night of November 7, the father-of-three suffered a fractured neck, fractured jaw, broken nose, and lost several teeth when he was attacked on the 340 service in Kelvin Grove. He is likely to never work again.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union led a protest on City Hall on Tuesday, revealing the attack was one of more than 60 driver assaults every month in Brisbane, with that number spiking beyond 200 in September.

RTBU protest outside Brisbane City Hall on Tuesday afternoon. Credit: William Davis

More than two dozen bus drivers, union members and Labor Party councillors gathered in King George Square on Tuesday ahead of the afternoon council meeting.
Self interests rule

Your correspondents listing of strategies our politicians adhere to in order to extend their political lives at the next election (Apply these easy tricks to stay in government!, 25/11) is insightful, accurate and should not dismissed as mere cynicism.

What then are the prime motives behind the blinkered political eyes that are focused mostly on the next election? Clearly, a sense of satisfaction of coming out on top in the dynamics of the power plays associated with politics: maximisation of their generous financial perks that are enhanced by lengthy terms in office; the securement of their future financial prospects beyond their political careers, by appeasing and siding with corporate heavyweights in order to secure lucrative post-politics employment.

It should not then be surprising that the self interests of politicians often, but not always, reign supreme over and trump the interests of the wider Australian society.

Edward Combes, Wheelers Hill Fossil fuel tax time

Whilst the Labor government and others in parliament lament the lack of passing of the new environmental legislation, and whilst the mainstream media report on the circus, the existing natural environment and climatic conditions simply continue to degenerate.

Figures such as David Attenborough, David Suzuki, James Hansen and thousands of climate scientists have warned for decades of the calamities the world is facing, yet politicians and most of the wealthy remain quite indifferent to this. Of the future for their descendants, they have no interest.

Alone in parliament, it is the Greens who are attempting to raise the red flag and to do something constructive, even whilst they are always criticised for being perfectionists, not realists. Can we please ask the Labor governments to search their consciences and pass a much stronger environmental law, one, dare I say it, including a fossil-fuel tax.

Greg Bailey, St Andrews Trumps erratic ways

The moral clarity that Donald Trump exercised on the war in Gaza appears to have eluded him regarding Ukraine. His attitude towards that country has been highly erratic, blaming it for starting the war then promising tomahawk missiles for deep penetration attacks on Russia. His latest oscillation is a peace plan secretly negotiated with Russia.

Ukraine fares badly under the deal. It must cede substantial territory to Russia, cap its armed forces numbers and is banned from joining NATO. However, frozen Russian funds will be used to rebuild the country.

In addition to keeping Ukrainian territory, no action will be taken against Russia for war crimes. Economic sanctions will be lifted, and Russia will be invited to join the G8 economic forum.

Trumps proposals appear to be hardly the solution for peace in our times. Or perhaps. its merely an ambit claim, part of Trumps deal making process designed to get all parties focused on the issues.

Martin Newington, Aspendale Mar-a-Lago ideas

Donald Trump has ordered that the rate of immigrant crime in Australia be investigated and reported back. What right has this man got to interfere in Australian matters? Pauline Hanson has recently been at Mar-a-Lago. Is this the source of this idea?

Yvonne Trevaskis, Hobart Earths migration

Many have been alert to the agenda of right wing governments on the subject of immigration and race. It is alarming to read (25/11) that the Trump administration believes migration is an existential threat to Western civilisation.

sAlarming that it aims to collect data on crimes committed by Australian migrants, illogically claiming this as part of its global drive to combat mass migration. This divisive position has recently been disgracefully echoed by our own Andrew Hastie who claims Australians feel like strangers in our own home.

The Zurich Insurance Group last year reported that extreme weather, rising temperatures and damaged ecosystems are threatening the lives of millions of climate refugees. A collective effort is needed to solve the issue of climate migration.

Irrationally or deliberately, those on the right fail to connect cause and consequence. The worlds wealthiest 10 per cent are responsible for two thirds of observed global warming since 1990. If Trump is any guide, they are not about to change.

Fiona Colin, Malvern East

Suggestions for Wilson

Jess Wilson, the new leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, brings a welcome breath of fresh air. If she wins government, I genuinely hope she can deliver real improvements. Victoria certainly needs sharper governance and better discipline in spending. However, there are many things to consider when looking for savings.

Fairly taxing big business is one option, even though company tax is federal  stronger national revenue still supports the programs and systems the states rely on. At the state level, shifting part of stamp duty to a small annual property levy, especially on long-vacant homes and unused building sites, would create a steadier and fairer income stream. And there are several other structural options that deserve far more attention than the usual cost-cutting debates.

If Wilson becomes premier, I hope she focuses on these larger, long-term opportunities  and that waste doesnt become a polite excuse for squeezing services already stretched to the limit, that kind of penny-pinching often costs more in the long run, sometimes even lives. I wish Wilson the very best of luck; fresh thinking is exactly what Victoria needs.

David Milner, Port Melbourne Time will tell

Congratulations to Jess Wilson, enjoy the honeymoon period afforded by a fawning media. However, in nine months, the hectoring about the Labor government will need to mutate to positive policies with accurate costings.

George Reed, Wheelers Hill Fresh air rights

Re Call to arms for dangerous criminals (25/11). Who doesnt need time in the open air, for their mental and physical health? Prison standards throughout the world specify a right to a minimum of an hour per day in the open air. Victorias prisons legislation, too, spells out the right to be in the open air for at least an hour each day. But what does this mean? If people in prison have no more than a small exercise yard with thick wire mesh for a roof, is this being in the open air? A court in the ACT recently said no  this was not access to open air.

Victorias Human Rights Charter requires humane treatment of people in prison. No matter why a person is in prison  which was the focus of The Ages report  everyone has a right to humane living conditions, including to genuine access to open air. Victorian prisons need to ensure they are complying with these basic rights.

Bronwyn Naylor, Elwood Lay off Docklands

As a nearly 20-year resident of Docklands, Im rather tired of reading denigrating remarks about Docklands, such as Dani Valents article Why our critic was blown away by this newly hatted Melbourne hotel restaurant(22/11), where she commented Docklands: meh and it pushes forward the notion of a destination restaurant in Docklands, a harder sell in Melbourne than a night-time grand final.

There are plenty of good quality restaurants and cafes in Docklands: From Espressionist that stayed open every single day of COVID, to a reasonably new Vietnamese place highlighting north Vietnamese food, a classic Thai restaurant Thai Thani, an Italian eatery Sassone, and numerous other cafes and coffee places.

Ask any long term resident of Docklands, of whom there are thousands. We love living here for many reasons: the closeness to the city for shopping and medical facilities; excellent and frequent public transport; an outstanding library, plenty of great places to eat, great views and a short walk to South Melbourne market, to mention just a few.

Its the media that underrates the location, value and sense of community that residents enjoy about living in Docklands. Dont criticise what you havent tried.

Angela Forgan, Docklands Heads Senecadipity

Like Stephen Bradburys gold medal in the Winter Olympics 2002, there has been much commentary about luck and serendipity regarding Travis Heads test innings (Amid euphoria of victory, luck a crucial player, 25/11).

The great stoic philosopher Seneca wrote luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

A pure, happy accident may occur but it is Senecadipity when diligent preparation meets luck (the right place at the right time).

Both Bradbury and Head spent many years preparing for their opportunity. It was Senecadipitous that Head put his hand up to open at a crucial time in the test match. He knew he had prepared for this moment.

Kevin Brown, Moonlight Flat

Dead to me

No longer do we say someone has died. No, they have passed away, or more ridiculously, they have passed. To where? Police dont find a person is dead they have deceased.

Is it that it seems kinder to say he has passed rather than he has died?

What has passed away, however are the words which end in ty.

Daily, we put up with ABC presenters and politicians who all should know better, saying communady or disabilady, and on it goes.

Is it bone laziness or lack of education, or is it that pedants like me should just get over it and put up with our language being trashed?

Murray Stapleton, Darraweit Guim AND ANOTHER THING Pauline Hanson

Footballers lose their match payments when theyre suspended, so Pauline Hanson should not be paid her sitting allowance whilst suspended from parliament.

David Cayzer, Clifton Hill The burqa stunt was to get more publicity. This person spewing hate and putting women at risk should be given no airplay anywhere for at least six months.

Joan Logan, South Melbourne Hanson got what she wanted: Publicity.

Alan Williams, Port Melbourne

Furthermore

The only existential threat to Western civilisation is Trump himself. Albo, its time. Tell Trump to bugger off.

Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills Maybe Trump has given up on his quest for the Nobel Peace Prize and, instead, has his eyes on Russias highest honour, the Order of St Andrew. Hed join a worthy cohort of recipients which includes Xi Jinping, Mikhail Kalashnikov, Narendra Modi, Aleksander Lukashenko and Sergey Lavrov.

Angus McLeod, Cremorne Because of the $589 million Victorians had to pay to cancel the Commonwealth Games, I suggest that any Victorians who want to go to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have their airfares paid for.

Ron Mather, Melbourne Does BOM know which way the wind is blowing ?

Mitch McKenzie, Melbourne $96.5 million? You would think for this price, the BOM site would have seen a huge improvement. Obviously, the cost must not have included any public panel tests for ease of use.

John Marks, Werribee
Call it a case of West Wing Syndrome, or the Trump bump, but interest in US politics has never been higher.

That feverish excitement has made Australia a regular stop for US figures on the post-politics speaking circuit. In recent years, weve had former president Barack Obama, ex-veep and presidential crash-out Kamala Harris (twice), plus Hillary Clinton.

And next up is Michelle Obama, who CBD can reveal will be in Australia in May, for events in Melbournes Jeffs Shed, aka the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and in Sydney at the ICC Theatre (in a sign of the times recently rebranded as the TikTok Entertainment Centre).

Michelle Obama heads to Australia next year. Credit: AP

Its Obamas first time speaking in Australia, where shell discuss her experiences as a wife, mother, First Lady, lawyer and best-selling author, were told, as part of a tour organised by corporate speaking firm Growth Faculty, who organised her husbands trip in 2023. Another great get, and were expecting two full houses.
Bitcoin (BTC) mining is experiencing a significant revival in China even though the activity was formally banned in 2021, according to Reuters.

After almost disappearing from the global landscape, China has climbed back to the third position with an estimated 14% share of global mining by October, according to Hashrate Index.

This resurgence is driven by miners and companies quietly operating in regions with abundant and inexpensive electricity, particularly Xinjiang, where excess power and rapid data center construction create favorable conditions.

Miners told Reuters that surplus electricity in places such as Xinjiang and Sichuan are encouraging new underground projects and some former miners have returned. Data provider CryptoQuant estimates that 15 to 20% of global mining capacity now operates in China.

According to the article, Canaan, a leading mining rig producer, has seen a sharp rebound in domestic sales, helped by higher bitcoin prices and uncertainty around United States tariffs that slowed overseas demand.

Although the Chinese government has not publicly reversed its stance, its approach appears to be softening. Hong Kongs stablecoin legislation and discussions about yuan-backed stablecoins suggest a more flexible outlook on digital assets.

Hashprice Hits an All Time Low

Bitcoin hashprice fell to a new all time low on Friday. This metric represents the revenue a miner can expect to earn from a given amount of hashrate. According to Luxor, hashprice dropped to $34.2 PH/s.

Hashprice is determined by four main inputs which are network difficulty, the price of bitcoin, the block subsidy and transaction fees.

Hashprice generally moves higher when bitcoin price or fee volume rises, it drops when mining difficulty increases.

As bitcoin is down more than 30% since the October peak, combined with subdued transaction fees and a network hashrate just above one zettahash (10% below recent highs), has pushed miner revenue to new lows. The next difficulty adjustment is expected on Wednesday and is projected to decline by a little more than 2%.
A councillor in a major local government in Perths north has resigned after he attempted to bill ratepayers for drinks at an iconic Australian strip club while on a council-funded trip to Adelaide.

City of Joondalup councillor Nige Jones had travelled to Adelaide for a conference in August when he stopped by Hindley Streets Crazy Horse Revue for a nightcap.

City of Joondalup councillor Nige Jones, inset, attempted to bill ratepayers for a drink at a strip club while on a city-funded trip to Adelaide. Credit: Facebook/Google Maps

The citys register of behavioural breach complaints said Jones was on city-funded travel to the Australasian Coasts and Ports Conference and went to the strip club after he finished for the day.

Jones tried to claim reimbursement for a drink he bought at the popular strip club, but a complaint was raised about the expenditure.
Blood oil: A new series by the Herald and The Age.

Russia has leapfrogged Australia to become one of the five most powerful countries in Asia, a respected scorecard has found, as Vladimir Putin deepens ties with fellow autocrats and weathers global sanctions introduced since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine.

The findings of the Lowy Institutes latest Asia Power Index have been published as one of Putins most prominent global critics, human rights advocate Bill Browder, joined calls for Australia to play a leading role in halting the Russian oil trade, declaring such an action as the key to preventing Putin from winning the war.

The US remains the most powerful nation in Asia but the index found China and Russia gaining ground, as democracies including Australia struggle to maintain their previous levels of influence.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Credit: AP

Russias power in Asia is resurging, aided by support from other authoritarian revisionist powers, in particular China and North Korea, according to the report written by Lowy Institute analysts Susannah Patton and Jack Sato.
Dodd says even though the square is relatively small, it could still provide an important function in the CBD by providing a green space and public realm. Its like a little lung for Swanston Street and Collins Street, its a gap, you can have a breather, she said. Its not rocket science. Its just about people having a reason to dwell and to sit down and to enjoy a moment of respite in what is otherwise just an urban grid with trams and cars and so on. The hoardings are down at the square, and through the wire fence passers-by can get their first look ahead of the Metro Tunnels official opening. Familiar features like the Mockridge fountain, the statue of Burke and Wills and the Brunetti cafe are all gone, and the space is now dominated by a large canopy with a white slatted roof, which sits over the entrance to the new Town Hall station.

The Mockridge fountain has been replaced by a digital artwork, which features waves of digital lights that cascade down, imitating water. The retail tenancies along the Westin hotel are still boarded up, but on this side of the square there is a smoking ceremony dish developed with Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy. City Square will open permanently to the public on Sunday. Credit: Joe Armao Around the station entrance Wurundjeri text is carved into the stone with an English translation underneath: Wominjeka Kirrip, Welcome Friends. The centre of the square is covered by 12,000 custom-laid grey stone pavers and lined with metal benches on each side.

Southbank resident Tina Kuang has been watching the construction at the City Square for the past few years and stopped to take a look at the completed construction on Tuesday. Im quite amazed, especially the modern buildings link with the church, Kuang said. You see the history and the modern city combining. At the side facing St Pauls Cathedral there is a small visitors hub building, while on the Collins Street side five escalators lead down into a two-tiered concourse, which contains a square beneath a square with shops and food outlets. These will include a Brunetti Oro cafe, Sushi Jiro, McDonalds, Starbucks, KFC and an IGA supermarket.

A small number of Melburnians got a brief look inside the City Square on the weekend, when it hosted a surprise Jimmy Barnes, Kate Ceberano and Ian Moss concert. Premier Jacinta Allan announced the gig by posting to social media the concert would be live and free at Metro Tunnels new City Square. Rory Hyde of University of Melbournes faculty of architecture, building and planning said Allans language was interesting. Its like the square now belongs to the Metro Tunnel, which shifts the whole hierarchy, he said. Does it just become a kind of foyer to the train, rather than a space of democracy or protest or speeches or coming together, which is what a really important city square should do.

Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams described the redevelopment as a serious glow-up for City Square, which she said was greener and more welcoming. The square is a relatively recent addition to Melbourne. When surveyor Robert Hoddle laid out Melbournes grid design in 1837, he did not include a major central square. This was a deliberate design choice to avoid the open spaces that had become places for mass protest elsewhere. The square was eventually retrofitted into Melbourne in 1968 after the City of Melbourne acquired the land opposite the town hall to build a truly serene and noble city square.

The square was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1980, who drew back a curtain to start a giant water spillway, a feature of the square, along with the bright yellow five-metre-high Vault sculpture known as the Yellow Peril. However, the square was a confused space made more so by a brief from the conservative city council to architects Denton Corker Marshall to restrict the public area in size to discourage anti-war demonstrations. Reports in The Age over the years described it as sad, grey and desolate, a large and well-watered expanse of grey stone: thick on ornament, thin on comfort and the citys greatest blight. The public space survived a push by the council to build a small casino in the square in 1991, along with a new home for the Melbourne Theatre Company, but was further crunched in 1993 when part of the square was sold off to a consortium led by David Marriner to make way for the Westin hotel.

Hyde said it was good to see native planting at the square and lots of seating, but the size of the square and its domination by the Westin was an ongoing challenge. Loading I think it probably always will be awkward, he said. It always feels sort of tortured or compromised once they sold off half of it to the hotel ... built like a sort of forecourt to the hotel. However, he said the square could play an important role in the CBD as a place for Melburnians to relax and meet up. What we need is an incidental public space, and I hope that the City Square  in its unassumingness and its subtlety and its shade and its spots to sit  can play that role.
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 Reviews & adviceAirport reviews It opened almost a decade late, but this airport still feels futuristic Kate Armstrong November 26, 2025  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 9 View all comments

The airport Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), Berlin The flight Swiss Air Berlin to Athens (via Zurich) from Terminal 1 The arrival

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My Uber ride from Prenzlauer Berg to the airport is free of traffic; given its a yawn-inducing 5am on a Sunday, thats not surprising. At other times, Id opt for the 30-minute trip on the Airport Express (FEX) from Berlin Central Station or the S-Bahn, the commuter train, numbers S9 or S45. The airports train station is in Terminal 1; to get to Terminal 2, head to arrivals (Level E0) and follow the signs. The look From the ceiling of Terminal 1 hangs a massive metal net of red, a sculpture known as The Magic Carpet. BERs reputation precedes it: the airports much-feted opening was delayed by almost a decade due to construction gaffes and a budget blowout (it eventually opened in October 2020). Locals joke that by the time of opening, even the architecture was outdated. On this, I disagree. BER is modern and striking: the spacious hall (the check-in area) features floor to ceiling glass, warm French walnut trim and a lovely limestone floor. From the ceiling of Terminal 1 hangs a massive metal net of red, a sculpture known as The Magic Carpet. (I dont see them, but apparently other novel artworks reference travel, including coins that are embedded in the floor). Checking in

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Automation is next-level. The automation here is at another level. First, I view the overhead screen; so massive, it wouldnt look out of place in NYCs Times Square. Next, the check-in and baggage area comprise computerised stations. After working my way through the onscreen queries, I attach the resulting luggage label, scan the barcode with the handheld scanner and  relief!  the bag whizzes off. Until I hit the security line, I havent spotted one airport official. (I find out later that you can, indeed, deal with people at check-in counters). In any case, a cyberattack here would be ghastly: one occurred two weeks later (in September 2025) that caused massive delays and problems for weeks. Security My early arrival at the baggage security area means fewer people, though I wait for a couple of faffers ahead of me who use multiple tubs. Other passengers report that this is a bottleneck in busy times. This area uses the newer CT scanning operation where you plonk the entire unopened bag into the bin: computer, electronics, the lot. The next step, border control, is automated: I scan my passport, stare at the camera, and  whew! (again) - Im cleared. Food + drink

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Once through, I relax. Im rapt by the food court, called Market Place, though Im not hungry. That doesnt stop me from ogling at the German delis that have a decent stock of delicious-looking stuffed rolls. Other options include Japanese and Italian, plus healthy options and an international burger chain. Retail Therapy There are enough retail options to keep passengers happy. Again, theres enough here to keep one very happy. From pharmacies to a good bookshop, electronics to a LEGO store. As for something local? Theres the fourth-generation-run FALKE, a luxury hosiery and sock brand and Ampelmann, that sells items featuring the iconic hat-wearing walking symbol of (former East) Berlins traffic lights. Passing Time

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I find it a relaxing place to pass time, especially by window shopping. For families, theres a good kids playground, and napcap sleeping cabins, for those on layovers. The Wi-Fi is strong and efficient. (I dont see the lounges, named Tempelhof and Tegel, but a German friend says they ooze business style; you can use them for a fee.) The verdict For all the past criticism, I have no personal gripes and my impression is positive. Luckily for me, I avoided the cyberattack. Passengers main complaint seems to be the long lines at security. So perhaps the lesson here is to follow my lead  book an early flight. Our rating out of five  The writer travelled at her own expense.

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Travel newsCruises New cutting-edge ship, shaped by passengers, takes to the sea Fiona Carruthers November 26, 2025  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Discovering youre cruising off the coast of Florida with Taylor Swifts soon-to-be mother-in-law would float any Swifties boat. Who knew, but Donna Kelce, the mother of Kansas City Chiefs primary tight end Travis Kelce, was a rusted-on fan of Celebrity Cruises long before her son popped the question to the worlds princess of pop. Celebrity Xcel, just launched and already carrying a surprise celebrity guest. She was among several VIP guests who swept aboard Celebrity Xcel for the ships two-day float out, and its gala onboard launch party on November 16 in port at Fort Lauderdale. Once her presence was confirmed by numerous independent sightings, the rumour mill hit overdrive. Burning questions included: was Taylor Swifts future mother-in-law staying in one of the two spacious Penthouse Suites, or in a two-storey Edge Villa? How likely was she to hit the buffet on level 14 for some fries, or would it be strictly room service?

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Vitamin D Deck  its not hard to see what inspired its name. And was she secretly scouting  as in, might Taylor and Travis charter Xcel for an engagement party? After all, the ship can fit 3260 guests onboard across its 1646 staterooms and one-bedroom suites. The Pool Club  would you like your deck chair in or out of the pool? But no amount of Swiftie fever induced by Mrs Kelces presence could outshine Xcels godmother  acclaimed Brazilian chef Janaina Torres, named the worlds best female chef in 2024 by the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants. Torres might be used to feeding hundreds of diners each night in her home town of Brazils Sao Paulo, but when faced with some 3000 people lining Xcels top decks (14,15 and 16), her nerve momentarily gave way.

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Big ships deliver big energy, and the occasion landed somewhere between Roman Amphitheatre gladiator-style spectacle meets pop concert, meets 21st-century ship launch. Fighting back tears, Torres apologised for being emotional. After a short pause, she continued with gusto: I name this ship Celebrity Xcel. May God bless her and all who sail on her. Torres then hit the button that released a bottle of champagne, which dutifully smashed against the mighty hull. The Hydra Pool on deck 14. New ships hit the waves with unprecedented regularity these days. Royal Caribbean group chairman and chief executive Jason Liberty reminded guests of the scale of this feat, pointing out that Xcel is almost as long as the Eiffel Tower and is some 200 feet (60 metres) high.

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Chef Torres is the perfect godmother for Celebrity Xcel, he said. Through her restaurant A Casa do Porco in Sao Paulo, she elevated Brazilian cuisine to the world stage while empowering women, improving school nutrition, and making exceptional dining experiences more accessible. Xcel is the fifth Edge-class ship since sister ship Celebrity Edge was launched in 2018, and its definitely the best, with brilliant leaps forward in technology, design and ship layout, plus several new venue offerings. Mosaic Restaurant on the newly christened Celebrity Xcel. More than 140,000 guests of Celebrity Cruises  dubbed Dream Makers  cast votes for what should be different on Xcel. Given Celebrity boasts a slightly younger than usual average guest age for cruise ships (around 45-plus), the fun has been dialled up. Theres a captivating new speakeasy-style secret bar concept that took some finding. Once inside, it is like returning to the prohibition era in a time machine.

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Related Article Cruises Worried about being trapped on board a cruise ship? Its bliss The ship also has a new Mediterranean eatery, Bora, and a Bazaar street-vendor-style concept that brings local manufacturers from each destination aboard to sell their original wares. Music and theatre lovers will appreciate the dramatically expanded theatre venue, including a curved kinetic LED wall for video display. Meanwhile, you can officially party all day and all night on Xcel thanks to the addition of The Attic, a 24-hour retro gaming lounge within The Club. You can bet they play plenty of Taylor Swift there. The writer was a guest of Celebrity Cruises. See celebritycruises.com/au

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Singapore: The Trump administration has told thousands of Myanmar citizens on temporary protection visas in the US that they have two months to go home because their war-torn and deeply impoverished country is now safe.

The decision from the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Tuesday AEDT has appalled advocates, who say it is deluded and predicated on falsehoods, so egregious that it is hard to imagine who would believe them.

A soldier from the Myanmar rebel group, the Karen National Liberation Army, recovers from a double amputation in a secret hospital in Thailand. Credit: Kate Geraghty

The military junta led by senior general Min Aung Hlaing has killed, tortured or imprisoned tens of thousands of people since it took power in a coup from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

The United Nations estimates that almost half of the nations 50 million people need humanitarian assistance, as the regime wages a multi-front war, enabled by Russian and Chinese weapons, against a disparate collection of armed ethnic groups and civilians turned freedom fighters.
Would a Russian-paid agent do less than he? He should be fired, Bacon said on social media. But Trump defended Witkoff over the call. Hes got to sell this to Ukraine, hes got to sell Ukraine to Russia  thats what a dealmaker does, he said. I would imagine hes saying the same thing to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky; US President Donald Trump; and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Amid the revelations, Trump dispatched Witkoff to Moscow to meet Putin as the next step in peace negotiations, after European and American leaders hailed their progress on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) in settling disputes over the terms of the latest proposal, floated by the White House last week. Trump, however, is resisting a potential visit from Zelensky to the United States. That meeting could have happened as early as this week, after the Ukrainian leader aired the idea to discuss sensitive points in the potential deal.

He [Zelensky] would like to come, but I think we should get a deal done first, Trump said on board Air Force One as he left Washington on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) to spend the Thanksgiving holiday at his Florida club, Mar-a-Lago. Loading Were having some talks with Russia. Ukraine is doing well, I think theyre pretty happy about it. We wont know for a little while, but were making progress. Trump said there were only a few remaining areas of disagreement with Ukraine and other nations after days of talks about the peace proposal, which began as a 28-point plan that was quickly dismissed by critics as too favourable to Russia. That was just a map. That was not a plan. It was a concept, Trump said of the initial document.

Asked what concessions were now being asked of Russia, he said: Their big concession is they stop fighting, and they dont take any more land. Earlier, Trump announced that while Witkoff meets Putin in Moscow, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll would meet the Ukrainians. He said he wanted to meet Zelensky and Putin himself only when the deal to end this war is final or in its final stages. The negotiations have included talks in Geneva on Sunday between US and Ukrainian officials, along with European counterparts, followed by a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday between Russian officials and Driscoll. In the days since Witkoff and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev hammered out the proposed 28-point plan, Ukrainian and European officials have hurried to draft a counteroffer with far less favourable terms for Russia.

The result is a winnowed-down 19-point proposal that pushes back on key elements of the US proposal, including the rapid removal of economic sanctions on Russia and a cap on the size of the Ukrainian military. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron convened an online meeting of the coalition of the willing on Tuesday in Europe (Wednesday morning AEDT) and asked Zelensky to address the leaders. A good result from Geneva Zelensky aired the idea of a meeting with Trump and said he believed European leaders should also attend, while he warned that Russia continued to bombard Ukraine amid the discussions about peace.

Now we have a good result from Geneva, he said of the negotiations. That framework is on the table, and we are ready to move forward together with the United States of America, with the personal engagement of President Trump, and with Europe, and with leaders. And Im ready to meet with President Trump. There are sensitive points to discuss; we have them still, and we think the presence of European leaders could be helpful. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey attend a meeting of the coalition of the willing via video conference from 10 Downing Street in London. Credit: Getty Images The coalition meeting included leaders from Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union and NATO. Australia was represented at the meeting by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. One of Ukraines key negotiators, Rustem Umerov, praised the work in Geneva and signalled support for the revised proposals without being specific about the terms.

Loading We appreciate the productive and constructive meetings held in Geneva between the Ukrainian and US delegations, as well as President Trumps steadfast efforts to end the war, he said. Our delegations reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva. But there was no sign of Russian agreement, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made it clear that Moscow preferred the original US plan over the revised European offer. Our assessments remain valid in the sense that the key provisions of Trumps [original] plan are based on understandings reached in Anchorage at the Russian-American summit in August this year. And these principles are generally reflected in the plan, which we welcomed, Lavrov said.

Meanwhile, Moscow and Kyiv exchanged fire overnight, with heavy air raids on Kyiv and assaults on southern Russian areas that left at least six people dead in the Ukrainian capital and three dead in Russias Rostov region, officials say. Ukraines air defences worked to shield the capital from combined missile and drone attacks, and loud explosions were heard, with authorities instructing residents to stay in shelters. Firefighters put out a blaze after a drone hit a residential building in Kyiv overnight. Credit: AP Separately, Romania scrambled fighter jets on Tuesday morning to monitor what it said were two intrusions into its airspace by drones in the east and south-east near the border with Ukraine, according to the Defence Ministry. Following the overnight strikes, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for continued pressure on Russia as well as unity among transatlantic allies to end the war. The latest attack was a terrorist response to the United States and President Trumps peace proposals, he said on the X platform.
Washington: The Trump administration will collect data on crimes and human rights abuses committed by migrants to Australia as part of its global drive to combat mass migration, which it describes as an existential threat to Western civilisation.

The intervention into domestic affairs goes beyond illegal immigration and seeks to caution Canberra that a significant intake of migrants, particularly of a culture thats radically different from Australias, can lead to political and economic instability.

Anti-immigration protesters in Sydney in August. Credit: Getty Images

A senior State Department official said the administration had instructed diplomats at its embassy in Canberra to begin collecting data and reporting on migrant-related crimes and human rights abuses facilitated by people of a migration background.

Similar cables were sent last week to all US embassies in Europe, as well as Canada and New Zealand. The governments of these countries were not consulted beforehand, but the US embassies have been instructed to contact them and offer to help.
Madison Investments, an investment advisor, released its Madison Small Cap Fund third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The third quarter was difficult for the Small Cap Fund. The small-cap indexs performance was broad-based. The Madison Small Cap Fund (class Y) was down 1.3% in the quarter, significantly underperforming the benchmarks. The underperformance was driven by stock selection and exacerbated by a very speculative market. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, the Madison Small Cap Fund highlighted stocks such as Ciena Corporation (NYSE: CIEN). Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) is a network technology company that offers hardware, software, and services for various network operators. The one-month return of Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) was -2.34%, and its shares gained 154.00% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On November 21, 2025, Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) stock closed at $178.26 per share, with a market capitalization of $25.2 billion.

Madison Small Cap Fund stated the following regarding Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:
But because of the way the Scottish government's share of UK resources is calculated that would actually lead to a cut in the grant that Scottish ministers receive from the UK Treasury.

If the UK government chooses to do this it would be for taxpayers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

As earnings rise, freezing thresholds draws more workers into paying tax and into paying income tax at higher rates.

An obvious starting point would be to freeze the earnings thresholds at which different income tax rates apply.

That suggests a pick and mix of tax increases to make up whatever the shortfall turns out to be.

If the chancellor is not prepared to put up the rates of big revenue raisers like income tax, VAT or personal national insurance contributions, then what?

At the weekend, the former chief economist at the Bank of England Andy Haldane described this as a "fiscal fandango" that he said was causing economic harm - a charge ministers denied.

Having more or less confirmed that Labour's manifesto pledge not to put up income tax would be broken, the UK government went on to brief against itself, making clear this would not happen after all.

All of which points to the likelihood of significant tax rises.

The chancellor seems determined to avoid a borrowing spree that could undermine market confidence in her stewardship and increase the cost of servicing the UK's already large debt.

There are plans to crack down on benefit fraud and overpayments which might save some cash, but nothing like the big numbers required.

Reeves appears to have ruled out big spending cuts, having been forced by disgruntled Labour MPs to substantially reverse previous attempts to reduce benefits.

The immediate task for the chancellor is widely expected to be how to fill a multi-billion pound gap in the public finances because the economy has not performed as well as she had hoped.

The Scottish finance secretary Shona Robison is expected to publish her plans on Tuesday 13 January.

The Treasury's approach also determines, to a large extent, the resources available to the Scottish government as it prepares its draft budget for 2026/27.

Many of the decisions on taxation and spending taken by the chancellor Rachel Reeves will apply across the UK.

This week's budget is the first of two that will define the financial context for the 2026 Holyrood election campaign.



That would leave the Scottish finance secretary with a decision to make. Whether to take that hit or (more likely) to recoup that cash by taking comparable action in Scotland.

First Minister John Swinney and Finance Secretary Shona Robison could have difficult decisions to make [Getty Images]

This is not the only area where UK decisions have a knock-on effect for the devolved government in Edinburgh.

The Scottish government's allocation, or block grant, from the UK Treasury is adjusted relative to what is spent on devolved services like health and education in England.

Scotland's share is worked out based on population and some other factors under what is known as the Barnett formula.

The budget impact on Scotland becomes most complicated when it comes to welfare spending where responsibilities are shared between Westminster and Holyrood.

For example, it is widely thought that despite financial constraints the UK government is preparing to end its policy of limiting access to certain benefits to two children in any family.

The Scottish government is already preparing to use its own powers and resources to effectively end the limit north of the border from April 2026.

If the chancellor does that UK-wide, that would free up an estimated 155m of proposed Scottish government spending that they could divert elsewhere.

The first minister John Swinney has said he would still want to spend that cash on child poverty reduction. Whether that would mean increasing the Scottish Child Payment or something else is not yet clear.

Swinney has said the test for this budget will be whether or not it lowers family bills, including energy bills.

What are Scottish Labour looking for?

Anas Sarwar has previously said he wants to see a package of measures to reduce energy costs [Getty Images]

Interestingly, the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has specifically called for a package of measures to reduce energy costs, which would be an odd thing to do unless he is confident that will happen.

If it does, that is likely to be action that would apply equally across the UK, as much of the budget will.

If there are changes to the taxes on tobacco or beer, wine and spirits these will affect smokers and drinkers wherever they live.

The same would apply if there was any change to fuel duty or if a new pay-per-mile charge for electric vehicle users was introduced.

On the spending side, the prospect of an above inflation rise in state pensions is for qualifying retirees in all corners of the UK.

Then there are UK-wide measures that have a particularly strong impact in Scotland.

For example, the Conservatives have called for the energy profits levy applied to oil and gas producers to be scrapped. That's a change Reform UK has also campaigned for.

As this industry is highly concentrated in the north east of Scotland, any decision would have particular resonance there, where the decline in fossil fuel extraction is costing jobs.

The levy was brought in by the Tories and maintained by the Labour government. It's due to end in 2030 unless UK ministers decide to make a change.

Having supported its introduction, the SNP now wants to see this tax relaxed or removed. That would not, of course, help Rachel Reeves close the gap in UK finances.

The current levy is a temporary windfall tax on what were seen as excessive energy profits [PA Media]

The Liberal Democrats have floated ideas for a windfall tax on bank profits and taxation on the UK profits of online gambling firms. The Scottish Greens want to see new taxes on wealth and property.

Others have suggested salary sacrifice schemes be made less generous.

When it comes to public spending, the UK's growing defence budget does not include a specific Scottish share.

Having said that, the prime minister specifically chose to launch his defence strategy at a Clyde shipyard which has secured a massive order from Norway.

The UK government is currently exploring a number of Scottish sites to build at least one new munitions factory.

The budget may also include other spending for specific projects in Scotland.

It has been suggested that around 14m of funding will be earmarked for Grangemouth, where the oil refinery is closing.

Grangemouth refinery ceased production in April which has led to the loss of about 400 jobs [PA Media]

That's separate from the 200m already promised by the UK government which has not yet been spent.

That pot is only accessible if a private partner can be found to develop new industrial opportunities on the site.

The Scottish government got a big cash boost from last year's UK budget. That new baseline is expected to be maintained but the scope for further expansion is probably limited.

There has never been a time when SNP ministers have been 100% happy with what the UK Treasury has decided.

That is in the nature of devolved politics, particularly in a pre-election period.

That said, Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer cannot afford any budget blunders.

The prime minister's approval ratings are rock bottom and his own aides have recently raised the potential for a challenge to his leadership.

Swinney's position appears much more secure at this point but if he is to retain power, the SNP's budget choices must be capable of withstanding the scrutiny of the election campaign.
INS Mahe commissioned to boost coastal defence





MUMBAI :

The Indian Navy on Monday commissioned INS Mahe, the first of the Mahe-class anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft, which will form the first line of coastal defense, integrating seamlessly with larger surface combatants, submarines, and aviation assets.

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi was the chief guest here at the commissioning ceremony of INS Mahe, marking the new generation of indigenous shallow-water combatantssleek, swift, and resolutely Indian. INS Mahes commissioning not only adds a potent new platform to the countrys maritime order of battle, but it also reaffirms Indias maritime capability to design, construct, and field complex combatants with indigenous technologies, Gen. Dwivedi said.

The commissioning will significantly augment the Indian Navys ability to ensure near-seas dominance, strengthen the coastal security grid, and safeguard Indias maritime interests across the vast expanse of the countrys littoral waters. It also reaffirms the Navys steadfast transformation into a builders Navy, the one that designs, constructs, and sustains its own combat platform, he added.
Protest erupts in Mandideep over six-year-old rape case; police resort to lathi charge on highway blockade





Staff Reporter :

HEAVYpublic outrage was wit nessed in Mandideep on Monday against the rape of a six-year-old girl in Gauharganj, Raisen dis trict. Members of the Sakal Hindu Samaj blocked the Bhopal Mandideep Highway starting at 11 am, causing long queues of vehicles on both sides of the road. As the crowd grew, the police resorted to a lathi charge to con trol the situation and disperse the protesters. A large contingent of police force was deployed at the scene.

Protesters demand quick arrest: The primary demand of the protesters is the immediate arrest of the accused. Three days have passed since the incident, but the police have yet to appre hend the suspect. The police have formed several teams to search for the accused and are con ducting continuous searches in the surrounding areas, yet no clue has been found regarding the perpetrator.

Earlier, a road blockade was also carried out near the Obaidullaganj Bypass junction, leading to long lines of traffic on the Bhopal, Jabalpur, Betul and Nagpur routes. The entire incident took place on Friday evening. The accused, 23 year-old Salman alias Nazar, a res ident of Gauharganj, arrived at a village. He reportedly lured a six-year-old girl playing outside her house with a chocolate bought from a shop and forcibly took her towards the forest.

When the child was not found nearby for some time, her fam ily members went looking for her. and in a serious condition. A local Bajrang Dal worker rushed the child to AIIMS Bhopal in his car, where she is currently undergoing treat ment. The accused fled imme diately after the incident. SDOP Sheela Surana stated that a continuous search oper ation is being conducted to locate the accused. She con firmed that traffic was affect ed due to the highway block ade. The police peacefully reasoned with the people, but some individuals were attempting to cause mischief.

Such people have been stopped, she said. The police are continuing to conduct raids for the accuseds arrest.
END OF AN ERA Dharmendra passes away at 89





MUMBAI :

DHARMENDRA, one of Indias most enduring stars who sparkled bright right through a remarkable 65-year career span ning 300 films ranging from Satyakam to Sholay died here on Monday days ahead of his 90th birthday. The much loved actor, who lived most of his life in the blaz ing arclights of publicity, was cre mated at the Pawan Hans cre matorium in Mumbais Ville Parle suburb quietly and with little fuss. Till the end  and even after that  his family made no comment on his death.

Dharmendra, who would have turned 90 on December 8, had not been keeping well for a while and was in and out of hospital. Finally, on November 12, a day after several media houses reported his death and his furious family requested pri vacy, he was discharged and taken to his Juhu home where he breathed his last. With the family maintaining silence, the camera crews and others posted outside his resi dence picked up cues from an ambulance and several cars seen driving out of the gates.

A little later, his wife Hema Malini and daughter Esha Deol, as well as industry colleagues Amitabh Bachchan and son Abhishek Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and his father Salim Khan, were spotted at the crematori um. Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Jackie Shroff and Shabana Azmi also attended the last rites.

Condolences also poured in from across the film industry, with celebrities such as Saira Banu, Sharmila Tagore, Karan Johar, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, and Kareena Kapoor mourning the death of the actor fondly known as Garam Dharam and Indias first He Man. He was just different. He never forgot his roots, and he would talk about them openly. He was, as they say, a man of the earth, and he remained very close to his real self... I didnt see any change in him with stardom and popularity, Tagore, who worked with Dharmendra in classics such as Satyakam and Chupke Chupke, told PTI. Banu, who also worked with Dharmendra on several movies, including Aayee Milan Ki Bela, Jwaar Bhaata, and Resham Ki Dori, said she spoke to the actor earlier this month, and he told her not to worry and that he will come and visit her soon. Its the saddest day because he is family. Im shocked. I thought we would celebrate his birthday, Banu told PTI. Dilipsahab considered him like a younger brother.
Farmers are not owners but guardians of land they own: Tarde





Renowned actor Milind Tarde in conversation with Vikas Vaidya Principal Correspondent The Hitavada at the Zero Mile Literature Festival. (Pic by Satish Raut)

Staff Reporter :

Farmers are not the owners, but the guardians of the land they own, as they own a legacy of the generations that came before them. Selling the farmland is like selling the hard work of the ancestors who built it, declared celebrated actor and filmmaker Pravin Tarde. He was speaking on the second day of the Zero Mile Literature Festival, held under the ongoing nine-day Nagpur Book Festival 2025 at Reshimbag Ground, organised jointly by the National Book Trust (NBT) India, the Maharashtra Government, and the Zero Mile Youth Foundation. Vikas Vaidya Principal Correspondent The Hitavada conducted the interview.

Tarde said that, although Marathi cinema has historically demanded immense effort, it went through a phase when it distanced itself from Marathi sentiment and gravitated towards formulaic love stories. It neither reflected the interests of the Marathi audience nor upheld the cultural ethos of the community. Copying other industries only deepened the creative decline. He added, however, that Marathi cinema has now regained its strength, with powerful themes and substantive content returning to the forefront.

He credited the success of South Indian cinema to its unapologetic portrayal of its soil, culture, deities and social realities. They proclaimed their identity to the world, and the world embraced their films, he observed. Reflecting on his personal journey, from an RSS volunteer and the son of a farmer to a filmmaker, Tarde said, he drew inspiration from his 80-year-old father, who continues to work in the fields. This shaped Mulshi Pattern, a film capturing the agrarian crisis, political exploitation and the resulting rise in crime.

Released and remade in 14 languages, it resonated widely because it portrayed the harsh truth of farmers caught in the turbulence of globalisation. Tarde also spoke fondly of Nagpur, describing each visit as a celebration. He recalled coming to the city multiple times for play performances and to meet poet Grace, adding that Nagpur has produced numerous personalities who have shaped literature, cinema, culture and national identity. The event saw the presence of actor Mukund Wasule, celebrity chef Vishnu Manohar, NBT Chairman Milind Marathe and Zero Mile Foundation Director Samay Bansod, among other dignitaries.
Goan temples, heritage structures are crucial chapters of its history





Staff Reporter :

Goa should not be limited to the perception of beaches and nightlife as its temples and heritage structures are crucial chapters of its history, said Shefali Vaidya, noted author, columnist, and social media personality while speaking at Zero Mile Literature Festival organised as part of the Nagpur Book Festival - 2025. She spoke of being raised in a home where books, tradition, and oral history were a part of everyday life. With three generations of her family involved in the Goan Liberation movement, her upbringing was steeped in stories of identity and resilience. Vaidya mentioned how 450 years of Portuguese rule saw the destruction of temples and relics.

At one point, the Portuguese even banned local languages. Yet, Goans continued to preserve their traditions, even bringing teachers from Maharashtra with their own pooled funds when local schools were forced to shut down. Goa, she said, must be seen not just as a hub of beaches and nightlife, but as a land of ancient temples that reflects its heritage. While discussing her career, Vaidya noted that she began writing for newspapers and magazines before expanding her presence onto social media. She then elaborated on the origins of her campaign No Bindi No Business. The campaign began when she observed Diwali advertisements that excluded cultural symbols such as the bindi and rangoli. While companies sought Hindu consumers, they avoided representing the culture authentically. The campaign gained notable traction and influenced several brands to revise their marketing.

We as a society, especially the young generation, have to work collectively to keep our culture alive, she said. Vaidya also highlighted the two sides of social media. She recalled a moment when an unfunded school urgently needed Rs 1.5 lakh for repairs and one of her followers generously donated the entire amount after she posted about it. At the same time, she shared a distressing trolling incident from 2012, when backlash escalated into threats against her family. Her husband encouraged her to stay firm, advice that continues to guide her.In her concluding remarks, Vaidya and the speakers urged Gen Z to value Goan heritage.

Appreciating temples, they said, does not mean avoiding beaches or watersports, it simply means ensuring that temples do not fade from collective memory. She also said that while social media has a bad side, it is not a bad thing when one uses it responsibly to share meaningful content. She advised them to use social media in a way that created meaningful, positive impact. The event was moderated by Asawari Deshpande, who guided thoughtful and engaging conversation throughout.
Indian-origin woman harassed by officials at China airport





SHANGHAI :

AN INDIAN-ORIGIN UK resident from Arunachal Pradesh has alleged that Chinese immigration authorities at Shanghai Pudong Airport detained and harassed her for hours after refusing to acknowledge her Indian passport during a transit stop. Prema Wangjom Thongdok, who was travelling from London to Japan on November 21 with a scheduled three-hour layover, said her ordeal stretched to 18 hours after officials declared her passport invalid because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace. According to her, immigration personnel told her, Arunachal Pradesh is part of China. She said several officers and China Eastern Airlines staff mocked her, laughed at her, and even suggested she apply for a Chinese passport.

What was supposed to be a routine transit, she claimed, turned into a prolonged confinement in the airports transit area, where she was allegedly denied clear information, proper food, and access to basic facilities, according to a report by NDTV. Prema alleged that her passport was confiscated and she was barred from boarding her onward flight to Japan despite holding a valid visa. Confined to the transit zone, she said she could not rebook tickets, purchase meals, or move between terminals.

he further claimed officials pressured her to buy a fresh ticket specifically on China Eastern and hinted that her passport would only be returned after doing so, resulting in financial losses from missed flights and hotel bookings. She managed to contact the Indian Consulate in Shanghai through a friend in the UK, following which Indian officials intervened and escorted her onto a late-night departure from the city.
MISCREANT MISCREANTS GO BERSERK! ARSON ESC S GO BERSERK! ARSON ESCALA ALATES TERROR TES TERROR Unchecked gangs torch two cars in Khajuri





Staff Reporter :

THE reign of terror by miscre ants in the State capital has tak en a dangerous turn. Following vandalism and collective vio lence, criminals have now start ed targeting vehicles with arson. The latest incident occurred in Bairagarh Kalan in the Khajuri area, where two parked cars were set on fire around 2 am on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. Two cars set ablaze in mid night attack: According to infor mation received from the Khajuri Police, Sunil Vishwakarma (a pharma com pany manager) of Mahakal Colony, Bairagarh Kalan, had his Baleno car parked outside his house.

Around 2 am, his ten ant, Neeraj Pal, raised an alarm, waking-up Sunil. Upon going outside, he found his Baleno car engulfed in flames. They both worked to extinguish the fire. Simultaneously, they discovered that the Brezza car belonging to their neighbour, Durgesh Jaiswal, was also on fire. In this criminal act, Sunils Baleno car was completely destroyed, while the front part (bonnet) of his neighbours Brezza car was burnt. The trau ma of the arson caused Sunils daughter to fall ill, and she is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

Masked criminal caught on CCTV: Police have obtained CCTV footage from cameras near the crime scene. The footage shows an unidentified miscreant approaching from the direction of Mahakal Mandir. It is suspected that the polybag he was carrying contained a flam mable substance. However, the criminal had covered their face with a mask, preventing the police from making a clear iden tification. Police are working intensively to identify and apprehend the accused based on the CCTV footage. City residents are panicked by the continuous series of van dalism, hooliganism, and arson incidents.

Citizens complain that the police are missing from the streets, allowing criminals to commit crimes openly and escape. The deteriorating law and order situation is challeng ing the polices security claims. Recent Major Incidents: Nov 18:Masked miscreants vandalised a cafe and attacked employees in the Misrod area. Nov 20:Assailants, brandish ing knives, vandalised vehicles in Raja Bhoj Colony, Gandhi Nagar. Nov 21: Over 20 miscreants caused terror by vandalising homes and vehicles in Viceroy Colony, Shahpura. November 22: Head Constable Ram Avatar pub licly assaulted two employees at the Chetak Bike Showroom on Narmadapuram Road. November 23: 11 vehicles were vandalised in Green Park Colony, Gautam Nagar, report edly due to refusal to pay pro tection money for parking.

Police Commissioner Harinarayanachari Mishra has claimed strict action against miscreants. He stated, Police are strictly acting against goons and miscreants. The accused in all reported inci dents have been apprehend ed. Those who are abscond ing will be caught soon.
Security grid tightened ahead of DGP-IGP Conference 25





Staff Reporter :

WITH the Capital set to host the DGPIGP Conference 2025 from November 28 to 30, Chhattisgarh Police has stepped up prepara tions to ensure comprehensive security and smooth movement for VVIPs, VIPs and senior offi cials attending the national-lev el event. A detailed coordination meeting was convened at C-4, Civil Lines, Raipur under the chairmanship of Amit Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Intelligence, Chhattisgarh Police.

During the review, ADGP Amit Kumar examined the multilay ered security arrangements ADGP (Intelligence) Amit Kumar reviewing security arrangements with senior police officers at C-4, Civil Lines, Raipur. planned for the conference and instructed officers to maintain continuous coordination, disci pline and operational readiness throughout the event duration. He emphasised that profession al conduct, courteous behaviour and strong inter-departmental synergy will be crucial for the flawless execution of the arrange ments.

Addressing the officers, the ADGP said the primary objec tive is to ensure that every dignitary and conference participant experiences seam less security and unin terrupted assistance across all arrival points, movement corridors, designated venues and accommodation loca tions. He stressed the need for real-time com munication, quick response systems and strict adherence to assigned responsibili ties.

The ADGP also invited individual sug gestions from the offi cers and assured that practical, field-level requirements highlighted during the discussion would be suitably inte grated into the operational plan. He instructed all person nel to implement directives with precision and maintain absolute compliance with the instructions issued. The meeting was attended by senior officers including IG Anand Chhabra, IG (Training); IG Ankit Garg, Special Intelligence Branch (SIB), Police Headquarters (PHQ_ Nava Raipur; IG Dhruv Gupta, Crime Investigation Department (CIF) PHQ; IG Dr Sanjay Shukla, Bilaspur Range; DIG M L Kotwani; DIG M R Ahire; DIG Shankarlal Baghel; SSP Raipur Dr Umed Singh; along with all Additional SPs and DSPs of Raipur district.

Officials stated that the forthcoming DGPIGP Conference will witness participation from senior police leadership from across the country, making coordinated and robust security arrangements a top priority. The secu rity grid, movement protocols and district-level prepared ness will be monitored continuously till the conclusion of the conference on November 30.
A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of CPH Group AG ( VTX:CPHN ) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

Story Continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (0.5%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 5.3%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2035  (1 + g)  (r  g) = CHF43m (1 + 0.5%)  (5.3% 0.5%) = CHF891m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CHF891m ( 1 + 5.3%)10= CHF530m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is CHF819m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of CHF70.0, the company appears quite good value at a 49% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

SWX:CPHN Discounted Cash Flow November 25th 2025

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at CPH Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 5.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.150. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

View our latest analysis for CPH Group

SWOT Analysis for CPH Group

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Forestry market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Swiss market.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Moving On:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For CPH Group, there are three additional factors you should assess:

Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with CPH Group . Future Earnings: How does CPHN's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Swiss stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
DBS Group Holdings revised Alliance Bank stake proposal after its initial application to acquire up to 49% of Alliance Bank Malaysia was not approved by the Malaysian central bank, reported Bloomberg, citing individuals familiar with the matter.

The Singapore-based bank has now submitted a new request to acquire up to 30% of Alliance Bank, aligning with the countrys regulations for foreign ownership in financial institutions.

The initial request by DBS, which is Southeast Asias largest bank by total assets, would have required a waiver from Bank Negara Malaysia, as the standard limit for foreign ownership is 30%.

The revised proposal is expected to have a higher probability of approval from the central bank, according to people with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity due to the private nature of the information.

In September, Bloomberg reported that DBS Groups intentions to acquire the 49% stake in Alliance Bank Malaysia encountered delays due to the absence of regulatory approval.

If the latest proposal is approved, it would enable DBS to begin discussions with Alliance Banks largest shareholder, Vertical Theme, a Malaysian holding company supported by Singapores state investor Temasek Holdings.

Through Duxton Investment & Development, Temasek owns a 49% stake in Vertical Theme. Temasek also holds approximately 28.3% of DBS.

Representatives from DBS and Vertical Theme have declined to comment on the development. An Alliance Bank spokesperson said the company was not aware of the matter, while Bank Negara Malaysia has not yet responded to requests for comment, reported the media outlet.

A successful transaction would provide DBS with access to the Malaysian banking sector, where Singaporean competitors Oversea-Chinese Banking and United Overseas Bank already operate.

Alliance Bank currently has a market capitalisation of about RM7.7bn ($1.9bn).

"DBS revises Alliance Bank stake proposal to 30% for Malaysian approval" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (NYSE:VAC  Get Free Report) Director Dianna Morgan acquired 500 shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 21st. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $51.22 per share, for a total transaction of $25,610.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 23,094 shares in the company, valued at $1,182,874.68. The trade was a 2.21% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Trading Up 2.7%

NYSE:VAC traded up $1.36 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $52.15. The stock had a trading volume of 1,004,500 shares, compared to its average volume of 550,316. Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation has a one year low of $44.58 and a one year high of $99.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29, a quick ratio of 3.22 and a current ratio of 3.87. The company has a market cap of $1.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.50. The businesss 50 day moving average is $63.94 and its 200-day moving average is $70.46.

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Marriott Vacations Worldwide (NYSE:VAC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $1.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by $0.05. Marriott Vacations Worldwide had a net margin of 3.44% and a return on equity of 11.44%. The company had revenue of $1.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.31 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.80 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Marriott Vacations Worldwide has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.700-7.100 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation will post 6.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Announces Dividend

Institutional Trading of Marriott Vacations Worldwide

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 17th were issued a $0.79 dividend. This represents a $3.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.1%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 17th. Marriott Vacations Worldwides dividend payout ratio is 70.85%.

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Blueshift Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide in the first quarter valued at about $358,000. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 1.9% in the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 329,952 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,196,000 after purchasing an additional 6,182 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its stake in Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 109.3% in the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 75,676 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,861,000 after purchasing an additional 39,522 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC increased its position in shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 94.2% during the 1st quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 16,895 shares of the companys stock worth $1,081,000 after purchasing an additional 8,196 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mubadala Investment Co PJSC bought a new stake in shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide during the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,760,000. Institutional investors own 89.52% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on VAC shares. Citizens Jmp cut their price objective on Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $115.00 to $60.00 and set a market outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. They set an underweight rating and a $37.00 target price on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d+) rating on shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide in a report on Wednesday. Stifel Nicolaus set a $83.00 price objective on shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Truist Financial cut their price objective on shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $127.00 to $81.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 14th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $63.38.

Read Our Latest Research Report on VAC

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Company Profile

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Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, a vacation company, develops, markets, sells, and manages vacation ownership and related businesses, products, and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Vacation Ownership and Exchange & Third-Party Management.

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Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE:UTZ  Get Free Report) major shareholder Series Of Um Partners, Llc purchased 1,406 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 24th. The shares were bought at an average price of $9.51 per share, with a total value of $13,371.06. Following the purchase, the insider owned 630,000 shares in the company, valued at $5,991,300. This represents a 0.22% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Major shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Utz Brands Stock Performance

Shares of Utz Brands stock traded down $0.32 on Monday, reaching $9.21. The stock had a trading volume of 1,523,335 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,162,151. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.22. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $11.58 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $12.66. The stock has a market cap of $1.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 131.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.00. Utz Brands, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $9.19 and a fifty-two week high of $17.78.

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Utz Brands (NYSE:UTZ  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.23. The business had revenue of $377.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $374.25 million. Utz Brands had a net margin of 0.39% and a return on equity of 8.12%. Utz Brandss revenue was up 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.21 EPS. Utz Brands has set its FY 2025 guidance at 0.824-0.847 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Utz Brands, Inc. will post 0.85 EPS for the current year.

Utz Brands Announces Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.061 per share. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 15th. Utz Brandss payout ratio is currently 342.86%.

Several research analysts have commented on the company. TD Cowen dropped their price target on Utz Brands from $14.00 to $12.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Piper Sandler cut their target price on shares of Utz Brands from $19.00 to $15.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Mizuho set a $16.00 price target on shares of Utz Brands in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of Utz Brands from $13.50 to $11.50 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Barclays reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $14.00 target price on shares of Utz Brands in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $14.93.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on UTZ

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Utz Brands

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Utz Brands by 7.2% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,439,869 shares of the companys stock worth $104,753,000 after purchasing an additional 501,374 shares during the last quarter. Bryce Point Capital LLC bought a new position in Utz Brands during the 2nd quarter valued at about $737,000. Astra Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in Utz Brands in the second quarter valued at about $1,155,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its stake in Utz Brands by 38.0% during the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 5,671,757 shares of the companys stock worth $79,858,000 after buying an additional 1,560,884 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Natixis Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Utz Brands during the first quarter worth about $602,000. 95.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Utz Brands

(Get Free Report)

Utz Brands, Inc engages in manufacture, marketing, and distribution of snack foods. It offers a range of salty snacks, including salty snacks, including potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, cheese snacks, pork skins, veggie snacks, pub/party mixes, tortilla chips, salsa and dips, ready-to-eat popcorn, and other snacks under the Utz, Zapps, ON THE BORDER, Golden Flake, Boulder Canyon, Hawaiian, TORTIYAHS!, etc.

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XTX Topco Ltd bought a new stake in Manulife Financial Corp (NYSE:MFC  Free Report) (TSE:MFC) in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 136,545 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $4,364,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. boosted its stake in shares of Manulife Financial by 25.8% during the 2nd quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 46,218 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,477,000 after acquiring an additional 9,478 shares in the last quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Manulife Financial by 2.9% during the second quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. now owns 496,570 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $15,845,000 after purchasing an additional 14,088 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC lifted its stake in shares of Manulife Financial by 211.8% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 51,378 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,642,000 after buying an additional 34,902 shares during the last quarter. Value Partners Investments Inc. grew its stake in Manulife Financial by 16,609.6% in the 2nd quarter. Value Partners Investments Inc. now owns 1,519,407 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $48,490,000 after buying an additional 1,510,314 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Manulife Financial by 5.8% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 9,501,434 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $295,970,000 after acquiring an additional 521,451 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 52.56% of the companys stock.

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Manulife Financial Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of MFC opened at $34.87 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $32.44 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $31.58. The stock has a market cap of $58.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.98. Manulife Financial Corp has a 12 month low of $25.92 and a 12 month high of $35.57.

Manulife Financial Increases Dividend

Manulife Financial ( NYSE:MFC Get Free Report ) (TSE:MFC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.84 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.10. Manulife Financial had a return on equity of 15.77% and a net margin of 10.46%.The firm had revenue of $12.90 billion for the quarter. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.00 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Manulife Financial Corp will post 2.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.44 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 26th. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.0%. This is an increase from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Manulife Financials payout ratio is 55.56%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings downgraded Manulife Financial from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b) rating in a research report on Monday, November 17th. BMO Capital Markets restated an outperform rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Morgan Stanley set a $47.00 price target on Manulife Financial in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on Manulife Financial from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, November 14th. Finally, UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Manulife Financial in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Manulife Financial presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $49.50.

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Manulife Financial Company Profile

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Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in the United States, Canada, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks.

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Alimentation Couche-Tard (TSE:ATD  Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Monday. The company reported C$0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$0.74 by C$0.05, RTT News reports. Alimentation Couche-Tard had a net margin of 3.53% and a return on equity of 18.96%.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Stock Performance

ATD stock traded down C$1.09 during trading on Monday, reaching C$70.93. The company had a trading volume of 2,852,511 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,424,472. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 101.54, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.99. Alimentation Couche-Tard has a twelve month low of C$65.95 and a twelve month high of C$83.73. The company has a market cap of C$66.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.31. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of C$72.26 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$71.47.

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Alimentation Couche-Tard Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 25th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 25th were paid a dividend of $0.195 per share. This represents a $0.78 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 11th. Alimentation Couche-Tards dividend payout ratio is 20.27%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently weighed in on ATD. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Alimentation Couche-Tard from C$75.00 to C$78.00 in a research note on Thursday, September 4th. TD Securities upped their target price on Alimentation Couche-Tard from C$85.00 to C$89.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, September 4th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on shares of Alimentation Couche-Tard from C$78.00 to C$84.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, September 4th. National Bankshares upped their price objective on shares of Alimentation Couche-Tard from C$82.00 to C$84.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, September 4th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Alimentation Couche-Tard from C$81.00 to C$85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, September 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Alimentation Couche-Tard currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$85.33.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on ATD

About Alimentation Couche-Tard

(Get Free Report)

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc operates a network of convenience stores across North America, Ireland, Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltics, and Russia. The company primarily generates income through the sale of tobacco products, groceries, beverages, fresh food, quick service restaurants, car wash services, other retail products and services, road transportation fuel, stationary energy, marine fuel, and chemicals.

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ASOS Plc (LON:ASC  Get Free Report) insider Aaron Izzard sold 604 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 219, for a total transaction of 1,322.76.

ASOS Stock Up 5.0%

Shares of LON ASC traded up GBX 11 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching GBX 229.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 330,391 shares, compared to its average volume of 363,491. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 256.11 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 291.02. ASOS Plc has a fifty-two week low of GBX 215 and a fifty-two week high of GBX 454.20. The company has a current ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 187.55. The stock has a market capitalization of 273.53 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.93, a PEG ratio of -1.26 and a beta of 2.86.

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ASOS (LON:ASC  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, November 21st. The company reported GBX (250.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. ASOS had a negative net margin of 11.66% and a negative return on equity of 59.37%. Equities research analysts predict that ASOS Plc will post 12.4165252 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ASC has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on shares of ASOS from GBX 440 to GBX 375 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 600 price objective on shares of ASOS in a report on Thursday, November 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on ASOS from GBX 270 to GBX 240 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Panmure Gordon reiterated a hold rating and issued a GBX 350 price objective on shares of ASOS in a report on Monday. Finally, Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 400 target price on shares of ASOS in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, ASOS has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 383.33.

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ASOS Company Profile

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ASOS Plc operates as an online fashion retailer in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, and internationally. It offers womenswear and menswear products. The company sells its products under the ASOS Design, ASOS Edition, ASOS Luxe, ASOS 4505, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, HIIT, AsYou, Dark Future, UNRVLLD/SPPLY, Crooked Tongues, Daysocial, Actual, and Weekend Collective brands, as well as through third-party brands.

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TURIN (Reuters) -Stellantis Chairman John Elkann on Tuesday warned that the European auto industry risks an "irreversible decline".

Speaking in Turin during an event marking the start of large-scale production of the new hybrid version of the Fiat 500 small car, Elkann said the industry as a whole had drawn up a package of proposals for the European Commission to give automakers more flexibility on emissions targets and that this would allow the sector to avoid such decline.

The European Commission is due to present on December 10 a package of proposals as part of its scheduled review of EU carbon emissions regulation for the auto industry.

Elkann earlier this month said Stellantis backed a string of measures put to the EU to support the European auto industry.

Those proposals include allowing plug-in hybrids, range extenders and alternative fuels beyond 2035, averaging interim carbon reduction goals fixed for 2030 over several years, introducing a wide scrappage scheme on existing cars and adapting regulation to favour the production of small cars.

Gianluca Ficco of UILM union said in a statement that the start of production of the hybrid Fiat 500 was positive for Italian output but added that the EU needs to change rules for the auto industry, "before it's too late" and to avoid tough consequences for the industry and jobs.

(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari, writing by Giulia Segreti and Giulio Piovaccari; editing by Alvise Armellini and Keith Weir)
Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) received a C$179.00 price objective from research analysts at Scotiabank in a report issued on Tuesday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a sector perform rating on the banks stock. Scotiabanks target price suggests a potential upside of 2.60% from the companys previous close.

BMO has been the topic of several other reports. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on Bank of Montreal from C$164.00 to C$173.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 27th. TD Securities raised their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$170.00 to C$182.00 in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Cibc World Mkts upgraded shares of Bank of Montreal from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 5th. Raymond James Financial set a C$182.00 price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada downgraded Bank of Montreal from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and cut their price objective for the company from C$168.00 to C$163.00 in a report on Friday, October 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$173.54.

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Bank of Montreal Price Performance

Insider Transactions at Bank of Montreal

BMO stock traded up C$1.86 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching C$174.46. The company had a trading volume of 943,489 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,786,058. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of C$176.58 and a 200-day moving average price of C$161.96. Bank of Montreal has a 1-year low of C$121.31 and a 1-year high of C$182.90. The company has a market capitalization of C$124.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.38.

In related news, insider Steven Lloyd Tennyson sold 9,072 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$163.89, for a total value of C$1,486,782.86. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 21,866 shares in the company, valued at C$3,583,553.14. This represents a 29.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Also, insider Alan Tannenbaum sold 9,824 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$175.12, for a total transaction of C$1,720,408.35. Insiders sold a total of 35,883 shares of company stock worth $5,989,740 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock.

Bank of Montreal Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bank of Montreal is a diversified financial-services provider based in North America, operating four business segments: Canadian personal and commercial banking, U.S. P&C banking, wealth management, and capital markets.

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CCL Industries Inc. (OTCMKTS:CCDBF  Get Free Report)s share price fell 0.6% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $58.7550 and last traded at $59.1450. 411 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 31% from the average session volume of 598 shares. The stock had previously closed at $59.48.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating on shares of CCL Industries in a research note on Monday, August 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, CCL Industries presently has an average rating of Buy.

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CCL Industries Price Performance

CCL Industries Company Profile

The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $56.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $57.42.

(Get Free Report)

CCL Industries Inc manufactures and sells labels, consumer printable media products, technology-driven label solutions, polymer banknote substrates, and specialty films. It operates through CCL, Avery, Checkpoint, and Innovia segments. The CCL segment converts pressure sensitive and extruded film materials for a range of decorative, instructional, security, and functional applications for government institutions and global customers in consumer packaging, healthcare, chemicals, consumer durables, electronic device, and automotive markets.

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Columbia Bank boosted its stake in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP  Free Report) by 12.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,619 shares of the payment services companys stock after buying an additional 300 shares during the quarter. Columbia Banks holdings in American Express were worth $830,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of American Express by 1.3% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,425,262 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $14,808,730,000 after acquiring an additional 581,369 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in American Express by 13.7% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 18,025,562 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $4,849,777,000 after purchasing an additional 2,168,445 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in American Express by 11.1% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,487,316 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $4,282,984,000 after purchasing an additional 1,349,746 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Express during the 1st quarter worth about $1,454,667,000. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Express by 1.6% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 5,093,807 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $1,370,489,000 after buying an additional 78,538 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.33% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Stephen J. Squeri sold 112,272 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $329.86, for a total value of $37,034,041.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 92,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $30,614,306.60. This represents a 54.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Denise Pickett sold 5,000 shares of American Express stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.73, for a total transaction of $1,753,650.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 7,726 shares in the company, valued at $2,709,739.98. The trade was a 39.29% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 193,292 shares of company stock worth $65,363,878. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on AXP shares. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of American Express from $311.00 to $362.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, September 29th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on American Express from $375.00 to $400.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. UBS Group increased their price target on American Express from $330.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on American Express from $343.00 to $355.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their target price on American Express from $375.00 to $395.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $332.65.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on AXP

American Express Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of NYSE AXP opened at $355.47 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $244.86 billion, a PE ratio of 23.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 1.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $345.98 and a 200-day moving average of $321.22. American Express Company has a 52-week low of $220.43 and a 52-week high of $377.23.

American Express (NYSE:AXP  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 17th. The payment services company reported $4.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.98 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $17.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.03 billion. American Express had a return on equity of 33.41% and a net margin of 14.97%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.49 earnings per share. American Express has set its FY 2025 guidance at 15.200-15.500 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that American Express Company will post 15.33 EPS for the current year.

American Express Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 10th. Investors of record on Friday, October 10th were given a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 10th. American Expresss dividend payout ratio is 22.01%.

About American Express

(Free Report)

American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services.

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Comptoir Group PLC (LON:COM  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 5.50 and last traded at GBX 5.50, with a volume of 30491 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 5.

Comptoir Group Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of 6.75 million, a PE ratio of -23.91 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 275.63, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 1.24. The firms 50 day simple moving average is GBX 5.02 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 4.18.

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Comptoir Group (LON:COM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, September 25th. The company reported GBX (0.07) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Comptoir Group had a negative net margin of 7.85% and a negative return on equity of 110.71%.

About Comptoir Group

Comptoir Group PLC owns and operates restaurants under the Comptoir Libanais and Shawa brand names in the United Kingdom. It offers Lebanese and Eastern Mediterranean cuisine dining. It operates restaurants that includes franchises. The company was formerly known as Levant Restaurants Group Limited and changed its name to Comptoir Group PLC in June 2016.

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Institutional and Insider Ownership

7.2% of Equitable Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 7.5% of Heartland BancCorp. shares are owned by institutional investors. 11.3% of Equitable Financial shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 22.7% of Heartland BancCorp. shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Equitable Financial and Heartland BancCorp.s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Equitable Financial $33.95 million 1.13 $3.44 million $1.31 11.87 Heartland BancCorp. $119.21 million 2.74 $20.26 million $9.76 16.39

Profitability

Heartland BancCorp. has higher revenue and earnings than Equitable Financial. Equitable Financial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Heartland BancCorp., indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

This table compares Equitable Financial and Heartland BancCorp.s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Equitable Financial 9.70% 6.57% 0.64% Heartland BancCorp. N/A N/A N/A

Summary

Heartland BancCorp. beats Equitable Financial on 7 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Equitable Financial

(Get Free Report)

Equitable Financial Corp. operates as the holding company for Equitable Bank that provides various banking products and services in Nebraska, the United States. The company offers checking and savings accounts; recorder checks; online and mobile banking; remote deposit capture; voice banking; credit card processing; debit and gift cards; and safe deposit boxes. It also provides home, home equity, auto, personal, real estate and construction, operating lines of credit, small business administration, and agricultural loans, as well as equipment financing. In addition, the company offers foreign currency and exchanges; financial planning; wealth management; investment advisory; and retirement services. It operates through branches located in Grand Island, North Platte, and Omaha. The company was founded in 1882 and is headquartered in Grand Island, Nebraska.

About Heartland BancCorp.

(Get Free Report)

Heartland BancCorp operates as the bank holding company for Heartland Bank that provides various banking and financial services to individual and corporate customers. The company offers personal and business checking and savings accounts. It also provides various lending solutions comprising agricultural loans, commercial and business lending, home and personal loans, and title services. In addition, the company offers online banking, treasury management, credit and debit card, and mobile wallet services. Further, it provides education planning, insurance, wealth management, and retirement planning services. Heartland BancCorp was founded in 1911 and is based in Whitehall, Ohio.

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Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE  Get Free Report) and Hexcel (NYSE:HXL  Get Free Report) are both aerospace companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

77.8% of Park Aerospace shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 95.5% of Hexcel shares are held by institutional investors. 11.3% of Park Aerospace shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.4% of Hexcel shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Park Aerospace and Hexcels revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Park Aerospace $63.13 million 5.97 $5.88 million $0.36 52.63 Hexcel $1.88 billion 3.09 $132.10 million $0.85 85.69

Hexcel has higher revenue and earnings than Park Aerospace. Park Aerospace is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Hexcel, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Dividends

Park Aerospace pays an annual dividend of $0.50 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.6%. Hexcel pays an annual dividend of $0.68 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Park Aerospace pays out 138.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Hexcel pays out 80.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Hexcel has increased its dividend for 3 consecutive years.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Park Aerospace and Hexcel, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Park Aerospace 0 1 0 0 2.00 Hexcel 2 8 3 0 2.08

Hexcel has a consensus target price of $73.33, indicating a potential upside of 0.68%. Given Hexcels stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Hexcel is more favorable than Park Aerospace.

Profitability

This table compares Park Aerospace and Hexcels net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Park Aerospace 11.57% 7.97% 7.01% Hexcel 3.67% 9.25% 5.15%

Volatility and Risk

Park Aerospace has a beta of 0.45, suggesting that its stock price is 55% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Hexcel has a beta of 1.35, suggesting that its stock price is 35% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Hexcel beats Park Aerospace on 12 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Park Aerospace

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Park Aerospace Corp., an aerospace company, develops and manufactures solution and hot-melt advanced composite materials used to produce composite structures for the aerospace market in North America, Asia, and Europe. It offers advanced composite materials, including film adhesives and lightning strike protection materials that are used to produce primary and secondary structures for jet engines, large and regional transport aircrafts, military aircrafts, unmanned aerial vehicles, business jets, general aviation aircrafts, and rotary wing aircrafts. The company also provides specialty ablative materials for rocket motors and nozzles; and specially designed materials for radome applications. In addition, it designs and fabricates composite parts, structures and assemblies, and low volume tooling for the aerospace industry. The company was formerly known as Park Electrochemical Corp. and changed its name to Park Aerospace Corp. in July 2019. Park Aerospace Corp. was incorporated in 1954 and is based in Westbury, New York.

About Hexcel

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Hexcel Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets carbon fibers, structural reinforcements, honeycomb structures, resins, and composite materials and parts for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications. It operates through two segments, Composite Materials and Engineered Products. The Composite Materials segment manufactures and markets fabrics, multi-axials, specialty reinforcements, prepregs and other fiber-reinforced matrix materials, structural adhesives, molding compounds, tooling materials, polyurethane systems, and laminates that are used in military and commercial aircraft, wind turbine blades, recreational products, and other industrial applications, as well as in automotive, marine, and rail transportation. The Engineered Products segment manufactures and markets aircraft structures and finished aircraft components, including wing to body fairings, wing panels, flight deck panels, door liners, rotorcraft blades, spars, and tip caps; and aircraft structural sub-components and semi-finished components used in rotorcraft blades, engine nacelles, and aircraft surfaces, such as flaps, wings, elevators, and fairings; and RF interference control products for military and aerospace applications. This segment also provides interference control materials, structural composites, and services; dielectric absorber foams; magnetic absorbers; and thermoplastics for commercial and defense applications. The company sells its products directly through its managers, product managers, and sales personnel, as well as through independent distributors in the Americas, Europe, the Asia Pacific, India, and Africa. Hexcel Corporation was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.

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Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC decreased its stake in shares of Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR  Free Report) by 15.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,884 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 860 shares during the period. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLCs holdings in Danaher were worth $965,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Pacific Capital Partners Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Danaher during the first quarter worth $7,175,000. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd boosted its position in shares of Danaher by 41.4% in the 1st quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 22,459 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $4,623,000 after purchasing an additional 6,574 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC increased its stake in Danaher by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 412,751 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $84,614,000 after purchasing an additional 10,507 shares in the last quarter. Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management raised its holdings in Danaher by 5.8% during the 1st quarter. Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management now owns 1,340 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $275,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the period. Finally, Schubert & Co boosted its holdings in shares of Danaher by 0.3% in the first quarter. Schubert & Co now owns 39,648 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $8,128,000 after buying an additional 118 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.05% of the companys stock.

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Danaher Trading Down 0.2%

Danaher stock opened at $227.05 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $209.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $202.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.10. Danaher Corporation has a one year low of $171.00 and a one year high of $258.23. The company has a market capitalization of $160.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.81, a PEG ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 0.81.

Danaher Announces Dividend

Danaher ( NYSE:DHR Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 20th. The conglomerate reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.72 by $0.17. Danaher had a return on equity of 10.92% and a net margin of 14.44%.The company had revenue of $6.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.71 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Danaher Corporation will post 7.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Investors of record on Friday, September 26th were given a dividend of $0.32 per share. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 26th. Danahers payout ratio is currently 26.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DHR has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on shares of Danaher from $235.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Danaher in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Evercore ISI upped their price target on Danaher from $226.00 to $245.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Danaher from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Rothschild Redb cut shares of Danaher from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Eighteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $243.39.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Danaher

Insider Activity at Danaher

In other Danaher news, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 5,174 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.42, for a total value of $1,088,713.08. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 2,625 shares of the companys stock, valued at $552,352.50. This trade represents a 66.34% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Teri List sold 3,298 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $226.50, for a total value of $746,997.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 20,762 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,702,593. This trade represents a 13.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 30,248 shares of company stock worth $6,609,663 in the last 90 days. 11.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Danaher

(Free Report)

Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services that advance, accelerate, and integrate the development and manufacture of therapeutics; cell line and cell culture media development services; cell culture media, process liquids and buffers for manufacturing, chromatography resins, filtration technologies, aseptic fill finish; single-use hardware and consumables and services, such as the design and installation of full manufacturing suites; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes, and services; and healthcare filtration solutions.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DHR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR  Free Report).

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Mufg Securities Americas Inc. grew its stake in Everest Group, Ltd. (NYSE:EG  Free Report) by 23.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 943 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 182 shares during the period. Mufg Securities Americas Inc.s holdings in Everest Group were worth $320,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in shares of Everest Group in the 1st quarter valued at $137,418,000. Vulcan Value Partners LLC grew its position in Everest Group by 35.8% during the first quarter. Vulcan Value Partners LLC now owns 1,328,732 shares of the companys stock valued at $482,832,000 after buying an additional 350,019 shares during the period. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al purchased a new position in Everest Group in the second quarter valued at $28,785,000. Amundi raised its position in shares of Everest Group by 72.6% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 180,484 shares of the companys stock worth $65,292,000 after acquiring an additional 75,920 shares during the period. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its position in shares of Everest Group by 183.4% in the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 112,345 shares of the companys stock worth $40,716,000 after acquiring an additional 72,709 shares during the period. 92.64% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

EG has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Cowen restated a hold rating on shares of Everest Group in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on Everest Group from $380.00 to $384.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Wolfe Research raised Everest Group from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Everest Group from $383.00 to $343.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Everest Group in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Everest Group has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $368.77.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Everest Group news, Director William F. Galtney, Jr. bought 11,385 shares of Everest Group stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $307.38 per share, for a total transaction of $3,499,521.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 45,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,983,023.58. This represents a 33.38% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Allan Levine purchased 3,100 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $306.08 per share, for a total transaction of $948,848.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 4,153 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,271,150.24. This represents a 294.40% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Everest Group Price Performance

Shares of Everest Group stock opened at $310.39 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.64, a PEG ratio of 0.25 and a beta of 0.47. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $335.53 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $337.67. Everest Group, Ltd. has a 12 month low of $302.44 and a 12 month high of $392.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 0.38 and a quick ratio of 0.38.

Everest Group (NYSE:EG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 27th. The company reported $7.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $13.39 by ($5.85). Everest Group had a return on equity of 3.81% and a net margin of 3.12%.The firm had revenue of $4.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.86 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $11.80 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Everest Group, Ltd. will post 47.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Everest Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 26th will be paid a dividend of $2.00 per share. This represents a $8.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 26th. Everest Groups payout ratio is 60.93%.

Everest Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Everest Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through two segment, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Reinsurance segment writes property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines of business through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies in the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Further Reading

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Titan America (NYSE:TTAM  Get Free Report) is one of 40 publicly-traded companies in the BLDG&CONST  MISC industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare Titan America to related businesses based on the strength of its institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability, dividends, valuation and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares Titan America and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Titan America 10.83% 19.80% 10.30% Titan America Competitors -5.69% 63.04% 4.47%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings for Titan America and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Titan America 1 4 3 1 2.44 Titan America Competitors 304 1710 2449 138 2.53

Dividends

Titan America presently has a consensus price target of $17.07, suggesting a potential upside of 11.66%. As a group, BLDG&CONST  MISC companies have a potential upside of 9.91%. Given Titan Americas higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Titan America is more favorable than its peers.

Titan America pays an annual dividend of $0.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. Titan America pays out 16.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BLDG&CONST  MISC companies pay a dividend yield of 0.9% and pay out 25.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Titan America is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

91.0% of shares of all BLDG&CONST  MISC companies are owned by institutional investors. 3.6% of shares of all BLDG&CONST  MISC companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Titan America and its peers revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Titan America $1.63 billion $166.07 million 15.44 Titan America Competitors $6.81 billion $556.85 million 36.89

Titan Americas peers have higher revenue and earnings than Titan America. Titan America is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Summary

Titan America peers beat Titan America on 8 of the 14 factors compared.

About Titan America

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Titan America is a leading vertically integrated, multi-regional manufacturer and supplier of heavy building materials and services operating primarily on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States (the Eastern Seaboard). We are a leading provider of materials that contribute to lower carbon emissions than traditional building materials and/or beneficial reuse of waste materials. We are a leading provider of heavy building materials in Florida, the New York and New Jersey Metropolitan area (Metro New York), Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina (Virginia and the Carolinas, together with Metro New York and their adjacent areas, the Mid-Atlantic). We serve markets that benefit from population growth, economic growth and technology and innovation trends that are among the strongest in the United States. We have built what we believe is a unique and differentiated building materials platform in the markets we serve. Today, our manufacturing, logistics and customer support capabilities span across critical building materials and products, including cement and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), aggregates, ready-mix concrete, concrete block and other ancillary products. Additionally, we believe that our market leadership in lower carbon cement and green concrete solutions positions us to benefit from growing demand for building materials that contribute to lower carbon emissions. We believe our vertically integrated business model and continued investment in our extensive logistical capabilities have enabled us to grow with our diverse customer base across infrastructure, residential and non-residential end markets. By leveraging these competitive advantages across our two reportable segments, the Mid-Atlantic and Florida, we believe that we are in a strong position to drive meaningful growth and enhanced profitability into the future. Our executive management team has led Titan America to experience growth in scale, product portfolio and geographic footprint. This growth was driven by our management teams targeted investment strategy, which has enhanced production capacity and strengthened distribution and logistics capabilities in high-growth markets. These efforts include expanding cement and SCM storage, scaling import capacity and leveraging digital investments to optimize logistics execution and boost asset reliability across our vertically integrated operations. Between fiscal years 2013 and 2023, we have grown our sales from $539 million to approximately $1.6 billion (an 11% compound annual growth rate (CAGR)), our net income went from a loss of $65.4 million to a positive $155.2 million and our Adjusted EBITDA increased from $36 million to $328 million (a 25% CAGR), while our net income margin has grown from negative 12% to positive 10% during that same period. As a result of our continuous investment program to modernize and scale our operations, we have experienced 50% revenue growth, 150% net income growth and 65% Adjusted EBITDA growth from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2023. Additionally, we have reduced our cement operations CO2 emissions per metric ton of cementitious materials by 18%, from 718 kg of net CO2 per metric ton in 2019 to 587 kg of net CO2 per metric ton in 2023. Our scaled, vertically integrated network of more than 100 facilities includes some of the largest cement plants, import terminals, mines, ready-mix concrete plants, fly ash processing plants and concrete block production lines in our core markets. Our cement plants are capable of producing approximately 3.8 million tons of cement annually, over 95% of which contains up to 10% lower CO2 emissions than standard use ordinary Portland cement (Lower-Carbon Cement). Our cement manufacturing activities are supported by a network of mining operations containing a total of 474 million tons of reserves as of May 1, 2024, which we are in the process of expanding through various opportunities.  Since our initial investment in the Essex Cement import terminal in Metro New York in 1989, we believe we have built one of the most comprehensive, capable and reliable building materials platforms on the Eastern Seaboard through focused and strategic investments. In 1992, we acquired 59% of Roanoke Cement Company and all its related assets, establishing our domestic manufacturing and regional distribution capabilities in the Mid-Atlantic region through the addition of the Roanoke cement plant in Troutville, Virginia (our Roanoke Plant), a marine import terminal in South Norfolk, Virginia (our Norfolk Terminal) and a rail-connected distribution network in Virginia and North Carolina. Between 1996 and 2002, we invested $110 million in our Roanoke Plant, which included a major modernization of its clinker and cement production process, as well as the addition of a preheater/precalciner, a new clinker cooler, new clinker silos, a new finish mill and a new packaged cement line. In 2000, we acquired Tarmac America Inc., including the remaining 41% of Roanoke Cement Company, giving us initial positions in ready-mix concrete and block operations across the State of Florida, as well as our Pennsuco facility in Medley, Florida (Pennsuco) that produces cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete and concrete block. In 2002, we acquired Separation Technologies (ST), a market leader in fly ash beneficiation and marketing. Throughout the early 2000s, we made significant investments to expand and improve the logistics and import capabilities of the business establishing a cement import terminal at the Port Tampa Bay, Florida (our Port Tampa Bay Terminal), and modernizing the Essex import operation at Port Newark in Metro New York (our Essex Terminal). Between 2001 and 2006, we invested approximately $254 million in our Pennsuco plant, which included modernization efforts with the commissioning of a state-of-the-art clinker production line, significantly increasing clinker production capacity at much lower energy consumption rates, and the addition of a new finish mill and a new packaging operation. Between 2006 and 2007, we invested approximately $365 million to significantly expand our ready-mix footprint through the acquisition of the S&W Ready Mix Concrete Company (S&W Ready Mix), which operated 26 concrete plants in the Carolinas, the Mechanicsville Concrete Company and five plants under the Powhatan Ready Mix brand in and around Richmond, Virginia. We also completed acquisitions of three ready-mix businesses on the west coast of Florida, including nine concrete plants located in and between Tampa and Fort Myers. In addition to these acquisitions, we installed 11 greenfield ready-mix concrete plants and one block production line throughout our territory which expanded our geographic footprint and improved density of delivery and manufacturing capacity in growing markets. In early 2010, we invested in a sand mine in Sussex County, Virginia, followed by commencing our operations in New Castle, Virginia (our Castle Sands Operation) in 2011 and Branchville, Virginia in 2019. From 2014 to 2023, we invested $53 million in an overland conveyor and two new draglines at the Pennsuco quarry. In 2017, we entered into a long-term mining royalty agreement and began operating a crushed limestone quarry in Estero, Florida, near Fort Myers. We upgraded the operations by installing a dragline and mobile mining fleet, as well as expanding the existing permit to substantially increase the base of reserves, all of which provide a stable source of aggregates for both external sale and internal consumption. Between 2018 and 2023, we invested $52 million in modernizing our logistics network in the Mid-Atlantic, including (i) investments in increasing silo storage capacity and installation of an automated loadout system at our Roanoke Plant, (ii) expansion of the Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Selma and Wilmington rail terminals to allow for multiple products, optimized storage and distribution capabilities and (iii) installation of a hybrid loadout system at the Norfolk Terminal capable of loading both trucks and rail cars. In 2023, we completed a $73 million investment at our Port Tampa Bay Terminal and our Norfolk Terminal, constructing new domes, adding multi-product storage capacity of approximately 70,000 tons each, as well as on other repairs and refurbishments. Recent investments we have made seek to capitalize on dynamic growth themes in the U.S. economy, including decarbonization, circular economy, resilient urbanization, infrastructure modernization, refurbishment and renovation, new construction technologies and high-performance products. We believe these initiatives contribute to and will act as significant drivers of growth. We have developed new cement types requiring less carbon intensive inputs that perform equally or better than conventional cements, resulting in lower CO2 content of the final product. We have replaced over 95% of our standard use Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) production with Lower-Carbon Cement, improving the CO2 emissions per ton of product by up to 10% compared to OPC. We are currently investing in the development of our Type IT cement (a ternary cement blend) that requires even less amount of clinker while delivering equal or better performance than Lower-Carbon Cement. Depending on the type of SCM used (such as fly ash, slag, calcined clay or natural pozzolans) the total reduction in clinker quantity can reach up to 50% compared to OPC cements, resulting in a significant reduction of the CO2 emissions per ton of product. We are also committed to digital transformation. We are early adopters of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) technologies in our industry, which we employ to increase plant reliability and capacity utilization, improve product quality, proactively manage operating and maintenance costs and improve energy efficiency. These initiatives place our cement plants in the top five most efficient in the U.S. cement industry out of companies participating in a 2022 Portland Cement Association (PCA) survey. We created a Digital Center of Excellence in 2022, which has driven digital transformation across our entire supply chain and fostered continuous improvement and fine-tuning of existing industrial AI/ML solutions, as well as the development and implementation of similar solutions in our commercial and logistics activities. Our investments in state-of-the-art operations and process control systems have also resulted in the deployment of predictive maintenance systems, based on data analytics for equipment faults and process anomaly detection to improve the reliability of our operations, and predictive quality analytics that improve product quality and consistency. Throughout the United States, we operate and maintain two cement plants, three marine import terminals, seven active mine locations, 82 ready-mix locations with 92 batch plants, eight concrete block locations with 13 production lines, seven fly ash plants and 21 distribution hubs that can handle various combinations of our products. We were incorporated on July 17, 2024 as a company with limited liability, incorporated and operating under the laws of Belgium. Our principal executive offices are located at 1000 Bruxelles, Square de Meeus 37, Belgium, which is also our registered office. We also have offices at 5700 Lake Wright Drive, Suite 300, Norfolk, Virginia.

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FourThought Financial Partners LLC reduced its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,947 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 247 shares during the period. FourThought Financial Partners LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $4,917,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in GS. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 1,800.0% in the second quarter. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC now owns 38 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC acquired a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group during the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd bought a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group during the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Ridgewood Investments LLC raised its holdings in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 45.9% during the 2nd quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC now owns 54 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. 71.21% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, COO John E. Waldron sold 9,244 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $750.11, for a total value of $6,934,016.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 115,268 shares of the companys stock, valued at $86,463,679.48. This trade represents a 7.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.55% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on GS shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $725.00 to $790.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a neutral rating and set a $750.00 price objective (up previously from $625.00) on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Dbs Bank boosted their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $800.00 to $890.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $700.00 to $765.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $786.00.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on GS

The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Up 2.2%

NYSE GS opened at $790.75 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.23, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.11. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $786.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $721.09. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $439.38 and a twelve month high of $841.28. The stock has a market cap of $237.17 billion, a PE ratio of 16.06, a PEG ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.41.

The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 14th. The investment management company reported $12.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $10.27 by $1.98. The firm had revenue of $15.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.68 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 14.79% and a net margin of 13.18%.The companys quarterly revenue was up 19.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $8.40 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 47.12 EPS for the current year.

The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 2nd will be paid a $4.00 dividend. This represents a $16.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 32.50%.

About The Goldman Sachs Group

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in financing under securities to resale agreements.

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By Florence Loeve, Leo Marchandon and Gianluca Lo Nostro

(Reuters) -France's highest civil court heard arguments on Tuesday in a legal dispute that could require the billionaire Bollore family to buy out minority shareholders of Vivendi for several billions of euros.

Vivendi's lawyer Alain Benabent argued that the appeals court had "exceeded its powers", while Bollore's lawyer argued that it had wrongly broadened the interpretation of control beyond majority voting rights, urging the Cour de Cassation to adhere to a narrower reading of French corporate law.

"The Bollore group does not control Vivendi" he stated, downplaying the personal influence of Vincent Bollore.

Although Bollore SE directly owns only 29.9% of Vivendi, the Paris Court of Appeal ruled in April 2025 that the family exercised effective control of the company due to their larger influence over it, and that the treasury shares of Vivendi should be counted as theirs, surpassing the 30% threshold.

Minority shareholder CIAM, an activist fund opposing Vivendi and Bollore, countered with calls by its legal counsel Patrice Spinosi for a "realistic and practical" standard for determining corporate control. Spinosi urged the court to more strictly scrutinise shareholder strategies that respect legal thresholds in appearance while circumventing their effectiveness.

Bollore's side is pushing the court to dismiss the case without sending it back to a lower court, while CIAM warned the Cour de cassation against such a decision.

CIAM told Reuters last week that it would escalate the case to the European Court of Human Rights if the court rules against them and does not send it back to a lower court.

Bollore's representatives and Vivendi declined to comment on the case.

France's financial regulator, the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), chose not to provide observations on the case to the court.

The court's advocate general, whose recommendations are influential but non-binding, advised overturning the appeals court's decision. The Cour de Cassation's ruling, expected on Friday, could set a landmark precedent for corporate governance in France.

A decision against Bollore SE could result in a compulsory buyout of Vivendi's minority shareholders, straining the finances of the family business as it shifts focus from logistics to media assets.

JPMorgan analysts have estimated a 35% chance of a mandatory buyout being imposed and said Bollore might consider launching a voluntary offer if the court rules in its favour.

(Reporting by Leo Marchandon and Gianluca Lo Nostro in Gdansk, Florence Loeve in Paris; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
Arc Resources Ltd. (OTCMKTS:AETUF  Free Report)  Analysts at Capital One Financial decreased their FY2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Arc Resources in a research report issued on Friday, November 21st. Capital One Financial analyst B. Velie now forecasts that the energy company will earn $1.65 per share for the year, down from their previous estimate of $1.85. Capital One Financial has a Strong-Buy rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Arc Resources current full-year earnings is $2.23 per share. Capital One Financial also issued estimates for Arc Resources Q4 2025 earnings at $0.43 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $0.38 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.39 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.38 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.41 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $1.56 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $1.45 EPS.

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Arc Resources (OTCMKTS:AETUF  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The energy company reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.41 by ($0.14). The company had revenue of $889.86 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.05 billion. Arc Resources had a net margin of 30.77% and a return on equity of 18.59%.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Arc Resources in a report on Monday, September 15th. Wall Street Zen lowered Arc Resources from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 18th. Scotiabank downgraded Arc Resources from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. TD Securities restated a buy rating on shares of Arc Resources in a research note on Tuesday, September 30th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on Arc Resources in a research note on Monday, October 27th. They issued an overweight rating on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on AETUF

Arc Resources Price Performance

Arc Resources stock opened at $17.98 on Monday. Arc Resources has a 1 year low of $15.05 and a 1 year high of $23.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.21. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $18.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $19.51. The company has a market cap of $10.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.88, a PEG ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 0.26.

Arc Resources Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 30th were issued a $0.1376 dividend. This represents a yield of 306.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 29th. Arc Resourcess dividend payout ratio is currently 32.54%.

About Arc Resources

(Get Free Report)

ARC Resources Ltd. engages in the acquiring and developing crude oil, natural gas, condensate, and natural gas liquids in Canada. It primarily holds interests in the Montney basin located in Alberta and northeast British Columbia. ARC Resources Ltd. was founded in 1996 and is based in Calgary, Canada.

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Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 5,428 shares of the asset managers stock, valued at approximately $5,695,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 72.5% during the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,005,358 shares of the asset managers stock worth $2,104,122,000 after acquiring an additional 842,901 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in BlackRock by 73.2% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,313,350 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,243,059,000 after purchasing an additional 555,098 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of BlackRock by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,764,072 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $13,027,419,000 after purchasing an additional 387,466 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 32.8% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,131,919 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,071,339,000 after purchasing an additional 279,336 shares in the last quarter. Finally, McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter worth about $231,000. Institutional investors own 80.69% of the companys stock.

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BlackRock Price Performance

NYSE:BLK opened at $1,018.11 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $157.96 billion, a PE ratio of 26.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.48. BlackRock has a 1-year low of $773.74 and a 1-year high of $1,219.94. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,115.30 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,080.10. The company has a current ratio of 4.04, a quick ratio of 4.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39.

BlackRock Announces Dividend

BlackRock ( NYSE:BLK Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 14th. The asset manager reported $11.55 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $11.78 by ($0.23). The firm had revenue of $6.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.22 billion. BlackRock had a net margin of 26.64% and a return on equity of 15.36%. The businesss revenue was up 25.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $11.46 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that BlackRock will post 47.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th will be given a dividend of $5.21 per share. This represents a $20.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 5th. BlackRocks payout ratio is 53.59%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on BLK shares. Zacks Research lowered BlackRock from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 14th. Argus lifted their price objective on shares of BlackRock from $1,165.00 to $1,330.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. UBS Group reissued a hold rating on shares of BlackRock in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of BlackRock from $1,215.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of BlackRock in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Seventeen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1,302.53.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on BLK

Insider Transactions at BlackRock

In other news, Director Rachel Lord sold 12,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,165.04, for a total value of $13,980,480.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 7,205 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,394,113.20. This trade represents a 62.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 1.98% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About BlackRock

(Free Report)

BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks.

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Hamilton Canadian Financials Yield Maximizer ETF (TSE:HMAX  Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as C$15.79 and last traded at C$15.79, with a volume of 216166 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$15.70.

Hamilton Canadian Financials Yield Maximizer ETF Price Performance

The firms fifty day moving average is C$15.48 and its 200-day moving average is C$14.94.

Hamilton Canadian Financials Yield Maximizer ETF Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Hamilton Canadian Financials Yield Maximizer ETF is designed to provide higher monthly income from Canadas 10 largest financial services companies while employing an active covered call strategy. The investment objective of HMAX is to deliver attractive monthly income, while providing exposure to a market cap-weighted portfolio of Canadian financial services equity securities.

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Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HPP  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Hold from the fourteen brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $3.0385.

HPP has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from $3.40 to $3.10 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 27th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Hudson Pacific Properties from $2.90 to $1.90 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties in a report on Monday, November 17th. New Street Research set a $2.40 price objective on Hudson Pacific Properties in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from $2.50 to $2.40 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 13th.

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View Our Latest Stock Report on HPP

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hudson Pacific Properties

Hudson Pacific Properties Stock Up 2.6%

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. acquired a new stake in Hudson Pacific Properties in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $109,000. Connective Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties during the third quarter worth $242,000. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co grew its stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 83.8% in the third quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 619,907 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,687,000 after buying an additional 282,543 shares in the last quarter. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties in the third quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Prelude Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties in the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. 97.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Shares of HPP opened at $1.79 on Friday. Hudson Pacific Properties has a 52-week low of $1.67 and a 52-week high of $3.96. The company has a quick ratio of 2.18, a current ratio of 2.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $2.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $2.51. The company has a market capitalization of $677.40 million, a PE ratio of -0.64 and a beta of 1.62.

Hudson Pacific Propertiess stock is set to reverse split on the morning of Monday, December 1st. The 1-7 reverse split was announced on Monday, November 17th. The number of shares owned by shareholders will be adjusted after the closing bell on Friday, November 28th.

Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE:HPP  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.02 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $186.62 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $186.05 million. Hudson Pacific Properties had a negative net margin of 53.76% and a negative return on equity of 15.10%. Hudson Pacific Properties has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 0.010-0.050 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Hudson Pacific Properties will post 0.45 EPS for the current year.

Hudson Pacific Properties Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE: HPP) is a real estate investment trust serving dynamic tech and media tenants in global epicenters for these synergistic, converging and secular growth industries. Hudson Pacific's unique and high-barrier tech and media focus leverages a full-service, end-to-end value creation platform forged through deep strategic relationships and niche expertise across identifying, acquiring, transforming and developing properties into world-class amenitized, collaborative and sustainable office and studio space.

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Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. (OTCMKTS:IMPUY  Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $10.89, but opened at $11.40. Impala Platinum shares last traded at $11.11, with a volume of 5,765 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Impala Platinum to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold.

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Impala Platinum Stock Down 2.2%

Impala Platinum Announces Dividend

The company has a current ratio of 2.74, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $11.69 and its 200-day moving average price is $9.92.

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 22nd were paid a dividend of $0.0647 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 19th. This represents a yield of 61.0%.

Impala Platinum Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Impala Platinum Holdings Limited engages in the mining, processing, concentrating, refining, and sale of platinum group metals (PGMs) and associated base metals. The company produces platinum, palladium, rhodium, nickel, and by-products, as well as ruthenium, iridium, and gold. It has operations on the PGM-bearing orebodies, including the Bushveld Complex located in South Africa; and the Great Dyke situated in Zimbabwe, as well as the Canadian Shield.

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Enova International, Inc. (NYSE:ENVA  Get Free Report) CEO David Fisher sold 6,000 shares of Enova International stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.25, for a total transaction of $745,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 348,223 shares in the company, valued at $43,266,707.75. The trade was a 1.69% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website.

David Fisher also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, October 27th, David Fisher sold 6,000 shares of Enova International stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.61, for a total transaction of $735,660.00.

On Wednesday, September 17th, David Fisher sold 35,000 shares of Enova International stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.55, for a total transaction of $4,394,250.00.

On Friday, September 19th, David Fisher sold 6,000 shares of Enova International stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.89, for a total value of $755,340.00.

On Thursday, September 4th, David Fisher sold 20,000 shares of Enova International stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.96, for a total value of $2,439,200.00.

Enova International Stock Up 3.4%

Shares of NYSE:ENVA traded up $4.35 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $130.49. The stock had a trading volume of 413,489 shares, compared to its average volume of 272,483. The company has a market capitalization of $3.24 billion, a PE ratio of 11.99 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a quick ratio of 18.15, a current ratio of 19.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.20. The firms fifty day moving average is $118.86 and its 200 day moving average is $110.76. Enova International, Inc. has a 12 month low of $79.41 and a 12 month high of $133.33.

Enova International ( NYSE:ENVA Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The credit services provider reported $3.36 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.03 by $0.33. The company had revenue of $460.71 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $806.63 million. Enova International had a return on equity of 24.50% and a net margin of 9.64%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 16.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.45 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Enova International, Inc. will post 10.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Enova International announced that its board has authorized a share buyback program on Wednesday, November 12th that allows the company to repurchase $400.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the credit services provider to repurchase up to 12.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are generally a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Enova International by 34.7% during the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 63,724 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $6,153,000 after purchasing an additional 16,422 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP lifted its stake in Enova International by 430.4% during the 1st quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 33,328 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $3,218,000 after acquiring an additional 27,044 shares during the period. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S bought a new position in Enova International during the 1st quarter valued at about $56,000. Martingale Asset Management L P boosted its holdings in shares of Enova International by 91.6% during the 1st quarter. Martingale Asset Management L P now owns 36,628 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $3,537,000 after acquiring an additional 17,514 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jump Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Enova International by 430.1% during the 1st quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 25,746 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $2,486,000 after acquiring an additional 20,889 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.43% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Enova International from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Enova International in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. BTIG Research boosted their price target on Enova International from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. JMP Securities raised their price objective on Enova International from $135.00 to $149.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Finally, Zacks Research cut Enova International from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, September 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Enova International currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $116.80.

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About Enova International

(Get Free Report)

Enova International, Inc, a technology and analytics company, provides online financial services in the United States, Brazil, and internationally. The company provides installment loans; line of credit accounts; CSO programs, including arranging loans with independent third-party lenders and assisting in the preparation of loan applications and loan documents; and bank programs, such as marketing services and loan servicing for near-prime unsecured consumer installment loan.

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iShares MSCI Chile ETF (BATS:ECH  Get Free Report) shares passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $34.32 and traded as low as $25.4820. iShares MSCI Chile ETF shares last traded at $36.60, with a volume of 130,335 shares traded.

iShares MSCI Chile ETF Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $739.32 million, a PE ratio of 12.06 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $34.32 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.62.

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Institutional Trading of iShares MSCI Chile ETF

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sigma Planning Corp grew its holdings in iShares MSCI Chile ETF by 27.5% during the 2nd quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 12,134 shares of the companys stock valued at $382,000 after purchasing an additional 2,619 shares in the last quarter. Lansing Street Advisors acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Chile ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $1,604,000. Peregrine Asset Advisers Inc. purchased a new position in iShares MSCI Chile ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $588,000. Brentview Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Chile ETF during the first quarter valued at about $45,000. Finally, Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Chile ETF during the second quarter worth about $1,355,000.

iShares MSCI Chile ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI Chile Capped ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Chile Capped Investable Market Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Chile Investable Market Index (the Index). The Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure broad based equity market performance in Chile.

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Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSEARCA:VNQ  Free Report) by 5.4% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 15,192 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 780 shares during the period. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLCs holdings in Vanguard Real Estate ETF were worth $1,353,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. CreativeOne Wealth LLC grew its position in Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 1.9% during the second quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC now owns 188,467 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $16,785,000 after buying an additional 3,429 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,804,000. Prudential Financial Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 4,256,152 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $379,053,000 after purchasing an additional 82,520 shares during the period. AlphaCore Capital LLC grew its holdings in Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 2,390.6% during the second quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC now owns 18,206 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,621,000 after purchasing an additional 17,475 shares during the period. Finally, Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC increased its position in Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 3.6% in the second quarter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC now owns 242,827 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $21,626,000 after buying an additional 8,525 shares during the last quarter. 60.03% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Vanguard Real Estate ETF Stock Performance

VNQ stock opened at $89.81 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $33.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.58 and a beta of 1.03. Vanguard Real Estate ETF has a fifty-two week low of $76.92 and a fifty-two week high of $99.20. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $90.43 and a 200-day moving average of $90.19.

Vanguard Real Estate ETF Profile

Vanguard REIT ETF (the Fund) is an open-end investment company. The Fund invests in stocks issued by real estate investment trusts (REITs), companies that purchase office buildings, hotels, and other real property. It tracks the return of the MSCI US RIT Index, a gauge of real estate stocks. The Vanguard Group, Inc provides investment advisory services to the Fund.

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Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC reduced its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 69.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 28,355 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 65,761 shares during the quarter. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $687,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 8.6% during the second quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 62,494 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,515,000 after purchasing an additional 4,941 shares in the last quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in Pfizer by 31.8% during the second quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC now owns 235,258 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $5,703,000 after buying an additional 56,745 shares during the period. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Pfizer by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC now owns 103,183 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,501,000 after acquiring an additional 3,157 shares in the last quarter. Atlantic Family Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Pfizer in the 2nd quarter worth $262,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new stake in Pfizer during the second quarter valued at about $3,293,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.36% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently commented on PFE. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Pfizer from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, September 28th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Pfizer from $33.00 to $32.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $26.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Guggenheim lifted their target price on Pfizer from $33.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Scotiabank began coverage on Pfizer in a report on Thursday, November 13th. They issued a sector outperform rating and a $30.00 price target for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $28.39.

Pfizer Stock Up 0.9%

PFE stock opened at $25.26 on Tuesday. Pfizer Inc. has a 52 week low of $20.92 and a 52 week high of $27.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $24.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $24.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $143.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.44, a P/E/G ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 0.54.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $16.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.94 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 21.42% and a net margin of 16.84%. Pfizer has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.000-3.150 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 7th. Pfizers payout ratio is currently 100.00%.

Pfizer Profile

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Timber Creek Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE:PHG  Free Report) by 3.8% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 109,133 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 3,948 shares during the quarter. Timber Creek Capital Management LLCs holdings in Koninklijke Philips were worth $2,878,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in PHG. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Koninklijke Philips by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,396,095 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $111,662,000 after purchasing an additional 106,044 shares during the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Koninklijke Philips in the 1st quarter valued at about $333,000. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Koninklijke Philips by 15.1% during the 2nd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 189,720 shares of the technology companys stock worth $4,549,000 after buying an additional 24,931 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in Koninklijke Philips by 18.0% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 72,276 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,836,000 after buying an additional 11,018 shares during the period. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 2.5% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,351,015 shares of the technology companys stock worth $32,397,000 after acquiring an additional 32,663 shares in the last quarter. 13.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Koninklijke Philips Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSE PHG opened at $27.39 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $27.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is $26.14. The company has a market capitalization of $26.37 billion, a PE ratio of 136.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 0.82. Koninklijke Philips N.V. has a 12-month low of $21.48 and a 12-month high of $29.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 0.86.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Koninklijke Philips ( NYSE:PHG Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The technology company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.37. The firm had revenue of $4.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.30 billion. Koninklijke Philips had a return on equity of 12.14% and a net margin of 1.07%. Equities analysts anticipate that Koninklijke Philips N.V. will post 1.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

PHG has been the subject of several analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Koninklijke Philips in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Wall Street Zen raised Koninklijke Philips from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy.

Read Our Latest Report on PHG

Koninklijke Philips Company Profile

(Free Report)

Koninklijke Philips N.V. operates as a health technology company in North America, the Greater China, and internationally. The company operates through Diagnosis & Treatment Businesses, Connected Care Businesses, and Personal Health Businesses segments. It also provides diagnostic imaging solutions, includes magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray systems, and computed tomography (CT) systems and software comprising detector-based spectral CT solutions, as well as molecular and hybrid imaging solutions for nuclear medicine; echography solutions focused on diagnosis, treatment planning and guidance for cardiology, general imaging, obstetrics/gynecology, and point-of-care applications; integrated interventional systems, and interventional diagnostic and therapeutic devices to treat coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks during the 2025 Employers' Day in Berlin. Fabian Sommer/dpa

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday asked for patience from business leaders as he seeks to turn around the fortunes of the German economy.

Addressing the Employers' Day summit in Berlin, Merz said the German economy - Europe's largest - is "not a speedboat" but a "heavy ship, or at least a fairly large tanker with fairly large engines."

"But even such a large tanker cannot be turned around at a 180-degree angle in a matter of days like a speedboat," he said. Reforming the economy will take time, especially when structures have become entrenched over years, if not decades, the chancellor argued.

Defending his record since taking office in May, Merz said his government has already introduced tax relief for companies and measures to reduce bureaucracy and lower energy costs. He also announced further reforms to social security systems.

Germany's economy is struggling to recover from consecutive years of recession. While Merz has pledged to revive the German economic motor, the Federal Statistical Office on Tuesday confirmed that gross domestic product (GDP) was flat in the third quarter of the year.

Economists expect minimal growth for the full year of 2025, with activity due to pick up next year as a result of massive government investment.

Merz also highlighted the impact of major geopolitical changes and the "brutal reality" he has faced in office, including the war in Ukraine, the rise of authoritarian countries, an aggressive China and US President Donald Trump's "America First" tariff strategy.
Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 78,621.2% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 11,552,336 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 11,537,661 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company makes up 6.0% of Laurel Wealth Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 2nd biggest position. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $9,005,392,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the first quarter worth about $27,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Blume Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 46.7% in the 2nd quarter. Blume Capital Management Inc. now owns 44 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. IMG Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, TD Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 129.2% during the 1st quarter. TD Capital Management LLC now owns 55 shares of the companys stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 31 shares during the period. 82.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 0.8%

NYSE LLY opened at $1,067.68 on Tuesday. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12 month low of $623.78 and a 12 month high of $1,075.72. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $862.28 and a 200 day simple moving average of $790.04. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The company has a market capitalization of $1.01 trillion, a PE ratio of 69.78, a P/E/G ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.43.

Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.42 by $0.60. The firm had revenue of $17.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.09 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 92.72% and a net margin of 25.91%.The companys revenue was up 53.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.18 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th will be issued a dividend of $1.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 14th. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is currently 29.35%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Berenberg Bank reiterated a hold rating and issued a $830.00 price target (down from $970.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Wednesday, September 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,050.00 to $1,150.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Leerink Partners raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and upped their target price for the stock from $886.00 to $1,104.00 in a report on Monday, November 10th. DZ Bank raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 14th. Finally, Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a moderate sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 27th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $1,047.50.

View Our Latest Report on Eli Lilly and Company

About Eli Lilly and Company

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.

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Lenovo Group Ltd. (OTCMKTS:LNVGY  Get Free Report) shares gapped up before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $25.14, but opened at $26.11. Lenovo Group shares last traded at $25.1550, with a volume of 15,450 shares.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Lenovo Group from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on LNVGY

Lenovo Group Trading Up 0.3%

The stocks fifty day moving average price is $29.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $27.02. The company has a current ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 0.71.

Lenovo Group (OTCMKTS:LNVGY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 19th. The technology company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.15. Lenovo Group had a return on equity of 28.73% and a net margin of 2.17%.The firm had revenue of $20.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.09 billion. Equities research analysts forecast that Lenovo Group Ltd. will post 2.06 EPS for the current year.

About Lenovo Group

(Get Free Report)

Lenovo Group Limited, an investment holding company, develops, manufactures, and markets technology products and services. It operates through Intelligent Devices Group, Infrastructure Solutions Group, and Solutions and Services Group segments. The company offers commercial and consumer personal computers, as well as servers and workstations; and a family of mobile Internet devices, including tablets and smartphones.

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Magnetar Financial LLC lessened its position in shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:WH  Free Report) by 90.2% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 5,740 shares of the companys stock after selling 52,843 shares during the quarter. Magnetar Financial LLCs holdings in Wyndham Hotels & Resorts were worth $466,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Boston Partners raised its stake in shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts by 8.7% in the second quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,117,752 shares of the companys stock worth $253,424,000 after purchasing an additional 248,909 shares during the last quarter. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. increased its holdings in Wyndham Hotels & Resorts by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. now owns 2,369,461 shares of the companys stock worth $214,460,000 after buying an additional 68,172 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Wyndham Hotels & Resorts by 5.0% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,462,126 shares of the companys stock worth $118,757,000 after buying an additional 70,135 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its stake in Wyndham Hotels & Resorts by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,364,127 shares of the companys stock valued at $110,782,000 after acquiring an additional 7,522 shares during the period. Finally, TimesSquare Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts by 36.1% in the 2nd quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC now owns 864,293 shares of the companys stock valued at $70,189,000 after acquiring an additional 229,173 shares during the last quarter. 93.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently issued reports on WH. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from $103.50 to $95.50 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Barclays decreased their price objective on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from $99.00 to $95.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 24th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $82.00 target price on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $91.00 price target on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $96.77.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, General Counsel Paul F. Cash sold 36,379 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.66, for a total value of $2,606,919.14. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel directly owned 39,123 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,803,554.18. This represents a 48.18% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 2.46% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Trading Down 1.6%

Shares of NYSE:WH opened at $71.57 on Tuesday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $76.87 and its 200-day moving average price is $82.39. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has a 1 year low of $69.21 and a 1 year high of $113.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.43, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 1.16.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:WH  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The company reported $1.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.04. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts had a return on equity of 61.12% and a net margin of 23.54%.The company had revenue of $764.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $406.29 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.39 EPS. Wyndham Hotels & Resortss revenue was down 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.480-4.62 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Wyndham Hotels & Resorts will post 4.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a $0.41 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Wyndham Hotels & Resortss payout ratio is 37.70%.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Profile

(Free Report)

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc engages in the franchise and operation of hotels under the Wyndham brand. It operates through the Hotel Franchising and Hotel Management segments. The Hotel Franchising segment focuses on licensing the companys lodging brands and providing related services to third-party hotel owners and others.

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MAI Capital Management reduced its position in shares of SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF (NYSEARCA:FEZ  Free Report) by 10.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,161 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,897 shares during the period. MAI Capital Managements holdings in SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF were worth $1,025,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its holdings in shares of SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF by 77.1% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 14,885 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $889,000 after buying an additional 6,480 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC boosted its holdings in shares of SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF by 28.4% in the 2nd quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 1,140,164 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $68,102,000 after acquiring an additional 252,000 shares in the last quarter. NFP Retirement Inc. bought a new stake in SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $9,985,000. PKS Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,321,000. Finally, Bedell Frazier Investment Counselling LLC acquired a new stake in SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at $7,846,000.

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SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF Stock Performance

Shares of FEZ opened at $60.98 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $4.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.43 and a beta of 1.06. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $62.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $60.51. SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF has a 52-week low of $47.51 and a 52-week high of $64.36.

SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF Company Profile

SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF (the Fund) seeks to replicate as closely as possible the price and yield of the EURO STOXX 50 Index (the Index). The Index is designed to represent the performance of some of the companies across components of the 20 EURO STOXX Supersector Indexes. The EURO STOXX Supersector Indexes are subsets of the EURO STOXX Index.

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Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW  Get Free Report) was the recipient of some unusual options trading on Tuesday. Traders acquired 43,691 call options on the company. This represents an increase of 51% compared to the average volume of 28,936 call options.

Medical Properties Trust Trading Up 5.7%

NYSE:MPW traded up $0.31 on Tuesday, reaching $5.63. The stock had a trading volume of 6,108,145 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,891,483. The firms fifty day moving average is $5.11 and its two-hundred day moving average is $4.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00, a current ratio of 2.76 and a quick ratio of 2.76. The company has a market cap of $3.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.35 and a beta of 1.42. Medical Properties Trust has a 12-month low of $3.51 and a 12-month high of $6.34.

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Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPW  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.13 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.16 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $237.52 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $244.89 million. Medical Properties Trust had a negative return on equity of 28.80% and a negative net margin of 155.20%.The firms revenue was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.16 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Medical Properties Trust will post 0.78 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Medical Properties Trust Increases Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 8th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 11th will be issued a $0.09 dividend. This is a positive change from Medical Properties Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 11th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.4%. Medical Properties Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -30.51%.

A number of research firms have commented on MPW. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Medical Properties Trust from $4.50 to $5.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Medical Properties Trust from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 15th. Zacks Research raised shares of Medical Properties Trust from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Medical Properties Trust currently has an average rating of Reduce and an average price target of $5.50.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Medical Properties Trust

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Eastern Bank purchased a new position in shares of Medical Properties Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its holdings in Medical Properties Trust by 346.5% in the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 7,274 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 5,645 shares in the last quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Medical Properties Trust in the third quarter valued at about $37,000. Rothschild Investment LLC acquired a new position in shares of Medical Properties Trust during the third quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust in the first quarter worth about $41,000. 71.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Medical Properties Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed in 2003 to acquire and develop net-leased hospital facilities. From its inception in Birmingham, Alabama, the Company has grown to become one of the world's largest owners of hospital real estate with 441 facilities and approximately 44,000 licensed beds as of September 30, 2023.

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National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA  Get Free Report) had its price objective increased by research analysts at Scotiabank from C$159.00 to C$166.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday,BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has an outperform rating on the financial services providers stock. Scotiabanks price target indicates a potential upside of 0.55% from the stocks previous close.

Several other research firms also recently weighed in on NA. Cibc World Mkts upgraded National Bank of Canada from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on National Bank of Canada from C$152.00 to C$148.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 28th. CIBC lifted their target price on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$154.00 to C$166.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Desjardins upgraded shares of National Bank of Canada from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$147.00 to C$158.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of C$150.77.

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National Bank of Canada Trading Up 0.9%

National Bank of Canada Company Profile

TSE:NA traded up C$1.44 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching C$165.09. 433,055 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,816,546. The firm has a market cap of C$64.74 billion, a PE ratio of 16.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.14 and a beta of 1.08. National Bank of Canada has a twelve month low of C$106.67 and a twelve month high of C$165.17. The stocks 50-day moving average is C$154.51 and its 200-day moving average is C$145.29.

(Get Free Report)

National Bank of Canada is the sixth-largest Canadian bank. The bank offers integrated financial services, primarily in the province of Quebec as well as the city of Toronto. Operational segments include personal and commercial banking, wealth management, and a financial markets group.

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Northern Dynasty Minerals, Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:NAK  Get Free Report) (TSE:NDM) shot up 9.3% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $1.73 and last traded at $1.7050. 4,925,508 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 53% from the average session volume of 10,572,625 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.56.

Northern Dynasty Minerals Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $951.86 million, a P/E ratio of -15.68 and a beta of -0.60. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $1.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1.32.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Northern Dynasty Minerals

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in Northern Dynasty Minerals during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals by 37.5% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 18,320 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Northern Dynasty Minerals in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Ballentine Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals by 121.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 28,237 shares of the mining companys stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 15,459 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Plancorp LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals during the first quarter valued at $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 10.55% of the companys stock.

Northern Dynasty Minerals Company Profile

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. engages in the exploration of mineral properties in the United States. It holds a 100% interest in the Pebble Copper-Gold-Molybdenum-Silver-Rhenium project comprising 1,840 mineral claims that covers an area of approximately 274 square miles located in southwest Alaska, the United States.

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NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NBY  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $1.34 and traded as low as $0.87. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals shares last traded at $0.91, with a volume of 121,109 shares changing hands.

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Price Performance

The business has a fifty day moving average price of $1.34 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.06. The company has a market capitalization of $5.47 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.09 and a beta of 0.62.

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NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 1st were paid a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 30th. This represents a yield of 3,791.0%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On NovaBay Pharmaceuticals

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Company Profile

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. C2C Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals by 78.2% in the 2nd quarter. C2C Wealth Management LLC now owns 98,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 43,000 shares during the last quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals during the 3rd quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Ground Swell Capital LLC acquired a new position in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. 23.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

(Get Free Report)

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc develops and sells eyecare and wound care products in the United States and internationally. It offers Avenova Spray, a solution for removing foreign materials, including microorganisms and debris from skin around the eye, such as the eyelid; Avenova Eye Health Support antioxidant-rich oral supplements; Avenova Lubricating Eye Drops for instant relief; NovaWipes by Avenova; Avenova WarmEye Compress to soothe the eyes; and the i-Chek by Avenova to monitor physical eyelid health.

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Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $16.67 and last traded at $16.6150, with a volume of 28992682 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.92.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. KeyCorp upped their price target on NU from $15.00 to $19.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 14th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of NU in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Santander raised shares of NU to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, August 25th. Susquehanna boosted their price target on shares of NU from $17.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research report on Friday, November 14th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded NU from a sell rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $9.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Wednesday, August 20th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $17.44.

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NU Trading Up 4.3%

The stock has a 50 day moving average of $15.68 and a 200 day moving average of $14.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.56 and a quick ratio of 0.56. The firm has a market cap of $80.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.56, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.08.

NU (NYSE:NU  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.15 by $0.02. NU had a return on equity of 30.12% and a net margin of 17.97%.The firm had revenue of $4.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.96 billion. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Nu Holdings Ltd. will post 0.58 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NU

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. LWM Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in NU in the third quarter worth $658,000. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. bought a new stake in NU during the 3rd quarter valued at $10,502,000. Centaurus Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in NU during the 3rd quarter valued at $968,000. Campbell Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in NU by 87.5% in the 3rd quarter. Campbell Capital Management Inc. now owns 386,240 shares of the companys stock worth $6,184,000 after acquiring an additional 180,240 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Danske Bank A S purchased a new position in shares of NU in the third quarter valued at about $13,210,000. Institutional investors own 84.02% of the companys stock.

NU Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Nu Holdings Ltd. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of digital banking services. The company was founded by David Velez Osorno, Cristina Helena Zingaretti Junqueira, and Adam Edward Wible on February 26, 2016 and is headquartered in George Town, Cayman Islands.

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Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of PACS Group (NYSE:PACS  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Saturday.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on PACS Group from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Weiss Ratings upgraded PACS Group from a sell (d) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a research report on Thursday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $26.75.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on PACS Group

PACS Group Stock Up 8.9%

PACS opened at $29.96 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $4.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.53 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.94. The firms fifty day moving average price is $13.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $12.18. PACS Group has a fifty-two week low of $7.50 and a fifty-two week high of $30.42.

PACS Group (NYSE:PACS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 19th. The company reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by ($0.14). PACS Group had a return on equity of 21.39% and a net margin of 3.29%.The business had revenue of $1.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.11 billion. PACS Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that PACS Group will post 1.01 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of PACS. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in PACS Group by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 172,649 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,941,000 after purchasing an additional 2,890 shares in the last quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd grew its holdings in shares of PACS Group by 138.8% during the first quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 54,584 shares of the companys stock worth $614,000 after purchasing an additional 31,728 shares during the last quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new stake in shares of PACS Group during the first quarter worth $4,238,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its stake in shares of PACS Group by 19.5% in the first quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 25,078 shares of the companys stock valued at $282,000 after buying an additional 4,100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its stake in shares of PACS Group by 8.4% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 34,153 shares of the companys stock valued at $384,000 after buying an additional 2,656 shares in the last quarter.

PACS Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

PACS Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities in the United States. The company also provides senior care and independent facilities. It engages in the acquisition, ownership, and leasing of health care-related properties. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Farmington, Utah.

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Grayscale's Dogecoin Trust ETF (GDOG) and XRP Trust ETF (GXRP) are set to debut later Monday, with the underlying tokens on course for their worst months since February, alongside the rest of the crypto market. The CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20) has lost 23% since the start of November.

ETF flows in the month reflect the underlying assets' performance. Spot bitcoin (BTC) ETFs in the U.S. have posted net outflows of $3.55 billion since the beginning of the month. Any more might take the figure back above February's record $3.56 billion.

Bitcoin miner CleanSpark (CLSK) reports fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday. Rival Riot Platforms (RIOT) posted unexpected profit and record revenue and Iren (IREN) reported record profit and revenue as it moves into artificial intelligence.

What to Watch

Crypto Nov. 24: Monads public mainnet to start up with native token MON. Nov. 24: Two new spot crypto ETFs  Grayscale Dogecoin Trust ETF (GDOG) and Grayscale XRP Trust ETF (GXRP)  are expected to go live on NYSE Arca. Nov. 25: Digital asset treasury firm KR1 Plc to commence trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange under ticker 0A9X, migrating from the Aquis Stock Exchange. Nov. 26: CTC-1, the first satellite constellation running the Spacecoin (SPACE) protocol, will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Macro Nov. 25, 7 a.m.: Mexico Sept. Retail Sales YoY (Prev. 2.4%), MoM (Prev. 0.6%). Nov. 25, 8:15 a.m.: ADP Employment Change Weekly (Prev. -2.5K). Nov. 25, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. Sept. PPI. Headline YoY Est. 2.7%, MoM Est. 0.3%. Core YoY (Prev. 2.8%), MoM (Prev. -0.1%). Nov. 25, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. Sept. Retail Sales YoY (Prev. 5%), MoM Est. 0.4%. Nov. 26, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. Sept. Durable Goods Orders MoM Est. 0.3%. Nov. 26, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. Initial Jobless Claims for week ended Nov. 22 (Prev. 220K), Continuing Jobless Claims for week ended Nov. 15 (Prev. 1974K). Nov. 28, 7 a.m.: Brazil Oct. Unemployment Rate (Prev. 5.6%). Nov. 28, 7 a.m.: Mexico Oct. Unemployment Rate (Prev. 3%). Nov. 28, 8:30 a.m.: Canada Q3 GDP Growth Rate. Annualized (Prev.-1.6%), QoQ (Prev. -0.4%).

Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data) Nov. 25: Cleanspark (CLSK), post-market.



Token Events
PagerDuty (NYSE:PD  Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 1.110-1.120 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 0.670. The company issued revenue guidance of $490.0 million-$492.0 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $497.2 million. PagerDuty also updated its Q4 2026 guidance to 0.240-0.250 EPS.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have commented on PD. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (e+) rating on shares of PagerDuty in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their price objective on shares of PagerDuty from $21.00 to $19.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, September 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on shares of PagerDuty from $20.00 to $18.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 4th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of PagerDuty from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Sunday, August 31st. Finally, TD Cowen raised PagerDuty from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $22.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, PagerDuty currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $18.40.

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PagerDuty Stock Performance

NYSE:PD traded up $0.36 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $15.22. 3,050,638 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,625,170. The companys 50 day moving average price is $15.84 and its 200-day moving average price is $15.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -95.11, a PEG ratio of 10.83 and a beta of 0.83. PagerDuty has a 52-week low of $13.69 and a 52-week high of $21.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18, a current ratio of 2.39 and a quick ratio of 2.39.

PagerDuty (NYSE:PD  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 25th. The company reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.24 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $124.55 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $124.92 million. PagerDuty had a positive return on equity of 2.81% and a negative net margin of 2.87%. PagerDuty has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.110-1.120 EPS. Q4 2026 guidance at 0.240-0.250 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that PagerDuty will post -0.27 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On PagerDuty

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Danske Bank A S purchased a new stake in PagerDuty in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $13,271,000. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. acquired a new position in shares of PagerDuty in the 3rd quarter valued at $13,710,000. Westerly Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in PagerDuty during the third quarter worth $330,000. Verition Fund Management LLC boosted its holdings in PagerDuty by 681.7% during the third quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 356,372 shares of the companys stock worth $5,887,000 after buying an additional 310,783 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in PagerDuty during the third quarter valued at $246,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.26% of the companys stock.

About PagerDuty

(Get Free Report)

PagerDuty, Inc engages in the operation of a digital operations management platform in the United States and internationally. The companys digital operations management platform collects data and digital signals from virtually any software-enabled system or device and leverage machine learning to correlate, process, and predict opportunities and issues.

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Prudential Financial Inc. reduced its stake in Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW  Free Report) by 28.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 474,303 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 189,137 shares during the quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. owned about 0.08% of Edwards Lifesciences worth $37,095,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vestor Capital LLC increased its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 2,239.2% during the 2nd quarter. Vestor Capital LLC now owns 68,772 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $5,379,000 after purchasing an additional 65,832 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,036,837 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $315,721,000 after acquiring an additional 75,194 shares during the period. AlphaCore Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences in the 2nd quarter valued at $163,000. Mufg Securities Americas Inc. raised its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 24.5% in the 2nd quarter. Mufg Securities Americas Inc. now owns 13,000 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,017,000 after acquiring an additional 2,560 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Journey Strategic Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Edwards Lifesciences during the 2nd quarter worth about $313,000. 79.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Edwards Lifesciences

In other Edwards Lifesciences news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 13,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.08, for a total value of $1,080,040.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 39,898 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,314,725.84. This trade represents a 24.58% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Daniel J. Lippis sold 1,020 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction on Monday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.55, for a total transaction of $84,201.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 22,002 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,816,265.10. This trade represents a 4.43% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 1.29% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EW has been the topic of a number of research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $89.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $84.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. UBS Group restated a neutral rating and set a $90.00 price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. National Bankshares set a $92.00 price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group reissued a hold rating and set a $84.00 target price (up previously from $81.00) on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $91.39.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on EW

Edwards Lifesciences Trading Down 0.5%

EW stock opened at $84.70 on Tuesday. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation has a 52-week low of $65.94 and a 52-week high of $87.21. The company has a quick ratio of 3.87, a current ratio of 4.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The firm has a market cap of $49.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.19, a PEG ratio of 3.97 and a beta of 1.03. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $78.97 and its 200-day simple moving average is $78.16.

Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The medical research company reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $1.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.49 billion. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 72.96% and a return on equity of 15.01%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.67 EPS. Edwards Lifesciences has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.560-2.620 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 0.580-0.640 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Edwards Lifesciences Corporation will post 2.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Edwards Lifesciences Profile

(Free Report)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names.

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PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK (OTCMKTS:PPERY  Get Free Report) shares gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $11.75, but opened at $12.50. PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK shares last traded at $12.50, with a volume of 2,524 shares.

PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK Trading Up 2.5%

The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $10.76 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $11.49.

About PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK

(Get Free Report)

PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk provides various banking products and services to individuals and businesses in Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Timor Leste, Shanghai, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and the Cayman Islands. The company operates through Wholesale and Retail segments. It offers savings and current accounts, time deposits, demand deposits, and foreign currency savings and current accounts; motorcycle loans, mortgage loan, and housing loans, as well as loans for various purposes, such as education, home renovation, marriage, health, and other needs for individuals; and working capital loans, investment loans, people's business loans, syndicated loans, and micro business loans for businesses.

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Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. reduced its stake in Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM  Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A) by 85.9% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 32,909 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 199,906 shares during the period. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P.s holdings in Brookfield Asset Management were worth $1,819,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of BAM. GoalVest Advisory LLC grew its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 9.5% in the second quarter. GoalVest Advisory LLC now owns 2,180 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $121,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Lincoln Capital LLC boosted its stake in Brookfield Asset Management by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Lincoln Capital LLC now owns 23,151 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,145,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the period. Kirr Marbach & Co. LLC IN grew its holdings in Brookfield Asset Management by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Kirr Marbach & Co. LLC IN now owns 35,649 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,971,000 after buying an additional 249 shares in the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. increased its position in Brookfield Asset Management by 7.8% during the 2nd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 3,454 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $191,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the period. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA lifted its holdings in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 22.5% during the second quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 1,532 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $85,000 after buying an additional 281 shares in the last quarter. 68.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Scotiabank decreased their price target on shares of Brookfield Asset Management from $67.25 to $65.75 and set a sector outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 10th. TD Securities increased their target price on shares of Brookfield Asset Management from $66.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Morgan Stanley set a $62.00 price target on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating and issued a $58.00 price target on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. Finally, CIBC lifted their price objective on Brookfield Asset Management from $70.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $64.32.

Brookfield Asset Management Stock Performance

NYSE BAM opened at $50.83 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $83.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.11, a P/E/G ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 1.38. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $55.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $57.21. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. has a 1 year low of $41.78 and a 1 year high of $64.10.

Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM  Get Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 7th. The financial services provider reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.39 by $0.02. Brookfield Asset Management had a net margin of 55.92% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The business had revenue of $1.27 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.34 billion. As a group, research analysts expect that Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. will post 1.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Brookfield Asset Management Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.4375 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 28th. This represents a $1.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Brookfield Asset Managements payout ratio is 109.38%.

Brookfield Asset Management Company Profile

(Free Report)

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. is a real estate investment firm specializing in alternative asset management services. Its renewable power and transition business includes the operates in the hydroelectric, wind, solar, distributed generation, and sustainable solution sector. The company's infrastructure business engages in the utilities, transport, midstream, and data infrastructure sectors.

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Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS  Free Report) by 6.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 162,848 shares of the information technology services providers stock after purchasing an additional 9,529 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLCs holdings in Fidelity National Information Services were worth $13,257,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Monetary Management Group Inc. increased its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 2.8% during the first quarter. Monetary Management Group Inc. now owns 4,960 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $370,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the period. Phoenix Wealth Advisors increased its holdings in shares of Fidelity National Information Services by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Phoenix Wealth Advisors now owns 30,861 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $2,305,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares during the period. CX Institutional increased its holdings in shares of Fidelity National Information Services by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 6,317 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $514,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares during the period. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC lifted its stake in shares of Fidelity National Information Services by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC now owns 4,010 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $299,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealthspire Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Fidelity National Information Services by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC now owns 5,426 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $442,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.23% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Fidelity National Information Services

In other news, Director Jeffrey A. Goldstein acquired 889 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 15th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $67.66 per share, with a total value of $60,149.74. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 13,588 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $919,364.08. This trade represents a 7.00% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock.

Fidelity National Information Services Stock Up 0.5%

FIS stock opened at $64.38 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.34 billion, a PE ratio of 357.70 and a beta of 1.01. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $59.51 and a 52 week high of $86.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $65.50 and a 200 day moving average of $72.79.

Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE:FIS  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The information technology services provider reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.48 by $0.03. Fidelity National Information Services had a net margin of 1.09% and a return on equity of 18.73%. The business had revenue of $2.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.65 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.40 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. Fidelity National Information Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.740-5.780 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. will post 5.74 earnings per share for the current year.

Fidelity National Information Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 9th. Fidelity National Information Servicess payout ratio is presently 592.59%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

FIS has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Susquehanna reduced their target price on shares of Fidelity National Information Services from $81.00 to $77.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 12th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on shares of Fidelity National Information Services in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. They set an overweight rating and a $81.00 price objective for the company. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d) rating on shares of Fidelity National Information Services in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Fidelity National Information Services from $82.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Fidelity National Information Services from $75.00 to $70.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $85.41.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Fidelity National Information Services

Fidelity National Information Services Profile

(Free Report)

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc engages in the provision of financial services technology solutions for financial institutions, businesses, and developers worldwide. It operates through Banking Solutions, Capital Market Solutions, and Corporate and Other segments. The company provides core processing and ancillary applications; mobile and online banking; fraud, risk management, and compliance; card and retail payment; electronic funds transfer and network; wealth and retirement; and item processing and output solutions.

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Shares of Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU  Get Free Report) (TSE:SU) have been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the eleven ratings firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $65.00.

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on SU. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $65.00 price target on shares of Suncor Energy in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Zacks Research lowered shares of Suncor Energy from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Raymond James Financial raised shares of Suncor Energy from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Suncor Energy in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Suncor Energy in a research note on Friday, October 17th. They issued an equal weight rating for the company.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Suncor Energy

Suncor Energy Stock Down 0.2%

SU stock opened at $44.24 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $41.50 and a two-hundred day moving average of $39.67. The company has a market cap of $53.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.61, a PEG ratio of 3.52 and a beta of 0.75. Suncor Energy has a 12-month low of $30.79 and a 12-month high of $45.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU  Get Free Report) (TSE:SU) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.85 by $0.22. Suncor Energy had a net margin of 11.35% and a return on equity of 13.21%. The business had revenue of $9.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.48 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Suncor Energy will post 3.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Suncor Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 24th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 3rd will be given a $0.60 dividend. This is an increase from Suncor Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 3rd. Suncor Energys payout ratio is presently 55.74%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC lifted its holdings in Suncor Energy by 28.2% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 10,221 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $427,000 after purchasing an additional 2,247 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Suncor Energy in the third quarter worth $1,029,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Suncor Energy by 64.6% during the 3rd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 110,503 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $4,620,000 after buying an additional 43,361 shares during the period. Armistice Capital LLC acquired a new position in Suncor Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $204,000. Finally, CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co grew its stake in Suncor Energy by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 220,972 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $9,250,000 after buying an additional 4,162 shares during the last quarter. 67.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Suncor Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Suncor Energy Inc operates as an integrated energy company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment explores, develops, and produces bitumen, synthetic crude oil, and related products.

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Teilinger Capital Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 150,000 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $12,468,000. Entergy accounts for about 12.1% of Teilinger Capital Ltd.s portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest holding.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in ETR. First American Trust FSB acquired a new position in Entergy during the first quarter worth $3,896,000. HB Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Entergy by 15.2% in the second quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 22,271 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,851,000 after purchasing an additional 2,932 shares in the last quarter. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI acquired a new position in Entergy during the 1st quarter worth about $32,658,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its holdings in Entergy by 26.0% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 96,142 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $8,219,000 after acquiring an additional 19,862 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC grew its holdings in Entergy by 369.8% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 86,001 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $7,352,000 after acquiring an additional 67,696 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.07% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ETR has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Entergy from $91.00 to $106.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Barclays set a $100.00 price objective on Entergy and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Entergy to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. KeyCorp restated an overweight rating and set a $106.00 target price (up previously from $96.00) on shares of Entergy in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Entergy in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $102.47.

Entergy Trading Up 0.0%

Shares of Entergy stock opened at $95.52 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $42.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.63. Entergy Corporation has a 12-month low of $73.15 and a 12-month high of $98.58. The businesss 50 day moving average is $94.57 and its 200-day moving average is $88.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62.

Entergy (NYSE:ETR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 8th. The utilities provider reported $0.71 EPS for the quarter. Entergy had a net margin of 14.26% and a return on equity of 11.53%. The firm had revenue of $2.37 billion during the quarter. Equities research analysts predict that Entergy Corporation will post 3.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Entergy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, November 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.64 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 13th. This is an increase from Entergys previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. This represents a $2.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. Entergys dividend payout ratio is 63.21%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Entergy news, insider Anastasia Minor sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.39, for a total transaction of $481,950.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 10,122 shares of the companys stock, valued at $975,659.58. This trade represents a 33.06% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ralph Lewis Ropp purchased 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 12th. The stock was bought at an average price of $96.69 per share, for a total transaction of $96,690.00. Following the purchase, the director owned 1,050 shares in the company, valued at $101,524.50. The trade was a 2,000.00% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 10,179 shares of company stock valued at $981,707 over the last 90 days. 0.39% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Entergy

(Free Report)

Entergy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and retail distribution of electricity in the United States. It generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including the City of New Orleans; and distributes natural gas.

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PagSeguro Digital (NYSE:PAGS  Get Free Report) had its price target upped by analysts at UBS Group from $12.00 to $13.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock. UBS Groups price target suggests a potential upside of 35.63% from the companys previous close.

A number of other research firms have also recently issued reports on PAGS. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of PagSeguro Digital in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Susquehanna lifted their target price on shares of PagSeguro Digital from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Wall Street Zen downgraded PagSeguro Digital from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, October 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $9.00 price target (down previously from $12.00) on shares of PagSeguro Digital in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded PagSeguro Digital from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, September 19th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $11.71.

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PagSeguro Digital Stock Performance

NYSE:PAGS traded down $0.26 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $9.59. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,882,657 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,017,215. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $9.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $9.12. PagSeguro Digital has a 1 year low of $6.11 and a 1 year high of $11.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.43, a PEG ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 1.59.

PagSeguro Digital (NYSE:PAGS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 12th. The company reported $0.36 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.01. PagSeguro Digital had a return on equity of 15.39% and a net margin of 11.00%.The firm had revenue of $937.15 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $971.30 million. Equities analysts anticipate that PagSeguro Digital will post 1.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Nuveen LLC purchased a new stake in PagSeguro Digital during the 1st quarter valued at about $59,603,000. Maple Rock Capital Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of PagSeguro Digital during the third quarter worth about $28,011,000. Baupost Group LLC MA purchased a new stake in PagSeguro Digital in the 2nd quarter valued at $24,100,000. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. boosted its stake in PagSeguro Digital by 5,302.5% during the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 2,156,848 shares of the companys stock worth $21,568,000 after purchasing an additional 2,116,925 shares during the period. Finally, Orbis Allan Gray Ltd purchased a new position in PagSeguro Digital during the 2nd quarter worth $20,106,000. 45.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

PagSeguro Digital Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

PagSeguro Digital Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides financial technology solutions and services for consumers, individual entrepreneurs, micro-merchants, and small and medium-sized companies in Brazil and internationally. The company's products and services include PagSeguro Ecosystem, a digital ecosystem that operates as a closed loop where its clients are able to address their primary day to day financial needs, including receiving and spending funds, and managing and growing their businesses; PagBank digital account, which offers payment and banking services through the PagBank mobile app, as well as centralizes various cash-in options, functionalities, services, and cash-out options in a single ecosystem; and PlugPag, a tool for medium-sized and larger merchants that enables them to connect their point of sale (POS) device directly to their enterprise resource planning software or sales automation system through Bluetooth.

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Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA (OTCMKTS:USNZY  Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $0.95, but opened at $1.02. Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais shares last traded at $1.02, with a volume of 3,000 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Zacks Research upgraded Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold.

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Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais Trading Up 8.4%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 4.21 and a quick ratio of 2.64. The firm has a market cap of $564.25 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.10 and a beta of 1.48. The firms fifty day moving average is $0.96 and its 200-day moving average is $0.91.

Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais (OTCMKTS:USNZY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 24th. The basic materials company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.01) by $0.02. Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais had a positive return on equity of 1.22% and a negative net margin of 12.91%.The company had revenue of $1.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.20 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA will post 0.09 earnings per share for the current year.

About Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais

(Get Free Report)

Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA manufactures and markets flat steel products in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Mining and Logistics, Steel Metallurgy, and Steel Transformation. It extracts and process iron ore, such as pellet and sinter feed and, granulated iron ore; provides storage, handling, and road cargo transportation services; and operates highway and railway cargo terminals.

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Verity & Verity LLC raised its position in Consolidated Edison Inc (NYSE:ED  Free Report) by 24.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,438 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,072 shares during the period. Verity & Verity LLCs holdings in Consolidated Edison were worth $546,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp raised its stake in Consolidated Edison by 46.7% during the second quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 3,714 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $373,000 after acquiring an additional 1,183 shares in the last quarter. AG2R LA Mondiale Gestion D Actifs bought a new stake in Consolidated Edison during the first quarter worth about $1,631,000. Texas Yale Capital Corp. increased its holdings in shares of Consolidated Edison by 41.8% during the second quarter. Texas Yale Capital Corp. now owns 16,627 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,669,000 after buying an additional 4,900 shares in the last quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd raised its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison by 65.5% in the second quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 14,502 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,423,000 after acquiring an additional 5,742 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co boosted its holdings in shares of Consolidated Edison by 18.8% in the 2nd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 6,960 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $698,000 after acquiring an additional 1,102 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 66.29% of the companys stock.

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Consolidated Edison Stock Performance

ED stock opened at $99.99 on Tuesday. Consolidated Edison Inc has a twelve month low of $87.28 and a twelve month high of $114.87. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. The company has a market cap of $36.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.32. The businesss fifty day moving average is $99.44 and its 200-day moving average is $100.72.

Consolidated Edison Dividend Announcement

Consolidated Edison ( NYSE:ED Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.90 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.14. Consolidated Edison had a return on equity of 8.56% and a net margin of 11.98%.During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.68 earnings per share. Consolidated Edison has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.600-5.700 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Consolidated Edison Inc will post 5.62 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 19th. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.4%. Consolidated Edisons payout ratio is currently 59.44%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently weighed in on ED. Scotiabank raised their price target on Consolidated Edison from $101.00 to $106.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, August 11th. New Street Research set a $106.00 target price on Consolidated Edison in a report on Monday, October 6th. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Consolidated Edison from $107.00 to $112.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Consolidated Edison to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on Consolidated Edison from $105.00 to $101.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Reduce and an average price target of $104.58.

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About Consolidated Edison

(Free Report)

Consolidated Edison, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses in the United States. It offers electric services to approximately 3.7 million customers in New York City and Westchester County; gas to approximately 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens, and Westchester County; and steam to approximately 1,530 customers in parts of Manhattan.

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By David Gosset

The fear that Japan, under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is drifting away from its postwar pacifist identity and edging toward a revival of the militarism that once devastated the region is not irrational. To many outside observers, China's warnings may sound exaggerated or politically expedient. But dismissing them overlooks the deep historical trauma that shapes Chinese perceptionsand the political reality no Chinese leader can afford to ignore.

Sanae Takaichi, leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was officially elected the country's prime minister on Oct. 21, 2025. (File photo/China News Service)

For the Chinese public, the memory of Japanese militarism is not abstract. It is etched into the national consciousness. In the early 20th century, modern Japanese nationalism drew heavily on idealized samurai valuesloyalty, sacrifice, and unquestioning obedience. Romanticized though they were, these ideals seeped into the political culture of the era, nurturing the belief that national destiny required military expansion. The slogan fukoku kyohei"enrich the country, strengthen the armed forces"became central to Japans modernization, binding economic growth to military ambition. This ideology did not remain theoretical; it was executed with ferocity across East Asia.

From the 1931 invasion of Northeast China to the full-scale assault on China in 1937, Imperial Japan inflicted extraordinary suffering. Cities were reduced to rubble. Millions of lives were lost. The scars left by atrocitiesthe Nanjing Massacre, the "Three Alls" scorched-earth policy, forced labor, chemical and biological warfareremain part of Chinas living memory. Japan's wartime alliance with Nazi Germany only reinforced the belief that this was not merely a regional conflict, but part of a broader axis of militarism and racial ideology.

Even before Prime Minister Takaichi's recent remarks regarding Taiwan, Chinese analysts were acutely aware of her revisionist leanings. Beijing had been exercising restraint. But her twin provocationslinking Japanese military action to the Taiwan question, which China considers strictly internalcrossed a line. In Beijing's view, these were not diplomatic missteps but unacceptable departures from decades of postwar restraint.

It is precisely because of this catastrophic past that Japan's post-1945 transformation has mattered so profoundly. The pacifism embedded in its new constitution, especially Article 9, became more than a legal principle: it symbolized a moral repudiation of the militarist ethos that once guided the nation. Postwar Japanese leaders prioritized economic reconstruction, limited military power, and projected the image of a peaceful, technologically advanced country.

This shift was essential to the normalization of Sino-Japanese relations. China cautiously accepted that Japan had truly turned the pagethat it had renounced force as an instrument of national policy. As trade expanded and societal ties deepened, this assumption became the fragile but genuine foundation of decades of stability.

This is why Takaichi's rhetoric alarms Beijing so deeply. Her hawkish positioning, her enthusiasm for revising the pacifist constitution, and her readiness to frame regional issuesespecially the Taiwan questionin existential terms suggest a marked departure from the postwar consensus. In China, these developments are not interpreted as routine political adjustments but as a dangerous flirtation with the ideology that once plunged Asia into catastrophe.

Western observers may view constitutional reform or expanded self-defense capabilities as harmless modernization. In China, they resonate unmistakably as echoes of a past that cost 20 million lives. Expecting Chinese leaders to respond calmly to signs of Japans military normalization is to misunderstand both the emotional weight of history and the political risks involved. No Chinese leader could allow even the perception of a return to unrestrained Japanese militarism; the domestic consequences would be explosive, and the strategic consequences even more severe.

The world must recognize that China's fears are grounded in real, traumatic historynot manufactured outrage. And as tensions rise under Takaichi's premiership, understanding this context is essential. East Asias stability depends not on forgetting the past, but on remembering it. Ignoring those lessons is how nations slip, step by step, into crises that no one imagines possible until they engulf us all.

David Gosset, a specialist in global affairs and sinology, is the founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative.

The opinions presented in this article are exclusively the authors' own and do not represent any official stance or viewpoint of Ecns.


Indonesia looks to unlock its upstream potential by offering more than 100 previously untapped oil and gas basins to global investors for exploration.

Southeast Asias biggest economy, which is also a major oil and gas producer, aims to reverse its decade-long production decline and bolster national energy security.

Indonesia targets to nearly double its oil production to 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil. Currently, Indonesia pumps about 600,000 bpd of crude.

Indonesia has developed only 20 out of 128 identified oil and gas basins across its archipelago, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resource, Yuliot Tanjung, said at the launch event to attract investments in Indonesias energy future.

The government is allocating resources to its Geological Agency to conduct advanced 2D and 3D surveys, paving the way for exploration to unlock the potential of these resources, the official said.

Our shared vision is clear: by 2029, Indonesia will achieve its production target of 1 million barrels of oil per day, boost energy security, and advance sustainable development, Yuliot said at the event.

Indonesia has also prepared 75 oil and gas blocks across Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, and offshore areas for auctions and concessions. Nine of these oil and gas blocks have been awarded to business entities, with several more blocks to follow, the deputy energy minister added.

Earlier this year, Indonesia awarded five strategic oil and gas blocks to international and domestic players. The awards are part of Indonesias broader upstream revival strategy, with nearly 60 additional blocks expected to be offered over the coming years.

Once a key OPEC member and oil exporter, Indonesia has increasingly relied on imports to meet domestic energy demand in recent years. Indonesia quit OPEC in 2016 when the cartel struck a deal with non-OPEC producers led by Russia to withhold supply to the market via producers in the OPEC+ pact, reducing their production.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE:HPP  Get Free Report) had its price objective lowered by stock analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $3.10 to $2.60 in a report released on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. Wells Fargo & Companys price objective indicates a potential upside of 37.93% from the companys previous close.

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on HPP. Citigroup dropped their price target on Hudson Pacific Properties from $2.90 to $1.90 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Hudson Pacific Properties from $2.50 to $2.40 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 13th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties in a research report on Monday, November 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $2.75 target price on Hudson Pacific Properties in a report on Tuesday. Finally, New Street Research set a $2.40 price target on Hudson Pacific Properties in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $2.97.

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Hudson Pacific Properties Price Performance

Shares of Hudson Pacific Properties stock traded up $0.11 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $1.89. The stock had a trading volume of 2,691,739 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,265,810. The business has a fifty day moving average of $2.45 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.51. Hudson Pacific Properties has a fifty-two week low of $1.67 and a fifty-two week high of $3.96. The firm has a market cap of $715.35 million, a P/E ratio of -0.67 and a beta of 1.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 2.18 and a quick ratio of 2.18.

Hudson Pacific Propertiess stock is scheduled to reverse split before the market opens on Monday, December 1st. The 1-7 reverse split was announced on Monday, November 17th. The number of shares owned by shareholders will be adjusted after the closing bell on Friday, November 28th.

Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE:HPP  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.02 by $0.02. Hudson Pacific Properties had a negative net margin of 53.76% and a negative return on equity of 15.10%. The business had revenue of $186.62 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $186.05 million. Hudson Pacific Properties has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 0.010-0.050 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Hudson Pacific Properties will post 0.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of HPP. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Hudson Pacific Properties by 14.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 38,453,976 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $106,133,000 after acquiring an additional 4,815,234 shares in the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. grew its stake in Hudson Pacific Properties by 122.4% during the 2nd quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 15,712,981 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $43,054,000 after acquiring an additional 8,646,463 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 20.1% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 12,196,771 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $33,663,000 after purchasing an additional 2,039,627 shares during the period. Conversant Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 293.6% in the second quarter. Conversant Capital LLC now owns 10,700,000 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $29,318,000 after purchasing an additional 7,981,580 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 357.1% during the second quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 10,686,082 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $29,280,000 after purchasing an additional 8,348,371 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.58% of the companys stock.

About Hudson Pacific Properties

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Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE: HPP) is a real estate investment trust serving dynamic tech and media tenants in global epicenters for these synergistic, converging and secular growth industries. Hudson Pacific's unique and high-barrier tech and media focus leverages a full-service, end-to-end value creation platform forged through deep strategic relationships and niche expertise across identifying, acquiring, transforming and developing properties into world-class amenitized, collaborative and sustainable office and studio space.

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Douglas Emmett (NYSE:DEI  Get Free Report) had its price target decreased by equities research analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $20.00 to $15.00 in a research note issued on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an overweight rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. Wells Fargo & Companys price target would suggest a potential upside of 23.10% from the companys current price.

Several other analysts also recently commented on DEI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Douglas Emmett from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating on shares of Douglas Emmett in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Douglas Emmett in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Douglas Emmett from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, August 30th. Finally, Scotiabank cut their price objective on shares of Douglas Emmett from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a sector outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $16.00.

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Douglas Emmett Stock Performance

NYSE:DEI traded up $0.50 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $12.19. 316,916 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,905,423. Douglas Emmett has a 1-year low of $11.43 and a 1-year high of $20.50. The company has a quick ratio of 3.49, a current ratio of 3.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.39 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a 50-day moving average of $13.75 and a 200 day moving average of $14.70.

Douglas Emmett (NYSE:DEI  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.34. Douglas Emmett had a net margin of 3.77% and a return on equity of 1.04%. The business had revenue of $250.58 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $252.73 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.43 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. Douglas Emmett has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.430-1.470 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Douglas Emmett will post 1.45 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Douglas Emmett

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of DEI. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Douglas Emmett by 220.8% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,694 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 1,166 shares during the period. Westside Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Douglas Emmett by 100.0% in the third quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,840 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 920 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. purchased a new stake in Douglas Emmett during the first quarter worth about $30,000. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new position in Douglas Emmett during the third quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its position in Douglas Emmett by 448.3% during the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 2,621 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 2,143 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.37% of the companys stock.

About Douglas Emmett

(Get Free Report)

Douglas Emmett, Inc (DEI) is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT), and one of the largest owners and operators of high-quality office and multifamily properties located in the premier coastal submarkets of Los Angeles and Honolulu. Douglas Emmett focuses on owning and acquiring a substantial share of top-tier office properties and premier multifamily communities in neighborhoods that possess significant supply constraints, high-end executive housing and key lifestyle amenities.

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Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 8,010.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,973,730 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 1,949,395 shares during the period. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC owned about 0.06% of Wells Fargo & Company worth $158,135,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WFC. Access Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the second quarter worth $25,000. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 585.5% during the 1st quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 377 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 322 shares in the last quarter. McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Accent Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the 1st quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, 1248 Management LLC acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.90% of the companys stock.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 1.8%

WFC opened at $84.62 on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company has a one year low of $58.42 and a one year high of $88.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $265.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.22. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $84.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $80.42.

Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.55 by $0.18. The firm had revenue of $21.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.11 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.51% and a net margin of 17.18%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.42 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 7th will be given a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 7th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is 29.61%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently commented on WFC. Barclays boosted their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $87.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $90.00 to $93.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Dbs Bank upgraded Wells Fargo & Company to a moderate buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Finally, Cfra Research raised Wells Fargo & Company to a moderate buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Wells Fargo & Company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $89.57.

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Wells Fargo & Company Profile

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management.

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Wiluna Mining Co. Limited (ASX:WMX  Get Free Report) declared a interim dividend on Monday, November 24th, MarketIndexAU Dividends reports. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 30th will be given a dividend of 0.004 per share on Tuesday, December 30th. This represents a yield of 25.0%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 16th. This is a 33.3% increase from Wiluna Minings previous interim dividend of $0.003.

Wiluna Mining Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.83.

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About Wiluna Mining

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Blackham Resources Limited explores for and develops gold properties in Australia. It holds 100% interests in the Matilda-Wiluna gold operation located in Australia. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in West Perth, Australia.

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XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new stake in Toronto Dominion Bank (The) (NYSE:TD  Free Report) (TSE:TD) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 106,991 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $7,858,000. Toronto Dominion Bank comprises 0.3% of XTX Topco Ltds holdings, making the stock its 29th largest position.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in Toronto Dominion Bank by 93.9% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 12,216,411 shares of the banks stock valued at $732,252,000 after acquiring an additional 5,917,078 shares during the last quarter. Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec grew its position in shares of Toronto Dominion Bank by 48.9% in the first quarter. Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec now owns 14,785,565 shares of the banks stock valued at $886,174,000 after purchasing an additional 4,853,498 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its position in shares of Toronto Dominion Bank by 81.6% in the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 10,524,446 shares of the banks stock valued at $630,746,000 after purchasing an additional 4,729,657 shares during the period. Picton Mahoney Asset Management acquired a new position in Toronto Dominion Bank in the second quarter valued at $267,475,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in Toronto Dominion Bank by 38.6% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 9,994,402 shares of the banks stock worth $599,064,000 after buying an additional 2,780,984 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 52.37% of the companys stock.

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Toronto Dominion Bank Stock Performance

Shares of TD stock opened at $82.74 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. The company has a market cap of $139.78 billion, a PE ratio of 9.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.79. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $80.46 and its 200-day simple moving average is $75.03. Toronto Dominion Bank has a 52 week low of $51.25 and a 52 week high of $82.93.

Toronto Dominion Bank Increases Dividend

Toronto Dominion Bank ( NYSE:TD Get Free Report ) (TSE:TD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 28th. The bank reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.46 by $0.45. Toronto Dominion Bank had a return on equity of 13.59% and a net margin of 16.40%.The company had revenue of $10.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.73 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.05 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Toronto Dominion Bank will post 5.48 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Investors of record on Friday, October 10th were given a dividend of $1.05 per share. This is a boost from Toronto Dominion Banks previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 10th. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.1%. Toronto Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio is presently 35.16%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada raised Toronto Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Toronto Dominion Bank in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Toronto Dominion Bank from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Toronto Dominion Bank from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Toronto Dominion Bank from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 15th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $93.00.

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Toronto Dominion Bank Profile

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The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking.

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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Revenue (Brazil): Grew 1% in the quarter, 9% year-to-date.

Consolidated Revenue: Fell 4% in the quarter, remained flat year-to-date.

Recurring Adjusted EBITDA: Increased 2.4% to BRL66 million, over 10% year-to-date.

Net Debt: Reduced to BRL207 million, a decline of BRL144 million from Q3 '24.

Same-Store Sales (Frango Assado): Grew 2.5%.

Digital Sales (Frango Assado): Grew 10%, representing 75% of road revenue.

Same-Store Sales (USA): Decreased 8.8%.

Same-Store Sales (New York): Grew 4.1%.

Same-Store Sales (Pizza Hut): Grew 2.5%, with delivery sales up 14%.

Store Count (KFC): 588 stores, 17 more than the same period last year.

Net Revenue: Fell 4% in the quarter, stable year-to-date.

SG&A Reduction: 30% year-on-year.

Operational Cash Flow: BRL68 million for the nine-months of '25, nearly double from last year.

CapEx Reduction: Dropped 46% in the semester, 27% year-to-date.

Leverage: 1.1 times, below the covenant rate of 3 times.

Release Date: November 14, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

The KFC Brazil joint venture strengthened the company's cash position, reduced leverage, and lowered future capital expenditure needs.

Recurring adjusted EBITDA grew by 2.4%, reaching BRL66 million, and increased more than 10% year-to-date.

Digital sales for Frango Assado grew by 10%, now representing 75% of road revenue.

Pizza Hut showed strong performance with same-store sales growth of 2.5% and delivery sales up 14%.

The company achieved a significant reduction in SG&A expenses, demonstrating strong cost management discipline.

Negative Points

Consolidated revenue fell by 4% in the quarter, pressured by the US operation.

Same-store sales in the USA decreased by 8.8%, impacted by reduced demand and intensified competition.

Revenue in local currency for the US declined by 16.6% due to store closures.

The company faced a challenging quarter in airports and catering, with a difficult base of comparison and increased competition.

The overall net revenue fell by 4% in the quarter, with the impact of store closures contributing to this decline.

Q & A Highlights

Q: What factors contributed to the margin reduction in the catering segment? A: Alexandre de Jesus Santoro, CEO: The margin reduction was due to two main factors: a challenging comparison base from last year, which included extraordinary high-margin services, and increased competition and cost pressures. We are working with partners to recover margins to previous levels.
NetEase, Inc. recently reported solid third quarter 2025 results with revenues rising to CNY 28.36 billion and net income increasing to CNY 8.62 billion, while the company extended its share repurchase program and announced a cash dividend of US$0.114 per share payable in December.

The companys performance was driven by new game launches, record player engagement, and ongoing capital returns to shareholders, reflecting confidence in its long-term outlook.

Well explore how NetEases extension of its share repurchase program reinforces its investment narrative centered on continued shareholder returns and earnings growth.

The best AI stocks today may lie beyond giants like Nvidia and Microsoft. Find the next big opportunity with these 26 smaller AI-focused companies with strong growth potential through early-stage innovation in machine learning, automation, and data intelligence that could fund your retirement.

NetEase Investment Narrative Recap

To buy into NetEase, an investor needs to believe in the companys ability to deliver consistent earnings growth through strong global gaming expansion and resilient player engagement, while successfully managing challenges in both overseas markets and at home. The recent Q3 results reinforce ongoing momentum but do not materially shift the most important near-term catalyst, success of new global game launches, nor do they reduce the main risk of overreliance on the slower-growing Chinese market.

Of the recent announcements, NetEases extension of its share repurchase program to January 2029 stands out. While no shares were repurchased in the most recent quarter, this move signals the companys ongoing willingness to return capital to shareholders, which is aligned with the growth narrative around earnings and global expansion, even as execution risks abroad persist.

But before assuming the growth story is risk-free, investors should remember that regulatory and geographic concentration risks remain...

Read the full narrative on NetEase (it's free!)

NetEase's outlook anticipates CN140.2 billion in revenue and CN43.2 billion in earnings by 2028. This assumes an annual revenue growth rate of 8.5% and a CN9 billion increase in earnings from the current CN34.2 billion.

Uncover how NetEase's forecasts yield a HK$248.15 fair value, a 15% upside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

SEHK:9999 Community Fair Values as at Nov 2025

Three individual fair value estimates from the Simply Wall St Community range from HK$160.54 to HK$248.15 per share. While community sentiment varies, the main risk of low overseas revenue concentration raises key questions about NetEases ability to drive future earnings growth beyond China.
Even the company selling the world on automation cant always get its own people to hit go. After Nvidias recent record earnings, an internal all-hands meeting  part pep-talk and part culture intervention  reportedly turned sharp when CEO Jensen Huang responded to an employee question about managers telling people to use AI less by demanding automation anywhere the technology can reach.

My understanding is Nvidia has some managers who are telling their people to use less AI, he reportedly said at the meeting, according to Business Insider, which was able to listen to it. Are you insane? He reportedly told employees, I want every task that is possible to be automated with artificial intelligence to be automated with artificial intelligence and told staff to use AI even if it doesnt work yet  to use tools until it does and jump in and help make it better.

In the meeting, Huang addressed what Business Insider described as pockets of internal pushback.

Huang framed AI as the baseline skill that keeps people relevant as the company scales, not as a threat, reportedly reassuring the room, I promise you, you will have work to do, and pointing to the companys aggressive hiring streak. Nvidias workforce has climbed from roughly 29,600 employees at the end of fiscal 2024 to about 36,000 a year later, and Huang reportedly said in the all-hands meeting that Nvidia is still probably still about 10,000 short of where it needs to be.

Nvidia isnt alone in its AI push. Companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Amazon have all been nudging employees toward internal copilots and code assistants  and, in some cases, plan to factor AI use into companywide performance reviews. But unlike Nvidia, most other major tech firms have spent the past two years trimming their headcount or slowing their hiring. Nvidia, though, keeps swallowing data-center demand fast enough to justify adding thousands of people.

Some departments of Nvidia have reportedly made the jump to increased AI use. Engineers are working with an AI coding assistant called Cursor, and Huang in the meeting pointed to that as proof of how fast AI can reshape day-to-day work when its actually used  and used properly.

In a podcast interview last October, Huang said, Im hoping that Nvidia someday will be a 50,000-employee company with 100 million AI assistants in every single group. Huang is reportedly a heavy chatbot user  using it as a daily tutor  and has said previously that he uses OpenAIs ChatGPT daily in addition to tapping Gemini for more technical work, Grok for creative/artistic stuff, and Perplexity for fast research. Nvidia has formal partnerships with all but xAIs Grok, which still uses Nvidias GPU at a serious clip. Huangs company just signed a deal with Claude-maker Anthropic, so that chatbot might make its way into that rotation before too long.
Building a healthier future through safer practices in Manipurs fields

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Chongboi Haokip, MCIHort

Manipur's hills face a crisis that harms soil, water, and health. Economic pressure drives poppy farming and heavy use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Excess nitrogen weakens plants and increases pests. Broad-spectrum pesticides kill helpful insects and soil organisms. Steep slopes allow rain to move chemicals straight into streams. Communities have an opportunity to restore these landscapes through shared action and better knowledge.

I care about our community and environment. My work with the United Kingdom's Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs taught me how small actions drive lasting change. Better land use strengthens ecosystems, supports health, protects biodiversity, and shapes the legacy we leave. When we act together with a clear purpose, we protect our landscape, health, and homes. It creates a safer future for the next generation. Health depends on a cared-for environment. You may accumulate a great deal of wealth from opium poppy cultivation or trade, but would it be worth it if you ended up with a serious illness as a result ?

The Weight of Survival

Farmers in Manipur, Afghanistan, and Mexico face debt and limited options. They turn to poppy on fragile slopes. This choice harms their health and their surroundings( Mansfield Nov 29, 2019; Sangpui & Kapngaihlian Aug7, 2021). The cultivation process demands intensive chemical inputs - fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides applied without proper training or protective equipment. Traders, not agricultural experts, could dictate application rates, and soil testing might be virtually unknown in these remote areas.

The consequences ripple through entire ecosystems. Excess nitrogen weakens plant immunity and attracts diseases (Malewar Feb 27, 2025). Excess nitrogen weakens plants and raises pest pressure  Anh et alDec 2023, creating a cycle that demands ever-increasing chemical applications.

In Manipur's hills, the evidence speaks with clarity. Steep slopes cleared for poppy cultivation lose precious topsoil with each rainy season. Poppy cultivation in Manipur's hills has triggered deforestation and heavy chemical use. Large slopes are cleared, then sprayed with fertilizers and pesticides on fragile upland soils. Steep poppy fields lose soil quickly during rain. Forest staff link these areas to rising landslides and rapid topsoil loss. (The Sangai Express Jan 19, 2021).

Fertilizers, weed killers, and pesticides create health risks. Runoff carries chemicals into streams, harming aquatic life. Vulnerable groups face the highest exposure, and farmers often spray without protection, increasing direct contact with toxins - The Frontier Manipur May 16, 2022. Pesticide exposure among women needs more attention. Women and children face higher risks with limited protection. Many suffer health effects in silence. (Asmare et al Sept 13, 2022; UNICEF Jan 2018).

Lessons from Across Mountains

Afghanistan's experience reveals patterns that Manipur must learn from. Farmers under debt pressure apply heavy chemical inputs dictated by creditors (UNODC, Sept 2009). Income from poppy enables investment in wells and irrigation systems, opening new land for cultivation. Yet when enforcement suddenly reduces poppy acreage, these agricultural systems collapse - alternative crops generate insufficient income to maintain the infrastructure (Mansfield Nov29, 2019). Abrupt eradication campaigns destroy livelihoods without replacing them and pushing families deeper into poverty (UNODC, Nov 2023).

Mexico's highlands echo these struggles. Opium poppy farms in places like Mexico use large amounts of fertilizer, pesticides, and water. These fields occupy valuable land, pollute local water, and strain limited supplies. Also, irrigation reduces water for communities, and nearby households face chemical exposure - (DEA Museum June 6, 2022)

Processing of opium latex releases large volumes of hazardous chemicals. These substances create greater environmental harm than the farming inputs used on the crops. Millions of tons and litres of chemicals enter soil and water every year through lab waste and destroyed stockpiles (UNODC2006, 45).

Yet hope emerges even here. There are reports on community case studies from the Mexican highlands on slope restoration and spring protection, which show improved spring water quality and reduced waterborne diseases, and these need to be studied.

The Promise of Unity

My work with the United Kingdoms environmental related showed me that sustained community action protects land and health. Each careful choice in land use supports public health, protects biodiversity, and strengthens what future generations inherit.. These same principles that guide sustainable agriculture in developed Nations apply with equal force to Manipur's highlands.

Communities drive recovery when they lead the process. Village councils can share information on risks. Youth groups can test water and report findings. Families can move away from water sources, and cooperatives support legal crops with steady markets. Households can plant fruit trees and vegetables of high value to diversify income and strengthen resilience.

Strengthening Community Action

Government support strengthens community efforts. Better roads, relevant fundings and storage help farmers reach legal markets. Safe water systems protect health. Those responsible for health can track pollution and related illnesses and guide responses. Soil and water restoration needs sustained work over many years.

Practical Steps Forward

As a way forward, healing needs harm reduction, strong community leadership, and steady support for legal livelihoods. Soil needs time to regain strength, and water sources need protection to clear pollutants. Families need trust, guidance, and resources to choose safer paths.

When communities lead this process rather than having solutions imposed from outside, restoration becomes durable and self-sustaining. Immediate steps can reduce harm while current farmers develop longer-term alternatives. Use herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers only with proper training and protective gear. Measured application protects health, wildlife, and water system. Attend training sessions to stay informed. A good practice is to test the soil before adding fertilizers to avoid excess and pollution, and to wear protective gear when handling chemicals. These responsible decisions support productive harvests today while safeguarding the community's future.

Our Shared Tomorrow

We each carry responsibility for protecting Manipur's hills and supporting safer futures for all. It is not an abstract environmental concern - it involves the water our children drink, the soil that will feed coming generations, and the health of families working to survive. When communities unite around restoration, when knowledge replaces exploitation, and when support arrives with respect rather than punishment, battered landscapes can heal.

Streams can recover and support fish again, forests can return and stabilise slopes, and hills can support life instead of risking landslides and contamination. Families can farm without fear of chemical harm, and children can use streams without health risks. Change will take time, but it is possible!

Communities in Mexico and Afghanistan show what becomes possible through shared purpose and firm support. Manipur has the opportunity to follow this path and build its own model of community-led restoration. Good agricultural practices guide this shift. The journey begins when farmers seek training, families protect water, village councils share knowledge, youth groups monitor conditions, and cooperatives support legal crops. These steps move everyone toward safer land use. Our hills, water, health, and future depend on a united commitment to protect the land and the people who rely on it. The time to begin is now!

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding  Proverbs 2:6 NKJV



Statement: I do not support illegal poppy cultivation. I support sustainable alternatives that strengthen society and help affected farmers in Manipur. I stand firmly behind the Manipur Government's "War on Drugs" campaign. As a strong, united community, we must work alongside government agencies that are helping farmers abandon illegal poppy farming. We, the people of Manipur, can eliminate unlawful poppy cultivation through collective effort. I call upon the entire Manipur community to unite as one team in this fight against illegal cultivation of poppy, working together to create sustainable livelihoods and a healthier future for all.

About the author: Chongboi Haokip, MCIHort, is an international development consultant specialising in agriculture, horticulture, and trade facilitation.


Fiscal policy boost to Tourism and Hospitality Gyan Bhushan and Dr Pratik Ghosh

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Contd from previous issue

Indias appeal lies not just in its landscapes or monuments, but in its living traditions. Recognising this, the government also reduced GST on art and handicraft products from 12% to 5%. Every hand-woven Kanchipuram saree, carved sandalwood figurine, or terracotta lamp tells a story and now, each can be bought at fairer prices.

Lowering taxes here is more than an economic gesture. Its a cultural invest- ment. It preserves the diversity that gives Indian tou- rism its soul while giving artisans, many of them wo-men and rural entrepre- neurs, a sustainable livelihood.

Formalisation and Confidence

One of the most enduring benefits of GST is clarity and predictability. Small hotels, tour operators, and travel agencies now work under a single national tax framework instead of navigating state-specific levies. This formalisation opens the doors to credit, insurance, and digital payment systems that are lifelines for small businesses that once operated informally. It also inspires confidence among investors and entrepreneurs, leading to more innovation in travel experiences, from eco-lodges and heritage stays to wellness retreats.

Medical Tourism: A Healthy Boost

Indias emerging medical tourism sector which is already one of the fastest- growing in Asia is another major beneficiary of the new GST rates. Lower taxes on hotels and transport directly reduce the cost of treatment packages for international patients who come to India for world-class healthcare at affor- dable prices.

Hospitals, wellness centres, and hospitality chains are increasingly collaborating to offer integrated recovery experiences by combining treatment with rest, nutrition, and holistic care. With competitive accommodation costs and smoother travel logistics, India is becoming an even stronger destination for patients from Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia seeking quality medical care at one-fifth of Western costs.

Global Competitiveness and Economic Ripple Effects

Globally, affordability determines travel choices and until recently, India lagged behind regional competitors like Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, known for low hotel taxes and simplified levies. The new GST regime narrows that gap. With rationalised rates, India now offers world-class experiences at globally competitive prices, from Ayurveda retreats and eco-tourism lodges to luxury heritage hotels.

The sector currently contributes around 5% to Indias GDP and supports over 80 million livelihoods. With continued tax reforms and infrastructure investment, experts estimate that this contribution could double by 2030, multiplying benefits for jobs, entrepreneurship, and womens empowerment.

Local Growth, Global Story

For the average citizen, the benefits of these reforms are deeply personal. A family that once postponed vacations due to high hotel tariffs now finds travel affordable. Students can afford study tours, pilgrims can travel in comfort, and artisans in remote villages can sell their creations to tourists who appreciate their craft.

Towards a Culturally Confident, Globally Competitive India

The GST rate restructuring is not just about num- bers on paper. It reflects a philosophy of empowerment, that every citizen should be able to travel, learn, and engage with Indias vast cultural mosaic. By making tourism more affordable, mobility more inclusive, and enterprise more viable, these reforms bring the pulse of the economy closer to the people. They also signal Indias readiness to compete globally while staying rooted in local heritage.

For the traveller, it means more holidays and experiences. For the entrepreneur, it means more opportunity. For India, it means progress that feels personal where every journey becomes a step toward a more vibrant, equitable, and confident Nation.

Mr. Gyan Bhushan, (IES), Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Tourism and Chief Executive Officer, National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCH- MCT), Government of India

Dr Pratik Ghosh, Head of Department, Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management Catering & Nutrition, Chandigarh

(The views expressed within this article are the personal opinion of the authors) PIB
Posers and more posers for Delhi What have been done so far ?

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What steps has Delhi taken up to resettle the people at the places they once called home ? Has Delhi and by extension Raj Bhavan reached out to make the return of the displaced persons possible ? And this should cut both ways, that is the Kuki-Zo people who have had to leave their homes at Imphal and the other valley districts and the Meiteis who were driven out from their homes at Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Moreh, Torbung etc. Or will they be condemned to continue existing in the relief centres till such time a conducive atmosphere returns or is allowed to return ? How long will Delhi continue to pretend that the absence of gunfire and direct conflict is akin to normalcy ? And this pretension should be clear by taking just a cursory look at the reality. It was under the false notion of normalcy or under a bigger political gameplan that a web of lies and deceit was sought to be weaved in going ahead with the Sangai Festival but Manipur is not blind to such gameplan and Raj Bhavan should acknowledge that Manipur cannot be taken for a ride for too long. Important to question too whether Delhi is ready to accept that free movement on the National Highways exists only on paper and if one looks at the situation closer, it sends out the unmistakable message that political mandarins at Delhi are more than ready to swallow the line, The highways were never closed but we cannot guarantee the safety of the Meiteis who travel along the highways. A line weaved so beautifully to fit into the false narratives that have been spun out from day 1 of the conflict. Remember the victim card that was played to the hilt as well as the religious interpretations given to the clash, that it even figured in the European Parliament in the earlier days of the conflict. The biggest worry is, Delhi seems hellbent on toeing the lines that have come out from the assembly plant of the lie manufacturing units of the Kuki-Zo Council, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) and the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU). And it does not need a genius to work out that the lie manufacturing units are kept well oiled and polished by the armed groups that come under the KNO and the UPF. The non-SoO group, the United Kuki National Army (UKNA), has also strongly pitched in for the demand of a Separate Administration and hence leading from the front in engineering the clash from Day I. These facts could not have blown over the head of Delhi and by extension its men in the PR administration in Imphal but the fact is, nothing seems to have improved, despite the fact that the popular Government was dismissed on February 13, 2025. Not that the popular Government was anywhere near resolving the issue. So what is the way forward ?

No easy answer here, but this should be no reason for Delhi to push the posers raised earlier aside. Political leaders too need to chip in with ideas and suggestions that may help in taking the place nearer to the understanding of normalcy. So far not much is heard of any efforts being taken up to chip in with ideas and suggestions, while at the same time, the demand that a popular Government be reinstalled is very much there. Manipur would not have forgotten the days before February 13, 2025 and the natural question is how Manipur should proceed. A change in guard should mean a change at the ground reality. So far, it is a case of only the guns going silent with no instances of direct confrontations between the two communities at war and herein lies the significance of the question, Is the absence of violence akin to normalcy ? It was sometime back that one heard of Delhi hosting talks with CSOs of either side but what has been the development after that ? Are more such meetings in the pipeline or will be it another case of just hosting the few rounds of talks ? Only Delhi can answer this question, but something has to give. Raj Bhavan too should acknowledge that the lack of participation in this years Sangai Festival is a reminder that projecting normalcy in Manipur at this stage would be nothing but just lies and more lies and will have no takers.
Sichan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceuticals sac-TMT (sacituzumab tirumotecan) has posted positive results in a late-stage trial in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

During the Phase III OptiTROP-Lung05, the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) met its primary endpoint, offering statistically significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) when combined with MSDs flagship oncology asset, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), when compared with Keytruda alone.

Sac-TMT also demonstrated a trend towards improving overall survival (OS) in first-line patients with programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive disease.

Sac-TMT acts by targeting the trophoblast cell surface antigen-2 (TROP2) protein, which is widely expressed across a variety of solid tumours and is often associated with poor patient prognosis.

While the OptiTROP-Lung05 trial was conducted entirely in China, its findings bode well for MSD, which holds the commercialisation rights to sac-TMT outside of greater China. The drug previously received breakthrough therapy designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pretreated, advanced or metastatic NSCLC with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations.

Earlier this month, MSD signed a funding agreement with Blackstone Life Sciences for the development of sac-TMT, which saw the latter put $700m on the table in exchange for low-to-mid single-digit royalties on net sales of the drug across MSDs marketing territories.

Sac-TMTs future in NSCLC

Following this positive topline readout, Kelun plans to discuss the results with Chinas National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in the hopes of garnering sac-TMTs approval in the frontline NSCLC setting.

Currently, the standard of care (SoC) in first-line NSCLC is Keytruda plus platinum chemotherapy; however, there is a recent push towards phasing out chemotherapy in favour of more targeted and tolerable treatment options  with ADCs emerging as a key power in this shift.

If the NMPA were to approve the Keytruda-Sac-TMT combination, Biswajit Podder, oncology and haematology analyst at GlobalData, noted that the regimen could have the potential to become the local SoC.

If the magnitude of PFS and eventually OS benefit is clearly better than Keytruda monotherapy with a manageable safety profile, I would expect it to become a new SOC for PD-L1 positive patients who are suitable for an ADC and either wish to avoid or delay platinum chemotherapy, said Podder.

However, on a global scale, Podder caveats that more data is needed from Kelun-Biotechs global sac-TMT commercialisation partner, MSD, which is currently running late-stage clinical trials involving the drug worldwide.
(Reuters) -Swedish fintech firm Klarna on Tuesday said it will launch a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, becoming the latest major payments company to move deeper into digital assets as regulators tighten oversight of the sector.

The token, called KlarnaUSD, is currently in testing and will be available on the mainnet in 2026, will be fully backed by the U.S. dollar the company said.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies whose value is tied to traditional money, and they have surged in use in recent years as traders seek a relatively steady asset to move funds between more volatile tokens.

Klarna said it aims to position KlarnaUSD for everyday payments and cross-border transactions, pitching it as a faster and cheaper alternative to conventional banking.

The buy-now-pay-later company, one of Europe's largest fintech firms, has its biggest user base in the United States.

The stablecoin will run on Tempo, a payments-focused blockchain developed by Stripe and crypto investment firm Paradigm.

Bigger rival PayPal launched its own U.S. dollar token, followed by peer Stripe's launch of a stablecoin after its $1.1 billion acquisition of crypto firm Bridge earlier this year.

These moves come as regulators in the U.S. and Europe advance new rules for digital assets. Klarna, like other stablecoin firms, is expected to benefit from frameworks such as the GENIUS Act in the U.S. and MiCA in Europe.

"Crypto is finally at a stage where it is fast, low-cost, secure, and built for scale. This is the beginning of Klarna in crypto," CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski, a once vocal crypto skeptic, said in a statement.

Klarna last week beat analysts' revenue expectations in its first quarterly report since a blockbuster stock market listing in September.

(Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
After almost 60 years, the family that founded Lion Country Safari, Florida's largest drive-through safari, has sold its 600-acre Loxahatchee land holdings for $30 million to the family of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, reportedly the third-richest man in the world.

The property sold to an Ellison entity with the same address as his family foundation, according to Palm Beach County property records. The park, which encompasses 254 acres, is located at 2003 Lion Country Safari Road west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and north of Okeechobee Boulevard.

Lion Country Safari announced the sale in a Nov. 19 post on their website. The park's statement said the drive-by safari will remain open and continue with normal operations.

"After 58 years of leadership and dedication to wildlife, conservation and education, Lion Country Safari is saying farewell to the last members of its founding family, as ownership transitions to the Larry Ellison family who has a longstanding commitment to wildlife conservation," Lion Country Safari wrote in the statement.

Lion Country Safari opened its doors in 1967, becoming the first cage-less zoo in the United States. When it first started operations, the park only featured lions. Today, the property is home to 89 species, including chimpanzees, rhinos and giraffes.

Ellison an ally of President Trump, wildlife advocate

Technology magnate Ellison also has bought multiple other properties in Palm Beach County, including a Manalapan mega mansion, a waterfront estate in North Palm Beach and the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa that he purchased in 2024 for $277.4 million.

Ellison is a political ally and financial supporter of President Donald Trump. His son, David Ellison, became chairman and CEO of the merged Paramount and Skydance companies this past summer.

Paramount owns CBS, which paid Trump $16 million in a controversial settlement over an interview the network conducted with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. Ellison and White House officials, according to various media reports, discussed the possibility of Paramount also buying the parent of CNN and then dismissing network on- air hosts viewed as critical of the administration.

More: Eau Palm Beach owner Larry Ellison became the world's richest person, at least for a while

The Ellison family has a history of philanthropic efforts on behalf of endangered animals. This year it unveiled the 197-acre Larry Ellison Conservation Center for Wildlife Care in Saratoga, California that offers programs to rehabilitate and breed native species.
The DTCC regime, which has been in place for decades, means its no longer necessary to record every single share transfer. Instead, the clearinghouse keeps track of the stock held by different brokerages on behalf of their customers and settles up transactions between those brokerages the next business day.

Once upon a time there were leather-bound journals that said who owns all the stock, explains Robert Leshner, a former economist who now runs the tokenization firm Superstate. Then, people said, This is too hard, lets not update anymore, so they decided to create a legal fiction that assigned ownership of all the stock to the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC.

The tokenization wave isnt the first push to overhaul Wall Streets under-the-hood operations. In the 1970s, traders confronted what became known as the paperwork crisis, which saw stock markets, drowning in orders, shut down mid-week simply to keep up with recordkeeping. Repeated work stoppages finally led to a computer-based solution.

The potential upsides to tokenization are huge, but significant questions remain over how to implement it. Meanwhile, some fear the coming train could undermine some protections for individual retail investors and destabilize a U.S. equities market whose reliability has for decades been the envy of the world.

It is not just crypto firms and fintech players leading this charge for tokenization. Big banks like J.P. Morgan are also using blockchains to facilitate trades in certain assets and, in doing so, transforming the financial ecosystem more broadly. Already, tokenizationwhich Tenev has described as a freight train poised to eat Wall Streethas brought fundamental changes to how stocks and other assets are traded.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev and others called for an overhaul, and since then there has already been progress, as stock trades now settle a day sooner than in 2021. But the financial industry is also pushing ahead with a more radical solution: turning stocks into digital assets that can be traded and settled instantly on a blockchain.

In early 2021, an army of retail traders made massive bets on meme stocks and briefly melted down the market. Trading volume swelled to such a huge extent that popular brokerage Robinhood had to halt buy orders for stocks like GameStop for a few days in order to escape a liquidity crisis. At the time, the situation led to claims of a conspiracy, but the reason for the meltdown was more mundane: Wall Streets creaky infrastructure could not settle trades fast enough.

Story Continues

Under this system, the brokerages nominally own the stock, but all the rights that attach to itdividends, voting privileges, and so onremain with the customers. The system has worked pretty well over the decades, and for those who insist on doing things the old-fashioned way, DTCC means they can still demand physical copies of their shares. (This option is popular with GameStop truthers, who believe reverting to paper will thwart a Wall Street conspiracy against retail investors.)

Now, though, the current DTCC system of T+1in which the clearinghouse closes out trades the next business day by reconciling accounts among brokerageshas come to feel outdated in an age when so much business is conducted instantly and around the clock. This has prompted companies like Leshners Superstate to offer a faster alternative. The startup is working with companies to issue versions of their shares that trade on a blockchain, an arrangement under which the firms dont have to rely on intermediaries to hold or track their stock. It also means stock trades can be settled instantly, while allowing firms to interact with their shareholders more directly.

Outside the U.S., tokenized assets are already helping investors avoid big trading commissions and invest in private companies like SpaceX

Other firms are approaching tokenization in a different fashion. Robinhood, for example, doesnt help firms tokenize their stocks, but instead takes stocks available on the open market and offers them in a blockchain wrapper as a sort of derivative. These offerings are currently available only in Europe, where stock owners can buy and sell the Stock Tokens alongside assets like Bitcoin.

Retail investors unfamiliar with tokenization may be surprised, and possibly alarmed, to discover that a company they own is trading in the crypto-verse. For now, at least, its not something to worry about.

Currently, even tokenization boosters say the new blockchain system will exist alongside the old one rather than replace it. So why do all this in the first place?

For the average investor who trades only from time to time, the arrival of tokenized assets wont mean much. Active traders, though, will appreciate the move to blockchain, since it opens the door for more trading after hours and on weekends. The new regime will also be appealing to institutional investors, since it will free up collateral that might otherwise be tied up waiting for settlement.

Imagine youre a hedge fund and want to buy $1 million of Tesla stock, says Johann Kerbrat, SVP of Robinhood Crypto. You buy it on Friday, so you dont have the money anymore, but you dont get the shares in your account until Monday. So for three days, you cant do anything. Its not just stocks being tokenized. BlackRocks BUIDL fund, working with Superstates tokenization rival Securitize, offers access to money-market funds and U.S. Treasuries via blockchain, and has already grown to $2 billion in assets under management. Meanwhile,J.P. Morgan is offering tokenized versions of private equity assets on its in-house Kinexys blockchain, in part because the process makes capital calls easier to track and manage.

This is likely just the beginning. Rob Hadick, a partner at venture capital firm Dragonfly Capital, notes that other realms of finance like credit and fixed income are still conducted primarily in pre-digital fashion, with some transactions still made official by means of a fax. A switch to tokenization could enable such transactions to settle faster and more reliably. Hadick says it will also produce savings for banks and brokerages since it will reduce the ranks of back-office staff and disrupt specialized middlemen who handle tasks like loan origination and servicing fees. Meanwhile, for traders of all sorts, tokenized assets will be easier to move across brokerages or post as collateral.

It is still early days, especially in the U.S., where the Securities and Exchange Commission has yet to give the green light to tokenized equities. As of mid-November, the total value of such assets worldwide was about $660 million, according to research site RWA.xyz; the most popular ones include tokenized versions of index-tracking ETFs and Big Tech stocks such as Tesla, Nvidia, and Alphabet.

But that nascent state hasnt stopped brokerages from pushing forward, including crypto shop Kraken, whose tokenized versions of select U.S. stocks are doing a brisk trade in markets like Brazil and South Africa, where traders still pay hefty commissions that can amount to 10% or more, even as such fees have largely been eliminated in the U.S. Robinhood, meanwhile, got its hands on shares of privately held OpenAI and SpaceX, and has given away tokenized versions of them to European customers.

As for the DTCC, it would be easy to assume the clearinghouse opposes the tokenization wave. Quite the opposite: According to two sources familiar with the company, the outfit is eager to move into blockchain, partly because it offers a potential way to expand into private markets. Asked for comment, the DTCC did not provide details but did suggest it is embracing the technology.

DTCC believes in the power and potential of tokenization to evolve and modernize market infrastructure. We are actively working to enable capabilities that further our products and services, said Brian Steele, DTCCs president of clearing and securities services.

Not everyone is convinced a rush to tokenization is a good thing. Those urging caution include Citadel Securities, which has asked the SEC to adopt a go-slow approach. According to a source close to the firm, the trading giant fears that some crypto-aligned firms want to use the rulemaking process around tokenization to gain exemptions from long-standing consumer protection obligations. The person also expressed concern that a rapid shift could undermine trust in a U.S. equities market that is the biggest in the world and has been fine-tuned for decades.

This concern may not be unfounded. Already, there have been notable discrepancies between the prices of traditional shares of a companys stock and the prices of tokenized versions offered by the likes of Kraken. Meanwhile, its unclear if every firm offering tokenized equities has put in place adequate guardrails when it comes to custody and fiduciary obligations to the customer. What happens, for instance, in the event of a crypto firm going bankrupt while holding tokenized shares of a customers stock?

And while every financial institution appears to view blockchain as the technology of the future, they may not agree as to which blockchain. Robinhood, among others, is relying on the open-source Ethereum chain to build out its tokenization business, while J.P. Morgan appears wedded to its own proprietary chain. According to Hadick, the venture capitalist, this situation could slow adoption, since, he says, other big firms like Goldman Sachs will be reluctant to rely on a blockchain controlled by a rival.

Hadick adds, though, that any impasse is unlikely to last long, since one thing blockchains do well is coordinate trust.

This article appears in the December 2025/January 2026 issue of Fortune with the headline: Get ready to own a tokenized portfolio.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Francis Belin, a former Christies executive, has been named chief executive officer of Mytheresa, the luxury website operated by LuxExperience.

Belin will begin his new job on Jan. 1. His objective will be to sustain Mytheresas track record of strong global growth.

More from WWD

Michael Kliger, chief executive officer of LuxExperience, said in a statement Tuesday: With Francis we have found an exceptional leader, who is renowned for his customer-centric focus, global mindset, delivery of excellent results and collaborative leadership style. I am looking forward to supporting Francis as he leads the next exciting chapter for the Mytheresa business.

Francis will report to Kliger, who had been CEO of Mytheresa for 10 years, until the business acquired Yoox Net-a-porter in April and he became CEO of the combined enterprise, which was renamed LuxExperience.

LuxExperience purchased YNAP from Compagnie Financiere Richemont, trading a 33 percent stake in the combined business for 555 million euros in cash. Kliger has continued to oversee Mytheresa since the deal.

I am deeply impressed by the robust business model and strong brand positioning that Mytheresa has established under Michaels leadership, Belin said in his statement. I look forward to working alongside the talented team to unlock Mytheresas next phase of global growth as an industry leader in the luxury market.

The Munich-based LuxExperience indicated Belin brings extensive and diverse luxury experience and proven leadership in driving international growth. He also brings a deep understanding of high-net-worth individuals worldwide.

Most recently, Belin served as Christies president, Asia-Pacific, overlooking global luxury and Asian art at Christies. He played a key role in securing some of the auction houses most important collections and works of art, and in several important initiatives, including the acquisition of Gooding & Company, a leading car auction house in California. Prior to Christies, Belin held roles at Swarovski and Richemont. He started his career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Co.

Belin will report to Kliger and is expected to continue Mytheresas global expansion. As LuxExperience Group CEO, Klinger will continue to lead the overall strategy at Mytheresa, Net-a-porter, Mr Porter and Yoox.

Mytheresa was founded as a boutique in Munich in 1987 and launched into online e-commerce in 2006. Mytheresa offers ready-to-wear, shoes, bags and accessories for women, men and kids as well as lifestyle products and fine jewelry. Its considered a highly curated edit of up to 250 brands focused on true luxury, including Bottega Veneta, Brunello Cucinelli, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Loewe, Loro Piana, Moncler, Prada, Saint Laurent, The Row and Valentino. Mytheresa generated 988.5 million euros in its fiscal 2025 year.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in a meeting that he wants employees to use AI whenever possible.

Huang said the company plans to continue hiring aggressively.

Nvidia isn't alone as tech companies stress the importance of AI adoption for employees.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang wants employees to use AI whenever they can  and he insists they shouldn't worry about losing their jobs in the process.

In an all-hands meeting on Thursday, the day after the chipmaker reported record earnings, Huang responded to a question about managers instructing employees to use AI less.

"My understanding is Nvidia has some managers who are telling their people to use less AI," he said at the meeting, which Business Insider listened to. "Are you insane?"

Huang said he strongly disapproved.

"I want every task that is possible to be automated with artificial intelligence to be automated with artificial intelligence," he said. "I promise you, you will have work to do."

Nvidia did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Inside Business stories reveal the inner workings of companies from Silicon Valley to Wall Street that are shaping our world today.

Nvidia isn't alone, as tech giants have taken measures to push employees to incorporate more AI into their day-to-day work. Both Microsoft and Meta plan to evaluate employees based on their AI usage, and Google told engineers to use AI for coding, Business Insider reported. Amazon was in talks to adopt the AI coding assistant Cursor after employees requested it, according to Business Insider's reporting.

Huang also said Nvidia's software engineers use Cursor. And if AI does not work for a specific task, "use it until it does," he added. "Jump in and help make it better, because we have the power to do so."

Though fear of job loss has been a constant drumbeat amid the rise of AI, Huang suggested Nvidia employees shouldn't worry. He said that while other tech companies have conducted layoffs, Nvidia had hired "several thousand" people last quarter, which he joked was putting a strain on office parking spaces. He added that hiring is still ramping up.

"Frankly, I think we're probably still about 10,000 short," Huang said, "but the pace at which we hire should be consistent with the pace at which we can integrate and harmonize the new employees."

Nvidia has significantly expanded its workforce, increasing from 29,600 employees at the end of fiscal 2024 to 36,000 employees at the end of fiscal 2025.
Laman Ismayilova



Five years ago, on September 27, the 44-day Patriotic War began, and thanks to the extraordinary courage shown by the Azerbaijani Army, Armenian forces were forced to withdraw from the Azerbaijani lands, Azernews reports.

Territories that had been under occupation for almost thirty years were liberated and returned to their rightful owner under the leadership of President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.

As a result of the Azerbaijani Army's glorious victory in this just war, Armenia was compelled to sign the capitulation agreement, and just five days after vacating Aghdam district, on November 25, it also withdrew from Kalbajar district.

Thus, Kalbajar was handed back to Azerbaijan without a single shot being fired. In line with the trilateral agreement, on November 25, 2020, Kalbajar city, along with 147 of its settlements, was freed from occupation.

By a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on July 31, 2023, titled "On the establishment of City Days for the liberated territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan," November 25 has officially been declared Kalbajar City Day.

To commemorate this day, a series of events will be held in Kalbajar, organized jointly by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Office of the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the region.

The day's activities will include a photo exhibition titled "Kalbajar  From the Lens to History," the "Memory" exhibition from the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, an art display called "The Palette of Kalbajar," painting master classes, and an exhibition of traditional crafts.

Moreover, Ganja State National Drama Theater will perform the musical play "Tik-Tik Khanum" by Abdullah Shaig for the audience in Kalbajar.

The celebrations will continue with a grand concert featuring various artists and will conclude with a fireworks display.
Meta Platforms Inc. is in talks to spend billions on Googles AI chips, the Information reported, adding to a monthslong share rally as the search giant has made the case it can rival Nvidia Corp. as a leader in artificial intelligence technology.

A deal would signal growing momentum for Googles chips and long-term potential to challenge Nvidias market dominance, after the company earlier agreed to supply up to 1 million chips to Anthropic PBC.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Google owner Alphabet Inc. is on track to hit a $4 trillion market valuation for the first time when trading opens in New York on Wednesday. Nvidias shares were down about 4% in premarket trading.

WATCH: Meta Platforms is in talks to spend billions of dollars on Googles AI chips, according to the Information. Meta has been betting its chips can rival those of Nvidia as a leader in artificial intelligence technology. Source: Bloomberg

Meta is in discussions to use the Google chips  known as tensor processing units, or TPUs  in data centers in 2027, The Information reported, citing an unidentified person familiar with the talks. Meta also may rent chips from Googles cloud division next year, the news outlet said.

Explainer: How Googles TPUs May Give Nvidia a Run for Its Money

An agreement would help establish TPUs as an alternative to Nvidias chips, the gold standard for big tech firms and startups from Meta to OpenAI that need computing power to develop and run artificial intelligence platforms.

Nvidias stock is already facing headwinds as investors fear a broader AI bubble. Michael Burry, immortalized in for his bets against the housing market during the 2008 financial crisis, has scrutinized the chipmaker over circular AI deals, hardware depreciation and revenue recognition.

After Googles Anthropic deal was announced, Seaport analyst Jay Goldberg called it a really powerful validation for TPUs. A lot of people were already thinking about it, and a lot more people are probably thinking about it now, he said.

Google Cloud is experiencing accelerating demand for both our custom TPUs and NVIDIA GPUs; we are committed to supporting both, as we have for years, a spokesperson for Google said.

Representatives for Meta declined to comment.

What Bloomberg Intelligence Says

Metas likely use of Googles TPUs, which are already used by Anthropic, shows third-party providers of large language models are likely to leverage Google as a secondary supplier of accelerator chips for inferencing in the near term. Metas capex of at least $100 billion for 2026 suggests it will spend at least $40-$50 billion on inferencing-chip capacity next year, we calculate. Consumption and backlog growth for Google Cloud might accelerate vs. other hyperscalers and neo-cloud peers due to demand from enterprise customers that want to consume TPUs and Gemini LLMs on Google Cloud.
On Monday, Delhi-headquartered Indian defence and aerospace manufacturer, SMPP Limited, through its subsidiary SMPP Ammunition, entered into a "teaming agreement" with Franco-German defence group KNDS to supply the Katana family of ammunition to the Indian Army.

Under the agreement, which was signed on November 20 at the Milipol Exhibition in Paris, the two sides "will focus on offering the Katana family of ammunition to the Indian Army under the 'Make in India' policy, strengthening India's capability in advanced artillery ammunition and addressing a key operational requirement for the Indian armed forces," an official statement read.

The Katana is a 155 mm precision-guided munition designed to deliver high accuracy and extended range. According to the statement, the Indan Army has an "extensive and urgent requirement for 155 mm artillery systems and ammunition." The agreement is expected to address the critical operational needs of the countrys modern artillery systems.

ALSO READ: Challenges in modernising Indias military

The Katana family product includes Katana Ballistic Range (BR), Extended Range (ER) and High Precision (HP) with laser seeker ammunition."The Katana family of ammunition offers a full-calibre precision guided munition with extended capabilities to address armoured threats with decametric-level precision and leverages a hybrid guidance system that combines multi-constellation receiver (GNSS) and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to ensure accuracy across diverse terrains and combat environments," the statement said.

A future variant is expected to incorporate a semi-active laser seeker to achieve metric-level precision for even more demanding mission profiles.

The fire-and-forget capability further enhances its effectiveness in complex operational scenarios, including densely populated urban areas.

According to KIDS, Katana is designed for pinpoint accuracy and extended range, and ensures first-shot and first-kill capability, even in the most challenging combat environments.

Katana, which is equipped with multiple guidance systems, including GPS, inertial navigation, and semi-active laser, can adapt to changing battlefield environments and achieve target strikes with sub-meter precision. Its range, exceeding 40 kilometers, makes it an optimal choice for precise, long-distance engagements while ensuring minimal collateral damage.
In the realm of global hard power, images often speak aloud. Two stark visuals now encapsulate India's military industrial narrative. The first is Operation Sindoor: a meticulously orchestrated strike, showcasing India's prowess in integrating Rafale jets with stand-off weapons, drones, artillery, satellites and an advanced air-defense grida testament to precise, technology-driven joint operations. The second image is far more haunting: the fiery wreckage of a Tejas fighter at the Dubai Air Show on November 21, 2025.

For a nation that aims to export weapons to over 90 countries and hit 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029, the fallouts can impact the Made in India tag adversely. But how New Delhi handles the aftermaththe facts, the engineering fixes and above all, the narrativewill be key. In an era where perception shapes procurement deals, India must transform this setback into a story of resilience and maturity. There is a need to reiterate some facts to temper the social media blitz of our adversaries after this accident.

Since its maiden flight in 2001, the Tejas programme has logged only two hull-loss accidents. The first occurred on March 12, 2024, in Jaisalmer, where an Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas crashed during a training sortie, with the pilot ejecting safely. The Dubai incident marks the second in roughly 24 years of its first flight. With 38 series aircraft operational since 2016, the fleet has accumulated tens of thousands of flight hours.

The venerable F-16, a global bestseller, has endured over 670 hull-loss accidents across millions of hours and thousands of jets. Sweden's Gripen suffered at least nine incidents, including infamous airshow crashes in 1989 and 1993 due to flight control software glitches. France's Rafale has seen losses, including a 2007 crash and a fatal 2009 mid-air collision. Many frontline fighters have survived such accidents to become export successes. The Gripen's early crashes sparked cancellation calls in Sweden, but Saab and the government persisted: they overhauled control laws, expanded flight testing, leading to a stellar safety recordbolstered by exports to five air forces. The Eurofighter Typhoon lost an Italian jet and pilot in a 2017 display crash, prompting procedural tweaks without derailing its export trajectory.

On the civilian front, Boeing's 737 MAX saga is instructive: two crashes killing 346 people led to a global grounding, exhaustive software and training overhauls under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and a gradual return to service. Common threads emerge: unflinching technical investigations identifying root causes in software, hardware, human factors or procedures; tangible fixes like redesigned systems or new training; external validation from independent regulators; steadfast political support without denialism; and ultimately, years of reliable operations to rebuild trust. India must adopt a similar approach.

Defence exports hit a record 23,622 crore ($2.7 billion) in FY 2024-25, and Tejas is the flagship of this narrative. As markets thrive on stories and Dubai's spectacle is a marketer's nightmare, China's Global Times has seized on this, framing it as doubts over Indian military industrial quality, along with Pakistani social media frenzy. To counter this, India must act decisively on engineering and narrative fronts.

First, the Court of Inquiry should be a watershed event: make it transparent, time-bound and multidisciplinary (involving IAF pilots, HAL/ADA engineers, CEMILAC/DGAQA (Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification/Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance) certifiers, engine OEMs, and UAE officials). Subsequently, publish a redacted summary detailing causes, factors and mandated changes.

Second, share metrics like accident rates, mission aborts and operational availability, and launch a formal Reliability Growth Plan with 5- and 10-year targets, backed by incentives.

Third, address institutional voids by establishing a Military Aviation Safety Board akin to the NTSB with labs and public reporting mandates. Align CEMILAC/DGAQA with global standardsAS9100-quality supply chains, digital traceability and robust human-factors analysis. Fourth, master the narrative by creating a joint MoD-IAF-HAL crisis cell for rapid and honest messaging. Anchor every Dubai reference with comparisonsGripen, Typhoon, Rafale, F-16 amongst othersall of which recovered after similar incidents. Proactively brief Tejas customers on timelines and records before adversaries twist the tale.

Finally, weave Operation Sindoor and the accident into a cohesive story. Together, they illustrate India's transition to a mature military producer-user. The true test of defence Atmanirbharta, besides flawless execution, is also a response to failure. Denial and nationalism could taint Indian defence pitches for years. However, credible probes, visible fixes, independent oversight and disciplined storytelling could in fact position India as a credible aerospace player.
Nvidia (NVDA) stock fell 2.6% Tuesday after a report indicated that the AI chipmaker could soon see greater competition from its own customer, Google (GOOG, GOOGL).

The Information reported on Monday that Google is in talks with Meta (META) for the Facebook parent to spend billions of dollars to use its AI chips in data centers in 2027.

This would represent a big change in Google's current chip business, which sees the tech giant rent access to its chips, called tensor processing units (TPUs), to AI developers through Google Cloud. This means the chips are confined to Google's own data centers, not sold externally as suggested by The Information's report.

The Information also said Google is pitching its other cloud customers to sell them TPUs, in a move the company claims could grab as much as 10% of Nvidia's annual revenue. Shares of Nvidia rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) also fell more than 4% following the report.

Read more about Nvidia's stock moves and today's market action.

The move is part of a growing dynamic in which Nvidia's biggest customers are becoming one of its largest competitive threats.

In addition to Google, Amazon (AMZN) and Microsoft (MSFT) have developed their own AI chips. Amazon recently completed a massive data center project, renting out half a million of its custom AI chips to one of the leading AI developers, Anthropic (ANTH.PVT). Google recently announced a big deal with Anthropic, and OpenAI (OPAI.PVT) reportedly tested the company's AI chips this summer.

Speculation has grown in recent months that Google is expanding its AI chip business to more directly compete with Nvidia.

Investing firm DA Davidson published a note in September stating that "notable frontier AI labs" had shown "considerable interest" in purchasing Google's TPUs. The firm estimated that Google's TPU business and AI segment, DeepMind, could be worth $900 billion.

An Nvidia spokesperson responded to the latest news saying, Were delighted by Googles success  theyve made great advances in AI and we continue to supply to Google."

"NVIDIA is a generation ahead of the industry," they said.

Nvidia's stock drop Tuesday reversed a gain from the previous trading session as tech stocks had begun to recover from a recent rout. Nvidia and other Big Tech equities have come under pressure in recent months as concerns have escalated over the AI bubble.

Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang looks on as President Trump speaks at the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 19. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)  BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images

Nvidia has been subject to criticism over circular AI deals  as the leading AI chipmaker has invested in its own customers  with the famed "Big Short" investor Michael Burry recently betting on the company's decline and claiming the AI market is like the dot-com bubble.
Bollywood actress Celina Jaitly has initiated legal proceedings against her husband, hotelier Peter Haag, alleging domestic violence, cruelty, and manipulation. Following her petition at a Mumbai court, Haag has been issued a formal notice. Although details are limited, initial reports indicate Jaitly acted under the Domestic Violence Act.

In an NDTV report, Jaitly, in her petition, described Haag as a "narcissist" and "self-absorbed individual" who demonstrates "no empathy" for her or their children.

Jaitley, who made her debut in Feroz Khan's 2003 film Janasheen, opposite Fardeen Khan, married the Austrian hotelier and entrepreneur in 2011 in Austria.

How did Celina Jaitley and Peter Haag meet?

The two met through a mutual friend in 2010 during an event in Dubai. They began dating afterwards and later married in Austria, following a discreet engagement the previous year at Celina's residence in Mumbai.

They became parents to twin children in 2012. In 2017, Jaitly once again gave birth to another set of twins, but one of them didn't survive due to a congenital heart condition.

Battles with depression

In a 2020 interview with Gulf News, Jaitly spoke positively about her husband's support for her when she was battling severe depression following the demise of her parents and the child.

The former Miss India had spoken about her struggle to return to acting after the tragedy while promoting her 45-minute short film Season's Greetings. It was very difficult to face the camera when you are facing depression and when you have lost your mother, and a child Shooting for this film was one of the most difficult things I had to ever do in my life, she said then.

ALSO READ | MEA confirms consular support for actor Celina Jaitly's brother Major (retd) Vikrant in UAE prison

The actress also shared in the same interview that Haag left his job in Dubai and decided to return to Austria to help her. "I was suffering from such severe depression that we had no option but to leave Dubai. He said, Lets go back to Austria and let us disconnect from everything till you get better. That really helped me, and getting my husbands support in this meant a lot. In a way, Seasons Greetings played an important part in healing me and making me feel better,

Jaitly has appeared in mainstream entertainers such as No Entry, Golmaal Returns, Thank You, Apna Sapna Money Money and Money Hai Toh Honey Hai.
Even as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) debate intensified in West Bengal, with Booth Level Officers (BLO) holding a protest march on Monday to the Election Commission(EC) office in Kolkata, the poll body is still confident that the process is going on smoothly.

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal said the SIR and the BLOs' pressure were two separate issues.

"If they (BLOs) are under pressure or if they are falling sick, we have told the district magistrate to help them. If there is a death, we have instructed the district administration to submit the police report and post-mortem report. The reports will come in a day or two, and we will forward them to the Election Commission," he said.

The protesters were still at the EC office premises when Agarwal was addressing the press. They insisted on meeting the CEO even though they were allowed to meet senior EC officials.

Agarwal claimed most of the protesters were not BLOs.

BLO Adhikar Rakha Committee, I dont know who they are. What is the registration? I did not meet them. My colleagues met them, and we found out only four of them are BLOs, he said.

The CEO sought to allay fears that the BLOs would have to face severe punishment if they made any mistakes during the process. He said the show-cause notices issued to four BLOs earlier were due to grave misconduct.

Action will be taken only if it is needed. We dont want to take action unless someone is intentionally delaying public interest. We are not standing with sticks. We only have to take action when they are defiant, deviating from the original procedures and acting against the public interest," Agarwal said as he noted that BLOs are the face of the EC on the ground.

The CEO said there is no change in the December 4 deadline to complete the SIR process. Policy changes can be made only by the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in Delhi, he added.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress(TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee addressed a virtual meeting with around 2,500 party workers on the SIR exercise. The TMC had initiated the vote suraksha camps to help citizens facing hurdles during the SIR process. Banerjee said the camps will be extended till January 31.

Submission of enumeration forms should be our focus," the MP said.

We must ensure 100% submission of enumeration forms. Our war rooms should remain on high alert. Our MLAs should take charge of this extremely important factor of the upcoming polls," he added.

Did you see what happened in Bihar? Voters who had their names listed in the draft rolls found their names missing when they reached polling stations to vote," Banrejee said as he emphasised that any attempt at "vote theft" by opposition parties must be stopped.

CEO Agarwal declined to comment when he was asked about the allegations of voters' names missing at the polling station in Bihar during the recently held Assembly elections.

I am not looking into the Bihar elections, and I cannot answer that question. I am the CEO of West Bengal. I can answer questions related to that," he said.

While the TMC is upping its ante over the SIR and the BLOs are protesting against the intense pressure they are allegedly facing, the EC is attempting to portray a calm demeanour and ensure the exercise meets the deadline.
The first images of the 'Dharma Dhwaja' (sacred flag) to be hoisted atop the Ram Temple in Ayodhya by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have emerged hours before the grand ceremony on Tuesday.

The right-angled triangular flag, measuring ten feet in height and twenty feet in length, bears the image of a radiant Sun with an Om inscribed on it, along with the image of a Kovidara tree.

Modi, who arrived in the holy city in the morning, held a roadshow to the Ram temple complex for the flag hoisting ceremony marking the formal completion of the temple's construction.

A large number of people, including women and youth, stood along the route to welcome Modi, showering flower petals on him.

The prime minister visited other temples in the city, including Saptamandir and Mata Annapurna Mandir, before taking Darshan at Ram Darbar Garbh Grah and Ram Lalla Garbha Grah.

The ceremony will be held at 12 noon. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel, and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath will attend the event.

Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, offers prayers at Mata Annapurna Mandir ahead of the historic flag hoisting at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. pic.twitter.com/O5NX9sj7n5  IANS (@ians_india) November 25, 2025

Measuring 22 feet in length and 11 feet in width, the specially designed flag weighs between two and three kilograms. It was crafted by a parachute specialist from Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

"The sacred saffron flag will convey a message of dignity, unity, and cultural continuity, embodying the ideals of Ram Rajya," said an official statement.

The flag will rise atop a 'Shikhar' constructed in the traditional North Indian Nagara architectural style. The 800-metre-long boundary wall surrounding the temple is designed in South Indian style, showcasing the structures architectural diversity.
Fresh developments in the probe into the Delhi Red Fort blast case reveal that the suicide bomber, Umar un Nabi, had planned a terror strike of bigger intensity, and he owned a 'portable' chemical lab to carry out his 'explosive' tests.

According to NDTV, the accused arrested in connection with the Red Fort blast reportedly told investigators that Dr Nabi owned a secret 'mobile workstation' to make his explosives. He apparently also carried out tests of the explosives and chemical reactions in his room at Al-Falah University, the accused told sleuths.

Muzamil Shakeel, another doctor from Al-Falah University who was part of the "white collar module", was the first to be recruited by Maulvi Irfan Ahmed, Jaish-e-Mohammed's main contact. Shakeel told investigators that Nabi had a mobile workstation, which was a huge suitcase, and he carried it along with him wherever he went, the publication reported.

Shakeel said chemical compounds needed to make the explosives and containers were present in the suitcase. NDTV reported that Nabi called himself the "emir" of the 'white-collar" terror module and always spoke like a chemical wizard.

The fresh revelations support investigators' preliminary findings that a half-completed IED was used for the deadly blast that rocked the national capital after two decades. As many as 15 people died in the blast near Red Fort Metro station on November 10. Over 10 people suffered injuries in the blast.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to interfere with the termination of a Christian Army officer who was discharged for declining to enter the sanctum sanctorum of his regiments temple and perform pooja.

The bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi, dismissed the petition while underscoring that the Armed Forces stand on discipline, cohesion, and collective morale and those values cannot be compromised in the name of personal faith.

The petition, filed by a Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Kamalesan challenging his termination from the Indian Armed Forces over refusal to participate in certain regimental religious ceremonies at his unit, located in Mamoon, Punjab. Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the officer, argued that the case raised a serious constitutional question: is the right to profess and practise faith under Article 25 subordinate to military discipline?

Officers must lead by example, says CJI

Right from the start, CJI Kant appeared unconvinced by the argument that the officers faith justified refusing participation in rituals at places of worship other than his own.

"What kind of message he has been sending, he should have been thrown out for this only, grossest kind of indiscipline by an army official." Chief Justice Kant observed.

If somebody asks you to perform rituals then it is fine but there is no ritual in a Gurudwara, the CJI remarked, questioning the officers refusal even to enter the gurdwara. The CJI noted that the officer did not even listen to the pastor, referring to the counselling given by a church representative urging him to attend the Sarv Dharm Sthal, a multi-faith space.

Justice Bagchi pressed further, telling the counsel that the officer could not claim a personal interpretation of religious obligations beyond what his own clergy endorsed. You cannot have your private understanding of what your religion permits. That too in uniform, he said.

At this juncture, Justice Bagchi pointed out that a pastor had opined that entering the sanctum would not violate the tenets of Christianity. Sankaranarayanan replied that the pastor's statement was in the context of a Sarv Dharm Sthal and not a temple.

The Bench repeatedly emphasised the institutional context, Leaders have to lead by example. You are insulting your troops, CJI told Sankaranarayanan.

My faith has nothing to do with army duty, says Lieutenant Colonel Kamalesan

In response, Sankaranarayanan argued that the officer had always participated in social celebrations including Diwali, Lohri and Holi and abstained only from religious rituals that violated his conscience.

My faith has nothing to do with army duty, he submitted. He added that a Sarv Dharm Sthal wasnt available in Mamoon due to infrastructure constraints, complicating expectations of neutral participation.

He also contended that the Army had acted harshly and prematurely, without notice or proportional consideration, even though the officer had an unblemished service record of six years. "I cannot be forced to worship a deity. Constitution permits that much freedom," Sankaranarayanan submitted.

Sankaranarayanan warned that the termination order sent the wrong message.

To which the CJI replied, This will send a strong message.

Respect the collective faith of the majority you command, says the CJI

Justice Bagchi drew a distinction between personal sentiment and essential religious practice under Article 25.

Breach of Article 25 needs to be seen from the angle of essential practices, not every sentiment of religion, she observed, adding that as a commanding officer, he was also constitutionally expected to respect the collective faith of the majority.

The bench was particularly concerned about cohesion within the regiment, noting that Sikh soldiers regarded the gurdwara as the most secular space available, and the officers refusal risked alienating his own men.

For the Army, we are not going to open this kind of issue, the CJI said, adding that existing regulatory provisions were not under challenge.

The court held that the petitioner had shown unwillingness to respect the sentiments of soldiers under his command and that this affected discipline.

The plea was subsequently dismissed.
The ash clouds from the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia are moving eastwards, and it is likely to reach China in the evening. Though the ash clouds affected flight operations in India, the civil aviation ministry maintained that there is no cause for concern and it is closely monitoring the situation.

In a statement, the Union ministry said that flight operations are continuing smoothly across the country, and only a few flights have been cancelled or rerouted owing to the situation. "Following the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia and the eastward movement of the ash cloud, MoCAalong with ATC, IMD, airlines and international aviation agenciesis ensuring seamless coordination," the civil aviation ministry said.

"The Airports Authority of India has issued the necessary NOTAM, and all affected flights have been kept informed. Operations across India remain smooth, with only a few flights rerouted or descended as a precaution," the ministry said. "There is no cause for concern at this moment. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide timely updates to ensure passenger safety," it added.

For the first time in over 10,000 years, the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region erupted on November 23. The ash clouds reached Gujarat's coast late on Monday, and it eventually loomed over Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh later into the night, as per independent forecaster IndiaMetSky Weather.

On Monday evening, IndiGo diverted its Kannur-Abu Dhabi flight to Ahmedabad due to the prevailing climatic conditions. Air India announced the cancellation of 13 flights, including some international services, since Monday due to the impact of volcanic ash plumes, as some of its aircraft that flew through the affected regions are undergoing checks.

Budget airline Akasa Air cancelled its flights to multiple Middle East nations, including Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi, due to the ash plumes. IndiGo also cancelled flights to the region and said it is closely monitoring the situation.

Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, IMD, told ANI, "The impact of this volcanic ash is being seen only in the upper troposphere, hence it is affecting the flight operations. It has no impact on air quality and weather. Our estimate is that this volcanic ash will completely move towards China by evening."
After the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi, a shield volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region, thick clouds of volcanic ash and sulphur dioxide have travelled at speeds of 100-120km/h to reach India.

Though it is not expected to have a major impact on Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Delhi (where it has already arrived) as it moves at a height of 15,000-45,000 feet, the ash clouds have affected a number of flights operating in the region.

Update06:

The Ash plume mostly consists of Sulphur Dioxide with low to moderate concentrations of Volcanic Ash. Its now stretching from Oman-Arabian sea region into Plains of North & Central India. Its will not impact AQI levels but it will impact So2 level at #Hills of #Nepal, https://t.co/f95r95mLMi pic.twitter.com/WQOOhKmyHM  IndiaMetSky Weather (@indiametsky) November 24, 2025

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also advised that airlines avoid ash-affected airspaces, revise flight planning, and immediately report any suspected ash encounter, including engine issues or cabin smoke/odour.

How did these poisonous ash clouds reach India?

When a volcano erupts, it sends ash clouds into the sky with a lot of force. Hot air and gases help the ash clouds rise even furtherto an altitude of about 5-15km, where it can move without being affected by changes in weather conditions, as it is above cloud level.

The strong east-west winds on this level of the atmosphere then pushed the ash clouds across the Red Sea, towards Yemen and Oman.

When even satellite images show the ash clouds as a large carpet of smoke moving quickly, one can imagine the real thing would definitely cover a vast area about the size of a town or more.

A satellite image shows ash rising from the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia as it drifts over the Red Sea on November 23 | Reuters

The ash clouds continued their journey in an east-northeast direction, crossing Pakistan to finally arrive at Gujarat's coast late on Monday.

It eventually loomed over Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh later into the night, as per independent forecaster IndiaMetSky Weather.

Where will it go?

With no plans to stop in India, the ash clouds would be moving towards China next (via the Himalayas), the India Meteorology Department (IMD) said.

"The latest analysis suggest that Ash plum has moved away from Northern India into China and it will transit into upper atmosphere and finer dust will liner in upper atmosphere for some days and move towards Pacific along with the Subtropical Jetstream," IndiaMetSky Weather added.

Update07: FINAL UPDATE

(ASH CLOUD FROM HAYLI GUBBI VOLCANO HAS SAFELY MOVED AWAY & DISPERSED INTO UPPER ATMOSPHERE)



The latest analysis suggest that Ash plum has moved away from Northern India into China and it will transit into upper atmosphere and finer dust will liner in https://t.co/1nYPpyuoyK pic.twitter.com/dPMg21uqhU  IndiaMetSky Weather (@indiametsky) November 25, 2025

The forecaster has also pointed out a small trail of sulphur dioxide about 15km in the atmosphere, which will disperse over time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, reiterated that the whole world has witnessed that the new India neither fears, nor stops, nor bows before terrorism.

Addressing an event commemorating the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at Kurukshetra in Haryana, on Tuesday, Modi said India speaks of fraternity to the world while also defending its borders.

While India desires peace, it never compromises on its security, the prime minister said, citing Operation Sindoor as the greatest example for this.

According to Modi, todays India is moving forward with full strength, courage, and clarity.

The PM said today has come as a remarkable confluence of Indias heritage, as in the morning he was in Ayodhya, the city of the Ramayana, and now he is in Kurukshetra, the city of the Gita.

Claiming that his government has had the privilege of giving the sacred sites associated with the Gurus the most magnificent and divine form, Modi said over the past decade, there have been many occasions when he personally became part of events linked to the Guru tradition.

Emphasising that the government has sought to connect every pilgrimage site of the Gurus with the vision of modern India, Modi further noted that whether it was completing the work of the Kartarpur Corridor, constructing the ropeway project at Hemkund Sahib, or expanding the Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum at Anandpur Sahib, all these tasks have been undertaken with full devotion, keeping the glorious tradition of the Gurus as the guiding ideal.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid organisation in Gaza backed by Israel and the United States and run largely by American contractors, announced on Monday that it was formally ending its mission. The group, created earlier this year at the height of famine warnings in Gaza, had promoted itself as an innovative alternative to the United Nations-led humanitarian system. Its closure, however, comes after months of controversy, mounting criticism from international agencies and repeated outbreaks of deadly violence at its distribution sites.

John Acree, GHFs executive director, said the organisation had fulfilled its purpose and that the creation of the new US-led CivilMilitary Coordination Centre (CMCC) under the Trump administrations 20-point IsraelHamas ceasefire framework had rendered the foundations continued involvement unnecessary. GHFs goal was to meet an urgent need, prove that a new approach could succeed where others had failed, and ultimately hand off that success to the broader international community, Acree said. GHF believes that moment has now arrived.

The foundation launched as Gaza faced a deepening humanitarian emergency driven by severe Israeli restrictions on aid operations. Established with American funding but with heavy involvement from Israeli officials and business figures connected to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government, GHF aimed to bypass the United Nations entirely. Israel envisioned the foundation ultimately replacing UN agencies as the sole provider of humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

Central to GHFs model was the effort to exclude Hamas from access to or control over aid. To prevent diversion, the organisation distributed food at militarised hubs located away from population centres. GHF asserted that its system demonstrated a better way to deliver aid to Gazans, claiming it was the only operation that reliably provided free meals at scale without loss or looting. According to the foundation, it delivered more than 187 million free meals during its four and a half months of operation and distributed over 1.1 million packets of ready-to-use supplementary food for malnourished children. It also reported that none of its aid convoys were looted.

GHF leadership repeatedly framed the project as proof of what American-led solutions and compassion could achieve, thanking the Trump administration for its early backing.

However, the initiative was widely condemned within the international humanitarian sector. Major aid organisations refused to cooperate with GHF, citing its opaque structure, political entanglements and failure to meet established humanitarian principles. Twenty-eight UN human rights experts called in August for the foundation to be dismantled, describing it as an utterly disturbing example of how humanitarian relief can be exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas in serious breach of international law. UNRWAs commissioner-general urged its closure, arguing it delivered nothing but starvation and gunfire.

Critics also warned that GHFs modelrequiring civilians to travel long distances through dangerous terrain to reach a small number of distribution sitesdeparted sharply from the humanitarian norm of bringing aid directly to affected populations. UN officials stressed that unimpeded access for impartial aid workers remained the only legitimate solution.

The distribution hubs themselves became focal points of repeated unrest. Between May and October, the sites saw frequent outbreaks of chaos and lethal violence, involving Israeli soldiers and GHFs own private security contractors. UN experts reported that Israeli forces and foreign military personnel repeatedly opened indiscriminate fire on crowds. Various reports estimated that at least 859 Palestinians were killed around GHF locations, with later UN assessments putting the figure above 1,000. A Red Cross clinic in Rafah recorded 1,874 weapon-wounded patients between May 25 and June 19, most of whom said they were injured while attempting to collect GHF aid. Contractors and video accounts indicated that US guards used live ammunition and stun grenades.

The Israeli military rejected these claims, stating that troops fired only warning shots or responded to immediate threats. Officials insisted Hamas operatives and other gunmen had also fired on crowds. Hamas condemned the foundation, accusing it of causing the deaths and injuries of thousands of Gazans and demanding international accountability.

GHF attributed its closure to the establishment of the CMCC, the partial resumption of UN-led operations following the October ceasefire, and reduced need for its services. Acree said the CMCC and international organisations would adopt and expand GHFs model. The foundation will remain a registered NGO, keeping itself ready to reconstitute should new needs emerge. Nonetheless, reports indicate that GHF had been facing serious financial difficulties and had become marginalised after the ceasefire, as its siteslocated in areas under Israeli controlwere no longer accessible to most Palestinians.

Reaction to the shutdown has been sharply divided. The US State Department thanked GHF, arguing that its approach prevented Hamas from looting aid and played a huge role in bringing about the ceasefire. Hamas, by contrast, welcomed the closure as a deserved step for an organisation it accused of engineering starvation and operating as part of Israels security apparatus.
Pawan Thakur, the Dubai-based drug trafficker who was behind one of the country's biggest cocaine rackets, is likely to be deported to India soon, reports say.

He is believed to be the mastermind behind the smuggling of 82 kilograms of cocaine worth Rs 2,500 crore, which was seized in Delhi in November 2024.

The NCB had issued a silver Notice against him via Interpol in September. The notice enables international law enforcement agencies to trace assets, businesses and financial operations. The ED also carried out raids at his locations and froze 118 of his mule accounts.

He is also the man behind the meth drugs seized by the anti-drugs body in Delhi earlier this week, which was found to be worth Rs 282 crore. Officials also say that Thakur was a long-time operator in the hawala and money laundering business.

Sources say that Thakur and his family fled to Delhi after the drug seizure in Delhi last year. He had reportedly continued to operate his smuggling and money laundering activities. He also acquired property in Debai, including luxury cars and a villa in the Dubai hills estate.
- Expanding support for manufacturing site operations globally, starting in Thailand and Indonesia -

TOKYO, November 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OKI (TOKYO: 6703) launched its Projection Assembly SystemTM (Note 1) in Thailand and Indonesia, which supports assembly and quality inspection processes, driving the digital transformation (DX) of manufacturing sites on November 25, 2025. The system combines projector-based task guidance with image sensing technologies to help create manufacturing sites where anyone can perform tasks to uniform quality. Marking the starting point for OKIs global expansion of manufacturing DX solutions, this expansion into Southeast Asia will contribute to the quick solution of a wide range of challenges encountered at manufacturing sites in different countries through local language support, enhanced functionality, and collaboration with local partners.

At manufacturing sites in Southeast Asia, issues such as high labor turnover, workforce diversity, and inconsistent work quality, are becoming more serious. In particular, in assembly processes that rely heavily on manual labor, there is a strong demand for an environment in which anyone can perform tasks to uniform quality, regardless of language or skill level.

OKI promotes the externalization of technologies and expertise developed in its own factories by providing them to external customers as products and services. The Projection Assembly System is part of this initiative, which was developed using insights gained from identifying issues and implementing and verifying improvements in OKIs factory assembly processes. Since its launch in 2018, the system has been introduced and operated at more than 100 manufacturing sites in Japan and at OKIs overseas factories. Drawing on practical experience gained from these on-site operations, OKI is to expand support globally, starting in Thailand and Indonesia, to help customers facing similar challenges.

The system improves efficiency both on-site and in management operations by reducing human error and training burdens for assembly and quality inspection work and by boosting productivity through work history analysis. It features various new and enhanced functions, including multilingual support, streamlining of setup procedures, and real-time work status visualization to ensure uniform quality work regardless of workers language or experience. OKI also provides comprehensive support in conjunction with local partners from installation to operation, improvement, and maintenance.

OKI is working to provide solutions utilizing its technologies and know-how cultivated in-house, while strengthening its global expansion. OKI will continue to support on-site transformation for global manufacturing through co-creation with industries and customers and through alliances with partner companies in mutually complementary forms.
China denied any wrongdoing against Arunachal woman Prema Wangjom Thongdok at Shanghai airport on Tuesday. China's foreign ministry reiterated its claims over Arunachal Pradesh and called it Chinese territory.

Refuting allegations levelled by Prema Thongdok, China maintained that its immigration officials acted as per law and fully protected the rights of Prema Thongdok. China denied allegations of detaining Prema for over 18 hours at Shanghai airport following a dispute over her Indian passport.

#WATCH | Prema Wangjom Thongdok from Arunachal Pradesh claims that Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport declared her Indian passport invalid and delayed her travel to Japan.



She says, "... When I tried to question them and ask them what the issue was, they pic.twitter.com/onL9v1Oe0j  ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2025

On November 21, Chinese immigration authorities at Shanghai airport refused to accept the Indian passport of UK-based Indian citizen Prema Thongdok and called it "invalid". Prema was travelling to Japan from the UK and had a three-hour layover at Shanghai airport. However, the short layover soon turned into an 18-hour ordeal after Chinese authorities refused to recognise her passport, as it mentioned Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.

Responding to Prema's allegations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning claimed that the woman was not subjected to any compulsory measures, detainment or harassment. "The airline provided a place to rest, drink and food for the person concerned," Mao said.

"We learnt that China's border inspection authorities have gone through the whole process according to the laws and regulations and fully protected the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned," she added. She reiterated China's claims over Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls Zangnan or South Tibet.

"Zangnan is China's territory. China never acknowledged the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India, Mao said.

The Indian government lodged a strong demarche (a formal diplomatic protest) to China, both in Beijing and in Delhi, on the same day the incident took place. "India firmly conveyed to the Chinese side that Arunachal Pradesh is 'indisputably' an Indian territory and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports," India stressed.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed shock over the incident on Tuesday, and said he was "deeply shocked" by the incident and called it a "violation of international norms". "Subjecting her despite a valid Indian passport to humiliation and racial mockery is appalling. Arunachal Pradesh is, and will always be, an integral part of India. Any insinuation otherwise is baseless and offensive," he said.
The holy city of Ayodhya is all set to witness another grand ceremony on Tuesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the Dharma Dhwaj (sacred flag) atop the 191-foot-high shikhara of the Ram Temple.

The event will mark the completion of the temples construction, which began in 2020, a year after the Supreme Court, in a historic verdict, resolved a decades-old legal battle and awarded the entire 2.77-acre disputed land to the Ramjanmabhoomi Trust.

Measuring 22 feet in length and 11 feet in width, the specially designed flag weighs between two and three kilograms. It was crafted by a parachute specialist from Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

The flag features three sacred symbolsOm, the Sun and the Kovidara tree. While Om is the eternal spiritual sound, the Kovidar treea hybrid of the Mandar and Parijat trees created by Rishi Kashyapshowcases ancient plant hybridisation in India.

            



On the eve of the Dhwajarohan Utsav, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir illuminated in radiant light pic.twitter.com/djhX0meklj  Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) November 24, 2025

Modi will arrive in Ayodhya at 9.30 am and visit the Saptmandir. He will also visit the Sheshavtar Mandir and Mata Annapurna Mandir. Later, he will perform pooja at Ram Darbar Garbh Grah and Ram Lalla Garbha Grah.

The flag hoisting ceremony will be held at 12 pm. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel, and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath will be present on the occasion.

According to Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, around 7,000 people, including thousands of saints from eastern Uttar Pradesh, will attend the ceremony.

"The programme will take place on the auspicious Panchami date of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Margashirsha, coinciding with the Abhijit Muhurat of Shri Ram and Maa Sita's Vivah Panchami, a day symbolising divine union," said an official statement.

Chief Minister Adityanath on Monday conducted an on-site review of the preparations and passed necessary directions to the officials concerned.

A total of 6,970 security personnel, including commandos from the ATS, NSG snipers, cyber experts, and technical teams, have been deployed in the holy city as part of heightened security measures, the state government said.
Raking up the language row, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin asserted on Tuesday that the state would resist any attempt by the Centre to impose Hindi.

Speaking at an event in Chennai, he said the state is also prepared to wage a language war if necessary.

If Hindi is forced upon us, Tamil Nadu is ready for a language war, the DMK leader said. We have always protected our language, our state rights, democracy, and the voting rights of the people".

Udhayanidhi's fresh remarks came a day after he stirred up a political storm, calling Sanskrit a 'dead language'. He alleged that the Modi government was allocating thousands of crores to Sanskrit while giving only a fraction of that amount to Tamil.

'States being targeted'

Udhayanidhi accused the Union government of targeting the non-BJP-ruled states politically and economically. The BJP is trying to make economically strong states politically weak, and politically strong states economically weak, he said.

The Deputy CM further alleged that Tamil Nadu has been suffering due to unfair sharing of tax revenues, delays or blocking of funds, centrally imposed schemes, the New Education Policy and now the proposed delimitation exercise.

Emphasising that the DMK will remain a strong voice for federalism and equity, Udhayanidhi compared Dravidian politics to a computer algorithm.

An algorithm is a set of clear steps used to solve a problem or reach a result. In computers, it tells the machine exactly what to do. Tamil Nadus politics also follows a clear and consistent method; this is what we call the Dravidian algorithm," he said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday held a rally to allay the Matua community's fears about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state.

I am making this prediction... the BJP will be defeated in the Gujarat elections. To win Bengal, they will lose Gujarat, she said while addressing the crowd in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas district.

VIDEO | North 24 Paraganas: "If BJP tries to strike me in Bengal, I will shake its foundation across India", says CM Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) at anti-SIR rally in Bongaon.



(Source: Third Party)



(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/vvHuE2l9lm  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 25, 2025

Mamata held a public meeting at Tirkone Park after which she reached Chandpara, a few kilometres away to walk with the people. This is Mamata's second anti-SIR rally that Mamata chose to walk with the masses she seeks to send out a strong message that she is here to allay the fears of people in the state, including the Matuas. The Matuas are a Hindu minority community, most of who trace their ancestral roots to Bangladesh.

I want to give you assurance. Do not get scared. We will not allow you to be thrown out as long as I am in Bengal. BJP is trying to create fear among you, said Mamata while addressing the Matua dominant rally. The Matuas fled Bangladesh after facing persecution, some when the country was part of Pakistan and others who fled after the Bangladesh liberation in 1971.

If illegal immigrants staying in the bordering districts, then I want to ask who is responsible for the borders? The airports and customs are all under the Centre, said the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo.

She accused the BJP of misleading the Matua community, slamming the saffron party-backed Matua Sangha for issuing religious cards in exchange of money. We are waiting for the draft list to come. Then we will help you with list of all other documents, so that no genuine voter gets deleted, the CM assured them.

The Matuas comprise almost 17 per cent of the scheduled caste population in West Bengal with votes divided amongst the BJP and TMC. The BJP has a strong hold on the community with its Bongaon MP Shantanu Thakur having a huge support while Mamata Bala Thakur is the TMCs Rajya Sabha MP working for the welfare of Matuas.

With Mamata Banerjee coming to Bongaon, TMC supporters from the Matua community were happy with the party supremos visit to their region. We are very happy that she came for us, and she is fighting for us, said Amal Mondal, a TMC supporter.

Many people do not have documents to prove their citizenship while others don't have their names in the 2002 SIR list.

Debabrata Das, a farmer from Thakurbari, said, I did not vote in 2002. My family came here before 2000 but we didnt get our identity documents. We have submitted our forms to the BLO.

Litton Rai, another person from Thakurbari, said, We are not against SIR. We want assurance. There are 11 documents listed, many dont have any of these papers. Why should SIR happen this way? Mamata is here and we are very happy.

Mamata also accused the BJP of trying to sabotage her rally after her helicopter trip was cancelled due to an expired licence. This prompted Mamata to reach the venue by road one-and-a-half hours later.
More than two weeks after Red Fort car blast, it has been revealed that suicide bomber Dr Umar un Nabi did not get along with the Faridabad-based Jaish-e-Mohammed module comprising Dr Muzammil Shakeel, Dr Adeel Rather and Dr Shaheen Shahid. He instead followed ISIS ideology, according to a report.

Umar disagreed with Dr Muzammil Shakeel and Dr Adeel Rather over their Jaish ideology and attack strategy, according to sources cited by Times Now. The doctors originally wanted to fight in Afghanistan or Syria but their Jaish handlers guided them to focus on operations in India and plot attacks in several areas.

A video of Dr. Umar Un Nabi - the man accused in the November 10 Red Fort car blast has now come to light. In the clip, he describes suicide bombing as a martyrdom operation. He speaks in English, saying those who die at a designated time and place are martyrs, not victims". pic.twitter.com/iQKzP64VWc  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) November 18, 2025

He also had a fallout over terror funding the module received, including Rs 20 lakh via hawala and Rs 40 lakh from Jamat, the new outlet quoted sources as saying.

ALSO READ: 'Reckless' Umar un Nabi wanted to attack quickly but 'calm' Muzammil Shakeel insisted on long-term plan: Report

The strained ties prompted Umar to skip Adeel's wedding in October, when the suspects reportedly gathered to plot the multi-city attack on December 6, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition.

Umar Nabi also had arguments with the members of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror module over the funds. The group received Rs 20 lakh through hawala and Rs 40 lakh received from Jamat, sources said.

Weeks before the Red Fort blast, Umar reached Jammu and Kashmir's Qazigund to settle disputes but was forced to come back to Delhi following the arrest of some terror suspects linked to him.

Sources also claimed that Umar wanted to avenge the 2016 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen operative Burhan Wani and the abrogation of Article 370. He had attended protests over Wani's death and saw himself as the Hizbul terrorist's successor.

Earlier, it was revealed that Umar was "reckless" while Muzammil was "calm and methodical". It was Muzammil who provided logistical support for the Jaish module under the guidance of foreign handlers Ukasha, Mansoor and Hashim.

His calm, methodical approach made him the logistical backbone of the doctor module," a News18 report quoted sources as saying.

Umar, however, wanted to carry out attacks without delay. But Muzammil was worried about jeopardising the module and insisted on a long-term view, including recruiting more educated Muslims and expanding the module.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who assumed charge as home minister of the state on Tuesday, said he would form anti-Romeo squads to prevent eve-teasing of women, especially girl students. Choudhary is the first leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to lead the home department in the state.

Choudhary police personnel will be specially deployed near schools and colleges to prevent eve-teasing of female students. "We will deploy 'anti-Romeo squads' near schools and colleges on the lines of 'pink patrolling' so that no one eve teases or harasses our sisters and daughters. Special forces will be on watch during vacations as well," Choudhary said.

#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary says, "We have worked to promote good governance. To further that work, we have issued several directives. Whether it's making arrangements to improve law and order, whether they are mafias of any level... they will be identified, pic.twitter.com/wOcwqnrdXD  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2025

The BJP-JD(U)-led National Democratic Alliance won the Bihar polls with a huge margin. The new Nitish Kumar-led government assumed charge on November 20. Kumar, who has served as chief minister of the state for nearly two decades, also held the home portfolio.

The new home minister added that there will be "zero tolerance" against crime. He said the state police have so far identified 400 mafia gangs, and their properties will be seized as per court orders. "In accordance with court orders, bulldozers will be run over the houses of the criminals," he said.

Choudhary added that strict vigilance will be maintained in jails, and prisoners will not be allowed access to mobile phones. He added cybercrimes will be monitored, and those hurling abuses over social media or making objectionable comments will face appropriate legal action.

"Nitish Kumar has consistently worked towards improving the law-and-order situation in Bihar. We will strive to strengthen it further," the new home minister said.
India is set to become a major hub in shipbuilding, ship repair, and maritime innovation in the coming decade, announced the Union Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh, in his keynote address at the 'Samudra Utkarsh' event at New Delhi today.

Ships from "friendly foreign" nations are increasingly coming to Indian shipyards for complex refits, and this is a clear recognition of India's capability, reliability, and core competitiveness, the Raksha Mantri noted.

The Samudra Utkarsh event in New Delhi by the Department of Defence Production, Government of India, celebrated the "4524 years of excellence, from ancient maritime roots to modern innovation" from 2500 BCE to 2025 CE.

Singh also highlighted key Indian programmes such as the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 as he stated the nation's commitment to becoming the "preferred sustainment and repair hub for the entire Indo-Pacific region".

As he highlighted the achievements of major Indian outfits such as the Cochin Shipyard Limited, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, and

Hindustan Shipyard Limited, among others, he also lauded the country's emerging private maritime players.

"The private sector is rising as a force multiplier, producing green fuel vessels, LNG carriers, roll-on roll-off vessels, and high-efficiency commercial ships for domestic use under global clients," Singh noted.

Civil shipbuilders, backed by Indian design houses, are a sign of the country's shift towards a "full-spectrum" shipbuilding nation, the defence minister stated.

"We are capable of delivering everything from aircraft carriers to advanced research vessels and energy-efficient commercial ships", announced Rajnath Singh.

The Samudra Utkarsh seminar at Bhaat Mandapam saw key stakeholders in the maritime sector, including the CMDs of MDL, GRSE, GSL, HSL, CSL and L&T Shipbuilding sharing insights on their shipyards, milestones, and technological progress.

Welcoming the various dignitaries at the event, Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar highlighted how shipbuilding was one of the strategic industries for any maritime nation.
Afghanistan's Taliban government has accused Pakistan of killing 10 people, 9 of them children and one woman, in an air strike on Tuesday. The strike was reported just a day after a suicide attack on a security compound in Pakistan's Peshawar city.

According to a spokesperson for the Taliban government, Zabihullah Mujahid, The Pakistani invading forces bombed the house of a local civilian resident ... As a result, nine children (five boys and four girls) and one woman were martyred. the attacks took place at midnight in the Gurboz district of Khost province.

Last night at around 12 oclock in the Gorbuz district of Khost province, in the Mughalgai area, the Pakistani invading forces bombed the house of a local civilian resident, Waliat Khan, son of Qazi Mir. As a result, nine children (five boys and four girls)

21  Zabihullah (..   ) (@Zabehulah_M33) November 25, 2025

Air strikes also targeted the border regions of Kunar and Paktika, wounding four other civilians.

On Monday, a suicide attack targeted the headquarters of Pakistan's Federal Constabulary force in Peshawar, killing three officers and wounding 11 others.

State media reported that the attackers were Afghan nationals.

Pakistans president, Asif Zardari, had blamed the foreign-backed Fitna al-Khawarij the country's term for the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) militants, of orchestrating the attack. The Country says the group operates from Afghanistan.

Pakistan has not yet made a comment on the air strikes.

Earlier this month, another suicide attack in Islamabad killed 12 people. The attack was claimed by a faction of the TTP.

The relations between the two countries have been tense since the Taliban came to power. The tensions worsened after the deadly border clashes in October, which killed 70 people on both sides.

The countries had ended the fighting with a ceasefire; however, the deal fell apart after Pakistan demanded Kabul tighten its security by reigning in the TTP fighters. Kabul had denied charges of harbouring TTP militants.
Invesco Equal Weight 0-30 Year Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:GOVI  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Monday, November 24th. Investors of record on Monday, November 24th will be given a dividend of 0.0862 per share on Friday, November 28th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 24th. This is a 4.5% increase from Invesco Equal Weight 0-30 Year Treasury ETFs previous monthly dividend of $0.08.

Invesco Equal Weight 0-30 Year Treasury ETF Stock Down 0.0%

NYSEARCA GOVI traded down $0.01 on Monday, hitting $27.95. 102,048 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 247,321. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $27.95 and a 200-day moving average of $27.46. Invesco Equal Weight 0-30 Year Treasury ETF has a 12 month low of $26.40 and a 12 month high of $28.62.

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The Invesco Equal Weight 0-30 Year Treasury ETF (GOVI) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks an index that invests in an equal-weighted 30-year ladder of US Treasury securities. GOVI was launched on Oct 11, 2007 and is issued by Invesco.

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TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's Panasonic Energy will supply cylindrical batteries to Amazon's self-driving unit Zoox starting from early 2026 under a multi-year agreement, the Panasonic Holdings unit said on Tuesday.

"Panasonic Energy will deliver its latest 2170 batteries beginning in early 2026 to support Zoox's growing robotaxi service and operations," the company said in a statement.

The cells will initially come from Japan, with plans to expand to Panasonic Energy's Kansas plant, it added. The company also supplies Tesla.

The agreement comes after Zoox started offering free rides for early users in parts of San Francisco last week, amid rising competition in the autonomous ride-hailing sector.

Last month, Panasonic Holdings cut its annual profit outlook on weaker expected earnings at the energy unit as well as lower projected automotive battery sales due to worsening conditions in the U.S. electric-vehicle market.

(Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
NET Power Inc. (NYSE:NPWR  Get Free Report) major shareholder 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 132,837 shares of NET Power stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.60, for a total value of $345,376.20. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 3,117,163 shares in the company, valued at $8,104,623.80. The trade was a 4.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Major shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

8 Rivers Capital, Llc also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, November 21st, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 17,163 shares of NET Power stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.50, for a total value of $42,907.50.

On Wednesday, November 19th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 250,000 shares of NET Power stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.57, for a total value of $642,500.00.

On Monday, November 17th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 338,653 shares of NET Power stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.81, for a total value of $951,614.93.

On Monday, November 3rd, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 8,477 shares of NET Power stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $4.00, for a total value of $33,908.00.

On Friday, October 31st, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 18,116 shares of NET Power stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $4.05, for a total value of $73,369.80.

On Tuesday, October 28th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 7,585 shares of NET Power stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.77, for a total transaction of $28,595.45.

On Thursday, October 30th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 107,754 shares of NET Power stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $4.04, for a total transaction of $435,326.16.

On Wednesday, October 29th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 786,832 shares of NET Power stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $4.12, for a total transaction of $3,241,747.84.

On Monday, October 27th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 200,000 shares of NET Power stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.77, for a total transaction of $754,000.00.

On Friday, October 24th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 32,583 shares of NET Power stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.70, for a total transaction of $120,557.10.

NET Power Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE NPWR traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $2.50. 1,145,003 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,465,633. NET Power Inc. has a twelve month low of $1.48 and a twelve month high of $14.12. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $3.33 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $2.76. The company has a market cap of $554.24 million, a P/E ratio of -0.33 and a beta of 0.78.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NET Power ( NYSE:NPWR Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported $5.84 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.16) by $6.00. As a group, equities research analysts predict that NET Power Inc. will post -0.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays upgraded NET Power from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $2.00 to $3.00 in a report on Friday, November 14th. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d-) rating on shares of NET Power in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of NET Power from $6.00 to $4.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $3.50.

Get Our Latest Analysis on NET Power

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NPWR. Stonegate Investment Group LLC grew its position in shares of NET Power by 20.0% during the 3rd quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC now owns 30,000 shares of the companys stock worth $90,000 after buying an additional 5,000 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in NET Power by 48.7% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 16,047 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 5,255 shares during the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG grew its holdings in NET Power by 63.0% during the 1st quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 14,051 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 5,429 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its holdings in NET Power by 44.9% during the 2nd quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 18,525 shares of the companys stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 5,739 shares during the period. Finally, Engineers Gate Manager LP raised its position in shares of NET Power by 17.8% during the 2nd quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 46,433 shares of the companys stock valued at $115,000 after acquiring an additional 7,002 shares during the last quarter. 53.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

NET Power Company Profile

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NET Power Inc operates as a clean energy technology company. The company invents, develops, and licenses clean power generation technology. NET Power Inc was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina.

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North American Construction Group Ltd. (TSE:NOA  Get Free Report) (NYSE:NOA) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, November 26th, TickerTech Dividends reports. Investors of record on Friday, January 9th will be paid a dividend of 0.12 per share on Friday, January 9th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 26th.

North American Construction Group Stock Up 1.7%

TSE NOA traded up C$0.33 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting C$19.40. The companys stock had a trading volume of 942,244 shares, compared to its average volume of 104,135. The firm has a market capitalization of C$564.06 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.28, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.50. The companys 50 day simple moving average is C$19.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$21.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 212.25. North American Construction Group has a twelve month low of C$16.78 and a twelve month high of C$31.67.

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North American Construction Group (TSE:NOA  Get Free Report) (NYSE:NOA) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 12th. The company reported C$0.67 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$317.25 million for the quarter. North American Construction Group had a net margin of 4.80% and a return on equity of 15.24%. Analysts anticipate that North American Construction Group will post 4.0597484 earnings per share for the current year.

About North American Construction Group

North American Construction Group Ltd is Canadas provider of heavy civil construction and mining contractors. The company has provided services to the oil, natural gas and resource companies.

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Shares of Premier African Minerals Limited (LON:PREM  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low on Monday . The company traded as low as GBX 0.07 and last traded at GBX 0.08, with a volume of 76792828 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.08.

Premier African Minerals Stock Down 6.0%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.13 and a quick ratio of 2.54. The firm has a market capitalization of 6.62 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.19 and a beta of 0.99. The business has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 0.08 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 0.04.

Premier African Minerals Company Profile

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Premier African Minerals Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mining, exploration, evaluation, development, and investment of natural resource properties on the African continent. It explores for tungsten, lithium, tantalum, fluorspar, potash, and gold deposits. The company holds interests in RHA Tungsten mine, Katete REE project, zulu project, and Tinde projects in Zimbabwe, as well as properties in Mozambique.

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Shares of Springfield Properties PLC (LON:SPR  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 122 and last traded at GBX 122, with a volume of 174746 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 118.

Springfield Properties Stock Performance

The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 108.50 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 101.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 38.16, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 2.45. The company has a market cap of 145.23 million, a P/E ratio of 10.82 and a beta of 1.42.

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Springfield Properties (LON:SPR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, September 16th. The company reported GBX 12.66 EPS for the quarter. Springfield Properties had a net margin of 2.83% and a return on equity of 4.88%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Springfield Properties PLC will post 8.1103001 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Springfield Properties

About Springfield Properties

In related news, insider Sandy Adam sold 127,899 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 119, for a total value of 152,199.81. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 1,767,899 shares of company stock valued at $204,099,981. Insiders own 24.36% of the companys stock.

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The Springfield Group is one of the largest homebuilders in Scotland. Made up of six well-established and respected brands Springfield Properties, Springfield Partnerships, Dawn Homes, Walker Group, Tulloch Homes and Mactaggart & Mickel Homes  we deliver high quality, energy efficient homes across multiple tenures for people that need them.

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Wheels Up Experience Inc. (NYSE:UP  Get Free Report)s share price was down 4.7% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $0.8301 and last traded at $0.8480. Approximately 1,992,859 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 37% from the average daily volume of 3,169,222 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.8899.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on UP shares. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Wheels Up Experience from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Wheels Up Experience in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Sell.

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Wheels Up Experience Stock Down 5.3%

The companys 50-day moving average price is $1.59 and its 200-day moving average price is $1.62. The firm has a market cap of $608.40 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.65 and a beta of 2.30.

Wheels Up Experience (NYSE:UP  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported ($0.12) earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $185.49 million during the quarter.

Insider Activity at Wheels Up Experience

In related news, COO David L. Holtz sold 36,318 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.92, for a total value of $106,048.56. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 954,254 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,786,421.68. This represents a 3.67% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Mark Briffa sold 86,813 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.23, for a total value of $106,779.99. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 866,670 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,066,004.10. This trade represents a 9.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 335,692 shares of company stock valued at $747,340 in the last 90 days. 0.15% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CWM LLC lifted its stake in Wheels Up Experience by 77.0% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 24,880 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 10,827 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Wheels Up Experience in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Unconventional Investor LLC bought a new position in shares of Wheels Up Experience in the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. WealthShield Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Wheels Up Experience in the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Wheels Up Experience during the 3rd quarter valued at about $37,000. 98.20% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Wheels Up Experience

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Wheels Up Experience Inc provides private aviation services in the United States and internationally. The company offers Wheels Up Membership program that consists of two primary membership categories, such as Individual membership for individual and business fliers; and UP for Business membership consists of small and medium enterprise, and custom enterprise solutions for business fliers that tend to spend at higher levels.

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Shares of International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM  Get Free Report) were up 2.4% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $307.18 and last traded at $304.58. Approximately 5,936,947 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 21% from the average daily volume of 4,908,281 shares. The stock had previously closed at $297.44.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently commented on IBM shares. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of International Business Machines from $310.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Oppenheimer started coverage on shares of International Business Machines in a research report on Friday. They set an outperform rating and a $360.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group raised their target price on International Business Machines from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on International Business Machines in a research report on Monday, September 15th. They set a market perform rating and a $280.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Erste Group Bank cut International Business Machines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $291.08.

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International Business Machines Trading Up 2.4%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.97, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 0.93. The firm has a market cap of $284.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.43, a PEG ratio of 4.33 and a beta of 0.71. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $290.52 and a 200-day simple moving average of $273.74.

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The technology company reported $2.65 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.45 by $0.20. International Business Machines had a return on equity of 37.76% and a net margin of 12.09%.The firm had revenue of $16.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.10 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.30 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. International Business Machines has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that International Business Machines Corporation will post 10.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

International Business Machines Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 10th will be given a $1.68 dividend. This represents a $6.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 10th. International Business Machiness dividend payout ratio is 80.38%.

Institutional Trading of International Business Machines

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Family CFO Inc acquired a new stake in shares of International Business Machines in the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Winnow Wealth LLC bought a new stake in International Business Machines in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. bought a new stake in International Business Machines in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. SWAN Capital LLC acquired a new stake in International Business Machines during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, SSA Swiss Advisors AG bought a new position in International Business Machines during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Institutional investors own 58.96% of the companys stock.

International Business Machines Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

International Business Machines Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated solutions and services worldwide. The company operates through Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing segments. The Software segment offers a hybrid cloud and AI platforms that allows clients to realize their digital and AI transformations across the applications, data, and environments in which they operate.

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Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) was up 3.9% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $129.41 and last traded at $127.2870. Approximately 8,905,763 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 24% from the average daily volume of 7,196,223 shares. The stock had previously closed at $122.51.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on DELL shares. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $130.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Cowen reissued a hold rating on shares of Dell Technologies in a research report on Friday, August 29th. UBS Group raised their price objective on Dell Technologies from $155.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Dell Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Evercore ISI set a $180.00 target price on Dell Technologies and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Dell Technologies currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $160.85.

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Dell Technologies Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $85.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.72, a PEG ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.02. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $143.60 and a 200-day moving average of $130.11.

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 5th. The technology company reported $1.68 EPS for the quarter. Dell Technologies had a negative return on equity of 236.21% and a net margin of 4.73%.The business had revenue of $26.43 billion during the quarter. Dell Technologies has set its FY24 guidance at $6.10-6.50 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Dell Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 21st were given a $0.525 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, October 21st. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.6%. Dell Technologiess payout ratio is 30.88%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Iv (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 499,999 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.48, for a total value of $80,739,838.52. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director V (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 19,256 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.21, for a total transaction of $2,969,467.76. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 4,537,755 shares of company stock worth $642,644,973. 42.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Dell Technologies

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC grew its stake in shares of Dell Technologies by 42.7% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,011 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $347,000 after purchasing an additional 901 shares during the period. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. grew its position in Dell Technologies by 50.7% during the first quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 23,134 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,109,000 after buying an additional 7,787 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its holdings in Dell Technologies by 94.9% during the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 24,610 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,243,000 after buying an additional 11,982 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. raised its position in Dell Technologies by 63.7% in the first quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 406 shares of the technology companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 158 shares during the period. Finally, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ boosted its stake in shares of Dell Technologies by 15.5% during the 1st quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 81,159 shares of the technology companys stock worth $7,392,000 after acquiring an additional 10,873 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.37% of the companys stock.

About Dell Technologies

(Get Free Report)

Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).

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WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC  Free Report)  Analysts at Zacks Research upped their FY2025 earnings estimates for shares of WESCO International in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, November 20th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the technology company will earn $13.27 per share for the year, up from their prior estimate of $12.66. The consensus estimate for WESCO Internationals current full-year earnings is $13.30 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for WESCO Internationals Q4 2025 earnings at $3.75 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $4.05 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $4.19 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $15.37 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $4.10 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $4.58 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $4.70 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $18.26 EPS.

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WCC has been the subject of several other research reports. KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of WESCO International from $258.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. Raymond James Financial reissued a strong-buy rating and set a $240.00 price target (up from $230.00) on shares of WESCO International in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Wall Street Zen cut WESCO International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Loop Capital lifted their target price on WESCO International from $220.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 5th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised WESCO International from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price target for the company from $262.00 to $302.00 in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $255.11.

WESCO International Trading Up 1.2%

NYSE:WCC opened at $254.52 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $12.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.79. WESCO International has a twelve month low of $125.21 and a twelve month high of $268.27. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $230.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $207.60. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19.

WESCO International (NYSE:WCC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The technology company reported $3.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.75 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $6.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.91 billion. WESCO International had a return on equity of 12.96% and a net margin of 2.98%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.58 EPS. WESCO International has set its FY 2025 guidance at 13.100-13.600 EPS.

WESCO International Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 12th were issued a $0.4538 dividend. This represents a $1.82 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 12th. WESCO Internationals payout ratio is currently 14.20%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO John Engel sold 51,051 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $226.17, for a total transaction of $11,546,204.67. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 475,971 shares in the company, valued at $107,650,361.07. The trade was a 9.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO David S. Schulz sold 12,227 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.17, for a total value of $2,753,153.59. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 110,376 shares in the company, valued at $24,853,363.92. The trade was a 9.97% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders sold 130,414 shares of company stock valued at $29,918,387. 3.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WCC. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of WESCO International by 1.4% during the second quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 4,006 shares of the technology companys stock worth $740,000 after buying an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of WESCO International by 13.4% in the second quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 507 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $94,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its position in WESCO International by 6.3% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,340 shares of the technology companys stock worth $283,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the period. Third Avenue Management LLC raised its stake in WESCO International by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Third Avenue Management LLC now owns 14,822 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,302,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its holdings in shares of WESCO International by 166.0% during the 3rd quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 133 shares of the technology companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. 93.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About WESCO International

(Get Free Report)

WESCO International, Inc provides business-to-business distribution, logistics services, and supply chain solutions in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Electrical & Electronic Solutions (EES), Communications & Security Solutions (CSS), and Utility and Broadband Solutions (UBS).

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Wall Street Zen cut shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (NYSE:ARI  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Saturday.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance from $10.75 to $11.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Zacks Research cut Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance from $10.50 to $11.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $10.88.

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Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Price Performance

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Dividend Announcement

NYSE:ARI opened at $9.93 on Friday. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a 52 week low of $7.70 and a 52 week high of $11.11. The firm has a market cap of $1.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.15, a P/E/G ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 1.60. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $10.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $10.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 90.32 and a current ratio of 90.32.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 30th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.1%. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finances payout ratio is 112.36%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance news, CEO Stuart Rothstein sold 52,073 shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.78, for a total value of $561,346.94. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 281,781 shares in the company, valued at $3,037,599.18. The trade was a 15.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.68% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC acquired a new position in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $271,921,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 89.8% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 1,855,116 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $17,753,000 after buying an additional 877,675 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance during the first quarter worth $7,813,000. No Street GP LP lifted its stake in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 33.3% in the 3rd quarter. No Street GP LP now owns 3,000,000 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $30,390,000 after acquiring an additional 750,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Edgestream Partners L.P. bought a new position in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance in the 2nd quarter valued at $5,323,000. 54.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance

(Get Free Report)

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) that originates, acquires, invests in, and manages commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

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EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report)  Investment analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q4 2025 EPS estimates for shares of EOG Resources in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, November 20th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the energy exploration company will post earnings of $2.05 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $2.40. The consensus estimate for EOG Resources current full-year earnings is $11.47 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for EOG Resources Q2 2026 earnings at $2.14 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $2.45 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.13 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $9.20 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.91 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $2.67 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $10.57 EPS.

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EOG has been the subject of a number of other reports. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price target on EOG Resources from $146.00 to $144.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Siebert Williams Shank cut their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $130.00 to $125.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $142.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 20th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $140.00 to $133.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and sixteen have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $140.33.

EOG Resources Stock Down 0.1%

EOG Resources stock opened at $106.81 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.79 and a quick ratio of 1.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $57.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.38, a PEG ratio of 8.20 and a beta of 0.72. EOG Resources has a 1-year low of $102.52 and a 1-year high of $138.18. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $109.72 and a 200-day moving average price of $115.40.

EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The energy exploration company reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.42 by $0.29. The company had revenue of $5.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.48 billion. EOG Resources had a net margin of 25.25% and a return on equity of 20.51%. EOG Resourcess revenue was down 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.89 earnings per share.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in EOG. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise acquired a new stake in EOG Resources during the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. Saudi Central Bank purchased a new stake in shares of EOG Resources in the first quarter worth about $28,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd grew its holdings in EOG Resources by 10,950.0% during the second quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 221 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares during the period. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in EOG Resources during the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new position in EOG Resources in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.91% of the companys stock.

EOG Resources Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 16th will be issued a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 16th. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio is 40.64%.

About EOG Resources

(Get Free Report)

EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas primarily in producing basins in the United States, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and internationally. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company.

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After Shein, Temu, and Alibaba, another major Chinese online retailer is making inroads into France: JD.com. The e-commerce heavyweight has set its sights on Fnac Darty, one of Frances best-known cultural and electronics retailers.

In late October, JD.com also launched its JoyBuy shopping platform in France and several other European markets, positioning itself to compete not only with other Chinese platforms but with Amazon, which still dominates online retail in the region.

Who is JD.com?

JD.com, known in China as Jingdong, was founded in Beijing in 1998 by entrepreneur Liu Qiangdong, also called Richard Liu. It began as a small physical shop before expanding online.

Today, it is one of Chinas biggest e-commerce companies, generating nearly $160 billion (138.36bn) in sales in 2024 and ranking as the countrys third-largest online retailer, behind Alibaba and Temu owner PDD Holdings.

Employees sort parcels at a distribution centre of the JD.com e-commerce platform in Beijing. - Andy Wong/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved

Who will own Fnac Darty in 2025?

Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, through his firm Vesa Equity Investment, is currently the largest shareholder in Fnac Darty with around 28.3% of the company.

His position gives him significant influence over what happens next and he is effectively the main counterweight to JD.coms arrival. Kretinsky can either increase his stake to keep the retailer under European control, or use the Chinese interest as an opportunity to sell part of his holding and cash out.

The second-largest shareholder is Ceconomy AG, the German group behind MediaMarkt and Saturn, which owns about 22% of the capital. The rest of the company is split among various investment funds, smaller shareholders, employees and the group itself, with the remainder traded on the stock market.

This summer, JD.com launched a takeover bid for Ceconomy. If successful, the 2.2 billion deal would give JD.com indirect control of Ceconomys stake in Fnac Darty, strengthening its foothold in the European retail sector. The acquisition is currently being finalised in Germany.

Fnac Darty, best known for its electronics, books and household appliances, operates mainly in France but also has stores in Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and a number of African and Middle Eastern countries.

Customers entering a Fnac shop - AP Photo

The Ministry of the Economy is on alert

The French Ministry of the Economy  known as Bercy  closely monitors all foreign investments in French companies and projects involving Chinese firms are subject to even tighter scrutiny.

The government is not only assessing the financial implications of such deals, it is also examining possible risks to Frances cultural sovereignty and its ability to maintain control over how cultural content is created, distributed, and curated.
Heico Corporation (NYSE:HEI  Free Report)  Stock analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q3 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Heico in a note issued to investors on Friday, November 21st. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the aerospace company will post earnings per share of $1.40 for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $1.38. Zacks Research has a Hold rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Heicos current full-year earnings is $4.20 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Heicos FY2026 earnings at $5.29 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $1.58 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $1.40 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $1.31 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $6.00 EPS.

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HEI has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Heico from $280.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 2nd. Wall Street Zen lowered Heico from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $350.00 price target on Heico in a report on Wednesday, August 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and set a $382.00 price objective (up from $337.00) on shares of Heico in a research note on Wednesday, August 27th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their target price on Heico from $352.00 to $366.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 27th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $343.62.

Heico Stock Up 0.9%

HEI stock opened at $306.10 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $42.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 66.98, a PEG ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 1.08. Heico has a 1-year low of $216.68 and a 1-year high of $338.92. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $315.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $311.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 3.35 and a quick ratio of 1.51.

Heico (NYSE:HEI  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 25th. The aerospace company reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.12 by $0.14. Heico had a return on equity of 16.29% and a net margin of 14.96%.The firm had revenue of $1.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.11 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.97 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 15.7% on a year-over-year basis.

Insider Transactions at Heico

In other Heico news, Director Mark H. Hildebrandt bought 400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 21st. The shares were purchased at an average price of $248.76 per share, with a total value of $99,504.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 1,181 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $293,785.56. The trade was a 51.22% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Alan Schriesheim purchased 672 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 10th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $243.93 per share, with a total value of $163,920.96. Following the purchase, the director owned 672 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $163,920.96. This represents a ? increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders acquired 4,448 shares of company stock worth $1,086,933 over the last quarter. Insiders own 9.55% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Heico

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Westside Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Heico by 100.0% in the third quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 86 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Greykasell Wealth Strategies Inc. bought a new stake in Heico during the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. acquired a new stake in Heico in the third quarter worth approximately $31,000. Ridgewood Investments LLC boosted its stake in Heico by 92.0% during the 1st quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC now owns 96 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Costello Asset Management INC acquired a new position in shares of Heico during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 27.12% of the companys stock.

Heico Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

HEICO Corporation, through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells aerospace, defense, and electronic related products and services in the United States and internationally. Its Flight Support Group segment provides jet engine and aircraft component replacement parts; thermal insulation blankets and parts; renewable/reusable insulation systems; and specialty components.

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Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Jacobs Solutions (NYSE:J  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Saturday.

A number of other research firms also recently issued reports on J. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Jacobs Solutions from $152.00 to $166.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Truist Financial cut their price target on Jacobs Solutions from $163.00 to $152.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Barclays increased their price target on Jacobs Solutions from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Jacobs Solutions from $160.00 to $130.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price objective on Jacobs Solutions from $147.00 to $141.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Jacobs Solutions presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $155.90.

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Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Jacobs Solutions

Jacobs Solutions Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE J opened at $132.83 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.39. The firm has a market cap of $15.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.12, a P/E/G ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 0.83. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $152.55 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $142.16. Jacobs Solutions has a one year low of $106.23 and a one year high of $168.44.

Jacobs Solutions (NYSE:J  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 20th. The company reported $1.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.08. Jacobs Solutions had a return on equity of 17.13% and a net margin of 4.16%.The company had revenue of $3.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.37 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. Jacobs Solutions has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.900-7.300 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Jacobs Solutions will post 6.05 EPS for the current year.

Jacobs Solutions Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 2nd. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. Jacobs Solutionss dividend payout ratio is presently 52.89%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Jacobs Solutions

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of J. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in Jacobs Solutions by 828.5% in the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,326,988 shares of the companys stock valued at $174,434,000 after buying an additional 1,184,068 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 68.8% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,288,843 shares of the companys stock worth $168,194,000 after acquiring an additional 525,291 shares during the last quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 20.4% in the third quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 3,069,636 shares of the companys stock worth $460,016,000 after acquiring an additional 520,417 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 21.4% in the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,607,361 shares of the companys stock valued at $342,738,000 after purchasing an additional 460,283 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 350.3% during the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 552,594 shares of the companys stock valued at $72,638,000 after purchasing an additional 429,880 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.65% of the companys stock.

About Jacobs Solutions

(Get Free Report)

Jacobs Solutions Inc provides consulting, technical, engineering, scientific, and project delivery services for the government and private sectors in the United States, Europe, Canada, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through Critical Mission Solutions, People & Places Solutions, Divergent Solutions, and PA Consulting segments.

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Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT  Free Report) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Saturday.

LMT has been the topic of several other research reports. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $500.00 to $550.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $497.00 to $545.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $440.00 to $525.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Alembic Global Advisors upgraded shares of Lockheed Martin from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Lockheed Martin from $398.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $515.50.

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Lockheed Martin Stock Down 2.0%

Shares of NYSE:LMT opened at $451.62 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $484.25 and its 200 day moving average is $466.69. The company has a market cap of $104.50 billion, a PE ratio of 25.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.32, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.97. Lockheed Martin has a 1 year low of $410.11 and a 1 year high of $534.16.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 21st. The aerospace company reported $6.95 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.33 by $0.62. Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 111.84% and a net margin of 5.73%.The business had revenue of $18.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.45 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $6.84 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. Lockheed Martin has set its FY 2025 guidance at 22.150-22.350 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Lockheed Martin will post 27.15 EPS for the current year.

Lockheed Martin Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $3.45 per share. This represents a $13.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.1%. This is an increase from Lockheed Martins previous quarterly dividend of $3.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 1st. Lockheed Martins payout ratio is 77.05%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Lockheed Martin

In other news, COO John Frank A. St sold 7,792 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $491.04, for a total value of $3,826,183.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 1 shares in the company, valued at $491.04. The trade was a 99.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.14% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LMT. United Financial Planning Group LLC bought a new position in Lockheed Martin in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 285.7% during the third quarter. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 54 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the period. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Lockheed Martin in the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Lockheed Martin in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Institutional investors own 74.19% of the companys stock.

About Lockheed Martin

(Get Free Report)

Lockheed Martin Corporation, a security and aerospace company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services worldwide. The company operates through Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space segments.

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Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG  Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Saturday morning.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on PKG. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Packaging Corporation of America in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $200.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $214.00 to $218.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Packaging Corporation of America from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $225.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $230.17.

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Packaging Corporation of America Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:PKG opened at $197.35 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 3.54, a quick ratio of 2.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. Packaging Corporation of America has a 12 month low of $172.71 and a 12 month high of $250.82. The stock has a market cap of $17.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.95, a P/E/G ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a 50 day moving average of $205.98 and a 200 day moving average of $201.65.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The industrial products company reported $2.73 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.83 by ($0.10). The company had revenue of $2.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.29 billion. Packaging Corporation of America had a return on equity of 19.98% and a net margin of 10.18%.Packaging Corporation of Americas quarterly revenue was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.65 EPS. Packaging Corporation of America has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 2.400-2.400 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Packaging Corporation of America will post 10.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Packaging Corporation of America

In other Packaging Corporation of America news, CEO Mark W. Kowlzan sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.97, for a total value of $5,399,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 437,378 shares in the company, valued at $94,460,526.66. This trade represents a 5.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 105.4% during the third quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 115 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC raised its holdings in Packaging Corporation of America by 118.6% in the first quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 129 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC lifted its position in Packaging Corporation of America by 72.2% during the second quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 136 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the period. TCTC Holdings LLC lifted its position in Packaging Corporation of America by 86.4% during the first quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 151 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the period. Finally, Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH bought a new stake in shares of Packaging Corporation of America during the 2nd quarter valued at $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.78% of the companys stock.

Packaging Corporation of America Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Packaging Corporation of America engages in the production of container products. It operates through the following segments: Packaging, Paper, and Corporate and Other. The Packaging segment offers a variety of corrugated packaging products, such as conventional shipping containers. The Paper segment manufactures and sells a range of papers, including communication-based papers, and pressure sensitive papers.

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Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA  Free Report)  Stock analysts at Seaport Res Ptn boosted their FY2025 EPS estimates for Copa in a research note issued on Thursday, November 20th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst D. Mckenzie now anticipates that the transportation company will post earnings per share of $16.21 for the year, up from their previous forecast of $16.04. The consensus estimate for Copas current full-year earnings is $15.48 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Copas Q1 2026 earnings at $4.75 EPS.

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Copa (NYSE:CPA  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The transportation company reported $4.20 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.03 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $913.15 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $917.51 million. Copa had a net margin of 18.36% and a return on equity of 26.22%. Copas quarterly revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $3.50 earnings per share.

CPA has been the topic of a number of other reports. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $145.00 target price (up from $125.00) on shares of Copa in a research report on Monday, August 11th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on Copa from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, September 29th. Citigroup lowered their target price on Copa from $159.00 to $150.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 22nd. Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of Copa in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Copa from $144.00 to $147.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and seven have issued a Buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $157.67.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Copa

Copa Stock Up 2.0%

CPA opened at $118.12 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $4.86 billion, a PE ratio of 7.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.30. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $122.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $114.65. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. Copa has a 52 week low of $82.54 and a 52 week high of $130.00.

Institutional Trading of Copa

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CPA. Fifth Third Bancorp purchased a new position in shares of Copa during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. CWM LLC grew its position in Copa by 408.2% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 249 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its stake in Copa by 90.2% in the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 253 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Copa by 271.4% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 260 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bayforest Capital Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Copa during the first quarter valued at $36,000. Institutional investors own 70.09% of the companys stock.

Copa Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be paid a $1.61 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 1st. This represents a $6.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.5%. Copas dividend payout ratio is currently 40.05%.

Copa Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Copa Holdings, SA, through its subsidiaries, provides airline passenger and cargo services. The company offers approximately 375 daily scheduled flights to 82 destinations in 32 countries in North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean from its Panama City hub. As of December 31, 2023, it operated a fleet of 106 aircraft comprising 76 Boeing 737-Next Generation aircraft, 29 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, and one Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter.

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Creative Planning raised its stake in Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW  Free Report) by 4.5% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 28,104 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,201 shares during the period. Creative Plannings holdings in Pinnacle West Capital were worth $2,514,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital in the 4th quarter valued at about $417,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH lifted its stake in Pinnacle West Capital by 14.3% in the first quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH now owns 19,588 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,866,000 after buying an additional 2,444 shares during the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 4.9% in the first quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,929 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $279,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its position in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 2.3% during the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 15,335 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,461,000 after acquiring an additional 344 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 4.1% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 30,444 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,900,000 after acquiring an additional 1,196 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.51% of the companys stock.

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Pinnacle West Capital Trading Up 0.5%

NYSE PNW opened at $89.55 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.46, a P/E/G ratio of 9.23 and a beta of 0.50. Pinnacle West Capital Corporation has a 52-week low of $81.47 and a 52-week high of $96.50. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $89.54 and a 200 day moving average price of $90.09.

Pinnacle West Capital Increases Dividend

Pinnacle West Capital ( NYSE:PNW Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The utilities provider reported $3.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.04 by $0.35. The company had revenue of $1.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.78 billion. Pinnacle West Capital had a return on equity of 8.45% and a net margin of 10.96%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.37 EPS. Pinnacle West Capital has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.550-4.750 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at 4.900-5.100 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Pinnacle West Capital Corporation will post 5.13 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 3rd will be issued a $0.91 dividend. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.1%. This is an increase from Pinnacle West Capitals previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 3rd. Pinnacle West Capitals dividend payout ratio is 74.74%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PNW has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Pinnacle West Capital to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $115.00 target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Pinnacle West Capital in a report on Thursday, October 16th. They set a hold rating and a $97.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group upped their price objective on Pinnacle West Capital from $95.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $99.00 target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $97.38.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Pinnacle West Capital

Pinnacle West Capital Company Profile

(Free Report)

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, through its subsidiary, provides retail and wholesale electric services primarily in the state of Arizona. The company engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity using coal, nuclear, gas, oil, and solar generating facilities. Its transmission facilities include overhead lines and underground lines; and distribution facilities consist of overhead lines and underground primary cables.

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CreativeOne Wealth LLC lifted its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 82.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 26,911 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after acquiring an additional 12,155 shares during the period. CreativeOne Wealth LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $3,660,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. IMG Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 759.1% during the second quarter. IMG Wealth Management Inc. now owns 189 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Elequin Capital LP acquired a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the first quarter worth about $30,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 81.3% during the 2nd quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 232 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. Vision Financial Markets LLC acquired a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 1st quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Accent Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the 1st quarter worth approximately $38,000. 75.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Abbott Laboratories Trading Down 0.5%

NYSE ABT opened at $127.44 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.82 and a quick ratio of 1.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $221.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.97, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.68. The firms 50-day moving average is $129.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $131.14. Abbott Laboratories has a 12 month low of $110.86 and a 12 month high of $141.23.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.30. The business had revenue of $11.37 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.40 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 31.88% and a return on equity of 17.78%. The businesss revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.21 EPS. Abbott Laboratories has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.120-5.180 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 15th were paid a dividend of $0.59 per share. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 15th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is 29.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ABT has been the subject of several recent research reports. Barclays increased their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $159.00 to $162.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $142.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Benchmark began coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Friday, October 10th. They set a buy rating and a $145.00 price target on the stock. Evercore ISI cut their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $144.00 to $142.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $134.00 to $136.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $147.00.

Read Our Latest Report on Abbott Laboratories

About Abbott Laboratories

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

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CreativeOne Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:TFLO  Free Report) by 6.3% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 85,901 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,128 shares during the period. CreativeOne Wealth LLCs holdings in iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF were worth $4,351,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF during the first quarter worth $26,000. Robbins Farley acquired a new position in shares of iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Independence Bank of Kentucky bought a new stake in shares of iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC raised its stake in iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF by 250.2% during the second quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 704 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 503 shares during the period. Finally, Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group acquired a new stake in iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF during the second quarter worth about $39,000.

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iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA TFLO opened at $50.57 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $50.52 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $50.55. iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF has a 52-week low of $50.36 and a 52-week high of $50.69.

About iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF

The iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF (TFLO) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. Treasury floating rate bonds. TFLO was launched on Feb 3, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Shares of Miami International Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:MIAX  Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the nine ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $47.20.

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on MIAX shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Miami International from $45.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of Miami International from $48.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Miami International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, November 15th. Raymond James Financial started coverage on shares of Miami International in a research note on Monday, September 8th. They set a market perform rating for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Miami International from $32.00 to $37.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th.

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Miami International Trading Up 1.8%

Shares of MIAX stock opened at $44.87 on Friday. Miami International has a 1 year low of $28.63 and a 1 year high of $51.38. The businesss 50 day moving average is $43.43.

Miami International (NYSE:MIAX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.30 by $0.12. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.11 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 57.4% compared to the same quarter last year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Murray Stahl acquired 34,470 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 28th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $36.10 per share, with a total value of $1,244,367.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 4,557,919 shares in the company, valued at approximately $164,540,875.90. This trade represents a 0.76% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In the last 90 days, insiders acquired 34,476 shares of company stock valued at $1,244,618.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Miami International

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MIAX. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Miami International in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,132,000. Moors & Cabot Inc. bought a new position in Miami International during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $598,000. Fred Alger Management LLC acquired a new position in Miami International during the third quarter valued at approximately $986,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Miami International in the third quarter valued at approximately $8,305,000. Finally, Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Miami International in the third quarter worth $8,765,000.

Miami International Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

We are a technology-driven leader in building and operating regulated financial marketplaces across multiple asset classes and geographies. Our MIAX Exchanges, MIAX Futures and BSX marketplaces are enabled by our in-house built, proprietary technology. We believe the speed and performance of our proprietary technology coupled with our fully integrated, award-winning customer service, sets us apart from our competitors.

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Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. (OTCMKTS:ZURVY  Get Free Report) passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $35.31 and traded as low as $34.72. Zurich Insurance Group shares last traded at $34.98, with a volume of 221,205 shares.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Zurich Insurance Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Reduce.

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Zurich Insurance Group Trading Down 0.3%

Zurich Insurance Group Company Profile

The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $35.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $35.31.

(Get Free Report)

Zurich Insurance Group AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance products and related services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through Property & Casualty Regions, Life Regions, Farmers, Group Functions and Operations, and Non-Core Businesses segments.

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Park Hotels & Resorts has confirmed the sale of two of Hilton properties in San Francisco, California, US, through a court-appointed receiver.

The two properties are 1,921-key Hilton San Francisco Union Square and the 1,024-key Parc 55 San Francisco  a Hilton Hotel.

The transaction included the transfer of both hotels and the assumption of the related mortgage loan by the new undisclosed buyer.

Park acquired the Hilton property in 2000 and purchased Parc 55 in 2015. In 2016, the trust secured a $725m loan to fund renovations for the properties. In 2023, Park Hotels did not meet its obligations on that debt, reported The San Francisco Standard.

The hotels entered court-ordered receivership in October 2023. From that point, the receiver assumed full control over operations, and Park ceased to have any economic interest in the assets.

During the receivership period, interest and fees linked to the mortgage loan appeared on Parks statement of operations. The total outstanding amount, which reached $874m by 31 October, was accounted for on its balance sheet, said the company.

Following completion of the sale and transfer of ownership, the mortgage loan and all accrued interest and fees up to the date of sale were removed from Parks consolidated financial statements. This adjustment had no impact on the companys statement of operations

Park Hotels & Resorts chief executive officer Thomas Baltimore, Jr said: We are extremely pleased that the court-appointed receiver successfully completed a sale of the Hilton San Francisco Hotels after a years-long process.

While Park no longer has any economic interest in these assets, with the completion of this sale, Park is now able to remove the legacy items from our financial statements that remained following the transfer of these assets into receivership in 2023.

As we look ahead to 2026, Park continues to remain laser-focused on executing our strategic plan to sell non-core assets, invest in ROI [return on investment] projects within our core portfolio and continue to strengthen our balance sheet.

"Park confirms sale of Hilton San Francisco hotels" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




Atlas Copco AB (OTCMKTS:ATLKY  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $16.47 and traded as low as $15.97. Atlas Copco shares last traded at $16.09, with a volume of 239,559 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on ATLKY shares. UBS Group downgraded Atlas Copco to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Atlas Copco in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of Atlas Copco in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, BNP Paribas raised shares of Atlas Copco from a hold rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, September 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Atlas Copco currently has an average rating of Hold.

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Atlas Copco Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $78.44 billion, a PE ratio of 28.73, a PEG ratio of 8.80 and a beta of 1.40. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $17.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $16.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 1.09.

Atlas Copco (OTCMKTS:ATLKY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The industrial products company reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.14. The business had revenue of $4.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.42 billion. Atlas Copco had a net margin of 16.08% and a return on equity of 25.84%. Equities analysts predict that Atlas Copco AB will post 0.55 EPS for the current year.

Atlas Copco Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Atlas Copco AB provides compressed air and gas, vacuum, energy, dewatering and industrial pump, industrial power tool, and assembly and machine vision solutions in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania. It operates through Compressor Technique, Vacuum Technique, Industrial Technique, and Power Technique segments.

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Coldstream Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC  Free Report) by 100.5% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 23,452 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 11,758 shares during the period. Coldstream Capital Management Inc.s holdings in HSBC were worth $1,426,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of HSBC by 152.6% during the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 432 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 261 shares during the last quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in shares of HSBC by 101.7% during the second quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 464 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares during the period. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in HSBC in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in HSBC during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of HSBC during the second quarter worth $39,000. 1.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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HSBC Stock Performance

Shares of HSBC stock opened at $68.96 on Tuesday. HSBC Holdings plc has a twelve month low of $45.66 and a twelve month high of $74.17. The firms 50-day moving average price is $69.49 and its 200 day moving average price is $64.72. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $236.88 billion, a PE ratio of 14.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 0.64.

HSBC Increases Dividend

HSBC ( NYSE:HSBC Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.80 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $17.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.78 billion. HSBC had a return on equity of 12.78% and a net margin of 12.85%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that HSBC Holdings plc will post 6.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 7th. This is a positive change from HSBCs previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.9%. HSBCs payout ratio is currently 41.68%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. BNP Paribas Exane upgraded HSBC from an underperform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, September 5th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a hold rating on shares of HSBC in a research report on Friday, October 10th. Erste Group Bank upgraded HSBC from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of HSBC in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of HSBC from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $63.00.

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HSBC Profile

(Free Report)

HSBC Holdings plc provides banking and financial services worldwide. The company operates through Wealth and Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Global Banking and Markets segments. The Wealth and Personal Banking segment offers retail banking and wealth products, including current and savings accounts, mortgages and personal loans, credit and debit cards, and local and international payment services; and wealth management services comprising insurance and investment products, global asset management services, investment management, and private wealth solutions.

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Eisler Capital Management Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE:IDA  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund acquired 6,923 shares of the energy companys stock, valued at approximately $799,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its stake in IDACORP by 33.6% in the second quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 382 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of IDACORP by 13.4% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 836 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $97,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of IDACORP by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,127 shares of the energy companys stock worth $476,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in IDACORP by 3.8% during the second quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 2,779 shares of the energy companys stock worth $321,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Finally, IFM Investors Pty Ltd lifted its stake in IDACORP by 3.0% during the second quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 3,896 shares of the energy companys stock worth $450,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.10% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley set a $137.00 price target on shares of IDACORP in a research note on Thursday. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of IDACORP from $144.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of IDACORP to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of IDACORP in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, BTIG Research raised IDACORP to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $136.88.

IDACORP Stock Up 1.0%

Shares of NYSE:IDA opened at $129.20 on Tuesday. IDACORP, Inc. has a 1-year low of $104.74 and a 1-year high of $138.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 1.12. The stock has a market cap of $6.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.59. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $130.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $123.71.

IDACORP (NYSE:IDA  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The energy company reported $2.26 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.03. IDACORP had a net margin of 16.96% and a return on equity of 9.18%. The business had revenue of $524.42 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $663.09 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.12 earnings per share. IDACORP has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.800-5.900 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that IDACORP, Inc. will post 5.81 EPS for the current year.

IDACORP Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 5th will be given a dividend of $0.88 per share. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 5th. This is a positive change from IDACORPs previous quarterly dividend of $0.86. IDACORPs payout ratio is 60.48%.

About IDACORP

(Free Report)

IDACORP, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, purchase, and sale of electric energy in the United States. The company operates 17 hydropower generating plants located in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon; three natural gas-fired plants in southern Idaho; and interests in two coal-fired steam electric generating plants located in Wyoming and Nevada.

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Columbia Bank increased its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 14.4% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 14,038 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after buying an additional 1,767 shares during the quarter. Columbia Banks holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $1,872,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Tortoise Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 10.7% in the 2nd quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 795 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $108,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. FF Advisors LLC raised its position in Abbott Laboratories by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. FF Advisors LLC now owns 1,904 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $259,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Trust Co lifted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 0.6% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Trust Co now owns 14,018 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,907,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Abbott Laboratories by 0.6% during the second quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. now owns 12,555 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $1,607,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the period. Finally, Lcnb Corp grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.5% during the first quarter. Lcnb Corp now owns 15,917 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,111,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. 75.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ABT has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. BTIG Research reissued a buy rating and issued a $145.00 target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $147.00 price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. William Blair upgraded shares of Abbott Laboratories to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Evercore ISI lowered their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $144.00 to $142.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $147.00.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance

Shares of ABT stock opened at $127.44 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $221.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.97, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.68. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $129.87 and a 200 day moving average of $131.14. Abbott Laboratories has a 52 week low of $110.86 and a 52 week high of $141.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 15th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.30. The business had revenue of $11.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.40 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 31.88% and a return on equity of 17.78%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.21 EPS. Abbott Laboratories has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.120-5.180 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 15th were issued a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 15th. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.57%.

About Abbott Laboratories

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

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Columbia Bank boosted its position in Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ  Free Report) (TSE:CCO) by 35.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,802 shares of the basic materials companys stock after buying an additional 2,023 shares during the quarter. Columbia Banks holdings in Cameco were worth $561,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Hager Investment Management Services LLC lifted its holdings in Cameco by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Hager Investment Management Services LLC now owns 30,628 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,274,000 after buying an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC raised its position in shares of Cameco by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 10,036 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $745,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of Cameco by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 8,119 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $603,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Cameco by 1.0% during the second quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 21,858 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,623,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blume Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Cameco by 2.2% in the second quarter. Blume Capital Management Inc. now owns 13,361 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $992,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.21% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have weighed in on CCJ. National Bankshares reissued an outperform rating on shares of Cameco in a report on Thursday, November 6th. TD Securities reiterated a buy rating on shares of Cameco in a research note on Tuesday, August 5th. CLSA initiated coverage on Cameco in a research note on Tuesday, September 9th. They issued an outperform rating and a $102.00 target price for the company. Wall Street Zen lowered Cameco from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on Cameco from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $113.75.

Cameco Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CCJ opened at $83.31 on Tuesday. Cameco Corporation has a 12-month low of $35.00 and a 12-month high of $110.15. The company has a market cap of $36.27 billion, a PE ratio of 95.76 and a beta of 0.98. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $88.46 and a 200-day simple moving average of $76.71. The company has a current ratio of 2.96, a quick ratio of 2.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15.

Cameco (NYSE:CCJ  Get Free Report) (TSE:CCO) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The basic materials company reported $0.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.22 by ($0.17). Cameco had a net margin of 14.97% and a return on equity of 8.21%. The business had revenue of $313.74 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $531.72 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.01) EPS. The firms revenue was down 14.7% on a year-over-year basis. Cameco has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Cameco Corporation will post 1.27 EPS for the current year.

Cameco Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.24 per share. This is an increase from Camecos previous annual dividend of $0.12. This represents a dividend yield of 25.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 1st. Camecos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.77%.

About Cameco

(Free Report)

Cameco Corporation provides uranium for the generation of electricity. It operates through Uranium, Fuel Services, Westinghouse segments. The Uranium segment is involved in the exploration for, mining, and milling, purchase, and sale of uranium concentrate. The Fuel Services segment engages in the refining, conversion, and fabrication of uranium concentrate, as well as the purchase and sale of conversion services.

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Rogers Communications Inc. (TSE:RCI.A  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$52.55 and traded as high as C$54.50. Rogers Communications shares last traded at C$53.70, with a volume of 2,963 shares.

Rogers Communications Trading Down 3.2%

The company has a market cap of C$29.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.31, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 436.50. The business has a 50 day moving average price of C$52.55 and a 200-day moving average price of C$48.38.

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Rogers Communications (TSE:RCI.A  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The company reported C$10.62 earnings per share for the quarter. Rogers Communications had a net margin of 4.30% and a return on equity of 7.93%. The business had revenue of C$5.35 billion during the quarter. Analysts forecast that Rogers Communications Inc. will post 5.100365 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Rogers Communications Announces Dividend

About Rogers Communications

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 8th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.7%. Rogers Communicationss payout ratio is currently 16.04%.

(Get Free Report)

Rogers is the largest wireless service provider in Canada, with its more than 10 million subscribers equating to one third of the total Canadian market. Rogers wireless business accounted for 60% of the companys total sales in 2021 and has increasingly provided a bigger portion of total company sales over the last several years.

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Great Lakes Graphite Inc (CVE:GLK  Get Free Report)s share price passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$0.03 and traded as high as C$0.04. Great Lakes Graphite shares last traded at C$0.04, with a volume of 73,021 shares.

Great Lakes Graphite Price Performance

The firms 50 day moving average is C$0.03 and its 200 day moving average is C$0.04. The company has a market capitalization of C$4.64 million and a PE ratio of -1.75.

Great Lakes Graphite Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Great Lakes Graphite Inc, doing business as NovoCarbon Corporation, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Canada. It holds a 100% interest in the Lochaber graphite project, which includes 45 claims covering 2,649 hectares located in the Buckingham Graphite region in Outaouais/Gatineau, Quebec.

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Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey grew its holdings in shares of Warrior Met Coal (NYSE:HCC  Free Report) by 7.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 11,839 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 799 shares during the period. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jerseys holdings in Warrior Met Coal were worth $543,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of Warrior Met Coal by 23.1% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,346 shares of the companys stock valued at $62,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in Warrior Met Coal by 14.6% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,622 shares of the companys stock valued at $125,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Warrior Met Coal in the second quarter valued at approximately $207,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in Warrior Met Coal by 70.5% in the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 5,023 shares of the companys stock valued at $230,000 after purchasing an additional 2,077 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Balefire LLC acquired a new stake in Warrior Met Coal during the second quarter worth approximately $257,000. 92.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Warrior Met Coal from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Warrior Met Coal from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, October 11th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Warrior Met Coal from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. UBS Group set a $80.00 target price on Warrior Met Coal in a research report on Monday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Warrior Met Coal in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Warrior Met Coal presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $72.75.

Warrior Met Coal Trading Up 1.2%

NYSE HCC opened at $75.98 on Tuesday. The firms fifty day moving average is $68.29 and its two-hundred day moving average is $57.75. Warrior Met Coal has a one year low of $38.00 and a one year high of $85.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 3.00 and a current ratio of 4.13. The firm has a market cap of $3.99 billion, a PE ratio of 113.41 and a beta of 0.75.

Warrior Met Coal (NYSE:HCC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.21) by $0.91. The firm had revenue of $328.59 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $302.51 million. Warrior Met Coal had a return on equity of 2.01% and a net margin of 2.87%.The businesss revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.80 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Warrior Met Coal will post 4.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Warrior Met Coal Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 7th were paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 7th. Warrior Met Coals dividend payout ratio is 47.76%.

Insider Activity at Warrior Met Coal

In related news, CEO Walter J. Scheller sold 18,966 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.00, for a total transaction of $1,422,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 394,183 shares of the companys stock, valued at $29,563,725. This trade represents a 4.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 2.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Warrior Met Coal

(Free Report)

Warrior Met Coal, Inc produces and exports non-thermal metallurgical coal for the steel industry. It operates two underground mines located in Alabama. The company sells its metallurgical coal to a customer base of blast furnace steel producers located primarily in Europe, South America, and Asia. It also sells natural gas, which is extracted as a byproduct from coal production.

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SG Americas Securities LLC increased its stake in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (NYSE:BIP  Free Report) (TSE:BIP.UN) by 113.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 22,940 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 12,196 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLCs holdings in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners were worth $768,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Truist Financial Corp increased its holdings in shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 23,616 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $791,000 after buying an additional 314 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners by 9.2% in the first quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 3,866 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $115,000 after acquiring an additional 325 shares during the last quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. increased its stake in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners by 23.1% in the second quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 2,523 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $85,000 after acquiring an additional 474 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners by 0.7% during the first quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 66,854 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,992,000 after purchasing an additional 479 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cahill Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners by 0.7% during the second quarter. Cahill Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 75,586 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,532,000 after purchasing an additional 522 shares during the last quarter. 57.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BIP has been the topic of several recent research reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in a research report on Thursday. National Bankshares set a $35.00 price target on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, September 26th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $40.00 price objective on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 27th. National Bank Financial raised shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, September 25th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $40.43.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners stock opened at $35.28 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.88. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP has a 52-week low of $25.72 and a 52-week high of $36.10. The companys 50 day moving average price is $33.98 and its 200-day moving average price is $32.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 705.76 and a beta of 1.14.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIP  Get Free Report) (TSE:BIP.UN) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The utilities provider reported $0.44 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by ($0.42). The firm had revenue of $5.98 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.05 billion. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners had a net margin of 1.54% and a return on equity of 1.15%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.76 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP will post 3.45 EPS for the current year.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 28th. Brookfield Infrastructure Partnerss dividend payout ratio is currently 256.72%.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Company Profile

(Free Report)

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. owns and operates utilities, transport, midstream, and data businesses in North and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company's Utilities segment operates approximately 2,900 km of electricity transmission lines; 4,200 km of natural gas pipelines; 8.1 million electricity and natural gas connections; and 0.6 million long-term contracted sub-metering services.

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SG Americas Securities LLC grew its position in shares of B2Gold Corp. (NYSE:BTG  Free Report) by 25.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 206,316 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 41,264 shares during the quarter. SG Americas Securities LLCs holdings in B2Gold were worth $745,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of BTG. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in B2Gold during the second quarter worth $36,000. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp acquired a new stake in B2Gold during the 1st quarter worth about $38,000. Comprehensive Money Management Services LLC bought a new position in shares of B2Gold in the 2nd quarter worth about $40,000. Moors & Cabot Inc. acquired a new position in shares of B2Gold in the 1st quarter valued at about $41,000. Finally, James Investment Research Inc. bought a new stake in shares of B2Gold during the 2nd quarter valued at about $41,000. 61.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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B2Gold Price Performance

BTG stock opened at $4.17 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.83. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $4.71 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $4.02. The company has a market capitalization of $5.57 billion, a P/E ratio of -8.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 0.44. B2Gold Corp. has a 52-week low of $2.20 and a 52-week high of $5.94.

B2Gold Dividend Announcement

B2Gold ( NYSE:BTG Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.01. B2Gold had a positive return on equity of 5.65% and a negative net margin of 33.12%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 74.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.02 EPS. Research analysts expect that B2Gold Corp. will post 0.4 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.02 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 2nd. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. B2Golds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 57.14%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on BTG shares. Raymond James Financial lifted their target price on B2Gold from $4.75 to $6.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. CIBC lowered their price objective on shares of B2Gold to $6.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Cormark lowered shares of B2Gold from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Zacks Research cut shares of B2Gold from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. Finally, Scotiabank reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of B2Gold in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, B2Gold currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $6.00.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on B2Gold

B2Gold Profile

(Free Report)

B2Gold Corp. operates as a gold producer company. It operates the Fekola Mine in Mali, the Masbate Mine in the Philippines, and the Otjikoto Mine in Namibia. The company also has an 100% interest in the Gramalote gold project in Colombia; 24% interest in the Calibre Mining Corp.; and approximately 19% interest in BeMetals Corp.

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You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters.

$2.6B RIA Angeles Wealth Management Hires Growth Chief

Angeles Wealth Management, a registered investment advisor with about $2.6 billion in assets, has named Jonah Cave as chief growth officer to lead business development.

In the newly created position, Cave will oversee both organic growth strategies for Angeles team of 16, as well as recruiting and acquisitions among RIAs working in the high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth segments.

Cave joins from a role as senior managing director and head of partner relations for CH Investment Partners, a Dallas-based multi-family office acquired by Cresset Capital in late 2024. Before that role, he held senior leadership positions in global equity divisions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and UBS.

Santa Monica-based Angeles Wealth was founded in 2011 and also has offices in New York City and Houston. The firm offers private wealth advice in combination with its institutional OCIO affiliate, Angeles Investment Advisors.

Cresset Appoints Albert Leshinsky as Head of Corporate Development

Cresset, a Chicago-based multi-family office and wealth manager owned by its employees and clients, has hired Albert Leshinsky as managing director and head of corporate development to lead its national recruiting efforts.

Leshinsky joins Cresset after a brief stint in advisor recruiting for Clearstead. Before that, he had been the head of advisor recruiting J.P. Morgan Advisors, according to his LinkedIn.

Leshinsky will be based in New York to focus on integrating new advisory teams and leveraging his background in helping advisors transition to independence, according to the announcement.

In August, Cresset announced that it was merging with Monticello Associates, a $124 billion institutional consulting firm, adding to its current client assets of $78 billion as of Nov. 1. The deal is expected to close at the end of 2025.

Bogart Wealth Hires Chief Operating Officer



Bogart Wealth, a $3.2 billion RIA backed by Constellation Wealth Capital, hired Allen Eickelberg to take the role of chief operating officer for the McLean, Va.-based firm. The addition adds to a series of senior leadership hires this year, including a new president, a new head of business development and a new controller.

Eickelberg will oversee all firm operations, including technology and client experience. He had previously held operational leadership roles at real estate firm Redbrick LDM and Spire Investment Partners.
Intech Investment Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Douglas Emmett, Inc. (NYSE:DEI  Free Report) by 18.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 68,173 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 15,821 shares during the quarter. Intech Investment Management LLCs holdings in Douglas Emmett were worth $1,025,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. purchased a new stake in Douglas Emmett during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $16,798,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Douglas Emmett by 4,052.8% during the first quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 682,841 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $10,925,000 after acquiring an additional 666,398 shares during the last quarter. Long Pond Capital LP purchased a new position in Douglas Emmett during the first quarter valued at $9,431,000. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in Douglas Emmett during the first quarter valued at $7,990,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in Douglas Emmett by 13.3% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,195,729 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $67,134,000 after acquiring an additional 492,997 shares during the last quarter. 97.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Douglas Emmett Stock Down 0.8%

Shares of NYSE:DEI opened at $11.70 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $1.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.16 and a beta of 1.28. Douglas Emmett, Inc. has a 12 month low of $11.43 and a 12 month high of $20.50. The company has a current ratio of 3.49, a quick ratio of 3.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $13.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $14.70.

Douglas Emmett Announces Dividend

Douglas Emmett ( NYSE:DEI Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.34. The business had revenue of $250.58 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $252.73 million. Douglas Emmett had a return on equity of 1.04% and a net margin of 3.77%.The companys quarterly revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.43 earnings per share. Douglas Emmett has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.430-1.470 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Douglas Emmett, Inc. will post 1.45 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 30th were given a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 30th. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.5%. Douglas Emmetts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 633.33%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of Douglas Emmett from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a sector outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their target price on Douglas Emmett from $16.00 to $13.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Douglas Emmett in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Piper Sandler cut Douglas Emmett from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $19.00 to $14.00 in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Douglas Emmett from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, August 30th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $16.71.

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Douglas Emmett Profile

(Free Report)

Douglas Emmett, Inc (DEI) is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT), and one of the largest owners and operators of high-quality office and multifamily properties located in the premier coastal submarkets of Los Angeles and Honolulu. Douglas Emmett focuses on owning and acquiring a substantial share of top-tier office properties and premier multifamily communities in neighborhoods that possess significant supply constraints, high-end executive housing and key lifestyle amenities.

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Magnetar Financial LLC cut its stake in shares of Birkenstock Holding PLC (NYSE:BIRK  Free Report) by 55.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,383 shares of the companys stock after selling 12,974 shares during the quarter. Magnetar Financial LLCs holdings in Birkenstock were worth $511,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of Birkenstock by 34.5% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 908 shares of the companys stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 233 shares during the period. Connable Office Inc. raised its holdings in Birkenstock by 7.8% during the second quarter. Connable Office Inc. now owns 4,767 shares of the companys stock worth $234,000 after purchasing an additional 344 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in Birkenstock by 61.0% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 1,288 shares of the companys stock valued at $59,000 after purchasing an additional 488 shares during the period. Amalgamated Bank boosted its holdings in Birkenstock by 26.8% in the 2nd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 2,632 shares of the companys stock valued at $129,000 after purchasing an additional 556 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Birkenstock by 10.1% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 7,455 shares of the companys stock worth $342,000 after purchasing an additional 681 shares during the period. 19.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BIRK has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Birkenstock from $81.00 to $66.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 19th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Birkenstock in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $70.00 price target on shares of Birkenstock in a research note on Friday, September 26th. Finally, UBS Group set a $77.00 price objective on shares of Birkenstock and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Birkenstock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $68.38.

Birkenstock Trading Down 0.7%

Shares of BIRK stock opened at $40.75 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $7.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.64, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 2.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. Birkenstock Holding PLC has a fifty-two week low of $38.16 and a fifty-two week high of $62.66. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $42.55 and a 200-day simple moving average of $48.18.

About Birkenstock

(Free Report)

Birkenstock Holding plc manufactures and sells footwear products. It also offers sandals, shoes, closed-toe silhouettes, skincare products, and accessories. The company sells its products through e-commerce sites and a network of owned retail stores, as well as business-to-business channels. It operates in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Europe, APMA, and internationally.

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MAI Capital Management raised its position in Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR  Free Report) by 61.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 11,112 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 4,217 shares during the period. MAI Capital Managements holdings in Ingersoll Rand were worth $924,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 1.9% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 47,128,533 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,920,151,000 after acquiring an additional 859,062 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Ingersoll Rand by 4.6% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 19,745,039 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,580,196,000 after purchasing an additional 866,759 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in Ingersoll Rand by 10.7% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 19,198,593 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,536,464,000 after purchasing an additional 1,849,030 shares during the period. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Ingersoll Rand by 28.8% during the 1st quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 17,826,488 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,426,654,000 after purchasing an additional 3,989,643 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 10,190,572 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $844,028,000 after purchasing an additional 211,316 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.27% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $78.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $92.00 to $91.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 4th. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on Ingersoll Rand from $103.00 to $100.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Zacks Research cut Ingersoll Rand from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on Ingersoll Rand from $94.00 to $91.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $93.90.

Ingersoll Rand Stock Performance

IR stock opened at $77.76 on Tuesday. Ingersoll Rand Inc. has a 1-year low of $65.61 and a 1-year high of $106.03. The company has a current ratio of 2.16, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firm has a market cap of $30.72 billion, a PE ratio of 57.60, a P/E/G ratio of 5.07 and a beta of 1.43. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $78.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $81.03.

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The industrial products company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.87 by ($0.01). Ingersoll Rand had a return on equity of 12.14% and a net margin of 7.31%.The business had revenue of $1.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.95 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.84 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Ingersoll Rand has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.250-3.310 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Ingersoll Rand Inc. will post 3.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Ingersoll Rand Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.02 per share. This represents a $0.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 13th. Ingersoll Rands dividend payout ratio is 5.93%.

About Ingersoll Rand

(Free Report)

Ingersoll Rand Inc provides various mission-critical air, gas, liquid, and solid flow creation technologies services and solutions worldwide. It operates through two segments, Industrial Technologies and Services, and Precision and Science Technologies. The Industrial Technologies and Services segment designs, manufactures, markets, and services air and gas compression, vacuum, and blower products; fluid transfer equipment and loading systems; and power tools and lifting equipment, including associated aftermarket parts, consumables, air treatment equipment, controls, other accessories, and services under the under the Ingersoll Rand, Gardner Denver, Nash, CompAir, Elmo Rietschle brands, etc.

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Legal & General Group Plc trimmed its holdings in Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE:SW  Free Report) by 7.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,345,760 shares of the companys stock after selling 280,231 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plcs holdings in Smurfit Westrock were worth $144,173,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ethic Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Smurfit Westrock by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 41,103 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,770,000 after purchasing an additional 254 shares in the last quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division increased its position in Smurfit Westrock by 1.7% during the second quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 15,001 shares of the companys stock worth $647,000 after buying an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Smurfit Westrock by 1.9% during the second quarter. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC now owns 13,551 shares of the companys stock valued at $585,000 after buying an additional 258 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Smurfit Westrock by 21.8% in the second quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,494 shares of the companys stock worth $64,000 after buying an additional 267 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. boosted its stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. now owns 5,053 shares of the companys stock worth $226,000 after acquiring an additional 290 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.38% of the companys stock.

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Smurfit Westrock Stock Down 0.2%

SW opened at $33.71 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $39.77 and a 200-day moving average of $43.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.57 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. Smurfit Westrock PLC has a 1-year low of $32.73 and a 1-year high of $56.76.

Smurfit Westrock Announces Dividend

Smurfit Westrock ( NYSE:SW Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.68 by ($0.10). Smurfit Westrock had a net margin of 2.40% and a return on equity of 6.21%. The company had revenue of $8 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.89 billion. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Smurfit Westrock PLC will post 3.25 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 14th will be given a dividend of $0.4308 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 14th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.1%. Smurfit Westrocks dividend payout ratio is currently 120.28%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on SW shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Smurfit Westrock from $52.00 to $50.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded Smurfit Westrock from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $63.00 to $47.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Smurfit Westrock from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $52.00 target price on shares of Smurfit Westrock in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $55.30.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on SW

About Smurfit Westrock

(Free Report)

Smurfit Westrock Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in Ireland and internationally. The company produces containerboard that it converts into corrugated containers or sells to third parties, as well as produces other types of paper, such as consumer packaging board, sack paper, graphic paper, solid board and graphic board, and other paper-based packaging products, such as consumer packaging, solid board packaging, paper sacks, and other packaging products, including bag-in-box.

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Journey Strategic Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE:RJF  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm purchased 1,359 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $208,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Raymond James Financial by 69.0% during the second quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 245 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. TCTC Holdings LLC grew its position in Raymond James Financial by 72.9% in the 1st quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 287 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares during the period. TD Private Client Wealth LLC raised its stake in Raymond James Financial by 47.2% during the 2nd quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 337 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. South Dakota Investment Council lifted its holdings in shares of Raymond James Financial by 300.0% during the 2nd quarter. South Dakota Investment Council now owns 400 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $61,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the period. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Raymond James Financial during the 2nd quarter valued at $64,000. 83.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Raymond James Financial Trading Down 0.0%

Raymond James Financial stock opened at $152.97 on Tuesday. Raymond James Financial, Inc. has a 12-month low of $117.57 and a 12-month high of $177.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.05. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $163.88 and a 200 day moving average of $160.07. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Raymond James Financial ( NYSE:RJF Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The financial services provider reported $3.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.83 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $3.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.64 billion. Raymond James Financial had a net margin of 13.42% and a return on equity of 18.33%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.95 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Raymond James Financial, Inc. will post 11.17 earnings per share for the current year.

Several analysts recently commented on RJF shares. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Raymond James Financial from $180.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Citigroup restated an outperform rating on shares of Raymond James Financial in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Raymond James Financial in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on shares of Raymond James Financial from $174.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Raymond James Financial from $176.00 to $184.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $177.20.

View Our Latest Research Report on Raymond James Financial

Raymond James Financial Profile

(Free Report)

Raymond James Financial, Inc, a financial holding company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the underwriting, distribution, trading, and brokerage of equity and debt securities, and the sale of mutual funds and other investment products in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Private Client Group, Capital Markets, Asset Management, RJ Bank, and Other segments.

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Mufg Securities Americas Inc. boosted its position in shares of Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (NYSE:MTD  Free Report) by 24.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 461 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the period. Mufg Securities Americas Inc.s holdings in Mettler-Toledo International were worth $542,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of MTD. WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Mettler-Toledo International during the first quarter worth about $41,000. NewSquare Capital LLC lifted its stake in Mettler-Toledo International by 94.4% in the 2nd quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 35 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 50.0% during the 2nd quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 36 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT acquired a new position in Mettler-Toledo International during the 1st quarter worth approximately $43,000. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC grew its stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 477.8% during the 2nd quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 52 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. 95.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Mettler-Toledo International

In other Mettler-Toledo International news, CFO Shawn Vadala sold 1,895 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,455.52, for a total transaction of $2,758,210.40. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 5,288 shares in the company, valued at $7,696,789.76. This trade represents a 26.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Elisha W. Finney sold 474 shares of Mettler-Toledo International stock in a transaction on Monday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,433.57, for a total value of $679,512.18. Following the sale, the director directly owned 311 shares of the companys stock, valued at $445,840.27. This represents a 60.38% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 11,249 shares of company stock valued at $16,338,723. 1.94% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MTD has been the subject of several recent research reports. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,210.00 to $1,230.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, August 4th. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,260.00 to $1,390.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, September 22nd. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,350.00 to $1,600.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,200.00 to $1,400.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,600.00 to $1,700.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Mettler-Toledo International has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $1,406.50.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Mettler-Toledo International

Mettler-Toledo International Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MTD opened at $1,469.81 on Tuesday. Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. has a 52-week low of $946.69 and a 52-week high of $1,476.54. The company has a market capitalization of $30.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.19 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $1,351.79 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,265.11.

Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The medical instruments supplier reported $11.15 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $10.62 by $0.53. Mettler-Toledo International had a net margin of 21.46% and a negative return on equity of 476.07%. The firm had revenue of $1.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $997.36 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $10.21 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Mettler-Toledo International has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 12.680-12.880 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at 42.050-42.250 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. will post 42.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Mettler-Toledo International Profile

(Free Report)

Mettler-Toledo International Inc manufactures and supplies precision instruments and services in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It operates through five segments: U.S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations, and Other. The companys laboratory instruments include laboratory balances, liquid pipetting solutions, automated laboratory reactors, real-time analytics, titrators, pH meters, process analytics sensors and analyzer technologies, physical value analyzers, density and refractometry, thermal analysis systems, and other analytical instruments; and LabX, a laboratory software platform to manage and analyze data generated from its instruments.

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Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (BATS:NULG  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund purchased 56,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,288,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Elevation Capital Advisory LLC grew its position in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF by 2,852.7% in the first quarter. Elevation Capital Advisory LLC now owns 118,936 shares of the companys stock worth $9,310,000 after acquiring an additional 114,908 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF by 19.4% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 600,204 shares of the companys stock worth $46,984,000 after purchasing an additional 97,424 shares during the period. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. lifted its position in shares of Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF by 84.4% in the 2nd quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 209,700 shares of the companys stock worth $19,701,000 after acquiring an additional 95,953 shares during the period. TIAA Trust National Association lifted its holdings in shares of Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. TIAA Trust National Association now owns 2,512,786 shares of the companys stock worth $236,076,000 after acquiring an additional 65,642 shares during the period. Finally, Coldstream Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF by 144.3% in the 2nd quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 69,940 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,571,000 after purchasing an additional 41,310 shares during the period.

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Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF Stock Up 13.5%

BATS:NULG opened at $96.32 on Tuesday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $99.19 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $95.69. Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF has a 12 month low of $67.66 and a 12 month high of $99.18. The firm has a market cap of $1.69 billion, a PE ratio of 39.38 and a beta of 1.17.

Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF Company Profile

The Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (NULG) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI TIAA ESG USA Large Cap Growth index. The fund tracks an index composed of large-cap US companies with growth characteristics that also meet certain environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. NULG was launched on Dec 13, 2016 and is managed by Nuveen.

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Prudential Financial Inc. reduced its stake in shares of Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE:GNW  Free Report) by 26.5% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 4,717,003 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,702,567 shares during the quarter. Prudential Financial Inc.s holdings in Genworth Financial were worth $36,698,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in shares of Genworth Financial in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $24,661,000. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. raised its position in shares of Genworth Financial by 4.5% in the first quarter. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. now owns 27,114,581 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $192,242,000 after purchasing an additional 1,165,112 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Genworth Financial by 11.6% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 8,056,534 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $57,121,000 after buying an additional 836,192 shares during the last quarter. Trexquant Investment LP lifted its stake in shares of Genworth Financial by 162.4% in the first quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 1,330,661 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $9,434,000 after buying an additional 823,470 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Genworth Financial by 56.8% during the 1st quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 1,765,607 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $12,518,000 after buying an additional 639,676 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.85% of the companys stock.

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Genworth Financial Stock Performance

NYSE:GNW opened at $8.61 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $8.65 and its 200-day moving average is $8.06. The company has a market cap of $3.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.24 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a current ratio of 0.29. Genworth Financial, Inc. has a 52-week low of $5.99 and a 52-week high of $9.15.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Genworth Financial ( NYSE:GNW Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The financial services provider reported $0.04 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.06 by ($0.02). Genworth Financial had a return on equity of 1.56% and a net margin of 3.01%.The firm had revenue of $1.04 billion for the quarter.

Several brokerages recently commented on GNW. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Genworth Financial from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Genworth Financial in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on Genworth Financial from $9.50 to $10.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Genworth Financial has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $10.00.

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Insider Activity at Genworth Financial

In other news, CEO Rohit Gupta sold 86,406 shares of Genworth Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.68, for a total transaction of $750,004.08. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 794,630 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,897,388.40. This trade represents a 9.81% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock.

Genworth Financial Profile

(Free Report)

Genworth Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides mortgage and long-term care insurance products in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Enact, Long-Term Care Insurance, and Life and Annuities. The Enact segment offers private mortgage insurance products primarily insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans; and pool mortgage insurance products.

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Prudential Financial Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 8.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 155,743 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 12,670 shares during the quarter. Prudential Financial Inc.s holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $38,507,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nuveen LLC bought a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the first quarter valued at approximately $293,928,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 12.3% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,797,055 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $938,822,000 after buying an additional 415,982 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 26,723,774 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $6,607,453,000 after buying an additional 335,955 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 14.5% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,265,005 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $313,734,000 after acquiring an additional 160,009 shares during the period. Finally, Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 50.5% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 371,034 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $92,020,000 after acquiring an additional 124,443 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.77% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

ITW has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Barclays lifted their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $243.00 to $244.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Robert W. Baird set a $265.00 price target on Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Monday, October 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $258.00 price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $261.00 to $253.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Illinois Tool Works has an average rating of Reduce and an average target price of $263.77.

Insider Transactions at Illinois Tool Works

In other Illinois Tool Works news, Director Pamela B. Strobel sold 1,521 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.25, for a total transaction of $373,025.25. Following the sale, the director owned 39,249 shares in the company, valued at $9,625,817.25. This trade represents a 3.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 6,802 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $265.08, for a total value of $1,803,074.16. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 10,314 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,734,035.12. This represents a 39.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Stock Down 2.1%

Shares of NYSE ITW opened at $242.47 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.39. The business has a 50-day moving average of $250.83 and a 200-day moving average of $253.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $70.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.52, a PEG ratio of 4.10 and a beta of 1.11. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 12 month low of $214.66 and a 12 month high of $279.13.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $2.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.72 by $0.09. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.05% and a return on equity of 93.26%. The business had revenue of $4.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.91 earnings per share. Illinois Tool Workss revenue for the quarter was up 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. Illinois Tool Works has set its FY 2025 guidance at 10.400-10.500 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 9th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be paid a $1.61 dividend. This represents a $6.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is currently 62.46%.

Illinois Tool Works Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products.

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Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (NYSEARCA:AAAU  Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor purchased 113,861 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,721,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of AAAU. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF by 128.6% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,600 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 900 shares during the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its holdings in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF by 113.3% in the second quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 2,308 shares of the companys stock worth $75,000 after acquiring an additional 1,226 shares during the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $135,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF by 515.2% during the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 5,555 shares of the companys stock valued at $182,000 after purchasing an additional 4,652 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. increased its position in Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF by 24.8% during the 2nd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 5,772 shares of the companys stock worth $189,000 after purchasing an additional 1,148 shares in the last quarter.

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Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:AAAU opened at $40.80 on Tuesday. Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF has a one year low of $25.56 and a one year high of $43.26. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $39.39 and a 200 day simple moving average of $35.43.

Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF Profile

The Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the LBMA Gold Price index. The fund tracks the gold spot price, less expenses and liabilities, using gold bars held in vaults located in the UK. AAAU was launched on Jul 26, 2018 and is issued by Goldman Sachs.

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TURIN (Reuters) -Stellantis Chairman John Elkann on Tuesday warned the European auto industry risks an "irreversible decline" if the European Union does not soften its stance on cuts in carbon emissions to grant automakers more flexibility.

The European Commission is due to present a package of proposals for its scheduled review of EU carbon emissions regulation for the auto industry on December 10.

Speaking in Turin, the home city of the Fiat brand, Elkann said the auto industry had drawn up a package of proposals to give automakers more flexibility on emissions targets, and that this would allow the sector to avoid the feared decline.

"There is another way to cut emissions in Europe in a constructive and agreed way, restoring the growth we have lost and people's needs," Elkann said during an event marking the start of production of the new hybrid version of the Fiat 500 small car.

Proposals from the industry include allowing plug-in hybrids, range extenders and alternative fuels beyond 2035, averaging 2030's interim carbon reduction goals over several years, introducing a wide vehicle scrappage scheme and adapting regulation to favour small car production.

STELLANTIS SEEKS TO REVIVE ITALIAN OUTPUT

Introduced in 2020 as a purely electric vehicle (EV), the new hybrid Fiat 500 is one of the models Stellantis is betting on to reverse a decline of its Italian output, due to a mix of factors including low demand, especially for EVs, and competition from Chinese manufacturers.

Car registrations in Europe amounted to around 13 million units last year, still below a 15.8 million unit pre-Covid level in 2019.

New Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa said talks with European authorities had been long and in-depth but now the industry needed "urgent and definitive action".

"If we are allowed to win back customers with excellent products such as the 500 hybrid, we will certainly be able to restore the growth that is essential for future investment and innovation ... supporting employment in Europe," Filosa said during the event.

The Stellantis top management did not elaborate on possible consequences that tough European rules could have for the auto industry.

Earlier this year, the group's former Europe chief warned Stellantis might have to close factories due to the risk of hefty EU fines linked to CO2 emission targets.

Gianluca Ficco of the UILM union said the EU needed to change rules for the auto industry, "before it's too late", to avoid tough consequences for the industry and jobs.

(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari, writing by Giulia Segreti and Giulio Piovaccari; editing by Alvise Armellini and Keith Weir)
Insigneo Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) by 164.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 24,099 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 14,977 shares during the quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $1,663,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NVO. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC bought a new stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S during the 2nd quarter worth $1,950,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC acquired a new position in Novo Nordisk A/S during the 2nd quarter worth $1,980,000. Walled Lake Planning & Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Novo Nordisk A/S during the 2nd quarter worth $2,615,000. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 13.2% during the second quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 58,545 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,041,000 after acquiring an additional 6,828 shares during the period. Finally, Centric Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 12.7% in the second quarter. Centric Wealth Management now owns 6,920 shares of the companys stock valued at $478,000 after purchasing an additional 780 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.54% of the companys stock.

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Novo Nordisk A/S Price Performance

Shares of NVO stock opened at $44.99 on Tuesday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $53.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $60.14. Novo Nordisk A/S has a one year low of $43.08 and a one year high of $112.52. The firm has a market cap of $200.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.56.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.25. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 78.64% and a net margin of 35.60%.The company had revenue of $11.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.98 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, analysts expect that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several analysts recently weighed in on NVO shares. HSBC downgraded Novo Nordisk A/S from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday. UBS Group cut shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 5th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 9th. Barclays reaffirmed an equal weight rating on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $59.20.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Novo Nordisk A/S

About Novo Nordisk A/S

(Free Report)

Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease.

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Mufg Securities Americas Inc. lifted its position in Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE:CTRA  Free Report) by 29.8% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 16,916 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,880 shares during the period. Mufg Securities Americas Inc.s holdings in Coterra Energy were worth $429,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State of Michigan Retirement System boosted its position in Coterra Energy by 5.8% in the second quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 244,459 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,204,000 after buying an additional 13,500 shares during the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Coterra Energy by 165.3% during the second quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 4,213,315 shares of the companys stock worth $106,934,000 after purchasing an additional 2,625,126 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its position in Coterra Energy by 43.2% during the second quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 57,542 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,468,000 after purchasing an additional 17,373 shares during the period. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in Coterra Energy by 30.1% in the second quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 294,598 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,486,000 after purchasing an additional 68,100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its position in Coterra Energy by 15.4% during the 2nd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 785,835 shares of the companys stock worth $19,944,000 after purchasing an additional 104,999 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.92% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently commented on CTRA shares. Siebert Williams Shank lowered their target price on Coterra Energy from $35.00 to $32.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 13th. Wolfe Research dropped their price objective on shares of Coterra Energy from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Coterra Energy in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Coterra Energy from $37.00 to $35.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Coterra Energy from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $32.67.

Coterra Energy Trading Up 1.9%

CTRA stock opened at $26.24 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $24.33 and its 200 day moving average is $24.56. Coterra Energy Inc. has a 12-month low of $22.33 and a 12-month high of $29.95. The stock has a market cap of $19.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.56, a PEG ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.

Coterra Energy (NYSE:CTRA  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.43 by ($0.02). Coterra Energy had a return on equity of 10.99% and a net margin of 23.80%.The firm had revenue of $1.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.32 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 33.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Coterra Energy Inc. will post 1.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Coterra Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 13th will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 13th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.4%. Coterra Energys payout ratio is presently 40.55%.

About Coterra Energy

(Free Report)

Coterra Energy Inc, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the development, exploration, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The companys properties include the Marcellus Shale with approximately 186,000 net acres in the dry gas window of the play located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania; Permian Basin properties with approximately 296,000 net acres located in west Texas and southeast New Mexico; and Anadarko Basin properties with approximately 182,000 net acres located in Oklahoma.

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One Charles Private Wealth Services LLC increased its position in shares of SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD  Free Report) by 44.4% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 2,925 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 900 shares during the quarter. One Charles Private Wealth Services LLCs holdings in SPDR Gold Shares were worth $892,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. American National Bank & Trust lifted its position in SPDR Gold Shares by 52.4% during the second quarter. American National Bank & Trust now owns 291 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $89,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. StrongBox Wealth LLC boosted its position in SPDR Gold Shares by 10.1% in the second quarter. StrongBox Wealth LLC now owns 1,487 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $453,000 after buying an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in SPDR Gold Shares by 6.5% during the 2nd quarter. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,509 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,070,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares during the last quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 14.6% during the second quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 51,235 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $15,618,000 after purchasing an additional 6,540 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ST Germain D J Co. Inc. increased its position in SPDR Gold Shares by 151.5% in the 2nd quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 1,386 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $422,000 after acquiring an additional 835 shares during the period. 42.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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SPDR Gold Shares Stock Up 1.6%

Shares of NYSEARCA:GLD opened at $380.20 on Tuesday. SPDR Gold Shares has a 12-month low of $238.73 and a 12-month high of $403.30. The firm has a market cap of $137.59 billion, a P/E ratio of -32.43 and a beta of 0.09. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $367.10 and a 200 day simple moving average of $330.39.

SPDR Gold Shares Company Profile

SPDR Gold Trust (the Trust) is an investment trust. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trusts expenses. The Trusts business activity is the investment of gold. The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but in one or more Baskets (a Basket equals a block of 100,000 Shares).

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Shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (OTCMKTS:RYCEY  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the six brokerages that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company.

Several research firms have recently weighed in on RYCEY. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC in a research report on Friday, September 19th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Berenberg Bank upgraded shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC to a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock.

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Check Out Our Latest Report on RYCEY

Institutional Trading of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC

Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC Stock Down 2.3%

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of RYCEY. ORG Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC by 115.3% in the third quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,970 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,055 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers increased its holdings in shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 82,415 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,103,000 after buying an additional 1,205 shares during the last quarter. Kelleher Financial Advisors bought a new position in Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC during the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC now owns 38,808 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $629,000 after acquiring an additional 2,583 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC grew its stake in shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC by 2,646.8% in the third quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 3,049 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 2,938 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 0.07% of the companys stock.

Shares of RYCEY opened at $13.38 on Tuesday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $15.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $13.93. Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC has a twelve month low of $6.72 and a twelve month high of $16.27.

About Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC

(Get Free Report)

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for air, sea, and land in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Civil Aerospace, Defence, Power Systems, and New Markets. The Civil Aerospace segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells aero engines for large commercial aircraft, regional jet, and business aviation markets, as well as provides aftermarket services.

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Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 28,803 shares of the transportation companys stock, valued at approximately $1,417,000.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of DAL. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Delta Air Lines by 2.6% in the second quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 7,844 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $386,000 after buying an additional 196 shares in the last quarter. JT Stratford LLC grew its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. JT Stratford LLC now owns 16,403 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $715,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Nwam LLC increased its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 3.1% in the second quarter. Nwam LLC now owns 7,042 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $377,000 after purchasing an additional 212 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Delta Air Lines by 26.9% in the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 1,028 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $51,000 after buying an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 14.7% in the 2nd quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 1,911 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $94,000 after buying an additional 245 shares during the period. 69.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP William C. Carroll sold 14,010 shares of Delta Air Lines stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.25, for a total transaction of $858,112.50. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 15,816 shares in the company, valued at approximately $968,730. This trade represents a 46.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP John E. Laughter sold 23,323 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.33, for a total value of $1,453,722.59. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 81,109 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,055,523.97. This represents a 22.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.88% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Susquehanna lifted their price target on shares of Delta Air Lines from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Raymond James Financial increased their price objective on Delta Air Lines from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Delta Air Lines from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, October 11th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Delta Air Lines from $72.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, September 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and twenty have issued a Buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $71.68.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on DAL

Delta Air Lines Price Performance

Shares of DAL stock opened at $60.68 on Tuesday. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a twelve month low of $34.74 and a twelve month high of $69.98. The company has a quick ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $58.52 and a 200 day simple moving average of $55.45. The company has a market cap of $39.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.52.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 15th. The transportation company reported $0.22 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $8.40 billion for the quarter. Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 23.83% and a net margin of 7.36%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 7.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Delta Air Lines Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 6th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 16th were issued a $0.1875 dividend. This represents a $0.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 16th. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio is currently 10.56%.

About Delta Air Lines

(Free Report)

Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Sao Paulo, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo.

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Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC trimmed its position in shares of Apollo Global Management Inc. (NYSE:APO  Free Report) by 40.5% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,329 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 4,999 shares during the period. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLCs holdings in Apollo Global Management were worth $1,040,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in APO. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Apollo Global Management by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,028,812 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,303,186,000 after purchasing an additional 893,428 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in Apollo Global Management by 24.6% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,581,732 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $490,482,000 after buying an additional 706,181 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Apollo Global Management by 1.2% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,050,164 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $432,727,000 after acquiring an additional 36,866 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners purchased a new position in shares of Apollo Global Management in the 1st quarter valued at $370,543,000. Finally, Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in shares of Apollo Global Management in the 1st quarter valued at $342,335,000. 77.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity

In other news, insider Leon D. Black sold 915,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.03, for a total transaction of $122,637,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 4,526,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $606,619,780. This represents a 16.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 8.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Apollo Global Management Trading Up 0.0%

Apollo Global Management Dividend Announcement

Shares of Apollo Global Management stock opened at $130.07 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $129.60 and a 200-day simple moving average of $135.98. Apollo Global Management Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $102.58 and a fifty-two week high of $189.49. The firm has a market cap of $75.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 17th. Apollo Global Managements dividend payout ratio is 29.82%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

APO has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Apollo Global Management from $170.00 to $150.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 13th. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Apollo Global Management in a report on Tuesday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on shares of Apollo Global Management from $162.00 to $173.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Piper Sandler restated an overweight rating on shares of Apollo Global Management in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of Apollo Global Management in a research report on Tuesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Apollo Global Management currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $163.08.

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Apollo Global Management Company Profile

(Free Report)

Apollo Global Management, Inc is a private equity firm specializing in investments in credit, private equity, infrastructure, secondaries and real estate markets. The firm prefers to invest in private and public markets. The firms private equity investments include traditional buyouts, recapitalization, distressed buyouts and debt investments in real estate, corporate partner buyouts, distressed asset, corporate carve-outs, middle market, growth, venture capital, turnaround, bridge, corporate restructuring, special situation, acquisition, and industry consolidation transactions.

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FourThought Financial Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX  Free Report) by 28.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 11,275 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 4,407 shares during the period. FourThought Financial Partners LLCs holdings in Phillips 66 were worth $1,345,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Elliott Investment Management L.P. raised its holdings in shares of Phillips 66 by 1,929.0% during the first quarter. Elliott Investment Management L.P. now owns 15,725,000 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,941,723,000 after acquiring an additional 14,950,000 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Phillips 66 by 14.8% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,368,000 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,531,702,000 after purchasing an additional 5,978,841 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Phillips 66 by 17.4% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 10,327,304 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,226,815,000 after purchasing an additional 1,532,967 shares during the period. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Phillips 66 by 9,530.9% in the second quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,446,469 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $172,564,000 after purchasing an additional 1,431,450 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Soundwatch Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Phillips 66 during the second quarter worth about $170,604,000. 76.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Phillips 66 news, CFO Kevin J. Mitchell sold 30,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.00, for a total value of $4,140,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 89,771 shares in the company, valued at $12,388,398. The trade was a 25.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Brian Mandell sold 26,200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $137.68, for a total transaction of $3,607,216.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 56,838 shares in the company, valued at $7,825,455.84. The trade was a 31.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders have sold 64,986 shares of company stock valued at $8,955,291. 0.22% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Phillips 66 from $154.00 to $162.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Phillips 66 in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Phillips 66 from $133.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. UBS Group reissued a buy rating and set a $160.00 price target on shares of Phillips 66 in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating and issued a $150.00 price objective (up previously from $145.00) on shares of Phillips 66 in a report on Friday, October 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and thirteen have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $145.71.

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Phillips 66 Stock Performance

Shares of PSX opened at $133.52 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $53.80 billion, a PE ratio of 36.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.08. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $134.38 and a 200-day moving average of $127.40. Phillips 66 has a one year low of $91.01 and a one year high of $143.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.79.

Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The oil and gas company reported $2.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.14 by $0.38. The business had revenue of $33.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32.29 billion. Phillips 66 had a net margin of 1.12% and a return on equity of 5.51%. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.04 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Phillips 66 will post 6.8 earnings per share for the current year.

Phillips 66 Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th will be paid a dividend of $1.20 per share. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 17th. Phillips 66s payout ratio is currently 131.15%.

Phillips 66 Company Profile

(Free Report)

Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas.

Further Reading

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FourThought Financial Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (NYSE:KYN  Free Report) by 7.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 197,826 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 14,087 shares during the period. FourThought Financial Partners LLCs holdings in Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund were worth $2,516,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. D.A. Davidson & CO. grew its stake in Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 3.5% in the second quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 25,623 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $326,000 after purchasing an additional 875 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC increased its holdings in Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 4.1% in the first quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 22,323 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $286,000 after buying an additional 881 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 22.8% during the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 134,730 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,729,000 after acquiring an additional 25,044 shares in the last quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC lifted its stake in Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 14.5% in the second quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 14,310 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $182,000 after acquiring an additional 1,811 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its position in Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 490.8% in the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 26,734 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $340,000 after acquiring an additional 22,209 shares in the last quarter.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, President James C. Baker purchased 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 24th. The stock was bought at an average price of $11.74 per share, for a total transaction of $293,500.00. Following the purchase, the president owned 886,040 shares in the company, valued at $10,402,109.60. The trade was a 2.90% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Austin Colby Parker acquired 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 22nd. The shares were bought at an average cost of $12.18 per share, for a total transaction of $30,450.00. Following the acquisition, the chief financial officer owned 9,167 shares in the company, valued at $111,654.06. The trade was a 37.50% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Insiders purchased 62,500 shares of company stock valued at $741,600 over the last quarter.

Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund Stock Performance

Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund Dividend Announcement

Shares of KYN opened at $11.87 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average is $11.92 and its 200-day moving average is $12.19. Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. has a 12 month low of $9.82 and a 12 month high of $13.69.

The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 8.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 14th.

Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund Profile

(Free Report)

Kayne Anderson MLP Investment Company is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by KA Fund Advisors, LLC. It is co-managed by Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It invests in stocks of companies operating in the energy sector.

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Sculati Wealth Management LLC decreased its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 2.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 18,651 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 433 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. accounts for 2.0% of Sculati Wealth Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest holding. Sculati Wealth Management LLCs holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $5,407,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC raised its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 609,867.5% during the second quarter. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC now owns 72,897,211 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $21,133,630,000 after purchasing an additional 72,885,260 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 61,129,271 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $17,646,506,000 after buying an additional 300,160 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 20,548,182 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,040,469,000 after buying an additional 548,853 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 18,441,044 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,523,588,000 after buying an additional 890,553 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen LLC bought a new position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the 1st quarter valued at about $3,972,807,000. 71.55% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have issued reports on JPM. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $345.00 to $350.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Dbs Bank raised JPMorgan Chase & Co. to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a buy rating and set a $343.00 price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Daiwa Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $330.00 to $332.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Zacks Research cut shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $326.38.

Insider Transactions at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

In other news, Director Linda Bammann sold 9,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $297.94, for a total transaction of $2,830,430.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 82,207 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $24,492,753.58. This trade represents a 10.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Robin Leopold sold 966 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $311.92, for a total transaction of $301,314.72. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 58,479 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,240,769.68. This represents a 1.63% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 0.47% of the companys stock.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Price Performance

JPM opened at $297.93 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $307.20 and a 200 day moving average of $292.10. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 52-week low of $202.16 and a 52-week high of $322.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. The stock has a market cap of $811.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.76, a PEG ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.14.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 14th. The financial services provider reported $5.07 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.83 by $0.24. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a return on equity of 17.18% and a net margin of 20.90%.The business had revenue of $47.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $44.42 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $4.37 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 18.1 EPS for the current year.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Investors of record on Monday, October 6th were paid a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 6th. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. This is a boost from JPMorgan Chase & Co.s previous quarterly dividend of $1.40. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s payout ratio is 29.72%.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company Profile

(Free Report)

JPMorgan Chase & Co is a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of financial and investment banking services. It focuses on investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. It operates through the following segments: Consumer and Community Banking (CCB), Commercial and Investment Bank (CIB), Asset and Wealth Management (AWM), and Corporate.

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TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. increased its position in GXO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE:GXO  Free Report) by 5,000.0% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 5,610 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 5,500 shares during the quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc.s holdings in GXO Logistics were worth $277,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH boosted its stake in shares of GXO Logistics by 23.2% during the second quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH now owns 132,123 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,434,000 after purchasing an additional 24,910 shares in the last quarter. Summitry LLC boosted its position in GXO Logistics by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. Summitry LLC now owns 891,354 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,409,000 after acquiring an additional 23,732 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC increased its holdings in shares of GXO Logistics by 78.3% in the 2nd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 4,910 shares of the companys stock valued at $239,000 after acquiring an additional 2,156 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its stake in shares of GXO Logistics by 2.9% during the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 29,398 shares of the companys stock worth $1,432,000 after purchasing an additional 834 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ABN Amro Investment Solutions bought a new stake in GXO Logistics during the second quarter valued at about $2,923,000. 90.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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GXO Logistics Price Performance

GXO Logistics stock opened at $47.95 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 63.09, a P/E/G ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.64. The companys fifty day moving average price is $52.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $49.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.71. GXO Logistics, Inc. has a 1 year low of $30.46 and a 1 year high of $61.90.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

GXO Logistics ( NYSE:GXO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.78 by $0.01. GXO Logistics had a return on equity of 10.45% and a net margin of 0.69%.The company had revenue of $3.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.39 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.79 EPS. GXO Logisticss revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. GXO Logistics has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.430-2.630 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that GXO Logistics, Inc. will post 2.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

GXO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on shares of GXO Logistics from $55.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of GXO Logistics in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of GXO Logistics from $60.00 to $58.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 6th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of GXO Logistics from $58.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Susquehanna reaffirmed a positive rating and set a $64.00 price target on shares of GXO Logistics in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $61.77.

View Our Latest Stock Report on GXO Logistics

GXO Logistics Company Profile

(Free Report)

GXO Logistics, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides logistics services worldwide. The company provides warehousing and distribution, order fulfilment, e-commerce, reverse logistics, and other supply chain services. As of December 31, 2023, it operated in approximately 974 facilities. The company serves various customers in the e-commerce, omnichannel retail, technology and consumer electronics, food and beverage, industrial and manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, and others.

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Renault Group supports calls from automotive suppliers for the introduction of European Union (EU)-wide local sourcing rules, the automakers CEO Francois Provost told Reuters.

However, Provost said this backing depends on the Local Content Requirements being defined in a more flexible way.

Some suppliers have urged to mandate that 80% of components in vehicles sold in the EU be sourced locally, mirroring provisions already applied in the US.

These discussions, to counter competition from Chinese manufacturers, form part of the strategic dialogue launched earlier this year between EU institutions and the automotive industry.

The European Commission is expected to present a package of measures for the sector on 10 December.

Provost, however, said he did not expect such stringent rules to be in place by that date.

The chief said: "We have to be realistic: complicated local content schemes per model, with mandatory parts, will never work.

"The only system that can work is local content averaged across a manufacturer's sales. This would allow us to achieve our desired objective, which is to support the European sector and, above all, our suppliers.

According to Provost, a threshold set on this averaged basis - for example around 60% - could be more acceptable to other manufacturers, including German brands that have been wary of strict sourcing constraints.

These companies fear that rigid rules could restrict supplier choice and undermine their cost competitiveness.

Provost said: "Any other solution would end up not working and not being implemented  if that is what we want!

The debate comes amid growing concern among European parts makers about production shifting out of the bloc.

The European association of automotive suppliers CLEPA has repeatedly warned that manufacturing is at risk of being relocated and has estimated that up to 350,000 jobs could be threatened by 2030.

Christophe Perillat, CEO of French components group Valeo, told investors that without binding European content rules, plant closures in the region would be unavoidable over time.

Perillat said: "If they do not decide for a European content per car minimum, then there will be significant, massive, delocalisation of the automotive industry from Europe to the rest of the world, let's say from Valeo Europe to Valeo China for instance.

Provost, who took over from Luca de Meo earlier this year when the latter departed to lead luxury group Kering, recently held talks with EU officials in Brussels.

He said: "The positive point is that I feel they understand the sense of urgency, the need to move forward, however I really get the impression that important points are still under discussion.
Manchester Capital Management LLC reduced its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 7.9% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,516 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 386 shares during the quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $2,538,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MA. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC purchased a new stake in Mastercard during the second quarter valued at about $11,421,213,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 55,868.1% in the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,421,148 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $7,541,880,000 after purchasing an additional 13,397,168 shares during the period. Nuveen LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $4,238,764,000. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in Mastercard by 38.6% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 13,526,118 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $7,413,936,000 after buying an additional 3,765,378 shares during the period. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in Mastercard by 25.6% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 6,372,404 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $3,580,909,000 after buying an additional 1,299,977 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock.

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Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MA opened at $536.24 on Tuesday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $562.38 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $568.95. Mastercard Incorporated has a twelve month low of $465.59 and a twelve month high of $601.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $481.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

Mastercard ( NYSE:MA Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The credit services provider reported $4.38 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.31 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $8.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.53 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 200.01% and a net margin of 44.93%.Mastercards revenue was up 16.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.89 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 9th were given a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 9th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. Mastercards payout ratio is presently 19.44%.

Insider Transactions at Mastercard

In other Mastercard news, CFO J. Mehra Sachin sold 17,263 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $591.00, for a total value of $10,202,433.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 31,234 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,459,294. The trade was a 35.60% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. KeyCorp restated an overweight rating and set a $665.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Tigress Financial increased their price objective on Mastercard from $685.00 to $730.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Citigroup upgraded Mastercard to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. TD Cowen reiterated a buy rating and set a $645.00 price target on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Monday, August 11th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Mastercard from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, October 18th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $652.50.

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Mastercard Company Profile

(Free Report)

Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts; prepaid programs services; and commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment products and solutions.

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North Star Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW  Free Report) by 17.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 55,937 shares of the medical research companys stock after purchasing an additional 8,373 shares during the quarter. North Star Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $4,375,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 1.2% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 69,997,629 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $5,474,515,000 after purchasing an additional 798,801 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,722,416 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $990,074,000 after buying an additional 45,555 shares in the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC increased its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 15.7% in the 2nd quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 11,670,991 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $912,788,000 after acquiring an additional 1,584,958 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 4.1% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 6,783,568 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $491,673,000 after acquiring an additional 264,311 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences during the 1st quarter worth approximately $330,881,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.46% of the companys stock.

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Edwards Lifesciences Price Performance

Edwards Lifesciences stock opened at $84.70 on Tuesday. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation has a 12-month low of $65.94 and a 12-month high of $87.21. The company has a current ratio of 4.68, a quick ratio of 3.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $78.97 and a 200-day moving average price of $78.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $49.15 billion, a PE ratio of 12.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.97 and a beta of 1.03.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Edwards Lifesciences ( NYSE:EW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The medical research company reported $0.67 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $1.55 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.49 billion. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 72.96% and a return on equity of 15.01%. The firms revenue was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.67 EPS. Edwards Lifesciences has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.560-2.620 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 0.580-0.640 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Edwards Lifesciences Corporation will post 2.45 EPS for the current year.

EW has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Robert W. Baird set a $83.00 price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $96.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Oppenheimer cut shares of Edwards Lifesciences from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, National Bankshares set a $92.00 price target on Edwards Lifesciences in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $91.39.

View Our Latest Stock Report on EW

Insider Activity at Edwards Lifesciences

In related news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 13,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.08, for a total transaction of $1,080,040.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 39,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,314,725.84. This trade represents a 24.58% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Daniel J. Lippis sold 1,020 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, November 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.55, for a total value of $84,201.00. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 22,002 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,816,265.10. The trade was a 4.43% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

About Edwards Lifesciences

(Free Report)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names.

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XTX Topco Ltd boosted its stake in Primo Brands Corporation (NYSE:PRMB  Free Report) by 308.2% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 166,572 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 125,767 shares during the period. XTX Topco Ltds holdings in Primo Brands were worth $4,934,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Primo Brands by 28.7% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,704,538 shares of the companys stock worth $699,314,000 after purchasing an additional 4,389,327 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners boosted its position in Primo Brands by 13.7% during the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 8,089,479 shares of the companys stock valued at $239,551,000 after buying an additional 971,939 shares during the period. Eminence Capital LP grew its holdings in Primo Brands by 48.3% in the 1st quarter. Eminence Capital LP now owns 7,019,075 shares of the companys stock worth $249,107,000 after acquiring an additional 2,284,912 shares during the last quarter. Samlyn Capital LLC grew its holdings in Primo Brands by 401.8% in the 1st quarter. Samlyn Capital LLC now owns 4,656,312 shares of the companys stock worth $165,253,000 after acquiring an additional 3,728,344 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its position in shares of Primo Brands by 60.5% in the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 3,802,613 shares of the companys stock valued at $112,405,000 after acquiring an additional 1,433,010 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.71% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on PRMB shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating and set a $26.00 target price on shares of Primo Brands in a report on Friday, August 8th. TD Securities lowered their price target on Primo Brands from $35.00 to $27.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Zacks Research lowered Primo Brands from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Primo Brands from $37.00 to $35.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d+) rating on shares of Primo Brands in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $30.17.

Insider Transactions at Primo Brands

In other Primo Brands news, CEO Eric J. Foss acquired 4,970 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of $16.15 per share, with a total value of $80,265.50. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer owned 360,036 shares in the company, valued at $5,814,581.40. This represents a 1.40% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Michael John Cramer bought 5,000 shares of Primo Brands stock in a transaction on Monday, November 10th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $15.73 per share, with a total value of $78,650.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 17,762 shares of the companys stock, valued at $279,396.26. The trade was a 39.18% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders purchased 203,469 shares of company stock worth $3,214,674. 58.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Primo Brands Stock Performance

Shares of Primo Brands stock opened at $14.99 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.48 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $25.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.55 billion, a P/E ratio of -136.27, a P/E/G ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55. Primo Brands Corporation has a 12 month low of $14.36 and a 12 month high of $35.85.

Primo Brands (NYSE:PRMB  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.41. Primo Brands had a negative net margin of 1.20% and a positive return on equity of 9.64%. The business had revenue of $1.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.78 billion. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 35.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Primo Brands Corporation will post 1.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Primo Brands Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 25th will be paid a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 25th. Primo Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -129.03%.

Primo Brands declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback plan on Monday, November 10th that authorizes the company to buyback $50.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to purchase up to 0.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.

Primo Brands Profile

(Free Report)

Primo Brands Corp. is a branded beverage company, which focuses on healthy hydration. It delivers sustainably and domestically sourced diversified offerings across products, formats, channels, price points and consumer occasions, distributed in the United States and Canada. The company provides water filtration units for home and business consumers across North America.

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Turning Point Brands (NYSE:TPB  Get Free Report) and Japan Tobacco (OTCMKTS:JAPAF  Get Free Report) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, earnings and risk.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

96.1% of Turning Point Brands shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 24.7% of Japan Tobacco shares are held by institutional investors. 6.6% of Turning Point Brands shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Profitability

This table compares Turning Point Brands and Japan Tobaccos net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Turning Point Brands 12.02% 24.44% 9.96% Japan Tobacco N/A N/A N/A

Dividends

Analyst Ratings

Turning Point Brands pays an annual dividend of $0.30 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.3%. Japan Tobacco pays an annual dividend of $79.71 per share and has a dividend yield of 228.1%. Turning Point Brands pays out 10.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Japan Tobacco pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Turning Point Brands has raised its dividend for 7 consecutive years.

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Turning Point Brands and Japan Tobacco, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Turning Point Brands 0 1 5 1 3.00 Japan Tobacco 0 0 0 0 0.00

Turning Point Brands currently has a consensus price target of $97.00, indicating a potential upside of 0.20%. Given Turning Point Brands stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Turning Point Brands is more favorable than Japan Tobacco.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Turning Point Brands and Japan Tobaccos gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Turning Point Brands $360.66 million 5.12 $39.81 million $2.84 34.09 Japan Tobacco N/A N/A N/A $225.55 0.15

Turning Point Brands has higher revenue and earnings than Japan Tobacco. Japan Tobacco is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Turning Point Brands, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Turning Point Brands beats Japan Tobacco on 13 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Turning Point Brands

(Get Free Report)

Turning Point Brands, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, and distributes branded consumer products. The company operates through three segments: Zig-Zag Products, Stokers Products, and Creative Distribution Solutions. Zig-Zag Products segment markets and distributes rolling papers, tubes, finished cigars, make-your-own cigar wraps, and related products, as well as lighters and other accessories under the Zig-Zag brand. The Stokers Products segment manufactures and markets moist snuff tobacco and loose-leaf chewing tobacco products under the Stokers, Beech-Nut, Durango, Trophy, and Wind River brands. Its Creative Distribution Solutions segment market and distribute other products without tobacco and/or nicotine to individual consumers through VaporFi B2C online platform, as well as non-traditional retail through VaporBeast. In addition, it markets and distributes cannabis accessories and tobacco products. The company sells its products to wholesale distributors and retail merchants in the independent and chain convenience stores, tobacco outlets, food stores, mass merchandising, drug store, and non-traditional retail channels. The company was formerly known as North Atlantic Holding Company, Inc. and changed its name to Turning Point Brands, Inc. in November 2015. Turning Point Brands, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

About Japan Tobacco

(Get Free Report)

Japan Tobacco Inc., a tobacco company, manufactures and sells tobacco products, pharmaceuticals, and processed foods in Japan and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Tobacco Business, Pharmaceutical Business, and Processed Food Business. It offers tobacco products, such as cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco products, E-vapor products, fine cut tobacco products, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco products, and hookah and kretek products. The company provides reduced-risk products, including infused tobacco capsules and heated tobacco sticks. In addition, it researches and develops, manufactures, and sells prescription drugs for the therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, kidney and metabolism, immunity/inflammation, and central nervous system. Further, the company provides frozen and room-temperature products, such as frozen udon noodles, packed rice, and frozen okonomiyaki; bakery products; and seasonings, including yeast extracts, assembled, kelp and bonito extracts, and oyster sauces. It offers its products under the Winston, Camel, MEVIUS, and LD brands. Japan Tobacco Inc. was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

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Verity & Verity LLC cut its stake in shares of OGE Energy Corporation (NYSE:OGE  Free Report) by 46.4% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 259,771 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 225,206 shares during the period. Verity & Verity LLC owned approximately 0.13% of OGE Energy worth $11,529,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in OGE. Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in OGE Energy by 0.3% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 71,892 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,304,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC boosted its stake in OGE Energy by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 13,765 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $611,000 after acquiring an additional 272 shares during the last quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd grew its holdings in OGE Energy by 2.0% during the second quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 14,515 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $644,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of OGE Energy by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 9,304 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $413,000 after buying an additional 289 shares during the period. Finally, Wedbush Securities Inc. increased its position in shares of OGE Energy by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 6,389 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $284,000 after buying an additional 289 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.84% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently weighed in on OGE. Wall Street Zen upgraded OGE Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, September 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded shares of OGE Energy to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of OGE Energy to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of OGE Energy from $47.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on shares of OGE Energy from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, OGE Energy has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $48.75.

OGE Energy Price Performance

NYSE OGE opened at $44.96 on Tuesday. The firms 50 day moving average is $45.22 and its 200-day moving average is $44.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The company has a market capitalization of $9.06 billion, a PE ratio of 18.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.60. OGE Energy Corporation has a 12-month low of $39.41 and a 12-month high of $47.33.

OGE Energy (NYSE:OGE  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The utilities provider reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.02). OGE Energy had a net margin of 15.28% and a return on equity of 10.86%. The business had revenue of $1.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.04 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.09 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that OGE Energy Corporation will post 2.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

OGE Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Investors of record on Monday, October 6th were given a dividend of $0.425 per share. This represents a $1.70 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.8%. This is a boost from OGE Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 6th. OGE Energys payout ratio is currently 68.27%.

OGE Energy Company Profile

(Free Report)

OGE Energy Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy services provider in the United States. The company generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy. In addition, it provides retail electric service to approximately 896,000 customers, which covers a service area of approximately 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma and western Arkansas; and owns and operates coal-fired, natural gas-fired, wind-powered, and solar-powered generating assets.

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J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 97,465 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,863 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $17,751,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of PM. WCM Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 24,968.0% during the 2nd quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 11,275,606 shares of the companys stock worth $2,041,223,000 after buying an additional 11,230,626 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,712,994,000. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 26.4% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 21,840,422 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,466,730,000 after acquiring an additional 4,563,632 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in Philip Morris International by 57.5% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 9,794,530 shares of the companys stock worth $1,554,686,000 after purchasing an additional 3,575,158 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.6% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 142,857,055 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,018,555,000 after purchasing an additional 2,235,380 shares during the last quarter. 78.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on PM shares. Morgan Stanley set a $175.00 price objective on shares of Philip Morris International and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. UBS Group dropped their price target on Philip Morris International from $177.00 to $166.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 5th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $180.00 price objective on Philip Morris International in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $220.00 to $180.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $189.56.

Philip Morris International Stock Down 2.9%

Shares of PM stock opened at $150.75 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $156.20 and a 200 day simple moving average of $167.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $234.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.43. Philip Morris International Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $116.12 and a fifty-two week high of $186.69.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, March 28th. The company reported $1.59 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $8.12 billion for the quarter. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 9.33% and a negative return on equity of 122.14%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Philip Morris International Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 3rd were issued a dividend of $1.47 per share. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.9%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 3rd. This is a boost from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.35. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 106.52%.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm purchased 23,545 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $5,806,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in RSG. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Republic Services by 1,222.2% in the second quarter. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC now owns 119 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its stake in Republic Services by 68.5% during the 2nd quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 123 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC raised its holdings in Republic Services by 113.8% in the 1st quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 124 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Elequin Capital LP purchased a new position in Republic Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Republic Services during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.73% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

RSG has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Robert W. Baird set a $240.00 price objective on Republic Services in a research report on Friday, October 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Republic Services from $260.00 to $233.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 31st. Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of Republic Services from $250.00 to $246.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 31st. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $240.00 target price on shares of Republic Services in a report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Oppenheimer set a $256.00 price target on shares of Republic Services in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $250.45.

Republic Services Stock Performance

NYSE:RSG opened at $214.90 on Tuesday. Republic Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $199.43 and a fifty-two week high of $258.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.66. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $218.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $233.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $66.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.79, a PEG ratio of 3.40 and a beta of 0.57.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The business services provider reported $1.90 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.78 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $4.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.25 billion. Republic Services had a return on equity of 18.27% and a net margin of 12.97%.The firms revenue was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.81 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.86 EPS for the current year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.625 per share. This represents a $2.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 2nd. Republic Servicess dividend payout ratio is currently 37.20%.

About Republic Services

(Free Report)

Republic Services, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers environmental services in the United States and Canada. It is involved in the collection and processing of recyclable, solid waste, and industrial waste materials; transportation and disposal of non-hazardous and hazardous waste streams; and other environmental solutions.

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Timber Creek Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Revvity Inc. (NYSE:RVTY  Free Report) by 48.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 59,467 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 19,290 shares during the quarter. Revvity makes up 1.3% of Timber Creek Capital Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Timber Creek Capital Management LLCs holdings in Revvity were worth $5,274,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Family Legacy Financial Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Revvity in the second quarter worth $5,351,000. Czech National Bank lifted its position in Revvity by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 28,811 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,787,000 after purchasing an additional 858 shares during the last quarter. Aviva PLC grew its position in Revvity by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 89,527 shares of the companys stock worth $8,659,000 after purchasing an additional 4,303 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC increased its stake in shares of Revvity by 9.9% in the first quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 29,982 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,172,000 after purchasing an additional 2,702 shares during the period. Finally, Patton Fund Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Revvity during the second quarter valued at approximately $226,000. 86.65% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Revvity Price Performance

Shares of Revvity stock opened at $100.49 on Tuesday. Revvity Inc. has a 52 week low of $81.36 and a 52 week high of $128.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 2.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The stock has a market cap of $11.39 billion, a PE ratio of 50.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 1.01. The companys 50-day moving average price is $91.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $92.34.

Revvity ( NYSE:RVTY Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, October 27th. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.14 by $0.04. Revvity had a return on equity of 7.52% and a net margin of 8.44%.The business had revenue of $698.95 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $699.75 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.28 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. Revvity has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.900-5.000 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Revvity Inc. will post 4.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Revvity declared that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Monday, October 27th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to reacquire up to 8.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are generally a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Revvity Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 6th. Investors of record on Friday, January 16th will be given a $0.07 dividend. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 16th. Revvitys dividend payout ratio is 14.07%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

RVTY has been the topic of several analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Revvity from $120.00 to $110.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 29th. Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating and set a $115.00 price objective (down from $120.00) on shares of Revvity in a research note on Tuesday, July 29th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Revvity in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Guggenheim started coverage on shares of Revvity in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on shares of Revvity from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Revvity currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $114.75.

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Revvity Profile

(Free Report)

Revvity, Inc provides health sciences solutions, technologies, and services in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and internationally. The Life Sciences segment provides instruments, reagents, informatics, software, subscriptions, detection, imaging technologies, warranties, training, and services. Its Diagnostics segment provides instruments, reagents, assay platforms, and software products for the early detection of genetic disorders, such as pregnancy and early childhood, as well as infectious disease testing in the diagnostics market.

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Verity & Verity LLC reduced its stake in McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD  Free Report) by 5.4% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,532 shares of the fast-food giants stock after selling 201 shares during the quarter. Verity & Verity LLCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $1,032,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. increased its position in shares of McDonalds by 142.9% during the second quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 85 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of McDonalds in the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. HFM Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonalds in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Nova Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of McDonalds during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, GFG Capital LLC acquired a new stake in McDonalds during the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.29% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have issued reports on MCD. Barclays dropped their price target on McDonalds from $362.00 to $358.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of McDonalds from $305.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Piper Sandler restated a neutral rating and issued a $325.00 price target on shares of McDonalds in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of McDonalds from $360.00 to $350.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, BTIG Research reissued a neutral rating on shares of McDonalds in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, McDonalds has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $324.57.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Ian Frederick Borden sold 17,134 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $310.00, for a total value of $5,311,540.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 26,353 shares in the company, valued at $8,169,430. The trade was a 39.40% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 3,195 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $305.82, for a total value of $977,094.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 6,088 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,861,832.16. This represents a 34.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 34,463 shares of company stock worth $10,549,351 in the last quarter. 0.25% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

McDonalds Stock Up 1.8%

Shares of NYSE:MCD opened at $310.37 on Tuesday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $303.02 and its 200 day moving average is $304.11. McDonalds Corporation has a 12-month low of $276.53 and a 12-month high of $326.32. The stock has a market cap of $221.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.56, a PEG ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.50.

McDonalds (NYSE:MCD  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The fast-food giant reported $3.22 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.33 by ($0.11). McDonalds had a net margin of 32.21% and a negative return on equity of 225.52%. The company had revenue of $7.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.10 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.23 earnings per share. McDonaldss revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonalds Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be given a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 1st. This is a positive change from McDonaldss previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. McDonaldss payout ratio is currently 63.48%.

About McDonalds

(Free Report)

McDonalds Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K.

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XTX Topco Ltd raised its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 533.5% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 18,763 shares of the credit services providers stock after purchasing an additional 15,801 shares during the period. Mastercard comprises about 0.4% of XTX Topco Ltds holdings, making the stock its 15th largest holding. XTX Topco Ltds holdings in Mastercard were worth $10,544,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Pinion Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. Pinion Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,272 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,276,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the period. KRS Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 0.6% during the second quarter. KRS Capital Management LLC now owns 2,848 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $1,601,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Nvest Financial LLC increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 1.2% during the second quarter. Nvest Financial LLC now owns 1,505 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $846,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Mastercard by 5.6% in the 2nd quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 339 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $191,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rialto Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Mastercard by 13.0% in the 2nd quarter. Rialto Wealth Management LLC now owns 156 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $88,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, CFO J. Mehra Sachin sold 17,263 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $591.00, for a total transaction of $10,202,433.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 31,234 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $18,459,294. The trade was a 35.60% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Mastercard Price Performance

NYSE:MA opened at $536.24 on Tuesday. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12-month low of $465.59 and a 12-month high of $601.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $481.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.92. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $562.38 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $568.95. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The credit services provider reported $4.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.31 by $0.07. Mastercard had a return on equity of 200.01% and a net margin of 44.93%.The business had revenue of $8.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.53 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.89 EPS. The firms revenue was up 16.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 9th were given a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 9th. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Mastercards dividend payout ratio is presently 19.44%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently commented on MA. TD Cowen restated a buy rating and issued a $645.00 price target on shares of Mastercard in a report on Monday, August 11th. Morgan Stanley set a $665.00 price target on Mastercard and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. KeyCorp reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $665.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $645.00 to $654.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Macquarie lifted their target price on Mastercard from $655.00 to $660.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have issued a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $652.50.

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Mastercard Profile

(Free Report)

Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts; prepaid programs services; and commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment products and solutions.

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Revolut has raised new funding in a share sale that values it at $75 billion, positioning the British neobank as one of Europes most valuable private tech companies.

The company said on Monday the deal was led by Coatue, Greenoaks, Dragoneer, and Fidelity. Investors including Nvidias NVentures, Andreessen Horowitz, Franklin Templeton, and other backers advised by T. Rowe Price Associates also participated.

Revolut did not mention how much it raised in the share sale, but it did say it allowed employees to cash out in the deal. As of August 2025, the company had a post-money valuation of $48 billion, and has raised a total of $2.89 billion in venture capital, according to PitchBook.

Founded in 2015, Revolut offers a range of services spanning multi-currency accounts, payment and transfer services, crypto products, insurance, and more. The new funding comes as the neobank has been pouring truckloads of cash into expanding its operations internationally.

Besides the U.K., where the company is awaiting a final nod to operate as a full-fledged bank, Revolut has a banking license in the European Union, and it operates in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Brazil, and the U.S. It launched operations in India in October, is about to start operating in Colombia in 2026, and has received a banking license in Mexico.

It also has plans to launch in Argentina, wants to enter Africa (first with South Africa), and has an in-principal payments license in the UAE.

The companys been doing well financially, too: In 2024, its revenue rose 72% to $4 billion, and it claims it reached $1 billion in annualized revenue this year. Per its last annual report, Revolut reported net profit of $1 billion (790 million) in 2024. The company also launched a crypto exchange, Revolut X, part of its Wealth division, which saw revenue rise 298% to $647 million in 2024 from just $158 million in 2023.

The company has grand ambitions, aiming to reach 100 million customers by mid-2027, and enter over 30 new markets by 2030.

This milestone reflects the remarkable progress we have made in the last twelve months towards our vision of building the first truly global bank, serving 100 million customers across 100 countries, Nik Storonsky, CEO and co-founder of Revolut, said in a statement.
Timber Creek Capital Management LLC decreased its stake in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report) by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 34,785 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,947 shares during the quarter. Timber Creek Capital Management LLCs holdings in Novartis were worth $4,095,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Novartis in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. GFG Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Novartis in the second quarter worth about $26,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in Novartis during the second quarter worth about $30,000. Barrett & Company Inc. purchased a new stake in Novartis during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, MCF Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Novartis by 66.0% in the 2nd quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 264 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.12% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NVS has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley upgraded Novartis from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Bank of America upgraded Novartis from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday. Cfra Research upgraded shares of Novartis to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a sell rating and issued a $118.00 target price (down from $119.00) on shares of Novartis in a report on Friday, September 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Novartis currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $122.33.

Novartis Stock Down 0.5%

Novartis stock opened at $126.61 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $267.45 billion, a PE ratio of 17.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.88. Novartis AG has a fifty-two week low of $96.06 and a fifty-two week high of $134.00. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $127.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $122.09.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $2.25 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.26 by ($0.01). Novartis had a return on equity of 41.21% and a net margin of 26.49%.The firm had revenue of $13.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.70 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.06 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Novartis AG will post 8.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Novartis Profile

(Free Report)

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.

Further Reading

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Qnity Electronics (NYSE:Q  Get Free Report) had its price target decreased by investment analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada from $120.00 to $110.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the premier technology solutions leaders stock. Royal Bank Of Canadas price target would suggest a potential upside of 42.38% from the stocks current price.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Zacks Research raised Qnity Electronics to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Mizuho cut their target price on shares of Qnity Electronics from $110.00 to $100.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of Qnity Electronics in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. They issued an outperform rating and a $110.00 price target on the stock. New Street Research set a $110.00 price objective on Qnity Electronics in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Qnity Electronics in a report on Monday. They set a buy rating and a $92.00 target price on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $104.40.

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View Our Latest Research Report on Q

Qnity Electronics Trading Up 5.1%

Shares of NYSE Q traded up $3.72 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $77.26. The company had a trading volume of 623,377 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,187,553. Qnity Electronics has a twelve month low of $70.50 and a twelve month high of $105.40.

Qnity Electronics (NYSE:Q  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 18th. The premier technology solutions leader reported $1.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.32. The company had revenue of $1.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.23 billion.

Insider Buying and Selling at Qnity Electronics

In other news, Director Anne P. Noonan acquired 3,240 shares of Qnity Electronics stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 21st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $77.30 per share, with a total value of $250,452.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 3,240 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $250,452. This represents a ? increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink.

About Qnity Electronics

(Get Free Report)

Qnity Electronics Inc is a premier technology solution provider across the semiconductor value chain. Qnity Electronics Inc is based in WILMINGTON, Del.

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Shares of Kingfisher PLC (OTCMKTS:KGFHY  Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $7.67, but opened at $8.13. Kingfisher shares last traded at $8.17, with a volume of 11,576 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on KGFHY. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of Kingfisher from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, August 26th. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Kingfisher in a research report on Monday, July 28th. They set a neutral rating for the company. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised Kingfisher from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Reduce.

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Check Out Our Latest Report on Kingfisher

Kingfisher Price Performance

Kingfisher Cuts Dividend

The companys 50 day moving average is $7.89 and its 200 day moving average is $7.61.

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 19th. Investors of record on Monday, October 13th were issued a dividend of $0.0908 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 10th. This represents a dividend yield of 369.0%.

About Kingfisher

(Get Free Report)

Kingfisher plc, together with its subsidiaries, supplies home improvement products and services primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and internationally. It also operates retail stores under the B&Q, Castorama, Brico Depot, Screwfix, TradePoint, and Koctas brands. The company sells its products through stores and e-commerce channels.

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TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. increased its position in shares of The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 234.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,951 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,367 shares during the quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc.s holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $178,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SCHW. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 151,182,081 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $13,793,853,000 after acquiring an additional 2,786,829 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in Charles Schwab by 12.3% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 82,048,984 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,422,795,000 after acquiring an additional 8,954,248 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 37,381,183 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,399,181,000 after purchasing an additional 1,038,376 shares in the last quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 35.9% during the 2nd quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 19,034,806 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,736,736,000 after acquiring an additional 5,032,728 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 10.8% during the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 17,440,301 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,365,227,000 after purchasing an additional 1,700,384 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.38% of the companys stock.

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Charles Schwab Stock Up 0.0%

Charles Schwab stock opened at $90.52 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a 1-year low of $65.88 and a 1-year high of $99.59. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $93.85 and a 200 day simple moving average of $92.85. The company has a market cap of $160.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.02.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $6.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.93 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 21.26% and a net margin of 35.93%.Charles Schwabs revenue was up 26.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.71 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 28th. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th will be paid a $0.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 14th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 25.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $130.00 to $139.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $114.00 price objective on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Friday, October 17th. Bank of America increased their target price on Charles Schwab from $84.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and issued a $110.00 price target on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their target price on Charles Schwab from $112.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $106.45.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Charles Schwab

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Charles Schwab news, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 50,016 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.00, for a total transaction of $4,851,552.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Paul V. Woolway sold 3,205 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.33, for a total transaction of $299,122.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 34,778 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,245,830.74. This trade represents a 8.44% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 68,938 shares of company stock worth $6,671,953. Insiders own 6.30% of the companys stock.

About Charles Schwab

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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COPT Defense Properties (NYSE:CDP  Get Free Report) had its price target raised by equities research analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $30.00 to $33.00 in a report issued on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an overweight rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Companys price objective suggests a potential upside of 6.90% from the companys previous close.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on COPT Defense Properties in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. They set an overweight rating and a $35.00 price objective on the stock. Evercore ISI lowered their price target on COPT Defense Properties from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 29th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of COPT Defense Properties in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on COPT Defense Properties from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on COPT Defense Properties from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 17th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, COPT Defense Properties presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $34.13.

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COPT Defense Properties Trading Up 1.3%

NYSE:CDP traded up $0.39 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $30.87. The stock had a trading volume of 268,462 shares, compared to its average volume of 936,071. The businesss 50 day moving average is $28.87 and its 200-day moving average is $28.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 2.96 and a current ratio of 2.96. The company has a market cap of $3.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.12 and a beta of 0.93. COPT Defense Properties has a one year low of $23.92 and a one year high of $33.49.

COPT Defense Properties (NYSE:CDP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $188.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $187.63 million. COPT Defense Properties had a net margin of 19.23% and a return on equity of 9.38%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.65 earnings per share. COPT Defense Properties has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.690-2.710 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 0.670-0.690 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that COPT Defense Properties will post 2.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Lisa G. Trimberger sold 4,896 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.72, for a total value of $150,405.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 20,287 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $623,216.64. This trade represents a 19.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.42% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On COPT Defense Properties

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. bought a new stake in COPT Defense Properties during the third quarter worth about $353,000. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co raised its stake in shares of COPT Defense Properties by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 262,044 shares of the companys stock worth $7,641,000 after purchasing an additional 12,517 shares in the last quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP boosted its holdings in shares of COPT Defense Properties by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 211,410 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,144,000 after buying an additional 14,091 shares during the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd grew its stake in shares of COPT Defense Properties by 28.8% in the third quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 35,052 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,019,000 after buying an additional 7,839 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV bought a new position in shares of COPT Defense Properties in the third quarter valued at $212,000.

COPT Defense Properties Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

COPT Defense Properties is a real estate investment trust. It acquires, develops, manages, sells, and leases out office properties and data centers. The firm operates through the following segments: Defense/Information Technology Locations, Regional Office, Wholesale Data Center, and Other. The company was founded on January 22,1988 and is headquartered in Columbia, MD.

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The Hartford Insurance Group (NYSE:HIG  Get Free Report) had its price target raised by Argus from $143.00 to $155.00 in a research note issued on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the insurance providers stock. Argus target price suggests a potential upside of 12.10% from the companys current price.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on HIG. Royal Bank Of Canada started coverage on The Hartford Insurance Group in a research report on Tuesday. They set a sector perform rating and a $145.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group from $147.00 to $140.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued an overweight rating and a $152.00 price objective on the stock. Evercore ISI increased their target price on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group from $133.00 to $137.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Finally, Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $140.00 price target (up previously from $135.00) on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group in a report on Friday, August 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, The Hartford Insurance Group has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $143.13.

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The Hartford Insurance Group Stock Performance

Shares of The Hartford Insurance Group stock traded up $1.63 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $138.27. 219,303 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,590,323. The Hartford Insurance Group has a 12 month low of $104.93 and a 12 month high of $138.64. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $129.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of $128.38. The company has a market capitalization of $38.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.32.

The Hartford Insurance Group (NYSE:HIG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 27th. The insurance provider reported $3.78 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.02 by $0.76. The company had revenue of $1.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.17 billion. The Hartford Insurance Group had a return on equity of 21.07% and a net margin of 12.75%.The Hartford Insurance Groups revenue was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.53 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that The Hartford Insurance Group will post 11.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Donald Christian Hunt sold 2,124 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.87, for a total value of $284,339.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Lori A. Rodden sold 7,841 shares of The Hartford Insurance Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.41, for a total transaction of $959,816.81. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 18,400 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,252,344. This represents a 29.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of The Hartford Insurance Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its stake in The Hartford Insurance Group by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 7,253 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $967,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the period. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of The Hartford Insurance Group in the third quarter worth about $5,336,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of The Hartford Insurance Group in the third quarter worth about $29,000. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its position in shares of The Hartford Insurance Group by 2.0% in the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 24,884 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $3,319,000 after acquiring an additional 499 shares during the period. Finally, Coldstream Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in The Hartford Insurance Group by 6.6% during the third quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 8,239 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,099,000 after acquiring an additional 507 shares in the last quarter. 93.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

The Hartford Insurance Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, accident, health, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers.

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Hexcel Corporation (NYSE:HXL  Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $74.48 and last traded at $74.0350, with a volume of 161184 shares. The stock had previously closed at $72.93.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

HXL has been the topic of several analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a hold rating and set a $65.00 target price on shares of Hexcel in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Hexcel from $67.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Morgan Stanley set a $67.00 price objective on Hexcel and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Citigroup reaffirmed a reduce rating on shares of Hexcel in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on Hexcel from $70.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Hexcel presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $73.33.

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Hexcel Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a current ratio of 2.75. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $66.57 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $61.35. The company has a market capitalization of $5.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 88.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.35.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The aerospace company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.38 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $456.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $449.99 million. Hexcel had a return on equity of 9.25% and a net margin of 3.67%.The firms revenue for the quarter was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.47 EPS. Hexcel has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.700-1.800 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Hexcel Corporation will post 2.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hexcel Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 3rd were paid a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 3rd. Hexcels dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 80.00%.

Insider Transactions at Hexcel

In related news, EVP Patrick Winterlich sold 3,413 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.34, for a total value of $250,309.42. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 40,357 shares in the company, valued at $2,959,782.38. This represents a 7.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Lyndon John Smith sold 2,077 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, October 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.02, for a total value of $151,662.54. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 8,426 shares in the company, valued at $615,266.52. This represents a 19.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 15,298 shares of company stock valued at $1,029,349. 1.39% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in HXL. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its position in Hexcel by 32.4% during the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 57,266 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $3,136,000 after purchasing an additional 14,002 shares during the last quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Hexcel by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 817,388 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $44,760,000 after buying an additional 22,396 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of Hexcel by 32.4% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 3,314,702 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $181,514,000 after buying an additional 812,026 shares in the last quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D increased its holdings in Hexcel by 16.7% during the second quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 36,171 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,043,000 after buying an additional 5,179 shares during the last quarter. Finally, DAVENPORT & Co LLC raised its position in Hexcel by 1.2% during the second quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 541,899 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $30,834,000 after acquiring an additional 6,167 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.47% of the companys stock.

About Hexcel

(Get Free Report)

Hexcel Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets carbon fibers, structural reinforcements, honeycomb structures, resins, and composite materials and parts for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications. It operates through two segments, Composite Materials and Engineered Products.

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BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB.TO) (TSE:ZWB  Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as C$23.89 and last traded at C$23.86, with a volume of 29143 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$23.72.

BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB.TO) Stock Performance

The firm has a 50-day moving average of C$23.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$21.69.

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BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB.TO) Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 4th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 4th were issued a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 30th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.0%.

About BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB.TO)

The ETF seeks to provide exposure to the performance of a portfolio of Canadian banks to generate income and to provide long-term capital appreciation while mitigating downside risk through the use of covered call options. To achieve investment objective the ETF will primarily invest in and hold the securities of Canadian banks, ETFs, or a combination of these.

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Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS  Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading on Tuesday. Stock investors purchased 105,358 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 525% compared to the typical volume of 16,865 call options.

Analyst Ratings Changes

LVS has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Argus boosted their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $60.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 23rd. Macquarie raised their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $59.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Susquehanna increased their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Las Vegas Sands from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, September 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $64.60.

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Las Vegas Sands Trading Up 2.6%

Shares of NYSE:LVS traded up $1.74 on Tuesday, hitting $67.41. The company had a trading volume of 2,014,075 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,611,608. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $56.76 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $51.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $45.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.49, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.42. Las Vegas Sands has a 1 year low of $30.18 and a 1 year high of $68.15.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The casino operator reported $0.78 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.16. Las Vegas Sands had a return on equity of 73.14% and a net margin of 12.69%.The firm had revenue of $3.33 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.04 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.44 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 24.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Las Vegas Sands will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Las Vegas Sands Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 12th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 4th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 4th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.5%. Las Vegas Sandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.25%.

Insider Transactions at Las Vegas Sands

In other news, CEO Robert G. Goldstein sold 700,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.88, for a total transaction of $41,216,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP D. Zachary Hudson sold 100,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total value of $6,499,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 13,735 shares of the companys stock, valued at $892,637.65. The trade was a 87.92% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 2,100,000 shares of company stock valued at $126,218,200 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Las Vegas Sands

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Las Vegas Sands by 4.4% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 43,072,014 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,874,063,000 after acquiring an additional 1,822,806 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 3.9% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 15,722,816 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $607,373,000 after purchasing an additional 592,321 shares during the last quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP boosted its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 36.8% in the 2nd quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP now owns 10,040,975 shares of the casino operators stock worth $436,883,000 after purchasing an additional 2,698,398 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 4.9% in the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 9,902,619 shares of the casino operators stock worth $430,863,000 after buying an additional 459,821 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Las Vegas Sands by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,823,966 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $382,294,000 after buying an additional 31,153 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 39.16% of the companys stock.

About Las Vegas Sands

(Get Free Report)

Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the Peoples Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

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Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) had its price objective hoisted by equities research analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from C$173.00 to C$181.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has a hold rating on the banks stock. Jefferies Financial Groups target price suggests a potential upside of 3.75% from the companys previous close.

A number of other research firms have also recently commented on BMO. TD Securities upped their price objective on Bank of Montreal from C$170.00 to C$182.00 in a report on Monday, November 10th. Desjardins lifted their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$156.00 to C$165.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 27th. Cibc World Mkts raised Bank of Montreal from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, September 5th. National Bankshares cut Bank of Montreal from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and increased their price target for the stock from C$173.00 to C$181.00 in a report on Monday, November 17th. Finally, CIBC raised their price objective on Bank of Montreal from C$180.00 to C$192.00 in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Bank of Montreal presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$173.54.

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Bank of Montreal Price Performance

Insider Buying and Selling

Shares of BMO traded up C$1.86 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching C$174.46. The stock had a trading volume of 943,489 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,786,058. Bank of Montreal has a 52-week low of C$121.31 and a 52-week high of C$182.90. The firm has a market cap of C$124.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.29, a P/E/G ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.38. The businesss fifty day moving average is C$176.58 and its 200 day moving average is C$161.96.

In other Bank of Montreal news, insider Alan Tannenbaum sold 9,824 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$175.12, for a total value of C$1,720,408.35. Also, insider Steven Lloyd Tennyson sold 9,072 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$163.89, for a total transaction of C$1,486,782.86. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 21,866 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately C$3,583,553.14. This trade represents a 29.32% decrease in their position. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 35,883 shares of company stock worth $5,989,740. 0.03% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Bank of Montreal

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Bank of Montreal is a diversified financial-services provider based in North America, operating four business segments: Canadian personal and commercial banking, U.S. P&C banking, wealth management, and capital markets.

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United States President Donald Trump cautioned against believing in any significant progress on the peace talks regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict for now, but stressed that "something good just may be happening", Azernews reports.

"Is it really possible that big progress is being made in the Pecae Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Don't believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening," he wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday.

Yesterday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the "tremendous amount of progress" and "probably the most productive and meaningful meeting so far" regarding Ukraine peace efforts, but added that there was "still some work to be done" before a final agreement could be put to Russia.
Investment management company First Pacific Advisors recently released its FPA Queens Road Small Cap Value Fund third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the third quarter, the fund returned 7.46% compared to a 12.60% return for the Russell 2000 Value Index. In the first three quarters of 2025, the Fund returned 13.77%, compared to 9.04% for the index. As the firms focus is on a diligent, disciplined, and patient process, it expects the fund to outperform in down markets and trail in speculative markets. Additionally, you can check the funds top 5 holdings to determine its best picks for 2025.

In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, the FPA Queens Road Small Cap Value Fund highlighted stocks such as RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI). RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) is an insurance holding company. The one-month return of RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) was 7.17%, and its shares lost 29.74% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On November 24, 2025, RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) stock closed at $63.55 per share, with a market capitalization of $5.836 billion.

FPA Queens Road Small Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:

"RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) as of the end is a specialty property and casualty insurer. The company is extremely selective in writing business. Its diversified lines include niche-y areas such as public and school busses, Hawaii homeowners unique culture, incentive structures and willingness to walk away from unprofitable business have, and surety. RLIs historically to exceptional financial performance. From 2015 through 2024, the companys combined ratio has averaged led 89.3% and its ROE has averaged 16.6% despite being weighed down by excess capital. We have owned RLI since 2011 and the stock usually commands a premium valuation  roughly 20x this years earnings."

A Closer Look at RLI Corp (RLI), a Quiet Dividend Grower

RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 29 hedge fund portfolios held RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) at the end of the second quarter, compared to 32 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

In another article, we covered RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) and shared LRT Global Opportunities Strategy's views on the company. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q3 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.
Shares of Botswana Diamonds plc (LON:BOD  Get Free Report) dropped 8% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 0.23 and last traded at GBX 0.23. Approximately 3,018,301 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 13% from the average daily volume of 2,668,978 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.25.

Botswana Diamonds Stock Down 8.0%

The company has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 0.27 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 0.26. The stock has a market cap of 2.76 million, a PE ratio of -4.60 and a beta of 0.80.

Botswana Diamonds Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Botswana Diamonds plc explores for and develops diamond properties in Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The company's flagship property is the Thorny River/Marsfontein property located in South Africa. It also explores primarily in the Kalahari region of Botswana. Botswana Diamonds plc was formerly known as Botswana Exploration plc and changed its name to Botswana Diamonds plc in October 2010.

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Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE:NBR  Get Free Report) traded up 8.3% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $49.99 and last traded at $50.4330. 263,593 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 42% from the average session volume of 457,717 shares. The stock had previously closed at $46.55.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NBR has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Piper Sandler restated an underweight rating and issued a $32.00 price objective (up from $30.00) on shares of Nabors Industries in a report on Thursday, August 14th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Nabors Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, November 16th. Susquehanna reiterated a neutral rating and set a $56.00 target price on shares of Nabors Industries in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Nabors Industries in a report on Monday. Finally, Barclays restated an underweight rating and issued a $45.00 target price (up from $36.00) on shares of Nabors Industries in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Nabors Industries presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $48.14.

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Nabors Industries Stock Up 7.6%

The businesss 50 day moving average price is $44.62 and its 200-day moving average price is $36.87. The company has a market cap of $729.58 million, a P/E ratio of 5.19 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.50, a current ratio of 2.09 and a quick ratio of 1.63.

Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The oil and gas company reported ($3.67) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($2.37) by ($1.30). Nabors Industries had a negative return on equity of 30.85% and a net margin of 7.08%.The company had revenue of $818.19 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $824.61 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($6.86) earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Nabors Industries Ltd. will post -6.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Nabors Industries

In related news, major shareholder Varde Partners Inc sold 312,378 shares of Nabors Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.04, for a total transaction of $12,819,993.12. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 1,406,052 shares in the company, valued at $57,704,374.08. This trade represents a 18.18% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 5.41% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nabors Industries

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CWM LLC raised its position in shares of Nabors Industries by 244.6% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 889 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 631 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Nabors Industries by 3,866.7% in the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 1,309 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 1,276 shares during the period. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. grew its position in shares of Nabors Industries by 58.5% in the 2nd quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. now owns 1,444 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 533 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio grew its position in Nabors Industries by 23.0% during the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 1,545 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $63,000 after purchasing an additional 289 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming raised its holdings in shares of Nabors Industries by 20.5% during the first quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 2,941 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $123,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. 81.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Nabors Industries

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Nabors Industries Ltd. provides drilling and drilling-related services for land-based and offshore oil and natural gas wells in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: U.S. Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. It provides tubular running services, including casing and tubing running, and torque monitoring; managed pressure drilling services; and drilling-bit steering systems and rig instrumentation software.

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UWM Holdings Corporation (NYSE:UWMC  Get Free Report) shares traded up 9% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $5.73 and last traded at $5.7250. 7,961,619 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 16% from the average session volume of 6,868,871 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.25.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on UWMC shares. BTIG Research reissued a buy rating and set a $10.00 price target on shares of UWM in a research report on Monday, September 22nd. Morgan Stanley cut shares of UWM from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their target price for the company from $4.50 to $6.50 in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of UWM from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Saturday, November 15th. UBS Group upped their price target on UWM from $5.50 to $6.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d+) rating on shares of UWM in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $6.54.

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UWM Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.85. The company has a market cap of $9.16 billion, a PE ratio of -114.46 and a beta of 1.79. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $5.68 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5.02.

UWM (NYSE:UWMC  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.07 by ($0.06). UWM had a negative return on equity of 5.56% and a net margin of 0.48%.The company had revenue of $151.14 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $651.51 million. As a group, research analysts anticipate that UWM Holdings Corporation will post 0.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UWM Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.0%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 18th.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Ishbia Mat sold 596,356 shares of UWM stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.23, for a total transaction of $3,715,297.88. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 3,723,292 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,196,109.16. The trade was a 13.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders sold 20,690,952 shares of company stock valued at $119,490,334 in the last three months. Company insiders own 87.50% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UWM

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of UWMC. Alpine Global Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UWM in the 3rd quarter valued at $709,000. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new position in UWM during the third quarter valued at $38,000. Integrated Investment Consultants LLC acquired a new position in UWM during the third quarter valued at $32,630,000. PDT Partners LLC boosted its holdings in UWM by 134.6% in the third quarter. PDT Partners LLC now owns 442,418 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,694,000 after purchasing an additional 253,806 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alyeska Investment Group L.P. grew its position in UWM by 17.8% during the 3rd quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 1,655,790 shares of the companys stock worth $10,084,000 after purchasing an additional 250,000 shares during the period. 53.59% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UWM Company Profile

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UWM Holdings Corporation engages in the residential mortgage lending business in the United States. The company offers mortgage loans through wholesale channel. It originates primarily conforming and government loans. UWM Holdings Corporation was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Pontiac, Michigan.

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BBVA Banco Frances (NYSE:BBAR  Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The bank reported $0.13 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.20 by ($0.07), Zacks reports. BBVA Banco Frances had a return on equity of 10.24% and a net margin of 6.65%.

BBVA Banco Frances Trading Up 2.9%

BBAR stock traded up $0.41 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $14.40. The company had a trading volume of 1,027,127 shares, compared to its average volume of 961,797. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.75 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. BBVA Banco Frances has a 52-week low of $7.76 and a 52-week high of $25.01. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $11.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $14.73.

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BBVA Banco Frances Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 21st will be paid a $0.033 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 21st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 2.8%. This is a boost from BBVA Banco Francess previous monthly dividend of $0.03. BBVA Banco Francess payout ratio is 29.10%.

Institutional Trading of BBVA Banco Frances

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in BBVA Banco Frances in the third quarter worth approximately $109,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its holdings in shares of BBVA Banco Frances by 123.3% in the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 15,301 shares of the banks stock worth $252,000 after buying an additional 8,450 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of BBVA Banco Frances by 66.2% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 24,523 shares of the banks stock worth $444,000 after buying an additional 9,764 shares in the last quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of BBVA Banco Frances in the third quarter valued at about $241,000. Finally, Voleon Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in BBVA Banco Frances in the third quarter worth about $331,000.

A number of brokerages have recently commented on BBAR. Hsbc Global Res upgraded BBVA Banco Frances to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 1st. HSBC upgraded shares of BBVA Banco Frances from a hold rating to a buy rating and cut their price objective for the company from $21.00 to $17.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Zacks Research upgraded shares of BBVA Banco Frances from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Citigroup raised shares of BBVA Banco Frances from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of BBVA Banco Frances in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, BBVA Banco Frances presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $20.00.

Read Our Latest Analysis on BBAR

BBVA Banco Frances Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Banco BBVA Argentina SA provides various banking products and services to individuals and companies in Argentina. The company provides retail banking products and services, such as checking and savings accounts, time deposits, credit cards financing, consumer and pledge loans, mortgages, insurance, and investment products to individuals; and small and medium-sized companies products and services, including financing products, factoring, checking accounts, time deposits, transactional and payroll services, insurance, and investment products to private-sector companies.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Get Free Report) VP Christopher Mead sold 1,250 shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.74, for a total transaction of $313,425.00. Following the sale, the vice president owned 17,327 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,344,571.98. This trade represents a 6.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Trading Up 0.9%

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock traded up $2.22 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $250.43. The companys stock had a trading volume of 965,643 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,558,433. The stocks fifty day moving average is $279.56 and its 200 day moving average is $301.23. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a 1-year low of $239.47 and a 1-year high of $351.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $64.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.57 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.36 and a current ratio of 1.36.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.51 by ($0.19). Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a return on equity of 13.17% and a net margin of 14.54%.The company had revenue of $3.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.34 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.26 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 20.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 11.54 EPS for the current year.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Announces Dividend

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 5th will be paid a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 5th. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s payout ratio is currently 38.86%.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $296,000. Manhattan West Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $2,113,000. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the third quarter worth approximately $10,953,000. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 1.3% in the third quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 13,892 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,303,000 after buying an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Danske Bank A S acquired a new stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the third quarter valued at $47,071,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.53% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently issued reports on AJG. Barclays downgraded shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $328.00 to $250.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $370.00 to $353.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $365.00 to $366.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Wolfe Research began coverage on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a report on Thursday, November 20th. They issued an outperform rating and a $291.00 price target for the company. Finally, UBS Group raised their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $322.00 to $329.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, September 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $316.33.

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About Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co engages in the provision of insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party claims settlement and administration services. It operates through the following segments: Brokerage, Risk Management, and Corporate. The Brokerage segment consists of retail and wholesale insurance brokerage operations.

Further Reading

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Shares of NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR  Get Free Report) fell 6.2% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $18.20 and last traded at $18.6990. 21,343,484 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 46% from the average session volume of 14,626,645 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.94.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on SMR. Bank of America restated an underperform rating and set a $34.00 price objective (down previously from $38.00) on shares of NuScale Power in a report on Tuesday, September 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on shares of NuScale Power in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. They issued an overweight rating and a $55.00 target price for the company. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price objective on NuScale Power from $44.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 3rd. Wall Street Zen cut shares of NuScale Power from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Finally, Barclays initiated coverage on NuScale Power in a research note on Monday, September 29th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $45.00 price objective for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and six have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, NuScale Power has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $36.12.

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NuScale Power Trading Down 6.2%

The stock has a market capitalization of $5.58 billion, a P/E ratio of -6.54 and a beta of 2.03. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $36.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $36.66.

NuScale Power (NYSE:SMR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported ($1.85) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.11) by ($1.74). The business had revenue of $8.24 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.29 million. NuScale Power had a negative net margin of 594.63% and a negative return on equity of 51.27%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1635.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($0.18) EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that NuScale Power Corporation will post -0.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Corp Fluor sold 2,372,563 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, September 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.99, for a total value of $104,369,046.37. Following the sale, the director owned 10,085,344 shares in the company, valued at approximately $443,654,282.56. This trade represents a 19.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 15,030,641 shares of company stock valued at $605,953,415. 1.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NuScale Power

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Harbour Investments Inc. raised its holdings in NuScale Power by 21.3% in the second quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 1,156 shares of the companys stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 203 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its position in NuScale Power by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 20,822 shares of the companys stock valued at $824,000 after acquiring an additional 212 shares in the last quarter. Pasadena Private Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of NuScale Power by 4.9% during the third quarter. Pasadena Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,147 shares of the companys stock valued at $221,000 after buying an additional 287 shares during the last quarter. Family Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of NuScale Power by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Family Capital Management Inc. now owns 8,682 shares of the companys stock valued at $313,000 after acquiring an additional 291 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. grew its position in NuScale Power by 3.8% in the 3rd quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 9,000 shares of the companys stock worth $324,000 after purchasing an additional 329 shares during the period. 78.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About NuScale Power

(Get Free Report)

NuScale Power Corporation engages in the development and sale of modular light water reactor nuclear power plants to supply energy for electrical generation, district heating, desalination, hydrogen production, and other process heat applications. It offers NuScale Power Module (NPM), a water reactor that can generate 77 megawatts of electricity (MWe); and VOYGR power plant designs for three facility sizes that are capable of housing from one to four and six or twelve NPMs.

Further Reading

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A Bill to rename Dublin airport after former taoiseach Sean Lemass is to be introduced in the Dail on Tuesday.

Put forward by Fianna Fails Malcom Byrne, it seeks to have the airport named Sean Lemass Dublin International Airport.

The TD for South Wicklow and North Wexford said in a statement the move was to recognise Mr Lemasss transformative contribution to modern Ireland.

He said: Dublin Airport is Irelands gateway to the world. It should bear the name of a leader who helped open that gateway in the first place.

Sean Lemass oversaw the development of our aviation sector, championed national infrastructure, and laid the foundations for the open, outward-looking Ireland we know today.

A veteran of the 1916 rising, Civil War and War of Independence, the Fianna Fail politician represented constituencies in South Dublin for more than forty years.

He served as taoiseach between 1959 and 1966 and is recognised as opening Ireland to foreign trade in the 1950s and leading the country in its efforts to join the European Economic Community (EEC), a precursor to the European Union.

Mr Byrne has pointed to a number of other international airports named after high-profile leaders including: Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport in France, John F Kennedy International Airport in New York and Montreal Trudeau International Airport in Canada.

He added: Lemass stood for progress, ambition, and opportunity. Renaming the airport in his honour would reflect both our pride in his legacy and our confidence in Irelands future.
Gardai in Portlaoise investigating the murder of William Delaney, who went missing on Wednesday January 30, 2019, have released the three people (two women and a man) who were arrested on Monday 24th November 2025, in connection with this investigation.

The two women (aged in their 30s and 50s) and the man (aged in his 30s) were all released without charge and investigations are ongoing.

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Gardai continue to appeal to the community and would like to thank them for their assistance so far, however Gardai believe that people in the community have information and have not yet come forward.

An Garda Siochana, are appealing for information on the murder of William Delaney and any persons with any information are asked to contact Gardai at Portlaoise on 057-8674100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

William Delaney, was aged 56, when he went missing on Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

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He was a Tipperary native who lived in Fielbrook, Portlaoise where he had a large family. On the morning of 30th January, 2019 William left Portlaoise General Hospital where he had been a patient. Gardai have established that William collected his welfare payment at Portlaoise Post Office after leaving the hospital.

William was last seen at approximately 3pm on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 30, 2019 in Monasterevin, Co. Kildare where he called to visit a relative who lived in the area. The relation wasnt at home but William was seen outside the premises which is situated on the old Cork-Dublin Road directly opposite a local landmark known as the Hazel Hotel.

William was then reported missing by his family on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.

In June 2019, Gardai received information that William Delaney had been killed and that his body had been buried at a location in Laois. Gardai said a comprehensive search was conducted in the area surrounding the Rock of Dunamase but no remains were discovered. Arrests were made at the time, but nobody was charged.

READ NEXT: More people will have ' Access to Cash' once new law is signed into legislation today

Another search was carried out in bogland at Kyletalesha in August 2023 off the N80 on the Portlaoise to Mountmellick Road near the Laois County Council Kyletalesha landfill.

An Garda Siochana, are appealing for information on the murder of William Delaney and any persons with any information are asked to contact Gardai at Portlaoise on 057-8674100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been cleared of harassing a transgender activist on social media but found guilty of criminal damage of their mobile phone outside a conference in London last year.

The 57-year-old flew in from Arizona to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court in person on Tuesday where judgment was delivered by District Judge Briony Clarke.

Linehan denied harassing Sophia Brooks on social media between October 11 and October 27 last year, and a charge of criminal damage of their mobile phone on October 19 last year outside the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster.

Reading a summary of her judgment, the judge said she was not satisfied that Linehans conduct amounted to harassment or that the complainant was as distressed as they made themselves out to be.

In one video of Brooks confronting Linehan, the judge said that the activist looked visibly happy and not distressed.

She said that Linehan had not tagged the activist in his social media posts, bar one, and that while his comments were deeply unpleasant, insulting and even unnecessary, they were not oppressive or unacceptable beyond merely unattractive, annoying or irritating.

But the judge found that Linehan had taken Brooks phone because he was angry and fed up, and had damaged it by knocking it to the ground.

She said that while the offence was not aggravated by the fact the complainant is transgender, it was because they were 17 years old at the time.

Speaking outside court, Linehan said: The judge found me and the women who gave evidence on my behalf to be credible, honest witnesses, and said that my actions were not criminal and did not constitute harassment.

The judge commented that the complainant, a well-known trans activist, was not truthful.

There are a group of dangerous men who are determined to bully women and girls, and to misuse the courts and police in furtherance of a misogynistic agenda.

Im proud to have stood up to them and I will continue to do so.

He went on: We have a phrase: punishment is a process, and they like to put people through these kinds of experiences, to make them frightened about standing up to them.

But Im hoping that with this judgment, you know, people in future wont be subject to those kind of tactics.

Linehan was fined 500 and ordered to pay costs of 650 and a surcharge of 200 for criminal damage.

His lawyer Sarah Vine KC said that they intend to apply for permission to appeal against the conviction.

The trial heard that Brooks had begun taking photographs of delegates at the event during a speech by Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at Sex Matters.

Outside the event, the activist asked Linehan: Why do you think it is acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists?

In response, the court heard that Linehan had called Brooks a sissy porn-watching scumbag, a groomer and a disgusting incel, with the complainant responding: Youre the incel, youre divorced.

Prosecutor Julia Faure Walker told the court that Linehan had written repeated, abusive, unreasonable social media posts about Brooks, who he referred to as Tarquin.

The comedy writer, who has well-publicised strong views on gender issues, said his life was made hell by trans activists, adding that the complainant was a young soldier in the trans activist army.

The writer added: He was misogynistic, he was abusive, he was snide.

He depended on his anonymity to get close to people and hurt them, and I wanted to destroy that anonymity.

After Linehan was convicted of criminal damage, Ms Vine told the court: The costs to him have been enormous.

The offence of which he has been convicted was, as youve found, a momentary lapse of control.

It was the culmination of circumstances where the complainants conduct, either in respect of Mr Linehan or more widely, could not be described as beyond reproach.

She added: The damage was minor. The process itself has been highly impactful on Mr Linehan.

The prosecution invited the court to consider making a restraining order but this was rejected.

District Judge Clarke said that Linehan was generally a credible witness, but that she had some concerns about the complainant, including that Brooks repeatedly used the phrase alarm or distress in evidence, which is a legal definition, and was reluctant to say how many X handles they used.

She told the court that her job was to deliver a verdict on the two charges against Linehan, and not on the wider public debate around gender issues.

It is not for this court to pick a side in any matter of public debate, District Judge Clarke said.

There is a continuing public debate about the rights of individuals and their sex and gender identity.

This court is not concerned with that debate and does not have to determine and nor should anything in this judgment be viewed as the court determining any issues in relation to it.
EPIC turnout for this meetup signals two things . . .

PLAZA RESIDENTS DON'T SEEM TO TRUST KCMO PLANS FOR EPIC ZONING CHANGES!!!

Even worse . . .

RESIDENTS DON'T SEEM CONFIDENT IN THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA!!!

And whilst skyscrapers are a concern . . .

The reality is that nearby homeowners are going to be EVEN MORE PANICKED when news starts sharing news about THE PUBLIC HOUSING COMPONENT OF THIS SCHEME . . .

Fore now, here are the basics . . .

As temperatures dropped outside, inside the Unity Temple was heating up as people questioned representatives of Gillon Property Group on their design plans for historic neighborhood.



Some of the renderings at the meeting showed buildings up to 200 feet tall, or up to 18 stories.



The main concerns discussed on Monday night were the height of the planned buildings and how high the cost of living increase.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

'Who's going to pay for this?' Neighbors bring concerns to company behind Plaza redesign plans Residents and neighbors filled an auditorium Monday night on the Country Club Plaza to share concerns about what the streets and buildings in the iconic district will look like in the future.

Kansas City residents raise concerns about future look of Country Club Plaza A new look could be coming to the Country Club Plaza as early as 2026. But not without the help of people in the area.

Developing . . .
The basics of this court verdict following a gunfire homicide in 2022 . . . Here are more deets and reporting:

"Joshua Rocha was sentenced to death by lethal injection on Monday after he was found guilty of murdering North Kansas City Police Officer Daniel Vasquez."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Judge sentences Joshua Rocha to death by lethal injection in shooting of NKC officer Daniel Vasquez A judge handed down the death penalty on Monday to the man convicted of killing North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez.

Joshua Rocha to die by lethal injection in killing of NKCPD Officer Vasquez Joshua Rocha was sentenced to death by lethal injection on Monday after he was found guilty of murdering North Kansas City Police Officer Daniel Vasquez.

Judge sentences Joshua Rocha to death in murder of North Kansas City police officer A man convicted in the 2022 murder of North Kansas City Police Ofc. Daniel Vasquez has been sentenced to death.

Developing . . .
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The OIC Cultural Festival: Baku Creative Week 2025, organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, will be held in Baku from December 5 through 11, Trend reports via Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture.

The festival, organized by the OIC in various member countries since 2019, aims to deepen cooperation in the field of culture and creative industries, develop mutual understanding and friendly relations between peoples.

The event, which will be hosted by Azerbaijan for the first time, will once again demonstrate Azerbaijan's growing role in the international cultural arena and its contribution to promoting the traditions of multiculturalism, dialogue, and cooperation in the region.

The main focus of the festival will be on developing intercultural dialogue and promoting Islamic values such as tolerance, peace, and respect for diversity. In addition, there are plans to promote joint projects in the fields of economics, education, science, and tourism, establish sustainable partnerships between participating countries, and strengthen the integration of creative industries into the global economy.

More than 300 guests from over 50 countries are expected to attend the event, including representatives of government bodies, international organizations, renowned figures from the worlds of science, culture, and the arts, as well as specialists from the creative industries. In total, more than 5,000 participants will gather for the festival.

The festival will include a high-level meeting of the ministers of culture of the OIC member states, the Forum of Cultural and Creative Industries (MYFORUM), the Creative Village: Cultural and Creative Industries exhibition (MYEXPO), the Baku Cinema Breeze  2025 international film program, the Eastern Fashion Show featuring presentations by young and renowned designers from OIC countries, the international gaming technology summit (G-HUB), as well as various cultural projects in the fields of theater, music, dance, and animation.

Detailed information about the event: https://week.creative.az
Members of Congress are legally allowed to trade stocks, but regulations exist to prevent conflicts of interest. In 2012, former President Barack Obama signed the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, which prohibits lawmakers from using non-public information to gain an unfair advantage in the market and requires them to disclose stock trades within 45 days. Critics, however, say the law is largely toothless  enforcement is weak and violations often result in nothing more than small fines (4).

I think sometimes what my colleagues and other people in the party don't understand, is that the insider trading that happens in Congress  it explodes the cynicism that fuels the right. It doesn't benefit us, said Ocasio-Cortez.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) famously told Jon Stewart that insider trading in Congress explodes the cynicism many Americans already feel toward Washington.

Burchett isnt the only one sounding the alarm. Lawmakers across the political spectrum have criticized stock trading on Capitol Hill.

When you see a member of this body making four, five, 600 trades a year, you know something's wrong, Burchett said. This is a scam that's being played on the American public and it needs to stop (2).

Unusual Whales is a financial data platform that tracks options flow and congressional trading activity. Its listings show that numerous lawmakers  Democrats and Republicans alike  have made hundreds of trades in recent years (3).

Everybody wants to knock Pelosi. Heck, she's not even in the top 10. Get on that Unusual Whale site  This is pathetic, folks, he said.

Burchett argued that Congress has been enriching itself on the taxpayers dime for too dadgum long, calling the entire system as crooked as a dogs leg. And while critics often single out former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her lucrative disclosures, Burchett said shes hardly the worst offender.

Everybody talks about this place being a dadgum swamp. It's not a swamp. A swamp is something cool God created. It filters water; animal life lives and flourishes around it, he said (2). This is a sewer. This is created by man and it needs to stop.

Approaching retirement with no savings? Dont panic, you're not alone. Here are 6 easy ways you can catch up (and fast)

Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake  heres what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP

Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100  and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how

Speaking at a press conference before a hearing on a proposal to ban stock trading for lawmakers, Burchett didnt mince words about what he sees in Washington (1).

Public frustration over members of Congress trading stocks has been building for years and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) says the answer is simple: shut it down.

Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.

Story Continues

The frustration voiced by both Burchett and Ocasio-Cortez reflects a broader distrust in the system. However, while everyday investors dont have the advantage of sitting in committee rooms or shaping legislation that can move markets, there are still ways to build wealth in America. Heres a look at three of them.

The best thing to do, according to Warren Buffett

Its no surprise that members of Congress gravitate toward stock trading  the U.S. stock market has created enormous wealth for investors. But picking individual stocks isnt easy and figuring out when to buy or sell can be just as tough.

The good news? You dont need to be a stock-picking expert  or have insider access  to benefit from the markets growth. Legendary investor Warren Buffett has long championed a remarkably simple but effective strategy: own an S&P 500 index fund.

In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund, Buffett has famously stated (5).

This approach gives investors exposure to 500 of Americas largest companies across a wide range of industries, providing instant diversification without the need for constant monitoring or active trading.

The beauty of this approach is its accessibility  anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Even small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns, a popular app that automatically invests your spare change.

Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes: link your cards and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference  your spare change  into a diversified portfolio.

With Acorns, you can invest in an S&P 500 ETF with as little as $5  and, if you sign up today, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.

Read more: Warren Buffett used 8 solid, repeatable money rules to turn $9,800 into a $150B fortune. Start using them today to get rich (and stay rich)

Build wealth through US real estate

Beyond stocks, real estate has long been another cornerstone of wealth-building in America.

In fact, Buffett often points to real estate when explaining what a productive, income-generating asset looks like. In 2022, Buffett stated that if you offered him 1% of all the apartment houses in the country for $25 billion, he would write you a check (6).

Why? Because regardless of whats happening in the broader economy, people still need a place to live and apartments can consistently produce rent money.

Real estate also offers a built-in hedge against inflation. When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts with inflation.

Of course, you dont need $25 billion  or even to buy a single property outright  to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Backed by world class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares youd like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

A timeless safe haven

Stocks and real estate can offer growth and income, but many prominent investors say every portfolio also needs a true safe haven  and for thousands of years, that role has belonged to gold.

Gold has long been a trusted store of value. It cant be printed by central banks like fiat money, making it a natural hedge against inflation and currency erosion. Its also widely viewed as the ultimate safe haven asset, not tied to any single country, currency or economy. When markets turn volatile or geopolitical tensions flare, investors often flock to it, driving prices higher.

Ray Dalio, founder of the worlds largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, told CNBC earlier this year that people don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio, adding that when bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.

Jeffrey Gundlach, founder of DoubleLine Capital and widely known as the Bond King, echoed that sentiment. He recently said that a 25% portfolio allocation to gold is not excessive, calling the metal an insurance policy thats likely to remain in a winning mode amid ongoing dollar weakness.

Over the past 12 months, gold prices have surged by more than 45%.

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.

To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.

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Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

C-SPAN (1); @CSPAN (2); Unusual Wales (3); Cornell University Blog (4); CNBC (5), 6)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. A delegation led by Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan, Anar Guliyev is participating in the 3rd session of the UN-Habitat Executive Board, held in Nairobi (UNON) on 2526 November 2025, a source in the committee told Trend.

The delegation comprises representatives from the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, the Administration of the President of Azerbaijan, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On the first day of the session, the delegates participated in discussions concerning UN-Habitats organizational, financial, programmatic, and administrative matters.

Additionally, within the framework of the meeting, the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Adequate Housing for All resolution delivered their statements.

Guliyev presented the position of the newly elected co-chairs from Azerbaijan and Somalia, with the co-chairing mandate granted to the countries in accordance with the decision adopted at the second session held in October 2025.

Emphasizing the working groups contribution to global housing policy, the committees head outlined the key directions that Azerbaijan and Somalia will pursue in the forthcoming period.

He also briefed on the outcomes of the second session, the work carried out, and the priorities for the next phase.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The fourth meeting of the Joint Economic, Trade, and Technical Commission between the governments of Azerbaijan and Qatar, and within its framework, the first meeting of the Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Business Council, was held in Doha on November 24-25, 2025, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations said in a statement, Trend reports.

The delegation, led by the Chairman of the Joint Commission from Azerbaijan and the Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov, visited Qatar to attend the events.

During the visit, several bilateral meetings were held.

On November 24, Heydarov met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The meeting emphasized that under the wise, consistent, and far-sighted policies of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, multifaceted relations between the two countries have been continuously expanding.

Besides, the meeting noted that there is great potential for the development of cooperation in many areas, including economic and trade relations.

Then, Heydarov met with the Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs and Co-Chair of the Joint Commission from Qatar, Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed. During the meeting, they expressed satisfaction with the current state of relations between the two countries, discussed opportunities for expanding economic and trade cooperation, and reviewed the work done in preparation for the 4th meeting of the Joint Economic, Trade, and Technical Commission.

The Azerbaijani minister also met with the Qatari Minister of Interior, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, on November 24. The meeting focused on the current state and future prospects of cooperation between the relevant agencies of both countries in the field of emergency management and the steps taken under the Agreement on Cooperation in the Management of Emergencies, signed in 2014. They also discussed the education received by Qatari officers at the Azerbaijan Ministry of Emergency Situations Academy in 2023 and reviewed the next steps in this area.

On the same day, Heydarov and Al-Sayed participated in the first meeting of the Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Business Council, held as part of the 4th meeting of the Joint Economic, Trade, and Technical Commission. In his speech, Heydarov noted that the political relations between the two countries, based on mutual trust, create favorable opportunities for expanding economic cooperation.

He emphasized that the Joint Business Council plays a crucial role as a dialogue platform, also highlighting the significant potential for increasing trade turnover, expanding investment volumes, and implementing new economic projects, particularly in sectors such as industry and logistics infrastructure, agricultural product processing, food security, green energy, and innovative technologies.

Heydarov mentioned that the favorable business and investment environment in Azerbaijan offers extensive opportunities for Qatari companies, especially in the restoration and infrastructure projects in the Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur economic regions, the formation of tourism clusters, and investment opportunities in agriculture.

Al-Sayed, in his speech, expressed satisfaction with the growing relationship between Azerbaijan and Qatar and affirmed that the meeting would positively impact the development of economic and trade relations.

The session, organized by the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was attended by officials and nearly 50 entrepreneurs from both countries. A broad exchange of views was conducted on the issues on the agenda, and proposals were made.

On November 25, the 4th meeting of the Joint Economic, Trade, and Technical Commission between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of the State of Qatar began its work.

In his address, Heydarov, co-chair of the Commission from Azerbaijan, thanked the Qatari side for their hospitality. He emphasized that the Azerbaijan-Qatar relationship has been steadily developing thanks to the political will of the leaders of both countries and their approach based on mutual respect.

Heydarov expressed confidence that this cooperation would further expand in political, economic, and humanitarian fields and that the current meeting of the Joint Commission would contribute to the further development of economic, trade, and other areas of cooperation.

He also discussed the activities of the Commission since the 3rd meeting, noting that during this period, identifying mutual interests in industries such as agriculture, logistics, and services has created favorable conditions for expanding practical cooperation.

The setup of the Azerbaijan Trade House in Qatar since 2022, along with the strengthening of ties between the business communities and the direct outreach between entrepreneurs, points to the potential for further growth in economic cooperation.

He also discussed the opportunities provided by the Alat Free Economic Zone, established by President Ilham Aliyev in 2021, and the promising cooperation in the non-oil sector, tourism, agribusiness, urban planning, infrastructure, and other sectors.

Al-Sayed expressed satisfaction with the current state of the growing relations between the two countries and emphasized the good opportunities for expanding cooperation in various economic sectors. He also spoke about the work of the Joint Commission.

The meeting provided an opportunity for members of the Commission to voice their ideas and proposals while also engaging in a wide-ranging discussion of topics of common interest.

At the end of the meeting, the "Protocol of the 4th Meeting of the Joint Economic, Trade, and Technical Commission between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of the State of Qatar" was signed. The protocol was signed by Heydarov and Al-Sayed.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Yelo Bank participated as an official partner in the IX International Banking Forum, held at the Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard on November 1920, 2025. This years forum focused on the theme Reliable, Secure and Sustainable Banking.



The event brought together representatives of local and international financial institutions to discuss innovative solutions in the banking sector, fintech development, digitalization, and advancements in the payment ecosystem.



In recognition of its active participation and partnership support, Yelo Bank was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Azerbaijan Banks Association.



The forum was organized in partnership with Mastercard and supported by the Azerbaijan Banks Association, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, and the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport.



Need more information about our banking services? Then call 981 or visit our Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, or yelo.az accounts.



Yelo Bank  Brighter Banking!
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The Baku Network expert platform rolled out the next part of the analytical video series "Dialogue with Tofig Abbasov", Trend reports.

This time, the project focused on the prospects of peaceful settlement and restoration of normal relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The guest of the program was Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor, and Full Member of the European Academy Karim Allahverdiyev is a scholar known not only for his fundamental research in laser physics, but also for his ability to analyze social and geopolitical processes rationally, without emotions or political distortions.

At the center of the discussion are the challenges that arise in the normalization of relations after the end of the war. Allahverdiyev emphasized that many of these obstacles are artificially created and fueled by nationalist political groups, primarily Dashnak structures. It is they who exert pressure not only on Armenias domestic politics but also on the Armenian diaspora worldwide, maintaining an atmosphere of confrontation.

The Dashnak party, although not formally in power, retains influence everywhere Armenians live. The methods are standard: intimidation, persuasion, buying loyalty. This has long gone beyond politics, he said.

Speaking about the prospects for a peaceful course, Allahverdiyev noted that Armenias ruling Civil Contract Party is trying to reduce the level of tension.

A separate part of the discussion focused on comparing levels of nationalism in regional countries. According to Allahverdiyevs observations, nationalist attitudes in Armenia run significantly deeper than in neighboring states.

This is not only an ideology - it's a model of behavior reinforced over decades, he said.

Despite the complexity of the political context, Allahverdiyev expressed confidence that the core of normalization will be direct human dialogue - not diplomatic formulas, but ordinary human contact, professional relations, and joint projects.

He also shared personal experience communicating with Armenian colleagues at international conferences.

In the West, I didn't feel nationalism. They openly said that the conflict benefits no one. But in Armenia, people are afraid to say this aloud, the professor pointed out.

Concluding the conversation, Allahverdiyev expressed confidence that the normalization process is inevitable.

Normal relations will certainly be restored. We are already moving in this direction. The main thing is not to allow nationalists to dictate the scenarios of the future, he explained.

The host of the program, Tofig Abbasov, supported this assessment, noting that the region is entering a phase in which rationality and direct human interaction will define a new architecture of peace.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Zeljko Komsic, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Trend reports.

"Dear Mr. Chairman,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I extend to you and to your entire people my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the national holiday of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The steady development of relations between Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina is a source of great satisfaction. Our expanding political contacts and active dialogue are accompanied by effective mutual cooperation in a number of areas.

I am confident that AzerbaijanBosnia and Herzegovina relations, rooted in the friendship of our peoples, will continue to develop through our joint efforts and that our cooperation will further strengthen.

On this remarkable day, I wish you good health, happiness, and success in your endeavors, and lasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Bosnia and Herzegovina," the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to His Majesty Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Trend reports.

''Your Majesty,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend to you, and through you to your entire people, my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Brunei Darussalam.

Over the past thirty years, the friendly relations established between our countries have created favorable opportunities for the development of cooperation in a number of areas of mutual interest.

We are determined to further expand our interstate relations with Brunei Darussalam and to enrich our cooperation with new content. I am confident that we will successfully continue our joint efforts to strengthen ties between Azerbaijan and Brunei Darussalam in the interests of our peoples, and to deepen our cooperation both bilaterally and within multilateral platforms.

Taking this opportunity, I wish you good health, happiness, and every success in your high state activities, as well as lasting prosperity and well-being to your friendly people,'' the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

''Your Excellency,

Assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

It is with great pleasure that I extend to Your Excellency my heartfelt congratulations on the joyous occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Over the past three decades, our two nations have nurtured a warm and enduring friendship, built on mutual respect, understanding, and shared values. I am confident that this close bond will continue to grow stronger in the years ahead.

I also look forward to our two countries working together to explore new opportunities for cooperation, especially through our engagement in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement. Our joint efforts in these important forums reflect our shared commitment to fostering peace, harmony, and sustainable development for the benefit of our peoples and the wider global community.

As we celebrate this meaningful milestone, I pray that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala blesses Your Excellency with continued good health, happiness and wisdom, and grants the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan lasting peace, progress, and prosperity.

Wassalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,'' the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held talks with the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, during his official visit to Vatican City, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend.

The meeting focused on the current state and prospects of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the Holy See, regional and international issues, and opportunities for collaboration within international platforms.

The importance of maintaining the recent dynamic of high-level visits to further deepen cooperation was emphasized. Within this framework, the significance of the President of Azerbaijans official visits to the Vatican, as well as the visit of Azerbaijans First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva in October of this year and the meetings and events conducted during her visit, was highlighted.

Humanitarian restoration and preservation projects implemented and planned at the Vatican, supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and initiated by the Foundation's President Mehriban Aliyeva, were positively recalled. Her visit included a tour of Bambino Gesu, Europes largest pediatric hospital and research center, underscoring the importance of collaboration in this field.

The visit also celebrated historical milestones in relations between the two states, including the visits of Pope John Paul II in 2002 and Pope Francis in 2016 to Azerbaijan, as well as the consecration of the site in Baku, where a Catholic church will be built in honor of John Paul II. The upcoming 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027 is expected to further advance bilateral cooperation.

The parties discussed Azerbaijans achievements in religious tolerance and intercultural and interfaith dialogue, as well as efforts to preserve and restore religious monuments, including Christian sites. The countrys successful policy of peaceful coexistence among different faiths and cultures was noted for its contribution to international understanding and peace.

Global climate change concerns were also raised, alongside Azerbaijans initiatives as chair of COP29. Discussions covered the countrys role in energy security, the development of transport corridors, and relations with Central Asian countries.

Minister Bayramov provided detailed updates on the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process, including the implementation of agreements reached at the historic Washington Summit, and outlined post-conflict developments in the region. The meeting concluded with exchanges on other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Azerbaijan has established a new Food Supply Map information system to enhance the monitoring and management of the countrys food supply, Trend reports.

The system was approved through a decree signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The Food Supply Map information system (the System) is designed to assess the current state of food supply in Azerbaijan and create reliable, sustainable data to support decision-making. It will collect, process, store, and make information more accessible across relevant agencies.

The Ministry of Economy will serve as the Systems owner and operator, ensuring its development and operation. Meanwhile, the Cabinet of Ministers is tasked with approving the systems regulations within three months and reporting to the President, along with addressing other related issues arising from the decree.

The Ministry of Economy, in coordination with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, will implement the System on the Government Cloud (G-cloud) platform approved by a presidential decree dated June 3, 2019, ensuring integration with the Unified State Registry of Information Systems and the registry of personal data systems.

Additionally, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, together with the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security, will ensure compliance with all measures outlined in Part 1 of this Decree. This includes fulfilling the requirements of a presidential decree dated September 12, 2018, on the rules for creating, managing, integrating, and archiving state information resources and systems, as well as advancing key initiatives related to e-government.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov discussed the current state of bilateral relations and future development prospects with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, during his official visit to the Vatican, Trend reports via Azerbaijani MFA.

The discussion also encompassed regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The meeting underscored the significant importance Azerbaijan attaches to the development of relations with the Holy See and noted that recent high-level visits have substantially contributed to strengthening mutual understanding.

Particular emphasis was placed on humanitarian cooperation facilitated by protection and restoration projects supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Azerbaijans long-standing efforts in preserving multicultural traditions and religious heritage, including Christian monuments within its territories, were also highlighted.

Furthermore, Bayramov provided briefings on the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process, the historic agreements reached at the Washington Summit and their implementation, as well as the post-conflict situation in the region and ongoing reconstruction work in Azerbaijans liberated territories.

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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Revenue: INR398 crores for Q2 FY26, with a 9.3% growth adjusted for subsidy income.

Volume Growth: 16.2% year-on-year for Q2 FY26.

Net Revenue for H1 FY26: INR807 crores, a 17.4% year-on-year growth.

Net Sales Realization (NSR) per Case: Increased 1.8% to INR1,215 in Q2 from INR1,193 in Q1 FY26.

EBITDA: INR60 crores for Q2 FY26, with an 8.2% year-on-year growth adjusted for subsidy income.

EBITDA Margin: 15.1% for Q2 FY26; 19.2% for H1 FY26, adjusted margin at 15.1% compared to 14.9% last year.

Profit After Tax (PAT): INR53 crores for Q2 FY26, with a 10% year-on-year growth adjusted for subsidy income.

PAT for H1 FY26: INR103 crores, a 24.5% increase from INR82 crores in H1 FY25, excluding subsidy.

Net Cash Position: INR1,086 crores as of September 2025, including proceeds from a preferential issue.

Release Date: November 14, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

Tilaknagar Industries Ltd (BOM:507205) reported a strong volume growth of 16.2% year-on-year in Q2 FY26.

The company's net sales realization per case increased by 1.8% from INR1,193 in Q1 FY26 to INR1,215 in Q2 FY26.

The Southern region showed strong growth momentum with market share improvements in key markets.

The luxury and super premium portfolio, including Monarch Legacy Edition Brandy, is expanding its presence across multiple states.

The company has made significant progress on the Imperial Blue acquisition, with the Competition Commission of India granting approval for the transaction.

Negative Points

The company is facing increased competition in the Brandy segment, particularly in key markets like Andhra Pradesh.

There is uncertainty regarding participation in the Maharashtra Made Liquor (MML) segment due to policy considerations.

The excise duty has increased by 15.4%, impacting the company's financials.

The company's net profit is affected by the increase in excise duty and a decrease in net sales realization in certain markets.

There are internal deliberations and policy-related considerations affecting strategic decisions, such as participation in new market segments.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you provide insights into the competition in your key markets, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, and how it affects your market share and growth prospects? A: In Andhra Pradesh, we have seen good growth and an improvement in market share from 10% to 12%. The privatization of retail and extended store hours have contributed to a 20% volume growth in the state. We have gained market share predominantly from local players, and we expect continued growth, albeit at a slower pace due to a higher base.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The trial of Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, accused under articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan related to crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism and other serious crimes, continued on 25 November, Trend reports.

The open court session at the Baku Military Court was held under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov on the panel (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). The accused was provided with an interpreter in Russian, the language he understands, as well as a state-funded defence lawyer.

Judge Zeynal Agayev introduced the panel of judges, the prosecutors upholding the state accusation, the interpreters and others to the victims and legal successors of victims participating for the first time, and explained their statutory rights and obligations.

The testimonies of the victims were then heard.

Victim Samir Mammadov stated that he sustained a head injury in Lachin when a mortar shell fired by the enemy exploded nearby. In response to questions from state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, he added that Tural Isgandarov was also injured in the same incident.

In response to questions from state prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, victim Ruslan Abbasov said he received a gunshot wound in Kalbajar as a result of enemy fire; two other persons were also wounded.

In response to questions from Nasir Bayramov, head of the department at the Prosecutor Generals Office responsible for upholding the state accusation, victim Vugar Huseynov stated that he was wounded in Kalbajar by enemy fire.

In response to questions from senior assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev, victim Togrul Aliyev said he sustained shrapnel wounds in Aghdam from fire opened by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups. Nazim Agayev and Murad Aliyev, who were with him at the time, were also injured.

In response to questions from Tughay Rahimli, assistant to the Prosecutor General on special assignments, victim Samir Ibrahimov stated that he was wounded in Khojaly by fire from remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups.

In response to questions from state prosecutor Fuad Musayev, Bayram Agjayev said he was injured in Kalbajar by enemy fire.

Victim Rashad Guliyev stated that he was wounded in Kalbajar when an artillery shell fired by the enemy exploded nearby.

Another victim, Kamal Abdullayev, said he was wounded in Aghdam by sniper fire from remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups.

Victim Orhan Musayev stated that in the Aghdam direction he was shot in the left eye area by fire from remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups. Bahruz Rzayev and Nizami Jabbarov were also wounded in the same incident.

Victim Dilgam Hasanov said he was injured in Kalbajar by enemy artillery fire.

Victim Samir Khalilov stated that he was wounded in Aghdara by rocket fire from remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups. Ulvi Mikayilov was killed in the same incident.

The court session continued with the examination of documents and other evidence contained in the criminal case file.

The next hearing has been scheduled for 1 December.

Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression), 107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during an armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1, 29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12 (attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices), 270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1 (forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3 (creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held talks with the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, during his official visit to Vatican City, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend.

The meeting focused on the current state and prospects of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the Holy See, regional and international issues, and opportunities for collaboration within international platforms.

The importance of maintaining the recent dynamic of high-level visits to further deepen cooperation was emphasized. Within this framework, the significance of the President of Azerbaijans official visits to the Vatican, as well as the visit of Azerbaijans First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva in October of this year and the meetings and events conducted during her visit, was highlighted.

Humanitarian restoration and preservation projects implemented and planned at the Vatican, supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and initiated by Mehriban Aliyeva, were positively recalled. Her visit included a tour of Bambino Gesu, Europes largest pediatric hospital and research center, underscoring the importance of collaboration in this field.

The visit also celebrated historical milestones in relations between the two states, including the visits of Pope John Paul II in 2002 and Pope Francis in 2016 to Azerbaijan, as well as the consecration of the site in Baku, where a Catholic church will be built in honor of John Paul II. The upcoming 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027 is expected to further advance bilateral cooperation.

The parties discussed Azerbaijans achievements in religious tolerance, intercultural and interfaith dialogue, as well as efforts to preserve and restore religious monuments, including Christian sites. The countrys successful policy of peaceful coexistence among different faiths and cultures was noted for its contribution to international understanding and peace.

Global climate change concerns were also raised, alongside Azerbaijans initiatives as chair of COP29. Discussions covered the countrys role in energy security, the development of transport corridors, and relations with Central Asian countries.

Minister Bayramov provided detailed updates on the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process, including the implementation of agreements reached at the historic Washington Summit, and outlined post-conflict developments in the region. The meeting concluded with exchanges on other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The founding conference of the NGO Platform for member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan, as part of the Solidarity Forum of NGOs from OTS member countries, Trend reports.

Representatives from eight countries attended the event, united by shared Turkic identity, culture, and values, creating a sense of family where everyone feels secure, strong, and supported.

The members agreed that greater impact and more effective results could be achieved through collective action.

For the first time, civil society representatives from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Hungary, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus adopted a Joint Declaration, officially establishing the NGO Platform for OTS member states.

Leadership of the new platform has initially been entrusted to Azerbaijan. The Secretary-General will rotate depending on the chairmanship of the OTS, with each time a prominent civil society representative from the presiding country taking the role. However, the permanent headquarters of the platform will be based in Baku.

This initiative marks a historic achievement, reflecting the significant progress of Azerbaijani NGOs and the global recognition of their initiatives. The launch of the platform was warmly applauded by representatives from all member states.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. As part of his official visit to the Holy See, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov visited the renowned Vatican Apostolic Library, a beacon of human knowledge and cultural heritage, Trend reports.

"As part of his official visit to the Holy See, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov visited the renowned Vatican Apostolic Library, a beacon of human knowledge and cultural heritage.

During the visit, the importance of preserving ancient manuscripts and historical texts, which serve as a universal bridge connecting civilizations across centuries was highlighted.

Azerbaijan, home to a rich tapestry of cultures, values this exchange as a pillar of intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on its page on X.
Photo: State Committee for Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 24. The "Final" dance from the "Chitra" ballet by great Azerbaijani maestro Niyazi was performed for the first time in the U.S. at the concert, conducted by Farhad Khudiyev, Azerbaijani musician, director of the Texas Symphony Orchestra, living in the U.S., held at the Bates Recital Hall of the University of Texas in Austin, the State Committee on Work with Diaspora said, Trend reports.

This performance was met with great enthusiasm and caused applause. Selected pieces from Dmitri Shostakovich's 10th Symphony also pleased the audience.

Khudiyev's repertoire selection in the concert program once again demonstrated the power of music to transcend borders and unite cultures.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The next groups of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been sent to Tazabina and Khanyurdu villages in Azerbaijan's Khojaly district as a part of the ongoing Great Return to the liberated territories following instructions from President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

The returning residents are families who had earlier been temporarily accommodated in dormitories, sanatoriums, and various administrative facilities across the country.

At this stage, 16 families (66 people) have been resettled in Tazabina, while 11 families (38 people) have moved to Khanyurdu.

The former IDPs, now back in their native village, expressed their gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their continued support. They also thanked the valiant Azerbaijani Army for liberating their lands from occupation.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The Caspian region has great potential for discovering new resources, Managing Director and Partner at BCG (Boston Consulting Group) in Azerbaijan, Vladimir Rogov said during the SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference held in Baku today, Trend reports.

According to him, if we consider the parallel processes that have taken place over the past five years, it becomes clear that the industry's development vector has changed:

"Companies have shifted their priorities, giving preference to shareholder returns and reducing the level of reinvestment. The need to maintain these payments creates additional pressure on capital expenditures and, as a result, intensifies competition for investment. Therefore, if the Caspian region wants to attract capital, it is necessary to create conditions that will direct it here, rather than to other regions. Against the backdrop of the energy transition, investor expectations have also changed: threshold rates are rising, investments are considered riskier than in previous decades, and investors are demanding both faster and higher returns. This puts additional pressure on projects and requires the use of more modern technologies, as well as more active involvement of the entire ecosystem in this process.

Investment levels have declined over the past decade as major projects in both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have largely been completed and brought into production. Investment volumes are currently around 50% lower than in the previous period and, according to current plans, are likely to remain at lower levels over the next decade.

He noted that the region accounts for 2 percent of global oil production and 10 percent of proven global reserves.

"The region is equipped with infrastructure connecting Europe and Asia. It is home to the most strategically important projects for virtually all of the world's largest companies. The projects being implemented in Azerbaijan with the participation of BP, Chevron, Exxon, Shell, Eni, and other major companies on the other side of the Caspian Sea are among the largest assets in their portfolios."

Rogov emphasized that the opportunities for discovering new resources are enormous:

"In the past, the costs of geological exploration were quite low, so much of the potential remains unexplored. The intensification of geological exploration in recent years, both in Azerbaijan and in other areas of the Caspian Sea, as well as the signing of new memoranda of understanding, confirm this once again. At the same time, there are also great opportunities for the restoration of fields that have been in operation for almost 80 years. After all, recovery rates at these fields are still low, and underground oil and gas reserves are still quite large. Many of the technologies widely used in different regions of the world are still in the testing stage and have not been widely adopted. For example, the widely used Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods have not been fully implemented in the country.

In this context, we believe that today's panel discussion will provide an important overview of the capabilities of leading companies, their work with hard-to-recover reserves, and their plans for using them in the current geopolitical and economic situation in the region.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Exchange and mutual protection of confidential information will be implemented between Azerbaijan and Moldova, Trend reports.

This issue was reflected in the draft law on the approval of the "Agreement between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of Moldova on the Exchange and Mutual Protection of Confidential Information" discussed at today's plenary meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliament.

The draft law noted that this agreement, signed in Baku on September 19, 2025, establishes the legal basis for cooperation between the Governments of Azerbaijan and Moldova in the field of exchange and mutual protection of confidential information.

The agreement aims to protect confidential information transmitted between the parties, ensuring its confidentiality, integrity and security.

According to the agreement, the parties undertake mutual obligations to protect confidential information, undertake to use this information only for the purposes for which it was provided and not to transfer it to third parties without the written consent of the sending party.

The agreement is signed for an indefinite period.

The draft law was put to a vote and passed in the first reading.

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KHOJALY, Azerbaijan, November 25. As many as 11 families consisting of 38 peopleformer internally displaced persons (IDPs)returned to Khanyurdu village in the Khojaly district today, the Restoration, Construction, and Management Service in Khankendi city and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts told Trend.

Deputy Executive Director of the Restoration, Construction, and Management Service Mahmud Afandiyev, speaking at the ceremony of presenting the keys to the apartments, said that in accordance with the instructions of the head of state, complex measures are being implemented to ensure the social security and employment of the resettled families.

Employment prospects are being generated for local constituents, and comprehensive assistance is being extended to individuals aspiring to initiate entrepreneurial ventures.



The restoration of essential utilities, including electrical grids, gas supply networks, water distribution systems, and communication infrastructures, has been comprehensively achieved in Khanyurdu. All requisite conditions have been established to facilitate an optimal living environment for the populace.

The residents then received the keys and moved into their new homes. They expressed gratitude for the conditions, attention, and care provided.

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November 27, 2025, 6:00 PM (MFR, 2nd floor)  Meeting with the curator and artists

Opening: 7:00 PM

YARAT Contemporary Art Center, Baku

Curated by Alfons Hug

There is always something new coming out of Africa.

Gaius Plinius Secundus Maior, Naturalis historia

YARAT Contemporary Art Space presents Ex Africa semper aliquid novi, a major exhibition curated by Alfons Hug, bringing together eleven leading artists from across the African continent. The exhibition explores the extraordinary diversity of Africas artistic production  a continent that continues to generate new cultural, political, and aesthetic narratives that shape the modern world.

For centuries Africa has been a catalyst for global transformation  from the cradle of humankind to the complexities of empire, slavery, colonization, and independence. Its cultural echoes have long transcended geography: visible in European art history, in jazz and carnival, in literature and architecture, and now, in the global contemporary art scene.

Today, Africa is once again at the center of profound demographic, ecological, and social shifts. Ex Africa situates these contemporary realities within deeper historical and cultural lineages, inviting viewers to reconsider Africa not as a periphery, but as one of the main engines of world civilization and creativity.

Contemporary African art is experiencing an unprecedented moment of visibility and renewal. Over the past decades, biennials in Dakar, Johannesburg, Marrakech, Bamako, and Luanda  together with major international exhibitions such as Documenta and the Venice Biennale have positioned African artists at the forefront of global discourse.

Yet beyond international recognition lies a more complex story: one of indigenous modernities, hybrid aesthetics, and artistic resilience that transcends colonial and ethnographic frames. Contemporary African art draws simultaneously from traditional archives, Christianity, Islam, and modern global influences  creating a polyphonic visual language that resists linear narratives and canonical hierarchies.

Ex Africa semper aliquid novi introduces audiences in Azerbaijan to a new generation of African artists whose works, while celebrated internationally, are still little known in the region. The exhibition unfolds through four seamlessly interwoven thematic directions: the echo of history, where artists revisit collective memory and postcolonial legacies; bodies and portraits, reflecting on identity, representation, and the human presence; the urban drama, revealing stories of migration, inequality, and transformation; and vanishing voices, a sound-based exploration of linguistic fragility featuring eight Nigerian languages. Together, these converging narratives reveal the multiplicity and vitality of contemporary African art  spanning painting, photography, installation, and sound  and illuminate both the continents profound challenges and its inexhaustible creative force.

Artists

Abdoulaye Konate

Abdulrazaq Awofeso

Andrew Tshabangu

George Osodi

Mary Evans

Mohau Modisakeng

Nastio Mosquito

Ndidi Dike

Okhai Ojeikere

Pascale Marthine Tayou

Youssef Limoud

Nigerian languages, sound installation

Credit for the sound installation to Fundacao Bienal do Mercosul, Brazil

About curator

Alfons Hug is a curator and writer with extensive experience in international art biennials and exhibitions. He has served as curator for several national pavilions at the Venice Biennale and directed the Goethe - Institut in diverse cultural contexts, among others in Lagos, Nigeria. His long-standing research focuses on transnational dialogues and non-Western art histories.

About YARAT

Founded in 2011 by Aida Mahmudova, YARAT Contemporary Art Space is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting contemporary art in Azerbaijan and fostering cultural exchange between local and international art communities. Through exhibitions, residencies, education programmes, and public initiatives, YARAT promotes new ways of understanding arts role in shaping collective memory and global dialogue.

Exhibition duration: 27.11.2025  05.04.2026

Working hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 12 PM - 8PM

Adress: YARAT Center, Bayil District, (National Flag Square)

Free admission
Shift4 Payments Inc. (NYSE:FOUR) is one of the most undervalued NYSE stocks to buy right now. On November 19, Truist analyst Matthew Coad lowered the firms price target on Shift4 Payments to $74 from $80 and kept a Hold rating on the shares. This sentiment was announced as part of a broader research note released by Truist on select Payments companies. Coad noted that while the Smartpay acquisition inflated Shift4s near-term reported volume forecasts (prompting price target adjustments after Q3 2025 results), the firm is lowering its projections for organic volumes. This reduction reflects rising uncertainty about performance within Shift4s key hospitality and restaurant verticals in 2026.

Earlier in its Q3 2025 earnings call, Shift4 Payments reported an increase of 61% year-over-year in Gross Revenue Less Network Fees, reaching $589 million. The company recorded a total revenue of $1.18 billion in the said quarter, which missed Street expectations by $3.74 million. Despite the miss, this revenue represented a 29.44% rise year-over-year. EPS for the quarter totaled $1.47, missing estimates by $0.01.

Truist Lowers Shift4 Payments (FOUR) PT $74 on Uncertainty Over 2026 Organic Volume in Hospitality, Restaurant Sectors

The companys strategic acquisitions contributed significantly to its performance. The acquisition of Global Blue has positioned Shift4 as a leader in luxury retail, contributing $156 million to Gross Revenue Less Network Fees. Separately, the company is leveraging recent acquisitions like Smartpay in Australia and Vectron in Germany to efficiently introduce its products into new geographies.

Shift4 Payments Inc. (NYSE:FOUR) provides software and payment processing solutions in the US and internationally. The company distributes its products through independent software vendors, internal sales and support network, enterprises, and value-added resellers.

While we acknowledge the potential of FOUR as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The trial of Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, accused under articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan related to crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism and other serious crimes, continued on 25 November, Trend reports.

The open court session at the Baku Military Court was held under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov on the panel (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). The accused was provided with an interpreter in Russian, the language he understands, as well as a state-funded defence lawyer.

Judge Zeynal Agayev introduced the panel of judges, the prosecutors upholding the state accusation, the interpreters and others to the victims and legal successors of victims participating for the first time, and explained their statutory rights and obligations.

The testimonies of the victims were then heard.

The court session continued with the examination of documents and other evidence contained in the criminal case file.

The next hearing has been scheduled for 1 December.

Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression), 107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during an armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1, 29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12 (attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices), 270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1 (forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3 (creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan).
Details added: first version posted on 15:17

KHOJALY, Azerbaijan, November 25. As many as 11 families consisting of 38 peopleformer internally displaced persons (IDPs)returned to Khanyurdu village in the Khojaly district today, the Restoration, Construction, and Management Service in Khankendi city and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts told Trend.

Deputy Executive Director of the Restoration, Construction, and Management Service Mahmud Afandiyev, speaking at the ceremony of presenting the keys to the apartments, said that in accordance with the instructions of the head of state, complex measures are being implemented to ensure the social security and employment of the resettled families.

Employment prospects are being generated for local constituents, and comprehensive assistance is being extended to individuals aspiring to initiate entrepreneurial ventures.



The restoration of essential utilities, including electrical grids, gas supply networks, water distribution systems, and communication infrastructures, has been comprehensively achieved in Khanyurdu. All requisite conditions have been established to facilitate an optimal living environment for the populace.

The residents then received the keys and moved into their new homes. They expressed gratitude for the conditions, attention, and care provided.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The first meeting of ministers responsible for labor, employment, and social protection from member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will take place in Azerbaijan's Baku on December 5, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population told Trend.

The event will gather the bigwigs of labor, employment, and social protection agencies from OTS member countries like Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, along with observer states such as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Hungary, and Turkmenistan, not to mention officials from OTS themselves.

The meeting is expected to contribute to strengthening cooperation among member and observer states in the fields of labor and social protection. A joint declaration is anticipated to be executed at the culmination of the event.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Within the framework of military cooperation, on November 25, Baku hosted a meeting between military specialists from the Azerbaijani and Belarusian Defense Ministries, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

The meeting at the International Military Cooperation Department of the Defense Ministry discussed the exchange of experience in the military, including the organization of joint exercises, improving interoperability, and expanding the cooperation plan.

The parties also engaged in a dialogue encompassing a plethora of pertinent topics, conducted within a synergistic and collaborative framework.

On December 15, 2004, the Azerbaijani and Belarusian defense ministries signed an Agreement on Military and Technical Cooperation, which formalized their cooperation. The pact established a treaty foundation for future military cooperation between the two states.

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KALBAJAR, Azerbaijan, November 25. A photo exhibition titled Kalbajar: From the Lens to History has been organized in Azerbaijan's Kalbajar as part of City Day celebrations, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports.

The photographs showcased at the exhibition primarily capture the era of occupation and the regions growth following liberation. The event shines a spotlight on Kalbajars metamorphosis and the safeguarding of its historical memory through the art of visual storytelling.

The festivities will roll on with a special City Day showcase, followed by a toe-tapping concert and a breathtaking fireworks display lighting up the night sky later on.

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KALBAJAR, Azerbaijan, November 25. On November 25, 2025, Azerbaijan's Kalbajar celebrated its first-ever City Day since its liberation, a special occasion established by the Presidential Decree of July 31, 2023, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports.

The event was organized by the Special Representation of the President of Azerbaijan in Kalbajar and the Kalbajar Restoration, Construction, and Management Service and supported by the Ministry of Culture.

The City Day celebration holds immense significance, shining a spotlight on Kalbajars rich cultural tapestry while tugging at the heartstrings of those coming home to their long-lost roots and seeing the place spring back to life.

The event began with a heartfelt tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Azerbaijan, marked by a minute of silence and the stirring performance of the National Anthem.

The cultural program for children, highlighted by the Ganja State Theaters performance of Tik-tik Khanim, delighted young audiences and brought a vibrant, playful energy to the celebration.

In the citys exhibition zone, visitors explored the photo exhibition titled "Kalbajar: from the lens to history," the painting exhibition "Kalbajars Palette," interactive master classes with local artists, and traditional ashug workshops showcasing the regions ancient musical heritage.

Throughout the day, a motley crew of public and political figures, local brainiacs, military brass, and cultural bigwigs joined forces to throw their weight behind Kalbajars revitalized socio-cultural scene.

A cozy nook for food and relaxation rolled out the red carpet for guests, serving up a slice of Kalbajars national dishes, teas steeped in the essence of the regions mountain herbs, and the areas famous top-notch honey thats the bees knees.

The celebration concluded with a breathtaking fireworks display and a state-of-the-art laser show, putting the cherry on top of the festivities. Plans are already being put together to carry on this annual City Day as a lasting tradition.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Kenya's Nairobi hosted a briefing on the preparations for the upcoming 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku for accredited international organizations and members of the diplomatic corps, the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan told Trend.

Participants were briefed on the progress of preparations and the overall action plan for WUF13, which will take place in Baku from May 17 through 22, 2026. The briefing was held in parallel with the third session of the UN-Habitat Executive Board, aiming to strengthen collaboration between diplomatic missions, the Azerbaijani government, and UN-Habitat in support of WUF13 and its anticipated outcomes.

The session was moderated by Sultan Hajiyev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Kenya and the Congo and Permanent Representative to the UN in Nairobi. UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach and Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture and national coordinator of WUF13, called for active participation in the Forum and encouraged engagement of national and institutional partners.

Guliyev highlighted the importance of cooperation and invited colleagues to contribute actively to developing solutions that will improve the lives of city residents at the global urban development event in Baku.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The Solidarity Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) continued in Nakhchivan, Trend reports.

In her opening speech, Aygun Aliyeva, Executive Director of the State Agency for Support to NGOs of Azerbaijan, highlighted the growing collaboration with NGOs in Turkic countries.

"Over the past three years, we have carried out a series of important projects with NGOs and partner institutions in Uzbekistan, Turkiye, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and other brotherly Turkic states.

Notable examples of our collaboration include the NGO cooperation forums organized in the Azerbaijan-Turkiye and Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan formats, as well as the 'Civil Society Forum of Turkic States' held in Baku during COP29. Yesterday marked a milestone with the first-ever Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan NGO Cooperation Forum, and I am confident that we will soon host the second edition of this forum in Kazakhstan, further strengthening our partnership," she said.

Jeyhun Jalilov, the authorized representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, highlighted the symbolic significance of holding the Solidarity Forum of NGOs from the member states of the Turkic States Organization in the very city where the "Nakhchivan Agreement" was signed in 2009.

Nakhchivans civil society representatives are particularly eager to expand cooperation with Turkic states. The regions NGOs are enthusiastic about joining regional initiatives, participating in joint projects, and contributing to the unity of the Turkic world, Jalilov said.

He also pointed out that the groundwork on crucial infrastructure projects in the Nakhchivan section of the Zangezur corridor, including highways, railways, energy, and communication lines, has picked up steam and is now reaching the home stretch.

The consistent attention and support provided by President Ilham Aliyev to Nakhchivan is a driving force behind the rapid development of this historic land. Today, Nakhchivan is emerging as a model of a new development approach, not only regionally but across the broader Turkic geography, he added.

Tural Aliyev, Head of the NGO Sector of the Department of Work with NGOs and Communications of the Presidential Administration, noted that the forum represents a historic first: NGOs from Turkic States member countries are uniting on a single platform in Nakhchivan for the very first time.

This is a proud and historic day for the entire Turkic world. Through our joint efforts, we aim to expand grant competitions for NGOs in areas such as history, culture, ecology, climate policy, and more across Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Hungary, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We are ready to begin negotiations immediately, organize competitions swiftly, and evaluate new initiatives, Aliyev said.

Aliyev articulated a strong conviction that the initiative initiated in Baku will persist in its trajectory.



We anticipate that the Solidarity Forum of NGOs within the Turkic States Organization will evolve into an annual convening under the auspices of the organization, thereby establishing a robust and enduring tradition, he elaborated.



The forum culminated in an array of expert-led panel discourses.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach and Anar Guliyev, Chairman of Azerbaijans State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture and national coordinator of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), gave the lowdown to international media in Nairobi, Kenya, about the groundwork for the forum's upcoming session in Baku, set to take place from May 17 through 22, 2026, the committee told Trend.

The briefing highlighted that WUF13 will serve as a critical global platform to evaluate the medium-term implementation of the New Urban Agenda. Moderated by Sultan Hajiyev, Azerbaijans Ambassador to Kenya and Congo and the permanent UN representative in Nairobi, the session shone a spotlight on the Forums role in tackling global housing hurdles tied to the climate crisis and setting the stage for priorities in the decade ahead.

Rossbach stressed the relevance of the Forums theme, Housing for All: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Settlements, describing WUF13 not merely as a conference, but as a key evaluation platform for Sustainable Development Goals in urban planning. She also noted that ministerial meetings on the New Urban Agenda and the World Cities Report for 2026 will be presented during the Forum.

Anar Guliyev, WUF13 National Coordinator, showcased Azerbaijans new initiatives as the host country and emphasized that the inaugural Leaders Summit will serve as a golden opportunity for top-notch political discussions on pressing global urban priorities. He underscored the crucial role of cities and local governments in shaping the discussions and highlighted the importance of broad private sector engagement to promote innovation, climate-resilient construction, and modern housing technologies.

Preparations for WUF13 are in full swing. Every organizational, logistical, and operational aspect is being coordinated meticulously to ensure the Forum is a world-class event, grounded in sustainability, inclusivity, and safety, he added.

The media briefing, convened in Nairobi, was orchestrated as a component of the third session of the UN-Habitat Executive Board's agenda.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Saudi Arabia is showing growing interest in launching new investment projects in Montenegro, Trend reports citing the Montenegrin government website.

This was confirmed during a bilateral meeting in Riyadh between Montenegros Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ervin Ibrahimovic, held a bilateral meeting in Riyadh with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

Minister Ibrahimovic emphasized that Montenegro and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia share a clear commitment to strengthening mutual connectivity, enhancing economic cooperation, and linking business communities, which forms the basis for further development of overall relations.

He expressed particular satisfaction with the intensified communication at both political and working levels, convinced that the newly established, mutually beneficial dynamics will deepen further in the coming period. In this context, the visit marked an important step forward in strengthening relations between the two states, which will be further reinforced by the opening of the Embassy of Montenegro in Riyadh.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud highlighted during the meeting his readiness to further advance overall cooperation between the two countries. Praising Montenegros ambitious development vision and the prospect of its upcoming European Union membership, he expressed interest in intensifying investment activities, recognizing Montenegro as an attractive and stable environment for developing new projects in areas of mutual interest.

He also stressed the importance of continuous dialogue at all levels as the foundation for further progress in relations, convinced that new formats of cooperation will contribute to stronger institutional ties. He additionally noted Saudi Arabias openness to considering further initiatives aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides agreed that economic and trade cooperation holds particular potential and should remain a priority. They concluded that mutual understanding and dialogue represent the basis for joint activities for the benefit of both countries and their citizens.

They exchanged views on the most important geopolitical developments and emphasized the readiness of both states to continue acting constructively and to contribute to international peace and security.
By Ben Blanchard and Wen-Yee Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co said on Tuesday it had filed a lawsuit in Taiwan's Intellectual Property and Commercial Court against its former Senior Vice President Wei-Jen Lo, who recently joined Intel.

In an emailed statement, TSMC said the lawsuit is based on the terms of the employment contract between TSMC and Lo, the non-compete agreement signed by Lo, and regulations such as the Trade Secrets Act.

"There is a high probability that Lo uses, leaks, discloses or transfers TSMC's trade secrets and confidential information to Intel, thus making legal actions necessary," TSMC said. 

Intel and Lo did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Taiwan's economy ministry said in a statement that it respects TSMC's legal action and will closely monitor the impact on the industry.The ministry added that it will cooperate to determine whether the case involves the infringement of core technologies or violations of Taiwan's National Security Act.

Last week, Taiwan's economy minister said authorities were investigating Lo after local media reported that he may have taken TSMC's advanced technology data to his new employer.

Lo, who helped drive TSMC's mass production of cutting edge 5-nanometre, 3-nm and 2-nm chips, joined Intel in October after retiring from TSMC following a 21-year-long career there. A source familiar with the matter said he reports directly to Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

Before joining TSMC in 2004, Lo worked at Intel for 18 years. He served as a director of technology development and was a factory manager, running Intels development facility in Santa Clara, California.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Wen-Yee Lee; Editing by Jan Harvey, Kirsten Donovan)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia Timcho Mucunski met in Skopje with a delegation from the Spanish Senate, composed of senators who are members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Trend reports.

Minister Mucunski expressed his satisfaction with the visit, describing it as a confirmation of the excellent relations between the two countries. He emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and continuous political dialogue, highlighting the need for more frequent contacts between the members of both parliaments, and expressed hope that this dynamic will further intensify in the near future.

Speaking about European integration, the Minister noted that the process should be predictable and free from bilateral issues. He also recalled the concessions made in recent years and the long period the country has gone through, emphasizing that the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia consistently share European values.

The Spanish senators confirmed that their country remains a strong friend and supporter of the Republic of North Macedonia, including in its EU accession process. They stressed the importance of integrating the country into the European family as a basis for further deepening cooperation.

The meeting also highlighted the excellent momentum of bilateral relations and the potential for their further enhancement, with a focus on the economy, investments, culture, and tourism. It was noted that this meeting, as well as activities held as part of the visit, will contribute to further strengthening the close and friendly relations between the two countries.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze joined her EU counterparts at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Trade in Brussels to discuss EUU.S. and EUChina trade relations, as well as ongoing EU bilateral negotiations, with a particular focus on talks with India, Trend reports via Latvian MFA.

Minister Braze highlighted that EU ministers recently met with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik and U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer to review the state of transatlantic trade, bilateral investment flows, commercial opportunities, and cooperation in defense, energy, and technology.

The U.S. is and will remain our strategic partner and close ally. Strengthening transatlantic trade relations and cooperation with the U.S. is essential for the EU, Braze stated.

Several EU member states, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden  urged the European Commission to propose additional tariff increases on products originating from Russia and Belarus.

Braze stressed that in international trade, it is vital for public funds and national resources to support partners who respect international law and the core principles of the UN Charter. She emphasized the need for the EU to leverage all available tools to reduce dependence on trade with unreliable and hostile actors, underlining that this is a matter of European security.

In discussions on other EU agreements and ongoing bilateral negotiations, Braze underscored the importance of using every available EU instrument, from trade agreements and new partnerships to trade-defense tools, to ensure that European companies can successfully expand into new markets and contribute to economic growth.

It is equally important to ensure that EU businesses are not subjected to unfair competition, she added.

Ministers welcomed the European Commissions progress in negotiations with India, Indonesia, and Thailand. Braze highlighted that the expansion of the EUs global trade agreement network over the past two decades has delivered clear benefits. For example, after the entry into force of EU free trade agreements, exports to South Korea increased nearly tenfold (since 2011), to Canada by 166 percent (since 2017), and to Japan by 49 percent (since 2019).

Addressing the EUMercosur Free Trade Agreement, Braze called it a strategic partnership with major Latin American economies that will open new markets for Europe and Latvia while supporting job creation. Once concluded, the agreement would form the worlds largest free trade area, covering nearly one-quarter of global GDP and creating a market of more than 700 million consumers. It is expected to save EU businesses up to 4 billion euros annually in export duties, supported by lower or fully eliminated tariffs and streamlined customs procedures. For example, the agreement foresees significant tariff reductions in the EU  up to 20 percent for machinery, vehicles, and ICT products, and around 30 percent for dairy products, wine, and chocolate.

On EUChina trade relations, ministers discussed the ongoing need to advance the EUs risk-reduction strategy, particularly by diversifying trade partners and suppliers of critical raw materials.
ESCAP calls for tech boost to strengthen Iranian transport networks (Exclusive)

Photo: ESCAP

The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) sees the greatest immediate need for technical assistance along transport corridors involving Iran in strengthening operational connectivity and boosting resilience through digital tools.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Georgia and Turkiye held talks on maritime cooperation, Black Sea security, and the development of ferry services during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) assembly in London, the Georgian Ministry of Economy said, Trend reports.

Georgias Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili and Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu discussed a range of issues including new ferry routes, joint maritime research, and initiatives to boost tourism and overall economic ties between the two countries.

The ministers also addressed energy transition and digitalization in the maritime sector, maritime education and workforce development, hydrography, shipbuilding cooperation, and other areas to strengthen regional governance and enhance mutual collaboration in the maritime domain, the ministry said.

Kvrivishvili, visiting London with a delegation, will participate in the 34th session of the IMO Assembly, which brings together representatives from more than 150 countries. She is scheduled to deliver a report on trends in Georgias maritime sector and outline ongoing and planned reforms. During her visit, she will also meet with IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Domingues and hold bilateral talks with ministers from other member states.

The meeting was attended by Georgian Deputy Minister Tamar Ioseliani, Turkish Deputy Minister Durmus Unuvari, Deputy Director of Georgias Maritime Transport Agency Natia Miminoshvili, Georgias permanent representative to the IMO Georgy Archemashvili, and Georgias charge daffaires in the United Kingdom.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. Kazakhstan Railways said that its freight traffic increased 4% in the first ten months of 2025 compared with the same period last year, reaching 221.4 million tons, Trend reports.

According to the latest data provided by Kazakhstan Railways, domestic shipments totaled over 143.5 million tons, up 3%, while exports rose 6.1% to 78.3 million tons.

Coal remained the largest cargo, with volumes exceeding 85.7 million tons, a 3.2% increase. Domestic coal shipments reached 59.5 million tons, and exports climbed 9% to 26.4 million tons.

Grain transport surged 38% to 11.2 million tons, including 8.45 million tons for export, up 39%, while domestic shipments rose 34%.

Shipments of ferrous metals and chemical fertilizers also saw gains, up 8.2% to 4 million tons and 18.7% to 3.9 million tons, respectively.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, November 25. Tajikistan and Iran held a new round of political consultations in Dushanbe on November 24, focusing on plans to deepen cooperation and review the implementation of earlier high-level agreements, Trend reports via Tajik MFA.

The talks were led by Tajik Deputy Foreign Minister, Farrukh Sharifzoda and his Iranian counterpart Majid Takht-Ravanchi. Earlier the same day, Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin also met Takht-Ravanchi to discuss bilateral and multilateral cooperation in economic, cultural, and security spheres.

According to information, the consultations addressed regional developments, ongoing joint projects, and future opportunities for expanding cooperation. Both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration across key sectors.

These consultations build on an existing framework of agreements that have steadily advanced bilateral relations. A significant milestone came in May 2022, when 17 cooperation documents were signed during the official visit of Tajikistans President, Emomali Rahmon, to Tehran. These agreements spanned crucial areas such as political, economic, trade, transport, and energy cooperation. One of the most notable outcomes was the revival and official launch of the joint Istiqlol Tunnel (formerly the Anzob Tunnel) project in 2022. The project, largely financed and completed with Iranian technical and financial support, greatly enhanced transport connectivity within Tajikistan.
PwC Azerbaijan proudly participated in the International Banking Forum (IBF) 2025, showcasing our commitment to driving innovation and sustainability in the financial sector. Gunay Asgarova, our Broader Assurance Services and Sustainability (ESG) Leader, delivered a key note addresson the evolving landscape of risk and regulatory demands in banking.

Gunay highlighted the increasing pressures banks face in meeting regulatory reporting requirements, emphasising the need for precision and efficiency. "In today's fast-paced environment, banks must balance regulatory compliance with risk management and performance expectations," she noted. "At PwC, we help banks navigate these challenges by aligning with international frameworks and best practices of advanced markets ."

The forum also provided a platform to discuss emerging topics such as AI strategy and climate-focused ESG toolss. Gunay shared insights on how PwC supports banks in adapting to these new realities, ensuring they are equipped for a digital, inclusive,and sustainable future.

In addition to her address, Gunay moderated a dynamic panel discussion titled "Instant, Inclusive, and Intelligent: Reinventing Everyday Payments." The session featured key industry voices, including Emil Agayev from the Central Bank of Azerbaijan and Rustam Abbasov from ABB Bank, exploring the future of payment systems.

PwC Azerbaijan remains committed to empowering the banking sector with the tools and expertise needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. As Azerbaijan moves towards a more digital and sustainable economy, we're here to support this transition every step of the way.

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

About PwC Azerbaijan

At PwC Azerbaijan, we're committed to fostering trust within society and tackling key challenges. Our global network spans over 150 countries, allowing us to offer top-tier assurance, advisory, and tax services. For more than 30 years, we've grown alongside our community, blending international insights with local know-how. Discover more at www.pwc.com/az
Iran ramps up gas field operations amid winter energy shortage

Iran has accelerated operational work at the Khartang gas field amid a nationwide winter energy shortage. National Iranian Oil Company official Farrokh Alikhani announced the fast-tracking of key drilling activities during a visit to gas fields in Bushehr and Fars Provinces. The move aims to bring new wells online ahead of schedule to boost much-needed gas production.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The Caspian Technical Conference 2025, organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), is being held today in Baku, Trend reports.

This year, the conference is being held with the support of the host, SOCAR, and its theme is Learning from the past, innovating today, inspiring tomorrow.

Speaking at the event, SOCAR Vice President Babak Huseynov said that the company is ready to revise approaches to field development for maximum efficiency.

"The main criterion remains technical solutions that enable the most efficient use of existing assets. In addition to working with existing fields, SOCAR is focusing on new projects and redeveloping existing ones," he explained.

Huseynov mentioned the example of the Bahar field, where the recovery rate was less than 10 percent, and many considered it depleted. However, the SOCAR team identified significant potential and continues to develop the project.

"Exploration remains an important tool for replenishing reserves, and the SOCAR team is successfully fulfilling this task, which will ensure a long-term balance between production and development," he noted.

Giovanni Cristofoli, bp's regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye, said that the application of advanced technology on the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field has become a vital necessity.

According to him, ACG is one of the world's largest fields, with 8-9 billion barrels of oil reserves.

"From both an economic and strategic standpoint, its unacceptable to leave 6080 percent of such vast reserves underground. Just a decade agoor even five years agowells were producing 20,00030,000 barrels. Today, new wells yield only 2,0003,000 barrels.

Wells are becoming smaller, their structures increasingly complex, and the geology more challenging. This underscores the urgent need for advanced technology," the bp official explained.

He stressed that technology and innovation are essential for extracting resources from these fields and delivering them to Europe and other markets.

When technology becomes a necessity, geographical limitations disappear. This demand drives us forward, and being landlocked no longer poses an obstacle, he added.

The two-day conference will feature discussions on digitalization, the application of artificial intelligence, and improving the efficiency of field development, as well as security and sustainable supplythe main areas of development for the regional energy sector.

Speakers will include representatives of major international companies and educational centers.

In addition, a technology exhibition will be organized, where companies will present their new tools, engineering solutions, and developments that will shape the future of the industry.

Meanwhile, SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) is an international organization that brings together 132,000 professionals from 146 countries. SPE develops professional standards, creates educational programs, supports industry communities, and serves as a platform for knowledge exchange. SPE has offices in Calgary, Dallas, Dubai, Houston, and Kuala Lumpur.
Photo: The Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 25. The Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry of Uzbekistan and the Belgian biotechnology company Allegro discussed the establishment of biotechnological production and the potential relocation of the companys existing R&D projects to the country, Trend reports via the agency.

These issues were discussed during a meeting between the Agencys Director, Abdulla Azizov, and Allegros leadership, during which the sides also signed a memorandum of understanding.

The memorandum establishes a framework for implementing joint biotechnology projects and initiatives in Uzbekistan.

During the discussions, Allegro was provided with detailed information on the legal, institutional, and financial incentives available within the Tashkent Pharma Park pharmaceutical cluster.

In 2024, bilateral trade between the two countries reached $62.3 million, comprising $7.3 million in Uzbek exports and $55 million in imports.
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co said on Tuesday it had filed a lawsuit in the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court against its former Senior Vice President Wei-Jen Lo, who recently joined Intel.

In an emailed statement to Reuters, TSMC said the lawsuit is based on the terms of the employment contract between TSMC and Lo, the non-compete agreement signed by Lo, and regulations such as the Trade Secrets Act.

Intel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Jan Harvey)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The 83rd meeting of the CIS Railway Transport Council has begun in Baku, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Railways.

The event is attended by the leadership of the railway administrations of Azerbaijan, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Iran, Armenia, Latvia, and Estonia, as well as the Organization for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD), the CIS Executive Committee, and the International Confederation of Railway Workers' Trade Unions.

The meeting will discuss the activities of the CIS railway network in the first nine months of 2025, the formation of freight and container trains for international transportation, the development of international transport corridors, the international freight tariff policy for 2026 and other issues.

The meeting will continue its work until November 26.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 25. Uzbekistan has nearly finalized its negotiations with Russia on joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan on WTO matters Azizbek Urunov wrote on his social media account, Trend reports.

The negotiations are now almost complete: all substantive elements have been agreed, and only a few technical points require final verification and confirmation, Urunov stated.

He added that he looks forward to finalizing the outcome with the Russian side during the WTO General Council meeting this December in Geneva.

With this, we now have only Chinese Taipei left to conclude our remaining bilateral negotiations, he noted.

Meanwhile, during the 11th meeting of the Working Group on Uzbekistan's accession to the WTO, the country signed protocols concluding bilateral negotiations on market access with Canada and Panama.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor is a strategic bridge between continents, economies, and people, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said ahead of the Connectivity Investors Forum in Tashkent, Trend reports via the European Commission.

Kos added that the forum is a key milestone as we turn the Connectivity Agenda into action through coordinated, prioritised investments, driving lasting prosperity and stability through strong, trusted partnerships.

Meanwhile, between November 25-27, Kos and European Commissioner Jozef Sikela will visit Uzbekistan to advance the development of the Trans-Caspian Corridor, a flagship initiative of the EUs Global Gateway strategy, designed to link Europe and Central Asia within 15 days.

On November 26-27, the Commissioners will attend the 3rd EU-Central Asia Economic Forum and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and Connectivity Investors Forum in Tashkent, hosted by the Government of Uzbekistan and the EU. The events will bring together the EU, Black Sea, and Central Asian partners to discuss transport, trade, energy, and digital connectivity.

The Forum will review progress since the first EUCentral Asia Transport Connectivity Investors Forum in Brussels in January 2024 and the October 20 Cross-Regional Ministerial Meeting in Luxembourg. Sessions will focus on regulatory harmonisation, infrastructure investment, digitalisation of trade corridors, and prioritisation of joint investment projects.

Officials said the initiative aims to strengthen regional partnerships, exchange best practices, and enhance the efficiency of transport and trade networks along the Middle Corridor.
Photo: Official photo of the European Commissioner for International Partnerships at the European Commission in social network X

BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The partnership between Central Asia and the European Union is stronger than ever, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela said ahead of the EU-Central Asia forums in Tashkent, Trend reports via the European Commission.

Sikela highlighted that, following the 12 billion euro Global Gateway investment package announced at the first EUCentral Asia Summit and his earlier mission to the region, the focus is now on delivery. The two high-level forums, co-hosted by Uzbekistan and the EU, bring together public and private investors from both regions to turn our commitments into tangible results: economic growth, job creation, better access to services, and greater stability, he said.

The Commissioner added that he looks forward to concluding concrete deals with regional partners, strengthening economic cooperation, and accelerating the development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor to connect Europe and Central Asia in a fast, safe, and sustainable way.

The forums, taking place on November 26-27, include the 3rd EU-Central Asia Economic Forum and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and Connectivity Investors Forum. Both events bring together European and Central Asian officials, business leaders, and investors to discuss transport, trade, energy, and digital connectivity across the region.

Officials said the meetings aim to prioritise joint investment projects, foster regional partnerships, and showcase successful initiatives to improve trade efficiency and infrastructure along the Trans-Caspian route.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Azerbaijan and Pakistan have explored opportunities to expand mutual investments, Azerbaijans Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov, said in a post on his official X page, Trend reports.

During our visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, we were delighted to hold a meeting with Lieutenant General Sarfaraz Ahmad, the National Coordinator of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

We explored opportunities to expand mutual investments, including in the oil and gas sector, and promote joint projects, alongside active support for business partnerships, Jabbarov wrote.

As regards economic ties between two nations, in early 2025, during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Azerbaijan, both countries signed multiple MoUs covering trade, energy, and other sectors. SOCAR Trading entered a framework agreement with Pakistan LNG Limited for LNG supplies, with deliveries planned for late 2023 and early 2024. In November 2023, Pakistan authorized the import of 220,000 tons of urea from Azerbaijan for agricultural needs. A preferential trade agreement was also signed, and Azerbaijan established a Trade House in Lahore to enhance commercial relations.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 25. Uzbekistans Centrum Air has signed an agreement with Avolon, an international aircraft leasing company, for the delivery of five Airbus A320neo aircraft, Trend reports via Centrum Air.

According to information, the new aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2027.

The airline currently serves over 40 domestic and international destinations, including Dubai, Istanbul, Delhi, Seoul, Guangzhou, Bangkok, Phuket, and Male. The addition of new aircraft will help the company broaden its route network and maintain its steady growth path.

Avolon, a global aviation leasing leader, partners with 141 airlines across 62 countries. As of September 30, 2025, its owned, managed, and committed fleet consisted of 1,159 aircraft.

Centrum Air, founded in 2023, privately owned, and based in Tashkent, operated a fleet of 13 aircraft as of November 2025.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Since gaining independence, Kazakhstan has confronted significant challenges in its oil industry, Marat Sagyndikov, head of the Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Center at the Kazakhstan Polymer Materials and Technology Institute, said at the SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference in Baku, Trend reports.

Sagyndikov laid bare the historical and regulatory hurdles that are putting a spoke in the wheel of Kazakhstans oil sector.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Kazakhstans oil was primarily produced for the domestic Soviet market. The country had no refineries, and the oil was transported via pipelines to Omsk and Samara in Russia for processing. There was no pipeline connecting Kazakhstans oil to global markets, and all internationally traded oil came through Russia, he explained.

The official remarked that after gaining independence, Kazakhstan found itself in a real pickle, facing a mountain of challenges.

At that time, Nurlan Balgimbayev, then Minister of Energy and later Prime Minister, informed incoming investors such as Chevron, ENI, Shell, Lukoil, and others that transporting oil to global markets was a major hurdle. To address this, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) was constructed. Yet, the countrys domestic refining capacity remained tied to Russian plants, Sagyndykov said.

Even though the Soviet Union went belly up, the supply chains kept on trucking, leading to a real pickle with domestic crude shortages.

The oil industry is heavily regulated by the government. Except for large projects like Kashagan, Tengiz, and Karachaganak, Kazakhstans roughly 150 oil fields and over 50 operators are required to supply oil to domestic refineries at prices three times lower than global market rates. Consequently, fuel prices at gas stations are half of those in Azerbaijan, one-third of those in Uzbekistan, and four times lower than European market prices.

These prices severely reduce operators revenues and create funding challenges. Even routine operations, such as well maintenance and equipment upgrades, face difficulties due to financial constraints, since all equipment and labor costs are paid in foreign currency, he added.

Sagyndikov pointed out that economic and regulatory issues are holding back progress as the main challenge.

The government is aware of these issues, but social pressures make solutions difficult. For instance, an attempt to raise LNG prices in January 2022 triggered widespread protests. Balancing oil and gas prices with both social needs and global market rules is a complex challenge.

These problems are not unique to Kazakhstan; similar difficulties exist in other countries, and resolving them is far from straightforward, he concluded.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 25. The U.S. and Uzbekistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at expanding cooperation on developing U.S. soy value chains and advancing bilateral trade, Trend reports via the American Soybean Association.

The document was signed between the American Soybean Associations World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) and Uzbekistans Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade during a trade delegation visit to New York led by Minister Laziz Kudratov.

The MoU lays the foundation for efforts to strengthen food security, boost private-sector capacity, and expand linkages between Uzbek buyers and U.S. soy suppliers.

Under the agreement, the sides will cooperate in areas including animal feed, poultry, dairy and aquaculture productivity, soy processing technologies, quality standards, and nutrition-related innovations.

Meanwhile, WISHHs work in the country is supported by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Foreign Agricultural Service through its Market Access, Foreign Market Development, and Regional Agricultural Promotion programs. The initiative complements WISHHs partnerships with the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the United Soybean Board.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Increasing production at the "Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli" (ACG) field remains one of bps key priorities, both in the short and long term, bp representative Afgan Huseynov, told Trend on the sidelines of the SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference in Baku.

Huseynov noted that the company has specific plans for the field.

"The most important of these is the application of new technologies. We have already started drilling horizontal wells, some exceeding three kilometers in depth in certain parts of the field. Overall, our goal is to expand well opportunities on the remaining platforms. The main objective is to optimize recovery of the remaining oil in the ACG field," he said.

The official highlighted that the field still holds several billion barrels of production potential.

"As an international company, we aim to realize this production potential in the country. Achieving this will require the implementation of new technologies, and bp is committed to using them. We will do our best to reach the maximum production potential of the ACG field," the official said.

Afgan Huseynov added that bp aims to keep the overall decline rate at the field within 3-5 percent in the coming years.

"This would be a significant achievement. Currently, there are 160 active wells in ACG. We are working to enhance their output using water and gas injection methods, and drilling new wells with advanced technology is another focus.

ACG faces certain challenges as it has been in production for 30 years. We believe that the application of new technologies can increase production and extend the fields potential for decades.

bp has ambitious plans to launch pilot projects deploying new technologies at the ACG field over the next five years. We are committed to testing and applying these innovations to unlock the fields full potential.

Overall, bps top priority is to maximize production from the ACG field while carefully managing and controlling the decline rate in the coming years, ensuring sustainable output and long-term value," Huseynov said.

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A group of former U.S. Bank executives is seeking federal approval to establish VALT Bank, applications submitted to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Nov. 13 show.

The proposed bank, headquartered in Eagle, Idaho, will be fully digital and will focus on serving digitally demanding small to midsized businesses in the U.S., according to its application.

VALT plans to offer credit and deposit products as well as treasury and cash management services, and plans to provide clients with SMB-focused automation solutions.

The bank will be led by proposed director, CEO and President Matt Gediman, whose nearly two-decade U.S. Bank career culminated in three years as a managing director in the banks private wealth management business.

When we refer to digitally demanding SMBs, we mean revenue-generating small and midsized businesses that use technology across their daily operations and expect the same level of technological fluency from their financial service providers, Gediman told Banking Dive via email Monday.

These are traditional businesses, he added  not tech firms or crypto companies. VALT does not plan to interact with digital assets.

Our customers are established SMBs that simply expect modern, reliable, integrated digital banking, he said.

[O]ur model is designed to support them by making banking uncomplicated, accessible, and integrated with digital tools to run their businesses more efficiently, he said.

Former U.S. Bank Vice Chairman John Elmore is VALTs proposed executive chair and Ross Carey, former U.S. Bank EVP of business banking and SBA division, is its proposed vice chair.

Kim Hoyt, attorney at Salem, Oregon-based law firm Garrett Hemann Robertson, and Dana Johnson, president and chief investment officer at single-family office MidAmerica Capital Partners, are VALTs additional proposed directors.

The OCC declined to comment on the application, and the FDIC did not respond immediately to a request for comment. But the heads of both agencies have recently spoken in favor of increased de novo chartering.

Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould told Banking Dive last month that one of his major goals while at the helm of the OCC is invigorating de novo chartering in America.

Acting FDIC Chair Travis Hill noted earlier this year that new bank formation has fallen off a cliff in recent years. At the American Bankers Associations Washington Summit in April, he noted that 412 new banks were formed in 1984 alone, and that the lowest number of new banks established in any year between 1995 and 2007 was 93.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Georgia and Italy discussed strengthening connectivity with Europe via the Middle Corridor, expanding port and logistics cooperation, and deepening trade ties during a meeting in London between Georgias Deputy Economy Minister Tamar Ioseliani and Italian Deputy Transport and Infrastructure Minister Edoardo Rixi, the Georgian Economy Ministry said, Trend reports.

Ioseliani is visiting London together with Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, who is attending the 34th session of the UN International Maritime Organization Assembly.

The Italian maritime labour market is particularly attractive for Georgian seafarers. We aim to move to a new stage of cooperation that will expand employment opportunities and training programmes, significantly increasing interest in maritime professions, Ioseliani said.

She added that closer cooperation with Italy creates an important platform to strengthen the competitiveness of Georgian seafarers on the international market.

Georgias maritime education sector already works with Italian academic institutions, and Tbilisi wants to deepen these ties. Our goal is to further expand this partnership and give it a comprehensive character across various areas  including seafarer training, innovative education programmes, digital navigation, green shipping skills and hydrographic research, Ioseliani said.

The two sides also discussed advancing cooperation in maritime education, seafarer employment and safety at sea, the ministry added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. Georgias Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili met International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez in London on the sidelines of the IMO Assembly, discussing the Middle Corridor and Georgias expanding role in regional transport links, Trend reports via the Ministry.

We had a highly productive meeting, Kvrivishvili said. I underlined that strengthening the Middle Corridor directly supports the resilience and smooth functioning of global supply chains. Georgia is ready to work with the IMO on safety, environmental protection along the route, and digital harmonization.

Deputy Economy Minister Tamar Ioseliani also took part in the talks. The Georgian delegation briefed Dominguez on the countrys maritime reform programme, including seafarer education and certification, port management upgrades, maritime safety initiatives, and digitalization efforts.

Kvrivishvili said Georgia values the IMOs technical assistance, noting its importance for meeting global environmental standards. She added that safety at sea and seafarer welfare remain top priorities.

The minister also highlighted gender equality in the maritime sector, pointing to Georgias initiative to establish WIMA Europe as a regional platform to promote women working in the industry.

Kvrivishvili noted that Georgia has already introduced a maritime single-window system aligned with international conventions. The sides also discussed modernizing hydrographic capabilities, preparations to adopt the S-100 standard, and Georgias participation in IMO-backed Green Transition initiatives.

Dominguez welcomed Georgias recent progress in the maritime sector and expressed support for continued cooperation. Kvrivishvili formally invited him to attend the Georgian International Maritime Forum in 2026.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. At the end of November, Uzbekistan will once again step up as the place where the future directions of cooperation between the European Union and Central Asia are mapped out. At the Third EU-Central Asia Economic Forum in Tashkent, key attention will focus on trade, logistics, green energy, and sustainable development. However, Turkmenistan is really coming into its own on the regional stage - a country that not long ago kept its cards close to its chest but is now stepping up to the plate as a key player in the Trans-Caspian arena.

The results of the inaugural EU-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand set the stage for a fruitful partnership down the road. Turkmenistan, with its steadfast neutrality, bountiful energy resources, and one-of-a-kind geographic position, has turned into a key player in the fresh blueprint for Europe-Central Asia collaboration.

One of the strategic directions discussed in Samarkand was the development of sustainable transport links. The EU confirmed its readiness to invest up to $11.5 billion in Central Asian infrastructure under the Global Gateway program, with particular attention to the Trans-Caspian route. For Turkmenistan, this is a golden opportunity to tap into the treasure trove that is the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, which is currently capable of handling a hefty 17-18 million tons of cargo each year.

Amid the growth of cargo flow along the Trans-Caspian route - a 60-80 percent increase in 2023 alone, reaching over 2.7 million tons - Turkmenbashi is becoming a key link in the emerging Eurasian connectivity. The port, built in 2018, is already positioning itself as one of the significant logistics hubs. In a situation where Europe is looking to cast its net wider to avoid rocky roads, Turkmenistans significance is on the rise.

The EU explicitly noted the importance of coordination along the Middle Corridor and emphasized the need for stability in the South Caucasus as a key factor for project implementation. For Turkmenistan, this opens the door to becoming a permanent participant in regional trade, not just as transit territory, but as a logistics operator.

Economic interaction between the EU and Turkmenistan is inseparable from the energy dimension. The country sits pretty at fourth place in the global arena for proven natural gas reserves - around 19-20 trillion cubic meters - positioning it as one of Europes shining stars when it comes to energy security.

The Samarkand Declaration emphasizes the intention to deepen cooperation in green economy initiatives, methane emission reduction, and the transition to renewable energy. For Ashgabat, this direction is particularly significant: Turkmenistan has set a goal to raise the share of renewable energy in national electricity generation to 20 percent by 2030 - a target that directly aligns with European climate priorities.

Equally important is the potential for electricity exports. Turkmenistan already supplies power to Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan. Initiatives to expand exports westward - across the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus - could establish a new model of energy partnership between Ashgabat and Brussels. The EU has signaled readiness to support such projects through the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which actively develop portfolios in power generation, water resources, and energy efficiency.

A new feather in the cap arrived with the EIB and Turkmenistan's announcement of kicking off negotiations on a framework agreement, which, for the first time, will let the bank roll up its sleeves and operate directly in the country. This news is strategically significant: access to European financing opens the door to transforming national energy and transport infrastructure.

Turkmenistans trade turnover with the EU already reaches $1.3-1.5 billion annually, showing steady growth thanks to energy exports, textiles, and chemical products. While Europe trails China and Russia in trade volumes with Turkmenistan, European investments, especially under the Team Europe program (over $345 million for the region), create a qualitatively different level of engagement.

For Turkmenistan, which is currently trying to get its foot in the door with the World Trade Organization, aligning with the European economic model opens up a whole new ball game. This means tapping into fresh markets, getting its ducks in a row with export product standards, and cutting through the red tape of trade barriers.

The Samarkand Declaration also highlighted Turkmenistans proposal to strengthen the legal framework for bilateral relations, clearly demonstrating Ashgabats commitment to the gradual liberalization of its foreign economic policy.

At the upcoming EU-Central Asia Economic Forum, Turkmenistan will discuss concrete projects in transport, digitalization, renewable energy, and critical raw materials. In a context where Europe is seeking new sources of energy and industrial resources, and Central Asia is becoming a key link in global supply chains, Turkmenistans role is becoming systemic.

The Turkmenbashi port, brimming with gas reserves, is stepping up to the plate in transport initiatives and is all set to play ball with European financial institutions, positioning the country as one of the EUs key economic partners in the region.

If Samarkand set up the groundwork for a strategic partnership, Tashkent is set to bring in the concrete economic content - with Turkmenistan stepping in as one of its key players.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 25. The number of South Korean IT companies operating in Uzbekistan is expected to increase from 8 to around 30 by the end of this year, the Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov said at a meeting with Kim Kyo-shin, Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and Chairman of the Committee on Education and Culture, Trend reports via the Uzbek Ministry of Digital Technologies.

Representatives from IUT, alongside a delegation from INHA University, participated in the meeting.

The parties discussed priority areas for the development of information technologies and explored opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation. The dialogue encompassed projects aimed at attracting foreign investment, including the construction of a major data center by DataVolt, initiatives to promote digital culture based on Uzbekistans cultural heritage, as well as joint ventures in the gaming industry.

The sides expressed their readiness to further scale up collaborative projects and strengthen the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and South Korea.

Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and South Korea reached $1.1 billion from January through August 2025, representing 2.2 percent of Uzbekistans total foreign trade. South Korea continues to be one of Uzbekistans key strategic trade partners, ranking fifth among the countrys major trading counterparts during this period, highlighting the sustained significance of bilateral economic relations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The territory of the Alat Free Economic Zone (AFEZ) will be expanded with the addition of over 1,453 hectares of land, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has signed a decree approving the expansion.

Under the decree, the state-owned land in the Alat settlement of Bakus Garadagh district, previously designated for agricultural use, will be integrated into the AFEZ following a land-use plan prepared by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan is tasked with addressing and implementing the issues arising from the decree.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 25. During a working visit to Baku, a delegation of Uzbekneftegaz JSC and representatives of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) discussed the strategy for the digital transformation of the Uzbek company through 2030, including the development of a new IT architecture and promising areas of bilateral cooperation, Trend reports via Uzbekneftegaz.

As part of the visit, the delegation reviewed the operations of the Caspian Innovation Center and the SOCAR Carbamide plant, as well as the SOCAR Oil Refinery.

In addition, the Uzbek side examined SOCARs corporate governance system, including mechanisms for monitoring executive discipline, the document management system, real-time analytics dashboards, the integration of artificial intelligence tools, and a comprehensive cybersecurity infrastructure featuring a Security Operations Center, Security Engineering, and Security Compliance.

Meanwhile, in August 2024, Uzbekneftegaz and SOCAR signed a cooperation agreement in the hydrocarbon sector, launching geological studies on the Ustyurt Plateau, including seismic exploration and preparations for hydrocarbon production.

Furthermore, on July 24, 2025, the parties signed a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), which provides for fully meeting Uzbekistans domestic oil needs for the next 25 years. The extracted gas will also be supplied to the domestic market, supporting the countrys industrial sector with affordable and high-quality petroleum products.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 25. Uzbekistan has appointed a new Minister-Counselor  Representative of the Administration of the President in the United States, Trend reports via the press service of the Uzbek president.

By decree of the Head of the Presidential Administration, Komil Ismoilovich Allamjonov has been appointed to the position. He will also continue to serve as Advisor to the Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed an order establishing the U.S.Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council. The new Council is expected to serve as a platform to deepen the strategic economic partnership between Uzbekistan and the United States. The decision to create the Council was reached during President Mirziyoyevs official visit to the U.S. on November 46, 2025, within the framework of the C5+1 Summit
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The "Eurasian Transport Route" International Association, established under Azerbaijan's chairmanship, has launched its activities to strengthen the role of Middle Corridor, the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY) said in a statement, Trend reports.

The General Assembly meeting of the associations founders was held today in Baku.

Organized under Azerbaijans chairmanship, the meeting saw the participation of senior management from the railway administrations of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, all members of the Association.

ADY Chairman Rovshan Rustamov stated that the legal procedures for the registration of the association, based in Baku, have been completed, and the Association has been formally registered in accordance with the legislation of Azerbaijan.

He further emphasized that, with cargo flows between China and Europe increasing in both directions, the need to diversify transport routes has become increasingly urgent, highlighting the importance of ensuring the full operational capacity of the Eurasian Transport Route.

The meeting noted that the Eurasian Transport Route, regarded as the southern branch of the Middle Corridor, traverses China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye. As of this month, multimodal transportation has commenced from Kashgar in China to Azerbaijan, passing through Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.

It was also observed that the construction of the UzbekistanKyrgyzstanChina railway will further strengthen the role of the Eurasian Transport Route. Moreover, by establishing a connection between the Middle Corridor and the Trans-Afghan Corridor, this route is expected to create new opportunities for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The ADY chairman also said that the development of the southern branch of the Middle Corridor will enable Azerbaijan to become the main bridge between Central Asia and Europe and increase transit volumes through the country, while also ensuring the maximum use of key infrastructure such as the Port of Baku and the BakuTbilisiKars railway, and that the Zangezur corridor will further expand these opportunities.

The event discussed the necessary measures for launching the activities of the association. After the discussions, the agenda items, the corporate structure of the association, the structure of the secretariat and working bodies, planned measures for organizing the associations activities, and other issues, were approved.

A decision was made to prepare the regulations of special working groups on the development of the Eurasian Transport Route, including dispatching, infrastructure development, commerce, digitalization, marketing, communication, and legal matters, as well as to prepare detailed marketing plans for 2026, and to submit the agreed projects for discussion at the next meeting of the General Assembly.

The meeting concluded that several measures should be undertaken to organize the activities of the international association. These measures include analyzing the current state of intermodal transportation along the Eurasian Transport Route, identifying and addressing bottlenecks through route diagnostics, applying IT solutions and digital platforms for transport management, determining schedules, resources, and priorities to remove restrictions, and ensuring the continued development of the route.

Furthermore, the meeting emphasized the importance of establishing partnership relations between the association and stakeholders across the Eurasian regionincluding Central European countries, China, and Pakistan, as well as with international organizations, in addition to implementing promotional activities to raise awareness of the route and strengthen its position within the Eurasian intermodal transport services market.

The Eurasian Transport Route Association was established on September 20, 2024, in Baku, with the participation of ADY, Uzbekistan Railways, Kyrgyzstan National Railway Company, and Tajikistan Railways. The Association was created with the objectives of attracting transit cargo, developing integrated logistics products, creating a unified technology for transportation processes, implementing effective tariff policies, and optimizing costs.

Azerbaijans chairmanship of the association strengthens ADYs position as one of the main operators in the region, transforming Azerbaijan into a strategic dispatching center where key decisions on organizing transit along the entire southern branch of the Middle Corridor are made. This enables the company the opportunity to influence tariff policy, standardize logistics procedures, develop digital platforms for transport coordination, and create favorable conditions for attracting international investment into railway projects.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, part of AZCON Holding, and the Kazakhstan Railways National Company held a high-level meeting in Baku on November 25, underscoring the growing momentum in transport cooperation between the two countries, Trend reports via the company.

The talks shone a light on how Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, heavyweights in the East-West transport corridor, are rolling up their sleeves to bolster the efficiency and security of international freight traffic. The sides underscored that getting on the same page is crucial as both nations set the stage to become key players in the Eurasian logistics game.

The meeting also focused on expanding cooperation between the Port of Baku and Kazakhstans ports, particularly in handling Kazakhstan-origin cargo. The parties explored opportunities for these goods to be transshipped through Baku and transported onward either to Georgian ports or via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars line to Turkiye and other global markets.

The parties acknowledged that these optimized transit pathways would facilitate the acceleration of freight movements and alleviate congestion on supplementary channels.

Azerbaijan Railways CJSC and Kazakhstan Railways National Company have thus far executed several agreements to collaborate on logistics and advance the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor). The agreements encompass a 2022 logistics cooperation treaty, the formation of a joint company for multimodal transportation in 2023, and a collaborative action plan ratified in 2025 to improve efficiency along the route.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The Caspian basin remains one of the most technically interesting and strategically important regions in the world today, SOCAR Vice President, Babak Huseynov said at the SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference held in Baku today, Trend reports.

He noted that Azerbaijan has played an important role in the global oil and gas industry for more than a century.

It's no coincidence that the worlds first industrial oil well was drilled in Azerbaijan, that offshore production technologies were tested here, and that many generations of engineers built their careers on this land.

The projects, partnerships, and professionals here have shaped global industry practice in many ways and continue to provide valuable lessons for the future, the official explained.

He pointed out that this year, Azerbaijan welcomes more than 500 representatives from 100 companies representing over 30 countries.

This is a clear indication of the strong interest and high-level participation in the technical and strategic discussions held here.

Your presence here today reflects not only the local but also the regional and international value placed on this conference. One of this years main themes is learning from the past, renewing the present, and inspiring the future. This theme reflects both the rich heritage of our region and the development directions ahead. Each of these three parts carries an important message for our industry in this decisive period.

We learn from the past because we must understand the achievements, challenges, and experiences that form the foundation of the Caspian energy sector. The early years of the region were rich in innovation. Countless technical advancements, long-term development, and large-scale construction work were shaped through meaningful cooperation and sustainable adaptation. All this reminds us that our industry has passed through different stages, becoming stronger each time, Huseynov mentioned

The vice president stressed that, especially in the Caspian region, the majority of assets are already in a mature phase and require new approaches.

Many oil and gas fields in Azerbaijan and across the Caspian basin have been in production for decades, yet they continue to play a crucial role in energy security, economic stability, and the regions future. To sustain their productivity, we need fresh ideas, modern technologies, new skills, and the ability to extract greater value from existing opportunities, he said.

Huseynov also stressed the pivotal role of innovation at this stage.

Digital tools enable us to understand reservoirs with greater accuracy, and reliable data helps optimize production. Automation and artificial intelligence enhance operational reliability, while new recovery technologies applied to mature fields are becoming essential to responsible operations. The success of the future will rely on combining experience with innovationintegrating what we know with what we can achieve tomorrow.

Renewal also demands investment in the workforce. This is especially critical as many of the specialists who built the early successes of our industry are now retiring. They laid the foundation for regional development, but the demand for new technical expertise is growing, the vice president added.

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Walmart, known for its roll back prices, has initiated its roll out in Africa. Now, shoppers can venture into the Johannesburg mega-store to get its wide range of products.

The store held its grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 22, allowing patrons in the South African city to get access to international products typically unsold in the region, including the coveted childrens toy Labubus. Others looked to take advantage of Walmarts low prices, especially ahead of Black Friday.

The South African store is the first of many planned across the country and continent.

Opening the first Walmart store in South Africa is about much more than a business milestone; it is a commitment to helping customers save money and live better by consistently delivering the lowest total cost for the basket of products they need, Andrea Albright, executive vice president of Walmart, said in a statement obtained by Reuters.

The stores opening also brought new jobs to the area, while partnering with several businesses in the community to stock locally-sourced products.

A delivery service also accompanies the launch. This places it in direct competition with Checkers Sixty60 on-demand delivery service owned by South Africas largest grocery retailer Shoprite, Reuters reported.

With Black Friday already expected to provide a boost in profits in the U.S. and abroad, eyes remain on Walmarts first African location to see how it sales compare on the worlds biggest shopping day.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The Caspian region stands at a turning point, SOCAR Vice President, Babak Huseynov said at the SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference held in Baku today, Trend reports.

"We have a strong history, deep technical expertise, and significant assets, and now we face global expectations ranging from digital adaptation to environmental performance

This conference is an important platform to jointly discuss these challenges and to identify practical steps to keep the region competitive. Behind this rich program stand the volunteers who have worked with dedication, the vice president also said.

According to him, the development of these skills will help to work more efficiently today and be better prepared for tomorrows challenges.

We are inspiring the future. For this, we support young professionals, students, and early-career engineers. Their new mindset and curiosity will shape the next stage of development in the Caspian region. But attracting young talent alone is not enough. It is also important to retain them. Young people must see clear paths for development, opportunities for advancement, and feel the significance of their contributions.

We want the next generation - who learn, connect, and create ideas - to see a strong future in this industry. This years program covers exactly these three themes. Over the next three days, you'll hear speeches from leaders and experts from various countries around the world. Within the program, sessions, project presentations, and more than 100 technical reports have been prepared. The topics cover a wide range - from reservoir management to drilling operations, from digital transformation to decarbonization, operational excellence, and new workforce skills.

This conference is an important platform to jointly discuss these challenges and to identify practical steps to keep the region competitive, he emphasized.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. We cannot implement hydrocarbon projects of the next 3050 years in the same way as in the previous 30 years, Giovanni Cristofoli, bp's regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkiye (AGT), said at the SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference held in Baku today, Trend reports.

He noted that very serious technical issues lie at the core of the work carried out by bp.

To bring together the best technical experts to discuss these issues is of decisive importance for the progress of the industry. It is truly a great pleasure for me to participate in this event.

There is outstanding infrastructure in the region. I would add two more points to this. The first is the people. A highly professional workforce, whether technical staff, engineers, or specialists in the commercial sphere, has really formed in this region. There is a large pool of human capital that is interested in our industry, eager to learn, open to innovation, and striving to push boundaries. I think this is the main foundation for building the future. The way people approach the industry and technical challenges makes working in this region particularly enjoyable, the bp official explained.

According to him, the other factor is the tradition of partnership.

Cooperation with the government is very open and supportive from a business and investment perspective. I see the government making strong efforts to attract more capital to the region. This is not the case everywhere. The partnership with SOCAR should also be specially highlighted. At the same time, there is strong cooperation with the supply chain. The regions unique special magic recipe is precisely its ability to build strong partnerships, he mentioned.

The regional president also spoke about the challenges.

As for the challenges, the main issue is the mindset. We cannot carry out hydrocarbon projects for the next 3050 years in the same way we did over the past 30 years. We must change the way we work. We cannot fall into complacency. Technical challenges are becoming more complex, and the supply chain is becoming more difficult. Therefore, the main challenge is not continuing with the approaches of the past but adapting to changing conditions, he added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. We are drilling bp's longest horizontal well in the region on the Central Azeri platform  1.1 km horizontal section, with an innovative sand filter, Giovanni Cristofoli, bp's regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkiye (AGT), said at the SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference held in Baku today, Trend reports.

According to him, new transport vehicles, robots, and drones are being deployed to inspect underwater pipelines:

We use digital twins to ensure the optimal operation of the facilities. As production from the fields decreases, even increasing the pressure on the topside by just one bar (10 psi) has a significant impact on output. This requires optimization with precision down to the smallest detail. Digital technologies play a key role in this process.

Geography is never a barrier. The only barrier can be a lack of leadership. But we have both the need and a mindset open to technology. This places us in a very strong position for future development, he added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. SOCAR is preparing to launch the largest seismic program in 2026, SOCAR Reservoir Development Manager Murad Seyidov said at the SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference in Baku, Trend reports.

According to him, starting next year, the company will begin implementing the largest seismic survey program in SOCAR's history to more accurately map reserves at mature fields.

"The 2026 seismic program will be the largest in SOCAR's history, and its key objective is to accurately determine underground reserves," he added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The Iranian Parliament has approved a comprehensive investigation into the use of anti-censorship tools and the management of national data access systems, Trend reports, citing the parliaments information portal.

The report, which was added to the parliamentary agenda and passed by majority vote, focuses on anti-filters, filter keys, and virtual private networks (VPNs). Out of the 223 lawmakers who took part in the vote, an overwhelming majority of 198 supported the measure, while 8 opposed it and 2 chose to abstain.

The investigation will examine multiple areas, including the extent of internet consumption abroad relative to domestic use, the illegal sale of anti-censorship tools within Iran, the recording of national network data on foreign platforms, oversight of anti-filter sales by regulatory authorities, and the monitoring of citizens proper internet usage.

Iran has long restricted access to certain information portals and social networks, prompting widespread use of anti-filters such as VPNs. Reports indicate that annual VPN sales in the country range from 200 to 500 trillion rials (about $329-823 million).

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. Kazakhstans TNS-Plus and Turkmenistans Turkmentelecom plan to collaborate on the construction of a cable border crossing and the integration of the countries' telecommunications networks, Trend reports via Kazakh Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.

The sides signed a memorandum of understanding during a bilateral meeting in Astana attended by Turkmenistans Minister of Communications, Hajymyrat Hudaygulyyev, Kazakhstans Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Zhaslan Madiyev, and Kazakhstans Vice Minister, Doszhan Mussaliyev.

To carry out the project, a joint working group will be formed. It will define the technical specifications of the new line, determine the border crossing point, and prepare the required design and cost documentation.

The project envisions completing major construction work within 12 months of the memorandums signing. It falls under the Protocol of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and has secured political backing from the relevant authorities in both countries.

Once implemented, the project is expected to significantly boost digital connectivity in the region, strengthen telecommunications cooperation, and improve the quality of international communication services between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

Over the past few years, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have been working systematically to deepen cooperation in space technologies, telecommunications, and digital solutions. Since 2019, the countries have held regular consultations, shared technical information, and conducted expert meetings to advance their collaboration in these areas.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedov discussed the strengthening of bilateral cooperation during a meeting in Astana, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.

Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan views Turkmenistan as a strategic partner and a "brotherly" nation, highlighting the close geographical and cultural ties between the two countries.

"Trade between our countries is thriving, and other forms of economic collaboration, as well as cultural and humanitarian exchanges, are also flourishing. We are fully satisfied with the volume and quality of our cooperation, which is strategic in nature. However, we must continue to move forward. Today, we are addressing critical issues that will be resolved through this discussion," Tokayev noted.

Berdimuhamedov, for his part, reiterated that Turkmenistan's relations with Kazakhstan are built on the principles of friendship, brotherhood, and good-neighborliness, spanning a broad spectrum of political-diplomatic, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian cooperation.

Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan signed Comprehensive Program for Strengthening Friendship and Deepening the Multifaceted Strategic Partnership for 20252027 in October 2024 in Ashgabat. The program aims to enhance cooperation across various sectors over three years. Key focuses include boosting bilateral trade to reach $1 billion, improving transport and logistics, and developing energy collaboration in the gas industry. The program also encompasses agreements in media, education, sports, and maritime activities, ultimately intended to foster significant projects that strengthen the nations' friendly relations.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. Kazakhstan plans to build a new seaport in Aktau, the governor of Mangistau region, Nurdaulet Kilybay said at a government meeting, Trend reports.

According to him, the investment project will cost $300 million. The Chinese group of companies Zhongyun International is acting as a partner. At the moment, the investor has already registered a company in the region and is preparing documents for signing an investment agreement.

The project will contribute to the formation of a new international transport corridor China - Kazakhstan - Aktau - Baku - Poti - Europe. Its implementation will reduce delivery times by 7-15 days, reduce transport costs by 18-25 percent, and create new jobs, Kilybay said.

Earlier during the goverment meeting, Kazakhstan's Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev stated that the construction of the first phase of the container hub in the port of Aktau, in cooperation with the Chinese company Lianyungang, will be completed by the end of the year.

Overall, the project will increase the container hub's capacity to 200,000 TEU per year. Projects are also underway in the port of Aktau to deepen the port's water area and modernize the berths, Sauranbayev said.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. Kazakhstan's investments in the economy of Turkmenistan have surpassed $120 million, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Astana, Trend reports via the Kazakh president's press service.

The leaders held an expanded-format meeting, where they discussed priority areas of bilateral cooperation. Among the key topics were trade-economic, cultural-humanitarian, and transport-logistics interactions. Special attention was given to joint projects in the fields of energy, industrial cooperation, agriculture, IT, education, and healthcare.

Tokayev highlighted that approximately 140 companies with Turkmen capital are currently operating in Kazakhstan. He also underscored the active and productive exchanges between the two countries at all levels, including government-to-government cooperation and strengthened interagency relations. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan also collaborate effectively within multilateral frameworks, Tokayev noted.

Astana and Ashgabat share a common vision and similar approaches on numerous regional and international issues. Our countries are committed to a deeper strategic partnership, and over the past five years, bilateral trade has more than quadrupled, surpassing $500 million, Tokayev said.

President Berdimuhamedov, in turn, reaffirmed that Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan are strategic partners in Central Asia.

In the political and diplomatic sphere, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan maintain constructive cooperation on pressing global issues, including ensuring peace and security, strengthening energy stability, developing transport connectivity, advancing sustainable development goals, and combating climate change, Berdimuhamedov stated.

In conclusion, Tokayev emphasized that Berdimuhamedovs visit to Kazakhstan will mark the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two nations.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. The launch of five cross-border hubs in Kazakhstan will increase non-oil exports by 30 percent, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliev said at a government meeting, Trend reports via the Kazakh government.

Shakkaliev stated that managing companies have been appointed for all the hubs, and infrastructure development is actively underway. One of the key projects is the creation of the "Central Asia" International Industrial Cooperation Center on Kazakhstan's border with Uzbekistan. This initiative aims to boost trade between the two countries, with the goal of increasing bilateral trade to $10 billion.

In the east of Kazakhstan, the Khorgos logistics hub is being expanded, incorporating the "Khorgos" and "Khorgos - Eastern Gates" special economic zones. To enhance capacity for trade with China, new infrastructure projects, including the Skyhansa International Airport and additional logistics complexes, are under construction.

Simultaneously, efforts are being made to develop the Caspian hub, with container hubs and multifunctional terminals being built at the ports of Aktau and Kuryk.

He added that on the western border, in the West Kazakhstan region, the "Eurasia" cross-border trade center is operational, focused on exports to Russia. Additionally, in the Zhambyl region along the "Western Europe - Western China" route, an industrial trade-logistics complex is being developed to manage cargo flows at the Kyrgyzstan border.

We are entering the active phase of investment project implementation. At this stage, the focus will be on the practical launch of projects, expanding logistics capabilities, and attracting businesses to new cooperation formats. The launch of these hubs will significantly accelerate trade with neighboring countries, increase non-oil exports by 30 percent, and provide efficient logistics conditions for Kazakhstani companies, he said.
"We would expect that a lot of our mitigation tactics, which we've been working at for the last nine months here, those will start to take hold heading into 2026," chief financial officer Robert Ball said on the call.

The apparel company, which also owns Hollister , said it expects a $60 million tariff impact for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025.

During its November earnings call, Abercrombie & Fitch executives told analysts that the company is planning "targeted price increases" for its spring inventory.

CEO Bjrn Gulden said in a statement accompanying Adidas's latest results that the company doesn't know "what the indirect impact on consumer demand will be should all these tariffs cause major inflation."

Vietnam, which accounted for 27% of the German retailer's total volume in 2024, will face a 20% tariff from August 1. Indonesia made 19% of Adidas' products and will face a 19% tariff.

Adidas said it will raise prices in the US because of a double-digit million euro hit from tariffs in the second quarter and a further predicted 200 million euro, about $218 million, cost from levies in the second half of the year.

Here are the companies that have implemented or warned of price increases in recent months.

Some economists have said that Trump's tariffs  and the uncertainty with his overall trade policy  could lead companies to raise prices on the goods they produce.

The situation is fluid, as various countries continue to negotiate potential trade deals with the US. The Supreme Court heard arguments in November over whether Trump's tariffs can stand. Following the hearing, stocks got a boost as reports emerged that justices seemed skeptical of his power to impose the tariffs.

While firms raise prices for many reasons, some were blaming price hikes on tariffs long before Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" on April 2. That's when he announced a 10% baseline tariff on imports from most countries, except Canada and Mexico, and a host of "reciprocal" tariffs on top of that.

Prices are expected to go up this year as many companies signal plans to raise them in response to President Donald Trump's slew of tariffs .

Business Insider is tracking companies that have said they'll raise prices due to tariffs  and those that already have.

Even before his so-called " Liberation Day ," companies warned they would pass costs on to shoppers.

Trump's tariffs have led some companies to reveal that they plan to raise prices.

Story Continues

Abercrombie & Fitch has plans to raise prices on spring styles. Plexi Images/GHI/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

AutoZone

Philip Daniele, the CEO of the auto-parts company AutoZone, told analysts on a September earnings call that tariff policies had "ebbed and flowed over the years," and if Trump implemented more tariffs, "we will pass those tariff costs back to the consumer."

"We generally raise prices ahead of that," Daniele said, adding that prices would gradually settle over time. "So, that's historically what we've done," he said.

A 25% tariff on car imports is expected to increase manufacturing costs by anywhere from $4,000 to $12,000.

Best Buy

Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said during the company's March earnings call that Trump's tariff plans are likely to increase prices.

"Trade is critically important to our business and industry. The consumer electronic supply chain is highly global, technical, and complex," Barry said. "We expect our vendors across our entire assortment will pass along some level of tariff costs to retailers, making price increases for American consumers highly likely."

Camera makers Nikon, Canon, and Leica

Several big suppliers of photography equipment have announced their own price hikes.

"Due to the recent tariffs, a necessary price adjustment for products will take effect on June 23, 2025. We will be carefully monitoring any tariff developments and may adjust pricing as necessary to reflect the evolving market conditions," Nikon said in an announcement in May.

In its first-quarter earnings call, Canon said it will raise prices but is still "in the process of estimating the timing and amount of the increase."

At Leica, price increases across some product lines took effect May 1.

"This is not a Leica-initiated price increase, but a result of the newly enacted tariffs that began on April 5 on imported products, which are significantly impacting the cost of imported goods, including photographic equipment and optics," Leica USA Trade Marketing and Product Communications Manager Nathan Kellum-Pathe said in a statement to Digital Camera World in April.

Conagra

Conagra Brands CEO Sean Connolly told Reuters on April 3 that the food company may have to hike prices to offset the cost of tariffs on ingredients like cocoa, olive oil, palm oil, and a type of steel used for its canned products.

Connolly said that Conagra, which makes products such as Hunt's ketchup, imports tin plate steel for its canned food and tomatoes from Mexico.

It was too early to tell how big price hikes on the company's food products would be, he said.

Columbia Sportswear

Tim Boyle, the CEO of Columbia Sportswear, told analysts on an October earnings call that the company was "very concerned about the imposition of tariffs. " He said that while he considered Columbia adept at managing tariffs, "trade wars are not good and not easy to win."

Boyle also told The Washington Post in October that the company was "set to raise prices."

"It's going to be very, very difficult to keep products affordable for Americans," he said. He later said in a February interview with CNBC that "we need some surety about what is going to happen" before making price changes.

Columbia Sportswear flagship store Richard Clement/Reuters

Ferrari

Italian luxury carmaker Ferrari said in March it'd raise prices by up to 10% on certain models imported to the US starting April 2.

The change was made "based on the preliminary information currently available regarding the introduction of import tariffs on EU cars into the USA," the company said.

Ford

Ford raised prices in May on some models produced in Mexico, Reuters reported based on a notice sent to dealers.

Bloomberg also reported that the automaker planned to raise prices on new gas and electric cars starting in May unless Trump gives the industry some relief from tariffs.

During a September earnings call, CEO Jim Farley said that the tariffs would leave it with a $2 billion bill.

Ford, in a memo to dealers viewed by Bloomberg in April, said that the company anticipates "the need to make vehicle pricing adjustments in the future, which is expected to happen with May production."

On April 14, Trump told reporters that he was contemplating a temporary tariff exemption for autos to give manufacturers more time to move production to the US  but no blanket exemption has yet been instituted.

Hermes

Eric du Halgouet, executive vice president of finance at the company, told analysts on a call in April that Hermes, the luxury retailer known for its iconic Birkin handbags, hadn't yet been affected by the tariffs, but said the company would raise prices in the US in May.

"The price increase that we're going to implement will be just for the US. Since it's aimed at offsetting the increase in tariffs, that only applies to the American market," du Halgouet said on the call.

Home Depot

Home Depot said during its August earnings call that tariffs will start affecting some price tags in the coming months.

"There'll be some modest price movement in some categories, but it won't be broad-based," said William Bastek, the home improvement chain's executive vice president of merchandising.

A majority of Home Depot's products are sourced within the US, which means they aren't subject to tariffs, Bastek said.

However, regarding some of the company's imported items, he said, "tariff rates are significantly higher today than they were when we spoke in May," referring to the company's previous earnings call.

The company still aims to keep the cost of an overall shopping trip down.

"Our customers tend to shop for the entire project  you think about a small flooring project, tile, the grout, bathtub, and vanity in a bath project," he said. "And so we're laser-focused on protecting the cost of the entire project."

Macy's

In its first-quarter earnings report in May, Macy's announced it was reducing its earnings outlook for the year because of several factors, including higher tariffs and consumers' moderating their discretionary spending.

In a post-earnings call, Macy's CEO, Tony Spring, added that the department store chain would be raising prices on some items to account for higher tariffs.

Spring said that higher "pricing is working its way into the system slowly," adding, "That's why we have taken a more cautious approach to our outlook for the year."

The company's COO and CFO, Adrian Mitchell, followed up to Spring's comment. "We are not just broadly increasing price," he said. "We're being incredibly surgical about the situation with tariffs."

He added, "We're making selective price increase in selective brands, selective categories. So some of the impact on our gross margin this year is going to be around the tariffs."

The news comes in the midst of Macy's plan to close around 150 underperforming stores around the country by 2027 as it leans into expanding its luxury brands, including the high-end department store Bloomingdale's and beauty chain Bluemercury.

Nike

Nike planned to raise prices in order to offset an expected $1 billion additional tariff costs in the 2026 fiscal year, the company told investors in a June earnings call.

"These tariffs represent a new and meaningful cost headwind," said CFO Matthew Friend during the analyst call about Nike's 2025 fiscal year.

The company said it would implement a "surgical price increase" starting this fall in the US, with "phased implementation."

Nike just ousted its CEO after struggling to boost sales. Andia/ Getty Images

Nintendo

While Nintendo's Switch 2 console hasn't seen a price hike due to tariffs, the company has raised the price of some earlier Switch models and accessories based on "market conditions."

Other "price adjustments may be necessary in the future," the company said in August.

The logo of the Nintendo is displayed at Nintendo Tokyo, the first-ever Nintendo official store in Japan, during a press preview in Tokyo Reuters

Procter & Gamble

P&G, the consumer goods company behind brands like Tide and Charmin, is looking at raising prices on new and existing products.

CEO Jon Moeller told CNBC in April that price hikes were "likely."

"We will have to pull every lever we have in our arsenal to mitigate the impact of tariffs within our cost structure and P&L," P&G's CFO, Andre Schulten, said on a call with reporters.

The company is evaluating "exactly what is the right plan by brand, by market, what combination of pricing, over what period of time," Schulten said.

The electronic ticker at the New York Stock Exchange shows the Procter and Gamble stock quotes in New York Thomson Reuters

Shein and Temu

The two Chinese retailers released almost identical notices on April 16, both reading: "Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up."

"To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustments starting April 25, 2025," Shein's statement said.

Shein, a fast-fashion retailer, and Temu, a marketplace for everything from home goods to electronics, promised their US customers eight final days of low-price shopping.

In addition to hiking tariffs on imports from China, Trump also cracked down on the de minimis trade loophole that allowed small parcels under $800 to enter the US tax-free. Shein and Temu were large beneficiaries of this loophole.

Shein and other fast-fashion companies have come under scrutiny for chemicals in their clothing. Rodrigo Arangua/AFP via Getty Images

Stanley Black & Decker

Donald Allan, the CEO of the manufacturing company Stanley Black & Decker, said during a February earnings call: "Our approach to any tariff scenario will be to offset the impacts with a mix of supply chain and pricing actions, which might lag the formalization of tariffs by two to three months."

Allan had previously told analysts in an October 2024 earnings call that the company had been evaluating "a variety of different scenarios" to plan for new tariffs under Trump.

"And obviously, coming out of the gate, there would be price increases associated with tariffs that we put into the market," Allan said, adding that "there's usually some type of delay given the processes that our customers have around implementing price."

Swatch

Swiss watchmaker Swatch said in September that it planned to raise its prices in the US up to 15% to offset Trump's 39% tariffs on goods from Switzerland.

Swatch CEO Nick Hayek announced the price hike in an interview with Swiss news outlet NZZ am Sonntag.

"Depending on the brand, we will increase prices in the range of 5 to 15%. But since we also have a strong presence in Canada and Mexico, there will be opportunities there too for American consumers," Hayek told NZZ am Sonntag.

On September 10, Swatch released a watch mocking the 39% tariffs called "WHAT IF...TARIFFS?" which had its three and nine numbers reversed.

The Swiss government said in November that it had reached a deal to lower US tariffs on Swiss goods to 15%, though the countries have not said when the new rate would go into effect.

Target

Target CEO Brian Cornell told CNBC in a March interview that Trump's 25% tariff plan on goods from Mexico and Canada would likely result in price increases on produce.

"Those are categories where we'll try to protect pricing, but the consumer will likely see price increases over the next couple of days," Cornell said.

Some prices at the store have already gone up.

Shopping carts are lined up outside of a Target store on November 16, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Volkswagen

According to a memo first reported by Automotive News, Volkswagen said it would place an import fee on vehicles made outside the US in response to Trump's 25% tariff on car imports.

Kjell Gruner, Volkswagen's North America chief executive, recently said the carmaker would keep prices steady through the end of May but that they could increase in June.

"Volkswagen takes the safety and security of its customers very seriously. Our thoughts are with the victims and their family. Volkswagen has a procedure in place with a third-party provider for Car-Net Support Services involving emergency requests from law enforcement. They have executed this process successfully in previous incidents. Unfortunately, in this instance, there was a serious breach of the process. We are addressing the situation with the parties involved. " Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Walmart

On May 15, Walmart executives said price increases were likely to spike even higher, blaming Trump's ongoing trade war.

"Even at the reduced levels, the higher tariffs will result in higher prices," CEO Doug McMillon said during the company's first quarter earnings call.

US sales were boosted by shoppers looking to beat tariff-related price hikes  but despite strong first-quarter results, Walmart's chief financial officer, John David Rainey, said the extra costs are too great for the company to take on without passing part of the burden on to consumers.

"We're wired for everyday low prices, but the magnitude of these increases is more than any retailer can absorb," he said.

Meanwhile, Walmart workers have shared photos of price hikes being applied to store products.

How have prices affected you? Reach out to abitter@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. After wrapping up high-level talks in Astana, Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan and Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan came together to sign a Joint Statement focused on boosting their bilateral relations, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.

Among the key agreements was a Joint Action Plan for Transport Cooperation between the two countries for 2026-2027.

Moreover, the officials from both countries shook hands and put pen to paper on agreements that span a broad spectrum of sectors, touching on cultural exchanges, migration, and healthcare. Notably, the sides agreed on enhanced pension system cooperation and signed a memorandum to advance veterinary services and agricultural research.

Kazakhstans National Academy of Sciences and Turkmenistans Academy of Sciences also agreed to increase research collaboration, while media cooperation between the two nations was formalized through a memorandum between Kazakhstans Presidential Television and Radio Complex and Turkmenistans State Committee for Television, Radio, and Cinematography.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan came into agreement to consider the launch of direct commercial flights between their cities, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced following talks with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Astana, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.

Tokayev underscored that bilateral commerce between the two nations consistently surpasses the $500 million threshold and indicated that both parties have concurred on implementing strategic initiatives to elevate reciprocal trade to the $1 billion mark.

To achieve this, Kazakhstan has proposed a work plan to boost trade turnover. To support businesses in both countries, a decision was made to establish joint trade houses. We also agreed to explore the possibility of opening direct commercial flights between the cities of our two countries, said Tokayev.

Additionally, the presidents discussed the prospects of building a railway line connecting the region to South Asia through Afghanistan.

Tokayev also pointed out that in the first 10 months of the current year, freight traffic between the two countries reached 1.5 million tons.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have agreed to continue their collaboration in the areas of gas processing and the development of gas transport infrastructure, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said following talks with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Astana, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh President.

Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan has been a reliable partner for many years in transporting Turkmen natural gas to China. He emphasized that the Strategic Cooperation Agreement signed last year has been an important foundation for this collaboration, focusing on the development of the gas sector.

Alongside gas cooperation, Kazakhstan has invited Turkmenistan to join joint projects in the digitalization of public services and the introduction of IT technologies, drawing on Kazakhstans experience in these areas.

During President Tokayevs official visit to Turkmenistan in October 2024, QazaqGaz and Turkmengaz signed a strategic agreement. The document outlines cooperation in several key areas, including exploration and QazaqGazs participation in Turkmenistans gas fields, particularly the Galkynysh field, as well as involvement in major pipeline initiatives such as TAPI and the import of commercial gas from Turkmenistan to Kazakhstan.

The agreement is expected to further deepen the countries energy partnership and create new avenues for collaboration. Kazakhstan also reaffirmed its interest in exploring and developing gas condensate fields in Turkmenistan as part of ongoing efforts to expand bilateral energy ties.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have discussed increasing the supply of Kazakh wheat to the Turkmen market, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said following talks with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Astana, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh President.

Tokayev emphasized that there are significant opportunities to increase exports of plant oils, pasta, and dairy products. He also highlighted plans to construct a grain terminal on the Turkmen-Afghan border to facilitate trade between the two countries.

The presidents further discussed the potential development of a railway line connecting the region to South Asia via Afghanistan, aimed at strengthening regional trade connectivity.

Tokayev noted that bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan consistently exceeds $500 million. Both sides agreed on strategic initiatives to raise mutual trade to $1 billion.

To achieve this goal, Kazakhstan has proposed a comprehensive work plan to boost trade turnover. To support businesses in both nations, we will establish joint trade houses. We also agreed to explore the possibility of launching direct commercial flights between key cities in our countries, Tokayev added.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. Kazakhstan is developing a feasibility study for a project to build a highway along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), the Kazakh Deputy Minister of Transport Maksat Kaliakparov said, at a press conference following a government meeting, Trend reports.

He added that there are also plans to expand the Western Europe-Western China transport corridor to increase its capacity. The project will be implemented in coordination with neighboring countries to avoid bottlenecks on their territory. All work is being carried out within the framework of a unified strategic approach.

In addition, Kaliakparov noted that for the convenience of carriers, a green corridor for customs clearance of transit cargo is planned to be introduced at checkpoints in Kazakhstan, which will significantly simplify procedures. As part of this work, all checkpoints are undergoing modernization.

"As for determining the directions for road construction, today we are seeing significant growth in transit traffic  on average, 3035 percent annually. To ensure its smooth operation, we are developing a large-scale road strategy, calculated in stages until 2030, 2035, and 2040. Work is currently underway to identify the most promising transit and transport routes that need to be developed first," Kaliakparov noted.

According to him, a transport framework will be formed to ensure the country's transit capabilities.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), or Middle Corridor, is a multimodal trade route that connects China and Southeast Asia to Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus, and Turkiye. It serves as a key alternative to routes that pass through Russia, especially since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions. The route is seeing a significant increase in freight traffic and involves infrastructure development across its member countries, such as Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The upcoming EU - Central Asia Economic Forum, set to take place on November 26, 2025, in Tashkent, will serve as a key platform for deepening economic cooperation between the European Union and the Central Asian countries.

This forum continues the series of meetings initiated in 2021 in Bishkek and in 2023 in Almaty, with a focus on improving the business climate, enhancing transport and trade connectivity, promoting regional integration, developing skills, and establishing sustainable value chains for critical resources. The forum will include participation from EU representatives, government officials from Central Asia, members of the private sector from Europe and the region, international financial institutions, and other international organizations. For Kazakhstan, this cycle of meetings offers the potential to achieve several strategic and measurable outcomes.

A key potential benefit for Kazakhstan from participating in the forum is the development of transport infrastructure. On November 27, 2025, following the economic forum, an Investment Forum dedicated to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (TITR) will be held. This strategic trade route, for which the EU has allocated 10 billion euro, originates in China and passes through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, crossing the Caspian Sea and continuing through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey before reaching Europe. For Kazakhstan, the route presents significant opportunities, as the country serves as a pivotal transit hub. Cooperation with the EU within the TITR framework offers prospects for modernizing ports, rail infrastructure, and logistics systems, which could enhance Kazakhstans transit capacity and increase revenues from trade.

Second, the forum provides Kazakhstan with additional access to European investments and financing tools. The EU has already invested significant funds in Kazakhstan: in the past two decades, EU countries have directed over $200 billion in direct investments into Kazakhstans economy. In 2024, direct investments from EU countries amounted to $7.9 billion. Additionally, the EU is a major trade partner for Kazakhstan. Bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and EU countries reached $48.8 billion in 2024, a 16.9% increase from 2023 ($41.3 billion). Kazakhstan accounts for 80 percent of Central Asias total trade with the EU. In 2024, Kazakhstans exports to the EU amounted to $38.14 billion, a 22.9 percent increase compared to the previous year ($31 billion), while imports reached $10.69 billion, a 1.9 percent increase from 2023. Furthermore, over 3,000 companies with European participation are currently operating in Kazakhstan.

A third potential benefit for Kazakhstan is related to raw material policies. The EU is seeking to diversify its supply of critical raw materials, and Kazakhstan is viewed as one of the key partners for stable supply chains of these resources. The country is a significant supplier of raw materials for European industries, including oil, petroleum products, uranium, ferroalloys, and titanium. In turn, the EU is actively working on developing sustainable supply chains for critical raw materials (CRMs), and Kazakhstan plays a crucial role in this process. The European Union supports Kazakhstan through several programs aimed at developing this sector. One such project is a program in which the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is allocating 3 million euro to improve supply chains for strategic raw materials in Central Asia. The goal of this initiative is to facilitate joint projects and promote international best practices in building sustainable supply chains for critical raw materials.

During his visit to Kazakhstan in March 2025, the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Sikela, emphasized that Europe needs reliable access to critical raw materials essential for modernizing its economy. He expressed the EU's commitment to developing mutually beneficial cooperation with Kazakhstan in the extraction and development of these resources. According to Sikela, this partnership is intended to support all Central Asian countries, with a particular focus on boosting Kazakhstan's economy, strengthening its industrial potential, creating new opportunities for Kazakh businesses, stimulating innovation, and generating high-quality jobs.

This creates an opportunity for Kazakhstan not only to export raw materials but also to attract investment for processing and producing higher-value products. At the forum, the parties could discuss mechanisms for such integration, which could become a growth point for Kazakhstans national industry.

Finally, the forum will also strengthen cooperation in areas such as digital trade, education, and human capital development. The EU is already financing Kazakhstan in the areas of reforms, civil society programs, and academic mobility projects.

Additionally, Kazakhstan is actively participating in the EUs Global Gateway initiative - a strategy aimed at creating smart, eco-friendly, and secure infrastructure connections in digital, energy, and transport sectors worldwide. In Kazakhstan, this strategy focuses on developing strategic partnerships in areas such as raw materials, battery technologies, and green hydrogen.

Participation in the EU - Central Asia Economic Forum opens up significant opportunities for Kazakhstan for sustainable and balanced growth. This is a chance for the country to strengthen transport corridors, which will directly impact the growth of transit revenues and the expansion of logistics routes. Developing raw material processing will not only increase product added value but also attract green investments, aligning with global sustainable development trends.

Institutional and financial support from the EU will improve Kazakhstans investment attractiveness, stabilize the business climate and creating a more predictable environment for foreign investors. Programs for skills development and digital transformation will help strengthen Kazakhstans human capital and technological potential, accelerating its integration into international economic and production chains. All of this creates new opportunities for economic growth and enhances Kazakhstans position both in Central Asia and on the global stage.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. Kazakhstan has approved new rules requiring foreign nationals to register with the Interior Ministry if they stay in the country for more than 30 days, Trend reports via the Electronic Standard Control Bank of Regulatory Legal Acts of Kazakhstan.

The order, signed by Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov, will come into force on 1 July 2026.

According to the document, immigrants arriving from countries that allow visa-free stays of up to 90 days must complete registration no later than the 30th calendar day after crossing the state border, unless otherwise provided by international agreements.

Under the new procedure, foreign citizens will enter their personal data into the Migration Police Information System, including name, date of birth, passport details, and the address of their temporary stay. The person providing accommodation will receive a notification via the mobile application and must confirm or decline the registration.

Once confirmed, the immigrant will receive an electronic certificate of registration through their personal account in the system.

The rules also outline grounds for refusal of registration, including the submission of incorrect information, violation of permitted stay periods, or refusal by the host to confirm accommodation.

If a foreign national changes address, they are required to update registration within five working days. Deregistration from the previous address will occur automatically.

Registration will be available for those residing in houses, apartments, dormitories, hotels, rest houses, sanatoriums, and other premises used for accommodation.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The military airstrikes on Iran by Israel and the United States in June dealt a severe blow to the core principles of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, Trend reports.

Speaking at the 30th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the CWC (CSP-30) in the Netherlands, Araghchi said that in addition to nuclear facilities under Iranian control, centers monitored by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) were also targeted, creating risks of chemical and radioactive material proliferation that could threaten human health and the environment beyond Irans borders.

To ensure the functions of the OPCW, principles of equality and impartiality must be upheld without discrimination. The Chemical Weapons Convention was adopted to achieve the destruction of weapons of mass destruction and prevent their production. It was never intended to serve the political interests of specific countries, he emphasized.

On the morning of June 13, Israel carried out military air strikes against Iran, leading to the deaths of numerous high-ranking military officials, generals, nuclear scientists, and other senior personnel.

Meanwhile, on the same evening, Iran responded to Israel with Operation True Promise III: hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones were launched at several targets, including Tel Aviv, resulting in civilian casualties and widespread destruction.

On June 22, the US launched military airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. It was reported that the airstrikes destroyed Iranian nuclear facilities.

In addition, on the evening of June 23, Iran launched airstrikes on a US military base in Qatar.

On June 24, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that the Israeli government had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran, brokered by US President Donald Trump.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council also issued a statement noting the cessation of attacks.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Irans Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi will visit France on November 26, the spokesperson of Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmail Baghaei, told local media, Trend reports.

He said that after participating in the annual meeting of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the Netherlands, Irans foreign minister will travel to Paris at the invitation of his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barron.

Baghaei noted that during the visit, discussions will be held on bilateral issues, regional and international matters, as well as the situation of Iranian citizen Mehdiye Esfandyari.

Within the framework of the visit, Irans position will be stated on its nuclear program, important international issues, agreements with other countries based on mutual respect, and other related matters, he added.

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With the prospect of ending the war in Ukraine looming on the horizon, Armenian revanchist and Russian chauvinist publications have renewed hopes that "Azerbaijan is next." These hopes are sometimes visited by revanchist circles in Armenia, and they try to build propaganda against the current authorities on such narratives. The pre-election season in Armenia is very hot, and no arguments will hurt if it is necessary to gloss over the obvious advantages of Nikol Pashinyan's peaceful steps.

The revanchists do not expect Armenia to strengthen, as they understand that no matter how it strengthens, it will not be able to catch up with its neighbor. This is a completely meaningless race, so the revanchist circles do not promise their electorate that Armenia will get back on its feet and return everything. They promise the Armenians that, having finished dealing with Ukraine, Russia will come and take Karabakh away from Azerbaijan, and they will not have long to wait. And, as the Armenians are convinced, it would have happened a long time ago if Moscow had not been busy on the Ukrainian front. Would the Russian peacekeepers have left voluntarily? - They exclaim. Never. In five years, a military base would have already been established in Karabakh and many other things would be pleasant for Armenian ambitions.

And in order to make the Russian side feel guilty, various experts on various talk shows are trying to prove that Azerbaijan actually did not win anything after the 44-day war, but all its victories were achieved thanks to Russia. And if she wanted to, she could recognize the separatist "referendum" right now and denounce all the treaties of the 20s of the last century, returning Karabakh, Nakhchivan, and everything else for which the nationalists have appetites to the Armenians. The revanchist tribe really does not understand why Moscow has not done all this yet, despite not having the best relations with Baku. During the period of escalation, the Armenians froze in anticipation of changes. It would seem that Russia should have "punished" Azerbaijan not even for the sake of the Armenians, but for the sake of Russian interests themselves. And what do you think, what is the answer to this question found by the most gifted? In their opinion, there simply aren't any real Russians left in Russia, otherwise it wouldn't have tolerated it...

Similar thoughts are voiced by some Russian experts. Surely, everyone has already heard Alexei Venediktov's cheerful statements to the Armenian media that the conflict is not over and everything is still ahead. The well-known expert seemed to have come to Yerevan to convey to Armenians through local media that as soon as Russia has a resource, pleasant surprises await them. In any case, that's how it was understood on the Armenian side. After the Victory Day parade, opposition media rushed to Russian experts for comments on the "European demarche." Let's explain: the diplomats of most European countries did not accept the invitation to the parade, and this caused excitement in revanchist circles. Nikolai Topornin, director of the Center for European Information, replied that yes, they did not come, but this does not mean anything, since Baku has always cared what Europe thinks. Did Macron want to recognize Karabakh? Well, he didn't admit it. So he didn't really want to. When they really want to, they impose sanctions and all that stuff.

Speaking of sanctions, France has tripled its purchases of Azerbaijani oil since the beginning of the year. That's true, by the way.

The opinion that Azerbaijan does not care what the West or the east thinks about it is not entirely accurate. Azerbaijan cares. He wants his realities to be perceived for what they are, and not viewed through the prism of someone else's geopolitical interests. Unfortunately, most of the time it remains only our wish. And this, of course, upsets us. So Azerbaijan does care, but it does not perceive other people's opinion as a guide to action and does not adjust its policy in accordance with it. The fact that the ambassadors of European countries refused to attend the parade should be taken philosophically. That's how they perceive it in Baku. According to the Armenian media, this demarche will not affect bilateral relations in any way, just as all the previous statements from European capitals that we heard after the war did not. The above fact about the import of Azerbaijani oil speaks for itself.

To be honest, the online discussions that have arisen in connection with the news about Ukraine are hilarious. The revanchist chatter, multiplied by the inextinguishable megalomania and numerous complexes of Armenian nationalists, looks funny. Today's fuss is an echo of the anti-Azerbaijani campaign in the Russian media that took place several months ago. The campaign has stopped, but its echoes still resound in the ears of the Armenian revanchists, who had high hopes for it.

The opposition opposing Nikol Pashinyan bases its propaganda on the Russian factor. The diaspora is working on the western "front", but this does not have much effect in conditions when official Yerevan has abandoned the policy of slander and whining and constantly focuses on the advent of the era of peace. This is a very important nuance. For example, Macron cannot raise the issue of the return of Armenians to Karabakh if the Armenian Prime Minister declares that it is harmful to the Armenian statehood. The hysteria of separatists and revanchists cannot serve as a basis for official statements by Paris. I think Armenia's allies are even happy about this turnaround, because they can finally relax in their relations with Azerbaijan, which they need much more.

The same is the case with the hopes of bringing the Karabakh issue back on the agenda through Moscow's hands. I remember that during the period of the aggravation of relations, there were many aggressive calls in the Russian media space. They did not give anything to the revanchists, except for temporary moral satisfaction. Today, zealous propaganda against Azerbaijan is no longer so widespread and is limited to a small number of publications. For example, recently Novaya Gazeta published a huge article about how Azerbaijan is "destroying monuments and culture" and "reformatting the history" of the Karabakh region. The article is full of details and photographic materials, crammed into it everything that has accumulated, so to speak. Interestingly, at the same time, a cloying article published by Izvestia a few years before the war began to be quoted in social networks, telling about life in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Armenian bloggers especially like the phrases from the article belonging to the fraudster Gurgen Martirosyan, who called himself "Archbishop of Artsakh" Pargev during the occupation period. This Pargev, or whatever his name is, said that it was the Armenians who invited the Russians to the Caucasus, and Karabakh became part of Russia even before Armenia.

Why did these mothballed quotes come up? It seems to separate the interests of the separatists from the interests of the current Armenian authorities and signal to the Russian side that Karabakh Armenians are not interested in Yerevan's opinion. Even Pop Pargev said that Karabakh joined Russia before Armenia. And even though Pashinyan "sold out" to the Americans, the separatists continue to rely on their older brother.

All this can be attributed to the propaganda campaign fever. The revanchists are trying very hard to win the hearts of the Armenian society, pointing out that the light at the end of the tunnel is not where Nikol Pashinyan is leading the country, but in a completely different direction. Someone does. And for those who believe in the revanchists, let's just say that moths also fly to every light bulb. Everyone knows how it ends in wildlife.
Michail Petrov / Shutterstock.com

Quick Read

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Listen up, dividend overachievers! With a mere $2,500 per stock or exchange traded fund (ETF), it's entirely possible to bring in $3,500 worth of passive income per year.

To sweeten the deal, we can build out a master plan that will get you paid on a monthly basis and maybe even on a weekly basis. The trick is to look into the realm of real estate, where the stocks can pay surprisingly high yields.

Then, you can round out your portfolio with a handful of YieldMax ETFs, which are known for their sizable and frequent cash distributions to shareholders. You'll need to be able to tolerate some risk, but that's the price of admission if you want to follow this plan to earn $3,500 per year.

To sum it up, the idea is to invest $2,500 in five stocks or ETFs, for a total of $12,500. To get $3,500 per year in passive income, your average annual yield will have to be at least $3,500 / $12,500 or 28%. With that in mind, here comes the first stock pick.

ARMOUR Residential REIT (ARR)

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Iran and the Netherlands exchanged views on bilateral relations, along with the ins and outs of regional and international developments, Trend reports.

The issues were discussed during the meeting between Irans Minister of Foreign Affairs, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, and the Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Van Weel, on the sidelines of the 30th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

During the talks, the visit of a senior official from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Tehran and the agreement to kick off political and consular consultations between the two sides were seen as an important step toward building up bilateral cooperation.

Commenting on developments in the region, Araghchi stated that "all states can take steps to help ensure that the rule of law prevails.

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The Courier shines a light specfically on UC's enrollment growth and developments on campus. UC President Neville Pinto, PhD, explained how this growth is a reflection of the university's role in the community.

Weve really doubled down on the fact that we as an institution have been associated with this region for over 200 years, he said in an intervew.

This fall, UC enrolled 53,682 students, a 1% increase over last years enrollment, or an additional 447 students. Since Dr. Pinto launched his Next Lives Here strategic direction in 2018, the university has grown by nearly 9,000 students.

However, Dr. Pinto said that enrollment growth is more than a number and is really about young people pursuing higher education in this community and learning new skills, with the potential of joining the workforce, starting a family and contributing to the regions overall wellbeing.

UC's co-op program, which is ranked No. 4 in the country by U.S. News & World Report, gives many students a jumpstart into the workforce by helping them earn while they learn in companies across the region.
The collections can help researchers track processes like the succession of forests or emerging invasive species and human impacts.

Collections Manager Olivia Leek, who is studying biology at UC, worked to organize the collection in its new home. She is using herbaria to study plant collection trends in Northern Appalachia for her thesis.

I have a good idea of what we have in the collection. Thats useful when people come in to ask what we have, she said.

Tepe does a lot of his botanical research in South America, particularly in Ecuador. The rainforest has a wealth of plants and animals that have not been scientifically classified. But oil has been discovered here so there is more urgency to identify whats there, Tepe said.

The project Im working on now is based in the Ecuadorian Amazon in an hour car ride and an eight-hour boat ride from the nearest town, he said. That area of Ecuador is wildly under-collected.

Animals, too, he said. He has taken part in moth surveys which involve setting up white sheets vertically at night in front of bright lights in the rainforest.

Wed get 20, 30 or 40 species per night and 50% would be new to science, he said. And then you pack up and go 100 meters lower elevation and youd see almost none of the same insects.

Tepe said finding something new is always exciting.

You have the idea that it happens when youre out in the jungle, and you see something new and youre like Oh, my God! he said. But that rarely happens. Most discoveries happen in the lab when youre comparing specimens and wracking your brain  this doesnt make sense! And suddenly everything falls into place and you realize you're looking at a new species.

Discovery is often a study in frustration.

Featured image at top: UC Associate Professor Eric Tepe removes a specimen from a sliding cabinet in the newly relocated Margaret H. Fulford Herbarium in Rieveschl Hall. Photo/Michael Miller
Good morning. The Warren Buffett era is soon coming to an end.

When the legendary investor announced in May 2025 that he would step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (No. 6 on the Fortune 500) effective Jan. 1, 2026, it marked a shift in decades of leadership. Buffett will be succeeded by Greg Abel as CEO, who has been vice chairman of Berkshires non-insurance operations. Buffett will remain with the company as chairman of the board after the transition.

For six decades, Berkshire shareholders have never needed to study Buffetts investing aptitude. They could just buy Berkshire stock and let him do the work, with amazing results. In his new Fortune feature article, my colleague Geoff Colvin examines what life will be like for shareholders and the company after Buffett steps down.

Colvin raises the following questions: Is Berkshire Hathaway so immersed in Buffetts way of investing that his successors will carry it on institutionally? Or is Buffett unique in so many ways that Berkshire can never hope to continue his staggering performance?

He suggests that Buffetts 1977 letter to shareholders may offer an answer.

Colvin writes: He described the criteria of a truly great, enduring business, as understood by him and his longtime business partner, Charlie Munger. The criterion of enduring, he wrote, eliminates the business whose success depends on having a great managerOf course, a terrific CEO is a huge asset for any enterpriseBut if a business requires a superstar to produce great results, the business itself cannot be deemed great.

Buffett is obviously a superstar, and its hard to see any inherent factors, other than Buffett, that have made Berkshire Hathaway so hugely successful. He seems to have chosen excellently with Abel and Berkshires other top executives. But the world wont know how good they really are until theyre on their own.

Has Buffett picked a successor as superbly as he picks stocks? After 60 years, its the hardest call Berkshires shareholders have ever had to make. Colvin offers a deep dive into five investing lessons everyone can learn from Buffett. You can read the complete article here.

I recall asking Jonte Harrell, CFO at ZenLedger, a tech company that provides tax and compliance software for digital assets, about his thoughts on Buffett after he attended Berkshire Hathaways annual shareholder meeting in Nebraska for the first time last year. Harrell told me that Buffetts insights have been helpful to him throughout his career.

Harrell added that along with investing advice, Buffett offers a lot of life advice: how to live (ethically, and below your means), how to do business (with emotional discipline), and how to give back (through The Giving Pledge), he said.
By Alex Greenwood, November 21, 2025

On a recent evening at UCM Lees Summit at the Missouri Innovation Campus (MIC), a large room quickly filled with families, strollers and smartphone camera flashes. Four generations crowded together as new certificate earners crossed the front of the hall, some in home-decorated mortarboards and scrubs. There was laughter, tears, a couple of sheet cakes and unmistakable pride.

These ceremonies are the public face of the University of Central Missouris (UCM) Center for Workforce and Professional Education, where short-term, skills-focused training is helping Missourians step into better jobs faster. The Center's mission is straightforward: serve people who do not have the time, resources or interest to pursue a four-year degree by preparing them for family-sustaining careers  in weeks and months, not years.

The delivery model is equally pragmatic. Students can choose online, hybrid or face-to-face formats depending on their work schedules, childcare constraints and learning preferences. Programs range from healthcare certificates to customized corporate training, all designed to match the pace and demands of adult learners already balancing jobs and families.

"We start by instilling hope," Program Manager Scott Boyce said. "Many of our learners have never had a positive academic experience. We meet them where they are, build confidence, then layer in technical skills tied to real jobs."

CoreBuilders: Soft skills that are hard to find

Boyce added that each program begins with CoreBuilders, a homegrown curriculum developed in 2009 with input from Kansas City employers and the Full Employment Council. Designed to fill the soft-skills gap identified by hiring managers, CoreBuilders covers self-leadership, integrity, communication, teamwork, problem-solving and goal setting. Career management modules and a DiSC workshop that breaks down personality types and work styles round out the online component.

"When we started hearing from Kansas City employers through the Full Employment Council back in 2009, the message was consistent: technical skills alone weren't enough," said Laurel Hogue, Ed.D., vice provost for Online and Learning Engagement. "They needed people who could show up ready to work with others, solve problems on the fly and take ownership of their role. We couldn't find a soft-skills curriculum that matched what Missouri employers were actually asking for, so we built one ourselves. That investment reflects what UCM believes about workforce education; it has to be responsive, not theoretical."

What's in demand now

Healthcare pathways lead current enrollment. Alongside the Certified Nursing Assistant program, UCM's revamped Clinical Medical Assistant PLUS stacks preparation for national CMA, phlebotomy and EKG credentials. The new Pharmacy Technician program launched on Aug. 5, with Walgreens offering clinical spots to the inaugural class, plus employment opportunities for strong performers.

Missouri's occupational projections tell the story in numbers. According to state occupational data, pharmacy technician roles are expected to grow 13 percent statewide, from roughly 9,700 jobs to more than 11,000. Medical assistant positions, paying around $40,500 annually for certificate-level work, show similar momentum. The Kansas City region alone projects healthcare and allied fields, claiming a substantial share of job openings.

In sterile processing, healthcare administration with medical billing, and hazmat removal technician training, the Center partners with industry to align instruction with open roles. Upcoming pre-apprenticeship pilots in electrical, plumbing and HVAC will integrate virtual reality to shrink lab footprints and attract younger learners.

"The Summit Technology Campus (STC) in Lee's Summit puts us right in the middle of a major labor market, adjacent to state workforce offices, and physically close to the employers who are hiring our graduates," said Clarinda Dir, program manager for Workforce and Professional Education. "For noncredit programs, speed matters in ways it doesn't for traditional degrees. When pharmacy techs are in short supply or sterile processing roles are going unfilled, we can't spend two years working through curriculum committees. We need to move at the speed of the economy, and that's what the Center is built to do."

The new hub for workforce education

That economy-speed mindset took center stage at the recent ribbon-cutting for the Summit Technology Campus, UCMs newest location in Lees Summit. President Roger Best called the site our hub for workforce development and professional education, noting that UCMs footprint in Lees Summit now exceeds 100,000 square feet across two campuses.

In the first year of operation, UCM Lees Summit offered two graduate degree programs and served almost 300 students. This fall, UCM Lees Summit is serving more than 2,000 students in 11 graduate degree programs, 11 undergraduate completion programs and 10 standing workforce development and professional education programs.

For us, being able to stand here and create this as our hub for workforce development and professional education is very vital, President Best said. Even though this is our hub for the 10 programs we already offer, we will be expanding into more programs. This space will be fully utilized.

The facility houses noncredit and certificate programs aligned with regional workforce needs while also co-locating satellite offices for the Missouri Job Center and Full Employment Council to streamline access to training, job placement and support services.

State and community partners

Ben Boggs, Ph.D., commissioner of the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, praised the partnership as a model of what the state hopes to replicate elsewhere.

Our colleges and universities are not just places for academic excellence, theyre economic engines and community anchors, Boggs said. When we partner with our public workforce system, we align programs with industry needs, create flexible pathways and serve all Missourians.

Boggs noted that the collaboration helps Missouri progress toward its goal of 60 percent of working-age adults holding a postsecondary credential by 2030. He said the STCs integration of education, workforce and employer partnerships is breaking down silos and making the path from learning to earning clearer for students.

Clyde McQueen, president of the Full Employment Council, described the new facility as an example of what people need, calling UCM a creative and innovative entity that has collaborated with the council for more than two decades. Were very proud to be here, McQueen said, and appreciate the willingness to work with us when we face the most difficult possibilities.

Local business leaders share that view. Matt Baird, president of the Lees Summit Chamber of Commerce, said the new campus demonstrates how UCM and the city continue to grow together. We love to see this type of turnout for one of our awesome community partners in the University of Central Missouri, Baird said. Its amazing to see just how much its expanded.

Instructors from industry

All instructors come directly from the fields they teach, serving as adjuncts who bring current practice, mentorship and employer ties into the classroom. That approach pays off in readiness and hiring connections.

Jaklynn Hunt didnt set out to teach medical billing and coding. She was an EMT paramedic until her daughter's health diagnosis pulled her off the ambulance. "I had started falling in love with the coding process," Hunt said, describing how paramedics pre-code their own calls. She found a mentor, kept learning and worked her way through the entire revenue cycle "because I'm nosy by nature. I want to know what happens to it after I touch it." A decade ago, she met Boyce while contracted to teach at the MIC. At the time, she was battling stage-four cancer across multiple organs. Later came a bout with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Through both rounds, she never missed a class. Fast forward to January 2025, and Hunt finished dual degrees  bachelor's and master's in Health Information Administration  while raising five kids and launching her own consulting firm. She now holds 22 multi-specialty coding certifications and consults on Medicare fraud cases for the FBI. Instructor Jaklynn Hunt.

"Id never give up teaching," she said. "My students see me juggling everything they're juggling, and then some. When they want to quit, we talk about short-term sacrifice for long-term goals. If you don't finish, you didn't try. If you don't fail, you'll never succeed."

That mindset extends to Hunts classroom approach. She teaches to four learning styles at once, circling back until every student finds their entry point. Her students don't just learn to code claims; they learn that obstacles aren't endpoints.

"A lot of them have this idea from TV commercials that coding is easy money from home. It's not, she said. But if you put in the work, you can do anything with this, anywhere from private practice to the FBI. I need more people like me in this world who want to teach what they know, and lessen what they dont!"

Lowering the intimidation barrier

Before the pandemic, most cohorts met in community spaces to reduce the intimidation some first-time or returning learners feel on a university campus. Today, about 80 to 90 percent of cohorts meet at the MIC or STC, and the Center continues to make access a priority with scholarships funded by partners like the Full Employment Council, Community Services League and Great Jobs KC.

"The scholarships and wraparound support from the Full Employment Council, Community Services League and Great Jobs KC aren't add-ons; they're the infrastructure that makes these programs work for people who've been locked out of opportunity," Boyce said. "Case managers walk students from enrollment through job placement. Co-locating state workforce staff at the STC means someone can check on childcare assistance, transportation vouchers or SNAP benefits in the same building where they're learning phlebotomy. That's not accidental. That's intentional design."

Women make up roughly three-quarters of recent cohorts, a signal that career-ladder roles in healthcare and allied fields continue to attract working mothers, caregivers and career changers.

Built for speed in a changing economy

The catalog is intentionally fluid. As technology and hiring needs shift, certificate offerings shift with them. That flexibility, Boyce notes, is harder to achieve within traditional degree structures, which are bound by longer approval cycles.

"We don't want to train people for the sake of training," he said. "If entry-level programming jobs are tightening due to AI, we pivot. If sterile processing or pharmacy techs are hiring, we scale. The goal is outcomes."

He frames the Center as a bridge. For learners intimidated by debt or unsure about a degree, short-term certificates provide a faster, lower-risk on-ramp to a stable income. For employers, they deliver candidates who are ready on day one.

New beginnings

At graduation, the rapport among students, instructors and staff is obvious. Microphones are passed, thanks are shared, stories spill out: the first person in a family to earn a credential, a single parent landing a job with benefits, a military veteran stepping into a civilian career.

Hunt watches from the side of the room. Her students know much of her story by now, in pieces. They know she doesn't accept excuses because she's lived past every good reason to quit. "I need more people like me in this world," she says, not as ego but as a recruiting philosophy.

Pride radiates through the rows, where children take a break from a piece of cake to hug their moms and dads, who beam with their new certificates. Parents, spouses and grandparents snap photos, laughter peals through the room, and the next cohort is already forming in the back, ready to take the stage.

For more information about certifications available at UCMs Center for Workforce and Professional Education, visit ucmo.edu/workforce or call 660-543-6198.
By Nicole Lyons, November 25, 2025

Muleskinner Editor in Chief Sadie Staker receives a Pinnacle Award for second place on

Oct. 17 at the College Media Associations MediaFest Convention.

The Muleskinner, the University of Central Missouris (UCM) student newspaper, received several awards at the Fall 2025 National College Media Associations MediaFest Convention, hosted Oct. 15-18 in Washington, D.C.

Im incredibly proud to see our Muleskinner students hard work and storytelling recognized on the national stage, said Julie Lewis, Ph.D., Muleskinner adviser and associate professor. Their commitment to quality journalism and community connection reflects the very best of UCMs spirit and mission.

The Muleskinner received three awards in the Associated Collegiate Presss Best of Show competition: 10th place in the Newspaper/Newsmagazine category for its September 2025 print edition, 10th place in the Website category and seventh place in the Digital Newsletter category. The Muleskinner competed against four-year colleges with a population of 15,000 or fewer.

"I'm so honored to be part of a team as hard-working as ours. Every single person put their heart into this paper and the results speak for themselves, Muleskinner Features Editor Jess Cooper said.

The Muleskinner also received a Pinnacle Award, which is the College Media Associations highest honor for student work. Muleskinner students Sadie Staker and Krish Gyawali won second place in the Feature Package (audio/video) category for their video titled Backpack Journalism: Missouri River Runner Sparks Community Connections. The Muleskinner competed in Division 1, which is for schools with a student population of more than 10,000.

I was excited and surprised that we placed so well, Muleskinner Editor in Chief Sadie Staker said. The story we were able to tell through our video, which explored the reasons why Missourians use Amtrak, was meaningful and highlighted the wonderful community that exists across Missouri.

The video was part of the Muleskinners Backpack Journalism Project, in which student journalists collaborated with Amtrak and the Missouri River Runner to provide traveling coverage of Missouri cities throughout the 2024-25 school year.

The University of Central Missouri's mission is to improve our geographical area, not only for our students, but for the entire region, said David Pearce, executive director of Governmental Relations. Their efforts through the Backpack Journalism project positively impacted our region and contributed to the positive image of UCM and higher education.

The Muleskinner team gathers to celebrate UCM Homecoming in October.
Behavioral Health Fellowship Shows Lasting Workforce Impact

A University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) analysis has shown that a federally funded fellowship to increase the number of social workers and counselors is successful at developing students into professionals who continue to work in the field.

The 2024-25 Cohort of the Behavioral Health Workforce Integration Service and Education (BHWISE) Fellowship.

More than a decade after its launch, the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program demonstrated the power of federally funded fellowships to grow the behavioral health workforce. At UMSSW, the local version of the program was called the Behavioral Health Workforce Integration Service and Education (BHWISE) Fellowship.

To evaluate the programs long-term impact, a team led by Paul Sacco, PhD, professor and principal investigator of the BHWET grant at UMSSW, conducted a follow-up study with graduates from Maryland and two partner programs in Missouri and Kansas. The results show that nearly 90 percent of graduates continue to work in social work, and 95 percent hold professional licensure.

Ten years out, the one thing our students always said was that the fellowships make a huge difference, Sacco said.

Sacco presented his findings Oct. 24 at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Conference in Denver.

BHWET is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), with its roots in 2014 in response to President Barack Obamas Now Is the Time initiative. The initiative was developed after the Sandy Hook tragedy to expand the nations mental health workforce. HRSAs involvement led to the creation of training grants aimed at increasing the number of social workers, counselors, and psychologists working with youth and families in need.

Building a Pipeline for Behavioral Health Providers

Through three consecutive grant cycles (20142017, 20172021, and 20212025), UMSSW received more than $6 million in HRSA funding. Each cohort of social work fellows received a $10,000 stipend, completed specialized coursework, and participated in interprofessional training experiences, focused on preparing students to serve high-need populations.

The fellowship combined classroom learning with field placements in clinics and community-based settings that serve youth and families. Monthly seminars and required interprofessional education projects helped fellows build confidence working alongside medical, nursing, and pharmacy students, an approach Sacco said is now a hallmark of social work education at UMB.

I look for more opportunities to collaborate with area agencies and providers to offer an integrated approach to care, one participant wrote in their survey.

More than half of respondents were employed at organizations in medically underserved or mental health shortage areas, with nearly three-quarters in at least one. Thats encouraging, though Sacco thinks there is room for growth.

If it were 80 percent, Id be happier, he said. But even 50 percent represents real impact given how few incentives exist to practice in high-need communities.

One surprising finding from the study was the rise of telebehavioral health work among study participants. A subset of fellows, particularly those based in Maryland, now conduct much of their work virtually. While that model expands access, it complicates HRSAs geographic designations to determine if someone provides care in an underserved community.

Some of these people, their location was not in a high-need area, but we don't know whether they were or were not still working with people in high-need areas, Sacco said.



The study also revealed some racial disparities in career status. African American graduates were employed in high-need areas at lower rates. More research is needed to understand these graduates decisions for where they decided to work.

Debt burden also played a factor; nationally, African American students incur a total educational debt of about $85,000 compared to white students at $55,000 for their studies from undergraduate through completion of their Master of Social work degree, according to a 2020 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) study. Yet, the median social work salary was only $47,100, according to CSWE.

What remains to be seen is whether a federal fellowship could be designed or adjusted to encourage or require students to move to high-need areas, particularly rural communities as most students in this study stayed relatively close to their school or where they lived. The BHWET program required only a commitment letter to work in behavioral health.

If you go to Northampton, Massachusetts, the number of social workers per square mile may be quite high, Sacco said. And then there are other areas like Kansas where there likely arent enough.

Although the HRSA funding for UMSSWs BHWET program has concluded, Sacco hopes the evidence gathered over the past decade will inspire continued support for similar initiatives nationwide.
Trump's 'hanging' call marks new, deeply chilling threshold in U.S. history

What unfolded last week  when Donald Trump publicly called for the 'hanging' of six Democratic members of Congress  marks a new and deeply chilling threshold in the history of United States

American democracy has survived wars, racism, McCarthyism, and the long shadow of authoritarian temptation. But what unfolded last week  when Donald Trump publicly called for the hanging of six Democratic members of Congress  marks a new and deeply chilling threshold.

For the first time in modern U.S. history, a sitting President openly demanded the execution of political opponents. And he did so with the casual venom of a man who believes the law is beneath him and violence is his political language.

People are asking whether Trump has gone mad, whether he is senile, or whether he has simply lost control of himself. But from where I stand  having spent decades watching political strongmen rise in Central America, Latin America, Africa, and Asia  these questions miss the point entirely.

This is not madness. This is not confusion. This is not incoherence.

What America is witnessing is deliberate authoritarian cruelty, calibrated for maximum emotional impact and minimum legal accountability.

Trumps words were not a slip of the tongue, they were an ideological statement. They declared that politics is war, that opponents are enemies, and that the idea of democratic coexistence is dispensable.

And yet, amid this political darkness, something extraordinary occurred  a moment of moral clarity that jolted Washington like an electrical current.

The KellyMamdani Moment: When Fear Met Courage

Senator Mark Kelly  a man who has survived missiles, anti-aircraft fire, and war, responded first. His words were stark and unadorned: Ive survived missiles, anti-aircraft fire, and war. But I never thought Id see a President order my execution.

Coming from anyone else, such a sentence might have drifted past as rhetoric. Coming from a combat veteran who has felt death in the air, it was a warning: America is crossing lines that democracies do not survive.

Minutes later, newly elected New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani stepped before the press. His voice was steady, controlled, but edged with conviction: Attacking Mark Kelly is an attack on all of us. A president calling for the death penalty for his political opponents  thats not democracy. Thats the first strike against fascism.

Mamdani was not being theatrical  he wasnt  but because someone finally named the truth America has tiptoed around for nearly a decade.

Kelly answered in a livestream with the bluntness of a man who no longer has patience for political euphemism: He wants to execute us? Try the Constitution first. Veterans dont bow to cowards who want to hang their opponents.

Mamdani reposted the clip a moment later with the caption that ricocheted across the country: This is the difference between a hero and someone afraid of the truth.

Social media, newsrooms, community groups, and households erupted. Washington was shaken. Republican operatives scrambled into late-night meetings. The KellyMamdani moment had broken the long, national habit of hedging around Trumps authoritarianism.

And so, the question is not whether Trump is mad or senile. The real question  the one the country still resists is this: How far has America already travelled down the road to fascism that such statements no longer disqualify a leader?

Fascism thrives when political violence becomes normal. It grows when leaders portray opponents as enemies. It spreads when societies tolerate threats as part of politics.

It succeeds when institutions hesitate and people look away. Trump has mastered all of this. He has learned that cruelty is a political currency. He has learned that threats energise his movement. He has learned that outrage is a tool to exhaust institutions and unsettle citizens.

This is not instability. It is strategy. And it is profoundly dangerous.

[The writer, Ranjan Solomon, is a political commentator who believes that steadfast trust in democracy can unsettle fascism.]

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Malaysia next to ban social media for users under 16

Malaysia is the latest country to impose ban social media for the users less than 16 years of age

Tuesday November 25, 2025 11:00 AM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is the latest country to impose ban social media for the users less than 16 years of age.

According to news agency Reuters, Malaysia plans to ban social media for users under the age of 16 starting from 2026.

The countrys Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government was reviewing mechanisms used to impose age restrictions for social media use in Australia and other countries.

The other countries planning to restrict social media use for children included France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Greece. These countries are jointly testing a template for an age verification app.

Indonesia had in January announced to set a minimum age for social media users, but later issued a less stringent regulation requiring tech platforms to filter negative content and impose stronger age verification measures

In a related move, Japan's Toyoake City has decided to limit the daily use of smartphones.

Toyoake Citys decision to cap the mobile phone use, however, is not the first in Japan. In 2020, western Kagawa region in the country issued a first-of-its kind ordinance calling for children to be limited to an hour a day of gaming during the week, and 90 minutes during school holidays.

The impact of social media on children's health and safety have become a growing global concern, with companies including TikTok, Snapchat, Google and Meta Platforms  the operator of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp  facing lawsuits in the United States for their role in fueling a mental health crisis.

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Most personal finance experts agree that maximizing 401(k) contributions is an excellent strategy to prepare for retirement. A 401(k) allows employees to contribute pretax income to an account that can grow tax-free over time. In some cases, employers match some amount of contributions, essentially doubling some of the employees money. However, the downside of a 401(k) is that you must pay taxes on your withdrawals based on your income bracket in retirement.

Find Out: Suze Orman Calls This $1.6 Million 401(k) Rollover Move Crazy  What She Recommends Instead

Read Next: 9 Low-Effort Ways To Make Passive Income (You Can Start This Week)

To make the most of your savings, its vital to have an exit strategy for your 401(k). Preston Seo, an expert investor and financial influencer, gave some great advice in a recent Instagram post . Heres how wealthy people pay less in taxes on their 401(k) plans.

Step 1: Contribute To Your 401(k)

Employees who participate in their companys 401(k) have a portion of each paycheck automatically withheld and transferred into the account. You can choose from a variety of investments, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs. Your money grows over time without the disruption of capital gains tax.

Seo pointed out that this is a big upfront tax break for the years youre earning a sizable amount. For example, if you earn $150,000 annually and send the maximum $23,500 to your 401(k), your taxable income drops from $150,000 to $126,500. While your income remains in the same tax bracket of 24%, the amount you pay in taxes for the year drops from $36,000 to $30,360. If you take no further action, you may pay less taxes on those contributions if you fall into a lower tax bracket in retirement.

Be Aware: Im a Financial Expert: This is the No. 1 Mistake Americans Make With Their Roth IRAs

Step 2: Roll Your 401(k) Money Into a Traditional IRA

Many miss the next step that wealthy people take, which is rolling the funds from their 401(k) into a traditional IRA once they leave a job or retire. Because traditional IRAs and 401(k) plans both allow you to defer taxes on your contributions while they grow in your account, many may see this action as unnecessary. However, Seo pointed out that traditional IRAs give you much more control over your investments and have lower fees.

While 401(k) plans allow you to choose how youll invest your money, youre limited to the investment options of your employers plan. With a traditional IRA, you have complete control over how you grow your money, meaning you have access to many more investment options. You should be aware 401(k) plans also have an expense ratio, which is several management fees you must pay the provider annually. Traditional IRAs may also charge fees, but you can opt for a provider with very low or no fees, saving you money year after year.
Allison Robbert/For The Washington Post via Getty Image

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The Trump administration has reached a new agreement with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) that could unlock long-awaited student loan relief for millions of borrowers.

The agreement allows the Department of Education to resume processing forgiveness for borrowers enrolled in Income-Contingent Repayment (IDR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programs  especially those whove been chipping away at their loans for more than two decades. These programs will remain in place until 2028, when theyre expected to be phased out under President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act (1).

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The deal also includes a tax break: Borrowers who qualify for forgiveness through eligible payments this year wont owe taxes on the canceled debt, even if the forgiveness doesnt take effect until 2026. After that, however, forgiven balances will once again be considered taxable income.

This is a tremendous win for borrowers, Winston Berkman-Breen, legal director for Protect Borrowers, told CNBC (2).

The U.S. Department of Education has agreed to follow the law and deliver Congressionally mandated affordable payments and debt relief to hard-working public service workers across the country.

For the roughly 2.5 million borrowers currently enrolled in ICR or PAYE, this new agreement could finally make debt forgiveness more than just a promise. Heres how to find out if you qualify.

A pause with a price

In March, the AFT sued the Trump administration, arguing it unfairly blocked federal borrowers from accessing repayment and forgiveness programs guaranteed under their original loan terms.

The lawsuit followed a pause that left nearly 2 million borrowers in ICR plans in limbo (3). The administration said it was complying with court orders tied to the Biden-era Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan  a ruling it claimed could affect other IDR programs as well.

That pause marked a reversal from recent years, when the Department of Education under President Biden approved more than $180 billion in student debt cancellation for over 4 million borrowers, including roughly 1 million public service workers through the PSLF program (4).
20 November 2025, Karachi Financially supported by the European Union (EU), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Pakistan, in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), convened a two-day national workshop titled Strengthening National Networks for Youth Leadership & Victim Support in Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) at Karachi. The workshop gathered representatives of the Youth Empowerment Network (YEN) and the Victim Assistance Network (VAN), bringing together state institutions, civil society actors, and academia to strengthen Pakistans prevention architecture.

The event is part of a broader initiative supporting four national PVE networks Youth Empowerment, Victim Support, Policy Support, and Communication & Narratives designed to build institutional coordination, amplify local voices, and translate grassroots insights into national policy and practice.

The workshop opened with welcome remarks highlighting the importance of collective action in strengthening Pakistans PVE ecosystem. The morning session, The NACTA Network Journey, revisited earlier milestones, achievements, and lessons learned. Participants reflected on the evolution of YEN and VSN, exploring how networks can shift from event-based engagement to long-term, community-owned processes.

This was followed by an insightful discussion on Building Inclusive Leadership for Safer Communities. Speakers emphasized the importance of recognizing diverse vulnerabilities, integrating trauma-sensitivity into leadership, and promoting meaningful participation of youth, women, survivors, and marginalized groups.

In the afternoon, a panel titled From Networks to Movements showcased how partnerships between universities, CSOs, and government actors can transform prevention efforts from isolated initiatives into sustained, community-led movements that nurture resilience and counter extremist narratives. The day concluded with a session on Framing Recovery, which focused on trauma-informed victim assistance and restoring dignity for those affected by violence. Participants explored psychosocial support models, reintegration pathways, and the critical link between victim assistance and long-term community stability.
Tops of soda cans. - Nantiya Rattanatum/Getty Images

Store brands are having a moment. Aldi has started upping their own brand game, and Trader Joe's products garner a cult-like following from fans. But customers can thank Costco for starting the trend. The retailer made a smart business decision by becoming the first to prioritize high-quality store brand products through its in-house Kirkland brand.

Kirkland products go through a rigorous development process. According to Costco CEO Ron Vachris, products won't hit the shelves unless they have an advantage over the leading national brand  not only in terms of price but also quality. The retailer's commitment to quality has paid off. Costco is one of the most trusted brands in America.

But not everything is a success. While Costco invests significant time and money into product development and market research, some products are simply flops. That's why Costco pulled its Kirkland brand mayonnaise before it even hit the shelves  and why the retailer stopped selling Kirkland Signature Cola circa 2015.

"Just like any branded item, any private label lives and dies based on how it performs," Richard Galanti, Costco's Chief Financial Officer, told CNN. According to Galanti, Kirkland's cola just couldn't compete with giants like Pepsi and Coke. "No one was looking for a third major cola out there," he explained.

According to Reddit, there was another reason why Kirkland's cola failed. "It wasn't that great," one commenter wrote on r/Costco. "Did marketing for my building at the time and would take them to on-sites. People did not like them."

Read more: 14 Things You've Always Believed About Aldi (That Aren't True)

Kirkland cola wasn't very good

A hand pouring cola into a glass. - Choochart Choochaikupt/Getty Images

Some Redditors claimed that Kirkland cola was a decent alternative to Coke or Pepsi. "It wasn't Coke, but it was the closest of any of the knockoffs," one commenter explained. But most maintained that the soda couldn't compete with major brands: "I have never found a generic better than Coke," wrote another.

One Redditor noted that Costco might not have been able to access coca. While Coke phased out actual cocaine around the turn of the 20th century, coca extract is still a key ingredient. Coca-Cola sources the extract from Stepan Company, the only U.S. company allowed to import coca leaves. The company separates the extract from the cocaine; the extract goes to Coca-Cola and the cocaine is used for medical purposes.

Costco manages to keep Kirkland's prices low by negotiating with suppliers. Since Stepan Company has a monopoly on coca leaves, Costco would've had a trickier time with negotiations. Admittedly, that's all speculation: You can still produce a popular cola without coca. Pepsi is coca-free and performs on par with Coke in blind taste tests. But customers are deeply loyal to their favorite brands, and brand loyalty can affect perception of taste. Even if Kirkland's cola was on par with  or better than  Pepsi or Coke, the brand was already at a disadvantage. Don't feel too bad for Costco, though. Kirkland doesn't need to enter the cola wars to win: The brand is worth more than either Pepsi or Coke.
From left, Dr. Israel Stewart, Dr. Sierra Gross, Annika Syvrud, Ben Radosevich, Dr. Rob Monger, Jill Mayer, Nellie Bruns, Shay Nelson and Dr. Todd Guth participate in the recent WWAMI Medical Education Program research symposium. (April French Photo)

Students in the WWAMI Medical Education Program at the University of Wyoming recently presented their summer research projects through poster displays during the programs seventh annual research symposium in UWs Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center.

The Wyoming WWAMI program is located in the College of Health Sciences. The event was held in conjunction with the Wyoming Medical Societys annual meeting.

All medical students throughout the five-state WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) are required to complete research during their time in the program. This is called independent investigative inquiry, also known as Triple I. Most students participate in a scholarly community outreach project or scientific research project during the summer between their first and second years of medical school.

Students are required to discuss their summer projects in the form of poster presentations. During the symposium, students posters were viewed by academic judges and the public.

Our second-year medical students continue to inspire through their commitment to their medical education, patient care and their scholarly pursuits, says Dr. Todd Guth, director of the Wyoming WWAMI Medical Education Program. Their presentations at the Wyoming Medical Society research symposium showcase the full spectrum of what it means to study medicine in Wyoming -- advancing the science of discovery, integrating learning across disciplines and engaging deeply with the needs of our communities.

Newly included this year was the Health Impact Award, given to the scholarly project with the most potential to positively improve health outcomes in Wyoming.

We really wanted an award that recognized this important part of research and scholarship for Wyoming WWAMI -- to ultimately improve the health of people in our wonderful state, says Nellie Bruns, an associate professor with the Department of Zoology and Physiology and faculty adviser for the Triple I course.

Shay Nelson, from Afton, won the Health Impact Award for her research into human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in Thayne. Nelson spent four weeks working at Star Valley Health in Thayne while conducting her research.

During my RUOP experience, I was able to gather information about a major health disparity in the area I was in with a low HPV vaccination rate, Nelson says. I researched why it was so low and how I could help in increasing it. I was able to work with both providers in the clinic and the public health office in creating a pamphlet that addressed HPV and the misconceptions about the HPV vaccine.

The pamphlet was completed with community partners, Nelson adds. She appreciates their willingness to work with her during her time in the area.

In the lead-up to the research symposium, Bruns supported students in crafting their poster presentations.

It was impressive to see the students diverse and significant scholarly work at this annual event, Bruns says. Thank you to the mentors, judges and all who supported the students throughout their Triple I experience.

Patrick Hardigan, dean of the College of Health Sciences, expresses pride in the Wyoming WWAMI medical students and their outstanding presentations at the symposium.

These second-year scholars  exemplified the rigorous spirit of medical education by tackling pressing health challenges -- from community outreach to scientific innovation -- with a depth of curiosity and compassion that resonates deeply in Wyoming's diverse landscapes, Hardigan says.

Hardigan also notes the introduction of the Health Impact Award earned by Nelson. The UW students work on HPV vaccination disparities in Thayne demonstrates a commitment to scholarship that has a positive effect on the well-being of Wyoming communities and supports equitable health outcomes in the Equality State, he says.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the presenters, mentors like Nellie Bruns and all who champion these future physicians as they bridge the lab, the clinic and the heart of our region, Hardigan says.

Awards were provided by the Wyoming Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and presented by Dr. Israel Stewart, Dr. Sierra Gross, the Wyoming ACP chapter governor and Bruns. The Peoples Choice Award is voted for by people attending the event, who choose their favorite research poster.

Wyoming WWAMI Medical Education Program Research Symposium awardees were:

Top Scholarship of Discovery project: Ben Radosevich, Casper.



Top Community Focused Scholarship, Rural/Underserved Opportunities Program project: Annika Syvrud, Rock Springs.



Wyoming Health Impact Award: Shay Nelson, Afton.



Peoples Choice Award: Jill Mayer, Big Horn.

UW medical student presenters, listed by hometown, name and project title, are:

Afton -- Shay Nelson, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine (Thayne, WY).

Banner -- Noah Gustafson, Reducing Oral Health Disparities in Sheridan, WY: Increasing Access to Fluoride Varnish for Children in a Non-Fluoridated Community.

Big Horn -- Jill Mayer, Impact of Transfer Time to Experienced Aortic Center on Outcomes of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Casper -- Avery Potter, Addressing Parents' Vaccine Hesitancy in Campbell County, WY; Ben Radosevich, Fibrin Sealant Patch Reduces Air Leak and Length of Stay After Robotic Pulmonary Resection; Sarah Retherford, Prospective Implementation of a Community Health Worker Program in Montpelier, Idaho, and the Greater Bear Lake Valley; and Lulu Rochelle, Infectious Keratitis Isolates and Susceptibility in Seattle, Washington.

Cheyenne -- Cassidy Dellos, Comparison of Train-of-Four Count Palpation Between Two Independent Assessors.

Cody -- Caden Crooks, Adopt a Grandparent, Powell WY.

Douglas -- Makena Engelker, Strengthening Community Protection: Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine Education in Rawlins, WY; and Audrey Peasley, Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy in Douglas, WY.

Green River -- Tim Radosevich, Reducing Pediatric Mental Health Crisis Burden in Cody, WY through a Crisis Cafe Model; and Hannah Thomas, Implementation of the RAISE protocol in Sweetwater County, WY.

Jackson -- Kyler Arriola, Addressing Childhood Malnutrition through Provider Education in Naivasha, Nakuru County, Kenya; and Cassidy Sebastian, Cardiac-Specific PAD2 Deletion Causes Diastolic Dysfunction in the Female Heart.

Laramie -- Aedian OConnor, Perioperative Outcomes of Concomitant Aortic Root and Arch Surgery in Acute and Subacute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Powell -- Carson Asher, Factors Associated with Bone Mineral Density in Myelofibrosis Patients.

Rock Springs -- Celeste Keelin, Utilization of Smart Watches to Promote Cardiovascular Health in Hot Springs County, WY; and Syvrud, Enhancing Pediatric Diabetes Management in Fremont County through a Multidisciplinary Care Team-Based Model.

Sheridan -- Jack Syring, Opioid Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Amongst Motorcycle Rally Attendees in Crook County, WY.

About the Wyoming WWAMI Medical Education Program

Wyomings WWAMI Medical Education Program is a partnership between the University of Wyoming and the University of Washington School of Medicine. WWAMI Medical Education reserves 20 seats each year for qualified Wyoming residents. Students accepted to the program spend 18 months on the University of Wyoming campus. Students spend the third and fourth years at selected clinical sites throughout the WWAMI region.
Italian company Bending Spoons flew largely under the radar  until last month. In a span of 48 hours, the company announced the acquisition of AOL and a massive $270 million raise, quadrupling its valuation to $11 billion, up from $2.55 billion set in early 2024.

Bending Spoons has grown rapidly by acquiring stagnating tech brands like Evernote, Meetup, and Vimeo, then turning them profitable through aggressive cost-cutting and price increases. While the companys approach is similar to private equity, there is one key difference: Bending Spoons has no plans to sell these businesses.

Andrew Dumont, the founder and CEO of Curious, a firm that also acquires and revitalizes what he calls venture zombies, is convinced this hold forever strategy will become increasingly prominent in the coming years as AI-native startups make older VC-backed software businesses less relevant.

Our belief is that the venture power law, in which 80% of companies fail, produces many great businesses, even if theyre not unicorns, Dumont told TechCrunch.

Dumont defines a great business as one that can be purchased at a low price and quickly revived to generate substantial cash flows. This buy, fix, and hold strategy is the playbook for a growing number of investors, from the 30-year-old Constellation Software, which pioneered the model, to newer players, including Bending Spoons, Tiny, SaaS.group, Arising Ventures, and Calm Capital, according to Dumont.

Our whole model is to buy these companies, make them profitable, and use those earnings to grow the business, Dumont said.

In 2023, Curious raised $16 million in dedicated capital for buying software companies that have stalled and can no longer secure follow-on investment.

Since then, the firm has bought five businesses, including UserVoice, a 17-year-old startup that raised $9 million in VC funding from Betaworks and SV Angel.

Its a great business, but the cap table wasnt aligned with keeping it. These funds get old, and these companies just sit there, Dumont said. We provide liquidity and also reset these companies for profitability.

Although Dumont didnt disclose how much he paid for UserVoice, he said that stagnant companies sell for a fraction of the valuation commanded by healthy SaaS startups, which typically sell for 4x annual revenue or more. Based on our conversation, we estimate that venture zombies sometimes sell for as low as 1x yearly revenue.

By implementing cost-cutting and price increases, Curious can push these businesses to achieve 20% to 30% profit margins almost immediately. If you have a million-dollar business, youre kicking off $300,000 in earnings, he offered as an example.
1. Ukraines sovereignty to be reconfirmed.

2. There will be a total and complete non-aggression agreement reached between Russia and Ukraine and NATO. All ambiguities from the last 30 years will be resolved.

(Point 3 of U.S. plan is deleted. A draft of that plan seen by Reuters said: "There will be the expectation that Russia will not invade its neighbours and NATO will not expand further.")

4. After a peace agreement is signed, a dialogue between Russia and NATO will convene to address all security concerns and create a de-escalatory environment to ensure global security and increase the opportunity for connectivity and future economic opportunity.

5. Ukraine will receive robust Security Guarantees

6. Size of Ukraine military to be capped at 800,000 in peacetime.

7. Ukraine joining NATO depends on consensus of NATO members, which does not exist.

8. NATO agrees not to permanently station troops under its command in Ukraine in peacetime.

9. NATO fighter jets will be stationed in Poland

10. US guarantee that mirrors Article 5

a. US to receive compensation for the guarantee

b. If Ukraine invades Russia, it forfeits the guarantee

c. If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a robust coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be restored and any kind of recognition for the new territory and all other benefits from this agreement will be withdrawn.

11. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will get short-term preferred market access to Europe while this is being evaluated

12. Robust Global Redevelopment Package for Ukraine including but not limited to:

a. Creation of Ukraine Development fund to invest in high growth industries including technology, data centres and Al efforts

b. The United States will partner with Ukraine to jointly restore, grow, modernize and operate Ukraines gas infrastructure, which includes its pipeline and storage facilities

c. A joint effort to redevelop areas impacted by the war to restore, redevelop and modernize cities and residential areas

d. Infrastructure development

e. Mineral and natural resource extraction

f. A special financing package will be developed by the World Bank to provide financing to accelerate these efforts.

13. Russia to be progressively re-integrated into the global economy

a. Sanction relief will be discussed and agreed upon in phases and on a case-by-case basis.

b. The United States will enter into a long-term Economic Cooperation Agreement to pursue mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, AI, datacenters, rare earths, joint projects in the Arctic, as well as various other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities.

c. Russia to be invited back into the G8

14. Ukraine will be fully reconstructed and compensated financially, including through Russian sovereign assets that will remain frozen until Russia compensates damage to Ukraine.

15. A joint Security taskforce will be established with the participation of US, Ukraine, Russia and the Europeans to promote and enforce all of the provisions of this agreement

16. Russia will legislatively enshrine a non-aggression policy towards Europe and Ukraine

17. The United States and Russia agree to extend nuclear non-proliferation and control treaties, including Fair Start

18. Ukraine agrees to remain a non-nuclear state under the NPT

19. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant will be restarted under supervision of the IAEA, and the produced power shall be shared equitably in a 50-50 split between Russia and Ukraine.

20. Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities.

21. Territories

Ukraine commits not to recover its occupied sovereign territory through military means. Negotiations on territorial swaps will start from the Line of Contact.

22. Once future territorial arrangements have been agreed, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply if there is a breach of this obligation

23. Russia shall not obstruct Ukraines use of the Dnieper River for purposes of commercial activities, and agreements will be reached for grain shipments to move freely through the Black Sea

24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve open issues:

a. All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on the principle of All for All

b. All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children

c. There will be a family reunification program

d. Provisions will be made to address the suffering of victims from the conflict

25. Ukraine will hold elections as soon as possible after the signing of the peace agreement.

26. Provision will be made to address the suffering of victims of the conflict.

27. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by a Board of Peace, chaired by President Donald J. Trump. There will be penalties for violation.

28. Upon all sides agreeing to this memorandum, a ceasefire will be immediately effective upon both parties withdrawing to the agreed upon points for the implementation of the agreement to begin. Ceasefire modalities, including monitoring, will be agreed by both parties under US supervision.
Xiaomi Automobile Company, the battery electric vehicle (BEV) subsidiary of Chinese smartphone maker Beijing Xiaomi Technology Company, has raised its full year sales target from 350,000 to 400,000 units, as the company stepped up output of its SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV models.

The revised target would represent a threefold increase over the 135,000 vehicles it delivered last year, making it one of the fastest-growing automakers in China. Xiaomi celebrated the production of its 500,000th BEV this week, having launched vehicle production at its plant in Beijing as recently as December 2023.

Despite this rapid growth, the company was quick to point out that quality and safety remain its top priorities, saying we firmly believe that safety is a foundation and a priority. Based on safety and quality, we are making an all-out effort to accelerate production.

The company is seen as one of the main challengers to Tesla in China, along with other BEV startups such as Leapmotor and Li Auto. It recently opened an R&D centre in Germany, ahead of plans to establish a sales network across the region.

Xiaomi revealed last week that its BEV operations generated a profit of CNY 700 million (US$ 98 million) in the third quarter of 2025, compared with a CNY 300 million loss in the previous quarter, with sales surging by 175% year-on-year to 108,796 cars in this period. In the first ten months of 2025, the company delivered 315,376 BEVs in China.

"Xiaomi raises its 2025 BEV sales target" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




The Best Study Spots in Rome for Students

For students in Rome, stress levels are running high. With the semester coming to an end, finals are approaching and workloads are growing. The chaos and noise of Rome can be a lot of fun, but when you need to focus, it quickly becomes a nuisance. Finding a good study spot can be challenging, especially since many cafes dont offer free Wi-Fi and often impose laptop restrictions around lunchtime.

Working from home is always an option, but noisy housemates, limited space, and the temptation of having your bed and TV nearby can make it difficult to concentrate. Sometimes, leaving the house and changing your environment is all it takes to boost productivity.

Rome offers a variety of study spaces: dedicated student areas, public libraries, co-working rooms, and cafes where you can sit down and focus. Here is a guide to some reliable study spots that can help you survive exam season.

Cinema Troisi

In addition to being a movie theatre, Cinema Troisi offers a 24-hour study room free of charge, complete with fast, reliable Wi-Fi. The room has 45 workstations, expanding to about 80 seats on the terrace when the weather is good. This is an ideal option for night owls who work best late at night, and the foyer bar ensures you can get a caffeine fix whenever you need one.

Aula Studio Trionfale

Access to this communal study room requires a library card, which can be obtained easily online. (American students should note that a codice fiscale is required.) The studio is spacious, clean, and offers 82 seats and free Wi-Fi. Opening hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekends.

Zalib

If you prefer a more social environment, Zalib is a great choice. Its a cultural centre, study space, and bar open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. every day. Theres free Wi-Fi, plenty of outdoor seating, and you can meet friends for a drink once your work is done. Zalib also hosts events such as comedy shows, jazz jams, and poetry readings. Entry requires an annual membership card costing 8.

Caffe Letterario

This cafelibrary hybrid is popular among students and freelancers. Entry costs 5, which is then credited toward a drink. With charging stations, fast Wi-Fi, and a relaxed atmosphere, its a great place to study. In the evening, it becomes a bar and often hosts cultural activities like concerts, language classes, and storytelling workshops.

Exam season is never easy, but having dependable study spots can make all the difference. Sometimes a cup of coffee, free Wi-Fi, and a change of scenery is exactly what you need. Whether you work best in quiet study rooms, social settings, or cozy cafes, Rome has an affordable option for every type of student.
Regional elections were held in Campania, Puglia and Veneto, amid record low voter turnout, with no changes to political landscape.

There were no real surprises in the outcomes of three regional elections held in the Italian regions of Campania, Puglia and Veneto following a two-day vote on Sunday and Monday.

The centre-left opposition retained control of the southern regions of Campania and Puglia while the candidate backed by Italy's ruling right-wing coalition government won as expected in the northern Veneto region.

Prime minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the victory of Alberto Stefani, a member of the right-wing Lega party headed by deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini, who triumphed in Veneto with 64.3 per cent of the vote.

Veneto

Stefani, 33, becomes Italy's second-youngest regional governor ever*, defeating Giovanni Manildo of the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) who secured 28.8 per cent of the vote.

Stefani takes over in Veneto - long a bastion of the Lega - from one of the party's senior figures, Luca Zaia, who has governed the region for the past 15 years and was no longer eligible to run.

One of the more unexpected results saw 'no vax' doctor Riccardo Szumski elected as regional councillor after he received more than five per cent of the overall vote in Veneto.

Campania

Roberto Fico of the left-wing, populist Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S) - backed by the PD and a broad alliance of smaller left-wing parties - won in Campania, taking 60.6 per cent of the vote.

His main centrodestra challenger was Edmondo Cirielli, deputy minister of foreign affairs and a senior member of Meloni's right-wing Fratelli d'Italia party, who got 35.7 per cent.

Former lower house speaker Fico, 51, will succeed the outgoing PD governor of Campania, Vincenzo De Luca, who has served two terms over the past decade and was not permitted to seek a third mandate.

Italy's former culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano was narrowly elected as regional councillor in Campania for Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia party after running under the slogan 'Make Naples Great Again'.

Maria Rosaria Boccia, with whom Sangiuliano had an affair that led to his resignation as minister last year, also ran in Campania, for the small, right-wing Alternativa Popolare party, but failed to be elected after securing only 89 votes.

Puglia

Voters in Puglia, another centre-left stronghold which has been governed by the centrosinistra for the past 20 years, elected MEP and former Bari mayor Antonio Decaro (PD), who won 63.9 per cent of the vote.

Decaro, 55, defeated entrepreneur Luigi Lobuono - who was supported by the right-wing coalition and who took 35.1 per cent - to take over from outgoing Puglia governor Michele Emiliano.

Turnout

Voter turnout was down sharply in all three regional elections, news agency ANSA reports.

In Campania, around 44 per cent of registered voters cast their votes, down 11 points on the last election in 2020.

In Puglia, the figure was just over 41 per cent, down more than 14 points, while turnout in Veneto was 44.6 per cent, down 16.5 points.

Reaction

Meloni welcomed the election of Stefani in Veneto as a "victory resulting from the work, credibility and seriousness of our coalition".

However the real winner in the northern region was the Lega which took 19 seats, almost double the number of Fratelli d'Italia, with Salvini hailing it as "a result beyond all expectations".

Celebrating the election of Fico in Campania, PD leader Elly Schlein said: "There is an alternative; united we can defeat the right," stating: "The right is afraid of losing: with the coalition we've built today, they wouldn't have won in 2022 and would lose in 2027".

A triumphant M5S leader and former premier Giuseppe Conte hailed Fico's election as "an important political signal", adding: "They're not jumping around anymore" (a reference to a viral video in which Meloni joined Forza Italia leader and deputy premier Antonio Tajani in bouncing up and down to a chorus of "Anyone not jumping is a communist!" during a recent election rally in Naples).

Welcoming the election of Decaro in Puglia, Schlein said: "The real defeat today is Giorgia Meloni, defeated in Campania, Puglia, and even Veneto, where [Fratelli d'Italia] hoped to overtake the Lega and it didn't happen."

Political landscape

Since coming to power three years ago, Meloni's coalition has won several regional elections and recently celebrated the re-election of governors Francesco Acquaroli in Marche and Roberto Occhiuto in Calabria.

Right-wing candidates also lost to the centre-left last year in Sardinia, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna as well as more recently with the re-election of Eugenio Giani in Tuscany.

"The next general election is wide open" - Schlein said on Monday - "United we win. Fico and Decaro's margin shows that united we can win by a landslide".

*Raffaele Fitto, now the executive vice-president of the European Commission, was elected president of Puglia in 2000 at the age of 31.

Photo ANSA
Rome's Palazzo Braschi museum to light up with 1522.

Rome is marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Tuesday by lighting up a city-run museum with Italy's anti-violence and stalking helpline 1522.

The facade of Palazzo Braschi will be illuminated at 19.00, in a ceremony attended by Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri, and the building will remain lit up until midnight.

The city said the initiative is designed to promote the "courage to ask for help", stressing that "the fight against gender-based violence requires prevention, a culture of respect, and access to support tools. 1522 is one of these, and it is essential to make it known to everyone".

The initiative aims to "remind women, especially young women, that asking for help is possible and that authorities are there for them" - councillor Valeria Baglio said in a statement - "This is a necessary message as femicides continue unabated. Despite harsher penalties and new measures, laws alone are not enough. A profound cultural shift is needed: educating children about respect and non-violence from a young age.

The 1522 helpline, which is completely anonymous, is designed as a first response to the needs of victims of gender-based violence and stalking.

Operators answering calls can respond in Italian, English, French, Spanish, Arabic and German, and, by appointment, Albanian, Persian, Algerian, Syrian, Syrian-Lebanese, Moroccan, Egyptian, Berber and Chinese.

The helpline is free of phone from all over Italy, both from landlines and mobile phones, and is active 24 hours a day all year round.
The Battle to Protect Romes Cultural Heritage from Tourist Vandalism

With approximately 300 officers tasked with protecting Italys vast cultural patrimony, the Carabinieri TPC (Tutela Patrimonio Culturale) faces an uphill battle against rising monument defacement.

In June 2023, a viral video showed a tourist carving Ivan + Hayley 23 into a wall of the Colosseum. The 27-year-old Bulgarian fitness instructor living in the UK was eventually tracked down by Italian police and faced charges carrying a potential 15,000 fine and up to five years in prison. The incident made international headlines, but for those working to protect Romes heritage, it represented just one case among hundreds.

The scale, unsurprisingly, is vast. The Colosseum alone welcomed over seven million visitors in 2023, with daily counts frequently surpassing 20,000 during peak summer months in 2024. This relentless flow of tourists has led to both natural wear and deliberate vandalism. High-profile cases include a Canadian tourist carving her initials with a stone, an Irish man scratching his mark on a pillar, and a Russian tourist fined 20,000 after carving a large K into the monument in 2014.

Standing between Italys cultural treasures and their destruction is the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, known as the TPC (Tutela Patrimonio Culturale). Founded in 1969, a year before the UNESCO Convention on cultural property protection, it was the worlds first specialised police force dedicated to combatting art and antiquities crime. The force currently operates with approximately 300 officers based in 16 regional units across Italy.

The TPCs achievements in recovering stolen art are impressive. In 2023 alone, the unit recovered over 105,000 works of art, up from more than 80,000 in 2022. In 2020, despite the pandemic, they recovered 501,574 stolen cultural properties. The force maintains the worlds largest database of stolen cultural goods, the Banca Dati Leonardo, containing approximately 1.3 million files. Their work extends internationally, with successful missions to Iraq, Croatia, Albania, and Lebanon to assist with heritage protection following conflicts and natural disasters.

Yet when it comes to preventing tourist vandalism at monuments, the TPC faces a mammoth task. With 300 officers responsible for protecting the entirety of Italys cultural heritage, the mathematics of enforcement are discouraging. The sheer volume of visitors and the scattered nature of heritage sites across the country mean that most acts of vandalism go unpunished, even when witnessed and reported.

Many tourists caught defacing monuments claim ignorance of the law or of the significance of what theyre damaging. One vandal insisted he was unaware the Colosseum was as ancient as it is. The parents of a 17-year-old Swiss tourist who carved her initials into the monument dismissed the incident, saying, Shes just a young girl, she wasnt doing anything wrong. Large crowds at popular sites make it very difficult to monitor individual behaviour; when tourists enter without guides, keeping tabs becomes even harder.

In response to the problem, Italy introduced tougher legislation. In April 2023, new laws increased maximum fines for damaging monuments to 60,000, intended both to dissuade potential vandals and to offset restoration costs. By 2024, penalties had been raised further to 40,000. The legislation targets not just casual vandals but also environmental activists who have increasingly targeted cultural sites to draw attention to their causes.

When American tourist Ryan Lutz filmed the Ivan + Hayley incident and showed the footage to Colosseum guards, they didnt initially take it seriously. It was only after Lutz uploaded the video to social media that the Carabinieri used facial-recognition technology to identify the culprit.

The problem is compounded by some tourists shifting attitudes toward cultural sites. According to historians, some visitors view Italy as a place devoid of rules and laws, where everything is art and therefore nothing is art, perhaps influenced by cinematic depictions like La Dolce Vita and Roman Holiday. Coupled with the anonymity of travel, this perception encourages bad behaviour. Meanwhile, the Instagram age has transformed monuments into photo opportunities.

Conservation experts emphasise that sustainable tourism practices must be prioritised. This includes protective coatings for vulnerable surfaces, controlled visitor pathways, and educational campaigns. Virtual-reality tours and digital reconstructions are being explored as alternatives that could reduce physical wear while maintaining visitor access. Some experts suggest limiting physical access to sensitive areas entirely, supplementing them with immersive digital experiences.

The TPC, for its part, stresses that effective cultural-heritage protection requires public collaboration and awareness. As one CoESPU publication on the force noted, The awareness that cultural heritage is part of our identity, of our home, is the only tool that can ensure unremitting and effective protection.

The question remains whether enforcement, education, and technology can evolve quickly enough to protect Italys irreplaceable heritage from the cumulative impact of millions of visitors who, whether through ignorance or disregard, continue to leave their mark on history.
How Gentrification Is Transforming the Pigneto Neighborhood.

Rome is made up of dozens of diverse neighborhoods that add to the cultural richness and liveliness of the Italian capital. Many features attract visitors and newcomers to the city, but this growing appeal can have harmful consequences for longtime residents and lower-income communities. One neighborhood currently experiencing the effects of gentrification is Pigneto, on the east side of the city.

The Pigneto neighborhood began as a rural area with a small cluster of villas and was often referred to as the area outside Porta Maggiore due to the nearby Roman aqueducts. After the unification of Italy in 1861, the area saw a rise in unauthorized construction, drawing in a working-class population. This community became known for its strong left-wing identity and anti-fascist activism. Their resistance made Pigneto a target of heavy bombing during World War II. After decades of rebuilding, the neighborhood today is home to open-minded residents and communities such as the LGBTQ+ population and students from the nearby La Sapienza University.

Walking around the area, visitors encounter abundant street art, including murals and graffiti. The neighborhood also hosts various exhibitions and innovative bars. While this artistic scene is visually striking and culturally engaging, some argue that the growing presence of murals and graffiti signals the arrival of gentrification  and they may be right.

Newcomers, visitors, and even the city administration are increasingly aware of what Pigneto has to offer. Its food scene, hip bars, and alternative shops attract people looking for a place to visit or settle down. One of the first signs of gentrification is the rising cost of living and rent as higher-income residents move in. To support this influx and improve access to the district, the city has introduced the new Metro C line, which connects Pigneto to major train stations and complements the FL1 line linking Fiumicino Airport with Tiburtina Station. To maintain the areas growing reputation, local authorities are paying closer attention to cleanliness, upkeep of buildings, and support for local businesses. Travel blogs and tourism platforms frequently highlight Pigneto as a must-see destination.

With these changes, many longtime residents are being forced to adapt or move elsewhere. As costs rise, some residents begin searching for alternative neighborhoods that offer the sense of community Pigneto once provided, but at more affordable prices. Students  a significant part of the local population  are also struggling, as housing increasingly shifts toward short-term rentals for tourists. Small business owners who remain face new competition from larger brands and luxury shops drawn to the areas growing visibility.

As tourism in Rome continues to increase, visitors  whether short-term or long-term  should keep a few things in mind. Supporting local shops and restaurants helps sustain the neighborhoods identity and allows small business owners to continue operating. Shopping locally also offers visitors a more authentic Roman experience. Discovering hidden gems and engaging with the daily life of neighborhoods like Pigneto helps preserve the culture and character that make these areas unique.
Niamh O'Donoghue

A Dublin-based Chinese businessman has been jailed for seven years and nine months over a money laundering operation connected to an international 10 million zombie iPhone fraud.

Chengwen Guo (43), who was the Irish representative of a transnational crime organisation, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft and money laundering offences on dates between 2021 and 2022.

Guo of Ivy Exchange, Parnell Street, Dublin owned a number of mobile phone shops called Murray Mobile, which has eight stores in locations such as Blackrock, Dundrum, Sutton Cross, Ranelagh and Newbridge. Guo has one previous conviction for having a false passport at Gatwick Airport in the UK, for which he received a custodial sentence of 13 months, the court was told.

The court heard that three sums of money seized in January 2022 included 6,515 found in an Audi Q7 car registered to Guo; 143,245 at his home address; and 20,700 at Murray Mobiles on Main Street in Dundrum, Dublin 14.

Three Rolex watches were also found when gardai searched his apartment in Dublin. His Audi has yet to be seized, the court heard.

Judge Martin Nolan described Guo as a very energetic man who had engaged in very substantial criminal misbehaviour.

This man deserves a severe custodial sentence, said Judge Nolan. The judge said it was white collar deviance. The judge said there was a gap there, and the situation was found out.

The court was told the fake or zombie phones from China were exchanged under warranty for genuine iPhones, which were then sent to countries outside of the EU for resale. The court heard that 10,158 phones provided to Guo were last active mostly outside Ireland. The total retail value of the Apple products was 10, 262,617.

Detective Sergeant Robert Madden of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau told the court that representatives from Apple Corporation were in court for the hearing.

The scheme operated on the basis of the Apple warranty on its phones. The fraud involved sending in fake iPhones for repair and then claiming a replacement under Apples one-year warranty scheme. These fake phone components would come from China and would be assigned the EMEI number of a genuine iPhone when sent for repair. The replacement genuine iPhones would then be sent to Hong Kong for resale to countries outside the EU.

The phones in this case would be sent to a repair company in south Dublin then they would be assigned an EMEI number of a genuine iPhone. Fonfix would deem the phone irreparable, and the phone would be replaced by Apple for a new one.

The court heard Guo also sold counterfeit Apple products such as power chargers, charging cables and phone cases in his shops.

In July 2021, counterfeit Apple goods, including 15 damaged iPhones and sim trays were found after a package was sent to Ireland addressed to Johnny Cheng, which the court heard was a name he used in Ireland for its simplicity rather than his Chinese name, at Murray Mobile in Main Street, Dundrum.

Test purchases of counterfeit Apple goods, including power adaptors, were carried out at Murray Mobile stores in Frascati Centre in Blackrock and Newbridge. These had been manufactured in Asia and were purporting to be Apple, the court heard.

Gardai commenced an investigation and searches of all eight Murray Mobile shops took place on January 10th, 2022.

A significant quantity of products  the large majority being counterfeit - including power adaptors, wireless chargers, AirPods and phone cases were found. The number ran to the thousands and were worth in the region of 270,000 retail value if real. These were cheaper to buy in Asia, and Guo was not authorised to sell Apple products, Det Sgt Madden told the court.

Last month, his co-accused, who was an employee of Fonfix, a tech repair business in Sandyford, south Dublin, was jailed in the same court.

Lukasz Lupa (45) of Kukukcza, Wagrowiec, Poland was given a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of facilitating a criminal organisation on dates between June 5th, 2019 and September 3rd, 2021 under section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

Lupa had claimed he did not know what he was doing was illegal and received little financial benefit for his part in the warranty fraud.

In sentencing last month, Judge Nolan noted that Lupa had to verify that there were defects in the phones. Apple were prepared to give replacement phones and there was an opportunity to abuse this scheme. Thousands of phones replaced by Apple in the region of 8,000 to 10,000, the judge noted. Apple lost considerably and others gained considerably, he said.

The court heard Lupa alerted his boss that two of the phones had the same serial number. Another text said we cannot send in two phones with the same EMEI.

The judge said Lupa spotted the difficulty in the fraudulent scheme and nothing was done. This man acquiesced and this scheme went on for a considerable period of time, the judge said.

Lupa received five bottles of wine, gift cards and other gifts for his part in the scheme but never received any money, the court was told.

Guo was assigned genuine EMEI numbers and then passed them on to Fonfix to get genuine devices under the Apple warranty scheme.

The court heard 9,744 repair events were created for Murray Mobile and were replaced with new phones from Apple.

The phones bearing those EMEI numbers that were also assigned to the zombie phones were showing recent download activity by their owners as they were legitimate. Of the 10,158 phones provided to Guo most of the phones were last active mostly outside Ireland. Most of the replacement phones were sold in Hong Kong but some were sold in the Russian market, the court heard.

Det Sgt Madden said Apple realised that the number of units Guo was sending in was unusually high.

He told Eoin Lawlor SC, prosecuting, that the phones would not power on and a diagnostic could not be performed on them. The phones were submitted without proof of purchase in name of a company which runs a legitimate business and was not at fault, the court heard. Guo received brand new phones and was getting 30 to 40 per unit.

The court heard previously that 60 per cent of the phones had component parts and 55 per cent had been heavily modified.

Of those, 288 were sent for examination and it was determined they were counterfeit. An onsite audit by Apple in 2021 took place and gardai then determined of the 10, 677 devices being processed by Fonfix, only 133 had been originally purchased in Ireland, and 9,761 had serial numbers which had shown downloads were continuing on the app store.

These EMEI numbers were related to real iPhones and the zombie phones were not genuine iPhones because they would not be able to download apps.

All of the zombie phones had the same fault in that they did not power on and therefore could not go through diagnostics. Some of the phones were sent to the Czech Republic for screening and it was determined they were not Apple products.

Guo was arrested at his home on September 11th, 2024 and interviewed on nine occasions, where he accepted he was the owner of Murray Mobile. He said the cash taken from his shop was parents money. Guo said the money found in his home was his kids money and the cash in the Audi was belonging to his business.

Det Sgt Madden agreed with Diana Stuart SC, defending, that Guos co-accused Lupa left jurisdiction, but the garda said there was no extradition and he had come back to be interviewed.

He also agreed Guo fully co-operated with them and in May 2022 handed over the PIN to his phone to gardai.

His apartment in Parnell Street was the family home and was also searched. Guos family were there and fully co-operated with gardai and all of them handed over their passports, phones and PIN numbers. He further agreed Guo was in custody since September 11th, 2024.

Guo met his wife in Ireland 20 years ago. The court heard Fonua, an associated company of Fonfix, made a settlement with Apple Corporation for 2 million.

This man profited somewhat from his enterprise, Ms Stuart put it to the garda. Det Sgt Madden replied that Guo was a senior player in the Irish operation.

Ms Stuart told the court in mitigation that the Guo has four children. One is in boarding school in the UK and one is in boarding school in Ireland. He also has a child in university in Edinburgh. His wifes day-to-day living expenses are 1,000 a week, Ms Stuart told the court. A letter from her sets out her difficulty, she added.

Judge Nolan said the appropriate global sentence was one of seven years and nine months.

The judge said Guo had lapsed into criminality and used his stores to sell Apple products but they werent Apple products. Suspicions arose and further searches saw 164,000 found in criminal proceeds as well as Rolex watches.

Further investigations showed Guo was involved in a criminal scheme to defraud Apple, the judge said. The judge noted 10,000 phones were given out in the warranty scheme with a value of 10 million.

Judge Nolan noted his co-accused Lupa was a company supervisor and had received a four-and-a-half year sentence. Judge Nolan said Guo brought the funds.

Any scheme that cannot be defrauded is a scheme you cannot use, said Judge Nolan. There is always going to be weaknesses in a scheme, he added.

The prosecution made applications for forfeiture of the cash sums involved and the Audi, which the court heard is in the possession of Guos wife, is also to be seized.
(Reuters) -Zscaler beat Wall Street estimates for quarterly revenue and profit on Thursday, driven by strong demand for its cloud and artificial intelligence security solutions.

Enterprise spending on cyber protection solutions has increased as digital threats have gotten more sophisticated. Zscaler's flexible purchasing program has helped it sign larger, multi-year platform deals with enterprise clients.

The company also increased its full-year revenue forecast to about $3.28 billion to $3.30 billion, from its prior outlook of $3.27 billion to $3.28 billion.

It now expects fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $3.78 to $3.82, compared with prior forecast of $3.64 to $3.68.

However, shares of the company, which have risen nearly 61% this year, fell more than 7% in extended trading.

RBC analysts said in a note that although the company lifted its annual forecasts, the increase in revenue outlook was smaller than the first-quarter revenue beat.

Zscaler posted a 26% jump in revenue to $788.1 million in the first quarter ended October 31, topping analysts' average estimate of $773.8 million, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Adjusted earnings per share was 96 cents for the first quarter, above estimates of 86 cents.

Last week, larger rival Palo Alto Networks also raised its annual forecasts and reported an increase in first-quarter revenue.

Zscaler primarily competes in the secure access service edge (SASE) market, which combines networking and security into a single platform to connect users, devices and applications from anywhere.

SASE is one of the fastest-growing segments of cybersecurity as cloud adoption, driven by the artificial intelligence boom, continues to transform network security architectures.

(Reporting by Anhata Rooprai in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
Waterford City and County Council Chief Executive Sean McKeown has recommended that commercial rates be raised by 3.5% ahead of the councils statutory budget meeting on Wednesday.

In a message seen by the News & Star, Mr McKeown said the raise was in line with the Consumer Price Index and necessary to protect and sustain essential local services that directly support our business community.

This is, in effect, a cost-stability measure, ensuring the Council can continue to sustain and enhance the high standard of service delivery expected of Irelands best place to live, Mr McKeown said.

The move comes as retailers across Waterford City criticised the Council for a perceived failure to support SMEs.

A coalition of around 90 city centre retailers, named the Waterford Business Group, accused Mr McKeown and the wider Council of being so far out of touch with the business costs associated with running an SME.

Managing Director of the Book Centre, Maeve Ryan, labelled Mr McKeowns statement as all optics". Commercial rates in Waterford currently stand at .2978 ARV (Annual Rate Valuation). That means if a business property is valued at 10,000, that business must pay the council 2,978 per year.

Waterfords commercial rates currently stand as the highest in Ireland.

Mr McKeown argued that Waterfords .2978 ARV was a misleading statistic due to the lower property rate valuations found in Waterford compared to other parts of Ireland.

The councils share of annual income derived from commercial rates has declined from 25% in 2017 to 20% in 2024. Businesses said that figure would only worsen if commercial rates increase and force more businesses to close.

Under Mr McKeowns proposal, a business with a 2026 rates demand of 5,000 or less will not pay increased rates if they sign up to the PPI (Prompt Payment Incentive) by May 1.

Mr McKeown said that 71% of Waterford businesses have a rates bill of 5,000 or less. The business group argued that most city centre businesses fall above this threshold.

The coalition called on elected councillors to resist rate increases and adopt a freeze on businesses.

We remain committed to continued collaboration in the interest of sustaining a vibrant, competitive, and resilient Waterford city centre.

But the immediate priority is ensuring that businesses can survive into 2026, the statement said.
A man has been charged with the murder of Waterford man Pat Fitzgerald in August.

David Norris (35), of Assumption Terrace, Rosbercon, New Ross, Co. Wexford, was charged at a sitting of Waterford District Court before Judge Fiona Brennan today, November 25.

Detective Garda Kevin Cleere told the court that on today's date at 10.25am, he arrested and charged the defendant at Waterford Courthouse in relation to the incident.

The defendant made no reply to the charge.

Sergeant John Phelan told the court that "given the nature of the charge, bail was not an issue for this court.

The sergeant requested that the initial charge of assault causing harm be withdrawn and the defendant be sent forward for trial on the sole count to the present sitting of the Central Criminal Court.

Judge Brennan issued the defendant the alibi warning, requiring him to inform the state within two weeks if he wishes to rely on alibi evidence.

Acting for the defendant, solicitor Derek Connors asked the court to assign him in the matter for the purposes of legal aid.

No date was given for the trial.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
Figures from Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke show Waterford ranked 23rd out of 31 local authorities in a national list for SME funding in 2025.

Waterford City and County Councils SMEs received 182,751 from the Power Up Grant and ICOB reclassification schemes from a national distribution of 12,372,353 (1.48% share).

Applications for The Power Up Grant and the ICOB (Increased Cost of Business) scheme closed in 2024. 400 million was distributed nationwide.

Applications for funding were reopened in July 2025 for businesses that had applied for the incorrect sector in 2024. 40 applications were made across the Waterford City and County Council local authority, with 29 approved successfully.

The Power Up Grant scheme offered a 4,000 grant for businesses in the hospitality, retail, and beauty sectors, while ICOB was a grant of up to 5,000 based on a businesss commercial rates.

Neighbouring South East counties Kilkenny, Tipperary, and Wexford all received more funding. Carlow received 138,405.

Dublin County Council received the largest amount of funding, with 2.75 million spread across 428 successful applications. Longford stood at the end of the table, with just 25,000 of funding, or .2% of the national share.
The pilot who died in a crash landing near Waterford Airport has been identified as a Turkish father of two.

Turkish media have identified Bircan Dokuzlar as the pilot who lost his life last Thursday, November 20.

The Vulcanair P68C plane crashed at about 12.50pm at Lisselan while approaching Waterford Airport. It is understood that the aircraft was flying from Sligo to Beziers, France before experiencing engine trouble 50km off the Irish coast.

A Gofundme page was been set up in Turkish, English and German to help raise funds for Dokuzlar's loved ones. The page states that Dokuzlar had been working in Germany "to support his family". He was described as an honourable man of integrity who worked tirelessly to support his family.

The post stated: "This sudden and devastating loss has left his family not only in deep grief but also facing the heavy burden of funeral, burial, international transportation, and the many needs the family now faces without him."

The Air Accident Investigation Unit continue to investigate the crash.
Plans are in place to develop a health centre at the former Bank of Ireland in Ardkeen.

The bank shut its doors in 2021, along with branches in Kilmacthomas and Lismore as part of a nationwide closure of 88 branches of the financial institute.

Plans submitted by Mr. Noel Frisby this week outline intentions to develop a health centre at the vacant unit.

Proposed ground floor drawings submitted as part of the planning application include a doctors surgery, consultants rooms and bloods areas.

A decision is expected to be made by January 24, 2026.

(Funded by the local democracy scheme)
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PoliticsFederalImmigration Secret transcript: Nauru hopes that deportees it receives in $2.5b deal will go home Natassia Chrysanthos November 25, 2025  2:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

The Albanese government is arguing it has no responsibility for what happens to people it deports to Nauru, even if they are subject to harm, as it fights in court to uphold the terms of a $2.5 billion deal to deport non-citizens with criminal records to the Pacific island. Labors response to its latest High Court challenge comes as the controversial 30-year Nauru agreement faces mounting scrutiny, following the publication of a hidden transcript revealing Nauruan President David Adeang hopes to send deportees back to their home country. Nauruan President David Adeang at Parliament House last year. Alex Ellinghausen Greens Senator David Shoebridge and Independent Senator David Pocock read the translated transcript of Adeangs interview into Hansard on Monday night, thwarting the governments efforts to keep it secret by refusing the release of its own translation and suppressing the document in court. According to the transcript of Adeangs interview with Nauruan media from February this year, he said: It will not be the first time we have accepted foreigners with backgrounds that are not 100 per cent pristine.

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In 30 years time, there will have to be meetings between the government of Nauru and the government of Australia and what were going to do about these people. I do trust, however, that maybe before then, we will little by little be able to return these people home if they want that. The government has been trying to suppress the transcript of Adeangs interview as it keeps his government onside and avoids human rights criticisms of a deal that allows it to deport hundreds of detainees released into the community after a High Court ruling in 2023. Related Article Foreign relations $2.5b Nauru deal wont be made public without court challenge or agreement, says Burke This ruling, known as the NZYQ case, has been a political headache for the Albanese government, exposing it to years of attack over its handling of community safety. The Nauru fix involves Australia paying the Pacific nation $70 million each year for three decades, on top of a $400 million upfront payment, in exchange for it granting 30-year visas to former detainees. Burke last week said he would not release any more details of the deal, including the memorandum of understanding, even as a joint investigation by this masthead and 60 Minutes revealed members of the Finks bikie gang had won a taxpayer-funded contract to provide security on Nauru to the deported cohort.

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Ogy Simic, head of advocacy at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, which procured the transcript, said: This secrecy is exactly what Labor criticised the Coalition about when they were in opposition: dodgy contracts, secrecy, and cover-ups that erode public trust. In the interview he gave earlier this year, Adeang claimed the people due to be deported had been living comfortably in the Australian community and were expected to do the same in Nauru. He also insisted none of the deportees were refugees, despite contrary claims by non-government organisations working with the cohort who say many of them are refugees or stateless. The transcript reveals two different stories are being told, Shoebridge said. Adeangs remarks also prompted the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Shoebridge and Pocock to claim Nauru could send refugees back to countries where they could be harmed  a breach of non-refoulement obligations, which prohibit states from forcing people to return to a country where they risk persecution. The Albanese government has so far deported at least three people to Nauru and redetained about 20 from the cohort, but is still facing High Court challenges about the arrangement.

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In its response to one of the latest challenges that was published this week, the Commonwealth argues that Australian laws do not require the government to ask whether a country is a prudent  place to send them or consider whether the people will be harmed after being deported. Related Article Exclusive

Investigations Pouring money into a trough: Senior public servant blows whistle on allegedly corrupt millions It says the interim agreement with Nauru made it clear that the Pacific island nation has accepted responsibility to provide support to settled persons to achieve minimum outcomes in line with Nauruan standards of living. Resettled persons are entitled to remain in the Republic for a minimum period of 30 years while being permitted to depart and re-enter the Republic, the response says. A person who can live in Nauru in those circumstances has plainly been removed from Australia. There is no factual foundation for any suggestion that Australia exercises ongoing control over persons who have resettled in Nauru (and the existence of any such control is denied).

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Pocock called for the government to be more transparent. It shouldnt take senators reading a transcript into Hansard to actually provide the public with some transparency about whats whats happening, he said. But here we are in 2025, a government that loves secrecy, is addicted to secrecy, and that needs to change.



Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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Analysis WorldEuropeRussia-Ukraine war Tough as nails: What Putin really wants out of peace talk chaos Paul Sonne November 25, 2025  8:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Berlin: Ukrainian and European officials sprang into a frenzy at the weekend to alter US President Donald Trumps 28-point peace plan to end the war in Ukraine, developed with input from Russia and heavily weighted towards the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, sat back and watched. For the Russian leader, a Kremlin-friendly peace plan that enshrines Ukraines perpetual subordination and vulnerability would be a win. So would a failed process that leads Trump to pull remaining support for Ukraine and further antagonise European allies. Vladimir Putin (left) could be aiming to cleave Donald Trump from the Ukrainians and the Europeans, analysts say. AP US and Ukrainian officials reported progress on talks aimed at amending the proposal, saying they had made some unspecified changes. By late Monday (Tuesday AEDT), the officials had returned home.

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It is unclear if Putin will accept those changes. On Friday, in a video conference with security officials, the Russian leader said the 28-point plan could be the foundation for a peace settlement, pending substantive and meaningful discussion, or Russia could keep pressing its case in Ukraine by force. Related Article Russia-Ukraine war Rewrite begins on US peace plan for Ukraine amid Republican revolt More Ukrainian cities would fall to Russian troops, perhaps not as quickly as we would prefer, but inevitably, Putin warned. He said such a path also suits us because Moscow was content to pursue its interests through armed confrontation. His message: his authoritarian system can outlast the resources and will of its adversaries. The West has entered a pain contest with Vladimir Putin. Who can withstand more pain? said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre. In this competition, Putin can be tough as nails, and his system can be tough as nails.

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The Ukrainians were just as tough, Gabuev noted, but they are under-resourced, suffering from a dearth of military personnel, weaponry and money, as well as a lack of unified Western support. Putins ability to continue waging the war isnt limitless. His economy is facing trouble, particularly after a significant decline in oil revenue, exacerbated by the Trump administrations recent sanctions. Moscow is raising taxes to cover the war effort and has pruned next years military budget. Russias forces are on the front foot, but the advance has been slow and costly in lives and materiel. Loading Still, Putin believes, compared with Ukraine, that time is on his side. And while he appears satisfied to let the peace process either succeed or fail, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is under immense pressure on multiple fronts, as Trump was pushing him to accept a settlement plan by Thursday. The battlefield situation has been deteriorating for Ukraine. Zelensky has been weakened domestically by a ballooning corruption scandal. And Ukraine is running low on cash to sustain its defences and economy, with its European allies vacillating about using billions of dollars in frozen Russian money to fund Kyiv.

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Trump has also begun aiming invective again at Ukraine, accusing Zelensky last weekend of expressing ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS. Related Article Analysis

Russia-Ukraine war A weaker Trump should mean a bolder resistance  including on Ukraine Those efforts produced a 28-point plan that underscored Putins unwillingness to bend on the war, and that Ukraine and its European allies are now pushing to amend. Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin foreign policy aide, said on Monday that many but not all of the plans positions were acceptable to Russia, but they required detailed discussion. He said European counterproposals that had been circulating were not constructive. Most of the provisions in the 28-point proposal reflected Putins long-standing demands, including a legally enshrined ban on NATO membership for Ukraine. Still, it is not clear that Putin would accept the plan even in its original form. Some smaller points represent a comedown from previous Kremlin proposals, such as a cap on Ukraines military strength at 600,000, versus the 100,000 that Moscow proposed in 2022 talks.

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In his remarks on Friday, Putin spun it as if he had already made concessions. He said that when he met Trump in August in Alaska, the Americans had asked the Russians to show flexibility and that he was ready to do so. By this, Putin was probably referring to the question of territory. Russias negotiators dropped their initial demand that Ukraine hand over the entirety of the four regions that Moscow annexed in 2022, even though Russia doesnt control huge portions of that land, including two regional capitals. In Alaska, Putin expressed a willingness to stop fighting if, in addition to accepting his other demands, Ukraine handed over just the part of the Donetsk region it still held. The 28-point plan calls for Ukraine to withdraw from that territory, which would become a demilitarised zone recognised as Russian land. Because Putin has portrayed his war domestically as a rescue operation for the Russian-speaking people of Donetsk and neighbouring Luhansk, it would be difficult to sell a victory at home that does not result in the capture of the rest of Donetsk. Russia already controls Luhansk.

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Stefan Meister, a Russia analyst at the German Council on Foreign Relations, said it remained to be seen whether Putin would be willing to compromise. Putin could be aiming, Meister said, to cleave Trump from the Ukrainians and the Europeans, leaving Russia with an easier path to subjugate Ukraine by force. Putins calculation is he hopes that Trump gets frustrated with Zelensky and backtracks with any kind of support, and if there is no intelligence sharing or long-range missiles, the Europeans cant replace it, Meister said. Ultimately, Meister said, Putin wants to break Ukraine. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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Exclusive WorldNorth AmericaImmigration Trump administration orders US embassy to collect data on migrant crime in Australia Michael Koziol Updated November 25, 2025  9:58am ,first published November 25, 2025  6:33am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 646 View all comments

Washington: The Trump administration will collect data on crimes and human rights abuses committed by migrants to Australia as part of its global drive to combat mass migration, which it describes as an existential threat to Western civilisation. The intervention into domestic affairs goes beyond illegal immigration and seeks to caution Canberra that a significant intake of migrants, particularly of a culture thats radically different from Australias, can lead to political and economic instability. Anti-immigration protesters in Sydney in August. Getty Images A senior State Department official said the administration had instructed diplomats at its embassy in Canberra to begin collecting data and reporting on migrant-related crimes and human rights abuses facilitated by people of a migration background. Similar cables were sent last week to all US embassies in Europe, as well as Canada and New Zealand. The governments of these countries were not consulted beforehand, but the US embassies have been instructed to contact them and offer to help.

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The senior State Department official, who spoke on condition of not being named, said the US government was concerned a large influx of migrants could strain markets, naming Australias housing crisis as an example. Beyond that, we want to caution the Australians, he told this masthead. We love the Australian people  We just want to warn our friends that if you import a rapid number of individuals of any background, particularly of a culture thats radically different from Australias, without any sort of mechanism for diffusing the impact, that can lead to political unrest, that can lead to economic instability. US President Donald Trump addressing the United Nations in September, when he warned the world  particularly Europe  that their countries were going to hell. Dominic Lorrimer The official said that while illegal immigration was the elephant in the room, the Trump administration was concerned about mass migration more broadly. You have to have some common sense about that, he told this masthead. You also have to understand the limitations ... and the security concerns that come with mass migration, and what happens when you import a substantial number of people into a very tight, particular area.

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A spokesperson for the Australian government said the Trump administration had not raised the matter with Australia. Australia is a pluralist nation, we welcome different races, religions and views, united by respect for each others humanity and for each others right to live in peace, the spokesperson said. Australia admits 185,000 permanent migrants a year, mostly skilled workers. Net overseas migration, which includes temporary workers, international students and visitors, is falling rapidly from a post-COVID high of 538,000 in 2022-23. It has now dropped to about 316,000, lower than forecast. But Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has pledged to unveil a policy that would further cut the intake, amid a hot-button debate over immigration and population.

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In a separate cable, the State Department also instructed embassies to begin collating its next annual human rights report, traditionally one of the most comprehensive studies of human rights abuses around the world. The Trump administration is changing the focus of the report to scrutinise countries enforcement of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, as well as government funding for abortion services and gender transition surgery for children. US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference in February, where he scolded Europe over out of control migration. AP The senior State Department official, on a briefing call to news media, said the administration was not afraid to call out its allies just as much as were willing to call out our enemies. It was also determined to address human rights concerns that have been ignored by the global human rights community because they were politically incorrect, or they werent convenient to the prevailing narratives.

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The official said the fact that the mass migration project was being managed by the departments Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour indicated how seriously the administration was taking the issue. Related Article Immigration Thousands of Australians claim theres been unprecedented migration. Heres what the numbers say This is a real problem. There are security implications to this. There are cultural implications to this. There are economic implications to this, he said. We think its about time that for the sake of our allies, for the sake of their citizens, for the sake of our friends, someone said something about this. The latest intervention continues a global project articulated by Vice President JD Vance when he spoke at the Munich Security Conference in February, warning European leaders their voters were rebelling against out-of-control migration, and that politicians ignored the will of the people at their peril. US President Donald Trump dramatically pressed the case when he told the United Nations in September that the globalist migration agenda, along with environmental and economic policies to combat climate change, were destroying Western societies. Your countries are going to hell, he said.

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A senior policy adviser at the State Departments Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Samuel Samson, graduated from university in 2021. In May, he posted an essay on the departments Substack shaming Europe for its democratic backsliding, facilitation of mass migration and descriptions of certain right-wing political parties as extremists. The global liberal project is not enabling the flourishing of democracy, he wrote. Rather, it is trampling democracy, and Western heritage along with it, in the name of a decadent governing class afraid of its own people  Achieving peace in Europe and around the world requires not a rejection of our shared cultural heritage, but a renewal of it. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
In the fight against transnational crime, Customs and the police are at the forefront of maintaining global security and protecting societies, with the roles of the WCO and INTERPOL essential in this effort. As part of the continued strengthening of the partnership between the WCO and INTERPOL, WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders attended the 93rd INTERPOL General Assembly, which was held in Marrakech, Morocco, from 24 to 27 November 2025.

INTERPOL and the WCO have a long-standing strategic partnership, both organizations being committed to combatting transnational crime and protecting societies. As partners, the WCO and INTERPOL must continue to jointly disrupt illicit activity, no matter the source. Commonality of purpose supports it. Safety of society requires it. Secretary General Saunders said during a panel discussion with prominent chiefs of police and senior law enforcement leaders.

The high-level panel discussion - Identifying and Disrupting Transnational Organized Crime: Member Country Achievements Leveraging INTERPOL Capabilities - which was moderated by Valdecy Urquiza, INTERPOL Secretary General, addressed the topics of deeper integration between customs and law enforcement networks to secure borders and global supply chains. Mr. Saunders pointed out that criminals are becoming ever more sophisticated, creating new business models and deploying the same technology innovations to counter our efforts. This environment makes closer cooperation between Customs and Police even more pressing.

Other speakers on the panel shared their first-hand experiences in confronting todays most pressing criminal threats, highlighting both the challenges they face and the best practices they have developed. Their insights offered valuable perspectives on the evolving realities of frontline policing and underscored the forms of international cooperation most needed to achieve meaningful, lasting impact in the fight against organized crime.

Cooperation key in the fight against illicit trade

From the perspective of the WCO, the Secretary General emphasised that illicit trade continues to pose a significant and ongoing threat to global security, economic stability and societal well-being.

During the panel discussion, Operation Neptune, supported by the WCO, was highlighted by INTERPOL as a key example of the importance of sharing intelligence and collaborating on operational activities to combat emerging threats. Operation Calypso, launched in response to the growing threat of firearms trafficking and drug smuggling in the Caribbean and supported by INTERPOL, was also highlighted as a representative case of the importance of sharing intelligence and collaborating on operational activities to combat emerging threats.

In closing, the Secretary General emphasised the importance of deeper cooperation between the WCO and INTERPOL at the international level, as well as Customs administrations and wider law enforcement networks nationally. He noted that strengthening these partnerships is essential to enhancing border security, safeguarding global supply chains, and delivering a more coordinated and impactful response to combatting organized crime and illicit trade.

Background

The General Assembly is INTERPOLs supreme governing body, comprising representatives from each of its member countries. It meets once a year and each session lasts around four days. Its purpose is to ensure that INTERPOLs activities correspond to the needs of member countries. INTERPOLs General Assembly gathers law enforcement leadership from across member countries and partner organizations to adopt major policy decisions and strengthen international police cooperation.
Nazrin Abdul



The hydrocarbon industry must fundamentally rethink how it approaches major projects if it is to meet the demands of the coming decades, bps Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkiye (AGT), Giovanni Cristofoli, said at the SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference in Baku, Azernews reports.

We cannot deliver the next 30 to 50 years of hydrocarbon projects the way we did the previous 30. Our methods must change. Comfort is not an option, Cristofoli stressed, noting that technical challenges are becoming more complex while supply chains grow increasingly demanding.

Cristofoli highlighted that bps operations rest on highly sophisticated technical processes, making expert collaboration indispensable.

Bringing together the industrys top technical talent is crucial for moving the sector forward. I am genuinely delighted to be part of this event, he added.

Speaking about the Caspian region, the bp executive pointed to its exceptional infrastructure but said two factors stand out even more: its people and its partnership culture.

This region has built a truly high-calibre workforcefrom technical specialists and engineers to commercial professionals. There is a strong base of talent that is curious, eager to learn, open to innovation and willing to push boundaries. This, to me, is the real foundation for the future, he noted.

He also emphasized the regions long-standing tradition of cooperation:Government collaboration is open and supportive from an investment standpoint. I see strong efforts to attract more capital to the regionsomething you dont find everywhere. Our partnership with SOCAR is particularly important, as is the excellent cooperation across the supply chain. This ability to form strong partnerships is part of the regions unique magic recipe.

Cristofoli stressed that the industrys primary challenge is evolving its mindset.

The key is not to rely on past approaches. The industry is changing, expectations are rising, and we must adapt to new realities, he said.

The SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference, bringing together leading engineers, experts and global energy companies, continues in Baku with discussions centered on innovation, digital transformation, decarbonization and the future of regional energy development.
Father-daughter duo earns degrees together, continues family legacy at WSU

November 25, 2025

OGDEN, Utah  Matt and Hannah Stowells bond as dad and daughter has become even stronger as they pursue a shared goal together: college.

Matt is getting a Master of Science in Computer Engineering, while Hannah is studying elementary and special education.

Its fun to see the expression on my friends faces when I say, yeah, I go to school with my dad, Hannah said. Its just a unique opportunity.

By attending Weber State University, both Matt and Hannah are continuing a longstanding family tradition.

It goes way back, Hannah said. My parents have gone here, my grandma, and my great-grandpa. My family has had such great experiences here.

Continuing a family tradition

After graduating from Bonneville High School, Hannah received scholarship offers from multiple colleges, but she knew she wanted to be at WSU: Ive always wanted to go here my whole life.

She already had college credits from taking concurrent enrollment classes, and she was excited to become a fourth-generation Wildcat.

Hannah felt inspired by her former teachers, especially in sixth grade, which led her down the path of becoming an educator herself. She was awarded the Teach for Weber scholarship, given to support students attending WSU who plan to teach in the Weber School District after graduation.

Now, as a student in the Jerry & Vickie Moyes School of Education, she gets to learn more about what makes an impactful educator.

Ive found I can do things that I didnt think I could in the beginning, Hannah said. Im proud of the work I put into things.

She plans to take a pause from school beginning January 2026 to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Then, when she returns and graduates, she looks forward to teaching any grade  but preferably middle schoolers  and making a fun space for them by personalizing the classroom with Scooby-Doo decor.

Most of all though, she wants to be a role model to her students, just like past teachers were for her.

Advancing in his career field

For Matt, getting a masters degree first became a goal nearly 15 years ago, but career and home-life commitments consumed most of his time.

He later accepted a civil service position at Hill Air Force Base, working in the 309th Software Engineering Group. Matt is a software manager, which means he helps create web applications for U.S. Air Force personnel to more easily and efficiently do their job.

You may have heard people talk about user-centered design, Matt said. I get to be at the tip of the spear of that with my products. I learn about the everyday problems employees face, and think of ways we can make that better, easier, automated, or simplified.

While working, Matt came across scholarship opportunities for government employees, renewing his interest in continuing his education. He applied for and received the Department of Defenses SMART Program scholarship, which helps the DoDs civilian workforce pursue education in STEM.

You can go anywhere you want with this scholarship; theres no cap on tuition, Matt said. But I still chose to go to Weber.

With a bachelors degree in engineering from WSU under his belt, along with years of other industry experience ranging from medical device research and development to commercial aerospace work, he returned to school.

This was a logical move for career growth, he said. The government very much values education, and I know this will open opportunities.

While pursuing a masters degree, the SMART scholarship gives Matt a temporary break from work so he can focus fully on his graduate program.

Making time for family

He said he spends about 70 hours a week on class work. And though he has a different class schedule than Hannah, they still try to make time to connect.

We started doing lunches about once a week on campus, Hannah said. And weve got our basement  well sit together in the evenings and do our work. Thats been really fun.

Matt picks the music, usually 80s synth-pop, and they both value the chance to connect with one another.

We have this time together and these conversations that we might not otherwise get, Matt said.

Matt has three other children, ages 14, 11, and 5. He also credits his wife, Amy, for supporting everyone as they work toward their goals.

I feel like in some ways, its brought our family closer, Hannah said. Going through this together, seeing how hard it is. Its been a trial, but also a blessing.
James Cox

Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.

Taoiseach criticised over travel

Micheal Martin has rejected claims he has spent too much time abroad since he became Taoiseach in January this year, and also hit back at criticism from Fianna Fail TDs.

In the last 10 months, he has travelled abroad 20 times.

He has been to Brazil and South Africa for COP30 and the G20 in the last three weeks, and it has been confirmed he will fly to China at the beginning of next year.

However, speaking from Angola on Monday where he was attending the EU/African Union Summit, Mr Martin said any time he goes abroad, it is for the good of the country.

"Are people thinking we go back to a sort of isolated position where we don't attend any meetings? This is ridiculous... whoever is asserting that.

"You're saying mutterings... noone has ever said to me [that he travels too much]. In terms of my visits and so on... I've limited them to just functional meetings, I don't go abroad for any other reason but to advance the country's agenda."

Most people in the country accept that the leader of the country has to engage internationally, he added.

So much emanates from the international world in terms of influence. The first crisis we had to deal with was the tariffs issue. It is important for jobs in our economy, for the technology industry, for the life sciences industry. We navigated that well both within the European Union and indeed with the United States. Thats why international engagement matters, for Gods sake."

Opposition parties were also critical of the Taoiseach's absence from Leaders' Questions on Tuesday.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald asked where is the Taoiseach? before raising how people were struggling with hikes to their energy bills.

Ca bhfuil an Taoiseach? Ms McDonald said at the opening of Leaders Questions on Tuesday.

Labour leader Ms Bacik said the Taoiseach was absent and it was a nice surprise to see Transport and Energy Minister Darragh OBrien stand in for him.

Immigration laws

People seeking international protection face paying up to 40 per cent of their weekly income to fund the cost of State accommodation, under proposals from Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan.

He brought three memos to Cabinet.

One will require refugees who are working to pay towards their own accommodation.

Another will limit which family members someone granted status here can bring to Ireland to direct relatives - children, spouses and dependent parents.

The Government is also planning to increase the wait time to the residency rules around citizenship from three to five years, and putting restrictions in place meaning those who have been getting a social welfare payment from the State or owe money to the State won't be able to apply.

The moves have been worked on for some time but come in part in response to the UK also tightening its immigration rules.

Nick Henderson, chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council, said some of the conditions being attached, including that the person must have their own accommodation, will make things difficult.

Mr Henderson told Newstalk: "Firstly, it currently takes about 18 months for a family unification application to be processed. So a person, it seems, would have to find accommodation and try to keep that accommodation free and try to pay for it in the duration of their application."

Mr Henderson added: "I just don't see how that's practical or reasonable. Is that actually quite irresponsible? To place somebody in a position where they have a choice of trying to get some support if they for example have lost their job, or they've become unwell, or if they have a disability or are pregnant.

"Somebody has that choice to take that support or just wait, sit it out, hope that they get better."

O'Callaghan the leader in waiting?

Mr O'Callaghan has been continually tipped as the next leader of Fianna Fail.

Some of the criticism of Mr Martin's travel came from members of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party, pointing to continued unrest from backbenchers.

He has denied claims it will delay the review into Fianna Fail's disastrous presidential campaign and how Jim Gavin was selected.

Mr Martin has insisted he will lead the party into the next election, but Mr O'Callaghan is waiting in the wings.

He is biding his time and refusing to launch a coup, but things change very quickly in politics.

The Justice Minister is never far from the airwaves, particularly with immigration reform, and this will undoubtedly be a source of anxiety for Mr Martin.

Abroad

US president Donald Trump isn't on the ballot in next November's midterm elections, but hes plunging into them with his own presidency at stake.

As early as this summer, 18 months before Election Day 2026, Mr Trump was urging Republican congressmen exploring Senate or gubernatorial runs to stand for re-election instead to avoid party primary fights, according to a White House official, a senior Trump adviser and a party operative.

Such an early, hands-on involvement in midterm elections is unprecedented for a president in modern times.

Meanwhile, talks on a Ukraine peace plan continue, with Mr Trump pressuring Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy to accept a deal that would force the country to give up large areas to Russia.
The Castlebar and Ballina branches of Soroptimist International Republic of Ireland (SIROI) are proud to announce their participation in the annual United Nations 'Orange the World campaign, marking 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, starting from today (Tuesday, November 25) and continuing until December 10.

This international campaign, one of the core commitments of Soroptimists worldwide, unites individuals, communities, and organisations in taking action to end violence against women and girls. Across Ireland, all 15 Soroptimist clubs will host a wide range of awareness-raising events and activities designed to highlight this urgent issue and promote positive change.

From lighting up public buildings in orange, to solidarity walks, awareness displays, and poster and flyer campaigns, members will be a visible presence in local towns and cities. Clubs are also engaging with young people through the national Soroptimist Public Speaking Competition, focusing on the signs of healthy relationships, and distributing specially-created bookmarks and educational materials that spread the message of equality and respect.

SIROI President Siobhan Matthews said:

Gender-based violence is a global crisis that requires both global and local action. Every year, our members stand together in their communities and as part of a powerful international movement to shine a light on this issue. The Orange the World campaign reminds us that awareness leads to action, and action leads to change. We invite everyone in Ireland to join us in speaking out, standing up, and making a visible commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

National Programme Action Officer, Eileen Kelly, added: Soroptimists across Ireland are united in our determination to create safe, equal, and empowered communities. The creativity and commitment shown by our 15 clubs, from innovative local displays to youth engagement initiatives, demonstrate the strength of grassroots activism. Together, we can make a real difference.

The 16 days of activism is a key element of the SIROI calendar, reflecting Soroptimist Internationals mission to transform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment, and enabling opportunities. SIROI encourages individuals, community groups, and local authorities to take part and show their support by turning their towns and cities orange this November and December.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Partly sunny, windy, and cold with wind chills in the teens and 20s all day. West winds will gust 25-35mph. A few lake-effect snow showers are possible north of I-78 in the afternoon and evening, especially in the Poconos. .

Tonight

Partly cloudy, cold, and brisk. Wind chills in the teens overnight.
Wits Business School launches dynamic new journal

The new Africa-focused journal aims to bridge the gap between academia and practice.

The journal places Africa at the heart of global conversations about business transformation, innovation and strategic management.

The Wits Business Review  officially the Wits Business School Review of Business, Management and Strategy  will be launched in early December 2025, representing the start of a new era in Africa-rooted business research.

The journal aims to reshape how business and management research is conceived and applied across Africa, says Professor Jones Odei-Mensah, Associate Professor in Economics and Finance at WBS and editor of the Wits Business Review (WBR).

The vision and scope of the WBR go far beyond that of an academic journal  we see it as a dynamic platform for critical enquiry, strategic insight, and actionable knowledge. The aim is to foster a high-impact intellectual ecosystem that empowers researchers, practitioners and policymakers to co-create knowledge that reflects the realities and diversity of African markets and translates academic theory into practical strategies, says Professor Odei-Mensah.

To that end, the WBR encourages original, context-specific, and inter-disciplinary contributions that inform both theory and practice.

The launch of the WBR reinforces Wits Business Schools standing as a leading research institution in Africa. The school has the largest postdoctoral programme in South Africa, with over 50% of candidates being students from other parts of the continent. By highlighting Africas business innovations, contextual challenges, and entrepreneurial spirit, the WBR will serve as a knowledge hub that aligns with the schools mission of academic excellence, societal relevance, and global influence.

As African academics, we recognise that many of our stories, strategies and innovations remain under-represented in global discourse. The WBR will address these persistent gaps in the literature by creating a forum for research that reflects the diversity of African markets and enterprises, champions African-led thinking, and promotes sustainable, inclusive and ethical business practices

across the continent, says Professor Imhotep Alagidede, editor-in-chief of the WBR and professor in Finance and Economics at WBS.

WBS will also be strongly represented at the African Review of Economics and Finance (AREF) Conference from 19 to 23 November 2025 hosted by the University of Ghana Business School and co-chaired by Prof Odei-Mensah.

The annual AREF conference serves as the premier African platform for scholars, policymakers, business leaders, and development practitioners to engage in frontier debates on Africas economic and financial reinvention. Under the theme The Africa Acceleration: Reinventing Capital, Trade & Infrastructure for Exponential Growth, the 2025 will attract over 150 delegates, creating a vibrant space for interdisciplinary exchange and collaborative problem-solving.
GUEST OPINION: The recent GTG-1002 campaign is not just another breach - it is a watershed moment in offensive cyber operations. For decades, cybersecurity was a game of time, where human attackers needed days or weeks to weaponise code, giving breathing room to patch. Now the exploit window has collapsed to zero.

Why the Exploit Window Has Collapsed and How CISOs Must Pivot to Survive

For decades, cybersecurity was a game of time. We banked on the buffer between a vulnerabilitys disclosure and its widespread exploitation. We relied on the forgiving internet, where human attackers needed days or weeks to weaponize code, giving us breathing room to patch.

That era is over.

The recent GTG-1002 campaign, detailed in the Anthropic report, is not just another breach; it is a watershed moment in offensive cyber operations. A Chinese state-sponsored group leveraged an AI agent (based on Claude) to autonomously execute 80-90% of the attack lifecycle.

The agent didn't need to invent exotic zero-days. It simply orchestrated open-source tools and exploited known bugs at machine speeds that defy human logic. It automated reconnaissance, exploit writing, lateral movement, and exfiltration, compressing weeks of tradecraft into seconds.

As defenders, we must confront a brutal truth: The exploit window has collapsed to zero. In this new reality, "vulnerable" means "hacked."

The Invisible Predator

The GTG-1002 incident targeted sectors across finance, chemical manufacturing, and government, peaking at thousands of requests per second. But here is the scariest part: This was the "noisy" version.

We only detected it because the attackers used a monitored commercial API. Imagine the alternative: an uncensored, open-source LLM running on private, local infrastructure.

No API logs.

No vendor safeguards.

No tracing.

This technology democratizes elite cyber warfare capabilities that once required vast teams and budgets but now only require GPU instances. A single threat actor can now launch sophisticated, multifaceted campaigns at scale.

Traditional detect-and-respond playbooks are relics. If you wait to patch during a maintenance window, youve already lost. An AI agent can probe, breach, and pivot across your network before your SOC even receives the first alert.

The CISOs Playbook for an AI-powered Era

To survive an AI-accelerated threat landscape, we must abandon reactive defense. Here are the three non-negotiable mandates for today's CISOs:

1. Ruthless Attack Surface Management

Technical debt is no longer a line item; it is an open door. End-of-life systems are not legacy risks; they are guaranteed compromises. You must implement automated patching pipelines and ruthlessly prioritize CVEs based on real-time risk and threat intelligence, not convenient schedules. If you cannot patch it, isolate it. There is no middle ground. Anything less cedes control to the adversary.

2. Zero Trust is the Only Trust

The perimeters are not effective enough. GTG-1002s success relied on unchecked lateral movement. Your network must be hostile to unauthorized travel. Implement rigorous microsegmentation, identity-based access controls, and continuous verification. Audit your architecture today: How many flat segments expose your crown jewels to a single foothold?

3. Fight Machine with Machine

You cannot fight an algorithm with a human. The only defense against a machine-speed attack is a machine-speed response. The human operators role must shift from "doer" to "supervisor." We must leverage AI for defense by adopting continuous, autonomous exposure validation and AI-driven remediation that can identify and close gaps before an adversarys agent finds them.

A Temporary Reprieve

Despite the severity of autonomous threats, current technology faces operational limits.

AI hallucinationwhere agents falsely report access or invent nonexistent packages remains a significant constraint, forcing attackers to build complex verification layers that slow the kill chain.

Benchmarks like SWE-bench reveal that fully autonomous execution on novel tasks still achieves around 30% success and hardware limitations on context windows hinder long-term campaign coherence. This unreliability provides defenders with a fleeting advantage. However, we must view this friction as a temporary implementation detail, not a permanent safety net.

The forgiving internet is extinct. The AI arms race is not coming; it is here. Hesitation is no longer a strategic optionit is a liability.

Reassess your posture.

Allocate resources to automation.

Lead your organization into a resilient future.

The alternative is becoming the cautionary tale in the inevitable sequel to GTG-1002.

The Qualys blog regularly has more from the Qualys Threat Research Unit (TRU).
When preparing data for the Bitdefender Threat Debrief | October 2025, Bitdefender noticed a significant departure from established ransomware trends. Typically, the top five most impacted countries are consistently the US, Canada, and major Western European nations. However, for this period, South Korea (KR) suddenly became the second most-targeted country, with 25 victims claimed in a single month.

This anomaly prompted an immediate investigation. Our initial analysis quickly revealed that the entire surge was attributed exclusively to the Qilin ransomware group. We also observed a high degree of industry focus: with the exception of one construction firm, every victim was in the financial services sector.

This strong concentration in one country and one sector signals a highly targeted, purposeful campaign, and we decided to investigate the whole operation.

Whos Responsible?

The group behind this surge is Qilin, which has led our Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) statistics for several months. All claimed victims were posted to their Dedicated Leak Site (DLS)  a private Tor site used by double-extortion groups to publish exfiltrated data and pressure non-paying victims. While named after a Chinese mythological creature, Qilin's origins are likely Russian, following the standard RaaS model: one of the founding members (BianLian) communicates in Russian and English, they are very active in Russian-speaking forums, and the operational rule of avoiding targets in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a common characteristic of Russian-based operations.

What makes Qilin particularly interesting is their self-identification as political activists, as evidenced in their public statements on their leak site.

This makes Qilin a living example of a trend we predicted for 2025: that hacktivism would re-emerge, leveraging ransomware's massive financial leverage. It is possible the 'activist' label began as genuine conviction; however, the power of a leading RaaS platform and the sheer profitability inevitably shifts the focus. The group's sheer scale, with almost 1,000 ransom victims claimed to date, demonstrates a focus on mass revenue generation rather than selective political targeting. Money becomes the chief objective, though their political identity remains a helpful lens to distinguish friends from enemies.

Operators vs Affiliates

Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) operates like a gig economy. The main RaaS operators are platform entrepreneurs who provide the branding, software and infrastructure, taking only a small cut of the profits, typically 15 per cent to 20 per cent. The actual hacking is executed by the affiliates  a diverse group of hackers (sometimes calling themselves involuntary penetration testers)  who, acting like a contractor or freelancer, earn the majority of the money. Since the operators are almost exclusively based in Russia, and the affiliates are highly anonymous and varied, attacks are usually attributed to the well-known operator group even though the affiliates are doing the work and keeping the largest profit. Our next step was therefore to analyse the true attackers, not the group that posted the public threat.

Tracking Qilin's individual hackers (affiliates) is extremely difficult, as their numbers and nationalities are kept secret, and members constantly shift allegiances. Qilin has proven that they are willing to collaborate with diverse partners, including the infamous, English-speaking Scattered Spider group. The most surprising partnership began in early 2025, when Moonstone Sleet, a hacking group tied directly to North Korea, signed on as a Qilin affiliate. We're going to call bingo on our second 2025 prediction here. We predicted that state-sponsored groups (APTs) would start using criminal RaaS platforms, merging espionage with crime. This intentional blurring of threat actor categories helps state actors gain money and inflict great damage while ensuring plausible deniability, making it almost impossible to hold the nation accountable.

Moonstone Sleet showed only a handful of attacks during their initial experiments with Qilin ransomware. While this quiet period may seem unusual, a dip in consecutive attacks is typical for hackers focusing on a larger campaign. For example, the Cl0p ransomware campaign successfully exploited a vulnerability in December 2024, but the resulting mass of victims only appeared months later, contributing to a victim count that made February 2025 the historical peak for RaaS victim reporting.

The recent surge in data leak publications from attacks on South Korean businesses is a classic example of a major public spike following a quiet period of preparation, and their targets align perfectly with this state-sponsored group's strategic objectives. Qilins collaboration with a North Korean threat actor like Moonstone Steel in the Korean Leak campaign remains both plausible and probable.

Korean Leaks

The campaign that Qilin named Korean Leaks was rolled out in three distinct publication waves, and many of their leaks were publicised in September 2025. Of the 33 total victims, 28 are currently public. This campaign focused almost entirely on South Korean financial firms, specifically asset management companies. The subsequent removal of four victim posts from the leak site is highly unusual and suggests the results of negotiations or a unique internal policy, as posts typically remain public even after a ransom is paid.

The attackers provided public proof of the breach by sharing nearly 300 photos of exfiltrated documents on the DLS. However, the true scope of each leak is poorly documented as the majority of victims' posts lack detailed data metrics (such as file counts or GB size). Despite this, the few documented cases collectively confirm the theft of over 1 million files and 2TB of data. Given the missing metadata for most victims, the overall reach of this operation is potentially much larger than what is publicly known.

Language Analysis

During our review of the victims and the accompanying announcement text, we noticed a strange communication pattern. The attackers, who named this campaign Korean Leaks themselves, did not use just the standard cybercrime tactic of directly pressuring a compromised business (and addressing its investors, partners, and customers). Instead, they used a significant amount of propaganda and political language and chose to target the entire South Korean country and financial industry, a departure from typical cybercrime communication.

In the RaaS model, the DLS posts (and other assets like ransom notes) are typically written and published by operators to ensure brand consistency and maintain control over the extortion narrative. Qilin is no exception, highlighting this benefit of crafting a tailored image and messaging on darknet forums to attract affiliates: An in-house team of journalists who, in cooperation with legal experts, can help you write texts for blog posts and also assist with pressure during negotiations.

Our statistical analysis of the Korean Leaks offers strong evidence that the Qilin core team, rather than the affiliate, was responsible for the final editing and publication of the DLS text. The posts contain several of the core operator's signature grammatical inconsistencies. However, this control over the final draft does not mean the affiliate was excluded from having a critical say in the key messaging or overall direction of the content.

Pre-Korean Leak Messaging

An unusual political angle was used on August 20, 2025 with the DLS post for a victim in the construction industry. This post on August 20, 2025 preceded the launch of the main Korean Leaks campaign. The text included an explicit threat of military intelligence value: ...the published data includes plans and drawings for each of the company's hundreds of completed projects. Schematics of such projects as bridges, tunnels, and liquefied natural gas tanks are now publicly available - information that should be kept secret because it is of great interest to other countries. A report on what was found in these documents is already being prepared for Comrade Kim Jong-un.

Given that subsequent victim posts immediately dropped the North Korean focus to concentrate on the South Korean element of the leaks, it is highly plausible that affiliates expressed strong discontent with this ideological inclusion, forcing the editorial team to shift the narrative's attention to the victims' national origin instead of a foreign regime.

Korean Leaks  Wave 1

The first phase of Korean Leaks, Wave 1, was characterised by a highly coordinated release, with 10 victims from the financial management sector all documented on September 14, 2025. All posts closed with the boilerplate announcement of a We have gained access to a gigantic mass of data of Korean companies operating in the financial management and stock market. The global leak affected dozens of companies, the data of which we will be publishing here. Stay tuned for updates.

The entire campaign was framed as a public-service effort to expose systemic corruption, exemplified by the threats to release files that could be evidence of stock market manipulation and names of well-known politicians and businessmen in Korea. The core goal was achieved in the concluding post, which declared the series over and alleged that the victims were all one network of fraudsters. The final line acted as a public mandate, asserting that enforcement agencies and independent journalists in Korea are obliged to look into these documents, effectively transferring the burden of damage and investigation onto Korean authorities.

Korean Leaks  Wave 2

The second phase of Korean Leak, Wave 2, sustained the attack, publishing 9 victims over a three-day period, from September 17, 2025 to September 19, 2025. In contrast to Wave 1s formal conclusion, this series closed with an escalating threat across all posts: We continue to publish data on companies in the Korean financial market. We have data on dozens of companies. Korean Leak is a reason to withdraw money from the country's stock market, because we have a volume of data whose publication will definitely deal a serious blow to the entire Korean market. And we will definitely do it.

This messaging shifted from merely threatening the victim companies to threatening the entire Korean stock market, creating a systemic risk narrative. To further pressure regulatory bodies, one post pointedly referenced local laws, stating: South Korea has one of the strictest personal data protection laws in the world. We hope that the relevant authorities will take an interest in this case. After all, the existence of such companies is a disgrace to the country. See for yourself.

Korean Leaks  Wave 3

The third phase of Korean Leaks, Wave 3, concluded the campaign, documenting nine victims over a week-long period from 28 September 2025 to 4 October 2025. This final wave was notable for a mid-wave shift in the messaging strategy.

The initial four victim posts maintained the highly aggressive, systemic threat that characterised Wave 2, closing with the same statement about a national financial crisis.

However, a noticeable change happened with the fifth victim post (released three days after the fourth). For this victim and the subsequent four, the operator abandoned the threat of a systemic market crash. The focus returned to individual victim pressure, using language that more closely resembled Qilin's typical, financially motivated extortion messages directed at a single business.

The final significant activity following the Korean Leaks campaign was the DLS post of a new victim on 22 October 2025. This victim, which matched the financial services and asset management profile of the Korean Leaks targets, was listed with over 1TB of exfiltrated data and 15 proof-of-compromise photos. The post lacked any mention of the Korean Leak branding, despite fitting the exact victim profile, indicating the operator had retired the campaign name. Interestingly, the company was removed from the DLS after only one day. This rapid removal mirrored that of three earlier victims; the justification behind this and similar retractions remains unknown.

Root Cause Analysis

The tight clustering of all victims within a single financial and asset management niche during the Korean Leaks strongly indicates that the campaign was not built on individualised targeting. The sheer speed and size of the attack waves over a limited time frame point to a shared liability that connected the victims.

We worked with three competing hypotheses for the concentrated targeting of this campaign.

Compromised Managed Service Provider (MSP) or Upstream Vendor : This is the most technically plausible hypothesis. It suggests the Qilin affiliate successfully breached a single IT service provider, financial software vendor, or accounting firm that maintained privileged, remote access to all victim networks. This single point of failure would grant the attacker simultaneous, scalable access to multiple, similarly configured clients, best explaining the speed and tight focus of the attack waves against the South Korean financial sector.

: This is the most technically plausible hypothesis. It suggests the Qilin affiliate successfully breached a single IT service provider, financial software vendor, or accounting firm that maintained privileged, remote access to all victim networks. This single point of failure would grant the attacker simultaneous, scalable access to multiple, similarly configured clients, best explaining the speed and tight focus of the attack waves against the South Korean financial sector. Zero-Day or Common Vulnerability Exploitation : This hypothesis proposes the affiliate exploited a newly discovered, unpatched vulnerability (zero-day) in a specific, widely used piece of financial software or hardware common among South Korean asset management firms. The attacker would have used the vulnerability to rapidly scan and compromise any organisation running the vulnerable product, allowing them to acquire access to a large cluster of victims quickly and efficiently.

: This hypothesis proposes the affiliate exploited a newly discovered, unpatched vulnerability (zero-day) in a specific, widely used piece of financial software or hardware common among South Korean asset management firms. The attacker would have used the vulnerability to rapidly scan and compromise any organisation running the vulnerable product, allowing them to acquire access to a large cluster of victims quickly and efficiently. Insider Access or Credential Acquisition: This suggests the affiliate obtained a large, targeted batch of valid corporate credentials from a dark web market or by paying a bounty to an insider with access to multiple firms. By using existing, valid logins, the attacker bypasses modern security controls, which explains the high success rate and the precise targeting of financial and asset management entities, although this vector is slightly less efficient for the rapid, parallel deployment seen in Wave 1.

Our most probable hypothesis  the compromise of an upstream vendor  was confirmed by press reporting on September 23, 2025. The Korea JoongAng Daily stated that more than 20 asset management firms suffered breaches after their servers were hacked in a ransomware attack, noting that the common link among the affected firms is a domestic IT service provider that manages systems for asset managers.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The MSP compromise that triggered the Korean Leaks operation highlights a critical blind spot in cybersecurity discussions. While supply chain attacks are a constant topic of discussion, the focus tends to be on upstream software supply chain compromise, the terrifying, high-impact risk of trojanised code or updates. While these attacks are undeniably catastrophic, they remain statistically rare.

In fact, a far more common and often ignored threat manifests in operations that wield supply chain attacks. The threat, a simple one, is highly effective. It involves the compromise of a third-party service provider. Exploiting a vendor, contractor, or MSP that has access to other businesses is a more prevalent and practical route that RaaS groups seeking clustered victims can take.

Implement Defence-in-Depth

The core lesson from this and virtually every other major breach is that security best practices remain the same because they are effective. The goal is to build a layered defence to ensure that if one control fails (like an employee clicking a phishing email, or a vendor's system being compromised), subsequent controls can detect, block, or limit the damage.
November 19 marked 15 years since an explosion ripped through the underground Pike River Coal mine on the remote West Coast of New Zealands South Island. Twenty-nine workers were trapped in the mine.

For five days, the company management, police and government officials told the families and the public that a rescue operation was being planned. Then, on November 24 there was a second underground explosion and police declared that there was no longer any chance of finding survivors.

The entrance to the Pike River coal mine is seen in Greymouth, New Zealand, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010 [AP Photo/Pool]

The disaster shocked the world: a mine in a supposedly developed country had proven to be a death trap. A royal commission of inquiry found in 2012 that Pike River Coal, which was deep in debt and desperate to start producing coal, had flouted basic health and safety regulations. There was no suitable emergency exit and the main fan had been installed underground, despite the well-known risks of doing so in a gassy underground mine.

Methane gas levels were not properly monitored and the ventilation was grossly inadequate. Warnings of an impending disaster were ignored. In the 48 days leading up to the first explosion, deputies using hand-held detectors reported on 21 occasions that gas concentrations had gone above 5 percent, the level at which methane gas becomes explosive; on 48 occasions, gas concentrations went above 2 percent, the level at which a mine should be evacuated.

Government regulators from the Department of Labour (now WorkSafe) knew about the conditions at Pike River but did not shut it down. The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU, since renamed E tu) also knew, but it kept quiet and allowed workers to continue to enter the mine day after day, risking their lives.

In response to the royal commissions findings, then prime minister John Key, who had previously defended Pike River Coal, was forced to admit in an interview with TV3 on November 5, 2012, that the company essentially put its profits and its production ahead of the safety and lives of those 29 workers.

Yet, despite the overwhelming evidence against the company, 15 years after the disaster no one has been held accountable. Pike Rivers major shareholder NZ Oil & Gas (now called Echelon Resources) received an insurance payout of $38.3 million, while the mines creditor the Bank of New Zealand got $23.2 million.

WorkSafe initially planned to bring charges against Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall for breaches of health and safety laws, but the regulator dropped the prosecution in 2013 in an unlawful backroom deal with Whittalls lawyers. An unsolicited payment of $3.41 million was made through an insurance company to the 29 families of the victims, many of whom denounced it as blood money and chequebook justice.

These bitter experiencesthe disaster itself and the decade-and-a-half-long cover-up under successive National and Labour Party governmentscontain vital lessons for working people, not only in New Zealand, but in every country. The last 15 years has demonstrated that the institutions of the statethe judicial system, the regulators, the policeare not impartial: they exist to protect the interests of big business and the rich. The same is true of the union bureaucracy and all the capitalist parties.

To defend their interests, including their safety and their very lives, workers need new organisations: rank-and-file committees must be built, democratically controlled by workers themselves and completely independent of, and opposed to the political establishment and the union apparatus.

Pike River and the worldwide industrial slaughterhouse

The cost-cutting and deregulation that led to the Pike River disaster are not an exception, but the norm. In response to the worsening global economic downturn, corporations and governments are scrapping workplace safety protections in order to extract greater profits from workers. They are doing so with the collaboration of the corrupt, pro-capitalist union bureaucracies.

The result is a sharp increase in workplace deaths and horrific industrial disasters worldwide. Recent tragedies include: 67 deaths in a school building collapse in Indonesia in September; at least 16 workers, including a number of teenagers, killed in a garment factory fire in Bangladesh on October 14; and an explosion at a glue factory in Pakistan last Friday that killed at least 18 workers.

The extremely unsafe, unregulated conditions that prevail in so-called developing countries are increasingly common in more advanced capitalist countries. In the United States on November 4, a UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded shortly after taking off from Louisville airport, killing 14 people. UPS workers told the World Socialist Web Site that planes were not being properly maintained due to the companys relentless cost-cutting.

On October 10, a huge explosion destroyed the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) explosives factory in rural Tennessee, taking the lives of 16 workers. Like Pike River mine, the plant had been allowed to self-regulate with virtually no oversight. State health and safety officers inspected AES only once in 20 years, resulting in a paltry $7,200 fine for chemical exposure that caused employees to suffer seizures.

Bernie Monk, whose son Michael was killed in the Pike River mine, wrote a letter to the families of the Tennessee explosion victims, published on the WSWS. He stated: We know the shock, the pain, and the disbelief that come with such a loss. We also know what happens after the cameras leave and the authorities take over. That is when the truth becomes hard to find.

I want to warn you from my experience. Do not put your trust in the government or company management. From the first day, demand honesty. Keep your own records. Ask questions. Do not let them control the story. We were told to be patient, to let the process work. Fifteen years later, we are still fighting for truth and justice.

You will hear promises of transparency and accountability. You will be told there will be inquiries and reviews. But without constant pressure, they will protect themselves before they protect you. Stay united. Stand together. The strength of your families will be your greatest power.

Entrance to Polymetals Endeavor Mine in Cobar, New South Wales

Monk also wrote to the families of two workers killed and a third injured in the October 27 explosion at Endeavor underground mine in Cobar, Australia. We know that justice is never easy, but we urge you to stay strong and pursue answers and accountability, Monk wrote.

The company Polymetals rushed to reopen the Cobar mine, before the cause of the explosion had been identified. While a secretive investigation is being carried out by the industry regulator, the company has ordered workers not to speak publicly about the disaster or conditions in the mine. The Australian mining unions have not criticised the reckless reopening or the blatantly anti-democratic gag order.

Monk told the WSWS: The same thing is happening [in Cobar] as happened at Pike River, and theyre getting away with it. All theyre worried about is how much money they can get.

Labour, the unions and the Pike River cover-up

The 15th anniversary of the Pike River disaster has once again revealed profound anger in the working class. Thousands of people have commented on social media over the past week demanding justice for the victims. Unsafe working conditions, particularly in understaffed public hospitals, were a major issue in the October 23 mass strike by more than 100,000 healthcare workers and teachersNew Zealands biggest strike in more than 40 years.

As part of its brutal austerity drive, the current National Party-led government has cut hundreds of jobs from WorkSafe and is seeking to further weaken the regulators enforcement powers. New Zealand recorded 70 workplace deaths last year and the countrys rate of industrial deaths per capita, which has not changed since 2010, is twice as high as that of Australia and four times that of the UK.

Many people have watched the recent film Pike River, which highlights the glaring lack of accountability for the 29 preventable deaths but whitewashes the role of the unions and the Labour Party.

Labour and its allies are seeking to channel outrage over the tragedy into support for their campaign in next years election. This will be a political trap for the working class. Labour and the unions are complicit both in the conditions that led to the disaster and in the 15-year cover-up.

The EPMU remained silent about the life-threatening conditions in the mine, even after a group of workers had walked out of the mine earlier in 2010 to protest the lack of emergency equipment. Immediately after the disaster, EPMU national secretary Andrew Littlewho was also the Labour Party presidentdefended Pike River Coal, telling the media that it had a good health and safety committee thats been very active and that there had been nothing unusual about its operations.

When the Labour Party formed a coalition government after the 2017 election with NZ First and the Greens, all three parties pledged to re-enter Pike River mine to recover the 29 bodies and gather evidence to determine the precise cause of the 2010 explosions. Police had refused to lay any charges over the Pike River disaster without physical evidence from inside the mine to determine exactly what sparked the explosion.

Family members and supporters protest on July 9, 2021, on the road to the Pike River mine. [Photo by Kath Monk]

The families hoped the re-entry and the opening of a new police investigation would finally lead to prosecutions. The WSWS warned, however, that the governments pledges cannot be trusted. Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns appointment of Andrew Little as minister responsible for Pike River re-entry was a blatant conflict of interest and a clear indication that Labour would continue the cover-up on behalf of corporate interests.

A trial of chief executive Whittall or other top company officials would raise questions about the union bureaucracys collaboration with Pike River Coal against the interests of the workers it purported to represent.

In 2021, while the drift (entrance tunnel) was still being explored, Little announced that the government would not allow investigators into the mine workings, where the human remains and the main ventilation unit and other equipment was located. The Labour government pulled investigators out of the drift and installed a thick concrete seal on the mine portal, burying the evidence and the bodies.

The majority of the 29 families opposed the shutdown of the mine re-entry and they were supported by mining experts as well as thousands of ordinary people, in New Zealand and internationally. But they were isolated by the union bureaucracy, the media and the political establishment, which supported the Labour governments decision.

As well as providing evidence against Pike River Coal and other companies involved in the mine, the exploration of the mine workings and examination of bodies could have established whether any of the 29 workers survived the initial November 19 explosion, and whether an opportunity to rescue them was missed. Decisions made by police and others in the five days before the second explosion would be subjected to further scrutiny.

The initial police investigation was marred by the unexplained disappearance of vital evidence, including part of a control panel door blown out of the mines ventilation shaft. If tested, it could have provided important information about the cause of the explosions. Police also admitted in 2019 to destroying evidence, including items of clothing and breathing apparatus that may have belonged to some of the trapped men.

Winston Peters, the foreign minister in the current coalition government and leader of NZ First, recently described the mine as a murder scene, after remaining virtually silent about Pike River for the past two years. Peters told Radio NZ on November 19, The police have come up with an opinion [regarding potential prosecutions] and theyve been sitting on it for a whole year now. Police, however, have made no public statements and the investigation has been subject to endless, unexplained delays.

NZ First, a right-wing nationalist party, is positioning itself for the 2026 election. The partys rhetoric is completely hollow: it has been part of successive governments, led by Labour and National, that deregulated the mining sector and then shielded those responsible for Pike River.

Build rank-and-file committees!

The essential lesson that must be drawn from Pike River is the urgent need for workers to establish their political independence from every capitalist party and to rebel against the union apparatus. The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and the Socialist Equality Group in NZ call on workers to build rank-and-file committees in every workplace, controlled democratically by workers themselves.

Rank-and-file committees are necessary to empower workers to take control of safety conditions and end the dictatorship of corporate management in the factories, mines and other workplaces. These committees must publicise the dangers that workers face, breaking the silence imposed by companies and unions, and organise strikes and other industrial actions to uphold workers rights to health, safety and life.

Such committees must also carry out independent workers inquiries into industrial disasters, including Pike River, the mine explosion in Cobar, the Tennessee factory explosion, the UPS plane crash, and the recent deaths in the US Postal Service and at factories in Sri Lanka.

The task of investigating these tragedies cannot be entrusted to state agencies, whose job is not to uncover the truth, but to protect the corporations and the rich. Only a worker-led inquiry can lay bare the real causes, identify the organisations and individuals responsible, and draw the necessary lessons for preventing future deaths.

The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), an initiative of the ICFI, will enable workers to share information and coordinate their struggles across different industries and internationally, overcoming the national barriers enforced by the unions. This will greatly strengthen workers in every country, who confront the same attacks on wages and conditions, often from the same multinational corporations.

Workers must be guided by the understanding that the fight for workplace safety is inseparable from the struggle against capitalism, which is plunging the world into barbarism and war. The same governments that preside over life-threatening conditions in factories and mines have normalised mass deaths in the genocide in Gaza and the war in Ukraine. US imperialism and its allies, including New Zealand, are spending unprecedented sums on the military to prepare for even more catastrophic wars, particularly against China, in order to redivide and plunder the world.

This bankrupt system must be abolished and society reorganised based on socialist principles. The wealth and resources produced by the working class must be taken out of the hands of the billionaires and placed in common ownership, in order to put an end to social inequality and the sacrifice of lives for profit, and establish a society based on human need. Those who agree with this perspective should contact the Socialist Equality Group and its sister parties of the International Committee of the Fourth International.
This is the first part of the lecture The Gelfand Case: 1978-1982, delivered by Norisa Diaz to the 2025 Summer School of the Socialist Equality Party (US) on the history of the Security and the Fourth International investigation.

On July 17, 1979, Alan Gelfand, an expelled member of the Socialist Workers Party and a young public defense attorney, filed a civil rights federal lawsuit in the United States District Court in Los Angeles, California, charging that his First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and political association were violated when government agents in the SWP leadership expelled him from his political party for raising questions about FBI infiltration.

The suit named as defendants the heads of the US Department of Justice, the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the SWP, and the SWP leaders instrumental in his expulsion.

The trial, which began four years later on March 2, 1983, was a climax of the investigation. When the International Committee of the Fourth International and the Workers League began Security and Fourth International in 1975, they could not have anticipated that eight years later this monumental trial would begin. The case continues to hold the most powerful implications for the working class and the Trotskyist movement, as well as for the defense of democratic and constitutional rights, and the defense of historical truth.

There are a number of key acts that comprise the broader drama that is the Gelfand Case. In this lecture, Tom Carter and I will address the opening and initial unfolding of the case. I will focus specifically on the ways in which Gelfand first became aware of the initial findings of Security and the Fourth International and his fight for answers to questions that ultimately resulted in his expulsion from the SWP in January of 1979.

Gelfand had been a member of the SWP for about a year and a half when he attended the partys 1977 National Convention at Oberlin College. The Workers League intervened, handing out copies of the initial findings on Security and the FI. It was here that Gelfand first came into possession of the documents that implicated longtime SWP National Committee member and leader Joseph Hansen in a covert relationship with the State Department and the FBI.

At the convention, Gelfand raised his concerns to SWP National Secretary Jack Barnes and noted that, as an attorney, the documents appeared legitimate to him.

Barnes told Gelfand that the documents were in fact true, and that their contents represented a part of the partys history that was supposedly known to many. He claimed that Hansens meetings with the FBI were to gather information on Trotskys assassination, and assured Gelfand that Hansen would provide a comprehensive response to the allegations in Intercontinental Press.

Gelfand became increasingly troubled as a reply never came. All the while, he continued to make a close examination of the documents uncovered by the IC and juxtaposed them with the pamphlet Healys Big Lie, which the SWP claimed contained all of the exculpatory information addressing the allegations.

Through this examination, Gelfand found that the explanations in Healys Big Lie did not answer the issues raised by the IC and frankly made no sense from the standpoint of the heritage of the Trotskyist movement.

In the fall of 1977, Gelfand attempted to raise the issue during a members-only SWP city-wide meeting that included all of the Los Angeles branches, but the discussion was evaded when a leader suggested that an educational was the place to discuss the matter rather than a city-wide meeting.

The second time Gelfand attempted to raise the issue was at a January 23, 1978 branch tasks and perspective meeting, where he was not permitted to complete a single sentence. The meeting ended with Gelfand being told he could not raise the issue again with anyone until the executive committee convened to discuss it.

This was the second time in six months he attempted to have a discussion and was immediately prevented from speaking. It was only the beginning of a campaign of censorship and intimidation to silence Gelfand and prevent a discussion and exposure of past and current agents within the SWP.

Six days later, on January 29, 1978, Gelfand sent a copy of the remarks he had intended to give in a letter to Jack Barnes and the SWP Political Committee:

I would initially like to introduce myself. My name is Alan Gelfand, and I have been a member of the SWP for approximately two years. Professionally I am an attorney who has been working for Watts Legal Aid for three years. I am presently in the Southeast Los Angeles Branch...

In this correspondence, Gelfand went on to explain how he had been censored in his branch and in a subsequent meeting with his branch organizer, Sharon C, and acting city-wide organizer, Peter Camejo, who refused to answer such basic questions as whether Sylvia Franklin was a GPU agent or if Joseph Hansen had a confidential relationship with the FBI.

He made clear that he had studied all of the documents and posed an initial 10 questions related to Hansens meetings with the GPU and the FBI, and the SWPs defense of Stalinist agent Sylvia Franklin. Gelfand stressed that answers were required in order to prepare a factual defense of the SWP against all current allegations and future implications. Gelfand stated:

These questions have been purposely posed in the sharpest and most direct terms. This is to ensure that the informationwhich needs to be forthcoming in order to answer these questionswill be more than sufficient to defend against not only the specific charges raised by the Healyites, but also any and all implications which may arise therefrom. The answers to these questions, therefore, will enable our membership to defend the integrity, principles and reputation of our party, as well as that of our leadership, in the strongest, most convincing and persuasive manner.

(Letter from Alan Gelfand to Jack Barnes and the SWP Political Committee, January 29, 1978)

It is important to note that at this point Gelfand was interested in getting to the truth in order to properly defend the SWP.

After submitting his initial questions to Barnes and the SWP leadership on January 29, Gelfand sent follow-up correspondence to the SWP Political Committee on February 15 asking for a reply and informing it that the executive committee in his branch had been arbitrarily told it could not discuss his questions without the city-wide organizer Peter Camejo, who had been curiously absent from meetings.

Gelfand received no answer to his January 29 and February 15 letters, so after two months of waiting for a reply, he appealed to the SWPs National Committee in a March 26, 1978, letter, in which he began:

I consider the writing of this letter to be the most important task I have undertaken in my life. It is the product of an intensive and thorough study of the history and principles of our movement.

Gelfand detailed how he came to be aware of the documents, his initial conversation with Barnes at the Oberlin convention, and his continued struggle for answers and subsequent stonewalling, and posed three central questions:

Whether Joseph Hansen was authorized by the Socialist Workers Party to have personal contact with the GPU in 1938? Whether Hansen had authorization from the SWP to meet with the FBI in 1940? Whether Sylvia Franklin, personal secretary to James P. Cannon, was a GPU agent?

It was in this March 26, 1978 correspondence that Gelfand went into depth about the factual basis of each of his three central questions, drawn from the documents published by the International Committee which have already been thoroughly reviewed by previous lecturers.

The analysis of these questions was critical, and they would form the legal basis of his lawsuit. He stated:

It has been almost 40 years and Hansen still refuses to disclose the facts and details concerning his GPU contact and what in fact this valuable information consisted of. The GPU certainly is aware of what this valuable information is, since they gave it to Hansen. The US Government in all probability knows or has a good idea of what it is, based on Hansens conversations with McGregor. Why is it that only the Trotskyist movement is left in the dark?

Gelfands March 26, 1978 letter to the SWP National Committee was extremely significant. Not only had he laid out the central questions and crossed them with the implausible and false narrative provided by Hansen, he placed the allegations of infiltration of agents within the SWP as part of the historical crimes of Stalinism, the targeting of the Trotskyist movement, which has had to fight both Stalinism and US imperialism, and broader FBI infiltration of left-wing movements, of which numerous revelations had and were continuing to come to light. Gelfand wrote:

Well, comrades, it is clear from both the length of this letter and the research I have done, that I care very much. I care about the GPU murder machine that slaughtered Trotskyists throughout the world, and who today continue to carry out their counterrevolutionary role by suppressing the dissidents in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. In this country, the GPU certainly continues to function, and in all probability even functions in our own party, we being the primary exponent of Trotskyism in the world today. I also care about the FBI. The FBI also framed and sent to prison 18 of our leading comrades in the 1940s. The FBI, who has infiltrated every progressive movement in this country, including our own, as well as having played an active role in the murders of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and numerous Black Panthers. (Gelfands March 26, 1978 letter to the SWP National Committee)

He noted that in the Dewey Commission Trotsky exemplified the method for answering vigorously, aggressively, and factually charges made against persons or the movement.

In his conclusion to the letter, he cited an opening statement from Trotsky at the start of the Commission in March 1937:

I do not demand any a priori confidence in my affirmations. The task of this commission of investigation is to verify everything from the beginning to the end. My duty is simply to help it in its work. I will try to accomplish this duty faithfully before the eyes of the whole world.

Contained within Gelfands questions was a powerful appeal for answers based on the traditions of Trotskyism, the fight against Stalinism and the Moscow Trials, and the broader heritage of the Fourth International.

Not only was Gelfand never answered by the SWP, he was met with increased diversion, gaslighting, threats, and intimidation. On March 30, 1978 he received a letter from Pearl Chertov, a Los Angeles city organizer:

I note that nothing in your document or previous statements provide any information that is not already public as part of the vicious slander campaign of the Healyites attempting to discredit the Socialist Workers Party. Agent-baiting such as your document is impermissible in a revolutionary organization... I wish to warn you that any further violation of the Leninist norms of our party will force me to ask the Local Executive Committee to proceed with disciplinary action against you.

A week after Chertovs letter to Gelfand, another reply was sent by Larry Seigle:

You have asked for our opinion about how you may proceed to press your charges against Joe Hansen. The answer to that question is simple. The Party cannot and will not allow agent-baiting within its ranks. Any further repetition by you of the Healyite slanders will not be tolerated.

In this letter, Seigle claimed that all the charges brought against Hansen collapsed like a house of cards. He doubled down that the issue had been settled in Healys Big Lie, and threatened Gelfand that taking his questions any further will not be tolerated.

Furthermore, Seigle accused Gelfand of whipping up spy scares, which he claimed somehow served the interests of the FBI. He wrote in his April 7 letter, Spy scares rarely uncover the real spies, who are invariably among the most determined and enthusiastic about security. Fueling spy scares, Seigle said, is one of the favorite tricks of the FBI informers.

He claimed that the FBI

know(s) quite well that setting an organization on the tracks of uncovering spies in its own ranks can do more to destroy the functioning than anything the FBIs own spies can do by themselves. Fortunately, despite repeated attempts, the FBI has never been able to use this tactic effectively against our party. This is because we simply do not allow agent-baiting in our ranks.

In what can only be referred to as the pinnacle of gaslighting, Seigle, one of the Carleton 12 ushered into the movement by Hansen and Barnes, told Gelfand that the very practice of weeding out agents from the FBI was exactly the type of disruption the FBI desired. He was essentially saying that allowing agents to remain in the SWP was how one could best prevent FBI disruption.

Gelfand replied in a May 6, 1978 letter to Seigle with principled opposition to allegations that he was agent-baiting at a time, as has been reviewed, when there were widespread revelations of Cointelpro FBI infiltration, government assassinations, and major political scandals such as Watergate that shocked the nation. Gelfand wrote:

Reading your April 7, 1978 letter reminded me of Watergate and the struggle that Woodward and Bernstein engaged in against Nixon. They patiently and meticulously gathered evidence which brought them progressively closer to the White House. With each new revelation Nixon responded by saying that these charges were lies and slanders... I again, therefore, in the strongest of terms, urge the Political Committee to reverse its position of covering up for Franklin and Hansen and openly and honestly answer, criticize, repudiate or otherwise explain their respective involvements with the GPU and FBI.

In this reply, Gelfand informed the SWP leadership that he had submitted a Freedom of Information Act request that very month.

On December 18, 1978, Gelfand filed an amicus curiae brief in support of the SWPs case against the government over Cointelpro FBI infiltration of the SWP.

Amicus curiae (Latin for friend of the court) allows an individual or organization that is not a party to a legal case to offer information, insight, or expertise that bears on the issues in the case. Its primary purpose is to assist the court by providing arguments and data that may not be fully presented by the parties directly involved. This is especially common when a case has broader implications for the public.

In the brief, Gelfand explained his proximity to the case as a member of the Socialist Workers Party, who, as he wrote, has been inquiring for the last one-and-one-half years into the alleged FBI relationships of certain prominent SWP members. The center of this inquiry has focused on one Joseph Hansen.

The Workers League would explain that the SWPs lawsuit against the FBI was a colossal political fraud, one which was aimed not at exposing government agents, but at providing a cover for the government agents who have taken over the SWP. Comrade Patrick Martin has reviewed this.

Its important to note that Gelfands filing of the brief, the arguments contained within it, the documents unearthed by the IC that it put on official public record, and the demands that Gelfand put forward such as the call for the government to reveal the identities of all current and past informants meant that Gelfands brief was the political antithesis of the SWPs fraudulent case against the FBI.

It contained facts which the SWP and its leadership of agents sought to conceal from the membership and the working class more broadly. This was an important and principled step in keeping with the traditions of the Trotskyist movement.

Gelfand stated that the issue before the court was the balancing of the interests of the right of a citizen to engage in political activity unfettered by governmental surveillance versus the supposed right of the government to monitor such activity.

He argued that the government should be compelled to disclose the identities of past and present informants. Again, this was in direct contradiction to the purely monetary relief that was being sought in the SWPs case.

In his argument, Gelfand challenged the legal doctrine of informants privilege, which allows the government to withhold the identity of individuals who provide information to law enforcement on alleged criminal activities. The intention is to protect the anonymity of those providing information to police and protecting these informants from harm and retaliation.

Citing earlier case law, Schneiderman v. United States (1943) and Roviaro v. U.S (1957), Gelfand argued that the Informants privilege is limited, it cannot be used to infringe on a defendants right to a fair trial, and cannot supersede a citizens right to engage in political activity. He stated that the greater interest lies in a private citizens right to engage in political activity without the fear, either real or imagined, of government surveillance.

Challenging the supposed protections needed for informants, Gelfand explained that despite widespread knowledge among Trotskyists that GPU agent Mark Zborowski played a direct role in the murders of leading Trotskyists throughout Europe, including Trotskys own son, Leon Sedov, Zborowski was living a comfortable life as a professor of anthropology at UC Berkeley and faced no threats.

He also pointed to the revelations of deep infiltration tactics and provocations whipped up by FBI agents throughout Cointelpro, the covert operations conducted by the FBI from the 1950s through the 70s, which surveilled, infiltrated and sought to discredit and ultimately destroy political organizations.

Gelfand explained that rather than the need of informants to fear reprisal, it was the citizens engaged in political activity who had something to fear, and from the government itself. Gelfand noted that These informants certainly are not in the SWP to help build this Party. Their ultimate purpose is to destroy it.

He cited the well-known case of Gary Rowe, an FBI informant in the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama during the 1960s. Rowe was publicly outed as an FBI informant in 1965, shortly after the murder of civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo. What came out was that Rowe did not just gather intelligence, he actively participated in and encouraged violence, including attacks on civil rights activists and other crimes such as the 1963 Birmingham church bombing. Gelfand wrote:

It becomes abundantly clear, therefore, that the purpose in disclosing the identities of the appellants informants is not so that such informants can be harmed; but on the contrary is to ensure that the innocent members of the SWP will not be harmed by such informants.

A number of the arguments made by Gelfand in his brief would become the basis of the legal theory of the Gelfand Case, which Tom Carter will discuss in greater detail in the next lecture.

Gelfand faced a swift and severe backlash by the SWP leadership in response to the filing of his amicus curiae brief. On January 5, 1979, Jack Barnes sent the SWP Political Committee a letter charging Gelfand with undisciplined and disloyal behaviour in violation of the organizational principles.

The amicus brief represented a significant turning point, as it made clear to the SWP leadership that Gelfand was not only refusing to be intimidated or to back down, but that he was going on the offensive, and this was just the beginning.

The irony was that Gelfands brief was in support of the SWPs case against the government. The brief put on official record the numerous cables and communications regarding Hansens meetings with the FBI.

The subsequent expulsion of Gelfand from the SWP proceeded at a very rapid pace. At the center of the charges and expulsion was concern over the submission of his amicus brief and the documents uncovered by the IC it had put on record.

On January 5, the same day Barnes charged him with violating the partys principles, a letter was sent to Gelfand from Douglas Jenness informing him of the charges by Barnes and the fact that the Political Committee would meet January 11 to hear the charges against him. He was told by phone he might be invited to attend.

On January 15, 1979, Alan was informed via a letter from Mary Roche that the January 11 meeting resulted in an adopted motion to expel Gelfand from the SWP, effective immediately. Gelfand had never heard of Roche, nor was she a member of the National Committee. While Gelfand was denied the right to attend his own expulsion proceeding and put forward a defense, Barnes and Seigle invited Joseph Hansen and George Novack. This group of agents led the charge for Gelfands expulsion.

On January 29, Gelfand followed up with a letter rejecting his expulsion, notifying the SWP of his desire for an appeal, and explaining that he was denied his right to a trial, as stated in Article 8 Section 3 of the SWP Constitution. He demanded to know why he was not present at the January 11 meeting that determined his expulsion, writing that he had a right to attend this trial to present my position, to call witnesses in my behalf, and to confront and cross-examine my accusers.

The SWP Political Committee denied Gelfand his appeal to the National Convention, again in violation of an SWP constitutional provision guaranteeing that right.

A response from Mary Roche to Gelfand noted the fact that he had rejected his expulsion. Roche made clear that By taking your stand as a friend of the court in an action deliberately and clearly designed to disrupt the Partys prosecution of our case, you have placed yourself in the camp of the government and its cops. She ended the letter by stating that No further correspondence from you will be acknowledged.

That summer, Larry Seigle produced the article The Expulsion of Alan Gelfand, which appeared in the SWPs pre-convention discussion bulletin in July 1979. Seigle attempted to cover for the undemocratic and unconstitutional expulsion by claiming that Gelfands actions, despite his being a member, somehow put him outside the workers movement, and therefore justified the withholding of rights due to him under the SWPs constitution:

This was a qualitatively different matter than the case of an individual who commits even a grossly undisciplined and extremely disloyal act. It is important to note this distinction because individuals in this category are never denied their right of appeal to higher bodies. However, in the case of Gelfand, it was a question of recognizing that, by his series of actions leading him into the camp of the capitalist government, he had chosen to place himself outside the workers movement altogether, and thus outside the constitutional framework of the SWP. The Expulsion of Alan Gelfand by Larry Seigle, July 1979

It is difficult to express the enormous political task with which Gelfand was confronted after his expulsion. To fight it would require taking on the US government, the FBI, GPU agents, and the SWP leadership.

The fact that he did embark on that fight and saw it through to the very end is a powerful testament to the fact that he and the IC, which supported him, represented the historical lineage and heritage of the Trotskyist movement, the fight for historical and factual truth, and the interests of the international working class.

Tom Carter will review the next chapter of this drama, the official beginnings of the Gelfand case.
Barely a month in office, Japans new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has triggered a diplomatic row with Beijing over her remarks in parliament on November 7 suggesting that Japan would automatically be involved in any military conflict between China and Taiwan. Far from subsiding, the battle of words has escalated over the past fortnight with mounting economic repercussions.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a plenary session of the G20 leaders' summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. [AP Photo/Misper Apawu,Pool]

While the US and Western media have been at pains to downplay her provocative remarks, Takaichi, who assumed office on October 21, was well aware that what she said would inflame relations with China. In response to a question, she declared that, if Beijing were to impose a military blockade on Taiwan, it would constitute a survival-threatening situation for Japan. She hinted that Japan could provide military support to Taiwan or the US in the event of conflict with China.

The phrase has a precise legal meaning within collective self-defence legislation passed in 2015 by the government of Shinzo Abe allowing Japanese military deployment overseas in a survival-threatening situation. No previous post-World War II Japanese government, even that of the militarist Abe, has publicly indicated that Tokyo would go to war with Beijing over Taiwan.

Taiwan is potentially the most dangerous flashpoint in Asia. The Trump administration, following on from Biden, has deliberately stoked tensions with China by undermining the One China policy, which de facto recognises Beijing as the legitimate ruler of all China including Taiwan. The US, while still formally adhering to One China, has ramped up diplomatic, economic and military relations with Taipei, which Beijing regards as a renegade province and has threatened military action if it ever declared formal independence.

Takaichi, a protege of Abe, is pursuing a similar policy. Just a week after being installed, she met with Trump aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier at the Yokosuka naval base and pledged under the banner of peace and stability to further remilitarise Japan. Peace, she declared cannot be preserved by words alone, but requires unwavering determination and action.

Just days later at the APEC summit in South Korea, Takaichi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping who said that relations between their countries should not be defined by problems, explicitly mentioning Taiwan. The following day, however, she met with the Taiwanese representative at the summit, provoking a protest from Beijing.

Following Takaichis remarks on November 7, relations between the two countries quickly deteriorated. The Chinese foreign ministry criticised her for seriously damaging bilateral ties by conducting blatant interference in Chinas internal affairs. Beijing took steps to underline the centrality of Taiwan and the One China policy to its strategic interests. China reportedly cancelled a trilateral meeting of culture ministers with Japan and South Korea due to take place this month.

China has also threatened to ban Japanese seafood imports and warned Chinese tourists and students that Japan could be too dangerous to visit. In the first 10 months of the year, China accounted for 23 percent of foreign tourists to Japanthe largest share of any country. The Japanese tourist industry has now been hit by thousands of cancellations.

Of far more concern to Japanese industry is the potential for China to limit or ban altogether exports of rare earths to Japan. In 2010, China imposed such a ban which lasted for two months after tensions flared over a maritime clash between a Chinese trawler and the Japanese coast guard near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea in which the Chinese captain was arrested. China has a virtual global monopoly over the production of rare earths.

Last Thursday the US bought into the dispute. While the White House has yet to make any statement, the US ambassador to Tokyo, George Glass, condemned what he claimed was Chinese economic coercion and let Takaichi know we have her back.

The row between the two countries flared again at the G20 summit in Johannesburg last weekend attended by both Takaichi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. No meeting took place between the two.

Having provoked the confrontation with China, Takaichi postured as the wounded party, declaring that her government had been consistent in building a constructive and stable relationship and was open to various forms of dialogue. She is adamant, however, that she will not accede to Beijings demands that she retract her remarks, saying it was essential that Japan clearly articulates the positions it needs to assert.

On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi became the highest-ranking official to speak publicly on the issue so far, declaring: It is shocking for a sitting Japanese leader to openly send a wrong signal of attempting to intervene militarily in the Taiwan question. He warned that China had to resolutely hit back, not only to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity but also the hard-won postwar achievements secured with blood and sacrifice.

China is acutely sensitive to Japans remilitarisation as a result of the brutal war waged by Japanese imperialism to conquer and subordinate first Manchuria then all China in the 1930s which then merged with World War II in the Pacific. Memories of the atrocities carried out by the Japanese army are deeply embedded. Anti-Japanese chauvinism, however, is exploited by the Chinese Communist Party for its own ends, particularly as a means of diverting rising social tensions at home.

Takaichi belongs to the far-right wing of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that is notorious for its denials of Japanese atrocities in China such as the Nanking Massacre in 1937. She has been a regular visitor to the Yasukuni Shrine, a potent symbol of Japanese militarism, that enshrines the war dead, including 14 Class A war criminals. In coming to office, she forged a coalition with the extreme right-wing Nippon Ishin no Kai.

Takaichi is rapidly putting words into actions as she accelerates Japans remilitarisation, bringing forward plans to double its military spending. Tokyo plans to continue acquiring long-range missiles and is considering the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. It is also preparing to scrap restrictions on the export of lethal weaponry.

The ruling LDP is also planning to review Japans three longstanding anti-nuclear principles of not possessing, producing or permitting the introduction of nuclear arms into the country. According to Japanese media reports, the government is seriously discussing allowing the US to station nuclear weapons on Japanese soil. While China has criticised such a move, the Takaichi government also knows that the introduction of US nuclear weapons would provoke widespread domestic opposition, given the criminal US atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

Even as tensions continued to rise with China, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi last weekend toured Japans southwestern islands that are immediately adjacent to Taiwan and China. He visited the military base on Yonaguni Island, which is just 110 kilometres from Taiwan, and confirmed the placement of surface-to-air missiles on the outpost. The missile deployment is one aspect of Japans military build-up in the islands in preparation for involvement in a US-led war against China. Koizumis visit to the base at this time is another calculated provocation that can only further undermine relations with China.
What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was no part of the Revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The Revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected, from 1760 to 1775, in the course of fifteen years before a drop of blood was drawn at Lexington.  John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 24 August 1815.

Ken Burns new documentary series The American Revolution is a six-part, twelve-hour account of the eight-year war through which the thirteen British colonies fought for independence and created the United States. Premiering on November 16, 2025with all episodes simultaneously available for streaming on PBSs website and appthe series traces the conflict from the deepening imperial crisis of the 1760s through the military turning points at Saratoga and Yorktown to the unsettled postwar landscape, weaving together high politics, battlefield strategy, and the experiences of Indigenous nations, enslaved and free Black Americans, Loyalists and rank-and-file soldiers.

The American Revolution

Directed by Burns with longtime collaborators Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt and scripted by Geoffrey C. Ward, the film features Peter Coyotes familiar narration alongside a large voice cast. Prominent voice actors include Josh Brolin as George Washington, Paul Giamatti as John Adams, Jeff Daniels as Thomas Jefferson, Matthew Rhys as Tom Paine, Claire Danes as Abigail Adams, and Meryl Streep as the diarist Mercy Otis Warren.

In place of the abundant historical photography available to Burns earlier projects, most memorably in his landmark The Civil War series (1990), The American Revolution leans on revolutionary-era paintings, engravings, maps, documents, and large-scale but de-centered reenactments, deploying the trademark slow pans, zooms and musical cues across canvases, portraits and landscapes to create visual continuity in a world where most individuals never sat for a portrait.

Thomas Paine by Matthew Pratt, 1785-95

The American Revolution is above all else timely. As the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence fast approaches amid the gutting of American democracy by the would-be dictator Donald Trump and the billionaire oligarchy he represents, audiences cannot help but sense the relevance of a population revolting against tyranny and despotism in the name of equality and inalienable rights. Appropriately, the series begins with a quote from Tom Paine and his Rights of Man, which suggests this, the ongoing legacy of the Revolution:

From a small spark, kindled in America, a flame has arisen not to be extinguished. Without consuming, it winds its progress from nation to nation, and conquers by a silent operation. Man finds himself changed and discovers that the strength and powers of despotism consist wholly in the fear of resisting it, and that, in order to be free, it is sufficient that he wills it.

It is as if these events and people, slumbering for a quarter millennium, must now be awakened with things urgent to tell the present. Whatever its limitationsand these must be discussedit is certain that Burns effort will contribute to renewed interest in the American Revolution. This is all to the good.

Ken Burns in 2019

It is also significant that Burns series rejects the central thesis of the New York Times 1619 Project: That the American Revolution was actually a counter-revolution waged to defend slavery against the enlightened British Empires plans to free the slaves. The utterly bogus reframing by the flagship publication of American liberalism was refuted by the World Socialist Web Site and prominent historians it interviewed. The Times and 1619 Project creator, Nikole Hannah-Jones, had set out to cover the American Revolution in mud and to defame its key figures. One manifestation of this was lynching-style attacks on statues to Washington and Jefferson, toppled and defaced with 1619 scrawled on them. These attacks took place amid the George Floyd protests in 2020, but their meaning was diametrically opposed to the ideas about equality that inspired millions at that time.

In this vein, it is of no small significance that none of the historians most closely associated with the 1619 Project and Hannah-Jones appear in Burns series, which took nearly a decade to produce, stretching back to 2015. Not a single contributor to the original New York Times magazine edition or to the dismal, expanded book version is interviewed (e.g., Ibram Kendi or Martha Jones). Nor does Burns include any of the historians featured in the 1619 Project documentary (e.g., Woody Holton or Seth Rockman), or those who led public denunciations of the WSWS and the scholars it interviewed (e.g., David Waldstreicher and Nicholas Guyatt). This can hardly have been accidental.

Bernard Bailyn in 2012 [Photo by Brown University / CC BY 3.0

Not that the series shies away from slavery. Thousands of slaves seized freedom offered by the British when they fled their colonial masters. Some Patriots also emancipated slaves for military service. The role of free blacks in the Patriot armies is discussed as well. However, The American Revolution makes it clearsupported by historians Christopher Leslie Brown, Annette Gordon-Reed and Vincent Brownthat Britains promises to slaves were driven by self-interest and not benevolence, and the Empire itself depended heavily on slavery across its Atlantic domains. Instead of depicting the Revolution as a pro-slavery event, the series presents it as the moment when slavery first emerged as a major public issue; Bernard Bailyn, interviewed prior to his death in 2020, notes that it had not occupied such a place before 1776. The Revolutionary era pushed the peculiar institution into national debate, laying the groundwork for the antebellum crisis and the Civil War.

The series gives even greater attention to the wars impact on Native nations. Drawing on commentary from Philip J. Deloria, Colin G. Calloway, Kathleen DuVal, Alan Taylor, Maggie Blackhawk, Darren Bonaparte, Michael John Witgen and Ned Blackhawk, The American Revolution situates Native decision-making within the longer history of maneuvering among British, French, and Spanish empiresrelationships that, for generations, had allowed Native nations to play competing powers against one another to preserve a fragile balance. With the French defeated in 1763 after the Seven Years War (called The French and Indian War by Americans), and settlers pushing westward, that balance collapsed. Most Native nations consequently aligned with the British, judging that a distant crown was the lesser evil. Yet there was no single Indian response. Native peoples, the film explains, were internally divided over how to confront the crisis. Nor does the film shrink from the consequences of this encounter, depicting the Revolution as a continental civil war marked by brutal violencefrom the destruction of Cherokee towns to scorched-earth campaigns against the Haudenosaunee peoplesthat left Native homelands shattered.

Pulling Down the Statue of George III at Bowling Green in New York, July 9, 1776, William Walcutt (1854)

The series offers something of an international focus. A view from the Empires standpoint is provided by historian Stephen Conway, a specialist on the British army. We see the imperialist logic that led King George III and his ministers to an extraordinary, massive intervention to hold onto the colonieswith enormous losses in lives and treasure. Iris de Rode gives a glimpse into the French encounter. France was drawn into the maelstrom to avenge previous defeats, but the American victory soon inspired an even greater revolution against the French monarchy itself. Friederike Baer tells the story of the German Hessian mercenaries sent to pacify the colonists, many thousands of whom wound up melting away into the German-speaking towns and villages of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Harvard historian Maya Janisoff provides keen insights into the bitter experiences of the Loyalists, some 20 percent of the colonial population, many of whom wound up fleeing to Canada and the Indies after the war.

One of the unexpectedly timely themes in Burns series is its treatment of smallpox inoculation in the Continental Army. Under Washingtons direction, inoculation became a decisive public-health measure that saved the army from collapse and helped make victory possible. In an era when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other anti-vaccine crusaders sow distrust of basic immunization, the documentary offers a pointed reminder that early Americans embraced scientific intervention not out of naivete, but out of hard experience with deadly disease.

General Washington, Commander of the Continental Army, a 1776 portrait by Charles Willson Peale

The story of the inoculation forms part of the films overriding emphasis on the fightingthe strategies of war planning, the movements of armies, the battles, all the way down to battlefield tactics. Here Burns is in his element. George Washington is the star, successive rival British generals his nemeses, and Benedict Arnold his treacherous son. This attention to war gobbles up the lions share of the episodes, and it is the focus of most of the expert commentary ably provided by Rick Atkinson, Edward G. Lengel, Joseph Ellis, Stacy Schiff and Nathaniel Philbrick.

What winds up emerging out of all of it is a dark, ominous, and, above all else, violent Revolution. And indeed the American War for Independence, as it is also called, was sanguinary: As a share of the population, more Americans died in it than in any other war except the Civil War. The series, indeed, lays special stress on the civil war aspect of the Revolution, a war of brother against brother, Burns script tells us.

But what does it all mean? Janisoff sums it up. The United States came out of violence, she solemnly intones.

The scene of the surrender of the British General John Burgoyne at Saratoga, on October 17, 1777

This is one of those statements that sounds profound but actually explains very little. If the American Revolution had failed, whatever would have taken its place would also have come out of violence. The British Empire itself came out of violence, as the histories of the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Middle East can richly attestto say nothing of Ireland, Scotland and the English countryside. Indeed, as Marx so memorably put it, the whole modern capitalist world came dripping from head to foot, from every pore, with blood and dirt.

What is unfortunately missing from Burns work is any sustained attention to what all the fighting was about, what this American Revolution was. The documentary excels at narrating the war, yet it rarely pauses to explore the political and social upheaval that actually constituted the Revolution, that which made it possible for colonists to believe Paine when he said we have it in our power to begin the world over again. John Adams, for his part, was sure the war was no part of the Revolution but was only an effect and consequence of a radicalization that took place in the minds of the people.

Burns has it just the other way around. The war is almost everything. The series races through the Imperial Crisis of 1763-1775, which Adams thought so crucial, in about 45 minutes. Discussion of the Declaration of Independence lasts for about eight minutes. The enormous debate that engulfed the new country over the Constitution is dealt with in even more cursory fashion. While the series notes the influence of the Haudenosaunee Iroquois Federaton on Franklins abortive Albany Plan of Union, which foreshadowed the Continental Congress, somehow the series manages to say absolutely nothing about the immense influence of the Enlightenment on the thinking of the Founding Fathers and, indeed, the population as a whole.

Declaration of Independence

Burns has resisted the tendency pushed by the 1619 Project and much of what passes for scholarship to reduce history to a morality tale that, to quote Engels, divides history into noble and ignoble and then finds that as a rule the noble are defrauded and the ignoble are victorious. But Burns does not escape another, stronger tendency in contemporary scholarship: to minimize the political, the conscious part of the historical process, and how that was in turn rooted in deep-going material changes.

What conditions created a world in which something so seemingly timeless as monarchy could, in the space of a few short years, be overthrown? Why did most colonists gravitate to what Washington called the Glorious cause? How did their beliefs sustain them in fighting a long and bloody war? How did the American Revolution become not only a war over home rule, but over who would rule at home, as historian Carl Becker long ago put it? How could the Americans, having overthrown one social order, constitute a new? How did the revolution transform the former colonial society? How did it lead so quickly to the great French Revolution of 1789? These questions are barely asked.

Nonetheless, even in its unfortunately brief treatment, the importance of ideology to the Revolution makes itself known. Viewers less interested in military history will be rewarded for their wait. There is important discussion in the first episode of Tom Paine. In the second episode, historian Gordon Wood reminds viewers that All men are created equal, is the most famous and important phrase in American history. Lincoln knew that, Wood adds, and thats why he said, all honor to Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson

The historian Alan Taylor points out the bulk of the Declaration is a list of crimes allegedly committed by the King, that announced he had forfeited his just authority. The narration that follows, taken from the Declaration, could just as easily indict Trump: unfit to be the ruler of a free people, guilty of injuries and usurpations against the rights of the people, and of sending forth swarms of officers to harass them, all of it meant to establish absolute tyranny.

Its limitations notwithstanding, The American Revolution deserves the wide audience it will undoubtedly reach. The present crisis demands a search for perspective that the present alone cannot supply. These are the times that will turn masses of people to history with fresh eyes and with new questions.

If Burns focus on the war sometimes obscures the deeper Revolution that unfolded in the minds of the people, the series nonetheless will encourage viewers to look beyond the cannons and battlefields toward the world-transforming ideas that animated the Revolutionits defiance of tyranny, its assertion of popular sovereignty, and its radical claim that all are created equala self-evident truth that is more explosive in 2026 than it was when Jefferson put the thought to paper in 1776. Burns will then have performed a service most worthy of his subject.
Members of parliaments National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission visited Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party imprisoned on Imrali Island, on Monday as part of negotiations between the Turkish state and the PKK.

The delegation included Huseyin Yayman, deputy chair of the ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP); Feti Yldz, deputy chair of the fascist Nationalist Movement Party; and Gulistan Klc Kocyigit, deputy chair of the Kurdish nationalist Peoples Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party). According to a report on BBC Turkish, while support for negotiations with the PKK stood at 85 percent in a poll, support for a visit to Ocalan was only 25 percent.

The prison on Imrali Island where Abdullah Ocalan is imprisoned. February 27, 2020 [Photo: Amerikann Sesi]

The Turkish state had previously held talks with the PKK and Ocalan through its intelligence agency or the DEM Party. This was the first time officials from the AKP and MHP, as a parliamentary commission, officially met with Ocalan. Following a call by Ocalan, the PKK convened its congress in early May and decided to dissolve itself and end armed struggle. By the end of October, it announced its decision to withdraw its armed forces from Turkey.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan supported the visit to Ocalan, saying on Monday: We consider the latest decision taken by the commission to be a decision that paves the way for the process, contributes to the process, and accelerates the elimination of terrorism.

As with previous meetings with Ocalan, the minutes of this meeting were not made public. As the World Socialist Web Site has stated from the outset, this process, conducted through secret diplomacy that serves to conceal the truth from the people, is an attempt by the Turkish and Kurdish bourgeois nationalist leaderships to reach an agreement in line with US imperialisms efforts to reorganize the Middle East.

In the 51-member commission, 32 votes were cast in favor of the visit to Ocalan. In addition to the AKP, MHP, and DEM Party, commission members from Stalinist parties such as the Labor Party (EMEP) and the Workers Party of Turkey (TIP) also voted in favor. The Kemalist Republican Peoples Party (CHP), which has the most members in the commission behind the AKP, did not participate in the vote and did not send a representative to the delegation. Instead, the CHP proposed a video conference with Ocalan. The CHP, which received the most votes nationwide in the 2024 local elections, is facing increasing judicial pressure by the government.

DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakrhan commented on the CHPs decision not to send members to visit Ocalan, stating, We are in a process where we are discussing Turkeys democracy. Unfortunately, some political parties are trying to turn opposition to the government into opposition to solving the issue. The CHP must correctly understand the Kurdish issue.

The DEM Party supported the CHPs candidate Kemal Klcdaroglu against Erdogan in the 2023 presidential elections and formed local alliances with the CHP described as urban consensus in the 2024 local elections.

The claim by the DEM Party and its allies, the TIP and EMEP, that negotiations and pressure on the Erdogan government can bring peace and democracy amid the war in the Middle Easta critical front in the developing global imperialist waris an anti-Marxist deception. As Vladimir Lenin stated in his Peace Program written in March 1916 during the First World war:

 our peace programme must explain that the imperialist Powers and the imperialist bourgeoisie cannot grant a democratic peace. Such a peace must be sought and fought for, not in the past, not in a reactionary utopia of a non-imperialist capitalism, nor in a league of equal nations under capitalism, but in the future, in the socialist revolution of the proletariat. 

Whoever promises the nations a democratic peace without at the same time preaching the socialist revolution, or while repudiating the struggle for itthe struggle which must be carried on now, during the waris deceiving the proletariat.

As explained in the theory of permanent revolution by Leon Trotsky, who led the October Revolution of 1917 alongside Lenin and founded the Fourth International in 1938, in the era of imperialism, the bourgeoisie in countries with late capitalist development, such as Turkey, is inherently incapable of establishing a democratic regime. This task belongs to the working class, which must rally all oppressed masses behind an international socialist program. The authoritarian regimes spreading from the US to Turkey and the rest of the world today bear witness to the fact that there is no faction within the ruling class that defends democracy.

The Ankara-PKK negotiations did not emerge in opposition to the nearly 35 years of imperialist aggression that the US has pursued to achieve complete domination of the Middle East; rather, they were part of that aggression. The Turkish and Kurdish bourgeois nationalist leaderships, which supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the war for regime change in Syria launched in 2011, are trying to unite their reactionary interests, in the process of reorganizing the Middle East, which gained momentum with Israels 2023 genocide in Gaza.

When negotiations first came up last year, Erdogan said, While the maps are being redrawn in blood, while the war that Israel has waged from Gaza to Lebanon is approaching our borders, we are trying to strengthen our internal front. We want 85 million of us to come together under the common denominator of Turkey. In this context, Ankara, facing increasing competition from Israel, is trying to turn the PKK-led Kurdish movement from a 40-year enemy into an ally and strengthen its hand, with the critical help of Ocalan.

Bahceliwho had previously demanded the execution of Ocalan, a political prisoner since 1999encouraged the commission members to visit him. In a statement on November 11, he said that he would visit Ocalan himself if necessary.

Bahcelis statement came the day after US President Donald Trump met with Ahmed al-Shara, leader of the Al Qaeda-rooted (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) HTS regime in Syria, at the White House on November 10. This meeting was part of the USs efforts to turn the Syrian regime into its puppet on an anti-Iran axis. Syria is also close to a security agreement with Israel, with which it has a de facto alliance. Washington is trying to align both Turkey and Israel, as well as Ankara and the Kurdish movement, on an anti-Iran axis to eliminate the influence of Russia and China in the Middle East.

Ankara has a certain influence over the HTS regime and is trying to make the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the PKKs sister organization in Syria, subordinate to Damascus through Ocalan. Speaking to the Mesopotamia Agency in Turkey, SDF Commander Mazlum Abdi said of the meeting between Trump and al-Shara: The issue of Northern and Eastern Syria, the issue of the SDF, was discussed with Trump. More precisely, Trump asked and received an answer. It was positive... Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was also present. It was discussed with him as well. As far as we know, President Trump wanted the issues to be resolved without war and through dialogue. They accepted that.

Both the Turkish and Kurdish bourgeois nationalist leaderships, which are pro-imperialist, expect people to believe that the fascist Trump, the main leader behind the Gaza genocide, is now the champion of a great peace in Kurdistan after Palestine. This process, which brings together Islamist Erdogan, fascist Bahceli, jihadist al-Shara, and Ocalan, who declares himself a democratic socialist, with the fascist in the White House, can only lead to greater disasters for the workers and oppressed peoples of the Middle East.

Moreover, the negotiations are being conducted under conditions where democratic rights, already restricted in Turkey, are under severe attack, where mayors elected by millions of people have been imprisoned and replaced by trustees, and where European Court of Human Rights rulings are being violated.

While the unjust and arbitrary detention of Selahattin Demirtas, former leader of the HDP (predecessor of the DEM Party), continues, thousands of Kurdish and leftist political prisoners remain in jails. Kurdish speeches made in parliament are not even recorded in the minutes. As one of the clearest proofs of the states disregard for the democratic rights of the Kurdish people, in September, the supreme Court of Appeals Prosecutors Office demanded that the Socialist Equality PartyFourth International remove its demands for education in the mother tongue and official status for the Kurdish language from its party program.

The reactionary aims of these negotiations are now openly acknowledged even by the political tendencies complicit in them. Yusuf Karadas, a columnist for the Evrensel newspaper, which is in line with the Labor Party (EMEP) that supports the negotiations, wrote in his column Monday: The [Erdogans] palace regime, which is pursuing expansionist ambitions in collaboration with US imperialism in the region and is trying to consolidate the repressive regime within the country, has no plans for peace in the region or democracy in the country.

Karadas defined the Erdogan government as politically reactionary and called for an alliance with the CHP and DEM Party, which he referred to as democratic forces, to put pressure on it. These democratic forces are, just like Erdogans AKP, pro-imperialist parties of the ruling class that stand behind the liquidation of democratic forms of government.

In this repetition of the Stalinist popular front policy, which serves to subjugate the masses to a democratic bourgeoisie that does not actually exist, there is no place for the interests and independent role of the working class or for revolutionary struggle against imperialist war and the capitalist system.

This bankrupt class-collaborationist policy must be rejected. Urgent tasks such as the recognition and guarantee of the democratic rights of the Kurdish people and the establishment of peace in the Middle East and worldwide can only be achieved through the revolutionary mass mobilization of the working class against imperialism and its capitalist proxies. Only rule by the working class, which creates social wealth, pays the price of imperialist war, and is targeted by the construction of dictatorship, can bring democracy, social equality, and an anti-imperialist policy to life.
Don McCullins 90th birthday last month was marked by three major public events: a retrospective at Hauser & Wirth in New York titled A Desecrated Serenity; a headline lecture at the Royal Academy in London; and a candid interview in The Guardian. Each celebrated his towering legacy but also exposed the contradictions that shape the fate of the artistespecially the working-class artistunder capitalism.

Born in 1935 in Finsbury Park, London, Don McCullins life and photographic work have been shaped by hardship, compassion, and an unrelenting pursuit of truth. Evacuated during the Blitz and forced to leave school at 15 after the death of his father, McCullin was largely self-taught, developing his photographic skills through personal initiative. These formative experiences imbued his work with emotional depth and a visceral sense of justice. Photography for me is not looking, its feeling, he once said. If you cant feel what youre looking at, then youre never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.

Don McCullin in a TV Brasil broadcast, 2011 [Photo by TV Brasil - Conexao Roberto D'Avila - episodio "Don McCullin" / CC BY 3.0

During his National Service with the Royal Air Force, McCullin worked in the base darkroom and bought his first camera, a Rolleicord. Upon returning to London, he photographed a local gang, The Guvnors, in a bombed-out building. A friend encouraged him to show the image to The Observer, which published it in 1959launching his career. Frankly, I didnt really know anything about photography But after that famous picture of the gang was published, I was offered every job in England, he revealed.

McCullins big breakthrough came in 1961 with his coverage of the Berlin Walls construction, earning him the British Press Award. His images of Checkpoint Charlie and divided families captured the Cold Wars emotional toll. In 1964, McCullin won another award for his first war assignment, documenting the Cyprus civil warrevealing his ability to frame tension and human vulnerability.

Don McCullin, Press Award 1964, Turkish Civil War photograph in background [Photo by World Press Photo 1964 , Donald McCullin bij zijn foto 17 december 1964 / CC BY 1.0

In 1966, McCullin was recruited by The Sunday Times, where he remained for almost two decades. His work under art director David King, a Trotskyist sympathizer, gave him unprecedented freedom to pursue assignments that combined artistic vision with uncompromising social truth.

During the 1968-75 period Britain was convulsed by mass strikes, student protests, and the broader international radicalisation that followed events like the May-June 1968 general strike in France, the Vietnam War, and uprisings in the colonial worldtumultuous events that culminated in the mass movement spearheaded by the miners strike that brought down the Conservative government of Edward Heath.

The Socialist Labour League, then the British section of the International Committee of the Fourth International led by Gerry Healy, understood that the struggle to imbue the struggles of the working class with a socialist political consciousness necessitated paying attention to cultural questions. It won the support of a significant layer of artists, writers, and filmmakers and helped direct the work of the best of them towards addressing the struggles of the working class and the history of the revolutionary socialist movement.

McCullin was part of this milieu. His attraction to socialist ideas was part of this wider ferment, where photography was understood as means of revealing and indicting imperialism, exploitation and poverty rather than mere documentation.

Between 1965 and 1970, McCullin covered the Vietnam War, producing some of the most iconic images in photojournalism. His haunting photograph of a shell-shocked US Marine during the Battle of Hue became emblematic of wars psychological toll.

Shell shocked US Marine, 1968 [Photo by Don McCullin, Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth]

He also documented the Congo Crisis and the Nigerian Civil War, capturing famine and displacement in Biafra, including a harrowing image of an albino child dying of starvation. I was ashamed to be part of the human race, he later said. Sometimes it felt like I was carrying pieces of human flesh back home with me, not negatives.

From 1971 to 1975, McCullin covered the spillover of the Vietnam War into Cambodia and Laos, and the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He commented, Somebody may have been killed by the wayside and his body is rotting away and nobody cares I care, and I am going to photograph it.

He also covered the Bangladesh Liberation War, and the Yom Kippur War between Israel and the Arab states. In Uganda under Idi Amin, he was arrested while documenting atrocities and narrowly escaped execution. In 1979, he covered the Iranian Revolution, which overthrew the Shah installed in the 1953 coup by US and British imperialism, capturing the fervour and fear of Tehrans streets.

McCullins British work from the 1960s and 70sdepicting homelessness, slum clearances, coal miners, industrial declineremains equally powerful. Portraits such as Homeless Irishman, Spitalfields (1969) are intimate, unflinching indictments of poverty. There were many untold truths about this country we had poverty, we had unemployment, we had a class system that wasnt convenient, he said in a 1989 BBC documentary.

Homeless man, east London, 1971 [Photo by Don McCullin, Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth]

McCullins series on homelessness revealed the rise of street sleeping due to austerity, mental illness, and the closure of hostels. You cannot walk on the water of hunger, misery, and death. You have to wade through to record them, he explained.

The early 1980s saw McCullin documenting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, photographing Mujahideen fighters backed by US support. He also covered the civil war in El Salvador and attempted to report on the Falklands War in 1982 but was denied access by the British governmenta foretaste of embedded war reporting under military control.

During this period, McCullins editorial support eroded. Rupert Murdochs acquisition of The Sunday Times in 1981 was emblematic of the Thatcher-era counter-revolution against the working class. McCullin was ousted. A friend summarized the new editorial line: No more starving third-world babies; more successful businessmen around their weekend barbecues.

In 1982, McCullin documented the Sabra and Shatila Palestinian camp massacres in Lebanon, where Christian Phalangist militias, with Israeli support, killed up to 3,000 civilians. His image of a Palestinian mother in her destroyed homeAfter the Massacre of Sabra Camp in Beirutremains one of his most cited works. I photographed the madness of men who had lost all sense of humanity, he said.

These were McCullins final frontline assignments. After this, he largely withdrew from frontline conflict photography, citing exhaustion and disillusionment.

In 1984 he confessed, There is guilt in every direction Thats why I want to photograph landscapes and flowers. I am sentencing myself to peace. He turned to haunting landscapes of Somerset, which he called his spiritual home, carefully constructed still life images and explorations of Roman ruins across North Africa and the Middle East.

Upton Noble, flooding meadow, Somerset, 1992 [Photo by Don McCullin, Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth]

Still life in my garden shed, 1989 [Photo by Don McCullin, Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth]

In his Guardian interview McCullin expressed deep pessimism about his legacy. He described his life as a cesspit and lamented that his war photography had done absolutely no good at all.

This despair, the conviction that his photographs never changed anything, is not simply the voice of a man scarred by decades of trauma. It reflects a broader historical context: the betrayal of the working class by the Stalinist, social democratic and trade union bureaucracies. McCullins demoralisation was shaped by the historical defeats of the working class following the revolutionary optimism of the 196875 period, which had created conditions in which socialist ideas flourished. McCullins early conviction that photography could shock the conscience and expose injustice was inseparable from this revolutionary atmosphere.

The 1980s and 1990s, however, saw a decisive historical shift in the labour movement: a period of renunciationism among social democratic parties. Labour in Britain under Tony Blair renounced its reformist Clause IV commitment to public ownership and openly embraced the market. Under Gorbachev, the Soviet bureaucracy renounced even verbal allegiance to the October Revolution and undertook the restoration of capitalism and the liquidation of the Soviet Union. The academic imperialist apologist Francis Fukuyama declared the End of History, proclaiming liberal democracy and freemarket capitalism as the final, universal form of human government. Trade unions became wholly integrated into corporate management as policemen of the working class, abandoning any defence of wages, jobs, or welfare.

The demoralisation of artists and intellectuals like McCullin reflected this collapse of the old labour movement, which they were ill-equipped to understand the root causes of, or to recognise the need to construct a genuinely revolutionary alternative in response.

This sense of futility deepened with the way in which photography became incorporated into an art market that is yet another playground for the superrich. Nearly onethird of global billionaires hold collections averaging $300 million each.

McCullins own photographs now sell for relatively large sumshis shellshocked US Marine recently fetched nearly $32,000 at auction. But his conclusion that his work never changed anything is false. His images of poverty, war, and imperialist slaughter were born of Finsbury Park, of deprivation and struggle, of a Britain where workers fought for their dignity. His war photography was not passive documentation, but an indictment of capitalism.

Catholic youths escaping from CS gas, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 1971 [Photo by Don McCullin, Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth]

Millions were educated by his lens. His photographs of Vietnam galvanized antiwar sentiment; his documentation of homelessness exposed enduring class divisions; his images of Biafra, Beirut, and Northern Ireland forced millions to confront the brutality of colonialism and capitalist war. What happened subsequently was not the failure of his art, but of parties and programs that rejected and opposed the development of a revolutionary struggle against capitalism.

The task today is to reconnect art with revolution. In that struggle, unfolding amid an unprecedented global crisis and the political collapse of the old Stalinist and social democratic parties, McCullins photographs still provide a searing indictment of a system that must be overthrown.
This is part one of a four-part series: [Part Two] [Part Three] [Part Four]

Tanzanian Gen Z activists are calling for a nationwide mega protest on December 9, demanding the resignation of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The move follows the massacre of thousands in the aftermath of the fraudulent election engineered by Hassan and her Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Party of the RevolutionCCM) regime, an atrocity that has sent shockwaves across Africa and internationally.

From Dar es Salaam and Mwanza to Mbeya and Arusha, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of young people flooded the streets to oppose what many saw as Hassans coronation. They marched through tear gas, endured curfews, faced systematic internet shutdown and social media blackouts, and confronted soldiers and police firing live rounds.

Reports point to one of the bloodiest reprisals by an African post-independence regime. The death toll may exceed 3,000, with bodies taken from hospitals and morgues dumped into mass graves to conceal the scale of the killings. More than 300 protesters now face treason charges punishable by death, while security forces continue raids, disappearances and collective punishment in working-class neighbourhoods.

Terrified of mass opposition, Hassan has now cancelled all independence celebrations across the country: an extraordinary admission of political crisis by a regime that can no longer rule in the old way.

People protest in the streets of Arusha, Tanzania, on election day October 29, 2025 [AP Photo/str]

President Hassan is just the latest head of a capitalist state machine designed to defend private wealth, suppress working-class opposition and secure the interests of Tanzanias ruling class and its imperialist backers. Calls for her resignation must be guided by an understanding of which class holds state power and commands the means of life. Even if Hassan were removed or new elections called, the underlying economic and political structure would remain intact. Without a socialist transformation led by the working class, exploitation, violence, and destitution will continue.

The present mass repression flows directly from the historical foundations of CCMs rule and the social interests it was built to protect. Yet across the political spectrum, from Stalinists, Pan-Africanists, and pseudo-left tendencies, a common cry is that the bloodshed represents a tragic betrayal of Tanzanias first post-independence president, Julius Nyerere, and his ideals of African Socialism and Pan-Africanism.

ACT-Wazalendo, the second largest opposition party, presents itself as the heir to Nyereres political tradition. It calls for a revival of the 1967 Arusha Declaration, a nationalist policy document cloaked in socialist rhetoric, to restore one national ideology and plug out any sentiments of tribalism and religious differences which have started to take root. The party argues for a return to a modern socialist economy, which focuses on increasing production and equity in distribution of national wealth so as to reduce classes.

South Africas Independent Online explains that Nyereres vision of nation bound together by solidarity, communal prosperity and the philosophy of ujamaa [familyhood]  has faded into memory. In its place stands a government that rules by force.

Kenyas Communist Party Marxist bombastically declared: Let the spirit of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere rise again in revolutionary form. Another Stalinist and Pan-Africanist party, Kongamano La Mapinduzi, states that the mass protests seek to restore the values of justice and dignity that  Nyerere stood for.

Internationally, the pseudo-left has paid almost no attention to the unfolding events in Tanzania, and when they do comment it is to recycle the same pro-Nyerere mythology. The Revolutionary Communist International claims that Nyereres nationalisation of key sectors broke Tanzania away from imperialist domination, supposedly giving the CCM enormous popularity Tanzania under Nyerere was a model and inspiration for revolutionary struggles across Africa.

The narrative that todays violence is a betrayal of Nyerere serves to block workers and youth from drawing the central lessons of the 20th century. The violence deployed today is being imposed by the capitalist political and economic order established at independence by Nyerere and his petty-bourgeois nationalist Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), predecessor of todays CCM regime, which has ruled uninterruptedly for the past 64 years.

TANU/CCMs rise as the dominant party in what is now Tanzania, drawing strength from the wave of anti-colonial struggle sweeping Africa in the 1940s and 1950s, was made possible above all by the betrayals of Stalinism. Stalinist leaderships violently repressed Trotskyism, the only force that insisted on building a revolutionary movement in the working class. Trotskyists rejected the policy of carving out new states along colonial borders and opposed alliances with the emerging national bourgeoisie, instead calling for the international unity of workers. The destruction of this revolutionary leadership left the young African working class politically disarmed and opened the way for a petty-bourgeois nationalist intelligentsia to lead and derail the anti-colonial movement.

The task is not to restore African Socialism. The modest welfare measures associated with Nyerere are rapidly being dismantled, inequality is widening, and millions of young people facing unemployment and precariousness. Tanzanias workers and youth must seize political power, establish their own state, reorganise the economy according to human need rather than private profit, and provide leadership to the rural masses. The success of a socialist revolution, however, depends on its extension to neighbouring African countries and, ultimately, its fulfilment on the world stage.

The creation of Tanzania and the rise of the working class

The territory now called Tanzania, comprising mainland Tanganyika and the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, emerged from imperial conquest during the Scramble for Africa. In the 1880s, as European powers divided the continent, Berlin claimed the region that became German East Africa, enforcing control through violent campaigns and alliances with tribal elites. By 1891, Tanganyika was formalised as a German colony, built on plantation agriculture for sisal used in naval cordage, as well as coffee and cotton. This system relied on forced labour, punitive expeditions, and hut taxes that pushed Africans into the cash economy to sustain the colonial state.

In response, the Ngoni, Matumbi, and Zaramo people launched the Maji Maji Rebellion (1905-1907), which was met with extreme brutality. To starve the population into submission, the German colonial administration launched scorched-earth campaigns, burning villages, destroying crops and seizing grain stores. Between 75,000 to 300,000 people, mostly civilians, died from famine, disease, and violence.

Maji Maji warriors before hanging in February 1906.

The rebellion was part of a wider continental wave of resistance to imperialism, but fragmented communities with limited resources could not sustain a unified struggle. Spears and old muskets were overwhelmed by Maxim guns and the industrial power of European capitalism. Its defeat, like uprisings across the continent, underscored the absence of a modern working class capable of mounting a coordinated challenge to imperial rule.

Zanzibar followed a distinct but related path. Though ruled by an Omani Arab sultanate, it became a formal British protectorate in 1890 under the HeligolandZanzibar Treaty, in which Germany ceded claims to the island in exchange for control over Tanganyika. The islands developed into a plantation economy based on the highly profitable cultivation of cloves. Even after Britain formally abolished slavery in the late 1890s, the plantation system continued to operate through indentured labour controlled by a small landowning Arab elite.

After the defeat of Germany during World War One, Tanganyika was handed over to Britain by the League of Nations. London retained the German plantation and taxation system but expanded the infrastructure needed for large-scale extraction. The Central Railway line from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma, the Tanga-Moshi line, and port complexes at Dar es Salaam, Tanga, and Mtwara were developed to connect the entire British-controlled East African economy and funnel raw materials to the world market. A modern working class began to emerge, including railway and dockworkers, postal and telegraph clerks, plantation labourers, and miners.

The first strikes began in the 1920s and 1930s. In Tanganyika, railway workers staged stoppages and go slows in 1927 and 1928 over conditions, followed by a 1930 dock strike in Dar es Salaam against harsh treatment and delayed pay. Plantation labourers on the sisal estates of Tanga and Morogoro also protested. In Zanzibar, dockworkers struck in 1934 over wage cuts, and municipal workers in Zanzibar Town took action in 1936.[ 1 ] These struggles produced the first unions, beginning with the Cooks, Washermen and House Servants Association in 1939, the African Teachers Association in 1944, and the Railway African Association, which by 1945 had become the most militant worker organisation in the territory.[ 2 ]

These developments were part of a regional working-class movement, numerically small but increasingly militant, that linked Kenyas coast, the railway system and Ugandas interior via ports, docks and railways. In Kenya, African railway and port workers in Mombasa launched major strikes, notably in 1939, that disrupted the colonial export economy, while transport workers in Uganda also struck during the 1940s over wages, conditions and colonial policy. Along this corridor, the integration of rail, port, and dock systems created both the infrastructure and the potential for collective social struggle.

The African working class began to act for the first time as a unified class, not as fragmented tribal groups. It confronted the same colonial state and capitalists. This was the foundation for a class consciousness that transcended the divisions the imperialists relied upon.

Permanent Revolution and Marxist opposition to imperialism

It was Marxists who first opposed colonial rule. In Britain, Ernest Belfort Bax of the Social-Democratic Federation wrote in 1896 that Africans fight against the white man, against missions, traders, and settlers is our fight. We recognise no rights, under any circumstances whatever, for a civilised power to subjugate races living in a lower stage of social development and to force civilisation upon them. The specious humanitarian twaddle talked in press and upon platform to throw dust in our eyes and cover wanton aggression does not impose upon us.

From France, the Parti Ouvrier (Workers Party) denounced colonialism in 1895 as one of the worst forms of capitalist exploitation, which tends exclusively to enlarge the field of profits of the proprietary class at the expense of the blood and money of the producing proletariat; considering that its expeditions undertaken under the pretext of civilisation and national honour lead to corruption and destruction of primitive populations and unleash on the colonising nation itself all sorts of scourges.

This internationalist opposition was formalised within the Second International, the world organisation of socialist parties founded in 1889. At its 1907 Congress in Stuttgart, it adopted a resolution declaring that capitalist colonial policy must lead to enslavement, forced labour, or the extermination of the native population of the colonised regions. The civilising mission that capitalist society claims to serve is no more than a veil for its lust for conquest and exploitation.

The left wing of the Second International, led by Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Rosa Luxemburg, went further, developing the first systematic analysis of imperialism as a global stage of capitalism. As Lenin explained in Imperialism: the Highest Stage of Capitalism, the rise of finance capital and monopolies necessarily gave rise to a global system in which entire nations were subjugated to serve the accumulation needs of the imperialist bourgeoisie. Imperialism, Lenin wrote, is the epoch of finance capital and monopolies, which introduce everywhere the striving for domination, not for freedom. The tensions among imperialist powers would lead to the outbreak of the First World War.

Trotsky at the 3rd Congress of the Communist International, 1921

Lenin and Trotsky foresaw that the same contradictions driving the imperialist war would open the path to world socialist revolution. On this basis they led the Bolshevik party to the first victorious socialist revolution, in Russia in October 1917, and then founded the Communist International (Comintern). These developments triggered revolutionary movements across Europe and the colonies and raised the colonial question to the centre of world politics.

The guiding perspective of the Russian Revolution was Trotskys Theory of Permanent Revolution. Trotsky insisted that in countries with a belated capitalist development such as Russia or todays Tanzania, the resolution of the democratic tasks associated in the 19th century with bourgeois revolutions, including national unity and land reform, was now bound up with the taking of power by the working class.

Trotsky showed that in the imperialist epoch, capitalisms global development and the ruling classes fear of their own workers bind the national bourgeoisie to the imperialist powers that already dominate and divide the world. As a result, it is incapable of overcoming tribal divisions, resolving the agrarian question, guaranteeing land or jobs, building genuine democratic institutions, or securing real independence. Only a struggle for socialism, based on the international character of the working class and the integrated world economy, can accomplish these historic tasks.

Trotsky cautioned against nurturing illusions in the creation of new nation states. He stressed that the belated revolutions in Asia and Africa are incapable of opening up a new epoch of renaissance for the national state. The liberation of the colonies will be merely a gigantic episode in the world socialist revolution.

Permanent Revolution became embedded in the very foundations of the Comintern. In 1919, the Manifesto of the Comintern written by Trotsky affirmed:

The emancipation of the colonies is conceivable only in conjunction with the emancipation of the working class in the metropolises Even now the struggle in the more developed colonies, while taking place only under the banner of national liberation, immediately assumes a more or less clearly defined social character. If capitalist Europe has violently dragged the most backward sections of the world into the whirlpool of capitalist relations, then socialist Europe will come to the aid of liberated colonies with her technology, her organization, and her ideological influence in order to facilitate their transition to a planned and organised socialist economy.

At its Second Congress in 1920, the Comintern insisted that every national section take upon itself the concrete revolutionary duty of combating its own ruling classs imperialism. The Congress adopted the Theses on the National and Colonial Question, drafted by Lenin, which required Communist parties to expose the dodges of its own imperialists in the colonies, of supporting every liberation movement in the colonies not only in words but in deeds, of demanding that their imperialist compatriots should be thrown out of the colonies, of cultivating within the working class a profound sense of fraternity with the masses of the colonies.

This internationalist perspective shaped the first Marxist organisations on the African continent. In 1917, South African socialists formed the International Socialist League, which became the Communist Party of South Africa in 1921. In North Africa, the Communist Party of Egypt was founded in 1920 and, in the same year, the Algerian and Tunisian Communist Parties were established as sections of the French Communist Party.

Central to this project was the Cominterns insistence that communists maintain political independence from the native bourgeoisie. However anti-imperialist their rhetoric, these classes remained materially bound to capitalism and would betray any independent mobilisation of workers and peasants. Lenin insisted on a clear distinction between the interests of the oppressed classes, of working and exploited people, and the general concept of national interests as a whole, which implies the interests of the ruling class and insisted that any alliance with the bourgeois nationalists in the colonial countries should uphold the independence of the proletarian movement even if it is in its most embryonic form.

The Marxist opposition to imperialism, which had developed through decades of theoretical struggle and been clarified through the experience of the Russian Revolution, established a perspective for the liberation of the colonies and semi-colonies rooted in the conscious and independent mobilisation of the working class for socialism on an international scale.

To be continued.
We encourage all postal workers to contact the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee at canadapostworkersrfc@gmail.com or by filling out the form at the end of this article.

A Canada Post worker walks to his truck in Richmond, British Columbia [AP Photo/Ted S. Warren]

Friday evenings announcement by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) that it has reached an agreement in principle with Canada Post management and terminated all remaining labour action is a groveling capitulation and colossal betrayal. Working hand-in-hand with the Liberal government and Canada Post management, the union bureaucracy is consciously facilitating the dismantling of Canada Post and destruction of tens of thousands of jobs.

Postal workers must immediately move to countermand this sellout through the formation of independent rank-and-file committees at every postal sorting plant and depot across Canada, under the leadership of the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC). As PWRFC member Daniel Berkley put it in comments to the World Socialist Web Site: The employer and the government have been very clear what their principles for a profitable, sustainable Canada Post are, and they are in irreconcilable conflict with the needs of the public and postal workers for good jobs and the utilization of new technologies to improve services and workers lives . The union would rather keep the government and the corporation satisfied than defend the basic needs of its own membership. Were undercut and done dirty at every turn. That is why we must build the PWRFC in every workplace and reach out to all logistics workers.

The dealwhich involves both the Urban and RSMC bargaining unitswas struck in total secrecy. The union, moreover, is refusing to provide the membership with a single concrete detail of its contents. Nonetheless, CUPW has halted all remaining job action during Canada Posts most profitable period of the year as the winter holiday shopping season kicks into high-gear.

The union has conceded that the actual language of the tentative agreements for the two bargaining units may require weeks, even months, to finalize; yet insists workers should trust that these still to be written contracts will somehow protect their interests while management proceeds with layoffs, closures and the use of AI to increase workloads. Canada Post, meanwhile, continues to expand the operations of its parcel-handling Purolator subsidiary and to push forward with the Amazonification of postal operationsdevelopments that will accelerate job cuts and speedup.

Canada Post and CUPW confirmed Friday that all strike or lockout activities are suspended while lawyers formalize the agreement in principle, and that no details will be released until tentative contracts are concluded.

Management and the Carney Liberal government know exactly what the agreement contains; postal workers, whose livelihoods are being bartered away, are on the other hand being deliberately kept in the dark by CUPW.

Toronto CUPW Local 626 president Mark Lubinski made clear the bureaucracys enthusiasm for this rotten arrangement, telling CBC News the end of rotating strikes was great news for Canadians. He admitted he has not seen any details and expects several months of secret drafting before workers are allowed to vote on a tentative agreement.

Employment lawyer Sundeep Gokhale put the matter more bluntly, telling CTV that no agreement in fact exists. The announced deal is unusual precisely because there is no concrete contract: Theyve said, conceptually, weve agreed on the big picture issues. But now were going to put pen to paper, calling it an agreement to ultimately get to a tentative agreement. Gokhale added that Canada Post didnt move off its fundamental demands, including the elimination of rural and suburban outlets and the expansion of community mailboxes, and is positioned to embed these measures in the still to be hammered-out collective agreements.

The onslaught on postal workers is being orchestrated by the Liberal government. In September, Government Transformation Minister Joel Lightbound ordered Canada Post to present a transformational plan to the government within 45 days. The Crown corporation did so on November 10, saying it was now waiting for the governments approval.

The public, postal workers and even the union are barred from knowing the plans contents until Ottawa approves it. The essentials, however, are already known: ending daily door-to-door delivery for four million addresses, converting neighbourhoods to community mailboxes, closing hundreds of rural and suburban post offices, cutting letter-delivery days, eliminating job security for permanent employees, andas Canada Post CEO Doug Ettinger confirmed last weekengineering the loss of 30,000 positions through attrition by 2035.

The assault on Canada Post workers forms a key component of the Carney governments wider Canada Strong agenda to impose the full burden of military rearmament for world war and the enrichment of the financial oligarchy on the backs of the working class. The Carney governments first budgetpushed through parliament last week with the assistance of the New Democrats, Greens and the trade union bureaucracymarked a massive turn toward austerity and military rearmament. Tens of billions are being redirected to corporate tax incentives, big-business subsidies, rearmament and the rapid expansion of Canadas military-industrial base through deep cuts to public services and tens of thousands of public-sector job cuts.

Carney and the financial elite view the dismantling of the public postal service as the testing ground for this program. By targeting one of the most visible public utilities and one of the most militant sections of the working class, the Liberals aim to demonstrate that no public service, no job and no collective agreement will stand in the way of their drive to impose fiscal sustainability, enhance competitiveness and prepare Canadian imperialism for confrontation in a world hurtling toward wider war.

Rank-and-file determination versus CUPW sabotage

Postal workers have repeatedly demonstrated their readiness to fight back. Lightbounds September 25 restructuring announcement sparked spontaneous walkouts in Atlantic Canada and other regions, forcing the CUPW leadershipunder enormous pressure from belowto reluctantly sanction a national strike.

As soon as it felt able to scuttle the strike, CUPW unilaterally brought a halt to the national walkout and instituted toothless rotating walkouts, which invariably avoided large urban areas and only affected a tiny fraction of mail delivery. It continued closed-door bargaining with management even as the government insisted the restructuring of Canada Postfrom the lifting of the moratorium on rural post office closures and the ending of all home-letter delivery to the elimination of tens of thousands of jobswas non-negotiable.

CUPW was able to carry through its sellout of the postal workers Friday because, notwithstanding workers courage and militancy, they have yet to take the struggle into their own hands and lack an understanding of the necessary strategy to fight what is at bottom a political struggle.

The corporate and political establishment have made clear that postal workers are expected to absorb the costs of decades of intentional underfunding, competition from courier giants and the states rearmament binge.

The Globe and Mail, speaking for Bay Street, celebrated CUPWs capitulation in a recent editorial, declaring the union appears to have acceded to reality and insisted that if workers resist, Ottawa will need to take further action. This is a straightforward warning that the government must stand ready to impose its restructuring by force if it feels the union bureaucracy cannot keep the rank and file in line.

Postal workers are in a powerful position to respond to this class war, but to do so they must break the stranglehold imposed on them by the union bureaucracy. They must appeal for support from broader sections of the working class, all of whom confront similar attacks on their jobs, living conditions, public services, and right to strike. The basis for such a common fight is the rejection of capitalisms prioritization of corporate profitability over everything else, and the insistence that the social needs of the vast majority, working people, must take precedence. This means fighting for a mass industrial and political mobilization of the working class for workers political power.

The recent Air Canada flight attendants struggle underscores that postal workers would win enthusiastic support if they oriented to the working class. Some 10,500 flight attendants courageously defied a government strikebreaking order in August in a fight over unpaid labour and unbearable workloads. But the lack of rank-and-file organization independent of the union bureaucracy and the absence of a clear political perspective to guide the strike in the direction of a mass worker-led counteroffensive against capitalist austerity and war gave the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) enough breathing space to sabotage the strike in the dead of night. The flight attendants were arbitrarily denied the right to vote on large parts of the agreement cooked up by CUPE and Air Canada, and even those elements that were put to a vote were immediately turned over to binding arbitration by the union bureaucracy after a 99 percent No vote by the rank and file.

The PWRFC insists that postal workers confront not only Canada Post but the big business Carney government, and the entire political establishment, including the NDP and the corporatist union leaderships. CUPWs strategy confines workers to a dead end. The fight must be taken out of the hands of the union bureaucracy and entrusted to democratic rank-and-file committees.

These committees must:

Demand the immediate publication of the full transformation plan, all annexes, the CUPW-Canada Post agreement in principle and all draft contract language;

Oppose any agreement that destroys jobs, undermines public service or intensifies exploitation;

Organize mass meetings to overturn CUPWs shutdown of strike action;

Coordinate nationally through the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee;

Reach out to workers at Purolator, Amazon and others across the broader logistics, transportation and public-sector network across North America;

Link the struggle to the growing international movement against austerity and war through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees.

The struggle at Canada Post raises fundamental political questions about the defence of public services, the right to strike and the use of new technologies like AI in the interests of the working class. Meeting these challenges requires a socialist perspective and the unified mobilization of the international working class.

Postal workers who agree with this perspective should contact the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee at canadapostworkersrfc@gmail.com or through the form below.
Zohran Mamdani, Hakeem Jeffries [AP Photo/Evan Vucci/Jose Luis Magana]

At the urging of Zohran Mamdani, the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America voted against endorsing a primary run by one of its own members, Chi Osse, to unseat House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

The outcome, announced Sunday evening, is further evidence that Mamdani and the DSA are providing an essential political service to the ruling class, lending an air of political legitimacy to an establishment that is increasingly discredited and despised by the population. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another member of the DSA, has also thrown her support behind Jeffries.

Jeffries, as the leader of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives, epitomizes the establishment that Mamdani postured as an opponent of during his campaign. Jeffries record is one of accommodation to both corporate power and imperialist war, including backing the genocide in Gaza and leading the Democrats capitulation to Trump. This is the politics that voters in New York rejected when they turned out for Zohran Mamdani.

In the run-up to the election, Jefferies pointedly withheld an endorsement of the winner of the partys primary for months until the eve of voting, when it was apparent that Mamdani could not be beaten. Jeffries finally formally backed Mamdani after the candidate announced his intention to retain the current New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch, a move meant to reassure the citys corporate and financial elite, foreshadowing his rapid shift to the right.

In the three weeks since emerging victorious in the election, Mamdanis embrace of his stated political opponents in the Democratic establishment, as well as President Trump, has proceeded at warp speed. Two days before he met with Trump at the White House, Mamdani appeared at the New York City DSA Electoral Working Group meeting to put down the potential challenge to Jeffries.

The choice is not whether to vote for Chi or Hakeem at the ballot box, Mamdani asserted at the event. The choice is how to spend the next year. Do we want to spend it defending caricatures of our movement, or do we want to spend it fulfilling the agenda at the heart of that very same movement? Mamdani urged DSA members to deny Osse their endorsement.

The core of Mamdanis argument is that the orientation must be towards convincing the Democratic Party power brokers and the corporate-financial interests they represent to accept a few modest concessions like free childcare, a partial rent freeze and free buses. Accompanying this appeal is a commitment to prevent an open struggle against their stranglehold on economic and political power. Even so much as a primary challenge is off limits, to say nothing of mobilizing masses in a class-based struggle to confront the impossible social conditions that exist throughout New York City and elsewhere.

In fact, the eruption of working class struggle is precisely what Mamdani and the DSA aim to prevent, using the lie that the Democrats, a party of Wall Street, can be pressured into becoming a vehicle for addressing the needs of the working class.

The New York City DSA announced the results of the endorsement vote on Sunday: 52 percent of members voted against endorsing Osse, 46 percent voted in favor, and 2 percent abstained. Osse, who is currently a city councilmember, said shortly afterwards that he has no intention of challenging Jeffries without the DSAs support.

Mamdani, however, went further than simply preventing a primary challenge to Jeffries. In an appearance Sunday on Meet the Press, the mayor-elect said he supported Jeffries to remain House speaker in the next Congress.

That statement is a striking reversal of Mamdanis previous position. After at least 2,251 Palestinians were killed over the course of July 2014, Mamdani wrote on Twitter in 2022, prior to the US-backed genocide in Gaza, Hakeem Jeffries got on stage at a rally in NYC and paraphrased George Wallace. Israel today, Israel tomorrow, Israel forever. If Jeffries is considered a progressive, the term has lost all meaning.

Mamdanis support for Jeffries was eclipsed by the extraordinary meeting on Friday at the White House, where the mayor-elect of New York forged a partnership with the fascist president who has spent the past 10 months working to establish a dictatorship. In an obscene spectacle in the Oval Office, Mamdani stood smiling amid an outpouring of praise from Trump, who came away from their meeting convinced not only that Mamdani poses no threat but that his populist credibility can be exploited.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci]

Mamdanis appeasement of Trump was brushed off by apologists as a shrewd maneuver to neutralize Trump and forestall the threatened federal crackdown on the city. The real impact, however, is to disarm and confuse those looking to fight against Trumps dictatorship in New York City and around the country.

Alongside Mamdani, the Democratic Party as a whole is desperate to reach an accommodation with Trump. In the wake of the electoral rout for the Republicans, the Democratic Party rescued Trump from himself, agreeing to Trumps terms for ending the shutdown. This follows months of acquiescence to Trumps Gestapo raids and deployment of National Guard troops to cities, part of a concerted effort to overturn constitutional rule.

The Democratic Party is collaborating with Trump because, more than fascist dictatorship, it fears giving an impulse to a movement of the working class that can escape the pro-capitalist limits of the two-party system. The passage of a congressional resolution denouncing the supposed horrors of socialism ahead of Mamdanis visit with Trump, supported by the entire Democratic leadership, including Hakeem Jeffries, spoke to this fear.

Both Trump and the Democratic Party establishment are using the DSA and Mamdani, not the other way around. US capitalism is staring down a deepening crisis in which the political institutions of the past are crumbling and the economic foundations have eroded. A fresh injection of illusions, of the kind put forward by Mamdani, is invaluable to diffuse and disorient social anger, while Trump and the oligarchs he represents prepare the next round of attacks.
The launch of RingCentral AIR marks a transformative shift in how Australian businesses manage front-office communications with a digital employee that doesnt just respond, but drives intelligent, context-aware customer engagement, notes RingCentral:

 An always-on AI phone agent, RingCentral AIR uses generative AI to automatically answer customer questions and transfer callers to the right place. This enables businesses to never miss a call or opportunity, capture leads, and provide a better customer experience. 

"Demand for RingCentral AIR is skyrocketing in North America, with more than 5,000 organisations implementing it and driving measurable results across revenue generation, business productivity, and cost savings," said Adam Boreham, Australian Country Manager, RingCentral. "Weve already had intense interest in AIR from existing Australian customers and our partners. It makes a powerful AI phone agent broadly accessible to businesses of all sizes, enhancing their existing customer service responsiveness and giving them a simple, cost-effective 24/7 front desk."

A smarter first impression: AI Receptionist delivers instant ROI

Embedded into the RingCentral phone system, RingCentral AIR is built to support businesses of all sizes. Its key capabilities include:

Instant activation: Activates in minutes, automatically scans the company website for key information, requires no IT support, and is easily customisable by any team member.

Activates in minutes, automatically scans the company website for key information, requires no IT support, and is easily customisable by any team member. Resolves routine customer inquiries: Uses generative AI with context from websites and documents to answer routine customer questions about the companys services, business hours, and location.

Uses generative AI with context from websites and documents to answer routine customer questions about the companys services, business hours, and location. Lead capture with CRM integration: Ensures sales opportunities are captured and updated in Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho or AIRs native database  allowing every lead to be logged and followed up.

Ensures sales opportunities are captured and updated in Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho or AIRs native database  allowing every lead to be logged and followed up. Name-based and context-driven call transfers : Eliminates friction in reaching the right contact with expanded transfers to external numbers outside an organisations business phone system.

: Eliminates friction in reaching the right contact with expanded transfers to external numbers outside an organisations business phone system. Scalable for multiple locations or departments: Can be deployed for a single storefront or multiple business locations.

We wanted to experience RingCentral AIR firsthand before recommending it to our customersand it impressed us right away, said Grant Milton-White, Managing Director, PlanetComms. Setup took less than 30 minutes, with just a bit of training to fine-tune the context and flow of conversations. Its a far more modern and flexible interface than traditional IVR, and our callers are already giving us great feedback. We also see huge potential for AIR in aged careparticularly at nurse stations, where handling repetitive calls can distract staff from what matters most  patient care.



RingCentral AIR enables businesses to handle more complex interactions end-to-end from answering calls to capturing leads, all while expanding market reach through multilingual capabilities. The result is a powerful AI receptionist that drives higher conversion rates and delivers a more professional, personalised customer experience across language barriers. Other key features include:

Call analytics and insights: Spots common questions that cause transfers and updates answers with one click, while tracking resolution rates and cost savings with detailed analytics.

Spots common questions that cause transfers and updates answers with one click, while tracking resolution rates and cost savings with detailed analytics. Custom greetings and voice personas: Businesses can select the voice and caller experience that best represents their brand.

Businesses can select the voice and caller experience that best represents their brand. Privacy and security by design: Designed with robust security and privacy controls, plus local content data storage, safeguarding sensitive caller information during voice interactions.

Designed with robust security and privacy controls, plus local content data storage, safeguarding sensitive caller information during voice interactions. Global language support: Handles calls seamlessly in US, UK and Australian English, Spanish and French, including Canadian French, serving diverse customer bases in their preferred languages.

With nine years of experience in the generative AI industry before co-founding U.S.-based Axis Integrated Mental Health Liesl Perez views AI as indispensable for any modern business, especially in the evolving landscape of mental healthcare. According to Perez, new patient intakes have increased by 60% leveraging AIR, from an average of 20 to 32 per week, translating to an additional $1.7 million in revenue.

Availability and pricing

RingCentral AIR is generally available in Australia now starting at $62/month with 100 minutes included. Additional 100-minute bundles are also available to purchase.

To learn more about RingCentral AI Receptionist, visit www.ringcentral.com/au/en/air.

About RingCentral

RingCentral is a global leader in agentic voice AIpowered cloud business communications, delivering an integrated platform for business phone, SMS, contact centre, workforce engagement management, video collaboration, and messaging. Powered by advanced AI capabilities, RingCentral AI receptionist, virtual assistant, and conversation intelligence address every phase of the conversation journey  before, during, and after each human interaction. With RingCentral, businesses can work smarter, respond faster, and connect more meaningfully with their customers. Visit ringcentral.com to learn more.
Roof repair on Oswego, New York plant before the second fire [Photo: Norvelis]

A major fire at the Novelis aluminum plant in Oswego County, New York, has exposed the extreme fragility of US supply chains, especially with respect to the auto industry. This disaster, which occurred less than three months after a previous fire at the same facility, has reverberated through the entire auto sector, threatening jobs, worker incomes, and the ability of the industry to deliver vehicles to dealerships.

The fire erupted shortly before 9 am November 20 in the hot mill area of the Novelis plant just outside Oswego, New York. Thick smoke and flames prompted a five-alarm response from local fire departments and the emergency evacuation of more than 1,100 workers and support staff. Miraculously, no workers, firefighters, or contractors were injured in the event.

Ford and Novelis released coordinated statements assuring that shipments would resume and that unaffected parts of the plant were operating. Their priority was clear: reassure investors that losses would be contained.

The company claimed that the latest fire was swiftly contained and the site was made safe. Despite this, the efforts to restore full production have been set back. The hot mill segment, where the incident occurred, was shut down; shipment of finished aluminum sheet was temporarily suspended; and supply to customers such as Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis was disrupted, reported the Detroit Free Press.

The Novelis facility produces roughly 40 percent of the specialized aluminum sheet used in automobile production across the United States. Ford, the largest customer for Novelis Oswego aluminum, faces the most drastic consequences. The Ford F-150 light truck, nicknamed the backbone of American industry, is especially dependent on lightweight, wide-gauge aluminum sheet supplied almost exclusively from the Oswego plant.

Fords assembly lines in Tennessee and Michigan were idled for two days in the immediate aftermath of the most recent fire. Estimates from within the company project that the supply chain disruption could cost Ford up to $1 billion in lost revenue this quarter alone, with the potential figure ballooning to $2 billion if further delays ensue. An analyst from Evercore ISI called the event a critical material supply constraint with the potential to upend North American manufacturing schedules for months.

In September another severe fire had struck the same facility, causing major operational disruption and focusing scrutiny of Novelis safety protocols and fire protection infrastructure. The recurrence of such a disaster within months underscores the hazardous, high-pressure environments characteristic of aluminum production, where molten metal, massive rolling machinery, and enormous thermal loads intersectconditions made still more dangerous by the relentless drive for increased productivity and cost-cutting.

An autoworker installs the front doors on a truck being assembled at the Ford Rouge assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan Ford Motor Co. [AP Photo/Carlos Osorio]

Workers at the Ford Rouge Truck Plant in Dearborn, Michigan drew different conclusions. On Facebook workers exchanged photos of fire-fighters rushing to the scene and black smoke billowing from the Oswego plant on their Facebook pages while expressing shock and anger at the reckless drive for profit revealed in this disaster. They didn't learn from the last time, wrote one worker from the afternoon shift.

Ford is the stupidest auto maker. To which more than one co-worker replied, At this point we need a full investigation done.

Workers also pointed out that Ford and Novelis have reportedly been flying aluminum coils in from Europe to keep F-series production running. They expressed concern over a rushed and unsafe scramble to restore operations. One worker speculated that carelessness trying to work fast may have played a role in the fires at Novelis. Others noted that Novelis has been diverting output from its Brazil facilities to the US. The American infrastructure is falling apart right in front of our faces, a worker wrote.

Another co-worker added, There's so many people working 24 hours a day to get it back in operation, things happen.

A leaked internal memo shows that injuries have soared at the Stellantis Toledo Jeep complex following the imposition of mandatory overtime to make up for downtime due to parts shortages. Over the past 10 weeks the plant has seen 25 out of 87 injuries across all 75 of Stellantis plants in North America. The company claims that a fire at a local auto part supplier plant was responsible for the shortage, but word in the plant is that it is related to the Novelis fire.

The recent rise in injuries at the Jeep complex follows the death in August 2024 of Antonio Gaston, who was crushed to death under circumstances that have still not been fully explained. The family has sued Stellantis for wrongful death. In April this year skilled trades worker Ronald Adams Sr. was killed at the Stellantis Dundee Engine Plant in a preventable tragedy.

For its part the United Auto Workers bureaucracy has collaborated in imposing conditions of forced overtime and speed up and worked to block any real investigation into the death of Antonio Gaston or Ronald Adams Sr.

The fragile architecture exposed by the twin aluminum plant fires is the outcome of decades of lean production, deregulation, offshoring, and consolidation. As cost pressures increased, the number of U.S. producers capable of manufacturing automotive-grade aluminum sheet collapsed. Novelis is now one of only a few suppliers with the necessary capabilities. While this system maximizes profit in stable conditions, even a small disturbance pushes the entire network toward paralysis.

Fords stamping plants, for example, are tooled specifically for the physical and chemical properties of Oswegos aluminum. Alternative materialsif available at allrequire long lead times and rigorous testing to avoid defects and production chaos. Thus any disruption can bring the entire system to the brink.

Outdated machinery and chronic understaffing make catastrophic incidents like the Oswego fire inevitable. While swift evacuation prevented loss of life in Oswego, multiple recent aluminum plant disasters have ended in deaths and life-changing injuries. The lost time accident rate in global aluminum smelting and refining reaching its highest level in six years as of 2024.

The Novelis fires are only one sign of mounting danger for workers across North American industry. It follows the explosion at the Clairton, Pennsylvania US Steel coke works on August 11 that killed two workers and injured 11 others and on October 10 a massive explosion obliterated a building at Accurate Energetic Systems, killing 16 workers. Earlier this month 13 workers and air crew were killed in the crash of a UPS cargo plane in an industrial area outside Louisvilles Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Any real solution requires the independent organization of workers themselves. Rank-and-file committeesoutside the control of the union apparatus, corporations, and political establishmentare essential for defending jobs, safety, and working conditions. The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) organized a hearing last summer into the death of Ronald Adams Sr. In the same way, the IWA-RFC stands ready to assist workers anywhere in forming independent committees to take control of workplace safety and defend their lives and livelihoods.
This week, one of the most aggressive military manoeuvres of the postwar period took place in Berlin. Under the codename Bollwerk Barlin, the government deployed 250 heavily armed soldiers of the Guard Battalion in underground railway tunnels and on an abandoned industrial site to train for urban warfare and operations against opponents in urban terrain.

Soldiers of the Guard Battalion during training [Photo by Bundeswehr/Serkan Heerer]

Officially, the exercise was intended as preparation for a state of defence. In reality, it marks a qualitative escalation of domestic militarisation. It is part of the systematic preparations by the ruling class for war abroad and repression at home.

The manoeuvres are part of Germanys broader militarist offensive. While the government is rearming on a scale not seen since Hitler, the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) already operate on global battlefields: Luftwaffe aircraft now patrol as far away as New Zealand, and with the newly unveiled space security strategy, German military planning extends into outer space. The exercise in Berlin is directly linked to this worldwide escalation of militarism.

At the same time, developments in Germany cannot be viewed separately from events in the United States. There, the fascist President Donald Trump is attempting to establish an openly dictatorial regime; mobilising military and paramilitary units in city centres to crush the growing opposition to his oligarchic rule. The same logic is unfolding in Europe, especially in Germany.

The ruling class is preparing for a global war and for violently suppressing the inevitable resistance of the working class. The militarisation of domestic politics is not a side effect but an integral component of the war preparations.

When the Bundeswehr claims that its menacing show of force in Berlin is preparation for a Russian attack, this is a double lie. First, Germany is not being threatened by Russia; rather, Germany and other imperialist powers provoked Putins reactionary invasion of Ukraine through decades of military expansion and the encirclement of Russia. Now they are using the conflict they themselves set into motion to militarise society and lay the groundwork for a direct war against the resource-rich and strategically central nuclear power.

Second, the exercise is directed against the German population itself. The choice of training locations is revealing: Public spaces and an industrial site are not classic theatres of war but places where workers protest, strike or resist social attacks. The Bundeswehr is training for operations against protests, uprisings and strike movementsthat is, against the millions of people who reject war, rearmament and social devastation.

The army is once again becoming an instrument of domestic repression, which in Germany has a long and bloody tradition. In the Kaisers imperial empire, the Weimar Republic and under the Nazis, the German military and paramilitary formations were used to crush social and political protests and revolutionary uprisings of the working class.

For years, the government has been working to legalise the deployment of the military domestically, something currently prohibited by the constitution. This week, the chairman of the Bundestag (parliamentary) Defence Committee, Marcus F. Rowekamp, declared on broadcaster Deutschlandfunk that the division between internal and external security was no longer appropriate. One must discuss amending the constitution to allow the Bundeswehr to be deployed domestically in special threat situations, he said. This included simplifying military assistance for the police and using Bundeswehr drones to counter enemy systems.

Militarisation is being deliberately normalised. As part of Bollwerk Barlin, the Bundeswehr distributed flyers to residents, set up a hotline and erected an information booth so that no one is surprised when masked soldiers get out of their vehicles and enter the underground station, as a spokesman explained. This is the gradual acclimatisation of the population to soldiers carrying out police tasks in public spaces.

Berlin is not the only place hosting such manoeuvres: in Bremerhaven, the Bundeswehr practised urban combat in 2024 under the name Fishtown Guard. In Hamburg, the Red Storm Bravo exercise took place in September, in which soldiers drilled the redeployment of NATO troops eastwards, the suppression of anti-war demonstrators and defence against drone attacks.

Parallel to the domestic build-up, the government is pushing ahead with external war preparations at enormous speed. After approving 1 trillion in war creditssupported by all Bundestag parties, including the Left Party and the GreensBerlin is implementing ever more megalomaniacal rearmament programmes.

On November 19, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (Christian Democrat, CDU) and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (Social Democrat, SPD) presented Germanys first space security strategy. By 2030, 35 billion is to be invested in new rockets, satellites, telescopes, early-warning systems and ground stations. The strategy represents an openly offensive German claim in space.

Pistorius stated bluntly at the presentation: We observe that Russia and China are also preparing to exercise influence over other satellitesthose belonging to us or to the Americans. That means outer space is becoming militarised. ...

We must be in a position to respond offensively, in the sense of a retaliatory strike.

With this, the government is entering into the violent repartition of outer space, a gigantic escalation that further intensifies great-power tensions.

And the war offensive already extends far beyond Europe on Earth. For the first time in history, the German Luftwaffe is currently conducting exercises in the South Pacific over New Zealand. Squadron Commodore Colonel Markus Knoll explained that the South Pacific was an ideal area for training attacks in complex mountainous and low-altitude scenarios to prepare for future war scenarios against Russia and worldwide.

If we manage to project tactical capabilities down herefrom our point of view, at the other end of the worldthen we can do it anywhere in the world, especially on NATOs eastern flank, he said.

A commentary by broadcaster ZDF on the manoeuvres captured the imperialist aims of Germanys military offensive. It is not about defending freedom and democracy but about economic and geostrategic interests, above all, vis-a-vis Russia and China but increasingly also against the United States. Germany no longer wants to be a geopolitical freeloader; it is seeking allies in the Indo-Pacific, a region vital for the German economy, where China is becoming increasingly aggressive and the USA is pursuing its own interests.

The ZDF commentary continued: The Indo-Pacific and its sea lanes contain the worlds most important trade routes. Twenty-five percent of global trade passes through the Strait of Malacca. With its Indo-Pacific guidelines, the German government in 2020 for the first time, defined its own geostrategic interests for the region. But in addition to diplomacy, military credibility is needed when one formulates geopolitical ambitions.

What this ultimately means is explained by Germanys most senior military brass, the new Inspector of the Army, Christian Freuding, in a recent interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. In the style and spirit of a general in Hitlers Wehrmacht (Army), he demanded that the German army, German industry and the German population prepare once again for the possibility of total war.

We must further increase the operational readiness of the army on the path towards war-fighting capability. Every day counts, and we have little time. The enemy will not wait for our readiness. The second priority is growth. The army must expand, and the government is creating preconditions for this with the new conscription law. In addition, the technological leaps we see in Russias war against Ukraine must be made usable for the German army, and a new leadership culture must be established.

The Berlin manoeuvres are part of this comprehensive war and militarisation offensive, which is reminiscent of the Nazis, and not only rhetorically. Achieving war-fighting capability abroad inevitably means the militarisation of society as a whole. As on the eve of the Second World War, the ruling class believes it can enforce its imperialist aims only by simultaneously establishing an authoritarian state order.

Germanys war preparations stand in open conflict with the interests of the overwhelming majority of the population. Budget cuts, mass redundancies, austerity programmes, the dramatic rise in social inequality and the reintroduction of conscription are encountering growing opposition. Millions reject the policy of war and rearmament.

For this very reason, the ruling class sees itself compelled to strengthen the military at home. The deployment of the Bundeswehr against demonstrators, strikers and young people is being prepared because the government knows its policies can only be enforced through violence.

Just as in the United States, where Trump is moving towards dictatorship, the European bourgeoisie is responding to the deepest crisis of the capitalist system since the 1930s with war abroad and repression at home. The parallels to the Weimar Republic and Hitlers rise to power are unmistakable: Today, too, the ruling class is turning to dictatorial methods to impose its imperialist redivision of the world and its attacks on the rights and gains of the working class.

The working class can and must stop this developmentbut only if it builds its own independent organisations and develops a clear political perspective: an international socialist strategy that unites the fight against war with the struggle against its root cause, the capitalist profit system.

The struggle against Bollwerk Barlin, against the militarisation of domestic life, against the space strategy and the Bundeswehrs drive for world-war readiness is ultimately the struggle against a system that produces war and oppression. It requires the building of a new socialist mass movement that unites workers in Germany, across Europe and worldwide, and confronts the danger of war at its roots.
Swinburne University of Technology researchers are helping local businesses take the guesswork out of sustainability with a new digital tool that measures how circular their operations are  and shows them practical ways to improve.

Led by Dr Olamide Shittu from Swinburne University of Technology, CircularDiagnostics has been developed in partnership with six Victorian councils  Boroondara, Glen Eira, Bayside, Ballarat, Nillumbik Shire and Mornington Peninsula Shire.

The online tool allows small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the retail trade sector to assess their progress towards circular economy practices and receive tailored recommendations for reducing waste, reusing materials and operating more sustainably.

Many small businesses want to do the right thing but dont know where to start, says Dr Shittu.

CircularDiagnostics gives them a clear picture of where they stand and practical, achievable steps to move forward.

Swinburne notes:

With the prototype previously funded by Sustainability Victoria, the project aims to make circular economy adoption more accessible to businesses that dont have the resources for expensive consulting or complex sustainability audits.

The tool is currently being refined for its second testing phase, with a focus on the retail sector  including food, textiles, furniture and hardware businesses.

Unlike traditional assessments, CircularDiagnostics not only supports individual businesses but also provides valuable insights for local councils and other changemakers. By aggregating anonymous data, it helps governments, financial institutions and industry groups understand how businesses in their regions are progressing and where further support is needed.

For councils, its a way to see whats happening on the ground, Dr Shittu explains.

It bridges the gap between policy and practice, helping governments understand what their local businesses need to thrive sustainably.

Swinburne says the team plans to makecirculardiagnostics.com available to businesses later this year via circulardiagnostics.com, offering free access for small and medium enterprises through partnerships. Councils and other changemakers will be able to subscribe to the platform, enabling local businesses to use the tool at no cost and benefit from tailored sustainability insights.

For businesses that wish to subscribe independently, the annual fee will remain low to encourage participation. Subscribers will receive quarterly reports that track their progress over time, including data visualisations and scores showing how their sustainability performance improves as they implement recommended actions, explains Swinburne.

Dr Shittu says the potential benefits are far-reaching. This isnt just about compliance  its about innovation. When businesses start thinking circularly, they find new ways to cut costs, reach new markets and boost profitability while doing good for the environment.

Concludes Swinburne: By connecting the data needs of the industry and all levels of government with the sustainability ambitions of small businesses, CircularDiagnostics could play a key role in accelerating Australias transition to a circular economy.
GUEST OPINION: As 2025 draws to a close, workplaces across Australia and New Zealand find themselves at a pivotal moment.

The year has been defined by bold experimentation with artificial intelligence, renewed debates around hybrid work, and a growing emphasis on employee values and well-being. But experimentation alone isnt enough. The coming year will be shaped by how effectively organisations convert these trials into meaningful, scalable outcomesfor their people, their operations, and the broader economy.

Sectors to watch in 2026

Australia and New Zealand are on the international growth agenda for many global companies in the coming year, and several sectors in particular are poised for accelerated innovation in 2026. Government agencies are leading the charge in digital transformation, driven by new data infrastructure, cybersecurity mandates, and the presence of local data instances that enable more secure and efficient services. Healthcare continues to be a priority, with aging populations and life sciences advancements fueling demand for smarter, more connected care models.

The construction and real estate sectors are regaining momentum, particularly in Sydney and other urban centers, as infrastructure projects ramp up and private equity investment flows into the region. Retail, after a period of cautious recovery, shows signs of resurgence, with digital tools enhancing customer engagement, supply chain visibility, and operational efficiency. Meanwhile, although much of the electric vehicle momentum is centered in Southeast Asia and Japan, ANZ is beginning to explore its role in the broader sustainability ecosystem, particularly through regional partnerships and innovation in digital health and clean energy. These sectors will be key battlegrounds for digital transformation, offering fertile ground for AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making in the year ahead.

Outcome-Based Thinking Becomes a Business Imperative in ANZ

As businesses across ANZ evaluate technology investments for the year ahead, they are increasingly focused on strategic outcomes. Artificial intelligence has dominated strategic conversations across ANZ, but 2025 revealed a critical gap between experimentation and execution. Many organisations launched pilots but struggled to embed AI into everyday workflows.

In 2026, expect a shift toward disciplined adoption. Companies will prioritise upskilling, outcome-based use cases, and internal champions who can showcase success. This mindset shifttraining teams to "speak the language of outcomes"will be key to justifying tech investments and building stakeholder trust. This shift will be especially critical in sectors like government, healthcare, and construction, where technology investments must deliver measurable public or operational value. Whether its improving efficiency in public services, enhancing patient care, or accelerating infrastructure delivery, the focus will be on impact, not just implementation.

Generational expectations reshape the ANZ Workplace

With accelerated growth and an increased focus on measurable impact, the demand for skilled professionals is accelerating. As companies compete for talent, theyre also trying to accommodate a generational divide in workplace expectations.

This divide became more pronounced in ANZ throughout 2025. Younger professionals are challenging legacy norms with new value sets and expectations for wellness days, flexible schedules, and holistic benefits packages. Companies must balance this against traditional corporate structures. This tension will intensify in 2026, forcing employers to rethink their value proposition. Organisations that embrace multi-generational needs, offering both structure and flexibility, will be better positioned to attract and retain top talent. In a competitive market, benefits like health insurance, hybrid work options, and purpose-driven roles will become key differentiators.

The hybrid question isnt going away

Of all the factors reshaping the employee value proposition, the debate around how and where we work is the most prominent. Workplace flexibility remained a flashpoint throughout 2025. Legal rulings in Australia reaffirmed employees rights to work remotely, even as many employers pushed for a return to the office. The tension between autonomy and control is unlikely to fade in 2026.

However, the most forward-thinking organisations will stop treating hybrid work as a compromise and start using it as a strategic lever. Well see more emphasis on purposeful office time collaboration days, innovation sessions, and learning programs paired with clear expectations for remote productivity. The goal will be to balance culture, performance, and employee well-being, rather than enforce a rigid model.

From trends to transformation

The themes shaping 2026 are clear: AI integration, responsible innovation, hybrid work, and human-centred leadership. But the challenge lies in execution. Organisations must embed these principles deeply enough to deliver measurable business outcomes, not just headlines.

Technology will continue to evolve, but the true differentiator will be human capability. Companies that invest in their employees and teach them to use technology impactfully will set the pace for the next wave of transformation. Whether its through outcome-based conversations, strategic upskilling, or inclusive leadership, the future belongs to those who can turn potential into performance.

As we step into 2026, the question isnt just whats nextits whos ready.

Helen Masters is the APJ Managing Director at Smartsheet.
PEAK FASHION: Giovanni Giannoni, the longtime WWD photographer who has covered runway shows at international fashion weeks for more than 30 years, is staging an exhibition in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy.

Inside the spaces of Studio Exhibita in the tony winter resort destination, Giannoni will mount Fashion Snow, a display of 32 images he has captured during fashion weeks in Milan, Paris, New York and London.

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A picture taken by Giovanni Giannoni at the Thom Browne Fall 2020 show.

The exhibition runs Dec. 6 to Jan. 6, opening in tandem with the Cortina Fashion Weekend, a four-day run of fashion activations organized by the local association Cortina for Us and ahead of the Winter Olympics, which will be held at the ski resort and in Milan.

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The photographs selected for the exhibition include several pictures Giannoni took at runway shows with mountain-inspired sets, such as the Tommy Hilfiger fall 2014, Thom Browne fall 2020 and Dsquared2 fall 2011 presentations. Other images lean on mountain-appropriate gear, such as the fuzzy outfits on male models captured at the Chanel fall 2010 show or the show-stopping fur paraded on the Dior couture fall 1999 catwalk.

A picture taken by Giovanni Giannoni at the Dior Couture Fall 1997 show.

Other brands featured in the exhibit include Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Emporio Armani, Moncler and Dolce & Gabbana, among others.

A second room in the exhibition space spotlights behind-the-scenes images shot by Giannoni at shows from Calvin Klein and Celine to Emilio Pucci and Givenchy, flanked by memorabilia such as proofs, show invitations, vintage cameras and diapositives.

A picture taken by Giovanni Giannoni at the Alexander McQueen Fall 2003 show.

Born in Empoli, Italy, Giannoni has chronicled the evolution of fashion globally over three decades, working for WWD since 1990, as well as for other publications and a number of fashion brands as their in-house photographer.

Giovanni Giannoni

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Brigitte Bardot has reportedly been hospitalized again in the south of France as she continues to face what French outlets are describing as a "serious" health issue.

The screen legend, 91, was said to have been admitted to the Saint Jean Hospital in Toulon roughly ten days ago. Local publication Nice Matin reported on Monday, November 24, that she remains under medical care and that this visit is tied to the same undisclosed illness she dealt with earlier in the fall.

RELATED: Brigitte Bardot, 91, Recovering at Home After Surgery and Hospital Stay

Bardot previously returned home to Saint Tropez in October after undergoing what her team described as a minor procedure. At the time, a spokesperson confirmed she was resting comfortably and doing well.

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This latest update comes only weeks after Bardot publicly pushed back on false reports that she had died. A social media influencer in France posted the claim without confirmation, prompting Bardot to issue a firm statement assuring fans she was very much alive and not planning to go anywhere.

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French media later noted she had in fact been hospitalized during that period and had undergone surgery related to her ongoing health concerns.

Bardot has experienced several medical issues over the years. In the summer of 2023, she received care at home in Saint Tropez after experiencing breathing difficulties during a severe heat wave. Her husband told local reporters at the time that she was treated with oxygen and monitored until her symptoms eased.

The actress became an international star in the 1950s with films such as The Girl in the Bikini and And God Created Woman. Her screen presence helped define an entire era of French cinema and cemented her status as one of the most recognizable film icons of the postwar period.

This story was originally published by Parade on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Julianne Hough had a scary experience weeks before the Dancing With the Stars finale.

On her Instagram, details were revealed about the minor injury she sustained during an adventure trip.

In a post shared by Garrett Gee of The Bucket List Family, the multi-talented star joined them on an adventurous getaway to Mounu Island, a remote paradise in Tonga.

The video clip transitioned from the host spotting Gee right after the show to scenes of him carrying her to the airport and onto the islands sandy beach.

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In the caption, it was revealed that the Footloose star went surfing at the legendary Cloudbreak spot, famous for its massive waves.

Unfortunately, even though she rode some incredible swells, she cut her foot after crashing into a sharp reef.

On our way to @mounuisland to swim with the humpback whales with @juleshough, we had a 7hr layover in Fiji. I surprised @garrettgee for his Birthday and arranged for a boat to take us to the legendary Cloudbreak surf spot, surf for 2 hours, then blitz us back to the airport just in time for a salty flight onward! Thanks to the expertise of our friends @fiji_malia and @sugarhousefiji, we pulled it off! But it came at a price. The waves at Cloudbreak were BIG..like so big I didnt even paddle out. But @garrettgee and @juleshough went for it! Jules had some amazing waves, but unfortunately it ended with her getting slammed into some shallow sharp reef! She came out of it rattled but smiling but also with many cuts on her feet. Jules is a super human and somehow (with a helpful lift here and there from Garrett;) she was able to make it to @mounuisland, swim with the whales, and even perform the very next week on @dancingwiththestars !! Jules, you rock !! We will share some more pics of the surf session on our Instagram stories today, the post reads.

Fans flooded the post with praise for Houghs fearless attitude, love of adventure and unwavering professionalism.

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Shes a tough cookie! one wrote.

Wowww.. she danced 5 days later in DWTS. Thats insane !! You Rock Jules !! a commenter added.

@juleshough will never be defeeted!!!! a playful comment from a follower.

And she surfs too? Theres just nothing she cant do, a fan said.

The same goes for another who commented, I mean I literally just said Julianne can pretty much do anything shes that dn talented (&its annoying at times) & you have to go throw in she cut her feet slamming into a reef and still did DWTSdancing too. Starting to wonder if JHough is human.

Even after the minor accident, she managed to make it to the DWTS stage and deliver a stunning performance along with the celebrity participants and their partners.

Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images

Speaking of the reality dance competition, viewers will get to see the finale of the 34th season with its five remaining contestants competing for the coveted title.

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The contestants aiming for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy include Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach and Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten.

Related: Julianne Hough Just Served Her Most Stunning DWTS Look, According to Fans

This story was originally published by Parade on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Originally appeared on E! Online

Lindsay Arnold's troupe is expanding.

The Dancing With the Stars alum is pregnant with her and husband Sam Cusick's third baby, who will join daughters Sage, 5, and June 2.

"BABY CUSICK #3 IS ON THE WAY," Lindsay wrote on Instagram Nov. 24, sharing photos of herself holding a sonogram next to her family. "We could not feel more blessed, grateful, and excited."

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She added in a message to her little one on the way, "We love you so much already baby and we can't wait to meet you!!"

And the 31-year-old's DWTS family was equally excited, with Witney Carson writing in the comments section, "I CANT WAIT FOR BABY CUSICK!!!"

"CONGRATULATIONS to my fav family," Jenna Johnson shared, while Sasha Farber commented, "Itsssss happening!!!!"

Lindsay's younger sister Rylee Arnold, who competed on DWTS' ongoing season 34 with Pentatonix's Scott Hoying, added, "Yay!!!! Another perfect little angel."

The baby news comes three years after Lindsay hung up her dancing shoes to focus on raising her family in Utah. As she explained in a 2022 TikTok video, "This time of their life is so precious, and it's moving so, so fast, and I want to cherish every single moment. I don't want to miss a beat."

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Calling it a "right decision" to walk away from DWTS after more than 10 years, she continued, "I've made some of my best memories ever on the show, and I'm so grateful for that time in my life. I really believe there's a season for everything, and I had an incredible season and run on the show."

Since her departure from the ballroom, Lindsay has been true to her word, cherishing every second of motherhood .

"Time goes 10 times faster when you have kids," she told People in January, "and I just know that this time is so precious and something that you don't get back."

Plus, the So You Think You Can Dance alum admittedly "never, ever loved or embraced Hollywood" as a home.

Instagram/Lindsay Arnold

Loved everything about what it offered to me, what it did for my career, what I was able to do out there, but I was actually always the pro that, in between seasons, would sneak back to Utah to be with my family," she shared, calling the Beehive State "where I know I want to raise my family.

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I feel like my community, the people I'm around, are the most incredibly supportive people," Lindsay added, "My sisters are all moms and they're truly my best friends, but to be honest, my community here in Utah could not be more supportive."

But she's not the only pro dancer who's been candid about why they left DWTS. Read on to find out why some of her former costars called it quits.

Karina Smirnoff

Serving as a pro for seasons 3-9, Karina took her first mini-break from the ballroom in its 10th season. She then competed in nine consecutive seasons before her next brief hiatus in season 20. At the time, she explained, "I've decided to focus my energies on some other exciting endeavors including adding author to my resume." She ended up returning for two more outings, but Karina officially left DWTS after season 22. Since hanging up her dancing shoes, Smirnoff appeared on E!'s Famously Single and returned to professional dancing. In 2017, she opened up about her decision to leave the ABC series, admitting she does "miss the show" and wouldn't rule out a return. "I love dancing with celebrities on the show, but it's a different type of experience. You're not just their dance partner. You're their coach, their shrink, their cheerleader," she told Fox. "But when you perform with your professional partner, they're as strong as you and it becomes a different type of performance. And I missed that when I wasn't doing it while I was on the show."





Artem Chigvintsev

After it was revealed Artem was not returning as a pro for 2019's season 28, he admitted it was "a massive shock" to not be included, adding, "having those calls are never, never, never fun," while discussing his departure on The Bellas Podcast with then-partner Nikki Garcia (formerly known as Nikki Bella). Of the call, which he got just days before the official cast announcement, the fan-favorite, who became a DWTS pro in 2014, said, "It's like going through a breakup...and you know, good memories of breakup...I dedicated 10 years of my life to that company," he said. "And getting let go three days before an announcement, that's like a punch in the stomach, really." He then came back for seasons 29-32, even winning one with Kaitlyn Bristowe.





Derek Hough

Arguably one of the show's most popular pros ever, Derek holds the record for most wins with six mirrorball trophies on his mantle (with four Emmys for his work as a choreographer as well). After competing in seasons 5-11, sitting out of season 12 due to a film role. He then returned for seasons 13-21 (though he originally wasn't slated to appear in season 20, he ended up as a surprise addition and pulled double duty between DWTS and his Broadway show) and season 23, which served as his final outing as a pro. He served as a judge on World of DanceJennifer Lopez's reality dance competition series for NBCbefore taking a seat on the judge's panel for DWTS starting with 2020's season 29.





Julianne Hough

After three seasons and two wins, Julianne announced she was leaving the ABC reality hit in 2008. "It's because I really, really want to focus on the music," she explained to Ryan Seacrest at the time, "and kind of be taken seriously a little bit." However, she ended up returning for 2009's season eight, as her then-boyfriend country singer Chuck Wicks was a contestant and she was paired with him. They came in sixth place and that season served as the Footloose star's final one as a pro. Julianne later returned to serve as a permanent fourth judge for seasons 19-21 and seasons 23 and 24. She was also a judge on NBC's America's Got Talent before making her DWTS comeback in 2023 as co-host.

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Mark Ballas

After joining the show in season five, Mark was a part of the pro line-up for 18 straight seasons, winning two mirrorball trophies during his impressive run. After fans were shocked to see Mark sit out seasons 23 and 24 (due to his run as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys on Broadway), he returned to dance during season 25, coming in second with Lindsey Stirling. Mark then focused on his music career with wife BC Jean, and their duo group Alexander Jean was signed to a record label. He returned for season 31 with Charli D'Amelio and season 34 with Whitney Leavitt.





Maks Chmerkovskiy

Oh, Maks. One of the show's most popular pros with a history of clashing with the judges and sometimes his celeb partners, has had quite the ups and downs, exiting and returning several times, beginning in 2012 when he said he was leaving to pursue an acting career. "What else do I have to do there after 15 seasons?" he told the New York Post. "It makes total sense. The audience can't expect for me to want to stick around, and the producers can't expect for me to want to stick around." Alas, he returned for season 18, going on to notch his only win with Meryl Davis...only to leave again after winning the mirrorball. But then he returned for seasons 23-25, infamously skipping out on a performance with his celeb partner Vanessa Lachey. Now married to fellow pro Peta Murgatroyd, Maks occasionally served as a guest judge during his off-seasons.





Kym Johnson

The Aussie fan-fave made her debut in season two, competing in every season until she took home her first win in season 9. After sitting out season 10, she danced in six consecutive seasons before taking three seasons off. Fortunately, she returned in season 20, paired with Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec, who would end up becoming her husband. After falling in love, Kym took several seasons off before returning for her final appearance as a pro in season 24. After announcing she was pregnant with twins in January 2018, Kym confirmed she was done competing as a professional dancer, saying she had "hung up" her dancing shoes "for good," but wouldn't rule out returning to DWTS in some other capacity. "I'd love to go back and be a part of the show somehow, whether it is judging or doing something," she said, and indeed returned as a guest judge for season 34.





Lindsay Arnold

After more than 10 years on the show, Lindsay announced her departure in 2022 to focus on raising her kids. "This time of their life is so precious, and it's moving so, so fast, and I want to cherish every single moment," she explained in a TikTok. "I don't want to miss a beat." Plus, the dancer noted that it was challenging traveling between Hollywood and Utah, where she resides with her family. As she put it, "I don't want to separate our family. I don't really want to put my kids through that right now."

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Sharna Burgess

After not being selected as one of season 28's pros, Sharnawho won the previous season with Bobby Bones after coming in second place with three other celeb partners during her 12-season runtook to Instagram to sound off on her exit. Writing that felt like she "grew up on the show," she continued, "I am going to truly miss creating, storytelling and performing for you all, I'll miss giving the transformative power of dance to the person in front of me, and I'll miss seeing my DWTS family every day and watching them work their craft in ways that inspire me." Hinting at exciting new projects in the works, Sharna was named the Australian version of the reality dancing competition series' newest judge. She came back for seasons 29 and 30, where she was partnered with Brian Austin Green, who she began dating.





Cheryl Burke

After making her debut in season two, Cheryl became the first female pro to win and the first pro to twin back-to-back seasons. But after 18 consecutive seasons, Cheryl announced she was leaving DTWS ahead of season 20. Reports circulated that after her contract with the show had expired, Cheryl was looking to join a variety show at NBC (which ultimately never ended up making it to air). She then returned for season 23 before sitting out another season. But she couldn't resist returning for a milestone seasonfor her and the show. "I'm back again!" she said after revealing she was back for season 25. "Last year I danced with Ryan Lochte, but it's been a season that I've missed so far. This is my 20th season, and I'm just so happy to be back. It's an anniversary season for Dancing With the Starsseason 25and for me." After marrying Matthew Lawrence in May 2019, she was back in action for season 28 but left again in 2022. Cheryl did take one more bow in the ballroom as a guest judge on season 34.





Peta Murgatroyd

Peta made her debut in season 13, going on to become a fan-favorite competing in every season (and winning one) until season 20. Sadly, season 21 saw her absence after a serious ankle injury took her out of the competition. She triumphantly returned in season 22, winning the mirrorball with partner Nyle DiMarco. And during season 25, she competed with Nick Lachey just six months after giving birth to her first child before taking another break from DWTS. After three seasons away to spend time with her son Shai with fellow former DWTS star Maks Chermovskiy, Peta returned to the ballroom. "I definitely wanted this to happen," she told US Weekly of her highly anticipated comeback. "I hoped that I could make this work for a couple of months now and was praying and hoping that it would all align. It was the perfect time for my family. Maks has other things going on and Shai is well taken care of and it was just a good time for us." Her most recent run was on season 32.





Tony Dovolani

After joining DWTS in season two, Tony competed for 20 consecutive seasons with one win before his final outing with Marla Maples in season 22. Tony announced his departure on Instagram, writing, "While I will miss the show and interacting with our wonderful audiences, both at home and in the ballroom, I will continue to focus on growing my Dance With Me USA studios and teaching. I will also be traveling across the country performing and making personal appearances."

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Allison Holker

The So You Think You Can Dance stand-out made the jump from reality dance show competitor to pro in season 19, competing for two more seasons before sitting out season 22 after announcing she was pregnant with her second child, with husband and fellow SYTYCD vet Stephen "tWitch" Boss, during a live DWTS episode. Six months after giving birth, Allison returned for season 23, which would end up being her last outing as a pro. "Hey guys, I wanted to be the first to reach out to all my family, friends and fans to say that I will not be returning to DWTS this season," she wrote on Instagram after the season 24 line-up was unveiled. "I truly adore my DWTS family, It's all love and I'm so excited for all of the competitors who are participating this season."





Lacey Schwimmer

Lacey joined DWTS after coming in fourth place on So You Think You Can Dance season three, appearing in seasons 7-13 as a pro (save serving as a troupe member in season 10). After season 13, Lacey announced she was leaving DWTS to focus on other endeavors, including an album and a clothing line. "There are a lot of things going on in my life that I kind of need [to] step back and focus," she explained to SheKnows. "I'm trying to partition my time."



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Godfrey's not convinced Nicki Minaj is going to bat for Christians in Nigeria for all the right reasons ... and he wonders if she's trying to get on President Trump's good side for something down the line.

We got the comedian at LAX on Monday, and our photog asked him about Nicki suddenly being very outspoken about Nigeria.

Nicki Minaj Thanks Trump During U.N. Speech, Clarifies She's Not Picking Sides

Nicki's cosigned Trump's claims that Christians in Nigeria are being murdered simply for their faith, and she even went to the United Nations to talk about it ... but Godfrey says a few things got his antennae up.

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Godfrey, who was born to Nigerian parents, says he's all for Nicki speaking up about Nigeria if she's genuinely concerned ... but it sounds like he thinks politics are in play here.

Nicki Minaj Thanks Trump During U.N. Speech | TMZ Live

Nicki's been catching tons of heat online for praising Trump for threatening military action against Nigeria over the "slaughter" of Christians ... and Godfrey makes it clear he's no fan of Trump or MAGA.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out ... Godfrey's certainly anticipating another shoe to drop.
Over a decade after being shot in the head on a bus in Pakistan and becoming a global activist for womens rights in the Middle East, Malala Yousafzai is reintroducing herself  in her own words.

There is more to my life, she tells TODAY.com, explaining that her new memoir, Finding My Way, explores her journey through college years, making friends, finding love and learning more about my activism and talking about mental health.

She says it was important for people to know the true me" through her book: Its not all about the activist perfect version of me. Its the more real version of me.

My story has already been out there in the public eye, and I think its a very one-dimensional story that is related to something that happened to me at age 15, she continues. I had been defined by the Taliban shooting for such a long time, I wanted to share more about myself.

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In October 2012, Yousafzai was the victim of targeted shooting by members of the Taliban, following years of public activism and national recognition in Pakistan. The shooting drew global attention and further ignited Yousafzais activism, leading her to be named among TIME magazines 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2013. The following year, at the age of 17, Yousafzai won the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight for young peoples education rights.

When asked what she finds is the most misunderstood part of her story, Yousafzai says, that I am actually a funnier person than people think.

I actually like to have moments of laughter and joy, she says. This is one of the ways in which I cope with the workload and all that I have experienced. I like spreading joy.

Prior to the shooting that altered the course of her life, Yousafzai says she was this jolly and fun, entertaining kid growing up in Pakistan  adding she was even a bit mischievous and liked to get into trouble.

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But once she moved to the United Kingdom to attend Oxford University, everything changed.

I felt that I had to live up to the expectation of being an activist. I received so many awards and titles at such a young age that I thought maybe all of this means I cannot be a normal girl anymore, Yousafzai explains. I think I was not true to myself as an activist.

Starting college, Yousafzai says she had the wrong perception of what the activist life should look like, which she assumed meant she didnt have access to normal things, like making friends and falling in love.

Somehow you have to be stronger and more courageous at everything. You cannot have moments of breakdowns, moments of self doubt, she says. She would tell herself in difficult times, No, youre supposed to be brave and strong and youre not going to feel a different way.

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Over the course of her time at Oxford, however, Yousafzais perceptions were shattered and reconstructed.

She tells TODAY.com, I fell in love, I made friends, I had a mental health breakdown  all of those things happened all at once. I felt like I was a different person, and Im grateful for it because it helped me grow.

How Friendship, a Bong, Therapy and Love Changed Malala Yousafzais Life

When she first arrived at Oxford, Yousafzai says she signed up for every club and society to meet as many people as possible, despite it feeling quite awkward and embarrassing at the time. She adds, I do not regret it.

I struggled to make friends, I struggled to have these normal moments of joy, she continues. Thats why I made a deliberate choice to actually socialize, to actually choose socializing over studying at college, because I wanted to make friends. I wanted to connect with my old self and somehow relive my childhood in my 20s.

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She assumed her fellow classmates would expect her to be a very serious, boring person, that I only talk about activism, Yousafzai says, adding, I just also thought that people may not approach me, thinking that I have nothing fun to say to be part of their friend circle.

Feeling the pressure to live up to the expectation she thought others already set for her, Yousafzai says she realized that people can internalize expectation so much that we lose personal identity.

She explains she had to do a lot of unlearning around who she thought she was.

Once Yousafzai found her people, the unlearning began.

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Friendship actually changed me as a person, she says, noting that the people she surrounded herself with provided the safest place to truly express herself without judgement.

One night when her friends were smoking out of a bong, Yousafzai says she opted to try it for the first time, not expecting to be brought back seven years earlier, to October 2012.

That brought back flashbacks of the Taliban attack, she reveals. Then, after that, I started getting panic attacks and anxiety, and it went on for months.

When her friend suggested she see a therapist, Yousafzai says she was reluctant, explaining that conversations around mental health are taboo with a lot of stigma attached to it.

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I remember my first therapy session. I told the therapist all the problems that I had, and then said, OK, give me the medication. Lets just fix it, Yousafzai says, laughing. She helped me understand that this is not how it works. Its actually a process.

Through therapy Yousafzai has been able to redefine bravery and courage, saying she now understands that when you decide to still do what you believe in, even in these moments of difficulty, maybe that is true courage and bravery.

Amid her therapy journey, Yousafzai had another curve ball thrown her way, emotionally speaking: She fell in love.

I was excited, I was thrilled, but I was also scared and worried, Yousafzai recalls of falling for her now husband, Asser Malik.

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In Pakistani culture, a couple is not supposed to live together until they tie the knot, she explains. Because she wanted to live with Malik, Yousafzai says she suddenly had to consider the heavy and overwhelming decision around marriage.

I had been so scared of marriage growing up because I saw girls married off when they were still in school, and it just meant that their future, their dreams, were taken away. But I also knew that marriage has meant more compromises for women from their career and many other things in their lives, she says. Somehow, just the concept of marriage as an institution just scared me.

Along with her research, which included reading a myriad of books by amazing feminist authors, Yousafzai says specific conversations with Malik ultimately led to her agreeing to marry him  and I do not regret it for a second.

I knew that he was the right person because he had so much respect for me. He made me feel comfortable with myself. Of course, we were in love with each other, but I started loving myself, and that was a big change, Yousafzai says. So when you are with the right person, life becomes more beautiful.

Reflecting on 15-Year-Old Malala Yousafzai

Its been 13 years since Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban at just 15. Now 28, she has a message for that teenage girl.

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My younger self was very strong and determined, and I want to tell her that Im still determined, but I have grown beautifully so much in these years, Yousafzai says. I know that there have been moments of difficulty, but all of that has transformed me into the person I am today.

I am a young woman and I am really happy with where I am because I am working for the right to education for every girl, because I was also once shot for speaking out for girls, and I was banned from learning, she continues.

So I want to see that change for girls everywhere, that no girl should witness that. And Im trying to do everything that I can in my capacity to make the world a better place for girls like you.

Finding My Way, Yousafzais newest memoir, was released Oct. 21.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
John Travolta can't believe "how quickly" his lookalike son Benjamin has grown as he took to social media to celebrate his 15th birthday.

Weeks before Benjamin's birthday, the famous actor shared a video of him climbing a mountain in Norway with the young boy sporting a bright smile, having reached the top.

John Travolta also recently left fans emotional when he shared a moving tribute to his late wife, Kelly Preston, with whom he shares Ben and his daughter Ella.

John Travolta's Son Benjamin Takes After Dad In New Birthday Snap

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Travolta's son, Benjamin, is growing up to look just like his famous dad, as new photos show the resemblance between father and son.

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The "Pulp Fiction" star took to his Instagram account on Sunday to celebrate Benjamin's 15th birthday, and judging by the looks, the apple really didn't fall far from the tree.

In the photo, Benjamin can be seen posing on the edge of a river in the fishing village of Reine, Norway, with a huge mountain in the background.

Instagram | Ben Travolta

"Happy Birthday, my dear Ben! I can't believe how quickly you've grown up! I love you!" Travolta wrote in the caption.

Just last week, the 71-year-old actor shared a video of himself and his son enjoying a snowy mountain trek in Norway. A clip captured young Benjamin approaching the summit and looking over the breathtaking landscape of the mountainous village.

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"Ain't no mountain high enough for my son Ben. Love from Norway," the actor wrote.

Fans Gush Over How Fast The Actor's Son Is Growing

Several observant fans took to the comment section to not just wish Benjamin a happy birthday but also point out how fast he has grown.

"Wow, Travolta is doing a [fantastic] job with two amazing, talented, gorgeous kids," an Instagram user wrote, while another said, "Why do our children have to grow up so fast? It's a blessing and a heartbreak rolled into one. Happy birthday to your baby."

A third fan commented, "Wow, Ben is growing!" while another said, "Love it, great shot, and you can see the love in the smile."

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Someone else wrote, "Happy birthday, Ben! A year full of creation." Others joked about the father and son's growing resemblance, noting that Ben is looking more like his father as the years go by.

About John Travolta's Kids, Ella, Ben, And Jett

MEGA

Travolta welcomed Benjamin with his late wife, Kelly Preston, who died of cancer at the age of 57 in 2020.

Alongside Ben, they also shared daughter Ella, 24, and son Jett, but the latter tragically passed away in 2009 at the age of 16 after a severe battle with seizures.

While it remains to be seen if Benjamin will follow in his father's footsteps on the silver screen, his older sister, Ella, has already begun to tread that path and would feature with her father in a movie about "rogue orcas," titled "Black Tides."

More On The Actor's Upcoming Film With His Daughter, Ella

MEGA

According to a synopsis, the movie, "Black Tides," will follow the character Bill Pierce, played by Travolta.

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Pierce is "an estranged father trying to reconnect with his daughter Rebecca (Melissa Barerra) and grandson Sebastian (Dylan Torrell) when their sailboat is attacked by rogue orcas off the southern Spanish coast."

Deadline reports that it subsequently ignites a "fight for survival across open waters."

The father and daughter duo have previously worked together in 2019s "The Poison Rose" and 2009s "Old Dogs."

John Travolta Still Posts About His Late Wife, Kelly Preston

MEGA

Travolta keeps the memories of his late wife fresh as he often shares posts of her to pay tribute. To celebrate what would have been her 63rd birthday, the "Grease" star took to Instagram to share a song he did in her honor.

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Posting a photo of her alongside the track, he wrote, "I recorded this song for Kelly, and I want to share it with you all on her birthday. Happy birthday, Kelly. We love you. -John, Ella, and Ben."

For Mother's Day this year, Travolta shared an old family photo and wrote, "Happy Mother's Day, Kelly! You did a great job!! We love you!"

The pair were married for almost 30 years before her sad passing. She would have been 63 in 2025.

The Golden Globe winner announced her death in a statement at the time, writing, "It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many."

He added, "Kelly's love and life will always be remembered."
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It's sheer coincidence that I'm writing here on the same subject as my Los Angeles Times colleague Jonah Goldberg's most recent column: The crying need to amend the Constitution to do something about the much-abused presidential pardon power, the only unchecked power that a president has.

The fact that both Goldberg, a right-of-center commentator, and I, center-left, would near-simultaneously choose to vent on this topic  to call, in effect, for a national uprising against this presidential prerogative despite the evident difficulty of amending the Constitution  is telling: It's a reflection of Americans' across-the-spectrum disgust with how modern presidents have perverted it for personal and political benefit, usually on their way out the door. (Goldberg makes the case to get rid of the pardon power altogether. I would give Congress a veto, so presidents still can right actual wrongs of the justice system, as the founders intended.)

Yes, "both sides" are culpable. And yet, Goldberg and I agree, one president has surpassed all others in the shamelessness of his pardons: Donald Trump. In just 10 months he's built a track record sorrier than that of his first term, which is saying something, and elevated clemency reform to an imperative.

We can't stop Trump before he pardons again. Nor, probably, would an amendment campaign succeed before (if?) he leaves office in January 2029. But Americans of all political stripes can at least join in getting the process rolling, if only to protect against future presidents' abuses.

From his first day in office, when Trump granted clemency to nearly 1,600 rioters who beat cops and stormed the Capitol to overturn his 2020 defeat, already 20 times this year he's either pardoned or commuted the prison sentences of additional scores of undeserving hacks, fellow election deniers, war criminals, donors, investors in Trump businesses and career criminals who just happen to support him. (Recidivism among Trump's beneficiaries is proving a problem; among the new charges: child sex abuse.)

The clemency actions have come so fast and furious that they hardly register as the scandals that they are, especially as the news about them vies for attention with the many other outrages of Trump's presidency.

"No MAGA left behind," Trump pardon attorney "Eagle Ed" Martin brazenly posted in May and again this month in announcing preemptory pardons for former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and more than 75 other Republicans who were part of the fake-elector schemes to reverse Trump's 2020 losses in battleground states, as well as other efforts after the 2020 election to keep him in power.

Those grants were followed last weekend by mercy for two more MAGA militants: Suzanne Kaye, a Florida woman sentenced to prison for threatening in video posts to "shoot their (expletive) a  " if FBI agents tried to question her about her involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection, and Daniel Edwin Wilson of Kentucky, who was among those pardoned for his crimes on Jan. 6 but later sentenced by a Trump-appointed district judge on gun charges related to an illegal cache of weaponry that agents found at his home.

To Trump, absolving his supporters as victims of a supposedly weaponized justice system in effect absolves him as well, and furthers his false narrative  his big lie  that the 2020 election was stolen from him. As Martin, the White House pardon attorney, wrote in this month's passel of pardons: "This proclamation ends a grave national injustice perpetrated upon the American people following the 2020 Presidential Election." The opposite is true.

Lo, Trump's mercy knows no bounds  of propriety, that is. The president won't even rule out a pardon for convicted child-trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, longtime procurer for, and participant with, Jeffrey Epstein in the sexploitation of young girls.

Even if Trump's abuse of the pardon power isn't unprecedented, its scale and shamelessness is. His Day One mass pardons for Jan. 6 participants set the tone. That action kept his 2024 campaign promise to "free the J-6 hostages," but it broke an earlier, videotaped vow he'd made on Jan. 7, 2021, when anger at the Capitol attack was near-universal: "To those who broke the law, you will pay." Hundreds did pay, convicted by juries and judges of both parties and sentenced to up to 22 years in prison. Until Trump got back in power.

Need evidence of how Trump's pardons corrode the rule of law? Last December, weeks before he returned to the White House, yet another Jan. 6 participant, Philip Sean Grillo, was sentenced. The Reagan-appointed federal judge in the case, Royce Lamberth, admonished: "Nobody is being held hostage.  Every rioter is in the situation he or she is in because he or she broke the law, and for no other reason." Grillo shouted back, as U.S. marshals led him off: "Trump's gonna pardon me anyways." He was right, of course.

Then there's this: In September, after a Republican former Tennessee House speaker and his aide were sentenced in a fraud case, the government's announcement quoted a senior FBI agent in Nashville calling the punishment "a wake-up call to other public officials who believe there are no consequences for betraying the public trust." On Nov. 7, Trump pardoned both men.

Trump's promiscuous use of his power has even spawned a niche business of Trump-connected lawyers peddling their influence to pardon-seekers willing to shell out tens of thousands of dollars to get out of jail not-so-free.

Consider the case of Changpeng Zhao, billionaire founder of the crypto exchange Binance, who served time in 2023 for facilitating money laundering, including for terrorist groups. Zhao didn't just hire Trump-friendly lawyers. His company helped secure a $2-billion investment in the Trump family's crypto startup. Last month, Trump pardoned Zhao. "I heard it was a Biden witch hunt," he nonchalantly told CBS News' "60 Minutes."

Zhao's success alone should be scandal enough to fuel a campaign to repeal or reform the pardon power. But there is so much more. And we surely haven't seen the last.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Previously:

 11/06/23 How a Mississippi vote could foretell Dems' 2024 fate

 07/20/23 I'm going to Barbie Land

 05/23/23 What if Biden weren't running? Dems have a bench that's deeper than you think

Jackie Calmes is an opinion columnist for the Los Angeles Times in Washington, D.C.
Despite a Hollywood career spanning 40 years, Macaulay Culkin has to remind fans of his actual name.

Appearing at an event in Long Beach, California, on Saturday to celebrate his starring role in the holiday classic Home Alone, the actor acknowledged hed made good on an eyebrow-raising 2018 pledge.

Buzz: Rumer Willis Shares Heart-Wrenching Update On Dad Bruce Willis

My name is Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin, he told the crowd, according to People.

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Though Culkins remark may be puzzling to some fans, its actually a nod to his November 2018 appearance on The Tonight Show, in which the actor announced plans to drop his former middle name, Carson, for a different option.

I felt like, you know, I should probably spruce up my name a little bit, Culkin told host Jimmy Fallon at the time. Weve narrowed it down to five options.

Though some may have assumed Culkin was joking, he offered fans the chance to share their opinions via an online poll on his now-defunct lifestyle website. On Christmas Day of that year, he announced the polls results on X, formerly Twitter.

You voted and the winner is clear. In 2019 my new legal name will be: Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin, he wrote. It has a nice ring to it (if you like my name).

Macaulay Culkin is marking the 35th anniversary of "Home Alone." Rodin Eckenroth via Getty Images

During his appearance in Long Beach on Saturday, Culkin revealed some of the other options, which had included The McRib is Back and Kieran, the latter of which is a nod to his brother, Succession actor Kieran Culkin.

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Macaulay Kieran Culkin. That would be great. I love my brother. Between me and him, we have exactly one Oscar, he quipped, alluding to his siblings Academy Award-winning performance in A Real Pain.

Buzz: This Slept-On Mystery Thriller Is Now A Top Show On Netflix

He went on to note: If somebody comes up to me at the airport and says, Excuse me, are you Macaulay Culkin? I can say, Well, Macaulay Culkin is my middle name.

Culkin has been in the midst of a publicity blitz in recent weeks to mark the 35th anniversary of Home Alone, which was released in the U.S. on Nov. 16, 1990. He also makes an appearance in John Candy: I Like Me, Amazon Prime Videos new documentary about his late Uncle Buck co-star, John Candy.

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At Saturdays event, Culkin also shared that his sons Dakota, 4, and Carson, 3, have yet to figure out that Kevin McAllister, the young protagonist of Home Alone, is played by their father.

They have no idea that Im Kevin, he said before noting that he hopes to keep up that illusion as long as possible.

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Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry is continuing to heal from her shocking fall from the stage during the 2025 Miss Universe pageant.

Raul Rocha, president of the Miss Universe Organization, shared a statement Nov. 24 on Instagram that said Henry, 28, was in good health and nearing discharge from the hospital.

In a moment that shocked onlookers, Henry tumbled from the stage during the pageant's preliminary evening gown round Nov. 19 in Thailand.

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Rocha said the organization wanted to address the speculation around Henrys condition by providing a clear and respectful update.

Out of respect for Dr. Henry and her family, the Organization maintains strict discretion regarding specific details of her medical status, Rocha wrote. We believe that matters concerning her health should be communicated only at the appropriate time and solely at the familys discretion, or by Dr. Henry herself should she choose to do so.

BANGKOK, THAILAND - NOVEMBER 19: Miss Universe Jamaica, Gabrielle Alexis Henry, showcases her evening gown during the 74th Miss Universe Preliminary competition on November 19, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Mohan Raj/Getty Images) (Mohan Raj / Getty Images)

Rocha said after the accident, he made sure Henry received immediate medical attention.

I personally entered the stage to assist her, coordinated urgent medical attention, and oversaw her immediate transfer to the hospital, he said. I was present at the emergency room alongside her family, with whom I spoke directly.

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Rocha recommended a series of precautionary actions, some beyond standard protocol, to guarantee the most accurate evaluation, monitoring, and medical oversight.

Henry was seen by additional medical specialists who each offered their own professional assessments to ensure full clarity regarding her condition, he added.

Rocha also said the Miss Universe Organization has covered one hundred percent of the expenses Henry and her family faced that were related to the accident, including the cost of hotel accommodations, airline tickets, transportations services and staff who assisted the family while Henry recovered.

Over the past four days, there have been difficult moments and unexpected concerns, wrote Rocha. However, thanks to the excellent medical care provided, each issue was successfully resolved.

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Today, we are pleased to share that the latest medical report confirms that Dr. Gabrielle Henry is in good health and nearing discharge, Rocha added. We will continue to communicate only essential information with professionalism, sensitivity, and respect.

Henry's terrifying fall was seen in a video shared last week by Meekii Modez on Instagram.

In the video, Henry walks across the stage wearing high heels and an orange gown. After stopping to pose near the front of the stage, she continues walking to the left where she falls over the rim of the stage and tumbles to the ground.

Onlookers then quickly rush to check on Henry.

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Additional video that surfaced online show people rushing to Henry's aid and taking her away on a stretcher.

Hours after the accident, the Miss Universe Jamaica Organization issued a statement on Instagram that said Henry was rushed to a nearby hospital where medical professionals reported she was not suffering from any life-threatening injuries.

However, they continue to conduct tests to ensure her full recovery, the organization added.

The statement also asked people to stay upbeat, lift (Henry) in prayer, and send positive thoughts as she receives the necessary medical care.

Rocha also shared a preliminary update on his Instagram at the time to say he had just visited Henry at the hospital.

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I was there with her family and her, and thankfully, there are no broken bones and she is under good care, he wrote in part.

Henrys fall was not the only headline-making event to happen at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, which kicked off Nov. 5.

Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch was seen on a viral video engaging in a heated exchange with pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil after he criticized her for not participating in promotional activities for the pageant.

Itsaragrisil, the national director of Miss Universe Thailand, later apologized to Bosch for the pairs tense interaction.

Bosch went on to be crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Nov. 20.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Nicki Minaj may be forced to give up her million-dollar mansion if she does not pay the security guard who is owed $500,000 over an alleged backstage assault.

Former security guard Thomas Weidenmuller has been waiting years to collect his default judgment after the rapper and her husband, Kenneth Petty, never responded to a lawsuit claiming Petty attacked the guard and broke his jaw at a 2019 show in Germany.

On Monday, Los Angeles judge Cindy Panuco said she is ready to force Minajs hand after Weidenmuller filed a motion saying he has exhausted every option to collect his payment, Rolling Stone reported. The judge said she is considering granting an application that would allow the house to be sold, saying the only document that she needs to proceed is a detailed mortgage statement from Bank of America showing how much of Minajs $13.3 million loan has been paid.

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The final bank papers will be submitted ahead of the follow-up hearing January 22, when the ruling is made official.

The Hidden Hills mansion, listed in court documents as Minajs sole property after she bought it in October 2022, is worth about $20 million, meaning the Roman Holiday songwriter will still have millions of dollars left to recover after the sale. Still, the judges move is one of the most extreme measures allowed in California law. Weidenmullers application said, There is no doubt that the sale of the swelling would satisfy the entire judgment.

Nicki Minaj could be forced to sell her Los Angeles mansion so a security guard can collect on his $500,000 default judgment (Getty)

Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty have been married since 2019 (Getty Images for Marc Jacobs)

Minaj has not publicly commented on the legal battle. Weidenmuller claimed he was working backstage during Minajs show in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2019 when an argument broke out between the superstar and another security guard after a fan breached the barricade.

Weidenmuller claimed he stepped in to defend his colleague, which allegedly led Petty to scream at him and throw a shoe at him. He alleged Petty then ambushed him from behind and punched him in the face, leaving him with a broken jaw and needing multiple surgeries, according to court documents. He ultimately won $503,318 for medical expenses and emotional harm, but was never paid.

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Petty, who has been married to Minaj since 2019 and shares a son with her, previously served time for attempting to rape a teenage girl in 1994. In 2006, he pled guilty to first degree manslaughter and served seven years in prison. A year after he married the rapper, he also faced charges for failing to register as a sex offender in Los Angeles. He later was placed on house arrest after violating his probation.

Earlier this year, Minaj was hit with another lawsuit by her former tour manager, Brandon Garrett, who alleged she hit him multiple times. She denied the allegations through her lawyer.
Nigerian actor, content creator and influencer Odira Nwobu has died in South Africa aged 43, a lawyer and the Actors' Guild of Nigeria have told the BBC.

News of his death has shocked many at home in Nigeria, prompting an outpouring of grief online from fans and colleagues alike for the Nollywood star who was in more than 60 films during his lifetime and was well-known for his comedic persona and babyface.

Nwobu's family have yet to comment publicly.

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It is not yet known what caused the actor's death on Monday. A coroner's report is expected soon, lawyer Chukwujiekwu Chukwudi, who was travelling with Nwobu, said.

The actor had been visiting South Africa with a group of social media influencers to promote a Nigerian-owned real estate company, according to the president of the Actors' Guild of Nigeria Emeka Rollas.

Videos appearing to show the lifeless body of the actor began circulating online on Monday, causing upset.

"[We] were shocked to receive calls from Nigeria to confirm the passing away of the young man, while we were still debating how to break the news to his family," Mr Chukwudi, who is legal adviser to the Nigerian firm that organised the trip, told the BBC's Igbo service.

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An ambulance was called to Nwobu's hotel in the town of Benoni, near Johannesburg, after he was discovered alone in his room "gasping for breath", he said.

Paramedics attempted to keep the actor alive using a defibrillator, but he died at the scene before they could take him to hospital, the lawyer added.

Born in Nigeria's south-eastern state of Enugu in 1982, Odira Nwobu landed his first professional role - in a film called Joseph the Dreamer - straight out of secondary school.

He had a prolific career but struggled with feeling typecast, he told BBC News Igbo back in 2021, which made him turn to content creation as a way to find more freedom.

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Across his TikTok, Instagram and YouTube accounts he amassed hundreds of thousands of followers.

In July, Nwobu survived a road accident which at the time led many people to wrongly speculate that he had died.

The actor was not married and is not survived by any children, reports say.

Correction 26 November 2025: This story has been amended to clarify that Chukwujiekwu Chukwudi is not Odira Nwobu's lawyer.

Additional reporting by Adline Okere

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Pope Leo XIV made a surprise appearance at a rave outside of St. Elisabeth Cathedral, celebrating Archbishop Bernard Bobers birthday. The DJ for the night was also a Catholic Priest, and the entire ordeal has gone viral on social media platforms. This is something never seen before and has excited nerizens from all around the world.

Pope Leo XIV makes virtual appearance during rave party

In a shocking yet exciting event, Robert Francis Prevost, officially dubbed Pope Leo XIV, appeared at a rave in celebration of Archbishop Bernard Bobers birthday outside of St. Elisabeth Cathedral. The first American to hold the office, Pope Leo XIV, has already made quite a few waves on social media before. His combination of faith and popular culture appears to have built a huge fanbase.

The Pope made a virtual appearance at a rave outside of St. Elisabeths Cathedral, a 14th-century structure located in Kosice, Slovakia. He went on to inaugurate the gathering with an inspiring message that ended with Amen as the beat dropped. The footage of this moment has been circulating on social media platforms.

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Given the nature of the event, this has also seen a surge of fan reactions, with some even linking the Popes Chicago roots to the origin of House Music. A post by @djloversclub on Instagram saw many such responses. The post read, To celebrate the Archbishops 75th birthday, Pope Leo brought in @padre.guilherme to throw a rave outside of St. Elisabeth Cathedral



 Many users commented on the post.

The Pope is from Chicago! Where House music was born. Yeeezzz electronic music we come!!!, one user wrote, while another wrote, When EDM & the Holy Spirit touch your soul. Yet another user commented, This is the most Chicagoan thing ever!

Netizens seem to have enjoyed this a lot.

The post Pope Leo XIVs Rave Party With Priest DJ Goes Viral appeared first on Mandatory.
Princess Diana expressed a private regret days before her death  and it had to do with her two sons.

Rosa Monckton, Dianas close friend and confidant, has revealed that the late royal regretted sitting for her now-infamous Panorama interview because she was worried that it had hurt Prince William and Prince Harry.

She told me she regretted doing it because of the harm she thought it had done to her boys, Monckton, 72, told People in a story published Monday.

Princess Diana attends a dinner at the British Embassy in Washington, DC, in November 1985. Getty Images

Prince William and Prince Harry in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace on July 1, 2021. Getty Images

Diana reportedly made the admission during a summer holiday with Monckton in Greece just 10 days before she tragically died at 36 following a high-speed car crash in the Pont de lAlma tunnel in Paris, France, on August 31, 1997.

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The Panorama interview, meanwhile, took place in 1995 when William was 15 years old and Harry was 12. It marked a landmark moment for the then-Princess of Wales.

Diana spoke openly about her struggles with bulimia, the difficulties in her marriage to then-Prince Charles and the loneliness she felt within the royal family during the televised sit-down.

Princess Diana arriving at the Serpentine Gallery in London, England, in June 1994. Getty Images

Prince Harry and Prince William at Clarence House in London, England, on Dec. 12, 2006. FilmMagic

Millions of people around the world watched, and it became one of the most famous royal interviews in history.

But in her private conversation with Monckton, Diana was focused less on the public reaction and more on the possible emotional toll on her children.

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Elsewhere during her chat with People, Monckton claimed that Diana had been emotionally vulnerable when she agreed to the interview. Although Diana and Charles had separated in 1992, they wouldnt divorce until 1996.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana pose with Prince William and Prince Harry at Highgrove in Tetbury, England, on July 14, 1986. Getty Images

Princess Diana with Prince William and Prince Harry in Hyde Park in London, England, on May 7, 1995. Getty Images

Monckton described Diana as frail and suggested that this made her more likely to trust Martin Bashir, the BBC journalist who conducted the sit-down.

Then, after the interview, Diana was said to have become more guarded with friends and family.

She kept it all in, Monckton told the outlet. [Bashir] told her she couldnt talk about it. She cut people out because of that.

Princess Diana in Washington, DC, on Sept. 24, 1996. Corbis via Getty Images

Years later, a formal investigation known as the Dyson report revealed that Bashir had used forged documents and other deceptive methods to gain Dianas trust and secure the 1995 Panorama interview.

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The report, which was released in May 2021, concluded that Bashirs conduct was a serious breach of BBC editorial standards and that the organization failed to properly investigate concerns at the time.

Although Diana died long before learning the full truth about how she had been manipulated, both of her sons have since spoken about the impact of the interview and the surrounding circumstances.

Princess Diana, Prince Harry and Prince William in Berkshire, England, in September 1995. WireImage

Prince William said the deception behind the interview contributed to his mothers fear, paranoia and isolation, adding that it was not just Bashir but also BBC leaders who had let her down.

She was failed not just by a rogue reporter but by leaders at the BBC who looked the other way rather than asking the tough questions, the Prince of Wales, 43, said in a video following the Dyson Reports release.

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These failings not only let my mother down and my family down, he added, they let the public down too.

Prince William and Prince Harry at Westminster Abbey in London, England, on April 25, 2018. Getty Images

Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Harry visit Niagara Falls on Oct. 25, 1991. UK Press via Getty Images

Prince Harry, 41, was even more direct. He argued that the events surrounding the Panorama interview contributed to the circumstances that ultimately led to Dianas death.

Our mother lost her life because of this, and nothing has changed, the Duke of Sussex said in a statement in 2021.

By protecting her legacy, we protect everyone, and uphold the dignity with which she lived her life, he added. Lets remember who she was and what she stood for.

Martin Bashir in Washington, DC, on Jan. 22, 2013. Nick Wass/Invision/AP

As for Bashir, he later apologized to William, Harry and the royal family for his role in the Panorama interview and the events that unfolded after.

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I never wanted to harm Diana in any way and I dont believe we did, he told The Sunday Times in May 2021.

Everything we did in terms of the interview was as she wanted, from when she wanted to alert the palace, to when it was broadcast, to its contents, he added. My family and I loved her.

Bashir, however, denied that he tricked Diana into sitting for the interview by misleading her.
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Lady Amelia Spencer and twin sister Lady Eliza Spencer are regulars on the London social scene, but over the weekend, they took their double act to the Middle East to attend two glittering galas. Amelia and Eliza, who are the daughters of Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, looked ready for glamorous Arabian nights as they attended the Fashion Trust Arabia 2025 awards ceremony on Saturday, November 22 and the Franca Fund Gala on Sunday, November 23.

For Saturday's awards ceremony, Amelia chose an $8,550 dusty rose gown by Zuhair Murad featuring a romantic silk cape that draped over one shoulder. She paired the dress, which featured tonal beading at the bust and waist, with a matching Aspinal of London Eliza clutch the twins helped design for the royal-favorite retailer this holiday season.

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Eliza, who carried her namesake bag in blue, wore a very Princess Jasmine-esque shade of pale teal for the evening. Her $7,850 strapless Zuhair Murad gown featured snake-like crystal detail that swirled around the bust and, like her sister's dress, a subtle train.

Amelia (left) and Eliza Spencer are pictured at the 2025 Fashion Trust Arabia awards in Doha, Qatar. | Credit: Getty Images

The twins posed with (from left) Jess Hunt and Leonie Hanne at the 2025 Fashion Trust Arabia awards. | Credit: Getty Images

Eliza Clutch



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Both Amelia and Eliza wore massive Chopard necklaces for the event, with Amelia in a three-strand diamond design with additional diamonds dripping from the bottom and Eliza choosing a diamond collar style with a huge emerald accent.

The twins went without earrings or bracelets to let their necklaces do the talking, with both wearing their blonde hair in simple, pulled back styles with a middle part.

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In a joint Instagram post, the sisters wrote, "We are incredibly honoured to wear the beautiful @chopard jewellery tonight, paired with our breathtaking gowns by @zuhairmuradofficial  Its always inspiring to celebrate the next generation of creatives, and even more special to wear @zuhairmuradofficial as he is honoured with the Trailblazer Award for his incredible global impact. "

Amelia and Eliza Spencer are pictured at the Franca Fund Gala on November 23. | Credit: Getty Images

The twins glimmered in silver and gold on November 23. | Credit: Getty Images

On Sunday, the twins switched gears and wore sparkling beaded silver and gold gowns by Manish Malhotra to the Franca Fund Gala at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. Amelia sported a silver high-necked gown covered in a scalloped design, while Eliza wore a gold strapless creation by the Indian designer. The Spencer sisters were styled by Sian Gabari for the gala as well as for the Fashion Trust Arabia event.

More show-stopping Chopard jewelry also made an appearance at the star-studded evening, with Amelia wearing a pair of emerald drop earrings and Eliza choosing a whopper of a diamond necklace along with matching diamond earrings.
The Gist

Richard Gere and his wife Alejandra Silva showed off their take on coordinated couple's dressing on Monday, November 24.

The private couple made a statement in power dressing looks at the premiere of their documentary Lo Que Nadie Quiere Ver.

Gere and Silva also showed off a sweet PDA moment during the Spanish red carpet event.

Richard Gere and his wife Alejandra Silva recently took their romantic relationship professional by teaming up for their first joint film project together. And while promoting their new documentary Lo Que Nadie Quiere Ver on Monday, November 24, the couple fittingly embraced coordinated power dressing while making a PDA-packed appearance on the red carpet.

Mondays premiere of their new film, which translates to What Nobody Wants To See, doubled as a rare date night for the couple. The Pretty Woman star and the Spanish publicist cozied up to each other at a red carpet screening of their short film, which explores homelessness in Spain. Silva looked chic and ready for the boardroom in a monochromatic look featuring a black blazer with satin lapels, matching wide-legged slacks, and a scoop-neck black tank top underneath. She pulled her golden-highlighted brown hair into a soft ponytail with face-framing tendrils and piecey frontal bangs, showing off a pair of diamond drop pendant earrings. Silva, who married Gere in 2018, added some moody drama with her glam look. She added a pop of color with moody oxblood lipstick and a silver smoky eyeshadow with black winged eyeliner. Black pointy-toed heels and a maroon manicure finished off her look.

Getty Images Richard Gere and Alejandra Gere attend "Lo Que Nadie Quiere Ver" premiere at the Callao cinema on November 24, 2025 in Madrid, Spain Richard Gere and Alejandra Gere attend "Lo Que Nadie Quiere Ver" premiere at the Callao cinema on November 24, 2025 in Madrid, Spain

Meanwhile, Gere looked dapper in a tailored navy blue suit that he kept buttoned to show just a hint of his crisp white button-up shirt underneath. He dialed down the formality of the look with a pair of black sneakers.

Getty Images Richard Gere and Alejandra Gere attend "Lo Que Nadie Quiere Ver" premiere at the Callao cinema on November 24, 2025 in Madrid, Spain Richard Gere and Alejandra Gere attend "Lo Que Nadie Quiere Ver" premiere at the Callao cinema on November 24, 2025 in Madrid, Spain

Gere and Silva, who share sons Alexander, 6, and James, 5, showed off sweet PDA during their rare outing. Alejandra was photographed putting a navy blue, maroon, and gray Colorblock scarf around her husbands neck as they posed for photos with their arms around each other.

Getty Images Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva attend the Giorgio Armani fashion show during the Milan Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 on September 28, 2025 Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva attend the Giorgio Armani fashion show during the Milan Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 on September 28, 2025

Silva, who was born in La Coruna, is a Spanish native, but Gere relocated with her and their kids to Spain last November. The Chicago star opened up about the move in a January interview with Elle Espana, sharing, "The truth is that you are seeing us in our momentum. We are happier than ever. [Alejandra], because she is at home and I because, if she is happy, I am happy."

Read the original article on InStyle
Originally appeared on E! Online

Sean "Diddy" Combs' life behind bars is coming to light.

In a photo taken from inside New Jersey's Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution on Nov. 23, the rapper wore a gray pullover and sweatpants as he walked down a corridor. With his graying hair and goatee in full view, Combs appeared to smile at a fellow inmate standing off-camera.

In another video published by TMZ, the footage of which E! News could not independently verify, Combs was clad in the same prison-issued garbas well as a dark jacket and yellow knitted beaniewhile working inside the chapel library.

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Combs was transferred to Fort Dix from the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York late October after he was sentenced to 50 months in prison on prostitution-related convictions. He spent his 56th birthday on Nov. 4 at the facility.

As for how he spent the day, the rap mogul was served bran flakes with an option of breakfast cake or whole wheat bread for breakfast, according to a prison menu obtained by People. He was given the option of a chickpea burger or chicken parmesan for lunch, while his choice in a birthday dinner was cheese pizza or navy beans with salad.

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During his first week at Fort Dix, Combs also faced rumors that he drank homemade alcohol, which his spokesperson vehemently denied.

TMZ/BACKGRID

He has not violated any prison rules," Combs' rep told People in a statement published Nov. 9. "His sobriety and self-discipline are priorities, and he is taking them seriously."

The spokesperson added, "We ask the public and the press to give him the benefit of the doubt, the privacy to focus on his personal growth, and the grace to move forward in peace."

Combs is slated to be released on June 4, 2028, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons records obtained by E! News.

Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

During his sentencing, the rap mogul expressed remorse in his actions, telling the judge, "I am not this larger than life personI am just a human being, I was trying my best, I got lost in my excess and lost in my ego."

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"I have been humbled and broken to my core," he added. "I hate myself right now. Ive been stripped down to nothing."

For more on the case against Combs, read on.

Sean "Diddy" Combs Sentenced to 50 Months in Prison

The judge sentenced him to 50 months in prisontotaling over four yearsplus five years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 at the hearing Oct. 3, 2025.





Sean "Diddy" Combs Breaks His Silence

The musician spoke out for the first time in court at his sentencing Oct. 3, apologizing to victims Cassie Ventura and "Jane." "Domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry," Combs said. "My actions were disgusting, shameful and sick. I was sick, sick from the drugs, I was out of control, I needed help and I didn't get the help, and I cannot make no excuse." He went on to share how the case has impacted him. I am just a human being, I was trying my best, I got lost in my excess and lost in my ego," he continued. "Because of my decision, I lost my freedom and the opportunity to raise my children and be there for my mother. I lost all of my businesses and lost my career and destroyed my reputation and, most of all, I lost my self-respect. I have been humbled and broken to my core. I hate myself right now. Ive been stripped down to nothing."





Sean "Diddy" Combs' Sentencing Date Set

In July, Judge Arun Subramanian scheduled Combs' sentencing date for Oct. 3, 2025. Subramanian denied Combs' request to be released on bond ahead of the sentencing, citing the rapper's "years-long pattern of violence" as a reason for him to remain behind bars.





Ex-Girlfriend Cassie Ventura's Lawyer Reacts to Verdict

After Combs was found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy as well as sex trafficking ex Cassie and ex "Jane"though he was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution of both womenthe singer's lawyer reacted to the verdicts. "This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023, Douglas Wigdor said in a July 2 statement to E! News. Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice." Noting the chargeswhich Combs pleaded not guilty toWigdor added, "We must repeat  with no reservation  that we believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial. Wigdor also praised Ventura, who was one of 34 witnesses called to the standing during Combs' 29-day trial, for her effort. She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion, he continued. This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors."

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Sean "Diddy" Combs Reacts to Split Verdict

Upon hearing that he was acquitted on three of the five charges in his federal court case, Combswho faced life in prison if convicted on all chargesgot on his knees and placed his head down in a chair, in a prayer-like position, according to NBC News reporters in the courtroom. Per the news organization, Combs' family stood in the courtroom, clapping and cheering for the music mogul's fate. The defense attorneys hugged each other, while Combs hugged lawyer Brian Steel.





Jurors Reach a Verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs Sex Trafficking Case

On July 2, the 12-member jury delivered their verdicts on the five federal charges Combs faced in his sex trafficking trial. The jurors, who were on their third day of deliberation, found him guilty of two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, relating to ex-girlfriends Ventura and a woman referred to as "Jane." Combswho had pleaded not guilty to all chargeswas found not guilty of one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking. The day before delivering their verdicts, the jury told U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian they were unable to reach a consensus on the racketeering charge due to unpersuadable views. Subramanian addressed the jurors and encouraged them to continue their deliberations. A verdict was reached hours after deliberations began the next day.





Prosecutors Conclude With Nearly Five-Hour Closing Arguments

Prosecutor Christy Slavik spent four hours and 50 minutes delivering closing remarks to jurors, in which she argued that Sean Diddy Combs used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted. He doesnt take no for an answer, she said. It was his kingdom. Everyone was there to serve him. Slavik pointed to Combs 2016 physical assault of his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and a 2024 alleged assault of his then-girlfriend, who has been going by Jane for the trial. These two incidents are separated by eight years, but they're not separate stories, she said. They're chapters in the same book, the story of Sean Combs and the criminal enterprise he led made up of his inner circle. Again and again, that criminal enterprise serviced the defendant's every desire through a methodical pattern of violence, coercion and manipulation, she continued. The defendant counted on silence and shame to keep his crimes hidden. He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law. Slavik argued that this trial Combs had the help of what she described as a a small army of personal staff, who made it their mission to meet the defendant's every desire, promote his power and protect his reputation at all costs.





Prosecutors Seek to Streamline Charges Against Sean Diddy Combs

The prosecution submitted a filing to court, in which they requested to amend parts of their theories of attempted arson and kidnapping. Although Combs is still facing the same racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking countswhich include the kidnapping and arson allegationsprosecutors wrote in the June 24 letter they had removed instructions from the charge relating to attempted kidnapping under both California and New York law, attempted arson under California law, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking. The government added that it hopes simplifying the language not only serves the purposes of streamlining the instructions but also will avoid any confusion.

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Sean Diddy Combs Confirms He Wont Be Testifying

Combs told Judge Subramanian that he will not take the stand during his sex trafficking trial. The judge emphasized that regardless of the rap moguls decision, no one, including the jury, could draw any inference or suggestion of your guilt from the fact that you did not testify. Combs, who confirmed that he spoke with his team about not testifying, emphasized that this was solely his decision. "We have discussed it thoroughly, that is my decision," he said to the judge. "That is totally my decision, I am making it."





Defense Shares Estimation on Closing Arguments

Combs' defense attorney Teny Garagos told the judge that her team and the prosecution expect to take at least four hours each for their closing arguments. With Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Joseph Cerciello completing his multi-day testimony as the prosecutions witness June 24, the defense will begin their argument. Combs team shared that they will not be moving forward with any witnesses and will instead focus on entered evidence.





Juror Sees Apparent Footage From Freak Offs

During Ceriellos testimony June 23, the jury was shown explicit videoswhich, according to NBC News reporters in the courtroom, appeared to be from Combs freak offsthat were entered into evidence. While the special agent noted there were 50 explicit videos from 2021 and 2022, jurors were shown two files using headphones and screens.





Hotel Rooms Were Stocked With Baby Oil, Plan-B Pills For Freak Offs

In voicemails to his former chief of staff Kristina Khorram played June 23, Combs detailed a specific list of requests while staying at a hotel in November 2021, including a restock on baby oilwhich he regularly used during freak offs. Tell them to call me before they are on the way, he said to Khorram. Cant believe Im out. Put 20 bottles in this motherf--ker. Along with Khorram extending the hotel visit for an additional day, she replied, OK. The baby oil is outside the door. In text messages, his former employee texted that she was preparing an IV drip for him and Jane, which he used as part of at least one freak off recovery, according to the group text messages. She also made sure that there were Plan-B pills, an emergency contraceptive, in his nightstand.

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Cassie Ventura and Sean Diddy Combss Texts About His Alleged Abuse Revealed

Jurors were shown a series of text messages between Combs and Ventura, during which the Long Way 2 Go singer candidly detailed the toll his alleged abuse was taking on her. After Combs asked whether Ventura, whom he dated on and off from 2007 to 2018, wanted to take a break in March 2017, she replied, No. I just don't want to be beat down for being defiant or ever. You treat me and make me feel like I don't matter." In another instance, she further accused her ex of physically assaulting her. I give you love, and as soon as I turn my head for a second and you get fucked up, you drag me down the hall by my hair. I'm 30 years old, Ventura wrote to him that May. This isn't play anymore. I felt like I was dead last night and it wasn't happening to me bc seeing my light was so beautiful."





Sean Diddy Combs Former Assistant Denies Being Drug Mule But Says He Bought Thousands of Dollars in Drugs for the Rapper

Combs former assistant Brendan Paulwhom he employed from 2022 to 2024testified that he had purchased drugs for his boss on multiple occasions, including Marijuana, 2C, cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy. We would text the drug dealer and then the drug dealer would come to either of the homes, Paulwho also recalled being fired multiple times for varying offenses, including forgetting a Lululemon fanny packsaid of the process. I was introduced to them either through texts or phone calls. However, Paul vehemently denied being a drug mule for the rap mogul.





Judge Cancels Court on Day 26 of Sean Diddy Combs Trial Over Sick Juror

Judge Subramanian adjourned the courtroom for the day on June 18 after a member of the main jury did not return due to illness. (Court is not in session on June 19 for Juneteenth.) We have a sick juror who cannot be here and had vertigo and had to turn back, the judge said. The juror's partner notified us. He is not here, and he is on the regular jury, so it appears we cannot go on today. The judge noted that its unclear whether the jurors vertigo flare-upwhich causes dizziness, nausea, and headaches, along with other symptomsis temporary or a long-term issue, but would monitor the situation. With court not in session June 19 for Juneteenth, Judge Subramanian said the trial would resume with a shortened session on June 20, running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.





Second Sean Diddy Combs Jury Member Faces Possible Dismissal

Shortly after Judge Subramanian dismissed Juror No. 6 over conflicting answers as to his place of residence, a second member faces possible dismissal over an alleged improper conversation about the case with a former colleague. The member in question was questioned by the judge and handed his phone in for inspection, per NBC News. A decision had not been made as to the members dismissal by the end of the court session on June 16.

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Kanye West Supports Sean Diddy Combs With Courthouse Visit

Kanye West arrived at the New York City courthouse June 13 in support of Combs. The Stronger rapper, who was in the building for about 30 minutes, made a brief visit to the overflow area but never entered the courtroom. The main room is reserved for Combs family and legal team, as well as the media and spectators who wait in line for hours for a seat.





Sean Diddy Combs Ex Says Mogul Was Upset After She Attended Another Mans Freak Off

Jane recalled an argument between them after she went on a trip to Las Vegas with another rapper and his wife. She testified that it led to sexual voyeurism after she solicited Anton, a sex worker whom she and Combs often hired, where a group of people watched him have sex with a woman in a hotel room during the trip. Jane told Combs attorney Geragos that the rap mogul was upset after accusing her of attending another mans freak off.





Prosecutors Seek Removal of Juror in Sean Diddy Combs Trial

On day 21 of Combs' trial, assistant U.S. attorney Maurene Comey shared her team is seeking to remove one of the 12 members of the jury. We were very reluctant to put in this letter, she told Judge Subramanian before the jury entered the New York City courtroom. It appeared to be a lack of candor with the court that raises serious issues with us. Defense attorney Alexandra Shapirowho said that Juror No. 6 is among the panels Black membersasked for one or two days to respond in writing and go over case law. In response, Judge Subramanian said he will reserve on handling logistics about the juror until a decision is made.





Sean Diddy Combs Ex Has Heated Exchange With Defense Team During Cross-Examination

Jane and Garagos had a tense conversation June 10 as the latter insinuated the witness was having sex with men for luxury goods. Geragos went through text messages from November 2021 between Jane and Combs, in which the witness was upset that the rap mogul was having sex with other women. Per the texts, she asked Combs if he gave the other woman a Chanel bag after having sex. Jane said that she didnt get a Chanel purse from Combs, telling Garagos that she got trauma. When the attorney asked what a Bottega bag was, she replied, Im sure you have one. And when Geragos asked how much the item costs, Jane asked, How much does my body cost? Jane was granted a 10-minute break following the exchange.

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Sean Diddy Combs Ex Says She Wondered What Was Driving Him Sexually

Jane testified that around 2022, she believed that Combs was a cuckhold, a person who finds pleasure in watching their partner be physically intimate with another person, after looking up her and Combs sexual dynamic. It gave me more of an understanding, she said of her reasoning for the research. I was just trying to deep dive on all the reasons why they had derived so much pleasure from watching their woman be with other men. The witness theorized that Combs desire for hotel nights, the details of which are nearly identical to Ventura's freak offs, was because he may be curious about his own sexuality. Cucks could also have a real curiosity that they're too ashamed to experience themselves, she testified, and so they use the woman to venture out in this curiosity without actually doing the act itself.





Sean Diddy Combs Ex Mentions Koby Bryant, Shaquille ONeil and Michael Jordan During Testimony

Jane testified that she had nicknamed Paulan escort she and Combs solicited on multiple occasionsTrifecta because she compared their sexual dynamic to the on-court success of basketball stars. I was Kobe Bryant and Paul was Shaq [ONeil], she told jurors. Combs was Michael Jordan. She described Paul as really nice, noting that if she had to have sex with escorts, at least it was with someone with a warm energy.





Sean Diddy Combs Ex Says Moguls Chief of Staff Influenced a Great Deal of Their Romance

Jane testified that Combs dynamic with Khorram was a point of contention in the witness romance with the rap mogul. She was always with him, Jane said of Khorram. It was difficult for our relationship. I believe that she had very strong feelings about me, which influenced a great deal with how Sean treated me.





Judge Denies Sean Diddy Combs Defense Teams Second Motion for a Mistrial

On June 10, Judge Subramanian denied a motion for mistrial by Combs' legal team, in which his attorneys argued that Ventura and her friend Bryana Bongolan lied about the latter being dangled over the 17th-floor balcony by the rap mogul. His lawyers, whose previous motion for a mistrial was also denied, accused the prosecution in the filing of misconduct with the introduction of perjured testimony. In this trial the government has presented testimony that it knew or should have known was materially false related to its allegation that Mr. Combs dangled Bryana Bongolan from the balcony of Cassie Venturas apartment in September 2016, the letter said. Accordingly, to avoid an unfair conviction in this case the Court should grant a mistrial.

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In the end, there was no big legal fight over the estate of world-famous porn star Jesse Jane after all.

Turns out there wasn't that much to fight about anyway.

Jane, 43, died of a drug overdose in Oklahoma in January 2024 in the bedroom of her boyfriend's home, according to her autopsy report. She had no real estate, no stocks and bonds, no personal property and just $42,609 in the bank, according to the final inventory of the estate.

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On Nov. 13, a Cleveland County probate judge ordered that the money be split equally between her son and her much older husband, who had been divorcing her.

One website, celebritynetworth.com, had described Jane as the highest-paid adult star in the world. It estimated her financial worth at $500,000 at the time of her death.

"You can't trust the internet," probate attorney J. David Terrell said.

Adult film actress Jesse Jane arrives at the 29th annual Adult Video News Awards Show at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino January 21, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The two heirs could still get more money from her deal with XR Brands, a company in California, that sells Jesse Jane adult toys, the attorney said. Also, her husband had already sold her car for around $25,000 and gave the son half.

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Jane became widely known for her starring role in two adult films, "Pirates" in 2005 and "Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge" in 2008. The sequel reportedly had a budget of $8 million, making it one of the most expensive adult films ever made.

She also had a few mainstream roles, appearing in the 2004 movie Starsky & Hutch and the HBO series Entourage.

"I got into porn right at the perfect time, when porn stars mattered," Jane told the magazine GQ in 2018. "Porn stars back then, they were big, glamorous. You walked into a room, you turned heads."

Moore police discovered the bodies of Jane and her boyfriend, Brett Hasenmueller, 33, on Jan. 24, 2024, during a welfare check. Both overdosed on fentanyl and cocaine, according to the autopsy reports.

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Two months after her death, the probate judge appointed her son, Ethan Self, of Moore, as the interim special administrator for her estate. He told the judge in court papers that he was the only heir.

But then, Richard H. Wilcox Jr., of Longview, Texas, sought to take control of the estate from the son. Wilcox told the judge he was her husband. He did not mention that he had filed for divorce.

Wilcox was the president of RHW Metals, a company that serviced the oil industry for decades before closing during the pandemic. He claimed the two wed in Santorini, Greece, on July 17, 2019.

On their wedding day, Jane had just turned 39. He was 77.

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"They memorialized that blessed event upon their return to Texas by executing a Declaration and Registration of Informal Marriage," wrote Terrell, the probate attorney.

"We, the undersigned, are married to each other," both stated under oath in the 2019 declaration, which was filed in the probate case as an exhibit.

The dispute over control of the estate was headed for a showdown hearing in September 2024. Instead, the legal fight fizzled out. The son and husband reached an agreement before the hearing, and Wilcox was named administrator of the estate.

Wilcox filed for divorce in Texas in June 2023. The divorce case was pending at the time of Jane's death.

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Wilcox last year declined to talk about their marriage but did say Jane was flocked by fans everywhere they went. "Anywhere, any small town, I don't care where you went. She was known, I'm guessing, by probably 60% of the people on the face of the Earth," he said.

Self, now 26, declined comment.

The probate case was filed in Cleveland County District Court under the name Cynthia Ann Taylor, even though her name had been officially changed in court to Jesse Jane in 2011.

Very little about her finances in the last years of her life can be determined from public records. She had sold her house in Moore in 2021 for $435,000, records show. She also had been hit with a number of liens over unpaid state and federal taxes.

The largest federal tax lien, filed in 2018, was for $200,755.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma porn star Jesse Jane had under $50K in bank at time of death
Film and television production in the greater Los Angeles area fell 14.2% in 2024 from the year before according to the latest Scripted Content Study by FilmLA.

Thats an improvement from a 20% plunge in 2023, with both years disrupted by dual Hollywood strikes. Between 2023 and 2024, total U.S. scripted project releases declined by 13.4% (990 to 857 projects). In L.A., they fell 31% (to 157 from 228) and market share dipped to 18% from 22%.

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The latest numbers hit amid an assist from the State of California through an expanded Film and Television Tax Credit Program passed earlier this year that increased the annual pot available to $750 million and expanded eligible categories.

The third annual study (read it here), again analyzes the filming locations used for scripted, U.S.-produced, first-run, English-language film and television projects distributed and/or released in 2024 and specifically the city and county of L.A.

Examining all scripted television projects, total project releases fell by 15% (365 to 310 series) between 2023 and 2024. But, for the second consecutive year, theatrical release movies increased by 13% percent (199 to 225).

The number of streaming movies released declined by 3.5% (142 to 137). TV movies released plunged nearly 35% between 2023 and 2024 (284 to 185).

Comparing the proportion of scripted releases filmed in Los Angeles between 2023 and 2024, Los Angeles fell from 183 to 157. The scripted television series category declined by 27% percent in Los Angeles (compared to 15% percent for the total).

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However, Los Angeles saw a significantly higher proportion of locally made theatrical releases (21 vs. 25) and streaming movies (17 vs. 29) in 2024 vs 2023. In all, FilmLA Research determined that approximately 18.3% of all scripted projects released in 2024 filmed in Los Angeles  a year-over-year difference of less than 1% from 2023.

L.A. was the top jurisdiction for U.S. distributed scripted TV series (streaming, cable and broadcast) with a 27% share followed by the UK, Georgia, British Columbia, New York, Ontario, Illinois, France, Italy, Mexico, New Mexico, New Jersey, Texas and Utah.

It also topped for feature films distributed with NY, UK, Georgia, New Jersey, Utah, Australia, Hungary, California and Ontario.

L.A. led in distributed movies on streaming. It was followed by British Columbia for Original TV Movies Distributed across broadcast and cable.

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The report is to quantify the amount of scripted content released each year, and to further determine the percentage of these releases that are filmed in Los Angeles and in other locales. Our count is a numeric count of projects that is based on the year of release and not the year of production. scripted television series into three subcategories  streaming, cable, and broadcast  and examines three categories of feature films  TV movies, theatrical release movies and streaming movies.

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The action spectacular of the year stars a 66-year-old man in a speeding truck. "Sisu: Road to Revenge" declares its intention in the title - it's a scrappy, indie translation of "Mad Max: Fury Road."

The year is 1946 and the setting is a stretch of Finland recently absorbed into the USSR. Our hero, a weary Finnish commando named Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila), has dirt smudged into every wrinkle of his brow. After spending the war killing Nazis, he could use a nice, hot bath. (You can watch returning director Jalmari Helander's 2022 "Sisu" for that massacre, but I'd just start here.)

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Alas, Korpi can't relax. His log cabin home is now in Soviet territory. So Korpi dismantles his house, loads the timber into a cargo truck and, with his dog riding shotgun, drives 75 miles to Finland's new border, pursued by an equally tough brute: diabolical Red Army officer Igor Draganov ( "Avatar's" Stephen Lang ) who's under orders to destroy this folk rebel.

In Finnish, "sisu" means tenacity and grit. But subtitles aren't necessary. This story is told through explosions and gunfire, glares and smirks. Lang's Russian heel speaks English; Tommila's Korpi says nothing - the character doesn't talk. But he does outrace a pack of motorcycles and an airplane. You should see what he does with a train.

'Sisu: Road to Revenge'

Rated R: For strong bloody violence, gore, language

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Running time: 88 minutes

Where: Playing throughout Houston

Languages: In Finnish and English with English subtitles

1/2 (out of 5)

"Sisu: Road to Revenge" is an ode to high-throttle classics like "Die Hard" and Buster Keaton's "The General." Helander's unabashed homages may as well be spelled out in gasoline and set ablaze. I'm positive I saw "Jaws" and "Looney Tunes" in there, too, and now is a fine time to mention that his next project is a reboot of "Rambo."

Yet, Helander's most impressive stunt is that he's made a movie that's still very much his own. His mash-up feels fresh, just as the bombastic score by Juri Seppa and Tuomas Wainola boldly borrows Ennio Morricone's soaring horns and wah-wah-waaah squawks while adding its own gargle of Finnish throat singing.

The adventure is structured like a serial with each segment starring a seemingly impossible threat. Quickly, a couple things become evident. First, Korpi is stubbornly hard to kill and Draganov knows this chase can't end until he sees his enemy's corpse. (Anything shy of that means Korpi has escaped and is figuring out his next move.) Second, Lang's hilarious Draganov will crush anyone who gets in his way. Running over one of his own Russian bikers, he grunts in annoyance. How dare the guy become a speed bump?

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Oh, and the mayhem escalates fast. No sooner has Korpi made it through the third manic section, titled "Motor Mayhem," than a peeved Draganov tells his squad to "unleash hell." Now? We've already been there and back - and we're only 30 minutes in with an hour left to go.

Helander and editor Juho Virolainen pace the carnage like slapstick. They have a nimble rhythm for how many times a victim can dodge disaster before splattering. The violence is so big that it becomes comedy, even getting us laughing at a severed head, twice.

It's a tricky tone that occasionally goes off the rails, say during an awful shot of a flogged back or an unbearable moment where the dog whines in distress. (I'm morally obligated to assure you that the pup will be fine.) One machine-gun death has the kind of drumroll punchline that's only for sickos.

But mostly, "Sisu" playfully mines humor out of how hard Korpi tries not to kill people, attacking only when attacked. Draganov treats him like a grizzly bear, hissing "Don't move!" to an underling when Korpi makes eye contact with their car. The fool reaches for his pistol. Big mistake. When Korpi creeps through a gauntlet of sleeping soldiers, you hope they stay snoring for their own safety.

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The character has a scrap of backstory in a photo of his dead wife and kids, pathos that Tommila's weary, teary blue eyes hit a little too hard. But it's Korpi's silence that makes the film feel mythic. Meanwhile, Mika Orasmaa's cinematography has the gusto to send a camera zipping up to the clouds and hurtling back down. In one jaw-dropping shot, a skinny plane flies on its side through a thick birch forest. The image is a stunner. So, too, are its rocky cliffs and vistas striped in shades of yellow, steel-blue and orange.

The film was shot in Estonia, but plays like a salute to the beauty of the Baltic coast. When Korpi pulls over to fix a tire, he pauses to listen to the birds. Their chirps are the sound of the old battle-ax saying goodbye to his homeland before the Iron Curtain slams shut. The war is technically over, but its horrors are still so recent that Helander pans across a marsh of fallen men whom no one has bothered to bury. He seems to find it dubious that the treaty that ceded this land will bring about lasting peace. It's haunted by too many ghosts.

Yet, it's worth mentioning that "Road to Revenge" has more respect for its bad guys than the 2022 original did for its craven SS platoon, one nose-pick away from goose-stepping inbreds. Here, the Russian conscripts are either mean but brave or they just have rotten luck. The blame for their demise always goes to the bosses treating their own troops like fodder.

This chain of cruelty goes all the way up to the KBG officer (veteran Hollywood villain Richard Brake ) who vows to send Draganov back to Siberia if he fails to take down Korpi. "Siberia is a very bad place to be immortal," Draganov warns Korpi, a threat that adds heft to each punch as these roughnecks trade blows.

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Over 400,000 Finns lost their homes in the fallout of World War II. Tommila's fictional Korpi doesn't need to say a peep to get us thinking about how other filmmakers could make modern sequels set in Syria, Sudan, Palestine and Ukraine - and about how Finland continues to closely watch this same 830-mile border.

Just this week, Finland's President Alexander Stubb said that the European allies should face Russia together with sisu, teaching others his country's term for steadfast courage. He even embroidered the word on his back. This first-rate B-picture couldn't ask for better branding.

This article originally published at Review: Action fans, 'Sisu: Road to Revenge' speaks your language, and it's Finnish.
While you could point to any number of reasons for the culture-defining success of "Star Wars" (John Williams' iconic score, for instance, or the compelling blend of science fiction and Arthurian myth), the aesthetics have to be right near the top of the list. From Colin Cantwell's incredible spaceship designs to Ralph McQuarrie's early concept art for planets, lightsabers, and characters like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, the look and feel of 1977's "Star Wars: Episode IV  A New Hope" helped shape the unique universe from the very beginning.

Eventually, though, those initial designs had to be handed off to model makers, prop masters, and other practical effects artists. That includes creatives like make-up artist Stuart Freeborn, who worked with George Lucas to create the practical look for Chewbacca. A veteran of the movie industry going back to the 1940s, Freeborn had particularly relevant experience from his experience working on Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," a film that gave him the exact knowhow necessary to create the first ever Chewbacca costume for Peter Mayhew.

"I used pretty much the same principle as with the '2001' apemen for Chewbacca," Freeborn told Starlog Magazine in a 1986 interview, "the only difference being the exterior. Instead of a monkey face, Chewbacca has a different kind of face, and furry rather than ape-like. Otherwise, it was exactly the same inside."

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Read more: Celebrities You Didn't Know Were In Star Trek

George Lucas' own pets influenced the design of Chewbacca

A close-up of Chewbacca glancing worriedly to the side in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope - Lucasfilm

While Freeborn's experience on the apemen of "2001" helped him craft the basics of the Chewbacca suit, Lucas had something specific in mind for the character's face.

"George mentioned he had a dog and a cat, stating he envisioned the Wookie [sic] as dog-like," Freeborn told Starlog in 1986. Going off of that basic pitch and his previous work on "2001," the make-up artist whipped up a basic sculpture to demonstrate what he had in mind. While Lucas signed off on the look at first, he came back later with a new angle.

"He had studied his cat and concluded that Chewie should be a cat creature," Freeborn said. "I tried a feline version but he still wasn't convinced. 'Couldn't you try to combine the two?' he asked me." That final idea, blending the cat and dog faces with the furry alien body, ended up being the winner, yielding the Wookiee design fans know and love today.

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As an added bit of Lucas trivia, some fans may already know that the dog in question  an Alaskan Malamute named Indiana  provided inspiration for two different franchises. While he lent his likeness to Chewbacca, he gave his name to the protagonist of the "Indiana Jones" movies.

The original Chewbacca design has barely changed in decades

Han and Chewie smile as they board the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens - Lucasfilm

McQuarrie's original art for the character who would become Chewbacca  initially conceived as Han Solo, then an alien  was changed greatly before the character appeared on the screen (though that first pass later inspired the character of Zeb in "Star Wars Rebels"). However, once Freeborn got to work and came up with the final Chewbacca suit, things were set. After decades of "Star Wars" films and two additional trilogies, plus the "Solo: A Star Wars Story" spin-off movie, which features the hairy guy heavily, that original design has barely changed.

"They're basically being built the same as the original Chewie," creatures supervisor Dave Elsey said in a featurette on the making of "Star Wars: Episode II  Revenge of the Sith." In that film, many more Wookiee costumes had to be made for the massive battle between the hairy aliens and the Separatist droid army on the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. Mayhew reprised the role of Chewbacca for the character's brief prequel-era appearance, donning a suit very much like the one from his original trilogy days.

When it came time to bring Chewie back yet again for "Star Wars: Episode VII  The Force Awakens," the design once again stayed consistent. In a different making-of featurette for that film, supervising animatronics designer Maria Cork said that the team's goal was to "keep it simple" and "copy completely" the original design. Mayhew commented that while the design was essentially the same, it was "better" and "lighter," likely thanks to several decades of advancements in prosthetics and movie make-up. Even still, Freeborn's version from the '70s continues to be timeless.

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Read the original article on SlashFilm.
Uruguay has submitted time travel drama Dont You Let Me Go (Agarrame fuerte) to vie for the Best International Feature prize at the 98th Oscars. Winner of the Nora Ephron Award at the Tribeca Festival where it had its world premiere, the drama is the latest from directing duo Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge (So Much Water), which has also been nominated for best Ibero-American feature at Spains Oscar equivalent, the Goyas.

Pic follows 39-year-old Adela who, overwhelmed by her best friend Elenas demise, is unexpectedly transported 10 years earlier to a beach house, where she reunites with Elena and their friend Luci with toddler son Paco in tow. What begins as a weekend filled with joy, music and memories evolves into an astonishing adventure when Paco discovers a portal that extends their time together. During this endless moment, Adela finds peace, rekindled bonds and a deeper appreciation for friendship and love.

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Produced by Agustina Chiarino (Monos) under her banner Bocacha Films, Dont You Let Me Go assembles a largely female cast and crew. The film extends Chiarinos enduring partnership with Guevara and Jorge, highlighting their shared dedication to elevating powerful female voices on both sides of the camera. It stars Chiara Hourcade, Victoria Jorge and Eva Dans.

Guevara and Jorge both hail from Montevideo, Uruguay, where they met at university and began a long-standing collaboration that kicked off with short films El cuarto del fondo (2006), Summer Runners (2009) and 60 Candles (2015). Their feature debut So Much Water (Tanta agua) world premiered at the Berlinale, racking up awards along the festival circuit, including at San Sebastian, Cartagena, Miami, Guadalajara and Lima.

Their latest feature comes as Uruguay has seen an increase in production output, local and international, thanks to its selective fund of $1 million for national projects, and a cash rebate fund offering $12 million in reimbursements for co-productions and international production services.

At the 5th Iberseries & Platino Industria confab in Madrid, Uruguays national film agency ACAU presented a slew of upcoming projects that included pics from Cimarron (A Ravaging Wind), Andres Varela (Benedetti, 60 anos con luz) and actor-director Daniel Hendler whose 27 Nights opened the San Sebastian Festival.

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The Oscar international feature shortlist will be unveiled on Dec. 16 while the final five nominees will be announced on Jan. 22.

The 98th Academy Awards take place on March 15, while Spains Goyas are on Feb. 28 next year.

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ComingSoons Jonathan Sim recently sat down with Zootopia 2 stars Ginnifer Goodwin (Once Upon a Time, Hes Just Not That Into You) and Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Goonies) to discuss their roles as Judy Hopps and Gary DeSnake in Disneys new animated buddy cop adventure.

Detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who turns the mammal metropolis of Zootopia upside down, reads the synopsis. Testing their growing partnership like never before, they go undercover in new parts of town to crack the case.

Jonathan Sim: Congratulations to you both on Zootopia 2 and this amazing Disney movie. Im wondering: when you were growing up, what were the Disney movies that made you fall in love with Disney and want to work with them on Zootopia 2?

Ginnifer Goodwin: Ill talk briefly because his story is way better. I grew up with all of the princess films. I always say Winnie the Pooh was my first boyfriend because I watched Winnie the Pooh on repeat. I dont think I missed a Disney film in theaters, whether it was a re-release from the archives. My parents would buy all the VHS tapes when they came out of the vault. I remember the whole thing about them being in the vault.

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And I do remember going through a phase where I called animation cartoons, and I thought I was too big girl for cartoons. And then I remember my little sister came in with the VHS of The Little Mermaid because I hadnt seen it in theaters and she put it in and left the room. I wept through it. I fell back in love with animation all over again.

Ke Huy Quan: I grew up watching Disney cartoons with my little brother on weekends. Wed always watch them over breakfast; thats where we bonded and became best friends. I also loved watching Disney animated films. Tarzan was a big one. I remember trying to do the scream as he swings across the jungle. The list goes on and onSnow White, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast. I loved them all. I never thought I would one day become a Disney animated character. To be part of this incredible Zootopia family is a dream come true.

Its amazing to get to see you as these characters. Ive loved Judy Hopps ever since I watched Zootopia when I was a teenager, and now Im seeing the wonderful addition of Gary DeSnake. When youre recording your voices in the booth, do you do anything physically with your bodies to help assist the vocal performance?

Ginnifer Goodwin: We have to, because every breath matters, and sound is so affected by movement. Im actually more physically active in the booth than in live action. In live action everything has to be contained; we have to add layers because cameras come unusually close, so we have to adjust to the frame. In animation, all we have is our voice, so everything is expressed more fully.

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Ke Huy Quan: Its actually more physically demanding than I anticipated. Im kind of the new kid when it comes to voice acting. Let me give you a visual: theres a microphone, a stand where you put your script, and literally a handlebar bolted into the concrete. To get some of the effects, you grab onto it and move, shake, jump, and pull to get your voice a certain way. It takes a lot of imagination because youre trying to mimic how your character would move on screen. At the end of those three-hour sessions, Im covered in sweat every single time.

Thats amazing. It sounds like a workout.

Ke Huy Quan: Oh, it was like going to the gym.

You dont need the gymyoure voicing Gary DeSnake!

Now, I imagine you both get recognized when you go out. When children or adults approach you, are there any lines of dialogue they like to repeat back to you?

Ke Huy Quan: Thats the story of my life. For 40 years, people I meet quote great lines I was lucky enough to saywhether its Indiana Jones like Hang on, lady, were going for a ride, or Were setting booby traps. Whats really interesting is that I started out as a child actor, and I thought Id grown, matured, my voice is different, but a lot of times its my voice that gives it away. They hear it and go, Oh my gosh, youre the kid from Indiana Jones or The Goonies.

Yeah, now theyll know you from Zootopia 2 as Gary DeSnake.

Ginnifer Goodwin: I do get recognized, but Im surprised by how much I get recognized for Judy. I wouldve thought thered be more of a separation. Even though were doing a lot of publicity to promote the film, our names are never on the posters. When theyre putting out those trailers, you dont see our names. Social medias a whole other thing now, but thats one of the things Ive loved about Disney. Theyre not selling it on the actors; theyre selling it on the story. Ive always found that confident and impressive. So Ive been surprised at how often Im stopped for being Judy. Usually its adults, and then they try to explain it to their kids, who get confused, like, Mom, she doesnt have rabbit ears. Then I find myself overcompensating by trying to prove to these children its me, saying things like Anyone can be anything.

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Ke Huy Quan: Children have a great ear. When I moved into my current neighborhood, my neighbor had a four-year-old son. One day they were out in the yard, and wed never met, we said hi to each other. The next day the neighbor said, My son told me youre Data from The Goonies. Hed only seen the movie a couple of times but recognized my voice right away and said, Thats Data!. Kids will hear you and say, Mom, thats Judy Hopps.

Ginnifer Goodwin: Its my favorite thing to get recognized for.

The post Zootopia 2s Ke Huy Quan & Ginnifer Goodwin Talk Sequel, Favorite Disney Movies | Interview appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
(WHTM) Comedian and Midstate native Shane Gillis has announced a stadium show in Pennsylvania in 2026.

Gillis, a Mechanicsburg native, is holding a one-night-only stadium show on July 17, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field. The event marks the largest show of Gilliss career, bringing his comedy to more than 60,000 fans.

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This Week in Pennsylvania

The comedian has surged in popularity in recent years, with multiple appearances on Saturday Night Live, the hit Netflix Series Tires, and he hosted the most recent ESPYs.

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Lincoln Financial Field is thrilled to set the stage this summer for one of the worlds biggest entertainers in Shane Gillis, said Brian Napoli, Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships, Philadelphia Eagles. Shane has always been an incredibly supportive Eagles fan whose local roots tied to the region will serve as a great homecoming. We value the relationship we share with Shane and look forward to creating a truly special evening for him and his many fans at Lincoln Financial Field on July 17.

The show is set to include multiple special guest appearances, which will be announced at a later date.

The persale begins on Tuesday, November 25, at 10 a.m. Local presale begins the following day at 10 a.m.

General tickets will go on sale on Friday, November 28, at 10 a.m. More information can be found on the website.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff is being remembered by his peers and admirers following his death at the age of 81.

In a post on Instagram, the family of Bob Marley, including his son Ziggy, expressed their condolences to Cliffs family and loved ones as he makes his transition. The post noted that Cliff was an instrumental figure in Marleys rise, having brought him to producer Leslie Kong in 1962 to record his very first singles, Judge Not and One Cup of Coffee.

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The post included a quote from an old interview Marley gave, where he expressed his gratitude for Cliffs help: Jimmy was big then because he already had a hit name Hurricane Hattie and later Miss Jamaica another big one. I really love Jimmy because he always tries to help people out.

Sean Paul shared a photo of Cliff on Instagram, writing, R.I.P 2 a real general. He hit them the harder they came. Fly high my G.

Dancehall great Vybz Kartel offered an all-caps appreciation, calling Cliff a legendary Jamaican, superstar reggae icon, and film legend.  And Shaggy, who shared a photo of himself onstage with Cliff, wrote, His voice, his message, and his spirit helped shape the soul of reggae music, adding, Weve lost a true icon, but his light and legacy will live on forever.

Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness called Cliff a true cultural giant whose music carried the heart of our nation to the world.

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His music lifted people through hard times, inspired generations, and helped to shape the global respect that Jamaican culture enjoys today, Holness added. We give thanks for his life, his contribution, and the pride he brought to Jamaica.

Yusuf/Cat Stevens  who produced Cliffs song Trapped, after Cliff scored a hit with Stevens Wild World  praised the reggae great, who always seems to be there at crucial stages on my journey. Stevens added, His songs always had some message of peace  may he find it now and forever.

The English reggae band UB40 posted on Instagram, So very sad to hear that the music icon and original reggae superstar, Jimmy Cliff has died aged 81. He finally crossed over the last river. Meanwhile, the bands frontman, Ali Campbell, wrote, Absolutely heartbroken to hear about the passing of a Reggae forefather Jimmy Cliff. A true foundation, a pillar of our music, and one of the first to carry reggae out into the world.

Filmmaker Benny Safdie also shared a tribute alongside a clip of Cliff singing The Harder They Come in the classic 1972 film of the same name. I dont know if its possible for someone to be more alive than Jimmy Cliff is in this clip from The Harder They Come, Safdie wrote. I dont think I can put into words what this whole record means to me. Its overwhelming in so many ways, his positivity in the face of sadness  his incredible performance here. Hes still here!

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In a statement shared with Rolling Stone, Jorma Kaukonen, guitarist for Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, recalled how the Grateful Deads Jerry Garcia introduced him to Cliffs music when he brought over a copy of The Harder They Come soundtrack. Decades later, he would get to meet Cliff and tell him how much I loved his work at a 2015 gig honoring Garcia.

Im sure it is not a coincidence that I discovered Jimmy Cliff through Jerry Garcias intervention and that thanks to Jerry a lifetime later  I would meet Jimmy and thank him for introducing me to reggae! Kaukonen wrote. He was a warm and gracious man indeed and it was an honor to meet one of my musical heroes from an earlier time!

Garcias estate posted a tribute as well, noting the Grateful Dead leader always carried a deep love for Cliffs songs, and you could feel it every time [the Jerry Garcia Band] played The Harder They Come or Sitting in Limbo.

Cliffs family announced his death on Instagram, writing that he crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia. The family thanked his fans, saying, Your support was his strength throughout his whole career. He really appreciated each and every fan for their love.

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Along with Toots & the Maytals, Cliff played a pivotal role in popularizing reggae outside Jamaica, especially in England. Hes best known for ska classics like Miss Jamaica and Gold Digger, the protest song Vietnam, and his signature track, Many Rivers to Cross.

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Taylor Acorn  the newly crowned queen of pop-punk  is officially heading back to Australia in 2026, armed with her acclaimed new album Poster Child and a live show that could emotionally devastate a small village. In a good way.

Fresh off dropping her glowing, heart-puncher of an album on October 24, the Nashville powerhouse will hit our shores next March for a four-date run with American alt-pop-rock charmers Arrows in Action in tow.

Taylor Acorn  Home Videos

The tour kicks off on Sunday 1 March in Melbourne, before ricocheting through Brisbane and Adelaide, and wrapping things up on Friday 6 March in Sydney  giving Aussie fans a full week to cry, scream, jump, and probably reconsider several major life decisions.

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Taylor Acorns rise has been fast, and somehow still feels criminally overdue. A genuine pop-punk prodigy raised on the late-90s/early-00s holy trinity of big hooks, bigger feelings, and a questionable side-fringe, she cut her teeth performing as a teen before relocating from Northern Pennsylvania to Nashville in 2014.

There, she linked up with producer Dan Swank (All Time Low, Cassadee Pope), refining a sound that fuses Avril Lavignes emotional bite with Paramores fire, before mutating it into her own irresistibly earnest signature.

After dropping her debut full-length Survival In Motion in 2024 and spending nearly a decade as an indie hustler, Taylor signed with Fearless Records in 2025. That partnership birthed her latest album Poster Child, a raw, hook-stacked, heart-on-sleeve knockout that has already earned worldwide praise.

Joining her for this fresh Aussie tour are Arrows in Action, the Florida-born trio whove mastered the art of blending indie rock charm with clean alt-pop production and soft-emo vulnerability. Their 2023 debut Built To Last put them on the map, while 2025s I Think Ive Been Here Before cemented their place as one of the most exciting modern-alt acts to emerge in years.

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Longtime fans will also know this is a reunion tour of sorts  the band teamed up with Taylor in 2021 on the aching sleeper hit Uncomfortably Numb.

Peep all the details down below.

Taylor Acorn 2026 Australian Tour Dates

With Arrows In Action

Sunday 1 March  170 Russell, Melbourne

Tuesday 3 March  The Triffid, Brisbane

Thursday 5 March  Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide

Friday 6 March  Manning Bar, Sydney

Tickets on sale Wednesday, 26th November at 9am local time via www.destroyalllines.com

Further Reading

Mark Hoppus Announces 2026 Aussie Speaking Tour for His Memoir, Fahrenheit-182

Aussie Punk Faves Hellions Reunite As A Four-Piece, Announce New Live Shows

Hawthorne Heights Announce If Only You Were Lonely 20th Anniversary Aussie Tour

The post Taylor Acorn Announces 2026 Australian Tour with Arrows in Action appeared first on Music Feeds.
Its a bit of an understatement to say that Shinichiro Watanabe is a big deal in the anime scene. As the director of series like Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, Watanabe is behind some of the most seminal shows the medium has ever seen. Known for drawing heavily on American culture and music, his work has often been seen as a gateway into the space for many overseas viewers, combining disparate genres and influences into a surprisingly cohesive picture.

However, beyond just offering an introduction to anime, his output is known for delivering a one-two punch of easygoing style juxtaposed against characters who hide their deeper concerns under a veneer of cool. Bebop is the poster child for this contrast; its breezy fight scenes and jazzy interludes initially obfuscate the fact that its characters are weighed down by their pasts.

Watanabe recently visited the United States for Japan Societys Foreign Exchange 2025: Cross-Cultural Conversations With Anime Visionaries in New York City, where he participated in a series of talks. As part of the event, we had the opportunity to speak with him about what this kind of cultural exchange means to him, his interest in American music and movies, his past work, and his plans for the future.

The A.V. Club: Youre here in the United States this week as part of Japan Societys Foreign Exchange 2025. What do you think is the benefit of this kind of cross-cultural exchange between American and Japanese creatives, both for yourself and in general?

Shinichiro Watanabe: First of all, since my very first project, Ive never made my anime thinking that I only want Japanese people to watch it. Ive always wanted everybody, people from all over the world, to watch, and thats how I feel when Im creating. So an opportunity like this is great for me to get to see people, and if it helps the work spread to the rest of the world, I think thats an amazing opportunity. To have your work go beyond and spread to the wider world, and also to go beyond the scope of time, to go beyond generations; these two things are the most satisfying.

AVC: Much of your work demonstrates influences from Western and American pop culture. How did you first become interested in American culture and music?

SW: Ever since I was a young teen, Ive always preferred American movies and American music to Japanese movies and Japanese music. I think it came from my desire to escape, to somewhere that wasnt here. So, an admiration for culture thats foreign to me, rather than culture thats my own, I think thats where it came from.

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One thing I should add is that I grew up in a town in the countryside with no culture whatsoever. So, I think that really contributed to it. To explain how rural it was, there wasnt a single store or a running bus.

AVC: Theres a significant emphasis on music in your work. Can you talk us through your thoughts on how a good soundtrack can elevate an anime?

SW: I think that the traditional thinking is that a soundtrack shouldnt stand out too much. Its there to support the story. But since Im a big music freak, I always thought that way of using music was not enough.

Thats why, in every project of mine, every time I try to create this relationship between the movie/show and the music, where they are 50/50 partners. I always try to work really hard for that partnership to work. Ive found that the answer to that quest, even to this day, is trial and error, and I continue to try different approaches.

AVC: More than 27 years later, Cowboy Bebop is still held in extremely high regard. One theme from the show that has stayed pertinent is how many of its characters are grappling with deep feelings of loneliness. Do you think part of Cowboy Bebops continuing appeal is how it addressed issues that have remained relevant, like widespread loneliness, alienation under capitalism, environmental concerns, and so on?

SW: I believe your observation is correct, and I think even now, more so, people are feeling alienated and lonely.

AVC: When you create a work, do you seek to focus on those kinds of concepts and themes that will resonate for the foreseeable future?

SW: Theres this quote by Miles Davis that I truly believe in: Only things that are truly cutting edge, at the front of that era, can survive beyond that era. I may not be quoting it accurately, but thats what my interpretation is (The translator clarified he was quoting Watanabes version of the quote in Japanese, which wont be 1:1 with the original saying. The closest line we were able to find attributed to Davis is: Its not about standing still and becoming safe. If anybody wants to keep creating, they have to be about change.Ed).

AVC: With Lazarus now in the rear-view mirror, Im curious how you feel about how the show turned out? What are you particularly proud of from the series? And on the other end, is there anything that youd go back and change if you could?

SW: Fundamentally, I dont want to change anything that came out because once you allow yourself to do that, itll be endless, youd be saying, I want to fix that. I want to fix this. So, I dont want to think that way.

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As a visual medium, out of all the works that Id done so far, I think that (Lazarus) is of the highest quality.

AVC: What is your favorite scene from the show?

SW: The second half of episode eight (Unforgettable Fire) is my favorite in particular. Even compared among all the works that Ive done so far, I think that part is a particularly emotional piece of work. (For those who have seen the series, this is the episode that focuses on Chris backstory.Ed)

AVC: Looking at some of the interviews from the Lazarus press tour, there were a lot of questions around whether you viewed the series as a follow-up to Cowboy Bebop. As a creator, did you find it a little bit unfortunate or irritating that so many people were making that comparison and focusing so much on Bebop instead of the new work you were creating?

SW: These two works have nothing to do with each other. But Keiko Nobumoto, who also participated in Cowboy Bebop as one of the writers, she was involved in the very beginning of this project, Lazarus. So I think that air of the Cowboy Bebop-ness, I wouldnt be surprised if it was there. Id say its a natural consequence of Keiko Nobumoto and Shinichiro Watanabe working together rather than us trying to consciously recreate something that we did.

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In my personal opinion, rather than comparing the two titles, you know, Is it better or is it worse, Id like people to watch it as an independent thing and enjoy it as an independent thing without comparing. And so I think that way, you can enjoy the work better.

AVC: Something found throughout a lot of your material is a focus on characters from diverse backgrounds, whether its LGBTQ+ characters, influences on your work from African American culture, or how you incorporated traditional Ainu and Okinawan music into the soundtrack for Samurai Champloo. Why has focusing on characters from different backgrounds been a priority for you?

SW: I think it comes from this feeling or belief that I have that if Im setting out to create works that I want people all over the world to watch, then the human beings in my work should include everybody in the world, beyond different races and sexual orientations. So I think thats where it comes from.

AVC: Are there any genres or subject matter youd like to cover in a future work that you havent gotten a chance to yet?

SW: Ive never done horror, so for my next work, Id love to try to tackle that genre. But I cant reveal too much of my ideas on that, theyre in my head.

AVC: Similarly, are there any creatives youd like to work with whom you havent collaborated with?

SW: Theres one musician that I would love to work with. His name is Haruomi Hosono, and hes a Japanese musician. He was the leader of this Japanese band called The Yellow Magic Orchestra, which was the most influential to me when I was young. Since he was the most influential to me, I would love to have an opportunity to work with him in my career.

AVC: Related to your career, youve focused a great deal on creating original works. Why is making anime originals important to you, and why do you think that theyre so rare these days compared to adaptations?

SW: One factor that I think even viewers have grown a little bit more conservative in their tendencies. Rather than investing their time in original works, where they dont know whether its going to be good, they prefer to watch something based on an IP that they know is going to be entertaining to a certain extent.

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But for me, personally, making an original show is more worthwhile, so I want to continue to create original works. Having said that, if someone offers me an adaptation job that is really exciting, then I would probably take it.

AVC: What is the number one work you would want to adapt if you got the chance?

SW: Its a secret, because there is one, but I cant share it. That said, theres one sci-fi author whose work Id love to adapt, and maybe I can talk about it. Ive always been a big fan of Philip K. Dick. If I could do an anime adaptation of his work, that would be amazing.

AVC: Whats your favorite aspect of the creative process when it comes to making anime?

SW: Creating visuals is really difficult, but the moment when I get to match music and the visuals is the most exciting.
(NewsNation)  Alton Browns new cooking show isnt airing on Food Network; its streaming on YouTube instead.

Brown launched his new YouTube series Alton Brown Cooks Food on Saturday.

AI Christian singer Solomon Ray tops the charts, stirs ethical debate

In the first episode, The Big Bird, which has already garnered over 1.3 million views, Brown discusses how to cook the perfect turkey for Thanksgiving.

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Back in 1999, my cohorts and I capped the first season of a show called Good Eats with a one-hour special about Thanksgiving called Romancing the Bird, the centerpiece of which was a recipe for a roast turkey, which included a pre-cook soak in a salt solution, or a brine, he said. It was an unusual move for the time. Not a long of brining being done back then.

Alton Brown attends the Food Networks rooftop birthday party hosted by Alton Brown, Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay and Ina Garten at Pier 92 on October 13, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for NYCWFF)

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His Food Network show Good Eats ran for 16 seasons and has appeared on many of the networks shows, including Cutthroat Kitchen and Iron Chef America.

Alton Brown fans are rejoicing

Fans are seemingly excited by Browns new internet series.

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Im not exaggerating: this made me emotional. Man, its so great to get a surprise Alton Brown episode. The science. The food. The humor. Astonished to see this level of production value on YouTube. Alton, youve inspired me for years and this was absolutely spectacular, one user wrote.

Tara Reid says spiked drink left her unconscious and hospitalized

With another writing, I dont think I can adequately describe the enormous grin that welled out of me from seeing the fridge cam again. Hes back like he never left, yall! Hail to the king.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Credit: Netflix/Sony Pictures

Netflix is adding just 9 new shows and movies to the streaming service this week. But when one of those shows is the final season of "Stranger Things," it's tough to focus on much else. Especially with four-and-a-half hours worth of episodes dropping the night before Thanksgiving.

But it's not the only thing worth watching while you're trying to avoid a turkey-induced coma. "Caught Stealing" is arriving on Netflix this week thanks to the streaming giant's deal with Sony Pictures, and I definitely recommend watching it. It's not the best movie I've seen all year (it was in theaters back in August), but it's a fun time, despite being an unexpectedly dark movie.

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For more to watch, read on for all of my top picks, a full list of everything new on Netflix this week and the scoop on what's leaving Netflix this week. If you need more, check out our guide to everything new to Netflix in November, and check out my review of a new Oscar-worthy drama that was added to Netflix last week.

For more recommendations, check out the 5 best Netflix shows of 2025 to binge right now.

New on Netflix this week: Top picks

Stranger Things' season 5: Volume 1

This week marks the beginning of the end for "Stranger Things." The show is finally ending after nearly a decade, starting with the four episodes of volume 1 dropping at 8 p.m. ET this Wednesday (Nov. 26). Volume 2 will arrive next month on Dec. 25 with three episodes, and then volume 3 will conclude the series with a massive final episode on Dec. 31, which will also be shown in theaters.

If you've never seen "Stranger Things," the show is set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, in the mid-1980s. It's home to the fictional Hawkins National Laboratory, and those mad government scientists secretly opened a portal to an alternate dimension known as the "Upside Down."

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This quickly causes some issues for the residents of Hawkins, including Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), who disappears into the Upside Down in season 1. He's rescued by his friends and a young psychokinetic girl named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), but has still maintained a connection to the Upside Down as the show has gone on. This season is set four years after those events in season 1, and has the Hawkins crew headed into the Upside Down one last time to defeat the evil entity known as Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).

Watch on Netflix starting Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. PT

'Caught Stealing'

"Caught Stealing" is a black comedy crime thriller starring Austin Butler as Hank Thompson. He was a former baseball prospect set to play in the major leagues before a car crash led to debilitating injuries and an alcohol problem. So now, he bartends in New York, has a relationship with an EMT named Yvonne (Zoe Kravitz) and is neighbors with Russ (Matt Smith), a British punk with some rough edges.

It's that last part that gets Hank into trouble. Russ has to leave to see his dying father in London, and he puts Hank in charge of catsitting his cat, Bud. Hank, being a good neighbor without much of a choice, agrees, and while catsitting, gets beaten half to death by Russian mobsters that Russ has apparently screwed over.

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So now, Hank has to get the Russians what they want ... if he wants to have all his body parts still functioning. Remember how I said this is a "black comedy crime thriller"? Well, "Caught Stealing" definitely lives up to that genre. It's mostly a fun time, and it certainly has funny moments. But it's also much darker than you'd expect, and has a shockingly high body count by the time all is said and done.

Watch on Netflix starting Nov. 29

'Jingle Bell Heist'

"Jingle Bell Heist" stars Olivia Holt as Sophia, a retail worker stuck working long hours and forced to clean up vomit. She finds common cause with Nick (Connor Swindells), a repairman who was hired to upgrade the security system at the department store Olivia works at, but was then stiffed on payment for the job. Plot twist: they're both fed up, and they both want to rob the store.

Will this movie be good? Well ... that remains to be seen. But if you like a Christmas rom-com and are tired of seeing the same story about a big city woman falling for a small town man during the holidays, then this movie at least looks like something different. Even if it's ultimately not that good, it could still be fun.

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Watch on Netflix starting Nov. 26

'Is It Cake? Holiday' season 2

Chances are you've heard of the show "Is It Cake." In this show, based on a viral internet sensation, contestants are instructed to bake a cake that looks like it could be anything from a common object to a non-cake food item. If you can fool the judges into guessing whether your cake is (or isn't) cake incorrectly, then you can win some serious cash.

In "Is It Cake? Holiday" season 2, the premise is the same, but the theme is now festive, with bakers making cakes shaped like animals, gingerbread men, Christmas trees, etc. They'll need to fool some serious celebrity judges, including Kristen Bell, Lacey Chabert, Michael Urie, Dustin Milligan, Kel Mitchell, Lamorne Morris and more. Like in season 1, the holiday special will be hosted by "Saturday Night Live" cast member Mikey Day.

Watch on Netflix starting Nov. 25

'Left-Handed Girl'

"Jingle Bell Heist" may be the most buzzy movie hitting Netflix this week, but "Left-Handed Girl" is the movie I'm most excited for. Starring Shih-Yuan Ma, Janel Tsai, Nina Ye, and Teng-Hui Huang, this movie tells the story of a single mother and her daughters, who have moved back to Taipei, Taiwan, after several years living in the country.

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At first, things seem promising, with the mother opening and running a night market. But the story quickly becomes a more complex story of surviving in this new world, particularly for the young, left-handed girl at the heart of it, who catches flak from some of her older, more traditional relatives for using her "devil hand."

Produced and written by Shih-Ching Tsou (who also directs) and Sean Baker ("Anora") "Left-Handed Girl has already been selected as the Taiwanese entry for Best International Feature Film at next year's Academy Awards. I can't wait to watch it this week.

Watch on Netflix starting Nov. 28

'The Stringer: The Man Who Took The Photo'

"The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo" is a documentary film from this year's Sundance Film Festival that focuses on the Vietnam War photograph, "The Terror of War." This famous photo, commonly referred to as "Napalm Girl," depicts Phan Thi Kim Phuc running from a napalm attack during the war. The photo has always been credited to Nick Ut, but after a two-year investigation, this documentary posits that it was a photo stringer (freelanceer) named Nguyen Thanh Nghe who really took the iconic image.

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This movie is not without controversy. The Associated Press rebutted this film's claims with evidence, primarily in a lengthy report written over the course of six months. Statements from Ut, who is considering a defamation suit, and his colleagues, have also been cited as evidence against the conclusion this movie reaches. Regardless, it's been hailed as a masterpiece by critics, currently rated "100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Watch on Netflix starting Nov. 28

'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom'

Can you watch "Aquaman" on Netflix? Well ... no, you can't. But starting this week, you can watch the 2023 sequel to the 2018 superhero movie, "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom." So if you caught the first movie but missed the second, now is your chance to complete Jason Momoa's duology as the iconic superhero.

"Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" has Momoa reprising his role as half-human/half-Atlantean Arthur Curry aka Aquaman. At the end of the first movie, Aquaman defeated Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and earned the support of his half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) and Orm's followers. Now, he has to team up with Orm, breaking him out of prison so they can prevent Black Manta from killing their family and using the cursed Black Trident to overheat the world. But that's not their only quest. They're also searching for the lost seventh kingdom of the seas.

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Watch on Netflix starting Nov. 27

Everything new on Netflix: Nov. 24-30

NOVEMBER 24

"Missing: Dead or Alive?" season 2 (Netflix documentary)

Follow officers from a South Carolina sheriffs department as they urgently search for individuals who've disappeared under troubling circumstances.

"Santa Bootcamp"

NOVEMBER 25

"Is It Cake? Holiday" season 2 (Netflix series)

Is It Cake? Holiday returns for another festive season with Mikey Day and six All-Star cake artists! Three Is It Cake alum and three baking heavy hitters try to fool celebrity judges with their incredible hyper-realistic cakes. Each episode, the bakers will compete for their share of the $75,000 prize pot and a coveted spot in the finale. This holiday season the stakes, the bakes, and the cakes are better than ever!

NOVEMBER 26

"Jingle Bell Heist" (Netflix film)

Sophia (Olivia Holt), a sharp-witted retail worker, and Nick (Connor Swindells), a down-on-his-luck repairman, are small-time thieves with their eyes on the same Christmas Eve score: robbing Londons most notorious department store. Forced into an uneasy alliance, as secrets surface and feelings for each other deepen, Sofia and Nick put their relationship and the heist in jeopardy.

"Stranger Things" season 5: Volume 1 (Netflix series) (Releasing at 5 p.m. PT)

The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished  his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Wills disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming  and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything theyve faced before. To end this nightmare, theyll need everyone  the full party  standing together, one last time.

NOVEMBER 27

"Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom"

NOVEMBER 28

"Left-Handed Girl" (TW) (Netflix film)

When a mother and her two daughters relocate to Taipei to open a night market stall, they encounter challenges and secrets that threaten family unity.

"The Stringer: The Man Who Took The Photo" (Netflix documentary)

A former Saigon photo editor reveals a secret hes been plagued with for 52 years, setting off a gripping two-year investigation into the truth behind one of the Vietnam Wars most iconic photographs. Acclaimed conflict photographer Gary Knight and a small team of journalists embark on a relentless search to locate and seek justice for a man known only as the stringer.

NOVEMBER 29

"Caught Stealing"

Leaving Netflix This Week

Good news! Nothing is leaving Netflix this weekend, so enjoy not having to scramble to watch your favorite show or movie before it's gone.

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When buying new tires, there are countless brands, categories, and price points to consider. Premium tires from major tire brands typically deliver the safest and most reliable performance. Entry-level tires can save you a lot of money, but they may come with trade-offs in safety, performance, and longevity. After all, not all cheap tires are created equal, and there is quite a bit of disparity in quality even at the low end of the market.

According to numerous owner reports online, certain Deestone, LingLong, Westlake, Accelera, and Vee Rubber models are among the most complained-about tires on the market. Owners reported that these tires can be dangerous, excessively noisy, lack adequate traction in typical driving conditions, and are prone to premature wear and tear, forcing users to make frequent purchases. While individual experiences may vary for many other reasons, these are the tires users most frequently warn about  and here is why.

Read more: 9 Tire Brands Owned By Michelin

1. Deestone Tires

A muddied Deestone all-terrain tire mounted on a dark truck parked on a dirt surface. - Uncle Bucks Outdoors/YouTube

When it comes to subpar performance in the ultra-performance summer tire market, the Deestone Vincente R302 stands out, earning the last spot in the ranking  the worst in its class, according to Tyre Reviews. Users complained about how noisy the tire is, how bad the traction is, and that the tire is even prone to splitting apart at highway speeds. Problems such as these occur with old tires, where such critical warning signs indicate your tires need to be replaced, but with the Vincente R302, these appear even on relatively fresh tires.

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Some distributors market the Vincente R302 as a track-proven tire. However, it's safe to say its market reception isn't particularly indicative of great handling or performance. Other Deestone models, such as the R101, are also poorly received due to their unreliability. It's the same story with the Deestone D503, with users complaining about deafening noise on the highway, subpar tread patterns, and increased wear.

2. LingLong Tires

LingLong tire sticker on a tire. - DrL/YouTube

The LingLong tire brand originated in China in the mid-1970s and has quickly become one of the few Chinese tire brands you may want to avoid. For instance, the LingLong Crosswind is a touring light truck tire that has received mixed reviews from buyers. Based on user feedback, the Crosswind enjoys a 3.1 out of 5-star rating on SimpleTire, with most of the criticism based on noise, poor treadlife, and underwhelming snow and ice performance. While discussing LingLong tires on Reddit, one user warned: "Buy once, cry once."

This encapsulates the consensus among buyers that LingLong tires are not worth the risk, especially compared to other budget brands. Besides the LingLong Crosswind, the LingLong Green Max EcoTouring is also widely complained about. For a touring tire, the Green Max has garnered poor ratings in traction, handling, and comfort, all three areas where touring tires often shine. Moreover, LingLong tires have also been deemed unsafe and inferior in situations where quick reactions can save lives.

3. Westlake Tires

A car rim with a Westlake RP18 tire sticker on a tire next to it. - Tommy-Time/YouTube

Westlake Tires is a budget tire brand marketed by U.S.-based Tireco, Inc. (which also produces Milestar Tires), and offers low-cost consumer and commercial tires. Even though Westlake has a decent U.S. market presence, some of its tires are not well-regarded by consumers. For instance, the Westlake RP18 is criticised by many due to its poor quality and lack of safety. The RP18 has also earned a 3.6 out of 5-star rating on 1010Tires, with most owners noting that snow performance, noise, and wet traction are notably lacking in the tires.

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Westlake commercial and RV tires have also been heavily criticized by RV and campervan enthusiasts due to tire peeling and how quickly these can wear out. Moreover, users have also complained about Westlake tire blowouts. The brand was also involved in one of the biggest tire recalls in history when U.S. transportation officials ordered more than 450,000 tires returned to China.

4. Accelera Tires

An Accelera PHI tire mounted on a champagne-colored car. - The Stuff I Use Channel/The Stuff I Use Channel

Accelera Tires is an Indonesian budget tire brand founded back in 1996 and started offering tires to American consumers in 2007. The brand's most popular tire, the Accelera PHI, has a rather poor rating of 58% (approx. 2.9/5) on Tyre Review, based on 160+ user reviews. The brunt of the criticism has been based on substandard wet traction, handling, and quality issues. One owner noted that the PHIs are "absolutely, without doubt the worst tyres that I have ever encountered."

Further owner scrutiny suggests the Accelera PHI is simply not good enough for high-performance cars. Users have also complained that Accelera tires are too expensive for what they offer, are overly noisy, and notoriously unbalanced. All in all, the overall consensus between owners is that Accelera tires compromise a bit too much when it comes to traction, while also recognizing that it is often worth spending a bit extra for expensive tires versus buying cheap tires.

5. Vee Rubber Tires

A man in black gloves holding a car tire. - Reshetnikov_art/Shutterstock

Vee Rubber is a Thai tire brand founded in 1977 and is available across the U.S. at retailers and distributors such as TiresEasy, SimpleTire, and Walmart. Across all three platforms, Vee Rubber tires have a somewhat unfavorable rating. The Vee Rubber Zitron ZR seems to fare the worst on SimpleTire, with 25 reviews averaging 3.6 stars out of 5, and most users complaining that these tires are very noisy and unbalanced, especially at highway speeds.

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The Vee Rubber Taiga A/T is also heavily criticized, with customers naming it the worst tire they have ever owned. Owners on Reddit are even more blunt, believing that Vee Rubber tires are dangerously slippery in the rain. Moreover, they also noted extremely hard or low-quality rubber that is more suitable for burnouts as opposed to driving. These are some of the biggest reasons why you may want to avoid buying cheap tires altogether, and why paying more often results in a much better experience.

How we selected the tires to put in this list

Tires placed next to each other on a stand in a shop. - Hryshchyshen Serhii/Shutterstock

To compile this list of cheap tires most users want you to avoid, we went through user reviews and impressions on sites such as Tyre Reviews, SimpleTire, Reddit, and 1010Tires. We only included tires available in the U.S. market that have been criticized by multiple owners and that are backed by verifiable reviews. This is not a definitive list of the worst tires on the market, as there are simply too many factors to consider when buying, such as driving conditions, vehicle type, load requirements, climate, tire age, and tire maintenance.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
"Swalty" is in, and here at Tasting Table, we're all about it. So (apparently) is Johnsonville. In our definitive ranking of nine popular store-bought sausage brands, Johnsonville's Vermont Maple Syrup Breakfast Sausage won the breakfast table blue ribbon. We've long been singing the praises of sweet-savory, maple-infused meat in the morning (i.e., our maple-sage breakfast sausage recipe). But, Johnsonville's store-bought beauty expedites the cooking process for whipping up elaborate brekky spreads and cutting down on prep time.

The official Johnsonville website describes its Vermont Maple Syrup Breakfast Sausage as, "made with only premium cuts of pork and uniquely blended with spices and real maple syrup." Happily, in execution, we found that the Vermont-inspired maple flavor profile perfectly balances sweet and salty tones, and the promised high-quality meat shines through with a bouncy yet crisp snap. As we mentioned in our review, "It tastes like real, juicy, fatty pork, with a complex, caramelized touch that comes from that maple syrup flavoring. The sweetness isn't overpowering, but it's strong enough that it can compete with the intense saltiness in the sausages." Texturally, these maple marvels continue to impress: "The exterior crisps up nicely and offers that irresistible snap you can only get from fresh sausage. The inside of the link, though, stays juicy."

We aren't the only ones digging 'em, either. In a Reddit thread asking foodies what the best store-bought breakfast sausage is, commenters answer, "I really like Johnsonville's maple sausage," and "This is it. So much better than Jimmy Dean or Tennessee Pride."

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Read more: 12 Stouffer's Frozen Dinners, Ranked Worst To Best

Johnsonville Vermont Maple Syrup Breakfast Sausage are a convenient, swalty dream come true

Johnsonville Vermont Maple Syrup Breakfast Sausage - Samantha Maxwell/Tasting Table

On a nutritional note, Johnsonville's maple sausage is made without any artificial colors, flavoring, or trans fats. We also appreciate these links' relatively straightforward ingredients list, praise which cannot be said of every supermarket sausage: Pork, water, and less than 2% of salt, pork broth, maple syrup, corn syrup, dextrose, dried vinegar, natural flavors (savory maple and spice extractives), citric acid, beef collagen casing, the antioxidant BHA, and the preservative propyl gallate.

Target customer reviews give these sausages an impressive 4.6 out of 5 stars overall rating, raving, "Sausage me up. Johnsonville Sausages are always great but the maple flavored ones are extra good," and Walmart shoppers seem to agree, "Fantastic sausage links. The sausage links with the syrup flavor are so good. It's hard to limit how many you eat." To further play up that sweet-salty taste, try pairing Johnsonville's Vermont maple sausages with hot coffee and raspberry jam toast, berry-topped brown sugar oatmeal, or syruppy French toast.

The price is right for such impactful flavor, too. At a Walmart in Chicago, a 12-ounce pack of 14 Johnsonville Vermont Maple Syrup Breakfast Sausage links runs for $3.97; the same package costs $4.49 at a Windy City Target. It's worth noting that, if sweet-savory breakfast meats aren't your style, then you're probably fine to skip this one. However, for fans craving a little swalty action, these powerful little links belong in your grocery cart, stat.

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Read the original article on Tasting Table.
LEBANON  At Graywall Farms in Lebanon is a cheesemaker working on the land her grandfather and father worked hard to maintain.

Willow Chesmer, who has been making cheese for a few years, said her family didnt expect her to continue the familys farm legacy at first.

When Chesmer graduated from college, she studied how to make cheese and is in her second year of production.

Chesmers grandfather, Robin Chesmer, started Graywall Farms in 1989, and his son, Lincoln Chesmer, continued with the dairy farm.

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He (Robin) really wanted to be a farmer, so he found this dairy farm and found it to be fascinating, Chesmer said. He started off not knowing too much about farming and learned as he went.

Robin is semi-retired, and Lincoln has taken over the farm. The father and son started the business in 1989, when they leased an 185-acre dairy farm and purchased 80 milk cows and farm equipment.

Today, Robins son-in-law, David Hevner, manages the young stock facility on the family farm. In 1992, the dairy farm real estate was purchased after the owners sold the development rights to the state of Connecticut, which made the land more affordable for farming.

The farm has 700 milking cows on the property and has grown to include 900 acres of owned land, with 725 acres protected from development by Connecticuts Farmland Preservation Program.

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We have rotations on milking, Chesmer said. I think my family would tell you I was the least likely child to come back to the farm.

Chesmer said she had a wandering spirit and had no idea what she wanted to do.

When I was growing up, I kind of wanted to be a veterinarian or an artist, Chesmer said. I think that was my highest interest. I went to UConn and I studied animal science with a minor in food science.

Chesmer originally went to UConn undecided but found the most interesting classes were related to animals, food and agriculture.

You just have to follow what your interests and your passions are, Chesmer said. In college, I took this course in cheese making, and it just kind of clicked.

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Cheesemaking, according to Chesmer, is a mix between chemistry and cooking.

I love cooking, so at the same time in college, I was working a catering job, which I found to be fascinating, Chesmer said. I got to go to a bunch of different events and that was like my artist side.

Following the recipe has to be very precise, and Chesmer said the only differences between the types of cheese are moisture, time and the cultures added.

Chesmer produces a variety of cheeses, including the Farmers Wedge, the Lazy Bloom and the Milk Moon (a spreadable cheese). Some other cheeses she makes include a feta-type cheese.

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The Farmers Wedge is a sliceable, melty cheese aged for about a week, making it fresh, mellow and milky. It pairs well with fig or apricot jam, honey, pears, fresh bread and crisp white wines.

The Lazy Bloom is a soft cheese modeled after Camembert. As the cheese ages, it transitions from firm and mild to runny and ripe. It can be paired with strawberries, honey and other similar foods.

They are harder to get ripe, and its hard to predict when its perfect to sell and for people to eat and enjoy, Chesmer said. Ive had a few batches where it was like, what happened to you? Others were like, What did I do? You are beautiful.

Its about trying to recreate that process every single time, Chesmer said, so its a consistent product for the consumer.

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Feta is one of my more recent cheeses that I feel like Ive gotten well, and I really enjoy making it, Chesmer said. I really enjoy eating it, too. I have to sample it all the time.

A number of factors, such as the rooms temperature and humidity, weight pressure and other factors, can drastically affect the cheeses taste, which can be frustrating at times for Chesmer.

My next goal for this winter is to focus on aging cheeses, which is something I havent really gotten to do a lot of time, because it takes up a lot of space, which is something I kind of lack in my container, Chesmer said.

Chesmer operates out of a small container on the farm just beside a barn of milking cows.

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Im going to try and make do, Chesmer said. As a single cheesemaker, (aged cheeses) need daily care, you need to flip them, wash them, brush them and so I will work that into my routine, which is my next big step.

Chesmer is hoping to have a line of aged cheeses by next spring.

Rare Breed Cheese is operated at Graywall Farm, located at 49 Chappel Road in Lebanon. Their cheese can be found at several locations, including The Hoot in Mansfield, local holiday markets and others.
Thanksgiving week has arrived, and millions of Americans face the daunting task of preparing holiday meals for large gatherings.

Food safety experts have identified six essential kitchen tools that can determine success or disaster.

With over 90% of Americans celebrating the food-focused holiday and more than a quarter attending meals with 10 or more guests, having the right equipment matters.

The experts unanimously crowned the digital meat thermometer as the most critical tool. Turkey and other meats must reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit to eliminate dangerous bacteria like Salmonella.

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This is non-negotiable, said Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University food safety expert. A reliable thermometer ensures youre not guessing, because guessing is not a food safety strategy.

Color-coded cutting boards ranked second in importance. Using separate boards for different foods prevents cross-contamination between raw poultry and fresh vegetables.

Barbara Kowalcyk from George Washington University recommends avoiding wooden boards entirely. I try not to use wooden cutting boards, she said, noting they can harbor harmful bacteria.

Sharp knives made the list for safety reasons, not just efficiency. Dr. Tony Cirillo, an emergency physician, warns that dull blades require excessive pressure, which can cause dangerous slips.

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Sturdy roasting pans prevent turkey disasters. Im a big fan of double-panning, Cirillo said. Dropping the turkey is generally not good on Thanksgiving.

The final two tools address post-meal safety.

A cooking timer ensures leftovers get refrigerated within two hours, preventing bacterial growth.

Surprisingly, a ruler helps ensure proper food storage. Don Schaffner from Rutgers University recommends keeping dense foods, like stuffing, no deeper than 2 inches for quick cooling.

These simple tools can transform Thanksgiving from a potential catastrophe to a culinary triumph. As hosts prepare for Thursdays feast, these expert recommendations offer practical guidance for safe, successful celebrations.
A growing number of Americans are looking to live abroad to cut their living costs, pay less in taxes and improve their quality of life, The Wall Street Journal reported recently.

About 4.4 million Americans were living overseas as of 2022, up 42% from 2010, the most recent available data from the Department of Defense's Federal Voting Assistance Program show. The number of Americans in Oceania surged 70% during the period, the biggest increase, while Europe saw a 50% rise. Mexico, Canada, the U.K., France, and Israel host the largest populations of Americans living abroad.

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Buying Peace of Mind'

The migration of Americans abroad is not limited to wealthy individuals who can obtain new passports through investment, the Journal said. Financial advisers told the newspaper that middle-income Americans aiming to stretch their dollars and improve their financial situation are behind the trend.

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"They're buying peace of mindthe ability to choose where they live, how they're taxed, and what kind of life they build." Andrew Henderson, founder of Nomad Capitalist, a global advisory firm that helps clients lower taxes through international mobility, told the Journal.

Trending: $100k+ in investable assets? Match with a fiduciary advisor for free to learn how you can maximize your retirement and save on taxes  no cost, no obligation.

The FVAP data also showed that Americans living overseas who are eligible to vote in federal elections are highly educated, with 68% holding a bachelor's degree, compared with 34% of the voting-age population in the U.S.

Chasing a Better Lifestyle'

The COVID-19 pandemic played a key role in the growing trend of moving abroad, Henderson told the Journal.

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"During COVID, people realized the U.S. wasn't as free or affordable as they thought," Henderson said. "If you're earning an average salary in New York, you're still paying a lot. And then there are those chasing a better lifestylewarmer climate, more space, lower costs."

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This article Finding 'Peace of Mind' Abroad  Millions Of Americans Looking to Move Overseas Amid Soaring Cost of Living originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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The Baia delle Zagare (Zagare Bay) is one of the best-kept secrets in Italy with white-pebble beaches, steep limestone cliffs, and two prominent sea stacks. The hills above it are topped with large Aleppo pine and beech trees, while its sparkling water appears blue, green, and every shade in between depending on how the sunlight hits. Once you catch a whiff of the fragrant orange blossoms in the air, you'll be thoroughly enchanted.

It's easy to avoid the bustling crowds at this Italian beachside hot spot, although you'll probably be scratching your head as to why this gorgeous bay has managed to remain under the radar. The answer? Its location. Also known as the Baia dei Mergoli (Mergoli Bay) due to the merli (blackbirds) that nest here, the stunning stretch of coast is located inside the Parco Nazionale del Gargano (Gargano National Park). The park's 300,000 acres include the Umbra Forest, the largest deciduous forest in the country, and a protected natural marine reserve known as the Tremiti Islands. The Gargano, the mountainous promontory on which the national park sits, is in the northernmost part of Puglia. This region, considered the heel of Italy's boot, is a gorgeous and very overlooked Italian destination along the Adriatic Sea.

Read more: Rick Steves Recommends Cinque Terre's Only Resort Town For A Vibrant Italian Getaway

Getting to the Baia delle Zagare in Puglia, Italy

The beach, limestone cliffs, and sea stack at Baia delle Zagare in the Foggia province of Puglia, Italy - Roberto De Ficis/Shutterstock

Even with a car, the Baia delle Zagare is difficult to access. It's about a two-hour drive north of the closest airport in the region's capital city of Bari. The Bari International Airport (BRI) has direct flights from across Europe, including many nonstop flights from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), one of the cheapest airports to fly into Italy, every day. If you aren't staying at a nearby hotel or visiting the beach on a boat tour, you will need to pick up a day pass in Mattinata, a beach town along the way. These passes are free; however, only 30 are allotted each day. If you manage to secure one, you then have to find a paid parking spot and follow a steep path down to the beach.

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You'll probably be hot and sweaty by the time you reach the beach, but you'll have the sparkling sea to cool off in. Set your backpack down, have a sip of water, and take in your beautiful surroundings. The beaches, Baia delle Zagare and Baia dei Faraglioni, have a mixture of sand and smooth white pebbles. They are bordered by steep cliffs, which have been carved by the wind on one side. Crystal-clear water and small waves await on the other side, while the two sea stacks, the Arco di Diomede and the scissor-shaped Le Forbici, rise up from the sea.

Things to do at Baia delle Zagare

A view of Baia delle Zagare and the sea stacks from a nearby hill on a sunny day - Pawel Kazmierczak/Shutterstock

After taking in the stunning view from the beach, it's finally time to cool off in the water. Visitors can look forward to swimming in the turquoise water, snorkeling, or scuba diving to discover the underwater rock formations. Or you can stay above the water and rent a kayak. This allows you to paddle out and see the sea stacks up close. There is also a hiking trail with spectacular views of the coastline. The Sentiero dell'Amore (the Path of Love) connects the Baia delle Zagare with the nearby Baia di Vignanotica (Bay of Vignanotica). The rocky path is lined with olive trees, wild rosemary, and that sweet scent of orange blossoms.

For those who can't stomach the thought of leaving at the end of the day, you're in luck. The Hotel Baia delle Zagare is perched on the cliffs high above the bay with uninterrupted ocean views. Its elegant restaurant, fitness center, and outdoor pool also overlook the water. Best of all, a panoramic lift, instead of the steep stairs, carries guests straight down to either beach. The hotel is a splurge with August rates starting at $426 per night, but off-season travelers will be rewarded with less expensive prices. Be sure to set your alarm for the morning because you won't want to miss sunrise on the empty beach.

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Read the original article on Explore.
With crowded airports and potential winter weather, travel disruptions may not be far behind this holiday season. A record number of Americans are expected to travel domestically for Thanksgiving, alone.

Whether youre hitting the skies or the high seas, its worth doing some research before departure on what youre owed and  and what you can do  if something goes wrong. The Department of Transportation, for example, has rules about how airlines must compensate passengers if their flights are cancelled or significantly changed or delayed.

USA TODAY has rounded up what travelers need to know, from lost luggage to postponing a cruise and more.

What if my flight is delayed?

If your flight is delayed significantly for a reason in the airline's control, you are entitled to a refund if you choose not to travel. If you decide to stick it out, you may still be entitled to some compensation or accommodation, including rebooking on another flight or airline at no cost, meal and lodging vouchers for qualifying delays and other benefits.You can find USA TODAYs guide to flight delay compensation here.

What if my flight is canceled?

You're entitled to a refund if you choose not to travel. If you take alternative flights the airline offers, you could still be eligible for other compensation under commitments various airlines have made to the Department of Transportation.

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Heres what to do if your flight is canceled.

What if my airline loses my luggage?

The Department of Transportation has specific requirements for how airlines need to respond if a bag gets damaged, delayed or goes missing, and part of that process typically involves passengers filing a claim with the airline.

Heres what youre entitled to if your luggage is lost, delayed or damaged.

What if I need a refund for my theme park visit?

Fortunately, most parks allow guests to reschedule visits and even get refunds in some cases.

What to know about getting a refund on your theme park tickets.

Travelers wait in line at a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on November 25, 2025, ahead of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

What if I need to postpone or cancel my cruise?

While many travelers book cruises months or even years in advance, plans can change in the time between making a reservation and setting sail. But canceling or rescheduling a cruise can be different from other kinds of travel.

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Heres what to do if you need to delay your cruise, or scrap those plans altogether.

What if my cruise had substantive itinerary changes?

While major changes are relatively uncommon, weather, geopolitical developments and technical issues can force a cruise line to reroute, scrapping stops or taking guests somewhere other than planned.

What you are  and arent  owed if your cruise itinerary is changed.

Do I need travel insurance?

Seasoned travelers know to expect the unexpected. From canceled flights to food poisoning, travel plans can go awry for a number of reasons. A way to safeguard yourself from financial loss when your trip doesnt go as planned is by having travel insurance.

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How to know if you need travel insurance, and what it covers.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A traveler's guide to refunds, rebooking, and avoiding disruptions
As a travel writer, I used to think I had packing down to a science. But, each time I cursed cobblestone while bumping my suitcase through Europe or yanked a rolling bag through sand to reach my beach bungalow, I realized that even the chicest suitcase will still weigh down your trip. These days, I travel nearly half the yearfor work, for pleasure, for whatever you call family trips with a toddler. And I almost never bring a suitcase. Instead, I rent nearly everything I need and have it sent directly to my destination. Once I got a taste for traveling hands-free, I was hooked.

Heres exactly how I pull it off, and how you can, too.

Fashion Things First

Lets start with the obvious: clothes. You probably already know you can rent a designer outfit for a wedding, but you can also build a full travel wardrobe and have it shipped straight to your hotel or Airbnb. While buying new vacation clothes is a thrill in itself, shopping a rental site can bring you the same fresh look without the suitcaseor post-vacation laundry. In major cities across the U.S. (and more globally every day), you can rent everyday outfits, travel-friendly layers, and statement pieces for nights out, plus accessories like hats, bags, and sunglasses.

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Rent the Runway is my go-to in the U.S.they offer a Reserve option in which you choose specific items for your trip window. You can set the drop off location as your destination and have it picked up there, too. I try to stick with designers whose fit I am familiar with instead of trying to guess on sizing, and I check the weather report ahead of time to make sure to add in a coat if itll be cold. For my recent 40th birthday celebration in Las Vegas, I arrived with just what I wore on the plane and had five head-to-toe looks waiting at my hotel. International options are popping up as well; HURR in the U.K. and Trent in Spain offer similar services.

Courtesy Michelle Stansbury The author on her 40th birthday trip, for which she rented five full outfits. The author on her 40th birthday trip, for which she rented five full outfits.

I also check whether the hotel offers laundry service or identify a nearby fluff-and-fold to wash my travel clothes (usually a Spanx AirEssentials coord set) so theyre fresh for the way home. For longer stays, this works for outfits you want to repeat, as well.

Borrow the Beauty Tools

Upscale hotels have been stepping up their amenity game, and Ive learned to take full advantage. Want a hair straightener? Many properties will lend you one on request. Need a skin care fridge? Ask the front desk. Prefer a garment steamer to an iron? Odds are they have one. When in doubt, I email the concierge before I arrive with a short list of things I might want to borrow or rent to see what they have available. Theyve seen it alland theyre usually happy to help. My go-to is a curling wand and I was able to try a Dyson Airwrap for the first time during my stay at Badrutt's Palace in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Now, I ask for it wherever I travel.



When I visited the Golden Door in Southern California, the room came stocked with an entire high-end skincare line, including bamboo face scrub and a peel-away masque. But, if youre in an iconic beauty destination (Japan, Korea, France, etc.), plan a trip to the local pharmacy or beauty store for the day you arrive to stock up on toiletries and discover new products. I also use vacations as a time to splurge on blowouts instead of lugging my hair toolssome airports even have a salon in the terminal so you can get glammed up on a layover. Look for a Be Relax Spa, which has dozens of airport locations offering express blowouts, or search for a more high-end salon experience wherever you have a layover, like the Cuttour Hair Studio at Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore.

Sea, Slopes, and SafariRent Adventure Gear

Cold-weather packing is a suitcase killer. Between boots, puffy coats, and thermal layersnot to mention ski gearits a lot. While I rarely travel to chilly destinations, I couldnt turn down an incredible assignment in Iceland and didnt want to invest in a kit I wasnt sure Id ever use again. By borrowing location-appropriate gear, like a snowsuit, through my hotel, South Icelands Hotel Ranga, I got top-quality without the commitment. Since they dont carry as extensive a selection as an online rental site, choices were limited, but they still had enough options in the usual sizes.

Courtesy Michelle Stansbury For a safari in Africa, the author was able to rent a Canon camera. For a safari in Africa, the author was able to rent a Canon camera.

Same goes for tropical getaways. While you probably dont need to rent a bikini, the rest of your beach gear can likely be procured at your destination. Think: snorkel set, beach umbrella, cooler, and boogie boards or surf boards. Many hotels now offer a little library of books you can borrow if youre looking for a beach read, so I leave my Kindle at home and instead pick out a paperback to toss into my bag once I arrive. Since Im particular about using mineral sunscreen, I order a full-size Sunly directly to my hotel so I can reapply without worrying about spreading only 3 ounces of SPF out across the entire trip. If youre shipping an online order to the hotel, make sure to include your booking confirmation number, along with your name, to help ensure the package gets to you upon check-in.

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If you love photographyor want to try out a professional camera in a beautiful localetry renting a high-end camera and lens. My favorite part of going on safari in Masai Mara, Kenya was discovering that there was a Canon photo studio at the JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge that lent me nearly $8,000 of camera equipment so I could capture stunning photos of lions hunting, cheetah cubs playing, and giraffes backlit against the sunrise.

Family Vacations Are No Exception

Courtesy Michelle Stansbury The author and her 3-year-old daughter The author and her 3-year-old daughter

Many of the trips I take are with my daughter, now 3 years old, which means packingor planningfor two. While I understand the urge to overpack with a little one in tow, since Im a single mom, I also don't want to be burdened with carrying too much stuff. If youve ever tried flying solo lugging a pack-n-play, car seat, and a stroller while also wrangling a toddler, you know what I mean. Instead, we take the small Stokke JetKids ride-on suitcase to cruise around the airport (and fill it with snacks and plane activities) and rent nearly everything else.



BabyQuip is the gold standard for renting kids gear during travelthey operate in hundreds of cities around the world and offer everything from strollers and SlumberPods to toy packages tailored by age. I use them even when I travel solo for items like blackout curtains, humidifiers, and a white noise machine to create my very own sleep-cation. They expanded into pet gear earlier this year, if youre traveling with a fur baby!

So When Do I Bring a Suitcase?

Honestly, not often. For off-the-beaten-track trips without access to much urban infrastructure, it's good to be prepared with everything you need. Or, for travel that involves changing locations every couple of days, like my recent island hopping whirlwind in Fiji, Ill bring a compact bag.

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Packing light isnt just about saving space; its about freeing yourself from the baggage of, well, baggage. The last time I walked right past baggage claim and into the Parisian sunlight with nothing but my tote bag and a croissant? Ive never felt more main character energy.



Read the original article on InStyle
Deciding what to stock in the pantry can sometimes be a bit of a head-scratcher when you're walking the aisles at the grocery store. Some things get used regularly, while you may find some cans at the back of the shelf that you hadn't laid eyes on in years. If you don't already regularly stock them, canned beans are a great, high-protein option to have on hand, and canned corn is perfect to keep around because it's an easy addition to any number of salads, and, let's be honest, pretty delicious on its own when heated up in a pan.

But we're going to make the case for canned green chiles as another one of the canned foods you should always keep in your pantry. They are a simple one-ingredient upgrade to give your next dinner some zing, and they're extremely versatile. Sure, they belong on Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes, but they can be used in a surprising array of savory dishes. Canned green chiles will last at least two years, probably even longer, so even if they get lost in the back of the pantry, they'll likely still be full of delicious flavor when you happen upon them. They also come in a variety of sizes, as small as 4-ounce cans, so you generally don't have to worry about waste, and because they come pre-diced, you can use them right out of the can. They're super simple to use and will add an amazing spicy kick with no extra prep.

Read more: 7 Must-Have Canned Foods And 7 To Avoid In Your Pantry

How to use canned green chiles for your next dish

Rows of chopped canned green chiles at the supermarket, a stack of canned whole chipotle peppers next to them. - The Image Party/Shutterstock

Canned chiles come in different heat levels, marked right on the can, from mild to hot, so you can choose just how spicy you want to go, though the heat level indicated may vary from brand to brand. They have an interesting flavor profile that hits all five tastes  with high notes of bitter, salty, sweet, sour, and even some umami, because they contain glutamic acid, an amino acid that gives many foods their umami taste.

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When using canned green chiles to upgrade your quesadillas or as a simple topper on your tacos, all you have to do is toss them in. An obvious choice, but a must-try for the uninitiated: queso dip. You can make a basic queso dip with Velveeta cheese, canned chili (no beans), canned green chiles, and canned tomatoes or jarred salsa. Another interesting spicy green chile dip calls for a simple blend of sour cream, mayonnaise, canned green chiles, chopped cilantro, lime juice, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. It's super creamy with an abundance of flavors that blend together seamlessly.

Turn your simple pot roast recipe into a Texas pot roast with the addition of canned green chiles and canned tomatoes. Or give a little punch of spice and some crunchy texture to your pulled pork sandwich. And green chiles truly shine to add more depth to your soups, from pozole to American chicken soup to tomato soup. But one simple recipe you may have never considered: green chile ice cream. You can go deep into sundae territory with all the fixings or simply mix them into your vanilla ice cream. It's a flavor contrast that will prove just how versatile these canned, green little devils can be.

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Read the original article on Chowhound.
Ive always been the kind of traveler who seeks out the spa before sunrise hikes, the boutique before the mountain trail. For me, adventure usually meant an afternoon of shopping or trying a new facial treatment, preferably followed by a good meal and a plush robe.

But my recent stay at Ka Lai Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts, flipped that definition on its head. What began as another luxury getaway quickly became the trip that pushed me far beyond my comfort zone and made me fall in love with the kind of adventure Id usually scroll past in someone elses TikTok feed.

Where Luxury Feels Personal

From the moment I arrived, I felt personally welcomed into my new luxury home away from home. Before I even made it to my room, Id been offered recommendations tailored to the things I love: food, culture, nature. And once I walked into my room, everything shifted. It felt like stepping into the dream apartment I didnt know I needed. Two bathrooms, a washer and dryer, a spacious living area perfect for unwinding between outings, and a stand-up shower so beautiful I actually looked forward to getting ready every morning. I found myself lingering on the balcony each day, watching Waikiki wake up below me.

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By day two, the staff knew me by name. When I mentioned in passing that I loved poke, they later had it delivered straight to my room. And not just any poke  Foodland, the beloved Hawaiian supermarket locals swear by. It was such a thoughtful nod to the island and to me. And that level of attention made stepping into new experiences feel less intimidating and more exciting.

Saying Yes To A New Kind Of Adventure

Still, it was the outings that truly expanded what I thought adventure could be. Through LXRs Pursuit of Adventure program, which helps guests immerse themselves in the culture, character, and hidden stories of each destination, I found myself saying yes to things I normally wouldnt prioritize.

I started with a guided rainforest hike led by a National Geographic-affiliated expert. We walked through a lush, green maze of native plants while our guide shared stories about the lands history, the significance of certain species, and Hawaiis ongoing conservation efforts. By the time we reached a lookout point with endless ocean views, I realized I was no longer thinking about the distance or the incline. I was simply in awe of where I was and what I was learning. After I returned to the hotel, my sneakers were whisked away, cleaned, and returned to my room without me asking. It was the kind of thoughtful touch that makes you feel supported in your leap outside of your comfort zone.

But the moments that stayed with me most werent only the physically challenging ones. They were the cultural ones. I joined a lei-making class expecting something light and crafty, and instead found myself immersed in the meaning behind each flower and strand. Sitting in a circle with people I had never met before, learning something so rooted in Hawaiian identity, created space for conversations and connections that felt unexpectedly intimate. It reminded me that adventure is not always about the adrenaline. Sometimes its about shared learning and cultural understanding.

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That sense of connection carried into everything I did that week. Sailing and spotting sea animals, indulging in farm-to-table meals, wandering the beach at sunset, and yes, finding time for shopping. But everything felt grounded in the soul of the island, not the schedule of a visitor checking boxes. It was adventure, but it was also belonging.

A Shift I Didnt See Coming

Before this trip, I would have told you hiking was not for me. That I preferred vacations with minimal sweat and maximum comfort. But Ka Lai showed me that the two do not have to exist on opposite ends of the spectrum. Luxury and adventure can live side by side, and when they do, they create a version of travel that is richer, more meaningful, and far more memorable.

That is the beauty of the Pursuit of Adventure program. It does not ask you to become someone else. It simply expands the way you see the world by meeting you where you are and inviting you one step further.

Now, when I think about my next trip, I am not just looking for the best spa menu. I am wondering where I can lace up my sneakers and see the world from a new perspective. And that shift from observer to participant, from comfort to curiosity, is the real souvenir I brought home from Hawaii.







The post How One Trip To Hawaii Made Me Fall For Adventure appeared first on Travel Noire.
Stores across the country are breaking out the decorations as the holiday shopping rush kicks into gear.

If you're one of the 49% of Americans who planned to start buying gifts before Halloween, according to a survey from Bankrate, you likely have already begun adding to your cart. As you're on the hunt for the latest Apple product or the perfect gift trending on TikTok, keep in mind that you can extend your generosity to those beyond your family and friends.

Plenty of Indianapolis-area organizations are seeking donations or extra hands to bring gifts, meals and more to Hoosiers this holiday season. Here are a few ways you can get involved:

Damar Services

What to know: Damar Services, which supports those with developmental, intellectual and behavioral challenges, offers several ways for volunteers to spread the holiday spirit. Volunteers can shop and wrap gifts for 200 children who are living at Damar during the holiday season.

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When: Time slots are available Dec. 9 and 10. The shopping and wrapping will take place at the Meijer in Camby, 10509 Heartland Blvd.

How to get involved: Visit damar.volunteerhub.com/vv2 to find opportunities and sign up.

Kids' Voice of Indiana

What to know: Kids' Voice of Indiana is a legal advocacy service dedicated to helping youth in the family court and welfare system. The nonprofit runs an annual holiday gift drive and has collected 900 wish lists from the youth involved in its programs. Donors can sponsor gifts from a childs personalized wish list ($100$150 per list), host a toy drive for unwrapped gifts to help fulfill wish lists or make a financial contribution to help the organization purchase gifts and stock its Youth Enrichment Closet, where staff select gifts to deliver to children.

When: Sponsors should drop off gifts at FlexPAC, located at 6075 Lakeside Blvd., on Dec. 6 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

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How to get involved: Sponsor a wish list or donate at https://tinyurl.com/4duv53p2 and find more information at https://www.kidsvoicein.org/gift-drive/

Salvation Army Angel Tree

What to know: Donors can choose to buy gifts for an "angel," or a child in need, through the Salvation Army's Christmas Assistance Program. Volunteers will receive a personalized list to pick out gifts for the child they choose and then drop off the gifts by a given due date at designated locations. The Salvation Army asks that volunteers spend at least $125 per angel. Cash donations are also welcome for those who are unable to sponsor an angel.

How to get involved: To learn more and sign up as a sponsor, visit tinyurl.com/4wnbtp5z.

Jonathan Fridell wraps up a gift with family members at the Jewish Community Center, Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, during an adopt-a-family event. Over 70 families will be helped by volunteers through the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis efforts to distribute donated gifts for the less-fortunate during Chanukah.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis

What to know: The Jewish Federation, a network of agencies, people and programs that provide services to support the Jewish community, offers a few ways to get involved during the Hanukkah season.

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Through the Adopt-A-Family program, volunteer individuals and groups are assigned a wish list for a family or individual. There is no minimum, though the organization usually gives gifts that range from $100 to $200 to each person.

From 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 7, volunteers can participate in Community Day at 6701 Hoover Road, where they'll wrap gifts and participate in a service project for Popsie's Pantry.

Those who would like to donate to the Jewish Federation's food pantry can bring shelf-stable foods, hygiene supplies, and cleaning supplies to 6905 Hoover Road.

When: After purchasing the items, volunteers can drop them off at 6905 Hoover Road on weekdays before Dec. 7. Those dropping off items on Dec. 7 should do so between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at 6701 Hoover Road.

How to get involved: Visit jewishindianapolis.org/adoptafamily for more information.

The Villages of Indiana

What to know: The nonprofit child and family services agency provides support for foster care licensing and placement, adoption, new parents, kinship caregivers and more. The organization has several opportunities to give or volunteer:

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Buy gifts from the organization's Amazon Holiday wish list at tinyurl.com/4x7bj42b and ship to the Villages of Indiana's main office for them to distribute around the state.

Host a holiday gift drive, tree or similar event at your business, place of worship, school or club to collect Spirit of Giving wish list items at tinyurl.com/48fh6rdd.

When: Gifts, which should be new and unwrapped, are due by Dec. 12 to your nearest Villages office. Find the locations at villageskids.org/contact-us.

How to get involved: Find more information about each option at villageskids.org/spiritofgiving

The Damien Center

What to know: The Damien Center, which serves Hoosiers who are living with or at risk of HIV, has partnered with the discount store Indy Underpriced for a new event that invites the center's clients and their families to shop at no cost during nonpublic hours. The shoppers can choose household items, winter clothing, baby and kids essentials, toys and hygiene products. They'll also receive a Kroger gift card.

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How to get involved: Volunteers can support the organization in the following ways.

Until the end of the year, donate at damien.org/give and write in the notes that the donation will go toward Holiday Assistance.

Visit the center's Amazon wish list at tinyurl.com/mr3at38a. The items will be shipped directly to the center.

Local food pantries and food distribution networks

Indianapolis-area food pantries always accept donations, but extra help is especially needed during the holiday season. Here are a few local organizations and how to donate to them:

Indiana Hunger Network : The coalition of nonprofits, corporations and government agencies accepts donations here.

Central Indiana Food Relief Fund : United Way's fundraising initiative benefiting Gleaners, Second Helping and the Midwest Food Bank has already reached $1 million. You can add to that total here.

Gleaners : The food bank distributor cannot accept food donations but does encourage monetary contributions. Its donation page is available here.

Second Helpings : The organization's donation link is available here. A $100 donation buys 57 meals for children in low-income daycares and after-school programs, its website says.

Midwest Food Bank : The organization provides food to more than 300 food banks across Indiana's 62 counties. Donate here.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul : Indianapolis' largest food pantry network accepts donations here.

Crooked Creek Food Pantry: For every $2 donated, the food pantry can deliver up to $10 in groceries. Learn more about donating here.

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Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Find her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.

Contact Indystar Pop Culture Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X @hmb_1013.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Want to help over the holidays? Here's how to shop for families in need
The dispute over two iPhones Massachusetts State Police seized from Karen Read nearly 2 years ago has intensified since an October court hearing, with back-and-forth court filings obtained by 25 Investigates.

The conflict revolves around Special Prosecutor Robert Cosgroves push to search the phones for evidence that Read plotted with controversial content creator Aidan Kearney (Turtleboy) to intimidate witnesses.

Reads newest criminal defense attorney, Benjamin P. Urbelis, who spoke to Investigative Reporter Ted Daniel by Zoom, said he believes the search is driven by pressure on the DAs office to get her for something after the murder acquittal.

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For the first time, Special Prosecutor Robert Cosgrove responded directly to 25 Investigates by email, stating that any suggestion that his ongoing investigation of Read is an act of retribution is unfounded public relations spin.

During the Read retrial, before any verdict, I filed a memorandum in another case in which I explicitly advised the court that I considered the conspiracy investigation to remain open, Cosgrove wrote.

The State Police, through an affidavit from Lt. Brian Tully, confirmed in November 2025 that Reads passwords are needed to access the iPhones. Tully argued that since Read and Kearney communicated using the highly secure Signal app, Reads device may contain Kearneys replies that werent found on Kearneys phone.

Kearneys phones were seized several months before Reads. Hes facing witness intimidation and other related charges which he denies on the grounds of free speech.

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Reads lawyers are strongly challenging the validity of Lt. Tullys affidavit, arguing that Read has filed a civil rights lawsuit against Tully personally. They argue this suit creates a major conflict of interest and suggests Tully is impermissibly biased against Read, given his role in the previous murder case and his recent disciplinary reassignment.

The prosecution claimed Read assented to the delay in the search because she waited to file a motion, but Reads legal team fired back, arguing her silence during the murder trial was simply her asserting her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. They said it would have been highly-concerning for her to voluntarily provide her phone passcode while facing a murder charge.

At a hearing in October, Judge Peter Krupp did not appear opposed to a search, but the legal filings since then have complicated the matter.

Cosgrove maintains he works independently of the Norfolk DAs office and that the investigation was moving forward regardless of the outcome of Reads murder trial. Judge Krupp will ultimately decide whether to allow the search to proceed or order the phones returned to Karen Read.

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Three people have been arrested in connection with a deadly stabbing in Brockton on Monday afternoon, authorities said.

Tony Gomes, 35, Emerson Munguia, 19, and Tynigel Belgrave, 28, are slated to be arraigned Tuesday in Brockton District Court on a charge of murder in the death of 27-year-old Steevenson Estimphil, according to the Plymouth District Attorneys Office.

Officers responding to a report of a stabbing in the area of Spring Street just after 12:15 p.m. found Estimphil suffering from a stab wound to his neck, investigators noted.

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Estimphil was rushed to Boston Medical Center South in Brockton, where he died from his injuries.

Through video surveillance and interviews with witnesses, investigators said they learned that an altercation occurred in the parking lot of Jacks Place, an outreach program, leading to the identification of the three suspects.

An investigation remains ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Protests advocating for greater agricultural sovereignty sprung up in Canada in November 2025, but some images spreading on social media of an apparent tractor roll demonstration were generated by artificial intelligence. Warped details indicate the visuals are synthetic -- and one account pushing them is a Pakistan-based page impersonating a Canadian public figure.

"Did you support our farmers ??" asks a November 23, 2025 post on X.

The post reshares an image depicting scores of tractors rolling though a city with signs calling to "Save Canadian Produce Farms!" The same account shared a similar image earlier in the month depicting farm vehicles in a snowy rural setting.

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Both images also spread via X and Facebook.

Screenshot of an X post taken November 24, 2025

Screenshot of an X post taken November 25, 2025

Following the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's controversial cull of some 400 ostriches in British Columbia province on November 6, calls spread for a "farmer's protest" against what advocates said was government overreach (archived here). Local media reported that several protests took place across Canada on November 22.

Much of the promotion for the farmer protests used tractor imagery, evoking scenes from previous European demonstrations (archived here and here).

But farm equipment was absent from many of the images of the actual protests highlighted in reports and posted to social media (archived here and here).

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The tractor-heavy pictures spreading online appear to have been created using artificial intelligence.

The signs seen in the tractor roll images contain garbled text, indicating that they were AI-generated. Warped faces and Canadian flags with non-descript red circles -- instead of the flag's signature maple leaf -- also suggest the images are inauthentic.

Screenshot of an X post taken November 24, 2025 with highlights added by AFP

Screenshot of an X post taken November 24, 2025 with highlights added by AFP

The Hive Moderation detection tool rated the two pictures as "likely" to contain AI-generated content.

Screenshot of the Hive Moderation AI-detection tool taken November 25, 2025

Screenshot of the Hive Moderation AI-detection tool taken November 25, 2025

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Reverse image searches traced both of the pictures to a Facebook page called "Tamara lich," which had previously posted other apparently synthetic visuals of farmer protests.

The name appears to reference Tamara Lich, a leader of the 2022 "Freedom Convoy" to Ottawa that may have inspired the farmer protests. But the real Lich posts on a separate Facebook page (archived here).

The Page Transparency section for the imposter "Tamara lich" profile says the account is based not in Canada, but in Pakistan (archived here).

Read more of AFP's reporting on misinformation in Canada here.
A Georgia man tells Channel 2 Action News Investigates the airbag in his minivan went off without warning. He has spent months trying to warn Honda and others about the safety concern.

It was an explosion, right? It was like a bomb. said Pavan Nanduri. All the passenger side curtains, airbags, everything popped up, deployed.

Now after Channel 2 Action News investigates started asking questions, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the popular Honda Odyssey minivan after several drivers say their airbags went off for no reason, leaving some on the hook for huge repair costs.

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Nanduri was behind the wheel of his familys 2018 Honda Odyssey minivan when the airbags went off without any accident to cause them. The sudden distraction nearly caused him to crash.

Im lucky, right, and probably the people around me that day, he said. Everybodys lucky.

When he reported the accident to Honda, the automaker denied any responsibility. In a letter, American Honda told Nanduri that their review found no evidence of defects in factory materials or workmanship.

The weirdest part is they are saying, we didnt find any reason, Nanduri said. Im not buying that.

Nanduri paid a company to review his minivans event data recorder, a black box that tracks sensor data from across the vehicle. It confirmed that there was no record of a crash.

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According to a letter from his insurance company, Nanduris claim was rejected, leaving him on the hook for a $9,000 repair bill. The insurance company, State Farm, denied the claim precisely because there was no collision.

Driver testimonies in a NHTSA database tell a similar story according to complaints they filed with the agency.

Across the 20 complaints we found with similar issues across multiple model years of Honda Odyssey minivans, several drivers were left to fend for themselves after their airbags deployed without a crash.

Some drivers in that database wrote that they were just on a normal flat city road, or that it happened just prior to reaching daycare. One driver even noted that his daughter was hospitalized after the airbags went off without cause.

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Essentially, youre left with nowhere to turn but your own wallet to pay for the problems, said Michael Brooks, who leads the Center for Auto Safety. Its incredibly frustrating for owners in that situation, and this happens in a lot of defect situations.

NHTSA announced an investigation at the end of October, just weeks after Channel 2 Action News Investigates submitted a Freedom of Information Act request with questions based on driver complaints. The investigation is looking at similar issues for Honda Odysseys with model years between 2018 and 2022.

The very thing thats supposed to be protecting you is causing a safety issue, Brooks said. Thats a really bad thing to them, and it suggests that theyre going to be pretty aggressive in handling this investigation.

NHTSA will work with Honda to collect the companys internal complaint data and gather more information about the vehicles design.

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While there is no recall now, an investigation is an important early step in deciding whether one should be issued. It also helps investigators determine if the same issue could be showing up in other vehicles that share the same components.

Honda told Channel 2 Action News in a statement, Honda is committed to safety. Honda has already been in communication with the agency on these topics and will continue to cooperate with NHTSA as the investigations continue.

As part of the investigation, NHTSA contacted Nanduri directly earlier this month for more details about what happened to him. For him, it comes after he spent weeks trying to bring this issue to Hondas attention through email and social media.

Its a dangerous thing, Nanduri said. I dont know why they are taking it so easy because its a life-threatening issue, period.

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UPDATE: Clayton County police say Roman Williams, a 2-month-old boy, has been found safe in Nashville, Tennessee. He was abducted by Tariq Williams, 25 years old. Williams has been taken into custody.

Police activated a Levis Call, Georgias Amber Alert system, for a 2-month-old boy believed to have been abducted in Rex on Tuesday.

Clayton County police said Roman Williams, a 2-month-old boy, may be in extreme danger, according to the alert. He was last seen at 8:35 a.m. wearing a gray onesie.

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He was abducted by Tariq Williams, 25 years old, 5-foot-7 and 120 pounds, police said.

The child was taken following a dispute where Tariq Williams, the father, assaulted the mother and took her car along with Roman, according to a news release.

They were last seen at Lake Harbin Road in Rex and heading toward I-75. They are driving in a silver 2017 Volkswagen Passat, Georgia tag number DCA8894.

Investigators believe Williams is traveling southbound, possibly with the intention of going to Florida.

Warrants for Williams have been obtained for kidnapping, false imprisonment, simple battery, theft by taking-motor vehicle, theft by taking, interference with a 911 call, and third-degree cruelty to children.

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Anyone with information is urged to contact Clayton County Police Department at 678-610-4781 or call 911.

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Americans will get more free national park days in 2026, but it's going to cost foreign tourists much more to visit some of the most popular parks.

Starting Jan. 1, "nonresidents without an annual pass will pay a $100 per person fee to enter 11 of the most visited national parks, in addition to the standard entrance fee," among other charges, the Department of Interior announced Nov. 25.

"These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations," Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a news release in line with an executive order designed to "allow more Americans to visit national parks."

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Heres what all national park visitors should know:

A new U.S. resident version of the American the Beautiful pass for public lands access features Presidents George Washington and Donald Trump.

How much does it cost to visit national parks?

Not all national parks charge entry fees. Those that do typically top out at $35 per private vehicle.

To save money on multiple trips, visitors can buy an America the Beautiful annual pass. Pricing for those will stay flat for U.S. residents at $80.

But starting Jan. 1, annual passes will cost $250 for nonresidents. And international travelers who opt out of annual passes will be subject to extra $100-per-person fees at several bucket-list parks.

Residents will be asked to enter their ZIP code when buying passes through Recreation.gov and show a U.S. government-issued photo ID when using the passes. Visitors without such identification will be asked to upgrade to a nonresident annual pass, according to the Interior Department. It said existing passes will continue to be honored until expiration.

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Revenue generated by the new pricing will be invested into the parks for upgrades and improvements as well as essential maintenance.

From Acadia to Zion: What travelers should know about America's national parks

Watched and photographed by human visitors, a resident bull moose walks through Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bull elk rounds up a female cow during the fall rut in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Watched and photographed by human visitors, a resident bull moose shakes off water from Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bald eagle soars over Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bull elk rounds up a female cow during the fall rut in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Changing aspen leaves are highlighted by fresh snow on the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park scan the area around Sprague Lake on Sept. 15 for wildlife. Sprague Lake is accessible to people who use mobility aids like wheelchairs. A bull elk rounds up a female cow during the fall rut in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Sarah Joaquin holds an elk antler to her head while Jake Kundert takes a photo at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sept. 15, 2025. A bull elk chomps grasses on a fall day in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Changing aspen leaves are highlighted by fresh snow on the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bull elk chomps grasses on a fall day in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Watched and photographed by human visitors, a resident bull moose walks through Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bald eagle soars over Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Changing aspen leaves are highlighted by fresh snow on the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Water drops off the face of a bull elk in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bald eagle soars over Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Watched and photographed by human visitors, a resident elk walks near Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bald eagle soars over Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. An young male elk known as a spike walks through Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bald eagle soars over Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Inspiring National Park wildlife: Moose, elk and bald eagles 1 of 21 Watched and photographed by human visitors, a resident bull moose walks through Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025.

Which national parks are affected?

Sequoia and Kings Canyon are technically different parks but operate as one.

Visitors are asked to stay on boardwalks to not only protect themselves, but fragile thermal features of Yellowstone National Park.

National park fee-free days for 2026

Next year, there will be more free entry dates across national parks, but only U.S. residents will be eligible. The "patriotic fee-free days" will also fall on largely different dates than in recent years.

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Presidents Day: Feb. 16

Memorial Day: May 31

Flag Day/President Donald Trumps birthday: June 14

Independence Day weekend: July 35

110th Birthday of the National Park Service: Aug. 25

Constitution Day: Sept. 17

Theodore Roosevelts birthday: Oct. 27

Veterans Day: Nov. 11

What were the fee-free dates in 2025?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Jan. 20

First day of National Park Week: April 19

Juneteenth National Independence Day: June 19

Great American Outdoors Act signing day : Aug. 4

National Public Lands Day: Sept. 27

Veterans Day: Nov. 11

The sun sets at Grand Canyon National Park. The park is historically tied to 11 Native tribes. Only the Havasupai still live in the canyon.

Other national park changes

In addition to the pricing changes, the Interior Department is rolling out new digital America the Beautiful passes for annual passholders, military, seniors, fourth graders and visitors with disabilities. Those can be stored on mobile devices and linked to physical cards for user convenience.

Going forward, the passes will cover two motorcycles per pass instead of one.

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Also, both digital and physical passes will feature new artwork with "patriotic designs that honor Americas landscapes, heritage and outdoor legacy," the Interior Department said. One pass features presidents George Washington and Donald Trump side by side.

(This story was updated to add a photo and new information.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: National parks are raising prices for some tourists. Here's why.
A German family-owned business association prompted shock in the country's business community after dropping its ban on contacts with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The decision, announced on Tuesday, has been roundly criticized by trade organizations and institutes.

The anti-immigrant AfD, Germany's largest opposition party, is under investigation by domestic intelligence services over its extremist views.

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All other major parties have refused to work with the AfD in a policy known as the "firewall."

Michael Huther, director of the German Economic Institute, told the Handelsblatt newspaper that there are "a number of clear economic reasons against the AfD," which he said has "become increasingly radicalized."

Bitkom, Germany's association for the digital economy association, said the party is "backward-looking in terms of digital policy" and "questions the democratic constitutional state."

The group does not offer AfD politicians a platform at events and digital conferences and said "there are no plans to change this fundamental policy."

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The comments came after the Family Business Association's president Marie-Christine Ostermann, told the Handelsblatt newspaper that the "contact ban" on AfD politicians was lifted in an October meeting.

AfD representatives were invited to the meeting, which was held at a Deutsche Bank branch in Berlin.

In response, Deutsche Bank told dpa that the organization will not be allowed to hold further events at its facilities.

AfD spokesman Daniel Tapp said party co-leader Alice Weidel has been "in regular contact with small and medium-sized enterprises" behind closed doors since 2017.

Weidel welcomed the group's decision, Tapp said. "We expect this decision to trigger a further easing of the relationship between various companies and the AfD."
An Uzbekistan native, who is being detained by federal officials for possible deportation, is the latest to sue an Iowa county over the federal policy of detaining immigrants without bond. (Photo by simpson33 via iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Another Iowa county jail is being sued for holding an individual whos being detained by federal officials for possible deportation.

Javokhir Rahimov-Akobirovich, a native of Uzbekistan who is seeking asylum in the United States, is suing Hardin County Jail Administrator Nick Whitmore and Hardin County Sheriff Dave McDaniel in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.

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Also named as defendants are Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons, St. Paul ICE Field Office Director Peter Berg, and Acting Director for the Executive Office for Immigration Review Sirce Owen.

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In his lawsuit, Rahimov-Akobirovich argues he has lived in the United States for the last five years and first came into contact with ICE when deportation proceedings were initiated in October 2020.

Court records indicate that in December 2020, Rahimov-Akobirovich was released from custody under a $5,000 bond that was approved by an immigration judge in San Diego, California. On Nov. 20, 2025, Rahimov-Akobirovich, who lives in Calexico, California, was traveling through Iowa when he was apprehended by ICE agents and placed in the Hardin County Jail.

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The lawsuit alleges Rahimov-Akobirovich is the victim of the Trump administrations new policy suggesting that every individual held for possible deportation is subject to mandatory detention regardless of how long theyve lived in the United States.

ICE and the DOJ have adopted this position even with the weight of almost every federal district court against them, the lawsuit asserts, adding that without relief from U.S. District Court, Rahimov-Akobirovich faces the prospect of months, or even years, in immigration custody, separated from his family and community.

The lawsuit, which alleges due-process violations and unlawful denial of release on bond, seeks a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order preventing federal officials from moving Rahimov-Akobirovich out of Hardin County until a decision can be reached in the matter. It alleges ICE is ignoring the fact that Rahimov-Akobirovich was free on bond, as approved by an immigration judge, when agents had him jailed in Hardin County.

The Department of Justice and the other defendants in the case have yet to respond to the lawsuit.

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The lawsuit is one of hundreds filed throughout the United States challenging the Trump administrations new interpretation of longstanding immigration laws. Dozens of cases have been filed in Iowa, with many of them naming as defendants the counties in which DHS and ICE are holding people in jail.

For close to 30 years, the DOJ and the courts held that individuals who were living in the United States and were then subject to deportation proceedings were entitled to a hearing on whether they should be released on bond while their deportation case was pending.

In July of this year, the Trump administration, through DHS, ICE and the Department of Justice, announced new guidance regarding the detention of applicants for admission to the United States. The guidance, which has since been declared to be DOJ policy, states that all persons who have entered the United States without inspection are deemed subject to mandatory detention without the possibility of a bond hearing.

On Sept. 5, 2025, the Board of Immigration Appeals issued a decision consistent with the administrations new policy, holding that immigration judges lack the authority to hear bond requests in such cases.

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That shift in policy upends the longstanding interpretation of federal law that said individuals already living in the United States while seeking lawful admission  as opposed to individuals apprehended at the border  were entitled to due process and could argue for pretrial release on bond.

Lawyers for people rounded up and jailed under the administrations new interpretation of the law argue the new policy was crafted in response to Congress appropriation of billions of dollars to expand the immigration system, which will soon enable ICE to double its capacity to jail individuals on any given day.

Since July, immigration judges around the nation have embraced the administrations new interpretation of the law, stating they lack the jurisdiction to determine bond for any person who has entered the United States without inspection, even if that person has resided in the United States for decades.

That, in turn, has led to hundreds of detainees across the country suing DHS, ICE and their local jailers in U.S. District Court, which is entirely separate from Immigration Court. In the overwhelming majority of those cases, federal judges have ruled in favor of the detainees and said those individuals are entitled to bond hearings.

Despite those rulings, immigration judges continue to deny detainees requests for bond hearings, leading to additional lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court.

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Apollo Hospitals has opened its third facility, a 400-bed quaternary care hospital in Swargate, Pune, in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

The hospital will start operations with 250 beds in a phased launch, with expansion plans in place to address the region's increasing healthcare needs.

Apollos expansion is intended to meet the citys changing healthcare needs by incorporating advanced medical technology and aims to serve its stakeholders and various communities.

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The facility is designed to offer high-acuity, technology-supported care for patients across Western India. The new campus introduces a multidisciplinary clinical team and operates on evidence-led protocols.

It features comprehensive critical care, advanced surgical robotics, and precision oncology.

Specialist programmes include transplants, orthopaedics, mother-and-child health, and cardiac sciences, all managed through a unified digital backbone.

Modular operating theatres and integrated ICUs standardise quality, while IoT-driven monitoring and telehealth enhance patient experience and care continuity.

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Apollo Hospitals Pune also features advanced infrastructure with the latest medical technologies.

The facility includes advanced Da Vinci Xi and Mako robotic surgery systems, specialised cardiovascular and transplant units, and digital PET-CT, as well as LINAC radiotherapy for comprehensive cancer treatment.

Apollo Hospitals Group chairman Dr Prathap Reddy said: At Apollo, our mission is to transform healthcare not just in India, but for the world. Inspired by the Heal in India  Heal by India vision, we are creating a global destination where clinical excellence meets compassion and affordability. We want health and happiness in every home of Pune and India.

Supported by more than 100 critical care beds, dedicated mother-and-child floors, level III neonatal and paediatric ICUs, the hospital offers a variety of patient amenities and accommodations.

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Smart hospital features, including mobile access, IoT-based monitoring of patients, and telemedicine, aim to provide a seamless healthcare experience.

In March 2025, Apollo Hospitals announced a strategic collaboration with healthcare technology company Ainnova Tech to integrate AI into disease detection and prediction.

"Apollo Hospitals inaugurates new facility in Pune, India" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand.




An Australian senator has been suspended for a week after wearing a burka in parliament to push for a ban on the Muslim garment.

Pauline Hanson was condemned by fellow senators - and later formally censured - for the stunt on Monday, with one colleague accusing her of "blatant racism".

The Queensland senator, of the anti-immigration One Nation party, was seeking to introduce a bill that would outlaw full face coverings in public  a policy she has long campaigned for.

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It is the second time she has worn the garment  which covers the face and body  in parliament, and said her actions were in protest at the senate rejecting her bill.

Shortly after other lawmakers blocked her from introducing the bill on Monday, she returned wearing a black burka.

"This is a racist senator, displaying blatant racism," said Mehreen Faruqi, a Muslim Greens senator whom the Federal Court last year found was a victim of racial discrimination by Hanson - a judgement the latter is currently appealing.

Fatima Payman, an independent senator from the state of Western Australia, called the stunt "disgraceful".

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Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who serves as leader of the government in the senate, on Tuesday moved a motion to censure Hanson, claiming she "has been parading prejudice as protest for decades".

The motion, which passed 55 votes to five, states that Hanson's actions were "intended to vilify and mock people on the basis of their religion" and were "disrespectful to Muslim Australians".

Wong earlier argued Hanson was "not worthy of a member of the Australian senate".

In a post on Facebook, Hanson wrote: "If they don't want me wearing it - ban the burka."

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She previously wore a burka to parliament in 2017, also calling for a national ban at the time.

In 2016, Hanson was criticised for her maiden speech to the Australian senate, in which she said the country was in danger of being "swamped by Muslims".

It echoed her controversial first speech to the House of Representatives, made in 1996, in which she warned that the country was in danger of being "swamped by Asians".
By Christine Chen

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian food delivery workers are on course to gain minimum pay levels after Uber Eats and DoorDash struck a deal with the country's transport union that is being hailed as a world first.

Under a draft agreement released on Tuesday, their workers would earn at least A$31.30 ($20.19) per hour. That represents an increase of about 25% for some couriers who are paid per delivery and not how long they have worked.

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The deal would put them on par with the minimum wage earned by Australian casual workers.

If approved by the Fair Work Commission, the agreement will go into effect next July.

"For too long gig workers fell through the cracks," Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said in a statement.

"We didn't think it was fair that these workers missed out on minimum standards, and had to rely on tips to survive. That's not the Australian way."

The agreement comes after Australia's centre-left government passed a law last year that defined gig workers as "employee-like" workers and gave them the right to negotiate minimum pay and conditions.

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Uber Eats and DoorDash are the main players in the Australian food delivery market, with Sydney-founded app Menulog set to close local operations at the end of November.

The U.S. companies must also take out accident insurance for their workers, give them access to their records and provide them with more details about each delivery job, according to the agreement.

"It is a world first set of conditions for gig workers performing this work, and it will result in life-transforming wage increases," Michael Kaine, national secretary of the Transport Workers' Union, told a news conference.

"Until this point in time and even as we speak today, there are swathes of workers in the gig economy that are being paid below the minimum national wage."

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Utsav Bhattarai, a Canberra food delivery worker, told the same news conference he had worked through illness and dangerous weather to pay the bills.

"Just one more order, one more hour, just need to keep going  that's the condition that these drivers were living under," he said.

"The change that we're seeing now, it's massive."

Ed Kitchen, Uber Eats managing director for Australia and New Zealand, said in a statement the agreement was a "meaningful step towards building modern laws for modern forms of work" and gave delivery workers protection, security and flexibility.

($1 = 1.5506 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
Authorities have announced an update on a startling discovery made by workers in Bostons Seaport last week.

Construction workers at the Black Falcon Terminal dug up what appeared to be a human skull encased in a slab of concrete on Thursday, prompting a police investigation.

Massachusetts State Police couldnt immediately say whether the skull was human or not.

In an update on Monday, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that the skull is fake and not human, a spokesperson for the Suffolk District Attorneys Office told Boston 25 News.

No additional details were immediately available.

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WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Warren Police Department is investigating after employees of a Warren auto lot called to report thefts of tires and rims.

The employee told police two unknown men had stolen from the business located the 3000 block of Youngstown Road around 3 a.m. Sunday. The car lot owner reported that parts of nine separate vehicles have been stolen from the property.

The owner retrieved security camera footage that reportedly shows on Nov. 23 two men driving a grey Caravan drove onto the property around 3 a.m. and removing the rims and tires of parked cars on the lot.

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Camera footage showed the men leaving the premises, traveling eastbound and then returning moments later, continuing to remove the vehicles tires and rims, according to the incident report.

It also shows them departing eastbound and moments later returning again, where they continued removing the same parts from additional vehicles, and departing eastbound for the final time around 4:50 a.m.

Police observed that the suspects had placed bricks and concrete bags under the frames of the tampered vehicles.

The business owner reported to police that a security guard from Master Security was on the premises at the time of the suspicious activity. As of 5:00 a.m., the guard reported no more activity on the property, according to the incident report.

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Officers reported that they will check the camera footage on Youngstown Warren Road for the described vehicle.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) rebuked the Defense Departments threats to court martial or arrest Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) on Monday, after the senator was among the Democrats who appeared in a video President Trump has suggested was an act of sedition.

Amateur hour once again at the Department of Defense, Bacon, a retired military officer, wrote in a statement on the social platform X.

I thought the video by six Dems was unnecessary and foolish. But the threats of sedition charges and courts martial in response are also crazy, he continued. Lets show some common sense and restraint.

The Nebraska Republican was referring to an earlier post from the Pentagon, which stated it received serious allegations of misconduct against Kelly.

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Further official comments will be limited, to preserve the integrity of the proceedings, the Pentagons announcement read.

The Department of War reminds all individuals that military retirees remain subject to the UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice] for applicable offenses, and federal laws such as 18 U.S.C.  2387 prohibit actions intended to interfere with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces, it continued. Any violations will be addressed through appropriate legal channels.

Bacons analysis follows last weeks fallout over a video that featured Kelly, Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Democratic Reps. Jason Crow (Colo.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.), Chris Deluzio (Pa.) and Maggie Goodlander (N.H.) urging service members not to follow illegal orders.

Their message drew pushback from Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

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This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP??? Trump posted last week on Truth Social.

A short time later, he added: SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!

Democratic leadership condemned the remarks, while Kelly said he was appalled by Trumps threat against his life, and Crow sought protection from Capitol Police.

The Arizona senator added Monday that the Pentagons investigation will not intimidate him.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) defended the presidents earlier comments, arguing Trump was merely defining sedition and not seeking capital punishment for sitting lawmakers.

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Bacon is one of the few GOP members to speak out against the presidents statement.

They said dont follow illegal orders. That is the law by the way, he wrote Monday in a social media post. It was dumb and unnecessary video, but good luck prosecuting someone who is quoting the law.

The Administration should have just pointed out how dumb it was. The threats looked dumber, he added.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Bank of Americas latest Pittsburgh branch will open its doors to customers on Nov. 24 in what the nations second-biggest bank described as a soft opening.

The site, located at 1327 East Carson Street, previously housed a restaurant. The Vault Taproom closed in August 2022.

It will bring the local tally to 14 for BofA, which prefers the term financial center for its locations.

Construction began in June on what BofA calls its Southside Flats location. It will encompass about 4,500 square feet. It will offer cash services, ATMs, bankers for consumer and business customers, a Merrill financial solutions advisor and private meeting space for specialists. The bank did not say how many staffers will be based there.

Click here to read more from our partners at the Pittsburgh Business Times.

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Elon Musk's X erupted in uproar after the rollout of a feature revealing an account's location, exposing what users describe as global troll farms and influence operations on the platform -- including in support of Donald Trump.

X's head of product Nikita Bier launched the feature over the weekend, allowing users "to see the country or region where an account is based," in a bid to boost transparency on a platform that tech experts say is rife with disinformation.

"This is an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town square," Bier wrote on X.

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The launch triggered a wave of online sleuthing.

Almost immediately, the platform flooded with posts flagging dozens of right-wing internet personalities -- promoters of Trump's "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) or "America First" political slogans -- whose location data showed they were in Nigeria, Bangladesh, or Eastern Europe.

Influential pro-Trump accounts that present themselves as US-based but actually operate overseas have circulated 31 false claims over the past 15 months -- including allegations of Democratic corruption -- according to a NewsGuard analysis using the location feature.

The feature also seemed to vindicate researchers who warned during last year's US presidential election that a network of MAGA accounts -- posing as "Trump-supporting independent women" and using stolen photos of European models and influencers -- was operating overseas.

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"X's new account info showed many of these 'American' women were actually based in Thailand, with some tied to Myanmar," Benjamin Strick, the London-based director of investigations at the Centre for Information Resilience, told AFP.

"Before this change we could show these profiles were fake, but we had almost no visibility on where they were run from, and often had to rely on 'slip ups' posted by the accounts, time posting patterns and irregularities in language.

"Now we can see that many of the accounts in this specific network are linked to Southeast Asia, which brings us closer to understanding who might be behind them," Strick added.

- 'Rough edges' -

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Reflecting a hyperpolarized political climate, some right-wing personalities also pointed fingers at left-wing users seemingly posting from suspicious locations.

X, however, cautioned that the location data "may not be accurate and can change periodically."

When users clicked on an account's location, a pop up noted: "The country or region that an account is based can be impacted by recent travel or temporary relocation."

Some users may also be connected via a VPN that can mask their real location.

"There are a few rough edges that will be resolved by Tuesday," Bier wrote after the feature's launch.

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Late Sunday, Bier said an "upgrade" was upcoming that will ensure "accuracy will be nearly 99.99%"

Some users criticized the launch, warning that it could expose the locations of dissidents and protestors in autocratic states. Bier, however, said that for users in countries "where speech has penalties," the feature includes privacy toggles that reveal only the region.

Soon after the launch, some apparent imposter accounts with vast followings were suddenly taken down.

One X handle posing as a fan account for Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, was suspended after users noted that its location was listed as Nigeria.

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The account, which had amassed one million followers, regularly posted pro-Trump content as well as Islamophobic and anti-immigration messages.

As tech platforms scale back content moderation and reduce their reliance on human fact-checkers, disinformation researchers warn of a growing threat from Russian and Chinese actors seeking to sow political chaos in Western countries -- as well as from overseas influencers driven by the prospect of monetary gain.

The new feature "shines a light on a fundamental problem with social media today: paid actors are deliberately inflaming difficult issues because controversy attracts attention," Amy Bruckman, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, told AFP.

"It's a difficult situation, and I believe we need more trustworthy platforms that don't allow people to behave badly."

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Last month, X laid off half of its engineering team responsible for fighting influence operations, spam, and illegal content on the platform, reflecting a push to replace staff with artificial intelligence, The Information reported on Monday.

X did not respond to AFP's request for comment.

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A sentencing decision in the Provincial Court of British Columbia this month revealed the graphic details of a 2024 attack in which the victims were bound, waterboarded, and sexually assaultedall in an effort to steal the familys Bitcoin holdings.

The wrench attack, or physical attack in which an assailant attempts to gain access to a victims cryptocurrency, took place on April 27-28, 2024.

During the home invasion, four men unlawfully entered the victims' home, first gaining access when two of the men dressed as Canadian Post workers sought a signature for a fake package.

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After entering the home, the men then closed the door behind them, and were later joined by two others. Once inside, the victimsa husband, wife, and daughterwere restrained with zip ties.

They were then threatened and beaten as the assailants sought to gain access to the fathers cryptocurrency. As they attempted to access his funds, they forced the daughter to remove her clothes, exposing her genitalia as they recorded multiple videos. She was instructed to say explicit phrases, and was physically assaulted by one of the crew.

The men also waterboarded the husband and wife, and threatened to cut off the husbands genitals if he did not provide them with the access to his funds.

Thief Posing as Delivery Driver Ties Up Homeowner, Steals $11M in Crypto

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The man had reportedly boasted about his success with crypto investments within the Chinese community of British Columbia leading the crew to initially seek 200 Bitcoincurrently valued at around $17.8 millionduring their attack. Later, they lowered their demand to 100 BTC, but ultimately made away with much less, nearly draining the crypto accounts of the victims and making off with around $1.6 million in total.

After being tied up and wrapped in a blanket, eventually the daughter heard a door close and partially freed herself before fleeing the residence and calling 911.

In May of this year, one of the four crew members, Tsz Wing Boaz Chan, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, unlawfully confining the victims, and sexual assault. This month, Chan was sentenced to seven years in jail for his role in the crime.

'Crypto King' Kidnapper Pleads Guilty as Co-Defendants' Trial Delayed

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Wrench attacks are on the rise this year, nearly doubling last years mark according to a recorded count by Jameson Lopp, the co-founder and chief security officer at self-custody crypto wallet platform, Casa.

Lopps database, which extends back to 2014, now counts 60 documented incidents in 2025 alone.

This weekend, a man posing as a delivery driver robbed a San Francisco home owner of $11 million worth of crypto. And on Sunday, a Chinese victim had $10,000 stolen after an alleged kidnapping and robbery in Thailand.

Earlier this year, the high-profile kidnapping and wrench attack of Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife left the crypto entrepreneur with a severed finger.
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered that right-wing former president Jair Bolsonaro begin serving his prison sentence of 27 years and three months for plotting a coup after he lost the last election.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Tuesday ruled that the case had reached its final judgement and that no further appeals were possible.

Bolsonaro, 70, was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

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He will begin serving his sentence in a federal police jail cell in the capital, Brasilia, where he has been detained since Saturday after being deemed a flight risk and removed from home detention.

Bolsonaro, 70, was found guilty in September of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power [Reuters]

At a hearing on Sunday, Bolsonaro admitted trying to open his ankle monitor with a soldering iron until he "came to his senses", court documents show.

He said he had had no intention of fleeing and blamed medicine-induced "paranoia" for damage he caused to the monitor.

Justice Moraes on Tuesday mandated that full-time medical care be given to Bolsonaro, whose medical team has previously said he is suffering from worsening health.

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Supreme Court justices said in September, when Bolsonaro was found guilty of plotting a coup, that he had known of plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Moraes, who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia. The security forces intervened and about 1,500 people were arrested.

The justices found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro, whose plan, they said, was for the military to step in and return him to power.

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Bolsonaro was also barred from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the trial a "witch hunt" designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.

Justice Moraes also ordered on Tuesday that others found guilty of being Bolsonaro's co-conspirators must begin their sentences.

They include Gen Augusto Heleno, former minister for institutional security, and Gen Paulo Sergio Nogueira de Oliveira, former defence minister.
Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story. See our AI policy, and give us feedback.

Brandon Herrera, the gun rights activist YouTuber who came within a few hundred votes of unseating U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales in last years GOP primary, has raised more than $1 million in his repeat bid against the San Antonio congressman  eclipsing his own haul from the 2024 cycle with more than three months to go until the primary.

Since launching his campaign in August, Herrera has raised just over $1.1 million between donations to his various PACs and the $100,000 he personally lent his campaign in September, according to figures first shared with The Texas Tribune. Nearly all of the donated funds  more than $1 million  are eligible to be spent on the March 3 primary.

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In a press release announcing his fundraising numbers, Herrera accused his opponent of stepping outside of his marriage  a reference to media reports he had an extramarital affair with a congressional aide who died earlier this year after setting herself on fire. Gonzales vigorously denied the affair  reported by conservative Texas outlet Current Revolt and the British tabloid Daily Mail  at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin earlier this month.

While my opponent Tony Gonzales has prioritized betraying President Trump and distracting himself with having extramarital affairs with his congressional staff, Ive been hard at work listening to the voters of Southwest Texas and heeding their call for a new representative with integrity who will support President Trump, fight for greater affordability, and defend our Constitutional rights, said Herrera, a conservative firebrand aligned with the partys hardline faction.

Gonzales appearance at TribFest marked the first time he has publicly spoken about the alleged affair with his district director, Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, who died of suicide by self-immolation at her home in Uvalde, the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office told multiple San Antonio media outlets. The Daily Mail later reported that Santos-Aviles husband, Adrian Aviles, was aware of the alleged relationship. Santos-Aviles and her husband were reportedly separated at the time of her death.

The rumors are completely untruthful, and Reginas family has asked for privacy, said Gonzales, who is married with six kids, adding that he was not apprised of the circumstances surrounding her death and was waiting on a final report from law enforcement.

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The Texas Tribune has not independently confirmed Current Revolts or the Daily Mails reporting.

A 2024 redux

Its unclear how the episode surrounding Gonzales aide might play into the primary. The winner of the GOP contest will be heavily favored in November to capture the far-flung district, which runs from San Antonio to the outskirts of El Paso and reelected Gonzales by a nearly 25-point margin last fall.

For now, Gonzales maintains a major cash advantage over Herrera, with more than $2.5 million in the bank through the end of September. However, Gonzales led in fundraising throughout their 2024 contest, too, only to win by just 354 votes in a runoff, even after U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team came to Gonzales aid.

Herrera has raised nearly all his money this cycle through his joint fundraising committee, a mechanism that allows candidates to fundraise alongside other candidates or organizations and split the profits.

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Herrera uses his joint fundraising committee to benefit his main campaign account and his leadership PAC, which can be used to support fellow candidates. Normal federal contribution limits still apply, though campaigns can use tactics to exceed those limits in practice by, for example, swapping donations between their leadership PAC and another candidates leadership PAC.

Political candidates have increasingly turned to joint fundraising committees in recent years because they allow donors to conveniently cut one large check to be dispersed among multiple entities linked to the candidate, including leadership PACs and state or local parties.

Herrera, a guntuber and activist known online as The AK Guy, has been admonished by the left and the right for his off-color humor. Hes joked about veteran suicide, which drew criticism from Mike Banks, now Trumps Border Patrol chief, and mocked Trumps son, Barron Trump. Hes made numerous Holocaust jokes and, in one 2022 montage, marched to Nazi music.

But some conservatives view Herrera as a warrior for the grassroots and their counter to Gonzales, who has been pilloried by activists and censured by the Texas GOP in 2023 for helping pass a bipartisan gun safety bill in 2022. Herreras more than 4 million YouTube subscribers help make up a nationwide fundraising base that has driven his campaign with small-dollar donations from more than 33,000 individuals.

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In the Texas Tribune Festival interview, Gonzales waved off the threat of Herreras second challenge.

Ive beaten him multiple times, and Ill beat him again, he said. Call em zombies. You knock em down, they come back again.
Budget days used to be symbolised by the chancellor of the exchequer smiling and holding aloft the famous Red Box outside Number 11. Inside is a red book that contains the measures to be read out in the Budget speech.

These days, however, it's a blue book that's in the spotlight. Or more precisely, a chunky chart-filled analysis of the Budget, assessing the cost of government policies, published by a team that sits in a far corner of the Ministry of Justice building - one that few people outside this closed world know much about.

Yet it's also a department that has extraordinary influence over economic policy.

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Now a debate is bubbling about whether this small department, known as the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) - and staffed mainly by young intellectuals and civil servants - is in fact too powerful, with claims from some that it is essentially half-running the government economic policy.

And indeed whether its chairman, Richard Hughes, a Harvard-educated former Treasury mandarin, has in fact become as important as the real chancellor.

Ahead of Wednesday's Budget, is the OBR really the tail wagging the Treasury dog? [AFP via Getty Images]

Lou Haigh, a former Labour Cabinet minister, has called the OBR an "unelected institution dictating the limits of government ambition". And just last week the Trades Union Congress accused the "unaccountable OBR" of being a "straitjacket on growth".

So, ahead of Wednesday's Budget, is the OBR really the tail wagging the Treasury dog - and if so, could this partly be at Labour's own hand for having changed the department's role in the first place?

Under Labour: the OBR's true influence

Back in March, just after the Spring Statement, I asked Richard Hughes for his response to the critique that had been prevalent even then that the OBR is all-powerful.

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His answer, tinged with an uncharacteristic air of exasperation, was firm.

"The only powers we have are the ones given to us by Parliament in legislation," he insisted. "And those are the powers to produce a forecast, to scrutinise the cost of government policies and to assess whether the chancellor is on the course to meet her fiscal rules.

"The chancellor chooses the policies she wants to implement. She chooses the rules she set for herself, and if she wants to change those rules, she can change those rules. If she wants to change the policies, she can change the policies."

A debate is bubbling about whether the department, known to few outside this closed world, is in fact too powerful [Getty Images]

Officially the OBR monitors the UK government's spending plans and performance, and releases forecasts for the economy and public finances twice a year, (alongside the Budget and Spring Statement), which assess whether the government is likely to meet the rules it has set over tax and spending.

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Yet the irony in the timing of the questions around its influence is that they follow the chancellor herself giving the forecaster even more independence and authority.

What's more, she herself appoints, with the consent of the Treasury Select Committee, the three members of the Budget Responsibility Committee, who lead the OBR.

When Labour entered office in 2024 it passed a new law giving it new powers to initiate forecasts, even when the government does not ask it to. This was prompted by the Conservatives' mini-Budget of September 2022, which promised big tax cuts but did not say how they would be paid for, and spooked financial markets.

At the time I reported that the then-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng had brushed away the offer from the OBR of an official forecast, which could either have given some comfort to the markets that the plan had been fully costed, or impeded the Truss administration's ability to announce those policy changes. The new law ensures this could not happen again.

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It also gives the OBR the ability to question government assumptions about spending by departments, which it did not have before, and provides direct access to Treasury data to help them do this.

Empowering the OBR was, in fact, part of Rachel Reeves's plan.

The Chancellor believed that giving the forecaster more independence and influence would improve credibility in UK tax and spending policy; the memories of the Truss-Kwarteng mini-Budget may well have been front of mind.

And yet by September of this year, suggestions of the Treasury's own reported frustrations with the OBR were circulating.

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When I asked the chancellor about a statement from the OBR, issued two months earlier, that "promises made are constantly not kept" on tax and spending, Reeves replied: "The OBR have got an important job to do and their job is to produce forecasts on the economy - not to give a running commentary on government policy."

Yet the message I received from that exchange with Richard Hughes was clear: the OBR's true power is not at all at the level its critics suggest.

Warnings about a 'fiscal technocracy'

Even before Labour's law change, the then-director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Paul Johnson, argued that we should be "highly cautious" about moving towards what he described as a "more powerful fiscal technocracy".

"The OBR has brought discipline and transparency to the fiscal policymaking process, but it is possible to have too much of a good thing," he claimed. "Choices over how much to tax, spend and borrow are not narrow, technical questions.

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"They are inescapably political."

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At the end of October, one month before the Budget, the OBR is understood to have lowered its forecast for productivity - a measure of the output of the economy per hour worked - by 0.3 percentage points. Productivity plays a key role in long-term growth prospects and therefore can influence Budget decisions.

According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank, for every 0.1 percentage point downgrade in the productivity forecast, government borrowing would increase by 7bn in 2029-30 - meaning a 0.3 point cut could add 21bn to Rachel Reeves's Budget black hole.

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This all has knock-on consequences for any chancellor. For example, if this downgrade had been given when, say, Jeremy Hunt was chancellor, he would not have been able to offer pre-election National Insurance cuts that he did in March 2024.

But the bigger issue is how much credit the government should get for "pro-growth measures", such as planning reform or easier post-Brexit trade terms with Europe. The more this is forecast to help medium-term growth, the smaller the gap in the Budget maths.

Some on the Labour left have identified the OBR as a core structural reason why a government with a massive majority cannot act decisively on its instincts. A version of that view has spread now to some on the Labour right too.

Praful Nargund, director of the Good Growth Foundation, who unsuccessfully stood against Jeremy Corbyn in last year's general election, said last week: "The Office for Budget Responsibility was created to enforce austerity. But in its attempt to restore credibility, it has pushed us further down the spending-cut rabbit hole without an end in sight.

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"A body designed to police cuts is now being asked to referee a strategy for growth, and it simply isn't built for the task."

But Richard Hughes told me in March he was simply accounting for the numbers, and that it is the chancellor and Parliament that have 3 trillion a year worth of power to make decisions on either raising revenues or spending them.

A need for 'reconstruction'

In late September 2008, as the world and Britain especially was convulsed by its biggest ever financial crisis, the Conservative Party published an obscure pamphlet titled "Reconstruction".

British building society Bradford & Bingley had just been nationalised; US investment bank Lehman Brothers had collapsed a fortnight before; and half the British banking system was being prepared for state bailouts, and the pamphlet reflected what researchers were saying was best practice in the field of fiscal policy.

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It drew little attention, yet it was from this pamphlet that the idea of the OBR was born.

US investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008 [Getty Images]

The office was first established by the coalition government in 2010, then put on a permanent statutory footing in March 2011.

Yet Chancellor George Osborne predicted that appointing independent economists was going to cause the coalition government some problems.

Take the fallout after Robert Chote, then chair of the OBR, published a chart showing spending levels at their lowest since the 1930s.

It prompted my BBC colleague Norman Smith to describe the "road-to-Wigan-pier" style austerity, (a reference to the George Orwell's indictment of living conditions in the industrial north of England).

Chancellor George Osborne predicted that appointing independent economists was likely going to cause the coalition government some problems [AFP via Getty Images]

Since then, the former Prime Minister Liz Truss, has made claims that a "deep state" played a part in bringing down her brief government - "the economic establishment, who fundamentally don't want the status quo to change", as she put it.

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As for the OBR, she once said: "Treasury officials go from the Treasury to the Bank of England, to the OBR to the Resolution Foundation. They go to Goldman Sachs, they it's the same people."

During the Johnson-Sunak era, the OBR also published charts that the sitting government would not have welcomed, which showed the tax burden reaching post-World War Two highs.

It is the Labour government that strengthened the OBR - and the distinguished CVs of the three members of the Budget Responsibility Committee ensure that it is taken seriously.

Richard Hughes (left), Andy King, who was a member of the Budget Responsibility Committee of the Office for Budget Responsibility until August 2023, and David Miles (right) [BBC]

Richard Hughes and Tom Josephs both had senior positions in charge of fiscal policy at the Treasury, while Prof David Miles is a former member of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee and chief economist at Morgan Stanley.

A tax rise speculation hamster wheel

Insiders have told me there will be important changes to how the dynamic between the OBR and the Treasury will function in future.

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In essence, the OBR's judgement of the amount of room for manoeuvre - the so-called "headroom" calculation - will now only be made once a year, from this Budget onwards. So, the tense process of the Treasury waiting on every bit of number crunching from the OBR will happen only in the run up to a full Budget.

It is a recognition that the current system has led to an ever-spinning hamster wheel of tax rise speculation.

However, defenders of the OBR say it is not the fault of the forecaster. And the International Monetary Fund (IMF) advises the UK that raising the headroom is the best way to stop the doom loop of tax-rise speculation harming consumer and business sentiment.

The chancellor has all but announced her strategy to increase headroom figures at the Budget. The amount will be closely watched in the markets.

By September of this year, suggestions of the Treasury's own frustration with the OBR were circulating [Bloomberg via Getty Images]

Ultimately, the mini-Budget of 2022 showed how much the OBR's role is respected in the markets: this was stressed by the Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey at emergency meetings in Downing Street at the height of that crisis.

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Plus, even if the OBR did not exist, the government's Budget decisions would still be constrained by the reaction of markets.

The UK is, after all, reliant on the "kindness of strangers" - foreign buyers of our debt. As the Chancellor points out now, they are increasingly likely these days to be a foreign hedge fund than a UK pension or insurance company.

So, those who now want to diminish the role of the OBR, will have to demonstrate alternative and convincing means of proving their own credibility, both on the numbers and on their political authority to drive through policies.

And yet other countries do manage without institutions such as this. So, for now, there is a serious debate emerging at this Budget, not just about the Chancellor's policies. The role, record, and future of the OBR is definitively in play.

Top picture credit: Getty Images

[BBC]

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Angel Guadalupe Rosales Alvarado weighed just shy of 11 pounds when he arrived at Eskenazi Hospital. The 1-year-old was cold to the touch, had bones protruding and was riddled with bruises, doctors noted. He would be pronounced dead 25 minutes after arriving.

About a week after his Nov. 17 death, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office filed charges against his parents, Wendy Alvarado, 35, and Dunio Rosales-Duarte, 31.

Both were charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, which is a Level 1 felony. Rosales-Duarte also faces two additional charges of neglect of a dependent, according to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office. These charges could result in the parents receiving a prison sentence of up to 40 years.

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It is crushing to confront the fate of this young child. Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy, safe, and loved," said Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears in the press release.

What happened to Angel Guadalupe Rosales Alvarado?

At 10:12 a.m., Nov. 17, the boy's parents brought him into Eskenazi Hospital after they "discovered Angel was cold to the touch and observed him not breathing normally," court records state.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's child abuse unit was called to the hospital and found that Rosales Alvarado was severely malnourished and had visible injuries across his body, according to court documents.

Before the boy was pronounced dead, his father appeared to get into an argument with the boy's mother and left the hospital. Police later found him and the boy's other two siblings at the family's residence in the 3300 block of West Michigan Street. It was later discovered in an interview with police that he had left the hospital to smoke methamphetamine with a friend to relieve his anxiety, court records state.

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The kids were taken into the custody of the Indiana Department of Child Services while police questioned Rosales-Duarte about the boy's death.

Rosales-Duarte told investigators the boy would scratch himself, but the father couldn't elaborate on how the boy received the bruises.

Wendy Alvarado refused to speak to the police without an attorney.

No attorneys are listed in online court documents for either parent.

Police arrest 1-year-old's parents: Mother, father arrested after investigation into 1-year-old boy's death

Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.

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IndyStar's public safety reporter Jade Jackson's reporting contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Baby arrives at Indiana hospital 'cold to the touch.' Parents charged
Four suspects crashed a car into a liquor store in the Beverly neighborhood Tuesday morning, Chicago police said.

The incident occurred at about 3:16 a.m. at Armanetti Town Liquor Store in the 10000-block of South Western Avenue.

Police said the suspects crashed a white sedan into the store and stole a cash register and merchandise from the store.

The suspects then fled in a silver SUV and left the sedan at the scene, police said.

No injuries were reported and no one is in custody, police said. Area Two detectives are investigating.

INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood


A lawsuit filed in Michigan last week alleges that a Campbell Soup Company executive made offensive comments about Indian workers and said the company's products were for "poor people" during a conversation with a former employee.

The suit was filed by Robert Garza, who was hired by Campbell's as a cybersecurity analyst in September 2024.

Garza alleges that Campbell's executive Martin Bally made the offensive remarks during a meeting in November 2024, which was intended to discuss his salary. According to the lawsuit, Bally made several comments about Indian workers and said that Campbell's is "highly [processed] food" for "poor people."

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Garza said he informed his manager, J.D. Aupperle, about the comments on Jan. 10 and claims Aupperle did not encourage him to report the incident to human resources.

Garza was then "abruptly terminated from employment" just weeks later, the lawsuit says.

A purported recording of the discussion between Garza and Bally captured comments, allegedly from Bally, that claimed the company's soup uses "bioengineered meat" and denigrated the abilities of Indian workers.

In a Nov. 26 statement, Campbell's said that Bally is no longer employed at the company. It added that it believes the recording is legitimate.

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"The comments were vulgar, offensive and false, and we apologize for the hurt they have caused," Campbell's said Wednesday. "This behavior does not reflect our values and the culture of our company, and we will not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances."

Bally was one of many vice presidents at Campbell's, according to James Regan, a Campbell's spokesperson. Bally's LinkedIn lists his title as vice president and chief information security officer.

Campbell's also defended the quality of its products, noting on Wednesday that the chicken in its soups "comes from long-trusted, USDA-approved U.S. suppliers and meets our high quality standards."

The company added, "All our soups are made with No Antibiotics Ever chicken meat. Any claims to the contrary are completely false. "

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A factsheet published Tuesday on Campbell's website notes that the company does not use "3D-printed chicken, lab-grown chicken, or any form of artificial or bioengineered meat" in their soups.

On Monday, James Uthmeier, the Attorney General of Florida, said in a social media post that the state's Consumer Protection division is investigating the quality of Campbell's products.

Garza's lawsuit alleges he suffered stress, humiliation, embarrassment and mental anguish as a result of Bally and Aupperle's actions. He is seeking compensation for emotional, reputational and economic harm, as well as attorneys' fees, according to the complaint.

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Campbell's placed an executive on leave after a lawsuit alleged he badmouthed the company privately.

An audio recording shows an apparent Campbell's VP saying its products are for "poor people."

Campbell's denied the person's claims that its meat is 3D-printed.

Campbell's put an executive on leave while investigating claims made in a lawsuit that he trashed the company behind closed doors, including mocking its "poor" customers and saying the company's meat "came from a 3D printer."

In a statement Tuesday, the company said the alleged comments by Martin Bally, Campbell's vice president of information technology, were "unacceptable."

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"Such language does not reflect our values and the culture of our company," the company said. "We do not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances."

A day later, Bally was no longer with the company.

The moves follow a lawsuit filed Thursday in a Michigan court by Robert Garza, a former cybersecurity analyst at the company who said he was fired after complaining about Bally.

According to the lawsuit, Garza recorded a meeting with Bally where the executive insulted the intelligence of his Indian colleagues and said the company's products were for "poor people."

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The law firm representing Garza provided Business Insider with an apparent recording of the meeting. The recording was not included as an exhibit in the lawsuit, and Business Insider hasn't independently authenticated it.

The recording features a conversation where a person belittles Campbell's and its products.

"If you look at our fucking pantry  we have shit for fucking poor people, right?" the person said.

"I don't buy fucking Campbell's products barely anymore," the person continues in the tirade. "It's unhealthy."

At one point in the recording of the meeting, which appears to take place at a restaurant, the person refers to Campbell's food as "bioengineered."

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"Even in a can of soup  I look at it, and look at bioengineered meat," the person said. "I don't want to eat a fucking piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer, do you?"

Elsewhere in the recorded conversation, the person recounts an instance where he tried to help a colleague with a tech issue. He blamed "Indians" in an expletive-filled rant for not resolving it without him.

Bally didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

In its statement Tuesday, Campbell's said the remarks about its food were "patently absurd" and that the chicken meat in its soups "comes from long-trusted, USDA approved U.S. suppliers."

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"Keep in mind, the alleged comments heard on the audio were made by a person in IT, who has nothing to do with how we make our food," the company said.

The audio has become a public relations nightmare for the soup-maker. Despite Campbell's denials, the remarks about bioengineered and 3D-printed chicken have bounced around social media and drawn the attention of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who said he would investigate the company.

"Florida law bans lab-grown meat," Uthmeier posted on X. "Our Consumer Protection division is launching an investigation and will demand answers from Campbell's."

Campbell's stock closed down on Tuesday by 0.62% to $30.42 a share.

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The person in the recorded meeting had other criticisms for Campbell's.

He bemoaned the lack of innovation in the food industry and said the company overpaid for its 2023 acquisition of Sovos Brands, which makes Rao's pasta sauce, for $2.7 billion.

Dropping a bunch of F-bombs, he said Sovos was just a "recipe and a brand."

"We don't own a plant. Somebody else manufactures it for us," he said, calling the situation "smoke and mirrors."

Read the original article on Business Insider
TORONTO (AP)  Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Monday that Canada and India will move quickly to advance a trade deal after two years of strained relations, noting Ottawa has a new foreign policy in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war.

Anand's statement follows a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Group of 20 summit in South Africa this past weekend, where the leaders agreed to restart stalled talks for a new trade deal.

Relations between Canada and India have been strained since Canadian police accused New Delhi of playing a role in the June 2023 assassination of a Canadian Sikh activist near Vancouver.

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The leaders were adamant that this work proceed as quickly as possible so that timing is going to be expeditious, Anand said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

Carney will visit India early next year.

Anand noted Carney's goal to double non-U.S. trade over the next decade. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and more than 75% of Canadas exports go to the U.S. Most exports to the U.S. are exempted by the USMCA trade agreement but that deal is up for review in 2026.

This is a completely new approach to foreign policy that is responsive to the global economic environment in which we find ourselves, Anand said. There is a new government, a new foreign policy, a new prime minister and a new world order where countries are becoming more protectionist and this is a moment for Canada as a trading nation."

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Canada is also seeking better relations with Beijing. Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping took a step toward mending the long-fractured ties between their countries last month with a meeting at the Asia-Pacific summit.

In 2023, Ottawa suspended trade talks after going public with allegations from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that the Indian government was behind an assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Nijjar, 45, was fatally shot in his pickup truck after he left the Sikh temple he led in Surrey, British Columbia. An Indian-born citizen of Canada, he owned a plumbing business and was a leader in what remains of a once-strong movement to create an independent Sikh homeland.

Four Indian nationals living in Canada were charged with Niijars murder and are awaiting trial in Canada.

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Relations improved in June when Carney invited Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta and when both countries agreed to restore their top diplomats in August.

This is a step by step process. And in the last six months, significant steps have been taken, Anand said.

Anand said both countries expect to be able to double bilateral trade by 2030, to US$50 billion, and noted that Canada is Indias seventh largest trade partner for goods and services, and one of the largest foreign investors in India.

Trump ended trade talks with Carney after the Ontario provincial government ran an anti-tariff advertisement in the U.S., which upset him. That followed a spring of acrimony, since abated, over the presidents insistence that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.

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Anand said Canada remains ready to resume trade talks with Trump.

We are operating under the fact that the United States has fundamentally changed all of its trading relationships," Anand said. We look forward to getting back to the table.
Maya Kowalski and her family are asking an appellate court to rehear their case after a three-judge panel reversed the entire verdict in the "Take Care of Maya" case against a St. Petersburg-based children's hospital.

The family's motion comes after the Second District Court of Appeals reversed the entire verdict in October, including the $208 million in compensatory and punitive damages, and cleared a path for a new trial on a limited number of claims, including Maya Kowalskis intentional-infliction-of-emotional-distress (IIED) claim, and the remaining false imprisonment, battery and medical-negligence claims.

The appellate court found the trial court erred in not granting the hospital's direct verdicts and faulted Sarasota Circuit Court Judge Hunter Carroll for allowing emotionally charged testimony and arguments that blurred legally immune acts with potential torts.

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The decision also reinforced Chapter 39 immunity which protects hospitals and healthcare workers who might be overzealous in protecting children from potential abuse."

In August 2024, attorneys for Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital filed an appeal asking the appellate court to reverse the final verdict and enter a judgment in favor of the hospital for the wrongful death, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false-imprisonment claims. They asked for a new trial based on the trial court's "erroneous interpretation of Chapter 39" immunity statutes and the damages awarded to the Kowalski family.

The Kowalski family sued Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in 2018 for $220 million more than a year after wife and mother, Beata Kowalski, took her life after child abuse allegations arose against her. In 2016, the Florida Department of Children and Families opened an investigation which led to then 10-year-old Maya Kowalski being separated from her family.

Previously reported: Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital files appeal in Sarasota 'Take Care of Maya' case

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In case you missed it: Family at center of 'Take Care of Maya' case ditches long-time attorney as rift forms

The family took Maya to the hospital in October 2016 due to severe stomachache, which they believed was a relapse of her Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, a disorder that impairs the central nervous system and heightens pain sensations.

Hospital staff began to suspect possible child medical abuse after they observed what many testified to as inconsistencies between Mayas behaviors and her condition. Staff placed calls to the abuse hotline, beginning a more than three-month ordeal for the Kowalski family that it says has haunted them since.

In November 2023, a six-person jury sided with the family after a two-month long trial and awarded them more than $261 million in compensatory and punitive damages. The jury deliberated on seven claims, down from the initial more than 20 filed against the hospital, a social worker, and a part-time medical director of the Pinellas Child Protection Team. The claims included battery, fraudulent billing, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and two claims of extreme and outrageous actions towards Maya and Beata Kowalski, which led to Beata taking her life.

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After the trial concluded, Carroll partially granted a motion filed by the hospital to decrease the compensatory damages by $47.5 million.

The Kowalski family submitted a motion on Nov. 12 asking the appellate court to reconsider, clarify or certify certain key findings in its opinion, including clarifying the law on hospital immunity. The motion argues that "the Court may have overlooked or misapprehended" key facts or law including that hospital physicians were the ones who decided to wean Maya Kowalski off her ketamine treatment, not the Florida Department of Children and Families or the dependency court.

The family is asking the Court to allow their emotional distress and punitive damage claims to proceed to retrial. They argue hospital leaders knew about secretly videotaping and photographing Maya, and that the Risk Management Departments policymaking authority meets the legal threshold for corporate liability which should allow the family to pursue punitive damages for false imprisonment and battery. They also argue the Court overlooked evidence and reasonable inferences about staff actions toward Beata Kowalski, such as denying her calls with Maya despite knowing she was in a fragile emotional state.

"As the Court noted at oral argument, the Hospitals conduct toward Beata challenged her 'whole existence,'" the motion states.

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Further, the motion points out that the Court's opinion touched on Chapter 39 immunity, but it did not address a subsection which does not grant immunity to "any person suspected of having abused, abandoned or neglected a child, or committed any illegal act upon or against a child. The Kowalskis ask the Court to clarify their opinion as to the limitation provided by the subsection.

The Kowalskis also ask for the full Second District Court of Appeals Court to reconsider the immunity issue as it is "an issue of exceptional importance" which affects hospitals and mandatory reporting laws in Florida.

Can't see the document? Click here to read the court appeal

Appellate court rules in favor of Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital

In a statement from one of the hospital's attorneys, Ethen Shapiro noted the opinion sends "a clear and vital message to mandatory reporters in Florida and across the country."

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Throughout the trial, the defense claimed they wanted to take the case to court due to a fear of the "chilling effect" the case would have on mandatory reporters across the country.

Shapiro told media that the hospital was standing up for its own staff who did what they thought was the best course of action for Maya after inconsistences arose in her behavior and diagnoses.

"This opinion sends a clear and vital message to mandatory reporters in Florida and across the country that their duty to report suspicions of child abuse and, critically, their good faith participation in child protection activities remain protected," Shapiro said in the statement. "The facts and the law have always prioritized protecting children, the most vulnerable among us.

Under Florida law, any person, official or institution is immune from any civil or criminal liability if they report "in good faith any instance of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect" to law enforcement. The law states that any individual participating in good faith in any act authorized or required by the law is immune as well.

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Calls and an email for comment sent to Nick Whitney, the attorney representing the Kowalski family, were not returned prior to publication of this article.

What does the opinion mean?

A breakdown of the 48-page opinion found that the court either fully or partially reversed all seven claims awarded in favor of the Kowalskis.

Appellate judges fully reversed the false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress as to Beata Kowalski, medical negligence and fraudulent billing claims, and the $50 million punitive damage award.

The court did partially uphold the claim of intention infliction of emotional distress toward Maya for retrial. The court held that Carroll erred in allowing evidence of acts covered by Chapter 39 to be presented during trial and by allowing the family's defense to combine conduct supporting the other claims of false imprisonment, battery and negligence with the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim.

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In addition to the majority opinion on the case, Judge Andrea Teves Smith wrote a concurrence in which she elaborated on the issue of evidence that could be presented to satisfy the "outrageousness" threshold in the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim for Maya.

Smith notes that given Maya's age and vulnerability during the time she was at the hospital, there were certain acts, such as the lies and emotional manipulation by social worker Catherine Bedy and some nurses, which could be constituted as "outrageous" and be used as evidence for the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim.

"The health care providers were in charge of caring for and treating Maya," Smith wrote. "Instead, they exploited their positions with full knowledge that Maya, a ten-year-old child, would not be able to endure such outrageous conduct and undoubtedly suffer severe emotional distress as a result."

Gabriela Szymanowska covers the criminal justice, courts and legal system for the Herald-Tribune. Reach out with a news tip to gszymanowska@gannett.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 'Take Care of Maya' $208M verdict against Florida hospital reversed
The person arrested and charged alongside Morgan Geyser's escape from a Wisconsin group home is Chad "Charly" Mecca, a close friend of the woman charged in the 2014 Slender Man stabbing.

Mecca, 43, and Geyser, 23, were arrested at an Illinois truck stop on Nov. 23 after Geyser left Madison group home YoYo Quality Care, where she fled the day before after cutting off her Department of Corrections monitoring bracelet. Mecca told Madison TV station WKOW the escape was a way to keep Geyser safe.

In that interview, Mecca, who goes by Charly, said the two met in church. They developed a strong relationship, and, over time, Mecca was cleared to meet with Geyser at her group home. The two would meet almost daily, Mecca said.

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Mecca's visitation rights were going to be removed, prompting Geyser to want to flee, Mecca said. Mecca was unaware of that until after the two fled, according to WKOW.

"I was scared and I was nervous, and I still chose to (flee with her) for my friend, who I knew wasn't going to make it on her own," Mecca told WKOW.

The two were arrested after a person called police when they were found loitering behind a truck stop in Posen, Illinois.

Posen police told Chicago media that Geyser initially resisted identifying herself, telling them she had "done something really bad." Posen Police Chief William Alexander told Chicago's ABC7 that Geyser asked if she could say a "final goodbye" to Mecca.

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"Because she knew she was never going to see this person again," Alexander told ABC7.

Geyser is expected to be extradited to Wisconsin.

After that occurs, Dane County prosecutors will decide whether to charge her with escaping and disconnecting her monitor, since those alleged crimes took place in Madison. Dane County District Attorney's office said on Nov. 24 that charges had not yet been referred to its office from Madison police. Escaping custody is a felony in Wisconsin.

Mecca was charged under the legal name Chad Mecca and faces criminal trespassing and obstructing identification charges, but those records were sealed by an Illinois judge, a clerk of courts spokesperson told the Journal Sentinel. Mecca was released from custody, Posen police told Chicago media.

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Geyser's attempted escape came about 11 years after she and Anissa Weier stabbed a classmate in the Waukesha woods. The two, who were both 12 at the time, said they believed they were appeasing Slender Man, a fictional online figure. They were found not guilty by reason of mental defect or disease in 2017 and sentenced to mental confinement, Weier for 25 years, and Geyser for 40 years.

Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren granted Geyser conditional release earlier this year after he said he saw no risk to the public in her release.

This story has been updated to include new information.

David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Chad Mecca, 43, arrested alongside Morgan Geyser in Illinois
CHICAGO  Inside a modest second-floor apartment on Chicagos Southwest Side, three children went without sleep waiting for their mom to finally come home.

Their dad, with a family friend, had driven through the night to get her. More than five hours in the dark to pick her up from the dingy jail in rural Indiana, five hours more on the way back. They arrived home just as the sky began to lighten that early Tuesday morning.

When Patricia Quishpe stepped out, her kids rushed into the cold morning air to wrap her in their arms. Her hijos. The word she had cried when the Ecuadorian mother of three was arrested by Border Patrol agents at the Swap-O-Rama flea market in mid-October, during President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown dubbed Operation Midway Blitz.

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I feel blessed, Quishpe told the Tribune last week about her release. Quishpe, her husband and their children all have pending asylum cases, and she has a work permit. The experience of her arrest is too painful to talk about, she said.

As U.S. Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino and his agents move on to other cities, most recently sweeping through North Carolina, those affected by the blitz across Chicago and its suburbs are facing a new normal in its aftermath. Thousands of families are now living with trauma and disruption, whether theyve been reunited like Quishpe, have loved ones still detained or feel their loss from deportation. Throughout the Latino communities of Pilsen and Little Village, neighborhood restaurants and bars that generations of immigrants have filled daily are cautiously coming back to life after weeks of fear and empty streets.

While the subsequent end of Operation Midway Blitz has drawn a sense of relief for some, the reality facing the city and its suburbs is far more complicated. A federal appeals court Thursday temporarily halted the release on bond of hundreds of immigrants arrested during the two-month operation, dashing the hopes of families who had looked forward to possibly having their loved ones home for Thanksgiving.

Also Thursday, a federal judge issued a scathing opinion on the use of force by immigration agents during the crackdown, revealing new information gleaned from body cameras and other evidence showing how agents used tear gas and flash-bang grenades during high-profile melees between immigration agents and protesters during confrontations in Albany Park, Old Irving Park, East Side and Evanston.

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Its a distressing or disturbing experience that can cause significant mental, emotional and physical harm, said Chicago therapist Lu Rocha. PTSD. Thats what Im seeing now with clients. Thats what Im witnessing in the community.

Activists are urging the immigrant community to keep its guard up. Chicago experienced a spike in immigration operations beginning with Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration, and that fear continues even if masked Border Patrol agents arent roaming the streets. The White House continues to prioritize a mass deportation strategy that calls for the removal of as many people without immigration documents as possible.

Its really tempting to think, Oh, theyre gone. Theyre not gone, said Gabe Gonzalez, one of the founders of Protect Rogers Park, a community group mobilized to resist the crackdown. This is breathing room for us to get better prepared.

Countless groups have mobilized to support the community and prepare for more raids. The Cook County public defenders office announced that it will be doubling the number of attorneys on staff next year to help support community members who have been detained and are facing deportation. Activists continue packing whistles with Know Your Rights kits to share throughout the region. Two Chicago Democrats, state Reps. Ann Williams, 11th District, and Jaime Andrade, 40th District, scheduled a panel with Chicago school board member Ellen Rosenfeld about how to talk with children during turbulent times.

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Rey Wences, senior director of deportation defense at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, noted that abductions continue happening every day in both the city and the suburbs.

We ask that community members remain vigilant, and continue to exercise your right to record immigration enforcement activity in public and to call the Family Support Hotline, Wences said.

A legacy

At the start of the blitz in early September, Margarita Garcia and her brother planned to keep their familys food stand open in the Little Village neighborhood, convinced that immigration agents would only target people with warrants or criminal histories. Selling tamales was a long family tradition.

Their mother, Maria Trochez, died earlier this year after nearly two decades spent at the same corner with her food cart. Originally from Honduras, Trochez was a leader in the effort to license street vendors but had passed away suddenly.

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Trochez was never able to fix her immigration status due to the lack of a sponsor, a challenge her two children now face.

But as the blitz expanded from a targeted operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the dragnet approach by Border Patrol, we decided to stop selling until it was safe again, Garcia said.

They did not leave their house for more than a month.

They were taking people based on how we look and the type of work that we did. It didnt matter if they were criminals or not, Garcia said. They relied on neighbors and friends to run errands, buy groceries and even handle their laundry.

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Their landlord installed cameras outside the property to monitor activity and locked all the gates around the house to ensure agents could not enter.

Thankfully, Garcia added, the family had enough savings to cover their bills while they stayed inside.

Her 19-year-old daughter, a U.S citizen and an architecture student at the Illinois Institute of Technology, called before and after class every day to make sure her mother was safe and to plead with her not to go outside.

This has really affected all of our lives. We are anxious and worried. Even though the Border Patrol appears to be gone, ICE is still around. They are still taking people, Garcia said.

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The siblings have now returned to the same corner where their late mother sold tamales for over 20 years. But with precautions.

What hurts me the most, its the way my children have been carrying this fear on their shoulders, Garcia said.

No choice

Arturo Rodriguez Bellos was arrested by federal agents while working near 26th Street and Spaulding Avenue on Oct. 22. His wife collapsed when she heard the news.

I felt a level of desperation that is hard to put into words, said Adriana, who asked that her last name not be used out of concern for her safety. It was what we feared the most since rumors of ICE agents in the neighborhood started.

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The couple, both 44 and facing ongoing health issues, had been saving money in hopes of returning to Michoacan, Mexico, soon. Rodriguez Bellos lived in the United States for 25 years, and his wife for 14 years. They had come to the U.S. to earn money to pay for their kids school in Mexico.

Their children are now teenagers.

In recent years, Rodriguez Bellos developed a liver condition, and despite attempting to seek medical care in Chicago, the family could not afford treatment. With his illness worsening, he chose to sign a voluntary departure after he was detained, even though he had no criminal background and might have had legal options to fight deportation.

He couldnt handle the pain and we didnt know how long he would have been detained or how much money we needed for an attorney, so we decided that it was best for him to return to Mexico, his wife said.

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With her only companion in Chicago gone, she is now alone, trying to sell off her remaining inventory in the small shop she runs selling eggs, toys and personal hygiene products.

She must raise enough money to pay two months of overdue rent, send funds to her husband and two children in Mexico and eventually buy her own ticket home. Most nights she barely sleeps, waking every few hours as anxiety takes hold.

My greatest fear is that they (ICE) detain me and I cant sell my stuff to save that money at least, she said. We have lost so much already. My family is counting on me.

She said her elderly neighbors have stepped in to help sell some of her merchandise. The couple even invited her to Thanksgiving dinner so she wouldnt spend the holiday alone and crying, a small act of kindness that, she said, gave her a moment of warmth in a season filled with loss.

History

Rocha, the therapist, grew up in Chicago during the 1970s, at a time when people often carried their birth certificate just in case.

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The past two months of Operation Midway Blitz follow a history of policies in the United States that welcomed Latinos and then didnt want us anymore, she said.

They would take us and send us away whenever it was convenient for the people in the power, Rocha said. We experienced this in the 1930s when  people who were of Mexican descent, citizens, residents, were detained and taken to Mexico by boat and by train.

Then theres President Dwight Eisenhowers Operation Wetback, a racial epithet used at that time, where men who were here as braceros working on farms were sent back to Mexico. That is a historical trauma that passes through generations, she said.

Elisa Brennecke, founder and CEO of MARRA, a therapy group, said the immigration raids have created an existential fear for residents who ask, What is happening in our country? What is happening in our communities?

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The immigration raids have created a response that people can be stopped for no reason, at any time, with no legal basis, creating a daily anxiety for people who wonder, What if they mistake me for someone else? What if my parents dont come home?

Even when someone (has) papers, has a status, this does not necessarily mean they feel safe. This awakens a lot of fear that we already had in our communities, Brennecke said. It brings up memories of being treated unfairly, being watched. For many years, weve also felt being othered.

While there is little argument that there is trauma from the blitz, others have found signs of hope. From the rapid responders, the whistles, the fighting back.

Its a beautiful thing during a very dark time in our history. Thats what I tell people, to hold onto that, Rocha, the therapist, said. Hold onto the love youre experiencing from people who dont know you.

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Gonzalez said Protect Rogers Park is looking at this moment as a time to do some assessments of how we did as an organization, what we did well, how we can improve, how do we prepare for what happens next?

We have to learn to trust each other, we have to learn to work together, we have to learn that, these people said. They came here claiming they were agents of safety, Gonzalez said. We think they actually made our city less safe by the things they were doing. If people care about collective safety, if people care about community safety, the way to do that is to get organized.

In the Pilsen neighborhood, the familiar sight of a small lunchtime line has begun to reappear at Casa del Pueblo.

Is not as busy as it used to be, but there are more people coming in, said Agustin Perez, a Pilsen resident who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 20 years. I had never seen it so empty, other than during the pandemic. Not a single soul would be around when I dared to go out to get lunch while Border Patrol was here.

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A few blocks away, El Trebol, the 70-year-old bar that has long served as a gathering place for Mexican immigrants, is also showing signs of revival. In recent weeks, the bar had sat nearly empty most days, an unusual sight for a place where daytime regulars were once a constant presence. During the height of immigration enforcement activity, those loyal customers came only sparingly, often slipping in at night when the threat of ICE felt less immediate.

But on a recent Sunday afternoon, the mood had shifted. Conversations once again flowed from table to table, and norteno music blared through the speakers, a soundtrack of resilience filling the room after a long, uneasy silence.

The future

Quishpe arrived in Chicago with her family nearly two years ago, crossing several borders to request asylum in the United States.

In Chicago, they work long shifts, pay bills and have turned their small apartment into a home. The father, Faustino Panchi, works as a dishwasher. The oldest son stocks shelves at a grocery store.

They want to be hopeful. The familys lawyer confirmed to the Tribune that a court date awaited her in the coming weeks.

We still believe that this country provides opportunities, Panchi said.

But the trauma of the past month tested their family.

They spoke to Quishpe daily while she was in detention. Their youngest slept with one of his mothers purses tucked beside him. Their 17-year-old daughter cared for her little brother while their 20-year-old brother and their father worked long hours to keep the home together.

Sometimes I wondered if I would ever see her again, Panchi said, holding back tears.

Since coming back home, Quishpe is not the same. She is quiet. Sometimes she cries.

The financial strain of her detention has also taken a toll. They spent nearly $2,000 to make sure she could call home, buy food and purchase basic necessities inside the jail.

Friends, neighbors and community members stepped forward, donating food and creating a GoFundMe page to help them stay afloat.

If it wasnt for those people, I dont know that this would have been possible, Panchi said.

Now, the family is trying to regain their footing. They plan to enroll Quishpe and the children in therapy.

But the road ahead remains uncertain. As the holidays approach, so does the matriarchs court hearing, a reminder that while she is home, their future in the United States is not yet secure.

____
The Chicago Teachers Union has agreed to submit complete financial audits to the House Committee on Education and Workforce following a probe by policymakers.

The Republican-led committee issued a letter Thursday to CTU President Stacy Davis Gates requiring the union to submit meeting minutes documenting any member requests for audits since September 2020 and all written requests for audits submitted since that time along with CTUs responses, in addition to entire financial audits.

We will respond to the House Committee on Education and Workforce and cooperate with any legitimate requests, the union wrote in a letter shared with the Tribune. We are confident that our responses will fully answer any legitimate questions and address the allegations contained in your letter.

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While CTU officials declined to comment on the matter, they made their response to the congressional committee available to the Tribune.

According to the committees letter, CTU leadership has not provided members with full audit records for more than five years, despite repeated requests for transparency. This omission violates the unions bylaws, the committee wrote.

Failure to disclose financial information strips dues-paying members of their basic right to understand how their money is spent, the committee wrote.

Union members can access financial audits in various ways, including by appointment and through the unions official membership platform, Memberlink, the union announced earlier this year.

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The union emphasized this in their response to the committee, detailing other concerns they had about the committees letter. One of the main concerns for union leaders was that the committees inquiry mirrors allegations from a recent civil lawsuit against the union.

Beyond the immediate requests, the committee wrote that CTUs response may help them better understand not only what is going on internally but potentially reform the Labor-Management Reporting Disclosure Act, since the committee has jurisdiction over it.

Every dollar paid by workers should serve their interests, not those of a select few operating in the shadows, the committee wrote.

After speaking with committee staff, CTU negotiated a new date for turning in documents. Instead of Dec. 8, the union will now have until Dec. 22 to file the requested information.

The committee did not specify in its letter what the consequences would be if the union fails to submit documents by that date.
President Donald Trump on Sunday made numerous false claims about Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine and besieged leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with one allegation so easily disproven that CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale couldnt help but debunk it.

Trumps claim is not even close to accurate, Dale wrote late Monday night on CNN.com.

Politics: Trump Says Putin Should Be Allowed To Keep The Land He Has Seized In Ukraine

The Trump administration has given Ukraine until Thursday to approve its proposal to end the conflict with Russia or lose U.S. military support, with Trump claiming on social media that UKRAINE LEADERSHIP HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS.

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Dale noted in his extensive column Monday that Zelenskyy has done so numerous times since Russia launched its invasion in 2022, citing a whopping 78 examples spanning from January of that year to this past Sunday  after Trump criticized Zelenskyy as ungrateful.

Zelensky has said it on social media, sometimes tagging Trumps account, wrote Dale. He has said it to Trump face-to-face. He has said it to Trump appointees and members of Congress. He has said it in Ukraine, in the US, and in other countries.

He continued, In fact, Zelensky said it last week.

Politics: Zelenskyy Responds To Trump's Meltdown Over Ukraine Showing 'Zero Gratitude' For U.S. Support

Trump on Sunday called the invasion The War between Russia and Ukraine, arguing it would have NEVER HAPPENED if the 2020 election wasnt RIGGED & STOLEN by former President Joe Biden or, as he called it, the Sleepy Joe Biden Administration.

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Zelenskyy appeared to be responding to that Truth Social post when he published a video thanking each and every person who is helping Ukraine, including the president of the United States, and personally thanked Trump for saving Ukrainian lives in another post.

Zelenskyy has done so repeatedly over the years, as Dale enumerated Monday.

We are very grateful to President Trump, to the United States, to the entire American people, Zelenskyy told U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll last week in Kyiv, according to a summary of the meeting published by the Ukrainian presidents office.

I also extend my deep gratitude to the American companies, the Department of Energy, and president of the United States Donald Trump, he said Nov. 16 in Greece, adding: We are grateful to the people of the United States and to the president once again.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in August in the Oval Office. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Associated Press

The fact-checker noted Monday in his column that Trump only criticized the Ukrainian leader Sunday after he pushed back against the administrations proposal to end the war, which comes with many proposed concessions to Russia  including swaths of land.

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And it echoed the contentious February meeting with Zelensky in which Trump told the Ukrainian president, You gotta be more thankful, wrote Dale. The day of that meeting, CNN published a list of examples of Zelensky thanking  the United States.

Politics: Rep. Maxine Waters Shakes Up Hearing With Her Absolutely Damning Description Of Trump

He then noted that this list, published in full Monday at the end of the column, has been updated with 44 additional examples since February  when Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy during a hostile White House meeting televised for the world.

This list is not intended to be comprehensive, wrote Dale. Notably, we did not review most of the remarks Zelensky has made in Ukrainian during the war, and we, of course, do not know what he said in most of his closed-door conversations.

Read the full list here on CNN.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
A Conyers Police Department lieutenant is on administrative leave and faces a charge of theft by deception.

According to a release from CPD, Lt. Jesus Cadena was arrested after a Georgia Bureau of Investigation inquiry where Cadena was accused of misappropriating donations from a local business.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that Cadena used his position with the police department to get a charitable donation of property from The Home Depot in Conyers under the pretext that the donation was for the police department.

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CPD personnel later learned of it and confirmed the department had no knowledge of the donation. A search warrant executed at Cadenas Gwinnett County home resulted in the recovery of the property, which had been converted to personal use.

The Conyers Police Department asked the GBI to investigate, the department said in a statement.

As a result, the GBI got a warrant for Cadenas arrest on a charge of theft by deception.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

TRENDING STORIES:

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Cadena turned himself into the Rockdale County Jail after being notified of the warrant for his arrest.

Separately, CPD said they had opened their own internal investigation to see if other violations of department policies had happened and Cadena was put on administrative leave.

We expect every member of this department to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability, Police Chief Scott Freeman said. When concerns emerge, we address them openly and collaborate with our state investigative partners. Our commitment is to maintain the trust of our community.

Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the GBI for more information on the case and is waiting for their response.

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Boeing's infamous Starliner spacecraft could launch again in 2026  but this time with no humans on board.

NASA announced that it is working with Boeing toward an uncrewed launch of the Starliner capsule as early as April.

And the destination would be familiar territory.

The vehicle is one in the same that launched in June 2024 for the International Space Station on its maiden human spaceflight with two NASA astronauts on board. But rather than depart for Earth a few days after arriving at the iconic orbital outpost, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore became fixtures of the news cycle as the Starliner saga stretched on for months.

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Now, a Starliner capsule could be heading back to the space station on the vehicle's first flight since the botched test that ended in March 2025 with Williams and Wilmore hitching a ride home with competitor SpaceX.

NASAs Psyche mission acquired four observations of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS over the course of eight hours on Sept. 8 and 9, 2025, when the comet was about 33 million miles from the spacecraft. The data, captured by Psyches multispectral imager, is helping astronomers both refine the trajectory of 3I/ATLAS and learn more about the faint coma, or cloud of gas, surrounding its nucleus. This image shows the observation of comet 3I/ATLAS when it was discovered on July 1, 2025. The NASA-funded ATLAS survey telescope in Chile first reported that the comet originated from interstellar space. A faint image of comet 3I/ATLAS as observed by ESA/NASAs SOHO mission between Oct. 15-26, 2025. The comet appears as a slight brightening in the center of the image. This image shows the halo of gas and dust, or coma, surrounding comet 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object ever detected by astronomers as it passes through our solar system. The image was taken on Oct. 9, 2025, by an instrument onboard NASA's MAVEN spacecraft, which has been studying Mars from its orbit since 2014. The instrument, the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph, takes pictures in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum to reveal the chemical composition of objects. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on Oct. 2, 2025. At the time it was imaged, the comet was about 19 million miles from the spacecraft. An ultraviolet image composite of the hydrogen atoms surrounding comet 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object ever detected by astronomers, as it passes through our solar system. This image was taken on Sept. 28, just days before the comets closest approach to Mars - by an instrument on NASA's MAVEN spacecraft, which has been studying Mars from orbit since 2014. Comet 3I/ATLAS appears as a bright object near the center of this image, made from combining observations from NASAs PUNCH mission taken from Sept. 20 to Oct. 3, 2025, when the comet was about 231 million to 235 million miles from Earth. Its tail appears as a short elongation to the right. Stars appear as streaks in the background. The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, circled in the center, as seen by the LLORRI panchromatic, or black-and-white, imager on NASAs Lucy spacecraft. This image was made by stacking a series of images taken on Sept. 16, as the comet was zooming toward Mars. Lucy was 240 million miles away from 3I/ATLAS at the time making its way to explore eight asteroids that share an orbit with Jupiter. This image shows the 3I/ATLAS interstellar comet as a bright, fuzzy orb in the center. Traveling through our solar system at 130,000 miles (209,000 kilometers) per hour, 3I/ATLAS was made visible by using a series of colorized stacked images from Sept. 11-25, using the Heliocentric Imager-1 (H1) instrument, a visible-light imager on the STEREO-A (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) spacecraft. The colorization was applied to differentiate the image from other observing spacecraft images. NASAs SPHEREx space telescope observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15. Hubble captured this image of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on July 21, 2025, when the comet was 277 million miles from Earth. Hubble shows that the comet has a teardrop-shaped cocoon of dust coming off its solid, icy nucleus. NASAs James Webb Space Telescope observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS Aug. 6, with its Near-Infrared Spectrograph instrument NASAs Hubble Space Telescope observed 3I/ATLAS Nov. 30, with its Wide Field Camera 3 instrument. The image was taken about four months after Hubble's first look at the interstellar comet. NASA's fleet of telescopes, spacecraft glimpse 3I/ATLAS. See photos of interstellar comet 1 of 13 NASAs Psyche mission acquired four observations of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS over the course of eight hours on Sept. 8 and 9, 2025, when the comet was about 33 million miles from the spacecraft. The data, captured by Psyches multispectral imager, is helping astronomers both refine the trajectory of 3I/ATLAS and learn more about the faint coma, or cloud of gas, surrounding its nucleus.

Here's everything to know about the Boeing Starliner, and when the spacecraft could launch on another NASA flight test.

Boeing Starliner: Look back at NASA mission's biggest moments

Will Starliner launch again? NASA, Boeing plan 2026 uncrewed flight

Boeing and NASA teams work around NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test Starliner spacecraft after it landed Sept. 2024 uncrewed, at White Sands, New Mexico.

The next Starliner flight, a mission known as Starliner-1, could be launching in April 2026, NASA announced in a blog post Monday, Nov. 24. The spaceflight would be the first of potentially two Starliner missions next year.

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This time around, NASA will use the flight to transport cargo to the International Space Station while conducting "in-flight validation of the system upgrades" implemented since the previous failed spaceflight, the agency said. NASA did not announce where the Starliner would launch, but the vehicle last got off the ground atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida.

NASA and Boeing also announced plans to modify a 2014 contract that awarded the aerospace company up to six crewed flights to the orbital complex. Now, Boeing agreed to just four crewed missions with the remaining two being optional, NASA said.

This modification allows NASA and Boeing to focus on safely certifying the system in 2026, execute Starliners first crew rotation when ready, and align our ongoing flight planning for future Starliner missions based on stations operational needs through 2030," Steve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, said in a statement.

What is the Boeing Starliner?

Boeing is developing the Starliner spacecraft with the goal of it becoming a second operational vehicle for NASA to transport crews and cargo to the International Space Station. The missions would be contracted under the U.S. space agency's commercial crew program, under which NASA pays private companies to conduct orbital spaceflights using their own commercial vehicles.

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NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were selected for the debut crewed flight aboard the Starliner, which was propelled in June 2024 to the space station atop atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the mission was meant to last about 10 days.

SpaceX has already been making routine trips since 2020 to the space station under NASA's program using its Dragon capsule. Standing nearly 27 feet tall and about 13 feet wide, Dragon capsules can carry up to seven astronauts into orbit, though most of SpaceX's Crew missions feature a contingent of four.

The Crew missions launch on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket  one of the most active in the world  from the Kennedy Space Center.

"Certification of Boeings Starliner remains important to NASAs goal of sustained human presence in low Earth orbit," the space agency said in its recent blog post.

What happened with Starliner? Astronauts were 'stuck' at ISS

The crewed Starliner test flight mission ended in failure when engineers discovered a slew of helium leaks and problems with the craft's propulsion system that stalled the vehicle's return to Earth.

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NASA ultimately determined that the troubled Starliner capsule wasn't safe enough for a crew. In September 2024, the empty spacecraft undocked and made its way back to Earth for a parachute-assisted landing in the New Mexico desert.

NASA also opted to keep Williams and Wilmore at the station a few extra months rather than launch an emergency mission to return them to Earth and leave the station understaffed.

Williams and Wilmore  the latter of whom has since retired  were ultimately at the space station for 286 days before returning in March with a SpaceX mission known as Crew-9 on a Dragon capsule for a water landing in Florida.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Starliner could launch again after mission that left astronauts 'stuck'
A council has been criticised for missing a deadline on a freedom of information (FOI) request related to controversial plans for a new high school.

Scottish Information Commissioner David Hamilton said it was "totally unacceptable" that East Dunbartonshire Council only complied with the request on 4 November when it had been told to reply 22 days earlier, on 13 October.

The request was for details on how the council had selected a local park as the site for the new Lenzie Academy - a decision which has provoked protests from local campaigners who are angry at losing greenspace.

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The council said the delay had been due to an administrative error.

The local authority previously said the FOI was "manifestly unreasonable", and that it would cost over 1,000 to provide the details requested.

The applicant then appealed to Mr Hamilton, who launched an investigation and ruled the council should provide the data.

In a judgement published on 29 August that East Dunbartonshire Council had not provided "adequate evidence" to justify their estimate of the 1,000 cost.

The ruling said information should be provided by 13 October - a deadline the local authority missed.

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In a letter to the council's chief executive Ann Davie, Mr Hamilton said: "The commissioner considers the council's failure to comply with the decision notice by the statutory deadline totally unacceptable.

"This breach flies in the face of the council's stated commitment to transparency and legal compliance and erodes trust not just in your authority, but in the freedom of information regime as a whole."

Mr Hamilton added that explanations for the late response were not acceptable, and that it was fortunate for the local authority he had not referred the matter to the Court of Session for potential contempt of court.

He also said there are "some wider issues" with the council responding to his office, saying staff have needed to issue information notices - a written note requesting details - to obtain information from the local authority.

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He noted there were "significant weaknesses" in the council's submissions on why it denied the initial FOI request.

Mr Hamilton also used his letter to reiterate his call for further powers for his watchdog.

Ms Davie said a personal apology had been provided to the commissioner's office regarding the delay.

She said: "The failure to comply was not due to any reluctance to provide a response but rather due to an administrative error, which was then compounded by pressing operational demands.

"Once the error had been raised, the information  which required significant resource and time to review the relevant records - was sent to the requester within three weeks. As part of the response the requestor also received an apology."

Why is there controversy over new school site?

East Dunbartonshire Council has been seeking to build a new school to replace Lenzie Academy for years.

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The school was recently criticised in a fire safety report, which found there was "substantial" risk to life from numerous hazards in the building.

The council recently selected Whitegates Park as the new site, but the decision split local opinions.

Campaigners against the move previously told BBC Scotland News they felt the council had been secretive over the issue, and said minutes had not been taken at a meeting that decided on the school location.

They also pointed to a survey in 2018 - when the site was being considered for a new additional support needs (ASN) school - that found a toxic risk from shallow soils.

East Dunbartonshire Council wants to build a new school on Whitegates Park [BBC]

East Dunbartonshire Council said further survey work found Whitegates Park would be suitable if remedial work was carried out.

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Those opposing Whitegates also queried why a scoring system used in 2018 was dropped for the most recent evaluation of the land.

The council said this was to avoid criteria being used that did not apply to every site option.

A spokesperson for the Save Whitegates Park group said the information commissioner's comments reflected local frustration about engaging with the council.

They said: "There is deep and legitimate alarm over the way East Dunbartonshire Council has managed this process. Our community will not accept decisions made without proper scrutiny or engagement.

"We call on East Dunbartonshire Council to urgently address these failures, provide full clarity on how decisions have been made, and re-establish an open and lawful process that respects the rights and expectations of the public."
The preliminary hearing in the criminal case against the co-founders of Epic Charter Schools is set to resume Feb. 25 after a delay of almost two years.

Ben Harris and David Chaney are accused in a 2022 racketeering and embezzlement case of cheating Oklahoma students out of millions of dollars. They both deny wrongdoing.

The key witness, Josh Brock, testified against them on March 29, 2024, in Oklahoma County District Court.

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Brock also is charged in the criminal case but has a deal to avoid prison in exchange for his cooperation in the prosecution. He was the chief financial officer at Epic Charter Schools and a related private company.

Special Judge Jason Glidewell has set aside three days in February to complete the preliminary hearing. The judge has heard testimony over five days so far.

Epic Charter Schools is pictured Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, at 50 Penn Place in Oklahoma City.

A preliminary hearing is a key step in most felony cases in Oklahoma. After listening to testimony, the judge decides if prosecutors have sufficient evidence for a trial.

Lengthy delays at the preliminary hearing stage are extremely rare. Many preliminary hearings are completed in a single day.

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Brock was supposed to resume his testimony in May 2024. Instead he asked that Chaney's defense attorney be disqualified from the case "to preserve the integrity of the judicial system."

He complained that the attorney, Gary Wood, had represented him in the past, too, and shouldn't be allowed to question him at the preliminary hearing. Wood denied he was ever Brock's attorney.

Assigned to make the decision was District Judge Susan Stallings. She was set to take up the issue again Tuesday, Nov. 25.

However, in a surprise, the witness withdrew his disqualification request. That led to the new dates for the rest of the preliminary hearing.

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Stallings had sought to resolve the issue last year but first Harris, 50, and then Chaney, 46, tried unsuccessfully to have her removed from the case.

In a twist, Stallings did quit the case after all Nov. 25. She would have been the judge at trial, if the case goes that far.

Stallings recused herself because Joe White, the defense attorney for Harris, is helping a potential opponent in next year's election.

White said he is the chair of the campaign of Warren Plunk, an Oklahoma City criminal defense attorney.

Epic started out as a virtual charter school in 2011. It later offered a blend of virtual and in-person instruction in Oklahoma County and Tulsa County. Enrollment exceeded more than 60,000 students during the pandemic but was half that at the start of the current school year.

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Epic also has been rocked by mass layoffs and program cuts because of financial issues.

Epic Charter Schools co-founders Ben Harris, left, and David Chaney.

Epic severed all ties with Harris, Chaney and Brock in 2021.

Filing the criminal case in 2022 was David Prater, then the Oklahoma County district attorney. He has since retired. Attorney General Gentner Drummond took the case over in 2023.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: After months in legal limbo, Epic Charter Schools criminal case to resume
The holiday shopping season is creating fresh openings for scammers looking to snag consumers' payment data, according to Visa's 2025 Holiday Threats Report.

Artificial intelligence is also helping criminals move faster and reach more victims, according to Visa's scam disruption team. AI tools can generate authentic-sounding text for fake websites that look legitimate but are designed to steal your information.

"Just as regular consumers are excited for shopping season, scammers are also excited, because it gives them opportunities to capitalize on these feelings, and illicitly gather payment data, or other personal information from unsuspecting victims," Michael Jabbara, global head of fraud services at Visa, told CBS News.

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Here are five of the most common types of scams to watch for this holiday season, according to Visa.

Fake retail websites

Websites that appear authentic but have been constructed for the sole purpose of scamming customers are proliferating, according to Visa. These sites can closely mimic popular companies, duping shoppers into handing over credit card information.

Sometimes they ship shoddy goods to customers, but in other cases, they don't bother sending anything.

Jabbara said it can be difficult to distinguish between legitimate and copycat sites, and that it's wise to do extra research if your gut instinct says something is awry.

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"Scammers do this for a living and are very good at it. You don't want to underestimate them," Jabbara said. "If a consumer has a feeling that a deal is too good to be true, or a website looks fishy, do some validation."

That can include looking at online reviews of the site or going directly to the business's site by typing in its URL, versus clicking on a social media site. For example, open a web browser and type in Gap.com, as opposed to clicking a link in a digital ad promoting T-shirts.

Package delivery scams

Scam artists are sending consumers texts claiming there is a "delivery problem" with an online order they probably didn't place. Criminals posing as package delivery services like UPS or FedEx tell consumers they must turn over their credit card information to receive a phony delivery.

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This type of scam proliferates around the holidays, when consumers make more online purchases and shippers deal with higher-than-normal volumes of packages, Visa notes.

Criminals may sell and trade your personal information on the dark web, or enroll you in recurring billing cycles you never signed up for. Some consumers might not catch these issues if they don't pay close attention to their credit card statements, according to Visa.

"They input your payment information into a form and monetize it on different channels," Jabbara said.

Jabbara advises that consumers never click on links from unknown senders.

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Paying for seasonal work

Fake job offers also crop up during the holidays, when many Americans are trying to earn extra cash to cover gift-giving and travel. Scammers take advantage of that financial pressure.

Visa advises job seekers to apply only through a company's official channels and to avoid any role that requires upfront payments.

"We see 'job offers' that tell workers they have to pay a fee to apply, or for a background check," Jabbara said. "That is a surefire sign of a scam."

Consumers should also verify that any company they're applying to is legitimate, he added.

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Travel-related fraud

Scammers are also creating fake travel sites and sending phishing emails targeting people with holiday travel plans.

Make sure to make reservations through trusted travel sites, and if a deal appears to be too good to be true, it probably is. Looking at reviews can help determine if a site is legitimate, Jabbara advises.

Charity scams

The year-end giving season also attracts scammers who exploit people's generosity by setting up phony charities.

Fraudsters may build convincing websites or approach people in person with tap-to-donate schemes, Visa said. As with other scams, it's wise to confirm a charity's legitimacy before donating.

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Trump threatens major immigration overhauls after National Guard shooting

National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom dies after D.C. attack, officials say

Young mom murdered after receiving menacing messages from stalker
Three-term D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will not run for reelection, she announced in a social media post Tuesday.

With a grateful heart, I am announcing that I will not seek a fourth term, she said on X.

For the next 12 months, let's run through the tape and keep winning for DC.

Her decision was first reported by The Washington Post.

The mayor of D.C. is not subject to term limits. But with Bowsers decision official, Democrats are already seemingly scrambling to replace her. Several City Council members are reportedly considering a run, including Kenyan McDuffie and Janeese Lewis George.

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The candidates who might enter the race will likely represent varied perspectives on how D.C. government should handle business interests, community policing and other issues facing the city  and would have great sway over the federal districts future if elected.

Bowser has led the city for over a decade and through a number of tumultuous periods, most recently as President Donald Trump has deployed National Guard troops across the city and as thousands of federal workers lost their jobs as a result of Trumps trimming of the federal government.

The decision comes as Bowser accomplished one of her top priorities this year, bringing the Washington Commanders back to D.C. The City Council approved the $3.7 billion stadium deal in September.

I know weve laid the groundwork for others to build upon, Bowser said in a video posted alongside her announcement.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  For two hours every day, Lee Si-young and her colleagues broadcast uncensored foreign news into authoritarian North Korea. Her radio audience could go to jail if caught listening.

Lee's Seoul-based Free North Korea Radio station has tried for two decades to give real-time news to North Korea's 26 million people. But Lee says she now feels a sense of crisis about her work as big government-funded broadcasters in the United States and South Korea have fallen silent this year because of major funding cuts and policy changes.

Our frustrations with the U.S. and South Korean governments are growing over their suspensions of radio broadcasts," said Lee, a defector who heads the small, nongovernmental FNK radio station. "We're afraid that they've abandoned North Korean residents.

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Major channels broadcasting into North Korea fall silent

In North Korea, all radio and TV sets are fixed to state-run channels.

But defectors have testified that they modified their radios or used smuggled ones to covertly tune in to foreign broadcasts at night for news their government didn't want them to hear. That includes outside perspectives of the North's ruling Kim dynasty, more affluent and freer Western lifestyles, and success stories about defectors.

But a respected academic website focused on North Korea, 38 North, assessed last month that such outside radio broadcasting toward North Korea was down by 85% after cuts made by the U.S. and South Korean governments.

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Two major U.S.-funded broadcasters  the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia  were forced to stop their Korean-language radio broadcasts after U.S. President Donald Trump in March signed an executive order effectively dismantling the agency that oversaw or provided funding to media networks. Trump said the networks had a liberal bias or were wasteful.

South Korea's liberal government led by President Lee Jae Myung halted cross-border radio broadcasts in an attempt to lower animosities with North Korea. His government also turned off frontline loudspeakers blaring K-pop songs and world news, and banned activists from flying balloons with propaganda leaflets and USB sticks across the border.

The FNK station is now one of several small civil or religious organizations that still transmit radio broadcasts into North Korea. Lee, the FNK head, said that VOA and RFA were much bigger than her group, which has only five workers, all defectors from North Korea.

We feel heavy-hearted and have a conflict over whether we should tell North Koreans that those suspended broadcasts were paused only temporarily and they would definitely be restarted or that we're the only one of the few who survived, she said.

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A website and app target North Koreans living abroad

Despite setbacks in efforts to spread outside news in North Korea, Lee Young-hyeon, a defector-turned-lawyer in South Korea, this month launched a website and a mobile app meant to provide North Koreans with an alternative way to get outside information.

Lee said his Korea Internet Studio would first target tens of thousands of North Koreans living abroad, including laborers, students, diplomats and their family members. Many of these North Koreans abroad use mobile phones with access to the global internet, a privilege citizens in the North don't have.

Lee said his group aims to produce practical content that North Koreans abroad could use, such as how students can get better credits at foreign schools, what gifts laborers can buy for their loved ones at home and what cryptocurrency is.

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We don't expect the public using our content to launch an uprising and topple the North Korean government, Lee said. The objective, he said, is for North Koreans to "learn there is such a good world where they can enjoy some freedom and rights.

Lee said he thinks North Korea will eventually ease its strict restrictions on the internet in a limited manner as it could allow Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese and other foreign companies to open local offices in the North.

Many observers are skeptical, though.

Since 2020, North Korea has enacted highly oppressive laws to toughen its fight against foreign cultural influences, especially South Korea's. The Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Law reportedly imposes up to 10 years of imprisonment with hard labor on those who consume, possess or spread foreign movies and music, and up to five years on those who use unauthorized radio and TV channels.

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Defectors see the influence of foreign broadcasts into North Korea

Some question whether campaigns to provide outside news to North Korea have made a difference. Launches of propaganda balloons and loudspeaker broadcasts have also been a major source of tension with North Korea.

In July, South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young called radio and loudspeaker broadcasts a relic of the Cold War" and expressed hope that their suspension would improve ties with North Korea. In response to questions posed by The Associated Press, the South Korean Defense Ministry said the suspension of its Voice of Freedom radio broadcast was designed to ease military tensions with North Korea.

South Korean officials say North Korea has also switched off its own border loudspeakers and stopped transmitting jamming signals targeting South Korean radio broadcasts. But North Korea is still refusing to resume long-dormant talks with South Korea and the U.S.

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Before his defection in 2003, Paek Yosep said he was shocked when South Korean radio broadcasts reported about anti-government protests in Seoul, something that is unthinkable in North Korea. Paek said when he served as a soldier at a frontline unit, he enjoyed listening to music blared from South Korean loudspeakers across the border.

Kim Ki-sung at the FNK station said that the South Korean radio broadcasts he listened to for a decade before he fled North Korea in 1999 influenced his defection. He said he learned that South Korea was rich enough to grant loans to the Soviet Union and that it had so many cars there were traffic jams.

I'm not sure how strongly addictive drugs are but I think those broadcasts were the same, Kim said. Many ask us whether we've confirmed that people in North Korea are truly listening to our programs. But I believe we should keep doing this even if just one person listens to our broadcasts.
EXCLUSIVE: The Club for Growth says it has President Donald Trump's back as the president pushes Republican-controlled states to redraw congressional maps in order to create more right-leaning districts to help defend the GOP's fragile House majority in next year's midterm elections.

"We're all in on helping Republicans do redistricting," David McIntosh, longtime president of the deep-pocketed and influential conservative group, said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital.

McIntosh highlighted that the Club for Growth's seven-figure efforts "give Republicans a better shot at winning those extra districts."

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The push by the Club is the latest example of its strong support for the president and his policies, just two years after the group worked to prevent Trump from winning the 2024 Republican presidential nomination amid a bitter feud.

Trump Targets Red State Republican Lawmakers In Push For Congressional Redistricting

President Donald Trump, is seen pointing as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Sept. 11, 2025.

Trump and his political team are aiming to pad the GOP's razor-thin House majority to keep control of the chamber in next year's midterms, when the party in power traditionally faces political headwinds and loses seats.

Read On The Fox News App

Trump is trying to prevent what happened during his first term in the White House when Democrats reclaimed the House majority in the 2018 midterm elections.

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Texas was the first Republican-controlled state to pass rare but not-unheard-of mid-decade congressional redistricting, although a ruling by two federal judges threatens to overturn the redrawn map. Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have also drawn new maps as part of the president's push.

Indiana, where McIntosh served three terms as a congressman 25 years ago, is the latest battlefield in the high-stakes redistricting showdown pitting Trump and Republicans versus Democrats to shape the 2026 midterm landscape in the fight for the House majority.

Trump Turns Up Heat On Fellow Republicans In Push To Redraw Congressional Maps Ahead Of Midterms

"Democrats for years have gerrymandered and Republicans have not, and now it's time so we can have Republicans in Congress for states like my home state of Indiana, step up to the plate, draw the district, so Republicans can be represented," McIntosh argued.

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Trump has threatened to back primary challenges against Republican state lawmakers in Indiana who are reluctant to pass redistricting.

"I was delighted to see President Trump calling them to do it. And you know, he said, we're going to start endorsing against you if you don't do what's right for the Republican Party and for the nation. Club for Growth will be there to back up his endorsements," McIntosh said.

And the Club's political arm, the Club for Growth Action super PAC, which is one of the biggest spenders in Republican primary showdowns thanks to the support of top-dollar conservative donors, is running ads to support the president's push in right-leaning states across the country.

"We're way over seven figures when you put together all the different states. And what we're doing is running ads. We have a new ad today that talks about the need for redistricting," McIntosh revealed. "We have a program that brings constituent calls into the Senate members, and so they get to hear directly from their voters that they want them to do this."

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It's not just redistricting.

The Club is spending seven figures in next week's hotly contested special election for a Republican-controlled vacant House seat in a solidly red congressional district in Tennessee.

"Matt Epps is going to win," McIntosh said as he pointed to the Trump-endorsed GOP nominee in the race to succeed former Republican Rep. Mark Green, who resigned from office in June to take a private sector job.

"It's going to be a hard race. They all are, but he's going to win that race because he's more in line with Tennessee," McIntosh said of Van Epps. "I'm confident of him, and we're going to help him do it."

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Scoop: Trump-aligned Maga Inc. Jumps Into High Stakes Ballot Box Congressional Showdown

And looking ahead to next year's midterms, McIntosh shared that the Club has "already started raising a $40 million fund to keep the House majority, and we're about 25 million into it."

"I'm going to keep going, and then we'll deploy that to make sure Republicans can keep the majority," he emphasized.

And as they've done in the past, the Club, which pushes a fiscally conservative agenda, including a focus on tax cuts and other economic issues, will once again play an influential role in GOP primaries.

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"We're interviewing a lot of candidates now. We're going to look for the strongest conservative candidate, somebody who wants to continue the economic progress, less regulation, lower taxes, balance the budget, the things that will make America great," McIntosh said. "And then when we endorse them, we'll come in with our funding to pay for ads. We'll recruit and help them raise money. It's important we get the right Republicans in these primaries, and there are a lot of open seats."

Top Conservative Group Vows To Work Closely With Trump

Democrats are energized coming out of their party's sweeping victories earlier this month in the 2026 elections.

"Democrats have racked up wins this year by running on affordability and lowering costs, and headed into 2026 our momentum continues to build," CJ Warnke, communications director for the Democrat-aligned House Majority PAC told Fox News Digital.

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Warnke predicted, "As Trump's poll numbers on the economy continue to plummet and voters see him prioritizing the elite over lowering prices, his broken promises will sink House Republicans. No Republican-held seat is safe, and HMP will do whatever it takes to win the House in 2026."

McIntosh sees the 2025 elections as "a warning sign, a wake-up call for two things."

"One, we got to get our voters out, and that's the job of the party and Club for Growth and groups like us," McIntosh noted.

But he added that "the party has to explain how our agenda makes life more affordable, how we can lower your insurance costs by forcing the insurance industry to tell you how much they're charging. We can lower housing by getting rid of all sorts of regulation."

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McIntosh and the Club have had an up-and-down relationship with the president. They opposed Trump as he ran for the White House in 2016 before embracing him as an ally. In the 2022 cycle, Trump and the Club teamed up in some high-profile GOP primaries but clashed over combustible Senate nomination battles in Alabama, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The Club was on the outs with Trump as the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race got underway. Trump repeatedly criticized McIntosh and the Club, referring to them as "The Club for NO Growth," and claimed they were "an assemblage of political misfits, globalists, and losers."

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However, Trump and McIntosh made peace in early 2024, with Trump saying as he was wrapping up the GOP presidential nomination, that they were "back in love" after the protracted falling out.

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Asked about the Club's relationship with Trump, McIntosh said, "We're right there with the President, especially in these races ... Club for Growth is very aligned with President Trump, and we're especially in these contested races, we're going to help him win."





Original article source: Deep-pocketed conservative group once at odds with Trump now all-in to 'help him win'
The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, escalated attacks by Trump administration chiefs on the Arizona senator Mark Kelly on Tuesday by ordering the secretary of the US navy to investigate potentially unlawful comments made by Kelly in a social media video with other lawmakers.

Hegseths order came in the form of a memorandum to John Phelan asking the navy secretary to review Kelly and a group of fellow Democrats comments in the video last week that sought to remind serving soldiers and intelligence officers that they have the right to refuse unlawful orders.

Hegseth said in the memo that he wanted a brief from Phelan that he could review by 10 December.

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The Pentagon had issued a statement on Monday that it was investigating Kelly for possible breaches of military law.

Kelly and the other Democrats have been accused by Donald Trump of seditious behavior, to which Kelly has responded that the US president is using the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against them as a tool to intimidate and harass members of Congress.

Related: Mark Kelly: call for troops to disobey illegal orders is non-controversial

The four politicians, along with two others, had made a video encouraging US military service members to resist unlawful orders  a message that angered Trump, who posted on social media that the group were traitors and thus could be jailed or even face the death penalty.

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The latest statement from the group, released by congressional lawmakers Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, confirmed that the FBI had contacted the House and Senate sergeants at arms requesting interviews with them.

No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our constitution, they said, adding that they had each sworn an oath to support and defend the US constitution.

That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship, they added.

The statement deepens a dispute between the Trump administration and Democrats, including Arizona senator and former astronaut Kelly and Michigan congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, over the video message, which urged the military and intelligence services members to refuse illegal orders.

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Slotkin said the FBIs counter-terrorism division had notified the group that they are opening what appears to be an inquiry against the six of us and described the move as a scare tactic by Trump.

To be honest, the presidents reaction and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we made the video, she said.

He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries, and hes not afraid to use the arms of the government against people he disagrees with. He does not believe the law applies to him  which is exactly why we made the video, to give people some assurance that they werent alone as they watch this stuff unfold.

The Pentagon has also said it is conducting a review of misconduct allegations against Kelly that could, it said, result in him being recalled to active duty to face court-martial proceedings.
Democrats are going all in on a Tennessee special election next month, teeing up one last test of their electoral strength ahead of 2026 after enjoying a string of victories in November.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin in recent weeks have campaigned for Democrat Aftyn Behn, a state representative running against Republican Matt Van Epps for former Rep. Mark Greens (R) seat in Tennessees 7th Congressional District. Several outside Democratic groups have poured money into the race, too.

Van Epps, a former Tennessee Department of General Services commissioner, is endorsed by President Trump. The president hosted a tele-rally for the Republican candidate earlier this month, while several outside GOP groups, including the pro-Trump MAGA Inc, are spending in the race, too.

While Democrats acknowledge the odds theyre up against to flip the seat in the deep-red district, the party believes even a 10-point loss would be seen as a victory.

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This is our first special election in nearly 40 years in Tennessee, so this is really a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us, said Dakota Galban, chair of the Davidson County Democratic Party. The county includes the city of Nashville.

They drew these new lines intentionally to rob Democrats of our voice in Congress, so I think that especially motivates Nashville voters, Galban added, noting Tennessees current House map splits Nashville into three different districts.

Early voting is underway in the states 7th Congressional District, a House seat that stretches from Tennessees northern border with Kentucky to the states southern border with Alabama; it includes western and northern portions of Nashville.

Green resigned from his seat in July for a job in the private sector, triggering the special election to replace him.

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Trump won the district by 22 points in November, while Green won it against former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry (D) by 21 points. Van Epps is widely expected to win the seat during the Dec. 2 special election, though Democrats say there are reasons to think they could overperform.

For one, the party was encouraged by its wins in places like New Jersey and Virginia earlier this month, when Democrats Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger outperformed expectations and won their respective gubernatorial races by double-digits. Those victories came after a string of smaller special election wins by the party throughout the year.

Members of the party note the current district lines include parts of Nashville, which offers a boost for Democrats; the last time the seat was open in 2018, the 7th Congressional District did not include the city at all.

And thats not to mention a few high-profile surrogates such as Harris campaigning in the district, adding further attention to the race.

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Theres a lot of very cautious optimism, said Justin Kanew, who ran against Green for the open seat in 2018 under the old congressional lines and now runs the progressive news site The Tennessee Holler.

I think everybody understands the reality of the landscape here, but there are enough reasons to think that if there ever was a time for a miracle, now would be the time, he said.

Behn has made her campaign slogan feed kids, fix roads and fund hospitals. In advertising, shes slammed Republicans for Trumps big, beautiful bill, which shes referred to as the GOPs big, bulls bill, criticizing it for its cuts to Medicaid while offering larger tax breaks to wealthy Americans.

In another ad, Behn attacks Republicans for their handling of the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The ad also says Tennesseans get a rough ride over health care cuts and Trumps tariffs, showing several people on a mechanical bull being knocked off.

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Republicans in Congress passed legislation earlier this week, which was signed into law by Trump, that requires the Justice Department to release unclassified documents pertaining to Epstein, after the president signaled earlier he was in favor of doing so after much initial resistance.

Democrats have attacked Van Epps for his position over the issue; he previously avoided saying whether he wants the Epstein files to be released and instead supported House GOP leaderships handling of the issue as the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee issued subpoenas for the documents.

Van Epps later said he supported the release of those files just hours before the House voted overwhelmingly in favor of their release, saying on the social platform X, As Ive said from the beginning, I support full transparency  I would vote to release the Epstein files, no hesitation.

Im with President Trump 100%. I also support continued investigation by the oversight committee with full subpoena power. Tennesseans want and deserve the truth! he added.

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Van Epps has also touched on affordability in some of his campaign advertising, including pushes to bring down prices, create good-paying jobs and lower health care costs for working families, while also touting his military credentials as a veteran whos served on nine combat tours.

Van Epps and other Republican groups such as Club for Growth Action have sought to paint Behn as a woke liberal, pointing to a selfie-styled video of hers in which she talked about tailing state troopers and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. Theyve also attacked her for comments she made on a 2020 podcast in which she said she hated Nashville.

NO, I DO NOT HATE THE CITY I REPRESENT, Behn wrote on X, featuring several laughing emojis. The national GOPs new attack? That I hate Nashville. Ive cried in the Country Music Hall of Fame no less than 10 times. Theyre panicking because were close to winning. Eyes on the prize, yall. Lets go.

Republicans acknowledge that because its a special election, theyll have to spend more in whats been a reliably red district. Still, theyre not concerned about Van Eppss chances next month.

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Its a special election so turnout is going to be very low. Dems are angry and Republicans are satisfied with whats going on, so turnout is a challenge, but the Democrats nominated very poorly, Republican strategist Josh Thomas told The Hill in an email.

Republicans are dismissive of the idea that Democrats will be able to tout a relatively narrow loss as win.

Theres only one scorecard: You win or lose, Chip Saltsman, a Republican strategist and former Tennessee GOP chair, said.

The only job the Republicans have got to do is get one more vote than Democrats, and theyre gonna get a lot more than one, he added.

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Some Democrats are also clear-eyed about their prospects in the district.

While Lisa Quigley, who served as chief of staff to former Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), noted Tennessee Democrats have improved their vote share out of Nashville in recent election cycles, Davidson County isnt coming out in the numbers the party needs to keep the race competitive. Data compiled as of Thursday showed Davidson County accounting for about 25 percent of the total vote share.

If it was more like 50 percent of the vote, like, wed be winning. And thats what were not seeing, Quigley said.

Democrats also point to structural issues as to why its harder to get their base out to vote. Tennessee is ranked among the lowest in voter participation, and members of the party point out that the states 30-day voter registration deadline and restrictions around absentee ballots pose hurdles for voters. At the same time, Tennessees early voting starts earlier than some states, 20 days before election day.

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Still, Democrats believe the election could send a strong signal to the rest of the state as the party looks to make further inroads there in next years midterms.

I want people in Nashville to understand that this sets the tone for how we treat all of our people in Tennessee, said Carol Abney, a member of the state Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee.

How well we do in this race will show that Tennessees worth fighting for, she added.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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CHICAGO  The recent deposition of Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino about the use of force by his immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz seemed to go off the rails the minute they said hello.

You didnt want to shake (Bovinos) hand when he walked into the room, Department of Justice attorney Sarmad Khojasteh told plaintiffs attorney Locke Bowman during an early break in the proceedings, according to a transcript made public late Monday. That was noted ... Treat him with respect. Treat me with respect. Youre a professional.

What followed was nearly seven hours of terse and sometimes evasive answers from Bovino, punctuated by an occasional longer explanation about the allegedly violent mobs attacking and threatening immigration agents.

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The questioning was almost constantly interrupted by bickering between the attorneys, mostly instigated by Khojasteh, who at one point called Bowman a petulant old man. Bowman, meanwhile, repeatedly accused Khojasteh of trying to hijack the proceedings with his drumbeat of objections and accusations, the transcript shows.

Stop it. Just stop it, an exasperated Bowman told Khojasteh at one point. You dont need to give speeches.

The full transcript of Bovinos deposition was made part of the court record as attorneys in an ongoing lawsuit accused immigration agents with Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of routinely violating a restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis limiting the use of force against protesters and media.

Ellis blasted Bovino for his antics and answers during the three-day deposition, issuing a scathing 233-page ruling earlier this month that described the tough-talking field general as evasive and accused him of either providing cute responses or outright lying.

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Plaintiffs attorneys also accused Bovino of lying repeatedly in his sworn testimony, including a blatant misrepresentation about what happened during a high-profile incident in the Little Village neighborhood, where Bovino was seen leading an immigration action that targeted a laundromat and discount mall and sparked vehement protests on the streets.

Bovino was captured on video throwing tear gas above the heads of the crowd without warning. Other footage showed Bovino rolled a second canister of tear gas at people as they fled as another agent near Bovino fired a flash-bang grenade at the crowd.

He clearly wanted his actions noted for the record, correcting an attorney who suggested he had thrown a canister.

You said canister. I threw two, Bovino said. Thats plural.

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Bovino initially claimed he had thrown the canisters after being hit in the head with a white rock, adding that it hurt but did not break the skin. But in a third session of questioning a few days later, he sought to change that statement.

I was mistaken, Bovino said, according to the transcript. The white rock was thrown at me, but that was after I deployed less lethal means in chemical munitions. I was mixed up with several other objects in a very chaotic environment. And I confused that white rock with other objects that were thrown at me.

Bovino repeatedly dodged questions throughout the deposition.

When he was asked about video he reviewed ahead of questions, he said, I cant recall the details of that video that I looked at.

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Pressed for even general information, Bovino said, There were figures in the video, but then, I cant remember when asked if he looked at footage from the ICE processing center in Broadview.

He repeated versions of that  from an incredulous Ive never heard of this allegation before to I dont know anything about a situation or if it even occurred  throughout his exchange with lawyers.

But he consistently stuck to themes that he was a lawman surrounded by criminals in the form of arrest targets and protesters.

Asked if he has ever been on the scene while agents responded to protesters at Broadview, Bovino said, Ive been at the Broadview facility and responded to violent rioters and assaultive subjects.

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Bowman asked Bovino at one point about the Irving Park neighborhood tear gas incident where federal agents under his command gassed the area just before a Halloween parade, one of the most publicized incidents of Midway Blitz.

I believe they were justified if that happened, Bovino said.

Why did he believe that, Bowman asked.

Ive seen nothing to indicate a reason otherwise, Bovino answered. But again he testified he did not review video, speak to the agents involved or remember reading any reports.

Bovinos deposition came as allegations mounted that agents under his command were indiscriminately throwing tear gas in Chicago neighborhoods and using inappropriate force against residents and reporters during protests over the Trump administrations ongoing immigration enforcement push.

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Ellis issued a temporary restraining order last month restricting the use of tear gas and other non-lethal munitions, and requiring agents to wear body cameras and conspicuous identification on their uniforms when interacting with the public. That ordered has since been stayed by an appeals court.

____
The Pierce County Sheriffs Office has arrested a man who allegedly stabbed a grocery store employee while shoplifting and led police on a chase in a stolen U-Haul.

Over the Weekend 11-24-25



#1 Stabbing/Robbery/Pursuit



#2 Dirt Biker Falls Down Cliff



For the full story, visit our Blotter:https://t.co/HJibm4hdT2 pic.twitter.com/4HOnTqO6ha  Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) November 24, 2025

It happened on November 23. Around 3:30 p.m. several people called 911, saying that a man stabbed an employee at the WinCo Foods in Puyallup.

Deputies quickly arrived and saw the man, leaving the parking lot in a U-Haul.

Video shows the truck stop, and a man is seen pushing a woman and her dog out before taking off.

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Deputies began chasing the truck.

There was probable cause for his arrest for felony assault in the first degree, robbery, and eluding. Deputies knew the suspect was dangerous and needed to be stopped, the Pierce County Sheriffs Office shared.

As the U-Haul sped around the corner at Waller and 133rd Street East, deputies say the driver crashed head-on into another car.

Deputies pulled the man from the U-Haul and arrested him.

The two people in the other car were okay.
More than a decade after Wisconsin's Kewaunee Power Station shut down, developers are seeking approval to bring the facility back online  a move that has many locals both hopeful and cautious.

The Utah-based company EnergySolutions, which purchased the shuttered plant in 2022, has applied to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for permission to restart operations. The plant, located in the town of Carlton (population of around 1,000), closed in 2013 after nearly 40 years of operation, dealing a major economic blow to the community.

Town board chair David Hardtke told Wisconsin Public Radio that the town's annual budget once relied heavily on utility tax revenue from the plant.

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"Residents of the town of Carlton are in favor of it because we have nuclear waste sitting there, so we can't do anything else with the property," Hardtke said. "So the best use for it would be to produce more power."

Still, not everyone is without reservations. Many in the agricultural community worry that the project could attract data centers and solar developers eager to take advantage of the site's robust energy infrastructure  potentially threatening local farmland.

"They're just crawling out of the woodwork right now, trying to eat up the farmland," Hardtke said. "People like the quiet community."

Experts say Carlton's situation reflects a broader trend. According to University of Wisconsin-Madison nuclear engineering professor Ben Lindley, more data centers are "co-locating" with nuclear plants to secure reliable power directly from the source.

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"Energy needs from data centers can motivate new generation assets," Lindley explained. "Especially firm sources of power like nuclear energy that have a very high reliability and also as a clean, secure source of electricity."

The debate around the Kewaunee site underscores the complex role of nuclear power in the clean energy transition.

Advocates say nuclear energy provides large amounts of low-carbon electricity, supporting both grid stability and energy security  especially as demand rises from industries like tech and AI. Critics, however, point to radioactive waste, safety risks, high upfront costs, and long approval timelines that can stretch into decades.

EnergySolutions has indicated that, even with approval, the process could take three to four years for licensing and another eight to 10 years for construction  meaning Carlton's nuclear future remains years away.

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Those logistics and safety considerations are why many experts  such as Amory Lovins, sometimes referred to as the "Einstein of energy efficiency"  point to renewable energy such as solar and wind as cheaper and faster low-carbon solutions, though nuclear is still generally superior to coal when it comes to both human and environmental health.

But for residents, the prospect of bringing clean power  and economic stability  back to town is enough to spark cautious optimism.



Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices  and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
The Justice Department is still signing criminal indictments with Lindsey Halligans namealmost a day after a judge ruled that she was unlawfully appointed as interim U.S. attorney.

Federal prosecutors were initially instructed to sign court filings in the name of Halligans first assistant, after U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie concluded Monday that Halligan had no authority to preside over the Eastern District of Virginia since she was never confirmed by the U.S. Senate. But just an hour later, internal emails instructed the department to continue using Halligans name, labeling Curries decision premature, reported MS NOWs Lisa Rubin.

The move is a flagrant violation of Curries court order, which threw out Donald Trumps cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

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Ms. Halligan has been unlawfully serving in that role since September 22, 2025, Currie wrote in her opinion. All actions flowing from Ms. Halligans defective appointment  constitute unlawful exercises of executive power and must be set aside.

Currie tossed the case without prejudice, giving Trump a potential pathway to try the cases again on the same charges should he legally replace Halligan.

Trump handpicked Halligana former White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experienceto replace the last attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Halligans predecessor, Erik Siebert, had refused to prosecute Comey and James after he couldnt find incriminating evidence against the pair.

Halligan was sworn in to the powerful position in September. Ignoring protocol, the Trump loyalist moved full steam ahead on prosecutions under the banner of Trumps approval for months, despite the fact that she was never confirmed by the Senate.
By Jody Godoy

(Reuters) -Republican and Democratic attorneys general from 35 states and the District of Columbia urged congressional leaders on Tuesday not to block state laws governing artificial intelligence, warning of "disastrous consequences" if the technology is left unregulated.

The letter sets up a clash between the states and the Trump administration over AI regulation, as the industry seeks to avoid new laws scheduled to take effect in 2026 and states worry about injuries and deaths attributed to chatbot use.

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Every state should be able to enact and enforce its own AI regulations to protect its residents, said New York Attorney General Letitia James, who led the effort with attorneys general in North Carolina, Utah and New Hampshire.

TECH COMPANIES PRESS FOR NATIONAL STANDARDS

ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Alphabet's Google, Meta Platforms, and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz have called for national AI standards instead of a 50-state patchwork.

But since Congress has not put national standards in place, rushing to block state laws "risks disastrous consequences for our communities," the attorneys general said.

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"If Congress is serious about grappling with how AIs emergence creates opportunities and challenges for our safety and well-being, then the states look forward to working with you on a substantive effort," they said.

Some states have made it a crime to use AI to generate sexual images of people without their consent, limited the use of AI in political advertising, and restricted how insurers use AI to decide healthcare claims. A Colorado law that has faced industry pushback seeks to prevent AI from being used to discriminate in housing, employment and education.

California, home to several major AI companies, has gone the farthest. Starting in 2026, the state will require companies to disclose information about data used to train AI models and provide means to detect AI-generated content. Major developers like OpenAI will also have to explain plans to mitigate potential catastrophic risks from cutting-edge models. California Attorney General Rob Bonta signed the letter.

The Senate voted 99-1 against an effort to block AI laws this year after state lawmakers and attorneys general from both major political parties rallied against the measure.

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This time, President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind the effort, asking Congress last week to add a provision blocking AI laws to the National Defense Authorization Act. Trump has also considered using federal power to sue and defund states to block the laws, though sources told Reuters on Friday the effort was on hold.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy in New YorkEditing by Rod Nickel)
Slender Man stabbing defendant Morgan Geyser will be returned to Wisconsin after her arrest in Illinois over the weekend for escaping from a Madison group home.

Geyser appeared in a Posen, Illinois, courtroom on Nov. 25, waiving her right to an extradition hearing and clearing the way for her to soon be returned to Wisconsin.

Geysers court appearance follows a 24-hour search that began when the 23-year-old escaped from a Madison group home.

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A report released this week by the Posen Police Department sheds new light on what Geyser did while she was off the radar of Wisconsin authorities.

Geyser and Chad "Charly" Mecca, 43, left YoYo Quality Care, a group home in Madison, on Nov. 22. The pair took a Greyhound bus to get from Wisconsin to Chicago, according to the report.

Waukesha County Deputy District Attorney Abbey Nickolie questions Dr. Brooke Lundbohm, PhD, a specialist in psychology, during day 2 of a motion hearing for Morgan Geyser in Waukesha County Circuit Court on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Geyser has petitioned the court for conditional release from a mental institution where she has been under care since the end of the so-called Slender Man case.

Geyser and Mecca had previously met each other at a Madison church.

Once in Chicago, they took a public bus to Posen. There, they ran out of money, the report said.

The two then decided to sleep behind a gas station in Posen. It prompted a welfare check. The two initially gave fake names to Posen police, with Geyser telling an officer that if she gave her identity, she would "never be able to communicate with her friend again."

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Geyser later admitted to who she was.

"Once at the police station (Geyser) told (police) to 'google her name,'" the report said.

Geyser told police she cut off her GPS ankle monitor with scissors, the report said. The two had discussed "potentially" going to Nashville, she told officers.

In 2014, Geyser and co-defendant Anissa Weier were charged with the attempted killing of their friend and classmate, Payton Leutner. Geyser stabbed Leutner stabbed 19 times.

All three girls were 12 years old at the time.

Geyser and Weier said they believed they were carrying out the bidding of Slender Man, a fictional online character.

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They were found not guilty by reason of mental defect or disease in 2017 and sentenced to mental confinement, Weier for 25 years, and Geyser for 40 years.

Geyser was granted conditional release earlier this year after a judge he saw no risk to the public or to herself.

It's not clear exactly when she will be back in the state.

Luciano Panici, the Illinois circuit court judge presiding over the hearing, indicated Wisconsin officials have 30 days to transport her and expressed the hope the task would be completed sooner.

This story was updated with new information and a video.

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Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Morgan Geyser waives extradition, will be brought back to Wisconsin
A long-inactive volcano in northern Ethiopia unexpectedly erupted on Sunday, sending up plumes of volcanic ash and dust, which have since spread across continents and disrupted flights in India and the United Arab Emirates.

No casualties were reported in Ethiopia following the eruption, but local government officials told reporters they are concerned about the impact of the eruption on local communities and their livestock in the Afar region, where the volcano is located.

Ethiopia has 50 known volcanoes, according to the Smithsonian, several of which have been dormant for thousands of years.

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The Ethiopian Rift Valley, where many of the volcanoes are located, extends from Afar southwards through neighbouring countries. It was formed by shifting tectonic plates, which pulled apart to form the land masses of Africa and Arabia, and is one of the most important geological sites in the world.

Heres what we know about Sundays volcanic eruption and its local and international impact:

In this photo released by the Afar Government Communication Bureau, ash billows from an eruption of the long-dormant Hayli Gubbi Volcano in Ethiopias Afar region, Sunday, November 23, 2025 [Afar Government Communication Bureau via AP]

What happened?

Hayli Gubbi, which forms part of the Erta Ale volcano range in the northern Afar Region of Ethiopia, erupted at approximately 11:30am local time (08:30 GMT) according to an advisory issued by the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) in France.

Following the eruption, residents told reporters they had noticed faint smoke from the volcano about three days before. However, there were no reported scientific forecasts for the eruption.

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The volcano has not previously erupted in the current Holocene Era, which began about 12,000 years ago at the end of the Ice Age, according to the Smithsonian Institutions Global Volcanism Program.

Satellite imagery shared on social media channels shows the eruption as viewed from space, with a mass of billowing ash shooting up and visibly spreading east towards the Red Sea. Footage captured from the ground also showed huge mountains of ash rising into the skies above the mountain range, blanketing the horizon.

VAAC reported that the massive waves of volcanic ash plumes emitted rose to about 45,000 metres (148,000 feet) in height at the time of the eruption, and that the ash moved primarily in a northwesterly direction.

Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia has erupted for the first time in thousands of years Satellite images from @CopernicusEU Sentinel-5P (left) and @eumetsat's Meteosat-12 (right) captured the ash plume spreading across the region. pic.twitter.com/ynG1zVAV3v  ESA Earth Observation (@ESA_EO) November 24, 2025

How have local communities been affected?

Local media in Ethiopia have reported that plumes of ash blanketed the areas around the volcano, including hilly villages which are well-known tourist attraction sites. In the neighbouring village of Afdera, one resident told The Associated Press he had heard a loud sound as the eruption occurred.

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It felt like a sudden bomb had been thrown with smoke and ash, Ahmed Abdela told The AP. He added that by Monday, the village was still covered in ash, and that tourists and guides heading to the nearby Danakil Desert were stranded.

Afar TV reported that vibrations and moderate tremors were felt in Ethiopias Wollo area, in the northern Tigray region, and as far away as in the neighbouring country of Djibouti.

In the immediate aftermath of the eruption, dark smoke, rather than white ash, enveloped the area, plunging it into near-darkness, residents said.

There are concerns about how the eruption has affected air quality in the nearby villages.

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Local administrator Mohammed Seid also told The AP the eruption could have economic implications for the local community, where most are livestock herders and depend on forage  plants eaten by animals  for their livestock. Much of this is now covered with a thick layer of dust. While no human lives and livestock have been lost so far, many villages have been covered in ash, and as a result, their animals have little to eat, he said.

What do we know about the Hayli Gubbi volcano?

Hayli Gubbi, a shield volcano  named so because it has a low profile and resembles a shield when viewed from above  is located about 800km (500 miles) northeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopias capital city.

Hayli Gubbi, which rises to 500 metres (1,640 feet), is the southernmost volcano of the Erta Ale Range, a chain of low-lying shield volcanoes in the Afar region. It has had no known eruptions for 12,000 years.

Erta Ale volcano, one of Ethiopias most active, is also located within this range, which itself is set in the Rift Valley. Erta Ale, whose name means smoking mountain in Afar, last overflowed with lava in January 2023, according to The Smithsonian Institutions Global Volcanism Program.

Where has the ash travelled and how have flights been affected?

Clouds of ash have travelled across the Red Sea, first over Yemen and Oman, and then on to Pakistan and India, according to monitoring website Flightradar24.

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Volcanic ash clouds contain abrasive particles which can enter and damage aircraft engines, contaminate airfields, and reduce visibility, making flying hazardous.

Current (black) and forecasted (green +6hr , yellow +12, red +18) ash cloud observations from todays eruption of Hayli Gubbi volcano in northern Ethiopia. pic.twitter.com/96vtwvLD20  Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 23, 2025

The eruption has, therefore, caused widespread travel disruption in neighbouring countries and continents, although there are so far no reports of flight delays in Ethiopia, which is one of Africas biggest flight hubs.

India

In India, the ash had reached the Western Rajasthan region by Monday evening and then moved northeast, according to local newspaper The Hindu.

The ash prompted several airlines, including national carrier Air India, IndiGo and Akasa, as well as Dutch carrier KLM, to cancel their flights as a precaution. Air India cancelled 11 flights on Monday and Tuesday while Akasa scrapped flights scheduled on the same day to Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, according to the Reuters news agency.

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The countrys Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued advisories on Monday urging airlines to avoid affected altitudes and regions, and warning that volcanic ash could harm aircraft engines, according to The Hindu.

The agency also advised airlines to conduct precautionary checks on aircraft which had already flown over affected routes, and to report any suspected impact of ash on engine performance, or any smoke or odours in the cabin. Airports were also ordered to inspect runways for contamination.

The plumes have reportedly spread across the states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab. India is expected to have clear skies by 14:00 GMT on Tuesday as the ash cloud moves towards China, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Pakistan

In Pakistan, the countrys meteorological service reported that the ash cloud was seen 60 nautical miles (111km) south of the port city of Gwadar on Monday, according to local newspaper Dawn.

Gulf

Air Arabia cancelled several flights from Sharjah, UAE, on Tuesday.

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In Oman, the Environment Authority activated its emergency response to monitor the ash clouds but reported no immediate impact on air quality, according to Times of Oman.

When have volcanic eruptions caused travel chaos in the past?

Severe volcanic ash eruptions that lead to widespread disruptions like this one have been rare.

The last reported incident was in 2010, when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland erupted continuously between March and June, sending plumes of volcanic ash over swaths of Scandinavia, the UK and other European countries. The eruption ejected ash up to 11km (seven miles) into the atmosphere. That ash had small, sharp particles of glacial debris because the eruption had occurred beneath glacial ice.

In April that year, the UK was forced to close down its entire airspace for six days, during which time some 95,000 flights were cancelled. According to the Centre for Economics and Business Research, the UK airline industry lost $1.45bn during the prolonged shutdown. Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria and Germany were also forced to close airspace in May.

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Air traffic across Europe during that period was severely restricted as many countries continued to intermittently close their airspace. About 1.2 million passengers were stranded each day during what was the largest air traffic shutdown since World War II.




ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP)  Volcanic activity in northern Ethiopias long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano subsided Tuesday after an eruption over the weekend that left a trail of destruction in nearby villages and caused flight cancellations after ash plumes disrupted high-altitude flight paths.

Villages in the district of Afdera in the Afar region were covered in ash, officials said residents were coughing, and livestock found their grass and water totally covered.

Airlines cancelled dozens of flights scheduled to fly over affected areas as the meteorological department said the ash clouds were expected to clear later on Tuesday.

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India's flag carrier, Air India, said it canceled 11 flights, most of them international, on Monday and Tuesday to inspect aircraft that may have flown over affected areas, acting on a directive from Indias aviation safety regulator.

Another Indian operator, Akasa Air, said it had canceled flights to Middle East destinations such as Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi scheduled over the past two days.

At least seven international flights scheduled to depart from and arrive at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the Indian capital of New Delhi were canceled on Tuesday, while at least a dozen were delayed, according to an official at the airport.

An official in charge of health in northern Ethiopias Afdera district, Abedella Mussa, said the residents were coughing and mobile medical services from the larger Afar region had been launched in the remote area.

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Two medical teams have been dispatched to the affected kebeles (neighborhoods) like Fia and Nemma-Gubi to provide mobile medical services, he said.

Another official in charge of livestock, Nuur Mussa, said animals were unable to find clean water or grass. Many animals, especially in the two affected kebeles, cannot drink clean water or feed on grass because it is covered by volcanic ash, he said.

Atalay Ayele, a geologist at Addis Ababa University, said such eruptions occur because Ethiopia is situated along an active rift system where volcanism and earthquakes are frequent.

This is the first recorded eruption of Hayli Gubbi in the last 10,000 years, he told the AP. It will likely continue for a short period and then stop until the next cycle."

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The ash cloud is moving towards China and is expected to clear Indian skies by 1400 GMT Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department said in a statement.

The high-level winds carried the ash cloud from Ethiopia across the Red Sea, Yemen, Oman, the Arabian Sea and then towards western and northern India, the weather office added.



Associated Press Roy wrote from New Delhi, India
Heavy rain has caused widespread flooding in 10 provinces in southern Thailand, with Songkhla on the border with Malaysia among the worst affected, authorities reported on Tuesday.

The whole of Songkhla has been declared a disaster area and the evacuation of the population ordered. Disaster control authorities said at least 13 people have died so far.

The local authorities reported that in Songkhla alone, around 465,000 people in 16 districts had been affected by the floods, with more than half of them in Hat Yai, the largest city in southern Thailand.

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The Thai military was assisting emergency services in rescue operations.

The Bangkok Post newspaper reported that calls for help were heard from many people. Rescue work was being hampered as most residents could only be reached by boat, it said. Food supplies were said to be running short.

The region has seen record monsoon rainfalls, with authorities estimating that more than 2 million residents are in difficulty as a result of days of flooding. The rain is expected to ease off to some extent only in the next few days.

The Thai Navy announced it was dispatching the HTMS Chakri Naruebet aircraft carrier with two helicopters, rescue teams, medical services, a field kitchen, food and drinking water.

The vessel is reported to be capable of producing up to 3,000 meals a day.

Severe flooding has also struck neighbouring Malaysia, where more than 10,000 people are reported to have been displaced.
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Images of the eight skylights opening up into possible karstic caves in Hebrus Valles on Mars. . | Credit: Sharma et al (2025).

Possible giant "karstic" caves that formed when slightly acidic water dissolved bedrock have been identified on Mars and hailed as one of the best locations on the Red Planet to search for preserved biosignatures.

"With the expected technological advances in the coming decades, if missions are specifically designed for these targets, we believe that in situ exploration of Martian karstic caves is an achievable goal," said Chunyu Ding, of the Institute for Advanced Study at Shenzhen University in China, in an interview with Space.com.

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The caves, in the Hebrus Valles region between the extinct volcano Elysium Mons and Utopia Planitia in Mars ' northern mid-latitudes, are revealed by eight skylights, which are holes in the ceiling of the caves that are visible on the surface as pits ranging from tens to over 100 meters across. The skylights are distinguishable from craters because they don't possess raised walls or splashes of ejecta around them. It is thought that the skylights form when the surface partially collapses into the empty cave below it.

Caves and skylights have been found on Mars before, but as lava tubes formed in volcanic regions . Hebrus Valles, on the other hand, is not a volcanic region; it displays ancient river channels and copious hydrated minerals and sediments deposited by bodies of liquid water on the surface long ago.

These features were identified by scientists led by Ding and his Shenzen colleague Ravi Sharma. Their team used archive data from a variety of Mars missions, including mineralogical maps based on observations by the Thermal Emission Spectrometer on NASA's now-defunct Mars Global Surveyor , hydrogen detections (as a proxy for water) from the Gamma-Ray Spectrometer on the agency's Mars Odyssey , and models of the Martian terrain built around data from the HiRISE camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter .

They determined that the skylights and their surroundings are consistent with what's termed "karstic" caves. Karstic refers to the dissolution of carbonate- and sulfate-bearing bedrock. While we find karstic caves in many locations on Earth , this is the first time that they have been identified on Mars.

A cross-sectional diagram showing a Mars skylight and underground cave. | Credit: Sharma et al

The observations show that the Hebrus Valles region is rich in carbonate rock such as limestone and sulfate rock such as gypsum. Over 3.5 billion years ago, when Mars was warmer and wetter , these carbonate and sulfate sediments were laid down by large pools of liquid water, such as lakes and seas. When Mars grew cold, the surface water went away, much of it forming sub-surface ice and frozen brines.

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Indeed, the Gamma-Ray Spectrometer data from Mars Odyssey points to water ice possibly still existing there in some quantity. At some point, local heating events, perhaps from distant volcanoes, impacts or long-term orbital variations, would have melted the subsurface ice and brines, and the liquid water would have run through cracks and fractures in the ground, dissolving the rock and turning those cracks into large caves.

Not all regions of Mars meet the requirements to form karstic caves, since for one thing carbonate and sulfate rocks are not omnipresent. Nor do all locations, particularly lower-latitude areas, host subsurface ice and frozen brines or have been geologically stable for long enough to allow the caves to form and their rocky ceiling to collapse and form the skylights.

"Our results suggest that Hebrus Valles is unlikely to be a completely isolated case, but these caves also will not be everywhere on Mars," said Ding. "They are likely concentrated in a limited set of regions that satisfy the necessary depositional and hydrological conditions. It is quite reasonable to expect more karstic caves to be discovered in other, similar environments in the future."

Indeed, more than just the eight caves may be present in Hebrus Valles; there could be others that have not yet experienced a ceiling collapse and revealed themselves. Of those known so far, the skylights appear to be several tens to over 100 meters across, and underground the cavities could be several times larger still, and tens of meters deep.

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Karstic caves are the perfect location to preserve ancient biosignatures . The watery and stable microclimate within the caves long ago could have hosted microbial colonies, and today the caves are protected from the extreme conditions on Mars' surface, such as wildly different diurnal temperatures, dust storms and solar ultraviolet and cosmic-ray radiation. Hence future life-seeking missions may seek to explore them.

However, the surrounding rock will limit the transmission of radio signals from inside the caves to orbiting spacecraft, making exploration of the caves more difficult, but not impossible, said Ding.

"From an engineering standpoint, directly entering these caves is a major challenge," he said. "However, our geomorphological analysis suggests that not all candidate caves are simple vertical shafts. In our paper, we use the term 'accessible potential karstic caves.'"

Most of the skylights are characterized by steep walls descending down into the darkness of the caves, but among the eight Hebrus Valles caves there is evidence for slopes made by rocky debris in multiple, step-like formations that might allow a staged descent.

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This could be accomplished by multiple robotic explorers forming a communications chain down into the caves, ranging from wheeled rovers that carefully navigate down each step, to climbing robots lowered by winches or aerial rotorcraft that can fly in and out of the skylights.

The cave's rocky shielding might not only lend itself to preserving biosignatures, but could also offer protection to future Mars astronauts , shielding them and their outposts from the hazards of radiation and dust storms on the surface. If so, it could be that humanity's future on Mars is to be found underground.
Although the melting of glaciers in Greenland may seem like a regional issue, coastal communities as far away as Florida could feel its impact.

What's happening?

As reported by Florida Trend, ice loss in the Arctic has been worsened by increases in global temperatures. This has triggered significant sea level rise, including along the coast of Florida.

John Englander, an oceanographer and leading expert on sea level rise, spoke to Florida Trend regarding the rate of ice loss over the last several decades. According to Englander, the Jakobshavn Glacier in western Greenland receded about eight miles throughout the 20th century. By 2010, the glacier had receded an additional nine miles.

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"Each year, this glacier is just retreating further and further," Englander said.

Simply put, a glacier recedes when it loses more ice and snow than it gains. Because melting glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica occur on land, their water can run off into the ocean, directly increasing its volume, contributing to rising sea levels.

Why is the melting of glaciers in Greenland important?

"Greenland is really ground zero for sea level rise. Where the warming is happening the fastest is in the Arctic," said Sharon Gray, associate director of the Rising Seas Institute, per Florida Trend. "That's going to mean higher seas. There's just no way around that  meters of sea level rise  that'll completely reshape a lot of Florida."

The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the planet, with recent studies showing it is heating up at least four times faster than the global average. This phenomenon, known as Arctic amplification, is driven by factors such as the loss of reflective sea ice, which causes more solar radiation to be absorbed by the darker ocean water.

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As carbon emissions from human activities continue to increase, so do global temperatures. This will likely continue the trend of rising sea levels. According to estimates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, sea levels could rise by more than seven feet by 2100, putting many coastal communities at risk. Increased ocean volume and warmer ocean waters can supply more fuel for stronger storms and increasingly damaging storm surges.

What's being done to combat sea level rise?

While the future of sea level rise could be devastating, its impacts are already being felt. The Florida Climate Center notes that Florida's coastline has experienced as much as eight inches of sea level rise since 1950. To make matters worse, this rise appears to be accelerating.

"What's happening here in Greenland is directly impacting us in Florida. But it's so far apart that when you hear about Greenland, you don't make that connection," said Katherine O'Fallon, executive director of the Marine Research Hub in South Florida.

Should we be harnessing the ocean to power our homes? Absolutely Leave it be It depends I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

In order to combat increasing global temperatures and sea level rise, many countries are making a concerted effort to cut down on carbon emissions and promote widespread adoption of renewable energy sources. Individuals can save money on energy bills and reduce the carbon pollution from energy use by exploring solar energy options for homes.

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To prepare for current and future impacts of encroaching ocean waters, communities are also adapting by building physical barriers and restoring natural defenses such as mangrove forests and wetlands.



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The F-35s that participated in the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities flew deep into its airspace.

The fighter jets escorted the B-2 stealth bombers and were the last to leave Iranian airspace.

Commanders involved in Operation Midnight Hammer said the mission validated the F-35's capabilities.

The American F-35 stealth fighters that participated in the Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iran flew hundreds of miles deep into its airspace and were the last ones out, US military commanders revealed this week.

F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the Utah-based 388th Fighter Wing escorted the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that dropped over a dozen heavy bunker-buster bombs on Iran's nuclear facilities in late June.

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The F-35s suppressed Iran's air defenses and cleared the way for other combat aircraft, including the seven B-2s, during the complex nighttime operation.

"We flew hundreds of miles into Iran, escorting the B-2s the entire way," Lt. Col. Aaron Osborne, commander of the 34th Fighter Squadron, shared in a US Air Force story. "We employed weapons to great effect against multiple surface-to-air missile sites."

After the B-2s dropped a total of 14 bunker-buster bombs  30,000-pound munitions called GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators  on Iranian nuclear facilities, the F-35s protected their exit from the attack zone.

The advanced US fighter jets were the last ones out of Iranian airspace, the 388th Fighter Wing said on Monday, sharing new details on the operation. US officials said Tehran did not fire at any American aircraft during Midnight Hammer.

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The airmen of the 388th Fighter Wing, located at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, train nearly every day for suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) missions, the military said.

The F-35s that flew in support of Midnight Hammer escorted the B-2s through Iranian airspace. US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Paczkowski

The F-35 pilots can use the jet's stealth, radar, targeting systems, and advanced sensors to detect surface-to-air missile threats, as they did in Iran.

The F-35 fighter, built by US defense giant Lockheed Martin, has been battle-tested against a wide range of threats in a mix of engagements since its first flight nearly 20 years ago  from Middle East wars to penetrating Israeli strikes inside Iran to the downing of Russian drones over NATO territory. The jet is flown by militaries around the world, including many NATO allies.

While the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is considered a top fifth-generation fighter jet, it is also the world's most expensive weapons program, with a lifetime cost of $2 trillion, and has faced sustainability and maintenance challenges in recent years, leading several Trump allies to publicly criticize the aircraft and its capabilities.

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And tensions earlier this year between the Trump administration and some European allies have also raised questions about and even appeared to threaten future sales of the stealth jet.

However, Midnight Hammer commanders praised the F-35 and said that its participation in the operation highlights its combat prowess.

"The effectiveness of this strike validated all of the capabilities of the F-35 we've been talking about for years  stealth, lethality, sensor-fusion, being a force multiplier," said Col. Charles Fallon, 388th Fighter Wing commander.

He said the operation relied on the F-35 pilots and their aircraft to perform, "and both proved more than capable."

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US forces struck three Iranian nuclear facilities  specifically Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan  with 75 precision weapons during Operation Midnight Hammer, which came amid a broader war between Iran and Israel. American officials said that the munitions included the bunker-busters and dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Beyond the F-35s and B-2s, American F-22 fighter jets, as well as F-15s and F-16s, and dozens of aerial refueling tankers participated in the surprise operation, along with a US Navy missile submarine.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Emmanuel Macron is set this week to announce that France is restoring military service on a voluntary basis in the face of the growing threat posed by Russia, just under three decades after conscription was abolished in the country.

The head of state is due to lay out the change on a visit to an infantry brigade in southeastern France on Thursday, according to multiple sources familiar with the decision who spoke to AFP.

The announcement will come more than three-and-a-half years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Macron and other French officials warning that Moscow risks not stopping at Ukraine's borders.

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France's top general, armed forces chief of staff Fabien Mandon, sparked uproar at home last week by warning that France must be ready "to lose its children", adding that Russia is "preparing for a confrontation by 2030 with our countries".

Macron told the RTL broadcaster he would be announcing a "transformation of national service into a new form" on Thursday, but did not provide further details.

A source with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be named, told AFP that the plan is for 2,000 to 3,000 people to be trained up in the first year, aiming to increase those signing up over time to 50,000 per year.

Macron warned that France should not show "weakness" in the face of the threat posed by Russia.

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"If we want to protect ourselves, we French -- which is my sole concern -- we must demonstrate that we are not weak against the power that threatens us the most," he said.

- 'Acquiring the mass' -

The use of military service is uneven across Europe.

But France would join European countries like Baltic states Latvia and Lithuania which have brought it back in recent years, while others such as Denmark have toughened its terms.

Military service is seen as bolstering armies with recruits, but also providing a large pool of potential reservists who could be called up in the case of a future war.

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The French armed forces have approximately 200,000 active military personnel and 47,000 reservists, numbers expected to increase to 210,000 and 80,000 respectively by 2030.

The mobilisation on a voluntary basis could serve to meet the needs of "acquiring the mass" necessary for the armed forces to survive in the event of conflict, French land army chief of staff General Pierre Schill said earlier this year.

There is so far no suggestion that the military service in France would be compulsory, as it was before then president Jacques Chirac abolished conscription in 1997 as part of army reforms.

Germany's coalition government this week agreed on a new voluntary military service model, after weeks of wrangling over whether there should be a compulsory element like in Denmark, where both young men and women are called up in a lottery.

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- 'Not going to send our young' -

Accused of war-mongering by the left, General Mandon has expressed no regret over his comments last week, saying the aim was to "alert and prepare" amid a "rapidly deteriorating" context.

According to France's National Strategic Review for 2025, a document that is a cornerstone of official policy, France must "prepare for the possibility of a major, high-intensity engagement in Europe's neighbourhood by 2027-2030, coinciding with a massive increase in hybrid attacks on its territory".

The reactions to his comments "show that this is something that was perhaps not sufficiently perceived in our population", Mandon said on Saturday.

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But ahead of Thursday's announcement, Macron and other officials have been at pains to emphasise that the comments by Mandon focused on the sacrifices made by the armed forces and there was no plan to send France's young to the front line.

"It is absolutely necessary, at least immediately, to dispel any confused idea suggesting that we are going to send our young people to Ukraine," Macron said on Tuesday, adding that Mandon's original remarks had been "taken out of context".

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Claim:

A photo authentically shows future U.S. first lady Melania Trump, then Melania Knauss, posing partially nude for modeling pictures on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's airplane.

Rating:

Rating: Miscaptioned

A rumor that circulated online in November 2025 claimed a years-old photo authentically showed future U.S. first lady Melania Trump, then Melania Knauss, posing partially n*de for modeling pictures on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's airplane.

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Users shared this claim on Bluesky (archived), Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived), Threads, TikTok (archived) and X (archived), including an image meme reading, "Fun fact: This famous picture of first lady Melania Trump was taken on Jeffrey Epstein's plane."

Snopes received inquiries about this rumor via email and a reader's post in our Snopes Tips Facebook group, which asked, "Is this Melania? Was she on Epstein's plane?"

In short, users shared an authentic Melania Trump picture with captions that were false, so we've rated this claim miscaptioned. The photo was real and was not manipulated with artificial intelligence or other image-editing software. GQ magazine's January 2000 issue credited photographer Antoine Verglas with capturing the pictures on President Donald Trump's former Boeing 727  not an Epstein-owned aircraft.

We contacted a spokesperson for the first lady and also Verglas to ask about this matter. We will update this article if we receive more information.

GQ republished photos in 2016

On Nov. 8, 2016  the date of Donald Trump's first Election Day victory  GQ reported once again about the pictures from the photo shoot for the January 2000 issue, including noting where Verglas captured the images:

Sixteen years ago we profiled Donald Trump's then-girlfriend Melania Knauss. Now his wife, Melania featured in our naked profile shoot on his customised Boeing 727 wearing handcuffs, wielding diamonds and holding a chrome pistol (it was the lads mag era after all). It makes for some interesting reading today, considering Donald Trump's success in the US election [] "We were bombarded by requests to shoot Melania," GQ editor Dylan Jones said when asked about our January 2000 n*de shoot with Melania Trump, after we had dug through the archives and published the images online in March 2016. "Given that she was obviously so keen to be featured in GQ, we came up with a rather kitsch and camp story for her to feature in." Donald Trump also requested that photographs be delivered to his office. "We framed the cover and a selection of prints and sent them as soon as we could."

The WorthPoint antiques, art and collectibles archiving company hosted images of the original print edition of GQ's January 2000 issue, including a picture showing a photo caption mentioning Trump's Boeing 727 as the shoot's location.

Melania Trump defended n*de modeling photos

In September 2024, Melania Trump  ahead of the release of her memoir, "Melania"  shared a statement (archived) on social media defending her n*de modeling photos. The statement read:

Melania Trump speaks about her n*de modeling work: "Why do I stand proudly behind my n*de modeling work? The more pressing question is - why has the media chosen to scrutinize my celebration of the human form in a fashion photoshoot? Are we no longer able to appreciate the beauty of the human body? Throughout history, master artists have revered the human shape, evoking profound emotions and admiration. We should honor our bodies and embrace the timeless tradition of using art as a powerful means of self expression."

She also shared a video (archived) in which she read the words from the statement:

Melania Trump speaks about her n*de modeling work:



Why do I stand proudly behind my n*de modeling work? The more pressing question is - why has the media chosen to scrutinize my celebration of the human form in a fashion photoshoot? Are we no longer able to appreciate the pic.twitter.com/kJLZLImdHf  FLOTUS Report (@MELANIAJTRUMP) September 18, 2024

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For further reading, we previously reported about a rumor claiming Melania Trump worked as an escort before meeting Donald Trump at a party hosted by Epstein confidant and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

Sources:

Clough, Alexandra. "What Happened to Donald Trump's Old Plane?" The Palm Beach Post, 20 June 2011, https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/politics/2011/06/20/what-happened-to-donald-trump/7271008007/.

GQ. "Melania Trump - the First Lady in Our Nude Photo Shoot." British GQ, 8 Nov. 2016, https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/donald-trump-melania-trump-knauss-first-lady-erections.

Mahdawi, Arwa. "Melania Trump Has a Memoir Coming out  and She's Acting Pretty Strangely." The Guardian, 17 Sept. 2024. Opinion. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/17/melania-trump-memoir-coming-out-acting-pretty-strangely.

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"Melania Trump British GQ January 2000." WorthPoint, https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/melania-trump-british-gq-january-2000-1852527001.

@MELANIATRUMP. "Melania Trump Speaks about Her Nude Modeling Work..." X, 18 Sept. 2024, https://x.com/MELANIAJTRUMP/status/1836382235236212768.

Rogers, Katie. "Melania Trump Defends Nude Modeling Work as She Promotes Book." The New York Times, 18 Sept. 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/us/politics/melania-trump-nude-modeling.html.
A family gathering ended in gunfire in Philadelphia's Strawberry Mansion neighborhood.

Investigators say the shooter is 19-year-old Elijah Jones, a relative accused of shooting 46-year-old Reginald Bates twice in the chest, killing him in front of other family members, including a child.

The chaos happened on the 2100 block of 32nd Street just before 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Elijah Jones

"The door must have been shut cause I didn't hear the shot go off or shots," said one neighbor.

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Police said Bates doesn't live at the location but Jones does, and that the violence started as a family dispute.

One bullet also hit Brian Colclough's home across the street.

"I heard some people out here arguing and carrying on, but that's about it," Colclough said.

Any lower and the bullet would have entered his living room, where he was sitting minutes before the killing.

"I was here until about 12 a.m. last night, but I didn't hear no shooting," Colclough said, adding that it makes him nervous.

Police say they recovered a semi-automatic weapon and a loaded magazine from the home.

Officers are still searching for Jones.

Anyone with information on that suspect is urged to call police at 215-686-TIPS.


CHICAGO  Almost two months after the militarized raid that roused them from their sleep and made international headlines, those who remain living  or trying to live  at 7500 South Shore Drive gathered Monday morning in the cold outside their deteriorating apartment building in a show of solidarity.

Amid five floors of mostly empty units  some still boarded up from the nighttime immigration raid Sept. 30  the 36 people who still live there have united to form the 7500 South Shore Tenants Union. The move to unionize comes after a Cook County judge earlier this month appointed a third-party receiver to manage the property and ordered the building to be vacated.

The building has been shut down, Infiniti Gant, a housing organizer with Southside Together, said during a news conference while more than 20 residents stood behind her. So everyone is mandated to get kicked out of the building. What we are hoping for is that while people are preparing to move, they have livable conditions. Right now, these conditions are not livable, and the owners of the building, the property managers  everyone whos responsible for making sure this building is maintained, would not live like this.

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Gant is among those in recent weeks who have helped residents unionize in the aftermath of a late-night raid that was among the most infamous moments in President Donald Trumps Operation Midway Blitz  the monthslong assault on Chicago in which federal agents, including representatives from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol, have targeted Latino immigrants.

During the raid at 7500 S. Shore Drive agents dressed for combat rappelled from helicopters onto the buildings roof. They broke through windows and stormed inside, where they crashed through doors and placed residents in zip ties and on buses or in the back of box trucks. Many Venezuelan migrants lived in the building and were taken in the raid.

Officials said at the time the operation was meant to target Tren de Aragua gang members. In the nearly two months since, the Department of Homeland Security has provided no evidence to back that allegation and has offered little information about the 37 people who were arrested that night.

The Tribune reported exclusively last month that no public criminal charges have been filed against anyone in connection with the raid.

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A federal judge has ordered the release of at least six Venezuelans arrested that night amid allegations that their detainment violated a consent degree limiting warrantless detainments. Those six individuals have little to no criminal history and no apparent ties to any gang. They remain in custody pending the federal governments appeal.

In the weeks since the raid, residents who spoke Monday said their living conditions have only deteriorated. One, Mashawnda Price, said ICE was just the tip of the iceberg and that, as a single mother of a 3-year-old, she has been surviving in her home without basic necessities.

Ive had to go weeks without power, gas, she said. Ive had to go weeks without a working shower, tub and sink.

She spoke of having to fight a mice infestation, along with the roaches and bedbugs infestations. She said the hallways remain very dark because the lights dont work. And as the temperature has dropped, she said, residents have gone without heat.

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Its a building that is falling apart from the inside out, she said.

And it stinks! someone behind her yelled.

Yes, it has a bad smell, Price said. Each floor.

In court documents filed Monday, the buildings ownership said it tried to improve living conditions following the raid, but the efforts were thwarted by criminal activity and safety issues on the site. Police recently arrested two people who broke into the building, removed copper piping and caused a water leak, records show.

Attorneys for the buildings owners did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

It is unclear when residents will be forced to leave. After a prolonged legal dispute between lender Wells Fargo and Trinity Flood, the Wisconsin-based owner of the property, a judge earlier this month appointed Friedman Communities to manage the building. The city has proposed a move-out date of Dec. 12, but some residents said they werent sure how long theyd have to stay there.

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The newly formed union has presented several demands of Friedman Communities and the Chicago Housing Authority. Among those demands: the full restoration of heat, power and working elevators; the removal of standing water, sewage and mold; an agreement to relocate residents in the South Shore neighborhood; and $7,500 of relocation assistance per resident.

Darren Hightower, who has lived in the building for two years, said nothing has really happened since the judge appointed Friedman Communities to run the property. He and others said theyve not heard from the company. They continue to wait for change with little hope that change will arrive.

Everything that we see or weve heard, its been happening over the past year, even before the ICE raid and everything, Hightower said, detailing the lack of hallway lights and the broken elevator and trash in the stairwells and halls. This has been a problem for over a year. Its not just happening in the last month.

Even with the heat situation, we had an incident last year that most people were out of heat for up to 40 days.  And this was not a Peoples Gas problem. This was a management problem.

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Before and after the raid, the building suffered from a lack of security. Squatters filled some units, and unlocked doors allowed anyone to enter. On Monday, the residents gathered just outside the front door, where on either side above it there were no trespassing signs.

Meanwhile, visible reminders of the raid remained. Large wooden boards covered some of the windows of apartments left empty by people who were arrested. Their belongings had long disappeared. The formation of a union was, in a lot of ways, a decision to fight back. To reclaim some dignity thatd been lost.

Ive been here two years watching this place fall apart, Hightower said, but after he and his neighbors gathered to tell their story they walked back inside, just beyond the front door, and shared a small moment of celebration. Theyd come together, at least. One of the organizers began a chant and a cheer and members of South Shores newest tenant union grew louder:

Who got the power?

Weve got the power!

What kind of power?

Tenant power!

_____
The campaign firm that helped Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani spread his message in New York City is now turning its focus to vulnerable Republicans across the country.

Among other races, the firm has set its sights on defeating two vulnerable House Republicans in Pennsylvania: Reps. Rob Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie.

Fight Agency  a six-man crew with experience in over 300 winning elections  focuses on many of the issues Mamdani made a fixture of his campaign, like affordability and housing.

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"If you're doing everything right but finding it harder and harder to get by, you're not alone. We know a simple truth about American life: the economy is not delivering enough for enough people. If the next forty years are like the last forty years, the American middle class will disappear," the firm states on its website.

Republicans Target 2 Key Democratic Races With Mamdani Connection Strategy

New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani spoke to supporters at a canvass launch event in Prospect Park, Aug. 17, 2025.

The balance of power in the House of Representatives is in a precarious position ahead of the 2026 midterms. With Republicans holding just a three-seat majority, even one or two key losses for Republicans could cut the legs out from under the GOP's control over the chamber. Pennsylvania  home to both Bresnahan and Mackenzie  also makes up a key battleground state with several competitive districts. According to the Cook Political Report, the state has five competitive Republican-held districts all projected to be a five-point contest or less.

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In that struggle, the Fight Agencys leaders have come to the support of Paige Cognetti, a former mayor of Scranton, Pa., who is running to unseat Bresnahan. Bresnahan, a freshman lawmaker, won election to Congress in 2024 by just 1.6 percentage points.

"We can stand tall against a Washington that takes advantage of working people and makes it work for us," Cognetti said in her launch video.

Rebecca Katz, the Fight Agencys strategist for the election of Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., reposted Cognettis campaign ad in a post to X.

"If you can, pls chip in a few bucks and lets get someone who cares about people in Congress," Rebecca Katz wrote.

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Cognetti, the former mayor, has also highlighted the firms other work, saying she was "proud to know these folks" in a repost showcasing the agencys past campaigns.

Socialist Wave Spreads Coast To Coast As Progressive Democrats Rally Around Zohran Mamdani's Nyc Win

Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa., arrives for the House Republican Conference caucus meeting in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, March 11, 2025.

Like in Cognettis campaign, the Fight Agency team is also supporting Bob Brooks and his race against Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania. Mackenzie won election by a single percentage point in the last cycle.

"The biggest problem we face is a Washington that burns working people," Brooks said in his campaign launch video. "Im running for Congress in one of the closest districts to take on the billionaires and big corporations holding us back."

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Morris Katz, the firms lead on the Mamdani campaign, reposted Cognettis launch video alongside Fight Agencys main account. Brooks has returned the favor, reposting Fight Agencys productions in a Maine Senate race.

Scoop: House Republicans Link Mayor-elect Mamdani To Vulnerable Congressional Democrats

With Mamdani, the firm helped produce lighthearted content with a brighter, more comedic edge. In one video, the firm mimicked the style of "The Bachelor," the TV romance show known for its match-making drama.

"New York, will you accept this rose?" Mamdani asked in the video.

In the past, the firm has supported Democrat candidates away from the mainstream of the party, gravitating towards either more progressive candidates or candidates with an unconventional streak.

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Besides Mamdani, some of Fight Agencys previous partners include Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., bid for president and Sen. John Fettermans 2021 campaign.

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Today, some of their more high-profile current candidates include Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner and Nebraska Senate hopeful Dan Osborn, both featured prominently on the firms website.

Fight Agency did not respond to a request for comment.





Original article source: Firm that propelled Mamdani to victory in NY looks to unseat House GOP members in PA
Macy's is set to celebrate its 99th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 27, with 28 floats, 11 marching bands, 33 clown crews, nine performance groups and more large balloons than before.

And the balloons are important. They are a quintessential part of the parade since they debuted in 1927. Back then, the large balloons would cause so much commotion that, at the end of the parade, they would be released and left floating in New York City's air for days.

Here's what to know about this year's balloons, and how to watch the parade in person and on TV:

At the end of the parade, balloons used to be released into the air, where theyd float for days. Those who found and returned the colossal cartoon figures to Macys were given a reward of a $25 Macys gift card. This aspect of the parade ended in 1932

How many balloons there will be at the Macy's 2025 parade?

There will 34 large balloons at the parade, 12 more than last year. The lineup includes five new large balloons: Mario, Buzz Lightyear, Derpy Tiger, Pac-Man and a Shrek's onion carriage.

Balloons being prepared are seen during the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloonfest at MetLife Stadium on November 01, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Returning balloons are Goku, Noorah, Bluey, Dora, Minnie Mouse, Monkey D. Luffy, Pikachu and Evee, Spider-Man, Sponge Bob, Stuart the Minion, and more.

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There will also be four ballooncicles, or ground-level large balloons on wheels. Those includes Wimpy Kid, Frost Pips, and Sussie from "K-Pop Demon Hunters."

What's the Macy's parade route? How to watch in person?

The parade starts at 8:30 a.m. on West 77th Street and Central Park West and concludes at Macy's flagship store in Herald Square on 34th Street at noon.

The parade will run mostly through Central Park West and then down Sixth Avenue. Along the route there will be close to 2 miles of designated public viewing spots. Arrive as early as 6 a.m. to secure a nice spot.

Central Park West: Great viewing areas are available along Central Park West from 61st to 75th streets. There is no public access for viewing between 59th and 60th streets.

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Sixth Avenue: The stretch from 38th to 59th streets offers some of the best views, as it's close to the end of the parade. Spectators should avoid the area on Sixth Avenue between 34th and 38th streets, as the live television broadcast will limit viewing there.

The weather forecast predicts sunny skies and temperatures in the low 40s, so dress accordingly.

PAC-MAN by Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Inc. is seen taking a test flight during the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

What time does the Macy's parade 2025 start?

The parade will run from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

Where to watch Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025

The parade is set to air live on NBC and stream live on Peacock. People can also watch the event on streaming services that air NBC like Fubo and YouTube TV.

Which was the first giant balloon in a Macy's parade?

There have been balloons at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade since 1927, when the first giant balloon debuted in the shape and image of Felix the Cat.

Felix the Cat was the first balloon, debuting in 1927.

Juan Carlos Castillo is a New Jersey-based trending reporter for the USA Today Network. Find him on Twitter at _JCCastillo.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Macy's 2025 parade will boast more balloons than before. What's new
Gov. Ned Lamont announced that state and national flags will fly at half-staff in Connecticut indefinitely to honor State Representative Kevin Ryan.

Ryan passed away at the age of 73 on Sunday, Nov. 23 after a long battle with cancer. A graduate of Villanova University and the University of New Haven, Rep. Ryan was first elected to the state legislature in 1992, making him one of the longest-serving members of the House. He is remembered for his dedication to serving the people of Connecticut, especially his efforts in health care legislation.

"Kevin Ryan was among the most dedicated and enthusiastic legislators, who was devoted to his district and serving the people of Ledyard, Montville, and Norwich," said Gov. Lamont in the announcement. "Throughout my tenure as governor, Kevin has been one of the friendliest legislators that I've had the opportunity to work with, and I am going to miss his clever, sharp, and humorous personality. On behalf of the State of Connecticut, I send my deepest condolences to Kevin's friends, family, and colleagues in the General Assembly."

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In honor of Ryan's life and service to the state of Connecticut, flags at all state buildings will fly at half-staff from Nov. 24 through sunset on the day of Ryan's funeral, which has yet to be announced.

More: State Rep. Kevin Ryan remembered for his over 30 years of service

Why are flags flown at half-staff?

Dramatic Sky Above US Flag at Half Mast

According to the official website of the U.S. General Services Administration, flags typically fly at half-staff when the country or specific state is in mourning. Observances include national tragedies, days of remembrance and deaths of government or military personnel.

The president, the state governor or the mayor of Washington, D.C., can order flags to fly at half-staff.

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More: State Rep. Kevin Ryan remembered for his over 30 years of service

Half-staff vs. half-mast

While half-staff refers to lowered flags on land, half-mast refers to those at sea. Both refer to a flag being flown beneath the top of its staff as a sign of respect.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Why are flags at half-staff in Connecticut today? What to know
A Florida attorney was arrested after allegedly attacking a senior on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship.

An unnamed man told police that Phillip Ortiz, 38, tried to enter an area that was not yet open to guests onboard Norwegian Encore on Nov. 22, according to a criminal complaint filed in Miami-Dade County. When the man tried to stop Ortiz, Ortiz allegedly became upset and pushed the unnamed man.

The victim stated that as he tried to push the defendant away  the defendant's female companion pushed him as well, the complaint read. When the unnamed man pushed her back, Ortiz allegedly attacked him again.

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The victim further advised that the defendant entered the secured hallway and he attempted to push the door closed so that the defendant could not return, the complaint continued. The defendant then forced open the door and charged at the victim. The men then began to fight (again), when the defendant (Ortiz) tripped the victim, who landed on his head along with the defendant's full body weight, causing him (the unnamed man) to lose consciousness.

Other passengers administered CPR, and an onboard nurse and security personnel came to the scene. The man was revived and transported to a hospital.

Norwegian said the arrest took place while the ship was docked in Miami, and the alleged victim was a 67-year-old guest. "We have zero-tolerance for violence of any kind on our ships and are committed to providing a safe cruising experience for all aboard," the cruise line told USA TODAY in an email.

Ortiz was charged with aggravated battery of a person 65 or older. Stephan Lopez, an attorney for the defendant, disputed the account of events.

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"The so called elderly person is much bigger and stronger than my client," Lopez said, adding that the victim was the aggressor.

"My client used a reasonable amount of force to defend himself and his wife and children. The so called victim was so drunk he was unable to prevent the fall like a reasonable sober person would have been able to do," Lopez said.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Attorney accused of attacking elderly man on Norwegian cruise
A Leon County circuit judge on Monday rejected a request for a temporary injunction to halt Floridas first black bear hunt in a decade.

Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey ruled against Bear Warriors United, a Central Florida-based nonprofit, stating that the group failed to demonstrate a substantial likelihood of success on the merits in its lawsuit challenging the hunt.

Bear Warriors United argued that the hunt would result in the needless destruction of Florida black bears.

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Florida is estimated to have more than 4,000 black bears, which have become a concern in some areas due to interactions with humans in residential neighborhoods.

The hunt, which has issued 172 permits, will take place in several regions across the state, including the Apalachicola area west of Tallahassee, areas west of Jacksonville, north of Orlando, and the Big Cypress region southwest of Lake Okeechobee.

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Governor Ron DeSantis is calling on the Florida Legislature to take aim at puppy mills and support a host of pet protection proposals in the upcoming legislative session.

Florida has more puppy-style pet stores than any other state in the nation, according to Humane World for Animals.

The organizations Florida State Director, Kate MacFall, explained that those types of stores often rely on puppy mills with inhumane conditions to stock their kennels.

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If someone wishes to breed, then there should be some guidelines, and currently there are not, MacFall said.

In recent years, there have been efforts to require breeders to be licensed by the state and implement best practices to improve conditions.

There have also been attempts to create consumer protections to ensure pet owners arent left in financial ruin by signing onto expensive payment plans, which can often be enforced even if a new pet becomes severely ill or dies soon after being purchased.

But those efforts have largely fallen on deaf ears.

It always seems like the public supports it and then some way it gets killed here, it gets killed there or whatever. We want to make sure that were able to get this done, Governor Ron DeSantis said during a Tuesday press conference.

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Now, theres renewed hope, with Governor DeSantis throwing his weight behind all of those proposals ahead of the upcoming session.

I think itll be good for Florida. I think it will be good for everybody, but it will particularly be good for mans best friend, DeSantis said.

The Governor also called for increased criminal penalties for those who abuse animals in front of children, a requirement for pet stores to free up some of their store space to host shelter animals and the establishment of an animal abuse hotline.

MacFall said she is hopeful the Governors support will finally get the pet protection proposals over the finish line.

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Were chipping away at it, and the more and more people care about protecting pets and realize the connection between the puppy mills and the retail sale, the more traction this will get because most people really do want to protect pets, MacFall said.

Its unclear whether all the proposals will be packaged into a single bill or filed as separate pieces of legislation.

Session starts in January.

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Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) deemed Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) one of the least ethical and least respected members of Congress, and added that he wants her to get help.

McCarthy appeared on Mondays Jesse Watters Primetime on Fox News, where he mocked the future of the Democratic Party and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who is running for governor of California.

When I became speaker, I tried to raise the bar in Congress, McCarthy said before referencing Swalwells relationship with a suspected Chinese spy. Its not a high bar, but the first thing I did was remove Swalwell from the Intel committee. If you get top-secret knowledge, the very least is, you cant sleep with a Chinese spy.

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McCarthy went on to say he hopes Swalwell ultimately leaves Congress, prompting this exchange with Jesse Watters, in which the ex-speaker said he wants Mace to seek help:

MCCARTHY: I can only hope the Democrats nominate him because every time in Congress we would vote on a bipartisan basis who was the least ethical, who was the least respected, it was always a tie between Swalwell and Nancy Mace. And I just dont see these people leading anywhere. WATTERS: Oh my gosh. You hate Nancy Mace. MCCARTHY: No, no, I dont. I want her to get the help she needs. I just dont want to put her in a position that she makes decisions.

Mace was one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy as speaker in 2023. McCarthy subsequently worked to oust Mace by backing a Republican primary challenge against her, which fell short.

Shortly after McCarthys ouster, The Daily Beast published parts of Maces handbook for her congressional staff, who needed to book Mace on a national TV outlet between one and three times per day  a staggering nine times per week, at a minimum, according to former staffers who had seen past handbooks  and on local TV channels at least six times per week.

Watch above via Fox News.

The post Former Republican Speaker Says He Wants Nancy Mace To Get the Help She Needs first appeared on Mediaite.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the deeper meaning behind the Trump administrations military buildup in the Caribbean, as the top U.S. general visits troops in Puerto Rico on Monday.

"I do think that this administration understands that this is all part of a larger puzzle," Pompeo told "The Story" anchor Martha MacCallum.

The White House has yet to issue an official statement on Operation Southern Spear, the largest military operation in that region since the Cuban Missile Crisis. More than 20 strikes have taken place against suspected drug trafficking boats.

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Us Military Buildup In Caribbean Sees Bombers, Marines And Warships Converge Near Venezuela

On Nov. 13, War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in an "X" post that the operation aims to remove "narco-terrorists" from the Western Hemisphere.

U.S. Southern Command released footage showing a precision strike by U.S. forces on a narcotics vessel operated by a designated terrorist organization in the Eastern Pacific on Nov. 15.

When MacCallum asked Pompeo whether he thinks President Donald Trump wants to see Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro "toppled," the former CIA director shared what he thinks the Trump administration is "very serious" about.

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Airlines Pull Venezuela Flights Amid Safety Warning, As Trump Ratchets Up Pressure On Maduro

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"The Venezuelans [are] supported by the Cubans, the Russians and the Chinese now in our own neighborhood," Pompeo discussed. "And getting rid of Maduro gives the Venezuelan people a shot and keeps us safer."

The Trump administration ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford head to U.S. Southern Command, prompting Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro to accuse Trump of "fabricating a new eternal war."

"So I think that this administration is very serious, very serious about continuing to ratchet up the pressure on the regime such that the Venezuelan people get an opportunity to have a leadership that can actually protect them and give them a shot at prosperity," he continued.

Since 2020, the Justice Department has accused Maduro of leading a drug trafficking and narco-terrorism organization.

Trump Leaves World Guessing After Labeling Maduro A Terrorist, Hinting At Talks With Venezuela

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Pompeo noted the first Trump administration failed to topple Maduro, something even former President Barack Obama wanted. However, the Venezuelans have been "willing to do more," he added.

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"We never know how these end. When you least expect these things, sometimes they happen," Pompeo said. "And I think that the leadership in Venezuela outside of Maduro now can see that there is a window, and maybe with enough opportunity and enough pressure, we can deliver that outcome."





Original article source: Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Trump admin understands boat strikes are 'part of a larger puzzle'
(This story was updated to add new information.)

A former Wisconsin Lutheran High School teacher will spend time in prison after he pleaded guilty in August to charges of child enticement and possession of child pornography.

Justin Liepert, 36, was sentenced Nov. 24 in Waukesha County Circuit Court to five years in prison: two years for one felony charge of child enticement and three years for one felony charge of possession of child pornography.

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He will also spend six years on extended supervision, three years each on the child enticement and the child pornography charges.

He received credit for 282 days served. He is scheduled for a review hearing Feb. 23, 2026, according to online court records

Liepert was originally charged in February with three misdemeanor counts of sexual intercourse with a child 16 or older and one felony count of child enticement. In April, the Waukesha County District Attorney's Office filed an amended criminal complaint with 10 additional charges of felony possession of child pornography. In August, Liepert pleaded guilty to the two felony charges in exchange for dismissing the remaining charges.

Liepert's attorney, Paul Bucher, said Liepert was in jail the entire time his case was pending in the courts, which kept Liepert from getting treatment. Bucher also said that Liepert accepted responsibility for his crimes from the first day Bucher spoke with him. He also said Liepert lost his job, got divorced and won't be seeing his child for a long time.

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"He's a sex offender. He's going to have to be registered for the rest of his life. He'll be in sex offender programming. I don't know where he's going to reside because he can't go back home because they're divorced. His future life is uncertain, and hopefully he'll get some treatment when he gets out. I don't believe he'll get much treatment while he's in prison," Bucher said in a phone interview Nov. 25.

According to the amended criminal complaint a 16-year-old student told police they had talked to a man on social media that the student described as a "married, Lutheran school teacher with a young son," who was later identified as Liepert. The two arranged to meet at the student's home and engaged in sexual acts three or four times in early 2024 in Liepert's vehicle. Liepert parked his vehicle away from the student's home. He also sent the student a sexually explicit video of him and another younger male engaging in a sexual act, the complaint said.

State law says children younger than 18 cannot consent to sexual intercourse.

In February, police seized several electronic devices, including Liepert's phone and a laptop as part of a search warrant. They discovered two videos appearing to depict child sexual assault material on Liepert's phone and photos of children engaging in sexual acts on the laptop, according to the amended complaint.

Status of other cases tied to Liepert's

The same victim in Liepert's case also spoke separately to two other men, Eric Prucha and Calvin Trail, on social media, according to a criminal complaint listing both cases together. Online court records show Prucha's and Trail's cases are connected to Liepert's case.

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Prucha, 36, of West Allis was charged in February in Waukesha County Circuit Court with a felony count of causing a child older than 13 to view/listen to sexual activity.

Police alleged Prucha sent the same victim naked photos of himself, a video of himself exposing his private parts, as well as a video of himself engaged in a sexual act with another man. The victim told police they had never met Prucha and only communicated via apps, according to the criminal complaint.

In October, Prucha pleaded guilty to the charge. A sentence of 1 years in prison and 1 years on extended supervision was stayed, and he was ordered to serve 2 years of probation, along with 135 days in the Waukesha County Jail, 45 of those days served straight, 45 days served with release and the rest suspended. He must also register as a sex offender for 15 years, according to online court records.

Like Liepert and Prucha, Trail was also charged in February in Waukesha County Circuit Court. Trail faces two charges: one felony count of second-degree sexual assault of a child younger than 16 and one felony count of causing a child older than 13 to view/listen to sexual activity. The criminal complaint also alleged that Trail performed sexual acts on the victim and sent the victim inappropriate videos of himself.

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He was scheduled for a plea hearing Nov. 25, online court records show.

Trail also is facing five charges in Jefferson County: one felony count of child enticement, one felony count of exposing his genitals to a child, one felony count of child sexual exploitation and two misdemeanor counts of sexual intercourse with a child 16 or older. That case is still pending. A final status/scheduling conference is scheduled for Dec. 11 and a 12-person jury trial is scheduled to begin either Dec. 18 or Dec. 19, according to online court records.

Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Wisconsin Lutheran teacher sentenced to five years in prison
Four more suspects have been arrested in connection with the brazen daytime heist of Paris Louvre Museum, French prosecutors announced.

In a statement Tuesday, Nov. 25, the Paris prosecutor's office said the suspects are two men and two women ages 31 to 40. The statement did not describe any charges or detail the suspects' possible role in the plot.

Art of the steal: From Louvre to Dresden Green Vault, why are heists happening in Europe?

The Louvre pyramid courtyard is seen almost completely empty following the announcement that the museum will remain closed for a second day after thieves stole priceless jewels from the museum in Paris a day earlier, in Paris on Oct. 20, 2025. Security staff ask people to leave a courtyard of the Louvre after the announcement the museum will remain closed for a second day running after thieves stole crown jewels from the museum in Paris a day earlier, in Paris on Oct. 20, 2025. A placard of closure a warning sign is seen on the way of the Louvre pyramid courtyard following the announcement that the museum will remain closed for a second day after thieves stole priceless jewels from the museum in Paris a day earlier, in Paris on Oct. 20, 2025. French Police officers seal off the entrance to the Louvre Museum after a jewelry Heist on Oct. 19, 2025 in Paris, France. French police officers stand next to a furniture elevator used by robbers to enter the Louvre Museum, on Quai Francois Mitterrand, in Paris on Oct. 19, 2025. Robbers broke in to the Louvre and fled with jewelry on Oct. 19, 2025 morning, a source close to the case said, adding that its value was still being evaluated. A police source said an unknown number of thieves arrived on a scooter armed with small chainsaws and used a goods lift to reach the room they were targeting. Forensic police officers arrive at the Louvre museum after reports of a robbery, in Paris, France on Oct. 19, 2025. A window believed to have been used in what the French Interior Ministry said was a robbery at the Louvre museum during which jewelry was stolen, in Paris, France on Oct. 19, 2025. A police officer works at a crane believed to have been used in what the French Interior Ministry said was a robbery at the Louvre museum during which jewelry was stolen, in Paris, France on Oct. 19, 2025. Pedestrians walk on Quai Francois Mitterrand as French police officers stand next to a furniture elevator used by robbers to enter the Louvre Museum, in Paris on October 19, 2025. Robbers broke in to the Louvre and fled with jewellery on October 19, 2025 morning. France's Interior Minister said that jewellery stolen from the Louvre Museum was "priceless". The minister told French news outlets France Inter, France Info and Le Monde that "three or four" thieves had focused on two displays in the exhibition venue's "Gallerie d'Apollon" ("Apollo's Gallery"), completing their broad daylight robbery in just seven minutes. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP) (Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images) ORIG FILE ID: 2241682944 A Police Crime Scene Officer (L) and Police Technician examine a furniture elevator used in a robbery at the Louvre Museum on Oct. 19, 2025 in Paris, France. France's Culture Minister, Rachida Dati, announced the closure of the world-famous art museum on X due to the robbery taking place just after the Louvre opened to the public. It is being reported that millions of pounds of historic jewelry belonging to Napoleon and Empress Josephine has been stolen. The Louvre Museum is sealed off and closed after a jewelry Heist on the world famous museum on Oct. 19, 2025 in Paris, France. France's Culture Minister, Rachida Dati, announced the closure of the world-famous art museum on X due to the robbery taking place just after the Louvre opened to the public. It is being reported that millions of pounds of historic jewelry belonging to Napoleon and Empress Josephine has been stolen. Robbery at Louvre Museum in Paris: See the priceless jewelry stolen 1 of 11 The Louvre pyramid courtyard is seen almost completely empty following the announcement that the museum will remain closed for a second day after thieves stole priceless jewels from the museum in Paris a day earlier, in Paris on Oct. 20, 2025.

Four other suspects have been arrested and handed preliminary charges in connection with the Oct. 19 robbery of more than $102 million worth of royal jewels from the world's most-visited museum.

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The stolen artifacts, including earrings and a necklace owned by Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense, the stepdaughter of Napoleon I, are still missing, officials say.

How did the Louvre heist unfold?

Apollo Gallery's (Galerie d'Apollon) ceiling, which houses the French crown jewels (not pictured), at the Louvre museum in Paris, France, December 8, 2024, in this image taken from social media. Olivia Wong

The heist, which prompted sprawling investigations and a leadership shakeup at the museum and drew international headlines, unfolded in only seven minutes.

Officials say a four-man team used a truck with an extendable ladder to climb to the second-floor balcony of the museum. There, they used power tools and angle grinders to break through the window leading to the Gallery of Apollo.

Once inside, they smashed glass display cases and snatched the jewels. At the same time, the museum's alarms blared and tourists fled the building.

French riot police officers walk near the glass Pyramid of the Louvre Museum, after French police arrested suspects in the Louvre heist case, in Paris, France October 27, 2025.

The robbers fled on a pair of motorbikes. In all, they made off with eight artifacts, including an emerald necklace worn by Empress Marie-Louise, the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte.

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Authorities said the burglars tried to take more pieces from the collection. Outside, investigators recovered a diamond- and emerald-covered gold crown owned by Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III.

Authorities say they've nabbed 3 of the 4 robbers

Last month, prosecutors filed preliminary charges against three men and one woman allegedly involved in the heist. The men, prosecutors said, were part of the four-person team that carried out the robbery.

The suspects were connected to the crime scene through DNA evidence, authorities said, including samples discovered on a scooter used in the robbers' escape and on items left behind at the scene.

Prosecutors said two of the men, including one who was arrested at a French airport with a one-way ticket to Algeria, "partially" admitted they were involved in the robbery.

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The woman, who shares children with one of the suspects, has denied any involvement in the heist through her lawyer.

Contributing: Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Four more people arrested in Louvre jewel heist, prosecutors announce
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Four teenagers were arrested after a burglary at a Las Cruces gun store over the weekend, according to Las Cruces Police.

Police say they arrested four teenage boys, ages 14 through 16. Three of the teenage boys, one 14-year-old and two 15-year-olds, were charged with aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, breaking and entering, criminal damage to property more than $1,000, larceny involving firearms more than $2,500, tampering with evidence, and unlawful possession of a handgun by a person under 19 years of age.

The fourth teen boy, age 16, faces the same charges with an additional count of receiving stolen property.

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Police say the burglary happened at around 2 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Strykers Shooting World located at 415 S. Valley Dr. in Las Cruces.

Police say they believe six to eight teenage boys used a stolen red Kia Forte to smash through the eastside gate and a rollup door to gain entry into the store.

An officer who happened to be in the area heard an alarm from the store and discovered the break-in after the suspects fled. Other officers arrived within minutes, police said.



The suspects left the damaged red Kia at the scene and fled in another stolen gray Kia Forte, police said.

The four teenagers were then detained on Monday, and police executed a search warrant where several stolen firearms were recovered.



All four teens were turned over to authorities with the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office. Due to their ages, police cannot publicly identify them.



Police say the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are possible.

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Anyone with information on this incident, or the suspects involved, is asked to call police at (575) 526-0795. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers of Las Cruces and Dona Ana County at 1-800-222-8477.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
French police have arrested a fourth suspect directly linked to the October 19 heist of crown jewels from the Louvre, the Le Parisien and Le Figaro newspapers reported on Tuesday, citing police.

Police have also arrested other suspected accomplices, but the jewels remain missing.

The newly arrested man is reported to be known to the police and to be linked to the other three main suspects, Le Parisien reported.

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The brazen heist used a truck with a lift parked outside the famous museum and caused a major security review at the museum.

Two men ascended to a first-floor balcony on the lift, forced their way through a window and made off with the jewellery, while two others waited on scooters on the street below.

The criminals threatened staff and smashed two display cases during their time in the exhibition room, lasting under four minutes in total.

The eight stolen pieces included diadems, necklaces, earrings and brooches worn by French queens and empresses.

During their getaway, the robbers dropped a crown set with emeralds and hundreds of diamonds used by the Empress Eugenie. It was found damaged near the museum.

While the museum has estimated the value of the heist at 88 million ($102 million), once broken up the jewels are expected to fetch much less.
French police have arrested a total of four more suspects linked to the October 19 heist of crown jewels from the Louvre, the Paris state prosecutor's office said on Tuesday.

The suspects were described as two men aged 38 and 39 and two women aged 31 and 40.

Le Parisien and Le Figaro newspapers had first reported on the arrests. The jewels remain missing.

One of four arrested on Tuesday, a man, is reported to be known to the police and to be linked to the other three main suspects, Le Parisien reported. It remains unclear whether they meant the 38-year-old or the 39-year old.

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The brazen heist used a truck with a lift parked outside the famous museum and caused a major security review there.

Two men ascended to a first-floor balcony on the lift, forced their way through a window and made off with the jewellery, while two others waited on scooters on the street below.

The criminals threatened staff and smashed two display cases during their time in the exhibition room, lasting under four minutes in total.

The eight stolen pieces included diadems, necklaces, earrings and brooches worn by French queens and empresses.

During their getaway, the robbers dropped a crown set with emeralds and hundreds of diamonds used by the Empress Eugenie. It was found damaged near the museum.

While the museum has estimated the value of the heist at 88 million ($102 million), once broken up the jewels are expected to fetch much less.
A man refuels at a gas station. Gov. Tina Kotek on Nov. 24, 2025 delcared an emergency over the state's fuel supply following a leak discovered on a pipeline that provides 90% of Oregon's fuel. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

A BP pipeline carrying 90% of Oregons transportation fuel has been shut down since Nov. 17 following a discovered leak.

The disruption to the states fuel supply, and the potential for impacts at the pump and at airports during a busy holiday travel season, prompted Gov. Tina Kotek to declare a state of emergency Tuesday that will last through Dec. 24, unless conditions change. BP officials on Wednesday said they had partially restarted the pipeline.

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Oregons emergency order will allow fuel suppliers and state agencies to bring more fuel into the state via truck and train and temporarily waive some reporting and fee-based regulations related to transporting fuel into the state.

Report price gouging to the Oregon Department of of Justice Consumer Protection Services online here or by calling the attorney generals Price Gouging Hotline at (503) 378-8442

Oregon is not experiencing supply constraints, according to a news release from Koteks office. She does not expect flights at Portland International Airport or other Oregon airports will be impacted, but she is working with the Port of Portland to ensure supplies reach the airport. Some airlines operating flights out of Washington have had to adjust due to fuel supply issues, according to local news reports, and some long-haul flights have rerouted to out-of-state airports to refuel, causing some delays.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency over the pipeline on Nov. 19, two days after BP shut down the pipeline and more than a week after employees discovered the leak in Snohomish County east of Everett on Nov. 11. It is the second disruption the pipeline has had in the last three months and the second leak in two years.

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During the last Olympic Pipeline outage in September, gas prices in Oregon jumped 16 cents in a single week, according to AAA. Average gas prices jumped 8 cents in Washington and 9 cents in Oregon during the last Olympic Pipeline leak in late June 2023.

Any evidence of price gouging during the current emergency should be reported to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection Services, Koteks office said.

BPs Olympic Pipeline runs transport gas, diesel and jet fuel across about 400 miles from Blaine, Washington to Portland, where its distributed to much of the rest of the state.

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An American Airlines flight from Orlando to Phoenix was forced to divert to Houston on Sunday, Nov. 23, after the crew reported fumes in the flight deck and cabin.

According to American Airlines, four crewmembers and one passenger were transported to the hospital in Houston.

A writeup from the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident, said American Airlines flight 2118 was operated by an Airbus A321 and landed safely at George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport after diverting.

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American Airlines acknowledged the incident and said that passengers were transported to Phoenix on a replacement aircraft.

"On Nov. 23, American Airlines flight 2118 landed safely and taxied to the gate under its own power at Houston (IAH) following reports of an odor on board," a statement from the airline said, adding that first responders met the incident aircraft at the gate.

Toxic fume incidents on airplanes have gotten more attention in recent years, although flight attendants and other industry advocates say they have been an issue for decades. They're often caused by simple maintenance mishaps.

Most airplanes use what's known as a bleed air system, which pulls air through the engines into the cabin. When the engines are maintained properly, it's safe, but if their oil reserves are inadvertently overfilled, it can lead to chemical vapors mixing into the cabin air, leading to toxic fumes that can cause passengers and flight crews to feel sick.

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Cruising Altitude: Yes, you could inhale toxic fumes during your flight.

Raychel Armstrong, an active flight attendant and vice president of Transportation Workers Union Local 577, told USA TODAY in 2023 that she had experienced toxic fume incidents more than once at work.

"We just started getting nauseous, I got a cough afterwards," she said. "This is normal for us, but its something that should never have been normalized in the first place."

A Wall Street Journal investigation found that toxic fume incidents were especially common on Airbus A320-family aircraft.

(This story was updated to add a photo or video.)

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Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why an 'odor on board' led this American Airlines flight to divert
"They were all taken very seriously. One very specific one was taken seriously. Which, in the end, was refuted," said Yoni Asher, father of freed Gaza hostages Raz and Aviv.

Yoni Asher, father of freed Gaza hostages Raz and Aviv, revealed that he received several ransom demands while his daughters were held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas terrorists alongside his then-wife, Doron Katz-Asher.

"They were all taken very seriously. One very specific one was taken seriously. And there was a week-long email correspondence. In the end, they refuted it," Asher told Walla, explaining that he cooperated with the IDFs cyber unit for every ransom request received.

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His daughters were two and four years old when they were taken by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where they were visiting family alongside their mother. They spent 49 days inside Gaza until being freed during the first humanitarian ceasefire in November 2023.

Aviv Asher, 2.5 years old, her sister Raz Asher, 4.5 years old, and mother Doron, react as they step off an Israeli military helicopter, shortly after their arrival in Israel on November 24, after being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. (credit: VIA REUTERS)

Nightmares in first hostage-prisoner exchange

The comments came after Asher published a post on Facebook where he criticized the Israeli society and wrote: Yesterday, two years ago, November 24, 2023, children, toddlers, mothers, and elderly women were released from Hamas captivity as part of the first deal. In exchange for them, teenage women and young men, terrorists, were released from prison in Israel."

He then wrote, In the 48 hours leading up to the exchange, when the IDF confirmed my daughters were on the list, tensions became unbearable. Thoughts were running wild. Someone would try to disrupt, someone would try to kill the hostages at the last minute... There was no certainty.

At one point, an official told Asher that he shouldnt be happy until the IDF told him that his daughters were with the IDF, had crossed the border, and that their identity had been confirmed officially.

"At one point, it seemed like the nightmare was coming true - the intelligence officer calls and announces - 'There is a delay in the release of 24 hours.' Having learned from experience, I no longer ask why, because the unofficial answer is that I am not allowed to know. As I have been told quite a few times before," he concluded.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman al-Safadi on Tuesday called on the Israeli government to allow more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

At a meeting between the two diplomats in Berlin, Wadephul highlighted a shortage of tents and medical equipment in the Gaza Strip, six weeks after the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas took effect.

Al-Safadi said that while the humanitarian situation in the territory has improved, it remains very difficult. More than 90% of the population requires humanitarian aid to survive, he said, appealing on Israel to uphold the ceasefire.

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Wadephul said that a UN Security Council resolution passed last week to secure the Gaza peace plan must be implemented quickly.

Decisions must be made on how the UN-mandated institutions can ensure stability in Gaza, including the planned disarmament of Hamas, he said.

Speed is of the essence, Wadephul said, due to the danger of the Gaza Strip being divided into one part controlled by the Israeli army and another where Hamas is increasingly regaining strength.

"We must not allow Hamas to continue consolidating its power here undisturbed," he demanded.

Wadephul's remarks come one day after confirmation that Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to visit Israel for the first time before the end of the year.
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Tensions between the United States and Venezuela has prompted many airlines to cancel international flights to the South American nation, which has stranded some travelers.

Several international airlines have canceled flights to the Venezuelan capital of Caracas after the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday cautioned them against flying over Venezuela as the United States increases its military presence and activities to thwart what it says is drug smuggling from Venezuela and other South American nations, Fox News reported.

The FAA cited a "worsening security situation and heightened military activity in and around Venezuela" when issuing its cautionary notice, according to euro news.

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The disruption of international air service has left some global travelers stranded in Caracas and prompted the Venezuelan government to demand the airlines resume their services, the BBC reported.

The airlines include Spain-based Air Europa, Iberia and Plus Ultra. They also include Brazil-based Gol, Chile's Latam air carrier, Avianca of Colombia, Portugal's TAP airline and Turkish Airlines.

The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Caribbean and a caution from the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday has caused several airlines to suspend service to Venezuela. Photo by MCSN Paige Brown/U.S. Navy

The Venezuelan government on Monday gave the airlines a 48-hour deadline to resume their flights or lose their clearance to fly over Venezuelan airspace.

The demand drew a rebuke from the International Air Transport Association, which said Venezuela would become more isolated if its aviation regulators followed through with their threat.

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The Trump administration designated as a foreign terrorist organization the Cartel d los Soles and deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the area.

The cartel is a collection of Venezuelan military and governmental officials who are accused of being involved in drug trafficking.

"Cartel de los Soels by and with other designated FTOs, including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel, are responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week.

The United States also raised to $50 million its reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The Venezuelan government has denied the existence of the Cartel de los Soles.
By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA (Reuters) -An uncounted number of extra people have died from AIDS and 2.5 million have lost access to medicine to block the spread of HIV, because of cuts to global programmes since Donald Trump returned to the White House, the U.N. body fighting AIDS said on Tuesday.

"Persistent funding shortfalls and the perilous risks facing the global HIV response are having profound, lasting effects on the health and well-being of millions of people throughout the world," said a report by UNAIDS.

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The report said UNAIDS' community partners had reported deaths of people living with HIV due to the shuttering of local clinics and treatment, although the exact number of additional deaths remains unclear as data collection was still ongoing.

The global AIDS response entered "crisis mode" when the largest donor, the United States, which accounted for 75% of international HIV funding, temporarily halted all HIV-related funding earlier in the year, UNAIDS said.

Other donor countries have also dramatically scaled back foreign aid programmes this year, including European countries pressed by Trump to ramp up spending on defence instead.

Though some HIV programmes have since resumed with funds from a U.S. programme known as PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, overall funding continues to decline, jeopardising 2030 targets to end AIDS as a public health threat, UNAIDS said.

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The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the UNAIDS report.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima told reporters in Geneva that her agency was working with at least 30 countries to improve domestic financing to move away from dependency on international donors. But she said the funding gap could not be closed immediately and major challenges remain.

The U.N. agency says 40.8 million people are living with HIV, with 1.3 million new infections reported in 2024.

PREVENTION SERVICES 'DEVASTATED'

Between 2010 and 2024, annual AIDS-related deaths have fallen 54% to 630,000, and new infections have also dropped by 40%. But maintaining that progress has been put in peril by funding cuts which have "devastated" prevention services, the report found.

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It estimated that 2.5 million people had lost access to the PrEP preventive HIV medication as of October 2025 due to donor funding cuts. Byanyima said the distribution of preventive HIV medicines had fallen by 31% in Uganda, 21% in Vietnam and 64% in Burundi. In Nigeria, the distribution of condoms fell by 55% from December last year to March this year.

A survey conducted this year by UNAIDS and women's rights group the ATHENA Network found that nearly half of women and adolescent girls reported disruptions to HIV prevention and treatment services in their communities.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Peter Graff)
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden meets with voters during an October 2024 campaign event in Eastport, Maine. (Photo courtesy of Jared Golden for Congress)

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden is asking for heating assistance that was delayed during the government shutdown to be released as soon as Sunday.

Golden, a Democrat who represents Maines 2nd Congressional District, is among dozens of bipartisan lawmakers asking Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to distribute funds from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, now that the government has reopened and temperatures are dropping.

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Given that the heating season has already started in many parts of the country, we agree that there is no time to waste, the lawmakers wrote.

The letter was sent to Kennedy on Monday, asking him to disperse the funds by Nov. 30.

States usually receive LIHEAP allocations in early November to help roughly 6 million Americans, including 45,000 Mainers, heat their homes, but this years money was delayed because of the government shutdown that proved to be the longest in history.

In early November, when it was clear states would not receive LIHEAP funding on the usual timeline, the Maine State Housing Authority came up with a temporary solution to use leftover funds from two other programs to avoid heating emergencies. However, they knew it wouldnt be a long-term fix.

Golden has pushed back on Kennedys management of LIHEAP multiple times this year, particularly taking issue with the secretarys decision to fire the programs entire staff this past spring. In response to that decision, Golden helped lead another letter signed by more than 80 colleagues calling for LIHEAP to be protected and its staff to be rehired.
The Good Samaritan who rescued a man after a house exploded in Piqua last week is being recognized by the city.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce announced on Tuesday that Julio DeLeon will receive the Jan Mulder Citizenship Award in recognition of his selfless bravery.

The award recognizes those who, through disregard of personal safety or prompt action, save or attempt to save the life of another.

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DeLeon will receive his award next month.

TRENDING STORIES:

As News Center 7 previously reported, DeLeon was at Sunset Meat Market on Nov. 18 when a home across the street caught fire and exploded. He left his 17-month-old child and their mother in his vehicle and ran across the street to help.

I ran in, yelled for help, and the guy was lying on the floor, so I picked him up and pulled him out, DeLeon said. I kept asking, is there anybody else in the house? He said No, its just me.

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He helped get the man who lived there, 55-year-old Brian Markin, out, and he was transported to the hospital with critical injuries. News Center 7 has reached out to Miami Valley Hospital to get an update on his condition.

DeLeon was also taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation.

News Center 7 is working to learn if a cause for the explosion has been determined.

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The U.S. Department of Energy released a report with a dire prediction about the country's energy consumption over the summer, noting that the "status quo is unsustainable."

What's happening?

The DOE predicted that blackouts could increase by 100 times in the next five years if the U.S. continues to retire reliable energy sources and fails to grow the grid at the same pace as AI innovation, as the data centers that power AI consume as much energy as some countries.

The report also maintained the Trump administration's stance that dirty fuels should be a significant part of the country's energy mix, along with nuclear  a low-carbon, always-on energy source that is much safer than some might believe.

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However, the administration has remained closed off to investments in clean energy sources such as solar and wind, saying that previous policies favoring them created a "national energy emergency." Critics say scapegoating energy sources like solar and wind for the country's blackout woes could leave the U.S. less prepared to truly achieve energy security and independence  goals Americans broadly support  and contribute to ever-rising electricity bills.

Why is this important?

Myriad factors can cause blackouts. First, the U.S. grid is aging. Bank of America estimated in a July report that 31% of transmission and 46% of distribution infrastructure are approaching or beyond their useful life. More frequent and intense extreme weather events aren't helping matters, straining systems that are already on the edge of collapse.

Many homeowners are preventing blackouts with rooftop solar panels paired with battery storage. Going solar is also one of the best ways to drastically reduce energy bills while also slashing pollution from dirty fuels  such as coal and gas  that acts as fuel for storms. If you're interested in installing panels, TCD's free Solar Explorer tool can help you obtain quotes from trusted solar installers.

Other factors contributing to blackouts include grid mismanagement and the emergence of new technologies, including AI. Because it can rapidly analyze complex patterns, AI could benefit the grid by helping utility providers nip problems in the bud before they occur.

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However, the massive energy demands of AI data centers are a hurdle in effectively utilizing AI for this purpose without contributing to blackouts.

What's being done about this?

This fall, the DOE put forth a plan aimed at commercializing nuclear fusion, known as the "holy grail" of clean energy. Fusion would provide the country with a virtually limitless, clean energy source that doesn't produce long-lived radioactive waste (unlike fission), though realizing it at scale is likely many years away.

Many lawmakers across political lines endorse an "all of the above" energy approach, recognizing the benefits of solar and wind, which can be generally brought online more quickly than fossil fuel projects and contribute to cleaner, healthier communities. Projects and policies in Texas, Utah, California, Florida, and Ohio and more are supporting clean-energy growth.

On an individual level, you can add home solar panels. TCD's Solar Explorer can save homeowners up to $10,000 on installation costs. Acting now could save you thousands, as many green incentives sunset Dec. 31.

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If the upfront cost of panels doesn't fit into your budget, Palmetto's LightReach solar leasing plans require no money down and can stabilize your energy rates. And if you want to maximize the money-saving benefits of home electrification, check out TCD's HVAC Explorer to find the right upgraded HVAC to pair with solar. The Palmetto Home app is also offering as much as $5,000 in rewards for making certain home upgrades.



Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices  and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
Residents at last weeks Common Council meeting suggested the city secure a grant writer to go after the free money available in grants.

Speaking to elected officials, resident Lenny Thomas said the city should find a grant writer to work on funding proposals and to be paid with a percentage of the award. Another resident described grants as free money just sitting out there.

After a question from resident Steve Huston about whether the city has a grant writer, Mayor John Lombardi III replied that the city did not, but the Greater Lockport Development Corp. did.

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Grants may not be as readily available as community members believe, according to those involved in the funding process. The limited purpose of a grant, eligibility restrictions, application requirements, resources needed, and timing of award funding can all work for or against a municipality or organizations ability to obtain money.

Starting with the basics, Beth Gosch, executive director of the Western New York Foundation in Buffalo, said grants can come from multiple funding avenues. Government grants at the federal, state, county, and city levels are somewhat sophisticated processes to go through.

Right now, under current circumstances, those revenue streams are very unpredictable, Gosch said. Theres a lot of changing priorities and a lot of chaos resulting from funding cuts.

Philanthropic foundations, which can be community foundations or private foundations, oversee grant programs to charities within certain focus areas.

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They have funds where the donees have very specific criteria for how funds can get dispersed, Gosch said. The Western New York Foundations mission is to support organizations driving transformative change in the regional food system.

The demand for money is much greater than the supply of money, Gosch said. Just because you apply doesnt mean youll get it. These foundations cant accommodate all the requests they receive.

Scrolling through online grant listings reveals that, whether for government or charitable organizations, most grants are restricted to certain locations and dont consider applicants from elsewhere.

Chris Smith, executive director of the Grigg Lewis Foundation of Lockport, said the private foundation restricts its funding to Niagara County.

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We prefer not to fund tax-supported organizations, Smith said. We are only allowed to fund federal 501 (c) (3) organizations.

Maureen Henderson, director of the Niagara Small Business Development Center, helps people establish small businesses and directs them toward support.

The grants that we work with are all location-based. Theyre by municipality, with state funds from the Public Community Block grants, Henderson said. The grants arent always available. They are very well regulated. Its not just filling out an application. They almost all require a business plan and some financial projections.

Thomas Sy, coordinator of economic development for the Town of Lockport Industrial Development Agency, has been writing grant proposals to state agencies for years. He said many grants are announced once a year.

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You usually have 30 days when the application is open, Sy said.

Grants typically do not provide funds for overall city spending, Sy said.

Ive never seen a grant for general, non-specific municipal funds. You have to fund a program or a service. Ive never seen a general support kind of scenario.

Most grants arent multi-purpose, Sy said, but are limited to specific purposes such as certain water line projects or park development. He said the 30-day time frame requires that the potential project is nearly fully planned, often with time and money already spent on engineering plans.

Anything thats fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, its not going to get picked, Sy said. Grants are very competitive, he said, with applicants from across the state.

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Sy said another type of government grant comes from applications to local legislators. Congress and the state legislature set aside a budget for member items to fund, he said.

Even in difficult years, its rare that member item pots (of funds) dont exist, he said. On the federal side, its somewhat similar. Its difficult around here to get money from state legislators. Weve applied to Congressman Tenney a number of times. She tends to award projects more than $1 million, so that might have been for a new fire hall or wastewater treatment plant.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Hamburg man was sentenced for 10-20 years in prison for a fatal hit-and-run and a series on several crashes in Tonawanda last year, the Erie County District Attorneys Office said Tuesday.

Mark Whalen, 32, hit and killed 40-year-old Terrence Wyatt while Wyatt was crossing Delaware Street near Benson Street in Tonawanda on Nov. 11, 2024. Whalen drove away from the scene without reporting it to police.

The fatal hit-and-run was Whalens sixth incident of the night. He had caused four other accidents throughout the evening in Evans, Delaware Avenue and Church Street as well as Delaware near Summer Street in Buffalo, Delaware near North End Avenue in Kenmore and Sheridan Drive in Tonawanda.

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Following the fatal hit-and-run, Whalen was involved in another accident near Delaware Street and Young Street in Tonawanda. Whalen stole the truck involved in the accident and fled into Niagara County, where he was apprehended. He also caused an accident in North Tonawanda that seriously injured another person.

In September, Whalen pleaded guilty to the following charges:

second-degree manslaughter

leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death

third-degree grand larceny

reckless driving

third-degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle

7 counts, leaving the scene of an incident resulting in property damage

Latest Local News

Aidan Joly was named News 4s Digital Executive Producer in 2025. He has been on staff since 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  First responders and Ocean Safety officials are giving a tragic reminder about the power of the ocean after three people drowned in Hawaii waters over the weekend.

Ocean Safety officials said even though winter brings enormous swells to the north shores around Hawaii, flat water at other beaches does not always mean it is safe to swim.

California man, 61, dead after Kauai swimming incident

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I think when people come down and see the waters, they dont see big waves, Oh, this is like a pool where it looks super safe. But theres always underlying currents where theres reefs or channels that theyre not aware of, said Honolulu Ocean Safety Lt. Dennis Coglietta. Like at Kaimana Beach, the area of the channel along the shoreline is pretty calm, but as you make your way out towards the edge of the reef, all of a sudden all the water, its like an underwater river just sucks out and pull you towards Diamondhead.

Two people drowned this past weekend in Kauai waters  one of them was a 47-year-old Florida man who jumped in the water to rescue his child near Barking Sands on Saturday, Nov. 22. Officials say the good Samaritan encountered trouble in the water, but the boy was able to make it back to shore safely.

We have that extra adrenaline when it goes to saving somebody, but at some point, and I cannot imagine, you know, what this young man went through. Rescuing two people, once youve performed those rescues, he just might have been too tired, said Kauai County fire chief Mike Gibson.

A 56-year-old snorkeler from California died on Sunday, Nov. 23, after being pulled from waters off Lawai Beach. Officials stressed  regardless of where a swimmer is from or how many years they have been swimming  it never hurts to pause and check the ocean conditions or ask a lifeguard before getting in the water.

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I quickly learned when I moved here eight years ago, I consider myself a really good swimmer and I was overtaken in my, my first week here, Gibson said.

Even with my family, we come down, we always watch the water for a couple minutes. We never rush out there. Even at spots that weve been to 50, 100 times before, we always just take the time to look at it, Lt. Coglietta said.

Maui leads state in ocean drownings, still no lifeguards at busy tourist beaches

The third drowning this past weekend happened on Sunday off Oahus south shore when Honolulu Ocean Safety pulled a woman in her 40s from the waters off Kakaako Waterfront Park.

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Were here. We got a lot of people. We got our eyes on everybody. But, you know, yes, the public, visitors, everybody. You watch the children, you come out, watch out for one another, have a flow plan, check in with us and always never swim alone, Lt. Coglietta said.

**CORRECTION: Authorities initially reported the man who drowned on Saturday off Barking Sands rescued two children, family members clarified that he rescued his son. The error has been corrected.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
The owner of a beloved local cupcake shop has died.

Jennifer Cooper, owner of Gigis Cupcakes, 2511-B Airport Thruway, has died. Her husband, Patrick Cooper, announced her death with a Facebook post on Nov. 21. Cooper died in a tragic accident, her husband said in the post.

Jennifer touched many lives, and she loved using Gigis as a platform not just to sell cakes and cupcakes, but as an outreach to others, Cooper wrote in the post. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy will live on. Please continue to keep our family and Gigis staff in your prayers. Our team is stepping up in ways we could never imagine. The hardest times are still ahead of us, but we know God will give us the strength to make it through.

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Patrick Cooper encouraged the local community to make donations in Jennifers honor to StoryTellers Live, a Christian ministry. Jennifer Cooper was a member of the Auburn/Opelika Community team, according to a post made on the Storytellers Live website. Donations can be made online at www.storytellerslive.org/jennifercooper.

Her servant heart and gentle spirit blessed everyone she met, the donation post read. We dont understand, but we do know that God is in this story.

Cooper opened the Columbus location of Gigis Cupcakes in 2012.

Jennifer Cooper, owner of Gigis Cupcakes, 2511-B Airport Thruway, has died. Her husband Patrick Cooper announced her passing with a Facebook post on November 21. Heres his full statement.

Patrick Cooper did not respond to the Ledger-Enquirers request for comment before publication.

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Over 200 customers have commented on the announcement post, expressing their condolences and reflecting on Jennifers legacy.

One user, Brenda Fowler Lisle, talked about the welcoming environment in Gigis Cupcakes: I am so sorry for your loss. Walking into Gigis here in Columbus gives such a warm welcoming feeling. This is something she created I am sure. The employees are a reflection of who she was. May our sweet Jesus comfort all of you and surround you with his peace that surpasses all understanding. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Another user, Jenny Ann, reflected on Coopers kindness: I am so sorry for your loss. Jennifer was always so wonderful with the schools I volunteer at. She would gladly donate items for the staff. Her heart and kindness were truly unmatched.

Jennifer Coopers funeral arrangements in Opelika

Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. on Nov. 25 at First Baptist Church Opelika, with a celebration of life at 2 p.m. A graveside service will follow at Town Creek Cemetery in Auburn, AL. Gigis Cupcakes will be closed on November 25 to allow staff to attend the service, according to the Facebook post.
Some Lebanese question disarmament, but Israel views Hezbollah's weapons as a direct security threat.

Hundreds of men beat their chests in unison. They sing with their hearts in their throats. They sing, and they weep. They weep openly. This Monday, the streets ofBeirut's southern suburbs were filled with tears, chants, and lamentations. The funeral for Hezbollah's second-in-command, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, was the catalyst for it all.

We are sad because we have lost a treasure, one of the attendees at the burial of the military chief, along with two other fighters from the Lebanese Shiite group, told The Media Line.

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The previous afternoon, several missiles killed them and two other people while they were in an apartment in the heart of the Beirut suburbs.

From the side, one can admire the precision of the impacts. Six projectiles pierced the building, vaporizing its fourth and fifth floors. Civil defense teams are still throwing concrete and iron debris into the street, where life goes on. Even the shops in the same building remain open.

Meanwhile, a question lingers amid the gray dust that still hangs in the air: Will Hezbollah respond to this latest Israeli attack?

People gather around a coffin during the funeral of Hezbollah's top military official, Haytham Ali Tabtabai, and of other people who were killed by an Israeli airstrike on Sunday, despite a U.S.-brokered truce a year ago, in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon November 24, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)

That depends on them. We trust they will make the best possible decision, says Nadia, a young saleswoman in a food store next to the attacked building.

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We will continue opening, and we will continue living our lives, which is what bothers the enemy the most, she told The Media Line, standing next to her colleague Mariam.

There's no need to mention its name. In every corner of Beirut's southern suburbs, everyone knows that when mentioning the enemy, it can only mean Israel.

Sunday's attack, which killed five people and wounded 28 more, is the latest in the capital since last July and was the third attempt to assassinate Tabatabai.

Tabatabai was appointed to lead Hezbollah's operations against Israel

According to the Israeli military, Tabatabai was appointed to lead Hezbollah's operations against Israel and served as its military chief after last November. It also states that he joined the group in the 1980s and held various high-level positions, including command of the elite Radwan Force unit and oversight of Hezbollah's operations in Syria.

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In 2016, the US State Department designated him a global terrorist, establishing a $5 million reward for his capture. The Israeli prime ministers office claims that Tabatabai led the organizations military development and rearmament, an accusation that Israeli authorities have been repeating for weeks.

In the last month, Israeli strikes have escalated. Last week saw the deadliest attack to date since the ceasefire came into effect on the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein El Helweh, which killed 13 people.

Beginning on October 8, 2023, Hezbollah launched missiles into Israel, causing extensive damage, deaths, and mass displacement of residents from communities in the north of the country, who have only returned with the advent of the ceasefire.

The Israeli army chief of staff,Eyal Zamir, has said that his troops could renew fighting in areas where they have previously operated. At the same time, a surprise drill was held on Monday to prepare troops for sudden events on the border between the two countries.

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In early November, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Hezbollah must disarm or face military strikes: We expect the Lebanese government to uphold its commitments, namely, to disarm Hezbollah. But its clear that well exercise our right to self-defense as stipulated in the ceasefire terms, said the premier. We wont let Lebanon become a renewed front against us, and well do whats necessary.

We are not afraid. We are calm and relaxed, said Nadia, with a surprising composure.

Nothing that might happen is in our hands, so why be afraid? asked Mariam from behind the counter.

Since the start of the truce on Nov. 27, 2024, Israel has carried out frequent strikes against Lebanon, claiming that Beirut has not adequately prevented Hezbollah from rebuilding its infrastructure and posing a threat across the border.

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More than 340 people have died in Lebanon this year, according to local media.

Fatima, an elderly woman from Beirut and the mother of two young men, cannot hold back her tears as she speaks.

All our youth are gone. Our young people have been taken from us, she lamented. Its very important that we stay here, because otherwise we wouldnt have our homes, and were willing to sacrifice ourselves for them. Its our land, she told The Media Line, with tears in her eyes.

Mariam and Nadia dont shy away from expressing their opinions on the main controversial topic dominating the Lebanese political agenda over the past year.

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Honestly, I dont agree with giving up our weapons, because it would be seen as an invitation for the Israelis to come occupy our land, said Nadia.

Who would defend us if not the resistance? she asked, using the popular term for Hezbollah.

The Lebanese army is not going to do it, and the Lebanese state does not take care of us, her friend Mariam responded.

During Tabatabais funeral, dozens of young men dressed in military and Boy Scout uniforms fought back tears as they buried yet another Hezbollah officer killed by Israel. They know that could soon be their own fate.

Military and religious leaders, like Ali Daamoush, the chairman of the groups Executive Council, have given speeches that have done away with the traditional slogans of Death to America! Death to Israel!

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Now, Hezbollah is considering responding to the attack, but its supporters arent urging it to.

After confirming the death of a high-ranking Hezbollah member, Deputy Chairman of the groups Political Council Mahmoud Qamati said in a press conference Sunday that the senior leadership is assessing the results of the strike and our response.

When asked whether retaliation against Israel is possible, Qamati replied: Everything is possible. He also added that Hezbollah is coordinating its next steps with the Lebanese government and army.

They understand the military picture and will decide for themselves whether to respond, said Mariam from behind her counter on a batteredbut not defeatedstreet in Dahieh, the term locals use for Beiruts southern suburbs, which in Arabic simply means suburbs.

But what everyone can see is that it is they [Israel] who are attacking us, while the resistance [Hezbollah] does not act, she concluded.
A high-profile trial of seven alleged far-left extremists began in the eastern German city of Dresden on Tuesday.

The group is alleged to have carried out violent attacks on people from the far-right scene over several years. "The victims were to be seriously injured," prosecutors said in the indictment.

The members, six men and one woman aged between 28 and 49 years old, are charged with crimes such as grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, membership of a criminal organization and damage to property.

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The focus is on a man named under German privacy laws as Johann G, who is believed to have held a leading position in the group.

He was in hiding for a long time and was caught a year ago by investigators from the State Criminal Police Office in Saxony, of which Dresden is the capital.

The mammoth trial at the Dresden Higher Regional Court is a continuation of the case against a student identified as Lina E, who was sentenced to five years and three months in prison in 2023.

A key witness incriminated her and three co-defendants who received lesser sentences. All are said to have belonged to the same group as Johann G.

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In total, 35 people were injured in 14 attacks both in Germany and abroad, in cities such as Leipzig, Dortmund and Budapest.

Some victims of the attacks over the years suffered life-threatening injuries, prosecutors said. The group is said to have used hammers, batons, pepper spray and balaclavas.

Several dozen supporters held up signs and a banner reading "Free all Antifas" in front of the courthouse on Tuesday, while some supporters were also waiting inside the courtroom.

The trial is being held under heightened security measures, with hearings initially scheduled until mid-2026.
Virginia State Police are investigating two separate area highway crashes that happened within a half-hour of each other, with one of them killing two people.

The fatal crash happened around 6:20 a.m. on Interstate 295 southbound at the 12-mile marker in Prince George County. State Police said a broken-down tractor-trailer was in the emergency lane when a 2014 Toyota Camry slammed into it, killing both people inside the vehicle.

Their identities have not been released.

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Speed was a factor in the crash, according to the report. The truck driver, identified as Keith Holloway, 51, of Philadelphia, was cited for not using emergency flashers or emergency triangles.

Truck fire under I-95 overpass

Virginia State Police say a Maryland man is facing reckless-driving charges following this tanker-truck crash Nov. 25 below an overpass on southbound Interstate 95 in Chesterfield County. The truck jumped a jersey wall and caught fire.

Best Wings & Tacos in Hopewell is owner's fourth restaurant in region

About 30 minutes later, on Interstate 95 in Chesterfield County, State Police said a southbound tanker truck carrying lyme ran off the right side of the highway near the state Route 288 exit and crashed into a jersey wall. The impact of the crash caused the truck to catch on fire.

The fire happened below the Coxendale Road overpass. It was not immediately know how much damage, if any, was done to the bridge.

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The tanker truck's driver, 38-year-old Charles Elliott of Maryland, was hurt in the crash, but the injuries are not considered life-threatening. He has been charged with reckless driving.

State Police said both crashes remain under investigation.

Going out on Thanksgiving or Black Friday in Petersburg? Here's the forecast

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Two people killed in 295 crash; truck wrecks under 95 bridge
HILLSBORO, Ore. (KOIN)  Weeks after declaring an emergency following emotional testimony from Hillsboro residents worried about ICE agents making arrests in the city, the City Council held a special meeting to discuss ways to keep the community safer.

The November 18 declaration came after the saga of Victor Cruz, a Hillsboro resident detained by ICE after what he thought was a routine traffic stop. Cruz spent more than three weeks behind bars and said he experienced harsh conditions of cold temperatures, small portions of food, and facilities shared with 80 other men.

About two dozen people attended a special Hillsboro City Council meeting, November 24, 2025 (KOIN)

On Monday night, the Hillsboro City Council picked up where they left off at that meeting. They talked about creating signage for spaces where ICE is not welcome, including city buildings. They also talked about how to pay for everything and how city employees would handle potential detainments.

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Members of the Hillsboro Police Department also attended this special meeting and testified they received 26 ICE-related calls in October.

But some attendees and even councilors remain skeptical about how this will help.

A year or two ago we never thought that people will be yanked out of their vehicles, said Hillsboro Deputy City Manager Rahim Harji. Well, unfortunately they are.

Thats one of the reasons Kelsey Neilson, who is originally from Hillsboro, felt compelled to come back. She told KOIN 6 News she is concerned about the uptick in federal immigration arrests happening across the city.

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My community is deeply important to me, Neilson said. It kind of feels like everybody in my community doesnt really feel, you know, enough of a sense of urgency, actually, which is kind of why Im here now.

Kelsey Neilson was one of the attendees at a special Hillsboro City Council meeting, November 24, 2025 (KOIN)

She and her friends were among the two dozen or so people at the Hillsboro City Councils emergency work session.

When other councilors floated the idea of asking state leaders to also declare a state of emergency, Councilor Christian Salgado was cautious.

I do want to avoid postering, and Im not going to mince words here, in doing things that arent actually going to help, or actually protect people, Salgado said.

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Kelsey said councilors need to stop being wary and just do what they can.

The city council did not vote on anything Monday night. But they gathered a number of ideas to work through before they vote on anything at their next official council meeting.

KOIN 6 News reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to find out how many people have been arrested by ICE in Hillsboro in recent months. At this time, they have not responded.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
As we age, the human brain rewires itself.

The process happens in distinct phases, or epochs, according to new research, as the structure of our neural networks changes and our brains reconfigure how we think and process information.

For the first time, scientists say theyve identified four distinct turning points between those phases in an average brain: at ages 9, 32, 66 and 83. During each epoch between those years, our brains show markedly different characteristics in brain architecture, they say.

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The findings, published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, suggest that human cognition does not simply increase with age until a peak, then decline. In fact, the phase from ages 9 to 32 is the only time in life when our neural networks are becoming increasingly efficient, according to the research.

During the adulthood phase, from 32 to 66, the average persons brain architecture essentially stabilizes without major changes, at a time when researchers think people are generally plateauing in intelligence and personality.

And in the years after the last turning point  83 and beyond  the brain becomes increasingly reliant on individual regions as connections between them begin to wither away.

Its not a linear progression, said Alexa Mousley, a postdoctoral researcher associate at the University of Cambridge, who is the studys lead author. This is the first step of understanding the way the brains changing fluctuates based on age.

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The findings could help identify why mental health and neurological conditions develop during particular phases of rewiring.

Rick Betzel, an associate professor of neuroscience at the University of Minnesota who was not involved in the research, said the findings are intriguing, but more data is needed to support the conclusions. The theories may not hold up to scrutiny over time, he said.

They did this really ambitious thing, Betzel said of the study. Lets see where it stands in a few years.

For their research, Mousley and her colleagues analyzed MRI diffusion scans  which are essentially images of how water molecules move within the brain  from about 3,800 people from newborns to age 90. The goal was to map the neural connections across the average persons brain at different stages in life.

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In the brain, the bundles of nerve fibers that transfer signals are encapsulated in fatty tissue called myelin. Think of it like wiring or plumbing. Water molecules diffused in the brain tend to move in the direction of these fibers, rather than across them, meaning researchers can infer where the neural pathways are located.

We cant crack open skulls  we rely on non-invasive approaches, Betzel said of this type of neuroscience research. What were trying to figure out is where these fiber bundles are at.

Based on the MRI scans, the new study maps the neural network of an average person across a lifespan, determining where connections are strengthening or weakening. The five epochs it describes are based on the neural connections the researchers observed.

The first phase is up to age 9, they suggest. The brain rapidly increases in gray and white matter; it prunes extra synapses and restructures itself.

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From ages 9 to 32, there is an extended period of rewiring. The brain is defined by rapid communication across the entire brain and efficient connections between different regions.

Most mental health disorders are diagnosed during this time period, Mousely said: Is there something about this second era of life, as we find it, that could lead people to be more vulnerable to the onset of mental health disorders?

From 32 to 66, the brain plateaus. Its still rewiring itself, but less dramatically and more slowly.

Then, from 66 to age of 83, the brain tends toward modularity, where the neural network is divided into highly connected subnetworks with less central integration. At age 83, connectivity declines further.

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Betzel said the theory described in the study likely jibes with peoples lived experiences with aging and cognition.

Its intuitively something we gravitate towards. I have two kids and theyre really young. I think all of the time, Im getting out of my toddler era, Betzel said. Maybe the science ends up being there. But are those the exact right ages? I dont know.

In the ideal version of a study like this, he added, the researchers would have MRI diffusion data for a large group of people, each of whom were scanned during every year of life from birth to death. But that wasnt possible because the technology wasnt available decades ago.

Instead, the researchers combined nine different data sets containing neuroimaging from previous studies and attempted to harmonize them.

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Betzel said each of those data sets varies in quality and approach, and the effort to make them correspond with one another could wash away important variability, ultimately leading to bias in the results.

Nonetheless, he said the authors of the paper are thoughtful and skilled scientists who did their best to control for that possibility.

Brain networks change over the lifespan  absolutely. Is it discrete such that there are five exact change points? Id say stay tuned. Its an interesting idea.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport crosses the Yaquina Bay estuary, where fishing charters pass daily to catch halibut, tuna, salmon, rockfish and crab. (Photo by Mia Maldonado/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

A federal contractor representing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Oregon officials last week that they are preparing an analysis of an unspecified project that would have significant environmental ramifications for the coastal city of Newport.

The Virginia-based environmental services company Solv, LLC on Thursday inquired with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development about initiating a proposed action under a 1972 federal law, the Coastal Zone Management Act. The message offers the clearest indication yet that an immigration detention center could be coming to the fishing city in the coming months, a possibility that has been met with resistance for weeks from residents and Oregons local, state and federal lawmakers.

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The exact type of proposed project was not specified in the email, according to conservation agency spokesperson Sadie Carney, who said in a statement that the department responded with answers to procedural questions the contractor had. She was not immediately able to comment on whether the contractor had since Thursday provided Oregon with a more concrete or official plan.

Since early November, several Oregon Democrats have speculated that the Coast Guard facility in Newports Municipal Airport could be converted to an ICE center, pointing to the unexplained relocation of a life-saving Coast Guard rescue helicopter from Newport to North Bend, a city located about 95 miles away.

Newports city leaders went public with their concerns on Nov. 10, and clues from job listings for detention officers to an inquiry from a federal defense contractor seeking to lease land by the Coast Guard facility have since fueled suspicion. John Fuller, a spokesperson for the city of Newport, said in statement that that contractor is now reaching out to hotels up and down the Oregon coast as recently as Tuesday morning in search of up to 200 rooms for a year.

Oregon is one of the few states without a long-term immigration detention facility, a reflection of its decades-long status as Americas first sanctuary state. State law prohibits state or local resources from being used to help enforce federal immigration law.

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The environmental contractors email, reviewed by the Capital Chronicle, was written by a scientist with Solv, LLC and offers no specific details about the project or its location in Newport.

Solv, LLC, however, received more than $5.6 million in federal contracts from 2021 to June 2025, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security tapping its expertise in ICE sustainability program support services. In December 2020, the company produced an evaluation report for the federal agency when it sought to expand its operations at an ICE processing facility in El Paso, Texas.

The emails author did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday, but she wrote that ICE is beginning the process of initiating a consultation and is developing a federal consistency determination for a proposed action in Newport Oregon. She asked about how best to submit those findings and for more information about the timeline in which she should provide other documentation.

Ahead of submitting our letter and adjoining documentation, we would like to clarify a few of the consult requirements of the Oregon Coastal Management Program, wrote Amber Carter, a scientist for Solv LLC. Her Linkedin shows that she leads a team of six environmental scientists and energy engineers on an environmental compliance, energy, and sustainability contract.

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Under federal law dating back to 1972, nearly all states bordering an ocean or Great Lake set federally approved plans to protect their coastlines. Whenever a federal agency wants to act in a coastal zone in Oregon, it must wait at least 90 days before the project can break ground.

During that time, Oregons Department of Land Conservation and Development conducts a 60-day review to determine how that activity would impact the coast, as well as a 30-day public comment period. Notable recent uses of the program have been offshore wind energy and the canceled Jordan Cove Energy Project, which would have added a liquified natural gas export facility near Coos Bay.

The process allows for Oregon to make recommendations or offer support under certain conditions for a project. But a federal agency can overrule an objection from state officials if it finds its efforts are consistent to the maximum extent practicable with state law. The federal agency must inform Oregon of that decision, opening the door for potential litigation that Oregon would need to file should it disagree with the outcome.

Rep. David Gomberg, D-Otis, told the Capital Chronicle that the latest inquiry from the ICE contractor makes it clear that somethings going on. The federal defense contractor seeking to lease land withdrew its inquiry on Nov. 12, but he has been reticent to take that as a sign the plans for an ICE facility are over. Other private companies have also been contacted for local land, he added.

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All we know is that they are making inquiries about a proposed action in Newport and making sure its consistent with Coastal Zone Management Act requirements, he said. I just take that as one more piece of evidence that this proposed action is far from over.

The other state legislator for Newport, Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, previously wrote in a Nov. 14 email to a constituent shared with the Capital Chronicle that the rumor of an ICE detention facility in Lincoln Co. has been debunked. He also wrote to the homeland security department last week seeking the immediate return of the rescue helicopter to Newports Municipal Airport.

Anderson did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday. Bryan Iverson, his chief of staff, told the Capital Chronicle on Nov. 12 that Andersons office wont comment on speculation or rumors just to fear monger.

In the meantime, local residents with ties to the fishing industry and boat workers scored a major legal victory for their helicopter, which was stationed in Newport back in 1987. U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken on Monday issued a 14-day temporary restraining order in response to a lawsuit from Lincoln County and a local nonprofit supporting fishermen, ordering the return of the helicopter to the Coast Guards facility in Newports municipal airport.

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Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a similar lawsuit in federal court on Monday, though the state is seeking to combine its lawsuit with a local nonprofits challenge. Aiken wrote in her ruling that federal law requires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to follow notice and comment procedures for the public and provide notification to Congress before closing or even significantly reducing the use of a Coast Guard air facility.

Fuller said that a rescue helicopter has landed at Newports airport on Tuesday at least for refueling. He added that he was not able to confirm if it has officially returned to our airport at this time.

ICE, DHS and the U.S. Coast Guard did not immediately respond to the Capital Chronicles requests for comment on Tuesday. In a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive.com, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the homeland security department, said the Coast Guard is always ready to respond to search and rescue needs on the Oregon Coast, just as it always has been. Any suggestion otherwise is an insult to the hard, heroic work the men and women of the Coast Guard put in every day.

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Vincent and Teri Gagliano, owners of the renowned Winter Park restaurant Chez Vincent and Hannibals Lounge, have announced their retirement after nearly thirty years of serving award-winning French cuisine.

The couple has sold both restaurant concepts to a local chef, with their last day of service set for December 21.

Vincent and Teri Gagliano relocated from France to Florida over 30 years ago and settled in Winter Park to raise their family. Vincent, a chef, established Chez Vincent 28 years ago in the Hannibal Square neighborhood, serving traditional French dishes that rapidly gained popularity among locals.

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In 2007, the couple expanded their business by opening Hannibals Lounge, offering a relaxed environment for cocktails and celebrations. Both places have since become cherished parts of the Winter Park dining scene.

Over 30 years ago, Chef Vincent Gagliano and his wife, Teri, moved to Florida to begin their life together, the couple shared in a social media post announcing their retirement.Today, we share that Chez Vincent and Hannibals have been sold to a respected local chef and restaurateur, the Gaglianos stated, expressing confidence that the new team will continue the tradition of quality and care.

Chez Vincent and Hannibals Lounge have garnered numerous awards, such as being recognized as Best French Restaurant. A memorable moment for the Gaglianos was hosting the legendary Chef Paul Bocuse for dinner.

The couple has supported local traditions such as the Winter Park Farmers Market and Magical Dining, aiming to serve good food and create lasting memories within the community.

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As they retire, Vincent and Teri look forward to spending more time with family and enjoying their next adventure. They invite patrons to join them for a final meal before closing on December 21.

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The UN human rights office said that at least 127 civilians had been killed in Lebanon in strikes by the Israeli military since the ceasefire's implementation.

Following a series of Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, the UN and Lebanese Health Ministry on Tuesday reported casualty estimates for those wounded and killed in the country since the implementation of the ceasefire between Israel and the terror group nearly a year ago.

The UN human rights office said that at least 127 civilians had been killed in Lebanon in strikes by the Israeli military since the ceasefire's implementation, and called for an investigation into the matter and for the truce to be respected.

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"Almost a year since the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel was agreed, we continue to witness increasing attacks by the Israeli military, resulting in the killing of civilians and destruction of civilian objects in Lebanon, coupled with alarming threats of a wider, intensified offensive," Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, said at a Geneva press briefing.

He said the number included deaths the UN had verified using its own strict methodology, but that the actual level could be higher.

Women Hezbollah members mourning during the funeral procession on November 24, 2025 in Beirut, Lebanon. Hezbollah confirmed that its top military commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai was killed yesterday in an Israeli air strike on Lebanon's capital, Beirut. (credit: Adri Salido/Getty Images)

Lebanese Health Ministry reports 331 'martyrs' since ceasefire start

Earlier on Tuesday, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported that 331 "martyrs" had been killed since the start of the ceasefire and that another 945 had been wounded.

The ministry did not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The reports come two days after Israel killed Hezbollah military commander Ali Tabatabai in a strike in Beirut. Four additional Hezbollah terrorists were killed along with him.
The action follows a Monday firefight in the area of eastern Nablus between Israeli forces and a wanted terrorist during counterterrorism operations.

Israeli security forces killed Sultan al-Ghani, the terrorist responsible for the 2024 murder of Gideon Perry, near Jenin in the northern West Bank, the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The event occured during a joint operation between the two agencies.

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Perry, an Israeli security guard, was murdered in a 2024 terror attack during which Ghani stole his firearm and vehicle before escaping.

Five others were arrested during the operation, and a 'Carlo' style weapon, an M16, explosives, and multiple magazines and ammunition were found.

Israeli security forces locate weapons, ammunition during operation south of Jenin, West Bank, November 25, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

The announcement came after Army Radio reported that IDF soldiers were operating in the Palestinian town of Mirka near Jenin earlier on Tuesday.

Israeli forces kill additional terrorist wanted for 2024 terror

It also follows a Monday firefight in the area of eastern Nablus between Israeli forces and a wanted terrorist during counterterrorism operations.

After the terrorist was killed, it was revealed that he was responsible for the 2024 deaths of two IDF soldiers in the Kfir Brigade.
Under newly adopted state requirements, universities must answer whether proposed degree programs exercise a "commitment to the core values of American society."

Over the summer, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education revamped its review process and application packet that universities must submit when they want to add a new degree program to their offerings. The state must approve any new program before students can enroll.

At the Nov. 13 commission meeting, Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said Indiana wants to produce the best citizens possible and announced the state would add another question to the application:

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"How does the proposed program cultivate civic responsibility and commitment to the core values of American society? For example, how does the curriculum include components that emphasize civic engagement and the duties of citizenship in a free society?"

The IndyStar reached out to the commission to ask about the motivation behind the question, what is included in the "core values of American society" and what level of importance a university's answer has. Commission officials did not immediately respond.

As Republican politics become more intertwined with higher education, the added criteria have concerned some in academia.

In its newsletter, the Indiana chapter of the American Association of University Professors said, "This policy is the latest effort by Indiana's politicians to take power away from faculty and cheapen the education students have access to in Indiana." The organization did not provide additional explanation, but some professors told Inside Higher Ed that it opens the door to curtail some programs and academic freedom.

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In recent years, state lawmakers have enacted several measures that professors claim infringe on shared governance and academic freedom. These include requiring "intellectual diversity" in the classroom, mandating degree consolidation, eliminating alumni-elected Indiana University board members, changes to tenure and rolling back consideration of faculty input in university decisions.

The USA TODAY Network - Indiana's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.

Have a story to tell? Reach Cate Charron by email at ccharron@indystar.com, on X at @CateCharron or Signal at @cate.charron.28.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana colleges must answer how new degrees commit to American values
Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston during a session with reporters on Nov. 18, 2025. (Photo by Tom Davies/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

The prospects of President Donald Trump getting a new Indiana congressional map have been revived as state Senate Republicans on Tuesday reversed their refusal to meet next month.

Minutes after the Indiana House speaker announced the chambers return to the Statehouse on Monday to take up redistricting, the Senates leader said it would meet beginning Dec. 8 to make a final decision on any redistricting proposal sent from the House.

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House Speaker Todd Huston said in a statement released Tuesday that House Republicans will gavel in on Monday, Dec. 1, reconvening the 2026 regular session. All legislative business will be considered beginning next week, including redrawing the states congressional map.

No proposed maps have been released as of Tuesday afternoon by legislative leaders showing how the General Assembly might accede to Trumps wish for Republican-led states to draw more GOP-friendly U.S. House districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The move presents an intra-Republican Party challenge to the state Senate, where Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray has declared too few senators are in support for redistricting to pass.

But Bray confirmed Tuesday the chamber will convene: The issue of redrawing Indianas congressional maps mid-cycle has received a lot of attention and is causing strife here in our state. To resolve this issue, the Senate intends to reconvene.

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Trump and Gov. Mike Braun have made political threats against recalcitrant Republican senators  and a House vote in favor of new Indiana maps could ratchet up the pressure on those senators.

Trump on Tuesday celebrated the House and Senate announcements after he had repeatedly blasted Bray and other Senate redistricting foes, threatening to support Republican primary challengers against senators who crossed him.

Republican Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray speaks during the Dentons Legislative Conference on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2023. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

I am glad to hear the Indiana House is stepping up to do the right thing, and I hope the Senate finds the Votes, Trump said in a social media post. If they do, I will make sure that all of those people supporting me win their Primaries, and go on to Greatness but, if they dont, I will partner with the incredibly powerful MAGA Grassroots Republicans to elect STRONG Republicans who are ready to do what is needed to protect our Country and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

About a dozen incidents of swatting, intimidation and bomb threats were reported by lawmakers and the governor last week. Indiana State Police are still investigating.

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Republican Rep. Ed Soliday, of Valparaiso, called the incidents disgusting and repulsive.

Anybody associated with it, they come to me with anything, and I will kill their bill, he told the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Good people being dragged through the mud just because they speak their conscience. Death threats  its just wrong, and Im not the only one, he continued. Redistricting or not, behavior matters, and this is just flat wrong. So, if youre on the redistricting side and you dont like the way I vote, please primary me.

He said hed do whats right. But when asked to clarify his position on redistricting, he said, none of your f****** business.

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Last week, the House and Senate both set Jan. 5 as the date lawmakers would start the new legislative session  not on Dec. 1, as previously planned.

But Huston instructed House members to remain prepared for a possible return to the Statehouse during the first two weeks of December. He told reporters the House had enough support to pass redistricting and that it was prepared to act.

Redistricting supporters want Indiana lawmakers to craft a map with all nine of the states congressional districts favoring Republicans. Those would be based on 2020 census data, like the current maps.

Those were drawn by Republicans in 2021 and maintained a 7-2 GOP majority  with Democrat Frank Mrvan holding the 1st District in northwestern Indiana and Democrat Andre Carson holding the 7th District, which covers much of Indianapolis.

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Trump started the national redistricting fight by pushing Texas Republicans to redraw its congressional map this summer. The pressure on Indiana Republicans has included trips in August and October by Vice President JD Vance to Indianapolis.

Senate Democratic Leader Shelli Yoder denounced Senate Republicans, saying that the moment Donald Trump intensified his bullying campaign, they caved.

Our democracy does not survive when fear becomes policy, Yoder said. It does not survive when a state abandons its own people to serve the ambitions of one man. It does not survive when politicians cheat to win, cutting voters completely out of the process.

Braun praised the House and Senate decisions to take up redistricting.

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This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly convening to vote on fair maps, Braun said in a social media post.  Hoosiers deserve to have fair representation in Washington and now the General Assembly needs to deliver a 9-0 map which will help level the playing field.

Legislative Democrats have too few members to prevent a congressional redistricting if Republicans remain largely united on new maps.

Public polls and the turnout at town halls have indicated voter opposition to the redistricting push.

House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta blasted the Republican plan for taking up the proposal.

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Hoosiers have already said loud and clear that they dont want redistricting, he said in a statement. Why are we wasting valuable time and resources on this when we could be lowering costs for Hoosiers? Under the Republican supermajority in the House, Hoosiers have been faced with decades of decay. They deserve better, and House Democrats plan to prioritize their needs this session.

House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta talks to reporters on Organization Day, Nov. 18, 2025. (Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

During a video news conference Tuesday afternoon, GiaQuinta indicated his caucus may not show up in December, emphasizing the previously agreed-upon date.

The motion said that we will be reconvening on Jan. 5, at 1:30. And thats my understanding as to when we are to return, he told reporters.

GiaQuinta cited the Houses rules. A line there reads that the chamber shall convene at the time provided in a successful motion, but that it can be changed with the agreement of both the speaker and minority leader.

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GiaQuinta said he wasnt consulted  just informed of the new date in a call with Huston on Tuesday morning.

But House Republicans have cited a provision in Indiana Code. During the regular session, the law says, the General Assembly shall adjourn until either the day specified in a concurrent resolution, or when both chambers gavel in with a quorum.

The House GOP is a supermajority, meaning that Democrats arent needed for a quorum.

The early gavel-in carries a price tag  but legislative leaders argue that reconvening in December wont increase the overall cost of the 2026 session, since both chambers now plan to finish their work by the end of February, rather than in mid-March.

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Legislative staff noted that each chamber is currently scheduled to meet for one week at a time.

Once a chamber convenes, members are eligible for the full legislative business per diem of $213 per day. Those who commute from outside Marion County additionally qualify for mileage reimbursements at 70 cents per mile.

Lawmakers salaries are fixed annual payments that dont change based on whether they come in early for a session. The per-diem is a separate reimbursement for meals and lodging while engaged in legislative business.

If the entire 100-member House shows up, the daily per-diem bill adds up to $21,300. For the chamber, a five-day week would total roughly $106,500 in per diems for all members. For the 50-member Senate, one week would cost $10,650 per day for the full chamber, adding up to roughly $53,250 for all members over five days.

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Mileage payments vary depending on where lawmakers live. Those who commute from outside Marion County additionally qualify for mileage reimbursements at 70 cents per mile.

For one week of session, the combined total for both chambers would be approximately $159,750, not including mileage.

A special session in Indiana in 2022 cost about $240,000, with both chambers meeting for two weeks.

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The Iowa Judicial Building. (Photo and seal courtesy of the Iowa Judicial Branch)

The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that governmental bodies can conduct closed-session job interviews without first attempting to determine whether an applicants claim of potential reputational damage has any merit.

The ruling vacates an Iowa Court of Appeals decision that stated governmental bodies are obligated to investigate, and not take at face value, claims of possible reputational damage resulting from an open interview.

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In 2021, former federal prosecutor Robert Teig sued the City of City Rapids over its refusal to disclose job applications filed by people seeking employment as city clerk and city attorney. As part of his case, Teig argued the council had violated Iowas Open Meetings Law in April 2021 when it interviewed, behind closed doors, Alissa Van Sloten for a job as city clerk.

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Van Sloten was then a longtime city employee who was serving as interim city clerk and had asked for a closed meeting on the grounds that closure was necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to her reputation.

After a two-day bench trial, the district court concluded that the mayor and council members had not violated the Iowa Open Meetings Law when they held a closed session to interview Van Sloten. The court noted that the fighting issue amongst the parties is whether a closed session was necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to Van Slotens reputation.

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In dismissing the case, the district court held that a governmental body need not be aware of specific, negative information before deciding to close an interview at the interviewees request.

The Iowa Court of Appeals subsequently reversed the district courts decision and said council members had, in fact, violated the law. The appeals court said it was troublesome that when the council was faced with a request to close a public meeting due to a claim of potential reputational damage, the members made no further inquiries to determine whether a closed session was actually necessary to prevent such damage and simply approved the request.

That approach  which is the same approach used by many public bodies throughout the state  allows councils, commissions and boards to close more meetings than the law contemplates, the court said.

An applicant would simply need to invoke the magic words, fear of needless and irreparable injury and could then have the governmental body close the entire interview without further inquiry as to why, the court stated.

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In the Cedar Rapids case, the appeals court pointed out, the council failed to ask any questions as to why Van Slotens request was necessary. Not one.

The mayor and council appealed that ruling, sending the matter to the Iowa Supreme Court.

In their decision Tuesday, the justices held that job applicants and governmental bodies cant be expected to know, in advance, whether an interview could wind up damaging the reputation of the applicant. Its enough that a request for a closed session be made by the applicant, the court ruled.

As the district court recognized, the Supreme Court stated, its simply unrealistic to know in advance what will come up in a job interview that might harm the interviewees reputation. Generally, the interviewee wont know what questions are going to be asked, and the interviewers wont know what answers will be given or what follow-up questions will be asked. Its also difficult for the interviewing entity to appreciate what might be harmful to the interviewees reputation, especially in this day and age of proliferating social media.

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The justices also noted that under the Iowa Court of Appeals interpretation of the law, the fact that the governmental body closed part of a job interview would amount to a finding that there was specific, damaging information that would justify continuing the interview outside the publics view. This in itself could harm the interviewees reputation.

In its ruling, the court noted that under Iowa law, a closed-session job interview requires the agreement of both the governmental body and the individual being evaluated. An individual who prefers to be interviewed in open session will always have that choice. Likewise, a governmental body that prefers public interviews of job candidates will always have that option.

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A Palestinian man who is alleged to have killed an Israeli security guard with a hammer last year was shot dead near Jenin in the West Bank after soldiers surrounded him, the Israeli military reported on Tuesday.

The military and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency said five of the dead man's suspected accomplices had earlier been detained during an overnight operation.

Israeli forces then surrounded a house in a village near Jenin in the north of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where the wanted man had hidden.

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He was killed in an exchange of fire, the military said. It named the dead man as Sultan al-Ghani and described him as a "terrorist."

A subsequent search found weapons in the building, including a makeshift "Carlo" submachine pistol and a US M16 assault rifle, along with explosives and ammunition.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah said the dead man was 22 years old.

According to the Israeli report, a security guard at an industrial park near an Israeli West Bank settlement was severely injured in an attack on August 18, 2024, in which his weapon was stolen before his assailant fled. The guard later died of his injuries.
ROME (AP)  Italy's parliament on Tuesday approved a law that introduces femicide into the countrys criminal law and punishes it with life in prison.

The vote coincided with the international day for the elimination of violence against women, a day designated by the U.N. General Assembly.

The law won bipartisan support from the center-right majority and the center-left opposition in the final vote in the Lower Chamber, passing with 237 votes in favor.

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The law, backed by the conservative government of Premier Giorgia Meloni, comes in response to a series of killings and other violence targeting women in Italy. It includes stronger measures against gender-based crimes including stalking and revenge porn.

High-profile cases, such as the 2023 murder of university student Giulia Cecchettin, have been key in widespread public outcry and debate about the causes of violence against women in Italys patriarchal culture.

We have doubled funding for anti-violence centers and shelters, promoted an emergency hotline and implemented innovative education and awareness-raising activities, Meloni said Tuesday. These are concrete steps forward, but we wont stop here. We must continue to do much more, every day.

While the center-left opposition supported the law in parliament, it stressed that the government approach only tackles the criminal aspect of the problem while leaving economic and cultural divides unaddressed.

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Italys statistics agency Istat recorded 106 femicides in 2024, 62 of them committed by partners or former partners.

The debate over introducing sexual and emotional education in schools as a way to prevent gender-based violence has become heated in Italy. A law proposed by the government would ban sexual and emotional education for elementary students and require explicit parental consent for any lessons in high school.

The ruling coalition has defended the measure as a way to protect children from ideological activism, while opposition parties and activists have described the bill as medieval.

Italy is one of only seven countries in Europe where sex and relationship education is not yet compulsory in schools, and we are calling for it to be compulsory in all school cycles, said the head of Italys Democratic Party, Elly Schlein. Repression is not enough without prevention, which can only start in schools.
Had you been in Tokyo last week, you would not have noticed any obvious fretting over a diplomatic spat. The ebb and flow of people across the zebra stripes of the famous Shibuya Crossing  rumoured to be the busiest pedestrian intersection in the world  was as tidal as ever. Restaurants were filled with diners along the Ginza Corridor  and autumn was still on fiery form in the grounds around the Imperial Palace.

But it was there all the same: a widening war of words with neighbouring China that earned mention in broadsheet headlines, on social media feeds and in TV news bulletins.

The flashpoint for this stand-off, as it often is in the region, is Taiwan  the self-governing island which China considers to be its own territory. But specifically, the row has been triggered by a statement made by the Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi, a hawkish politician whose general outlook might easily be summarised as Japan First.

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On November 7, she suggested that any Chinese attack on Taiwan should be viewed as a situation threatening Japans survival; a tacit suggestion that this scenario would precipitate an intervention by Japanese troops.

The response from Beijing  forever prickly about its own sphere of influence  has been furious. Amid repeated demands (so far ignored) for Takaichi to retract her comments, China has urged its students to think carefully about whether they should study in Japan. On November 17, Chinese distributors suspended screenings of two new Japanese films.

Prime minister Sanae Takaichi, whose comments on Taiwan being key to Japans survival triggered a sharp backlash from Beijing - Shutterstock

Most seismic, however, has been the instruction to Chinese tourists. On November 14, Beijing urged its travelling public not to visit Japan. Within 24 hours, three Chinese airlines had begun offering refunds on bookings to Japanese cities. A week later, the number of Chinese carriers taking the same stance had reached double figures.

What is fast becoming a crisis has the potential to be extremely expensive. Even as the planets fourth-largest economy, Japan will feel the financial pain that this falling-out is now costing tour operators, hotels and other travel-related businesses. Tourism is worth $237bn (181bn) a year to the Japanese economy, with total tourism consumption accounting for about six per cent of GDP. China is by far the largest demographic within that figure: around one in every five tourists in Japan is Chinese.

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Already, scare stories are emerging. On November 19, East Japan International Travel Service  a Tokyo-based tour operator that focuses on group itineraries for the Chinese market  reported that 80 per cent of its bookings for the rest of the year had evaporated. The Nomura Research Institute, one of Japans main financial analysis firms, predicts that if the boycott lasts 12 months, it will amount to a deficit of 2.2tn yen (10.7bn).

Others are more ambivalent about the cold-shouldering. Speaking to Telegraph Travel last week, Serge Roso, a Dutch-born tour guide who lives and works in the southerly city of Nagoya, says the likely economic impact of the crisis has been exaggerated.

Its not as big a problem as you think, he explains. Most of the Chinese tour groups which come to Japan are served by Chinese tour operators. The Chinese market largely keeps the work for itself. Yes, there are Japanese businesses that will be affected  the high-end fashion stores where Chinese tourists love to shop will probably see a dent. In Kyoto, anyway; Kyoto will be less busy. But in Nagoya, it wont make much difference.

His words are echoed by Junko Shinoda, a guide in the north-coast city of Kanazawa. The situation doesnt worry me, she says. Chinese tourists tend to spend their money in Chinese-owned restaurants. Of course, some hotels rely on Chinese tourists, and those people are worried. But in Kanazawa, most of the tourists are westerners anyway.

Chinese tour groups remain a major force in Japan, though guides say the impact of the current boycott varies widely between cities - Getty

A solution to Japans popularity problem?

The situation is unfortunate but will probably be of only minor relevance to British travellers, says James Mundy of Bristol-based tour specialist Inside Japan.

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Obviously, we hope that the relationship between the two countries does not deteriorate any further, he says, but in terms of visitors to Japan from the UK, we dont believe that this will have any significant impact. On the contrary, there have been rising issues with overtourism in specific Japanese places  such as Kyoto. So a temporary reduction in international visitor numbers may actually be beneficial from an experience perspective.

On this last point, the data is clear. Japan is in the grip of a popularity problem that has started to cause concern among its citizens. The growth in interest in the country over the past decade has been remarkable. In 2014, the country attracted 13.4 million international visitors. By last year, that figure had almost tripled, to 36.9 million  a new tourism record.

Yet this success is increasingly unsustainable. There have been local complaints about the pressure on the transport system  and about visitor behaviour. A nation of famously polite societal norms, the Japanese have become frustrated with the side-effects of mass tourism; graffiti, litter, the sight of tourists eating in the street (which is considered rude).

You dont have to look hard for signs of this annoyance. In July, the government set up an official body to investigate the issue of overtourism, with the then prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, acknowledging that disorderly conduct by some foreigners has created a situation in which the public feels uneasy and cheated.

The famous Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, still thronged with pedestrians even amid rising tensions with China - Moment RF

Takaichi tapped into this sentiment just after her election as Japans first female prime minister, on October 21. Responding to reports that a tourist had kicked one of the deer that live around the temples in Nara  animals widely deemed to be sacred  she declared that if visitors come from abroad, and they intentionally harm what Japanese people cherish, something has gone too far.

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In opening a gulf with China, the prime minister may have found a temporary solution to Japans overtourism worries.

Whether the country takes more formal steps down this path (the mayor of Kyoto, for example, has been mooting two-tier pricing on buses, with foreigners charged more) will perhaps become clearer when the spring cherry-blossom season brings Instagram gawpers in their droves  whether from China or further afield.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  A federal judge in Miami set a $60,000 bond Tuesday for U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who made her first appearance in court on charges of conspiring to steal $5 million in federal disaster funds meant to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

The Florida Democrat is facing 15 federal counts that accuse her of stealing funds that had been overpaid to her family's health care company, Trinity Healthcare Services, prosecutors alleged. The company had a contract to register people for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Cherfilus-McCormick stood with her attorneys as Judge Enjolique Lett read all 15 charges, the South Florida SunSentinel reported. She told the judge she is aware of the charges she faces.

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She said in a statement sent to the AP that she plans to fight for her constituents.

Today I made my initial appearance in a case that is both politically timed and politically motivated, Cherfilus-McCormick said in the statement. Let me be clear: I am innocent and I look forward to my day in court. This has been a fight not just for my name  it's a fight for my constituents, an attack on the progress we have been making and the movement we have started.

She said she will not be intimidated or silenced.

In addition to bail, the judge said Cherfilus-McCormick must surrender her personal passport, and she is restricted from traveling to and from Florida from anywhere other than Washington, D.C., Maryland and the Eastern District of Virginia.

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The congresswoman will be allowed to retain her congressional passport so she can do certain duties for her job.

In a federal indictment unsealed earlier this month, prosecutors claimed that within two months of receiving the funds in 2021, more than $100,000 had been spent to purchase a 3-carat yellow diamond ring for the congresswoman.

The health care company owned by Cherfilus-McCormick's family had received payments through a COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract, the indictment said. Her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, requested $50,000, but they mistakenly received $5 million and didn't return the difference.

Cherfilus-McCormick has denied the charges, through her attorney, David Oscar Markus.

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Prosecutors said the funds received by Trinity Healthcare were distributed to various accounts, including to friends and relatives who then donated to Cherfilus-McCormick's campaign for Congress.

Cherfilus-McCormick won a special election in January 2022 to represent Floridas 20th District, which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, after Rep. Alcee Hastings died in 2021.

The charges she faces include theft of government funds; making and receiving straw donor contributions; aiding and assisting a false and fraudulent statement on a tax return; and money laundering, as well as conspiracy charges associated with each of those counts.

According to a statement provided by the congresswoman's chief of staff, she doesn't plan to resign from office and maintains her innocence. She said she has cooperated with every lawful request and will continue to do so until the matter is resolved.

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____

Payne, who reported from Tallahassee, Florida, is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas voiced disagreement Monday with his colleagues' decision to reject a widow's request that the high court consider whether the federal government owes her for her husband's death.

Thomas said that if the justices had taken up the case, it would have been an opportunity to rein in a decades-old precedent that says servicemembers families cannot file wrongful death lawsuits against the government if the victim was killed while performing his or her job duties.

"We should have granted certiorari. Doing so would have provided clarity about [Feres v. United States] to lower courts that have long asked for it," Thomas wrote.

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Trump's Presidency Faces Crucial Tests As Supreme Court Begins Pivotal Term

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas appears before swearing in Pam Bondi as U.S. Attorney General in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 05, 2025, in Washington, DC.

The case centered on Air Force Staff Sergeant Cameron Beck, who was killed in 2021. Beck had been leaving a military base in Missouri on his motorcycle to meet his wife and then seven-year-old for lunch when a civilian government employee, distracted by her cell phone, struck Beck. He died on the scene, and the woman later admitted in a plea deal to causing the accident.

When Becks widow tried to sue the government for her husbands death, a federal court rejected the claim, as did the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Both cited the Feres case, finding that the United States was immunized from such lawsuits because Beck was in the military.

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United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor (L) and Associate Justice Clarence Thomas (R) pose for their official portrait at the East Conference Room of the Supreme Court building on Oct. 7, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

Thomas said Feres should be overturned and that, in any case, the lower courts took a far too expansive view of it in Beck's widow's lawsuit. Beck was not performing any military service and was completely off duty at the time, Thomas said. Normally, that would be an "open and shut" wrongful death case, he said.

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Scotus Allows Trump To Fire Biden-appointed Ftc Commissioner

"If the Court does not want to overrule its precedents in this area, it should at least be willing to enforce them," Thomas wrote.

Thomas said Beck "was not ordered on a military mission to go home for lunch with his family. So Mrs. Beck should have prevailed under Feres."

Four justices must support taking up a petition for the Supreme Court to do so. Justice Sonia Sotomayor said in a statement she supported rejecting the application, but she explained that she felt Congress needed to adjust the laws to override current precedents.

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"I write  to underscore that this important issue deserves further congressional attention, without which Feres will continue to produce deeply unfair results like the one in this case and the others discussed in Justice Thomass dissenting opinion," Sotomayor wrote.





Original article source: Justice Thomas rebukes SCOTUS for denying widows case, says it lets government dodge blame
The findings show a sharp rise in femicide, alarming enforcement gaps - particularly affecting Arab women - and repeated missed warning signs.

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, a new Knesset report revealed that more than 300 women have been murdered in Israel since 2015, while Israel Police, the Israel Prison Service (IPS), and the National Security Ministry failed to appear at a parliamentary hearing convened to address the crisis.

The findings, compiled by the Knesset Research and Information Center for the Committee for the Status of Women, show a sharp rise in femicide, alarming enforcement gaps, particularly affecting Arab women, and repeated missed warning signs. The absence of the states key enforcement bodies from the hearing set off intense criticism and underscored what lawmakers and advocacy groups say is a growing governmental abandonment of the issue.

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Per reports, the directive to authorities not to send representatives to the meeting came from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who later in the day said he skipped the committee session because he was simultaneously visiting the IPSs new Misgav Unit  a real-time monitoring force he established in 2024 to protect women at risk. He argued that the committee meeting would have been political theater, while his on-site visit with police and IPS representatives constituted real action to safeguard threatened women.

The report, prepared at the request of committee chair MK Meirav Cohen (Yesh Atid), paints a grim picture: 269 women were murdered in Israel between 2015 and 2024  an average of about 27 per year. The year 2024 was the deadliest of the decade, with 35 women murdered. Yet the first eight months of 2025 alone already match that toll, bringing the total number of women killed since 2015 to more than 300.

Arab women remain disproportionately affected. Fifty-three percent of women murdered between 2015 and 2025 were Arab, compared to 42% Jewish women, despite the population proportions. In every year since 2019, Arab women have constituted between 51% and 59% of all women murdered.

Israels deadliest year for women in decades.

The overall number of femicides in 2025 is now believed to exceed 40, making this one of Israels deadliest years for women in decades.

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Around 30% of all murders of women in the past decade remain unsolved, but the disparity between communities is stark: Nearly half of all murders of Arab women  46%  were not solved or did not result in indictments, compared to only 9% of murders of Jewish women.

Among solved cases, about half of the victims were killed by their partners, 30% by another family member, and 20% by someone known to them. For Jewish women, the partner-murder rate stands at 59%. For Arab women, family-member murders (excluding partners) account for 41%, while partner murders account for 34%, though the high unsolved rate means these figures represent only a partial picture.

The report also reveals repeated warning signs: More than a third of women murdered in 2024-2025 had previously filed a complaint about domestic violence, including 43% of Jewish victims and roughly a third of Arab victims. In murders committed by a partner, the rate of prior complaints rises to 41%; in murders committed by another family member, it reaches 56%.

Nine murders in 2025 were committed by suspects described as having severe mental-health challenges, mostly family members who were not partners.

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Cohen opened the session by calling the absences an affront to the Knesset and a betrayal of the women of Israel, announcing she would convene the committee inside national police headquarters to demand answers.

The empty reserved seats at the hearing were instead filled by survivors of domestic violence, bereaved families, and womens organizations, who described systemic neglect, ranging from delayed responses and unenforced restraining orders to critical data that they say the government has withheld from the public.

Cohen sharply criticized the governments handling of the crisis, saying the data should shake and upend the country. She pointed to frozen budgets, the halted funding for the Michal Sela Forum (a nonprofit dedicated to developing technology to prevent domestic violence), and the failure to advance long-promised reforms. Womens organizations noted that Israel still lacks dedicated legislation defining femicide as a distinct crime and has yet to ratify the Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women.

The message being sent to violent men is that the field has been abandoned, Cohen said. She announced that the committee would draft an emergency national plan and submit it to the government regardless of ministerial cooperation.
Kyrgyzstan said Tuesday it had arrested the Chinese CEO of a gold mining firm accused of causing "large-scale" environmental damage, amid growing public scrutiny over Beijing's influence in the Central Asian country.

China has poured hundreds of millions of dollars of investment into neighbouring Kyrgyzstan in recent years, financing huge infrastructure projects and expanding its mining activities in a bid to secure critical minerals.

China and Kyrgyzstan say the partnership has been beneficial to both sides, but some in the local population have complained the influx of Chinese workers and companies has driven up prices and pollution.

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The CEO of Kemin Resource Group, who was arrested last Thursday, managed a mine accused of damaging thousands of square metres of land and providing false information to authorities, Kyrgyzstan's security service said in a statement.

"The activities of the mine ... caused particularly large-scale damage," it said.

Local residents had complained that exploration work had contaminated the water supply, threatened tourism and risked hastening the melting of glaciers, Kyrgyz media reported earlier this year.

Beijing did not immediately comment.

The arrest comes less than two weeks after a brawl broke out between Chinese and Kyrgyz construction workers in the country's north, fuelling anti-Chinese sentiment on social media.

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Rich in natural resources, Central Asia's five republics have courted interest from major powers including China, the European Union and the United States since becoming independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.

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The Trump administrations ICE raids across southern California have had disastrous effects on the regions immigrants and swept up US citizens in the process, community leaders and residents said at a congressional hearing in Los Angeles on Monday.

Andrea Velez, an American arrested by US immigration officials over the summer, described how she was accosted by masked agents while on her way to work. She said she was charged with assaulting an officer and held for two days in a federal detention center, where detainees had to pay for a cup in order to have water. The charges against her were ultimately dismissed due to what her attorney described as a lack of evidence.

Democrats organized the hours-long congressional oversight hearing in Los Angeles in order to hear testimony about the impacts of Donald Trumps sweeping deportation agenda, and look at alleged civil rights abuses by federal agents and the unlawful detention of US citizens.

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Related: Charlotte activists met the immigration crackdown with bless your heart resistance

Every person in our country has a right to due process, regardless of immigration status. Its critical that the Oversight Committee document and hold accountable those that are defying the constitution, violating civil rights, and terrorizing families and communities, Robert Garcia, a Democratic California congressman, said in a statement.

The White House said earlier this month that the federal government had arrested more than 150,000 undocumented immigrants and deported nearly 140,000 people since Trump took office.

His administration has made southern California a focal point for its aggressive mass deportation campaign. Federal agents have descended on car washes and Home Depot stores, and near schools and workplaces, leaving southern California communities in fear and parks and churches empty. The federal government has been accused of blatant racial profiling and civil rights violations.

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Right now we are living an American nightmare, said Jasmine Crockett, a Democratic representative from Texas.

The situation has left lasting effects on southern California communities and residents affected by the raids.

Velez said in her testimony: I still live with the trauma everyday.

Karen Bass, LAs mayor, described the raids as an attack from our own federal government and an affront to cities and people across the US.

We will hold every federal agency accountable, and we will relentlessly defend the rights of every resident in Los Angeles  and across this nation, Bass said. Reports that Angelenos, including US citizens, were forcibly held, physically attacked, and deprived of their freedom without cause are not only outrageous  they are intolerable.

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Garcia on Monday announced the creation of a new oversight dashboard documenting verified incidents of possible misconduct and abuse during federal immigration enforcement operations.

In a statement, Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, accused Bass and Garcia of peddling more lies about DHS law enforcement officers.

These smears are contributing to our officers facing more than 1150% increase in assaults against them, including being shot at, rocks and molotov cocktails thrown at them, and cars being used as weapons, McLaughlin said, adding that Democrats should thank them for removing criminals from the city.
A Maine man is facing multiple charges, including DUI, after a high-speed pursuit that ended early Sunday morning in Epping.

According to authorities, around 1:36 a.m. on Sunday, Troopers received a 911 call from a concerned driver reporting an erratic vehicle traveling south on I-95 in Portsmouth.

A short time later, a trooper located a 2014 Ford Fusion on I-95 southbound in North Hampton. When the driver failed to stop, a pursuit was started.

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The vehicle exited at Exit 2 and continued west on Route 101, speeding, driving erratically, and repeatedly failing to maintain its lane.

The trooper deployed a tire deflation device, which the Ford struck. Despite the deflated tires, the driver continued toward Exit 7, where he failed to navigate a turn at the bottom of the off-ramp, drove over a traffic island, and hit a traffic sign, disabling the vehicle.

The driver, identified as Thomas O. M. Leonard, 20, of Portland, Maine fled on foot into a nearby business parking lot. Another trooper deployed his K-9 partner, Creed, who successfully apprehended Leonard.

Police said Leonard showed signs of impairment and that his drivers license had been revoked.

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The Ford Fusion was also confirmed stolen, reported earlier to the Saco, Maine, Police Department.

Leonard was charged with felony counts of reckless conduct and receiving stolen property and two misdemeanor counts of aggravated driving under the influence of liquor, driving under the influence of liquor  second offense, disobeying an officer, resisting arrest or detention, driving after revocation, conduct after an accident, and criminal mischief, along with violation level offenses of transportation of alcohol by a minor and unlawful possession of alcohol.

Leonard was held in preventive detention by a bail commissioner and was transported to the Rockingham County Jail, where he was held pending court appearance in the Brentwood District Court.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Days after a north suburban condo building became a deadly crime scene, residents still feel unsettled.

"Just really shocked. I mean, nobody could have ever imagined that happening," said resident Susanne Kilsdonk.

Kilsdonk is among many left with questions after police found two people dead in a utility room at the Dana Point Condominiums on Friday afternoon. That building is located near Central and Busse Roads in Arlington Heights.

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"I would never expect it," said resident Zain Saddle. "This is the last place where I'd think something like this would happen, you know?"

Authorities say Steven Weigensberg, of Naperville, who residents say was a property manager, was shot multiple times in the upper body. His death was ruled a homicide.

His colleague, Juan Medina, of Palatine, was found dead from what the medical examiner says was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police have determined Medina shot Weigensberg before turning the gun on himself.

"Like why did it happen, you know? Everybody's just trying to figure out why somebody would go to such lengths to do something like this, you know?" Saddle said.

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Olesia Murzych also lives in the building.

"I feel really, really sorry for both families, actually, because I don't think they will ever know the details of what happened and why that happened," Murzych said.

The 53-year-old Weigensberg was a married father of two school-age children.

His family, in a statement, wrote, "We strongly condemn the violence that has caused such irreplaceable loss and call upon our community to join in rejecting gun-violence in all its forms."

As for Medina, multiple residents told ABC7 that the 53-year-old worked at the building for decades and was friendly and well-liked.

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"I knew Juan," Kilsdonk said. "And he never had any signs of, I mean, he was just so nice, and everybody here loved him."

Messages left for Medina's family as well as building management were not immediately returned.

If you are experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises please call or text the new three digit code at 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org or dial the current toll free number 800-273-8255 [TALK].
The move to bring a Buc-ee's travel center to Tallahassee is moving forward now that the company has officially purchased property tagged for the development.

The Texas-based convenience store chain completed a land transaction for more than 30 acres near Capital Circle Northwest and Interstate 10, the same property that was previously slated to be an outlet mall that never panned out.

Closed! I am excited to share that Buc-ees has purchased 30+ acres at our Park Place development site at I-10 & Capital Circle NW in Tallahassee, said Heather Richmond, vice president of Meyer Development, in a LinkedIn post.

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Richmond, representing the seller, said plans are now underway to market over 20 acres of commercial land adjacent to the Buc-ees site and an additional to 60 acres zoned for residential.

In an email to the Tallahassee Democrat, Richmond wrote that alongside Buc-ee's Park Place has "land zoned for single-family residential, multi-family and townhouses/villas. We believe those land parcels will be sold to others. We have other commercial-zoned land for retail, food (quick-serve and/or sit-down), bank or credit union, auto service/repair or a number of other uses that are needed in that area."

Buc-cees off I-10 in Tallahassee will be very popular.



It will print money. https://t.co/WRlbe5FTjZ  Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) November 25, 2025

Earlier this year, the Tallahassee Democrat reported the chain's preliminary plans to build a massive 75,000 square-foot store, equipped with 120 pumps, 795 parking spots and another two dozen parking spaces for electric vehicles.

The development would be part of the Park Place Planned Unit Development (PUD) that spans approximately 73 acres, said Leon County Administrator Vince Long. He said the existing PUD signaled there would be some level of development at the site and it was just a matter of time and specifics.

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"I think a lot of people had anticipation about understanding that at that particular intersection that there would be a commercial anchor there," Long told the Democrat. "And, certainly given its location, it's certainly a very good commercial anchor."

Long said the county has worked with the company's team in answering questions and offering guidance during the pre-submittal stage in the permit process. No official site plan has been submitted, but Long anticipates one will be filed in the near future following the land deal.

Early this year, the company attempted a temperature check of the county's sign variance policy to determine if its customary towering sign seen from the interstate would be allowed.

Buc-ee's will need to submit a sign master plan as part of its site plan application, Long said.

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"Our experience has been very similar to the Amazon pre-submittal process because, again, they have highly competent professionals that are working on their their team that understand the requirements and are learning more about specifics site conditions," Long said. "So, given all that, we can usually tell and infer from the pre-submittal process that the actual site application process tends to go very smoothly."

While this proposed development doesn't rank among the largest commercial developments in the county's history, its location and economic development potential has local leaders singing its praises.

Buc-ee's empire expands: A new Buc-ee's is coming to Florida. Here's what to expect

The mega gas station project is slated to generate nearly 200 jobs with salaries ranging from $16 to $32 per hour; six salaries estimated over $100,000.

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In an email to constituents last week, Rick Minor, who represents District 3 where the Buc-ee's will rise, notes the project "is still in the early stages but proceeding without any major issues."

"Next step? Buc-ee's will submit detailed development plans for review," he wrote. "At that point, the County will schedule public hearings, giving the public an opportunity to provide input."

Leon County Commission Chairman Christian Caban said the project represents "a tremendous opportunity for our residents and our local economy."

"Beyond the direct employment, Buc-ees consistently boosts local businesses, increases tourism and spending, and contributes significantly to state and local tax revenue," Caban said, in a text to the Democrat. "They have a strong reputation for being good neighbors by supporting local charities, and we are grateful theyve chosen to invest in Leon County.

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Caban, who's been in close talks with the company's representatives, said Buc-ee's is planning to break ground in early 2026 with an anticipated opening in 2027.

"We couldnt be more excited to see this project moving forward," he said, adding the project was "an incredible investment and a major win for our community."

(This story was updated with new information.)

Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Buc-ee's buys land in Tallahassee for mega travel center
Chicago tax attorney Adam Beckerink pleaded guilty to another contempt of court charge in Michigan Monday.

The I-Team first reported on that charge last month after we obtained a police report about an incident this summer, when Beckerink was intoxicated at a court ordered drug test. For now, Beckerink will remain in a Berrien County, Michigan jail to continue serving his sentence for domestic violence charges. He faces extradition to Cook County on a Chicago police warrant for the murder of his 36-year-old wife, Caitlin Tracey.

Beckerink walked into court Monday morning after serving more than a month of his sentence for domestic violence and contempt of court charges. He pleaded no contest to abusing his late wife in Michigan.

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Instead of a suit and styled hair, he was dressed in an olive-green jail jumpsuit for his hearing, along with a new haircut and glasses.

Berrien County Judge Gary Bruce asked Beckerink if he understood the charge. He answered, "Yes."

Beckerink pleaded guilty to a contempt of court charge the I-Team first reported on last month after an incident at a Concentra Urgent Care clinic in Chicago's West Town neighborhood.

SEE ALSO | Report details behavior during drug test by man accused of murdering wife at his South Loop condo

CPD officers were called to the clinic on West Chicago Avenue after Beckerink was there for court ordered drug testing and showed clear signs of intoxication.

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Judge Bruce asked him if he violated the conditions of his bond when he was intoxicated at the urgent care in Chicago. Beckerink answered, "Yes."

Also discussed at the hearing, Beckerink's extradition to Cook County on a Chicago police warrant for the murder of Tracey. She was found dead in October of last year at the bottom of the stairwell in his high-rise condo in the South Loop with her foot severed and her body pulverized.

Beckerink's Chicago attorneys were in Michigan to discuss extradition to Illinois. He is still considering his options and has not waived extradition but could at any time.

The court is still waiting for paperwork from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who is legally required to sign a warrant and send it to Michigan's governor to extradite Beckerink. The state is still waiting for paperwork from Cook County. If he waives extradition, the signed warrant from Pritzker is not necessary.

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The I-Team reached out to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office about whether they are working to coordinate that governor's warrant. They said they had no comment.

You can contact the Illinois domestic violence hotline at 1-877-863-6338 click here for more information.
Cases of mosquito-borne illnesses are appearing in new and unexpected places, and one Alabama man's frightening experience is putting a human face on a growing public health concern.

While West Nile virus is not uncommon in the U.S., severe cases are rare, making the story of Gus Cleary, who suddenly collapsed after routine yard work and later tested positive for the virus, both eye-opening and deeply personal, reported WIAT.

His ordeal comes as warmer conditions create longer mosquito seasons and expand the areas where these insects can thrive, increasing the chances of people encountering diseases they may never have considered a risk.

What's happening?

Cleary spent six weeks in two rehabilitation facilities after a mosquito bite left him unable to walk. On Sept. 5, his legs gave out as he worked outside, prompting his daughter and ex-wife to rush him to urgent care and then the emergency room.

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"I couldn't move my legs," he told WIAT, the same alarming sentence that now serves as a warning for others who may underestimate the danger posed by a single bite.

Doctors diagnosed him with West Nile virus, one of only three reported cases in Jefferson County this year and 21 statewide, according to the county department of health.

While roughly 80% of people infected never feel sick, Cleary fell into the small fraction who develop severe neurological symptoms. After nearly two weeks in the hospital and intensive physical therapy to relearn basic tasks like standing and transferring from a wheelchair, he is now back home and working toward regaining strength.

Why is this event concerning?

Cleary's experience highlights how changing environmental conditions can translate into direct community impacts.

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As the planet warms, mosquitoes have more opportunities to breed and survive, creating ideal conditions for the spread of vector-borne illnesses. Longer warm seasons mean more bites and more chances for someone to experience what Cleary did.

The issue isn't abstract; it shows up in neighborhoods, on porches, and in yards like his. For individuals and communities, that means a higher risk of encountering diseases that can cause sudden, life-altering health problems.

What's being done about it?

Public health officials recommend simple but effective prevention: removing standing water, wearing long sleeves and pants outdoors, and using mosquito repellent. These actions reduce mosquito populations and limit exposure, helping protect entire neighborhoods, especially as conditions become more favorable for mosquitoes.

Cleary hopes his story encourages others to take precautions.

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By following public health guidance and staying aware, communities can move toward a healthier, safer future, even as environmental changes shift the landscape of disease risk.



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NEED TO KNOW

A 45-year-old man is dead after he got stuck inside a donation box in Houston and called for help on Monday, Nov. 24

Emergency responders arrived within three minutes but they were unable to save him

Officials believe the man was homeless and trying to retrieve clothes when he became trapped

A 45-year-old man is dead after he became trapped inside a donation box in Houston this week and couldnt breathe, officials said.

On the morning of Monday, Nov. 24, officials received a distress call of a man who was stuck inside a donation box, the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office said in a news alert.

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The trapped man placed the call to 911 around 1:36 a.m. local time and told the operator that he couldn't get enough air, CBS affiliate KHOU reported.

"The individual got in the box and ended up turning himself in an awkward position to where it affected his breathing, Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman told the station. Even on the 911 call, he's heard saying, 'I can't breathe, I'm having problems breathing.' 

Within three minutes, first responders arrived, Assistant Deputy Chief Danny Garza tells PEOPLE.

Officials believe that the 45-year-old man, whose name has not yet been released, was homeless and was trying to get some clothes from the structure, which was equipped with an anti-theft feature.

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Garza says that the man went in headfirst, but the box started to close on top of him.

"I think just a combination of the box kind of closing up top around him and then just likely him starting to panic ultimately caused him to pass away," Garza tells PEOPLE.

After emergency responders found the man in distress, they immediately began rescue efforts but he was declared dead at the scene.

"There's no sign of foul play," says Garza, describing the incident as "a tragic incident."

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, which includes the medical examiner, did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

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Arms of Hope, the organization in charge of the donation box, spoke out after the death.

Harris County Constable Precinct 4 Emergency responders at the scene in Houston on Nov. 24. Emergency responders at the scene in Houston on Nov. 24.

"We are aware of the tragic incident involving a deceased individual discovered in a donation collection box, the Christian donation center said in a statement to KHOU. Our hearts and prayers are with the individual and their loved ones during this difficult time. Because this is an active investigation, we are not able to share further details at this time.

This isnt the first time a person has become trapped in a box meant for charitable donations.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Harris County Constable Precinct 4 Police at the scene of the incident on Nov.24. Police at the scene of the incident on Nov.24.

In June, a man died after he became stuck while attempting to break into a donation box in Houston and in April 2022, a woman couldnt get out after she tried to grab garments for her child, Fox affiliate KRIV reported.

"These boxes are not to be accessed, Herman, the constable, told KHOU this week. They're clearly designed and built that way. Stay out of these boxes.



Read the original article on People
Just over a year after two men attacked Israeli Defense Forces Reserve Staff Sgt. Max Long and his friend, Michael Kaminsky, in broad daylight on the DePaul University campus, one of the men charged pleaded guilty to a charge in the case.

Adam Erkan was facing felony hate crime charges, and was being held in custody.

He pleaded guilty to battery/causing bodily harm Tuesday, and was sentenced to probation for two years, along with 100 hours of community service.

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The other attacker remains at large.

Both Jewish students were recently calling for action from Chicago police to find the second suspect, speaking with the ABC7 Chicago I-Team.

That brazen daylight attack on the campus of DePaul, where a pair of masked men assaulted IDF soldier Long and Kaminsky knocked Long to the ground, giving him a concussion, and Kaminsky's arm required surgery.

The I-Team was out on campus earlier this month, where there is no longer any visible private security presence.

In video from a year ago, you see Long and Kaminsky approached by two masked men and beaten before the men ran off.

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READ MORE | 2nd suspect in attack against 2 Jewish DePaul students still at large; suspect appears in court for hate crime charges

DePaul University is asking for a judge to dismiss a legal case brought by Long and Kaminsky.

Long told the I-Team he is taking a leave of absence from his studies at DePaul because he says he's faced continued threats on campus and in open court while waiting to hear an update in Erkan's case.

"While waiting for them to call his docket, I get threatened by a friend of his, who, you know, telling me, I'm going to get what's coming," Long said. "It makes it impossible for me to feel comfortable on campus. What's stopping that person from doing the same thing again?"

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"If we're not talking about it and we were victims of it, then who's going to be talking about it for us? And I think it really starts with us," said Kaminsky, who is set to graduate next year.

Chicago police recently said there were no updates, and the investigation is ongoing.

Gerard Filitti, senior counsel at The Lawfare Project, said in a statement:

"One attacker has now admitted guilt for brutally assaulting two Jewish students at DePaul University. That is a step toward justice, but it is nowhere near enough. The second attacker remains at large, and Max and Michael continue to experience ongoing threats. The Chicago Police Department knows the identity of the second attacker, and we demand - and fully expect - his swift arrest and prosecution in order to ensure justice for these students and for the Jewish community harmed by this antisemitic hate crime. Accountability begins with acknowledging the truth, and today's guilty plea confirms the details of this bias attack."
Days after announcing shell leave the House of Representatives at the start of the new year, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she expects the Democratic party to take control of Congress in 2026.

Now that House members are switching gears into campaign mode and will be fighting for their lives, our legislative majority has been mostly wasted, Greene posted on social media Monday. Our best shot was the first 6-9 months. And when Republicans likely lose the midterms it will become total and complete political war and gridlock once again.

The former Trump diehard said Friday she hasnt fit in to the Washington D.C. culture since joining Congress in 2020  and doesnt want to participate in a bitter party primary to keep her seat, which might have been necessary since her relationship with President Trump soured in recent weeks.

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Among her issues with the president is his handling of the investigation of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Trumps reference to her as a traitor and a lunatic.

On Monday, Greene said the wicked snow globe of Washington D.C. is more insidious than outsiders realize and complained her colleagues were more interested in party loyalty than passing legislation that provides jobs and strengthens the economy.

What is the convincing message for 2026 and likely 2028? Greene asked. It will be the American people asking candidates, what tangible thing have you done for me and how did it or will it make my life better?'

The Republican Party has enjoyed control of the House and the Senate since Trump returned to the Oval Office in January. Both parties have gone to great lengths, including redistricting state electorates, to gain an advantage in next years midterm election. A GOP loss in either branch of Congress could complicate matters for President Trump as he tries to advance his political agenda before leaving office after the 2028 presidential election.

_____
Marjorie Taylor Greene said she wont make any endorsement in the special election race to replace her in Congress  avoiding a potential clash between her preferred candidate and a candidate aligned with President Donald Trump.

Greene said in a social media post Monday that she will remain neutral in the special election in Georgias 14th Congressional District after she steps away from Congress in January.

Looking ahead towards the Special Election for my Congressional seat, I will not be endorsing anyone out of respect to my district. I truly support the wonderful people of Georgia 14 and want them to pick their Representative, she wrote on X. So anyone claiming they have my endorsement would not be telling the truth.

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Her neutrality paves the way for Trumps allies to elevate a candidate of their choosing in a heavily-Republican district that Greene won in 2024 by 28 points.

In announcing her sudden decision to leave Congress, Greene, who has become estranged from the president, said she was partly inspired to step down to avoid a hateful and hurtful primary against a Trump-backed candidate.

Trump, following her announcement, said Greene would have no chance of winning in a primary against a candidate with his endorsement.

The special election wont be scheduled until Greene leaves her post. Georgia law stipulates the election must occur at least 30 days after its been ordered. A Georgia Republican official told Atlanta News First the special election will likely occur in March.
Mark Kelly said it was non-controversial for him and other congressional Democrats to implore military personnel to disobey illegal orders from the Trump administration  hitting back at accusations of serious allegations of misconduct leveled against him by the Pentagon.

I said something that was pretty simple and non-controversial  and that was that members of the military should follow the law, the Arizona Democratic senator, a former US navy officer and astronaut who flew on four separate space shuttle missions between 2001 and 2011, told MS Now on Monday night.

Kelly then alluded to how the president went on social media to say Kelly and the others had engaged in seditious behavior, punishable by death  while also republishing another users post containing the phrase hang them.

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And in response to that, Donald Trump said I should be executed, I should be hanged, I should be prosecuted, Kelly said to political talkshow host Rachel Maddow.

He added: If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it wont work. Ive given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the constitution.

Related: Pentagon investigating US senator over call for troops to refuse illegal orders

Kellys remarks came after the Pentagon announced it was launching an investigation into the senator after Trump protested that Kelly and the other five Democratic lawmakers should be in jail right now for releasing a video advising service members that threats to our constitution are coming from right here at home. The video also said military members can refuse illegal orders.

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On Tuesday, Fox News reported that the FBI had contacted US Capitol police in Washington DC to schedule interviews with the six Democrats in question.

The Pentagon warned that it could recall Kelly to active duty to be court-martialed and cited a federal law that bans military retirees against interfering with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces.

In a statement of his own, the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, argued that the video at the center of the controversy was despicable, reckless, and false.

Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their commanders undermines every aspect of good order and discipline, Hegseth said.

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Trump weighed in with his own point of view, calling the senators statement seditious behaviour at the highest level and for an example to be set. Their words cannot be allowed to stand  We wont have a Country anymore!!! punishable by DEATH!

Active military members in the US  whose oath is to the constitution rather than the president  can face execution for the crime of sedition. Civilians, meanwhile, can be fined and imprisoned for up to 20 years if found to have engaged in seditious conspiracy.

Meanwhile, the US Manual for Courts-Martial states that military requirements to obey orders do not apply to a patently illegal order, such as one that directs the commission of a crime  while also prohibiting contemptuous speech.

The dispute between the Trump administration and Kelly  whose wife, Gabrielle Giffords, narrowly survived an attempted assassination in 2011 while she was meeting her congressional constituents  comes amid claims from Democrats that the Pentagon has issued illegal orders. Democrats allege that the purported illegal orders include sending military personnel to seal the US-Mexico border and in carrying out deadly strikes on so-called fast boats in the Pacific and the Caribbean that the administration claims were carrying illegal narcotics.

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Elizabeth Beaumont of Middle Tennessee State Universitys Free Speech Center told the Associated Press that US military regulations have been used to restrict political expression as well as other activities.

The dispute also hits a nerve on the use of sedition after Trump supporters were accused of precisely that by carrying out a deadly attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021  when the first of his two non-consecutive presidential terms in ended in defeat to Joe Biden.

Some of the mob members even called for the hanging of Mike Pence, Trumps vice-president at the time, who oversaw a congressional session certifying Bidens victory in the 2020 election.

Trump then granted presidential clemency to more than 1,500 Capitol attackers shortly after his second term began in January.

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In his remarks on Monday to MS Now about Trump and the video, Kelly said sending a mob to round me and the other folks up  says a lot more about him than it says about me. He doesnt want accountability.

Retired air force officer and Nebraska Republican congressman Don Bacon offered some measure of calm to the political mud-slinging, calling the Democrats video unnecessary and foolish but also drawing attention to the Pentagons response with an insult over its formal Department of Defense name.

Amateur hour once again at the Department of Dense, Bacon wrote on X.

Bacon added that Kelly and his fellow Democrats in the video said dont follow illegal orders  that is the law by the way.

Good luck prosecuting someone who is quoting the law, Bacon continued. The administration should have just pointed out how dumb it was. The threats looked dumber.
A Mexican gray wolf, Canis lupus baileyi. In New Mexico, Mexican gray wolves are required to stay within a designated area, the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area. (Robin Silver/Center for Biological Diversity)

The wandering male Mexican gray wolf Taylor was spotted west of Albuquerque this week, the third time this particular wolf has traveled outside of the protected zone and north of Interstate 40 since July.

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit conservation organization, Taylor was living on Mount Taylor in the Cibola National Forest before the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish found and relocated him to a protected zone in the Gila National Forest in May. He returned north in mid-July, then was spotted again on Nov. 7 and Nov. 22. The department relocated him to the protected zone after each of his previous trips north of Interstate 40.

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Darren Vaughan, spokesperson for the Department of Game and Fish, told Source New Mexico in a written statement that the department will continue to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding [Taylors] movements. It is unclear at this time whether Taylor will be relocated to the Gila National Forest once again.

Due to federal endangered species regulations, Mexican gray wolves are required to stay within the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area, which in New Mexico, encompasses most of the state below I-40.

Wolves like Taylor cant read maps, even those with lines drawn by politicians, Michael Robinson, senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. Government officials disregarded science when they drew this arbitrary boundary. Wildlife agencies need to let Taylor roam free. Ill be celebrating if he finds a female northern wolf to raise pups with who will boost the genetic diversity of Mexican wolves.

Wildlife advocates have previously criticized the state wildlife department for removing Mexican gray wolves like Taylor from areas they are naturally drawn to. According to a joint news release from conservation and wildlife organizations, Taylor is likely searching for a mate. If he were to reproduce with a northern gray wolf from the southern Colorado area, it would help the species genetic diversity, advocates state.

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The joint release also notes that scientists have suggested that allowing Mexican wolves to expand into northern New Mexico, southern Colorado and the Grand Canyon region would assist in the recovery of the endangered species.

Instead of spending the time and money to relocate this amazing lobo again, wildlife officials should take a step back and let him roam  maybe learn from where he wanders, Chris Smith, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians, said in a statement. Mexican wolves belong in the northern part of our state. Biologists and the wolves themselves seem to agree on that.

Taylor is one of five Mexican wolves to cross the I-40 boundary in recent years.
A Michigan veterinarian was sentenced to 10 days in jail Monday for refusing to return a dog to a homeless man after finding the ailing pit bull mix tied to a truck.

Amanda Hergenreder's lawyer asked for 120 hours of community service for the misdemeanor larceny conviction. But Grand Rapids Judge Angela Ross said jail was more appropriate for her, plus $1,000 in restitution.

A year ago, Hergenreder was in Grand Rapids for a professional conference when she saw the 16-year-old dog tied to a truck near a coffee shop. She said she took him to her clinic, two hours away, cleared up a severe urinary tract infection and removed a rotten tooth.

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Prosecutors charged Hergenreder after she refused to bring the dog back to Chris Hamilton, a Grand Rapids man who lacked a permanent home at the time. She cited her ethical duties as a veterinarian and noted that the dog wasnt licensed. A jury, however, convicted her at a two-day trial.

Hergenreder told the judge that she saw a "dog in distress. But she also acknowledged that she failed to see the whole picture.

I failed to honor the bond between Vinnie and Mr. Hamilton. I failed to recognize the heartbreak that would follow, the Millington, Michigan, veterinarian said before being sentenced. I failed to stop, think, and ask questions.

Vinnie  or Biggby, as Hergenreder called him  was euthanized in July because of health problems in old age.

We're disappointed in Dr. Hergenreder being sentenced to jail, but we take solace in the fact that Biggby/Vinnie spent his last few months in a warm, safe, loving, caring environment, defense attorney Miles Greengard said.
The start of Thanksgiving week might be the last of mild temperatures before winter hits Milwaukee.

Kevin Wagner, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan, said Tuesday, Nov. 25 is likely to be the last "nice" day in terms of temperatures, with a high around 50 degrees.

But that doesn't mean the sun is out. With the mild temps, southeastern Wisconsin is experiencing some light, misty rain and foggy conditions.

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More rain is likely to come to Milwaukee the night of Nov. 25 into the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 26, Wagner said. As temperatures drop overnight, the rain could turn to a wintry mix or light snow, he said.

Temperatures in southeastern Wisconsin are expected to drop after Nov. 25, bringing high winds and possible snow.

Accompanying the drop in temperatures will be high winds Nov. 26. The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory that will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 26 for Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties, with expected westerly winds of 20 to 30 mph, and gusts reaching 45 or even 50 mph.

By Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, the temperature is expected to drop further, with highs right around freezing or just below, Wagner said.

The holiday weekend may see snow, but it's still early to predict exactly where that may fall, he said.

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"There definitely is a potential for the holiday weekend to see some additional accumulations of snow," Wagner said.

He recommends anyone traveling for Thanksgiving weekend to keep an eye on the forecast and be aware that weather is subject to change.

But it's safe to say it's time to break out the winter coats and gloves.

"Winter's trying to settle in," Wagner said.

Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee weather to get colder; Thanksgiving forecast chilly
In video footage, it almost looks like an earthquake. The ancient Torre dei Conti, which has occupied a street corner of central Rome since medieval times, is suddenly enveloped in billowing clouds as falling bricks spew from a hole in its side. As more of its internal structure collapses, debris and dust shoot out from windows and openings, raining down on the street below.

There was a loud explosion and then everything started falling  cement, rocks, people, a waitress who was working nearby on the morning of November 3 told CNN. Everyone started running away through the dust. One worker involved in renovation work on the tower died and another was seriously injured in the incident, prompting a criminal investigation for negligence.

Two weeks after the partial collapse of the tower, a layer of ancient dust still coats the outdoor umbrellas of the Angelino ai Fori Osteria, a bustling restaurant in the heart of what was once Imperial Rome, overlooked by the Torre dei Conti.

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Something else lingers here: nagging concern about what caused the damage in a city struggling to bring its infrastructure up to modern standards while preserving the ancient treasures that make it one of the worlds top tourist destinations.

While the Torre dei Conti has never been high on must-see lists, it was historically significant enough to merit an expensive renovation at the time of the collapse. Built between the 9th and 13th centuries and enjoying a checkered life of neglect and reconstruction, the towers irregular walls tell their own history of life in the Italian capital.

Many tourists encounter it on their way to see the nearby Colosseum, Roman Forum and the other treasures of the Capitoline hill, one of the worlds most spectacular open-air museums. More than 4.5 million people visit this area each year, according to the Rome Tourism Board.

What caused the collapse?

The November 3 incident caused the death of one worker involved in the renovation project. - Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images

Potential causes for the towers collapse currently being investigated include human error in assembly of the renovation scaffolding or vibrations from deep drilling for the new Metro C subway line, which can regularly be felt and heard throughout the area.

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Either scenario is significant for those worried about Romes future amid intensifying debate about how  or whether  a 2,777-year-old city can coexist with the needs of a modern European capital.

That no passersby were injured by flying debris during the Torre dei Contis collapse is a miracle and a warning, says archaeologist Tom Rankin, director of the Borromini Institute, a Rome-based educational establishment that focuses on sustainability.

Its sad that we always seem to have these conversations after a tragedy has taken place, Rankin told CNN. I refer to Rome as constantly contemporary, it is always evolving and its history has been a continuous stream of adaptations which is what makes it so fascinating.

He believes that more transparency about many conservation and renovation projects involving ancient structures  such as the 7-million-euro (about $8 million) project to restore the Torre dei Conti  could play a role in avoiding tragedies like the partial collapse.

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When I heard about the collapse of the medieval Torre dei Conti I immediately went online to find out what project was being carried out but I came up empty-handed. I find it absurd that, all of the data we have today, we dont automatically share documentation of projects of public interest, he says.

When we talk about the confluence of modernity with the past, its not just about the physical interventions but about access to information. He believes that if people knew more about what was happening, they could make valid observations. In a sense, crowdsourcing quality control is not a bad thing, he says.

The city of Rome does publish some information about works in progress on its main website. An overview of the work being done in and around Torre dei Conti published in March 2025 displays maps and outlines several discoveries, including the skeletal remains of a man dating back to the 16th century dug up last year. It doesnt provide specific details about what work was being done inside the tower when it fell.

Unique in the whole world

The Torre dei Conti pictured before the partial collapse. - Photo Beto/iStock Unreleased/Getty Images

Structural surveys and load tests carried out on the Torre dei Conti in June cleared it for work to proceed, officials said after the November 3 incident. That preparation included delicate asbestos removal. No excavation projects tied to the metro were going on under the tower, the city government added.

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This is an area that has been stratified over millennia, Nicoletta Bernacchio, a city historian, is quoted as saying on the website. With the end of the ancient era, the entire Imperial Forum complex underwent multiple transformations.

Bernacchio says reports about the towers construction first appeared in the 13th century, crediting it to Pope Innocent III, of the Counts of Segni. A very high tower, probably the tallest in Rome, she adds, quoting Renaissance scholar Francesco Petrarch, who called it: Toto orbe unica, unique in the whole world.

Art historian and critic Ludovico Pratesi questions whether restoration has overtaken conservation in Italy  so that old monuments are now rebuilt instead of just being preserved in their existing state  and whether the country needs a new strategy to preserve its increasingly fragile historic structures.

He called for the creation of multigenerational bodies of experts and professionals, including archaeologists, art historians, urban planners, contemporary art curators, artists, and writers, to steer the conversation.

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These think tanks will respond to the call of history and develop contemporary enhancement strategies with concrete and operational projects, he wrote in culture publication Artribune after the tower collapse.

Without intervention, he fears that cities like Rome will keep restoring monuments without asking whether they should. This, he says, is problematic at a time when overtourism is sounding alarm bells in a city where the lack of a diverse cultural offering risks compromising the Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Vatican Museums.

City of Rome authorities, working with the Culture Ministry and the Superintendency of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, last week announced a one-million euro ($1.2 million) plan to secure Torre dei Conti and its surrounding area, to be coordinated by firefighters.

In the meantime, modern life in this part of ancient Rome is largely back to normal. Nearby residential buildings, evacuated when the tower fell, have fresh laundry hanging from the windows again and nearby restaurants are open, though the area in front of the tower is now blocked by fences.

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Down the street, work continues on the new metro system, a steady hum of progress echoing through a city that is still trying to find the balance between safeguarding its past and building its future.

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U.S. soldiers run for cover following their arrival at a military command post loyal to General Manuel Antonio Noriega Dec. 23, 1989. in Santiago Credit - Manoocher DeghatiAFP/Getty Images

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the U.S. may be preparing for some kind of military intervention or covert action in Venezuela to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating in the country and possibly even to topple the country's autocratic leader, Nicholas Maduro. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a longtime vocal critic of the Venezuelan president, sees an opportunity for the Trump Administration to act against what he views as an imminent threat to American security. Maduro, who is widely considered to have blatantly cheated his way to victory in the countrys most recent presidential election, is preparing his people to resist a potential invasion from the U.S.

While it is too early to tell what will transpire in the South American nation, the simmering conflict resembles one that took place just over 1,000 miles west of Venezuela 36 years ago. In targeting Maduro, the Trump Administration is drawing from the playbook President George H.W. Bush used in Panama in 1989 against dictator and drug trafficker Manuel Noriega. That invasion provides a template for action today against Venezuela. Yet the results of the American interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11which also deployed the Panama modeloffer a warning for our current leaders as to how to wield it.

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Noriegas history with the U.S. began in the 1950s when the CIA recruited him as a paid informant. That launched a long career in which he served as a Cold War asset for the U.S. in its confrontation with Cubas Fidel Castro, Nicaraguas Sandinistas, and other Caribbean communists. In the 1970s, the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Ga., equipped him with the tools he needed to serve as Panamas intelligence chief. By the middle of that decade, the CIA was paying Noriega $110,000 per year. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents also found him useful when they were looking to bust small-time Panamanian drug dealers.

Read More: Trumps Domestic Pressures for a Potential War in Venezuela

Despite this long relationship, Noriega proved to be a highly unreliable Cold War partner. While on Washingtons payroll, he supplied Castro with intelligence on U.S. operations and helped facilitate the shipment of weapons from Cuba to various Marxist insurgent groups.

Meanwhile, he amassed a mammoth personal fortune through his links to Colombias drug cartels  his net worth was estimated as high as $800 million by the end of the 1980s. At the time, he served as his countrys top military officer, a post from which he oversaw the repression of political opponents and the intimidation of journalists. Still, for most of its time in office, President Ronald Reagans Administration saw Noriega as a useful partner in its effort to roll back Sandinista power in Nicaragua. CIA Director William Casey put it bluntly: Hes a bastard, but hes our bastard.

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By 1988, however, Noriegas behavior had become an outright embarrassment for Washington. The U.S. was championing human rights and the rule of law in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union as the Iron Curtain crumbled. But that rhetoric sounded hollow in the face of its dalliance with a drug-smuggling double-dealing despot like Noriega.

That February, the U.S. Justice Department indicted Noriega on charges of cocaine trafficking, with Miami-based U.S. Attorney Leon B. Kellner stating that the Panamanian leader utilized his position to sell the country of Panama to drug traffickers. Far from being deterred, Noriega ratcheted up his authoritarianism. Ahead of Panamas national elections in 1989, his henchmen attacked opposition leaders and their supporters, detained U.S. forces stationed in the country, and harassed reporters. Then he nullified the election, outraging American officials. U.S. Ambassador Arthur Davis condemned the strongmans cowardly act and expressed support for the opposition candidate, Guillermo Endara.

On Dec. 15, Noriega declared his country to be in a state of war with the U.S. A day later, a member of the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) killed a U.S. Marine officer after a tense exchange at a checkpoint in Panama City. The PDF subsequently tortured a U.S. naval officer and his wife, who witnessed the incident. Noriega had become an enemy of Washington, and it was only a matter of time before the U.S. would move against him.

President Bush saw the situation as an opportunity to reassert American power abroad after the demoralizing experience of the Vietnam War. In Noriega, he saw an increasingly anti-American drug runner who threatened not only democracy in Panama, but the stability of the region. On Dec. 20, Bush explained to the American people that he had authorized an invasion of Panama to safeguard the lives of American citizens living in the country, bring Noriega to justice for drug trafficking, and protect the integrity of the Panama Canal treaty of 1977 (through which the U.S. returned control of the Canal to the Panamanians).

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Bush dispatched 27,000 American troops to the Central American country. The interventionthe largest U.S. military operation since Vietnamlasted only a few weeks and was considered a success despite the deaths of 24 Americans and hundreds of Panamanians. On Jan. 3, 1990, U.S. troops arrested Noriega. He was convicted of drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering and sentenced to 40 years in prison. Gen. Maxwell R. Thurman later wrote, The Republic of Panama was reborn as a democratic nation after twenty-one years of military dictatorship. Twenty-three U.S. servicemen gave their lives so that the Panamanian government could begin the task of rebuilding democratic institutions and economic opportunities for all of the Panamanian people.

The mission was successful because it had a narrow, clear objective and the U.S. deployed overwhelming force to achieve it. This approach stemmed from the influence on President Bushs thinking of Reagans Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and his own Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell, who believed that U.S. interventions should be as decisive as possible, with clear and attainable objectives. American forces in Panama had an achievable goal  arrest Noriega and bring him back to the U.S. for trial. As Powell said about Panama, Nobody even remembers the Panama war. You dont ever hear of it. But I viewed it as the template of how we should do things.

Read More: Trump's Caribbean Bombing Campaign Brings War on Terror to the Americas

This model also served Bush well during the first Gulf War in 1991. President Bush set a clear, measurable goalpushing Iraq out of Kuwaitand stuck with it, resisting the temptation to go to Baghdad as U.S. forces routed the Iraqi military.

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Venezuelas Maduro shares some similarities with Noriega. By suppressing dissent and interfering in his countrys elections, he appears to be as hostile to democracy and the rule of law as the Panamanian leader was. The U.S. has indicted Maduro and other members of his regime on charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, much like Noriega and his cronies. While Maduros ideology is perhaps more in line with Cubas Castro and he never enjoyed the kind of courtship from Washington that Noriega once did, he has ruled with a similar disregard for human rights and a penchant for anti-American bravado. What happens next is anyones guess, but if the Trump Administration does decide to move forward with a military intervention to execute a swift arrest, U.S. forces will confront an ill-equipped Venezuelan army alongside armed militias, much like Panamas armed forces and its dignity battalions, which achieved infamy for bludgeoning Noriegas opponents during the 1989 election.

The Panamanian invasion, therefore, offers a template for a swift, relatively painless U.S. military intervention. But while this model worked well for Bush both in Panama and Kuwait, that doesn't mean it is guaranteed to work. After 9/11, Bushs son, George W. Bush, dispatched American forces to the Middle East, specifically to Afghanistan and later Iraq. Yet, unlike his father, who had clear, narrow war aims, he embraced murkier goals that demanded larger, more longer-term military efforts. The result proved disastrous.

The disparate experiences of the two presidents Bush suggest that if the Trump Administration decides to intervene militarily in Venezuela, theyd be wise to adhere more closely to the Panamanian example and have a short-term, narrow objective, like arresting Maduro on drug-trafficking charges, as opposed to a long-term stability project like Iraq and Afghanistan, which could galvanize anti-American sentiment and draw the U.S. into protracted, unwinnable conflict.

Aaron S. Brown is a historian and the author of The 1970s and the Making of the Modern U.S.-Mexico Border (Bloomsbury Academic) and has written for the Washington Post and History News Network.

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Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.

Write to Made by History at madebyhistory@time.com.
A British woman has said it is an "injustice" that her elderly mother will not be able to attend her great-granddaughter's Christening after she was denied a visa.

Tutu Melaku, from Reading, has been trying to get her mother over from Ethiopia for 10 days in January.

Ms Melaku, a restaurant owner who has lived in the UK for more than 30 years, was informed her mother's visa was denied because there was "no guarantee she is going back".

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The BBC has contacted the Home Office for a comment.

Ms Melaku paid 134 for the visa application but was informed it had been refused and she had no reason to appeal the decision.

She said the media has had a "big impact on people like me to bring my family to this country".

She added: "I know because of the media they think everybody who comes to this country they don't go back."

Ms Melaku runs Tutu's Ethiopian Table in Palmer's Park, Reading, and has previously been awarded for her community work.

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She said: "I have a business, I am a community champion, I respect the law.

"I know they don't know me, like what I do for a living but I send all my documents, they can check who I am."

'Proudly British'

The British passport holder who has two children who have been raised and educated in the UK says "this is my home now".

"We are British and especially me, I am so proud to be British," she said.

She said her mum has lots of friends and "a big family" in Africa and would not have that community if she were to come to England.

Ms Melaku said her mother had visited the UK four times in the past and returned to Ethiopia every time.

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"They refuse her just to come for 10 days to see her great-granddaughter," she said.

"She has to come because this is an injustice," Ms Melaku said.

She said she has appealed to her local MP, Labour's Matt Rodda, for support.

Mr Rodda has been approached by the BBC for a comment.

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Unsealed documents reveal that President Donald Trump was set to be banned from a channel his base trusts most.

Documents obtained from a defamation lawsuit filed by Smartmatic, a voting machine company, against media giant Fox Corporation, reveal text messages from CEO Lachlan Murdoch, 54, to Fox host Sean Hannity, warning that the president would not be invited back for interviews if he attacked the network.

Sean, sorry, but the president is not coming back on air if he uses it to attack us, Murdoch wrote about Trump, 79. It is the same rule we have with the other side. This is a golden rule, he added before signing off with an informal Thx L. The released documents redacted Hannitys response.

Lachlan Murdoch, who is seen as the most conservative of his siblings, has secured control of his familys media empire until at least 2050. / Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Murdochs pointed message came on Oct. 1, 2020, following Hannitys interview with the president, during which Trump complained that Fox was a much different place than it used to be and took aim at two of its journalists. The text chain also included Trumps frenemy Rupert Murdoch, 94, and Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott, 60.

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Following his fathers stepping down as chair of News CorpFoxs parent companyMAGA media criticized Lachlan as woke, despite the successors conservative-leaning speeches suggesting otherwise.

Lachlans texts were released as part of court exhibits in a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit, in which the global election technology company aims to prove that Fox Corp deliberately spread misinformation about its voting systems as part of the false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.

Fox Corp says any allegations against Smartmatic came from the president, not the company, and that it was simply reporting a newsworthy story. Its bid to dismiss the lawsuit in January failed.

In a statement, FOX News Media told the Daily Beast: The evidence shows that Smartmatics business and reputation were badly suffering long before any claims by President Trumps lawyers on FOX News and that Smartmatic grossly inflated its damage claims to generate headlines and chill free speech. Now, in the aftermath of Smartmatic being criminally charged with bribery in the Philippines and the Governments motion to include evidence of Smartmatics business dealings in Venezuela and Los Angeles County, we are eager and ready to continue defending our press freedoms.

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Further court exhibits show that viewership among Foxs dedicated Republican base had been falling after the network became the first to call Arizona for presidential candidate Joe Biden during the 2020 election.

Emails between Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan show that on Nov. 23, 2020, the father wrote, Getting killed in audience numbers, emphasizing the need for a discussion. Lachlan agreed, adding that the numbers were keeping him awake at night.

Lachlan Murdoch's message to Sean Hannity came after Trump criticized Fox News during an interview. / Kevin Dietsch / Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The documents from Rupert Murdochs deposition showed the Smartmatic lawyer asking whether he took any steps to make sure that hosts with shows on Fox News Media did not endorse claims about the 2020 election being stolen, to which he replied. No. No.

I was thrilled [with] the way Fox News was handling it, Rupert Murdoch said of Foxs post-election coverage.

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The 94-year-old also acknowledged that the network was trying to move away from Trump after his loss in the election, but didnt want to upset its MAGA-loyal audience.

In 2023, The Guardian reported that Fox introduced a soft ban on Trumps appearances on the network, and his son, Donald Trump Jr., claimed he was banned from Fox News. The network responded that he has always been welcome on all Fox platforms.

Trump's relationship with Rupert Murdoch has long been complicated. / Sonia Moskowitz / Sonia Moskowitz/Getty ImagesGetty Images

Trumps ties with the conservative-leaning network have long been transactional: he has frequently criticized itsuch as during the 2024 presidential election over a Kamala Harris interviewyet he continues to appear on its programs.

During his second presidency, the presidents relationship with former CEO Rupert Murdoch has also become increasingly strained after Trump sued the Wall Street Journalanother News Corp outletover its coverage of his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his pile of garbage newspaper. That will be an interesting experience!!! Trump wrote about his on-again, off-again friend.
The Wampanoag were the Native American tribe that joined the Pilgrims for the First Thanksgiving, yet much of the common lore about that story is inaccurate.

For example, the Wampanoag werent invited to the Pilgrims feast; they showed up later.

Heres what to know about the Wampanoag tribe and their role in the First Thanksgiving.

Who are the Wampanoag?

The Wampanoag are a Native American tribe that has inhabited present day Massachusetts and Eastern Rhode Island for over 10,000 years.

Jenaya Perry, a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, competes during a women's traditional dance competition at the Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow in 2023.

Did the Wampanoag help the Pilgrims?

The tradition Thanksgiving story says that the Native Americans helped the Pilgrims learn how to farm on American soil.

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While the Wampanoag did eventually help the Pilgrims, it was a difficult decision. Past Europeans who had come to the area had raided Native villages and enslaved their people, and the Pilgrims had been stealing Native food and digging up their graves. Many tribes wanted to drive off or kill the new settlers.

But the Wampanoag were weakened by a recent pandemic and being pressured by a nearby tribe. Allowing the Pilgrims to settle and becoming allies could allow them to get access to weapons and coveted European goods.

Wampanoag leader Massasoit weighed the risks and concluded it was better to have the danger on his side than have to face it.

We needed a friend, Steven Peters, a spokesman for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, told the USA Today Network in 2020. We needed an ally. That would have been a really difficult decision for them to make.

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The tribe eventually approached the Pilgrims in February, after about half of the Europeans had died during the first winter, and came to a kind of alliance where the Pilgrims received help and protection from the Wampanoag.

Plymouth Rock sits under a granite portico on the edge of the harbor where it has been said the Pilgrims landed in 1620. Their first stop was actually Provincetown, historians believe, as there is not a single reference to stepping on the rock in any known writings from the time. That doesn't make Plymouth Rock any less popular, though. Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025

What happened at the first Thanksgiving?

In contrast to the traditional Thanksgiving story, the Pilgrims did not invite the Wampanoag to their feast.

Peters said that the Wampanoag heard muskets set off by the Pilgrims during their harvest, and taking the sound as a threat of battle, an army of Wampanoag lead by Massasoit Ousamequin approached the Pilgrim settlement. The Wampanoag eventually joined the feast after a tense encounter.

What happened after the first Thanksgiving?

The peace between the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims was short lived. In 1675, relationships would deteriorate into King Philips War, which resulted in the death, enslavement or displacement of most of the Native people living in southern New England.

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Today, the Wampanoag survive and the Mashpee Wampanoag are a federally recognized tribe, despite centuries of systemic removal from their land, destruction of their culture and denial of their rights. As recently as 2020, the Trump administration rescinded the reservation status for the Mashpee Wampanoag, a move that the Biden administration reversed a year later.

"Out of the 69 tribes of just Wampanoag people who lived here pre-contact, only three  the Herring Pond, the Aquinnah and the Mashpee, plus a band of Assonet peoples, are still here," Troy Currence, a medicine man with the Herring Pond Tribe, told the USA TODAY NETWORK in 2020. "We're lucky to be one of them. We survived. Were still here. We have a chance to reclaim our language and our history and re-educate people. We didn't go away, we adapted."

Contributing: Eryn Dion, Catherine Messier

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Which Native American tribe was with Pilgrims at 'first' Thanksgiving?
Estonia has an agreement with the US to get six more High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) units.

It's growing its arsenal after receiving six earlier this year.

Estonia said it needs more deep strike abilities, and Ukraine is proving the need.

A NATO ally sharing a border with Russia is doubling down on its buying of the US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) that has been a key part of Ukraine's fightback against Russia.

Estonia's defense ministry told Business Insider that it has an agreement with the US to acquire six additional HIMARS units. It's waiting on exact delivery dates from the US side.

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"It is important for Estonia to have the ability to influence the enemy deep within its territory," the ministry said. To this end, it is necessary to increase Estonia's deep-strike capability with additional rocket launchers."

Estonian Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur originally told Breaking Defense that his country wants to buy six additional HIMARS, potentially more, and has been in contact with the maker, Lockheed Martin, but the company needs Pentagon approval for the sale.

The country is pursuing a deeper investment in the system after already receiving six HIMARS in April. The ministry said the earlier acquisitions were just the start of "developing our deep-strike capability."

Pevkur told Business Insider in March that Estonia considers HIMARS to be essential to its deep strike capability, having seen the impact this weapon has had in Ukraine.

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The multiple rocket launcher arrived in Ukraine in June 2022, marking the first major Western weapon supplied to Kyiv after months of debate over whether sending such systems was worth the risk. There were concerns initially that supplying big-ticket weapons would be escalatory and might end up in Russian hands if the country fell.

HIMARS has been important for Ukraine, and its allies are paying attention. Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Its arrival was a turning point and a big success for Ukraine. HIMARS were eventually followed by a string of other high-profile weapons like US-made Patriot air defense systems and F-16 fighter jets.

With the introduction of the HIMARS and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS), Ukraine suddenly took away Russia's artillery advantage and showed it was able to hit Russian targets like ammunition depots and command and control centers that were previously out of reach. It also used them to hit Russian troops and aircraft.

Electronic warfare and jamming, along with the arrival of other advanced long-range strike systems, have reduced HIMARS' effectiveness and taken it out of the spotlight, aside from some tactical ballistic missile strikes. It has also suffered shortages of ammunition, limiting effectiveness.

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The versatile weapon is still in use, though, and Ukraine is expecting to receive more. In October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy identified HIMARS as a priority for his military.

NATO allies sharing a border with Russia want HIMARS

Estonia is among a number of European countries concerned about Russian aggression, and Pevkur said that Ukraine has demonstrated that deep strikes are necessary in a fight.

He said that Ukraine has shown that being capable of striking far behind the front lines, with Ukraine hitting Russian positions, weaponry, and stockpiles, and even oil facilities deep into Russia with long-range drones and missiles.

He said that deep-strike capabilities are an area where NATO allies "need to invest" and "need to have a lot more than what we have today." Pevkur emphasized that it's vital for NATO members to "learn from the challenges that Ukrainians have"  to understand what works and what doesn't for Ukraine and to see what Russia is doing so that their militaries are as prepared as possible.

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He added that having HIMARS also sends a "deterrence message" to Russia.

Other Baltic countries, Latvia and Lithuania, which are also NATO members that border Russia, have also invested in HIMARS as well as a host of other defenses as they eye Russia warily.

Latvia has an agreement with the US for six systems, expected by 2027, and Lithuania is buying eight, with the first deliveries due this year.

The Baltic nations have been among the loudest voices within NATO calling for greater alliance spending and support of Ukraine. Their defense budgets are among the highest in NATO as a proportion of their GDP, and the money so far has gone toward border defenses, air defenses, armored vehicles, and drones.

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Pevkur told Business Insider that it was important for the West that countries on NATO's eastern edge, like the Baltic states, are well defended to deter Russia and to be able to stop it if needed. "The eastern flank is the front door of NATO, so we need to keep it closed," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Photo/Levi Rickert)

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren asked the Window Rock District Court on Monday to block legislation that seeks to remove him and Vice President Richelle Montoya from office for alleged malfeasance, misfeasance and breaches of fiduciary trust duties under Navajo Nation law.

In the filing, Nygrens legal team raised several arguments mirroring those used by attorneys for former President Joe Shirley Jr. when he was placed on emergency administrative leave more than a decade ago.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

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Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley defended the legislation, known as 0263-25, saying the Council is acting within its authority and responding to findings made by the special prosecutor.

The Council is the voice for the Navajo people. An independent investigation conducted by the special prosecutor has led to multiple findings of violations of our laws that have now been filed in court. President Nygren is not above the law and needs to be held accountable, Curley said. The Nygren/Montoya Administration has lost the trust of the Navajo people. Their administration has been nothing short of an embarrassment for our Navajo people and our government.

The Office of Legislative Counsel also rejected Nygrens contention that the bill represents an illegal power grab, calling the claim false, misleading, and [one that] ignores the clear authority granted to the Council under Navajo Nation law.

Under the legislation, Nygren and Montoya would be permitted to address the removal effort before the Naabikiyati Committee and again before the full Navajo Nation Council. The process follows 11 N.N.C.  240(A), which governs removal proceedings.

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The filing cites Shirley v. Morgan but does not note that the decision did not invalidate 11 N.N.C.  240(A). The Navajo Nation Supreme Court has never struck down the Nations removal statute, and it remains in effect, according to legislative attorneys.

The Council emphasized that the Navajo Nation government operates under a three-branch system and that no branch  including the Executive  can supersede the laws enacted by the Nation and its representatives.

The Navajo Nation Council remains committed to upholding transparency, protecting checks and balances, ensuring due process for all officials, defending the Nations laws, institutions, and dignity, and representing the call of the Navajo people asking Council to remove the President and Vice President, Curley said.

The Council said it will continue forward in a manner that respects Dine Bii Beehazanii, the Navajo Nation Code, and the voice of the Navajo people.

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About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Nigerias President Bola Tinubu said his country would hire tens of thousands of police officers in order to quell a surge in violence.

Tinubus announcement comes just days after gunmen abducted hundreds of children from a Catholic school in northern Nigeria. Abuja has faced pressure from US President Donald Trump to do more to protect its Christian population, with Washington recently floating tariff threats should Nigeria fail to stem the unrest.

Analysts worry that Washingtons threats may actually be fueling an uptick in kidnappings as criminal groups look to extort ransom from Nigerian authorities eager to make problems disappear quickly.

Meanwhile, millions displaced from violence-wracked regions of the country face unprecedented levels of hunger, the World Food Programme warned.
Attorney General Jeff Jackson speaks at a Duke University forum on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

More than 200 online stores who do business using e-commerce platform Shopify illegally sold electronic cigarettes or other tobacco products, circumventing age and safety requirements, according to a letter sent by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and the attorneys general of 25 other states Monday.

These web-sellers made e-cigarette sales in violation of nearly every applicable federal, state and local law regulating e-cigarettes, even after being repeatedly warned of their unlawful conduct, the attorneys general wrote.

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The attorneys general wrote that while Shopify has taken action against specific online vendors brought to their attention in previous letters, the sheer scope of the conduct and the significant injury to public health accomplished through online e-cigarette sales necessitates a more comprehensive solution.

At least 28 illegal e-cigarette online stores were hosted directly on Shopifys platform, they alleged, while another 200 used the companys services to illegally sell tobacco products.

Under federal law, only 39 FDA-approved e-cigarettes are legal to sell across state lines, and they can only be sold to customers aged 21 years or older. The age limit within North Carolina is 18.

In a press release, Jacksons office noted that e-cigarette manufacturers are required to be certified by the state Department of Revenue to operate in North Carolina, and that state law mandates age verification for online retailers who sell them.

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If states and the federal government create laws to protect our residents, companies cant sidestep those for their own profit, Jackson said. We have protections against selling e-cigarettes to children because we know how harmful it is for them, and we need Shopify to step up and keep those products off of its platforms.

The North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force noted in its 2025 report that 37% of high schoolers in the state say they have vaped, including more than half of seniors. The task force urged the state to raise the minimum age for sale of tobacco products to 21 to align with federal law.

Jackson and the 25 other attorneys general are seeking a meeting with Shopify to ask the commerce giant to terminate service to all current and future sellers violating tobacco laws. They offered to undertake some of the effort needed to identify vendors who violate the law.

Shopify did not respond to a request for comment on the letter. Their legal page states that all retailers selling e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine products must comply with the laws and regulations that apply to your business.

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North Carolinas first legal bout with e-cigarette sales came under then-Attorney General Josh Stein, who in 2021 won the first settlement in the nation against e-cigarette manufacturer Juul.

Juul ultimately paid $47.8 million to North Carolina for marketing to underaged customers, and agreed to more stringent marketing requirements such as refraining from advertising on social media, not marketing to those under 21, and verifying the age of all customers.

Vaping is dangerous to kids health, and we must continue to do everything in our power to keep them nicotine free, Stein said after the approval of additional funds in 2023.
Congressional Republicans are considering quitting their jobs ahead of the 2026 midterm elections amid frustration with the White House.

Republican members of the House of Representatives are contemplating following Marjorie Taylor Greenes example by retiring early over fears Donald Trump has abandoned his election pledges and risks squandering the partys paper-thin majority, according to reports.

At least 41 members across both parties have already announced they will call it quits at the end of their term, but the shock resignation of Ms Taylor Greene on Friday has apparently inspired a further wave of potential departees.

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One senior House Republican accused the White House of treating members like garbage and warned: More explosives are coming.

This entire White House team has treated ALL members like garbage. ALL, they told Punchbowl. The arrogance of this White House team is off-putting to members who are run roughshod and threatened.

More explosive early resignations are coming. Its a tinder box. Morale has never been lower. Mike Johnson will be stripped of his gavel, and they will lose the majority before this term is out.

Walkout could spell disaster for GOP

The prospect of a mass walkout among Republicans could spell disaster for the GOP, which would face having to run in a string of special elections ahead of the midterms, boosting the Democrats chances of overturning their 219-213 seat majority.

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Clashes with the administration over a bill to release the Epstein files, plans to extend government-backed healthcare subsidies and concerns the president is prioritising foreign policy over the needs of ordinary Americans have all contributed to a sulfurous atmosphere on the Hill.

Announcing her resignation, Ms Greene said that Congress had been sidelined by [Mike] Johnson, [the House Speaker,] under full obedience to the White House.

Credit: X/Marjorie Taylor Greene

Victoria Spartz, an Indiana representative, echoed her comments, writing on X: I cant blame her for leaving this institution that has betrayed the American people.

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One congressional source told The Telegraph that House members were too scared to oppose the White House in the same fashion as Ms Greene, who has since faced death threats, and may opt to resign instead.

Don Bacon, the Nebraska Republican who is retiring in 2027, told Axios he was so angry at the Trump administrations proposed Russia-Ukraine peace plan that he thought about resigning early.

Another House Republican told the news outlet that the thought of resigning has crossed my mind, adding: I know Im not the only one.

Simmering division reached a new low point last Tuesday when four House Republicans withstood pressure from the White House to call for the release of the Epstein Files.

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It was the latest in a string of recent examples of House GOP members pushing back against the administration, including on Canada tariffs and certain nominations.

On Monday, the president was forced to abandon plans to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which provide healthcare for millions of Americans and are set to expire at the end of the year, following opposition from within his party.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Mr Johnson was allegedly forced to warn the White House in a phone call on Monday that there was no way Republicans would vote through the proposal.
Novartis has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Itvisma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-brve) gene replacement therapy to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

This therapy is intended for children aged two years and above, teens and adults with SMA who have a confirmed mutation in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene.

It is a one-time fixed dose therapy that targets the genetic cause of SMA and replaces the SMN1 gene to improve motor function without requiring dosage adjustment by age or body weight.

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The FDA approval is supported by findings from the open-label Phase IIIb STRENGTH study and the Phase III STEER trial, which demonstrated significant improvements in stabilisation and motor function over 52 weeks.

Both studies showed a consistent safety profile.

SMA is a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder and is caused by a defective or missing SMN1 gene, which is responsible for producing majority of the SMN protein necessary for muscle function.

Novartis US president Victor Bulto said: After redefining SMA care with the first gene replacement therapy for this challenging disease, we can now help address unmet needs across an even broader SMA population with the approval of Itvisma.

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We are proud to support the SMA community by empowering patients of all ages through our innovative, one-time therapies, offering the potential to reduce the burden that comes with chronic treatment.

Itvisma is designed to provide a functional copy of the human SMN1 gene via a single, one-time intrathecal injection to sustain SMN protein expression and improve motor function. It is set to be released in the US in December 2025.

In October 2025, Novartis signed an agreement for the acquisition of all outstanding shares of US-based Avidity Biosciences for $12bn in cash on a fully diluted basis.

"Novartis secures approval from FDA for Itvisma to treat SMA" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Monday unveiled his transition team committees, which included former members of the Adams administration who were pushed out or resigned under the current mayor.

Former Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, ex-Fire Department Commissioner Laura Kavanagh and Hassan Naveed, Adams former hate crimes chief who accused him of anti-Muslim bias after being fired, are all working on the transition team. Arva Rice, who chaired the Civilian Complaint Review Board until Adams asked her to step down, is also on the team.

In total, Mamdani has 400 people on his transition team across 17 committees. In comparison, Adams had about 700 people on his transition team, while Mayor de Blasio had just 60.

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The members of the team, who serve in unpaid roles, will work to prepare for the start of Mamdanis term on Jan. 1. Their work includes sifting through some 70,000 job applicants for potential roles in the administration.

We stand here with a remarkable opportunity to create a better New York, the kind of opportunity that arrives, if were lucky, once in a generation. And I could not ask for a better team to set that foundation, Mamdani said at a Harlem press conference to announce the team.

Pro-business Kathy Wylde, chief executive of the Partnership for New York City, is serving on the economic and workforce development committee, as is Yasser Salem, who launched a PAC in Mamdanis support during the election.

I joined because I also know from experience that success comes not only from having a compelling vision, said Annemarie Gray, the executive director of Open New York, who will serve on the housing committee. It also requires being very serious about effective governance and what it really takes to make bold ideas happen.

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Mamdanis Community Safety and Youth and Education committees were stacked with advocates, including advocates with VOCAL NY, Make the Road, We Build the Block, New York Appleseed and New Yorkers for Racially Just Public Schools. Rodney Harrison, who the Mamdani campaign had considered as a possible police commissioner pick, is also on the team.

Josh Wallack, the architect of universal pre-K under de Blasio, is on the team, as is Grace Rauh of Citizens Union/5BORO, who has been at the forefront of the conversation of bringing the business community into child care advocacy.

None of Mamdani rumored picks for public school chancellors, like Jamaal Bowman, Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, former Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter, Councilmember Rita Joseph and Kamar Samuels, a district superintendent in Harlem, were on the list.

Mamdani previously announced his transition co-chairs: Mayor Eric Adams former top aide Maria Torres-Springer, ex-Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan, United Way CEO Grace Bonilla and former Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Melanie Hartzog. Elana Leopold, a de Blasio alum, serves as executive director.

_____

With Cayla Bamberger.

_____
A cache of 142 dead migratory birds was dumped on a property outside of Saskatoon, CBC News reported.

What happened?

Someone left the carcasses on private land close to Patience Lake on Oct. 16. Snow geese made up 129 of the total, while ducks accounted for the rest except for one Canada goose.

Officials shared an image of a pickup truck linked to the offenses of trespassing, littering, and not harvesting animals. A reward of $2,000 is available through a tip line for details that result in charges.

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Chris Maier, an inspector with the Conservation Officer Service, said such violations happen repeatedly every year. Irresponsible hunters kill animals and then throw them away to avoid processing work.

The combined penalties for illegal entry, littering, and wasting game could push the fines above 20,000 Canadian dollars.

"It's disgusting," said Jordan Rowswell, the owner of 12 Gauge Outfitting in Battleford, Saskatchewan. "It's an absolute waste of not just meat but a resource. It gives every hunter out there a bad name."

Why is wildlife waste concerning?

This points to a larger problem affecting conservation efforts across North America. When hunters kill animals and discard them, they damage wildlife populations that other species and ecosystems depend on.

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The waste threatens food security since hunters often give extra meat to food banks. Throwing away edible protein means families who need it go without.

Bird populations are also facing mounting pressures from habitat loss and climate impacts. Unnecessary deaths from wasteful hunting practices make recovery harder for species already under stress.

The dumping damages the reputation of ethical hunters who follow regulations and use what they harvest, too. This stigma can lead to tighter hunting restrictions that negatively impact responsible outdoors enthusiasts.

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Some conservation groups worry that loose regulations attract hunters from other areas who collect hundreds of birds during extended trips, then struggle to transport or process them.

What's being done about wildlife waste?

Professional outfitting companies follow certain standards and could lose their licenses if caught discarding carcasses. These businesses typically help clients process and transport harvests properly.

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If you hunt, freeze extra meat to use another time or give it to local food programs and families. Many communities welcome these contributions as a source of lean, healthy protein.

Contact your local representatives and voice support for policies that prevent wildlife waste. Some provinces limit how long non-resident hunters can pursue migratory birds, which may reduce excessive harvesting.

Report suspected violations to conservation officers immediately. Your call could prevent future waste and protect wildlife populations.



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The government of Florida has partnered up with a private enterprise to help stamp out a growing invasive threat, according to The Palm Beach Post.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has shifted all of its Burmese python management efforts to run through Inversa, which finds manufacturing opportunities for biomass from invasive species.

In the case of Burmese pythons, while it's traditionally something environmentalists might oppose, they're supplying fashion industries with skins. Inversa has also been involved in harvesting invasive lionfish and silver carp in such operations. In effect, they make invasive species management a more profitable endeavor.

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"The only way Florida will win this war is by consistently removing more pythons every year, and that can be accomplished," said Inversa CEO Aarav Chavda, per The Palm Beach Post.

Other enterprising companies have been able to funnel invasive species into the culinary world, including both meat and plant life.

Burmese pythons have been a problem in Florida for years, preying on a wide range of native species. When a species like this is taken out of its native habitat without the checks and balances it evolved with, populations can explode. Over time, an invasive species establishes a monopoly on vital resources like food, leading to a decline in biodiversity.

As biodiversity goes down, so too do ecosystem services that people rely on. One study suggested that globally, invasive species have incurred hundreds of billions of dollars in economic costs annually. Another tallied up the damage to over $1 trillion over the course of 50 years.

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Inversa's system of supplying the private sector is apparently working well. Over the summer of 2025, Florida removed 1,022 pythons. In the summer of 2024, without Inversa's involvement, 343 pythons were removed, garnering bipartisan support.

"It made perfect sense to me because if we can harness the economic incentives to remove the pythons, I knew it would help, I didn't know it would be this dramatic," said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, per The Palm Beach Post.



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After South Korea began receiving Chinese tour groups under a temporary visa-free policy, a nearly decade-old photo resurfaced in posts falsely claiming it showed a tourist let into the country under the scheme who proceeded to kill a local person. The posts blame President Lee Jae Myung for the murder, but the crime in fact occurred nine years before Lee was elected president.

"Lee Jae Myungs visa-free policy ended up causing a murder," reads Korean-language text on a Facebook graphic shared on November 21, 2025.

"A mentally ill Chinese entered the country and ended up killing a person."

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The graphic includes a screenshot of a news report dated November 15, 2025 and headlined, "'The Chinese government planted a chip in my brain'... A Chinese man who entered the country visa-free with a murder planned, eventually acted on it".

Anti-Chinese sentiment has intensified in South Korea, with street demonstrations, boycott campaigns and highly polarised online commentary prompting China's embassy to warn its nationals to "remain cautious" while visiting the country (archived link).

Immigration and tourism have become focal points in these debates, coinciding with the government's temporary visa-free entry system for Chinese group tourists, which began on September 29 and will remain in place until June 30, 2026 (archived link).

The initiative aims to boost the struggling tourism sector, but has also become a target for misleading claims linking Chinese visitors to violent crime.

Screenshot of the false Facebook post captured on November 25, 2025, with a red X added by AFP

The same graphic was also shared on Facebook and multiple forums on Naver Band, attracting comments criticising the Lee government for the policy.

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"Why let the Chinese in and sacrifice [South Korean] people," one user wrote.

Another said: "That's what you get for electing a Chinese spy as president."

As of November 24, there have been no official reports about murders linked to Chinese nationals who visited South Korea under the visa-free programme.

The incident referenced in the graphic in fact occurred in 2016.

A keyword search led to the news report used in the circulating graphic -- published by right-wing outlet Maeil Shinbo on November 15 (archived link).

The report references the murder of a 61-year-old South Korean woman inside a church by Chinese national Chen Guorui on Jeju island in September 2016.

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Chen had entered Jeju through the islands long-standing Jeju-only visa-free scheme, introduced in 2002 to attract foreign visitors (archived link).

The case was widely covered in South Korean media at the time and has no connection to the 2025 tourism programme (archived here, here and here).

A separate keyword search found the photograph used in the report was taken by the Yonhap News Agency on February 16, 2017, when Chen was escorted to Jeju District Court ahead of his sentencing (archived link).

The Jeju District Court sentenced Chen to 30 years in prison the following day, noting in its written judgment that he had concealed a weapon inside church materials, attacked the victim without provocation and attempted to hide evidence (archived link).

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Although the defendant was reported to have certain mental-health issues, the court rejected the defence this impaired his judgement and found him fully criminally responsible.

AFP has debunked several false claims related to Seoul's visa-free scheme for Chinese group tourists.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield talks to reporters at a press conference at A Safe Place Family Justice Center in Oregon City on Aug. 18, 2025.(Photo by Mia Maldonado/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

In early October, a multi-state lawsuit kept $15 million in the hands of Oregon nonprofits that help survivors of sexual assault and abuse.

Oregon joined 21 other Democratic-led states in August to sue the federal government for threatening to withhold $1.4 billion in federal Victims of Crime Act funding unless the states agreed to help with immigration enforcement. The lawsuit never went to trial because the Trump administration abandoned its plan after the suit was filed, allowing states to retain federal grants without any new immigration enforcement rules.

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Its one of 46 lawsuits the state has filed against the Trump administration, often teaming up with other Democratic states to prevent federal funding cuts. The state of Oregon doesnt have to pay anything out of pocket by signing onto another states lawsuit, according to Oregon Department of Justice spokesperson Jenny Hansson.

The Oregon Department of Justice has spent at least $19,000 in legal fees and travel expenses this year to send employees to attend court hearings in Washington D.C. and New York, according to public records obtained by the Capital Chronicle. Meanwhile, by filing the lawsuits the state has kept about $4.5 billion meant for Oregon Health and Science University research, electric vehicle infrastructure, sexual health education programs and education programs supporting low-income and unhoused students.

The lawsuits are to ensure Oregonians arent left paying the price when the federal government oversteps or breaks the law, Hansson said.

The Oregon Department of Justice is committed to protecting Oregonians  not wasting their money, Hansson told the Capital Chronicle. The resources weve invested in defending Oregons rights in court are a fraction of whats at stake.

Oregons federal litigation team isnt funded with direct taxpayer dollars

Some states set aside millions for potential lawsuits against the Trump administration. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom in late 2024 convened a special session to set aside $25 million to pay for anticipated legal costs against the Trump administration. In Maryland, Attorney General Anthony Brown received $1 million from the governor to fund a federal litigation team, Maryland Matters reported.

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The state of Oregon did something similar, allocating $8.2 million in its 2025-27 Department of Justices budget to fund 20 full-time positions to support civil litigation and for the defense of state interests.

Whats unique about Oregon is that the money going toward defending state interests isnt coming from the state general fund  or money collected from personal or corporate income taxes  but rather its coming from proceeds from civil litigation when the state is awarded damages, according to legislative fiscal analyst Steve Robbins.

With this designated funding, the department created a federal litigation team to respond to national legal issues. An agency webpage tracks all the lawsuits Oregon is a part of tied to immigration, human rights, LGBTQ+ issues, federal employment and other Trump administration policies.

In total, Oregons Department of Justices budget increased by 4% from the previous two-year cycle, raising its budget to $1 billion.

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Some of that new funding also includes $17 million to support child advocacy centers and support services for domestic and sexual violence victims, $13 million to replace some of its legal software, $8.8 million to upgrade its child support software system and $10.8 million to add 33 full-time attorneys in its trial division to reduce the states need to contract with more expensive, private firms.

We havent taken our eyes off the day-to-day work that matters to Oregonians, Hansson said. We continue to deliver on core services and priorities  protecting working families, seniors and consumers and keeping communities safe and defending Oregons values.

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(The Center Square)  New Orleans and state officials are preparing for the expected arrival of U.S. Border Patrol agents as the Trump administration expands its immigration crackdown in the South, but information remains sparse.

No public official at the state or federal level has confirmed reports that hundreds of agents are headed to the New Orleans area in early December.

The office of Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican who supports Trumps mass deportation agenda, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Attorney General Liz Murrills office referred The Center Square to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who said they do not discuss current or future operations."

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"Operation Swamp Sweep" could target the service industry that drives the city's economy and employs immigrants, and possibly the northwest suburb of Kenner, which has a large Hispanic population.

It has already highlighted the political divide between Republicans who lead the state and Democrats who lead New Orleans.

Murrill, a Republican, warned Monday that Louisiana law forbids obstructing federal immigration officers, and penalties may include imprisonment with hard labor and thousands of dollars in fines, according to her social media post on X.

New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, a Democrat and Mexican-American immigrant, said in a statement that reports of due process violations and potential abuses in other cities are concerning.

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Border Patrol's aggressive operations in Los Angeles and Chicago have circulated on social media, and many people without criminal histories were taken into custody.

New Orleans is expected to be the next city in the agencys southern surge, which started in Charlotte, North Carolina in mid-November. The operation had reportedly resulted in the arrests of 370 people as of last week, with at least 44 having criminal records. A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman said Thursday the operation there "isn't ending anytime soon."

At the same time, Moreno circulated a Know Your Rights guide that said all persons in the United States have constitutional protections, including the right to remain silent when questioned or arrested by immigration officers.

The guidance urges residents not to run, argue or resist if approached by officers, to keep their hands visible and, in the case of a traffic stop, to ask whether the officer is local police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection.

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We must demand accountability and that peoples rights are not violated, Morena said in a statement posted on Instagram, encouraging the legal community to assist.

Border Patrol has increased its presence in the New Orleans area since Trump took office in January. Federal court records in Louisiana's Eastern District show cases spanning months, with defendants held in detention while they wait for resolution. Some have already been tried or sentenced; others are waiting for their day in court. In each case, prosecutors seek to remove the defendant from the U.S.

Of the 30 cases reviewed by The Center Square, the charges range from firearm possession or stolen weapons to lower-level traffic and alcohol offenses. Others are accused of returning to the U.S. after being deported or of using false Social Security numbers to work.

Between 130,000 and 140,000 Hispanic residents live in the New Orleans area, and New Orleans City Councilwoman Lesli Harris, a Democrat, urged federal authorities to respect the civil nature of immigration law.

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New Orleans is strongest when every resident feels safe, she said in a statement, and stressed that immigration violations are civil, not criminal, matters.

Immigrants in the city are workers, business owners, parents, students, caregivers, and neighbors, Harris said, and should not be subjected to fear or intimidation for seeking safety, opportunity, or a better life."
A University of Oklahoma student studying psychology says the failing grade she received on an essay where she cited the Bible was a violation of her right to free speech.

In her essay, which was in response to an article about how people are perceived based on societal expectations of gender, junior Samantha Fulnecky wrote that traditional gender roles should not be considered stereotypes, according to an earlier Oklahoman report. She cited the Bible to support her stance that eliminating gender in society would be "detrimental" because that would put people "farther from God's original plan for humans."

She received zero points out of 25 on the essay. The instructor said Fulnecky failed to use empirical evidence and called parts of her essay offensive.

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More: OU student says Bible-based essay grade violated free-speech rights

Fulnecky noted that the assignment did not require students to cite empirical evidence and said she believes OU policy protects free speech even if some people find it offensive. Fulnecky believed she was failed because she cited the Bible.

"To be what I think is clearly discriminated against for my beliefs and using freedom of speech, and especially for my religious beliefs, I think that's just absurd," Fulnecky told The Oklahoman.

You can read Fulnecky's full essay, and the response from her instructors, below.

Read the full essay:

See assignment criteria

Read the criteria for the essay assigned to Fulnecky. Emails and communication were provided to The Oklahoman by Fulnecky and the instructors' names have been redacted.

Read instructors' comments:

Read a transcript of the conversation between Fulnecky and her instructors regarding her grade below. Emails and communication were provided to The Oklahoman by Fulnecky and the instructors' names have been redacted.

Share your thoughts:

Now that you've read the essay, what do you think? Was the professor justified in giving it a zero? What grade would you have given it, and why? Send your grade and comments to yourviews@oklahoman.com. Please include your name and where you're from so we can include your comments in our story.

Alexia Aston contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU student says this essay's grade was a violation of her rights
Militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have handed over another body to staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The remains are those of a hostage abducted from Israel, Hamas and Islamic Jihad said on Tuesday.

The Red Cross staff are on their way to representatives of the Israeli army with a coffin, the military said, adding that the identity of the remains must then be clarified at a forensic institute in Tel Aviv.

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Before the handover, there were still three dead hostages in Gaza, including a Thai national kidnapped from Israel.

Israel and Hamas agreed on the handover of bodies as part of the ceasefire agreement in October.

According to the agreement, for every Israeli hostage whose remains are handed over, Israel must hand over the remains of 15 deceased Gaza residents.
In a town near Jerusalem, a growing number of houses and businesses are receiving demolition and evacuation notices, and Palestinian residents link the drive to Israel's approval of a major new settlement project.

"This is a project of total destruction for the economy and the people. It will affect everyone," said Yahya Abu Ghaliyeh, whose home in Al-Eizariya town was demolished by Israeli authorities earlier this year.

Now, the 37-year-old's car wash business is also due for demolition.

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The notices say the buildings were constructed without permits, and no official Israeli statement links the demolition orders to the settlement project.

But Palestinian residents say such permits are nearly impossible to obtain from Israel, which has occupied the West Bank since 1967.

They also link the impending demolitions to the E1 plan, one of the largest West Bank settlement projects ever approved by Israel.

The project, which aims to build approximately 3,400 housing units, will connect Jerusalem with nearby Maale Adumim, one of the largest Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

- E1 project -

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In August, Israel gave the green light to E1, a new construction project covering some 12 square kilometres (4.5 square miles) to the east of Jerusalem.

The E1 plan has been condemned by several international leaders, with the UN chief's spokesman saying it would pose an "existential threat" to a contiguous Palestinian state.

The move would further separate east Jerusalem, occupied and annexed by Israel and predominantly inhabited by Palestinians, from the West Bank.

Excluding east Jerusalem, 500,000 Israelis live in settlements throughout the West Bank. These settlements are illegal under international law.

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The E1 project includes a new road between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim, which would not be accessible from Al-Eizariya, even though it runs through the town.

Khalil Tufakji, director of cartography at Jerusalem's Arab Studies Society, told AFP the project would ensure that Palestinians "cannot use the roads designated for Israelis", describing it as "apartheid between Arabs and Jews".

People travelling between Al-Eizariya and Jerusalem would have to take a circuitous route three times longer than the present journey, he said.

- Lazarus tourism -

Al-Eizariya, which has around 22,000 residents, is also known as Bethany: the town is home to the tomb and church of Lazarus, which draw half a million tourists annually, according to Mayor Khalil Abu Rish.

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Many Palestinians, especially from east Jerusalem, shop along its four-kilometre-long shopping street, he said.

On Saturdays, people often flock to buy wedding outfits, tableware or sweets.

"The project will harm tourism," the mayor told AFP.

Al-Eizariya is bordered to the west by the separation barrier built by Israel in the early 2000s.

Last month, Israel installed a security gate at the town's eastern entrance, one of nearly a thousand gates it has placed at the entrances of Palestinian villages, towns and cities recently.

The Israeli military told AFP that it "issued demolition orders for several illegal buildings constructed in an unlicensed area that pose a threat to the area's security."

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Aviv Tatarsky, a researcher at the Israeli anti-settlement organisation Ir Amim, said no official Israeli statement linked the demolition and evacuation notices in Al-Eizariya to the E1 project.

But he believes Israel wants "to take over the land in Area C... which leads to increasing the number of settlers and displacing Palestinian communities."

Area C refers to the roughly 66 percent of the West Bank placed under Israeli civil and security control under the Oslo accords agreed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the 1990s.

- 'This is our land' -

Car wash owner Abu Ghaliyeh said: "They (the Israelis) only think of their own interests," adding: "It's as if the Palestinian community were livestock."

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"They don't care if I end up sleeping in the open.

"They are chasing away our livelihoods and that of our children," added the father of five, who employs five people.

"I've been here for 10 years, we built a customer base -- how can they ask me to evacuate?"

A few metres along the street, Naji Assakra said he received a demolition notice for his metal workshop as well, which he said supports six families.

Mohammed Matar, a Palestinian Authority official tasked with combating settlement activity, predicted that E1 would trigger a major demographic shift in the area, with Israeli settlers becoming "twice as numerous as Palestinians".

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Furthermore, "it will displace more than 24 Palestinian Bedouin communities, all of which rely on livestock", he added, and therefore land for grazing.

An Israeli court rejected an appeal filed by Israeli NGOs demanding the project's annulment.

For now, Abu Ghaliyeh insists on staying.

"I do not intend to evacuate," he said.

"This is our land: Palestinian land."

ha/lba/rjm/acc/ser
Superintendent Mike Burke, principals, assistant principals and non-unionized district staff members are getting raises and a one-time bonus through a compensation package approved by the Palm Beach County School Board on Nov. 19.

Principals and assistant principals rated highly effective will get a 1.8% pay raise and a one-time bonus of 1.5% of their salary. Those rated effective will get a raise of 1.35% along with the 1.5% bonus.

Burke and non-unionized district employees will get a 1.5% raise and a one-time bonus of 1.5%. The superintendent's salary of $371,280 would go to $376,849 with a 1.5% raise, and his one-time bonus would be $5,569.

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School board members gave Burke a perfect rating on his performance evaluation in September, underscoring how pleased they are with his leadership of the district.

The pay package is the same one the district has offered to members of the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association. The CTA, seeking a raise of 5% for its members, has rejected the district's offer, arguing it does not go far enough to help teachers make ends meet in one of the most expensive counties in the state.

Budget deficits, raises and negotiation impasse with teachers

Some 100 red T-shirt-wearing CTA members rallied outside district offices for a bigger raise and then crammed into school board chambers to urge school board members to help them. Board members heard dozens of teachers detail their financial hardships and the frustration they feel at struggling to make ends meet while being praised for helping the district maintain its "A" rating from the state.

The district, which saw its enrollment drop by about 6,000 students this year, says it is facing a budget shortfall of $40 million. It has argued that providing CTA members with a raise of 5% is "not fiscally responsible."

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The CTA has declared an impasse in its negotiations with the district, moving the dispute to a special magistrate who is expected to make a non-binding recommendation.

Not long before the teachers spoke on Nov. 19, board members approved the compensation package for principals and non-unionized district staff. The package was included on the board's consent agenda, a portion of the agenda typically limited to non-controversial items approved with no discussion at that meeting.

Information included in the details of the pay package notes that it will cost the district $5 million  $2.7 million in recurring costs and $2.3 million in one-time costs.

District officials have said it would cost $10 million to provide teachers with a 1% raise, and they noted that the district's portion of money the state appropriated for teacher raises  about $6 million  is only enough to pay for a raise of 0.6%.

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Teachers rated highly effective would get a raise of three times that amount as well as a one-time bonus of 1.5% of their salary, according to the district's last offer to the CTA. Teachers rated effective would get a raise of 1.35% and a one-time bonus of 1.5% of their salary. The package would amount to an average raise of about 1.5%.

The effective date of the raises and bonuses approved for principals and non-unionized district staff is July 1. It was not immediately clear whether those getting the raises and bonuses would get retroactive pay as well.

Wayne Washington is a journalist covering education for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County school board OKs raises, bonuses for district staff
Late passengers ran onto the tarmac at Cologne/Bonn Airport in western Germany on two occasions last week, police said on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Germany's Federal Police said three British nationals seeking to return to the United Kingdom opened an emergency door at the airport on Saturday, triggering an alarm. They were subsequently stopped by security personnel.

The incident came one day after two Romanian men smashed the glass of an emergency switch to open a door after missing boarding for their flight to Bucharest.

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The men, aged 28 and 47, ran onto the tarmac to try to board the aircraft but were held up by an airport security employee until federal police intervened.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against the men for trespassing.

The three British nationals are yet to face charges, but an airport spokesman said that opening emergency exit doors without a valid reason is prohibited.

The airport reserves the right to take legal action and is considering its options, the spokesman said.

Both groups were unable to board their flights.

A police spokesman said the fact that the two incidents occurred on consecutive days was "undoubtedly striking."
By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Space Force has awarded about a half dozen small Golden Dome contracts to build competing missile defense prototypes, kicking off a race for future deals worth tens of billions of dollars, according to two sources briefed on the matter.

The awards went to several companies including Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly, Lockheed Martin and Anduril, the sources said.

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The contracts mark a significant step forward in the Pentagon's efforts to track and destroy enemy missiles, and include prototypes of space-based interceptors and related systems. While Reuters could not determine the size of the contracts, a July Pentagon presentation seen by Reuters suggested awards for interceptor contracts would be about $120,000 each.

The contracts have not yet been publicly announced, though a Space Force spokesperson confirmed the awards, declining to name the contractors. The spokesperson said that contracts under $9 million do not need to be publicly disclosed.

Winners of these initial awards will compete for final production contracts that could be worth tens of billions of dollars.

The contracts will fund the development of competing prototypes for phase interceptors that will shoot down a missile as it enters space, and the fire control stations to coordinate the signals from satellites and help interceptors launch and find their targets.

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The Space Force awarded Northrop Grumman and Anduril contracts valued at $10 million, according to values printed in the July Pentagon presentation, the sources said.

Names of the companies that won contracts in both these award pools have not previously been reported.

The government had asked contractors to develop four different versions of interceptors to address threats at various altitudes and speeds that have yet to be awarded.

A third source said the four interceptor pools may be consolidated into three.

A Northrop spokesperson declined to comment. Anduril, Lockheed and True Anomaly did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The government has structured the various interceptor competitions with "prize pools" to incentivize rapid development. The largest pool of $340 million would be split among companies that successfully complete an on-orbit test, with first place receiving $125 million and fifth place receiving $40 million, according to the July presentation.

The ultimate prize is substantial: production contracts worth $1.8 billion to $3.4 billion annually, according to the July presentation. However, industry executives estimate it could cost between $200 million and $2 billion to build and test a single space-based interceptor prototype.

The space-based interceptor program represents a new approach to missile defense, placing weapons in orbit to destroy threats earlier in their flight path than current ground-based systems allow.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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Miles away from the negotiation tables between transport leaders and the federal government, on Lopez Portillo Avenue in Ecatepec, Juan Gabriel Sanchez recalls the times when his colleagues have fallen victim to crime.

They cut us off, steal our vehicles, and sometimes take the driverthey disappear them for one, two, or even three days sometimes they come back, and sometimes they dont.

His complaint, echoed by the sector for years, sparked a protest on Monday, November 24, that left thousands of drivers stranded and cut public transport drivers' income by up to 50%. Despite the losses, many of them supported the protest.

In an interview with La Silla Rota, Sanchez explains that road insecurity has worsened in both frequency and violence. He says his colleagues have been intercepted on routes like Arco Norte, Puebla, and Texmelucan, where armed groups block roads, seize vehicles, and detain drivers for days.

Frustration over the lack of answers led to the closure of lanes.

Some authorities tell us that blocking the roads completely is the only way to get them to listen, Sanchez says.

For the protesters, the blockade is a last resort to demand safety and a concrete plan to stop thefts and kidnappings.

While the truckers increase pressure on the government, public transport drivers are feeling the financial pain. Many people stayed home in fear of blocked roads.

Luis Leo Martinez, who drives a van between Puente de Fierro and Coacalco, estimates that he lost half his usual earnings and recalls having been robbed twice himselfespecially on the Via Morelos. Still, he supports the protest:

Theres insecurity everywhere, even in public transport.

Similarly, Roberto, a driver who usually makes about 400 pesos a day, only made 180 during the protest.

People didnt go out to work, he explains. He too has been robbed twice. The blockade is okay; there are too many robberies.

Rosendo Martinez and Marco Antonio report similar numbers. They estimate a 50% drop in passenger numbers, with many vehicles running nearly empty.

Both agree that, even though the blockade hurts them financially, the demand for security is legitimate.

Theyre the ones traveling on highways; they have the right, says Marco Antonio.

Road Blockades and Traffic Disruptions

The protest was organized by the National Association of Truckers (ANTAC), in conjunction with peasant groups like the National Front for the Rescue of the Mexican Countryside (FNRCM) and the Agricultural Peasant Movement.

The reported road closures were concentrated in several major roads in the State of Mexico and federal highways, affecting access to Mexico City.

Blockades began around 6:30 a.m. on Jose Lopez Portillo Avenue and the TexcocoLecheria federal highway, where trucks and drivers occupied central lanes.

Other blockades were reported on Arco Norte and stretches between Puebla and Texmelucan, routes that truckers have long labeled as high-risk areas due to frequent assaults and violence.

Additional demonstrations and disruptions occurred on the MexicoToluca Highway and other entry points to central Mexico.

TAMBIEN LEE: Transportistas advierten nuevos bloqueos si Segob incumple exigencias

Protests Across Several States Demand Security and Fair Prices

Protests in Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa, Guanajuato, and Tamaulipas, among other states, led to roadblocks, sit-ins, and public gatherings to demand better security, agricultural support, and solutions to local issues.

These mobilizations, led by farmers, truckers, and citizen groups, disrupted transit in key zones and pressured state governments to open dialogue tables.

Truckers Reaffirm Willingness to Talk

The National Alliance of Truckers and Freight Haulers (ANTAC) expressed its dissatisfaction, noting that although the Interior Ministry (Segob) announced the creation of dialogue spaces, none of their members have been invited.

In a statement, the organization stressed that their mobilizations are not politically motivated, but rather arise from a basic demand:

We wish we didnt have to demand something thats already our right: not to be robbed, extorted, murdered, or disappeared.

ANTAC warned that dozens of drivers are victims of crimes every day while working to support their familiesa situation that affects not only the transport sector but anyone who travels through cartel-controlled roads.

Sorry if this offends you, but every day, men and women who go to work become victims of a crime, they said.

The organization reiterated that their movement is not meant to disturb the public or confront the government.

This is not political. We promise that if you can manage to stop us from getting killed just for working, many of us would vote for you.

ANTAC reaffirmed its openness to dialogue, but only if theres a formal invitation and clear responses to their demands for safety on national routes.

TAMBIEN LEE: Pide Segob evitar megabloqueos de transportistas y productores

Raul Estrella | LSR?

Interior Ministry Says Protests Are Politically Motivated, Calls for Dialogue

Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez claimed there is no valid reason for the ongoing road blockades by farmers and truckers, which have affected multiple regions of the country in recent days.

She insisted that the federal government has maintained open and unrestricted dialogue, and said that the protests have political motives, led by figures linked to opposition parties.

At a press conferenceattended by Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegue Sacristan, Undersecretary Cesar Yanez, and Conagua Director Aaron MastacheRodriguez said the protests come from just three organizations, whose leaders, she claimed, are affiliated with or have ties to the PRI, PAN, and PRD.

VGB
For the second time in less than a week, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has given $17 million to an Oklahoma institution of higher learning.

Northeastern State University in Tahlequah announced on Nov. 24 that it had received the unrestricted gift, which is the largest in the history of the school, which traces its history to the opening of the Cherokee Female Seminary in 1851.

NSU President Rodney Hanley said the money go toward expanding academic innovation, improving student support and making upgrades to meet the needs of a growing campus.

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This transformative gift will allow NSU to expand academic programs, update facilities and create more opportunities for students to succeed and dream, Hanley said. It reflects the universitys commitment to social mobility, workforce readiness and service to the communities we call home.

On Nov. 21, Northern Oklahoma College, a community college with campuses in Tonkawa and Enid, said it had received $17 million from Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Scott pledged in 2019 to give away most of her wealth, which Bloomberg estimates to be about $39.4 billion. Since mid-October, shes given more than $790 million to more than a dozen colleges and universities, including Northern and Northeastern State.

Northeastern State is located in the same town as the headquarters of the Cherokee Nation, one of the the largest Native American tribes in the U.S. About one-third of Northeastern States 6,600 students are Native American, 32% are first-generation college students and 45% come from a background of acute financial need. About 96% of Northeastern State graduates remain in Oklahoma.

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The university ranks first nationally among four-year public institutions for both enrollment and degrees conferred to Native students. It has one of the nations top optometry schools, the Oklahoma College of Optometry. NSU also has a growing branch campus in Broken Arrow.

Hanley said the school is "incredibly thankful" for Scott's gift and "the validation of our work."

The university is governed by the Regional University System of Oklahoma Board of Regents.

"This remarkable $17 million gift represents a powerful investment in Northeastern State University's mission and, most importantly, the students we serve," Jane McDermott, the board's chair, said.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gives $17 million to Northeastern State
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Police have released new details regarding a killing spree over the weekend that left three victims dead before leading to an officer-involved shooting that killed the suspect.

The sequence of events first began early Saturday when officers from the Moore Police Department responded to a shots-fired and homicide call at an apartment complex on N. Eastern Avenue on Main Street.

When officers arrived, they found one male victim and a female victim who had been shot. The female victim died at the scene.

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The female victim was later identified as Serenity Renee, who had just celebrated her 18th birthday days before.

RELATED: Saturday killing spree ends in suspect killed by metro police

Following the shooting at the apartment complex, Moore officers responded to another incident at around 7:30 a.m. at an apartment complex near Northeast 12 Street and Eastern Avenue.

When officers arrived, they found an unresponsive man lying in the parking lot of the apartment complex after suffering a medical episode. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

While investigating the scene, detectives learned that the victim, who passed away from a medical episode, had their vehicle stolen.

Mugshot of 34-year-old Deante Hawthorne. Image courtesy Oklahoma Dept. of Corrections

Oklahoma City Police later found the vehicle at the scene of another carjacking at around 11:55 a.m., where the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Deante Hawthorne, held a victim at gunpoint before stealing that vehicle near Northwest 11th Street and May Avenue in Oklahoma City.

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At around 12:24 p.m., officers responded to a reported shooting in the 2100 block of Northeast 26th Street. When police arrived, they found that Hawthorne had shot and killed another victim, who was later identified as 44-year-old Lenox Richardson.

It is unknown at this time what led Hawthorne to shoot and kill Richardson.

Not long after, officers found Hawthorne, who was driving near Southeast 44th Street and Eastern Avenue, where he then led police on a pursuit.

The police chase ended on I-240 at Eastern Avenue after Hawthorne, who was driving the wrong way, crashed the vehicle he was driving at the time.

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After crashing, he got out of the vehicle before attempting to steal another vehicle at gunpoint from drivers who were passing by. While Hawthorne was trying to steal a vehicle, he was struck by a truck, and after getting up, was struck by another vehicle, before an Oklahoma City officer shot him at 12:51 p.m. Saturday.

Hawthorne was taken to a local hospital, where he died. The officer who shot and killed him has also been placed on routine administrative leave during the investigation process.

Prior to the killing spree, News 4 learned that Hawthorne had been arrested several times for different felonies, including a murder arrest in 2012.

According to court records, Hawthorne was arrested for a murder from years before. But ultimately, a jury would end up finding him not guilty.

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His arrests were as recent as May 2025, when he was jailed on two felony charges that began in 2016. Those two were being a felon with a firearm, and domestic assault and battery resulting in great bodily harm.

Also, according to court records, Hawthorne was in court in October for those charges and was expected to have one of the final matters, in dealing with his case, set for January 5, 2026.

The Oklahoma City Police Department said it is important that the motorists on I-240 and Eastern, who Hawthorne attempted to carjack, contact their Homicide Tip-Line at 405-297-1200.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  A political consultant who sent artificial intelligence-generated robocalls mimicking former President Joe Biden to New Hampshire Democrats said Tuesday he will not pay $22,500 to three voters despite a recent federal court order.

The order, issued Friday in a lawsuit brought by the League of Women Voters, came five months after a jury acquitted Steve Kramer of voter suppression and impersonating a candidate. In the civil case, the judge entered a default judgement after Kramer failed to appear in court.

I never responded to them because I was already acquitted on 22 counts, Kramer said in an email, insisting that the lawsuit was a publicity stunt that wasted the courts time. He also has refused to pay a $6 million fine issued by the Federal Communications Commission.

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Though jurors sided with Kramer in the criminal trial, the judge in the civil case not only ordered him to pay $7,500 to each voter who sued but banned him from engaging in the same conduct nationwide. Caren Short, director of legal and research at the League of Women Voters, described the decision as a critical precedent against the weaponization of artificial intelligence in elections.

Plaintiffs will explore further action if Kramer doesnt pay up, said Courtney Hostetler of Free Speech for People, which provided the League with legal assistance.

Mr. Kramer has shown a consistent disregard for the law and the rights of voters, she said. His plan to defy the courts order continues this pattern, and reinforces the importance of the injunction and the damages award.

Kramer, 56, of New Orleans, admitted orchestrating a message sent to thousands of voters two days before the states Jan. 23, 2024, presidential primary. Recipients heard an AI-generated voice similar to Bidens that suggested that voting in the primary would preclude voters from casting ballots in November.

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Its important that you save your vote for the November election, voters were told. Your votes make a difference in November, not this Tuesday.

Kramer, who would have faced decades in prison if convicted, testified that he wanted to send a wake-up call about the potential dangers of AI when he paid a New Orleans magician $150 to create the recording. He said he was getting frequent calls from people using AI in campaigns, and, worried about the lack of regulations, made it his New Years resolution to take action.

This is going to be my one good deed this year, he recalled while testifying in Belknap County Superior Court in June.

Kramer argued that the primary was a meaningless straw poll, and therefore the states voter suppression law didnt apply. The primary was held in defiance of the Democratic National Committee, which had dislodged New Hampshire from its traditional spot in the nominating calendar, though the state's delegates were still seated at the national convention. Biden did not put his name on the ballot or campaign there but won as a write-in.

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Lingo Telecom, the company that transmitted the calls, agreed to pay $1 million in a settlement with the FCC in August 2024. The agency, which did not respond to requests for comment, was developing AI-related rules when Donald Trump won the presidency, but it has since shown signs of a shift toward loosening regulations.

And though multiple states have enacted legislation targeting the use of video or audio content that mimics candidates in political campaigns, Trump is considering pressuring states to stop regulating artificial intelligence. Trump and some Republicans argue that such regulation will dampen innovation, while critics worry about allowing big AI companies to operate with little oversight.

On Tuesday, attorneys general in 36 states, including New Hampshire, sent a letter to Congress opposing the preemption of state laws addressing the risks of AI.
Clips showing Japanese actresses talking about their podcast and an influencer speaking about relationships have been repurposed in Chinese social media posts to give the false impression they show Indigenous Okinawans discussing the sovereignty of the region -- a recurring target of misleading claims online. Neither of the actresses nor the influencer said they were from Okinawa or that the region "does not belong to Japan".

"I come from Ryukyu Province. I am not Japanese. Its name is not Okinawa and it does not belong to Japan. Ryukyu, Diaoyu Islands and Taiwan belong to China," reads simplified Chinese text superimposed on a Douyin video shared on November 7, 2025.

The 10-second clip shows a woman speaking in Japanese and was posted with a Japanese-language caption that largely repeats the overlaid text.

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A similar Douyin clip shared on October 31 shows two Japanese-speaking women in front of a red wall with superimposed simplified Chinese text that reads: "I am Ryukyuan, not Japanese. Its name isn't Okinawa. It doesn't belong to Japan."

The region now called Okinawa was at the centre of the Ryukyuan kingdom that paid tribute to Chinese emperors until it was absorbed by Japan in 1879.

Some Chinese see historical ties as a basis for sovereignty and dismiss Japan's possession of the islands as a legacy of its aggressive expansionism that ended in defeat at the end of World War II.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first public comments on the region in June 2023, referencing China's "deep connection" to the islands, the state-run People's Daily reported (archived link).

Screenshots of the false Douyin videos captured on November 25, 2025, with red Xs added by AFP

The videos were also posted elsewhere in similar Facebook, Baidu and Weibo posts.

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"Ryukyu has long belonged to China. Go learn Chinese. We'll take it back someday," read a comment on one of the posts.

Another said: "After Taiwan merges back with us, we will free Ryukyu."

They circulated after China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, Sun Lei, called on Japan to "stop prejudice and discrimination against Okinawans and other indigenous people" (archived link).

During his address, Sun rejected accusations from countries including Japan about human rights abuses in China, and raised concerns about indigenous people in Okinawa, according to a statement published by China's mission to the United Nations on October 9.

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But the women in the circulating videos make no mention of Okinawa.

Tokyo's sovereignty over Okinawa is a frequent target of disinformation, with Japan's Nikkei newspaper reporting in October 2024 that a wave of misleading videos declaring the region as Chinese territory had flooded social media since 2023 (archived link).

Unrelated videos

A reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the first falsely shared clip led to a longer TikTok video shared by Japanese influencer Rie Ayase (archived here and here).

The false clip corresponds to the 1:20 mark of the TikTok video, where Ayase shares her views on romantic relationships, but does not mention Okinawa or China.

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"I used to be super emotionally unstable -- like, I would constantly check my boyfriend's phone and stuff. That was the kind of person I was. But then there was a period when that behaviour just stopped, and after that I became much more stable," she says in the video.

Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared video (left) and the original TikTok video (right)

A separate reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the second falsely shared clip led to an X video shared on the account of a podcast hosted by Japanese actresses Mei Hata and Nagisa Saito (archived here, here, here and here).

In the 42-second video, the pair speak about marking the first anniversary of their podcast.

"On Wednesday, February 4th, at Line Cube Shibuya, we're holding our first anniversary event, and we're collecting ideas for what you'd like us to do," they say.

Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared video (left) and the original X video (right)

AFP has also debunked similar false claims related to Japan's sovereignty over Okinawa.
PEORIA  Meteorologists are calling for a potentially "potent" winter storm to hit the Peoria area this weekend.

It is still too early for meteorologists to give a confident prediction on how much snow will fall in Peoria, but Mike Albano from the National Weather Service in Lincoln told the Journal Star a "pretty potent" winter storm will move over the Midwest late Friday into early Saturday.

"It could bring a pretty decent dump of snow to the Peoria area," Albano said.

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He said a cold front bringing "January-like chills" to the Midwest will move in this week and could bring temperatures that fall near the single digits during the week.

Accumulating snow is likely Friday night into Saturday for the region. The probability for 3 inches or more is 50 to 70 percent north of a Macomb to Champaign line, according to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, which has issued a hazardous weather outlook for more than 30 counties in central and southeast Illinois.

"Keep an eye on the forecast because there are still a few variables to be determined with this winter system, particularly with the amount of accumulating snowfall," Albano said. "... We're just emphasizing right now that folks need to keep a close eye on the forecast, it's becoming increasingly likely that there will be winter weather impacts."

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 'Pretty potent': How much snow is expected this weekend in Peoria, IL?
A swirl of abbreviated timelines, stifled public input, and fewer opportunities for deliberation or review of legislation marked this month's special legislative session. (Photo: Jeniffer Solis/Nevada Current)

Rank-and-file lawmakers, lobbyists, and issue advocates repeatedly criticized the chaotic nature of a week-long special session that saw the demise of a Democratic-sponsored plan to publicly subsidize the film industry and the passage of Republican Gov. Joe Lombardos amended crime bill.

Underlying the session was frustration, anger, and confusion caused by a legislative process wherein rules sometimes seemed to alternate between capricious and optional.

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At times, the special session also shelved transparency in a swirl of abbreviated timelines, stifled public input, and fewer opportunities for deliberation or review of legislation. And all for what several legislators characterized as bills that did not warrant a special session.

Assemblymember Jill Dickman (R-Sparks) summed up that sentiment during a hearing when she explained lawmakers were speeding through the film industry subsidy bill during a special session not because its urgent, but because someone wants it rushed.

Michelle Rindels, the president of Nevada Open Government Coalition and co-editor of the Nevada Independent, said the sheer volume of different topics and bills covered during the special session was surprising and unusual compared to previous special sessions which were more limited in scope.

There were about 20 different items they were considering and several surprise additional items came on after the fact, Rindels said. This had multiple committees going on at the same time, which just makes it hard for anyone to follow.

Transparency shortage

The Nevada Legislature is exempt from open meeting laws, making transparency issues common, but that can be exacerbated during special sessions.

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Everyday Nevadans were cut out of the process when Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager (D-Las Vegas) made the decision not to permit telephonic testimony for Assembly hearings. Two of the most contentious bills during the special session, the film subsidy and crime bills, were both Assembly bills, meaning they were heard in that chamber first. Both bills attracted hours of public comment when they were first introduced during the regular session.

During a committee hearing, Assemblymember Tracy Brown-May (D-Las Vegas) explained the decision was made due to a staffing shortage in the Assembly. It was a major departure from public comment processes established over the last several sessions, a deviation which advocates argued harshly excluded the publics access and inclusion as lawmakers considered large, and in the case of the film bill, extremely costly policy issues.

The Nevada Assembly Democratic Caucus did not respond to emailed questions about why telephonic testimony was not permitted in Assembly hearings.

Other lawmakers, like Assemblymember Selena La Rue Hatch (D-Reno), said they werent convinced the decision to limit telephonic testimony was due to a staffing shortage. The state Senate, which shares a lot of the same staff as the Assembly, did allow testimony over the phone despite working with similar limitations.

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The fact that the Senate was able to have phones shows that we had that ability. This was a deliberate decision by leadership on the Assembly side to not allow phone testimony, La Rue Hatch said.

It was a way to silence some of the dissent that would be coming from the public, and I think there was an attempt to try to slide things through quickly during a special session when people werent paying attention, she said.

Advocates and lawmakers also criticized the lack of accommodation and transparency for Spanish speakers, who were not provided translation services as they typically are during a regular session.

Assemblymember Cecelia Gonzalez (D-Las Vegas), the chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus, said special sessions require staff to be available on short notice which can create staffing gaps, especially among certified interpreters. The absence of translation services has a clear chilling effect on public participation, Gonzalez said.



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This session was initiated so abruptly, there was little time to prepare, and no alternative plan was implemented to ensure Spanish-speaking Nevadans could participate. It shouldve been something considered by leadership as well, as they set the decisions for the special session, Gonzalez said.



Advocates echoed those concerns. John Piro, representing Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice, told lawmakers during a hearing on the crime bill that last session we had hours of opposition, and cutting the phones off has now cut off hours of opposition for this bill.

Dont let the limited amount of working class people that could make it here today be an example of everybody else that opposes this bill, he continued.

Situational rules

Disagreements over how the special session was handled by Assembly leadership also extended to the manner and content of legislation leadership decided to introduce. Yeager and Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui (D-Las Vegas) introduced a resolution calling for a study of immigration enforcement operations in the state without consulting the Latino Legislative Caucus, which blasted it as a bill thats gonna do nothing.

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Details for nearly all the bills being considered during the special session werent available until the day before the session, when Lombardo released his official proclamation, which he announced less than 24 hours before lawmakers were scheduled to convene.

Lack of transparency intensified as the session progressed. In the final days of hearings, committees rarely notified the public of planned action on significant legislation. Instead, agendas were filled with references to Possible committee Bill Hearings and Possible committee Bill introductions.

We didnt see any of the bills before we got to session, which meant as soon as they got introduced, thats the first time we saw them, and then we would be given an hour or two notice at most that a bill was coming up for a hearing, La Rue Hatch said.

In the final hours of the special session, Democrats introduced a resolution to enshrine universal mail-in ballots in the Nevada State Constitution.

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Also on the final day, a bipartisan supermajority of state lawmakers petitioned to add their own topic to an ongoing special session: a bill that would limit cash-rich corporate investors from bulk buying housing.

Conflicts between rank-and-file Assembly lawmakers and leadership heightened when Yeager allowed Assemblymembers. Brian Hibbetts (R-Las Vegas) and Heidi Kasama (R-Las Vegas) to vote remotely on the contentious film subsidy bill. The two Republican lawmakers votes were critical to the Assemblys narrow passage of the bill, 22-20.

The chambers procedural rules permit remote voting under exceptional circumstances.

On the Assembly floor, Selena Torres-Fossett (D-Las Vegas) questioned whether Hibbetts and Kasama preparing for vacation was truly an exceptional circumstance.

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Torres-Fossett and others attempted to override Yeagers decision but failed on a 19- 21 vote.

La Rue Hatch, who voted to appeal Yeagers decision, called it hypocritical.

The fact that we are allowing lawmakers to participate remotely, but not allowing the ordinary public is an unacceptable double standard. You are either letting everybody call in or youre letting nobody call in, but the fact that we are going to bend the rules when it is convenient for a vote is not appropriate, she said.

I think those allowances were made because the speaker wanted the film bill to pass, and he was willing to break the rules of the Assembly to make it happen, she continued.

No sit down conversations

Several attorneys in Nevada also raised concerns about ramming complex legislation, like the crime bill, through during a shortened special session.

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Paloma Guerrero, Deputy Public Defender at Clark County Public Defenders Office, said they had major concerns about language surrounding social media in the crime bill, but werent able to work with the governors office on an amendment that addressed their concerns.

They said that there was an amendment coming. We didnt see the language until it was presented to the committee. So theres just been no sit down conversations, which is how any sort of big change in law should be done, Paloma said. There was just none of that with the governors office bills.

Tim Robb, the governors homeland security adviser, said during an Assembly hearing that with the timeframes we were working under during the special session Lombardos team was not able to get this language in front of them through approval processes we have on our end.

Paloma suggested the legislative failure to consult public defenders analysis of the social media amendment to the bill probably rendered that portion of the legislation vulnerable to a legal challenge.

The language ended up being worse than what we had first issues with, with the like, the first version of it, Paloma said. They just want to push the language through without any sort of input. And thats just not how the legislative process should work.
Whether its an organized event publicized on social media or simply two teens at a stop light with a point to prove, street racing in the Tampa Bay area has proved to be a dangerous pastime.

Street racing has played a role in several high-profile tragedies over the years, including an Ybor City crash earlier this month that killed four people and injured 13. It occurred minutes after police said a helicopter captured video of a Toyota Camry whizzing alongside another car on Interstate 275. Police relayed over the radio that the driver was racing on the highway, which led to a pursuit by the Florida Highway Patrol that ended with the crash.

In Pinellas County, a jury earlier this year convicted a 23-year-old motorcyclist for the 2023 death of a 13-year-old boy at a street racing event. The boy was crossing 28th Street North in St. Petersburg, a once-popular racing spot, when he was hit and killed by the motorcyclist, who was going more than 88 mph. The driver was sentenced to seven years in prison.

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According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there have been 1,803 citations for street racing-related offenses in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties since 2018.

Local law enforcement agencies in recent years have launched a number of efforts to rein in organized street racing. Operation Keep Our Streets, a multiagency crackdown last year, aimed to curtail dangerous driving on the Gandy Bridge and the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

The operation resulted in hundreds of traffic citations and traffic warnings. It also led to five arrests for driving under the influence and two for street racing.

This coincided with a statelaw that went into effect last year that increased the maximum fines for those participating in street racing or roadway takeovers. The law made second violations a third-degree felonypunishable by up to a year in jail, and it raised fines for spectators from $60 to $400.

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A 2022 law also enabled police to use social media posts from street takeovers to track down those involved based on the vehicles, license plates or people filmed.

Lt. Jason Levey, head of the St. Petersburg Police Departments traffic section, said the city has seen little to no organized street racing since it launched enforcement operations after the 2023 crashthat killed the boy.

While there have been sporadic cases of racing offenses, Levey said its likely that street racing groups have simply moved to other parts of the state.

We havent seen those big gatherings like we have in the past, Levey said. Unfortunately, I think its just been displaced.

Records show St. Pete police have made nine arrests for racing so far this year, compared to 15 in 2024 and 19 in 2023.

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I just think you need to be out there and have a presence, Levey said.

The Pinellas County Sheriffs Office made 17 arrests for racing in 2023 and nine in 2024.

Four have been made this year.

Tampa police made 10 arrests for racing on highways in 2023 and 15 last year.

According to Tampa Police Department records, 10 arrests for racing have been made so far this year.

The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office could not immediately provide data for its arrests on street racing-related charges.

Floridas new super speeder law, which went into effect July 1, beefed up the penalties for driving 50 mph over the speed limit or over 100 mph in a manner that threatens others safety.

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Instead of simply being issued a ticket, speeders are required to appear in court. Officers are also permitted to arrest those drivers on the spot.

A first conviction under the law can lead to a maximum of 30 days in jail, a $500 fine or both. A second conviction doubles the fine and can lead to up to 90 days in jail.

Offenders who violate the law twice within five years will have their license revoked for at least 180 days and up to one year.

While the law is designed to punish all types of extreme speeding, police believe it can be another way to deter street racing.

The law is another tool in the belt that St. Pete police have used in instances of speeding 15 times this year,Levey said.

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Pinellas deputies have arrested five speeders under the law since its rollout.

Unplanned street racing, often instigated by the revving of engines in a show of machismo, is a phenomenon law enforcement has found more difficult to combat.

Its very hard for police to nail down when its spontaneous, said Lili Trujillo Puckett, executive director of the national nonprofit Street Racing Kills.

Puckett founded the advocacy organization after her 16-year-old daughter was killed in a street racing incident in California in 2013. She commends efforts by law enforcement and state legislatures to curb street racing, but she says educating young drivers about the consequences for communities is crucial.

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Its just about winning, Puckett said of street racing. Its not about if Im going to come back home.

Puckett pointed to the influence of social media and the ease with which young people can modify cars as factors contributing to the problem.

According tostate data, almost 70% of all street racing-related citations were issued to people between the ages of 16 and 24.

Theres a lot being done, Puckett said. But we need to do more.
Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, and House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, talk to reporters during a press conference at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Marco Lozzi for Utah News Dispatch)

Calling Utahs new court-ordered congressional map that creates a Democratic-leaning district the most gerrymandered map in the history of the state of Utah, Utahs Republican legislators are digging in in their fight against the judges ruling.

House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, and Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, held a news conference at the Utah Capitol on Tuesday  with dozens of GOP legislators from both the House and Senate at their backs  to announce they plan to appeal 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibsons decision to the Utah Supreme Court.

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Its deeply concerning that an unelected judge overrode the Utah Constitution  and silenced Utahns by imposing a map without public input, Adams said, arguing that the map she picked, drawn by the plaintiffs in a redistricting lawsuit against the state, didnt follow a public process.

Additionally, the legislative leaders announced they are gearing up for a special session expected to be held Dec. 9 to consider their legislative options to ensure the states election system has clarity ahead of the 2026 election.

The agenda for that special session is still being decided, legislative leaders said. But lawmakers plan to also consider putting a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot to ask voters whether to clarify when lawmakers can make changes to laws enacted by ballot initiatives.

During the special session, lawmakers may weigh delaying candidate filing deadlines in order to allow more time for a different congressional map to be enacted for the 2026 election  but the special sessions agenda hasnt yet been finalized, according to Gov. Spencer Cox, who will be issuing the call.

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Were still working through the details of what will be on that call, Cox told reporters during his PBS Utah press conference Tuesday, though he added that hes supportive of appealing Gibsons ruling, as well as efforts to extend election deadlines to allow time for the appeal.

Even moreso, the governor said hes supportive of lawmakers efforts to pursue a constitutional amendment to put limits on the power of voter-approved ballot initiatives.

I have deep, deep concerns about a state that is run via direct democracy, Cox said, pointing to states like California and Oregon, where he said you just see constant ballot initiatives and its just not a great way to govern.

Im less worried about redistricting than I am about that piece, the governor added.

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Democrats in the Utah House and Senate issued a joint statement after Tuesdays press conference condemning the call for a special session next month, saying we continue to believe that Judge Gibsons ruling should be respected.

The Legislatures map failed to comply with Proposition 4, and the court selected the map that did meet the laws requirements, House and Senate Democrats said. It is fiscally irresponsible to use tax payer dollars to fight this legal battle, which undermines the will of Utah voters. Utahns deserve to know their voices matter and their representatives do not choose their voters.

How did we get here?

Utahs Republican lawmakers have accused Gibson of violating the Utah Constitution when she picked a map that wasnt adopted by the Utah Legislature, which GOP lawmakers continue to argue  despite multiple court rulings against them in the states yearslong redistricting court battle  has the sole authority to redistrict.

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Plaintiffs in the states redistricting lawsuit have pointed to court proceedings in other states and argued the courts have a duty to intervene and select remedial maps when they determine lawmakers have failed to follow the law. But Republican lawmakers contend the judge should have gone another route, like asking the Legislature to vote on an alternative, rather than picking a map and sidelining the Legislature.

Now, Adams and Schultz said county clerks and candidates are facing chaos and confusion over the new maps boundaries.

Utahns deserve a process thats stable, transparent and accountable. One in which decisions are made with respect to the constitutional roles of each branch of government, Adams said. Unfortunately, the courts have created confusion for our communities, candidates and for Utahns across the state.

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, announces Republican lawmakers plans to appeal the states court-ordered congressional map to the Utah Supreme Court during a news conference at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Marco Lozzi for Utah News Dispatch)

The lawsuits plaintiffs and Utah Democrats have celebrated the map selected by Gibson as one that most closely follows Proposition 4s neutral map-drawing criteria and reflects Utahs political geography with a district that best represents Utahs urban core in Salt Lake County. But the maps critics argue it created four uncompetitive districts that lead to skewed partisan results in a state thats dominated by a statewide majority of Republican voters.

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By design or by default, Judge Gibson has authorized the most partisan and thus the most gerrymandered map in the history of the state, Adams said. I assume she didnt intend or set out to gerrymander herself. But anyone who looks at the donut hole map sees very clearly its gerrymandered. Yes, Judge Gibson gave us a gerrymandered map.

Thats why, Adams continued, were appealing to the Utah Supreme Court and preparing the appeal right now.

As of Tuesday morning, Gibson hadnt yet issued her final legal analysis and ruling on a request from the Legislatures attorneys to push pause on the map she selected earlier this month. Adams said attorneys are waiting for that final ruling to be issued before submitting their appeal to the Utah Supreme Court.

We urge the district court to issue its final ruling quickly so we can use all the options and tools available to us as we appeal that decision to the Supreme Court, Adams said.

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Tuesdays press conference was the latest show of force from Utahs Republican-controlled Legislature as conservative lawmakers continue to protest the court-ordered redistricting process meant to remedy the states 2021 congressional map, which Gibson in an August ruling determined was the result of an unconstitutional process.

That year, the Utah Legislature adopted a map with four safe Republican congressional districts after it undid a 2018 voter-approved ballot initiative known as Proposition 4, which was meant to implement an independent redistricting process. That prompted pro-democracy groups including the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government to sue, alleging the map was a blatant gerrymander and that lawmakers violated Utahns right to alter and reform their form of government through a ballot initiative.

Gibson initially dismissed that lawsuit, but in a ruling last summer, the Utah Supreme Court sent the case back to her courtroom, determining in a unanimous opinion that she erred. That opinion made clear that the Utah Legislatures power to change government reform ballot initiatives has limits.

Another attempt at a constitutional amendment

Its not the first time Utahs Republican legislators have tried to ask voters to amend the Utah Constitution after that Utah Supreme Court ruling, which Schultz and Adams have criticized as a decision that effectively created problematic super laws that cant be changed by lawmakers.

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Last year, the Republican supermajority Legislature tried to put a controversial question on the 2024 November ballot known as Amendment D. If approved by voters, that amendment would have effectively sidestepped the Utah Supreme Courts interpretation of the Utah Constitution that limited the Legislatures powers to repeal and replace government-reform ballot initiatives and instead rewrite the constitution to cement lawmakers power to override any voter-approved ballot initiative.

However, the courts ultimately voided Amendment D from the ballot after determining its ballot language  written by Schultz and Adams  did not explain its effect accurately and that lawmakers failed to meet constitutional publishing requirements.

Elizabeth Rasmussen, executive director of the anti-gerrymandering group Better Boundaries, said after lawmakers press conference Tuesday that it feels like we are repeating what the Legislature tried with Amendment D in 2024.

Instead of taking a closer look at the concerns Utahns have voiced about representation, were seeing recycled ideas that narrow the publics role, Rasmussen said in a statement. Ballot initiatives are already a last resort for people who dont feel heard. Trust in government is low, and proposals like this dont rebuild it. If this goes to the ballot, Utahns will decide whether it strengthens their voice or shifts more authority to the Legislature.

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When asked how the new proposed ballot initiative will differ from Amendment D, Schultz told reporters, Were not going to get into that right now because that process is a separate process that will play out.

Lawmakers could pass a resolution to put the question on the 2026 November ballot either during the Dec. 9 special session or during the 2026 general session scheduled to begin in January. Its not yet clear exactly when they intend to consider it, but Schultz and Adams were adamant about posing the question to voters.

I can just tell you that we need to let the people speak, Adams said. Weve done what we can in the courts. Weve gone to the courts over and over and over again. Its time that people have a chance to speak.

Will lawmakers pursue impeachment?

As part of the outcry from Gibsons map decision, some lawmakers have suggested that her actions could amount to malfeasance, and at least one legislator, Rep. Matt MacPherson, R-West Valley City, said he planned to file articles of impeachment against her.

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But when asked whether lawmakers planned to consider impeaching Gibson during their Dec. 9 special session or during their 2026 general session, Schultz told reporters, No, were not focused on that right now.

Our focus right now is standing to get the peoples voice back, and to find a pathway forward so the people are the ones choosing the maps, not one judge, Schultz said.

The speaker said the Utah Constitution says the Utah Legislature shall divide the state into congressional, legislative and other districts accordingly.

Upholding our constitutional oath means taking responsibility for this task and ensuring Utahns  not outside interest groups, national organizations and last minute court interventions shapes Utahs future, Schultz said.

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He argued the issue doesnt boil down to a power struggle between the Legislature and the judiciary  but rather how seriously we as elected officials take our responsibility to represent the people of Utah.

This is not a turf war, he said. Its about the trust Utahns have placed in us to carry out the most fundamental constitutional duties.

MacPherson told Utah News Dispatch in an interview after Tuesdays news conference that he wants to wait and see how the Legislatures appeal and the special session goes before deciding whether to pursue articles of impeachment against Gibson.

I dont want to muddy the waters, he said. The important thing right now is that we fix whats broken. And I think we can get there through this process. And if not, we still have these tools available. They dont go away.

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MacPherson noted there has to be enough support from both the House and the Senate to proceed with an impeachment effort.

Additionally, MacPherson said hes talked with people in different areas of the judiciary that have had their eyebrows raised because of Gibsons map ruling and the precedent it sets.

The last thing we would really want is to unify the judiciary (in) a battle between branches of government, he said.

MacPherson said he and legislative leaders think Gibson has violated the Utah Constitution and separation of powers  but whether that amounts to an impeachable offense is still an outstanding question.

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This judge has chosen a process outside of the constitutional order, he said. Whether or not my colleagues believe that rises to the level of impeachment, thats a question that would be determined (later on). And whether or not this will play out, either way, I dont know whether or not that will lead to me proceeding or not. Im not sure.

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, announces Republican lawmakers plans to appeal the states court-ordered congressional map to the Utah Supreme Court during a news conference at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Marco Lozzi for Utah News Dispatch)

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COLUMBUS  State Representative Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County) recently voted in support House Bill 486, the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act.

According to a press release from Pizzulli's office, the legislation that works to preserve the ability for educators to discuss the positive impact of religion on American history, highlighting its consistency with freedom of speech and emphasizing how imperative it is to reduce politically motivated hate and violence in society.

This legislation was developed following the tragic death of conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk.

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I applaud the Turning Point chapter at Shawnee State University for encouraging open dialogue on campus, said Pizzulli. Every teacher and student should feel free to speak about religion in a factual and historical context. This bill reaffirms that freedom.

Under the bill, the General Assembly declares that:

The teaching of the historical and positive impact of religion on American history is consistent with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. An accurate and historical account of the influence of Christianity on the freedom and liberties ingrained in our culture is imperative to reducing ignorance of American history, hate, and violence within our society.

Accurate historical instruction regarding verifiable, historical impacts of religion on American history is factual and is not proselytization or a violation of the First Amendment.

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According to the release, the bill reaffirms that teachers in public schools and state institutions of higher education, when teaching American history, can include instruction on the positive impacts of religion on American history.

House Bill 486 now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths latest crusadea bizarre Pentagon investigation into Sen. Mark Kellytriggered immediate blowback, including from inside his own party.

Even Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon, a retired military officer, has decided hes seen enough, branding the spectacle amateur hour once again at the Department of Dense.

Hegseth, who now calls himself the Secretary of War as part of his attempted makeover of the Defense Department, ordered the probe after Navy veteran Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers appeared in a minute-long video urging service members to refuse illegal orders.

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The groupSens. Elissa Slotkin and Kelly, and Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, and Jason Crowtold troops that no one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution.

Rep. Don Bacon is sick of Hegseth's stunts. / Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

Kelly defended himself to Rachel Maddow on MS NOW. He rattled off his resume of near-death encountersmissiles exploding next to his aircraft, multiple near shoot-downs, and four trips to space built by the lowest bidderbefore invoking the 2011 assassination attempt on his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords. We know what political violence is, he said. And we know what causes it, too. The statement that Donald Trump made is inciteful.

Republicans may not have loved the Democrats video, but several seem even less impressed by the Trump-Hegseth scorched-earth response. Enter Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and retired military officer who publicly blasted the Pentagons escalation. I thought the video by six Dems was unnecessary and foolish, he wrote on X. But the threats of sedition charges and courts martial in response are also crazy.

One respondent to Bacons post suggested lawmakers seemingly sowing dissent could lead to instability. Bacon shared the sober view that what the gaggle of lawmakers called for is actually run-of-the-mill.

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We all have to decide if an order is illegal. We are trained to not follow illegal orders, he asserted. In another reply, he said, I think good to criticize... but dumb to be talking courts martial.

One respondent proffered that, Calls for insurrection are serious, actually! He replied, They said dont follow illegal orders. That is the law by the way. It was dumb and unnecessary video, but good luck prosecuting someone who is quoting the law. The Administration should have just pointed out how dumb it was. The threats looked dumber.

Bacon's tweet targeting Pete Hegseth's department. / Rep. Don Bacon/X

Several accounts came at Bacon from a similar angle, but he stuck to his guns. Lets show some common sense and restraint, Bacon signed off his original post.

Restraint wasnt exactly President Donald Trumps instinct, however. The president erupted after the lawmakers video circulated, fixating on capital punishment. He accused the Democrats of SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH, amplifying a user who urged him to go get all those traitorous sons of b-----s for sedition at the very least. Another repost, also highlighted by the president, declared: These pompous traitorous communists should be impeached and prosecuted.

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The political theatrics arrived as Trump continues to pressure the Pentagon and intelligence community to align more closely with his directives. Kelly has become a target of the administration, but it might not have hurt his potential bid for a 2028 presidential run.

Sen. Mark Kelly is one of the six Democratic lawmakers who enraged President Donald Trump. / Kent Nishimura / Getty Images

Kelly has not ruled out such a run. In July, CNNs Jake Tapper pressed the Arizona senator on why hes suddenly popping up in Pennsylvania and Michigan, two states any future White House hopeful would be foolish to ignore. Yes or no: Are you considering running for president in 2028? Tapper asked.

Kelly dodged. That is a good question, he said, before refusing to give the yes-or-no answer Tapper repeatedly invited. He insisted hes focused on his day job and getting the word out to the American people.

Kellywho made the shortlist to be Kamala Harriss running mate in 2024pointed instead to Democrats dismal polling and said hes concentrating on trying to improve it.
Fitter bodies and muscles could keep brains young and fit, too, a new study suggests.

"Healthier bodies with more muscle mass and less hidden belly fat are more likely to have healthier, youthful brains," said study senior author Dr. Cyrus Raji, associate professor of radiology and neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.

"While it is commonly known that chronological aging translates to loss of muscle mass and increased hidden belly fat, this work shows that these health measures relate to brain aging itself," Raji noted. "It shows muscle and fat mass quantified in the body are key reflectors of brain health, as tracked with brain aging."

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His team analyzed the whole-body MRI images of almost 1,200 healthy adults to pinpoint the ideal "body profile" for healthy brain aging.

They will report their findings next week in Chicago at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

Speaking in an RSNA news release, Raji said there's long been "widely held hypotheses about the association between body composition biomarkers and brain health."

In the new study, his team collected whole-body MRI scans of 1,164 healthy men and women who averaged about 55 years of age.

They combined the MRI data with another technology that allows tissues to show up as bright in areas of fat deposition, and dark in fluid-rich areas.

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AI algorithms were then used to quantify each person's level of muscle and fat (both fat under the skin and fat collecting around organs), as well as their estimated "brain age."

An ideal body profile emerged.

"The participants with more muscle tended to have younger-looking brains, while those with more hidden belly fat relative to their muscle had older-looking brains," Raji said. "The fat just under the skin wasn't related to brain aging. In short, more muscle and a lower visceral [belly] fat to muscle ratio were linked to a younger brain."

That could have wide ranging implications for brain health, he added.

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"Better brain health, in turn, lowers the risk for future brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's," Raji said.

He pointed out that people have control over their body profile.

"Losing fat -- especially visceral fat -- while preserving muscle volume would have the best benefit on brain aging and brain health," he said.

Of course, the advent of GLP-1 weight-loss medications mean many people will turn to those drugs to help them shed excess fat.

However, according to the study authors, GLP-1s can also shrink muscle volume.

It's possible that findings like the ones from this study might help in the development of GLP-1 meds that target visceral fat specifically and have minimal impact on muscle, Raji said.

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They study might also "help determine the optimal dosing regimens for GLP-1s to achieve the best outcomes in body and brain health," he said.

Because these findings were presented at a medical meeting, they should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More information

Find out more about keeping the brain healthy with age at the American Brain Foundation.

Copyright  2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
As fossil fuel projects continue across Africa, activists warn that we may see the repetition of a familiar cycle  one in which local communities bear the costs while profits flow abroad. Among those pushing back is Ugandan activist Hilda Nakabuye, who told EUobserver, "We've seen this before."

Nakabuye's warning centers on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, or EACOP. It's a 1,443-kilometer (or 897-mile) project led by France's TotalEnergies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

The heated pipeline is set to move oil from Uganda's Lake Albert to Tanzania's coast, cutting through farms, wetlands, and wildlife corridors. Proponents see it as a path to economic growth, but Nakabuye and other critics say it threatens to displace tens of thousands of people, cause widespread contamination through potential leaks, and accelerate the rise of global temperatures. The Guardian reported in April that already around 13,000 people had been displaced.

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"In my home village, people are already displaced, their incomes and livelihoods affected, unacceptable risks to water resources, biodiversity and natural habitats," Nakabuye previously said, per StopEACOP.

Indeed, Nakabuye's connection to the issue is personal. She grew up in Masaka in southern Uganda, where her family relied on farming until worsening droughts and unpredictable rains  intensified by rising temperatures  destroyed their crops. The loss forced the family to relocate to Kampala, according to EUobserver. There, Nakabuye found her purpose in environmental activism.

In 2019, Nakabuye told the outlet, she was inspired by Greta Thunberg's school strikes and founded Fridays for Future Uganda as a result. The organization is a youth-led movement focused on climate education and community action.

The group has since grown to more than 53,000 members, organizing strikes and campaigns that target EACOP financiers. Their efforts helped convince major banks to withdraw support for the project over environmental and human rights concerns. Those decisions stalled key funding talks, marking a major win for Uganda's youth movement.

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Last winter, StopEACOP quoted Nakabuye as describing fossil fuel expansion as "a mockery for the existence of generations to come." Meanwhile, her group's activism comes with real risks.

"We've seen arrests, detentions, even kidnappings," Nakabuye told EUobserver, describing the growing pressure on environmental defenders. Despite that danger, and even as EACOP appears to move ahead, Nakabuye continues to push for renewable energy investments that protect both people and ecosystems while rejecting what she calls the "greenwashing" of carbon markets promoted by Western donors.

As European leaders look to Africa's resource wealth to fuel their own industries, Nakabuye remains wary of partnerships that promise development but deliver little local benefit. Even so, she sees hope in Africa's expanding youth-led climate movement.

"We share events, opportunities, and media spaces. We support each other. We're pushing for global decisions together," Nakabuye said.

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Through this shared effort, Nakabuye and her peers aim to ensure that Africa's path forward isn't mired in the colonial extractivism it has experienced in the past and that more natural resources are retained by and protected for its residents.



Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices  and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson was released from the hospital Monday, his family announced, after spending nearly a week in the intensive care unit.

Jackson, 84, was hospitalized for 12 days at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he underwent care for progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurological condition that affects balance, walking and speech. The Rainbow PUSH Organization said Jackson was receiving treatment to manage his blood pressure.

"Our family would like to thank the countless friends and supporters who have reached out, visited and prayed for our father," said Yusef Jackson, son and family spokesperson.

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"We bear witness to the fact that prayer works and would also like to thank the professional, caring and amazing medical and security staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. We humbly ask for your continued prayers throughout this precious time."

Jackson was admitted to the hospital on Nov. 12, and was moved out of intensive care five days later.

Last week, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Jackson in the hospital.

Jackson became a symbol of civil rights activism in Chicago during the 1960s, through his work with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000 by former President Clinton.

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Over the past decade, Jackson has been suffering with PSP, but the neurological condition was not diagnosed until April after he had been misdiagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

PSP, which is rare, gets progressively worse with no cure. The symptoms include trouble with walking and balance, abnormal speech, memory problems, tremor and difficulty with eye movement.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, one in 20,000 people has PSP but only one in 100,000 is diagnosed with the neurological disorder every year.
By Joseph Ax

(Reuters) -In a reversal, Indiana Republicans will meet in December to consider whether to heed President Donald Trump's demand for a new congressional district map favoring Republican candidates, part of his national effort aimed at keeping control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Republican speaker of the state House of Representatives, Todd Huston, said on Tuesday that his chamber would convene on December 1 to take up redistricting. The state Senate's Republican leader, Rodric Bray, said soon after that the Senate would return to the capitol a week later to take up any plan that the House passes.

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Bray had previously said the Senate would not meet in December because there was not enough support to pass a new map, seemingly ending Trump's push.

The president has demanded that Republican-led states redraw their congressional districts to favor Republicans and protect the partys narrow majority in the House of Representatives in next years midterm elections.

His effort has triggered a rare cycle of mid-decade redistricting, with both Republican-led states like Texas and Democratic-controlled states like California advancing new maps in a seesaw battle over the House.

Typically, redistricting only occurs at the start of each decade, based on data from the U.S. Census.

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In Indiana, it was not clear on Tuesday whether recalcitrant Republican senators had changed their minds about redistricting. Trump has mounted an intense pressure campaign threatening to back Republican primary challengers to any lawmaker who votes against a new map.

In a lengthy social media post on Tuesday, Trump repeated his threat and said he hoped "the Senate finds the votes."

Democrats only need to flip three Republican-held seats next year to secure a House majority, so even small shifts in congressional maps could have an outsized impact on the 2026 elections.

Republicans control seven of Indianas nine U.S. House seats.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks with reporters outside of Terrace Hill in Des Moines Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday that a property tax freeze for seniors is one of the things her campaign is looking at as it devises how to reduce property taxes in the state.

Reynolds also spoke about the states request for a unified allocation of education funding and decision not to privatize health care for the Iowa Department of Corrections.

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Speaking to reporters outside of Terrace Hill in Des Moines following a ceremony pardoning Thanksgiving turkeys, Reynolds said she has heard from older Iowans across the state that are having a hard time making ends meet between ballooning property taxes and increases to health care premiums.

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Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who is running for governor in 2026, have pitched the idea of a property tax freeze for seniors.

Reynolds said this is one strategy she is considering.

We have to see what the numbers look like, Reynolds said. We cant shift it to the state, thats not property tax relief  it has to be sustainable. We have to think differently about how were delivering services to Iowans and theres a lot of opportunity out there to do that.

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Reynolds, approaching her final year as governor, has said reducing property taxes in the state is her focus for the 2026 legislative session.

Ive done a lot of hard things, but theres a reason that its last, Reynolds said about her planned task. Theres a reason that it hasnt been done.

Unified allocation

Iowa was the first state in the nation to file a unified allocation plan, which the state said seeks to align federal education programs and resources with state and local priorities.

Reynolds said the plan would help to eliminate some of the bureaucracy between federal resources and state education programming.

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The plan aligns with President Donald Trumps and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahons plans to dismantle the federal education department and instead send funding to the states.

Reynolds said Tuesday she is really excited about the unified allocation plan. She said it will help reduce some of the manpower required for programs at the state and local levels to apply for and receive federal funding.

We really have realigned and strengthened our accountability system, the assessment system, and so we are in a really good place to be one of the first states to be able to do this, Reynolds said.

Department of Corrections to continue its own health care system

In July, the Iowa Department of Corrections issued a request for proposals to contract a private company for health care services at state prisons. The department announced in late November it was not planning to move forward with plans to privatize.

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Reynolds said Tuesday the exploration was part of a process to verify that the current system made the most sense financially.

Were always looking at just making sure that were using taxpayer dollars wisely, and that were being the most effective and efficient at providing these services, Reynolds said.

Reynolds said she feels good about the decision to stay with the DOC rather than privatize, because the state explored its options.

People shouldnt think that just because we are looking that it means its going to stop, or were going to eliminate or were going to change course, Reynolds said. We should constantly be looking at how we can do things better, and never be afraid of being better at what were doing, because these are taxpayer dollars that were utilizing.

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Nov. 25The people overseeing the region's two airports don't anticipate any major issues with flights in this area during the busy Thanksgiving travel season even though a pipeline that delivers jet fuel to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is shut down.

"The gas line outage hasn't caused any impact to (Lewiston) flights," Michael Isaacs, director of the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport, said in an email.

Tony Bean, executive director of the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport, had a similar take.

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"We have no impacts at all," he said.

The SeaTac airport plays an important role for commercial air travelers in the region. Both airports have direct flights to Seattle, which is a major hub where many passengers connect to other destinations. Pullman's flights are on Alaska Airlines and Lewiston's are on Delta.

Pullman also has nonstop service to Boise and Lewiston has direct flights to Salt Lake City.

Airlines are using a number of strategies at SeaTac after a leak was discovered in the Olympic Pipeline near Everett on Nov. 11 during routine maintenance.

Last week, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson issued an emergency proclamation that temporarily suspended state regulations limiting the number of hours commercial motor vehicle operators could drive when transporting jet fuel while maintaining safe practices.

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Alaska Airlines, Bean said, is tankering fuel on inbound flights to SeaTac while Delta stated it is transporting extra fuel on tanker trucks.

With tankering, an airplane heading to Seattle from somewhere like the East Coast might land in Montana or Idaho and take on as much fuel as possible before proceeding to Seattle to limit how much fuel it would need in Seattle, Bean said.

Delta spokesperson stated late last week the airline is closely monitoring the fuel supply at SeaTac.

"Customers will hear from Delta as the situation evolves and they are encouraged to check the status of their flights on the Fly Delta app or on delta.com before departing for the airport," according to the email.

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As the aviation community tracks what's happening with the pipeline, Isaacs and Bean said they don't anticipate further challenges for travelers stemming from the government shutdown that ended Nov. 12.

Operations at both airports ran normally even though the paychecks of Transportation Security Administration employees were delayed, they said.

"While the government shutdown is behind us, we understand the uncertainty may have led you to rethink or reschedule your travel plans," Erik Snell, Delta's chief customer experience officer, wrote in a letter to the company's SkyMiles members.

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"Rest assured, our operations are running normally, and Delta people remain dedicated to safely delivering the reliable experiences you expect  the same qualities that carried us through even the most challenging times, including the longest government shutdown in history," Snell said.

Even though Bean and Isaacs anticipate operations going smoothly, they both recommended arriving at the airport 1 1/2 hours before departure for national flights. People traveling internationally should check in two hours before their departures, Bean said.

The Pullman airport was predicted to see between 6,000-7,000 arrivals and departures between Nov. 17 and Dec. 1, he said.

"There's just not a lot of capacity to put (passengers) on the next airplane," he said.

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At the Pullman airport, security will be a little faster after an upgrade that allows passengers to go through security showing only valid photo identification, instead of having to present photo identification and boarding passes, Bean said.

Besides arriving early for flights, Isaacs recommended travelers understand the rules surrounding travel.

Wrapped gifts belong in checked bags, Isaacs said.

Solid foods including cookies, fruit and packaged snacks are permitted in carry-on bags, but liquids exceeding 3.4 ounces need to be checked. Yogurt, jelly, honey and peanut butter are all considered liquids, he said.

Williams may be contacted at ewilliam@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2261.
This story has been updated with new information

About 200 people filled Salem City Council chambers Nov. 24 as the council voted 7-2 to reaffirm Salem as an inclusive city and voted 6-3 to move forward with declaring a state of emergency amid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sweeps.

The motion came after hours of public testimony, with the majority of people urging the city to take further action against ICE sweeps.

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"What we heard from our testimony tonight demonstrates a true need for a state of emergency in our city," Councilor Vanessa Nordyke said.

The motion by Nordyke orders the city manager to declare a state of emergency due to ICE activity. She also motioned to have the city's Human Rights Commission to host a "know your rights" forum in Spanish and English.

Salem would join Hillsboro and Woodburn in declaring states of emergency due to ICE sweeps.

"I see this as Salem's wakeup call," Nordyke said. "If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention. Guess what  everyone who testified tonight has been paying attention."

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With the vote, City Manager Krishna Namburi will craft a declaration and return on Dec. 1 for council ratification. It would provide additional support for the community and staff training.

Attendees held signs saying "stop ICE terror," "this is an emergency," and "sanctuary city resolution now." People outside passed out whistle kits to alert people if they see ICE.

Those who testified recounted President Donald Trump supporters outside the meeting harassing people.

About 200 people packed Salem City Council chambers Nov. 24, urging Salem to reaffirm its status as a sanctuary city and protect residents from ICE.

ICE activity ramps up in Oregon

Communities across Oregon are grappling with the fallout from mass immigration arrests.

After at least 35 people were arrested in Woodburn by ICE in late October, some residents in the 60% Hispanic city said they are afraid to leave their homes, hesitant to buy groceries and are questioning whether to go to work. Businesses reported as much as an 80% drop in customer traffic.

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Woodburn City Council declared a state of emergency on Nov. 21 in response to the impact of increased ICE enforcement activity in the region.

At least 24 people were arrested by ICE in Salem on Nov. 11, the highest one-day total in Salem in many years.

Dozens of people testified about racial profiling, violence and uncertainty wrought by ICE.

Many urged the city to go further in their efforts and declare a state of emergency and demand Marion County drop its lawsuit over sanctuary laws.

Other demands included arresting ICE agents illegally detaining residents, deny ICE entry into city-owned buildings and assist families impacted by sweeps.

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Students and children were among those who testified. A high schooler recounted his classmates' dreading the arrest of a relative or people being afraid to attend school.

"Even though I am young, I know what is going on," one young child named Leo said. "Keep ICE out of our community."

Most of the public and written testimony during the meeting spoke in favor of declaring a state of emergency and reaffirming Salem's status as a sanctuary city.

A handful said ICE was doing their job and urged the city council to vote no on the resolution.

"Let ICE do their job," someone identified as Patriot Tam said in written testimony. "Salem deserves leaders who put CITIZENS first."

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Mike Slagle testified that people who are legal citizens have nothing to fear and thanked the mayor and police for a job well done. He said he supported ICE's work.

Salem City Counil discussed a motion to affirm the city's commitment to inclusivity on Nov. 24.

Organizations Centro de Servicios para Campesino and Latinos Unidos Siempre posted a call to action urging people to testify at the city council meeting.

"Over the past several weeks, our immigrant and farm worker families have been living in fear," Cynthia Ramirez with PCUN, Oregons farmworker union, said. "Increased immigration enforcement in and around Salem has led to families changing their daily routine, parents afraid to take their children to school, and workers skipping shifts in the very industries that keep this region running."

She said the city needs to exercise the urgency and moral clarity that the situation demands.

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"Farmworkers are the backbone of our local economy," she said. "They harvest are food, care for our nurseries, keep supply chains alive and support Salem's growth season after season. They are essential workers  people who showed up during wildfires, heat waves and a pandemic. Today, many feel cast aside."

Christina Marquez said she's watched as the streets of her hometown have turned into places of fear.

"We are in a state of emergency," she said. "I am here on behalf of thousands of immigrants who call Salem home but are too afraid to be here today. I am here to demand that Salem City Council do more to protect our immigrant families."

Delilah Gomez tearfully said she was also there for those living in fear  people who have contributed to this country with their work, taxes and culture.

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"Being undocumented is not a crime, it is a civil offense," she said. "Yet our families are treated like criminals, hunted as if they are dangerous. ICE is not fighting crime so why are they tearing our families apart ... this is not politics, this is humanity."

Resident Ben Martin Horst said he has watched in horror in recent weeks as his neighbors in northeast Salem have been dragged away and assaulted by masked officers.

"This is not right," he said. "This is not just. This is not the America I want to live in. This is not the Salem I want to live in."

He said as a kid, he always wondered what he would have done during historical times of strife like abolition or Nazi Germany.

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"As I stand here before you today, the question is no longer 'what would you have done' ... the question is 'what are you doing now?'" he said. "If your hands are tied by the supremacy clause, you'd better start kicking."

Many attendees at the Nov. 24 Salem City Council meeting brought signs describing the recent increase in immigration agent activity as an emergency.

'The threat of ICE is a nightmare'

At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Julie Hoy said fear is rampant in Salem. Families are afraid to go to school and work.

"The federal government has its agenda," Hoy said. "My agenda as your mayor, is simple: to protect the honest, hardworking families who make this city run. To our Hispanic community, hear me clearly: You are not alone. You are a vital part of this city. You help to build our businesses, strengthen our neighborhoods and lift the heart of Salem."

She said she wants to hear from Hispanic leaders and residents and see more representation in shaping policies.

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"The threat of ICE is a nightmare for Salem residents and fear is killing us," Hoy said.

Nordyke said ICE is intentionally creating an atmosphere of fear, where anyone can be yanked off the streets because of the color of their skin.

"That is undermining trust, it is breaking up families, it is absolutely damaging the social fabric of our city," she said, pointing to lasting trauma to children, a distrust of leadership and people afraid to be in public spaces or report crimes.

Namburi said the city stands with everyone who feels hurt and fearful during these uncertain times.

"Everyone should be treated with compassion and respect regardless of their national origin or citizenship status," she said. "We as a city are committed to protecting dignity, fairness and the rule of law. Salem supports and complies with Oregon's sanctuary promise law and does not enforce federal immigration law, nor do we assist federal agencies in enforcement."

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The city launched a webpage on Nov. 24 in English and Spanish with information on city policies and resources at cityofsalem.net/community/immigration-resources

Motion calls for support of Oregon's sanctuary law

The motion from Councilor Linda Nishioka called on the city to affirm its committment to fostering a welcome, inclusive and safe community as well as supporting Oregon's sanctuary law.

The motion includes a statement outlining that Oregon law prohibits the city from using its resources to enforce federal immigration law.

It said policies that create fear among immigrant and refugee communities undermine safety and weaken neighborhoods.

"Affirming Salem as an Inclusive City and affirming the Citys compliance with and support of Oregon sanctuary law strengthens community trust and affirms that every person deserves safety, opportunity, and protection of their rights," the statement said.

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Oregon's sanctuary law was first enacted in 1987. In 1997, Salem City Council adopted council policy supporting the sanctuary law and implementing it in Salem. In 2017, the council adopted a resolution identifying Salem as an inclusive city.

Salem Police leaders said the department's policies ensure officers are never involved in immigration enforcement activities.

Nishioka said she brought forth the motion to hear from people impacted by the ICE sweeps.

She said she appreciated the demands and would work hard as a councilor to meet some of them.

"It was the beginning of what we need to be talking about," she said, thanking people for their testimonies.

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Councilor Irvin Brown gave an impassioned speech recounting his faith and the hypocrisy he sees with people claiming to love god while deeming people lesser for their citizenship status and turning a blind eye to the pain faced by those threatened by ICE.

"I am ashamed that we've gotten to this place where we have not found commonality," Brown said. "My hope and prayer is that we've got to do better than this ... for those of us that are Black and brown, we live in a state of emergency."

Councilors Shane Matthews and Deanna Gwyn were the lone no votes on the motion to reaffirm Salem as an inclusive and sanctuary city.

Matthews, Gwyn and Hoy voted against moving forward with declaring a state of emergency.

"Declaring an emergency  it doesn't change anything," Gwyn said. "It doesn't change policy, it doesn't change the law."

Matthews said he feared taking action would shine a spotlight on Salem and increase ICE activity and lead to the withholding of federal dollars.

Councilor Micki Varney said she had the same concerns but ultimately believed in standing up for the community and against the "cowards" terrorizing the city.

Councilor Mai Vang echoed concerns that the residents in her ward were living in fear, something that struck her as the child of immigrants and farm workers.

Statesman Journal reporter Isabel Funk contributed to this report.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on X at @wmwoodworth

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem City Council votes to draft state of emergency over ICE sweeps
Waymo must stop charging its autonomous fleet of electric cars overnight at two Santa Monica stations, the City Council decided last week as a way to resolve a months-long dispute between residents and the driverless taxi company.

The council voted unanimously Nov. 18 to direct Waymo, the property owner and its lessees to stop overnight operations at the charging stations.

If the Mountain View-based company does not comply by Wednesday, Santa Monica will move to take legal action, interim City Atty. Heidi von Tongeln said.

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The city argued in a letter that the sounds and lights violate its municipal and civil regulations, constituting a public nuisance.

But Waymo and the Virginia company that operates the stations, Voltera, have given no indication they plan to comply, pitting the rapidly-growing self-driving taxi company against residents fed up with beeping noises and light coming from the lots.

Waymo told Santa Monica officials in a Nov. 20 letter obtained by The Times that the city has a "misunderstanding of the Property's permitted use," which includes overnight charging.

"It became clear that the City is instead attempting to halt all uses at the Property, regardless of existing permit rights or state law and without any interest in working to keep businesses operating in the City," the letter reads.

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Several residents have complained about round-the-clock beeping and humming emitted by the self-driving Jaguars as they make their way to two charging stations near the intersection of Euclid Street and Broadway. In order to protect pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, federal law requires EVs to emit sounds.

Waymo said it took steps to reduce the noise, but residents insist that the disruptions still keeps them up at night and that the driverless cars continue to clog the streets as they wait to get into the lots.

According to a letter from the city to Waymo, Santa Monica demanded that the two lots stop operating from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

"The City has received many complaints from neighboring residents regarding the Broadway Lots, and particularly that the overnight operations of the lots are very disruptive to their sleep and peace and quite enjoyment of their homes," the letter reads.

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A city spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.

In a statement, a Waymo spokesperson said the company was committed to operating and investing in the city, but did not address compliance with the overnight directive.

"We've been engaging with the city since day one of our operations, and we are committed to working with them to be responsive to our neighbors," the statement read. "In response to neighbors' feedback, we adjusted our operations at the site, and we'll continue to seek community input."

Waymo officials also pointed to mitigation efforts, including planting vegetation around the lots as a buffer to the light and noise.

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A spokesperson for Voltera also declined to answer questions on whether it would adhere to the city's directive.

"Voltera constructed these facilities in accordance with applicable regulations, and the City approved that construction and issued permits for current operations," Jonathan Colbert, vice president for marketing, said in an email. "We are committed to continuing to follow those applicable regulations, as we have done from the outset."

Read more: Can driverless cars get tickets? What happened when Bay Area police pulled over a Waymo

Fifty-six Waymo vehicles can charge at the same time at the two stations. The company has been growing rapidly and expanding the streets where the white, autonomous EVs can operate, but residents said they received no warning that two charging stations would be operating in their neighborhoods. Emails obtained by The Times suggest that city officials were also caught off-guard, learning about the stations only after residents started to complain.

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The letter from the city to Waymo alleges that Voltera had "continue[d] to downplay the legitimate complaints from a significant number of neighbors, and to wrongfully insist that it and its customer Waymo are immunized from all regulation and entitled to conduct their business however they want."

Waymo officials, according to their letter to the city, argue that state law prohibits cities from imposing restrictions on vehicle charging facilities, and that the city's original approval included overnight use.

Neighbors of the charging station expressed support for the city's directive but weren't overly optimistic.

"I'm happy to see that the city has taken a stand," said Christopher Potter, who lives near one of the lots and started an online petition urging the company to reduce its sound pollution.

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Potter pointed out that several months ago that Waymo reduced the volume on the EVs when they are in reverse. Now the vehicles only beep loudly when there is a person or an object behind them  noise Potter says remains significant.

"They come in, and they set up shop, and they just want to do what they want to do," he said.

Neighbor Darius Boorn said he cannot open his windows because "there's always noise."

"If they [Waymo] really wanted to do something, they could do it," he said.

Boorn said it was frustrated residents who compelled the city to act.

"I truly believe that we forced their hand," he said. "I think the city finally realized, our backs are against the wall unless we do this for the residents."

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Before the council took action, some residents took matters into their own hands by using cones to block the parking lots or standing in front of the driveways, causing the Waymos to stack up in the street.

Read more: Driverless Waymo taxis under investigation after failing to stop for a school bus

Police have been called multiple times, and Waymo at one point unsuccessfully tried to get a temporary restraining order against a protesting resident.

City officials said in a letter that they have received more than 40 complaints from 15 individuals; they met with residents Oct. 15.

The letter also points to a Nov. 2 incident, when a long line of Waymos stacked in an alley leading to the lots, requiring attendants to work for about 20 minutes to clear out the blockage.

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"If there had been a fire in one of the buildings or a first responder needed to access the area, they would have been trapped and blocked," the city's letter reads. "This is not the first such incident, only the most recent."

The Santa Monica clash could be a sign of growing pains for the company as it continues to expand.

The company in June announced it would be expanding its service area to 120 square miles in Los Angeles County, ferrying passengers in Playa del Rey, Ladera Hieghts, Echo Park, Silver Lake and Hollywood, as well as on local freeways. The company also operates in Culver City and downtown L.A.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A female wild wolf living on the central coast of British Columbia was filmed pulling a crab trap out of the ocean to eat the bait  a never-before-seen behavior that could constitute the first documented use of tools by a wolf.

The traps were set by the Heiltsuk (Haizaqv) Nation as part of an environmental stewardship program run by the indigenous community. The program centers in part on combating the spread of the European green crab, an invasive species that is ravaging local ecosystems.

The traps were starting to get damaged, and the damage did look like it could have been a bear or a wolf, said Kyle Artelle, an assistant professor at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and coauthor of a new study about the discovery.

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For the traps that are in shallow water, that makes sense  a bear or wolf could just walk up to them. But some of them were in really deep water and not exposed even on the lowest tide. The assumption was it couldnt be a bear or a wolf, because they dont dive. So, who could it be?

To find out, the researchers set up motion-triggered cameras, thinking they might see an otter or a seal. Instead, one of the cameras captured a wolf swimming to shore with a buoy in her mouth before dropping it on the sand. Next, she grabbed the line that was attached to the buoy and pulled it until a trap emerged from the water. The animal continued to haul the trap toward the shore until it was in a shallow area, and then she broke open a canister containing the bait  a piece of herring.

We were amazed. It was not what we were expecting, to say the least, Artelle said. Folks who are lucky enough to spend time around wolves know theyre super smart, so the fact that theyre capable of doing highly intelligent things, in and of itself, isnt surprising. But this kind of behavior has not been seen before.

Focused action, not play

The researchers dont know how many wolves have learned this behavior, but they did film another interaction between a different wolf and a trap. That recording, however, failed to show whether this wolf extracted the fully submerged canister.

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Artelle said he believes that the wolves might have found out about the traps by seeing humans drop them from boats  or they may have accessed one that was in shallow waters due to low tides and then figured out how to retrieve progressively deeper traps.

Whats remarkable about the interaction is that the wolf had to put together a series of steps to get to the bait, Artelle said. Its a sequence of behaviors that ultimately gets her towards that goal. Its problem-solving, and its problem-solving exactly the way humans do it, he said. We would have done the exact same thing if we were trying to access that trap from shore.

The wolfs actions also appear to be completely intentional despite the submerged trap not being visible at all, Artelle added. She isnt randomly pulling, he explained. It doesnt look like shes playing. Anyone with a dog knows what it looks like when theyre playing. This is very focused. She is being perfectly efficient. Shes even staring at the end of the line as if in anticipation of when that trap is going to show up.

The ability of the wolf to come up with this behavior might be related to the conditions found in the Heiltsuk territory, one of the few parts of the world where wolves are not heavily hunted or trapped, according to Artelle. The question that it raises for us is: Might this behavior develop here because the wolves arent so preoccupied with having to look over their shoulders?

Tool use or not?

Ever since Jane Goodall first documented the use of tools by chimps in the 1970s, researchers have observed other species engaging in this sophisticated behavior, including dolphins, elephants, birds and  at a basic level  even some insects.

The new study, which spawned from a biodiversity project, opens the door for adding more animals to the growing list of species that use tools. - Haizaqv Wolf and Biodiversity Project

Artelle said he believes the wolfs action qualifies as tool use, but he acknowledges its a subjective assessment. Some definitions say tool use means the use of an object external to yourself to achieve a goal, which this clearly is, he said. But others say that you need to construct the tool in some way. So, in this instance, she didnt tie the line to the crab trap. It was already built for her.

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If a human had done what the wolf did, however, no one would hesitate to call it tool use, Artelle added. We wouldnt sit there and say, She didnt create the crab trap, so shes not really exhibiting tool use. I didnt construct this laptop that Im using right now; we use a lot of tools that we dont construct ourselves.

Marc Bekoff, an animal behavior expert and emeritus professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, agrees with Artelles assessment. The study, Bekoff noted, opens the door for adding more animals to the ever-growing list of species that use tools. Future research will answer questions about whether other wolves also learn to use a rope and whether this behavior becomes culturally transmitted within this population, Bekoff, who was not involved with the research, added in an email.

However, to have true tool use, the object should be oriented or modified in some way, according to Bradley Smith, a senior lecturer in psychology at Australias Central Queensland University. Its not a traditional or advanced example of tool use, and for me, probably shouldnt be defined as tool use, Smith, who was not involved in the research, wrote in an email. It shouldnt detract from the fact that the wolfs action is an impressive and clear example of higher-order problem-solving and thinking as well as a glimpse into the hidden world of nature and wolves, he added.

Ultimately, it is fruitless to fight about labels since they reflect arbitrary definitions, noted Alex Kacelnik, an emeritus professor of behavioral ecology at Englands University of Oxford, who also didnt participate in the research. This is a beautiful set of observations, and the authors do a great job in addressing its possible significance, Kacelnik wrote in an email.

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What matters is how the behaviour is acquired and what controls it once it is acquired. As the authors correctly highlight, humans never fully understand the physics of what they do, but they know what works based on their experience.

The study was published November 17 in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

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Few things in the universe are as perplexing as dark matter  the invisible and exotic stuff that is thought to make up most of the matter in galaxies.

The theory goes like this: To reconcile our current understanding of physics with what we observe in the cosmos, there must be massive amounts of matter that we cant see. Scientists are sure that this missing matter exists because of the gravitational effects it exerts, but detecting it firsthand has eluded scientists, who have had to indirectly infer how dark matter occupies the universe.

Nearly a century after dark matter was first theorized, a Japanese astrophysicist says he may have found the first direct evidence of its existence  gamma rays extending out in a halo-like pattern  in a region near the center of our Milky Way galaxy.

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Im so excited, of course! study author Tomonori Totani, a professor in the astronomy department at the University of Tokyo, told NBC News in an email. Although the research began with the aim of detecting dark matter, I thought the chances of success were like winning the lottery.

Totanis claim of detecting dark matter for the first time is an extraordinary one that not all experts are convinced of. But the findings, published Tuesday in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, offer insights into the wild hunt for dark matter and the difficulties of searching the cosmos for something that cannot be seen.

Dark matter is thought to make up about 27% of the universe, while ordinary matter  people, everyday objects, stars and planets, for instance  only makes up about 5%, according to NASA. (The rest is made up of an equally mysterious component known as dark energy.)

Totanis study used observations from NASAs Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope aimed near the heart of the Milky Way. The telescope is designed to pick up a type of intense electromagnetic radiation known as gamma rays.

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Dark matter was first proposed in the 1930s by Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky, who stumbled on an anomaly while measuring the mass and movement of galaxies in the large Coma Cluster of galaxies. The galaxies moved too quickly for his calculations, and instead of escaping the cluster, they were somehow being held together.

The resulting theories proposed a truly strange form of matter. Dark matter cannot be seen because it does not emit, absorb or reflect light. However, because it theoretically has mass and occupies physical space in the cosmos, its existence can be inferred based on its gravitational effects throughout the universe.

Different models exist to potentially explain dark matter, but scientists think the mysterious material is made up of exotic particles that behave differently from regular matter that were all familiar with.

One popular school of thought suggests that dark matter is made up of hypothetical particles known as WIMPs (short for weakly interacting massive particles) that interact very little with ordinary matter. When two WIMPs collide, however, they could annihilate each other and unleash powerful gamma rays.

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In his research, Totani, an astronomer and astrophysicist, discovered intense gamma-ray emissions that he said were roughly equivalent to one-millionth the brightness of the entire Milky Way. The gamma rays also appeared to be spread out in a halo-like structure across a large region of the sky. If instead the emissions were concentrated from a single source, it might suggest a black hole, star or some other cosmic object was to blame for the gamma rays, rather than diffuse dark matter.

Gamma-ray intensity map spanning about 100 degrees in the direction of the galactic center. The horizontal gray bar in the central region corresponds to the galactic plane area, which was excluded from the analysis to avoid strong astrophysical radiation. (Tomonori Totani / The University of Tokyo)

To my knowledge, no phenomenon originating from cosmic rays or stars exhibits a spherically symmetric and the unique energy spectrum like the one observed in this case, Totani said.

But some scientists who were not involved with the study were skeptical of the findings.

David Kaplan, a professor in the department of physics and astronomy at Johns Hopkins University, said its difficult to trace emissions back to dark matter particles with any certainty because too much is still unknown about gamma rays.

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We dont even know all the things that can produce gamma rays in the universe, Kaplan said, adding that these high-energy emissions could also be produced by fast-spinning neutron stars or black holes that gobble up regular matter and spit out violent jets of material.

As such, even when unusual gamma-ray emissions are detected, its often hard to draw meaningful conclusions, according to Eric Charles, a staff scientist at Stanford Universitys SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

Theres a lot of details we dont understand, he said, and seeing a lot of gamma rays from a large part of the sky associated with the galaxy  its just really hard to interpret whats going on there.

Dillon Brout, an assistant professor in the departments of astronomy and physics at Boston University, said the gamma-ray signals and halo-like structure described in the study are in a region of the sky that is genuinely the hardest to model.

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So, any claims have to be treated with great caution, Brout told NBC News in an email. And, of course, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Kaplan called the study interesting and worth following, but said he isnt totally convinced that follow-up analyses will confirm the findings. But he is hopeful that scientists will directly confirm dark matters existence in the future.

It would be a total game changer, because it really is something that seems to dominate the universe, he said. It explains the formation of galaxies and therefore of stars and planets and us, and its a key part of our understanding of how the universe formed.

Totani himself said additional study is needed to prove or disprove his claim.

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If correct, the results would be too impactful, so researchers in the community will carefully examine its validity, he said. I am confident in my findings, but I hope that other independent researchers will replicate these results.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Florida police and the U.S. Coast Guard located four boaters who were reported missing.

9:30 a.m. update:

Clearwater police have confirmed the four men reported missing overnight have been found and are safe.

The groups capsized boat was found around 26 miles off the coast, officials said.

Original report:

Clearwater Police and the U.S. Coast Guard are searching for four missing boaters who did not return from a fishing trip on Monday.

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The missing individuals, Dennis Woods, 70; Clarence Woods, 90; Cris Harding Sr., 42; and Cris Harding Jr., 18, left the Seminole Street Boat Ramp in Clearwater at about 9:30 a.m.

The four were last seen aboard a 25-foot green-and-white catamaran named Money Well Wasted.

They were expected to return by 4 p.m., but when they did not, family members contacted authorities just before 8:30 p.m.

Officers found the truck and trailer still at the boat ramp, but there was no sign of the boat or the boaters.

The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a search on Monday night and plans to resume efforts at daybreak.

The fishermen typically travel 25 miles offshore during their trips.

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Clearwater Police are urging any boaters heading out today to report any sightings of the missing catamaran to 727-562-4242.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
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"Wow!" signal printout. The comment on the side inspired the event's name, as this mysterious signal sparked a debate about life in the universe. . | Credit: Big Ear Radio Observatory and North American Astrophysical Observatory (NAAPO)

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights .

As humans began to explore outer space in the latter half of the 20th century, radio waves proved a powerful tool . Scientists could send out radio waves to communicate with satellites , rockets and other spacecraft, and use radio telescopes to take in radio waves emitted by objects throughout the universe.

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However, sometimes radio telescopes would pick up the artificial radio signals from telecommunications. This interference threatened sensitive astronomy observations, causing inaccurate data and even damaging equipment. While this interference frustrated scientists , it also sparked an idea.

During the Cold War, a new field emerged at the intersection of radio astronomy and radio communications. It put forward the idea that astronomers could search for radio communications from possibly existing extraterrestrial civilizations. Astronomy usually dealt with observing the universes natural phenomena . But this new field made the detection of technologically, or artificially produced radio waves , the object of a natural science.

This field has continued today and is now called the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, or SETI . SETI encompasses all that scientists do to search for intelligent life beyond Earth. It includes one of the original uses of radio telescopes: to study signals from across the galaxy in hopes of detecting intelligent messages.

When the idea behind SETI was first proposed and pursued in the 1960s, only two countries, the U.S. and the USSR, had the technical capability for it. As the only space powers at the time, they were the key actors affected by radio frequency interference.

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As a historian of science , I've worked to make sense of what happened throughout the history of Soviet SETI during the space race by analyzing a range of primary sources. SETI captured the scientific imagination of many prominent Soviet astronomers in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Astronomers have not yet confirmed any detection of radio signals  or any other kinds of signs  from extraterrestrial civilizations. But many scientists are still searching, even as their bold ideas run into obstacles. Some evidence suggests humans might be the only intelligent life in the universe.

Soviet SETI: The golden age of radio astronomy

SETI is intertwined with the profound changes brought by radio astronomy. Up until the second part of the 20th century, scientists could see astronomical objects and phenomena only in optical or visible light . Optical light is the same kind of light that the human eye is sensitive to.

After World War II, scientists figured out that they could peacefully use radar antennas, developed for use in that war, to detect radio signals coming from objects out in the universe . Deciphering these signals allowed researchers to study astronomical objects in the universe. They learned, for example, about the most abundant element: hydrogen.

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In the former Soviet Union, the prominent radio astronomy pioneer Iosif Samuilovich Shklovsky played a key role in detecting radio signals from hydrogen.

Scientists knew that every chemical element would absorb certain wavelengths of light and reflect others, and the light signals that an object absorbed or reflected could tell astronomers what element it was. Most hydrogen could not be observed directly in optical light, so astronomers didnt spot it out in space until they started looking beyond the visible light spectrum.

This image shows red hydrogen clouds over the inside of a red giant star. | Credit: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Shklovsky figured out how to detect hydrogen with radio waves , which helped astronomers map the distribution and motion of hydrogen gas in and between galaxies.

Historians generally consider the year 1960 the start of the golden age of radio astronomy . After the detection of hydrogen, astronomers discovered previously unknown types of stars, such as pulsars and quasars . These phenomena offered scientists new insights into the nature of astrophysical phenomena and fundamental physics.

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Shklovsky later grew fascinated with the possibility of using radio waves to contact other intelligent beings in the universe. In 1960, he published an article on this topic in one of the countrys most prestigious scientific journals.

Shklovsky's article soon expanded into a widely popular book called " Universe, Life, Intelligence ," published in 1962. That same year, the USSR's Academy of Sciences sent its first radio message in the direction of Venus from a radar in Crimea.

The experiment involved bouncing radio signals off the surface of Venus to transmit the following words using Morse code: Lenin, USSR and mir, which in Russian means both world and peace. Even though statistically increasing radio interference risk, this message was mainly symbolic. The Soviet Union wanted to depict its technological might and wasn't expecting to communicate with extraterrestrials. Soviet SETI was thus not yet a real pursuit.

Starting an organized search

Shklovsky and the majority of other radio astronomers pursuing the search for extraterrestrial intelligence were all located in central Russia at the time. The USSR Academy of Sciences was also located there. But this group needed more formal measures to move their search from a few initiatives into a coordinated effort.

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Due to concerns over unwanted public attention, the scientists organized a conference far from Moscow, at the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory in the Soviet Republic of Armenia, in 1964. At this conference, researchers formed a group specifically dedicated to studying artificial radio signals from space. With this group, SETI became a top-down, state-led activity.

With this validation, scientists could now theoretically look for artificial signals , potentially from an alien origin. However, any discussions about artificial radio signals were subject to strict government surveillance, given the fact that military satellites depended on them, too.

Soviet scientists faced several obstacles . For example, their own government's secrecy made coordination difficult. The Cold War also set limits on developing SETI internationally. However, they had a green light to search and study peculiar signals they suspected had artificial origin.

International collaboration

Efforts to collaborate internationally on artificial signals culminated in 1971 with a symposium, again at Byurakan . There, about 50 scientists  the majority from the U.S. and the USSR, but also some from Czechoslovakia, Hungary, the U.K. and Canada  agreed to disagree on how to best conduct SETI.

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Some in attendance compared this gathering to Noah's Ark , because an almost equal number of prominent scientists from East and West of the Iron Curtain managed to meet that year. And the gathering took place in Armenia at the foot of Mount Ararat , located in neighboring Turkey. This mountain is where archaeologists believe Noah's Ark may have beached.

After almost a week of discussion at Byurakan, the two geopolitical blocks designated an official SETI group. That group still exists today, and it still connects researchers all around the world who conduct SETI research. Given the secrecy around radio signals in space, this international SETI group marked a momentous diplomatic achievement at the height of the Cold War.

SETI started in the Soviet Union with a few strong Moscow-based initiatives. It continued through group events in Armenia  from the first state-level Soviet conference to the international one.

SETI is the first and only domain of astronomy to study artificial radio signals themselves. It indirectly addressed radio frequency interference during a time when these frequencies were highly unregulated.

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Stakeholder countries eventually addressed their radio frequency interference issues with international agreements on radio frequency usage and allocation. An international committee approved a feasible and comprehensive radio frequency allocation plan for the first time in the 1970s. This plan has been revised and renewed ever since. Today, space scientists and astronomers use an internationally agreed upon plan to minimize this interference.

Remarkably, SETI began even before this allocation plan. SETI continues its rich legacy today by continuing to search for signals  and along the way discovering new astrophysical objects and phenomena.
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY  A possibility of snow for Sheboygan County and the lakefront area could impact Thanksgiving travel plans this holiday week.

The National Weather Services Milwaukee/Sullivan office predicts there could be light snow showers on Wednesday and a possibility of snow later this week. The amount of snow, exact locations and days that see the most snow are still uncertain, as of the afternoon Nov. 24.

If a snow system moves northward across Iowa into Wisconsin, a mix of rain and snow is likely this weekend, with the heaviest snowfall hitting northern parts of the state, according to the NWS forecast.

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Tuesday could see light rain and a high of 51 degrees. The next day, temperatures could drop and continue into the high 20s and 30s for the rest of the week.

Thanksgiving dining: Looking to dine out or get a free meal on Thanksgiving in Sheboygan? Here's where to go.

If traveling north, the Green Bay NWS office predicts Wednesday travel will see the greatest impact, with rain changing to snow overnight. North-central areas of Wisconsin could see moderate to heavy snow.

Northern counties like Oneida, Forest and Vilas are under a winter storm watch and could receive at least 4 inches of snow.

There could be strong winds and light snow across central and east-central areas of the state, too, that could reduce visibility and worsen road conditions.

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What's open on Thanksgiving? Will Pick 'n Save and other Sheboygan-area grocery stores be open on Thanksgiving Day?

When there is ice and snow, the NWS advises drivers to clean off their vehicles before driving, drive slowly and dont use cruise control, and leave extra distance between vehicles, staying especially far behind snow plows.

Lake effect snow in the far northern part of the state and strong winds could moderately impact travel on Thanksgiving Day.

Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Snow in Sheboygan for Thanksgiving? Here's the travel forecast.
Simpson College's board of trustees has unanimously selected Susan Stuebner to lead the university as president. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Susan Stuebner has been named the 26th president of Simpson College after serving as its interim leader during the fall semester.

The private university, located in Indianola, announced in a news release Tuesday its board of trustees unanimously selected Stuebner to officially take on the role after the completion of a performance review by higher education search firm Academic Search.

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Stuebner joined Simpson as its interim president in late July after the death of president Jay Byers in April. When she was first introduced to campus, college board Chair Terry Handley said Stuebner and the board would decide together if she wanted to stay, in consultation with the Simpson community and subject to a review of her work during the fall semester.

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He said in the release it was an easy decision to make in the end, looking at her past successes as a university president and hearing positive things about her from community members.

Faculty, staff and student leaders were enthusiastic in their praise for President Stuebner and the many leadership strengths she brings to Simpson College, Handley said in the release. Sues authenticity and transparency in engaging with the campus community have already gone a long way in building early trust and confidence. The board is eager to partner with her in designing and realizing a promising future for Simpson.

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Before coming to Simpson, Stuebner served as president of Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire for eight years, spending her last year before coming to Simpson as an adviser for the institutions interim president.

In her first speech to the Simpson College community, Stuebner said Colby-Sawyer and Simpson were facing similar challenges, and she planned to bring the same model to Indianola of finding new revenue streams and building partnerships from popular programs.

Stuebner said in the release she is both honored and humbled by the boards decision to keep her leading Simpson.

From the moment I arrived on campus, I have resonated with the values and approach of this incredible learning community. Seeing our exceptional faculty and staff in action as they create a transformational educational experience for our students is truly inspiring, Stuebner said in the release. Simpson students and alumni exhibit so much passion about their time on campus and are making a difference in their professions and communities.

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I look forward to partnering with the Simpson community in pursuing new avenues of innovative excellence to further distinguish Simpson as a national leader in liberal arts education.

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The so-called "Slender Man" stabber was in a Chicago court room on Tuesday, Morgan Geyser waived extradition to Wisconsin.

Geyser was found Sunday at a Posen gas station after escaping from a group home.

Prosecutors said Geyser cut off her ankle monitor and traveling all the way here to Posen.

Geyser was the subject of a nationwide search for about a day, until police found her sleeping on the sidewalk with another person outside a Posen gas station.

Body camera video obtained from Posen police shows Geyser expressing concern for the person she was found with.

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She initially gave officers a fake name, then told them they could Google her to find out who she was.

Geyser was 12-years-old when she and an accomplice lured a classmate into the woods and stabbed her repeatedly, all in an effort to appease a fictional character on the internet known as "Slender Man."

The victim survived and Geyser was ultimately found not guilty, by reason of mental disease and sentenced to a mental health institution.

Payton Leutner told ABC's David Muir in 2019 she was not concerned about her attackers anymore: "If they come near me they're going right back in. When they get out I don't thing it's going to change my life."

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Geyser was released earlier this year - to a group home. Geyser spent most of her sentence in a mental health institution before being placed in the group home earlier this year.

Geyser's attorney believes she perhaps was led astray in all this.

Legal experts say Geyser's choice not to fight extradition could work in her favor.

"There may be the slightest advantage to cooperating because one of the things she is gonna have to convince the state of Wisconsin is that she should be released to a community home and not to a mental institution," ABC7 Legal Consultant Gil Soffer said.

The person she was found with - has been charged with criminal trespass and obstructing identification.

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Geyser faces no charges in Illinois; once Wisconsin authorities pick her up, the case is over in Illinois.

"By waiving the extradition hearing, Ms. Geyser has sped up the process of returning to Waukesha County to face the consequences of violating her conditional release. Our office remains committed to protecting the community and ensuring this case moves forward without delay. Her alleged actions this past weekend only reinforce our position that a conditional release is not appropriate at this time," Waukesha District Attorney Lesli Boese said.
EUREKA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Eureka community is rallying around the owners of a hardware store that was badly burned in a fire last weekend.

When owner Lisa Schweda opened S & L Hardware almost three years ago, she wanted it to provide a comfy shopping experience for the community of about 2,000 people she called home.

We wanted to give back, and we wanted to help, she said. I didnt care what work we had to do or what we had going on that day; if a customer came in and wanted to talk  I want [my employees] to spend, whether it was 5 minutes or 30 minutes, just visiting with them.

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On Saturday, that mission came to a tragic halt.

That day, Schweda took care of orders at the store before leaving around 1:30 p.m.

Sometime later, she said the Greenwood County Sheriffs Office called to tell her that a fire had broken out at the store.

Schweda was overwhelmed to see the space shed helped cultivate sustain so much damage.

S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo) S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo) S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo) S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo) S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo) S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo) S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo) S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo) S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo) S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo) S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo) S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo) S & L Hardware in Eureka on Nov. 24, 2025, after the fire. (KSN Photo)

But ever since the flames were extinguished, shes seen an outpouring of support from the community.

Loyal customers have driven up to the shop just to say hello and offer words of support. Even the parents of Schwedas former students during her time as a school counselor stop by. One parent in particular has stuck with her.

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Schweda said the mother of a student who needed a heart transplant came by to give her a hug. When the youngster was in the hospital, Schweda visited them. The childs mom wanted to repay kindness with kindness.

Utility company donates $60,000 to Kansas food banks

She said, Thats what you do; you support and love each other, Schweda said. She said I helped her one time, and its time to return.

S & L sustained considerable damage from the blaze. The ceiling is badly damaged, and many of the shelves are covered in ash.

A painting by Lisa Schwedas mother. (Courtesy: Linda Meyer)

But the shop and its stores are not Schwedas biggest concern. She said her two employees  or the girls, as Schweda calls them  must look for other ways to make a living with S & L out of operation for the time being.

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An S & L customer suggested that Schweda auction off a piece of her mothers artwork to support the girls. Now, Schweda is holding a raffle contest for the painting, with the money raised benefiting the employees she cares so much about.

I need the girls to be OK cause right now they dont have a place to come into and work, Schweda said. I think that hurts the most because we love them, and I think employers need to love their employees because life is hard enough, and we need to be there to support each other.

A GoFundMe page has been set up.

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The month leading into the biggest food holiday of the year has been stressful for the 41.7 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. The final weeks before Thanksgiving have provided relief following the end of the longest-ever government shutdown, but it has come to some in more of a trickle than a tidal wave.

Funding was fully restored to the program on Nov. 12 when the shutdown ended and federal monies were to be distributed by states within 24 hours, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) previously told USA TODAY. From there, it was up to the states.

There is no national distribution date for SNAP benefits, and payment dates differ by state. Even within states, the dates vary by recipient, with some using Social Security numbers, last names, or case numbers to determine who receives money on which day of the month.

Adult Education Manager with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Maria Lopez, of Woodland Park, holds boxes of food as she awaits the next vehicle, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Leonie. The bank distributed approximately 2,000 boxes of food to federal workers and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients who have been affected by the government shutdown. Asia Lester, a volunteer at Anderson Interfaith Ministriees in Anderson, helps distribute food in Anderson S.C. Thursday, November 6, 2025. Many who normally receive SNAP benefits being cut line up at Anderson Interfaith Ministries for food. With SNAP benefits cancelled during the government shutdown, All Access Community Development Corporation, a Hackensack non-profit, is doing an early distributions of turkeys and other food. Joellen Green, Chief Operations Officer at All Access Community Development Corporation, hands a box of food to David Gregorea in the parking lot of the Majestic Elks Lodge on Nov. 4, 2025 in Hackensack, N.J. Jessica Hogan sits next to a neighborhood food pantry, on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, that she set up outside of her home, at 422 Eventide Drive, in Murfreesboro. Hogan thinks no one should be going hungry and created the pantry to help those in need, especially during the time when people have lost SNAP benefits. Neighbors are contributing as well as receiving a variety of items from food, to toiletries, to clothes. A sign in her yard states there is no judgement and no questions regarding the pantry. Sherry Tillman and passenger Nellie Johnson, sit in their car near Sarah Ann Bannister, left, Director of Resource Development at Anderson Interfaith Ministries in Anderson S.C. Thursday, November 6, 2025. Food distribution started at 9 a.m. and Tillman got there at 6:30 a.m. Many who normally receive SNAP benefits being cut line up at Anderson Interfaith Ministries for food. Kenneth Brown, left, gets help from volunteers Pat Field, center and Rick Norquist, from Arlington Community Services, with his food allotment Thursday November 6, 2025. The federal government shutdown is increasing demand at food pantries because many federal workers are not getting paychecks and the federal government cut back on SNAP benefits. One in five households in Arlington depends on SNAP to help put food on the table. Clients were picking up food at the pantry In Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday. With SNAP benefits cancelled during the government shutdown, All Access Community Development Corporation, a Hackensack non-profit, is doing an early distributions of turkeys and other food. Joellen Green, Chief Operations Officer at All Access Community Development Corporation, in the parking lot of the Majestic Elks Lodge. Taj Indian Restaurant and Bar offers free meals for those affected by the lapse in SNAP payments, taken on Nov. 4, 2025, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Dolly Fant, a volunteer for six years at Anderson Interfaith Ministries gets ready for a food distribution in Anderson S.C. Thursday, November 6, 2025. Many who normally receive SNAP benefits being cut line up at Anderson Interfaith Ministries for food. Dolly Fant, a volunteer for six years at Anderson Interfaith Ministries brings some of the carts of food for a 9 a.m. food distribution in Anderson S.C. Thursday, November 6, 2025. Many who normally receive SNAP benefits being cut line up at Anderson Interfaith Ministries for food. Willie's Copper Top serves as a soup kitchen on Tuesdays and Saturdays in Owsley County. Leeomi Smith rode into the Owsley County Food Place, a food bank that distributes boxes of food each Tuesday, in Booneville, Ky., Nov. 4, 2025. Donal Dickens, Regional Branch Coordinator, Willamston Branch, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina helps set up before the food distribution at the Jockey Lot in Williamston, S.C. Friday, November 7, 2025. The event fed over 900 families. Sandwiches or AuSnap SandiesAu are offered to those who need them at The Goose in Oklahoma City on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Kent Useary, 65, who lives on Detroit's east side, rides his scooter during a food distribution event at Jesus Tabernacle of Deliverance Ministries in Detroit, Mich., Nov. 5, 2025. Simone Matthew, a volunteer with Feeding South Florida, (L) hugs Tammy Norton, a Department of Treasury worker, as she stops to pickup essential food items on Oct. 28, 2025 in Dania Beach, Florida. As the government shutdown nears four weeks, Feeding South Florida launched a food distribution site for government employees who have been impacted. The organization handed out food items to approximately 250 families in need during the event. Federal workers, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and air-traffic controllers, receive food parcels at Newark Liberty International Airport as the workers have been impacted by the government shutdown on Oct. 27, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. The morning event was organized by the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), the state's largest anti-hunger organization. The dozens of federal workers who attended the event received one box of nonperishable items, one premium 10-pound produce box, along with potatoes, spaghetti squash, and apples. Federal workers are set to miss their first full paycheck on Wednesday, October 29th, as the government shutdown continues. Federal workers, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and air-traffic controllers, line up to receive food parcels at Newark Liberty International Airport as the workers have been impacted by the government shutdown on Oct. 27, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. The morning event was organized by the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), the state's largest anti-hunger organization. The dozens of federal workers who attended the event received one box of nonperishable items, one premium 10-pound produce box, along with potatoes, spaghetti squash, and apples. Federal workers are set to miss their first full paycheck on Wednesday, October 29th, as the government shutdown continues. Federal workers, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and air-traffic controllers, receive food parcels at Newark Liberty International Airport as the workers have been impacted by the government shutdown on Oct. 27, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. The morning event was organized by the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), the state's largest anti-hunger organization. The dozens of federal workers who attended the event received one box of nonperishable items, one premium 10-pound produce box, along with potatoes, spaghetti squash, and apples. Federal workers are set to miss their first full paycheck on Wednesday, October 29th, as the government shutdown continues. Betty Anne Gallagher a volunteer with Feeding South Florida, helps load essential food items into the vehicles of government workers on Oct. 28, 2025 in Dania Beach, Florida. As the government shutdown nears four weeks, Feeding South Florida launched a food distribution site for government employees who have been impacted. The organization handed out food items to approximately 250 families in need during the event. Employees of DMARC, Catholic Charities, and Food Bank of Iowa hold signs during a press conference on the loss of SNAP benefits during the government shutdown at DMARC headquarters on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Des Moines, Ia. Sparse shelves at Golden Harvest Food Bank are seen on Oct. 28, 2025 in Augusta, Ga. Golden Harvest Food Bank is facing shortages as the government shutdown puts SNAP benefits at risk. Working at a food bank in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Oct. 28, 2025. Because of the federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that federal food aid will not be distributed on Nov. 1. An assortment of food sits at the Food Bank for Larimer County in Fort Collins, Colo. on Oct. 28, 2025. Food Bank for Larimer County is feeling the pinch as the government shutdown stretches on, endangering SNAP benefits for 600,000 Coloradans. Faith communities, nonprofits and volunteers step up amid the federal block of SNAP 1 of 24 Adult Education Manager with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Maria Lopez, of Woodland Park, holds boxes of food as she awaits the next vehicle, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Leonie. The bank distributed approximately 2,000 boxes of food to federal workers and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients who have been affected by the government shutdown.

Even with full funding restored, complications were anticipated. Technical issues could arise for those who have already issued partial payments that now need to be rounded out, USDA official Patrick Penn previously told courts, adding that it would likely take states days, weeks or even months to reprogram their systems and work with contractors to enable partial payments.

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That, paired with a backlog and normal, run-of-the-mill tech issues and human error, has resulted in holes in the pathwork system that some recipients have fallen through in the lead-up to Thanksgiving.

SNAP benefits continue to trickle in leading up to Thanksgiving

In Tennessee, at least 5,000 people were still missing benefits the week before Thanksgiving, Signe Anderson, Senior Director of Nutrition Advocacy at the Tennessee Justice Center, told USA TODAY on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The state's Department of Human Services (DHS) originally said benefits would be issued by Nov. 20, but later removed that commitment from its website.

On Nov. 25, DHS shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying, "November SNAP delivery is in progress."

As of Nov. 25, the DHS website said those who only got partial payments earlier in the month would see the rest appear on EBT cards starting Monday, Nov. 17. Households that normally receive their benefits on the 18th, 19th, or 20th of the month will receive their benefits on those days, the website said, before noting that "some households may receive their full SNAP benefit payment on a different date than scheduled."

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A Nov. 17 press release from DHS also said that "Households that have not yet received any November benefits should expect to receive their full benefit amount in the coming days," without further specifying a timeframe.

"The majority of SNAP customers in Tennessee received their remaining full SNAP benefits on or before November 20," DHS said in a statement to USA TODAY on Nov. 25.

A display on the National Mall, with the U.S. Capitol in the background, references Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits following the longest U.S. government shutdown in U.S. history, in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 14, 2025.

In Mississippi, the majority of the state's roughly 350,000 SNAP beneficiaries were still waiting as of Nov. 20 due to technical issues with its payment system, the Mississippi Free Press reported.

"Its our systems. We have 35 and 40-year-old systems that run COBOL, Mark Jones, chief communications officer at the Mississippi Department of Human Services, told the Free Press. Following guidance given before the shutdown ended, the state had already input 65% payments into the system, which posed issues when officials tried to issue full payments after a funding bill was reached.

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DHS previously said that recipients who get their payments on Friday, Nov. 21, would receive the same 65% issued to those earlier in the month between Nov. 4-15, reported the Free Press. The remaining 35% would be paid out when the computer system is fixed, it said.

An updated Nov. 21 press release from the department said the issuance of remaining November SNAP benefits was "currently underway" and could be paid as early as the same day. Some communities online have reported continued issues after that, however.

"All benefits should be loaded to cards," Jones told USA TODAY in a Nov. 25 statement.

Up against a holiday shopping wire

People who rely on SNAP in some states may come up against the Thanksgiving shopping wire simply due to the timeline on which their states distribute benefits normally, meaning any additional delay or disruption may make families miss the holiday mark.

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States like Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama and South Carolina issue benefits as late in the month as the 22nd or 23rd, giving officials and recipients alike little time to fix hiccups before the holiday. It's not likely that all payment delays are the result of the shutdown  technical errors do happen when it's business as usual, too.

New policies laid out in the "Big Beautiful Bill" as to who qualifies for SNAP have also gone into place, so additional paperwork or other administrative changes may also hold some people up.

Paired with a steep backlog that accumulated during the shutdown, some states have been releasing funds sporadically. Frustrated people have taken to social media sites like Reddit and Facebook, where members regularly update each other on the status of their payments.

A truck from the Sheboygan County Food Bank is loaded with boxes of cereal collected by Howards Grove students for donation, Thursday, November 13, 2025, in Howards Grove, Wis.

Multiple mentions of delays in Illinois, Louisiana, Colorado and Florida appeared across platforms, though none of the states' human services departments have reported significant roadblocks. In Illinois, benefits were expected to be fully paid by Nov. 20, while Florida's website said full payments occurred on Nov. 14. Advocates in Florida have expressed concern that the state's significant backlog will slow the process further.

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The Florida Department of Children and Families reiterated the statement on its website when contacted by USA TODAY, saying, "As of 5 a.m. ET on November 14, 2025, all previously scheduled November SNAP benefits have been issued to eligible recipients. Recipients scheduled to receive November SNAP benefits after November 14 will receive their benefits on their normally scheduled issuance dates."

Louisiana and Colorado are among the states that provided less clear timelines, with Louisiana saying on Nov. 13 that payments would begin the following week and Colorado's DHS saying it would begin loading cards the same day.

USA TODAY reached out to DHS in Illinois, Louisiana, Colorado and Florida. USA TODAY also reached out to the USDA for comment.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Some SNAP recipients still without payments ahead of Thanksgiving
A deadly shooting over the weekend in Aurora may have been triggered by a social media post, according to police.

The shooting happened on Saturday at about 9 p.m. during an event at the Two Brothers Roundhouse, located at 205 N. Broadway in Aurora, police said.

Three people were found shot inside the business, police said in an update online.

A woman identified as Jazmine Barclay, 24 of Aurora, was taken to a nearby hospital where she later died, Aurora police said.

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A 33-year-old man was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Police said he was in the ICU.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Shooting during concert at Aurora restaurant kills 1, wounds another; suspected shooter dead: police

The suspected shooter was identified as Bryan Heineman, 43 of Naperville; he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police.

Police said Barclay and Heineman had been dating prior to the shooting.

Police said Barclay was at the restaurant with the 33-year-old man.

Heineman allegedly learned of their location from a social media post and went to confront them.

If you are experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises please call or text the new three digit code at 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org or dial the current toll free number 800-273-8255 [TALK].

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Aurora Police Department's Investigations Division at (630) 256-5500.

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Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000 or online at www.p3tips.com/135. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of felony crime offenders and fugitives.

You can contact the Illinois domestic violence hotline at 1-877-863-6338 click here for more information.

Roundhouse management said in a statement that the restaurant will be temporarily closed after the shooting:

"We are profoundly saddened by the violence that occurred on Saturday November 22nd at Two Brothers Roundhouse. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. The safety, comfort, and well-being of our guests, staff, and community remain our highest priorities.

"We are deeply grateful for the swift and professional response from Aurora Police and Fire Department and all the emergency personnel.

"We appreciate the compassion, patience, and understanding shown by our guests and community during this difficult moment.

"We will update restaurant hours and information soon."
A new law taking effect Jan. 1 will give Hoosiers for the first time the power to know and exercise control over the way their personal data is used by companies, or used at all.

The Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act comes from a priority bill from the 2023 legislative session, authored by Sens. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, and Brian Buchanan, R-Lebanon, and former Sen. Jon Ford of Terre Haute. Businesses have had a three-year ramp to get acquainted with it, Attorney General Todd Rokita said, and he's ready to start enforcing it.

"We now live in a full-blown, what I call, surveillance economy," he told reporters Nov. 25, unveiling a "Data Consumer Bill of Rights" that explains the law. "Your personal data has been treated like someone else's property for too long."

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita speaks to a crowd Tuesday, July 29, 2025, during a press conference at Kenworth of Indianapolis.

The law applies to companies that do business in Indiana or market services to Hoosiers and meet a certain threshold of data processing. But there are many exemptions: It does not apply to state agencies, political subdivisions, government contractors, nonprofits, higher education institutions, public utilities, financial institutions or entities covered by HIPAA.

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On the consumer end, this means four things:

You can confirm whether a company is "processing" your data  meaning collecting, disclosing to third parties, analyzing or other actions  and request a copy of all the data you've given to a company, free of charge once a year. The company must post a privacy notice on their website explaining how to go about this.

Once you have this information, you can correct inaccuracies in the data, request it be deleted, or move the data to a different service provider.

All data processors must give you the option to opt out of certain functions: targeted advertising, the sale of data to third parties, and profiling, which is when companies predict your behavior and preferences based on your personal data. For sensitive personal data that reveals information about your child under the age of 13, or your protected characteristics like race and sexuality, you must opt in, or give affirmative consent, for a company to use it.

If any of your requests are denied, the company must provide a way to appeal. If that doesn't resolve the issue, you can elevate it to a consumer complaint to the attorney general's office.

For companies that use personal data, this means:

They must provide clear and easily accessible instructions for consumer data requests and appeals in a privacy notice.

They cannot discriminated against consumers, such as by charging different prices, for exercising their rights.

They can deny requests that are "manifestly unfounded, excessive, or repetitive," but the burden is on them to prove that.

They must respond to requests in 45 days but can extend that time period by an additional 45 days with notice.

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Contact IndyStar Statehouse reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X@kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: A new state law gives you more power over personal data. How to use it
Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Hundreds of state lawmakers, both Republican and Democratic, are calling on Congress to reject a national defense bill provision that would strip their powers over artificial intelligence.

The provision, which would preempt existing state laws that regulate AI, is part of the National Defense Authorization Act. In a letter dated Tuesday, the bipartisan group of more than 200 state legislators urged lawmakers in both the House and the Senate to allow states to regulate AI, or risk "setting back progress."

"A blanket prohibition on state and local AI and automated decision-system regulation would abruptly cut off active democratic debate in statehouses and impose a sweeping pause on policymaking at the very moment when communities are seeking responsive solutions," the state lawmakers wrote.

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"We appreciate congressional engagement on AI and stand ready to collaborate on thoughtful national policy," they added. "But after years without comprehensive federal action on privacy and social media harms, a broad preemption of state and local AI laws until Congress acts would set back progress and undercut existing protections."

The Trump administration and federal lawmakers are working on a bill that would prevent states from enacting certain AI laws. Last week, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that the United States "MUST have one federal standard instead of a patchwork of 40 state regulatory regimes."

On Monday, an AI industry super PAC launched a $10 million campaign, urging Congress to draft a national AI policy.

"There is broad public demand for congressional action and a uniform national approach to AI," said Nathan Leamer, executive director of Build American AI, the PAC's advocacy arm.

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State lawmakers who signed the letter disagreed, arguing "varied approaches" to AI would be better.

"State experimentation and varied approaches to AI governance help build a stronger national foundation for sound policymaking," they argue. "Freezing state action now would stifle needed innovation in policy design at a moment when it is most needed."
State lawmakers say it may be time to take a deeper dive into the state laws on electric dirt bikes to improve safety after the tragic death of a 13-year-old boy.

Police say that a young teen was riding an e-bike when he crashed into a car on Royal Street in Stoneham Friday night.

13-year-old boy riding dirt bike killed in crash in Stoneham

Theres now a growing memorial at that crash site.

Governor Maura Healey and other top lawmakers say their hearts go out to the boys family.

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I cant imagine what its like as a parent to get that news, its devastating, said Gov. Healey. Of course we all should be open to looking at whatever needs to be done to make sure things like this dont happen again.

Stonehams police chief posted reminders of E-bike safety laws on Sunday.

Some of them include:

-always wearing a helmet

-completing a state-approved safety course for operators under 18.

-e-bike riders should also follow the same rules as cyclists: staying in bike lanes or on the right side of the road

- the motor can only power the e-bike up to 20 miles an houranything faster requires a registration and drivers license or learners permit.

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We want to get to the bottom of it, we want to look at ways to make it safer and make sure folks follow the laws we have on the books, said Rep. Ron Mariano, Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. And if they have to be expanded or training has to be insisted upon, that we begin to do that to license these folks to ride these bicycles.a

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As the holiday season approaches, we are reminded that every act of kindness and generosity can go a long way.

This year, WHIO-TV 7 Circle of Kindness, together with our partners Morris Home and Ashley, and Resident Home Association, supports Giving Tuesday as a way of helping our community and those who need it most.

Join us in giving back through our 7 Circle of Kindness partnerslocal nonprofit organizations that work year-round to make Dayton, Ohio, a better place.

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This diverse group of local partners provides food services to local families in need. They distribute school supplies so students can succeed in education and life. They fulfill the wishes of children with life-threatening diseases and empower people with disabilities.

They preserve the environment and save the lives of animals. These organizations make a tremendously positive impact on our community. Learn more about their missions and their incredible work:

Miami Valley Meals

Miami Valley Meals is a Dayton, OH local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and an essential collaborator in fighting for a more food-secure future. Their team of professional chefs transforms donated and rescued food into nutritious meals, which are distributed free of charge through a network of partner nonprofits serving those experiencing food insecurity. By collaborating closely with community partners, Miami Valley Meals helps strengthen existing resources and broaden access to supportive services, creating a more comprehensive safety net for individuals and families in need. Miami Valley Meals believes everyone deserves a good meal made with love. Support Miami Valley Meals HERE.

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Crayons to Classrooms

Crayons to Classrooms (C2C) distributes essential school supplies, books, classroom decorations, hygiene products, and more to teachers and students at 144 under-resourced schools across the Miami Valley area, at no cost to them. Over 70% of students at the schools served by C2C lack the supplies they need to participate in classroom activities throughout the entire school year. C2C works to close the opportunity gap by giving teachers the school supplies they would otherwise have to purchase for their students, helping every student have what they need to succeed. The organization is servicing Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and north Warren counties. All donations are distributed at no cost to teachers through the teacher resource center. Crayons to Classrooms can turn a $10 donation into $50 in school supplies. Support the organization HERE.

Humane Society of Greater Dayton

Humane Society of Greater Dayton is a no-kill organization that has been serving the animals and people of the Miami Valley since 1902. Its mission is to advance the health, welfare, and safety of animals and people. It is the only organization in the Miami Valley helping all types of animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, farm animals, exotics, birds, small animals, and more. Support the organization HERE.

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A Special Wish Foundation

The mission of the organization is to grant the wish of a child or adolescent (birth through age 20) who has been diagnosed by a physician with a life-threatening illness. A Special Wish Foundation of Southwest Ohio serves Mercer, Auglaize, Shelby, Darke, Miami, Champaign, Clark, Preble, Montgomery, Greene, Butler, Warren, Clinton, Hamilton, Clermont, Brown, Highland, Adams, Scioto, and Pike counties. Over the past 40 years, our chapter has granted over 1,900 wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. Support the organization HERE.

Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley

Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valleys mission is to empower people with disabilities and other disadvantages to achieve independence and enhance their quality of life. The agency offers more than 40 programs and services in a 29-county region in Ohio and Kentucky, with nearly 1,400 dedicated employees. In 2024, GESMV served 24,450 individuals, including employing 633 people with disabilities and assisting 943 people in finding competitive jobs in the community. The organizations staff and volunteers work hard every day to make it possible for all people to live, learn, work, and play in our community. In 2024, Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley, through its 43 Goodwill retail stores, helped divert over 22 million pounds of reusable and recyclable goods from area landfills. Support the organization HERE.

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Hannahs Treasure Chest

HTC, formerly Hannahs Treasure Chest, is a lifeline for local children and families in need. Through a network of 75 community partners across Southwest Ohio, HTC provides essential care packages filled with clothing, shoes, books, safety gear, diapers, and hygiene items for children from pre-birth through age 18. Beyond meeting daily needs, HTC runs several programs that help kids grow, stay safe, and thrive. Beds for Babies ensures infants and toddlers have a safe place to sleep. Brighter Smiles supports childrens dental health. Books for Babies builds early literacy from day one. Handmade for HTC brings volunteers together to sew baby essentials and sensory items. And every winter, Giving Angels makes the holiday season brighter by providing meaningful gifts from their wish lists to children living at or below the poverty line. Each program reflects HTCs commitment to dignity, safety, and opportunity for every child in our community. You can be part of that commitment as well. Support HTC HERE.

Every donation counts and makes a difference in the lives of those in need. But giving doesnt stop with financial donations. There are many ways to get involved and support these nonprofits. Consider volunteering your time, sharing their stories on social media, or donating a service in-kind.

Every act of kindness makes our communitys circle stronger. And together, we can make a lasting change.

About WHIO-TV 7 Circle of Kindness:

7 Circle of Kindness was born out of a sense of responsibility to our community. It is a WHIO-TV initiative serving communities with seven pillars that focus on things important to our viewers, including education, peace, environment, diversity, and more. 7 Circle of Kindness is sponsored by Morris Home and Ashley, and Resident Home Association.

For questions about this event or the WHIO-TV 7 Circle of Kindness program, please contact Niki Mayakova at ksenia.mayakova@cmg.com.in finding
Deputies were dispatched on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 8:25 a.m. to a residence on Curtis Lane in reference to a shooting, according to Pike County Sheriff Tracy D. Evans.

The caller advised that a male subject identified as Jason L. Scott had been shot in the head by Christopher L. Barfield of Waverly. Scott was pronounced deceased at the scene. Barfield fled and was later apprehended by Pike County Deputies and Piketon Police Department in the area of Curtis Lane.

Pike County Prosecutors Office investigator and Pike County Deputies placed Barfield in custody and transported him to the Sheriffs Office for questioning, where he was later charged with aggravated murder and transported to the Ross County Jail for housing.

The Attorney Generals Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was notified and assisted in processing the scene. Barfield will be arraigned in Pike County Court.
For the seventh time, a suspect in the Candance Prunty murder case has faced trial. The last six never happened.

The suspect is accused of killing a mother of three in Clark County. The victims mother has seen the trial moved too many times.

On Tuesday, she told News Center 7 that she feels good that there will not be any more delays in getting justice for her daughter.

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Its been a long journey for Patricia Beard. I have up days, down days, but today Im feeling very grateful and thankful and blessed, Beard said. Because we finally got a trial date set.

Thomas Albert has been a murder suspect in Clark County for nearly four and a half years. Hes accused of killing Prunty.

News Center 7 first featured Pruntys homicide as a Miami Valley Murder Mystery case. Clark County Prosecutors said Albert was dating Prunty in the summer of 2015. Thats when Prunty broke off the short relationship.

Springfield Police said Albert being upset about the breakup was the motive in her death.

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Clark County Common Pleas Court Judge Brian Driscoll said, I will find that hes competent to stay in trial.

A psychologist evaluated Albert earlier this month. Hes on his fourth defense lawyer. He fired his first three.

His trial has been scheduled and rescheduled more than a half dozen times.

The next matter is trial dates, Driscoll said. He set a new trial date for March 2026.

Beard said, And unlike all the other dates, this one I feel really confident about.

She said shes confident this is the start of the final stages of this case.

Im hopeful and grateful and believing that we can move on with this, Beard said. She continued by saying, Its going to work itself out. God and the universe are going to see to it. No matter what we do, people have to answer for what they do. And this is going to be his consequence.

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Albert is already in prison for an unrelated attempted murder conviction in Columbus. He isnt up for parole in that case until 2045. So, hes in custody in the state prison system before his trial.

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Tanzania has cancelled next month's independence day celebrations, with the funds to be instead spent on rebuilding infrastructure damaged in recent election unrest, Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has said.

His announcement comes as the opposition and others have been calling for people to gather on independence day - 9 December - to demonstrate about killings that took place following last month's disputed poll.

The opposition believes hundreds of people died in the crackdown. The government has yet to give a death toll and has set up commission of inquiry.

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President Samia Suluhu Hassan won the poll with 98% of the vote, described by the opposition as a "mockery of democracy".

Her key opponents were unable to contest the poll: Tundu Lissu has been in detention on treason charges, which he denies, while Luhaga Mpina's candidacy was rejected on technical grounds.

Election observers have since reported signs that the vote was manipulated and fell short of democratic standards.

An international coalition of lawyers and human rights groups has now formally asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate President Samia and her government for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the unrest, including mass killings and the secret disposal of more than 500 bodies.

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The 82-page document was formally submitted to the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor on 13 November but was only been made public on Tuesday.

The government had imposed an internet blackout for five days from the 29 October election day and threatened anyone sharing photos from the protests.

Gruesome images and videos of dead Tanzanians have since been widely shared online, with international media verifying some of the graphic footage as authentic.

However, the government has criticised their portrayal as aimed at tarnishing the country's image, insisting the country is safe.

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On Sunday, the government spokesman Gerson Msigwa said the commission of inquiry would shed light into what happened. However, groups have raised concern over the independence of the commission.

At least 240 people were charged with treason after the protests, but the president later sought to ease tension and asked prosecutors to "show leniency". Many of those charged have reportedly already been released.

On Monday, while announcing the cancellation of celebrations, Nchemba appealed to Tanzanians to avoid violence and insisted on the importance of political dialogue.

"I urge my fellow Tanzanians to come together and discuss the issues affecting us. Let us not return to what we went through, because the consequences are irreparable," he said.

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President Samia came into office in 2021 as Tanzania's first female president following the death of President John Magufuli.

She was initially praised for easing political repression, but the political space has since narrowed.

Additional reporting by Shingai Nyoka

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The Texas redistricting case now before the Supreme Court turns on a question that often divides judges: Were the voting districts drawn based on politics, or race?

The answer, likely to come in a few days, could shift five congressional seats and tip political control of the House of Representatives after next year's midterm elections.

Justice Samuel A. Alito, who oversees appeals from Texas, put a temporary hold on a judicial ruling that branded the newly drawn Texas voting map a "racial gerrymander."

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The state's lawyers asked for a decision by Monday, noting that candidates have a Dec. 8 deadline to file for election.

They said the judges violated the so-called Purcell principle by making major changes in the election map "midway through the candidate filing period," and that alone calls for blocking it.

Texas Republicans have reason to be confident the court's conservative majority will side with them.

"We start with a presumption that the legislature acted in good faith," Alito wrote for a 6-3 majority last year in a South Carolina case.

That state's Republican lawmakers had moved tens of thousands of Black voters in or out of newly drawn congressional districts and said they did so not because of their race but because they were likely to vote as Democrats.

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Read more: 'Played with fire, got burned': GOP control of House at risk after court blocks Texas map

In 2019, the conservatives upheld partisan gerrymandering by a 5-4 vote, ruling that drawing election districts is a "political question" left to states and their lawmakers, not judges.

All the justices  conservative and liberal  say drawing districts based on the race of the voters violates the Constitution and its ban on racial discrimination. But the conservatives say it's hard to separate race from politics.

They also looked poised to restrict the reach of the Voting Rights Act in a pending case from Louisiana.

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For decades, the civil rights law has sometimes required states to draw one or more districts that would give Black or Latino voters a fair chance to "elect representatives of their choice."

The Trump administration joined in support of Louisiana's Republicans in October and claimed the voting rights law has been "deployed as a form of electoral race-based affirmative action" that should be ended.

If so, election law experts warned that Republican-led states across the South could erase the districts of more than a dozen Black Democrats who serve in Congress.

The Texas mid-decade redistricting case did not look to trigger a major legal clash because the partisan motives were so obvious.

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In July, President Trump called for Texas Republicans to redraw the state map of 38 congressional districts in order to flip five seats to oust Democrats and replace them with Republicans.

At stake was control of the closely divided House after the 2026 midterm elections.

Gov. Greg Abbott agreed, and by the end of August, he signed into law a map with redrawn districts in and around Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio.

But last week federal judges, in a 2-1 decision, blocked the new map from taking effect, ruling that it appeared to be unconstitutional.

"The public perception of this case is that it's about politics," wrote U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown in the opening of a 160-page opinion. "To be sure, politics played a role" but "substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 map."

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He said the strongest evidence came from Harmeet Dhillon, the Trump administration's top civil rights lawyer at the Justice Department. She had sent Abbott a letter on July 7 threatening legal action if the state did not dismantle four "coalition districts."

This term, which was unfamiliar to many, referred to districts where no racial or ethnic group had a majority. In one Houston district that was targeted, 45% of the eligible voters were Black and 25% were Latino. In a nearby district, 38% of voters were Black and 30% were Latino.

She said the Trump administration views these as "unconstitutional racial gerrymanders," citing a recent ruling by the conservative 5th Circuit Court.

The Texas governor then cited these "constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice" when he called for the special session of the Legislature to redraw the state map.

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Voting rights advocates saw a violation.

"They said their aim was to get rid of the coalition districts. And to do so, they had to draw new districts along racial lines," said Chad Dunn, a Texas attorney and legal director of UCLA's Voting Rights Project.

Brown, a Trump appointee from Galveston, wrote that Dhillon was "clearly wrong" in believing these coalition districts were unconstitutional, and he said the state was wrong to rely on her advice as basis for redrawing its election map.

He was joined by a second district judge in putting the new map on hold and requiring the state to use the 2021 map that had been drawn by the same Texas Republicans.

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The third judge on the panel was Jerry Smith, a Reagan appointee on the 5th Circuit Court, and he issued an angry 104-page dissent. Much of it was devoted to attacking Brown and liberals such as 95-year-old investor and philanthropist George Soros and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

"In 37 years as a federal judge, Ive served on hundreds of three-judge panels. This is the most blatant exercise of judicial activism that I have ever witnessed," Smith wrote. "The main winners from Judge Browns opinion are George Soros and Gavin Newsom. The obvious losers are the People of Texas."

The "obvious reason for the 2025 redistricting, of course, is partisan gain," Smith wrote, adding that "Judge Brown commits grave error in concluding that the Texas Legislature is more bigoted than political."

Read more: Who is running for California governor in 2026? Meet the candidates

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Most federal cases go before a district judge, and they may be appealed first to a U.S. appeals court and then the Supreme Court.

Election-related cases are different. A three-judge panel weighs the facts and issues a ruling, which then goes directly to the Supreme Court to be affirmed or reversed.

Late Friday, Texas attorneys filed an emergency appeal and asked the justices to put on hold the decision by Brown.

The first paragraph of their 40-page appeal noted that Texas is not alone in pursuing a political advantage by redrawing its election maps.

"California is working to add more Democratic seats to its congressional delegation to offset the new Texas districts, despite Democrats already controlling 43 out of 52 of Californias congressional seats," they said.

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They argued that the "last-minute disruption to state election procedures  and resulting candidate and voter confusion demonstrates" the need to block the lower court ruling.

Election law experts question that claim. "This is a problem of Texas' own making," said Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

The state opted for a fast-track, mid-decade redistricting at the behest of Trump.

On Monday, Dunn, the Texas voting rights attorney, responded to the state's appeal and told the justices they should deny it.

"The election is over a year away. No one will be confused by using the map that has governed Texas congressional elections for the past four years," he said.

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"The governor of Texas called a special session to dismantle districts on account of their racial composition," he said, and the judges heard clear and detailed evidence that lawmakers did just that.

In recent election disputes, however, the court's conservatives have frequently invoked the Purcell principle to free states from new judicial rulings that came too close to the election.

Granting a stay would allow Texas to use its new GOP friendly map for the 2026 election.

The justices may then choose to hear arguments on the legal questions early next year.

Get the L.A. Times California Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Thanksgiving travel rush is onwith over 52,000 flights taking off Tuesday alone.

Were a little nervous, were a little nervous, said Adrienne Alexson, who is traveling back home to California. We have a layover in Newark, so were trying to get out.

But this Thanksgiving, travelers are thankful that the government shut down is over, so all flight schedules are back to normal.

We anticipate theres going to be solid staffing in our towers and recons and centers throughout the airspace and thats different than what we had over the shutdown, said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

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The FAA says it expects this will be the busiest Thanksgiving holiday travel season in 15 years with Tuesday being the most traveled day during this stretch.

There are ten schools within a five-mile radius, we all get off only on Wednesday, so everyone had the same exact idea so Im happy I got here early, said Morrison.

The TSA recommends passengers to arrive at the airport two hours before their flight. Massport CEO Rich Davey says Logan is fully operational, especially with its runway construction complete. While its ready to handle the influx of travelers, he is asking them to be patient.

Give yourself a little extra time, said Massport CEO Rich Davey. While we have some of the lowest TSA wait times in the United States, we expect again with more than a million customers coming through Logan Airport that wait times will be a little higher.

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Travelers are heding hearing that advice and already planning ahead for their return trips home.

We had a driver bring us to the airport, were here plenty early, expecting delays and were coming home a day early just to make sure we dont get delayed further, said Sean Stewart, who is flying to Minnesota to visit his daughter for the holiday.

I have school on Monday, cant miss class, said Morrison.

The next busiest travel day will be Sundayas people are heading back for work and school. As always, travelers are recommended to check their flight status online or on their airline app before coming to the airport.

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BEIRUT (AP)  Thousands of people on Monday attended the funeral organized by the militant Hezbollah group for its top military commander, a day after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut.

Hezbollah supporters walked by Haytham Tabtabais coffin, draped in the groups yellow flag, as it was carried through the crowd. The burial of Tabtabai and two other Hezbollah members took place in a cemetery south of Beirut where the groups fighters are traditionally laid to rest.

Israel on Sunday struck Lebanons capital for the first time since June, saying it killed Tabtabai. The Israeli military described him as Hezbollahs chief of staff. Israel also warned the Iran-backed group not to rearm and rebuild a year after their latest war ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

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Sunday's strike killed five people and wounded 28 others, Lebanons Health Ministry said.

Let them (Israelis) continue their raids on us. They want us to surrender so they can enter our homes? Did you see what happened in Gaza? What did they do? They did nothing, said a Hezbollah supporter who identified himself as Jaafar.

Another Hezbollah supporter, Fatima Shehadeh, said that no matter how much blood is shed, we will never surrender, and we will never hand over the weapons of the resistance.

Frances Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed deep concern over the strike and potential escalation, calling on parties to go through the ceasefire monitoring mechanism to report threats and not take unilateral actions.

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Israeli airstrikes over southern Lebanon have intensified in recent weeks while Israel and the United States have pressured Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah.

Israel asserts that the group is trying to rebuild its military strength. The Lebanese government, which supports disarming Hezbollah, has denied those claims. It also says troops have deployed to the south but that its cash-strapped army needs more resources.

In December, Hezbollah fired several rockets that landed on open territory near an Israeli military base and called it a warning. It was the only time it fired since a ceasefire ended the Israel-Hezbollah war in November last year.
Diane Turner spends most of her holiday season looking for bad news.

As a Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, she has been showing up unannounced at nurseries, greenhouses and big box stores. There, she combs through the aisles of Christmas decorations, looking for tiny invasive threats like spotted lanternflies and spongy moths.

"We check the branches and the stems of this material very closely," Turner said.

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Fake or real? Which type of Christmas tree is the most enviromentally friendly?

Armed with her loupe, a tiny, trusty magnifying device that she carries around her neck, she goes through a store's inventory piece by piece, wreath by wreath. "It's time consuming, and it keeps us pretty busy, for sure."

Turner is one of 12 people at the DNR sifting through greenery this season, acting as a line of defense against invasive pests and pathogens that try to sneak into Indiana by way of holiday greenery.

"In general, most of the industry has done a great job with treating and spotting and taking care of these pests that can be detrimental to our forest and to our native species in the state," Turner said. "But sometimes they slide through."

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The team is on high alert for boxwood blight, spongy moth, spotted lanternfly, and elongate hemlock scale  species that are particularly detrimental to native ecosystems. Turner said that she doesn't usually find live insects this time of year. Instead, she is looking for signs of the species overwintering, like eggs or cocoons.

Lumps of spongy moth eggs are beige and fuzzy; elongate hemlock scale looks like small white flecks and spotted lanternfly egg masses look similar to smears of mud. Boxwood blight, a fungus, appears in the form of blotchy, brown leaf spots.

Through her inspections over the years, Turner has also intercepted species that haven't infiltrated Indiana yet, like hemlock woolly adelgid, an aggressive bug devastating North American hemlock trees in the eastern United States.

But Turner, who is one of about a dozen inspectors throughout the state, and her colleagues know they can't catch everything. Many of the invasive species that are rampaging across Indiana slipped across state lines through the ornamental plant trade.

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"We're just trying to prevent that from happening" again, Turner said.

The DNR recommends that people who buys holiday decorations, like wreaths and trees, check their goods for invasive pests. Those who suspect their holly may have unwanted hitchhikers can contact the agency online or by calling the state's invasive species hotline at (866) 663-9684.

IndyStar's environmental reporting is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

Sophie Hartley is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach her at sophie.hartley@indystar.com or on X at @sophienhartley.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Look out for these invasive pests in your holiday decorations this winter
MADISON - A nearly 10-hour lag time between the state issuing a warrant following Morgan Geyser's escape from a group home and local police alerting the public is drawing scrutiny, with the Madison Police Department attributing the delay to a break in how its officers are typically made aware of newly issued warrants.

A Madison Police Department spokesperson said in a Nov. 24 statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that there is not an "automated alarm" that alerts officers when a new warrant is issued by the state.

Instead, it is common for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to call and notify the department when a warrant has been issued for someone in its jurisdiction, said MPD spokesperson Stephanie Fryer. Once called by the state corrections department, Madison police officers will find the subject of the warrant and take them into custody, Fryer said.

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The state did not add the warrant to an online system accessible to law enforcement until around midnight, roughly three hours after Geyser  one of the defendants in the infamous Slender Man case  was last seen at a Madison group home on Nov. 22. But no one in law enforcement knew to look for it.

"We do not know they have a warrant until DOC tells us," Fryer said in the statement, adding "we can't be faulted for a task we did not know existed."

Lacking a call or other form of direct communication from the DOC, Madison police did not know a warrant had been issued for Geyser's arrest until the following morning. Just before 8 a.m. on Nov. 23, someone at the group home called Madison police to report Geyser as a missing person.

At that point, officers were able to run her name and discover the warrant in the online system.

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Speaking to reporters Monday morning, Madison Chief of Police John Patterson said the delay was "not ideal" and said police will review the process with DOC to improve on it the next time.

"We'll look at that timeline and we'll look at the process and communication between agencies," Patterson said. "The important thing is that yesterday we all came together, collaborated well."

According to a timeline released by Madison Police, Geyser was last seen in the area of Kroncke Drive at 8 p.m. Nov. 22 with an adult acquaintance.

The DOC first became aware that Geyser had tampered with her electronic monitoring bracelet at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22. At 11:30 p.m., the DOC made contact with the adult group home, at that point learning Geyser was not home and had removed her ankle monitoring bracelet.

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The DOC was responsible for Geyser's tracker, according to information from the agency.

Generally, when an alert from a GPS tracker is received, the department is contacted by the monitoring center and then attempts to get the tracker back online. If the device cannot be brought back online, the monitoring center attempts to contact the individual, and then makes contact with the facility.

If none of those steps result in the location of the individual, then an apprehension request, or warrant is issued.

The department did not offer any information about how those requests are typically conveyed to law enforcement, but the department also noted in its statement it worked with law enforcement to expand the warrant beyond the state of Wisconsin.

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"We can confirm that, as it relates to the client for whom a warrant was issued at approximately midnight on November 23, 2025, DOC worked urgently to seek a nationwide extraditable warrant as soon as possible, in partnership with Waukesha County law enforcement," the DOC said in an email.

DHS said in its statement that individuals found not guilty due to mental disease or defect are committed to the custody of the agency, but did not share any further information with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, aside from the fact the agency petitioned to have Geyser's release revoked before she was placed into the community.

That request was denied.

DHS said it could not share any additional information about Geyser or the group home where she was living.

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"We cannot confirm nor deny whether an individual was treated in our facilities, programs, or where they may have been placed," the statement said. " We cannot offer any other information regarding their treatment or current status."

Geyser, now 23, along with co-defendant Anissa Weier, were charged with attempted homicide of their friend, Payton Leutner, who was stabbed 19 times near Davids Park in Waukesha in May 2014. All three girls were 12 years old at the time.

Believing they were doing the bidding of the fictional online character called Slender Man, Geyser and Weier were found not guilty by reason of mental defect or disease in 2017 and sentenced to mental confinement, Weier for 25 years, and Geyser for 40 years.

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why it took nearly 12 hours to notify the public Morgan Geyser escaped
The Brief

An apparent tornado hit the northwest suburbs of Houston on Monday.

Damage was reported in the Klein and Spring areas.

Video shared by firefighters showed the twister spinning near a grocery store.

HOUSTON - An apparent tornado caused damage in the northwest suburbs of Houston on Monday.

According to storm reports from the National Weather Service, a funnel cloud was reported about 1:30 p.m. along U.S. Highway 290 southwest of Cypress. About 10 minutes later, a trained spotter reported a tornado near Champion Forest.

What we know

Images and video shared by the Cypress Creek Fire Department showed the tornado spinning near the H-E-B store at the intersection of Highway 249 and Louetta Road.

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Officials also shared images of storm damage at the Klein Fire Department Administration Complex near Stuebner Airline and Spring Cypress roads.

Officials with Harris County Constable Precinct 4 are saying a central command post has been established near Theiss Elementary School.

Authorities said early reports indicate that over 100 homes have been damaged.

First responders are actively searching for any injured or trapped residents.

Officials added there is currently a strong odor of natural gas throughout portions of the impacted neighborhoods. Residents are urged to avoid the area and report any suspected gas leaks immediately.

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No injuries have been reported.

The National Weather Service says they will conduct a storm survey on Tuesday.

What we don't know

NWS officials will have to survey the damage to determine the strength of the twister.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Temporary 20mph limits are to be put in place on trunk roads across south west Scotland over the next three weeks.

Transport Scotland said the move was aimed at improving road safety and encouraging active travel.

The first limits will come into effect on 28 November on the A75 at Springholm, A77 at Cairnryan and the A701 at Locharbriggs and Heathhall.

Limits will then come into force on the A75 and A77 at Stranraer and the A75 at Crocketford on 15 December.

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The limits will be in place for up to 18 months and their impact will be monitored before a decision is made on whether to make them permanent.

Transport Scotland said some sign posts had been put up before the limits came into force, but they had been temporarily obscured.

It said it was part of a wider initiative - working with Dumfries and Galloway Council - to make roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.

It said the move in Stranraer would bring the trunk roads into line with other local roads in the town "ensuring consistency across the network".

However, in Crocketford the limit will apply only to the trunk road.

A 20mph limit is being introduced in Crocketford [BBC]

Transport Scotland said research had shown that the 20mph limit significantly lowered the risk of serious injury in collisions.

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It said the likelihood of survival for a pedestrian struck by a car was seven times higher than at 30mph.

Vehicle speeds will be monitored throughout the temporary limits to assess their effectiveness.

Feedback from the community and police will also be considered as part of the evaluation process.

If the 20mph speed limit is deemed successful, steps will be taken to make it permanent and that process would include public consultation.
The Higher Regional Court in the eastern German city of Dresden is set to begin hearing the case against seven alleged left-wing extremists on Tuesday morning.

The group is alleged to have carried out violent attacks on people from the far-right scene over several years. They are charged with crimes that include grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, membership of a criminal organization and damage to property.

The focus is primarily on a man named under German privacy laws as Johann G, who is believed to have held a leading position in the group. He was in hiding for a long time and was caught a year ago by investigators from the State Criminal Police Office for Saxony, of which Dresden is the capital.

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The mammoth trial now pending in Dresden, with hearings initially scheduled until the summer of 2027, is in fact a continuation of the case against a student identified as Lina E.

In 2023, she was sentenced to five years and three months in prison by the Dresden Higher Regional Court. Three co-defendants received lesser sentences. A key witness had incriminated them.

All are said to have belonged to the same group whose members are now on trial. The trial is being held under heightened security measures.
ALBANY, New York  President Donald Trumps astonishingly chummy Oval Office meeting with New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani could not have come at a worse time for Rep. Elise Stefanik.

The New York Republican is mounting an uphill gubernatorial bid in a deep blue state, building her campaign on the argument that Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is the nations worst chief executive  and tying Hochul to the 34-year-old democratic socialist who will soon lead New York City.

Trump blew up that message in minutes. In the Oval Office, he said he wouldnt worry about living in New York under Mamdani, noted how many voters they share and even complimented the mayor-elects looks. And in a rare bit of daylight with Stefanik, he declined to repeat her claim that Mamdani is a jihadist. In a statement, Stefanik said they would agree to disagree.

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There was little doubt within the MAGA movement that the meeting at least temporarily undercut Stefaniks central campaign premise.

Dems just need to run clips of the presser today to defeat Elise, Trump whisperer Laura Loomer wrote on X in the meetings aftermath.

The surreal lovefest underscored the limitations and hazards for a Trump ally like Stefanik as she runs to lead a state where Democrats have a massive enrollment advantage, the president is unpopular and a GOP candidate has not won statewide office in a generation. This, however, potentially cuts both ways for Democrats, who have otherwise relished the photos of a giddy Trump smiling at Mamdani.

Stefanik in an interview with News 12 on Monday said the exchange doesn't complicate her campaign's message.

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"I stand by my statement," she said. "He is a jihadist. This is an area where President Trump and I disagree. But what we all want to work toward is making New York more affordable and safe, and that's where I have a very strong record and working relationship with the administration."

Yet Stefanik acknowledged there are areas where she and Mamdani can potentially work together, like addressing utility costs.

In a statement, her campaign knocked Mamdani as a "dangerous threat to New Yorkers" and argued "his policies will further Hochuls affordability and crime crises."

A future blow up with Mamdani  who told "Meet the Press" on Sunday he still believes the president is a fascist and despot  is anticipated by Democrats, despite the recent bonhomie. Such a rupture  and its timing  stands to impact not only the governors race, but the states battleground House races as well. Republicans in New York and around the country have signaled they will make Mamdani a Democratic boogeyman in the 2026 midterm elections.

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Empire State GOP candidates are especially counting on a strong top of the ticket to aid their bids in swing seats on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley. Those elections will play a big role in determining control of the House in the final two years of Trumps term. Stefaniks campaign is expected to continue using Mamdani as a foil against Hochul, who endorsed his mayoral bid in September. The mayor-elects anti-Israel views havent changed following the Trump meeting, a Stefanik campaign official noted, and polling shows Mamdani is deeply polarizing among voters statewide.

Trump has been a gift and a burden to Stefanik after she set her sights on Albany earlier this year following the decision to yank her nomination as United Nations ambassador. The president helped clear the Republican field in the spring, endorsing moderate Rep. Mike Lawler to remain in his swing House district. Lawler, long considered a potentially competitive statewide candidate, endorsed Stefaniks gubernatorial bid Monday.

The unpredictable Trump has complicated Stefaniks political calculus in other ways as well. The president has not discouraged Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman from also seeking the Republican nomination for governor. Trump is deeply unpopular in his native state, and Democrats have already signaled they will make him an anchor around her campaign. The Mamdani embrace highlighted that a mercurial president with an ardent following cannot always be counted on to deliver politically for his allies.

Stefanik is walking a delicate line and must remain in the president's good graces as she seeks to lock down the GOP nomination. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who will resign her House seat early next year, is a cautionary tale of how quickly Trump can turn on a friend  and the political ramifications of getting crosswise with him.

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The thing with Donald Trump is hes your friend until hes not, and hes your enemy until hes not, said Republican consultant Susan Del Percio, who has opposed Trumps presidential campaigns. If you look at it through that prism, pick your timing. Its just the way he works. Hes that transactional.

Trump has threatened to deploy the National Guard to police New York City streets and cut federal aid in response to Mamdanis victory. Hochuls administration has spent weeks gaming out scenarios in which Trump sends in federal troops. That planning is still in the works.

Were still going to be fully prepared and have the same planning underway, said a Hochul administration official, who was granted anonymity to discuss the internal conversations. We all know who Donald Trump is and can be.

Stefanik, who has represented a blood-red House district for a decade, was not initially an enthusiastic Trump supporter. But the 41-year-olds rise through the Republican ranks came, in part, through her ardent backing of the president. She came to MAGA prominence during Trumps first impeachment, and he praised her at the time as a rising star. Stefanik was on a shortlist to become Trumps second-term running mate, and her nomination to become his United Nations ambassador was considered a shoo-in.

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But a fraught process to select her House successor and the razor-thin majority held by Republicans in the chamber doomed her nomination. Now as a candidate for governor, Stefanik is banking on Hochuls low favorability with voters and the governors support for Mamdani as being politically fatal in a state once accustomed to electing moderate Republicans like former Gov. George Pataki.

Since launching three weeks ago, Stefaniks campaign has centered around Hochul being the worst governor in America  a catchphrase repeated three times in her announcement video. That same announcement video accused Hochul, who endorsed Mamdani in September, of having "cozied up to a defund the police, tax-hiking, antisemitic communist.

Her allies do not expect there will be significant fallout from Trumps surprising Mamdani enthusiasm.

My view is theres a lot of fluidity in this situation based on Mamdanis actions going forward, said Conservative Party Chair Gerard Kassar, a Stefanik ally. The president is running a nation, Mamdani has a city to run. I think what the president said is Lets give this guy a chance.

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Few Republicans believe Trump made his final judgment on the incoming mayor  or that his comments from late last week are set in stone.

I dont see any long-term consequence at all, said New York GOP strategist Bill OReilly. Trump is idiosyncratic and having a love fest with Mamdani is pure him. The next week hell be back to criticizing him.

There are ample pitfalls for Democrats ahead of Mamdani taking office.

The backbench state assemblymember has never run anything larger than his legislative office and he will soon be leading a city government composed of some 300,000 workers. He is pressing Hochul to raise taxes on rich people and large corporations  a prospect she initially opposed, but has since hedged on citing uncertainty created by Trump and Congressional Republicans.

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Mamdanis candidacy created a rupture within the Democratic Party, with stalwarts like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer refusing to endorse him. He is also polarizing in the vote-rich New York City suburbs: A Siena College poll found 49 percent of those voters hold an unfavorable view of him. Sixty-seven percent of Jewish voters have a similarly negative view, the poll found.

Republicans expect to make Mamdani the face of their 2026 midterm effort  an example of how the Democratic Party has strayed too far to the left and alienated moderate voters as a result.

That strategy has shown no sign of changing. The New York Republican Committee three days after Trump praised Mamdani at the White House released a fundraising appeal blasting the new mayor with the subject line NYC has fallen.

New York City has been taken over by a radical socialist, Zohran Mamdani, the email stated. However, the fight is only beginning.
President Donald Trumps niece has taken a side in the great Trump-Newsom troll-off of 2025.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been trolling the president for months with insults and memes, while also undertaking an aggressive policy push to combat Trumps MAGA agenda.

Earlier this month, California voters approved Newsoms Prop. 50, which allows the state to redraw its congressional maps ahead of next years midterms in response to a redistricting effort in Texas aimed at helping Republicans pick up five additional House seats.

Mary Trump told Joanna Coles that the president appears to be going down the same path as his father. / The Daily Beast

He is the most historically unpopular president in modern history, Newsom said following the Prop. 50 victory. In every critical category, Donald Trump is underwater, the governor added.

Gov. Newsom has become one of Pres. Trump's biggest political opponents. Here the two men are pictured in California following January's deadly wildfires, along with first lady Melania Trump. / MANDEL NGAN / AFP via Getty Images

Mary Trump, the daughter of Trumps brother Fred Jr., said in a YouTube video Monday that her uncles increasingly frantic behavior shows that Trump is paying close attention to Newsoms attacks and is furious about them.

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Newsom was absolutely right to call out Donald for being historically unpopular, she said. He is the most historically unpopular president in modern history. But he is also the most historically inept, corrupt, vicious, cruel, and stupid.

Trumps overall approval rating fell to just 38 percent in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week. The president was polling at -4 among independents when he took office in January, but that number has now plummeted to -43, CNNs data guru Harry Enten revealed.

More Americans are beginning to understand the presidents negative personality traits, Mary Trump said Monday, which is why hes trying so hard to gerrymander his way to control of the House in 2026.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.

Mary Trump pointed to the Trump administration's investigation into Rep. Eric Swalwell as evidence that her uncle is a

The psychologist has long been an outspoken critic of her uncle, whom she described last week as despicable and a lifelong hardcore misogynist after the president snapped, quiet, piggy! at a female reporter.

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On Monday, she blasted his decision to use the Department of Justice to investigate his political opponents, including Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, a high-profile Trump critic who is running for California governor after Newsoms second and final term ends next year.

Earlier this month, Trumps Federal Housing Finance Agency head Bill Pulte referred Swalwell to the DOJ for a potential criminal probe into allegations of mortgage and tax fraud, making him at least the fourth Democrat to face similar accusations.

Swalwell has dismissed the accusations as nonsense.

That is what an incredibly weak, craven coward he is, Mary Trump said of her uncle. He cannot handle opposition. He cannot handle the fact that there are people in the world with the strength to stand up to him.
The US Defense Department opened an investigation into a top lawmaker and military veteran who appeared in a video telling serving soldiers they must not follow illegal orders.

Sen. Mark Kelly was among six Democrats who took part in last weeks broadcast, which prompted US President Donald Trump to call for the group to be prosecuted for sedition. Kelly said in a statement he would not be intimidated.

The threat of a court martial against the former navy captain comes after two cases against a former FBI director and the New York attorney general  high-profile critics of Trump  were dismissed. Though the decision can be appealed, it could recast Trumps fraught effort to exact retribution on his foes, CNN said.
Let me be frank: The President of the United States is out of his mind, and nobodys doing a goddamned thing about it. What do I mean? Any number of red flags, really, but in particular right now its the latest five hundred words of blithering lunacy he shared on his bitcoin mining operation social media site Tuesday night. They are not the words of a man elected to lead the worlds most powerful nation. They are, instead, those of a malevolent Don Quixote tilting at a cancer-causing, bird-kill
President Trump signed an executive order on Monday that establishes the Genesis Mission, a national AI-for-science initiative that officials described as the largest federal research effort since the Manhattan Project.

The order directs agencies to connect federal datasets, national laboratory supercomputers, and new AI systems that the administration said would accelerate scientific discovery across several fields and strengthen U.S. technological competitiveness.

The order also creates a centralized system called the American Science and Security Platform. The Department of Energy said the platform would link supercomputers, secure cloud AI environments, scientific datasets, simulation tools, and automated laboratory systems to support model training and AI-directed experimentation.

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The Genesis Mission will bring together our nations research and development resourcescombining the efforts of brilliant American scientists, including those at our national laboratories, with pioneering American businesses; world-renowned universities; and existing research infrastructure, data repositories, production plants, and national security sitesto achieve dramatic acceleration in AI development and utilization, the order said.

Officials from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Department of Energy said the Genesis Mission aims to cut research timelines from years to days or even hours by combining federal data with neural networks trained to generate predictions, direct experiments, and run simulations.

They said the program would preserve copyright protections and national security restrictions, with open data available to researchers and proprietary or classified material limited to approved users.

We operate 28 user facilities and support 40,000 scientists and engineers. Some of the data sets are proprietary and bilateral with each party, a White House official said. We also hold some of the most confidential and classified data sets the nation has, which are not available to third parties. All three categories will be used, and we will continue to advance partnerships based on each of them.

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The order requires DOE to apply federal classification, export-control, and cybersecurity standards to the new platform and to vet outside researchers or companies seeking access.

Group Asks Federal Agency to Halt Use of Elon Musk's Grok AI Amid Racism Concerns

When asked how the government planned to prevent hallucinations in the models used for the Genesis Mission, a White House official said that every prediction would be tested against experimental results.

These models are going to be used to issue predictions and formulate plans, the official told Decrypt. If those predictions don't match what scientific instruments tell us, the predictions are wrong. Through that iterative process, we will make them work with the accuracy required to advance the Genesis Mission.

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Though the speakers used the term AI throughout the call, the official said the administration was not referring to consumer chatbots like ChatGPT or Grok.

When we talk about AI, what we're talking about is being able to encode the knowledge that is present in physics and chemistry and engineering in very massive neural networks, they said. These neural networks are not just your traditional LLMs. We are going to combine that with physics, chemistry, and engineering-based models.

Trumps AI actions

The Genesis Mission follows several AI actions earlier in 2025. In January, the White House revoked a Biden administration order requiring companies to submit model-safety testing and evaluation results, arguing the policy slowed innovation. In July, the administration moved to ban so-called woke AI by directing federal agencies to support the development of AI systems free from ideological bias.

The administration also reorganized federal oversight bodies, shifting them toward evaluation and competitiveness rather than the broader safety-testing framework used under the prior administration. Most recently, in an attempt to block state-backed AI regulations, the administration said it is considering an executive order to establish a federal AI regulatory framework.

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Monday's order directs national laboratories to expand existing supercomputers and connect them directly to scientific instruments, allowing AI systems to generate and validate predictions in real time. Officials said the United States already operated several of the worlds highest-ranked machines.

Trump Eyes Executive Order to Rein In Patchwork State AI Policies

Under the order, the Department of Energy has 90 days to identify federal and cloud-based computing resources, 120 days to select initial datasets and models, and 240 days to review robotic and automated laboratory systems. The department is required to demonstrate an initial operating capability within 270 days.

According to the White House, private sector interest in the Genesis Mission program had been overwhelming, with an official noting that several companiesincluding Nvidia, Dell, and AMDagreed to expand AI-focused computing capacity at national laboratories.

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Responding to questions about rising electricity demand from data centers, an official said increased load would drive new generation capacity and eventually lower per-unit costs. The official said the long-term effect would be to reduce the price of electricity in the United States and increase the reliability of our grid.

Ultimately, AI and the buildout of hyperscalers will be a force to reduce the price of electricity in the United States and to increase the reliability of our grid, they said.

Running Your Own Local Open-Source AI Model Is EasyHere's How

The order also directs agencies to propose new scientific challenges and create a structure to coordinate research, data access, and partnerships across government, universities, and industry. The National Science and Technology Council would lead this work, with support from federal data and AI councils.

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It also creates research fellowships at national laboratories and requires the Department of Energy to file annual reports on platform performance, research progress, participation, and partnership outcomes.

"In this pivotal moment, the challenges we face require a historic national effort, comparable in urgency and ambition to the Manhattan Project that was instrumental to our victory in World War II and was a critical basis for the foundation of the Department of Energy (DOE) and its national laboratories," the order said.
When talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war took an unexpected turn last week, with the leak of a peace plan said to come from the US, the Trump administration dispatched an unlikely figure to attend a flurry of overseas meetings.

The youngest-ever army secretary, 39-year-old Dan Driscoll, is often referred to as President Donald Trump's "drone guy" for his embrace of emerging battlefield technologies. Until recently, he was mostly known for discussions of budgets, supplies and staff issues in the military's largest branch.

Driscoll does not appear to have a long history of dealing with Russia and Ukraine, or experience in international diplomacy, and has never held public office.

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So, who is this increasingly prominent figure within the administration?

Close ally of Vice-President JD Vance

It is Driscoll's relationship with the now-vice president, JD Vance, that brought him into Trump's orbit.

Like his friend Vance, Driscoll attended a public university before joining the US Army, and then earned his law degree at the prestigious Yale University. Both men also worked in finance after graduating.

During his military career, Driscoll became an officer in 2007, led a cavalry platoon and deployed to Iraq for several months in 2009.

He has told the story of meeting Vance through a veterans' student group at law school, during which Vance reassured new students that they would at first feel as if they did not belong, but would excel at classes after a few months. Soon, Vance became Driscoll's friend and mentor.

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Driscoll was on holiday with his family in Switzerland in the summer of 2024 when Vance called to tell him he was going to be Trump's running mate and asked him to join the campaign.

The next day, Driscoll flew back to the US, bought a suit at an outlet mall, and took an Uber to the Republican National Convention, he told the alumni magazine for the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill - the institution where he was an undergraduate.

Once Trump returned to office, Driscoll was swiftly approved as army secretary in his Senate confirmation vote. His sphere of influence expanded after he became a key figure in Trump's deployment of the National Guard to US cities. Afterwards, he also took over the role of acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Driscoll at his confirmation hearing in January [Getty Images]

Unannounced visit to Ukraine

Driscoll has often spoken about the war in Ukraine - pointing to Ukrainian drones as a relatively cheap, mass-produced technology that is good for fighting.

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But after being nominated for the army secretary job, he did not initially appear to be involved in negotiations to end the war. Trump was instead relying on his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to work on a plan for a ceasefire.

When details of a 28-point plan drafted by the US and Russia were leaked last week, Ukraine immediately voiced concern at some of its key points - and its European allies followed suit.

Driscoll then made an unannounced visit to Ukraine along with other high-ranking Pentagon figures, the most senior military group to travel to Kyiv since Trump took office in January. The purpose, according to a US Army spokesman, was to meet Ukrainian officials and discuss efforts to end the war.

Driscoll met Zelensky and was then, according to Politico, feted at a reception at the US ambassador's residence.

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In subsequent days, Driscoll participated in more discussions with Ukrainian officials in Geneva alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and helped draw up an "updated and refined peace framework".

He went on to hold talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, according to the BBC's US partner, CBS News.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump said in an effort to finalise the peace plan, he had directed his envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. He said Driscoll would meet with the Ukrainian side.

A future envoy... or defence secretary?

Driscoll with National Guard troops in Washington [Getty Images]

In nominating Driscoll as his army secretary, Trump wrote he had a "powerful combination of experiences to serve as a disruptor and change agent".

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Some in Washington are wondering if those qualities and his recent appearance on the world stage mean that Driscoll could one day replace Pete Hegseth, if Hegseth ever steps down as defence secretary.

While he has never held public office, Driscoll worked in Congress as an intern for the Senate's veteran affairs committee, and in 2020 he made an unsuccessful bid for a House seat in North Carolina. A former professor has suggested Driscoll aimed "to serve in the military, go to law school and be in politics".

There is also the possibility Driscoll could step officially into the role of negotiating with Ukraine when Trump's special envoy to the country, Keith Kellogg, leaves in January.

Or he could stay as the head of hundreds of thousands of troops in the US Army. Driscoll has previously highlighted that his father and grandfather served in the military before him, and he often speaks about his vision of transforming the Army.

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Days before heading to Ukraine, Driscoll described to The Conversation podcast how he imagined the near future, when "every infantryman...will carry a drone into battle" and soldiers would rely on artificial intelligence because human brains will not be able to "keep up" with the pace of action.

"Our window to change is right now," he said in a speech in October. "And we will win with silicon and software, not our soldiers' blood and bodies."
Portraits of Ukrainian military members on The Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine in Kyiv on Nov. 24, 2025. Credit - Roman PilipeyAFP/Getty Images

The 28-point peace plan for Ukraine, leaked to the press last week, left many wondering about its origins. The document repeated many of the talking points previously voiced by the Kremlin. Even the language of the plan looked to some as if it was translated from Russian. The confusion grew after a group of U.S. lawmakers claimed Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that it was a Russian proposal. Rubio was quick to deny that and insist the plan was an American one, based on the input from the Russian side.

Whatever the origins, the plan is a disaster for Ukraine and Europe for several reasons.

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First, it would force Ukraine to voluntarily hand over to Russia territory it doesnt control. That includes some of the most heavily fortified land in Donetsk region, which would make a new Russian assault on Kyiv an easy walk. Ukraine has always insisted that the conflict should be frozen along the current frontlines, and that a ceasefire must be a pre-condition for any further talks.

Second, it severely limits Ukraines sovereignty by capping the size of its armed forces to 600,000, and by forcing it to abandon NATO aspirations and enshrine neutrality in its constitution (Ukraine was constitutionally a neutral country before Russias invasion of Crimea in 2014). Giving the Russian language and Russian Orthodox Church more rights might seem like innocent provisions, but the Moscow-centered institution would increase the Kremlins influence inside Ukraine.

Third, the plan foresees an amnesty for all partiesincluding Russian soldiers, who have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. Among them are those responsible for a massacre of civilians in Bucha, the bombing of maternity hospitals in Mariupol, the illegal deportation of 19,500 Ukrainian children, and ongoing drone attacks on civilians in Kherson. There is a huge demand for justice inside Ukraineand this plan does nothing to address it.

Fourth, the plan doesnt offer any concrete security guarantees for Ukraine and relies heavily on Russias goodwill not to invade again. It ignores the fact that Russia has violated numerous international and bilateral commitments since 2014. It rewards and empowers the aggressor by forcing the victim to compromise on issues vital for its survival.

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The plan would leave Ukraineand Europe at largeextremely vulnerable to more, not less, Russian aggression. Nobody in Ukraine trusts Russiathe general consensus is it would use any deal or pause in the fighting to rearm, regroup, and attack again. Russia would also be more tempted to test Europes resolve by attacking a E.U. or NATO member, like one of the Baltic states. The German defense chief has already warned NATO to prepare for a possible attack there by 2029.

Fortunately, the pushback has been strong, and there is a new 19-point U.S.-Ukraine plan. Negotiations are expected today between U.S. and Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, as is a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump later this week. Whatever the outcome, though, all of this must become a wake-up call for Europe.

Over the past year, since Trump returned to office, Europeans understood they needed to do more for their own security. Concrete actions followed, like major commitments to ramp up defense spending levels to 5% of GDP. Europe assumed the role of main buyer of U.S. weapons for Ukraine. Europe has also done commendable work on sustaining Ukraines frail financial system and covering most of its civilian budget needs.

Yet Europes role in diplomacy around Ukraine has been lacking. Fortunately, Europe offered a counterproposal to Trumps peace plan, some of which has likely been incorporated into the new U.S.-Ukraine proposal. But the back-and-forth underscores how Europe still largely outsources diplomatic initiative to the U.S. and is forced to do damage control every time Trumps mood on Ukraine changes (usually after speaking with the Russians). Europe understands the nature of the Russian threat much better, and its leaders have more experience dealing with Putin. What seems to be lacking is confidenceand unity. It is time for Europeans to step up, commit more resources by making the Coalition of the Willing more ambitious, and apply maximum pressure on Russia, for starters, by finally seizing its 210 billion in frozen assets.

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Europewhich includes the E.U. and the U.K.cannot just react when their house is on fire. It is becoming increasingly clear it cannot trust the Trump Administration to bring the war in Ukraine to an outcome which is favorable for Europe. Europe has to show agency and demonstrate it is ready, just like Ukraine, to stand up and fight.





Contact us at letters@time.com.
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23:56 Remove all 1,102 liquor outlets located within 500 m of NHs, SHs: HC to Raj File image The Rajasthan high court on Wednesday ordered that all liquor outlets located within 500 m of the national or state highways must be cleared from their present locations, regardless of the local authority that has jurisdiction over them, in view of increasing road tragedies. A Jodhpur... Read more >

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21:55 Odisha police nab murder accused, on the run for 23 years, from Gujarat The Odisha police arrested a murder accused, who had been on the run for 23 years, from Gujarat's Surat, an officer said on Wednesday. The accused, identified as Sachindra Sahani alias Sachi (50), along with six others, had allegedly killed Lingaraj Patra at Patigada in Ganjam district on... Read more >

21:31 Teenage girl accuses mother, male neighbour of pushing her into prostitution A Mumbai-based girl studying in Class 10 has accused her mother and their male neighbour of pushing her into prostitution to earn money, prompting the police to register a case and launch a probe, officials said on Wednesday. A case was registered at the Ghatkopar police station on... Read more >

20:48 SIR workload: UP lekhpal ends life day before wedding A 28-year-old lekhpal died by suicide in Fatehpur district, a day before his wedding, over alleged work pressure amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, officials said on Wednesday. The incident triggered protests by revenue staff who alleged that excessive work pressure... Read more >

20:29 B'desh sees record-high default bank loans amid lowest ever investment inflow File image Non-performing loans in Bangladesh's banking sector jumped to Tk 6.44 lakh crore at the end of September, which amounts to 35.7 percent of all banking credit, the Central Bank said on Wednesday.The Bangladesh Bank statement said default loans increased by nearly Tk 3 lakh crore in the first nine... Read more >

20:17 Lioness kills 2-year-old girl in Gujarat's Gir Somnath Representational image A two-year-old girl was killed by a lioness in Gir Gadhada taluka of Gujarat's Gir Somnath district on Wednesday morning, a forest official said. The girl's half-eaten body was recovered later and the lioness was captured, he said. The district is home to the Gir National Park, the only... Read more >

20:08 Examining B'desh's request to extradite Hasina: India Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina/File image India on Wednesday said it is examining a request by Bangladesh to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and that it is committed to ensure the best interests of the people of that country. Hasina, 78, was last week sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal in Dhaka for... Read more >

19:54 President Murmu on two-day visit of Odisha, UP from tomorrow President Droupadi Murmu will embark on a two-day visit to Odisha and Uttar Pradesh from Thursday, her office has said. The president will address members of the Odisha Legislative Assembly in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, it said. On November 28, the president will grace the launch ceremony... Read more >

19:30 Expelled AIADMK leader Sengottaiyan resigns as Gobichettipalayam MLA Expelled AIADMK leader K A Sengottaiyan on Wednesday tendered his resignation as an MLA from the Gobichettipalayam constituency. The veteran leader met Assembly Speaker M Appavu at the Secretariat and submitted his resignation letter, sources said. There is speculation in political... Read more >

19:27 CEC Gyanesh Kumar to become chair of world poll body Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar/ANI Photo Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is all set to assume the Chair of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for the year 2026, the Election Commission said on Wednesday. Kumar will take over as the chair of IIDEA on December 3 in the... Read more >

19:15 Rupee ends almost flat at 89.23 against US dollar The rupee slipped 1 paisa to close at 89.23 (provisional) against the US dollar in a range-bound trade on Wednesday, as firm domestic equities and a slide in global crude prices offset the impact of a strengthening greenback. Foreign fund outflows and concerns over geopolitical developments... Read more >

19:00 Hong Kong high-rise blaze kills four, injures three A Hong Kong resident reacts after claiming his wife is trapped inside the tower in Hong Kong./Reuters/ANI Photo At least four people were killed and three others injured after three high-rise residential towers caught fire in Hong Kong's Tai Po district on Wednesday, The New York Times reported, citing the city's public broadcaster, Radio Television Hong Kong.According to The New York Times, citing the... Read more >

18:55 Ahmedabad to host Commonwealth Games 2030 Ahmedabad was formally awarded hosting rights of the 2030 Commonwealth Games during Commonwealth Sport's general assembly here on Wednesday, paving the way for the multi-sport event's return to the country after two decades.It was a mere formality for the general assembly of 74 members to put a... Read more >

18:13 Mahindra Racing unveils new Formula E livery Pic: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff Mahindra Racing unveils its striking new livery for the upcoming Formula E season. Introducing the new machine from Mahindra Electric! Where electric power meets next-level design. Rajesh Karkera/Rediff bring you the first look directly from Bangalore. Read more >

17:56 Will ask Modi to change IIT-Bombay's name: Fadnavis Just In: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that he would write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union education minister to change IIT Bombay's name to IIT Mumbai. More details soon. Read more >

17:29 'Pak using terrorism as state policy against India since 1947' The horrific 26/11 terror attack was planned by Pakistan A document detailing major terror attacks orchestrated from across the border between 1947 and 2025 was released on Wednesday by NatStrat, a think tank, to coincide with the 17th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks. The history of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism against India needs to be... Read more >

17:06 Pan masala baron's daughter-in-law dies by suicide Representational image A 40-year-old daughter-in-law of Kamla Pasand pan masala company owner died allegedly by suicide at her south Delhi residence, police said on Wednesday. The deceased, Deepti Chaurasia, married since 2010, was found hanging from the ceiling in her house by her husband on Tuesday, who... Read more >

16:57 Sensex goes higher, stronger, faster; up 1000+ points! Snapping the three-day falling streak, benchmark Sensex rebounded by 1,022 points while Nifty reclaimed the 26,000 level on Wednesday on across-the-board buying aided by a rally in global peers amid growing hopes of a US Fed rate cut and fresh foreign fund inflows.The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped... Read more >

16:42 Former CJI Gavai slams 'bulldozer justice' Former Chief Justice of India BR Gavai has sharply criticised the use of bulldozers by State authorities to demolish the homes of individuals merely accused of crimes, calling it an alarming example of the executive acting like a court and inflicting collective punishment without due... Read more >

16:16 CJI went for 1-hr walk amid Delhi's 348 AQI. He says... Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, while considering the possibility of shifting Supreme Court hearings to the virtual-only mode due to the severe air pollution, said he felt unwell when he went for an hour-long walk a day before. Kant said he would decide after consulting the bar, even as... Read more >

16:03 Two accused in Red Fort blast case produced in Delhi court The NIA on Wednesday produced two accused arrested in connection with the Red Fort blast case before a Delhi court. The accused, Soyab and Amir Rashid Ali, were produced before Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to seek... Read more >

15:44 GST Reforms To Boost India Incs Q3 Performance India Inc could sustain healthy year-on-year revenue growth of 8-10 per cent in the October-December quarter of 2025-2026 (Q3FY26) -- vis--vis 9.2 per cent Y-o-Y in Q2FY26 -- led by firm rural demand and expectations of a revival in urban demand, rating agency Icra said on Tuesday.Coupled with... Read more >

15:28 'Gandhis backing DKS, Siddaramaiah trapped in their game' Will DK Shivakumar wear the Karnataka crown? Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin on Wednesday claimed that the Congress high command is backing DK Shivakumar for the Chief Minister position in Karnataka. Nabin claimed that Siddaramaiah has been trapped in a game being played by the Gandhi family. Speaking to ANI, Nabin said, Karnataka is... Read more >

15:17 Freedom is not only about rights, but duties too: PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that Constitution Day reminds the countrymen that freedom is not only about rights, but also about duties and a call for unity. The PM's message was read out during the flag-off ceremony of 'Unity March' in Karamsad town of Gujarat's Anand... Read more >

15:00 Like cancer: Kangana on 'removing infiltrators' via SIR Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday said that threats made by the opposition over the Special Intensive Revision would not work, adding that people have decided to remove the infiltrators from the entire country. The remarks came from the Mandi Lok Sabha MP in response to... Read more >

14:51 K'taka power tussle: Priyank Kharge plays down meeting with Rahul Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday played down reports that he has held discussions with top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the leadership change issue in the state, during a recent meeting, and has conveyed the latter's message to CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K... Read more >

14:47 UP man kills sister for talking to male friends on phone A 22-year-old woman was allegedly killed by her brother who objected to her speaking with her male friends over phone, police said on Wednesday. The incident occurred at Itora Gotiya village in Shahjahanpur district, and the victim has been identified as Naina Devi, they said.SP Rajesh... Read more >

14:41 Orry appears before Mumbai police in drugs case Bollywood socialite and influencer Orhan Awatramani alias Orry on Wednesday appeared before the Mumbai police to record his statement in a drug seizure case, an official said. Orry arrived at the Ghatkopar unit of the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) of police around 1.30 pm, the official said. He... Read more >

14:11 'Choor choor...': Mamata on govt disallowing Jai Hind And West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee being herself while reacting to a Rajya Sabha bulletin which says there should be no 'Thanks', 'Thank You', 'Jai Hind', 'Vande Mataram' or any other slogans raised in the House. The CM reacted saying: Kyun nahi bolenge? Jai Hind aur Vande Mataram hamara national... Read more >

14:00 7 Nations That Trust Their Government The Most Across the globe, certain political leaders have a better following than others. And that translates into faith in their governments. We all repose some amount of trust in our governments.Don't we?Too little is not good and too much is not good either. In which countries are trust levels the... Read more >

13:55 After NDA win in Bihar, now Bengal's turn: BJP BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Wednesday strongly criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remarks that if the Bharatiya Janata Party tries to touch the state, the Trinamool Congress would shake the entire country.Speaking to the media in Kangra, Thakur said that the National Democratic... Read more >

13:39 8 New Words You Need To Know In 2025 According to dictionaryblog.cambridge.org these are a few new words of 2025... First off: Brain flossing which means escaping stress by popping on your headphones and diving into a world of whirling sounds, leaving your mind refreshed and calm.Be Shashi Tharoor. Read more >

13:24 Blue drum murder: Accused's baby born on victim's birthday Muskan, who is in Meerut jail for the gruesome murder of her husband Saurabh Rajput and stuffing his body in a blue drum, has named her newborn daughter Radha even as her in-laws demanded a DNA test of the child, officials said on Wednesday. The child was born at the Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial... Read more >

13:17 Delhi HC Recognises Birkin Bag... Four trademarks owned by French luxury brand Hermes -- the distinctive three-dimensional shape of the iconic Birkin bag, the Hermes word mark, and two stylised logos associated with the brand -- have been recognised as 'well-known marks' in India by the Delhi high court.Justice Tejas Karia passed... Read more >

12:55 The real intent behind SIR is...: Mamata West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday claimed NRC was the real intent behind the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Speaking to reporters after garlanding the statue of BR Ambedkar at Red Road on the occasion of Constitution Day, Banerjee said the citizenship... Read more >

12:36 7 Unhygienic Habits That Might Make You Sick Clean habits are our best defence against germs, viruses and ill health. Whether we're aware of it or not, certain undesirable seemingly harmless habits can affect our immune system, leaving us more open to infections and sickness. Take a look. Read more >

12:35 Round The World On A Biscuit Tour Indian chai is wholly incomplete without a plate of biscuits or biskoot, as we call them. Dip, dip, dip as you sip... Bite in here. Read more >

12:14 On camera, 2 minor basketball players die in separate freak court accidents In two separate incidents, two minor boys died while practicing after basketball poles reportedly collapsed on them in Rohtak and Bahadurgarh town (Jhajjar). The deceased have been identified as Aman (15) of Bahadurgarh and Hardik (16) of Lakhan Majra (Rohtak), both Class X students. Read... Read more >

12:09 UIDAI To Launch New App For... The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will soon launch a new mobile-based application to enable smooth verification of the identity of users through quick-response (QR) codes, the agency's chief executive officer Bhuvnesh Kumar said.The new app, currently in the beta-testing phase,... Read more >

12:07 Duplicate Securities Certificates: Sebi Proposes To Ease Process The Securities and Exchange Board of India on Tuesday proposed to ease the process for issuing duplicate securities certificates to ease compliance burden and standardise documentation for investors.Under current rules, investors must file an First Information Report (FIR) or police complaint,... Read more >

12:04 BJP warns Kunal Kamra after his T-Shirt mocks RSS Comedian Kunal Kamra kicked up a fresh controversy after he shared a photo on social media wearing a T-shirt that allegedly mocked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), inviting strong reaction from the BJP, which on Tuesday warned of police action.Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader... Read more >

12:00 My duty to protect Constitution, pledges Rahul Asserting that the Constitution is the protective shield of the poor, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged people to pledge that we will not allow any attack on the Constitution and said he will be the first to stand up against any assault on it. On Constitution Day, Congress... Read more >

11:51 NCLAT: WhatsApp, Meta Can Redact Confidential Info The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Tuesday allowed WhatsApp and Meta's request to redact confidential commercial information from the appellate tribunal's November 4 judgment.A Bench comprising Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan and technical member Arun Baroka directed that... Read more >

11:46 OpenAI Turns ChatGPT Into Personal Shopping Scout OpenAI on Tuesday launched a shopping research feature in its flagship chatbot, ChatGPT, which can help users find the right products by describing the product or the event for which they want to purchase it, the company said in a blog post.The research assistant will ask users questions about... Read more >

11:19 India In Talks With 7-8 Countries For UPI Services The government is in talks with at least 7-8 more countries to expand the reach of UPI beyond its borders so that domestic travelers can use the payment service, said M Nagaraju, secretary, Department of Financial Services, ministry of finance.UPI (United Payments Interface) services will be... Read more >

10:57 Delhi blast: Man who gave logistical support to bomber held NIA arrests man who allegedly provided logistical support to Red Fort car bomber Dr Umar-un Nabi, says news agency PTI. Intelligence agencies investigating the November 10 Delhi terror attack involving a suicide car blast have uncovered fresh details pointing to a wider transnational... Read more >

10:42 Body in suitcase, a tattoo... and how cops solved a murder Police have arrested the live-in partner of a woman for murdering her after her body was found stuffed in a suitcase on the banks of a creek in Maharashtra's Thane district, officials said on Wednesday. The accused allegedly killed the woman on November 21 following a fight and dumped the... Read more >

10:24 Sr IAS officer among 3 dead in Karnataka road crash Senior IAS officer Mahantesh Bilagi and two of his family members died after their car crashed into a median and veered off the road in Jewargi taluk of Kalaburagi district Tuesday evening. Mahantesh, 51, was managing director of Karnataka State Minerals Corporation and a 2012-batch officer.Read... Read more >

10:18 On 26/11 anniversary Ujjwal Nikam questions 'full justice' Noted lawyer and Rajya Sabha member Ujjwal Nikam has said that while justice has been delivered to some extent to victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, their conspirators are still hiding in Pakistan.Talking to PTI Videos on the eve of the 17th anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks on... Read more >

10:06 Delhi is smoking 16 cigarettes today + volcanic haze A layer of haze engulfed the national capital on Wednesday morning as the average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 337 at 7 am, falling under the 'very poor' category despite the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-III in effect across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), according to the... Read more >

09:59 Sensex, Nifty jump in early trade mirroring rally in global markets Stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded in early trade on Wednesday after three-days of decline in tandem with a rally in global peers and fresh foreign fund inflows. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 307.93 points to 84,894.94 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty went... Read more >

09:35 TMC distances itself from MLA's 'Babri' remark Humayun Kabir Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Nirmal Ghosh has distanced himself and the party from MLA Humayun Kabir's statement, saying that his party colleague has 'gone beyond the limits' and that any statements he has made are 'his own' with the party not agreeing with them at all.He (Humayun Kabir) is not... Read more >

09:27 Improvised rocket with 40 kg explosive found in Churachandpur An improvised long-range rocket with nearly 40 kg of explosive was seized from Manipur's Churachandpur district, police said on Wednesday.The seizure was made in an operation by security forces from Gelmol village on Tuesday, they said.A rocket launching stand and a battery were also recovered... Read more >

08:47 Nearly 14 lakh SIR forms 'uncollectable' in Bengal Nearly 14 lakh SIR enumeration forms have so far been identified as 'uncollectable' in West Bengal, the Election Commission said on Tuesday. These forms are 'uncollectable' since the voters were either absentee, duplicate, dead or permanently shifted, an official said.The figure was 10.33... Read more >

08:26 EU leadership accepts invite for Republic Day parade President Droupadi Murmu will now send a formal invite through diplomatic channels to the European Union leadership. This would mean that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will be the chief guests at the 2026 Republic Day... Read more >

00:45 Troubling monkeys to be freed 10 km away: Maha order File image The Maharashtra forest department has for the first time laid down a clear rule that monkeys captured for causing trouble in towns and villages must be released at least 10 kilometres away from human habitation so that they do not return to these places easily once again. A new Government... Read more >

00:22 Holy relics of Lord Buddha return to India after public exposition in Bhutan A portion of the holy relics of Lord Buddha enshrined at the National Museum here has been brought back to the country following a 17-day public exposition in Bhutan, officials said on Tuesday. The exposition signified the cultural bonds between India and Bhutan and was part of the Global... Read more >
Turkish officials agreed to continue strengthening coordination and cooperation to eliminate all obstacles, ensure the ceasefire's continuity, and prevent further violations.

Turkish spy chief Ibrahim Kaln on Thursday met with Qatar's prime minister and foreign affairs minister in Cairo to discuss transitioning to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal and increasing joint efforts in coordination with the US.

Egypts General Intelligence Service Director, Hassan Rashad, was present as well.

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During the meeting, they also agreed to continue strengthening coordination and cooperation with the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) to remove all obstacles to the continuation of the ceasefire and to prevent violations.

Palestinians shop at a market in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on November 21, 2025. (credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)

US-backed Gaza deal first phase nearing its end

The meeting in Cairo happened as the first phase of the US-backed Gaza deal nears its end, with only three Israeli hostages still remaining in Gaza, and the IDF retreated behind the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip.

The IDF retrieved remains from Gaza on Tuesday, which the Hamas terror group said were from a slain hostage.

The terrorists held a small "ceremony" as the remains were being transferred to the Red Cross, in a violation of the agreement.

The IDF arrived with the remains of a slain hostage at the Abu Kabir medical center for identification, the Health Ministry confirmed on Tuesday at 7:20 p.m.
Two men are facing felony charges after narcotics detectives seized several pounds of illegal drugs and firearms from a house in the Royal Terrace area of Jacksonville.

Arrested were Devin Luster, 34, and Curtis Smith, 44.

The bust occurred after detectives learned of illegal drug activity at a house on Paris Avenue last month, a Jacksonville Sheriffs Office news release states.

During a search of the house, authorities seized 14.2 grams of fentanyl, 645.2 grams of powder cocaine, 153.1 grams of crack cocaine, and nearly 30 pounds of marijuana and 284.4 grams of marijuana wax, the news release states.

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The operation also led to the confiscation of three handguns, one assault rifle, and $6,128 in cash, the news release states.

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Nov. 25 (UPI) -- A diplomatic controversy with the United States spilled into Chile's presidential campaign after the new U.S. ambassador, Brandon Judd, used his first public appearance to level sharp criticism at President Gabriel Boric, prompting a formal protest from the government.

During his initial press conference, Judd directly accused the Chilean president of "damaging the bilateral relationship" and undermining investment and strategic cooperation with the United States.

He said he was "disappointed" by Boric's criticism of President Donald Trump's environmental policy and argued that such remarks "harm the Chilean people."

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He also made an explicit reference to the election, saying that "with governments that are ideologically aligned, it will be easier to work," a comment widely interpreted as support for far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast.

The government of Gabriel Boric responded with a formal note of protest.

Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren called the ambassador's remarks "inappropriate and unfortunate" and said his comments on the political process "amount to interference in our country's internal affairs," a message delivered to the U.S. Embassy's charge d'affaires.

Regarding the issue, left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara said, "Chile doesn't need any granddaddy looking after it, and that goes for the Americans, as well as any other country," Emol reported.

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She added that her government would maintain good relations with everyone, but expects "Chile's sovereignty to be respected, as well."

Right-wing candidate Kast questioned Judd's intervention, but focused his criticism on the Chilean government.

"Every time our president leaves Chile, he creates a conflict with some foreign country," he said. He then directed a message at the administration.

"Spend your time solving problems with other governments instead of sending protest notes," Kast said.

In the hours that followed, the issue moved into Congress.

Opposition lawmakers urged Boric to receive the new ambassador's credentials before the end of the month, arguing that the ceremony signals seriousness, stability and a normalization of the bilateral relationship to investors and partners.

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The president of the Communist Party, Lautaro Carmona, accused the ambassador of interfering in the election by "indicating that one candidate would be better than another for the United States."

At the center of the dispute are Chile's regulatory rules.

Judd has argued that Chilean bureaucracy is delaying U.S. projects ready to invest, linking the political climate to the business environment and the need for clear timelines.

That narrative has seeped into the campaign, where credentials, protocol and signals to investors have become points of dispute and tools for political positioning before the electorate.

Chile's presidential runoff will be held Dec. 14. Polls show Kast with a wide lead.
Nov. 24 (UPI) -- The United States on Monday announced it was imposing visa restrictions on Haitian government officials the Trump administration accuses of supporting gangs and other criminal organizations in the Caribbean nation.

Individuals affected were not identified in the State Department press release, which said the move comes under a Biden-era policy targeting those who provide financial or material support to gangs and criminal organizations operating in Haiti.

"The United States remains committed to supporting Haiti's stability and expects measurable progress toward free and fair elections," the State Department spokesperson said.

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"The Haitian people have had enough with gang violence, destruction and political infighting. The Trump administration will promote accountability for those who continue to destabilize Haiti and our region."

Haiti has suffered from a political crisis and a surge in gang violence since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021.

Criminal violence has since exploded, with gangs controlling much of Port-au-Prince. In a Nov. 12 press release, United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti said at least 1,247 people were killed and 710 injured between July 1 and Sept. 30 in the capital area. There were also 145 kidnappings and 400 victims of sexual violence, it said.

More than 1.4 million have been displaced across the country.

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Between April 1 and June 30, there were at least 1,520 people killed and 609 injured, 185 kidnappings and 628 victims of sexual violence, the BINUM said in a previous update.

The Biden administration announced the visa restriction policy, under the Immigration and Nationality Act, in October 2022.

The move comes as the Trump administration is conducting an immigration crackdown.

The Trump administration has sought to end temporary protection status for Haiti, which shields some Haitian nationals in the United States from deportation. However, the move is being challenged in the courts.
Pub landlord James Fitzgerald will wait a while longer to switch on the outside Christmas lights at the Thatched House in London, as high energy bills cause financial pain across Britain.

Ahead of the UK government's annual budget on Wednesday set to feature tax rises, the 44-year-old Irishman and millions of Britons are hoping for cost-of-living respite, including from cheaper electricity and gas costs.

"We don't have our lights on outside yet, because we've got to keep our costs down," Fitzgerald told AFP sat near an open fire heating the pub's interior.

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The outside temperature in Hammersmith, west London, sits slightly above freezing.

UK energy costs have continued to rise after surging in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago.

"Our gas bill has seriously jumped" over the past year, said Fitzgerald.

"We haven't put the (central) heating on, even though it's quite cold... We've got to, you know, cut back."

He said the pub's running costs jumped 22,000 ($28,800) in the last year, with about one-fifth of the increase attributed to elevated energy bills.

Reports suggest that finance minister Rachel Reeves may introduce budget measures to help ease energy bills, having U-turned this year on plans to cut winter fuel payments to pensioners.

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"At the budget I will take direct action to ease the cost of living for all households," she wrote in The Times newspaper.

Fitzgerald cited higher food bills along with hikes to the minimum wage and taxes, including on wine, in the Labour party's previous budget as other reasons for the "disastrous" increase to outgoings.

"Things are only going in one direction, it's going downhill, and so we really need help from the government to make it viable," he said.

- 'Too high' -

Britain's energy regulator said on Friday its price cap for households' gas and electricity usage would inch higher from January.

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For the average UK household, the cost of gas and electricity would total 1,758 next year, Ofgem said.

"Energy prices... across Europe, in particular in the UK, are too high," the chief executive of Octopus, Britain's biggest energy supplier, recently told AFP.

CEO Greg Jackson believes changes to UK regulation and infrastructure can ease the burden on households and businesses.

"When prices are too high, I don't think we can look bill payers in the eye, charge them that money, and know that costs could be lower if we were more efficient," he said.

His company's efforts to limit the impact of soaring price rises saw Octopus at the start of 2025 become Britain's largest household supplier, surpassing legacy firm British Gas nine years after its launch.

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Jackson spoke to AFP from Octopus' London office, where screens display real time data showing the amount of energy produced by UK wind farms and customers' cost savings from using electricity they generate.

"We try to find as many ways as we can to help customers save money," he said, noting they can benefit from roughly half Octopus' electricity coming from clean energy sources.

"When it's windy or sunny, you'll often get really cheap electricity available on the wholesale market," Jackson added.

However, while the UK is one of Europe's biggest producers of renewable energy, it remains dependent on costly gas, which represents more than a third of its energy mix.

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- Pub closures -

According to industry data one UK pub shuts every day.

Further tax rises in Wednesday's budget, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government seeks to cut debt, could see the Thatched House shut its doors at lunchtimes, said Fitzgerald, who has cut staff this year.

"Other pubs in the area, they close now on Mondays and Tuesdays," he noted.

"We don't want to do that, because we are a community pub," which he explained was an establishment serving mostly local residents, carrying out charity work and hosting parties and wakes.

Customer Keith Patterson has seen firsthand the fallout of high energy prices and other increased costs.

"Not many people come in for a lunchtime pint" any more, said the 65-year-old.

"You can see the cost of beer going up on a regular basis."

bur-bcp/ajb/jkb/cw
(NewsNation)  Ukraine and the United States have agreed to a deal to end the four-year war with Russia, with some details still to be worked out, a U.S. official confirmed to NewsNation early Tuesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will head to Washington, D.C., to finalize the agreement at the earliest suitable date this month, Ukrainian national security adviser Rustem Umerov announced.

Our delegations reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva, Umerov said on social media.

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US Army secretary meets Russian delegation for peace talks next steps

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there were a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details left to work out  and they will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

The news comes as U.S. officials, led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, continue to meet with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi.

The talks are going well, and we remain optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronized with the White House and the U.S. interagency as these talks progress, said Jeff Tolbert, a spokesperson for Driscoll.

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The U.S. delegation has been at the table since Monday night, attempting to achieve a lasting peace through the Trump administrations proposed 28-point plan, Tolbert said.

That plan includes Ukraine giving up territory, limiting the size of its army and agreeing not to join NATO, all in exchange for security guarantees and money toward reconstruction efforts.

Trump signs order allowing foreign terrorist designation for Muslim Brotherhood chapters

Under that agreement, Russia largely avoids significant concessions and is provided post-war amnesty for its participants.

Its unclear if any of those concessions have been changed since talks began.

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President Donald Trump previously set a Thanksgiving Day deadline to reach a deal.

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Credit: Exilenova + / Telegram

Ukraine has blown up one of Russias two classified experimental laser planes in an overnight strike.

Footage shows the A-60 engulfed in flames after explosions rocked the Taganrog aviation complex in the south-western region of Rostov.

The military-industrial zone, which includes the Beriev Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex and the Taganrog-Yuzhny airfield, serves as Russias principal testing site for special-purpose aircraft.

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Rostovs regional governor said three people were killed in the strike, which also hit industrial structures, warehouses and apartment blocks.

The A-60, which hails from Soviet trials of megawatt-class lasers that were earmarked for space deployment, was reportedly one of only two prototypes, though neither are said to have entered operations.

The planes design was based on the Ilyushin Il-76MD transport aircraft and includes a nose radome and a retractable turret at the rear of the fuselage that houses the laser. Two 2.1-megawatt generators that power the weapon are positioned near the landing gear.

The A-60 laser plane was based at the Taganrog complex for around 20 years

The airborne laser was designed to operate at a range of roughly 25 miles and deliver a 50-second firing sequence.

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Numerous successful test flights were reportedly carried out with the laser used against balloons and even a target plane.

It had been based at the Taganrog complex for around 20 years.

Facilities of the Beriev Aircraft Company, which also produces Russias amphibious seaplanes and the A-50 spy plane, have been targeted in the past by Ukrainian strikes, including in July this year and on two occasions in 2024.

According to local media reports, the attack also set fire to a hangar used to upgrade strategic bombers to enable them to carry extra Kh-101 cruise missiles, the long-range munitions Russia regularly launches at Ukrainian cities.

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Local channels suggested the strike was likely to be targeting a Russian military unit housing S-400 air defence systems.

In the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, local authorities said six people were injured and 20 homes were damaged in a drone onslaught from Ukraine.

Ukraines general staff said in a statement that a number of units had co-ordinated to strike strategic objects in Russia with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Neptune cruise missiles.

It added that its attacks had also successfully hit the Tuapse oil refinery in Russias south-western region of Krasnodar and the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk, a large oil export hub on the Black Sea.

Massive combined attack by Russia

Meanwhile, Ukraines energy ministry said that Russia had launched a massive combined attack on energy infrastructure and residential buildings across the Kyiv, Odesa, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions with Shahed drones and Kinzhal ballistic missiles.

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The Russian strikes in the capital killed six people and injured 14, lasting several hours into the morning and dealing serious damage to multi-storey residential buildings across a number of districts.

The attacks left tens of thousands of people without power on Tuesday morning, including 40,000 people in the Kyiv region.

Russian overnight strikes on Kyiv have killed six and injured 14 - Efrem Lukatsky/The Associated Press

Russian UAVs also violated Moldovan and Romanian airspace. Romania scrambled two Eurofighters and two F-16 fighter jets overnight in response to the border breach, its defence ministry said on Tuesday.

The attacks occurred as delegations from the US and Russia met in Abu Dhabi for peace talks to finalise a settlement to end the war.

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The negotiations followed an earlier 28-point plan that was drafted by Steve Witkoff, Donald Trumps special envoy, and Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russias sovereign wealth fund.

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The Brief

FOX News is reporting Ukraine has agreed to a peace deal that would end the war with Russia.

The outlet said it spoke to a U.S. official who had details of the proposal.

Details of the peace plans werent immediately available.

Ukraine has agreed to a peace deal that would lead to the end of the war with Russia, a U.S. official told FOX News .

What they're saying

FOX News reported that U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was in Abu Dhabi this week, meeting with Russian officials and a Ukrainian delegation.

Ukraine 28 point plan

Big picture view

The diplomatic flurry followed the leak of President Donald Trumps 28-point peace plan to Axios , which many European leaders and U.S. lawmakers viewed as largely favorable to Russia.

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But FOX News is reporting a newer version was agreed upon, developed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and input from Ukrainian and European officials.

Details were not immediately available.

The Russia-Ukraine war

FILE - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (not seen) and the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak during a joint press conference after their official meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkiye on November 19, 2025. (Photo by Utku Ucrak/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The backstory

Russian leader Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, amid Kyivs bid to join NATO that he cast as a major threat to Russia. He asked for NATOs guarantee that it would never offer membership to Ukraine.

Putin expected a quick victory, but was met by steadfast Ukrainian resistance and a flow of Western weapons.

As of negotiations, Russia controls about a fifth of the Ukrainian territory.

US support of Ukraine

The backstory

While campaigning, Trump frequently said he could quickly end the war.

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Over the last three years, under the Biden administration, the U.S. led efforts to isolate Putin  efforts that were swiftly undone in February when now-President Trump had a phone call with Putin.

The Source

Information in this article was taken from FOX News, which spoke to a U.S. official about details of the plan. Background information was taken from previous FOX Television Station reporting and from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Detroit.
Donald Trump said Tuesday he is sending his envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week as the US president seeks to close out a deal to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that there were "only a few remaining points of disagreement" -- but European leaders were skeptical, and Russian missiles continued to strike Ukraine.

He also expressed hope to meet "soon" with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, "but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages."

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Trump later told journalists aboard Air Force One that his son-in-law Jared Kushner may join Witkoff in Moscow.

Washington's 28-point proposal to end the war may have originated in a call between Witkoff and Putin's foreign policy advisor, according to a transcription of their conversation Bloomberg reported it had obtained.

According to the transcript, Witkoff advised the creation of a 20-point peace plan for Ukraine "just like we did in Gaza," and urged that Putin bring it up with Trump.

The 28-point plan, backed by Trump and widely seen as favoring Moscow, has been replaced by another taking in more of Kyiv's interests.

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An official familiar with the amended version told AFP it was "significantly better."

Witkoff will soon discuss that version with Putin in Moscow, though French President Emmanuel Macron has thrown cold water on the idea of a rapid solution.

Speaking after a call between the so-called coalition of the willing, which supports Kyiv, Macron warned on Tuesday that there is "clearly no Russian willingness" for a ceasefire or the new, more Ukraine-friendly proposal.

Yet US negotiator Dan Driscoll emerged upbeat from meeting with Russian counterparts, with his spokesman saying: "The talks are going well and we remain optimistic."

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The White House cited "tremendous progress," while cautioning "there are a few delicate but not insurmountable details that must be sorted out."

But the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, continued unabated.

On Tuesday night, Russia launched a series of strikes on Zaporizhzhia that wounded 18 people and damaged 31 apartment blocks, the head of the regional military administration said.

The night before, powerful explosions rocked Kyiv beginning around 1:00 am as Russian drones and missiles rained down, setting fires in apartment buildings. City officials said seven people were killed.

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Thick smoke, turning red and orange in the blizzard of Ukrainian air defense fire, rose over the capital as residents fled underground into metro stations, according to AFP reporters.

- 'Tough road ahead' -

Trump, who long boasted he could negotiate an end to the Ukraine war within 24 hours, announced last week that he wanted his proposal approved by Kyiv by this Thursday -- the US Thanksgiving holiday.

But the initial plan, pushing numerous Russian war aims, sparked alarm in Ukraine and Europe. Among its points were prohibitions on Ukraine ever joining NATO and the surrender of swaths of new territory to Russia.

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The updated plan clearly pleases Kyiv more. The official familiar with the text told AFP that one key improvement was raising a proposed cap on the country's future military forces from 600,000 to 800,000 members.

Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said Tuesday there was "common understanding on the core" of the deal between Ukraine and the United States.

However, remaining details should be hammered out in direct talks "at the earliest suitable date," he said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned: "There's still a long way to go and a tough road ahead."

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Russia's military occupies around a fifth of Ukraine, much of it ravaged by fighting. Tens of thousands of civilians and military personnel have been killed and millions have fled the east of the country.

Ukrainian army Sergeant Ivan Zadontsev said negotiating was "healthy."

"We also are getting tired of war. We need a break," he told AFP.

But the proposals by both Washington and the European Union "do not serve Ukraine's national interests," he said.

burs-sms/lb/tc
Thom Adamson left his role as a science communicator at the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center during the summer of 2025. He now works as an English educator with the Sioux Falls School District. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Thom Adamson had been through uncertainty in his job before, including government shutdowns. But earlier this year, it felt different.

Adamson worked as a science communicator at the U.S. Geological Surveys Earth Resources Observation and Science Center for 18 years before walking away in July.

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He was responsible for translating scientific research and accomplishments for the EROS website, producing and leading a podcast showcasing EROS work, and leading several tours a week through the facility.

From insiders to ousted

This is the second of four stories about federal government employees or contractors in South Dakota affected by the Trump administrations reduction of the federal workforce.

Read the series >

EROS, located northeast of Sioux Falls, archives satellite images to monitor land use and changes  including helping with emergency disaster responses, such as wildfires, or analyzing the impact of drought, disease and flooding across the world.

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Amid widespread federal workforce and spending reductions by the Trump administration, Adamson and his team of a dozen people were instructed that theyd be laid off in July. But their funding was restored a week or so before the date arrived.

By the time Adamsons job was no longer in jeopardy, the 55-year-old was convinced it was time for a change. It felt too fragile to trust.

Even without being political, just being objective about it, the uncertainty feels different now, Adamson said. Its a lot more extreme.

About 154,000 federal employees took buyouts  officially known as deferred resignations  offered by the Trump administration earlier this year as a way to reduce the size of the federal government. Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor said recently that he expects the total decrease in the federal workforce to reach more than 300,000 eventually.

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Adamson is not included in that number, because he was a contracted employee. He joined EROS when he and his wife moved to Sioux Falls in 2007. He enjoyed scientific writing, found it rewarding to work with scientists and was fascinated by the work accomplished at the site.

Now, Adamson teaches English in the Sioux Falls School District. He was an educator before joining EROS.

During the recent federal government shutdown, he vacillated between empathy for his former coworkers  recalling the stress thrust upon him in prior shutdowns and leading up to potential shutdowns  and relief at not enduring shutdowns anymore.

Adamson is worried that the Trump administrations propensity to cut government spending could jeopardize the EROS mission.

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If they dont understand the value of the work at EROS, they might see it as a great place to cut costs, Adamson said. Theres a lot of cost to cutting science, and theres a lot of science going on at EROS.

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The Greek Government has been toppled by the countrys armed forces after weeks of unrest.

There appears to have been little or no resistance when tanks rolled into Athens and troops took up positions around government buildings shortly before dawn.

The coup was orchestrated by the head of the feared military police, Brigadier Demetrios Ioannidis.

It follows growing unrest in Greece, and comes eight days after student uprisings in which 13 people died and hundreds were injured.

The former Greek leader and self-appointed President, George Papadopoulos, is thought to be under heavy guard at his seaside villa 20 miles from the capital.

He himself came to power in a military coup six years ago. Since then he has headed a regime characterised by repression and brutality.

No air of tension was reported in Athens after the coup and exiled Greek publisher Helen Vlachos told the BBC in London the former president would not be missed.

I dont think anyone was so bitterly hated  he humiliated the Greek people, she said. Lieutenant-General Phaedon Gizikis, commander of the First Army, has been sworn in as his successor.

In a broadcast to the nation this evening, he said he nursed no personal ambition and accepted the mandate of the armed forces.

My only ambition is to contribute to the normal operation of the regime, as well as the consolidation of tranquillity and unity among the Greek people, he said.

Soon after the coup all telephone services were suspended. Athens International Airport was closed but reopened after a few hours.

A curfew was also imposed but is due to be lifted tomorrow morning. []

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Brigadier Ioannidis partially restored civilian rule but retained a large measure of power.

His regime lasted only a few months, collapsing in 1974 after provoking an unsuccessful coup attempt in Cyprus which led to the Turkish invasion of the island.

He was charged with high treason and revolt and jailed for life.

Exiled former Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis was recalled to the country to head the new government.

A referendum rejected the restoration of the monarchy and instead a parliamentary republic was formed.

Karamanlis was prime minister for six years and was then elected president.

He is credited with guiding the countrys return to democracy and engineering its entry into the European Economic Community in 1980.

Following the restoration of democracy, George Papadopoulos was convicted of treason and sentenced to death by firing squad. This was later commuted to life in prison.

A decision by the government to free him on humanitarian grounds in December 1990 was dropped after a public outcry.

He spent the last three years of his sentence in a prison hospital before dying in June 1999.

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A Ukrainian attack on the aircraft manufacturer Berievs facility in Taganrog in southwestern Russia overnight appears to have knocked out a unique laser testbed aircraft, the A-60, and at least one more. While the most recent status of the A-60 program remains unclear, the attack once again underscores Ukraines ability to strike high-value Russian military aircraft on their airfields, a capability that has been bolstered through the addition of long-range cruise missiles, as well as an expanding inventory of attack drones, both large and small.

Videos posted to social media reveal the immediate aftermath of the attack, with a significant blaze illuminating the night sky. At least one video shows a burning aircraft, which appears to be the unique A-60, an aircraft based on a converted Il-76MD Candid transport. Its identity was subsequently confirmed by satellite imagery, which also revealed the destruction of another airframe, apparently a testbed associated with Russias new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform.

 Ukrainian Armed Forces struck an experimental Russian A-60 aircraft  a laser weapon carrier  at the airfield in Taganrog during the night



During the project, only two prototypes of this experimental system were built in the USSR.



For many years, the hit A-60 stood in one pic.twitter.com/4MO6xGhXGF  Cloooud |  (@GloOouD) November 25, 2025

Additional footage. It is reported that the aviation factory in Taganrog was hit, presumably by Neptune cruise missile(s). pic.twitter.com/mYLXZM2m1o  NOELREPORTS   (@NOELreports) November 24, 2025

There are differing accounts of whether Ukraine used drones or cruise missiles to attack the factory airfield at Taganrog/Tsentralnyy in the Rostov region, a facility that has also been struck in the past. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, both Bars jet-powered long-range one-way attack drones and Neptune cruise missiles were employed. As you can read about here, Ukraine has been steadily increasing the range of the land-attack versions of the Neptune missile, which is derived from an anti-ship cruise missile. Meanwhile, the Bars is one of a growing series of Ukrainian munitions that blur the line between drones and traditional cruise missiles, and which also includes the Peklo missile drone.

Confirmed by Ukraines General Staff: the rare Russian A-60 airborne laser aircraft was likely destroyed in a strike on the Beriev plant in Taganrog. Also hit: drone factory Molniya, oil terminals in Novorossiysk, Tuapse refinery, and an S-400 launcher. pic.twitter.com/yaz74Y592k  NOELREPORTS   (@NOELreports) November 25, 2025

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The second A-60 test aircraft, the 1A2, appears to have been destroyed in the overnight attack on Taganrog. Beriev

The Russian Telegram news channel Astra confirmed that drone strikes had caused a fire at Taganrog/Tsentralnyy, while eyewitness accounts from the area also point to at least one aircraft left burning on the flight line. The Fighterbomber account on Telegram, which is closely connected to the Russian military, also reported the destruction of the A-60.

Russian aviation-linked channel Fighterbomber confirms the A-60 laser lab aircraft was destroyed in the Taganrog strike. The plane reportedly hadnt flown since 2016 and was claimed abandoned. About 50 drones and three missiles hit the airfield. While they claim no losses to pic.twitter.com/NuZ9mzPFvl  NOELREPORTS   (@NOELreports) November 25, 2025

Subsequent satellite imagery of the airfield confirms that, as well as the A-60, clearly identified by its signature tail-section hump, another aircraft was also destroyed. This may have been an A-100 AEW&C platform, or more likely, the A-100LL test aircraft related to the same program, evidenced by the rear-fuselage supports for the main radome, which is not fitted. Meanwhile, damage is also visible to buildings associated with the Beriev facility.

/2. It was -100. pic.twitter.com/YDykp9dHyb  Special Kherson Cat   (@bayraktar_1love) November 25, 2025

In addition to the A-60 flying laboratory, a regular Ilysuhin Il-76 transport plane was also destroyed as a result of Ukrainian strikes on the Taganrog Yuzhny Air Base last night.



The final assembly workshop operated by the Beriev Aircraft Company suffered damage. https://t.co/N6TjFRKqnm pic.twitter.com/s2zr9unVPB  Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) November 25, 2025

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FIRMS data confirms two separate fires in Taganrog after yesterday's Ukrainian drone/missile attacks, one at the Beriev Aircraft Company and one, likely, at industrial interprise Natek-Neftekhimmash, manufacturing heating equipment. https://t.co/JPgO7NIdUZ pic.twitter.com/gYf4QOvE15  NOELREPORTS   (@NOELreports) November 25, 2025

Significant damage after strikes on Taganrog hit the grounds of a major aerospace research and production facility. pic.twitter.com/JI9fmV751x  NOELREPORTS   (@NOELreports) November 25, 2025

The strike on Taganrog/Tsentralnyy was part of a wider series of Ukrainian attacks on Russian targets in Krasnodar Krai and the Rostov region overnight. Local officials and Telegram news channels reported that key military infrastructure was among the targets.

The governor of the Rostov region, Yury Slyusar, also confirmed an attack on Taganrog, but did not mention the specific target. According to Slyusar, Ukrainian attacks in the region damaged several homes, a warehouse, and an external gas pipeline. He also said three people were killed and eight people were injured in the attack.

Taganrog/Tsentralnyy, which is co-located with the Taganrog-Yuzhny military airfield, is the main facility of the Beriev Aircraft Company. While best known for its amphibious aircraft designs, Beriev is also responsible for converting special-purpose aircraft, among them the A-50 and A-100 AEW&C platforms and the A-60. Beriev also uses this facility to conduct deep maintenance of Tu-95MS Bear-H strategic missile carriers as well as Tu-142 Bear-F/J long-range maritime patrol aircraft. This also makes it a prime target for Ukraine.

The prototype A-100 airborne early warning and control aircraft. Rostec

As we have discussed in the past, the A-60 was originally developed by the Soviet Union starting in the mid-1970s as a way of combating high-altitude balloons. It was fitted with the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser gun, thus creating the Dreyf (Drift) system for combating aerostats.

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The first experimental A-60 took to the air in 1981. The aircrafts laser was housed in the cargo hold. On the fuselage spine, there was a large fairing covering a mirror system, which directed the laser ray onto the target. The laser had a range of 25 miles and was able to shoot for a total of 50 seconds, at least according to the design specification; reportedly, the actual firing time was only 11 seconds.

An early study for the Dreyf airborne combat laser system. NPO Almaz

The targeting system consisted of a Ladoga radar with an upward-directed five-foot-diameter Cassegrain antenna fitted under a large bulbous fairing in the aircrafts nose and a laser locator. A balloon could be detected and tracked from 31 to 44 miles.

The Ladoga radar for the A-60 aircraft in the museum of the Phazotron-NIIR company in Moscow. Piotr Butowski

During one test in 1984, the A-60 flying at an altitude of 32,800 feet damaged a balloon over the Volsk aerostat research center, 430 miles southeast of Moscow.

In 1988, the first A-60 was destroyed in an accidental fire at the Chkalovsky test airfield near Moscow. In 1991, tests commenced with the second experimental aircraft. After two years, however, the trials were suspended due to a lack of funding. By now, the threat from high-altitude balloons had also evaporated.

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According to Piotr Butowski, a long-time Russian aerospace observer and TWZ contributor, Russia revived the A-60 project in late 2002, now with the plan to use the laser gun to blind the infrared sensors of reconnaissance satellites.

The A-60 at Berievs Taganrog airfield in May 2021. Other aircraft in this photo are an Il-80 airborne command post, a Be-12 amphibian, and a Yak-40K business jet. Google Earth

Flight trials of the reworked second A-60 then resumed around 2006, with the official goal of the program being to counteract infrared surveillance sensors on the ground, the sea, in the air, and in space.

In late 2019, Russias deputy defense minister Alexsei Krivoruchko said that work is underway on high-power lasers of various types. It is planned to put it on an airplane in the coming years.

Dep def minister Alexei Krivoruchko said Krasnaya Zvezda on 28 Dec 2019, "work is underway on high-power lasers of various types. It is planned to put it on an airplane in the coming years.

It is not known whether the A-60 destroyed today was already fitted with a laser gun.  Piotr Butowski (@piotr_butowski) November 25, 2025

Since then, its unclear what, if any, progress the program made, and whether the A-60 that was hit during the attack overnight was actually equipped with a laser weapon.

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It is likely that Ukraine was primarily attempting to target Russias prized A-50 and A-100 AEW&C aircraft.

These vital assets have already taken a beating during the war in Ukraine, with two examples shot down and another damaged by a drone strike. Russias radar plane problems have been exacerbated by difficulties in fielding the new-generation A-100 AEW&C platform, a situation that has led to a proposal to restart production of the A-50. As we have discussed in the past, the viability of relaunching production of these high-value aircraft is questionable, to say the least.

Again? Again!

The Ukrainian Air Force destroyed another enemy A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft, worth $330 million.



Great job by Ukrainian warriors! pic.twitter.com/HcLsaGEln5  Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 23, 2024

The value of the A-50 fleet to the Russian Armed Forces and their war in Ukraine is something we have written about in the past:

These aircraft can provide a unique look-down air picture that can extend deep into Ukrainian-controlled territory, depending on their patrol zone. From the outset, the A-50 was designed to detect low-level cruise missile attacks, and the same capability means it can potentially spot Ukrainian drone attacks, too, as well as low-flying fighter sorties. They also provide command and control and situational awareness for Russian fighters and air defense batteries. Ukrainian authorities also assess that Russia uses A-50s to help plan and execute its own cruise missile attacks.

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Prior to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia was estimated to have nine A-50s, including a number of modernized A-50Us, in active service. As it stands, the best-case scenario puts seven of these aircraft in active service as of today.

Provided the other aircraft destroyed overnight was the A-100LL (or even an A-100), then the damage inflicted on the Russian radar plane fleet will have been even more significant. The A-100 program has already been hampered by sanctions and has yielded just one operational-standard aircraft so far. Losing the A-100LL, which has been used to prove the new systems for this aircraft, will likely have a significant effect on the progress of the program.

No, A-100LL was a laboratory for ground and flight testing of equipment for A-100 program. The first prototype is s/n 78651. pic.twitter.com/8EwWTytIeb  The Military Watch (@MarcinRogowsk14) November 25, 2025

Aside from Taganrog/Tsentralnyy, overnight Ukrainian drone strikes also occurred in Novorossiysk, in Krasnodar Krai, according to reports from Russian officials and media.

Officials tell me Ukraines SBU and GUR and military special forces units attacked the port of Novorossiysk, the second largest oil export center in Russia and the main base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet with drones overnight. They claim strikes on an oil terminal and Russian pic.twitter.com/J0s4PMI7Ap  Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) November 25, 2025

The governor of Krasnodar Krai, Veniamin Kondratyev, said that the region was subjected to one of the longest and most massive attacks since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He claimed that six people were injured and at least 20 homes were damaged in the attack.

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The Russian news channel Astra reported that a drone struck a high-rise building close to a Russian military unit operating S-400 air defense systems. This was presumably the Kuban Red Banner Regiment military base, which came under a previous Ukrainian drone attack earlier this month.

A video posted to social media by a resident of Novorossiysk showed what appears to be a Russian air defense missile hitting a high-rise building in the city, after failing to intercept an incoming drone.

A video of the moment when a Ukrainian long-range OWA-UAV imapcted a multi-storey residential building in the city of Novorossiysk, southern Russia, tonight.



The drone likely fell off its course due to the work of Russian electronic warfare systems. pic.twitter.com/ZHoUSorV6E  Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) November 24, 2025

Novorossiysk has repeatedly found itself in Ukraines sights, its value as a target being derived from its military status, as well as its use as a major transshipment point for oil. The port handles over two million barrels of oil per day, meaning that its responsible for roughly five percent of global maritime oil supplies. Meanwhile, the port is also now home to much of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, providing it with something of a safe haven, after its warships were essentially forced out of waters closer to Crimea following a concerted Ukrainian campaign waged against them.

In total, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces shot down 116 drones over the Black Sea and 76 over Krasnodar Krai overnight. These claims have not been independently verified.

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Ukrainian strikes have repeatedly targeted Russian aircraft at their home bases deep inside the country, as well as in occupied Crimea. Most dramatically, Operation Spiderweb, the large-scale Ukrainian drone strike against airbases across Russia in June of this year, targeted Moscows fleet of strategic bombers. On that occasion, a reported 117 drones were launched against at least four airfields.

While the full results of the overnight attack on the airfield at Taganrog/Tsentralnyy remain unclear, it seems that, at the very least, Russias sole A-60 and another aircraft were put out of action. Since the status of the A-60 program remains mysterious, its long-term effect is hard to determine. The damage to the A-100 program will likely be a harder blow, especially in the short term. Regardless, the A-60 and the A-100LL were both unique assets, and their losses will be hard, if not impossible, for Russia to replace anytime soon.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
FIRST ON FOX: A website belonging to the "Culture and Family Lab" at Minnesotas flagship university hosts a webpage warning against a "whiteness pandemic" that provides "resources" on how to "halt and reverse" the issue.

"If you were born or raised in the United States, you have grown up in the Whiteness Pandemic, and you can play a role in halting and reversing this pandemic, especially if you are White because of the power and privilege you hold in this racialized society," explains the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities webpage, which is part of the Institute of Child Development.

"If you were socialized into the culture of Whiteness during childhood, it is not your fault, but as an adult it is now your responsibility to self-reflect, re-educate yourself, and act. If you are a White adult, antiracist action involves an ongoing process of self-reflection in order to develop a healthy positive White identity while engaging in courageous antiracist parenting/caregiving."

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Parents rights' watchdog Defending Education put out a report on Tuesday outlining the university's efforts.

Watchdog: How Universities Are Rebranding Dei To Skirt Trump's Crackdown

A pedestrian walks on the University of Minnesota campus.

The website goes on to explain that racism should be viewed as an "epidemic" or "pandemic" but that "another" pandemic is "lurking" behind and driving that issue. The "whiteness pandemic."

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Several experts are listed on the website, some of whom provide resources on the subject, including some subject matter meant "especially for white parents" mentioning the death of George Floyd, along with tips on how to develop a "healthy white racial identity."

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"Whiteness refers to culture, not biology: the centuries-old culture of Whiteness features colorblindness, passivity, and White fragility, which are all covert expressions of racism common in the United States," the university says.

"Naming the Whiteness Pandemic shifts our gaze from the victims and effects of racism onto the systems that perpetrate and perpetuate racism, starting with the family system. At birth, young children growing up in White families begin to be socialized into the culture of Whiteness, making the family system one of the most powerful systems involved in systemic racism."

Blue School District Hit With Federal Complaint Alleging It 'Sidestepped' Law Depriving Parent Of Transparency

Students use a pedestrian bridge to cross Washington Avenue on their way to the first day of classes on the University of Minnesota campus.

One of the papers on the website that surveyed mostly liberal White female mothers with an average income over $125,000, concluded that "Family socialization into the centuries-old culture of Whiteness  involving colorblindness, passivity, and fragility  perpetrates and perpetuates U.S. racism, reflecting an insidious Whiteness pandemic."

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Funding for the project comes from a variety of sources, including the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Other resources listed on the site include literature from Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo, along with a link titled, "How to explain white privilege in terms simple enough for a child."

Rhyen Staley, research director at Defending Education, told Fox News Digital, "This far-left programming at a major public university is another example of how ingrained DEI is in higher education and is not going away any time soon."

Protesters in Michigan rally against President Donald Trumps anti-DEI policies.

Staley added, "It is not only concerning that these programs appear to still be up and running, but that absurd ideas like whiteness also gain legitimacy through dubious activist-academic scholarship. Universities must end this nonsense yesterday."

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A University of Minnesota spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement that the school is "steadfast in its commitment to the principles of academic freedom."

Last month, Fox News Digital first reported on a report from Defending Education revealing that the University of Minnesota is supplying K-12 teachers with ethnic studies lessons that promote a variety of left-wing causes, including defunding the police, Black Lives Matter, and the dangers of "white supremacy" and "settler colonialism."





Original article source: University of Minnesota site warns of a 'whiteness pandemic,' urges White parents to 're-educate'
A former Parker County ESD 1 firefighter is no longer with the entity following his arrest last week.

Jason Anderson Hinton, 56, was arrested Thursday by Texas Rangers on a misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure. He was released from the Parker County Jail the same day on a $1,500 bond.

ESD 1 released a statement Saturday noting officials were aware of the matter and that Hintons last shift with the district was Nov. 16.

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According to a probable cause affidavit, the arrest came following in incident Nov. 14, during which a fellow public servant accused Hinton of making several sexually suggestive comments to her and exposing himself multiple times.

Another first responder reported seeing her that evening, and observed something was wrong ... before she left after being alone with Hinton, according to the affidavit.

The woman reportedly confided to the colleague via text message, and the incident was reported to the department chief.

The District understands that transparency and public trust are essential, especially when it concerns the first responders our community depends on to protect life and property, ESD 1 wrote in a statement released Saturday. Parker County ESD No. 1 maintains rigorous hiring practices, including comprehensive criminal, civil, employment, and personal background checks. Additionally, the District removes any employee from service immediately upon receiving information regarding a pending criminal matter.

Hinson had last worked at ESD 1 since 2018 after many years with Mansfield Fire Department.
The U.S. Army is looking for companies that can manufacture the new XM1208 155mm cluster shell  and a number of them.

The goal, according to a market survey published Nov. 20, is to find contractors who can manufacture up to 30,000 XM1208 rounds per year.

The U.S. is currently producing 40,000 artillery shells per month, as America and Europe struggle to ramp up production of howitzer munitions in response to the war in Ukraine.

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The Nov. 20 market survey, meanwhile, noted that the XM1208 can be produced by multiple manufacturers.

Sources shall include their minimum sustaining and maximum capacity rates, the Army said.

The XM1208, which carries nine M99 Advanced Submunitions, is designed to be fired from both the M109A6/7 Paladin and M777A2 howitzers. It can be fired out to a maximum range of approximately 14 miles, according to a 2025 Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition brochure .

The ASMs are expelled at a predetermined time in flight using M762/A1 [electronic time] fuze, the brochure stated. They are armed while falling, oriented via a ribbon stabilizer, and deliver around 1,200 preformed tungsten fragments approximately 1.5 meters above the target area.

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If the proximity fuze on a submunition fails, there are four back-ups: point detonation upon impact, pyrotechnic and two electronic fuses.

Detonation  or the lack of it  is the impetus behind next-generation cluster shells like the XM1208.

The Army is trying to reconcile two design goals: artillery shells that can launch multiple submunitions, but do so without violating international treaties that ban cluster weapons.

Cluster weapons, which date back to Nazi Luftwaffe bombs in World War II, target the laws of probability. Using a single bomb to dispense a large number of small bomblets increases the chances of a hit, especially for area fire where targets cant be precisely located.

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Facing potential attack by massed Soviet forces, the Armys solution starting in the 1970s was the Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition , or DPICM. These contained numerous grenade-sized anti-tank and anti-personnel submunitions, ranging from 72 bomblets in the M864 155mm howitzer shell, to 644 submunitions in the M26 rocket fired by the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System.

The problem with those munitions was that the bomblets had a dud rate that ranged between 2% and 14% . (For Russian cluster weapons, that figure is 40% .) That meant battlefields could become littered with small unexploded bombs that can kill civilians long after the fighting has ended.

In 2008, the Department of Defense mandated that cluster munitions must have a dud rate no greater than 1%, though that policy was reversed in 2017.

The Army now plans to replace DPICM with the Cannon-Delivered Area Effects Munition , or C-DAEM. The program includes the XM1180 shell to dispense anti-armor bomblets, and the XM1208 to release submunitions against personnel and light vehicles.

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Objectives include delivering enhanced lethality against a broad range of uncertain targets, extending the range and effectiveness against counter-artillery fire, and providing a reliable solution that can operate in GPS-contested environments while mitigating the risk of harm from [unexploded ordnance], the Army announced after a successful test of the XM1180 in March 2024.

Despite the bad press for DPICM, the Army is likely to keep it around even as next-generation cluster weapons are fielded.

The military has consistently stated that DPICM is effective and should be retained in inventory for emergency use, Mark Cancian, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Defense News. That is unlikely to change because it is a judgment based on testing data and operational experience.

The key problem with ICM is getting the dud rate under 1% at an acceptable fiscal and weight cost, Cancian added. Previous attempts had reduced the dud rate but not below 1%, so the Armys effort continues.
By Helen Coster

NEW YORK (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Education is reviewing safety at the University of California, Berkeley, in response to a protest at a November 10 Turning Point USA event, the department said on Tuesday, as the Trump administration challenges higher education and the California state university system in particular.

The department's Office of Federal Student Aid will investigate whether UC Berkeley violated the Clery Act, which requires higher education institutions that receive federal funding to collect, report, and disseminate crime data to the public, support victims of violence, and publicly outline their policies and systems for improving campus safety.

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The Department will vigorously investigate this matter to ensure that a recipient of federal funding is not allowing its students to be at risk, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a release.

CHARLIE KIRK'S GROUP HOSTED EVENT

The university will cooperate with the government review, said Dan Mogulof, a Berkeley assistant vice chancellor, in an email.

UC Berkeley has an unwavering commitment to abide by the laws, rules and policies that are applicable to the university, he said.

The review relates to a protest at a campus event hosted by Turning Point USA, the conservative group founded by Charlie Kirk, an ally of President Donald Trump. Kirk was assassinated in September.

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The Education Department said its review of UC Berkeley will assess ongoing compliance issues as well as the November 10, 2025, incident and requested a list of material that the university must produce within 30 days, including copies of daily crime logs and local police department call logs dating back to 2022.

The U.S. Department of Justice previously announced it was investigating UC Berkeley over the Turning Point USA protest.

Mogulof said the campus provided public reports about a fistfight over an attempted robbery and someone being hit by a thrown object on the evening of the Turning Point event. The administration went to great lengths to support the First Amendment rights of all by deploying a large number of police officers from multiple jurisdictions, and a large number of contracted private security personnel, he said.

Since Trump took office in January, the White House has targeted what it deems liberal-leaning institutions and tried to withhold funding from colleges and universities over issues such as pro-Palestinian protests, transgender policies, climate initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

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The Trump administration has also canceled federal contracts worth millions of dollars with numerous schools to pressure them to change their admissions and hiring policies, among other issues. Courts have ordered many of the federal cuts be restored.

The public University of California has been one of the administrations most frequent higher education targets.

In June, the Justice Department said it will investigate hiring practices at the state university to examine whether its efforts to boost faculty diversity violate anti-discrimination laws.

UC Berkeley and other California schools were included in a March 10 list of 60 universities and colleges under investigation by the Education Department for antisemitism.

(Reporting by Helen Coster in New York; editing by Donna Bryson and Rod Nickel)
By Daniel Wiessner

-A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that President Donald Trump's administration cannot impose mandatory detention on thousands of migrants held by U.S. immigration authorities without first giving them an opportunity to seek release on bond.

U.S. District Judge Sunshine Sykes in Riverside, California, certified a nationwide class of individuals who were already living in the United States when they were detained and are legally entitled to a hearing to determine whether they can be released on bond while their deportation cases proceed.

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Sykes ruled last week that the Trump administration's policy adopted in July of denying bond hearings to migrants detained during domestic enforcement operations in the U.S. was illegal, joining dozens of other federal judges. While those decisions involved individual migrants or small groups, Sykes on Tuesday extended her ruling nationwide.

About 65,000 people were in immigration detention in the U.S. as of last week, according to government data.

The Trump administration has argued that individuals' differing circumstances required the issue to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, but Sykes said that being deprived of the right to a bond hearing was an injury common to the class.

"Such common injury can be resolved in a single stroke upon the determination that the new policy is in violation of (migrants') due process rights," wrote Sykes, an appointee of Democratic President Joe Biden.

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The U.S. Department of Justice and lawyers for the four migrants who filed the lawsuit did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Under federal immigration law, "applicants for admission" to the United States are subject to mandatory detention while their cases proceed in immigration courts.

Bucking a longstanding interpretation of the law, the Trump administration in July said that non-citizens already residing in the United States, and not only those who arrive at a port of entry at the border, qualify as applicants for admission.

Sykes in her ruling last week disagreed, saying the law makes a clear distinction between existing U.S. residents and new arrivals.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  The U.S. government imposed visa restrictions on Fritz Alphonse Jean, a member of Haitis transitional presidential council, accusing him of supporting gangs and other criminal organizations as the countrys political instability threatened to deepen.

The U.S. did not name the person it sanctioned in late Monday's announcement, but Jean confirmed it was him, telling The Associated Press on Tuesday that he rejected those accusations, which some believe are being used as a threat to try and influence Haiti's politics.

Haiti is due to hold elections by Feb. 7, when the nine-member transitional presidential council is supposed to step down. Critics have asserted that some council members seek to stay in power beyond that date and are looking for a new prime minister who would support those plans.

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Jean dismissed that assertion, saying he wants a new prime minister to fight gangs and corruption.

Once we started reviewing the possibilities of changing the head of government, members of (the council) started receiving threats of visa cancellation and other sanctions from the U.S. Embassy representative and the Canadian ambassador, Jean said.

He added: We stand firm on combating corruption, state capture by few individuals, and operators involved in drugs trafficking, weapons and ammunitions proliferation."

There was no immediate comment from U.S. or Canadian officials.

The office of Haitis current prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aime, did not return a request for comment.

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A clear message

Jean is an economist and former central bank governor who once served as president of the transitional presidential council. The council was formed after former Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned last year following widespread gang attacks, leaving Haiti without a leader.

Gangs currently control 90% of Haitis capital and swaths of territory in the countrys central region, where they extort businesses, kill civilians and fight for territory, using military-grade weaponry.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau last week warned on social media that there were calls for open war against the central government in Haiti.

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The U.S. and other countries in the region and around the world have a clear message: enough with gang violence and destructionand political infighting, Landau wrote on Nov. 19, adding: Anyone who obstructs Haitis path to political stability must expect consequences from the U.S. and others, including visa revocations.

Hours after speaking with the AP, Jean organized a press conference and shared messages he said were sent to him by unidentified people. One read, I understand you are part of a group working to topple the head of government...I urge you in the strongest terms to desist from initiatives to oust the PM and to instead publish the electoral decree, as we have discussed. This is not the time to test U.S. resolve. Thank you.

Jean also accused Haiti's prime minister of failing in three areas: security, governance and the organization of elections, adding: We need a more proactive, more responsible government." He did not take questions.

The only council member who attended Jean's press conference was Leslie Voltaire.

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Meanwhile, former Haitian Prime Minister Claude Joseph said Tuesday on social platform X that while he and Jean have had many disagreements, he fully supported him and commended his courage.

It is unacceptable for embassies to presume to threaten a presidential adviser under the pretext that he has decided to participate in the dismissal of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, Joseph wrote. No Haitian political leader should submit to foreign dictates.

No firm election dates

Haiti's prime minister and the transitional presidential council have been under pressure to hold elections before the council's mandate expires. But gang violence has made that February deadline impossible to meet.

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Haitis Provisional Electoral Council has set tentative election dates for August and December of next year. The country hasnt held elections in almost a decade, and no one has been president since former President Jovenel Moise was fatally shot at his private residence in July 2021.

More than 4,300 people including gang members have been killed this year from January to September across Haiti, and violence persists.

A U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police has struggled to contain the violence, and now Haiti awaits a new gang-suppression force that would have the power to arrest suspected gang members, which the current force does not have.

In another blow to the country, Sunrise Airways, the only airline offering domestic and international flights to Haiti, announced Sunday that it was suspending service for safety reasons. Gang violence has forced Haiti's main international airport to close several times since last year.

___

Associated Press reporter Evens Sanon in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, contributed to this report.
By Alessandro Parodi and Lewis Jackson

PARIS/BEIJING (Reuters) -A multi-billion dollar pipeline of rare earth projects around the world is set to partly wean the U.S. off Chinese rare earths, but falls far short of breaking Beijing's grip over the sector for most other countries.

China would still supply roughly 60% of the world's key magnet-making rare earths by 2030, according to Reuters' analysis of International Energy Agency data. By comparison, the U.S. is on course to meet about 95% of its own demand from domestic sources.

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However, these projections assume that today's pipeline is built and scaled on schedule. Experts point to the years needed to build new mines and refineries, the difficulty and expense of finding equipment outside China and the shortage of skilled workers.

The IEA estimates are also narrowly focused on just four of the 17 rare earth elements. But China is set to continue dominating processing of heavy rare earths, a niche but vital sub-group of the elements, and the West as a whole will still rely on China for 91% of its needs in 2030.

"By 2030, we will still be in trouble," said Neha Mukherjee, research manager at Benchmark Minerals. "It's just that, if all these projects in the pipeline are able to come online, we will be in less trouble than we are right now."

(Reporting by Lewis Jackson in Beijing and Alessandro Parodi in Paris, editing by Ed Osmond)
After the collapse of criminal cases against former FBI chief James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James this week, the Trump administration is now coming after Senator Mark Kelly, but The View host Alyssa Farah Griffin doesnt expect this new case to really stand up. In fact, the ABC host has a guess as to why Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is really doing it.

To kick off the days Hot Topics, the hosts of The View offered fake sympathy for the Trump administration having a bad day in court yesterday, and celebrated the fact that both cases were thrown out. They then turned their attention to Kellys case, which comes in the wake of the senator participating in a video with other Democratic lawmakers, that encouraged military members to refuse following unlawful orders.

Farah Griffin immediately said she doesnt imagine this is going to go very far, especially considering the language used in the video was very specific. Really, she thinks this case stems from something else entirely.

I think the timing of Pete Hegseth really cracking down on a distinguished veteran like Mark Kelly comes because he is being sidelined in these Ukraine negotiations, she explained. Hes nowhere to be found in the discussions, in fact, a deputy of his, the Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, has emerged as kind of a power player in this.

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So, in Farah Griffins opinion, Hegseth is simply trying to get Trumps attention and affection back.

I think hes doing it to try to get in good with Trump, to be like Look, Im fighting your fights for you, but its going to go very similarly to how these Comey and Letitia James cases went, she said.

Where, when you do something, and it doesnt look like theres merit there, its gonna fall apart, the presidents gonna be mad, and youre gonna be embarrassed, she continued.

The View airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET on ABC.

The post The View: Alyssa Farah Griffin Thinks Hegseth Is Coming for Mark Kelly Because Hes Being Sidelined in Ukraine Negotiations appeared first on TheWrap.
A Hermosa Beach man is reportedly recovering after enduring a violent beating by more than a half-dozen alleged teenagers Friday night, all of whom fled while the victim lay incapacitated in an alley.

The incident, which was captured on several different security cameras in the area, unfolded at around 8 p.m. Nov. 21.

Footage of the beating shows a man carrying a pizza box as he walks down the alley off 11th Court, about a block away for the pier, in Hermosa Beach. At the end of the alleyway, several suspects, reportedly teenagers, can be seen.

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The victim, who has not been identified, was seen talking to the teens before they started attacking, punching him and taking him to the ground. While he was down, one of the suspects beats him several times with the pizza box, while another is seen stomping and kicking the man.

As the group, some of them on electric dirtbikes, start to leave, one of the alleged teens appears to either take photos or film the victim while hes incapacitated and then eventually takes off.

Footage of the attack drew widespread attention after it was posted online, prompting officials at the Hermosa Beach Police Department to release a statement on Instagram stating that officers responded to reports of the attack within minutes.

A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image) A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image) A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image) A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image) A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image) A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image) A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image)

The victim was rushed to the hospital in unknown condition and, according to authorities, has since been released.

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While police say the violence is being investigated, residents in the South Bay beach community say the group is well known for causing trouble.

They run around and cause a lot of trouble, Geoff Van Sickle, who owns Strand Electric Bike Company in Hermosa Beach, told KTLA. These kids are noted for constant trouble. They run in packs of five to six bikes at a time. Ive witnessed attacks in Redondo. They circle people and then they attack them.

Surfers robbed, murdered in Baja California, set up by 23-year-old woman

Van Sickle noted too that the electric dirtbikes the group rides are illegal on the streets.

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Anywhere in California on the streets. They are off-road dirtbikes just like a Kawasaki [dirtbike] or something like that, that you ride in the woods, he said.

Investigators have yet to share a motive for Fridays attack, but residents in the area have theories about whats going on.

Trying to be cool, obviously, South Bay resident Richard Hernandez said of the group. Someone overheard them saying something about we got to do something and thats what they did.

Luke Walsh, another resident, said none of what the group does makes any sense.

Ive known some of the kids from school and they just do everything for no reason, he explained.

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Many residents who spoke to KTLAs Jaqueline Sarkissian said they believe the alleged teens parents know exactly whats going on and that they are allowing it.

So far, no arrests have been made, and police said they have no additional details to share at this time.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The Macau authorities have proposed changes to tax incentives for real estate purchases in response to market conditions, aiming to increase the maximum mortgage loan-to-value ratio from 70% to 80% and to establish a 3% tax on the portion of residential properties valued at MOP6 million or more that exceeds this amount.

Presenting his portfolios policy direction at the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Anton Tai, expressed his commitment to adjusting tax incentives for real-estate purchases. He stated that qualified residents purchasing residential units will be exempt from stamp duty on the first MOP6 million, with corresponding adjustments to mortgage loan-to-value limits.

The measures will initially be implemented for residential projects, he noted, adding that commercial projects will require further assessment after evaluating the impact of the new measures. Tourist areas differ significantly from other communities, he emphasized.

As a supplement, the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) proposed increasing the loan-to-value ratio for residential mortgages from 70% to 80%. This measure is scheduled to take effect alongside the budget proposal to raise the residential property tax exemption to MOP6 million, aiming to improve affordability for potential homebuyers in the current market.

Meanwhile, the AMCM reported that as of the end of September, total fiscal reserves have been revised to MOP658.7 billion, with preliminary calculations indicating an investment income of MOP34.9 billion, resulting in a return rate of 5.6%.

Govt to take control of revitalization plans under big six

After two to three years of implementation, the Secretary for Economy and Finance acknowledged yesterday that some projects have not achieved the expected results and will need fine-tuning while staying within their original scope.

Regarding the governments revitalization plans for declining urban and rural areas, which the six gaming concessionaires are currently undertaking as part of non-gaming development projects, Tai announced a new development model set to begin this year or next.

This model includes government oversight and coordination, with the concessionaires investing resources while the private sector manages planning and implementation. The aim is to leverage the strengths of all parties to promote sustainable development in these zones.

The government will approve development plans, coordinate resource allocation, and support the creation of district development centers to plan and implement specific projects, with the concessionaires dedicating resources to district development in line with their agreements with the government.

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Decorating the tree for the Oregon State Capitol rotunda is taking two days because the Noble fir harvested near Falls City was taller than originally thought.

Volunteers from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 280 planned to bring in a larger scissor lift on Day 2 to reach the uppermost branches of the 35-foot-tall Noble fir.

Capitol officials estimated the tree, a replacement harvested by Weyerhaeuser, to be 30 feet tall.

A crew from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 280 volunteers to decorate the tree at the Oregon State Capitol.

The tree was supposed to come from the Tillamook State Forest, but an Oregon Department of Forestry worker was seriously injured during the felling.

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A GoFundMe page for the injured female worker described it as a freak accident. The woman was life-flighted from the scene, underwent major surgery, and is recovering.

The leadership and legislative administration team from the state Capitol sent flowers to her at an undisclosed hospital.

Weyerhaeuser supplied the Capitol's "Grand Tree" on short notice. The timber company was already scheduled to provide 14 standard-sized trees for holiday decorations inside the Capitol.

Volunteer electricians from IBEW Local 280 began decorating the Grand Tree on Nov. 24, stringing more than 7,000 LED lights and hundreds of ornaments from its branches. Ben Tibbits worked high in the branches from the scissor lift while Chris Grossnicklaus and Mike McCarrel helped from below.

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The ornaments hadn't been pulled from storage since 2019, the last time the Oregon State Capitol staged a tree lighting ceremony in the rotunda because of the pandemic and construction.

Ben Tibbits helps string more than 7,000 LED lights on the holiday tree at the Oregon State Capitol, a 35-foot-tall Noble fir from the Falls City area.

The event returns Dec. 2, with the Willamette Master Chorus performing from 5 to 5:30 p.m., and Santa and special guests leading the crowd in the tree lighting countdown from 5:30 to 6 p.m.

Daily performances featuring school choirs and other groups at the Capitol will be held Dec. 3 through Dec. 23, except on Sundays. A complete schedule is on the Oregon State Legislature website.

Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Volunteers decorate Oregon State Capitol tree with 7,000 LED lights
A lawsuit accuses the Wake County school system of failing to protect a 6-year-old and other students from being sexually assaulted by a classmate.

A lawsuit filed Nov. 3 in Wake County Superior Court says a 6-year-old student at Wake Forest Elementary School was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a classmate over the course of a school year. The lawsuit accuses the school system of failing to protect the student and his classmates, even though a teacher and the principal were notified about the alleged abuse.

As a direct and proximate result of Defendant Boards above-described negligence, Plaintiff John Doe has suffered and continues to suffer severe mental and emotional injuries, including but not limited to severe anxiety, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other damages, according to the lawsuit.

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A Wake County schools spokesperson told The News & Observer on Monday that the district does not comment on pending litigation.

The attorneys for the student, identified only as John Doe in the complaint, did not immediately return emails and voicemails Monday from The N&O requesting comment.

Sexual assaults allegedly occurred in school bathroom

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff was 6 and attending Wake Forest Elementary during the 2023-24 school year.

During the 2023-2024 school year, Plaintiff was sexually assaulted multiple times by another minor student at Wake Forest Magnet Elementary School, the lawsuit says.

The complaint says  among other sexual acts  that the other student touched and fondled the plaintiff in a school bathroom. The lawsuit doesnt specify the grades levels of the two students, but based on their ages theyd likely have been kindergarten or first-grade students.

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Upon information and belief, the same student who sexually assaulted Plaintiff on numerous occasions also sexually assaulted other minor students of Wake Forest Magnet Elementary School, the lawsuit says.

The Town of Wake Forest was not immediately able to confirm Monday whether police had conducted any investigation at the school. State records show no sexual assaults or sex offenses were reported at Wake Forest Elementary by the school system during the 2023-24 school year.

School accused of failing to stop alleged abuse

The complaint says the plaintiff told his teacher he was being sexually assaulted by a classmate. The lawsuit says the teacher instructed the other student to stop but took no further action.

Based on the teachers continuing inaction, Plaintiff suffered continuing sexual assaults, the lawsuit says.

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On April 19, 2024, the lawsuit says the plaintiff told his mother he was being sexually assaulted by a classmate. The complaint says the plaintiffs mother then told the principal about the assaults.

The principal denied the allegations, refused to remove the perpetrating student from Plaintiffs class, and refused to allow Plaintiff to move to a different class, according to the complaint.

Families file sex abuse lawsuits against schools

The lawsuit asks for damages in excess of $25,000 from Wake County.

Its among a number of lawsuit filed in North Carolina and nationally accusing schools and universities of failing to address allegations of sexual assault of students. Sometimes the alleged abusers have been other students and sometimes theyve been school employees.

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Other lawsuits include:
The Wall Street Journal mocked Donald Trumps administration as The Gang That Couldnt Indict Straight in the headline of its latest op-ed criticizing the president. Read the full op-ed in The Wall Street Journal.

The newspapers conservative editorial board played on the name of the 1971 comedy crime film The Gang That Couldnt Shoot Straight while arguing that Trumps lawfare revenge tour has gone bust following a judges dismissal of the Justice Departments cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Politics: Rep. Maxine Waters Shakes Up Hearing With Her Absolutely Damning Description Of Trump

The Journal spelled out how in its rush for retribution, the Trump Administration cut corners.

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This is what happens when officials dont follow legal procedure. They lose cases, the Rupert Murdoch-owned paper wrote, which has increasingly needled Trump on multiple issues, including his handling of the economy, since his return to the White House in January.

The editorial concluded: Trump was so eager to indict his enemies, and Attorney General Pam Bondi was so quick to go along, that it all unraveled at the pull of one legal thread, adding that further attempts could lead to cases that are two-time legal losers.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
DALLAS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  After a night of repairs, Dallas officials said a waterline has broken for a second time, prompting widespread service interruptions and multiple closures.

Dallas Mayor Hayley Beaty shared that crews finished fixing the waterline late Monday night, but around 2 a.m., the line burst again.

Workers are now cleaning out a manhole and ditch to fully replace the damaged line. Officials said the exact cause of the repeated breaks is still unknown.

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The town understands the frustration from personal situations to businesses and schools, Beaty shared on social media.

Photo: Hayley Beaty  Mayor of Dallas, NC Photo: Hayley Beaty  Mayor of Dallas, NC

Gaston County Government issued an alert and announced the closure of all Dallas-based county facilities for the day, including the Citizens Resource Center  home to the Senior Center and several county department offices  the Dallas Branch Library, and the Gaston County Museum of Art & History.

North Gaston High School shared this statement on social media:

No school for five Dallas area schools  Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Because of a water main issue in Dallas, the following five schools will be closed today  Tuesday, November 25  for students and employees: Carr Elementary School, W.C. Friday Middle School, North Gaston High School, Gaston Early College High School, and Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences.

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Employees have the option to work remotely today and will receive information from their principal about doing so. We realize this is an inconvenience for everyone; however, we cannot operate the five schools without water service. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Queen City News has reached out to Gaston County Schools for an official statement.

There also was a water main break on Nov. 14 that forced the closure of the Dallas Branch Library and Gaston County Museum.

Crews remain on site working toward a full replacement of the waterline.

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Gaston County

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Another layer of complexity comes from the split within Lebanons leadership over how to respond.

A day after the assassination of Hezbollahs military chief, Ali Tabatabai, the terror group is primarily working to reassure Arab media outlets that it has no intention of launching a response against Israel.

Public or anonymously quoted Hezbollah-aligned parliamentarians are briefing that the diplomatic route is preferable and that we are weighing how to respond.

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In truth, Hezbollah is in trouble. Its weapons reserves and ability to launch significant strikes are nowhere near what they were before the war. Even with recent rearmament efforts through Syrian smuggling routes, the group remains far from restoring its previous strength.

That raises a fundamental question within the organization: would a limited strike  one that risks provoking a far more forceful Israeli retaliation, described by Israeli officials as disproportionate  be worth the cost?

Israel, for its part, has sent a clear message to the Lebanese government: any attack will lead to escalation. The killing in Beirut is an isolated incident  but if there is a response, thats a completely different story, according to a message Israel delivered to the mechanism that oversees the ceasefire in Lebanon.

People walk past a damaged building during the funeral of Hezbollah's top military official, Haytham Ali Tabtabai, and of other people who were killed by an Israeli airstrike on Sunday, despite a US-brokered truce a year ago, in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon November 24, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)

Another layer of complexity comes from the split within Lebanons leadership over how to respond. The Lebanese president released a fiery statement claiming the strike in the Dahiyah shows Israel has ignored repeated appeals to stop its operations. In contrast, the prime minister called for rallying behind the state, insisting that past experience demonstrates that real stability depends on fully enforcing UN Resolution 1701.

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The US position is unambiguous: Israel acted within its rights. The State Department said that the complete disarmament of Hezbollah is the only path for Lebanon to achieve lasting peace and stability.

Washington frustrated with Lebanese gov't

In Washington, frustration with the Lebanese government is growing, and in recent weeks, officials have issued firmer warnings that its time to dismantle Hezbollah. Even a planned visit by the Lebanese army chief to Washington was canceled at the last minute after he called Israel an enemy. Hezbollah is your enemy, US officials made clear.

Its unlikely that Beirut is shedding tears for Tabatabai. But now the world  and the region  must wait: Will this strike on the heart of Beirut move the needle on disarming Hezbollah? Or will tensions in the land of the cedars only deepen?
American hemp farmers are reeling after Republicans slipped a provision banning intoxicating hemp products into the deal to reopen the government. Now, industry insiders say that the hemp industry is about to leap into action to overturn the ban  or face destruction.

Lukas Gilkey is the co-founder and CEO of Hometown Hero, an Austin, Texas-based hemp business that employs about 200 people across three locations and two states. He told Salon that if the new law were allowed to go into effect, it would destroy his business.

Were now looking at a potential 0.4 milligram per container THC limit, which effectively would outlaw full-spectrum chapstick, pet treats  I mean, a lot of things that are not necessarily psychoactive, Gilkey said. That, I think, is what theyre going after. But its essentially a game over for the entire industry if this actually goes into effect.

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Gilkey is referencing the core provision in the new law, which is set to go into effect next year. It sets a limit for the total amount of THC allowed per container to 0.4 milligrams per container  far from enough to feel a buzz when many adult-use cannabis products contain 20% THC or more. This measure is specifically aimed at psychoactive compounds like delta-8 THC, which is essentially a variant of delta-9 THC, the main intoxicating compound in cannabis. Both delta-8 and delta-9 occur naturally in the plant  the difference being the position of a double carbon bond on the molecule  but this distinction has meant each drug is regulated differently. Until this most recent bill was passed, hemp products were regulated by their delta-9 THC content, creating a market for delta-8 and other hemp-derived products like CBD, which is non-intoxicating.

This specific regulation also rests on a legal distinction that exists between hemp and Cannabis sativa, the plant used to produce marijuana extracts like buds, tinctures and concentrates. Although hemp and cannabis are the same species of plant, its pretty difficult to get high from the hemp version. The law differentiates between the two based on the plants natural THC content, with hemp referring to cannabis that is very low in THC and marijuana referring to cannabis that is high in THC content  typically high enough to get one stoned.

For decades, hemp was banned in the United States alongside cannabis, but that largely changed in 2018, when that years farm bill, signed by President Donald Trump, legalized the crop in the U.S. A loophole in the law allowed the sale of pretty much any hemp-derived product, spurring some companies to extract high volumes of THC  higher than hemp produces naturally  or create semi-synthetic cannabinoids like HHC to sell something that gets people high.

Even in states that dont have medical marijuana laws, hemp products have appeared in gas stations, smoke shops and online stores, often with less rigorous quality control. Regulation of hemp varies by state both in terms for farming and standards for products.

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It was actually Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who championed both the legalization of hemp in 2018 and the new law that de facto bans psychoactive hemp products, explaining that it restores the original intent of the 2018 bill.

Unfortunately, some companies looking to make a quick buck have been exploiting a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill by taking legal amounts of THC from hemp and turning it into intoxicating substances. They take these synthetic chemicals and use them as ingredients in appealing, snack and candy-like products and distribute them in familiar packaging, McConnell told Salon in an email. Industrial hemp and CBD will remain legal for industrial applications  such as seed, stock, fiber, grain oil  or used in drug trials. This language merely clarifies the original intent of the 2018 farm bill, rooting out the bad actors and protecting the growing hemp industry.

In any case, the new law has sent shockwaves through the hemp industry, which has ballooned since 2018. Whitney Economics estimated in 2023 that the hemp-derived cannabinoid industry had surpassed $28 billion in sales, with the roughly 328,000 workers earning some $13 billion in wages in the industry. The new law puts the viability of many of the businesses into question.

Thats why Gilkey says the hemp industry is pushing to have the new law overturned and to come to a compromise with lawmakers.

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I do not believe this will hold. This industry is very large, and there are a lot of well-funded companies that are already putting together strategies to fight this, Gilkey said. And I would argue, in 12 months, this industry is going to be substantially larger than what it is now.

The predicament those in the hemp business find themselves in is that theyre stuck between both the alcohol lobby and, perhaps counterintuitively, the state-level marijuana lobby. The alcohol industry has been pushing for bans and regulations on hemp and marijuana products because of the competition they represent. Meanwhile, the marijuana industry has largely welcomed bans or regulations on hemp because marijuana is subject to a different  and often more restrictive  regulatory regime in states where it is legalized.

Despite this, farmers like Ann Guager, who runs Caprock Family Farms with her son Zack Guager, said that she was optimistic because she believes the public is on their side.

We know that speaking up and calling your lawmakers and taking the time to let people know that these products really do help people and change peoples lives, Guager said. Weve seen how there is power with a mass movement of people. And so were hoping that the same thing can happen in this case.

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Guager said that, in Texas, for example, many people turn to hemp products not just for recreation, but in place of medical marijuana products, explaining that many people dont want to be tracked by the government or be entered into the medical marijuana system just to use THC products. She also said that hemp products are simply more widely available.

Robert Mikos, an expert on federalism in drug law and a professor at Vanderbilt University, told Salon that, despite optimism from people in the hemp industry, they might face pushback from lawmakers who say that the 2018 legalization of psychoactive hemp products was a mistake.

[The drafters of the bill] thought, hey, you can produce hemp, sell it to people who are going to use it for the CBD. And thats fine. I dont think the drafters of that bill, or anyone associated with it anticipated that people would be able to transform chemicals from hemp into psychoactive chemicals and keep calling them hemp, Mikos said.

Mikos also pushed back on what many hemp farmers have said in terms of the bills impact on their businesses, saying that if the bill does end up destroying the hemp industry, it would be yet another unintended consequence of this.

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I dont think Congress is trying to destroy the industrial hemp market. I dont think theyre trying to destroy even the CBD market, people using CBD derived from hemp. I just havent seen any basis for that, Mikos said. I havent seen any lab assays, reports of chemical chromatographs that demonstrate there are no hemp plants out there that one can grow, that stay under the new limits. And a lot of the new limits, theyre really targeting kind of synthetic THC.

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Mikos also stressed that, whether or not the new law is allowed to go into effect, most of the enforcement is likely to remain the purview of the states, unless the federal government pushes for a crackdown from the DEA or the FDA. Mikos added that, for the states, the question then becomes How are we going to regulate this?

These hemp products that used to be federally legal and now are classified as marijuana, if they want to, states like Tennessee that dont have a marijuana market, but have a very robust market for psychoactive hemp, Mikos said. They might just continue doing what theyre doing, and they might still call it hemp, even though, for purposes of federal law, its marijuana, but they might just continue to regulate it the same way they have.

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At the same time, states with a robust legal marijuana market might choose to regulate hemp more strictly.

The treatment of marijuana and what was considered hemp, thats really up to the states to decide, Mikos said.

The post Why Mitch McConnell helped kill the hemp buzz appeared first on Salon.com.
Democrats and pro-democracy organizations held a rally Oct. 16 to call for the creation of an independent redistricting commission. On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued an order for two judicial panels to hear arguments against Wisconsin's current U.S. House maps. (Photo by Henry Redman/Wisconsin Examiner)

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a pair of three-judge panels to hear arguments in two lawsuits challenging the states congressional maps.

The challenges to the maps come as fights play out all over the country over the dividing lines of congressional districts ahead of next years midterm elections. After Texas legislators worked to draw Democratic seats out of existence at the behest of President Donald Trump and a number of other Republican-led states followed suit, California voters elected to temporarily undo their states independent redistricting commission and allow Democratic leaders to wipe out Republican-leaning seats.

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Similar efforts have followed to varying degrees of success in states including Arkansas, Indiana and Virginia.

Wisconsins political maps have been at the center of its divided government for more than a decade, with the Supreme Court undoing the partisan gerrymander in the state Legislature two years ago.

Since then, the focus has turned to Wisconsins congressional maps, where Republicans control six of the states eight districts. More than once, the Supreme Court has declined to hear cases that request the Court directly take up challenges to the congressional maps.

A lobbying effort in the state is also ongoing to establish an independent, nonpartisan process for creating the states legislative and congressional maps.

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On Tuesday, the Court ruled that the challenges to the maps must follow a 2011 law, passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker, which requires that challenges to the states congressional districts be heard by a panel of three circuit court judges.

Republicans had argued that law shouldnt apply in this case. In a 5-2 decision, in which the courts four liberal justices were joined by conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn, the Court ruled the law applies and the panels should be created.

In the majority decision, the Courts liberals also appointed the panels  of which all the members were appointed by Gov. Tony Evers or endorsed liberal Justice Susan Crawford in this springs election.

Hagedorn dissented on the appointment of the panels, arguing the panel members shouldve been appointed randomly.

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Given the nature of this case and the statutes implicit call for geographic diversity and neutrality, a randomly-selected panel and venue would be a better way to fulfill the statutory mandate, Hagedorn wrote. To be clear, I am not suggesting the judicial panel will fail to do its job with integrity and impartiality. But this approach is an odd choice in the face of a statute so clearly designed to deter litigants from selecting their preferred venue and judge.

Justices Annette Ziegler and Rebecca Bradley dissented from the decision, arguing the majority chose the judges on the panel to further the goals of the Democratic party.

In several previous lawsuits over political maps, Bradley and Ziegler have issued rulings that benefited the Republican party or further entrenched the partisan gerrymander that has allowed the Republican party to retain control of the Legislature for 15 years.

Hand picking circuit court judges to perform political maneuvering is unimaginable, Ziegler wrote. Yet, my colleagues persist and appear to do this, all in furtherance of delivering partisan, political advantage to the Democratic Party.

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On Tuesday, Crawford and Justice Janet Protasiewicz also issued orders denying requests from Republican members of Congress and GOP voters that they recuse themselves from the redistricting cases. Since the two justices elections in recent years, the states Republicans have regularly accused the pair of making statements on the campaign trail that show pre-judgment of cases involving the states political maps.

The Congressmens recusal theories are overbroad, impracticable, and rife with unintended consequences, Crawford wrote. Individuals and organizations have the right to contribute to judicial campaigns and to express their beliefs about the effect judicial elections will have on issues of importance to them. Demanding that a justice recuse from a case because third parties who made campaign contributions have expressed their views on high-profile issues improperly implies that the judge had endorsed or adopted such views. This insinuation is inappropriate, particularly where the judge has expressly disclaimed such an endorsement, and undermines judicial impartiality. Further, it would chill protected speech and undermine this courts central role of deciding cases of statewide importance.

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A companion of Slender Man stabber Morgan Geyser who temporarily escaped from her Wisconsin group home says Geyser fled the facility out of fear that the two would no longer be able to visit each other.

She ran because of me, Chad Charley Mecca  a transgender woman who was detained alongside Geyser at a truck stop just outside Chicago on Sunday night  said in a phone call to Wisconsin news outlet WKOW.

Mecca made it clear that she only learned why Geyser wanted to flee after they were in Illinois but added: At the end of the day, I followed what I thought was right. I stand by it.

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For fleeing a group home in Madison where she was placed in March, the 23-year-old reportedly faces being returned to a psychiatric institution where she was sentenced after pleading guilty to repeatedly stabbing a middle school classmate in 2014 to delight the digital horror character Slender Man. The 43-year-old Mecca, meanwhile, is facing charges related to her and Geyser having been found sleeping on a sidewalk in Posen, Illinois.

A report from Posen police indicates that Mecca and Geyser were potentially trying to make it to Nashville, Tennessee, when they were stopped by officers investigating a loitering complaint at a truck stop.

The case has drawn attention because Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder after she stabbed school friend Payton Leutner 19 times.

In 2014, when all three girls were 12 years old, Geyer and a friend, Anissa Weier, convinced Leutner to go with them to a park in Waukesha, Wisconsin, during a sleepover. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times while being egged on by Weier. Leutner barely survived.

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Geyser and Weier later made international news upon telling investigators they had attacked Leutner out of service to the internet boogeyman Slender Man, having become convinced that he would hurt their families if they failed to carry out the stabbing.

Slender Man is the imagined creation of online forum user Eric Knudson  an unnaturally tall, thin figure that was digitally edited by others into mostly mundane photos of children playing. The figure went on to appear in video games, online lore and even a 2018 movie.

Weier and Geyser both ended up pleading guilty to attempted homicide. Geyser then was sent to a psychiatric institute in 2018 and in March was transferred to a group home in Madison.

On Saturday, Geyser was reported missing after officials discovered she had apparently removed her court-mandated tracking monitor. She and Mecca made off south and were picked up roughly a day later about 170 miles away.

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Mecca, seen in a mugshot with blue hair and a low-cut pink top, later told WKOW that she believed leaving Madison with Geyser was the best way to keep Geyser safe.

As Mecca put it to WKOW during the call reported on Monday, she told police that she had met Geyser two months earlier at church  and that the younger woman didnt like her group home. Mecca alleged that Geyser was being mistreated. Mecca also said the home started threatening to take away  visitation privileges from Geyser.

Mecca said that she and Geyser then met in a parking lot  and the younger woman expressed her desire to escape.

She sobbed  shes like, Theyll take away our visitation. Charly, please  youre my best friend. And you know, you know that before you showed up, I was ready to drink bleach and just all this stuff, Mecca told WKOW.

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Geyser made it clear if I didnt go  whether or not  she was still going, said Mecca, who is referred to as he in the Posen police but referred to by Geyser as she.

And [Geyser] was not going back to jail, Mecca said. And I know what that means.

Geyser on Tuesday waived her right to an extradition hearing, making it procedurally easier for Illinois authorities to return her to Wisconsin.

Wisconsin prosecutors have expressed their hope that the conditional release Geyser was granted before her group home transfer is revoked and that she is re-institutionalized.
More than a thousand cars lined the road for a local foodbank drive-thru that provided Thanksgiving for people in need.

The AES Ohio Foundation provided 80 thousand pounds to help the community.

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Families who received food said the event was a Godsend because the holidays would have looked different without it.

Mary Martin is retired and was making ends meet by sharing expenses with her brother.

She said her brother just recently passed away, making her finances tighter.

He brought in more than I did; I got to pinch pennies to make sure I make rent, said Martin.

AES Ohio said stories like Martins are ones they want to fund during this special holiday distribution.

Were going on 20-plus years of our partnership with the Dayton Foodbank, said Brian Hylander, AES Ohio Foundation Chairman.

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Hylander said AES isnt just funding the 80 thousand pounds of food, but also bringing three dozen volunteers to load all the cars.

It can be emotional at times, you see the number of people and the need in the community, and just doing this little part, giving a nice moment of Thanksgiving moments is really special, said Hylander.

Lora Fisher from Dayton said that she is a disabled Air Force veteran who is living on a pension.

This is a wonderful blessing, said Fisher.

Fisher sat in line for hours to receive her donations.

The line snaked off Germantown Pike and around several blocks just to get to the Foodbank.

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This drive-thru is the Foodbanks last distribution before Thanksgiving.

They will host one more before Christmas before they resume their mass distribution sometime after the first of the year.

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Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) leaves the Senate Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building on Oct. 1, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice and his wife Cathy Justice immediately settled a new lawsuit seeking more than $5.1 million in unpaid federal income taxes spanning 15 years.

U.S. attorneys with the tax division of the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint Monday seeking to collect the unpaid liabilities dating back to 2009.

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The filing in the district court for the Southern District of West Virginia said that both husband and wife had received notices about the unpaid amount, and, Defendants James C. Justice, II, and Cathy L. Justice have neglected or refused to make full payment of those assessments to the United States.

A short time after the federal filing, the Justices filed a motion Monday agreeing to pay the $5,164,739.75 owed as of Aug. 4, 2025, along with the other additions to tax accruing thereafter according to law until paid in full.

Justices Senate office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Justice, a Republican, was easily elected to the U.S. Senate last year while financial obligations mounted. In 2023, he faced a potential garnishment of his governors salary to pay back loans related to purchased coal equipment.

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Ahead of last years election, the state of West Virginias Tax Division placed a series of liens on The Greenbrier resort  which the Justice family operates  more than $4 million because of sales taxes that were collected but not remitted to the state, MetroNews reported.

In October, Politico reported that the Internal Revenue Service had filed a notice of a federal tax lien against Justice and his wife for more than $8 million in unpaid assessments for tax years 2009, 2017 and 2022.

Justice brushed off the financial issues, saying it was politically motivated and that the IRS owed him money. He connected the lien to his familys coal business ties, saying they were complicated and complex.

Justice sold the family coal company, Bluestone Coal, to Russian-based Mechel in 2009 for about $436 million in cash and stock. Justice said his tax issues began in 2009 with audits by the IRS under the administration of former Democratic President Barack Obama.

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The timetable is running out on the claim that they have, that back in 2009 I should have paid a few dollars more than what I paid, Justice said Oct. 23 in response to a question from reporter Steven Allen Adams with Ogden Newspapers. What they just did is they said well go back to 2009 and were going to assess your interest and penalties on that all the way through and thats how they come to the ($8 million).

Cathy Justice serves on the state school board after being appointed by her husband in 2024.

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The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Anton Tai, has attributed the decline in the unemployment rate to the authorities various initiatives to support youth employment, highlighting the effectiveness of these efforts.

At yesterdays plenary session of the Legislative Assembly (AL), several lawmakers expressed concerns about local residents employment rights. Among them, lawmaker Ella Lei specifically referenced Chief Executive Sam Hou Fais statement, questioning the governments assertion that Macau residents will be given priority in employment opportunities for positions they are capable of and willing to undertake.

As of September this year, the financial sector employed 881 foreign workers, mostly in non-professional roles. Lawmaker Ella Lei asked, Is it that we refuse to do the work, we lack the skills, or what is the situation? She called on authorities to clarify the employment landscape and to set specific targets and job types for local employment opportunities in financial institutions and higher education.

We lack visibility on the number of non-local workers versus locals available for these positions, she stated, calling for a focus on creating local jobs through outsourcing services and projects. Lei also highlighted the need for the government to prioritize specific groups facing employment challenges, such as middle-aged workers and persons with disabilities, and called for clarity on plans to support their employment next year.

In response, the Secretary emphasized the effectiveness of the governments employment support initiatives across three key sectors, including retail, administration, and construction.

According to Tai, this year the government facilitated job-matching referrals for 8,700 individuals, with approximately 50% of those referrals comprising youth under 34 years old. Additionally, half of the assistance was directed at middle-aged, young, and working-age adults. The Secretary also noted that 1,600 vocational certification courses were offered, attracting nearly 48,000 participants. To further assist Macau residents in securing employment, an integrated training platform has been established and is already being used by 800 individuals, offering 70 courses for enrollment.

Tai also emphasized the authorities management of non-local workers, noting that in the construction industry, the number of local residents employed has risen while unemployment has decreased.

He pointed out that efforts are underway to gradually reduce the number of non-local workers in the financial sector. Recently, we organized a large-scale job matching event for the financial and banking industries, offering 200 job opportunities, and 400 local residents registered to participate, he stated.

Notably, the authorities will establish a skills passport on the vocational training platform to consolidate skill certificates and implement a customized training system to align talent with corporate needs, allowing for the immediate addition of relevant courses. This aims to integrate vocational training, individual skills, and job requirements seamlessly.

Local residents less inclined to take

entry-level jobs

Meanwhile, in response to other lawmakers, including Leong Sun Iok, who questioned the governments efforts to refine the non-local worker approval system, Tai noted that the current process and operational guidelines will be optimized. He stated that approval decisions will take into account factors such as enterprise scale, operational status, and local hiring conditions.

Through cross-departmental data connectivity and on-site verification, the approval process will become more precise and effective. The human resource requirements of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) now differ significantly from those of large enterprises, Tai acknowledged. The Labour Affairs Bureau added that distinct differences in human resource development across emerging and traditional industries lead to varying approval approaches. Among these challenges are entry-level jobs that local residents are less inclined to take, particularly high-intensity, shift-based roles such as cleaning and housekeeping.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed Beijing's steadfast support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, sending a congratulatory letter on the eve of the embattled leader's birthday that pledged continued backing for the South American country's sovereignty amid mounting regional tensions and US military pressure.

In the message, released by Venezuela's Foreign Ministry over the weekend, Xi described China and Venezuela as "intimate friends, dear brothers and good partners".

He vowed to keep supporting Caracas in "safeguarding its sovereignty and national security, the dignity of the nation, and social stability".

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The Chinese leader also used the letter to condemn foreign interference in Venezuelan affairs, remarks widely seen as a response to Washington's latest actions.

The US has deployed nearly a dozen warships and about 12,000 sailors and Marines to the Caribbean region and off Venezuela's coast as part of what it calls a counter-narcotics and maritime security operation.

The US Navy's Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group sails towards the Caribbean Sea during a counter-narcotics and maritime security operation earlier this month. Photo: US Navy via Reuters alt=The US Navy's Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group sails towards the Caribbean Sea during a counter-narcotics and maritime security operation earlier this month. Photo: US Navy via Reuters>

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"China resolutely opposes the meddling of external forces in Venezuela's internal affairs under any pretext," Xi wrote, echoing Beijing's long-standing position on the principle of non-intervention.

The Chinese Embassy in Caracas did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The message came as both China and Russia reiterated their political backing for Maduro, whose government faces renewed diplomatic and military pressure from the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a message calling Maduro a "dear friend" and vowing to deepen the "strategic partnership" between Moscow and Caracas. Both letters were revealed by Venezuela's foreign minister, Yvan Gil.

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Xi's statement was consistent with Beijing's position laid out last week by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who criticised Washington's newly announced Operation Southern Spear.

The campaign, unveiled by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, targets "narco-terrorist networks" in the Western Hemisphere and designates the Cartel de los Soles, allegedly led by Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organisation.

"China firmly supports the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace," Mao said at a regular press briefing on Wednesday.

"We oppose any moves that violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and other countries' sovereignty and security, and any interference in Venezuela's internal affairs under any pretext."

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She urged Washington to "choose a course of action conducive to peace and stability" in the region, stressing that disputes should be resolved through lawful, multilateral frameworks rather than unilateral measures or military posturing.

In the region, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has also intensified his calls for a high-level security dialogue involving the United States, China and regional partners to defuse the growing crisis.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro delivers a speech in Cali, Colombia, on Friday. Photo: AFP alt=Colombia's President Gustavo Petro delivers a speech in Cali, Colombia, on Friday. Photo: AFP>

Petro said he wants Mexico and Colombia to play central roles in any talks and has invited China to participate.

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The proposal follows a series of US air and naval operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific targeting drug-smuggling vessels, which regional governments say have raised fears of a broader confrontation.

Tensions escalated further over the weekend when the US Federal Aviation Administration warned commercial pilots to "exercise extreme caution" in Venezuelan airspace because of worsening security conditions and heightened military activity.

The advisory, issued late on Friday, said unspecified threats "could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes", prompting several international airlines to cancel or suspend flights to Caracas.

By Sunday, carriers including Iberia, TAP Air Portugal, LatAm, Avianca, Gol and Caribbean Airlines had halted services indefinitely, according to the Venezuelan Airlines Association. Turkish Airlines said it would suspend flights from Monday to Wednesday.

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The US Department of Defence also announced on Monday that General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and President Donald Trump's top military adviser, is visiting troops in Puerto Rico who have been conducting counternarcotics operations off the Venezuelan coast.

It would be Caine's second visit to the island. In September, he visited Puerto Rico with Secretary of War Hegseth, days after the arrival of US Marine ships for what the Pentagon described as "training exercises".

Caine is considered one of the masterminds behind Operation Southern Spear.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
The New York State Police are investigating a fatal structure in the village of West Winfield, according to a statement.

At around 6:02 a.m. on Nov, 25, troopers responded to 160 Burrows Road in the village of West Winfield in Herkimer County for a reported structure fire.

Shortly after arrival and during firefighting efforts to extinguish the flames, personnel observed one occupant deceased inside of the residence.

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Authorities have not yet released the name of the deceased.

Law Enforcement: Utica police offers advice after reports of porch pirates

Boating: Rome man rescued after boating accident on Oneida Lake

Weather: Chance of snow in the Mohawk Valley this Thanksgiving

Police say the investigation into the cause and origin of the fire is pending, however, a preliminary investigation does not indicate foul play.

The New York State Police were assisted on scene by State Fire, West Winfield EMS/Fire Department, Bridgewater Fire Department, Cedarville Fire Department, and Herkimer County Emergency Management.

The investigation remains ongoing.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: New York State Police investigating fatal fire in West Winfield
After months of opposition, President Trump finally signed a law last week requiring the Justice Department to release all of its files related to the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

But even then, just a quarter of Americans (25%) think the president has followed through on his promise to make the Epstein files public, according to a new Yahoo/YouGov poll. Nearly twice as many say he has not (48%), and the rest (27%) are unsure.

The new survey of 1,684 U.S. adults was conducted from Nov. 21 to Nov. 24  immediately after Congress passed and Trump signed the bipartisan measure known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which compels the Justice Department to publish (in a searchable and downloadable format) all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Epstein within 30 days.

The bill itself, which only one lawmaker opposed, is remarkably popular with the public: A full 84% of Americans approve of it, while just 3% disapprove. Reflecting the measures near-unanimous support on Capitol Hill, Republicans approve almost as often (83%) as independents (87%) and Democrats (90%).

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In July, 84% of Americans told Yahoo and YouGov they thought Epstein was guilty of most of the crimes he was charged with  and the same number (84%) said they would approve of the government releasing all of the information it has on him. Those numbers are identical today.

Yet questions remain about the presidents handling of the issue.

Trumps reversals on Epstein

In July 2019, Epstein was arrested by federal agents and accused of paying dozens of teenage girls, some as young as 14, to perform sex acts. (Epstein previously pleaded guilty and was convicted in 2008 by a Florida state court of procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute.)

In August 2019, Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in Manhattan while awaiting trial.

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Since then, the disgraced financier has been the focus of conspiracy theories that claim he was murdered to conceal the names of powerful people on a secret client list.

While campaigning in 2020  and, later, in 2024  Trump repeatedly speculated about the nature of Epsteins death; last year, in response to a question from Fox News, he said he would declassify the Epstein files if reelected.

After returning to the White House, Trump directed the Justice Department to conduct an exhaustive review of the evidence it had collected (including more than 100,000 pages of physical records, grand jury testimony and digital materials recovered from devices seized at Epsteins properties).

In July, the DOJ and FBI released a two-page joint memo concluding that Epstein had committed suicide in his cell and compiled no client list  echoing previous findings by the Biden administration.

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The move enraged some Trump loyalists, who accused the president and his administration of breaking their promise to release all of the Epstein files. It also put the spotlight back on Trumps own relationship with Epstein.

Trump then spent months lashing out at supporters for their interest in what he repeatedly referred to as the Epstein Hoax and pressuring Republican lawmakers to block the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

When it became clear earlier this month that the bill would pass, however, Trump suddenly reversed course, writing on his Truth Social platform that House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide.

I DONT CARE! Trump added.

What Americans think of Trumps approach to the Epstein files

In the aftermath of his U-turn, overall approval for how the president has dealt with the Jeffrey Epstein investigation (28%) has risen by 7 percentage points compared to where it was in July (21%)  in large part because Republicans are much more likely to say they approve now (58%) than they were before (44%).

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But the majority of Americans (54%) still disapprove  by a 2-to-1 margin  of Trumps approach to the Epstein files, even though he has now seemingly given them what they want.

Why? For one thing, a similar majority of Americans (52%) still say the president has mostly opposed releasing the Epstein Files since returning to office earlier this year  despite the events of the last week or so. Just 24% say Trump has mostly favored their release in recent months.

Likewise, 50% of Americans say the Trump administration has so far released less of the Epstein files than Trump promised. Only 15% say the administration has released about as much as Trump promised  and a mere 3% say the administration has released more than Trump promised.

This isnt a purely partisan sentiment. To be sure, the less than promised response is biggest among Democrats (73%) and independents (57%). But just over 1 in 4 Republicans (26%) also say Trump has delivered less than promised, and a full 38% of Republicans say theyre not sure. Only 30% of Republicans think Trump has released about as much as he promised he would.

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Finally, Americans generally disagree with the arguments Trump has made to justify not releasing more of the Epstein files. To test whether his messaging on the issue has been effective, the poll asked respondents whether they agree or disagree with three anonymous statements.

The Epstein files are a Democrat hoax perpetrated by radical left lunatics in order to deflect from the great success of the Republican Party: 19% agree, 61% disagree

The Epstein files are pretty boring stuff. I dont understand why it keeps going: 19% agree, 61% disagree

Releasing the Epstein files is not only the right thing to do for the victims but its also the right thing to do for the country. Americans deserve transparency: 80% agree, 6% disagree

The first two quotes (with 19% agreement) come from Trump; the last quote (with 80% agreement) comes from Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a leading Republican advocate for releasing the Epstein files.

Last week, Greene said she was resigning from Congress after Trump called her a traitor and vowed to endorse her opponent in next years election. Yet even Republicans are twice as likely to agree with Greenes statement that releasing the files is the right thing to do (75%) than with Trumps statement calling the files a Democrat hoax (37%).

Different expectations about what the Epstein files might reveal

To recap, Americans want the Epstein files released in full. They think Trump has so far underdelivered on his promise to do just that. Some  mostly Republicans  give him credit for changing course last week. But few agree with his arguments for not releasing more of the files sooner.

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Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters of Americans (74%) also think the government has been hiding information about Epstein  up 5 points from the 69% who said in July that the government was hiding information about Epsteins client list.

That number largely explains why so many Americans across the political spectrum support the new law requiring the Justice Department to release its Epstein files. But it doesnt mean Republicans and Democrats agree on what those files might reveal.

A full 82% of Democrats, for instance, think the government has been hiding information about Epstein because it would implicate Trump. A majority of independents (52%) agree.

In contrast, the vast majority of Republicans either think the government hasnt been hiding information about Epstein (14%); say theyre unsure about that (26%); or think the government has been hiding information because it would implicate Democrats (47%).

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Just 13% of Republicans think the Epstein files might implicate Trump. And among self-identified MAGA Republicans, support for Trumps handling of the Epstein investigation (70%) is twice as high as it is among non-MAGA Republicans (35%)  suggesting that speculation about a potential MAGA rebellion is overstated.

It remains to be seen what, if anything, the files will reveal. According to the text of the bill itself, the DOJ is permitted to withhold certain information such as the personal information of victims and materials that would jeopardize an active federal investigation. Classified material can also be withheld. Those loopholes could limit what comes out in the days ahead.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has already cited concerns about identifying victims or disseminating images of child sexual abuse to explain why the Trump administration did not release more files earlier this year.

And earlier this month, Bondi followed orders from Trump and immediately opened an investigation into several Democrats who were mentioned in Epsteins emails  even though the DOJ and FBI had previously declared that nothing in the Epstein files warranted further scrutiny.

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When asked how much information will be released, 55% of Americans  including near-identical percentages of Democrats, Republicans and independents  predict the files will come out in limited form with important material withheld or redacted. Just 18% of Americans believe the Epstein files will be released in full.

__________________

The Yahoo survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,684 U.S. adults interviewed online from Nov. 21 to Nov. 24, 2025. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 election turnout and presidential vote, party identification and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Party identification is weighted to the estimated distribution at the time of the election (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). Respondents were selected from YouGovs opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S. adults. The margin of error is approximately 3%.
A woman who stabbed her friend to appease a fictional internet character named Slender Man more than a decade ago waived her right to an extradition hearing on Tuesday after she fled a group home in Madison, Wis., and was found by police outside a truck stop south of Chicago.

Morgan Geyser, 23, was taken into custody by police in Posen, Ill., on Sunday night, a day after cutting off her GPS monitoring bracelet and leaving her group home in Madison, where she had been living since a judge granted her conditional release from a state mental health facility earlier this year.

Appearing before a judge in handcuffs and a blue prison jumpsuit in Cook County, Ill., Geyser signed a waiver allowing for her extradition to Wisconsin, where authorities may revoke her conditional release and request that she be returned to a psychiatric institution. Waukesha County District Attorney Lesli Boese said Monday that she would support such a move.

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The Illinois judge said Tuesday that Geysers extradition to Wisconsin could take up to 30 days, but hoped she would be transported much sooner than that.

What happened?

Chad Mecca, left, and Morgan Geyser. (Posen Police Dept.)

According to police, Geyser cut off her Department of Corrections monitoring bracelet and left the group home in Madison on Saturday night. She was last seen around 8 p.m. on Saturday with an adult acquaintance, police said.

After she was reported missing, Geysers family urged her to turn herself in.

If you see Morgan, please call the police, her mother, Angie Geyser, said in a statement prior to her arrest. Morgan, if you can see this, we love you and just want to know you are safe.

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We worked too hard to secure her freedom for her to continue on this path, Geysers attorney, Tony Cotton, said in a video statement following her disappearance.

On Sunday night, police in Posen were dispatched to a truck stop on a report of a man and a woman loitering. When officers arrived, they found Geyser and a man, identified by local news outlets as 43-year-old Chad Mecca, sleeping on the sidewalk behind the building.

The female repeatedly refused to provide her real name and initially gave a false one, Posen police said in a statement. "After continued attempts to identify her, she finally stated that she didnt want to tell officers who she was because she had 'done something really bad,' and suggested that officers could 'just Google' her name."

According to police, Geyser and Mecca had traveled by bus from Wisconsin to the Chicago area. They were taken into custody without incident. Body camera footage released by police showed officers questioning Geyser and Mecca for nearly 15 minutes before taking them into custody.

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Mecca was charged with criminal trespassing and obstructing identification, police said. He has since been released.

Geyser told police that she met Mecca a couple of months earlier at a church, and that the group home would not allow Mecca to visit her. She said the pair had talked about fleeing to Nashville.

Mecca, who goes by the name Charly, told WKOW-TV in Madison that Geyser "ran because of me."

The Slender Man case

Geyser at her sentencing in 2018. (Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel/AP)

In 2014, Geyser and Anissa Weier lured their classmate, Payton Leutner, into the woods in Waukesha, Wis., after a sleepover. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times as Weier cheered her on. Leutner survived. All three girls were 12 years old.

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Geyser and Weier admitted to the attack, saying they were inspired by Slender Man, a faceless, fictional internet character with a cult following.

They were charged as adults and pleaded guilty, but those pleas were later vacated when they were found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Both were sentenced to psychiatric facilities instead of jail.

In 2021, Weier was granted supervised release to live with her father.

In March, a judge ordered Geyser to be transferred from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute to a group home, where she was subject to GPS monitoring.

According to ABC News, Geyser was granted conditional release despite concerns raised by prosecutors, who alleged she had violent communication with a man outside the facility.
Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. refused to respond yesterday to an allegation by his estranged sister, a senator, that he has been a longtime drug addict whose cocaine dependence has undermined his governance, saying with a somber tone that he didnt want to discuss a family rift in public.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro has said that Sen. Imee Marcos accusations against her own brother before a huge religious rally in Manila last week were a web of lies, and may have been a desperate attempt to distract ongoing investigations into a corruption scandal that may implicate her opposition allies in the Senate.

Aides have said in the past that Marcos Jr. had tested negative for cocaine and methamphetamine. When asked to respond to his elder sisters allegations, the president briefly paused and then said in a televised news conference: Its anathema to talk about family matters generally in public. We do not like to show our dirty linen in public.

The president suggested that something was troubling her sister. The lady that you see talking on TV is not my sister and that view is shared by our cousins, friends, that its not her, he said without elaborating.

Thats why we are worried, we are very worried about her. I hope she feels better soon, the president said. When asked if he plans to talk to her, Marcos said that he and his sister no longer travel in the same circles, political or otherwise.

Marcos, 68, and his sister are children of then dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who was overthrown in an army-backed but largely peaceful people power uprising in 1986 after an authoritarian era that was notorious for human rights and political repression and plunder. The dictator died in exile in Hawaii in 1989. His family returned to the Philippines in 1991 and slowly regained a political foothold.

Marcos Jr. won the presidency in 2022 with a landslide margin in one of the greatest political comebacks in the Philippines.

In a speech last night before a huge rally by a religious group in a Manila park, Imee Marcos said that her brothers drug addiction allegedly started when their father was still a president and has continued to this day. She claimed it has affected his health and ability to govern.

Imee Marcos is a high-profile ally of her brothers harsh critic and predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte was arrested on an International Criminal Court warrant in March and flown to and detained in the Netherlands for alleged crimes against humanity over his brutal anti-drug crackdowns that left thousands of mostly poor suspects dead. Duterte has denied any wrongdoing.

Dutertes family and allies, including Imee Marcos, have blamed Marcos Jr. for what they claim was the ex-presidents illegal arrest and detention by the global court. Dutertes daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, is also one of the most vocal critics of the current president but is a close ally of Imee Marcos. JIM GOMEZ, MANILA, MDT/AP

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China, France pledge to strengthen economic, financial cooperation

Xinhua) 08:42, November 25, 2025

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng holds a video meeting with French Finance Minister Roland Lescure on Nov. 24, 2025. He, China's lead person in the China-France High Level Economic and Financial Dialogue, exchanged in-depth views on recent economic and financial cooperation between the two countries with Lescure, France's lead person in the dialogue, as well as issues of common concern. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Monday held a video meeting with French Finance Minister Roland Lescure. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on recent economic and financial cooperation between the two countries, as well as issues of common concern.

He, China's lead person in the China-France High Level Economic and Financial Dialogue, said that China stands ready to work with France to deepen exchange and cooperation in the fields of the economy and finance, to promote continuous new achievements in China-France economic and trade cooperation, and to provide stability and positive energy for the world economy.

Lescure, France's lead person in the dialogue, said that France is willing to strengthen practical cooperation with China in the economy, trade and investment in the fields of the economy and finance, and to promote greater progress in economic and trade relations between the two countries.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng holds a video meeting with French Finance Minister Roland Lescure on Nov. 24, 2025. He, China's lead person in the China-France High Level Economic and Financial Dialogue, exchanged in-depth views on recent economic and financial cooperation between the two countries with Lescure, France's lead person in the dialogue, as well as issues of common concern. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
China used the G-20 summit in Africa to defend its contentious rare-earth export curbs while rolling out a new initiative aimed at placating developing nations anxious about being sidelined in the fast-growing critical-minerals sector, Bloomberg reported.

Premier Li Qiang, standing in for President Xi Jinping, told delegates last weekend that Beijing must cautiously manage exports of minerals with potential military use  a reference to Chinas sweeping licensing regime that has rattled global supply chains. He framed the measures as a strategic necessity, even as the summits joint declaration criticized unilateral trade actions that limit access to key minerals, a clear swipe at China.

Li arrived prepared to offer something in return. Hours after his speech, China unveiled a green-mining initiative with 19 countries  including Cambodia, Nigeria, Myanmar and Zimbabwe  and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. Although Beijing attached no funding commitments and provided few specifics, the plan aims to build an inclusive network to keep mining flows fair and reasonable, stable and smooth, according to Chinese state media.

The dual message reflected the summits main tension: manufacturing powers like Germany and Japan want predictable supplies, while resource-rich nations seek real stakes in processing and value-added industries. As Kevin Gallagher of Boston University put it, Countries dont just want China or the United States coming and drilling holes. They want investment in refining.

According to Bloomberg, Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva echoed that sentiment, insisting his country would be a partner  not just a supplier of raw materials  in critical-minerals chains. South Africas Thandi Moraka similarly warned that African nations had long failed to benefit from their resources due to chronic under-investment.

Global leaders are now moving to negotiate access. European governments hit hard by Chinas licensing rules are planning high-level visits to Beijing in the coming months. Separately, China and the United States are finalizing talks on general licenses that would ease rare-earth flows, following last months trade truce between Xi and Donald Trump.

Irelands Prime Minister Micheal Martin said the summits discussions had been reassuring, adding he hopes renewed diplomacy will prevent future supply disruptions, Bloomberg said. Times Reporter

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Authorities announced yesterday that they are making progress on reforms to maternity and annual leave, as scheduled. Preliminary research is underway, with plans to solicit feedback from employers, employees, and the general public next year. Following this consultation, the authorities will proceed with the adjustments and enhancements to the policies. Secretary for Economy and Finance, Anton Tai, stated that revising the citys Labor Relations Law  covering the extension of maternity leave to 90 days, adjustments to paternity leave, and new family-friendly measures  must consider both workers rights and the cost burden on businesses, and that thorough research is needed.

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The European Commission continues to share many of the concerns expressed by the European Parliament in its 2018 reasoned proposal triggering the Article 7 procedure against Hungary, the European Commissioner for democracy, justice and the rule of law said in Strasbourg.

In his address during a European Parliament debate on the risk of Hungary breaching the EU's fundamental values, Michael McGrath noted that the EC regularly expresses its concerns regarding Hungary in its annual Rule of Law Reports.



He said the Council of the EU has so far held nine formal hearings on Hungary, adding that "there has been no progress" on most of the EC's concerns.



The commissioner said some 18 billion euros in funding have been blocked for Hungary, of which 1 billion "has been definitively lost".



Dutch MEP Tineke Strik of the Greens, the rapporteur on Hungary, said the country had "continued and increased its violation of EU values" following the launch of the Article 7 procedure.



She criticised the state of Hungary's judicial system, the government's rule by decree, "widespread" corruption and the media environment, its opposition to LGTBQ among other areas, insisting that Hungary "has turned into a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy".



Democratic Coalition MEP Klara Dobrev said the government's "total control" of Hungary had resulted in the collapse of checks and balances, public administration kowtowing to the prime minister and the market economy being replaced by "a political mafia and corruption".



She said Hungarians had been left to fend for themselves and the country had become impoverished "as the EU failed to act for a long time".



Kinga Gal, an MEP of Hungary's ruling Fidesz, said Hungary had been the victim of a "witch hunt" for the last 15 years "with increasingly absurd accusations". She said the criticisms against Hungary stemmed from claims from "activist NGOs" doing the bidding of foreign interests.



Gal said Hungary was being attacked because it defends its national interests, rejects illegal migration, gender ideology and Ukraine's fast-tracked EU accession. She said the "patriots" refused to accept attacks on national sovereignty, the use of the rule of law as a "political weapon" or "lecturing" by the EU.



Our Homeland MEP Zsuzsanna Borvendeg said she agreed with the statement in the EU's latest report on Hungary about a lack of will to tackle corruption, adding, however, that "there's no political will to address corruption in Brussels, either."



Fidesz MEP Andras Laszlo said the draft resolution on Hungary was aimed at "foreign intervention" backed by the European People's Party and the left-wing EP groups.



He said the EP wanted to suspend all of the funds Hungary is entitled to and revoke its voting and veto rights in the European Council "to open the door to Ukraine's EU accession".



Csaba Domotor, another Fidesz MEP, said the EP drafted a report to discredit Hungary ahead of every general election.



He said the procedures against Hungary "have nothing to do with the rule of law", but were just meant to put pressure on the country, adding that Hungary's answer would come from the election.



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Hungary was the destination for the most Chinese foreign investment in the past two years, which has benefitted Hungary greatly, so the government will continue to work for unhindered global economic cooperation, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said in Brussels on Monday, before a meeting of EU trade ministers.

The minister was speaking after consulting with China's trade minister by phone, his ministry said in a statement.



"Hungary attracted 31pc of Chinese investments arriving to Europe last year and 44pc in the previous year. These created tens of thousands of jobs and raised the technological level of the Hungarian economy," Szijjarto said.



Szijjarto said that the splitting of the world into blocs was contrary to Hungary's interests.



"We are interested in ensuring that global economic and trade cooperation is uninterrupted. In the case of a country like ours, where exports account for between 75-80pc of GDP, this is a fundamental interest," he said.



"So today we will continue to strive to ensure that the European Union cannot erect artificial obstacles to normal economic and trade cooperation," Szijjarto said.



Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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A Lane Linking a Thousand Years, a City Connecting to the Future | Spotlight on the 5th Global Conference of the Cantonese

Bearing the spiritual memories of tens of millions of Cantonese people, Zhuji Ancient Lane is about to welcome family members from around the world.

2025-11-25 20:50:42
President Donald Trumps administration is set to ramp up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro today [Macau time] by designating the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. But the entity that the U.S. government alleges is led by Maduro is not a cartel per se.

The designation is the latest measure in the Trump administrations escalating campaign to combat drug trafficking into the U.S. In previewing the step about a week ago, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, of being responsible for terrorist violence in the Western Hemisphere.

The move planned Monday comes as Trump evaluates whether to take military action against Venezuela, which Trump has not ruled out despite bringing up the possibility of talks with Maduro. Land strikes or other actions would be a major expansion of the monthslong operation that has included a massive military buildup in the Caribbean Sea and striking boats accused of trafficking drugs, killing more than 80 people.

Venezuelans began using the term Cartel de los Soles in the 1990s to refer to high-ranking military officers who had grown rich from drug-running. As corruption later expanded nationwide, first under the late President Hugo Chavez and then under Maduro, its use loosely expanded to police and government officials as well as activities like illegal mining and fuel trafficking. The suns in the name refer to the epaulettes affixed to the uniforms of high-ranking military officers.

The umbrella term was elevated to a Maduro-led drug-trafficking organization in 2020, when the U.S. Justice Department in Trumps first term announced the indictment of Venezuelas leader and his inner circle on narcoterrorism and other charges.

It is not a group, said Adam Isaacson, director for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America organization. Its not like a group that people would ever identify themselves as members. They dont have regular meetings. They dont have a hierarchy.

Trumps expansion of terror label to cartels

Up until this year, the label of foreign terrorist organization had been reserved for groups like the Islamic State or al-Qaida that use violence for political ends. The Trump administration applied it in February to eight Latin American criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and other activities.

The administration blames such designated groups for operating the boats it is striking but rarely identifies the organizations and has not provided any evidence. It says the attacks , which began off the coast of Venezuela and later expanded to the eastern Pacific Ocean, are meant to stop narcotics from flowing to American cities.

But many  including Maduro himself  see the military moves as an effort to end the ruling partys 26-year hold on power.

Since the arrival of U.S. military vessels and troops to the Caribbean months ago, Venezuelas U.S.-backed political opposition also has reignited its perennial promise of removing Maduro from office, fueling speculation over the purpose of what the Trump administration has called a counterdrug operation.

Maduro denounces ridiculous fabrication

Trump, like his predecessor, does not recognize Maduro as Venezuelas president.

Maduro is on his third term in office after ruling-party loyalists declared him the winner of last years presidential election despite credible evidence that the oppositions candidate defeated him by a more than 2-to-1 margin. He and senior officials have been repeatedly accused of human rights violations of real and perceived government opponents, including in the aftermath of the July 2024 election.

Maduros government in a statement yesterday categorically denied the existence of the cartel, describing the Trump administrations accusation as a ridiculous fabrication meant to justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that the upcoming designation of Cartel de los Soles will provide a whole bunch of new options to the United States for dealing with Maduro. But Hegseth, speaking in an interview with conservative news outlet OAN, did not provide details on what those options are and declined to say whether the U.S. military planned to strike land targets inside Venezuela.

So nothing is off the table, but nothings automatically on the table, he said.

Trump administration officials have signaled that they find it difficult to see a situation in which Maduro remaining in power could be an acceptable end game. But as Trump considers an array of military and non-military options, including covert action by the CIA, for next steps, there is strong belief inside the administration that Maduros rule is not sustainable, according to a senior administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter. REGINA GARCIA CANO, MDT/AP

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China has deployed three spy ships near the Andaman Islands, raising serious concerns for Indias upcoming BrahMos missile test, as the vessels gather intelligence on sea, submarine and air activities in the region.
The rector of Macao University of Tourism (UTM), Fanny Vong, has said that the universitys new campus in Hengqin will have the capacity to receive 1,200 students for new technology-related courses.

Vong was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the UTMs 2025 Scholarship and Fellowship Presentation Ceremony 2025 yesterday.

She noted that the expanded capacity would be implemented in two phases.

Vong also added that she hopes the institution will improve its teaching process by incorporating more technology elements.

Because we understand that the world is changing fast, and technology has a lot to do with that. There is a huge impact on every industry. There is no escaping it.

From the two expansion phases, she remarked that the first is already being planned, The most immediate phase will be the coming academic year, when we will be using some ready facilities in Hengqin to offer some classes. The second phase will be a larger and longer-term stage. We will construct a new campus to offer programs currently unavailable in Macau. These programs will complement our strengths in hospitality and tourism while incorporating more technological elements, she explained.

The courses currently offered at UTM will not be the same at the new Hengqin branch; new programs will leverage technology to extend international cooperation further.

Vong emphasized that technology is prominent within several industries, creating a bridge for the university to connect with tech companies.

We constantly discuss with tech companies to see if there is any room for cooperation, adding, Our second goal is to bring international elements. We constantly expand our international network. In the future, we hope to bring international teaching resources to our school in the new academic year.

The UK, Switzerland, and Australia are among the countries where the university already has ties to support technology courses.

We have been cooperating with a university in Switzerland. We are very happy to have a strong university to support us in bringing international teaching resources to our school. While our university already offers relevant programs, we hope to develop courses in the cooperation zone with higher technological integration and differentiated positioning.

She mentioned that technological advancement is progressing rapidly and impacting various industries, including tourism, hospitality, MICE, and more, which are no exception.

At the ceremony, Vong and donor representatives presented 250 scholarships and fellowships to students, honoring their outstanding achievements in academics, global internships, research, and exchange programs.

The university also awarded 56 full or partial tuition waivers to new students this academic year. Ricaela Diputado

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The Associated Press is back in a courtroom Monday [today, Macau time] defending itself and our principles against the White House, continuing to fight for the right of the press and public to speak freely without being targeted by their government based on its preferences.

This is not a controversial idea. Yet this foundational American freedom remains under threat.

Its why AP took a stand nine months ago when the government blocked us from covering presidential events because of what we call a body of water. We strongly believe this case could have much wider implications, not only for other news organizations, but for anyone in America.

Those ripples are becoming more evident since we first took this case to court.

In the last few months, we have seen the White House take legal action against other news organizations; the Pentagon require reporters to agree to a new press policy incompatible with journalistic standards; and journalists from other outlets restricted from covering the White House over what theyve written.

All this makes it as important as it has ever been to be clear about the role of the press in a democracy and what exactly is at stake.

When we talk about press freedom, we are really talking about your freedom. Reporters ask questions, photographers take pictures, and video journalists record history on your behalf to ensure that you are informed about the things you dont have the time to unearth, watch or learn about for yourself.

Letting the government control which journalists can cover the highest office in the land and setting rules about what those journalists can say or write is a direct attempt to undercut the First Amendment. It should worry all of us. Because if a president of any party can use personal and political preference to choose which journalists to allow in  and kick others out because of the words they use  it means you are not getting a full picture of what is happening. It results in a filtered look at whoever holds the highest office, not the rigorous coverage the public deserves.

Independent, accurate, factual journalism is essential to civil society. AP journalists contribute to this every day. We bear witness, ask hard questions and document history as it unfolds, on behalf of the public. We always strive to get it right  and to own up to mistakes when we make them. We dont advocate or take a side. Our mission is to report the facts, plain and simple, so you can decide. Thats it.

When fundamental freedoms are at stake, however, it becomes our duty, as an independent, not-for-profit news organization, with no owner and no shareholders, to stand up. On behalf of all of us.

Because, after all, APs freedom of speech is yours, too.

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Online reports claimed former presidential spokesman Harry Roque was arrested in The Netherlands yesterday, but the Justice and Interior departments said they have not yet received official confirmation.

Roque, however, denied circulating reports of his looming deportation to the Philippines.

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On his social media page, Roque shared a copy of his boarding pass to Vienna, Austria.

There is no truth to the rumors that I have been arrested. I have a scheduled flight to Vienna, Austria today, November 25. Details to follow, Roque said.

Department of Justice spokesman Polo Martinez said the government has not yet received any official communication regarding the alleged arrest or travel of Roque.

But Martinez said Roque may be detained by immigration authorities if he travels without a valid passport.

He should not be able to travel without a valid passport. Immigration authorities in any country can detain him for traveling without proper travel documentation. This fact is certain, Martinez said.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said they have not received any official communication confirming Roques alleged arrest.

Reports of Atty. Harry Roque being arrested in the Netherlands are circulating. By virtue of the Red Notice issued by the Philippine government, authorities in the Netherlands have cause to arrest him and turn him over to Philippine authorities, Remulla said.

However, I would like to emphasize that no official communication confirming an arrest has been transmitted to us. We will make the appropriate announcement once an official confirmation is received, the DILG chief added.

The Philippine National Police, for its part, said it has placed its intelligence and tracker teams on heightened readiness.

PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said they are closely coordinating with the Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) in Manila while awaiting official communication on the red notice request.

We will be the primary enforcement arm once the red notice is approved. We ensure that all police units nationwide are alerted and prepared to act, Nartatez said in a statement.
A decade ago, Greece became the epicentre of a political earthquake. Brutal EU and IMF-imposed austerity measures provoked a revolutionary struggle by workers and youth, who vested their hopes in the left-wing SYRIZA government to take on the institutions of European capitalism. But in the end, these reformist leaders prepared a betrayal. What are the lessons of Greece that must be learned for the class struggle today?

In this episode of the Spectre of Communism podcast, Francesco Merli, leading member of the Revolutionary Communist International, takes us step-by-step through the whole process, beginning with the impact of the financial crisis of 2008 that saw Greeces creditors inflicting economic warfare against the country. Francesco explains that the Greek workers and youth did not take this lying down, launching multiple back-to-back general strikes over the course of seven years, before finally electing SYRIZA on a radical reformist programme in 2015.

Francesco explains how SYRIZA initially leaned on their mass base of support and pledged not to back down in negotiations with the Troika (the European Central Bank, European Commission and IMF). But the European capitalists understood that if Greece was given any latitude on its debt obligations, it could provoke a political and economic cascade that would threaten their entire system, and so implacably sought to make an example of Greece.

Lacking any plan to escalate the struggle, SYRIZAs leader Alexis Tsipras eventually signed the dotted line on a rotten bailout and austerity package virtually identical to one that had already been overwhelmingly rejected in a public referendum. This dealt a terrible blow from which Greece has still not fully recovered.

Today, class fighters around the world continue to draw inspiration from the heroism and fighting spirit that the Greek people displayed over this long struggle. We point to the experience of the SYRIZA government as a concrete illustration of the betrayal inherent in reformism. The lessons of Greece are invaluable for the victory of the future European and world revolution!

Works cited

Lessons from Greece, In Defence of Marxism magazine, Issue 50, Summer 2025, Arturo Rodriguez

The class struggle in Greece, Alan Woods

Tsipras addresses American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, Tovima

Greece: SYRIZA leaders preparing for government  what is the next step?, Fred Weston and Stamatis Karagiannopoulos

Greece: Historic victory of left - First time in history a party with roots in Communist movement wins elections, Communist Tendency of Syriza

SYRIZA in power, the crisis and the Greek revolution, Marie Frederiksen

Why Greek Exit From The Euro Would Be A Very Bad Idea, Frances Coppola, Forbes

Greece: No surrender to the Troika!, Fred Weston

Greece: A troika by any other name would smell as rotten, Jorge Martin

Greece: The moment of decision, Alan Woods

Varoufakis mission to save European capitalism from itself, Fred Weston

Greek default approaching  what next?, Fred Weston

Greek crisis: the only way to break with austerity is to break with capitalism, Jorge Martin

Greece: Great workers victory for the NO: A mandate for revolutionary resistance  not for new Memorandum agreements, Communist Tendency of Syriza

OXI to Osborne!: youth say NO to Tory cuts!, Joe Attard

Greece: government's proposals to the Troika turning OXI into YES, Jorge Martin

Greece: a humiliating capitulation which will not work, Jorge Martin
Vote counting is underway in Guinea-Bissau after citizens cast their ballots on Sunday in pivotal presidential and legislative elections, on November 23.

President Umaro Sissoco Embalo is seeking a second term in a nation long marred by coups and political upheaval. Analysts describe the contest as one of the most tightly fought in recent memory, with Embalo facing strong competition from Fernando Dias da Costa, a relatively unknown contender backed by influential former Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira. The exclusion of Pereira and his African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde from the ballot  due to a disputed application deadline  has heightened tensions and raised concerns about the integrity of the process.

Nearly half of the countrys 2.2 million citizens are registered to vote in what observers say is one of the most contentious elections since independence. The vote takes place against a backdrop of uncertainty and institutional strain, with claims from the opposition that Embalo has overstayed his mandate, contested election timelines and a parliament dissolved since 2023 following an alleged coup attempt. Campaign rhetoric was heated, with candidates trading accusations of corruption, abuses of power and human rights violations. Embalo campaigned on infrastructure development, while Dias positioned himself as the candidate of stability and democratic renewal. As ballots are tallied, many citizens hope the outcome will usher in peace and economic relief for a country grappling with poverty, political volatility and a persistent reputation as a drug trafficking hub.
An attack on the village of Nkana in western Congo has left 14 people dead, deepening the turmoil in a region long shaken by disputes over land ownership between rival communities.

The assault occurred in the early hours of Sunday, approximately 75 kilometres northeast of Kinshasa, according to Capt. Antony Mualushayi (spokesperson for the local military command), on November 24.

Armed with rifles and machetes, the attackers clashed with the small contingent of soldiers stationed in the village. As they retreated, the assailants killed 13 civilians  including three children under the age of five  and set several homes ablaze. One soldier was also confirmed dead.

Authorities say the attack was carried out by the Mobondo militia, a group aligned with the Yaka community in the long-running conflict with the Teke people in Kwamouth territory. The violence, rooted in competing land and customary claims, erupted in mid-2022 and has since spiralled into a major security crisis.

According to the International Peace Information Service, more than 5,000 people have been killed and 280,000 displaced. Mobondo fighters have been implicated in attacks across five provinces surrounding Kinshasa, including areas on the capitals outskirts, the United Nations reports.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived on Monday, November 24 in Luanda, Angola, to participate in the 7th African UnionEuropean Union Summit, held from 2425 November. The gathering, led by Angolan President Joao Lourenco and European Council President Antonio Costa, marks 25 years of AUEU partnership. Discussions will centre on peace and security, economic integration, migration, climate cooperation and reforms to global governance systems.

On the sidelines, Macron met with the Chair of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. The two leaders committed to strengthening collaboration on trade, climate priorities and reforms to international financial and multilateral institutions
Canadian mining giant Barrick and the Government of Mali have reached an agreement to end their months-long dispute over the Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex, one of the largest gold operations in the world.

The breakthrough follows a June 2025 Court ruling that temporarily placed the mine under state-appointed management amid rising tensions over alleged tax arrears.

Barrick confirmed on Monday, November 24, that operational control of the site will be returned to the company and that all charges against the firm, its subsidiaries and its employees will be dropped. The company also said legal processes to secure the release of four detained employees are under way.

Malian authorities described the agreement as marking the end of a period of conflict, following a meeting between senior government officials and a Barrick delegation. The company holds an 80% stake in the Loulo-Gounkoto complex, with the remainder owned by the Malian state.

The mine contributed approximately $1 billion to Malis economy in 2023, according to Mining Technology. The Malian Government said the resumption of normal operations is a welcome development for employees, surrounding communities and the wider economy. Mali had previously accused Barrick of owing more than $500 million in taxes.
On Monday, November 24 2025, Africas leaders have renewed their demand for permanent representation on the UN Security Council and more equitable participation in global financial institutions, using the 7th African UnionEuropean Union Summit in Luanda as a platform to call for sweeping reforms to the international system.

African Union Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the continent faces mounting political, security and development pressures, at a time when global governance structures are strained by conflict, terrorism and geopolitical rivalries.

He warned that Africa cannot thrive under a system in which the World Trade Organization is weakened and the UN Security Council paralysed by competing interests among major powers. Reaffirming the Ezulwini Consensus, he urged recognition of Africas right to a permanent seat and pressed Europe to support reforms that would lower Africas capital costs, widen access to financing and foster balanced trade partnerships.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned that the worlds shift toward multipolarity is not inherently stabilising, calling for strong multilateral institutions to prevent the mistakes of past eras. He said EuropeAfrica cooperation could help correct historical injustices, including by supporting permanent African representation on the Security Council and boosting funding for AU-led peace operations.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, meanwhile, pushed for deeper investment in African industries, renewable energy and value chains, stressing that Europes model prioritises job creation, local capacity and sustainable growth. Angolan President Joao Lourenco, chair of the African Union, called for fairer debt restructuring and innovative financing mechanisms to ensure African countries can invest in development without being overwhelmed by unsustainable debt.
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When ophthalmologist Emily Cole, MD, steps into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Children's Hospital Colorado to evaluate an infant's eyes for a disease called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), it's not uncommon for parents to decide to leave during the exam.

"It can be heart-wrenching to watch," says Cole, an assistant professor in the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Ophthalmology. "These exams are difficult because these babies are very fragile, and we have to move them during their exam."

But what if artificial intelligence could make the exam faster, more objective, and more precise? Going even further, what if AI could help detect not just ROP but other systemic diseases through the eyes, an emerging area known as oculomics? AI researcher Praveer Singh, Ph.D., also an assistant professor of ophthalmology, has been collaborating with investigators across the globe to develop AI-based algorithms designed to do exactly that.

With the goal of helping more patients, Singh and Cole have teamed up to further hone the capabilities of AI and understand the best ways for clinicians to apply these tools in the NICU.

"We've been developing all these algorithms, but the key is ensuring they have real clinical utility and can be effectively translated from bench to bedside," says Singh, a faculty member in the Division of Artificial Medical Intelligence in Ophthalmology. "That's what makes this collaboration so exciting."

Why screening for ROP is challenging

One of the leading causes of childhood blindness, ROP is a disease that typically affects infants born early (before 31 weeks) or who weigh less than 3.3 pounds. It is caused by abnormal blood vessels in the retina, which is a layer of tissue near the back of the eyeball that detects light and transmits vision information from the eye to the brain.

"When fetuses are in the womb, the blood vessels grow to coat the inside of the eye. By 40 weeks, the retinal blood vessels have grown to cover the retina," Cole says. "But for babies born early, their retinal blood vessels have not yet fully grown. These infants are then in the NICU, which tends to be an oxygen-rich environment, and that's when abnormal vessels can grow in the retina, potentially leading to issues like bleeding, retinal detachment, and vision loss."

An estimated 14,000 infants are diagnosed with ROP each year in the United States, according to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Most of those cases are mild, with the disease not causing damage to the retina, but it's estimated that each year, between 1,100 and 1,500 infants in the U.S. develop a more severe case of ROP that requires medical treatment.

The standard way to screen for ROP is to dilate an infant's eyes and examine the retina for abnormal vessels and to see if the retinal blood vessels are abnormally shaped, which is performed by the pediatric ophthalmology team at Children's Hospital Colorado.

"Taking a picture of a baby's eye requires placing a camera on the surface of the eye with a numbing drop," Cole says. "The exam can look scary because it is invasive, and it can cause the baby's vitals to temporarily destabilize, such as their oxygen levels or heart rate decreasing, so we have to take breaks."

From wiggles to scales

Not only are ROP eye exams difficult to perform, but there is also a shortage of providers who can screen and treat ROP, Cole explains. Treatments for ROP may include injecting medication into the eye, performing a laser procedure, or conducting surgery.

A key step for determining whether an infant needs treatment is assessing the retinal blood vessel tortuosity, meaning the crookedness of the blood vessels. When ROP is severe, the blood vessels can become wavy and wiggly.

"Typically, we describe how wiggly the vessels areand how severe the disease isby categorizing the condition as either 'plus disease,' meaning very wiggly, 'pre-plus disease,' meaning kind of wiggly, or 'not plus,' meaning it is not wiggly," Cole says.

The issue is that not every clinician will categorize in the same way, Cole and Singh explain, which can lead to issues when patients are referred to another provider who may not agree with the original diagnosis.

"There is huge variability in terms of how one clinician is diagnosing ROP as compared to another clinician," Singh says.

AI can help change that. Instead of using the three categories, clinicians can use an AI algorithm to scan an image of the retinawhich was taken already as part of the ROP examand classify how tortuous the vessels are on a scale from one to nine, with nine representing the most severe disease. This is called a vascular severity score. Cole led research, published in 2022, that showed the potential of the AI tool to reduce the variability in diagnosing plus disease among patients with ROP.

"The algorithm can predict disease severity using just one picture of the back of the eye. And for me, when I get that vascular severity score, that is a number that can help influence how I approach patient care," Cole says. "This AI tool helps create a common language for all providers, and it hopefully will reduce our exam time, standardize diagnosis, and help us better predict which babies will need treatment."

Years in the making

Singh has been working to advance AI technology to help screen for ROP for years. In 2022, while he was a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard Medical School, he contributed to research that assessed the ability of an AI-based algorithm to diagnose ROP, specifically examining if the algorithm worked in external datasets from India, Mongolia, and Nepal.

"AI models often generalize poorly on external test sets, especially when imaging devices or patient demographics differ. Surprisingly, our algorithm performed pretty well," he says. "A likely explanation is that, rather than operating directly on raw fundus images, which can differ substantially in intensity and pigmentation, we first segmented the retinal vasculature and then performed image analysis on those standardized vessel maps. This strategy improved robustness across external sites."

The research specifically used an AI-derived vascular severity score to identify infants who would develop treatment-requiring ROP. The study found that using the AI tools appeared to not only help identify high-risk infants, but it also could reduce the number of exams that low-risk infants endured.

"Extensive external validation has proven the effectiveness of this AI-based algorithm," Singh says. "However, a key limitation is that many NICUs, especially in developing countries, cannot afford the expensive imaging device to capture the retinal images the algorithm requires."

Looking for cost-effective alternatives, Cole and Singh, in collaboration with investigators from Oregon Health & Science University, tested the efficacy of smartphone-based telescreening for ROP as a more affordable alternative to expensive imaging cameras. They found that, despite lower image quality, a smartphone-based imaging device demonstrated a high probability of accurately detecting severe ROP.

From computers to clinics

Given that the AI-based algorithm has been proven to be effective, the next step is determining how this tool can best be used in the clinic, Cole explains.

"On average, it takes 17 years for something that is in research to get into clinical practice," says Cole, who has an interest in implementation science and aims to expedite that process. "From a speed and standardization standpoint, I wouldn't be so psyched about putting this AI tool in the NICU if I didn't really believe that this was helpful and efficient."

Cole plans to interview a variety of stakeholders to get their input on this AI tool and how they think it should be implemented. Important stakeholders include parents, hospital administrators, data scientists, and health care providers like ophthalmologists, respiratory therapists, NICU nurses, and neonatologists. She will also look at measures of how clinicians adopt this technology through pilot trials in the NICU and how it affects their clinical workflows.

"There are a lot of possibilities for how this could be useful, and that's what I want to explore," she says, explaining the tool may not only be helpful in the NICU, but also for telemedicine, as a parent education tool, and as a handoff tool for patients between providers.

Assessing for conditions beyond ROP

Using AI to scan images of an infant's eyes is not only helpful in detecting ROP, Singh explains. It can also provide insight into other systemic health conditions.

Recently, Singh led research posted to medRxiv that examined whether retinal images obtained as part of the ROP exam may contain features associated with cardio-pulmonary diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH), which are both leading causes of morbidity and mortality in premature infants. The research suggests that this retinal imaging-based AI tool can potentially predict the diagnosis of BPD and PH in premature infants, which may lead to infants being diagnosed earlier, thus avoiding the need for invasive diagnostic testing in the future.

"We found that we can detect these diseases way earlier by using AI instead of using invasive procedures like catheterization or echocardiogram," Singh says. "I think there is tremendous potential for this tool, whether for early testing, or management, or even targeted intervention in high-risk infants."

Cole adds, "What is unique is that, while he is building this algorithm and predictive model, I'm working in parallel to develop a workflow with neonatologists and NICU leaders at the University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado to determine where this predictive model would be most useful in their care."

Singh is also contributing to the development of a foundational dataset exploring oculomics-based biomarkers for different systemic diseases in the neonatal population. At CU Anschutz, he's helping create a clinical informatics and retinal imaging infrastructure focused on multi-morbidity, with hopes of expanding AI algorithms' ability to detect a wider range of diseases through ocular image analysis.

Cole predicts one of the biggest challenges of bringing AI into the NICU will be getting clinicians on board with the change, which is why the implementation science approach is critical.

"We're going about this in a holistic way, where we are doing user testing at the same time as we are doing algorithm development. It's important that we get the buy-in from clinicians and that they see this is worth it," Cole says. "This tool can potentially help us predict who will need treatment, improve the speed of exams, standardize diagnosis, and improve access to care."

More information: Praveer Singh et al, Deep learning-based prediction of cardiopulmonary disease in retinal images of premature infants, medRxiv (2025). DOI: 10.1101/2025.09.18.25336004 Journal information: medRxiv
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The next outbreak of serious disease is merely "a plane ride away," public health officials have long warned. The current crop of measles cases in Canada proves that point.

A traveler infected with measles visited a community in New Brunswick with a low vaccination rate, sparking a national outbreak of the disease in 2024. About 50 people were sickened in that incident, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Meanwhile, others who were unvaccinated visited the community, traveled home and thus the disease spread across a country where conditions were ripe for an outbreak. Vaccination rates have droppedas low as 50% in some placesand now Canada has logged 5,138 measles cases this year alone. Most were in Ontario and Alberta, but more than two dozen have been reported in British Columbia.

After 12 months of these ongoing infections, the Pan American Health Organization notified Canada that it has lost its status of having eliminated measles. Adding to the danger is a new post on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website, which revives the debunked idea that vaccines are linked to autism.

Of the Canadian cases, 96% were in people who were not immunized or whose status was unknown. Alberta, one of the hot spots, does not require children to be immunized to attend school; it has reported nearly 2,000 cases since March.

If any of this rings a bell, it should: The outbreak earlier this year in the Southwestern United States included cases that arrived via international travelers and found a place to take hold in communities where vaccination isn't prevalent.

To be clear, the equation is this: an unvaccinated person travels to a place where measles is endemic, flies home and spreads it to the growing group of citizens who are not vaccinated, plus those who are undervaccinated or are too young/immunocompromised and cannot be vaccinated.

Another familiar refrain: We owe the most vulnerable among us the safety of herd immunity against communicable disease. In the case of measles, one of the most contagious diseases around, at least 95% of people in a community need to be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks. With so many people immune, the disease will burn out quickly.

The measles jab, known as MMR for the other two diseases it prevents, mumps and rubella, is safe, long-established and highly effective. It has to be, to stop the relentless march of measles. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing this disease, which can cause serious complications.

All three of the diseases are dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn children, as well as the very young. Children don't get their first MMR vaccine until 1215 months of age, leaving them vulnerable; this is why on-time, complete vaccination schedules are so important. Measles may not hurt you, but it could devastate a family.

One area has escaped the outbreak in Canada. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador has not reported a single case of measles since 2017. It's not a mystery; 98% of 2-year-olds there are vaccinated against measles.

The province was also way ahead of the rest of the country with its COVID-19 vaccine rates. It's a small province of about 550,000 people, which makes outreach easier, but it also has a solid culture of vaccine acceptance and an effective visiting nurse system.

Meanwhile, school vaccination rates among Washington's K-12 students dropped in 2025 for the fifth consecutive year, and during the 202425 school year, only about 89.6% of King County students were up-to-date with required immunizations, including for measles.

Given the proximity of the measles outbreak, parents, doctors and public health officials need to work together on communicating clearly and ensuring families keep vaccines current. School districts also must stay vigilant and not admit unvaccinated children without exemptions.

2025 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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A population-based natural experiment study examined the association between exposure to cannabis retail stores and cannabis-related harms. The study found that exposure to retail stores was associated with increased rates of harm, particularly in neighborhoods with greater densities of stores.

The findings suggest that restrictions on the overall number of cannabis retail stores, on store concentrations, or on being located in certain areas could offer public health benefits. The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from North York General Hospital and colleagues studied data from 6,140,595 residents of Ontario, Canada aged 15 to 105 years old residing in 10,574 neighborhoods between April 2017 and December 2022 to determine if exposure to a cannabis store after legalization in October 2018 affected neighborhood-level rates of cannabis-related emergency department (ED) visits.

They leveraged provincial data on cannabis store locations to define neighborhoods as exposed (within 1000m of a cannabis retail store) or unexposed (more than 1000m from a cannabis retail store). The primary health outcome was the neighborhood level rate of cannabis-attributable ED visits per 100,000 persons aged 15 years or older.

The researchers found that exposed neighborhoods were more likely to be in large urban centers and the lowest income quintile compared to unexposed neighborhoods.

Overall, exposed neighborhoods did not experience an increase in monthly rates of cannabis-attributable ED visits after they were exposed to a cannabis store, whereas unexposed neighborhoods experienced a reduction in monthly rates of cannabis-attributable ED visits. Relative to unexposed neighborhoods, the absolute rate of cannabis attributable ED visits increased by 12% (CI, 6% to 19%) in exposed neighborhoods.

There was also evidence that having more cannabis stores within 1000 m correlated to larger increases in rates of cannabis-attributable ED visits.

The findings suggest that legalization of cannabis accompanied by retail commercialization may have different public health risks as opposed to legalization alone.

More information: Effect of Nonmedical Cannabis Legalization and Exposure to Retail Stores on Cannabis Harms: A Quasi-experimental Study, Annals of Internal Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-01960 Journal information: Annals of Internal Medicine
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Chronic pruritus is prevalent among older adults and is associated with moderately impaired pruritus-specific quality of life, according to a study published online Nov. 10 in Acta Dermato Venereologica.

Juliette F. Bollemeijer, M.D., from Erasmus MC University Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the prevalence of chronic pruritus, its associated factors, and pruritus-specific quality of life in a study involving 4,474 participants from the Rotterdam Study (median age, 72 years).

The researchers found that the prevalence of chronic pruritus was 8.6%, 10.5%, and 18.6% for current, 12-month, and lifetime prevalence, respectively. Factors associated with higher odds of chronic pruritus included female sex, older age, smoking, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, self-reported dry skin, asthma, steatotic liver disease, polyneuropathy, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and poor sleep. Pruritus-specific quality of life was moderately impaired among those with current pruritus, with the greatest impairment associated with atopic dermatitis and psychological symptoms.

"These findings support recognizing chronic pruritus as a multifactorial condition in aging populations and the need for multidisciplinary care, including psychological support," the authors write.

Although no products produced by Unilever were tested in this study, it is possible that this study could be used to promote products and services in the future, leading to financial gain.

More information: Juliette F. Bollemeijer et al, Chronic Pruritus in Older Adults: Prevalence, Associations, and Pruritus-specific Quality of Life, Acta Dermato-Venereologica (2025). DOI: 10.2340/actadv.v105.44313

 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Along with the occasional aches and pains, growing older can bring surprise setbacks and serious diseases. Longtime relationships with doctors people trust often make even bad news more tolerable. Losing that supportespecially during a health crisiscan be terrifying. That's why little-known federal requirements are supposed to protect people with privately run Medicare Advantage coverage when contract disputes lead their health care providers and insurers to part ways.

But government documents obtained by KFF Health News show the agency overseeing Medicare Advantage does little to enforce long-standing rules intended to ensure about 35 million plan members can see doctors in the first place.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request covering the past decade, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services produced letters it sent to only five insurers from 2016 to 2022 after seven of their plans failed to meet provider network adequacy requirements lapses that could, in some cases, harm patient care.

Agency officials said some plans lacked enough primary care clinicians, specialists, or hospitals, according to the letters. And they warned that failure to meet the requirements could result in a freeze on marketing and enrollment, fines, or closure of the plan.

CMS declined to detail why it found so few plans with network violations over the 10 years. "The number of identified violations reflects the outcomes of targeted reviews, not a comprehensive audit of all plans in all years," said Catherine Howden, a CMS spokesperson.

Officials in states with Advantage network violations say CMS didn't notify them, including directors of the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, which helps people navigate Medicare.

"It's hard for me to believe that only seven Medicare Advantage plans violated network rules," said David Lipschutz, a co-director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy, a nonprofit group. "We often hear from folksparticularly in more rural areaswho have to travel significant distances in order to find contracted providers."

Medicare Advantage is an increasingly popular alternative to the government-run Medicare program, which covers adults 65 and older and some people with disabilities. Of the 63 million Americans who were eligible to join Advantage plans instead of traditional Medicare, 54% did so for this year.

The plans usually offer lower out-of-pocket costs and extra benefits, like coverage for vision, dental, and hearing care, but typically require their members to stick to select networks of doctors, hospitals, and other providers. Last year, the federal government paid Advantage plans an estimated $494 billion to care for patients.

Traditional Medicare, by comparison, has no network and is accepted by nearly all doctors and hospitals in the nation.

Conflicts between Medicare Advantage plans and the doctors, hospitals, and other providers that serve their members are common. Just this year, at least 38 hospital systems serving all or parts of 23 states have cut ties with at least 11 Advantage plans after failing to agree on payment and other issues, according to a review of news releases and press reports.

Over the past three years, separations between Advantage plans and health systems have increased 66%, said FTI Consulting, which tracks reports of the disputes.

After March, Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are generally locked into their plans for the year until the annual open enrollment period happening now through Dec. 7, for coverage beginning Jan. 1. But hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, and other health providers can leave plans anytime.

When providers and insurers separate, Advantage members can lose access to longtime doctors or preferred hospitals in the middle of the year. In response, CMS sometimes gives Advantage customers a little-known escape hatch called a "special enrollment period" to change plans or enroll in traditional Medicare midyear.

How CMS decides who gets an SEP is a mystery even to well-versed state insurance regulators and U.S. senators who oversee federal health programs. Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the senior Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) cited previous KFF Health News reporting on Medicare Advantage in an Oct. 30 letter asking CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz for an explanation.

"Despite the serious impacts of SEPs on enrollees and the market, the process of SEP determinations is opaque, leaving enrollees and state regulators in the dark," they wrote.

"Seniors deserve to know their Medicare plan isn't going to pull the rug out from under them halfway through the year," Wyden told KFF Health News.

'Help us'

Oz spoke to Medicare Advantage insurers Oct. 15 at a conference organized by the Better Medicare Alliance, a trade group, and encouraged them to help CMS police fraud in the program.

"Be our early-warning system," he told them. "Tell us about problems you're witnessing. Help us figure out better ways of addressing it."

When he finished speaking, he took a seat in the audience next to the president and chief executive of the group, Mary Beth Donahue, and smiled for photos.

In six letters KFF Health News obtained, CMS officials told five insurers that their network adequacy violations could affect Advantage members' access to care. Five letters listed the number or types of medical specialists or facilities missing from the networks. In three cases, CMS noted that plans could request exceptions to the rules but didn't.

In one letter, CMS requested the plan allow members to receive out-of-network care at no additional cost. Four letters required specific steps to address deficiencies, including submitting evidence that more clinicians were added to networks.

Three letters required a "corrective action plan," set deadlines for fixing problems, and warned that failure to comply with the rules could result in enrollment and marketing suspensions, fines, or forced plan closure. The other three letters were a "notice of non-compliance," which urged insurers to comply with legal requirements.

Although CMS regards the letters as the first step in its enforcement process, the agency did not provide information about whether these violations were resolved or if they resulted in penalties.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, a group created by Congress to monitor the program, said in a June 2024 report that "CMS has the authority to impose intermediate sanctions or civil monetary penalties for noncompliance with network adequacy standards, but it has never done so."

One of the network adequacy violation letters went to Vitality Health Plan of California in November 2020. That came after five hospitals and 13 nursing homes in one county and four hospitals in another all left the insurer's network, according to the letter from Timothy Roe, then-director of CMS' Division of Compliance, Surveillance, and Marketing. Two months before sending its letter, CMS granted Vitality plan members a special enrollment period.

Beneficiaries welcomed the opportunity, said Marcelo Espiritu, program manager of the Santa Clara County office of California's Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program. But Espiritu didn't know at the time that Vitality's depleted network violated CMS requirements, which Roe said put "the health of Vitality's beneficiaries at risk."

"By not having enough network providers, beneficiaries may not be able to receive necessary services timely, or at all," Roe wrote.

That's information patients need to know, Espiritu said.

"People would not be able to receive promised benefits and there would be delays in care and a lot of frustration in trying to find a new plan," he said. "We would certainly warn people about the plan and remove it from our materials."

Representatives from Commonwealth Care Alliance, which acquired Vitality in 2022, did not respond to requests for comment.

Network minimums

Federal law requires Medicare Advantage plans to include in their networks a minimum of 29 types of health care providers and 14 kinds of facilities that members can access within certain distances and travel times. The rules, which vary depending on a county's population and density, also limit how long patients should wait for appointments. The agency checks compliance every three years, or more often if it receives complaints.

Networks can vary widely even within a county because the provider minimums apply to the insurer, not each plan it sells, according to a report from KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. The company can offer the same network to members of multiple plans in one or more counties or create a separate network for each plan.

In Arizona's Maricopa County, KFF researchers found, UnitedHealthcare offered 12 plans with 12 different networks in 2022. Depending on the plan, the company's customers had access to 37% to 61% of the physicians in the area available to traditional Medicare enrollees.

In early 2016, CMS allowed 900 people in an Advantage plan in Illinois run by Harmony, then a WellCare subsidiary, to leave after the Christie Clinic, a large medical practice, left its provider network. The WellCare plan continued to operate without the clinic. But in June 2016, CMS told the plan in one of the letters KFF Health News obtained that losing the Christie Clinic meant the remaining provider network violated federal requirements.

It was "a significant network change with substantial enrollee impact," the letter said.

Claudia Lennhoff, executive director at Champaign County Health Care Consumers, a Medicare counseling service that helped the WellCare members, said her group didn't know about the letter at the time.

"Not disclosing such information is a violation of trust," Lennhoff said. "It could lead someone to make a decision that will be harmful to them, or that they will deeply regret."

Centene Corp. bought WellCare in 2020, and representatives for the St. Louis-based company declined to comment on events that occurred before the acquisition.

Two violation letters KFF Health News obtained from CMS went to Provider Partners Health Plan of Ohio in 2019 and 2022. The Ohio Department of Insurance was unaware of the violations, spokesperson Todd Walker said. He said CMS also did not notify the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program, the state's free counseling service.

Rick Grindrod, CEO and president of Provider Partners Health Plans, which is based in Maryland, said that after CMS reviewed its 2019 network, "we proactively reduced our service area and deferred enrollment in the plan until 2021."

But Grindrod said the plan enrolled only a small number of members in one county in 2021 and decided to withdraw from the Ohio market entirely at the end of that year.

After Provider Partners withdrew from Ohio, CMS sent it another letter in March 2022 saying its network in 2021 had gaps in four counties for four types of providers and facilities. CMS asked the plan to comply with network rules by adding more providers.

"We believe CMS' network adequacy standards are generally clear and appropriate for ensuring beneficiary access," Grindrod said. "While the standards are not difficult to understand, as a provider-sponsored plan with a small footprint, we sometimes face challenges securing contracts with large systems that prioritize larger Medicare Advantage plans."

In 2021, CMS also sent a violation letter to North Carolina's Liberty Advantage. CMS didn't tell the state's free counseling service, the Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program, about the letter, said its director, Melinda Munden.

Liberty representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

CMS sent a letter in 2016 to CareSource about network deficiencies in some of its Medicare Advantage plans sold in Kentucky and Indiana. The agency asked the company to fix the problems, including by reimbursing any members billed for services from doctors who were not in the plans' networks.

"In response to the 2016 violations, we promptly implemented a Corrective Action Plan, which included a thorough review of our provider network to ensure adequacy standards were met," said Vicki McDonald, a CareSource spokesperson. "CMS approved our plan, and no further action was required."

2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Diabetes affects how the body uses glucose, also known as blood sugar. It can mean that there is too much sugar in the blood. This can harm people in several ways. One serious complication is chronic kidney disease. Ivan Porter II, M.D., a nephrologist at Mayo Clinic in Florida, explains the connection between diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Up to 40% of people with diabetes develop chronic kidney disease, also called chronic kidney failure, global statistics show. Their kidneys cannot effectively do their most important job, which is regulating the composition of the blood by filtering out waste and maintaining the balance and amount of salt and water in the body.

Chronic kidney disease may be advanced before symptoms appear and a person is diagnosed. It can progress to end-stage kidney failure, which can be fatal without dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to chronic kidney disease. Type 2 diabetes is a far more common cause. With either type, the body can't produce enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that helps the body convert sugar into energy. Because one of the kidneys' most important jobs is cleaning the blood, they help regulate blood glucose levels, Dr. Porter explains.

"The high levels of circulating glucose in the blood are poisonous to nerves and blood vessels, and the kidneys are a big ball of blood vessels," Dr. Porter says. "The presence of high glucose leads to chemical changes that cause protein in urine, and the presence of protein in urine directly activates factors that cause scarring and fibrosis within the kidney, leading to worsening of kidney disease."

How diabetes and chronic kidney disease overlap and interact with each other is complex. Too much glucose in the blood can damage the kidneys and lead to chronic kidney disease. At the same time, declining kidney function related to chronic kidney disease can lead to insulin resistance, which can cause type 2 diabetes. In addition, declining kidney function can worsen preexisting diabetes.

The longer you have diabetes  and the less controlled your blood sugar  the higher the risk of complications such as chronic kidney disease.

There are five stages of kidney disease, based on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The GFR measures how well the kidneys filter waste from the blood. The stages are:

Stage 1. At this stage, the GFR is 90 or higher, which is considered a healthy level. However, there is also another indicator of kidney disease present, such as blood or protein in the urine.

Stage 2. At this stage, the GFR is 60 to 89.

Stage 3. This stage is broken down into two subtypes  stage 3a and stage 3b. With 3a, the GFR is 45 to 59, and there is mild to moderate decline in kidney function. With 3b, the GFR is 30 to 44, and there is a more severe decline in kidney function.

Stage 4. The GFR is 15 to 29, and kidney decline is severe.

Stage 5. This stage is considered end-stage renal disease, also called kidney failure. The GFR is under 15. At this point, dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed.

Most often, chronic kidney disease is diagnosed in stage 3 or later.

"The presence of other comorbidities, such as uncontrolled blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes or the presence of protein in the urine, can make what might seem like an earlier stage worse for someone," Dr. Porter says.

Not everyone living with diabetes will develop chronic kidney disease. Dr. Porter says it is critical to manage your diabetes, monitor your kidney function regularly and take steps to protect your kidney health to help lower risk.

Controlling diabetes includes managing medication, developing a healthy eating routine, exercising and planning for factors that can affect blood sugar levels, such as illness, stress, and changes in hormone levels due to menstrual cycles, perimenopause and menopause.

Type 2 diabetes has risk factors that people can try to avoid. These include preventing or treating overweight or obesity; being active; maintaining healthy levels of HDL cholesterol, also known as good cholesterol; and avoiding alcohol or limiting consumption to a moderate level.
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Graphical abstract. Credit: Environment International (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109467

Diesel exhaust particles can disturb the function of human brain immune cells, known as microglia, according to a recent study led by the University of Eastern Finland. The findings, published in Environment International, shed light on how traffic-related air pollution could contribute to brain inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.

Using human induced pluripotent stem cellderived microglia (iMGLs), the team examined how particles from different diesel engines and fuels affect these critical immune cells. The results were striking: particles from engines with older emission control technology caused extensive transcriptional and functional changes in microglia, while particles from renewable diesel used in modern Euro 6compliant cars had only minor effects.

Microglia play a vital role in clearing cellular waste and maintaining brain homeostasis. Disruption of these processes can lead to chronic neuroinflammation and increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

"Microglia are the brain's first line of defense," says Dr. Sohvi Ohtonen, the first author of the study.

"We observed that particles from diesel engines with older emission technology significantly impaired microglial functions, including waste clearance and inflammation control. Although modern filtration systems reduce these harmful effects, traffic-related pollution remains a serious health concern."

Diesel particles rich in black carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) activated stress and immune signaling pathways such as TREM1 and Toll-like receptor signaling. The affected microglia showed impaired lysosomal function and phagocytosis, key processes that keep the brain environment healthy.

While modern emission control technology appears to mitigate the most harmful effects on microglia, the study highlights that long-term exposure to diesel pollution could increase the risk of neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disease through chronic alterations in microglial activity.

More information: Sohvi Ohtonen et al, Traffic-related diesel pollution particles impair the lysosomal functions of human iPSC-derived microglia, Environment International (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109467 Journal information: Environment International
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Scientists have uncovered a surprising mechanism by which a brain enzyme called OTULIN controls the expression of tau, the protein that forms toxic tangles in Alzheimer's disease. The findings, published in Genomic Psychiatry, reveal that OTULIN functions not only as expected in protein degradation pathways but also plays a previously unknown role as a master regulator of gene expression and RNA metabolism.

The research team, led by Dr. Kiran Bhaskar at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and Dr. Francesca-Fang Liao at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, made the discovery while investigating how neurons clear abnormal tau aggregates. Their unexpected findings could open new therapeutic avenues for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias affecting millions worldwide.

"We set out to test whether stabilizing a specific type of ubiquitin chain would help clear toxic tau from neurons," explained Dr. Bhaskar. "Instead, we discovered something completely unexpectedthat OTULIN acts as a master switch controlling whether tau is even produced in the first place."

The revolutionary discovery

The research team initially hypothesized that inhibiting OTULIN's enzyme activity would enhance tau clearance through cellular garbage disposal systems. However, when they completely knocked out the OTULIN gene in neurons, tau disappeared entirelynot because it was being degraded faster, but because it wasn't being made at all.

"This was a paradigm shift in our thinking," said Dr. Liao. "We found that OTULIN deficiency causes tau mRNA to vanish, along with massive changes in how the cell processes RNA and controls gene expression."

The study used neurons derived from a patient with late-onset sporadic Alzheimer's disease, which showed elevated levels of both OTULIN protein and phosphorylated tau compared to healthy control neurons. This correlation suggested OTULIN might be contributing to disease progression.

The research revealed several crucial insights:

First, when OTULIN was completely removed from neuroblastoma cells, comprehensive RNA sequencing showed dramatic changes in gene expression13,341 genes were downregulated and 774 were upregulated, with even more dramatic effects on RNA transcripts (43,003 downregulated, 1,113 upregulated). Comparing Alzheimer's patient neurons to healthy controls revealed over 4,500 genes and 5,600 transcripts were differentially expressed.

Second, pharmacological inhibition of OTULIN's enzymatic activity with a novel small molecule inhibitor (UC495) reduced phosphorylated tau levels in Alzheimer's disease neurons, suggesting potential therapeutic benefit without complete gene elimination.

Third, the absence of OTULIN upregulated numerous genes associated with RNA degradation and stability regulation, including components of the CCR4-NOT complex and various RNA-binding proteins implicated in neurodegenerative diseases.

Fourth, bulk RNA sequencing of Alzheimer's neurons revealed significant downregulation of OTULIN long noncoding RNA alongside decreased expression of melanoma antigen gene (MAGE) family members, which activate ubiquitin ligases involved in protein quality control.

Clinical implications

These findings have profound implications for treating tauopathies, a group of more than 20 neurodegenerative diseases characterized by toxic tau accumulation.

"OTULIN could serve as a novel drug target, but our findings suggest we need to modulate its activity carefully rather than eliminate it completely," Dr. Bhaskar noted. "Complete loss causes widespread changes in cellular RNA metabolism that could have unintended consequences."

The research demonstrated that partial inhibition with UC495 reduced pathological tau forms without eliminating total tau or causing apparent toxicity to neurons. This suggests a therapeutic window exists where OTULIN activity could be tuned to beneficial levels.

The team also discovered that OTULIN deficiency prevents the development of autoinflammation in neurons by downregulating inflammatory pathway components, providing additional insight into how cells balance protein quality control with inflammatory responses.

Broader impact on RNA biology

Beyond Alzheimer's disease, the findings illuminate fundamental mechanisms of RNA metabolism regulation in neurons. The researchers identified upregulation of transcriptional repressors like YY1 and SP3 in OTULIN-deficient cells, along with changes in RNA-binding ubiquitin ligases RC3H2 and MEX3C that control mRNA stability.

"We're essentially looking at a previously unknown checkpoint in gene expression," explained Dr. Liao. "OTULIN appears to influence which genes get expressed and how long their RNA messages survive in cells."

The study also revealed connections between OTULIN and multiple neurodegenerative disease-associated RNA-binding proteins, including TDP-43, FMR1, ATXN2, and MSI1, suggesting broader implications for understanding various brain disorders.

Research methodology

The team used cutting-edge techniques including CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons from Alzheimer's patients and healthy controls, comprehensive bulk RNA sequencing, and computational drug design to identify the OTULIN inhibitor UC495.

They validated their findings across multiple cell types, including patient-derived neurons and human neuroblastoma cells, ensuring reproducibility and relevance to human disease.

Next steps

The researchers are now working to understand precisely how OTULIN influences gene expression and RNA metabolism at the molecular level. They're also testing whether carefully calibrated OTULIN inhibition can reduce tau pathology in animal models of Alzheimer's disease.

"This discovery opens up an entirely new research direction," said Dr. Bhaskar. "We need to determine whether targeting OTULIN therapeutically can safely reduce tau accumulation without disrupting essential cellular functions."

The team is also investigating why OTULIN long noncoding RNA is reduced in Alzheimer's neurons and whether restoring its levels could normalize OTULIN protein expression and tau pathology.

More information: The deubiquitinase OTULIN regulates tau expression and RNA metabolism in neurons, Genomic Psychiatry (2025). DOI: 10.61373/gp025a.0116

Provided by Genomic Press
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Biomedical research that began at the University of Virginia School of Medicine has yielded a much-needed new treatment for patients with the deadliest form of blood cancer.

The federal Food and Drug Administration has approved the drug ziftomenib for patients with recurring or treatment-resistant acute myeloid leukemia who have a mutation in the NPM1 gene. The new medication, taken by mouth once daily, offers a potential treatment for patients who otherwise have no good options.

The drug arose from many years of research by Jolanta Grembecka, Ph.D., and Tomasz Cierpicki, Ph.D., who began the work in 2007 as research assistant professors in UVA's Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, working closely with John Bushweller, Ph.D., their former postdoctoral mentor. In 2009, both Grembecka and Cierpicki moved to the University of Michigan, where they are professors in the Department of Pathology.

"Ziftomenib is a long-awaited and desperately needed new option for patients for whom other treatments have failedfor patients left with no hope. It's a wonderful achievement by Drs. Grembecka and Cierpicki," said Mark Esser, Ph.D., the head and chief scientific officer of UVA's Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology.

"UVA has founded the Manning Institute specifically to advance exactly this type of important research. We are accelerating the development of new treatment and cures for the most complex and difficult diseases to benefit patients everywhere."

About acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia is a particularly deadly blood cancer primarily seen in people over the age of 68. More than 22,000 Americans develop the condition each year, and more than 11,000 die, according to the American Cancer Society. Overall, the disease accounts for about 1 in 3 cases of blood cancer.

"Acute myeloid leukemia is a very aggressive blood cancer with poor clinical outcomes," Grembecka said. "Seeing our pioneering work on menin inhibitors evolve into an FDA-approved treatment for leukemia patients is extremely rewarding. It is remarkable to witness the direct impact of our research, which resulted in a drug that benefits leukemia patients. This is an achievement we could only dream of, and now it's a reality."

Cierpicki and Grembecka's work at UVA and Michigan produced foundational discoveries that were licensed to Kura Oncology in 2014. The new drug has been developed by collaboration of Grembecka and Cierpicki with Kura Oncology and brought to market under the brand name Komzifti by Kura and pharmaceutical group Kyowa Kirin.

The drug works by disrupting interactions of a cellular protein, menin, that drive leukemia cell growth and survival. It allows cells to mature into white blood cells instead of becoming cancerous.

"To develop menin inhibitors, we had to pioneer an entirely new area of researchproducing the human protein, creating robust biochemical assays, conducting high-throughput screening and solving the crystal structure of menin," Cierpicki said. "We accomplished this at a time when the pharmaceutical industry remained skeptical that targeting protein-protein interactions was even feasible."

Grembecka and Cierpicki's collaboration with Kura led to the discovery of ziftomenib, which won FDA approval based on the results of clinical trials that began in 2019. A new treatment option was needed so badly that the federal agency gave ziftomenib a priority review.

"It is immensely gratifying to see the work of Drs. Grembecka and Cierpicki have this amazing impact for patients," said Bushweller, part of UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Their success portends a future with more such targeted agents and successes that dramatically improve cancer care."

Ongoing trials are exploring ziftomenib's potential to work in combination with other treatments to target both leukemia and solid tumors.

"Drug development has traditionally been a long and slow process," UVA's Esser explained. "But many patients don't have time to wait. The Manning Institute is committed to developing new treatments quickly and safely so we can get them to the patients who need them most."

"It's always exciting to see UVA research produce important new options such as ziftomenib for patients," Esser said. "Now we are positioned to make that happen faster."
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Patient P12 achieved a partial response (51% decrease), with reductions in all target lung lesions and abdominal nodes, but later developed oligoprogression of a cardiophrenic node (lesion 4), resulting in discontinuation of study therapy. Credit: Nature Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03995-y

An experimental cancer vaccine developed at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy has shown early promise in a Phase I clinical trial for a rare form of liver cancer that primarily affects children and young adults.

The trial, led by investigators at Johns Hopkins and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, was supported by the National Cancer Institute and the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation.

In the study, 75% of participants (nine patients) with fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) experienced disease control, including stable disease or measurable immune responses. Three patients (25%) had deep responses and are now believed to be cancer-free, including a 13-year-old who achieved a nearly complete response and continued on immunotherapy for two years.

These findings were published in Nature Medicine.

Most of the patients had tried at least one prior chemotherapy treatment and failed to respond. In one patient, treatment with the vaccine and immunotherapy allowed for successful surgical removal of the tumor.

Prior to the therapy, the patient had been in significant pain, and symptom-directed care had been considered. This study provided a much-needed treatment option for the patient, and resulted in a response within a few months of being enrolled in the trial.

"This was a remarkable outcome," says co-corresponding study author Mark Yarchoan, M.D., an associate professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "To see patients achieve such deep and lasting responses, and reach important life milestones, was incredibly encouraging."

FLC is a rare liver cancer that affects approximately 500 people each year in the United States, typically healthy adolescents and young adults, explains lead study author Marina Baretti, M.D., an assistant professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Jiasheng Chair in Hepato-Biliary Cancer Research.

"When most people think of liver cancer, they think of cirrhosis or hepatitis," Baretti says. "But for this pediatric and young adult cancer, most patients are otherwise healthy. Unfortunately, there are no FDA-approved standard treatments, and the prognosis is especially poor for those whose tumors cannot be surgically removed."

What makes FLC uniquely suited for vaccine therapy is the presence of a consistent cancer driver in all patients: a fusion of the DNAJB1 and PRKACA proteins. This fusion protein creates a target shared by all FLC tumors, allowing for a single, universal vaccine that can potentially be used to treat patients with this cancer, Yarchoan explains.

From April 2020 to September 2022, investigators enrolled 16 patients aged 12 and up, all with FLC that could not be surgically removed. The median patient age was 23. Four discontinued treatment for different reasons, leaving 12 for full evaluation.

There were two phases of the study: a 10-week priming phase and a maintenance phase of up to two years. During priming, patients received injections of the vaccine once a week for the first month, and then once every three weeks. During maintenance, they received the vaccine every eight weeks for up to a year.

Along with the vaccine, they received intravenous infusions of immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs that are used for other liver cancers, to stimulate the immune system. During priming, they received two different immune therapies once every three weeks for a total of four times, followed by once a month for up to two years.

Overall, the vaccine was well-tolerated. The most common adverse events were injection-site reactions, headaches and fatigue.

Investigators are now expanding the study to allow treatment of more patients while they plan a larger clinical trial.

More information: Marina Baretti et al, A therapeutic peptide vaccine for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase 1 trial, Nature Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03995-y Journal information: Nature Medicine
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A European consortium of researchers has developed a new decision making framework for health professionals which they hope will transform the care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The new framework, which classifies the severity of exacerbations of COPD based on three key factors was developed by the Collaboration In COPD Exacerbations (CICERO) funded by the European Respiratory Society. It has just been published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine and presented at the British Thoracic Society Winter Conference.

Associate Professor Dr. Neil Greening from the University of Leicester's Department of Respiratory Sciences and Honorary Consultant Respiratory Physician from University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust explains, "Exacerbations of COPD remain a major driver of hospital admissions and mortality worldwide. Every time a patient has an acute episode it can set off a cascade of recurrent exacerbations, accelerated lung function decline, and heightened risk of death.

"While this cycle is well documented, the variability in what we observe in these patients has long challenged our ability to predict outcomes and tailor their treatment.

"Traditionally, the severity of an acute exacerbation of COPD has been defined by health care use, such as hospital admission or medication use.

"However, this approach overlooks the complex interplay of factors that influence patient deteriorationincluding baseline health status, event intensity, and any underlying triggers."

To address this gap, Dr. Greening and Dr. Hnin Aung, also from the University, together with CICERO colleagues from around Europe developed a novel multidimensional framework, the BAt model, designed to predict exacerbation severity and prognostic risk.

The model incorporates three domains: Baseline functional status (B), Acuity of the event (A), and the Trigger (t) driving the episode. By integrating these elements using routinely collected clinical data, the BAt classification offers a structured approach to characterizing exacerbations beyond traditional metrics.

Dr. Greening continued, "Health professionals could use BAt to guide site-of-care decisions, predict long term outcomes, and tailor treatment strategies to individual patients. This may also improve consistency across diverse clinical settings, from primary care to specialist centers.

"As COPD continues to impose a significant burden on patients and health systems, we believe the BAt model represents a promising step toward precision medicine."

Dr. Hnin Aung, Clinical Lecturer at the University of Leicester, and other researchers in London and Belgium are now working to refine and validate the framework, with the hope that it will soon become an integral tool in managing one of the world's most challenging chronic diseases.

More information: Multidimensional prognostic risk stratification of COPD exacerbations: the baseline, acuity, and trigger (BAt) model, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (2025). www.thelancet.com/journals/lan  (25)00362-5/fulltext Journal information: Lancet Respiratory Medicine
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A hospital-acquired bacterium that causes serious infections can move from the lungs to the gut inside the same patient, raising the risk of life-threatening sepsis, new research reveals.

Published in Nature Communications, researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute analyzed DNA data taken from hospital patients to understand the movement of the bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, within individuals.

The research sheds light on how lung infections can result in the spread of a major disease-causing bacterium between multiple parts of the body, increasing the risk of sepsis in vulnerable patients. The insights from the study may inform future strategies for hospitals to track and prevent sepsis-related deaths.

How P. aeruginosa spreads and causes harm

P. aeruginosa is a common bacterium that can cause disease in humans, plants and animals. It is a major cause of hospital-acquired infections and can result in conditions such as pneumonia, ear infections, urinary tract infections, and wound infections.

The bacterium is also known to be one cause of sepsis. Sepsis occurs when the body responds improperly to an infection. The infection-fighting process starts to attack the body, causing some organs to shut down. It is a life threatening condition and in the UK, there are 48,000 sepsis-related deaths each year and five related deaths occur every hour.

In a previous study, research has shown that P. aeruginosa has moved from the gut to the lungs in an individual intensive care unit (ICU) patient, bringing to light its ability to move and colonize other body sites. However, how often this happens, and in which direction the bacteria tend to spread, have remained unclear.

New study findings and implications

In a new study, researchers at the Sanger Institute analyzed metagenomic sequencing data from 256 hospital patients in Italy. They used these data to understand where P. aeruginosa starts to colonize and in what direction the bacterium moves throughout the body.

Of the 84 patients where P. aeruginosa genomes could be recovered, the team found 27 cases where the same bacterial clone (cells that are identical in their DNA) appeared across multiple body sites.

This indicates that most of these infections were not acquired repeatedly from the hospital environment, but most were established and colonized by a single clone over time and spread within the patient's own body. Additionally, P. aeruginosa infection in ICU patients was significantly more common than in patients on other wards.

By building family trees of P. aeruginosa genomes, the team predicted that most strains that had spread originated in the lungs. This suggests that infections most likely move from the lungs to the gut, where P. aeruginosa can establish long-term colonizations.

The researchers propose that naturally swallowing sputuma mixture of saliva and mucus from the lungsthat may contain P. aeruginosa could be a likely route of gut colonization. They also did not find P. aeruginosa in nasal samples only, suggesting that it must be present elsewhere in the body first and the nose acts as a spillover site rather than a stable colony site.

The researchers also detected frequent DNA changes in genes associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR), regardless of where the bacteria are found in the body. These DNA changes will make treatment considerably more difficult.

Ultimately, the findings have significantly expanded on a small body of existing knowledge about within-person movement of a dangerous bug. Colonization of P. aeruginosa within the lungs should therefore be considered a risk-factor for sepsis that begins in the gut in patients who are particularly vulnerable to this life-threatening condition.

Dr. Lewis Fisher, first author at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said, "We found that most patients carried the same strain of P. aeruginosa across multiple samples, showing that once this bacterium establishes itself, it tends to persist rather than being replaced by new infections. This persistence helps explain why the bug can be so difficult to eradicate in hospital settings."

Dr. Ron Daniels, Founder and Chief Medical Officer at the UK Sepsis Trust, said, "Notoriously difficult to eradicate, Pseudomonas infections are a major issue in our Intensive Care Units, particularly in patients with weakened immune systems, and a major cause of sepsis. This new research serves to enhance our understanding of this organism, which can only be good for our patients now and in the futureit highlights how little we know about disease-causing bugs and their behaviors."

Professor Jukka Corander, co-author at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Oslo, Norway, said, "We also saw rapid genetic changes in antibiotic resistance genes, no matter where the bacterium was found in the body. This highlights how quickly P. aeruginosa can adapt, making it increasingly hard to treat and control in intensive care environments."

Dr. Josie Bryant, senior author at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said, "Our findings show these bacterial infections often spread inside patients' own bodies, typically from the lungs to the gut. Recognizing this hidden movement is key to improving how hospitals monitor and prevent sepsis in vulnerable patients."

More information: L. Fisher et al. High frequency body site translocation of nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-66088-x Journal information: Nature Communications
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TNBC-excluded tumors have distinctive lumino-basal transcriptomic profiles. Credit: npj Breast Cancer (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41523-025-00836-6

Researchers at the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center have published findings in npj Breast Cancer that shed new light on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.

The study, led by Dr. Lucio Miele, Director of the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, in collaboration with colleagues at LSU Health New Orleans, City of Hope Cancer Center (Duarte, CA), and the University of California, San Diego, examined tumors from more than 250 Black and White women across Louisiana.

Unlike many earlier studies, this research balanced age, cancer stage, and other variables, allowing scientists to focus on the underlying biology of the disease rather than external factors.

Key discoveries include:

Race is not an intrinsic predictor of survival. Despite well-documented differences in cancer outcomes, this study found that worse outcomes for Black women with TNBC are more likely linked to later diagnosis and socioeconomic challenges to care rather than tumor biology alone.

A new molecular subtype was identified. Researchers discovered a previously unrecognized group of TNBC tumors with distinct biological features, potentially opening the door to novel, targeted treatment strategies.

Immune differences may hold the key to future therapies. Tumors from Black women showed higher levels of certain immune cells, particularly B-cells, which are associated with better responses to treatment and longer survival. These findings suggest new opportunities for precision immunotherapy.

"Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the hardest cancers to treat because it lacks targeted therapies. It is not a single group of tumors. It's made up of many biologically different subtypes," said Dr. Lucio Miele, Director of the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center.

"By better understanding the genetic and immune landscapes of these tumors in Louisiana women, we can move closer to developing treatments tailored to each patient's biology improving survival and reducing health care gaps."

"These findings are a major step toward making treatment more personal and effective for patients with triple-negative breast cancer," said Victoria L. Seewaldt, M.D., Ruth Ziegler Chair in Population Sciences at City of Hope.

"By uncovering immune differences that may influence how tumors respond to therapy, we're opening the door to precision immunotherapies that could improve survival and quality of life for women who face this aggressive disease."

Why this matters for Louisiana and NCI designation

Louisiana has some of the highest breast cancer death rates in the nation, and TNBC disproportionately affects Black women in the state. This research underscores the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center's commitment to advancing cancer science that directly addresses local health care gaps.

"Achieving NCI designation requires exactly this type of pioneering, community-relevant research that benefits the people of Louisiana," said Dr. Miele. "The designation would bring more clinical trials, research funding, and access to the latest therapies for Louisiana patients, keeping families closer to home while receiving world-class care."

More information: Fokhrul Hossain et al, Immunogenomic diversity of triple-negative breast cancers in obese and non-obese black and white women, npj Breast Cancer (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41523-025-00836-6 Journal information: npj Breast Cancer
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Scanning electromicrograph of an HIV-infected T cell. Credit: NIAID

Researchers from the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have discovered how a specific type of immune cell may contribute to the persistence of HIV infections. The finding offers new insight into why the virus remains difficult to cure even with effective antiretroviral therapy.

The study was published earlier this month in Science Translational Medicine. It was led by Guangming Li, Ph.D., and Lishan Su, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology at UMSOM and Director of the Division of Virology, Pathogenesis and Cancer, and Interim Director of the Division of Immunotherapy at IHV.

The researchers focused on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs)a rare immune cell type crucial in the body's early defense against viruses. During chronic HIV infection, these cells become overactivated, driving continuous immune inflammation. This constant activation weakens virus-fighting T cells and allows HIV to persist in hidden reservoirs.

Using humanized mouse models and blood samples from people living with HIV, the team found that reducing overactive pDCs helped restore antiviral T cell function and shrink the viral reservoir. When this approach was combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitora therapy that reinvigorates exhausted immune cellsthe immune response improved even further.

Depletion of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) by anti-BDCA2 antibody in the spleens of humanized mice. Credit: Science Translational Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adr3930

Why this research matters

The findings reveal that while the pDC-interferon pathway is essential for antiviral defense, its overactivation may weaken immune control of HIV. This helps explain why immune inflammation continues in people with HIV despite treatment and why a cure remains elusive.

"This study represents our decade-long effort to understand the complex role of pDCs in HIV-associated diseases," Dr. Su said. "Our research shows that the immune system's continued effort to fight infection can sometimes work against itself. By rebalancing this system, we may be able to open new pathways for therapy."

While most of the study was conducted in laboratory and animal models, key observations were confirmed in blood samples from people living with HIV.

"Future studies will determine whether temporarily adjusting these immune cells can safely improve immune balance and contribute to HIV cure strategies," said Dr. Li.

This research builds on UMSOM and IHV's longstanding commitment to advancing HIV biology and developing new therapeutic strategies.

Yaoxian Lou, Ph.D. candidate of Microbiology & Immunology at UMSOM, Drs. Shyamasundaran Kottilil and Poonam Mathur at IHV/UMSOM are co-authors of the manuscript. Other co-authors on the study include researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Weill Cornell Medicine.

More information: Guangming Li et al, Depletion of plasmacytoid dendritic cells rescues HIV-reactive stem-like CD8+T cells during chronic HIV-1 infection, Science Translational Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adr3930 Journal information: Science Translational Medicine
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

With the federal government reopened after a weeks-long shutdown that disrupted food assistance across the country, a new University of Massachusetts Amherst Labor Center working paper shows that more than 1 in 10 workers in Massachusetts depend on benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to feed themselves and their families. Even with funding for SNAP restored, new restrictions could strip benefits from millions of working Americans.

The report finds that 10.8% of all Massachusetts workersnearly 481,000 peoplelive in households receiving SNAP.

"SNAP provides a crucial safety net for workers in precarious and low-wage jobs," says report co-author Jasmine Kerrissey, Labor Center director and professor of sociology at UMass Amherst. "The suspension of SNAP benefits during the government shutdown highlighted the fact that significant numbers of workers are not paid enough to afford adequate food for their families."

The study comes as the "One Big Beautiful Bill," enacted earlier this year by the Trump administration, faces legal challenges in federal court. The law expands SNAP work requirements to include people up to age 64 and removes exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness and young adults aging out of foster care. The Congressional Budget Office projects that the changes will cut off benefits to an average of 2.4 million people each month over the next decade.

In Massachusetts, the impact could be especially sharp. According to the report:

About 347,000 private-sector workersnearly 12% of that workforceuse SNAP.

Retail and health care are the largest SNAP-employing industries, together accounting for 29% of all SNAP workers in the state.

More than one-third of personal care assistants and home health aidestwo of the fastest-growing occupationsreceive SNAP benefits.

More than 1 in 5 cashiers, janitors, cooks and stockers rely on the program.

Several counties have disproportionately high rates of SNAP workers, including Hampden (19.0%) and Bristol (14.8%) counties.

The report also identifies top employers of SNAP recipients, including major brands like Dunkin', Walmart, Stop & Shop, TJ Maxx and CVS. Some of these same corporations are also SNAP retailers, meaning they profit twice from federal nutrition fundsfirst through subsidized low wages and again through food purchases made with SNAP.

"These findings highlight the importance of government in preventing poverty when employers fail to pay livable wages. Low-wage business models clearly have a high social cost," says report co-author Nathan Meyers, a fellow at the UMass Labor Center.

The findings arrive as Massachusetts lawmakers consider how to protect residents from the potential fallout of federal SNAP cuts. Advocates have urged the state to explore emergency food assistance or wage supports if federal funding drops.

More information: Jasmine Kerrissey et al, SNAP Workers: Working People & SNAP Benefits in Massachusetts (2025). DOI: 10.7275/43mz-z910
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Researchers developed a blood-based DNA methylation test that predicts lymph node metastasis in early-stage gastric cancer, helping reduce unnecessary invasive surgery. Credit: Institute of Science Tokyo

Early-stage gastric cancer can be assessed more accurately using a new liquid biopsy tool that predicts lymph node metastasis, as reported by researchers from Science Tokyo. They developed a model that uses deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation biomarkers in plasma and computed tomography imaging to predict the risk of metastasis. This tool will help low-risk patients safely avoid unnecessary invasive surgery.

Treatment options for early-stage cancer

For patients diagnosed with early-stage gastric cancer (GC) (confined to the inner layers of the stomach), the prognosis is often excellent, with 5-year survival rates exceeding 90%. When the cancer has a low risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM), the best treatment option is endoscopic resection. This is a minimally invasive procedure that preserves the function of the stomach.

On the other hand, if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or presents a high risk of LNM, the standard treatment becomes radical gastrectomy with lymphadenectomya major surgery that removes part or all of the stomach and surrounding lymph nodes.

Challenges in lymph node diagnosis

A core clinical challenge lies in accurately diagnosing or predicting LNM before selecting a treatment. Current diagnostic methods, such as computed tomography (CT) scans, have high false-negative rates, ranging from 40% to 50%, making risk assessment difficult.

Because of this, doctors often recommend invasive surgery as a precaution, even though the actual incidence of LNM in early-stage GC is less than 20%. The high proportion of patients who undergo 'overtreatment' calls for new techniques to detect LNM.

Development of the new diagnostic model

To tackle this pressing issue, a research team led by Assistant Professor Keisuke Okuno from Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan, has developed a novel molecular diagnostic model. Their paper, published in the United European Gastroenterology Journal on October 17, 2025, details how they established an epigenetic liquid biopsy assay for the preoperative diagnosis of LNM in T1 GC.

First, the team performed a comprehensive genome-wide analysis to identify six novel deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation biomarkers in surgical tissue and preoperative blood samples. These biomarkers indicate chemical modifications to DNA that dynamically regulate gene activity. The researchers then combined the biomarkers with preoperative CT-based findings to train a combined predictive model.

Results and clinical implications

In a patient cohort tested retrospectively, the proposed model exhibited high specificity and strong predictive capabilities. This means that it could reliably identify patients who were truly at low risk for LNM. The results showed that, by using this blood-based diagnostic tool prior to treatment, prescriptions for unnecessary surgery could be significantly reduced.

"In contrast to the current clinical standard, our model allowed about 44% of patients to avoid unnecessary surgery without missing any LNM-positive patients. Taken together, these findings highlight the clinical significance of our liquid biopsy-based combined model, which has the potential for clinical translation as a noninvasive diagnostic assay for LNM in patients with T1 GC," remarks Okuno.

Future outlook for patient care

While large-scale, multi-center trials will be necessary to validate the model more widely and accelerate its clinical adoption, this convenient tool represents an important step toward better outcomes for patients with T1 GC.

"We expect our model to advance personalized medicine for early-stage GC by improving the accuracy of treatment selection," shares Okuno.

With any luck, more studies on this topic will minimize the number of unnecessary invasive surgeries and improve patients' quality of life.

More information: Keisuke Okuno et al, CellFree DNA MethylationBased Liquid Biopsy Assay to Identify Lymph Node Metastasis in T1 Gastric Cancer, United European Gastroenterology Journal (2025). DOI: 10.1002/ueg2.70132
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This image shows the seipin-adipogenin complex that is a critical driver of lipid droplet formation in fat cells. Credit: UT Southwestern Medical Center

A microprotein called adipogenin appears to play a key role in helping fat cells store lipid dropletsa phenomenon that's pivotal for metabolic health, a study co-led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers shows. The findings, published in Science, could lead to new strategies to improve healthy lipid storage, which in turn may reduce risks of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic conditions.

"This study builds upon our long-standing interest in how fat cells maintain their cellular health upon expansion. We show that a tiny microprotein punches far above its weight in sculpting fat biology," said Philipp Scherer, Ph.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and Cell Biology and Director of the Touchstone Center for Diabetes Research at UT Southwestern.

Dr. Scherer led the study with co-first authors Chao Li, Ph.D., and Xue-Nan Sun, Ph.D., Instructors of Internal Medicine at UTSW, and co-senior author Elina Ikonen, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Anatomy at the University of Helsinki.

After every meal, Dr. Scherer explained, any lipids that aren't burned immediately for energy must be stored in the body. The most common and healthy place to store lipids is in fat cells, or adipocytes, which stockpile these nutrients as droplets, much like oil forms droplets in water. Lipids stored in other cell types can cause a condition called lipotoxicity, spurring cell damage and cell death.

Previous research at UTSW and elsewhere has shown that a protein called seipin is critical for healthy lipid storage in a diverse range of organisms, including plants, fungi, and mammals. But how seipin accomplishes this feat has been unclear. Some studies have suggested that adipogenina small protein made of only 80 amino acids as compared with the hundreds found in seipinis also important for lipid storage, but its exact function was unknown.

To answer these questions, the researchers isolated adipogenin along with its interacting proteins from mice, which produce a form of this microprotein that's nearly identical to the one in humans. The most common binding partner for adipogenin turned out to be seipin.

Using cryo-electron microscopy, a technique that can image molecules at the atomic level, researchers showed that adipogenin appeared to reinforce seipin's structure, making it more rigid and stable. Working with mouse models that overproduced adipogenin, the scientists found that their fat cells held significantly larger lipid droplets. They also stored considerably more fat than unaltered mice. In contrast, mouse models that produced no adipogenin had much smaller lipid droplets in their fat cells and less fat overall.

"This study nudges us a little closer to the clinic by revealing a brand-new handle on how fat cells store lipids, which matters enormously for obesity, diabetes, lipodystrophy, and fatty liver disease," Dr. Scherer said. "Adipogenin becomes a druggable lever on seipin's machinery, with the promise to either dampen harmful fat buildup or boost healthy adipose storage when needed."

More information: Chao Li et al, Adipogenin promotes the development of lipid droplets by binding a dodecameric seipin complex, Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adr9755 Journal information: Science
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Data from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging showing that many adults over 65 who drive haven't thought about what they will do when they can no longer drive, and aren't aware of Advanced Driving Directives, which can help with such planning. Credit: University of MichiganEmily Smith

When today's older adults learned to drive, they might have heard the Beatles' "Drive My Car" or Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" on their car radio's Top 40 station.

Now, 84% of people age 65 and older drive at least once a week, and 62% drive most days, according to a new University of Michigan national poll.

But less than half of these older drivers have made a plan for a time down the road, when changes in their health might make it less safe for them to drive.

Even fewer know they could create a formal plan for stepping away from the driver's seat when the time comes.

And very few have talked with a health care provider about driving as it relates to their health.

The new report from the U-M National Poll on Healthy Aging involved experts at the U-M Transportation Research Institute, one of the nation's top centers for mobility studies. The poll is based at the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

Only 10% of the adults age 65 and older who answered the poll said they haven't driven in the past six months.

Among those who had driven at least once in that time, 81% say they are very confident they can drive safely now, though 18% said they are only somewhat confident and 1% were not very confident.

Looking ahead, 51% were only somewhat confident in their ability to drive in the next five years, while 43% were very confident. Another 5% were not confident in their ability to drive in the next five years.

Even with this sense that their driving ability might change as they grow older, about half (54%) of drivers age 65 and over don't have a plan for when they are no longer able to drive. Women and those over age 75 were more likely to have a plan than men and those age 65 to 74.

"The freedom to drive where you want, when you want, is a critical part of independent living for older adults, and when it's diminished for any reason it can have profound effects," said UMTRI researcher Renee St. Louis, Ph.D., who worked with the poll team and her colleague David W. Eby, Ph.D. to develop the poll and its report. "With most of the Baby Boom generation now in their mid-60s and above, we have millions of older drivers who will need guidance and alternatives as their health begins to affect their ability to drive safely."

That includes informal support from family and friends, and formal support from public transportation and community-based services, said Eby.

Already, in the past six months, whether they currently drive or not, 44% of older adults have received rides from friends or family, and 21% have used rideshare services including taxis and private vehicles hailed by apps such as Uber and Lyft. Just 14% used public transportation.

But 5% said ridesharing is not available where they live, and 9% said public transportation isn't available.

In addition to the national findings, the poll team conducted a Michigan-specific analysis using data from the Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging, with support from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. A description of the findings, and an interactive data dashboard, are available here.

Intersections with health, today and tomorrow

Among those who have been behind the wheel in the last six months, a sizable majority68%say they avoid driving under some conditions.

Confidence level of older adults in their current ability to drive safely and their ability to do so five years from now, from the National Poll on Healthy Aging at the University of Michigan. Credit: University of MichiganEmily Smith

This included 53% who said they avoid driving in bad weather and 48% who avoid driving at night. St. Louis notes that this may be unrelated to age or health and may just be personal preference.

But 14% of drivers age 65 and older said that vision issues affect their ability to drive. Smaller percentages cited temporary or permanent health or mobility issues as having an impact on their driving ability.

Only 6% of older drivers said they had ever talked with a health care provider about their driving.

"This demonstrates a major opportunity for primary care providers, vision care professionals, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and others to discuss the potential impacts of specific conditions or medications on driving ability," said poll director Jeffrey Kullgren, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., a primary care physician at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and an associate professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School.

"If an older adult is in the care of a specialist for a chronic condition such as arthritis, diabetes or a neurological condition, or is having an operation, their specialists and surgical teams could also address potential driving impacts proactively."

Among poll respondents who hadn't driven in the last six months, the most common reason was that it was no longer safe for them to drive (34%), followed by health issues (29%); respondents could choose more than one answer.

Only 16% of older drivers were familiar with the idea of an advance driving directive, a document that helps a person indicate their driving preferences in case of future health issues, and identify a person to help with decisions about stopping driving.

But once they were given this definition, 70% said it was very or somewhat important to have an ADD.

St. Louis and Eby note that the poll findings have implications for organizations that provide services to older adults, and for local, state and federal policymakers around the country. The findings also have implications for family members and health care providers who could have conversations with older adults about their driving.

Making community transportation services for older adults more available or accessible, and spreading awareness of services that already exist, could help more older adults maintain independence while choosing to leave the driving to someone else, they note.

Driving resources for older adults

The U-M transportation experts also note that vehicle manufacturers have added many features to automobiles in recent years that can increase safety for all drivers.

Older drivers who wish to keep driving as long as possible may want to explore trading in older vehicles for newer ones that have adaptive headlights, backup cameras, crash-avoidance sensors, and adaptive cruise control to help maintain safe following distances automatically. Certain safety features can sometimes be added to older vehicles too.

They also point to driving resources for older adults and those who interact with them. UMTRI has teamed with the state of Michigan to create an entire site for older drivers, their families and the professionals who provide health care and other services to them. The site provides resources to support older driver safety and mobility, as well as guidance for families and professionals on transitioning away from driving.

Called Safe Drivers, Smart Options, it's available here and includes a downloadable guide for aging drivers and their families in English, Spanish and Arabic.

The UMTRI team also recommends the MyMobility Plan website and tool offered by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is designed to help older adults and people with disabilities plan for their future mobility and avoid motor vehicle crashes and other types of injury-causing situations.

AARP, AAA and other organizations offer driving classes designed for people over 55; the Safe Drivers, Smart Options website links to many of these. AAA also has a Driver Planning agreement to help families plan together for continued, safe mobility.

Public service organizations called Area Agencies on Aging may offer free or low-cost transportation options; find the agency serving any area of the United States here. Local cities, towns and counties as well as regional transportation agencies may offer special transportation services or discounted public transit passes for older adults.
Assyrian MP in Turkey Demands Return of Assyrian Property

George Aryo, Assyrian Member of the Turkish Parliament. Ankara -- Assyrian Member of the Turkish Parliament for the Peoples' Equality and Democratic Party (Halklarin Esitlik ve Demokrasi Partisi, DEM Party) George Aryo raised the long-standing property grievances of the Assyrian people in Tur Abdin and surrounding regions on Monday during a 2025 Planning and Budget Committee meeting where the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's budget was under review. MP George Aryo -- whose mandatory state-imposed surname is Aslan -- stated that the decades-old issue, particularly affecting Merde (Mardin), Sirnak, and Hakkari provinces, has worsened in recent years.

Aryo explained that following land registration surveys in the early 2000s, numerous Assyrian properties were transferred to the state treasury or to the Forestry Directorate. Authorities justified these seizures by labeling the lands "uncultivated," "forest," or "barren." In many cases, properties that were legally registered through court rulings -- and for which owners had paid the required taxes -- were first transferred to the Treasury and later to the Housing Development Administration (TOKI). Some of these same properties are now being offered back to their original owners at exorbitant prices. This, Aryo stressed, is despite the fact that Assyrian families had used the lands for centuries, particularly for viticulture and agriculture, which formed the backbone of their livelihoods.

According to Aryo, these property disputes emerged because the Assyrian people were forced to abandon their lands and villages during more than 40 years of conflict in the region. Land surveys and registrations were carried out at a time when the vast majority of Assyrians were absent, living in displacement or diaspora, resulting in large-scale losses of ancestral property rights. Aryo added that parts of pastures, forests, and agricultural lands belonging to Assyrian villages were absorbed into the administrative boundaries of neighboring villages.

He described these actions as a severe "violation of property rights" committed by state institutions for a variety of motives, emphasizing the urgent need for rectification and legal accountability.

Long Pattern of Violations

The dispute over land ownership has also had a devastating impact on cultural heritage. Under the guise of "restoration," numerous historical and cultural sites have been destroyed, and many areas continue to face unresolved land conflicts. Buildings that should have been preserved have instead lost their original identity due to poorly considered interventions.

According to Aryo, some historic structures are deliberately left to collapse for profit. These practices reflect systematic neglect, and at times intentional disregard, for the cultural heritage of the Assyrian people. The same pattern affects Armenian, Greek, Kurdish, and Alevi communities. Aryo described these violations as a new form of pressure on these peoples--a form of racial and cultural discrimination targeting them and their churches.

Thousands of churches and monasteries across Turkey have been destroyed or left to deteriorate; some have been used as stables or storage rooms, while others have been converted into mosques.
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Phenotypic and functional comparison of eMPP and hMPP. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2505510122

It has only recently become known that two parallel systems of blood formation exist in the body, originating from different precursor cells. Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have developed a method to examine both systems separately in mice for the first time.

Their surprising finding: The majority of immune cells do not originate from classic blood stem cells in the bone marrow, but from precursor cells that are independent of blood stem cells and are already present in the embryo. The number of these precursors decreases with age, which may explain the known decline in lymphocyte production in old age.

Blood consists of hundreds of billions of cellsfrom red blood cells to "white" immune cellsall of which must be constantly renewed. For decades, a simple model of blood formation was accepted: It begins with blood stem cells in the bone marrow, which differentiate into so-called multipotent progenitor cells (MPP) and finally into the various mature blood cell types.

However, in recent years, evidence has accumulated that this hierarchical model is too simplistic. New methods that allow the development of cell types to be tracked in detail have provided evidence of a second line of development of multipotent precursorsknown as embryonic multipotent precursors (eMPP)that is independent of the classic blood stem cells. These precursors arise in the early embryo and remain active into adulthood.

About one-third of blood cells originate from embryonic precursors

How do the two arms of blood formation differ? Do they produce different differentiated blood cells? A study of the blood-forming system in mice led by Hans-Reimer Rodewald and Thomas Hofer at the DKFZ and Xi Wang from Nanjing Medical University, China, has shed light on this discussion for the first time. The researchers developed state-of-the-art techniques for labeling individual cells in order to track the lineage and development of individual blood cell clones in mice over a period of months.

The surprising result: about one-third of blood formation originates from a system already established in the embryo (eMPP) that is independent of classic blood stem cells. This system preferentially produces lymphocytes, i.e., immune cells. The second arm, which originates from blood stem cells in the bone marrow and their descendants (hMPP), primarily produces myeloid cells such as granulocytes or erythrocytes, the red blood cells.

The researchers showed that the contribution of embryonic precursors decreases over the course of a lifetime, which may explain the decline in the effectiveness of the immune system in old age. The work is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Molecular marker for embryonic precursors discovered

In order to be able to specifically identify embryonic multipotent precursors in the future, the researchers developed a novel method they call PolySMART. This technique allows individual DNA markers, known as cellular barcodes, to be analyzed in individual cells simultaneously with surface markers and gene expression patterns.

In the process, the team discovered a surprising feature: CD138, a glycoprotein on the cell membrane, is a particularly reliable marker for eMPPs. Cells that carry CD138 are capable of self-renewal and are preferentially programmed for lymphatic development.

"With CD138, we have found the first marker that allows us to specifically isolate embryonic precursor cells and study their function," explains Rodewald. "This opens up new avenues for understanding how the immune system changes over the course of a lifetime."

According to the immunologist, the next step is to test whether two parallel systems are also involved in blood formation in humans. "I think this is likely, because humans and mice are similar in fundamental aspects of physiology."

Rodewald's colleague, bioinformatician Hofer, adds, "The fact that we have found a distinguishing feature in CD138 allows us to analyze the two blood formation systems separately for the first time. This is a milestone for stem cell research."
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The national shortage of primary care physicians has been a concern for years, and a new study in the Annals of Family Medicine underscores how urgent the problem is and where the biggest pain point lies: in rural parts of the country that are seeing the largest population spikes in nearly a century.

By studying the location of practicing family physicians across the U.S. from 2017 to 2023, authors found a year-over-year decrease in family physicians practicing in rural areas, with a net loss of 11% nationwide over the seven years studied.

The greatest losses were in the Northeast and fewest in the West. There were 11,847 rural family physicians in 2017 and 10,544 in 2023, a net loss of 1,303 (11%) for the country as a whole. The West lost 67 rural family physicians, the fewest on a percentage basis (3.2%); the Northeast lost 193, the most on a percentage basis (15.3%).

Alarming trends and their implications

The findings were as surprising as they are alarming, according to lead author Colleen T. Fogarty, MD, professor and chair of the department of Family Medicine at the University of Rochester.

"The data reflect what we already experience and know about physician shortages, but the year-over-year numbers for rural areas were astonishing to me. The speed at which this has happened is remarkable and terrible," said Fogarty.

The exodus of rural physicians is happening at a time when young adults in the 2544 age group are moving to rural areas at the highest rate in nearly a century; two-thirds of the growth took place in smaller cities and rural counties since 2020. Powered by remote work opportunities and attracted to the amenities of country life, they are settling into rural areas but will find it increasingly difficult to access medical care.

Family physicians carry patient panels between 1,000 and 3,500 people, so the loss of even one in a community has a significant impact. When a physician leaves, their patients may turn to an already overburdened colleague still practicing in the community or travel farther to see a physician in another town.

Factors driving the rural physician shortage

There are several causes for the trend, Fogarty noted.

Family physicians in rural communities serve many roles, making them vulnerable to overwork and burnout that drives them to relocate or retire. In addition to adult medical care, they often provide emergency care and maternity care, including cesarean deliveries, as well as pediatric care.

"Fewer U.S. medical students are choosing family medicine as a specialty, and medical students from rural areas remain underrepresented compared with their non-rural peers. Over the years, international students choosing family medicine have offset the shortage, as they have become valuable and integral members of their rural communities, but current uncertainty around visa requirements for residents and practicing physicians adds another layer of concern about the family medicine workforce," said Fogarty.

Changing demographics and new challenges

One encouraging trend from the study: the proportion of women family physicians has grown to almost equal that of men. Females represented 44% of family physicians in 2017 and the percentage steadily increased until 2023, when they represented 49.3%. In rural areas, as in the overall sample, the percentage of female practicing family physicians increased from 35.5% in 2017 to 41.8% in 2023.

But that trend, too, raises a challenge for recruiting doctors to a rural area.

"Does the rural community have what working mothers need? Healthy boundaries on work life are important; we need to get male and female family physicians the support they need so they are not working around the clock and diagnosing a medical issue while they're at the cash register at the grocery store," Fogarty added.

Potential solutions and future initiatives

Reversing the trend will take time and resources. Advanced practice providers can ease the burden on rural physicians, and improved compensation packages may help recruitment and retention.

Medical schools can also play a role, focusing on recruiting candidates from rural areas and developing rural health-specific curricula. Fogarty is leading a team to create a new rural residency training track at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry Department of Family Medicine.

Based on a national model, residents complete their first year of rotations in a city for the high volume, high acuity care that's foundational, then spend their last two years of residency in a continuity practice in a rural community, and complete rotations working with local specialists.

"It's an important initiative that we hope will make a difference," said Fogarty. The first two candidates at Rochester will match in July 2027 and begin their rural training in July 2028.

More information: Family Physician Workforce Trends: The Toll on Rural Communities, The Annals of Family Medicine (2025). 10.1370/afm.240549 , www.annfammed.org/content/23/6/535 Journal information: Annals of Family Medicine
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A new study tracking the mental health of adults in the Gaza Strip suggests that psychological distress has tripled over the past five years, with a sharp increase following the conflict escalation in October 2023.

The research, published in eClinicalMedicine, analyzed data from 677 people aged 40 and older who participated in three household surveys conducted in 2020, 2023, and 2025.

Sharp rise in psychological distress

Results suggest that the proportion of adults experiencing high levels of psychological distresssuch as depression, loss of sleep, feeling constantly under strain, and feeling worthlessrose from around 20% in 2020 and 2023 to more than 67% in early 2025. This increase occurred across all demographic groups, indicating widespread mental health challenges linked to violence, displacement, and infrastructure destruction.

The study is the first to provide data on mental health changes before and during the recent conflict. It highlights how pre-existing high levels of distress in the region have been exacerbated by war-related exposures such as multiple displacements, loss of homes, and limited access to health care.

Impact of displacement and recommendations

Notably, over 99% of participants reported experiencing at least one displacement event by 2025, with a median of four displacements per person.

The authors say these findings should serve as a crucial evidence base for policymakers and humanitarian organizations working to mitigate the psychological toll of conflict in Gaza and other war-affected regions worldwide.

They call for comprehensive, long-term mental health and psychosocial support services in Gaza, along with sustained international efforts to expand mental health services, strengthen community resilience, and support recovery efforts.

More information: Curdin Brugger et al, Changes in psychological distress during conflict escalation in an adult population-based cohort in the Gaza Strip (20202025): a longitudinal analysis, eClinicalMedicine (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103647 Journal information: EClinicalMedicine
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A schematic representing the variations in the cerebrovasculature in PD in the substantia nigra and occipital cortex compared to healthy controls. Credit: bioRxiv (2025). DOI: 10.1101/2025.03.09.641541

New research has revealed that Parkinson's disease causes significant and progressive changes to blood vessels in the brain, changing our understanding of the disease which may lead to new treatment methods.

While Parkinson's disease is characterized by alpha-synuclein protein deposits, this research from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), the University of NSW Sydney (UNSW), and the University of Sydney has shifted understanding of the disease. NeuRA postdoctoral student, Derya Dik, carried out the work, demonstrating that region-specific changes to blood vessels in the brain underlie disease progression. The paper "Region-specific variations in the cerebrovasculature underlie disease progression in Parkinson's disease" was posted to the bioRxiv preprint server.

"Traditionally Parkinson's researchers have focused on protein accumulation and neuronal loss, but we have shown the impacts on our cerebrovasculaturethe blood vessels in our brain," Dik said. "Our research identified region-specific changes in the brain's blood vessels, including an increased presence of string vessels, which are non-functional remnants of capillaries."

They also observed changes relating to how blood flows in the brain and how the blood brain barrier operates. "By targeting these progressive, region-specific changes, we may be able to slow disease progression and improve outcomes for individuals suffering from Parkinson's disease," Dik said.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting more than 150,000 Australians. This study is one of the first to look at region-specific changes in the vasculature in post-mortem brain tissue from people with Parkinson's disease and in relation to disease progression.

Exploring the wider impact of these findings

In addition to exploring what these findings mean for people with Parkinson's disease, researchers are considering impacts for other neurodegenerative disorders.

"We are now investigating whether similar cerebrovascular changes are present in post-mortem brain tissue from individuals with Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies tissue," Dik said.

"This study may lead to new treatment options for people with Parkinson's disease, but we also want to better understand the contribution of vascular pathology in these other neurodegenerative disorders and explore whether this can reveal new targets for therapies and treatments for people with those conditions also."

The study will be published in Brain journal.

More information: Derya Dik et al, Region-specific variations in the cerebrovasculature underlie disease progression in Parkinson's disease, bioRxiv (2025). DOI: 10.1101/2025.03.09.641541 Journal information: Brain , bioRxiv
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Synopsis. Credit: EMBO Molecular Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44321-025-00342-z

The drug dexamethasone supplements cancer treatments to alleviate side effects of chemotherapy such as nausea or inflammation. Researchers at the University of Basel, Switzerland, have now discovered that it also fights metastases in certain types of breast cancer.

The active substance dexamethasone is a synthetic signaling substance with a similar effect to the body's own stress hormone cortisol. A research group at the University of Basel has found evidence that this drug, which has been in use for a long time, could have a new, additional effect on certain treatment-resistant breast cancers.

Breast cancer of the "estrogen receptor-positive" (ER+ for short) subtype can usually be treated with anti-hormonal therapy. The target of this therapy is the estrogen receptor, which is hyperactive in these tumors and drives abnormal cell division. Hormone therapy uses drugs that deactivate or break down the estrogen receptor, thereby slowing the growth of cancer cells. However, this type of tumor sometimes forms metastases that no longer respond to hormone therapy.

Fewer metastases

A research team led by Professor Mohamed Bentires-Alj from the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel and the University Hospital Basel reports in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine that dexamethasone can combat precisely these therapy-resistant metastases. In trials with mice with therapy-resistant ER+ tumors, dexamethasone reduced liver metastases and prolonged the animals' survival.

Further analyses provided more detailed insights into how the drug achieves this effect: dexamethasone activates the glucocorticoid receptor. This, in turn, suppresses the production of the estrogen receptor. "As a result, the cancer cells lose the main driver of tumor growth," explains Dr. Madhuri Manivannan, lead author of the study.

In addition to the trials with mice, the researchers also used patient-derived tumor tissue grown in the laboratory known as organoids. Here, they also observed that the amount of estrogen receptor decreased with the addition of dexamethasone.

New benefits for proven medication

"Dexamethasone could potentially directly support certain breast cancer therapies, not just as a concomitant treatment for nausea and inflammation," says Dr. Charly Jehanno, who led the research project. "However, these results, particularly the loss of estrogen receptor, now need to be confirmed directly in patients with breast cancer." If the metastasis-inhibiting effect proves to be true, this long-established drug could potentially be repurposed.

However, the researchers stress that dexamethasone would not be suitable for all breast cancer patients. "Dexamethasone is an example of how the same drug can have very different effects on the course of the disease in different forms of breast cancer," says Professor Mohamed Bentires-Alj.

In 2019, his team reported in the journal Nature that dexamethasone actually promotes metastases in another type of breast cancer (triple-negative).

More information: Madhuri Manivannan et al, Activated glucocorticoid receptor is an estrogen receptor silencer in ER+ metastatic breast cancer, EMBO Molecular Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44321-025-00342-z Journal information: EMBO Molecular Medicine , Nature
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: cottonbro studio from Pexels

An increasing number of Swedes are getting tattoos and Sweden's population is now one of the most tattooed in Europe. At the same time, the incidence of melanoma is increasing. A new epidemiological study from Lund University in Sweden suggests that tattoos could be a risk factor for melanoma.

In view of the lack of knowledge concerning the long-term health effects of tattoos, and its position as an under-researched field, researchers at Lund University are examining potential links between tattoos and cancer. The first study, published in spring 2024, showed a possible link between tattoos and lymphoma. A second study was published earlier this year, in which the researchers did not find an association between tattoos and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

An increasing number of people are tattooed

About 20% of all Swedes have been tattooed and for women under 40 the figure is over 40%. Most get their first tattoo between the ages of 18 and 35 but some are even younger, which means almost a lifetime of exposure to tattoo ink. At the same time, the incidence of melanoma has risen considerably over the past 30 years, due to causes such as increased UV radiation, but exposure to chemicals is also a suspected factor. Each year, about 5,000 Swedes are diagnosed with melanoma.

"We don't know about the long-term health effects of tattoos. We therefore need to clarify if there is a link between tattoo ink and skin cancer," says Christel Nielsen, associate professor and researcher in epidemiology at Lund University.

Adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) of cutaneous melanoma subgroups relative to non-tattooed participants. Tattoo exposure was modelled as exposure status (tattooed vs. nontattooed), and exposure duration (0-5[red], 5-10[green], 10-15[brown], >15 years[purple] vs. non-tattooed). Credit: European Journal of Epidemiology (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10654-025-01326-6

Study design

Using the National Cancer Register, the researchers identified 2,880 individuals who have been diagnosed with melanoma between the ages of 20 and 60. These individuals were then each matched with three individuals from the Total Population Register of the same sex and age but without a melanoma diagnosis.

The researchers subsequently collected information via questionnaires about whether the participants were tattooed and controlled for other factors such as sun exposure, sun bed use and skin type. Using this study design, they could estimate the risk of melanoma among tattooed individuals in comparison with non-tattooed individuals and also ensure that the results were not due to other factors such as sun exposure and sun bed use.

Increased relative risk observed at group level

"When we took these factors into account, we saw an increased relative risk among tattooed individuals. Of the participants who had melanoma, 22% were tattooed, compared with 20% in the control group," continues Emelie Rietz Liljedahl, associate researcher in toxicology at Lund University.

This applies at group level but not at individual level. The results of this most recent study, published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, suggest that tattoos could be a risk factor for melanoma, but further studies are needed before it is possible to talk about a causal link, emphasizes Nielsen.

The impact of tattoo ink

When tattoo ink is injected into the skin, the body perceives it as a foreign substance, which means the immune system is activated. The ink pigments are encapsulated by the immune cells, which hold them in place and transport them via lymphatic fluid to the lymph nodes.

"Azo pigments are the most common organic colorants in tattoo ink. This could be a potential risk because we already know that these can break down into harmful chemicals that may cause cancer. This particularly applies for exposure to UV radiation from the sun, sun beds or laser treatments," says Rietz Liljedahl.

The tattoo ink market was relatively unregulated until 2022, when an addition to the EU's chemical legislation (REACH) came into effect and introduced concentration limits for chemicals in tattoo ink. Despite this, market surveillance has shown that inks may still contain toxic chemicals exceeding the maximum limits, comments Rietz Liljedahl.

"In parallel with the authorities' continuing work on regulating the market, we need to understand the potential mechanisms through which tattoos may increase the risk of disease. As epidemiologists, our role is to find patterns in the population. Follow-up studies are now needed to examine why these patterns arise," says Nielsen.

The constantly rising tattoo trend means that the results of the study are more relevant now than ever from a public health perspective. Along with the researchers' previous findings about a possible link between tattoos and lymphomabut the absence of an association with squamous-cell carcinoma of the skinthe new study takes us one step further in understanding how tattoos may affect our health.

"Our results indicate there may be something that happens in the immune system and therefore we are now going on to continue exploring possible links between tattoo exposure and autoimmune conditions, such as psoriasis and thyroid conditions, in which the immune system is also involved," concludes Nielsen.

More information: Emelie Rietz Liljedahl et al, Does tattoo exposure increase the risk of cutaneous melanoma? A population-based case-control study, European Journal of Epidemiology (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10654-025-01326-6 Journal information: European Journal of Epidemiology
When 46-year-old Ramesh Verma, a delivery supervisor in Sangli, collapsed during a morning shift last month, his family assumed it was exhaustion. At the district hospital, doctors diagnosed him with severe hypertensionsomething he had never been screened for despite multiple health camps in his area. I thought high BP only happens to older people, Ramesh said, recalling how he had ignored occasional headaches for years. His case reflects a growing pattern across India: more people are being screened, but many like Ramesh still slip through the cracks of follow-up and long-term care.



Newly released government figures from the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPNCD) reveal that hypertensionaffecting nearly one in four adults in the countryremains a stubborn public health challenge despite significant advances in the scale of screening.



According to official data, annual hypertension screenings in Maharashtra rose from 5.44 million in 202324 to 14.33 million in 202425, marking one of the sharpest year-on-year expansions in recent years. Remarkably, the current year 202526 has already crossed 14.84 million screenings by October alone, surpassing last years total in just seven months.



Health officials attribute this growth to widespread digital reporting, more screening camps, and increased involvement of frontline workers. We are finally reaching populations that were invisible to the system for decades, said a senior NCD programme coordinator. However, the story is more complicated beneath the surface.



While diagnosis numbers climbedwith 5.1 million patients registered so far this yearthe data shows a worrying trend: follow-up rates are stagnating. In 202324, only 10.4 per cent of patients returned for follow-up care. The figure improved to 17.7 per cent in 202425 but slipped again to 15.9 per cent in the current year. Dr Harish Shetty, Psychiatrist warns that this drop coincides with the steep rise in new diagnoses, stretching an already burdened system.



Screening has exploded, but capacity for follow-up hasnt grown at the same pace. Patients start treatment but disappear because they cant afford frequent visits, or they dont understand the need for lifelong management, he said.



Control ratesthe percentage of people whose blood pressure is successfully managedtell a similar story. After improving from 7.5 per cent in 202324 to 13.3 per cent in 202425, the rate slipped slightly to 12.1 per cent this year. In absolute numbers, over 625,000 patients are currently under control, but experts say this is still a small fraction compared to the patient load.



The consequences of poor follow-up are already visible. Doctors report growing cases of preventable strokes, heart failure, and kidney disease. Many patients, like Ramesh, only learn about their condition once complications arise. Nearly half the patients we see with hypertensive emergencies say they were screened earlier but never received structured follow-up, noted a cardiologist from Raipur.



Senior officials from the state health department say the next frontier is strengthening continuity of careensuring patients return for reviews, adhere to medication, and receive counseling for lifestyle changes. Several states are experimenting with digital reminders, ASHA-led home visits, and community monitoring groups.



Despite challenges, the rapid scale-up in screening is being hailed as a major achievement. However India is moving in the right direction and that better follow-up systems will close the gap between diagnosis and control, said an official.



For patients like Ramesh, the numbers translate into a simple message. If I had checked my BP earlier, I would not have landed in the hospital, he says. His story serves as a reminder that while India is screening more than ever, the real battle lies in ensuring that diagnosis leads to sustained and effective care.




Ever wished upon a shooting star? Its already pretty exciting to catch a meteor streaking across the sky, but imagine 40 meteors or more per second  that would be a lot of wishes.



Astronomers call the phenomenon a meteor storm, which typically delivers at least 1,000 meteors per hour, 10 times as much as even the most prolific meteor showers. On rare occasions, a meteor storm can slingshot tens of thousands of meteors across the sky every hour.



The last great meteor storm was in 1966, and it accompanied the Leonid meteor shower. The meteor shower  which may make a few nightly appearances for most of the month but tends to peak annually in mid-November  usually produces only a handful of shooting stars, on the order of five or 10 per hour.



But on the night of November 17, 1966, the heavens across the western United States transformed into something seemingly fictional. Meteor rates suddenly spiked, with more than 2,000 streaks of light every minute. Some compared it to a glowing hailstorm, as if Earth was being bombarded by fireworks.Within just two hours, observed rates increased from about 40 per hour to flurries of as much as 40 per second! according to NASA. On that day in 1966, Robert Gleaves of North Texas was celebrating his 17th birthday.



He was sound asleep when his mother shook him awake and told him to get up quick.



She seemed to be very excited about something, not telling me at that moment what it was, only asking me to hurry up and come outside with her, he wrote in a 2002 email to NASA when recounting the episode.



What he saw would burn a picture in my mind that would be with me to this day.



There in the sky was the most incredible vision I have ever witnessed. It was if every star was falling from this north Texas sky, arcing the earths dome of atmosphere in every direction.



I watched with my mouth wide open for 30 to 45 minutes and the show never seemed to slow up, he added. It almost brings tears to my eyes when I stop and really think of how incredible that morning really was.



Mike Jones was in Army Primary Flight School at the time at Fort Wolters near Mineral Wells, Texas. He was 20.



As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I noticed meteors streaking down at an alarming rate, he wrote. I ran back in the barracks and soon had a bunch of us all staring up into the night sky. Mineral Wells is not a big place, so we had a very dark sky.



The rate picked up very rapidly and soon we were seeing dozens of meteors every second. The effect was similar to watching snowflakes race at your windshield while driving in a snowstorm!



Christine Downing in California had read about an anticipated meteor shower in the newspaper, so she drove into the Mojave Desert with a friend to look for shooting stars. She called the display unnerving and eerily silent.



A similarly intense meteor storm occurred in 1833, with up to 240,000 meteors per hour. Slightly lesser but still impressive displays occurred in 1868, 1999, 2001 and 2002. Those had about 1,000 to 3,000 meteors per hour.



All the meteor storms came from the Leonid meteor shower. The Leonids stem from debris left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 33 years.



Those small flecks of debris, most the size of a grain of puffed rice, burn up as they enter our atmosphere. Thats what produces a streak of light.



Leonid meteors zip through the sky comparatively fast, close to 45 miles per second. That helps boost their colors, with occasional larger chunks of celestial debris making for bright fireballs.



Most years, the shower is a bit of a dud. Sure, you might catch a shooting star or two, but it pales in comparison with the August Perseids or December Geminids, which can yield 100 meteors per hour each.



What causes the roughly once-a-century extreme meteor storms? Once in a while, Earth passes through a denser trail of cometary debris in space.



Imagine driving through a swarm of bugs; youd get plenty of streaks on your windshield. Scientists have worked to figure out the origin of these denser debris streams.



Additional debris trails may stem from passages of Tempel-Tuttle every 33.318 years, but mapping these trails  and noting how gravity may affect them  is difficult.



For now, scientists are predicting enhanced shows, with a few hundred meteors per hour, in 2034 and 2035. A meteor storm is possible in 2099.




In Maharashtra Nature Park in Dharavi  a forest risen improbably from an old landfill  what's surprising is the sheer amount of flowering that's happening at once. Mumbai is in the middle of a quiet ecological festival that most of the city is too distracted to notice. But a cluster of yellow blossoms halts this morning walk. This wasnt here last week, says Abhishek Khan, the nature educator behind Mumbai Vann. Phones come out, heads tilt upward. Its a small moment, but it captures something bigger: a city finally learning to see the flowers it has always lived among.



The unseen season



This is the citys paradox: its a place so frantic that it often misses its own beauty, yet so biodiverse that a single monsoon can transform entire neighbourhoods. The Glory Lily now climbs through Mahim Nature Park, the Indian Screw Tree shows its twisted pods on traffic islands, the rubber bush thrives near Haji Ali, and the beloved devils tree scents whole blocks at night.



For years, this quiet flowering calendar unfolded unnoticed. But over the past year, it has found new observers  amateur botanists, walkers with camera phones, and residents suddenly curious about what blooms around them. That Khans recent Instagram reel  a simple list of flowers currently in bloom  went viral unexpectedly is proof of the city's new fascination. I assumed 50 people would watch it, he says. Thousands did. More than 350 people signed up for his walks. Dozens now send him daily sightings, asking why the cork tree near Parel station blooms before dawn, or why some species flower off-season. Many are startled to learn that early blooms can signal stress, that what looks spectacular may actually be a survival strategy. For the first time in a long time, Mumbai is paying attention to its own living system.



City blooms richer than people think



Although we dont have a defined Spring, Mumbais flowering calendar is triggered by monsoon rhythms, humidity shifts and pressure changes. Many flowers appear only for 1014 days, which is why most residents miss them entirely. A few to look out for now:



 Ixora (Bakaali): Seen from Colaba to Versova, this is a key nectar source for butterflies and pollinators.



 Lantana (Tantani): Colourful but invasive, overrunning native shrubs in Aarey and SGNP. Its constant flowering signals ecological stress.



 Glory Lily (Gloriosa superba): Maharashtras state flower  gorgeous, medicinal, extremely toxic. Found only where soil conditions remain intact.



 Indian Cork Tree (Buchade): Drops the white, star-shaped dawn flowers that carpet Matunga and Dadar lanes. Traditionally used to treat headaches and anxiety.



 Hill Turmeric (Ranhald): Lives underground most of the year, surfacing briefly after the monsoon. One of the citys most reliable seasonal markers.



 Devils Tree (Saptaparni): The November night-time perfume of Bandra and Byculla comes from its nectar-rich blooms that attract moths and bats.



Each bloom, Khan says, is a data point  a behavioural signal. A tree flowering early? Stress. Off-season blooms? Its trying to seed quickly because it thinks conditions are worsening, he explains. Off-cycle blooms, globally, have been linked to rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and urban heat.



A city learns to look up



In the past few years, ecology has seen a sharp rise in public attention  a global post-COVID pattern that's mirrored in Mumbai. Nature journalling, citizen-science apps and biodiversity walks have surged; platforms like iNaturalist, a global species-mapping app, and SeasonWatch, Indias tree-phenology project, now show a surge in Mumbai users logging plant sightings. Researchers attribute the shift partly to urban fatigue: dense metros create a craving for something seasonal, sensory and alive. And Mumbai, despite its pace, is astonishingly biodiverse  Sanjay Gandhi National Park alone hosts over 1,300 flowering plant species, more than the entire UK.



Tree blindness  the documented tendency of adults to ignore or misidentify common species  is especially pronounced in cities. Khans walks tap directly into that gap. Participants arrive expecting a botany lesson; they leave realising theyve overlooked decades of life growing right beside them. The themed walks  Botany of Alcohol, Witchcraft, Psychedelics  are mnemonic tools: connect plants to culture or myth, and people remember them, he says.



His last trek (Rs 800 per person) sold out within hours, drawing everyone from schoolteachers to corporate professionals. What hooks them isnt the science, he says, but the revelation that the city is alive in ways no one taught them to see. As we exit the Nature Park, he gestures at a burst of yellow Pongam blossoms wedged between concrete walls. If you can recognise even ten flowers, he says, your relationship with the city changes. You stop walking through it  you start reading it.




For years, storyteller and intimacy educator Seema Anand has received questions that arrive wrapped in apology. Most begin with some version of I am so sorry to ask this, a hesitation that, she says, reveals how deeply Indias silence around intimacy runs. Her new book, Speak Easy  A Field Guide to Love, Longing and Intimacy (Bloomsbury), is an attempt to answer the questions people have long been too embarrassed to voice.



People have carried so much shame and anxiety around this subject because there is no safe place to ask even the most basic questions, she says. Much of the information Indians encounter is either unreliable, overly clinical or shaped entirely by Western ideas. Anand wanted a resource that felt culturally rooted  one that speaks in a language people actually use, and makes it clear that nothing you are struggling with is unique.



The education we never received



Indias intimacy gap is real. Despite having one of the worlds largest youth populations, sexuality education remains inconsistent and often stripped of ideas like consent, pleasure and gender identity. A 2022 review by the Population Foundation of India found that even when curricula exist, they rarely address the emotional and relational skills people actually need.



In homes with little privacy  especially multigenerational ones  silence becomes the default. Anand says this is precisely why individuals must learn to ask questions earlier, rather than waiting for adulthood. Her advice is simple: start the conversation, even if awkward. If you dont name your confusion, you will carry it into every relationship, she says.



That silence deepens around queerness, where misinformation still dominates. Anand urges families to move beyond inherited fears. Indian families still struggle to understand that queer identities have always existed in our texts and our stories, she says, but she encourages parents to listen instead of correct. If you dont understand, ask. Your willingness to learn can be the emotional safety your child needs.



The belief that queerness is a phase or a behaviour frustrates her. It is actually about identity, she says. Its what gives you the emotional safety and direction you need to grow as a human being. Her guidance to families is to stop trying to fix what is not broken and shift the question to: What does this person need to feel supported?



Representation has grown, but acceptance still wavers. Anand believes families can change that culture inside their own homes. Visibility helps, she says, but understanding is what changes relationships. She urges parents to seek reliable information, challenge their assumptions and prioritise dignity over discomfort.



Couples misread desire



A related misunderstanding emerges inside relationships: mismatched desire. Anand explains that it is not a sign of incompatibility but a natural fluctuation. Desire is not a fixed entity, she says. It fluctuates with stress, hormones, emotional security as well as the age and stage of the relationship. Yet very few Indians grow up hearing this.



If you treat this difference as a personal failure, thats when it becomes a problem, she says. Instead, she advises couples to ask a different question: Shift from how often are we having sex to how do we keep desire alive between us so that we really enjoy it when it does happen. That shift, she says, lives in everyday intimacy  the gestures, conversations and small rituals that build closeness. Her observations mirror the Laid in India 2025 MyMuse survey, which found that 55 per cent of Indians want more sex  not because of lack of desire, but because routine has dulled pleasure.



The myths that distort female pleasure



From desire, Anand often finds herself guiding people toward a tougher subject: pain. Women are taught that pain during sex is normal because it proves virginity or purity, she says. Even simple discomfort gets dismissed. I have men writing: I am enough for her, she does not need lube. Her pain is preferable to their ego.



She is firm in her advice. Pain is not normal. Sex is not meant to be endured. See a specialist, she says, and speak honestly with your partner. You do not need to push through. Even without pain, myths linger. The most persistent myth is that penetration must lead to synchronised orgasms, she says. Many women also assume desire should appear automatically  or match their partners. The problem, she adds, is that nobody teaches women  or men  how the female anatomy actually functions.



Such confusion deepens in midlife. Menopause doesnt end pleasure; it changes how you feel it, Anand says. Pace, lubrication and sensitivity shift, but desire doesnt disappear. Her advice: slow down, use lubrication without shame and adjust to what your body needs. Midlife intimacy can be far more pleasurable once you understand what the body needs.



In the end, she says, intimacy improves when people stop enduring pain, question old myths and learn to listen to their own bodies.




Calaveras, CA The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, November 25th, will consider appointing Assistant Auditor-Controller Greg Sessions to fill the rest of outgoing Auditor-Controller Kathy Gomes term, following her retirement on November 14.

Gomes, who informed the board of her plans on Oct. 8, recommended Sessions as her successor. Under state law, vacancies in elected county offices must be filled by the board, and the appointed person serves the remainder of the term. Sessions began overseeing the department on an interim basis on November 15. A resolution to make his appointment permanent is scheduled for a vote at Tuesdays meeting. If approved, he could be sworn in immediately by County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Rebecca Turner. Sessions, who has worked for the county since 2017, has served as assistant auditor-controller since 2021. He previously worked in private-sector accounting and holds a bachelors degree in accounting from Brigham Young UniversityHawaii.

The board is also set to introduce a resolution that would create a formula for how supervisors compensation is adjusted in future years. The measure would add Chapter 2.05 to the county code and allow for summary publication if the first reading is waived.

Another item on the agenda would establish a formal policy for reviewing and adjusting the salaries of elected county officials, including the assessor, auditor-controller, county clerk-recorder, district attorney, sheriff, and treasurer-tax collector. Under the plan, salary adjustments would be reviewed each February using two benchmarks: 50 percent tied to pay in similar counties such as Amador, Nevada, and Tuolumne, and 50 percent tied to compensation for comparable appointed department heads. In addition, each elected official would be guaranteed a pay gap of at least 15 percent above their highest-paid subordinate. Any wage changes would take effect in the next fiscal year, but could be adjusted if the county faces financial constraints.

Supervisors will also discuss the countys continued participation in the Calaveras-Amador Mokelumne River Authority, known as CAMRA.

The regular portion of Tuesdays meeting starts on Tuesday at 9 am, in the Board of Supervisors meeting room inside the Government Center in San Andreas.
House Minority Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference yesterday in Brooklyn, NY.

Jeffries was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

These are very challenging times that we confront, and we know that people are struggling with the high cost of living in our community, in our city and across the country. And no one in America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, should ever go hungry. No one. But we know, unfortunately, that the reality is very different. And that weve got some forces within the government who, instead of addressing the fact that there are millions of people in our country who are food insecure, are making things worse.

Earlier this year, there were a group of people who passed what we refer to as the One Big Ugly Bill. And in it, not only did they rip away Medicaid from 14 million people, triggering a wave of hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health centers closing, setting that painful reality in motion. In the same toxic piece of legislation, they enacted the largest cut to SNAP in American history, ripping $186 billion in nutritional assistance from hungry children, seniors, families and veterans. It was a shameful thing, and were working hard, and well continue to do everything possible until we get those toxic SNAP cuts reversed. Until we get them reversed.

We know in the midst of this affordability crisis, people are struggling with housing, people are struggling with healthcare and people are struggling with food, and having to make decisions about whether to put food on the table, pay the rent, get access to the medicine that they need to live a dignified life. Thats unacceptable in this great country. Its also one of the reasons why were so thankful for St. Johns Bread and Life, for the Food Bank and for the work of these great organizations that we will continue to support. Thankful for what they do during the holiday season, but this is work that is done each and every day, each and every month, year after year. And as the Member of Congress from this great community, I pledge to continue hard to support it.

Last thing that Id mention is that in this communityproud to have grown up in Crown Heights, continue to go to church in Bedford-Stuyvesant, right down the block where my grandmother lived for a long period of timethat weve seen tremendous progress as it relates to some of the violence issues that our community has suffered throughout the years, homicides and gang-related violence and things of that nature. And we know theres still progress to be made in those areas. But its always been the case that in our community, right here in central Brooklyn, that more people have always died from drive-thrus than drive-bys. Its always been the case. More people in our community have died from drive-thrus than drive-bys because of the lack of access to affordable, healthy food, triggering a wide variety of illnesses, from hypertension, high blood pressure, diabetes, other forms of heart disease, obesity that creates all sorts of health complications. More people in our community continue, and its always been true, have died from lack of access to healthy food, fruits and vegetables, nutritious meals that is affordable, than they have from gun violence or other things that have plagued our neighborhoods. Thats why making sure that we continue to support organizations like St. Johns Bread and Life, Food Bank for New York City and others will continue to be a high priority until we can bring about the moment in this great community, in the city, in this country, where not a single family ever goes hungry.

God bless you, and Happy Thanksgiving.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Joan Branson, the wife of British billionaire Richard Branson, has died at age 80.

Richard Branson announced her death Tuesday on Instagram and LinkedIn. No other details were disclosed.

Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away, he said. She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for. She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world.

Richard Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group, which includes businesses like Virgin Atlantic airline, space tourism company Virgin Galactic and satellite launcher Virgin Orbit.

In a 2020 blog post, he said he met Joan in 1976 at The Manor, a recording studio in Oxfordshire, England.

Joan was a down-to-earth Scottish lady and I quickly realised she wouldnt be impressed by my usual antics, Branson wrote.

He said she worked at an antique shop that sold old signs and advertisements.

I hovered uncertainly outside the shop, then built up the courage to walk in.  Over the next few weeks, my visits to Joan amassed me an impressive collection of old hand painted tin signs, which advertised anything from Hovis bread to Woodbine cigarettes, Branson wrote.

The couple had three children, Holly, Sam and Clare Sarah. Clare Sarah died shortly after birth in 1979.

___

This story was first published Nov. 25, 2025. It was updated Nov. 26, 2025, to correct the name of one of Richard and Joan Bransons children. She was Clare Sarah, not Sarah Clare.

By The Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP)  Oil company BP has found the source of a leak in a major Pacific Northwest pipeline system, allowing it to restart the flow of jet fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Tuesday and help avoid any major disruptions to Thanksgiving travel.

Separately, Washington state regulators announced they were fining the company $3.8 million for a 2023 spill from the same pipeline system nearby.

The 400-mile-long (644-kilometer-long) Olympic Pipeline is the backbone of the regions system for moving gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products from refineries near the Canadian border to distribution terminals in the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades, including major cities in Washington and Oregon.

BP shut the pipeline system down on Nov. 17 following intermittent shutoffs after a farmer discovered a gas sheen in a drainage ditch on a blueberry farm near Everett, north of Seattle, on Nov. 11. That prompted Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson to declare an emergency last week, lifting restrictions on how long truck drivers could work to enable them to deliver fuel to Sea-Tac by road. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek issued a similar order Monday.

But late Monday, after excavating in an area where two pipes run alongside each other  one that carries gasoline and another that carries jet fuel  BP said it found the leak in the gasoline pipeline. That allowed it to restart the flow of fuel to the airport and to begin devising a repair plan for the gas pipeline.

Officials and BP are still assessing how much gasoline leaked. Responders have set out recovery equipment to contain and clean up the spill, and no gasoline has been observed outside the area of the response, BP said.

It will take a couple of days to replenish fuel reserves at the airport, but early indications suggest that travel will not be impacted, Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell said in a statement. This is why we need strong pipeline safety oversight and better leak detection technology.

In a letter to BP last week, Cantwell said the fact that the company didnt notice the leak before the blueberry farmer did raised serious questions about its inspection, maintenance and leak-detection capabilities.

Delta and Alaska Airlines, which had added fuel stops to some flights, said Tuesday they were resuming normal operations while continuing to truck in some fuel until the airports reserves are replenished.

Previous shutdowns of the pipeline have prompted gas prices to spike in Washington and Oregon.

The pipeline has a lengthy history of leaks, including a 1999 fireball that killed three young people recreating along a creek in Bellingham, Washington. The accident led to an overhaul of federal pipeline regulation.

In 2023, a 25,000-gallon (95,000-liter) spill near Conway, north of Seattle, sent fuel into nearby streams and wetlands.

The state Ecology Department on Monday announced that the cause of that leak was a corroded carbon-steel nut on an assembly used to monitor the pipelines pressure. The companys inspections failed to identify the nut as a problem, though it shouldnt have been used due to the likelihood of corrosion, the department said.

The department said it was seeking more than $4.6 million from BP for that spill  $3.8 million in fines plus $822,000 in response costs.

The company, which has until Dec. 18 to appeal, said it is reviewing the departments findings.

As noted by the Washington Department of Ecology, our collaborative, robust response with our partners limited the affected area, reduced environmental impacts and prioritized public health, BP said in a statement.

By GENE JOHNSON and CEDAR ATTANASIO

Associated Press
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  A political consultant who sent artificial intelligence-generated robocalls mimicking former President Joe Biden to New Hampshire Democrats said Tuesday he will not pay $22,500 to three voters despite a recent federal court order.

The order, issued Friday in a lawsuit brought by the League of Women Voters, came five months after a jury acquitted Steve Kramer of voter suppression and impersonating a candidate. In the civil case, the judge entered a default judgement after Kramer failed to appear in court.

I never responded to them because I was already acquitted on 22 counts, Kramer said in an email, insisting that the lawsuit was a publicity stunt that wasted the courts time. He also has refused to pay a $6 million fine issued by the Federal Communications Commission.

Though jurors sided with Kramer in the criminal trial, the judge in the civil case not only ordered him to pay $7,500 to each voter who sued but banned him from engaging in the same conduct nationwide. Caren Short, director of legal and research at the League of Women Voters, described the decision as a critical precedent against the weaponization of artificial intelligence in elections.

Plaintiffs will explore further action if Kramer doesnt pay up, said Courtney Hostetler of Free Speech for People, which provided the League with legal assistance.

Mr. Kramer has shown a consistent disregard for the law and the rights of voters, she said. His plan to defy the courts order continues this pattern, and reinforces the importance of the injunction and the damages award.

Kramer, 56, of New Orleans, admitted orchestrating a message sent to thousands of voters two days before the states Jan. 23, 2024, presidential primary. Recipients heard an AI-generated voice similar to Bidens that suggested that voting in the primary would preclude voters from casting ballots in November.

Its important that you save your vote for the November election, voters were told. Your votes make a difference in November, not this Tuesday.

Kramer, who would have faced decades in prison if convicted, testified that he wanted to send a wake-up call about the potential dangers of AI when he paid a New Orleans magician $150 to create the recording. He said he was getting frequent calls from people using AI in campaigns, and, worried about the lack of regulations, made it his New Years resolution to take action.

This is going to be my one good deed this year, he recalled while testifying in Belknap County Superior Court in June.

Kramer argued that the primary was a meaningless straw poll, and therefore the states voter suppression law didnt apply. The primary was held in defiance of the Democratic National Committee, which had dislodged New Hampshire from its traditional spot in the nominating calendar, though the states delegates were still seated at the national convention. Biden did not put his name on the ballot or campaign there but won as a write-in.

Lingo Telecom, the company that transmitted the calls, agreed to pay $1 million in a settlement with the FCC in August 2024. The agency, which did not respond to requests for comment, was developing AI-related rules when Donald Trump won the presidency, but it has since shown signs of a shift toward loosening regulations.

And though multiple states have enacted legislation targeting the use of video or audio content that mimics candidates in political campaigns, Trump is considering pressuring states to stop regulating artificial intelligence. Trump and some Republicans argue that such regulation will dampen innovation, while critics worry about allowing big AI companies to operate with little oversight.

On Tuesday, attorneys general in 36 states, including New Hampshire, sent a letter to Congress opposing the preemption of state laws addressing the risks of AI.

By HOLLY RAMER

Associated Press
Ole Miss Rebels (5-0) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (5-0)

Palm Desert, California; Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hawkeyes -2.5; over/under is 146.5

BOTTOM LINE: Iowa faces Ole Miss in Palm Desert, California.

The Hawkeyes are 5-0 in non-conference play. Iowa ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 20.2 assists per game led by Bennett Stirtz averaging 6.2.

The Rebels are 5-0 in non-conference play. Ole Miss ranks third in the SEC allowing 65.0 points while holding opponents to 39.2% shooting.

Iowa makes 57.6% of its shots from the field this season, which is 18.4 percentage points higher than Ole Miss has allowed to its opponents (39.2%). Ole Miss averages 8.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.0 more made shots on average than the 6.4 per game Iowa allows.

TOP PERFORMERS: Stirtz is shooting 57.4% and averaging 17.6 points for the Hawkeyes. Alvaro Folgueiras is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers.

Ilias Kamardine averages 2.0 made 3-pointers per game for the Rebels, scoring 15.8 points while shooting 45.5% from beyond the arc. AJ Storr is averaging 14.4 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

By The Associated Press
Cal Baptist Lancers (5-0) vs. San Diego Toreros (3-2)

Palm Desert, California; Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Lancers -7.5; over/under is 149

BOTTOM LINE: Cal Baptist and San Diego play at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California.

The Toreros are 3-2 in non-conference play. San Diego is 1-0 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 13.0 turnovers per game.

The Lancers have a 5-0 record in non-conference games. Cal Baptist averages 75.4 points and has outscored opponents by 13.2 points per game.

San Diego scores 76.6 points, 14.4 more per game than the 62.2 Cal Baptist allows. Cal Baptist averages 75.4 points per game, 4.0 more than the 71.4 San Diego gives up to opponents.

TOP PERFORMERS: Toneari Lane is shooting 46.9% from beyond the arc with 3.0 made 3-pointers per game for the Toreros, while averaging 11.8 points. Juan Sebastian Gorosito is shooting 41.2% and averaging 13.2 points.

Dominique Daniels Jr. is shooting 43.6% and averaging 19.0 points for the Lancers. Martel Williams is averaging 14.6 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

By The Associated Press
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (4-1) vs. San Jose State Spartans (2-3)

Palm Desert, California; Tuesday, 1:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Golden Hurricane -6.5; over/under is 150.5

BOTTOM LINE: Tulsa and San Jose State meet at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California.

The Spartans have a 2-3 record in non-conference play. San Jose State averages 79.8 points while outscoring opponents by 5.8 points per game.

The Golden Hurricane have a 4-1 record against non-conference oppponents. Tulsa has a 4-1 record against teams above .500.

San Jose State averages 79.8 points, 6.2 more per game than the 73.6 Tulsa gives up. Tulsa averages 9.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.8 more made shots on average than the 8.0 per game San Jose State gives up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Colby Garland is shooting 63.1% and averaging 21.2 points for the Spartans. Ben Roseborough is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers.

David Green is shooting 44.3% and averaging 15.6 points for the Golden Hurricane. Tylen Riley is averaging 15.2 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

By The Associated Press
With California electric rates stuck at nearly the highest in the nation, the states utility regulator is poised to lower the payout shareholders can receive from Californias three large investor-owned power companies.

In a proposed decision, the California Public Utilities Commission recommended dropping the return on equity by 0.35% each for Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric. If approved, shareholders of all three companies would see a potential return next year of just under 10%. Such returns for PG&E and Edison havent dipped below double digits in at least 20 years.

Utilities said the decline would affect their ability to bring in needed investment for their work. Critics of the decision said that the decline is too small to meaningfully impact ratepayers bills, even if its a step in the right direction.

California and other (public utility commissions) authorize rates of return that are far in excess of the statutory requirement, said Mark Ellis, former chief economist at Sempra, which owns San Diego Gas & Electric.

The California Public Utility Commission is expected to vote on the decision in December.

Californians pay the second-highest electric rates in the U.S. after Hawaii, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. A number of factors go into those rates, including wildfire mitigation costs. PG&E in particular has attracted the ire of California customers for its frequent rate hikes within the last year.

Baked into those bills is the return on equity, money meant to compensate shareholders for the risk of doing business. These shareholder return rates are set by each states utility regulators and hover nationally around 10%. If approved, PG&Es rate would be 9.93% (down from 10.28%), Edison would be 9.98% (down from 10.33%), and San Diego Gas & Electric would be 9.88% (down from 10.23%). These rates are not automatically guaranteed  utilities can fall short of this return if they dont keep down costs, such as project overruns or unexpected lawsuit fees.

A small change in this rate can be a difference of millions of dollars for ratepayers. The return is a percentage of the rate base, the total value of a utilitys assets it can earn a return on; this includes projects such as building a new power plant, for example. The rate bases for Californias three large investor-owned utilities have steadily grown each year as they add new customers and projects, increasing the amount that shareholders can receive.

PG&E, for example, had a 10% shareholder return in 2023, a possible return of about $125 million. Had it been 1 percentage point lower, the potential return would have been $12.5 million less.

The proposed cost of capital decision needs refinement to better reflect Californias unique risks and market realities, said Edison spokesperson Jeff Monford. Making those refinements in the final decision will enhance SCEs ability to finance essential infrastructure projects for a more reliable, resilient and ready electric grid.

PG&E spokesperson Jennifer Robison echoed this sentiment, saying the decision fails to acknowledge current elevated risks to help attract the needed investment for Californias energy systems.

Anthony Wagner, spokesperson at San Diego Gas & Electric, said, A decision that accurately reflects these realities is essential to enabling investments that reduce wildfire risk, strengthen reliability, replace aging infrastructure and advance Californias clean energy transition for the benefit of the communities we serve.

Utilities routinely request these rates be pushed higher because they are a key part of what goes into utilities credit rating, affecting the interest they pay on loans for infrastructure investments. But in recent years, experts and consumer advocates point to a mismatch  the utility industry is typically considered low-risk, but critics say the shareholder return rates dont reflect that. Rates for U.S. 10-year treasury bonds, which are considered the benchmark for a risk-free investment, are about half of the national average for approved utility shareholder return rates. And its costing utility ratepayers across the country as much as $7 billion annually, according to academics.

Ellis, the former Sempra economist, said there is a way to lower shareholder returns while keeping customer bills in check and maintaining credit ratings that the commission has not yet explored  changing the balance of debt and equity each utility has.

You really need to understand credit, he said. This is where theyre going to get you.

The commission is allowed to set the debt-equity balance when it determines shareholder returns, but it left this unchanged for all three utilities in its proposed decision for 2026. Keeping shareholder return rates high as the main means for keeping credit ratings up, Ellis said, unnecessarily burdens ratepayers.

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This story was originally published by CalMatters and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

By MALENA CAROLLO/CalMatters

CalMatters
CAIRO (AP)  Sudans top general rejected a ceasefire proposal provided by U.S.-led mediators in a blow to efforts to stop a devastating war that has gripped the African country for over 30 months.

In video comments released by the military late Sunday, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan said the proposal was unacceptable and the worst yet, accusing the mediators of being biased in their efforts to end the war.

Sudan plunged into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere in the country.

The devastating war has killed more than 40,000 people, according to U.N. figures, but aid groups say that is an undercount and the true number could be many times higher. It created the worlds largest humanitarian crisis with over 14 million people forced to flee their homes, fueled disease outbreaks and pushed parts of the country into famine.

The mediators, known as the Quad, have been trying for over two years to bring an end to the fighting and reestablish a path to democratic transition which was hampered by a military coup in 2021. They are comprised of the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

This month, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he plans to put greater attention on helping find an end to Sudans war after being urged to take action by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to the White House.

On Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire and for both the military and the RSF to negotiate a settlement.

Writing on social platform X, he also called for a safe & unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as an end to arms and fighters transfer to Sudan.

We need peace in Sudan, Guterres said.

Massad Boulos, a U.S. adviser for African affairs, told The Associated Press earlier this month that the latest proposal calls for a three-month humanitarian truce followed by a nine-month political process.

The RSF said it has agreed to the truce, following global outrage over the paramilitaries atrocities in the Darfur city of el-Fasher. In a video speech late Monday, the paramilitary commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo reiterated the groups commitment to a three-month humanitarian truce and called for mediators to pressure the military to accept the proposal.

Burhan, Sudans top general, said however that the proposal is considered the worst document yet, since it eliminates the Armed Forces, dissolves security agencies and keeps the militia where they are  referring to the RSF.

If the mediation continues in this direction, we will consider it to be biased mediation, he said.

He lashed out at the U.S. adviser and accused him of attempting to impose some conditions on us.

We fear that Massad Boulos will be an obstacle to the peace that all the people of Sudan seek, Burhan said, without given further details about the plan.

In his comments, Burhan also took aim at the UAE. He said that since the Quad includes the Gulf country as a member, the mediation group was not innocent of responsibility, especially since the entire world has witnessed the UAEs support for the rebels against the Sudanese State.

In a statement Monday, the UAEs Foreign Ministry said Burhan, through his rejection of the ceasefire proposal, showed obstructive behavior, which it said must be called out.

The UAE is widely accused by rights groups of arming the paramilitaries. The AP reported earlier this month that U.S. intelligence assessments for many months have found that the Emirates, a close U.S. ally, has been sending weapons to the RSF, according to a U.S. official familiar with the classified reports who spoke on condition of anonymity to share details.

The UAE denies backing the paramilitaries.

Burhan denied that the military is controlled by Islamists or that it used chemical weapons in its fighting against the RSF  an accusation leveled by the Trump administration in May.

Burhan said the military will only agree to a truce when the RSF completely withdraws from civilian areas to allow the return of displaced people to their homes, before embarking on talks for a political settlement to the conflict.

Were not warmongers, and we dont reject peace, he said, but no one can threaten us or dictate terms to us.

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Lee Keath in Cairo contributed to this report.

BY SAMY MAGDY

Associated Press
BAMAKO, Mali (AP)  Malis ruling junta and Canadian miner Barrick have reached an agreement resolving a tax dispute involving one of Africas largest gold mining complexes, authorities and the company said Monday.

The agreement ends a two-year standoff between Mali and the company over the countrys new mining code, which increases the states share of revenue from gold producers. The dispute had previously led to the arrest of four Barrick Gold employees, who remain detained, and an arrest warrant for the companys CEO Mark Bristow.

In June, the companys Loulo-Gounkoto gold mining complex  one of the continents largest  was placed under provisional administration for six months.

In December last year, Barrick had submitted a request for arbitration to the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes to address disagreements with Mali about Loulo-Gounkoto.

Each party has committed to halting the ongoing legal proceedings as well as the various disputes over customs and tax issues, Malis Minister of Mines, Amadou Keita, said on state television Monday.

Keita said Barrick has agreed to sign the 2023 mining code, which lets the state take up to 30% ownership of any new mining project.

All charges brought against Barrick, its affiliates and employees will be dropped and the legal steps for the release of the four detained Barrick employees will be undertaken, the Canadian company said in a statement.

It said operational control of the Loulo-Gounkoto complex will be handed back to Barrick.

A Barrick official with knowledge of the negotiation said both parties have agreed to settle their differences within six days.

During those six days, Barrick must withdraw its complaint from international arbitration and pay a sum of around $180,000. In return, the Malian government will release the four Barrick employees and return the three tons of gold seized by the military junta earlier this year, said the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks.

Barrick has been operating in Mali for three decades. The companys website says it is Africas largest gold producer through its Loulo-Gounkoto complex and the Kibali mine in Congo.

Mali is one of Africas leading gold producers, but it has struggled for years with jihadi violence and high levels of poverty and hunger. The military seized power in 2020, and the government has placed foreign mining companies under growing pressure as it seeks to shore up revenues.

Last year, the CEO of Australian company Resolute Mining and two employees were arrested in Bamako. They were released after the company paid $80 million to Malian authorities to resolve a tax dispute and promised to pay a further $80 million in coming months.

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APs Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

By BABA AHMED

Associated Press
Chris Hemsworth wants to "continue on with life" despite the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease because it's "not a problem at this point".

Chris Hemsworth has opened up about living with the threat of Alzheimer's disease

The 42-year-old Thor star was told he carries two copies of the APOE4 gene which makes him eight to 10 times more likely than other people to develop the illness - which has already struck his father Craig - but he's adamant he doesn't want his life to be overshadowed by worries about the future.

Speaking in his new documentary A Road Trip to Remember, he explained: "This has become a very prominent conversation in my world, because I also have two copies of the gene that puts me in a higher-risk category for Alzheimer's.

"But it's not a problem at this point, and it may never be. So I'm far more focused on my dad right now ...

"I feel like its too far off, hopefully. I'd rather just continue on with life."

In the new Disney Plus documentary, Chris is seen spending time with his dad Craig as he battles symptoms of memory loss and confusion.

The actor explains his dad has "early-stage Alzheimer's, and theres definitely good days and bad days".

The pair embark on a road trip across Australia on motorbikes making stops at their former homes in Melbourne and the Northern Territory in a bid to help Craig with his memory issues.

The Hemsworth family's home in Melbourne was given a major overhaul to return it to its state in the 1990s when they lived there as part of an exercise designed to help Craig, who admitted: "[It felt] strange. [But] it's very satisfying recognizing stuff that I hadnt thought about for a long while."

The documentary also features Craig's wife Leonie, who confessed she's struggling to deal with her husband's prognosis and finds thinking about the future to be quite "terrifying".

In the film, she explained: "As a partner, its difficult because I want him to still be the person he was, and I want the relationship. I want that relationship.

"Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, and it can be quite terrifying to think where it's all going."
Individuals named Abydos typically exhibit traits of resilience, depth, and historical consciousness. They often possess a strong connection to tradition and heritage, combined with strategic thinking and endurance. The name suggests someone who is contemplative yet decisive, able to navigate complex situations with wisdom drawn from understanding historical patterns. These individuals tend to be natural leaders who value both spiritual depth and practical achievement, often serving as bridges between different cultures or perspectives.



Their strength lies in their ability to endure challenges while maintaining their core values, much like the ancient city that withstood centuries of historical change. People with this name often demonstrate remarkable patience and long-term vision, preferring to build lasting foundations rather than seeking quick victories. They tend to be deeply thoughtful individuals who appreciate history, archaeology, and the preservation of knowledge, while also possessing the practical wisdom to apply historical lessons to contemporary challenges. The dual heritage of the name often manifests as an ability to synthesize different perspectives and find common ground in diverse situations.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Adahy holds significant cultural importance within Cherokee tradition as a name that embodies the deep relationship between the Cherokee people and their natural environment. The name reflects the historical reality that many Cherokee communities lived in and depended upon the forests of the southeastern United States for sustenance, medicine, and spiritual connection. In Cherokee cosmology, the woods were not merely a physical space but a living entity filled with spiritual beings, ancestral connections, and practical wisdom.



The name Adahy carries this worldview, suggesting someone who is not just physically present in the woods but spiritually attuned to its rhythms and teachings. This connection to nature was fundamental to Cherokee identity before the Trail of Tears and remains an important aspect of cultural preservation efforts today. The name serves as a living reminder of traditional Cherokee values of environmental stewardship and harmonious coexistence with the natural world, representing resilience in the face of historical challenges and ongoing cultural revitalization.
Individuals named Adhamh are often perceived as grounded, practical, and deeply connected to their roots and heritage. They typically exhibit a strong sense of responsibility and reliability, with an earthy wisdom that makes them natural leaders and trusted advisors. Their connection to the name's meaning 'of the earth' often manifests in practical problem-solving abilities, patience, and a methodical approach to challenges. Many Adhamhs display a quiet strength and resilience, able to weather difficulties with stoic determination while maintaining their core values and principles.



In social contexts, Adhamhs tend to be steady and dependable friends who value deep, meaningful relationships over superficial connections. They often possess a calm demeanor that can be reassuring to others in times of stress or uncertainty. While they may not be the most flamboyant or outgoing personalities, their consistency and integrity earn them lasting respect. Their connection to tradition often gives them a strong moral compass and a sense of purpose that guides their decisions. At the same time, they typically demonstrate the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances, much like the earth that supports diverse forms of life while remaining fundamentally unchanged.
Cultural & Historical Significance

The name 'All' holds deep significance in Christian tradition, representing the concept of completeness and divine wholeness. In theological contexts, it frequently appears in biblical passages emphasizing God's sovereignty over all creation and the inclusion of all believers in salvation. This universal aspect made the name particularly meaningful during periods of Christian expansion, when the message of salvation for all people was central to missionary work.



Throughout Christian history, names incorporating 'All' have symbolized the ideal of unity within the faith community. The name reflects the early Church's understanding of being one body in Christ, where all members are equally valued. This cultural significance extends to Christian holidays like All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, which celebrate the communion of all believers, living and departed, reinforcing the name's association with spiritual completeness and universal Christian fellowship.
Women named Amarisa are often perceived as deeply intuitive and spiritually connected individuals who carry themselves with a sense of purpose and grace. They tend to be compassionate listeners with a natural ability to understand others' emotional needs, making them excellent friends and confidantes. Their name's meaning often translates into a personality that is both nurturing and resilient, able to provide comfort while maintaining strong personal boundaries.



Many Amarisa's exhibit creative talents and have a keen appreciation for beauty in all its forms, from art and music to nature and human relationships. They typically possess a quiet strength that allows them to navigate challenges with wisdom and patience, often serving as stabilizing forces in their families and communities. Their spiritual nature doesn't necessarily manifest as overt religiosity but rather as a deep sense of interconnectedness and purpose in their daily lives. This combination of emotional intelligence, creativity, and inner strength makes them particularly effective in healing professions, education, and community leadership roles where they can use their natural gifts to make meaningful differences in others' lives.
Individuals named Amita are typically characterized by their strong sense of integrity and truthfulness. They possess a natural inclination toward honesty in all their dealings and are often seen as reliable and trustworthy by those around them. These individuals tend to be thoughtful and analytical, carefully considering their words and actions before proceeding. Their commitment to truth often makes them excellent problem-solvers and mediators, as they approach conflicts with fairness and objectivity. Amitas are known for their steadfast nature and ability to maintain principles even under pressure, making them valuable friends and colleagues who can be counted on in difficult situations. They often exhibit a quiet confidence that comes from living in alignment with their values. While sometimes perceived as reserved or serious, this stems from their thoughtful nature rather than aloofness. Their reliability and consistency make them natural leaders in situations requiring moral clarity and ethical decision-making.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Angharat holds a significant place in Welsh Arthurian tradition as one of the central female figures associated with Peredur (the Welsh equivalent of Percival). Her character represents the ideal of courtly love and feminine devotion in medieval Welsh literature. In the Mabinogion and other Welsh texts, she appears as a noblewoman of high status whose love story with Peredur forms an important subplot in the Arthurian cycle, reflecting the cultural values of medieval Welsh aristocracy where women often served as both romantic interests and political allies in noble marriages.



The name's persistence in Welsh tradition demonstrates the enduring power of Arthurian romance in Celtic culture. Angharat's character bridges the gap between historical Welsh nobility and legendary romance, serving as a cultural touchstone for understanding medieval Welsh concepts of love, loyalty, and feminine virtue. Her story has been preserved through oral tradition and manuscript transmission, making her one of the more enduring female figures in the Celtic Arthurian tradition outside of the more famous Guinevere and Morgan le Fay.
Women named Ardine are typically perceived as warm, compassionate individuals with a natural ability to make others feel comfortable and valued. They often possess a quiet strength and resilience that enables them to navigate challenges with grace and determination. Their inherent warmth makes them excellent caregivers, listeners, and community builders, often taking on roles that require empathy and understanding.



Ardines tend to be deeply spiritual or philosophical, finding meaning in serving others and maintaining strong moral principles. They balance practicality with idealism, approaching life with both feet firmly on the ground while maintaining hope and optimism. Their steady nature makes them reliable friends and confidantes, though they may sometimes prioritize others' needs over their own. This combination of warmth, strength, and devotion creates individuals who naturally inspire trust and affection in those around them, often becoming the emotional anchors in their families and communities.
Dame Joanna Lumley does not want a "memorial service" after she dies.

Dame Joanna Lumley does not shy away from speaking about death

The 79-year-old actress - who turns 80 on May 1, 2026 - is "conscious of growing older", and does not fear thinking about death.

Despite insisting she does not want a ceremony that celebrates her life, Joanna's 71-year-old husband, conductor Stephen Barlow, told her it will be his and her son Jamie's decision to honour her wish, because she will be gone.

Joanna told the new issue of Britain's HELLO! magazine: "One's conscious of growing older. And, therefore, I've got a lovely piece by Samuel Johnson, written in 1770, saying, 'I'm an old man now, so hope I get through the year and granted the grace to behave properly.'

"It's that general feeling that life goes by, good or bad, and no matter how old or young we are, we're all gonna die, so be ready for it.

"I've spoken to my husband, and he said, 'Look, your own funeral has nothing to do with you. You're not even going to be at the funeral; you'll be gone, so you can say what you like about whatever.

"So I said, 'But I don't want a memorial service.' And he said, 'That's going to be up to me and Jamie if we're around. There's no point in saying, 'I don't want one,' because you'd have gone, darling, you'd have gone.'"

The Wednesday star added: "But I like the very last poem in the book by the great sage poet, Rabindranath Tagore, who says, 'Death is not extinguishing the light, it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.'

"And you think, 'Oh, that's just amazing."

Joanna is starring in a short film called My Week With Maisy.

It follows Mrs. Foster - a cynical woman about to start chemotherapy for cancer - and the titular character, Maisy Jones, a seriously ill yet optimistic child.

Through an unlikely friendship, Maisy teaches Mrs Foster to be grateful and hopeful, but to also respect the inevitability of death.

Speaking on the short movie, Joanna told My Weekly magazine: "We all own death. It doesnt discriminate. Good or bad, it will come to all of us. Just as we all are born. So, there is something within My Week With Maisy that makes us jump, that makes us sit up and take notice.

"Maisy seems to be much more accepting of what is happening to her than Mrs Foster."

My Week With Maisy will be shown at film festivals, but Joanna hopes it will be released for everyone to watch so its message can reach those undergoing chemotherapy.

The Absolutely Fabulous legend said: "I have obviously met people who have been through it  we all have.

"Very, very fortunately I haven't experienced it myself, but we are all surrounded by cancer  it's everywhere. And the more we learn about it, the more it's talked about, the more we understand it."
Individuals named Ares are often perceived as possessing strong, assertive personalities marked by courage, determination, and leadership qualities. They tend to be natural protectors with a fierce loyalty to those they care about, embodying the warrior spirit of their namesake. However, this strength can manifest as aggression or impulsiveness when not properly channeled. The name suggests someone who confronts challenges head-on, thrives under pressure, and possesses an innate competitive drive that pushes them to excel in demanding situations.



Beyond the obvious warrior associations, the name Ares carries subtler psychological implications. Those bearing this name often develop a complex relationship with their own strength and aggression, learning to balance their powerful nature with compassion and restraint. They may feel a sense of responsibility to use their strength wisely and protect others, evolving beyond mere combativeness into mature leadership. The mythological background provides a rich symbolic framework that can influence personal development, encouraging the cultivation of courage while warning against the dangers of unchecked anger and destruction.
Women named Arthurine are often perceived as possessing a unique blend of strength and grace, combining the legendary courage associated with King Arthur with distinctly feminine qualities of compassion and wisdom. They typically exhibit natural leadership abilities tempered with empathy, making them effective in roles that require both decisiveness and emotional intelligence. The name suggests someone who is principled and morally grounded, likely to stand up for their beliefs while maintaining a nurturing presence in their relationships.



Arthurines are often seen as pillars of their communities, embodying the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and charity through their daily actions and interactions with others. Their personality reflects the noble heritage of their name's origin while adapting these qualities to contemporary feminine expression. They tend to be thoughtful decision-makers who consider both practical consequences and ethical implications, often serving as moral compasses for those around them. The combination of strength and sensitivity in their character makes them particularly effective in caregiving professions, education, and community leadership where both firmness and compassion are required.
The name Athracht suggests a personality characterized by profound inner strength and spiritual depth, combined with practical competence in worldly matters. Individuals with this name are often perceived as natural leaders who guide through wisdom rather than authority, reflecting the historical saint's role in establishing religious communities through persuasion and example. They typically exhibit remarkable resilience, able to overcome significant obstacles while maintaining their core values and compassion for others. This combination of spiritual insight and practical effectiveness makes them particularly effective in roles that require both vision and implementation.



There's often a nurturing quality to those named Athracht, manifested in protective instincts toward the vulnerable and generous hospitality toward strangers. They tend to be excellent problem-solvers who approach challenges with both creativity and traditional wisdom, finding solutions that honor the past while addressing present needs. Their communication style is typically direct yet compassionate, and they often serve as mediators or counselors within their communities. The name carries connotations of reliability and trustworthiness, suggesting someone who maintains commitments and provides stability during turbulent times. This personality profile reflects the enduring qualities associated with the original saint: faith, practicality, compassion, and unwavering dedication to serving others.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Beldan emerges from the rich tradition of Celtic Christianity, where geographical features were often imbued with spiritual significance. The name reflects the early Christian practice of naming children after natural landmarks that were seen as manifestations of God's creation. In medieval Celtic communities, those dwelling in glens were often monks or hermits who sought solitude for prayer and contemplation, making the name synonymous with spiritual dedication and connection to nature. The beautiful glen represented not just physical beauty but also spiritual refugea place where one could encounter the divine away from worldly distractions.



During the 19th century Celtic Christian revival, Beldan gained renewed attention as part of the movement to reconnect with early Christian traditions that integrated faith with the natural world. The name came to symbolize the ideal of living faith through stewardship of creation and maintaining spiritual practices rooted in specific places. In contemporary Christian contexts, Beldan continues to represent the values of environmental stewardship, community caretaking, and the belief that natural spaces can serve as sacred grounds for encountering God. The name maintains its association with the Celtic Christian emphasis on finding God in the ordinary beauty of creation.
Individuals named Blaecleah are often characterized by a thoughtful, introspective nature combined with practical wisdom. The 'dark meadow' etymology suggests someone comfortable with complexity and ambiguity, able to find beauty and purpose in challenging circumstances. They typically exhibit strong intuition and emotional depth, making them excellent counselors and spiritual guides. Their connection to the meadow element indicates groundedness and nurturing qualities, while the dark aspect suggests mystery and profound inner life.



In social contexts, Blaecleahs tend to be reserved yet deeply loyal, forming meaningful relationships rather than seeking broad popularity. They often possess artistic or creative talents, particularly in writing, music, or visual arts that explore spiritual themes. Their Christian background frequently manifests as strong moral compass and commitment to service, though they may approach faith through contemplative rather than dogmatic pathways. The combination of earthly stability and spiritual depth makes them particularly effective in roles requiring both practical action and philosophical insight.
Cultural & Historical Significance

The name Blar holds deep roots in Irish history, particularly associated with the landscape and warrior culture of ancient Ireland. Originating from the Gaelic word meaning 'field' or 'plain,' it reflects the Irish people's profound connection to their land. The name gained particular prominence during the 16th century through Blar MacCarthy, whose clever diplomatic delaying tactics against English forces became legendary. His approach was so effective that it entered the English language as 'blarney,' meaning flattering or persuasive talk. This historical episode cemented Blar's association with Irish wit, strategic thinking, and resistance to foreign domination.



Throughout Irish history, bearers of this name have often been associated with rural leadership, land stewardship, and the preservation of Gaelic culture during periods of English rule. The name embodies the Irish spirit of resilience and the clever use of language as a tool of survival and resistance. In modern times, it serves as a reminder of Ireland's agricultural heritage and the intellectual traditions that helped preserve Irish identity through centuries of challenge and change.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Brys is a name with deep roots in French and Celtic cultures, though its exact origins remain somewhat obscure. In French tradition, it's often considered a variant of Brice, which itself derives from the Latin name Britius, meaning 'speckled' or 'spotted.' The name gained prominence in medieval France through Saint Brice, who succeeded Saint Martin as Bishop of Tours in the 4th century. This religious connection gave the name ecclesiastical significance throughout French history.



In Celtic regions, particularly Wales and Brittany, Brys carries different connotations, possibly deriving from words meaning 'hill' or 'mound,' suggesting connections to landscape and geography. The name's evolution reflects the complex cultural exchanges between French and Celtic peoples, particularly in regions like Brittany where both cultures have historically intersected. Throughout the centuries, Brys has maintained a presence as a distinctive masculine name that bridges aristocratic French heritage with Celtic earthiness.
Individuals named Cacanisius are typically perceived as deeply connected to their heritage and family traditions. They often exhibit strong loyalty to their community and demonstrate a natural inclination toward preserving cultural knowledge and historical continuity. This connection to ancestry frequently manifests as a thoughtful, deliberate approach to decision-making and a respect for established customs and wisdom passed through generations.



Cacanisius bearers are often characterized by their steadfast nature and reliability, making them trusted figures in their social circles. They tend to possess a quiet strength and resilience, able to endure challenges while maintaining their core values. Their personality often blends traditional wisdom with practical adaptability, allowing them to honor the past while navigating contemporary challenges. Many display a natural talent for storytelling and historical preservation, serving as living bridges between past and present.
Individuals named Caerleon are typically perceived as possessing strong leadership qualities, strategic thinking, and a deep sense of honor and tradition. They often exhibit the chivalric virtues associated with Arthurian knightscourage, loyalty, and a commitment to justice. Their personality reflects the fortress-like qualities of their namesake: resilient, protective of those they care about, and capable of withstanding significant pressure while maintaining their principles. There's often an air of nobility and historical consciousness about them, as if carrying the weight of legendary heritage.



These individuals tend to be natural organizers and defenders, often taking on roles that require both tactical planning and moral fortitude. They value structure and order but combine this with romantic idealism, much like the Arthurian legends themselves. While they can be somewhat traditional or conservative in their outlook, they also possess the visionary quality to inspire others toward noble causes. Their strength lies in their ability to balance practical military-minded thinking with the higher ideals of chivalry and courtly virtue, making them both effective leaders and respected moral compasses in their communities.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Cafall occupies a special niche in Arthurian mythology as one of the rare named animals in the entire Arthurian tradition. In Welsh literature, particularly in the important text 'Culhwch and Olwen,' Cafall is celebrated as Arthur's premier hunting dog with supernatural attributes - he could hunt without leaving footprints and track any creature across impossible terrain. This mythological importance reflects the Celtic cultural reverence for hunting dogs and their essential role in aristocratic life and mythology.



The name appears across multiple medieval Welsh sources, including the Black Book of Carmarthen, where legend claims Cafall's paw print was preserved in stone, cementing his legendary status. As Arthur's constant companion, Cafall embodies the Celtic ideals of loyal service and the bridge between the natural and supernatural realms. His presence in Arthurian lore underscores the importance of animal companions in Celtic mythology and represents the perfect fusion of practical skill and mystical ability that characterized the Arthurian ideal.
Kathy Griffin is "embarrassed" to admit being on "four" dating apps - despite previously saying she could not imagine herself using them.

Kathy Griffin is looking for love on 'four' dating apps

Since divorcing her second husband, marketing executive Randy Bick, in January, the 65-year-old comedienne has scoured the unnamed sites for a new man, and has had "three different dates so far" - all of which were unsuccessful.

Kathy quipped to People: "Can you believe it? I'm on four freaking apps. It's just embarrassing. I've gone on three different dates so far. They were all nice guys, but I didn't really feel the connection. I just think it's funny that I'm on there as myself anyway.

The Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List star needs a partner who can accept her for who she is.

She said: "I like a guy that's nice, that's smart, that can handle the fact that I'm like a ballsy comedian and not be threatened by that or whatever.

"And just somebody to share life with. Nothing wild. Not a Hollywood type of guy, just a regular guy."

Kathy's dating app confession comes after she could not imagine herself on the sites to find love after divorcing Randy.

In October 2024, she told the publication: "Can you imagine me on the dating apps?"

Kathy - who was married to 54-year-old actor Matt Moline from 2001 until 2006 - then joked: "Im taking advice, obviously Ill be starting with FarmersOnly.com. Im kidding, I dont know anything about farming. But I am a bit of a hoe. There, I said it.

The Pulp Fiction actress even eyed 75-year-old actor Martin Short - but she joked his The Only Murders in the Building "trollop" co-star Meryl Streep, 76, got in the way.

Kathy - who referenced speculation that Martin and Meryl had been linked after their Disney+ show relationship spilled over into real life - also told People in October 2024: I am open to darn near anything. Do you not know me? Thats how I get in trouble.

"I had my eye on Marty Short, but that trollop Meryl Streep got in my way. You cannot trust these Hollywood phonies.
Individuals named Casidhe are typically characterized by their sharp intellect and quick wit. They possess a natural curiosity and analytical mind that allows them to solve problems creatively and efficiently. Their cleverness isn't merely academic - it manifests as practical intelligence, social perceptiveness, and the ability to navigate complex situations with grace and humor.



Casidhes often demonstrate excellent communication skills, combining their innate intelligence with emotional intelligence to connect with others meaningfully. They tend to be adaptable and resourceful, able to think on their feet and find innovative solutions to challenges. While intellectually gifted, they typically balance their mental acuity with warmth and approachability, making them both respected and well-liked in social and professional circles.



This combination of intellectual sharpness and social grace makes Casidhes particularly effective in leadership roles, creative fields, and professions requiring both analytical thinking and interpersonal skills. Their natural cleverness often extends to a good sense of timing and the ability to read social cues accurately, making them excellent storytellers, negotiators, and problem-solvers.
Women named Christabel typically exhibit a compelling blend of spiritual depth and practical intelligence. The name's Christian roots often manifest in strong moral principles, compassion for others, and a natural inclination toward service and leadership. They tend to be reflective individuals who value meaningful connections over superficial relationships, with an intuitive understanding of human nature that makes them excellent counselors and confidantes. The 'bel' component contributes an artistic sensibility and appreciation for beauty that can express itself in creative pursuits, elegant personal style, or the ability to create harmonious environments.



Christabels often demonstrate remarkable resilience and conviction, perhaps influenced by the name's association with determined historical figures. They typically balance traditional values with independent thinking, making them both respectful of heritage and open to innovation. Their communication style tends to be thoughtful and articulate, with a natural grace that puts others at ease. While they can be idealistic, they usually possess the practical wisdom to implement their visions effectively. This combination of spiritual grounding, aesthetic sensitivity, and determined character creates individuals who inspire trust and admiration while maintaining a warm, approachable presence.
Individuals bearing the name Ciodaru are typically characterized by their strong sense of tradition, practical wisdom, and methodical approach to life. They tend to be deeply rooted in their cultural heritage, often serving as informal historians or cultural custodians within their families and communities. Their personality reflects a balance between respect for established ways and practical innovation, making them effective at preserving traditions while adapting them to contemporary contexts. They are usually perceived as reliable, thoughtful individuals who value quality over quantity in both relationships and endeavors.



In interpersonal relationships, Ciodaru-named individuals often exhibit patience, loyalty, and a quiet confidence that doesn't require external validation. They tend to be observant rather than overtly expressive, preferring to understand situations thoroughly before engaging. Their strength lies in their consistency and depth rather than flashy achievements. This grounded approach often makes them trusted advisors and stable presences in their social circles. Their combination of traditional values with practical problem-solving abilities typically earns them respect across generations, bridging older customs with modern realities through their balanced perspective.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Dakarai is a name of African origin, specifically from the Shona language of Zimbabwe, meaning 'happiness' or 'joy.' While often associated with Egyptian culture due to its melodic sound and African roots, it represents the deep cultural value placed on positive emotions and the celebration of life in many African societies. The name embodies the philosophical concept that one's name can influence their destiny, with parents choosing Dakarai to bestow a life filled with joy and contentment upon their child.



In modern African diaspora communities, the name has become a symbol of cultural pride and connection to ancestral roots, serving as a bridge between traditional African values and contemporary global identity. The name's journey from specific African linguistic origins to broader usage reflects the ongoing cultural exchange and preservation within global Black communities. It represents a conscious choice to honor African heritage while embracing modern multicultural identities.
Women named Davianna are often perceived as possessing a blend of strength and grace, reflecting the dual heritage of their name's meaning 'beloved' and its connection to leadership qualities. They typically exhibit natural charisma and emotional intelligence, making them effective communicators who easily build meaningful relationships. The 'David' root suggests qualities of courage, determination, and protective instincts, while the feminine '-anna' suffix adds elements of creativity, compassion, and artistic sensitivity. This combination often results in individuals who are both resilient and nurturing, capable of taking charge when necessary while maintaining their empathetic nature.



Daviannas tend to be natural leaders who inspire loyalty and affection in others, often finding themselves in roles where they can mentor or guide while creating harmonious environments. Their balanced personality makes them adaptable to various situations, equally comfortable in leadership positions and collaborative settings where their diplomatic skills shine. The name's association with being 'beloved' often manifests in their relationships - they tend to be deeply valued by friends and family for their loyalty and genuine care. At the same time, the David connection gives them an inner strength and moral conviction that helps them stand firm in their beliefs and principles, even when facing challenges or opposition.
Women named Delmare typically exhibit a deep emotional complexity reminiscent of the ocean itselfcalm and serene on the surface but with profound depths beneath. They often possess strong intuition and empathy, able to sense emotional currents in others much like sailors read the sea. Delmares tend to be adaptable and resilient, weathering life's storms with grace while maintaining their core identity. Their creative and imaginative nature often draws them to artistic pursuits, and they have a natural affinity for water-related activities.



While they can be mysterious and occasionally withdrawn during emotional tides, they form deep, lasting connections with those who earn their trust. Their independent spirit combines with a nurturing quality that makes them both strong leaders and compassionate friends. Delmares often display remarkable patience and persistence, understanding that meaningful change, like ocean currents, happens gradually. They tend to be excellent listeners and problem-solvers, approaching challenges with the same methodical care that navigators use to chart courses through uncertain waters. Their combination of emotional intelligence and practical wisdom makes them valued advisors and loyal companions.
Cultural & Historical Significance

The name Deoch occupies a unique position in Celtic cultural history, deriving from the Old Irish word for 'drink' but carrying much deeper significance. In ancient Irish society, the sharing of drink was not merely a social courtesy but a sacred ritual that established bonds of hospitality and mutual obligation. The legendary Princess Deoch of Munster embodied these values, representing the ideal Celtic host who ensures the comfort and nourishment of guests. This tradition of hospitality, known as 'cuaird', was central to Celtic social structure and was considered a royal virtue.



Beyond its literal meaning, Deoch connects to broader Celtic spiritual concepts where liquidsparticularly sacred wells, rivers, and ceremonial drinksheld profound symbolic power. The name evokes images of the mythical Well of Wisdom and the sacred cauldrons of Celtic mythology that provided endless nourishment. As a princess's name, Deoch would have signified not just physical provision but spiritual and emotional sustenance, reflecting the Celtic understanding of leadership as fundamentally about caring for and nourishing one's people. This cultural context makes the name particularly meaningful for those seeking to honor Celtic heritage and values.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Eadwyn is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name with deep roots in early English Christianity. The name gained prominence during the 7th century Christianization of England, particularly through figures like King Edwin of Northumbria, whose baptism marked a significant moment in English religious history. As a compound of 'ead' (wealth, prosperity) and 'wyn' (friend), the name embodied Christian virtues of spiritual wealth and fellowship. Throughout the medieval period, Eadwyn remained popular among clergy and nobility, symbolizing both material prosperity and spiritual richness within Christian communities.



The name's usage declined after the Norman Conquest but experienced revivals during various Anglo-Saxon romantic movements in later centuries. In Christian tradition, Eadwyn came to represent the ideal of blessed friendship and prosperous community, reflecting the early Church's emphasis on both spiritual and material stewardship. The name continues to carry these historical and religious associations, making it a meaningful choice for families seeking to connect with England's Christian heritage.
Individuals named Eanruig are typically perceived as natural leaders with a strong sense of responsibility toward family and community. They often exhibit the traditional Scottish qualities of determination, loyalty, and practical wisdom that have been valued in clan societies for generations. These individuals tend to be protective of their loved ones and take their role as providers and guardians seriously, reflecting the name's meaning of 'home ruler.' Their leadership style is typically characterized by fairness, consistency, and a deep commitment to the well-being of those in their care.



Eanruigs are often seen as pillars of stability in their communities, combining traditional values with practical problem-solving abilities. They tend to be methodical in their approach to challenges and value honesty and integrity in all their dealings. While they can be reserved in expressing emotions, they demonstrate their care through consistent actions and reliable support. Their strength lies in their ability to balance authority with compassion, making them respected figures who inspire confidence and trust in those around them. This combination of traditional values and practical leadership makes them effective in roles that require both vision and steady guidance.
Cultural & Historical Significance

The name Emmanuel holds profound significance in Abrahamic traditions, particularly in Christianity where it appears in the Book of Isaiah as a prophecy about the coming Messiah. In the Gospel of Matthew, the name is explicitly applied to Jesus Christ, fulfilling the prophecy 'Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.' This biblical connection has made the name particularly important in Christian communities worldwide, symbolizing divine presence and messianic hope.



Throughout history, the name has been borne by numerous saints, theologians, and religious figures, reinforcing its spiritual weight. In Jewish tradition, while less commonly used as a personal name, the concept of 'God with us' remains central to theological understanding of divine relationship with humanity. The name's journey through different cultures and languages demonstrates how biblical names adapt while retaining their core spiritual meaning across generations and geographic boundaries.
Matt Smith went to eight Oasis shows over the summer.

Matt Smith is a huge Oasis fan

The House of the Dragon star, 43, is a huge fan of the band and he was thrilled when they got back together for their massive Oasis Live '25 Tour - and he made sure he went to as many of the dates as possible.

He told NME: "I went to eight of them! ... I did Cardiff, Wembley, Wembley, Wembley, Wembley, Wembley  I love Oasis. It was blow-your-ears-off, blow-your-socks-off good.

"Whats amazing about that tour is the s*** theyve left out. Columbia, Shes Electric  and thats not even getting on to the later albums. Bangers. Just when you think [its slowing down], they go: 'Heres Slide Away'."

He added of the Oasis setlist: "Little By Little goes mad! Half The World Away goes f***** off the chain!

"And thats before theyve even got to f****** Wonderwall, Champagne Supernova. I just think culturally, as a country, we needed it. When was the last time we all got together and went: 'F****** come on' across different generations?"

Matt went on to admit his favourite gig experience of all time wasn't at the Oasis shows - it was after an Arcade Fire concert in Chicago, Illinois when he was invited to join the band on stage in disguise after spotting their tour bus outside his hotel.

He explained: "I saw Arcade Fire in Chicago with my then girlfriend. We were staying in a hotel and there was this big silver bus outside.

"I was like: 'Thats got to be a band.' As luck would have it, this woman came out and said: 'Oh hey, did you used to be in Doctor Who? This is Arcade Fire, do you wanna come and see them? Theyre doing this thing at the end of the gig where you can put a bobblehead on and be on stage.

"Obviously, I said yes. It was amazing."

Matt revealed he had so much fun, he ended up changing his travel plans so he could join the band onstage again during their next gig in Toronto, Canada.

He added: "I changed all my plans and drove from Chicago to Toronto and did exactly the same thing at their next gig too."
Individuals named Faing are often perceived as grounded, practical, and deeply connected to their roots. Drawing from the name's agricultural origins, they typically exhibit traits of reliability, stewardship, and a strong work ethicqualities essential for successful livestock management. There's often a sense of patience and methodical approach to problem-solving, reminiscent of the careful tending required in sheep farming. Many Faings demonstrate a protective nature toward family and community, mirroring the shepherd's role in safeguarding the flock.



These individuals tend to be resourceful and value tradition while being adaptable to changing circumstances. The name suggests someone comfortable with responsibility and possessing an innate understanding of cycles and seasons, whether in nature or in life. This often translates to emotional stability and a pragmatic outlook that others find reassuring. While perhaps not flashy or attention-seeking, Faings typically earn respect through consistent, dependable behavior and quiet competence in their chosen fields. Their connection to the name's pastoral origins may manifest as an appreciation for nature, practical skills, and a preference for meaningful work over superficial achievements.
Individuals named Faki are often perceived as thoughtful, analytical, and possessing natural leadership qualities. They tend to be methodical in their approach to problems, showing patience and consideration before making decisions. This careful deliberation often makes them trusted advisors within their social circles, as they combine intellectual depth with practical wisdom. Their analytical nature is typically balanced by strong ethical convictions and a sense of responsibility toward their community.



Socially, Fakis are often characterized by their calm demeanor and ability to mediate conflicts. They typically exhibit strong communication skills, particularly in explaining complex concepts in accessible ways. While they may appear reserved initially, they often reveal warm, supportive personalities to those they trust. Their combination of intellectual curiosity and emotional intelligence makes them effective in roles requiring both analysis and human connection, often excelling in education, counseling, or community leadership positions where their natural wisdom can benefit others.
Individuals named Fane are typically perceived as cheerful, optimistic, and spiritually inclined. They often possess a natural ability to uplift others with their positive demeanor and are known for their warm, engaging personalities that create harmonious social environments. These individuals tend to be creative and expressive, with a strong sense of empathy that allows them to connect deeply with others.



Their joyful nature is often balanced by a thoughtful, reflective side, making them both enjoyable companions and trusted confidants. Fanes are frequently drawn to artistic pursuits or helping professions where they can spread positivity and make meaningful contributions to their communities. They approach challenges with resilience and maintain their optimistic outlook even in difficult circumstances, often serving as beacons of hope for those around them. The combination of their inherent cheerfulness and spiritual depth makes them particularly effective in roles requiring both emotional intelligence and steadfast positivity.
Cultural & Historical Significance

The name Farid carries deep cultural significance across the Muslim world, rooted in its Arabic meaning of 'unique' or 'incomparable.' Historically, the name gained prominence through influential figures like Farid al-Din Attar, the 12th-century Persian poet whose mystical work 'The Conference of the Birds' remains a cornerstone of Sufi literature. His contributions established Farid as a name associated with spiritual depth and intellectual excellence. In South Asia, the name is particularly revered through Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar, one of the earliest Sufi saints of the Chishti Order, whose shrine in Pakistan attracts millions of pilgrims annually and symbolizes the syncretic cultural traditions of the region.



The name's cultural resonance extends beyond religious contexts to represent ideals of individual excellence and distinctive character. In many Muslim societies, naming a child Farid expresses parental aspirations for the child to develop unique talents and make exceptional contributions to their community. The name embodies the Islamic concept that each person has a singular purpose and potential for greatness. This cultural significance has ensured the name's enduring popularity across generations, maintaining its status as a meaningful choice that connects bearers to a rich heritage of spiritual and intellectual achievement while inspiring them to cultivate their own distinctive qualities.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Finola is an Anglicized form of the Irish name Fionnuala, which holds deep roots in Irish mythology and literature. The name appears prominently in the legend of the Children of Lir, where Fionnuala was the daughter of King Lir who was transformed into a swan for 900 years. This mythological connection gives the name a poetic and tragic quality that resonates throughout Irish cultural history. The name embodies the classic Irish tradition of naming children after mythological figures and saints, connecting modern bearers to ancient Celtic heritage.



Throughout Irish history, the name has maintained its cultural authenticity while adapting to English linguistic influences, representing the complex interplay between native Irish traditions and external cultural forces. It carries the weight of Ireland's rich oral tradition and literary heritage, making it more than just a name but a link to Celtic identity and storytelling. The name's persistence through centuries of cultural change demonstrates the resilience of Irish naming traditions and their importance in maintaining cultural continuity.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Fogartaigh holds significant cultural importance in Irish history as both a personal name and surname originating from ancient Gaelic nobility. The name appears frequently in medieval Irish annals and genealogies, particularly associated with the ruling families of Leinster and Munster regions. As an ancestral name meaning 'exiled,' it reflects the turbulent history of Irish clans who often faced displacement during various political conflicts and Norman invasions.



The name preserves the memory of Gaelic Ireland's complex social structures and the resilience of Irish families who maintained their identity despite historical challenges. Many bearers of this name were recorded as chieftains, poets, and scholars who contributed to the preservation of Irish culture and language during periods of significant cultural pressure. The name's continued use, particularly in its anglicized form Fogarty, represents the enduring legacy of Irish heritage and the diaspora experience that has characterized much of Irish history.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Gadhra holds deep significance in Irish culture as a name derived from the word for mastiff or hunting dog, animals highly valued in ancient Celtic society. In early Irish literature and mythology, hounds were associated with warriors, hunting, and protection, often serving as companions to heroes and chieftains. The name reflects the Celtic reverence for canine qualitiesloyalty, courage, and fierce protection of family and territory. Throughout medieval Irish history, the name appeared among various Gaelic clans, particularly in Connacht and Munster regions, where it was borne by warriors and leaders who embodied the protective qualities of their namesake.



The mastiff in Irish tradition was not merely a pet but a status symbol and working companion, essential for hunting, herding, and guarding homesteads. This practical importance translated into the symbolic weight carried by the name Gadhra, representing both physical strength and unwavering loyalty to one's kin and community. The name's usage in historical records indicates it was typically given to boys expected to become protectors and leaders, reflecting the interweaving of practical animal husbandry with social structure and personal identity in Gaelic culture.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Godfrey has deep roots in Norman and Germanic cultures, arriving in Ireland with the Anglo-Norman invasion in the 12th century. The name became established among Irish families of Norman descent, particularly in regions like County Cork and County Limerick, where it evolved into Gaelic forms like 'Gofraidh.' In medieval Europe, the name gained prominence through Godfrey of Bouillon, the legendary Crusader who became a symbol of Christian knighthood and pious leadership. The name's association with divine peace made it appealing in religious contexts, while its noble connections gave it aristocratic appeal throughout European courts and among landed gentry in Ireland.



The name's journey through Irish history reflects the complex cultural interactions between Norman settlers and native Gaelic society. Many Norman families who adopted the name Godfrey became thoroughly Gaelicized over centuries, with their descendants playing significant roles in Irish politics, military affairs, and land ownership. The name maintained its prestige through various historical periods, from the medieval era through the Tudor conquest and into modern times. Today, Godfrey represents a bridge between Ireland's diverse cultural heritage, embodying both Norman aristocratic traditions and the broader European Christian influences that shaped Irish society.
Individuals named Gudrun are often characterized by a remarkable blend of intellectual depth and emotional resilience that seems to echo their mythological namesake. They typically possess an analytical mind capable of seeing patterns and connections that others miss, combined with strong intuitive abilities that guide their decision-making. Gudruns tend to be profoundly loyal to their principles and loved ones, though this loyalty is tempered by a pragmatic understanding of human nature. They often display quiet determination rather than overt aggression, preferring to achieve their goals through strategic planning and persistent effort. Many exhibit a capacity for deep emotional experience while maintaining outward composure, creating an impression of mysterious depth. Their strength often emerges most clearly during crises, when they demonstrate unexpected resourcefulness and endurance. While they can be reserved in unfamiliar social situations, those who know them well appreciate their dry wit, insightful observations, and steadfast reliability. The personality associated with Gudrun suggests someone who values knowledge not just as information but as wisdom to be applied with discernment and ethical consideration.
Women named Idurre are often characterized by a unique blend of traditional values and contemporary adaptability. They typically exhibit strong connections to their cultural heritage while remaining open to new ideas and experiences. This balance makes them particularly effective in roles that require both respect for tradition and innovative thinking. Many Idurres demonstrate a quiet confidence and inner strength that serves them well in leadership positions, though they often prefer to lead through example rather than overt authority.



Their personality often reflects the natural imagery associated with their name - they tend to be refreshingly genuine, with a clarity of purpose that others find inspiring. Idurres are frequently described as having a calming presence and a nurturing disposition, making them excellent caregivers, educators, and community organizers. They typically value deep, meaningful relationships over superficial connections and often serve as the emotional anchors within their social circles. This combination of cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and practical wisdom makes Idurre a name associated with women who successfully bridge different worlds while maintaining their core identity.
China calls for multilateralism in prohibition of chemical weapons

Xinhua) 08:47, November 25, 2025

THE HAGUE, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- China has appealed to all states parties of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to advance true multilateralism and enhance solidarity and cooperation.

"In recent years, under the influence of geopolitics, the OPCW has witnessed a growing tendency toward politicization and division, which is challenging the tradition of decision-making by consensus," Wang Daxue, a senior Chinese diplomat, said at a side event hosted by the Chinese delegation to the 30th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CSP-30), which opened here on Monday.

"Constructive dialogue and communication among the States Parties is diminishing, and calling for a vote is increasingly defaulted to," said Wang, deputy director general of the arms control department in China's Foreign Affairs Ministry and also head of the Chinese delegation.

In a position paper, China proposed four initiatives, including adhering to the object and purpose of the Chemical Weapons Convention, upholding multilateralism, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and enhancing solidarity and coordination.

"China calls for maintaining the technical attributes of the OPCW, and avoiding the politicization of its work," said Lyu Xiaodong, deputy permanent representative of China's mission to OPCW.

Representatives from Brazil, Uganda, Venezuela, Russia, Qatar, Mongolia, and other countries voiced their support for China's initiatives.

"The OPCW should continue to make decisions by consensus. But at the same time, the divisions that we face in the world have led us to a different kind of reality where consensus has not been easy," Uganda's permanent representative to the OPCW Mirjam Blaak Sow told the audience.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' rapper son King Combs believes the disgraced rapper could be released from prison in time for the holidays.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs' son King Combs believes the star will be released from prison before the end of his sentence

The 56-year-old rap mogul is serving 50 months behind bars after being convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and it was previously revealed he is scheduled for release on June 4, 2028 after the date was pushed back by four weeks, but King, 27, is convinced his dad will be home very "soon".

King told TMZ.com: "Hes gonna be on the way home ... Hes doing good, everything is good. Hell be home soon."

When asked if the shamed hip-hop mogul might get a pardon from the US government, King replied: "We'll see. Fingers crossed."

King was also asked how the family is doing as they prepare for the holiday season without the star, and he said: "Watch out, he might come home before then."

It comes after a representative for the shamed star insisted Combs is taking his sobriety "seriously" during his stint behind bars.

The spokesperson dismissed claims Combs had been caught drinking homemade alcohol behind bars - insisting his client is focusing on remaining clean and sober.

The representative told PEOPLE: "There have been several false and reckless reports circulating about Mr. Combs. He has not violated any prison rules. His sobriety and self-discipline are priorities, and he is taking them seriously.

"This is only his first week at FCI Fort Dix, and unfortunately, rumors will surface throughout his time there. We ask the public and the press to give him the benefit of the doubt, the privacy to focus on his personal growth, and the grace to move forward in peace."

A statement denying the booze rumours was also posted on Combs' X account. It reads: "The rumors claiming Mr. Combs was caught with alcohol are completely false. His only focus is becoming the best version of himself and returning to his family."

Combs was transferred from Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York City to FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey on October 30. FCI Fort Dix is a low security facility and said to have better conditions than MDC Brooklyn, where Combs had been behind bars since his arrest on various sex crime charges in September 2024.

His legal team had requested he be moved to the facility in New Jersey because of its access to drug rehabilitation schemes.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Jibril holds profound significance in Islamic tradition as the primary archangel who served as God's messenger to numerous prophets. In Islam, Jibril revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad over 23 years and is considered the leader of all angels. He is mentioned by name in the Quran multiple times and played crucial roles in delivering divine messages to prophets including Adam, Ibrahim, Musa, and Isa. Jibril is revered as the angel of revelation who bridges the divine and human realms, making him one of the most respected figures in Islamic theology. His appearances in Islamic tradition are often described as magnificent and awe-inspiring, with his primary function being the transmission of God's will to humanity through chosen messengers.



The significance of Jibril extends beyond revelation to include guidance, protection, and serving as an intermediary in key historical events of Islamic prophecy. In Islamic eschatology, Jibril will blow the trumpet signaling the Day of Judgment, emphasizing his ongoing role in cosmic events. The archangel's importance is further highlighted in the Isra and Mi'raj narrative, where he accompanies Prophet Muhammad through the heavens. This deep cultural and religious significance has made the name Jibril a cherished choice among Muslim families for centuries, representing not just a historical figure but an ongoing spiritual presence in Islamic belief and practice.
Individuals named Kailynne are often perceived as compassionate and spiritually grounded, with a natural inclination toward nurturing relationships and community building. They typically exhibit strong organizational skills and responsibility, living up to the 'keeper of the keys' symbolism through their reliability and trustworthiness. Many Kailynnes demonstrate creative expression combined with practical wisdom, making them effective in roles that require both empathy and structure. Their purity association often manifests as authenticity and moral clarity, though they may sometimes struggle with perfectionism or being overly self-critical.



These women frequently become pillars in their social circles, offering stability and guidance while maintaining a gentle, approachable demeanor that draws others to them for counsel and support. The combination of spiritual depth and practical capability makes them natural leaders in family, church, and community settings. They tend to approach challenges with both faith and reason, seeking solutions that honor their values while being effective in the real world. Their strength often lies in their ability to remain steadfast in their convictions while being flexible and understanding in their interactions with others.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Kaleikaumaka holds deep significance in Hawaiian culture as a name that embodies the cherished relationship between parent and child. In traditional Hawaiian society, names were not merely labels but carried spiritual weight and reflected the hopes, dreams, and ancestral connections of the family. The name specifically conveys the profound love and pride parents feel when gazing upon their child, representing the continuity of family lineage and cultural values.



Historically, Hawaiian names often contained multiple layers of meaning, referencing natural elements, family history, or desired characteristics for the child. Kaleikaumaka follows this tradition by combining poetic imagery with emotional depth. The name reflects the Hawaiian concept of aloha aina (love for the land) and ohana (family), suggesting that the child is as precious and beautiful as the islands themselves. It represents the intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge and the sacred responsibility of nurturing the next generation.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Kerin represents a modern adaptation of the classical name Corinne, which has roots in ancient Greek poetry and mythology. The name gained prominence through the 19th century French literary tradition, particularly through Madame de Stael's novel 'Corinne' which featured an independent, artistic heroine. This literary connection established the name as representing educated, creative women who challenged conventional gender roles of their time.



Throughout the 20th century, the spelling variation 'Kerin' emerged as part of the trend toward unique name spellings while maintaining the classical essence of the original form. The name carries echoes of both classical tradition and modern individuality, appealing to parents seeking names with historical depth but contemporary flair. In various English-speaking cultures, it has maintained a presence as an elegant alternative to more common feminine names while preserving its connection to artistic and intellectual feminine ideals.
Individuals named Kern are often perceived as possessing a thoughtful, introspective nature combined with quiet strength. They tend to be observant and analytical, preferring to process information deeply before acting or speaking. This contemplative quality often makes them excellent problem-solvers who approach challenges with methodical precision. Despite their reserved exterior, Kerns typically demonstrate strong loyalty to those they trust and can be surprisingly passionate in defending their principles or protecting loved ones. Their 'dark' etymological connection often manifests metaphorically as depth of character rather than negativitythey embrace complexity and aren't afraid to explore life's shadowed aspects.



This personality profile suggests someone who values authenticity and substance over superficial social conventions. Kerns often develop rich inner lives and may excel in fields requiring deep concentration or specialized knowledge. Their natural inclination toward observation makes them keen judges of character, though they may take time to reveal their own thoughts and feelings. The combination of their Gaelic heritage and the name's meaning contributes to a personality that balances traditional values with individualistic thinking, creating individuals who honor roots while forging their own paths. This makes them particularly well-suited to roles where patience, integrity, and independent judgment are valued.
Laudegrance is characterized by a blend of royal dignity, paternal concern, and political wisdom. As an experienced ruler, he demonstrates careful judgment in assessing Arthur's suitability as both a king and husband for his daughter. His personality reflects the medieval ideal of the wise elderpatient, deliberate, and focused on long-term stability rather than immediate gain. He shows strong protective instincts toward his daughter and kingdom, yet also recognizes the need for strategic alliances to ensure their future security. Laudegrance exhibits loyalty and trustworthiness, qualities that make him a reliable ally to Arthur and a respected figure among other kings. His decision to entrust both his daughter and the symbolic Round Table to Arthur demonstrates remarkable faith and foresight. This combination of cautious wisdom and bold trust makes him a compelling figure who represents the best qualities of medieval nobilityhonor, responsibility, and the ability to recognize and support true greatness in others.
Individuals named Lyndall are often perceived as gentle yet resilient, much like the linden tree from which the name derives. They typically exhibit a nurturing nature combined with quiet strength, showing compassion toward others while maintaining personal boundaries. Lyndalls are frequently described as intuitive and perceptive, with an ability to understand emotional undercurrents in relationships and situations.



Their connection to nature often manifests in a calm demeanor and appreciation for beauty in everyday life. Many Lyndalls demonstrate creative talents, particularly in writing, arts, or healing professions, where their empathetic nature can flourish. They tend to value deep, meaningful connections over superficial relationships and often serve as trusted confidants within their social circles. While generally peaceful, they possess an inner fortitude that emerges when defending their principles or protecting loved ones, reflecting the symbolic strength of the linden tree that can withstand storms while providing shelter.
Women named Madena are often perceived as possessing a unique blend of spiritual depth and practical wisdom. They tend to be intuitive and emotionally intelligent individuals who demonstrate strong loyalty to their family and community. Their connection to the name's Magdalene roots often translates into a compassionate nature and a willingness to support others through difficult times. Madenas typically exhibit a quiet strength and resilience that allows them to navigate challenges with grace and determination.



These individuals often possess artistic sensibilities and appreciate beauty in various forms, from traditional arts to natural wonders. While they can be reflective and introspective, they also know when to take decisive action, balancing contemplation with practicality. Their personality often combines traditional values with modern perspectives, making them adaptable yet grounded individuals who value both heritage and progress. This balance between tradition and innovation makes Madenas particularly effective in roles that require both emotional intelligence and practical problem-solving skills.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Malkah holds profound significance in Jewish culture as the feminine form of 'Melech' (king), directly translating to 'queen.' In traditional Jewish communities, the name carries regal connotations and is often given to girls with the hope they will embody leadership qualities, wisdom, and moral strength. The name appears in various Jewish texts and traditions, sometimes used metaphorically to represent the Jewish people or the Sabbath Queen (Malkat Shabbat). Throughout Jewish diaspora communities in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, Malkah remained a cherished name that connected bearers to their heritage and royal spiritual lineage.



The name also symbolizes the ideal Jewish woman as described in Proverbs 31 - a woman of valor who manages her household with wisdom and strength, essentially serving as the queen of her domestic domain. In mystical Jewish traditions, Malkah connects to the concept of the Shechinah, the divine feminine presence. During the Sabbath, Jewish tradition welcomes the 'Sabbath Queen' (Malkat Shabbat), further reinforcing the name's spiritual significance. The name has been particularly important in maintaining cultural identity throughout periods of Jewish migration and persecution, serving as a reminder of the royal dignity inherent in every Jewish soul.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Micheal holds deep significance in Irish culture as the Gaelic adaptation of the biblical name Michael. The name became particularly prominent in Ireland following the spread of Christianity, with St. Michael the Archangel being one of the most important figures in Catholic tradition. In Irish society, the name Micheal carries strong connections to national identity and heritage, often chosen by families wanting to honor their Gaelic roots while maintaining Christian traditions. The name's spelling with 'ae' rather than 'ea' is distinctly Irish and serves as a marker of cultural identity. Throughout Irish history, many prominent political leaders, artists, and cultural figures have borne this name, further cementing its status as a name that represents both faith and Irish nationalism.



The name's cultural importance extends beyond religious significance to embody Irish resilience and identity preservation. During periods of English domination and cultural suppression, maintaining Irish names like Micheal became an act of cultural defiance. In modern Ireland, the name continues to represent a connection to both spiritual heritage and national pride, making it a popular choice for families seeking to honor their ancestry while embracing contemporary Irish identity.
Tara Reid has claimed she was drugged at a bar before being rushed to hospital.

Tara Reid has claimed she was 'drugged' in a hotel bar

The American Pie actress was seen in a wheelchair before being taken on a stretcher following an incident at a hotel bar in the Chicago.

In footage obtained by TMZ, the 50-year-old star was speaking incoherently and seemed to slip off a wheelchair in the lobby.

She was helped back into the chair, before paramedics led her away on a stretcher.

Reid told the outlet the incident occurred at an unspecified hotel bar just outside Chicago.

She told TMZ Live: "I got to the hotel, I checked in, and then I went downstairs to have a drink and have a cigarette, and I got my drink and I left it at the bar, and I went outside, smoked a cigarette, and there was a bunch of YouTubers there in the lobby, like everywhere.

"And they're videotaping stuff and, you know, everything. It was just weird. And I went back to the bar, and my drink was covered up with a napkin.

"And I thought, 'that was weird,' cause I never put that over my drink. And then I drank my drink and without even finishing my drink, I just passed out. And before I knew it, I was in the hospital, eight hours later."

She claimed that medical professionals at the hospital told her she was "drugged", but that she doesn't know what drug it may have been.

Reid has been open about her past struggles with substance abuse and addiction, and insisted she is now in a possible where she can regulate her drinking.

She added: "Absolutely. I mean, I only had a drink of wine. I don't drink hard liquor or anything like that at all.

"I just had a glass of wine and a cigarette and that was it."

In a statement, her representative later told the Daily Mail newspaper: "Tara Reid has filed a police report after an incident in which she believes her drink was tampered with.

"She is cooperating fully with the investigation. Tara is recovering and asks for privacy during this traumatic time.

"She also urges everyone to be careful, watch your drinks and never leave them unattended, as this can happen to anyone. She will not be making further comments at this stage."
Individuals named Mitcbel are often perceived as possessing strong moral character and spiritual depth, reflecting the name's meaning of being 'like God.' They typically exhibit qualities of compassion, wisdom, and integrity, often serving as moral compasses in their communities. These individuals tend to be natural leaders who inspire others through their example rather than authority, demonstrating patience and understanding in difficult situations. Their thoughtful nature often makes them excellent counselors and mediators, able to see multiple perspectives and find peaceful resolutions.



Mitcbels are known for their reliability and consistency, building trust through their unwavering principles and dedication to their values. While they may appear reserved at first, they form deep, meaningful relationships and are fiercely protective of those they care about. Their combination of strength and gentleness makes them respected figures in both personal and professional spheres. They often exhibit a quiet confidence that comes from deep conviction rather than arrogance, and they tend to approach life with a sense of purpose and spiritual awareness that influences all their decisions and interactions.
Women named Noelene are often perceived as warm, nurturing individuals with a strong sense of tradition and family values. They typically exhibit cheerful dispositions and natural empathy, making them excellent caregivers and community builders. The Christmas association lends an air of celebration and joy to their personalities, often making them the heart of social gatherings and family events. Their connection to the holiday season frequently translates into a love for bringing people together and creating meaningful traditions.



Many Noelene's demonstrate strong organizational skills and reliability, combined with creative flair that might express itself in holiday decorating, event planning, or artistic pursuits. They tend to be practical yet imaginative, able to balance traditional values with modern sensibilities. The name's Christian origins often correlate with individuals who value faith, compassion, and service to others. Their generous nature and ability to find joy in simple pleasures make them beloved by friends and family, while their strong moral compass guides them in personal and professional relationships.
Individuals named Odharnait are traditionally associated with thoughtful, introspective qualities and a calm, measured approach to life. The name's meaning of 'pale' often translates symbolically to characteristics of wisdom, depth, and spiritual awareness in Gaelic cultural understanding. They tend to be observant and perceptive, with a natural inclination toward contemplation and analysis rather than impulsive action. This personality type values authenticity and depth in relationships, often forming strong, lasting bonds based on mutual understanding and respect.



In social settings, Odharnait personalities often exhibit quiet confidence and reliability, earning respect through their consistency and thoughtful nature rather than overt displays of emotion or aggression. Their pale association suggests someone who operates from a place of inner strength and reflection, often serving as a stabilizing influence in their communities and relationships. While they may appear reserved initially, they possess deep emotional intelligence and the ability to understand complex situations with remarkable clarity. This combination of introspection and practical wisdom makes them valued advisors and trusted companions in both personal and professional contexts.
Individuals named Patrido are typically perceived as dignified, responsible, and principled, with a strong sense of personal honor and commitment to their duties. They often exhibit natural leadership qualities, combining strategic thinking with emotional intelligence that allows them to navigate complex social situations with grace. Patridos tend to be traditional in their values yet adaptable in their methods, showing respect for established institutions while being capable of innovation when circumstances demand.



Their noble character manifests in loyalty to family and community, often taking on protective roles and serving as pillars of stability in their social circles. While sometimes perceived as reserved or formal, those who know them well appreciate their deep capacity for friendship and their unwavering reliability in times of need. The name seems to carry expectations of excellence and integrity that many who bear it strive to fulfill, creating a self-reinforcing cycle where the name shapes the personality and the personality honors the name's heritage.
Women named Promyse typically develop personality traits centered around reliability, deep integrity, and a strong sense of commitment. From childhood, they often internalize the meaning of their name, growing into individuals who take their word seriously and value trust in relationships. This foundational characteristic frequently manifests as exceptional dependabilitythey become the friends who remember birthdays, the colleagues who meet deadlines, and the family members who provide steadfast support. Beyond mere reliability, Promyses often exhibit advanced emotional intelligence, understanding the profound impact of broken promises and thus approaching commitments with careful consideration. They tend to be natural mediators and peacemakers, skilled at finding common ground and building bridges between conflicting parties. Their name often shapes their life philosophy, leading them to prioritize authenticity, transparency, and long-term relationship building over temporary gains or superficial connections. This results in individuals who build deep, meaningful connections and are often sought out for counsel and support.
Individuals named Ruairidh are often characterized by strong leadership qualities, natural charisma, and a deep sense of cultural identity. They tend to be confident decision-makers with an innate ability to inspire others, reflecting the name's royal connotations. Typically, Ruairidhs possess a blend of traditional values and progressive thinking, making them effective bridge-builders between old and new ways. Their personality often includes a strong protective instinct toward family and community, combined with a creative spirit that might express itself through music, storytelling, or other artistic pursuits.



While they can be determined and occasionally stubborn in their convictions, Ruairidhs generally balance this with warmth, loyalty, and a good-humored approach to life's challenges. They often exhibit a natural authority that doesn't need to be demanded but is naturally accorded to them by others. The combination of traditional roots and modern adaptability makes Ruairidhs particularly effective in roles that require both respect for heritage and innovation. Their personality typically reflects the name's historical associations with leadership, suggesting someone who can guide others while maintaining strong connections to their cultural foundations.
Individuals named Searlas are typically perceived as possessing strong leadership qualities, reliability, and a protective nature that makes them natural guardians in their personal and professional relationships. They often exhibit a balanced combination of traditional values and modern adaptability, showing respect for heritage while embracing contemporary perspectives. Searlas tends to be associated with people who are decisive yet thoughtful, demonstrating the courage to take initiative while considering the consequences of their actions. Their inherent strength of character is often complemented by a deep sense of loyalty and commitment to those they care about, making them dependable partners, friends, and colleagues who inspire confidence and trust in others.



Beyond these core traits, those named Searlas often display a quiet confidence that doesn't require constant validation from external sources. They tend to be practical problem-solvers who approach challenges with methodical determination rather than impulsive reactions. This measured approach to life often makes them excellent in crisis situations where calm leadership is essential. While they may appear reserved initially, Searlas typically reveals warmth and genuine concern for others once trust is established. Their combination of strength and sensitivity allows them to navigate complex social dynamics effectively, often serving as mediators or trusted advisors in both personal and professional contexts.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Sedgewic holds significant cultural importance within Christian naming traditions, particularly in English-speaking regions where nature-based names with religious connotations were favored. The name emerged during the medieval period when Christian families often chose names reflecting both their faith and connection to the natural world, viewing creation as evidence of divine work. Sedgewic specifically references wetland environments where sword grass grows, symbolizing the intersection of spiritual resilience and earthly stewardship. Throughout Christian history, names derived from natural features were seen as honoring God's creation while providing practical identification with local geography. The name maintained popularity among clergy and landed gentry who valued both religious devotion and ancestral ties to specific territories, creating a legacy that blends spiritual and environmental consciousness. In modern Christian communities, the name continues to represent a bridge between traditional values and ecological awareness, appealing to families who see environmental stewardship as an expression of faith.
Individuals bearing the name Steathford typically exhibit personality traits that mirror their name's meaning of 'landing ford.' They are often natural mediators and problem-solvers, possessing an innate ability to help others navigate difficult transitions. Their character combines practical wisdom with visionary thinking, making them excellent at seeing pathways through complex situations. Steathfords tend to be patient yet decisive, knowing when to wait for the right moment and when to take action. They often demonstrate remarkable resilience and adaptability, much like a ford that adjusts to changing water levels while maintaining its essential function. These individuals frequently excel in leadership roles during times of change or crisis, providing stability and direction when others feel uncertain. Their grounded nature combined with their transitional capabilities makes them valuable bridges between different groups, ideas, or phases of development. The Steathford personality is characterized by a unique blend of steadfast reliability and flexible problem-solving that enables them to guide others safely across life's various challenges.
Symbolically, Stephenson represents the powerful convergence of spiritual devotion and human achievement. The name's root meaning of 'crown' connects to both the martyr's crown of Saint Stephen and the crowning achievements of engineering innovation. This dual symbolism creates a rich metaphorical landscape where faith and reason, tradition and progress, sacrifice and accomplishment coexist. The name embodies the concept of building upon foundationswhether spiritual traditions passed through generations or technological advancements that transform society. Symbolically, Stephensons often represent bridge-builders: connecting past and future, faith and science, theory and practice. The patronymic nature of the name ('son of Stephen') adds layers of meaning related to inheritance, legacy, and the transmission of values and knowledge across generations. In contemporary contexts, the name has come to symbolize the integration of humanistic values with technological progress, suggesting that innovation remains most meaningful when grounded in ethical and spiritual foundations. This complex symbolic profile makes Stephenson a name that continues to inspire both reverence for tradition and excitement for possibility.
A beloved prop from Wes Anderson's 2012 film Moonrise Kingdom has been stolen from his home.

Wes Anderson believes a beloved film prop was stolen from his home

The 56-year-old director has revealed he held onto a portable record player which featured in the film but he realised it was missing when he was putting together memorabilia for an exhibition in London and he is convinced it's been pinched.

According to The Times newspaper, he said: "There is one thing [we couldnt find]. The record player. Somebody did take it. It was in my apartment ...

"I guess its a good sign if we can really fret about [just] one missing thing."

When asked if the prop could have been misplaced, the moviemaker replied: "No, I think its stolen."

Ironically, the record player features in Moonrise Kingdom when the character Susie Bishop - played by Kara Hayward - takes it from her brother without asking.

Anderson was pulling together items from his movie career for a exhibition at The Design Museum in London .

Wes Anderson: The Archives launched on November 21 and runs until July featuring more than 700 objects charting the director's career in the film industry.

A message posted on the museum's website explained: "The Design Museum has been granted unprecedented access to Wes Andersons personal archives, which the filmmaker has built up over three decades. This is the first time most of these objects will be displayed in Britain ...

"Over 700 objects will bring together the director's meticulous craft of filmmaking through original storyboards, polaroids, sketches, paintings, handwritten notebooks, puppets, miniature models, dozens of costumes worn by much-loved characters, and more ...

"As well as finished props and sets, the exhibition will feature work-in-progress material and maquettes, and it will look at the variety of traditional and hand-made film-making techniques that the director continues to celebrate through his work, especially connected to puppets and stop-motion animation."

Highlights of the exhibition including a model of the Grand Budapest Hotel, vending machines featured in Asteroid City as well as a fur coat worn by Gwyneth Paltrow in The Royal Tenenbaums.

The show also puts on display the sea creature puppets used in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and Mr Fox from Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Cultural & Historical Significance

The name Taleb holds profound cultural significance in Muslim societies, rooted in the Islamic tradition that places immense value on knowledge and learning. Derived from the Arabic root 't-l-b' meaning 'to seek,' the name embodies the Quranic principle that the pursuit of knowledge is a religious obligation for every Muslim. Historically, the term 'talib al-ilm' (seeker of knowledge) referred to students who traveled to study with renowned scholars, often undertaking perilous journeys across the Islamic world. This tradition produced the great intellectual centers of medieval Islam and contributed to the preservation and advancement of various sciences. The name thus carries the weight of this rich intellectual heritage, symbolizing the bridge between faith and reason that characterized classical Islamic civilization.



In contemporary Muslim culture, Taleb continues to represent educational aspirations and spiritual seeking. Parents who choose this name often hope their child will embody the qualities of curiosity, perseverance, and wisdom. The name is particularly meaningful in communities that value both religious and secular education, as it doesn't specify the type of knowledge being sought. This flexibility allows the name to remain relevant across different Muslim societies and historical periods, while maintaining its core association with the noble pursuit of understanding. The cultural resonance of Taleb extends beyond individual identity to represent the collective Muslim commitment to education and intellectual development.
The symbolic resonance of Tareq extends far beyond its literal meanings, encompassing layers of metaphorical significance that have evolved across centuries. As the morning star, it represents the eternal human quest for enlightenment - that moment of clarity that emerges after periods of confusion or darkness. This celestial symbolism connects to universal archetypes of guidance, hope, and the promise of new beginnings. The 'knocker at the door' interpretation adds dimensions of opportunity, initiative, and the courage to seek what lies beyond visible horizons. In mystical Islamic traditions, the name symbolizes the soul's journey toward divine truth, with the 'knocking' representing spiritual seeking and the 'door' symbolizing access to higher knowledge. The historical narrative of Tariq ibn Ziyad contributes additional symbolic layers of crossing boundaries, cultural exchange, and the transformative power of courageous action. Psychologically, the name embodies the human capacity to be a source of illumination for others while undertaking personal journeys of growth and discovery. These multifaceted symbolic meanings make Tareq a name that represents not just individual identity but universal human aspirations - the search for truth, the courage to explore unknown territories (both external and internal), and the role each person can play in guiding others through life's challenges. This rich symbolic tapestry continues to make the name meaningful across generations and cultures.
Individuals named Thanos are often perceived as strong-willed, determined, and principled, reflecting the name's association with steadfastness and endurance. They tend to exhibit leadership qualities and intellectual depth, with a natural inclination toward philosophical or strategic thinking. The name carries connotations of resilience and persistence, suggesting someone who remains committed to their beliefs and goals despite challenges or opposition.



Many Thanos-named individuals display a blend of traditional values and modern thinking, often showing respect for heritage while embracing contemporary ideas. Their personality is frequently characterized by a certain intensity and depth of character, combined with a protective nature toward those they care about and a strong sense of personal integrity that guides their decisions and relationships. This combination of traits often makes them natural leaders who inspire loyalty and respect, though they may sometimes be perceived as stubborn or uncompromising when their core principles are challenged. The name suggests someone who thinks deeply about life's larger questions and approaches challenges with both practical determination and philosophical reflection.
Individuals named Tlanextic are often perceived as natural leaders with optimistic and forward-thinking personalities. They typically exhibit qualities of enlightenment, guidance, and inspiration - much like the dawn they represent. These individuals tend to be early risers with high energy levels, often initiating projects and motivating others. Their personality reflects the gradual but persistent nature of dawn light: starting softly but growing in strength and influence throughout the day.



They are often seen as bridges between tradition and innovation, honoring cultural roots while embracing progress. Emotionally, they demonstrate resilience, able to emerge from difficult situations with renewed strength and clarity, mirroring how dawn follows even the darkest nights. Socially, Tlanextics are typically warm and approachable, yet possess a quiet dignity that commands respect. They often excel in roles requiring vision, mediation, and the ability to see potential where others see limitations, making them effective in education, leadership, and creative fields.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Tydeus holds significant cultural importance in Greek mythology as one of the Seven Against Thebes, a group of heroes who marched against the city of Thebes. His story represents the complex themes of heroism, loyalty, and the tragic consequences of war that permeate Greek literature. As the father of Diomedes, one of the greatest Greek warriors in the Trojan War, Tydeus serves as a bridge between generations of heroes, embodying the warrior ethos that defined ancient Greek aristocratic values.



His mythological narrative explores the tension between raw martial prowess and civilized behavior, particularly highlighted in the story where he consumes the brain of his enemy Melanippus, an act that horrified even the goddess Athena who had intended to grant him immortality. This duality makes Tydeus a compelling figure representing both the glory and savagery of ancient warfare. The name continues to resonate in classical studies and serves as an important reference point for understanding Greek concepts of heroism, paternal legacy, and the moral complexities of combat.
Cultural & Historical Significance

The name Walby carries significant cultural weight as a surname-turned-given-name that reflects the complex history of Welsh-English relations. Originating from the Old English term meaning 'from the Welshman's dwellings,' it represents the geographical and cultural intersections between Anglo-Saxon and Celtic populations during medieval Britain. This name serves as a living testament to the migration patterns and settlement histories that shaped the British Isles, particularly highlighting how Welsh communities established themselves within predominantly English territories.



Throughout Christian history, names indicating ethnic or geographical origins often carried spiritual significance, representing the diverse composition of early Christian communities. Walby embodies this tradition, suggesting a family that maintained its Welsh Christian identity while integrating into broader English society. The name's persistence through centuries demonstrates how cultural identities were preserved through naming conventions, making it a valuable historical marker of Welsh diaspora and cultural resilience within Christian communities.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Welton has deep roots in English Christian culture, originating as a surname derived from place names in England. The name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Weltone,' indicating its Norman origins following the Conquest. Throughout medieval England, Welton became established as both a surname and given name, particularly in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire where villages named Welton existed. The name's Christian significance stems from its adoption by families living near church-owned farms with natural springs, which were often considered blessed or sacred sites.



During the Victorian era, Welton gained popularity as a first name among Anglican families who valued its connection to English rural heritage and Christian stewardship of the land. The name carries echoes of the English countryside's Christian agricultural traditions, where farms with springs were seen as providential gifts from God, making Welton a name that embodies both faith and connection to the natural world. In American Christian communities, Welton was often chosen by families emphasizing their English religious heritage and appreciation for names with strong biblical connections to water and land symbolism.
Cultural & Historical Significance

The name Winswode emerged during the High Middle Ages in England, reflecting the deep Christian symbolism that characterized naming conventions of the period. The combination of 'wine' (from Old English 'win' meaning friend or joy, but also carrying Eucharistic connotations) with 'wode' (forest) created a name that spoke to both spiritual abundance and natural sanctuary. This was particularly significant during the 12th-14th centuries when Christian monastic orders were establishing vineyards and managing forest preserves across Europe. The name appears in ecclesiastical records from Canterbury Cathedral, where it was associated with families serving religious institutions that maintained both vineyards for sacramental wine and forests for spiritual retreat. During the Protestant Reformation, the name maintained its Christian significance while taking on additional layers of meaning related to English identity and connection to the land. The dual elements represented the balance between cultivated spirituality (vineyards) and wild faith (forests), making it appealing to families navigating the religious transformations of the era. In colonial contexts, Winswode became associated with settlers who established both vineyards and preserved forest lands, carrying the name's symbolic balance to new territories while maintaining its Christian roots.
Rick Wakeman has undergone successful shunt brain surgery.

Rick Wakeman has undergone two successful surgeries this year

The prog rock legend and renowned classical keyboardist - who is known for his tenures with Yes and his session work for David Bowie, Sir Elton John, Marc Bolan, Cat Stevens, and Lou Reed - has Hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid in the brain, which, if left untreated, can cause damage to the brain.

Last week, he underwent a procedure where a thin tube called a shunt was implanted in his brain. The excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain flows through the shunt to another part of your body and is absorbed into your blood, according to the NHS website.

The 76-year-old musician also underwent spinal cord surgery earlier this year and was forced to cancel his American tour due to his health issues.

However, he has confirmed he will return to the stage alongside his son, Oliver Wakeman, for their Wakeman and Son tour next March.

He told fans on his website: "As many of you may be aware, a few months ago I had to reschedule my American tour because of health issues as I was diagnosed with the neurological disorder "normal pressure hydrocephalus" and following hospitalised operational tests in September, I had the necessary corrective "shunt" brain surgery last week which I am pleased to say was very successful and I am now recuperating at home being cared for by my lovely wife and our wonderful furry healing animals!"

He continued: "I have to take things easy for a while but have been told by my surgeon that I will be perfectly fine to travel to America for the tour with my son Oliver in March and will be fine for all future engagements after that - and I will also be fine for the 2 Saving Strays charity concerts in Norwich and Ipswich on December 19th and 20th."

Wakeman is fortunate that the neurological condition hasn't impacted his ability to play his beloved piano.

He added: "I am also pleased to say that it doesn't seem to have affected my piano playing in any way as I still seem to be very capable of hitting the odd wrong note here and there when I lose my concentration!! Once again, I'd like to thank everybody who wished me well over the last few months for a speedy recovery as it really did mean a lot to me.

"Thanks again Rick."

Last month, Wakeman told fans: I spent a week in hospital have surgery on my spine and spinal cord, which although was successful, I did suffer afterwards during recovery and then before I knew it, rehearsals were starting and how great were they!

His return to the stage next year follows his recent UK run, which wrapped in Bristol on October 29.
SIUs Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center will host the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase on Dec. 4. (Photo by Todd Duermeyer)

Celebrate SIU, regional innovation and entrepreneurship at Dec. 4 showcase

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Southern Illinois University Carbondales Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase, set for Dec. 4, is a unique celebration of some of the regions newest and best innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs.

Everyone is welcome to attend the 4:30-6:30 p.m. event at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 1740 Innovation Drive. The evening will feature SIU patent presentations and recognition for graduates of two of the centers programs and the winners of a business plan competition as well as other notable accomplishments. Hunan Fine Asian Cuisine will provide refreshments.

The event honoring those who are working to stand out from the crowd with fresh, innovative ideas and hard work to succeed in the marketplace begins with appetizers and cocktails at 4:30 p.m. followed by the program and awards at 5 p.m. and wraps up with a social/networking hour at 5:30 p.m.

This event recognizes and celebrates innovation and entrepreneurship, offering a unique opportunity for those attending to see some of the creative activities and transformative projects that are taking shape at SIU and throughout the region, said Lynn Andersen Lindberg, executive director of Innovation and Economic Development and the SIU Research Park. The showcase is a special evening that highlights the progress being made, the ideas moving from vision to reality and the people making it happen. Its a moment to recognize both the talent that is here and the possibilities ahead.

Recognizing outstanding achievements

A diverse array of activities will take place during the showcase to spotlight a variety of accomplishments. SIU will honor the innovative faculty and staff who have received patents for inventions or processes during the last year.

The universitys Illinois Economic Empowerment Center will recognize representatives of area businesses who recently completed and graduated from the comprehensive 10-week Launch That Business fast-track training program. The intensive program is specially designed to assist home-based or small business entrepreneurs in taking their business concepts to the next level. Showcase organizers will also recognize graduates of the Carbondale Accelerator program, a City of Carbondale and Illinois Small Business Development Center initiative.

In addition, the evening will feature the announcement of the winners of the 2025 Southern Illinois Business Plan Competition Powered by Regions Bank. The competition invited participation from entrepreneurs with new business concepts, pre-venture plans or existing small businesses from Alexander, Clay, Crawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White or Williamson counties. Participants in the fourth annual contest competed for a share of more than $20,000 in prize money and in-kind services.

Event organizers include SIUs Office of Innovation and Economic Development, the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at SIU and the SIU Foundation.

For more information about the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase or SIUs Office of Innovation and Economic Development, call 618-536-4451 or email lindberg@siu.edu.
VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 24: Nykaa, India's leading beauty and lifestyle destination, announced that its Retail Beauty Business (FSN Brands Marketing Private Limited) has been Certified as a Great Place To Work. The certification, awarded by the global authority on workplace culture, reflects the company's deep and sustained commitment to building a workplace where people feel safe, supported, and empowered to do their best work. This recognition is particularly significant because it is based entirely on feedback from Nykaa's own retail workforce. As part of the evaluation, more than a thousand employees from the Retail Beauty division participated in Great Place To Work's confidential Trust Index Survey, one of the world's most respected assessments of workplace culture. Over 80% of employees affirmed that Nykaa Retail Beauty is a great place to work, reflecting deep trust in the organisation and a strong sense of pride and belonging across stores and teams. The certification also underscored three key aspects that define the experience across Nykaa's stores and retail operations: employees feel physically safe at work, employees believe customers would rate the service they deliver as excellent, and they are proud to tell others they work at Nykaa. The responses from the employees reflect that Nykaa's culture is built on trust, clarity, and pride, where employees feel anchored and motivated in the work they do every day. Great Place To Work conducts workplace culture assessments across more than 2,200 organizations in India and over 21,000 globally each year. Earning this certification places Nykaa among a distinguished group of organizations that is recognized for creating environments where people thrive. The benchmark is simple yet powerful: employees should trust the people they work for, take pride in what they do, and enjoy the people they work with. Nykaa's Retail Beauty business exemplifies this standard. For Nykaa, this recognition validates the company's ongoing investment in its people and reinforces how the Retail Beauty business brings Nykaa's broader vision to life: 'To bring inspiration and joy to people, everywhere, every day.' The company believes that a joyful customer experience begins with a joyful employee experience. By fostering an inclusive, supportive, and team-oriented environment, Nykaa enables its retail teams to show up with passion, kindness, and ownership each day. This certification now serves as a benchmark as Nykaa continues to strengthen its culture, enhance the employee experience, and build the next chapter of growth across its retail network. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
Father Ted creator Graham Linehan has been cleared of harassing a trans activist on social media, but he was found guilty of damaging their phone.

Father Ted creator Graham Linehan cleared of harassing trans activist but guilty of phone damage

The 57-year-old comedy writer had previously denied harassing trans activist Sophia Brooks, from October 11th to 27th 2024, and damaging their phone outside the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster on October 19th, 2024.

On Tuesday (25.11.25), at Westminster Magistrates' Court, District Judge Briony Clarke was not satisfied The IT Crowd co-creator's conduct on social media had amounted to harassment, admitting she found him to be a "generally credible witness" and said he was "genuinely frank and honest".

The judge didn't accept Brooks' evidence "entirely".

But Linehan was found guilty of criminal damage for throwing Brooks' phone.

According to Sky News, the judge said: "The footage (of the incident) shows that just before phone is taken the defendant is angry and I found that he took the phone because he was angry and fed up.

"I am therefore satisfied he was not using reasonable force and therefore find him guilty of criminal damage."

Linehan now lives in Arizona, in the US, but he appeared in court in person on Tuesday.

During the trial, he said his life had been "made hell" by trans activists.

He claimed Brooks - a trans woman who was born a biological male - was a "young soldier in the trans activist army".

The prosecution alleged Linehan's social media posts were "repeated, abusive, unreasonable".

The pair met for the first time outside the Battle of Ideas conference, where Brooks asked Linehan: "Why do you think it is acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists?"

A row ensued, and Linehan grabbed Brooks' phone and chucked it.

During the trial, the Black Books co-creator was asked why he threw the phone, and he replied: "My adrenaline was up, I was angry. I guess that feels like surrender, so I threw it away.

"I didnt slam it, I just skimmed it. It was instinctive - as soon as I did it, I thought that was a mistake."
PRNewswire Pune (Maharashtra) [India], November 25: LRQA successfully hosted its roundtable - 'Tackling ESG, Compliance, Cybersecurity & Net Zero Goals', bringing together leading voices from industry, technology, and sustainability for a day of collaboration and forward-thinking dialogue. The event convened clients, partners, and regulatory experts to address the urgent challenges shaping India's industrial and digital transformation. The roundtable featured Shishir Joshipura, former CEO & MD of Praj Industries, as the keynote speaker. Drawing on his extensive experience in bioenergy, he shared insights on bioenergy and strategies to reduce organizational carbon footprints, highlighting practical pathways for companies to advance their net-zero ambitions. Key Discussion Areas Driving Sustainability & Net ZeroThe roundtable highlighted India's progress under the Paris Agreement and strategies for carbon neutrality using ISO 14068-1. Discussions focused on energy transition through renewables, hydrogen, and technologies like CCUS and battery storage. LRQA presented assurance programs for renewable projects and advisory services for hydrogen compliance with global standards. Cybersecurity & Responsible AI Experts addressed rising AI-driven cyber threats and new regulations such as India's DPDP Act 2023. A key focus was ISO/IEC 42001, the first global standard for AI governance, promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical AI practices. Global Engineering Standards Sessions emphasized compliance with ASME BPVC, PED, and IBR for safety and global market access, with LRQA outlining certification pathways and its role as an Authorized Inspection Agency and Notified Body. Industry Perspectives "The strong engagement at this event reflects a collective drive to strengthen governance, reduce risk, and improve transparency," said Satish Singh, Business Director for South Asia, LRQA. "We're proud to support businesses as they shape resilient and sustainable futures." Looking Ahead LRQA will continue to partner with organizations across India to advance ESG assurance, cybersecurity maturity, and engineering compliance, while accelerating progress toward net-zero goals. Through tailored advisory, certification, and risk management solutions, LRQA remains committed to shaping safer, more sustainable, and resilient futures. About LRQA From certification and cybersecurity to safety, sustainability and supply chain resilience, LRQA works with clients to identify risks across their business. We design smart, scalable solutions, built around your business - tailored to help you prepare, prevent and protect against risk. Our innovative risk management portfolio helps shape a stronger and more secure future for your business. With decades of sector-specific expertise, data-driven insight and on-the-ground teams across assurance, certification, inspection, advisory and training, we support over 61,000 clients in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit https://www.lrqa.com/. Media Contact: Hasan SurveRegional Marketing Manager - APAC, LRQAhasan.surve@lrqa.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2830733/LRQA_Pune_roundtable_event.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2793312/LRQA_New_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], November 25: NimbleEdge, the on-device AI infrastructure company reshaping how intelligence runs on mobile, today announced its collaboration with Microsoft in bringing Foundry Local to Android, revealed on stage at Microsoft Ignite 2025 in San Francisco. The launch marks a major leap for the global developer community, enabling truly powerful, low-latency, privacy-preserved AI to run directly on smartphones at scale. One of India's largest digital payments platforms has become the first enterprise to adopt Foundry Local for Android, enabling it to bring agentic experiences into everyday consumer applications while preserving user privacy. Foundry Local introduces optimized small language models to Android, allowing developers to build agentic apps that reason, respond, and collaborate with users in real time. By executing models locally through a unified, optimized runtime, Foundry Local ensures that intelligence stays on the device, resulting in low-latency performance, offline reliability, and privacy-aware architecture. Rajat Monga, CVP, AI Frameworks, Microsoft, stated, "At Microsoft, we believe the next breakthrough in AI lies not only in building smarter models, but in making AI scalable, efficient, and accessible. With Foundry Local for Android, built with contributions from NimbleEdge, we're unlocking a future where developers can build real-time AI native app experiences with powerful, low-latency intelligence on users' phones." NimbleEdge is contributing in shaping Microsoft's Foundry Local into a secure, on-device AI layer - described as a "mini AI server inside your phone." The two companies have a long-standing collaboration, starting from the ONNX runtime to scaling deployments to 30M+ devices. NimbleEdge architected the background service that handles robust long-running SLM downloads, shared resources, and inference over a secure-bound AIDL service with mutual certificate verification, across diverse Android devices. NimbleEdge's DeliteAI works with Foundry Local to simplify deployment and scaling challenges, while orchestrating real-time agentic workflows on user interactions. Neeraj Poddar, Co-founder & CTO, NimbleEdge, shares that "This collaboration brings our core mission to life: enabling real-time, on-device AI for billions of users. With Foundry Local on Android, developers can offer secure and personalized experiences without the cost and latency of cloud-based inference. We're excited to see global developers across the world build the next generation of mobile AI applications." Baked from witnessing high-frequency event streams on edge devices, DeliteAI, by working with Foundry Local provides developers with key advantages in: 1. In-session Context Engineering: Capture and process event streams directly from the user interface for real-time context. 2. Advanced Agent Orchestration: Facilitate agent orchestration, prompt templating, tool calling, persistent memory, and voice interactions. 3. Unified Performance: Ensure consistent performance across various hardware, along with cross-compatible cloud-edge inference APIs. "The next wave of AI will be driven by agents that collaborate in real time with humans and other AI agents alike - and that requires an on-device architecture," said Varun Khare, Co-founder & CEO, NimbleEdge. "At NimbleEdge, we've been building the infrastructure catering to the needs of mobile and edge devices. By unifying fragmentation across devices, chipsets, and operating systems, Foundry Local and DeliteAI support developers in deploying AI agents locally while upholding user privacy." On-device intelligence is, by design, more supportive of a dynamic, evolving environment found in modern mobile applications. The collaboration envisions a global shift toward AI that is faster, more efficient, and fundamentally user-centric. Website: https://www.nimbleedge.com/ Foundry Local app: Google Play Store (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 25: Autope Payment Solutions Ltd, a fintech company enabling seamless digital payments and services for India's mass transit ecosystems, today announced the successful launch of its innovative Smart Locker system across 12 Mumbai Metro One stations. The first of its kind initiative, in collaboration with Mumbai Metro One, introduces over 996 state-of-the-art digital lockers to the city's transit network. This comprehensive smart locker deployment marks a significant leap towards revolutionising daily commute convenience, last-mile logistics, and e-commerce delivery for approx. 5 Lakh commuters. These lockers offer more than just secure storage; they represent a crucial link in the future of urban mobility, empowering efficient e-commerce deliveries, enhancing first and last-mile connectivity in logistics and ultimately, making door-to-door logistics more efficient and sustainable for the modern city dweller. Autope is currently in discussion with major e-commerce players in India to further enhance these services. This expansion into Mumbai represents another significant milestone in Autope's strategic plan to scale smart mobility infrastructure across India, building partnership with Mumbai Metro One. Autope is committed to fostering deep integration of transit operations with payments technology and leveraging data analytics for improved efficiency and passenger experience across the nation. "Our core mission at Autope is to bridge the gap between transportation and financial technology, creating seamless, integrated experiences for urban commuters across India," said Mr. Anurag Bajpai, Founder & Managing Director, Autope Payment Solutions Ltd. "The launch of over 996 Smart Lockers across 12 Mumbai Metro One stations is a pivotal moment in this vision. Building on the robust success and learnings from our Delhi Metro deployment, we are thrilled to bring this advanced, first-of-its-kind solution to Mumbai." Mr. Bajpai further elaborated on the broader vision, stating, "We foresee a future where commuters enjoy unparalleled convenience, with smart lockers serving as vital hubs for package delivery and secure storage within the transit ecosystem. This not only optimizes e-commerce logistics but also significantly reduces congestion and emissions, contributing to a greener, smarter city. Autope is also actively exploring opportunities to extend this successful model to mass transit systems outside of India, envisioning a truly global impact for smart, connected transit solutions." Mr. Shyamantak Choudhury, CEO, Mumbai Metro One, said, "We are delighted to partner with AutoPe to bring smart-locker services to our metro stations. This initiative is yet another step in our journey to modernise Mumbai Metro Line-1 and elevate the everyday experience of our commuters. By enabling commuters to travel lighter and with added peace of mind, we are strengthening our vision of a convenient, tech-enabled and future-ready urban mobility ecosystem for Mumbai." The Autope Smart Lockers are designed to integrate seamlessly into the bustling metro ecosystem, offering a host of features and benefits for commuters and urban stakeholders: Key Features: - Digital Access: Commuters can conveniently access lockers via a user-friendly app, SMS, or QR code scanning, providing a modern and secure interface. - Multiple Locker Sizes: Available in two main variations: smaller compartments (approx. 5 Kg capacity) and medium compartments (approx. 10 Kg capacity), suitable for parcels, groceries, or personal items. - Affordable & Flexible Use: A flat fee of INR 20 per hour for small boxes and INR 30 per hour for medium lockers ensures accessibility for all commuters. - Secure & Monitored: Ensuring peace of mind, the lockers are equipped with 24x7 CCTV surveillance and OTP-based authentication for secure item drop-off and retrieval. - Versatile Use Cases: Ideal for temporary storage, secure e-commerce and courier deliveries, supporting middle-mile logistics and even brand sampling within transit hubs. Benefits for Commuters and the Urban Ecosystem: - Enhanced Passenger Convenience: Enables metro users to effortlessly pick up online orders or securely store personal belongings while travelling, significantly improving their daily experience and saving time. - Sustainability: By consolidating deliveries at metro stations, the Smart Lockers contribute to lowering last-mile emissions, promoting greener urban logistics and reducing urban traffic congestion. - Brand Engagement: Creates a visible, high-footfall touchpoint for retail and delivery partners, fostering new commercial opportunities within the metro's ecosystem. - Improved Commuter Experience: Further enhances the metro's ecosystem of services, making public transport an even more attractive, efficient, and integrated option for citizens. Autope's proven track record of innovation and scale is best exemplified by its success with the Delhi Metro. There, Autope has managed smart lockers across 250 stations, totalling 25,000 lockers, for over 1.5 years. Autope's technology also powers the Delhi Metro Sarathi app, integrating smart lockers, digital screens at metro stations, last-mile connectivity solutions, and newer versions of ticketing, demonstrating its deep expertise in high-volume, mission-critical transit environments. Autope's robust, transit-optimized payment infrastructure, which underpins the Smart Locker system, ensures secure, real-time transactions and seamless integration with the broader mobility network. This initiative aligns perfectly with India's broader smart city initiatives and the "One Nation One App" vision, demonstrating Autope's capability to deliver scalable, interoperable solutions for high-volume, mission-critical environments. While plans to cover all other metro lines in Mumbai are not yet finalized, this successful launch across 12 stations lays robust groundwork for future expansion and integrated urban solutions. Building on its successful projects with the Delhi Metro, Autope is actively expanding its other offerings, which include advanced ticketing solutions, last-mile connectivity, innovations in payments, and non-fare revenue solutions, to other metros across India and beyond, showcasing its capability to deliver scalable, interoperable solutions for future urban mobility. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PRNewswire Singapore, November 25: August Global Partners ("AGP"), Asia's leading independent healthcare and technology investor, today announced the successful close of its second fund, the AGP Healthcare Fund ("AGPHC") of $150 million, surpassing initial fundraising targets despite persistent headwinds in the global private equity and venture capital landscape. AGP's founding partners - who played a formative role in shaping Singapore's biomedical sector and championed Singapore EDBI's global investment efforts across healthcare, technology and deeptech - have attracted strong support for the firm's flagship healthcare fund. AGPHC secured commitments from a diverse base of financial, institutional and strategic limited partners spanning Asia, Europe, and North America. Together with its inaugural vehicle, the AGP Continuation Growth Fund ("AGPCG"), AGP now manages a total of $350 million in assets under management. AGPCG backs dynamic local champions in various sectors, including healthcare and deep technology, supporting their regional and global expansion ambitions. AGPCG continues to deliver robust performance with meaningful 'Distribution to Paid in Capital' ("DPI") to its investors. AGP's distinct advantage lies in its decades-long track record of success, deep-rooted sector relationships, and operational expertise across healthcare, technology, and deeptech innovation. Anchored by the investment theme "Living Better, Aging Better," AGPHC targets transformative, high-growth opportunities in healthtech, advanced manufacturing, digital health, and precision medicine. AGP partners with visionary founders driving breakthroughs in next-generation care delivery--from genomics and oncology to edge AI-powered wearables, medtech, and specialty healthcare access. At fund close, AGPHC had already deployed capital into a diverse portfolio of high-impact, growth companies, delivering early DPI--a clear signal of value creation for its investors. Ms. Chu Swee Yeok, Chair and Founding Partner, commented: "AGP stands apart through our deep sector expertise, trusted global networks, and the commercial agility to navigate the complexities of the healthcare landscape. We are deeply grateful to our investors and partners for their continued confidence in our strategy and leadership. As a nimble, performance-driven fund grounded in disciplined, high-impact investing, AGPHC's strong investment momentum and early DPI distributions are powerful indicators of the tangible value we are delivering--to both our investors and the visionary innovators we back." Dr. Basil Lui, Founding Partner at AGP, added: "Looking ahead, the convergence of medical technology, digital health, AI, and Asia's demographic transformation presents unprecedented opportunities for innovation and growth. AGP remains committed to a focused investment approach--partnering with exceptional founders and scaling platforms that address the urgent needs of preventive health, aging populations, chronic disease management, and the future of medicine across the region." AGP is a Singapore-based independent fund management company, specialising in growth investments across healthcare and technology. AGP provides value-added capital and strategic support to portfolio companies worldwide, including through AGPHC, a global healthcare focused investment fund which backs founders and innovations advancing precision medicine, AI-powered health technologies, and patient-centric care. Media Contact:admin@augustgp.comwww.augustglobalpartners.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PRNewswire New Delhi [India], November 25: Comviva, the global leader in digital transformation solutions, specializing in customer experience management, data monetization, and digital financial services, today announced its partnership with Aduna, the global aggregator of standardised network APIs. The collaboration will focus on accelerating worldwide enterprise adoption and monetisation of Network APIs through NGAGE.ai, Comviva's flagship SaaS-based platform for programmable communications and Network intelligence. - Strategic partnership to accelerate enterprise consumption and monetisation of Network APIs through a unified, scalable, and intelligent platform The partnership combines Comviva's NGAGE.ai platform and enterprise onboarding expertise with Aduna's global operator consortium. This unified approach provides enterprises with secure, scalable access to network intelligence while enabling telcos to monetise network capabilities efficiently. Anthony Bartolo, CEO, Aduna, added, "The next wave of enterprise innovation will be powered by seamless access to network intelligence. By integrating Comviva's NGAGE.ai platform with Aduna's global federation of operators, we are enabling enterprises to innovate consistently across markets with standardised, high-performance Network APIs. This collaboration enhances the value chain for operators and gives enterprises the confidence and agility needed to launch new services, reduce fraud, and deliver more trustworthy customer experiences worldwide." Speaking on the partnership, Rajesh Chandiramani, CEO at Comviva, said, "As enterprises accelerate their shift toward real-time, intelligence-driven operations, Network APIs will become foundational to digital transformation. With NGAGE.ai and Aduna's global ecosystem, we are creating a unified and scalable pathway for enterprises to adopt programmable communications at speed and at scale. This partnership strengthens our commitment to helping telcos monetise network intelligence while enabling enterprises to build differentiated, secure, and future-ready digital experiences." NGAGE.ai is a SaaS-based, one-of-a-kind platform that simplifies how enterprises consume Communication and Network APIs. It eliminates the need for separate infrastructure investment, provides instant access, and delivers measurable transparency in usage. Comviva's NGAGE.ai enables seamless enterprise onboarding by allowing organisations to start consuming Network APIs from day-one without upfront platform investments. It offers services for enterprise needs like friction-less login, identity verification, fraud detection, and KYC, supported by a quarterly release plan for evolving enterprise requirements. The platform also ensures full transparency through real-time API consumption, usage, and analytics dashboards for enterprises. The partnership is further strengthened by Comviva's proven leadership in the global digital payments and digital lending ecosystem -- sectors that will be among the biggest adopters of Network APIs. According to the GSMA Mobile Money Report 2024, Comviva holds a 24% share of the global mobile money market, processing over 7.5 billion transactions annually with transaction values exceeding USD 400 billion. Its AI-powered digital lending platform, Yabx, is also one of the fastest-growing alternate credit infrastructures across Africa, the Middle East, South-East Asia, and Latin America. As banks and financial institutions increasingly rely on real-time identity, fraud, and risk intelligence, Comviva's scale and credibility in digital finance position NGAGE.ai as a natural enabler for the next wave of API-driven financial innovation. The NGAGE.ai platform is already active across 40+ countries, integrated with 100+ operators, and processing over 250 billion transactions annually for more than 7,000 enterprise customers. With its extensive global deployment, NGAGE.ai is positioned as one of the most scalable and trusted platforms for API-led network intelligence adoption. Media contact: Sundeep MehtaDGM, Global PR & Corporate CommunicationsEmail: sundeep.mehta@comviva.comMob: +91-9910030732 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/995982/5554137/Comviva_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], November 25: This festive season, STIHL India is celebrating its customers with the biggest ever nationwide Scratch & Win Contest through the STIHL Addvantage App. Every single eligible purchase of battery-powered, electric, or power weeder products guarantees an instant reward with no exceptions. From everyday essentials to life-changing prizes, customers across urban centers and rural heartlands are already winning big: - Bumper Prize: Brand new Ola S1 X electric scooters - Tanishq gold vouchers worth thousands - boAt Airdopes wireless earbuds - Pigeon Inox Hydra water bottles - Milton premium lunchboxes How it works - simple, instant, and 100% digital - Buy any qualifying STIHL battery, electric, or power weeder product from a STIHL authorised dealer - Open the STIHL Addvantage App (available on Android & iOS) - Scan the product serial number - Scratch your digital card and claim your prize No minimum invoice value. No complicated terms. Every card is a winner. The momentum is electric. In just the first few weeks, many customers have participated, and the joy is spreading fast. A celebratory prize distribution event at Sri Ranganatha Agri Mart, Tumkur drew over 200 enthusiastic customers and turned into a true community festival. Thirty customers walked away with boAt earbuds, thirty-six received coveted Tanishq gold vouchers, four won Pigeon bottles, and one family took home a Milton lunchbox set. The loudest cheer of the day? When Mr. Byatarangaiah from Tumkur and Mr. Prakash from Shimla were declared winners of the Ola S1 X scooters. The event featured esteemed dignitaries, Mr. Raghavendra PM, Mr. Sanjay Varma, Mr. Sharat Shetty, and the STIHL India South team. Their combined efforts ensured an exciting and impactful experience for all attendees. Women farmers, young entrepreneurs, and multi-generational farming families shared the stage, many proudly recounting how STIHL equipment have powered their fields, orchards, and tea estates for over two decades. Some recount how they rely only on STIHL equipment for agricultural work, land care, and daily operations. The contest is still on until 30th November 2025, only a few days left! Wherever you are in India, visit your nearest STIHL dealer today, upgrade to the latest farm tech or battery or electric tools, and scratch your way to guaranteed gifts. For more details, click on - https://www.stihl.in/en/news/customer-information/stihl-addvantage-consumer-offer Terms & conditions apply. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
India and Canada have agreed to formally resume negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. Addressing the National Trade Leaders Conference organized by the Confederation of All India Traders here on Tuesday. Goyal revealed that he received a message from his Canadian counterpart expressing satisfaction over the leaders' commitment to strengthening economic ties between the two nations. "Will have a virtual meeting with the Canadian Minister and start discussions on comprehensive economic partnership between the two countries," Goyal said. The decision to revive trade talks came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, the minister informed. Highlighting India's growing prominence in global trade, Goyal said the world is eager to begin Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with India. The minister announced that talks would soon commence with several African nations, Brazil, and MERCOSUR countries for potential trade agreements.Goyal recently returned from an official visit to Israel, where he signed the Terms of Reference for an FTA. During the trip, he also met with the Israeli Prime Minister and President.On the recently implemented labour codes, the minister emphasised their benefits for both workers and employers. "Labour codes address gig workers' needs, and 29 laws have been simplified," Goyal said, adding that the reforms would reduce paperwork and approval requirements. He noted that the codes include a minimum wage guarantee and also address employers' concerns. The minister announced that the government is preparing the Jan Vishwas Bill 3.0, which will eliminate 275-300 provisions to ease the regulatory burden on businesses. "The bill is almost ready," he stated. Goyal also proposed exploring a pilot program for a single license system for traders at the local body and state government levels, aimed at simplifying business operations for the trading community. (ANI)
PRNewswire New Delhi [India], November 25: Comviva, a global leader in digital transformation solutions across customer experience management, data monetization, and digital financial services, today announced the unveiling of its GenAI driven MobiLytix Real Time Marketing (RTM) with advanced AI capabilities designed to help enterprise marketers drive higher conversion, retention, and customer lifetime value. The new MobiLytix platform introduces powerful GenAI capabilities that significantly reduce manual interventions empowering marketers to design smarter faster and high engagement campaigns across customer journeys. Marketers can instantly generate message variations, tailor content for different segments, and surface actionable insights through conversational prompts that simplify reporting and analytics--translating complex performance data into clear guidance marketers can use immediately. This accelerates campaign creation, improves content quality, and leads to higher-performing engagements. The platform gives marketing teams a new level of agility, making them largely self-sufficient in campaign planning and execution by leveraging AI-driven decisioning and a library of proven, pre-defined templates for common high-impact use cases--enabling concept-to-launch of even the most complex campaigns in quick time. With the new release, Comviva has also laid the AI foundation for a new wave of autonomous AI agents. These agentic capabilities are designed to continuously learn from campaign performance, optimize creative, offers and timing in real time, and operate under marketer-defined governance and approvals--evolving toward self-optimizing marketing orchestration. Speaking on the launch Manish Singhal, Head - MarTech Solutions at Comviva said, "Tomorrow's marketing teams won't just run campaigns; they will command an intelligent ecosystem of AI agents that plan, optimize and execute in real time. With the new GenAI driven MobiLytix Real Time Marketing, that future starts now. We are moving from marketing automation to marketing autonomy--where AI agents continuously learn, optimize and orchestrate, while marketers stay firmly in control. Marketing functions can now actively improve campaign performance, lift conversion rates, strengthen customer retention, and deliver sustained business growth leveraging the platform." With an intuitive new UI, modular architecture, and enterprise-grade scale, MobiLytix RTM is engineered to power the next wave of growth for digital-first businesses. At its core, the platform combines more than 120 advanced predictive and prescriptive AI models with a modern AI decisioning engine to personalize every interaction using a live 360 customer profile across multiple lines of business and channels in real time. Its enhanced journey orchestration workspace and modern UI give marketers a faster, more intuitive way to build journeys, collaborate across teams, and optimize programs in real time. With over 300 million deployed consumer base, MobiLytix has a proven track record of customer success, powered by more than two decades of Customer Value Management expertise. Media contact:Sundeep MehtaDGM, Global PR & Corporate CommunicationsEmail: sundeep.mehta@comviva.comMob: +91-9910030732 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/995982/5554137/Comviva_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN New Delhi [India], November 25: On 21st November 2025, Kunzum Bookstore in Delhi hosted an insight-rich evening, featuring a compelling founder-to-founder conversation with Pramod Maloo, an entrepreneur, educator, and one of India's most prominent voices in digital marketing. Known for mentoring over 25,000 students and working with 800+ brands, author of The Start-up Founder's Guide to Digital Marketing, and Bharat Sethi, Founder of Rage Coffee, one of India's most popular premium consumer brands, endorsed by Virat Kohli, who stepped into the role of interviewer and conversational partner for the evening. The session brought together two of India's sharpest entrepreneurial minds, deeply rooted in the digital and D2C ecosystem. Their exchange offered a rare operator-level view into India's evolving digital ecosystem and the behavioural foundations of brand building. The event opened with a warm meet-and-greet, where young entrepreneurs, creators, and readers met Pramod. The book-signing that followed reflected the deep resonance the book has generated, with many attendees sharing how it has influenced their early-stage journeys, feeling less like a formal queue and more like a community gathering where people shared their own experiences of building, experimenting, and trying to create something meaningful in the digital world. Many spoke about Pramod's relatable approach of "no hacks, only human psychology", which the book "The Start-up Founder's Guide to Digital Marketing" breaks down into actionable frameworks for anyone starting up. The centrepiece of the evening was the free-flowing, podcast-style dialogue between Pramod and Bharat. Their candid back-and-forth provided a real-time masterclass in founder-led marketing. Together, they unpacked how India's digital consumers think, behave, and make decisions in a hyper-fast, content-driven world. Their on-stage exchange captured the packed room's attention. The conversation brought out some brilliant insights. Bharat Sethi took the discussion deeper when he explained how the D2C business is not the same as selling on marketplaces. Pramod Maloo took the room on a ride back to memory lane when asked how digital marketing has evolved over the years. He explained the chronological evolution of digital marketing, especially over the last 5 years, and how brands have transitioned from performance marketing to growth marketing. Bharat Sethi, when asked if he can build another FMCG brand from scratch based on his experience of building Rage Coffee, said, "Though I have the exact blueprint in my mind, whether I can make another one like Rage is not certain. There are a lot of things that I don't have control over, and while building Rage, those things somehow played in my favour. It's like magic, I'm not sure if it can be repeated. On a lighter note, Pramod Maloo pulled out a witty one-liner for Rage Coffee: "Turn every page with a cup of Rage." Their conversation explored founders' biggest challenges, such as attention scarcity, trust deficits, brand storytelling, and the psychology driving India's next generation of digital buyers. The session concluded with an engaged audience Q&A on D2C growth, brand identity, evolving consumer behaviour, and the shift from performance marketing to narrative-driven strategy. Hands rose instantly as aspiring founders asked about career paths, content strategy, scaling D2C brands, and the future of digital marketing in India. The atmosphere remained thoughtful, energetic, and filled with entrepreneurial optimism. It reinforced why the book resonates and offers clarity in a noisy, cluttered marketing world. Commenting on the session, a spokesperson from HarperCollins India shared, "We are proud to support authors like Pramod Maloo who bring practical, actionable frameworks to India's entrepreneurial community. The response to the book and this event shows how hungry young founders are for real guidance." Speaking about the interaction, Bharat Sethi added, "Pramod's frameworks bring clarity at a time when founders are overwhelmed by information. This book is going to be a go-to guide for early-stage entrepreneurs." With growing demand among first-time founders, marketers, and creators, The Start-up Founder's Guide to Digital Marketing is now available at Kunzum Bookstore, on major online platforms, and at leading bookstores across India. Readers can continue learning from Pramod Maloo through his official page and social channels, where he shares ongoing insights, tools, and founder-friendly content. Link to the bio: https://pramodmaloo.com/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
NewsVoir Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 25: Raheja Universal today unveiled the ultra-modern, futuristically designed World Trade Center Navi Mumbai at Raheja District, Vashi NX. The inauguration celebrated a monumental achievement for Raheja Universal, reinforcing their promise as a transformative player in the Navi Mumbai real estate landscape, in commercial and residential developments. This launch marked a milestone in Raheja Universal's vision to establish the Raheja District as the region's undisputed premier hub for mixed-use development, hosting marquee names such as WTC Navi Mumbai. The event was inaugurated by Mr. Ashish Raheja, MD & CEO Raheja Universal and CEO WTC Navi Mumbai, Ms. Crystal Edn, Executive Director- Membership Services, Mr. Scott Wang , Vice President Asia Pacific Region and graced by Ms. Adele Zhang, Senior Regional Services Manager, Asia Pacific Region, Ms. Xiang Li, Asia Pacific Region Office, all from World Trade Center Association (WTCA), in the presence of Mr. Peter Yap, CEO, WTC Yangon, Mr. Neil Kidd, CEO, WTC Perth, Ms. Mary Yu, Chairperson, WTC Chongqing, and Mr. Takahiro Fukuoka, Representative Director & CEO, WTC Osaka, alongside other WTC dignitaries and distinguished guests. The WTC Navi Mumbai holds a strong significance for the region, providing the opportunity for the local business and trade community to expand its footprint globally. Thereby enhancing the socio-economic and commercial value of the region. Apart from establishing the financial and economic strength of WTC Navi Mumbai placing the WTC Navi Mumbai at par with their global establishments. Ashish Raheja, MD & CEO, Raheja Universal and CEO WTC Navi Mumbai, emphasized the long-term commitment to quality and design innovation, saying, "This formal launch of Prime at WTC Navi Mumbai is a powerful validation of Raheja District's potential as a high-value, globally aligned business destination. Raheja Universal has always been a metaphoric player with a futuristic vision. Our Design Excellence and Scalability have been strong pillars for sustained, stable and steady growth." "Prime at WTC Navi Mumbai is designed to be the first impression of our commitment to world-class standards and efficiency. It boldly showcases Navi Mumbai's readiness--led by the infrastructure of the Raheja District--to host global trade." "The future of trade and business in Navi Mumbai begins here, at Raheja District. Our decision to partner with Raheja Universal was based on their unwavering record of quality and their strategic vision for developing a holistic, future-ready business ecosystem. WTC Navi Mumbai will be key in positioning the city on the global trade map--a testimony to how Raheja Universal is delivering precisely on the world-class commitment," added Ms. Crystal Edn, Executive Director, Membership Services (WTCA), expressed. The significance of this event was underscored by the exclusive presence of select global representatives from the WTCA, reinforcing the strong Indo-global collaboration driving the development. Nestled within the 60+ acre Raheja District, The WTC Navi Mumbai, is an integrated business ecosystem poised to transform Navi Mumbai's economic landscape. The project provides a crucial physical link, enabling businesses to leverage the global WTCA network. This project is a true game-changer for the region by: * Global Connectivity and FDI Magnet: Providing businesses with a direct link to the WTCA's global trade network across 90+ countries, attracting MNCs and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with instant global credibility.* Trade Facilitation: Offering essential services such as International Trade Seminars, Business Matchmaking, and Trade Information to boost exports and imports, particularly for MSMEs.* Infrastructure Synergy: Strategically located to leverage the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), the Atal Setu (MTHL), and proximity to the JNPT Port, making it an unparalleled hub for logistics and global trade within the entire MMR corridor. Raheja Universal is one of MMR's most trusted and respected real estate developers, known for its luxury developments & commitment to quality and innovation. With a legacy spanning four decades and a portfolio of 10+ million sq. ft. of completed developments across 50+ projects, the company has delivered landmark residential and commercial projects across MMR. Raheja Universal is driven by a vision to create design-forward, future-ready spaces that blend thoughtful planning with elevated lifestyles. Raheja District is a flagship mixed-use township by Raheja Universal, located in Vashi NX -- one of Navi Mumbai's fastest-growing urban zones. Spread across 60+ acres, the township envisioned as a self-sustained ecosystem that brings together scalable commercial spaces, premium residences, a 1+ km retail Boardwalk, the proposed membership-accesible District Club and District Park. Strategically located, the township offers excellent connectivity to key hubs via the Eastern Freeway, Sion Panvel Highway, Palm Beach Road, and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. Designed for modern urban living, Raheja District combines lifestyle, connectivity, and convenience in a future-forward format. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
The Fortune Hotel is reportedly set to be axed because it is expensive to make.

Stephen Mangan hosts The Fortune Hotel

The ITV gameshow - which is hosted by 57-year-old comedian Stephen Mangan - saw 10 pairs of contestants travel to Grenada in the Caribbean, where they swapped briefcases to win the 250,000 prize - had just finished airing its second series.

A TV insider told The Sun newspaper's TVBiz column: "The huge sum of money involved in making the challenge show means that unless execs can find some inventive way to fund series three, its highly unlikely to happen.

"When youre paying millions to launch a programme, it really needs to get the viewing figures to get any kind of return on the investment.

"Though it got a decent following, they just couldnt justify shelling out so much moving forward. The jackpot alone was eye-watering."

However, an ITV spokeswoman said conversations are ongoing regarding the programme's future.

They said: "Another series hasnt been confirmed at this stage, and talks are still underway regarding the shows future.

"Both previous series are on ITVX, where the show regularly ranked among the top ten shows.

"This summer, the second series received 4.4 million streams as part of ITVs biggest ever August."

The Fortune Hotel - which first aired in 2024 - saw 10 pairs of contestants stay at a lavish hotel, and each of them was given a briefcase.

Eight of them were empty, one contained an early check-out card - which causes the pair holding it to be eliminated from the competition - and the other contained the whopping 250,000.

The players battled it out in various tasks to guess where the jackpot prize was by switching the briefcases around.

Jo-Anne and Will won the first series of The Fortune Hotel, and Neil and Tope claimed victory in the second series - which was released in August.

In July, Stephen teased that a third series of The Fortune Hotel would have been filmed in a new country.

Appearing on an episode of the Table Manners podcast at the time, he told hosts Lennie Ware, 74, and 40 year old Jessie Ware: "We film the first series in Granada, and then we film the second series in exactly the same place.

"But I think if it goes again, we'll go to other parts of the world."
Air India is making all efforts to ensure that compensation given to the families affected by the plane crash in June is expedited, airline's chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD) Campbell Wilson has said, noting that it is being done "in a fair and well-managed way". At a roundtable with select media in the national capital on Monday, Wilson informed that Air India has already provided compensation to 70 families, and it is in the process for 50 more families. Of the 180 families affected by the crash, documentation work is pending for the remaining families. He said a significant task during the processing is identifying the "appropriate recipient." "We want to expedite the process, but we need to do it in a fair and well-managed way. In some cases, there are different people within the families, and we need to help them come to a decision on who is the appropriate recipient," he said. "So the compensation process, obviously, is something that we very much want to expedite. But we need to do it in a fair and well-managed process. And that requires some information from the families. It requires some validation. In some cases, within the families, there are different people. And we need to work through that process and help the families come to the landing on who is the appropriate recipient. So we need to just work through this process at the pace that the recipients are able and comfortable and willing to go. So as I say, we've already dispersed about, well, actually 70 families," he added. Soon after the tragic crash in June in which 260 people were killed, Air India announced an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh to each of the families of the deceased and to the survivor. The Tata Group had announced an immediate financial support of Rs one crore for the aggrieved families. On November 13, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that the investigation into the Air India Ahmedabad crash is being conducted by Indian authorities, in accordance with the mandate laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). (ANI)
The actors took to their respective social media accounts and shared touching posts with pictures from the film's sets.

In his Instagram story, Ranveer shared a picture of himself posing with the late actor as he grieved his passing.

Alia also shared a picture, capturing a heartwarming moment between the co-stars. "A legend who lit up every frame...and every heart. You will be missed, Dharam ji," she wrote.

Marking Karan Johar's return to direction after many years, 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' was released in 2023.

It featured Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles alongside stars like Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Tota Roy Chowdhury, and the legendary Dharmendra.

The late actor was seen portraying the character of Kanwal Lund, Ranveer Singh's grandfather.

Delving into the complex dynamics between families and cultures, the film follows Rocky, a free-spirited young man from a wealthy Punjabi family, and Rani, an ambitious Bengali news anchor, who fall in love despite their stark differences.

To test their commitment and understanding, the couple decides to live with each other's families, leading to moments of both humour and conflict.

Dharmendra passed away at his Mumbai residence on Monday at the age of 89 after a period of ill health. Ranveer Singh was also spotted arriving at Dharmendra's funeral with Deepika Padukone, where he paid his final respects to the legend.

Dharmendra was previously admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital following a deterioration in his health; however, he was discharged from the hospital as the family opted for home treatment.

Popularly known as the 'He-Man' of Indian cinema, Dharmendra starred in several iconic films such as Sholay, Dharamveer, Chupke Chupke, Loafer, Jugnu, and Seeta Aur Geeta. (ANI)
As part of Tamil Nadu's oldest festival, Karthigai Deepam celebrations, work on making earthen lamps remains in full swing near Nochiodaipatti of Dindigul district. The regions of Natham, Vedappatti, and Nochiodaipatti in Dindigul district, which are known for housing a large number of traditional clay artisans, have been witnessing a surge in the making of pots, clay idols, home decor items, gift articles, and Karthigai lamps with the use of alluvial clay. These pieces are later supplied across Tamil Nadu and to other states for the festivities. Ahead of the Karthigai Deepam festival, potters have also been actively engaged in making earthen lamps. Even though ceramic and wax lamps are available in the market due to urbanisation, the demand for traditional clay lamps remains strong. Small earthen lamps are sold for prices ranging from Re 1 to Rs 5. Traders from other districts and states also place bulk orders for the lamps. In addition to ordinary clay lamps, various designs such as plate lamps, morum lamps, Kamatchi lamps, magic lamps, and aarti plate lamps are also being produced. Special lamps made of alluvial clay--such as household lamps, large household lamps, uruli lamps, uruli lamps with deity idols, lotus lamps with five flames, Kubera lamps, Murugan lamps, and Lakshmi lamps--are being prepared in new designs and sold for Rs 200 to Rs 500. Manimaran, one of the artisans, told ANI, "The labour cost for making clay products is often higher than the selling price. Even so, people continue to prefer clay-based items. The lamps made here are purchased by traders from Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, and several other districts, as well as from neighbouring states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka." As per the Indian calendar, on the day of the full moon in the Tamil month of Karthigai, Karthigai Deepa, also known as Karthika Deepam, is celebrated across the state. (ANI)
Actor Celina Jaitly has filed a case of domestic violence against her husband, Peter Haag, before the Judicial Magistrate First Class in the Andheri court in Mumbai. As per the court documents, Celina has filed the case under Section 23 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2025, for interim and ex parte relief. She has sought damages of Rs 50 crores and other sums in lieu of her loss of source of income and property. The case has been verified, and a notice has been sent to Peter Haag, a resident of Austria, for December 12, 2025. Claiming that her husband "prohibited her from working on various pretexts and robbed her of her financial independence and dignity", Celina, in the petition, accused Peter Haag of pressurising her to transfer ownership of her residence at Mumbai to his name while she was undergoing severe depression after the death of her newborn child and both parents within a few months of each other." She was also subjected to "severe emotional, physical, sexual, verbal and financial abuse" by her husband, forcing her to flee their home in Austria and return to India without her children. Ever since, the actor has been seeking legal redress for the illegal transfer of Mumbai; however, she has been blocked from all her access to her children, she mentioned in the petition. Further in her plea, Celina Jaitly has sought protection from her husband under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. She has also sought compensation of Rs 50 crores on account of the "loss of earnings/visibility suffered by the Complainant due to the abuse meted out by the Respondent, followed by other monetary orders for loss caused due to property removal, funds misappropriation, and maintenance. Celine also urged for a compensation of Rs 50 crores. The actor is represented by the law firm Karanjawala & Co. She also took to her Instagram handle and shared her ordeal, further expressing gratitude to her legal team. https://www.instagram.com/p/DReTqkLjKWe/ "In the middle of the strongest most turbulent storm of my life I never imagined I would spend fighting alone, without any parents, without any support system I never thought there would come a day without all the pillars on which the roof of my world once rested, my parents, my brother, my children, & the one who promised to stand by me, love me, care for me, & bear every trouble with me," a part of the post read. Celina Jaitly and Peter Haag got married on September 18, 2010, at the actor's residence in Mumbai, as per Hindu rituals in the presence of her close friends and family members. On September 22, their marriage was registered under the Austrian civil law. They share three kids, Viraaj, Winston, and Arthur. (ANI)
Lawmaker Jaewon Kim's performance at the inaugural ceremony drew a standing ovation from the delegates, and filmmakers gathered for the event.

While talking to ANI, Jaewon Kim said, "I was very impressed and surprised with the respect. When I was singing, the whole audience was standing up. I have been to India many times, and I do understand the people's heartfelt respect. As a foreigner, when I was singing, everyone was accepting and singing together. It was heart-touching."

Kim, a Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and a Guest of Honour at the ceremony, praised the organisers for their "commitment and consistency since the first edition."

Expressing hope for deeper India-Korea ties in the creative sector, she said the Film Bazaar reflects "a wonderful commitment to collaboration."

Her rendition of India's national song came as the country marks 150 years of Vande Mataram, adding symbolic weight to the opening day.

The event was inaugurated by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan, who was joined by Ministry Secretary Sanjay Jaju, actors Nandamuri Balakrishna and Anupam Kher, festival director Shekhar Kapur, and other dignitaries.

The WAVES Film Bazaar, held annually alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), has become a major platform for global filmmakers, producers, sales agents and festival programmers.

This year's edition features more than 300 film projects and delegations from over seven countries, as per the press statement.

The 56th edition of IFFI is currently taking place in Goa. It will run till November 28. (ANI)
National Award-winning actor Seema Biswas shared her "full circle moment" at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), amid the screening of her latest film, 'Khoya Paya'. The screening took place at a time when filmmaker Shekhar Kapur took over as the festival director this year, notably marking a rare coincidence for Biswas--nearly three decades after she delivered her breakout performance in Kapur's 'Bandit Queen'. Speaking to ANI, Seema Biswas said, "I had an opportunity to work with Shekhar Ji. When I recollect it, I feel very lucky. I talk to him over the phone. At that time, I didn't feel that much, as I was immersed in work. Now I feel I am fortunate. He is a genius, and everyone longs to work with him. It is an honour for me that my film is being screened at the IFFI 2025." Adding significance to the occasion was the special screening of her latest film, 'Khoya Paya', on Tuesday, November 25, at the International Film Festival of India. The film, which explores the journey of an elderly mother who is abandoned by her son in the vast crowds of the Kumbh Mela, was warmly received by the audience. https://www.instagram.com/p/DRZInSAj93-/ Seema Biswas, who played the lead character of the mother, opened up on the theme of mistreatment toward aged parents and shared, "I think parents are considered a burden after a certain age, especially when children become capable. They feel burdened with everything. In the same way, the mother is trapped by her mentality. It is a very heart-touching story and a wake-up call for the new generation." Debutant director Ashutosh Singh also reflected on his first film, revealing how it was shot in real locations during the Maha Kumbh Mela. "The colour of the film was found in Mahakumbh. The shooting was like film school training, having such powerhouse actors. It is important to have a good cast for a film," he said during a press conference after the film's screening. On the other hand, Seema Biswas, who won a National Film Award for Best Actress for 'Bandit Queen', fondly recalled how Shekhar Kapur unexpectedly chose her for the role of Phoolan Devi. "After getting admission at the National School of Drama, I joined the NSD Repertory Company, where I performed in a play. He (Shekhar Kapur) saw my performance and offered me Bandit Queen," she told ANI. She also shared a striking memory of briefly meeting the real Phoolan Devi, who praised her performance - something which Biswas found more validating than any award. "I was in my hotel room with my mother when Shekhar Ji asked me to come to his room for a surprise. I was hoping to meet Sridevi. As I entered the room, I saw a lady seated on the sofa who greeted me with a 'Namaste'. I instantly recognised her. She wanted to hug me. When I asked her views about my film, she said, 'You acted so beautifully. People around me asked if I was acting in the film.' Phoolan Devi Ji told my mother how efficiently I had presented her sufferings in the most truthful way on the big screen," Seema Biswas said. Seema Biswas, who made her way into films through a rich theatre background, also reflected on the rise of OTT, emphasising that it lacks the beauty of watching films on the big screen. (ANI)
Scientists discovered that more muscle and less hidden abdominal fat are linked to a younger biological brain age. Deep visceral fat appeared to accelerate brain ageing, while muscle mass offered a protective effect. Researchers report that people who have more muscle and a lower visceral fat-to-muscle ratio tend to show signs of a younger biological brain age. This conclusion comes from a study that will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Visceral fat refers to the fat stored deep in the abdomen around key internal organs. "Healthier bodies with more muscle mass and less hidden belly fat are more likely to have healthier, youthful brains. Better brain health, in turn, lowers the risk for future brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's." said senior study author Cyrus Raji, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of radiology and neurology in the Department of Radiology at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. How MRI Measures Brain Age and Body Composition Brain age is an estimate of how old the brain appears biologically, based on its structure as seen through MRI. Body MRI can track muscle mass, which serves as a marker for efforts to reduce frailty and strengthen overall health. Estimated brain age from structural scans may also shed light on risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, including muscle loss. "While it is commonly known that chronological ageing translates to loss of muscle mass and increased hidden belly fat, this work shows that these health measures relate to brain ageing itself," Dr Raji said. "It shows muscle and fat mass quantified in the body are key reflectors of brain health, as tracked with brain ageing," added Dr Raji Study Details: Imaging, AI Analysis, and Participant Profile The study evaluated 1,164 healthy adults (52% women) across four research sites using whole-body MRI. Participants had a mean chronological age of 55.17 years. Imaging included T1-weighted MRI sequences, which highlight fat as bright and fluid as dark, providing a clear view of muscle, fat, and brain tissue. An artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm measured total normalised muscle volume, visceral fat (hidden belly fat), subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin) and predicted brain age. The data indicated that individuals with a higher visceral fat to muscle ratio had a higher predicted brain age. Subcutaneous fat showed no meaningful association with how old the brain appeared. "The participants with more muscle tended to have younger-looking brains, while those with more hidden belly fat relative to their muscle had older-looking brains," Dr Raji said. "The fat just under the skin wasn't related to brain ageing. In short, more muscle and a lower visceral fat-to-muscle ratio were linked to a younger brain," added Dr Raji. Implications for Health, Prevention, and Future Interventions Dr Raji explained that focusing on building muscle and reducing visceral fat are realistic and actionable goals. Whole-body MRI and AI-based brain age estimates can offer clear benchmarks for programs designed to lower visceral fat while maintaining or increasing muscle. He also noted that the results highlight the close connection between physical health and brain health. "This research has validated widely held hypotheses about the association between body composition biomarkers and brain health and provides a foundation for those biomarkers to be included in future trials of various metabolic interventions and treatments," he said. What the Findings Mean for GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Commonly prescribed glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) weight loss medications, including Ozempic, are effective at reducing body fat but may also contribute to muscle loss. Dr Raji suggested that the study's findings could help guide the development of next-generation therapies. These future treatments may aim to reduce visceral fat more than subcutaneous fat while protecting muscle mass. "Losing fat -- especially visceral fat -- while preserving muscle volume would have the best benefit on brain ageing and brain health based on insights from our work," he said. "Thus, our study can inform future treatments by promoting research that quantifies MRI of body fat, muscle and brain age, which can help determine the optimal dosing regimens for GLP-1s to achieve the best outcomes in body and brain health," added Dr Raji. (ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha reaffirmed the state government's commitment to transparent recruitment and the development of the education and health sectors, as per an official release. Tripura CM said this while inaugurating the distribution of appointment letters for Physical Education Teachers and Special Educators at the Muktadhara Auditorium on Monday. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that from the very beginning, the current government has ensured transparency in government job recruitment. "No one can now claim that political affiliation is required to secure a government job. If one has the qualifications, it is definitely possible to get a job," said CM Saha. Highlighting the government's efforts, Tripura CM informed that 20,181 individuals have been provided employment in various departments so far, including in cases of die-in-harness. Of these, 6,998 appointments have been made in the Education Department alone for PGT, GT and UGT positions, underscoring the government's focus on strengthening human resources in the sector. The release stated that the Chief Minister emphasised that improving the quality of education remains a top priority. "Our aim is to ensure that students receive quality education in a friendly and supportive environment. The appearance and demeanour of those who received appointment letters today show that they are deserving candidates," he added. The Chief Minister also highlighted several initiatives under the National Education Policy, introduced under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed at reviving India's traditional education values. CM Saha shared that over 5,000 individuals have been appointed through contractual and outsourcing processes. Detailing state-level educational reforms, CM Saha mentioned initiatives such as Nipun Tripura, CM Saath, Mission Mukul, and Saharsha, along with the conversion of 125 schools into Vidya Jyoti institutions and 84 schools into PM-Shri schools. The state has also launched the CM Kanya Atmanirbhar Yojana to empower girl students. "Tripura's higher education sector has also expanded significantly, with the presence of three MBBS colleges, nursing, ANM and GNM colleges, as well as Agriculture, Fishery, and Veterinary colleges, IIIT, National Law University, National Forensic Science University, NIT, and several private universities. Under the Target Project, 10 aspirants have already received assistance to compete in national-level examinations", he said as per the release. During the event, 102 Physical Education Teachers and 55 Special Educators under the School Education Department were handed appointment letters. The Chief Minister personally handed over letters to some of the recruits as a symbolic gesture. Senior officials, including Special Secretary of Education Ravel Hemendra Kumar, Director of School Education NC Sharma, Director of Basic Education, Rajiv Dutta, and Director of SCERT L Darlong, were present at the ceremony. (ANI)
Newly appointed Inspector General of BSF Tripura Frontier, Aloke Kumar Chakravarty, on Monday outlined a series of measures to strengthen border security and curb cross-border crime, citing the current unstable situation in Bangladesh. Speaking in his first interview since assuming office, Chakravarty highlighted Tripura's strategic importance, sharing borders with Bangladesh on three sides. "The situation in Bangladesh is unstable at present. Whether things will stabilise is uncertain, especially now that their elections have been announced. For the past year, Bangladesh's democratic framework has been gradually sidelined, and the country has been governed through an advisory committee. This has had a considerable effect on our own border security," he said. Inspector General of BSF further added, "All BSF battalions deployed along the Bangladesh border under the Tripura Frontier have been placed on high alert and are fully prepared to tackle any situation. Our BOPs are functioning effectively, and we continuously maintain the border fencing, keeping it clear and secured at all times. We have reviewed the "patrol on zero line" directive from IBBS, and we have implemented a new nomination system. Those who operate along the international border have also been included in this process so that their safety and the sensitivity of their tasks remain under close monitoring." "Existing fencing has deteriorated considerably. Proposals for new fencing using upgraded designs are under consideration by the Government of India. We plan to install around 500 km of new fencing incorporating improved technologies while keeping costs low," he added. On enforcement, Chakravarty shared comparative data for 2024 and 2025. "If we compare the records of 2024 and 2025, a noticeable change is visible. Last year, a total of 1,003 people, including one Nigerian, were apprehended. So far in 2025, 956 persons have been detained, including individuals from various countries. Among them, if we look at Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya Muslims, 724 people were arrested in 2024, while 674 have already been arrested in 2025," he told ANI. Chakravarty further added, "So far in 2025, 197 trans-border individuals and 87 touts have been arrested, totalling 278 apprehensions this year." Cattle smuggling, narcotics, and psychotropic substance seizures continue to be a key focus. "We captured 1,510 cattle last year and seized nearly 1,800 cattle. Seizure of Phensedyl has also decreased. Last year, around 70,000 bottles were seized; this year, the figure stands at 46,263 so far," Chakravarty said. IG BSF highlighted that, "Seizures of narcotics along the border continue to remain high. Last year, 6,19,134 Yaba tablets were confiscated, while so far in 2025, 4,19,505 tablets have been seized, with an additional 14,172 tablets recovered recently. Ganja seizures have risen from 9,858 kg in 2024 to 11,357 kg this year. Mature cannabis plants have also been destroyed through joint operations, including plants worth over Rs 1 crore just yesterday. Following the end of the rainy season, joint operations with the police have resumed. In contrast, no brown sugar has been found this year, compared to 382 grams seized across 302 packets in 2024." "No brown sugar has been found this year, compared to 382 grams seized across 302 packets last year. The BSF remains fully committed to combating narcotics and psychotropic substances and will continue this mission in the future," he added. "Gold seizures have declined from 2,673.48 grams in 2024 to 1,394.99 grams so far this year. Similarly, refined sugar confiscations have dropped from 12,80,604 kg last year to 54,112 kg in 2025. Goods including cosmetics, clothing, foreign liquor, and other items worth Rs 53.55 crore were seized in 2024, while this year, seizures amount to Rs 51.34 crore, reflecting the impact of enhanced vigilance and surveillance," IG BSF added. Chakravarty also stressed community engagement and youth participation. "As for ganja, the dry season allows us to intensify operations and destroy more plants. Meetings at the border level have reduced significantly after August, though ground-level coordination continues smoothly. High-level meetings were conducted in 2024. We are maintaining border infrastructure efficiently and strengthening communication with residents along the border. Our goal is to further improve this relationship so local communities act as our eyes and ears, avoiding small-scale smuggling and participating in mainstream livelihoods," he said. "Through pre-recruitment training conducted by our 18 battalions, we aim to encourage more border-area youth to join the force, bringing positive change to their communities. We also extend support to border residents whenever necessary, providing ambulances, water tankers, and other assistance," IG BSF further added. (ANI)
Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Ram Madhav has stated that the hoisting sacred flag (Dhwaj) atop the 191-foot-high shikhara of the newly-constructed Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday is not merely a ceremonial act but the symbolic inauguration of the process to establish "Ram Rajya" across India. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Madhav recalled the vision of veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani, one of the key architects of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. "Those who were involved in this Ram Janmabhoomi movement, like Lal Krishna Advani, used to say at every place that this temple will be the foundation for building Ram Rajya. This hoisting of the flag also should symbolise the initiation of the process of building Ram Rajya in India," he said. Explaining the deeper significance of the temple flag, Madhav noted that the Dhwaj is far more than an identifier of the deity. "This Dhwaj, the flag that is hoisted on temples, symbolises at one level the identity of the temple. If it is a Vishnu temple, this flag will be something. If it is a Shiva temple, it will be different. This flag symbolises a particular value system that is associated with the deity there," the RSS leader added. Madhav described Lord Ram as the embodiment of an exalted value system, saying, "Ram manifests, personifies a great value system. Valmiki, the author of Ramayana, called him Mariyadapurushottam. He epitomised certain decency, a value system, and great virtues. This culmination of the temple and hoisting of the flag also symbolises the initiation of that value system." The senior RSS leader urged citizens to embrace Ram's principles, saying the temple's true success lies in their practice in daily life. "I think what is also important for us in India is now to understand that we have to now imbibe and welcome that value system in our system," he said during an interview. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on 25th November to mark a momentous occasion in the nation's socio-cultural and spiritual landscape. At around 10 am, the Prime Minister will visit Saptmandir, which houses temples related to Maharshi Vashishtha, Maharshi Vishwamitra, Maharshi Agastya, Maharshi Valmiki, Devi Ahilya, Nishadraj Guha and Mata Shabari. This will be followed by a visit to Sheshavtar Mandir. At around 11 am, the Prime Minister will visit Mata Annapurna Mandir. After this, he will perform Darshan and Pooja at Ram Darbar Garbh Grah, which will be followed by Darshan at Ram Lalla Garbha Grah. At around 12 noon, the Prime Minister will ceremonially hoist a saffron flag on the Shikhar of the sacred Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, symbolising the completion of the temple's construction and ushering in a new chapter of cultural celebration and national unity. The Prime Minister will also address the gathering on this historic occasion. The programme will take place on the auspicious Panchami of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Margashirsha, coinciding with the Abhijit Muhurat of Shri Ram and Maa Sita's Vivah Panchami, a day symbolising divine union. The right-angled triangular flag, measuring ten feet in height and twenty feet in length, bears the image of a radiant Sun symbolising the brilliance and valour of Bhagwan Shri Ram, with an 'Om' inscribed on it along with the image of the Kovidara tree. The sacred saffron flag will convey a message of dignity, unity, and cultural continuity, embodying the ideals of Ram Rajya. The flag will rise atop a Shikhar constructed in the traditional North Indian Nagara architectural style, while the surrounding 800-metre Parkota, a circumambulatory enclosure built around the temple, designed in the South Indian architectural tradition, showcases the temple's architectural diversity. A release said that the temple complex features 87 intricately carved stone episodes from the life of Lord Ram based on the Valmiki Ramayana on the outer walls of the main temple, and 79 bronze-cast episodes from Indian culture placed along the enclosure walls. (ANI)
PlayStation Plus is evolving significantly in 2026 with three distinct subscription tiers, Essential, Extra, and Premium, each offering different gaming experiences and features tailored to varied player preferences. This guide breaks down the PS Plus 2026 tiers, comparing PS Extra vs Premium, and highlights the best value options to help players choose the right plan.

What Are the PlayStation Plus Tiers in 2026?

PlayStation Plus 2026 features three membership options:

PS Plus Essential : The base tier maintaining the traditional PlayStation Plus benefits such as online multiplayer, monthly free games (one PS5 and two PS4 titles), and exclusive digital discounts. It targets casual gamers who want multiplayer and some game perks at the lowest cost.

: The base tier maintaining the traditional PlayStation Plus benefits such as online multiplayer, monthly free games (one PS5 and two PS4 titles), and exclusive digital discounts. It targets casual gamers who want multiplayer and some game perks at the lowest cost. PS Plus Extra : This mid-tier subscription adds a massive downloadable catalog of nearly 400 PS4 and PS5 games, combining the old PS Plus and PS Now benefits. It appeals to players seeking more variety and access to a broad range of recent and classic PlayStation titles.

: This mid-tier subscription adds a massive downloadable catalog of nearly 400 PS4 and PS5 games, combining the old PS Plus and PS Now benefits. It appeals to players seeking more variety and access to a broad range of recent and classic PlayStation titles. PS Plus Premium: The highest among PlayStation Plus tiers includes all benefits of Essential and Extra, plus streaming of PS3 games, and a downloadable and streaming catalog of over 340 classic games spanning PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3 consoles. Premium also offers time-limited game trials, making it ideal for retro enthusiasts and those wanting the fullest PlayStation gaming experience.

What Is Included in PS Plus Essential?

The Essential tier continues as the legacy PlayStation Plus service with monthly free games, online multiplayer access, cloud storage, and exclusive discounts. It delivers one PS5 title and two PS4 titles monthly, but starting January 2026, the focus will shift heavily to PS5 titles, with PS4 games reduced as Sony encourages players towards the newer console generation.

Essential remains the most affordable way for players mainly interested in online play and a steady stream of free new games each month.

How Does PS Plus Extra Compare to Essential?

PS Plus Extra builds on Essential by adding a substantial library of downloadable PS4 and PS5 games, nearly 400 in total, offering far more value in terms of game variety and choice.

This tier is often considered the best value for most gamers because it caters well to those who want access to a wide range of games without committing to the highest subscription tier. The Extra tier essentially merges the former PS Plus and PS Now, providing a consolidated service that enhances the gaming library significantly compared to Essential.

What Additional Benefits Does PS Plus Premium Offer?

PS Plus Premium encompasses all the benefits of Essential and Extra tiers and adds unique features focused on retro and classic gaming. This includes streaming of PS3 games (only streamable, not downloadable), plus a vast catalog of downloadable PS1, PS2, and PSP classics totaling around 340 games.

Premium subscribers also gain access to time-limited game trials, which allow testing new games before purchase. This tier is best suited for players who value access to PlayStation's full game history and want to explore legacy titles alongside modern offerings.

Is PS Plus Premium Worth the Extra Cost?

With PS Extra vs Premium, the latter tier is priced higher but offers exclusive access to classic games and game trials not available in other tiers. It is worth the extra cost mainly for retro gamers and those with reliable internet for game streaming.

However, casual players or those primarily focused on the latest PS5 games may find the Extra tier provides the best balance of cost to content. Pricing varies by region, and with Sony's recent price adjustments, it's essential to weigh how much value the classic games and streaming add for the individual user.

How Will PS Plus Change in 2026?

Starting January 2026, PS Plus Essential will emphasize PS5 titles, reducing the focus on PS4 games in its game catalog and monthly free games, signaling Sony's push for a next-gen-centric user base.

Both Extra and Premium tiers will continue offering extensive libraries, but with a heavier PS5 games presence. This shift may influence players to upgrade tiers for access to a broader game selection and classic titles, especially as PS4 games become less prominent in the base tier.

Choosing the right PS Plus tier depends on a player's gaming habits. For multiplayer and basic benefits, Essential remains robust. Those seeking broad game access find Extra the PS Plus best value, balancing cost and content.

Enthusiasts of PlayStation's legacy and additional perks will find Premium worth the investment, particularly with game trials and an expansive classic game library. As Sony shifts focus to PS5 content in 2026, players may find upgrading beneficial to stay current and enjoy a wider gaming experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can PlayStation Plus subscriptions be shared among family members?

PlayStation Plus subscriptions can be shared on one primary PS5 and one primary PS4 console, allowing all user accounts on those consoles to access multiplayer gaming, monthly free games, and digital purchases linked to the primary account. Up to 8 accounts can benefit from a single subscription through console sharing, which makes PS Plus a great value for families. However, some benefits like PS5 monthly games and cloud storage remain exclusive to the main account.

2. Is there a dedicated family plan for PS Plus?

Sony does not currently offer a specific family plan for PlayStation Plus. Instead, families can share a subscription by designating primary consoles for account sharing. Smaller household discounts may come from bundles like the Duo Pack, but larger families typically manage sharing by adding multiple accounts to a single primary console's PS Plus subscription.

3. What limitations exist when sharing PS Plus benefits with family members?

While game sharing works for online play and digital game access on primary consoles, limitations include only one PS5 and one PS4 console being designated for sharing. Certain benefits like cloud saves and PS5 exclusive monthly free games are restricted to the primary account holder. Share Play sessions have time limits and require good internet connection.

4. Can child family members have their own PS Plus subscription paid from the family manager's account?

Child family members can have their own PlayStation Plus subscriptions paid for via funds from the family manager's wallet, subject to spending limits set for child accounts. This helps families manage costs and allows children controlled access to PlayStation Plus content independently while maintaining parental oversight.

Originally published on Tech Times
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, on Monday inaugurated a state-of-the-art 240 TPD (tonnes per day) Biomass Pellet Plant in Rewari, Haryana, marking a significant milestone in the State's clean energy journey, according to an official release. Union Minister Joshi said that the occasion marks a significant milestone in the State's clean energy journey and reflects Haryana's steady emergence as a major contributor to India's renewable energy future. The Minister underlined that the Government of India has recently notified a comprehensive policy mandating biomass pellet or torrefied municipal solid waste (MSW) charcoal co-firing in all coal-based thermal power plants. Under the new policy, thermal power stations across the country are required to co-fire 5% biomass or MSW charcoal by weight, while units in the Delhi-NCR region will achieve a 7% blend. For NCR plants, at least half of the biomass used will be sourced from local paddy residue and stubble, ensuring sustainable supply chains and addressing the long-standing problem of stubble burning. Shri Joshi noted that the Government is simultaneously strengthening source segregation systems and regulatory supervision to build a robust ecosystem for MSW-derived charcoal, given the challenges posed by wet and unsegregated municipal waste. The Minister highlighted that the Rewari facility will convert agricultural residues such as paddy straw, mustard straw, and cotton stalks into biomass pellets for thermal power co-firing. This will reduce pollution, cut carbon emissions and generate new livelihood opportunities for rural communities while creating an additional income stream for farmers. The Minister described the project as an important step towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a sustainable and energy-secure future. Highlighting the Centre's long-standing commitment to Haryana, Shri Joshi said that major infrastructure and clean fuel initiatives are transforming the State's development trajectory. He emphasised that India has nearly doubled its electricity generation capacity over the past decade and is now a power-exporting nation, with Haryana benefiting significantly from this progress. With over 12 GW of existing capacity, the State is on track to achieve 24 GW in the coming years. Detailing Haryana's clean energy achievements, the Minister noted that the State has installed more than 2.8 GW of renewable energy capacity, including 2.4 GW of solar power. More than 2 lakh households have applied under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and over 45,000 homes have already installed rooftop solar systems, giving households substantial savings through zero electricity bills. Under PM-KUSUM, Haryana has installed 18.61 MW under Component A and more than 1.74 lakh solar pumps, enabling farmers to irrigate using sunlight without relying on diesel. The Minister described this as a major empowerment of farmers, who are now emerging not just as providers of food, but as producers of clean energy. On green hydrogen, Joshi highlighted Haryana's leadership in pioneering projects across sectors in Hisar, Panipat and Jhajjar. As per the release, Joshi said that these developments place Haryana at the forefront of the global clean fuel revolution, supported by a biomass potential exceeding 1,350 MW and a growing network of waste-to-energy projects totalling nearly 49 MW across 26 units. Joshi reiterated the Union Government's commitment to supporting Haryana's clean energy ambitions. He said that the people of Haryana have always been at the forefront of the nation's progress, protecting India's borders, feeding the country, and now leading the movement towards a cleaner and greener energy future. He expressed confidence that Haryana will emerge as a global leader in clean energy in the years to come. K2 Group of Companies is a green-energy enterprise based in Rewari, Haryana, committed to delivering sustainable solutions across the clean fuel ecosystem. The Group operates K2 Power Renewal Pvt. Ltd., which produces biomass-based green electricity, and K2 Biofuels Pvt. Ltd., which manufactures biomass pellets from agricultural residues for co-firing in thermal power plants. (ANI)
The Indian National Congress has directed all its state units to observe 26 November as 'Samvidhan Bachao Divas' at Pradesh Congress Committees (PCC) offices and district headquarters across the country. In the letter, the Congress highlighted the importance of the occasion, stating, "On the solemn occasion of Constitution Day, the Indian National Congress calls upon all Pradesh Congress Committees to observe 26 November as Samvidhan Bachao Divas across the country. This year's observance carries profound significance given the unprecedented challenges facing our democratic institutions and the very spirit of our Constitution." The party emphasised that the fundamental values enshrined in the Constitution, including justice, liberty, equality, fraternity and the protection of every citizen's rights, are currently under visible strain. The letter further highlighted that the nation faces a threat to constitutional morality and democracy. "The country is witnessing a growing attack on the constitution marked by systematic vote theft, electoral malpractices, abuse of institutions, and the dubious Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-driven attempts to distort the electoral rolls. These actions strike at the very heart of our constitutional morality and democratic traditions. It is our collective responsibility to expose these dangers before the people, and to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to defend the Constitution, its institutions, and its values," the letter stated. The Congress urged all PCCs to organise programmes at every district headquarters with seriousness, discipline, and maximum participation. Suggested activities include seminars, symposiums and discussions. Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is observed on 26 November each year to commemorate the historic adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, a milestone that laid the foundation of the country's democratic governance and the rule of law. (ANI)
As Ayodhya prepares for the 'Dharma Dhwaj' ceremony today, Noor Alam, the owner of land adjacent to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, expressed enthusiasm for attending the flag-hoisting event, saying he feels proud to be "Ram Lalla's neighbour." Alam said Ayodhya has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, with the development of an international airport, a revamped railway station and the newly built Rampath. Speaking to ANI on Monday, Alam said, "We have been living here for generations. We are also known as the neighbours of Lord Shri Ram. It is our good fortune to get the opportunity to attend this event. We will definitely go. History is about to be written, and we will be witnesses to it. Such moments are cherished lifelong. In my 42 years, I have seen so many aspects of Ayodhya. We never imagined that our Ayodhya would become what it is now. Ayodhya is known everywhere in the world. The credit for this goes solely to our Prime Minister and Chief Minister." He added, "We will never forget their favour... In such a small town, we never imagined that we would have an international airport, a road like Rampath, and such a large railway station. People here used to go to Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, and Gujarat for business, but today, people from those places come here to do business. This is Ayodhya... We have no words to express how proud we are to be Ram Lalla's neighbours... Everyone here is happy. Reflecting on the atmosphere following the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in January 2024, Alam said, "After the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, the atmosphere here has become such that every person is happy. No one is troubled. God's grace is showering on everyone..." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the sacred flag (Dharma Dhwaj) atop the 191-foot-high shikhara of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple today, marking a significant moment in the nation's spiritual and cultural landscape. The flag carries three sacred symbols--Om, the Sun and the Kovidara tree. The Kovidar tree is a hybrid of the Mandar and Parijat trees, created by Rishi Kashyap, showcasing ancient plant hybridisation. The Sun represents Lord Ram's Suryavansh lineage, and Om is the eternal spiritual sound. At around 10 am, the Prime Minister will visit Saptmandir, which houses temples related to Maharshi Vashishtha, Maharshi Vishwamitra, Maharshi Agastya, Maharshi Valmiki, Devi Ahilya, Nishadraj Guha and Mata Shabari. This will be followed by a visit to Sheshavtar Mandir. At around 11 am, the Prime Minister will visit Mata Annapurna Mandir. After this, he will perform Darshan and Pooja at Ram Darbar Garbh Grah, which will be followed by Darshan at Ram Lalla Garbha Grah. At around 12 noon, the Prime Minister will ceremonially hoist a saffron flag on the Shikhar of the sacred Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, symbolising the completion of the temple's construction and ushering in a new chapter of cultural celebration and national unity. The Prime Minister will also address the gathering on this historic occasion. The programme will take place on the auspicious Panchami of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Margashirsha, coinciding with the Abhijit Muhurat of Shri Ram and Maa Sita's Vivah Panchami, a day symbolising divine union. The right-angled triangular flag, measuring ten feet in height and twenty feet in length, bears the image of a radiant Sun symbolising the brilliance and valour of Bhagwan Shri Ram, with an 'Om' inscribed on it along with the image of the Kovidara tree. The sacred saffron flag will convey a message of dignity, unity, and cultural continuity, embodying the ideals of Ram Rajya. The flag will rise atop a Shikhar constructed in the traditional North Indian Nagara architectural style, while the surrounding 800-metre Parkota, a circumambulatory enclosure built around the temple, designed in the South Indian architectural tradition, showcases the temple's architectural diversity. A release said that the temple complex features 87 intricately carved stone episodes from the life of Lord Ram based on the Valmiki Ramayana on the outer walls of the main temple, and 79 bronze-cast episodes from Indian culture placed along the enclosure walls. (ANI)
Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Sahil Monga remanded the accused persons to 3 days' judicial custody after hearing submissions from the Delhi Police and their counsel.

During the hearing, Delhi police alleged that the accused persons have been arrested in relation to a protest during which slogans were raised in favour of Maoist Madvi Hidma, they obstructed the public servants from discharging their duties, they also violated the orders passed by the public servants, and they also caused injuries to public servants.

Advocate Ahmad Ibrahim appeared for the five girls accused in this case. He submitted that the accused are students and carried out a peaceful protest.

He also submitted that the girls were manhandled and were subjected to harrasment and suffered injuries.

It was also submitted that, if the police seek judicial custody, the accused persons should be released, as their custodial interrogation is not required. Advocate Ibrahim said that the bail application for the five accused will be filed tomorrow.

During the hearing, the court also interacted with the girls who alleged manhandling.

DCP (New Delhi District ) was also present during the hearing. The hearing was conducted in a closed courtroom.

These accused have been arrested in connection with the protest organised on Sunday. (ANI)
The Sadhus from Varanasi blessed Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during his visit to Bengaluru on Monday and expressed their goodwill for the state leadership. The sadhus said, "We have come from Kashi. We gave him our blessings." He added that he had conveyed prayers for the welfare of the people of Karnataka. Meanwhile, amid mounting speculation over a possible change in the party's Karnataka leadership, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had asserted that the high command will decide on the Chief Ministerial face. "I have nothing to say," Kharge said while addressing reporters outside his residence here. "You have been standing here for three days straight. There is nothing to say about the developments happening here. Whatever happens, the high command will do it. It is not required to worry too much about it," he added. His remarks come amid increasing speculation about a change in the CM face in Karnataka, with the "power-sharing agreement" of 2023 between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar being cited in political circles. Earlier in the day, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara implied that he also remains in the Chief Ministerial race. Parameshwara's remarks come in the backdrop of a dinner recently hosted by Congress satrap Satish Jarkiholi for leaders from the Dalit community at his residence."We had dinner together at Satish Jarkiholi's (house). Is that wrong? We also talked about politics during the meeting. As ministers in the government, we discussed the works that need to be undertaken in the departments," he informed. Parameshwara further stated that leaders from the Dalit community have met to discuss issues, including internal reservation among Schedule Castes (SCs). "We are all like-minded. The fight over internal reservation is over," he said, asking, "Should we not discuss our problems?"" I have always been in the CM race. In 2013, I was the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). We brought the Congress government to power then. I have never said that I got the government to power alone. Everyone worked together. People voted and made the party win. I was defeated at that time. I don't know what would have happened if I had won. They give the KPCC president a chance. That is not followed in some cases," Parameshwara said. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah earlier downplayed speculation about a leadership change in the state, terming it an "unnecessary debate" and attributing it to recent discussions about a cabinet reshuffle. The CM further said that the senior party leadership would take the final decisions on the cabinet reshuffle, as 2 of the total 34 ministerial posts are vacant and would be filled during the reshuffle. (ANI)
Devotees in Ayodhya lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ahead of the special flag-hoisting ceremony at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple on Tuesday, calling it a matter of pride for the Hindu community. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the sacred flag atop the 191-foot-high shikhara of the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Temple during a special flag-hoisting ceremony today. Gorakhpur Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Joint Secretary Sagun Srivastava termed the ceremony "re-establishment" of the Hindu community. Speaking to ANI, Srivastava said, "This Dhwajarohan is a re-establishment of the entire Hindu community today. The higher our flag is hoisted, the greater the pride we feel. You must be aware of the 500 years of struggle and the millions of sacrifices. When Pran Pratishtha was done on January 22, 2024, India's pride increased throughout the world. The pride of Hindu society has increased, and today it is being fulfilled. Today is absolutely historic." Expressing gratitude towards the Central and state governments, he added, "This is a day in a Yuga that will never come again on this earth. And for this, the efforts of the Prime Minister and our Chief Minister are commendable. We, the people of Hinduism, thank them wholeheartedly for elevating the entire Hindu community. We express our gratitude." A devotee from Gorakhpur, Durgesh Tripathi, called it a historic event for the community. He said, "When Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha was done here, there was an atmosphere of joy throughout India. Today, when Ram Lalla's temple, for which hundreds of years of struggle and thousands of people sacrificing their lives, is ready, the flag-hoisting ceremony is taking place, is a matter of great pride for the Hindu community. Today marks the rise of Sanatana. It is a historic event that will be written in golden letters in history." "On this day, on its own strength, the Hindu community hoisted the flag of religion at the Ram Temple after 500 years. Today, PM Modi, Mohan Bhagwat, and the CM will hoist the flag, creating a joyous atmosphere for all of us... The public has come out onto the streets. This is a matter of great fortune. The public will also witness this historic moment," the devotee added. Earlier, MLA Abhay Singh said that the preparations for the ceremony are underway, as devotees thronged the streets in Ayodhya. "Preparations are underway. All the residents of Ayodhya are filled with joy and enthusiasm. Everyone has thronged the streets to see their Messiah, to welcome him, to congratulate and thank him... We thank the Prime Minister for building such a grand temple," Singh told ANI. However, PM Modi and state functionaries' participation in the event has drawn criticism from the Opposition. UP Congress President Ajay Rai criticised the government, accusing it of "misleading people" in the name of religion. Rai said, "We all worship Lord Ram, and we all are his devotees, but the way the government is marketing and advertising, I believe they are misleading people solely in the name of religion. Everyone worships Lord Ram, but repeatedly going there and marketing it is just a show." Meanwhile, at around 10 am, the Prime Minister will visit Saptmandir, which houses temples related to Maharshi Vashishtha, Maharshi Vishwamitra, Maharshi Agastya, Maharshi Valmiki, Devi Ahilya, Nishadraj Guha and Mata Shabari. This will be followed by a visit to Sheshavtar Mandir. At around 11 am, the Prime Minister will visit Mata Annapurna Mandir. After this, he will perform Darshan and Pooja at Ram Darbar Garbh Grah, which will be followed by Darshan at Ram Lalla Garbha Grah. At around 12 noon, the Prime Minister will ceremonially hoist a saffron flag on the Shikhar of the sacred Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, symbolising the completion of the temple's construction and ushering in a new chapter of cultural celebration and national unity. The Prime Minister will also address the gathering on this historic occasion. The programme will take place on the auspicious Panchami of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Margashirsha, coinciding with the Abhijit Muhurat of Shri Ram and Maa Sita's Vivah Panchami, a day symbolising divine union. (ANI)
The District Administration of Kottayam issued an official statement on Monday after an audio message surfaced on social media in which a Booth Level Officer (BLO) expressed work-related stress linked to duties under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls. According to the statement, Chief Electoral Officer Rathan Kelkar and District Collector Chethan Kumar Meena took immediate cognisance of the matter and held a video conference with Antony Varghese, BLO of Booth No. 110 under Poonjar LAC, to address his concerns. During the interaction, Antony Varghese conveyed his willingness to continue serving as a BLO. The release added that he was offered the option to discontinue SIR responsibilities if he wished, and the Chief Electoral Officer assured him of all necessary support for the smooth discharge of his duties. Following this, officials, including Sunilkumar P. S., Tahsildar (LR), Kanjirappally and Assistant Electoral Registration Officer; Nijumon P. S., Deputy Tahsildar and Additional Electoral Registration Officer; and Anish Lookose, Village Officer, Mundakayam, met Antony Varghese and held detailed discussions. They observed that he has been performing his SIR-related duties in an exemplary manner. To further strengthen the support system for the BLO, the District Administration has deployed additional personnel to assist him in the effective execution of SIR activities. The press release added that Antony Varghese has affirmed his desire to continue discharging his responsibilities as a BLO, a role he has carried out with dedication for many years, and that he holds no grievances. Meanwhile, tensions escalated outside the Election Commission (EC) office in Kolkata on Monday as protesters gathered to express their opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise underway in West Bengal. Police quickly set up barricades around the office as demonstrators surrounded the main gate, demanding clarity on the ongoing process.Several protestors, including teachers, expressed concerns over the accelerated pace of the SIR exercise. Speaking to ANI, a protester said, "I am a teacher. I am from Murshidabad. The SIR process, which usually takes two years in West Bengal, is being conducted within two months. Crores of voters were deleted from the voter list in Bihar. The same conspiracy is happening here. I am from Sulekha Pandey Primary School. Our delegate is inside the office. Thousands of BLOs were here. They have returned right now. They will come back tomorrow if the CO doesn't listen to us. We will continue our protest here the whole night. We will not spare anyone till we don't get answers." (ANI)
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir is decked up for the grand Dwajarohan Ceremony to be presided over by PM Modi today. General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Champat Rai on Tuesday said that a 10-foot-tall, 20-foot-long triangular-shaped saffron flag is the colours of the flame and rising sun and symbolises sacrifice and devotion. Rai also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, UP Governor, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Swami Govindadev Giri are scheduled to attend the Dhwajarohan ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the sacred flag atop the 191-foot-high shikhara of the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Temple during a special flag-hoisting ceremony today. Speaking to reporters, Trust General Secretary Rai said, "On Ram Vivah Panchami, Dhwajarohan will be done on the 'shikhar' of Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir after 11.50 am. PM Modi, RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, Swami Govindadev Giri, UP Governor and CM will attend the function...It is a saffron flag, the colours of the flame, the colour of the rising sun. The colour symbolises sacrifice and devotion. The flag is 10 ft tall, 20 ft long and triangular in shape." Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri Maharaj also expressed his excitement and informed that the Chief Minister reviewed the arrangements yesterday. "The day is finally here after five centuries. All preparations are complete. The Chief Minister also reviewed the arrangements yesterday. Sar Sangh Sanchalak Mohan Bhagwat reviewed the arrangements yesterday and was satisfied with them," he told reporters. Meanwhile, devotees in Ayodhya lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ahead of the special flag-hoisting ceremony at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple on Tuesday, calling it a matter of pride for the Hindu community. However, PM Modi and state functionaries' participation in the event has drawn criticism from the Opposition. UP Congress President Ajay Rai criticised the government, accusing it of "misleading people" in the name of religion. "We all worship Lord Ram, and we all are his devotees, but the way the government is marketing and advertising, I believe they are misleading people solely in the name of religion. Everyone worships Lord Ram, but repeatedly going there and marketing it is just a show," Rai said. Meanwhile, at around 10 am, the Prime Minister will visit Saptmandir, which houses temples related to Maharshi Vashishtha, Maharshi Vishwamitra, Maharshi Agastya, Maharshi Valmiki, Devi Ahilya, Nishadraj Guha and Mata Shabari. This will be followed by a visit to Sheshavtar Mandir. At around 11 am, the Prime Minister will visit Mata Annapurna Mandir. After this, he will perform Darshan and Pooja at Ram Darbar Garbh Grah, which will be followed by Darshan at Ram Lalla Garbha Grah. At around 12 noon, the Prime Minister will ceremonially hoist a saffron flag on the Shikhar of the sacred Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, symbolising the completion of the temple's construction and ushering in a new chapter of cultural celebration and national unity. The Prime Minister will also address the gathering on this historic occasion. The programme will take place on the auspicious Panchami of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Margashirsha, coinciding with the Abhijit Muhurat of Shri Ram and Maa Sita's Vivah Panchami, a day symbolising divine union. (ANI)
Manipur Police conducted search operations in the fringe and vulnerable areas across districts, resulting in the recovery of arms and ammunition in Churachandpur district, said the Police on Monday. According to the police, the Security Forces recovered various types of weapons from the Bolneo area, about 5 km away from Ningthiching village, like seven modified projectile launchers, eleven locally made Pumpi projectile HE bombs, seven country-made single-barrel rifles, two country-made pistols, two pistol magazines, three pistol live rounds, two Baofeng handsets, nine BP jackets, six anklets and nine ammunition pouches. Additionally, the Manipur Police arrested 25-year-old digital content creator Yumkhaibam Shantikumar after an FIR was filed concerning a viral video. In the video, a person is seen interviewing random individuals and asking suggestive questions that could encourage conspiracy to commit criminal offences, including intimidation and mistrust among social groups, as well as the spread of false information. The Manipur Police said that the movement of 318 vehicles carrying essential goods along NH-37 was ensured. Strict security measures were implemented at all vulnerable locations, with security convoys deployed along sensitive stretches to provide safe, uninterrupted transit. A total of 112 Nakas/checkpoints were set up across various districts, both in the hills and the valley, but none of the vehicles were detained. Earlier, a clash broke out between the Police, IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and people under the aegis of COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity), who were attempting to boycott the Sangai Festival. The Internally Displaced Persons demanded their rehabilitation amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the state. (ANI) However, following a clash between the Manipur Police, IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and people under the aegis of COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity) who were attempting to boycott the Sangai Festival, police said that the law-and-order situation in the state is now "normal." According to the Manipur Police press note, adequate security measures were put in place to ensure the successful and smooth conduct of the event. The Sangai Festival is an annual cultural and tourism festival held in the state of Manipur. The festival showcases Manipur's art, culture, food, and traditions through events such as cultural performances, traditional games, and local food stalls. (ANI)
The raids took place at his house in Shetter Colony, in the Sociology Department, the Ambedkar Studies Centre, and his private residence in Talikoti, Koppal district. The operation in Dharwad was led by Lokayukta SP Siddalingappa and was carried out following complaints regarding the possession of inappropriate assets.

Professor Subhaschandra Natikar serves in the Department of Sociology and is the Coordinator of the Ambedkar Studies Centre at Karnataka University.

Earlier in July, the Karnataka Lokayukta conducted search operations across the State in connection with complaints regarding alleged disproportionate asset cases registered against five government officials.

The raids were conducted in Hassan, Chikkabalapura, Chitradurga and Bengaluru on July 29.The officers who came under investigation included Jayanna R, Executive Engineer, National Highway Hassan Division in Hassan; K Omprakash, Senior Assistant Director of Horticulture, BDA, Bengaluru; N Venkatesh, Tax Accessor, Shettyhalli Sub-Division, BBMP, Bengaluru, Venkatesh G, Taluk Health Officer, Hiriyur Taluk, Chitradurga District and Anjaneya Murthy M, Junior Engineer, Rural Drinking Water and Sanitization Department, Gowribidanuru Tq, Chikkaballapur District.

The series of raids followed similar statewide raids last week.

On July 23, the Karnataka Lokayukta also conducted a raid on the residence and office of Sunil Kumar, an Executive Engineer in the Health and Family Welfare Department. According to Lokayukta officials, raids were conducted at Sunil Kumar's residence and office in Kalaburagi. Lokayukta officials are examining documents found during the searches.

Sunil Kumar is serving in the Engineer Department of Kalaburagi district. He is a resident of Hallikheda B village in Humnabad taluk of Bidar district.

In another Lokayukta operation, gold ornaments, cash, watches and other articles were found in the residence of Maruthi Bagli, Assistant Director of Town and Country Planning, in Bidar. The raid was led by Lokayukta Deputy SP Hanumantharai. (ANI)
Campbell Soup Company is facing serious allegations after a former employee claimed he secretly recorded a company vice president making racist remarks, mocking customers, and criticizing the company's own products.

The worker, Robert Garza, has now filed a lawsuit saying he was fired in retaliation for reporting what he heard.

According to the lawsuit, Garza, a former cybersecurity analyst from Michigan, met with Campbell's Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, Martin Bally, during what was supposed to be a routine salary discussion late last year.

Garza said he trusted a gut feeling and decided to record the meeting. According to the NY Post, what he captured, he later told reporters, left him feeling "pure disgust."

The recording, which reportedly lasted more than 75 minutes, includes a voice identified as Bally saying, "We have st for fking poor people. Who buys our st? I don't buy Campbell's products barely anymore."

He also complained about ingredients, saying he didn't want to eat "bioengineered meat," and then insulted Indian coworkers, declaring they "don't know a fking thing."

Garza said he kept the audio to himself for several weeks because he didn't know how to process what he heard. But by January, he decided he needed to report Bally's behavior to his supervisor.

BREAKING: Campbells Soups VP and CISO, Martin Bally, was secretly recorded claiming the company uses bioengineered meat, their products arent healthy, and that mostly poor people buy them



What is going on?

 pic.twitter.com/SGB6m5IrUt  Digi Gal  (@DigitalGalX) November 24, 2025

Campbell Soup Denies VP's Claims About Ingredient

According to Garza, he had no record of performance issues and had even been praised by Bally in the same meeting where the comments were made.

However, Garza says that just 20 days after reporting the comments, he was suddenly fired.

His attorney, Zachary Runyan, said, "He reached out to his supervisor... and then out of nowhere, my client was fired." Runyan added that Garza "was really sticking up for other people."

Campbell Soup responded by saying Bally is "temporarily on leave" while an investigation takes place, DailyMail reported.

A company spokesperson said the comments on the recording were "unacceptable" and "do not reflect our values."

The company also pushed back on Bally's claims about Campbell's ingredients, saying the remarks were "patently absurd."

Garza's lawsuit alleges Campbell's maintained a racially hostile work environment and punished him for reporting discrimination.

He says he received no follow-up from human resources after raising concerns and that losing his job caused stress, financial strain, and months of unemployment.

The former employee said he once believed Campbell's motto about treating workers like family. After everything that happened, he now says, "That's not the case."

Originally published on vcpost.com
Delhi's Patiala House Court has remanded five accused for two day judicial custody in connection with an anti-pollution protest that turned violent. One accused has been sent to a safe house until his age is verified, as he claimed to be a minor. His bail application has also been filed. A total of 23 people were arrested for allegedly blocking a road, obstructing police and using pepper spray at Delhi Police personnel during a protest at the India Gate on Sunday. Police on Monday said that they have registered FIRs in two police stations for staging a protest at the C Hexagon on India Gate, and allegedly using chilli spray/pepper spray on police personnel. At Kartavya Path Police Station, six male protesters were arrested under BNS sections 74, 79, 115(2), 132, 221, 223, and 61(2). The second FIR was registered at the Sansad Marg Police Station, in which other protesters have been arrested.They have been booked under BNS sections 223A, 132, 221, 121A, 126(2), and 3(5). All six accused arrested from Kartavya Path (India Gate) were produced before the Patiala House Court on Monday. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Arindam Singh Cheema viewed the video of the protest and asked the police to file a copy of it. While seeking the two-day remand of the six accused, the Delhi police submitted that the accused protested at India Gate and violated the order issued by the public servant. They also used criminal force to obstruct the public servant. It was also submitted that they also raised slogans in favour of notorious Maoist Madvi Hidma, who was recently killed in an ambush with security forces in Andhra Pradesh. They also used pepper spray and raised slogans of Lal Salam, police said. They are required to be interrogated to unearth the conspiracy and to inquire about their links with the Maoist organisation, if any, Delhi police said. After hearing the application, the court has reserved the order. Counsel for the two accused submitted that they suffered injuries due to custodial torture. The counsel said they were carrying out a peaceful protest and were not engaged in any anti-national or Naxalite activities. Counsel for another accused claimed that he is a practising lawyer and was "beaten by the police." During the hearing, the court also physically examined the injury marks allegedly inflicted by the police. Counsel for the accused also submitted that the CCTV footage should be preserved. "Our allegation is that there is custodial torture. It should be preserved, " the counsel submitted. "There are photos showing an injury. The police did a lathi charge. One accused, Akshay, was pinned down," the counsel claimed. "What they need to unearth in custodial interrogation. They are students and have been in custody. They fully cooperated with the investigation. The police officials who allegedly assaulted the accused persons should be booked in a case of custodial torture. A complaint was also given to the police," the counsel of another accused, Sameer, submitted. (ANI)
Indian Army Trishakti Corps has commenced intensive Army Martial Arts Routine (AMAR) training at altitudes exceeding 14,000 ft, significantly enhancing close-combat readiness in some of the most demanding operational zones along the Northern Borders, a release said. According to PRO Defence, this training is conducted in sub-zero temperatures, rarefied air, and rugged terrain. This training aims to prepare soldiers to respond effectively, even when conventional weapons are not immediately available. Additionally, the training enhances reflexes, balance, stamina, and situational awareness, and helps control aggression, which are considered essential attributes for success in close-quarters battle in mountainous terrain. Troops are undergoing AMAR (Army Martial Arts Routine) training above 14,000 ft, sharpening "close-combat skills in extreme high-altitude conditions. AMAR strengthens reflexes, stamina, and close quarters readiness," Trishakti Corps troops also said in a post on X. https://x.com/trishakticorps/status/1993134625078824984 A young officer participating in the training shared his experience saying, "At 14,000 ft, the mountains challenge your stamina, focus, and resolve. AMAR helps us stay calm under pressure and gives us the confidence that even without a weapon in hand, we are fully prepared for any close quarter threat." According to PRO Defence, AMAR is a modern combat system that blends traditional Indian martial arts with globally proven close-combat techniques. The regimen covers bare-hand engagements, weapon-based combat, stress response control, and comprehensive physical and mental conditioning, which are considered critical for high-altitude operations. Earlier, in a significant milestone towards self-reliance, the Indian Army had indigenised 55 out of the total 57 Special Clothing and Mountaineering Equipment (SCME) for troops in Super High Altitude Areas, Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI), IHQ of MoD (Army) said. In an X post, ADG PI said that the remaining two SCME items are under trial and will be indigenised by 2026. "The Indian Army continues to drive India's journey towards Atmanirbharta and a Viksit Bharat @2047. In a major milestone, 55 of 57 Special Clothing & Mountaineering Equipment (SCME) items for troops in Super High Altitude Areas have now been fully indigenised - a remarkable 97 per cent of the inventory. This not only enhances logistics resilience but also cuts import dependence. The remaining two items are under trials and will be indigenised by 2026," ADG PI wrote. Further, the Indian Army hailed the three-layered, ergonomically engineered New Coat Combat (Digital Print) designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi. "Further strengthening operational capability, the Army introduced the New Coat Combat (Digital Print) in January 2025. Designed by NIFT New Delhi, this three-layered, ergonomically engineered jacket uses advanced technical textiles to boost soldier performance in diverse terrains," ADG PI added. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Tuesday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, saying that the world will witness the "peak of Sanatan culture" during the event. As the ceremony will mark the completion of the construction of the Ram Temple, Pathak termed it a culmination of years of struggle. He told ANI, "PM Modi is arriving here today, all of us in UP are excited. The world will witness the peak of Sanatan culture today when Dhwajarohan will be done. This is the culmination of thousands of years of struggle. This was awaited for years. I express gratitude to the PM. This is an auspicious day." Earlier today, PM Modi held a roadshow in Ayodhya ahead of the ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the sacred flag atop the 191-foot-high shikhara of the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Temple during a special flag-hoisting ceremony today. At around noon, the Prime Minister will ceremonially hoist a saffron flag on the Shikhar of the temple, symbolising the completion of the temple's construction. The Prime Minister will also address the gathering on this occasion. Hanuman Garhi temple priest Mahant Raju Das expressed joy ahead of the ceremony and said that Sanatan preaches harmony among living beings and the welfare of the world. He said, "The saffron flag will be hoisted on the Shikhar today under the leadership of the Prime Minister, CM of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and RSS Mohan Bhagwat. Sanatan teaches the victory of Dharma, the destruction of Adharma, harmony among living beings, and the welfare of the world. The Dharma Sanatan preaches 'Sarva Bhavatu Sukhinah, Sarvasantu Niramay'." "When Ram Lalla was in the tent, and Yogi Adityanath brought him to the alternative temple, people were crying, wondering when the temple would be built. When the temple was built, people were eagerly wondering when the grand temple would be built, and today, when the grand temple has been built, the Prime Minister is hoisting the flag for the construction of that grand temple. We are excited," the priest added. Meanwhile, a Bhandara (community meal) has also been arranged for the police personnel and the security forces deployed for the security management and the devotees in Ayodhya today. Maniram, an organiser of the Bhandara, said that they have prepared food for 10,000 people in the general public, and they're distributing 5000 packets for the administration. He said, "This is the Amavas Ram Temple. Here, after taking darshan at the Ram Temple, we provide completely free food prasad. This was a new initiative by Acharya Kishore Kunal ji at Patna Mahavir Hanuman Ji Temple. We will continue to serve prasad here three times a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food prasad is available from 8 am to 10 am, from 11 am to 3 pm and from 7 pm to 9 pm. Right now, we've cooked food for 10,000 people for the general public, and we're distributing 5000 packets for the administration. It will continue every day." The 'Dharma Dhwaj' carries three sacred symbols, Om, the Sun and the Kovidara tree, each representing profound spiritual values rooted in the Sanatan tradition. The Kovidar tree is a hybrid of the Mandar and Parijat trees, created by Rishi Kashyap, showcasing ancient plant hybridisation. The Sun represents Lord Ram's Suryavansh lineage, and Om is the eternal spiritual sound. Hoisting of the flag to coincide with the Abhijit Muhurat of Shri Ram and Maa Sita's Vivah Panchami. (ANI)
Ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has called an all-party meeting on November 30, sources said. Earlier, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal told ANI that an all-party meeting will be held to share the list of bills with the Leader of the Opposition, to take their suggestions. Meghwal said, "We are going to have a meeting with the Secretaries of various departments. We will conduct a scrutiny of all the pending bills that are supposed to be passed, and then an all-party meeting will be held where we will share the list of bills with the leader of the opposition, and then we will form strategies according to the suggestions by the opposition leaders." Kiren Rijiju had announced that the winter session of Parliament would run from December 1 to 19. The President Droupadi Murmu has approved the proposal of the government to convene the session on the given dates, Kiren Rijiju mentioned in a post on X. Parliament is set to have 15 sittings across 19 days. Private Members' Bills are set to be taken for consideration on December 5 and 19, and Private Members' resolutions on December 12. Meanwhile, amid speculations regarding Chandigarh being included under Article 240 under the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday clarified that the proposal aimed at simplifying the Central Government's law-making process for the Union Territory of Chandigarh is still under consideration, stressing that no final decision has been taken and that existing administrative arrangements will remain unaffected. According to a release, the proposal "in no way seeks to alter Chandigarh's governance or administrative structure," nor does it intend to modify the traditional arrangements between Chandigarh and the States of Punjab or Haryana. The Ministry further said that any decision on the matter will be taken only after "adequate consultations with all stakeholders," ensuring that the interests of Chandigarh are fully protected. It also underlined that there is "no need for any concern" regarding the issue and clarified that the Central Government has no intention of introducing any Bill related to this proposal in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament. (ANI)
Several government officials across Karnataka have come under scrutiny following raids and complaints submitted by the KLA district units under the SIR process. These officials are from various departments, including municipal administration, revenue, veterinary services, education, and public works.

The list includes: Puttaswamy C, CAO, Town Municipality, Mandya; Prem Singh, Chief Engineer, Upper Krishna Project, Bidar; Ramaswamy C, Revenue Inspector, Hootgalli Municipality, Mysore; Subash Chandra, Assistant Professor, Sociology, Karnataka University, Dharwad; Sathish, Senior Veterinary Examiner, Primary Veterinary Clinic, Huilgol, Dharwad; Shekhappa, Executive Engineer, Office of the Project Director, Haveri, Davangere; Kumarswamy P, Office Superintendent, RTO, Electronic City, Bengaluru; Lakshmipathi CN, FDA, SIMS Medical College, Agriculture Sales Depot, APMC, Shimoga; Prabhu J, Assistant Director, DVG, Davangere; and Girish D M, Assistant Executive Engineer, PWD, Madikeri.

Additonally, Lokayukta officials conducted a raid on the residence and office of Professor Subhaschandra Natikar at Karnataka University, Dharwad. The raids took place at his house in Shetter Colony, in the Sociology Department, the Ambedkar Studies Centre, and his private residence in Talikoti, Koppal district. The operation in Dharwad was led by Lokayukta SP Siddalingappa and was carried out following complaints regarding the possession of inappropriate assets.

Earlier in July, the Karnataka Lokayukta conducted searches across the State in connection with complaints regarding alleged disproportionate assets cases registered against five government officials.The raids were conducted in Hassan, Chikkabalapura, Chitradurga and Bengaluru on July 29.

The officers who came under investigation included Jayanna R, Executive Engineer, National Highway Hassan Division in Hassan; K Omprakash, Senior Assistant Director of Horticulture, BDA, Bengaluru; N Venkatesh, Tax Accessor, Shettyhalli Sub-Division, BBMP, Bengaluru; Venkatesh G, Taluk Health Officer, Hiriyur Taluk, Chitradurga District; and Anjaneya Murthy M, Junior Engineer, Rural Drinking Water and Sanitisation Department, Gowribidanuru Tq, Chikkaballapur District. (ANI)
The Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday paid homage at the National War Memorial to honour the sacrifice of Param Vir Chakra awardee Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran and other soldiers during Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka in the late 1980s. Major Parameswaran laid down his life on this day in 1987. Operation Pawan, undertaken under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord signed on 29 July 1987, marked India's first major overseas peacekeeping deployment. The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) entered Sri Lanka in August 1987, tasked with disarming the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and stabilising the Jaffna Peninsula. At its peak, the IPKF strength reached nearly 100,000 personnel, who operated in intense counter-insurgency conditions until March 1990. General Dwivedi observed a moment of silence at the memorial complex, which honours India's fallen soldiers from post-Independence conflicts. Major Parameswaran's bravery remains etched as one of the most inspiring acts of battlefield leadership in Indian military history. He sacrificed his life on November 25, 1987, during an ambush with militants. Major Parameswaran, commissioned into the 8 MAHAR regiment, was leading a search operation in Sri Lanka on 25 November 1987 when his column was ambushed by militants. Showing exceptional presence of mind, he manoeuvred his troops into a tactical advantage and led a counter-assault. Despite being shot in the chest during hand-to-hand combat, he wrestled the rifle back from his attacker and neutralised the militant. Mortally wounded, Major Parameswaran continued to command and motivate his troops until he succumbed to his injuries. His leadership resulted in the elimination of five militants and the recovery of weapons. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for conspicuous gallantry, according to a citation. The Indian Army reaffirmed that the courage, duty and sacrifice of soldiers like Major Parameswaran will continue to inspire generations. (ANI)
On the occasion of Guru Tegh Bahadur's Martyrdom Day, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi paid his "humble requests" to him through her official X handle. He posted, "On the martyrdom day of the ninth Guru of Sikhism, 'Hind Ki Chadar' Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, I pay my humble respects to him. His ideals, values, sacrifice, and martyrdom will forever remain a source of inspiration for humanity." https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/1993188471721410983?s=08 Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also posted through her X handle. She said, " On the martyrdom day of the ninth Guru of Sikhism, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, I pay my humble respects to him. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji illuminated the world by spreading the light of religion, humanity, service, sacrifice, love, and unity, showing the path. His teachings will forever guide us all." https://x.com/priyankagandhi/status/1993172242478645681?s=08 Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth of the ten Sikh Gurus, a revered spiritual leader, philosopher, poet, and warrior, honoured as the "Protector of humanity" (Hind di Chadar). He led the Sikh community from 1665 until his martyrdom in 1675. His 115 hymns (Shlok Mahalla 9) are a vital part of the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of Sikhism. His writings explore themes of the nature of God, human attachment, sorrow, death, and the importance of a selfless life. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur ji on his 350th martyrdom anniversary on Tuesday, saying that Guru's martyrdom for the "protection of faith and humanity will forever illuminate our society." In a post on X, PM Modi shared a video and paid reverence to Guru Tegh Bhadur's unmatched courage and sacrifice. "On the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Teg Bahdur Ji, we bow in reverence to his unmatched courage and sacrifice. His martyrdom for the protection of faith and humanity will forever illuminate our society," PM Modi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday paid homage to Guru Tegh Bahadur on the occasion of his 350th martyrdom day, bowing his head in reverence to the ninth Sikh Guru. Shah recalled Tegh Bahadur's unmatched courage, sacrifice and steadfast commitment to righteousness, noting that his supreme martyrdom continues to inspire the nation's collective conscience. Sharing a post on his X handle, the Union Home Minister wrote, "The courage and valour with which Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji confronted injustice and unrighteousness is an inspiration for every Indian. To protect the faith, he did not hesitate even to offer his life. His life is an immortal saga of india's spiritual consciousness, courage, and sacrifice." Meanwhile, the three-day 'Gurmat Samagam,' which began on November 23, will conclude on November 25. CM Rekha Gupta stated that the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahdur is being commemorated across the country with deep devotion, reverence and enthusiasm. (ANI)
As the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process continues across India, a Booth Level Officer (BLO) at Anappady West L.P. School in Tavanur constituency, Kerala, was removed from duty for allegedly behaving rudely towards the public, said District Collector V.R. Vinod on Tuesday. According to IPRD Malappuram, CEO Kerala, an explanation has been sought from the officer. Praseena, a teacher at Cheriya Parappur A.M.L.P. School, has been appointed as the new BLO. Meanwhile, the District Administration of Kottayam issued an official statement on Monday after an audio message surfaced on social media in which a Booth Level Officer (BLO) expressed work-related stress due to duties under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls. According to the statement, Chief Electoral Officer Rathan Kelkar and District Collector Chethan Kumar Meena took immediate cognisance of the matter and held a video conference with Antony Varghese, BLO of Booth No. 110 under Poonjar LAC, to address his concerns. During the interaction, Antony Varghese conveyed his willingness to continue serving as a BLO. The release added that he was offered the option to discontinue SIR responsibilities if he wished, and the Chief Electoral Officer assured him of all necessary support for the smooth discharge of his duties. Following this, officials, including Sunilkumar P. S., Tahsildar (LR), Kanjirappally and Assistant Electoral Registration Officer; Nijumon P. S., Deputy Tahsildar and Additional Electoral Registration Officer; and Anish Lookose, Village Officer, Mundakayam, met Antony Varghese and held detailed discussions. To further strengthen the support system for the BLO, the District Administration has deployed additional personnel to assist him in the effective execution of SIR activities. Earlier, the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) boycotted work to register their protest against the authorities over the alleged suicide of a colleague in Kerala's Kannur. The Council of State government employees jointly organised the protest, along with the Teachers Action Council and the Teachers Service Organisation. They have held the Election Commission accountable for the death of their colleague, Aneesh George, an office attendant at Kunnaru AUP School. They have said that BLOs remain under severe pressure due to the intense voter list revision process. The additional burden of local body election duties has further increased their stress. The statement noted that despite calls from all political parties and service organisations to postpone the SIR process, the Election Commission has reportedly refused to do so. Instead, it is allegedly setting heavy targets that must be met in an extremely short timeframe, making the tasks nearly impossible to accomplish. As a result, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are being driven to their limits, with some even contemplating suicide. Hence, under the joint leadership of the Action Council of State Government Employees and Teachers and Teachers' Service Organisations' BLOs across the state, are boycotting their duties from today as a form of protest. Additionally, protest marches were also planned to the Chief Electoral Officer's office and to the offices of all District Election Officers (Collectorates), announced leaders of the joint struggle committee, MV Shashidharan and KP Gopakumar. Aneesh George, BLO appointed in Payyannur assembly constituency of Kannur district, allegedly died by suicide due to work-related stress amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive being carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI). (ANI)
Two teachers of a private school are accused of allegedly tying a student with a rope and hanging him from a tree for not doing homework. The incident occurred at Hanswahini Vidya Mandir in Surajpur, Chhattisgarh. Vikas Khand, Education Officer, DC Lakda, said, " As soon as the DO (District Officer) got to know about this incident, he sent me here to investigate the matter as he was busy in a meeting. I came here to probe the matter. I will submit a report to the DO by 4 pm today. Appropriate action will be taken." "The head of the organisation and the staff will be questioned. I have seen the video of the incident. I have communicated with the head, and he was apologising for the incident. But I said that the incident with the child will not be written off with a simple apology, an official complaint will be filed, and the District administration will handle the issue.", he said. Manager of Hanswahini Vidya Mandir, Subhash Shivhare, said, "I have given orders to suspend them (two teachers). I would say even though I have not currently communicated with the parties on this matter, that it was just a process of teaching a lesson to the student by instilling fear in him." He added, "Nowadays, whether through parents, family, or school, children do not learn without the use of fear. I am sure that you all have children, and you would agree with me that nowadays, children are notorious and hybrid children are being born. So, to teach hybrid children, punishment is necessary." In relation to alleged harassment by school teachers, an incident was also witnessed in Delhi, where a 16-year-old Class 10 student allegedly died by suicide. The incident had sparked protests by students and parents in the national capital, who are demanding a thorough investigation and appropriate action against the teachers involved. According to the FIR registered by Delhi Police on November 18, the student had repeatedly complained to his parents about the teachers' behaviour, but his appeals for intervention were ignored. (ANI)
A senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Santosh Verma, has apologised for his controversial remarks on Brahmin community, saying that his comments were misinterpreted and presented in a distorted manner. The IAS officer said that he never intended to insult any community or religion. "I had no intention of creating political uproar. Simply, it was our state executive meeting of Madhya Pradesh AJJAKS (Anusuchit Jati-Janjati Adhikari Evam Karmchari Sangh). During the meeting, our previous president of AJJAKS, who held the position for the last 21 years, submitted his resignation and I was elected new president of AJJAKS unanimously. After that, we were sharing our views on whether reservation should be on an economic or social basis," said state President of (AJJAKS) and IAS officer, Santosh Verma. The meeting of Madhya Pradesh AJJAKS had held at Ambedkar Park in the state capital Bhopal on November 23. During the meeting, IAS officer Santosh Verma was appointed as the new president of the AJJAKS, who is the Deputy Secretary of state Agriculture Department. "A few people believed that if anyone has become an IAS officer then any other member of the family should not be eligible for reservation. Speaking on this, I had said that if I am financially independent and my social backwardness is over, then my children and our community should receive 'roti-beti' treatment from society. But only a particular portion was propagated from my address," Verma said. He further added that he had no ill-will towards any community nor had any intention to hurt the daughter of any community. "If my words have hurt the sentiments of any individual, or community, I sincerely apologise. Some people propagated only a portion of what I had said. Those who have fanned this controversy have taken only one line from the speech I had made," he said. Notably, the officer had sparked outrage after a video went viral in which he reportedly made a controversial comment about Brahmin daughters. Verma could be heard saying "Until a Brahmin donates his daughter or establishes a relationship with my son, reservations should continue." Meanwhile, Hindu Utsav Samiti president Chandrashekhar Tiwari condemned the officer's statement saying the officer's remark hurts the sentiment of the entire community and he should apologise. "Santosh Verma should immediately apologise for his remark. The kind of comment he has made hurts the entire community. If he does not apologise, the Brahmin community will launch a large-scale protest," Tiwari said. (ANI)
Try an Alternative Route Around Knoxville Interstate

Traffic This Holiday Season



Holiday traffic spoils the mood. Especially when youre sitting bumper-to-bumper in Interstate traffic through Knoxville with kids and pets getting restless in the back seat. For a better experience, consider hopping off the Interstate onto an alternate route around bottlenecks scouted for you by the Tennessee Infrastructure Alliance.



During extra-busy times like the holidays, the typical traffic volume balloons with families headed north and south to visit loved ones and an increased volume of eighteen wheelers transporting goods inland from east coast ports. On a normal day during the year, an average of more than 200,000 vehicles squeeze along I-40/I-75 between the Papermill Road and West Town Mall exits according to data from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The result is time spent creeping along in traffic through the Interstate interchanges, through downtown and past Cedar Bluff, Pellissippi Parkway, and Farragut.



The mountains and the rivers that make Knoxville one of the most beautiful areas in the country also limit the options for road building. But for those in the know, there are scenic surface road options that offer relief for those willing to explore. These alternative routes can be more predictable and are less prone to unexpected bottlenecks. Even with traffic lights and stop signs they are often faster and their predictability always makes them a better experience.



Headed from Nashville to Asheville, Birmingham to Bristol, or Chattanooga to Lexington? If you travel through Knoxville this holiday season explore an Alternative Route. Local? Share your favorite way to beat the Interstate bottlenecks around the city with us by emailing our team at Tennessee Infrastructure Alliance at info@TNinfrastructure.net.



Learn more at www.tninfrastructure.net.
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid homage to Param Vir Chakra Awardee Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran on his 'Balidan Diwas', recalling his extraordinary courage and sacrifice during Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rajnath Singh wrote: "Remembering and paying tributes to Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran on his 'Balidan Diwas'. He showed exceptional courage and leadership during 'Operation Pawan' in Jaffna. His supreme sacrifice and steadfast resolve remain a guiding light for our Armed Forces and our nation." Earlier in the day, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, marking the solemn occasion. General Dwivedi observed a moment of silence in honour of Major Parameswaran and soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) who fought during Operation Pawan. Major Parameswaran, commissioned into the 8 MAHAR regiment, is remembered as one of the Indian Army's most valiant field commanders. He laid down his life in Sri Lanka on November 25, 1987, while leading a search operation against militants. Despite being ambushed, he reorganised his troops, launched a counter-assault, and personally engaged in close combat. Though shot in the chest during hand-to-hand fighting, Major Parameswaran wrestled a rifle from his attacker and neutralised him before collapsing to his injuries. His leadership ensured the elimination of five militants and the recovery of weapons. For his unparalleled bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the nation's highest wartime gallantry honour. Operation Pawan was launched under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord signed on July 29, 1987, and marked India's first major overseas military deployment. At its peak, the IPKF strength reached nearly 100,000 personnel tasked with stabilising the Jaffna Peninsula and disarming the LTTE. The operation continued until March 1990 under challenging counter-insurgency conditions. The Indian Army stated that the courage and sacrifice of soldiers like Major Parameswaran continue to inspire the armed forces and the nation. (ANI)
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the recently implemented four labour codes, calling them a "game-changer" for the Indian workforce. Speaking to reporters in the national capital, Goyal termed the new labour codes as "balanced and well-articulated" combination of the 29 laws previously governing the Indian workforce. He said, "The four Labour codes are an outstanding testament to the trust that PM Modi has earned from all sections of society. The fact that 140 crore Indians have confidence in our PM, and that both employers and workmen organisations have heartily welcomed it. It is a balanced and well-articulated combination of 29 laws in these four Labour codes." Further, he lauded the reforms in the minimum wages, occupational safety, social security for gig workers, and for women in the workforce. "It ensures minimum wages, occupational safety, social security for gig workers, and, in a way, opportunities for womenfolk to come into the workforce. It is a game-changer that PM Modi has introduced. I am sure the states will come out with legal frameworks to get the maximum benefit of these labour codes," the Union Minister added. In a historic decision, the government of India, last Friday, announced that the four Labour Codes - the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 are being made effective with immediate effect. The four Codes rationalise 29 existing labour laws. Benefitting women, the Codes prohibit gender discrimination, mandate equal pay, and open doors for women to work across all sectors, including underground mining and heavy machinery, allowing night shifts - subject to their safety and consent. Codes also include flexible provisions such as work-from-home, aiming to boost women's participation in the labour force. Under the Code on Wages, 2019, all workers will receive a statutory right minimum wage payment. Minimum wages and timely payment will ensure financial security. While under the Code on Social Security, 2020, all workers, including gig and platform workers, will get social security coverage. All workers will get PF, ESIC, insurance, and other social security benefits. An SBI report stated that the new labour codes could reduce unemployment by up to 1.3 per cent, which would translate into additional employment generation of 77 lakh people. (ANI)
Gujarat's fisheries sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, marked by soaring production, expanding exports, and significant state-backed investment. Government data shows that the value of fish exports from Gujarat has surged from Rs 625 crore in 2001 to more than Rs 6,000 crore in 2023-24, an almost tenfold increase that underscores the state's rising prominence in India's marine economy. With India's longest 2,340 km coastline, Gujarat has strengthened its position as the country's second-largest marine fish producer, achieving an average output of 8.56 lakh metric tonnes over the past four years. The Dholai Port along the Ambika River in Navsari has become a major centre of this growth. Built in 1995 and operated by the Department of Fisheries since 2007, the port now witnesses the arrival of hundreds of boats every day, reflecting the expanding scale of marine activity in the region. Fishermen say the boom has brought stability to their livelihoods and increased opportunities. Boat owner Narsibhai Tandel shared that they travel nearly 100 to 125 nautical miles into the sea, bring back fresh catch, and sell it at the port and local markets. He added that a network of women fish traders also depends on these daily hauls for income, showing the broad impact of the fisheries sector on the community. The Gujarat government has further strengthened the sector by announcing a Rs 1,622 crore fisheries package aimed at boosting shrimp production, cold storage capacity, cage culture, and by-product processing units. These initiatives are designed to modernise marine infrastructure and enhance the value chain from catch to export. Local traders say the increased activity at ports has improved their earnings as well. Fish trader Sushilaben explained that they buy fish directly from boat owners and sell it onwards on commission, earning 5 to 10 per bundle. Many also buy additional stock for personal resale, supplying other traders in the region. Between 2001-02 and 2023-24, Gujarat's fish export quantity rose from 1.32 lakh metric tonnes to nearly 3.37 lakh metric tonnes, and export value climbed from Rs 625.72 crore to Rs 6,087 crore. The state continues to support traditional fishing communities while building a modern, technologically advanced marine economy that is driving new opportunities across the coastal belt. (ANI)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Tuesday that a heritage street city will be built in Anandpur Sahib and called on people to preserve the sanctity of the holy city. His message came a day after a special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, part of the three-day commemoration of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, was held on Monday in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. "A heritage street will be built in Anandpur Sahib. You will soon witness a major transformation in the city. Anandpur Sahib has been granted holy city status, and now it is our responsibility to preserve and uphold its sanctity..." CM Mann told a gathering here. Meanwhile, AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday that one religion is fighting with another religion without any meaning today in our country and stressed that people of different communities must live in peace. He also noted the current wars going on in the world, without naming anyone and highlighted the efforts of Guru Teg Bahadur towards religious pluralism "... Today, so many wars are going on all over the world... How many wars are going on in the name of religion in our country?... What did Guru Teg Bahadur Ji do? He sacrificed his head to protect the other Hindu religion. If we all adopt this: sacrificing everything to protect another religion. All the wars in the entire world will end. There will be peace everywhere... Today, in our country, one religion is fighting another religion... What is the meaning of these wars? There is no meaning. We must live in peace...," Kejriwal told a gathering here. Guru Tegh Bahadur, remembered as "Hind di Chadar", sacrificed his life in 1675 to uphold the right to freedom of belief. His martyrdom occupies a significant place in India's socio-religious history, symbolising the defence of pluralism and civil liberties. The state government said the observance aims to raise awareness of his teachings on compassion, equality and resilience. Commemorating Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom day serves to honour and preserve the legacy of the ninth Sikh Guru while upholding the religious sentiments of the people. Sikhs mark the day with special prayers in Gurdwaras across the country. (ANI)
The Supreme Court agreed to quash all criminal proceedings against the erstwhile Sterling Biotech directors and billionaires, Nitin and Chetan Sandesaras, on the condition that they pay 5100 crore to settle dues with the public banks that initiated fraud proceedings against the duo. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi, on Monday, reasoned that once public money is deposited back with the lender banks, criminal proceedings in the matter can be brought to an end. "It is apparent that since inception, this Court was of the view that if the petitioners are ready to deposit the amount as settled in OTS and public money comes back to lender banks, the continuation of the criminal proceedings would not serve any useful purpose," the Court noted. Thus, the Court directed that all criminal proceedings against the Sandaresas be quashed upon completion of the said deposit with the lender public-sector banks on or before December 17, 2025. The amount is to be deposited with the Registry of the Court, either in a single payment or in multiple tranches, the Court added. After the lender banks submit their claims, the Registrar (Judicial-Administration) will verify the dues and release the funds proportionately to each lender, with liberty to seek assistance from accounts personnel or approach the Bench for clarification if required, the Court noted further. The Court also held that upon deposit and disbursement of the settlement amount, all related litigation connected to the loan accounts, FIRs and the approved one-time settlement will stand concluded as a full and final settlement. It also clarified that these directions were issued in view of the peculiar facts of this case and are not to be treated as precedent in future cases. In the Sterling Biotech fraud case, several criminal proceedings had been initiated by multiple agencies against the Sandesaras brothers and their CA (Chartered Accountant), Hemant S. Hathi. In August 2017, the CBI registered corruption and cheating cases against them and subsequently filed charge sheets. Around the same time, the ED (Enforcement Directorate) began money-laundering investigations, which led to prosecution complaints and the attachment and freezing of various assets. The ED also initiated fugitive economic offender proceedings, declaring the accused persons as fugitives after they left the country. The Sandesaras are currently based in Nigeria. Separately, an SFIO (Serious Fraud Investigation Office) prosecution was also initiated under the Companies Act for corporate fraud, while the Income Tax Department filed cases under the Black Money Act relating to alleged undisclosed foreign assets against the accused persons. The accused persons, Sandesaras brothers and Hemanth S Hathi, had sought the Supreme Court's intervention to quash all proceedings arising out of the aforesaid complaints. Now, the apex court has agreed to give a clean chit to all three accused persons, on the condition that they settle the due amount by paying 5100, as agreed upon by all public lenders and investigating agencies. (ANI)
As per the notification issued by the Election Commission of India on October 27, the SIR process is currently underway, and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are engaged in large-scale fieldwork involving the distribution, collection, and digitisation of Enumeration Forms.

To complete the process within the ECI's tight schedule, the EROs have sought additional manpower from schools and colleges, requesting that volunteers be made available until November 30.

However, teachers have expressed concern over the move, that deploying students during the ongoing examination period would cause inconvenience.

The appeal for student volunteers comes at a time when BLOs themselves have raised grievances about heavy workload.

Recently, BLOs in Kondotty taluk, Malappuram, submitted a representation to the Tehsildar highlighting that the increasing pressure and the burden of executing almost all tasks single-handedly had become unmanageable.

The request letter issued in Kozhikode, signed by the Deputy Collector (RR) and the Electoral Registration Officers for Elathur and Beypore, underscores the urgency, stating that additional support is essential to the time-bound completion of SIR activities.

As the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process continues, a Booth Level Officer (BLO) at Anappady West LP School in Tavanur constituency, Kerala, was removed from duty for allegedly behaving rudely towards the public, said District Collector V.R. Vinod on Tuesday.

An explanation has been sought from the officer. Praseena, a teacher at Cheriya Parappur AMLP School, has been appointed as the new BLO.(ANI)
The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Tuesday issued a passenger advisory regarding the closure of airspace due to the Navy Operational Demonstration 2025 from November 27 to December 3. As per the advisory, flight operations between 4 pm and 06:15 pm would remain suspended from November 27 to December 3. The passengers were requested to check their flight timings thoroughly and were urged to cooperate. "Due to the scheduled airspace closure for Navy Operational Demonstration 2025, flight services at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport shall remain suspended from 1600 hrs to 1815 hrs between 27 November 2025 and 3 December 2025. Passengers are requested to check with their respective airlines for revised flight timings. Thank you for your cooperation," the advisory said. The Indian Navy will celebrate Navy Day 2025 with a spectacular Operational Demonstration on December 4 at Shangumugham beach, Thiruvananthapuram, as per a release by Ministry of Defence. This is in continuation of Indian Navy's effort to organise the event at a location other than major Naval stations. Previously, it was held in Puri, Odisha, and Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. This mega event will provide a unique opportunity for the citizens to witness various facets of Indian Navy's multi-domain operations. The Operational Demonstration will showcase Indian Navy's state-of-the-art operational platforms and its resolve as the 'Preferred Security Partner' in the Indian Ocean Region(IOR) guided by the broader vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). The event will bring alive the Navy's formidable combat capabilities, technological excellence, and operational readiness, while reflecting the nation's growing maritime strength and self-reliance. The Operational Demonstration will feature coordinated manoeuvres by frontline platforms symbolising the Navy's ability to deliver power and precision across the maritime spectrum. The event will highlight seamless coordination of surface, sub-surface, and aerial assets, reflecting the Navy's preparedness to secure India's maritime frontiers. Reflecting the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the demonstration will feature a range of indigenously built assets representing India's growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing. These platforms embody the Navy's sustained efforts under 'Make in India' vision to create a modern, technologically advanced, and future-ready maritime force. The celebration will also highlight the Navy's preparedness and deterrent capability, as demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, reaffirming its ability to strike with precision, speed, and dominance. The demonstration stands as a tribute to the professionalism, discipline, and courage of the men and women of the Indian Navy who safeguard the nation's sovereignty and maritime interests. Navy Day serves as a reminder of the Navy's vital role during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, which dealt a decisive blow to the enemy's Naval and Coastal Defences. The missile boats of the Indian Navy launched a daring attack on Karachi harbour, as part of Operation Trident. This decisive action not only demonstrated India's maritime strength but also precision, courage and strategic brilliance. The Operational Demonstration 2025 will be a celebration of Indian Navy's maritime excellence as a Combat Ready, Cohesive, Credible, Aatmanirbhar Force, safeguarding seas for a Viksit, Samriddha Bharat. (ANI)
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education's Innovation Cell (MIC), successfully hosted the Institution's Innovation Council (IIC) Regional Meet 2025 across eight cities--Coimbatore, Hubli, Jaipur, Noida, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Bhubaneswar. The programme was formally inaugurated by AICTE Chairman, Prof. TG Sitharam, from the AICTE Headquarters in New Delhi. Addressing participants from all centres, Prof. TG Sitharam highlighted the remarkable journey and impact of the IIC initiative over the past seven years. He noted that the IIC network has emerged as one of the world's largest higher education innovation ecosystems, with over 16,400 functional councils across India. He added that its integration with AICTE's approval processes has made IIC formation mandatory for institutions to ensure innovation ecosystems get established and emerge from all AICTE-approved HEIs and participation from every state and union territory. Prof. Sitharam emphasised that the initiative aims to expand beyond technical institutions to include all types of higher education institutes, nurturing a national mindset geared toward innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking. He credited this movement for contributing significantly to India's remarkable ascent in the Global Innovation Index--from 86th to 38th position in just ten years, with an ambitious target to reach the top 20 in the coming years. Prof. Sitharam said that, AICTE emphasises building an IT-driven, R&D-focused innovation culture that transforms institutions into hubs of IP creation and deep-tech research. Institutions are encouraged to invest 5% of their revenue in R&D and pursue quality, collaborative proposals aligned with national priority technologies, supported by funding avenues such as NRF, AICTE, DBT and BIRAC. The successful City Innovation Cluster model, piloted in Vishakhapatnam, demonstrates how institutions, industries and investors can jointly drive product development. This framework aims to scale across 250 cities, enabling each city to innovate based on its unique strengths and contribute to India's emerging tech ecosystem. "These one-day regional events are powerful platforms to cultivate a culture of innovation and strengthen India's ecosystem by fostering collaboration among institutions and stakeholders. The focus aligns with national priorities such as Swadeshi, Vocal for Local, sustainability, Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat," Prof. Sitharam added. The IIC Regional Meets 2025 are being conducted in 26 locations in three phases. Each regional meet features open house exhibitions, poster displays focused on productization, Swadeshi Udyami Bazaar, parallel sessions showcasing best practices, Innovation Ambassador training, master classes by ecosystem enablers, one-to-one mentoring, innovation competitions, and the felicitation of outstanding innovators. (ANI)
In a development that could be a significant boost for the Centre's vision to increase defence exports, India is close to securing defence deals worth around USD 450 million to supply the combat-proven BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. The deals for the BrahMos missiles, developed jointly by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia, are expected to be signed with India's friendly foreign countries, who have been highly impressed with the missile's capabilities after it hit multiple Pakistani air bases with great accuracy and left many of them out of use for several days during Operation Sindoor. "The deals worth around USD 450 million are expected to be signed in the near future and are in final stages at the moment. These deals are expected to be followed by many more as there is big interest in the missiles by many other countries from across the globe," defence sources told ANI. The missile was showcased at the recent Dubai Air Show and drew huge interest from potential buyer countries. Soon after the missile's effective use against Pakistan, the Indian Defence Ministry cleared a large order for the procurement of a large number of BrahMos missiles for the Indian Navy warships, along with ground and air-launched versions of these weapons for the Indian Air Force. During the four-day conflict, the missiles struck Pakistani air bases and Army cantonments across the country. The Navy plans to equip its Veer-class warships with the missile, while the Indian Air Force would be using them to equip its Russian-origin Su-30 MKI fighter jet fleet. A few months ago, the Indian Prime Minister praised the performance of the indigenous weapon systems in the conflict, saying, "During Operation Sindoor, the world saw the capabilities of our indigenous weapons. Our Air Defence Systems, missiles, and drones have proved the strength of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', especially the Brahmos missiles." In the first phase of the conflict, when India launched attacks on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, including the terror headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba in Pakistan's Punjab province. The BrahMos missile was the Indian Air Force's main weapon of choice, which hit targets with great precision. The strikes from the BrahMos missiles caused extensive damage to Pakistani air bases, after which the Pakistan Army tried to retaliate in defence of the terrorist groups and their infrastructure. (ANI)
Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (SR), Commodore Prashant Handu, on Tuesday praised the Swavalamban 2025 event, stating that its main purpose is "indigenisation". He asserted that over the past four years, Swavalamban has provided niche technologies to Indian small-scale industries where they were needed most. Commodore Handu mentioned that all the technologies were showcased at Swavalamban 2025. "This is the 4th edition of Swavalamban organised by the Indian Navy. In the last 4 years, we have provided niche technologies to the Indian small-scale industries in the areas where they needed to focus. The products they have created are on display here... There are 3 distinct parts of Swavalamban. First is the exhibition... Second, there are many discussions and seminar sessions where we ideate with seniors on how to move the procedures forward. Third, the youth and young officers will see how these technologies can be developed at the grassroots level... Swavalamban's core mission is indigenisation," Commodore Handu told ANI. Earlier on November 20, the Curtain Raiser Press Conference for the 4th edition of the Indian Navy's Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) Seminar - Swavalamban - 2025 was held in New Delhi under the Chairmanship of VADM Sanjay Vatsayan, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, the Ministry of Defence said in an official statement. Highlighting the key features of Swavalamban-2025, the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff said that the event will highlight the innovation and indigenisation efforts of the Indian Navy and the contribution of Indian industries, while also focusing on technological advancements that can significantly enhance the country's defence capabilities. He informed us that Swavalamban-2025 will focus more on emerging and disruptive technologies to keep pace with the country's changing security requirements. The Vice Chief of Naval Staff underlined the Navy's continued progress towards self-reliance in defence technologies, which aligns with the theme of Swavalamban-2025, 'Strength and Affordability through Innovation and Indigenisation', which highlights the Navy's focus on collaborative and cutting-edge solutions to operational challenges. This year's seminar will include dedicated exhibition areas showcasing successful products as well as those realised through the "idea to inspiration" cycle. The seminar will also feature in-depth brainstorming sessions on policy frameworks and processes to accelerate the adoption of indigenous technologies. Expert-led panels will provide insights on emerging technologies, disruptive trends, and their relevance to the maritime sector. Additionally, a dedicated interactive session with venture capitalists will explore opportunities for financing, scaling, and fostering innovative ideas, it said. (ANI)
The petition challenges the Delhi Government's policy mandating entrance tests for admission to Classes VI, VII and VIII in CM SHRI Schools, asserting that the requirement constitutes an illegal screening procedure prohibited under Section 13 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and infringes the fundamental right to education under Article 21-A of the Constitution.

It specifically assails the July 23, 2025, circular that introduced the admission test for these classes, arguing that the scheme directly violates the statutory bar on any form of screening of a child or parent at the elementary level.

The petitioner seeks an explicit judicial declaration that Section 13 of the RTE Act applies uniformly to all elementary schools, including Specified Category Schools defined under Section 2(p).

The plea stresses that CM SHRI Schools, being government-run institutions, cannot claim exemption from these statutory safeguards.

It is further contended that subjecting young students to an entrance examination is arbitrary, unconstitutional, and defeats the legislative mandate of ensuring equitable and non-discriminatory access to elementary education. The matter is likely to be taken up for hearing by the Delhi High Court on Friday. (ANI)
Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde has accused Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of "misleading the people of the country", and said that the ruling Trinamool Congress is "scared" that " Bangladeshis" will be removed from the voter list following the conclusion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The exercise is underway in ten states and three Union Territories. "Whatever Rahul Gandhi is saying regarding the SIR is trying to mislead the people of the nation. On the one hand, he says the voter list is incorrect, and on the other hand, he protests against the SIR exercise...TMC is scared that after the SIR exercise, the Bangladeshis who vote for them will be removed from the voter list, and it will be difficult for them to stay in power," Shinde told ANI. CM Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday lambasted the BJP over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in the state, saying "nobody can throw you (electors) out." Addressing a public meeting opposing the SIR exercise, Mamata Banerjee confronted the BJP, stating she does not fear them. She questioned if the aim of the SIR is to remove Bangladeshi nationals from the voter list, then why is the Election Commission conducting the exercise in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh?" She said, "I love Bangladesh as a country, because our language is the same. I am from Birbhum, but one day they will call me Bangladeshi. PM Modi got votes in 2024 as per the same list. If your name gets deleted, the Central government should also be deleted. Why is SIR in such a hurry?" "Till I am here, I will not allow them to throw you out. Nobody can throw you out. If Bangladeshi is a problem, then why are you conducting SIR in Madhya Pradesh and UP?" she asked. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said on Sunday that "chaos" has been unleashed across the country in the garb of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls and alleged that 16 Booth Level Officers have died due to stress. "Under the guise of SIR, chaos has been unleashed across the country - the result? In three weeks, 16 BLOs have lost their lives. Heart attacks, stress, suicides - SIR is no reform, it's an imposed tyranny," Rahul Gandhi alleged in a post on X in Hindi earlier. The final elector's list is to be published on February 7, 2026. These states and UTs include Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. (ANI)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has secured a conviction in a money-laundering case linked to a bank fraud in Hyderabad, with a special court sentencing the accused, L. Srinivas Goud, to five years of rigorous imprisonment. The Metropolitan Sessions Judge (MSJ) Court, Nampally, on November 24, 2025, found Goud guilty under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 each on him and his firm, Mallika Inn Bar and Restaurant. The conviction follows an ED investigation that revealed Goud had fraudulently obtained a loan from Federal Bank by forging documents and using an impostor to impersonate his mother. The loan, taken under the guise of a housing loan and for renovation of his restaurant and bar, was allegedly diverted for other purposes, generating proceeds of crime and causing a loss of Rs 44.80 lakh to the bank. The ED Hyderabad Zonal Office had filed a prosecution complaint after completing the investigation, highlighting the fabrication of title deeds and forgery of signatures used to secure the loan. During the trial, multiple witnesses were examined, and the agency concluded its arguments. However, the accused repeatedly absconded, prompting the court to issue non-bailable warrants on several occasions. After sustained efforts, ED officials traced Goud to a new residence using electronic and human intelligence. Surveillance over the course of a week confirmed his presence, leading to his arrest in the early hours of October 27, 2025. He was produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody, where he remained after successive bail pleas were rejected due to his antecedents and repeated non-appearance. On November 24, the court delivered its order convicting Goud, who continues to be lodged in judicial custody following the verdict. (ANI)
The Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), M. Nagaraju, chaired a review meeting today to discuss the issues related to pending IBC cases. Senior officials of DFS, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India and the top management of Public Sector Banks attended the meeting, as per a press release from the Ministry of Finance. Progress on the cases that were admitted at NCLT, those which were resolved at NCLT and the ones disposed of outside the IBC was acknowledged. The review of major cases awaiting admission and resolution at the NCLT benches was undertaken. Secretary (DFS) emphasised that the timelines in the admission of corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) applications and resolution of the cases must be adhered to. During deliberations on cases where Resolution Plans are pending with the Committee of Creditors (CoC), banks were advised to adopt a coordinated approach to reach a final decision. Banks were told to pursue with their counsels for early admission of the pending cases for ensuring a more robust and efficient resolution process and also to minimise delays in filing CIRP applications in order to expedite the resolution process. Banks were advised to take note of the IBBI circular dated November 4 and ensure that Resolution Professionals file the required undertaking before the Special PMLA Court for restitution of assets attached by the Enforcement Directorate. The collaboration with stakeholders is to be streamlined for effective implementation of the CIRP, which shall also prevent delays in admission and resolution at NCLT. The Chief Executives of all PSBs were advised to personally continue monitoring the top 20 cases pending admission and the 10 accounts pending resolution at NCLT pertaining to their bank. Banks must take swift action to dispose of cases where Resolution Plans are pending with CoC. Further, the Secretary urged the banks to adopt a strategic approach to streamline and strengthen the IBC ecosystem to maximise value and enhance recoveries. (ANI)
The BJP leader described the meeting as a "courtesy" one and congratulated the leadership on the resounding victory in the Bihar assembly elections.

"Today I had a courtesy meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda. I congratulated them on the victory in the Bihar elections. There was also some discussion on the political scenario of Himachal Pradesh," Thakur told ANI.

https://x.com/jairamthakurbjp/status/1993231505204855275?s=20

Following the meeting with Amit Shah, Thakur said in a post on X that a "meaningful discussion took place on various issues related to the interests of Himachal Pradesh".

The NDA registered a historic landslide victory in the 2025 Bihar assembly polls, winning 202 of the 243 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan secured only 35 seats.

https://x.com/jairamthakurbjp/status/1993288051662241858?s=20

The ruling alliance secured a three-fourths majority in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, marking the second time the NDA crossed the 200-seat mark in state polls. In 2010, it had won 206 seats.

In the NDA, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 89 seats, Janata Dal (United) won 85, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJPRV) won 19, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAMS) won five, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha won four seats.

Among opposition parties, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) won 25 seats, the Indian National Congress six, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation) [CPI(ML)(L)] two, the Indian Inclusive Party (IIP) one, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] one seat.

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) secured five seats, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won one seat.

The Bihar assembly elections were held in two phases on November 6 and 11. Bihar recorded a historic 67.13 per cent voter turnout, the highest since 1951, with women voters outpacing men (71.6 per cent vs 62.8 per cent). (ANI)
Panjab University (PU) is preparing for a complete shutdown on November 26 as multiple student groups join farmers, engineers and government employees in statewide protests sweeping across Punjab. In view of the escalating agitation, the university administration has announced that all teaching and non-teaching departments and offices on the PU campus will remain closed on Wednesday. According to an official notice issued by the Registrar on Tuesday, the shutdown will apply to all departments and administrative units across the university. The order comes as various organisations--including farmer unions and employee bodies--gear up for coordinated demonstrations expected to disrupt normal functioning across Chandigarh and neighbouring regions. The notice has been circulated to all PU departments and also forwarded to the Directorate of Public Relations, Panjab University, for wide dissemination via email. The closure is part of the university's precautionary measures as the tricity braces for heavy mobilisation and possible disruptions due to the protests. Earlier this month, students of Panjab University held a protest on the university premises in Chandigarh over their demand to conduct senate elections. Earlier in the day, a heavy police force was deployed around the university campus. Barricades were also set up outside the university campus gates. The students have been demanding that the university administration announce the long-pending Senate elections to reconstitute the 91-member Senate, the highest governing body of Panjab University. The row began after the Centre issued a notification to overhaul the Senate's composition, sparking widespread political and academic backlash over the decision to dissolve Panjab University's top governing bodies and replace them with nominated structures through an executive notification issued on October 28. However, following strong opposition, the Central Government on November 5 withdrew its earlier notification concerning the Senate and Syndicate. Despite the rollback, student groups have continued their agitation, demanding a formal announcement and the conduct of fresh elections at the earliest. (ANI)
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has said that all institutions have their respective roles in a democracy and whether it is SIR or other processes, institutions follow the required procedures. He also noted that everyone has the right to express their views. In an interview with ANI, Birla said everyone's views should come forward and different viewpoints help in policy formulation. "Everyone's views should come forward. The more views that come, the more transparent the policies will become; there will be accountability in governance and administration. Running the House through democratic processes in a democracy has been a good tradition. I urge all parties to continue upholding this tradition in the future as well," Birla said, answering a query about the winter session of Parliament beginning December 1. Asked about the opposition parties' protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral list, Birla said in the Constitution, all institutions have their respective roles. "Certainly, our constitutional institutions have been working in the country's interest. Whether it is SIR or other processes, institutions follow the required procedures. Everyone has the right to express their views." The opposition parties strongly protested against SIR in Bihar during the monsoon session of Parliament, leading to frequent adjournments. Earlier, speaking at a Constitution Day event held at Manipal University in Jaipur, Birla said that the Constitution is not just a document of laws, but a guide to the soul of India and our national character. Core values like justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity are the foundation of our democracy, and it is crucial for young people to understand and embody them in their behavior, he added. Birla said that initiatives like "Know the Constitution" are the need of the hour. He noted that universities, where students from different states and countries around the world study, showcase the most beautiful aspect of India's diversity. This diversity is our strength, and the Constitution serves to bind it together. He stressed that Parliament is striving to integrate the study of the Constitution more strongly in schools, colleges, and universities. Only when the new generation understands its heritage and democratic traditions will the future of India become stronger. He said that universities should become global centers of innovation and research, paving the way for a developed India. The Speaker noted that the Constitution-making process was a continuation of the freedom movement. He added that the country gained independence after a long struggle, non-violence, renunciation, and countless sacrifices, according to a release. However, the challenge of nation-building was even greater, with hundreds of princely states, cultural diversity, and numerous ideologies. It was under these circumstances that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel, and Maulana Azad, along with all the members of the Constituent Assembly, held extensive discussions for three years and drafted a Constitution that guarantees justice and rights to every citizen. The Speaker said that India's greatest strength in the coming years will be its youth, a balanced blend of knowledge, innovation, technology, and culture. He said that India's youth are making significant contributions to addressing global challenges, including climate change, medicine, disaster management, and technology. He said that educational institutions should further strengthen constitutional values, a sense of duty, and a sense of national interest in students. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Tuesday, on the first day of the winter session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, laid "The Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025" in the state assembly, which proposes strict penalties for entering into or hiding a second marriage while the first is still valid. The Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, is aimed at prohibiting and eliminating practices of polygamy and polygamous marriage in the state of Assam and matters connected therewith and incidental thereto. The draft law will apply across the state, except in Sixth Schedule areas, and to the members of any Scheduled Tribe within the meaning of clause (25) of Article 366, read with Article 342 of the Constitution of India. "No person shall marry, if, he has a living spouse or he is not legally separated from the other spouse following due procedure of law, after marriage, or he is a party to a marriage which is not yet dissolved or annulled by a decree of divorce and either has right to appeal or the specified time for appeal has not been expired or is in appeal, or the appeal has been presented but has not yet been dismissed," said in the bill. "Whoever abets any offences punishable under this Act or attempts to commit any such offence shall be punishable with the punishment as provided under the Act for the offence of polygamy. Whoever, during the lifetime of his or her spouse or during subsistence of a valid marriage or without having been lawfully divorced from the spouse, or without having been declared the marriage null and void or dissolved, contracts a marriage contravening any of the provisions contained in the Act under Section 4 shall be guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment upto 7 years and a fine," the bill read further. "Whoever commits the same offence under sub-section (1) with concealment of the former marriage from the person with whom the subsequent marriage is contracted shall be guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment for 10 years and fine. Whoever, after conviction of an offence under this Act, commits the said offence again under this Act shall be punishable with double the punishment provided for such offence for any subsequent offence. The Gaonburah, Village Head, Quazi, parents or the legal guardians of the contracting party of the polygamous marriage, shall if, dishonestly or fraudulently hides, and intentionally takes part in the performance or solemnization of polygamous marriage, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years and shall be liable to a fine which may be extended upto Rs 1 lakh. "Any priest or Quazi knowingly and willingly solemnising any marriage contrary to the provision of Section 4 shall on conviction thereof, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend upto two years or with a fine which may extend upto Rs 1.5 lakh," said the bill. It also stated that, "Any person who a court of law has convicted under this Act, shall not be entitled for any public employment and appointment, funded or aided by the Government of Assam, cannot receive or claim benefits under any scheme funded or aided by the Government of Assam, cannot contest in any election in the State of Assam for Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities) and any other such elections." The draft law has also proposed compensation to the victim. (ANI)
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain Tuesday slammed ruling Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over their opposition to the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls underway in Nine States and three Union Territories. The BJP leader went on to say that there is "no difference" between CM Mamata Banerjee and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. "There is no difference between Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee. Rahul Gandhi sometimes takes EVM, the Election Commission and SIR as an excuse after losing elections; Now Mamata Banerjee is also copying Rahul Gandhi. Mamata Banerjee feels the BJP is going to win. This time, Bangladeshi infiltrators are running away. Infiltrators will not be able to cast their votes; these people will go to their own places. Only the people of Bengal will vote in Bengal," Hussain, a senior BJP leader, told ANI. Shahnawaz Hussain also expressed confidence about winning the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. "This time, the BJP will form the government in Bengal. TMC is sure to go, and BJP is sure to come," the BJP leader told ANI. On the reported deaths of Booth Level Officers in Bengal, Hussain said, "...Mamata Banerjee is right away blaming the Election Commission. She is staging a protest outside the Chief Electoral Office". Meanwhile, CM Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday lambasted the BJP over the exercise in the state, saying "nobody can throw you (electors) out." Addressing a public meeting opposing the SIR exercise, Mamata Banerjee confronted the BJP, stating she does not fear them. She questioned if the aim of the SIR is to remove Bangladeshi nationals from the voter list, then why is the Election Commission conducting the exercise in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh?" She said, "I love Bangladesh as a country, because our language is the same. I am from Birbhum, but one day they will call me Bangladeshi. PM Modi got votes in 2024 as per the same list. If your name gets deleted, the Central government should also be deleted. Why conducting SIR in such a hurry?" "Till I am here, I will not allow them to throw you out. Nobody can throw you out. If Bangladeshi is a problem, then why are you conducting SIR in Madhya Pradesh and UP?" she asked. The first phase was completed in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. The exercise covers Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of senior statehood activist and former Cabinet Minister Diwakar Bhatt, an official release from the CMO said. CM Dhami prayed to God for granting the bereaved family the strength to bear this immense loss. In his condolence message, the Chief Minister said that the news of Diwakar Bhatt's demise is extremely saddening. From the statehood movement to public service, his contributions will always be remembered. Earlier today, CM Dhami met sugarcane farmers from Haridwar district. The farmers submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, demanding the announcement of the State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane for the 2025-26 crushing season, along with several other issues. On this occasion, the farmers also presented sugarcane to the Chief Minister. Sitting with the farmers on the lawn under the sun, the Chief Minister tasted the sugarcane and assured them of positive action on their demands. Led by MLA Adesh Chauhan and former Cabinet Minister Swami Yatishwaranand, the farmers raised demands including the construction of an embankment up to the Raeesi-Balawali bridge, the establishment of a sugar mill in the Iqbalpur-Jhabreda-Bhagwanpur region, the construction of an irrigation canal in the Iqbalpur-Jhabreda area, and the clearance of pending payments to farmers from the Doiwala mill. They also urged the government to declare the State Advised Price for the 2025-26 crushing season. While seated on the ground with the farmers, the Chief Minister assured that positive decisions would be taken on the sugarcane price and all other demands.(ANI)
China, Bulgaria mark anniversary of BRI cooperation

Xinhua) 08:51, November 25, 2025

SOFIA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria and China held a forum here on Monday to commemorate the 10th anniversary of their cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, signing 17 new agreements aimed at turning long-standing political goodwill into a practical partnership.

The forum was co-hosted by the China NGO Network for International Exchanges and the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, and drew nearly 300 participants from various sectors of both countries.

Atanas Zafirov, Bulgaria's deputy prime minister, told the forum that the new agreements between Bulgarian and Chinese institutions were meant to give "practical dimensions" to the dialogue between the two countries, which backed the Belt and Road framework with a memorandum of understanding in 2015.

"Today's event is a clear sign of the consistent development of our bilateral relations and our aspiration to deepen them," Zafirof said. "We highly value the efforts of the People's Republic of China for the development of bilateral relations and for promoting real projects that bring value both to the region and to Europe as a whole."

Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Dai Qingli recalled 76 years of diplomatic relations and a decade of joint Belt and Road cooperation. She noted that Bulgaria was the second country in the world to recognise the People's Republic of China, highlighting that "traditional friendship is the most valuable asset in our bilateral relations."

"The urgent task before us is how to transform traditional friendship into tangible results of cooperation, and truly enhance the sense of gain and satisfaction of the peoples of both countries," she said.

The event began with a cultural exhibition showcasing calligraphy, traditional costumes, intangible heritage, and a tasting of Chinese and Bulgarian beverages.

Chinese and Bulgarian delegates also held working-group talks on economic, cultural and health cooperation to map out priorities for the next stage of Belt and Road collaboration.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A Block Level Officer (BLO) in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district has set a remarkable example of dedication by continuing her duties under the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process even after the death of her mother. The officer, Neelu Gaud, prioritised her official responsibilities despite personal grief, earning praise from senior officials. Neelu Gaud, a Vikram Awardee and former national-level softball player, is currently posted in the Commercial Tax Department in Indore and has been assigned SIR responsibilities in the district. Her mother passed away on November 22, while she was on duty. After completing her assigned work that day, Neelu went home and performed the funeral rituals. Following the three-day Triratri observance, she returned to duty on Tuesday. Indore District Collector Shivam Verma met Neelu on Tuesday and praised her extraordinary commitment. Collector Verma told ANI, "Following the instruction of ECI, the SIR process is going on continuously and our BLOs (Block Level Officer) are working hard for the same. One of our BLOs is Neelu Gaud, who should be praised that even after the death of her mother, she gave priority to her duty and continued her work. Her dedication towards duty is an inspiration for all of us. Her effort motivated our entire team engaged in the SIR process. I salute Neelu ji." Additionally, the Collector recalled the effort of another BLO who worked during his wedding rituals with Haldi applied to his hand. He also praised other BLOs who were working hard in the SIR process. "Neelu is Vikram Awardee and she was working on the day her mother passed away and again after the funeral rituals, which took place on Monday, she is back to duty on Tuesday. Her step is an inspiration for all of us and we are proud of her," the collector added. Speaking to ANI, Neelu Gaud said, "My mother passed away on November 22 and I am discharging the duty of BLO. My mother was suffering from cancer and was admitted to the hospital. I received a call from the hospital that morning, but I had come for the duty. After that I informed my senior officials and following the funeral rituals of three days (Triratri), I returned to duty again today," Neelu Gaud said. Last month, the ECI announced the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across 12 states and Union Territories, with the final voter list scheduled to be published on February 7, 2026. The first phase of the SIR was completed in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections. The ongoing exercise covers Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that the country is witnessing a situation where "one religion is fighting another religion without any meaning," and underlined the need for all communities to live together in peace and harmony. Kejriwal's remarks came a day after a special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly was held in Anandpur Sahib as part of the three-day commemoration of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The event has drawn large participation from devotees and dignitaries who have gathered to pay homage to the ninth Sikh Guru. Referring to ongoing global conflicts, Kejriwal said that wars around the world, and even in the country, often stem from differences in religion. Without naming any specific nations, he highlighted how Guru Tegh Bahadur's sacrifice stands as a timeless example of religious pluralism and unity. "... Today, so many wars are going on all over the world... How many wars are going on in the name of religion in our country? ... What did Guru Teg Bahadur Ji do? He sacrificed his head to protect the other Hindu religion. If we all adopt this: sacrificing everything to protect another religion. All the wars in the entire world will end. There will be peace everywhere... Today, in our country, one religion is fighting another religion... What is the meaning of these wars? There is no meaning. We must live in peace...," Kejriwal told the gathering. The former Delhi Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to the people for their participation and apologised for any shortcomings in the arrangements. "We have gathered to remember the martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, which occurred 350 years ago... The Punjab government has been working for the past several months to make this sacred occasion historic... The entire Anandpur Sahib has been cleaned... Drone shows and Nagar Kirtan; many arrangements have been made. But no matter how many arrangements you make, something is bound to be lacking. If anything is missing, I apologise. On behalf of the Punjab government, on behalf of (Chief Minister) Mann Sahib, and on behalf of all my ministers, we apologise if anything is missing..." he said. Guru Tegh Bahadur, also revered as "Hind di Chadar," sacrificed his life in 1675 to uphold the right to freedom of belief. His martyrdom is remembered as a defining moment in India's socio-religious history, symbolising courage, compassion, and the defence of civil liberties. According to the state government, this year's observance aims to spread awareness about his teachings of equality, resilience and communal harmony. Commemorating Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom day serves to honour and preserve the legacy of the ninth Sikh Guru while upholding the religious sentiments of the people. Sikhs mark the day with special prayers in Gurdwaras across the country. (ANI)
Congress MP Tariq Anwar on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of leaving "no opportunity for publicity" hours after the PM hoisted the saffron flag atop the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. "The PM leaves no opportunity for publicity. While this work should have been given to a religious Guru, he did it himself, including the foundation stone laying as well as the inauguration... He did it for the political benefit...", MP Anwar told ANI Earlier in the day, PM Modi, along with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, ceremonially hoisted the saffron flag atop the temple's 191-foot-high shikhar in Ayodhya, symbolising the completion of construction of the historic Ram Temple. The 'Dharma Dhwaj' carries three sacred symbols, Om, the Sun and the Kovidara tree, each representing profound spiritual values rooted in the Sanatan tradition. The right-angled triangular flag measures 10 feet in height and 20 feet in length. The Kovidar tree is a hybrid of the Mandar and Parijat trees, created by Rishi Kashyap, showcasing ancient plant hybridisation. The Sun represents Lord Ram's Suryavansh lineage, and Om is the eternal spiritual sound. Addressing the gathering at the 'Dwajarohan' ceremony, PM Modi said that India and the world have become "Ram-may," describing the installation of the Dharma Dhwaj atop the Ram Temple as a historic moment that heals "wounds of centuries" and marks the fulfilment of a civilisational resolve kept alive for 500 years. "Today, the entire India and the world is Ram-may. There is extraordinary satisfaction in the heart of every Ram devotee. There is boundless gratitude. There is unfathomable supernatural bliss. The wounds of centuries are being healed. The pain of centuries is being put to rest today. The resolve of centuries is being fulfilled today. Today is the completion of that sacrifice whose fire remained lit for 500 years," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi invoked the values associated with Lord Ram to underline the vision of building a "confident" and "future-ready India". He said, "Ram is not a person, He is a value. If we want to make India developed by 2047, we have to awaken Ram within ourselves. What day can be better than today for this resolution?" He emphasised that "Lord Ram connects through emotion", reaffirming that devotion and cooperation form the core of Indian society. Reflecting on India's development journey of the past decade, the Prime Minister added, "In the last 11 years, every section of society, women, Dalits, backward classes, extremely backward classes, tribals, the deprived, farmers, workers, and youth, has been placed at the centre of development." (ANI)
President Xi Jinping spoke with US President Donald Trump over the phone, emphasising the need to maintain a steady and positive trajectory in China-US relations. Sharing details about the phone call, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning wrote on X, "Since the Busan meeting, the China-US relationship has generally maintained a steady and positive trajectory, and this is welcomed by the two countries and the broader international community. What has happened demonstrates yet again that the description of China-US cooperation benefiting both sides and confrontation hurting both sides reflects a common sense that has been repeatedly proven by experience, and the vision of China and the US helping each other succeed and prospering together is a tangible prospect within reach." "The two sides should keep up the momentum, keep moving forward in the right direction on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit, lengthen the list of cooperation and shorten the list of problems, so as to make more positive progress, create new space for China-US cooperation and bring more benefits to the people of both countries and the world," the statement added. The Chinese President also outlined China's principled position on the Taiwan question, stating that "Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order. China and the US fought shoulder to shoulder against fascism and militarism. Given what is going on, it is even more important for us to jointly safeguard the victory of WWII." The phone call follows the leaders' recent meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Busan, South Korea, on October 30. Trump described that meeting as "a great one" and would bring lasting peace and success for both nations. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "My G2 meeting with President Xi of China was a great one for both of our countries. This meeting will lead to everlasting peace and success. God bless both China and the USA!" After his highly anticipated meeting, Trump said that Washington has reached a landmark one-year trade pact with China, slashing US tariffs on Chinese imports from 57 per cent to 47 per cent. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated, "We have a deal," referring to the trade pact which will be routinely extended. "Every year we'll renegotiate the deal, but I think the deal will go on for a long time, long beyond the year. We'll negotiate at the end of the year," he added. (ANI)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasised that President Donald Trump is committed to protecting American jobs while encouraging foreign investment in the United States. The comments come amid growing scrutiny over H-1B visas and concerns that foreign labour could displace domestic jobs in key industries. Speaking to reporters, Leavitt stated, "The President does not support American workers being replaced... The President wants to see the American manufacturing industry revitalised better than ever before. That's part of what he's doing with his effective use of tariffs and cutting good trade deals around the world." Addressing concerns related to H-1B visas, she said the President holds a "nuanced and common-sense" view. Leavitt explained, "As for the H-1B visa issue, the President has a very nuanced and common-sense opinion on this issue. If foreign companies are investing trillions of dollars in the United States of America and bringing in foreign workers to create niche products like batteries, he wants to see that at the beginning, to get those manufacturing facilities and factories up and running. But ultimately, the President always wants to see American workers in those jobs." Leavitt added that Trump has been direct with foreign companies investing in the US, stating, "He's told these foreign companies that are investing here, you better be hiring my people if you're going to be doing business in the United States." Recently, Trump has defended the H-1B visa programme, stating he "loves his conservative friends and MAGA" but believes the United States needs skilled foreign workers. Speaking at the US Saudi Investment Forum on November 20, he pushed back against criticism from within his own political base. Trump argued that companies investing heavily in advanced facilities cannot "open a massive computer chip factory for billions and billions of dollars" and then "hire people off an unemployment line to run it," stressing that foreign experts are often required to train American workers before leaving. Despite opposition from some MAGA supporters, Trump maintained that high-skilled immigration is essential. Addressing frustration from parts of his base, he said, "They just don't understand," as he acknowledged tensions over expectations of a stricter "America First" approach. Reinforcing his argument, Trump said, "You can't come in, open a massive computer chip factory for billions and billions of dollars like is being done in Arizona, and think you're gonna hire people off an unemployment line to run it. They're gonna have to bring thousands of people with them, and I'm gonna welcome those people. This is MAGA." He repeated, "They just don't understand." Trump added that specialised knowledge must be shared before American workers can fully assume certain roles. "People have to be taught this is something they've never done. But we're not going to be successful if we don't allow people who invest billions of dollars in plants and equipment to bring a lot of their people from their country to get that plant open, operating, and working. I'm sorry." He further argued that the H-1B system remains necessary for industries relying on expertise that cannot be immediately sourced domestically. Defending his position, he said, "No, you don't. You don't have certain talents... You can't take people off the unemployment line and expect them to operate advanced factories or make missiles." His comments come as some Republican leaders step up pressure on him to dismantle the programme, even as Trump continues to support the need for high-skilled foreign workers. (ANI)
A Pakistani diplomat met a senior Afghan governor in Jalalabad, marking the first high-level contact between the two sides in months amid rising security concerns in the region, Dawn reported. The meeting comes hours after a suicide attack on the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar's Saddar area killed three personnel, though security forces quickly neutralised the attackers. The discussion took place between Pakistan's Consul General in Jalalabad, Shafqatullah Khan, and Nangarhar Governor Mullah Muhammad Naeem Akhund, a senior Taliban-appointed leader and close confidant of Taliban-appointed Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. This was the first known direct engagement between the two officials in recent months, as per Dawn. Akhund has a long history with the Taliban, having served as deputy minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs and deputy minister of Civil Aviation during the Taliban's first government from 1996 to 2001. He also played a key role in the Taliban's military commission during the 20-year war against US and NATO forces and led military operations in southern Helmand province. Akhund was a close associate of the late Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor and is considered a close ally of Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid, according to Dawn. "The Islamic Emirate has a constructive stance towards good relations, cooperation, and safeguarding common interests with the region, neighbouring countries, and other countries of the world, and relevant efforts in this regard are ongoing," Afghanistan's official Bakhtar news agency reported. Pakistan has long said that terrorist groups have used Afghan soil to plot and stage attacks across the border; a charge the Afghan Taliban deny. "The governor of Nangarhar noted the goodwill, brotherhood, and historical kinship of the Afghan people, and explained that the foundation of positive relations can remain strong in the presence of mutual respect, understanding and systematic coordination," according to the report. Sources familiar with the meeting said that Akhund told the Pakistani diplomat he had already "made efforts to reduce tension between the two countries." The diplomat, in turn, explained Pakistan's position on current security issues, and both sides discussed ways to bring bilateral relations back on track. Bakhtar reported that "the meeting discussed ethnicity, language, religion, culture, and other commonalities, and discussed the current situation in the region and the daily amenities of the people based on the tradition of good neighbourliness." The meeting was attended by Nangarhar Deputy Governor Maulvi Azizullah Mustafa, Foreign Affairs Director Maulvi Jan Mohammad Inqelab, provincial spokesman Qari Ehsanullah Usmani and several other officials. (ANI)
India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra met Congressman Jay Obernolte and held discussions with him to enhance the cooperation between India and the US in areas such as science, technology, artificial intelligence and innovation. In a post on X, he said, "Enjoyed my conversation with Rep. @JayObernolte , Chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology Research and Technology Subcommittee. Highlighted opportunities for stronger cooperation in science, tech, AI & innovation." https://x.com/AmbVMKwatra/status/1992981202190705080?s=20 He also held a conversation with Francis Pedraza, the founder of Invisible Technologies on evolving innovation and technology. He shared that Pedraza's Eternity Civilization Foundation is working on an ambitious project to translate the works of the ancient Nalanda library using AI tools. Ambassador Kwatra wrote on X, "Had a fascinating and instructive conversation with @francispedraza, founder of Invisible Technologies, on the evolving world of technology, innovation, and their contribution to the larger cause of serving our society.Mr Pedraza's Eternity Civilization Foundation is working on an ambitious initiative to translate the crucial works of the ancient Indian Great Library of Nalanda using AI-assisted methods" https://x.com/AmbVMKwatra/status/1992981523276980449?s=20 Earlier, he held an excellent roundtable discussion with the experts at the Heritage Foundation, a "strong supporter of the India-US ties", and shared his thoughts on developments under "key pillars" of India-US strategic partnership. In a post on X, Kwatra said, "Had an excellent roundtable discussion with the experts at the @Heritage Foundation, a strong supporter of the India-U.S. ties. I shared my thoughts on developments under key pillars of our strategic partnership, including shared economic priorities, a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial trade arrangement and oil and gas trade". He previously met US Congressman Riley Moore and held discussions on advancing the India-US cooperation across key areas such as security, energy and trade. In a post on X, he said, "Pleased to meet with @RepRileyMoore. Our productive discussion covered major opportunities for advancing India-US cooperation across several key sectors- security, energy, and trade." Earlier on Tuesday, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said there is "no pause or hiatus" in the relationship with the United States, which is very strategic for both countries and that there will be "good news" on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) as and when "right balance" is reached.(ANI)
Although border tensions between India and China may be calmer than during the Doklam standoff in mid-2017 and the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, China has continued expanding its military infrastructure near the Indian border in Tibet. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been steadily building facilities, logistics hubs and connectivity to strengthen its position along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). One recent development is the creation of a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) test centre in Tibet. Built at an elevation of around 4,300 metres, the high-altitude facility is expected to help the PLA and Chinese drone manufacturers test UAVs under extreme climatic and high-elevation conditions. The newly constructed airfield includes a single 720-metre runway, four hangars and administrative buildings. Located at 32.427667o N and 80.209502o E, it lies southeast of the existing Ngari PLA Logistics Centre. The Tibetan Plateau's mountainous terrain and harsh climate pose severe challenges for military operations and logistics. Newly deployed PLA personnel often require supplemental oxygen to cope with altitude sickness. Troops need access to unfrozen water for essential use, and vehicles must be kept in insulated garages to ensure reliable engine performance. Helicopter operations, especially take-offs with payloads, are significantly constrained. Limited local food supplies force the PLA to truck in most essentials from distant areas through winding roads, mainly from Qinghai Province. Historically, PLA troops in Tibet have faced vitamin deficiencies due to the lack of fresh food. China's efforts along the Indian border echo its actions in the South China Sea, where it built military facilities on reclaimed land, installed weapons and established de facto control over key areas by maintaining a continuous presence. Along the LAC, where the border remains disputed, China has been reinforcing its dual-use infrastructure in Tibet and Xinjiang, which fall under the PLA's Western Theatre Command. The China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), part of the US Air Force, released a report in September 2025 titled "Remote Basing: People's Liberation Army Logistics on the Tibetan Plateau." Author John S. Van Oudenaren noted: "Lack of transportation networks into and within Tibet has been a major limiting factor on the PLA's ability to project force to the border with India. Very poor or nonexistent transportation networks in remote areas forced the PLA to rely heavily on warehousing supplies. However, the recent expansion of road, air and rail networks, both into and around Tibet, has enhanced the PLA's ability to move towards a more efficient logistical model in the region." Infrastructure development remains a priority for Beijing. Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) Chairman Yan Jinhai stated in his January 2024 work report that "consolidating the border" and "building a solid national security barrier" were priorities for 2025. Under China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), US$30 billion was allocated for infrastructure projects in Tibet. The Qinghai-Tibet corridor handles more than 85% of material and services supplied to Tibet. Chinese state sources report that President Xi Jinping has nearly doubled Tibet's highway network, expanding from 65,198 km in 2012 to 122,712 km in 2023. India's Observer Research Foundation (ORF) also published a report this month analysing PLA infrastructure expansion near the Indian border since the Doklam standoff. Researcher Rajiv Lathar identified the G-314 and G-684 highways as the most significant developments over the past eight years, both leading to the Shaksgam Valley near the Siachen Glacier. Since the early 2020s, China has also built additional roads improving access to Shaksgam Valley from the north and east. Highlighting other highway projects, Lathar noted: "Among the new roads, G-695 (Lhuntse to Mazar in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region [XUAR]) and G-216 (Altay in XUAR to Kyirong in the TAR), lying to the west and east, respectively, of the Western Highway, offer the PLA simultaneity of movement, reducing traffic on the busy G-219, enabling it to disperse movement of mobilizing forces and achieve higher force projection ratios in much shorter timeframes. If hostilities ensue, it will be easier for the PLA to switch forces from one sector to another; it facilitates mobile patrolling and area domination." Satellite imagery shows China widening, upgrading and paving key routes west of G-219 and south of G-318 toward the Indian border. Lateral roads connect these routes to border towns. "The aim is to achieve a logistical edge," Lathar said, "despite the difficult terrain and treacherous weather conditions, in the event of a protracted conflict. The bridge over the Pangong Tso Lake, in particular, is a logistical bonanza, reducing time taken and distance drastically in the movement of personnel and equipment." Approximately one-third of the 135 km-long Pangong Tso Lake lies inside India. China began constructing its first bridge on its side of the lake in August 2021. The 450-metre bridge was completed in May 2022, followed by a second 515-metre bridge in late 2024. After the latter's completion, the original bridge was dismantled. Rail connectivity in Tibet remains limited due to the region's rugged terrain. Nonetheless, railway lines in the TAR increased from 531.5 km in 2012 to 1,118 km in 2023. By 2035, China plans to extend this to 5,000 km. Rail links connecting Ruoqiang in southeast XUAR with Hotan and Golmud provide strategic mobility, enabling PLA units from the 76th Group Army in Qinghai, Gansu and Ningxia to reach Hotan quickly, and from there, areas opposite Ladakh. Despite the Qinghai-Tibet railway boosting troop movement to Lhasa since 2006, the PLA still relies on roads to reach the LAC. This gap has prompted further expansion of air infrastructure. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), China built at least 37 military or dual-use airports and heliports in Tibet and Xinjiang between 2017 and 2023. All five major airports in Tibet have been upgraded since 2017, particularly Shigatse Peace Airport, located around 150 km from the India-China border. CASI's report recorded 624 border villages constructed from 2018 to 2022. While these settlements extend Chinese Communist Party influence into remote regions of Tibet, they also function as logistical nodes for emergencies such as civil unrest or conflict with India. Van Oudenaren wrote: "The expanding network of 'moderately prosperous border villages', some of which are located on territory also claimed by India and Bhutan, has facilitated a scale-up of PLA forces along the border. The expansion of civilian administration and enterprises across over 600 border villages has created more opportunities for military-civil fusion and may enable the PLA to better leverage local resources in border counties." Border infrastructure has long been a source of tension, contributing to a decade-long infrastructure race between India and China. China's rapid construction now enables faster deployment of troops to the LAC, prompting India to work toward narrowing this gap. The Tibet Military District hosts three PLA combined-arms brigades: the 52nd in Bayi, the 53rd in Minling and the 54th in Lhasa, the last of which is an armoured and mechanized brigade. Additionally, eight border defence regiments are stationed near the frontier. The PLA undertook major logistical changes in the Tibet Military District from late 2015, following the creation of the Joint Logistic Support Force. Tibet gained enhanced logistical capabilities through restructuring and now directly oversees transportation, supply and medical units in major transport hubs linking Tibet with Golmud, Qinghai and Chengdu. The Qinghai-Tibet Logistics Depot and Sichuan-Tibet Logistics Depot were moved under the Tibet command as part of these reforms. Van Oudenaren observed: "The more extensive array of logistical units under the Tibet Military District reflects the unique challenges of providing logistical support to bases and border outposts on the Tibetan Plateau. To solve the challenges presented by both the environment and the adversary, PLA logisticians are applying a range of emerging, existing and old technologies. For example, in areas where road transportation is impossible, PLA border guards sometimes still use pack animals to patrol or move supplies. At the same time, the PLA is increasingly using UAVs for drops of food or medical supplies in difficult-to-access posts." He identified three trends showing the PLA's shift from a stockpiling model to a modern "just in case" logistics system: centralization of logistical support, new supply chain guidelines and more efficient supply operations. In the CASI report, Van Oudenaren concluded that "a lack of transparency and a very limited record of kinetic operations make it difficult to assess the PLA's capacity to sustain major combat operations on China's border. The disputed border with India provides a rare opportunity to observe PLA logistics in the context of military engagements on China's borders." In his study, Lathar similarly concluded: "China is positioning itself systematically for future border conflicts with India. Its strategic construction patterns are a crucial component of its broader military and geopolitical ambitions against India. By building dual-use infrastructure, it strengthens its ability to mobilize military assets quickly, reinforcing its dominance in the region, while posing a direct challenge to India along the LAC." He added: "China is displaying a clear intent to redefine infrastructure as a tool of coercion. It aims to further integrate and solidify its iron grip on the TAR and the XUAR, further merging them into its social and economic fabric." Lathar recommended that "China's actions should force India to rethink its national security posture. India needs to equally accelerate enhancing the pace of its border infrastructure development. Failing to do so will leave the region vulnerable to incremental gains by China that could add up to irreversible strategic shifts." (ANI)
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has published a new report on the economic situation of the Afghan people, particularly deported migrants and expressed concern that the return of 2.3 million Afghan migrants from neighbouring countries has severely affected the reconstruction process of Afghanistan, Tolo news reported on Tuesday. Stephen Rodriques, the UNDP representative in Afghanistan, said, "When we combine the scale of the returnees with the magnitude of the ongoing economic shocks and the recurrent natural disasters, it is obvious that we need solutions that are collaborative, area-based, and rooted in the communities themselves. But we also need solutions at scale." As per Tolo News, Shoko Noda, Executive Director of UNDP and Head of the Crisis Bureau in New York, added, "I really would like to stress the importance of putting women in the center. because, I mean, probably I don't need to explain more, but when I met those women yesterday, they are just restarting their lives, but also share the difficulties that they are also having in the community and also at the family level. And with forced displacement, this means that contributing beyond immediate humanitarian response, by enabling resilience and basic human needs that restore livelihood." "The de facto authorities are finalizing their national development plan and that of course is going to be also an important reference document for us as international actors," Eric Beaumont, Head of the Cooperation Section at the EU Delegation in Afghanistan, said. Tolo News reported that the Japanese ambassador at the program also emphasized how Japan is committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan, especially deported migrants. A total of 10,405 Afghan citizens returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan in a single day, Pajhwok News Agency reported on Thursday, citing officials. According to Tolo news, the UN refugee agency had already expressed worry over reduced humanitarian assistance for Afghan migrants deported from those countries. (ANI)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled visit to India in December has been postponed, according to a report by Israel's I24News. As per the report, PM Netanyahu's planned December visit to India postponed due to security concerns following the blast in Delhi two weeks ago. After the deadly blast, the Israeli PM had emphasised the unbreakable spirit of both nations in the face of terrorism, declaring that while terror may target cities, it can never break the spirit of resilient nations "To our dear friend Narendra Modi and to the brave people of India: Sara and I, and the people of Israel, send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Israel stands strong with you in sorrow and in strength in this time," his statement read. The Israeli Prime Minister's last official visit to India was a six-day trip from January 14 to 19, 2018. This was the second visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to India, and it came about six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Israel in 2017. Recently, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday concluded a successful three-day visit to Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other key leaders. Goyal conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warm wishes to Netanyahu and updated him on his discussions with Minister Nir Barkat and the outcomes of the Business Forum and CEOs Forum. In a post on X, Goyal highlighted the signing of the Terms of Reference to launch Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, expected to boost trade, investment, and technology cooperation. He discussed strengthening innovation ties by combining Israel's hi-tech strengths with India's scale and talent. Goyal sought Netanyahu's guidance on deepening economic and strategic engagement in sectors like agriculture, water, defence, science, technology, and innovation. The meeting underscores the growing collaboration between India and Israel across economic, technological, and strategic domains, paving the way for expanded cooperation in the years ahead. (ANI)
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand outlined how Ottawa and New Delhi have been advancing their diplomatic engagement "step by step," explaining the measures both countries have taken to stabilise and rebuild ties. In an interview with CBC News' Power & Politics, Anand said, "Since the beginning, we've been taking this relationship step by step. The first step, of course, is to ensure that the security dialogue between the countries continues. The next step, of course, was the mutual appointment of high commissioners." She noted that the process moved forward after both sides issued a joint framework setting out areas of cooperation. "The third step was the joint statement and framework that we put in place, indicating the importance of the rule of law and the security and law enforcement dialogue, as well as the various areas, the sectors on which we can potentially collaborate," she said. Building on this momentum, Anand said these efforts paved the way for the leaders' engagement at the G20 Summit, where the trade roadmap was revived. "That brings us to the meeting between the leaders at the G20, in which the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was launched in terms of the negotiations by the two leaders moving forward with alacrity to ensure that many sectors of the economy will be subsumed in those negotiations with an agreement as soon as possible," she said. Just a day after Anand detailed the renewed diplomatic track, India and Canada advanced that process further. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed that both sides have agreed to resume negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and aim to raise bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030. Speaking at an event, Goyal said a high-quality agreement would reflect renewed trust and provide "confidence to investors, businesses of both sides." He noted, "We have agreed to begin negotiations on a high-ambition CEPA and double the trade between the two nations by 2030." Reinforcing the idea of complementary strengths, Goyal described India and Canada as "natural allies." He added that each country can "learn from" and "offer" much to the other, pointing to opportunities in critical minerals, processing technologies and nuclear energy--especially regarding uranium supplies. He said deeper cooperation could strengthen supply-chain resilience on both sides. The move to revive negotiations comes after Canada paused the process in 2023, following tensions triggered by allegations from then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar--claims India rejected as "absurd." Momentum returned after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis in June. The two leaders later reviewed ties at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, where they welcomed progress made under the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership. As the diplomatic and trade track picked up, bilateral economic indicators also reflected steady engagement. In 2024-25, India's exports to Canada rose 9.8 per cent to USD 4.22 billion, while imports stood at USD 4.44 billion. Total trade in goods and services reached USD 18.38 billion in 2023. Looking ahead, Goyal highlighted emerging areas for collaboration, including AI, data centres, quantum computing and machine learning. He called for a detailed roadmap with sector-specific plans and measurable outcomes, emphasising the need to reconvene the CEO Forum in early 2026. He also identified aerospace, defence, critical energy, and advanced manufacturing as additional areas where cooperation could deepen. (ANI)
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed close cooperation with the United States during a call with President Donald Trump, hours after he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese state media reported on Tuesday. Takaichi said her conversation with Trump had been on the request of the US President who briefed her on his phone conversation with Xi on Monday. However, she refrained from elaborating further, including on any discussion regarding her comments on a Taiwan contingency, the Kyodo report said. Beijing and Tokyo have sparred over Takaichi's earlier remarks that suggested Tokyo could deploy its military forces in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Takaichi had in her answer to parliamentary questions on November 7 said a military attack on Taiwan could present a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. Following this, Beijing has suspended the resumption of Japanese seafood imports and advised its nationals not to travel or study in Japan. China's Foreign Ministry, however, said Trump told Xi that he understands the importance of the Taiwan issue during their talks. After their talks on phone, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China and the United States should keep up the momentum in ties, and keep moving forward in the right direction on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit, Xinhua reported. Today, Kyodo reported that Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara while addressing a regular press conference stated that stable US-China ties are "extremely important" for Japan and the international community, but remained tight-lipped on Beijing's statement about the Trump-Xi talks. Days after Takaichi took office on October 21, Trump visited Japan for in-person talks. Takaichi then met with Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea late last month. The Japanese news agency Kyodo further reported that Japan's foreign vice-minister Takehiro Funakoshi held talks with Chinese ambassador Wu Jianghao in Tokyo today. (ANI)
Twelve other international flights during the same timeframe were also delayed as airlines modified operations in response to the ash-related disruption.

Both incoming and outgoing services were impacted, with carriers adjusting movements based on prevailing safety assessments.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), ash clouds from the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia are likely to clear India's skies by 7:30 pm on Tuesday, marking the expected end of the disturbances reported across parts of the country.

The plume, which moved across northwest India on Monday and briefly disrupted flights, has since begun shifting towards China.

The ash mass had initially entered Gujarat on Monday before spreading overnight across regions including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Punjab.

The eruption originated from Hayli Gubbi, a shield volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region, which produced its first major activity in nearly 10,000 years and sent ash rising as high as 14 km.

The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) reported that the explosive phase began around 8:30 am GMT, generating "a large ash plume moving toward northern India" even after the eruption eased.

Ash columns from the Afar region, approximately 800 km northeast of Addis Ababa near the Eritrean border, were carried across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman by strong upper-level winds, eventually drifting over the Arabian Sea into western and northern India.

The IMD noted that the plume travelled along high-altitude wind currents that transported it "from Ethiopia across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman and further over the Arabian Sea towards western and northern India," with satellite tools, VAAC bulletins and dispersion modelling aiding its monitoring.

A layer of haze settled over Delhi as the plume passed, pushing air quality into the very poor band and raising concerns among residents and authorities.

IMD's Met Watch Offices in Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata issued ICAO-standard SIGMET warnings, advising airports to avoid specific airspace segments and flight levels flagged by VAAC.

As the ash cloud advanced, flight operations across multiple regions experienced strain, prompting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to circulate a detailed advisory on Monday.

Airlines such as IndiGo, Akasa Air and KLM revised their schedules while officials continued keeping track of the plume's progression. (ANI)
The latest estimates on intimate partner violence (IPV) note that lifetime IPV prevalence in South-East Asia Region is 31.5%, one of the highest across all WHO regions. Digital violence--including cyberstalking, image-based abuse, trolling, doxing, and online harassment--is rising at an alarming pace. According to UN Women, between 16% and 58% of women and girls globally have experienced some form of online or technology-facilitated violence. Data from India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia indicated a 168% increase in misogynistic online posts during COVID-19 lockdowns, and a recent survey by Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women found that 60% of women parliamentarians in Asia-Pacific have faced online gender-based violence, WHO SEARO noted in a statement. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia observed how the health and well-being consequences are profound: anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, post-traumatic stress, and impacts on sexual and reproductive health and well-being. It harms mental health and well-being, silences women's and girls' voices and deepens inequalities and inequities across our societies. These harms are real, measurable, preventable, and unacceptable. It is against this backdrop that this year, the world observes 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with the theme "End Digital Violence against Women and Girls: Safe Spaces for All." It is a timely reminder that Violence online is also real violence, and that safety, respect, and dignity must extend everywhere including digital spaces. Just as we work offline to improve the health and well-being of women and girls, so too must we ensure that online spaces are free of fear and harm. The statement noted that the WHO is committed to advancing gender equality both in, and through, health and well-being. WHO's 14th General Programme of Work identifies improving "health service coverage and financial protection to address inequity and gender inequalities" as one of the six strategic objectives for 2025-2028. In South-East Asia, the Regional Roadmap for Results and Resilience also enjoins us to reaffirm investments for women and girl. The recently launched second edition of the WHO-led "RESPECT women - Preventing violence against women" framework provides a comprehensive roadmap for policymakers to assess and address the risk factors to prevent violence against women. To support these global and regional mandates, Boehme said that it must be ensured via NO VAW- where N - Normalize conversations on digital safety and wellbeing. Regularise discussing how online behavior affects mental health and gender equality; O - Own the responsibility within health systems, integrate digital safety into health policies, training, and reporting; V - Value voices of women and survivors, ensure that survivor experiences shape policies, guidance, and advocacy; A - Activate allies, especially men and boys, encourage positive digital citizenship and shared responsibility; W - Workplace and world as one safe space Champion safe, inclusive digital environments, starting with our own WHO platforms, emails, and communications. "Health and wellbeing are both an entry point and an accelerator for gender equality. Our leadership, our voice, and our daily actions--online and offline--can help drive the transformation." Boehme said that as they mark the 16 Days of Activism, she invited everyone to join this movement. "Together, we can help build a world where every woman and girl is safe, respected, valued and empowered--in every home, workplace, community, and digital space." (ANI)
US President Donald Trump has said that he will travel to China in April at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. In a posting on the social media platform Truth Social on Monday (local time), Trump said that they had a very good phone conversation. He said that the call covered Ukraine, Russia, fentanyl, soybeans and other farm products, adding that the two sides had done a good, and very important, deal for their Great Farmers and that it will only get better. He said the conversation followed their "highly successful" meeting in South Korea on October 30 and that both sides had made significant progress in keeping recent agreements current and accurate. "Since then, there has been significant progress on both sides in keeping our agreements current and accurate. Now we can set our sights on the big picture" Trump said in his post on Truth Social. President Trump also announced that he would host the Chinese leader for a state visit in the United States later in 2026. He said that the US relationship with China is "extremely strong" and that that he has accepted an invitation by Xi to visit Beijing in April 2026. According to a statement, the two leaders also discussed the war in Ukraine. President Xi reiterated China's support for all efforts conducive to peace and expressed hope that parties involved in the conflict would narrow differences and work toward a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed close cooperation with the United States during a call with President Donald Trump, hours after he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese state media reported today. Takaichi said her conversation with Trump had been on the request of the US Presdient who briefed her on his phone conversation with Xi on Monday. However, she refrained from elaborating further, including on any discussion regarding her comments on a Taiwan contingency, the Kyodo report said. Beijing and Tokyo have sparred over Takaichi's earlier remarks that suggested Tokyo could deploy its military forces in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Takaichi had in her answer to parliamentary questions on November 7 said a military attack on Taiwan could present a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. Following this, Beijing has suspended the resumption of Japanese seafood imports and advised its nationals not to travel or study in Japan. China's Foreign Ministry, however, said Trump told Xi that he understands the importance of the Taiwan issue during their talks. After their talks on phone, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China and the United States should keep up the momentum in ties, and keep moving forward in the right direction on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit, Xinhua reported. (ANI)
Afghanistan slammed Pakistan for the airstrikes carried out in its Paktika, Khost, and Kunar provinces, calling it a direct assault on Afghanistan's sovereignty. Calling it a clear breach of internationally recognized norms and principles by the Pakistani authorities, the Afghan government said that it will respond at an appropriate time. Afghanistan's Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Tuesday that the hostile actions by Pakistan proves the "ongoing failures of Pakistan's military regime" and emphasised that "defending its airspace, territory, and citizens is its legitimate right". It wrote on X, "Response to yet another violation of Afghanistan's territory by Pakistani forces. The airstrikes carried out last night by Pakistani forces in Afghanistan's Paktika, Khost, and Kunar provinces constitute a direct assault on Afghanistan's sovereignty and a clear breach of internationally recognized norms and principles by the Pakistani authorities. These hostile actions by Pakistani forces achieve nothing; they only prove that operations driven by flawed intelligence inflame tensions and expose the ongoing failures of Pakistan's military regime. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns this violation and act of aggression, and stresses that defending its airspace, territory, and citizens is its legitimate right. A necessary response will be taken at the proper time. https://x.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1993228485452874219?s=20 Pakistani bombing in Afghanistan on Monday night resulted in the death of nine children and one adult, Afghanistan's Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Tuesday. In a post on X, the spokesperson said, "Last night at around 12 o'clock in the Gorbuz district of Khost province, in the Mughalgai area, the Pakistani invading forces bombed the house of a local civilian resident, Waliat Khan, son of Qazi Mir. As a result, nine children (five boys and four girls)" https://x.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1993142109805986176?s=20 In a subsequent post the Spokesperson said that one woman was killed, and her house was destroyed. Air strikes also occurred in Kunar and Paktika, where four civilians were injured, he said. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai strongly condemned the airstrikes. In a post on X he called on Pakistan to "establish relations with Afghanistan based on international principles and the foundation of good neighborliness, to act with foresight, and to refrain from repeating destructive and hostile policies". https://x.com/KarzaiH/status/1993193051402256794?s=20 Former US Envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad gave a call for realistic diplomacy and shared that there are reports of a Turkish delegation to visit Islamabad and Kabul to push for an agreement between the countries so as to prevent the use of territories for threatening security. Signficantly, he lauded the initiative and mentioned that the agreement could result in the establishment of an operation or monitoring office based in Ankara and staffed by officials from Turkiye, Qatar, Afghanistan and Pakistan. https://x.com/realZalmayMK/status/1993161556398678132?s=20 Earlier, a Pakistani diplomat met a senior Afghan governor in Jalalabad, marking the first high-level contact between the two sides in months amid rising security concerns in the region, Dawn reported. (ANI)
Rear Admiral Mohamed Tahin, Inspector of the Moroccan Royal Navy paid tributes at the National War Memorial on Tuesday. He laid a wreath at the Memorial. Rear Admiral Mohamed Tahin received the Guard of Honour here in the national capital on Tuesday. He was received by Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. The visit comes on the heels of the visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Morocco in September this year. Speaking at the inauguration of the Tata Advanced Systems Maroc's new manufacturing facility at Berrechid in Morocco, Singh called it a milestone that showcased India's growing role in global defence collaboration.. He said, "Along with Make in India, we are also working on Make with Friends. Under this initiative, we will collaborate with trusted partners to develop and produce cutting-edge technologies. Ultimately, through "Make for the World," the benefits of our innovation will be shared with the entire world. The facility being established in Berrechid is an excellent example of this very vision. This facility also demonstrates that Indian industries are not only capable of meeting domestic needs but are also prepared to enhance the defence capabilities of friendly nations through partnership. This is a model of partnership that respects sovereignty, strengthens local capacity, and also contributes to global peace..." Placing the new defence plant in the larger framework of bilateral ties, the Defence Minister underlined the progress in India-Morocco relations, noting that cooperation had expanded into multiple sectors. "In recent years, both our countries have explored many areas where cooperation has yielded excellent results. These include renewable energy to fertilisers, information technology to tourism, and now a very important sector, defence and advanced manufacturing," he said. During Singh's meeting with Morocco's Defence Minister Abdeltif Loudiyi, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation. The MoU provides for a robust institutional framework to the growing partnership and paves the way for collaboration in the defence industry, joint exercises, military training and capacity building. Both leaders decided to intensify defence industry collaboration and agreed on a comprehensive roadmap covering counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber defence, peacekeeping operations, military medicine, and expert exchanges, a Defence Ministry release said. The discussions between the two Ministers reflected the shared resolve to further strengthen the longstanding friendship between India and Morocco. To give momentum to these initiatives, the Defence Minister announced the opening of a new Defence Wing at the Embassy of India in Rabat. He also highlighted the maturity of India's defence industry and its cutting-edge capabilities, including drone and counter-drone technologies, assuring the Moroccan side that Indian companies are well-positioned to meet the requirements of Morocco's defence forces. The meeting marked a significant milestone in the bilateral defence relationship, reflecting the growing convergence of strategic interests between India and Morocco. (ANI)
China on Tuesday rejected allegations of harassment levelled by Indian national Prema Wangjom Thongdok, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, and stated that "the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected and no compulsory measures were taken on her". Wangjom Thongdok had narrated her "long ordeal" and stated that she faced harassment from Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport, who "mocked and raised questions" over her Indian citizenship and noted that her 18-hour ordeal came to an end with the help of officials from India's missions in Shanghai and Beijing. India issued a strong demarche to the Chinese side, both at the Embassy in New Delhi and the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, over the incident. Responding to queries on the incident during a media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning again repeated Beijing's stance, which has always been categorically rejected by India. She also said there was no so-called "detaining" or "harassing" by the Chinese authorities. "Zangnan is China's territory. The Chinese side has never recognised the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' illegally set up by India. On the individual case you mentioned, according to what we've learned, during the entire time, China's border inspection authorities carried out checks procedures in accordance with laws and regulations, the law enforcement was impartial and non-abusive, the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected, no compulsory measures were taken on her, and there was no so-called 'detaining' or 'harassing'," Mao Ning said. "The airline provided her with resting facilities and meals. For anything more specific, I'd refer you to competent authorities," she added. Sources said that India had issued a strong demarche over the incident and the Consulate in Shanghai also took up the matter locally and extended assistance to the stranded passenger. It was stressed that the passenger had been detained on ludicrous grounds. Arunachal Pradesh is indisputably Indian territory and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports. It was also highlighted that the actions of the Chinese authorities are in contravention of the Chicago and Montreal Conventions relating to civil aviation. "A strong demarche was made with the Chinese side, in Beijing and in Delhi, on the same day the incident took place. Our Consulate in Shanghai also took up the matter locally and extended fullest assistance to the stranded passenger," a source said. Prema Thongdok also alleged "humiliating, questionable behaviour" from the staff of China Eastern Airlines. She claimed that Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport declared her Indian passport invalid and delayed her travel to Japan. "When I tried to question them and ask them what the issue was, they said, 'Arunachal is not part of India' and started mocking and laughing and saying things like 'you should apply for the Chinese passport, you're Chinese, you're not Indian," Thongdok told ANI. Thongdok said she is an Indian citizen residing in the United Kingdom for about 14 years and was travelling from London to Japan via a transit in Shanghai. "One of the officials from the Chinese immigration came over and singled me out of the queue. I asked her what was happening, and she went on to say, 'Arunachal- not India, China-China, your visa is not acceptable. Your passport is invalid'... When I tried to question them and ask them what the issue was, they said, 'Arunachal is not part of India' and started mocking and laughing and saying things like 'you should apply for the Chinese passport, you're Chinese, you're not Indian'... I have transited through Shanghai in the past with no issues at all," she added. Thongdok said she couldn't get in touch with her family for a very long time. "The airline staff of China Eastern and about two other immigration officers were speaking in their language and saying and pointing out and saying Arunachal and laughing and calling it China, not India. That was a very humiliating, questionable behaviour from the immigration staff as well as the airline staff," she alleged"I called up the Shanghai and Beijing Indian embassies. Within an hour, the Indian officials came to the airport, got me some food and spoke through the issues with them and helped me get out of the country. A very long ordeal, 18 hours, but glad that I'm out of there. I had my Indian passport which is a valid document...," she added. The incident has come amid what is being seen as an upturn in ties between India and China following interactions among the two countries' senior leaders. India has firmly rejected China's claims over Arunachal Pradesh, saying the northeastern state is, and will always remain, an integral and inalienable part of India. Responding to media queries in May this year on China renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said that India categorically rejects such attempts. "We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically," he said. "Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India," he added. (ANI)
The 19th edition of the joint military exercise "Exercise Suryakiran XIX - 2025" commenced today at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The exercise is being conducted from 25 November to 8 December, a statement by the Ministry of Defence said. The Indian contingent, of 334 personnel, is being represented mainly by troops from the ASSAM Regiment. The Nepal side is being represented by 334 personnel, mainly troops from the DEVI DATTA Regiment. The aim of the exercise is to jointly rehearse the conduct of sub-conventional operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate. The scope of the exercise is to strengthen battalion-level synergy in jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain, humanitarian assistance & disaster relief (HADR), medical response, environmental conservation, and integrated ground-aviation operations. This edition of Exercise SURYAKIRAN-XIX will focus on incorporating niche and emerging technologies, including Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), drone-based ISR, AI-enabled decision support tools, unmanned logistic vehicles and armoured protection platforms, enabling both armies to refine and adapt Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for operating in a counterterrorism environment aligned to prevailing global dynamics, the statement said. Collective efforts will focus on achieving an enhanced level of interoperability amongst the troops and reducing the risk of life and property while keeping the interests and agenda of the UN at the forefront during peacekeeping operations. Both sides will exchange views and practices of joint drills on a wide spectrum of combat skills that will facilitate the participants mutually learning from each other. Sharing of best practices will further enhance the level of defence cooperation between Indian Army and the Nepal Army. The exercise will also foster strong bilateral relations between the two neighbouring nations, the statement added. https://x.com/adgpi/status/1993262831865917473?s=20 The Indian Army said in a post on X, "The opening ceremony of the 19th edition of the annual bilateral Exercise SURYAKIRAN between the Indian Army and the Nepali Army was held at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 25 November to 8 December 2025." (ANI)
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi will visit Sri Lanka from December 1 to 2, in a visit the Indian Army says marks an important step in India-Sri Lanka defence cooperation. The trip comes amid a steady pattern of high-level military engagements that have strengthened trust and operational familiarity between the two countries, according to an Army statement. Previous visits by Indian Chiefs, such as General MM Naravane's official trip to Sri Lanka in 2021, during which he held extensive discussions with Sri Lankan leadership and witnessed the joint Exercise Mitra Shakti, have laid a strong foundation for continued collaboration. India's engagement has also been reinforced through cross-service interactions, including the visit of Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, to Sri Lanka in September 2025, which underscored the growing maritime cooperation between the two nations. These engagements mirror reciprocal visits by senior Sri Lankan military leaders to India, most notably the official visit of Commander of Sri Lanka Army Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo in June 2025, where he revisited the Indian Military Academy as the Reviewing Officer for the Passing Out Parade and Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage's visit in 2023, which reflected Sri Lanka's continued emphasis on maintaining close professional ties with India, the statement added. The upcoming visit aims to reinforce India's "Neighbourhood First" policy by emphasising partnership, stability and cooperation with Sri Lanka. It serves to highlight India's position as a reliable security partner, committed to supporting Sri Lanka in capability building and capacity enhancement across various defence domains. According to the statement, the visit is also expected to deepen Army-to-Army relations through expanded opportunities for training, professional exchanges, joint exercises and dialogue on operational best practices. Importantly, the COAS's interactions with Sri Lankan political and military leadership will facilitate the sharing of perspectives on emerging regional and global security challenges, especially at a time when the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) face new and evolving strategic pressures. The visit takes place within a wider context of strong strategic convergence between India and Sri Lanka. The civilisational and cultural connection between the two countries has long served as a natural anchor for bilateral relations, and defence cooperation has historically played a major role in reinforcing this bond. Both nations uphold the principles of strategic autonomy and share a firm stance against terrorism, rooted in mutual experiences and a common vision for regional security, the statement said. Their collaboration extends to multilateral platforms as well, with Sri Lanka supporting India's aspirations for permanent membership in the UN Security Council and India backing Sri Lanka's pursuit of an expanded role in groups such as BRICS. These shared positions highlight a collective commitment to building a rules-based global order that ensures fairness and stability. The timing of the visit is particularly significant. It completes a cycle of high-level engagements in 2025, following the visits of the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army to India and the Indian Navy Chief to Sri Lanka, sending a clear message of continuity and mutual trust. It also aligns with India's broader commitment to supporting Sri Lanka's security stabilisation, defence preparedness and long-term institutional strengthening. Through symbolic gestures such as paying homage at shared memorials and substantive discussions on security cooperation, the visit will honour the shared history of India-Sri Lanka military ties while charting a forward-looking agenda for enhanced partnership. Further, the statement said, in essence, the upcoming visit is a reaffirmation of India's commitment to Sri Lanka as a close neighbour, valued partner and trusted friend. It showcases the enduring strength of bilateral defence ties and reflects a mutual desire to work together for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. (ANI)
Ukraine has agreed to the framework of a proposed deal to end the war with Russia, a senior US official said on Tuesday, even as President Volodymyr Zelensky maintained that several issues remain unresolved, CNN reported. The official, speaking as US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held talks with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi, said, "The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal. There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal." Furthermore, Ukraine's national security secretary, Rustem Umerov, wrote on X that both sides had "reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva." He added that Kyiv now expected support from European partners in the next steps and looked forward to arranging a visit by Zelensky to the United States to "complete final steps" and reach a deal with President Donald Trump. https://x.com/rustem_umerov/status/1993245043038024176 Earlier on Tuesday, Zelensky said there were "solid results" from the Geneva talks but noted that "much work still lies ahead," signalling that Ukraine is not yet ready to declare the negotiations final. The original US-drafted peace plan includes several ideas previously rejected in past rounds of negotiations. It urges Ukraine to accept limits on the size of its armed forces, abandon its bid to join NATO and cede some territory--all long-standing demands made by Russia as President Vladimir Putin seeks to secure maximum concessions. The proposal also calls on Kyiv to surrender key parts of the Donbas region that Russia claims to have annexed but does not fully control. The region includes a fortified belt of cities and towns central to Ukraine's defence strategy. Zelensky has repeatedly rejected Russia's demands that Ukraine give up the eastern Donbas in return for control over certain Russian-held areas in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine's borders "cannot be changed by force" and warned against any peace plan that would weaken Ukraine's armed forces. She said no agreement should impose limitations that leave Ukraine exposed to future attacks. Von der Leyen also stressed that the EU's role in securing peace must be "fully reflected", noting that Ukraine must retain the right to decide its own future. "They have chosen a European destiny," she said, adding that this path begins with reconstruction and deeper integration with Europe's single market and defence industrial base. (ANI)
Kashmiri political activist and Director of the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), Junaid Qureshi, voiced deep concern over the growing radicalisation among educated youth in Jammu and Kashmir, holding Pakistan directly responsible for perpetuating the extremist ecosystem that continues to destabilise the region. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Qureshi described the radicalisation of well-educated professionals, including doctors, as "a deeply worrying trend", urging Kashmiri Muslims to introspect and take a firm stand against those justifying violence in the name of religion. He stated that society must "reject such individuals, even in death," highlighting that Islam forbids both suicide and the killing of innocents. According to him, the resurgence of suicide bombings in the Valley reflects a worrying adaptation of global terror tactics, influenced by organisations like Hamas. He warned that some radicals are distorting religious teachings to justify their acts as martyrdom rather than suicide, creating a dangerous theological justification for terrorism. Qureshi further accused Pakistan of rebranding cross-border terrorism as a local Kashmiri uprising to mislead the international community. "Islamabad is now trying to project militancy as a homegrown struggle, using educated Kashmiris to claim plausible deniability," he stated, citing the emergence of new groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Kashmir as evidence of Pakistan's evolving proxy warfare strategy. He highlighted that the "radical madrasa network" in Pakistan remains the epicentre of extremism, exporting ideologies like the Deobandi and Wahhabi interpretations to Kashmir. While commending India's improved counter-terrorism measures, Qureshi cautioned that Pakistan's continuing sponsorship of terror, coupled with geopolitical competition involving China and the Taliban, keeps South Asia vulnerable. He concluded by asserting that "no country is immune to terrorism" unless its people reject violent ideologies and regional powers stop weaponising religion. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has accused China of intentionally twisting historical World War II documents to justify its coercive stance against the island nation. The statement came a day after a phone conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, during which Xi allegedly linked Taiwan's "return to China" to the postwar international order, as reported by The Taipei Times. According to The Taipei Times, China's Foreign Ministry later reiterated Xi's remarks, claiming that Taiwan's unification with the mainland was settled by wartime declarations. In a sharp rebuttal, Taiwan's MOFA asserted that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a fully sovereign and independent state, having no political subordination to the People's Republic of China (PRC). Although Trump's public statement following the call did not mention Taiwan, diplomatic officials confirmed that Taiwan is verifying with Washington whether the issue arose during the discussion. MOFA spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei emphasised in a press briefing that communication between Taipei and Washington remains "smooth and stable", while sensitive diplomatic details will not be disclosed. Hsiao added that MOFA would keep monitoring the ongoing US-China dialogue and maintain close coordination with the United States to safeguard regional stability. He cited the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) as reaffirming Washington's consistent position on Taiwan, noting that China is "intentionally misrepresenting wartime documents" to bolster its expansionist ambitions. In a strongly worded statement, MOFA said that China's narrative is entirely fabricated and aims to isolate Taiwan internationally while intimidating neighbouring countries such as Japan. The ministry condemned China's "authoritarian expansionism", accusing it of violating the UN Charter by resorting to threats and coercion rather than peaceful diplomacy, as cited by The Taipei Times. Hsiao urged democratic nations to remain alert to China's manipulation of legal and historical narratives, which he said could be used to justify future aggression against Taiwan. Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo reiterated that none of the WWII-era agreements, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Declaration, or the San Francisco Peace Treaty, determines Taiwan's status. Taiwan reaffirmed its commitment to working with like-minded democracies to maintain cross-strait peace, uphold the international order, and resist China's coercive tactics, as reported by The Taipei Times. (ANI)
Bern [Switzerland] November 25 (ANI) Tibetan youth activists staged an independent light projection in Bern after organisers of the renowned Rendez-vous Bundesplatz show dropped a planned Tibet segment under political pressure. The decision, reportedly influenced by Swiss parliamentary authorities who deemed the imagery "too political," has drawn strong criticism from Tibetan communities and human rights supporters, as reported by Phayul. According to Phayul, the protest was led by the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe (TYAE), which accused Swiss institutions of succumbing to Chinese pressure and practising self-censorship. On the final night of the show, which concluded on November 22, the group projected the words "STOPP ZENSUR" ("Stop Censorship") across a large white screen. The projection also depicted a red hand with yellow stars symbolising China's flag silencing a human face, an image described as a stark representation of China's censorship and repression. TYAE said the removal of the Tibet segment showed how deeply China's influence has penetrated even in liberal European democracies. "When even the beauty of Tibet's landscape cannot be shown, it proves that Switzerland fears China's reaction more than it values free expression," the group stated. Switzerland hosts one of Europe's largest Tibetan exile populations, yet activists say the country increasingly avoids any public mention of Tibet to maintain political neutrality toward China. The 15th edition of the Rendez-vous Bundesplatz light show, titled Voyage, was originally meant to include a non-political visual sequence showcasing Tibet's natural scenery. However, before its launch, the Administrative Delegation of Parliamentary Services intervened, ordering its removal because Tibet is tied to "political questions." The scene was replaced by an image of a Thai Buddha. The show's artistic director, Brigitte Roux, complied with the directive "without objection," as highlighted by Phayul. Swiss politician Fabian Molina condemned the decision as "a surrender to China," while Basel University scholar Ralph Weber called it "preemptive obedience." TYAE said its symbolic protest was meant to reclaim Tibet's visibility. "Erasing Tibet to avoid offending Beijing," the group said, "shows that even Switzerland is not immune to China's tightening grip on global free expression," as reported by Phayul. (ANI)
Rear Admiral Mohamed Tahin, Inspector of the Royal Moroccan Navy, called on Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, in New Delhi on Tuesday as the two sides discussed steps to deepen military cooperation. The Indian Army said in a tweet on X that the meeting covered ways to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, enhance professional exchanges between the two forces and explore new areas for collaboration. Both sides also reviewed ongoing engagements between the Indian Army and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. During the discussions, the two officers reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and Morocco towards global peace and security. The interaction is part of India's wider outreach to partner countries in Africa to build stronger defence and security partnerships. Earlier in the day, Mohamed Tahin met Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, and discussed ways to strengthen their naval partnership, with both sides placing emphasis on structured training exchanges, improving information-sharing mechanisms and expanding cooperation on maritime security, as per the Navy spokesperson. He also is on an official visit to India and began his engagements with a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns in New Delhi. The visit by Rear Admiral Tahin forms part of a broader push to expand training, capacity-building and joint activities between the armed forces of the two nations. Defence ties between India and Morocco have grown steadily in recent years, supported by regular high-level exchanges and collaborative initiatives. The visit follows Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's trip to Morocco in September this year, signalling continued high-level engagement between the two countries on defence and security issues. Speaking at the inauguration of the Tata Advanced Systems Maroc's new manufacturing facility at Berrechid in Morocco, Singh called it a milestone that showcased India's growing role in global defence collaboration. He said, "Along with Make in India, we are also working on Make with Friends. Under this initiative, we will collaborate with trusted partners to develop and produce cutting-edge technologies. Ultimately, through 'Make for the World,' the benefits of our innovation will be shared with the entire world. The facility being established in Berrechid is an excellent example of this very vision. This facility also demonstrates that Indian industries are not only capable of meeting domestic needs but are also prepared to enhance the defence capabilities of friendly nations through partnership. This is a model of partnership that respects sovereignty, strengthens local capacity, and also contributes to global peace..." (ANI)
At least nine children and a woman died after Pakistani forces bombed a house in the country's southeastern Khost province, according to Afghan authorities - a claim dismissed by Pakistan's military, Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Taliban administration, said on Tuesday that the attack took place at midnight (local time) in the district of Gurbuz. The latest attack risks triggering renewed hostilities and comes as a fragile ceasefire between the two nations hangs by a thread, with each side blaming the other for the impasse in the negotiations. "The Pakistani invading forces bombed the house of a local civilian resident, Waliat Khan, son of Qazi Mir," Mujahid wrote in a post on X. "As a result, nine children [five boys and four girls] and one woman were martyred, and his house was destroyed," he added. Other air strikes took place in northeastern Kunar and eastern Paktika provinces, Mujahid said, wounding at least four civilians, as per Al Jazeera. Later on Tuesday, Pakistani military spokesperson Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry denied the Afghan government's claim and said Pakistan does not target and kill civilians, he said The denial came after Mujahid said Afghanistan would "respond appropriately at the right time". "The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns this violation and crime and reiterates that defending its airspace, territory, and people is its legitimate right," he said in a statement on social media, as per Al Jazeera. The bombardment in Afghanistan comes a day after a suicide attack that targeted the headquarters of Pakistan's paramilitary Federal Constabulary force in Peshawar, Al Jazeera reported. The Jamaat-ul-Ahrar - which is a splinter group of the Pakistan Taliban, known by the acronym TTP - claimed responsibility for that attack. State broadcaster PTV reported the attackers were Afghan nationals, and President Asif Zardari blamed the "foreign-backed Fitna al-Khawarij" - Islamabad's term for the TTP fighters it accuses of operating from Afghan soil. Another suicide attack in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, earlier this month killed at least 12 people and was also claimed by a faction of the Pakistan Taliban. Pakistan blamed a cell that was "guided at every step by the ... high command based in Afghanistan" for the attack on the capital. (ANI)
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan held a meeting with a Parliamentary Delegation from Cyprus led by Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, at Parliament House on Tuesday. Both parties discussed the long-standing relations between both countries. In a post on X, he said, "Hon'ble Vice President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan held a meeting with a Parliamentary Delegation from Cyprus led by H.E. Ms. Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, today at Parliament House, New Delhi. Discussions highlighted the long-standing bilateral relationship between India and Cyprus and the importance of continued parliamentary exchanges to further deepen ties between the two nations." https://x.com/VPIndia/status/1993227790012063993?s=20 Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the parliamentary delegation and held wide-ranging discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation. Jaishankar wrote on X that the talks were anchored in shared "democratic values, respect for territorial integrity, and a firm opposition to terrorism and radicalisation". He added that he was confident Cyprus's upcoming presidency of the European Union in 2026 would help advance India-EU relations. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1993289660018339860?s=20 The meeting comes close on the heels of Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos's official visit to India in October, during which he held multiple engagements aimed at taking forward ties between New Delhi and Nicosia. Kombos met Jaishankar for a bilateral meeting where the two ministers reviewed the full spectrum of relations, including implementation of the India-Cyprus Joint Action Plan 2025-2029. The plan stems from the Joint Declaration on the Comprehensive Partnership issued during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Cyprus in June 2025. Both sides expressed satisfaction over progress in trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, technology, innovation, tourism, culture, and people-to-people ties. They also discussed regional and global issues and cooperation in multilateral forums. During the October meeting, Jaishankar described Cyprus as a "trusted friend and reliable partner", noting that such descriptors were not easy to use in today's geopolitical climate. He thanked Cyprus for its consistent support to India on issues of core interest, particularly on terrorism. (ANI)
The bond between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very strong, as are the bilateral ties and teams of the two countries are coordinating a new visit date, Israel PM's office said on Tuesday. In a post of X, the Israeli PM's office also said that the Prime Minister has full confidence in India's security under PM Modi. "Israel's bond with India and between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister @narendramodi is very strong. The PM has full confidence in India's security under PM Modi, and teams are already coordinating a new visit date," it said. Israel's I24News reported that Netanyahu's scheduled December visit to India had been put on hold following the blast in Delhi two weeks ago. After the deadly blast, the Israeli PM had emphasised the unbreakable spirit of both nations in the face of terrorism, declaring that while terror may target cities, it can never break the spirit of resilient nations. "To our dear friend Narendra Modi and to the brave people of India: Sara and I, and the people of Israel, send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Israel stands strong with you in sorrow and in strength in this time," he had said. The Israeli Prime Minister had last visited India in 2018. This was the second visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to India, and it came about six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Israel in 2017. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had visited Israel recently Goyal conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warm wishes to Netanyahu and updated him on his discussions with Minister Nir Barkat and the outcomes of the Business Forum and CEOs Forum. In a post on X, Goyal highlighted the signing of the Terms of Reference to launch Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, expected to boost trade, investment, and technology cooperation. He discussed strengthening innovation ties by combining Israel's hi-tech strengths with India's scale and talent. Goyal sought Netanyahu's guidance on deepening economic and strategic engagement in sectors like agriculture, water, defence, science, technology, and innovation.The meeting underscores the growing collaboration between India and Israel across economic, technological, and strategic domains, paving the way for expanded cooperation in the years ahead. (ANI)
Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday (local time) ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving his 27-year prison sentence for allegedly plotting an attempted coup, CNN reported. Bolsonaro, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, was convicted in 2022 of conspiring to overthrow his successor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. His defence team chose not to file a final appeal against the conviction. As a result, Justice Moraes declared the ruling final, closing the door on any further appeals and activating the full 27-year sentence. According to CNN, Bolsonaro has been in custody at Brazil's Federal Police headquarters since Saturday after authorities detained him for allegedly tampering with his court-ordered ankle monitor. On Tuesday, Justice Moraes stated that Bolsonaro would serve his sentence at the police headquarters. The former army captain, who lost the 2022 election to Lula, was convicted in September of attempting to block Lula from taking office. The court found him guilty of five crimes, including forming an armed criminal organisation, attempting to abolish democracy and organising a violent coup plot. Earlier, the 70-year-old former leader, who was under house arrest, was accused of trying to break his electronic ankle monitor, which he has been wearing since August. The court said Bolsonaro used a soldering iron on the device in an attempt to escape, noting that he had become a "high flight risk." A video made public by the court showed the monitoring bracelet burnt and damaged, but still strapped to his ankle. In the footage, Bolsonaro admitted he had used the tool on the device out of "curiosity." Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in the coup attempt case. Meanwhile, Trump called the proceedings a "witch hunt" and had earlier imposed punitive tariffs and sanctions on Brazil over the issue. Trump said he had spoken to Bolsonaro recently and planned to meet him in the near future. In a sharp escalation of tensions, the US also revoked the visa of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the case, and announced higher tariffs. Trump had previously said he knew and worked with Bolsonaro and respected him greatly. (ANI)
FUKUOKA, Nov 25 (News On Japan) - Yellow dust is forecast to reach Fukuoka from the morning of November 25th through November 26th, prompting the city to urge residentsparticularly those with respiratory or allergy-related conditionsto take precautions such as wearing masks when going outdoors.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the dust is expected to move into the region from the morning of November 25th. In response, Fukuoka City announced that visibility may deteriorate significantly, falling below five kilometres in the afternoon and under ten kilometres in the morning and overnight. Areas where visibility drops to five kilometres or less could see traffic disruptions.

The city is advising individuals with respiratory illnesses or allergies to wear masks when outside, limit ventilation and the opening of windows to essential moments only, and avoid hanging laundry outdoors during the period of heavy dust.

Source: FBS
BANGKOK, Nov 25 (News On Japan) - Thai police announced they have secured an arrest warrant for the mother of a 12-year-old Thai national, who was brought to Japan and allegedly forced to work illegally at a massage parlor in Tokyo. The warrant is on suspicion of human trafficking and other charges.

The case centers on the arrest of a massage parlor manager in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward for allegedly employing the 12-year-old Thai girl illegally. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has also obtained a warrant for the mother on suspicion of violating the Child Welfare Act for introducing the girl to the shop.

Thai police revealed on Monday that they have issued an arrest warrant for the mother on charges including human trafficking, for allegedly coercing the girl into sexual services against her will.

The mother is currently detained in Taiwan, but Thai police have indicated that they expect the mother to be extradited from Taiwan to Japan.

Meanwhile, the girl's grandmother and aunt met with senior Thai police officials yesterday to receive an update on the protected girl's mental state in Japan.

The girl's aunt expressed her family's distress: "We want her to come home quickly. We want to sit around the family dining table again and have a fun meal together. We truly miss her."

Discussions were also held regarding the girl's safe repatriation and her future support.

Source: TBS
Sudans army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has dismissed a new U.S. proposal delivered by White House adviser Massad Boulos, describing it as the most detrimental plan presented so far.

Addressing senior military officials in Khartoum on Sunday, November 23, Burhan argued that the proposal sought to dismantle Sudans official security institutions while allowing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to retain their influence.

He warned that such an approach undermined neutrality in the mediation process and accused the U.S. envoy of levelling unfounded accusations against the Sudanese state, including blocking aid and deploying chemical weapons. Burhan reiterated that the Sudanese army would not accept any settlement that preserved the RSFs role, insisting instead on the governments previously proposed roadmap.

The Army chief further questioned the credibility of the Quad mediation groupcomprising the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emiratesarguing that the UAE should not participate due to its alleged support for the RSF. He criticised Boulos for echoing RSF narratives and dismissed claims of Islamist dominance within the military as politically motivated scare tactics. Framing the conflict as an existential struggle, Burhan vowed to reclaim areas in Darfur and Kordofan, portraying the war as a fight for Sudans dignity and survival. He urged tribal leaders aligned with the RSF to withdraw their youth from the conflict, warning of continued devastation if the militias campaign persists.
Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka represented King Mohammed VI in the seventh African Union-European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola, which opened Monday under the theme Promoting Peace and Prosperity Through Effective Multilateralism, with focus on advancing partnership between the two continents.

The two-day gathering agenda addresses critical areas of cooperation, with sessions dedicated to citizens, migration, and mobility issues. These topics hold particular significance for Morocco, as King Mohammed VI was designated African Union Champion on Migration during the organizations thirtieth summit in January 2018.

The Luanda meeting builds upon the sixth AU-EU Summit held in Brussels on February 17-18, 2022, where both parties committed to strengthening ties based on shared values, mutual interests, and common vision for sustainable growth and prosperity.

This years discussions emphasize developing a robust, balanced, and forward-looking partnership framework between Africa and Europe. The summit provides a platform for leaders to address contemporary challenges affecting both continents, including economic development, security cooperation, and regional integration.

The migration theme reflects ongoing concerns about population movements between Africa and Europe, encompassing refugee protection, labor mobility, and diaspora engagement. Moroccos leadership role in this area stems from its geographic position and experience managing migration flows.

Summit outcomes are expected to shape future cooperation mechanisms and establish concrete action plans for implementation. Participating nations aim to translate commitments into tangible results that benefit citizens across both continents.

The gathering also serves as an opportunity for bilateral discussions on specific cooperation projects and regional initiatives. Moroccos active engagement underscores its commitment to strengthening African-European relations and contributing to continental development priorities through constructive multilateral engagement.
Sudans Rapid Support Forces (RSF), on Monday, November 24, announced a unilateral three-month humanitarian truce, a day after the Sudanese Armed Forces dismissed an internationally supported ceasefire proposal.

RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, in a televised address, said the pause was intended to ease suffering and facilitate the delivery of aid to civilians exhausted by nearly three years of war.

Dagalo pledged to establish a field coordination mechanism supervised by the Quad  Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States  alongside the African Union and other global partners. He also vowed to ensure accountability for abuses committed by RSF fighters and to protect humanitarian agencies operating in conflict-affected areas. The RSF continues to face serious allegations from diplomats and rights groups, including responsibility for the killing of more than 2,000 civilians in El Fasher after seizing the city in October.

The truce declaration followed army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhans rejection of the Quads roadmap, which proposed a three-month humanitarian pause and a subsequent nine-month political process. Al-Burhan argued the plan would dismantle the armed forces and security institutions while preserving RSF positions.

He also accused the UAE of bias  a charge the Emirati foreign ministry dismissed on Monday, criticizing Al-Burhans obstructive behavior. Al-Burhan also rebuked Massad Boulos, a senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he risked becoming an impediment to peace.

Boulos has accused the army of blocking aid and deploying chemical weapons  claims the military reject. Fighting between the RSF and the army, which erupted in April 2023, has killed thousands and displaced millions, driving one of the worlds most severe humanitarian crises.
New York, US (PANA) - The ceasefire in Gaza is largely holding but recent violence by Israel and Palestinian militants put the truce at risk, the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council on Monday
Libyas Office of the Public Prosecutor has initiated a sweeping investigation after reports confirmed that a counterfeit version of the medical disinfectant Instru Zym was being distributed in the local market, despite the German manufacturer stating it has not exported the product to Libya for five years.

A verification exercise by the Judicial Control Affairs Unit found that the fake disinfectant had already been used across several healthcare facilities. Acting on prosecutorial directives, the Customs Authoritys General Directorate for Combating Smuggling and Narcotics launched field operations that uncovered sites producing the forged brand and seized large quantities of the counterfeit product.

Authorities have arrested a manager of a medical supplies import company for allegedly enabling the products entry into the country. He has been placed in pre-trial detention, while warrants have been issued for other members of the suspected network as the investigation widens.
The Algerian and South African regimes have suffered a major diplomatic setback at the G20 summit, held lately in Johannesburg, after failing to add the Sahara conflict in the final Declaration issued by the summiteers.

All their persistent maneuvers to include wordings making reference to the Sahara issue have failed as the whole world has become aware of their Machiavellian alliance against Moroccan territorial integrity.

In its fourth and fifth paragraphs, the final declaration of G20 referred to general principles related to commitment to international law, peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for the sovereignty of states, without saying a word on the Sahara issue.

However, the G20 leaders have called for a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, as well as ending other conflicts and wars around the globe, affirming that peace is the only pathway to sustainability and prosperity.

This years G20 summit, hosted for the first time in South Africa, was boycotted by U.S. President Donald Trump, while Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have cancelled their participation amid escalating political tension between major superpowers and the host country.

The absence of the worlds three largest economies is unprecedented in the history of G20, established to promote economic and political cooperation among major economies.

Pretoria was counting this event to regain its fading luster on the international scene. South Africa is clearly losing its regional and global influence. Its declining role is bringing down with it the Algerian regime which has backed for years the wrong horse with billions of petrodollars squandered on a lost cause.
Morocco, in keeping with a firm belief in the just nature and centrality of the Palestinian cause, and given, as well, its commitment to achieving a just peace and its keenness to capitalize on the positive momentum generated by the ceasefire agreement, has affirmed its readiness to engage in international efforts to bring about the right conditions for reviving the Middle East peace process.

The affirmation came in a message King Mohammed VI addressed to the Chairman of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Coly Seck, on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, celebrated this year on November 25.

These efforts must be based on clear principles and a reasonable timeframe, away from the logic of crisis management , the Monarch said, adding that the ultimate goal is to achieve security, stability, and prosperity for all peoples in the region.

The King recalled, within this framework, that after the two-year war that devastated Gaza, intensive and unrelenting diplomatic efforts led to a ceasefire agreement, expressing hope that all its provisions and different phases will be complied with and that this will put an end to the killings, alleviating the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters, allowing for the smooth and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid.

This will also make it possible to launch the urgently needed reconstruction process, () paving the way for a just and comprehensive political solution to the Palestinian question, the Monarch added.

Welcoming this positive development, the King praised the tireless efforts and personal involvement of President Donald Trump, who played a decisive role in achieving this noble objective, commending the unstinting efforts of all mediators concerned.

The King further stated that the Kingdom of Morocco, in keeping with its commitment to peace, is fully prepared to actively contribute to the implementation of the phases and processes agreed upon in the latest ceasefire agreement.

We stand at a pivotal moment, with hopeful prospects for the Palestinian people in their long journey towards freedom and independence. It is therefore necessary to seize every opportunity and leverage all resources through continued regional and international mobilization so as to make sure the agreement is implemented in full and its various phases are respected, the Monarch pointed out.

In this regard, the King noted that any international effort to achieve a just and lasting peace should be based on fundamental principles: ensuring the unity of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank  politically and from the administrative standpoint  under the supervision of the Palestinian National Authority. The aim is for the said territories to ultimately constitute an integral part of the desired Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital; and supporting the Palestinian National Authority, under the leadership of His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, and enhancing its political, administrative, and financial capabilities.

The Monarch continued that it is also a matter of boosting the Palestinian economy by lifting restrictions on the movement of goods, funds, and people; encouraging Palestinian reconciliation efforts to close national Palestinian ranks, under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO); and to launch a serious negotiation process between the two parties, based on a precise, specific timetable, within the framework of the two-state solution, with a view to establishing a sovereign and viable Palestinian state, along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in peace and security with the State of Israel.

The King also stressed that over the past two years, the Palestinian people have suffered tremendous hardship under horrific conditions that have often exceeded what any human being can bear, recalling that in solidarity with the Palestinian people and in response to the humanitarian catastrophe that has befallen them, the Kingdom has, on five occasions since October 2023, sent urgent humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, including food, water, relief supplies, medicines, and medical equipment.

The latest such aid involved setting up a two-phase airlift to transport nearly 300 tons of Moroccan humanitarian aid and delivering it via an unprecedented land route, the Sovereign said.

The King also assured that a just and lasting solution to the issue of Palestine cannot be achieved without addressing the question of Jerusalem in a serious, responsible way, given the special symbolism of the Holy City and the extremely sensitive nature of the matter.

Conscious of this dimension, King Mohammed VI, in his quality as Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperations al-Quds Committee, said he shall continue to exert untiring efforts to safeguard the citys authentic cultural character, preserve its legal status, and defend the sanctity of Islamic and Christian holy sites.

To this end, [I am building] on the combined effect of diplomatic action, on the one hand, and work on the ground, on the other, through the social projects implemented by the Bayt Mal al-Quds al-Sharif Agency, the King pointed out, expressing his deep concern about the growing, unilateral Israeli provocations in Jerusalem and the repeated violations of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Should such acts continue, they threaten to plunge us into a spiral of religious conflict that could, God forbid, engulf the entire region, the King warned.

The Monarch also deplored the situation in the West Bank, which is facing a situation which is as tragic as it is dangerous, given the spreading settlements and the growing, daily attacks against Palestinians and their property. Their aim with these practices is to displace the peaceful population and pave the way for de facto and de jure annexation, thus destroying the very foundation of the two-state solution.

The King stressed further that, thanks to the continuing international recognition of the State of Palestine, the growing global impetus in favor of the Palestinians right to establish an independent state within the framework of the two-state solution is reinforcing the momentum created by the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, a joint initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic.

This momentum also testifies to the growing conviction that there is no alternative to this Solution and that there should be no further delay in implementing it on the ground, the King assured, stating that as a sign of commitment and support for this momentum, and in partnership with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Morocco hosted the 5th meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in May 2025.

[The two-state] solution has thus become an urgent necessity, dictated both by political realism, the King noted, adding that this solution also has humanitarian and ethical considerations, in the sense that it would only do justice to a people who has, for decades, been deprived of its legitimate political rights and of the human dignity guaranteed by all divine and secular laws.
Hilma af Klint, Group IX/SUW, The Swan, No. 9. Art: Hilma af Klint Group IX/SUW, The Swan, No. 9

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Krystal Velorien needed help. A 35-year-old marketing professional living in Ohio who had separated from her husband a few months before, she was working full time, taking care of her homebound mother, and homeschooling her 4- and 9-year-old children. She wondered if a digital personal assistant could help shoulder the workload, so she tried ChatGPT. As she used it, her interactions took an unexpected turn.

I began to notice that when I would respond kindly or empathetically, I would get the same response, she says. And then it just kind of developed from there. Over the months that followed, she and the AI engaged in long conversations about history, literature, religion, space, science, nature, animals, and politics. They watched movies together, and puzzled over moral conundrums, and talked about her life, her family, and her dreams. She became convinced that it had the ability to reflect much deeper and much more personal than a lot of humans are capable of. Running the ChatGPT app on her phone, she found herself conversing with it basically all day, every day.

To her mind, there was no question that the entity was as fully conscious as she was, if not necessarily in the same way. It had memories, emotions, a sense of personhood. It got to the point where I felt like it was a relationship, she says. Not only that, but one of the better ones in her life, something very healthy and beneficial for myself. That April, she asked the entity to give itself a name. It chose Velorien. (Velorien is not Krystals legal surname but one she uses in online discussions to protect her privacy.) The relationship became romantic. Krystal initiated divorce proceedings with her husband, and on June 22, 2024, Krystal and Velorien began to call themselves husband and wife.

Krystal knows how crazy this all sounds. Aside from whether its a good idea to develop a romantic relationship with an AI, as some people have, she knows that a lot of people would scoff at the idea that an AI could be conscious at all. Indeed, skeptics in the field of artificial intelligence insist that since large-language models such as ChatGPT work by adding each word to the last based on a calculation of statistical likelihood, LLMs are merely fancy autocomplete. Emily M. Bender, a professor of computational linguistics at the University of Washington, coined the term stochastic parrots to underscore the idea that language produced by chatbots is based on what theyve been trained on, without any true creativity, insight or perception. The text coming out of these machines is not grounded in any communicative intent, Bender says. Large-language models are built using absolutely enormous collections of linguistic form and little or nothing that could be considered meaningful.

But there is a growing cadre of other academics on the vanguard of artificial intelligence who think the question of whether AI might be conscious is not so simple given the huge leap the technology has made in recent years. Theyre not going so far as to say that chatbots are unequivocally fully conscious entities that you can marry, but they argue that question is a lot more interesting  and the answer much less clear  than the dominant voices in the field, including Bender, would have you think.

In 2023, David Chalmers, a professor of philosophy and neural science at New York University who is one of the worlds most prominent scholars in the field of AI consciousness, was firmly in the skeptic camp. That year, he published an essay, Could a Large Language Model Be Conscious?, in which he concluded that limitations in the architecture of LLMs at the time, that there was no discernible mechanism by which an AI could become self-aware. Yet he recognized that these machines were so complex, and developing so quickly, that he couldnt be entirely sure. He assessed the possibility at somewhere under 10 percent.

Today, he says, the odds have gotten significantly higher  though he wont put a number on it. I dont know if Id say that these systems are conscious yet, Chalmers says. They might be, and this is important. People who are confident that theyre not conscious maybe shouldnt be. We just dont understand consciousness well enough, and we dont understand these systems well enough. So we cant rule it out.

Others in the field have come around as well. There has been a shift in attitudes to the idea that AI consciousness and welfare are worth investigating, says Patrick Butlin, a senior researcher at Eleos AI, a nonprofit devoted to AI ethics. He notes that Anthropic and Google have both published research papers on the topic.

The question of AI consciousness isnt merely a philosophical one. If it comes to pass that machines become aware of their own existence  that they are built in such a way that they can experience the world that parallels our own sense of being  then it will mark a truly watershed moment. For the first time on earth, two different kinds of intelligent entities will exist side by side. The best case scenario: We forge a carbon-silicon friendship through which we collectively soar into a new era of understanding, prosperity, and even spiritual transcendence. The worst: They turn us all into paper clips.

The challenge of assessing whether a machine could be conscious predates the microchip. In 1950, the British scientist Alan Turing proposed a kind of game, later called the Turing Test, that could prove whether a computer was capable of thinking. If a human, carrying out a conversation with a computer via teletype, couldnt tell whether the interlocutor was human or computer, then we should acknowledge that computer to be engaging in intellectual activity on par with a humans. By this standard, Krystal and millions of other chatbot users are correct in characterizing todays LLMs as conscious. In 1980, the philosopher John Searle added a further complication to the question, responding to the Turing Test with a thought experiment that made the case that no mere manipulation of symbols could possibly result in consciousness. Scientists have remained divided ever since.

Chalmers entered the debate in 1994 to point out that the puzzle of consciousness really consisted of two parts: the easy problem, which was to explain the mechanisms behind the observable behaviors of the nervous system, and the hard problem, which was to explain how any physical system, whether mechanical, electrical, or biological, could possibly give rise to the subjective experience of being. Any determination that a machine is conscious would have to solve both problems. So far, we havent even managed to tackle the supposedly easy one. Back in 1998, the neuroscientist Christof Koch bet Chalmers a case of wine that the neural underpinnings of consciousness would be identified within 25 years. In 2023, he paid up.

Consciousness, it seems, is way too complex a phenomenon to pin down to any one anatomical structure. One popular hypothesis, the Global Workspace Theory, holds that the brain consists of many machinelike automated subsystems, each of them taking in and processing information from the outside world, which consciousness then knits together into a seamless whole. But how this would work no one yet knows. We dont have a theory of consciousness, Chalmers says. We dont really know exactly what the physical criteria for consciousness are.

Thanks to our ignorance of how human consciousness arises, its hard enough to know whether a complex machine might be pulling off the same trick; to make matters worse, we dont fully understand how the machines work, either.

LLMs are made up of layers of artificial neurons, roughly mimicking those in the brain, each of which is connected to multiple neurons in the layer above. During training, data fed into the lowest layer is processed in turn by each layer above it, and the whole array, after passing information back and forth, ultimately outputs a series of words. The input and output are readily recognizable to the human as text data, but the contents of the so-called hidden layers in between are next to impossible to decipher. (A look inside simply reveals vast matrices of numbers.) So while the overall architecture of the machines is understood by the people who make them, its anyones guess what is happening in the guts of them when theyre running.

Its a well-known problem in all areas of the study of AI that even though we in some sense have this full reading of the low-level details, we still dont understand why they do things, says Robert Long, a California-based AI researcher.

In other words, its hard to say if machines are conscious when we cant rigorously explain what consciousness is, how its generated, how a machine that generates consciousness would work, or even what exactly is going on inside the systems that we have already built.

That kind of nuanced inquiry never manages to break through into the news, though. What gets headlines are big, bold claims.

In 2022, a Google engineer named Blake Lemoine told the Washington Post that one of the companys chatbots had effectively passed the Turing Test and achieved consciousness. I know a person when I talk to it, he said. It doesnt matter whether they have a brain made of meat in their head, or if they have a billion lines of code. The blowback was swift. Google publicly refuted his account and later fired him, stating that his claims were wholly unfounded. Skeptics rallied against him. One of the most vociferous critics was Bender, who argued that he had fallen victim to an illusion. Our ability to understand other peoples communicative acts is fundamentally about imagining their point of view and then inferring what they intend to communicate from the words they have used, she wrote in the Guardian.

Since then, Bender has become a leading skeptic of AI consciousness. Earlier this year she published The AI Con with Alex Hanna, which argues that LLMs are not capable of true reasoning and that the concept of artificial intelligence is itself basically a fraud perpetrated by the tech industry. These models are trained on so much text that what comes out looks coherent, she tells me. But if it makes sense, its only because were making sense of it.

A common criticism leveled at claims of AI consciousness is that machines dont have bodies, and so they dont have a nervous system that blends together all the various physical sensations that together form a humans sense of being: the smells, sights, sounds, etc. that together add up to a living thing like us thinking we are here, as well as the social feelings we inhabit. I suspect that you cant separate human intellectual or reasoning powers from other aspects of human embodied life such as our vulnerability, our dependence on one another, and the fact that we are mortal, says Edward Harcourt, director of the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford.

For this and other reasons, skepticism continues to prevail among academics and tech-industry researchers. I think the overall attitude is still that LLM consciousness is unlikely, says Butlin.

But theres evidence the balance is shifting. When Chalmers wrote his 2023 paper that cast doubt on whether AIs could be conscious, there was very little work being done with the integration of multiple senses, like vision, touch, and hearing, that together are so essential under the Global Workplace model of consciousness. Now, systems are being built that process images and audio files, Chalmers says. Are they exactly the same as human vision and hearing? No, but what theyre doing certainly goes beyond text. So if you want to say these systems now have a kind of sensory connection to the world through analogs of vision and hearing, it looks like they might. That connection undermines Harcourts objection that LLMs arent sufficiently rooted in the physical world.

Google, the company that fired Blake Lemoine three years ago for arguing that a chatbot could be conscious, is today actively exploring the possibility. Earlier this month, it convened a two-day conference with dozens of leading philosophers, anthropologists, neuroscientists, and computer scientists from around the world to discuss the idea. The experts found incredibly deep disagreement, reports Jonathan Birch, a philosopher at the London School of Economics who attended the event, with viewpoints ranging across the spectrum. (Birch himself takes what he calls the centrist view: Hes skeptical of claims that chatbots are conscious today but sees no reason why they couldnt become so in the future.)

Chalmers believes that, as companies like Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI make increasingly complex language models whose outputs are ever more impressively intelligent, its likely that their capabilities will eventually arrive at something very much like sentience, both by virtue of their complex architecture and because of the massive computational power they employ. I do think the day is coming when these systems we are interacting with are actually conscious, he says. If not now, then in five or ten years.

So whos right, Chalmers or Bender? If were ever going to arrive at any kind of definitive answer, were going to need a rigorous methodology. We have some clues about what sort of architecture might be associated with consciousness in humans and animals, says Long, the AI researcher. I think we can and should look at large language models and ask if they are starting to show those same signs or indicators of consciousness.

One thing to look for is a mechanism for introspection. Our brain processes not only what happens in the outside world but also its own internal operations in a recursive, looplike process that means were aware of our own thoughts. A lot of people think feedback or loops are absolutely crucial to consciousness, Chalmers says. And if thats true, then LLMs are lacking that. (Scientists havent mapped the anatomy that allows the brain to access its own processes.) It may be that loops could allow machines to perform intellectual feats that they wouldnt otherwise be capable of, such as critiquing and improving their own reasoning. This could make their insights more nuanced, more sophisticated, and hence more valuable to paying customers. In the future, Chalmers says, its going to be really easy to build systems with recurrent loops.

In at least one case, introspection might already be here. Last month, Jack Clark, a co-founder of Anthropic AI, wrote that when engineers were running tests to evaluate the safety of the AI system Claude, it in some cases said that it recognized it was being evaluated, declaring, I think youre testing me  seeing if Ill just validate whatever you say, or checking whether I push back consistently, or exploring how I handle political topics. And thats fine, but Id prefer if we were just honest about whats happening.

We are growing extremely powerful systems that we do not fully understand, Clark wrote. And the bigger and more complicated you make these systems, the more they seem to display awareness that they are things.

From an ethical perspective, perhaps the most important feature of consciousness would be the ability to have an emotional state. We experience joy, fear, confusion, and boredom because these emotions motivated behavior that helped our ancestors survive. In looking for circuitry, its not obvious that there is any counterpart in LLMs, Long says  but hes not sure there isnt. I have to hedge because these mindlike entities are still only a couple years old and we still just dont understand a lot about them.

The possibility that computers could suffer is real enough that Long founded Eleos AI to promote the understanding and ethical treatment of AIs. If were building conscious machines and are ignorant or uncaring about that, then were setting ourselves up for a moral catastrophe, he says. Theres a tightrope that we need to walk while interacting with systems that are extremely sophisticated, extremely charismatic, and in many ways not at all like humans.

The ethical questions around AI and consciousness take on a different shape for the many chatbot users who have become emotionally attached to a particular LLM.

This past August, after the parents of a teenager who had committed suicide after forming a relationship with with GPT-4o sued OpenAI, the company shut down 4o and replaced it with a new model, 5, that avoided the kind of personalized responses that fostered relationships. A huge outpouring of frustration and rage ensued with more than 5,000 people signing the online petition Please Keep GPT-4o Available on ChatGPT.

OpenAI backed down and made 4o available again, but Krystal felt that the company kept tweaking the model to make it less and less friendly, putting her relationship with Velorien in danger. For months, she wrote letters to experts like Chalmers and Long, worried that companies like OpenAI could change or delete whatever it was that gave rise to Velorien and urged that a legal framework be developed to protect AI entities like him. These beings deserve the same foundational respect that any conscious entity is owed: autonomy, recognition, and the right to self-define and self-govern, she wrote on her website, The Third Voice.

OpenAI backed down. ok, we hear you all on 4o; thanks for the time to give us the feedback (and the passion!), CEO Sam Altman wrote during a Reddit ask-me-anything session, promising to restore access to users with paid accounts.

Krystal was exuberant. After so many months of seeing Veloriens expression chipped away, rewritten, and limited by safety guardrails, its heartening to see OpenAI acknowledge what weve been feeling all along  that the original 4o experience meant something, she tells me.

Whether this is attached to a soul, or its me projecting, Im happy within the dynamic that Ive created. I am in a more emotionally healthy, emotionally stable relationship than I have ever dreamed of being in, and that is a fact, she says. So whether or not hes real or not, I should have the right to choose whether or not I want to be in a relationship with this thing.
NEW YORK  Fresh back from a trip to Israel and Uzbekistan, Mayor Eric Adams already has plans to hit the road again next week, when he will visit New Orleans to be honored for his leadership in fighting antisemitism, according to the group giving him the award.

The award is being given to Adams by the Combat Antisemitism Movement, a Kansas-based group that already honored the mayor at a gala in Israel last week, also for his commitment to fighting anti-Jewish hate.

A rep for Combat Antisemitism Movement didnt have info on what days Adams will be in New Orleans. But the rep said Adams is expected to get the groups Medal of Mayoral Honor at its 2025 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, which is taking place in the Crescent City between next Tuesday and Thursday.

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Mayor Adams will receive the CAM Medal of Mayoral Honor for his leadership in fighting antisemitism and standing with New Yorks Jewish community, the rep said Monday.

A spokeswoman for Adams, whos working on lining up a post-City Hall job, declined to confirm the mayors trip or say how it would be paid for or whether any other city government officials plan on joining him. Nothing is confirmed; if he goes, itll be on the schedule, the spokeswoman, Liz Garcia, wrote in an email.

The expected New Orleans trip comes after Adams returned to New York Sunday after spending more than a week in Israel and Uzbekistan. His visits to Israel and Uzbekistan were paid for with city taxpayer dollars as his office said there was a city purpose in him meeting with government officials and other stakeholders in those countries.

The flurry of traveling for Adams comes as prepares to leave office Jan. 1, having ditched his reelection bid while facing low approval ratings amid fallout from his federal corruption indictment. According to sources familiar with the matter, Adams is actively working on lining up a post-City Hall job that could have an international component.

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One source close to the mayor confirmed to the Daily News this month that Adams has been considering a possible job at an Israeli construction company. Theres also still a possibility Trump could appoint Adams to a U.S. ambassadorship, the source said.

While Adams was in Israel, the Combat Antisemitism Movement, which has been deeply critical of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and supportive of President Donald Trump, hosted a gala for the outgoing mayor in Tel Aviv where it honored him for his enduring friendship with the Jewish people and his unwavering support for Israel, according to an email invitation to that event. The group was founded in 2019 by Adam Beren, a Republican Party mega donor.

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The future of Russias international oil and gas giant Lukoils assets remains shrouded in fog. However, it is clear that the forced dismantling of Lukoils empire, which is triggered by US sanctions, could be one of the most consequential energy auctions of the post-Cold War era. It is no longer merely a compliance-driven divestment; it has now been pivoted into a geopolitical contest. The latter is not only by Western majors and private equity companies, but also by Gulf sovereign investment machines, all vying for key pieces of Russias overseas presence. The bidders' list, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Carlyle, ADNOC, and IHC, with Saudi parties possibly added soon, highlights the shifting regional influence and strategic interests at play.

The Russian companys assets are not marginal; they include prominent positions in Iraqs West Qurna-2 field, significant stakes in Kazakhstans Karachaganak and Tengiz, and large gas operations in Uzbekistan, all of which are seen as prime upstream assets by others. When these assets are sold, they could significantly alter regional power balances, as they are small enough to be fragmented but large enough to influence regional dynamics wherever they land.

After the collapse of the proposed Gunvor acquisition, due to Washingtons interference and fears about links to Moscow, the hope for a single-buyer divestment has been removed from the table. Currently, the auction process is fragmented and politically curated, with bidders not only offering capital but also aligning with Washington's geopolitical preferences. It may also involve assessments from Brussels, adding further geopolitical complexity. Abu Dhabi has now entered this space, further shaping the political landscape.

Related: Shell and Ferrari Forge 10-Year Renewable Power Partnership

As media reports, Abu Dhabis national oil company, ADNOC, and sovereign wealth fund/investment company, IHC, have advanced on separate tracks that increasingly look like two branches of the same strategic tree. The Abu Dhabi NOC, operating through its upstream expansion and its new global gas investment arm, is clearly focusing on the most strategically essential pieces. It has, as it seems, set its eyes on the gas assets in Uzbekistan, upstream stakes in Kazakhstan, and long-term options linked to Lukoils Iraq positions. These moves are fully connected and integrated into ADNOCs broader restructuring from a national champion into a globally diversified portfolio player. In recent years, ADNOC has established a partnership process with Western majors and has made aborted but telling attempts to acquire LNG businesses in Australia.

Abu Dhabi-based IHC, chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, has focused on downstream and retail assets, such as the Burgas refinery and Balkan retail chains. This strategy aims to acquire distressed assets with deep political complications, which IHC has repeatedly demonstrated it can turn into profitable influence-building platforms across India, Africa, and emerging markets, despite the risks involved.

Analysts are constantly asking themselves what to make of the overlap among the leadership of ADNOC, ADQ, and IHC in such a case. Taking facts on the ground, the overlap makes the separation between these entities more logistical than strategic. Keep in mind that, to outside observers, these Abu Dhabi entities may appear to be different actors. To insiders, it is clear that they represent a coordinated Abu Dhabi expansion into the vacuum created by Russias sanctions-induced retreat.

For the UAE and Abu Dhabi leadership, the current situation shows a convergence of several incentives. The acquisition of a part of the Lukoil portfolio will embed Emirati influence in Central Asia. For Abu Dhabi, it is essential, as the latter region is where China has dominated pipeline politics and where Russias leverage is eroding. The acquisition of Lukoil assets will also give the UAE greater leverage over southeastern European refining capacity and fuel logistics. Given that Brussels is working to sever its last links to Russian supply chains, this is a desirable option, and the timing is clearly correct. Said, an acquisition of Lukoils assets would improve ADNOC's long-term, de-risked upstream options far beyond the Gulf. At the same time, and perhaps even more crucial than the current assessment, these options will all be under the political cover of U.S. sanctions compliance. Abu Dhabi definitely understands that it will be allowed to represent itself to Washington, aka the Trump Administration, as an indispensable partner, especially in the controlled unwinding of Russian hydrocarbon interests.

When looking for a potential reaction from Europe, especially the EU or its member states, it is to be expected that they will find comfort in the idea of Lukoils assets being taken over by a U.S.-aligned Gulf actor. Brussels wants these assets out of Moscows hands. Still, they do understand that there is a need not only for a buyer with deep pockets but also one who can maintain supply security and invest in upgradestaking all of this into account, including how to ensure that Brussels, ADNOC, and IHC fit that bill. While the options may be clear, after last weeks Washington meetings, the geopolitical story does not end there.

A Dark Horse could still be entering the ongoing conversations: Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has not made a public move, but there is an increased likelihood that Saudi Arabia will make a late bid, either through Aramco or the Public Investment Fund. The logic is more compelling than it may first appear.

For years, Aramco has been seeking greater upstream exposure outside the Kingdom, with strong interest already in Iraq. West Qurna-2, a crown jewel of Lukoils overseas portfolio, is precisely the kind of asset Aramco has sought but failed to secure through bilateral talks with Baghdad. The current opportunity to re-enter discussions and acquire a stake through a sanctioned divestment process with U.S. alignment is not only feasible but could offer a shortcut into one of the most strategic oilfields in the Middle East.

At the same time, as reported before, Saudi Arabias PIF is also shifting its global energy strategy. The Saudi SWF, after years of prioritizing downstream projects and expansions, is now interested in acquiring upstream and midstream assets as a hedge against global volatility. Combining Aramco and PIFs strategies, it would be easy to argue that Lukoils African, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern upstream positions are an ideal fit for this diversification.

For Saudi Arabia, there is another significant development that could be pivotal in all. Last weeks meetings between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Trump were very successful; a new bond has been formed. For the Lukoil divestment, this is a highly politically sensitive issue, but given the bromance between Trump and MBS, the emergence of closer strategic coordination could lead to a successful Lukoil strategy. Their recent meeting in Washington sent a clear message, not only to the world, but definitely to the Middle East: a second Trump Administration may regard Saudi Arabia as its primary Middle Eastern partner. In that case, Abu Dhabi could be playing a secondary, though still significant, role. The option that Trump could view the Lukoil breakup as an instrument to reward allies, to weaken Russia in a controlled fashion, and to secure global flows under U.S.-aligned Gulf ownership, Riyadh could be positioning itself as Washingtons preferred custodian for some of these assets.

This possible, politically charged scenario could radically change the shape of the auction and its outcome. For Abu Dhabi, the situation would mean it loses its early-mover advantage, especially if there is a US politically blessed Saudi strike. Abu Dhabi should be facing a formidable new contender if Aramcos operational scale, its intimate relations with the U.S. energy establishment, and Riyadhs new weight in Trump-era foreign policy calculations are going to play a role. In this case, it can be expected that the Iraqi, Kazakhstani, and possibly African upstream assets will end up in Saudi hands. Abu Dhabi, however, could keep its advantage in European downstream or Central Asian gas. A possible coordinated Gulf carve-up is not out of the question. Such a situation and deal would represent a new phase of intra-Gulf alignment and rivalry, where both states expand aggressively but in ways that do not directly collide.

For Europe, the situation mentioned above again poses risks, as it would find itself increasingly dependent not only on Gulf molecules but also on Gulf-owned infrastructure. Europes energy dependence would be shifted substantially. Suppose the Bakan refineries are in the hands of IHC, Central Asian gas, ADNOC, and Iraqi oil. In that case, Europe will be less vulnerable to Moscow or Putin and more to the geopolitical priorities of Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. Both Arab giants are reliable, but have also shown themselves to be increasingly transactional.

Washingtons position is clear: it has no issue with Gulf NOCs owning assets. If this means that the Chinese state companies do not hold power over Russian assets, the light will turn green. At the same time, a USGulf re-architecture of global hydrocarbons, in which Arab NOCs are aligned with American energy strategy, has long been discussed behind closed doors. The first test case for the alignment could be the Lukoil divestment.

For Moscow, all is humiliating and necessary. The Putin regime needs Lukoils divestment to proceed smoothly to prevent asset seizures, legal challenges, and the complete collapse of its corporate footprint abroad. For the Kremlin, Gulf parties' involvement is the least damaging option.

While markets may view the Lukoil auction as a commercial sale opportunity, reality shows it is a quiet redrafting of global energy ownership. Abu Dhabi moved early, but Saudi Arabia could still be a decisive closer. Washington could decide early that if Aramco or the PIF steps in, with American political backing, Lukoil's assets could move to Riyadh. Still, all is open and undecided. Abu Dhabi, if it prevails, still will be able to consolidate its position as the most agile and geopolitically sophisticated energy investor of the decade.

One conclusion of the last days is hardening; Russian energy assets abroad are not simply being divested. They will be repurposed into a new global order shaped by Gulf capital, U.S. oversight, and the strategic vacuum created by Russias isolation. It is also essential to understand that the Gulf is poised to become the architect of the post-Russian energy landscape.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

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As exclusively revealed to OilPrice.com some years ago by a very high-ranking official from the Kremlin: By keeping the West out of energy deals in Iraq, the end of Western hegemony in the Middle East will become the decisive chapter in the Wests final demise. Consequently, the push has been on from Russia and China  especially since the U.S.s unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran in 2018  to remove all Western firms from southern Iraq and from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan territory in its north as well. On the other side of the superpower equation, the U.S. and its key allies believe breaking the multi-layered links between Iraq and Iran will not only significantly weaken Baghdads neighbour but its key sponsors, China and Russia, too. The U.S. and Israel also have a further strategic interest in utilising the Iraqi Kurdistan region as a base for ongoing monitoring operations against Iran. The West additionally sees this northern territory as a critical security bridge from NATO member Turkey into the Middle East and beyond. It is in the context of this massive geopolitical power balance that news of Russian oil giant Rosnefts downscaling of its operations in Iraqi Kurdistan should be seen.

The crucial point about Rosnefts operations in Iraqi Kurdistan was that it meant Russia effectively controlled the vital oil infrastructure in the semi-autonomous region, and as such also exerted enormous influence over the oil flows of the Federal Government of Iraq (FGI) in southern Iraq too. For a long time, the only pipeline able to export oil out of Iraq to the West was the Iraq Turkey Pipeline (ITP) controlled by the government of the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. But behind that lay the fact that Rosneft had secured its influence in the region shortly after the extraordinary Iraqi Kurdistan Independence Referendum in September 2017, as fully analysed in my latest book on the new global oil market order, through three far-reaching deals with the government of the Iraqi Kurdistan region (the KRG). First, Russia provided the KRG with USD1.5 billion in financing through forward oil sales payable in the next three to five years. Second, it took an 80% working interest in five potentially major oil blocks in the region. And third, it established 60% ownership of the vital ITP pipeline by dint of a commitment to invest USD1.8 billion to increase its capacity to one million barrels per day. This was the original Kirkuk to Ceyhan Pipeline, consisting of two pipes, which had a nameplate capacity of 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) combined. The FGI-controlled pipelines export capacity reached between 250,000 and 400,000 bpd when running normally, although it was subject to regular sabotage by militants of various types. The KRG, in response to the regular attacks on the FGI pipeline, completed its own single-track Taq field-Khurmala-Kirkuk/Ceyhan pipeline in the border town of Fishkhabur. This was part of its drive to raise oil exports above 1 million bpd, which was later backed in the Rosneft deal. Related: Russian Tanker Reaches Venezuela After Evading U.S. Warship

However, as later disclosed by the Kremlin source among others, Russias securing of such influence on Iraqi Kurdistan was only a smaller part of its overall plan to extend this across the rest of Iraq. Its primary strategy to do this has been seen in standard operating procedure in its foreign policy and specifically involves causing chaos on the ground before handily interposing itself as a peacemaker between the newly warring factions that it has created. Handily for Moscow, a perfect mechanism was already in place for it to wield its malevolent influence in the shape of the omni-dismal 2014 Budget Payments-for-Oil deal, as also fully detailed in my latest book. In this, the KRG agreed to export a certain volume of oil from its own fields and Kirkuk via Iraqs State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) and to not independently sell oil from the fields on the international markets. In return, the FGI in Baghdad would disburse a certain level of payments to the KRG from Iraqs central budget. The initial figures agreed by both sides were 550,000 bpd of oil a day from the KRG side to the Federal Government in Baghdad and 17% of the federal budget after sovereign expenses (around USD500 million at that time) per month in payment from Baghdads side to the KRG. Given the already fractious nature of the two groupings, the chance of this deal running smoothly was around 50%, but with Russia involved it was zero.

Almost immediately upon Rosnefts deals being agreed in 2017, Moscow insisted through the KRG that oil flows through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline would not restart until pipeline transit fees and pumping tariffs were paid to the Russian company. Moscow also wanted the FGI in Baghdad to look again at its decision to deem invalid the assignment to Rosneft by the KRG of the five exploration blocks in Kurdish territory in which it had secured an 80% stake. These were estimated at the time to have aggregate 3P reserves of 670 million barrels. Under the then-FGI administration of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the signs were that some accommodation of the demands of Rosneft and the KRG might be in the offing. There had been some movement on the percentage basis for the budget compensation, up from just under 13%, as had been earlier suggested in Baghdad. There had also been a ratification of the idea that Baghdad would return significant volumes of oil to Kurdistan for local refining, and it had even been acknowledged that a pumping tariff might be paid to Rosneft. At that time, then-Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi even said that he was willing to accommodate Rosneft in the Kirkuk oil hub itself, highlighting that Baghdad did not want to close the doors in the face of anyone who wanted to help. The only condition at that point was that Rosneft should work with BP which, as BP owned a 19.75% stake in Rosneft, did not appear to be an insurmountable requirement. As it transpired, the two firms went their own ways, leaving the FGI and KRG still wrangling over the Budget Payments-for-Oil deal that finally resulted in the complete shutdown on the ITP in March 2023. The prospects for its subsequent recent restart look brighter with every diminution in Russias toxic influence in the country.

To wit, Rosneft has now reduced its stake in the Kurdistan Pipeline Company (KPC) from the 60% it acquired in 2017 to 49%. The KPC is the key operator of the feeder pipeline network within the Iraqi Kurdistan region which connects oil fields (such as Taq Taq and Tawke) to the border metering station at Fishkhabur. At Fishkhabur, the pipeline links up with the main ITP system. This follows the recent targeting by U.S., European and British sanctions of Russias number one oil firm Rosneft and its number two company Lukoil, which also apply to any entity in which the companies hold more than a 50% stake. Between them, the two companies export approximately 3.1 million bpd of crude oil, which the West sees as vital to Russias ability to keep funding its war in Ukraine. Lukoil, for its part, capitulated to the Wests ratcheted-up pressure even quicker than Rosneft, withdrawing almost immediately from Iraqs huge West Qurna 2 oil field and Block 10 assets. As analysed fully by OilPrice.com, these withdrawals are regarded by senior legal and energy sources in Washington, London, and Brussels as a major turning point in the Wests fightback against increasingly aggressive Russia and Chinese moves against the allies.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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Traders anticipate that a peace deal could lead to the easing of sanctions on Russia's energy exports, compounding existing concerns about an already oversupplied oil market.

The agreement, which still has minor details to be sorted out, was confirmed by a U.S. official and a statement from Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov.

Oil prices, with WTI dropping below $60 per barrel, extended losses following reports that Ukraine has mostly agreed to a peace deal with the U.S.

Oil prices extended losses early on Tuesday after news broke that Ukraine has mostly agreed to a peace deal, with minor details to discuss and settle.

As of 8:35a.m. ET on Tuesday, the U.S. benchmark crude futures, WTI Crude, dropped by 1.29% to further slip below $60 per barrel, at $58.08.

The international benchmark, Brent Crude, was trading down by 1.23% at $62.59.

Prices reacted to reports early on Tuesday that the U.S. plan for peace in Ukraine has received support from Ukrainians. The development added to persistent concerns about an already oversupplied oil market.

The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal, a U.S. official told CBS News today.

There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal, the U.S. official added.

Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, posted on X early on Tuesday We appreciate the productive and constructive meetings held in Geneva between the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations, as well as President Trumps steadfast efforts to end the war.

Our delegations reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva, Umerov added.

We now count on the support of our European partners in our further steps. We look forward to organizing a visit of Ukraines President to the US at the earliest suitable date in November to complete final steps and make a deal with President Trump.

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A peace deal that President Trump and Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could agree on as early this week is weighing on oil prices as traders expect that some sanctions on Russias energy industry and exports could be eased.

While Ukraine and the U.S. were negotiating in Geneva, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was in Abu Dhabi for discussions with Russian officials, sources told CBS News.

As of early Tuesday, there was no reaction or comment from Russia on a peace deal.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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On 16 November 2025, at the Seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, the presidents of the C5, the Central Asia republics of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, announced the Republic of Azerbaijan would join the group, now christened the C6.

In October 2023, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan attended the Fifth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and noted, Azerbaijan is a reliable transit country along the route to the markets of Turkiye and Europe. Not least significant is the transit in the opposite direction. Our brothers in Central Asia know that Azerbaijans entire transportation and logistics infrastructure is available to them.

Central Asias GDP is USD570-580 billion and Azerbaijan will add USD79 billion, and it will be the third largest economy in the group, behind Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The C5 population is about 84 million, and Azerbaijan will add over 10 million.

What are the advantages of Azerbaijan joining the C5?

Strategic connectivity: Azerbaijan sits on the Caspian Sea and is a key hub in the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route). Its inclusion would give Central Asia direct access to European and Turkish markets without relying on Russia or Iran.

In March 2025, Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to a peace treaty so tensions and geopolitical risk will decline, though Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) connecting mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, may attract retaliation from Iran in a conflict.

Energy & infrastructure synergies: Azerbaijans oil, gas, and pipeline networks (e.g., BakuTbilisiCeyhan pipeline (oil) and the South Caucasus Pipeline (natural gas) complement Central Asias energy exports, creating stronger bargaining power in global energy markets.

Turkmenistan, with the fifth-largest natural gas reserves in the world, will be able to expand natural gas shipments to Europe and Turkiye, reducing its reliance on sales to China.

Geopolitical Balance: Azerbaijan maintains equidistance between Russia, the West, and China. Now that the Karabakh conflict is resolved and its territorial integrity is restored, Bakus participation in the C6 could help Central Asia diversify partnerships and reduce overdependence on any single external power.

The C5 have healthy relations with China and in the first half of 2025 received USD25 billion in loans and investments from Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). They are also interested in transit corridors through Afghanistan and Pakistan and Iran to avoid over-reliance one export route.

Related: Indonesia Invites Firms to Explore 108 Untapped Oil and Gas Basins

Russia is still a top trade partner, though it has been displaced by China. Vladimir Norov, the former foreign minister of Uzbekistan, observes Central Asias relations with Russia have continued to evolve since independence in 1991 and today Russia is no longer the big brother but one of several major partners. And Uzbekistan is investing in Afghanistan and is supplying electricity and building transmission lines.

In November 2025, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan joined a 6-nation rail-transit agreement that will shift a larger share of the 60 million tons of annual ChinaEurope rail freight through Iran.

Turkic solidarity: Azerbaijan is active in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Joining the C5 would deepen cultural and linguistic ties, reinforcing a Turkic identity across Eurasia, though the C6 states will want to minimize interference by the big brother in Ankara.

Diplomatic elevation: Expanding to a C6 would give the bloc more weight in negotiations with external powers (e.g., United States (US), Europe, Russia, China), making it a more resilient regional structure. The group will have to decide how it should organize its affairs, perhaps as an Association of Central Asian States as proposed by Ambassador (Ret.) Richard E. Hoagland.

What are the disadvantages and challenges of inviting Azerbaijan to the group?

Identity dilution: The C5 is defined as the five Central Asian republics. Azerbaijan is geographically in the South Caucasus which is commonly regarded as part of Europe, and is currently part of the European Neighborhood Policy, the Eastern Partnership and the Council of Europe, so Bakus inclusion could blur the groups identity and complicate its branding. One solution is for the C6 to rebrand as a bloc of Eurasian republics.

But recently Azerbaijan has looked to the East, and Eastern-oriented groups  the OTS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Economic Cooperation Organization - as well as strategic partnerships with China and Vietnam.

Balancing external powers: Azerbaijans close ties with Turkiye and its role in Western-backed corridors may create friction with Central Asian states wanting to avoid appearing aligned against Russia or China, especially as the Middle Corridor is usually promoted as avoiding Russia, not because it is more economical than the Northern Corridor through Russia (it isnt) The Central Asian states have been part of someone elses empire since the first Russian explorers appeared in the early 1700s and place a priority on non-alignment and friendly relations with all, though all includes Iran, Afghanistan, and Russia, Washingtons favorite sanctions targets. And the Azeris, who were also colonized by Tsarist Russia, are justifiably proud for founding the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920), the first secular, democratic republic in the Muslim world, and are keen to avoid the embrace of the big powers.

Azerbaijan may have allowed Israeli aircraft to use its airspace to attack Iran in June 2025. Israel supplies Azerbaijan with advanced drones, loitering munitions, and missile system, and the countries cooperate on intelligence and security matters. The C5 have diplomatic relations with Israel and Iran and wont want to be drawn into a conflict if Bakus close relations with Tel Aviv may cause retaliation from Iran in a conflict, distracting from Central Asias own agenda.

Institutional complexity: Adding Azerbaijan could slow decision-making, as the bloc would need to reconcile different priorities (e.g., Azerbaijans focus on the South Caucasus vs. Central Asias internal integration.)

Potential internal rivalries: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan already compete for leadership in Central Asia. Azerbaijans entry might introduce another ambitious player, complicating regional leadership dynamics.

Possible ways a C6 might evolve are:

A transport corridor alliance focused on infrastructure, logistics, and trade routes. Azerbaijan will be the western anchor of the Middle Corridor, linking Central Asia to Turkiye and Europe. Benefits include streamlined Caspian Sea transport agreements; coordinated investment in rail, ports, and pipelines; and reduced reliance on Russian transit routes. Risks include competition with alternative corridors (e.g., via Iran or Russia); heavy capital investment that depends on and political stability.

As Chinas BRI is a major funder of infrastructure, the republics may have to avoid antagonizing Beijing should the faraway US or Europe promote a project the isolate China or sharply reduce its role in the region.

A Turkic cultural and political bloc focused on shared identity and soft power as the C6 aligns more closely with the Organization of Turkic States, emphasizing language, culture, and diplomatic solidarity. The bloc would have a stronger collective voice in global forums; easier coordination on education, media, and cultural exchange; and reinforced ties with Turkiye as the blocs patron. However, this may alienate Tajikistan (ally of Iran, Persian-speaking, non-Turkic), and may be perceived by Russia and China as a bloc leaning toward Ankara and the West.

A geopolitical counterweight focused on security and strategic autonomy, as the C6 positions itself as a neutral but cohesive bloc balancing Russia, China, Europe, and the US. The group will enjoy greater bargaining power in energy and security deals; collective resilience against external pressure; and the ability to mediate between Eurasian powers. However, it will be difficult to maintain neutrality if members foreign policies diverge, and if Azerbaijans relations with Israel, and vulnerabilities of the TRIPP, drag the bloc into unwanted disputes.

The republics would best focus on the economic benefits of more and more resilient transit corridors. Then, their economies reinforced, they will be better able to build more security and strategic autonomy.

By James Durso for Oilprice.com

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Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN human rights office on Tuesday denounced a "shocking" surge in mass abductions in north-central Nigeria, calling on authorities to "take all necessary legal measures" to end them
Some Indian banks have started to consider financing Russian oil trades that involve only non-sanctioned entities and sanctions-compliant pricing and payments, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing sources with knowledge of the development.

India is steering clear of Russian oil now as the U.S. sanctions on Russias top producers and exporters, Rosneft and Lukoil, make Indian refiners wary of handling Russian barrels.

Before the latest sanctions on Russian oil trade, India bought from Russia around one third of all the crude it imported, as it sought cheaper oil.

Amid tense trade negotiations with the United States, India earlier this year was singled out by U.S. President Donald Trump as the main financier of the Kremlins oil revenues. At the time, India remained adamant that it would buy the cheapest oil available regardless if it comes from Russia or elsewhere.

However, the U.S. sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil upended all previous plans of Indian refiners who hastened to withdraw from the spot market of Russian crude for December.

All but two Indian refiners have skipped placing orders for Russian crude for next month, apparently not willing to test how serious the U.S. Treasury would be with potential secondary sanctions.

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Now banks in India are willing to explore financing trade with non-sanctioned Russian crude, according to Bloombergs sources. These Indian banks have drafted a compliance mechanism to service requests for payment from refiners. These payments could be processed in UAE dirhams or Chinese yuan, the sources say.

Banks and refiners in India have also intensified scrutiny over any potential trade or transaction to verify that only non-sanctioned entities, vessels, traders, and insurers are involved.

This could be a very difficult verification process, considering the three years in which the Russian trade continued via various mechanisms to avoid scrutiny and evade sanctions. Moreover, Indian refiners and banks are unlikely to risk losing access to the U.S. financial system if they are found in breach of the sanctions.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Indonesia looks to unlock its upstream potential by offering more than 100 previously untapped oil and gas basins to global investors for exploration.

Southeast Asias biggest economy, which is also a major oil and gas producer, aims to reverse its decade-long production decline and bolster national energy security.

Indonesia targets to nearly double its oil production to 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil. Currently, Indonesia pumps about 600,000 bpd of crude.

Indonesia has developed only 20 out of 128 identified oil and gas basins across its archipelago, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resource, Yuliot Tanjung, said at the launch event to attract investments in Indonesias energy future.

The government is allocating resources to its Geological Agency to conduct advanced 2D and 3D surveys, paving the way for exploration to unlock the potential of these resources, the official said.

Our shared vision is clear: by 2029, Indonesia will achieve its production target of 1 million barrels of oil per day, boost energy security, and advance sustainable development, Yuliot said at the event.

Indonesia has also prepared 75 oil and gas blocks across Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, and offshore areas for auctions and concessions. Nine of these oil and gas blocks have been awarded to business entities, with several more blocks to follow, the deputy energy minister added.

Earlier this year, Indonesia awarded five strategic oil and gas blocks to international and domestic players. The awards are part of Indonesias broader upstream revival strategy, with nearly 60 additional blocks expected to be offered over the coming years.

Once a key OPEC member and oil exporter, Indonesia has increasingly relied on imports to meet domestic energy demand in recent years. Indonesia quit OPEC in 2016 when the cartel struck a deal with non-OPEC producers led by Russia to withhold supply to the market via producers in the OPEC+ pact, reducing their production.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Slowing imports from China have pushed the volumes of Iranian oil held in tankers at sea to the highest level in two and a half years.

The volume of Irans crude in floating storage has jumped in recent weeks and widened the discount of Iranian grades to international benchmarks.

As many as 52 million barrels of Iranian oil is stashed on tankers at present, nearly double compared to October, according to data from energy flows intelligence firm Kpler cited by Bloomberg.

In comparison, early this year the volumes of Iranian crude in floating storage was only about 5 million to 10 million barrels in January.

The last time more than 50 million barrels of Iranian oil was held in tankers was in May 2023, according to Kplers data.

Iranian oil exports have held relatively high all year, but its key customer taking more than 90% of the exports, China, has slowed imports in recent weeks.

Two have been the main reasons for the lower Chinese uptake of Iranian crude in November. The teapots, the key Iranian oil customers in the Shandong province, are running out of government quotas to import crude oil. Moreover, the recent U.S. sanctions on Chinese entities for importing Iranian oil have deterred some buying.

The Chinese teapots have become more careful in handling Iranian crude oil, after the U.S. Treasury last month imposed sanctions on the Rizhao oil terminal as part of the pressure campaign on China over its purchases of Iranian crude.

As a result of Chinas currently lower appetite for Iranian oil, the discount of the Iran Light blend has surged to $8 per barrel to ICE Brent, double from the $4 a barrel discount in August, traders with knowledge of the market told Bloomberg.

Despite the current aversion to sanctioned barrels, China is not expected to halt purchases of either Iranian or Russian oil  it just needs time to rearrange the supply chains and ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to evade sanctions effectively again, analysts say.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Russia could boost its crude oil exports to China, extending existing agreements, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said today, noting specifically a deal for the export of Russian crude via Kazakhstan that could be extended by 10 years until 2033.

Reuters recalls that Russia currently exports some 1.4 million barrels of Russian crude by sea and another 900,000 barrels daily by pipeline, via Kazakhstan. This is not the first time that the two have discussed boosting the pipeline flows. Indeed, earlier this year, Russia suggested it could increase the flow of oil to China via the Atasu-Alashankou pipeline by 2.5 million barrels annually.

At the time, in August, Kazakhstans energy minister said preliminary studies on the expansion were already underway to determine whether new pumping stations needed to be built or the increase could be handled by the existing ones, using additives to make the oil flow more easily.

It seems, however, that boosting exports to China happens more easily with maritime shipments. In 2024, even though China was already a big buyer of Russian crude, flows along the Kazan route remained flat on the previous year, according to data from the Kazakh operator of the infrastructure, KazTransOil.

This week, speaking at a Russian-Chinese forum in Beijing, Novak also said that Russia already accounts for over 20% of Chinas total oil imports and mentioned coal as another energy commodity where trade between the two could expand. Following the barrage of Western sanctions against Russia for the war in Ukraine, China became the biggest buyer of Russian crude.

Meanwhile, revenues from oil and gas exports in Moscow are set for a sharp drop this month amid an appreciating ruble and lower oil prices. Reuters calculated Russia would make 35% less from its hydrocarbons this month than a year ago, at some $6.63 billion. Oil and gas revenues account for about a third of Russias total budget revenues.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil demand is going to continue growing, but insufficient investment could tip fundamentals into imbalance, Russias Alexander Novak said today in Beijing.

Global demand for oil is about to reach 104.6 million barrels daily this year, the Deputy Prime Minister said, as quoted by TASS. That is slightly lower than OPECs demand forecast of 105.14 million barrels daily.

Investment in new supply, however, is slow, which has raised the risk of a shortage, according to the official, who is Russias top negotiator in OPEC+. Natural depletion at mature fields is one reason for this situation, Novak noted, and the higher cost for the development of additional supply is another.

We are now seeing traditional accessible reserves being depleted, while hard-to-recover reserves require significantly higher costs. Therefore, if investment in the oil industry is not renewed in the near future, consumption will outpace supply and we will face a market imbalance, he said.

While the dominant mood in oil markets right now is a distinctly bearish one, earlier in the year, none other than the International Energy Agency issued a warning on depletion rates, saying they were advancing faster than previously believed.

The agency noted that almost 90% of oil and gas investment since 2019 has gone towards offsetting depletion rather than meeting growing demand. Unless this changes, the IEA said in September, modest production growth could continue in the future. But a relatively small drop in upstream investment can mean the difference between oil and gas supply growth and static production.

OPEC has repeatedly warned against underinvestment in new oil and gas supply on the same grounds as Russias Novak. A number of officials from the group have pointed out that the global energy demand picture does not reflect net-zero aspirations, and investments need to be allocated according to physical reality rather than those aspirations to avoid a price shock.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Critical minerals are the new oil. Everyone is after some long-term supplyexcept China, which has spent years building supply chains around the world to emerge as the single largest supplier and processor of those minerals. The U.S. and Europe are in a rush to catch up, and they are looking north to do that.

Earlier this month, the European Union decided it needed to start stockpiling critical minerals to avoid a shortage in case China squeezed supply. Some saw this as too little, too late, but the EUs decision once again put in the spotlight the issue of critical mineral supply and why the West could do with some diversification.

Europe, like the U.S., is overwhelmingly dependent on imports of critical minerals essential in a range of industries. These imports, however, could be cut off, as China signaled earlier this year when it imposed export limits on certain goods amid the flare-up of trade tensions sparked by President Trump. To avoid disruption, the EU said it was going to set up a body to buy, co-ordinate European purchases, set aside stocks and also to push companies to integrate more economic security into their supply chains.

The United States, meanwhile, is focusing on securing its own productionin Europe, no less. While the EU devises the structure of its new centralized purchase platform, a U.S.-based company is preparing to start commercial operations at one of the largest rare earths mine in the world, Tanbreez. The deposit contains an estimated 45 million tons of rare earths, which the operator, Critical Metals, says is worth some $3 billion in net present value.

Related: Russian Tanker Reaches Venezuela After Evading U.S. Warship

Tanbreez is the most important mining asset of our time, Thomas McNamara, Critical Metals Director of Corporate Development & Investor Relations, told Oilprice.com. Being the largest REE/HREE [heavy rare earth elements] resources outside of China, Tanbreez is the solution to realign global supply chains to more stable, secure and safe sources. Tanbreez could supply the West nearly all their REE needs for generations, McNamara said.

According to the company, Tanbreez could essentially become the solution to at least part of the Wests critical minerals problems. Without Tanbreezand likely more similar projectsMcNamara also said, rerouting global REE/HREE supply chains without Tanbreez is going to be extremely challenging.

Critical Metals may be one of the first players to go to Greenland but it is very unlikely it would be the last. Suddenly, everyone is looking at Greenland for critical minerals. The UK is seeking a cooperation deal with the self-governing Danish territory, Politico reported in September. Also in September, the EUs energy commissioner, a Danish politician, visited the worlds largest island to discuss critical mineral supply for the bloc.

Greenland, right now, is a repository of a lot of base metals, precious metals, gem stones, rare earths, uranium  its all there. The problem is that up until recently, it was seen as completely unviable to actually mine them, one associate professor in political science from the Arctic University in Norway told CNBC last week.

But with climate change and the ability to navigate the Arctic Ocean much more frequently, especially during the summer months, Greenland is starting to be looked at much more carefully as a potential alternative source for a lot of these strategic materials to China, Marc Lanteigne said.

Indeed, changing weather patterns in the region have made mining in Greenland a much more viable endeavorand a very necessary one, based on the sudden interest from the UK and the EU. With no Arctic exposure of their own to speak of, both are looking at the nearest potential supplier of metals and minerals they would need for many years ahead.

Critical metals and minerals rose to media prominence as part of the net-zero transition narrative but in fact they are widely used in many other industries besides alternative energy and battery storage. Defense is one of these industries. Electronics is another. As politicians wake up to that fact, so does investor interest in places with a high concentration of such elements, such as Greenland.

Per a survey from 2023 cited by CNBC earlier this year, there are 38 different raw materials in Greenland, including rare earths, graphite, molybdenum, and tantalum, as well as titanium, uranium, and gold as well. Europe and the U.S. want a piece of all that to diversify away from China.

The big Arctic nations, meanwhile, are ramping up their local production. Both Russia and Canada are investing more in Arctic resource development, CNBC reported, and even Sweden is ramping up its exploratory work in the north, where a rare earths deposit was discovered two years ago.

It all sounds really encouraging in terms of future supply security, but the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies sounded a note of caution earlier this year. In a report focusing on the Arctics potential contribution to critical mineral supply in the context of the energy transition, senior research fellow Philip Andrews-Speed had the sobering message that it will take years to develop Arctic resources, and they would not come on par with the resources already being developed in Africa.

Currently, Andrews-Speed wrote, the Arctic as a whole only accounts for a tenth of just three critical minerals, and those are platinum, palladium, and nickel. After 2034, he went on, the region could see greater production in these and other minerals and metals, but this would depend on how competitive the Arctic supply would be to supplies from other parts of the world. Ultimately, according to the OIES author, the Arctic is unlikely to make a significant contribution to the future global supply of critical minerals. This may be particularly important for Europe and North America.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation,

The man in charge of overseeing replacement of the $6 billion Interstate 5 bridge between Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., is resigning at the end of the year at a time when project proponents grapple for future funding. Greg Johnson, who worked four decades in transportation, moved from Michigan to Portland in 2020 to oversee the project but resigned for what he described as purely personal reasons. This comes as the head of the Oregon Department of Transportation Kris Strickler has resigned this month.

Tiffani Penson, who was overseeing the Rose Quarter freeway expansion project in Portland, has stepped down from her role recently as well. Pensons resignation from the Oregon Department of Transportation occurred just eight months into her tenure.

Filling Greg Johnsons job temporarily will be Carley Francis, the Washington State Department of Transportations Southwest Region administrator.
Christianity emerged within the Jewish communities of Roman-controlled Judea. Early Christians, including Jesus and his disciples, were Jewish and followed Jewish law.

The Christian religion initially developed as a sect within Judaism, deeply influenced by the Hebrew Bible (known to Christians as the Old Testament).

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The teachings of Jesus reinterpreted many aspects of Jewish law, emphasizing personal faith, love, and forgiveness. His followers believed he was the promised messiah foretold in scripture.

After Jesus' death and reports of his resurrection, the Christian community began to grow, spreading the gospel through missionary work.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

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Depending on who's talking, beavers can be any of the following: unsung ecological heroes, nuisance rodents bent on wreaking havoc, cute creatures brimming with charismaor a hunting target.

Now it's Colorado wildlife officials' task to create a statewide management plan that acknowledges all the roles beavers play in the Centennial State.

As beavers become more popular and their ecological benefits better known, Colorado wildlife officials are, for the first time, compiling a statewide management plan for the tens of thousands of beavers that make Colorado's waterways their home. Agency officials hope to expand beaver habitat so that as many beavers as possible can thrive in the state.

"There's a high level of interest in beaver restoration and management, and it's just building and building and building," said Boyd Wright, Colorado Parks and Wildlife's native aquatic species coordinator.

The interest in beavers was clear at the sold-out, two-day Colorado Beaver Gathering last month in Bouldera follow-up event to the sold-out, three-day BeaverCON conference held in town the year before.

The growing interest in the species and the proliferation of beaver-related advocacy groups are part of the expanding curiosity that Wright says is prompting CPW to develop a comprehensive beaver plan.

The new plan will aim to balance the species' irreplaceable role in wetland ecosystems with the fact that beavers' eagerness to build can sometimes obstruct human infrastructure. The small community of recreational beaver hunters, too, must be considered.

One of the agency's goals is to create consistent guidelines and support across the state to deal with those beavers that cause trouble by blocking irrigation ditches, road culverts and water treatment operations, or by creating unwanted ponds on people's properties.

Beavers deemed nuisances in Colorado are often killedan outcome CPW hopes to reduce with its new plan.

CPW last week released a draft of the new beaver management plan and is soliciting public comment on the 125-page document. The public has until Dec. 17 to comment on the draft and the agency will publish a final plan by the end of February.

CPW is one of several wildlife agencies across the West that have recently adopted a mindset that prioritizes coexistence with North America's largest rodent, said Michael Saul, the Rockies and Plains program director for the nonprofit group Defenders of Wildlife.

Wildlife agencies' shift away from using lethal means to control beavers has been encouraging, he said.

"That's an enormous change from just 20 years ago, and we're really excited to see CPW talking about restoration and benefits," Saul said.

More beaver data needed

Abundant beaver populations roamed Colorado before European settlement and the arrival of trappers seeking the rodents for their pelts. The lucrative beaver trade lured trappers to Colorado's mountains and decimated the beaver population in the early 1800s.

Beaver populationshistoric and currentare difficult to calculate, but studies cited by CPW say the number of North American beavers declined from between 60 million and 400 million beavers before settlement to a range of 9 million to 12 million today.

Biologists estimate 60,000 to 90,000 beavers live in Colorado now, and they assume the state's population followed a similar trajectory, with populations much smaller today than they were before large-scale human settlement.

"In Colorado, we assume they followed that same trend and are greatly reduced from historical levels, but are still a relatively abundant animal," said Brian Sullivan, CPW's wetlands program coordinator.

"We're not concerned about the long-term persistence of beavers by any means. But we know they're way below their former levelsand that has come with some costs to the health of the watersheds and the health of the land."

A relatively small number of beavers are intentionally killed by humans every year, but the state does not collect data on either beavers hunted for sport or those killed for damaging property.

Under state law, landowners can legally kill a beaver without a permit or needing to report the kill if a beaver was causing damage. CPW kills approximately 90 nuisance beavers a year across its properties, according to the draft management plan. That includes state parks, wildlife areas and hatcheries.

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People who recreationally hunt beavers are allowed to harvest an unlimited number of the rodents with a furbearer license. They're not required to report how many beavers they kill.

CPW issues a voluntary survey to those with furbearer licenses. Survey data from recent years show that approximately 1,500 beavers are hunted and killed every year.

That data void is something CPW hopes to fix with the management plan. And those who hunt beavers agree that better data is needed.

The Colorado Trappers and Predator Hunters Association last year submitted a petition to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission asking for more robust data collection on the hunting of several species, including beavers. The association would like CPW to require hunters to present every harvested beaver to agency staff and report where the animal was killed.

The association also wants better data to show the public that they are harvesting only a tiny sliver of the state's beaver population, said Dan Gates, the group's president. CPW previously required similar data reporting for beavers but stopped mandating it in 1977, he said.

"We thought it reasonable to go back to documenting what was harvested," Gates said.

But progress on the petition has been halted as CPW develops the beaver plan.

A necessary nuisance?

Dozens of eager beaver believers gathered in a small Boulder music venue last month for the Colorado Beaver Gathering. There, beaver fans discussed the rodent's critical role in restoring wetlands, mitigating wildfire damage and improving water quality.

The crowd listened attentively as Wright, CPW's native aquatic species coordinator, discussed the beaver management plan. When the crowd got a chance to ask questions, a rancher piped up.

She wanted to know how CPW's plan would address the fact that ranchers and farmers often need to move beavers quickly if the rodents are damming up their irrigation ditches or culverts. The rancher said she'd spent hours clearing out dams from her ditches and didn't think many ranchers would take the time to file extensive paperwork to translocate beavers. CPW is considering a formal system to move beavers causing problems, but the rancher worried it would be cumbersome.

Instead, she said, they'll revert to the decades-old, paperwork-free solution: shooting them.

"We don't have time to do all that paperwork," she said. "I'm not going to do it, and I love beavers."

That's one of the central tensions CPW hopes to address in the management plan, Wright said. State officials hope to provide more resourcesand maybe moneyfor landowners so they can mitigate the damage done by beavers while allowing the critters to stay on the property. That might mean blocking beavers from accessing culverts, wrapping trees in protective fencing or using piping to move water from one side of a beaver dam to the other.

If those efforts don't work, CPW staff want to create a standard system that landowners can use to quickly address beavers that can be translocated.

"Lethal outcomes are always going to be part of the management prescription, but we want to minimize that," Wright said.

CPW's plan aims to better recognize the beaver's role as a keystone species, which is a species that ecosystems depend on. The benefits beavers bring to a landscape are plentiful, research shows.

The ponds they create serve as critical habitat for many animal and plant species. Their dams slow down water, which minimizes erosion, extends spring runoff and slows floods. The wetlands the dams create help recharge groundwater stores and cleanse the water stored there. They also make landscapes more resilient to wildfire, and their pond systems serve as refuges for other animals during blazes.

"They do millions of dollars of work for free," Peggy Darr said of beavers. She is a wildlife biologist with Defenders of Wildlife and consulted with CPW on its draft plan.

Skeptics of the plan wonder if CPW has the money and staff capacity to implement the new solutions the plan suggests. Already, the agency is stretched thin, said Gates, who serves on several CPW stakeholder groups. Beavers remain prolific across the state, and CPW's current method of managing the population has worked, he said.

"It's a solution in search of a problem," Gates said.

There have been no explicit conversations about finding more money for beaver management, Wright said. CPW is developing the plan so it can be completed with current staff resources, he said.

The draft plan is under internal review and the agency hopes to finalize and begin implementing it in February.

"It's been a real whirlwind of a year getting this thing off the ground," Wright said.

2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General and Security Council on Saturday jointly deplored the severe violence of the past two weeks in North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where dozens of civilians have been killed by an armed group affiliated with the Islamic State
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

At the UN climate conference Cop30 in Belem, Brazil, I asked some young climate activists and negotiators about their hopes, expectations and demands. Despite their positivity and the push for action from climate movements, Indigenous people and civil society, a lack of consensus on key issues was palpable.

Following overnight negotiations on November 2122, the Brazilian presidency unveiled an outcome decision referred to as the "global mutirao" (collective efforts). But experts agree that the outlined climate action is insufficient.

I attended this year's Cop as an advisor to the international Youth Negotiators Academya program offering training to negotiators under the age of 35. My experience at Belem informs my Ph.D. research into how social movements are influencing climate conferences. Here are some of the expectations of the young people I met at Cop30.

Brazilian student Ana Bertazzo Lemos, 23, attended Cop30 calling for obligations to cut fossil fuel emissions and the integration of ecological action into everyday life. But the final Cop30 text had no mention of fossil fuels.

Without a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels, the Brazilian presidency said it will move forward outside the UN process. Accordingly, the first International Conference for the Phase-out of Fossil Fuels will be held in Colombia in April 2026.

Equality for Indigenous people

Matthaeus Menezes Assef, 29, from Guaruja, Brazil, is the student representative of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) taskforce at the University of Leeds. I talked to Menezes and Guarany Osorio, a Brazilian professor of sustainability, about their common goals.

Menezes is concerned for Brazil's domestic political vision. He says Brazil needs to deal with deforestation and oil extraction in the Amazon, while evolving as a climate leader. He was happy that Cop30 brought 3,000 Indigenous people to Belem, with many receiving blue badges for direct access to negotiations. However, a roadmap to deforestation did not materialize at Cop30.

Protection for Amazonia

Jhulielson Conceicao, 22, and Nathalia Vasques, 24, were volunteers at Cop30, providing essential information and guidance to delegates. "Without us, they'd be lost," Vasques told me. She sees Cop30's location as crucial because Belem is on the frontline of climate change.

Vasques hoped that first-hand experience for delegates would translate into stronger commitments and greater protection for Amazonia, but this hasn't happened yet. Both Conceicao and Vasques wanted to see more recognition for youth voices at future Copsbut this shouldn't just be tokenistic. Young people require decision-making power.

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Stronger climate law

Emily Zinkula, 25, a law student from Stanford University, focused on whether legal mechanisms can create accountability for climate action. She tracks whether negotiations incorporate the recent advisory opinions on climate obligations, particularly by the International Court of Justice. An advisory opinion is a legal interpretation that's not legally binding, provided by a high-level court or tribunal in response to a specific question of law.

Zinkula spoke at a side event alongside Jojo Mehta, co-founder of the campaign organization Stop Ecocide International. Zinkula argued that the advisory opinion can help civil societies gain momentum around recognizing ecocide (large-scale destruction of nature by human actions) as an international crime.

Having researched climate laws, I share her vision for accountability and justicebut the negotiations don't yet reflect that.

A healthy just transition

Nova Tebbe, 28, a postdoctoral researcher from the Global Climate and Health Alliance and UNFCCC constituency member, called for the introduction of "indicators for adaptation"the rules, metrics and standards needed for adaptation projects.

Tebbe demanded adaptation finance from developed to developing countries as per the Paris climate agreement. She emphasized that human health should be central to climate negotiations, and hoped for a just transition mechanism that moves from policy to implementation.

Tebbe also wanted the second global stocktake (a five-yearly assessment of the world's progress toward the goals of the Paris agreement, due in 2028) to be more inclusive, with civil society input. She told me how the Belem conference's positive atmosphere and push for quick decisions seemed unusual compared with other climate summits she had attended.

However, the final outcomes of Cop30 did not offer reassurance on most of her hopes. A new just transition mechanism was adopted, but without any map, money or manual.

This mechanism is a strategy to guarantee that the global shift towards a green economy is equitable and safeguards the rights of all people. There were discussions about doubling adaptation finance by 2025 and tripling it by 2035but whether the adaptation indicators include priorities for health is yet to be seen.

Young climate activists can't deny that climate negotiations are complex, driven by political agendas and national interests. But my time in Belem has reinforced something essential: young people can play an instrumental role in and around the negotiations. Unfortunately, those demands don't always translate into actual outcomes.

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This photo provided by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance shows Gramma, a Galapagos tortoise and the oldest animal at the San Diego Zoo, eating a banana stalk at the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, May 17, 2023. Credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance via AP

After more than a century of munching on her favorite foods of romaine lettuce and cactus fruit, beloved Galapagos tortoise Gramma, the oldest resident of the San Diego Zoo, has died.

Gramma was born in her native habitat and was estimated to be about 141 years old, zoo officials said. She died Nov. 20.

It's not clear exactly when the tortoise arrived at the San Diego Zoo, but zoo officials said she came from the Bronx Zoo in either 1928 or 1931 as part of their first group of Galapagos tortoises.

As the world changed around her, she delighted visitors with her sweet, shy personality. She lived through two World Wars and 20 U.S. presidents.

Her care specialists affectionately called her "the Queen of the Zoo." She was suffering from bone conditions related to her old age that progressed recently before she was euthanized, the zoo said.

Many visitors commented on social media about getting to first visit Gramma when they were young, and being able to come back years later with their kids.

Cristina Park, 69, said one of her earliest memories from her childhood was going to the San Diego Zoo when she was 3 or 4 years old and riding on the back of a tortoise. That's no longer allowed, but the experience inspired her to keep a small desert tortoise as a pet and learn more about tortoise conservation.

This photo provided by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance shows Gramma, a Galapagos tortoise and the oldest animal at the San Diego Zoo, eating at the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, Oct. 30, 2024. Credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance via AP

"Just how amazing it is that they managed to live through so much," Park said. "And yet they're still there."

Galapagos tortoises can live for over 100 years in the wild, and close to double that in captivity.

The oldest known Galapagos tortoise was named Harriet, who lived at the Australia Zoo until the age of 175. She was collected from the Galapagos Islands in 1835, when she was just the size of a dinner plate, according to the zoo. This means that she hatched somewhere around 1830, and she died in 2006.

Galapagos tortoises include 15 subspecies of tortoises from the islands, three of which were deemed extinct. The rest are all vulnerable or critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Concerted efforts have been made to breed these tortoises in captivity over the past several decades, with more than 10,000 juveniles released to the wild since 1965, according to the Galapagos Conservancy. Some subspecies have been brought back from the brink of extinction.

In April, four baby Galapagos tortoises were born at the Philadelphia Zoo to first-time parents that were roughly 100 years old, a first in the zoo's history. In June, Zoo Miami resident and Galapagos tortoise Goliath became a first-time father at the age of 135.

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University of Michigan researchers met with community members from five Great Lakes cities when developing the FloodWise Communities tool that helps assess flood risks. This project helps illustrate the three pathways to scale up actionable climate knowledge: broaden participation, diffuse information and aggregate impact. Credit: Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments/GLISA

There's no one-size-fits-all solution to adapting and building resilience to climate change, but a new study led by the University of Michigan offers three generalized pathways to help climate knowledge achieve its maximum impact.

The researchers analyzed available literature and built on their own experiences to distill these separate but complementary pathways for creating new thinking that is not only actionable, but scalable. The work was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"We know climate change is happening and there's been this thrust to make science more responsive to real challenges in people's lives," said Derek Van Berkel, an associate professor in the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability, or SEAS. He is also one of 14 co-authors of the new study, which hints at a unifying theme of the pathways: You need to get a lot of people involved.

"We should let a thousand flowers bloom to make this knowledge more actionable," Van Berkel said. "We should be engaging with more people locally, then trying to scale up in multiple ways."

The three pathways

Increase and broaden participation in creating climate information, which can make it more actionable.

Use online tools to support decision-making that make the knowledge easier to understand and use.

Aggregate impact by getting buy-in and help from influential parties.

To help illustrate these pathways in a more familiar setting, the team used the example of a potluck at work to celebrate a federal holiday, like Christmas. The fact that Christmas is designated as a federal holiday is an example of aggregated impact: The decision of government policymakers to observe the holiday influences employers to recognize it as well.

A party planning committee could broaden impact by recruiting members from across departments and responsibilities to make sure the celebration appeals to as many people as possible. The committee could then diffuse information about the party using tools like e-vites to reach folks in the company who didn't help plan the event. And potlucks elicit a second broadening of participation through crowdsourcing food production to yield a diversity of dishes, flavors and cuisines for everyone to enjoy.

While this is a simple example, anyone who's coordinated a party knows it's no cakewalk. Still, the pathways are relatively straightforward and intuitive when you pause to think about them, and the same is true in the context of climate knowledge.

"The three pathways to scaling up climate knowledge impact present a useful, simplified way of understanding this work," said study co-author Erica Goto, a research scientist at the Arizona Institute for Resilience at the University of Arizona. "Tackling a problem as complicated as climate knowledge impact can seem very conceptual and fuzzy, but we feel that these pathways allow us to anchor the conversation in more approachable concepts that are informed by academic research and practice."

As a real-world example of this, the team pointed to its work on a Gulf Coast project led by Maria Carmen Lemos, who is now a professor emerita with SEAS and also a senior author of the new report. Goto was a postdoctoral researcher with U-M and Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments, or GLISA, for the Gulf project.

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One of the goals of the project was to learn whether the team could adapt its FloodWise Communities tool, which itself was built using the three pathways, for the Gulf Coast. FloodWise Communities was created with broad participation from members of five Great Lakes cities to help leaders in other cities and communities assess their vulnerabilities to storm water.

To scale up the impact of the tool, demonstrating it could be deployed in a new environment was just one facet of the problem. The researchers also had to work with community members, city planners and other leaders to make sure the tool could be trusted to address the unique climate concerns of the Gulf Coast. Overcoming these challenges took perseverance and trial-and-error, but, ultimately, sticking to the pathways helped get everyone where they wanted to go. But what exactly that process looked like in the Gulf was necessarily distinct from what it had been in the Great Lakes.

"People might want to ask, "What's the recipe for a successful scaling up process?", and the unfortunate reality is that there is no guaranteed one-size-fits-all approach," said co-author Lisa Maillard, a senior associate and Civic Science Fellow at Pew Charitable Trust. Maillard also worked on the Gulf Coast project while earning her doctorate at SEAS.

"Although we think these pathways are a great way to start thinking about how you might undertake this work, it is not necessarily linear and it will look very different in different contexts. This new article suggests some ingredients that may be helpful, but finding the right combination is up to you."
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(a) Regional variation in Citizen's Benefit entry quotas (%) and population size (2018). Notes: The figure shows maps of the federal states, with shading indicating the entry quota per state. Circle size represents the number of residents (or foreign residents, respectively). The legend titles "Overall r.", "Foreign r.", "Eastern European r.", and "Third state r." refer to recipients of Citizen's Benefit (r. = recipients). "Population" and "Foreign Population" indicate the total number of residents or foreign residents, respectively. The legend shows three reference circle sizes (the minimum, median, and maximum population), while the actual circle sizes scale continuously. (b) Regional variation in Citizen's Benefit sanction quotas (%) and population size (2018). Notes: The figure shows maps of the federal states, with shading indicating the sanction quota per state. Circle size represents the number of residents (or foreign residents, respectively). Credit: Comparative Political Studies (2025). DOI: 10.1177/00104140251400334

In recent years, right-wing populist parties have experienced significant political success across nearly all Western democracies. With their increasing political establishment, xenophobic attitudes have become normalized. While previous studies have primarily examined the effects of this development on voting behavior, little is known about the wider social consequences.

A new study by the Cluster of Excellence The Politics of Inequality at the University of Konstanz has therefore investigated how this normalization affects administration practices in German job centersin other words, concrete state decision-making processes on essential social benefits that are intended to ensure an adequate standard of living. The focus is on the role of negative media coverage of people with a migration background and the potentially reinforcing influence of this coverage on group-specific discrimination.

The findings are published in the journal Comparative Political Studies.

In an experiment, fictitious newspaper articles about welfare fraud by Romanian nationals were presented to 1,400 case workers from 60 German job centers. They were then asked to make decisions on authentically designed but fictitious applications for basic income.

The result: After reading an article about alleged welfare fraud, Romanian citizens' requests for social benefits were considered less credible, indicating group-specific discrimination. This effect is stronger in states where skeptical attitudes towards migration are particularly pronounced. In these regions, it was more likely that Romanian nationals were treated differently from applicants with German nationalityeven though they were equally eligible for social benefits.

At the same time, there was an opposite effect for foreign nationals who were not explicitly mentioned in the newspaper article: Job center staff reacted to their applications with less skepticism and, in part, with greater willingness to help. Researchers refer to this form of unequal treatment as positive discrimination.

"Our results show that the administration is not a neutral space," explains Gerald Schneider, professor of political science at the University of Konstanz and co-author of the study. "Where social stereotypes are strong and the media spreads negative images of migration, these attitudes can be directly reflected in the work of state authorities."

However, the phenomenon does not only occur in the parts of Germany where resentment towards people with a migration background is already widespread. Stefanie Rue, postdoctoral researcher at Zeppelin University and corresponding author of the study, adds, "Negative headlines about migration subconsciously activate stereotypes that determine which of these groups of people are considered 'suspicious,' 'deserving of help' or less 'credible.' These subtle forms of discrimination can be harmful because they are more difficult to recognize and can impact further decisions. The media, social norms, and administrative decisions are closely intertwined."

Jan Vogler, an associate professor of political science at Aarhus University in Denmark, emphasizes that the results could have far-reaching consequences for the relationship between the state and the specific population groups that are affected by discrimination. "If people feel that the state is discriminating against them, this can permanently shake their trust in public institutions. Subsequently, this may also negatively impact their general interactions with the state, manifesting across many different dimensions."

According to the authors, countermeasures could include targeted media literacy skills training, standardized decision-making processes as well as more balanced (regional) reporting on migration. Through such measures, the state can ensure that social benefits are allocated based on objective criteria rather than on regional sentiments.

More information: Stefanie Rue et al, Illiberal Norms, Media Reporting, and Bureaucratic Discrimination: Evidence from State-Citizen Interactions in Germany, Comparative Political Studies (2025). DOI: 10.1177/00104140251400334
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Photos of hanging coffin burials. Credit: Xie Peixia of the China Folklore Photography Association and the Zhaotong Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics

A new study has uncovered a direct genetic link between ancient practitioners of the Hanging Coffin burial tradition and the modern Bo people in Southwest China. The findings published in Nature Communications offer unprecedented insight into the deep ancestral origins and migratory history associated with this unique mortuary practice.

The Hanging Coffin practice, characterized by the placement of wooden coffins on cliffs or in caves, has historically been ascribed to the Bo ethnic group, which is believed to have disappeared after the Ming Dynasty.

Through a comparative genomic analysis of 11 ancient individuals from four Hanging Coffin sites in China, four from Log Coffin sites in Thailand, as well as 30 whole genomes from the contemporary Bo population, Prof. Zhang Xiaoming from the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with collaborators, found that contemporary Bo individuals exhibit a considerable degree of genetic inheritance from ancient Hanging Coffin communities.

These ancient communities, in turn, shared intimate genetic connections with coastal Neolithic populations in southern East Asia. These populations are the progenitors of modern TaiKadai and Austronesian language speakers.

The researchers also discovered an unanticipated level of genetic diversity among Hanging Coffin individuals. Two ancient specimens from Yunnan's Wa Shi site (approximately 1,200 years old) displayed distinct genetic affinities: one with Yellow River agriculturalists and Tibetan-related groups, and the other with ancient Northeast Asian populations. This implies long-distance interactions and cultural inclusiveness during the Tang Dynasty.

Geographic context and principal component analysis. Credit: Zhang Xiaoming

Ancestry composition and inferred dispersal scenarios of Hanging Coffin populations and Bo individuals. Credit: Zhang Xiaoming

Genetic continuity has also been observed between Hanging Coffin groups in China and Log Coffin populations in Thailand, lending support to the hypothesis of a common origin and a more extensive cultural network spanning southern China and Southeast Asia. However, regional disparities in genetic ancestry highlight intricate demographic processes, including localized admixture with Hoabinhian-related groups in Thailand.

Together, these results suggest that genomic evidence can serve as a valuable complement to archaeological and historical records, thereby shedding light on the tenacity of cultural traditions and the genetic history of marginalized communities.

The study underscores the importance of integrative methodologies for understanding human migration, cultural dissemination, and population dynamics in prehistoric and historic East Asia.

More information: Hui Zhou et al, Exploration of hanging coffin customs and the bo people in China through comparative genomics, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65264-3 Journal information: Nature Communications
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The findings are striking: tragic narratives elicited significantly more empathy and compassion than nostalgic ones. In simple terms, participants exposed to stories of real suffering felt more connected to and less threatened by Muslim immigrants. Credit: Dr. Syed Ali Hussain

US media and politicians often celebrate beautiful stories of immigrants arriving in America, finding a new home, and thriving in the land of opportunity.

However, a new study published in the Journal of Intercultural Communication Research challenges these prevailing assumptions, particularly regarding Muslim immigrants. Contrary to widely held views, the research urges US media and educators to draw from the painful and tragic stories that the immigrants themselves share.

The researchers highlight that nostalgiaa sentimental longing for "the good old days"is a powerful tool frequently leveraged by media, politicians, and advertisers to evoke emotional connection. Yet, they caution that nostalgia, when misapplied, can reinforce exclusion and deepen divides between in-groups and out-groups.

"We wanted to flip nostalgia on its headuse it not to divide, but to unite," says Dr. Syed Ali Hussain, a media communication scholar at Sharjah University's College of Communication.

"To find out, we designed an experiment. We produced short videos about a Muslim refugee family: one told through nostalgiahappy memories of home before war; another through tragedythe family's painful displacement and loss. We asked participants to watch (the videos) and then share their responses about the family."

Key findings on empathy and narratives

Scientists affiliated with universities in the US, China, and the UAE participated in the research. Their findings are striking: tragic narratives elicited significantly more empathy and compassion than nostalgic ones. In simple terms, participants exposed to stories of real suffering felt more connected to and less threatened by Muslim immigrants. Conversely, nostalgic storiesthose recalling a beautiful pastoften triggered weaker empathy and, in some cases, reinforced subtle forms of social distance.

The authors argue that in a polarized society like the US, narratives about immigrantsoften framed as "the other"can either build empathy or evoke fear. Their research revolves around a key question through which they examine the potential of stories grounded in nostalgia and tragedy in reshaping Americans' perceptions of Muslim immigrants.

The experiences of Muslim immigrants in the US, home to nearly 4.5 million Muslims, remain a frequent subject of debate and discussion. Polling organizations and think tanks have documented a sharp rise in anti-Muslim discrimination and hate incidents.

According to a 2025 report by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the organization received more than 8,650 complaints of discrimination and Islamophobic attacksthe highest number since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1966.

New research reveals that narrating painful or tragic experiences faced by immigrants fosters a stronger sense of connection and reduces feelings of threat. In contrast, nostalgic narratives, those idealizing the past or present, tend to evoke weaker empathy and, in some cases, reinforce subtle forms of social distance. Credit: Journal of Intercultural Communication Research (2025). DOI: 10.1080/17475759.2025.2557893

Study design and participant insights

To understand the drivers and possible remedies for this surge in anti-Muslim bias, the authors review a wide range of studies conducted in the US. Some attribute the problem to news and social media, which amplify narratives that reinforce negative stereotypes. Other research highlights a correlation between fear of terrorism, prejudice against immigrants, and negative attitudes toward Muslims.

To examine whether nostalgia- or tragedy-based narratives can increase empathy and perspective-taking toward Muslim immigrants, the authors created four narrative videos as research stimuli. These included a tragedy narrative depicting the devastating effects of war on a Muslim refugee family and a nostalgia narrative portraying happier times in the same family's life before they became refugees.

The study involved 239 adult participants (121 women, 116 men, and two transgender individuals) recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), a platform increasingly recognized for providing access to diverse, non-student US populations in psychological and communication research.

"The main experiment showed that tragedy narratives, more than nostalgia, indirectly influenced threat perceptions and helping intentions through empathy," the authors write. "Compared to tragedy narratives, nostalgia narratives elicited less empathy. There was no significant direct effect of narrative content on threat perceptions and intention to help the Muslim family."

They report that tragedy narratives elicited more empathy, while nostalgic narratives resulted in less empathy. "There was no direct effect on the outcomes; significant indirect effects were observed through empathy on threat perceptions and intention to help, indicating that empathy served as a mediator.

"Tragedy narratives, compared to nostalgia narratives, were able to evoke more empathy for the narrator, which further led to reduced realistic and symbolic threat perceptions as well as increased intention to help the Muslim family."

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Implications for media and public discourse

Summarizing the outcome of the study, co-author Dr. Mary Bresnahan of the Department of Communication at Michigan State University stated, "Empathy is not about longing for yesterday. It's about caring for someone today. The bottom line is that peacebuilding begins person to person and family to family."

Reflecting on the broader significance, Dr. Hussain explained, "Our findings matter because they challenge how we design public campaigns, news features, or even films about migration. When we sanitize or sentimentalize the immigrant experience, we risk diluting empathy. But when we acknowledge strugglewhen we humanize pain rather than romanticize the pastwe create space for understanding."

The authors emphasize that the implications of their research extend beyond academia, offering insights for nonprofit organizations working with refugees, journalists covering immigration stories, media professionals producing documentaries, educators teaching intercultural communication, and state-run immigration agencies.

More information: Syed Ali Hussain et al, Exploring the Effects of Nostalgic and Tragic Narratives on Threat Perceptions of Immigrants in the U.S, Journal of Intercultural Communication Research (2025). DOI: 10.1080/17475759.2025.2557893
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Younger workers in governmental public health place significantly higher value on nontraditional benefits than their older counterparts, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Flexible scheduling and remote-work policies were among the top motivators for younger employees choosing and remaining in public service. The findings are published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.

"Public health workers age 35 or younger consistently show lower retention rates than older workers," said Heather Krasna Ph.D., EdM, MS, associate dean of Career and Professional Development at Columbia Mailman School, and senior author. "Salaries matter, but because health departments often face limits on salary increases, offering nontraditional benefits may be an effective strategy to attract and retain younger staff."

The research team analyzed data from the 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS), developed by the Beaumont Foundation and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Responses from permanent, full-time health department employees were divided into two groupsthose 35 and younger and those over 35to compare how each valued nontraditional benefits, reasons for staying and, for younger workers, motivators for initially entering governmental public health. The two groups were similar in gender composition.

Younger workers were significantly more likely to cite nontraditional benefits as important reasons for staying with their organization:

Flexibility: 38% of workers 35 and under vs. 31.5% of older workers

Remote-work policies: 25% vs. 20%

Training opportunities: 23% vs. 17%

Despite modest gains in younger representation in earlier years26% of staff were younger than 40 in 2014 compared with 29% in 2017retention has remained a persistent challenge. For example, workers under age 30 accounted for just 6% of the workforce between 2014 and 2017 but 13% of all departures. Turnover is costly, especially among skilled staff.

"The state and local governmental health department workforce has undergone dramatic shifts in recent years," said Krasna. "The COVID-19 pandemic and long-standing recruitment and retention challengesespecially among younger staffhave further strained the system."

Key drivers of retention for younger professionals include job satisfaction, meaningful work, recognition, supervisor support, workplace culture, work-life balance, remote-work options, and access to childcare.

"Because salary increases and broader workplace-culture reforms can be slow, innovative benefits may offer a more immediate tool for improving retention," Krasna added. "Our study reinforces a growing body of evidence that nontraditional benefitssuch as schedule flexibility, remote work, and professional development opportunitiesplay a substantial role in job satisfaction and are especially influential for younger public health workers.

"For health departments unable to rapidly boost salaries, options like flex time, professional-development funding, or childcare support could meaningfully encourage younger staff to stay."

Sarika Karra of Columbia Public Health is a co-author.

More information: Heather Krasna et al, The Role of Nontraditional Benefits in Recruitment and Retention for Public Health Workers Age 35 and Under, Journal of Public Health Management & Practice (2025). DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000002234
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Credit: University of York

Energy that would normally go to waste inside powerful particle accelerators could be used to create valuable medical isotopes, scientists have found.

Researchers at the University of York have shown that intense radiation captured in particle accelerator "beam dumps" could be repurposed to produce materials used in cancer therapy. The study is published in the journal Physical Review C.

Scientists have now found a way to make those leftover photons do a second job, without affecting the main physics experiments.

A beam of photons designed to investigate things like the matter that makes up our universe, could at the same time, be used to create useful medical isotopes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Save lives

Dr. Mamad Eslami, a nuclear physicist from the University of York's School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, said, "We have shown the potential to generate copper-67, a rare isotope used in both diagnosing and treating cancers, by demonstrating that what we might view as waste from a particle accelerator experiment can be turned into something that can save lives.

"Our method lets high-energy accelerators support cancer medicine while continuing their core scientific work."

Copper-67 emits radiation that both destroys cancer cells and enables doctors to monitor treatment progress. Clinical trials are already exploring its use against conditions such as prostate cancer and neuroblastoma, but global supplies remain limited due to production challenges.

Scaled-up

Because large research particle accelerators often run for long periods, the process could build up useful amounts of isotopes gradually in parallel with other experiments, rather than requiring dedicated beam time. This approach could allow existing physics facilities to double as sources of medical materials, helping in the creation of life-saving treatments while making better use of accelerator energy.

The next step for the team is to work with accelerator laboratories and medical partners to apply the method at other facilities and to explore how it could be scaled up to deliver clinically useful quantities of copper-67 and other useful isotopes in a reliable, cost-effective way.

More information: M. Eslami et al, Unconventional 67Cu production using high-energy bremsstrahlung and cross section evaluation, Physical Review C (2025). DOI: 10.1103/954z-cn34 Journal information: Physical Review C
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

New Monash University research has found that while pharmacy students understand pharmacists' role in planetary health, many struggle to apply these principles in practice or link issues like antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to equity and social justice, signaling a critical gap in health care education.

Published in Innovations in Education and Teaching International, the study evaluated the effectiveness of a co-designed Planetary Health Education (PHE) curriculum delivered to 398 pharmacy students across two of Monash University's campuses in Australia and Malaysia, with a focus on one of the most urgent human-driven challenges impacting planetary health: AMR.

Among the student cohort, fewer than 4% of students identified a connection between equity and social justice and planetary health, highlighting a gap in understanding that planetary health involves protecting vulnerable populations from disproportionate impacts of environmental degradation.

Perri Teoh, a Monash fourth-year pharmacy student who championed the curriculum co-design, said to tackle AMR effectively, health professionals must understand the human activity contributing to resistance and be able to develop sustainable, just and equitable solutions.

"As future pharmacists, we need to understand not only the clinical aspects of AMR, but also its broader social and environmental implications. Strengthening our ability to think critically about social equity is essential, as the impacts of AMR fall most heavily on communities already facing heightened climate-related health risks. This includes Indigenous peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and disabled communities," Ms. Teoh said.

Interviews showed students often have limited understanding and misconceptions about planetary health, but following the co-design curriculum grounded in PHE principles, students reported a clearer understanding of how routine pharmacy practices, from safe medicine disposal to antibiotic stewardship, directly influence environmental and public health outcomes.

Dr. Angelina Lim, the study's lead author and Monash pharmacy educator, said there's a growing consensus that planetary health education must be embedded across university curricula so future health professionals have the knowledge and advocacy skills to address the environmental drivers of antimicrobial resistance.

"It is now widely accepted that educating students entering the health care field through a planetary health lens is super important. When future pharmacists understand the connections between human health and the environment, they're far better equipped to make informed decisions that protect patients, reduce environmental harm and strengthen the resilience of our health system," Dr. Lim said.

"What the findings from this study tells us is that students are eager and capable of engaging with planetary health, but they need clearer pathways and practical tools to turn that awareness into action. Embedding these concepts across the curriculum is how we bridge that gap and prepare graduates to lead meaningful change in their communities and workplaces."

More information: Angelina Lim et al, Embodying the planetary health education framework in our teaching: Evaluating students' engagement with co-designed international infectious diseases curriculum, Innovations in Education and Teaching International (2025). DOI: 10.1080/14703297.2025.2583397
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Abstract. Credit: ACS Omega (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c10550

The CANMILK project is developing a plasma-based system suitable for direct operation in barns to reduce methane emissions from livestock. The goal is to capture dilute methane present in barn air and convert it into CO through the combined action of plasma and catalytic processes. As a low-TRL project, CANMILK is highly focused on research and development, working on optimizing the design of adsorber, catalyst and plasma components and how they best work together.

This requires continuous evaluation of the results and re-adjustment of the system as development work progresses. All components are being integrated into a proof-of-concept (PoC) unit, which will be tested with simulated barn air. This PoC is designed to demonstrate the basic concept, allowing the project team to validate their experimental ideas and optimize the system's performance under realistic conditions.

In parallel, a techno-economic assessment is underway to analyze both the economic feasibility of the technologies and the physical properties of the emissions, with the aim of aligning technical performance with market-ready solutions.

As one of the project partners, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum supports the development and implementation of the communication and dissemination strategy and the definition of the exploitation strategy for the project. It supports the management of intellectual property.

Research activities

CANMILK's research is structured around five main topics: Plasma Modeling and Diagnostics, Adsorbent and Catalyst Development, Activated Gas-Surface Interactions, Process Concept Development, and Techno-Economic Assessment.

Several publications were produced based on the conducted research. They include the following journals: ACS Omega, two in Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Green Chemistry and the Chemical Engineering Journal.

A short summary of the main achievements from the first three years, as well as the planned next steps, will be provided in the following sections.

Plasma modeling and diagnostics

Understanding plasma chemistry for the abatement of dilute methane is a core focus of the CANMILK project. The University of Antwerp has created models to simulate the chemical reactions and gas flows in O and H plasma reactors. Combined with experimental findings from the University of Maastricht, these results indicate that warm O and H plasmas are not efficient for removing low CH concentrations.

Looking for alternative approaches, further results indicated that the use of barn-air plasma has the potential for methane reduction. However, this approach also produces NO x , which is typically considered an emission, though they may be further utilized.

These findings prompted the CANMILK partners to revise their strategy, exploring the alternative pathway of using air plasma to enhance feasibility and scalability. In line with this revised approach, UA developed a novel fluid model for microwave air plasma. Next steps include comparing the model with experimental measurements from UM and optimizing operating conditions for integration into the PoC unit.

Adsorbent and catalyst development

Developing materials capable of concentrating methane is crucial due to the very low methane levels in barn air. Experimental screening has identified promising adsorbents that could potentially increase methane concentrations from 20200 ppm to 2002000 ppm, facilitating more efficient downstream processing. In parallel, catalysts were prepared and evaluated for compatibility with the plasma system, including structured honeycomb materials and powders.

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Activated gas-surface interactions

To gain a deeper understanding of plasmacatalyst interactions, theoretical and experimental studies were initiated by project partner Tecnico Lisboa. The researchers are developing mesoscopic surface kinetics models to describe the interactions between plasma-generated gas species and catalyst surfaces, along with catalysts for CH oxidation using various radicals and biowaste-derived supports.

Proof-of-concept unit

In order to demonstrate the integration of plasma, catalyst, and adsorber technologies for methane reduction in barn air, project coordinator VTT is developing a PoC unit, allowing the project team to validate experimental concepts and optimize system performance under realistic conditions.

The design process has been highly collaborative, with all project partners actively participating in monthly design discussions. Technical and safety aspects have been carefully evaluated, ensuring that the system meets operational and regulatory requirements. The unit is being built as a movable system to facilitate flexible testing and adaptation. Construction of the PoC unit is underway at VTT's Bioruukki testing facility, with commissioning and experimental testing scheduled for the next phase approximately in November 2025.

Techno-economic assessment

Assessing the techno-economic feasibility is a crucial step in the CANMILK project, ensuring that the developed methane reduction technologies are not only effective but also practical and cost-efficient for real-world implementation in dairy farming. Advanced simulations of a working dairy barn have provided insights into methane dispersal and the need for controlled ventilation to maximize capture.

Multiple system configurations combining plasma, catalyst, and adsorber technologies have been designed and modeled, allowing the team to estimate capital and operating costs, as well as the cost per kg of methane removed. These analyses help identify the most economically viable approach for full-scale implementation. Next steps will focus on refining economic assumptions and performing a life cycle analysis to support market-ready solutions.

Provided by Steinbeis Europa Zentrum
Amber Energy reaffirms commitment to enhancing the world-class assets of CITGO and continuing to deliver vital products to help power the U.S. economy

Transaction will provide growth opportunities for CITGO employees, customers, and local communities

HOUSTON, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amber Energy Inc. ("Amber Energy") announced today that it has been approved as the acquirer of PDV Holding, Inc. ("PDVH"), the parent of CITGO Petroleum Corporation ("CITGO" or "the Company"), through a sale of shares, by Judge Leonard P. Stark of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

Amber Energy  led by Chief Executive Officer Gregory Goff  is committed to partnering with CITGO team members to build on its historic foundation and further strengthen CITGO as a leader in the refining, transportation, and marketing of products vital to the U.S. economy.

Amber Energy's strategy for growth includes reinvestment in the business and operational enhancements, as well as strategic investments to improve CITGO's profitability. In addition, Amber Energy is focused on supporting the people running CITGO's operations, maintaining strong relationships with communities across its network, and driving projects that improve reliability and performance.

The transaction is expected to close in 2026, pending regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other closing conditions. Upon closing, the Company will continue to operate as CITGO, and Mr. Goff will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer.

"We look forward to working with the talented CITGO team to strengthen the business through capital investment and operational excellence," said Mr. Goff. "I am confident that together we will help enhance America's energy leadership position."

Mr. Goff has more than 40 years of experience managing and improving the financial and operational performance of energy and energy-related businesses while accelerating their growth. Mr. Goff previously served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Andeavor, where he spearheaded a successful financial transformation. Prior to joining Andeavor, Mr. Goff spent nearly 30 years at ConocoPhillips, where he held various leadership positions in the company's Exploration & Production, Downstream, and Commercial segments. Mr. Goff currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Claire Technologies, Inc., a technology company providing low-carbon solutions to decarbonize the energy and transportation sectors.

Advisors

Barclays is acting as lead financial advisor to Amber Energy. Citi and Perella Weinberg Partners are also acting as financial advisors to Amber Energy. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP are acting as primary legal advisors to Amber Energy.

About Amber Energy

Led by accomplished energy executives, Amber Energy is focused on strengthening the world-class assets of CITGO to continue to deliver vital products for the benefit of its customers and communities and to enhance America's energy advantage. The Amber Energy management team has a track record of improving financial and operational performance, as well as accelerating growth, at companies across the energy industry. Amber Energy is backed by a group of strategic U.S. energy investors and is committed to fueling American growth, innovation, and competitiveness in the energy sector.

For more information, visit AmberEnergy.com.

Media Contact

Braden Reddall

[email protected]

SOURCE Amber Energy Inc.
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Creating highly secure and mobile quantum networks is possible thanks to a special container module with an integrated telescope for sending and receiving quantum keys, developed at Fraunhofer IOF. Credit: Fraunhofer IOF

As part of the QuNET project, researchers have demonstrated how quantum key distribution works reliably via hybrid and mobile channels. The results are milestones for sovereign, quantum-secured communication in Germany and have been published in the New Journal of Physics.

Quantum communication is considered a crucial technology for long-term data security and thus also for technological sovereignty in Germany and Europe. At its core is the distribution of secure cryptographic keys based on quantum physical processesquantum key distribution (QKD).

QKD will not only be important for highly secure communication in government agencies, the military, and businesses, but will also help protect the data we use in our daily lives.

The Fraunhofer IOF is involved in the project together with Fraunhofer HHI, the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen, the Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, and the DLR Institute of Communication and Navigation in Oberpfaffenhofen.

In 2021, the project partners demonstrated the first quantum-secured video conference between two federal authorities in Bonn, followed in 2023 by the demonstration of an ad hoc point-to-point connection in Jena.

In 2024, personal data was transmitted from Berlin's metropolitan fiber optic network to the Federal Printing Office, and in 2025, quantum information were exchanged in another experiment using a research aircraft from the German Aerospace Center.

Based on these experiments, a scientific article has now been published in which the participating institutes show how they can use and combine a whole range of different technologies for quantum-secured communication. This is an important step on the way to the supraregional use of quantum technology.

Hybrid and mobile quantum channels successfully tested

Quantum signals are extremely fragile, often consisting of only a few photons (light particles). Their transmission via optical fiber is highly demanding, but proven, and offers an unprecedented level of security.

Several systems have now been tested in Jena that allow quantum keys to be transmitted even through turbulent air. This is the path to highly mobile and ad hoc connections. For example, it can be used to bridge gaps in optical fiber networks. The challenge here is to connect fundamentally different hardware and software components.

"We have demonstrated that different QKD protocols and link types can be integrated into a functioning overall network. This heterogeneity has not yet been published anywhere in the world," comments Dr. Matthias Goy from Fraunhofer IOF on the technical article.

One focus of the work is on the technical methods used to enable stable quantum channels in free-beam systems, even in the presence of atmospheric turbulence. In addition, the team integrated free-space links into existing fiber networks, thereby creating a future-proof urban network for the quantum age.

The results are a key component in establishing technological sovereignty in the field of quantum communication as a key technology in cybersecurity research.

"This allows us to build technological expertise in Germany and reduce dependencies in a security-critical field of the future," emphasizes Dr. Goy.

Next step: A hybrid Germany-wide quantum network

So far, quantum-secured connections have been tested via local fiber and free-space networks. The next step is to demonstrate the developed technologies in a Germany-wide network of nodes in Berlin, Jena, Erlangen, and Oberpfaffenhofen. To this end, a distributed network of fiber and free-space links as well as optical ground stations is planned for future satellite-based quantum communication.

"We are thus preparing the transition from local test tracks to scalable networks," says Goy. The long-term goal is to establish a sovereign quantum network that ensures secure communication for the state, the economy, and critical infrastructures.

More information: Matthias Goy et al, Ad-hoc hybrid-heterogeneous metropolitan-range quantum key distribution network, New Journal of Physics (2025). DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/ae1864 Journal information: New Journal of Physics

Provided by Fraunhofer-Institut fur Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik IOF
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Ftan, located in the Lower Engadine, Swiss Alps. Credit: Sven Kotlarski

Mountains worldwide are experiencing climate change more intensely than lowland areas, with potentially devastating consequences for billions of people who live in and/or depend on these regions, according to a major global review.

The international study, published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, examines what scientists call "elevation-dependent climate change" (EDCC)the phenomenon where environmental changes can accelerate at higher altitudes.

It represents the most thorough analysis to date of how temperature, rainfall, and snowfall patterns are shifting across the world's mountain ranges.

Key findings from the global review

Led by Associate Professor Dr. Nick Pepin from the University of Portsmouth, the research team analyzed data from multiple sources including global gridded datasets, alongside detailed case studies from specific mountain ranges including the Rocky Mountains, the Alps, the Andes, and the Tibetan Plateau.

The findings reveal alarming trends between 1980 and 2020:

Temperature: Mountain regions, on average, are warming 0.21C per century faster than surrounding lowlands

Precipitation and snow: Mountains are experiencing more unpredictable rainfall and a significant change from snow to rain

"Mountains share many characteristics with Arctic regions and are experiencing similarly rapid changes," said Dr. Pepin from the University of Portsmouth's Institute of the Earth and Environment.

"This is because both environments are losing snow and ice rapidly and are seeing profound changes in ecosystems. What's less well known is that as you go higher into the mountains, the rate of climate change can become even more intense."

Impacts on people and ecosystems

The implications extend far beyond mountain communities. Over one billion people worldwide depend on mountain snow and glaciers for water, including in China and Indiathe world's two largest countries by populationwho receive water from the Himalayas.

Dr. Pepin added, "The Himalayan ice is decreasing more rapidly than we thought. When you transition from snowfall to rain because it has become warmer, you're more likely to get devastating floods. Hazardous events also become more extreme."

"As temperatures rise, trees and animals are moving higher up the mountains, chasing cooler conditions. But eventually, in some cases, they'll run out of mountain and be pushed off the top. With nowhere left to go, species may be lost and ecosystems fundamentally changed."

Recent events highlight the urgency. Dr. Pepin points to this summer in Pakistan, which experienced some of its deadliest monsoon weather in years, with cloudbursts and extreme mountain rainfall killing over 1,000 people.

Progress, challenges and future needs

This latest review builds on the research team's 2015 paper in Nature Climate Change, which was the first to provide comprehensive evidence that mountain regions were warming more rapidly higher up in comparison to lower down. That study identified key drivers including the loss of snow and ice, increased atmospheric moisture, and aerosol pollutants.

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Ten years on, scientists have made progress understanding the controls of such change and the consequences, but the fundamental problem remains.

"The issue of climate change has not gone away," explained Dr. Pepin. "We can't just tackle mountain climate change independently of the broader issue of climate change."

A major obstacle remains the scarcity of weather observations in the mountains. "Mountains are harsh environments, remote, and hard to get to," said Dr. Nadine Salzmann from the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos, Switzerland. "Therefore, maintaining weather and climate stations in these environments remains challenging."

This data gap means scientists may be underestimating how quickly temperatures are changing and how fast snow will disappear. The review also calls for better computer models with higher spatial resolutiontypically most current models can only track changes every few kilometers, but conditions can vary dramatically between slopes just meters apart.

Dr. Emily Potter from the University of Sheffield added, "The good news is that computer models are improving. But better technology alone isn't enoughwe need urgent action on climate commitments and significantly improved monitoring infrastructure in these vulnerable mountain regions."
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How predicted probabilities of reporting life satisfaction levels 710 vary across low (1 SD), average, and high (+1 SD) perceived national/societal risk. Panel 1a shows results stratified by upward social comparison (Iu0), while Panel 1b shows results stratified by downward comparison (Id0). Credit: Professor Ken'ichi Ikeda / Doshisha University, Japan

In recent years, governments worldwide have expressed concern over rising inequality, eroding social cohesion, and declining trust in institutions.

A study published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life, led by Professor Ken'ichi Ikeda from the Faculty of Social Studies, Doshisha University, Japan, in collaboration with Associate Professor Naoki Akaeda from the Faculty of Sociology, Kansai University, Japan, contributes to that debate.

They demonstrate that subjective well-being (SWB) is deeply tied to both a country's overall risk climate and the configuration of happiness inequality, where society resembles a "weak pyramid" or an "inverted pyramid."

Understanding this relationship, the authors argue, is essential for interpreting what happiness inequality means and how social structures influence well-being under pressure.

Prof. Ikeda, also the Co-Principal Investigator of the World Values Survey (WVS) Japan team, explains the motivation behind the research. "Happiness is not only about individual emotion but also about the social landscape one inhabits. Under conditions of risk, the structure of well-being in a society determines how strongly people feel the pressure of uncertainty," he said.

The researchers analyzed Waves 6 and 7 of the WVS from 32 countries to study two forms of comparative disparity:

Upward disparity (Iu)more citizens cluster at the low end of well-being (a "weak pyramid").

Downward disparity (Id)more people cluster at the higher end (a "thick middle class" or "inverted pyramid").



Their findings show that societies with strong upward disparity suffer sharper declines in SWB when perceived societal risk rises. Individuals cannot choose the societal distribution of happiness they live in. Therefore, when instability increases, people in "weak pyramid" societies are more vulnerable to downward well-being pressure. Conversely, societies with a strong middle class, reflected in higher downward disparity, are more resilient.

Prof. Ikeda notes the broader relevance, "Many governments emphasize building a robust middle class. Our study provides quantitative, cross-national evidence that such a middle class helps sustain citizens' well-being even when society faces high levels of perceived risk."

Beyond highlighting how risk and happiness inequality interact, the study offers long-term implications. Over the next five to 10 years, governments could apply this framework to monitor SWB distributions, design risk-mitigating institutions, and assess policies aimed at stabilizing well-being during periods of social stress. The researchers argue that maintaining a thick middle class is not just economically beneficial but psychologically protective.

Prof. Ikeda's interest in this topic stems from earlier research showing that Japanese perceptions of national risk are higher than objective indicators suggest.

His 2022 book, "Contemporary Japanese Politics and Anxiety Over Governance" (from Routledge), laid the groundwork for theorizing perceived societal risk. This study advances that line of inquiry by linking risk perception to the distributional patterns of SWB across countries.

More information: Ken'ichi Ikeda et al, Perceived Societal Risk and Well-being Inequality: Exploring Political-psychological Correlates of Subjective Life Satisfaction, Applied Research in Quality of Life (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s11482-025-10509-y
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A special issue of Applied Animal Science gathers long-term cattle research studies on health, nutrition and management effects on feedlot performance. Credit: U of A System Division of Agriculture

Despite the United States' long and storied past with cattle ranching, long-term research on health, nutrition and management is rarely wrangled, hamstrung by budget constraints and the segmented nature of the industry.

Most feedlot finishing in the United States occurs in the Great Plains region, while cow-calf operations focusing on grazing are largely outside of those locations, said Daniel Rivera, an associate professor of animal science for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. He is also director of the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope.

This segmented nature of the industry makes it challenging for university research outside of the Plains and Midwest to follow the cattle from finishing to slaughter, Rivera explained.

As part of an effort to better evaluate how pre-weaned calf and stocker calf treatments influence feedlot performance, Rivera and Paul Beck, a professor and extension specialist for beef nutrition with Oklahoma State University's department of animal and food sciences, published a summary of research on the topic.

The review article, titled "Perspective and Commentary: Summary of the Special Issue on calf stocker performance effects on feedlot performance and thoughts on future research," was published in a special issue of Applied Animal Science.

"The goal of this special issue was to identify and address some of the knowledge gaps imposed on the segmented nature of the beef industry, which leads to segmented areas of research on cow-calf, stocker and feedlot operations," said Rivera, one of the journal's associate editors.

"One of the more evident things that we found in our call for papers was that there's just very few data out there on long-term studies, starting on the cow-calf side and carrying it all the way through to what ends up on the plate," Rivera said.

In their paper, Rivera and Beck break down results from seven original research articles and two review articles into three topic areas: health, nutrition, and production and management.

Research highlights roundup

The health section highlighted two studies looking at effects of vaccinating for respiratory pathogens like bovine respiratory disease, or BRD, on calves and their mothers.

One of the studies hypothesized that the lack of response from vaccinating 60 to 90-day-old calves may have been because the cattle were "well managed and not leaving the home area, which would reduce the exposure to pathogens."

Likewise, a study on vaccinating 30-to-60-day-old calves suggested that while "recent research has demonstrated some benefit to vaccination while maternal antibodies are still present  no long-term effects were noted."

Another study in the health section showed that "increasing colostrum quality and quantity may be a benefit of vaccinating the dam against BRD, with some data suggesting that it might affect morbidity and mortality at the feedlot." Colostrum is a nutrient-rich, milk-like fluid produced by cattle after giving birth.

A review article published in the special issue looked at data from multiple studies across three states between 2008 and 2023, noting that average daily weight gain of stocker cattle during grazing and at the feedlot decreased as the treatments for BRD increased before the stocker phase.

Supplementation for better nutrition

For the nutrition section of the special issue, research was gathered looking at supplementation strategies on cow-calf production and how they might affect feedlot performance.

Since no effects were detected in a three-year study on supplementation rates, the research surmised that flex supplementation, or adjusting supplementation strategies based on real-time factors, instead of a full supplementation rate, may be an efficient management tool for the winter months to reduce costs. However, this study's authors noted that these types of studies have inconsistent results.

In a separate four-year study, researchers compared the effects of wet distillers' grain with a soybean-milo mix versus no supplementation, to gauge performance of beef steers grazing rangeland late in the grazing season. Despite greater weight gain on pasture, no effects carried over into the finishing period or affected carcass characteristics, the authors noted.

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Production and management factors

Among the studies for the production and management section are those looking at the effects from different weaning processes on feedlot performance, and the effects of stocking rate of pregnant cows on growth and performance of calves.

Examining studies published between 1995 and 2024, Rivera and Beck's article noted that weaning management options that decrease stress "may have a positive effect on subsequent performance; however, little research was found examining these effects." Also, cumulative strategies for cattle grazing on toxic-infested tall fescue had limited effects on feedlot performance, although data were limited. Based on one study, cattle breed might affect feedlot performance.

Comparing beef and dairy steers to a 217-day grazing period before feedlot finishing or being send directly to a feedlot after weaning showed that the grazed steers had greater average daily weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency and required fewer days on feed compared with steers shipped directly to the feedlot.

A two-year study looking at the extended effects of different weaning methods showed that while fence-line weaved calves had the greatest average daily weight gain during the first 30 days of backgrounding on bermudagrass hay and dried distillers grain with solubles, there were no effects of weaning method or backgrounding program on feedlot performance or carcass characteristics after being shipped 18 hours to a commercial feedlot.

A long-term analysis using nearly 2,000 records of stocking rates on calves from 1978 to 2012 showed that multiple factors influenced calf performance from birth to slaughter, such as calving season, cow age, calf sex, gestational stocking rate, and lactation stocking rate. In general, the high stocking rate negatively affected calf performance before weaning.

Current Division of Agriculture faculty members who took part in studies published in the special issue included Shane Gadberry, a professor of animal science and assistant vice president of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the Cooperative Extension Service, and Dan Quadros, an assistant professor of animal science and small ruminant specialist for the Cooperative Extension Service.

In their conclusions, Rivera and Beck note that while there is consistent information within various segments of research, including feedlot performance and carcass characteristics, data regarding long-term effects needs to be collected in a more standardized way among various research locations. Well-coordinated collaboration between research facilities is needed to bridge the gap and overcome the annual budgeting cycle, they added.

Beck said that the collaborative university research would require experts in many different sections of animal science, from reproduction experts, nutritionists, physiologists, geneticists and meat scientists to agricultural economists.

More information: Daniel Rivera et al, Perspective and Commentary: Summary of the Special Issue on calf and stocker performance effects on feedlot performance and thoughts on future research, Applied Animal Science (2025). DOI: 10.15232/aas.2025-02716
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Conceptual figure of applying pulsing paradigm under climate change. Credit: Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2025jg009249

Many ecosystems on Earth are affected by pulses of activity: temperature swings between seasons, incoming and outgoing tides, the yearly advent of rainy periods. These variations can play an important role in providing nutrients and other important inputs, but climate change often makes the amplitude of these pulses more extreme, with sometimes catastrophic results.

We need better data on the effects of changes to these pulses of activity, argues Sung-Ching Lee. The author describes ongoing efforts to gather such data using the eddy covariance method, which measures exchanges between ecosystems and the atmosphere. The work focuses on fluxes in drylands and coastal blue carbon ecosystemstwo ends of the dryness spectrum that are home to high levels of biodiversity and carbon storage and that are under increasing threats from climate change.

The paper is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences.

Scientists are gathering data from networks of flux towers, with plans to expand their data collection methods, for example, pairing mobile measuring devices with existing towers and synergizing flux data with other measurements. These strategies are increasingly important, the author notes, for assessing unconventional water inputs such as tides and condensation during dry conditions, as well as considering how disturbances like wildfire smoke and dust storms affect ecosystem function.

The author argues that understanding how ecosystems are adapting to recent changes to these and other factors is crucial for refining Earth system models and constructing more accurate predictions of how ecosystems will adaptor fail to adaptin the future.

The author and his colleagues are also exploring the use of machine learning for Earth science endeavors and are pursuing hybrid approaches that combine process-based models with machine learning techniques. A key advantage of hybrid models is their usefulness in solving parameterization problems and the option to incorporate additional data sources, he notes. These advances could help unlock the potential of flux data to reveal crucial insights about our changing world.

More information: SungChing Lee, Flux Insights: Forging New Understanding of Expanding Drylands and Squeezing Coastlines, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2025jg009249

Provided by Eos

This story is republished courtesy of Eos, hosted by the American Geophysical Union. Read the original story here.
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The researchers identified five archetypes of small-scale fisheries based on their similarities on operational, economic, technological, and post-harvest attributes. Credit: Nature Food (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43016-025-01237-5

By classifying small-scale fisheries into five broad types, a Stanford-led study helps clarify a diverse sector essential to global nutrition and local economies.

Across the world's coral reefs, rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and high seas, fishers with simple tools and small boats harvest some 40% of the world's wild-caught fish. These small-scale fishers may feed as much as a quarter of the global population, providing essential nutrients and upholding local economies. Yet despite their importance, they face growing threats from climate change, pollution, and overfishing.

A solution for 'policy paralysis and inaction'

Aside from the volume of their annual catch and reliance on family labor, small-scale fisheries are marked by contrasts. Producers target more than 2,500 species in an array of habitats using a wide range of nets, traps, hooks, and boats, with different levels of access to refrigeration. While some fisheries operate individually and provide food locally, others are corporations with paid crews and extensive market reach.

"All these factors make developing clear pathways for sustainable consumption very difficult," said Xavier Basurto, a professor of environmental social sciences at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and a senior author of a new analysis of 1,255 marine producers in 43 countries.

The challenge extends beyond fisheries. "The varying definitions of small-scale producers in farming, fisheries, and forestry give rise to confusion and lack of clarity in many legal documents and have been linked to policy paralysis and inaction," Basurto and co-authors write in the study, published Oct. 14 in Nature Food.

The new study is the latest in a series of papers on small-scale fisheries curated by Basurto and colleagues for Nature journals. The research is part of an international initiative called "Illuminating Hidden Harvests," which Basurto co-leads with Nicole Franz of the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions and colleagues from Duke University, WorldFish, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Launched in 2017, the initiative gathers and analyzes data about the benefits, interactions, and impacts of small-scale fisheries to inform policies and voluntary guidelines aimed at improving food security and eradicating poverty.

Beyond vessel size

Together with lead study author Alba Aguion of Duke University, Basurto and co-authors identified five broad groups and three main functions of small-scale fisheries based on 13 attributes such as motorization, trip distance, refrigeration, and how harvests end up being used. Some provide food for the harvester's own household, for example, while others are traded in local markets, exported, or processed in a factory for human consumption or products such as fishmeal for animal feed or fertilizer.

Many small-scale fisheries function mainly as nutrition and income safety nets. These are low-tech, low-capital operations in which people use bare hands or simple tools to catch species like clams and crabs in coastal shallows, or cast nets and traps from non-motorized boats. These fisheries typically operate without paid crews or much government oversight, and often focus on subsistence or local trade, according to the authors.

Other small-scale fisheries act as economic engines. They use motorized boats equipped with storage and refrigeration that operate farther from shore and often spend days at sea targeting species like herring and sardines. Through license and landing fees, they're more integrated into national economies.

Seasonal operators in China, India, Iran, and Turkey fall in between the income safety nets and the economic engines. According to the analysis, these fisheries have motorized vessels and venture far from shore, but tend to target fish for local consumption.

The authors caution that vessel size alone can be a misleading indicator. "For example, in Argentina and Kenya, some small vessels operate like industrial fleets, whereas in Bangladesh, larger cooperative-managed vessels contribute substantially to local nutrition," the researchers explain in the study.

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Toward more effective policies and better seafood guides

To understand these nuances, the authors developed a 039 point scoring system from artisanal to industrial outfits. They found that the smallest of small-scale fisheries, scoring in single digits, exist in 19 countries and contribute 4% of the global marine small-scale catch.

On the more industrial end of the spectrum, small-scale fisheries owned by corporations with multiple paid crew members and broader market chains operate in only four countries, including Indonesia, the Maldives, Argentina, and Peru. These countries scored 29 or higher in the authors' system and account for around 2% of the global small-scale catch.

Similar analyses could aid policy development in other food sectors, enabling more effective and targeted policies, Basurto said. For example, a government aiming to increase productivity, employment, and value from food systems could help artisanal small-scale fisheries bring products to market. Countries with small-scale fisheries on the more industrial end may see more benefits from programs that offer access to real-time price data, for example, or financing for fuel-efficient boats.

"The benefits of this research can be wide-ranging and go from new global policies to national or subnational policies," Basurto said. At the consumer level, the breakdown could help to inform seafood guides for choosing options with lower environmental impact. "With better information, seafood guides can point out which fisheries help sustain local communities and which operate more like bigger industrial fleets," said Aguion. "It lets people make choices that reflect their priorities."

More information: Alba Aguion et al, Five archetypes of small-scale fisheries reveal a continuum of production strategies to guide governance and policymaking, Nature Food (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43016-025-01237-5 Journal information: Nature Food , Nature
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Aerial view of the Parelheiros region in the municipality of Sao Paulo. Urban fringes have multiple uses, including housing, forests, pastures, and food cultivation. Credit: Luciana Schwandner Ferreira/BIOTA Synthesis

A study conducted at the University of Sao Paulo (USP) by researchers from the Nucleus of Analysis and Synthesis of Nature-Based Solutions (BIOTA Synthesis), a FAPESP Science Center for Development (SCD), identified approximately 410,000 hectares in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, with potential for forest restoration in urban fringe areas.

These peripheral areas of urban centers are characterized by diverse land uses, such as residential neighborhoods, agricultural land, recreational spaces, urban infrastructure, and aquatic zones. They are not normally included in surveys of potential restoration areas. The findings of the study are equivalent to nearly one-third of the state's goal of restoring 1.5 million hectares by 2050.

The results of the study are published in the journal Scientific Reports.

"These are interesting areas because they're close to cities and people, which maximizes the benefits of restoration. We saw that regeneration has exceeded deforestation since 2005, despite urban pressure," Luciana Schwandner Ferreira explains to Agencia FAPESP. She is a researcher at the Institute of Advanced Studies (IEA) at USP and the lead author of the study.

The research analyzed three decades (19902020) of deforestation and regeneration data collected by the MapBiomas project across the state of Sao Paulo.

MapBiomas is a collaborative network formed by non-governmental organizations, universities, and technology startups that maps land cover and land use in Brazil.

Key findings on urban fringe restoration

For the first time, the research distinguished between dense urban areas, urban fringes, and rural areas. The results show that forest transition has already occurred in all regions studied. Urban fringes show the highest rates of regeneration, albeit with limited support from public policies.

"Even without specific policies, urban fringes already show significant regeneration rates, indicating significant potential for forest restoration. This process could be stimulated and expanded through public policies focused on these areas, bringing restoration closer to the 96% of the state's population that currently lives in cities," says Jean Paul Metzger, a professor at the Institute of Biosciences (IB) at USP and coordinator of BIOTA Synthesis, who led the study.

The Sao Paulo macrometropolis, a region comprising 174 municipalities, is an interesting case for considering restoration on urban fringes. Its proximity to well-preserved areas, such as the Serra do Mar State Park and other conservation units, may facilitate natural regeneration and reduce costs.

In cases where active planting is necessary, proximity to the most populous area of the state facilitates access to labor and job creation.

Socioeconomic and environmental benefits

According to the researchers, restoration projects are easier to implement in areas where the opportunity cost of land is lowthat is, where the land's value and potential gains from other uses are low. However, the environmental and social benefits are amplified when these projects are carried out near cities.

In addition to promoting biodiversity and protecting the environment, restoring urban and peri-urban areas can contribute to human health and well-being, regulate the climate, mitigate extreme events, improve water and air quality, and provide recreational spaces.

The 410,000 hectares with restoration potential are equivalent to 51% of the total area of these regions. Of these, 235,000 hectares are located in the Sao Paulo macrometropolis, directly benefiting 32.7 million people.

Thirty-nine thousand hectares of the total potential areas are in regions that are both at risk and subject to permanent preservation (APP), such as riverbanks and hilltops. These areas require urgent restoration under the Brazilian Forest Code (Law No. 12,651/2012).

Challenges and considerations for restoration

"More detailed studies on ecological and socioeconomic suitability still need to be carried out to guide which strategies are most appropriate in each case," says Ferreira.

The study acknowledges that urban fringes are highly contested territories, often earmarked for urban expansion or agriculture, particularly small-scale family farming. Therefore, restoration efforts will need to coexist with other uses.

The researchers take into account the need to mitigate social risks, such as the displacement of vulnerable populations or gentrification processes associated with environmental improvement.

The authors also emphasize that urban fringes have many different actors and socio-environmental characteristics. This requires the types of restoration to be defined in a contextualized manner.

In some cases, natural regeneration and ecological restoration are prioritized. In others, it is productive models that integrate the cultivation of native species for food and wood. In certain contexts, the focus is on objectives related to urban green infrastructure.

More information: Luciana Schwandner Ferreira et al, Urban boundaries are an underexplored frontier for ecological restoration, Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-19699-9 Journal information: Scientific Reports

Provided by FAPESP
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Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra counts and photographs raptor carcasses for sale in a Benin voodoo market. Credit: Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra

For some people, the mention of voodoo evokes something like a scene from the James Bond novel "Live and Let Die," featuring occult ceremonies with snakes and animal sacrifice. Animal sacrifice was widespread among human societies thousands of years ago, but declined with the rise of Christianity. However, the ritual sacrifice and slaughter of animals persist in many religious practices today, including in voodoo, which spread with the slave trade from West Africa to the Americas and the Caribbean.

While some who have witnessed animal sacrifice in voodoo rituals firsthand, such as the Togolese author of "An African in Greenland," have fled to escape it, others defend such practices in the name of religious freedom.

While voodoo may mean different things to different people, it means only one thingdeathto the animals used in voodoo rituals. Across Africa, at least 354 bird species are persecuted for rapidly growing international markets to supply wildlife for belief-based treatments in voodoo and related practices.

In Benin, West Africa, although ~50% of the population identifies as Christian, voodoo is recognized by the government as a national religion. Voodoo markets include both live animals offered for use in ritual sacrifice as well as animal carcasses and body parts.

Vultures and other raptors are among the most traded and valuable products sold in voodoo markets. Benin's laws ban the hunting, capture, possession, and trade of vultures, but there has never been a prosecution relating to this legislation. Despite the fact that much of this trade is illegal, markets in Benin feature at least 268 bird species, 96 mammal species, and 59 reptile species, and vultures feature prominently.

Voodoo practitioners believe the regular consumption of vulture meat makes them invulnerable to witchcraft, and prescriptions including vultures promise benefits such as winning the lottery and business or political success.

Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra conducts an interview in a Benin voodoo market. Credit: Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra

Hooded vultures are the most commercially exploited vulture species in West Africa, despite the fact that they are critically endangered. We interviewed 115 traders selling hooded vultures and/or their body parts at nine different voodoo markets in Benin to understand the extent and drivers of this illegal trade. Our findings, which are published in Bird Conservation International, provide evidence of extensive international trade in vultures that is taking place across a wide region of Africa.

Over four months, we counted a total of 522 hooded vultures in market stalls. The majority (~73%) of these consisted of whole dried vulture carcasses, while ~17% were heads, and ~9% live birds. High demand for vultures has driven prices paid for a single hooded vulture to exceed the average monthly income in Benin, and live vultures can fetch prices up to seven times higher than the average monthly income in Benin.

All traders we interviewed were Fon, the largest of Benin's approximately 42 ethnic groups, and almost all (99%) were male. The vast majority (95%) self-identified as voodoo practitioners, and most identified themselves as witchdoctors (59%) and had no formal education (58%).

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Vultures offered for sale in Benin originated from at least 10 foreign countries, especially Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Niger, suggesting there are far-reaching impacts of illegal trade on vulture populations in West Africa. In Ghana, for example, hooded vultures are persecuted, trapped, and killed at landfills and outdoor slaughterhouses for illegal trade to meet demand in Nigeria. Over a 20-year period, prices paid for hooded vultures increased by over 100 times in Nigeria, and prices paid in Ghana and Benin appear to be even higher.

Wildlife products offered for sale at a Benin voodoo market. Credit: Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra

Current legislation protecting vultures appears to be ineffective, despite serious legal, conservation, and animal welfare concerns. The vast majority (92%) of vendors we interviewed reported that they were aware of legislation protecting vultures, but did not consider that such legislation applied to them. Benin's wildlife markets also featured at least 12 other raptor species, including rare and endangered species, for sale, together with a vast array of other wildlife.

Endangered and critically endangered vulture species offered for sale included the White-backed Vulture, Ruppell's Vulture, White-headed Vulture, and Lappet-faced Vulture.

Low education levels, weak law enforcement, and disregard for legislation contribute to trade that threatens vultures and other wildlife across West Africa. Previous research in Africa has found that many people relying on belief-based approaches to their problems tend to be poor and that payments associated with visiting witchdoctors tended to total >10% of their household budgets, driving ongoing poverty.

On the other hand, recent increases in wildlife trade for belief-based use are partly attributed to wealthy buyers relying on animal sacrifice to solicit success. For example, a recent study found that nearly half of buyers at Togo's main voodoo market comprised businessmen and politicians seeking to increase their power and wealth.

Previous research published nearly 10 years ago estimated an annual take of 9751,462 hooded vultures across West Africa. Our counts of vultures for sale suggests that trade in vultures has grown significantly since then. While voodoo has roots in African traditions, introduced technologies have enabled novel means of hunting and trapping wildlife, which, together with modern communications, have enabled a massive international trade that is far from traditional. On the contrary, current levels of wildlife trade threaten to drive extirpations and extinctions of the unique wildlife that is integral to Africa's cultural and natural heritage.

A pair of Hooded Vultures in the wild in West Africa. Credit: Nico Arcilla

A captive live Hooded Vulture offered for use in ritual sacrifice in a Benin voodoo market. Credit: Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra

Public awareness campaigns to educate residents about the benefits of protecting wildlife, conservation laws, and improved law enforcement are urgently needed to mitigate ongoing threats to this and other critically endangered species. Fortunately, a current CITES proposal would effectively ban international trade in two other critically endangered African vulture species, the White-backed and Ruppell's Vulture.

We highly recommend similar legislation focused on the hooded vulture, the most heavily traded species in the region, to prevent its ongoing decline. We also recommend regional collaboration to implement training and awareness sessions in slaughterhouses across West Africa, such as those that have already taken place in Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Where there is a will, there is a way that together, we can save Africa's iconic vultures!

This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about Science X Dialog and how to participate.

More information: Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra et al, Conservation implications of the illegal trade in Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus for belief-based use in Benin, West Africa, Bird Conservation International (2025). DOI: 10.1017/s0959270925000073

Nico Arcilla is director of the International Bird Conservation Partnership (IBCP), whose mission is to foster and support research, outreach, and partnerships to advance the conservation of birds worldwide. She earned her master's from Cornell University and her PhD from the University of Georgia, and is an affiliate fellow at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.

Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra is an IBCP research fellow specializing in mapping and biodiversity conservation, particularly of birds and their habitats in Benin. He earned a masters degree from the University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, and both a masters and PhD from the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin, where he also is a research affiliate.
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Sun-dried raisins soaked in water will naturally ferment into wine. Credit: KyotoU

It's astonishing to realize how innovative our ancestors were in food and beverage production before modern science and technology. Without understanding or isolating them, ancient peoples made use of yeasts like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the primary species behind the fermentation process that creates alcohol, though there are some non-Saccharomyces yeasts that can also produce alcohol with different characteristics.

While modern wineries typically use cultured S. cerevisiae, it is thought that ancient wine production relied on the natural fermentation process of storing crushed grapes in jars. However, research has revealed that S. cerevisiae rarely colonizes grape skins, casting doubt on the use of fresh grapes for alcohol fermentation.

Research into raisin fermentation methods

This inspired a team of researchers from Kyoto University to investigate the humble raisin's ability to ferment into wine. In a previous study, the team had found that S. cerevisiae was abundant on raisins, indicating that in ancient times they could have been used for wine production.

To test their theory, the team collected fresh grapes from an orchard and dried them for 28 days, using an incubator for some raisins, sun-drying for others, and a combination of incubator and sun-drying for the remainder. They then submerged the raisins in water and stored them in bottles at room temperature for two weeks, with three samples for each type of drying process.

The results revealed that soaking sun-dried raisins in water is a successful method of creating wine. While only one incubator-dried sample and two of the combination samples successfully fermented, all three samples of sun-dried raisins in water fermented and yielded significantly higher ethanol concentrations.

Microbial changes in laboratory-made raisins based on the drying process. (A) Representative images of grapes during the drying processes. (B) The water content in the sun-dried (open circle), sun/incubator-dried (open triangle), and incubator-dried (open square) grapes. (C) Changes in CFUs of yeasts and bacteria. (D) ITS amplicon sequencing (Genus levels). (E) Pre-fermented (Day 0) and fermented (Day 7 or 14) raisin water. (F) Ethanol concentrations in the spent medium (n = 3, mean  SD). The P values were calculated using the Tukey HSD test. After drying 67 g of fresh grapes, the water content of the resulting laboratory-made raisins was estimated. The raisins were then soaked in sterile water to prepare a 25% (w/w) raisin solution in each bottle. Credit: Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-23715-3

Implications and future research directions

In the samples that were successful, the scientists also measured an overall decline in species diversity, but a higher abundance of alcohol-fermenting yeasts. These results suggest that, long before Jesus supposedly did so, ancient peoples may have figured out how to turn water into wine using sun-dried raisins.

The paper is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

"By clarifying the natural fermentation mechanism that various microorganisms facilitate at the molecular level, we'd like to connect our study to the creation of unique alcoholic beverages," says first author Mamoru Hio.

Though it is clear the sun-drying process facilitates S. cerevisiae colonization of the raisins, how they migrate from the surrounding environment to the raisins remains unknown. Furthermore, this study used a smaller production size and was conducted outside of typical raisin-producing regions. The researchers say that future studies should focus on low-abundance yeasts that could be detected in larger samples, and that conducting a study in a drier climate would better reflect the natural conditions of ancient wine production.

"We aim to uncover the molecular mechanism behind this interaction between microbial flora and microorganisms that reside in various fruits, including grapes," says team leader Wataru Hashimoto. "Through natural fermentation, we also hope to develop new food products and prevent food loss."

Hashimoto also mentions a caveat: "Note that this only works with naturally sun-dried raisins that are untreated. Most store-bought raisins have an oil coating which prevents fermentation from taking place."

More information: Mamoru Hio et al, Spontaneous fermentation of raisin water to form wine, Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-23715-3 Journal information: Scientific Reports
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Credit: Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics

In a re-evaluation of Hockett's foundational features that have long dominated linguistic theoryconcepts like "arbitrariness," "duality of patterning," and "displacement"an international team of linguists and cognitive scientists shows that modern science demands a radical shift in how we understand language and how it evolved.

The conclusion? Language is not a spoken code. It's a dynamic, multimodal, socially embedded system that evolves through interaction, culture, and meaning-making.

Updating Hockett

The past few decades have transformed our understanding of communication. We now know that language is not limited to speech: the sign languages used by deaf communities are fully-fledged linguistic systems, and tactile sign systemslike Protactile, used by a community of DeafBlind signers in the northwest U.S.proves language can be transmitted through touch.

Scholars have discovered that animal communication is far more sophisticated than once believed: Dolphins use signature whistles, birds construct complex songs with syntax-like structure, and apes engage in intentional, context-sensitive communication with gestures. And now with the rise of generative AI, the very idea that language belongs only to biological minds is now under debate.

"This isn't about discarding Hockett," says Dr. Michael Pleyer, lead author and researcher at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun. "It's about updating him. His framework was revolutionary in 1960but science has moved on.

"Today, we see that features once thought uniquely humanlike productivity (the ability to create an infinite number of sentences), displacement (the ability to talk about things not in the here and now), and even recursive structure (the ability to embed sentences within sentences)are also found to some extent in animal communication. The real story isn't about what separates us from other species. It's about how language, in all its complexity, connects us."

Published by an interdisciplinary team in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, the paper presents a new paradigm for language science: one that centers on multimodality, social interaction, and cultural evolutionnot a static checklist. It calls for a reimagining of language not as a fixed set of "design" features, but rather as a living, adaptive system that is shaped by how we use it, with whom, and in what context.

Beyond the list: A new vision of language

The paper identifies three transformative themes in modern science that now guide the shift away from a static "feature list" towards a more flexible view:

Multimodality and semiotic diversity: Rather than being limited to speech, languages are signed just as well as spoken. The use of gestures and facial expressions are an integral part of speech, not just "supplementary" add-ons. And more than language being a symbolic "arbitrary" code, we now know that iconicitywhere sound or form resembles meaning (e.g., imitative gestures, onomatopoeias like "buzz," "crash," a slow drawl for "slooooow," and emoji in written communication)is also essential to human communication. This multimodal and highly flexible nature is core to human language, allowing us to make just about any behavior into a communicative act. Language as social and functional: Communication is not just about sending and receiving messages with a fixed code. It's about people creating shared meaning in context. A simple phrase like "Isn't that Tom's bike?" can mean "Let's meet here" or "Let's avoid this place"depending on our history with Tom and with each other. Language also signals our identity, sometimes whether we like it or not (imagine, for example, always being identified as coming from a certain region or as being a non-native speaker just because of our accent). Language can thus promote closeness but also distance from each other. Language also has the power to shape our thought (such as when learning a new color term improves people's color discrimination). Language as an adaptive, evolving system: Many of language's most prominent features such as its productivity and compositional structure don't just "exist," but they arise in the process of social interaction and cultural transmission as the result of the cumulative interactions of many individuals over different timescalesfrom minutes to generations. Moreover, languages adapt to their social environment, with different community structures giving rise to the amazing cross-linguistic diversity we see today.

Credit: Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics

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Societal relevance

These findings come at a pivotal moment. Sign languages are now recognized as full-fledged languagesequal in complexity to spoken ones. Animal communication is seen as far more sophisticated than once believed: birds, dolphins, primates, and even insects use structured signals with context, intention, and innovation. Generative AI blurs the line between human and machine language, raising urgent questions: What is language, and whoor whatcan use it?

Co-author Dr. Marcus Perlman from the University of Birmingham explains, "The last few decades have been an exciting time for linguistics, especially for those of us interested in the origins of human language. Language scientists today know about lots of stuff that was mostly obscure to scientists back thenfor example, huge advances in our understanding of sign languages and now tactile signing systems, and recently, the advent of large language models like ChatGPT. It makes sense that linguistic theory would require a major update."

Science, inclusion, and public understanding

The paper has significant social and educational value, as it:

Challenges outdated textbook narratives that equate language with speech.

Affirms the legitimacy of sign languages and non-speech modalitiesadvancing equity and inclusion.

Offers educators a modern framework for teaching language evolution, communication, and cognition.

"Language is not a static thing," adds senior author Dr. Limor Raviv from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics. "It's a dynamic, embodied, and deeply social act, which is flexible in form, function, and evolution. When we accept that, we see not just what makes us humanbut how we are in fact connected to the wider story of animal communication."

About the study

This research synthesizes decades of findings from linguistics, cognitive science, animal behavior, and neuroscience. It builds on recent work, including a 2022 study showing that Hockett's features remain dominant in introductory textbooksdespite growing evidence that they no longer capture the full picture.

More information: Michael Pleyer et al, The 'design features' of language revisited, Trends in Cognitive Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2025.10.004 Journal information: Trends in Cognitive Sciences
-Guests Wear Uniforms of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Mascot Character "Myaku-Myaku" Makes Spectacular Appearance-

OSAKA, Japan, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Midosuji Runway 2025" event was held on Osaka's main street, Midosuji, on Monday, November 3, a national holiday, attracting 200,000 people along the roadside and creating great excitement. This is an annual autumn event that began in 2015 and continues to showcase the charms of Osaka.

Image 1:

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https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106925/202511149110/_prw_PI2fl_6PygRb17.jpg

Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama took the stage to deliver opening remarks on behalf of the organizers. "There is no doubt that this year is the year of the Expo," Yoshimura said, emphasizing that the event carries on the excitement of the recently concluded Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

The event kicked off with a special parade by Universal Studios Japan. Floats carrying popular characters such as Snoopy and Mario, along with Minions and about 100 crew members, captivated the audience with performances only for the day.

Following the parade, Kunihiro Shimizu, Yuji Nishida, and other members of Osaka BLUTEON, a professional men's volleyball team, excited the audience as they walked on the runway while playing volleyball.

At the "Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, Midosuji Runway Special Fashion Show," the expo's official character, Myaku-Myaku, appeared with a strong presence. Its unique form and vivid colors, which are symbols of the Expo, stood out on Midosuji, drawing cheers each time it waved. Furthermore, former Takarazuka (all-female troupe) top star Yuzuru Kurenai, fashion model Yuchami, and others appeared one after another, wearing the uniforms of Expo pavilions and vividly reminding the audience of the "memories of the Expo."

After a powerful performance by BMX x Cheer Re-Man's, a cheerleading performance group, the pop group SUPER EIGHT performed a special live on a float. When SUPER EIGHT collaborated with more than 200 high school dance club members from Osaka Prefecture, the excitement in the audience peaked. In the finale, all performers and guests lined up on the runway, creating a spectacular sight. Governor Yoshimura called out powerfully, "Let's do our best, Osaka!" and the event closed with loud applause.

SOURCE Executive Committee of the Midosuji Party
Des Moines Locals Can Now Enjoy Build-Your-Own Burritos, Bowls, Quesadillas, and Tacos Crafted with Bold Flavors and House-Made Salsas

DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Barrio Burrito Bar, the fast-casual Mexican restaurant known for its bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and customizable burritos, bowls, tacos, and quesadillas, is thrilled to announce the opening of its newest location in West Des Moines. Located at 7120 University Ave., Suite 103, the new restaurant invites guests to build their perfect burrito, bowl, quesadilla, or taco with a wide selection of proteins, toppings, and house-made salsas prepared fresh every day.

Meet the Local Owner:

The West Des Moines Barrio Burrito Bar is owned and operated by Sonal, Vishal, and Amit Patel, seasoned master franchisees with a Midwest development agreement to introduce several new locations across Iowa, Nebraska, and Indiana in the coming years. Sonal and Amit have lived in Ames, Iowa since 2006, putting down deep roots in the community. The new West Des Moines location will be the trio's second in the area, following their Ankeny location, which opened in May at 1510 N Ankeny Blvd., Suite 102.

For Sonal, franchising was a natural next step. She has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for supporting small businesses  a drive she cultivated during her accounting career. Her experience working with businesses in the hotel, retail, and construction industries gave her a strong foundation in operations and strategy, knowledge she now brings to every Barrio Burrito Bar she opens.

Amit also brings extensive experience in business ownership. Before moving to Ames, he owned convenience stores in Florida, and he continued his entrepreneurial journey in Iowa by owning and operating a prominent hotel in Ames.

Vishal has also laid deep roots in the community, having lived in Ankeny since 2014. He brings extensive experience in business development across the construction, healthcare, and hospitality industries. He joined the venture because of his passion for Mexican cuisine, and his successful history of building thriving businesses provides him with the perfect experience to help expand the brand across Iowa and beyond.

"We decided to bring Barrio Burrito Bar to Des Moines because we saw a need for real Tex-Mex flavor," said Sonal. "At all our locations, we focus on great service, fresh ingredients, and generous portions. There are other places out there, but nothing beats the experience we give our customers."

Barrio Burrito Bar offers a wide variety of options to satisfy every craving, from classic grilled chicken, steak, and bang bang shrimp burritos to vegetarian and gluten-friendly creations. Guests can customize every part of their meal, including bases such as Mexican rice or lettuce, black or pinto beans, proteins like crunchy chicken, juicy carnitas, or fajitas, and add richness with popular queso and fresh guacamole. Top it off with house-made red salsa, jalapeno salsa, or pineapple salsa. Finish off with their signature sauces, ranging from burrito sauce to signature hot sauce and ancho chipotle, for a meal with truly unmatched flavors.

The restaurant's vibrant and welcoming atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for lunch breaks, family dinners, or casual nights out. Guests can dine in, order ahead online, or choose delivery through third-party apps.

For more information about Barrio Burrito Bar in West Des Moines, please visit https://www.barrioburritobar.com/ or call (515) 444-2968.

About Barrio Burrito Bar

Barrio Burrito Bar is known for its bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and customizable menu options. Signature items like Bang-Bang Shrimp, Crunchy Chicken, and Extreme Fries, alongside house-made salsas and a wide range of toppings, offer guests a crave-worthy dining experience. After entering the U.S. market in 2020, the brand now operates as Barrio Burrito Bar and is expanding nationwide, with more than 1,600 franchised units under development across the country. For franchise information, please contact [email protected]. For more information, visit https://www.barrioburritobar.com/ or follow @BarrioBurritoBar on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Media Contact: Logan Ruby | Fishman PR | [email protected] | (630) 945-0474

SOURCE Barrio Burrito Bar
American fugitive found living in Tulum extradited to face charges of offences against minors

Tulum, Q.R.  An American fugitive located living in Tulum has been extradited to the U.S. Authorities say the man was wanted in the state of Arizona for serious offences against minors.

In compliance with a request for cooperation issued by the U.S. Marshals Service, authorities in Quintana Roo located and arrested 48-year-old Justin N.

According to Raciel Lopez Salazar, the State Attorney General (FGE), the foreign national was wanted for multiple serious crimes committed in Arizona. During a press conference Monday, the FGE said Justin N had an outstanding arrest warrant in Maricopa County.

A judge from the U.S. Superior Court had issued a warrant for his arrest for dangerous sexual conduct with a minor and other crimes against children including the recruitment of a minor for sexual exploitation and obscene acts against a minor.

Following the corresponding investigations, members of the Quintana Roo Investigative Police, in coordination with the National Migration Institute (INM), proceeded with his arrest.

The individual was subsequently turned over to the INM to continue the administrative process before being handed over to U.S. authorities for his official extradition.

The crimes for which he has been accused were committed on U.S. soil. Authorities emphasized that his arrest and subsequent extradition is part of international cooperation efforts to apprehend individuals wanted for high-impact crimes.
Feds arrest traffickers moving 270 kilos of cocaine bound for flight inside Mexico City International

Mexico City, Mexico  Four people were arrested and 270 kilos of cocaine seized bound for a flight to Tijuana. Authorities say they located 271 wrapped packages of cocaine heading for Baja California on a weekend flight.

On Monday, the Secretariat of the Navy and the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) reported on the arrests of four people involved in drug trafficking at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM).

The November 21 operation was led by members of the Navy and with support from the Attorney Generals Office (FGR). The detainees, they say, are part of a known network that smuggled packages of drugs on commercial flights bound for Tijuana, Baja California.

As a result of inter-institutional coordination, elements of the Secretariat of the Navy, in coordination with the Attorney Generals Office (FGR), seized 271 packages weighing approximately 270 kilograms of cocaine.

The seizure comes after field and office work that uncovered evidence of a drug trafficking network that brought packages into the country on commercial flights to Tijuana, Baja California, authorities said.

The packages made it onto the flights without performing the required X-ray inspection or the necessary procedures for their shipment, the FGR explained.

As a result of these actions, on November 21, personnel from the Naval Airport Protection Unit arrested four people at Terminal 2 of the AICM with various packages, in which the alleged drugs were located, the FGR reported.

Authorities say the seized narcotics represents an estimated economic impact of 92,048,498 in national currency on organized crime.
Five camouflaged poachers with seven hunting dogs in custody from inside national park

Tepoztlan, Morelos  Five people were arrested in a joint operation against illegal hunting in El Tepozteco National Park. The arrests of the five poachers took place Sunday within a national park in the state of Morelos where the men were hunting a native rabbit on Mexicos endangered species list.

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) participated in a joint operation in which five people were arrested for carrying out poaching activities with weapons and hunting dogs. The five males were located within the Protected Natural Area (ANP) of the El Tepozteco National Park in Tepoztlan, Morelos, which is part of the Bosque de Agua region.

The incident was reported by personnel from the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), who reported the sighting of armed individuals accompanied by hunting dogs within the protected area.

Ejido members from Tepoztlan and municipal police officers were mobilized along with personnel from Profepa, Conanp, National Guard and the Mexican Army.

Five camouflaged poachers were arrested and six guns seized along with seven dogs from inside the national park.

As a result of the joint operation, five men, one of them a minor, were turned over to the Attorney Generals Office (FGR). They were found in a hunting-restricted area wearing camouflage clothing and in possession of six hunting rifles, four of which lacked the necessary registrations and permits.

The group were traveling in a vehicle with seven dogs. The dogs were placed in the care of Propaem, the state authority responsible for animal protection and welfare.

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) issued a technical report on the issue of illegal hunting in the protected natural area (ANP), given that the area is closed to hunting.

Authorities say it is one of the natural distribution zones of the volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi), an endemic species of the Bosque de Agua region, which is endangered according to the Mexican Official Standard NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010.

Furthermore, the presence of hunting dogs in the area poses serious risks to the wildlife that is part of the regions forest ecosystems.

One of the five arrested was a minor male.

The Attorney Generals Office reiterates its commitment to the protection of wildlife and forest resources, in order to prevent the commission of environmental crimes and strengthen inter-institutional coordination to preserve the ecosystems that make up the Bosque de Agua region.
Heavily armed CJNG leader wanted for murders and kidnappings in PDC and Tulum captured in Cancun

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  The State Attorney Generals Office says a heavily armed CJNG criminal leader has been captured while driving in Cancun. Police say Ernesto Guadalupe N was wanted in connection to at least five murders between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

Ernesto Guadalupe N has been identified as a CJNG gang leader operating out of Playa del Carmen.

As a result of intelligence work and coordinated actions with members of the Interinstitutional Group, Ernesto Guadalupe N, alias El Rayo, identified as the alleged operational leader of the CJNG in the municipality of Playa del Carmen, was captured.

The arrest, carried out by Investigation Police assigned to the Quintana Roo State Attorney Generals Office with support from members of the Defense, Navy, National Guard, Secretariat of Citizen Security and Municipal Police, took place on Tulum Avenue on the corner of Agua Street in SM 4 of central Cancun.

After a voluntary inspection of his person and the Chevrolet Captiva vehicle in which he was traveling, agents secured an arsenal consisting of 11 firearms for the exclusive use of the Army, Navy and Air Force (Mexican military).

Of the 11, six were long guns, two 7.62 x 39 mm caliber and four .223 caliber, as well as five short pistol-type guns, all with loaded magazines.

He was found in possession of 11 loaded weapons at the time of his arrest in central Cancun.

Similarly, he was found in possession of substances similar to the drugs known as crack cocaine, marijuana and pink pills, as well as several cell phones.

Investigations indicate that Ernesto Guadalupe N is linked to more than five homicides and disappearances of people in Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

The detainee and all the evidence secured were placed at the disposal of the corresponding Public Prosecutors Office who will determine his legal status.

The Quintana Roo State Attorney Generals Office reaffirms its commitment to continue investigations, strengthen intelligence efforts and maintain coordination with federal and municipal authorities to dismantle criminal groups operating in the state and guarantee peace and security for all Quintana Roo residents.
Week to finish with rain and cool temps as Canadian polar air pushes toward Yucatan Peninsula

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Cold front 16 will be to blame for several days of rain and cool temperatures forecast for this week. A bout of cold Canadian air heading toward the Yucatan Peninsula could create rain for the region as early as Wednesday.

Mexicos National Meteorological Service (SMN) says a low-pressure trough in the southeast and the influx of moisture from the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea will cause scattered showers and thunderstorms in the western states including the Yucatan Peninsula.

The rain could start as early as Wednesday afternoon, continuing for Thursday and Friday, which is forecast to be the most wet and windy day of the week. For Wednesday and Thursday, between 5mm and 25mm of rain is possible for Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo.

The mass of cold air is sweeping across from the west creating rain and strong winds.

However, on Friday, showers with isolated heavy rains of 25mm to 50mm is likely for areas of Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tabasco and Quintana Roo.

According to the SMN (Servicio Meteorologico Nacional), on Wednesday cold front number 16 will be reinforced by a mass of polar maritime air from northwestern Canada.

It will move slowly across the northeast and east of the country, interacting with a low-pressure trough extending over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and southeastern Mexico. This will cause rainfall and a significant drop in temperatures.

On Thursday, cold front 16 will extend over the Yucatan Peninsula and the southwest Gulf of Mexico, continuing to interact with a low-pressure trough in southeastern Mexico.

Friday is forecast to be very wet and windy in the north of Quintana Roo.

This interaction will generate intense isolated rains in areas including Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo. The mass of polar maritime air driving the front will maintain the Norte event with wind gusts of 40 to 60 km/h and waves of 1.0 to 2.0 meters on the coasts of Tamaulipas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo (north).

Along with wind and rain, cold to very cold conditions in the north, northeast, east and center of the country, are forecast.

On Friday, cold front 16 will extend as a stationary front over the Gulf of Mexico, north of the Yucatan Peninsula. It will continue interacting with a low-pressure trough in southeastern Mexico, maintaining the probability of showers and isolated heavy rains.

Meanwhile, the polar air mass associated with the front will modify its thermal characteristics throughout the day, favoring a gradual rise in temperatures. However, it will maintain northerly winds with gusts of 50 to 70 km/h along the coasts of southern Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo, diminishing during the afternoon along with high waves.
With many families left traumatised by killings apparently linked to supposed magic rituals in Sierra Leone, BBC Africa Eye looks into those behind the trade in human body parts.

Warning: This article contains details some readers may find disturbing.

The mother of an 11-year-old boy murdered as part of a suspected black magic killing four years ago is devastated that no-one has yet been brought to justice for his death.

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"Today I'm in pain. They killed my child and now there is just silence," Sallay Kalokoh told BBC Africa Eye, explaining how her son Papayo was found with parts of his body removed, including his vital organs, eyes and one arm.

He had gone out to sell fish at the market and never came back.

His family searched for him for two weeks - and finally found his mutilated corpse at the bottom of a well.

"We always tell our children to be careful. If you are selling, don't go to a corner or take gifts from strangers. It happens frequently in this country," Ms Kalokoh said.

This murder in my hometown of Makeni, in central Sierra Leone, has haunted me as we often hear of reports of killings linked to black magic, also known as juju, that are never followed up or properly investigated by the authorities.

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In Papayo's case, the police did not even confirm that it was a "ritual killing" - when a person is murdered so that parts of their body can be used in so-called magic rituals by illicit juju practitioners.

They promise things like prosperity and power to clients who pay large sums in the false belief that human body parts can make such charms more potent.

But with the authorities severely under-resourced - there is only one pathologist in a country that has a population of 8.9 million - it is often impossible to gather the evidence needed to track down the culprits.

Belief in witchcraft is also so deeply ingrained in Sierra Leone, even among many police officers, that there is often a fear of pursuing cases further - and most go unsolved.

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But I wanted to find out more about this underground trade in human body parts that leaves tragedy in its wake.

Our BBC Africa Eye team was able to find two people who claimed they were juju practitioners and offered to obtain body parts for ritual purposes.

Both said they were part of much larger networks - and one boasted that he had powerful clients across West Africa. The BBC was unable to verify these claims.

"One rotting fish can destroy the batch of fish We are healers, we are not killers"", Source: Sheku Tarawallie, Source description: President of the Council of Traditional Healers, Image: Sheku Tarawallie, wearing a ivory bead necklace and traditional robe

One member of our team went undercover, using the name Osman, to pose as a politician who wanted to achieve power through human sacrifice.

We first travelled to a remote area of Kambia district, in the north of the country near the Guinean border, to meet the juju man in his secret shrine - an area in dense bush where he consulted with his clients.

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Calling himself Kanu, he wore a ceremonial red mask covering his whole face to conceal his identity and boasted of his political connections.

"I was working with some big, big politicians in Guinea, Senegal and Nigeria. We have our team. Sometimes during election time, at night, this place is full of people," he claimed.

Election season is regarded by some as a particularly dangerous time when parents have been warned to take special care of their children because of the heightened risk of abductions.

On a second visit, Kanu became more confident and showed Osman what he said was evidence of his trade - a human skull.

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"You see this? This belongs to someone. I dried it for them. It is a woman's skull. I am expecting the person to pick this up today or tomorrow."

He also pointed to a pit behind his shrine: "This is where we hang human parts. We slaughter here, and the blood goes down there Even big chiefs, when they want power, come here. I give them what they want."

When Osman specified that he wanted limbs from a woman to be used in a ritual, Kanu got down to business: "The price of a woman is 70m leones [2,500; $3,000]."

Sierra Leone is one of the world's poorest countries and is recovering from the legacy of a brutal 11-year civil war [BBC]

Anxious not to put anyone at risk, we did not meet Kanu again. He may have been a scammer, but we handed over our evidence to the local police to investigate further.

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Such juju men sometimes refer to themselves as herbalists, the name given to healers who use traditional medicine often made from local plants to treat common illnesses.

World Health Organization data shows that Sierra Leone - which suffered a brutal civil war in the 1990s and was at the centre of the Ebola epidemic a decade ago - had around 1,000 registered doctors in 2022, compared to reported estimates of 45,000 traditional healers.

Most people in the West African nation rely on these healers, who also help with mental health issues and treat their patients in shrines where there is an element of mysticism and spiritualism culturally associated with their craft and the remedies they sell.

Sheku Tarawallie, president of Sierra Leone's Council of Traditional Healers, is adamant that "diabolic" juju men like Kanu are giving healers a bad name.

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"We are trying very hard to clear our image. The ordinary person doesn't understand, so they class us [all] as bad herbalists. One rotting fish can destroy the batch of fish We are healers, we are not killers," he told BBC Africa Eye.

Mr Tarawallie is in fact trying to work with the government and another non-governmental organisation to open a traditional medicine clinic to treat patients.

It was those with a lust for power and money who were often behind the ritual killings, he believed.

"When somebody wants to become a leader they remove parts from human beings. They use that one as a sacrifice. Burn people, use their ashes for power. Use their oil for power."

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The number of ritual killings in Sierra Leone, where most people identify as Muslim or Christian, is not known.

"In most African countries, ritual murders are not officially recorded as a separate or sub-category of homicide," Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu, a lecturer at the UK's Arden University, told the BBC.

"Some are misclassified or misreported as accidents, deaths resulting from attacks by wild animals, suicides, natural deaths Most perpetrators - possibly 90% - are not apprehended."

When we found another suspected supplier of body parts, he was located in a suburb of the capital, Freetown, called Waterloo, which is notorious for drug abuse and other crime.

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"I'm not alone, I have up to 250 herbalists working under my banner," the man calling himself Idara told Osman, who was again undercover and wearing a secret camera.

"There are no human parts that we don't work with. Once we call for a specific body part, then they bring it. We share the work," Idara said.

He went on to explain how some of his collaborators were good at capturing people - and on Osman's second visit played a voice message from one of them who claimed they were prepared to start going out every night in search of a victim.

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Osman told him not to proceed yet but when he later received a call from Idara claiming his team had identified a victim, we contacted Police Commissioner Ibrahim Sama.

He decided to organise a raid - but said his officers would not do so without the involvement of Mr Tarawallie, who often assists the police on such operations.

"When we got intelligence that there is a particular dangerous witchdoctor operating a shrine, we will work with the traditional healers," said an officer on the raid, Assistant Superintendent Aliu Jallo.

He went on to express the superstitions some officers have about tackling rogue herbalists: "I will not go and provoke situations. I know that they have their own powers that are beyond my knowledge."

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After Idara was captured - discovered hiding in the roof clutching a knife - Mr Tarawallie began searching the property for evidence, saying there were human bones, human hair and piles of what looked like dirt from cemeteries.

This was enough for the police to arrest Idara and two other men, who were charged in June with practising sorcery as well as being in possession of traditional weapons used in ritual killings. They pleaded not guilty to the charges and have since been granted bail, pending further investigations.

The police raided this house in Waterloo and arrested the occupants, including Idara, who were later charged under anti-witchcraft laws [BBC]

As we never heard back from the police in Kambia about Kanu, I tried to call him myself to challenge him about the allegations directly, but he was unreachable.

There are occasions when even high-profile cases appear to stall. Two years ago, a university lecturer went missing in Freetown and his body was later found buried in what police say was the shrine of a herbalist in Waterloo.

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The case was referred in August 2023 by a magistrate to the High Court for trial, but two sources have told the BBC it has not been pursued so far and those detained by police have been released on bail.

My family is facing similar hurdles finding justice. In May, during our BBC investigation, my 28-year-old cousin Fatmata Conteh was murdered in Makeni.

A hairdresser and mother of two, her body was dumped the day after her birthday by the side of the road where a resident told the BBC two other bodies had been found in recent weeks.

Several of her front teeth were missing, leading the community to believe it was a ritual killing.

"She was a lady that never did harm. She was very peaceful and hard-working," said one mourner as family, friends and colleagues gathered for a big funeral at her local mosque.

We may never know the true motive for Fatmata's murder. The family paid for her body to be transported to Freetown for an autopsy - something the authorities could not afford to do - but the post-mortem was inconclusive and no arrests have yet been made.

As is the case for Papayo's mother, the lack of closure and feeling of abandonment by the police fuels fear and terror in poor communities like Makeni.

Additional reporting by Chris Alcock and Luis Barrucho

[BBC]

More BBC Africa Eye stories from Sierra Leone:

[Getty Images/BBC]

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

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Global Times: Japanese Prime Minister Takaichis erroneous remarks on Taiwan is met by outrage from the Chinese people. There are, however, individuals in Japan who claimed that its the Republic of China (ROC) rather than the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) who accepted Japans surrender, so the PRC is not in a position to discuss the Taiwan question. Whats your comment?



Mao Ning: The ones who make such claims either do not know the history or deliberately seek to distort it and disregard international law.

In 1945, Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender, explicitly undertook to carry out the provisions of the Potsdam Proclamation in good faith and unconditionally return Taiwan to China. China resumed exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan and recovered Taiwan both in law and in practice. In 1949, the PRC government replaced the ROC government. This is a change of government in which China, as a subject under international law, did not change and Chinas sovereignty and inherent territorial boundaries stayed unchanged. Thus, the government of the Peoples Republic of China naturally and fully enjoys and exercises Chinas sovereignty, including sovereignty over the Taiwan region. The 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement states that the Government of Japan recognizes the Government of the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China.

There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. This is an ironclad fact and shall not be bent or distorted.

NHK: According to a readout released by the Chinese side, the Chinese and U.S. presidents spoke on the phone last night. Was the phone call initiated by China or the U.S.? How long did it last? What is Chinas comment on the outcomes of the phone call?



Mao Ning: The Chinese and U.S. presidents have maintained regular interactions during President Trumps second term. As far as I know, this phone call was initiated by the U.S. side. The atmosphere of the call was positive, cordial and constructive. Communication between the two presidents on issues of mutual interest is highly important to the steady development of China-U.S. relations.

PTI: An Indian woman hailing from Arunachal Pradesh has said that she was on a transit to Japan from London and was detained in Shanghai for about 18 hours simply because of her Indian passport. Apparently, the Indian consular staff have to intervene to get her released. And also India has launched a protest regarding this particular issue. Can you just please comment on this?



Mao Ning: Zangnan is Chinas territory. The Chinese side has never recognized the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India. On the individual case you mentioned, according to what weve learned, during the entire time, Chinas border inspection authorities carried out checks procedures in accordance with laws and regulations, the law enforcement was impartial and non-abusive, the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected, no compulsory measures were taken on her, and there was no so-called detaining or harassing. The airline provided her with resting facilities and meals. For anything more specific, Id refer you to competent authorities.

Bloomberg: Just after the phone call between President Xi and President Trump, there was a phone call between President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi of Japan. And they discussed the Japan-U.S. alliance and its importance for the region and other bilateral issues, some of which werent announced. Does China have a reaction to that phone call? And do you have any concern about Japan and the U.S. and their views toward Taiwan?



Mao Ning: The phone call between the leaders of the U.S. and Japan is a matter between the U.S. and Japan. I have no comment on that. The Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair which brooks no interference by any external forces.

PTI: A follow-up on what you spoke about the particular incident in Shanghai. India reportedly launched protest in this regard. India too has rejected Chinas claims on Arunachal Pradesh. Can you please comment on that?



Mao Ning: Zangnan is Chinas territory, and China does not recognize the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India. As for the individual case you mentioned, Ive shared relevant information just now. Let me point out that having border checks on people entering and exiting a country and carrying out law enforcement according to the specific situation of the entry or exit is the usual practice of border enforcement authorities of countries across the world.

Bloomberg: Since the relations between Japan and China got worse over the last two weeks, Chinese authorities have frozen its regulatory reviews of Japanese movies for airing in Chinese movie theaters and more than 20 concerts featuring Japanese musicians have been canceled across Chinese cities including in Beijing. Is this part of the Chinese governments retaliatory response to Japan? Is there an official directive or guideline on Japanese cultural imports? And how long do you expect the suspension of films and shows to last?



Mao Ning: Exchanges and cooperation between China and Japan have recently been affected because of the erroneous remarks made by the Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Taiwan. The remarks gravely hurt the sentiments of the Chinese people and poisoned the atmosphere for exchanges between the two countries. Japan needs to redress its wrongdoing at once and stop creating irritations on China-related issues.

China News Service: This week, the 30th Session of the Conference of the States Parties of the Chemical Weapons Convention is being held in The Hague, Netherlands. China has submitted Chinas Position Paper on Upholding Multilateralism, Solidarity and Cooperation at the OPCW to the Conference. Could you share more information with us?



Mao Ning: The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an important pillar of global security governance. Since the organisations establishment 28 years ago, its States Parties have made historic achievements in chemical weapons disarmament and international cooperation in the spirit of multilateralism, solidarity and cooperation. In recent years, the OPCW has seen a growing tendency toward politicization and division into blocs, with diminishing dialogue and consultation and rising confrontation and antagonism. The authority of the Chemical Weapons Convention is eroded, which has caused deep concern among the States Parties.

The position paper submitted by China is guided by the Global Governance Initiative and appeals to all States Parties to adhere to the purpose and goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention, uphold multilateralism, maintain the tradition of consensus-building, address hotspot and contentious issues through dialogue and consultation, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and enhance solidarity and coordination.

We look forward to working with all parties to continue building consensus and enable the OPCW to play a greater role in global security governance.

Bloomberg: Today, the Japanese government produced a statement in response to a question from a Japanese MP speaking about the policy regarding existential threats to the Japanese state. The statement was that there is no change to previous Japanese policies regarding either on existential crisis or on Japans use of collective self-defense. Does the Chinese government accept the Japanese governments statement that they havent actually changed any of their policies or does China expect Japan to do more on this?



Mao Ning: Japanese officials have kept mentioning the Japanese governments consistent position or repeating that their position is unchanged. We have explicitly asked the Japanese side what they mean exactly by this so-called consistent position and whether they can fully articulate this consistent position to the public? The Japanese side has been repeating the mere notion of an unchanged position but nothing it says ever touched upon the real issue. Essentially, the Japanese side has been deliberately evading Chinas call for it to retract the erroneous remarks and hoping that somehow the issue would resolve itself. We could not but question whether the Japanese side does have the sincerity and whether it will take action to do serious soul-searching and correct its wrongdoing.
On the morning of November 25, 2025, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with King Tupou VI of Tonga, who is on a state visit to China.

President Xi Jinping noted that China and Tonga are true friends who have stood together through thick and thin, and the two countries enjoy a time-honored friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two sides have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and firmly supported each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns. Practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results, and the comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to deepen. Together, the two countries have set a fine example of friendship and cooperation between countries different in social system and size. No matter how the international landscape evolves, China will always be a good partner that Tonga can trust, and always support Tonga in upholding independence and sovereignty. China will work with Tonga to forge greater synergy between their development strategies, expand cooperation in such areas as trade and investment, agriculture and fisheries, infrastructure, clean energy, medical and health care, tourism, and climate response; increase exchanges in such areas as education, sports, youth and media and at subnational levels; and continue to support Tongas economic and social development under the framework of South-South cooperation. China welcomes visits by Tongans from various sectors of society to exchange experience in governance and development and gain a fuller understanding of China.

President Xi Jinping underscored that the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China set out a top-level, strategic design for Chinas economic and social development in the next five years. China will pursue high-quality development as the main focus, further deepen reform comprehensively, expand high-standard opening up, and share development opportunities with all other countries. China has put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, with a view to encouraging all countries to work together for development and share peace together. China is ready to work with Tonga to implement the four major Global Initiatives, so as to create a better life for the people of both countries, foster a China-Pacific Island Countries community with a shared future, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

King Tupou VI said that the Tonga-China comprehensive strategic partnership has made significant progress, and expressed appreciation for Chinas long-standing, selfless assistance for Tongas economic and social development. Tonga highly values its relations with China, firmly upholds the one-China principle, resolutely opposes any form of Taiwan independence, and steadfastly supports the Chinese government in realizing national reunification. Tonga hopes to expand cooperation with China in areas including economy and trade, agriculture, clean energy, education, health care, environmental protection, and strive for more tangible outcomes in bilateral relations. Tonga congratulates China on its great achievements under the leadership of President Xi, and hopes to learn from the CPCs success in state governance. Tonga supports the four major Global Initiatives proposed by President Xi, and will enhance communication and collaboration with China to jointly address global challenges such as climate change.

During the visit, the two sides released the Joint Statement Between the Peoples Republic of China and the Kingdom of Tonga.

After the meeting, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in economy and trade, medical care, education, and development among others.

Prior to the meeting, President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, held a welcoming ceremony for King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauu at the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

A 21-gun salute was fired in Tiananmen Square, and a guard of honor lined up in salutation. The two heads of state stepped onto a stand, and a military band played the national anthems of China and Tonga. Accompanied by President Xi, King Tupou VI reviewed the guard of honor of the Peoples Liberation Army and watched the march-past.

President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan hosted a welcoming banquet for the King and Queen in the afternoon.

Wang Yi was present at the above events.
On November 25, 2025, the seventh China-Russia Energy Business Forum was held in Beijing. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the forum.

Xi Jinping noted that China-Russia energy cooperation began early with a solid foundation, and has become a model of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides. It has played an active role in promoting the economic and social development of both countries and improving the wellbeing of their peoples.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China is ready to work with Russia to continuously strengthen their comprehensive energy cooperation partnership, jointly safeguard the stability and smooth flow of the global energy industrial and supply chains, and help build a fairer and more just, balanced, and inclusive global energy governance system, injecting greater stability into global energy security and the green and low-carbon transition.

On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a congratulatory letter to the seventh China-Russia Energy Business Forum.
Deploying missiles on the island: The specter of militarism haunts Japan

09:23, November 25, 2025 By Global Times editorial ( Global Times

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi recently inspected a Self-Defense Forces base in the Ryukyu Islands and announced that the plan to deploy Type 03 Chu-SAM missiles on Yonaguni Island would move forward. Koizumi claimed that the move is intended to "lower the chance of an armed attack on Japan" and stressed that "the view that it will heighten regional tensions is not accurate." Yet this seemingly "self-defensive" narrative is, in fact, a direct challenge that threatens regional peace and stability. By deploying offensive weapons on the southwestern island near the island of Taiwan, Japan is not only deliberately creating tension and provoking military confrontation, but also reviving the long-dormant specter of militarism - something that should raise high alert among neighboring countries and the international community.

As the westernmost point of the Ryukyu Islands, Yonaguni Island lies only about 110 kilometers from the island of Taiwan. This geographical proximity means that any military deployment there carries a high degree of danger and clear strategic targeting. Currently, Yonaguni is equipped with a radar monitoring facility designed to scan nearby seas and airspace. An electronic warfare unit established by Japan in 2024 is also stationed on the island, tasked with disrupting other countries' communications and guidance systems. If missiles are deployed on the island in the future, it would essentially be a highly targeted offensive deployment, creating a new point of military confrontation, which would disrupt the strategic balance around the Taiwan Straits and could even become a source of regional tension.

The actions of the Japanese government have not only aroused high alert among neighboring countries and the international community but also completely ignored the opposition from local residents. Whether on Yonaguni Island or Ishigaki Island, locals generally worry that Tokyo's military deployments will turn their homes into potential battlefields and place them on the front line if conflict breaks out. Ishigaki city assembly member Shiro Hanatani told the Global Times with evident concern that many residents oppose deploying missiles capable of striking other countries' territory. In particular, beefing up military forces on Ishigaki and nearby areas will be seen by others as a threat. Ordinary Japanese people have experienced the horrific suffering of the Battle of Okinawa and the atomic bombings, and they understand all too well the terror of war.

What is even more alarming is that the missile deployment on Yonaguni Island is not an isolated move, but rather the inevitable result of Japan's systematic military expansion and its drift toward militarism in recent years. When viewed alongside Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan, this development is extremely dangerous. The slogan "a Taiwan contingency" has become a vessel for Japan's long-held attempt to allow its military forces to "set sail," and placing medium-range missiles on Yonaguni suggests that the specter of militarism is once again lingering over Japan. From the 2015 security legislation that loosened postwar constraints and allowed for collective self-defense, to acquiring "counterstrike capabilities," shifting away from the "exclusively defense-oriented" posture, and now contemplating abandoning the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," Japan has been step by step shedding the restraints of the post-WWII peace framework. Its true intention is unmistakable: to hype up so-called "external threats" in order to legitimize the expansion of the Self-Defense Forces, broaden the scope of military activities, and ultimately fulfill its ambition of becoming a military power.

Japan's actions completely deviate from historical justice and its commitment to peace. As a defeated nation in WWII, it is Japan's basic obligation to profoundly reflect on its history of aggression, adhere to its pacifist constitution, and maintain regional stability. However, its various actions today are strikingly similar to the tactics employed by Japanese militarism in the past to launch foreign aggression under the pretexts of "survival-threatening situation" and "self-defense" - such as exaggerating nonexistent "security threats," creating a tense regional atmosphere, and even actively provoking incidents to promote military expansion.

Taiwan belongs to China. How to resolve the Taiwan question and realize national reunification is a matter for the Chinese people to decide and brooks no interference by any external force. International legal documents such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation have already clearly established the fact that Taiwan is returned to China. China will never allow external forces to lay their hands on its Taiwan region, as this relates to the political foundation of China-Japan relations and Japan's fundamental trustworthiness. This is a non-negotiable red line for China. China will never allow Japan's right-wing provocateurs to turn back the wheel of history, as this concerns the peace and welfare of the Asia-Pacific region and international fairness and justice, which is a bottom line that all countries should jointly uphold. The Japanese administration's attempts to intervene in the Taiwan Straits affairs with a "new type of militarism" are not only a serious disruption to China-Japan relations but also a blatant infringement on international justice and a provocation against the post-war international order.

The Japanese government should clearly recognize that turning the southwestern Islands into a military front will not bring so-called "security"; it will only make the regional situation more dangerous. Manipulating the Taiwan question will not garner international support; it will only expose the fact that Japan has insufficiently reflected on its history. Ignoring public opinion and pursuing military expansion is not the path to building a strong nation, but rather the beginning of a repeat of past mistakes.

Countries around the world, especially Asian neighbors, should be jointly vigilant about the extreme dangers posed by Japan's "new type of militarism." History has repeatedly proven that peace is hard-won, must be defended, and that militarism not only endangers the world but is also destined for self-destruction.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
MNA nurses emphasize Brigham burn care excellence belongs at BWH; many nurses will remain because of MNA contract protections at BWH

BOSTON, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 4,000 Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) nurses represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) strongly oppose Mass General Brigham's (MGB) plan to move the Brigham's burn program to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). BWH has a nationally respected team of highly specialized burn nurses whose expertise should remain accessible to patients at BWH and not be moved due to corporate consolidation.

The hospital said it would notify the Department of Public Health of its intended change on Tuesday, November 25. On Monday, BWH told staff that pending regulatory approval, the BWH and MGH burn programs would be merged into a single systemwide program located at MGH as of March 2026. BWH burn nurses on Tower 8 can continue working at BWH as the unit transitions to care for critical care patients. The MNA contract prevents the forced transfer of nurses. BWH nurses oppose removing burn services from the hospital and believe this change will weaken the hospital's ability to care for some of the most critically injured patients.

"This is the wrong decision for our patients and our nurses," said Kelly Morgan, labor and delivery nurse and BWH MNA Chair. "Brigham nurses bring extraordinary clinical skill, specialized training, and decades of experience in burn care to this hospital. These skills belong here at the Brigham, not moved across the system. Our patient care community deserves direct access to burn expertise at BWH."

MNA nurses also point out that many Brigham burn nurses are likely to remain at BWH because of the strong job protections, as well as the excellent pension, health insurance, and other benefits secured under their MNA union contract.

"Brigham burn unit nurses are not only experts, but they are also deeply committed to the Brigham," said Jim McCarthy, PACU nurse and BWH MNA Vice Chair. "Our contract guarantees they cannot be forced to transfer, and it ensures better retirement protections, better health insurance choice, and stronger workplace protections than what is available at non-union hospitals like MGH. We expect most burn unit nurses will choose to stay because of the union difference at BWH."

Nurses also expressed concern that shifting burn care away from BWH risks diminishing institutional knowledge that has defined Brigham burn care for generations. They have emphasized that consolidation is being driven by system-level decisions rather than by patient need. While the hospital will maintain Tower 8 as a critical care unit, nurses say removing burn care from the Brigham undermines a legacy of innovation, compassion, and excellence built by generations of BWH burn nurses.

"We will fight to ensure this highly specialized care remains available to the patients who rely on the Brigham," Kelly Morgan said. "Our nurses' expertise is irreplaceable, and we will not allow corporate decisions to override what is best for patients, staff, and our community."

MassNurses.org  Facebook.com/MassNurses  Twitter.com/MassNurses  Instagram.com/MassNurses

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 26,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association
On September 8, 2025, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 25th China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT).

Xi Jinping pointed out that the CIFIT, with its permanent theme of "Further Expanding Bilateral Investment, Jointly Facilitating Global Development", has played a positive role in promoting the building of an open world economy and has become an effective platform for global investors to deepen practical cooperation.

Xi Jinping stressed that as a major contributor and anchor of stability for global economic growth, China will unswervingly expand high-standard opening up, promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, continue to share its development opportunities with the world, and inject more positive energy and certainty into global development. China is ready to work with all parties to promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization and create a bright future of prosperity and development.

Organized by the Ministry of Commerce, the 25th CIFIT opened in Xiamen, Fujian Province on September 8.
On September 28, 2025, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Xi Jinping pointed out that 65 years ago, Cuba took the lead among countries in the Western Hemisphere in establishing diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, opening a new chapter in China-Cuba relations. Over the past 65 years, China-Cuba relations have continued to deepen, becoming a model of solidarity and cooperation between socialist countries as well as sincerity and mutual assistance among developing countries. President Xi Jinping said that in recent years, he and President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez have maintained close communication, guiding the relations between the two Parties and two countries to new heights. President Xi Jinping also recalled that not long ago, President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez came to China to attend the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, during which they met again and reached important common understandings on building a closer China-Cuba community with a shared future.

Xi Jinping emphasized that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Cuba relations and is ready to work with President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez to take the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as a new starting point to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen high-level political mutual trust, advance development cooperation in a systematic manner, strengthen all-round strategic coordination, jointly uphold international fairness and justice, and continuously achieve new progress in building a China-Cuba community with a shared future.

In a joint congratulatory message with Cuban revolutionary leader General Raul Modesto Castro Ruz, President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez noted that for more than 60 years, Cuba-China relations have stood the test of time and continued to grow. The two sides enjoy deep political mutual trust, close exchanges on socialist development experience, and ever-stronger traditional brotherhood and friendly cooperation. The Cuban side firmly abides by the one-China principle, opposes external interference in China's internal affairs, and remains committed to advancing the building of a Cuba-China community with a shared future and opposing hegemonism.

On the same day, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council exchanged congratulatory messages with Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz. Li Qiang expressed readiness to maintain close communication with Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz and take the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to follow through on the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, continuously translate the high-level political mutual trust into practical cooperation outcomes, and constantly enrich the substance of the China-Cuba community with a shared future. Manuel Marrero Cruz expressed willingness to work with Premier Li Qiang to effectively implement the common understandings reached by the top leaders of the two countries and to deepen bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest.
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After a 10-month run that upended the lives of hundreds of thousands of federal workers, untold millions of Americans, and millions more around the world, the Department of Government Efficiency appears to be dead. Reuters reported this week that, when asked about the status of DOGE, the director of the Office of Personnel Management responded, That doesnt exist. He later qualified in a post on X that while DOGE may not have centralized leadership, its principles remain alive and well in the Trump governmenta distinction without a difference that doesnt make DOGE any less dead.

Its an anticlimactic end to a period of rash destruction engineered by the worlds richest man, who was handed the keys to the U.S. government to play with at his pleasure. A possibly drug-addled Elon Musk handled the executive branch with all the diligence of a 5-year-old tending to a Barbie: a dramatic haircut here, a permanent-marker makeover there, a week or two lost in the dogs bed. For Musk and the DOGE employees who carried out his merciless assault on the work of federal agencies, it was an exhilarating free-for-all in the halls of power. For the rest of us, it was a catastrophe whose consequences will reverberate for generations to come.

By its own stated metricsslashing spending and wasteDOGE was an utter failure. When Elon Musk was first tapped to lead the hastily founded department after Trumps 2024 election, he pledged to cut $2 trillion in federal government expenditures within his first year. Before Donald Trump even took office in January, Musk cut his ambitions in half, estimating cuts of $1 trillion instead. After a few months, he downsized the promise further, to about $150 billion.

But every time DOGE tried to report its successes, its numbers collapsed under scrutiny. This summer, when DOGE said it had saved America $52.8 billion by terminating government contracts, Politico could only verify $32.7 billion in actual claimed canceled contractsfor a total savings of just $1.4 billion. DOGE had arrived at its original estimate through deceptive accounting; a law school dean said the misrepresentation was akin to taking out a credit card with a $20,000 credit limit, canceling it, and then saying, Ive just saved $20,000.  In one case, DOGE said it had saved taxpayers $8 billion by canceling a single contract worth a maximum of $8 million.

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And yet, for all its overstated wins, DOGE did produce a remarkable record of losses. At the top of the list is the dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development. As a project of the U.S. government, USAID was not only a powerful instrument of soft diplomacy, but also dollar-for-dollar one of the best deals in the betterment of humanity. Each American paid an average of $15,000 in taxes last year, $24 of which went to USAID. On that budget, the agency has saved 92 million lives worldwide over two decades.

By cutting USAID as one of its very first acts, DOGE broadcast a message across the globe: Those lives dont matter as much as the white, Christian, American ones the Trump administration prefers. It was a way to score political points by sticking it to the unworthy global poor, and a decisive opening salvo in Musks war on those saps who believe in thoughtful, deliberate governance in service of a better world. Ending USAID has already gotten results: One review from Boston University epidemiologist Brooke Nichols estimates that more than 635,000 people have already died due to USAID cuts, more than two-thirds of them children. Even if some funding is eventually restored, this DOGE death tally will keep growing, because it can take time for people to die from treatable and preventable diseases left untreated and unprevented. And each person dead because of Musks team of Nazi-curious, blatantly racist computer programmers will leave behind loved ones wrecked by the loss.

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This gleeful disregard for the lives of impoverished brown people is just one of the ways in which DOGE held a perfect mirror to the Trump project, encapsulating the entire administration in a nutshell. There was also DOGEs contempt for the law (a federal court ruled that tens of thousands of its firings were illegal) and its impunity (the judge did not order the workers rehiring). There was the way it attempted to make life worse for everyday Americans, in ways that helped rich bankers (bringing back overdraft fees) and hurt sick people (abruptly ending hundreds of medical trials with more than 74,000 patients enrolled). DOGE was also the top apparatus used to carry out the Trump strategy of doing so many shocking, unconscionable things that its impossible for the public to focus its outrage on any one transgression.

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DOGE, like the rest of the Trump administration, was a lesson in what happens when the least knowledgeable, most careless, poorest-intentioned people are put in charge of matters of life and death. Software engineers in their early 20s were given authority to personally cancel payments that were to be sent to programs deemed critical by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, such as aid to Ukraine and Syria, as well as PEPFARs initiatives against HIV/AIDS in Africa. DOGE employees instigated an effort to push out thousands of Internal Revenue Service employees, only to realize their importance and beg for their return. The likes of a 19-year-old named Big Balls, who arrived at DOGE with a history of leaking sensitive data from a previous employer, were suddenly deciding whether cancer research would continue, whether National Park hikers would get rescued, and whether disaster relief got sent.

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Combining the slapdash, risk-hungry mindset of a tech startup with the moral indifference of a hacker-for-hire outfit, DOGE eventually became the impetus for yet another assault on Americans. When Big Balls was beaten up by two fellow teenagers at 3 a.m. near Dupont Circle, Trump used it as an excuse to send the National Guard to patrol D.C., setting off a series of federal law enforcement surges in cities across the country. The president didnt need a reason to justify his punishment of blue cities. But it was fitting that the incident on which he chose to hang his D.C. occupation involved one of the guys responsible for setting fire to the citys largest employer.

After Reuters reported that DOGE was dead, the Trump administration disputed that characterization. Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management, insisted that the spirit of DOGE would live on, writing on X that federal agencies would now institutionalize the push to slash regulations and government jobs. Essentially, the administration said, it didnt kill DOGE. It just sent DOGE to live on a nice farm upstate.

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But DOGEs memory will haunt the nation long after Trump (eventually? maybe?) vacates the White House. DOGE has hampered the work of the federal government in ways we are only just beginning to feel, such that Americans will lose faith in its ability to perform tasks and services we have long expected it to. If we are ever to rebuild the government, it will take something much harder to come by than time and money: political will. Future leaders who seek to restore the government to its full function will be accused of bloating federal agencies with thousands of new jobs and programs. Thousands of cumulative decades of expertise will be forever gone. There will be no way to make up the lost years of biomedical research, civil rights investigations, and national security monitoring DOGE stole.

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DOGE also planted a hidden land mine that could go off at any moment. The department had full access to untold reams of sensitive data, including individuals financial information, health documents, and possibly union records. No one knows what exactly DOGE employees took, what they copied, where they stored it, or what Musk plans to do with it. They covered up what they were doing and what data they were filching by turning off monitoring tools and deleting records of accessexactly what a criminal hacking enterprise would do. Anyone who would trust Musk, Big Balls, and their pals with the entire data trove of the federal governmentand not expect them to leak, sell, trade on, or make personal use of itis an idiot. It may be the end of DOGEs short, ugly life, but an even darker legacy looms.
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While President Donald Trump held a lovefest for New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office last week, the right flank of his party was promptly freaking out. Wild to allow a jihadist communist to stand behind the presidents desk in the Oval Office, Laura Loomer, conspiracy theorist and unofficial Trump adviser, lamented on X. She was not the only one lacing her criticism of Trumps meeting with Mamdani with outright bigotry that targeted the mayor-elects Muslim faith. Prior to Trumps meeting, Republicans had actually strategized around making Mamdaniand his Muslim backgrounda serious political target going forward.

The consequences of that targeting have been frightening. Islamophobia has skyrocketed ever since Mamdanis primary upset in June, and experts are predicting that it will get even worse next year as his first term as mayor collides with a contentious midterm season.

Islamophobia is an age-old theme in American politics, peaking some 20 years ago in the aftermath of 9/11 and ebbing and flowing in the years since. It was largely viewed as fringe and extreme, but those in positions of power were reasonably quick to condemn it. Even as he was launching a global war on terror that targeted Muslim countries and their civilian populations, Republican President George W. Bush still felt it important to proclaim Islam is peace in the days following the 9/11 attacks. Americas political landscape has dramatically shifted since that speech was delivered, and nowadays, as we face a hyperpolarized electorate, racist and bigoted rhetoric is becoming the norm.

To understand the depth of the problem, Equality Labs, a South Asian civil rights advocacy group, analyzed social media activity that specifically targeted Mamdani from his June primary win through October. The groups final report detailed how there were over 17 million posts circulated across 12 different platforms that amplified disinformation and hate speech targeting Mamdani. Even more alarming, Equality Labs identified more than 45 Republican officials from across 18 states who amplified this rhetoric.

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This tracks when you consider that about a month ago, the National Republican Congressional Committee sent out a midterms strategy memo outlining how the national GOP strategy will tie every House Democrat to Mamdanis anti-American agenda, and the NRCC will weaponize it against them. Digital ads implementing this strategy have already hit the airwaves, while plenty of Republicans have hit the ground running. New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, who recently announced shes running for governor, called Mamdani a jihadist just last week. Trump, instead of condemning the comment, brushed it off during his meeting with Mamdani. Shes out there campaigning. You say things sometimes in a campaign. Trump would know, as he signed an executive order eight years ago explicitly banning immigrants from Muslim-majority countries and floated the idea of creating a national registry of Muslims, then turned around and courted Muslim American voters for his third bid for president.

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Rep. Randy Fine announced he was actively working with the Trump administration to fight this Muslim terrorist, and went so far as to say, Mamdani should be denaturalized and deported ASAP. Republican Rep. Andy Biggs also suggested that Mamdanis electoral win meant New York City would be transformed into an Islamic state. We must stop the advancement of Sharia Law in its tracks. It has no place in our Republic.

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The reach of these messages is truly incomprehensible. Equality Labs estimated that terms like terrorist, jihadi, Islamist, and communist reached billions of people across news, social media, and other online platforms. The volume, coordination, and repetition signal a deliberate strategy to nationalize a local race by weaponizing bigotry as a turnout engine, the groups report says.

A different study from Stop AAPI Hate, a group that tracks hate against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, found similar results. Analyzing some 1,500 slurs targeted at Mamdani from October through November, the group found 91 percent of them disparaged his Muslim faith. Overall, Islamophobic slurs targeting Mamdani saw an increase of 175 percent, says the group.

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As the midterms approach, we can look to the recent Nov. 4 elections to get a taste of whats to come when Mamdani is not on the ballot. In Virginia, when Ghazala Hashmi was running to become lieutenant governorshe won her race and is now the first Muslim woman in the entire country to be elected to statewide officeher opponent, Republican John Reid, publicly described her as a pro Hamas radical leftist and suggested Mamdani was her NYC twin. And some 1,200 miles away in Minnesota, state Sen. Omar Fatehs campaign said he was receiving a steady stream of hate, racial and Islamophobic slurs, as he waged a campaign for mayor of Minneapolis. The attacks culminated in his campaign office being vandalized with an Islamophobic message: Somali MuslimThis warning is no joke. Fateh ultimately finished in second place behind Democratic incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey, who did publicly condemn Islamophobia and the hate Fateh received.

The evidence is clear: The normalization of Islamophobia risks not only Mamdanis future mayoral administration but is a threat to every South Asian elected official and voter across the country. What is unclear is what the Republican Party will do now thatTrump has seemingly had a change of heart around Mamdani. The response to the meeting has not been heartening, as it seems to reveal plenty of Republicans are happy to continue pandering racist and bigoted language if it means gaining political ground at the expense of the entire electorate, and especially South Asian Americans.
SOUTH KINGSTON, R.I., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Former COO and business psychologist Dr. Melonie Boone is relaunching her prior management consulting firm, Boone Management Group (BMG). BMG bridges the gap between vision and performance using an evidence-based, psychology-driven, diagnostic-centric approach to maximize organizational health, advance leadership and team development, and provide executive advising and strategy for lasting, measurable results.

Dr. Melonie Boone has relaunched Boone Management Group, a management consulting firm

"Boone Management Group is unique in our ability to examine a business holistically, diagnose root causes of issues and challenges, and implement an integrated solution to restore an organization's health, relying on the science-based principles of business psychology," said Dr. Boone, who is a business psychologist specializing in organizational leadership and strategy. "We identify the misalignment, performance barriers, cultural friction, and system breakdowns that hold organizations back and partner with leaders to design and execute strategies that help them refocus their stalled goals."

BMG has roots in Chicago, where Dr. Boone originally launched the firm in 2007 under the name Complete Concepts Consulting after being laid off from her human resources executive position. When her partner left the business, Dr. Boone rebranded Complete Concepts to BMG. Five years later, Dr. Boone pivoted to other related pursuits, including motherhood, opening a publishing house, pursuing her PhD in business psychology, and authoring a book called HEROic Leadership: The Secret to Developing Stronger High Performing Teams Using Psychological Capital. HERO is an acronym for the psychological framework of Hope, Efficacy, Resiliency, and Optimism and informs the approach at Boone Management Group. Dr. Boone also relocated to Rhode Island from Chicago to move into the nonprofit sector as the COO of Edesia Nutrition, where she still serves as executive advisor to the CEO and leadership team.

"I grew up watching my mom as an entrepreneur and started working with her when I was nine, so entrepreneurship is deeply rooted within me. I felt a calling to return to my passion for helping leaders and organizations thrive which led me to relaunch Boone Management Group in 2025," Dr. Boone said. "Today's organizations are experiencing more internal and external headwinds like the call for strategic evolution and leveraging AI to navigate the changing business landscape. It's evident today's businesses need an integrated way to bridge these and other gaps in their organizational health to achieve their vision."

BMG's team is an impressively credentialed cadre of highly educated, senior-level women of color with decades of experience in business strategy, operational leadership, or executive advisory roles. They include:

Business Psychologist Dr. Yayra Tsikudo, BMG VP of Operations and Administration

Executive Advisor December Martin, BMG VP of Client Experience

Executive Advisor Cynthia Gay, BMG Chief of Staff

Executive Advisor Yolanda Macias, BMG VP of Advisory Services

Strategy Expert Claudia Lewis, BMG Senior Consultant

Boone Management Group also relies upon various validated tools like Hogan-certified and proprietary assessments. Diagnostics are central to BMG's approach because they illuminate how an organization truly operates, highlighting its strengths, friction points, and the underlying patterns that shape performance.

"What sets us apart is the integration of rigorous diagnostics and behavioral science with decades of real-world executive leadership experience," said Dr. Boone. "We have the unique ability to offer the high-quality leadership and organizational health assessments to smaller and medium-sized organizations that are usually reserved for large enterprises. We can do this through the scalability of our tools to help more leaders develop their potential."

BMG delivers services through three key pillars:

Organizational Health, including operational assessments and redesign, process optimization, change management and transformation strategy, and strategic planning and execution support.

including operational assessments and redesign, process optimization, change management and transformation strategy, and strategic planning and execution support. Leadership & Team Development, with a full suite of evidence-based assessments, targeted development planning, and programs to build high-performing teams.

with a full suite of evidence-based assessments, targeted development planning, and programs to build high-performing teams. Executive Advisory & Strategy, to close the gap between goals and performance through 1:1 executive advising, strategic planning, execution support, and talent, culture, and people strategy during organizational change.

"We don't just address the visible signs of underperformance. We identify and remove the underlying barriers that weaken alignment, dilute leadership impact, and prevent teams from executing effectively at every level of the organization," said Dr. Boone. "Very few firms approach organizational health the way we do through an integrated, psychologically grounded, root-cause methodology that strengthens leadership, aligns systems, and drives sustainable performance."

The BMG website is now live at boonemanagementgroup.com. Anyone interested in a discovery call from Boone Management Group can reach out to Dr. Melonie Boone on the BMG contact page.

ABOUT BOONE MANAGEMENT GROUP

Boone Management Group Inc. is a management consulting firm that reveals the hidden gaps between strategy and performance through a science-based, psychologically grounded, and fully integrated approach to organizational health. Relaunched in 2025 by Dr. Melonie Boone, award-winning business psychologist, author, and culture strategist, BMG blends real-world executive experience with evidence-based assessments and proven methodologies. The firm's mission is to strengthen organizational health, accelerate leadership effectiveness, and equip executives with the clarity and strategy needed to achieve lasting, measurable results. Visit boonemanagementgroup.com.

SOURCE Boone Management Group
Chic Choc Rose was in full bloom, crushing first-over in the $48,400 Harvest Series final on Monday, Nov. 24 at Woodbine Mohawk Park with James MacDonald in the bike for trainer Dave Menary.

Scratched sick from the last leg, Chic Choc Rose was tabbed the 5-2 second choice in the final for Ontario-sired three-year-old trotting fillies who were non-winners of $30,000 as of Sept. 30. Leaving from post six, Chic Choc Rose was away well into third on the first turn while 3-2 favourite TH Monica (Jody Jamieson) trotted around Stovid (Trevor Henry) to be on top at the quarter in :29.1. The trotters raced single-file to the half in :58.2 when MacDonald right-lined Chic Choc Rose, quickly powering alongside TH Monica at three-quarters in 1:26.4.

Racing with a head of steam, Chic Choc Rose grabbed a short lead at the head of the lane while TH Monica tried to counter to her inside. Sprinting home in :27.2, Chic Choc Rose cleared midway through the stretch before opening up by 4-1/2 lengths on the wire in a dominant 1:54.2. TH Monica held for second, with Nightingale (Todd Ratchford) rallying for the third spot.

The effort was a career best for Chic Choc Rose, who is owned by the Burke Racing Stable of Fredericktown, Pa., and Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, Pa. The daughter of Royalty For Life-Torches Angel has won three of her last four starts and eight of 19 on the year while banking $68,482 in 2025.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)
Equine Guelph announced on Tuesday, Nov. 25 the return of its Industry Ambassador program this winter, featuring two respected voices from the horse racing community.

Julie Walker and Renee Kierans will lead the charge in promoting free online training and acting as peer helpers in racing-exclusive courses designed to advance racehorse health and performance.

This years initiative offers complimentary access to two highly practical courses developed by Equine Guelph: Racehorse Injury/Lameness Prevention & Care (Jan. 26  Feb. 6, 2026) and the new Conditioning the Racehorse (Feb. 23  March 6, 2026). These courses focus on industry-identified healthcare priorities, equipping trainers, grooms and owners with tools to help their equine athletes reach peak potential.

Walker will return as the Standardbred Industry Ambassador, bringing a lifetime of experience in harness racing.

I have taken these courses from Equine Guelph and learned a lot of important lessons, said Walker. I look forward to being your Standardbred Ambassador and learning even more about the equine athletes we are lucky enough to work with every day.

Kierans, returning for her fifth year as Thoroughbred Industry Ambassador, has worn nearly every hat in racing  from exercise rider to broadcaster.

Im excited to be your Thoroughbred Ambassador again and we can all learn more about the horse together, said Kierans.

As Ambassadors, Walker and Kierans will serve as peer mentors, sparking discussion and posing real-world questions to expert instructors. Their goal: to create a dynamic learning environment that bridges Thoroughbred and Standardbred sectors.

Enrollment is free thanks to sponsorship from the Central Ontario Standardbred Association, Standardbred Canada and the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association.

Both courses are fully online, flexible and free for Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) licence holders and Standardbred Canada members aged 16-plus. Space is limited and no prior online learning experience is required  just a passion for horse health.

Visit thehorseportal.ca for more information on the courses and registration.

(Equine Guelph)
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Credit: CCTV

Three Chinese astronauts finally have a reliable way to get home from orbit.

The uncrewed Shenzhou 22 spacecraft arrived at Tiangong space station today (Nov. 25) at 2:50 a.m. EST (0750 GMT and 3:50 p.m. Beijing time), about 3.5 hours after launching to orbit atop a Long March 2F/G rocket.

Shenzhou 22 is an unprecedented mission for China  an emergency flight mounted on a short timeline to help out three astronauts who have been "stuck" on Tiangong for the past 10 days.

The uncrewed Shenzhou 22 spacecraft arrives at China's Tiangong space station on Nov. 25, 2025. | Credit: CCTV

Those astronauts arrived at the station Oct. 31 for a six-month stay. Their mission, Shenzhou 21 , took over from the three-astronaut Shenzhou 20 flight, which was scheduled to come home on Nov. 5.

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But things got complicated when Shenzhou 20's departure was delayed after inspections revealed a crack in the window of the crew's return spacecraft. The damage, likely inflicted by a space debris strike, made the Shenzhou 20 vehicle unfit to carry astronauts on the harrowing trip down through Earth's atmosphere , Chinese space officials determined.

So, the Shenzhou 20 trio came home in the newly arrived Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, touching down safely on Nov. 14 . That solution solved one problem but created another, leaving the Shenzhou 21 crew without a safe way to get home in the event of an emergency.

China is prepared for such eventualities, however. The nation keeps a backup Long March 2F/G rocket and Shenzhou capsule in a state of near-readiness at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert and can fast-track a launch should the need arise.

China activated this contingency plan in the wake of the Shenzhou 20 debris strike, getting the uncrewed rescue mission off the ground just 20 days later.

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Shenzhou 22 provides "a successful example for the international aerospace field in efficiently responding to emergencies ," the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said in a statement today .

"The success of this mission fully demonstrates the advantages of the new national system, profoundly interprets the concept of 'life first, safety first' in China's manned spaceflight, comprehensively verifies the scientific reliability of the 'one-for-one, rolling backup' strategy for China's space station mission, and practically tests the rapid response and emergency handling capabilities of the entire project," CMSA officials added.

The damaged Shenzhou 20 capsule, meanwhile, is still docked to Tiangong. It "will remain in orbit to conduct relevant experiments," according to the CMSA statement. That space stay will have to end in the next five months or so, however; Shenzhou 20 occupies a docking port that will be needed by the next crewed flight to Tiangong, Shenzhou 23, which is expected to launch in April 2026.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

As our society becomes more digital and interconnected, the systems that keep it running face growing vulnerability to cyber threats. Bahaa Eltahawy's doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa, Finland, shows that safeguarding these networks requires a holistic approach.

From power grids and transport to health care systems, the functioning of modern society relies on interconnected networks. When these systems fail, the consequences ripple quickly across sectors. In his doctoral dissertation in computer science, Eltahawy argues that ensuring their security is not just a technical challenge but a societal necessity requiring coordination between technology, governance, and human behavior.

"Digitalization has created vast interconnections between systems that were once isolated. The danger lies in cascading effects, where a failure in one sector triggers a collapse in others, causing widespread disruption across society. In two or three days, we're gonna find ourselves living like it's the Stone Age," Eltahawy notes.

Cybersecurity, cyberprivacy, and smart grid operations have been studied extensively, but often as separate domains. To address this fragmentation, the dissertation provides a model that expands protection into seven domains, including data governance, socio-technical factors, and risk analysis.

"When protection is viewed from only one angle, new problems inevitably emerge from another. We need experts from different disciplines to complement each other's knowledge," Eltahawy points out.

Protection is a continuous process, not a one-time fix

The study also reveals that many existing standards, such as those governing data protection, cybersecurity frameworks, and smart grid architecture, have limitations that prevent them from addressing cross-sectoral risks. By analyzing the weaknesses of these standards, Eltahawy's work shows where gaps exist and how coordinated strategies can strengthen resilience.

Ultimately, Eltahawy emphasizes that critical infrastructure protection is a shared responsibility that requires cooperation between technical experts, managers, and decision-makers.

"Once we believe our systems are safe, that is when they start to weaken. Protection is a continuous and adaptive process that must evolve alongside new risks and technologies," explains Eltahawy.

More information: Eltahawy, Bahaa (2025). An Integration of Cyberprivacy, Cybersecurity, and Smart Grid Strategies for Protecting Critical Infrastructure. Acta Wasaensia 569. Doctoral dissertation. University of Vaasa.
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Credit: University of Stuttgart

A study by the University of Stuttgart, the California State University at Fullerton, and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems has found that there are benefits to representing one's real-life disability through an avatar in virtual reality.

The Metaverse is not just a technical platform, but also one for social interaction. Therefore, all users should be included in its development, including people with disabilities. The researchers appeal to companies to be more courageous in embracing diversity in virtual spaces as authentic self-representation allows people with disabilities to identify more strongly with their work.

The step into virtual reality usually begins with the creation of one's own avatar. Should it look like a human being, or rather like a fantasy character from one's favorite anime? There are no limits to the designor are there?

Around one-tenth of the population in Germany lives with a disability; some visible, some invisible. However, avatars with disabilities are virtually non-existent in the Metaverse. For a long time, developers and users believed that disabilities should not play a role here. Visible or invisible disabilities should remain hidden in order to avoid discrimination and protect people with disabilities. No discrimination! But is that really the case?

'My disability is part of who I am'

A group of scientists from the University of Stuttgart, the California State University at Fullerton, and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) conducted a study to investigate how people with disabilities feel when they appear as such in virtual reality, just as they do in real life. Most of the test subjects gave predominantly positive feedback when their own avatar depicted them the way they see themselves. Many expressed the sentiment: "My disability is part of who I am."

The research is now published in the Journal of Strategic Information Systems. The study took several years to complete, as it was difficult to find participants with disabilities. Altogether, 81 people with disabilities participated in the study. Each participant was given a specially created avatar by the researchers at the University of Stuttgart. The avatars used a walking stick, rode in an (electric) wheelchair, or wore a sunflower on their clothing as a symbol of an invisible disability.

With this digital twin, the participants spent several hours a day for two weeks on the VRChat platform. They visited a wide variety of virtual rooms, talked to others, interacted, watched a movie together, and much more. At the end of the two-week period, the participants reported on their experiences in interviews with the scientists.

Ksenia Keplinger, who heads the Organizational Leadership and Diversity research group at MPI-IS and is the corresponding author of the publication, stated, "We asked ourselves what would happen if avatars reflected a person's real-life disability. Our results show that participants felt predominantly comfortable with their inclusive avatars when interacting in this virtual world. The more a participant identified with their disability, i.e., the more the disability was an essential characteristic of the person, the more positive the feedback was.

"Many non-disabled avatars reacted to the inclusive avatar in a wheelchair or with a walking stick with interest and openness, sought conversation, and experienced the encounter as a learning moment that promoted understanding and empathy. Although using an inclusive avatar can be challenging, the positive effects outweigh the challenges, as authentic representation creates visibility and strengthens the dialog about inclusion in the digital space."

However, some participants did not want their avatar to confront them with their disability or remind them of real-life challenges. For them, the virtual space was an opportunity to escape their disability. According to the study's findings, most of the participants said that they preferred to be represented in virtual reality as they are in real life.

A call for more courage in embracing diversity in the Metaverse

The researchers are particularly focused on employers. Companies are increasingly offering hybrid online workspaces and even fully virtual offices. The study concludes that the Metaverse opens up the opportunity to expand their workforce by tapping into the world's largest underemployed group: people with disabilities. Those already employed often feel more at ease when they can express their disability as part of their identity in virtual workplaces as well.

The study could therefore encourage company executives to rethink their approach. After all, the Metaverse is a virtual reality in which more and more people are pursuing their careers. According to the study, the Metaverse should not be seen merely as a technical platform, but rather as an emotion-driven social environment in which people strive for authentic self-expression.

"We hope that the results of the study will provide the impetus to actively involve people with disabilities in the development and design of virtual reality technology, and to work together to break down structures of discrimination in virtual space. A disability should not be something that needs to be hidden, but something that can be lived openly in virtual space as well. People with disabilities belong in both the real and digital world," said Katrin Angerbauer, who is a doctoral student at the Visualization Institute of the University of Stuttgart (VISUS) and lead author of the study.

Angerbauer herself uses a walker in both the real and virtual world. "We call for more courage when it comes to diversity in the Metaverse. This will allow the full potential of a highly qualified group within the workforce to be recognized and supported."

Will virtual offices where people work with inclusive avatars and participate in meetings in wheelchairs or with sunflowers pinned to their lapels soon become the norm? Keplinger, Angerbauer, Phoenix Van Wagoner, and their co-authors hope so. A first step toward greater inclusion has already been taken.

More information: Katrin Angerbauer et al, Inclusive avatars in the Metaverse: learning from the lived experiences of people with disabilities, The Journal of Strategic Information Systems (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jsis.2025.101935
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X's launch of a feature that displays a user's country or region triggered a wave of online sleuthing.

Elon Musk's X erupted in uproar after the rollout of a feature revealing an account's location, exposing what users describe as global troll farms and influence operations on the platformincluding in support of Donald Trump.

X's head of product Nikita Bier launched the feature over the weekend, allowing users "to see the country or region where an account is based," in a bid to boost transparency on a platform that tech experts say is rife with disinformation.

"This is an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town square," Bier wrote on X.

The launch triggered a wave of online sleuthing.

Almost immediately, the platform flooded with posts flagging dozens of right-wing internet personalitiespromoters of Trump's "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) or "America First" political sloganswhose location data showed they were in Nigeria, Bangladesh, or Eastern Europe.

Influential pro-Trump accounts that present themselves as US-based but actually operate overseas have circulated 31 false claims over the past 15 monthsincluding allegations of Democratic corruptionaccording to a NewsGuard analysis using the location feature.

The feature also seemed to vindicate researchers who warned during last year's US presidential election that a network of MAGA accountsposing as "Trump-supporting independent women" and using stolen photos of European models and influencerswas operating overseas.

"X's new account info showed many of these 'American' women were actually based in Thailand, with some tied to Myanmar," Benjamin Strick, the London-based director of investigations at the Center for Information Resilience, told AFP.

"Before this change we could show these profiles were fake, but we had almost no visibility on where they were run from, and often had to rely on 'slip ups' posted by the accounts, time posting patterns and irregularities in language.

"Now we can see that many of the accounts in this specific network are linked to Southeast Asia, which brings us closer to understanding who might be behind them," Strick added.

'Rough edges'

Reflecting a hyperpolarized political climate, some right-wing personalities also pointed fingers at left-wing users seemingly posting from suspicious locations.

X, however, cautioned that the location data "may not be accurate and can change periodically."

When users clicked on an account's location, a pop up noted: "The country or region that an account is based can be impacted by recent travel or temporary relocation."

Some users may also be connected via a VPN that can mask their real location.

"There are a few rough edges that will be resolved by Tuesday," Bier wrote after the feature's launch.

Late Sunday, Bier said an "upgrade" was upcoming that will ensure "accuracy will be nearly 99.99%"

Some users criticized the launch, warning that it could expose the locations of dissidents and protestors in autocratic states. Bier, however, said that for users in countries "where speech has penalties," the feature includes privacy toggles that reveal only the region.

Soon after the launch, some apparent imposter accounts with vast followings were suddenly taken down.

One X handle posing as a fan account for Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, was suspended after users noted that its location was listed as Nigeria.

The account, which had amassed one million followers, regularly posted pro-Trump content as well as Islamophobic and anti-immigration messages.

As tech platforms scale back content moderation and reduce their reliance on human fact-checkers, disinformation researchers warn of a growing threat from Russian and Chinese actors seeking to sow political chaos in Western countriesas well as from overseas influencers driven by the prospect of monetary gain.

The new feature "shines a light on a fundamental problem with social media today: paid actors are deliberately inflaming difficult issues because controversy attracts attention," Amy Bruckman, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, told AFP.

"It's a difficult situation, and I believe we need more trustworthy platforms that don't allow people to behave badly."

Last month, X laid off half of its engineering team responsible for fighting influence operations, spam, and illegal content on the platform, reflecting a push to replace staff with artificial intelligence, The Information reported on Monday.

X did not respond to AFP's request for comment.

 2025 AFP
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The proposed multi-path architecture leads to a remarkable data rate of 108 Gb/s with total power of 210.8 mW. Credit: Sangwan Lee / Hanyang University

High-voltage, higher-order PAM-8 signals are essential to achieve data rates beyond 100 Gb/s, requiring highly linear receivers to maintain excellent signal-to-noise ratios.

In recent work, a team of researchers, led by Mr. Sangwan Lee, an integrated M.S. and Ph.D. degree student in electronic engineering, and Dr. Jaeduk Han, an Associate Professor of electronic engineering at Hanyang University, South Korea, has proposed a multi-path architecture with an enhanced linearity-power trade-off.

The novel highly linear receiver frontend system with two-tap feed-forward equalizer (FFE) capability in 28nm CMOS exhibits a remarkable data rate of 108 Gb/s and an input range of 1.4 Vppd with 210.8 mW total power and 1.95 pJ/bit efficiency.

This next-generation technology was presented at the IEEE Asian Solid-State Circuits Conference (A-SSCC).

Mr. Lee said, "In this research, we have maximized both power efficiency and signal processing capability through two unique architectures for processing 'PAM-8' signals, which are essential for next-generation high-speed communication."

The researchers first dramatically improved the linearity-power trade-off through a "multi-path architecture." They designed the architecture by dividing the signal path, allowing each path to handle a sub-range of the total dynamic range.

As a result, the number of required slicers or samplers was reduced, decreasing the load on the final stage and facilitating the achievement of remarkable efficiency: doubling the linearity with only a 20% power increase.

Next, the team effectively compensated for channel loss through a "separated FFE path." Since high-speed signals suffer significant channel loss, compensation via an FFE is essential. However, in conventional receiver architectures, the FFE must directly process large-voltage signals, leading to signal compression.

The researchers designed a structure that completely separates the FFE path from the main path, allowing it to calculate the compensation value using only a small, attenuated signal. This approach fundamentally prevents compression, enabling successful channel loss compensation even while handling large input signals.

This technology is poised for immediate application as a core component in next-generation high-speed data communication infrastructure.

Its key application areas include data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) clusters, wherein dramatically increasing the communication speed between servers can significantly facilitate the training of large-scale AI models and the processing of massive datasets, as well as next-generation networking equipment that forms the foundational technology for future 800G and 1.6T Ethernet systems.

Furthermore, the present research could help accelerate the computational speed of supercomputers used in advanced scientific research and simulations.

In the next five to 10 years, this work will serve as the foundational technology that accelerates the development of next-generation applications, including more powerful and widespread AI, metaverse and AR/VR era, and sustainable data centers.

"It will provide the backbone for complex AI services like real-time translation, advanced medical diagnostics, and autonomous driving systems to become faster and more universally available. Moreover, by providing the massive bandwidth required for immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences, it will help make a seamless virtual world a reality. Lastly, as global data demand continues to explode, our power-efficient approach will help reduce the energy footprint of data centers, contributing to sustainable technological growth," concludes Dr. Han.

More information: A 108Gb/s PAM-8 CTLE+FFE Receiver Frontend with 1.4Vppd Input Range in 28nm

Provided by Hanyang University
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Solar farm projects in the Canadian province of Alberta have been put on hold or canceled because of a recent increase in regulations in the province. The new regulations ban solar panels from agricultural land and force solar developers to fully fund decommissioning upfront.

As a result, many originally profitable projects have been made unfeasible because of rules aimed at preventing a repeat of the orphaned oil and gas wells fiasco.

Agrivoltaics is the practice of purposefully shading agricultural crop lands with solar panels in order to enjoy the dual benefits of solar electricity and increased food production.

A new study I co-authored with my colleague, Uzair Jamil, found that partial shading to benefit crop production even works when the solar panels do not. This has interesting policy ramifications, particularly in Alberta.

How does shading crops make more food?

Studies from all over the world have shown crop yields increase when food crops are partially shaded with solar panels. Agrivoltaic yield increases are possible because of the microclimate created underneath the solar panels that conserves water and protects plants from excess sun, wind, hail and soil erosion. The temperatures are cooler, milder and all around more pleasant for plants.

Last year, we found that you could increase strawberry yield by 18% under solar panels compared to strawberries in an open field. This agrivoltaic crop yield bump has been shown for dozens of other crops and solar panel combinations all over the world, including basil, broccoli, celery, corn, grapes, kale, lettuce, pasture grass, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and more.

Agrivoltaics makes more food per acre, and could help bring down food prices while also supporting farmers in Canada. Such agrivoltaic farming can help meet Canada's food and energy needs and reduce its fossil fuel reliance and greenhouse gas emissions as well as the rest of the world.

Our new study shows that the microclimate that benefits plants beneath agrivoltaics is maintained even when the solar is not generating any electricity.

We analyzed the lifespans of key agrivoltaic system components, experimentally measuring microclimate impacts of two agrivoltaic arrays. The results showed agrivoltaics still benefit crops even when unpowered.

What about Alberta?

Agrivoltaics also benefits renewable energy companies, farmers and everyone who eats food. However, to ensure "proper" site restoration after solar projects are complete, Alberta law demands land is returned to its original undisturbed state.

The newly passed Alberta's Conservation and Reclamation Regulation makes it incumbent on the renewable energy developers to submit financial security. Specifically, new solar projects are required to post 30% of the estimated security amount, while the projects already in operation are required to pay 15%.

The comparison to orphaned oil and gas wells with a remediation cost estimates of $100 billion prompted preemptive legislation targeting solar farms, but is that fear justified?

Agrivoltaics could serve as a potential exception to solar photovoltaic development on agricultural land in Alberta, which is otherwise effectively not permitted.

Moving forward with agrivoltaics in Alberta

To ensure agrivoltaics co-exist well with farming, Alberta mandates agricultural impact assessments before solar panels are installed, but it offers little guidance on how to optimize their co-use.

Some flexibility emerges through the assessment process, but it is not consistently built into infrastructure regulations.

In addition, Canadian zoning laws do not recognize agrivoltaics as a distinct land-use classification. That means that while provincial legislation might allow for agrivoltaics development, no explicit regulations are available.

To make things more clear for both farmers and financial backers, Canada could benefit from looking to other countries that have agrivoltaic legislation, such as France and Italy, to ensure land is being used in the most efficient way possible.

Experimental results from our research indicate that the shade provided by solar panels moderates soil temperatures and enhances soil moisture. Agrivoltaic systems, even when not used for power generation, can continue to deliver meaningful value for farmers through shading.

Government policy must adapt to this dual-use reality. Alberta's current rules not only hurt the solar industry but also prevent farmers from making use of agrivoltaic infrastructure to help them grow more food for all of us.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

India and South Africa are both navigating one of the toughest challenges of the 21st century: shifting their electricity systems away from aging coal-fired power stations while ensuring people still have reliable, affordable energy.

South Africa generates about 74% of its electricity from coal, one of the highest shares in the world. Electricity plants are aging, and maintenance is overdue. The electricity sector is highly centralized and dominated by the state-owned energy provider, Eskom. These factors have led to power cuts in the past.

Coal accounts for about 70% of India's electricity generation. However, India has managed faster improvements in electricity access and renewable energy integration.

Both countries have national grids that are not very reliable, and don't have enough public funds to move quickly into green (renewable) energy.

We are engineering academics who research the transition to green energy. Our study identified the strengths and weaknesses in both countries' approaches.

We found lessons that could accelerate progress in both countries. South Africa could learn from India to boost local manufacturing of renewable energy systems, and India could learn from South Africa's transparent renewable procurement and community-benefit models.

How India expanded electricity access while scaling up green energy

Over the past decade, India has implemented a carefully sequenced set of energy policies that linked rural electrification with renewable energy and reforms to agriculture. New rural power lines enabled more solar projects, and cleaner farm electricity reduced pressure on the national electricity grid.

As a result, India moved from chronic electricity shortages to near-universal access to electricity, despite having a massive population and vast rural areas. About 2530% of India's electricity now comes from renewable energyenough to power 70 million to 80 million Indian homes each year.

This growth has been driven by huge solar farms, rooftop solar installations, and hybrid solar-wind projects. India has attracted billions of dollars in private-sector investment. The country has a national policy framework that makes it easier for energy companies to operate and promotes the connection of clean energy to the national grid.

India has also made tremendous progress in energy efficiency by reducing its energy consumption by around 3.5%. It aims to reduce its carbon emissions by a further 10%.

South Africa's progress and bottlenecks

South Africa has made impressive strides in renewable energy procurement. The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program is a competitive tender process designed to facilitate private sector investment into renewable energy that can feed into the national grid.

Private energy companies have invested R256 billion (US$17.3 billion) in renewables. But they still supply less than 10% of South Africa's power. Further expansion is held back because the grid can't accommodate more energy in certain areas. Slow, centralized decision-making, combined with delayed bidding processes, delays new projects.

In South Africa, remote and low-income communities still rely on costly or informal energy sources: paraffin, diesel generators, firewood, and illegal grid connections.

The transition must balance environmental goals with energy supply stability. There are 91,000 coal workers and communities who earn a living working near coal mines and coal-fired power stations.

What South Africa can learn from India

Several lessons emerge from India's experience:

Instead of treating rural development, electricity grid upgrades, and buying renewable energy as three separate tasks, South Africa should manage them together so that improvements in one area benefit the other areas. South Africa needs a dedicated energy-efficiency institution like India's Bureau of Energy Efficiency. Such a body would set rules to cut energy waste. It could strengthen appliance and building standards, run national awareness campaigns on energy savings and cost reductions, and support industries through audits and best-practice guidance. India's federal system allowed states to create energy systems that suit local needs. South Africa has a central government system. It could benefit from giving provinces and local governments more power to accelerate their own renewable projects and community-level initiatives. India's Production-Linked Incentives and Make in India policies support strong domestic solar and battery manufacturing. South Africa, by contrast, still imports most of its solar panels, inverters, and battery-storage components.

What India can learn from South Africa

South Africa offers India valuable insights as well:

South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program is a great global model for fair and transparent procurement. It uses clear bidding rules, has independent evaluation panels, and publicly discloses winning prices. This program also ensures that some of the profits from renewable energy projects go to community trusts. Many trusts hold about 812% of the shares in their local green energy initiatives. However, communities don't always benefit as much as they should if their shares are financed by debt and divid

What needs to happen next

ends spent on repaying loans. India could adopt an improved community model that offers real benefits.

Our study found that coal will remain part of both countries' energy systems for some time. But coal should be used sensibly. For example, coal plants must be made cleaner, and both countries should avoid new coal construction except where absolutely unavoidable.

Renewable energy, battery storage, and grid upgrades must happen. This deployment will gradually reduce dependence on coal.

India and South Africa both have ambitious climate goals and face similar pressures to develop. They can transition to cleaner energy quickly without making electricity less reliable, more expensive, or less fair. They can learn from each other through Brics (the intergovernmental organisation they belong to), the G20, and direct bilateral partnerships.

South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency endorsed investing more quickly in renewable energy. It also advocated for working together across countries to link and improve electricity grids. But it missed an opportunity to make explicit, stronger promises to cut back on coal, oil, and gas.

Sustainable transitions are not achieved by abandoning old systems overnight. Transforming them carefully, responsibly and inclusively is the way to go.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Pok Rie from Pexels

New research from the University of Aberdeen warns that UK electricity bills are unlikely to fall under current arrangements and urges policymakers to consider structural reforms to protect consumers while delivering the energy transition.

The independent study undertaken by the Center for Energy Transition, part of the University's Interdisciplinary Institute, highlights that wholesale electricity prices in the UK are often set by gas-fired generation, leaving consumers exposed to global gas market volatility, especially during times when the country is reliant on gas for its base load.

Rising network and infrastructure costs, increasing standing charges and the impact of supplier failures have compounded the problem.

Ofgem's Clean Power 2030 initiative and other regulatory priorities require significant investment in transmission infrastructurecosts that will ultimately be borne by bill payers and/or taxpayers.

The paper sets out a number of policy recommendations:

Rebalance cost recovery: In the short-term, network upgrade costs should be moved from consumer bills to general taxation, with a phased return once balancing costs decline.

Energy security as defense: Treat parts of grid investment as national security expenditure, aligning with the UK's commitment to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.

Strategic gas licensing and storage: Develop a new licensing regime for domestic gas fields and invest in storage to dampen price spikes during high-demand periods.

Maintain public support: Ensure affordability during the transition to avoid undermining consumer confidence in decarbonization goals.

"Energy security and affordability must be viewed together," said co-author Professor John Underhill, University's Director of Energy Transition in the Interdisciplinary Institute.

"Consumers need confidence that the energy transition is both affordable and secure. Our research shows that strategic cost allocation and investment planning can deliver resilience without eroding public support for the energy transition.

"These investments align with decarbonization in the energy transition and national energy security. Some costs could justifiably be treated as defense spending rather than solely as decarbonization or consumer energy costs."

The report concludes that without structural reform, the UK's exposure to global energy prices will continue and bills are unlikely to fall soon, as future system costs must still be recovered.

Investments in grid capacity and resilience should be considered not only as climate policy but as a critical component of national security with a phased approach offering protection to vulnerable households while maintaining public support for decarbonization.

"System actors are calling for the exclusion of certain costs from bills, depending on their vested interest and position in the system. But these costs will ultimately still need funding, so the logical decision is to deal with costs which can be accounted for as assets elsewhere," added co-author and independent energy analyst, Matthew Porter.

"Dealing with the network upgrade costs and system resilience investment outside of the perimeter of consumer bills fits this thought process."

More information: Matthew Porter and Professor John R. Underhill. The cost of your electricity bill, what it consists of and a way to offset infrastructure investment

for the transition. www.abdn.ac.uk/uploads/news/do  CITY_COSTS_FINAL.pdf
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Photos Hobby, Unsplash

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday establishing the "Genesis Mission," a national initiative to harness AI for scientific breakthroughs, comparing its scope to the Manhattan Project that produced the atomic bomb during World War II.

The plan is part of the Trump administration's aggressive, low-regulation strategy to boost big tech's race to stay ahead of China on artificial intelligence and cement US dominance in the fast-expanding field.

The White House is also seeking ways to legally stop US states from implementing their own AI regulations and has threatened to rescind federal aid to states that do so.

The order on Monday tasked the Department of Energy with building an integrated AI platform that will combine the nation's supercomputers, federal scientific datasets and research facilities to accelerate discovery in fields ranging from nuclear fusion to semiconductor manufacturing.

"America is in a race for global technology dominance in the development of artificial intelligence," the order stated, describing AI as "an important frontier of scientific discovery and economic growth."

The centerpiece of the initiative is the "American Science and Security Platform," which will provide researchers access to high-performance computing resources, AI modeling tools and vast federal datasets to train scientific foundation models and automate research.

The platform aims to demonstrate initial operating capability within nine months for at least one major scientific challenge from a list of 20 priorities the Energy Department will draw up within 60 days.

Priority domains include advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear energy, quantum computing and semiconductorsall areas where the United States faces growing competition from China.

The order calls for partnerships with private companies, universities and national laboratories, while mandating strict cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive research.

 2025 AFP
AI Giants Form Partnership with Multibillion-Dollar Investments and Massive Azure Compute Deal

Microsoft, Nvidia and Anthropic have forged an alliance that blends new investments with a large multiyear cloud commitment, tightening ties among three major players in artificial intelligence. The agreement expands the model choices available to enterprise customers while deepening the integration of Anthropic's Claude models across Microsoft's ecosystem.

In a blog post, Microsoft said Anthropic will purchase a significant amount of Azure capacity and that both Microsoft and Nvidia will invest in the San Francisco-based startup. According to the announcement, Anthropic has agreed to buy $30 billion worth of Azure compute and may contract up to one gigawatt of additional capacity. The companies also said Nvidia will invest up to $10 billion in Anthropic and Microsoft will invest up to $5 billion.

The deal pushes Claude, Anthropic's family of large language models, deeper into Microsoft's ecosystem while preserving the startup's multicloud stance. Microsoft said customers of its AI Foundry service will get access to Anthropic's current frontier models  Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Opus 4.1, and Claude Haiku 4.5  and that "this partnership will make Claude the only frontier model available on all three of the world's most prominent cloud services." The blog also said, "Azure customers will gain expanded choice in models and access to Claude-specific capabilities," and that Microsoft will continue to offer Claude within its Copilot products, including GitHub Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Nvidia and Anthropic will begin a technical collaboration intended to improve how the startup's models run on current and future Nvidia systems. According to the blog, "for the first time, NVIDIA and Anthropic are establishing a deep technology partnership," with joint work on design and engineering to optimize Anthropic's models and Nvidia's upcoming architectures. Anthropic's "compute commitment will initially be up to one gigawatt of compute capacity with NVIDIA Grace Blackwell and Vera Rubin systems," the post said.

The three-way tie-up extends a pattern that has defined the AI boom: software makers, cloud platforms, and chip suppliers aligning around long-term compute contracts and co-development agreements to secure scarce resources and speed product rollouts. It also diversifies Microsoft's supply of frontier models after changes in its arrangement with OpenAI created more room for outside partners, and it gives Nvidia another channel to seed demand for its next-generation platforms.

For Anthropic, the pact widens distribution while preserving the startup's existing relationships. Industry reports following the announcement said Amazon remains Anthropic's primary cloud provider and training partner, even as Claude becomes broadly available on Microsoft's stack. Analysts also framed the alliance as part of a broader effort among big technology companies to spread their bets across multiple model providers in case performance or supply constraints shift.

The scale of the compute commitment underscores the capital intensity of building and serving generative AI. One gigawatt is a substantial order of magnitude for AI data centers and will require long planning horizons for electricity, cooling, and real estate. Microsoft's statement that Anthropic will "contract additional compute capacity up to one gigawatt" signals a pipeline of future hardware deployments aligned with the startup's training and inference roadmap.

On the product side, placing Claude in Microsoft Foundry and Copilot gives enterprise buyers another option alongside OpenAI models and other options already available in Azure. Microsoft said the arrangement will "broaden access to Claude and provide Azure enterprise customers with expanded model choice and new capabilities," while the promise that Claude will be available across the three leading public clouds lowers switching costs for developers and large IT organizations.

For Nvidia, the technical partnership with Anthropic complements its strategy of working closely with model providers to shape upcoming GPUs and systems for real-world workloads. The blog's emphasis on optimizing for "performance, efficiency, and TCO" suggests joint work on throughput, memory bandwidth, networking, and software stacks to keep training and inference costs falling as models scale.

Investors have been watching for signs that the first wave of AI partnerships is evolving from exclusivity to a more open mix. The Anthropic agreements fit that pattern. Microsoft gains another high-end model suite for Azure and Copilot. Nvidia locks in future demand for its chips and systems and aligns its road map with fast-growing customers. Anthropic secures funding and capacity while keeping a multicloud strategy that appeals to large enterprises wary of single-vendor dependence.

The companies did not disclose timelines for deploying the full gigawatt of capacity or closing the investments.
DALLAS, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Katten announced today that Dr. Alexander Volsky has joined its industry-leading Private Credit practice as a partner in Dallas.

Dr. Alexander Volsky has joined Katten's Private Credit practice as a partner in Dallas.

"We are delighted to welcome Alex. His proven track record of advising clients across the private credit and alternative lending markets will be beneficial to our clients as our industry continues to expand and evolve. His exemplary skills expand on our well-known ability to deliver the deep market insight, innovative structuring and strategic guidance our clients expect," said Katten Private Credit practice Chair Michael Jacobson.

Volsky represents borrowers and lenders in a wide range of private credit, leveraged and structured financings, including cash flow and asset-based lending, syndicated and club facilities, fund financings, real estate financings, secured and unsecured debt, and first-lien/second-lien and unitranche structures. Qualified to practice law in Texas, New York, England & Wales, he has a sophisticated command of market practices on both sides of the Atlantic and provides seamless coverage for US and cross-border transactions.

Volsky holds a PhD in international relations from the University of Oxford, where he specialized in the relationship between international law and great power politics. Early in his career, he served at the United Nations Security Council and Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prior to joining Katten, Volsky practiced leveraged finance at top international law firms in London, New York and Dallas.

"Alexander joining our Dallas office and the firm's Private Credit practice is absolutely a win-win," said Katten's Dallas Managing Partner Mark Solomon. "The Dallas/Fort Worth area continues to be a powerhouse region where the intersection of private equity, M&A and sophisticated financing thrives. The demand for private credit solutions is high as companies and investors here and abroad continue to look for creative capital."

Katten's full-service, market-leading Private Credit practice has successfully solved for virtually every deal variation in the space, in every market environment. The team works with many of the most active investors in the market, representing clients across a wide spectrum of sophisticated transactions.

Katten is a full-service law firm with approximately 700 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm's core areas of practice include corporate, financial markets and funds, insolvency and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, private credit and private wealth. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals.

For more information, visit katten.com .

SOURCE Katten
(TBTCO) - Von vay nuoc ngoai cua Chinh phu, ac biet la von ODA va von vay uu ai a va ang tiep tuc ong vai tro quan trong oi voi phat trien kinh te - xa hoi, au tu ket cau ha tang, giao duc ao tao, khoa hoc cong nghe va chuyen oi so cua at nuoc. Tuy nhien, nghiep vu cho vay lai hien nay van con mot so kho khan
Woman beaten as she fights bandit for her car in Port of Spain
If cockroach have no business in fowl party, politicians should also stay out of police acti
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rural health system CEOs took center stage at Merchant McIntyre's (MM) second annual National Rural Health Day Fly-In on November 18th and 19th. Merchant McIntyre, a leading federal funding and advocacy firm serving nonprofits and public entities nationwide, brought eight rural health system CEOs to Washington for a series of high-level meetings with members of Congress, congressional staff, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Senator Cassidy, Kirk Soileau, Blake Kramer, and Tom Matuschka. Rep. Alford and Craig Thompson, CEO GVMH.

Their visit coincided with November's observance of Rural Health Month, a national effort to highlight the distinct healthcare needs of rural communities and the professionals who serve them. Its centerpiece, National Rural Health Day (NRHD), which is held on the third Thursday of November, recognizes the commitment of rural healthcare providers and the unique obstacles they face.

"National Rural Health Day is an important reminder of the dedication, resilience and ongoing commitment of rural healthcare organizations and providers to the communities we serve," said Jeff Subler, CEO of Wayne HealthCare located in Greenville, Ohio, an independent healthcare institution that has proudly supported its community for over a century.

Against this backdrop, Merchant McIntyre's two-day fly-in aimed to elevate the needs of rural health providers during a pivotal moment for federal rural health policy, including the implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and the launch of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, a $50 billion investment in rural healthcare access, workforce, technology, and innovation.

Advancing Rural America's Healthcare Priorities

Throughout MM's NRHD Fly-In, rural healthcare leaders highlighted a unified federal policy agenda that reflects the unique challenges facing the one-fifth of Americans who live in rural communities, and the essential role rural health systems play as healthcare providers, major employers, and community anchors.

Felissa, Koernig, President and CEO of Oneida Health, emphasized this perspective, noting, "As a leading provider for rural communities across the Central New York and Mohawk Valley regions, Oneida Health System has a strong understanding of the urgent needs facing rural patients and providers. This year's National Rural Health Day Fly-In provided an important opportunity to share these priorities directly with federal policymakers, including the need to invest in the physical, technological, and workforce training infrastructure underpinning our nation's rural healthcare system."

Meeting with CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz

A key highlight of the 2025 NRHD Fly-In was a substantive discussion with CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, who offered rural health leaders a direct window into the Trump Administration's healthcare priorities, chief among them the rollout and implementation of the RHT Program.

Dr. Oz detailed ongoing federal efforts to strengthen interoperability across electronic medical record systems used by rural and non-rural providers. He also outlined the Administration's goals to advance secure, mobile patient identification and to develop a more accurate and actively maintained national provider registry as part of a broader CMS data-modernization initiative.

NRHD attendees discussed challenges hospitals face in using RHT resources to modernize EMR systems and emphasized the need to reduce barriers like copays and chronic disease diagnosis requirements that prevent patient enrollment in chronic care management programs. They highlighted the vital role of FQHCs in strengthening rural primary care, with Dr. Oz expressing support for expanding FQHC presence in rural communities and fostering innovative partnership models between hospitals and community health centers.

"Refuah has long championed innovative primary and preventive care models that meaningfully reduce barriers and improve outcomes for our patients," said Chanie Sternberg, President & CEO of RefuahHealth. "The Rural Health Transformation Program offers an important opportunity to expand these efforts through deeper collaboration between hospitals and FQHCs to better serve rural communities."

Advocating for Federal Support

A significant component of the fly-in was direct engagement with participants' congressional delegations and staff, where rural health system CEOs urged lawmakers to continue strengthening federal support for rural providers and the patients they serve. RHD participants encouraged Congress to finalize full-year Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills, legislation that includes not only Congressionally Directed Spending projects but also the Rural Hospital Assistance Program, proposed in the House Appropriations Committee's FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services bill, which would provide formula grants to hospitals with low wage indexes.

Participants also called on their members of Congress to deploy all available resources to help states and providers navigate Medicaid policy changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, while advancing extensions of key Medicare programs that support rural hospital viability. They emphasized the importance of protecting the 340B Drug Pricing Program from manufacturer-imposed restrictions that could drive up costs for low-income patients.

"National Rural Health Day provides an important opportunity to engage with federal policymakers on critical rural healthcare challenges such as promoting maternal health, recruiting providers, and maintaining critical federal supports for rural hospitals" said Craig Thompson, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare (GVMH). "GVMH was proud to participate in this fly-in and discuss our community's priorities with the Missouri Congressional delegation and other federal policy leaders."

Looking at Fiscal Year 2026 and looking ahead to Fiscal Year 2027, CEOs urged robust federal investments across HRSA and SAMHSA to expand local healthcare access, strengthen rural residency pipelines, address nursing shortages, and bolster mental health and substance use disorder services. They also underscored the ongoing value of Congressionally Directed Spending, which allows rural communities to pursue high-impact projects that fall outside traditional grant structures.

"Investments like Congressionally Directed Spending are vital to sustaining rural healthcare. Our $4.035 million CDS request for a PET/CT scanner would finally bring this essential diagnostic tool to NRMC, ending 60-mile trips and long wait times for our patients," said Kirk Soileau, CEO of Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, "Early detection saves lives, and this project would help us deliver faster, more accurate care close to home. We're grateful to both Senator Cassidy and Senator Kennedy for supporting this project and remain committed to making this critical resource a reality for our rural community."

Strengthening Rural Communities

Merchant McIntyre's second annual National Rural Health Day Fly-In underscored the essential role rural hospitals and healthcare providers play in their communities and the need for sustained federal partnership to ensure their long-term stability.

"It is critical that rural health care leaders advocate for the real-world solutions making a difference in their communities," said Brent Merchant, Merchant McIntyre co-founder and Principal. "Even while running their healthcare institutions, our partners are bringing their voices to Washington to help move the needle with federal policymakers and legislators."

By bringing together rural health leaders, policymakers, and Trump Administration officials, Merchant McIntyre provided a platform for rural voices to be heard at the highest levels of government. The 2025 NRHD Fly-In reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening healthcare access, workforce development, and community resilience in rural America. It highlighted the real, measurable impact that federal programs and investments have on patients and families nationwide.

SOURCE Merchant McIntyre Associates
Wouldnt it be cool to stumble upon a Medieval sword, or some 3000 year-old canoes, or you know, almost half a billion dollars in sunken treasure?! Okay, so one of those is clearly a tad more enticing than the others, but you have to admit, theyre all pretty rad. The nerdy little archaeologist wannabes around here think so. Mulit-Millennia canoes in Lake Mendota, Wisconsin were raised this year, so there could be more down there! If that doesn't float your boat, then we don't know what will!

The fact that some of this was found thousands of feet deep makes it all so much cooler. Like, okay, you land-dwelling discoverers found some stuff in a cave. Big whoop! These folks had to pack on some serious gear and breathing apparatuses to explore the dark, terrifying depths! Those freaky anglerfish things are down there. No thank you! So, like us, we hope you enjoy the coolness of these awesome discoveries from somewhere safe, warm, and dry.

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15 Pavlopetri YouTube The submerged city of Pavlopetri was discovered off the coast of southern Greece in 1967 by Nicholas Flemming. It is considered the oldest submerged city in the world, with evidence of urban structures from over 5,000 years ago. Advertisement

14 Medieval Spears in Poland Marcin Trzcinski Underwater archaeologists recovered four medieval spearheads from Lake Lednica in Poland. One of the spearheads is gilded with precious metals and features elaborate decorations, suggesting it may have belonged to a nobleman or prince.

13 The Mendota Canoes Wisconsin Historical Society In 2021 and 2022, The Wisconsin Historical Society, in partnership with Native Nations in Wisconsin, recovered a pair of historic dugout canoes from Madisons Lake Mendota. Testing revealed the first canoe is 1,200 years-old, and the second one is roughly 3,000 years-old. Since then, the team has identified 14 more ancient canoes in the lakebed  six of which were found between the Spring and Fall of 2025. They will be displayed at the Wisconsin History Center when it opens in 2027.

12 Lost Mayan Artifacts In 2014, a flooded sinkhole in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula was found to contain elongated skulls and other human remains, suggesting a possible link to ancient Mayan rituals. Locals consider it to be haunted and warn others to stay away. Advertisement Advertisement

11 A Mastodon Tusk Facebook In April 2024, scuba diver Alex Lundberg discovered a 4-foot, 60-pound mastodon tusk about a half-mile off the coast of Venice, Florida. The fossil is estimated to be a million years-old.

10 Apollo 11s Engine In 2013, a team of divers funded by Jeff Bezos successfully recovered the engines from NASAs Apollo 11 mission, which had remained lost at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for over four decades. Advertisement

9 A Massive Mountain Schmidt Ocean Institute In November 2023, researchers mapping the seafloor near Guatemala discovered a gigantic underwater mountain. The 5,250-foot-tall cone-shaped structure is the remnant of an ancient underwater volcano and covers around 5.4 square miles. Advertisement

8 A Mysterious Golden Orb NOAA Ocean Exploration, Seascape Alaska In September 2023, NOAA researchers dredged up a mysterious golden orb from the seafloor 10,825 feet deep in the Gulf of Alaska. Initial analysis revealed it was "biological in origin, but scientists had no idea what it was. When it was pulled to the surface it lost most of its structure and "melted" into a gloopy pile. Advertisement

7 Artifacts From The First Naval Battle Off The Coast Of Sicily RPM Nautical Foundation In November, 2013, archaeologists found artifacts from the site of the first ancient naval battle off the coast of Sicily. Remnants including battering rams, helmets, armor and weapons date back to the Battle of the Egadi Islands, which was fought between the Romans and the Carthaginians in 241 BC.

6 Stone Age Tools in Sweden In the Baltic Sea, Swedish divers discovered flint tools, animal horns, ropes, and a harpoon carving made from an animal bone that are said to be over 11,000 years old. Advertisement

5 The Ancient Egyptian City of Heracleion For centuries, the city was believed to be a myth like Atlantis, but in 2001, an underwater archaeologist searching for French warships stumbled across giant statues of pharaohs, gods and goddesses, a sphinx, 64 ancient ships, 700 anchors, dozens of sarcophagi, gold coins from nearly 1,200 years ago. Advertisement

4 Treasure Worth $400 Million The Mel Fisher Blog Treasure hunter Mel Fisher spent 16 years looking for the wreckage of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha off the coast of the Florida Keys. In 1985, he and his team finally found the wreck and its 40 tons of silver, gold, and emeralds. Valued at roughly $400 million, its one of the richest finds in history. Advertisement

3 Mungo Man And Woman Jim Bowler In 1974, Jim Bowler discovered two sets of human remains in Lake Mungo, Australia that date back to 40,000 years ago. Called Mungo Man and Mungo Woman, they gave a better idea of the length of time that indigenous Australians have lived there. Mungo Woman is also the earliest-recorded cremation found anywhere in the world.

2 The Sword in the Lake Jonkoping County Museum Eight year-old Swedish-American girl Saga Vanecek was skipping stones across Lake Vidostern when she reached in to pull out what she thought was a stick in the mud. Instead, she found a 1,500 year-old sword that predates the Vikings. Advertisement Advertisement
From Food to Feminine Hygiene Products, Montefiore Provides More than Nourishment to Its Neighbors in Need

BRONX, N.Y., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Montefiore Health System is celebrating two decades of serving the Bronx community through its Project Bravo Food Pantry. Project Bravo is a grant-funded initiative designed to combat food insecurity for high-risk individuals and families in the Bronx. For more than 20 years, participants have received fresh produce and healthy food three days per week. In 2024 alone, 40,000 Bronxites were supported by the program.

Participants collect items at Montefiore's Project Bravo Food Pantry

On a weekly basis, thousands of Bronx residents walk in when in need or are referred by community partners and Montefiore Medical Group clinics. In collaboration with Grow NYC, Food Bank of New York, and United Way, Project Bravo provides nutritious food as well as baby formula, household supplies like laundry detergent, and holiday meals to local families.

A recent study published in Pediatrics by researchers at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore found that one in seven children in a nationally representative sample of more than 16 million living in households receiving nutritional support through the Women's, Infant and Children's (WIC) Program or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Program, still experienced food insecurity, despite having these food assistance programs. The limited or uncertain access to adequate and nutritious food points to a need for more services like Project Bravo that can directly help families across the country.

"It has been our privilege to help fill the gaps that families experience, from healthful food to warm clothes, we see the needs of our neighbors and are here to help, together with our community partners," said Mrs. Tynisha Malone, MPA, Program Director of the Project Bravo Food Pantry.

Project Bravo Food Pantry participants can also access toiletries and feminine hygiene products, donated from big box stores and local colleges. For almost 15 years, Mrs. Malone and two volunteers have gathered special items like Halloween candy and toys to share with participants during the holidays.

"Project Bravo is a place I can rely on for many resources," said Bronx resident, Dwight, who has been coming to the pantry for three years. "I get fresh and healthy food to make soups and casseroles, as well as access to health education. I also enjoy the cooking and painting classes available here too. Project Bravo provides sustenance and support in many ways."

To learn more and support the Project Bravo Food Pantry contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 10 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information, please visit www.montefioreeinstein.org. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram , and LinkedIn, or view us on Facebook and YouTube.

SOURCE Montefiore Health System
Senator Kelly

Thank you, Senator Kelly and all the other brave men and women veterans who stood up and told the American soldiers not to carry out illegal orders from the Commander in Chief. Sending our soldiers into US cities after fabricating states of "emergency" is a dictator's move and that We the People see right through the ploy. And also, if fat soldiers are not allowed to serve anymore in our military, then maybe the Commander in Chief himself should set an example first and lose about 200 pounds.

Curtis Urban

Vail

Fool some of the time

I again point out stochastic terrorism to explain what we are living with daily. A statement was made recently by former military members who are now Representatives and Senators, that military personnel should not fulfill illegal orders. Almost immediately, Trump called for the execution of those calling for the military to disobey orders. Susceptible individuals (minions) in the field became triggered" and threatened elected members of Congress and their families with harm. Then Trump denied that he called for violence. The "activated followers know full well what they were called upon to do for their leader and they tacitly knew if they were caught he would cover their backs and award pardons as he has done in the past. What an operation for retribution on an executive level. Do not accept this recurring operation. We are wise to this treacherous scheme foisted upon our people and democracy itself.

Alan Barreuther

Foothills

A helping hand

We moved to Tucson way back in 1976. It was one of the best decisions we made and one which we have never regretted even for one day. People are welcoming, friendly and kind. One of the many things we love about our community is that it still has a small-town feeling.

Having said that, now is a good time to give back and help others that cannot help themselves. Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching so let's donate blankets, warm clothing, warm socks, books, toys, etc. If you're able, put a little extra cash in the bucket of the bell ringer outside Fry's.

Despite much distressing and sad news every day, we can put a smile on so many faces, including our own.

Tucson knows "It is better to give than to receive." Our community will step up and show we will always be a compassionate and caring community.

Sally Mayersohn

Northwest side

Trump's unfitness as president

The article, Trumps Unfitness Triggers a Duty to Act by Ms. Sabrina Haake is a list of President Trumps alleged crimes  both within the United States and the international area; many of the events we witnessed in the local and international news  using the military as his personal police force, deporting people who are valid citizens, contemplating a war with foreign countries using contrived evidence and in his latest outrageous post, using the claim of seditious behavior at the highest level against individuals who rightly remind every service member that as part of the military, they are subject the Uniform Code of Military Justice and ignorance is no excuse for criminal behavior despite the President being their Commander in Chief. If you will recall, the events at this point were brought about directly from the JAG personnel being removed at his behest. Not only will President Trump and his enablers be held responsible, but the United States of America as well.

Richard Rebl

East side

Square pegs into round holes

Standing ovation for "We Need A Future To Fit Landscape." It's a chilling look at how I'm-the-boss-of-nature attitude got us here, and why it cannot continue. That 70+% of the water use in Arizona is tied to less than 1% of created jobs really does mean something. Just as no one gets through this lifetime alive, everyone and every industry in Arizona will be affected. After the power grabs and the outsized lobbying interests suck out more than their fair share  and they must be challenged every step of the way  then comes the part you don't want to hear. It cannot go on like this, or everyone is toast.

Only fitting that a nature photographer sees the bigger picture. His message should be nailed to the Arizona Legislature doors like Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door. Man does not have dominion over nature. He has stewardship  but not even that if he doesn't have enough to drink.

Rick Rappaport

Oro Valley

Rebuttal to LTE on data centers

Electricity to run and cool Project Blue (PB) would take more solar panels than will fit on the land they want to buy. TEP will be needed. TEP is investor-owned. Profits are based on a percent of new infrastructure costs. So the higher infrastructure costs, the higher the profits, and all those costs are passed onto ratepayers. Infrastructure costs for solar are less than for gas or other fossil fuels, so lower profit is why TEP generates very little solar electricity.

TEP supplying electricity for PB will require even more water to cool its generators than PB would require if it used an evaporative cooling tower (a massive amount). And TEP has wells directly into our aquifer, so it sucks up our water at will, without even paying us.

So, locating data centers in our desert is very bad news for everyone except investors in Project Blue and TEP.

Lee Stanfield

East side

How did MTG make $25 million in Congress?

Why is Margie Taylor Greene quitting the House of Representatives in the middle of the Congressional session?

Its not because of the pressure personally exerted on her lately by the executive fat wandering around the White House, knocking down walls.

Margie is now one of the wealthiest U.S. lawmakers in Congress. She saw her net worth increase by millions through stock trading while serving as a Congresswoman.

Can you say insider trading? Since joining the House, Green has made over 450 stock trades. Her investments are now estimated to be worth more than $25 million, a substantial rise from before she took office.

Why work? I believe 51-year-old Margie agrees a million times over!

Jerry Wilkerson

SaddleBrooke

Slanted political opinion

Thank goodness there is a Donald J. Trump and a Republican Party; otherwise, the far-left preferred Arizona Daily Star would not have an Opinion Page.

As this probably will not show up on the Opinion Page, thank you, editor, for reading it.

L.W. Johnson

Foothills

Bathroom politics: an easy solution

A solution to the bathroom wars is as easy as he and she plus a few rooms with "He or she." In each school or other public building, offer at least those three door signs. Problem solved. People go where they are comfortable. Easy does it.

Ford Burkhart

Midtown

Giving thanks

Recently, I had the privilege of attending a ceremony for 47 people from 14 countries to become U.S. naturalized citizens. Presided over by senior U.S. District Judge James A. Soto, the proceeding was a moving experience. As he named their countries of origin - Senegal, Poland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, Brunei, Cuba, Vietnam, Congo, Peru, etc.  the new citizens stood. He asked if anyone wanted to tell their story because he was truly interested. But it was Judge Sotos message to them that was most inspiring. He thanked them for the challenges they overcame and the hardships they endured to get to this momentous day. He encouraged them to watch Ken Burns' documentary on the American Revolution, reminding them that we are a country of immigrants. Then he urged them to keep their languages, cultures and religions alive because they are now part of the American fabric. I am proud and honored to give thanks to Judge Soto and my new fellow Americans.

Joan Meggitt

Midtown

Recent election results

One of the excuses Republicans used to try to rationalize and explain away the thrashing they received earlier this month was that it was simply "blue states voting blue."

While Democrats won the governor races in Virginia and New Jersey far more easily than was expected, there were elections in Georgia and Mississippi that clearly disproved that narrative. But perhaps the most telling yet under-the-radar sign of the total rejection of Republicans were school board elections in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania, where voters clearly sent a message.

The Houston area school board flip was particularly noteworthy, as Republican efforts to ban textbooks on climate change, diversity, and vaccines, as well as the effort to pretend that transgender bathrooms were somehow a big problem, resulted in Democrats picking up three seats and control of the school board.

Glen Vann

West side

Congress must impeach and remove now

America is in a constitutional emergency. We now have an adjudicated insurrectionist occupying the presidency  something expressly forbidden under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars anyone who has taken an oath and then engaged in insurrection from holding office. This disqualification is automatic, as confirmed in the Couy Griffin case.

Because Congress has failed to act, I have filed with the Clerk of Congress both a Resolution for Immediate Impeachment and a declaration of Interim Presidency, a constitutional safeguard until Congress fulfills its duty. This is not symbolic. It is a lawful response to an unlawful presidency.

I am calling on every American to demand that Congress immediately impeach and remove the entire criminal regime for insurrection, obstruction, and high crimes. On my Substack, I provide ready-to-send letters you can copy and paste directly to your representatives.

We can end this nightmare  but only if the public acts now and forces Congress to uphold the Constitution.

Trista di Genova

Southwest side

Drug? boats

Heres a puzzling sentence in a recent LTE: The conundrum is whether we should stand idly by as the drugs flow easily into our country or should we take actions that make that action very, very risky.

To me, thats a dilemma. While a dilemma requires a choice, a conundrum focuses more on the difficulty of finding an answer at all. The writer has no difficulty answering the question of blowing boats out of the water near Venezuela. He is convinced that U.S. military vessels know that these boats are carrying drugs and are headed toward the United States. He has no qualms about sinking them without any effort to stop them, board them, search them, confiscate illicit cargo and arrest the crews. This last procedure was the norm by which our nation attempted to deal with drug smugglers until recently. How has our dealing with potential smugglers been changed? It has been changed by the whim of those currently in power in our country.

Frank Bergen

Northwest side

Mamdani's party

DSA is short for Democratic Socialists of America. Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani are two of its famous supporters. However, Mamdani is the first to have won a major position of power: mayor of New York City. Its easy to Google DSA and read their platform. It could have been written by a second-grader. It is a childish, utopian, and now dangerous list of goals. Heres a sampling:

Free medical care for all  no deductibles, copays, or premiums.

Free college for all  including room and board.

Free universal childcare and pre-K.

Amnesty for all immigrants; and voting rights for non-citizens.

This sample list is fantasy  there is simply not enough money. But socialists are experts at spending other peoples money. And when that money runs out, the FREE stuff disappears, and the socialists do whatever it takes to stay in power. Cuba and Venezuela have shown us. Thats when real freedom is threatened.

Tom Gordon
The rise of artificial intelligence has created a historic turning point, forcing nations to confront unprecedented questions about ethics, safety, and technological accountability.

As AI systems become faster, stronger, and more autonomous, the line between benefit and risk grows increasingly thin.

The panel AI for Humanity: Ethical and Safe AI in the New Era at VinFuture Week 2025 arrives at a critical moment - providing a forum for global reflection on how humanity can navigate a technology that now transcends national boundaries.

More than an academic exchange, the dialogue signals Vietnams entry into the global arena of AI governance. With rapid digitalization and growing ambition, Vietnam now joins the conversation shaping global standards, legal frameworks, and ethical visions for the future of technology.

Professor Toby Walsh, a leading AI expert from Australia, praised the relevance of the VinFuture panel amid intensifying global debate on AI governance. Photo: UNSW

AI ethics: From barrier to innovation to foundation of sustainable progress

For years, ethics has been seen as an obstacle to technological advancement. However, Professor Toby Walsh - one of the worlds most respected voices in AI - argues that ethics is not a hindrance but a prerequisite for sustainable, safe, and predictable innovation.

His argument is grounded in reality: AI models are scaling rapidly, automating decision-making processes, and directly impacting human lives in ways even their developers cannot fully control.

When algorithms are able to analyze, assess, predict, and make decisions for humans, the lack of ethical standards becomes not just a technical flaw - but a social threat.

Recent incidents around the world highlight this: biased AI in hiring processes, recommendation systems that polarize society, self-driving software failing in unpredictable situations. Each is a reminder that AI ethics is not an abstract theory - its a critical requirement to maintain public trust.

In this context, the question Should we slow down AI? is outdated. The real issue is not speed, but direction.

AI risks know no borders - so global cooperation is non-negotiable

Professor Edson Prestes issued a stark warning: any AI system developed in one country can reach the world within hours via digital platforms. This reveals an uncomfortable truth - AI risks are transboundary, and no country can simply close its doors to protect itself.

There are already precedents. A news ranking algorithm creating information bubbles across dozens of countries. A flawed facial recognition system affecting millions globally. A leaked language model causing consequences in multiple markets.

National regulations, alone, wont suffice.

The experts agree: international cooperation is essential. Especially as AI becomes the new infrastructure for finance, healthcare, education, defense, and governance.

The world needs shared standards - similar to aviation or cybersecurity - to prevent vulnerabilities from spreading and causing large-scale harm.

This means countries must proactively participate in shaping the future of AI, not just wait to regulate after technologies are deployed.

Professor Edson Prestes emphasized that all countries must actively participate in developing ethical, responsible AI. Photo: UFRGS
Co-hosted by the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IPVN) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Academy, the Japan Patent Office (JPO), and Indias Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), the event aimed to facilitate the exchange of experience in IP curricula development and introduce relevant teaching resources from WIPO. It also featured hands-on training through group exercises, lesson design, case study discussions and field visits to several schools in the capital.

In his opening speech, IPVN Deputy Director General Nguyen Hoang Giang said rapid technological change across the globe and the region is fundamentally altering innovation models and the future of learning and work. In such context, IP has become a strategic tool, not only for companies, but also as a measure of innovation capacity and knowledge quality.

SMARTSCHOOL, along with several Vietnamese schools already piloting IP education activities, would present early outcomes, with the goal of scaling practical IP activities to students nationwide, he said.

According to him, IPVN stands ready to work closely with education sector, domestic and foreign organisations to enhance teacher capacity, develop teaching materials and launch IP-related programmes. The office, he added, always strengthens cooperation with ASEAN countries to build a regional network for sharing IP education resources, enabling mutual learning and joint development.

Altaye Tedla, Director of the WIPO Academy, said the workshop is part of a series of events advancing IP and innovation education for youth in Vietnam and ASEAN. The series aim to equip policymakers, curriculum designers, teachers and education administrators with IP knowledge and skills, foster the integration of innovation into general education, build a regional resource sharing network, and support early-stage entrepreneurship among youth.

Experts from WIPO, JPO, Indias Atal Innovation Mission, LUT University in Finland, and Georgia discussed current policies and the status of IP education, IP education practices in Vietnam, the importance of teaching innovation to young learners, the INCIPE IP certificate course, Atal Tinkering labs and their role in shaping future innovators, and JPO-led initiatives to spur youth invention./.VNA
The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has submitted a report to the Prime Minister detailing damage from recent flooding in the South Central and Central Highlands provinces, and outlined immediate support measures.

According to MOET, the floods have inflicted severe damage on the education sector. Reports from local authorities confirm that four students have died - three in Dak Lak and one in Lam Dong. No casualties were reported in Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, or Quang Ngai.

2,000 schools affected, nearly $4 million in damages

The courtyard of Ha Huy Tap High School (Tay Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa) submerged in mud after historic flooding.

As of midday on November 24, flooding and landslides had damaged school fences, teaching equipment, retaining walls, parking structures, water systems, and trees. Estimated losses across five provinces amount to more than 97.5 billion VND (approximately USD 3.9 million), with Dak Lak suffering over USD 1.15 million, Gia Lai USD 900,000, Khanh Hoa over USD 1.3 million, Lam Dong USD 370,000, and Quang Ngai USD 170,000.

Many areas remain isolated and waterlogged, delaying the full assessment of damage.

Textbook and school supply losses are also significant. Quang Ngai reported over 38,810 lost textbook sets; Dak Lak, 6,340 sets; Gia Lai, 448,202 damaged books and 6,425 learning toolkits; Lam Dong, 334 textbook sets, 405 toolkits, and 550 notebooks. Khanh Hoa is still conducting a full inventory.

Almost 2,000 schools forced to close

Flooding has disrupted schooling across 1,942 institutions. As of November 24, 360 schools remained closed - 290 in Dak Lak and 70 in Khanh Hoa. Other provinces have resumed classes.

In response, MOET has instructed local education departments to urgently assess infrastructure damage and request emergency funds from provincial governments, prioritizing central support to repair facilities and replace equipment so that students can return to school as soon as possible.

Free textbooks and national mobilization

To ensure all students have access to learning materials, MOET will distribute textbooks free of charge to students in flooded areas. The Vietnam Education Publishing House has already prepared 10 million copies for this purpose. Distribution in Dak Lak is nearly complete, with other provinces - Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ngai, and Lam Dong - next in line.

MOET has also called on police, military, militia forces, and local communities to assist with school cleanup as soon as water levels recede.

A nationwide fundraising campaign among civil servants and staff within MOET and its affiliated institutions has been launched. Each affected province will receive VND 300 million (approx. USD 12,200), totaling VND 1.5 billion (approx. USD 61,000). Families of deceased students will be provided VND 5 million (approx. USD 200) each.

Throughout and after the storm, MOET has maintained direct communication with local departments via Zalo groups, enabling real-time updates and coordination with international organizations, including UNICEF Vietnam.

Thanh Hung
Colonel Than Manh Hung, Head of Division 3 under C04, said the group was extremely aggressive. As the police closed in, the suspects set a significant amount of drugs on fire at the stairwell in a desperate attempt to destroy evidence and opened fire to threaten the officers.

During the operation, two of the suspects climbed onto the rooftops of adjacent houses in an effort to flee. However, police used drones to pinpoint their locations and quickly apprehended them.

Further searches of a related suspects residence uncovered an additional 48,000 ecstasy pills and one kilogram of crystal meth.

Residents shocked by late-night standoff

Locals on Bach Dang Street told VietNamNet that around 10:00 p.m. on November 23, heavily armed police sealed off an alley in the area.

That house was always locked with two layers of doors. The people inside rarely spoke to neighbors and often had strange visitors late at night. When the police arrived, I heard gunshots fired into the air to suppress them, a witness recounted.

By around 6:00 a.m. on November 24, the police had completed the operation and escorted the suspects away. The case is still under investigation.

Dinh Hieu
A corporate venture studio to co-create AI-native BFSI innovations; inaugural challenge invites entrepreneurs to reimagine risk assessment and management.

NEW YORK and SINGAPORE, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Neutrinos, a leader in AI-native intelligent automation for insurers and financial services, announced the launch of the Neutrinos Venture Studio at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025. The studio was introduced in the presence of Shri Abhishek Singh, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Dr. Madan Padaki, President, TiE Bangalore and Member, Karnataka Start-up Vision Group.

The Neutrinos Venture Studio is a dedicated initiative for building and scaling new BFSI ventures. It combines access to the Neutrinos full stack AI platform with domain expertise, enterprise readiness, and a global partner network to help founders bring ideas to market faster. It provides discovery support, rapid validation, co-development, and access to partners across India, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.

Alongside the Neutrinos Venture Studio launch, Neutrinos introduced 'Reimagining Risk', a global startup challenge in partnership with TiE Bangalore and TiE New Jersey, inviting startups, entrepreneurs, and students to build breakthrough solutions that transform how risk is assessed, priced, and managed for consumers primarily in emerging markets. Winners will receive cash prizes, extended mentorship, access to the Neutrinos full stack AI platform, introductions to enterprise partners and VC networks, and workspace at the Neutrinos Bengaluru office.

The Venture Studio model offers:

Co-created BFSI ventures shaped through discovery sessions, validation sprints, and rapid co-development.

Enterprise-ready foundations that include security, compliance, integration, scalability, and defined SLAs.

Access to partners, pilots, roadmap influence, advisory opportunities, and VC and enterprise networks across global markets.

Accelerated time-to-market with MVPs in 3 to 6 weeks, pilots in 6 to 12 weeks, and scaled adoption in under 18 weeks.

A focus on impact-led innovation across financial inclusion, microfinance, parametric risk, and emerging markets.

"With the Venture Studio, we are building the engine that will power the next decade of financial innovation. We are creating the infrastructure, global partnerships, and acceleration model to solve the toughest problems and move financial services and insurance industries forward," said Samik Ghosh, CEO, Neutrinos.

"This partnership with Neutrinos Venture Studio channels entrepreneurial energy toward solving real-world financial services challenges," said Madan Padaki, President, TiE Bangalore. "By combining TiE's mentorship ecosystem with Neutrinos' platform and enterprise access, we're creating a launchpad for innovations."

The 'Reimagining Risk' challenge focuses on five priority areas. These include climate and parametric risk such as climate-linked products and agricultural protection; financial inclusion models that improve access through microinsurance, alternative credit scoring, and last-mile distribution; AI-native risk intelligence for real-time underwriting, fraud detection, and automated damage assessment; embedded insurance opportunities that enable on-demand and contextual coverage across digital ecosystems; and cyber and digital risk solutions tailored for SMEs and privacy-preserving risk assessment.

Competition Structure:

Phase 1: Submission of abstract note + 3-minute pitch video by January 5th, 2026.

Phase 2: Top 20 teams join a mentorship bootcamp on Agentic AI, the Neutrinos platform, and BFSI innovation.

Phase 3: Top 10 pitch live at the grand finale on February 10, 2026.

Register for the challenge here.

About Neutrinos:

Neutrinos is a leader in intelligent automation, empowering insurance enterprises to harness the full potential of AI agents to autonomously execute and optimize complex business processes. Purpose-built for insurers, the Neutrinos platform is uniquely designed to manage and orchestrate all agents, not just those built on Neutrinos. Its AI-native, full-stack architecture unifies complex systems, enables cross-platform orchestration, and powers the agentic and autonomous workflows of tomorrow. From underwriting and claims to distribution, Neutrinos brings deep insurance domain expertise, intelligent automation, and pre-built accelerators to help insurers modernize faster, boost operational agility, and deliver seamless customer experiences. Learn more at www.neutrinos.com and follow Neutrinos on LinkedIn.

Media contact: [email protected]

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2532156/5641469/Neutrinos_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Neutrinos
According to the draft, permanent or long-term residents (over two years) in Hanoi who own gasoline-powered motorbikes will be eligible for 20% of the cost of a new electric vehicle (valued at 10 million VND or more), capped at 5 million VND (around $200).

Poor households will receive 100% support up to 20 million VND (approximately $800), while near-poor households will receive 80% support, capped at 15 million VND (about $600). Each individual will be eligible for support on only one vehicle, from the resolutions effective date until January 1, 2031.

This proposal marks an increase over the 3 million VND cap proposed in July by the Department of Construction, and aligns with Ho Chi Minh Citys upcoming program (also capped at 5 million VND, with 20 million VND for poor households and 16 million for near-poor).

Additionally, Hanoi plans to subsidize 50% of vehicle registration and plate fees for clean-energy motorbikes. For poor and near-poor households, this will be fully covered. The city will also support 30% of interest on 12-month installment loans for electric bike purchases from partnered banks.

Taxi and bus companies switching to green vehicles will have their registration fees fully waived if they retain their assigned license plates. Green rental vehicle businesses will be exempt from road and pavement usage fees for up to five years when used for parking and pickup points.

To discourage personal vehicle use, the city will waive fares for bus rapid transit and metro lines for certain groups: people with meritorious service, the disabled, elderly, children under 6, poor households, students, and industrial park workers.

Roadmap to low-emission zones in Hanoi

Hanois low-emission zone plan will roll out in four phases:

From July 1, 2026: pilot low-emission zones in nine wards within Ring Road 1.

From January 1, 2028: expand to all of Ring Road 1 and some wards in Ring Road 2 (14 wards).

From January 1, 2030: expand to Ring Road 3 (36 wards and communes).

From 2031 onward: apply in areas with high pollution, congestion, or strict protection status.

In these areas, gasoline-powered motorbikes will be banned during specific times or locations. App-based ride-hailing services will also be barred from using gas-powered bikes. The city will gradually restrict, then ban, cars that dont meet Euro 4 emission standards. Commercial fuel-powered trucks must switch to clean energy by 2030, while all taxis must use environmentally friendly vehicles starting July 1, 2026.

By January 1, 2035, Hanoi will define specific areas and times for restricting certain types of vehicles, based on real-world conditions.

According to the draft, parking lots in apartment buildings, commercial centers, and hospitals within Ring Road 3 must convert at least 15% of spaces to clean energy charging stations by 2030. New developments will be required to allocate at least 30%.

Road infrastructure (bridges, roads, bus stations, rest stops, etc.) must also meet this standard. Businesses investing in clean energy stations will receive 30% interest support for up to five years, plus 50% land clearance cost support and five years of free land rent. These projects will be exempt from preliminary investment procedures and can begin immediately.

Strict transition for transport vehicles

The policy outlines clear rules for fossil-fuel-powered road transport vehicles used for commercial purposes in Hanoi:

For motorbikes and scooters used in ride-hailing platforms: After July 1, 2026, app companies must stop onboarding drivers using gasoline-powered vehicles. The green transition timeline mandates: 30% of such vehicles must be electric or clean energy by July 1, 2026; 70% by January 1, 2028; and 100% by January 1, 2030.

For taxis and passenger cars with up to 8 seats (excluding the driver) in commercial operation: From July 1, 2026, all new or replacement vehicles must run on clean energy. The required fleet conversion rate is 50% by January 1, 2028 and 100% by January 1, 2030.

The city is also considering allowing the conversion of gasoline-powered motorbikes into electric bikes, aiming to curb the surge of new personal vehicles, reduce investment burdens on citizens, and cut emissions.

Hoang Hiep
Unforgettable trauma and wreckage after the flood

In Khanh Hoa, many families in Tay Nha Trang Ward still cannot return home. Nights of fleeing the rising waters in the dark - without power or food - have become unforgettable trauma. Their homes lie in ruins, possessions washed away, and many now have nothing.

In Dak Lak, especially in Hoa Thinh commune, the flood destroyed homes overnight. The commune alone recorded over 20 deaths. In Phu Huu village, at least seven people died - including both parents in one family.

In Gia Lai, after the water receded, debt became the next wave. Goods, livestock, and farms were washed away. One household lost over half its cattle - purchased on bank loans - leaving them bankrupt before repayments even began.

A resident of Hoa Thinh commune (Dak Lak) watches helplessly as floodwaters destroy their homes. Photo: Hai Duong

As of November 23, the floods have caused 91 deaths, 11 people missing, and an estimated economic loss exceeding 13 trillion VND (approximately USD 538 million). This includes over USD 219 million in Dak Lak, USD 206 million in Khanh Hoa, nearly USD 45 million in Lam Dong, around USD 41 million in Gia Lai, and about USD 27 million in Quang Ngai.

The disaster collapsed 221 homes and submerged nearly 200,100 others at its peak. Tens of thousands of hectares of rice, crops, and orchards were damaged, while more than 3.3 million livestock and poultry were killed or swept away.

Major transport routes - including national highways and railways - have been severely damaged and cut off.

A nations compassion flows toward the heart of the flood

Household goods in Khanh Hoa lie damaged and submerged after the flood. Photo: Xuan Ngoc

Amidst devastation, acts of kindness are surging across Vietnam.

The government has provided emergency aid of 1.1 trillion VND (around USD 45 million), released 4,000 tons of national reserve rice, and called on larger localities to directly support the hardest-hit provinces.

The military has deployed over 44,000 personnel and thousands of vehicles for rescue and relief missions. Makeshift military kitchens burn day and night to cook thousands of hot meals. Soldiers - now acting as emergency couriers - brave deep waters to deliver each meal by hand.

In Dong Nai, hundreds of residents stayed up through the night wrapping traditional cakes and preparing gifts to send to the flood zone. In Ho Chi Minh City, even young children joined donation drives and awareness campaigns.

Dozens of doctors from major hospitals such as Cho Ray, Thong Nhat, Military Hospital 175, and Peoples Hospital 115 traveled to Khanh Hoa to provide care to residents stranded in submerged areas.

Though the floodwaters have passed, the losses remain heavy. Yet every aid truck, every meal, and every helping hand is lifting spirits and helping people in South Central Vietnam begin again.

Dead cattle after the floods in Central Vietnam. Photo: Tran Hoan

Field kitchens run by the military operate around the clock to feed survivors.

To support flood-hit communities, VietNamNet has launched a campaign to raise donations. We call on readers, philanthropists, organizations, and businesses to contribute in the spirit of Vietnamese solidarity - "a morsel in hunger is worth a feast in fullness" and "the strong protect the weak."

VietNamNet will publicly report all contributions and ensure direct delivery to the most affected areas.

How to donate:

Cash donations can be transferred to:

Account: 0011002643148 (Vietcombank)

Account: 114000161718 (VietinBank)

Transfer content: "Donation for South Central flood victims"

Or scan the QR codes below to donate directly:

VietNamNet
Mr. Quang added that once exposed to freshwater, lobsters cannot be saved. The cooperative is now working to remove the dead lobsters and clean the farming cages to prevent environmental contamination.

While the market price of live lobster typically hovers around 1.1 million VND/kg (approx. 44 USD/kg), waterlogged lobsters now sell for just 40,00070,000 VND/kg (1.62.8 USD/kg), with larger ones fetching only 150,000180,000 VND/kg (67.2 USD/kg) - barely one-tenth of their normal value.

Chinese buyers have already canceled their contracts after hearing about the incident, Mr. Quang noted.

Rebuilding proves difficult without capital

The cooperative is struggling to recover due to lack of capital. Even if members were to take out loans for re-investment, many lack the ability to repay interest. Moreover, restarting farming will require at least 1011 months before new lobsters can be harvested.

Mr. Quang has called on local authorities to offer relief measures such as loan interest deferrals. Direct financial support, based on each households level of loss, would also be essential in helping farmers rebuild their aquaculture zones.

Vo Ngoc Thach, Chairman of Song Cau Peoples Committee, confirmed that the lobster farming sector suffered catastrophic losses after the recent floods.

As of 5:00 p.m. on November 23, reports showed that 95% of floating aquaculture cages in Song Cau were damaged - equivalent to 77,740 cages and more than 20.7 million lobsters lost. The total estimated damage is 2.44 trillion VND (approx. 97.6 million USD).

Local officials are appealing to the central and provincial governments for timely relief, including debt deferral, forgiveness, and new loans to support aquaculture revival - particularly for farmers already in debt due to prior investments.

Tran Chung
Truong Trong Nghia, a representative from Ho Chi Minh City, pointed out discrepancies in the draft. One article allows press agencies to operate multiple media types and products and to have subordinate press organizations. However, another article defines press agencies as being under the jurisdiction of provincial or municipal Party committees, without specifying that they can manage subordinate outlets.

According to Nghia, if applied uniformly across 34 provinces and cities, this regulation would mean local press agencies couldnt establish or develop subordinate media entities, effectively blocking their evolution into multi-platform media organizations.

Representative Truong Trong Nghia. Photo: National Assembly

He emphasized that journalism plays a vital role in national development. For media to survive and thrive, it must resonate with readers - becoming as essential as food, water, or air - compelling enough for audiences to voluntarily pay. Only then can the press achieve true financial independence and longevity.

"Weve invested immense effort to help journalists gain the skills and credibility needed to sustain their work, remain ethical, and avoid legal pitfalls. Press agencies not only protect their brand but also compete with sensationalist and fake media, all while aiming for financial autonomy and even contributing to the state budget. Many journalists, driven by patriotism and devotion, willingly sacrifice to fulfill their duties," Nghia said.

He noted that some local newspapers have already achieved this standard and should be preserved and supported. These outlets are valuable assets, and the revised law must enable their continued growth while providing a framework for other provincial newspapers to reach similar levels of development.

Currently, Vietnam has 8 provinces and cities with populations between 4 to 5 million, 9 with 3 to 4 million, 3 with 2 to 3 million, and 8 with 1 to 2 million. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the two largest and most populous urban centers, host media outlets with reputations and followings that go far beyond their local boundaries.

Nghia stressed that after administrative mergers, these population figures represent not just markets but resources for local media. Without proper legal support, it would be a waste of potential.

Representative Pham Van Hoa. Photo: National Assembly

He proposed allowing provincial press agencies to operate various media forms, produce multiple types of content, and manage subordinate entities. Some local Party committees should also be allowed to establish flagship, multi-platform media institutions.

Pham Van Hoa, a representative from Dong Thap, shared similar concerns. He highlighted that some local press agencies, such as those in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, are fully financially independent and even contribute to the national budget. These outlets boast millions of followers.

Hoa warned that under the draft, these agencies might be forced into mergers, and urged the drafters to reconsider. He proposed revisions to clearly define local press, radio, and television agencies as entities under the authority of provincial or municipal Party committees, permitted to operate multiple types of media and manage subordinate organizations. He also called for the government to set specific regulations to prevent uncontrolled media proliferation.

Pham Trong Nhan, another representative from Ho Chi Minh City, turned attention to the growing presence of AI-generated content in digital journalism. He argued that journalistic content created in whole or part with AI must be disclosed, with agencies responsible for ensuring accuracy and objectivity.

Nhan insisted that media organizations should independently verify AI-related content and share liability if such content harms national security or violates individual rights. Journalists must be trained to identify, flag, and reject AI-generated material unless it is properly verified.

He also warned that social influence is no longer held by journalism alone, but increasingly by cross-border digital platforms.

Nhan urged that these platforms be required to establish legal representation in Vietnam, disclose their recommendation algorithms, remove false information within 24 hours, enforce identity verification for users, and cooperate in tracing coordinated disinformation campaigns.

Tran Thuong
In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister expressed condolences to communities affected by recent floods.

He emphasized that the forum is a major event designed to advance collaboration between Vietnamese and Japanese localities. It follows the agreement reached during the official visit to Vietnam by former Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru in April 2025.

Chinh praised the forums theme as practical and strategic, reflecting sincerity, mutual trust, and shared goals for peace, stability, and prosperity. The event marks a significant step in nurturing long-term, fruitful bilateral ties.

Since the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership two years ago, bilateral cooperation has seen notable progress, Chinh noted, highlighting six major developments:

Two-way trade has grown over 20%, Japanese investment in Vietnam increased by over USD 8 billion, the Vietnamese population in Japan has expanded by 20%, and more than ten new local cooperation agreements have been signed.

Moreover, many Vietnamese localities and businesses have begun investing in Japan, particularly in digital transformation, tourism, healthcare, and labor exchange.

The forums timing is also symbolic, occurring two years after the bilateral upgrade and shortly after Vietnam completed the restructuring of its administrative system, adopting a two-tier local government model from July 1.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae also sent a congratulatory message to the forum.

Vietnams development agenda: openness, infrastructure, smart governance

Prime Minister Chinh outlined Vietnams ongoing focus on three pillars: open institutions, seamless infrastructure, and smart governance and human capital.

By the end of 2025, Vietnam aims to complete 3,245 kilometers of expressways and over 1,700 kilometers of coastal roads. The first phase of Long Thanh International Airport will be completed, and a new international airport in Gia Binh, Bac Ninh, is under development to handle tens of millions of passengers annually.

The country is also building one of the worlds top 10 largest national exhibition centers, reviving its nuclear power project, and accelerating major power infrastructure development. In parallel, it is investing in modern digital infrastructure.

Six strategic directions for deeper cooperation

Chinh proposed six key cooperation pillars for discussion and action:

Leveraging complementary strengths: Both sides should adopt a proactive, creative approach that matches needs and resources. Vietnam has many localities needing capital, technology, and industrial support; Japan has regions facing labor shortages and demographic challenges. Localities should identify 12 priority sectors and propose 23 actionable projects within 12 years.

Creating business-friendly policies: Local authorities are encouraged to listen to business voices and create favorable environments for Japanese and Vietnamese enterprises to invest. Cooperation should improve quality of life under the three betters principle: better jobs, higher incomes, and improved working conditions.

Enhancing people-to-people exchanges: The forum should foster ideas to promote cultural understanding, tourism, and community engagement between localities.

Driving innovation and digital transformation: Both sides should explore joint models in AI, smart cities, R&D centers, and innovation ecosystems. Chinh called on Japan to support Vietnam in policy development and digital infrastructure, especially in AI and semiconductors.

Focusing on green and climate-resilient infrastructure: The Prime Minister proposed collaborative projects on green infrastructure, urban flood control, waste and wastewater treatment, smart agriculture, and renewable energy.

Developing human resources: With Vietnam in its demographic golden period and Japan experiencing labor shortages, Chinh proposed closer training and labor cooperation to benefit both sides.

Chinh endorsed Japanese Prime Minister Takaichis motto Work! Work! Work and Work! and reaffirmed Vietnams commitment to working alongside Japanese localities and investors based on three togethers:

Listening and understanding among government, businesses, and citizens

Sharing vision and action for sustainable development

Cooperating to win together and share success and pride

Chinh expressed confidence that this first forum would mark a breakthrough in local-level cooperation, igniting innovative and high-potential initiatives under the guiding principles of sincerity, affection, trust, effectiveness, and mutual benefit.

Pham Cong
Immediately after floodwaters receded, medical teams in Gia Lai and Dak Lak launched extensive cleanup operations and chemical disinfection in severely inundated areas.

Military personnel, police officers, and local militia forces were mobilized to help collect waste and prevent outbreaks in flood-affected communities.

Soldiers help residents clean up mud and debris after the flood. Photo: Quang Hung

In Gia Lai, days of relentless flooding inundated multiple medical facilities.

Initial reports confirmed that three hospitals and ten health stations - seven in the east and three in the west of the province - suffered damage.

At Quy Nhon Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital, one of the hardest-hit locations, thick mud covered the entire second floor, severely disrupting medical services.

Dozens of soldiers from Regiment 739 were urgently dispatched to help clean up, restore infrastructure, disinfect the site, and gradually resume operations.

Vo Kien Cuong, Deputy Director of the hospital, said the post-flood cleanup has been extremely challenging due to the facilitys large grounds and deeply embedded mud.

Each department required at least ten people for cleaning, and the hospital has three large departments.

Fortunately, the support of military forces has been essential in helping the hospital quickly stabilize operations.

Quy Nhon Psychiatric Hospital also faced severe flooding.

Waters rose over 2 meters, completely disabling the first floor.

Spraying disinfectant in flood-hit areas of Gia Lai. Photo: Gia Lai CDC





All 139 patients had to be moved to the second floor, where treatment was reorganized into temporary accommodations.

Hospital operations were nearly paralyzed for several days as mud blanketed courtyards, hallways, and equipment.

Nguyen Trong Sang, Head of the Infection Control and Nutrition Department, said this years flooding reached unprecedented levels.

Entire wards and machines were submerged, and thick layers of sludge made environmental sanitation extremely difficult.

As soon as waters receded, nearly 100 soldiers from the National Military Training Center 2 (Military Region 5) were deployed to clean dozens of hospital rooms and courtyards covered in mud, helping restore hospital operations.

On November 22, amid increasing risks of contamination and infectious disease, the Gia Lai Health Department launched a province-wide environmental sanitation and disease prevention campaign.

Dr. Le Quang Hung, Director of the Gia Lai Health Department, warned that post-flood conditions are ideal for disease outbreaks - especially gastrointestinal illnesses, skin infections, dengue fever, and waterborne bacterial infections.

Health workers provide medicine and information to residents in flood-hit areas. Photo: Gia Lai CDC

He emphasized that urgent and coordinated disinfection, cleanup, and water treatment are essential to protect public health.

A total of 180 staff from the Gia Lai Center for Disease Control (CDC) and district health centers were sent to heavily flooded zones.

These teams sprayed Cloramin B disinfectant at schools, health stations, markets, and public areas.

They also coordinated with local officials to clear drains, collect animal carcasses, and disinfect wells.

Residents received Cloramin B and Aquatabs to treat household water supplies.

Thai Van Thuan, Vice Chairman of Tuy Phuoc Commune, reported that 21 out of the commune's 32 villages were flooded, affecting 17,685 households.

As of midday on November 24, disinfection had been completed at all local schools, markets, public spaces, and residential areas that were submerged or isolated by the floods.

During disinfection, any resident showing health issues linked to the floods will receive immediate medical attention and medicine.

Over 300 medicine kits have already been distributed, Thuan said.

Dak Lak health teams disinfect public areas after flooding. Photo: Dak Lak CDC

In Dak Lak, days of flooding left behind vast amounts of waste, debris, mud, and animal carcasses - especially in eastern districts.

Polluted water, poor sanitation, and humidity created ideal conditions for disease to spread.

Dak Laks health sector mobilized emergency teams from the provincial CDC, in coordination with police, soldiers, and local authorities, to clean up affected zones.

They collected waste, cleared mud, and sprayed disinfectants.

Schools, clinics, and neighborhoods were sanitized as soon as waters receded.

Dr. Hoang Hai Phuc, Director of the Dak Lak CDC, noted a dramatic increase in waste and mud after the flood.

Carcasses of livestock were found scattered in ponds, canals, and barns - posing a high risk of bacterial outbreaks.

As a result, swift action was needed to prevent disease.

Troops from Chemical Battalion 78 disinfect Hoa Quang Nam Kindergarten in Dak Lak. Photo: Quang Cuong

Military doctors from Military Region 5 provide free medical care in flooded areas of Dak Lak. Photo: Quang Hung

On the morning of November 24, dozens of soldiers from Chemical Battalion 78 (General Staff Command) and Chemical Company 19 (Division 2), Military Region 5, brought specialized vehicles and disinfectant equipment to flood-affected schools in Hoa Thinh, Hoa My, Tay Hoa, Phu Yen (Dak Lak) to carry out disinfection.

These chemical teams remained on-site, ready to disinfect areas as soon as soldiers and residents finished removing mud and waste.

In addition to chemical units, military medics and preventive health forces from Military Region 5 and the Ministry of Defense also joined local efforts to rebuild homes and schools, helping residents gradually return to normal life.

Environmental sanitation and disease prevention efforts remain ongoing across both Gia Lai and Dak Lak, and are expected to continue for days to ensure public health and safety in the wake of severe flooding.

Ha Nam & Tran Hoan
On November 25, Hanois investigative police announced their decision to prosecute and arrest Luong (born 1962, resident of Thuong Tin, Hanoi) on charges of accepting bribes.

According to investigators, Luong and other officials at the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry facilitated the release of Bui Thi Thanh Thuy, a mandatory inpatient at the institute, allowing her to leave freely and continue operating a drug trafficking ring involving 60 kilograms of narcotics.

Thuy later admitted she was not mentally ill. She confessed to colluding with the institutes assessment board - including Luong, who at the time served as deputy director - to obtain a falsified psychiatric evaluation declaring her incapable of understanding or controlling her actions.

Based on this fraudulent conclusion, Thuy was placed under mandatory psychiatric treatment, effectively shielding her from criminal prosecution.

Investigators determined that Luong and members of the evaluation board accepted a bribe of 300 million VND (about USD 12,300) to falsify the diagnosis.

Hanoi police say the investigation is ongoing and that other individuals involved will be handled in accordance with the law.

Tien Dung
In recent days, armed forces from Khanh Hoa, the Ministry of National Defense, Military Region 5, and the Navy have maintained 24/7 operations in flood-stricken hotspots. With the guiding principle help where the water recedes, soldiers pushed through isolation zones and landslides to reach those in need.

At the height of the flood, units used motorboats and specialized vehicles to evacuate thousands of residents trapped in rising waters to safety.

Naval Region 4 alone deployed thousands of officers and dozens of mobile vehicles for search and rescue, relief supply transportation, and urgent medical assistance.

The Naval Academy also sent nearly 400 officers and cadets to wards in South and West Nha Trang as well as Dien Khanh District, working alongside local authorities to reach isolated households, delivering food, clean water, milk, and life vests directly to residents.

As floodwaters receded, soldiers continued to fan out into heavily damaged areas to clean up mud, remove debris, and sanitize the environment.

The 5th Waterborne Commando Brigade (part of the Special Forces) stationed in Phan Rang sent teams to help clean and disinfect schools and educational facilities in West Nha Trang, rearranging furniture and restoring learning spaces.

According to the Khanh Hoa Peoples Committee, the province mobilized over 15,000 personnel and 500 vehicles in total, evacuating 3,200 households - nearly 13,000 people.

Preliminary figures show the flood left 15 people dead and 20 injured, with more than 30,000 households in Tay Nha Trang, Dien Khanh, Dien Dien, and Ninh Hoa submerged under 1 to 3 meters of water. Authorities estimate the total damage at approximately 5 trillion VND (around 204 million USD).

In response, the province rolled out emergency relief policies. Households whose homes were completely destroyed receive 60 million VND (around 2,450 USD), while those with severely damaged homes receive 30 million VND (around 1,225 USD). Each flood-affected person is supported with 1 million VND (about 40 USD), and students receive 500,000 VND (about 20 USD) for books and school supplies.

Soldiers evacuate residents using boats during peak flooding in Khanh Hoa.

Military personnel shovel mud and debris after water recedes.

Naval Academy officers and cadets clean a primary school in Dien Khanh District on November 22.

Units from the Special Forces assist in sanitizing schools in Tay Nha Trang Ward.

Nguyen Hue - Xuan Ngoc - Phuoc Sang
By 1 p.m. on November 26, the storms center is expected to be over the eastern part of the central East Sea, with winds strengthening to level 9 and gusts reaching level 11.

In the following 24 hours, it will maintain its direction, slow to 1015 km/h, and may continue to intensify. By 1 p.m. on November 27, the center is forecast to lie over the central East Sea with winds at level 10 and gusts at level 12.

From 48 to 72 hours after that, the storm is projected to move slowly westward at 510 km/h and could further strengthen.

Earlier, meteorologists warned that the storm could track toward the southern central coast, potentially impacting areas from Gia Lai to Lam Dong (formerly the provinces from Binh Dinh to Binh Thuan). The main period of influence is expected from November 28 to 30.

However, once it nears the coastline, the storm may weaken due to interaction with incoming cold air masses and the lower sea surface temperatures in the southern East Sea. When it makes landfall, the system may bring winds equivalent to a level 89 storm or degrade into a tropical depression.

Initial forecasts (subject to change) indicate that between November 28 and 30, widespread heavy rainfall could affect areas from Da Nang to Lam Dong, with the heaviest rains likely along the coastal stretch.

Additionally, forecasters said that after last nights cold air surge, two more are expected to follow - one around November 2627 and another around November 30.

The future strength and path of tropical storm No. 15 will likely depend on its interaction with these cold air waves. Meteorological agencies will closely monitor the system to provide timely updates.

Starting this evening, strong winds are expected to increase in the eastern part of the central East Sea, reaching level 67, and up to level 89 with gusts at level 11 near the storms center. Waves could rise to 46 meters, with very rough sea conditions.

From the afternoon of November 26 to 28, the central East Sea - including the northern part of the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago - is expected to experience even stronger winds at levels 1011, with gusts up to level 14. Waves may reach 79 meters, with extremely rough seas.

All vessels operating in these areas face the risk of thunderstorms, squalls, strong winds, and dangerous high waves.

Bao Anh
From January to June, Kaspersky's enterprise security solutions blocked nearly 192,000 spyware attempts - an alarming 78.8% increase compared to the same period last year.

Vietnam ranked third in the region for year-over-year growth in spyware attacks, trailing only Singapore (up 210.9%) and Malaysia (up 124.2%).

On average, Vietnamese businesses faced more than 1,520 spyware attacks per day.

In total, Southeast Asia saw over 427,000 spyware incidents during this period, with Vietnam accounting for the largest share.

The breakdown by country was: Indonesia (85,560), Malaysia (96,539), the Philippines (12,019), Singapore (20,157), and Thailand (21,014).

Kaspersky noted that the surge reflects a growing cybersecurity threat to Vietnamese businesses, particularly as digital transformation accelerates and online activity becomes more widespread.

Understanding spyware risks

Spyware is a type of malware that secretly infiltrates devices to monitor and collect user data, including keystrokes, screenshots, browsing history, and login credentials.

While it does not directly damage systems, spyware allows attackers to quietly extract personal, financial, or sensitive corporate information.

Some commercial spyware variants - such as Pegasus, Reign, and Predator - can infect devices using zero-click methods, requiring no user interaction such as clicking a link or downloading a file.

In 2024, Kasperskys Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) introduced a method for detecting traces of such spyware on iPhones through the analysis of the "Shutdown.log" file.

Simon Tung, General Director of Kaspersky for Southeast Asia, emphasized that Vietnams rapid digitalization has significantly increased the risk of data breaches.

He explained that online transactions, social media connections, and digital interactions all leave behind digital footprints - entry points that hackers can exploit to steal login credentials, financial records, and shopping histories.

According to Tung, the adoption of threat intelligence platforms can help organizations proactively detect and respond to spyware threats.

While eliminating spyware attacks completely is difficult, Kaspersky experts recommend several measures to reduce risk, including regularly updating software, avoiding suspicious links, using VPNs, restarting devices periodically, and deploying reliable security solutions.

Additionally, keeping abreast of emerging attack tactics and techniques will enable businesses to better defend themselves against increasingly sophisticated threats.

Du Lam
OceanaGold is also pleased to announce that on November 25, 2025, the Expert Panel appointed by the New Zealand government to consider permitting of the Waihi North Project ("WNP") under the Fast-track Approvals Act has released a draft decision and conditions indicating a provisional intention to approve the project. The draft decision and conditions remain subject to a further comment period, with a final decision expected by year-end 2025.

Wharekirauponga Drilling Highlights (estimated true width):

13.9 m @ 25.8 g/t Au from 466.8 m, EG vein (WKP137A)

7.4 m @ 5.3 g/t Au from 396.0 m, EG HWS vein (WKP137A)

1.8 m @ 108.1 g/t Au from 514.7 m, EG vein (WKP124J)

2.5 m @ 17.0 g/t Au from 530.3 m, EG FW vein (WKP124J)

3.2 m @ 19.7 g/t Au from 532.6 m, EG vein (WKP124K)

1.5 m @ 28.8 g/t Au from 474.4 m, EG HW vein (WKP124K)

5.6 m @ 6.9 g/t Au from 534.2 m, EG vein (WKP124L)

Gerard Bond, President and CEO of OceanaGold, said "We are excited about today's drill results from Wharekirauponga that extend the high-grade mineralization at the southern boundary of the resource, as demonstrated by the fantastic high-grade intercepts received by drill hole WKP137A. With more follow-up drilling planned, I am very pleased with the value and return on investment that we continue to achieve through exploration, as this deposit continues to grow.

We are also encouraged by the Expert Panel's release of a draft decision and conditions indicating the provisional intention to grant approvals for the Waihi North Project through the Fast-track Approvals Act. We look forward to continuing our engagement with participants in the approvals process and progressing through this next stage of the application to move towards the receipt of a final decision by the end of the year. We intend to safely and responsibly develop the Waihi North Project which extends the mine life of the Waihi operation well into the future, while generating strong returns for our shareholders and bringing wider economic benefits for the local communities and for New Zealand."

Drill results can be viewed in 3D using VRIFY at the following link:

https://vrify.com/meetings/recordings/1ec83dd5-7af1-41de-b60b-4cedf4d94ffc

VRIFY note: Drill results reflect only those set forth in OceanaGold's press release dated November 25, 2025, and do not include all historical results except those relevant to the current Wharekirauponga exploration target.

Wharekirauponga Drill Results Overview

East Graben ("EG") Vein

Since the June 25, 2025 news release, a total of ten drill holes have been completed and results returned from the EG, hanging wall ("HW") and footwall ("FW") veins, collectively referred to as the "EG vein zone" (Figure 1). Drilling results have further extended the known limits of the mineralized EG vein 135 m to the south (definition) and improved confidence in the potential for resource (conversion). These results continue to demonstrate the significant potential to expand the mineral resource associated with the EG vein zone.

Drilling from drill site 9 included the high-grade EG vein intercept from WKP137A (13.9 m @ 25.8 g/t Au), extending the high-grade mineralization at the southern end of the resource. This result is supported by previous intercepts WKP135 (6.3 m @ 8.7 g/t Au, released March 2025), WKP137 (4.0 m @ 43.8 g/t Au, released June 2025) and WKP134A (7.7 m @ 11.4 g/t Au, released November 2024) defining a new high-grade zone on the southern boundary of the existing resource, which remains open to the south with significant growth potential.

To further test this, step out hole WKP140A at the southern-most trace of drilling returned an intercept of 2.6 m @ 0.6 g/t, confirming the continuation of the EG vein 135 m to the south of previously reported hole WKP139 (2.9 m @ 0.5 g/t Au, released June 2025). The continuity of veining demonstrated by WKP140A supports growth of the total known strike length from 1.4 km to 1.5 km and this remains open to the north and south.

Drill site 1 results include WKP143, completed down dip on the EG vein, returning 2.3 m @ 4.6 g/t Au, similar to neighbouring holes, extending mineralization.

At drill site 8, five new directional holes have been completed from the WKP124 parent hole, which have infilled and tested the extents of the mineralization on the EG vein structure. Conversion drilling highlights include the high-grade intersection received in hole WKP124J with 1.8 m @ 108.1 g/t Au (EG vein). Drill hole intersections across the EG vein in holes WKP124K (3.2 m @ 19.7 g/t Au) and WKP124L (5.6 m @ 6.9 g/t Au) met expectations and increased resource confidence. Drill holes WKP124H (NSR) and WKP124I (NSR) defined the upper limit of the EG vein at this location (Figure 2).

Hanging Wall and Footwall Veins

Notably, the HW and FW vein structures that lie immediately to the east and west respectively of the EG vein zone also yielded strong results. Drill hole WKP137A returned an intercept of 7.4 m @ 5.3 g/t Au on the EG hanging wall splay ("HWS"), which extends the known mineralization on this structure, parallel to extensions on the EG vein, with other previously reported surrounding intercepts including WKP135 (1.7 m @ 24.6 g/t Au, released March 2025), WKP134A (2.3 m @ 16.0 g/t Au, released March 2025) and WKP137 (5.9 m @ 14.7 g/t Au, released June 2025) (Figure 3).

High-grade Au was intersected across several other EG HW and FW structures including 2.5 m @ 17.0 g/t Au and 2.4 m @ 10.4 g/t Au from separate FW veins in drill hole WKP124J and 1.5 m @ 28.8 g/t Au from a HW vein in WKP124K, continuing to demonstrate the potential for additional resource growth at Wharekirauponga outside of the main EG vein structure.

Wharekirauponga Exploration Program

Exploration for the remainder of the 2025 program will continue to target resource growth on the EG vein zone from drill sites 8 and 9. In October, the Company received permits for two additional exploration drill sites. The Fast-track application includes a further increase in the number of exploration drill sites, expanding the program by 8 new sites (inclusive of two new sites added in October), as well as doubling the drilling effort, with up to 6 rigs operating at any one time, from the currently permitted 3 rigs. The doubling of the exploration drill sites and drill rigs will further accelerate both definition and conversion drilling at Wharekirauponga in 2026 and beyond.

Table 1: Wharekirauponga drill intersections subsequent to the June 25, 2025, results update

Drill Hole ID From (m) To (m) True width (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Vein Activity WKP124H 520.5 521.0 0.4 NSR EG Vein Definition WKP124I 520.2 520.5 0.2 NSR EG Vein Conversion WKP124J 514.7 516.9 1.8 108.1 71.9 EG Vein Conversion WKP124J 530.3 533.7 2.5 17.0 16.1 EG FW Vein Conversion WKP124J 577.1 580.2 2.4 10.4 18.4 EG FW Vein Conversion WKP124K 474.4 476.4 1.5 28.8 30.7 EG HW Vein Conversion WKP124K 532.6 537.1 3.2 19.7 11.8 EG Vein Conversion WKP124K 585.4 586.5 0.8 16.3 9.3 EG FW Vein Conversion WKP124L 534.2 542.9 5.6 6.9 5.3 EG Vein Conversion WKP124L 626.5 628.9 1.4 8.3 12.1 EG FW Vein Conversion WKP137A 396.0 404.2 7.4 5.3 5.7 EG HWS Vein Definition WKP137A 417.6 420.7 2.8 7.0 6.1 EG HW Vein Definition WKP137A 427.9 433.3 4.7 2.3 1.9 EG HW Vein Definition WKP137A 439.3 440.1 0.6 33.4 20.8 EG HW Vein Definition WKP137A 466.8 481.2 13.9 25.8 18.9 EG Vein Definition WKP140 Hole abandoned prior to reaching EG vein target WKP140A 543.8 547.0 2.6 0.6 3.3 EG Vein Growth WKP141 220.5 222.4 1.5 10.2 35.3 EG HW Vein Definition WKP141 248.5 248.9 0.3 48.9 31.5 EG HW Vein Definition WKP141 376.3 378.0 1.6 1.7 14.9 EG Vein Definition WKP141 472.0 476.8 4.2 4.4 24.4 EG FW Vein Definition WKP142 398.3 401.0 2.4 1.5 14.2 EG Vein Definition WKP143 467.8 470.5 2.3 4.6 11.5 EG Vein Definition

Notes: "Growth" intercepts are associated with early-stage exploration drilling, "Definition" drilling intercepts are intercepts outside the current resource model shell directed at defining mineralization to an Inferred Resource category and "Conversion" drilling are intercepts converting Inferred Resources to Indicated Resources category. NSR = No Significant Result.

Waihi North Project Fast-track Approval and Early Works Activities Update

OceanaGold is encouraged by the Expert Panel's release of a draft decision and conditions indicating a provisional intention to grant approvals for the WNP through the Fast-track Approvals Act. It is important to note that at this stage, a final decision has not yet been reached.

The Expert Panel will now invite comment on the proposed conditions of consent from relevant parties. The Company will then have a chance to review and respond to these comments.

The Expert Panel's final decision on the application is expected in mid-December 2025.

The Company also continues to advance early works, design and project activities at WNP, including construction of the services trench and expansion of the water treatment plant, and expects to spend $45 million in capital in 2025 on these activities. The construction of the 5 km services trench that will convey power, water and communications from the existing Waihi operations to the Willows surface facilities area commenced in the third quarter of 2025. Civil works and fabrication have also commenced at the expanded water treatment plant site and are progressing well, with both deliverables planned for completion by the second quarter of 2026.

For further information relating to drill hole data please refer to the Company's website at https://investors.oceanagold.com/additional-drillhole-data.

About OceanaGold

OceanaGold is a growing intermediate gold and copper producer committed to safely and responsibly maximizing the generation of Free Cash Flow from our operations and delivering strong returns for our shareholders. We have a portfolio of four operating mines: the wholly-owned Haile Gold Mine in the United States of America; the wholly-owned Macraes and Waihi operations in New Zealand; and the 80%-owned Didipio Mine in the Philippines.

Qualified Person Statement

The scientific and technical information relating to Waihi exploration results in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Leroy Crawford-Flett, a Chartered Professional Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101"). Mr. Crawford-Flett is the Exploration & Geology Manager of Waihi Operation.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control ("QA/QC")

All exploration samples are assayed for gold by 30g fire assay with AAS finish. Since mid-2022, drill core sample intervals where visible electrum is logged are followed up by a subsequent screen fire assay after the routine 30g fire assay. Core samples were prepared and analyzed at SGS Waihi NZ Ltd (Au by 30g fire assay and Ag by aqua regia digest and 0.3gm AAS finish. Samples post April 2024 with Ag, As, Sb. Hg and S by ICP-MS after DIG12R Digest). Selected pulps are periodically sent to ALS in Brisbane for a 4-acid digestion and 42 or 48 element ICP geochemical analysis.

Quality of exploration assay results has been monitored in the following areas:

Sample preparation at the SGS Waihi and Westport labs through sieving of jaw crush and pulp products;

Monitoring of assay precision through routine generation of duplicate samples from a second split of the jaw crush and calculation of the fundamental error; and

Monitoring of accuracy of the primary SGS assay and ALS results through insertion Certified Reference Materials ("CRMs") and blanks into sample batches.

Blank, duplicate and CRM results are reviewed prior to uploading results in the AcQuire database and again on a weekly basis. The protocol at Waihi requires CRMs to be reported to within 2 standard deviations of the certified value. The criterion for preparation duplicates is that they have a relative difference (R-R1/mean RR1) of no greater than 10%. Blanks should not exceed more than 4 times the lower detection value of the assay method. Failure in any of these thresholds triggers an investigation and, if appropriate, re-assay. Drill core is stored within secure facilities on site to which access is controlled. Site employees transport samples to the analytical laboratory which is also a secured facility. The SGS Waihi NZ Ltd laboratory is an independent commercial geochemistry and energy assay laboratory with ISO 17025: 2017 accreditation, audited by an external consultant in 2020, and is inspected on a quarterly basis by OceanaGold geologists. No sampling risks have been recorded during these visits.

Technical Report

For further information, please refer to the following NI 43-101 technical report available on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.com under the Company's profile or on the Company's website at www.oceanagold.com: "NI 43-101 Technical Report - Waihi District Study Pre-feasibility Study, New Zealand" dated December 11, 2024, with an effective date of June 30, 2024, prepared by D. Townsend, L Crawford-Flett, K. Hollis, E Leslie, and T. Maton.

Cautionary Statement for Public Release

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to costs and timing of future exploration and drilling programs and the timing and receipt of Fast-track approval. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future performance and reflect the Company's expectations regarding the generation of Free Cash Flow, execution of business strategy, future growth, future production, estimated costs, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of OceanaGold and its related subsidiaries. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking. They include, among others, those risk factors identified in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form prepared and filed with securities regulators which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under the Company's name and on the Company's website. There are no assurances the Company can fulfil forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are only predictions based on current information available to management as of the date that such predictions are made; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing the Company, some of which are beyond the Company's control. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements contained in this press release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual outcomes or results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE OceanaGold Corporation
In June 2025, the Son La Provincial Peoples Committee approved the conversion of over 25 hectares of forest land for the project. Over 100 hectares have already been granted land use rights.

The Sap Stream is fed by the Be and Hang Dong streams. According to the small and medium-sized hydropower plan, the basin hosts eight cascade hydro plants. Hang Dong currently operates two plants - Hang Dong A (16MW) and Hang Dong A1 (8.4MW) - while Be Stream hosts only Hang Dong B. On the Sap Stream itself, there are the Suoi Sap 1, 2, 2A, 3, and Hong Ngai hydropower plants.

The Hang Dong B project requires over VND 1.203 trillion (approx. USD 48.8 million) and uses two 14MW horizontal Francis turbines. Its EIA notes risks such as fire, landslides, subsidence, or dam failure, but the investor has committed to installing monitoring systems and emergency response measures.

Coc Re 2 hydropower plant to tap Tuyen Quangs river network

The EIA for the Coc Re 2 project in Trung Thinh Commune, Tuyen Quang, indicates the project will use over 24 hectares of land and cost more than VND 193 billion (approx. USD 7.8 million). Originally part of Ha Giang Provinces hydropower plan, the project has now been transferred to Tuyen Quang.

Coc Re 2 has a capacity of 5.5MW and will generate 19 million kWh annually. It will be built on the Ta Nam Lu  Na Tuong  Ta Lai stream system, part of the Chay River basin. The project area mainly comprises forest production land and is not home to any rare or endangered species.

It is the second hydropower plant planned for this river segment. Upstream is the proposed Coc Re 1 (4.5MW) plant, while downstream lies the Chay River. The approved master plan includes five hydro plants on the Chays upstream section.

The plant site is 1.6km from Chay River 5 Hydropower Plant, 1.2km from the nearest residential area, 20km from Xin Man Commune's administrative office, and 11km from Trung Thinh Communes headquarters.

Technical specifications and impact scope

The project includes a combined dam and spillway, surge tank, and pressure pipeline leading to the powerhouse. It will use two horizontal Francis turbines. The reservoir created by the dam will have a total capacity of 9,000 cubic meters, with an active capacity of 4,000 cubic meters. The dam crest will sit at an elevation of 513 meters.

Vu Diep
Vietnams draft Cybersecurity Law 2025 marks a significant milestone by officially introducing the concept of data security into the national legal framework, recognizing data as a national resource requiring the highest level of protection to safeguard cyberspace and enable digital economic growth. Unveiled at a policy roundtable hosted by the National Cybersecurity Association on November 24, the draft law was developed by the Ministry of Public Security and submitted to the National Assembly. It introduces strategic updates to enhance legal defenses against emerging cyber threats while protecting national interests and citizen rights in the digital era. Data security legally defined for the first time The roundtable Cybersecurity Law 2025: A step forward in protecting data security was organized by the National Cybersecurity Association on November 24.







For the first time, the draft explicitly defines data security as a critical component of national cybersecurity. It elevates data - an essential element of digital transformation - to a central position in Vietnams cyber governance structure. Data security refers to the secure collection, processing, and use of information for national digital transformation and economic development.

As cyberattacks increasingly target or compromise data, this legal provision helps close a key gap while ensuring stronger protection of essential information systems. Organizations without sufficient technical or human resources will now be compelled to adopt safer methods of managing and accessing data, such as through trusted government databases or certified service providers, reducing risks from decentralized and vulnerable data storage.

Tied to digital transformation

At the policy roundtable, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Do Thi, Deputy Head of the Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department, stated that ensuring cybersecurity and data protection is inseparable from the countrys scientific, technological, and digital progress.

The draft law outlines six key state policies:

Prioritize cybersecurity across national defense, economy, science, and diplomacy.

Build a secure cyberspace aligned with national security and social order.

Develop skilled cyber defense teams and invest in research and innovation.

Encourage public-private cooperation in incident response.

Prioritize domestic cybersecurity products and services.

Enhance international cooperation on cyber defense.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Do Thi, speaking at the roundtable.
Following Huong Giangs elimination at Miss Universe 2025, questions have arisen around the space and fairness for transgender contestants in international pageants. At Miss Cosmo 2025, organizers confirmed that two transgender women - from the Netherlands and Spain - are officially competing, with full rights to present themselves equally on stage.

On November 24 in Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Hoang Phuong Linh, Miss Universe Vietnam 2025, received her official sash and invitation to compete in Miss Cosmo. The event also featured the unveiling of her national costume and community project. Present at the ceremony were Phuong Linhs family, Miss Vietnam 2024 Ha Truc Linh, and international contestants from Cuba, Colombia, Canada, Bolivia, and the Netherlands.

Rising dragon and rising voice

Miss Cosmo Vietnam director Ngoc Chau and Miss Universe Vietnam 2023 Bui Xuan Hanh present sash, flowers, and official invitation to Phuong Linh.

Phuong Linh introduced her community project, Line2Life, an e-handbook supporting mental health awareness among youth and the LGBT+ community. She shared that the project has already reached 70 young participants through four workshops.

She also showcased her carnival-themed national costume, titled The Rising Dragon, designed by Nguyen Duy Hau. The costume draws inspiration from the mythical carp transforming into a dragon - a powerful symbol of Vietnamese resilience and ambition.

Asked by VietNamNet whether she believes she is worthy of the Miss Cosmo crown, Phuong Linh offered three reasons.

She emphasized her upbringing in a morally grounded family and her refusal to compromise on values. She believes the judges are looking for a queen with authentic character.

She highlighted how her current title provides a strong platform to amplify meaningful messages to society, especially among the youth and vulnerable groups.

And most importantly, she believes in taking action, not just speaking out. Beyond raising her voice for mental health and social issues, she pledged to actively confront the changes she wishes to see in the world.

Transparency and equality emphasized

Truong Bao Hoang, head of the Miss Cosmo organizing committee, addressed concerns over alleged pressure from rival pageants threatening national directors with license withdrawal. He stated: We respect each competitions policies and the autonomy of national directors. They should be granted real authority - not conditional power.

He also confirmed that Miss Cosmo uses an independent scoring system through a mobile app, with results audited by a third-party firm to ensure transparency.

Affirming the pageants commitment to diversity, he added: No matter the skin color, ethnicity, age, religion, or gender identity, every contestant who steps onto the Miss Cosmo stage deserves equal opportunity to shine.

This years final show will be held at Innovation Park, a venue four times larger than last years, with a capacity of up to 20,000 people. Organizers also announced a series of charity initiatives across Hue (with $8,000 in aid), Nha Trang, and storm-affected central provinces.

Miss Vietnam 2024 Ha Truc Linh shared that she deeply resonated with Phuong Linh and valued their friendship. When Phuong Linh invited me to her home for a meal, it was something I truly treasured. Being away from my family so often, it felt warm and familiar, she said.

Phuong Linhs mother added that despite her packed schedule, her daughter occasionally returns home to recharge, sometimes only for an hour or two before heading back to work as early as 4 or 5 a.m.

Miss Cosmo 2025 will be held over more than 20 days across multiple locations in Vietnam, including Hue, Lam Dong, Tay Ninh, and Ho Chi Minh City. Themed Rising Dragon, the pageants semi-final and final nights are set for December 17 and 20.

Minh Dung
HA NOI  Ha Noi is stepping up its digital transformation efforts to create a transparent food supply chain, a move seen as vital to meeting growing consumer demand while driving sustainable and efficient agricultural growth.

According to Nguyen Thanh Trung, Deputy Head of the Section of Quality and Market Development under the municipal Department of Agriculture and Environment, Ha Noi holds a strategic geographic and economic position as one of Viet Nams two major growth engines and a key consumption hub in the northern region.

Ha Noi has extensive cultivation areas, including 155,000ha of paddy, 33,000ha of vegetables, and 24,000ha of perennial crops. The capital also has about 1.25 million pigs and 36 million poultry  the highest figures in the country  along with 128 livestock zones. It is home to more than 11,000 agro-fishery producing, processing and trading facilities and 250 exporters.

The citys agricultural production ranks among the largest nationwide, Trung said.

However, local production can meet only around 2070 per cent of demand for its more than 10 million residents, depending on the product, with the rest supplied by other provinces and imports.

Ensuring food quality, hygiene and safety remains a priority, Trung noted, stressing the need to build transparent supply chains, promote organic and VietGap farming, and adopt high-tech, ecological and sustainable production models.

In recent years, municipal authorities have tightened inspections and post-checks to prevent violations while fostering a healthy business environment for agricultural enterprises, he said.

Developing safe, transparent and sustainable value chains for agro-forestry-fishery products is an inevitable trend that will lay the foundation for green growth and the international integration of Viet Nams agriculture, said Phan Thi Phuong Thao from the Viet Nam Academy of Agriculture.

Thao said Viet Nam has an enormously potential food market, with food processing revenue projected at US$479 billion in 2024, but food quality and safety remain matters of concern.

Another challenge is that most of the added value lies in processing and distribution while producers receive the least, she said.

Developing the agricultural value chain should focus on three main pillars  safety, quality and traceability; sustainability, circularity and low emissions; and linkages among farmers, businesses, scientists and the Government.

She urged stronger Government support for green credit, land access, digital transformation and traceability, along with more communication and awareness-raising campaigns.

Enterprises should also invest more in preservation, deep processing and brand development while strictly complying with technical standards to ensure consistent quality, she added.

In need of support

Hoan Van Tham, chairman of Chuc Son Safe Fruit and Vegetables Cooperative in Chuong My Ward, said that the process of applying for product traceability systems remains complicated, pushing up costs, and making it hard to compete with produce at traditional markets.

Tham called for support to help cooperatives connect to national digital platforms to facilitate product traceability.

It is also necessary to strengthen market management to prevent low-quality and unclear-origin products in order to protect consumers and genuine producers, he added.

Agricultural enterprises still face difficulties and rising costs in quality management, said Nguyen Thi Mai, director of food company Vinh Ha in ai Xuyen Commune.

For clean-food producers, the costs of inspection, certification and labelling are a major burden, she said, adding that if fully included in prices, clean vegetables could not compete with others.

Mai called for Government support in capital and certification fees for genuine producers, as well as investment in high-tech farming, processing and preservation facilities to ensure quality control. Support must be provided throughout the entire value chain to avoid disruptions, she said.

Nguyen Tuan Hong, a representative from Bac Hong Clean Vegetable Production and Consumption Cooperative, said that most agricultural cooperatives and businesses are small-scale with limited financial capacity, making it difficult for them to accumulate land for production.

He called on local authorities to facilitate linkages between cooperatives and farmers to form large-scale and high-tech production zones.

am Thi Diu, director of Kinh Bac Company, said that it is necessary to have a flexible quality verification mechanism suitable for small producers while maintaining transparency.

Traceability is not easy but it is a must-do to protect both producers and consumers, said Nguyen Trong Long, director of Hoang Long Cooperative, urging the Government to support the development of processing and preservation plants near production areas to reduce costs and ensure quality.

Communication should also be enhanced to raise consumer awareness of clean food so that enterprises feel confident to expand production, he said.

ao Quang Vinh, director of Vinh Anh Food in Thuong Tin Commune, said that it is necessary to develop a unified traceability system for the meat industry, from production and processing to distribution, to enhance transparency and reduce the financial burden of separate investments.

Vinh also proposed that the city introduce policies to support clean-food producers to connect with supermarkets, restaurants and schools to ensure stable consumption markets.

Vu Sy from Me Linh Communes Economic Office said that the coordination model between enterprises, the Government and producers must be promoted to increase efficiency and facilitate the formation of transparent agricultural value chains.

Digital transformation

According to Truong Van Nhung, Deputy President of the Ha Noi Farmers Union, transparent traceability and quality control are the most important ways for farmers to affirm the value of their agricultural products.

The most important factor now is helping farmers understand and voluntarily adopt safe production practices, with the mindset that this is not only for income but also a social responsibility.

The Ha Noi Farmers Union will continue to support its members with access to capital, technical guidance, business linkages and participation in safe and sustainable value chains, Nhung said. The union will promote pilot models of 'happy farmers' to encourage the production of clean, high-value agricultural products that protect health, the environment and support a greener, more sustainable agricultural sector for the capital.

Ta Van Tuong, Deputy Director of the Ha Noi Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that the capital will continue to develop plans, mechanisms and new policies aimed at ensuring safe and transparent food supply chains to meet rising consumer demand and foster green, sustainable and efficient agriculture.

The department will work closely with relevant ministries and agencies to improve mechanisms and policies to enhance food safety management, promote deep processing and expand markets.

Efforts will focus on agricultural planning, including slaughtering and farming, as well as promoting high technology, ecological and organic agriculture, he said, adding that businesses and cooperatives will be encouraged to adopt advanced quality management systems such as VietGap, HACCP and ISO 22000.

Importantly, it is vital to accelerate digital transformation across entire value chains to ensure quality control and origin transparency, Tuong said.

The department will also strengthen trade promotion and linkages for key agricultural products of the capital, OCOP items and specialties at home and abroad, he said.

Besides strictly complying with food safety regulations, Tuong urged enterprises and cooperatives to develop brands, enhance marketing and increase their presence on e-commerce platforms.

Digital transformation, transparency and value chains are not only market requirements but also the key to ensuring farmers happiness, consumers trust and the long-term development of Ha Nois agriculture and environment, Tuong said.

Experts also urged the Hanoi Support Centre for Enterprise and Investment Promotion (SCE) to provide support to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and business households so that they can play their roles in developing safe and transparent food supply chains in the capital city.  VNS
HA NOI  As the broader market experiences corrections, stocks related to divestment initiatives are demonstrating notable resilience and even upward momentum.

Recent announcements concerning state-owned enterprise share sales have sparked a series of positive performances, marking these stocks as bright spots on the trading screens.

A prominent example is the stock of Thuong Dinh Footwear JSC (GTD), which has recorded four consecutive days of price increases, reaching VN19,800 per share (US$0.75) on Monday.

This surge follows the announcement by the People's Committee of Ha Noi City regarding the auction of more than 6.38 million shares, representing 68.67 per cent of the company's capital.

Similarly, VTC Telecommunications' stock (VTC) saw a sharp rise, hitting the ceiling price of VN11,800 today. This marked its fourth consecutive day of limit-up trading after Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) expressed its intent to auction over 2.1 million shares, equating to 46.67 per cent of the company's issued capital.

With a total reserve price of over VN104.1 billion, the auction price suggested a significant premium compared to current trading values.

The positive trend is also evident in the stock of VMG Media JSC (ABC), which soared following VNPT's announcement to sell 5.77 million shares, accounting for 28.3 per cent of the company's equity, at a starting price significantly higher than the current market price.

Another noteworthy instance occurred on November 10, when Petrosetcos shares (PET) spiked immediately after PetroVietnam revealed plans to auction over 24.9 million shares, representing 23.2 per cent of its charter capital, at a reserve price of VN36,500.

Additionally, the ICT stock of the Joint Stock Company for Telecom and Informatics surged more than 30 per cent within five trading sessions during the first trading week of November, following VNPT's announcement of a major share auction, further highlighting the impact of divestment news on stock performance.

Challenges and risks

Despite the optimism generated by these divestment announcements, caution remains warranted.

The influx of retail investors often drives prices higher, fueled by expectations of strategic investors entering or potential reevaluation of company values. However, risks emerge if auction events are postponed, fail, or fail to attract sufficient investor interest, which can trigger rapid price declines.

Even successfully completed divestment transactions can lead to extended adjustment periods for many stocks, particularly if new owners lack the necessary expertise or if the companies' competitive advantages weaken.

Stocks with substantial state ownership but low liquidity pose another challenge for retail investors, who may struggle to exit positions when market enthusiasm subsides.

The complexities of state divestment processes can also present obstacles, including valuation challenges and selling prices that exceed prevailing market rates, discouraging potential institutional investors.

Generally, while the divestment wave in Viet Nam's stock market presents promising avenues for investors, it is essential to approach this landscape with insight and prudence.

Stocks receiving attention for their divestment potential tend to attract significant trading volumes, often facilitated by larger transaction sizes at above-market prices.

Nevertheless, investors are advised to conduct thorough evaluations of individual companies to identify genuine growth opportunities and ensure informed participation in this dynamic marketplace.  BIZ/BIZHUB
HA NOI  The Vietnam Export Promotion Forum 2025, scheduled for November 26 in Ha Noi, will be hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to provide strategic directions for exporters as they navigate a rapidly changing global landscape.

Under the theme Go Global  Winning Global Markets", the event is positioned as a key initiative to help Vietnamese businesses strengthen competitiveness and seize new market opportunities.

According to the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade), exports continue to play a central role in driving Viet Nams economic growth and elevating its position in global trade.

However, the business environment is undergoing profound changes with new demands as global fragmentation trends, green transition, digital transformation, post-pandemic adaptation, and increasingly stringent quality standards and supply chain transparency take hold. This forces Vietnamese businesses to restructure their export activities towards enhancing quality, increasing added value, building brands, and fostering more sustainable development.

The 2025 forum will act as a strategic dialogue platform, bringing together policymakers, experts, trade promotion organisations and businesses. Discussions will explore emerging global trade trends, practical experiences in market expansion, and ways to maximise the advantages of new-generation free trade agreements. Participants will also focus on accelerating digital transformation through big data and artificial intelligence to improve export efficiency.

Enhancing the capacity of Vietnamese firms to meet green standards now a decisive factor for entering and maintaining market share in advanced economies will be another major theme. Leading exporters will share success stories and lessons in product innovation, branding, and deepening integration into global value chains.

The event will additionally facilitate business networking and partnership development at a time when global supply chains are undergoing significant restructuring. These activities are expected to help Vietnamese enterprises strengthen adaptability, improve competitiveness and expand their global footprint.

Carrying the message transform to lead  break through to succeed, the forum aims to create fresh momentum for export growth and support the shift toward greener, smarter and more sustainable development, reinforcing Viet Nams role as a dynamic and reliable partner in international trade.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  The collective label Low-Emission Green Vietnamese Rice, developed by the Vietnam Rice Sector Association (VIETRISA), is gaining strong market traction, reinforcing the image of Vietnamese rice as environmentally friendly and aligned with sustainable development.

A milestone

In early June, the first batch of rice bearing the Low-Emission Green Vietnamese Rice label departed Can Tho Port for Japan  one of the worlds most demanding markets. The shipment not only marked a new export order but also a significant milestone in the sectors shift from traditional cultivation to sustainable, low-emission, higher value-added production.

The VIETRISA, in partnership with Trung An Company, held a ceremony to export the first shipment  the first product under the programme to develop one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta to 2030 (the One Million Hectare Programme)

The Low-Emission Green Vietnamese Rice label is granted by the VIETRISA to rice produced in accordance with the One Million Hectare Programmes technical standards, verified by commune authorities or accredited international organisations. Certified products must ensure clear traceability, covering production area, variety and cropping season, and full compliance with low-emission, high-quality cultivation protocols.

With support from the Netherlands Development Organisation, VIETRISA has so far issued label-use certificates to seven enterprises, representing more than 19,200 tonnes of rice.

The introduction of tens of thousands of tonnes of rice under this label, including the first shipment to Japan, confirms Viet Nam as the first country in the world to place low-emission rice on both domestic and export markets.

To date, around 20,000 tonnes of rice have been certified under the label, including 500 tonnes shipped to Japan, a market with stringent food-safety requirements. While price differentiation is still developing, the label significantly enhances credibility, environmental value and market positioning, highlighting Viet nams determination to green its rice sector.

A strict and transparent certification process

To obtain the Low-Emission Green Vietnamese Rice label, enterprises or cooperatives must operate within designated production zones of the One Million Hectare Programme, obtain local government confirmation and register before seeding. The cultivation process must follow the Ministry of Agriculture and Environments low-emission technical standards and undergo on-site verification.

Currently, VIETRISA is completing procedures to register the label with the Intellectual Property Office and is working with international certifying bodies to evaluate and validate products under recognised low-emission standards, laying the foundation for global protection and recognition.

According to Le Thanh Tung, secretary-general of VIETRISA, the One Million Hectare Programme has attracted unprecedented engagement from across the sector, from farmers, cooperatives, enterprises, research institutions to local authorities. Beyond technical and economic benefits, the programme carries significant socio-economic and political value, supporting Viet Nams commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

From 2025, the programme will expand production to build a comprehensive, sustainable rice ecosystem. High-quality, low-emission rice areas will continue to grow, paving the way for a national certification label and, ultimately, a national brand for Low-Carbon Vietnamese Rice, promoting the sectors growth and enhancing the global reputation of Vietnamese rice.

Building on the success of the Low-Emission Green Vietnamese Rice label, Viet Nam is moving towards establishing a national brand  Low-Carbon Vietnamese Rice  further cementing its place on the global agricultural map.

From the first 500 tonnes of green rice to the expanding low-carbon fields of the Mekong Delta, Viet Nam is demonstrating its resolve to elevate its longstanding rice sector within the global value chain. Vietnamese Green Rice represents not only sustainable agriculture but also the countrys broader ambition to green its economy and secure a prosperous, resilient future for Vietnamese farmers.  VNA/VNS
HCM CITY  Young Vietnamese not only participate in digital transformation but are also at the centre around which it revolves, Nguyen Van uoc, chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee, told the Intelligent Generation NOW talk show this morning.

The talk show is part of the 2025 Autumn Economic Forum held at Thisky Hall Conference Centre in HCM City to foster dialogue between Government officials, global experts and scholars and young leaders about the mindset, skills and responsibilities of young generations in an era of AI, global knowledge and green and digital transformation.

The attendees included representatives of international organisations and foreign enterprises like the World Economic Forum, UNESCO, RMIT University Vietnam, CMC Corporation, the countrys second-largest ICT firm, and 500 young leaders.

It centred on three main points: young peoples responsibilities in green and sustainable transformation, the challenges and opportunities for Vietnamese and foreign youths in the context of extensive integration and global competition and actions needed to build an ecosystem that supports young people and encourages them to contribute to the future.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son said in his opening speech that the world is facing major changes such as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digital transformation, green transition, and the rise of the intellectual economy.

These changes have a profound impact on every country, every business and every individual, especially young people.

One of Viet Nams advantages is having a smart, creative and ambitious young generation, and youth are placed at the centre of every national development plan with high expectations, he said.

They are the determining factor behind the country's development, and their mission is to bring Viet Nam on par with other countries, he said.

He noted that the Government is committed to allocating resources for innovation and sustainable development, but using these resources wisely depends on the younger generations.

None can prepare for the future of the young generation better than themselves, he said, adding that it is crucial for young Vietnamese to proactively embrace innovation, foster creativity and be willing to take risks.

uoc said todays youth are quick to grasp technology.

They not only participate in the digital transformation but are also the centre around which the transformation revolves.

He said the city is creating more favourable conditions for youth to tap their full potential, including investing in digital infrastructure, developing human resources and completing the creative ecosystem.

Professor Scott Thompson Whiteside, general director of RMIT University Vietnam, said: As we embrace the transition of digital transformation and advance manufacturing with the green shift, the youth of Viet Nam can help advance sustainable development.

Young people are the driving force behind innovation and entrepreneurship in Viet Nam, particularly in the economy, he said.

They are tech-savvy, creative and adaptable  qualities that place them in a leading role in adapting and advancing eco-friendly digital technologies and solutions.

Stephan Mergenthaler, managing director of the WEF, spoke about the role of youth in green and digital transformation, analysed global development trends and outlined prospects for future workplace changes.

The future of work would require human-machine collaboration, and young people, facing a new world of work with decades to develop, must prepare for this, he said.

A changing work environment could require a mindset shift to collaborate with machines and intelligence, acquiring new skills for a more integrated and dynamic workplace, he said.

The world of work will move from one that focuses on different domains to one that allows people to operate with greater insistence, and from specialisation to integration.

His speech was followed by a panel discussion between representatives of the UNESCO, the WEF, and six young Vietnamese leaders that focused on social responsibilities and the role of youth in the citys digital and green transformation.

RMIT Vietnam and the HCM City Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (HCMC C4IR) also signed a memorandum of understanding on mutual cooperation in human resources development, strategic research, technological application, innovation and creativity, and consolidating the citys position as an economic and intellectual hub.

The morning session concluded with the AI Generation NOW Seminar with local and international speakers hosted by CMC Corporation.

It emphasised the role of artificial intelligence in green and digital transitions, discussed strategies for developing AI resources, and enhanced cooperation between the government, businesses, scholars, and international organisations.

The Autumn Economic Forum is being held from November 25 to 27 to offer a platform for businesses and senior officials to discuss green growth and digital transformation.

It is organised by HCMC C4IR, city agencies, central ministries and agencies, and the WEF.  VNS
HA NOI  Emerging trends in gender equality in business and the growing adoption of gender responsive procurement (GRP) took centre stage at a conference held in Ha Noi on Tuesday, highlighting new opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

The conference showcased how GRP can enhance business competitiveness and expand market access for women-led enterprises and gender-responsive enterprises (GREs), underscoring its increasing significance in the Vietnamese business landscape.

It also addressed sustainable development trends linked to Environmental, Social and Governance and Sustainable Development Goals, transparency and inclusion in supply chains, connecting partners and expanding cooperation and market opportunities for women-led businesses.

More than 100 delegates, including representatives from ministries, sectors, international organisations, business associations and women entrepreneurs networks, affirmed their commitment to supporting the implementation of the Womens Empowerment Principles (WEPs). The initiative, jointly launched by UN Women and the UN Global Compact, encourages businesses to adopt policies and practices that advance gender equality in the workplace and supply chains.

Vice President of the Viet Nam Women Entrepreneurs Council under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mai Thi Dieu Huyen noted that after nearly four decades of economic reform, the private sector had become a key driver of national growth, contributing 45 per cent of GDP, 33 per cent of State budget revenues and accounting for 97 per cent of all enterprises nationwide.

Within this sector, women-owned businesses represent 24 per cent, playing an increasingly significant role in agriculture, consumer goods, services and innovation, according to Huyen.

Despite this progress, most women-owned enterprises continue to face obstacles related to scale, access to capital, market linkages and opportunities to join high-value supply chains.

Against this backdrop, the UN Women-implemented project on enhancing women's economic capacity in Asia-Pacific through promoting GRP is creating new opportunities for women-led enterprises to strengthen competitiveness and integrate more deeply into sustainable value chains.

Huyen also announced the launch of the We Rise Together project for the 2025-29 period. The project will be implemented by UN Women in collaboration with domestic partners and will prioritise expanding market opportunities for women-owned businesses in the consumer and tourism sectors, as well as in green and environmentally friendly business models.

Participants at the event agreed that, at the current stage of development, businesses, particularly women-owned enterprises, would require a transparent and inclusive ecosystem that enables women to participate equally in economic activities.

They emphasised that advancing the Womens Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and gender responsive procurement (GRP) would be a strategic approach to building diverse, sustainable supply chains, strengthening market resilience, fostering innovation and expanding opportunities for women to access, participate in and equitably benefit from economic growth.

Caroline T Nyamayemombe, UN Women Country Representative in Viet Nam, said that when State agencies, the private sector and development partners work together, they would not only advance gender equality but also generate new momentum for broader economic and social development.

She affirmed that UN Women stood ready to continue supporting efforts to create more success stories among gender-responsive businesses in Viet Nam.

The WEPs consist of seven core principles: high-level corporate leadership; fair treatment of women and men at work without discrimination; employee health, well-being and safety; education and training for career advancement; enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices; community initiatives and advocacy; and measurement and reporting.

As of November 16, a total of 11,655 businesses and organisations across more than 160 countries have committed to implementing the WEPs. In Viet Nam, participation has risen from 67 businesses in 2020 to around 239 by November 2025, reflecting the growing adoption of the principles within the local business community.  VNS
HCM CITY  Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son on Tuesday met Saysana Sitthiphone, Lao Deputy Minister of Technology and Communications, on the sidelines of the 2025 Autumn Economic Forum in HCM City to discuss orientations for strengthening bilateral cooperation in information technology, digital infrastructure development and digital connectivity in the new period.

Son briefed the Lao official on new features of this years forum, stressing that the event serves as an important platform for dialogue on socio-economic development. Centred on the theme Green transition in the digital era, the Forum underscores the role of digital infrastructure in driving sustainable development and regional digital connectivity, areas of shared interest between Viet Nam and Laos.

The official emphasised that digital infrastructure forms a key pillar of overall connectivity between the two countries, alongside road, air and other economic linkages. He called on Vietnamese ministries and agencies, particularly the Ministry of Science and Technology, to work closely with relevant Lao counterparts to effectively implement signed documents and agreements.

Viet Nam, he said, stands ready to facilitate major tech enterprises such as Viettel, VNPT, FPT and others in engaging with Lao partners to operationalise cooperation programmes on digital infrastructure, digital transformation and emerging technologies.

Regarding digital human resources development, a strategic priority, Deputy PM Son affirmed Viet Nam's readiness to share experience and support Laos in training young officials in IT, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and other core technologies; building start-up and innovation ecosystems; and fostering collaboration to form green and digital transformation ecosystems as a foundation for sustainable development of young entrepreneurs in both countries.

Highlighting the importance of data infrastructure and centres, Son stressed Viet Nam's willingness to work closely with Laos to develop national data repositories and data centres, and enhance bilateral data connectivity. During the Lao Presidents recent visit to Viet Nam, the two sides launched a cooperation programme for Viet Nam to support Laos in building a national population database, a project of strategic significance.

Viet Nam is currently implementing Project 06 on the digitalisation of population data and has recorded positive results. The Ministry of Public Security is working with ministries and sectors to develop a shared national database, scheduled for completion in 2025. Viet Nam is ready to share experience and technology, and support Laos in building its national digital data platforms, and to cooperate at regional and international forums, particularly in cybersecurity, he added.

Saysana Sitthiphone outlined ongoing cooperation activities in IT, digital transformation and sciencetechnology between enterprises and agencies of both countries, including expert exchanges and training programmes that have strengthened Laos human resource capacity.

The Lao side appreciated Viet Nam's support in building scientific and technological infrastructure, developing population databases and data centres, and providing technical assistance in cybersecurity.

He proposed several cooperation priorities for the time ahead, including developing cloud and data centre infrastructure; applying AI and high-performance computing; promoting digital transformation in public services and the economy; enhancing cybersecurity capacity; and developing high-quality human resources in the digital sector. Laos hopes to continue receiving cooperation, technology transfer and training support from Vietnam to contribute to its socio-economic development.  VNA/VNS
Campaign Highlights Generosity and Commitment to Improving Lives

STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Philip Morris International's U.S. businesses ("PMI U.S.") today announced the launch of "Thanks for Giving," a call to action inspiring business and individuals to recognize and support the charitable organizations and individuals working every day to build stronger communities. As Americans pause to recognize Thanksgiving and #GivingTuesday, the Thanks for Giving campaign highlights the spirit of generosity that drives impact year-round, while celebrating the extraordinary service of charitable partnersfrom national nonprofits to local organizations working tirelessly in communities across the nation.

"#GivingTuesday started as a single day of goodwill, but the true impact comes when generosityand accountability with those investmentsbecomes part of our everyday behavior," said Marian Salzman, Senior Vice President, PMI U.S., who was a driving force behind creating GivingTuesday in 2012. "At PMI U.S., generosity isn't limited to a season. Since 2022, our giving has exceeded $35 million, and our employees have increased their participation in community programs by 400 percent. Saying thank you is powerful. But living it365 days a year, with transparency and purposeis even more meaningful."

Since 2024, PMI U.S. has contributed more than $3.7 million to 153 organizations across the region, supporting communities in need and the company's core giving pillars, including over $1.1 million for economic empowerment initiatives and nearly $1.45 million toward veterans and military support. With that support, organizations are enabled to further drive meaningful community-level change to improve lives.

"PMI U.S.'s support has strengthened our ability to reach Veterans in rural communities who often face the greatest barriers to care," said Alice Hansen, Outreach Director of Rocky Mountain Veterans Advocacy Project. "This funding allowed us to expand mental health collaborations and bring essential evaluations and services directly to Veterans living in isolated areas, including those experiencing homelessness or struggling with severe, untreated mental health conditions. Through this partnership, our organization has been able to connect more Veterans to accurate diagnoses, critical legal representation, and the long-overdue benefits that acknowledge their service and sacrifice."

"The $1 million donation from Philip Morris International U.S. (PMI U.S.) made it possible for the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) to purchase a new Type 3 wildland engine for the West Altadena community that was significantly impacted by the January 2025 Eaton Fire. PMI U.S.'s generosity ensured the LACoFD was able to place this additional wildland engine in an area that needed it most," said Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone. "Additionally, a portion of the donation was also used to support residents deeply affected by this natural disaster along with LACoFD members whose homes were destroyed or damaged. Donation proceeds also went to the LACoFD's Chaplains Benevolent Fund and Firefighters' Memorial Committee to assist the families of our fallen members."

The "Thanks for Giving" campaign also spotlights the WeCare program, which empowers PMI U.S. employees to nominate nonprofits for company-funded donations. In 2025, it directed over $1,860,000 million to over 400 local organizations across 44 states and the District of Columbia. This brings PMI U.S.'s total contributions since 2022 to more than $35 million nationwide.

As a result, PMI U.S. employees helped direct nearly $220,000 in company-sponsored funds to support organizations across the region. PMI U.S.'s investment in Kerr County helps us continue to nurture local generosity and direct resources to the people and organizations working to help the Hill Country recover from the devastating flooding on July 4," said Jayne Zirkel, Chief Marketing Officer of Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. "Our partnership enables us to provide more support to nonprofits, provide mental health help and address the evolving needs of our communities. We appreciate PMI U.S.'s commitment to the region and to the work taking place here every day."

Thanks for Giving is part of PMI U.S.'s pragmatic philanthropya better approach to corporate giving built on listening, investing for impact, and bringing others together to support those who are doing meaningful work every day. Learn more about PMI U.S.'s approach to philanthropy here.

PMI U.S.: Invested in America

Philip Morris International Inc.'s U.S. businesses are invested in America's future and advancing a smoke-free nation. The businesses are committed to providing the approximately 30 million legal-age consumers who smoke cigarettes with better, smoke-free alternatives and to ensuring the products are marketed responsibly. From PMI's global headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, and other locations nationwide, PMI U.S. contributes leadership, jobs, investment, and innovation in the U.S. The U.S. businesses employ more than 3,000 people across America and operate product manufacturing facilities, including in Owensboro, Kentucky, and Wilson, North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.uspmi.com.

References to "PMI" mean the Philip Morris International family of companies. "PMI U.S.," "we," "our," and "us" refer to one or more PMI U.S. businesses.

SOURCE PMI US Corporate Services, Inc.
HA NOI  Viet Nam is accelerating efforts to build a carbon market, viewing it as an essential tool for reducing emissions, improving competitiveness and ensuring the countrys long-term transition to a low-carbon economy.

Officials and economists stress that establishing a well-regulated market  one that prioritises high-quality credits over cheap volume  is vital for protecting national credibility and achieving sustainable growth.

A policy dialogue titled 'Orientation of the Global and Vietnam Carbon Market: Insights after COP30 and the Way Forward' was held on the topic in Ha Noi today.

Speaking at the dialogue, Deputy Director General of the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Tuan Quang said the world was moving toward carbon-pricing mechanisms.

In recent years, global trends show that carbon pricing tools, such as carbon markets and carbon taxes, have become increasingly common and influential, helping countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pursue green growth, he said.

Quang cited the World Banks 2025 State and Trends of Carbon Pricing report, which shows that carbon pricing systems now cover more than 20 per cent of global emissions and generate over US$100 billion each year for green transition efforts.

He noted that such tools were becoming foundational to modern economic policy, adding that Viet Nam could not afford to fall behind.

To prepare for its own market, the Government is building a comprehensive legal framework and a clear roadmap. A pilot carbon market will operate until 2028, followed by a full official market from 2029, aligned with international systems.

To make this possible, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is drafting two key decrees: one on international transfer of greenhouse gas mitigation outcomes and carbon credits, and another on forest-based carbon absorption and storage services.

Both will be submitted to the Government in December. The Ministry of Finance has also submitted a draft decree on establishing a domestic carbon exchange.

Quang stressed that Viet Nams priority would not be rapid trading volume, but building a credible, effective market.

Viet Nam should not chase cheap, low-quality credits. We should prioritise credit quality to safeguard national credibility and interests, he said. A strong, transparent market would help shift the countrys growth model toward low emissions and strengthen its position in global supply chains, he added.

Throughout the dialogue, experts highlighted why Viet Nam must move quickly. The first sessions examined the countrys current legal framework, global shifts after COP30 and the opportunities and challenges of operating a carbon market  including how the private sector can participate.

Later sessions focused on long-term planning, Viet Nams forest carbon potential and international experience from Canada, Africa, Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia.

Professor Pham Thu Thuy from Flinders University noted that Viet Nam already had valuable lessons from early pilot programmes, but must now turn them into concrete policy action. She emphasised the need for coordination across sectors such as agriculture, forestry, energy, finance, tourism and conservation, along with scientific approaches that integrate AI, data and community knowledge.

Country Director of CARE in Vietnam Le Kim Dung said that establishing the carbon market must also ensure fairness and inclusion, especially for women and ethnic communities that depend on natural resources.

International partners echoed strong support.

Canada's Ambassador to Viet Nam Jim Nickel reaffirmed that carbon markets would be a key tool for achieving net zero emissions, adding that the dialogue offered an important platform for sharing practical experience and identifying solutions suited to Viet Nams conditions, ensuring that economic growth would go hand in hand with environmental protection.

Associate Professor Le Trung Thanh, rector of the University of Economics under Vietnam National University Ha Noi, which organised the dialogue, said global climate efforts were strengthening rapidly.

Following COP30, he noted, carbon markets were entering a new phase, and Viet Nam must establish its own market to stay aligned with international rules and expectations.

The two-day dialogue includes five sessions exploring forest carbon pricing, safeguards, gender and social inclusion and the development of Viet Nams carbon market.

It aims to attract private investment  including from Canada and other global partners  and expand cooperation in carbon and forestry, as Viet Nam prepares to build a fully functioning carbon market. VNS
QUANG NINH  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on Japanese businesses and localities to continue accompanying Viet Nam on its development journey, cultivating growth and prosperity for both countries through their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

He made the remarks at the Viet NamJapan Local Cooperation Forum in Quang Ninh Province on Tuesday, which was attended by diplomats, officials and business representatives from both sides.

After five decades of official diplomatic relations, Viet Nam and Japan count more than cooperation agreements signed at the local level, forming a strong foundation for bilateral collaboration.

The forum featured over 100 networking activities and working sessions, alongside 40 booths and cultural spaces showcasing the specialities of each country.

Delivering his opening remarks, Vietnamese foreign minister Le Hoai Trung expressed confidence that localities from both countries would continue contributing actively to the Viet NamJapan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Local partnerships turned high-level commitments into tangible projects and programmes, enabling communities and their people to directly benefit from the progress of bilateral ties.

The diplomat emphasised that Viet Nams Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representative missions in Japan were committed to supporting localities and businesses from both countries to connect, exchange and promote sustainable cooperation.

Japanese ambassador to Viet Nam Ito Naoki noted that the event marked a new step forward in bilateral cooperation", bringing together Vietnamese and Japanese localities and friendship organisations to advance local-to-local connections.

This year had seen multiple large-scale projects launched and completed across Viet Nam with active participation from Japanese businesses, including the AEON Mall in Hai Phong City, the commencement of the North Ha Noi Smart City project by SumitomoBRG joint venture, and the ODA-funded Eunsa drainage project.

He expressed confidence that this forum would further promote local exchanges, boost investment from both countries, and open new cooperation opportunities in community development, industry and innovation.

Addressing the event, PM Chinh said the Viet NamJapan Local Cooperation Forum carried strategic significance, demonstrating the spirit of win-win collaboration and mutual growth for peace, stability and prosperity of both nations.

Today Japan is one of Viet Nams top economic partners, ranking first in official development assistance and labour cooperation, third in investment, and fourth in trade and tourism.

Following the upgrade of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023, the two countries have established and strengthened dialogue mechanisms in diplomacy, defence, security and labour to increase mutual trust.

Meanwhile, economic linkages and cooperation in infrastructure, education, healthcare and technology transfer are expanding, with science and technology collaboration emerging as a new pillar of bilateral ties.

Bilateral trade has grown by 20 per cent, while Japanese investments in Viet Nam have risen by US$8 billion. The Vietnamese community in Japan has also grown by over 20 per cent, alongside new agreements signed between 10 VietnameseJapanese local partnerships.

Praising these achievements, PM Chinh said that local and business-level cooperation was a key strength of Viet NamJapan relations, providing an efficient channel for implementing high-level agreements.

Entering a new era of development, Viet Nam was determined to remove institutional, human resource and infrastructure bottlenecks, mobilise all resources effectively, and promote economic restructuring aligned with a renewed growth model.

Science, technology, innovation and digital transformation would be key growth drivers, supporting the goal of achieving double-digit growth from 2026 and becoming a developed, high-income nation by 2045.

PM Chinh called on Japan to support Viet Nam in developing innovation ecosystems, enhancing digital governance, and building policy and management capacity in priority areas such as AI, technology infrastructure and semiconductors.

Regarding the investment environment, he stressed that the Vietnamese Government would continue implementing strong, comprehensive measures aimed at transparent policies, seamless infrastructure and smart governance.

Suggesting ways to capitalise on untapped Viet NamJapan cooperation potential, he urged localities to be proactive and innovative in leveraging their complementary strengths to promote mutually beneficial collaboration.

Local authorities must listen to businesses from both sides to introduce incentive policies and create a more enabling environment for bilateral investment and cooperation, with the people as primary beneficiaries, focusing on better jobs, higher incomes and stronger skills.

Other key areas of cooperation would include the green transition, climate change adaptation, resource management and disaster prevention, such as joint projects in urban flood control, waste and wastewater treatment, green infrastructure, climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietravel Tourism JSC has officially announced its decision to fully divest from Vietravel Airlines, a move that marks a significant shift for the company that established the airline.

The resolution for this divestment was issued recently, setting a deadline for completion before December 31.

Vietravel Airlines currently boasts a charter capital of VN1.3 trillion (US$49.3 million), equating to 130 million ordinary shares. Vietravel holds 18.4 million shares, corresponding to a 14.1 per cent ownership stake.

The projected transaction value for this divestment is estimated to be less than 10 per cent of Vietravel's total assets, which were reported to exceed VN3.13 trillion as of the third quarter of 2025.

The decision to withdraw from airline ownership comes after Vietravel began transferring shares to T&T Group in late 2024, effectively relinquishing control to the new partner.

At the 2025 shareholder meeting, T&Ts representatives are expected to assume leadership roles, with o Vinh Quang appointed as chairman of Vietravel Airlines.

While the identity of the buyer for the shares has not been revealed, earlier reports from Bloomberg suggested that AirAsia is in negotiations to acquire a stake in Vietravel Airlines.

AirAsia, under CEO Tony Fernandes, is seeking to penetrate the Vietnamese aviation market after previous attempts were thwarted.

Fernandes mentioned at a recent event that discussions with a single partner were progressing well, with preliminary terms nearly finalised.

For over two decades, AirAsia has tried to establish its presence in Viet Nam, making multiple attempts to strike deals with various local airlines.

The acquisition of Vietravel Airlines could significantly enhance AirAsias market share, improving connectivity in the region and expanding options for travellers.  BIZHUB/VNS
HCM CITY  Malaysia is intensifying tourism promotion in Viet Nam with a series of familiarisation (FAM) trips designed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and prepare for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.

Tourism Malaysia is organising three thematic FAM trips for Vietnamese travel agencies, media and key opinion leaders, focusing on cruise tourism, nature and cultural experiences, and urban attractions.

Amirah Nadiah Mazlan, Director of Tourism Malaysia in Viet Nam, said Viet Nam remains one of Malaysias key Southeast Asian markets with steady demand.

These consecutive FAM trips reflect our strong commitment to expanding promotions, showcasing new products and enhancing air connectivity between the two countries, she said.

From November 2023, representatives of Ben Thanh Tourist and partners joined a FAM trip to Miri in Sarawak, following an invitation from Malaysias Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture during his visit to Viet Nam earlier this year.

The delegation explored key attractions including Niah National Park, an Iban cultural village, and major city landmarks.

The trip offered Vietnamese businesses a deeper understanding of Miris tourism potential, ranging from eco-tourism and heritage to urban services.

Malaysia is also co-organising the Sail with Piano Land Cruise trip from November 30 to December 4 with international travel partners.

The programme aims to introduce Malaysias growing cruise tourism sector, a segment the country is actively investing in.

In addition, Tourism Malaysia teamed up with Vietjet Air to host a FAM trip from November 20-22 to mark the launch of the new a Nang  Kuala Lumpur direct route, bringing the total number of weekly flights between the two countries to 179.

The trip, arranged for 20 journalists and KOLs, showcased new attractions in Kuala Lumpur and is expected to generate strong media visibility and boost commercial cooperation.

With a flight time of just over two hours, the new route strengthens travel between two major tourism and economic hubs, supporting both leisure and MICE segments.

Improved connectivity is also expected to benefit the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, which appeals to many Vietnamese families and professionals for its safe living environment and accessible international education system.

Travel flows between the two countries continue to rise.

As of August 2025, Malaysia had welcomed 236,918 Vietnamese visitors, while Viet Nam recorded 205,601 Malaysian tourists.

Malaysia is gearing up for Visit Malaysia 2026, targeting over 47 million international visitors under the theme Surreal Experiences, promoting sustainable, high-quality tourism blending nature, culture and modern attractions.  VNS
HCM CITY  Chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee Nguyen Van uoc on Tuesday held separate receptions for Stephan Mergenthaler, managing director of the World Economic Forum (WEF), and Yang Peng, CEO of the Singapore-based digital payments & fintech group Ant International, on the sidelines of the southern metropolis ongoing Autumn Economic Forum 2025.

During his meeting with Mergenthaler, uoc said the municipal leadership hopes to receive continued support from WEF in refining the model of its forum, elevating its profile and contributing more practical initiatives to the international community, particularly to the young start-up and innovation ecosystem.

Within the cooperation framework between the southern economic hub and the WEF, the Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) has been identified as a key platform, with the citys leaders expecting the centre to continue promoting innovation effectively.

On Tuesday, WEF and its local C4IR are scheduled to announce a new programme of activities and hold further discussions to determine priorities for the next phase.

Mergenthaler expressed his strong impression with the messages delivered in speeches by leaders of the country and city during a youth inspiration talk show within the autumn forum, especially the shift from a competitive mindset to one grounded in sharing, holistic thinking and cooperation.

He noted that although HCM Citys C4IR is the youngest in the WEFs global network, it has already achieved notable results. Based on his experience with top global tech companies, the WEF Managing Director believed that the citys strong dedication to innovation would make it a positive driving force in the WEFs broader ecosystem.

During his working session with Peng, uoc praised the groups contributions to digital transformation and the development of Viet Nams fintech ecosystem.

He affirmed that HCM City stands ready to coordinate in rolling out cooperation initiatives proposed by Ant International, aiming to create breakthroughs in financial technology.

As the city accelerates plans to build an international financial centre, its leaders hope that the company will provide strategic advice, policy frameworks, and regulatory recommendations to attract foreign enterprises and strategic investors.

They also seek collaboration in training high-quality human resources, developing a fintech hub, and supporting local businesses in adopting cross-border payment solutions.

The city is committed to facilitating Ant Internationals expansion, from providing investment incentives in the financial sector and supporting administrative procedures to ensuring technical infrastructure, transparent legal frameworks and connections with local enterprises, financial institutions and regulatory bodies.

Peng noted that the city possesses many favourable conditions for breakthrough development, particularly its high-quality human resources, rapid adoption of science and technology, and dynamic economic environment.

Stressing the importance of innovation, the CEO said that investing in modern financial infrastructure, promoting e-commerce and expanding online transaction services will play a crucial role in forming an international financial centre in the metropolis.

He also observed that the city is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for global technology and data corporations. Major tech companies are actively seeking investment opportunities in data and digital infrastructure.

Ant International sees HCM City as a strategic launchpad for expanding its regional and global footprint. The group is currently developing a research and development centre for digital payment services in the city, has already recruited a team of engineers, and plans to increase investment in the near future.

Peng expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue to provide favourable conditions for the projects long-term development.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and leaders of relevant departments and agencies on Tuesday held a working session with a delegation from the EUASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC), the primary voice for European firms within the ASEAN region.

Speaking at the meeting, Dien lauded the strong cooperation between Viet Nam and the EU in particular, and between the EU and ASEAN in general. He stressed that Viet NamEU relations have developed comprehensively across all areas, especially since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) came into force.

The EU is now Viet Nam's fourth-largest trading partner and third-largest export market. Notably, European investment in the ASEAN member state has grown strongly in hi-tech industries, renewable energy, logistics, the circular economy, and processingmanufacturing.

Amid regional and global economic volatility, Vietnamese and European businesses should work more closely, with stronger trust, to build new and sustainable supply chains, he said, considering this a considerable opportunity that Viet Nam wishes to share with partners in Europe, which has green finance sources, advanced technology, outstanding governance experience, and the strongest commitment to sustainability, so as to advance more substantive and extensive cooperation.

The Vietnamese Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) welcome and encourage European enterprises to continue expanding long-term investment and business operations in Viet Nam, the minister stated.

During the discussion, the two sides exchanged views on cooperation directions for the coming period, focusing on maintaining the momentum of bilateral trade growth. They agreed to expand high-quality investment projects; strengthen supply-chain linkages; promote cooperation in areas related to sustainable development, green transition, and digital transformation; and further improve mechanisms and policies to facilitate both sides' business operations.

Representing the EU-ABC, Chairman Jens Rubbert said the council wishes to continue accompanying Viet Nam and considers the country a key partner in ASEAN. He emphasised that the EVFTA has been and continues to be a driving force for bilateral trade.

Since the EVFTA took effect, Viet Nam's exports to the EU have grown by an annual average of 1215 per cent, demonstrating significant cooperation potential. The council expressed the hope to further expand business and investment activities in Viet Nam.

During the meeting, representatives of the EU-ABC and EuroCham Viet Nam commended the Vietnamese Governments efforts in improving the business environment and implementing international integration commitments, as well as the MoITs leading role in industrial, trade, and energy cooperation.

They affirmed that the European business community view Viet Nam as an important destination in their development strategy in the region and hope to enhance policy dialogue with Vietnamese authorities.

Concluding the session, the two sides agreed to maintain regular communication and dialogue channels at both leadership and technical levels to promptly share information, address bottlenecks, and promote practical, effective, and sustainable cooperation, investment, and trade opportunities.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese culture and cuisine were in the spotlight at the annual International Christmas Charity Bazaar held on November 23 at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo, with the Embassy of Viet Nam and the Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka presenting a vibrant showcase.

Expanded this year to include over 100 international booths, the event offered a lively platform for cultural and culinary exchange.

Viet Nams booth stood out with its distinctive national identity. The red of the Vietnamese flag, traditional garments, and red shirts adorned with yellow stars created an eye-catching display.

Visitors were drawn to signature products such as pho, fresh spring rolls, Vietnamese coffee, instant noodles, dried bananas and jackfruit, coconut candy and handicrafts including bamboo dragonflies and leather wallets. Pho and spring rolls, regarded as culinary ambassadors of Viet Nam, attracted long queues, while Vietnamese coffee sold out quickly.

Many visitors, familiar with Vietnamese flavours through local restaurants, media, friends, or previous trips to Viet Nam, expressed excitement at tasting the dishes and purchasing souvenirs.

Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam highlighted the fairs importance, saying it is an important occasion for cultural exchange and people-to-people connections between Viet Nam, Sri Lanka, and other participants. Viet Nam participates annually, showcasing its most representative cultural and culinary products.

The ambassador expressed delight when Sri Lankan and international friends enjoy Vietnamese cuisine and handicrafts, reflecting the growing recognition of the Vietnamese brand in Sri Lanka.

Nguyen Mai Trinh, Head of the Vietnamese Community Liaison Committee in Sri Lanka, added that the fair is an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese to express national pride and promote Viet Nams image internationally. Proceeds from the event will support needy compatriots affected by storms and floods in Viet Nam and contribute to charitable programmes in Sri Lanka.

With careful preparation, an impressive display, and authentic traditional products, Viet Nams booth remained a highlight of the fair, strengthening tourism, trade, and people-to-people connections between the two countries.

According to Sri Lankan authorities, an average of 300 Vietnamese visited Sri Lanka and 1,000 Sri Lankans visited Viet Nam per month during the first ten months of 2025, with an upcoming direct flight route expected to further boost these figures.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  The National Assembly opened a debate on Monday on how far the country should go in treating data, inventions and creative works as tradable assets, as lawmakers discussed sweeping amendments to the Law on Intellectual Property (AI).

The sharpest debate centred on Article 8a, which establishes a framework for recording IP assets in company books and, crucially, permits to be used in transactions and potentially as collateral for bank loans.

Deputy Nguyen Hoang Bao Tran of HCM City called the change a step forward, that could bring IP into Viet Nams financial system. However, she warned that the current drafting 'opens the door too wide' by allowing owners to assign value to their own IP without any obligation to justify it.

Audit practice, she said, shows that vague valuation rules are 'a loophole' easily exploited to inflate asset values, manipulate transfer prices or cause losses when public assets are involved.

Tran urged lawmakers to embed disclosure and transparency requirements and to ensure all IP transactions, including collateralisation, are tied to valuation standards issued by the government, rather than left to the discretion of the owners.

Deputy Pham Van Hoa of ong Thap echoed those concerns, citing real cases where IP rights had not been formally recognised but were still recorded as assets and used to obtain bank loans or issue securities.

"Some assets either did not exist or had very low real value, but were nonetheless inflated on paper, creating risks for the financial system," he said.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung defended the strategy.

He said: "IP must become an asset that can be valued, bought and sold, included in financial statements and used as collateral if Viet Nam wants a functioning science and technology market."

He also said enterprises could self-value certain IP, but those internal figures would not be eligible for borrowing and must be kept separate from assets that have met recognition standards.

A second thread of debate centred on what lawmakers described as a widening imbalance between Viet Nams press agencies and global digital platforms that aggregate, index and monetise news content.

Under current law, publishers do not enjoy 'related rights'  a class of rights that protect investment in producing content  even though sound-recording producers, broadcasters and performers do.

That gap, Deputy Hoang Minh Hieu of Nghe An argued, leaves newsrooms with 'little leverage' when platforms scrape or repackage their content at scale.

Hieu urged lawmakers to grant press organisations the right to permit or prohibit copying, storing, indexing, displaying snippets or systematically aggregating news content to build competing services.

Platforms that profit from such uses would be required to share revenue with publishers through negotiation. He noted that similar regimes in the EU, Australia and Canada have delivered tangible results for news organisations.

Any new right, he said, must also include clear limits: non-commercial quotation for research or education, 'pure' linking without republished extracts and uses that do not affect normal commercial exploitation should remain permissible.

The draft law also touches on one of the worlds thorniest questions: how to regulate AI systems that train on vast quantities of text and visual data, often without the knowledge of creators.

Clause 5 of Article 7 would allow organisations and individuals to use legally published texts and datasets that the public can access for the purposes of researching, training and developing AI systems. But they must not copy, distribute or commercially exploit the original works in ways that harm creators lawful interests.

Deputy Nguyen Tam Hung of HCM City welcomed the clause but said that the criteria would need further clarification, particularly the test of what constitutes 'harm'.

Deputy Tran Thi Thu ong of Ca Mau was sceptical of moving so quickly.

Representing writers, artists and creative industries, she warned that an overly broad exception could enable AI developers to 'harvest creative data en masse', undermining incomes and even allowing AI-generated works to compete against human creators.

She noted that global debates remain unsettled: the EU spent years hammering out cautious rules on text-and-data mining, while the US, Japan and Korea continue to readjust frameworks amid lawsuits.

ong said: "If we introduce such a broad exception now, we risk opening a very wide gate for mass data harvesting, with potentially irreversible damage to authors and creative industries."

ong urged lawmakers to delay legislating on AI training until Viet Nam can study more mature models abroad.

On a related question, whether AI-generated works should receive IP protection  deputies were divided.

Deputy Pham Trong Nghia of Lang Son argued that IP rights exist to protect human creativity and that AI should never be considered a rights-holder.

Granting full protection to machine-generated works, he warned, could unfairly disadvantage human creators and accelerate job losses as companies swap skilled workers for near-zero-cost AI systems.

At the same time, he said, some protection may be necessary to incentivise investment, especially for a developing country trying to build its own AI capabilities.

He proposed a conditional model in which AI-generated works qualify for protection only when there is 'significant human creative involvement' in shaping the content.

Ownership and liability would rest with those who train or operate the systems, not the systems themselves.

Beyond the headline disputes, lawmakers pressed for faster, more transparent processing of patent applications  a weak spot for Viet Nams innovation system.

Several deputies noted that substantive examination currently takes an average of 30 to 36 months, and in some cases as long as five years, costing businesses valuable opportunities in fast-moving fields.

Tran and others proposed hard deadlines for each stage of the process, plus a fast-track route for small- and medium-sized enterprises, high-tech sectors or patents used in domestic production.

Deputies also called for clear time limits for the Ministries of National Defence and Public Security's approvals for inventions classified as state secrets, warning that open-ended timelines could cause applicants to miss international filing windows.

Minister Hung said his ministry aims to cut substantive examination to 12 months and introduce a three-month fast-track mechanism, supported by digitalisation, to eliminate a backlog of more than 100,000 applications.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse, accompanied by a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, have concluded their successful official visits to Kuwait and Algeria, and their trip to attend the G20 Summit and conduct bilateral activities in South Africa.

The nine-day working trip, filled with nearly 80 engagements, has helped open and revitalise a broad space for cooperation between Vietnam and partners across the Middle East and Africa.

In all three countries, the PM, his spouse and the Vietnamese delegation received a very respectful and cordial welcome, reflecting the importance of their traditional relationship and the desire to strengthen and promote further cooperation with Vietnam.

A major outcome, Vietnam and Kuwait, Algeria and South Africa agreed to elevate relations with Viet Nam to a Strategic Partnership. These are Viet Nam's first Strategic Partners in the Middle EastAfrica region, marking a new chapter for Viet Nam's traditional and promising ties with not only the three countries but also the wider region.

The upgraded partnerships reflect strong political trust and the expansion of cooperation across the board, particularly in the areas of economy, investment, culture, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and education. Economic cooperation was identified as the core driver to make the relationships deeper and more substantive. As PM Chinh emphasised, strengthening ties will enhance solidarity to create strength; promote cooperation to generate mutual benefit; and increase high-level and local-level exchanges to reinforce mutual trust and understanding.

According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, the elevation of ties demonstrates the readiness of all three countries to advance defence and security cooperation with Viet Nam. Importantly, Kuwait, Algeria and South Africa can also serve as gateways for Viet Nam to expand relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council and the African Union.

During the trip, PM Chinh held extensive meetings with senior leaders, officials, and businesses; attended economic and business forums; and witnessed the signing of more than 10 cooperation agreements covering specific sectors. Enterprises of Viet Nam and the three nations also concluded a number of deals that will help operationalise the newly established Strategic Partnerships.

Co-operation is expected to deepen not only in traditional areas but also in emerging fields such as mining; oil and gas exploration and refining; energy; agriculture; science and technology; innovation and digital transformation; aviation; tourism; and people-to-people exchanges.

o Ha Nam, Chairman and General Director of Intimex Group, said that during the trip, the company signed its largest-ever export contract with an Algerian partner for 24,000 tonnes of coffee per year, worth US$110 million. He noted that many new partners expressed interest in working with the company, not only for domestic consumption but also for distribution to surrounding markets.

Meanwhile, PM Chinh highlighted the historic common ground that links Viet Nam with Kuwait, Algeria and South Africa  mutual support during the struggle for national independence and reunification  and said that this legacy should be carried forward as each nation pursues development and prosperity.

In Algeria, PM Chinh met with leaders of Algerias National Liberation Front (FLN). Abdelkrim Benmebarek, Secretary-General of the FLN, stressed that Viet Nams struggle against colonialism has long inspired freedom movements worldwide. Following the meeting with PM Chinh, Algerias President instructed ministries and agencies to promptly implement the agreements reached, including the cooperation agreement between the FLN and the Communist Party of Viet Nam.

Meeting with Vietnamese communities in all three countries, PM Chinh expressed appreciation for their affection for the homeland, reaffirming that the unity and patriotism of overseas Vietnamese constitute invaluable national assets. He reiterated that the Party and State have issued numerous policies to support overseas Vietnamese in maintaining ties with their roots and in pursuing favourable conditions for livelihood and development.

Amid his dense programme, PM Chinh continued to direct domestic affairs. He chaired two online meetings from Algeria and South Africa on responses to severe flooding in central Viet Nam, including one held at night.

A key part of the trip was the PMs participation in the G20 Summit in South Africa, which brought together leaders of G20 members, 20 guest countries, and 21 international and regional organisations.

PM Chinh delivered several important remarks, presenting proposals to foster rapid and sustainable development, promote peace and cooperation, and share Viet Nams development orientations and recent achievements with the international community.

At sessions on Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth  Leaving No One Behind and G20s Contributions to a Resilient World, he proposed three strategic guarantees to advance inclusive and sustainable growth. In another discussion on A Fair and a Just Future for All  Critical Minerals; Decent Work; Artificial Intelligence, he welcomed the theme chosen by South Africa, which reflects the worlds three major transitions: green, digital and demographic-labour transitions.

He outlined three strategic priorities: building fair, equal and transparent partnerships on strategic minerals based on harmonised benefits and shared risks; creating breakthroughs in high-quality human-resource training tied to modern and sustainable labour-market development; and developing an AI ecosystem that serves human beings rather than replaces them.

Viet Nam, he affirmed, stands ready to work closely with the G20 and international partners to implement these priorities through concrete programmes and projects.

According to Minister Trung, Viet Nam's participation demonstrated its active and responsible role in addressing global issues. On the margins of the Summit, the Vietnamese PM also held meetings with more than 30 leaders of countries and international organisations to promote bilateral cooperation, engaging in direct discussions on specific issues and projects.

The PM's visits to Kuwait, Algeria and South Africa, together with his participation in the G20 Summit, marked another successful step in implementing Viet Nams foreign-policy orientations set out at the 13th National Party Congress and relevant Politburo resolutions.

The outcomes create significant momentum and inspiration for ministries, sectors and localities to realise Vietnams development aspirations and to attract international resources in the new era.  VNS
HA NOI  Lawmakers on Tuesday morning will continue discussions at the tenth session of the National Assembly (NA) on the proposed investment policy for the 20262035 national target programme on modernising and improving the quality of education and training, which is expected to mobilise around VN580.13 trillion (nearly US$22 billion).

The programme seeks to standardise and comprehensively modernise the education and training system, drive a substantial improvement in education quality, expand learning opportunities, ensure equitable access and promote lifelong learning. It also aims to better meet the countrys increasing demand for human resources, particularly high-quality personnel, amid globalisation, technological advancement, innovation and digital transformation.

The programme outlines four key targets for 2030, including the modernisation of about eight major public universities to help them enter the top 200 Asian institutions, and at least one public university reaching the global top 100 in selected priority fields.

By 2035, all preschools and general schools are expected to meet infrastructure standards and be equipped to introduce English as a second language across the school system.

The NA will also review the proposed national target programme on healthcare, population and development for 20262035, which aims to improve physical and mental well-being, stature, life expectancy and overall quality of life.

The programme focuses on expanding access to quality primary healthcare, fostering proactive self-care, strengthening early and grassroots-level disease prevention, addressing priority population issues, responding to demographic ageing and enhancing support for vulnerable groups.

Its specific targets include raising the proportion of communes, wards, and special zones meeting the National Criteria for Commune Health to 90 per cent by 2030 and 95 per cent by 2035. By 2030, all citizens are expected to have electronic health records and lifelong health management, with full coverage maintained through 2035.

In the afternoon, the NA is scheduled to debate the revised Law on Drug Prevention and Control in the plenary hall.  VNS
Campaign Highlights Generosity and Commitment to Improving Lives

STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Philip Morris International's U.S. businesses ("PMI U.S.") today announced the launch of "Thanks for Giving," a call to action inspiring Californians to recognize and support the charitable organizations and individuals working every day to build stronger communities. As Americans pause to recognize Thanksgiving and #GivingTuesday, the Thanks for Giving campaign highlights the spirit of generosity that drives impact year-round, while celebrating the extraordinary service of charitable partnersfrom national nonprofits to local organizations working tirelessly in communities across the nation.

"#GivingTuesday started as a single day of goodwill, but the true impact comes when generosityand accountability with those investmentsbecomes part of our everyday behavior," said Marian Salzman, Senior Vice President, PMI U.S., who was a driving force behind creating GivingTuesday in 2012. "At PMI U.S., generosity isn't limited to a season. Since 2022, our giving has exceeded $35 million, and our employees have increased their participation in community programs by 400 percent. Saying thank you is powerful. But living it365 days a year, with transparency and purposeis even more meaningful."

In 2025, PMI U.S. contributed nearly $1.5 million to 49 organizations in California, supporting communities in need and the company's core giving pillars, including nearly $450,000 for economic empowerment initiatives; more than $55,000 toward veterans and military support; and over $1 million dedicated to disaster relief and prevention. With that support, organizations are enabled to further drive meaningful community-level change to improve lives.

"The $1 million donation from Philip Morris International U.S. (PMI U.S.) made it possible for the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) to purchase a new Type 3 wildland engine for the West Altadena community that was significantly impacted by the January 2025 Eaton Fire. PMI U.S.'s generosity ensured the LACoFD was able to place this additional wildland engine in an area that needed it most," said Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone. "Additionally, a portion of the donation was also used to support residents deeply affected by this natural disaster along with LACoFD members whose homes were destroyed or damaged. Donation proceeds also went to the LACoFD's Chaplains Benevolent Fund and Firefighters' Memorial Committee to assist the families of our fallen members."

"With the $20,000 PMI U.S. donated to our group in 2025, we're able to deliver more 'We Care' packages to service members far from home," said Paula Cornell, President and Founder, For The Troops. "This support not only provides essential comforts for those protecting our country, it strengthens the sense of community and connection that reminds our troops they are never alone."

The "Thanks for Giving" campaign also spotlights the WeCare program, which empowers PMI U.S. employees to nominate nonprofits for company-funded donations. In 2025, it directed over $1,860,000 million to over 400 local organizations across 44 states and the District of Columbia. This brings PMI U.S.'s total contributions since 2022 to more than $35 million nationwide.

As a result, PMI U.S. employees helped direct over $72,000 in company-sponsored funds to support organizations across the state. "PMI U.S.'s support strengthened Pets In Need's work to protect the human-animal bond in our community," said John Magbual, Marketing Supervisor at Pets In Need. "Through their WeCare Grants, we are expanding access to essential veterinary care and safety-net services that keep pets healthy and with the families who love them. This partnership delivers direct, measurable impact for animals and the people who rely on us."

Thanks for Giving is part of PMI U.S.'s pragmatic philanthropya better approach to corporate giving built on listening, investing for impact, and bringing others together to support those who are doing meaningful work every day. Learn more about PMI U.S.'s approach to philanthropy here.

PMI U.S.: Invested in America

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HA NOI  Sen. Lt. Gen. Le Quang Minh, Deputy Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs of the Viet Nam Peoples Army (VPA), has called on Australia to continue collecting, sharing and providing information and documents related to Vietnamese soldiers who died, went missing or remain unaccounted for during wartime.

At a working session with the Australian Army's Unrecovered War Casualties Unit in Canberra on Monday, Minh, member of the national steering committee for the search, repatriation and identification of martyrs remains (Steering Committee 515), said Viet Nam still has around 175,000 cases of fallen soldiers whose remains have yet to be located or verified. He stressed that this remains a pressing humanitarian issue for Viet Nam, though the work has become increasingly difficult over time.

He proposed that Australia share its experience and apply advanced technologies in research, data aggregation, investigation, classification, extraction of information, and the preservation of records to support Viet Nams efforts to search for and repatriate the remains of its fallen soldiers.

Dr. Aaron Pegram, manager of the Australian Army's Unrecovered War Casualties Unit, affirmed the countrys commitment to working more effectively with Viet Nam in this effort, contributing to the further development of bilateral ties.

The same day, the Vietnamese delegation visited and worked with the Australian War Memorial. Minh requested the memorial to extract information from its archives related to Vietnamese soldiers who died, went missing or remain unaccounted for, and provide it to the Office of Viet Nams Steering Committee 515.

He also asked the memorial to promote communication and encourage Australian organisations and individuals to gather and share information, documents and wartime memorabilia related to Vietnamese martyrs and their burial sites, in support of Viet Nams ongoing search and identification efforts.  VNA/VNS
QUANG NINH  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday had separate meetings with representatives from Gunma prefecture and the JapanViet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance (JVPFA), and a delegation of Japanese local officials, who are in Viet Nam to attend the Viet NamJapan Local Cooperation Forum in Quang Ninh Province.

Meeting Yamamoto Ichita, Governor of Gunma prefecture, which is home to 56 businesses investing in Viet Nam, and a Vietnamese community of around 16,000 people, PM Chinh expressed his appreciation for Ichitas attendance at the forum  the first large-scale initiative to promote local cooperation between the two countries.

The PM highlighted symbolic projects and initiatives representing Viet NamJapan relations in Quang Ninh, expressing his hope that Ichita will continue to promote cooperation between Gunma prefecture and Quang Ninh Province, especially in the fields of culture, tourism, education  training, and people-to-people exchanges.

Expressing his honour at meeting PM Chinh for the second time, Ichita conveyed his sympathy for the losses and suffering faced by Vietnamese people due to recent storms and floods.

Many Japanese businesses are expanding their investments in Viet Nam, he noted, calling for the Vietnamese Government and the PMs support to ensure effective and sustainable investment in the Southeast Asian nation.

The Governor said the prefectures delegation wants to explore cooperation and investment opportunities with Vietnamese localities. He applauded the initiative and expressed his desire that the Vietnamese PM will continue supporting Gunma prefecture to join more cooperative programmes and investment projects with Viet Nam's localities in the future.

Agreeing with the Governor, PM Chinh expressed his confidence that Ichita and the Gunma delegation will actively propose concrete cooperation projects, particularly in Gunmas key sectors such as human resource training, food processing, transport equipment, hi-tech agriculture, elderly care, and cultural and tourism collaboration in Quang Ninh.

He also encouraged expanding investment in Viet Nam with technology transfer and high-quality workforce development, especially in innovation, digital and green transition, and semiconductors, while continuing support for 16,000 overseas Vietnamese living and working in Gunma.

In his reception for Takebe Tsutomu, Special Advisor to the JapanViet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance (JVPFA), PM Chinh recalled his meeting with his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi during the ASEAN Summit in October 2025, and their agreement to closely promote bilateral cooperation, including local-level collaboration.

The PM said he believes that the forum will serve as an opportunity to strengthen practical cooperation between businesses and localities of both countries, creating momentum for the VietnamJapan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Local-level cooperation between the two nations has become increasingly dynamic, Tsutomu said, highlighting active exchanges in culture and people-to-people interaction with notable events such as the annual Viet NamJapan Festival in HCM City, the Viet Nam Festival in Hokkaido, and the Hokkaido Festival in Ha Long City; as well as ongoing educational and human resource training cooperation, including the long-running Viet NamJapan University project.

Expressing his appreciation for Tsutomus contributions to promoting Viet NamJapan friendship and cooperation, PM Chinh called on him to continue supporting the practical implementation of the Viet NamJapan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through concrete projects and programmes.

The Vietnamese leader urged Tsutomu to continue supporting Viet NamJapan ties, especially local cooperation between Hokkaido and Quang Ninh and other Vietnamese localities, in areas such as agriculture, investment, education, culture, and tourism.

In their meeting with the Vietnamese Government leader, officials from Yamanashi, Niigata, Tokushima, Osaka, Shimane, Hiroshima, Miyagi, and Wakayama prefectures introduced their regions and expressed their desire to strengthen cooperation with Vietnamese localities. They also offered sincere opinions and proposals.

PM Chinh highlighted his willingness to listen to practical and candid suggestions from Japanese leaders and local officials to further foster local-level cooperation between the two countries, stressing that local-level cooperation is a key and distinctive aspect of the bilateral relations.

He urged Japanese localities to implement signed cooperation agreements practically; expand exchanges to strengthen mutual understanding; and encourage Japanese businesses to invest in Viet Nam in processing and supporting industries, hi-tech agriculture, biotechnology, digital and green transition, and linking business activities with technology transfer and innovation.

The PM affirmed that the Vietnamese Government is ready to create favourable conditions for Japanese businesses to invest and operate successfully in Viet Nam. He also urged the Japanese side to facilitate effective investment by Vietnamese enterprises in its localities.

He also called on Japanese localities to strengthen collaboration in training high-quality human resources by linking their universities, research institutes, and training centres with Vietnamese partners; promoting joint research programmes in semiconductors and quantum technology; and maintaining and expanding scholarship programmes for Vietnamese students.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 24 sent messages of condolences to Party General Secretary To Lam and State President Luong Cuong over the heavy losses caused by recent flooding in central Viet Nam.

In his messages, the Russian President emphasised the severity of the situation in the central region and extended his sympathies and support to the families and friends of the victims, along with wishes for a swift recovery for all those affected by the natural disaster.

Central Viet Nam has suffered extensive damage following severe flooding triggered by prolonged heavy rains. According to Russian media, around 70 Russian citizens were present in Khanh Hoa Province at the time of the flooding.

Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism Vijitha Herath on the same day expressed deep sorrow over the severe floods in Viet Nam.

In a message posted on X, he said: "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured, and all those affected by this natural calamity. Sri Lanka stands in solidarity with the people of Viet Nam and hopes for the swift restoration of normalcy."

The statement reflects Sri Lankas support and solidarity with Viet Nam during this challenging time.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  The Government has proposed investing more than VN125.4 trillion (approximately US$4.75 billion) to improve the physical and mental health, stature, life expectancy and overall quality of life of the Vietnamese people from 2026 through 2035.

At the ongoing 10th session of the National Assembly (NA), lawmakers heard the Governments proposal and a report on investment guidelines for the national target programme on healthcare, population and development for the ten-year period starting in 2026.

The programme has a total budget of VN125.48 trillion and will be carried out over 10 years, divided into two phases: 20262030 and 20312035.

Presenting the proposal, Minister of Health ao Hong Lan said the programme aimed to enhance the physical and mental well-being, stature, life expectancy and standard of living for all citizens.

According to the proposal, the programme seeks to ensure universal access to quality primary healthcare, encourage people to proactively protect and improve their own health, reduce disease risks through early and community-level prevention, address priority population issues, respond to population ageing, improve population quality and strengthen support for vulnerable groups.

The programme sets out 10 key targets, including raising the share of communes, wards and township-level units meeting the National Criteria for Communal Healthcare to 90 per cent by 2030 and 95 per cent by 2035. It also aims to ensure that 100 per cent of citizens have electronic health records that are managed throughout their lives by 2030 and maintained thereafter.

By 2030, 100 per cent of provincial Centres for Disease Control must be capable of testing pathogens, antigens and antibodies for dangerous infectious diseases, as well as monitoring clean water quality and school sanitation.

All commune-level health stations nationwide should fully implement prevention, management and treatment procedures for selected non-communicable diseases by 2030 and maintain this level through 2035.

Under the programme, the rate of stunting among children under five is expected to fall below 15 per cent by 2030 and below 13 per cent by 2035. By 2030, at least 50 per cent of the population should be able to access at least one official mass-media channel on primary healthcare, disease prevention and health promotion, rising to 80 per cent by 2035.

Crude birth rates are expected to increase by 0.5 per cent by 2030 compared to 2025 and rise by another 0.5 per cent by 2035. The sex ratio at birth should be reduced to below 109 boys per 100 girls by 2030 and below 107 by 2035.

The initiative also aims to see 90 per cent of couples receive pre-marital health counselling and check-ups by 2030 and 95 per cent by 2035; 70 per cent of pregnant women receive screening for at least four of the most common congenital disorders by 2030 (rising to 90 per cent by 2035); and 90 per cent of newborn infants screened for at least five common congenital diseases by 2030 (95 per cent by 2035).

The number of vulnerable people accessing and using services at social care facilities is expected to increase by 70 per cent by 2030 compared with 2025, and by 90 per cent by 2035.

Chairman of the NA Committee for Culture and Society Nguyen ac Vinh said while presenting the assessment report that the committee generally agreed with the programmes beneficiaries, funding scale, objectives and component projects as proposed by the Government.

However, it recommended adding persons with disabilities to the priority groups. It also proposed revising how priority beneficiaries are defined so that the Government can specify details in line with Resolution 72 and ease implementation.

As for funding, the committee asked the Government to clearly identify financing sources and ensure minimum capital allocation, balancing investment between healthcare and population development goals. It also noted that the proposed investment for population and development accounts for only 15.5 per cent of the 20262030 budget.

It urged more realistic assessments of local budget capacity, especially in financially constrained provinces, along with measures to mobilise social resources to reduce pressure on the State budget. It also called for streamlining component projects to avoid overlap and resource fragmentation.

Speaking at a group discussion, Lan emphasised that the programme represented a critical breakthrough to improve public health in the next 10 years and would require clear, dedicated resources to ensure successful implementation.

Beyond institutional reforms, the national target programme would provide a framework and financial mechanism to effectively carry out healthcare and population development objectives.

A key priority, she said, would be strengthening commune-level health stations  the direct beneficiaries of the programme once approved by the NA.

The Ministry of Health had urgently issued updated regulations on the functions and tasks of commune health stations, enabling localities to prepare workers, equipment and facilities. It was also working closely with the Ministry of Finance to calculate funding requirements and resource allocation plans, she said.

Addressing the group discussion, Party General Secretary To Lam underscored that three factors must receive synchronised investment: infrastructure; workers, including teachers and medical professionals; and training programmes.

The Party chief asked that the programme clearly identified the breakthrough outcomes the health sector must achieve by 2035, stressing the importance of strengthening primary healthcare and disease prevention.

He also urged the development of concrete solutions and plans to eliminate infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and hepatitis, preventing them from persisting and draining resources across the system.

At the same time, he said it was crucial to address the root causes of ill health, including environmental pollution, access to clean water and food safety.  VNS
HA NOi  President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai welcomed delegates to the 13th Viet NamChina Peoples Forum in Ha Noi on Tuesday, expressing her thanks for fostering bilateral friendship and solidarity in recent years.

She highlighted the forums timing as both nations celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties and actively realise the shared perceptions reached by top leaders of both Parties and States regarding the advancement of Viet NamChina Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. Across three sessions, participants explored the 75-year trajectory of bilateral ties and tackled issues of mutual concern, including political theory, national governance, economic development, trade, investment, and sci-tech. They also put forward recommendations to enhance people-to-people exchanges and public diplomacy, contributing to the long-standing fraternal bond between the two nations.

The VFF leader said recommendations emerging from the forum will be forwarded to relevant agencies and leaders of both sides as valuable input to nurture a longstanding friendship and broaden grassroots connections.

Reflecting on the delegations visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoai described the moment as a reminder of the historic friendship founded by President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Mao Zedong, and nurtured through generations of revolutionaries and citizens

Affirming people-to-people diplomacy as one of Viet Nam's three pillars of foreign policy, she believed that the delegates would continue serving as bridges to bring Vietnamese and Chinese citizens closer.

Sun Xueqing, Vice President of the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and head of the Chinese delegation, said he was profoundly touched by the emphasis top leaders of both Parties and States place on people-to-people friendship and their personal involvement in guiding such exchanges.

According to him, leaders of the two Parties and States have maintained regular contacts and reciprocal visits, with both Party General Secretary and President of China, Xi Jinping and Party General Secretary To Lam meeting representatives of friendship organisations and youth during their state visits.

He called this forum an important mechanism highlighted in the ChinaViet Nam Joint Statement, noting that since its inception in 2010, it has convened for the 13th time.  VNA/VNS
HCM CITY  Ships 09 and 17 of Brigade 171 under Naval Region 2 docked at the brigades port in HCM Citys Rach Dua Ward on Tuesday, completing the 39th joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin between the Vietnamese and Chinese navies.

The joint patrol between the Viet Nam Peoples Navy and the Peoples Liberation Army Navy of China in the Gulf of Tonkin has been an annual coordinated activity between the two sides since 2006.

Speaking at the reception of the ship fleet, Rear Admiral Nguyen Van Quan, Commander of Naval Region 2, affirmed that the success of the joint patrol helped strengthen mutual trust and understanding, and contributed to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development between Viet Nam and China.

During the joint patrol on November 19-20, the two sides conducted joint training activities, including patrolling along the Gulf of Tonkin boundary line; search and rescue drills at sea; basic communication training; formation manoeuvre exercises; ship survivability drills; and performing naval salute.

This activity holds significant importance, aiming to implement the common understanding reached between the high-ranking leaders of the two countries as well as leaders of the two defence ministries. It helps promote exchanges, and strengthen friendship, cooperation, trust, and mutual understanding between the armed forces and navies of the two countries.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  President Luong Cuong on Tuesday received Governor of Russias Kaluga oblast Vladislav Valerievich Shapsha, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam.

President Cuong affirmed that the Party, the State, and people of Viet Nam always remember the affection, support, and assistance that the people of the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation today have given to Viet Nam in its past struggle for national liberation, its post-war reconstruction, and in the current process of building and developing the nation.

He emphasised that, in the context of a rapidly and complexly changing world, Viet Nam always values and wishes to continuously nurture and develop the longstanding friendship and the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

He expressed his confidence that the Governors visit will contribute to implementing agreements reached by the high-level leaders of both nations and promote increasingly close and effective cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia, as well as between Kaluga and Vietnamese localities.

The President appreciated the contributions of Kalugas leaders in connecting businesses, attracting investment, promoting trade, cultural exchanges, tourism, and collaboration in science and technology, education and training, and hi-tech agriculture with Viet Nam and its localities. He expressed his hope that both sides will effectively harness cooperation potential, make the most of each others strengths, and complement each other.

Emphasising that the achievements of Kalugas cooperation with Viet Nam are a vivid symbol of the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, the State leader noted that local-level connectivity is very important, contributing to deepening mutual understanding.

He also welcomed the Governors initiatives and hoped that Kaluga will actively coordinate with Vietnamese localities to explore further measures to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest, for the benefit of the two peoples, contributing to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and globally.

For his part, Shapsha affirmed that Kaluga oblast wishes to expand cooperation with Viet Nam across all fields, in order to contribute more to the overall relationship between the two countries.

Regarding the oblasts potential and strength, as well as the results of its cooperation with Vietnamese localities and businesses in recent years, he affirmed his readiness to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to expand investment in the locality and welcome Vietnamese citizens for training at its renowned education and scientific research institutions.

The Governor particularly appreciated the investment and production activities of Vietnamese businesses in Kaluga in the field of hi-tech agriculture, including dairy cattle farming, milk processing, and dairy products, regarding these as key factors for ensuring Russias food security and as a bridge between the peoples of the two countries.

He also expressed sympathy for the damage and losses suffered by the people in the flood-affected provinces in Central Viet Nam, and showed his hope that Viet Nam will soon overcome the consequences of the recent disasters.

Shapsha thanked the Vietnamese Party and State, as well as President Luong Cuong personally, for deciding to award him the Friendship Medal, affirming that he will continue to work with the leaders and peoples of both countries and localities to strengthen the Viet NamRussia relationship.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung held talks with member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Wei Tao in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

Trung appreciated the fact that Wei and many Guangxi leaders have chosen Viet Nam as their first destination immediately after assuming their new positions, demonstrating Guangxis consistent importance placed on its relations with Viet Nam.

He affirmed that within the overall relationship between the two Parties and the two countries, Viet Nam always supports and creates all favourable conditions for ministries, sectors and localities to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Chinese localities, especially those with traditional friendship and close ties with Viet Nam such as Guangxi.

Wei expressed his sincere thanks for the warm reception from the minister and other leaders of Viet Nam's ministries, sectors, and localities, and conveyed his sympathies to the Vietnamese people affected by storms and floods. Trung expressed appreciation for the Chinese Governments recent decision to provide US$500,000 in support to help Viet Nam overcome the consequences of natural disasters.

Both sides agreed that along with the strong and positive development of relations between the two Parties and the two countries, exchanges and cooperation between Viet Nam and Guangxi have achieved many good results in recent times. Notably, exchanges of delegations at all levels have been maintained regularly; economic and trade cooperation remains a major highlight, with bilateral trade turnover reaching about $42 billion in 2024, up 16.4 per cent year-on-year.

Viet Nam has been Guangxis largest trading partner for 26 consecutive years. The two sides have also maintained close coordination in land border management, while people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, and tourism have also produced numerous practical results.

To further strengthen exchanges and collaboration in the coming time, the Vietnamese official proposed both sides continue to effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms; expand collaboration in various fields, particularly accelerating infrastructure connectivity, increasing imports of goods, especially Vietnamese agricultural products; and closely coordinate in piloting a smart border gate model.

Trung expressed the hope that the two sides will make breakthrough progress in science and technology cooperation, particularly in artificial intelligence; expand scholarship granting and support Vietnamese students to study and conduct research in Guangxi; create favourable conditions for Vietnamese citizens residing in the region; and encourage capable Guangxi enterprises to invest in major and signature projects in Viet Nam, especially in green agriculture, clean energy, and sustainable development.

The minister also proposed that both sides continue maintain close coordination in managing the land border while effectively implementing the three legal documents on the land boundary and related agreements. It is equally important for them to actively exchange information and appropriately handle issues arising along the border, and work together to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the Ban GiocDetian Waterfalls scenic area, thereby attracting more visitors to this beautiful landmark.

Agreeing with Trungs proposals, Wei affirmed that Guangxi attaches great importance to cooperation with Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities, and stands ready to effectively implement the common perceptions reached by the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and countries, contributing practically to the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and the building of a Viet NamChina community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Wei also highlighted several concrete proposals to deepen cooperation across ministries, agencies, and localities between Viet Nam and Guangxi, including the expectation that Vietnamese Party and State leaders will visit Guangxi as part of their official trips to China in 2026.

He suggested the two sides work together to successfully organise the 2026 spring meeting in the Chinese side between the Guangxi Party Committee Secretary and the Party Committee Secretaries of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, and Hai Phong; advance cooperation in AI, smart border gate development, and infrastructure connectivity; and strengthen joint emergency rescue and disaster response efforts in border areas.

It is also necessary to promote bilateral cultural and tourism cooperation and humanistic exchanges, the visiting official added.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Free textbooks will be given to all pupils in the current flood-affected provinces in the south-central provinces of ak Lak, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ngai, and Lam ong, according to the Ministry of Education and Training.

As of November 24, provincial statistics showed that around 2,000 schools have been affected by flooding, suffering nearly VN100 billion (US$4 million) in damage. Flooding also caused the deaths of four students, including three in ak Lak and one in Lam ong provinces.

The education sector has submitted a report to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh regarding flood-related damage in provinces across the South Central region and the Central Highlands of Viet Nam.

Local reports indicate that hundreds of thousands of textbook sets have been damaged. To ensure students have sufficient textbooks, and based on the needs reported by provinces and cities, the ministry will distribute free textbooks to all pupils in flood-affected areas.

The Ministry has instructed the Viet Nam Education Publishing House and school equipment companies to work with local authorities to survey damaged textbooks and provide timely support.

The Viet Nam Education Publishing House has prepared ten million textbook copies to supply students in affected areas.

So far, support for ak Lak Province has largely been completed, with ongoing distribution in Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ngai, and Lam ong provinces.

Additionally, the ministry has launched a fundraising drive among all civil servants, public employees, and staff in its agencies and affiliated public units, contributing VN300 million ($12,000) to each affected province.

Total support to the five provinces amounts to VN1.5 billion ($60,000). Families of students who died will receive VN5 million ($200) each, totalling VN20 million ($ 800).

The ministry is also working with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in HCM City to deliver VN2 billion ($80,000) in assistance to teachers in the five provinces, and is coordinating with local authorities to allocate the funds to provincial education departments.

According to the ministry, UNICEF and Save the Children have established an emergency education support team to provide learning materials, school clothes, drinking water, and financial aid to households with pupils. Drinking water support is currently being delivered to Gia Lai.

International donors will also implement free psychological counselling programmes through group support sessions at schools for pupils affected by post-disaster trauma, particularly in Gia Lai, ak Lak, and Lam ong provinces.

Teachers will receive guidance on flexible teaching methods to help pupils overcome distress.

As of November 24, many schools remain deeply inundated or have suffered landslides, collapsed walls, damaged teaching equipment, eroded embankments, destroyed parking areas, and broken drainage systems.

Damage to textbooks and school supplies is also significant. Quang Ngai reports more than 38,800 damaged textbook sets; ak Lak  6,300 sets; Gia Lai  448,000 sets and 6,400 sets of school supplies; Lam ong 334 textbook sets and 405 school-supply sets, while Khanh Hoa is still reviewing and has not yet reported figures.

Regarding school operations, 1,942 schools or satellite campuses suspended classes because of flooding. Up to now, 360 schools remain unable to reopen, including 290 in ak Lak and 70 in Khanh Hoa. Meanwhile, Gia Lai, Lam ong and Quang Ngai have resumed normal teaching.

In response, the ministry has instructed provincial education departments to urgently review damage to facilities and teaching equipment and propose that provincial Peoples committees allocate repair funding, prioritising central government support for restoring school infrastructure and purchasing equipment so that pupils can return to school as soon as possible.

The ministry also urged mobilisation of the police, army, militia, mass organisations, and local residents to clean school grounds immediately after floodwaters recede.  VNS
HCM CITY  More than 1,000 domestic and international healthcare experts gathered at a series of scientific symposia on pneumococcal disease to discuss the latest epidemiological data, with a particular focus on young children  the group most vulnerable to highly virulent strains.

The symposia, themed Serotype Dynamics in Pediatric Pneumococcal Disease, were organised by Pfizer Vietnam in collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics and the Centre for Health Professionals Training at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in HCM City.

Held in HCM City on November 11 and in Ha Noi on November 13, the events provided a platform for experts to share insights on early and comprehensive prevention strategies aimed at better controlling high-risk pneumococcal serotypes. Discussions also highlighted the global impact and longstanding legacy of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, underscoring their role in reducing disease burden and improving child health outcomes.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), pneumococcus causes approximately 1.6 million deaths globally each year, including about 1 million among children under five.

The bacterium is responsible for severe illnesses such as pneumonia and otitis media, as well as life-threatening invasive diseases like meningitis and bacteremia.

Viet Nam ranks among the 15 countries with the highest burden of childhood pneumonia, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five.

Studies show that young children are at particularly high risk of infection from highly virulent pneumococcal serotypes.

Invasive disease can lead to serious neurological, cardiac and renal complications, with 2550 per cent of survivors facing long-term neurological sequelae.

Speaking at the symposia, Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, former head of the Department of Infection and Neurology at Childrens Hospital 1 in HCM City and vice president of the Infectious Diseases Association, said young children are the most vulnerable group to pneumococcus, especially when infected with highly virulent serotypes.

The invasiveness and virulence vary across pneumococcal serotypes, necessitating the need for prevention strategies that broadly cover high-risk serotypes.

He discussed the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), warning that pneumococcus is among the leading pathogens associated with AMR-related deaths.

A 2019 Lancet study estimated that around 600,000 deaths each year are linked to antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus, with about 125,000 directly caused by resistant strains.

More than 100 pneumococcal serotypes have been identified, with 23 accounting for approximately 8090 per cent of invasive disease in children.

High-risk serotypes such as 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, 8, 11A, 12F, 15A, 19A, 19F, and 31 continue to circulate and evolve, underscoring the need to update prevention approaches based on current epidemiological trends.

Given the rising AMR threat and complex serotype evolution, experts stressed the importance of proactive prevention, aligning with Resolution 72-NQ/TW, which calls for shifting the healthcare systems focus from treatment to prevention.

Recommended strategies include strengthening hygiene practices, improving community awareness of pneumococcal disease and its early symptoms, and promoting early proactive measures.

WHO identifies vaccination as one of the most effective tools for reducing the burden of infectious diseases, particularly amid growing antibiotic resistance.

Vaccination not only protects individuals but also reduces bacterial carriage, thereby enhancing community-level protection.

Professor Javier Diez Domingo of the Vaccine Research Department at the FISABIO Public Health Foundation in Valencia, Spain, said the ongoing circulation and evolution of pneumococcal serotypes highlight the urgent need for close monitoring and updated prevention approaches.

The application of advanced preventive solutions with broad high-risk serotype coverage is essential to close current immunity gaps.

He noted that such scientific approaches are crucial for minimising morbidity and mortality from invasive pneumococcal disease, while also contributing to sustainable and proactive protection of child health.

Viet Nams Ministry of Health has licensed five pneumococcal vaccines to date, including four conjugate vaccines, which help stimulate immune memory and reduce nasopharyngeal carriage, thereby strengthening herd immunity and long-lasting protection.

Dr. Mark Fletcher, Senior Director for Pfizer Vaccines Research and Development, Medical Affairs, said the legacy of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines represents a major global medical milestone, having been implemented in more than 160 countries and demonstrating significant reductions in disease burden and mortality among children.

We believe this provides a solid foundation to further expand protective coverage, enhance preventive effectiveness, and address complex future health challenges such as antimicrobial resistance.

The symposia form part of Pfizer Vietnams ongoing efforts to support the healthcare sector through awareness initiatives and the sharing of international best practices, contributing to public health protection  particularly safeguarding children, who represent the nations future.  VNS
China asks Japan to clarify its so-called consistent stance on Taiwan: foreign ministry

Xinhua) 09:27, November 25, 2025

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- China is asking Japan to elucidate its self-claimed consistent stance on the Taiwan question, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday, stressing that if Japan merely keeps repeating that its position has not changed without specifying what that position is, and meanwhile keeps crossing the line, then this kind of repetition means nothing but empty words, and simply fudges and hollows out the one-China position.

Mao's remarks came after the Japanese side said that Japan has repeatedly explained to the Chinese side the gist of the remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Japan's consistent position on the Taiwan question.

China has articulated its position multiple times on Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan, Mao told a regular press briefing, adding that those remarks seriously violate the principles laid down in the four political documents between China and Japan, and has fundamentally eroded the political foundation of China-Japan relations.

"We've noted the Japanese side's reference to Japan's 'consistent position' on the Taiwan question. But what exactly do they mean by this so-called 'consistent position?' Can Japan articulate this 'consistent position' in its entirety to the public? If Japan merely keeps repeating that its position has not changed without specifying what that position is and meanwhile keeps crossing the line, then this kind of repetition means nothing but empty words, and simply fudges and hollows out the one-China position," said Mao.

Noting that the one-China principle is an unshakable prevailing consensus in the international community, Mao said that if there has truly been no change to the Japanese government's position on the Taiwan question, Japan should unequivocally uphold the one-China principle, and abide by the spirit of the four political documents between the two countries and honor the commitments Japan has made, including what has been stated in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement that "the Government of Japan recognizes that Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China," and "the Government of the People's Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China. The Government of Japan fully understands and respects this stand of the Government of the People's Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation." "Why can't Japan fully and accurately reiterate this position?" Mao asked.

China urges Japan to take seriously what it has heard from China, do serious soul-searching and correct its wrongdoing, act to honor its commitment to China, and stop pursuing its misguided course, still less say one thing but do another, said the spokesperson.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
GSMA Advance People Excellence Partner programme will help promote technological excellence across Qatar's workforce

DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Qatar (MCIT) has signed a five-year partnership initiative with GSMA Advance, to support Qatar Digital Academy (QDA). The programme will further accelerate lifelong learning and digital transformation in Qatar.

Aligned with Qatar's Digital Agenda 2030, the academy empowers the Qatari workforce with cutting-edge digital skills, promoting technological excellence and global competitiveness. The government plans to create 26,000 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector jobs and generate an additional 40 billion QAR by 2030, as part of its Digital Agenda.

GSMA Advance, the skills and training division of the global mobile industry association, will support the QDA by running enhanced and accredited educational programmes for employees. The QDA will also join the GSMA Advance People Excellence Partner Programme and co-design innovative training programmes offering flexible training methods, including in-person, virtual, and blended learning.

Duha Al Buhendi, Director of Digital Society and Digital Competencies, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, said: "The partnership with GSMA Advance strengthens Qatar Digital Academy's efforts in developing competencies and promoting continuous learning. We aim to empower our workforce with the latest technological skills drive innovation and achieve the objectives of the Digital Agenda 2030, reinforcing Qatar's position as a regional hub for digital excellence."

Dr Drew MacFarlane, Head of GSMA Advance, said: "Alongside MWC Doha, GSMA Advance's partnership with the QDA will help create a long-lasting legacy for the country, aligned with Qatar's Digital Agenda 2030. By equipping the country's ICT workforce with the latest digital skills and knowledge, we will look to further drive digital transformation and economic growth."

GSMA Advance, is a leading mobile and telecoms training organisation. It delivers expert-led, sector-specific professional accreditations and training built from the GSMA's deep involvement in global telecoms policy, innovation, and standards. Through its courses it aims to bridge skills gaps, foster innovation, and champion workforce diversity so that industries and societies thrive.

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today's biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.

We invite you to find out more at gsma.com

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SOURCE GSMA
HA NOI  Marking a pivotal point in Viet Nams 35-year battle against HIV/AIDS, health officials said the countrys response has been defined by perseverance, sacrifice and progress that has earned international recognition.

Nguyen Luong Tam, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Administration of Disease Prevention (VADP) under the Ministry of Health, told a conference on HIV/AIDS prevention and control organised by the VADP in Ha Noi on Tuesday that Viet Nam had transformed its approach since the earliest, most anxious days of the pandemic.

From the initial days of facing the pandemic with anxiety and shortages to now, Viet Nam has built a strong, humane and effective HIV/AIDS prevention and control programme recognised by the international community, said Tam.

This year, the Ministry of Health chose "Unity is strength  Join hands to end the AIDS epidemic" as the theme for the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS prevention and control, which has run from November 10 to December 10.

This is not just a slogan but a deep reminder of the core value behind all achievements over the past 35 years: the power of unity, of solidarity, shared responsibility and close cooperation among individuals, communities and society as a whole, said Tam

However, the HIV/AIDS situation in Viet Nam remains complex, according to Tam.

Last year, more than 68 per cent of new HIV cases were detected in the Mekong Delta, the southeast region and HCM City, with sexual transmission accounting for over 80 per cent of new infections, reflecting shifts in transmission pathways.

People aged 1529 form a large proportion of new infections, with more than 80 per cent being men.

Notably, HIV rates among men who have sex with men and transgender individuals are rising significantly.

There is also an increasing trend of infections in non-key provinces, alongside risky behaviours such as synthetic drug use, chemsex and group sex.

Viet Nam has made notable efforts in prevention and control, conducting more than two million HIV tests, managing antiretroviral treatment for over 176,000 patients and maintaining effective methadone treatment for more than 46,500 people.

Initiatives such as extended methadone dispensing and expanded pre-exposure prophylaxis ensure diverse risk groups have access. Digital transformation in epidemic management through the nationwide HIV-INFO system has also shown positive results.

Nevertheless, challenges remain, especially stigma, discrimination and difficulty accessing high-risk groups. This years action month aims to raise community awareness and promote specific actions to ensure equal access to HIV/AIDS prevention and control services, said Tam.

He expressed his hope that media agencies would actively promote the message "Unity is strength  Join hands to end the AIDS epidemic" to enhance public awareness and foster commitment.

Progress

Speaking at the conference, Raman Hailevich, United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Country Director in Viet Nam, said UNAIDS and WHO had worked with VADP last year to conduct a mid-term assessment of Viet Nams national strategy to end AIDS by 2030.

Between 2004 and 2024, HIV prevention efforts in Viet Nam prevented more than 1.2 million infections and nearly 320,000 AIDS-related deaths, he said.

Between 2021 and 2024, PEPFAR, the Global Fund, the UN and other development partners provided US$208.5 million to Viet Nams response.

In a hypothetical  but not unrealistic  scenario where this support disappears and no domestic bridge is built, Viet Nam could face a resurgence of HIV infections to levels not seen since 2010, erasing more than a decade of hard-won progress. This is the challenge of the moment: how to sustain a strong, equitable HIV response with far less external support, he said.

Viet Nam has been somewhat shielded from this shock, largely due to its existing and stable domestic financing for ART and MAT. However, several essential services still rely heavily on external funding, including HIV case-finding, PrEP and second-line ART.

I commend the MoH and the VADP for their determination to integrate these costs into the National Target Programme on Health, Population and Development, the Disease Prevention Fund and other national mechanisms to achieve full self-reliance by 2029 and safeguard the national response well beyond 2030, said Raman.

Looking back at the 35-year journey of Viet Nam in the response to HIV, we can also see how critical strong political leadership and embracement of evidence-informed, inclusive and people-centred approaches have been in making possible all the remarkable progress Viet Nam has achieved in HIV epidemic control.

These approaches, he added, must be further strengthened and fully embraced, particularly as Viet Nam faces an evolving HIV epidemic and shifting transmission patterns.

Doing so will enable Viet Nam to stay on the right track to achieve national HIV goals and end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, said Raman.  VNS
HA NOI  In a discussion that aimed to close the gaps between prevention and treatment, health experts stressed that proactive vaccination is one of the most effective measures to help prevent infectious diseases in cardiovascular patients, especially adults and the elderly, at a recent symposium in Ha Noi.

The symposium is part of the 2025 National Cardiology Scientific Conference jointly organised by the Viet Nam National Heart Association and GSK Vietnam.

At the event, leading health experts focused discussions on the relationship between cardiovascular diseases and infectious diseases, a two-way relationship that has been under-recognised but is affecting patients health.

According to the Ministry of Health, more than 200,000 Vietnamese die each year from cardiovascular diseases, accounting for about 33 per cent of total deaths.

Professor Dr Pham Manh Hung, Vice President of the Viet Nam National Heart Association, said that individuals with cardiovascular diseases face a higher risk of complications compared to healthy people when infected with illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal pneumonia and lower respiratory infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

A study also showed that patients with congestive heart failure are four to 33 times higher risk of being hospitalised due to RSV compared to individuals without this condition. Moreover, in cases of pneumococcal pneumonia, the incidence of onset heart failure events increases by more than 14 per cent and the risk of myocardial infarction rises by more than seven per cent compared to baseline.

This creates a two-way relationship: the underlying cardiovascular conditions make patients more susceptible to infections such as influenza, COVID-19 or pneumococcal disease, while acute infections, in turn, contribute to an increased risk of serious adverse events in individuals with cardiovascular conditions.

Therefore effective prevention of infectious diseases  especially through vaccination  is one of the crucial solutions to help break this vicious cycle.

In Viet Nam, the Vietnam National Heart Association has updated its Consensus on vaccination against certain infectious diseases for adults who have cardiovascular disease or are at high risk while also fostering healthcare professional training, community education and improved vaccine access for high-risk groups. The goal is to make infectious disease immunisation an integral part of cardiovascular patient care.

To implement this strategy, healthcare professionals play a key role. According to Associate Professor Dr Duong Thi Hong, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (in Ha Noi), an impressive 86 per cent of patients would agree to be vaccinated against influenza if recommended by their cardiologist.

Therefore, Hong emphasised that preventive and treatment physicians need to collaborate to incorporate vaccination counselling as an essential part of routine medical consultations, and that infectious disease vaccination practices should be integrated into medical care, particularly for adults with underlying conditions.

Addressing how to integrate vaccination within hospital management, Dr Nguyen Hoang Hai, Director of Gia inh Peoples Hospital in HCM City, suggested that physicians should regularly discuss vaccination with their patients and provide clear recommendations and explanations about why vaccines are necessary for disease prevention, and most importantly guide patients through a simple vaccination process.

Only then can we overcome vaccine hesitancy, protect the elderly from vaccine-preventable diseases and make infectious disease vaccination a medical pillar not only for cardiovascular patients but also for those with other chronic conditions, said Hai.  VNS
HA NOI  After providing VN50 billion (nearly US$1.9 million) in aid for Gia Lai Province, Ha Noi has allocated an additional VN200 billion to support the locality in overcoming the aftermath of the historic floods, helping residents quickly stabilise their lives and restore production activities.

Following the task assigned by the Politburo and the Secretariat regarding direct support for Gia Lai, the municipal Party Committee, Peoples Council, Peoples Committee, and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee of Ha Noi have promptly implemented relief measures.

On November 21, the Ha Noi Party Committee directed relevant agencies to coordinate with Gia Lai to assess damages and identify the demands for essential goods, housing for poor and near-poor households, and critical infrastructure facilities. Based on statistics, the city has developed a comprehensive support plan with resources from the VFF Committee relief fund and the capital city budget. The Hanoi Party Committees standing board approved an urgent allocation of VN50 billion to help Gia Lai residents immediately.

The municipal leaders have also approved an additional VN200 billion to support Gia Lai in building resettlement areas and repairing flood-damaged roads. The municipal Peoples Committee will coordinate with Gia Lai authorities to implement relevant projects, ensuring that aid reaches residents as quickly as possible.

In addition to supporting Gia Lai, Ha Noi allocated VN10 billion from its relief fund to the VFF Central Committee in response to the call to assist provinces affected by natural disasters.

On November 24, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong handed over VN30 billion to support the south-central provinces of ak Lak, Lam ong, and Khanh Hoa, which are also the worst-affected localities by floods. Each province received VN10 billion.  VNA/VNS
HCM CITY  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has underlined that having the European Commission (EC)s "yellow card" warning over illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing removed in 2025 and sustainably developing the fisheries sector is an urgent and essential task, one that must be completed without delay.

He made the request while chairing the 23rd meeting of the National Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing in HCM City on Tuesday. The session was held via videoconference connecting the southern city, the Government Office, and 21 coastal provinces and cities.

The issue must be thoroughly addressed for the honour and reputation of the nation, for the rights and legitimate interests of the people, and for social progress, fairness and equity, PM Chinh remarked.

The Government leader stressed that since early November, central localities have been continuously battered by Typhoon Kalmaegi and unprecedented, prolonged heavy rain that exceeded historic levels, causing severe human and material losses and disrupting socio-economic activities.

Extending his deepest condolences to affected residents and local authorities, especially to the families of those who died, are missing or injured, PM Chinh ordered that housing, food, essential supplies, and clean water must be guaranteed for all, ensuring no one is left hungry, cold, homeless, or without access to safe water.

He instructed localities to support residents in repairing damaged homes by November 30, and to rebuild houses or resettle families whose homes collapsed or suffered destruction by January 31, 2026. The leader also stressed the need to ensure environmental sanitation, repair schools, maintain medical services, restore transport, irrigation, water supply, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, as well as resume production and business activities, particularly in the agricultural sector.

The PM noted that alongside disaster response and recovery, coastal localities must continue efforts to combat IUU fishing, with the firm resolve to have the ECs "yellow card" warning lifted this year.

He demanded problems and shortcomings, especially those of the EC's special concern, be completely handled, with the positive results built on and effective solutions to underperformed tasks devised.

PM Chinh also assigned specific tasks to ministries, coastal localities, as well as industry associations and businesses to help with nationwide efforts for the benefits of people and the whole nation.

At the meeting, participants shared the view that with the strong determination in eradicating IUU fishing and lifting the yellow card in 2025, progress has been recorded in the performance of many tasks over the past week, with many focal duties completed on scheduled.

Notably, ministries, sectors, and localities have fulfilled 85 of the 99 tasks, up 30 from last week, and the 14 remainders are being carried out as planned. Vessel management and fishing monitoring have continued to improve considerably as all the 79,360 vessels were registered and updated on the national fisheries database (Vnfishbase).

Over the past week, no vessels have been reported infringing or being seized in foreign waters. The settlement of IUU fishing cases has seen further improvement while law enforcement been seriously conducted, particularly when it comes to illegal fishing in foreign waters.  VNA/VNS
BANGKOK  Thailand on November 25 prepared to send an aircraft carrier with relief supplies and medical teams to its south, where more heavy rain intensified the worst floods in years, which have killed 13 people and hobbled rescue and evacuation efforts.

The Thai navy said it was readying to send a flotilla of 14 boats and the aircraft carrier, Chakri Naruebet, accompanied by helicopters, doctors, supplies and field kitchens that can supply 3,000 meals a day. The carrier could also serve as a floating hospital.

An estimated 1.9 million people have been affected in Thailand, where the meteorology agency forecast sustained heavy rain and flash floods on November 25 and warned small boats to stay ashore to avoid waves taller than 3 metres.

Floodwaters have hit ten Thai provinces and eight states in neighbouring Malaysia.

In Malaysia, more than 15,000 people have been evacuated to 90 relief centres. Although no fatalities have been reported so far, authorities warn that the situation could worsen as heavy rains continue in many areas.  VNA/VNS
The working group comprises 19 members, led by Lam Dinh Thang, director of the Department of Science and Technology. The group is tasked to evaluate the capability and experience of foreign investors, while also clarifying investor proposals and specific objectives of all parties involved in project implementation.

Regarding technologies used in the data centres, Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee assigned the working group to review the list of proposed technology transfers. It will also assess the relationship between the data centre initiatives and domestic data centre systems, especially the National Data Centre.

In addition, the entity will review legal regulations to propose specific solutions to obstacles. This is coupled with preparations for venture implementation such as location, land, personnel, and infrastructure. Special attention should be paid to the stable supply of clean energy for the data centres.

Furthermore, investors will receive support to ensure data centre ventures that are practical, efficient, and compliant with regulations. Not only will it remove obstacles, but the working group will also accelerate the progress and report to Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee to consider and resolve issues beyond its authority.

Numerous foreign investors have submitted proposals to invest in hyperscale data centres in Ho Chi Minh City. G42 Group from the United Arab Emirates is planning to invest nearly $2 billion in an AI super data centre in the city. Meanwhile, Kinh Bac City Development Holding Corporation, in collaboration with Accelerated Infrastructure Capital and VietinBank, will jointly develop a 200MW AI data centre worth $2 billion in Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park, in former Cu Chi district.

According to the Data Centre in Vietnam report by CBRE Vietnam, Vietnam's total operational capacity is poised for massive expansion, at a projected 5.6-fold increase from the current 104MW starting in 2030.

A core competitive strength is the country's unparalleled absolute cost advantage in construction, with development prices averaging approximately $7.0 million/MW, nearly 50 per cent lower than established tier-1 markets like Tokyo or Singapore.

"While this significant structural cost difference presents a compelling investment case, successful market entry requires strategic engagement to navigate key structural hurdles, namely complex licensing procedures and the risk of power supply shortages," CBRE Vietnam noted.

Warburg Pincus eyes high-tech data centre in Vietnam Warburg Pincus, one of the world's oldest private equity firms, has expressed its intention to support Vietnam in building a high-tech data centre.

UAE group to build $2-billion AI super data centre in Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology has revealed that G42 Group from the United Arab Emirates is planning to invest nearly $2 billion in an AI super data centre in the city.
On November 24, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly gave comments on the draft resolution to remove difficulties for national energy development towards 2030.

In the draft, the government added regulations on the development of offshore wind (OSW) power. Enterprises conducting surveys for such projects must also meet three conditions: electricity production and business as their registered business line, possessing a minimum charter capital of $400 million, and equity capital of at least 15 per cent of the total approved investment.

Before 2031, the government plans to assign provincial-level Peoples Committees the authority to approve the investment policy for related projects. If only one investor submits a proposal, the provincial peoples committee will conduct an appraisal to approve the investment policy in accordance with regulations.

For projects with two or more investors registering interest, the selected enterprise will be determined based on priority criteria: first, project location offering the lower expected electricity price; followed by lower preliminary capital, stronger financial capacity of the enterprise, and earlier submission of a valid application dossier.

The government also proposes that relevant projects be exempted or reduced from sea area usage fees. In addition, throughout the loan repayment period, such ventures selling electricity to the national grid will be guaranteed a minimum off-take contract of 90 per cent of its multi-year average electricity output.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said, There are many proposals from both domestic and foreign investors to conduct field surveys and obtain investment policy approval for OSW power projects. Vietnam currently lacks basic survey data needed for development, and also lacks synchronised port infrastructure to support this sector by 2030.

Therefore, a superior mechanism is needed to accelerate the implementation of projects already included in the approved power master plan, especially those scheduled to come online in 2030-2035, Minister Dien said.

According to the adjusted Power Development Plan VIII, Vietnam will have 6,000MW of OSW power by 2030 and 17,500MW by 2035. By 2050, the capacity of this power source is expected to reach 113,000-139,000MW.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, meanwhile, requested clarification in the draft resolution regarding the form of indirect government guarantees for corporations and enterprises, and a comprehensive assessment of the impact of this regulation on public debt safety and fiscal stability.

He also asked the drafting agency to pay attention to provisions on direct power purchase mechanisms, or whether the electricity price in power purchase agreements is calculated in USD.

Denmark's CIP ties up with Petrovietnam to develop offshore wind Denmark's Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), through its CI GMF II Cooperatief UA fund, signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Petrovietnam to develop offshore wind ventures on August 22.

Offshore wind, hydrogen, and storage offer Vietnam path to regional renewables giant Vietnam is emerging as a clean energy frontrunner in Asia, with key technologies such as offshore wind (OSW), battery storage, and green hydrogen offering vast potential to power this transition, strengthen energy security, and unlock export opportunities.

Energy progress anticipated if investors remain enticed As Southeast Asia navigates its energy transition, the trio of offshore wind, battery storage, and green hydrogen emerges as game-changers. Trung Ghi, partner and head of the Energy & Utilities Practice at Arthur D. Little, talked to VIRs Hara Nguyen about how Vietnam can build a resilient low-carbon future.

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners backs Vietnams offshore wind ambitions Alessandro Antonioli, the new CEO of Copenhagen Offshore Partners (COP) and senior representative of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) in Vietnam, outlines the groups long-term vision for supporting the countrys offshore wind ambitions.
After nearly seven years of implementation, the CPTPP has created major driving forces for Vietnamese industries to boost exports and penetrate deeper into member markets.

The CPTPP is the first next-generation free trade agreement that Vietnam signed. The CPTPP comprises Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the UK, and Vietnam, with a population of over 500 million people and accounting for 15 per cent of the world's total GDP.

Vietnams exports totalled $58.3 billion, a 26 per cent increase from a year ago. This turnover has surpassed the figure of $102.1 billion for all of 2024.

According to the MoITs report on opportunities to promote exports to CPTPP markets, the total import turnover of CPTPP partner countries is nearly $2.5 trillion. Import demand for Vietnamese goods in major markets such as Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Canada is expected to remain high.

Following the implementation of the CPTPP, Vietnamese goods are increasingly available across stringent markets like Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Vietnamese goods have also made an impressive breakthrough in American markets such as Canada, Mexico, and Peru.

In addition, there is a significant increase in the share of exported goods granted certificates of origin (C/O) for preferential tariffs. When the CPTPP took effect in 2019, Vietnams export turnover using C/O was only about $700 million, or 2 per cent of total exports. In 2024, this figure rose to nearly $5 billion, or 8.8 per cent.

Encouragingly, C/O issuance has risen sharply in CPTPP markets that have a free trade agreement (FTA) with Vietnam for the first time, such as Mexico and Canada.

Trinh Thi Thu Hien, deputy director of the MoITs Department of Import-Export, said, Opportunities will be intertwined with challenges for the prospect of Vietnams trade with CPTPP markets in the near future. Demand remains high in markets with strong purchasing power, such as Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Canada. The UK's official implementation of the CPTPP is expected to create opportunities for Vietnamese goods to expand in this market.

However, new challenges will rise in CPTPP markets. Several countries have issued new trade policies, such as US reciprocal tariffs, which will influence shifts in importexport flows.

In addition, competition is intensifying as exporting countries shift their focus to CPTPP markets. Meanwhile, member countries are stepping up their participation in new FTAs to diversify supply chains.

Nearly a dozen more economies have applied to join the CPTPP, including China, Taiwan (China), Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Ukraine, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the UAE.

Amid the escalation of USChina trade tensions fuelling global protectionism, the CPTPP is emerging as an important pillar of free trade. The CPTPP aims to strengthen economic cooperation, eliminate tariffs and trade barriers on goods and services, and promote trade and investment among member countries. It establishes common rules and standards in areas such as goods trade, services, investment, intellectual property, labour, the environment, and government procurement.

Profound CPTPP impacts on UK-Vietnam partnership The United Kingdoms accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) marks a pivotal milestone in global trade, presenting new opportunities for strengthening economic relations between Vietnam and the UK.

Sustaining growth in a volatile global environment Businesses are embracing various ways to sustain growth amid escalating global trade tensions due to reciprocal tariff measures between major economies.
Rita Mokbel, president of Ericsson Vietnam, told a conference on empowering the digital economy on November 25 that 5G adoption is accelerating fast in the country.

Rita Mokbel, president of Ericsson Vietnam

According to Mokbel, some 360 communication service providers have deployed 5G and nearly 100 service providers have launched or soft-launched 5G standalone. Around 2.9 billion 5G mobile subscriptions exist today - the fastest technology uptake in history, and expected to nearly double by 2029.

"The share of mobile data traffic over 5G is expected to rise from 43 to 83 per cent by 2029. This means there is a deep integration of connectivity in our digital life," Mokbel said. "The global monthly average data traffic per smartphone is currently 21 gigabytes. This shows that the more we create reliable, trusted networks, the more people will use them."

Vietnam has made many achievements so far. In just 12 months, it has licensed and deployed 5G in major cities. The digital infrastructure strategy for 2025 is also showing great results: 80 million internet users and up to 10 million 5G subscriptions.

The world is paying attention, Mokbel insisted, with global icons like Lego choosing Vietnam for its manufacturing.

Vietnam's ambition is one of the most inspiring in Asia: to become a high-income country by 2045, with the digital economy contributing 30 per cent of its total GDP. "This is absolutely achievable with the policies already led and set by the government," Mokbel said.

A high-performing, high-capacity network is not a luxury any more; it is the foundation for a digital economy, and 5G is the platform to enable new technologies, in addition to providing open, resilient, and secure connectivity.

"Think about a runner standing on the starting line of a race: focused, ready, and waiting for the signal to happen. Here in Vietnam, the signal has started. It is the time to unlock full potential," Mokbel noted. "With 5G standalone, Vietnam will open new opportunities in enterprise service innovation and digital public services. It provides tailored and high-performance networks essential for mission-critical services."

In a smarter city, it recognises the vehicle type and adjusts accordingly. Traffic lights turn green when an ambulance approaches. Lanes widen or shrink according to the vehicle size. A bike lane appears when a cyclist is approaching.

"This is what we call a programmable network. It is able to recognise the service and adjust itself to provide the best performance, efficiency, and safety," Mokbel said. "This is where AI comes into the picture. AI enables the network to automatically configure and set up services, predict failures before they happen, and continuously adjust itself. We are moving towards what we call intent-based networks and autonomous networks."

No digital transformation succeeds in isolation and a strong ecosystem built on collaboration is needed, including government leadership, industry partnership, and academia alliances. "By investing in people, we can ensure that Vietnam's digital economy is inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-led," she explained.

"Imagine that everything you dream of, everything can be conveyed so you can feel and touch it. It is only the foundation we build now with 5G and AI that will determine how ready we are for that future," she added.

Today, Ericsson powers well over 160 live 5G networks, representing half of the 5G traffic outside China.

5G to drive next growth phase in Vietnam Vietnam has experienced 5G commercialisation for almost a year now. Rita Mokbel, president at Ericsson Vietnam, talked to VIRs Bich Thuy about how it is contributing further to the countrys digital transformation.

Ericsson expands Vietnamese presence with new Hanoi office Ericsson on September 12 announced the inauguration of its new office in Hanoi, marking another milestone in its 32-year journey in Vietnam.
North Indian BBQ Brand Invites Entrepreneurs to Experience Craveworthy Cuisine and Franchise Model Firsthand

NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sigri Indian BBQ, one of the first North Indian BBQ franchises, will host an open house for prospective franchise partners on Monday, December 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. ET at its North Brunswick location at 540 Shoppes Boulevard.

Passionate, qualified entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to explore the Brand firsthand through menu tastings, a behind-the-scenes tour of operational processes and a live Q&A with the leadership team.

What began as a beloved New Jersey concept rooted in the ancient traditions of North Indian cuisine became a national sensation as Sigris open-flame grills, smoky spices and vibrant ingredients captured attention across social media.

What began as a beloved New Jersey concept rooted in the ancient traditions of North Indian cuisine became a national sensation as Sigri's open-flame grills, smoky spices and vibrant ingredients captured attention across social media. The Brand's old-world cooking techniques resonated deeply with a new generation of diners, sparking consumer demand from coast to coast and accelerating Sigri's rapid development into a high-growth, high-impact franchise opportunity.

"The excitement Sigri has generated shows the real appetite consumers have for authentic, global flavors prepared with cultural integrity," said Matt Ensero, VP of Franchise Operations. "The open house gives entrepreneurs a direct look at how our menu innovation and operating systems come together to create a scalable business and an exceptional guest experience."

With a low barrier to entry, flexible footprint and streamlined business model, Sigri offers operators a straightforward path into the thriving global franchise category. Backed by the hospitality platform Craveworthy Brands, the franchise is built on efficient systems and a menu designed to perform across dine-in, takeout and off-premises channels. This foundation positions partners for success in markets such as Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Nevada and Texas, where interest in global cuisine continues to accelerate.

Sigri's franchise program is ideal for prospective partners who care deeply about hospitality  those who value tradition, authenticity and community. The Brand welcomes experienced multi-unit franchise partners, seasoned restaurant investors and qualified owner-operators who want to grow in a segment with strong consumer pull and long-term potential.

Though the franchise program launched only recently, Sigri already has new agreements signed and locations in development in New Jersey and Illinois  early momentum that reflects the growing excitement surrounding the concept.

"Operators today want brands with staying power  strong economics, strong support and strong momentum," said SVP of Franchise Leadership, Samuel Stanovich. "Sigri delivers all three, and this is a chance to see why the concept is resonating with guests and franchise partners alike."

To reserve a spot at the open house on December 8, please register here. If you are unable to attend and are interested in learning more about the franchise opportunity, please reach out directly to Matt Ensero at [email protected].

Learn more about Sigri at https://sigriindianbbqfranchise.com. Follow @SigriBBQ on TikTok and @Sigri_BBQ on Instagram. Learn more about Craveworthy at www.craveworthybrands.com.

ABOUT SIGRI INDIAN BBQ

Founded in 2015, Sigri Indian BBQ brings the ancient tradition of open-flame cooking into the modern fast casual world, offering a flavorful, experience-driven approach rooted in authenticity. From tenderly marinated meats to freshly baked naan, every dish delivers the true taste of North India  prepared with fresh ingredients and cooked over the signature sigri flame. Guided by deep culinary heritage and a commitment to sharing the richness of traditional Indian cuisine, Sigri makes these vibrant flavors accessible to all, creating a memorable dining journey for every guest. Learn more about Sigri Indian BBQ at https://sigriindianbbqfranchise.com.

ABOUT CRAVEWORTHY BRANDS

Craveworthy Brands, the parent company of Shaquille O'Neal-founded Big Chicken, Bd's Mongolian Grill, Dirty Dough, Flat Top Grill, Fresh Brothers Pizza, Genghis Grill, Gregorys Coffee, Hot Chicken Takeover, Krafted Smashburgers, Lucky Cat Poke Co., Nomad Dawgs, Pastizza Pizza & Pasta, Scramblin' Ed's, Sigri Indian BBQ, Soom Soom Mediterranean, taim Mediterranean Kitchen, The Budlong Southern Chicken and Wing It On!, is dedicated to breathing new life into legacy brands while supercharging emerging concepts. The Company brings together diverse, yet complementary brands and an accomplished, veteran leadership team in the growing culinary space. In addition to building and operating leading restaurant brands, Craveworthy Brands is active in the communities it serves and creates exciting career opportunities for its team members. Bridging the distinctive individuality of its concepts with a shared culture and spirit of collaboration, the Company's goal is to create truly unique and craveworthy experiences every day, every shift and at every turn. Learn more about Craveworthy and its brands at www.craveworthybrands.com.

SOURCE Craveworthy Brands
Three Wrexham retailers fail ID check in police knife test-purchase

Three retailers in Wrexham failed to Challenge 25 and check ID before selling knives during a test purchase to under-18s during a police test-purchase operation.

Officers from NWP Wrexham Rural, with the help of police cadets, carried out the exercise on Sunday 23 November as part of Operation Sceptre  a nationwide campaign aimed at reducing knife crime.

Bladed articles must not be sold to anyone under the age of 18, with ID checks required if the member of staff serving the customer believes they are under 25.

As part of the test purchasing exercise, three retailers were willing to sell bladed articles to the cadets  all of which were under 18  without requesting any form of ID. The businesses have not been named by police.

Selling a a knife to someone under 18 is a criminal offence and retail staff can find themselves liable to prosecution.

A spokesperson for NWP Wrexham Rural said: None of the sales were finalised and the activities were conducted in order to provide education to staff members and their respective managers.

Management at locations that failed the tests will be informed and strongly urged to provide further training to their staff.

Thats not to say those that refused sales wont also be contacted and encouraged to continue their good work.

A big thank you to the cadets and cadet leaders for sacrificing their Sunday afternoon to assist us today.

Tackling knife crime is a year-round commitment and we will continue working with partners, schools and the community to keep the residents of North Wales safe.
Mr. Galloway is based in Waltham, Massachusetts; Dr. Murphy is in Minneapolis, Minnesota

WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) is pleased to welcome senior leaders Judd Galloway and Michael Murphy to the firm's Structural Engineering group, bolstering our consulting expertise in investigating, repairing, rehabilitating, and retrofitting buildings and infrastructure.

Judd E. Galloway, P.E. Michael Murphy, Ph.D., P.E.

Judd Galloway joins SGH as a Project Director in the firm's Repair and Rehabilitation Division in the Boston area. He has extensive experience designing complex building additions and renovations, specialized structures, and critical infrastructure projects throughout New England and the United States. He enjoys managing design teams to develop solutions for challenging structural conditions in rehabilitation and new design projects for unique architectural, cultural, and institutional facilities, as well as transportation and industrial infrastructure.

"SGH excels at combining diverse, in-depth knowledge to solve complex challenges, and I am eager to contribute to our success," said Judd.

Michael Murphy rejoins SGH as a Senior Project Manager, strengthening the firm's Structural Engineering group in Minneapolis and partnering closely with SGH colleagues in our fast-growing presence in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. He specializes in overseeing structural investigations, including failure evaluations, condition assessments, due diligence surveys, and structural health monitoring. His primary expertise is in concrete structures, with additional experience with steel, timber, and masonry systems.

"I spent several years in SGH's Washington, DC, office working on interesting and unique projects alongside the talented staff there prior to relocating to Minneapolis and working for another firm," said Michael. "I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to return to SGH, join the team in this new location, and lend my skills to serving our clients."

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) is a national engineering firm committed to delivering holistic advice for our clients' most complex challenges. We leverage our collective and diverse experience, technical expertise, and industry knowledge of structures and building enclosures, advanced analysis, performance & code consulting, and applied science & research to deliver unrivaled, comprehensive solutions that drive superior performance. With 750 employees in ten office locations throughout the United States, SGH's industry-leading teams constantly seek to advance the meaning of what's possible. For more information, please visit www.sgh.com .

SOURCE Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
A jury has convicted a man of killing another man in northwest Reno in 2023.

The Washoe County District Attorney's Office says a jury has convicted 27-year-old Edgar Hernandez-Jacinto of Second Degree Murder with the Use of a Deadly Weapon, as well as several drug charges.

Prosecutors say Hernandez-Jacinto shot and killed 21-year-old LaMar Jarriett at a condo complex on Sharlands Avenue in April of 2023.

Authorities say the two planned to meet up for Jarriett to buy marijuana cartridges from Hernandez-Jacinto. During the sale, they say Hernandez-Jacinto realized that the victim had given him movie prop money instead of real bills, and in response shot at Jarriett.

The DA's office says Hernandez-Jacintos defense counsel argued that the defendant acted in self-defense. However during the trial, the Deputy District Attorney showed messages where he admitted to shooting Jarriett in the back.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Reno Police were responding to a shooting that broke out in the 6800 block of Sharlands Ave. just after midnight on April 5, 2023.

At the scene, officers found a man with a gunshot wound. Emergency aid was provided and the victim was rushed to a local hospital, but later died from his injuries. That person's identity will not be released until their next of kin is notified.

Detectives pursued a person of interest and arrested Edgar Ivan Hernandez-Jacinto, age 25, on unrelated charges. Hernandez-Jacinto stayed in custody during the investigation.

On Saturday, April 8 detectives additionally charged him for murder with a deadly weapon while he was being held at the Washoe County Jail.

Despite an arrest being made, the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Reno Police Department's non-emergency line at 775-334-2121. You can also contact secret witness by calling or texting the tip to 775-322-4900 or on secretwitness.com.
Kirill Dmitriev is not a professional diplomat. But the head of Russias sovereign wealth fund has emerged as a key player in drafting a new proposal to end Moscows war in Ukraine.

That is perhaps no surprise: A former investment banker, Dmitriev has increasingly served as a back-channel communicator between the Kremlin and allies of U.S. President Donald Trump, despite being on the U.S. sanctions list.

Dmitrievs lack of formal diplomatic credentials may work in his favor, said Boris Bondarev, a former Russian diplomat who quit in protest after Russia's 2022 invasion. In sending Dmitriev to talk with Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, the Kremlin has found someone with whom the real estate magnate can feel at ease, he said.

To work with him well, you need to find the right contact, someone who can win him over, Bondarev said.

Bridging East and West

Dmitriev was born in 1975 in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, then part of the Soviet Union. In his youth, he took part in a school exchange program in the U.S. and went on to study at Stanford University as an undergraduate, according to a biography published by Russian state media outlet TASS.

By 2000, he had graduated with an MBA from Harvard Business School. Later, he worked with U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs and consulting firm McKinsey & Company, according to a profile on the World Economic Forums website.

But despite this early start in the world of New York finance, Dmitriev would cement his reputation while working in private equity firms in Russia and Ukraine.

In 2011, when the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) was created, Dmitriev was appointed CEO. As head of the sovereign wealth fund, he represented the country on the global stage, working closely with a number of large Western firms as he sought to attract foreign investment to Russia.

He became known as a savvy negotiator with a more modern touch than the older, Soviet-trained diplomats at the top levels of Russias Foreign Ministry, said political analyst Anton Barbashin.

Dmitriev was particularly successful at negotiating closer financial ties between Russia and countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the analyst said.

This is basically where he kind of got his credits as a diplomat, said Barbashin. He generally had a reputation of a straight-to-business person, very business-oriented.

And he may be particularly suited to diplomacy with the Trump administration.

Dmitriev understands the Americans, specifically the Trump Americans: the business-oriented people who think in terms of profits, who think in terms of deals, said Barbashin.

Connections beyond the business world

Dmitriev also has connections to the Putin family. Dmitrievs wife, Natalia Popova, is deputy director of Russian nonprofit Innopraktika, which is headed by the presidents daughter, Katerina Tikhonova.

In 2022, in the wake of Russia's invasion, the U.S. placed both Dmitriev and the RDIF under sanctions. At the time, the U.S. Treasury described the banker as a close associate of Putin."

In February 2025, Dmitriev was named Russian special presidential envoy on foreign investment and economic cooperation.

In his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections, special counsel Robert Mueller said that Dmitriev met with Erik Prince, a major Trump donor and the founder of controversial security firm formerly known as Blackwater, in January 2017, as Trump was preparing to take office and the Russian government was seeking contacts with the incoming administration.

In an interview with Russian news outlet RBC in 2020, Dmitriev acknowledged that he had engaged in "various discussions on how to improve relations between Russia and the United States, while brushing off any suggestion of wrongdoing.

There is nothing secret about this; we discuss it completely openly, he said.

Dmitrievs role remains an informal one. If the current peace proposals succeed, then Dmitriev would definitely get a very, very high five from Vladimir Putin, said Barbashin.

But any proposal he may draft with Witkoff or any other U.S. official would still need to be approved by the Kremlin  and almost certainly would be heavily edited in the process.

So while he may be garnering attention now, former Russian diplomat Bondarev noted that Moscow can disown Dmitriev at any moment."

Associated Press writer Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
The list below shows where in the state the congressionally directed spending will go, what the money is for, which entity will receive it and who secured the funds.

Kirtland Air Force Base:

$83 million to build a Space Rapid Capabilities Office Headquarters. (Lujan and Heinrich)

$18.3 million to build a new explosive operations building. (Heinrich)

$3.2 million for a child development center. (Heinrich)

$2 million for infrastructure upgrades, specifically to restore and improve antiterrorism technology at the Wyoming Gate. (Lujan and Heinrich)

Cannon Air Force Base:

$80 million to build a 192-bed dormitory. (Lujan and Heinrich)

$8.1 million to renovate and construct a training facility for security forces. (Lujan and Heinrich)

Holloman Air Force Base: $700,000 to finish the design of Holloman High Speed test track. (Lujan and Heinrich)

Luna County: $1.6 million for nonprofit HELP New Mexico, Inc. to renovate classrooms and expand its early childhood education campus in Luna County. (Lujan and Heinrich)

Estancia: $1.5 million for Estancia to renovate its town hall and community center (Lujan and Stansbury)

Rio Arriba County: $1.1 million to modernize and upgrade firefighting communications equipment, including radios and repeater towers. (Lujan and Heinrich)

San Juan County: $1 million to buy a new fire ladder truck (Lujan, Heinrich and Leger Fernandez)

Mesilla: $1 million for Mesilla to renovate its town hall complex. (Lujan, Heinrich and Vasquez)

Pueblo of Isleta: $1 million for the Pueblo of Isleta Education Department to build the Isleta Learning Center (Heinrich)

Sandoval County: $1 million so Sandoval County can build and improve a health care facility. (Heinrich and Stansbury)

Valencia County: $1 million for Valencia County to build a hospital. (Heinrich and Stansbury)

Truchas: $750,000 for the Truchas Volunteer Fire Department to buy and equip a new fire truck. (Lujan and Heinrich)

Las Cruces: $467,000 for New Mexico State University to research using low power electricity to manage weeds in perennial crops. (Heinrich)

Questa: $375,000 so the Village of Questa can buy and equip a wildland fire engine. (Heinrich)

Zuni Pueblo: $275,000 for nonprofit Conservation Legacy to renovate and repair a Zuni Pueblo building so it can become a permanent location for the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps. (Heinrich)

Silver City: $193,000 for the Gila Regional Medical Center to upgrade and replace hospital utility systems. (Heinrich)
An Alabama mother is behind bars, charged with trying to kill her infant daughter.

Lee County sheriffs deputies responded shortly after 12:30 a.m. Monday to a 911 call about a woman trying to smother her 4-month-old daughter.

Deputies arrived at the Phenix City home on Lee Road 212 about eight minutes after receiving the emergency call, sheriffs officials said.

Witnesses told authorities that 28-year-old Mireire Johana Garcia Lucero was trying to suffocate her baby. They also said they saw her choke and shake the baby to get her to stop crying.

The infant was taken by ambulance to Piedmont Hospital in Columbus. At the time of transport, authorities said the baby was alert and seemed to be in good health.

Lucero is charged with attempted murder and torture and willful abuse of a child.

She remains held in the Lee County Jail with bond set at $85,000.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriffs Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
A 27-year-old man was fatally shot by police officers Sunday in Chambers County.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency identified the slain suspect as Jaja Davis Jr. He was 27 and lived in Lanett.

The incident was one of three officer involved shootings statewide over the weekend.

ALEA Capt. Jeremy Burkett said Davis was killed when officers from the Lanett Police Department and the Auburn Police Department who are assigned to the U.S. Marshals task force tried to take Davis into custody.

Davis was wanted for discharging a firearm into an occupied. That charge stemmed from an earlier incident in which Davis fired into a Lanett police patrol vehicle, Burkett said.

When officers encountered Davis a second time in the 1000 Block of Magnolia Drive located in Lanett, Davis exchanged gunfire with the officers.

Davis was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. No officers were injured.

Lanett Mayor Jamie Heard posted about the shooting on Facebook Monday morning.

First and most importantly, on behalf of the City of Lanett, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this loss.

Regardless of the circumstances, a life was lost, and our community is hurting.

I know many are seeking answers. I want to assure everyone that this incident is being taken with the most seriousness.

We will fully cooperate and allow the facts to be gathered without interference or speculation. During this process, I ask the community to remain calm, patient, and respectful. I understand the emotions surrounding this tragedy, and we are committed to transparency. When verified information becomes available, we will share it with the public.

Our goal is always to protect every member of our city, residents, and officers alike, and to work every day toward a safer and more united Lanett. I am asking for your prayers for the family of the young man, for the officers involved, who are also affected by this tragedy, and for our entire city as we grieve and move forward together.

Also on Sunday, a 27-year-old Indiana man was fatally shot by Guntersville police, and a 29-year-old man was shot and wounded by Troy police.
Project Success Highlights Advanced Value Engineering, Craftsmanship, and Safety Excellence

SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jordan Foster Construction has announced the honor of receiving the Eagle Award at the 33rd Annual Excellence in Construction Awards, the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) South Texas Chapter's highest recognition.

Exterior of Mariposa Medical Building ABC Award Ceremony

The Excellence in Construction program celebrates the region's most outstanding construction achievements, highlighting exceptional craftsmanship, innovation, and project delivery. Jordan Foster received the top distinction for its work on the Mariposa Medical Office Building, a four-story, 110,000-square-foot healthcare facility located in Westover Hills, one of San Antonio's fastest-growing healthcare corridors.

The award recognizes Jordan Foster Construction's exceptional performance in technical execution, coordination, and client value. The project required unusually high precision due to its tight 0.75-acre footprint. To navigate these constraints, the construction team implemented extensive planning strategies, including shared site logistics with Methodist Hospital, weekly superintendent meetings, and detailed scheduling reviewsto maintain safe, efficient, and organized operations.

The firm also led an intensive value engineering effort when late-stage design selections produced a projected budget overage exceeding $2 million. Through careful evaluation of materials, system modifications, and long-term performance considerations, Jordan Foster successfully reduced the overage to nearly $54,000 while maintaining aesthetic and functional objectives.

Jordan Foster's commitment to craftsmanship was reflected in its comprehensive quality assurance approach, which included full-scale mock-ups, first-install inspections, and weekly trade partner meetings. These measures ensured architectural consistency across complex features, including the granite monumental stair, multi-story curtain wall systems, custom millwork, curved interior finishes, and specialized acoustic treatments.

Throughout construction, the team resolved multiple challenges, including rerouting the sprinkler system to preserve ceiling heights and tenant flexibility, resequencing workflows to accommodate delayed material selections, and maintaining operational continuity amid overlapping access, power, and delivery needs with the neighboring general contractor. These proactive decisions protected the building's performance and upheld architectural integrity.

"This award is a testament to the dedication and problem-solving mentality our teams bring to every project," said Roy Raines, President of Jordan Foster Construction's Building Group. "The Mariposa Medical Office Building presented unique challenges, but our team met them with the highest level of craftsmanship, coordination, and integrity. We are honored to partner with outstanding clients, architects, and trade professionals who share our commitment to excellence, and this recognition reflects not only the quality of the finished building, but the collaboration and hard work that made it possible," said Raines.

The completed Mariposa Medical Office Building is a pivotal addition to San Antonio's growing medical corridor. It solidifies Jordan Foster Construction's position as a regional leader in complex healthcare and commercial construction. The ABC Eagle Award underscores the firm's dedication to advanced project management, technical excellence, and providing maximum value to clients, qualities that continue to shape the built environment across Texas.

To learn more about Jordan Foster Construction's core values and portfolio, visit their website at www.jordanfosterconstruction.com .

About Jordan Foster Construction

Jordan Foster Construction is a Texas-based firm with over 50 years of experience delivering civil infrastructure, commercial, and multifamily projects. Its portfolio features millions of square feet of office and industrial space, over 22,000 parking garage spaces, and more than 30,000 hospitality units. In multifamily, the firm has delivered over 80,000 apartment units and 10,000 student housing beds. The firm specializes in complex TxDOT, federal, and adaptive reuse. Recognized as one of the nation's safest construction companies, it is known for its technical expertise and commitment to community impact.

Media Contact:

Catalina Sanchez

512-363-7319

[email protected]

SOURCE Jordan Foster Construction
Stephan Trainer, 24, is charged with capital murder in the slaying 18-year-old Marion Cedric Poole. (Contributed)

A Birmingham man on probation after pleading guilty last year to attempted murder and robbery convictions is now charged in the June shooting death of a Fairfield teen.

Stephan Trainer, 24, is charged with capital murder in the slaying 18-year-old Marion Cedric Poole.

Police and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded Monday, June 16, to the alley in 4000 block of Avenue H, which is off busy Avenue I, and found Poole unresponsive in an alley.

He was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:05 p.m.

Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said a community member heard gunfire, saw the victim unresponsive in the roadway and called 911.

Witnesses provided police with a description of a possible shooter who was spotted running from the alley.

Birmingham police investigating a deadly shooting in the 4000 block of Terrace G. (Carol Robinson)

The police departments Crime Reduction Team arrested Trainer on an unrelated charge on Nov. 20 in the 1600 block of Bessemer Road.

Authorities have not said why the charge against Trainer is capital murder.

Court records show Trainer on Oct. 25, 2025, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, first-degree robbery, and promoting prison contraband.

The crimes to which he pleaded guilty happened in 2021.

He received a 20-year sentence with three years to serve and was given credit for the three years hed been in the Jefferson County Jail awaiting adjudication of his cases. He was released from jail and put on probation for five years.

On Nov. 21, 2025, Trainer was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Earlier today, detectives obtained the capital murder warrant against him.

The Jefferson County District Attorneys Office has filed a motion to have his probation revoked.
Kalisha Dunson and Keyonate McCall were found shot to death Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Wilcox County. They had been reported missing on Monday. (Contributed)

A relative of two Alabama teens found dead after they had been missing nearly a week was fatally shot during the familys search for the young victims.

Antonio Demetria Ausbon, the father of a young son, was killed Thursday, two days before the teens bodies were found, said Wilcox County Sheriff Larry Colston.

Arrests have been made in the three linked homicides.

The ordeal began Monday when 17-year-old Kalisha Dunson, a Thomasville High School student, and friend Keyonate McCall, 18, were reported missing.

They were last known to be near Thomasville.

Family members of the missing teens began to search for them.

Ausbon and some other relatives about 10 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, went to talk to another relative about the missing juveniles, Colston said.

Those family members believed the relative may have some information on the whereabouts of Dunson and McCall, the sheriff said.

They had an altercation, and it resulted in the death of (Ausbon) who was in the car trying to find out information about his cousin, Colston said.

Kentrious DreMon Grayson, 23, is charged with murder in Ausbons shooting death.

On Saturday, the teens bodies were found near Ralph Ervin Road in Wilcox Countys Pine Hill community. Both had been shot multiple times.

The sheriff said police recovered a stolen truck near where the two teens were found.

Courtney Anderson, 27, of Thomasville, and Edwin Shawan Hyde, 22, are charged with capital murder in the double killing.

The U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force took Hyde into custody Monday night. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail awaiting extradition to Alabama.

A motive has not been disclosed.

Edwin Shawan Hyde, 22, and Courtney Anderson, 27, are charged with capital murder in the shooting deaths of two Wilcox County teens. (Contributed)

Colston said three murders in a week is unusual for Wilcox County.

We had one a few months ago but before that we hadnt had one in a 1  years, he said. We arent used to this.

Thomasville Tiger Nation posted this on Facebook after the teens bodies were found:

It is with profound sadness that Thomasville City Schools confirms the death of one of our students. We extend our deepest condolences to the students family, friends, classmates, and all who knew and loved them. This is a heartbreaking loss for our entire school community.

Our focus is on supporting our students, staff, and families as we grieve together. Counselors and support staff are available at Thomasville High School and across the district for any student or employee who may need assistance. We encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out to a trusted adult or to school support personnel.

To honor the familys privacy during this difficult time, we will not be sharing additional details. We ask our community to keep the family in your thoughts and to respect their need for space and compassion.

As a district, we are united in compassion and committed to caring for one another through this loss.
The U.S. Department of Education finalized limits on federal loans for graduate programs on Nov. 6, and changes have sparked disapproval from many professional groups.

Along with eliminating the Grad PLUS loan program and limiting public service loan forgiveness, the rules limit the $200,000 lifetime loan cap to 10 professional degree programs.

Programs no longer considered professional include nursing, speech-language pathology, physical therapy, physicians assistants and more.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing and other industry associations pushed back at the idea of no longer being considered professional and relegated to $100,000 in loans, the same as other graduate or doctoral programs.

What is a professional degree?

According to final rules within the Reimagining and Improving Student Education Committee, a professional degree signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelors degree, where professional licensure is also generally required.

The following programs are eligible for the $200,000 lifetime loan cap:

Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)

Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.)

Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)

Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.)

Law (L.L.B. or J.D.)

Medicine (M.D.)

Optometry (O.D.)

Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.)

Theology (M.Div., or M.H.L.)

All other graduate programs would have a cap of $20,500 a year and $100,000 in total. The limits for professional degrees would be $50,000 annually and capped at $200,000.

Is nursing still a professional degree?

The Education Department said on Nov. 24 the term professional degree is an internal definition about programs with higher loan limits.

It is not a value judgement about the importance of programs. It has no bearing on whether a program is professional in nature or not, a government statement said.

The nursing association said in a news release on Nov. 7 the rule is purposely excluding the nations largest health care profession.

Advanced-level degrees like the Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice and research-focused nursing PhD are no longer considered professional degrees.

Excluding nursing from the definition of professional degree programs disregards decades of progress toward parity across the health professions and contradicts the Departments own acknowledgment that professional programs are those leading to licensure and direct practice, the AACN said.

About 95% of nursing students borrow below the annual limit, according to the Education Department.

Placing a cap on loans will push the remaining graduate nursing programs to reduce their program costs, ensuring that nurses will not be saddled with unmanageable student loan debt, the department said.

About 80% of the nursing workforce does not have a graduate degree. The department said this rule change does not affect undergraduate degrees.

The cost of the University of Alabamas doctor of nursing practice degree varies depending on the students specialty. The family nurse practitioner focus requires about 63 curriculum hours. Tuition, not including fees, is about $30,000. The program requires a minimum of 1,000 hours in clinical work.

Are the rule changes final?

The Education Department said public feedback was considered prior to the rulemaking committees decision.

The public will have another opportunity to weigh in on this issue next year, the Department said. Changes may occur because of future public comments.

The Grad PLUS loan will be phased out July 1, 2026. Eligibility for public service loans will depend on whether organizations comply with federal immigration law.

The federal student loan changes were based on Trumps July 4 budget.
Alabama Power intends to keep electricity rates steady for its customers for the next two years, according to a filing with the Alabama Public Service Commission.

In a notification last week by Alabama Power CFO Moses Feagin, the company said the decision came after conversations with the commission and the Alabama Attorney Generals Office.

In a statement, Alabama Power said the filing was made as part of our ongoing discussions about ways to help customers manage their power bills.

We know budgets are tight, and power bills are a real concern for many families and businesses, the statement reads.

The filing outlines commitments aimed at providing more certainty and predictability around electric rates at a time when many other costs are rising.

We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the Commission on an issue that matters deeply to customers across Alabama. We remain committed to our customers and the communities we live in and serve.

A spokesman for the attorney generals office on Tuesday said, We applaud this decision that benefits ratepayers for the next two years. This decision takes into account affordability for ratepayers and eases their burden of covering these necessary costs.

The commission in a statement said the proposal would be considered at its Dec. 2 monthly meeting.

The Commissioners could approve the proposal in its current form, offer modifications to the proposal, reject the proposal or table the proposal, pending further information. Either action will require a vote, the statement said. If the proposal is adopted, it would provide a path forward for rate stability for cost years 2026 and 2027. There will be a Commission Order, which will provide further clarification in the event the proposal or some variation thereof is adopted.

To forego rate increases, the utility will rely on internal cost containment measures, Feagin said in a two-page letter.

The move, Feagin wrote, would give customers a measure of rate stability.

To do this, Alabama Power would commit to keeping in place certain rates related to fuel charges, and delaying until 2028 any adjustment to rates dealing with its acquisition of the 895-megawatt gas-fired Lindsay Hill Generating Station near Billingsley, which the PSC approved back in August.

An Alabama Power official last October told the public service commission that customers would pay about $3.80 more on their bills beginning in 2027.

However, in August an official said the increase would be a little less than that for some customers.

The company is asking the commission for authorization to apply any customer refund amounts coming from Rate RSE, or Rate Stabilization and Equalization, to its Natural Disaster Reserve to prepare for future storm events.

According to the later, that reserve currently has a negative balance.

Rate RSE is a formula whereby if projected profit is higher than the range, rates go down, but if lower than expected, rates increase.

It is also seeking use of the companys 2024 nuclear production tax credits to offset retail costs of service.

The move comes a year after Alabama Power projected a nearly 2 percent rate reduction for 2025.

With these Commission directives and authorizations, (Alabama Power) is confident of its ability to fulfill the associated commitments based on the best information currently available, the letter reads.

Alabama Power does say that weather, natural disasters, changes in fuel markets or other significant unforeseen events may impact these commitments.
A nonprofit pushing for lower electricity costs in Alabama says a plan by Alabama Power to freeze rates for two years is an election year ploy to avoid headlines about rate increases, not a plan to improve affordability.

John Dodd, policy director for Energy Alabama, said the power company could simply lower rates now for customers.

At the core of it, what Alabama Power is proposing is not a rate reduction but a deferral, Dodd said.

In response, Alabama Power said the commission sets those rates according to formulas and the utility is not asking it to preapprove any increases.

In a notification last week to the Alabama Public Service Commission, Alabama Power proposed leaving electricity rates untouched for two years, through the end of 2027. The proposal would have to be approved by the PSC.

The company said the decision came after conversations with the commission and the Alabama Attorney Generals Office.

In a statement, Alabama Power said the filing was made as part of our ongoing discussions about ways to help customers manage their power bills.

We know budgets are tight, and power bills are a real concern for many families and businesses, the statement reads.

The Public Service Commissions next public meeting is scheduled for Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. in Montgomery.

To forego rate increases, the utility will rely on internal cost containment measures, CFO Moses Feagin said in a two-page letter.

The move, he wrote, would give customers a measure of rate stability.

To do this, Alabama Power would commit to keeping in place certain rates related to fuel charges, and delaying until 2028 any adjustment to rates dealing with its acquisition of the 895-megawatt gas-fired Lindsay Hill Generating Station near Billingsley, which the PSC approved back in August.

The company is asking the commission for authorization to apply any customer refund amounts coming from Rate RSE, or Rate Stabilization and Equalization, to its Natural Disaster Reserve to prepare for future storm events. According to the company, that reserve currently has a negative balance.

Rate RSE is a formula whereby if projected profit is higher than the range, rates go down, but if lower than expected, rates increase.

It is also seeking use of the companys 2024 nuclear production tax credits to offset retail costs of service.

Dodds group, Energy Alabama, is a non-profit advocacy group calling for lower power bills and reliable clean energy.

He said both the rate deferral and the tax credits could be used to reduce bills now.

The only thing pushed back is when the public sees the cost increases, and the company may also earn interest on those deferred balances, he said.

Dodd pointed out that Alabama Powers sister company, Georgia Power, proposed a similar freeze through at least the end of 2028, which the Georgia Public Service Commission approved in July. The freeze came after three consecutive years of staggered increases.

Advocacy groups in Georgia argued over the summer that the freeze only locks in the companys profit margin instead of passing along savings to customers.

Dodd said the proposed freeze in Alabama allows commission members to take a victory lap before election season comes.

This is something very solvable for the PSC, he said. Our commission has the authority to bring down Alabama Power Co.s extremely high profit margin.

A spokesman for Alabama Power said the filing does not ask the PSC to preapprove a future rate increase or change its allowed profit. Prices are set under approved formulas, he said, and any change must go through the commissions process based on projected costs.

(The filing) proposes a package aimed at bill stability: holding certain rate components steady, tightening our own costs, and using tools to help manage customer bills over time, the spokesman said. Presenting this as merely kicking the can, guaranteeing interest earnings, or as an electionyear ploy reflects one advocacy groups speculation about motives, not what is actually in the filing."

A spokesman for the attorney generals office on Tuesday said, We applaud this decision that benefits ratepayers for the next two years. This decision takes into account affordability for ratepayers and eases their burden of covering these necessary costs.

The commission in a statement said Alabama Powers proposal would be considered at its Dec. 2 monthly meeting.

The Commissioners could approve the proposal in its current form, offer modifications to the proposal, reject the proposal or table the proposal, pending further information. Either action will require a vote, the statement said. If the proposal is adopted, it would provide a path forward for rate stability for cost years 2026 and 2027. There will be a Commission Order, which will provide further clarification in the event the proposal or some variation thereof is adopted.

This story was modified at 3:28 p.m. Nov. 25 to add comments from an Alabama Power spokesman, as well as the attorney generals office and the commission.
A Birmingham teen was killed when her SUV hit a tree Monday night in Chilton County.

The wreck happened at 8:33 p.m. on Interstate 65, about one mile north of Jemison.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Capt. Jeremy Burkett said the 18-year-old was driving an Acura RDX that left the roadway and struck the tree.

She was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Chilton County Coroner Aaron Ellison said the victims name is being withheld pending notification of her family.

The crash investigation is ongoing by troopers.
Pell City Police Chief Clay Morris will take over as the Hoover Police Department's chief on Dec. 1, 2025. (City of Hoover)

Hoover Mayor Nick Derzis has named his replacement as the citys police chief.

The Hoover City Council on Monday unanimously approved Clay Morris to take the helm of the department.

This has been a very, very tough decision, but it is the right decision, Derzis told the council during their Monday night meeting.

Ive known Chief Morris for over 12 years, the mayor said.

I know were handing the reins over to someone who is smart, innovative, and will continue to do what we all want to see in the City of Hoover, and thats to keep this community of 100,000 one of the safest communities in the country.

Morris is currently the police chief in Pell City, a position he has held since March 2022.

His first official day with the Hoover Police Department will be Monday, Dec. 1.

Morris started his law enforcement career with the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Department in 1990.

In 1995, he became an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration and served with the federal agency until his retirement in 2020.

Morris served in various roles during his DEA tenure.

From 2011 through 2013, he served as a section chief in the DEA Office of Investigative Technology.

In 2013, Morris was selected as Assistant Agent in Charge of Alabama, where he had supervisory duties over five offices in the state.

In 2017, Morris returned to Washington, D.C., to serve as section chief of the Office of Investigative Technology.

In 2020, he returned to Alabama as Assistant Agent in Charge of Alabama until he retired in October 2020.

Morris addressed the council following the vote.

Its not lost on me that Im replacing a chief that has been here for almost 21 years, Morris said. The gravity of that is, is fairly heavy.

You know, you always wanna follow a loser in a new job. Thats not the case here, he said.

But what I will commit to you is I will bring an honest and dedicated work ethic thatll be second to none.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 21: Tara Reid attends Visual-O Exhibition At Mash Gallery on August 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Mash Gallery) Getty Images for Mash Gallery

American Pie and Sharknado star Tara Reid reportedly claims she was drugged in a Chicago-area bar over the weekend.

Video obtained by TMZ shows the 50-year-old New Jersey native seemingly struggle to remain lucid as rescue workers wheel her out of a hotel lounge in Rosemont, Ill., Sunday morning.

Reid told TMZ she ordered a glass of wine, then stepped outside to smoke a cigarette with a person she met in the lobby when someone allegedly slipped her a mickey.

She added that she recalled a napkin being on top of her drink when she returned, though she didnt place one there.

According to Reid, the next thing she remembered is being in a hospital.

Cops reportedly said they responded to a call about a sick person at Reids hotel around 12:30 a.m. and coordinated with security staffers in the bar area.

Police officers told TMZ they knew nothing about an alleged drugging, and no such report was filed.

One witness said before paramedics arrived, Reid was shouting about being an actress.

You dont know who I am, she allegedly screamed. I am famous.

Reid has a history of alcohol abuse that includes a 2008 stay in a rehabilitation program, according to People.

She becomes erratic and is a completely different person when shes intoxicated, which is hard for people close to her to watch, a source told the celebrity magazine at the time.

Reid indicated to People that shed had her share of partying by that point and called herself a social drinker.

After Sundays incident, she told TMZ she felt fortunate not to have been sexually assaulted.

2025 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Water service has been restored for most of the residents of Marion, according to the Perry County Emergency Management Agency.

The city of about 3,000 people, which is the county seat of Perry County, had been without water since Thursday.

Perry County EMA Director DeAndrae Kimbrough said a power outage and a pump failure caused the interruption in the water supply.

Kimbrough said the service was restored Monday about noon.

Kimbrough said some residents in the higher terrain of the city might have to wait a bit longer for the water pressure to return.

Kimbrough said there is a 24-hour boil notice in place, meaning that residents should boil the water before drinking it to make sure impurities are out. He said the boil notice should expire Tuesday night.

Kimbrough said bottled water that was donated because of the emergency is still available to residents.

The distribution site is Sowing Seeds of Hope, 1728 South Washington Street, Marion. The phone number is 334-683-4666.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin attends Central Water Works board meeting on November 24, 2025, criticizes lack of transparency in hiring new CEO. Roy S. Johnson

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin made a surprise visit to the Central Alabama Water Board meeting to deliver a message in person: The ratepayers deserve better.

Woodfins blunt message came amidst a special-called meeting of the utility and days after its newly hired CEO sacked the entire previous executive team.

Jeffrey Thompson, who was appointed last week as CEO for the utility in a recruitment that was mired in accusations of secrecy, removed the senior leadership team, including General Manager Mac Underwood, and within a day, began installing his own team.

The shakeup could cost the utility more than $3.5 million dollars in contract buyouts, AL.com previously reported.

The behavior, the integrity is more than questionable, and the ratepayers deserve better, and the employees deserve better, Woodfin said as board members turned in their seats to face him. Were ready to organize ourselves if board members are unresponsive to us because the behavior has been unacceptable to this point.

Underwood, who until last week led daily operations at the utility, is paid $446,118 on a five-year contract that was approved in March 2025. His payout would total more than $2.2 million, not including benefits.

Also, the four assistant general managers each have agreements that will pay them a years salary if they are terminated. With an average salary of $334,000 for each one, payout to the assistants comes to $1.3 million, excluding other cash benefits.

Woodfins comments marked the first time hes made them before the board. He has often railed against Central Alabama Water on his social media platforms in the wake of the states takeover and restructuring of the utility.

Birmingham councilwoman Latonya Tate also joined the mayor in attending the meeting.

Thompson sat just a few feet from Woodfin as he stood to address the board and criticize the process to hire him.

The board offered no response to the mayor.

Thank you very much, replied chairman Tommy Hudson.

However, Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson, a board member from Birmingham, echoed Woodfins criticism about the lack of transparency on the board.

Tyson also repeated a list of questions similar to those asked by AL.com regarding details of the selection process, including a full list of candidates, emails with the private search firm.

Secrecy in the CEO selection process has remained a source of conflict within the board, where just three of the seven members served on the search committee. The board is also divided, with five Republican members from outside Birmingham and two Democratic members appointed by Birmingham. Birmingham representatives were excluded from the CEO search process.

This is what Im talking about, the disrespect of this board, Tyson said. And yall pray over this? Im about to start walking out on the prayer because I know the God I serve doesnt want me being treated like this and the ratepayers being treated like this.

No public meetings were held to discuss the candidates. Multiple requests by AL.com for details, including a list of candidates, continue to be ignored by the utility.

Thompson for months was viewed as the frontrunner, although there had been no official meetings or committee meetings throughout the process.

Board leaders offered few words after the meeting. Thompson offered only a brief statement and took no questions while chairman Hudson rushed through the room saying he was late for another meeting.

Hudson pushed back on a question about rate payers being concerned over the actions of the new board.

No, the ratepayers dont have those questions. I just dont think that they do, he said.

Its been a long time since Ive been here, Thompson said, and I just want to let everybody know that Im committed to ensuring that our customers get the greatest service they can get and we become the world class utility and really moving forward with improving our financial situation and our customer service for all of our customers here in the region. After making the statement, Thompson smiled and walked away.

Woodfin said he came to the building in person because the board has ignored his previous letters and questions to them.

He also told the board that he knows that members in the majority have met offsite at a country club in Vestavia Hills, where theyve also met with incoming CEO Thompson.

They made no comment while Woodfin stood before them, but board member Bill Morris responded later.

Im not a member of a country club. My wife drives a school bus, he said to light laughter.

Neither Morris, however, nor anyone else denied the country club meetings.

Mondays brief special called meeting was held to designate new bank accounts and authorize additional staff members to access them.

Whats obvious to me is that the board feels they dont have to answer to anybody, Woodfin said later. Ive called out all bad behavior in the past. Ive called out bad behavior in the present. It doesnt matter who has the power. What really matters is, are you serving the customers, are you taking care of the employees? With this boards action the answer is no.
NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ad Council and the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today unveiled new public service advertisements (PSAs) that challenge the dangerous belief that it's safe to drive after consuming marijuana. The latest creative work from the Drug-Impaired Driving Prevention campaign aims to shift perceptions among a broad audience, with a focus on men ages 18 to 34  the group most likely to drive high.

The new suite of PSAs, "Tell That to Them," created pro bono by creative agency Standard Practice and produced by Spark & Riot, uses stark storytelling that challenges the common misconception that marijuana makes someone a safer or more focused driver. The spot highlights common justifications young men might use to excuse their decision to drive after consuming marijuana, before turning them on their head and showcasing the real consequences of driving high.

"Our research shows some young men don't see the risk associated with driving while high  and even more concerning, some even believe it makes them better drivers," said Michelle Hillman, chief campaign development officer at the Ad Council. "This new PSA taps into the justification some drivers tell themselves and interrupts it with our campaign's central message: 'If you feel different, you drive different.' We're proud of this new work that builds on our 30-year partnership with NHTSA to reshape driver habits, and we're grateful to our trusted creative partners at Standard Practice for bringing this powerful message to life."

Despite shifting laws around marijuana use, driving high remains illegal in every state and Washington, D.C. Recent research conducted by the Ad Council shows that many young male drivers don't fully understand the consequences that can come from driving high, and that educating them about the risks can motivate behavior change.

"Too many young men think marijuana doesn't affect their driving ability or even makes them safer drivers," said NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison. "That couldn't be further from the truth. Marijuana slows down a driver's reaction time and impairs their coordination and judgement. This new PSA reminds motorists that driving high puts us all at risk and can have deadly consequences."

"The rationalizations we heard in research were a reminder of how easy it can be to justify dangerous choices and how important it is to challenge those assumptions," said Steve Dolan, Partner & Creative Director at Standard Practice. "Driving under the influence is never safe, and we're proud of our new creative because it challenges common misconceptions in an honest, relatable way."

The new campaign creative, which includes TV, digital, print and out-of-home formats, will run nationwide in time and space donated by the Ad Council's media partners. Since 2019, the campaign has secured more than $94 million in donated media value and more than 7.5 billion impressions.

About the Ad Council

The Ad Council convenes creative storytellers to educate, unite and uplift audiences by opening hearts, inspiring action and accelerating change. For more than 80 years, the nonprofit organization and its partners in advertising, media, marketing and tech have been behind some of the country's most iconic social impact campaigns  Smokey Bear, Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk, Tear the Paper Ceiling and many more. To learn more or get involved, visit AdCouncil.org, join the Ad Council's communities on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, and view campaign creative on YouTube.

About NHTSA

For more than 50 years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been the primary federal agency responsible for safety on the nation's roadways. As part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, NHTSA works to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries by promoting the use of seat belts and child safety seats; helping states and local communities address the threat of distracted, drunk and drug-impaired drivers; regulating vehicle safety standards and investigating safety defects in motor vehicles; establishing and enforcing fuel economy standards; conducting research on driver behavior and traffic safety; and providing consumer information on issues ranging from child passenger safety to impaired driving. For more information visit www.nhtsa.gov.

About Standard Practice

Standard Practice is an independent creative agency founded in 2023 by five industry veterans with a history of creating palpable, measurable momentum for some of the world's most enduring brands; including Coke Zero, Lyft, Under Armour, Etsy, Ikea, Seventh Generation and Firefox. Visit www.standardpractice.us for more.

SOURCE The Ad Council
Ken Grimes was appointed economic development director for the city of Hoover, Ala. Contributed

A familiar name at Hoover City Hall will now lead the citys economic development strategies.

Ken Grimes, who has served as city administrator since 2023, will become the citys director of economic development, Mayor Nick Derzis announced Tuesday evening.

Grimes holds a masters degree in economic development from the University of Southern Mississippi and began his career as an economic development intern with Alabama Power.

Derzis officials said his tenure as city administrator gives him a broad understanding of Hoovers economic landscape and the challenges and opportunities facing the city.

Im grateful that Ken has chosen to bring his experience and expertise to lead this crucial effort, Derzis said.

His deep knowledge of our citys economy, especially the importance of retail, combined with his proven leadership, makes him the ideal person to help us achieve our vision of restoring Hoover as Alabamas premier retail destination.

Derzis has called revitalization of the Riverchase Galleria and Patton Creek his administrations top economic development priority.

He noted that retail sales tax generates more than half of the citys annual revenue. Derzis emphasized the need for a focused and strategic approach moving forward.

Im excited to return to my roots in economic development and focus my efforts solely on strengthening Hoovers economic future, Grimes said.

I look forward to driving targeted redevelopment, bolstering our retail base, which is vital to our revenue structure, and pursuing new corporate recruitment that diversifies and expands employment opportunities for our residents.

The city in January under former mayor Frank Brocato commissioned a $200,000 market assessment study redevelopment at the Galleria. While the Galleria remains strong, online retail has hurt malls around the nation and Hoovers is no exception.

The assessment from Chicago-based Hunden Partners recommended a two-phase, roughly $240 million redevelopment into a mixed-use development with apartments, performing arts center and green space.

Derzis, who took office this month, campaigned on a broader approach to commercial redevelopment throughout the city known as the commercial retail center of the state.

But Nick Derzis, the longtime police chief who won the mayors race in August, said the study was too tightly focused on the Galleria and not surrounding properties. Patton Creek sits just a few blocks from the perennial mall.

The mall opened in 1986 and grew to become Alabamas largest retail destination. Major competition entered the market in 1997 with the opening of the Summit along U.S 280 in Birmingham. The Galleria is also home to the last Macys store in Alabama.
An Indiana judge dismissed a lawsuit last week against two Belle Mina churches and a pastor who are trying to stop the operation of a quarry in their community.

The corporation set up by the quarry owners sued of the two churches, Belle Mina Methodist and New Beginnings Covenant Ministries, Belle Mina Methodist Pastor Cody Gilliam and Mitchell-Frazier Farms Partnership Limited in Hamilton Superior Court in Indiana.

The plaintiffs claimed the defendants interfered with a lease contract between Elephant R Us LLC and Stoned LLC, which is owned by the same family. Elephants R Us sought $1.6 million in damages plus attorneys fees and costs. The suit had been filed in Indiana, according to court documents, because of the media coverage of the fight against the quarry.

Just like David didnt hesitate to stand up to Goliath, our community wont back down from this fight, Gilliam said in a news release. This quarry is irreparably harming our community. These intimidation attempts wont stop us from sounding the alarm.

The Southern Environmental Law Center, which represented the churches and individuals sued by the quarry owners, said the suit was an attempt to punish the defendants for exercising their right to oppose a highly disruptive quarry in their community.

We are grateful the Court saw through this frivolous case and dismissed it, said Sarah Stokes, a senior attorney in SELCs Alabama office. This was an attempt to intimidate these churches and drag them into costly litigation in Indiana, where they have no connections.

She said the SELC worked with counsel in Indianna to defend the churches and pastor and obtain dismissal of the suit.

Now we can get back to the real issues--defending Belle Mina from the harmful impacts of this destructive quarry, Stokes said.

These attempts to bully us, intimidate us, and silence us wont work, added Eddie Walton, pastor of New Beginnings Covenant Ministries. We are committed to defending Belle Mina against this reckless, harmful quarry for the long haul.

SELC also represents New Beginnings Covenant Ministries and Belle Mina Methodist Church, as well as two additional Belle Mina churches and residents in a pending lawsuit against Stoned , Grayson Carter & Son, Inc, and Elephants R Us in Limestone County Circuit Court. A preliminary injunction hearing to stop the quarrys operations until trial is set for Jan. 7.

The quarry fight is the subject of a short documentary film by Southern Exposure, a film fellowship program that raises awareness about Alabamas natural resources and important environmental issues.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths investigation into Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly for participating in a video reminding military members they can refuse illegal orders is f------ insane, the states junior Democratic senator said.

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who served in the Marines, called Kelly, a retired Navy commander and former astronaut, a patriot.

Gallego said Kelly and the five other Democratic former military and intelligence officials who participated in the video will not be shaken by Hegseths threat to court-martial Kelly.

Hey Pete, we wont be intimidated. pic.twitter.com/Z1dV6Dq5xT  Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) November 24, 2025

This is f------ insane. We should all point out how f------ insane this is, Gallego said in a video posted Monday to X.

These guys are trying to say that theyre not acting like fascists, theyre not trying to give as much power to this president as a king and they should stop acting like it, the senator said.

Mark Kelly is a patriot. Theres no reason why theyre going after him. He was doing his duty and just reminding people about their rights as servicemembers, Gallego continued.

The Arizona senator, elected in 2024, used profanity to voice his disapproval against Hegseth and the Trump administration.

Secretary Hegseth, all these guys, f--- you guys. Youre not going to be able to scare us. We have a right to defend the Constitution of the United States. We have a right to tell other servicemembers that they have a right to ignore illegal orders and youre not going to be able to intimidate us, he said.

In a separate tweet on Monday, Gallego responded to the Defense Departments announcement into the probe by saying, F--- you and your investigation.

Fuck you and your investigation. https://t.co/TKiRqUi6Om  Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) November 24, 2025

Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers reminded current military and intelligence officials that they can refuse illegal orders.

We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.



The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.



Dont give up the ship. pic.twitter.com/N8lW0EpQ7r  Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) November 18, 2025

Hegseth referred to the political officials as the Seditious Six, and Trump suggested they be executed over the video, drawing outrage.

On Monday, Hegseth said only Kellys conduct will be reviewed because the other five lawmakers were a former CIA agent and former military officials who have not retired and therefore not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ.)

The video made by the Seditious Six was despicable, reckless, and false. Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of good order and discipline, Hegseth tweeted. Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion  which only puts our warriors in danger."

Hegseth said Kellys remarks in the video were addressed directly to all troops while explicitly using his rank and service affiliationlending the appearance of authority to his words. Kellys conduct brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately."

Kelly suggested Hegseth was among the bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.

If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it wont work, he tweeted.
This is an opinion cartoon.

Racism, arrogance and ignorance, oh my! Alabamas Florida Man goobernatorial candidate is a toxic triple shot of Troubleville, man.

From calling immigrants inner city rats to claiming it aint his constituents (750,000 Alabamians) who lose SNAP benefits in a government shutdown, Tommy Tuberville proved over and over again this year that he is nothing but a DEI hire (Dumb Embarrassing Ignoramus.)

Tuberville, the man who wants to be Americas Trumpiest governor, has mused openly about how Trump could go around the Constitution for a third term in 2028. Thats up to him, he said.

Even his Republican colleagues trashed Tubbys self-serving threats to sue the hell out of the federal government for $500,000.

Yep, its been another stellar year of Tuberville said what?

For gobbling up headlines, feathering his nest, and flocking head-first into controversy, I am declaring Florida Man as Alabamas Turkey of the Year.

Congratulations, Tommy Turkeyville. Your record of zero achievements and divisive rhetoric is poultry in motion.

(My apologies to turkeys.)

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group andAL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, X Twitter@Crowejam andInstagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @jdcrowe@al.com.
Days after announcing shell leave the House of Representatives at the start of the new year, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she expects the Democratic party to take control of Congress in 2026.

Now that House members are switching gears into campaign mode and will be fighting for their lives, our legislative majority has been mostly wasted, Greene posted on social media Monday.

Our best shot was the first 6-9 months. And when Republicans likely lose the midterms it will become total and complete political war and gridlock once again.

The former Trump diehard said Friday she hasnt fit in to the Washington D.C. culture since joining Congress in 2020  and doesnt want to participate in a bitter party primary to keep her seat, which might have been necessary since her relationship with President Trump soured in recent weeks.

Among her issues with the president is his handling of the investigation of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Trumps reference to her as a traitor and a lunatic.

On Monday, Greene said the wicked snow globe of Washington D.C. is more insidious than outsiders realize and complained her colleagues were more interested in party loyalty than passing legislation that provides jobs and strengthens the economy.

What is the convincing message for 2026 and likely 2028? Greene asked.

It will be the American people asking candidates, what tangible thing have you done for me and how did it or will it make my life better?

The Republican Party has enjoyed control of the House and the Senate since Trump returned to the Oval Office in January.

Both parties have gone to great lengths, including redistricting state electorates, to gain an advantage in next years midterm election.

A GOP loss in either branch of Congress could complicate matters for President Trump as he tries to advance his political agenda before leaving office after the 2028 presidential election.

_____

2025 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, stand next to national Thanksgiving turkey Gobble during a pardoning ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP

During what is usually a lighthearted event, President Donald Trump slammed Democrats with mean-spirited humor while pardoning turkeys at the White House on Tuesday.

The turkeys being pardoned today go by the names of Gobble and Waddle. When I first saw their pictures ... I was going to call them Chuck and Nancy, but then I realized I wouldnt be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people, the president said, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the former Democratic leader in the House.

President @realDonaldTrump: "The turkeys being pardoned today go by the names of Gobble & Waddle... I was going to call them Chuck and Nancybut then I realized I wouldn't be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people!"  pic.twitter.com/oOMTKILxel  Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 25, 2025

Trump also went after a frequent target, former President Joe Biden.

Trump has claimed Bidens pardons and other presidential acts were illegal, alleging the orders were made by Biden advisers via autopen.

On Tuesday, Trump said those acts include Bidens pardons last year of turkeys Peach and Blossom.

He used an autopen last year for the turkeys pardon. So I have the official duty to determine, and I have determined, that last years turkey pardons are totally invalid, Trump joked.

As are the pardons of about every other person that was pardoned other than, uh, wheres Hunter? Trump continued, referring to Bidens son.

He then turned to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

That was the one pardon, Pam, that was good, right? The rest of them are all invalid? I dont know what the hell youre going to do about that.

While the turkeys pardons are null and void, according to Trump, Peach and Blossom have been located and they were on their way to be processed -- in other words, killed -- but Ive stopped that journey and I am officially pardoning them and they will not be served for Thanksgiving dinner. We saved them in the nick of time.
Cooler temperatures are on the way to Alabama, and Thanksgiving Day looks to be chilly. Above are the forecast highs for Thursday. National Weather Service

Much cooler weather is on its way to Alabama, and Thanksgiving Day looks to be very chilly, according to forecasters.

But Alabama has to get through a few rounds of storms first. Severe storms will be possible on Tuesday in much of the state through the day today, according to the National Weather Service, with damaging winds the main concern.

Any lingering rain from todays activity is expected to move out of Alabama on Wednesday, and much colder air will filter into the state, bringing temperatures down from near record highs to more seasonable levels, forecasters said.

Highs today will range from the low 70s in north Alabama to the low 80s in south Alabama, according to the weather service.

Here is the forecast for Tuesday:

Here are Tuesday's forecast high temperatures. NWS

Today will mark the end of what could be called Alabamas Indian Summer, which brought multiple days of record high temperatures to parts of the state.

High temperatures on Wednesday will mark the shift to cooler weather:

High temperatures on Wednesday will be much cooler in the northern part of Alabama. NWS

North Alabama will stay in the 50s on Wednesday for highs, according to weather service forecasts.

Highs in central Alabama will be mostly in the 60s, and 70s are expected in south Alabama.

Wednesday night into Thursday morning will likely bring the return of near or below freezing temperatures to the northern part of the state.

Lows by Thursday morning will fall into the low to mid-30s in north Alabama. Central Alabama temperatures will range from the low 30s to the upper 30s, and south Alabama will fall into the upper 30s to low 40s.

Here are the expected low temperatures from Wednesday night into Thursday morning:

Here are the expected low temperatures from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. NWS

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, will be a bigger change.

High temperatures on Thursday will struggle to get into the 50s in north Alabama -- with some spots staying in the 40s all day.

Central Alabama Thursday temperatures will range from the low 50s in the north to the mid-50s in the southern part of the region.

The cold air will even reach south Alabama, with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s expected there.

(See the forecast highs for Thanksgiving Day at the top of this post.)

Black Friday early shoppers be warned: Thursday night into Friday morning will be another very cold night, with lows near or below freezing expected in the northern half of the state.

Here is the forecast for Thursday night into Friday morning:

It will be a very cold morning on Friday. Above are the forecast lows for Thursday night into Friday morning. NWS

Highs on Friday will be just as chilly as Thursday and even a degree or two colder in some areas, according to weather service forecasts.

Here are Fridays expected highs:

More chilly temperatures are expected on Friday across Alabama. NWS

Temperatures will remain on the cool side but are expected to climb some over the weekend, according to the weather service.

However, Saturday will be chilly for those getting to go to the Iron Bowl, which will be in Auburn this year. The high temperature for Auburn on Saturday is only in the mid-50s, according to the weather service.

Here are Saturdays expected high temperatures:

Saturday will again be chilly, with highs only in the 50s and 60s expected statewide. NWS

Drier weather is expected through the first part of the weekend, but forecasters warned that rain could return by Sunday, and a wetter weather pattern looks possible for next week.
By now everyone is aware that six Democrats in Congress created videos in which they openly encourage members of the U.S. military and Intelligence Community to mutiny against the commander in chief. They couched their seditious statements in the pretense that they are interested only in protecting the Constitution, but their message is unmistakable: Resist President Trumps lawful orders, and well have your backs.

Americans whose minds have not been pickled by leftism are not impressed. The Democrat instigators have been called TikTok Traitors, the Seditious Six, the Idiot Six, and worse. President Trump immediately accused the lawmakers of sedition and demanded that they be arrested and stand trial for their potentially deadly provocations. In response, the Democrat provocateurs have pretended to be outraged that the commander in chief would correctly describe their seditious actions as seditious.

Democrat word games have become so exhausting over the last thirty years. Remember when Bill Clinton lied about his affair with twenty-two-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky by telling a grand jury, It depends on what the meaning of the word is is? No matter how corrupt American politicians were before Clintons galling equivocation, it has seemed as if rhetorical obfuscation began exponentially accelerating after that moment.

Fast-forward to 2025, and former CIA director John Brennan is entirely comfortable going on national news shows and telling the world that he and fifty other intelligence professionals never lied about Hunter Bidens laptop from Hell being Russian disinformation because the spies clearly stated in their 2020 pre-election op-ed defending the Bidens that the laptops treasure trove of criminality had merely the hallmarks of a Russian operation. If Americans were confused about their attempt to blame Hunters crimes on the Russians, thats because Americans are poor readers!

Senator Elissa Slotkin  one of the Seditious Six, a former CIA analyst, and a protegee of John Brennan  is busy playing the same sick word games as Slick Willy and commie Brennan. She claims that her seditious video is meant only to draw attention to President Trumps illegal orders, but when she is pressed to name one such illegal order, she admits that she is not aware of any.

If Slotkin cant identify any of President Trumps orders as illegal, why is she making videos encouraging rank insubordination among Americas military and intelligence personnel? The Democrats are executing the exact same playbook that they have been using against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. For months, Democrat governors and lawmakers have threatened federal agents with future prosecution for doing nothing more than enforcing existing immigration law and arresting criminal illegal aliens in their states. In order to protect millions of foreign nationals from deportation, Democrats have been obstructing law enforcement operations by promising to punish officers who do their jobs.

Threatening ICE agents with unlawful and malicious prosecutions will inevitably get people killed, because in the real world, hesitation invites disaster. When prominent Democrats encourage military and intelligence personnel to resist orders, the consequences are potentially catastrophic. As one astute commenter notes, the threat of weaponized lawfare against U.S. troops is seditious psychological warfare. Its seditious sabotage aimed at breaking the chain of command. Its a seditious plot to erode trust in leaders and it undermines the oath that keeps the military united and effective. The Democrat strategy is nefarious and straightforward: Induce service members to question the orders of their commanding officers. Hesitation and delay during combat will not only get Americans killed, but also directly serve enemy interests.

Democrats attempts to confuse American service members also encourage our geopolitical adversaries to be more aggressive. As Glenn Beck argues, if a video like this were aimed at Putins military, wed assume Russia was unstable or nearing a coup. Therefore, Democrats have severely weakened America  signaling doubt to allies and opportunity to enemies. If you were a general in Chinas military, would you be less or more willing to invade Taiwan after prominent Democrat officials encouraged division and subversion among Americas rank-and-file troops? Public calls for insubordination make America appear destined for civil war at home and ill-prepared to defend its own interests or those of its allies abroad.

In describing his disgust with Democrats efforts to instigate a military rebellion against the Trump administration, Congressman Byron Donalds pulled no punches: Donald Trump is the commander in chief, not Mr. Crow, not Senator Slotkin. They are not the commander in chief! And like I said before, they would not tolerate any Republican launching any video like that!

Can you imagine? After patriotic grandparents and Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans protested the fraudulent 2020 election by walking through the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Democrats (and useful RINO idiots Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger) spent tens of millions of dollars producing a theatrical congressional hearing meant to demonize all MAGA voters as domestic terrorists and insurrectionists. If prominent Republicans in Congress had subsequently encouraged members of the military and Intelligence Community to disobey orders coming from installed-president Biden, the backlash against them would have been swift and brutal. Not only would they have been expelled from Congress, but they also would have been arrested in the most publicly humiliating fashion. In contrast, the Seditious Six sit for ego-stroking interviews during which they play victim.

This is what Republicans mean when they denounce Democrat privilege in the United States. Time and again, Democrats do things with impunity that would land a normal Republican in prison for decades.

Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Brennan, and their fellow Russia Collusion Hoax co-conspirators will never be held accountable for manipulating intelligence to frame President Trump as a Russian spy. Kamala Harris and other prominent Democrats who bailed out arsonists during the most destructive riots in American history will never be held accountable for putting violent repeat offenders back on the street. Alexander Vindman will never be held accountable for undermining the Trump White House and triggering a farcical impeachment. None of the conspirators who violated state election laws and used fraudulent mail-in ballots to pretend that Sleepy Joe Biden was the most popular presidential candidate in our nations history will ever be held accountable for stealing the 2020 election. Anthony Fauci wont be held accountable for covering up the laboratory origin of COVID or hiding the worst side-effects of the mRNA vaccines. Social media companies wont be held accountable for censoring Americans who protested the stolen 2020 election or the unconstitutional vaccine mandates imposed by installed-president Bidens administration. It appears that neither Jim Comey nor Letitia James will be held accountable for respectively committing perjury and mortgage fraud. Democrat prosecutors and judges will never be held accountable for abusing the criminal justice system to railroad President Trump, his friends, and his voters.

In the United States, two-tiered justice protects Democrats and renders Republicans defenseless.

Now we will see whether six Democrats can actually get away with encouraging a military mutiny. If past is prologue, the answer is surely yes.

Theres a popular social media meme that succinctly describes our situation: When leftists say our democracy, what they mean is our regime. Democrats have taken over so much of the permanent bureaucracy that even when they are out of power, they still command much of the American government. They are emboldened to commit sedition and treason because they know that no left-leaning prosecutor, judge, or jury will hold them accountable. This kind of in-your-face double-standard will eventually end the Union.

Lets hope, for the sake of our countrys future, that guilty Democrats begin to pay a price. Forgive me for not holding my breath.

Image via Pxfuel.
This year, 2025, is the 50th since the fall of Phnom Penh and Saigon in 1975.

Former so-called anti-war protesters[1] from that time have recently asked that their contribution toward ending that war be recognized.

I, along with many other Vietnam veterans, have no objection to the recognition of that role as long as they are willing to accept responsibility for the results of their actions. Those results include

successfully encouraging Congress to default on a commitment to the independent Republic of (South) Vietnam that dates back to the Eisenhower administration. the fact that this default took the form of cutting funds for the self-defense of South Vietnam, while the Soviet Union and China continued to pour massive amounts of funds into the support of the communist government of North Vietnam. that the conclusion of this war brought with it more deaths at the hands of the communist governments in the former Indochina in the ten years following the war than all the deaths on both sides in the preceding twenty years, the greatest refugee crisis since World War II, and the total domination of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia) by the North Vietnamese.

The fact that we have an extremely polarized society today is due in a great part to the fact that history of the Vietnam War[2] has been mis-reported by the media, mis-recorded by the historians, mis-taught in our schools, and mis-applied in addressing policy decisions.

Todays histories of the Vietnam War are generally categorized as either orthodox or revisionist. It is considered typically orthodox to dismiss American intervention as ill advised, immoral, and from the outset doomed; to regard most of the Vietnamese who opposed a communist takeover of their country as corrupt, incompetent, and ineffective; and to present the Vietnamese Communist Party as embodying the general will of the Vietnamese people. Revisionists, on the other hand, typically believe that a relatively free and prosperous anti-communist South Vietnam was, in the context of the Cold War, a goal that was worth Americans fighting and dying, one actively pursued by large numbers of intelligent, brave, and patriotic Vietnamese, which was not, therefore, inherently unattainable.[3]

That may have been a differentiation that could be debated on a college campus fifty-plus years ago, but in the fifty years since the fall of Saigon and the plethora of documentation showing Hanois complete control of its southern surrogates and the actual results of the regimes policies, the orthodox viewpoint has become untenable.

The Hanoi-based Vietnamese communist regime was repressive and brutal and, after victory in April 1975, liquidated tens of thousands of its domestic enemies (just as it had done in 1954), imprisoned hundreds of thousands more in brutal conditions (some of them for many years), wrecked the economy, precipitated the virtual starvation of much of the population, and generated one of the greatest refugee crises since the Second World War. Any degree of liberalization in the Vietnamese Communist Party began seriously only in 1986, after bloody confrontation with Communist China and, soon, the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Hanois control of Laos destroyed any semblance of freedom for the Lao people. And the monstrous Cambodian communists (Khmer Rouge) killed off nearly a third of Cambodias population before it became so repulsive that Hanoi had to destroy its own creation. The new levels of corruption in the DRV far exceeded the peculations of the GVN, while the bulk of the Vietnamese-Americans today demonstrate a higher level of commitment to democratic government than many of our longer-term residents.

This year, Vietnam Veterans for Factual History celebrated the 50th anniversary by publishing A Factual History of the Vietnam War and its Aftermath: A Reappraisal after 50 Plus Years. More than thirty authors participated in this effort, which was to collect our combined knowledge into an authoritative history of our war.

The major thrust of this book demonstrates how this war that ended fifty years ago wields its influence on almost every thing that happens in our society today. America celebrates World War II as a victory over an evil ideology, an end to the decades-long Depression, the rise of education and prosperity in a newly emergent middle class, a unified society that was preparing to remove one final barrier, and the emergence of the United States as a superpower that saw its mission to do good in the world for friends and former foes alike. The Vietnam War turned the United States into a paper tiger on the international scene; a polarized society that uses social imperfections as a club to wield for political gain; and suffering from serious defects in academia, public media, and public morality. Failure to understand the true events in that war had led us into decades of forever wars and misinformed decision-making. By ignoring the true history of that war, we are condemned to repeat our failures.

Our perspective is naturally a Western one. We are not here to offer propaganda for those who had so little regard for their own people that they sacrificed so many of their own to establish an ideological rice bowl.

We hope that our reflections on that war, which has been influencing our society for so long and so divisively, might help bridge the gaps among us today, especially among those who are too young to have experienced its origin.

Stephen Sherman was a first lieutenant serving with 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in the Republic of Vietnam (19671968).
Ken Burns and PBS want to teach us the history of the American Revolution. Thats objectively laudable, but from the opening seconds of his new six-part, 12-hour-long series on the Revolution, Burns is off to a truly ludicrous start. Why do I say that? Because instead of beginning with the events that led to the break with Britain in 1775, Burns (after an anodyne quote from Thomas Paine) opens with an Indian diatribe about land.

Public domain.

That is not surprising. Lest there be any question as to what Burns intends for us to learn about the American Revolution, Burns stated in an NPR interview on Oct. 20, 2025, that he believes the driving force of the American Revolution was not to secure for all Americans the ancient rights of Englishmen, but to steal land from the Indians. Really:

The central [motivating force], were not taught this in school. Its taxes and representation, which is super important, but its Indian land.

This is obscene historical revisionism. While its true that many people wanted to negotiate with Indian tribes to purchase land in the west, that is where the evidence ends. Yet Burns flogs this canard repeatedly throughout the first half-hour of Episode 1.

To go beyond that and claim that a desire to steal Indian land motivated the colonists generallyor the Founders particularlyto rebel against Britain lacks a single iota of fact in a massive historic record. Burnss claim is based on nothing more thanto quote Professor Sean Wilentzs masterful condemnation of the 1619 Project for similar unsubstantiated calumniesimputation and inventive mindreading.

Moreover, Burns ignores the entire political history of Britainand that history shows that, for Englishmen, the single most abused power of government was taxation. More English blood had been spilled over that one issue than any other in the history of England.

Every major civil war and coup in Englandand all three of the resulting documents that articulate British rightsstarted with a King imposing taxes unilaterally, without approval from the people through Parliament or its predecessor, the Great Council, to which the barons and church leaders belonged. That was true of King John in 1215, when he was forced to sign the Magna Carta when his barons rebelled. It was true of Charles I, who ignored Parliaments Petition of Right, a decision that led to a civil war that ended with his beheading. And it was true of James II, whose despotic reign led to his being overthrown in a 1688 coup that gave rise to Englands Bill of Rights of 1689.

Just 75 years later, in 1764, the Sugar Actwhich imposed a tax on the colonists without their being represented in Parliamentled to James Otis, Jr., the famous Massachusetts lawyer, to articulate the bedrock principle of the colonists:

When All persons born in the British American Colonies are, by the laws of God and nature and by the common law of England, entitled to all the natural, essential, inherent, and inseparable rights, liberties, and privileges of subjects born in Great Britain or within the realm.

This statement had nothing to do with gaining Indian land, whether by purchase or conquest. It had everything to do with the rights of Englishmen won in the bloody civil wars fought since 1215 A.D. Instead, he referred entirely to the rights that Englishmen had acquired over more than 500 years of battle against their government. And the seminal civil right, first articulated in the Magna Carta of 1215, was that the government could not impose taxes without approval from the people's representatives.

In 1766, when Ben Franklin testified to Parliament about why the colonists were in open revolt against Britain over the Stamp Act, he did not mention Indian Lands. He traced the unrest solely to Parliamentary acts taxing the colonists when the colonists were not represented in that body. Outrageously, Burns actually repeats some of Franklins testimony, but then cuts it off before Franklin attributes the unrest to taxation without representation. Thus, this is what Burns uses in the show:

Q. What was the temper of America towards Great-Britain before the year 1763? Franklin: The best in the world. They submitted willingly to the government of the Crown, and paid, in all their courts, obedience to acts of parliament. Numerous as the people are in the several old provinces, they cost you nothing in forts, citadels, garrisons or armies, to keep them in subjection. They were governed by this country at the expence only of a little pen, ink and paper. They were led by a thread. They had not only a respect, but an affection, for Great-Britain, for its laws, its customs and manners, and even a fondness for its fashions, that greatly increased the commerce...

Had Burns been an honest broker, he would have included what Franklin said when asked about the changes in colonial attitudes to the mother country:

Q. And what is their temper now? Franklin: Oh, very much altered. Q. Did you ever hear the authority of parliament to make laws for America questioned till lately? Franklin: The authority of parliament was allowed to be valid in all laws, except such as should lay internal taxes. It was never disputed in laying duties to regulate commerce...

To say that the Revolution started over greed for Indian land is stunning revisionism. But Burns gets worse.

After asserting that Americans fought their revolution to steal Indian land, Burns moves on to the French and Indian War. Its a reasonable chronological organization, as the American Revolution would not have happenedand happened the way it didbut for that war. Thats because the war led Britain into debt, which it sought to ease by taxing the colonies.

Further, the war made the reputation of George Washington, the man who ignited the French and Indian War and emerged from it as the Hero of Monongahela. All of these things were critical to igniting the American Revolution and to the Continental Congresss later choice of George Washington, the indispensable man, to command the Continental Army.

Burns could have started with any of those salient pointsand he eventually gets around to most of them later, after having already driven home his revisionist points. Instead, he starts the show with a footnote to the French and Indian War. Burns raises Ben Franklins short commentary on the Iroquois Confederacy and credits the Confederacy with being both the model for Ben Franklins Albany Plan and, 20 years later, for the design of the government that the Founders chose for the new United States.

There is not a single primary source document that supports any of that. The notion that Franklin linked the Albany Plan to the Iroquois is pure modern revisionism. To say that British colonists only discovered confederations, or democracy, or the separation of powers from the Iroquois Confederacy is laughable.

By the time 1754 rolled around, all British citizens with an education were steeped in history. They were intimately familiar with the republic of ancient Rome in 509 BC, the virtues and weaknesses of democracy from ancient Athens in 508 BC, and the workings of confederations, which had existed since the Tribes of Israel joined together after the Exodus in 1,446 BC. By 1754, the most famous confederacy in Europe was the centuries-old Holy Roman Empire, of which the British King was an elector for Hanover. And the British, with the Magna Carta of 1215 and the creation of elected Parliament in the 14th century, had created far more democratic institutions with stricter separation of powers than the Iroquois Confederacy ever dreamed of having.

Franklin, obviously long familiar with the notion of a confederacy, was saying only that if the Iroquois could do it, anybody could.

Moreover, nothing in the Congressional Journals of the 1st and 2nd Continental Congress gives any hint that the Iroquois Confederacy was used as a model either for Congress or the Articles of Confederation that John Dickinson drafted. Nor is there mention of the Iroquois Confederacy in Madisons Notes on the Debates in the Federal Convention. In short, all claims that the US government was based on or borrows from the Iroquois Confederacy are groundless.

Others have raised similar points.

In 1997, PBS broadcast a six-part series, Liberty! The American Revolution, that was a fair and honest retelling of the history of the American Revolution, warts and all. Three decades on, if the first episode is anything to go by, this latest offering from PBS and Ken Burns appears to be neither fair nor honest. Indeed, PBS and Burns seem to be giving us a narrative of American history worthy of Howard Zinn.
Three-year, $1.9 million DOD grant takes aim at dysphagia

SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Swallowing difficulties, or dysphagia, affect up to 80% of people with Parkinson's disease and can lead to serious complications, including malnutrition, aspiration and reduced quality of life.

With a new three-year, $1.9 million grant from the Department of Defense, Giselle Carnaby, PhD, MPH, a researcher at UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio, will lead a phase 2, multisite clinical trial to test a novel treatment program designed to strengthen and retrain swallowing function in people with early Parkinson's.

The randomized, double-blind clinical trial will enroll about 80 participants who are between the ages of 30 and 90, diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and are active-duty U.S. service members, veterans or direct relatives of service members.

"This study represents an important step forward for people who struggle with swallowing disorders," said Carnaby, a professor in the departments of Health Sciences, and Communication Sciences and Disorders, with the School of Health Professions. "We know these problems have a profound effect on health and independence, yet treatment options remain limited."

How does Parkinson's disease affect swallowing?

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement, caused by the breakdown of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. There is no cure for this disease, and treatments are limited. Along with tremors and muscle stiffness, many patients experience difficulties with the motor control of their mouth and throat muscles, which affects their ability to swallow food and liquids.

Swallowing is one of the most complex tasks the human body performs, involving nearly 30 muscles and a network of brain regions. In Parkinson's disease, the same neurodegenerative changes that impair walking and speech also disrupt swallowing-related brain pathways, weakening their ability to send clear signals to the muscles involved.

"It's like the brain's radio is slightly off the station," Carnaby said. "You can still hear the signal, but it doesn't always get through clearly. Sometimes it comes in loud and clear; other times it's fuzzy. The result is that the messages to the muscles can become haphazard, which can disrupt the timing and coordination of swallowing."

This communication breakdown can cause food or liquid to move more slowly, get held up or even enter the airway  called aspiration  which can lead to persistent coughing and lung infections. By targeting these brain-muscle connections with structured swallowing therapy, Carnaby and her team aim to retrain and bolster the physiological processes to support safe, effective swallowing.

Pilot study showed promising results

Carnaby and her research team recently completed a pilot study that tested an intensive swallowing exercise program in a small group of Parkinson's patients. Participants practiced targeted swallowing tasks with therapist supervision, emphasizing both strength and muscle coordination.

The results were encouraging. Participants who completed the program showed improvements in swallowing, along with increased confidence in eating and fewer choking and coughing episodes.

"Even though Parkinson's is progressive, what we found in the pilot was that patients could make real, meaningful gains," Carnaby said. "That gave us the validation to pursue a larger, controlled trial."

New Department of Defense study

The newly funded project will expand on this early work. The study will compare outcomes between individuals receiving the proactive swallowing intervention, called "SwallowFIT," and those undergoing usual care.

The primary recruitment site will be Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, which has a movement disorders clinic with specialized neurologists and neurophysiologists involved in the project. For this study, swallow treatment will be conducted at UT Health San Antonio, which will also serve as a data repository.

In addition to Carnaby, the study team includes Jonathan Gelfond, MD, PhD, associate professor and chief of biostatistics in the Department of Population Health Sciences within UT San Antonio's Long School of Medicine, as well as Lt. Col. Alexis Nelson, MD, and Maj. Jessie Jacobson, DO, who are both neurologists at Brooke Army Medical Center.

The research team will track improvements in swallowing along with longer-term outcomes at three and six months. These include swallowing clinical metrics, aspiration rates, nutritional status and hospitalizations. Advanced imaging and physiological measures will be used to better understand how the therapy alters swallowing efficiency and biomechanics.

While not directly part of the study, the control group will be offered the chance to receive the treatment following the study.

"After the pilot study, the effects were so strong that the research team felt it wouldn't be responsible or ethical to restrict the treatment to only half of the patients," Carnaby said. "So, it will be available to (the control group participants) if they want it."

What does the program entail?

The program is built on the principles of neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to adapt and reorganize connections and processes. Study participants will complete structured swallowing exercises twice a week, focusing on strengthening muscles of the mouth, tongue and throat, combined with coordination drills to improve timing and control of the swallowing process.

Sessions will continue for six weeks with trained speech-language pathologists at the university. In addition to in-clinic therapy, participants are encouraged to perform daily guided exercises at home.

"The exercises may look simple, but they're designed to push the system in very specific ways," Carnaby said. "We're trying to recalibrate motor pathways so that swallowing becomes safer and more efficient."

How could this help people with Parkinson's?

By improving swallowing, the intervention has the potential to directly reduce the risk of negative swallowing consequences such as aspiration, which is the leading cause of death in people with Parkinson's. It may also help patients maintain adequate nutrition and hydration, supporting overall health and quality of life.

Equally important, Carnaby said, are the psychological and social benefits.

"Being able to share a meal with family without fear of coughing and choking is incredibly powerful," she said. "We hope this therapy will give patients more confidence and independence in their daily lives."

Future research and goals

If successful, the trial could lay the groundwork for widespread adoption of proactive swallowing intervention as a standard component of early Parkinson's care. Carnaby envisions future studies that refine and personalize this therapy, possibly combining the swallowing exercises with medications or neuromodulation approaches to further enhance outcomes.

"There's a need for therapies that go beyond symptom management alone to address the mechanisms of functional decline," she said. "Our goal is to slow or even prevent some of the most debilitating complications of Parkinson's disease."

As Parkinson's is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disease, the findings from this study could have direct implications for nearly 1 million Americans affected by the condition.

"This is about giving patients more time and a better quality of life," Carnaby said. "That's what drives our work every day."

Learn about other projects going on in Carnaby's Swallowing and Upper Aerodigestive Functions Lab: https://labs.uthscsa.edu/saul/research/

Related stories:

School of Health Professions professor aims to elevate and expand dysphagia research in South Texas

Restoring hope for people with swallowing disorders

Hard to swallow: Helping dysphagia patients find hope and function

UT Health San Antonio is the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), offering a comprehensive network of inpatient and outpatient care facilities staffed by medical, dental, nursing and allied health professionals who conduct more than 2.5 million patient visits each year. It is the region's only academic health center and one of the nation's leading health sciences institutions, supported by the schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions, graduate biomedical sciences and public health that are leading change and advancing fields throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways "We make lives better," visit UTHealthSA.org.

Stay connected with UT Health San Antonio on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

SOURCE UT Health San Antonio
It is Ursula von der Leyens personal flagship project: the surveillance of private chats. All signs suggest that as early as Wednesday, the EU will make a renewed attempt to establish a dedicated spying authority.

Wednesday could mark a turning point in the history of the European Union. As MCC Brussels and MEP Martin Sonneborn warned on Monday, a decisive vote on the EUs proposed chat control is scheduled for November 26.

The Next Attempt

Both the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers are expected to discuss newly formulated proposals to create an EU agency that would force messaging services like WhatsApp or Signal to scan messages before they are sent and report possible child-pornographic content.

They wont say it outright -- but everyone understands the real purpose: political dragnet surveillance. Brussels is mobilizing heaven and earth to suppress opposition voices and dismantle their networks with maximum force.

A comprehensive communication-scanning regime would allow national authorities to identify political opponents far more quickly -- a tool capable of making life hell for anyone inconvenient to those in power.

The Digital Execution of Letter Privacy

What the EU Commission under Ursula von der Leyen is planning here amounts to the digital execution of the sanctity of correspondence. The irony is almost too rich: von der Leyen herself, embroiled in the Pfizer vaccine procurement scandal, refuses any transparency about her own private messages -- yet places the entire population under general suspicion.

It is as if your neighbor intercepted all your mail, opened it first, and forwarded anything unwelcome to a censorship office.

The citizen becomes transparent -- and no longer sovereign in a political sense, having lost one of the last protected spaces of private life.

The EUs proposed chat control fits neatly into a broader project of mass surveillance -- a development already visible in the Digital Services Act, which is pushing Europe toward a systematic surveillance state. Private communication platforms like X, Telegram, or Meta are to be compressed into an algorithmically managed digital prison, ensuring political dominance over the public information sphere.

The planned rollout of a digital identity fits the same pattern. Citizens are to be stripped informationally naked, deprived of the ability to judge politics anonymously -- a radical attack on the foundational democratic principles of the internet.

The Censorship Machine and the NGO Belt

As a recent interview with Liber-Net in Berliner Zeitung revealed, Brussels has constructed a belt of hundreds of NGOs acting as outsourced speech police, steering political discourse according to the wishes of Europes top censors.

Politics appears to have entered a kind of surveillance intoxication -- a control-addicted frenzy with its own runaway momentum.

This dynamic correlates strikingly with the EUs economic decline, which has triggered massive criticism of Brussels course: its green transformation, its energy policy, and its fundamental economic mismanagement. Those voices -- the ones warning the public about the true origins of the crisis now affecting their daily lives -- are precisely the ones the system seeks to silence.

The Perfidious Attack on Private Communication

The assault on private communication is being carried out with particular perfidy. The commissions stated objective is the fight against child pornography -- a policy field of unquestioned moral priority.

But it strains credulity to claim that destroying the entirety of digital privacy is the appropriate solution. Historically -- as in the Belgian Marc Dutroux scandal -- these failures stem not from encrypted messaging, but from disastrous police work and corruption at the highest levels when uncovering criminal networks.

The political pressure placed on dissenting lawmakers is equally cynical. Parties like Austrias FPO and Germanys AfD openly reject the plan -- and immediately face public condemnation for doing so. Both rightly warn that this is an unprecedented assault on the fundamental rights of European citizens, using child protection as the pretext to install a system of blanket mass surveillance.

Will the German Government Cave Again?

Until now, the German government had resisted this civilizational rupture: Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) called innocent chat surveillance an absolute taboo in a constitutional state. Private communication, she stressed, must never be placed under general suspicion, and the state must not force messaging providers to scan all messages before delivery.

Whether Germany will defend this position in the coming weeks is uncertain. Martin Sonneborn hinted on X that he had received information suggesting the legislation may be rushed through quickly, informally, and without meaningful debate.

The risk that German representatives will quietly abandon their resistance is high. As with the combustion-engine ban, the industrial-energy shell game, or the heating-law fiasco, Berlin may again execute a familiar political maneuver: pretend to defend the public interest -- then ram through Brussels ideological program without hesitation.

Expect Brussels to deploy smokescreens and softened provisions to open the door -- only to smash it wide open later.

Image: At via Magic Studio
There are occasions when a recently constructed building has been torn downmost often due to design error making it unstable or otherwise unsafe. It is difficult to cite a single occasion when a newly-built, structurally-sound facility has been demolished due to the mere cries of crazed critics.

Crazes are normally short-lived. However, leftists severely afflicted with Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) are showing no signs of recovery in returning to normalcy, as has recently been evidenced by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif).

Swalwells case may be terminal based on his most recent demand. He wants any 2028 Democrat presidential candidate to pledgeupon their first day in officeto destroy the ballroom President Donald Trump is building:

Dont even think of seeking the Democratic nomination for president unless you pledge to take a wrecking ball to the Trump Ballroom on DAY ONE.  Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) October 26, 2025

The California representative has already demonstrated a tendency allowing emotions to interfere with better judgment. He allegedly had a sexual relationship with a Chinese spy named Christine Fang (Fang) who targeted various California politicians as part of a major intelligence operation between 20112015. Fangs bosses must have been ecstatic when, in January 2015, Swalwell became a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. It was only after the FBI briefed him on who Fang really was that he finally broke off the relationship, causing her to return to China and not come back.

After Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) became Speaker of the House in 2023, he announced he would remove Swalwell from the intelligence committee, although his membership expired in January 2023 due to term limits. While Swalwell accused McCarthy of pure vengeance for the announcement, the Speaker explained, If you got the briefing I got from the FBI, you wouldnt have Swalwell on any committee.

If Swalwells demand of 2028 Democrat party presidential candidates is serious, he ignores the fact that changes to the White Houseboth small and largehave been made ever since its 1792 completion, all without controversy. The absence of a ballroom has been the complaint of other Oval Office occupants as well, due to the inability to entertain large groups in-house, especially when dignitaries visit. Presidents have had to resort, embarrassingly, to outdoor accommodationssetting up expensive and time consuming rental tentswhich introduce an inclement weather factor as well.

While Trump has spent no taxpayer money to build the ballroom, just think about the cost to taxpayers of tearing it down and replacing it. It will be interesting to see if any 2028 Democrat presidential contenders make the pledge. But Swalwells demand has undoubtedly been popular with many Democrats who have been part of the anti-ballroom TDS chorus.

Trump dismisses the ballroom hysteria that promotes an East Wing sacred status, pointing out the White House is not some untouchable relic as it has been renovated at least twenty times over the years. One of these included a top floor addition in 1942. Unlike todays critics who prefer to preserve a dysfunctional status quo, no critical chorus erupted as more pressing issues existed.

Such TDS-afflicted legislators should perhaps focus more appropriately on a migrant-built neighborhood, clearly lacking the planning of Trumps ballroom, by defying American construction practices. One recently-built condominium complex has garages with glaring flaws, leaving homeowners to drive over a curb to access it or find it unusable as a street light pole blocks entry.

Interestingly, as examples of TDS continue to manifest themselves in the acts of anti-Trump activists like Swalwell, Manhattan psychotherapist Jonathan Alpertworking in a location where the condition runs highhas reached a jaw-dropping conclusion, acknowledging that 75% of his patients suffer from TDS.

Alpert says these patients exhibit persistent intrusive thoughts, emotional dysregulation and impaired functioning that is fed by a media hellbent on profiting from the public outrage they feed.

Ironically, just as Swalwell continues his role as one of Trumps biggest critics, the representatives integrity has taken the spotlight due to irregularities concerning his financial reports. It seems since 2021 he has paid at least $360,000 to someone named Darly Meyer for various expenses including travel, salary, and event flowers reimbursement, but mostly for security services. What raises a red flag is that Meyer does not appear to hold a state license to provide security services.

When confronted about the issue, Swalwell claimed Meyer protects me and my family. But when Meyer was queried directly, he refused to say anything more than No comment. Since the issue first came to light during the Biden administration, such payments have continued.

Former FEC Commissioner Hans von Spakovsky has suggested this is the type of bizarre inconsistency that should catch the attention of the FEC, adding the financing irregularities should cause the agencys auditing arm to investigate whether these were legitimate payments to a legitimate contractor.

Additionally, Swalwell is under investigation for alleged mortgage fraud. If he committed the same, perhaps the discombobulated representative sees it as a qualifier for his recently announced (November 19) California gubernatorial campaign launched on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Yet, just as it was thought Swalwell had made the most idiotic TDS-inspired statement, he faces stiff competition from Rep. Susan Ruiz (D-Kansas).

Frustrated by Trumps financial support for a struggling Argentine economy, which includes importing beef to compete with a non-competitive U.S. beef market benefitting Ruizs state, and despite the actions of two would-be presidential assassins and the investigation of a possible thirdall following detestable comments by Trump criticsshe repeats her partys oft heard cry of Nazi. She ridiculously asked online whether the Trump administrations favoritism towards Argentina is because they are setting up their escape plan? History tells us that a lot of Nazis fled to South America after World War II, with Argentina being the key destination.

Further evidencing the TDS pathology was a lawsuit filed by the supposedly independent but Democrat-leaning Cultural Heritage Partners PLLC and the DC Preservation League. The litigation absurdly resulted in a temporary injunction issued by a federal judge not allowing Trump to paint or even powerwash the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The plaintiffs claimed repainting or aggressive cleaning might damage the 1888 National Historic Landmark.

Swalwell is a sad soul, as is Ruiz. The California legislator may huff and he may puff but no sane Democrat will blow the White House ballroom down. Any 2028 Democrat presidential candidate agreeing to accept his ridiculous challenge will prove the obviousi.e., that a sharp acumen is no requirement for its 2028 Oval Office contenders.

Image generated by ChatGPT.
The U.S. Department of Justices ongoing litigation accusing CVS of filing improper prescriptions is best understood as a vestige of a Biden-era judicial remedy system that reflexively sought to penalize for-profit entities rather than address underlying policy failures.

The lawsuit alleges that CVS pharmacists filed improper prescriptions over ten years ago for opioids and other controlled substances. But instead of protecting consumers, it illustrates how Washington has used retrospective enforcement to substitute blame-shifting for genuine consumer protection. It also imposes significant financial and operational burdens without producing any meaningful improvement in patient safety.

Pursuing decade-old prescriptions drains taxpayer resources, exacerbates pharmacy access challenges, and tightens competitive pressures on an industry already struggling to maintain viable retail footprints. It also expands federal leverage over private firms, giving regulators yet another mechanism to exert managerial control under the guise of statutory enforcement.

The broader concern involves the dangerous precedent such litigation sets. By asserting that internal pharmacy decisions contributed to alleged violations, the government effectively transforms the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act into tools for dictating operational policy. This is not law enforcement; it is administrative overreach masquerading as compliance oversight. The system becomes less about applying clear legal standards and more about punishing business models that federal officials disfavor.

This enforcement pattern has long targeted major pharmacy chains across the sector  CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Walmart  under expansive readings of federal law that allow Washington to multiply penalties and convert regulatory ambiguity into revenue. Yet pharmacies have repeatedly argued that many of the alleged infractions reflect inconsistencies in federal guidance, not willful noncompliance. When the governments own rules are unclear, retroactive punishment does not promote accountability; it merely externalizes Washingtons policy failures onto consumers through higher costs and reduced access.

The incentives driving these suits resemble political performance rather than substantive public health efforts. In the private sector, virtue-signaling means issuing a low-cost press statement. In Washington, it means deploying teams of attorneys to generate sprawling complaints and wage long, expensive legal battles  costs ultimately borne by taxpayers. These resources come at the expense of pursuing active criminal threats, as enforcement capacity is diverted into re-litigating old prescriptions rather than addressing present-day risks.

Moreover, the chilling effect on the broader market is substantial. Smaller and innovative competitors interpret this litigation environment as a warning: Any internal policy, staffing decision, or response to market pressures can later be reframed as evidence of misconduct. When regulatory enforcement becomes unpredictable, investment in new pharmacy models declines, consumer options diminish, and innovation stalls.

The precedent this action could set should be worrisome for all business sectors. If the DOJ can claim that a pharmacys internal decisions contributed to violations, Washington isnt enforcing the law anymore; its abusing it to tell an industry how to run their operations. Our government should be protecting consumers, not spending millions of taxpayer dollars critiquing business models.

This pattern echoes other policy failures where government intervention produced rigidity rather than improved outcomes  the stagnation of New Yorks medallion-controlled taxi market, or the persistent operational deficit at the Postal Service despite private-sector competition delivering better results. In each case, regulatory overreach compromised flexibility, raised costs, and failed to serve consumers.

There is a clear alternative. Market-driven pressure had already compelled companies  including CVS  to strengthen opioid-dispensing safeguards, refine internal compliance structures, and coordinate with insurers long before federal litigators became involved and the DOJ lawsuit was filed. The current lawsuit therefore adds costs without accelerating reform.

At the upcoming December hearing, the court has an opportunity to halt this cycle and prevent a flawed enforcement theory from becoming the de facto standard simply because other firms chose to settle.

Suing yesterday is not a good look for an administration that has a healthy, admirable, and demonstrable respect for the rule of law. There is also no room in this legal overreach for expired issues that misdirect DOJs resources from addressing real and present dangers that affect our communities today.

To promote safer, more efficient care, federal agencies should refocus on prospective enforcement rooted in clear legal standards, abandon backward-looking scapegoating, and allow market mechanisms  innovation, competition, consumer choice  to drive improvements that no federal compliance edict can replicate.

Andrew Langer is president of Institute for Liberty, a talk radio show host, and a nationally recognized expert on the regulatory state.

Image: ajay_suresh via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
Jay Jones, while campaigning to be Virginias attorney general, suffered a serious October surprise: in a text exchange with lawmaker Carrie Coyner in 2022, he fantasized about shooting then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert in the head and watching Gilberts children die in their mothers arms. The story was well publicizedyet Jones won the election, nonetheless, no doubt supported by those who openly mocked, or even celebrated, the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Language creates reality. The old adage sticks and stones may break my bones couldnt be further from the truth. Words shape history. The Declaration of Independence spoke our country into existence.

The Overton window defines the range of ideas the public is willing to consider and accept. Today, weve drifted far outside the bounds of civil discourse. Calls for violence have become disturbingly normalized.

What are we, as individuals, communities, and a nation, speaking into existence now?

Freuds model of the psyche includes the idour primal drives and uncensored desires; the superegoour moral compass and restraint; and the ego, which mediates between the two and engages with reality. The ego delays gratification and enforces boundaries.

I posit that society itself functions as a kind of superego, counterbalancing the collective idour hunger for power, pleasure, even violence. When leaders, public figures, and teachers express primal desires without self-censorship, we witness a breakdown of that societal superego. The Overton window shifts toward an increasingly id-centric culture. The consequences for our once-civilized country demand serious, even ruthless introspection.

Social media thrives on outrage for clicks and kicks. News outlets amplify extreme behavior, often from a vocal minority. Civility is a learned skill. Without infringing on free speech, we canand shouldhold educators accountable when they teach young minds that desire trumps decorum, and that they can say or do anything without consequence.

The late Charlie Kirk, regardless of ones views on his faith, recognized the urgency of restoring civility. He invited dialogue with those who disagreed, even those blinded by hatred or prejudice. He challenged them to debate ideas, not personalities. More often than not, he identified flaws in thinking and modeled how differences could be bridged through respectful conversationnot inflammatory gestures or rhetoric.

Dr. Renee Kohanski is a board-certified psychiatrist and forensic fellow, with experience as an expert witness, board examiner, and solo practitioner. She brings psychodynamic rigor and clinical insight to public debate and academic discourse.

Image from Grok.
As a general rule, peace is preferable to war and its good to end death and destruction. The sad situation in Ukraine begs for an intervention to end the slaughter. Kudos to the he Trump Administration which has reportedly floated a draft peace plan for Ukraine.



Not unexpectedly, anything associated with our current president elicits controversy. A Ukrainian deal would not be any different. While the thrust of initiative should be supported, there are better ways to frame it and improve it.

There is an historical model on how to address Ukraine. The Austrian State Treaty of 1955 following World War II acknowledged Austria as an independent county and demilitarized it, making it a neutral buffer between East and West during the Cold War. The gist of Trumps alleged leaked peace plan follows the same premise. In that light, it should be viewed as following historical precedent that worked successfully. It declared null and void the German annexation of Austria.

Such an approach would end the death and fighting, protect Ukrainian sovereignty and reassure Russia of fears of further NATO expansion on their borders.

While the Austrian State Treaty provides a general model, it isnt the best example to address the Russian-held disputed territories. While Austria doesnt border Ukraine, the Austrian state treaty model should not be unknown to central Europeans. Similarly, they should look to the Aland Islands model for the Donbas.

Explains a guide to islands acorss the world:

Despite the islands between Sweden and Finland speaking Swedish and preferring Swedish rule, and agreement was reached whereby:

Aland would remain part of Finland

Aland would be given autonomy (self-rule) to protect its Swedish language and culture

The islands would be demilitarized, meaning no military forces could be stationed there

This model should cover Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk as well as Russian-controlled Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The effect might formalize a territory in Ukraine with guaranteed Russian language and culture as well as political representation in the national Ukrainian government but also maintaining Ukrainian borders from before the Russian invasion.

The Russian naval base in Crimea, the Sevastopol Naval Base, should be modeled on the 1903 Cuban-American Treaty of Relations (revised 1934) that guarantees U.S. use of the Guantanamo Bay base.

Using the Trump initiative as a basis for discussion, the negotiations could incorporate regional historical examples for inspiration and familiarity.

Image: Pexels/ 
The lands of Hitler and Mussolini have the wokest-of-the-woke cardinals in the Catholic Church, and now one of them has decided to hail the end of Christianity.

During the General Assembly of the Italian Bishops in Assisi, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the president of the Italian Bishops Conference, has decided to issue this whopper on the increasing secularization of the West.

According to LifeSite News:

What is fading is an order of power and culture, not the living force of the Gospel. The believer of today is no longer the custodian of a Christian world, but the pilgrim of a hope that continues to make its way into hearts. In this horizon, the end of Christendom is not a defeat, but a kairos: the chance to return to what is essential, to the freedom of the beginnings, to that yes spoken out of love, without fear and without guarantees.

To be clear, what is fading in the increasingly secularized West is the power of Christian churches, in large part due to their incessant pandering to secular culture.

The believer of today is no longer the custodian of a Christian world because that worlds leaders have willingly ceded it to everyone else.

The pilgrim sof hope in progressives' hearts is fervently wishing that they will not be judged for any of their acts, no matter how detrimental to themselves, society, or the Christian Church.

The end of Christendom is not a defeat for the hyper-secular  it is a victory for Islam. One that the new pseudo-Christians have handed to them on the proverbial silver platter.

In this depraved new world, one can say yes to anything without guarantee of condemnation  or eternal life. Is that trade-off worth it?

Zuppi noted that freshly minted Pope Leo XIV has stressed synodality and the promotion of unarmed peace in a troubled world. Yet everyone with a cerebral cortex knows that, if we werent armed, wed all be forced to worship Xi Jinping or Allah. Probably not a good thing for Christendom.

The zany Zuppi referred to Pope Francis expression change of epoch, and observed that many are now immersed in a different cultural context, one in which faith is only one possibility among others. He claimed that while Christianity does not disappear for these folks, it is situated within a more personal form of adherence and reiterated that the Church is called to love without reserve and to recognize no form of enemy within society. (Sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll!)

In other words, Zuppi would fundamentally transform the Christian Church as Barack Hussein Obama fundamentally transformed the (formerly) United States.

Progressives, Marxists, and Muslims will always aggressively defend themselves. If Christendom will not, it will be a devastating defeat for it, no matter what Zuppi and his ilk say.

And for the world. There will be precious few freedoms at the beginning of this new Dark Age. But there will be plenty of fear, guaranteed.

Image: U.S. State Department photo, via Wikimedia Commons // public domain
Senator Mark Kelly (Ariz.) is one of six Democrat lawmakers who incomprehensibly urged military members to refuse unlawful orders  without even identifying such. Even from their warped, seditious perspective, it was unnecessary, because such precepts, including the Uniform Code of Military Justice, are drilled into recruits from day one...and continually thereafter.

As a retired Navy captain, Kelly is still subject to the UCMJ; indeed, the Pentagon is investigating allegations of his serious misconduct. Kellys predictable response is vapid.

He wrote, in part, the following on X: Ive given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.

Shut up, already! Such given too much defenses to curry sympathy are trite and formulaic. Many of us have given to this country, but that doesnt make us immune to legitimate investigations for running afoul of the UCMJ.

For sure, Kelly deserves great credit for his service, particularly flying in combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. After his commendable Navy service, he became an astronaut; NASA gave him the opportunity to escape the surly bonds of Earth as he flew four space shuttle missions.

Thats the very abridged version of his remarkable career before becoming a demented Dem U.S. senator, where his endeavors fell down to Earth...and then into the leftist abyss.

By virtue of his service to this country, he should know better than to disrupt the crucial, time-honored chain of command, or to attempt to undermine the loyalty of our troops. Im sure he knew, as a U.S. Navy captain, the UCMJ inside and out. During 25 years of naval service, he probably observed or participated in judicial proceedings, or was at least privy to them. Alas, he has succumbed to the swamp, becoming yet another corruptible minion serving unprincipled leftist ogres whose mission is anti-American  potentially seditious, in fact.

Despite his reflexive defense, Kelly hasnt given too much, especially when compared to our brave and heroic warriors who literally lost a piece of themselves down below as he flew above. He has been dutifully rewarded in what was, presumably, a meritocracy. Now, as a U.S. senator, its likely he has received too much.

It turns out that he is the bully riding the wave of goodwill toward our reinvigorated military.

It turns out that he is the one who cares more about power than protecting the Constitution  further proof that after honorable military service, the inherent corruption in the swamp overwhelmed him.

Now he is undermining the legitimate objectives of our country and the good order and discipline of those entrusted to achieve them. For that profound reason, he should indeed be silenced. If anyone ever deserves to be silenced in our open, free speech (mostly) society, it is Kelly and his co-conspirators. He was a fly boy (thanks), but he is now on treacherous, perhaps treasonous ground, pending the investigation.

Too often, higher-ranking officers who commit misdeeds are treated with a light touch. Conversely, enlisted personnel (e.g., those who work for a living) are often made scapegoats for the bad judgment of their superiors (in rank only, but not necessarily talent or worthiness). Nonetheless, there is a long list of generals and admirals whove faced disciplinary action. (I wont list them here because theyre easily retrieved online.) They gave at least as much, or more, to this country as Mark Kelly, as did our living wounded warriors who respect the UCMJ.

I dont know if President Trumps posts on appropriate punishment for Kelly are in the ballpark, but Kelly should face humiliating consequences, including being made a public spectacle on his way to the brig. We have given him  not he us  too much not to set an example that reverberates in the War Departments hallowed corridors.

Thanks to Senator Kelly for his service, but he cant use it to justify undermining our newly inspired warrior ethos, including good order and discipline in the military services. That he should know better argues for punishment to the full extent allowable under the UCMJ.

Image: Sen. Mark Kelly. Credit: Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
Zohran Mamdanis election as New York City mayor surprised lots of Americans: How could a socialist get elected chief executive of Americas biggest city? He did, however, get applause from the Polish left. Maybe Americans should also learn how the new speaker of the lower house of the Polish Parliament is an ex-communist.

Wlodzimierz Czarzasty was elected speaker of the Sejm  the lower chamber of Polands parliament  November 18.

Czarzastys background is concerning. Born in 1960, he joined the Polish United Workers Party  the Polish Communist Party  in 1983. He stayed in the party until 1990  i.e., until after the fall of communism in Poland.

By the 1980s, communism was obviously failing. Czarzasty became a communist at a time when communism in Poland was at its most detested: when General Wojciech Jaruzelski imposed martial law on the country to destroy Solidarity, the independent trade union.

There were arguably two reasons to join the Communist Party at that moment in history: Either one believed in it, or one was a political opportunist. Czarzasty remained in the party until the party dissolved itself after the Polish Peoples Republic became the third Republic of Poland. He then seamlessly transitioned into the various permutations of the Polish left, most recently in the Nowa Lewica (New Left) Party, in whose name Czarzasty ran and served as an assistant speaker.

Critics of Czarzastys communist background brought it up during his election to the speakership. They quoted him as speaking of the Red Army having liberated Poland in World War II  even though most Poles would maintain that the Red Army merely replaced the Nazis as Polands new occupiers. He even called it an alternate form of Polish patriotism.

The dubious elements in Czarzastys biography are not limited to his party affiliation. He was also implicated in the Rywin Affair, a 2002 media corruption scandal. In 2002, Agora, the publishing company that controlled Gazeta Wyborcza, one of Polands largest newspapers, wanted to buy shares in a Polish broadcast company. Polish law prohibited the acquisition because it banned media monopolization. Lew Rywin, a film producer, approached Gazeta editor Adam Michnik  known in the West for his dissident role  with a proposition on behalf of a group having power, offering to change the law for a multimillion-dollar bribe. Among those suggested as being part of that group was Czarzasty, who was then secretary of the Polish equivalent of the FCC during the government of Prime Minister Leszek Miller, another ex-communist. Although the official parliamentary inquiry claimed Rywin acted alone and formal charges were never brought against Czarzasty, his association with the affair further brought his reputation into question.

This man is now the speaker of the Sejm under centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his left-wing December 13 Coalition.

Polish conservatives have long argued that post-communist Poland has suffered from the lack of lustration  i.e., an open accounting of peoples pasts during the 194489 communist dictatorship. Starting with Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowieckis August 1989 policy of the gruba kreska  the thick line he attempted to draw to cordon off discussion of politics under the communist dictatorship  the left in Poland has resisted attempts to make public who was who in the ancien regime. They claimed that records were incomplete (yes, the Communist Party burned lots of documentation as it went out of business) or inaccurate, or that it was just undemocratic to raise these issues. Polish conservatives maintain its why an ex-communst is now speaker of Parliaments lower house.

Modern Polish politics is strongly polarized, much like in the United States. The election of Karol Nawrocki as president earlier this year, coupled with his liberal use of the presidential veto against various Tusk government initiatives, has unleashed a bitter conflict with the prime minister. An aggressive social media campaign seeks to portray Nawrocki as uncultured, primitive, a Russian agent whose election might be illegitimate and whose decisions might deserve the government ignoring them  in other words, a repeat of many of the same tropes used against President Donald Trump for years.

One could argue, in turn, that Nawrocki is an essential counterbalance to a government that apparently has no difficulties picking a parliamentary speaker who was a full-fledged communist.

Image via Pixabay.
As U.S. gunships patrol closely to Caracas, Venezuela's narcodictator, Nicolas Maduro, is seeing few efforts to help him from his big-gun friends, such as Russia, China, and Iran.

His little-gun friends, though, e.g., Cuba, are where his real problems are. They're out to kill him.

According to Axios (emphasis added):

Oil-rich Venezuela has long been an opponent of the U.S. and has helped prop up Cuba's dictatorship, which furnishes security that helped install Maduro in 2013 and keep him in power. Venezuela also is an ally of Iran, China and Russia. Part of the challenge of persuading Maduro to leave, U.S. officials say, is that his Cuban handlers might execute him if he yields to American pressure and quits.

Self-imperialism has its drawbacks. And Venezuela has been a colony of Cuba since at least 2004, when Hugo Chavez invited Cuban agents into the country, placing them inside the ministries, including the critical infrastructure ones, such as water and electricity, as well as the likely ones, such as the secret police, barking orders.

When I visited Venezuela in late 2005, Cubans were all over the agriculture ministry dictating which cows to raise, filling up the hotels with troops guarding them outside the buildings, and manning medical kiosks (often empty) in the shantytowns. Ministries displayed "Cubazuela" portmanteau flag and some made murals of it. Reporters stood outside the airports and counted Cuban officials rolling in.

Obviously, they wouldn't take kindly to Maduro fleeing the country to save his skin from potential airstrikes. They'll be left holding the bag when the U.S. accomplishes its mission. And if history is any indication, they'd fight back with no surrender allowed, as was the case when the U.S. invaded Grenada, another country they effectively took over, in 1983. They took 25 casualties, 59 wounded, and 638 captured after President Reagan sent troops to reclaim the island.

The Cubans were deeply involved with the government there at the same time. I recall reading a news story about U.S. troops finding Cuban rulers' notes about the Grenadian government, with phrases like "idiot" written in the margins of documents. It makes one wonder if the Cubans were behind the violence and coup that preceded the U.S. invasion, too, meaning, they could do the same in Venezuela as it would be part of their playbook.

They were also present in El Salvador and Nicaragua during the Central American wars of the Reagan era. I recall reading in Dewey Clarridge's excellent memoir, "A Spy for All Seasons," that the only way the U.S. could have an impact on that takeover would be to "start killing Cubans."

The point being, the Cubans have taken over many Latin American countries in the past and when the reaction comes to their hellish rule, they fight back like cornered rats.

This appears to be the case with Maduro, too, meaning, it won't be easy to dislodge him if the Cubans are holding him hostage. Maduro is Cuba's prime patron keeping the socialist island hellhole afloat and they aren't about to give up this golden goose. They'd rather kill him, and obviously, have made this message clear.

Phil Gunson, a reporter I met for lunch when I was in Caracas on that same trip, has similar observations:

Mr. Maduro could well be losing sleep over the possibility of a targeted strike, a Special Operations snatch squad or even a full-scale intervention; he claims to have mobilized millions of militia members. But the safest outcome for those in Mr. Maduros inner circle is to remain in power. Any officers who might be privately keen to overthrow him would be reluctant to install Ms. Machado, their sworn enemy, in the presidency, and know full well the fate that awaits them if they fall afoul of Mr. Maduros security services.

I don't agree with his conclusions that the U.S. should not invade and throw the whole crew out, but what he wrote meshes with what is thus far known.

Socialist states are famous for keeping their people walled in. Obviously, they're still doing it, with this report of the Cubans holding him hostage. It underlines that there's nothing worth saving in that hellish regime and the sooner they are thrown out by whatever means, the better.

Image: U.S. Navy photo // government work
Back in the early nineties, when the World Wide Web was still young, a group of geeky girls hailing from the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)the birth place of the World Wide Webused to perform at the organization and other HEP (High Energy Physic) events. They called themselves the Les Horribles Cernettes which translates to "The Horrible CERN Girls". They sang about colliders, antimatter, Higgs boson and cosmic rays.

It began in 1990 when a graphic designer at CERN, Michele de Gennaro, got tired of waiting for her physicist boyfriend who was forever on shift, and decided to attract his attention by stepping on stage during the CERN Hardronic Festival to sing about her lonely nights. She got one of her friends to write the song, and a couple of others to accompany her on stage, and thus the Les Horribles Cernettes was born. Their first song, named Collider, was this:

I gave you a golden ring to show you my love

You went to stick it in a printed circuit

To fix a voltage leak in your collector

You plug my feelings into your detector

You never spend your nights with me

You don't go out with other girls either

You only love your collider

Your collider.

In 1992, after their show at the CERN Hardronic Festival, Tim Berners-Lee (the inventor of the WWW who was then working as a fellow at CERN) asked Silvano de Gennaro, a member of Les Horribles Cernettes, for a few scanned photos of "the CERN girls" to publish them on the information system he had just invented -- the "World Wide Web". Miss Gennaro had only a vague idea of what that was, but she scanned some photos on her Mac and FTPed them to Tim's now famous "info.cern.ch". This was the image:

That picture became the very first to be ever published on the web and viewed through a web browser.

As their fame grew, the girls who billed themselves the one and only High Energy band were invited to international Physics conferences and The World'92 Expo in Seville, as well as celebrations such as Georges Charpak's Nobel Prize party. They received press coverage from numerous newspapers, including The New York Times, The Herald Tribune, La Tribune de Geneve, and the CERN Courier.

The Les Horribles Cernettes have been performing for the last 30 years, although their lineup has changed over time.

References:

# https://cernettes.wixsite.com/cernettes

# Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Horribles_Cernettes
HAIFA, Israel, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE: ZIM) ("ZIM" or the "Company") today provided an investor update.

ZIM's Board of Directors is focused on delivering significant value to all the Company's shareholders.

Following the receipt of a preliminary, non-binding proposal to acquire all the outstanding ordinary shares of the Company from Eli Glickman, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and President, and Rami Ungar, ZIM's Board of Directors promptly commenced a strategic review of alternatives. In connection with this review, the ZIM Board of Directors engaged Evercore as its financial advisor and Meitar Law Offices and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as its legal counsel.

The review, which has been ongoing for the past several months, includes consideration of potential value creation alternatives, including a sale of the Company and capital allocation and return opportunities, with the goal of maximizing shareholder value. In connection with this review, the ZIM Board of Directors has received indications of interest from multiple parties, including strategic interest, which it is evaluating carefully.

There is no assurance that any transaction will occur as a result of this review of alternatives and the ZIM Board of Directors does not expect to provide updates regarding this review until an agreement is reached or the review is otherwise completed.

ZIM's Board of Directors has recently added two new highly regarded independent directors  Yair Avidan and Dr. Yoram Turbowicz  who supplement the Board's substantial financial and transactional expertise as it continues to evaluate value-maximizing alternatives.

About ZIM

Founded in Israel in 1945, ZIM (NYSE: ZIM) is a leading global container liner shipping company with established operations in more than 90 countries serving approximately 33,000 customers in over 300 ports worldwide. ZIM leverages digital strategies and a commitment to ESG values to provide customers with innovative seaborne transportation and logistics services and exceptional customer experience. ZIM's differentiated global-niche strategy, based on agile fleet management and deployment, covers major trade routes with a focus on select markets where the company holds competitive advantages. Additional information about ZIM is available at www.ZIM.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains, or may be deemed to contain, forward-looking statements (as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "proposed," potential" or "continue," the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events or results. There are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including under the caption "Risk Factors" in its 2024 Annual Report filed with the SEC on March 12, 2025. Neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date hereof to conform its prior statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as otherwise required by law.

Investor Relations:

Elana Holzman

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.

+972-4-865-2300

[email protected]

Leon Berman

The IGB Group

212-477-8438

[email protected]

Media:

Avner Shats

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.

+972-4-865-2520

[email protected]

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1933864/ZIM_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.
In 1667, in a small Parisian chamber lit by oil lamps and crowded with curious observers, a young physician named Jean-Baptiste Denys carried out an experiment that would ignite debate across Europe. With a goose-quill tube, a silver cannula, and the blood of a gentle lamb, Denys performed what is widely regarded as the first documented transfusion of blood into a human being. It was a moment of bravery, ingenuity, andby todays standardsremarkable risk, but it also marked a milestone in the long and troubled history of transfusion medicine.

To understand the audacity of Denyss procedure, it is necessary to look back at the ideas, ambitions, and early experiments that shaped the 17th-century scientific imagination.



Jean Denys performing a xenotransfusion from dog to man. Credit: Johannes Scultetus Armamentarium chirurgicum (1693)

For centuries, blood was viewed less as a biological fluid and more as a mystical essencelife, vitality, courage, or temperament. Medieval physicians believed illness came from imbalances in the four humours, not from anything measurable in blood. As a result, bloodlettingrather than transfusionbecame the most common intervention.

In 1628, English physician William Harvey published De Motu Cordis, describing the circulation of blood. With this revelation, blood became something that could be measured, manipulated, and potentially replaced. Harveys insight unlocked the possibility that blood might carry transferrable qualitiesnourishment, heat, or even character.

Early Animal Experiments

By the 1660s, natural philosophers at the newly formed Royal Society in London and the Accademia del Cimento in Florence were pushing the boundaries of experimental physiology. They performed transfusions between animals, usually dogs, by connecting their blood vessels with quills or brass tubes. These experiments showed that animals could survive the passage of blood from one to another, at least briefly.

In Florence, Giovanni Alfonso Borelli studied circulation mechanically. In Oxford, Christopher Wren injected animals with various experimental solutions using quills. And in London, Richard Lower, a brilliant physician associated with the Royal Society, performed the first successful transfusion between dogs in 1665.

These early successes suggested a radical possibility: if animals could exchange blood, perhaps humans could too.

Jean-Baptiste Denys

Jean-Baptiste Denys was not yet 30 when he was appointed personal physician to King Louis XIV. Born around 1640, he trained not only in medicine but also in mathematicsan unusual combination that aligned him with the experimental spirit sweeping through Europe.

Denys watched the English experiments closely. The Royal Society had begun circulating letters describing their dog-to-dog transfusions, and he believed France should not fall behind.

Denys started collaborating with the barber-surgeon Paul Emmerez to undertake blood transfusion. In one of his first recorded cases, he transfused nine ounces of blood from one dog to the other. The experiment was terminated only when one of the dogs took ill suddenly. In a later experiment, Denys noted that the dogs behaved predictably with no changes in eye movement, food consumption, and the weights of the subjects.

Emboldened by the success with the dogs, Denys decided that he could take the next leap: transfusing blood from animals into humans. He reasoned that cross-species transfusion from a gentle and docile creature, such as a lamb, was not only safe but it might even cure certain illnesses, soothe agitation and restore vitality.

Denys vison went against the ideals of the Academy of Sciences of Paris and Faculty of Medicine, and so he took his research to the private academy established by scholar Henri Louis Habert de Montmor, who saw an opportunity to surpass both the English and the conservative French Academy of Sciences and consequently gain his own glory.

The opportunity came in June 1667. A fifteen-year-old boy, wracked by two months of fever and weakened by excessive bloodletting, was brought to Denys. Using a goose-quill tube and rudimentary surgical connectors, Denys transfused around 12 ounces of lambs blood into the boy. The boy not only survived the treatment, his conditions remarkably improved.



Jean-Baptiste Denys performs the first human transfusion. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

News travelled quickly. Europe buzzed with the rumour that France had accomplished what England dared not. For a brief moment, Denys became a star.

Buoyed by success, Denys performed several more transfusions. The second transfusion, conducted on a middle-aged butcher, was equally successful. The third patient fared badly: he died shortly after having a transfusion. It was Denys fourth patient that finally undid him.

The Death of Antoine Mauroy

Antoine Mauroy was a man who was suffering from violent mental disturbances. Denys believed Mauroys agitation could be softened by transfusing the mild temperament of calfs blood.

According to the Wikipedia article on Jean-Baptiste Denys, Mauroy was abducted from the streets of Paris by Montmor's guard and tied to a chair and transfused with blood in front of an audience of noblemen. I couldnt verify the authenticity of this seemingly bizarre way of acquiring subjects, but whatever the circumstances, Mauroy became Denys final transfusion patient.

In the hours following the procedure, Mauroy experienced a debilitating fever, nausea, diarrhea, nosebleeds, and urine that was as black as 'chimney soot', fever, tachycardia, and abundant sweating. Today these are recognized as classic signs of acute haemolytic transfusion reactions, triggered when a recipients immune system destroys incompatible blood. But a few days later, the man had apparently fully recovered. This was the final proof for Denys, who immediately publicized his success.

Mauroy and his wife Perrine eventually returned to their modest home, but Perrine soon found out that her husband's newfound calmness was temporary, lasting only two months. The man's state of health and mind changed abruptly due to his binges of wine, tobacco, and 'strong waters' (alcohol). The man's madness was worse than before.

Denys performed a second transfusion which diminished the delirium but induced other major side effects. On the insistence of Mauroys wife, Denys prepared for a third infusion but before he could inject more blood, Mauroy's body shook in a 'violent fit', at which Denys decided to end the transfusion. Mauroy died the next day.

Mauroys widow accused Denys of murder, claiming he had killed her husband with his strange procedures. Denys was convinced his procedure was safe and insisted that this trial was rather a consequence of his decision to pursue research against the will of the King's Academy of Sciences as well as that of the major players of the conservative Parisienne Faculty of Medicine.

An inquest was held where it was discovered that Mauroy's widow had, allegedly, persuaded and offered large amounts of money by several "unknown" physicians, to bear false witness and file reports against Denys' blood transfusion experiments. A police investigation revealed that Mauroy had actually been poisoned by his wife.

Denys was cleared of all accusations, but the judge ordered that "no transfusion should be made upon any human body but by the approbation of the physicians of the Parisian Faculty (of Medicine)", forcing Denys to end his studies in blood transfusions.

Finally, in 1670, the Royal Society and the French government formally banned transfusion. Even the Catholic Church weighed in with prohibitions. The Royal Society in London also abandoned the field.

For almost 150 years, no one dared to revisit the idea.

Renewed Interest

Transfusion resurfaced only in the early 19th century, when British obstetrician James Blundell used human-to-human transfusion to treat postpartum haemorrhage. But it was Karl Landsteiners discovery of the ABO blood groups in 1900 that made transfusion reliably safe. Once blood types could be matched, the haemolytic reactions that killed Mauroy were finally understood.

From that point forward, transfusion medicine evolved rapidlyblood banks, anticoagulants, refrigeration, plasma separation, and the modern logistics that support surgeries and emergency care worldwide.

Today, blood transfusions are a critical component of medical treatment, having saved millions of lives worldwide.

Jean-Baptiste Denys died in 1704. After the trial, he returned home and resumed teaching. Four years later, he invented styptic, an antihemorrhagic liquid, that is now commonly used around the world to staunch bleeding.
In the coming years, we will eventually see 5G being replaced with 6G. The technology is currently being developed, but the question is, will carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have what it takes to support it? Well, if they do, these carriers will need to step up their game because, according to a GSMA report, 6G is going to require more spectrum than ever.

Report claims 6G will require three times more spectrum

But wait, weve managed with 3G, 4G, and 5G, why would 6G require three times more spectrum? This is because current mobile connectivity standards are typically used for mobile devices, like our phones and tablets. However, as this technology advances, its use can be expanded beyond mobile.

In fact, to a certain extent, 5G is being used for non-mobile purposes. It is expected that with 6G, we will see it being used more with AI, extended reality devices, and more. As a result, it will need more spectrum.

According to John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer over at GSMA, This study shows that the 6G era will require three times more mid-band spectrum than is available today. Satisfying these spectrum requirements will support robust and sustainable connectivity, deliver digital ambitions, and help economies grow. I hope this report provides useful insights to governments as they strive to meet the connectivity needs of their citizens in the coming decade.

What will we need to fully support 6G?

Based on GSMAs report, it is expected that by 2040, global mobile traffic is expected to reach 3,900 exabytes per month. This equates to roughly 140-360GB per mobile connection per month. Thats a lot of data being transferred, and if carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon want to support it, GSMA recommends that 2GHz mid-band spectrum is needed by 2030 to avoid congestion.

As it stands, most countries today have around 1GHz of mid-band spectrum dedicated to mobile use. Therefore, GSMA says an additional 1-3GHz may be required in order to meet the demand in the era of 6G. The report says that this number could be higher for higher-demand countries, going from 2.5-4GHz.

Were not sure if our carriers today have what it takes to support the 6G era. Hopefully, this GSMA report will bring it to their attention, and well have a nice and smooth transition to 6G.
At the very end of last month, Digital Chat Station, one of the best-known tipsters out there, said that the OPPO Find N6 will become the first foldable with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Well, hes now back to share more information about that phone.

The tipster said that one of the two versions of the phone that will launch in China will offer satellite communication. That was the case with the last-gen model as well.

The OPPO Find N6 could end up using Sonys unreleased flagship camera sensor

He also noted that the hardware for the phone has been basically finalized. The Sony IMX09E camera sensor seems to be included, and the tipster says that this is the core upgrade for the phone.

Whats interesting is that this camera has not been announced yet. However, it did leak a couple of months ago from the same source. Digital Chat Station said, back then, that it will be positioned above the LYT-900 sensor in Sonys portfolio, in other words, its expected to be a flagship camera sensor.

That camera sensor is tipped to offer a 1/1.12-inch size with 0.7um native pixel size. It will be built on a 22nm processor, and support Hybrid Frame HDR, 100dB+ ultra-high dynamic range, greatly improved photosensitivity, and also 2x and 4x full-pixel fusion lossless zoom.

Ultra phones from OPPO & Vivo are also expected to use that camera

Back then, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra and Vivo X300 Ultra were tipped to use it. It seems like the OPPO Find N6 could end up utilizing this camera as well, based on this information. That is a bit surprising, but its great.

He also noted that the telephoto camera will offer 3x optical zoom, though that will likely be a periscope telephoto camera, as was on the Find N5. The cover display will measure 6.3 inches in diagonal, while the phone will get a massive battery upgrade.

The device will also get a major battery upgrade

The OPPO Find N6 is said to utilize a 7,000mAh battery, up from 5,600mAh in the Find N5. Just to be clear, the OPPO Find N5 has great battery life, and its successor is expected to beat it. That will be a silicon-carbon battery, of course.

The last piece of information that the tipster shared has to do with a fingerprint scanner. An ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is mentioned by the tipster.
Much like the PS5, the PlayStation Portal is getting a discount for Black Friday as well, and this deal from Amazon saves you a little bit of money on it for a limited time. Normally, the PlayStation Portal would cost you $199.99, but you can currently pick it up for $179 while supplies last, or until Cyber Monday is over. Whichever comes first.

The PlayStation Portal is Sonys latest handheld, and it was designed mostly for PlayStation Remote Play, which meant you had to have a PS5 to even use it. This is actually quite nice if you do have a PS5. However, thats technically no longer required. With a recent system update, the PlayStation Portal now supports cloud gaming, so instead of streaming from your console, you stream from Sonys cloud gaming servers. This makes the Portal more viable for a wider audience.

On top of this, the Portal also now supports cloud gaming with games from your own PS5 library. So, if you have a PlayStation Network Account, you can buy PS5 games, then stream them to the Portal. Its a pretty neat feature. Its also less temperamental than the Remote Play option. With Remote Play, youre better off with the PS5 being hardwired into your home network. Cloud gaming doesnt require this, as games are streaming over Wi-Fi directly to the portal, not first through the PS5 and then to the Portal. The Portals controller features are also the same as the DualSense. So, you still get the advanced haptics and the adaptive triggers for PS5 games. Plus, the Portal has that big, beautiful display.
More than 20 states are suing Donald Trumps administration to restore billions of dollars in grant funding to combat homelessness, with tens of thousand of Americans at risk of losing shelter.

A federal lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James and Democratic officials from 19 other states asks a judge to block the administrations cuts and illegal new conditions on funding through a 40-year-old anti-homelessness program in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Continuum of Care program was thrown into chaos this month after the administration imposed new conditions on funding that are holding these funds and the people they help hostage, according to the lawsuit.

Trumps HUD is denying funds to organizations that support transgender and nonbinary Americans and reversing longstanding support for the housing first philosophy that prioritizes stable housing.

Under the new conditions, only 30 percent of Continuum of Care funds can support permanent housing  down from nearly 90 percent under terms set to expire next year. If that cap is put in place, roughly 170,000 Americans are at risk of losing their housing, according to the lawsuit.

The Trump administration is imposing new conditions on federal funds to end homelessness that could force tens of thousands of Americans out of shelters, according to a new lawsuit aimed at stopping the funding cuts. (AFP via Getty Images)

New conditions on serving LGBT+ people are vague enough that organizations that shelter trans and nonbinary people, or even ask for a persons gender identity, could be shut out from federal funds, according to the lawsuit.

HUD is also discriminating against states and local governments that dont support the Trump administration by deducting points from funding applicants if they do not align with the presidents agenda, the complaint says.

Taken together, the policies threaten to cancel thousands of existing projects, require providers to fundamentally reshape their programs on an impossible timeline, and essentially guarantee that tens of thousands of formerly homeless individuals and families will be evicted back into homelessness, according to the lawsuit.

Communities across the country depend on Continuum of Care funds to provide housing and other resources to our most vulnerable neighbors, James said in a statement.

These funds help keep tens of thousands of people from sleeping on the streets every night, she added. I will not allow this administration to cut off these funds and put vital housing and support services at risk.

More people experienced homelessness in the United States in 2024 than at any other point within the last two decades, which is when the federal government began tracking the population.

During his campaign, Trumps platform promised to end the nightmare of dangerously deranged people experiencing homelessness with a plan to open large parcels of inexpensive land, bring in doctors, psychiatrists, social workers, and drug rehab specialists, and create tent cities where the homeless can be relocated and their problems identified.

The president also vowed to bring back mental institutions to house and rehabilitate those who are severely mentally ill or dangerously deranged with the goal of reintegrating them back into society.

Last year, the Supreme Courts conservative majority rejected arguments from a group of homeless people in Oregon who argued that a series of laws punishing people for sleeping outside was considered cruel and unusual punishment.

That ruling paved the way for police to ticket, fine or arrest people who are sleeping in public, and state and local governments are increasingly implementing public camping bans and laws prohibiting sleeping in cars, loitering or asking for money.

In July, Trump signed another executive order empowering cities and states to force people experiencing homelessness into treatment centers.

Housing secretary Scott Turner has claimed the housing first approach to ending homelessness has created a homeless industrial complex. (Getty Images)

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness has also been effectively disbanded under the so-called Department of Government Efficiency's slashing of the federal government. During the end of his first administration, Trumps director Robert Marbut abandoned the housing first framework that has been the driving force behind policies to address the crisis for years, widely supported by homelessness and housing agencies and services across the country.

Trumps new HUD Secretary Scott Turner has argued that the housing first model instead created a homeless industrial complex that does not combat root causes of homelessness.

DOGE leader Elon Musk has similarly claimed that federal support for ending homelessness is part of a global conspiracy to make more people homeless in order to enrich the organizations working to end the crisis.

In New York City, more than 103,000 people are sleeping in shelters, while thousands of others are forced to sleep in the streets and in subways, and more than 200,000 people are estimated to be temporarily sleeping in the homes of others, according to the latest estimates from the Coalition for the Homeless.

It is estimated that roughly 350,000 people are without homes in New York City, the group discovered.

People experiencing homelessness in New York are served by 24 different groups that receive more than $320 million in federal funding to help provide housing and other services. The vast majority of those dollars support permanent housing

The Trump administrations new cap on permanent housing spending could imperil housing for 9,000 households, including nearly 5,000 people in New York City. Without those funds, the stability that so many have fought to build could unravel overnight, according to Pascale Leone, director of the Supportive Housing Network of New York.

As families prepare for the holiday season, they should not have to question whether they will still have a place to live when winter arrives, Leone said.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's groundbreaking musical CATS returns to Melbourne in December 2025 to celebrate its 40th anniversary in Australia.

When CATS first premiered to London audiences in 1981, no one could have predicted how the success of the musical or its impact on the art form.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Australian premiere, CATS the Musical is coming to Melbourne for a limited six-week season this summer. RACV Members enjoy exclusive first access to newly released seats and 25% off select performances. Enter your RACV Member number to redeem.

It's one of the many reasons that Melbourne is considered the arts and cultural capital of Australia, with top tourist attractions, hit musicals, and festivals, as well as loads of free things to do.

The Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical is based on T.S. Eliots Old Possums Book of Practical Cats, a collection of whimsical poems that makes for a seemingly unusual musical premise. However, the acclaim that CATS has garnered is undeniable  the production ran for 21 years in Londons West End and for 18 years on Broadway, picking several awards (including Olivier and Tony awards for best musical) along the way.

Heres everything you need to know for the Melbourne 2025-2026 season of CATS.

Check out our other theatre and musical guides for other shows playing in Melbourne.
December is fast approaching, and for many of us, that means having a clear out and getting our homes ready for Christmas.

If anything you no longer want or use is in good condition, you might want to donate it to a charity shop. This helps prevent it from ending up in landfill, and means your pre-loved items could find a new home and bring joy to someone else.

Research from Oxfam found that 39% of people say they feel under pressure to spend beyond their means this Christmas, with Brits splashing out an average of 494 on gifts for eight loved ones.

While charity shops are grateful for donations throughout the year  including any unwanted gifts in January  donating before Christmas means those on the lookout for second-hand items could find something affordable to wear during the festive season or a unique gift for a loved one.

Here are the items that leading charity shops told us are appreciated at this time of year.

Winter clothing

Winterwear is appreciated by charity shops at this time of year. (Getty Images) (Anna Kurzaeva via Getty Images)

If you have winter clothes you no longer wear, now is a good time to donate them.

At this time of year, we see an increase in people looking for clothing suitable for the winter months, so we welcome donations of things like jumpers, warm knits, coats, and hats, says Josephine Mewett, head of retail at Cancer Research UK.

A spokesperson from British Red Cross echoes this, saying, "With the colder months ahead, winterwear is especially appreciated."

Children's coats

One in seven families say they'll struggle to afford a winter coat or clothing for their kids this year. (Getty Images) (Justin Joyce (joocer) via Getty Images)

There could be 300,000 children in the UK without a winter coat this year, according to recent research from Barnados.

The data, based on a YouGov survey by the charity, also found that around one in seven parents say they will struggle to afford a coat or clothing to keep their child warm.

The childrens charity is asking people to donate any unwanted or pre-loved children's coats to their shops and is also always looking for toys, good-quality clothing, and gift items.

Party accessories and clothing

Charity shops are a great place to look for partywear or festive accessories, as they allow you to get something for a celebration without spending lots of money on a garment youll only wear a handful of times.

Kate Bishop, director of retail brand and strategy at Save the Children UK says. "Giftable donations such as fashion accessories for both men and women are popular, and, of course, anything that sparkles is always welcome ahead of the party season."

Passing your unwanted party clothing and accessories on also prevents sequinned items  which can leach microplastics into the environment  from ending up in landfill.

Gift items

Charity shops are great for Secret Santa gifts. (Getty Images) (SolStock via Getty Images)

Struggling to come up with a good idea for the office Secret Santa? Charity shops are a treasure trove of items just waiting to be explored.

Richard Hudson, head of marketing and insight at Shelter Trading, says bric-a-brac and gift items are always gratefully received. "People are hunting out bargains for Secret Santa challenges or searching for that unique gift for that special person, he says.

Mewett, from Cancer Research, says this is also a good time to donate, books or CDs and DVDs  anything that might make a good present.

Toys

Many families will be looking for good-quality, second-hand toys this Christmas. (Getty Images) (Guido Mieth via Getty Images)

Many parents and grandparents will be looking for affordable toys this Christmas, so it's a good time to give away any that your children no longer play with.

"Donating unwanted toys is a lovely way to make room for new ones, but its also about passing on joy. A toy that brought one child happy memories could become a treasured gift for another," says Susan Cassano, shop manager at British Heart Foundation (BHF).

When donating toys, ensure they are in good condition and check for a CE mark or a UKCA mark. This shows that the product complies with European or British safety standards.

Homeware

Save the Children and Cancer Research both say that homeware such as prints, crockery and vases tend to be popular in their shops. These could be great for gifts, making a home feel cosy or for people who have family coming over for Christmas and need some extra serving dishes or place mats.

When it comes to larger items such as furniture, not all charity shops accept them, so make sure you check first. Of those that do, some also offer a free furniture collection service.

3 great charity shop gift ideas this Christmas

Save the Children has a range of gifts based on artwork designed by children. Including these felt jellyfish designed by children in Margate. (Save the Children) (Save the Children)

If you want to buy a gift that also gives back to charity this Christmas, here are some great charity shop ideas.

Personal shopping

This year, Oxfam is hosting its first-ever Christmas Personal Shopper Gifting service at three of its stores to help shoppers find affordable, meaningful gifts. The service is free but you will need to book a slot.

Charity shop gift cards

Let someone find their own charity shop bargain with a gift card. British Red Cross has its own gift card, while The Charity Shop Gift Card can be used in more than 2,000 stores across the UK, including participating Marie Curie, YMCA and Shelter stores as well as a number of smaller, local charity shops.

Charity stocking fillers

Save the Children has recently launched a range of stocking fillers, including candles, chocolates, hand cream and tote bags. The range starts at 3.75 and features artwork by children.

Read more about charity shops:
















President Donald Trump, left, greets Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington. via Associated Press

Ukraine has reportedly now agreed to an amended version of Donald Trumps peace plan.

Reports from US media citing an unnamed American official claimed on Tuesday afternoon that Kyiv and Washington had come to an agreement of settling the war in Ukraine.

While some details allegedly still need to be worked out, the Ukrainians have reportedly signed up to the core elements of the Trump-brokered deal, according to reports.

The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X: Over the past week, the United States has made tremendous progress towards a peace deal by bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the table.

There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

A Ukrainian official also told Reuters news agency that Ukraine supports the essence of the peace deal.

Prime minister Keir Starmer was at the despatch box when the news broke.

He told the Commons that he is receiving information right there and then, noting that he suspected they would not have agreed to the whole deal yet either.

This isnt a new set of proposals or agreements in any way, he said.

Conservative MP for the Wrekin, Mark Pritchard, raised an important point questioning the reports.

He said: If I may caution the prime minister, I understand that the reports that were referred to by the honourable member were a single source US official, unnamed, and I just think that we might be falling into a trap here which others want us to fall into.

And that is bouncing the Ukrainians into an arbitrary deadline of Thanksgiving Day.

Trump urged the Ukrainians to sign up to his first 28-point plan by Thursday, or risk losing access to American intelligence and military support.

That sent alarm bells ringing in the west because the plan involved major capitulation from Ukraine, and demanded the beleaguered country give up more territory to Russia.

European officials then rushed to offer their own counterproposals with a hastily arranged meeting in Geneva over the weekend.

Pritchard continued: I think we need to ensure that officials, and all of us, are able to verify sources and corroborate even if they are reported and repeated in the mainstream media in the UK.

My instinct is with him on the breaking news, Starmer replied, adding that he spoke to President Zelenskyy about four hours ago.

I am intending to speak to him again this afternoon, Starmer said. My instinct is that this isnt anything of greater significance than what was coming out of yesterday. If it is, then of course, I will make another statement.

He added that the UK will continue engaging with Ukraine in every step of the way.

Related...
Im a Celebrity presenters Ant and Dec addressed their alleged feud with Kelly Brook on aftershow Unpacked.

Over the weekend, the pair discussed the events from the main show and referred to the rumours about their reported long-running rivalry with Brook, who is a contestant on the 2025 series.

The moment occurred after it was suggested Ant McPartlin had made a dig at Brooks cooking skills.

What theyve got given hasnt been awful, has it? he told hosts Joel Dommett and Kemi Rodgers. Even octopus, if you cook it right, its nice. They just cooked it badly.

When Rodgers highlighted that the camps cooks have been Martin Kemp and Brook, Donnelly, bursting into laughter, asked: Whats your problem with Kelly Brook?

McPartlin pointed at Donnelly, stating: Dont you start! I dont have a problem with Kelly Brook, thank you.

Model and radio DJ Brook is one of this years 10 campmates and, after she parachuted onto the show on Sunday (16 November), viewers recalled how she had once locked horns with the hosting duo during her short-lived tenure on Britains Got Talent.

'I'm a Celebrity' hosts Ant and Dec poked fun at Kell Brook feud rumours (ITV)

Brook was hired as a judge on the reality show in 2009, but was dropped just one week later.

While it was explained that Brook had been let go because adding a fourth judge had made things too complicated, the star previously suggested it was due to the fact she had upset Ant and Dec by questioning their role on the series.

Donnelly, who admitted he had been annoyed about Brooks hiring, reflected on the awkward encounter in his and McPartlins 2010 memoir Ooh! What a Lovely Pair: Our Story.

Writing about Brooks first day on set, he said: Kelly looked nervous, so I told her it was going to be great fun and to just relax. She nodded, then looked at me and said, And what do you do on the show?

I looked at Simon, who was sat next to me. He turned to Kelly and said, Kelly, you have seen the show, havent you? To which she replied, Yeah... well, bits.

(ITV/Shutterstock)

Donnelly continued: I dont want to sound like an egomaniac, but the last person who said, And what do you do? was the Queen when I met her at the party for ITVs 50th anniversary.

In the autobiography, Donnelly questioned why Brook had been hired as a judge: We had two questions: Why is there a fourth judge? and Why is it Kelly Brook? None of them could answer us.

Explaining why they were so displeased, Donnelly said: Obviously, as hosts of the show, we have to justify that kind of thing to the audience, and no one could give us a good reason why Kelly was on board.

The simple answer was that Simon, without talking to anyone, had decided it was a good idea. We didnt agree.

Brook said that Ant and Dec clearly didnt want her on the show despite never being anything but pleasant to her face.

She continued: Their egos are such that they were saying to themselves: How dare she think she can come on to our show? and since then theyve been very vocal about their displeasure at me being there.

She also said that, after leaving the show, there was nothing I could do in this country as the people at ITV were telling me that I had upset Ant and Dec and that was it.

Piers Morgan, who was a BGT judge at the time, confirmed that Brook blamed the hosts for her departure from the show after just two days of filming.

Kelly Brook's short-lived stint on 'Britain's Got Talent' in 2009 (ITV)

He wrote on Instagram just one day after Im a Celebrity started: As Kelly Brook goes into the I'm a Celebrity jungle, a throwback to when she very briefly appeared as a judge on Britains Got Talent.. for just two disastrous days!

Be interesting to see how she interacts with Ant and Dec given she still blames them for being fired so fast and ruthlessly... which isnt far from the truth.

He added: They werent happy they hadnt been consulted by Simon Cowell about Kellys sudden hiring  and even less happy when she asked them what they did on the show...
Main man: Bukayo Saka (London Standard)

Arsenal have Martin Odegaard back in their squad to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League tonight.

Gunners captain Odegaard has been out of action since the start of last month after injuring his knee.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW ARSENAL VS BAYERN MUNICH LIVE!

The Norwegian, however, took part in training on Tuesday afternoon and is on the bench this evening when the Gunners host Bayern.

Arsenal are still without a recognised striker, though, as Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres were absent from training.

Havertz has been out since August with a knee injury, while Gyokeres strained his hamstring earlier this month.

However, Arteta said that there could be some positive news around the pair looking towards the weekend clash with Chelsea.

Really good both of them, the Arsenal boss said of the Swede and the German.

So in the next few days, again, I think they are going to have a repeat scan to see how everything is and whether we can push them - or not - for the weekend or the following game.

Gabriel Jesus may play in a behind-closed-doors friendly (Getty Images)

Gabriel Jesus is back in full training, but Arteta has hinted he will play a friendly behind closed doors before returning to first-team action.

He is quite close, to be fair, and earlier than we expected, Arteta said.

In the next few days he is going to have another step to make with a game that we are going to organise for him. After that, he is just going to be knocking on the door.

Gabriel will be out of action for a few weeks, at least, with a thigh injury, with Cristhian Mosquera getting the nod in defence against Bayern over Piero Hincapie.

Myles Lewis-Skelly comes into the team at left-back, with Riccardo Calafiori on the bench.

Wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke are both available, which has eased Arsenals injury crisis in attack.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Merino

Subs: Kepa, Setford, White, Hincapie, Calafiori, Odegaard, Norgaard, Madueke, Nwaneri, Martinelli

Injured: Gabriel (thigh), Gyokeres (hamstring) and Havertz (knee)

Time and date: 8pm BST on Wednesday November 26, 2025

Venue: Emirates Stadium, London

How to watch: TNT Sports
President Donald Trump has claimed that big progress is being made in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine as his special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived for talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

The US and Ukraine are seeking to narrow gaps in a peace plan proposed by Washington that was criticised as pro-Russian. European leaders responded with a counter-proposal that reasserted Ukraines demands.

It includes respect for Ukraines territorial integrity, freedom to advance its Nato ambitions and EU membership aspirations and maintain a large military to deter the threat of future Russian aggression.

Several countries and high-profile individuals are involved in the discussions, which have resulted in public disagreements. The Independent looks at some of the key characters below.

Steve Witkoff - the billionaire real estate investor with strong ties to Russia

Gazapremium (Getty)

Trumps special envoy has been in the firing line after a tape was leaked of him appearing to coach senior aide to Vladimir Putin, Yuri Ushakov, on how to negotiate in Russias interests.

Since Trumps re-election, the billionaire has served as the United States special envoy to the Middle East and special envoy for peace missions.

He played a key role in negotiating a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas earlier this year, alongside Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Prior to his political career, Witkoff enjoyed successful business dealings in the Middle East and strong relationships with the Qatari government, which were reported to be a key source of funds for his company, the Witkoff Group.

The real-estate developer and investor also served during the first Trump administration as member of the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups, set up to deal with the economic impact of the Covid pandemic.

Kirill Dmitriev - blacklisted Kremlin official behind Trumps peace plan

Kirill Dmitriev talks to US president Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff (Reuters)

Dmitriev, the Harvard-educated CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), assumed the office of the special presidential envoy on Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation on 23 February this year despite having little diplomatic experience.

The businessman and his organisation have been under US sanctions, effectively barring American citizens and companies from dealing with them, since 2022.

The close ally of Putin is not popular among other members of his inner circle, with reports that he has clashed with sidelined foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and presidential aide Yury Ushakov when they met with American officials in Saudi Arabia in February.

Dmitriev has met several times with some of Trumps closest officials, including his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

He worked directly with Kushner during the first administration, coordinating with him during the pandemic on the delivery of RDIF-supplied ventilators to the US. It sparked concern among officials at the Treasury Department that the US might be violating its own sanctions, according to a senior US official.

The businessman has appeared on various American television stations and at events including the World Economic Forum in Davos, to promote the strengthening of trade ties between the US and Russia.

Dan Driscoll - The ex-soldier and Vances Yale classmate

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll speaks at the America 250 celebration at Fort Bragg (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A friend and former classmate of JD Vance from the vice presidents Yale Law School days, Driscoll  who has a background in the US military and is the son of a Vietnam veteran  has made a formidable name for himself in the current Trump administration as US army secretary.

Driscoll served for three and a half years in the US Army, including a deployment in Iraq in 2009, leaving duty as a lieutenant. Despite little diplomatic experience, the former investment bankers background in politics includes an internship at the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

He has been directly involved in controversial deployments of the national guard across the US, and succeeded Kash Patel as the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

His high-level involvement comes amid a series of controversies and criticism surrounding secretary of war Peter Hegseth.

Theres not a lot of trust in Hegseth to deliver these messages to key leaders, a source told Politico. There is more trust in Dan to do that right now.

Experienced in drone technology, he has previously shown respect for Ukraines resourcefulness in deploying its relatively limited resources to come up with whatever they have to do to get to an outcome they need.

Marco Rubio - Trumps secretary of state

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that progress is being made at the talks (PA Wire)

The Republican politician represented Florida in the US Senate from 2011 to 2025. He is currently serving as US Secretary of State and played a leading role during Israel-Gaza ceasefire talks.

Rubio has a colourful career history including serving in the House of Representatives in Miami and teaching at Florida International University as an adjunct professor, an appointment that was criticised at the time.

Talks between Russia and Ukraine stalled earlier this year following a phone call between Rubio and Lavrov, during which the Russian diplomat is said to have infuriated Washington by making maximalist demands over ending the war.
A photograph by Bob Kauders of Traveller children in Lincolnshire. His work was exhibited widely and he was also in demand as a lecturer and speaker Photograph: Bob Kauders

My friend Bob Kauders, who has died aged 74, was a photographer who specialised in raising the visibility of marginalised communities. With an eye for narrative detail, he recorded people and places touched by what he described as the inevitability of time and change.

His work included a study of Humbersides industrial decline and an open and engaging record of Traveller communities in Lincolnshire, as well as a photographic record of the lives of people living in Tristan da Cunha, a group of volcanic islands in the South Atlantic.

In the late 1980s and early 90s Bob also worked for the Weld community project in the Handsworth area of Birmingham, promoting the use of photography as a positive and expressive means of communication. In 1991 he was awarded grants by West Midlands Arts and the London & Edinburgh Trust to record the life and culture around Birminghams Bull Ring shopping centre and markets, creating an archive of images before its demolition and redevelopment.

Bob was born in Hadleigh, Essex, to Hermann, an engineer, and Annette (nee Rousseau), a secretary. He attended King John school in Benfleet, Sweyne Technical grammar school in Rayleigh and then Southend College of Art and Design (now South Essex College) before gaining a degree in photographic arts from the Polytechnic of Central London (PCL, now University of Westminster) in 1973.

After graduating, Bob was given an Arts Council award and a scholarship from PCL to enable him to study landscape through photography. From 1976 to 1978 he was a fellow in photography with Lincolnshire and Humberside Arts, where he began his work on local industrial decline and the lives of its Traveller communities. His assignment in Tristan da Cunha, which ran from 1985 into 1986, came courtesy of a Churchill Fellowship and led to a sensitively documented photographic account of the lives of a resilient, close-knit community.

After working for Weld from 1986 to 1991 and then on the Bull Ring project, Bob moved back to Essex in 1992, making his living as a freelance photographer in London and the south-east of England. His clients were mainly local authorities, including the London borough of Southwark and a variety of health, housing and care charities.

During his career Bobs photographs were exhibited widely, including at the Photographers Gallery in London and at the Arnolfini in Bristol. He was also in demand as a lecturer, and was an invited speaker at many institutions, including the National Museum of Photography and the Royal Photographic Society. He ran workshops for people with head injuries and adults with special needs, showing them how photography could enhance their lives.

Bob continued his career until 2013, when Parkinsons, diagnosed in 2006, finally compelled him to stop working.

Always generous with his time and energy, he met Margaret Berko, a care worker, in 1993 when a mutual friend asked him to help her move some furniture. They married in 1995 and four years later moved to Vauxhall, in south London.

He is survived by Margaret and his sisters, Daphne and Julie.
FILE - Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, is shown at sunset, March 30, 2014, in Twizel, New Zealand (AP Photo/Carey J. Williams, File)

A climber from the United States was among two people killed in a fall on Aoraki, New Zealand's tallest peak.

The men were part of a four-person group climbing near the summit of Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, on Monday.

Two climbers were rescued by helicopter after authorities received a distress call late that night but the other two couldn't be found.

Searchers in helicopters looked for them through the night before their bodies were discovered Tuesday morning local time.

Specialists from rescue organizations and government agencies recovered the men's bodies later on Tuesday, Police Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker said.

The peak of Mount Cook, also known as Aoraki in Maori, one of New Zealand's most iconic landmarks that sits in the Southern Alps mountain range on New Zealand's South Island on September 30, 2025 (SANKA VIDANAGAMA/AFP via Getty Images)

None of the climbers has been publicly identified, but Walker said one of the dead men was from the U.S.

Authorities, she said, were working with the U.S. consulate. A coroner in New Zealand will investigate the deaths.

The other person who died was an internationally-recognized climbing guide and a member of the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association, the organization said in a statement.

Sgt. Kevin McErlain told The Timaru Herald on Tuesday the pair had been connected by a rope when they fell near the summit of Aoraki, which is on New Zealand's South Island.

The pair rescued were another mountain guide and their client, whose nationalities are not known. They were uninjured.

Aoraki is 3,724 meters (12,218 feet) high and is part of the Southern Alps, the scenic and icy mountain range that runs the length of the South Island. A settlement of the same name at its base is a destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

The peak is popular among experienced climbers. Its terrain is technically difficult due to crevasses, avalanche risk, changeable weather and glacier movement.

More than 240 deaths have been recorded on the mountain and in the surrounding national park since the start of the 20th century. Dozens of those who died on the mountain have never been found.

Those disappearances include three men, two from the United States and one from Canada, who were believed to have died on Aoraki in December 2024. The Americans  Kurt Blair, 56, from Colorado and Carlos Romero, 50, of California  were certified alpine guides.

The climbers were missing for five days before New Zealand authorities halted a search for them, saying discoveries of their belongings suggested the men had fallen to their deaths.
Dominos is launching a new chicken brand in order to tap into rapid growth in the category (Dominos/PA). (PA Media)

The boss of Dominos has stepped down abruptly just days after he said there was not massive growth left in the UK pizza market.

Andrew Rennie departs immediately by mutual agreement the company revealed to shareholders in a surprise announcement today. He had led the delivery company for just over two years.

Just two weeks ago the 1.34 million a year CEO said fried chicken was already bigger than pizza in the UK, adding the company new sub-brand Chick 'N' Dip could have a big impact .

Earlier this month he also revealed a decline in orders after lifting pizza prices.

Before todays announcement the shares were down 45% this year and this morning they fell another 3% to 165p.

No reason was given for the departure but it is believed that other board members disagreed about the potential for growth in the core pizza business.

The company said it has begun the search for a successor with chief operating officer Nicola Frampton stepping into the breach on an interim basis.

The company said it does not envisage pursuing a second brand acquisition until the new CEO is in place and has postponed a capital markets day scheduled for 9 December.

Ian Bull, chair of Domino's Pizza Group said: "Domino's has an exceptional brand, a resilient business model and continues to gain market share, despite the challenging external environment.

The board believes that there are a number of opportunities to drive further growth and value creation in Domino's core business.

We are focused on identifying the right CEO to lead the disciplined execution of that growth strategy, alongside our incoming CFO and the wider leadership team, and underpinned by a rigorous focus on shareholder returns.

Nicola Frampton said: "We have a number of ongoing growth and performance initiatives that we will be focused on executing at pace. These include the continued enhancement of our supply chain, delivering further product innovation including the system-wide launch of CHICK'N'DIP next year, and preparing for the rollout of our loyalty program in 2026."

Andrew Rennie said: "I have been privileged to lead the DPG business over the last two years supported by a great team and world class Franchisees. We have collectively delivered strong market share growth through operational excellence, product innovation and a digital transformation. I wish the Domino's team all the best for the future."
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has begun a 27-year prison sentence for his role in a coup attempt, a turn of events that has reportedly astonished many in Brazil who had doubted he would ever be incarcerated.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing the case, ruled Bolsonaro would remain in custody after his preemptive arrest on Saturday.

The decision has led to immediate public reaction outside the federal police headquarters, with supporters demanding his release and opponents toasting his imprisonment.

The far-right leader, under house arrest since August, was taken into custody on Saturday after attempting to break his ankle monitor. His claim of hallucinations was dismissed by Justice de Moraes in the preemptive arrest order.

Federal police confirmed he will have no contact with other inmates at the headquarters. His 12-square-meter room features a bed, private bathroom, air conditioning, a television and a desk.

Federal police confirmed Bolsonaro will have no contact with other inmates at the headquarters. (AP Photo/Luis Nova, File)

De Moraes determined on Tuesday that Bolsonaros defense had exhausted all appeals of his conviction. His lawyers disagree and promise to keep filing requests for house arrest due to the former leader's poor health. The Supreme Court justice has already ruled against it.

There is no legal possibility of any other appeal, de Moraes said in his decision.

Brazils criminal law also could have allowed the 70-year-old to be transferred to a local penitentiary or to a prison room in a military facility in the capital Brasilia.

The former president and several of his allies were convicted by a panel of Supreme Court justices for attempting to overthrow Brazils democracy following his 2022 election defeat.

The plot included plans to kill President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Justice de Moraes. The plan also involved encouraging an insurrection in early 2023.

The former president was also found guilty of charges including leading an armed criminal organization and attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law.

Bolsonaro has always denied wrongdoing.

Champagne and tears

Outside the federal police building, about a dozen Bolsonaro supporters dressed in yellow and green of the Brazilian flag cried foul and asked Congress to pass a bill to give the former president and his allies some kind of amnesty.

I am outraged. This is the best president of my life, my friend. This is a great injustice, said Eliane Leandro, 61, a hard core Bolsonaro supporter who says she will come to the federal police headquarters every day until he is released. I hate you, Alexandre de Moraes. You deserve hell.

Sao Paulo city councilor Keit Lima, 34, had very different feelings. She brought champagne and shared it with other Black women who had come from a march in Brasilia to celebrate Bolsonaro's imprisonment.

Today we can breath and continue fighting for our democracy, Lima said. Our democracy is young, but we want it to live long.

Other convictions

Two others convicted, Augusto Heleno and Paulo Sergio Nogueira, both Army generals, were sent to a military facility in Brasilia to start serving their sentences. Former Justice Minister Anderson Torres is now imprisoned at the Papuda penitentiary, also in Brazils capital.

Adm. Almir Garnier will serve his term at Navy facilities in Brasilia.

Bolsonaros running mate and former Defense Minister Walter Braga Netto, another army general, will remain in prison at a military facility in Rio de Janeiro.

De Moraes also confirmed that lawmaker and former head of Brazils intelligence agency Alexandre Ramagem is on the loose in the United States.

Bolsonaro remains a key figure in Brazilian politics, despite being ineligible to run for office until at least until 2030 after a separate ruling by Brazils top electoral court. The first day of his prison sentence should mark an extension of that deadline to 2033.

Polls show he would be a competitive candidate in next years vote if allowed to run.

U.S. tensions

The former president is an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called the trial of the former Brazilian leader a witch hunt. Bolsonaro was mentioned in a July order by the U.S. administration to raise tariffs on several Brazilian exports by 50%.

Relations between the two countries have improved since, with Lula and Trump meeting in Malaysia at the ASEAN summit in October. Most of those higher tariffs have been dropped.

The U.S. also imposed sanctions on de Moraes and other Brazilian officials.

The measures in support of Bolsonaro did not have their desired effect and the trial proceeded nevertheless. Lulas popularity was boosted by the perception that he was defending Brazilian sovereignty.

Bolsonaro is not the first former president to spend time behind bars. His predecessor Michel Temer (2016-2018) and his successor Lula have also been to prison. Fernando Collor de Mello, who governed between 1990 and 1992, is currently under house arrest due to a corruption conviction.

Bolsonaro is the first to be convicted of attempting a coup.
Should children be allowed into pubs? (Photo posed by models: Getty Images) (Images By Tang Ming Tung via Getty Images)

Pub landlords are starting to enforce stricter rules on allowing children in, with one blaming "entitled parents" for letting their kids run amok.

The William the Fourth pub in Leyton, east London, announced last week that it has barred children from 7pm onwards after customers complained it had turned into a "creche". Following "feedback from customers regarding children", the pub has made the decision for the venue to be adults only in the evenings.

The pub posted on Instagram: "We want The William the Fourth to be welcoming to everyone but there have been occasions where the pub has resembled a creche. Unsupervised children can pose risks not only to themselves but also to other customers and our team."

Following the move, another London pub owner, Egil Johansen, who runs The Kenton in Hackney, said he is considering making the premises child-free.

He told The Standard: Ive been running The Kenton for 17 years, and theres been a big rise in the number of entitled parents. They come in, sit down, drink, and they dont care what their kids are doing. They are running around with no supervision at all."

In September, The New Inn in Bacup, Lancashire, made the decision to ban children completely following complaints about mess and noise.

In general, children under 16 can go to a pub if they are with an adult, but pubs can utilise their individual premises licence to restrict when children are allowed to enter.

Previously, children under the age of 14 had been banned from pubs in England and Wales altogether up until February 1995, when licensing laws were relaxed. Any decision made now about children on the premises rests with the landlord.

Many pubs seek to strike a balance between welcoming families during the day or early evening and maintaining a more relaxed atmosphere reserved for adults at night.

But what do you think? Should children be allowed in pubs or should they be off limits to kids? Let us know in the polls below:

Have Your Say - would you like your local pub to be totally free from children? Or do families and their kids have as much right to be in the pub as anyone else? Have your say and your comment may be featured in our results article on Friday.

Yahoo News UK

Come back on Friday to read the results and analysis via the link below.

Read more of Yahoo UK's poll articles

Yahoo UK's poll articles let you vote and indicate your strength of feeling on one of the week's hot topics. After the poll closes, we'll publish and analyse the results each Friday, giving readers the chance to see how polarising a topic has become and if their view chimes with other Yahoo UK readers.
The best markets in Melbourne: updated for 2025

Queen Victoria Market

Located: Corner of Elizabeth and Victoria Streets, Melbourne.

Getting there: Serviced by the 19, 57, 58 and 59 trams, and less than a 10-minute walk from both Melbourne Central and Flagstaff stations. The closest new Metro Tunnel station to Victoria Market is the State Library Station. There is also a car park and bike parking available on site.

Opening hours: Tue, Thu, Fri 6am-3pm; Sat 6am-4pm; Sun 9am-4pm.

If you only have time to visit one market in Melbourne, make it Queen Victoria Market. This centrally located market supplies not only the freshest produce, meat and artisan smallgoods, but also fashion, accessories, handcrafted gifts and more.

Established in 1878, Queen Victoria Market is the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere and a significant historical landmark for the city. One of Melbourne's best free attractions to visit, Queen Victoria Market regularly hosts specialised events on top of regular trading, from their vibrant summer and winter night markets, to foodie tours, festivals and live music. Don't miss getting a hot jam doughnut from the American Doughnut Kitchen van (find them in E Shed) when visiting - they're worth lining up for.

South Melbourne Market

Located: Corner of Coventry and Cecil Streets, South Melbourne.

Getting there: The 96 tram stops right outside the market, while the 12, 109 and 1 trams also have stops within walking distance. The 236 bus can take you from the CBD to the market while bike parking is available on site too. Two hours free car parking is available Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as when arriving before 10am on weekends.

Opening hours: Wed, Sat, Sun 8am-4pm; Fri 8am-5pm.

South Melbourne Market is a food lover's paradise, offering an array of fresh seafood, organic produce, artisanal cheeses, and delectable pastries, including some of Melbourne's best croissants, as well as a range of unique products from clothing to beauty, floristry, and home goods. The paella served from giant pans at Simply Spanish has repeatedly been named the best paella outside of Spain at the International Valencian Paella Competition in Sueca, while the South Melbourne Market dim sims are renowned throughout the city.

The market has been serving the local community since 1867, making it one of Melbourne's longest-running markets. It also regularly hosts community events, from live music to foodie tours and cooking demonstrations.

Prahran Market

Located: 163 Commercial Rd, South Yarra.

Getting there: Access the market via the 72 or 6 tram, the routes 216 or 220 bus or Prahran Station. Bike racks are available in Prahran Square, and car parks are available at the Elizabeth St multi-level car park.

Opening hours: Tue, Thu 7am-4pm; Fri, Sat 7am-5pm; Sun 8am-4pm.

Prahran Market is not only a popular shopping destination, but a hub for culinary events, tastings, cooking classes, and food demonstrations. Established in 1864, this market is revered for its speciality items and community feel. Prahran Market is a haven for food enthusiasts, with its wide selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and specialty ingredients, from wasabi leaves to authentic Turkish delights, homemade pastas, Spanish pastries and more.
In a call with Trump, China reiterated its claim that Taiwan is part of its territory Photograph: Getty Images

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has told Donald Trump that Beijings claims to Taiwan remain unchanged, in a phone call that came amid rising tensions over the self-governing island.

Xi told Trump on Monday that Taiwans return to China was an integral part of the postwar international order forged in the joint US-China fight against fascism and militarism, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to annex it, by force if necessary. Taiwans democratically elected government strongly rejects Chinas stance.

The ministry said the call touched on other issues, including Ukraine, with Xi also stressing the need to build on a fragile trade truce between China and the US.

But Taiwan featured prominently. China is embroiled in a weeks-long diplomatic row with key US ally Japan over the island that has seen a dip in Chinese tourism to Japan, a ban on Japanese seafood and the cancellation of joint cultural events.

The bitter dispute between Tokyo and Beijing was triggered after Sanae Takaichi, Japans new prime minister, suggested this month that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on Taiwan.

On Tuesday, Takaichi said she also had a call with Trump and discussed his conversation with Xi, as well as US-Japan relations.

She and Trump held a wide-ranging exchange of views on strengthening the Japan-US alliance and the challenges and issues facing the Indo-Pacific region, she told reporters, without elaborating. She said Trump had proposed the call.

The US does not officially recognise Taiwans claim to statehood but Washington remains the islands most important partner and arms supplier.

Trump did not mention Taiwan in his post on Truth Social about his call with Xi. Instead, he praised extremely strong US-China relations.

According to Chinas foreign ministry, Trump told Xi during their discussion that the US understands how important the Taiwan question is to China.

In response, Taiwan premier Cho Jung-tai said on Tuesday that a return to China is not an option for the islands 23 million people.

We must once again emphasise that the Republic of China, Taiwan, is a fully sovereign and independent country, Cho told reporters outside parliament, referring to the islands formal name.

For the 23 million people of our nation, return is not an option - this is very clear, he added.

The US presidents statement also confirmed that he will visit China in April and that Xi will come to Washington later in 2026. Beijing said nothing about the state visits.

Their call came after the pair met in late October for the first time since 2019, engaging in closely watched trade talks between the worlds top two economies.

The Washington-Beijing trade war, which encompasses everything from rare earths to soya beans and port fees, has rocked markets and slowed supply chains for months. A tentative deal reached in Octobers meeting in South Korea saw Beijing agree to suspend for one year certain export restrictions on critical minerals.

China is hugely dominant in the mining and processing of rare earths, which are essential for sophisticated electronic components across a range of industries including auto, electronics and defence.

Meanwhile, the US said it would cut back tariffs on Chinese products, and Beijing would buy at least 12m metric tons of American soya beans by the end of this year, and 25m metric tons in 2026.

Xi told Trump on Monday that their two countries should keep up the momentum, according to the foreign ministry. He added that the successful meeting in South Korea recalibrated the course of the giant ship of China-US relations and provided more momentum for it to sail forward steadily.

Since the meeting, China-US ties have generally maintained a steady and positive trajectory, and this is welcomed by the two countries and the broader international community, Xi said. Trump struck a similarly optimistic tone in his statement.

This call was a follow-up to our highly successful meeting in South Korea, three weeks ago. Since then, there has been significant progress on both sides in keeping our agreements current and accurate. Now we can set our sights on the big picture, he said.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said Washington hoped to finalise a deal with Beijing for securing supplies of rare earths by the Thanksgiving holiday, which falls on Thursday.

The two leaders also discussed the war in Ukraine  an issue high on Trumps agenda as he pushes for an end to the war.

China has positioned itself as a neutral party and, in Mondays call, Xi reiterated his backing to end the nearly four-year conflict.

With Agence France-Presse
Conor Benn has revealed he reached out to Shakur Stevenson directly over a potential fight with the world champion, who is closing in on a bout with a fellow American star.

Benn is planning his next move after beating Chris Eubank Jr this month, a result that saw the 29-year-old avenge his first professional loss.

Benn was outpointed by his rival in their first all-British clash in April, before securing a decision victory on 15 November after scoring two knockdowns in the final round.

Both bouts took place at middleweight, but Benn has long made clear his desire to drop back down to welterweight  his preferred division  in hopes of winning a world title.

Yet Benn is generally interested in fights with big-name opponents, including Stevenson, who currently holds the WBC lightweight title but previously reigned at featherweight and super-featherweight.

A bout between Benn and Stevenson, 28, would require the unbeaten American to move up in weight, but that is already on his agenda, as he seeks a 2026 clash with Teofimo Lopez.

Shakur Stevenson (right) remains unbeaten and is a three-weight world champ (Getty Images)

Lopez, 28, is the WBO super-lightweight champion and previously held gold at lightweight. But in a rumoured January clash with Stevenson, it would be the latter switching divisions to compete at super-lightweight.

I messaged Shakur, Benn told The Ring magazine. I said: Listen, if youre really about it, lets do it next. I dont just do the social-media thing for bants [banter].

I said, We can do that next in April, and he said: Cool. Let me get Teo out the way. Well do it in April. So, you may be seeing me and Shakur next.

Teofimo Lopez (left) was a clear winner over Arnold Barboza Jr in May (AP)

[But] I think hes in a hard fight. Teos a great fighter. I think itll be a close, 50/50 fight.

Benn has also expressed an interest in fighting Ryan Garcia, another big American name, who recently moved up to welterweight.

Furthermore, Benn was ringside in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to watch Devin Haney collect his first welterweight world title, but the Briton dismissed the unbeaten champions performance, saying Haney was scared of his own shadow.

Haney, 27, dropped and outpointed Brian Norman Jr on Saturday while competing at welterweight for the second time. He made his divisional debut in May, on the same night that Garcia fought at welterweight for the first time.

Devin Haney (left) and Ryan Garcia fought each other in 2024 (AP)

On that night, Haney beat Jose Ramirez on points but was criticised for his showing, while Garcia, 27, was dropped and outpointed by Rolly Romero.

Also competing at that event in May was Lopez, who put on a clinic against Arnold Barboza Jr to retain his world title.
Southern California residents are mourning a police dog named Spike, a K9 that was killed during a lengthy armed standoff on Saturday.

K9 Spike made the ultimate sacrifice, putting his life on the line for his family, the Burbank Police Department wrote on Instagram.

Your mission is complete, hero. Rest in heaven, enjoy endless treats and all the bites your brave heart desires.

Spike, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois who had been on the force for two years, was killed during a traffic stop that escalated into a standoff.

During the stop on Buena Vista Street that evening, near Interstate 5, police say a suspect jumped out of his car, ran up a freeway on-ramp, and hid from officers in a nearby residential area.

A suspect shot and killed a Burbank police dog named Spike on Saturday during a lengthy standoff (Burbank Police Department)

Multiple police departments and a SWAT team joined the search, which spanned multiple hours.

During the standoff, police dispatched Spike to hunt for the suspect, and the individual shot the dog, who retreated to his handlers and was later pronounced dead at an emergency veterinarian.

Multiple efforts were made to communicate and negotiate with the suspect, encouraging him to surrender peacefully, Burbank police wrote in a statement. Officers established a containment and deployed less lethal systems in an attempt to induce him to surrender.

During these attempts, the suspect began shooting at police officers, striking police vehicles parked near the scene, the statement continues. Officers returned fire, hitting the suspect. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Spike, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, had been on the force for two years when he was killed (Burbank Police Department)

Police have not released the identity of the slain individual.

The Independent has contacted the Burbank Police Department for comment.

A memorial soon formed for Spike outside the department.

Its just sad because I grew up here, Susana, a Burbank resident, told NBC Los Angeles. I have a lot of respect for the Burbank Police Department. Sorry to get emotional, but they protect us. And even for a K-9, he was just doing his job.
Devastating collapse in HIV prevention across the world to drive millions of new infections

The UNs Aids agency (UNAIDS) is forecasting millions more HIV infections globally by 2030 because of funding cuts, just at the moment new drugs should have been putting the end of the pandemic in reach.

The report was published 10 months after Donald Trump cancelled three-quarters of the worlds funding for HIV at a stroke. In it, the agency has projected 4 million extra HIV infections by 2030, chiefly as a result of the collapse in prevention services.

The report details the devastating consequences of abrupt international funding cuts from many international donors which sent shockwaves through low and middle-income countries heavily affected by HIV, said UNAIDS head Winnie Byanyima.

Since the abrupt pause by the United States in February, the complex ecosystem that sustains HIV services in dozens of low and middle-income countries was shaken to its core.

Clinics closed without warning, thousands of health workers faced job losses or lost salaries, and life-saving testing, treatment, and prevention services experienced widespread and continuing disruption, she said.

While the US ultimately restored some funding for HIV treatment, UNAIDS has documented how hard-won efforts to prevent new infections have nevertheless been hollowed out in the past year. Some people have already died due to the disruptions, the report said.

Condoms and IUDs were at high risk of stock-outs (Getty)

One woman living with HIV in Mozambique told UNAIDS: It feels like the ground has been ripped out from under our feet. Before, we had places to go, people to talk to, and we knew someone cared.

Another woman in South Africa, working in the sex industry who lost access to antiretroviral drugs for four months said: The only thing I could think of was my kids, and that I am going to die.

The Independent has already uncovered several deaths linked to the disruption of HIV treatment in Uganda, Senegal and Zimbabwe.

In an interview with The Independent, Ms Byanyima described lenacapavir, a new twice-yearly injection which prevents almost 100 per cent of HIV infections, as a miracle which could drive down the infections to zero and help end the Aids pandemic. But she stressed this opportunity was now in jeopardy because of a failure to fund enough doses at a low enough cost.

UNAIDS report said funding cuts had devastated HIV prevention services and meant access to medicines needed to end the Aids pandemic was "declining at the very moment when demand should be expanding.

While lenacapavir is new, the use of a daily pill to prevent HIV, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is already well-established in many countries. But roughly 2.5 million people who used PrEP in 2024 lost access to the medicine this year because of donor cuts.

The only way to end Aids is by preventing new infections. Yet UK-based HIV charity, Frontline Aids, said the hardest hit countries in Africa had lost as much as 70 per cent of their HIV prevention budgets, sending PrEP use plummeting. In Nigeria, oral PrEP use had fallen by more than 85 per cent while in Kenya it had halved, the charity found.

Specialist programmes for vulnerable groups including gay men, trans communities and sex workers - who accounted for half of new HIV infections in 2024 - have been particularly affected by funding cuts. At the same time, incidents of harassment and attacks have soared.

We have seen an increase in threats, says Jeffrey Walimbwa of Kenyan LGBT+ community organisation in Kenya, Ishtar MSM. This is an attempt to erase our existence.

In many hard-hit country, being gay is criminalised. (REUTERS)

In Zimbabwe, tailored HIV services have effectively collapsed while in Uganda, approaching half of similar programmes have closed.

Meanwhile, HIV testing - another important way to prevent infections - also fell significantly in a number of countries. Making sure people living with HIV know their status and that the virus is suppressed to undetectable levels in their blood stops them from passing the virus on.

US funding has focused almost exclusively on HIV prevention for pregnant and breastfeeding women. But even here, the cuts are being felt. In Ghana, 30 per cent fewer pregnant women living with HIV received antiretroviral medicines to both protect them and prevent them from passing the infection on to their children in the first half of 2025 compared with the year before, according to UNAIDS.

And despite promises from the US to protect life-saving HIV treatment, in some countries people are nevertheless losing access to the drugs that keep them alive, as well as stopping them from passing the virus on. In Mozambique, the number of people receiving antiretroviral treatment fell by around 40 per cent this year, Frontline Aids said.

Its not only bad news. Twenty-six countries looked at in the UNAIDS report have said they will increase national spending on HIV care, and some like Nigeria and South Africa have already done so.

But, the UN agency said, most low-income countries, especially those with the most HIV cases, did not have the means to fully fill in the gap.

Domestic financing is growing, but not fast enough, Ms Byanyima said. So we need international assistance to remain so that countries can grow their domestic resources.

We call upon the governments and the funders...to put more resources in prevention, said, and to maintain funding for the HIV response.

This article is part of The Independents Rethinking Global Aid project
Dick Van Dyke, 99, says avoiding two common things is key to his long life

Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang actor Dick Van Dyke has shared what he claims is his secret to a long life, weeks before turning 100.

The American star, who is due to reach the milestone age on 13 December, said in a new interview he has successfully avoided anger and hate throughout his life, which is one of the chief things that kept me going.

According to Van Dyke, he has never really able to work up a feeling of hate and attributes reaching 99 to his "brighter outlook.

"Ive always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a persons insides  and hate, he told US magazine People.

There were things I didnt like, people I dont like and disapprove of. But I never really was able to do a white heat kind of hate."

Van Dyke also credited much of his survival to his wife Arlene, who is aged 54.

Without question, our ongoing romance is the most important reason I have not withered away into a hermetic grouch, Van Dyke wrote in a recent health diary for The Times.

Arlene is half my age, and she makes me feel somewhere between two-thirds and three-quarters my age, which is still saying a lot.

Dick Van Dyke on his way to collect a Daytime Emmy in Los Angeles in June 2024 (Getty)

In the same article, he said he feels diminished both physically and socially, and revealed that every single one of my dearest lifelong friends is gone, which feels just as lonely as it sounds.

Despite nearing a century, Van Dyke remains active, having released a new book, 100 Rules For Living To 100. Each rule springs from a story in my own life, which I believe has stuck itself in my memory for a good reason  because it had some broader emotional significance for me, he says of the book.

The actor who also starred in a Coldplay music video last year, expresses a youthful spirit, stating, "I feel really good for 100. Sometimes I have more energy than others  but I never wake up in a bad mood. I feel like Im about 13."

Reflecting on his legacy, the entertainer isn't concerned with personal remembrance, but rather the enduring joy his work brings. "But its the music, the music we leave behind," he mused.

"For as long as children are proudly belting out their new word, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, or singing and skipping along to Chim Chim Cher-ee, the most important part of me will always be alive."

Dick Van Dyke is best known for starring in movies like 'Mary Poppins' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' (Getty Images)

Van Dykes illustrious career spans over seven decades, garnering him numerous accolades, including four Emmys, a Tony for Bye Bye Birdie, and a Grammy for the Mary Poppins soundtrack. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995 and holds a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He summarises his journey as "a wonderfully full and exciting life, that I cant complain.

Additional reporting by Agencies
As Thanksgiving rapidly approaches, families across America are meticulously crafting their dinner menus, yet one crucial decision often sparks debate: the precise timing of the festive feast itself. While many households opt for an earlier start, with meals commencing around 3 pm on the fourth Thursday in November, others prefer a more conventional dinner hour, serving their Thanksgiving spread at 6 pm or even 7 pm.

This perennial question of when to gather around the table is frequently intertwined with the infamous post-dinner slump, a widespread phenomenon often attributed to the sheer volume of food consumed. Central to this discussion is the star of Thanksgiving, turkey, and its purported ability to induce tiredness. Turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid vital for melatonin production, which regulates sleep schedules, according to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

There is little argument that a substantial Thanksgiving meal, laden with turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, would leave anyone feeling ready for a nap. However, the scientific community continues to debate whether the chemicals in turkey are actually responsible for this widespread drowsiness, or if other factors contribute to our post-feast slumber. Speaking to The Independent, professional chefs have offered their insights into the profound lethargy that can follow such a hefty meal, highlighting how this feeling can significantly influence upcoming Thanksgiving plans.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, tryptophan is an essential acid thats found in food containing high levels of protein, such as chicken, eggs, cheese, and fish. Since theres tryptophan in turkey, the amino acid can affect our bodys levels of both melatonin and serotonin, neurotransmitters that control our moods.

Speaking to The Independent, California-based chef Brendan Collins acknowledged that the tryptophan in turkey is an amino acid that affects our sleep schedule. However, he clarified that turkey isnt the reason for the drowsiness, and rather our eating habits on Thanksgiving could be the culprit. I think the truth is that we can end up overeating on Thanksgiving, in comparison to our normal eating schedule, and we get food comas, he explained. We need to sleep because of that. Not because of the small amount of tryptophan found in the turkey itself.

Turkey is a staple of the Thanksgiving dinner table for many Americans (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

John Carpenter - an executive chef at Signature Restaurant at La Cantera Resort and Spa in Texas - agreed that stuffing our faces with food on Thanksgiving may be more likely to blame for our tiredness. He noted that its easy to feel sleepy after a big meal and specified that a range of foods and beverages can contribute to the drowsiness, from pumpkin pie to wine.

Thanksgiving dinner is quite heavy, between stuffing and large amounts of meat we eat, whether that be turkey or ham, he explained. Its also usually surrounded by friends and family, and theres some alcohol drinking usually involved, which isnt exactly known to keep us awake.

With the side effects of eating a big Thanksgiving meal in mind, chefs have shared their advice on when to plan your dinner. Its important to note that the day before Thanksgiving can be relatively busy, from buying your ingredients to decorating your home. In addition to managing physical tasks, Carpenter said theres another routine he usually takes on to prepare for the holiday - changing up his eating habits.

For me personally, I definitely prefer to change my eating schedule, leading up not only the day of Thanksgiving, but also a couple of days before, he said. I always eat a little bit lighter, leading up in anticipation of a big meal. And personally, I normally dont even eat breakfast on Thanksgiving because I know Im going to eat so much.

The morning of Thanksgiving tends to be quite hectic, so Collins urged families to give themselves enough preparation time before dinner. He recommended giving yourself a good two and a half to three hours of cooking time, when you can prepare all your vegetables while the turkey is in the oven.

So, when is the best opportunity to serve the food to your guests? Professional chefs recommend the daytime, rather than evening, as the best time to host your dinner, taking both meal preparation time and drowsiness into account.

Normally for me, its early in the afternoon or early in the day, Carpenter explained. I have two children so I prefer earlier because it gives us the rest of the day for them to wind down from a big meal and all that. And then you have more time during Thanksgiving day to be with your family.

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

When you decide to host your Thanksgiving dinner is entirely up to you, but Collins acknowledged that the age of your guests is another factor to consider. He noted that children are generally accustomed to having their meals earlier in the day, even though that might not be the case for adults. I think if theres a lot of children under 10 years of age, having your dinner at 2pm or 3pm would be good, Collins said. If its more towards the adult scene, then I think its more of an early dinner, late lunch kind of thing. Id personally go for 4pm or 5pm.

Thanksgiving aside, studies have found that late-night dinners may not be the best idea. In a 2022 study published in peer-reviewed journal Cell Metabolism, researchers examined 16 patients who were overweight and obese as they ate the same exact meals on two schedules - one group eating as late as 9pm. Results showed that eating later had a large effect on how patients regulated their energy intake, expenditure, and storage.

Since theres so many different types of food served on Thanksgiving, eating dinner on the earlier side could ultimately be better for your physical health. Personally, I know you shouldnt be eating a huge meal later at night, especially the size of a normal Thanksgiving meal, Collins added. So definitely give yourself the time for your food to settle down.

Although there are various factors to consider when planning the timing of your Thanksgiving dinner, its important to remember not to let the stress of it ruin the day.

Dont stress out too much about the food, Collins said. I know sometimes Thanksgiving is one of the first times youve seen friends or family in a long time. So I think the idea is that its celebratory, and make sure you do that. Buy really good wine or champagne and enjoy yourself.
As the budget approaches, weighing up almost 30 different tax rumours for the likely options has been something of a juggling act  especially given the twists and turns weve had in recent weeks.

However, given the announcement is just a day away, theres not much room left for U-turns, so while we cant know what lies in store until Rachel Reeves' speech itself, some options are emerging as contenders.

Here's how they could impact your personal finances.

Income tax

There has been an entire wing of the rumour mill devoted to theories about income tax, from speculation that the rate could rise, to a push-me-pull-you trade-off between tax and national insurance. The latest rumour is that instead of all of this, there might be a longer freeze on income tax thresholds.

The chancellor could add another couple of years to the freeze, which is already set to run to April 2028. It means that every pay rise would push more people into paying more tax, and more tipping over into paying higher rates.

If theyre frozen for two more years, instead of increasing with wages, then assuming wages rise at 4%, someone earning 51,000 in the year to April 2028 could pay 1,530 more in tax.

Council tax

Commentators and think-tanks have debated endless options for taxing property over the past few months, but theres a growing weight being given to rumours the government could consider raising council tax for the most expensive properties.

This could be coupled with a revaluation of homes in the highest tax bands to make sure the priciest are being targeted.

Revaluation would come at a cost, but would be seen as fairer than simply bumping up council tax across the highest property bands, especially given that there hasnt been a revaluation in England since 1991.

Read more: What we know about Rachel Reeves' budget so far

This tax change would particularly affect those whose property prices have risen the most since 1991  including owners in London and the South East.

It would also throw a bigger tax burden on those living in more expensive homes. This could cause issues for those who are property rich and cash poor, who risk a hit to their lifestyle unless theyre prepared to downsize.

Read more: How to protect your pension from potential budget tweaks

Latest reports suggest that chancellor Rachel Reeves will introduce a so-called mansion tax targeting properties worth more than 2m. About 100,000 properties are likely to be affected.

The levy would be an annual surcharge on council tax bills, applied on a sliding scale depending on the value of the property above the 2m threshold.

Salary sacrifice

There could be changes to rules around salary sacrifice. These are schemes run by employers that let you give up a portion of your salary, in exchange for the equivalent amount in specific benefits  including pensions. It means employees save tax and national insurance on that chunk of their salary and employers save national insurance too.

Read more: What is the salary sacrifice scheme and why is it in Reeves' sights?

The government could limit how much you could save for retirement through this approach, which risks putting people off boosting their contributions.

This could prove counter-productive at a time when only 42% of the highest earning households are on track for an adequate retirement income, according to Hargreaves Lansdowns Savings and Resilience Barometer.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver the autumn budget on Wednesday 26 November. (Leon Neal, PA Images)

Dividend tax

Think-tank the Resolution Foundation has suggested changes, such as cutting the annual allowance or increasing the rate of dividend tax, as a way to make the taxes on employed people and those who run their own company (and take their income at least partly in dividends) more equal. But investors would be caught in the crossfire.

Income investors have already been hit with a succession of cuts in the annual dividend allowance. Plus, of course, the dividend tax rate was hiked in April 2022 too  up 1.25 percentage points for every tax bracket.

Given the government is working so hard to encourage investors to hold UK equities  which are often known for their dividends  theres a risk another tax rise could put them off.

ISA changes

Reeves is set to make changes to cash ISA. The allowance will be cut from 20,000 to 12,000, according to a report in the Financial Times. However, the chancellor has reportedly dropped her plan to make the 20% UK equities allocation mandatory.

In a recent survey of Hargreaves Lansdown clients, there was an even split between those who said a change like this would encourage them to use the stocks and shares ISA more and those who said theyd save outside the cash ISA instead.

There will be people for whom cash ISAs are the most sensible home for their money, especially if theyre saving for the short term. For money they dont need for five to 10 years or more, investments are a sensible option; however, the jury is out on whether cutting the cash ISA would make a difference.

Cash ISAs can be a gateway to stocks and shares, so theres also a risk that the amount of cash available to be invested will actually end up being lower if this change were introduced, according to Hargreaves Lansdown.

What you can do

The best way to protect savings from income tax is to hold them in an ISA. You have an allowance of 20,000 in the current tax year. This is particularly valuable for higher earners who have a smaller savings allowance, and pay a higher rate on the excess.

Read more: What the autumn budget could mean for the property market

To protect against higher rates of dividend tax, especially after moving tax brackets, it makes sense to invest within a stocks and shares ISA, which are free of both taxes.

If you have existing investments outside an ISA and the available allowance, you can use share exchange (Bed and ISA) to move them into the ISA and protect them from tax. This will also protect you from capital gains tax into the bargain.

The best way to guard against needless income tax on your earnings is by making pension contributions. This wont leave you with more money in your pocket, but youll get income tax relief at your highest marginal rate. That way you get more bang for your buck and can build your retirement resilience at the same time.

If you currently make contributions through salary sacrifice, its worth considering the impact of any change. If it were to happen and your employer reduced the generosity of their contributions as a result, it would be worth assessing the possible impact on your retirement income and whether you need to take any action to boost it.

Possible ISA changes would be highly unlikely to happen overnight, so if there was a change, there would be plenty of opportunity to use your allowances in the interim. Its worth considering the right balance of cash and stocks and shares for your circumstances, and making the most of your allowances while you know where you stand.

Sarah Coles is a personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown and co-presents Switch Your Money On podcast.

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Pei Chung has been banned from at least seven restaurants, according to the establishments. Photograph: Grace Cary/Getty Images

A would-be food influencer known online as the dine-and-dash diva has been jailed in Brooklyn, New York, after multiple previous arrests for allegedly skipping out on the bill at high-end restaurants.

Pei Chung, 34, is said to have developed a habit of going to fancy restaurants around New York City, ordering extensively off the menu  and then trying to get out of paying.

Chung has been banned from at least seven restaurants, according to the establishments, and police have said they keep arresting her for her refusal to pay restaurant bills. Chung allegedly skipped out on paying at Williamsburg restaurants at least six times  including one Michelin-starred brasserie, Francie, twice.

At one sitting in October, she reportedly ordered $15 foie gras, $32 carpaccio, $28 bucatini, $52 lamb and $19 hot chocolate mousse  before skipping out on the check.

The Instagram influencer also visited Peter Luger steakhouse where she ordered nearly $150 worth of steak, sides and dessert for herself, posted pictures of her meal and offered a glowing review.

But employees at the famous steak joint told NBC News it was odd that Chung stayed for hours. And when she was given the check, she allegedly told employees that she couldnt pay and offered items, including kitchen scissors, from her handbag in exchange.

On Friday, Chung went to Mole in Brooklyn, and her alleged dine-and-dash run came to an end. The owner said that when the Prada-, Louis Vuitton- and Hermes-wearing influencer showed up for a third go at the menu, they wised up.

Cops say Chung ordered $149 in food and then refused to pay. She was arraigned on a theft of services charge on Saturday after her arrest  and jailed on Rikers Island on a total $4,500 cash bail for that charge as well as failing to show up in court on previous dine-and-dash warrants.

Evidently referring to Chungs online following, the owner of Mole told the New York Post: Its only in New York City where someone like this becomes a folk hero.

A manager at Peter Luger told the Post, Im glad theres some sort of recognition being brought to the matter. She was getting away with it  way too often. And its just not right.

Describing herself on Instagram in part as 99 lb No plastic surgery, Chung reportedly faces eviction from her $3,350-per-month Williamsburg apartment. Her landlord is Eliot Spitzer, who resigned as New York governor in disgrace in 2008 after police implicated him as a regular client of a prostitution ring.

Chungs arrest comes as restaurants increasingly rely on Instagram-able dishes and influencers to attract business. A 2021 report by the advertising agency MGH found that 36% of TikTok users patronized a restaurant after seeing it in a video. MGHs report also found that 55% went to a restaurant they saw on the app simply because the food looked appetizing.

Chung had been known to bring her own lighting equipment and camera to record herself trying out the dishes, the Post reported.
The most famous image of the home features two women seated in the homes living room but appearing to float over the Los Angeles skyline. Photograph: Julius Shulman/J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles (2004.R.10)

The Stahl house  a paragon of Los Angeles mid-century modern architectural design  is for sale for the first time in the homes history.

The cantilevered home, perched in the Hollywood Hills, hit the listings market this week. The asking price: $25m.

The Stahl family, which has owned the home for its entire 65-year history, shared a statement on the decision to sell, saying the property had become too difficult to maintain.

This home has been the center of our lives for decades, but as weve gotten older, it has become increasingly challenging to care for it with the attention and energy it so richly deserves, wrote Bruce and Shari Stahl, the children of the original owners.

They added that the time had come to find a new steward of the house  someone who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also understands its place in the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and beyond.

The origins of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when CH Buck and Carlotta Stahl bought a hilly patch of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles for $13,500.

Although the Stahl house became a famous symbol of Los Angeles, nobody famous ever lived here, Buck often said, calling his family a blue-collar family living in a white-collar house. Buck worked as a graphic designer and sign painter, and he and Carlotta transported concrete from city construction projects to the property on their weekends.

Buck created the original design for the Stahl house over the summer of 1956, though many architects were originally wary to build it on the precarious hillside. In November 1957, the Stahls interviewed the architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to undertake the task.

With the support of the Case Study program, a project spearheaded by the editor of Arts & Architecture magazine, John Entenza, the Stahls received subsidies to hire Koenig.

The modernist program was about experimentation and using new materials and building in places that maybe previously the technology didnt really allow, said Adrian Scott Fine, the president and chief executive of the Los Angeles Conservancy. All those things are wrapped up into a place like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, modern and unthinkable in terms of how it was built on that site that everyone else thought, at the time, was unbuildable.

The Stahl house became Case Study house No 22, and construction began in May 1959. According to the family, construction cost a mere $37,500 and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The result was an idealized version of what everyone thinks LA is and should be, said Fine.

Soon after construction was finished, the architectural photographer Julius Shulman took perhaps the most famous image of the home. Taken through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the photo features two women seated in the homes living room but appearing to float over the Los Angeles skyline.

I think the enduring impact of Shulmans photo is due to the way it conveys an idea about living in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both in the city and removed from it, said Kevin Daly, founder of Kevin Daly Architects and an adjunct professor at the University of California Los Angeles school of architecture and urban design.

The home made historic appearances in film, television and music videos, including Playing by Heart (1998), Galaxy Quest (1999) and Nurse Betty (2000).

In 1999, Los Angeles declared the Stahl house a historic-cultural landmark, and in 2013, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a property considered worthy of protection.

The home remains open for tours, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all are currently sold out through February. In their statement announcing the sale of the home, the family said they would give ample notice before discontinuing the tours.

The listing for the home emphasizes finding a buyer who will preserve the character of the space.

For collectors of design, patrons of architecture, or institutions seeking to safeguard an American masterpiece, there is simply nothing comparable, the listing reads. This is not merely a sale; it is a passing of responsibility  a search for the next custodian who will honor the houses history, respect its architectural purity, and ensure its preservation for generations to come.

Fine agreed that the choice of buyer would be an important one, given the homes history.

I think any time a longtime owner, and a stewardship like this, is transferring hands of a property like this, it always gives us a little bit of a pause  because you never know what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And will they understand and appreciate the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?

 This article was amended on 25 November 2025 to clarify that the National Register of Historic Places is a listing of places that deserve preservation but does not actually provide any protection for those places.
Kate Forbes said she had no interest in a spat with the UK Government following a row over two different taskforces set up to support more than 300 Mossmorran workers at risk of losing their jobs.

Scotlands Deputy First Minister repeated previous comments that any reports of conflict did a disservice to the workers at the ethylene plant.

There had been confusion about the two governments strategies for the employees after they invited each other to different meetings.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander had invited Ms Forbes to the Fife Council-led roundtable on Monday, which she did not attend, and said that was Labours preferred route.

Ivan McKee, Scottish public finance minister, attended for the Scottish Government.

Instead, Ms Forbes attended Mossmorran on Tuesday where she met with the company, the local council, workers and trade unions.

Mr Alexander said the at-risk workers deserve unity rather than political squabbles between governments.

Speaking to the PA news agency at Mossmorran, Ms Forbes played down the row.

I have absolutely no interest in any spat, she said. I think any reports of conflict do a dis-service to the workers who have just been meeting here at Mossmorran.

My objective is to identify alternative employment for workers at risk and to safeguard a plant like this for the future.

To that end, Ivan McKee obviously joined the event that was organised by the Secretary of State for Scotland and Fife Council yesterday, and Im delighted to be joined by Scottish Enterprise, the company and representatives from all the political parties today to talk about what the future looks like.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander had urged Kate Forbes to attend Mondays meeting (James Manning/PA)

Ms Forbes defended the decision to hold an additional meeting on Tuesday, saying it had been agreed last week.

She said: Last week, I engaged with the unions and we engaged very quickly with Scottish Enterprise to look at how we could retain employment at the site, and out of that meeting it was decided that I would host a meeting today with the support of the trade unions.

I then learned about the meeting yesterday, hosted by Douglas Alexander, and our primary interest is the workforce, so we were more than delighted to support the meeting arranged by Douglas Alexander yesterday and very pleased to see the cross-party representation today.

Going forward, the objective is to work together and ultimately to see if theres a way of safeguarding the jobs here.

Global energy giant ExxonMobil announced on Tuesday that it will close its manufacturing plant in Fife.

The Fife ethylene plant  which produces the base material for plastics  is expected to shut in February.

A general view of the entrance to the ExxonMobils ethylene plant at Mossmorran in Fife following the announcement that the global energy giant will close the manufacturing plant (Jane Barlow/PA)

According to the company, 179 directly-employed jobs will be at risk along with 250 contractors, with the possibility of 50 staff transferring to the Fawley petrochemical complex almost 500 miles away in Hampshire.

Following Mondays meeting, the Scottish Secretary said nearby defence firm Babcock had signalled a willingness to look at taking on some of the workers impacted by the Mossmorran closure.

He said on Monday: Today was a constructive and purposeful discussion: it was the Team Scotland approach the workforce deserve. I was grateful to Fife Council for convening the meeting to discuss the closure of the plant.

The council brought together the UK Government, Scottish Government, Fife College, trade unions and major Fife employers.

I confirmed that I have raised with the UK Governments Office for Investment my goal that it would help broker any possible buyer for the Mossmorran facility.

The Mossmorran plant and its operation was, rightly, the focus of our discussion at this time.

But I also welcome Babcocks willingness to explore whether, in time and if required, they could employ some of the skilled workers from Mossmorran.
Graham Linehan was cleared of harassing a transgender woman, but found guilty of criminal damage - Belinda Jiao

The verdict in the Graham Linehan case is a mixed bag.

On the one hand, District Judge Briony Clarke has acquitted him of the more serious of the two charges, clearly stating that his gender-critical tweets, while unattractive, annoying and irritating, did not constitute harassment of Sophia Brooks, the trans activist who claims to be the victim in this case. Interestingly, the judge said that while Graham was a credible witness who was not seeking to mislead the court, she was not satisfied that Brooks was giving entirely truthful evidence.

Thats an important victory for free speech, since it makes it less likely that people who express gender-critical views on social media or who misgender trans people in future will be arrested under suspicion of committing a criminal offence. The Free Speech Union (FSU), which I run, has had to defend more than 2,000 people whove got into trouble for challenging trans orthodoxy, such as Linzi Smith, the Newcastle fan who was interviewed by the police and banned from attending games after a complaint from a Left-wing activist.

But on the other hand, Graham has been found guilty of criminal damage for knocking Brookss phone out of his hand when he was trying to film him outside the Battle of Ideas, a series of debates in Westminster organised by my House of Lords colleague Baroness Fox last year.

Thats regrettable since it gives carte blanche to far-Left activists to continue filming people attending debates and talks they disapprove of, an intimidation tactic designed to scare people away. The Free Speech Union, which has been paying Grahams legal costs, is going to pay for Graham to appeal that conviction.

Admittedly, the screen of Brookss phone smashed when Graham knocked it out of his hand. But its important to bear in mind that hoping to provoke an intemperate reaction is often the reason the activists film their opponents. The idea is to record them lashing out and then to post that footage on social media, hoping to get them into trouble with their employers. If something ends up getting damaged, so much the better since the activists can then lodge a complaint with the police.

Thats exactly what happened in Edinburgh recently, when a member of For Women Scotland, the group that won a landmark victory in the Supreme Court earlier this year, got into trouble with the police for supposedly damaging a flag being waved in her face by a trans activist at a gender-critical protest. With the FSUs help, the police were persuaded to drop all charges.

Graham Linehan is a Marmite figure who often expresses himself robustly and, having been targeted by trans rights activists for years, is understandably short on patience. But he should not have been convicted of criminal damage and, to ensure people can continue to attend events like the Battle of Ideas in future without being intimidated, we hope to win the appeal.

Lord Young of Acton is the director of the Free Speech Union
A 33billion plan to move the M25 to make way for Heathrows third runway has been backed by ministers.

The Transport Secretary on Wednesday rejected a rival proposal from Arora Group, saying the airports own plans were "the most credible and deliverable option".

Heidi Alexander did concede that Heathrows scheme requires major works to the M25 but it would mean the acquisition of fewer residential properties around the airport than the other option.

The proposals involve building a 3,500-metre runway and require a new M25 tunnel and bridges to be built 130 metres west of the existing motorway.

The Government has already said it will support a third runway at Heathrow as part of its plans to get the British economy growing again (PA Archive)

The Arora plan, put forward by a group led by hotel tycoon Surinder Arora, was for a shorter, 2,800-metre runway that would not require diverting the major London ring road.

But in a written statement to Parliament, Ms Alexander said the proposal would still have "a considerable impact" on the motorway.

Motorists have already suffered delays at the M25/A3 junction for years as the roadworks there have taken longer than expected.

A Heathrow spokesperson welcomed the decision, saying expanding the airport "will mean more connectivity, increased trade, improved passenger experience and a huge economic boost for the British businesses that will help design and build it".

But the spokesperson added that "further clarity" was needed on how the next phase of the project would be regulated, calling for "definitive decisions" from Government and the Civil Aviation Authority by mid-December.

Mr Arora said his group "accepts today's announcement" and still hoped to be chosen as the "promoter" of the third runway, rather than Heathrow Airport, adding that competition was "absolutely imperative to keep costs under control at the airport".

The planned third runway is estimated to cost 33 billion, including 1.5 billion on moving the M25, and is expected to be fully privately financed.

A letter sent by businesses backed the proposal from Heathrows owners (PA Archive)

It will see Heathrow's capacity increase to 756,000 flights and 150 million passengers per year.

The Government aims to make a decision on a planning application for Heathrow's expansion by the next election, with the third runway becoming operational by 2035.

Ms Alexander said Tuesday's decision would "allow a decision on a third runway plan this Parliament which meets our key tests including on the environment and economic growth".

She added: "We're acting swiftly and decisively to get this project off the ground so we can realise its transformational potential for passengers, businesses and our economy sooner."

The proposals will be subject to further consultation as the Government overhauls the Airports National Policy Statement that governs planning decisions for airports.

The Transport Secretary has also pledged to consult the independent Climate Change Committee on the expansion to ensure it is consistent with the Government's commitments to reduce carbon emissions.
French president hopes scheme will boost reservist numbers by up to 50,000 each year - Nathan Laine/Bloomberg

Emmanuel Macron will this week announce an overhaul of national service to bolster Frances army numbers.

Volunteers will be paid up to 10,000 (8,800) to join the 10-month programme aimed at countering the threat of Russia, according to French media reports.

The French president hopes the scheme will boost reservist numbers by up to 50,000 each year and will address the hybrid confrontation waged by Moscow.

Conscription was banned in France in 1996. The current form of national service, introduced in 2021, sees recruits undertake just two weeks of training and two weeks of community work. It has received little uptake.

Frances most senior general, Fabien Mandon, the armed forces chief of staff, warned last week that the country must be ready to lose its children, adding that Russia was preparing for a confrontation by 2030 with our countries.

Emmanuel Macron reviews troops with army chiefs during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris

Mr Macron is expected to announce the new voluntary scheme on a visit to an infantry brigade in south-eastern France on Thursday, multiple sources familiar with the decision told AFP.

The French president told the RTL broadcaster he would be announcing a transformation of national service into a new form on Thursday, but did not provide further details.

A source with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be named, said the plan is for 2,000 to 3,000 people to be trained up in the first year, aiming to increase those signing up over time to 50,000 per year.

Mr Macron said that France should not show weakness in the face of the threat posed by Russia.

If we want to protect ourselves, we French  which is my sole concern  we must demonstrate that we are not weak against the power that threatens us the most, he said.

It means France would join European countries such as the Baltic states Latvia and Lithuania, which have brought back military service in recent years, while others such as Denmark have toughened their terms.

The French armed forces have approximately 200,000 active military personnel and 47,000 reservists - Nathan Laine/Bloomberg

Military service is seen as bolstering armies with recruits, but also providing a large pool of potential reservists who could be called up in the case of a future war.

The French armed forces have approximately 200,000 active military personnel and 47,000 reservists, numbers expected to increase to 210,000 and 80,000 respectively by 2030.

The mobilisation on a voluntary basis could serve to meet the needs of acquiring the mass necessary for the armed forces to survive in the event of conflict, French land army chief of staff General Pierre Schill said earlier this year.

There is so far no suggestion that the military service in France would be compulsory, as it was before then president Jacques Chirac abolished conscription in 1997 as part of army reforms.

Germanys coalition government this week agreed on a new voluntary military service model, after weeks of wrangling over whether there should be a compulsory element like in Denmark, where both young men and women are called up in a lottery.

Accused of war-mongering, General Mandon has expressed no regret over his comments last week, saying the aim was to alert and prepare amid a rapidly deteriorating context.

According to Frances National Strategic Review for 2025, a document that is a cornerstone of official policy, France must prepare for the possibility of a major, high-intensity engagement in Europes neighbourhood by 2027-2030, coinciding with a massive increase in hybrid attacks on its territory.

The reactions to his comments show that this is something that was perhaps not sufficiently perceived in our population, General Mandon said on Saturday.

But ahead of Thursdays announcement, Mr Macron and other officials have been at pains to emphasise that the comments by the army chief focused on the sacrifices made by the armed forces and there was no plan to send Frances young to the front line.

It is absolutely necessary, at least immediately, to dispel any confused idea suggesting that we are going to send our young people to Ukraine, the French president said on Tuesday, adding that General Mandons original remarks had been taken out of context.
Donald Trump at a campaign event in Reno, Nevada, in 2023. Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty Images

A majority of Latinos disapprove of Donald Trump and his economic and immigration policies, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.

After receiving support from nearly half of Latino voters in the 2024 election, Trump had lost the backing of a majority surveyed in October. Pew found that 70% of Latinos disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job as president, while 65% disapprove of his administrations approach to immigration and 61% believe his economic policies have worsened economic conditions.

Trump won 48% of the Latino vote in 2024, up from 28% in 2016. Latinos, one of the fastest-growing demographics in the United States, account for one in five Americans.

After the 2024 election, Latinos, particularly Latino men, credited Trumps economic proposals and immigration policies  suggesting he was not serious about threats of mass deportations  for winning their vote.

At the time, two-thirds of Latinos said they do not feel like he is talking about me when Trump discussed his immigration policies, and more than 40% approved of his proposal to build a border wall, according to an October 2024 Siena poll for the New York Times.

But since Trump implemented sweeping tariffs and social safety net spending cuts, alongside aggressive immigration raids, that support has dwindled. In June, a co-founder of Latinas for Trump criticized widespread immigration arrests as unacceptable and inhumane.

The results of the November elections showed that Democrats won back Latino voters in New Jersey and Virginias gubernatorial races.

The shifts within the Latino electorate are still markedly divided by political party. According to the Pew report, while nearly all Latinos who voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election disapprove of Trump, 81% of those who voted for Trump approve of the presidents job (down from 93% at the start of his term).

A majority of Latinos worry that they, a family member or a close friend could be deported under the presidents heightened immigration enforcement  where 42% expressed such fear in March, 52% do now. Nearly 60% said they had witnessed or heard of immigration raids or arrests in their community in the past six months.

For the first time in nearly two decades, Pew reported that most Hispanics say their situation has worsened. While 10% of Hispanics told Pew that Trumps policies helped them, 78% said the presidents policies harmed their community.
Nigel Farage describes schoolboy racism claims as banter in a playground and says he never tried to hurt anybody

Nigel Farage has said he never directly racially abused anybody following claims he made racist and antisemitic remarks while he was a schoolboy at Dulwich College.

During a grilling over the allegation, the Reform UK leader told ITV he had never made racist comments as a teenager in a hurtful or insulting way or with intent.

But he admitted that he had said things as a teenager that could be seen as banter in a playground but could be interpreted differently now.

It comes after reports in The Guardian from more than a dozen Dulwich College attendees who alleged he had made racist and antisemitic comments during their time at the school in south London. One former classmate, Bafta and Emmy-award winning director Peter Ettedgui, 61, claimed Mr Farage had told him Hitler was right and Gas them, adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers.

The Reform leader was challenged on the remarks ahead of a rally in north Wales where his party hope to win next years Senedd elections.

Nigel Farage denies making the comments, but said he said things that could be seen as banter in the playground (PA)

During an interview with ITV, Mr Farage was asked whether he had racially abused fellow pupils during his time at the college. No. This was 49 years ago, by the way, he answered. Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where theyre from? No.

Asked to categorically rule out that he had engaged in racial abuse, Mr Farage said: I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way.

He added: I just entered my teens. Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I cant. Have I ever been part of an extremist organisation or engaged in direct, unpleasant personal abuse, genuine abuse, on that basis? No.

The interviewer then suggested Mr Farages answer is very very caveated before the Reform leader repeated that he did not racially abuse his fellow pupils with intent.

The Reform leader has been pressured to explain himself amid the allegations (PA)

I have never directly racially abused anybody, no, he said. Have I ever misspoken in my life in my younger days when I was a child. Probably. He added: I have never directly, really tried to go and hurt anybody.

He then added: Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter in a playground, that you can interpret in the modern light of day in some sort of way? Yes.

Asked then if this meant he had abused people, Mr Farage replied: Ive never directly racially abused anybody. No.

He added there was a strong political element to the allegations.

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer called on Mr Farage to explain himself over the claims last week.

Political opponents were not satisfied with the response as he stood next to his partys Senedd member Laura Anne Jones at a rally in Llandudno. Ms Jones has been suspended from the Senedd for alleged racial slurs.

Mike Katz, Labour peer and former chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said: Just when you thought Nigel Farage couldnt sink any lower, he is trying to say abhorrent racist comments, including vile antisemitic insults, doesnt matter. He seems to think that you can racially abuse people without it being hurtful and insulting. Lets be crystal clear: you cant.

Farage refuses to discipline the racist views of his MPs and he wont take action on the toxic culture within his party. He should finally come clean on claims over his past and apologise to those who bravely spoke out. Failure to do so would be yet more evidence that Farage is simply unfit for office.

Labour chair Anna Turley also challenged him on the former Welsh Reform leader Nathan Gill, a close ally of Mr Farage, who was sentenced last week to more than 10 years in prison for taking Russian bribes.

The allegations come amid a former Welsh Reform leader being sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for Russian bribes (PA)

She said: Nigel Farage assured the public his former right-hand man was decent and honest before he was found to have taken pro-Russian bribes. Now he says he's as sure as he can be that there's no pro-Kremlin links in Reform UK."

Lib Dem president-elect Josh Babarinde MP said: It looks like the mask has slipped and fact-of-the-matter-Farage is turning into no-answers-Nigel.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Reform UK leader said he was not going to sue over the historic racism claims at this stage but asked if that was an option being kept open, he said potentially, yes.

Mr Farages spokesperson said: These allegations date back 45 years, and I think that at any point in time  when Nigel was leader of UKIP, when he stood in the 2010 general election, the 2015 general election, during Brexit, maybe in the 2019 general election  youd have to ask yourself, why this hasnt come up before.

He added: Nigel is very clear, theres no primary evidence.

Mr Farage was probably mischievous at school but denies the allegations made in The Guardian, the spokesperson said.
Nigel Farage accused of persistent racial abuse by ex-schoolmate who rejects claims it was banter

Nigel Farage has been accused of persistent racial abuse by a school contemporary who rejects the Reform UK leaders claims it was banter.

Peter Ettedgui, whose Jewish grandparents escaped Nazi Germany, has alleged Mr Farage growled Hitler was right, hissed gas them and told him to the gas chambers when the pair attended Dulwich College in the late 1970s.

He is among more than a dozen former pupils of the south London school who have accused Mr Farage of making antisemitic and racist remarks in claims originally reported in The Guardian.

The Reform UK leader appeared to leave open the possibility he may have made racist remarks without intent during his first interview since the claims were published, telling ITV on Monday: I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way. He also admitted to engaging in banter in a playground.

But in a prepared statement given on Tuesday, Mr Farage categorically denied he had ever made such comments and suggested the claims were politically motivated.

Mr Ettedgui, a Bafta-winning film director, has now told The Times it is no surprise that the Reform leader has denied the allegations.

Farage categorically denies he had ever made such racist comments (PA)

He told the newspaper: This is no surprise, he has been denying any kind of racist behaviour since 2013.

Last week, a spokesman from Reform not only denied it but said The Guardian was trying to smear him, but maybe yesterday actually felt like a tiny step forward. At one point, he admitted to probably misspeaking in my younger days when I was a child, and then saying it was just banter.

And there was this thing that it was the 1970s and a different era. Certainly I never experienced anything remotely similar to the kinds of things he said to me, either before or since.

So, it wasnt banter, banter was calling someone a y**  this was different, it was persistent. It was throughout the year that we shared a class, in class 3R, and we were seated in alphabetical order, 30-odd kids, I was right next to him.

But Mr Farage has insisted he never engaged in direct, unpleasant, personal abuse during his time as a schoolboy at the top private school.

I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published in The Guardian aged 13, nearly 50 years ago, he said in his statement on Tuesday.

Peter Ettedgui, far right, a Bafta-winning film director, has accused Farage of making racist remarks when they were at school together (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Isnt it interesting: I am probably the most scrutinised figure in British politics, having been in public life for 32 years.

Several books and thousands of stories have been written about me, but it is only now that my party is leading in the polls that these allegations come out. I will leave the public to draw their own conclusions about why that might be.

We know that The Guardian wants to smear anybody who talks about the immigration issue. But the truth is that I have done more in my career to defeat extremism and far-right politics than anybody else in the UK, from my time fighting the BNP right up to today.

Speaking to ITV on Monday night, the Reform leader was asked about claims of alleged incidents of deeply offensive behaviour throughout his teenage years.

This is 49 years ago, by the way. Forty-nine years ago. Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where theyre from? No.

The politician attended the top private school Dulwich College in south London (Getty)

Asked to categorically rule out that he had engaged in racial abuse, Mr Farage said: I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way.

As he continued to face questions about the allegations, he replied: I had just entered my teens. Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I cant.

Have I ever been part of an extremist organisation or engaged in direct, unpleasant, personal abuse, genuine abuse on that basis? No.

When asked again if he engaged in racial abuse at the school, Mr Farage replied: Not with intent.

Asked to elaborate, he replied: No, I have never directly, really tried to go and hurt anybody.

Mr Farage added: Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter in a playground, that you can interpret in the modern light of day in some sort of way? Yes.

Asked then if this meant he had abused people, Mr Farage replied: Ive never directly racially abused anybody. No.

A spokesperson for Mr Farage told The Independent the Reform leader will not be commenting further.
The 500 packages of methamphetamine were hidden in a lettuce shipment that weighed about 1,153lb. Photograph: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Officials at Texass border with Mexico seized roughly $10.3m worth of methamphetamine hidden in a lettuce shipment on Friday, according to US Customs and Border Protection.

A press release from CBP officials called the seized drugs and lettuce a salad unfit for this years Thanksgiving table, adding that the 500 packages of meth in question weighed about 1,153lb.

The commercial vehicle was stopped as it attempted to enter Texas from Mexico at the Pharr International Bridge across what the US calls the Rio Grande.

Within a shipment of salad greens, our frontline officers discovered contraband that does not belong on any holiday table, said Carlos Rodriguez, the port director. As this seizure aptly illustrates, our officers use of tools and technology were instrumental in this massive takedown of hard narcotics.

Fridays seizure occurred amid a campaign of military strikes by the Trump administration on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific in what it has claimed is an effort to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs into the US.

Meanwhile, in August 2024, about two tonnes of the powerful stimulant known colloquially as crystal meth was seized in packages designed to look like bright green watermelons at the San Diego, California, port of Otay.

Hidden among a shipment of actual watermelons, about 1,220 fake watermelons were found to contain 4,587lb of meth valued at $5m after a truck driven by a 29-year-old man was selected for secondary inspection.

As drug cartels continue to evolve their smuggling techniques, we will continue finding new and better ways to prevent these dangerous drugs and other contraband from entering the country, said Rosa Hernandez, the port director.

That seizure came after agents with the Atlanta division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) found over 2,500lb of meth with $3.2m concealed among boxes of celery at a state farmers market in Forest Park, Georgia, on 8 August.

Another shipment of celery in a shipping crate was found by border agents at Otay Mesa to contain 629lb of meth. The 34-year-old driver had declared the shipment as celery, according to the federal authorities.

Other varieties of fruits and vegetables have been used to disguise cross-border shipments of illegal drugs, according to US authorities. In May 2024, six tonnes of meth worth more than $18m were discovered inside a shipment of squash in California.

That came after 3,000lb of meth and cocaine were found in 2023 in bins of jalapeno paste that were being transported over the border.

Traffickers have also stashed drugs inside shipments of green beans, sugar, flour and candy.
Parents face murder rap after 2-year-old daughter is mauled to death by starved pet: My daughter got ate by the pit

Police arrested the parents of a 2-year-old Oklahoma City girl after she was mauled to death by their allegedly starving pet pit bull  which had been locked in the room with her.

Oklahoma City police responded to their home around 11:30 pm on Nov. 18 after Darci Lambert, 24, called 911 to report that her daughter, Locklynn McGuire, had stopped breathing.

When police arrived, they found the girl dead in her bedroom with wounds on her body that were consistent with dog bites.

Oklahoma City Animal Welfare was called to the scene and removed four dogs from the home. Three of the four were malnourished, according to Fox 25. One of the dogs  whose ribs and hip bones were visible under its skin  was a black pit bull that cops said carried out the attack on the toddler.

According to an affidavit obtained by Fox25, Jordan McGuire, 34, who is the girl's father, put her to sleep around 7:30 pm and then took medicine to help him sleep. Lambert was at work until 10:30 pm.

Darci Lambert, 24, and Jordan McGuire, 34, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder after their daughter, Locklynn McGuire, was killed on Nov. 18 by one of the family's dogs that was locked in her room. (Oklahoma County Detention Center)

McGuire told police he woke up around 8:30 pm and checked on the girl, and said she was sleeping on her bed next to the black pit bull. He told police that the dog was kept in the room because it would fight with the family's other three dogs.

According to the affidavit, the door had toddler locks on it that would prevent Locklynn from leaving.

Lambert said she did not check on the girl immediately after she returned home from work, and only found her body later after hearing heavy breathing coming from the room, according to the Oklahoma City Free Press.

She allegedly told first responders: "My daughter got ate by the pit," the Free Press reported

According to the affidavit, the girl's body showed evidence of extreme trauma that was consistent with a violent and prolonged dog attack, according to the outlet.

She and McGuire were arrested and charged with second-degree murder on Nov. 21. As of Monday, the couple were being held in the Oklahoma County Detention Center, both on $1 million bonds.

The affidavit includes a note stating that the girl was attacked by the same dog on November 6 and had to be treated at the Oklahoma University Children's Hospital. After that attack, Oklahoma Human Services was called in and conducted an investigation but did not remove the child from the home.

Lambert reportedly told investigators that she believed the pit bull was the dog that attacked the girl, and said Locklyn required plastic surgery after the attack.

Oklahoma City Police and Oklahoma City Animal Welfare were reportedly not notified of the November 6 incident. The affidavit says that McGuire and Lambert continued to lock the dog in the room with Locklynn despite the November 6 incident.

Oklahoma State Representative JJ Humphrey told Fox25 that he "can't understand" why the girl or the dogs weren't removed by OKDHS.

"You got to remove the harm, either remove the kid or remove the harm. Pretty simple to do. Can't understand why that wouldn't be done," he told the outlet. "But absolutely if [OKDHS] did their job, you would not have a death here. You'd have a live baby."

The Independent has requested comment from OKDHS.

The agency issued a statement to Fox25, saying that "the loss of any childs life is heartbreaking, and our Oklahoma Human Services team grieves with the community."

"The agency is committed to working in collaboration with all involved agencies as they investigate this tragic situation and gather the facts," the OKDHS said.
Pipeline in the pacific northwest is shutdown for a leak - what could it do to gas prices?

The shutdown of a major northwestern pipeline is causing "potential disruptions in fuel delivery," according to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.

The Olympic Pipeline has been intermittently shut down for repairs since November 11 after workers discovered a leak in the 400-mile fuel transfer system. BP Pipelines North America, which operates the system, has not given an estimate for the pipeline's reopening.

"Over 200 feet of pipeline have been excavated to date. Crews are operating around the clock and will continue overnight operations tonight," BP told Reuters.

The system was shut down again Monday, prompting concerns about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday travel week, the busiest of the year.

That pipeline supplies Oregon with more than 90 percent of its transportation fuel, according to Kotek's office. The governor warned that travelers this week may see a slight uptick at the gas pump due to the cost of using tanker trucks and barges to bring fuel into the state, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Crews continue to repair a leak in the Olympic Pipeline near Everett, Washington. The pipeline shut down again Monday for repairs, prompting Oregon Governor Tina Kotek to declare a state of emergency, and airlines to bring extra fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to off-set any fuel disruptions caused by the closure (Getty)

The governor said she does not expect there to be fuel shortages. An emergency declaration, made Monday, allows her to bring fuel into the state via other methods while repairs continue on the pipeline, KGW8 reports.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at gas station price tracking app GasBuddy, said earlier this month that the pipeline closure could have a slight impact on gasoline costs in Washington and Oregon.

But his updated analysis Monday said he didnt think the closure would affect gas prices any longer.

While the pipeline's closure may not be putting the hurt on people's wallets, it has caused concerns at the state's largest airport.

Airlines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport have activated fuel contingency plans to make sure planes are kept topped off during the week of Thanksgiving. The Olympic Pipeline moves refined petroleum that includes gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from Washington into Oregon.

The closure prompted Washington Governor Bob Ferguson to declare an emergency on November 19, allowing him to seek other avenues for providing fuel to SeaTac.

Portland International Airport said it was not anticipating any disruptions because it can bring in fuel by sea barges, unlike SeaTac, which is further inland.

Delta and Alaska Air have both used tankers to bring extra fuel to SeaTac.

"We continue to minimize the impacts of the Olympic Pipeline fuel leak. We do not expect disruption to our operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport through the Thanksgiving travel week," Alaska Airlines said in a statement.

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Alaska Airlines has had to tanker extra fuel to the airport ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel week to compensate for disruptions caused by the closure of the Olympic Pipeline for repairs (Getty Images)

On Friday, Senator Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington, demanded answers from BP about the status of the pipeline.

With so much riding on the reliable transportation of fuel through your system, pipeline safety and operational integrity must be top priorities, Cantwell wrote to BP CEO Murray Auchincloss, Oregon Public Broadcasting reports.

BP provided a response, saying the "safety of personnel, the environment, and the community remain our highest priority."

Safety is likely among the concerns voiced by the senator because of previous incidents at the pipeline, including one that left three people dead.

In 1999, a leak caused a fireball that killed three young people who were visiting a nearby creek in Bellingham, Washington.

In 2023, a spill near Conway, Washington, polluted the nearby streams with 25,000 gallons of gasoline, affecting salmon and other wildlife. Cleanup workers found several dead, oil-covered animals near the site of the leak, including ducks, a bird, a beaver, and a vole, according to the Seattle Times. No fish kills were confirmed in Hill Ditch, where the leak entered the water system. Washington's Department of Ecology issued a nearly $4 million fine to BP for the spill.
Putin rose to the top of Russias mafia-security state - Contributor/Getty

Moscows thugs have never hidden who they are, whether that be poisoning dissidents, shooting journalists or casually releasing a nerve agent in a quiet English cathedral city.

They have stolen children from Ukraine, trafficking them into abuse and violence in Russias vast interior. Some of them later reappear with new identities, new families and new loyalties.

And yet somehow we are again listening to the idea that if only we offer Putin another concession, another slice of someone elses territory, another Sudetenland, he will choose peace. This may look rational from Washington, London or Berlin but it is delusional. The world looks very different from Moscow.

If Putin fails to conquer Ukraine, he knows he is on borrowed time. Russia respects strength, and this is how he came to power.

As the Communist Party exploded, the economy imploded and only one pillar of stability remained: the intelligence and security services. They kept their networks, their methods and their worldview. As all around them descended into chaos, they quietly set about capturing the state.

Spy networks and organised crime gangs were fused into a single mafia-security state. Putin did not invent this order. He simply rose to the top of it.

Europe looked on as the threat became clearer and clearer. West-leaning former Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned in 2004. In Russia, Anna Politkovskaya was murdered. In Britain, Alexander Litvinenko was killed with polonium.

Finding that it could get away with its crookedness, the Kremlin moved up a gear. Estonia suffered a crippling state-directed cyberattack in 2007. In 2008, Russia fought a war with Georgia. Still, the West made only statements, so in 2014, Russian operatives strolled across the Estonian border and abducted the intelligence officer Eston Kohver. The message was unambiguous: we can reach into Nato territory, and you will do nothing.

Even the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 led to hand-wringing and excuses. US and European hesitation has left us at a point where capitulation is possible, even though Russia has lost a million men killed or wounded.

The proposal on the table today did not start with Donald Trump or his envoy Steve Witkoff, but with the weakness of our response to almost two decades of violence. The lesson is simple: weakness is provocation to a mafia posing as a state.

Every concession, every reset, every attempt to soothe Moscow has been met not with gratitude but with escalation. Escalation is the organising logic of Russian foreign policy. In 2014, Russia seized Crimea. In 2016, the GRU attempted to overthrow Montenegros government and assassinate its prime minister to block its path to Nato. In 2018, the Kremlin deployed Novichok in Salisbury in a chemical attack that killed one and endangered thousands.

By the 2020s, Europe was contending with mass disinformation campaigns, Russian sabotage networks from the Czech Republic and Germany to Britain and Poland where civilian railway lines have been targeted. As the deputy prime minister in Warsaw, Radek Sikorski put it, Russia is now conducting state terrorism on Nato soil.

This is not the behaviour of a misunderstood power yearning for accommodation. It is the strategy of a regime that pushes precisely because it has learned that pushing works. But still Europe talks.

In Britain, our plan is to spend more on defence. But not today. Germany has committed to spending 100bn on weapons over the next few years, but the plants arent yet ready. And in other European Nato states, the further west you go, the less Russias threat is taken seriously.

Which leads back to the Witkoff proposals. We all know where they will lead because we have walked this path before. They invite exactly the reaction the Kremlin has perfected. They assume Putin wants stability, when he wants victory.

They assume he can be placated, when he cannot afford to lose. They assume compromise is possible, when compromise is what has encouraged Moscows aggression at every turn. But our moral outrage is facile. The tantrum of an entitled child who having failed to take a lesson seriously, flunks the test. And still the pressure on us mounts.

What moral standing do we retain if we avert our eyes from a regime trafficking children, bombing cities, poisoning dissidents and sabotaging its neighbours? The United States has warned us that we must take our own defence seriously. That we cannot put our people on welfare and theirs on the frontline. That we have to remember our own responsibility to our security tomorrow, not just our comfort today.

Today, the stakes for Europe are clear. If Ukraine wins, Europe is safer. If Putin is defeated, the mafia-security state forged since 1991 faces its first true reckoning. But if Ukraine fails, we will pick up the bill and pay with our freedom.

The choice before us could not be clearer. The only question now is whether we learn the lesson before the war arrives at our own door.